Swedes are here

The seventeen strong Swedish Ladies touring party arrived in Scotland yesterday, played at Stranraer this morning, and against Kelso at Lockerbie this afternoon. Tomorrow, Saturday, they play two sessions at Lockerbie, against Lockerbie, then against Lanarkshire.

Sunday sees the tourists at Braehead to play against Greenacres and Waterfront, and then against the local curlers at that rink. On Monday they have another game at Braehead against teams from Ayr and Galleon. In the afternoon they are against Stirling at Stirling.

Wednesday it's against Perth at Perth, and then they meet Inverness and Atholl also at the Dewars Centre. It's on up to Aberdeen to play against local teams and then against curlers from Forfar and Kirkcaldy.

Next Friday it's against Kinross at Kinross and the tour winds up at Murrayfield to play the local teams there. The closing dinner is at the Braid Hills Hotel.

Stamina, that's the word I'm looking for!

The tourists arrive at Lockerbie after their journey from Stanraer.

A warm welcome.

Emma Harkness of the RBLS Annan Juvenile Pipe Band leads the Kelso and Swedish teams on to the ice at the Lockerbie rink.

Sweden's Inga Arfwidsson.

Kelso's Violet Reid.

Karin Osterberg and Monica Mabergs discuss options.

Pics by Bob.

European Championship draw announced

David Murdoch's Scottish side will play Germany and Spain in their opening games at the European Curling Championship in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, on December 6. The draw for the A division has just gone online here.

Kelly Wood's team open their account against the Czech Republic and Russia.

The main function of the Euro event is, of course, to decide which nations will be playing in the World Championships. As the next World Championships are outside of Europe, the top seven highest ranked Associations from the A group, plus the winner of the 'ECC World Challenge', will qualify. The 'ECC World Challenge' involves the last team from the A Division in a qualifying position playing a best-of-three challenge against the winner of the B Division. The winner qualifies for the Worlds.

These days twelve teams compete at both the men's and women's World Championships each year. Two teams come from the Pacific Zone. The Pacific Curling Championships begin this Sunday, November 2, in Naseby, New Zealand. The draw (and results) for that event can be found here.

Two teams represent the Americas Zone at the Worlds, this Zone encompassing both North and South America. In the men's event Canada has a secure place as the host nation in 2009. Curling Today previously noted that the USA is to face a challenge from Brazil, see here. Details of this challenge have been made public today, see here.

The four-sheet Capital Curling Club in Bismarck, North Dakota, will host the best-of-five competition spread over three days in the city that hosted the Ford World Curling Championships in 2002. Brazil will be represented by Celso Kossaka, Cesar Satiro Santos, Marcelo Cabral Mello, Luis Augusto Z. da Silva and Anderson K. Santos. They are currently studying at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, and train at the nearby Lennoxville Curling Club.

The USA representative will be the top men's team in the US Order of Merit based on the current season's competition results as of December 31 and which has already qualified for the 2009 USA Curling National Championships and 2010 USA Olympic Team Trials.

Scots in Ottawa Valley Junior Superspiel

Claire Hamilton, Lauren Gray, Rhiann Macleod and Caitlin Barr have their first game at 9am local time Friday, in the John Shea Insurance Ottawa Valley Curling Association Junior Superspiel. The Scots play Sara Westman's Ontario team in the first round of the sixteen team triple knockout competition at the Otttawa Hunt and Golf Club. Follow progress here.

Kerr Drummond, James Dunn, Thomas Pendreigh and Blair Fraser are in the sixteen team triple KO junior men's event, and are on the ice early too against Graham Rathwell's local side, at the RCN Curling Club. Follow the Drummond rink's results here.

A feature of the event is that the games are played in a number of different rinks in the Ottawa Valley area. Check the others out here.

Claire Hamilton and Kerr Drummond photos by Bob.

European Seniors at Greenacres

The Greenacres curling rink in Renfrewshire was the place to be yesterday, the first European Senior Mixed Invitation Championships well underway. Doesn't look as if Alan Guthrie was having the happiest day at the office as he watches Jim Beckett's stone in a Sco v Swe match.

Organiser Malcolm Richardson. Actually - look at his jumper - Malcolm was playing for the Welsh team yesterday. In the past he has also represented both England and Scotland internationally. Is this a record? Stop Press: The Welsh have agreed to a transfer request and the ECF President will be competing for Andorra next month.

She's been on the blog before, Ireland's Marie O'Kane.

Captions needed for this one. Archie Craig is saying to his skip Lockhart Steele, "I've been practising... this is the Vulcan salute." Or, "The RCCC is really up against the wall on the Vernon issue." Or is Lockhart saying, "What do you think I should call this little white rat I've found?"

Former World Champion Kristian Soerum and his Norwegian team.

There is absolutely no way Marion Craig can possibly be old enough to be taking part in this competition for over-50s, and this pic shows.

Sweden's Goran Roxin.

John MacDougall in full colour! Or, how to make the Editor happy!

Scottish Senior Champion Kirsty Letton.

Strictly Come Curling - an Icelandic contra check-natural fleckerl.

Hungary's skip, Andras Rokusfalvy.

Good to see the organiser of last week's Kinross International Wheelchair Curling event, Ena Stevenson, enjoying herself - or is she - at Greenacres. Note the stylish, elegant, colourful tops the Mary Barr team were wearing. They get the Scottish Curler five handle approval rating! Ditch the drab, bring back colour to curling!

The Polish team, complete with their new signing Donald Macrae, in their match against Estonia.

RCCC Ladies' Branch Vice-president Kay Gibb.

Colin Hamilton has teamed up with Gary Macfarlane for this season's Scottish Seniors. Here he is explaining options to Gary in their game against Hungary yesterday, Gary listening attentively!

Pics by Bob. Scores and standings are here. My next report after Saturday's final games. See other photos from the event here.

GB Squads in Canada

Both men's and women's GB squads are in Canada for World Curling Tour events, both are in Alberta this coming weekend.

The men's squad members David Murdoch, Ewan McDonald, Craig Wilson and Euan Byers are the lineup for the Cactus Pheasant Classic in Brooks, Alberta and they will be facing quite a challenge. Twenty four teams are in the draw and the team list includes Randy Ferbey, Brad Gushue, 2006 Olympic champion, Glen Howard and an up coming team skipped by Kevin Koe. Murdoch's team play Darren Moulding in their opening game on Thursday 30 October at 8.30a.m. Mountain Time. I'll leave you to work out what time that is GMT! (Added later. The Cactus Pheasant is being covered by Curl TV)

On the same weekend Kelly Wood, Lorna Vevers, Lynn Cameron, Karen Addison and Eve Muirhead are scheduled for the Red Deer Classic also in Alberta. Thirty two teams are on the list for this one, mostly Canadian though there is a Japanese team adding to the international flavour. The women's first game is Thursday 30 October at 12.00 noon, once again Mountain Time, they'll meet Krista Crowther.

The following weekend the men's squad will be in Lloydminster, also in Alberta, and the women in Ottawa.

Posted by Christine.

Euro Seniors at Greenacres

I'll be heading up the road tomorrow to Greenacres, which this week plays host to the first European Senior Invitation Curling Championships, featuring both men’s and women’s teams.

The event for the over-50s has attracted entries from Norway, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands as well as teams from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales. It has been part funded by the legacy from the financially successful World events held at the Lagoon and Greenacres in 2005.

As we previewed before (here) the reigning Scottish Women’s Senior Champions and World Silver Medallists skipped by Kirsty Letton and the Men's Champions skipped by Graeme Adam are in the draw.

First games are at 08.30 on Wednesday morning with the finals scheduled for 14.30 on Saturday. Check out this link where the organisers hope to be posting results.

Weekend wrap

I must admit that I enjoyed the Euro Qualifying Competition at Perth this weekend. There was some great curling, and, as so often, I came away with the realisation of how little can separate the winners and the losers.

It was interesting to see that the Olympic coaches, Derek Brown, David Hay and Nancy Murdoch, were present, watching carefully how their squad members were performing. All of the winning Murdoch team are in the Olympic squad, plus Warwick Smith and Craig Wilson who were also competing at Perth. Three of Kelly's team are in the women's squad (all but lead Lindsay Wood). The others not playing this weekend were Eve Muirhead, Karen Addison and Lynn Cameron. Karen was fifth player for the Wood team at the last Europeans, but Eve has got the call to go to O'vik as fifth player. Allan Hannah will be their coach.

David Hay will be the men's coach for the Europeans, and I think it is a great decision that they have chosen Graeme Connal to be their fifth player. He was in the team that won last year in Fussen, and did a sterling job substituting for Ewan MacDonald as he recovered from his knee surgery.

Now, if I have my facts right (and someone will be quick to tell me if I'm wrong) there will be no European qualifying competition next season. The final Olympic team selections will be made at the end of this season and these two teams will be our representatives at the 2009 European Championships in Aberdeen.

An important postscript to the qualifying competition. Edith Loudon and her team would have been very disappointed at getting so close. Especially as it was Edith last competitive event, after so many years. But a new, different, and just as challenging opportunity has opened up for her. The Royal Club have announced that she will be its new WCF Representative. She will attend her first World and European Meetings in December at the European Championships in Sweden.

The press release (here) quotes Edith as saying, “I am delighted that this role will give me the chance to continue my involvement with curling at the top level, I am looking forward to the challenges it will bring and hope I can bring the expertise that comes with my international playing experience gained over many years.”

Elsewhere in the curling world, the first WCT-e Junior Event was held in Oslo this weekend. Scotland's team which will try to get us back into the Worlds in the qualifying event in Taarnby in January had their first major competition of the season. Glen Muirhead's team lost three and won two. Kerr Drummond's side had the narrowest of losses in the quarterfinals to Mario Freiberger of Switzerland. But it was Graeme Black's team that did the best, finishing fourth, edged by Norway's Kristian Rolvsjord in the 3rd/4th playoff. Well done to them.

Our two junior women's teams both reached the semifinals but ended up contesting the 3rd/4th decider, Claire Hamilton defeating Hannah Fleming in an extra end. A good showing by our girls. The other results are here.

Just a PS about the first International Wheelchair event last week in Kinross, the final of which was contested by two Canadian sides and won on a draw shot decider by an inch by Jim Armstrong's Canadian team. The competition was deemed to have been a success and is to be a fixture in the calendar again next year!

More on VERNON

There's a new statement from RCCC Board Chairman Bob Tait about the Vernon enquiry on the Royal Club website this morning (here). It reads:

"Further to my statement of 8 September the remit for the independent investigation has been revised to set out the use to be made of witness statements and documentation. The remit as revised has been signed by the parties and is reproduced below. Work on completing the independent investigation is ongoing and I will report further as soon as possible."

The lawyer's new remit is published in full.

European qualifiers 7

After four games it was two wins apiece for the Wood and Loudon sides, so the scene was set for a deciding match at Perth this afternoon.

For me the tone of the match was set in the first end. With last stone Edith had a chance of a two, but had to settle for a single. Perhaps things might have turned out differently if she had made this last stone as well as she had played her first. But curling is not about 'ifs'!

The teams were tied 2-2 after three ends. Then the roof fell in on the Loudon side. Going after two wingers, Edith caught a front guard. Kelly though was on target and counted three to go ahead 5-2.

Confidence high, Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Lindsay Wood were not going to be caught. They stole a single at the seventh to be 7-3 ahead and anything after this was really academic. Edith grabbed two back at the eighth, but when she was too long with her last draw at the ninth. Kelly was quickly into the four foot with her final stone for a two, and it was all over. You can find the linescore here.

Congratulations to Edith, Mairi Milne, Claire Milne and Katie Loudon for making it a super competition this weekend and taking it to the fifth game, and to Kelly and her team for pulling together and fighting hard for their success. The Wood team now get another chance on the European stage where they were the runners-up last year.

Top: Lindsay Wood, Kelly Wood (skip), Jackie Lockhart and Lorna Vevers. Pic by Bob.

European qualifiers 6

In most games there is a key end - that's the one where the Editor is usually getting the coffee, or in the loo, or indeed watching another match. Not so this morning. In the Warwick Smith v David Murdoch game, third end, Ewan MacDonald's takeout went awry to remove two of his own counters and suddenly the Murdoch team were looking at four opposition stones when David went to play his first. The Lockerbie skip came up with two BIG shots, both draws and ended up stealing a single to go 2-0 ahead.

In the sixth, David conjured a pair of shots out of nothing, two fine draws again showing the Scottish Champion at his best.

It was into the seventh then, Murdoch 4-2 in front. Warwick had to draw against three with his last stone of the end. It looked good to be outcounting two at least, but the stone definitely picked, and the Smith team gave up three! The teams played another end but that was the game, and David Murdoch, Ewan MacDonald, Peter Smith and Euan Byers were on their way to Sweden.

In the fourth of the five games in the women's event, Edith Loudon and her team looked at times in the early ends to be stronger than Kelly Wood's side but were unable to convert to shots on the board. It was 2-2 after six and in the seventh it was Wood who took the advantage with a two. Loudon was up against it in the next end, but drew safely to the four foot with three lying against her. It was 4-3 playing the ninth, Wood with the hammer. Successful blank, and when Loudon failed to get cover in the tenth, Kelly had a straightforward hit for the game.

Two wins apiece and the decider will be this afternoon at 3pm.

Find the linescores here.

Top: Euan Byers, Peter Smith, Ewan MacDonald and David Murdoch. Pic by Bob.

European qualifiers 5

Saturday night. One game in a large ice rink, with everything to play for.

Tom Brewster, Duncan Fernie, Ron Brewster, Colin Campbell v Warwick Smith, Craig Wilson, David Smith, Ross Hepburn.

You can find the linescore here. It was 3-3 after six ends, and the game was on. Or it should have been. It all seemed to this observer to be cautious, nervous even. Warwick blanked seven, then when Fernie missed a key takeout, he scored his two.

Two ends to go and Brewster trailed 5-3. End nine saw another Fernie miss - a hit and run when he needed to stay - and Brewster's chance of a two evaporated.

And so it was into the tenth, with Warwick 5-3 up, and Brewster with the hammer. There were stones in play but accurate hitting from the Smith team made it a difficult job for Brewster to get the pair he needed to tie the game. Smith split the house with his last draw, and Tom had a near impossible cross the house double to salvage the game. But it was not a night for the impossible.

Brewster 2 wins, 2 losses
Murdoch 2 wins, 1 loss
Smith 1 win, 2 losses

If Murdoch wins tomorrow morning against Smith, it's all over. If Smith beats Murdoch, we will be back where we started with all teams on the same record!

Saturday's gallery from Perth

This being a family blog I'm hesitant to suggest what Tom Brewster seems to be about to do to David Murdoch! But captions are welcome.

Peter Smith passes a healing hand over a difficult situation.

I had to quash an overwhelming urge to turn the jukebox on during the lone game on the ice tonight!

Tom Brewster was just a photographer's dream today! Here he is chewing the back of Duncan Fernie's jacket on their way to beating David Murdoch earlier.

Katie and Claire work on Mairi's stone, as Edith calls line.

Yes, I hope you are impressed by the Ed's artistic composition of this shot of Kelly Wood.

Most fans have been admiring Team Murdoch's bright new uniforms. You need the body to carry them off though, and one wag did wonder if they had been sprayed on! Much better than black! They definitely get full marks from the Editor of Colourful Curling Today.

Today's caption competition is this pic of coach Brian Binnie with the Edith Loudon team at a timeout immediately before Edith last stone of the game.

Pics by Bob.

European qualifiers 4

Right. If Murdoch had beaten Brewster this afternoon, then it would have been all over, and it would have been Team Murdoch that would have been going to Sweden for the Europeans. Tom Brewster, Duncan Fernie, Ron Brewster and Colin Campbell were set to make that scenario as difficult as possible for Murdoch.

Tied 2-2 after four, the fifth end was a feast of freezes behind front cover. A Murdoch attempt to clear things up left a Brewster shot in place and Tom converted that to a pair with his last stone draw, to go 4-2 in front. Tom forced David to take a single in the sixth, and now had the advantage.

Nose in front, difficult to catch, as it turned out. Murdoch had a tap back for a two in the eighth, missed it, and gave up a single against the head to go down 7-3 and it really was all over, although they played through to the tenth.

Brewster's team play Warwick Smith tonight.

Edith Loudon's team jumped out in front of Kelly Wood's side early in their third game. It looked to me that Kelly's last stone draw in the third was overswept by the team as she attempted to draw the four foot with three lying against her. As the stone slipped too far, that was three given up against the head and Loudon was leading 5-0.

Kelly was forced to play a hit and flop in the sixth with four Loudon stones against her, and she made it to count a single. But the Wood side still trailed 6-2. There was no way back for them and the teams shook hands after seven, Loudon 10-2 ahead.

The women play again tomorrow morning.

Find all the linescores here.

European qualifiers 3

It was David Murdoch, Ewan MacDonald, Peter Smith and Euan Byers against Warwick Smith, Craig Wilson, David Smith and Ross Hepburn this morning. A good first three ends. Warwick jumped ahead with a two in the second, some great play in the third saw David square the score.

But every skip knows that sometimes there is a shot that just has to be made. This was in the fourth. With shots lying against him, Warwick came up just too heavy with his last stone stone draw and his team gave up three against the head. Team Murdoch were never going to give up a 5-2 lead. Although the teams played out the ten ends, Team Murdoch always looked to be comfortable and in charge.

In the women's event, Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Lindsay Wood, the favourites, set out to avenge last night's defeat by Edith Loudon, Mairi Milne, Claire Milne and Katie Loudon. This turned in to a real nailbiter. The score was tied up going into the last end. Twice during the end, Loudon got the chance to have one well hidden, but Mairi didn't find the line for her guard. Then, with her last stone Edith needed to be round into the four foot. She played it well but rubbed the front stone as it passed, although still finishing in shot position. Kelly was right on target with her takeout.

That's one game apiece.

Find the linescores here.

All go at the Dewars Centre

It is all happening at the Dewars Centre today. A Royal Club Level 1 Umpiring Course is on in the Board Room, with Level 2 and Level 3 courses set for this afternoon and tomorrow. The photo above shows Alan Stanfield, Dor Borthwick and Glenda Barrowman getting set up for the courses.

In the Hay Room, Judith McFarlane and Anne Malcolm (below) are running another National Development Forum. Three speakers are on the programme. Andrew McLean (Dumfries and Galloway Council) and Jim Hogg (Dumfries Ice Bowl Curling Association) are talking on Curling Development in Dumfries, Lynne Robertson will give an Update of the RCCC Coaching Structure and there will be ‘A view from another sport’ by Torquil McInroy (ClubGolf Development Manager).

And on the ice there is the small (!) matter of the competition to decide who will be Scotland's representatives at the European Championships in Örnsköldsvik. More after the games.

Friday's gallery from Perth

I remember the days that teams tossed a coin to see who went first. Team Wood doing the modern thing!

And doing it very well!

Jackie Lockhart - for her mum. I like the windswept look!

Warwick Smith

Question of the day. What does Chief Umpire Pat Edington keep under his hat?

This has to be Friday's caption competition!

Good to see Ewan MacDonald back on the ice and throwing well.

Duncan Fernie

Team Brewster in conference

All pics by Bob. More tomorrow.

European qualifiers 2

Two games to watch tonight and they were both crackers! The men first. Tom Brewster took a pair at the second against Warwick Smith, Craig Wilson, David Smith and Ross Hepburn and it took three more ends for Smith to get back on level terms. After seven ends, it was 3-3. Brewster, Duncan Fernie, Ron Brewster and Colin Campbell blanked eight, and with a double on Tom's last stone of the ninth counted a three. They ran their opposition out of stones in the tenth, and had their first point on the board.

Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Lindsay Wood matched up against Edith Loudon, Mairi Milne, Claire Milne and Katie Loudon in the first of their best of five matches. There was little between the teams. Wood had drawn better to get last stone advantage at the first, and was 5-4 up at the fifth end break. She stole a single, then promptly gave up a three.

When last season's Euro rep went to play her final stone in the eighth she was facing three more Loudon stones. Her raise was good, but just shy of shot position, and she gave up a single against the head. Two down, with two ends to play.

Edith who seemed to have the better command of draw weight than her opposite number, raised her own to lie shot partially hidden in the ninth. In going for the shot Kelly caught the guard and rolled another Loudon shot into the house. Down 10-6, the handshakes were offered.

Find all the linescores and standings here.

European qualifiers 1

It was first blood to Murdoch as the European Qualifying Competition got underway this afternoon at the Dewars Rinks in Perth. The only game on the ice was the David Murdoch v Tom Brewster match, and it was an intriguing encounter.

The teams swapped threes in the first two ends! Murdoch, Ewan MacDonald, Peter Smith and Euan Byers took another three in the third. They looked confident and were playing well.

Brewster with his new third for this season in Duncan Fernie, and his long standing front end Ron Brewster and Colin Campbell, were up against it again in the fourth. Tom went to play his last with four Murdoch stones lying against him. He could only outcount three of these, and gave up a single to go 7-3 down.

Most felt it might be all over then, and so it turned out. The sides swapped twos, but when Tom was too heavy with Murdoch stones in the house against him in the seventh, the teams shook hands, the score at 11-5.

Find the linescores and standings on the Royal Club website here.

Above: Tom Brewster and David Murdoch. Pic by Bob. More photos after this evening's games.

One eye on Oslo

The world, it seems, loves an underdog. It is human nature perhaps that many of those watching what happens on the ice at Perth this weekend will be rooting for the teams which are not starting as 'favourites'!

David Murdoch, Ewan MacDonald, Peter Smith and Euan Byers hold the mantle as favourites in the men's event, a double round robin against Tom Brewster, Duncan Fernie, Ron Brewster and Colin Campbell, and Warwick Smith, Craig Wilson, David Smith and Ross Hepburn. Can Warwick or Tom's teams cause an upset? I'm not into predictions on the blog here as to who is going to win, except to say that there will be some very special displays of curling this weekend. Unmissable, and Curling Today will certainly be there!

Murdoch faces Brewster in the first game at 3pm tomorrow afternoon. The scores will be on the Royal Club website here, and you can find Mike Haggerty's preview here.

In the women's event to find Scotland's representatives at the European Championships in Sweden in December, Edith Loudon, Mairi Milne, Claire Milne and Katie Loudon face up against Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Lindsay Wood in a best of five series of games, the first of which is at 8.30pm Friday.

I'll also be wondering how our junior teams will be getting on in Oslo, the first of a series of three events for elite junior teams, promoted by the World Curling Tour-Europe. Glen Muirhead and Kerr Drummond field their National Academy teams in the junior men's event, in which Graeme Black's side is also competing, that team funding their own participation. The Claire Hamilton and Hannah Fleming National Academy teams are in the junior women's event.

Twelve teams compete in each event, playing round robins in two sections. I don't know if the results will be on line. Certainly, setting up the events has been a bold step for the organisers, and not without problems I understand! However, it all gets underway this weekend. (Added later. You can find what I think is an up to date draw here, to download. There are only eight teams in the girls' competition, playing in two sections.) (Added even later. You can now find results here.)

The WCT-e Junior Tour moves to Inverness, November 14-16, and then to Hamburg, January 16-18. I look forward to finding out more about this weekend's inaugural event in due course.

Kinross Wheelchair Curling International

I looked in at the Kinross rink at the Green Hotel today to see some of the play of the inaugural Wheelchair Curling International, organised by Ena Stevenson and her committee. Not that all had been plain sailing, with the Russian side withdrawing at a late stage. Still, teams from Canada, Switzerland, Norway, England, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain squad members aiming to be selected for the Paralympic Games 2010 in Vancouver, were fighting it out in two sections. That's Michael McCreadie of the GB squad setting up for his delivery in the pic above.

Switzerland's Therese Kampfer

Norway's skip, Rune Lorensen

Scotland's Mo Simpson

Skip of Scotland 1, Michael Mackenzie

Canada 1, skipped by Jim Armstrong

Coach Tom Pendreigh with his GB squad at the fourth end break

It was eight ends or the bell - most games going 7 ends. Time clocks were being trialled.

Well done to organiser Ena Stevenson (here with the rosette she won for the best dandelion honey at this season's Kinross show!). Pics by Bob.

The final and 3rd/4th playoff is scheduled for 3.15p.m on Thursday. As of Wednesday evening the position was:
Section A
Canada 1, 3 points,
Norway 1, 1 point, 8 ends,
Switzerland, 1 point, 6 ends and plus shots,
Scotland 2, 1 point, 6 ends minus 6 shots,
England 0 points.

With one game yet to play, Canada 1 tops section A on three wins from three games. Scotland 2 still has two games to play. Mo Simpson's side will play Switzerland and Norway tomorrow.

Section B is complete.
Canada 2, 3 points,
GB 2 points,
Scotland 1, 1 point,
Wales 0 points.

A new Royal Club voice

Now you may not recognise the face in this photo on the left, but it is someone who has worked tirelessly for twenty years and more to make sure that curling gets space in the major newspapers in this country. This is Mike Haggerty.

Mike is not a curler, although he has been known to throw the odd stone or two! Mike’s own sport is rowing. Mike, a PR professional, has worked over a long number of years to build an association with the major newspapers in order to be granted space for reports on rowing and for his adopted sport of curling. He is also well known by the editorial staff on these papers. He may not command the same space as football, rugby or golf writers but he does get coverage. Over the years he has worked on site at European and World Championships as well as Winter Olympics. And he is the President of the World Curling Media Association!

Why does he get a mention on Curling Today? Well, the Royal Club has commissioned Mike to cover the major National and International events for the rest of this season. I am pleased. We will all be able to go on to the RCCC website, not just to find out results, but to read reports on the competitions, professionally written. It will certainly be for the benefit of our sport.

See Mike's first post - a preview of this weekend's European Qualifying Competition - here. The draw may be found here.

Mike hard at work on the media bench at the European Championships in Fussen last year. Pic by Bob.

Wheels roll into Kinross

This is a reminder that Kinross is holding the inaugural Kinross Wheelchair Curling International from today (Tuesday October 21) to Thursday October 23. See the previous post here. The first rounds are this evening at 6.45pm, and the final is scheduled for 3.15pm on Thursday.

Teams representing GB, England, Wales, Norway, Switzerland, Canada and the Scotland Performance squads will participate in the event. This will be the first event in Scotland to try out the new World Curling Federation rules which allow for eight end games, although the programme notes that games will be 'eight ends or the bell'. The teams are in two sections, the top in each qualifying for the final.

One of the two Canadian teams is skipped by Jim Armstrong, a former Brier competitor. His participation in wheelchair curling has been the cause of some controversy in his home country. The problems stem from the eligibility rules as to who is allowed to curl from a wheelchair in international competition. It's all about classification. Eric Eales, who set up wheelchaircurling.com, the key portal for the sport, has written about the issue here. As it stands at present, Armstrong can compete in Canada, but not in WCF sanctioned events, such as the Paralympics.

Weekend wrap

Firstly an apology. There was just so much happening at the weekend that we forgot something. Not that Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams and Sarah Macintyre are easy to forget, as the top rated junior women's team in the country. But the fact that they were competing in the Southwestern Ontario Women's Charity Cashspiel in London had dropped off the Editor's radar. A great experience for this young team. However, it does show that the Curling Today team needs its own spotters (probably could do with a full support team, including the physio and definitely a psychologist, but that's for another time).

So, a plea. If you think there's anything that should be getting a mention in the blog (and of course the Scottish Curler) don't hesitate to give us the heads up. Contact details are here, and the contact form is now working.

So how did Eve's team fare? They played four games, beating the USA's Debbie McCormick but losing to three local Ontario sides. They have further challenge matches scheduled before flying home.

Elsewhere in North America, Alan Smith, Neil McArthur, David Reid and Mark Fraser won through the C Road to the quarterfinals of the St Paul Cashspiel, a thirty-two team triple knockout. Last night they beat Craig Disher's team to make it to the semis. That game is today (Monday). Find out how they get on from this website.

At Murrayfield the Dunvegan Trophy Junior events were won by the Hannah Fleming, and Jay McWilliam teams.

And to brighten a Monday, here are a few more snaps from the Lockerbie mini tours:

Wild women at Lockerbie (Megan Priestley and Linsey Spence sweep Kay Adams' stone in the final)

Graeme Adam

Mini tour runner-up Gillian Howard. Don't imagine she's getting used to being the bridesmaid.

Kerry Barr has just said to Laura Kirkpatrick, "Have you heard the one about ....?"

Runner-up skip in the men's mini tour Jamie Dick

Andrew Reed English Lion.. growl, growl.

Expectation?

Kay Adams watches the line, with Lauren Gray and Claire Hamilton behind.

David Edwards gave up a four to Graeme Adam's senior champs in the quarterfinals, and were on the early bus home.

Team Jennifer Morrison at work

Three wise men: Don Frame, Fraser Hare, Duncan Gracie. Definite caption material!

Claire MacDonald

Women's mini tour concludes

The seven teams in the women's mini tour played a round robin to find four semifinalists. The first games had been at Hamilton, the conclusion was played out this weekend at the Lockerbie rink. Gillian Howard's side had swept the preliminary rounds undefeated. Sarah Reid and Jennifer Morrison also got safely into the last four. Claire MacDonald's young side, winners in the Kinross Classic recently, sidelined Claire Hamilton's side in a four end tiebreaker for the last available slot in the semis.

The youngsters were no match for Howard in the semifinal, and Reid came through against Morrison. In a close final, Reid, with Kerry Barr, Barbara McFarlane and Laura Kirkpatrick, had the edge coming home 5-4 up with last stone advantage. Facing two, she slipped up with her attempt to hit and stick, and the game went to an extra. Howard, Kay Adams, Linsey Spence and Megan Priestley got the front cover and a shot in the four foot, but Gillian's attempted guard with her first was not good enough. Given this lifeline, Reid took advantage and her team had captured the Colin Galbraith trophy and the mini tour title.

All the mini tour results are here.

Top: Jeanette and Colin Galbraith present the Colin Galbraith memorial trophy to L-R Barbara McFarlane, Sarah Reid, Kerry Barry and Laura Kirkpatrick. Above: Laura and Barbara sweep their skip's stone in the final at Lockerbie. Pics by Bob.

Men's Mini Tour at Lockerbie

The second round of the men's mini tour at Lockerbie was won by Hammy McMillan with Philip Wilson, Ross Paterson and Sandy Gilmour who beat Jamie Dick, Colin Dick, Lindsay Gray and Michael Goodfellow in the final today.

Earlier McMillan's team had beaten Andrew Reed's side in the quarterfinals, and Graeme Adam's Senior Champions in the semis. The Dick team had come through against Keith MacLennan in the quarters, and Scott Hamilton in the semis.

McMilllan had a difficult chance for a big four at the first end of the final, but only got one. The youngsters held their more experienced opposition for the next six ends and the teams came down the last tied at 4-4. McMillan though held the last stone, and he needed it. Facing two, he laid it down perfectly and his team guided it to the poppy for the win.

All the mini tour results are here.

Top: Hammy - number one at Lockerbie. Above: L-R Sandy Gilmour, Ross Paterson, Hammy McMillan and Philip Wilson with Shona and Gavin Morton of sponsors Carson and Trotter.
Pics by Bob.

Bern Men's Open, Grasshopper Women's Masters 2

Three men's teams, skipped by David Murdoch, Warwick Smith and Tom Brewster, were at the Bern Men's Open this weekend. Sadly none made it to the playoff stages of the event.

Murdoch went out on a record of three wins and two losses, Smith on two wins and three losses, Brewster on one win and three losses. The triple knockout system is hard on teams who drop a game, they have to keep playing and winning to get back in with a chance.

Andy Kapp from Germany beat Switzerland's Ralph Stockli in the final.

Kelly Wood with Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Linsday Wood was the only Scottish team in Zurich for the Grasshopper Women's Masters, it was played in a two section league.

The Wood team, like the men, finished out of the playoffs on a record of two wins, one draw and one loss.

Germany's Andrea Schopp took the title.

A photographic puzzle for a Sunday

Right, I want you to study the two photos above and find the connection between them. One was taken yesterday, and the other is from last century! And while you are doing that, here are half a dozen of the best to give a flavour of the Dunvegan Junior Trophy competitions that are taking place this weekend at the Murrayfield rink:

I hope I have this correct - Clare Lang and Zoe Bain sweeping Mairi Girvan's stone, for their skip Mhairi Baird who's in the house.

Ian Copland

Kerr Drummond and Paul Russell

Gayle Allan

Jay McWilliam and Gregory Gardiner

Mhairi Anderson. We like the eyes!

So, have you worked out the connection? The grainy black and white photo from the Scottish Curler archive was taken at Stranraer in April 1976 and shows the winners of the Dalrymple Cup - better known then as the Mediterranean Cruise competition, part sponsored by travel agents AT Mays and airline British Caledonian. L-R: Vivian Adam, Graeme Adam, Hew Chalmers and Catherine Brown. The young curler in the second photo is Jennifer Dodds, competing in the Dunvegan Trophy yesterday.

Not worked it out? Catherine Brown got married, became Catherine Dodds and is Jennifer's mum. And as well as that she is the organiser of the events this weekend at Murrayfield.

I don't remember what prize the Graeme Adam team won way back in 1976, but I do know that the runners-up enjoyed a fabulous week lying in the sun on the island of Ibiza! These were BIG prizes in these days, thanks to the efforts of the McMillan family and the rink at the North West Castle in Stranraer.

I guess I could ask Graeme today as I note he's through to the quarterfinals of the Lockerbie Mini Tour (he's skipping the Allan MacLennan team, see results here).

All pics bar the old one are by Bob.

Friday evening at Lockerbie

Lee McLeary's team reached the semifinals at the Hamilton mini tour and began with a win last night at Lockerbie.

I don't know why everyone thought I would like David Edwards' team new uniforms! L-R: Graham Sloan, Gavin Fleming and Moray Combe. Find all the results from last night here.

Survivors of Vierumaki. Graeme Adam skipped the Scottish team at the World Seniors in Finland where Dillan Perras was our rep in the World Mixed Doubles.

Martin Sutherland insists it was his best friend that gave him the black eye! Really?

Royal Club President Matt Murdoch has been roped in to play for Colin Hamilton this weekend. Here he is with Trevor Dodds watching Hammy McMillan's front end, Sandy Gilmour and Ross Paterson. Captions required!

Ken Horton

Keith MacLennan skipped his team to the win in the first mini tour event at Hamilton. Can he repeat at Lockerbie?

Jamie Dick's junior side was up against John Summers' seniors.

RCCC Competitions' Manager Colin Hamilton

An English side skipped by Andrew Reed are in the mix this weekend.

Pics by Bob.

Mini tour at Lockerbie

The women's mini tour winds up this weekend. The seven teams started off their round robin at Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, and have their remaining games at Lockerbie on Saturday and on Sunday morning. The top four contest semifinals and final on Sunday.

At this stage Gillian Howard's National Academy team of Kay Adams, Linsey Spence and Jennifer Priestley are undefeated after three games. Follow the progress here.

The men's mini tour runs alongside the women at Lockerbie, the second of the three competitions for the Colin Galbraith trophy. Hammy McMillan, David Edwards and Graham Shaw are in the draw this weekend, as is Keith MacLennan's side, winners at Hamilton earlier this month. Results will be here.

Also on this weekend is the Dunvegan Trophy at Murrayfield, mentioned in Tuesday's post here.

And in addition to the Scottish teams playing in Bern and Zurich this weekend, we should also note that Alan Smith and his RCCC National Academy team of Neil McArthur, David Reid and Mark Fraser are in the USA, competing in the St Paul Cashspiel, a thirty-two team triple knockout. Results are here.

Above: Team Howard in action at Hamilton. Pic by Bob.

Kinross for National Curling Academy

The bid by Kinross to be the site for a new six sheet rink which will also provide facilities for Scotland's elite teams has been successful. The new complex will also be the new home for the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, the governing body of the sport in Scotland, and there will also be a small museum of curling history. The members of the NCA Working Group (Jeanette Johnston, Lockhart Steel, Anne Malcolm and Willie Nicoll with Colin Grahamslaw as Secretary) made the decision which was approved at a Royal Club Board meeting today.

Kinross has been chosen in preference to a site at Ratho, championed by the curlers from the Gogar Park rink which closed some years ago. See previous Curling Today posts on this subject here and here.

The full press release can be found on the Royal Club website here, but in view of its importance I have reprinted it verbatim below:

'Kinross Preferred Partner for NCA

At its meeting today the Board of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club unanimously approved the recommendation of the NCA working group that the Royal Club’s preferred partner for the national curling academy, offices and museum should be the Kinross Curling Trust.

The two bids were assessed by the working group against the NCA Criteria and the bid from the Kinross Curling Trust was viewed to be the better option for the future home of the NCA.

Jamie Montgomery the leader of the Kinross bid said, ‘The announcement that the Royal Caledonian Curling Club’s proposed new National Curling Academy is going to be located in Kinross is extremely exciting and will be a huge boost to the town. The local area has long had a strong curling tradition centered on Loch Leven and Kinross Curling Club is believed to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest club in the world. The prospect of a state-of-the-art curling facility in Kinross, catering for both local curlers and national elite squads, furthers our aspiration to become the genuine curling centre of Scotland.’

Colin Grahamslaw, CEO of the Royal Club said, “We are delighted to be able to announce Kinross Curling Trust as our preferred partner for this project. Kinross’s historic location makes this a perfect home for the National Curling Academy and we are please that this decision will also have the benefit of securing the future of curling in Kinross for the long term.”

The new Kinross Curling Trust will be a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The Board will be made up of at least eight trustees, two of which will be nominated by the Royal Club and six elected by the Members, who will be local curlers. The Trust will own the new property which is to be built on the Market Park site at the heart of Kinross secured on a long lease. The property is planned to comprise a six sheet curling rink with full supporting facilities, offices, meeting rooms and a museum. The property will be easily accessible from the M90 motorway. Funding is expected to be a mix of public funding, trust funding, loans and donations from local curlers. The Royal Club will be contributing towards the costs of the offices and the RCCC Charitable Trust will assist with the funding of the museum.

Whilst many challenges remain the aim is to have the facility open prior to the 2010/2011 season.

The Board thanks the bidders for their interest and hope that, with support from sportscotland, a meeting with Gogar Park Curling Club can be arranged to discuss the future of their plan. The Board thanks staff of sportscotland for their assistance in assessing the bids.'

I took this photo this summer from the car park of the Green Hotel looking over towards the Windlestrae Hotel. I believe the preferred location of the new rink is the open area in the centre of the pic. What a prestigious location!

Bern Men's Open, Grasshopper Women's Masters

Three Scottish men's teams and one Scottish women's team are in action this weekend at World Curling Tour Europe events in Bern and Zurich ahead of the European playoffs next weekend.

Twenty five men's teams are in Bern including three Canadian teams and one USA team. Tom Brewster with Duncan Fernie, Ron Brewster and Colin Campbell take on one of the Canadian teams in their first round game tomorrow morning while David Murdoch, Ewan McDonald, Peter Smith and Euan Byers take on a Swiss team skipped by Pascal Heimann. Warwick Smith's team of Craig Wilson, Glen Muirhead, in for David Smith, and Ross Hepburn face another Swiss team skipped by Pascal Hess.

The website for results from Bern is here. (Added later: this link might work better)

Meanwhile Kelly Wood's team of Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers and Lyndsay Wood are in Zurich for the Grasshopper Women's Masters, she takes on Marlene Albrecht in her first round game tomorrow at the very precise time of 11.20a.m.

The website for results from Zurich is here.

Top: Tom Brewster. Above: Kelly Wood. Both pics from last season by Bob.

Edinburgh International update

There seems to be a real buzz this season about the three WCT-e events in Scotland. There's the Glynhill Ladies International at Braehead, the lone women's competition. Then there's the well established Ramada Perth Masters. I had a post about this event recently here, and the draw for this event has now been made, see the event website.

And today in my messages is the news that Trevor Dodds, chair of the organising committee, has announced that the draw for the Edinburgh International, sponsored by Belhaven Best, is now available. It can be downloaded as a pdf file here. The event is November 28-30.

I mentioned on Monday that there are well advanced plans to webcast some of the games at Murrayfield. So far, Keith MacLennan, Mairi Milne, Bob Kelly and Robin Copland have volunteered to act as commentators! I love it. There's bound to be some humour. Anyone who knows Copey when he gets into his stride must really be anticipating the banter, as much as the curling!

"Well Mairi, what do you think of this young Swedish team? Anyone you fancy?" "Keith, you've been training in Norway recently, what do you think of the country? I hear beer's expensive there."

Bob Kelly will keep them all right, after all he's served his apprenticeship alongside Richard Vaughan on Eurosport, so he'll have the bases covered!

Sweden's Niklas Edin is being talked about as the successor to the great Peja Lindholm. The draw sees him match up against David Edwards in a first round game at 09.30 on Friday, November 28. David Murdoch is in that section too. Team Murdoch plays the Swedes on the Saturday evening. Pic by Bob.

Lockerbie gets a lift

Wheels on the ice are a common sight in rinks up and down the country these days. Lockerbie Wheelchair Curling Club has a regular session each week, and some new recruits were on the ice at the South of Scotland rink last night.

Area Development Officer Marion Murdoch is the driving force.

The reason for this post is to highlight the rink's new lift, to allow disabled access to the bar and viewing area. The lift was installed as part of the recently completed rink improvements (story here), part funded by sportscotland. A new refrigeration plant and rink lighting were installed over the summer. This is Mary Bell, a member of the Lockerbie Wheelchair Curling Club.

Mary on the ice with helper Ilene Broatch.

Photos by Bob.

Seeing the stones move

Perhaps it is a consequence of getting older, but occasionally these days something that I hear, or see, triggers a whole host of long suppressed memories! A follower of this blog brought my attention to some fabulous online footage of junior curling in Poland, in the venue for the European Youth Olympic Festival next February, see our recent post here. The curling rink will be constructed within the gymnasium of the Bielsko Mechanic School, in the town of Bielsko-Biala, near Krakow. The sports hall floor will be covered with special refrigerated mats, on which the ice for the curling will be laid.

It was seeing the wallbars surrounding the rink which triggered memories of hanging upside down during school gym lessons all these years ago! I'm sure our gym master had the best of intentions, but I don't really have fond memories of gym periods all these years ago! I was almost completely put off all sporting activities... but then the school started up a curling club, and the rest is history!

Looking at the footage above just confirms in my mind that webcasting of curling events will play a big part in our sport's future. Things are a bit confused at the moment. There's the excellent CurlTV of course, with the archive of games to watch and learn from if you have a subscription. I personally haven't had much success with the live Curlingkanalen webcasts, such as those from the Oslo Cup, reflecting I presume the bandwidth considerations that are key in this area. The archive footage (see here) is watchable though. Have a look too at what is happening in the area of internet TV of curling in Switzerland (here) in association with the WCT-e.

In Scotland there is a lot of interest in webcasting, to judge from the posts on the Scottish Curling Forum last season. Big ideas from the Royal Caledonian Curling Club seem to have come to naught. I recently asked Colin Grahamslaw, the Royal Club CEO, what progress had been made. His reply was, "We had been working with a company who had a potential backer on board who would have picked up the costs but the current market state has put an end to that option." Could something be done in-house for the main RCCC competitions? Colin notes, "The main issue with the Scottish (Championship) is pushing BBC to take an early decision as to what they are doing and then releasing the web rights back to us." Watch this space, but why am I thinking, don't hold your breath!

The World Curling Federation sees the future though, and we can expect developments here. President Les Harrison was interviewed on The Curling Show during the summer, and was predicting that the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Cortina next year was a candidate as an event to be webcast. With the huge investment that the WCF has made with its own television production company WCTV, webcasting would seem a natural next step.

Others are moving ahead at home. Alex and Andrew Mitchell pioneered webcasting of the Ramada Perth Masters some years ago, and will be doing so again in January. (Note that the draw for the Perth WCT-e event is now online, see here). Alex is the technical brains behind these endeavours and his expertise has been recruited to provide webcasts for the inaugural WCT-e Edinburgh International next month. The Dunvegan Junior events are at Murrayfield this coming weekend. The Edinburgh International Organising Committee has asked permission to film some of the Dunvegan games as a trial run for their own event in November. During the close season, static cameras were placed directly over both ends of three of Murrayfield’s seven sheets in preparation for filming. In addition, moving hand-held cameras will be deployed at both ice and bar level.

Cameras will be operated by junior volunteers and the whole operation will be coordinated by Alex Mitchell who is currently working on the perennial problem of picture quality when a webcast is highly subscribed. The trial filming of the Dunvegan Trophy games will give him valuable data in his quest for the answer to the problem.

Catherine Dodds, the organiser of this season’s Dunvegan Trophy for Under 21 curlers, reports that the competition entry lists for both the Ladies and Gents competitions are full - eight junior teams will compete in both competitions.

Both competitions will be run in the same way. The eight teams will be split into two sections of four with each team being guaranteed three games on the Saturday. The winners and runners-up from each section will progress to the Sunday knock-out stages. Semifinals will be played on Sunday morning with the finals of both competitions taking place on Sunday afternoon. The total prize fund for the competitions is £1000.

Kinross Junior Classic

Bruce Robbie, general manager of the Green and Windlestrae Hotels, presents the trophy to Claire MacDonald, Emma Craig, Kirsten McNay and Jennifer Martin. The MacDonald team beat Helen King, Alison Leiper, Carolyn Clark and Katy Richardson in the final.

The final of the junior men's event was between Kerr Drummond's team of James Dunn, Thomas Pendreigh and Blair Fraser, and that skipped by Dean Clark, the latter coming out on top. L-R: Grant Fraser, Robert Craigie, Colin Dick and Dean Clark, with Bruce Robbie who presented the trophy.

Emma Craig, Jennifer Martin and Kirsten McNay

Helen King

Winning skip Claire MacDonald. This one needs a caption!

Robert Craigie and Grant Fraser work Dean Clark's stone.

Kerr Drummond calls line as Dean Clark and Colin Dick watch behind.

Grant Hardie, Kyle Smith and Cammy Smith (above) with Thomas Muirhead reached the semifinals and won the U-18 prize.

An important part of the Kinross Junior event - the raffle!

The Editor liked the innovative, and colourful, Team Reid tops!

So what are all the girls' teams doing? They are singing 'Happy Birthday'!

Here's the birthday girl! RCCC Performance Development Coach Rhona Martin, who was 21 again yesterday. Proud mum too, as daughter Jennifer was in the winning team!

Steven Kerr has added a new member to his ice staff at Kinross. This is Lucy Barnes, graduate of the Dance School of Scotland. On her way to becoming a famous ballerina, remember where you saw her first! And if you would like to see more of twenty-two year old Lucy, check out this link.

Remax Women's Masters 2

Edith Loudon's team of Mairi Milne, Claire Milne and Katie Loudon made it to the final of the Remax Women's Masters in Basel when they came up against Anette Norberg's team from Sweden, the 2006 Olympic Champions. It had been a great tournament for the Loudon four but this was a game too far, Norberg got a three in the opening end and Loudon's team couldn't come back, final score 8/3 to Norberg.

Earlier today Eve Muirhead and her team suffered the same fate against Norberg putting them out of the event.

Team GB skipped by Jackie Lockhart went out earlier today as well losing to the Hasselborg team from Sweden.

Find all the scores here.

Curling photography

I know that the most looked at bit of the Scottish Curler magazine each month is.... the pictures! So, if you like curling photos from the Scottish Curler team, here are three links you should know about.

1. Photos of competition winners can be found here. As competitions come and go this season the 2008-09 Winners gallery will be (regularly) updated.

2. The one hundred or so very best curling pics taken by Richard Gray, by Hugh Stewart and by me, from the past few years, are here. This is a somewhat arbitrary selection. The choice has been made because I like them! Some are new - the galleries were updated on October 1 for a new season - and some are old favourites. (When you open a gallery, click on any photo and then use the next button to page through all the photos in that gallery. You don't need to open the photos individually from the thumbnails.)

3. For a limited time only, ALL the photos that have appeared on the Curling Today blog in its first year can be looked at here. The three galleries here are unsorted and uncaptioned. If you just want a reminder of what happened last season, without any of the stories or captions, you might find it fun to run the slideshows!

Enjoy!

Remax Women's Masters Basel

The World Curling Tour Europe has moved on, this weekend the venue is Basel for the Remax Women's Masters. The event features 24 women's teams from all over Europe.

Eve Muirhead is there with Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams and Sarah Macintyre, Mairi Milne's team is sister Claire with Katie and Edith Loudon. GB squad members Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Karen Addison, Lynn Cameron and Lorna Vevers are in Basel as well.

Wood, who tops the WCT-e rankings, and Milne have an early start tomorrow, at 8a.m. local time they face Shari Leibrandt from the Netherlands and a Hungarian team skipped by Ildiko Szekeres. At 11a.m. Muirhead takes on a Swiss team skipped by Michelle Jaggi in her first game.

Anette Norberg, probably the most successful skip of recent years, is in the field as is Germany's Andrea Schopp, the 2008 European Mixed Champion. The format is triple knock out with the finals on Sunday.

Follow the results at the event website here.

Top: Eve Muirhead skips her junior team in Basel. Above: Sweden's Anette Norberg. Pics by Bob.

Posted by Christine.

No ice yet at Stranraer

I was looking forward to heading to Stranraer this weekend for the Scottish Mixed Seniors Championship. I always enjoy my visits to the North West Castle hotel with the little four-sheeter with its distinctive mural (above). However, the news today is that the rink has had problems getting its ice in, and that the Mixed Seniors has been postponed, see here.

This would have been the first time for the event at Stranraer, as it had been held since its inception at the Atholl rink, now closed of course. The Championship will now go ahead December 12-14.

Changing the focus for a moment, the two curlers in my photo above are David and Kenny Edwards, competing in the National Pairs at Stranraer a couple of years back. David is still curling at top level with his team (see here), but Kenny's focus recently has been in the sport of motor cycling, at which he has been very successful. All of us in the Lockerbie area who have been following his career were saddened to hear that he was involved in a very bad accident at Knockhill at the weekend and that he is in hospital. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

Perth Masters set for Canadian invasion

Curling Today has already talked this season about the Edinburgh International Curling Championship sponsored by Belhaven Best and the Glynhill Ladies International at Braehead. But what about the other WCT-e event in Scotland this season, the Ramada Perth Masters?

The closing date for entries was September 30. Organiser Bill Duncan reports that the event will have one of best fields ever, with no fewer than five top Canadian rinks confirmed, skipped by Brad Gushue, Kerry Burtnyk, Wayne Middaugh, Brad Jacobs and Kevin Koe.

The young Japanese rink which performed so well in the competition last year is back again, and representatives from Hungary, Holland, Italy and Norway are in the draw.

All of the top Scottish teams will be participating including the GB Olympic squad.

There are no Swiss or Swedish competitors this season as the dates, January 8-11, clash with their national playdowns. The Perth Masters website is here.

Top: Canada's Brad Gushue (photo by Bob). Above: Japan's Yusuke Morozumi (photo by Richard Gray).

Boys gain invite to EYOF

Curling Today has already talked about the European Youth Olympic Festival, and the selection of a GB girls' team for the competition in Poland next year (see here). A boys' team was on the reserve list, and the news today is that this GB side now has a place in the event.

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club, in partnership with British Curling, has announced the names of the curlers who have been chosen: Blair Fraser, Kerr Drummond, Colin Dick, Struan Wood and Jay McWilliam. No coach has been named as yet.

The junior women's team, Hannah Fleming, Lauren Gray, Rebecca Kesley, Anna Sloan and Alice Spence, is already in training with their coach Debbie Knox for the competition, February 14-21, 2009, in Slask Beskidy.

The event will be the ninth staging of the EYOF, and only the second time that the sport of curling has been included. The other sports are downhill and cross country skiing, biathlon, nordic combined, ski-jumping, snowboarding, figure skating and ice hockey. The curling competition will be held in the town of Bielsko-Biala, in southern Poland, not far from Krakow.

The event website is here.

Here are photos of those selected:

Colin Dick skipped his team to U-17 Slam success last season.

Kerr Drummond has his own RCCC National Academy team this season.

Jay McWilliam won the Scottish Pairs title in 2006.

Struan Wood was in Colin Dick's Slam winning side last season.

Blair Fraser's team has won the first two U-17 events of this season.

Photos by Bob.

Swiss Cup Basel six

Tom Brewster's team and David Murdoch's team made it to the quarter finals at the Swiss Cup in Basel, but that was a far as they were going in this event.

Brewster came up against Ralph Stockli, the game was tight to the closing ends, the teams tied at three all. Then Stockli stole a three in end seven. That was game over, the final score 6/3 to Stockli.
David Murdoch's GB squad team met Stefan Karnusian in their semi final, Karnusian had fought his way through the C road to get to the quarters. And his team was still fighting in this game, they scored a big five in end three and took four in the fifth, there was no way back for Murdoch, Karnusian took the game and the semi final spot on a score of 10/3.

Monday morning's semi finals see Niklas Edin against Ralph Stockli while Stefan Karnusion takes on Brad Gushue. You can follow the rest of the event here.

Sunday's winners

L-R Keith MacLennan (skip), Iain Stobo, David Robertson and David Soutar who won the Lanarkshire Mini Tour, beating Martin Sutherland, Kenny Oswald, Dougie McKenzie and Kyle Waddell in the final. MacLennan always had the advantage and was one up with the hammer in the last end. He had an open hit for the game. Ladies' Branch President Sheila Miller presented the prizes. Find all the scores here.

Hannah Fleming, Rebecca Kesley, Blair Fraser (skip) and Thomas Sloan (fourth) won the Lockerbie U-17 event, the second slam victory for this side. The Fraser team beat Jennifer Dodds, Tasha Aitken, Abi Brown and Mhairi Baird after an extra end of the final. Grant Hardie, Thomas Muirhead, Kyle Smith and Cammy Smith won the low road final, defeating Andrew Ballantyne, Eric Peters, Andrew Grieve and Alasdair Shreiber. Find all the results here.

Photos by Bob.

Swiss Cup Basel five

David Murdoch and Tom Brewster have both qualified for the quarter finals at the Swiss Cup in Basel.

Murdoch and his GB squad team had an easy win against France's Thomas Dufour, that put him up against Thomas Ulsrud from Norway in this morning' game, Murdoch came out the winner 6/4 giving him a quarter final spot.

Tom Brewster had to win two games to get his quarter final place, first he beat Ralph Stockli on a tight score of 6/5. His second game against Stefan Karnusian was easier, it was over in just five ends, Brewster winning 6/1.

David Edwards' team had dropped to the C road, winning was vital to stay in the tournament. Edwards beat the Czech Republic's Jiri Snitl. That saved one life for him, in his next game he came up against Andy Kapp, the experienced German team was just too strong for Edwards they went out of the event on a scoreline of 1/9.

The quarter finals are scheduled for 17.30 local time today.

Lockerbie U17

The Editor enjoyed a day at the Lockerbie rink where the U17 Competition for the Stevenson trophy was underway. Sixteen teams, in four sections, six end games. Blair Fraser's mixed team is the one to beat. That's Blair in the photo above, with Hannah Fleming and Rebecca Kesley as the sweepers. Thomas Sloan throws last stones for the team.

We liked this shot of Fiona Munro, second player in Rebecca Steven's team.

Jennifer Dodds

Greg Allan

Great to see two young teams from Stirling Young Curlers Club in the mix. Here Hannah Smith encourages her sweepers, Katie Murray and Nicole Russell. Jayne Stirling is in the head.

Now, there must be a caption for this one!

Pics by Bob. Find all the results here.

Swiss Cup Basel four

At the Swiss Cup In Basel the GB squad team skipped by David Murdoch headed for the B road after a defeat 2/6 against Raplh Stockli. That put them up against Michael Hochner, resulting in a big win for Murdoch 7/1, later tonight he plays Thomas Dufour from France.

There was good and bad news for Scotland's two teams, skipped by Tom Brewster and David Edwards, a loss on Friday put them into the B road, both won those games but those results put them up against each other in the next game. Brewster won the game on a score line of 8/6 to stay in the B road. Edwards has a C road game tonight, a loss tonight will put him out of the tournament.

Meanwhile 2006 Olympic Champion, Brad Gushue marches on, he beat Germany's Andy Kapp 5/2 to qualify for the quarter finals tomorrow.

Hamilton Mini Tour

Youth v Experience. I like the way the mini tour events bring together an assortment of teams, both young and old. Graeme Adam's Scottish Senior Champs were up against Gregory Gardiner's young side, the winners of the Greenacres Junior Masters recently. This was a victory for the oldies on this occasion.

Too much black for me. Thank goodness the stones are colourful. Look carefully, they are new to the rink this season, and were providing lots of swing in the games I saw yesterday evening on the Lanarkshire ice.

At least the girls were colourful: Sarah Reid's team at work.

Lockhart Steele and Keith MacLennan. Caption required!

Ian Copland. See how new the stones are!

Identity concealed in case the 'ice police' notice.

Lauren Gray and Caitlin Barr encourage Rhiann Macleod. Who needs two sweepers when one will do?

Photos by Bob. Follow the results here.

Swiss Cup Basel Three

There were mixed fortunes for the GB and Scottish teams at the Swiss Cup in Basel.

David Murdoch's GB team won their second game on a tight score of 6/5. That keeps them in the A road after two games, in the morning they take on Ralph Stockli, he has represented Switzerland at World Juniors, World Men's and European Championships since 1997 so is not short on experience.

Tom Brewster and his team lost by one shot, that put them into the B road, tomorrow they will meet Patrick Vuille from Switzerland.

David Edwards lost out 4/7 and like Brewster is in the B road for the morning's game, his team will take on Alex Attinger, with a well known surname in curling circles, Alex made his first world appearance at the World Juniors in 2006.

Wheelchair International set for Kinross

Check out this photo above. Don't concentrate on the wheelchair curlers this time, note the two on-ice assistants in the blue jackets, just some of the many volunteers that are needed when a major wheelchair curling event comes to Scotland. This pic was taken when the World Wheelchair Qualifying Competition was held at Braehead in 2006. Volunteers aplenty helped out when that event came to Inverness last season, and they play such an important role in the success of any wheelchair curling competition.

Ena Stevenson has organised an international wheelchair curling competition at Kinross later this month. First games are 6.45pm, Tuesday, October 21, and the event runs through to Thursday, October 23. The inaugural event has attracted some of the best wheelies in the world. Canada will be represented by two teams, and there will be representatives from Russia, Norway, Switzerland, England and Wales. The GB squad will be there and two other Scottish sides.

But Ena is anxious that she won't have enough volunteers to help during the event. So, come on everyone. Are you free to help, even for a short time during the dates above? If so, Ena's contact details are here.

Photo by Hugh Stewart

Swiss Cup Basel two

Scottish curlers got off to a great start at the Swiss Cup in Basel.

Tom Brewster won his opening game on a final scoreline of 6/2, but he's up against tough opposition for his second game. Later today he takes on Claudio Pescia one of Switzerland's top skips.

David Edwards had a narrow one shot victory in his opening game and like Brewster faces a tough challenge in his second game, he's got the team skipped by Andreas Schwaller who has dominated Swiss curling in recent years.

David Murdoch skipping team GB and defending title holder had a close game as an opener scraping through 6/5. His next challenge is yet another Swiss team skipped by Jean-Nicolas Longchamp.

2006 Olympic Champion Brad Gushue stays in the A road with a win in his first game.

Find all the results here.

Breaking news!

Moooooooooooooooo.

It is wrong to laugh at the misfortunes of others, so I want to express my sympathies to Gordon Muirhead (left) on his recent accident which has left him unable to curl, or even drive, probably for the next six weeks.

Gordie was due to be playing for Tom Brewster in the Basel Swiss Cup this weekend (see here). But he was unable to travel to Switzerland, and Richard Woods was recruited at the last moment to play in his stead. The reason is shown above.

I did think at first it was a cock and bull story, or even a rather clever stunt about the team's new Red Bull sponsorship, but no. Gordie, a part time cowboy, suffered serious injury when a bull kicked a gate into his hand, breaking his right thumb. Ouch!

He is now plastered....... almost to his elbow!

Gordon is coach to son Glen's National Academy team.

I remember breaking my thumb when I was a schoolboy. Actually I don't remember the pain, or the wait at the hospital, or the treatment. I do remember the embarrassment of being unable to operate the zip fly on my trousers! Don't worry Gordie, I'm sure your fellow curlers will be on hand to help you if you need any assistance when you are allowed out. Get well soon!

And how was the bull, I can hear you asking? As far as I know he is feeling better, having vented his ire on Gordie.

Gordie's family, Lin, Glen, Eve and Thomas, have decided to capitalise on the publicity by investing in a 'bull ride' for their guesthouse in Blair Atholl (see here). Curling Today is convinced this will be an asset to the community. Such accessories are available from Tim's Toyz of Wisconsin, does anyone have the UK franchise yet? Please note the blonde is not included in the ride hire!

Curling Today is often accused of writing a lot of bull****, so it was nice to be able to pen this one. Thanks Gordie, and to the undercover reporters who passed on the secret! More bull jokes here and here and here and .......

Swiss Cup Basel

GB squad members David Murdoch, Peter Smith, Ewan McDonald and Euan Byers are in Basel this weekend for the wct-e Swiss Cup along with Tom Brewster's team of Ron Brewster, Richard Woods and Colin Campbell, while David Edwards skips his team of Moray Combe, Gavin Fleming and Graham Sloan.

The three teams face quite a line up of teams from Europe and Canada. Brad Gushue, the 2006 Olympic Champion is there along with last weekend's winner in Oslo Thomas Ulsrud and Germany's Andy Kapp.

Murdoch, the defending champion, has his first game Friday 10 a.m. against Florian Meister from Switzerland. Then at 12.30p.m. Tom Brewster takes on Switzerland's Bjorn Zryd while David Edwards faces Michael Hochner also from Switzerland.

Results at the event website here.

L-R Graham Sloan, Gavin Fleming, Moray Combe and David Edwards. Basel is the first outing this season for this RCCC National Academy team. They are 'fit and raring to go' according to Edwards, after a couple of practice games. Photo by Brad Ashew.

Mini Tour and U-17 this weekend

The curling season will be well and truly underway this weekend, with the usual problem for the Editor as where to be to support our curlers. Sadly, cloning experiments during the summer were unsuccessful and there is still only one of me! I look forward to seeing some good curling at both Lockerbie and Hamilton.

The Lanarkshire Ice Rink, Hamilton, plays host to the first rounds of the men's and women's mini tours. Sixteen men's teams play in four sections beginning at 18.30 Friday. Find the draw here.

Due to the lack of entries for the women's mini tour, Royal Club competitions' manager Colin Hamilton decided that the seven entered teams should play a round robin over two weekends at Lanarkshire (this weekend) and Lockerbie, October 18-19. The top four after the six games will qualify for the knockout stages which will take place at Lockerbie. Consequently there will be no women's semifinal and final on Sunday at the first weekend at Lanarkshire. The draw is here.

The Lockerbie Under-17 event begins on Saturday morning. Sixteen teams are in the starting lineup for this, the second, of the U-17 Slam series. Four sections of four, with semifinals and final on Sunday, is the format of the Lockerbie competition. The draw is here.

Happy 70th Kirkcaldy

The last of the great Scottish pre-war ice rinks is still going strong, and celebrated its seventieth birthday today. Morning and afternoon sessions of a birthday bonspiel with lunch was the highlight for the curlers, and there was a special challenge ice hockey match in the evening, remembering the 4-1 defeat suffered by Fife Flyers in 1938 against Dundee Tigers! It was on October 1 of that year that 4,265 fans squeezed into the 4000 capacity rink to watch the first challenge match between the new ice hockey team and the Dundee Tigers.

The records of the first curling at the rink are still being researched, according to Lynne Stevenson, the Director with the responsibility for our sport, but would certainly have been soon after the rink opened. Lynne was on hand today ensuring that all bonspiel competitors and guests were made very welcome at the rink, now recovered and looking good after the fire that many wondered would spell the end of the rink. But that did not happen, and a new curlers' bar is just one of the many improvements that visitors to the rink will see.

The outside of the Kirkcaldy Ice Rink has had a makeover for its seventieth anniversary and inside and out was looking bright and cheerful.

Twenty-four teams competed for the Anniversary Trophy which was sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Guests included representatives of the three rinks which won the Scottish Seniors' Championships in succession, namely John McCall, Jack Duncan and Ian McGregor (1989-90), Dave Young, Donald Whyte and Alan Hempseed (1990-91) and Bill Raeside, Peter Howden and George McQueen (1991-92). Curlers enjoyed a lunch reception while reminiscing about days gone by.

The Bonspiel was won by a rink from Raith and Abbotshall skipped by Dave Martin, with Tom Richardson, Harry Mitchell and Bob Buchan. Runners-up were the RCCC Ladies Branch Rink of Bev Brown, Anne Buchan, Dorothy Greenhorn and Anne Dorward. Here are the prizes, trophy, memorabilia.... and the birthday cake!

'Blonde of the Day' Lynne Stevenson, whose hard work made the day a success! Thanks Lynne.

Photos by Bob.

October's Scottish Curler magazine

October 1, and the first Scottish Curler magazine of the new season has been published and is on its way to subscribers. On a technical note, it is the first not to be printed at Dunfermline since the current publishers (now Clyde and Forth Press) took over the title in 1985. The colour printing press there having been retired, the new magazine was printed by a Wolverhampton company - and a good job they have done too.

On the cover is Euan Byers, a choice that is sure to please the Front End Union! Inside, there's lots to read... as always the Editor looks forward to getting your feedback on the content!