Dave Anderson, Dave Carr and I attended a dinner the annual Oxenfoord Curling Club Dinner on Friday 8th May 2026. Members from Penicuik have attended the dinner as guests of Secretary Robert Stewart for many years. This occasion was very special as it was to celebrate 150 years of Curling at Oxenfoord. The dinner, held at The Stair Arms Hotel provided the assembled company with a very entertaining evening with excellent speakers. To mark the occasion, Dave Anderson presented an inscripted salver on behalf of Penicuik. We hope that the salver might be used as a trophy for an annual fixture between the two clubs.

Posted by Jim Ramsay

A full report is now available on the Pairs page.

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

The Trophy is in our hands again.

More detail soon.

The 2nd “Try Doubles” Session took place on Sunday 1st February with 8
Penicuik Curlers keen to try this new discipline.
Kirsty McWilliam met with everyone upstairs to explain the rules and tactics
and answer any questions (there were several) before play started.
After the teams were drawn, each Doubles pairing played 4 ends followed by
“winners” and “losers” playing each other in the next 4 ends.
Fortunately Kirsty was on hand to keep everyone right and gradually our
understanding improved. With take-outs only allowed after the 4th stone,
draws and tap-ups had to be perfected. Players also enjoyed the format with
one player playing 1st and last stone and the other playing the middle 3
stones.
The session passed very quickly with all involved very enthusiastic about
their involvement.
The winners were Dave Carr and Nigel Henderson on +3 with the other
teams close behind.
Many thanks to Kirsty for guiding us through a second session of Doubles
and for her patience!
Those involved were enthusiastic about Penicuik considering the inclusion of
Doubles in the Club Fixtures next season.
Margaret Carr

ANNUAL MATCH V 37 CLUB

Over the past few years, the annual match against The 37 Club has had some dramatic finishes and this was no exception.

In the match 2 teams from Penicuik took on 2 teams from the 37 Club on Friday 30th January.

Penicuik was represented by Team A Dave Anderson, Dave Carr, Liz Anderson and Margaret Carr and Team B Iain Scott, Kirsty McWilliam, Alex Moir and Jean Noble.

The trophy is decided by games won, then ends then shots.

Team A started steadily and built up a 6-1 lead (4 ends to 1) after 5 ends. Team B also started by winning ends but big losses of 6 and 3 left them 10 – 5 down (but equal on ends) after 6 ends. It was looking like 1 game each but Penicuik winning on ends.

But Team A’s form slipped on the last couple of ends and 37 Club snatched a peel (but Penicuik were 5 – 3 up on ends).

If Team B could also get a peel then Penicuik would win on ends.

On the last end, Team B played well and were lying 3, with last stone to be played. A 2 would peel the game and win the trophy.

All eyes were on Stuart Williamson as he played the last shot. Stuart played a well controlled knock back on Penicuik’s 2nd stone to concede a single and win the game 10 – 9 (but 5 ends to Team B) and the trophy. Well done to the 37 Club.

We all then went upstairs for the normal pleasantries.

The trophy was not available on the day and will be presented at a later date.

An unfortunate blip to an excellent afternoon’s curling.

Our bonspiel was very well attended, with an impressive array of festive attire on display and a heroic quantity of sweeties consumed. The games ran almost without a hitch (we shall draw a discreet veil over the incident known only as “hammergate”).

Congratulations to our trophy winners: Jean Noble (Skip), Liz Anderson and Dave Carr. Commiserations—but also admiration—for Christine Hope (Skip), Geoff Dawe, Roger Scott and Dave Anderson, who proudly carried off the booby prize.

Play was followed by a most welcome feast of soup, sandwiches and mince pies, all generously washed down with tea and coffee, bringing a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon to a close—and almost the end of this half of the season.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and we look forward to welcoming you all back in the New Year.

The Social Committee 🎄🥌

Rink A Louise Clapperton, Jarrad Manesh, Ian Matheson, Kyle Baptie

Rink B Jean Noble, Liz Anderson, Dave Carr

Rink C Christine Hope, Geoff Dawe, Roger Scott, DaveAnderson

Rink D Karen Black, Alex Moir, Debbie Belcher, Alan McDonald

Rink E Lesley Broadwood, Graeme Cassie. Monica Matheson, Iain Scott

Rink F Jean Cassie, Saho Arakawa, Paul Clapperton, Jim Ramsay

Rink G Joanna Wallace, Margaret Carr, Mick Kampff, Ian Robertson

Rink H Pam Ramsay, Jenny Wray, Jim Hume, David Gillespie