Report by Iain Scott

On a sunny Sunday, Penicuik met Merchiston for the annual Merchiston Team Points. 
Inadvertently, Penicuik tried to take an early un-fair advantage by fielding 9 players(!) – i am sure there will be a debriefing with the Curling Sub-Committee to understand why 😉  With play underway (with the correct number of players!) Penicuik started strongly in Striking & Inwicking, edging the opening skirmishes to set the tone, 37-25.
Merchiston hit back impressively in Drawing, taking that skill by 20–11, but across the card Penicuik proved the more consistent side.As holders Penicuik continued to show dominance in Guarding, Chap n’ Lie, & Raising, whilst both team produced confident scores in Chipping the Winner.
Merchiston fought back registering narrow wins in Inwicking and Wick & Curl In, but were unable to close the overall gap.With points accumulated across all ten disciplines, Penicuik’s greater depth told in the final totals, their 139 points comfortably seeing off Merchiston’s 111.
The result means Penicuik retain the Team Points trophy, rounding off an entertaining and competitive inter‑club fixture played in excellent spirit.
After play the teams retired to the bar area, where drinks were shared and the afternoon’s play was warmly discussed in the best traditions of inter‑club curling.
In the presentation, Iain Scott gladly accepted the trophy on behalf of Penicuik, from Merchiston’s Mike Harrington, bringing an enjoyable fixture to a very sociable close.

Annual Tulliallan Challenge, Saturday 7th March 2026

On a beautiful spring day, eight intrepid Penicuik curlers travelled north to Kinross Curling Rinkto represent Penicuik Culing Club against eight curlers from Tulliallan Curling Club in our annual challenge game which coincided with Scotland’s Rugby International match against France, soa weather eye was being kept on the scoreline from Murrayfield

Penicuik A, skipped by Iain Scott with Club President Margaret, David Gillespie and Roger Scott,were pitched against Tulliallan A, skipped by Mary Thomson, with Alasdair Macdonald, EileenPaterson and Alan Menzies

Penicuik B, skipped by Dave Anderson, with Dave Carr, Jean Noble, and Saho Arakawa, faced Tulliallan B, skipped by Alan Paterson, with Catriona Macdonald, Morag Jamieson and JaneShields

Playing the yellow stones on very swingy ice, Penicuik got off to a good start with rink A getting 2shots and rink B gaining 1 shot against the hammer. End two saw Tulliallan getting on to thescoreboard, each winning by a single shot. In ends 3, 4 and 5, Iain’s rink took singles to lead by 5shots to 1 at that stage, whilst Dave’s rink took a single in the 3rd and 2 in the 4th, in end 5 Alan raised his front red stone to reduce a potential 4 against to a single, resulting in the samescoreline on each sheet. Penicuik B played well to steal 4 shots in the 6th but in end 7 with 6 red stones in the house and 2 yellow stones looking very vulnerable, Alan played to take both out but was very unlucky that his last stone drew a fraction too much and took only one stone away resulting in 1 shot to Tulliallan with that game finishing 9 shots to 2 in Penicuik’s favour.

Meanwhile, Iain’s rink lost 3 shots in end 6 but got a single in the last to finish winners by 6 shots to 4. At one stage our colour-blind octogenarian caused great hilarity when he suggested “taking that blue stone away”.

The final aggregate score was Tulliallan 6 – Penicuik 15. Congratulations to Penicuik We retired to the clubrooms for food and refreshments to end a very enjoyable day’s curling at Kinross, played in the very best of spirits against our friends from Tulliallan.

President Alan presented President Margaret with the Challenge Trophy which she gracefully received with kind words of thanks to our hosts.

Dave Anderson