Issue 33 Your Curler Oct 2015 The Royal Caledonian Club Member Ezine

CLUBS & RINKS Young Curlers and curlers across the country slide into action as new season gets under way.

FEATURES COMPETITIONS Tony Zummack gives us an insight into curling This month’s competitions round-up including ice, we give you an update on recent RCCC Staff the Asham Slams, GSCT and the European changes and we find out more about outdoor Playdowns. curling in Switzerland. www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org 02 Clubs & Rinks OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org CELEBRATES 225th ANNIVERSARY Members of Bridge of Allan Curling Club were honoured by Stirling Provost Mike Robbins at a civic reception held on Thursday 3rd September to mark the Club’s 225th anniversary. Joined by members, representatives of the RCCC, Airthrey Castle, Blair Drummond, Doune, , Keir and Pollok Curling clubs, the Wheelchair Curlers, the Stirling Virtual Club, Central Province and Active Stirling, as well as members of the Bridge of Allan Community Council, Stirling Council and the Dr. Welsh trust, the Provost spoke of the strong association this area of currently has with curling and of its historical connections too. He commended Bridge of Allan Curling Club on its longevity and toasted its continued existence for another 225 years! Report and photo courtesy of Graham Russell Glynis McKeand, the Club President, thanked the Provost for honouring the club in this way and spoke of Club members’ appreciation of the support of the wider curling fraternity and the by Lord Abercromby. They were mounted on a velvet waistcoat and were worn local community in helping keep Bridge of Allan Curling Club as by the club president on special occasions. They were stored away in a bank vault vibrant as it is. until 1979 when they were uplifted but not returned. Despite efforts to locate Mrs. McKeand also recognised the support recently given to the them for the Club’s bicentenary in 1990, they were presumed lost until they club by the local community in its fund raising efforts which ensured appeared at a local auction house in November 2014. The medals were sold to the club was able to buy back its historic club medals which had an unnamed bidder but the Club was able to negotiate a deal to restore them to been missing for nearly forty years. The 25 medals, dating back to their rightful owners. 1851, were mostly silver competition prizes but included a number Now cleaned and polished and mounted on a new plaque they took pride of of special presentation items and one gold medal presented in 1865 place at the Civic Reception. GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY FOR CATHCART CASTLE CURLING CLUB Cathcart Castle Curling Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in season 2014-15. The Club was founded in 1964 by some gents from Cathcart Castle Golf Club in the south side of , who were looking for a worthwhile activity during the dreich winter months when they couldn’t play golf. The Club was admitted to the RCCC in 1965 and membership grew rapidly. The problem of declining numbers in the 1990’s led to a successful collaboration with Scottish Power Curling Club, Glasgow, in 1998 when the Club became “open”, enabling both non-members of the golf club and also women to join for the first time. The Report by Wendy Highet. Photo Contributor: John McGowan club is now thriving as a mixed club, playing its internal competitions at Braehead and the majority of its friendly matches at Greenacres. from world and Club events over the last 50 The Club’s first female President, Wendy Highet, was years; and a marvellous special anniversary cake. delighted to preside over the planning and running of Our anniversary season was rounded off in early the Golden Anniversary Season events. The first of these March with a day trip through to the capital and was a special Dinner held at the Golf Club in November ice rink. There we held a fun Club 2014 when 31 current and former members and 20 guests Bonspiel and had an enjoyable lunch at the ice rink enjoyed a convivial evening of reminiscences, including before a few drinks were sunk on the way home! a film show of club photographs down the years and a It was a delight to be able to welcome founder booklet recording the club’s history. member and Honorary President Jack Brown to all An Invitational Bonspiel was held at Greenacres in three anniversary events. February, playing against 6 different clubs with which With playing membership numbers standing at Cathcart Castle has had the longest association. Curlers 33 going in to the new season, and a steady influx enjoyed canapés before curling, followed by a glass of of new members over the last few years, including some more recently from the Braehead mulled cider during a mid-session interval during which Virtual Club, our friendly wee club is well placed to enter the next phase of its history. the brooms were stacked. The evening also featured a delicious meal; a “Guess the Year” quiz featuring trivia Clubs & Rinks OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org 03 CURL ABERDEEN CELEBRATE WITH 10th ANNIVERSARY BONSPIEL Curl Aberdeen celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a bonspiel on 18th September 2015. Entry was on an individual basis and teams were drawn before the start of the competition. Sixty four players representing all the clubs who play at Report and photo courtesy Laura Mutch Curl Aberdeen took part each playing two 3 end games followed by a final. The winners were L-R: George Rogerson (Chairman – Curl Aberdeen), Malcolm Everyone enjoyed the social evening which included a buffet dinner Watson, Gwen Aitken, Sandy Mathers, Brenda Urquhart (Skip) and Mike and birthday cake! Ritchie (Treasurer – Curl Aberdeen).

This format resulted in close competition with no more than a few points DUMFRIES LIONS CLUB separating top from bottom teams and the resulted in the number of ends From 18th to 19th September 2015, Dumfries Lions Club held and shots scored becoming important. their 22nd annual curling bonspiel at Dumfries Ice Bowl. It was pleasing to see that not only had the Junior Curlers their own teams, The event was the first open competition at Dumfries for the 2015/2016 but there were a large number of young people interspersed within the curling season. 22 teams competed including young curlers from Stranraer, adult teams. gaining practise before their main competitions commenced. The High Road was incredibly close with a number of possibilities open Other players and teams travelled from Wales, Lanarkshire and the Scottish to decide the potential winner. In the end it was between two teams, Borders, making the competition even fiercer. Pougher and Sloan Rangers who were tied on the same wins going into the last game and Sloan Rangers slightly ahead on ends. Pougher won their last game with a score of 6-3 win against Team Gracie, while Sloan Ranger won their game against David Hardie Rotary with a final score of 7-5. The tight nature of the competition meant that no one was quite positive who had won and it wasn’t until the organiser, Jim McCormack, announced the results that it was confirmed that Graham Sloan’s Sloan Rangers were the winners of the High Road by just one end, and Pougher of Wales were the runners up. In the Low Road, at the conclusion of the six games the very popular winners were Ryan Carson and his three sons, Struan, Orrin and Logan, with Dumfries CC rink of Jim and Jane Hogg, Irene Doidge and Iain Jamieson coming runners up. All those who had played over the weekend made favourable comment on the competition, the interesting rules, high standard of ice and the level of service provided by staff. It was clear this event had drawn a number of Report and photo: Graham Sloan visitors to the region and generated further income to local businesses. The event raised over £2,300 which will partially be used fund the 2016 Lions International Youth Centre when the local club will host some Games were six ends which were 90 minutes long, with the position 40 young people from all over the world who have chosen to come to of the end at 90 minutes being counted as the score, resulting in teams Scotland. having to watch the clock and not lose a lot of shots in the end. The competition will again be held at the start of the 2016/2017 season and entries can be accepted now.

KINROSS CURLING IN SEASON OPENING BONSPIEL Ice Diamond Award Winners 2015, Kinross Curling, saw nearly 60 curlers take part in the Opening Bonspiel on 12th September. The anticipation of stepping on the ice for the first time in the new season was quite evident. The curling ice looked perfect. This year we were very pleased to have prizes and a splendid trophy presented by Graham Hadley, on behalf of his company - Mary Queen of Scots Promotions - Kinross. After a day of keen curling and close matches the results were: Winners: skipped by Phil Barton with local curlers Angela Wilcox, Elaine Paterson, Sarah Bruce-Jones, Second Place: rink skipped by Bob Smith, Third place: rink Report and photo: Phil Barton skipped by Craig Lindsay. Kinross Curling welcomes curlers to enter our second ‘Stick’ bonspiel of the year, on Saturday 28th November. The first event in April was very successful and so we aim build on that platform. Using a curling stick keeps many curlers To enter, email Steven Kerr, Ice Manager on active and involved in our sport. [email protected] or telephone Individuals or teams are invited to enter. If you have not used a curling stick 01577 861821 before there will be some tuition before the event. 04 Clubs & Rinks OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org THE PEAK SLIDES INTO ACTION WITH THE DOUNE DOSEBOWL The 2015 / 16 curling season at The Peak began with the annual opener, The Doune Rosebowl. Twenty-four teams took part over two full sessions with experienced curling clubs like Keir, Kilsyth, Doune, Drymen, Buccaneers and many more battling it out for this prestigious trophy. Emerging victorious this season to lift the trophy was a team of virtual beginners. Yes, a team representing the ‘morning’ Virtual Club, in only their second season of curling. They defeated their much more experienced rivals on the day and snatched the Doune Rosebowl. Skip, Margaret McLean said ‘I have really enjoyed learning to curl with the virtual club, it is great that we have achieved something like winning the Rose Bowl.’ Nick Rawlings added ‘The virtual club has taught us to curl from ground zero. With great coaches like Elspeth, Stuart and Irene we have progressed quickly. Starting a sport with good coaching avoids learning lots of bad habits which then have to be corrected.’ Report and photo courtesy of Ian Mcneish Pictured: Nick Rawlings, Margaret McLean, Mike Stevens and Alison Anderson.

NEW COMPETITION FOR STRILING YOUNG CURLERS High School pupils from Stirling, Denny, Dunblane, St. Modans, Wallace & Morrisons this season took part in a new venture instigated by Stirling Young Curlers – the ‘Senior Schools Curling League’. The event was sponsored by Cathedral Accounting Services of Dunblane, who also donated an impressive Quaich, which was presented on behalf of the company by Andrew Hemming to the winning team from the High

Report and photos courtesy of Pamela Thomson

School of Stirling was skipped by Alastair Tweedle and including James Thomson, Kathryn Tweedle, Duncan Bowie & Sub Cameron Macdonald. Long serving Stirling Young Curlers coach Mr Bob Kerr retired this season and members would like to say a very special thank you for all the Saturday mornings Bob has given up to teach the club members how to play the game that he loves so much. Bob came along to the ice rink at Willianfield Stirling with his Granddaughter in 2000. When she left the club he decided to stay on and the club are grateful that he did. Bob has also coached for Active Stirling, Try Curling sessions, Curling’s Cool, Corporate and Groups. The Club presented Bob with a framed photo of all the club members as a memento of his happy time with them. Stirling Young Curlers Club meet on Saturday morning at The Peak, from 8.30am. Contact Telephone: 07712050010. GLASGOW BMA VICTORIA 8 ENDER LADIES CURLING CLUB FOR REFORMED UNDER NEW DIPPOOL NAME CURLERS Glasgow BMA Victoria Ladies Curling Club has Dippool Curling Club who reformed under a new name. We are now Glasgow play at Hamilton Ice Rink Ptarmigan Curling Club. The club is at last in a started the 2015/16 season position to invite new members to join us on a with one of the rinks scoring Thursday morning, 10AM at Braehead Curling Rink, an Eight Ender. Glasgow. Skip Jim Sandilands, Third We have two league and two bonspiel competitions over the Morag Sandilands, Second Anne curling season. Whilst our lady members enjoy good company Marsh, Lead Peter Gilchrist. and chat during the games, these competitions are played for Congratulations to all involved. in earnest but with good humour. Anyone out there looking for some curling on a Thursday morning please contact Secretary Wilma Graham by e mail Report and photo courtesy of Elizabeth Moffat [email protected]. Features OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org 05 LATEST RCCC STAFF STRUCTURE & RECRUITMENTS Over the summer period, there have been lots of staff changes and new recruits at the RCCC. It is an exciting time with an office move imminent and changes in the staffing structure to improve efficiency. Below is a staff diagram, an introduction to our new recruits and a short insight into their roles.

SUSAN MURRIN (EVENT MANAGER) ALINE HARDIE Scotland has been awarded four (COMPETITION CO-ORDINATOR) international curling championships The RCCC has changed the from 2016 to 2020. staff structure to enable a full The new Event Manager position has time position focused on RCCC been created to work with Local Organising competitions. Committees and ensure that Scotland delivers With over 40 competitions on the a series of events to the highest possible RCCC calendar for varying levels of standard. abilities, genders and ages, this is a big Susan joined the RCCC following on part of the organisation’s activities. from roles as Event Manager in Women’s Rugby and Rowing. The Local Aline is involved in managing the competition bidding process, Organising Committee has now been formed for the 2016 European Curling contracts, competition entries, draws and volunteers, as well as Championships taking place in and Braehead Curling Rink, playing a key role in the umpire and rules committees. and work has commenced in the many different event sectors.

LINDSEY BOOTH FIONA KENNEDY (WELFARE OFFICER) (DEVELOPMENT MANAGER) The Welfare Officer post (1 day / week) Fiona joined The RCCC in August has been created to focus on the child with a career background in protection and welfare aspects of the Active Schools, Disability Sport sport. and Community Sports Hubs. Lindsey has joined The RCCC at a very Fiona is managing the Curling significant time due to undergoing an audit by Development Officer network and is Children’s First and guidance from Volunteer the primary contact for Development Scotland to ensure that all coaches and Groups. Fiona has lots of fresh ideas and volunteers working with children and protected adults are checked via the will be supporting Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association (SWCA) PVG scheme by 31st Oct 2015. Collaborative working with Ice Rink Facilities to provide a Club Development Day soon with plans to host regional and Development Groups is taking place to ensure all partners meet club development days later in the season. legislation requirements.

LAURA BARR (ADMINISTRATOR) Laura joined The RCCC in August as Administrator and is no stranger to curling, having been involved in the sport since the age of 9 and is currently part of the Academy programme. Laura is responsible for office administration including competition, committee and performance support, updating web content, data entry and telephone answering. 06 Features OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org Coaches corner Tony Zummack, Head Coach for Scottish/British Curling provides us with a unique insight into high performance curling. Stones and Ice - Part 2

After the last article about stones, this discussion will focus on curling ice, as the two are required to create the best conditions possible. Contrary to what you may believe, curling ice is not just frozen water with some pebble on it. There is a long list of variables that contribute to curling ice having certain characteristics and all of these are controllable to a certain degree. Humidity - In Scotland this is a concern for all clubs and needs to be controlled. The two ways you can control humidity in a curling rink is either a dehumidifier or heat, that’s right, heat. It is practically impossible to have fast curling ice in a cold ice rink. The size of the building, height of the ceiling, air flow pattern and air temperature are some variables that need to be considered by the ice technician and will be specific to that environment. Water - Not just any water will do. De-ionized water is ideal for making Ice contour - Contrary to popular belief not all ice is flat nor is all ice curling ice since it has all the impurities removed. I am not a water expert, contoured. As we discussed in the previous article curling stones may but I do know that normal tap water is not recommended without some impact the contour or shape of ice based on their condition. Stones sort of purification system before it is used to make curling ice. It has an that are older that have not been textured since they were new may not impact on the way the pebble will react and break down during play, so have the necessary ability to create friction with the pebble to create think about this and ask your local ice technician about the water supply the curl. At this point the ice may need to be contoured in order to help in your ice rink. the stones curl. While this may sound somewhat foreign, I can assure Pebble - The size of the pebble, the temperature of the water being used, you that a world class ice maker with good equipment can create any the number of layers (1 or 2), the uniformity and consist application of contour in ice they want and that includes flat ice. However a good ice the pebble across the sheet of ice and the way the pebble is broken maker with a scraper blade that is less than perfect can inadvertently down prior to play all need to be considered. At a world championship create contours they do not want. generally only 1 or 2 persons apply the pebble for every sheet on every If this all sounds slightly more complicated than you originally thought, draw. This is usually the responsibility of the head ice technician or their you are right it is! deputy. If your club has multiple volunteer ice technician’s it is important that they all have the same pebble characteristics in order to give you I am writing this article while flying back to Scotland from the 2015 the same conditions on a regular basis. World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships in Russia. While helping Ice scraper - This machine is responsible for keeping the ice clean and Judith and Lee McCleary prepare I wanted to know as much about the flat or contoured. Curling ice can be contoured slightly dependant on building, the ice and finally the stones we would be using. I can say that we the quality of the blade being used and the pattern the ice technician were prepared for the conditions we were faced with and had a strategy uses. It is important to vary your scrapping pattern each day so that it in place to deal with those conditions and a game plan those conditions stays as flat as possible and doesn’t end up with too many contours. A would allow us to execute. Knowledge does not guarantee success but it good ice maker with good blades should be able to give you the flattest helps eliminate doubt. surface possible. If I have gotten you thinking or discussing………I have done my job. SCOTTISH WEEK: OUTDOOR CURLING IN SWITZERLAND We would like to welcome all curlers to Scottish Week, held as always in Zermatt, Switzerland - from 18th January to 22nd January 2016. Scottish week has been running since 1933 when a group of Scottish curlers went to play outdoor games against Zermatt Curling Club players. The fixture became annual, with curlers from all parts of Switzerland meeting as many players from Scotland who were invited to go. Two cups were inaugurated - the Dundee Kettle, donated by Scots, and the Swiss Silver Curling Stone, which was donated by Zermatt Curling Club. Report by Richard Kingslake The format has remained largely unchanged; latterly a third competition - the Praliner Cup - has been added, where teams compete for large competition. This means the maximum mingling of participants, both chocolate curling “stones” filled with pralines made by the specialist Biner Scottish and Swiss. The whole event is very sociable and friendly, and the chocolate shop. après curl is a major aspect. The standard of play is exciting, challenging All games take place on natural ice. The local tennis courts are flooded, and at times surprising, and players of all levels are encouraged to come providing a wonderful ice rink in the middle of the village overlooked along. by the magnificent Matterhorn. Although the ice is naturally frozen, it is For more information, go to www.scottishweek.org or prepared by the familiar Zamboni ice machine so we are spared leaves, contact Richard Kingslake ([email protected]) frozen snow and reeds! or Roy Murray ([email protected]). The three competitions take place over five days of play. Each player Do come and join us! comes as an individual, not as a team, and a fresh draw is made for each Competitions & Events OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org 07 Your new look Dates for your Diary… Dates for your Simply click on the dates for more information. Diary 24 OCT ALAN STEEL ASSET MANAGEMENT 2015 10 – 12 NOV NATIONAL MASTERS MEN’S CURLING INDOOR GRAND MATCH CHAMPIONSHIP - QUALIFIERS 27 OCT – 1 NOV MASTERS – GREENACRES CURLING RINK TRURO, CANADA 13 – 15 NOV SCOTTISH PROVINCE CHAMPIONSHIP 31 OCT – 1 NOV ASHAM UNDER 17 SLAM - LANARKSHIRE GREENACRES CURLING RINK LANARKSHIRE ICE RINK (HAMILTON) 13 – 15 NOV ASHAM UNDER 21 SLAM – INVERNESS 5 – 8 NOV JSI OVCA JUNIOR SUPERSPIEL, CANADA INVERNESS ICE ARENA OTTOWA, CANADA 13 – 15 NOV INTERNATIONAL ZO WOMEN’S CURLING 6 – 9 NOV GSCT – INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT, WETZIKON, SWITZERLAND MURRAYFIELD (EDINBURGH) 19 – 22 NOV DAVE JONES MOLSON MAYFLOWER 6 – 9 NOV COLONIAL SQUARE LADIES CLASSIC, CASHSPIEL, HALIFAX, CANADA SASKATOON, CANADA 19 – 23 NOV DEKALB SUPERSPIEL, MORRIS, CANADA 7 – 12 NOV WORLD WHEELCHAIR CURLING 20 – 28 NOV EUROPEAN CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFICATION, LOHJA, FINLAND ESBJERG, DENMARK 8 NOV SKILL AWARDS CHALLENGE 20 – 22 NOV GSCT – FORFAR OPEN, LIVE ACTIVE DEWARS CENTRE (PERTH) FORFAR INDOOR SPORTS North West Castle

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BOOK NOW t: 01776 704 413 | email: [email protected] Rate based on 2 people sharing a classic room 08 Competitions & Events OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org JACKSON WINS EJCT BRAEHEAD Performance Foundation team, Team Jackson (Sophie Jackson, Naomi Brown, Rachel Halliday, Rachael Hannen) took the women’s Braehead Junior International title as they defeated Switzerland’s Team Gauchat in the first event of the European Junior Curling Tour, a part of the Curling Champions Tour. The final was a close fought contest in the early stages, but Team Jackson finished strongly taking a two in the 5th end and stealing a three in the 6th end to win the Final 7-2 in six ends.

For results and more from the competition go to EJCT Braehead

HARDIE WINS GSCT BRAEHEAD OPEN Grant Hardie and his team of Blair Fraser, and Billy Morton were the winners of the first Goldline Scottish Curling Tour event of the season. Hardie and MacDonald had a good tustle in the final, with Hardie 1 up, with hammer, going down the last. The final few shots from both skips were fantastic, but it was Hardie who emerged victorious 6-5, gaining tour points, the Braehead Open trophy and £650 prize money. Team Stuart Taylor won the mini shenkel, with Kubeskova coming second.

For a full competition round-up go to Report and photo courtesy of GSCT GSCT Braehead Open

TEAM DODDS SCOTTISH CURLING MIXED CHAMPIONS

Twelve teams took part at the Scottish Curling Senior Mixed Championship at Stranraer Ice Rink from 9th to 11th October. In the Final, Team Ken Horton (Ken Horton, Dot Moran, David Ramsay, Liz Horton) took on Team Trevor Dodds (Trevor Dodds, Catherine Dodds, Robin Copland, Lois Copland) and Team Horton raced to an early lead of 4-0. However Team Dodds fought back from their early deficit and the last end was played with the scores tied and Horton holding the hammer. Come Trevor Dodds’ last stone, Team Horton were lying shot at the back corner of the four foot with second and third shots as well. Trevor Dodds’ attempted freeze overcurled ever so slightly but wicked off the Horton counter to lie semi-protected behind a corner guard. Ken Horton elected to half-hit it, but his stone ran straighter than expected and Team Dodds took the Scottish Curling Senior Mixed Championship title.

For a full report go to Scottish Curling Senior Mixed Championship Competitions & Events OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org 09 FORFAR The first of this year’s Asham Under 14 Slams took place at Forfar Indoor Sports on Sunday 11thOctober with teams from as far afield as Elgin, Ayr, Kelso and Dumfries taking part alongside local representation. In the High Road Final, Team Bryce (Angus Bryce, Matthew Makenzie, Robbie McCormack, Ross Own (pictured) defeated Team Gallacher with a score of 4-1. Steals in the first 3 ends giving Team Bryce a 4 shot lead, in the end proved too much for Team Gallacher who could only secure one shot in the last end.

For a full report go to Asham Under 14 Slam Forfar Report and photo courtesy of ????

SMITH AND MUIRHEAD TO REPRESENT SCOTLAND IN EUROPE Team Smith and Team Muirhead will represent Scotland at the Le Gruyère European Curling Championships in Esbjerg, Denmark from 20th to 28th November 2015. Team Smith met Team Brewster in the men’s Final of the European Playdowns. After beating Brewster in a very close extra end 7-6 win in their first game, Team Smith once again edged out their opponents in the tenth end of their second game, to win their best of three final by two games to nil and secure Report and photo courtesy of Brad Askew their place at the European Curling Championships. Having gone undefeated all week, Team Muirhead only needed one win to secure their place in Esbjerg and they did just that defeating Team Gray 7-6 in the women’s Final.

For full results from the competition go to the European Playdowns

LOCKERBIE The first of the Asham Under 17 Slam events kicked off this weekend with The Stevenson Trophy at Lockerbie. 22 teams from as far afield as Elgin and Aberdeen played in different sections to reach the qualifying stages on Sunday. Great play and sportsmanship was shown throughout. A Perth team skipped by Callum Kinnear, with local player Ryan McCormack, Duncan McFadzean and Matthew McKenzie, won the High Road final, taking the The Stevenson Trophy, beating the Stirling team skipped by Lisa Davie. A team from Stranraer skipped by Andrew Gilmore won the Low Road final, beating a Dumfries team skipped by Finlay Howat. Some fun was had in an additional singles competition with Angus Bryce emerging the winner and Robbie McCormack as runner up.

For full results from the competition go to Asham Under 17 Slam Lockerbie 10 Competitions & Events OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE | YOUR CURLER | www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org

Report and photo courtesy of Hugh Stewart

GREENACRES Read more about the Asham Under 21 Slam Greenacres

Nine men’s teams and six women’s teams played in the Asham Under 21 Slam, Greenacres Junior Masters at Greenacres Curling Club from 18th to 20th September. In the women’s section Katrina Aitken, Amy MacDonald, Sophie Sinclair and Laura Barr made it to the final against Lauren Morgan, Leeanne McKenzie, Jenni Cannon and Becca Baird. This was a close game, team Aitken had the last stone advantage at the start and came out the winners on a scoreline of 8-6 after an extra end. Luke Carson with George Ballantyne, James Craik and Mark Taylor came up against , James Baird, Gavin Barr and David Baird in the men’s final. This was another close game, neither team could get much advantage but team Whyte won the final winning by two shots, 6-4 to team Whyte. KINROSS Asham Under 21 Slam, Kinross Junior Classic, took place on excellent ice at Kinross Curling from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th October. The junior women’s final was contested between Team Murray (Katie Murray, Rebecca Morrison, Hailey Duff and Mili Smith) and Team Davie (Lisa Davie, Kirsty Barr, Anna Skuse, Emma Barr.) After the first end was blanked, the second end saw Murray take three and not look back. Davie was forced to play great draws in the 3rd and 6th end against two Murray counters but after 8 ends Murray ran out 8-2 winners. In the junior men’s event it was a close game which was decided by an extra end. Team Bryce (Cameron Bryce, Zack Stewart, Fraser Kingan and Frazer Shaw) prevailed by 4-3 over Team Whyte (Ross Whyte, David Baird, Euan Kyle and Gavin Barr.) The extra end saw Team Bryce lying two counters. Whyte nominated to hit with their final stone which this time swung too much and saw Team Bryce steal the Kinross Junior Classic title.

For a more in-depth report go to Asham Under 21 Slam Kinross Photos: © Tom Brydone

HARDIE WINS SECOND GSCT TITLE AT DUMFRIES Team Hardie (Grant Hardie, Blair Fraser, David Reid, Billy Morton) won the Goldline Scotish Curling Tour Dumfries Open from 16th to 18th October. This now means that Hardie have won both of the GSCT events this season and sit firmly on top of the tour table. Hardie defeated Team Mouat in a close Final, in which the teams were still tied 2-2 after 5 ends. With Team Mouat trying to force a steal in the 6th they elected to play a guard on the shot stone lying on top of the button leaving only a difficult angled raise for Grant Hardie. The shot was a success and saw them grab a 3 shot Report by GSCT. Photo by Dumfries Curling lead into the last 2 ends. was forced to draw for 1 against 3 in the 7th end. A fantastic final finished with another great shot from Team Hardie as Grant lifted a double to win the game with his first stone. For a full report and results go to GSCT Dumfries Open