Wingate latest

I had promised myself that I wouldn't post another update before the Christmas break but.........

Last nights results leave an interesting position at the top of the table.  With Dave Munro's squad (without the secretary, I might add) beat the table toppers since the start of the season, Team Logan.
Both teams are now on 5 wins, both teams have won 27 ends (and lost 23) however Team Munro moves to the top of the table by 1 shot ! ( having scored 50 shots and lost 37 compared with having scored 49 for and also 37 against).

With a battle for ends and shots up, the last two games of the season may be uncomfortable for Teams Kerr and Pate (although Willie is still in with a mathematical chance of winning either the top prize OR the wooden spoon !)

And with that, Have a Great Christmas and New Year everyone.

The Season @ 66%

With Christmas heading towards us in a rush and the temperatures rising (?), we see our season reach it's two thirds point with our competitions still wide open-ish.  Both competitions are poised so that any one of three teams could win.
WINGATE
James Logan leads the way but is only one game clear of Dave Munro's squad, while Willie Kerr could take the title if there was a complete melt down amongst the front runners.  Only James Pate's rink is unable to lift the silverware.  Although James currently sits at the bottom of the table Willie is only an uncomfortable one game ahead in the battle for the wooden spoon.  With both ends of the table open, there is still all to play for.
RENNIE
Andy McDiarmid's team, in a bid to return to the Wingate League, are sitting in a strong position with a two game cushion and only three games to play.  Locked in a tussle with 50% win loss records sit Simon and 'New Boy' Andy Aberdein.  Their final game could be decisive and decide which of them could challenge Andy McD.  Marooned at the bottom sits John Good's rink, who must win at least two of their last three games if they are to avoid relegation.

Province Pairs

On a wet blustery Saturday our club pairs champions, James Pate and Shelagh Main made their way in to Murrayfield for the Province Pairs competition.
First the bad news, They lost in the first round to an in form East Linton team but that qualified them to play in the Low Road, so they were unable to head off for an early Christmas drink.  The luck of the draw saw one easy and one tricky draw, guess which one we got.....   Correct !  the might of Callum Harvey and his Dirleton team.  It was a tight affair with James just missing a draw for a very large end and finishing with a mere big end.  The final score was a tie and a draw the button to decide the winner.  James opted to sweep the Haddington stone which slid just behind the T, Dirleton elected to not sweep their stone which came up just short and Haddington made their way through to a Province Final for the first time in a few years.
The other game saw a surprise as Doo'cot edged out Markle.
The Low Road Final was never in doubt (really!) with James and Shelagh taking the honours in style with a double digit score.

Points 2015

Congratulations to James Pate for breaking the Nicoll dominance of our annual points competition.
A tight fight at the top of the leaderboard saw Sandy, James and James (Logan and Pate) slugging it out.  James Logan, while in a close second after 7 exercises was forced to withdraw and leave the battle to others.  It was looking as though the record high score (for the recent years anyway) was going to be broken before Sandy had a fall on ice half way through the final exercise, forcing him to withdraw as well.  (Honestly, Points is not a dangerous event !)  James Pate then blanked the final exercise, maybe in sympathy to edge out last years winner by one point.
Meanwhile Graeme got off to a sound start but fell away badly in the middle.  A strong finish in the final two exercises saw him climb to equal last years total and come in third.

The ladies title, for the third year running (and this time wearing her own trousers) went to Lindsey to ensure that the Nicolls did not go home empty handed.  Lindsey has now taken the title five years from the last six and is the one to beat next time out.

Season at 1/3 Distance

With the first round of both competitions completed we see James Logan and Andy McDiarmid leading their respective leagues, undefeated.
In the Wingate the teams are evenly spread however things are tighter in the Rennie where all the remaining teams are on equal points and only one end between them.  Thus proving how important it is to win ends as well as the games.
It has been a fun start to the season marred only by attendance.  Only on one of the seven club nights, so far, have we had a full compliment of players.  Please remember that if you cannot play, it is YOUR responsibility to obtain a reserve.

East Lothian Province Competitions

The draws for ALL the East Lothian Province competitions are now up on the 'Fixtures' tab.

Good Luck.

Skins 2015/16

Monday night saw the usual scratching of heads as teams Kerr and Munro faced off against each other in the Champions Skins Challenge.
Although Willie had come prepared with sweeties and bowls to record the results, nobody thought to bring the lovingly prepared scorecard and rules.  It was eventually remembered that a spare set had been pinned on the club noticeboard and play got under way.
When Graeme and Morgan (who will from now on be called the spectators) turned up, the first two ends had seen the 'skins' rolled over.  This was when Team Munro struck, taking the third end and collecting 4 skins (no jokes please).  It was one way traffic from there though with Equipe Kerr taking the next three ends and collecting 8 skins.  With 4 being available for the last end, there was all to play for and Willie kept the house clear and only allowed Dave (with the hammer) to score a one and thus not take the pot. 
With time pressing there should have been a draw shot to decide the final pot but as Dave pointed out, that would only earn him a peel, if he won, and then there would have to be another draw shot to decide the title winner.  At this point Dave offered the handshake and Willie Kerr, Elinor Logan and Graham Elder emerged our first champions for the season.

A Grand Day Out

As the day of the Indoor Grand Match rolled round, our gallant boys and girl set off to their various venues.

Simon Kesley, Andy Aberdein, Karen Monro and Stephen Dyer set off for an early start in Kirkcaldy.
As per the warnings, after Murrayfield's (relatively) quick ice they took a couple of ends to get the idea that nothing short of a 'full strike' would reach the hog line. Never the less they contained the first two end losses to singles and then stuck back with two singles of their own.  Fortified by the half time 'stacking of brooms' (whiskies), they then went on to take three of the remaining four ends with twos while only losing a further single.
Final scores South of Scotland (Haddington) 8 - North of Scotland (Coupar) 3.
It was great to see that Karen took the trouble to borrow her fathers clothes to turn out in a Haddington strip.  If you think the jacket in the photo looks a bit large, I am assured that the T-shirt was even larger.

Meanwhile, with a slightly later departure, Graeme and Dave Wyllie set off for Aberdeen, along with Vic Williams who was borrowed from the Surveyors.  After a very wet drive they were introduced to their fourth member Ian, who was borrowed from Aberdeen curling club.  It was handy to have some local knowledge but we refused the North's requests that a quarter of our score should be returned to them for his participation..
Unlike Kirkcaldy, our team struggled with the faster ice while the opposition, Turriff, were on their weight from the start, taking, singles in the first two ends.  The comeback started in the third end with Graeme erring on the heavy side, so as not to disturb our scoring stones and missing his draw and only taking a 3 and the lead.  The comeback didn't last too long though and a loose end resulted in a loss of 4 and a 6-3 deficit at mid point.  Fortified by the mid game whisky, we moved into a striking game which paid off leaving a clear house for our last stone.  Graeme tactically (some say missed) played through the back to blank the end and retain the hammer.  At this stage it suddenly all came together and the skip made two difficult draws (probably the best I have played all season) to take a 3 and tie the game going in to the last end.  It was still up for grabs when Graeme played his last stone, a difficult draw, which would have been almost impossibly to dislodge, unfortunately his luck had been used up the previous end and the stone just scuffed a guard and left the opposition a draw for 4.
Final score  10 - 6 against.

For the record the South of Scotland won the overall Grand Match, for the fourth time (out of 4) with a total score of 2154 to 1928 .

Roll on 2020.

RCCC Rink Champs - Out-Gunned

Last Saturday our boys & girl set about a very tough first round match against the Murrayfield Champions from last year - Gogar Park.
Our rink was skipped by Dave Munro who provided this report:-

You asked for a brief report on the rink championship match against Gogar Park and I was tempted to make it very brief.... ‘we lost!’

 

However I had better make a bit of an effort. It can be summed up that we (Shelagh, Andy McD, James P and myself) were outplayed (or should that be out-Gunned!) by a Gogar Park rink of Ian Keron, Stuart Dodds, Sean Murphy and Niall Gunn. Having lost 2 singles we took a 2 at the 3rd to square the game but although we played the 4th end quite well my last stone gave Niall an opportunity of a double take out to lie 3 which he achieved. Now chasing the game a bit we gambled somewhat which ended up with my last shot drawing against 2 and unfortunately came up marginally short. Although we gave ourselves a small glimpse of hope in the 6th with another well worked 2, trying to steal a 3 in the last was always a big order and we eventually lost a further 3 shots to see a slightly unrepresentative result of 10-4 to Gogar Park. Maybe next year! 

 

I watched the first four ends and more than one Gogar Park Player asked if Haddington practiced their trick shots, which I thought was unfair as 1) the trick shots that I saw (including a beautiful, long diagonal promote to the button from Dave) were all called and made and 2) We were STILL losing despite them.  

 

The opposition was a very strong team with vastly more ice time this season than we were able to muster. In the words of Dave - "Maybe next year"

Opening Bonspiel

The Opening Bonspiel was held last week in the usual spirit of good fun and humour, even if some of the players were confused by the rotating rink positions and finding themselves thrust in the spotlight of standing in the head.  Two good and close games - although the final scores may cast doubt on this point - were played with team Willie Kerr triumphing.  Willie was aided by the two Colin's (Baird and Hood) which made his screams for sweeping that little bit easier !  The Man of the Match  was given Colin Hood.
A big welcome to Ian and Frances Donald who played against each other and seemed to enjoy themselves in a tight game between James Logan and Simon Kesley, with Ian's side coming out on top.
Nine of the players sat down to the post match supper and analysis.

Contact Number - Corrections

Please note the following corrections to our playing roster and contact numbers on the syllabus.

Corrections
Rennie Only
Correction - Andy McDiarmid - 07974 414 926
Reserve Members
Correction - Hamish Logan - 07917 197 327

Roadworks at Murrayfield

PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO YOUR MEMBERS

Due to gas main work, the access from Corstorphine Road into Riversdale Crescent will be closed for about 8 weeks – please allow extra time for your journey into the rink.

Thanks

Debbie Kerr

Office Administrator

Season 2015/16 is upon us

The 2015/16 season gets underway with a Rennie Trophy match on Monday 28-09-15 at 7.30pm.
If you have not already got your kit out of the attic or shed, now is the time to do it !

Also please remember :-
Come & Try Session (and informal coaching) on Saturday 3-10-15 from 5.45pm.
Tell your friends, neighbours and work colleagues that there are still a few places available.

As a final note...........  There are still some subscriptions outstanding.  If you are one of them, please contact Graeme and arrange to settle up before we have to pay Murrayfield's ice fees for the season.

Late (Very Late) Bowling Night News

I am prompted by finding the score cards that I have not yet reported on the Summer Bowling night, so.......

The weather was not quite as kind to us as last year but despite the mizzle, an assortment of members arrived.  Following a quick drink, it was noted that the rain had stopped so 5 teams took to the green, under the watchful eyes of Gill and Muriel.  Not wanting to tempt the weather gods a quick competition was held under the midge free Gifford skies and the team of Morgan and President John ran out easy winners.  The scores (for the record) were:-

Morgan & John      +12

James & Roy          +7

Liz & David            +5

Shelagh & Graeme  -1

Anon & Anon        -24

Again drink (for the non drivers) was taken while the winners were presented with large lollipops, which they were not allowed to start until they had finished their sandwiches and snacks, laid on by the Bowling Club.

A big thanks are due to both the Bowling Club and to James Pate for helping organise the event.

Watch your letter boxes

With only 5 1/2  weeks until our first game, the website is getting its annual clean.
This is being done as the Syllabus and associated paperwork is being printed, so expect it to be coming through your door in the next few days.
Already the Fixture List on the website has been updated and contains full team information for the main competitions.
Remember, when you get your syllabus to check all the competitions for your name and not just the main leagues.

The printer has stopped and needs fed, so watch your letterbox for the big brown envelope.

AGM 19-4-15 Notification

That's nearly all for the 2014/15 season.

All that remains is the AGM to underline this year and begin the setup for next season.

 

The AGM is being hosted by the outgoing President, Simon at:-

Windwards

West Fenton

EH39 5AJ

 

at 7pm on Sunday 19th April 2015.

 

Copies of the minutes from last years AGM along with a copy of the Draft Agenda for this years AGM have been sent out by email.  If you have not received your copy, please let me know.

The accounts will be prepared and presented at the AGM.

 

While it is not essential to let Simon or I know if you are coming, an indication would be useful to prevent Simon from preparing too much home baking !

 

Hope to see lots of you there.

 

Graeme

Post Dinner

Thanks to everyone for a fun season and a highly enjoyable dinner.  Photos of the prize winners are now up on our Flickr site - see link on the right.
The next date of note is the AGM on Sunday 19th April, at Windwards.  A good turn out would be appreciated.

Club Dinner 13th March 2015

Our Annual Club Dinner and Prize giving is once more closing in fast.
Please book early by letting Graeme know if you are coming and how many tickets you would like.
(Apologies over the confusion of the date in my email)

The Rennie Trophy

With two remaining games left there was still a mathematical chance that John Good could catch our run away leader Dave Munro and that Colin Baird could catch and overhaul Simon Kesley.
John scuppered Colin's chances with a winning margin of  9 - 3 and kept his chances open.  However Dave, using the game against Simon as a rehearsal for his outing at the Scottish Seniors Championships next weekend, was in an unforgiving mood and matched John's score of 9 - 3.
These results confirm the final positions in the league and with one round still to play we congratulate Dave Munro and his team of James Pate, Roy Black and Richard Taylor for winning the Rennie Quaich.

President v Vice President

This was a match that Simon, 'oor president' had to win, to save Graeme's blushes from last years engraving error.  It was fair to say that Simon was feeling the pressure, which was increased due to his temporary reliance on the delivery stick.
This turned out to be an exciting match that went down to the last stone of the last match.
Each of the two games were one sided with Simon receiving a skelping from John, 7 - 2.  The other game with James P playing for the President against our new Wingate winner, Willie saw the game go in favour of the President.  After six ends they were leading 5 - 3 however a mis-communication between the Vice Pres and his depute, Willie, saw him remove one of James's stones.  This mathematical error left James with a tricky draw for a four, which he made, to take his game 9 - 4.
The aggregate saw Simon squeeze home with a margin of 11 - 10.
The game was followed by an enjoyable meal.

Wingate Willie

Willie with memories of
past achievements

The final round saw Team Kerr and Team Nicoll both in with a chance.
Things were looking good for Willie as he faced last years champion Andy McDiarmid, who in a reversal of fortune was propping up this years rankings.  Andy faced him with a surprise up his sleeve, with Graeme benched, Dave Munro was hastily substituted.  Andy got off to a great start with a five in the first end and try as he might Willie was never able to catch up.  The final score 9 - 6 and only Andy's second win of the season.
This defeat left Morgan with the chance of the title, A win and at least 4 ends were required.  Fate was about to take a hand though, through another late substitution.  Morgan did not play and left his son and heir to take the glory, but he was to be aided (?) by Scottish Junior Champion (and daughter of Willie !!) Rowena.  But it was not to be with Sandy waiting until the seventh end to get out the blocks against James Pate's squad.  Final score, Lots - 1.
With both championship leaders failing to win, the championship went to Willie Kerr, whose name will appear on the Rosebowl for the first time.

Pairs Winners

Despite only managing to turn out 12 instead of 16 players, the competition was still keen with James Pate and Charles Young having to face 2 'Draw Shot Challenges'.  The first got them through to the Low Road Final, the second lost them the final.

Congratulations to Morgan and Shelagh for taking the High Road and to 'Team Andy' ie. Aberdein and Kinnaird for winning that 'Draw Shot' to take the Low Road.

Andy Aberdein deserves particular mention as this is the third year in a row (and fourth year out of five) where he has figured on the winners list, although the last two years have been the high road.

Here is a condensed report on the event:-

Here's a condensed report.

 

Round 1

Andy Aberdein and Andrew Kinnaird beat John Good and David Wyllie 6 - 2.

Dave Munro and Simon Kesley beat James Pate and Charles Young by 6 - 1

Morgan Nicoll and Shelagh Main beat Sandy Nicoll and Richard 5 - 2.

 

Sandy and Richard progressed to Round 2 by having taken two ends to John and David's one.

 

Round 2 a

Morgan and Shelagh beat Dave and Simon 6 - 2

Sandy and Richard beat Andy and Andrew 5 - 2

 

Round 2 b

In this game James and Charles pealed with John and David 4 - 4. James won the draw shot challenge to take him and Charles forward.

 

'Low Road' Final

James and Charles pealed with Andy and Andrew 2 - 2 and with two ends each. Andy won the draw shot challenge and the Low Road for him and Andrew. Well done both.

 

High Road Final

The game between Morgan and Shelagh versus Sandy and Richard was fought as keenly as any on the day. Each won two ends, but Morgan and Shelagh took the title with four shots to three.

As usual, this game was played not only on the ice but on the gallery. Had the result been determined by the stones played by the experts on the gallery they would all have been perfect.......but the real game was played on the ice by four good players who well deserved the applause they got for showing us an exciting Pairs game.

Congratulations to Morgan and Shelagh. No doubt at all that Sandy and Richard will be back to give the Pairs another go next year.

 

Thanks to Secretary Graeme for marshalling players for our Pairs Competition. Thanks also to David Wyllie and others who devised a formula to give us all as many games as possible, given that six pairs don't easily lead to the Club's usual split after the first round into a high and low roads. Let's all see what we can do to get a full sixteen forward next year. 

John R Good

Pairs, Practice and Dinner

All

Just a reminder of what's to come

PAIRS COMPETITION - SUNDAY 25th JAN @ 3.45pm

Currently we have playing Andy Aberdein, John Good, Shelagh Main, Dave Munro,

Morgan Nicoll, Sandy Nicoll, Richard Taylor, Roy Black, Lindsey Nicoll, Lorna Nicoll,

Dave Wyllie, Charles Young, Julie Cadzow (and Simon non playing)

 

We need at least 3 more players,

Please drop me a text/email if you want to/can play.

 

 

PRACTICE/ COACHING/ COME & TRY - THURSDAY 5th FEB @ 5.30

We have some spare ice on Thursday 5th Feb at 5.30.  We will be using it as practice ice

and will have some informal coaching if anyone wants.

If you want to come along or if you know someone that wants to try curling please call me

on my mobile or drop me a text or email.

 

 

ANNUAL DINNER

Dont forget the dinner, I will be sending round invites shortly but make sure its in your diary

Friday 13th March 2015.

Viva the Oldies

Congratulations to the Oldies, on managing to stem the tide of youngster victories.

Below is a match record from our roving reporter, Dave Munro:-

On sheet 1 the oldies team of Morgan, Simon, Andy (Aberdein) and Hugh took on the slightly more youthful Sandy, Rowena, Karen and Lorna (Shaw) in a serious father v son battle for supremacy while on sheet 2 a much younger (at heart) oldies squad of Dave, Willie (Kerr), John (Good) and Graham (Elder) squared up against youngies Lindsey, Jack and Becca Elder . (I note that Willie didn't face his daughter - ed.)

Both games were played with plenty of enthusiasm and while Dave’s rink were gradually moving ahead leading 6-0 after 4 ends, the Nicoll family were in a real tight match at 3-3 after 4. In ends 5 & 6 on sheet 2, however, Lindsey and her team sprung to life and score a 2 and a 1 to bring the match to 3-6. Meanwhile, back on the other sheet, Sandy scored a 3 off his dad and at this point in the evening, both matches were 6-3 meaning the overall match was tied at 9-9. 

However with Dave and Morgan both scoring 2’s at their next ends then Lindsey only getting a 1 in their last end while Sandy and Morgan blanked their last, the overall outcome was a win for the wonderfully talented but modest oldies with a combined score of 13-10 in their favour, (Final scores Morgan 5 - Sandy 6 and Dave 8 – Lindsay 4). 

A close result in a very enjoyable competition which gives the older members a taste of victory which has gone the way of the young ones for the past couple of years.

Dave.

Watch out for a youngster backlash next season !

How to Curl ?

I have added a short 2 minute animated guide to the sport of Curling in the links section, just in case anyone had forgotten over the break.  The guide is short, snappy and well put together, if you can forgive the North American terms (rocks, feet etc.).  I consider it well worth pointing out to prospective new curlers.

Welcome Back

Happy New Year.
The second part of the season kicks off with our annual Young v Old match on Monday 12th Jan at 5.30pm.
Just a reminder, the Young are on for a hat trick of wins.