Scottish Curler team in training for Curlathon: Braehead ice threatened

It's tomorrow! The big Curlathon to raise funds for the Highland Hospice and St Vincent's Hospice will begin at the Braehead rink on Friday evening at 6pm. Stars of that session will be the Scottish Curler foursome (perhaps).

Suitably attired (for the Tartan theme), David B Smith, curling's historical expert (left), will marshall his team of Christine Stewart (the mag's depute editor), Maryel Paterson (interviewer extraordinaire), and secret weapon .......... Copey! Yes, Robin Copland comes out from 'Behind the Glass' to represent the best interests of the Scottish curling media in their matchup against Team Paul.

Where, you ask, is the Editor? He's the team manager, coach, psychologist, counsellor, financial adviser, bag carrier, and gopher. In addition he has the commission to record the event for posterity. So, with any luck, there may even be a photo or two here come Monday. Or there may not.

Fifty-four teams, each of whom has raised at least £400 for the two charities, will play in the main event. There are two sessions on Friday evening. Play resumes on Saturday morning at 9am, with the juniors in their Disney themed session at noon.

Wiseman's Dairies and Bank of Scotland are sponsoring two of the sessions.

The star studded International event is on Saturday afternoon at 3pm. If you are expecting serious stuff on the ice, you may well be disappointed. There will be curling, as well as a 'no-strike' version of the game, Joker curling, and puck curling (you have to see it). The Highland Hospice is represented by teams skipped by Colin Campbell, Jackie Lockhart, Claire Milne and Hammy McMillan, whereas Rhona Martin, David Murdoch, Sarah Reid and Jim Sellar will field teams on behalf of St Vincent's Hospice.

Raffles, games and music will keep up interest in the bar, and keeping track of all that is happening with commentary on Saturday afternoon is .......... Copey! Yes, you can't keep a good Scottish Curler correspondent down. There's even a rumour that he's going to wear the 1980s' curling trousers for which he is famous (below) as he drives his microphone.

Do drop in and give the event your support! And your money!

Copey is in the middle in this photo from the Scottish Curler archive. Due to health risks posed to viewers of the blog if the original colour pic had been displayed, the photo is reproduced here in black and white. David's photo is by the Editor.