Annual Report | 2020/21 The Royal Caledonian Curling Club RCCC OFFICIALS & STAFF Patron HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN Honorary Members Contents HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH CONTENTS G ROY SINCLAIR WELCOME . 5 President 2020/21 ANDREW KERR BOARD . 7 Vice President 2020/21 SUSAN KESLEY DEVELOPMENT . 8 Board of Directors GRAHAM LINDSAY (Chair) LIZ BURTON-KING COMPETITIONS . 13 BRUCE CRAWFORD (Chief Executive Officer) JIM CULLEN STEPHEN FARROW (Independent) FINANCES . 15 ANDREW KERR (RCCC President 2020/21) SUSAN KESLEY CORRIE LAWRENCE (Co-opted | RCCC Ladies Branch President 2020/21) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS . 17 KERRA MCKINNIE (Independent) MARGARET NICOL KEVIN TROUP (Independent) MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS . 18 JANINE WILSON Staff PERFORMANCE . 22 SCOTT ANDREWS (Development Manager | South West Scotland) LINDSEY BOOTH (Welfare Officer) BRUCE CRAWFORD (Chief Executive Officer) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT . 26 NICOLA GLENCROSS (Finance Administrator) PAMELA GRAHAM (Marketing Officer) FIONA HARFIELD (Workforce Development Manager) SAFEGUARDING . 30 SOPHIE JACKSON (Academy Manager) ELAINE MILLS (Administrator) NICK RENNIE (Head of Development) PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORS . 32 IAIN STEWART (Development Manager | National Projects and North & East Scotland) JAYNE STIRLING (Competitions Manager) SUZY WAKEFIELD (Office Manager) RECOGNITION AWARDS . 33 MAGGIE WILSON (Development Manager | Central Scotland) Development Officers INTERNATIONAL RESULTS . 35 ROBIN BRYDONE (Dundee Ice Arena) ANN-MAREE DAVIDSON (Dewars Centre, Perth) ANGELA KYLE (Ayr Ice Rink) HAMMY MCMILLAN (The Peak, Stirling) JIM MORRISON (East Kilbride & Lanarkshire) LAURA MUTCH (Curl Aberdeen) GRAHAM SLOAN (Dumfries Ice Bowl) WELCOME WELCOMEDear Members and Stakeholders, I am delighted to bring you the Annual Report of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club for season 2020/21. It has been the most unusual year in our 183-year history with some sadness, but there are positive results that are highlighted in the Annual Report. On the 9th of April 2021, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club mourned the loss of Honorary Member, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, Past President 1964/65. The President wrote to our Patron Her Majesty the Queen, expressing our sorrow and our Men’s Team wore black armbands at the World Championship in Calgary that day as a mark of respect. The restrictions that have been in place due to the pandemic may have reduced our opportunity to curl, but we have been as busy as ever in supporting our facilities and preparing for the time when curling could resume. Working in greater partnership has been key to the progress and success we have achieved, in particular with the Scottish Ice Rink Association, sportscotland, UK Sport, Event Scotland, British Curling and the World Curling Federation. We suffered from a complete lack of domestic curling competitions for our members to meet each other and play, but have been busy with online activity. Some of the achievements we managed to accomplish were creating guidance for the safe return to curling, frequently requiring to be updated as government advice and regulations evolved. We managed to run 32 training courses online and offered members the chance to “Curl Up” and join us from the comfort of their homes to hear from experts and have open discussions on different aspects of curling. The World Curling Federation cancelled many of the international events and only played the Olympic qualification events in covid secure bubbles in Calgary for Mens and Womens and Aberdeen for the Mixed Doubles. The Scottish Men represented by Team Mouat, took silver, and went on to win back-to-back Slams. The Scottish Women finished in eighth position at the Worlds and in Mixed Doubles, the Scottish Team beat Norway in the final to become World Champions. These results mean the Men and Mixed Doubles have earned an Olympic berth for TeamGB, while the Women must play in the Olympic Qualification event in December, where the last two places are being contested for Beijing 2022. The increasing levels of vaccination and falling cases of COVID-19 in Scotland give us hope that the new season will bring a return to some normality. I look forward to seeing you on the ice next season and trust you stay safe and enjoy curling again as soon as you are able. Yours in curling, Bruce Crawford Chief Executive Officer 5 BOARD The board continued to conduct its A working group was formed to conduct year was securing the £2m support package business throughout the past year, a deeper review of the Board’s previous from Scottish Government for our ice using online video meetings and decision to use selection of teams to rinks who were struggling with the met on eight occasions. Uppermost represent Scotland at future World ongoing costs and lack of activity and in the thoughts of the directors Championships. This group heard a income. This was achieved by effective range of input from athletes, coaches, lobbying to government and working has been the health and welfare of funders and other stakeholders. They in partnership with the Scottish Ice members, whilst also supporting consulted widely and held open meetings Rink Association. We urge members to the long-term future of the sport online before making a recommendation support their ice rinks in the years ahead through working with the ice rinks to the board, which was subsequently as the immediate threat may have been to sustain their businesses when approved to continue to select teams for addressed but many of the challenges they are able to reopen, after the international representation at World remain. extended period of closure. Men, Women and Mixed Doubles events. The board has improved the governance The board agreed to offer members the The board is currently reviewing the 2019- structures and processes and recognise opportunity to “Pause” their membership 2023 Strategic Plan to incorporate a post this work will continue. A new Nominations for the year, which over 2,500 members pandemic refresh at the midpoint in the Committee has been formed and a small elected to do. The impact of this was cycle. After the 2022 AGM, there will be a group led by Jim Cullen have proposed significant but with reduced outgoings deeper review and preparation will begin amendments to the Memorandum and in some areas of operation the board felt for the next Strategic Plan for 2023-2027. Articles. it was the right thing to do. The Structure Review Group, set up Curling in Scotland continues to thrive, At the AGM in 2020, a commitment was by the board, paused during the first thanks to countless volunteers in clubs, given to improve communications and part of the season and then returned ice rinks and committees. Many have engagement with members. The board with some meetings and webinar done their volunteering from home over approved a new Engagement and engagement sessions. Strong feedback video link this year and we wish to thank Communication Strategy which has was received in relation to changes to them for their continued commitment. been put into action through our usual national committees (ASC, LSC and the communication channels. There have proposed new MNC) so no proposals for been a number of surveys online and changes to the committee structure will webinars held with good turn out from be taken forward this year. members at a time when many were not thinking about curling at all. The board The one item that received support from also formed a working group to review the majority of people consulted over the branding of the RCCC and Scottish the last few years was the addition of a Curling and this has led to a clear policy Junior Vice President position instead of document to guide those involved in a Past President role which has not been the use of the two brands to reflect useful or valued. This will give individuals our history and traditions while also a 2-year period as an office bearer before focusing on future development and becoming President, to ensure that growth of curling in Scotland. A huge they are better prepared. The board also response from members helped to agreed to put to the members that no shape the policy now in place so thanks more than two of the three presidential to all involved in the group and as posts shall be of the same gender. individuals who responded to the survey. A hugely significant achievement this 7 DEVELOPMENT 578 Number of affiliated Clubs As with all aspects of daily life, it In September 2020 some ice rinks began (includes Schools) has been an unprecedented year for to reopen. The main modification to our sport with very little (or indeed game play was the change to one sweeper; no) curling taking place at ice rinks despite this alteration members were across Scotland. glad to be back on the ice. In total 12 ice 10,385 rinks were able to open for curling in Total number With the pandemic affecting everyone the 2020/21 season but unfortunately by of Members supporting the curling community the end of December local and national became even more important. We restrictions lead to closure of all these ice diligently worked to adapt our existing rinks. programmes and launched new initiatives to ensure curling remained at the forefront A cold snap in early 2021 allowed for the during what has been a challenging year. welcome sight of members taking to frozen lochs and ponds for some outdoor curling. Due to lockdown restrictions COVID Guidelines in place at the time bonspiels were not 9,621 764 possible. The outdoor sport guidance Adults Members Junior Members A large part of our work has been working allowed curlers to take to the ice with up closely with the Scottish Government to 6 people from 2 household, provided and sportscotland to navigate the return they stayed close to home.