YY URUR CURLERCURLER magazinemagazine Issue 04 - December 2018 YOUR CONTENT Mission Accomplished 04 Team Farmer seize golden opportunity and secure return Scotland to A division Team Sponsorship Winners 06 Find out who will be gracing Team Scotland's jerseys this year Top of the class 07 Aileen Neilson helps recruit student curlers What's On: January 08 Look at what's going on this month Around The Rinks 10 From Ayr to Aberdeen find out what's happened near you Competition Corner 15 Recap of what you might have missed over the holidays Inclusive Curling Update 22 A quick look at how we're making the sport for everyone New Fred.Olsen Partnership 25 Fred.Olsen become National Masters sponsor & launch a new curling cruise New Merchandise Revealed 26 New merchandise items released as online shop reopens Curling - Made In Scotland 27 Curling's history is explored in new exhibition opening at Hampden Park Your Voice 28 Let us know what you think A WORD FROM OUR CEO Welcome to our new look interactive Your Curler magazine. The new year brings hope and enthusiasm as the days start getting longer and the curling season hots up with more club games to be played in ice rinks up and down the country. Our national titles continue to be contested for as teams seek to become this seasons Scottish Champions at all levels. Tickets for the finals of our blue riband event, the Scottish Championships, in Perth, on 16 February 2019 can be bought via Eventbrite here. From the end of January till mid-June, an exhibition titled “CURLING: made in Scotland” opens in the temporary exhibition space inside the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Stadium on the south side of Glasgow. The exhibition has been put together by the Scottish Curling Trust and includes some 200 items that illustrate the history and evolution of the game of Curling, with stones, brushes, baskets, trophies, medals, paintings and photographs. Scottish Curling members will receive half price entry to the museum. The Scottish Curling clothing store opens again for people to place orders for the branded goods, so if you missed out on getting one for Christmas, look while the store is open again here. I hope that any new year’s resolutions are working out for you. My campaign to improve my fitness is only creeping forward in small steps but I believe it is better to do a little, than just think about it. Wishing you safe and enjoyable curling in the coming weeks. Bruce Crawford Chief Executive Officer MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Team Farmer seize golden opportunity and secure Scotland's return to A division The World Junior-B Curling Championships (WJBCC) in Lohja, Finland concluded on Thursday 10 January. The WJBCC is a qualification event open to junior teams from all WCF Member Associations that have not already qualified for the forthcoming World Junior Curling Championships (WJCC). 21 junior women’s teams took part in the event. Scotland were in a group of 7 and secured a place in the playoffs after completing the round robin unbeaten. After winning the quarter final against Germany and then the semi final against Japan, team Scotland, skipped by Beth Farmer, had secured Scotland’s place at the WJCC which are to be held in Liverpool, Nova Scotia in February 2019. They went on to play the Gold Medal game and completed their unbeaten run at these championships with a 5-3 victory over Russia. A fantastic experience and achievement for the team who were supported by; Alison Cunningham (Coach), David Ramsay (Head Coach) and James Cruickshank (Physio). The top three placed teams claimed spots at the WJCC. Scotland will be joined by both silver medallists, Russia and bronze medallists, Japan. The Scottish junior men were not competing in this event as they had already qualified for the WJCC 2019 from their result at the Championships in 2018. Photo L-R: Alison Cunningham (coach), Amy Bryce, Nicola Joiner, Katie McMillan, Kirstin Bousie, Beth Farmer Report: Barbara McFarlane TEAM SPONSORSHIP WINNERS We are delighted to announce the winners of our very first Scottish Curling Team Shirt Sponsorship draw. The draw took place at our Headquarters in Stirling, on Wednesday evening the 12th of December, and was broadcast live on Facebook, for transparency. A total of 23 entrants took part, and we are very happy to say the 10 successful businesses are listed below, alongside the competition they were drawn against: World Cup (Men) James Haugh World Cup (Women) Grierson & Graham World Junior Curling Championships PDM World Wheelchair Curling Championship JG Findlay World Women’s Curling Championship Sean Murphy Dental Care World Men’s Curling Championship Plansafe Solutions World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship British Curling Supplies World Senior Men Curling Championship Rosefield Salvage World Senior Women Curling Championship MacDuff International World Mixed Curling Championship Lloyd Each of the companies who entered will receive a selection of benefits. This will include a pair of tickets to the Scottish Curling Championships finals in Perth, as well as a sponsor’s reception on the finals day itself. Company logos will be displayed on Scottish Curling promotional material. The ten winning companies will see their logo on the sleeves of our teams. This has been a great success, and we’d like to extend our many thanks to the companies who have taken part. We would also like to thank Anna Burnside, Liz Burton King and David Hardie for assisting with the draw. TopTop ofof thethe classclass Over 50 third year UWS Sport Development and two French Erasmus students were honoured to be coached by our very own UWS Doctor of the University and Paralympian Aileen Neilson during their "Come and Try Curling" session at Hamilton Ice Rink. Thanks to lecturer Fiona Averill for sending the photographs, saying: "Thanks to the Scottish Curling volunteer coaches, Catherine, Alex and Willie for giving up their time and the area Sport Development Officer Jim Morrison for facilitating the day. A great time was had by all." WANT TO BE PART OF THE NEXT YOUR CURLER? COMPLETE THE FORM HERE BEFORE THE 25TH JANUARY TO BE INCLUDED WHAT'SWHAT'S ON:ON: AROUNDAROUND THETHE RINKSRINKS GLASGOWGLASGOW Q Q uestions – What is so important on the big screen in Braehead’s curling bar that it delays the Virtual curlers going back on the ice for the next round of a national competition? Well it just happens to be the final game of the Men’s European championships with Scotland’s team led by Bruce Mouat taking on Niklas Edin’s Swedish team. In the background Bruce’s brother Colin (One of the Ice technicians at Braehead) is also watching the game. (1st photo) However, when it comes to Niklas’s last stone in the tenth end (2nd Photo), Colin cannot bear to watch and turn’s his head away. He did look back in time to see the final stone coming up short. Well what a cheer went up in the bar and eventually the curlers at Braehead went back onto the ice to finish their own competition. Congratulations to Bruce, Grant. Bobbie, Hammy. Ross and coach Alan from all the curlers, ice technicians and bar staff who were at Braehead that afternoon watching the final few ends of the game. Report and photo’s David Horne | CDO into Braehead STRANRAERSTRANRAER C ongratulations to Maureen Parker who has won the Dumfries and Galloway Council Coaching Awards - Volunteer of the Year Award. Maureen is the immediate past Chairperson of Stranraer CIce Rink Curling Club Coaching and Development Association and has done and continues to do an enormous amount of voluntary work in this regard. The Association organises all coaching opportunities for both adults and children within Stranraer Ice Rink and is entirely run on a voluntary basis. Maureen takes a particularly active role and has worked tirelessly for more than 30 years as the lead coach with the Curling’s Cool Club which provides follow-up coaching for all the 300 + Primary 7 children in the area who have attended the programme. Maureen has tirelessly organised and run the follow-up sessions on Tuesday nights between 4.00pm and 6.00pm for all of this time. Maureen has created a safe, fun and nurturing environment for the development of these children - you just have to look at the numbers attending each year and that they keep coming back for more! Maureen also mentors all other local curling coaches to ensure that they keep up to date and complete their qualifications. She also encourages some of the older youth curlers to get involved helping and mentors them with Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering and Youth Leader initiatives. Maureen maintains her Scottish Curling level 2 qualification by doing continuous personal development including attending refresher courses, child protection etc. Maureen has a natural enthusiasm which is infectious to all who come into contact with her. Without her the Junior Club would not be as popular and successful as it proves to be. Maureen has watched as many of the young curlers who start out at Stranraer Ice Rink come through the structure and continue onto club competitions with some progressing right through to European, World and Olympic representation . this is testament to the foundations that Maureen has set. By Gail Munro DUNDEEDUNDEE D D undee Ice Arena welcomed 10 outdoor instructors this month from Ancrum Outdoor Centre in Dundee who were attending a Scottish Curling Level 1 Coach Course. In a tie up between Ancrum and Dundee Ice Arena the Instructors will be using the facility to add curling to the many activities that they currently offer to children and adults throughout the area.