Category Archives: Competition

Outdoor Curling at Herbertshaw Farm

The heavy rain at the New Year followed by the recent extreme cold led to ideal conditions for outdoor curling this week on a flooded and frozen field at Herbertshaw Farm, long held by the Brown family, near Penicuik. Craig quickly put the word out for any keen curlers to congregate, although his suggestion of shorts and teeshirt attire was swiftly declined.

The two Jims (Ramsay and Cowper) assisted in marking out the ice, and soon the cars started to arrive. To quote a favourite film – ” If you build it, they will come”.

*Jean Louise Graeme and Reg ready for action*

The refrigeration unit held out for a second day and, with blue skies and lovely views the curlers enjoyed some great curling.

Competition was as usual quite fierce, with Jim R and David Gillespie winning 9-7 over Jim C and Roger in an 8 end thriller.

*Historic Photo of Walter Brown, Jim Cowper and Tom Alexander from 2009*

Unfortunately, the thaw has begun, so no more play this week. Many thanks to Craig and Jim Ramsay for organising, the Brown family for allowing access to their land, and to all who helped and played over the two days. A great experience.

Merchiston 1816 Match

The 1816 -17 season is noted in Penicuik Curling Club’s history as the first season that the newly formed Club involved itself in challenge matches against other local curling clubs at that time, amongst them Merchiston Curling Club. The 2022-23 season once again saw opposing teams taking to the ice in this long established club fixture, so named to commemorate the first year it was played.

Penicuik, skipped by Iain Scott, and supported by Andy Cameron, Liz Anderson and Roger Scott were up against an equally strong Merchiston Team of Jim Cannon, Mike Harrington, Irene Allan and Mike Smith.

The home team took the first end by 1 stone, with Merchiston immediately retaliating with a 3 in the second. Penicuik took a 2 in both of the next two ends, before Merchiston responded with another 3 in the fifth to lead 6-5. A further two hard fought ends followed in what was a very close match overall.

Final Result. Penicuik 8 – 7 Merchiston.

Report by Jean Noble

Intermediate Points

Eleven curlers took part in the Intermediate Points Competition on Saturday 14th January including two of the Club’s newest members Graeme and Nicki Cassie, understandably nervous, but always willing to try a different curling experience.

Craig started play off, scoring the maximum in the ‘Striking’ discipline along with Jim Cowper still showing the youngsters how to do it even at his tender years. The second discipline ‘Inwicking’ proved difficult for most and relatively few points were picked up here. However, moving on, it soon became apparent that the competition was keen and at the halfway stage after ‘Guarding’ Dave Anderson, on 18 points, was only 1 ahead of Jim on 17 with Craig, Norrie and Kirsty in close contention on 16.

‘Chap and Lie’ and ‘Wick and Curl In’ saw the lead change again with 1 point separating Kirsty and Dave and, with both scoring 7s in ‘Raising’, Kirsty was still ahead with enough time left for one last discipline. By this time a separate competition was developing between Graeme and daughter Nicki who was well into her stride. Unfortunately Jim’s star had faded with 3 blank ends, despite trying to fight off the cold with hot chocolate from the cafe upstairs.

‘Chipping the Winner’ proved to be the deciding discipline, with Iain scoring 7 in a late rally to equal Craig’s score of 28, Kirsty faltering to finish runner up on 32, and Dave taking 6 points to win outright on 35.

Overall a very close contest with Craig and Kirsty scoring in all eight disciplines played. Final scores shown below. Many thanks to all who took part.

Report by Jean Noble

Saturday Christmas Bonspiel

Resplendent in Christmas jumpers, Santa hats and antlers, 13 curlers gathered on Saturday 17th December for a mini-bonspiel. Four teams were drawn with the honour of skipping the rinks at the start going to some of the newer Club members, viz,Graeme Cassie, Jean Cassie, Nicki Cassie and Paul Clapperton. Six ends wereplayed with players rotating positions every two ends.

The team of Graeme Cassie, Kirsty McWilliam and Saho Arakawa managed to win 5 of their six ends resulting in a positive score of +6. They were rewarded with a splendid prize of chocolate oranges.

At the other end of the scale, Nicki’s team of her, Stuart Blackwood and Alister McDonald did not win a single end and had a net score of minus 9. But at least they got a bag of Celebrations as a booby prize, which they generously shared with the eleven curlers who managed to stay for refreshments after the fun.

All in all a relaxed and enjoyable morning’s curling.

Report by Alister McDonald

King George 1V Trophy

On Friday 9th December, Penicuik played SIAE in the next round of the King George 1V Competition. SIAE took an early lead which the Penicuik team managed to claw back, but the end result was Penicuik 4 – 7 SIAE. David Gillespie as Skip reported that it had been an enjoyable game in good company but SIAE proved to be the better team. They will go on to meet Holyrood in the next round.

Commiserations to David and his team of Dave Carr, Reg Dunbar and Kirsty McWilliam.

Fun on the Low Pond

The first available ice of season 22/23 came our way on 15^th December, 2022 and the ‘CALL’ went out to Penicuik Curling members to gather and compete for The Outdoor Medal. The ice was at least 4 inches thick with a good pebble and ready for an 11am start.

The Rinks were chosen by random draw and resulted in Team A Skipped by Craig Brown and aided by Reg Dunbar, Martin Hobbs and Graeme Cassie, this rink awarded Red Ribbons to distinguish their stones. Team B were to be identified by Blue ribbons attached to their stones. Members of ‘B’ were Jim Ramsay, Dave Carr, Geoff Dawe, Kirsty McWilliam and Ian Neil. (This did not mean that Team B had 10 stones compared to Team A’s 8). One member of the Blue rink would sit out at each end.

Eight Ends would decide a winner. Ramsay & Co., got off to a positive start with a 1 in the first then a 2 in the second. By the start of End 3 everyone was settling into the very different delivery of stones required outside compared to indoor. Team Brown eventually got on the board by scoring with a single stone. Blue were having none of the ‘A’ recovery and gained another 2 in the 4^th end. As we often find, a game of Curling changes at the 5^th end and that is exactly what happened. In the 5^th Brown came back with a 1. Another 1 in the 6^th and a big 3 in the 7^th left the score at A = 6 B = 5. Perhaps the recovery of Team Brown was down to their secret (and perhaps use of illegal equipment). Mr Cassie had launched a Drone which obviously might have given Skip Craig a different view of things. End Eight and Team B are sitting with a 1 for most of the End and it was starting to look as if an extra end was on the cards. Team A had tried several times to remove the Blue stone without success. Craigs first attempt at Take Out went wide of the mark. Jim’s initial thought was to guard the counting stone but that stone also went wide but it did give the Blues a second counting stone. If Craig could take a Blue out and get a roll, the game could be won. A powerful delivery by Craig just failed to take out either of the Blues which resulted in the final stone not having to be played (just in case of error). The final score with 4 ends to each team comes out as A = 6 and B = 7.

A shake of hands but no Rusty Nail to be found, but thanks to Geoff for the Shortbread!

Report by Jim Ramsay

Drone footage is available at the following Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/share/fdl2S9dYtN4kTqBtSettr10wQqBZWvL7n7NhUTmGUR9

Tulliallan Social Game

On Tuesday 6th December, an intrepid group of players journeyed up to Kinross to play in a friendly match against Tulliallan Curling Club. This social game was suggested after a visit by a group of Penicuik curlers to Stranraer in the early part of 2022 where they renewed acquaintances with fellow curlers from the Tulliallan Club.

Jim Ramsay skipped the first Penicuik rink, with fellow curlers Liz Anderson, Jean Noble and Pam Ramsay playing against Alan P. and his team of Elaine, Janice and Gill. It did take the visiting players a couple of ends to get used to the speed and draws of the Kinross ice and it was all square at 1 each after 2 ends. By this time the Penicuik ladies were realising that they were in for a tough game and having to sweep hard to stay in contention. Penicuik took a 2 in the third before Tulliallan come back with a 1. Now more used to the ice both leads were able to play to the edge of the house, and with Jean able to take out Tulliallan counting stones and Liz making some great draws to the middle of the house, Skip Jim and opposition Skip Alan were left to battle it out for the winning shots. With time running out after 6 ends, Penicuik finished 6-2 ahead and the Skips shook hands.

In the other game Dave Carr, Jim Cowper, Stuart Blackwood and Jim Hume played against another team of 3 ladies and 1 gentleman, this time skipped by Angela.
On very swingy ice, big ends were traded early on with the score 5 – 4 to Tulliallan after the fourth end. Thereafter Penicuik picked off 1s and 2s, as Angela narrowly missed some take-outs allowing Penicuik to build up to a final score of Penicuik 11 – 5 Tulliallan.

Both games were much tighter than the scorecards suggest and as always played in a very friendly manner. After retiring to a local restaurant for a very enjoyable meal, the teams made their weary way home. Penicuik will look forward to the return match next season.

Report by Dave Carr and Jean Noble

Ladies Crowned Club Challenge Holders

On 29th November, an evening of high drama, the first Club Challenge of the season saw the Crook Trophy firmly wrested from the grasp of the current holders by a scratch team of ladies who were psyched up and ready for the fray. Since the competition’s inception, this was the first time that a straight win had been achieved by the challengers and what a win it was.

In Keith’s absence and with David Gillespie unavailable, Martin skipped his rink of Roger, Jim Cowper and Elaine Lambie whilst Margaret Carr was ably supported by Liz Anderson, Jean Noble and Pam Ramsay.

The ladies got off to a strong start, taking a 3 in the first end and leaving the opposition slightly bemused. However, the second end proved more difficult for the ladies with lead and second stones hanging out on the faster downward ice, allowing Martin’s team to build up a group of 6 stones in the house, before Margaret played a brilliant draw with her last stone to snatch the point. Score 4-0.

It was nip and tuck in the third end, with draws and take outs played by both sides, with Martin taking a 1 to get on the board.

The ladies were in the ascendancy again in the fourth end, with strong lead stones from Pam, and Jean very proud of an very impressive wick and curl in from an outlying opposition stone. Liz drew the house with both her stones leaving Margaret to block the only way in, thus adding another 3 to the challenger’s score.

A further 1 in the fifth end left the ladies sitting 8 -1 up, by this time drawing the attention of spectators in the gallery.

End 6 began with Pam playing a great stone into the centre ring, but with the ice playing slower, both teams follow up stones were left short creating a protective barrier and forcing play on the other side. Despite the best efforts of the holders, the ladies held out with Margaret once again drawing to win another stone. With Martin and his team shaking hands to concede after 6 ends, the final score was 10 -1 to the ladies.

Despite accusations of ‘witchcraft’ and ‘abuse of the elderly’, the match was played in the friendliest of terms, with the score not really reflecting the closeness of play. Afterwards, both teams retired upstairs to enjoy a coffee and chat, and to commiserate with Jim Cowper who was still in shock.

No doubt rinks are being formed as we speak to raise the next challenge to be played in late February, but for now congratulations to the Margaret, Liz, Pam and Jean – the new Club Challenge Holders.

Report by Jean Noble

DAFS v Penicuik.

Saturday, 26th November . News just in……Bruce Mowat wins European Gold again! Also at this time another (maybe not so big) match takes place at Murrayfield featuring players from DAFS Curling Club against Penicuik Curling Club.

In what looked like a step away from responsibility in the DAFS rink, Graham Thompson persuaded Jon Pickup to take charge of proceedings on their behalf with David Lindsay at Third and Catriona Graham as Lead. For Penicuik, the line up was Sweeping Master Jim Cowper at Lead, David Ballantyne at Second, while Mrs Ramsay supported Mr Ramsay at Third.

The first end of any game is always a tester as teams find out ice speeds and capabilities of opposition players, but the brilliant Penicuik Skip stole the first end with a near perfect draw hide to the button for a 1. Trouble brewed for Penicuik in the 2^nd and 3^rd ends when a 2 then a 1 were lost.

Not to worry though! Penicuik were in the game again at the 4th with both blue and yellow stones contesting closely for the button spot. Penicuik had last stone which needed to nudge the sitting opposition stone for shot. It had to be the right weight and line which it mostly was but at the last moment the handle changed which, rather than the expected , gave Penicuik a 3.

We were back in charge and stole a further 2 at the 5^th end making the score DAFS 3 Penicuik 6. Being a friendly match, Penicuik pulled back and let our opponents back into the game by leaving them the opportunity of a 1.

A lot of thought had gone into the DAFS game which resulted in time catching up with us (nothing to do with Graham of course) Four minutes to the bell and the 7^th end started.

It proved to be a very tight last end. Jim and David playing the stones asked to split the house each play only to be countered by their opposite number. DAFS were now lying 2 when it was the turn of the ‘Man of the Match’ , Pamela, who played her second double take out of the game. Unfortunately, the DAFS Third got the better of us and drew shot.

It was now all up to the Skip shots. Mr Pickup played his first stone and took a second counter for DAFS. The poor Penicuik Skip had so much pressure on him… the two DAFS stones were hidden and best that could be done would be to chip one out. Just that wee bit too much weight saw it ‘stay out’ and slip by. The final DAFS stone was perfect weight but could not hide which left them sitting with 3 counting stones. Oh! that poor, poor Penicuik Skip, what to do? Try and chip out again which might work or take the easier 3^rd DAFS stone and not miss the gap. A wick in might have been possible but best to be sociable and submit the 2 to DAFS which left the game after 7 ends at 6-6.

As is the custom, the eight players retired to the Bar to relive the game and discuss the if and maybe. 6pm. – better get home for Strictly!

Report by Jim Ramsay