In February 1816, curlers from the newly formed Penicuik Curling Club ventured into Edinburgh to play the club’s first inter-club game against opponents Merchiston Curling Club. Penicuik emerged as victors on the day however, in a return match played on Penicuik ice at the beginning of March 1816 the Merchiston curlers took the day. To mark the bicentenary of these games, the Merchiston and Penicuik clubs met in a friendly fixture at Murrayfield on Tuesday evening (12 Jan). The Penicuik team was Ken Hunter, Keith Morris, Tom Alexander, and Dave Carr; and the Merchiston team was Jim Cannon, Keith Anderson, David Hume, and Archie Smith.
Merchiston started off on the front foot and took a single in the first end. They pressed hard in the second end and were unfortunate to lose a single. After that the Penicuik team started to get a better grip on the game, and took two shots in each of the next three ends to go 7-1 up after five ends. Merchiston came back with a well worked two at the sixth end. In the final end a fine draw by Keith Morris saw Penicuik lying shot behind a gaggle of front stones. However it was not to be, Jim Cannon with his last stone managed to just avoid a front stone and get an angled raise within the house to take shot. Final score 7-4 to Penicuik.
Afterwards the players gathered to enjoy a sociable refreshment together and discuss the long association of their two clubs. David Hume, President of Merchiston, had drawn up information from the PCC minutes to entertain the party. It was mutually agreed that the fixture should become an annual event if suitable arrangements can be put in place.