Despite the best efforts of 'Father Munro' i.e. subbing into a team to oppose 'Daughter Munro', he failed to halt her forward progress towards lifting the Rennie Quaich. Last nights game against Team Logan (Father) skipped by John Good aided by Dave saw a dominant victory for Squad Karen. This lifts them four points clear of Andy Aberdein, with only 6 further points available.
This result leaves the two Munros leading their chosen leagues ! Can they both reach the finish line ?
With the Wingate nearing the two thirds mark, Team Pate took a good win to hoist them to second in the table. Although they have played one extra game over first and third place teams. They also have the highest 'ends won' tally which keeps them above Team Nicoll Jnr who have the lowest ends tally. Something for Sandy to think about ?
Checking the cards, I note that of our 16 game nights, so far, that on 8 occasions (50%) there has been at least one player short on ice. On 18th Oct we were FOUR players short. If you cannot play PLEASE try and find a reserve and inform your team. You can try the WhatsApp and Facebook groups but if you have no success the personal phone call can often result in success. A team being a player short creates extra work for your remaining team mates and can skew the results.
 |
| Determination and a steely gaze. |
Meanwhile, Team Logan remains at the lowest end of the table. In order to move up he must beat the current leaders and take at least six ends. That looks a long shot, but skip Logan is getting to grips with his delivery stick and I predict that a slow move up the ranks is possible through the remaining games.
The postponed games from 4-12-21 will now take place as follows:-
Mon 6-12-21 @ 18.00 - Teams A v B
Thrs 13-1-21 @ 19.45 - Teams C v D
Following on from the Swan Trophy in the afternoon, there was a disapointing turn out for the points competition with only seven players taking to the ice. This meant that there was plenty of time and it even allowed us to play the *only in the event of a draw* tenth discipline, outwicking. Although with a total score of 6 between all seven players, maybe we should have given it a miss. It should be noted that James Logan contributed 3 of those 6 points by himself !
With the usual jockying for position, ie who was to go first, someone (who will remain nameless) snuck on and started before anyone else could watch his line. The ice was very swingy, more so on the second sheet, that many disciplines required taking ice on the 8 foot ring of the next sheet !
Dave Munro, all heil the king, was a comfortable winner and matched his own Haddington high score even though he had an extra 4 shots to do it. Dave was also the only person without a 'blank' on his card. Opposition skips should note that Dave only scores 1's in Raising and Outwicking, could this weakness be exploited to stop him winning the Wingate (again!)
Next, in an equally clear second, came the defending champ from the last 2 runnings, Sandy. Sandy is my skip, so I wont reveal any weaknesses.
The final podium place was a tight tussle with James Pate and First timer Keith Anderson trading positions before a late charge from Graeme just managed to pip them both at the post in the ninth discipline and hanging on in the extra tenth.
While most people scored less than last time, James Logan bucked the trend. All this and playing with a delivery stick too! James actually breaks the club record for playing with a stick by 6 points !
Finally, a disappointing fall from last times joint second, came Andy Aberdein.
Perhaps it was the low numbers but this was played in an excellent atmosphere with players helping each other out with advice and heckles. If you weren't there you missed out, BE THERE NEXT YEAR.
Congratulations to our teams who secured one BIG win and one narrow loss to arch rivals Corstorphine. This takes us through to a semi final against Currie and Balerno on Thursday 6th January @ 3pm.
'Double Digit' Munro was brought to a screaming halt by Team 'Hat-Trick' Nicoll Snr who now has three peels from his five games so far.
The second round of the Wingate commenced with the defending multiple champion, Dave Munro securing his second 'double digit' win on the bounce and taking revenge for his first round defeat against the Pate squad. Team (male) Munro now ease into a slender lead at the top of the table.
Meanwhile.... in the father/son battle of the Nicolls. The result was a score draw, similar to the result in the previous round. One more round to go boys, to battle it out for family supremacy. The game itself was close with the teams trading singles in the first five ends, although always threatening a big score. The score of a three to Team Sandy came in the sixth. In the final end both skips had the opportunity with their final stones to secure the win but both came up slightly short and their second peel of the season was achieved.
As the current holders of the Province KO we were entitled to send a team to Greenacres to fight our the National Province Championships. Our team was skipped by Dave Munro with (in no particular order) Morgan Nicoll, James Pate and James and Hamish Logan.
Here is their report:-
Good experience for all but a lot of chances not taken meant quite a frustrating weekend for the Haddington CC team.
D.M.
On a separate note, as 'runners-up' Yester also sent a team and I am pleased to report that they DID make it to the Knockout stages but have yet to hear their results.
Well done to our lads and one year we WILL get out of the round robin stages.
The second game of Team Nicoll (jnr.) saw them again with a guest skip, this time Hamish Logan. In game that was spookily like their last, it was a game of two halves. Team Pate took a three shot lead by winning the first three ends. Most coming from a single stone, so well hidden, that it could not be ousted. The tables then turned, and Sandy's proxy masterminded winning the remaining ends. This time managing to run out as 5-3 winners.
Further to a few requests and the several updates required by the late issue of ice bookings, we have added our syllabus card (updated 19-10-21) to our fixtures page. This will be updated as new information becomes available.
This should allow you to print off the most up to date lists.
NB. We have included the outside pages as well but with the telephone numbers omitted. If anyone wants a full copy please let Graeme know, or email us.
In a game that truly turned out to be an inter-club Young v Old, we took on the 'very experienced' Carrington. Sandy Nicoll skipped Karen Munro, Hamish Logan and Daniel Peart into an early lead in the first end. They were then lying a comfortable five in the second end when Trevor played a perfect draw onto the button to take the end. After that the Oldies seemed to get into their groove in what proved to be a close match. The final score was however 5 - 4 in favour of Carrington.
This was a very commendable score, especially as this was Sandy's first outing for the season (or last season). Fatherhood seems to suit him.
Already it is looking to be an interesting Rennie tussle. With each team having played two games, they have all won one and lost one. Only ends separate our leader Karen from the relegation position .
In a scheduled 'father v son' game, Sandy managed to avoid the pressure by taking a holiday and arranging for Karen to take his place against a three man (person) Morgan Rink. This was looking a very one sided game after the fourth end with Morgan, John G and Frances leading 6 - 0. At this point, Karen, Graeme, John H and Susan C, seemingly remembered how to play and took 2 shots in each of the following two ends. Trailing by two shots, but without the hammer, Karen's boys (people) drew to lie two. A decision was then made to play for a (relatively) safe peel or gamble for the win. The cautious approach paid off and they came home with what had looked an unlikely peel.
The Game scheduled for tonight between Wingate Rinks 3 and 4 has been POSTPONED.
This game will now take place on Wednesday 3rd November at 5.30pm.
The published rinks are:-
Dave Munro, Colin Baird, Ian Donald and Roy Black v
James Pate, Keith Anderson, S Main/E Logan and Jeff Lewis.
Apologies - all my fault.
Season 20/21 or is it 21/22 is go.
Last night saw the commencement of league games with the Rennie teams making their debut.
Things can only get better.
The battle of the Andy's was a tight game with a couple of exceptional shots proving the difference, resulting in a loss for Andy Cap .... sorry McDiarmid. Player of the Game - Paula Arnott.
Meanwhile in a Young v Old battle, Karen Munro's team scored a decisive win, scorewise over a shorthanded Logan rink.
The draw for the Rink Championships has now been added to the Fixtures page.
The First Round will be against Carrington on Saturday 23-10-21 @ 15.00
The Second Round (if qualified) will be against Penicuik on Saturday 27-11-21 @ 15.00
The Semi Final will be on Saturday 11-12-21 @ 15.00
The Final will be on Saturday 8-1-22 @ 15.00
NB ALL Semifinalists qualify for the National Finals at Forfar on 4-6th March 2022
Our team is:-
S Nicoll, K Munro, H Logan, D Peart
The draw for the Swan Trophy has now been added to the Fixtures page.
The First Round will be against Corstorphine on Thursday 18-11-21 at 14.30 (2.30pm)
The Semi Final will be on Thursday 6th January 2022 @ 15.00 (3pm)
The Final will be on Thursday 13-1-22 @ 15.00.
Our teams are:-
J Logan, TBA, A Aberdein, M Harcourt
J Pate, M Nicoll, S Nicoll, J Harcourt
Our season is now officially underway.
The winning Wingate rink from 2019/20 assembled against the scratch team consisting or Morgan, Graeme, Paula and Susan S. Skins competitions are traditionally gambling events and team Nicoll certainly turned out with their top end kitted out in matching shirts that would have looked at home in Las Vegas.
It was a very good, well matched game with all 8 players messing up on the rules from time to time. With 4 skins available on the last end Team Munro found themselves to be behind, by 4. They succeeded in leveling the game and the match hinged on a 'Draw the Button' . We will say that Mr Munro did exactly than and secured the win. So it is the first CONGRATULATIONS of the season to Dave Munro, John Good, Ian Donald and Frances Donald.
Drinks and food after the game brought the atmosphere at Murrayfield back to near normality.
Next up, the Leagues.
The Syllabus has now been updated with teams for the President v Vice President on 6th January 2022 and tonight's skins match. This can be found on the 'fixtures tab'.
The Syllabus is constantly being updated as names and dates for competitions are made known to us. The info on the fixtures tab should always be up to date.
If you wish an updated version of the 'paper' syllabus, please let me (Graeme) know and I will email you a current copy.
The New Season Pack will be issued shortly, including subscription notices and the Syllabus.
In the meantime, the fixtures page had been updated with all available information at hand, including all our league fixtures, playing roster etc.
The lights are green and it looks like we will be getting back to curling again soon.
We welcomeJames Pate as our new President and he is joined by the ever popular, Andy Aberdein as his Vice President.
This season, we will not be playing an Opening Bonspiel or a Young v Old match. The Wingate and the Rennie will be played as triple round robins. The season will open and close with Skins games between the winning Wingate and Rennie teams in 19/20 and this season
In the meantime, the website is going through it's spring clean.
COVID Precautions, pending an update of the Covid Risk Assessment, as long as we remain at or beyond 'Level 0' actual curling can be played as normal i.e. 2 sweepers. Although if anyone is unhappy with this please let their skips know and arrangements will be made to accommodate their fears and concerns.
Physical distancing, on and off ice is encouraged and the changing rooms will still have limited capacity, so arriving ready to change shoes and play is also encouraged.
Session times are still staggered and the one-way system will still be in operation ie separate entrance and exit doors.
Masks should still be worn, unless exempt, indoors EXCEPT when on ice or drinking/eating upstairs. It should be possible for each rink to share a table.
Fingers crossed for a smooth and full season without any hiccups.
Stay SafeBig Congratulations to James Pate - 'Curler of the Year'
James was the club's only player to secure 2 wins this season.
In other news, anyone that requested ice fee refunds should now have received them. Donations to Murrayfield will be processed as soon as the Royal Bank of Scotland gets their act in order and allows me to use internet banking again !!!
As you may have seen. It is now official that Murrayfield will not reopen this season.
Ice fees will be refunded in due course. Murrayfield have requested that you consider making a 20% donation of your ice fees, which will be arranged through the club treasurers (Me - I've had a busy season). More news when it is received.
Please note, refunds will be for ice fees ONLY and will not be for any affiliation or membership fees - sorry!
Finally, It has been announced that the skating rink will not be renewing the lease for the bar and cafe area after 31st December 2022. This means that the balcony extension WILL be carried out before that date. A further announcement on this is expected before the end of March.
In view of the current Covid restrictions, Murrayfield will not reopen before the end of January. This would not leave enough time to run our Wingate and Rennie Leagues. It is also likely that the Board at MCL will decide not to reopen for this season.
We have taken the decision to preempt them by announcing that our season is now CANCELLED.
Refunds etc will be announced when MCL make information available to us.
IF Murrayfield does reopen, It is our intention to book ice for a President v Vice President Bonspiel. This will be at the end of March/Early April. We will also arrange 'bounce' matches if the membership wishes. It is also hoped that if the membership support it, we can have a summer buffet, or similar, at the Open Arms in lieu of our Annual Dinner.
PLEASE NOTE - This only refers to our Club Games/leagues. We have no information regarding Province/External Competition Games, as yet.
We regret having to make this decision but thought it would be best giving as much notice as possible.
More info will be added when we receive it.
