Pairs 2013 / 14

Richard and Andy A

Congratulations to everyone who took part in this years pairs, which provided a few surprises and upsets along the way.
In the first round The Daves (Munro and Wyllie) presented a granny to Simon and Lindsey, who were definitely slow off the mark.
In the Low Road, John G and Julie ran out the winners against the inexperienced duo of Douglas Pate and Steven Dyer while Simon and Lindsey continued their slow start against Shelagh and Hamish Logan.  Simon and Lindsey finally got on the scoreboard in their seventh end of the day and followed up with another end peeling the game and having to draw the shot.  Lindsey drew just behind the button while the opposition slipped a few inches further.
The final was a tight affair all the way through with our snails, Simon and Lindsey coming good at the end and winning three shots to two against John and Julie.

The Gallery

In the High Road, both games went with a four - two scoreline leaving us with a battle of the Andys for the crown.  Morgan (fresh from his Province Pairs and Province Bonspiel titles - both for 'the other club') and his Andy (Kinnaird) were favourites against Richard Taylor and Andy Aberdein (both with excellent track records in the Pairs).  After 4 ends Morgan and Andrew K were leading five to three and looking comfortable.  This was when the ice came into play and bit back. Morgan's first stone picked up and veered off the sheet while his second also picked and veered away........ then swerved back and ended on the button half guarded !  much to the frustration of the opposition and jeering from the spectators gallery.  All was not yet lost for Richard and Andy A who watched Morgan's final shot neatly pick out his own shot stone.  Richard and Andy then 'calmly' played their final stone for a three and the title.

Scottish Junior Champion

Team Gina Aitken
Photo courtesy of RCCC

Well done to Rowena Kerr, who playing second to Gina Aitken secured an exciting Scottish Junior title to their names.
Despite a slow start to the week they came good and qualified from the round robin in second place. They managed to beat, by a convincing scoreline Katie Murray, who had already beaten them in the round robin and the Page 1v2 playoff.
Gina's sister Karina also won the girls sportsmanship award.
Now we have all got to ask, will dad Willie make it a double title when he contests the Scottish Seniors ???

Early Finish for the Wingate

With two games remaining Andy McDiarmid, (in his absence) and his team of James Pate, Simon Kesley and Richard Taylor, secures back to back victories in the Wingate Rosebowl.  It is the first time that the title has been successfully defended since Peter Rennie in 1995 and 1996.
There is still all to play for at the other end of the table though .

Young v Old

Young 16 - 9 Old
Time has now gone by and the Oldies have finished licking their wounds, so at the risk of opening old sores here is the official report.
The Youth sqaud led by Lorna Nicoll with Karen Munro, Lorna Shaw and Angus Elder got off to a flying start against the Vice President's team (no names mentioned here to save embarrasment).  Indeed at the half way mark the only 'Granny' on the ice was for the all male Oldies team.
The kids built up a seven - nil scoreline after five ends before presumably remembering who was paying for their tea and petrol home.  They patronisingly allowed the Oldsters to take the last two ends for a final seven - three scoreline.
Things were a bit diffiernt, but only a bit, in the Presidents game.  Here the Youth team skipped by Sandy Nicoll, Jack Kerr, Hamish Logan and Douglas Pate allowed the first end to go to the opposition.  Having used that as a practice end the juniors then took the next three ends (including a steal of four).  The Younger team ran out Nine - Six winners
Young have now won the challenge for a second consecutive year.




(The Old Team was J R Good, D Munro, J Pate, G Elder, S Kesley, E Logan,G Maguire and M Nicoll)

Kerr-Ching

...... and now the good news.
Congratulations to family Kerr.
Willie has now qualified for the Scottish Seniors Finals.  His team winning their qualifying group with a 100% record.
Willie was too busy playing to witness Rowena, playing for Gina Aitken taking the final Under 21 Slam of the year, thus bracketing the season having taken the first two slams of the year as well.
We wish the Curling Kerrs, the best of luck in the Senior and the Junior Championships.

East Lothian Pairs

First the bad news of the year.
Unfortunately we bowed out of the Province Pairs Competition at the first hurdle against Athelstaneford.  who swept all before them by taking a clean sweep of ALL the Province competitions last season.