Meet the Team – England Women

Tomorrow afternoon, England’s women kick off their European B-Division Championships in Ostersund, Sweden with an opening match against Germany.

This season’s England team is one with a wealth of experience and who are likely looking forward to the challenge of a tough European field this year. With Lisa Farnell, Naomi Robinson, Angharad Ward, Hetty Garnier, and Anna Fowler, the collective number of national caps on this team is, frankly, frightening. So, without further ado, let’s meet them!

Their fifth player Lisa has some CV to start, with various Canadian appearances at Juniors and Women’s level. Her 2006 Ontario junior provincial championship win is a particular stand-out for her – possibly as much so as the party tour even in Tukums, Latvia!

As well as an accomplished curler, Lisa is also a martial arts expert, holding a second degree black belt. She didn’t say what in, but we reckon we don’t want to annoy her! Indeed, her sporting inspiration comes from her martial arts coach when she was a kid. We reckon that those kinds of quick reflexes are probably pretty good for having to deal with a toddler at home too!

In at lead is Naomi Robinson, a teacher from down south. She learned to curl at Fentons and has been a fixture on England teams since she could throw a stone! Having won a gold medal at the European Juniors, she’s pretty sure she and the girls will have what it takes to do that again. As per her game day rituals, it’s all about visualisation!

Her sporting inspiration is non other than Simon Biles, and we can see that same determination in every event Naomi turns up to. Perhaps emulating her hero, she’s also taught herself to be able to walk on her hands!

Angharad is up next throwing second stones. When you finally get her in from the wildernesses of Islay, where she looks after the wildlife in her conservationist role, she’s a true force to be reckoned with on the rink. She is a sporty person all-round, enjoying kayaking, netball, and anything that will get her outside – where she’ll often have her camera too!

As long as things this week run a little more smoothly than the European Mixed in Turkey, we think Angharad will be happy. A trip where nearly everything went wrong, to the point where it’s now just a funny story… mostly. Prior to the game, you’ll find Angharad listening to the same warm-up playlist as always, channeling her inner Tom Stoltman before getting on the ice.

Third player Hetty has a fair few caps as well at this point, having travelled to 11 countries to play curling (and quite well, we might add!). Ask her about her favourite trip for curling and you’ll get the same answer as Naomi – Stavanger, Norway. It was her first European Women’s event and the team came home with a Bronze medal! But few things will come close to that win at the European Juniors and the subsequent trip to the World Junior Championships.

Like Angharad, Hetty takes sporting inspiration from the world of strength and the inspirational figure cut by Tia-Clair Toomey. And, with Hetty’s determination and grit, you can see why! Like much of the team, you’ll find her with her headphones in before a match, listening to Little Simz.

Throwing last stones is Anna Fowler. With caps from women’s, mixed, and mixed doubles, Anna has done it all. Most recently with her baby daughter in tow as well! In fact, this will be Anna’s 21st World Curling Event! Many of Anna’s favourite moments and trips come from mixed doubles, such as the tour event in Banff, Alberta, and making the last 8 at the World Mixed Doubles in 2016.

Warm-ups are time for music for Anna as well, all the while she’s visualising nailing the button for the last stone draw. Whilst Anna seems to live and breathe curling, you can also find her on her bike, running, or doing yoga to keep fit… though we reckon that’s just to keep in good shape to curl again when the season comes around!

This is a team of incredible experience and who have been putting in the hours on and off the ice to give themselves the best chance at going all the way. We know they’ve got what it takes, and we’ll be cheering on like crazy!

You can follow all of their results on the World Curling website.