I have no doubt in my mind that one of the successes of last season was the Women's Tour, which picked up from the failed Mini Tour. There were two competitions, at Forfar and then at Curl Aberdeen. Gail Munro and her team of Lyndsay Wilson, Kerry Adams-Taylor and Alison Mather won at Forfar (see here), and Gillian Howard, Louise Soutar, Judith McFarlane and Fiona Steele were top at Aberdeen (here). Jackie Lockhart, Karen Kennedy, Kim Brewster and Sarah Macintyre were the overall Colin Galbraith Memorial Trophy winners as the best over both weekends, see here. (Apologies for my earlier mistake with this. Old age definitely creeping in!)I note today that both competitions will go ahead again next season, and you can enter NOW. Go here to download the entry form. The dates are Forfar, October 14-16, and Curl Aberdeen, November, 18-20.
Organiser Kay Adams says, "With last year being a great success we are keen to continue the Tour with the key focus on keeping competitive ladies curling in Scotland alive. We are once again encouraging female curlers of all ages (juniors, women, seniors and masters) to enter either one or two weekends where an overall Tour Prize will be available for the top ranked team over the two weekends."
Having all the age groups competing together worked very well I thought, and I enjoyed both competitions last time around. I would expect this coming season to be no different!
Closing date for entries is June 30.
'Keeping domestic competitive curling alive'. Yes, if you are not among the select few in the elite programme, what do you do? Many are worried for the future of the sport.
A Men's Tour? Yes, there are plans. Last time I asked, the organisers didn't want any publicity in case these plans came to naught. What's the current state of play, I wonder?
Photo of Jackie © Skip Cottage
