EDINBURGH CURLING CLUB COMPETITION RULES
Updated for Season 2025-26
For all competitions RCCC rules apply unless specifically modified below.
Except for Pairs and Half Century League the following local amendments to RCCC rules apply:

• All games will be played to a bell, with a maximum of eight ends to be played.
• Unlimited substitutes are allowed and games should only be rearranged as a last resort. (Note: MCL cancellation fees may apply).
• All games will start immediately after the session start bell, or as soon as each team has at least three players ready to play. If the start is delayed by more than 15 minutes the non-offending team will be credited with 1 end.
• A penalty of one shot for every ten minutes from the start bell, up to a maximum of three shots, will be awarded to the non-offending team should the other team have fewer than four players at the start bell.
• If a team still has less than three players 30 minutes after the start bell, the game will be awarded to the non-offending team. The non-offending team will be given 5 ends and 6 shots and the offending team will be given 0 ends and -6 shots.
• Skips are responsible for ensuring that scorecards are completed correctly (including any penalties), signed, and placed in the Edinburgh Curling Club box within the ice hall.
• Results and standings will be published on the Curl Edinburgh website. Any discrepancies should be raised with the office at the earliest opportunity.

SWAN TROPHY
All players and substitutes must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club.
All players and substitutes must also be members of the club they represent.
Each club must provide two teams of four to play in each round.
The competition will be played as a double-rink knock-out, with the number of rounds determined by the number of clubs that enter.
Each club will receive one hammer in each match. A coin toss is used to determine stone colour for each club.
The winner of a match is determined by the total shots scored over the two games.
In the event of a tie, both clubs will nominate one player to play a draw to the button, with the closest to the button determining the winner. Players may only play their draw shot on the sheet of ice on which they played.
For the final, an extra end will be played by both teams. If the match is still tied, then the draw shot as detailed above will be used to determine the winner.
Prizes will be awarded to the winners and losers of the final.
The winners will be presented with the Swan Trophy.

HALF CENTURY
All players and substitutes must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club.
All players and substitutes must be at least 50 years old.
All games must be played on or before the date of the scheduled last game in the league.
No penalty for late start, late arrival of players, or playing with three players.
A game cannot start until both teams have at least three players.
The competition will be run as a single round robin league.
Two points awarded for a win, one point for a draw.
Shots up, then shots scored, then ends won will be used as tie-breakers.
Prizes will be awarded to teams finishing first, second and third in the league.
The winners will be presented with the Haymarket Directors Trophy.

Below is a copy of an email received by the Club

Margaret Carr is now President of Penicuik Curling Club. Jean Noble was appointed Vice President.

Karen Black is now our new Treasurer.

Two other members have been voted on to the Committee. They are Jean Cassie and Ian Robertson.

Jim Ramsay continues his term as Secretary. Dave Anderson, Stuart Blackwood, Graeme Cassie and Louise Clapperton remain as serving members while David Gillespie moves to the position of Past President

The first full Committee meeting will take place mid June.

On a warm Spring evening, Winners, Losers and Guests met at Glencorse Golf Club on 10th May 25, to celebrate our past seasons Curling. Our President David Gillespie gave welcome to all and presented the well earned Trophies and Medals to all.

The first of many awards was bestowed upon Christine Brown who was awarded Honorary Membership of our Club. Christine then went on to present ‘The Brown Salver’ to Paul Clapperton in recognition for his enthusiasm and dedication to PCC.

The Silverware presentations were completed with the awarding of ‘The Kettle’ to Team Scott for another season. Iain shared his joy by sharing his ‘Rusty Nail’ with the gathered guests.

Heather Harpur and Jim Hume were not in attendance but receive their medals soon!

After a Raffle which raised £250 for The British Heart Foundation the chat continued as winners were congratulated and players remembered the past season. Winners of The Thirds Trophy Skip Alan McDonald with Norrie McLean and Paul Clapperton. Ian Robertson was also part of the winning rink.

A Happy Kirsty being presented her prize for achieving High Road in The Pairs Competition. Her partner was Iain Matheson who will receive his Medal at a later date.

Our outgoing President David receiving his presentation for winning Pairs Low Road from our incoming President Margaret. Jan Stuart was David’s partner but was unable to attend our dinner. Jan will receive her prize at a later date.

Saturday 15th March, 25 was indeed a busy ice day for some of our members. On Sheet 5 Penicuik were hosts to Beechnut Curling Club from Irvine in a District Medal while next door on Sheet 6 was the Ramsay/Baptie Club Challenge game.

Penicuik represented by Margaret Carr, Liz Anderson, Pam Ramsay and David Carr met with “Beechnuts” (from Hamilton Curling Rink) for the District Medal Match on Saturday 15th March 2025.

The Teams met for lunch before playing and it was evident that “Beechnuts” had done their research having looked at the Penicuik Curling Club Website. They were very impressed by the number of matches the club played and the long history of the club. They were keen to hear more about both the history of the club and our outdoor ice. They were also interested in the “Challenge Match” about to be played on the adjacent sheet and perhaps introducing this to their own club’s schedule.

Play started at 12.45pm with everyone now focussing on the Match. After losing a shot on the first end Penicuik came back strongly to lead 3-1 helped by 2 lovely draws from Pam. Unfortunately by end 3 the score was all square. Another shot on end 4 meant Penicuik were once again in the lead.

The following 2 ends did not go Penicuik’s way, however, with the “Beechnuts” taking another 2 shots to win the match 5-3.

If only Margaret had got that guard on or had delivered the last stone more quickly to get another end in!

Afterwards everyone retired upstairs to enjoy refreshments and a pleasant chat.

Next door on sheet 6 Kyle Baptie, Kirsty McWilliam, Reg Dunbar and Paul Clapperton had laid down a challenge to take The Club Challenge Crook from the 2 time holders. A close game all the way through Jim Ramsay, Alan McDonald, Stuart Blackwood and Alex Moir were able to retain the trophy and are now ready for the next challenge.

Sunday 9th March found new homes for The High and Low Road Trophies. Eight teams were entered but the final winners were Kirsty McWilliam and Iain Matheson of The High Road. The Low Road award goes to President David Gillespie and Jan Stuart. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all members who entered.

Knockout Final

Team Carr: M. Carr, A. Moir, G. Cassie, S . Arakawa met with 

Team Anderson: K. Baptie, M. Hobbs, S. Blackwood, J. Hume on Thursday 27th February for the Final of the Knockout. 

The match started well for Team Carr gaining a shot at the first end. Team Anderson responded well with 3 shots over the next 2 ends. On end 4 Team Carr managed to get a good guard in place and came away with 2 shots to level the score. Another shot in the 5th end put Team Carr in the lead. Team Anderson came back strongly over the next 3 ends, however,  with some excellent draws and take outs and Team Carr were unable to respond. 

Well done to Team Anderson with a final score of 9-4.  

David Anderson who had come along to support his team congratulated both teams saying it had been a very enjoyable game to watch.

Report by Margaret Carr

The 2nd Points had a disappointing number of only 7 entrants. On the positive side the members in attendance did manage 9 out of the 10 disciplines played in Points. Nicki Cassie and dad Graeme took part in their own points battle and ended by Graeme just creeping a win in the last discipline. Also taking part were Reg Dunbar, Stuart Blackwood, President David, Secretary Jim and winner on the day Craig Brown with a score of 36 Points.

The Merchiston Team Points competition was held on 23rd February 2025.

Our team of Craig Brown, Iain Scott, Ian Matheson, Graeme Cassie, Reg Dunbar, Stuart Blackwood, Alan McDonald, and President David Gillespie enjoyed a very sociable game against Merchiston. Playing each discipline in just one direction allowed us to complete all the disciplines, which some of us had not previously done. 

The results were very close – the count was 114 to Penicuik and 113 to Merchiston – but one of the Penicuik team realised that his score was incorrect, and that he had been given a point in error – so we agreed that the result should be a draw, and that Merchiston should retain the trophy.

However – the following day – Iain recounted the results and identified a further arithmetical error, which would give Penicuik two more points – and happily for us Merchiston also spotted the error, and will return the trophy to us as winners. 

Overall best individual score was from Iain Scott on 24, closely followed by Craig Brown.