The winner of our Points competition was Graeme Cassie who scored 31 points over seven disciplines. Congratulations Graeme! Full Scoreboard can be found in the Points Page.

As far as our Friendly encounters were concerned, it wasn’t the best month for Penicuik Curling Club. On Saturday 13th, we put out 2 rinks in our now annual match against Tulliallan at Murrayfield. Tulliallan produced a magnificent new wooden trophy which Alan Paterson had sponsored for the event. (If a photo arrives, I will add it to this page). Both Penicuik teams were defeated with a final score of 18-8 to our visitors. Things didn’t get much better with our game against West Linton on the 30th. Another trophy gone in the West Linton Challenge! For the second year running W Linton took the honours with a 15-6 win this year. Since 1994 Penicuik has won this trophy 21 times and W Linton 7 including the last two years.                     Slightly better news arrived from Craig Brown after the Merchiston 1816 game on Sunday 28th. Penicuik sneaked a 6-5 win.

We did not attract enough entries for our Knockout Competition to run the planned Quarter Finals on Tuesday 6th of February (Semi’s on 14th & Final 16th) but the Ice was used for a New Stones/Penicuik game. Eight New Stones and Nine Penicuik members played a 6 end rotation game. Each team had 2 New Stones and 2 Penicuik Players. There were some interesting ends played and congratulations were passed to The Reg Dunbar Rink when most involved met upstairs to end our friendly get together.

Let’s hope that things change for the better now that February has arrived. Merchiston Points on Sunday 11th February and games against 37 Club and Irvine in March.

Sunday 21st January was the date for our annual singles competition.

Fresh Ice and all 8 entrants were ready to go, each vowing that they will not be chasing their stones. Of course that (just like our New Year resolutions) went out of the window after the first stone was delivered.

Craig Brown, Dave Carr, Jean Noble and Alex Moir found themselves competing for The Low Road after Jim Ramsay, Dave Anderson, Keith Morris and Kirsty McWilliam progressed to The High Road. Dave C and Alex found themselves in the final after beating their opponent by 1 in their Semi.

The High Road Quarter Final had Jim scoring 4 against Dave A’s 2 while Keith lost by 2 to Kirsty’s 4. All games were very tight and everyone’s sweat glands were now working overtime. Time for the Final between Jim and Kirsty. Jim takes 2 in the first of the 6 ends and Kirsty comes straight back in the 2nd end with an equally impressive 2. Last stone for jim in the 3rd end only managed a 1 but in this very tight game Kirsty had another 2 in the 4th. Yet another 2 for Jim in the 5th left the score at 5-4 for him. Keeping her cool, Kirsty matched and bettered every stone that Jim played around The Buttons the 6th. Kirsty was lying 2 when it was last stone time for Jim who tried to remove both of Kirsty’s stones. He only managed to remove 1 stone but because of stone positions it looked like he was fairly safe to earn a playoff end BUT NO! Kirsty played a fantastic last stone to make the final score 6-5 in her favour which earned her the Singles Trophy.

Thanks go out to those who stayed on to watch the final games and to Dave & Liz Anderson for sponsoring the event and providing refreshments for all involved.

KIRSTY McWILLIAM TOOK TOP HONOUR BY WINNING THE HIGH ROAD.

DAVE CARR SECURED TOP SPOT BY WINNING THE LOW ROAD.

The full score sheet is posted on the Singles competition page.

As has become the custom this event is led by some of the ladies in our Club. This year it was down to/up to Liz Anderson, Margaret Carr, Nicki Cassie, Jean Noble, Pam Ramsay and Jan Stuart (alphabetical) to secure The Marie Vinestock Trophy.

After 7 Ends all retired upstairs for food, drink and chat and then to hear the final outcome. Two Prize Winners emerged! Firstly, (actually last) was Team Ramsay(Mrs) who received a Goodie Bag and Boobie Trophy for recording a score of -14. Then up came Mrs Carr and her rink to receive The Trophy, A Medal and Wine for achieving an outstanding score of +11

WHAT HAPPY WINNERS

Chartered Surveyors came with The Trophy and left with The Trophy!

That’s about the story! The four clubs associated with Hamish got together for their annual bonspiel at Murrayfield on Saturday 9th December. The Bonspiel saw each club playing 2 ends against each other to determine the 2023 winners.

The games all started with low scoring with Surveyors taking a 1 from Penicuik and then giving the 1 back in end 2. On the other sheet Watsonians took a 1 in the first from Merchiston and then a 4 in end 2. Five Points up already, it was looking as if Watsonians were on the way to victory. However, they failed to score in the competition again until taking a 3 from Penicuik in the last end. This left them with a +3.

Of course, you will want to know more about the Penicuik Charge which was led by Iain Scott and backed up by Dave Carr, Jean Noble and Graeme Cassie. After being level from their first game, Penicuik did the same in the second game against Merchiston by scoring a 1 and losing a 1. Chances were slipping for ownership of the Trophy as they went into the last game. A 2 in the first end might have given hope but that was soon dashed when Watsonians took a 3, leaving Penicuik on -1.

Surveyors led by Martin Hall and supported by Archie Rintoul and a couple of ‘ringers’ Jim Cowper and Jim Ramsay only gave up 2 points during the whole competition. They ended The Hamish Tait Bonspiel on +5 and therefore retained The Trophy.

Iain Scott presenting Martin Hall

NEW HOLDERS OF THE CROOK

A REPORT HAS ARRIVED

In a tense Game of Thrones on 29^th November, Penicuik’s Curling Queens have been deposed by the new Kings of Curling, Dave Anderson’s Rink of himself, Geoff Dawe, Jim Hume and Graeme Cassie.

The Club Challenge Crook holders of Margaret Carr, Jean Noble, Pam Ramsay and Saho Arakawa (substituting for Liz Anderson) displayed the usual focus, but fell short with too many opening stones, whilst Graeme and Jim as lead men were getting their weight perfectly. The challengers took an early lead with a 2 in the first end, followed by a 1 in the second. In a tense third end, whilst trying to emulate Bruce Mouat’s Championship tactics, both teams played stones progressively on the centre line, with the ladies winning by 1 stone after a measure. Score now 3-1 for Team Anderson.

Great play from the men again in the fourth, as they took another 1. Saho’s perfect lead stone to the button in the fifth, then well protected by her teammates increasingly wider guard stones, was enough to secure another point for the ladies. Score now 4-2.

Another very tense game in the sixth, with a cluster of stones built up around the head. Skip Margaret’s only option was to play a Wick and Curl In from an outlying stone. Swept valiantly by sweepers Saho and Pam, the lady Skip’s brilliant shot scraped narrowly between two opposition stones to end up right on the button. Another point for the girls – now 4-3.

By this time Skip Anderson and his rink were looking slightly worried, whilst the girls were ever hopeful. However, Dave got his tactics just right, and with last stones to play had built up an impenetrable blockade at the front. Outlying stones forced Margaret to try to draw through the port, stopping just short, and Dave’s rink took the win by another 2 stones. Final score 6-3.

Retiring upstairs for a well-earned drink, Margaret commented on the tight match and excellent play by the opposition before presenting Dave with the Club Challenge Crook. Having been accused of witchcraft in the past, the ladies have now retired to review their book of spells, with a view to regaining the throne in the future.   

In the meantime, Long Live the new Kings of Curling – Dave, Geoff, Jim and Graeme. Their reign may well be short as another opportunity to usurp the holders is available in mid- February. Who is brave enough to try? 

Report by Jean Noble

DAFS Social Game Report, From our Reporter On The Scene Dave Carr

Dateline 26th November,2023

Penicuik took on DAFS in their annual battle (sorry, Social Game!!).
Penicuik were represented by Dave Carr, Margaret Carr, Graeme Cassie and David Ballantyne. With Mike Parker, Stuart Carnegie, Ros Carnegie and Grete Oleson representing DAFS.
The first 3 ends were very tight and DAFS led 2-1. With Mike Parker playing some excellent shots to prevent Penicuik taking a big lead.
Then DISASTER. Penicuik lost a 3, followed by a 5, assisted by our skip tapping them in for an extra shot.
Pulling back with 2s at the last 2 ends, made the scoreline a bit more respectable , at 11-5.
Congratulations to DAFS, the better team.

The game was followed by the usual drinks upstairs, in excellent company.

15th November and Team Anderson backed by 3rd Kyle Baptie, Second Stuart Blackwood and Lead Paul Clapperton secured the trophy!

Their opposition was against Team Scott and for the second night Mr Anderson & Co pulled a win with only 2 Ends in his favour. Final Score was Anderson 9 and Scott 6.

For the second night Mr Scott had a substitute in place. Reg Dunbar Skipped the final while Craig Brown got the Scott team into the final on Ends after a peel against Team Ramsay.

Congratulations to all!

Remember, Remember the 5th of November! That was 37 Club Challenge Day.

2 sheets of Ice and 16 anxious players set off Head to Head to earn the 37 Club Challenge Plate. Penicuik Team 1 was led by Dave Anderson with Reg Dunbar at 3rd, Ken Hunter coming in at 2nd and the ever reliable Jim Cowper at one. Team 2 consisted of Jim Ramsay, Iain Scott. Martin Hobbs and Jean Noble.

It took Team 1 5 ends to get on the board against 37 Clubs’ Paul Davis Rink by which time the score was 8-2 to the 37’s. On sheet 6 Penicuik’s team 2 were holding their own and by the 5th end the score was 8-2 to Penicuik. Team game, so we were equal at the 5th. At the 6th howeve, the 37’s 1st team took a 4 from Mr Anderson while all team Ramsay could do was add another 1 to their score.

Things looked as if they were slipping away until in end 7 the Andersons took a 2 making their final score 8 down at 12-4. In the 6th end the Ramsaites were 7 up. All Penicuik needed to retain the Salvor was a 2. Unfortunately, they didn’t have last stone but were on course to make the 2 and maybe even 3 until 37’s Skip of their Team 2 (Alister Hay) made a wick in to earn shot. Ramsay had the opportunity to play his Yellow to Yellow to take out the hidden Blue stone. The excitement was too much! His stone was on the heavy side and unable to stop the keen sweepers to up their brushes, the stone just missed the target and 37 Club secured the Trophy. Upstairs to the refurbished clubrooms for analysis of the game and a Red Wine for Jean.

When we say secure the Trophy, that’s not quite true because PP Scott forgot to bring the Silverware into Murrayfield. So, at time of writing, Penicuik still have the Trophy and possession is 9/10ths!

A return match is organised in March when Penicuik will take back The Trophy (maybe).

A gauntlet has been thrown down to our current Club Challenge holders. The four ladies (Liz, Jean, Margaret and Pam) have shown the door to those that have dared challenge their supremacy in the past.

Now a VERY brave challenger has come forward to attempt to take the trophy. Mr David Anderson is secretly amassing a strong team (names not revealed yet) who will make yet another attempt to take the crown away from our ladies.

The game is scheduled for Wednesday the 29th day of November 2023, to be played at Murrayfield Curling facility starting at 5.30.

COME ALONG AND LEND YOUR SUPPORT!