Kelso to host curling’s four-nations championship for first time
Kelso’s Border Ice Rink is to host curling’s annual four-nations championship for the first time in the competition’s 130-plus-year history at the end of the month.
Taking place from Friday, January 23, to Sunday the 25th, that event will see scores of curlers from across Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales competing for eight trophies all together.
As current president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, Hutton’s Keith Prentice led the bid to bring the international contest, dating back to 1893, to the Borders and he’s chuffed to bits to have succeeded, saying: “It’s a tournament that is held every year and it’s Scotland’s turn this time, and because I’m RCCC president, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see if we could bring it to the Borders for the first time.
“We were delighted to hear that our bid was successful because it takes a lot of work by volunteers to make this happen.
“We’re really looking forward now to welcoming more than 70 curlers to the Kelso ice from the Friday night through to the presentations on Sunday afternoon and the social fun that goes with it.”
The coup pulled off by the Kelso rink in landing 2026’s four-nations championship is the latest chapter in a success story that’s seen it turn around its fortunes after facing an uncertain future due to the coronavirus pandemic wiping out its income for most of 2020 and 2021.
It’s managed to raise funds for improvements since and that’s paid off as it’s now able to attract higher-level curling matches and ice hockey teams struggling for ice-time elsewhere.
With rising energy costs a major threat to ice rinks nationwide, it’s also invested in a new roof and is currently switching to air-source heating via a match-funding project with Aviva.
On top of that, it’s launched its own ice hockey team, the Kelso Rams, and now hosts pickleball sessions in summer.
Prentice, 71, added that he’s hoping to see more high-profile events like the four-nations championbship played in Kelso in future as the rink builds up a reputation as a “welcoming, friendly and high-quality rink”.
Admission to the championship is by donation.
Prentice, representing Ayton Castle Curling Club, is part of a 37-strong extended Scottish squad for the championship including nine fellow Borderers – his clubmates Colin and Elizabeth Martin, Earlston’s Jim Cullen, Kelso’s Sheila McNab, Greenlaw’s Helen Mathieson, Selkirk’s Caroline McClymont, Lauderdale’s Emma Neill, Roxburgh’s James Stark and Duns’ George Whiteford.
He’s skipping a Scottish mixed team on day two of the championship also including Highlander Annette Clunas, Edinburgh’s James Scott and Edinburgh’s Alison Troup.
The prizes being contested include the Tom Ballantyne Trophy by Scotland’s men and England’s, its current holders; the Connie Miller Trophy, by the same rivals’ women, Scotland being its holders at present; the Welsh Stone, by holders Wales and Scotland; the Marshall Millennium Trophy, by holders Scotland and Ireland; and the Guy Dingle Trophy, by the hosts, its holders, and England.
This year’s draw has been made, featuring 16 matches for the hosts, and it can be found at https://www.scottishcurling.org/scotland-team-named-for-the-2026-four-nations/