In the remaining quarter final games Team Alexander enjoyed a comfortable win (10-1) over Team Hope, and Team Anderson overcame Team Hunter in the last end (7-6).  The two winning teams will play each other in the semi-finals on 10 November (see Knockout page). 

The 2016-17 Knockout Competition got underway on Monday evening, with Team Lambie meeting Team Ramsay.  The game was a fairly tight affair with the teams level at four all after 6 ends.  Team Ramsay took a single in the final end to clinch a victory that sees them face Team Brown in the next round.

The outcome of the long campaign to gain the Kettle was resolved last night (8 Mar).  Team Hope met Team Hunter with the latter only requiring one point to take the Kettle.  Team Hope faired better in the early jousting, taking a two in the first end and leaving their opponents struggling somewhat in the second end; only a last stone hit and wick to the four foot saved the day for Team Hunter who took a two.  Team Hunter then stole a two, before Team Hope responded with two singles in the next two ends to tie the game at 4 – 4  after five ends.  Team Hunter took two singles in the last two ends to run out winner by six shots to 4.

Congratulations to Liz Anderson, Robert Beaton, and Elaine Lambie.

The Pairs competition was played on Sunday (6 Mar).  The early stages of the competition were beset by unexpected transport issues which left some players gridlocked in Baberton Estate and regrettably arriving late.  As we play four ends of three stones per player,  the lost ground was made up in the course of the event. 

Games were played on sheets 6 & 7.  Sheet 6 had a big swing on one side but was quite consistent.  Sheet 7 was a lot trickier, with a slight fall back near the centre going to the bar, and largely straight or negative ice on the wall side going both ways.  Unfortunately both finals ended up being played on this sheet.

In the first round matches, Morris & Carr just pipped Hope & Gillespie, and together with Alexander & Lambie, Hunter & Carr, and Lambie & Scott, progressed to the High Road.  In the Low Road semi-finals Hope & Gillespie went through against Jacobs and partner, and the Ramsays enjoyed a good victory over Dunbar & Ballantyne.  In the High Road semi-finals Morris & Carr ovecame Alexander & Lambie in the final end, and Hunter & Carr carried the day against Lambie & Scott.

The Ramsays dominated the game in the Low Road final, making life very difficult for opponents Ronnie and David, who got close on a number of occasions but just failed to gain any advantage.  The Ramsays ran out winners by eight shots to nil.  Congratulations to Jim and Pam.

In the High Road final, Morris & Carr were fast out of the blocks taking a three in the first end. They added to their opponents problems in the second end when a measure between two stones cutting the four foot went their way.  Hunter & Carr came back in the third end with a two, and then stole another two in the fourth end to tie the game at four all.  In the fifth end, Keith was left with a draw against three opposition counters (all in the outer circle), and with excellent sweeping by Margaret just managed to take shot at the front of the house by the narrowest of margins.  Margaret’s first stone in the sixth and final end picked up and skewed short well to the right hand side of the house.  The front of the house was then dominated with short stones.  Ken attempted to remove the nearest of these, the only opposition stone, but played too heavily and the stone fell out to just nick the target stone and move it right across the house to count in the outer circle near the tee line.  Margaret’s first stone that had picked up was covering a direct out-turn strike option.  Morris and Carr decided to place a shorter stone on the straight side.  Hunter & Carr attempted an in-turn tap back from the centre on the singleton opposition counter, but too much ice, too fast, whichever, it caught a front stone.  Keith then played to cover that side of the house but went deep ending inside and slightly behind his original counter, widening the potential target.  With his final stone, Ken played an in-turn, back ring, tap back to take shot and tie the match at five all.  So onto the sudden death of drawing the house.  Hunter & Carr played first, and a killer shot to the pot lid left Morris & Carr with the difficult task of having to cover the centre hole on the pot lid to force a second round of shots. Their draw shot did not achieve this, so after a very close match Ken Hunter & Dave Carr carried the day.

On Saturday afternoon (27 Feb) the Club organised an introductory session for members interested in trying Points.  Eleven members attended and they enjoyed the opportunity to experience this different format.  Participants offered mutual support to each other and generously cheered successful shots from their peers.  It was not a formal competition, but for the record the leading scorers were Margaret Carr, Ian Neil, and Janette Lambie.  In line with the desire of the participants, the table of results has been lodged in the Club’s records.  The enthusiasm for some kind of competition next season will be forwarded to the Committee. 

Two games critical to the outcome of the Thirds League took place tonight (Feb 25).  Team Beaton took on Team Jacobs on Sheet 6, whilst Team Carr took on Team Scott on Sheet 7.  In the first mentioned game, Team Beaton having taken a single in the first end, had their hopes torpedoed by loosing a three in the second end and conceding a single in the third end, Team Jacobs running out winners by 7 shots to 4.  In the second game, Team Scott weathered the loss of singles in the first two ends before recovering to go 4-2 up after five ends.  They then lost headway, conceding a two at the sixth end to tie the game, before taking a three in the final end to snatch victory.

Although there are still two games to be played, Team Scott having completed their games cannot be surpassed.  Congratulation to Iain, Alex, Barbara, and Les on winning the league.

Nine members assembled on Wednesday evening (24 Feb) to contest the medal for the Second Points. Fastest out of the blocks on the first two disciplines was Jim Ramsay followed by Tom Alexander, and Reg Dunbar.  Jim easily kept his place as front runner over the next two disciplines followed by a chasing pack of Walter, Reg, Tom, John J, with David B and Ken closing behind.  The next lap involved Chap & Lie;  Ken and Tom made decisive moves and closed the gap behind Jim and Walter.  Wick & Curl In was probably the decisive lap, with Ken scoring a five to gain a three point lead over Jim, Tom, and John. A late surge by Jim in the final discipline (Raising) just failed to get him to the tape ahead of Ken.

Scores after 7 disciplines ; Ken Hunter 31, Jim Ramsay 30, John Jacobs 27.  Some good scoring across the board on ice that was tricky at times.  The stand-out performance of the night for your reporter was that of David Ballantyne who finished on 24 points.  Well done David.