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18ISSUE

Nov 2013Features Events Clubs&Rinks

Your CurlerThe Royal Caledonian Curling Club Member Ezine

Scottish Ladies Win Sweden Tour: SCO 177 – SWE 159

On 1st November, sixteen ladies representing the Ladies Branch of The Royal Caledonian Curling Club set off on the 2013Tour to Sweden. The Tour which began in 1973 has seen Scottish and Swedish teams touring every five years, with Scottishteams returning to Sweden every year ending in a 3, and Swedish ladies visiting Scotland every year ending with an 8. The tour which ran until 10 November, saw the ladies doing a round-tour from Stockholm to Gävle, Karlstad, Jönköping, Norrköping and back to the Swedish capital. The ladies had a very busy schedule, playing eleven games of curling over the eleven days, and when they were not curling they were visiting the sites and being entertained. The ladies managed to squeeze in a whole host of activities including a tour of historic Upsalla, museum visits (both of the historic and ABBA variety!), a visit to picturesque Gränna with its famous Polkagris sweets, and a tour of the Swedish Royal Palace. In the end the Scottish ladies were victorious in an incredibly close run affair with the final winner only emerging on the last day of curling. In factthe scores still stood at 135 shots to 136 shots in favour of Sweden on the penultimate day of curling. A strong showing by the Scottish ladies in Stock-holm however sealed their victory with the final shot count for the tour registering 177 to Scotland, compared to 159 for Sweden. All of the ladies had a great time in Sweden and you can read more about the ladies tour as well as a full rundown of the scores on the Sweden Tour blog at: http://swedentour2013.blogspot.co.uk/

Speaking on arrival at Edinburgh Airport, Tour Captain Corrie Lawrence said, “I think I had the best set of ladies I could have wished for. They were tremendous. We all had a great time, it was a real team effort, and the result was unexpectedbut absolutely glorious.”

Pictured: The sixteen curlers selected to represent Scotland on this tour with Ladies Branch President Fiona Hardie on

their return to Edinburgh Airport, 11th November

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RCCC Tartan NOW AVAILABLE The Royal Caledonian Curling Club has appointed Strathmore Woollen Company as exclusive manufacturer and supplier of its official RCCC Tartan. Strathmore is one of Scotland’s most renowned suppliers of authentic tartan fabric and manufacturers of superior quality traditional Highland wear. With over half a century of experience in the industry, this family based company has a superior standard of product coupled with an enviable reputation for friendly, efficient and personal service.

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club Tartan is available in a range of products including ties, scarfs, stoles, cummerbunds and bow ties and is also available to purchase by the metre. Made to measure garments including kilts and skirts are also available by personal appointment at Strathmore’s Forfar outlet.

RCCC Tartan is only available directly from Strathmore Woollen Company. For full product range, prices and quotations contact:

T: 01307 462135 E: info@tartanbystrathmore.co.uk W: www.tartanbystrathmore.co.uk

Universities Try Curling Strathclyde University and Glasgow University Curling Clubs held a joint Try Curling session on Thursday 19th September for the start of the new university year. Experienced curlers were joined by complete beginners from both universities. The aim of the event was to get students with little or no experience of curling to give the sport a try. Upon arriving at the ice rink it was clear that the coaches were going to have their hands full with over 40 students attending the event! All the students completed a warm up, led by the presidents of both clubs and were then taught the basics of sliding, handles and sweeping. Once this was complete the groups played 2 end games against each other, giving the beginners an overall feel of how a real game of curling is played. The more experienced players were always on hand to answer questions as the games went on, these questions varied from tactics to scoring. All the students left with smiles on their faces and all seemed to enjoy the experience. The clubs now hope that many of the beginners will continue to come along to the training sessions. All universities compete in the SSS Curling League, which play all of its fixtures in Perth, and has universities from all over Scotland competing to becrowned champion. Strathclyde are the reigning champions, however it seems that all the universities have upped their game and the league could be close this year! For more information on either of the clubs and their training dates please contact:Andrew Ballantyne, president@strathcurl.com or Alasdair Schreiber, captain-curling@gusa.gla.ac.uk

In This Year As we celebrate the 2013 Scottish Ladies Tour to Sweden we look back 50 years to the twenty four Scots ladies who toured the United States from 20th January to 4th February 1963. Seated third and fourth from left are Muriel McPherson and Norah Hart, the two captains of the Team. Source, RCCC Annual 1963-64.

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Rhona Promotes Try Curling at Store Opening Rhona Howie (Martin) MBE officially opened Oak Furniture Land’sbrand new Glasgow store on Saturday 9th November at Great Western Retail Park. This was Rhona’s first public appearance sincethe announcement that her 2002 Olympic gold medal win has been voted one of the top 10 Team GB Winter Olympic moments of all time. Pictured top - Rhona with store manager Bill Dawson and staff cutting the ribbon. Oak Furniture Land support local initiatives and used the occasion to promote The Royal Caledonian Curling Club’s Try Curling initiative, which aims to attract new curlers to the sport and increase public awareness of curling. Pictured bottom – Rhona with RCCC Marketing Officer Stuart McLean promoting theTry Curling Beginner’s Guide to Curling in store. Rhona Howie, said, “I’m proud to be involved in the Try Curling Initiative especially with the Winter Olympic season upon us it’s important that we attract new people to the sport to make sure we have future curlers to follow in the footsteps of our mens and ladies teams going to Sochi Russia in February 2014, I am working hard on a daily basis with the ladies team and I hope both teams are successful. “

Visit www.trycurling.com for more about curling and to find the latesttaster sessions and beginners classes taking place across Scotland.

VACANCY

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club is currently seeking a person or persons to fill the vacancy of

Lead Child Protection Officer

This is due to the retirement of Pam Mackay who has done the role for many years.

If you are interested in contribution to this important part of our work that will promote the safety and interests of young people, please see the outline of the role at: http://royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org/about-us/welfare/child-protection/ and write an email expressing your interest to: lynne@royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org by 16 December 2013.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss what is involved please email Lynne or call her at our office: 0131 333 3003.

New brushes for new curlers! The RCCC has been awarded 60 brushes from the World Curling Federation ‘Curling Equipment Programme’ to distribute to the first60 new RCCC members who join an affiliated Virtual Club in season2013-14. What a great incentive to encourage new curlers to the sport! As highlighted before, Virtual Clubs have been very successful in retaining new participants. Coaches are at sessions to support curlers in a relaxed environment. Mother club members receive 50% discount on their RCCC membership so whilst curlers are encouraged to also join a mainstream club, it is in their benefit to be a mother clubmember of the Virtual Club initially. Several members of the Dundee Virtual Curling Club (Pictured) have received brushes thanks to the WCF Curling Equipment Programme and are pictured above.

Karen Smith (Dundee Virtual CC pictured far right) said:- “I am one of the lucky ones in the Dundee Virtual Club who received one of the new curling brushes as part of the WCF Curling Equipment Programme and I want to say the BIGGEST thank you to everyone involved in making this possible.”

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Dates for Your DiaryAberdeen Ladies Open Curl Aberdeen, 15 - 17 November

Scottish Province ChampionshipGreenacres Curling Rink, 15 - 17 November

Skill Awards ChallengeDewars Centre, Perth, 16 November

National Master Mens Curling Championship - QualifiersGreenacres Curling Rink, 19 - 21 November

European Junior Curling TourThun, Switzerland, 22 - 24 November

Lockerbie SuperspielLockerbie Ice Rink, 22 - 24 November

European Curling Championships Stavanger, Norway, 23 - 30 November

Cathy Kerr Memorial – Wheelchair BonspielOttowa, Ontario, Canada 28 November - 1 December

The Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish Curling Women’s Championship Dumfries Ice Bowl, 29 November – 1 December

Asham Under 17 Slam - The Baljaffray TrophyGreenacres Curling Rink, 30 November – 1 December

Double Rink Championship Stranraer Ice Rink, 6 - 8 December

Scottish Curling Junior Men’s Championship - Qualifiers Dewars Centre, Perth, 6 - 8 December

Scottish Curling Junior Women’s Championship – QualifiersDewars Centre, Perth, 6 - 8 December

US Open - Wheelchair BonspielUtica, New York, USA, 6 - 8 December

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Team MacFarlane Crowned Scottish Senior Mixed Champions The Scottish Curling Senior Mixed Championship was held at Stranraer Ice Rink from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th October. The section games were played in the true spirit of curling, many of the games were closely contested with some spectacular shot making on display. Winners of each section progressed to the High Road Semi Finals. This saw Archie Craig (Lanarkshire) matched up against Christine Cannon (Stranraer) and Gary MacFarlane (Braehead) take on Dick Adams (Stranraer). A big steal by Team Craig in the 7th end saw them proceed to the final, while the other semi-final was a very evenly contested affair which saw Team MacFarlane progress by way of asteal in the final end. Runners up in each section progressed to the Low Road Semi Finals which saw David Hardie (Dumfries) against Donald Rutherford (Braehead) and Trevor Dodds (Murrayfield) against Jim Cullen (Border). Rutherford and Dodds made it through to the Final where Trevor Dodds and his team of CatherineDodds, Robin Copland and Lois Copland were the stronger and ran out 7-4 winners after seven ends. The High Road Final was evenly matched through the early ends with Archie Craig’s Team of Marion Craig, Robin Aitken and Yvonne Craig taking a 1 shot lead after 4 ends. Team MacFarlane manufactured a 4 in the fifth end and never looked back, and after steals in the sixth and seventh ends TeamCraig conceded with the score 8-2. Winners pictured: Gary MacFarlane, Kate Adams, Billy Johnstone and Fiona MacFarlane.

Report by Ron Tosh. Photo by Gail Munro

Asham Under 14 Slam Braehead

The first Asham Under 14 Slam of the season was held at BraeheadCurling on 13th October. Qualifying for the semi-finals as sectionwinners were teams skipped by Callum Kinnear (Perth), Jill Strang (Lanarkshire), Hamish Gallacher (Dumfries) and Ryan McCormack (Lockerbie). 9 boys & 7 girls featured in the semi-finals with Jill’s teamtaking an early lead against Hamish Gallacher’s team of Isla Black, Andrew Murray & Ryan Parry and the game finished 4-1. This win secured Jill Strang, Megan MacDonald, Ann Fleming and Rachel Frame a place in the final, and it deserves a special mention that this is the first time anall-girls team has reached this stage in the competition. The other semi-final was an exceptionally close affair with the game 3-3 goinginto the last end. Callum Kinnear’s team had 2 stones sitting at the back of the 4 foot, leaving a draw for the win and whilst Ryan’s stone was perfect weight, it didn’t quite draw enough and gave Callum’s team 1 shot to win and progress to the final. The final saw Callum Kinnear’s team on their best form that couldn’t be matchedon this occasion and the score line finished 5-0. Callum, Duncan McFadzean,Matthew McKenzie and Rory Desmond (all Perth) deservedly won the first leg ofthe Asham Under 14 Slam. The 3/4 playoff was a local derby between Dumfries & Lockerbie teams. RyanMcCormack’s Lockerbie team of Ellie Hamilton, Natasha Kerr & Angus Naysmith were on form after their close semi-final and finished with a 6-1 win after the 4 ends. The next Asham Under 14 Slam event will be at Curl Aberdeen on Saturday 18th January; entries are still open for teams wishing to enter.

Visit www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org for an entry form.

Pictured Top Team Kinnear. Pictured bottom Team McCormack.

Asham Under 21 Slam Inverness

The second Asham Under 21 Slam event of the season was played at Inverness Ice Centre from 8-10 November. The competition featured a prize fund of £1,800 and a strong field of teams. The girl’s final was contested between defending champion Katie Murray andLesley Young who had topped the group stage with a perfect 4 and 0 record. Murray’s team appeared to be cruising when they stole the seventh end to lead 6-2. However Lesley Young’s team declined to give up hammer in the eighth and manufactured a triple in the ninth to take the game all the way. With her last stone Murray faced two in the twelve foot and opted to hit and lie. However the stone rolled out and Young had forced an extra end. In the decider Young’s team got early cover and Murray rather than hit for home opted to defend her opening counter in the four foot. A high strategy end left Lesley Young with an angled double raise to lift the Murray counter and leave Murray’s team in trouble. The stone looked perfect but the lifted stone could only feather the counter and the Murray team had retained their title as Inverness Junior International Champions. Girls Pictured top - Katie Murray (skip); Sophie Jackson; Laura Ritchie; Jodie Milroy; Barbara McPake (team coach)After a close semi, Cameron Bryce’s team failed to take their A-game to the early ends of the boy’s final against Team Bruce Mouat who had been undefeated inthe qualifiers. Mouat had retained hammer by blanking the opening two ends then took a two in the third end. In the fourth end Bryce faced six with his first stone but made atriple and opened up the house. Mouat made his final stone to lie four leavingBryce a draw full eight foot to save the end. Despite his sweepers best efforts thestone failed to make the paint and Mouat led by six.The Bryce team then showed what they were capable of with attacking play but Mouat’s rink of Duncan Menzies, Derrick Sloan and Angus Dowel were always in control and eventually killed the game in the ninth, exploiting Bryce’s need to gamble with a triple. Boys Pictured - Bruce Mouat (skip); Duncan Menzies; Derrick Sloan; Angus Dowell. It was a successful weekend with the ten end format meeting universal approval and the top teams emphasising their credentials for the forthcoming junior championships.

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Kinross International Wheelchair Curling Bonspiel The Kinross Wheelchair Curling International took place at Kinross Curling 15-17 October 2013 with eleven teams competing, five of which will be representing their countries at theParalympic Games this coming March. After some excellent curling through the section games at the end of the day both section winners and runner up had to be decided by ends and shots up scored. After section play it was decided by 1 point that Team GB would finish in first place while Sweden securedsecond place in the Black Section. In the Red Section Norway finished top of the table with Italy finishing insecond position. The Final would be contested by GB v Norway and the 3/4 playoff would be Sweden v Italy. The final was an excellent competitive game. Norway took a 3 at the 1st end and GB immediately struckback with a 3 at the second. Norway took a 1 at the 3rd and GB took 2 at the 4th to lead 5 – 4 at the 5th which was blanked. In the sixth end GB eventually lay game with a stone guarded in the 12ft but Norway just managed to make the draw to the 8ft to take the game to an extra end. In the extra end it was still anybody’s game until GB skip Aileen Neilson played an excellent draw with her first stone behind a guard in the 4ft. Norway skip Rune Lorensten could still draw to it but played his last stone a bit heavy and drifted by the 4ft leaving Aileen not having to play her last stone. Congratulations to Aileen Neilson (pictured front), Gregor Ewan, Robert McPherson and Tom Killin (pictured back). In the bronze medal match Sweden controlled the entire game against Italy to secure their bronze medal place.

Report by Archie Bogie & Tony Zummack. Photos by Andy Macpherson

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Scotland Take Gold and Bronze at EJCT, Oslo Royal Club Academy (RCA) Team Gina Aitken and RCA Team Robin Brydone were in Oslo for the third event of the European Junior Curling Tour. Team Brydone (pictured right) were on a 3-2 record and had to wait for the final session to see how many teams would enter theTie Break round. With four teams tied on 3 wins in the B Section it was down to the cumulative Draw Shot to decide the rankings. Swiss Team Hauser had beaten all the other teams so went straight to the Semi Final, while Team Brydone had the best Draw Shot score of the remaining teams. This meant waiting for the winner of the first 4 end Tie Breaker to see who they would play for thesecond Semi Final slot. The Tie Break game was a 5-0 victory for Scotland in 3 ends leaving them to stand alone against the 3 Swiss teams who had also qualified. The Semi Final was a decisive victory against the undefeated Team Schwaller who were the winners of Section A before squaring up in the Final against the team who had beaten them in the Round Robin. Again the pressure was on the Swiss right from the start and in a closely fought match it was a 4-3 victory for the Scottish Boys, cheered on by the Norwegians and Austrians! With Team Mouat winning the Glasgow EJCT and RCA Silver Team Brydone winning Oslo it is now back to Team Mouat who will represent Scotland in Thun, Switzerland in November to keep the winning streak alive. On the Girls side of the Draw Team Gina Aitken were on fineform in the Round Robin finishing top of their section with onlyone dropped game. It was on to the Semi Finals with Sweden, Switzerland and Scotland still hoping for victory. It was a tough Semi Final game that went down to last stones, but it was not to be and Team Aitken were into the Bronze Medal match. This was to be another Scotland/Switzerland matchup and after another close game Team Aitken came out on top (pictured right). The Swedish team Isabella Wrana were the eventual Gold winners of the girls’ competition. Team Aitken will join Team Mouat in Thun where a good showing could put both teams on track to win the 2013-14 EJCT and secure them a place in the Mens’ and Ladies’ competition of their choice for the 2014 Curling Champions European Tour.

Report and photos by Brad Askew.

Edinburgh International Curling Championship David Edwards, John Penny, Scott Macleod and Colin Campbell ran out winners of a one-sided final of the championships against RossMcCleary, James Stark, Craig Gudmundsson and Gavin Baird. The game hinged on the second end. Edwards had scored a nicely-controlled two shots in the first end with hammer. Ross faced three shots with his last shotof the end. He had two choices: either he could play the out-turn draw to the four foot, knowing that he just had to make the eight foot to cut two of the three Edwards counters; alternatively he could play a heavy draw / back twelve foot weight to the Edwards number one stone to count his one. He elected for the latter, but his stone ran agonisingly straight and sailed through the house. Result: a three to Edwards and a five-nil lead in the game. And that, to be honest, was that. No matter how hard they tried the McCleary team could not get back into the game and eventually, after seven ends, handshakes were offered. Many congratulations to David and his team. For David, this is the second time that he has won the famous old WorldChampionships trophy - he last won it in 2005. The Senior Competitions will be played from 22-24 November at Murrayfield Curling. More information on all Edinburgh International competitionsis available at www.edinburghicc.co.uk

Report: Robin Copland, Photo ©Graham Young

Greenacres The Greenacres Ladies’ Branch ran a successful coaching event on Monday 21 October, attended by members from several local clubs. The morning consisted of 2 half-hour coaching sessions on set up, line up and delivery, and 2 sessions on handles and release. There was also the opportunity for players simply to practise with a coach on-hand, or, if they wished, to drop in or out of the sessions. The morning finishedwith a mini-bonspiel so that the players could practise what their coaches had been helping them with, and then it was into the bar to enjoy Greenacres’ usual delicious freshly baked scones. Pictured are the ladies who attended the coaching day at Greenacres.

Report and photo by Janice Howard

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Cardross Curling Club

Cardross Curling Club this year celebrated its 150th Anniversary. The club was founded in 1863 and admitted to the RCCC in 1864. This wonderful milestone was celebrated by holding a bonspiel involving Cardross Curling Club members and members from the neighbouring rinks, Helensburgh Curling Club, Duntocher Curling Club, and Druids Curling Club. The event took place at Greenacres ice rink on the 15th September 2013 and was followed by an excellent evening of friendship and finedining at the ice rink. The event appears to have been a fantastic success and we would like to congratulate Cardross Curling Club for such a wonderful achievement. Pictured is all of the members from Cardross Curling Club.

Report by Ewan Baird, Secretary, Cardross Curling Club

Next Issue Send us your club or rink news, events and articles to: yourcurler@royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org

by 6th December 2013 for the next issue.

www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org tel: 0131 333 3003Your Curler is published by The Royal Caledonian Curling Club.

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Fife Ice Arena Fife Ice Arena, Kirkcaldy celebrated its 75th year in style opening with a Bonspiel for curlers, an Ice dance show from the Ice dance club and an ice hockey tournament between Fife Flyers and “Fife Legends”. The Ice rink was instigated by Fife curlers in the mid thirties and at a cost of £40,000 the rink was opened on the 1st of October 1938 being the largest clear span arena in the country. The then Earl of Elgin (the current Earl’s father) doing the honours. Here is an extract from his speech which is very poignant today, remembering that most of the curling then was outside: “We are going to learn the niceties, elbow in – elbow out in order to win our game. But it is the spirit of the game we are playing for, the spirit of teamwork, friendship and companionship and above all, we are all on a level on the ice.” We certainly had plenty of teamwork, friendship and companionship at our bonspiel with 12 clubs playing 3 x 5 end games with Cambo Ladies C.C. (Grace Brown, Margaret Thomson, Marion Fraser and Anne Turnbull) on a roll scoring a total of 26 shots, while Forret Curling C.C. (Peter Lang, Renick Cowan, Mary Campbell and Helen Lang) were second scoring 19 shots.

Pictured are some of the curlers taking part in the celebratory bonspiel. Pictured inset Harry Mitchell (organiser) Helen Lang, Renick Cowan, Peter Lang, Mary Campbell,

Margaret Thomson, Grace Brown, Marion Fraser, Anne Turnbull, Ronnie Herd (Ice Arena manager).Report by Harry Mitchell

Old Fellows Curling Club Old Fellows Curling Club, based at The Peak in Stirling, has expanded its range of activities this season and can now offer daytime curling tomore participants. As well as running Autumn and Spring Leagues, each with 10 teams, on its traditional Thursday lunchtime slot, the club now runs a Monday League and has moved its Pairs and Points competitions to Mondays. Old Fellows is a very sociable club with most members meeting for bacon rolls and soup in The Peak restaurant before games. There are also three club bonspiels each season together with a number of joint fixtures with ladies’ clubs and participation in Stirling Curling Group and Stirlingshire Province competitions. Further information about this fast-expanding club can be found at the website at www.oldfellows.org.uk and there is a selection of photographs at http://www.flickr.com/groups/oldfellows/

Pictured are some of the members of the Old Fellows enjoying a game of curling.Report and photo by Eric Begbie

Next Issue Send us your club or rink news, events and articles to: yourcurler@royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org

by 6th December 2013 for the next issue.

www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org tel: 0131 333 3003Your Curler is published by The Royal Caledonian Curling Club.

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Bearsden Curling Club Seventeen intrepid Curlers from Bearsden Curling Club set out for the historic City of Prague on Thursday 24th October. We visited Rotzly, the only curling ice rink in the Czech Republic. Which is a superb modern facility with about 500 curlers in membership. Jack Steven had organised the Bearsden rinks with two teams playing against Czech opposition and Bearsden v Bearsden on the 3rd sheet. We had arranged through the ice rink to play against local teams on the Friday and they got Karl, their national Coach, to arrange it - but when we got on the ice we discovered that Karl had decided to use it as a training session for the National Squads! The Stevens and Scotts played the Czech men skipped by Karl, and the Camerons and Veitchs played much the same Czech ladies team that BCC had sponsored at the Glynhill in January. On very straight ice the results were somewhat inevitable but everyone had a good time especially Neil and Brian surrounded by all the good looking girls! After a quick lunch at the ice rink we were back on the ice again and this time BCC fielded men against the men and ladies against the ladies, but the resultwas the much same as in the morning! Everyone then explored the city for the next two days, as the ice rink is too busy at weekends for visitors to curl. After a surprise birthday party for our secretary, with cake and fizzy plonk, some went on a Jazz Dinner Cruise on the river, somewent to the Puppet Theatre and some enjoyed fine dining. On Saturday eveningeveryone decided to join a guided night tour of the city, and we spent three hours walking on the cobbled streets. Sunday evening saw us on the roof balcony for some local sparkling wine before going downstairs for our boisterous farewell dinner. On Monday we were back to on the ice for a Bearsden mini bonspiel before returning to the hotel for a relaxed lunch until the coach came to take us to the airport. It seems everyone who went is keen to go on another tour next year.

Report and photos by Eileen Cameron

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Dundonald Curling Club On Friday 1st November at Ayr Ice Rink, Dundonald Curling Club hosted the 144th anniversary of the Finnie Kettle competition when 6 clubs from south of the River Irvine play against 6 clubs from the north. The trophy was presented by a Mrs Finnie of Newfield, Dundonald and she set down therules on the 23rd December 1869. Down through the years some of the original clubs have disappeared but many still exist in some form. Dundonald, Symington, Riccarton, Galston, Haymouth and Tarbolton were joined this year by Troon Portland for the south and Kilmarnock Townend, Kilmaurs, Stewarton Heather, Kilwinning and Dreghorn and Springside were joined by the Galleon representing the north. We still have a note of Mrs Finnie’s rules which suggest that the original game might have taken slightly longer than the modern game, with games consisting of 21 ends! You can, perhaps picture the scene on a cold winter’s day with 14 parishes playing outdoors over 21 ends, with the prospect of more ends to decide who was to receive the trophy! This year the south were victorious over 8 ends by a score of 49 shots to 37 with the Rink from Troon Portland taking the honours by dint of having +9 shots to the host club, Dundonald having +7 and Tarbolton with +6. The photographs show the winning rink from Troon Portland (top l to r) Jack McCorkell, Ewan Marr (skip), Mara Lindsay and Derek Gilbertson and last year’s winning skip, Jamie McFadzean from the Kilmaurs club handing over the Finnie Kettle to Derek Gilbertson, the Troon Portland President (bottom).

Report and photo by Andrew Kerr.

Glasgow Province On 1st December sixteen rinks from Glasgow Province will take on sixteen drawn from the Dunbarton and Argyll Provinces in a Grand Indoor Challenge Match at Braehead. Spread over a morning and afternoon session at Braehead Curling, the format will be a straight shots for and against total in the manner of the Grand Match to determine which Province gets bragging rights for the rest of the anniversary season. The match, which is unique in modern times, was dreamt up by the local Royal Club representatives as a fitting way to mark the 175th Anniversaryyear. It will be a full day out for some of the further flung curlers withrepresentatives from Forest Hills, Dunoon, Helensburgh and Millport all scheduled to take part. Both sexes are well represented and some period costume is being talked about in some quarters. The first session of eight ends will start at 10am,followed by a buffet lunch and a dram or two. Then the next 64 curlers willbe piped on to the ice to add to the morning fun. Local organiser Alan Sloan commented “We were looking to do something special to mark the anniversary. It seems also that it will be a unique occasion because as far as we can tell the Provinces have never had a Grand Match against each other, certainly not in Braehead’s time. We are delighted with the curlers’ response, especially those from the Argyll Province and we are sure we will all have a great day out.”

Report by Alan Sloan.

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