Stewarton Heather Curling Club 175th Anniversary Fenwick Hotel 24 March 2018 Speakers:- Billy Howat (Ayrshire Province President), Robbie Duncan & Ernie Coe. 175th Anniversary Committee Jim Kirkwood (treasurer), Doug Paton, David Reid (Match Sec), Robert Whiteford, Peter Barrett (Secretary), John Craig, Billy Jackson, Douglas Reid, David Mundell (President) Years of service to end of season 2017/18 Jim Kirkwood, joined 1997 Treasurer since 2012 Doug Paton, joined 2007, committee member David Reid, joined 2000, Match Sec since 2014 Robert Whiteford, joined 1973 former Sec (16 years) Peter Barrett, joined 2005, Secretary since 2014 John Craig, joined 2006, Club news reporter Billy Jackson, joined 2002, webPage technician Douglas Reid, joined 1981, former treasurer (18 years) David Mundell, joined 1992, President since 2016 By the AGM in 2018 Douglas Reid and Robert Whiteford will have completed 26 years (each) either as office-bearers or committee members of the Club. INTRODUCTION This is a condensed version of the records taken from the minute books by Robert Whiteford. When I first started to adapt the history of Stewarton Heather Curling Club from the record books I also decided to review where curling started and how far back I could go, but it became very complicated and the “History of Curling” website takes a bit of reading and understanding as it’s in the old Scots dialect, it is worth a visit if you really want to look into the early days of curling. On reading into the history of the game I unearthed some very interesting information regarding Stewarton Heather and its early existence. In most parishes the Curling Club became a recognised necessity. Masons, weavers, and workpeople generally were never more devoted to the game and the nobility and gentry gave it their heartiest support. The rules were made up by the teams on the day, and it was not until the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC) was formed in 1838 that clubs started to accept the principles and laws of curling, and play under these rules as laid down by the RCCC, previously some clubs had adopted the Duddingston rules. With all this progress and enthusiasm there was however much confusion. Curlers are conservative, and the advanced methods and rules of Duddingston were only slowly adopted: “the barbarous tribe of natural boulders, crunching crampits, and movable triggers lingered on” (from the history of curling). The local mason did his best to ridge the local block, but there was neither beauty nor uniformity among the stones. Many players still used only one stone, and the number in a rink ranged from 4 to 16. The style of play was altogether more varied than in the previous century, and before parish battles could be fought a number of questions had generally to be settled, and numerous conditions made by which to regulate the play. The progress of curling in this period and its distribution throughout Scotland may be understood from the following list:- AYR [Clubs printed in ordinary type either are or have been affiliated with the Royal Club, and an asterisk distinguishes those that joined the Royal at its formation in 1838. Clubs in italics have not been so affiliated] There are many more clubs listed but the main one I was interested in is listed above so Stewarton Heather was in existence in 1835. (taken from the History of Curling) Now, this is where I start to tie the “old” Stewarton Heather with the Club we know today. Up until now there were “guide lines” not rules, but they could be changed on the day. Before a game started the number of players per team was decided, the number of stones each player could play was agreed, and the size of the stones and the length of the rink had to be agreed between the teams. The institution in 1838 of a Grand National Club, with its headquarters in Edinburgh, “and having for its object the regulation of the laws and methods of curling by the united deliberations of representatives from all the clubs of the country”, is the most important and far-reaching event in the whole history of curling. The Royal Caledonian Curling Club was born and the word “instituted” came into play. Stewarton Heather was “instituted” in 1842 meaning it came under, and agreed to the rules as set out by the RCCC, although it did not become a member of the RCCC till later. Under the new rules a President had to be elected and a committee formed to include a treasurer and secretary, minutes of Annual General Meetings needed to be recorded and competitions needed to be recorded. The description of stones that were used in the early days is innumerable specimens "of all sorts and conditions." When the leverage of a handle was applied to the Channel-Stane it completely left behind the puny Piltycock, and developed enormously in bulk and weight. In its development, however, it did not follow the curves of the beautiful. BLAIRGOWRIE and DELVINE Clubs both claim an interest in this set of ancient stones, we are informed they have been formerly in the keeping of Blairgowrie, but presented or sold to the Delvine Club, in whose custody they have been for many years. Fig. 10, "The Soo," weighs 79 lbs., and measures 161 x 11 inches. Fig. 11 is "The Baron," weighing 88 lbs., and measuring 14½ x 14 inches. Fig. 12 is called "The Ego," and weighs 115 lbs. It measures 17 x 12 inches. Fig. 13, "The Fluke," weighs 52 lbs. and measures 12½ x 11 inches. Fig. 14, "Robbie Dow," weighs 34 lbs. and measures 9 x 9 inches. This last was at least called after one of the Baron Bailees, a, son of the parish minister of the time (taken from the History of Curling). The Kutty Stane or Piltycock or Channel Stane was much smaller than those with handles Although instituted in 1842 there are no records of the first meetings. The first minute book starts in 1845. As you will see from the books Stewarton had two clubs, Stewarton Heather and the Stewarton club. In the early 1900’s the Heather, Pokelly and Stewarton clubs all became one. Stewarton Heather has not missed an Annual General Meeting since 1845. Here are the minutes from that first recorded meeting. At Fullwood 9th Dec. 1845 The Stewarton Heather Curling Club had been convened. After auditing the treasurers accounts which were approved they proceeded to elect office bearers. The office bearers were as follows Thomas Young (Tailend) President, James Wylie (Fullwood) Vice President, John Howie Treasurer, John Ferguson Secretary. All agreed that the other managers or councillors should be hind players (skips) of the rinks, and that when the ice is ready a general meeting be called to make the other necessary arrangements. It was further agreed that every member pay sixpence for upholding the dam, and give something for rent. 1846 The report of last year’s proceedings was read. The dam was put in, in John Gilmour’s long bank park. It appeared to do well but the surface was too little and there had not been sufficient frost since the last annual meeting to get a game tried. After auditing the accounts there was a balance in hand of seven shillings and sixpence. It was ultimately agreed that six shillings be paid for dam rent to Mr. Gilmour. It was agreed that all members pay 6d membership within three weeks of the AGM or 9d if they join after that without a satisfactory reason for the delay. Dec.4th 1846 met twelve of the Stewarton Club with an equal amount at Clerkland. Rink 1 Stewarton 42 Stewarton Heather 44 Rink 2 ---- 45 28 Rink 3 ---- 26 33 Stewarton wins by 8 shots. Dec 17th 1846 met twelve players from the Pokelly club with an equal number at Fullwood. Rink 1 Pokelly 17 Heather 34 Rink 2 --- 23 --- 20 Rink 3 --- 10 --- 37 Heather wins by 41 shots The curling games were called and horse riders were sent out to inform the players that the ice was playable. Depending on who turned up the teams were drawn on the day, this was also for inter-club games. Hind players (skips) were named at the AGM and teams drawn from members available, or the skip picked his team and brought them along with him. The Champions Medal was played for every year, this would be the fore- runner to our Points Competition. There are no results from previous years but in 1861, Allan Gilmour 11 points, John Howie, James Kerr 7, Archibald Young, Robert Kerr, Robert Howie, James Calderwood, and John Stevenson 5, James Wylie, William Currie, William Kyle and Alex Harvey 4. Five others counted 3 shots with two counting 2 each, another two 1 each and one who never scored. The 1842 Champion Medal is still in existence and owned by Robert Wallace. It was played for annually on a singles basis. These are games where the clubs met for the first time or met in various competitions. Not included are games played between the club members at Fullwood. First game played against Dunlop 1847 at Fullwood Heather wins by 24 shots Return game 1847 at Templehouse Heather wins by 36. First game against Kilwinning 1847 at Montgreenan (12 from Heather and 28 from Stewarton). First game against Mearns 1855 at Wee Loch (Mearns win) First game against Kilmaurs 1858 at Craufurdland Loch (8 from Heather and 28 from Stewarton) No result recorded First game against Fenwick 1861 no result recorded Other Clubs Stewarton Heather have played against Stewarton Curling Club (1845) Pokelly (1846) Neilston (1846) Bloak Curling Club (1847) Kilmarnock Townend (1857) Other games 1847 Married versus Unmarried, married win 1850 Married versus unmarried (for pies and drink), unmarried win 1851 First game for the Eglinton and Winton Plates (two teams) 1852 Eglinton Plate, 28 players from Stewarton and Stewarton Heather took part 1853 Eglinton Plate, Heather 21, Loudon 11 at Craufurdland Loch.