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| 3 - News |
 Scottish Senior Champions 2010 |
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SCOTTISH MEN SENIOR CHAMPIONS 2010
14/4/2010
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| East Lothian Province has taken the
Sir Richard Waldie Griffith Inter-Province Challenge
Trophy for 2009-10
The Trophy will be formally presented at the RCCC Annual General Meeting on 19 June 2010. Our average shots up of 6.5 in the Match against East of Fife 1 placed us well ahead of next place Province, West Lothian, with 2.75 against Borders. Eight Matches were held across Scotland throughout the season, each Province team of four rinks playing one other in a national draw. East Lothian had a lot to prove this year, having not done well against Borders the year before, and facing East of Fife 1, winners of the trophy in 2008-09 with an average of 7 shots up. Previous winners in recent years were Lanarkshire, West of Fife and, in 2005-06, Perth and District with an average of 7.8. East Lothian Province President, Callum Harvey, says: " A couple of years ago, East Lothian Province decided to take a fuller role in Scottish curling. We are one of the smaller Provinces, and we thought we might not be strong enough - but should give it a try to find out. The fact that we were to play the holders in February this year was something we welcomed, and we went into the Match with a positive attitude. In East Lothian just now we have curlers playing - and winning - at all levels up to World. That means a lot of individual commitment, of course, but it also says that the standard of play in Club, Province and Area competitions is giving our players good experience and is always something to aim for. " The four East Lothian rinks were made up from players from seven of our Clubs, in contrast to East of Fife 1 who, as is their tradition, chose 'Club' rinks. It says a lot for our Skips - President Callum, Morgan Nicoll, Sean Govan and Dave Munro - that they managed to meld players they didn't know well into effective teams. Even though we had the advantage of home ice, the visitors won three of the four first ends. All but one of the following seven ends of these three games were won by ones or twos either way, with East Lothian coming out on top at the end. In the fourth game we had players from four different East Lothian Clubs, skipped by Dave Munro. Dave won the first end, lost the second, and then took the remaining six, making a considerable contribution to our shots-up figure. "We enjoyed our Match against East of Fife 1" says Callum. "Murrayfield provided good ice, and we enjoyed the after-Match time we had with our over-the Forth curling friends. Now it's just a case of seeing who we're drawn against next season and trying to play really well again." | C Harvey
9/3/2010
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| All East Lothian Yara Final After five days of curling in the Yara Farmers Curling Championship, East Lothian Province President Callum Harvey's rink beat our Vice President John Shedden's rink to take the Low Road title on Friday 22 January 2010. With 80 rinks, the Yara is the biggest curling championship in Europe. The finalists in the Low Road were Callum Harvey - Skip, Robin Aitken, Michael Blackwood and Andrew Somerville pitched against John Shedden - Skip, Balfour Stewart, Douglas Scott and Joe Barry. Both teams had played seven games before reaching their final, so had settled in well, not least John's rink who had all been on the Swiss Tour together in January 2009. John reports that his confidence was good after taking two at the first end. Callum took two from the second from a difficult situation, and so the game was very much 'on'. The fact that all the players knew each other's strengths so well meant that the Skips could pull few surprises. Eventually, Callum took the seventh and last end to win the title by six shots. |
Thanks to Callum and John for giving curling in East Lothian a big shout on the big stage.
submitted by J Good
24/1/2010 *******
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East Lothian Province Bonspiel 2010
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Colin Lowrie, Jean Waddell, James Pate (Skip), Logan Weddell |
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Won by one - and that was enough to take the Elcho Trophy, one of the most beautiful trophies in curling. At the Province Bonspiel on Friday 22 January 2010, Yester 2 finished with a net 14 shots up, one ahead of East Linton 1. See photo below of the winners with the silverware and the gifts generously provided by W N Lindsay Ltd. It was a big day for the Province's eight Clubs, with a total of twelve rinks. Eleven of them were out to take the Elcho Trophy from Aberlady which had won it in 2008 and 2009 under Morgan Nicoll who was defending with the same line-up - and the same determination - as last year. At the end of the first of two rounds, Yester 2 were 16 shots up against a Dirleton side which was lacking its star player who had been faced with the dilemma of staying to complete the Yara Competition or leave that to his Clubmates. (More on that elsewhere on this site.) Both Athelstaneford 2 and Aberlady were on six up after the first round having respectively played Doocot and East Linton 2. East Linton 1, having been four-all against near neighbours Markle going into the seventh end, got a four and went to lunch with that advantage. After the break, Aberlady took five of the eight ends in its match against Athelstaneford 2 skipped by Sean Govan, but with a shots margin of only plus two shots up Aberlady finished the day a total of eight shots up. East Linton 1, skipped by Fiona Alderson, started their game against Willie Kerr's Haddington 2 rink with a four, took a three in the fourth, a five at the sixth and a single at the eighth to which Haddington's reply totalled four. James Pate skipped Yester 2 against Andy McDiarmid's Haddington 1 rink in a game that was to prove close but decisive. Despite taking five of the eight ends, the Haddington rink finished on seven to Yester 2's nine thanks to a four at the fifth end. Winners: Yester 2 (nett shots up 14)
Runners Up: East Linton 1 (nett shots up 13)
| Club | Skip | Shots
+/- | Total Shots
+/- | | Aberlady | Morgan Nicoll | +6 & +2 | +8 | | Athelstaneford 1 | Frank Ross | -1 & +1 | even | | Athelstaneford 2 | Sean Govan | +6 & -2 | +4 | | Dirleton | Alison Elder | -16 & -7 | -23 | | Doocot | James Howe | -6 & +1 | -5 | | East Linton 1 | Fiona Alderson | +4 & +9 | +13 | | East Linton 2 | Ian Donald | -6 & -1 | -7 | | Haddington 1 | Andrew McDiarmid | +7 & +2 | +9 | | Haddington 2 | Willie Kerr | +1 & -9 | -8 | | Markle | Tom Middlemass | -4 & -1 | -5 | | Yester 1 | Susan Meikle | -7 & +7 | even | | Yester 2 | James Pate | +16 & -2 | +14 |
Submitted by J Good
23/1/2010
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Final of East Lothian Province Knock Out Competition 2010 Centre sheet at Murrayfield Curling Rink is the place to do it. That's the spirit Morgan Nicoll (Haddington) and Callum Harvey (Dirleton) showed as they led their teams out onto the ice at 3 pm on Sunday 17 January for the final of the Province Knock Out competition. Morgan had the responsibility of defending the Royal Bank of Scotland Trophy won last year for Haddington by Dave Munro, and he had Dave as his Third this year. Callum was the Challenger and had World Champion Robin Aitken as his Third. Alison Elder for Dirleton had to throw first stone, and lay comfortably between the blue and white circles. Kath Dun, President of Haddington C C, threw her first stone to gently touch Alison's and lie. Alison's second stone was a bit heavy and ran through the back while Kath put up a long guard covering her first red. Shelagh Main, playing Second for Haddington, sent her first stone up at perfect weight, wicking off Dirleton's blue to leave Haddington lying two shots. Second for Dirleton, Roy Meikle, rounded a guard with his first stone to lie in the centre line 3 ft from the house, and put his second in the house but not counting. Robin Aitken put up his first with a bit of weight to remove one of Haddington's two reds and roll, but left one red counting. Dave Munro took out Dirleton's blue behind the tee line and rolled to leaving Haddington counting two. Robin and Dave's next shots more or less cancelled each other, so red lay two. Callum's first stone was heavy and reduced the reds to one then Morgan played a bit light to lie about four ft in front of the house and guarding Callum's blue. Replying, Callum reduced his weight and drew around the guard to lie on the tee line but in full view. Morgan was light, so the end finished with Dirleton one shot up. The second end was the start of some bad pick-ups that lasted for the remainder of the game, Shelagh and Morgan each suffering this time. Play was concentrated on getting and keeping advantage. Callum's first stone removed a red for Dirleton to lie two. Morgan played a good stone to take out one blue. Callum played to take out Morgan's stone but wicked off a blue. Morgan played to draw to the button but, after drawing nicely, picked up just outside the head. Dirleton at 2: Haddington 0. The third end started with Dirleton's Alison lying comfortably in the house only to be taken out by Haddington's Kath, which then lay. After twelve stones, Haddington were lying two and they kept that advantage to the end. In the fourth, and looking at an empty house, Dave Munro's stone picked up badly and hogged. Untypically, Callum missed with his last stone to leave Haddington with a two and now two up in the game. With his last stone of the fifth, Morgan removed one blue, leaving one lying which proved to be the one that took the end. Dirleton on three were only one behind. The sixth end was blanked after Callum's last stone, played to an empty house, picked up and skewed against a guard stone. Morgan also caught a guard. Dirleton took a one in the seventh so the teams were now 4 shots each. Tight or what!? All four lead stones of the last end were on or close to the centre line and a few feet in front of the house. Robin Aitken put one blue on the tee line; it was taken out by Dave Munro whose stone then lay exposed; Robin replied in the same way; and Dave hit it and got a slight roll into a less exposed location. Callum played perfect weight to remove the red stone and lie shot. Morgan missed with his first, leaving Callum with the opportunity to guard his first stone successfully. Morgan's last stone picked up (yes, another) to lie second stone. Dirleton took one from the end to take the game 5 shots to 4.
Winner of East Lothian Province Knock Out Competition 2010
Dirleton Curling Club.
Congratulations! A record of the winners of this competition since 1995 can be found here - 5 - Competitions Submitted by J Good
18/1/2010
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Roy Meikle, Callum Harvey (Skip), Alison Elder, Robin Aitken |
The RBS Quaich |
Province Knockout Competition 2009/10
| 1st Round | 2nd Round | Final | Winner | | Sat 9th Jan 2010 at 3pm | Mon 11th Jan 2010 at 7:30pm | Sun 17th Jan 2010 at 3pm | | | | | | | | Dirleton - 6 | | | | | ver | Dirleton - 8 | | | | Athelstaneford - 4 | | | | | | ver | Dirleton - 5 | | | Doocot - 3 | | | | | ver | Aberlady - 4 | | | | Aberlady - 10 | | | | | | Fri 15th Jan 2010 at 5:30pm | | Dirleton | | Markle |
| | | | ver | Haddington - 6 | | | | Haddington | | | | | | ver | Haddington - 4 | | | Yester | | | | | ver | Yester - 5 | | | | East Linton | | | | | | | | | 18/1/2010
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The Chanty |
| On 16 December 2009 East Lothian Province sent sixteen players to Borders Ice Rinks to challenge Borders Province for The Chanty. This is an annual challenge match between ourselves and our trusty Borders friends. The original chanty was called the Beverly Bowl, the name given to it by Alister Lindsay by whom it was donated. Sadly, on being raised by the winners on leaving the rink after its first playing, the Beverly Bowl somehow missed the grasp of its carrier on the way down and became a jig-saw. The current Potty, donated by Tom Middlemass of Markle Mains, has been described as "a rather smart little vessel" whose beauty exceeds its present utility. The 2009 competition saw close games on three sheets, and one run-away for East Lothian on the fourth.East Lothian Province President Callum won his game against Borders' Mark Halsall, but Bill Cleghorn beat our Vice President John Shedden with his last stone of the last end. Robin Aitken was beaten by a narrow margin, while Michael Wood had much the better of his opponents on the day. With two wins each, a tie was declared, so East Lothian holds the Chanty for another year.
The East Lothian rinks were:
Callum Harvey (Skip) with Kath Dun, Fiona Alderson and Logan Weddell John Shedden (Skip) with Roy Black, Ian Tulloch and Ann Hogg Robin Aitken (Skip) with Shelagh Main, David Affleck and John Trotter Michael Wood (Skip) with John Niven, Tom Middlemass and Alison Elder Our thanks were given to Borders for organising another successful Chanty Challenge, and - as always - making us so warmly welcome. |
| Past Winners of Chanty Challenge 2004 Borders 2005 East Lothian 2006 East Lothian 2007 Borders 2008 East Lothian 2009 East Lothian | Submitted by John Good 30/12/2009
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The Black Bull |
| Rink 1 - Callum Harvey (skip), Morgan Nicoll, John Good & Tom Middlemass
Rink 2 - John Shedden (skip), George Hood, Angus Wilson & Alison Elder
The Annual Area 5 Bonspiel on 4 December 2009 was won by East Lothian Province. Our rinks, skipped by President Callum Harvey and V P Johnny Shedden, came out on top over two rinks each from Midlothian, Peeblesshire and RCCC, and so we hold the Black Bull Trophy for the coming year. This trophy was presented in 1976 by Sandy Dunlop, Hartree, Biggar and, as the name suggests, features an Aberdeen-Angus bull.
Our win this year is the third in the last decade, although we've still to defend it successfully. There's a target for next year's President to set himself and his rinks. Callum's rink scored 16 against opponents' 6, helped a great deal by taking a 4 followed by a 5 immediately after the refreshment break. Morgan Nicoll, playing third to Callum, had a perfect double take-out in the tenth end, typifying the confidence the team had under Callum's skipping and its effect on the opposition.
Johnny's rink took 11 shots against his opponents' 10, which was close, but still a winning score. Johnny says "We were almost always in charge. Despite not playing regularly as a team, we blended well, with Angus doing a good job as our Second. We should have beaten our RCCC opponents but my last stone of that session cut just too much to lie on the button. George Hood, with his last stone of the day , came through a port to remove a double and leave us lying 4, and we finished one up on the day."
All that being said, the camaraderie was of a good order on and off the ice, and for those who were new to inter-province competitions it was a good opportunity to speak with folk who hitherto had only been faces on the ice at Murrayfield or names in Scottish Curler. For our East Lothian Skips especially, it was a chance to flex mind and muscle against good opposition and to cut another notch in their curling brooms.
Report by John Good
| 12/12/2009
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National Province Championship
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National Province Championships Greenacres 13 - 15 Nov 2009
Dave Munro led his victorious rink, consisting of Shelagh Main, Graeme Maguire and Colin Baird through to Greenacres to represent Haddington and East Lothian Province in the National Championships.
This proved to be a big step up in standard and aggression than some of the team had seen before.
Our first game was against The Reform Club (Renfrewshire). The early start and the rarified atmosphere took its toll and after only 3 ends we were 7 - 0 down. The team steadied itself and over the remaining 5 ends were the better team (score wise anyway) but it was a game of 2 halfs and the first half proved to be too long for us, with the final score being 9 - 3.
The second game against Dunfermline (West of Fife) saw us resisting the temptation to throw it all away at the start and we played a measured game, patiently, point by point building up a lead and generally commanding the game. UNTIL..... end 5 saw us with our stone on the button and the front of the house well guarded. With their last stone there was no easy shot and they saw and went for a 'lottery shot' involving a double raise which dislodged our shot stone and gave them a 5 for the end. They then went on to 'strike for home' and ran out winners 8 - 6.
With no wins under our belt we arrived on Sunday morning to face a grudge match (well for Dave anyway) against Ayrshire (Dundonald). This proved to be a tense very canny game in which the measure was called upon no less than 3 times (once between 4 stones !). Our boys and girls for once all played well at the same time and allowed us to take our first win 7 - 3.
We went into lunch knowing that we were in a very tight group and that if we won our last game, against the other group strugglers, and the group leaders won their game that because of our 'ends won' we would qualify in second place and head for the Low Road Knockout phase.
It was not to be however, with the group leaders losing a 6 in their first end and all four of us playing by far our worst game. (Dave of course had no options left by the time it came to his stones so maybe we can find an excuse for him.) We eventually capitulated to Perth & District (Airleywight) 9 - 4, leaving us far from any qualifying position (in fact bottom of our group). We were however able to take heart on the fact that if the competition had been decided solely on ends won in the group stage we would have been 4th overall out of the 30 'provinces' represented.
To complete this report our group qualifiers were both beaten in the quarter finals, the West of Fife going down to Wales in the HIgh Road and Ayrshire being beaten by Stirlingshire in the Low Road.
Was it worth all the travelling, YES.... with the exception of the last game, where we all played like donkeys, all the other games were winable and to win more ends than anyone else in the group an achievement of which we can take away. Unfortunately, when we lost an end, it was sometimes a big one.
The competition itself was played in great good humour and the opportunity to play 'at that level' should be taken by anyone who gets the chance. You can only improve by stretching yourself and playing teams that are better than you.
Graeme Maguire
19/11/2009
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