Author Archives: jeann1e25

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.

Henderson Bishop

Penicuik played in the Henderson Bishop against Pentland Ladies on Tuesday 3rd December.

The Team was made up of Janette Lambie as lead, Barbara Gillespie playing second, Pam Ramsay playing third, with Margaret Carr as Skip. Everyone played really well and Penicuik won 7-4.

The same team played against a very strong Currie and Balerno team the following day, and unfortunately we were soundly beaten 15-1.

Certainly we experienced the ups and downs of Curling over the two days were were involved.

Report from Margaret Carr 5th December 2019.

 

Rink Championship

Jim Ramsay skipped Penicuik’s  team for the first round match in the Rink Championship against Currie and Balerno on 26th October,  but disappointingly they failed to appear on the day so Penicuik progressed automatically to the next round.

This match against Corstorphine was on 9th November and Jim’s rink (comprising himself, Andrew Lambie, Iain Scott and Margaret Carr) had a great result winning 8-4. 

Penicuik will now play in the Semi Finals on 15th December at 10am.

 

SIAE Friendly Match

Report by David Cunningham, Secretary of SIAE

“Following an idea at our AGM, SIAE invited DAFS and Penicuik to take part in social games on Sunday 17th November.  They are two of our closest competitors and friends, with our origins at the Bush Estate, near Penicuik, and the links within agriculture.  We often play them in the Province League, Bonspiel and King George IV Trophy – but not this particular season!

DAFS was represented by David Lindsay, Graham Thomson, Jill Gillard and Catriona Graham.  Dave Anderson, Keith Morris, Liz Anderson and Elaine Lambie played for Penicuik.  SIAE put together two rinks (Steven Thomson, Mike Veitch, Graeme Muir and Morna Findlay; David Cunningham, Chris Parry, Maureen McCulloch and John Elcock), with the former starting against Penicuik and the latter against DAFS.  After four ends, our teams swapped sheets, so that we could play our other guests.  Good fun, good banter and even some good curling!

We kept score for the sake of it and it’s fair to say that Penicuik scored the most (and conceded the fewest) shots over the seven ends.  Nobody cared too much about that as we retired to the bar.  Many thanks to all the curlers who represented their clubs – long may the social side of our sport continue.”

Knock Out Semi Finals

Sunday evening saw the Semi-Finals of the Knock-out Competition.

Team Ramsay had progressed to the Semi after winning their Quarter Final match against Team Lambie 9-3, and were now drawn against Team Anderson for the first Semi.   Dave Carr’s Team had also won their game against Team Hope 9-2 in the other Quarter Final match, and were now drawn against Team Scott for the Semi.

Jim’s rink got off to a great start against Dave A’s rink  winning a four in the first end, then scoring a 2 and then a 3 in the next two ends to consolidate his position. Despite winning a single shot in the fifth end Dave’s rink were unable to make up lost ground and Jim’s rink, of Ken Hunter Christine Hope and Ian Neil, marched into the Final winning by a hefty margin.

In the other Semi Final match, Dave Carr’s rink took the first three ends by a single shot before Iain Scott’s rink responded to win the next three ends again by a single shot. All square then 3-3 going into the final end. This was a very closely contested match which  Iain’s rink, of John Jacobs (sub) Tom Griffin and Alicia Neil, eventually won 4-3 to reach the Final. 

So, Team Ramsay will meet Team Scott in the Knock-out Final to be played on Tuesday 3rd December at 7.30pm. 

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