One Hundred Years Celebrated in Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Curling Club has been celebrating its centenary this season with a series of bonspiels, and a special dinner last night was held in the Corn Exchange, with 360 guests in attendance.

Above are the winners of the Centenary Bonspiel. L-R: Colin Mouat, Karina Aitken, Bruce Mouat (skip) and Richard Wood.

My friend Robin Copland is the Edinburgh Curling Club's President this year, and was on hand to welcome guests as they arrived at the Corn Exchange.

Michael Morrison piped in the winners and organising committee.

If you curl at the Murrayfield Rink, you will recognise some of the 'important people' at this table. The predecessor to Murrayfield, at Haymarket, opened its doors on February 3, 1912.

Harry Waugh took us through some of the sport's history. Here he is brandishing a loofie! The opening of the seven-sheet indoor facility at Haymarket provided the chance to curl regularly, without depending on the vagaries of the weather. It was ironic that the opening co-incided with a cold spell. Indeed, a Grand Match had been held the day before the rink opened!

The main speaker was John O'Neill who gave the toast to Edinburgh Curling Club.

It was a grand night, and the opportunity to meet again some old friends. Here are just a few photos to illustrate that.

Ronnie Malcolm, on the left, was the Murrayfield rink's manager for many years, here with Trevor Dodds who, amongst other roles, is vice-president of the Edinburgh Curling Club.

Fred Prain

Andrew and Sheila Hepburn

There were World Champions past and present in attendance. Here's Norman Brown (World Junior Champion and four times European Champion) with his wife Lyn.

Robin Aitken, World Senior Champ.

Barbara Watt is the current Scottish Senior Champion, here with Gordon Addison, who gave the reply to the toast to Edinburgh Curling Club.

Here are those who made last night happen. L-R: Ian Seath, Robin Copland, Anne-Marie Ross, Trevor Dodds and Gordon Addison.

Being a blogger is such a hard job! Here I am with Fran Stretton, Susan Kesley, Jenny Barr and Katie Wood who, amongst their other successes, were the Petrofac Aberdeen City Open winners 2011 (here).

Photos © Skip Cottage

The Swan at Murrayfield

Are you planning to help Edinburgh Curling Club celebrate its 100th birthday? I hope so.

Robin Copland looks back to when the Haymarket rink was opened in February 1912, and to a competition that began then, and continues to this day. Go here, or click on the Behind the Glass link on the right.

For your diary

Do you fancy a bit of festive curling? Forfar Indoor Sports are looking for entries for the Graham Arnot Trophy, December 28-30. If the organisers get sixteen teams, you will have one game on the 28th, two games on the 29th with semifinal and final on the 30th. The competition is normally of a high standard, yet is always a fun and sociable occasion. For further information contact Jill at the rink. Contact details are here.

And looking a little further ahead, and you would like the opportunity to play at the Ice Bowl, Dumfries, ACDO Graham Sloan is looking for entries for the Speed Pairs on February 11-12. His contact details are here.

In February 2012, the Edinburgh Curling Club is celebrating its centenary. Originally formed when the old Haymarket ice rink first opened its doors in 1912, the club has acted as the 'mother' club for all of the clubs that have used first the Haymarket rink and, for the past thirty-odd years, the Murrayfield curling rink.

On January 28-29, 2012, there will be a series of centenary bonspiels. Most of these are now fully subscribed, but there is the odd slot available. For £10 per curler, or £40 per team, each curler will have a game of curling, a competitor’s pin and certificate and a buffet meal provided by Bill Fleetham in the club rooms. The winners of each of the bonspiels will progress to a final bonspiel and play for the Centenary Trophy. Winners of the Centenary Trophy will be invited to attend the centenary dinner as guests of Edinburgh Curling Club and will be presented with their prizes.

The centenary dinner will be at the Corn Exchange on Saturday, February 25. The ticket price is £45 per guest and includes a sumptuous curlers’ dinner, a pre-dinner drink and wine on the table. Speakers include Harry Waugh, a long-time member of the club, John O’Neil, a member of Duddingston curling club, and a regular on the after-dinner circuit, and Gordon Addison of the Corstorphine and Musketeers curling clubs.

There are still tickets available. For further information on either event, please get in touch with Ian Seath at ian_seath@btinternet.com.