Tag Archives: curling

Closing Bonspiel 25/26

Report by Dave Anderson

Our Closing Bonspiel played on Saturday 28th March was a fitting finale to an excellent season of curling. Sadly, we were missing Roger and Iain Scott following their recent bereavement and our thoughts were with them and their family as we took to the ice.

It was great to see 8 rinks battle over 7 ends to determine the outcome of the day, which was observed by Jean Lennie, sponsor of this event over many years, for which we are very grateful. Jean, a Penicuik CC curler of old, witnessed some “great shots” from some but also some “pretty rubbish shots”

.It was good to see our two newest recruits, Colin McClung and Chuck Heckman, taking part and from what was seen and heard they made a telling contribution to their respective rinks, one in the winning rink with the other in the runners-up rink.

The games were played in the usual good spirits over seven ends, managing to start the seventh just before the end of session bell rang.

We retired to the club room for well earned refreshments with soup and sandwiches on offer.

The scores were scrutinised and following a wee ‘faux pas’ by the Social Committee convenor to great hilarity, the booby prizes were presented by Jean Lennie to the correct rink of David Gillespie, Ian Robertson, Debbie Belcher and Lesley Broadwood with a score of -6 shots.

There was no dispute about the winning rink, with a score of +11 shots, skipped by Jim Ramsay with Jean Noble, Colin McClung and Louise Clapperton, who received their prizes from sponsor, Jean.

Following that presentation, President Margaret proceeded to make another presentation, this time to Jean Lennie who received a medal from The Royal Club to commemorate 50 years as a member of Penicuik Curling Club. Jean was then presented with a certificate of Honorary Membership of Penicuik Curling Club in recognition of all she has done for the Club and beyond, including her involvement with Wheelchair Curlers over several years.

INDOOR GRAND MATCH 2025

The Indoor Grand Match is an event which was inspired by the traditional Grand Matches which in the past took place on frozen lochs with the last Outdoor Grand Match taking place in 1979 at the Lake of Menteith.   Penicuik Curling Club has the honour of hosting the inaugural Grand Match which took place at the High Pond in Penicuik Estate in 1847.  

The event is a competition between the North of Scotland and the South of Scotland (with an imaginary line drawn between the river forth and the river Clyde).  It started in 2000 and usually takes place every 5 years but had to be cancelled in 2020 due to Covid. This year’s Competition brought together 1560 Curlers from 281 clubs competing in 390 teams. It stands as one of the largest single day participation sporting events in the country.  

For the Penicuik members fortunate enough to be playing in such a special event it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Curlers both on and off the ice.  Penicuik 2 travelled to Kinross to play against Kinross Ladies 1.  The Team was Skipped by David Gillespie, Margaret Carr 3, David Carr 2 and Alex Moir Lead. 

We received a very warm welcome from the Kinross Club and after the customary coffee and bacon roll we were piped on to the ice to start play at 10a.m. Play started well with a 2 at the first end and continued to score at each end leading 6-0 at end 4 before pausing for a traditional dram. Back on the ice we continued to score at each end with Kinross Ladies taking a 1 at the final end to make the final score Penicuik 8 Kinross 1.

After play we retired upstairs and after raising a glass to our opponents enjoyed a meal in good company.  All in all a day we will all remember. 

Penicuik 1 will also remember the game at Curl Aberdeen against our Northern opponents from Bearsden Skiing Club, Glasgow.  The score was not as impressive as team 2 but was respectable.  Team 1 arrived in good time to enjoy an excellent lunch with our opposition.

The Aberdeen Ice proved tricky for both teams in the opening ends.  The ice was much heavier than our usual Murrayfield speeds.  The first end was a case of whoever was in the house won the end.  That was Bearsden with a 3.  Penicuik got on the board in end 2 with a 2.  The 3rd and 4th end did not go Penicuik’s way where a 3 and 4 were given to the opposition.  As often happens after Broom Stacking (5th End) the game changed. Penicuik’s 4 (Iain Scott, Stuart Blackwood, Graeme Cassie and Jim Ramsay) took control of the game by winning all 4 Ends but unfortunately were left with 2 short for a Peel. Final score Bearsden 10 (3 Ends), Penicuik 8 (5 Ends). 

After game drinks and a drive home to discuss what should have been.

Report by Margaret Carr and Jim Ramsay

INDOOR GRAND MATCH 2025

The Indoor Grand Match is an event which was inspired by the traditional Grand Matches which in the past took place on frozen lochs with the last Outdoor Grand Match taking place in 1979 at the Lake of Menteith.   Penicuik Curling Club has the honour of hosting the inaugural Grand Match which took place at the High Pond in Penicuik Estate in 1847.  

The event is a competition between the North of Scotland and the South of Scotland (with an imaginary line drawn between the river forth and the river Clyde).  It started in 2000 and usually takes place every 5 years but had to be cancelled in 2020 due to Covid. This year’s Competition brought together 1560 Curlers from 281 clubs competing in 390 teams. It stands as one of the largest single day participation sporting events in the country.  

For the Penicuik members fortunate enough to be playing in such a special event it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Curlers both on and off the ice.  Penicuik 2 travelled to Kinross to play against Kinross Ladies 1.  The Team was Skipped by David Gillespie, Margaret Carr 3, David Carr 2 and Alex Moir Lead. 

We received a very warm welcome from the Kinross Club and after the customary coffee and bacon roll we were piped on to the ice to start play at 10a.m. Play started well with a 2 at the first end and continued to score at each end leading 6-0 at end 4 before pausing for a traditional dram. Back on the ice we continued to score at each end with Kinross Ladies taking a 1 at the final end to make the final score Penicuik 8 Kinross 1.

After play we retired upstairs and after raising a glass to our opponents enjoyed a meal in good company.  All in all a day we will all remember. 

Penicuik 1 will also remember the game at Curl Aberdeen against our Northern opponents from Bearsden Skiing Club, Glasgow.  The score was not as impressive as team 2 but was respectable.  Team 1 arrived in good time to enjoy an excellent lunch with our opposition.

The Aberdeen Ice proved tricky for both teams in the opening ends.  The ice was much heavier than our usual Murrayfield speeds.  The first end was a case of whoever was in the house won the end.  That was Bearsden with a 3.  Penicuik got on the board in end 2 with a 2.  The 3rd and 4th end did not go Penicuik’s way where a 3 and 4 were given to the opposition.  As often happens after Broom Stacking (5th End) the game changed. Penicuik’s 4 (Iain Scott, Stuart Blackwood, Graeme Cassie and Jim Ramsay) took control of the game by winning all 4 Ends but unfortunately were left with 2 short for a Peel. Final score Bearsden 10 (3 Ends), Penicuik 8 (5 Ends). 

After game drinks and a drive home to discuss what should have been.

Report by Margaret Carr and Jim Ramsay

CLOSING BONSPIEL Season 24/25

Alongside elder statesman Jim Cowper, slightly less-elder statesman Roger Scott, newest member Mick Kampff’s wife Sharron, and President David’s wife Barbara we watched the closing bonspiel unfold.
From the vantage point of the ‘rogues’ gallery (I wish I’d been playing) it was very satisfying to see all four ice sheets fully subscribed with everyone seemingly enjoying the final event of our curling calendar.
Following a predetermined rotation, each rink played against each other rink with the aim of amassing the highest shots up total over seven ends of curling.
Observing four sheets of curling all at once is no easy task but between us we saw some
excellent draws to win ends, some well executed hits and rolls to take shot, some impressive raises to turn-over ends and some accomplished guarding to protect well-constructed ends.
Good shots were observed from a full spectrum of players from very recent recruits to this fantastic game, to our more established Club members
At the final bell everyone adjourned to the Clubroom for well earned refreshments while the scorecards were being scrutinised. Before we sat down to soup and sandwiches, the prizegiving took place with team Gillespie including David, Jean Noble, Paul Clapperton and Mick Kampff taking the booby prize (The Little Mermaid) with a score of -6 shots.

Then, in ascending order, team D Carr -5, team Dunbar -3, team Baptie -3, team Ramsay -1, team M Carr +3, runner-up team Scott on +4 shots, but the outright winner on +11 shots was team Brown comprising Craig, Martin Hobbs, Alex Moir (part of each winning bonspiel rink this season) and Lorna Lettice (part of last year’s winning closing bonspiel rink).

Congratulations to Craig’s rink who were presented with their medals and prizes by President David.
Grateful thanks are due to Jean Lennie who very kindly sponsors this event.

Dave Anderson