2015 – 2016
Slip Sliding away
The Slides of March brought the season to a close for the club with a game that really mattered. A tight wee league with John Stevenson sitting in second place and Graeme Cowe in fourth. That all turned upside down by the end of the game. Graeme’s rink of Luigi, Gerry and Tracey won the match by three shots picking up a two in the last end. By winning the game, they were also catapulted to the top of the League which was a position previously occupied by Graeme Wilson who had played a perplexing total of 5 games??? Hmmm. Congrats to Graeme’s rink on a fine end to the season
9:15
The 9:15 League lived up to its reputation as a tough competition with four teams sitting on 8 points going into the matches and any one of the four a possible winner – with 11 Earlston curlers involved in the top games. John Stevenson’s rink with Bill, Robert Laidlaw and skipped by Graeme Baxter were finally pipped to the title by a rampant Keith Prentice’s rink. Not that they were playing each other, its just how the scores went on the night. Keith did for Jim, Wendy, Bobby & Liz and the other Rhymers – Graeme Wilson, Phil, Graeme Cowe and John Burns were knocked off their perch by Bruce Lees’ Kelso laddies. Lovely prizes from the sponsor too.
Stewart Salver
Success here for John Stevenson, Marion & Bill winning the Archibald Stewart Salver. John’s rink also featured Joanne Stevenson one of the ice rink’s youngest curlers. A first round win against Paul Jess’ team set them on their way and they overcame Neil MacLean’s rink by a shot in the semi. The final was a similarly tight game against Robert Walkers rink, coming down to a tense final end. Happily for our three, their final stone, an angled raise, just missed lifting our shot. Lovely prizes much appreciated.
Club Championships
Forget helicopter Saturday. This was parachute Thursday with Graeme Wilson dropping in to pair Margaret Robertson in the final of the Championship – and lifting the silverware too. Margaret had progressed through the competition partnered with Graeme Baxter but the ice man melted in the heat and a super sub was needed. The final was against Marion and Stewart Craig and it was tightly contested. With a two shot advantage going into the last end they held on to win. Well done our Graeme, said Cilla.
Other club competitors were Jim & Liz who reached the semis of the Low Road. Prior to their last game, Jim said………..
Border League is Gone Gone gone
Well! After the dramatics of finding ourselves in the Agrii Border League page play-offs, the day finally came to lock horns with Yester. The 1st end went our way with a 2 going up on the scoreboard after a measure for 2nd shot. In the 2nd end, Yester took a 3 with again, a measure for 3rd. Singles were traded until at the end of the 5th end it was 4 apiece. An absorbing wee match for the gallery. The 6th end was completely different and our dreams evaporated with a mmmmummble being conceded. Aaaarghh! No need to go any further for a final end. Game over. Year over.
Oakroom Success
Well done to Lynsey for winning the Ladies final bonspiel. Playing in Elspeth Bell’s rink they managed to rack up the biggest margin of the day to get the better of Rhona Fleming’s team. Unfortunately that rink contained Kath and Lesley Cowe!!! Others playing in a fine day’s competition were Marion, Sheena, Liz & Russet.
RCCC VP 2B
Big news of the moment is that oor JC is up for VP of the RCCC and then obviously, P.
It has just been announced that Jim was the sole nomination for Vice President and no election is necessary. His appointment will be formalised during the proceedings of the AGM of the RCCC, which is to be held on Saturday, 18 June 2016 at Braehead Curling Rink at 2pm. Great news for Jim and we wish him all the best for the Presidential roles. I’m sure he will relish the whole experience. If you see him, congratulate him and he’ll buy you a drink (maybe set a precedent for the next two years).
CoCo shy
Although our Seniors went loco in the Go CoCo Mens Seniors Championships over the weekend, they did put their emphatic stamp on the Borders clash with Keith Prentice’s rink. Enduring a tough Section from which came 3 of the semi finalist teams, they posted their only win against the former world champions and 5 times Scottish seniors champions to bring a modicum of satisfaction to their finals experience (not saying anything about the heaviest defeats being to the two finalists, Muirhead and Howat!!!!). Congratulations to John Stevenson, Bill, Graeme Cowe & Luigi for getting there. Top ten finish in Scotland, isn’t all that bad.
Best Birlers
Top of the table clash to sort out this year’s top Birlin’ Broomers, saw Graeme Wilson’s rink win out over Ewan’s. Having never lost a game, Graeme, John Burns, Lesley Cowe and Linda kept up the pressure to see out the campaign. Swept all before them. Ha Ha! Ha Ha! Congratulations to them.
A different Dickensian Story
Sandwiched between all the Points activity was the Dickinson competition. Having won the trophy last year, Ewan, Marion, Luigi and Lesley Cowe attempted to repeat the feat but reckoned without the Greenlaw Scrooges. A very competitive game came to an end with Ian Dykes’ draw falling short of the rings leaving a peeled, 5-5, game. Phew! Draw shots then. This time round though, having had the last stone practice, Ian drew in to lift the tie for Greenlaw. Blast.
President wins Points II
The really, really, fabby news is that our team of elite pointers out-pointed all the other clubs to win The ‘Maid by Marion’ Club Points Challenge. The first time we have won the competition, it seems. Excellent. Anyone following the story will know that Graeme Wilson, Luigi and Liz represented the club this year and with some considerable style, lifted the title with 46 points. In second place were Coldstream (41) and then both Glendale and St Boswells (40). Luigi came second in the individual highest score stakes with 24 points and Graeme and John Stevenson 4th=, with 22. So, a great performance on what has to be said was some markedly different ice over the two halves of the competition. After that, a word of appreciation to John Burns and all the helpers for making the night run smoothly
President wins Points
Why would that be news?
8 members down to play the Points this year. Graeme W, Jim, Liz, John Burns, Luigi, Ewan, Marion & Bill. Some played really well and amassed loads of points. Others didn’t. After chucking down some 32 stones over 8 disciplines, the winner had racked up an impressive 45 points. That was GW. Runner up, only 1 point behind, was Ewan and 3rd was Luigi. Unfortunately, Ewan cannot go forward to the club points challenge so Liz, only just in 4th place, will take up the spot. Well done all round.
Cowies Cowdenknowies Angels
Big, big, final of the Cowdenknowes cup played out between Graeme’s rink of Liz (subbing for the crocked Cammy), Margaret and Lesley Wilson and Ewan’s rink – Bobby, James & Bob Morris. This was a drama-filled event with a five being scored in the 5th by Graeme, Ewan getting a really rotten pick-up on a crucial shot, a sublime draw by Ewan onto the pot lid, Graeme skittleing his sweepers as he dived out to assist, only to take a tumble and dive in the path of the running stone. Phew! 7-4 at the end of the game to Graeme and his Angels. Wonderful and well done to both teams for a really entertaining game.
A Fine Pair of Masters
The finals of the Masters took place 4th-7th Feb at Greenacres with Jim and Liz playing. Obviously in separate Ladies and Gents competitions. Jim playing in Keith Prentice’s rink won through to the finals from the qualifiers earlier in the year. In these finals they won all 5 of their group matches but lost out in the semi’s to Graeme Adam’s rink. Funnily enough, they had defeated Graeme at the qualifier stage but this time, the pendulum swung the other way and Graeme went on to lift the title later in the final. Tough road. Liz, playing in Margaret Robertson’s rink, qualified from their group with 3 wins from 5 games, won their semi but lost the final to the other Margaret Robertson rink from Hamilton. She came away with a silver medal though to go with last years’ gold and that is a great feat. Congratulations to both for that performance.
Directors
Naebody left on the board by the time the finals were played. John Stevenson, Bill, Luigi, Graeme Cowe and Luigi won their first round tie against Graeme Wilson, Willie Pate and a couple of other diverse talents from elsewhere. They were then shaded out by James Stark’s rink in a replay of last years final – except they took their revenge this time around. James had beaten Ewan, Wendy, Marion & Bobby in the first round dropping them into the low road. There, in the second round, they met Graeme Wilson. What a script for getting rid of Earlston Teams. GW won this round but came up short against Colin Martin in the next game. Next item of business then….
League Lost and Found
It seemed a sad thing with the league campaign grinding to a halt this year against those buffers that are Glendale. Almost the same team that shot the Hog from under us managed to shade the last league game. It was one we really needed to win and we didn’t think there was any realistic scenario where we could make the page play-offs. Ho Hum! BUT WHAT’s THIS? Late News is it really was possible and we have almost magically, made the play-offs. Thank You Jed. Watch this space for the final, finals news..finally. Really.
Pulled up short in the Hogg
The Harry Hogg fizzled out for our curlers Graeme Wilson, Bill, Graeme Cowe and Ewan when they came in a close second in their semi final against Glendale. It all came down to the last stone but it was a fairly straight forward tap out for a two shot win. The upside is, Glendale won the final.
USA! USA!
Wee notice to say that Bill has been selected to head off on the tour to USA in January 2017. In a party of 20 curlers, he’ll be off with fellow Borderer, John Hodge from Duns club for 3 weeks. Not much else is known at this time.
Club Bonspiel
I know, I know. Ewan wins again. I’m running out of Pate links and allliterations.
Anyhoo. Club Bonspiel time again and after a super Rhymers Reel where everybody met everybody and everybody had a grand time – except, maybe, Richard’s crew, a winner emerged. Ewan’s team of Luigi, Anita Craig and Tracy Ross managed to win 6 of the 7 ends amassing 7 shots. The Craig family did well in the prizes with Jock in the Runners-up rink skipped by Stuart Craig (no relation, he says), James Morison and Soph Irvine. They scored 5 shots with 5 ends won. A soup and sandwiches meal and a bit of entertainment of Irish bingo and ‘Heads or Tails’, rounded off the event nicely. Well done to Mr Pres for all the organisation and prizes and the slide show of old photos. Crikey! Didn’t we look odd back then.
Pate Success
I know, I know. What’s so surprising about Ewan winning a game but that’s not the point here. This was the Inter-Province match with Midlothian, held this year, at Murrayfield. Jim, Wendy, Marion and Ewan won their match against club ’37′(apparently named after a pub in Rose street – they sound a sociable lot). It seems that was a rarity in the competition with all but two Border clubs suffering a defeat so well done to Jim and his Earlston all-stars for keeping our end up.
Mair Pairs
BIR Open Pairs, Ladies version, saw Marion and Wendy win the Low Road final. After a sticky start they got into their stride and beat Liz Martin and Fiona Hodge 5-3. Lynsey was also competing but succumbed to our winning pair in the semi’s. Well done tho.
Seniors Qualifiers
Big congratulations to John Stevenson, Bill, Graeme Cowe and Luigi who found success in the qualifiers for the Scottish Seniors held in Ayr over the weekend. Winning 3 of their 4 games, they managed to gain that second place spot in their section and will now play in the national competition at Hamilton on 25th Feb. Super result. Sadly, Jim and Bobby were in the same section and were one of the casualties. Mention too for John Burns who was chief umpire!!! Great showing from the club.
Spout, handle, lid of metal…..
………we just bagged the Tweedmouth Kettle. Or, OR…. “It was 20 years ago today. Sgt Pepper told the club to play….. Ach , make up your own playlist.
Great performance from our two kettle teams in lifting this much-cherished trophy and renewing our periodic custody over the past 20 years. Congrats to Graeme Wilson, Marion, Wullie and Sheena and Ewan’s Wendy, Lyndsey and Liz. On the first day, both teams overcame Greenlaw rinks posting quite convincing 6-4 and 14-6 scores. Tough semi finals were against Foulden but both again, won their games. Finally, in the final against Ayton Castle, they excelled with both teams winning. Fantastic getting hold of the old kettle again.
Quizspiel
Just a short note to say we didn’t win. Jim, Liz, John Burns and Russet were our sole entry (unless of course you know different) and they found that the reality TV round was really not their thing. They came in third, two points only, behind the winner, but there were another 4 teams in equal 2nd. Phew. Must have been a tough gig.
Border Bonspiel
Border Bonspiel time again and we were off to a great start. First to go against Lauder were Bill, Ewan, Graeme Cowe and Cammy. They set off at a fair lick amassing triplets, twins and big singles and kept Lauder at bay. End of the game came with a scoreline of 13-4. The others had a tougher time though with Graeme Wilson’s rink of Marion, John Burns and Gerry shading a 5-4 scoreline against Foulden. Bringing up the rear was Jim, Wendy, Bobby & Liz who held Kelso to a 8-8 draw (dont know who held who here but HoooA!) In all, Roxburgh had racked up all the points they needed to win the day.
Strictly District-y Medal
On a very snowy, yes snowy, Friday afternoon, we hosted the district medal game against Corstorphine Ladies. They travelled down to Kelso with a Livingston team who were similarly set to DM Duns club. As I said, t’was a wintery day and with a bit of concern as to how the weather might develop, we set to. Our rink of Jim, Bill, Graeme Wilson and Liz managed to get away to a good start as the visitors took a bit of time to get the measure of the ice. Fortunately we managed to bag a four early on and kept the pressure on to see the game out with a fair margin. 8-2, I think it ended. But it didn’t end there, ’cause the weather had abated and we were able to enjoy a meal together. Great company and a fine afternoon.
2 Swans a-winning
Yes. Yes. On the seventh sleep ‘fore Christmas, we saw success in both the ladies and the gents Swan competitions. Hedging our bets in the ladies, we had Liz and Wendy in opposing teams. Liz in Glynnis Lauder’s team and Wendy with Margaret Robertson. It was a super-tough game taken to an extra end and Wendy’s team were the eventual winners.
The gents’ game between John Stevenson and Oliver Stark was equally as tough. Also taken to an extra end, John’s rink of Bill, Luigi and Gary Craig won the day. Some justice there ’cause Oliver’s army saw off Jim and Bobby earlier in the competition. Both finals apparently highly entertaining and special Christmas congratulations to all winners.
Pairs…Peachy
After winning through a couple of tight semi-finals, Ewan & Cam and Bill & Robert took to the ice to settle the high road. On this occasion, the non-Pate pair took the lead with a 3 and kept the upper hand over the Pate pair to see things through. The low road saw the two Graeme’s battling it out. GW with Sheena slugged out a hard game against GC and George Balfour. The GW/SB pairing made it too difficult in the final end and came away with the plate – Not before we all managed to scoff the mince pies and chocolatey treats supplied by Mr Pres. though. Congratulations to both winning pairs and many thanks to GW for the hospitality.
Gala Cuppers Scuppered
2nd round was as good as it got for the cup challengers this year. After a good win over Greenlaw, Bill, Graeme, Lesley and Sheena had a tough day out against St.Boswells starting off by conceding a 5. oops! It was pulled back however and up to the last shots a draw was possible. Told you it was as good as it got. T’other team – Jim, Wendy, Bobby & Liz lost out to Foulden.
Garth Brooks (Har! Har!)
Have to sing the praises of our one and only Mr Loooweegie Maaaasssaaari for lifting the Ralphie last week (Not a euphemism). Playing in Gary Craig’s rink, they managed to hold a tune long enough to see off Colin Martin – quite convincingly, it seems, in the final. Is that some kind of record?
The League
After a tough league campaign, Graeme Cowe’s rink of Phil, Margaret and Julie emerged as winners. Having lost only one game on the way, they kept their nerve and kept their enviable record. Congratulations to the foursome. Well done.
BIR Mixed Invitation
Congratulations to Jim, Wendy, Bobby & Liz in winning the mixed invitation over the past weekend. With 16 teams playing in two sections, they came top of their group and in the final, played a Russian led team reigning victorious. This was a high quality field in the competition this year so, really, a pretty good result.
Indoor Grand Match
Played on Saturday 24 October it was billed as the battle of North of Scotland versus South. We had three teams entered:
Jim, Liz, Ewan & Russet played in a home game against Crieff & Auchtertyre where the theme of the day was the Borders Raailway. With fat controllers a-plenty, they had a clear run to the terminus and posted an 11-6 win.
Bill, Sheena, Lynsey & John Burns were away at Perth, against Breadalbane Glendochart. Super-slick ice here and our lot carried off the touch of tartan look with some aplomb. Ahead from the start, they slipped a bit after the racking of brushes and interlude refreshment with losing a three in end 5. Order quickly restored saw a final score of 7-4.
Graeme Wilson, Phil, Gerry & James Played in the final rounds at Forfar against Stirling Virtual 2. With Gerry playing his fourth consecutive indoor grand match, and James playing his first game away from Kelso (ever!) it was always going to be a memorable day out! The Virtuals played the game in the true spirit of Curling (despite having only played for less than two years) but struggled with the changing ice conditions resulting in a 16-3 win in favour of Earlston. Our boys struggled a bit themselves having to take the slightly longer way home, as someone very inconsiderately decided to shut the Forth Road bridge on the evening of the Grand Match – obviously not a Curler in charge!
Overall, South were winners with a score of 2154 shots to 1928.
Ladies Opening Bonspiel
First out the blocks recording success this season was Sheena playing in Fiona Turnbull’s rink. Along with Lucy Tile and Ann Redpath, they won their match in fine style against Judith Dixon’s rink in a full, four sheet session. Marion and Julie were runners up and other Earlston players competing were Lesley Cowe, Russet and Liz. Well done. A fine start.
A Sociable Start
A Sociable Start was scheduled and out of that, held (leaving scued – make of that what you will). Couldn’t believe a nicely rounded 16 members turned out to get into the groove making a couple of mini games on the two sheets ideal. It could’ve almost been planned. As it turns out, there were winners of each game but I’m bound by the sociable code not to record them. A nice bit of fun and we duly repaired to the bar to round off the night and take in the new decor.
In the words of Mr President opening up the night, welcome to the new season. We hope you all enjoy your curling and a bit of success. Although not against me.
General Meeting
The pre-season General Meeting is to be held on Tuesday 1st September, hopefully in the Black Bull (TBC). Do come along and get your annual curling enthusiasm shot. Election of skips too from a large list of nominees. Why would you want to stay at home?