Author Archives: jeann1e25

District Medal

District Medal 29th February 2020

Traditionally the Club President and Vice President field teams to play in this double rink competition. This year we were challenged by Reform Curling Club to travel to Greenacres Curling Rink (a challenge in itself) to compete for a District Medal in this competition which dates back to the mid-19th century.

Double rink competitions, where aggregate scores win out, are very interesting and great fun but sometimes nerve wracking to play in, with players having an eye on the progress or otherwise of their compatriots on the adjacent sheet.

President Liz’s rink, represented by skip Dave Anderson, Dave Carr, Ken Hunter and Margaret Carr, found their weight quickly and following a last stone draw gained 2 shots in the first end. Against the hammer Penicuik A then gained singles in ends 2 and 3. Meanwhile Vice-President Iain Scott (skip) with Andrew Lambie, Ronnie Hope and Roger Scott were less fortunate, losing singles in the first two ends; however Penicuik B got 2 shots in the third and stole a single in the fourth to go 3 shots to 2 ahead. Reform B came back with 2 shots in the fifth and in the sixth to lead by 6 shots to 3. On the other sheet in the meantime Reform A scored singles in the 4th, 5th and 6th ends to reduce the Penicuik A advantage to 1 shot. At this stage Penicuik were down by 2 shots overall.

And so to the final ends with Penicuik rinks having the hammer, Reform A drew a shot to lie guarded in the centre of the house but Penicuik A replied with a well-managed angled raise to remove the opposition stone and lie 4. The Reform skip attempted a plant but caught the object stone at the wrong angle only succeeding in reducing our advantage to 2 shots. A final draw through a port gained us another shot so that Penicuik A won by 7 shots to 3. Penicuik B were lying 4 shots but were reduced to a 2 shot advantage. Unable to take out the opposition stone, that game finished Reform B 6, Penicuik B 5.

In consequence the aggregate score was Reform Club 9 (7 ends), Penicuk 12 (7 ends) thereby a win to Penicuik by 3 shots and another District Medal for the Club.

Both games were played in excellent spirits with some very good curling from all sides and thanks are due to our hosts who helped to make this a very enjoyable day.

Report by Dave Anderson

Mid Season Bonspiel 2019-20

Mid Season Bonspiel Saturday 15th February

23 seasoned curlers plus a surprise guest, Stef (an Oban scallop diver landbound due to Storm Dennis) met on Saturday to contest this year’s Mid Season Bonspiel. The ladies skipped as is the norm in this competition with the usual Skip men  playing as lead. This proved to be a bit of a challenge for some of them who struggled to get their lead stones in the requested position. However it was a well fought contest overall with the highest score for an individual end attained by Janette Lambie’s rink who took a 5 from the opposition in the fourth game.

After each team had played 6 ends we had an outright winner in Christine Hope’s rink of Jan Stuart, Ian Neil and Reg Dunbar with a score of +4, closely followed by Jean Noble’s rink on +3, Liz Anderson’s on +2. Janette’s on -1, Barbara Gillespie’s on -3 and, propping everyone up, Margaret Carr’s rink on -4.

Bonspiel Winners

Not quite the winners

This was a fun afternoon’s curling finished off with a lovely meal after which President Liz asked Jim Cowper, arrayed in his many medals, to present the prizes. Many thanks to Jim and Margaret Cowper for acting as sponsors and also to Christine for arranging the meal and the prizes, and of course to everyone who played.

Group photo

Jean Noble

DAFS Friendly

DAFS Social Game 7th February 2020

Jim Cowper, Dave Carr, Keith Morris and skip Dave Anderson stepped up for this social game against a DAFS rink of Jill Gillard, Margaret Miller, Alistair Henry and skip David Lindsay.

With last stone advantage DAFS took a single in the first end with Penicuik replying with two shots in the second. DAFS again scored a single in the third with Penicuik drawing their last stone to gain a further two shots in the fourth. Looking good for a steal in the fifth following a well judged hit and roll by Keith, Alistair replied with an unassailable draw to the four-foot resulting in another single for DAFS. They then went on to steal a single in the sixth meaning that we went to the last end peels where, following two excellent lead stones from octogenarian Jim,  we gained the advantage coming out overall winners by 9 shots to 4.

There was some very good curling from both rinks throughout a very close game and we thank DAFS Curling Club for the invitation to play in this very enjoyable encounter.

Report from Dave Anderson

Province Bonspiel

As in previous years, Penicuik Curling Club fielded three teams in the Brewers Dolphin Province Bonspiel on Monday 3rd February.

First on the ice at 10am against Ford Ladies was a rink skipped by Ronnie Hope with Dave Anderson, Roger Scott and Liz Anderson supporting. Ford Ladies found their weight straight off scoring a single in the first end. Penicuik had an opportunity to gain 5 shots in the next end but missed the take-out to lose another single in this and then the  next so three shots down after third end. However Penicuik then got their game together to score 7 in next 4 ends. So a positive result for Ronnie’s rink  winning 7-3.   Penicuik  score  +4.

Next on the ice at 2pm was Andrew Lambie’s rink of Margaret and Dave Carr, and David Gillespie. The teams were level at 5 stones each after 4 ends but Mid Calder were strong opposition and pulled away in the next three ends resulting in a win for Mid Calder 15-5.  Penicuik score  -10.

At 6pm Iain Scott skipped a rink of ‘youth and enthusiasm’ including Robert Beaton, Elaine Lambie and Kirsty McWilliam against Oxenfoord. This was a good match according to Iain but Oxenfoord were strong and scored a 5 at one end which killed off the game resulting in another loss 3-11 and  Penicuik scoring  -8.   The overall average score for Penicuik was therefore -4.6.

The Brewers Dolphin Bonspiel Competition winners were DAFS with an overall average score of +6.77, closely followed by the runners-up Pentland Ladies on +6.50.

Finally, the winners of the Colin Black Trophy for the biggest margin in one game were Currie and Balerno on +13.

Many thanks to everyone who represented Penicuik CC in this annual Province competition.

Jean Noble

Merchiston Team Points 2019-20

The annual Team Points match against Merchiston Curling Club took place on Sunday 2nd February with Penicuik represented by Dave Anderson, Dave Carr, David Gillespie, Ronnie Hope, Ken Hunter, Alex Moir, Keith Morris and Iain Scott.

Penicuik got off to a good start by gaining 19 points and a 9 point advantage in the first discipline, but Merchiston rallied and by the third discipline the gap was reduced to 2 points. The stalwarts of Penicuik then focused on the task and the gap was increased at every further discipline except the penultimate one with the final result over eight disciplines being a win for Penicuik with a score of 105 – 85.

Iain accepts trophy from Archie

As in our Club Points the scores were lower than usual.

Top scorers on the night for Penicuik were Alex Moir (18), Dave Anderson (17) and Keith Morris (16) and for Merchiston, John Jacobs (16), Ruth Addinal (14), and Jim Cannon (13).

Following another excellent night of competition and fellowship we adjourned to the bar for well-earned refreshments courtesy of our Honorary President Jim Cowper, sporting his 50 year medal, who having overseen the competition gave us his frank assessment of the evening’s proceedings.

Socialising after the match

Many thanks to all those who took part and especially to Jim who has taken over the Hamish Tait mantle.

Results by Discipline

Report by Dave Anderson

Merchiston 1816

On 9th January at 6.00pm Penicuik played Merchiston in the Merchiston 1816 competition.

I have been trying to erase the game from my memory but, unfortunately, have been asked to provide a report on the game!!

The Penicuik Team (to their shame) was Keith Morris (skip), Dave Anderson, Dave Carr and Jim Hume, with Keith Anderson, John Jacobs (Turncoat!!), John Wood and David Miller playing for Merchiston.

Merchiston started with a SIX, followed by a two. For the next four ends, Penicuik hung on and prevented the difference getting any worse. So, 11-3 after 6 ends. At the 7th end, Merchiston were lying 4, with Keith to play last stone. For the first time in the game, a Penicuik player played a good shot, with a double take out and roll to just take shot.

Final score 11-4, which flattered Penicuik.  Congratulations to Merchiston who all played very well.

I hope the above is correct but, fortunately, the score card has been lost and trying to remember the details has been a bit painful!! After the game we all retired upstairs for the usual very pleasant banter and drinks. Hopefully, we will get our revenge in the Points match on 2nd February. 

Report by Dave Carr 

 

Latest Club Challenge

For the second time this season the current holders Andrew Keith Robert and Martin were challenged, this time by a rink skipped by Iain Scott supported by Ken Craig and Roger.

This very close match took place on Tuesday 14th with good play all round and at the end of the 2nd end it was all square at 2 stones each. In the 3rd end Craig managed a perfectly angled raise to take shot before Andrew twice found the gaps allowing Iain to come in and take a 3. The tables were turned in the 4th end when Iain’s last shot to try and cut down Andrew’s three lying stones was swept perfectly through the gap. So 5 stones each after 4 ends. In the next end, Andrew scored a 2 before Iain rounded off the match with a single in each of the last two ends resulting overall in a peel at 7 stones each.

It had been discussed and agreed before the match that in the event of a peel, the current holders would retain the title. So commiserations to Iain’s rink for a very valliant effort, and congratulations to Andrew’s rink who will march onwards into next season as Club Challenge title holders. 

Jean Noble

West Linton Challenge

Chris presenting Trophy to Iain after Penicuik win West Linton Challenge

This long standing friendly fixture involving two rinks from each Club was held on Friday 10th January.

Jim Ramsay skipped a team of Margaret Carr, Kirsty McWilliam and Jean Noble who played against Alister Lambie, Alison Cockburn, Derek Hall and Anne Lambie.  In the first end, West Linton were counting 5 in the head before Jim played a wonderful last stone to limit the deficit to 1. Penicuik lost another 2 at the 2nd end before returning with a 4 at the 3rd. West Linton came back winning with a 3 at the 4th end before Penicuik pulled away in the last three ends with a 4, a 1, and a further 4  to win their match 13-6.

Andrew Lambie’s rink of Iain Scott, Elaine Lambie and Frank Duffy played against Chris and Mairi McDonald,  Eric Leslie and Lesley Glidden. This match looked to be heading in West Linton’s favour when they were leading 5-1 after 4 ends. However, Penicuik rallied in the last three ends when they took a 1, then a 2 then a further single thus peeling the match.

The competition was played in the best of spirits with the combined scores resulting in a win for Penicuik. The teams retired to the Clubroom for the traditional post match drinks and chats, before Chris presented Iain with the Trophy. A very sociable and pleasant evening’s curling.

Jean Noble

Rink Championship

Having progressed to the second round of the Rink Championship by default, due to the failure of our opposition to appear for the first round,  a rink of Jim Ramsay, Andrew Lambie, Iain Scott and Margaret Carr stepped up to play against Corstorphine  on 9th November. They  came out very creditable winners with a score of 8-4 to progress to the semi-finals to play against Gogar Park on Saturday 4th January.

The rink of Jim Ramsay, Andrew Lambie, Dave Anderson and Margaret Carr played well to be ahead by 4 shots to 3 at the 4th end. Unfortunately we gave away a 5 at the 5th end to make life difficult for ourselves. We gained a single in the 6th and stole a 2 in the final end to finish up losing by a single shot 7-8. Very frustrating considering that we won 5 ends to 2.

Report by Dave Anderson