Ten members entered this year’s competition where eight disciplines were played. As you will see from the table below Jean, Iain M, Jim R and Craig scored maximum points in The Striking. Scores of a full 4 points were also recorded by Graeme in The Chap & Lie and Jim H and Jim R in Chipping the Winner. It was Jim R’s score in The Chap & Lie that sealed the win. Alex and Craig had been in contention throughout and took 2nd and 3rd respectively. Stick play (Cues) were in play by three members and proved successful for Jim Hume who achieved the highest score for a Lead or 2nd. Well done to Saho for entering and playing better than her final score suggested! This season we are only holding one Points competition because of low entry numbers. If more members come forward next season, we may be able to run a second competition again.
Thanks (and well played) to Jean Noble for sponsoring the event and for buying all players a well deserved refreshment after the game.
Ten intrepid Penicuik Curling Club members packed their bags (and possibly their sense of adventure) and headed for Stranraer for the Dalrymple Cup Qualifier weekend. The nine players—Jim & Pam Ramsay, Graeme & Jean Cassie, David Gillespie, Kirsty McWilliam, Karen Black, Jarrad Manesh, and Paul Clapperton—were kept in line and loudly cheered on by the ever-enthusiastic Barbara Gillespie.
🥌 The Teams
Penicuik 1: David, Kirsty, Pam, Paul and Jarrad, rotating players across their three games with military precision (well… curling precision).
Penicuik 2: Jim, Karen, Graeme and Jean, also taking on three games and proving a tough unit to crack.
🌍 Who We Faced
Over the weekend we took on a wonderfully mixed bag of opponents—including teams from Norway, Lithuania, andSorn (Ayrshire) . The competition was fierce, the games were tight, and every match brought its own wee bit of drama.
Penicuik 2 came heartbreakingly close to a semi-final place, missing out by just one end. So close you could practically hear the collective sigh echoing across the ice! We have succeeded in earning a runner up place in the March competition.
🏨 Hospitality at Its Finest
The North West Castle Hotel spoiled us rotten. We enjoyed great food, comfy surroundings, and some of the best ice you could wish for. On Saturday night, they even hosted a short curling competition—complete with live music—and the festivities rolled on into the small hours. (Some may have curled better on Saturday night than Saturday morning…) https://youtu.be/cVuIqXjBg6s?si=p4Q4C-Gb6eMTfH5g is a link to a Video produced by Graeme Cassie.
Spectators just couldn’t believe the skills they were witnessing!
🎉 Final Thoughts
All in all, it was a fantastic weekend packed with laughter, competition, and great company. If you’ve never tried one of these events, get yourself signed up the next time!—seriously, you’re missing out.
A huge thank-you to Kirsty for organising the entry and keeping everyone on track throughout the weekend. We couldn’t have asked for a better team shepherd!
Craig Brown with Jim Hume, Tom Griffin and Alex Moir and Dave Anderson with AlisterMcDonald, Ian Robertson and Liz Anderson took to the ice on Thursday 20th November to facetwo Midcalder rinks in the first round of the annual Swan Trophy. This trophy took its name from John Swan & Sons, livestock auctioneers who sponsored the event for many years.
It is a double rink competition with aggregate scores determining the outcome of the games
Penicuik rinks each lost 1 shot in the first end, Craig’s rink then lost a 4 in the second but got 1back in the 3rd. Meanwhile, Dave’s rink lost singles in ends 2 and 3 but came back to win singles in ends 4,5 and 6. Craig’s next three ends went with the hammer with Penicuik gaining 1 shot and Midcalder gaining 2, so after 6 ends the aggregate score was Penicuik 5 -10 Midcalder.
Then the wheels came off for Dave’s rink losing a 6 in end 7 and 3 in the final end making their score, Penicuik 3 – 13 Midcalder. Craig won a single in their final end making their score Penicuik 3 – 7 Midclader
The overall score was Penicuik 6 – 20 Midcalder. The games were played in good spirits and we wish Midcalder good luck in the next round.
Incase you did not see the results of the games posted on the Penicuik Curling Club website, we can reveal that the winning rink competed and completed all games with recorded wins.
The Hurley, which is sponsored by Dave and Margaret Carr is the first main competition of the season. It is a unique competition on the Penicuik calendar as it comprises of mini leagues where the winners of each league play the runners up in the opposite league in a knock-out to determine who plays in the final.
The final to find the winner was on November 7th between team Scott and team Ramsay. The ice favoured team Ramsay who had a 10-1 win and will be presented their medals at prize giving at the end of the season.
Team Scott included Iain Scott, Stuart Blackwood, Alister McDonald and Monica Matheson. Team Ramsay was listed as Jim Ramsay, Jim Hume, Ton Griffin and Louise Clapperton with thanks to Saho Arakawa for subbing in the final.
A full list of all results is published on the Hurley Page.
The Indoor Grand Match is an event which was inspired by the traditional Grand Matches which in the past took place on frozen lochs with the last Outdoor Grand Match taking place in 1979 at the Lake of Menteith. Penicuik Curling Club has the honour of hosting the inaugural Grand Match which took place at the High Pond in Penicuik Estate in 1847.
The event is a competition between the North of Scotland and the South of Scotland (with an imaginary line drawn between the river forth and the river Clyde). It started in 2000 and usually takes place every 5 years but had to be cancelled in 2020 due to Covid. This year’s Competition brought together 1560 Curlers from 281 clubs competing in 390 teams. It stands as one of the largest single day participation sporting events in the country.
For the Penicuik members fortunate enough to be playing in such a special event it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Curlers both on and off the ice. Penicuik 2 travelled to Kinross to play against Kinross Ladies 1. The Team was Skipped by David Gillespie, Margaret Carr 3, David Carr 2 and Alex Moir Lead.
We received a very warm welcome from the Kinross Club and after the customary coffee and bacon roll we were piped on to the ice to start play at 10a.m. Play started well with a 2 at the first end and continued to score at each end leading 6-0 at end 4 before pausing for a traditional dram. Back on the ice we continued to score at each end with Kinross Ladies taking a 1 at the final end to make the final score Penicuik 8 Kinross 1.
After play we retired upstairs and after raising a glass to our opponents enjoyed a meal in good company. All in all a day we will all remember.
Penicuik 1 will also remember the game at Curl Aberdeen against our Northern opponents from Bearsden Skiing Club, Glasgow. The score was not as impressive as team 2 but was respectable. Team 1 arrived in good time to enjoy an excellent lunch with our opposition.
The Aberdeen Ice proved tricky for both teams in the opening ends. The ice was much heavier than our usual Murrayfield speeds. The first end was a case of whoever was in the house won the end. That was Bearsden with a 3. Penicuik got on the board in end 2 with a 2. The 3rd and 4th end did not go Penicuik’s way where a 3 and 4 were given to the opposition. As often happens after Broom Stacking (5th End) the game changed. Penicuik’s 4 (Iain Scott, Stuart Blackwood, Graeme Cassie and Jim Ramsay) took control of the game by winning all 4 Ends but unfortunately were left with 2 short for a Peel. Final score Bearsden 10 (3 Ends), Penicuik 8 (5 Ends).
After game drinks and a drive home to discuss what should have been.
The Indoor Grand Match is an event which was inspired by the traditional Grand Matches which in the past took place on frozen lochs with the last Outdoor Grand Match taking place in 1979 at the Lake of Menteith. Penicuik Curling Club has the honour of hosting the inaugural Grand Match which took place at the High Pond in Penicuik Estate in 1847.
The event is a competition between the North of Scotland and the South of Scotland (with an imaginary line drawn between the river forth and the river Clyde). It started in 2000 and usually takes place every 5 years but had to be cancelled in 2020 due to Covid. This year’s Competition brought together 1560 Curlers from 281 clubs competing in 390 teams. It stands as one of the largest single day participation sporting events in the country.
For the Penicuik members fortunate enough to be playing in such a special event it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Curlers both on and off the ice. Penicuik 2 travelled to Kinross to play against Kinross Ladies 1. The Team was Skipped by David Gillespie, Margaret Carr 3, David Carr 2 and Alex Moir Lead.
We received a very warm welcome from the Kinross Club and after the customary coffee and bacon roll we were piped on to the ice to start play at 10a.m. Play started well with a 2 at the first end and continued to score at each end leading 6-0 at end 4 before pausing for a traditional dram. Back on the ice we continued to score at each end with Kinross Ladies taking a 1 at the final end to make the final score Penicuik 8 Kinross 1.
After play we retired upstairs and after raising a glass to our opponents enjoyed a meal in good company. All in all a day we will all remember.
Penicuik 1 will also remember the game at Curl Aberdeen against our Northern opponents from Bearsden Skiing Club, Glasgow. The score was not as impressive as team 2 but was respectable. Team 1 arrived in good time to enjoy an excellent lunch with our opposition.
The Aberdeen Ice proved tricky for both teams in the opening ends. The ice was much heavier than our usual Murrayfield speeds. The first end was a case of whoever was in the house won the end. That was Bearsden with a 3. Penicuik got on the board in end 2 with a 2. The 3rd and 4th end did not go Penicuik’s way where a 3 and 4 were given to the opposition. As often happens after Broom Stacking (5th End) the game changed. Penicuik’s 4 (Iain Scott, Stuart Blackwood, Graeme Cassie and Jim Ramsay) took control of the game by winning all 4 Ends but unfortunately were left with 2 short for a Peel. Final score Bearsden 10 (3 Ends), Penicuik 8 (5 Ends).
After game drinks and a drive home to discuss what should have been.
2nd November, 25 we held a Try Curling with Penicuik Day at Murrayfield. Thanks to Saho for introducing Miriam and Colin, Dave C for bringing Colin and Mary and Graeme transporting Ally. We also enjoyed the company of Ian, Kirsty and Sarah. After intense training from David G and myself all 8 newcomers had a couple of ends which resulted in a 2-2 Peel. Everyone enjoyed the experience and will hopefully take a positive path in Curling. The event was oversubscribed and not all applicants could be accommodated, so if you know of anyone who might be a Penicuik member of the future, please let me know in order for another Try session to be arranged. Jim.
Penicuik Curling Club 