Monthly Archives: February 2025

MERCHISTON POINTS 2025

The Merchiston Team Points competition was held on 23rd February 2025.

Our team of Craig Brown, Iain Scott, Ian Matheson, Graeme Cassie, Reg Dunbar, Stuart Blackwood, Alan McDonald, and President David Gillespie enjoyed a very sociable game against Merchiston. Playing each discipline in just one direction allowed us to complete all the disciplines, which some of us had not previously done. 

The results were very close – the count was 114 to Penicuik and 113 to Merchiston – but one of the Penicuik team realised that his score was incorrect, and that he had been given a point in error – so we agreed that the result should be a draw, and that Merchiston should retain the trophy.

However – the following day – Iain recounted the results and identified a further arithmetical error, which would give Penicuik two more points – and happily for us Merchiston also spotted the error, and will return the trophy to us as winners. 

Overall best individual score was from Iain Scott on 24, closely followed by Craig Brown.

WEST LINTON CHALLENGE 24/25

West Linton Challenge Match

This annual social fixture was played on 10th February, and as usual was a very friendly but competitive encounter.

Margaret Carr skipped her team of Geoff Dawe, Jean Noble and Heather Harpur against strong opposition, Alison Cockburn’s rink of Chris McDonald, Hamish Dykes and Mairi McDonald. On the other sheet, Iain Scott fielded Kirsty McWilliam, Jim Hume and Rory Clarke against an equally strong rink of Shona Watt, the Donnelly brothers and Barbara Watt.
After losing a 3, then a 2 in the first two ends, Margaret was up against it early on, but clawed back a 2 in the third end. A separate take-out competition was beginning to develop between the Seconds in this match, but Alison’s rink began to pull away taking another 2 to lead 2-7 after end four. 

Ian’s rink was looking in better shape being all square on 2 each after end 3, before taking a further 2 to lead 4-2 at midway.  Things were reasonably hopeful at this stage.

However, that was unfortunately Iain’s last points, and with West Linton playing to their strengths, they pulled ahead taking another 8 over the second half.  Despite Margaret’s rink scoring a further 2 which included a terrific draw shot by Margaret to win the final end, the result was without doubt. 4-8 on sheet 1 and 4-10 on sheet 2, leaving West Linton as runaway winners for the fourth year in succession.

After the usual friendly drinks and chat upstairs, Margaret thanked everyone before presenting the Challenge Trophy to Mairi, good humouredly reminding the West Linton team that they still have a way to go to beat Penicuik’s run of eight wins in a row. 

 

Battle will resume next season!

REPORT BY JEAN NOBLE