YC Nov issue 2013.indd

18
ISSUE
Features
Events
Clubs&Rinks
Nov 2013
Your Curler
The Royal Caledonian Curling Club Member Ezine
Scottish Ladies Win Sweden Tour: SCO 177 – SWE 159
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
On 1st November, sixteen ladies representing the Ladies Branch of The Royal Caledonian Curling Club set off on the 2013
Tour to Sweden. The Tour which began in 1973 has seen Scottish and Swedish teams touring every five years, with Scottish
teams 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 fact
the 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 Stockholm 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 unexpected
but absolutely glorious.”
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NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
2 FEATURES
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 be
crowned 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:
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.
RCCC Tartan NOW AVAILABLE
y o u r c u r l e r @ r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
Andrew Ballantyne, [email protected] or Alasdair Schreiber, [email protected]
The Royal Caledonian Curling Club has appointed Strathmore Woollen Company as exclusive manufacturer
and supplier of its official RCCC Tartan.
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: [email protected] W: www.tartanbystrathmore.co.uk
y o u r c u r l e r @ r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
YOUR CURLER
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.
3 FEATURES
NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
Rhona Promotes
Try Curling at Store
Opening
Rhona Howie (Martin) MBE officially opened Oak Furniture Land’s
brand new Glasgow store on Saturday 9th November at Great
Western Retail Park. This was Rhona’s first public appearance since
the 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 the
Try 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 latest
taster 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:
[email protected]
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.
YOUR CURLER
yo u rc u r l e r @ ro y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o rg
NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
4 FEATURES
New brushes
for new
curlers!
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The RCCC has been awarded 60
brushes from the World Curling
Federation ‘Curling Equipment
Programme’ to distribute to the first
60 new RCCC members who join
an affiliated Virtual Club in season
2013-14. 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 club
member 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
Dates for Your Diary
Curl Aberdeen, 15 - 17 November
Scottish Province Championship
Greenacres Curling Rink, 15 - 17 November
Skill Awards Challenge
Dewars Centre, Perth, 16 November
National Master Mens Curling
Championship - Qualifiers
Greenacres Curling Rink, 19 - 21 November
European Junior Curling Tour
Thun, Switzerland, 22 - 24 November
Lockerbie Superspiel
Lockerbie Ice Rink, 22 - 24 November
European Curling Championships
Stavanger, Norway, 23 - 30 November
Cathy Kerr Memorial – Wheelchair
Bonspiel
Ottowa, Ontario, Canada
28 November - 1 December
y o u r c u r l e r @ r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
The Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish
Curling Women’s Championship
Dumfries Ice Bowl, 29 November – 1 December
Asham Under 17 Slam The Baljaffray Trophy
Greenacres 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 – Qualifiers
Dewars Centre, Perth, 6 - 8 December
US Open - Wheelchair Bonspiel
Utica, New York, USA, 6 - 8 December
YOUR CURLER
Aberdeen Ladies Open
y o u r c u r l e r @ r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
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.”
5 EVENTS
NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
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 a
steal 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 Catherine
Dodds, 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 Team
Craig 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 Braehead
Curling on 13th October. Qualifying for the semi-finals as section
winners 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 team
taking 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 an
all-girls team has reached this stage in the competition.
The other semi-final was an exceptionally close affair with the game 3-3 going
into 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 matched
on this occasion and the score line finished 5-0. Callum, Duncan McFadzean,
Matthew McKenzie and Rory Desmond (all Perth) deservedly won the first leg of
the Asham Under 14 Slam.
The 3/4 playoff was a local derby between Dumfries & Lockerbie teams. Ryan
McCormack’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.
YOUR CURLER
yo u rc u r l e r @ ro y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o rg
NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
6 EVENTS
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 the
Paralympic Games this coming March.
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 and
Lesley 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 in
the 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 a
triple and opened up the house. Mouat made his final stone to lie four leaving
Bryce a draw full eight foot to save the end. Despite his sweepers best efforts the
stone 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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YOUR CURLER
Asham Under
21 Slam Inverness
y o u r c u r l e r @ r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
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 secured
second place in the Black Section. In the Red Section Norway finished top of the table with Italy finishing in
second 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 struck
back 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
7 EVENTS
NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
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 the
Tie 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 the
second 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 fine
form in the Round Robin finishing top of their section with only
one 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 Ross
McCleary, 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 shot
of 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 World
Championships 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 competitions
is available at www.edinburghicc.co.uk
Report: Robin Copland, Photo ©Graham Young
YOUR CURLER
yo u rc u r l e r @ ro y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o rg
NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
8 CLUBS & RINKS
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 fine
dining 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
y o u r c u r l e r @ r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
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 finished
with 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.
Next Issue
Send us your club or rink news, events and articles to:
[email protected]
by 6th December 2013 for the next issue.
Your Curler is published by The Royal Caledonian Curling Club.
y o u r c u r l e r @ r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org
tel: 0131 333 3003
YOUR CURLER
Report and photo by Janice Howard
9 CLUBS & RINKS
NOVEMBER 2013
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ISSUE 18
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 to
more 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:
[email protected]
by 6th December 2013 for the next issue.
Your Curler is published by The Royal Caledonian Curling Club.
YOUR CURLER
www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org tel: 0131 333 3003
yo u rc u r l e r @ ro y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o rg
NOVEMBER 2013
w w w. r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
ISSUE 18
10 CLUBS & RINKS
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 result
was 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, some
went to the Puppet Theatre and some enjoyed fine dining. On Saturday evening
everyone 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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11 CLUBS & RINKS
NOVEMBER 2013
w w w. r o y a l c a l e d o n i a n c u r l i n g c l u b. o r g
ISSUE 18
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 the
rules 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 Anniversary
year. It will be a full day out for some of the further flung curlers with
representatives 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 will
be 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.
Next Issue
Send us your club or rink news, events and articles to:
[email protected]
by 6th December 2013 for the next issue.
Your Curler is published by The Royal Caledonian Curling Club.
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