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!

To help you through your season please read and understand the competition rules if playing in Edinburgh Curling Club competitions. If in doubt contact ECC direct.

EDINBURGH CURLING CLUB COMPETITION RULES Updated for Season 2023-24

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 atleast three players ready to play.
• –  A penalty of one shot for every ten minutes from the start bell, up to a maximum of threeshots, will be awarded to the non-offending team should the other team have fewer thanfour players at the start bell.
• –  If a team still has less than three players 30 minutes after the start bell, the game will beawarded to the non-offending team. The non-offending team will be given 5 ends & 6 shots and the offending team will be given 0 ends & -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 and ECC noticeboard. Any discrepancies should be raised with the office at the earliest opportunity.COUSIN TROPHYAll regular players and substitutes must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club.
  Teams must comprise of two men and two ladies, playing in alternate order.
  The competition will be run as a single round robin league. If less than five teams then it may be run as a double round robin league.
  Two points awarded for a win, one point for a draw.
  Ends, then shots up, then shots scored will be used as tie-breakers.
  Prizes will be awarded to teams in first and second place.
  Winners will be presented with the Cousin Trophy.HALF CENTURYAll regular players and substitutes must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club. All regular players and substitutes must be at least 50 years old.
  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.

JACKSON TROPHY

Invitations will be sent to the winners of all competitions run by Edinburgh Curling Club in the previous season.
The competition will normally be played as a knock-out, with the number of rounds determined by the number of entries. In the event of a tie, both teams will nominate one player to play a draw to the button, with the closest to the button determining the winner.
Should there be four entries, it may be run as a single round robin with the winner determined in the usual way (see Cousin Trophy).
The winners will be presented with the Jackson Trophy.

For season 23-24, The Jackson Trophy will be run as a special 14 team Schenkel event, to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 Olympic Gold medal, won by W K Jackson and his team.

LINLITHGOW TROPHY

All regular players and substitutes must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club.
All regular players and substitutes must also be members of the club they represent.
The competition will be run as a single round robin league plus potential play-offs. If less than five teams then it may be run as a double round robin league.
Two points awarded for a win, one point for a draw.
Ends, then shots up, then shots scored will be used as tie-breakers.
For play-offs, if used, the team in first place will go straight to the final. The teams in second and third place will play a semi-final, with the winners going on to the final.
Prizes will be awarded to the winners and losers of the final, if played.
If no play-offs, the prizes will be awarded to teams in first and second place on completion of the round robin.
Winners will be presented with the Linlithgow Trophy.

MONDAY LADIES LEAGUE

All regular players and substitutes must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club.
Substitutes may play for more than one team during the season. A substitute cannot be a regular member of another team in the league.
All games must be played on or before the date of the scheduled last game in the league.
The competition will be run as a single round robin league, in one or two sections depending on the number of entries.
Two points awarded for a win, one point for a draw.
Ends, then shots up, then shots scored will be used as tie-breakers.
Prizes will be awarded to the winners, runners-up and third placed team. Prizes are currently sponsored by Midlothian Province.

PAIRS: LADIES PAIRS

All players must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club.
Specific rules & format will be determined by the number of entries received and available ice. These will be included with the draw sent to participants.
The Ladies Pairs trophy will be presented to the winners.

PAIRS: OPEN PAIRS

This Open RCCC qualifier will follow the relevant RCCC rules.
The competition format will depend on the number of entries and available ice.
It will normally be played as a knock-out with the number of rounds determined by the number of entries. Each game will be played over a maximum of six ends. In the event of a tie one extra end will be played. If still tied after the extra end, both teams will nominate one player to play a draw to the button, with the closest to the button determining the winner.
The Open Pairs trophy will be presented to the winners.

SWAN TROPHY

All regular players and substitutes must be members of Edinburgh Curling Club.
All regular 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.

A DAY AT THE BOWLING CLUB

Our club had a get together at Kirkhill Bowling Club on Sunday 20th of August 23.  This day was arranged because it wasn’t possible to agree a Croquet date at Penicuik House.  The 27 members who attended were given a quick guide as to how best to play their bowls.  The weather was very kind to us as were our hosts at Kirkhill.

Food and Drink were provided.  The food was organised by Jan Stuart and her Social Committee while Kirkhill provided Bar services,

It was commented by one of the Kirkhill members that they had never seen so many bowls covering the green. To start, Bowls were short and long and rarely near the Jack but as the day progressed our members play improved and the final score was close.

Happy Winners received a BIG PINK BOTTLE OF FIZZ which they didn’t share!

It was the rink led by Ken Hunter and supported by

Sheena Dawe and Reg Dunbar that took the prizes

that were presented by Jan Stuart

Sorry about the quality of the photo. If anyone has a better one please forward it on.