Monthly Archives: November 2022

Ladies Crowned Club Challenge Holders

On 29th November, an evening of high drama, the first Club Challenge of the season saw the Crook Trophy firmly wrested from the grasp of the current holders by a scratch team of ladies who were psyched up and ready for the fray. Since the competition’s inception, this was the first time that a straight win had been achieved by the challengers and what a win it was.

In Keith’s absence and with David Gillespie unavailable, Martin skipped his rink of Roger, Jim Cowper and Elaine Lambie whilst Margaret Carr was ably supported by Liz Anderson, Jean Noble and Pam Ramsay.

The ladies got off to a strong start, taking a 3 in the first end and leaving the opposition slightly bemused. However, the second end proved more difficult for the ladies with lead and second stones hanging out on the faster downward ice, allowing Martin’s team to build up a group of 6 stones in the house, before Margaret played a brilliant draw with her last stone to snatch the point. Score 4-0.

It was nip and tuck in the third end, with draws and take outs played by both sides, with Martin taking a 1 to get on the board.

The ladies were in the ascendancy again in the fourth end, with strong lead stones from Pam, and Jean very proud of an very impressive wick and curl in from an outlying opposition stone. Liz drew the house with both her stones leaving Margaret to block the only way in, thus adding another 3 to the challenger’s score.

A further 1 in the fifth end left the ladies sitting 8 -1 up, by this time drawing the attention of spectators in the gallery.

End 6 began with Pam playing a great stone into the centre ring, but with the ice playing slower, both teams follow up stones were left short creating a protective barrier and forcing play on the other side. Despite the best efforts of the holders, the ladies held out with Margaret once again drawing to win another stone. With Martin and his team shaking hands to concede after 6 ends, the final score was 10 -1 to the ladies.  

Despite accusations of ‘witchcraft’ and ‘abuse of the elderly’, the match was played in the friendliest of terms, with the score not really reflecting the closeness of play. Afterwards, both teams retired upstairs to enjoy a coffee and chat, and to commiserate with Jim Cowper who was still in shock.

No doubt rinks are being formed  as we speak to raise the next challenge to be played in late February, but for now congratulations to the Margaret, Liz, Pam and Jean – the new Club Challenge Holders.

Report by Jean Noble

DAFS v Penicuik.

Saturday, 26th November . News just in……Bruce Mowat wins European Gold again! Also at this time another (maybe not so big) match takes place at Murrayfield featuring players from DAFS Curling Club against Penicuik Curling Club.

In what looked like a step away from responsibility in the DAFS rink, Graham Thompson persuaded Jon Pickup to take charge of proceedings on their behalf with David Lindsay at Third and Catriona Graham as Lead. For Penicuik, the line up was Sweeping Master Jim Cowper at Lead, David Ballantyne at Second, while Mrs Ramsay supported Mr Ramsay at Third.

The first end of any game is always a tester as teams find out ice speeds and capabilities of opposition players, but the brilliant Penicuik Skip stole the first end with a near perfect draw hide to the button for a 1. Trouble brewed for Penicuik in the 2nd and 3rd ends when a 2 then a 1 were lost.

Not to worry though! Penicuik were in the game again at the 4th with both blue and yellow stones contesting closely for the button spot.  Penicuik had last stone which needed to nudge the sitting opposition stone for shot.  It had to be the right weight and line which it mostly was but at the last moment the handle changed which, rather than the expected , gave Penicuik a 3.

We were back in charge and stole a further 2 at the 5th end making the score DAFS 3 Penicuik 6. Being a friendly match, Penicuik pulled back and let our opponents back into the game by leaving them the opportunity of a 1.

A lot of thought had gone into the DAFS game which resulted in time catching up with us (nothing to do with Graham of course) Four minutes to the bell and the 7th end started.

It proved to be a very tight last end. Jim and David playing the stones asked to split the house each play only to be countered by their opposite number. DAFS were now lying 2 when it was the turn of the ‘Man of the Match’ , Pamela, who played her second double take out of the game. Unfortunately, the DAFS Third got the better of us and drew shot.

It was now all up to the Skip shots.  Mr Pickup played his first stone and took a second counter for DAFS. The poor Penicuik Skip had so much pressure on him… the two DAFS stones were hidden and best that could be done would be to chip one out. Just that wee bit too much weight saw it ‘stay out’ and slip by.  The final DAFS stone was perfect weight but could not hide which left them sitting with 3 counting stones.  Oh!  that poor, poor Penicuik Skip, what to do? Try and chip out again which might work or take the easier 3rd DAFS stone and not miss the gap.  A wick in might have been possible but best to be sociable and submit the 2 to DAFS which left the game after 7 ends at 6-6.

As is the custom, the eight players retired to the Bar to relive the game and discuss the if and maybe.  6pm. – better get home for Strictly!

Report by Jim Ramsay

London Calling!

Attached below two photos taken by club member Geoff near Kings Cross, in London.

The delight of curling as a sport is obviously spreading to our cousins south of the border, but maybe it’s a bit far to go for a social game.

Whim Curling Ponds

The Club has recently been contacted via the Club’s Website by Colin Hunwick, and I have attached an extract from his email below for those who may be interested.

‘My name is Colin Hunwick and my family and I live at Whim House. We are lucky enough to have two historic curling ponds on our land which was part of the Duke of Argyles estate at Whim Hall (now a care home).
We are re-wilding the land and will be opening up the ponds to nature and who knows maybe curling again.
According to history there has been various historic matches played on the ponds.
If you would like to get in touch please message me and maybe a visit could be arranged.’

There is mention of historic curling competitions played at the Whim in the book by Colin Whittemore which was published as part of our Bicentenary celebrations. These include a ‘Grand County Match’ played jointly at the Whim and Penicuik curling ponds in 1823. Hopefully, the Club can arrange a group visit at some point in the future to meet with Colin and see the old curling ponds.

In the meantime, copies of Colin Whittemore’s book, Curling Through Two Hundred Years of Penicuik Curling Club, are still available for anyone who may wish to buy one.

Swan Trophy, 17th November

Two rinks stepped up to the hack to take on Oxenfoord in this well-liked double rink competition. Craig Brown, Jim Ramsay, Roger Scott and Graeme Cassie faced Trevor Dodd’s rink and Dave Anderson, Dave Carr, Stuart Blackwood and David Gillespie took on Calum Harvey’s rink.

Penicuik got off to the worst possible start losing 5 shots and 4 shots respectively. Team Brown got on the board with a single in the 2nd but lost 2 then a further 3 in the next two ends. 3 shots were then gained by Craig’s rink before conceding a 1, then 3 in the last two ends, the final score being 14 – 4

In the meantime, team Anderson conceded 1 in the 2nd by way of an unintended raise by Calum to nudge our shot stone. We came back with a single in the 3rd but lost 1 in the 4th. We got a well deserved 3 in the 5th followed by 1 in the 6th. Penicuik needed 10 shots to win in the last end but with only 7 stones in play it was a lost cause. We took 1 against the hammer to peel the game, 6 – 6

Overall Oxenfoord scored 20 shots to Penicuik’s 10.

As always with our games against Oxenfoord, they were played in very good spirits, and we retired to the balcony for a bit of fellowship and refreshments. Thanks to all who played, especially Graeme and Stuart who enjoyed the challenge of playing in this competition.

Report by Dave Anderson

Social Game against Land o’Burns, 8th November

Penicuik were invited to play against Land o’ Burns Curling Club through our association with Ian Robertson, a member of the Gorebridge Traders Golf Club of which Dave Carr, Jim Ramsay, Geoff Dawe and Dave Anderson are also members. Unfortunately Ian was unable to play as he had been unwell, but he did come along to watch the proceedings.

Two rinks of Dave Anderson, Liz Anderson, Reg Dunbar and Graeme Cassie and Jim Ramsay, Dave Carr, Pam Ramsay and Jim Cowper ventured west to take on two rinks from Land o’ Burns.

Jim’s rink lost 3 in the 1st but got 1 back in the 2nd and it was nip and tuck all the way from there with a final score of Penicuik 7 – Land o’Burns 8

Dave’s rink got of to a good start with a 1 in the 1st and it was fairly even until the 5th when we lost a 3 to go 6 – 2 down. The next end was the turning point when the skip tried to follow the opposition stone to gain 1 shot but unfortunately it caught a guard, and we lost 5 shots. There was no way back after that and we shared single shots in the remaining ends to lose the game 12 shots to 3.

The aggregate score was consequently Land o’ Burns 20, Penicuik 10

Thanks to all who travelled to Ayr, a first visit for most. We look forward to the return match in February ‘23

Report by Dave Anderson

Rink Championship Match 22nd October.

Penicuik was drawn against Currie & Balerno in the Rink Championship.

The rink of Dave Anderson, Jim Ramsay, Dave Carr and David Gillespie got off to a good start with a single followed by a 3 in the second. We conceded 3 in the 3rd but increased our lead with a last stone draw in the 4th. Unfortunately, the wheels came off for Penicuik in the 5th and 6th when we conceded consecutive 4s to lose the game 11 shots to 5

Good luck to Currie & Balerno in the next round.

Report by Dave Anderson

Update on Paul Murton Estate Visit

You will remember that Paul Murton visited Penicuik Estate recently to film for part of his upcoming TV series on Scottish Rivers. The Club has had an update from the producers as copied below:

‘ I just wanted to apologise that we haven’t been in touch regarding the transmission of Grand Tours of Scotland’s Rivers – Series Two. We’re still waiting for confirmed details from the BBC. We are now expecting the series to go out in January 2023 but will of course let you know when we have any updates to pass on. ‘

Hurley League Winners 2022-23

Congratulations to Dave Carr and his rink of Geoff Dawe, Alister McDonald and Jean Cassie for winning the final of the Hurley Competition last night, beating Iain Scott’s rink by 8 stones to 5. A special mention to Jean for winning a medal in her first full season with Penicuik Curling Club.

Club Challenge

An enthusiastic team of ladies has raised the first Club Challenge of the season against the current holders, unfortunately still without Keith who is still recovering from his recent injuries. This match will be played on Tuesday 29th November.

Margaret Carr, Liz Anderson, Pam Ramsay and Jean Noble will attempt to wrestle the Challenge Crook from the hands of Martin Hobbs, David Gillespie, Roger Scott and Elaine Lambie, who has stepped in to make up the holders rink.

Game on !