Monthly Archives: March 2023

Closing Bonspiel

The 2022-23 curling season officially came to an end on Saturday 11th March in a hugely busy day at Murrayfield Curling Rink. Penicuik players were amongst many taking to the ice for their Closing Bonspiel. Two unfortunate last minute call-offs and some frantic phone calls on Saturday morning to get replacements led to last minute changes to the published teams. Nevertheless, everyone was eager to make the most of the competition and enjoy the ice for the last time.

With score cards written, and with clear instructions on order of play and opposing team at the end of each sheet, the fun began.

As always, there are the winners and there are the losers. After 7 ends played the results were as follows:

Iain Scott and David Carr’s team finished equal on +7. However Iain’s team of himself, Alan McDonald, Janette and Louise were awarded the Trophy on the basis of winning more ends. David Gillespie’s rink was third on +3, Craig’s Team scored +1, Dave Anderson’s team finished on -9, and finally Margaret Carr’s team of Jean, Graeme and Saho holding up everyone else at -11.

The Mary McConnell Trophy and Medal presentations took place at the rink before the majority of players headed over to the Murrayfield Hotel to enjoy a delicious buffet meal after the event.

Iain, Alan, Janette and Louise
Graeme and Saho with the Bonspiel Booby Trophy

Many thanks to Jean Lennie for sponsoring the event and providing the prizes, and to the social committee for organising the final event of the season.

Report by Jean Noble

Province League

Penicuik’s campaign in the Province League Division 3 came to an end last night, Tuesday 7th March.

During the season the rink of Iain Scott (Skip), Dave Anderson, Kirsty McWilliam and David Gillespie played against rinks from Edinburgh Rotary, Merchiston, RBS and Clydesdale Bank, winning three of the four games and finishing on equal points and ends won with Clydesdale Bank who were placed top of the league by dint of their superior shot difference of 3.

However, in this competition the top two teams are required to play-off to ascertain 1st position so the rink, with Liz Anderson standing in at very short notice for unavailable David Gillespie, played this game against CB which we managed to win by 7 shots and 4 ends to 4 shots and 3 ends.
Iain and Dave stood very nervously in the head as we suddenly realised that if the opposition skip playing his last stone had managed to nick out our only counting stone and lie he would have achieved an 8. Fortunately for us his shot drew more than he expected and clipped our guard leaving them with only 1 shot. Relief beyond belief!

The upshot is that both rinks under current rules are promoted to Division 2 for next season.

Report by Dave Anderson

Pairs Competition

Eight evenly matched contesting Pairs took to the ice on Sunday 5th March to take part in this season’s competition.

The seriousness of the rivalry was evident in the first round games when after 4 ends, Dave A. and Craig Brown’s teams were all square with Skips drawing the house to decide the winner. Similarly, at the second start time, Dave Carr and Kirsty McWilliam were also forced to draw the house to decide the split.

After the first round games were complete, the pairings of Dave A and Stuart, Margaret and Roger, Kirsty and Jean and finally Liz and Alan progressed to the High Road Semis. Low Road Semifinal games were Craig and Vic against Dave Gillespie and Pam, whilst Dave Carr and Karen were matched against Iain and Graeme.

With brief respites for a plate of soup and a hot drink, the afternoons curling continued with those not on the ice watching from the balcony, and occasional words of advice (or laughter at flukey shots) heard from the gallery. Craig and Vic won through to the Low Road Final against Iain and Graeme and after one last hard fought game when Craig’s sweeping skills went into overdrive, they came out victorious as winners of the Low Road.

In the High Road, Margaret and Roger triumphed over Dave A and Stuart, whilst Kirsty and Jean won the match against Liz and Alan, despite Alan taking out every decent stone Jean played to the house and Liz’s producing some amazing draws.

With Jean and Roger struggling to get their weight on the re-pebbled ice in the first end, it was down to the Skips. Kirsty was deciding tactics and playing brilliantly, taking a 3 in the first end. Margaret and Roger continued to fight back but with the bell stopping play after the fifth end the final score was 2-5 against.

Congratulations to Craig and Vic as Low Road Winners and to Kirsty and Jean as Pairs Champions.

Many thanks to all who stayed on to watch the finals, and also to Karen and Graeme for standing in at short notice as reserves.

Report by Jean Noble

District Medal

Penicuik’s trip to Kinross for the District Medal match against Dunfermline CC was a lot of fun – even though we didn’t win. Team Gillespie (David, Kirsty, Reg and Graeme) realised early on what they were up against when Kirsty noticed the Strathcona Cup brooms of the Barr brothers. However, Penicuik played as best we could, were quite chuffed to win a two in the first end, put in our place firmly by six against in the second, won a couple of singles but the final end was four against us. Result: Barr 12 – 4 Gillespie

Team Scott ( Iain, Dave Anderson, Stuart and Roger) were also up against a strong team skipped by H Geyer. Alternative singles traded in the first 3 ends before Team Geyer took a four, then another couple of singles. Team Scott came back with a single in the last end, but result finished Geyer 7 – 3 Scott.

Overall result, Dunfermline win the District Medal 19-7.

The Dunfermline hosts were always welcoming, sociable, and good fun, and with soup and sandwiches and a few more drinks enjoyed after the match, Penicuik accepted their loss with good humour, before departing on a very late journey home.

Teams Scott and Geyer
Teams Gillespie and Barr

Report by David Gillespie