Remember, Remember the 5th of November! That was 37 Club Challenge Day.

2 sheets of Ice and 16 anxious players set off Head to Head to earn the 37 Club Challenge Plate. Penicuik Team 1 was led by Dave Anderson with Reg Dunbar at 3rd, Ken Hunter coming in at 2nd and the ever reliable Jim Cowper at one. Team 2 consisted of Jim Ramsay, Iain Scott. Martin Hobbs and Jean Noble.

It took Team 1 5 ends to get on the board against 37 Clubs’ Paul Davis Rink by which time the score was 8-2 to the 37’s. On sheet 6 Penicuik’s team 2 were holding their own and by the 5th end the score was 8-2 to Penicuik. Team game, so we were equal at the 5th. At the 6th howeve, the 37’s 1st team took a 4 from Mr Anderson while all team Ramsay could do was add another 1 to their score.

Things looked as if they were slipping away until in end 7 the Andersons took a 2 making their final score 8 down at 12-4. In the 6th end the Ramsaites were 7 up. All Penicuik needed to retain the Salvor was a 2. Unfortunately, they didn’t have last stone but were on course to make the 2 and maybe even 3 until 37’s Skip of their Team 2 (Alister Hay) made a wick in to earn shot. Ramsay had the opportunity to play his Yellow to Yellow to take out the hidden Blue stone. The excitement was too much! His stone was on the heavy side and unable to stop the keen sweepers to up their brushes, the stone just missed the target and 37 Club secured the Trophy. Upstairs to the refurbished clubrooms for analysis of the game and a Red Wine for Jean.

When we say secure the Trophy, that’s not quite true because PP Scott forgot to bring the Silverware into Murrayfield. So, at time of writing, Penicuik still have the Trophy and possession is 9/10ths!

A return match is organised in March when Penicuik will take back The Trophy (maybe).