FORFAR TAKE HENDERSON BISHOP TROPHY 2023, STRANRAER CLAIM CHERRY STONE
Congratulations to Team Forfar (Jill Donald, Liz Furrie, Kirstina Fairweather, Lesley Joiner) who won the 2023 edition of the Henderson Bishop Trophy. They comprehensively saw off Team Stirling (Jane McLaren, Kim McLaren, Marjorie Christie, Elspeth Johnston) to claim the coveted prize. Elsewhere, Team Stranraer (Kate Adams, Margaret Agnew, Jenni Cannon, Louise Kerr) claimed the Cherry Stone.
The Forfar line-up went unbeaten through their section games to bag a spot in the play-offs. Up against Team Ayr (Gillian King, Fiona McGinnis, Janice Sutherland, Isla Robison), themselves undefeated so far, in the semi-finals, they gradually built an advantage to lead 3-1 at the break. However, they dealt a crucial punch at the restart with three that Ayr could only answer with a single. When Forfar added another three to their tally, the game was all but over, 9-2 the final scoreline.
In contrast, the second semi-final between Stirling and Team Greenacres (Karen Kennedy, Jacqui Taylor, Michelle McIntyre, Joyce Young) was open until the last end. Nothing could separate the sides on two-all at the break and it was Greenacres who struck first at the restart with a deuce. Stirling tied the scores again though by scoring and stealing a single each in the next two ends and it was all to play for again with one to go. The momentum was with Stirling who stole one to make it 5-4 and progress to the final.
A cagey start to the final had the teams sitting level on two-each at the break. but Forfar stepped it up a notch at the restart. Four points in End 5 gave them a firm hold of the game and they kept the upper hand when forcing Stirling to one in the sixth. Any hope Stirling might have had left was torn to pieces when Forfar scored three in End 7 and so decided the Henderson Bishop Trophy in their favour on 9-3.
Meanwhile, Stranraer faced Team Aberdeen (Tamzin Smith, Kay Gibb, Karen Shaw, Marion Malcolm) for the Cherry Stone. Aberdeen had the far brighter start and led by three to one at the break, all of their points stolen. They extended their advantage and were sitting pretty on a three-points lead with one end to go. However, Stranraer struck late and got a four on the board that snatched the win on 6-5.
