The Curling History Blog

History time today. That's the great Willie Young in the photo above, competing for Scotland in the 1962 Scotch Cup.

Back in June 2008, David B Smith and I set up The Curling History Blog. At the time we said, "We hope that in the months (years?) ahead the blog will bring together others who are interested in the history of this great sport."

I certainly hoped that one day there would be a small national museum devoted to the sport's heritage, to educate, entertain, and provide a focus for research. This hasn't happened (yet), and there are many who doubt it ever will.

One problem is that not many curlers are interested in preserving the sport's heritage. Why do I say this. Look at how few of Scotland's 14,000 registered curlers have donated to the campaign to save Charles Lees's famous painting (which you can do here). How can we galvanise others and captivate interest in the history of the sport we love? Perhaps the History Blog has a role to play. Anyway, today sees it relaunched, with a new header, and a commitment to post more frequently.

I have posted today about the 1962 Scotch Cup, having put together two short YouTube clips from the Scotch Whisky Association's promotional film of that event. I have to thank Leslie Ingram-Brown, who has an original reel of the film, for getting it converted to DVD. It's a treasure. Go here to find the links to the clips, and enjoy.

If you have suggestions of what aspects of curling's history you would like discussed, let me know, and David and I will see what we can come up with!

The photo of Willie Young is a frame from the 1962 Scotch Cup promotional film.

Happiness is... my own crampits

A friend, knowing my interest in curling history, recently delivered two old crampits to Skip. I was thrilled. They may look a bit rusty, but they will clean up perfectly. With my outdoor stones, tee-ringer, brush to sweep away the snow, and now these crampits, I'm all set for a severe winter. I wish.

If you have never curled outside, and have no idea what I'm talking about, then check out the Pathe News website here for a little clip of crampits in use! Enjoy. This is from Loch Leven in 1933. Search the site for other curling video snippets.

I was surprised to notice this crampit when I visited the Stranraer rink recently.

And I was astounded to see that it appears to have belonged to Willie Young of Airth. You may know the name as Scotland's skip in the early years of the 'world championship', for the Scotch Cup. I met the great man in the 1960s. He was one of the few curlers who still played off the crampit in these days, with his unique delivery.

Here's a great old photo of Willie!

There's a whole story to be written about crampits, foot irons, triggers, hacks, and how curlers got a footing from which to throw their stones in days past. I must ask David B Smith if he would help me with this for the Curling History blog.

Pics © Skip Cottage, and from Bob's archive.