[1] ENGLISH CURLING ASSOCIATION October 2010 - Issue 30 The season begins. By now many of you will have been on the ice, felt the cold beneath your feet and made that first tentative slide. Well you now have a long six months of opportunity to curl ahead of you, no Olympics this year but still some very high level curling coming along. We have the English Nationals for Women, Men and Mixed, we have the Mixed Doubles championships and the Seniors. A full season of curling for all levels of curler. There are the I’anson and the Fleming for any level of player; there are international and local spiels and competitions; Fenton’s has a full season and all are welcome. So don’t miss out this season and get yourself along to one or two of these excellent competitions and enjoy the fun. If you can, make it to an away bonspiel, there is nothing like it. Enjoy the game, enjoy the ice and have a great season. Good game everyone. The Editor IN THIS EDITION President’s Letter The Next Season ECA Competition Dates European Mixed Report Club News FUN Hot News £1(or subscription to ECA) NEWSLETTER
Transcript
[1]
ENGLISH CURLING ASSOCIATIONOctober 2010 - Issue 30
The season begins. By now many of you will have been on the ice, felt the cold beneath your feet and made that first tentative slide. Well you now have a long six months of opportunity to curl ahead of you, no Olympics this year but still some very high level curling coming along. We have the English Nationals for Women, Men and Mixed, we have the Mixed Doubles championships and the Seniors. A full season of curling for all levels of curler. There are the I’anson and the Fleming for any level of player; there are
international and local spiels and competitions; Fenton’s has a full season and all are welcome. So don’t miss out this season and get yourself along to one or two of these excellent competitions and enjoy the fun. If you can, make it to an away bonspiel, there is nothing like it.
Enjoy the game, enjoy the ice and have a great season. Good game everyone.
The Editor
IN THIS EDITION President’s Letter
The Next Season
ECA Competition Dates European Mixed Report Club News
FUN
Hot News
£1(or subscription to ECA)
NEWSLETTER
[2]
t only seems like 5 minutes since I wrote my last article for the newsletter! Where does the time go to? I hope that you all have enjoyed the summer whether you went away on holiday or stayed at home and are all set for your new season of curling?
I managed to sneak a few days away at the end of September as my batteries were in serious need of re-charging!
When I was elected President, I thought it would be fun to keep a track of how many emails I received (as President) in terms of it being more or less than normal so I could share this with you. Word of caution at this point – always back up your PC! I didn’t and the worst possible thing happened as my machine was hit by some virus and I lost everything!! However, I can tell you that the emails I receive have increased 6 fold!!!
The summer has been very busy for your President and Council members and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking certain individuals in particular.
Thank you to Debbie Hutcheon – who is not a Council member – as she has undertaken a huge amount of work on the coaching front and has been extremely successful. Deb – by the time you read this, I hope you enjoyed your well deserved 3 week break?
To the sub-committee working on the organisation of the 4 nations with me – a huge thank you. Suffice to say we are on track with the organisation and the invitations to Scotland, Ireland and Wales have been sent so I think the phrase is….. Watch this space!!! However please don’t feel that you cannot be involved in the 4 nations if you are not on the sub – committee. Quite the opposite actually so if your talents lie in driving, making sandwiches / preparing food, serving behind the bar, playing, supporting, PLEASE get in touch either with myself or the Editor of this newsletter! We look forward to hearing from you and your country needs you!
My first curling trip this year was to Kelso where we celebrated the memory of Duncan Stewart and everything he did for the ECA. We were pleased that so many of you came along and joined in and congratulations to the winnersand comiserations to the losers
I am deliberately keeping this short but the main thing I want to say is good stones, play well and enjoy your new season. I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible in the near future.
Best wishes
Alison
Alison J L Arthur
President
English Curling Association
ALISON ARTHUR
PRESIDENTENGLISH CURLING ASSOCIATION
[3]
Monday October 3rd 2010 – another season begins – by my reckoning it is the start of my 38th full season of curling, though if you add in the 6 years I did not play it is now well over 40 years since I followed in the footsteps of many others and walked across the road from Hutchie Boys Grammar School to Crossmyloof Ice Rink, with absolutely no idea what I had let myself in for.
There was no history of curling in my family but anything had to be better than the dreaded school mud heap – sorry rugby fields – and as I have told many people many times in the past (yawn!) the only reason I took up curling in preference to ten pin bowling was that it was cheaper (one shilling (5p) compared to 3/6 (17.5p)) and the ice rink was a lot closer to the school than the Mount Florida Bowl.
How lives change on such small matters!!!
But I am not going to bore you with looking back (not th is t ime anyway), but let’s look forward and see what the season might hold for both me personally and the curling world at large.
I stepped on to the ice at Fenton’s Rink the day it opened and was glad to find that my knees were still allowing me to glide along the ice in my usual graceful style – and then I got onto the hack!!! Now for many of my vintage, warm-ups still do not feature in our vocabulary but all you physiotherapists out there will be glad to know that I have decided to make a big effort to do some stretching before committing my body to the perfect sliding delivery this season. So sorry if that means less business for you all.
And yes I found that I was still looking forward to being able to
play those match winning shots which I dream of every time I sit on the hack and say to myself “This one to beat Al Hackner!” – never worked against Al but maybe it will against some less illustrious opponents this season!
I was down at the rink in my capacity as ECA secretary to talk to the junior teams and their parents who will be going to the European Junior Challenge in Prague – realising in fact that it was only 3 months away and that there was a lot to do in preparing the teams (and their parents) for this trip. For the girls it was business as usual – been there, done that and got the T-shirt – and yes they have accomplished all 3!
For the boys this will all be new territory and it will be interesting to see how they come together as a team – ‘very’ interesting in fact as one of them is now at University in Newcastle and so will only really have the time between Christmas and their flight to Prague on 2nd January to get together with his team mates though, he will be playing at Kelso with the Glendale Club I believe.
I am excited about the England team prospects at the Europeans in Champery – in Alan MacDougall we have a world class skip who has lost none of his flair which was evident when he won the World Junior Championships and with Andrew Reed at third he has formed a tight partnership tested t h r o u g h E u r o p e a n M i x e d Championships for the past 4 years. There is NOBODY who is more passionate about English curling than Andrew and he always gives his all for his country.
The front end of Andrew Woolston and Tom Jaeggi have International experience at Junior and Senior level and have that steadying
influence which all dynamic back ends need!!!!!!
On the ladies side we welcome Lorna Rett ig back onto the International scene and with the continuity provided by Kirsty Balfour at third, playing in her 8th European Championships, I am looking forward to them bouncing back into the A division at the first attempt. Nicola Woodward and Suzie Law will have the task of setting things up at the start of each end.
On the domestic front there has been a boom in Senior curling – a new women’s team will be going to the World’s this year after a gap in England’s representation for two years – Sandra Moorcroft, Susan Young, Alison Barr and Jean Robinson will be our girls out in St Paul in April.
Who will go with them is far from decided however. I have been fortunate enough to represent England in the World Seniors for the last 6 years and in only two of those years did we have to face a challenge – from one other team - to win our trip. This year there are 4 teams entered and a playdown is scheduled to take place over the weekend of 3-5th December at Greenacres.
So am I looking forward to it? In a way I am – at least if I win no one will be able to say that I was only going to St Paul because there were no o ther en t r ies , bu t obviously it is going to be hard work to win through, but I will be giving it 100%, especially as there will be an 18 month gap between World Senior events and I am not getting any younger!!! From a personal point of view the fact that my only niece is getting married in London that weekend only adds to the challenge!!
The Prospect Before Us, 2010-11 editionby our secretary John Brown
[4]
But before all that we had a new tournament at Kelso on the 16th and 17th October – the Duncan Stewart Memorial Trophy - where we had 6 teams formed by pulling names out of a hat and competing for this new trophy, presented by Mary Stewart in memory of her husband Duncan who was one of the stalwarts of English curling until his death earlier this year. We hope that this trophy will be a popular addition to the ECA calendar and will be taking it around the country in future years.
And hopefully that ‘around the country’ will include Sheffield and Solihull, two venues where we are trying hard to establish curling – a very successful visit by Rhona Martin in the summer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKGpA9BNONo
has sparked off regular curling sessions at Sheffield, although Solihull remains a more tantalising prospect owing to a lack of free spaces in a very busy rink programme of events.
And finally, from an English point of view, I am looking forward to showcasing the best ice we have ever had in England when the 4 Nations weekend is held in Fenton’s Rink in Kent in January.
As I said above I was down there recently and it is looking super with keen ice.
For the ECA this will be the biggest event they have held and you can be su re t ha t t he organising committee will be working hard to make sure that all the visitors are fed and watered to their satisfaction, transported to where they want or need to be and given a good time on the ice – even when they are beating the English teams (as if)!!
Looking further afield (Scotland and the rest of Great Britain!) there has not been a year recently with so much change happening at any one time – a new CEO at the RCCC and a new Chair of British Curling – I am looking forward to them working together – and also to them working apart – there needs to be a c lear distinction I believe in the various roles of the RCCC and British Curling – many of the problems raised in the Scottish Curling Forum and elsewhere are caused by a lack of clarity about their roles. No one can serve both masters, convenient though it may appear to be.
So I look forward to a clearing of the air about who is funding what and who, who is in charge of the
different aspects related to the 2014 Olympics and who is responsible for making sure that curling across Britain at various levels benefits from the Olympic process.
What is clear is that British Curling must have one and one only aim – providing the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations with three teams, prepared as no other teams have been before, to go on to the ice at Sochi and do their utmost to win medals for Great Britain.
Within that aim it is necessary for the RCCC, ECA and WCA to work to ensure that their domestic game is in good health and able to provide the players to be in those teams – however they are selected.
Most of all I look forward to a season which will remind me why I love this sport and why I continue to be excited about the prospects that face me on and off the ice for the next 7 months.
Have a good season everybody. May the better team win, but may you all come off the ice feeling that you had a ‘grand old time’.
Kinross Curling Trust
There is a major campaign to establish a National Academy in Kinross. At this moment there is a legal issue that is threatening to derail the whole project has to be settled at a Lands tribunal. The original date to have a new facility up and running (September 2010) has passed and it is now looking very unlikely that a new rink could be in place by the 2011 season. The pessimistic members of the curling fraternity now doubt that a rink will be built at all. The writer’s view is that it is more likely that a new site will have to be identified. It is regrettable situation that a legal issue , that was known about, was ignored in the early stages of planning. Many local clubs have been involved in raising tens of thousands of pounds for the project. Google the site to find out more.
Can you identify the next shot? Answer inside the last page.
next shot
final shot
Directionof play
H O G L I N E
O rder of play
Ice is keen with good swing on both hands. You are yellow and lying shot. This is the last end, scores are tied and this is
your last stone. During the end you have guarded your
shot 3 times in succession and the
opposition have peeled it off
successfully. What do you do with your
last shot - Guard again or take the
green out?
Decision TimeBy John Sharp
[6]
Preston Curling ClubI’Anson Competition – First English Province and Preston CC
Final preparations are being made for the annual trek to Stranraer. If you have done it you know it is well worth it. Last years winning skip Fi Hawker is not available, and so Steve Scanlan has found a new rink member. John Sharp – a local lad has signed up for the first time. There are other strong contenders – Sandra Moorcroft is hoping to bring her Senior ladies rink. John Brown and Peter Bowyer will be hoping to be in contention on Sunday morning as the Schenkel system unfolds.
There is potential for 16 rinks – and at one point at least 18 skips had been in touch. For a combination of reasons it now looks as if there will be fourteen rinks. If you would like to find our more contact PrestonCC secretary, Phil Barton ([email protected])
Preston CC
Our first event has taken place – the Hermon trophy on 30th September. Phil Barton was the overall winner after two wins in the two games. Phil Atherton came second, keeping ahead of Jim Aitken on ends, with 2 points each. We were thrilled to have Jean Picken on the ice. Jean had celebrated her sixtieth wedding anniversary on the preceding day. We would like to extend best wishes for a speedy recovery to our Vice President Ian Sayers, who has been in hospital.
Our next event is on 21st October – the Gray trophy.
Men with Brooms
You may remember the s t o r y i n t h e l a s t edition concerning the f i l m ‘ M e n w i t h Brooms’? Well the hot news is that there is now a televised series on TV. Currently only in Canada but who knows?
NEW ECA Website
Have you visited the ECA website lately? If not, why not, we have recently undertaken an update to the website and over the coming seasons it will bring you up to date with t h e l a t e s t e v e n t s , competitions, results and workings of the ECA and beyond. Additionally it will keep you up to date on major events in the curling world. So if you have not visited please pop along and see what is new.
Hot NewsRemember!! The English Curling Forum is now .net, yes, DOT NET. Don’t be forgetting now.
24 countries participated in this event, the earliest of the major international competitions, with Turkey being welcomed for the first time. England were yet again represented by the strong team of Alan MacDougall, Lana Watson, Andrew Reed and Suzie Law. This is the 4th year in succession this team have been to these championships. A bronze medal in 2009 gave hope for something better this time, particularly since Greenacres is akin to home ice.
All the results, and team players, can be seen at the event website www.curl-greenacres.com with reports on Bob Cowan’s blog at www.skipcottagecurling.blogspot.com . More detailed reports of the England games are on the English Curling Forum in the International Competitions section.
Round Robin gamesThe teams were split into 3 groups of 8 for the round robin stage. A run of 7 straight wins in the group saw England top their group, beating Czech Republic, Spain, Serbia, Ireland, Belarus, Austria and Slovakia.
Some of these games were won not without some difficulty, starting with the first against the Czechs who England had narrowly beaten for the bronze medal in 2009. The Czech team included Sara Jahadova, who some of you might remember as she spent some time playing down in Kent a couple of years ago. England took a 5-1 lead at the break and had come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. The Czechs then found better form and the scores were tied at 5-5 playing the last end. However a perfect last end after a gentle come around and tap back by Vez right out on the
wing. This was immediately recovered though and England did not look back after that.
The fourth game against Ireland saw England almost blow this one. Tierney, the Irish skip had a particularly good game and England could not pull away. This one came down to the last stone and Tierney had a shot to score 3 to win the game but could not manage to squeeze the England shot through a narrow port at the back of the house. 6-3 to England.
By far England’s best game in the group was against the previously undefeated Austrians in game 5. England forced Austria to take a 1 in the second end, but then gave up another to be 2-0 down after 3 ends. A great team effort before the break saw a 3 scored. The scored were 4-4 playing the sixth ends and a real mess of guards, following some poorly executed shots by both teams, allowed the Austrian skip to get one in behind and steal 1. A blank seventh end and it all came down to the final end where 2 good shots by Lana, an inch perfect draw to top button and then a guard on it, were enough to get the 2 needed for victory.
Quarter finalistsEngland were ranked second overall behind Scotland who had also gone undefeated through their group and had a better draw shot average than England.
The top two in each group qualified and these were Scotland/ Switzerland, England/Austria and Hungary/Germany to give the first six teams for the quarter finals.
Third ranked teams and the Post Round Robin ChallengeThe best of the third ranked teams in each group, based on draw shot average joined the six teams above in the quarter finals and this was Russia, also coming out of the Scotland/Switzerland group. One more team was needed to make up the 8th and last quarter finalist and the remaining 2 third ranked teams then had to complete the new “Post Round Robin Challenge”. This involved Denmark and Slovakia (from the England group).
Well, I believe this was the first time this had ever been carried out and provided an interesting spectacle. Both teams had 10 minutes practice on adjacent sheets (1 team on sheet B and the other on sheet C) and then immediately after practice, each member of the team has to throw one stone to the button. Distances are added and the team with the lower distance wins. This all happens simultaneously and after three stones from each team each it looked pretty close. Unfortunately the last Slovakian stone was long giving the 8th spot to Denmark and a quarter final game against the 1st ranked team, Scotland. Denmark were skipped by Joel Ostrowski, and were overall silver medallists in 2009.
European Mixed Curling Championships
Greenacres Curling Club, Scotland 20-25 September 2010
Quarter finalsQuarter finals were new and it is sudden death. Losers are out and the 4 winners are guaranteed 2 more games for a medal.
England ranked 2, drew the 7th ranked team, Russia. The Russians were a strong team and the game went all the way to the last stone. A superb tactical last end saw England place 4 identical guards in succession on Andrew Reed’s shot stone all to be peeled off by the Russians except the last one. The Russian skip was left with his last stone and a gentle tap up was needed on his own counter into the 4 foot but he hung out, only tickled his own and ran on just beyond the 4 foot to give England a semi final spot. Terrific stuff and a stolen victory if ever there was one.
Semi finalsScotland v Germany and England v Switzerland. This was a real downer for England and the game turned when Alan’s last draw in the third end pulled up in the front ring, needing to be a few inches further on to out count 2 Swiss stones. It looked as if it had plenty of weight and the sweepers were fairly relaxed most of the way down the ice with it. However, this made it 0-3 instead of 1-1 and very comfortable for a young Swiss team who were missing nothing. The game ended in the 7th end with England failing to force a steal at 1-3 down, the Swiss taking a 3 and handshakes with the score at 1-6.
Bronze medal play offEngland v Germany. This was always going to be tight and so it proved, all coming down to the last stones. England needed to steal and Alan’s last stone was a difficult draw through a narrow port in the front of the house. This would have forced Germany to draw the 4 foot to win. Unfortunately Alan’s stone was a couple of inches short. This left England disappointingly out of the medals in fourth place. Fourth from twenty four is all very creditable to a consistently strong team.
The WinnersAn impressive Scotland display all week left them unbeaten throughout and deserved winners were David Edwards, Kerry Barr, Dillan Perras and Louise Wood.
Other bits and bobsEvery team has a tremendous amount of organisation to prepare for these events and some things never quite work out, although there is always a solution. This time:
On arrival, the hotel had lost the team booking for the week. After this initial hiccough they were relocated to another hotel which turned out to be pretty good and with no other teams staying there it provided a good place for breaks away from it all between games.
The team never had light coloured jackets before, only red ones. So whites were ordered and printed
up, except Alan’s jacket never arrived. He ended up wearing John Sharp’s, a tad too big possibly!!
FinallyThis event is staged so early that many ice rinks are not even open yet for the new season but it was good to see many visitors during the course of the week. Family support was in evidence with Alan’s parents, Suzie’s parents and Joan Reed in at various times in the week. Further support even included a visitation from the editor, who had been working in Edinburgh for 2 or 3 days, before disappearing off back south. Also in attendance at various times during the week were Kirsty Balfour, Sandra Moorcroft, Sarah McVey and Lorna Rettig’s mother.
A very busy start to the season for Greenacres and all the umpires, volunteers and other helpers were kept fully occupied as the European C division playoffs were also being played at the same time.
And very many congratulations to Turkey. In their first international appearance they won their very first game in the mixed championships and their ladies have qualified through to make it to the European B division in which England currently reside!
John SharpSeptember 2010
Want to buy a Pair of Curling shoes?
Then why not shop at the ECA’s partners at;www.curlingSupplies.com. Contact us at the ECA first if you are a member and enjoy 5% discount on your purchase.
When Duncan Stewart died in January of this year he left a void in English curling which will prove hard to fill. In order to keep his memory alive the ECA in discussion with his widow, Mary, proposed that a new trophy be played for and thus was born the idea of the Duncan Stewart Memorial Trophy.
The first running of the event took place at Kelso at the weekend and in the spirit of the friendship of curling which Duncan always propounded, the teams were drawn out of a hat. While the aim of 8 teams proved just too ambitious enough players were found to enable 6 teams to participate.
While 15 of the players were able to play all 4 sessions, the other 9 positions were filled by a variety of members from the local (English) Glendale Club including some who were also playing for their Scottish clubs in the Double Rink Championship in the in-between sessions!!
The draw was predetermined and so there was no juggling of position in a Schenkel like system, but even so the whole competition came down to the last session when it just so happened that the top two teams were drawn to play against each other, and the destiny of the whole competition came down to who won the last end!!
But that is jumping ahead of ourselves. Games in the first draw were all close, none more so than the one in which Glynnice Lauder beat Michael Sutherland by 4-3. In the other games there were wins for John Brown and John Sharp. After a meal at the Rink, the second session saw a further win for John Brown but the other two first round winners both lost, notably John Sharp who lost 2-12 to Phil Barton, a result which would become very significant the following day.
Play on the Sunday began at 0930 and John Brown won his third straight game, but only after coming from 1-6 down to beat James Dixon. Meanwhile John Sharp recovered to take his second win, against Glynnice Lauder, playing two shots in particular which turned potential big end losses into shots for himself, especially the one that managed to get one of his stones beating 5 opposition stones all in the 4 foot!
And now with just one game left John Brown led on 3 wins from John Sharp on 2 wins and everybody else on 1 win. He also had 2 more ends and 8 more ends than John Sharp and so it must have seemed all over bar the shouting. But no, after 6 ends it was 13-4 to John Sharp and he had won 4 ends to 2 and so whoever won the last end would win the trophy. Quite a finish and it seemed strange to be trying to get one shot to lose by 5-13 and thus win the competition!!
The head was kept pretty clear and when John B put his first draw just around a guard and John S was just a little heavy the game was over and the first Duncan Stewart Memorial Trophy went to John Brown (London), Harvey Curle (Glendale), Doug Andrews (SECC) and Caro l ine Cumming (Glendale). Also in the team was John Robertson who played the first two games in place of Caroline and Megan Runciman played one game instead of Harvey.
In a moving presentation Mary Stewart presented bottles of wine to all 24 players and then the new trophy and mementoes to the winning team. Next year the Trophy will almost certainly be played at Fenton’s in Kent so that those in the South can have their chance to win the ECA’s newest trophy.
In Memory of Duncan
DUNCAN STEWART MEMORIAL TROPHY, 16-17th October 2010, Border Ice Rink, Kelso
Saturday 16th October, 1330Pts Ends Shots
Glynnice Lauder 4 Michael Sutherland 3 J Brown 2 5 9James Dixon 4 John Sharp 7 J Sharp 2 5 7Phil Barton 5 John Brown 9 G Lauder 2 4 4
P Barton 0 3 5J Dixon 0 3 4M Sutherland 0 3 3
Saturday 16th October 1845Pts Ends Shots
Phil Barton 12 John Sharp 2 J Brown 4 9 16John Brown 7 Michael Sutherland 3 P Barton 2 9 17Glynnice Lauder 5 James Dixon 10 J Dixon 2 9 14
J Sharp 2 7 9G Lauder 2 6 9M Sutherland 0 6 6
Sunday 17th October 0930Pts Ends Shots
James Dixon 7 John Brown 9 J Brown 6 13 25Glynnice Lauder 5 John Sharp 8 J Sharp 4 11 17Michael Sutherland 8 Phil Barton 7 P Barton 2 14 24
JOHN BROWN London S S S SHarvey Curle Glendale 3 3 3Doug Andrews SECC 2 2 2 2Megan Runciman Glendale 3John Robertson Glendale 1 1Caroline Cumming Glendale 1 1
JOHN SHARP London S S S SRobin Gemmell London 3 3 3 3Peter Bowyer Glendale 2Meg Smith Glendale 2Moira Davison Glendale 2Jimmy Straughan Glendale 2Ian Curle Glendale 1 1 1 1
PHIL BARTON Preston S S S SSusan Young London 3 3 3 3Richard Murray Glendale 2 2 2 2Aly Ewan London 1 1 1 1
JAMES DIXON Glendale S S SAndrew Dixon Glendale SFiona Turnbull Guest 3 3Alastair Davison Glendale 3 3Alan Collet Glendale 2 2 2Hilary Bowyer Glendale 1 1 1Shawn Fairweather Glendale 1
GLYNNICE LAUDER Glendale S S S SNeil Maycock SECC 3 3 3 3James Gibb London 2 2 2 2Phil Riddie-Ford Bell Guest 1 1 1 1
MICHAEL SUTHERLAND Glendale S S SJoan Dixon Glendale 3 3 3Steve Scanlan London 2 2 2 2George Balfour Guest 1 1 1 1Peter Bowyer Glendale SVenetia Scott Glendale 3
Sessions
ENGLISH CURLING ASSOCIATION
[10]
ECA Competitions
[11]
Mens and Ladies PlaydownsThe blue riband event takes place over the weekend of Friday 4th – S u n d a y 6 t h F e b r u a r y a t Greenacres. Of course it will start as early as required depending on the number of entries. Last year was the smallest number (four) for several years.
The closing date is 30.11.10.
Mixed – Playdowns
The dates has been confirmed for the weekend of 5th/6th March 2011 at Fentons. Closing date 30th November 2010.
Senior Playdowns
The ladies event is not required as we only
have one valid entry – led by Sandra
Moorcroft. For the first time we have four
rinks in the men’s event, and so have a
double round robin at the weekend of 3rd –
5th December at Greenacres.
John Brown is defending his title. John
Sharp and Ken Maxwell make their debuts
with their new rinks. Michael Sutherland
has returned to the fray with a new
combination – Tommy Campbell, John
Summers and Phil Barton. They have
already had a match against the Irish
seniors and have set up a match against
the Latvian national team in November.
The Brown and Sutherland rinks have also
taken up places at the Invitation Senior
European Championships f rom 3 rd
November, also at Greenacres.
Four Nations
The event is taking shape – please book the dates (21st – 23rd January 2011) in your curling calendar. We would like members of Glendale and Preston to take part. We certainly expect the members of London and SECC to take the opportunity to take part in this great competition. The ECA are the top ranking home nation after last year – with victories in three out four trophies we compete for.
ECA Mixed Doubles
This competition is at Murrayfield from Friday 10th to Sun 12 Dec 2010. This coincides with the Scottish playdowns (Mixed 2’s) and guarantees the ice will be just right for this format of curling. It is great to report that there are 6 rinks in the event. A single round robin will we hope identify a clear winner to represent the ECA in the next World pairs event in America next April. John Sharp and Jane Clark will be very eager to retain their title.
From our Games Convener Phil Barton
Entry forms for Mixed and Playdowns can be found on the following pages
[12]
* start date to be confirmed - depending on size of entry
We, the undersigned, wish to enter as a team in the above Championships and agree that:
NAME ADDRESS TELE. NUMBERS CLUB
OTHER EVENTS - the winning rink may be invited to represent the ECA in other international competitions.
Entry form to be returned to: Phil Barton 21 Inch Avenue Aberdour Fife KY3 0TF
In the list of players below the first named should be the one to whom all correspondenceis to be sent and whose name shall appear on the Championship draw.
written consent of the ECA Council;
we are all aware of the World Curling Federation Rules relating to International Competitions;
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 - 11Greenacres Thurs 3rd * - Sun 6th February 2011
NO
5
Championships to be held in December 2011
we clearly understand the time and cost implications of 1 above and shall not step down without the
as members of the winning team, we shall all represent the ECA in the European
we are all eligible to represent England as specified in Section 7.2 of the ECA Constitution;
if we are eliminated in any form of Playdown we shall not play for any other team in the Championships
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY: REC
English Curling Association (Men and Ladies)
Please enclose £20 entry fee - £5 per player (payable to ECA)
EMAIL
unless requested to by the ECA Council.
1
2
3
4
[13]
We, the undersigned, wish to enter as a team in the above Championships and agree that:
NAME ADDRESS TELE. NUMBERS CLUB
OTHER EVENTS - the winning rink may be invited to represent the ECA in other international competitions.
Entry form to be returned to: Phil Barton 21 Inch Avenue Aberdour Fife KY3 0TF
In the list of players below the first named should be the one to whom all correspondenceis to be sent and whose name shall appear on the Championship draw.
The ECA council reserves the right to nominate a rink from the event to represent the ECA in Europe.
we are all aware of the World Curling Federation Rules relating to International Competitions;
NATIONAL MIXED CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 - 11Fentons ice rink 4th - 6th March 2011
NO
late chnages may be made to the rink
Rinks are not making a commitment to further competitions, for example the European Championships.
We will attend this event. If we fail to attend we will be liable for our portion of the ice charges.
we are all eligible to represent England as specified in Section 7.2 of the ECA Constitution;
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY: REC
English Curling Association
Please enclose £20 entry fee - £5 per player (payable to ECA)
EMAIL
1
2
3
4
[14]
A tale of the Four Musketeers, and their adventures in the sunny south of France. Sandra, Susan, James and Mike
Time 2.30am Friday 10th September 2010, amount of sleep two hours, finished the packing, only one small carry –on, (very unusual for me), jump into the shower, get dressed, phone Susan Young, then James Gibb to make sure they are up, grab the curling broom, pack the car, drive to Maidenhead, James is waiting, set off, go back, James lights in house are still on, and then we are on our way, slowly as observing 40 mile speed limit on empty motorway (why?).
Valet parking highly recommended, walk straight into terminal as time marches on James is getting jumpy, where is our Susan? At last out of the corner of our eyes we spot a broom bag, must be Susan, then group check–in so we can sit together, ah team bonding etc etc.
Least said about breakfast on the plane (BA flight) the better, but here’s a tip take your own, after sitting on the tarmac, not literally, which felt like hours we set off and headed for the sun, not realising how hot and sunny and beautiful it was all going to be.
So far so good, and our reception party is waiting for us as we emerge from the customs hall and meet up with the team from Hamburg (who we beat 7-5), more on that later. Then it was out into the sweltering, but very welcoming heat, we piled on to the minibus and our driver Fabrice one of the organisers (and very good player) was our driver and tour guide. We diverted through the old part of Marseille the Vieux Port each yacht bigger than the next as he negotiated his way through the constant traffic jam that is downtown Marseille. Another tip, best to miss July/August when it’s steaming hot and full to bursting with tourists. September is a good month and of course you can curl as well if you enter this competition, the best of both worlds.
After we are all checked into hotel the three of us (Mike arrived later) head off to see what Marseille
has to offer. It is only 11.30 am after our early morning take off at 6.30am. Finally after many attempts trying to buy our ticket for the metro we suss it out, but not without a huge queue forming behind and stressing James.
We eventually work out the not very complicated tube system (there are only two lines), but when its foreign to you it seems so complicated, and once we managed to get James through the barriers, typically his ticket wasn’t working which could have been down to the fact he kept putting it in the wrong way.
This was shaping up to be a very fun weekend with laughter all the way.Lunch at the Vieux Port was very civilised at a promenade restaurant overlooking the marina and up in the hills the view of the Notre Dame Church which we would be visiting shortly, sun shining down, blue sky, not a cloud to be seen, watching the world go by, the three of us working out how can we stay here in this wonderful setting.
Then, on Fabrice’s recommendation we boarded the little train across the road for the tour through the town (7euros and well worth it, if short on time, best to do this) and up into the hills to see the church and the spectacular 360 degree views of Marseille and the blue Mediterranean sea, and just off shore the small island of Fort D’If and Archipelago, the setting for the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Absolutely stunning in the beautiful sunshine, I hadn’t realised how large Marseille was and how many of the old buildings had stood the test of time and a few wars.The Greeks came here first, followed by a host of others and the rest is history. (It will all be on the internet if you want to know more about this stuff).
Anyhow, enough of this I think we came to curl and not to sunbathe and the other two did manage to keep me away from the beach otherwise they were going to be skipping themselves. I did suggest we get some radio/tv links and I could direct from my sun lounger, but somehow that didn’t go down very well with the rest of the team.
The Massilia Cup, Marseille Inaugural Tournament10th – 12th September 2010
[15]
As the three of us sat at a cosy little bar drinking panachee watching the sun go down, the phone rings and our fourth man has arrived and raring to go.We rendevouz back at the hotel and then we head back down town to eat and drink. We found a lovely French, (surprise surprise) restaurant in the town square.After I had upset the waiter ( not deliberately) but because I asked for a crepe which they don’t serve for the evening food we eventually were able to order our meal without having him waltz off again in a huff because we got it wrong. The same thing happened when we asked for the bill only to be told it’s already on the table, cant we see it). It was a good meal and I think the waiter was warming to us and our sense of humour by the time we had to leave to catch the last metro back to the hotel and much needed sleep, before our three games on the Saturday.
After the heat of the morning a short walk about 5mins and we arrive at the newly built patinoire for our first game at 10 am, no mean feat seeing as how the curling club has only 25 members and they were able to persuade the powers that be that what Marseille needed was a curling rink. We played on a 6 sheeter, but they do have an Olympic size rink for larger competitions.
Registration, t shirts and lunch and dinner vouchers received and we were ready. When I found out we were up first against the French junior team who had come second in the worlds (I found out that bit later from their coach), I thought here we go, take outs a plenty from them, not us. LOL
James won our toss and we were off. Immediately the skip got his lead to put his stones into the house, trying to force me into take outs, but I totally ignored them and James obliged by putting up a great guard then the winning shot into the house. More of our shots were guddled at the front and this totally disconcerted the young lads. I have noticed with younger players that they like to play into empty houses and can’t deal when a cluster is put in front of them. The rest of the match continued in this way, although bad tactics from myself and at one end I had to play into 5 stones against and I managed to find a way through to capture the end, much to the surprise of the young skip who thought the large end was his for the taking. The final score was 5 5. I think they were all a bit surprised at the outcome as were other competitors as these young lads were tipped to beat us handsomely.
Next up for our game at 2pm was Hamburg, the skip I knew from the Dolly Cup in Geneva. Although James won the toss, they elected to go first as they wanted to chose the red stones, their reasoning being they had watched the match on this lane previously and the team had won all 8 ends with the red stones, so the skip from Hamburg assumed there was a problem with the yellow.
I think it came as quite a shock when we beat them 7 5 after a very tight game.
Third match of the day we played against a local team with two players from Lausanne. So they were Lausanne, Marseille. We were on sheet 1 and the majority of spectators about 50 plus had turned up to watch this particular game as this was their family on the ice. No pressure then from the audience lol.It was nip and tuck all the way, and the final score was 6 5 for us. I guess we had had a slight advantage as we were playing on the sheet we had just beaten the German team so knew the ice very well, as it had one side that was almost unplayable with ridges that made the stone weave in and out all the way if sent up this side. My opposite number too often gave his team this handle and it didn’t work. Apart from his third, she seemed able to get her stones into play this way.Another very enjoyable game against strong opposition, and we were going into the Sunday games ranked 5th overall.
After an amazing evening eating paella, dining outside under the stars on a warm balmy evening in front of ‘une grande maison’, it was an early start for us, an 8am game, not a good idea.We played a group of guys from Strasbourg, all with beards; I think it was their team outfits. They were a great bunch and we had great fun playing against them, we were on sheet 5 which was the pits and both sets of stones were totally mismatched and James and Mike sussed this out first and they were swapping them around to try and get some reasonable shots out of them. After the first few ends we looked as if we were both Olympic standard teams as the score by the fourth end was only 2 a piece. I was the first player to get a stone in the house at the first end, this surprised the lads as they were all strong guys and you would think they could have got their stones over the hog line. 15 stones never made it methinks something is wrong here. By the second end the opposition skip was able to get his stone into the house just beating mine. So only two in the house this time
Our number four stone was totally unplayable, and even with Mike and James trying their strongest shots it never got over the hog line. A mistake and I let the opposition get a three, not really sure how that happened, anyhow we were lying 4 2 against at the fifth end. But we dug in, had fun, turned the game around and we were 4 a piece going into last end. We were well ahead of everyone else as there was no point in watching or reading the ice it was just pot luck for both teams if we got a stone into play. Most of the time when standing in the head I just said to the team anywhere you like as long as its counting. Luckily both teams were taking this in good fun and we were all having a laugh there was no point in stressing so we enjoyed it all the more I think. We congratulated anyone who got a stone in, even if it was counting against us.
[16]
The last end, we took a three so the final score was 7 4 and we were now ranked 3rd going into the final game. Susan was so happy and full of respect that I had been able to get my stones into the house when all were struggling that she bent down and kissed my feet, by this time we were all in hysterics.
2pm and strike up the band, the crowds had gathered, no kidding 150 plus spectators, and the last 12 teams headed out to play our final matches in this fabulous arena.
We were up against Lausanne Olympique and both Mike and I knew the third Ulli from HW (Highland Week in Inverness). We were back on the dreaded sheet five with the mismatched stones, James elected to play with the yellow and the Swiss were disappointed because they had played this previously as well and knew the red stones were worse.But as it turned out the two best stones were the Swiss skips ones and the final score was 9 6 to them. The game overall was similar to the previous game, however both teams were fairly evenly matched, but my opposition was so much better than me. Well he was a former world champion so I don’t feel so bad and he did admit that he had the two best stones on the sheet. He was also very gracious when I played a good shot under difficult circumstances. He is also the iceman at Lausanne rink, so that helps a bit I think with understanding the ice well.
So overall we were 7th out of 24 teams and we were all very pleased at how it had all gone, the four us had never played together and Mike was only meeting James and Susan for the first time, but we all got on like a house on fire and it was fun from start to finish both on and off the ice. Our line up worked well with James at lead, Susan played second and Mike was vice skip. I want to thank them all for a wonderful time and for all their hard work, they all swept as if their lives depended on it. I had the easy job of just standing in the head, directing.
My other heartfelt thanks go to all the organisers of this fantastic inaugural tournament and I hope the first of many. I thoroughly recommend you find the time to enter.They warmly welcomed us, looked after us, nothing was too much bother, everyone was friendly, and they were all playing as well. For the week before we all arrived, most of them were surviving on a few hours sleep a night, just trying to make sure everything was just right for their first tournament. They all deserve a medal. I look forward to being able to enter next year and meeting up with them all again; They are a wonderful bunch of people.
Sandra Moorcroft 14th September 2010
[17]
Over 80 people turned out to try curling at Fenton’s Rink, England’s only curling facility on Sunday, when the Rink held a "Come and Try" session to mark the start of their seventh season.
Many were family groups, with both adults and children taking to the ice under the supervision of the Rink staff who provided instruction and encouragement to those taking to the ice for the first time.
Curling is a Winter Olympic sport and one in which Team GB does consistently well, thanks to Scottish curling enthusiasts. There are fewer English players, but with the establishment of the Tunbridge Wells rink, England is now fielding junior teams in European competition for the first time.
Although curling is a very serious precision sport at its top level, beginners can have fun on the ice right from the start – and so it proved on Sunday. John Heath from Wadhurst said ―It’s much harder than it looks—but excellent fun! We will be back for more.
The Rink welcome beginners and novices every Monday evening and there will another "Come and Try" event on November 28th.
For further information contact Ernest Fenton on 01892 826004 or [email protected]
A new Monday evening session is being introduced this season for novice curlers. It starts from 6pm onwards on October 3rd and is open to anyone who wants to take up curling as a winter activity.
There will be practice ice and coaching to get you started and we will arrange games during the evening depending on numbers. Come along any time between 6pm and 9pm and see for yourself!
Monday Night Novice Curling
2010/11 Curling Diary
October 4th: Rink OpensSunday October 10th: Come and Try DayWeekend November 6th and 7th: Glenfarclas Anniversary BonspielSunday November 28th: Come and Try DaySunday January 9t: Come and Try DayFriday to Sunday January 21-23rd: ECA Four NationsSaturday February 26th: The "Great Gordino" BonspielWeekend March 5th and 6th: ECA Mixed PlaydownsWeekend March 19th and 20th: POL Fleming TrophyThroughout March: English Schools ChampionshipsApril 6th (provisional date): Rink Closes
Seniors Greenacres, 3-5 December Mixed Doubles Murrayfield, 10-12 December 4 Nations Fentons, 21-23 January – 9 sessions Nationals Greenacres 3-6 February Mixed Fentons 4-6 March
WCF Competition Programme 2010-2011 World Wheelchair Qualifying Kisakallio (FIN) 6/11 – 12/11European A and B groups Champery 4/12 – 11/12European Junior Challenge Prague 2/1 – 7/1World Wheelchair Prague 21/2 – 3/3World Junior Perth 5/3 – 13/3World Womens Esbjerg 19/3 – 27/3World Mens Regina 2/4 – 10/4World Mixed Doubles St Paul 16/4 – 24/4World Senior St Paul 16/4 – 24/4
[19]
Maecenas aliquam maecenas Sociis mauris in integer, a dolor netus non dui aliquet, sagittis felis sodales, dolor sociis mauris, vel eu libero cras. Interdum at. Eget habitasse elementum est, ipsum purus pede class. Sodales nulla ante auctor excepturi wisi, dolor eros condimentum dis, sodales lacus nunc.
Upcoming CompetitionsECA Keeps Tabs on Bonspiels
The ECA website now has a
section for upcoming bonspiels
and games, so if you are looking
for a game take a look at the
Upcoming Competitions page
HERE. We will list all games we
get to hear about so tell us if you
know of an upcoming competition.
First English Province and Preston Curling Club
I’Anson Competition
at the North West Castle Hotel, Stranraer
Fri 19th - Sun 21nd Nov 10
This fantastic event is on again. A fun Bonspiel with a great deal of great and competitive curling.The entrance fee is £40 per rink. Please send cheque payable to Preston Curling Club with entry. Ice
charges are included in the accommodation charges paid to the hotel. Non residents are liable to pay ice charges.
If you have not played before please let us know how you heard about the event.Please note that you require to book your own accommodation at the North West Castle. (please refer to
the I’Anson event)Early entries are appreciated (to make sure you get a place!)
Curl Aberdeen is delighted to announce a new competition in the competitive calendar this year which will take place 4th to 6th February 2011 thanks to an Aberdeen City Council initiative. The Council were delighted with the success of the European Curling Championships held in Aberdeen in December 2009 and they have presented the Rink with a trophy to be contested in an Open tournament each year.
This inaugural event is open to any four curlers who wish to enter from home or abroad. Every team is guaranteed four games as the 24 teams will be split into two sections and play a schenkel system of four group games. The top four teams from each section will move forward to the quarter finals which will be held on Sunday morning.
Curl Aberdeen has also secured a discounted rate with the local Holiday Inn Express at Westhill of £49 per room bed and breakfast. The Rink will provide transport between the hotel and the club on Friday and Saturday nights so that competitors can enjoy the event to the full. Saturday night will see teams sitting down to a two course meal followed by an evening of entertainment all of which is included in the team entry fee of £120. Tickets for supporters of teams will also be available for the Saturday night but must be purchased in advance.
For further information or to download an entry form please visit:
http://www.cityopen.co.uk/index.html
Hungarian Bonspiel
Number of teams: 16 (10 foreign teams)
Entry fee: 380 € per team (Including lunch for 3 days dinner for 1 day (Friday) and a bowling party Saturday evening November 20th.)
Decision Time - Answer (question page 6)by John Sharp
Would you like your advert here?
Did you realise the circulation of this magazine is now over 500 keen curlers each edition and rising rapidly. If you would like to see your advert here then contact the editor - it is better value than you think.
Advertising space available from 1/4 to a full page, your design and colour’s, multiple editions available at very very competitive prices.
This was the scenario facing Alan MacDougall as England played Russia in the sudden death quarter final at the European Mixed Championships in Greenacres. Tied at 5-5 very few shots had been missed throughout a high quality game.
Alan chose to replace the guard on his own stone. Why? Most people are likely to have hit the opposition stone to lie 2.
However, doing this would have left a strike for Russia to win and they had not been missing strikes. This had been the strongpoint of their play during the game. So the decision was made to force them to play a tee weight draw shot for a gentle tap up on their own stone of about 4 inches for the game.
In addition, England had already played 3 identical shots on the same line to guard and Alan was playing it for the second time in a row. He was making the Russian skip play a draw after a heavy peel on a guard.
The Russian skip played slightly heavy and just touched his own, but not far enough and rolled on just out of the 4 foot to let England steal the game.
[21]
100 Club
The English Curling Association runs a ‘100 Club’ to raise funds for the Association. Shares in the club are open to any ECA member and cost £1 per month. An individual can hold up to 15 shares at any one time. Payment is by Standing Order and you can get details from the secretary via the Contact page on the ECA website.
Each month there are three prizes - for £40, £30 and £20. In December the prize money is doubled and in the month of the AGM it is quadrupled. So there is a total of £1440 of prize money each year.
If you want more information then visit the ECA website or Susan Young (0208 540 4161)
Where To Curl
London & The South
The only dedicated curling rink in England can be found near Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Further details can be found on the the curling rink website, Fenton’s Rink.
North-East England
Curling in this area is played at the Kelso Ice Rink, just over the Scottish border. The main English based club in the area is the Glendale club. For further details please email James Dixon at [email protected]
North-West England & Wales
The main English club in this area is the Preston club who play up in Scotland at the Lockerbie Ice Rink on alternate Thursdays. Please contact the club secretary, Phil Barton on [email protected] .
Curling can also be played in Wales on Mondays between 1 pm and 9:30 pm at the Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry, just over the Welsh border to the west of Chester - check out the website of the Welsh Curling Association.
ECA MUSINGS
English Curling
President: Alison Arthur
President elect: Steven Scanlan
Competitions Convener: Philip Barton
Secretary: John Brown
Treasurer: Sandra Moorcroft
Useful Links• www.englishcurling.org.ukEnglish Curling Association website
• www.englishcurlingforum.netEnglish Curling Forum for beginners and experts alike
