The annual match between Penicuik and West Linton was played on Friday 27th January.  As usual it was a competitive but friendly encounter.

Dave Carr, Andrew Lambie, Margaret Carr and Janette Lambie played against Shone Watt, Barbara Watt, Chris McDonald and Ray Edwards; with Liz Anderson, Ronnie Hope, Pam Ramsay and Christine Hope taking on John Dykes, Sandy Anderson, Jan Murray and Mhairi McDonald.
In the first game Penicuik built up a good lead of 6-0. The front end playing very well, leaving the Third and Skip to play guards. West Linton came back with a 3 at the sixth end.
The second game was closer, with ones and a two being exchanged to give West Linton a 5-2 lead after 6 ends.  

So it was all on the last end of the two games!!!  Liz won a single  to make the final score 5-3 in favour of West Linton.  In the other game, Shona was half an inch short with her draw attempt so Dave Carr did not have to play his last shot in gaining a 7-3 win, giving Penicuik overall victory in the match by 10 shots to 8.

We all adjourned upstairs for very pleasant chat and refreshments. Last year’s winner, Jan Murray, presented the glass trophy to Dave Carr.

Dave Carr

The Club played three games against invited opposition on Friday 20 January.

Penicuik v Partick

This game was played in excellent spirit with Dave Anderson, Liz Anderson, Peter Occleston and Pam Ramsay pitted against the Partick Vice-President Robbie Wishart (Liz’s cousin), Duncan McColl, Heather Parton and May Morris.  On Robbie’s suggestion we decided to rotate the rinks after each 2 ends which added much to the enjoyment of the evening.  It was clear from the start that this was not going to be an easy game as the Partick front end found their weight from the off and we needed to be on our mettle to keep the score to 1 shot to Partick. The second, third and fourth ends were equally competitive which went with the hammer with singles scored at each end. Following a good hit and roll from Peter we managed a shot against the hammer in the fifth but Partick came back with a single in the sixth. Penicuik managed a few good draws and following an unfortunate last stone from Partick whilst we were lying four shots up we managed through a changing hand to push their stone out to finish with a six, a result (9-3) which did not reflect the game.  Many thanks to the members of Partick Curling Club for an excellent evening of good curling and good fun.

Dave Anderson

Penicuik v SIAE

Penicuik Team 3 (Iain Scott, Roger Scott, Dave Carr and Vic Ramage) played against SIAE (Mike Vetch, Maureen McCulloch, Morna Findlay and David Cunningham).
With Vic getting his weight very quickly, Penicuik got off to a good start with a single followed by a 4. On the 3rd end, the SIAE skip was unlucky and took out their stone to give Penicuik a 6. This really ended the contest and the remaining ends were split evenly with Penicuik winning 14-3. All players were ready to play their stones and so play was continuous and we easily managed to play 8 ends. 8 ends used to be common, so it shows that it can still be done.
After the game, we adjourned upstairs for pleasant conversation and refreshments.

Dave Carr

Penicuik v Inverkeithing

Penicuik Team 2 (John Jacobs, Ronnie Hope, Reg Dunbar and Alister McDonald) played against Inverkeithing CC (Robert Smith, Collin Blyth, Phil Slater and Nigel Patterson).

A very good natured and competitive game with Phil and his team ended with a win (10-6) for Inverkeithing CC.  From the first end, Inverkeithing played a fairly aggressive hitting game from lead through to skip, missing very little!  Penicuik struggled with straight ice over the first couple of ends before fighting back to make a good contest going into last end; where the hitting game from Inverkeithing prevailed again, with some exciting difficult take out shots undoing the excellent play from the front end of Penicuik.

Afterwards we had a really enjoyable discussion about the game and the merits of Murrayfield Curling Rink.  They were all extremely happy, and also praised the standard of ice at Kinross where they play majority of their games now.  We agreed and shared our experiences of our recent Away Day there.

John Jacobs

On a reasonably good (for January) Tuesday morning, a group (22) of members collected together at the Lowries Den entrance to the Penicuik House Estate ready to embark on a walk around the estate to the various ponds that have featured as home ice for the club over the years. This happy bunch were firstly led down to the High Pond which they were able to circumnavigate, with the kind permission of Sir Robert Clerk.  Thereafter the route took the party down towards the Low Pond before striking off over the hill to reach Hurley Pond.  From Hurley it was back to the Low Pond and the Curling House (Pavilion) where members were refreshed with mulled wine and ‘rusty nails’  whilst being offered warm mince pies and other delicacies.  After having been regaled with many stories and facts  from our own historian Jim Cowper, the party followed his suggestion of a return via the Roman bridge and up the hill to the old Penicuik House.

A really nice get together before the club commences the second half of it’s programme.  A special vote of thanks goes to Vice President Christine Hope and her helpers for their preparations.

Some photographs appear on the Social Page; if you have any good photos send them in!

Early on a cold and frosty Saturday morning a group of 23 members assembled to board a coach bound for Kinross Curling Rink.  On arrival we were presented with hot rolls and coffee/tea.  Suitable refreshed, the morning session commenced and two 4-end games were completed.  After a quick drink, a soup and sandwich lunch provided the sustenance required for the afternoon.  The Ladies took the opportunity for a little retail therapy, whilst the Gentlemen partook of further refreshment.  Onward to the afternoon session where two 3-end games were completed with a refreshment break between the games.

The Foundation Team on the day comprised Iain Scott, Liz Anderson, Pam Ramsay, and Aileen Beaton.  The Winning team was John Jacobs, Robert Beaton, David Gillespie, and Jean Noble, who managed to win all four of their games and played well as a unit throughout the day.

Thanks go to the Social Sub-committee for organising the event,  to Barbara and David Gillespie for their sponsorship, and to Stuart Carnegie for helping out in the afternoon session.  Lastly we are grateful to Kinross Curling for their part in making this a great day out.

Photographs will be presented on the Social pages.

Thirty-two members gathered at Murrayfield Curling Rink on Sunday afternoon, eagerly anticipating the start of our new season.  Fortunately a number had already been on the ice ahead of the event, the remainder had to quickly get to grips with their slides.  We were delighted to have two of our new members, Aileen Beaton and Annette Lang, join us for the event.  It was especially gratifying that the company kept up to schedule and seven ends were played, so that each team met all of the other seven teams.  The format was such that no one knew how the other teams were getting on.  At the close of play Team Hunter emerged as the winners on +9, closely followed by Team Carr on +7.  So well done to Jim Cowper, Barbara Gillespie, and Vic Ramage who played with your Reporter.

Afterwards the company celebrated with a meal and a few drinks, before President Dave Carr took to the floor to express the Club’s gratitude to the organising parties, make a few announcements, and relate the results of the bonspiel.  Dave also took time to congratulate Vic Ramage on being made Penicuik’s Citizen of the Year for his considerable work in fund raising and charitable work.

Well done to Iain Scott for his work as the principal organiser, and we are grateful to Ian Neil for his sponsorship of the event.

CROQUET OUTING

The outing was held at Penicuik House Estate on Saturday 9th July, 2016.  As last year, numerous weather forecasts were checked and phone calls made before it was decided to go ahead with the croquet in the afternoon.  Fortunately, the weather turned out to be quite good, with only one stop for rain, and a slight breeze kept most of the midges away.

The croquet was played in the usual good spirits (aided by some Pimms and beers) with lots of laughter. Despite having played for several years, our standard of play has not improved!!  The competition was close with Elaine Lambie & Jim Cowper, Pam Ramsay & Andrew Lambie, and Margaret Carr & George Johnstone all tying for second place, just behind the winners Janette Lambie & Dave Carr.

Many thanks to Barbara and her committee for organising the day and to Ronnie Hope and his crew for setting up the lawns and tents.

Dave Carr

Photographs on Social Pages

An enthusiastic band of curlers headed to the Sheep Heid at Duddingston on Friday 6 May, all keen to show their prowess at another game.  After all, as players of a club that prided itself on its scientific approach, how could we fail but to do well.   Alas it was not to be; some blamed the rink, some just found it difficult to effectively control their shots, and no one managed to be particularly consistent.  A mid evening break for food came and went, and then back to the fray.  Despite sagely words of wisdom and advice, the standard of play did not appear to improve significantly.  The event was marshalled by President Dave Carr, who also acted as scorer for the evening.  With a late call off because of illness, twenty-one members participated in the event.  In the absence of a partner for Ian Neil, he was allocated a different lady member to team up with for each round.  Ian himself played quite well, but incredibly most of his partners managed to play better for him than they did for the partner that they were drawn with.  You can see where this is going – Ian Neil and Co. ran out as the overall winners on the night.  A single shot play-off amongst this bevy of ladies resulted in the prize going to Anne Watson.  The ‘Foundation Team’ of Linda Hunter and Reg Dunbar were awarded the ‘lemon’ prizes.

This was a fun night out, enjoyed by all who attended.  Once again we are indebted to the Social Sub-committee for their organisation.

The Annual Dinner and Prize Giving was held at Glencorse Golf Club on the evening of Saturday 9 April.  Members gathered for an aperitif prior to the meal and to offer a welcome to guests, including the Club Patron Sir Robert Clerk and his wife Lady Faye.  A fine meal, accompanied by a glass or two of wine, left members in high spirits.  Jan and her Sub-committee colleagues were quick to take advantage with an offering of raffle tickets.  On to the prize giving,  where Sir Robert presented the various prizes at the direction of President Dave Carr.  Then to the crucial point of the evening, who had won the raffle prizes.  The evening ended with a harmonious mingling of members and guests, being offered celebratory tastes from a variety of trophies.

Thanks to the Social Sub-committee for their work in organising the dinner.  Photographs are available on the Gallery page.