The last few weeks have been a real fight for the top slot in The Thirds between the McWilliam and Baptie Rinks. We all thought that it would come down to the final game. Unfortunately for Team McWilliam, Alan McDonald and his team took a win in the penultimate game.

It was also a fight at the other end of the league to stay off the bottom. The final game was between Hobbs and Dunbar and it proved to be a ‘Phew!’ for Reg Dunbar.

So! that’s it for season 23/24 and we should all congratulate Kyle Baptie, Alex Moir, Karen Black and Jan Stuart for winning 7 games out of 8 to win The Thirds League.

Full details on The Thirds League page.

The clear winners of this years Kettle Trophy are Team Scott who ended 6 points clear of the closest rivals Anderson and Ramsay who could only count 14 Points.

Father and son or should it be son and father combination worked well along with Third Martin Hobbs and Lead Jean Cassie.

The full Kettle table can be viewed on The Kettle Page.

King George IV

In the Midlothian Province King George IV competition this year, Penicuik CC was represented by President David Gillespie (skip), Iain Scott, David Carr and Craig Brown. 

Our first game was on Friday 1st December, we were drawn against 37Club, and came back in the final end from 4-7 down to win 8-7 and move into the quarter-final, played on Friday 19th January. Our opposition this time was Sweepers CC, and we won again 7-2. 

In the semi-final on Friday 16th February we lost 6-4 against SIAE, who went on to win the final against Merchiston (a game we were able to watch from adjacent sheets while playing Kettle matches).

Scottish Curling District Medal

The competition dating back to 1839-40 offers “ a friendly and social opportunity for clubs to play a one-off match against opposition they might not otherwise meet” – this year on Saturday 23rd March we played against a team from Irvine Curling Club. 

Following tradition this two rink match was skipped by our President and Vice President. President David Gillespie’s team (Dave Carr, Graeme Cassie and Stuart Blackwood) started well, were 4-1up after four ends, lost the 5th and 6th ends, and won 5-4 with the final stone in the 7th. Meanwhile Vice President Margaret Carr’s team (David Anderson, Jim Ramsay and Jenny Wray) having lost the first end won the next six, ending up 17-1. 

We enjoyed the good company of our visitors before and after the game. 

Sunday 17th March 2024

Eight Pairs set out to secure The Clock Trophy.

Penicuik should be proud of the standard of play that can be produced in our Club! From the first Stones delivered at 2.30 until the final Stones delivered after 9pm there was a very high standard of play and determination from all Pairs competing. Earning this years title was not an easy one and congratulations go to The Winners!

Four of our members walk away with their names logged in our history book. After their defeat against Kirsty McWilliam and Jean Noble in the first round, Craig Brown and Alex Moir fought off competition from Keith Morris and Graeme Cassie as well as Dave Carr and Pamela Ramsay in their Semi Final game to be announced as Pairs Low Road winners for 2023/24

The High Road ended after a partial Handshake after the 4th End because The Bell had rung BUT the Ice Man gave permission for another end (which he would later regret). The two Pairs agreed between themselves to accept his offer and play on but things didn’t end in the 5th End either as players had to Draw the House. This would be the second time that Margaret Carr, and partner Reg Dunbar were forced into a Button Draw. In their first win of the day against Liz Anderson and Alan McDonald in a tense 3-3 game Margaret and Reg secured their High Road journey.

Had the players fully shook hands at the 4th end, the title would have been in the hands of Carr and Dunbar but giving the remaining spectators a nail biting time McWilliam and Noble drew level. There was to be no more extra time from the Ice Man and it had to be a Button Draw. Kirsty’s Stone ended just short of The House while Margaret’s held on at the back which gave a ‘Shattered’ Margaret Carr and Reg Dunbar the 2023/24 title of High Road Pairs Champions! Many congratulations to all who took part but especially to High and Low Road winners.

On Thursday the 7th of March at 8.15, players offered each other “a good game” and play commenced in this annual game. The Penicuik non appearance a year ago was only mentioned once prior to the game. 37 Club took control of the trophy in our last tussle, so it was all for the winning.

Penicuik were represented by Jarrad Manesh, Karen Black and President David Gillespie in the Team Skipped by Dave Anderson, while Reg Dunbar, Graeme Cassie and Kirsty McWilliam were Skipped by Jim Ramsay.

The 37’s chose Blue Stones to lead their attempt to hold on to the Trophy. By the time that the first end was over Penicuik were 2 Up. In end 2 the Anderson Rink regained the 1 point they had lost in the first but Team Ramsay lost a 2 to their opposition which was being Skipped by Alister Hay. Both Penicuik teams won their 3rd end putting us into a 9-3 winning position! Looking Good! There is of course a But coming! BUT ends 4 and 5 were captured by The 37’s against both Penicuik teams. It’s only 9-7 to Penicuik now! In end 6 the Power came back to Penicuik when both teams added a further 7 to their lead. The clock was ticking and it looked as if End 7 would be the last. Unfortunately, together we had given 3 points back to our opposition but worse still, Team A led by Mr Anderson just made time to have an 8th end. The score at the close of End 7 was Team A, Anderson 6 37’s Williamson 9 while Team B had completed their game with a 10-5 win. Team B members couldn’t look at play and retired to The Bar with their opposition. Meanwhile back on The Ice Team A took a 1 which left their score at 7 against 37’s 9. Teamwork allowed Penicuik a winning score of 17 with 7 Ends against 14 and 8 Ends for 37 Club. A Great Game and congratulations to 37 Club.

Upstairs Mike Williamson did his best to hang onto The Trophy by repeatably claiming a win because of Ends which unfortunately is the case! As always, while being very sociable it was a competitive game. We know who really won!

THE DRAW HAS BEEN MADE

TEAM A Keith Morris & Graeme Cassie PLAY TEAM B Jim Ramsay&Stuart Blackwood

TEAMCCraig Brown & Alex Moir PLAY TEAM D Kirsty McWilliam& Jean Noble

TEAM E Dave Carr & Pamela Ramsay PLAY TEAM F Dave Anderson & Karen Black

TEAM G Margaret Carr & Reg Dunbar PLAY TEAM H Liz Anderson & Alan McDonald

The games commence on 17th March at 2.30 and are played throughout the afternoon into the evening to find eventual High Road and Low Road Winners. Why not JOIN US to watch the games, have a blether, have a snack, have a drink and collect autographs!