Saturday 14th December saw the end to the first half of the curling season and this was celebrated with the Saturday League Christmas Bonspiel where festive jumpers and hats were the order of the day. We were joined by two new players -Stuart Blackwood a potential new member who attended our opening Beginners session and who has since been getting some coaching from David Gillespie, and also an amazing new talent in Maisie Beaton who was filling in for her dad Robert who unfortunately had to work. 

Each team played  two ends against each other team rotating positions as the games progressed and, in a change to the Saturday League, scoring points to ensure we had a winner. Much fun was had and it’s fair to say the curling was not taken too seriously. The star of the show was Maisie who in the final end delivered an amazing stone unassisted which ended up right on the pot lid. An excellent achievement for a slight nine year old playing in her first adult competition. (She also really enjoyed acting as Skip and telling her grandad Ronnie where to play as well as berating him when he missed the shot). After six ends we had a clear winning team of David and Barbara Gillespie, Jean Noble and Stuart Blackwood.

With curling over we retired to the Club Room where the Prize Giving took place before we enjoyed a festive fare of Soup and Mince Pies. Many thanks to Christine for organising the food and prizes and to all who took part in this fun event as well as the other family members who joined us for lunch. The prize for best Christmas jumper, chosen by Rebecca, was won by Elaine Lambie. Photos of the event can be seen in the Gallery. 

We especially hope to see Stuart and maybe even Maisie along to our Saturday sessions in 2020.   Merry Christmas everyone.

Jean Noble

1^st Club Points – 11^th December 2019

Six Club members started in the competition for the 1^st Points of the season but unfortunately Keith Morris was unable to continue after 3 disciplines because of his continuing Achilles tendon problem. It was a tightly fought competition which included all ten Points disciplines and, using the excuse of the combination of the new ice and the new stones for the scoring being slightly less than would normally be expected, the eventual overall winner on a score of 33 points was Jim Ramsay.  On equal scores of 31 points, the runners-up were Ronnie Hope and Dave Anderson.  Alex Moir and Dave Carr finished on 27 and 24 points respectively.

It was a very enjoyable competition  and our thanks go to Jean Noble for her sponsorship of this event.

Dave Anderson

On 8th December, six experienced male members were joined by two slightly reluctant ladies to take part in this year’s Singles Competition.

The first rounds were duly completed with Iain Scott, Andrew Lambie,  Murray Hope and Dave Anderson all winning to progress to the High Road (Dave having to draw shots against Ronnie Hope), whilst David Gillespie, Liz Anderson and Jean Noble joined Ronnie in the Low Road.

Liz played Ronnie in the first Semi Final and, after 4 ends with result at 2-2, had to draw shots again which Liz won. In the second match Jean had a win against David Gillespie, a game of both drawing and striking. To their great surprise the two ladies went forward to meet each other in the Final of the Low Road. This was very much a game of drawing to the house with Jean getting off to a great start in the first two ends before Liz countered in the third. Another single  in the fourth meant that Jean became outright winner of  the Low Road Competition. 

Dave and Murray beat Iain and Andrew respectively in the  Semi-Final of the High Road both winning by the same margin of 4-1.   After a short break , Murray and Dave played off in the hard fought Final, both often playing to the edge of the house and trying to take out each other’s stones. After five ends of singles shots apiece, Murray led 3-2 with no score at the final end. 

Many congratulations to Murray for winning the High Road Final, and to Jean for the Low Road Final.  Thanks to all who took part, and particularly David Gillespie who stepped in at the last minute. Thanks also to Dave Anderson, our generous sponsor.

Report by Jean Noble 10th December.

For the second year running Team Ramsay met Team Scott in the final of the Knock-out Competition played on 3rd December.

Team Ramsay got off to a great start taking a 3 at the first end, before Team Scott countered with a 2 at the next.  Jim’s rink won the next two ends with first a single  then another 3 to lead 7-2 after the fourth end.

However Team Scott were not beaten yet and rallied to take a 4, then another 4 in the fifth and sixth ends,  then a 2 in the final end to win 12-7. A high scoring match worthy of the Final.

Many congratulations to the winning team of Iain Scott, Robert Beaton, Alex Moir (sub for Tom Griffin) and Alicia Neil. Commiserations to Jim Ramsay and his team of Ken Hunter, Christine Hope and Ian Neil.

Report by Jean Noble.