Work on the National Curling Academy project in Kinross may be on hold meantime (see here) but fundraising by local clubs is still continuing. I was rather taken with Kinross Curling Club's plans for a 'Ben Nevis Challenge Bonspiel', in which one group will carry a stone up Scotland's highest mountain by the tourist path, whereas other members will bring the brushes up by a rather more challenging route via the Carn Mor Dearg arete. The detail of the fundraising effort is here, with two possible dates in May pencilled in for the attempt which is weather dependent.I have climbed the Ben some ten times, by five different routes, in my time on the hills (hillwalking being a summer hobby for many years), and I know from experience how fickle the weather can be. Good luck to all involved, and be safe.
It's not the first time that curlers have had Ben Nevis in their sights. David B Smith had an article on the Curling History Blog (here) describing a match played by members of the Lochaber Curling Club on Lochan Meall-an-t-Suidhe which, at 1850 feet above sea level, is almost half way to the summit. That club used horses to transport their stones and equipment on that occasion!
Details of past and forthcoming fundraising activities for the Kinross Curling Trust can be found here. Incidentally, the draw for the Grand Raffle will take place at 1pm in the McMillan Suite at the Windelstrae Hotel on Friday, May 7. Everyone is very welcome to go along and see if they have won the car - assuming of course they have bought tickets!
