As has become the custom this event is led by some of the ladies in our Club. This year it was down to/up to Liz Anderson, Margaret Carr, Nicki Cassie, Jean Noble, Pam Ramsay and Jan Stuart (alphabetical) to secure The Marie Vinestock Trophy.

After 7 Ends all retired upstairs for food, drink and chat and then to hear the final outcome. Two Prize Winners emerged! Firstly, (actually last) was Team Ramsay(Mrs) who received a Goodie Bag and Boobie Trophy for recording a score of -14. Then up came Mrs Carr and her rink to receive The Trophy, A Medal and Wine for achieving an outstanding score of +11

WHAT HAPPY WINNERS

Chartered Surveyors came with The Trophy and left with The Trophy!

That’s about the story! The four clubs associated with Hamish got together for their annual bonspiel at Murrayfield on Saturday 9th December. The Bonspiel saw each club playing 2 ends against each other to determine the 2023 winners.

The games all started with low scoring with Surveyors taking a 1 from Penicuik and then giving the 1 back in end 2. On the other sheet Watsonians took a 1 in the first from Merchiston and then a 4 in end 2. Five Points up already, it was looking as if Watsonians were on the way to victory. However, they failed to score in the competition again until taking a 3 from Penicuik in the last end. This left them with a +3.

Of course, you will want to know more about the Penicuik Charge which was led by Iain Scott and backed up by Dave Carr, Jean Noble and Graeme Cassie. After being level from their first game, Penicuik did the same in the second game against Merchiston by scoring a 1 and losing a 1. Chances were slipping for ownership of the Trophy as they went into the last game. A 2 in the first end might have given hope but that was soon dashed when Watsonians took a 3, leaving Penicuik on -1.

Surveyors led by Martin Hall and supported by Archie Rintoul and a couple of ‘ringers’ Jim Cowper and Jim Ramsay only gave up 2 points during the whole competition. They ended The Hamish Tait Bonspiel on +5 and therefore retained The Trophy.

Iain Scott presenting Martin Hall

NEW HOLDERS OF THE CROOK

A REPORT HAS ARRIVED

In a tense Game of Thrones on 29^th November, Penicuik’s Curling Queens have been deposed by the new Kings of Curling, Dave Anderson’s Rink of himself, Geoff Dawe, Jim Hume and Graeme Cassie.

The Club Challenge Crook holders of Margaret Carr, Jean Noble, Pam Ramsay and Saho Arakawa (substituting for Liz Anderson) displayed the usual focus, but fell short with too many opening stones, whilst Graeme and Jim as lead men were getting their weight perfectly. The challengers took an early lead with a 2 in the first end, followed by a 1 in the second. In a tense third end, whilst trying to emulate Bruce Mouat’s Championship tactics, both teams played stones progressively on the centre line, with the ladies winning by 1 stone after a measure. Score now 3-1 for Team Anderson.

Great play from the men again in the fourth, as they took another 1. Saho’s perfect lead stone to the button in the fifth, then well protected by her teammates increasingly wider guard stones, was enough to secure another point for the ladies. Score now 4-2.

Another very tense game in the sixth, with a cluster of stones built up around the head. Skip Margaret’s only option was to play a Wick and Curl In from an outlying stone. Swept valiantly by sweepers Saho and Pam, the lady Skip’s brilliant shot scraped narrowly between two opposition stones to end up right on the button. Another point for the girls – now 4-3.

By this time Skip Anderson and his rink were looking slightly worried, whilst the girls were ever hopeful. However, Dave got his tactics just right, and with last stones to play had built up an impenetrable blockade at the front. Outlying stones forced Margaret to try to draw through the port, stopping just short, and Dave’s rink took the win by another 2 stones. Final score 6-3.

Retiring upstairs for a well-earned drink, Margaret commented on the tight match and excellent play by the opposition before presenting Dave with the Club Challenge Crook. Having been accused of witchcraft in the past, the ladies have now retired to review their book of spells, with a view to regaining the throne in the future.   

In the meantime, Long Live the new Kings of Curling – Dave, Geoff, Jim and Graeme. Their reign may well be short as another opportunity to usurp the holders is available in mid- February. Who is brave enough to try? 

Report by Jean Noble