Last Post from Aberdeen

I rather enjoy being an 'event blogger'. This year's Petrofac Aberdeen City Open was as much fun as last year. The competition is a reminder of the Le Gruyere European Championships 2009 and the good times that were had during that event, see here.

The Petrofac Aberdeen City Open was only three days, but they were three days to remember. Here are some photos to illustrate the highlights, and the bizarre, which crossed my lens.

Kerry Barr rehearsing for a part in the remake of John Cleese's Ministry of Silly Walks, see here.

Paul Stevenson performs a hakka during the 3rd/4th playoff!

Lesley Young caught with her secret team language!

Coach of the Weekend award, Shari Leibbrandt.

It was good to see the young team from the Netherlands skipped by Jaap van Dorp.

Could this team be 'The Bag Ladies'? (Team Susan Kesley)

I found Fiona Smith knitting, as she supported her partner Craig Whyte. Could she be knitting a curling sweater as advocated by John K Samson, see here?

Or were these wee curling stones that she was knitting?

Nope. Fiona was knitting grapes. Apparently you can knit all sorts of fruits, rhubarb and bananas included. Whatever is the world coming to?

Is Maggie Wilson saying a wee prayer, do you think?

Hugh Thomson, who is training to be a yoga instructor!

Is Susan Kesley really bodychecking Kyle Smith?

Ethan Brewster (left) teaches Scott Andrews some useful concentration and mental ability exercises!

Wheelchair curlers were in the mix!

A front end doing what front ends do! (Rhiann Macleod and Caitlin Barr)

Louise Edwards set up a great blog for the results service, see here. This is an idea that many other events could copy.

My horse found a new friend. The race night was great fun, see here.

Arthur Beattie. Open curling has no barriers!

If you were lucky (or perhaps unlucky), your table at the buffet included seven women. Team Arkley lead Ross Bartlett with his 'minders'!

Birthday cake for a birthday girl, Barbara Wood.

Since '62? Surely not. Kyle Smith.

Rear ends doing what rear ends do. (Kerry Barr and Helen King)

Did I mention that the Petrofac Aberdeen City Open was the final competition in the Scottish Curling Tour?

No idea at all what's happening here.

Colin Smith of sponsor Petrofac, and Lord Provost Peter Stephen with the runners-up, Kerry Barr, Helen King, Rhiann Macleod and Caitlin Barr.

'Hardest Worker of the Weekend' award went to Albert Middler, and Albert's efforts were recognised by a gift of this caricature likeness, as drawn by Graham Maclennan. John Bremner made the presentation.

And here are the winners of the City Open trophy. Back: L-R Ron Brewster, Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond. Front: Scott Andrews, Michael Goodfellow.

Photos © Skip Cottage

Petrofac Aberdeen City Open: The Winners

Here is the presentation group at the Petrofac Aberdeen City Open. L-R: Michael Goodfellow, Scott Andrews. Lord Provost Peter Stephen, Tom Brewster, Gordon Smith (Vice President Petrofac), Greg Drummond, Ron Brewster.

Photo © Skip Cottage. (Click for larger size) One more post of photos to come.

Petrofac Aberdeen City Open: The Final

The final of the Petrofac Aberdeen City Open was a 'Battle of the Sexes'!

Michael Goodfellow, lead for Team Brewster, was against ...

... Caitlin Barr, lead for Team Kerry Barr.

Scott Andrews, second, opposite .....

.... Rhiann Macleod.

Ron Brewster, third, faced ....

.... Helen King

Tom Brewster, skip, was in the head against ...

... Kerry Barr.

Who won? The linescore is here.

Cracking game it was. Tied going down the last end, and the women made Tom draw full eight foot for the win. Would he make it? Of course, to the button.

Well done to Tom, Ron, Scott and Michael, and to Kerry, Helen, Rhiann and Caitlin.

Photos © Skip Cottage. More later.

City Open Semis

Tom Brewster (above) had skipped his team to the semifinals of the Petrofac Aberdeen City Open.

Here is Team Brewster - Scott Andrews and Ron Brewster work on Michael Goodfellow's stone.

Their opposition was the Stevenson team. Here Tim Stevenson (lead) has thrown the stone, with Ruaridh Whyte and Fraser Watt at the ready.

Here's their skip Paul Stevenson. Came second on this occasion. Find all the linescores on the event blog here.

Kyle Smith had his full junior champions side on the ice for the semi on the other side of the draw.

He faced Kerry Barr.

Kerry's team - Helen King and Rhiann Macleod work on Caitlin Barr's stone.

Kyle Waddell and Thomas Muirhead are ready on Kerr Drummond's stone.

Anyway, this was exciting. With youthful testosterone boiling from the juniors, the women got well up, and would have administered the coup de grace if only Kerry's last stone in the eighth had curled a fraction more. But it didn't and it was into an extra.

No mistakes in the ninth. Girl Power to the fore, Kerry right on target with an open takeout for the win!

Photos © Skip Cottage

Quarterfinals at Aberdeen

Quarterfinals of the Petrofac Aberdeen City Open were underway at Curl Aberdeen this morning. The Scottish Junior Champions, skipped by Kyle Smith, were up against the Susan Kesley team. Tied in the eighth, Susan's squad just couldn't pull off the upset, and the holders were going home.

Tom Brewster, still with brother Ron at third, faced a depleted David Jack team. Reduced from a five man side to three this morning, John Penny was in the head. They established a four shot lead over Team Brewster before the latter slipped into gear to progress to the semis.

Kerry Barr and Billy Henderson faced each other and Team Barr dominated the men in this one.

Paul Stevenson and Alasdair Seftor are the skips in the head. Team Stevenson held the advantage in the game.

All the scores and standings are here.

Semifinal lineups:

Brewster v Stevenson
Barr v Smith

Photos © Skip Cottage

A Night at the Races

After a hearty buffet, and good company, Saturday night at the Petrofac Aberdeen City Open was all about horses, or more accurately, the jockeys.

Chief Steward Albert Middler was in charge.

The course was inspected and pronounced 'firm'!

The punters assembled ...

The fashions checked out ... here, birthday girl Barbara Wood remembers Elvis singing about these Blue Suede Shoes!

The tote was readied ...

The horses were paraded ...

All that were needed were the jockeys. Each team supplied one jockey for each of the first four races. All put their heart and soul into twiddling their wrists. For example ...

Looks easy, doesn't it. Don't be fooled.

Pick your horse and jockey, place your bets, the odds are displayed, and the race is on!

Pick the winner, you get a return, but the biggest winners were the two charities, Ucan (the urological cancer charity), and the Aberdeen junior curlers.

Not everything went smoothly. There were protests about the size of spurs this jockey was wearing!

What was the highlight of the evening? Well, I think there were three, among many.

The first was the Ladies Race!

Here are the jockeys on the start line! Come on now, which one of these would you have picked?

We're off! Lots of encouragement!

A photo finish! (I forget who won.)

Then there was the Novice Handicap Allcomers Gold Cup. I started badly, and fell away. Despite my best efforts. More training necessary. What exercises build up wrist strength and flexibility?

The final brought together all the previous winners. One got the opportunity to study the jockeys at close quarters before placing bets. Not having had a winner all night, I plumped for Douglas Baxter who was obviously taking his pre-race preparations seriously, and had strong wrists, or so his team assured me.

And would you believe he came home the winner with odds of 3/1! Result! Here he receives his prize from the Chief Steward.

Great night. Well done to everyone. Over £800 raised. The curling continues later today!

Photos © Skip Cottage