One of the Royal Club's most successful initiatives of recent years has been the introduction of the Under-17 Slam, which brings together various events for our youngest curlers into one series, with a big prize to play for at the end. Competitions at Perth, Lockerbie, Greenacres, Hamilton and Atholl make up the Slam.
The first of the events which make up this season's Slam actually took place at the end of last season, at the Dewar's rink in Perth. It was won by Michael Reid, whose photo is above and whose winning team is
here.
What should have been the second Slam event should have been at Lockerbie, but was postponed because of that rink's early season woes. It has been rescheduled for January 12-13. All this means is that this weekend's competition at Greenacres for the Baljaffray trophy is the first time this season that we get to see Scottish curling's future stars on the ice. The results will be on the Royal Club website
here.
In what is a busy week and coming weekend for Royal Club competitions, and for Colin Hamilton, the Royal Club's Manager of Competitions, the preliminary rounds of the National Masters (the over 60s) are on now at Greenacres. Results are
here.
The first round of the Columba Cream Gold League, the Scottish Women's Championship, begins at Aberdeen on Saturday. Results
here.
And the last round of the men's Mini Tour is at the Galleon, Kilmarnock, this weekend. The favourites to win the Mini Tour title is David Edwards side, on the basis of their record at Hamilton and Lockerbie. The Edwards team sit out the Kilmarnock event, and it will be up to others to steal the Colin Galbraith trophy away from them. Results will be
here.
Michael Reid's photo (from last season's U-17 at Lockerbie) is by Bob.
Bill Marshall presents the National Masters trophy to Irene Hird (third), Janette Wilson (skip), Norma Brown (second) and Maggie Mauchline (lead). Find the results and linescores here.
Liz Knox presents trophy and prizes in the men's event to the defending champions Billy Beattie (third), Walter Graham (second), Gifford Rickard (skip) and John Gillespie (lead).
Janette Wilson with an audience!
Jim Bryson with a distinctive sweeping style. The stone has been digitally removed from the pic. Put your X where you think it should be.
Bob Smellie - you all know by now what I would like to say, but I'm not going to say it! It really is awful though, isn't it.
And here's another. Good curler though this week. Jim Stevenson's team made it to the semis.
An aside. This is Lynne, Jim Stevenson's other (some would say, better) half. Lynne, you are hereby appointed as the Scottish Curler fashion correspondent!
Greenacres will be thirty years old in September! Richard, are we having a party?
Hugh Stewart
Isobel Waddell and Maggie Mauchline working hard.
Gifford Rickard
"You know it's really thoughtful of the Greenacres' management to put in this little bench seat behind the head for the oldies' competitions."
Today's caption competition. Liz Boswell and Pat Galloway.
Margaret Paul
Team MacDonald in action.
Greenacres was a busy place this week... especially behind the head on sheet F on Thursday in the Sutherland - Bryson encounter!
Remember the Olympics?
Team Letton action draws attention from an adjacent rink.
Umpire Betty Montgomery gives Gordon McIntyre high style marks.
Willie Shanks
Kirsty Letton
My former skip and old friend David Horton. Great to see him on the ice. I was in David's company last night as we were celebrating friends' Jan and David Howard's 40th wedding anniversary (congratulations to them, and great party too in Skelmorlie). I had found an old photo of David from 1961. Even wife Maureen had difficulty picking him out of the group pic - from the first inter-city schools' match - which will no doubt go up on the History Blog once I accumulate more Crossmyloof memories!
One of the Royal Club's most successful initiatives of recent years has been the introduction of the Under-17 Slam, which brings together various events for our youngest curlers into one series, with a big prize to play for at the end. Competitions at Perth, Lockerbie, Greenacres, Hamilton and Atholl make up the Slam.
