Blog Changes

Most blogallies will already know that Skip Cottage Curling will close its doors at the end of this season.

With that in mind I encouraged John Brown to make Toothy Tales an independent site, rather than a Skip Cottage associate blog. His new site is here, and recent posts include a review of what happened at the English Mixed Championship at Fentons. I'm hoping John will be able to port his older posts from the old blog to the new one. (The old blog is here.) So, bookmark Toothy Tales and follow John's efforts.

Behind the Glass is set to become an independent site too. Robin has a new post here. Do you think all games of curling should be eight ends?

I look forward to contributing more to the Curling History blog, which is here.

Other blogs for you to follow include the new Scottish Curling Tour blog, here.

English Women's Championship

John Brown has a report on the English Women's Championship here, or click on the Toothy Tales link on the right.

English Men's Championship

If you don't already know who won the English Men's Championship, John Brown has his report in Toothy Tales, here, or click on the link on the right.

How snow almost stopped play!

The English champions will play in the European Curling Championships 2012 which will take place in Karlstad, Sweden, December 7-15.

English Mixed Doubles

Could John Sharp win his FOURTH English Mixed Doubles title? How did he get on with his new partner in the event? Who will be representing England when the World Mixed Doubles is held in Erzurum, Turkey, April 23-29?

Find out the answers to all these questions in a new Toothy Tale from John Brown here, or click on the link on the right.

Flying Visit to Taarnby

John Brown made a flying visit today to the European Junior Challenge currently underway at Taarnby, and describes that in a new Toothy Tale here, or click on the link on the right.

B Competitions Resolved

John Brown has kept us on top of all the happenings in the B Competitions at the Le Gruyere European Championships in Moscow this week. His lastest post is here.

From one Mr Grumpy to another, many thanks, John. We LIKE Grumpy!

New Toothy Tale

Find out why John Brown is Mr Grumpy by reading a new Toothy Tale here, or click on the link on the right.

It was good to see John at Braehead yesterday, and to learn of his travels and travails, some of which he is now sharing with everyone. Enjoy!

Another Toothy Tale

John Brown has the story of the recent Welsh Bonspiel here, or just click on the Toothy Tales link on the right.

Enjoy!

September's Toothy Tale

John Brown is about to embark on a new period in his life! Read about this in a new Toothy Tale here, or click on the link in the sidebar on the right.

Enjoy!

Final Toothy Tale of the Season

John Brown looks back at the 2010-11 season from an English perspective, see here, or click on the Toothy Tales link on the right.

Many thanks John for your contributions and for adding interest to the blog this year!

Off the Ice at Esbjerg

Wow!

John Brown has summarised what has been happening off the ice in Denmark, in the various discussions that the World Curling Federation has been involved in. Discussions which will change the face of international curling forever. Can you envisage a World Championships with no Canadian or USA representation? Or one in which there are only three or four European countries involved?

Read John's report here, or click on the Toothy Tales link on the right.

It's all happening in Prague

John Brown has an update from Prague, and an apology, here. Or click on the link on the right.

Notes from Prague

John Brown has been in touch from Prague where the European Junior Curling Challenge is ongoing. His notes are in his Toothy Tales here, or click on the link on the right.

All the scores from this event can be found here.

Only one team from the Junior Men's competition and one from the Junior Women's event qualify for the World Junior Curling Championship in Perth, March 5-13. Just sixty days to go to the opening ceremony! If you are planning to come to the Dewar's Centre to support this competition, note that the Early Bird offer for cut price tickets has been extended to the end of this month. Book now to get the best seats! The website is here.

Another Toothy Tale

John has a further Toothy Tale for you to read here, or click on the link on the right.

More Toothy Tales

John Brown has a new 'Toothy Tale' here, or click on the link on the right. I'm reluctant to recommend it, as he has found a photo of me from thirty years ago. As if I wasn't feeling old enough this week. Thanks John! A Merry Christmas to you too.

Look out for more Toothy Tales from John soon.

More Toothy Tales

John Brown asks the question, "Can you ever have too much curling?" in Toothy Tales, see here, or click on the link on the right.

Another small step forward in the evolution of Skip Cottage Curling

This photo, courtesy of Leslie Ingram-Brown, is of John Brown, competing at the 2009 World Senior Curling Championships in Dunedin, New Zealand. John and I go back a long way. He has been over the years one of the most prolific writers about the sport of curling, and a great supporter of the sadly missed Scottish Curler magazine.

He wrote his first piece for Skip Cottage Curling back in August, just after the blog's new-season relaunch. He has much more to say than just a blog page, and so today I am pleased to introduce everyone to toothytalescurling.blogspot.com, another 'associate blog', alongside Robin Copland's Behind the Glass blog which launched last month.

The idea of course is to give John and Robin more space and flexibility, and ownership of their own sites. They are free to comment on the sport with me encouraging, but not influencing, them on what they say. I hope you will enjoy reading their articles. I'll make a point of flagging up on the main page here whenever new copy goes online.

Why Toothy Tales? You need to read John's first post in his blog to find out!

Click on the links in the sidebar, or on John's photo above.

John's photo is courtesy of Leslie Ingram-Brown