Happy New Year everyone! My first post of the year shows that part of our sport which still gives me the most pleasure to report on - the juniors. Forfar hosted an U17 and and U12 event last week, and Ian Taylor has kindly sent me a report and some photos today.It was the first ever Forfar Young Curlers' under 17s and under 12s competitions. Teams from as far south as Kelso and Greenacres and Aberdeen in the north braved the wintery weather and blocked roads to compete in two new events. Both were sponsored by Mackie’s of Scotland, who provided prizes, and there was also lots of free ice cream and crisps available! Local company Tannadice Trophies sponsored complimentary badges for the travelling teams and provided engraving services.
Ten U17 teams were drawn in two sections, the winners progressing to the High Road final and the second placed teams to the Low Road final.
The High Road final was an all Forfar affair between rinks skipped by Andrew Callander and Robert Fawns, the former coming top.
The U17 winners. L-R: Thomas Halder (lead), Alistair Stewart (3rd), Hayley Smith (2nd), Andrew Callander (skip). (Note that Ewan Mitchell played the first day)
Six teams from Perth, Dundee and Forfar, including two new curlers from Kirkcaldy, enthusiastically competed for the under 12’s Cup. They played three rounds in a Schenkel Bonspiel followed by 1-2 and 3-4 playoffs.The final was between Mili Smith’s rink from Perth and Euan MacDiarmid’s home rink, the latter team's skip making the winning draw with his last stone. That's the winners above, with Mike Ferguson, the rink's owner who presented the prizes. L-R: Bruce Keillor (lead), Ewan Maguire (3rd), Euan MacDiarmid (skip), and Calum Anderson (2nd).
There are lots more photos of the action at Forfar here.
Many thanks to Ian for the photos and information.
