Author Archives: jeann1e25

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

The Swan Trophy

This annual trophy, a double rink competition, is sponsored by auctioneers John Swan & Sons and was played this season on the 12th December.

Rinks of Andrew Lambie, Keith Morris, Roger Scott and Alex Moir and of  Dave Anderson, Jim Ramsay, Ken Hunter and Ronnie Hope were pitted against our old adversaries of Oxenfoord. Andrew’s rink got off to a steady start then scored a five to settle down to win their game strongly by 12 shots to 6. Dave’s rink lost a single in the first end and were lying shot in the second with last stone for a potential two but unfortunately the last shot did not draw as expected and raised an opposition stone to gift them a single. This was the way that the game continued and we were outplayed by a strong rink.  Although we managed two consolation shots we lost the game by 14 shots to 2, thereby losing the match overall by 20 shots to 14.

Report from Dave Anderson

Saturday League Christmas Bonspiel

Saturday 14th December saw the end to the first half of the curling season and this was celebrated with the Saturday League Christmas Bonspiel where festive jumpers and hats were the order of the day. We were joined by two new players -Stuart Blackwood a potential new member who attended our opening Beginners session and who has since been getting some coaching from David Gillespie, and also an amazing new talent in Maisie Beaton who was filling in for her dad Robert who unfortunately had to work. 

Each team played  two ends against each other team rotating positions as the games progressed and, in a change to the Saturday League, scoring points to ensure we had a winner. Much fun was had and it’s fair to say the curling was not taken too seriously. The star of the show was Maisie who in the final end delivered an amazing stone unassisted which ended up right on the pot lid. An excellent achievement for a slight nine year old playing in her first adult competition. (She also really enjoyed acting as Skip and telling her grandad Ronnie where to play as well as berating him when he missed the shot). After six ends we had a clear winning team of David and Barbara Gillespie, Jean Noble and Stuart Blackwood.

With curling over we retired to the Club Room where the Prize Giving took place before we enjoyed a festive fare of Soup and Mince Pies. Many thanks to Christine for organising the food and prizes and to all who took part in this fun event as well as the other family members who joined us for lunch. The prize for best Christmas jumper, chosen by Rebecca, was won by Elaine Lambie. Photos of the event can be seen in the Gallery. 

We especially hope to see Stuart and maybe even Maisie along to our Saturday sessions in 2020.   Merry Christmas everyone.

Jean Noble

First Points Competition

1st Club Points – 11th December 2019

Six Club members started in the competition for the 1st Points of the season but unfortunately Keith Morris was unable to continue after 3 disciplines because of his continuing Achilles tendon problem. It was a tightly fought competition which included all ten Points disciplines and, using the excuse of the combination of the new ice and the new stones for the scoring being slightly less than would normally be expected, the eventual overall winner on a score of 33 points was Jim Ramsay.  On equal scores of 31 points, the runners-up were Ronnie Hope and Dave Anderson.  Alex Moir and Dave Carr finished on 27 and 24 points respectively.

It was a very enjoyable competition  and our thanks go to Jean Noble for her sponsorship of this event.

Dave Anderson

Singles Competition

On 8th December, six experienced male members were joined by two slightly reluctant ladies to take part in this year’s Singles Competition.

The first rounds were duly completed with Iain Scott, Andrew Lambie,  Murray Hope and Dave Anderson all winning to progress to the High Road (Dave having to draw shots against Ronnie Hope), whilst David Gillespie, Liz Anderson and Jean Noble joined Ronnie in the Low Road.

Liz played Ronnie in the first Semi Final and, after 4 ends with result at 2-2, had to draw shots again which Liz won. In the second match Jean had a win against David Gillespie, a game of both drawing and striking. To their great surprise the two ladies went forward to meet each other in the Final of the Low Road. This was very much a game of drawing to the house with Jean getting off to a great start in the first two ends before Liz countered in the third. Another single  in the fourth meant that Jean became outright winner of  the Low Road Competition. 

Dave and Murray beat Iain and Andrew respectively in the  Semi-Final of the High Road both winning by the same margin of 4-1.   After a short break , Murray and Dave played off in the hard fought Final, both often playing to the edge of the house and trying to take out each other’s stones. After five ends of singles shots apiece, Murray led 3-2 with no score at the final end. 

Many congratulations to Murray for winning the High Road Final, and to Jean for the Low Road Final.  Thanks to all who took part, and particularly David Gillespie who stepped in at the last minute. Thanks also to Dave Anderson, our generous sponsor.

Report by Jean Noble 10th December.

Final of Knock-Out Competition

For the second year running Team Ramsay met Team Scott in the final of the Knock-out Competition played on 3rd December.

Team Ramsay got off to a great start taking a 3 at the first end, before Team Scott countered with a 2 at the next.  Jim’s rink won the next two ends with first a single  then another 3 to lead 7-2 after the fourth end.

However Team Scott were not beaten yet and rallied to take a 4, then another 4 in the fifth and sixth ends,  then a 2 in the final end to win 12-7. A high scoring match worthy of the Final.

Many congratulations to the winning team of Iain Scott, Robert Beaton, Alex Moir (sub for Tom Griffin) and Alicia Neil. Commiserations to Jim Ramsay and his team of Ken Hunter, Christine Hope and Ian Neil.

Report by Jean Noble.