Rennie Winners 2012

In another tight competition, well at the top and at the bottom anyway, congratulations to James Logan, who having served his time in the Rennie will be promoted back to the Wingate Rosebowl league next season.
James and his team of Colin Baird, Willie Thomson and Colin Hood, sat out the final round knowing that they could be beaten by either Kath or Simon, if either had a decisive win over the other, as was nearly the case.  In the end, both James and Simon finished with 6 wins from their 8 games and James emerged the victor having won 32 ends to Simon's 30 over the entire season.
The other game was very much for the wooden spoon between Graeme and Shelagh, with Shelagh emerging the winner, leaving them both on the same points but Shelagh surviving demotion by the margin of ONE end over the whole season.

Wingate Rosebowl Winners 2012

Dave pull himself together

Congratulations to Dave and his team of Shelagh, Colin and Frank, who in a very tense final round of games finally wrested the championship lead (and title) from Andy McDiarmid's team who have led the competition from the first game until the final stone of the last game. The final stone just stayed out leaving Dave with Championship Stone by no more than one inch.
The final round was a tense affair all round.  In fact with the final end to play in both games and Dave and Andy at peels Morgan was leading the title chase, but that end turned everything round, with Willie taking a 4 from Morgan leaving them equal on points for last place.  Morgan survives in the Wingate, thanks to having won more ends
throughout the season, while Willie departs for the Rennie.

More Pairs

Dave Munro and Pat Blacker

In a busy weekend of Pairs Competitions, our very own Pairs Tournament was won by Dave Munro and Pat Blacker, who beat Sandy Nicoll and Roy Black in the High Road Final.

The Low Road was taken by Morgan Nicoll and Lisa Starrs who beat Andy Aberdein and Richard Taylor in their final.

Inaugural Province Pairs

Congratulations to our James Logan and James Pate for securing the first ever East Lothian Province Pairs title.  It was a tight match that ended 4 - 3 in Haddington's favour against East Linton's pair of Shaun Govan and Dan Arrondale.

A full report can be found HERE on the Province Website.

President John Shedden congratulating James Pate and
James Logan on winning the inaugural Province Pairs

Dinner & Prize Giving

Please see below a letter from Shelagh inviting you to our Dinner.
Please let Graeme know as soon as possible if you will be attending, or even if you cannot attend.
(Click image to enlarge)

Wingate - Update

And so with 1 round still to play the overall championship can still be won by 3 teams, although it is most likely to come down to the top of the table clash between Andy and Dave.  Should they 'peel' their game and Morgan win, he too could lift the trophy.

RCCC Medal

Another weekend, another visit to Murrayfield for Dave, Graeme, Shelagh and John Good.  This time to take on the Barbarians Curling Club for a RCCC Medal Game.  This is the first time that we have entered the RCCC Medal for many a year.  (For interest, all the medals on the Balyarrow Trophy are old RCCC Medals won by that club!)
The competition consists of one match, drawn at random by the RCCC between clubs mostly based at the same ice rink.
A 10 am. start on a Sunday morning was never going to be the most popular idea.
Both sides started off steadily and the score was 2 - 2 going into the fourth end on frighteningly quick (but dirty) ice.  We were always in trouble in that end and eventually dropped a big 4.  The following end, we also looked to be in trouble but some good sweeping and excellent calling by Dave enabled us to turn the end round to take the 4 straight back.  A stolen 1 in the next gave us a 1 shot advantage, without the hammer for the last.  With their last stone to come they were sitting with one and a relatively simple tap up or draw for the win.  However no amount of sweeping was going to help their light final stone.  Game peeled, handshakes all round until it was pointed out that there was a medal at stake and a winner was required.
With their draw shot slightly long, Dave had to draw the 4 foot to take the game.  The speed of the ice caught him out and his stone slipped to the back 8'.
It was a high quality game played in very good humour and enjoyed by all the players, but unfortunately no medal for us this year.

President v Vice President 2012

Well done to Simon Kesley for taking the Presidents Cup at his first attempt.
Simon got off to a good start with his game and took an early lead only to be pegged back by Sheilagh's team.  He then pulled away again and was almost countered by a late charge from Shelagh.  Simon going on to win by 7 shots to 6.
Meanwhile his deputy, James Pate was giving Graeme chances at several ends.  Despite Graeme taking a few ends, usually by having to wick in it was always a game of catch up and the final score line was 8 - 3 in favour of the Vice President.
Both games were played with a lot of friendly banter (and some less friendly at times too!) and it was good to see George Playfair back on the ice again.
The evening was rounded off by a well attended and highly enjoyable meal courtesy of Bill and Anne.

Canada Tour 2013

Morgan Nicoll

Congratulations to Morgan Nicoll and Dave Munro for being selected for the 2013 Tour of Canada.  Selection was a hard fought process with over 90 curlers applying for the 60 places.  Mention should also be given to John Good and Graeme Maguire who are on the reserve list.
We wish them lots of luck on their quest to bring the Strathcona Cup back home.

Waldie Griffith Trophy

Andy Aberdein

Well done to Andy Aberdein, Roy Black, James Pate and Sandy Nicoll, who took part in this years Waldie Griffith Trophy match.  The Waldie Griffith is an inter province tournament which this year pitched four East Lothian teams against Breadalbane.  We returned with 3 outstanding wins and 1 loss yielding and average win of 7.5 shots up, the last time that it was won by East Lothian, we did it with a 6.5 average, so things look hopeful that we can achieve another win.
For a fuller report and link to the current standings please see the Province Website