That's it for 2023, Folks.

 Like your presents, that's a wrap for 2023.

Hostilities resume on Mon8th Jan for the Rennie and Wed 10th Jan for the Wingate.

 

Province Pairs

Well done to our team of Morgan Nicoll (last minute call up for the injured Sandy), Hamish Logan and James Pate.  Although they were not able to defend last years win, they still came away with the Low Road Trophy.

The High Road was won by Yester.  This is the first time that Yester have taken the title.

Rennie at 33.3333333 %

The first round of the Rennie saw Team Nicoll (Snr) fielding not one but THREE skips playing Team Logan (Jnr) who was aided by one team member playing their first game in four years.  It was very much a game of two halves with Hamish taking the first three ends and Morgan the final four, resulting in a decisive win for the more experienced team.

At the end of the first round things are tight. The Sandy Squad lead the President and The Morgan Mob with two wins each and only two ends separating them.  There are still another two rounds, so Hamish has a good chance of making up lost ground.

Points, Points Points

Congratulations to everyone, it was a good turnout bearing in mind that 8 members had just finished playing in the Swan.  It was also good to see three of our new recruits from New Stones making an appearance and thanks everyone for helping them and making them feel welcome.

There was the usual amount of mayhem amongst the established ranks but scores were down on last year as a result of playing one exercise (Drawing through the Port) and also that it was 'tricky' ice. 

The ice however should not be held responsible for the lamentable results from 'Wicking in' where only six people managed to score (Jeff and Lorna scoring the highest with 2 out of 8) 

After some robust online banter Lindsey found herself under severe pressure by not being the only Lady.  She was run close for the ladies title only overcoming her sister (the 2003 winner) in the final exercise.

With regards to our newcomers, well done and SPECIAL MENTION must go to Jennifer who was the highest scorer in the entire field when it comes to 'Drawing' .  All our thirds and seconds should take note and perhaps ask for some tips !

Swan Trophy

The first round was a repeat of last years final which saw Haddington pitched against Currie & Balerno.

With one team member forgetting the fixture, there was a mad dash down the A1 and arriving within 10 minutes of a forfeiture the teams were both fully manned.  The two point late penalty had been seen off by Team Nicoll who took a 2 in their first undermanned end.

Both teams played well and secured close wins, meaning the Haddington progress to the Semi Finals against Corstorphine on Thursday 11th Jan at 12.15.

Congratulations to Andy McDiarmid, James Pate, Graeme Maguire and Roy Black and to Morgan Nicoll, Andy Aberdein, Sandy Nicoll and Willie Kerr.

New Stones - New Members and University Challenge

Photo's are all courtesy of Curl Edinburgh

Skipped by John Good and Karen Munro, we issued a challenge to both the New Stones and Edinburgh University Curling Clubs. It was a hugely enjoyable evening which saw us take two wins although it took Karen and the 'youngsters' til the last stone (a take out and lie) to secure her victory.  

The night was not however about the competition, it was about making new friends and getting new members/reserves for our club.  That was achieved with 8 out of the 9 players joining our reserves ranks. So welcome to Jennifer, Louise, Zach, Heather and Sally from the New Stones and Alex, Eilidh and Annabelle from the University.  They have all been added to the WhatsApp group and already some have picked up games as subs.  

A special mention goes to Louise and Jennifer who have only just finished the beginners and not actually done any New Stones sessions yet ! 

 

Leagues are Underway

The first blood has been spilled, with the multi times defending champion Dave Munro scoring a narrow 6 - 5 win over team Pate.

Opening Bonspiel

 Our season started with a fun evening of curling.  The Opening Bonspiel was won by our Vice Presidents team of Andy McDiarmid, John Good, Paula Arnott and Francis Donald.

Fourteen of us then adjourned to the new clubrooms for an excellent meal and a catch up.  The only downside was being plunged into darkness every 20 minutes during the meal but this was solved by sending both of the 'Johns' to the far end of the balcony to wave their arms at the motion sensor.

Province Competitions

 The dates and draws for the province competitions have now been added to the Fixtures tab, above

Rink Champs and Edinburgh Area Bonspiel

 The full draw for the Rink Champs has been added to the Fixtures Tab.

The Fixture List has been updated with this and the dates for the Edinburgh Area Bonspiel.

Pre-Season matters

 Thanks to El Pres Andy and Ruth and his other two good ladies for a very enjoyable and convivial, if select, Pre-Season Drinks (and nibbles).  For those that made it, it was a great night.

Payments to the RCCC & Murrayfield have now been scheduled, so a big thanks to those that have paid their club subs and a reminder that our payment deadline is drawing near.  It is also still possible to pay electronically, the 'Voluntary £5 contribution' for the drinks party.

The syllabus is constantly being updated at the moment, with extra dates etc, and changes to members contact details.  We would suggest that you download a copy of the latest version prior to our first game, The Opening Bonspiel, on 23rd October.  I will include a link nearer the time.

Fixture List (Syllabus) 23/24

Our club games and team lists have now been posted on the Fixtures tab.

NB. this will be amended when dates/draws for the Rink Champs and the 'Province External Games' have been made available .

Pre Season Prep

 The ice is currently being finalised with Murrayfield and the syllabus will soon be ready.

This seasons teams and the draw for the Swan have been added to the 'fixtures' tab.

The rest of the website is being updated over the next few days.

Belated Catch up

Congratulations to Team McDiarmid, consisting of Andy McDiarmid, Graeme Maguire, Ian Donald and
Frances Donald for securing the Rennie Quaich.

Due to prior commitments James Pate was drafted into the team, in place of Graeme to contest the Skins Challenge against the Wingate winners, Team (Mr) Munro. Team Munro took the first 3 'skins' to take a 4-0 lead.  The following three ends the 'skins' rolled over and in the seventh end the McDiarmid Squad won their first 'skin' with an accumulated value of 12 to steal the title.

So it is a double congratulations to Mr McD and his team(s)

Province Knockout

 Commiserations to our representatives who went out in the semi-finals to a strong Aberlady team.

Wingate Conclusion

 The Wingate 22/23 is now concluded.  The news is that Team D Munro still take the title, however credit must be given to Team Pate who won all of their final round games (including a 13 - 4 win against a Daveless D Munro squad) and accumulated 16 ends for  loss of 5 ends.

Mention should also go to the Nicoll squad who although coming fourth did manage to cram in 69 ends in their 9 games this compares to 68 for Dave, 67 for Karen and 66 for Team Pate. 

Wingate - one game left

 And the News is that Dave Munro and his team have still won the league.  Never the less, they were looking good at 8 - 3 against his returning daughter after three ends only to lose the remaining four ends and finish up with a peel.  (It should have been a loss for him if he had swept as hard for his injured daughters stones as he did for his own !)

Meanwhile President Pate's team were scoring their own decisive victory.

If Team Karen win their last game against the Nicoll Snr squad and Dave wins against James P, she could snatch second place.  However if Team Morgan beat Karen's rink, Karen could still face demotion.

Last night also saw a well arranged (from our end anyway) supper night at the Murrayfield Hotel (or the Scotsman Hotel !!) after the game.  The slight air of chaos was a perfect ice breaker and ended up with everyone getting fed, all be it, with not necessarily what they either pre-ordered OR ordered on the night. It was however an extremely enjoyable and social evening for those in attendance.  

Mega thanks to Shelagh for the negotiations and arrangements.

The last supper

E L Province - Rnd 1

 Congratulations to our team who edged out Athelstaneford 6 - 5 in the first round.

We now progress to the Semi Final on Sunday 12 Feb at 14.30 where they will meet Aberlady.

Rennie at 66%

 The second round of the Rennie was completed and Team McDiarmid winning a crucial 'top of the Table' clash to go in to the Final Round with a two point advantage over the Aberdein Quartet.

Although still mathematically possible for the Logan Jnr Rink to secure the title they are more realistically battling to avoid bottom place.  While Team Logan have a four point deficit to catch Team Aberdein they are only two points ahead of the Nicoll Jnr squad.  Anyone with any knowledge of the club 'juniors' would be unwise to count out an almighty scramble in the final few games.

Pairs 22/23

 Twelve combatants took to the ice in our annual Pairs Competition. 

In mini league A)  Morgan & Jeff battled through with a 100% win record and progress to the 'Big Final'.  James P and Avril took second place and progressed to the 'Small Final'

Meanwhile mini league B) was tighter with Keith & Ewan  and Sandy & Richard both securing 1 win and 1 peel each.  Keith and Ewan progressed to the 'Big Final' by the margin of 1 end.

In the 'Small Final', James P and Margaret Harcourt gain bragging rights and finish the competition in third place.

The 'Big Final' also split the ends 2-2 but Morgan Nicoll and Jeff Lewis take the win and the High Road Title 3 shots to 2.   The runners up Keith Anderson and Euan Forbes walk away with the Low Road Trophy.

Congratulations to our winners !

Is this a Recycled Post ?

Dave enjoying a celebratory drink with Sheena.

An early present for Team Mr Munro, consisting normally of James Logan, Richard Taylor and Jeff Lewis.  Despite two subs last night, beat Team Nicoll Snr.  It was a tight game with no one giving up more than a single.  Meaning that the end totals of 5 - 2  was also replicated in a 5 - 2 scoreline.

More importantly, with 2 games remaining, the Munro squad has now notched up five wins and a peel, while the other teams have been knocking lumps out of each other.  None of the other teams can now catch Dave and his 'lads' and I have to declare them the 'Winners of the Wingate.'   This notches up his second hat trick of Wingate wins and sees his name on the trophy for the sixth time in seven attempts.  (Sandy having taken the win in 1018/19) .

The remaining teams are separated by a mere 1 point and 1 end !  The podium (and relegation) places will not now be decided until the final end of the competition.

Swan Trophy

 Well done and commiserations to our two teams that contested the Swan.

Having got past Aberlady (default) in the first round they convincingly beat Mid Calder in the semi-final but went on to lose a well contested game to Oxenfoord in the Final.

Even more kudos to the players that then went on to play 3 back to back sessions when they played in the following Rennie games !