Hamish Tait Trophy

The sixth annual bonspiel to commorate the contribution of Hamish Tait to Chartered Surveyors, Merchiston, Penicuik, and Watsonian curling clubs was contested on Saturday 29th November.  Each club fielded two rinks although Merchiston were augmented with two Penicuik players (Reg Dunbar & Iain Scott) and two of the Penicuik ‘Belles’ (Jean Lennie & Pam Ramsay) turned out to supplement the Surveyors.  Penicuik ran out winners on an aggregate score of +19, followed by Merchiston on -2, Watsonian on -3, and Chartered Surveyors on -14.  Penicuik was represented by Jim Ramsay, Keith Morris, Tom Alexander, and John Jacobs (+14); and by Walter Brown, Ken Hunter, Dave Carr, and Jim Cowper (+5).

Following the afternoon of sport, the participants ended an enjoyable occasion in a meal together in the club dining room at Murrayfield.

Singles Competition

The 2014-15 Singles competition was played out on Thursday 27 November.  The entry was limited to 12 players.  In the top half of the draw there were wins for Walter Brown, Ronnie Hope, Ken Hunter, and David Ballantyne in the first round.  In the bottom half of the draw there were wins for JIm Cowper and John Jacobs in the second round.  In the other second round matches Ronnie beat Walter, and David beat Ken (draw to house).  Into the semi-finals; Ronnie won through to the final after a very tight game with David; and Jim ran out of steam in the second semi to lose to John by a single shot.  So Ronnie Hope and John Jacobs went back onto the ice to contest the final.  By this stage the ice had changed and had become somewhat more difficult.  Never-the-less John quickly seized the initiative with a three in the first end and despite some good play Ronnie was unable to turn the tide in his favour.  Congratulations to John on winning the medal, and well done to all the participants for making it a good evening.

A Wee Hello from The President‏

hello sorry HELLO!

WELL, THE COUNTDOWN TO OUR TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF CURLING IN PENICUIK DRAWS CLOSER.

In September we kick things off with our Opening Bonspiel. Please get back to Margaret Carr asap if you want a place in this competition.

Even if you are not lucky enough to secure a place (because you are too slow to respond) you are still very welcome to come and watch the games and join us for the meal and prizegiving.

TO OUR NEW MEMBERS, I bid you a Very Warm Welcome to Penicuik Curling Club and hope you enjoy your time with us. Please put your name forward for the Opening Bonspiel. It is a FUN event and will be a good opportunity to get more settled on the ice.

To the other members, Penicuik has again entered ‘The Linlithgow’ Competition. This is played on a Sunday (usually late morning) roughly every two weeks against other Murrayfield Clubs. If you would like the opportunity to represent our club please get back to me so that your name can be added to the Team Pool.

We have designed a special Bi-Centinary Badge for our sportswear. We have also decided that our Tops will change to Navy Blue instead of Royal Blue. I will get back to you in the near future with new clothing ideas you might like for your Curling activities. All of these products will carry the new Bi Centinary Badge. There is no compulsion to change colours if you don’t want to.

So, I wish you all, GOOD CURLING! I hope you will be active within our club and join in the activities that have been arranged for this our 200th year.

Remember, as Your President, I am here to represent You and Penicuik Curling Club, therefor if you have any suggestions on how our club can be improved please call or email me.

Club History – Book and Painting

The book marking 200 years of our club’s existence is now for sale. “Curling through Two Hundred Years of the Penicuik Curling Club” is a fascinating history of the club and its characters. To quote from the cover, “The book takes the story of Penicuik and its Curling Club from the Napoleonic Wars, through the making of the first Grand Match, and into the political squabbles of earlier years. Ordinary people doing great things, like Dr John Renton, and the James Taits. Great people doing ordinary things, like Sir George Clerk of Penicuik Estates and and Charles Cowan of the paper mills immersed in the rivalry of a winter’s afternoon on nature’s ice.”

The author, Colin Whittemore, takes us by way of a colourful, two hundred years journey to the present day, through two hundred pages of humorous and engaging text. The club is truly indebted to Colin for this mammoth task which, as a non-curler, he has approached with dedication, perseverance and wit.

Order your copy NOW from either myself or Jim Cowper. This is a great read for curlers and non-curlers alike, and at only £16 per copy will make a wonderful Christmas present.

………and don’t forget to order your signed and numbered print of THE FIRST GRAND MATCH  at www.grandmatchpainting.com

Good curling,

Ronnie Hope