The AGM of Peeblesshire Province was held in teh Green Tree Hotel, Peebles on 2nd May.

President, Roger Scott, VP Archie Smellie and treasurer, Graeme Coulthard were all re-elected to office. John McDiarmid stood down as secretary and was replaced by Alister Lambie.

As a mark of thanks for his 15 yrs sterling service, John was presented with a David Stratton Watt curling print, along with a bottle of Curlers Malt (which I am sure will not clutter up his drinks cabinet for too long!) and a Caithness glass memento.

IN the latest round of the Paterson Rosebowl, Newlands had disastrous fourth and fifth ends against West Linton when they lost an aggregate of 11 shots to lose the match.

A winning run of five ends in succession by Graham Coulthard’s rink was ultimately decisive in Peebles’ defeat of Broughton although Bill Goodburn’s rink was never behind in a hard fought game against Alex Maxwell.

Peebles Ladies never got going until too late in their game against Eddleston and got no support from a struggling Temple rink.

The next round will tell a tale as the two table-toppers meet in what could decide the destination of this year’s title.

Peebles do not have a good record against West Linton so they will have to improve on results in recent years in this game. Time will tell!

There is believed to be no truth in the rumour that the Peebles rinks are to undergo fitness training in Whitestone Park over New Year in preparation. Results

Peebles Ladies/Temple (P. Winkle 4, J. McDonald 2) 6; Eddleston (A. Smellie 7, R. Robertson 11) 18.

Newlands (I. Rose 4, R.Waddell jnr. 7) 11; West Linton (A.Lambie 10, J.Dykes 9) 19.

Broughton ( A.Maxwell 7, B.Masterton 2) 9; Peebles ( B.Goodburn 9, G.Coulthard 7) 16.

The next round of the Paterson Rosebowl will be at Murrayfield on Tuesday, January 6 at 5.45 p.m.

This season’s play in the Mendick Trophy has now been concluded. The final saw three-times winner, Alister Lambie, back in the final with a strong West Linton rink up against another West Linton rink skipped by Barbara Watt.

The final was a tight affair until the sixth end when a five-shot gain for the Watt rink proved decisive. Lambie was only able to gain a single at the next end and conceded.

Away from the province, West Linton represented Peeblesshire in the Scottish Province Championships.

This competition is played amongst clubs representing provinces, and who have won their province championships, from all over Scotland and also includes the provinces of England, Ireland and Wales.

The latter two areas were represented in the competition held at at Greenacres Ice Rink in Renfrewshire, better known as the home rink of Rhona Martin, of Olympic fame, but the other area was probably watching some rugby game that happened to be on “the box.”

West Linton were drawn in the same round-robin section as Ayrshire, represented by Gavin Hamilton, from Darvel, Rhinns o’ Galloway were represented by Hugh Aitken, father of ex-world junior champion David, from Limekiln Loch at Stranraer, a fancied rink from Auchterarder in Upper Strathearn province and last but certainly not least by Colin Hamilton’s ex-Scottish champions’ rink from the Carrington club in Midlothian.

The first game against Ayrshire was “peeled” by dint of the Ayrshire skip drawing to the button with his last shot against three Peeblesshire stones.

One bad end which cost five shots lost the game against Midlothian by that margin in an otherwise closely fought game.

The rink was off form against Rhins and struggled all the way against an otherwise beatable rink.

However, form was regained in the final game against the strong Auchterarder rink with Peeblesshire leading 4-0 after 4 ends and 5-1 after six ends.

A bad slip in the last end cost a three but by that time the bell had gone and the points were in the bag.

To finish fourth in that company was not a bad achievement!

West Linton were represented by John McDiarmid (lead), Jim Walker (second), Neil Calvert (third) and Alister Lambie (skip).

PEEBLES have started this season’s Paterson Rosebowl strongly following another big win, this time over Peebles Ladies/ Temple, albeit aided by Temple being again short of a player.

Eddleston won plenty of ends against West Linton, but couldn’t afford the sixth end that they gave away and which ultimately proved to be enough for victory.

Perhaps thirst overcame their concentration.

Broughton on the other hand won plenty of ends against Newlands without giving away a big end and won comfortably.

Results

Peebles (G. Coulthard 7, W. Goodburn 21), 25; Peebles Ladies/ Temple (P. Winkle 6, R. McDonald 4), 10.

Newlands (R. Waddell Snr 1, I. Rose 8), 9; Broughton (B.Masterton 12, A.Maxwell 10), 22.

Eddleston (A. Smellie 11, R. Robertson 4) 15; West Linton (J. Dykes 10, A.Lambie 8), 18.

THE opening bonspiel of the inter-club Paterson Rosebowl produced some interesting games starting with the unusual event of the match between Eddleston and Broughton producing two drawn games.

Peebles Ladies were unable to produce their usual doughty performance when the queen bee was away.

Temple did their best to keep the balance but another outbreak of amnesia cost them six shots to give West Linton a draw in the game and an overall comfortable win.

The Peebles/ Newlands game nearly turned into a tale of two grannies with Newland’s Ian Rose sustaining one and Peebles’ Bill Goodburn facing one after five ends only to dramatically turn the tables with 10 shots over the last three ends, including a five at the last, to win.

Results

Eddleston: (G. Rodger 8, R. Robertson 7), 15; Broughton (B. Masterton 8, A. Maxwell 7), 15; West Linton (A. Lambie 12, N. Calvert 8), 20; Peebles Ladies/ Temple (J. Hammond 1, R. McDonald 8), 9.

Peebles: (G. Coulthard 13, W. Goodburn 10), 23; Newlands (I. Rose 0, G. Lusk 8), 8.

The next round of the Paterson Rosebowl will be at Murrayfield on November 18 at 5.45 p.m.

contributed by John McDiarmid

AFTER a long, hot summer the clubs reassembled for the start of the new season to contest the usual opening mixed bonspeil.

While the writer was unable to attend, his spies were everywhere to report back on proceedings. According to one source the season could be said to have started with a bang for one skip, who landed in a heap but as another source declared he was well protected in the department that came in contact with the ice.

Newlands put up a sturdy defence of the trophy, which they won last year, with both rinks winning against Eddleston. Peebles Ladies/Temple appeared to be getting a hand on the trophy until the Temple rink contived to lose 10 shots in the last two ends rescuing West Linton from what had been up until then a losing position and including that rare bird a seven-end.

However, all their efforts were in vain as Peebles rushed to dust down a space in their trophy cabinet thanks mainly to a crushing win by Morris Anderson over the normally reliable Benny Masterton from Broughton.

Results: Peebles (J. Brown 6, M. Anderson 13) 19; Broughton (A. Maxwell 7, B. Masterton 1) 8. Eddleston (A. Walker 4, J. Smellie 6) 10; Newlands (I. Rose 10, G. Lusk 7) 17.

Peebles Ladies/Temple (P. Winkle 7, R. McDonald 4) 11; West Linton (A. Lambie 5, J. Dykes 13) 18.

contibuted by John McDiarmid

PEEBLESSHIRE curlers were delighted to learn that a successful application has been made to sportscotland to fund coaching of curling to Peebles High School pupils.

Province President Roger Scott had been in contact with Mrs Karen Ritchie, School Sport Co-ordinator at the High School, to see if curling could be introduced into the school — and an initial session was held in March at Murrayfield Ice Rink.

Thoughts turned as to how a proper coaching programme could be put in place.

Mrs Ritchie suggested that an application should be made to sportscotland “Awards for All” Scheme to fund training sessions throughout the forthcoming season which runs through to March.

This was duly done and an award of £680 was granted which will fund transport and coaching costs, etc., for 12 sessions throughout the coming season.

Indeed three sessions have already taken place, which have been well received by the High School pupils taking part.

“It is vital for the good of the local curling clubs that interest in the sport starts at a young age and, with this in mind, two sessions are also being arranged for Peebles Young Farmers,” said Mr Scott. We are indebted to Karen for her enthusiasm to get the High School project off the ground and recognition must also be given to the TAVO volunteers who drive the minibus to and from Murrayfield Ice Rink.”

The various curling clubs in Peeblesshire are Broughton, Eddleston, Peebles, Newlands, St Ronan’s and West Linton.

contributed by Roger Scott