Yesterday at Stranraer

So, let me begin with a question. What does the Stranraer rink have that no other rink in Scotland has? Read on to find the answer.

Yesterday, it would not have been difficult to figure out who was at Stranraer. There were lots of stones in play, as in the top photo! I caught the first rounds of the Scottish Senior Mixed Championship. It was great to see so many old friends!

Even the President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, Robbie Scott, here showing fine form. Robbie was competing in Iain Baxter's team with Jean Lennie and Kathleen Scott.

That's Competitions' Manager Colin Hamilton with Catherine Edington behind Charles Jackson. Colin was filling in for an injured Iain Hamilton, with George Edington and Jean Hamilton. Charles was with Judith Jackson and Don and Maggie Rutherford.

All the scores from the competition can be found here.

Here's Mike Burton, Reform Club stalwart, competing in Ronnie Peat's team with their wives Helen and Jennifer. Despite me taking lots of photos of their opposition, it didn't put them off and it was the Iain Baxter team that came out on top!

Linda Young and Donnie Scott work on Margaret Scott's stone with skip Willie Young in the head.

Royal Club webmaster Lindsay Scotland was playing with Johan Steele, Alan Stanfield and Sue Scotland.

Cue-wielding Bob Pollock was playing with Janet Pollock and Kate Adamson for Sandy Reid.

I love the mural on Stranraer's side wall. There's always someone stops in the position of playing with the children! In this case it's Lynn Scott, third stones for Gordie Kennedy with Ray and David McGaan.

Trevor Dodds releases a perfect draw, to count a second shot, with Lois and Robin Copland.

Third Catherine Dodds joins the sweepers, but the stone finishes just short! That Sandy and Edna Nelson watching behind.

Remember the question? Umpire Alan Stanfield has the answer.

The Stranraer rink has 'courtesy lines' just out from the hog, between which the non-playing team should stand when their opposition is playing, as demonstrated here by Lois and Trevor. The inclusion of such 'courtesy lines' is commonplace in international events, and may well become a feature of the domestic game in the future.

Added later. I'm reliably informed now that Perth has them too... courtesy lines, that is!

Pics are © Skip Cottage

Senior Mixed for Scotland

Congratulations to (L-R above) Sue Scotland, Alan Stanfield, Johan Steele and Lindsay Scotland who won the Scottish Senior Mixed Championship at Stranraer today, beating Jean Lennie, Matt Murdoch, Marion Murdoch and Iain Baxter in the final. The championship was sponsored by McMillan Hotels. The report is here and all the results are here.

L-R: Gary Macfarlane (skip), Fiona Macfarlane (lead), Gordon Crawford (second) and Jacqui Crawford (third) won the Low Road.

Photos courtesy of Gail McMillan.

In the RE/Max Women's Masters in Basel, Eve Muirhead and her GB team won four and lost one to reach the quarterfinals via the B road of the triple knockout event. They lost to Stina Victorsson's Swedish team in that sudden death game. Victorsson then beat Debbie McCormick's US side, before going down to Anette Norberg in the final. Results can all be found in a pdf file which can be downloaded from here.

Mixed Seniors at Stranraer

We're at the four-sheeter rink at the North West Castle Hotel in Stranraer for the Scottish Senior Mixed Curling Championship. All the results and standings are here. And what follows is a selection of random pics from the first day's play! Enjoy.

David Hird (right) joins Irene Hird and Arthur Beattie to sweep Catherine Beattie's stone.

Isabel Gillespie and Margaret Robertson

In the foreground are David Hird and Ronnie Peat. In the background, Vic Canata and Lindsay Scotland.

And here Ronnie joins Jennifer Peat and Michael Burton in sweeping Helen Burton's stone.

Did I mention I'm a member of the Reform CC? Here's Mike, Ronnie and Helen again.

Lindsay Scotland with Ian and Ronnie McDonald

Alan Stanfield shows good form. Place an X on the photo where you think the stone should be. And 'Colourful Curler of the Day Award,' do you think?

Iain Hamilton launches with his cue with George Edington ready to sweep.

Scary! Tommy Campbell, with defending champion George Kirk (see here for last year)

Jean Lennie and Matt Murdoch sweep Iain Baxter's stone

Jean asks, "Is that a new prayer you're saying?"

Meanwhile, Marion Murdoch just gets on with the business in hand.

Open wide. Iain Baxter.

Iain again with Ian Nicholson

Ian with David de Boer

Jim Waddell and Edna Nelson sweep Isobel Waddell's stone.

Gary Macfarlane

Second nomination for 'Colourful Curler of the Day Award' - Isobel Torrance.

Ena Smith is the only female skip in the competition, here with Bob Smellie.

'Curling is so much fun!' Please suggest other captions!

Not so long ago, senior curlers would have had something stronger sitting at the end of the ice!

Photos © Skip Cottage. Apologies if any names are incorrect.