Royal Club Development

Applications are invited for a Part-time Curling Development Officer for the Waterfront rink in Greenock. Applicants must have 'a high level of motivation and commitment to the development of the sport' and will be responsible for developing and promoting involvement and participation in curling, at all levels, throughout Greenock and Inverclyde.

The full details of the job, which arises because of David Horne's move to Braehead, may be found on the RCCC website here. Closing date is February 15.

Moving on to arguably the Royal Club's most successful development initiative, Development Manager Judith McFarlane reports that the camp scheduled for this summer is full with 28 participants and she has provisionally booked a second camp to run from August 3-8. If you are reading this and know of any young curler (aged 12-17) who would like to participate then more information can be obtained from Cairnie House. All of which gives me an excuse to post a couple of photos from last summer!

The summer camp is based at the Galleon rink in Kilmarnock and the Dolphin Centre at Culzean (above) and mountain biking was just one of many off-ice activities last year.

Sweeping practice is hard work!

It's not all hard work. Jennifer Paul in a fun delivery drill!

Photos by Bob. More here.

Development Officer at Aberdeen

The good news today is that Laura Morris has been appointed as the new Aberdeen Curling Development Officer. Laura is a University of Aberdeen graduate with a BSc degree in Sport and Exercise Science. She curled with the Aberdeen university club in 2003 and 2004.

She begins work at Curl Aberdeen on Monday, December 3. I don't have a photo yet, but will post one as soon as I can.

Laura joins the band of area curling development officers across the country headed up by the RCCC's Development Manager Judith McFarlane. The ACDOs currently in post are Jim Buchanan (Borders), Marion Murdoch (Lockerbie), Graham Sloan (Dumfries), Jim Morrison (Hamilton and East Kilbride), David Horne (Greenacres and the Waterfront, Claire Milne (Perth, Dundee and Pitlochry), Lynne Fraser (Inverness and Elgin), and Logan Gray (Stirling).

There remains a vacancy at Braehead. And some rinks do not have the support of a development officer.

Talking of jobs within curling, did you see British Curling's advert for a Co-ordinator to assist in the management and organisation of the squad and support staff in their preparation for both the Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver 2010? The successful candidate will be responsible on a day-to-day basis to the British Curling Performance Director Derek Brown and will also be accountable to the Chairman and Board of British Curling.

In year one (from appointment to Aug 31, 2008) it is anticipated that the time requirement will be 30 days. This will be increased to 50 days in year two (Sept 1, 2008 – Aug 31, 2009). In year three (Sept 1, 2009 – Aug 31, 2010) the commitment will escalate in line with the escalation of the programme for the Olympic athletes. Closing date for applications is Monday, November 26. Full details of how to apply are here.

Development News

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club has appointed Graham Sloan as part-time Area Curling Development Officer, based at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. He took up the post last week.

Graham previously held a similar post at the rink but resigned a year ago. The post has been restructured and is now fully supported and integrated into the Royal Club development officer network.

Graham is working with Anna Sloan and her National Academy team this season, and coached the Spanish team at the recent European Mixed Championships in Madrid. He brings a wealth of experience to the job.