The Canadian Tour arrived in Edinburgh in the final week of January to play Edinburgh Area.  The tourists had amassed a high score in their previous games throughout Scotland, so it was unlikely that the Strathcona Cup would retained by Scotland.  Edinburgh Area (East Lothian, Midlothian, and Peeblesshire Provinces) fielded 4 Teams on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and afternoons to Play against the Canadian North Tour team, and 4 teams on Thursday morning to play against the Canadian South Tour team.

Jim Ramsay was the flag bearer for the home side in the morning parade of teams on Tuesday Morning.  He went on to play with Colin Baxter, President of Edinburgh Curling Club, John Stevenson, and Malcolm Patrick, and this team enjoyed an 11-5 win.  On Tuesday afternoon, a Penicuik rink of Ken Hunter, John Jacobs, Iain Scott, and Dave Carr took to the ice.  A good position they established in the first end was total wiped out by the Canadian opposition, and all that was left was a draw.  A fair draw was achieved, and protected, but the Canadian Skip drew to the four foot to take the end.  Penicuik replied with a single at the second end, and the game ended level at two all after four ends when the brooms were stacked for a refreshment.  After the break Penicuik stole three consecutive singles to go into the last end 5-2 up.  The Canadians almost recovered the lost ground, but a split in the house with our last stone forced them to take a single, final score 5-3.  On Thursday morning Roger Scott played in a Peebles rink which narrowly lost their game by 2 shots (7-9).

The home players enjoyed a dinner at Myreside on Wednesday evening with the Tourists, where a good meal and a few refreshments were shared.

Finally, thanks go to Roger Scott for his work on the Organising Committee, and to Aileen Beaton who was co-opted onto the Committee to use her profession skills in Media and Communications.

Well done to the Canadian Tourists who took the Strathcona Cup back to Canada; the overall result being Canada 1593-Scotland 1268.

Photographs can be viewed on the Gallery Page.

Swan Trophy

Penicuik met Currie & Balerno in the semi-final of this double rink knockout competition on Friday (26 Jan).  The Penicuik teams were (1) Andrew Lambie, Jim Ramsay, Alex Moir, and John Glidden; and (2) Dave Anderson, Ken Hunter, Dave Carr, and Craig Brown.

Penicuik got off to a good start with both teams playing well and taking early leads.  Team 1 arguably had the stiffer opposition but held their ground until the latter stages of the contest and finished  3-6 against.  Team 2 had established a 7 shot lead after 4 ends, but regrettably surrendered the same number of shots in the next 4 ends to end their game level, the overall contest went to the last stone.  Congratulations to our opponents on upping their game even more to beat Haddington in the final.

Rink Championship

Penicuik met Athlestaneford in the semi-final of the Rink Championship qualifier at Murrayfield on Saturday (27 Jan).  Our team was Jim Ramsay, Dave Anderson, Ken Hunter, and Andrew Lambie.

Athelstoneford exerted pressure in the first end, and only a well judged shot by Jim saved the day for Penicuik.  It turned out to be a very tight game, but Athelstaneford established a 4-3 lead after five ends, with the sixth end being the last end.  The Athelstaneford Skip played a stone just beyond the centre point of the pot lid, Jim responded with a draw to that stone to take shot, but unfortunately it was not quite locked in , and a fine strike by his opponent took the day for Athelstaneford (5-3).

We went into the last game of the season in 6th place (out of 8) against Bank of Scotland in 7th place, needing at least a peal to stay in Division 2.

We got off to a good start gaining 4 shots in the first end followed by a lucky steal of 1 shot in the second. We lost a single in the third then an unfortunate 4 in the fourth.  We rallied to take a single in the fifth followed by another in the sixth going into the last end 2 shots up. We kept our heads and stole 3 shots to come out winners by 10 shots to 5 thereby finishing the season mid-table on 7 points and retaining our position in Division 2.

The squad for the season was Murray Hope (Skip), Dave Anderson (Third) with John Jacobs, Iain Scott and Robert Beaton.

Dave Anderson

A Waldie Griffith inter-province tie between Midlothian and Borders was played at Murrayfield on Thursday (2 March) afternoon.  This competition features a series of one off matches between provinces throughout Scotland, with the Province having the best shots up return gaining the trophy.  On this occasion, Midlothian was represented by teams from DAFS, Gogar, Midcalder, and Penicuik.  The Penicuik team for the day was Andrew Lambie (Skip), Dave Anderson, Jim Ramsay, and Ken Hunter.

Penicuik played a team of ladies made up with players from several clubs from the Borders. Penicuik took a single at the first end, then lost a three in the second end; the deficit was reclaimed with a two at the third end.  A close parity was maintained thereafter, and the teams were level after 6 ends.  With last stone and a free house to draw to, our opponents opted to blank the seventh end and retain last stone advantage.  In the final end, Penicuik were lying one shot before the last stone; the opposing skip tried a chap & lie but failed to keep her shooter in the house, so the game ended all square.  It was a good afternoon of sport in the excellent company of our opponents.

Regrettably, this was as good as it got for Midlothian, the other three teams all lost to give Borders a victory by 8 shots (+2 aggregate); not enough for them to be contenders for the trophy.

Our forces mobilised on Sunday 5 February ready to take on our adversary of old, Merchiston, in the annual Team Points Match.  Elements of our famed ‘Old Guard’ were not able to take the field and provide the benefit of their long battle experience; and one of our front line units was on overseas duty in the Americas.  The formation for the evening was Keith Morris, John Jacobs, Dave Anderson, Ronnie Hope, Iain Scott, Reg Dunbar, Ken Hunter, and Jim Cowper.

Our initial assault (striking) was highly successful, dealing our opponents a heavy blow.  Our attack continued with a decisive gain at In-wicking.  At the slower pace of Drawing and Guarding, our troops again showed their mettle with steady advances.  A counter thrust in the next disciple (Chap and Lie) saw our opponents regain some ground; perhaps tactically more of our units should have used the out-turn.  Neither side were able to make much at the Wick and Curl In, the ice was negative on the direct out-turn approach, and Raising ended in a stalemate.  Merchiston showed the quality of their play extracting a strong gain at Chipping the Winner, but it was too little too late; Penicuik took the day with a total score of 112 to 97.

As usual this was a great evening, played in the warmest atmosphere of friendship, with all participants applauding every good shot no matter who had played it.  The top scorer for Penicuik was Dave Anderson on 19, followed by Ken Hunter (17), and Ronnie Hope (16).  The top scorer for Merchiston was Avril Anderson on 15, followed by Keith Anderson and David Cunningham (both on 14).

After a flying start against Musselburgh in the first round, the chickens came home to roost on Friday 3rd January, when they were shot out of the sky by a strong 37 Club rink.  Penicuik failed to take advantage of the very few opportunities gifted to them by slack opposition play, and were severely punished for it. The final score of 13 – 2 slightly flattered 37 Club, but in truth on the night Penicuik’s rink of John Jacobs, Keith Morris, Roger Scott and Ronnie Hope fell short of the standard required to match the quality of the opposition clubs now entered in the King George IV.  We were sent homewards to think again!

Ronnie Hope