We’re half way through the New Year session already – time flies. Competitions within the Club continue with the Jimmy Bilsland Trophy being played this weekend with 4 teams entered. The Clachan Cup is part way through and the Cup Standings are shown above within Competitions and Results. Our Closing Bonspiel is scheduled for March 26th.
Andrew Weir, a member of Drymen CC for many years has sadly passed away. His work commitments meant he was unable to curl very often in recent times, but he is fondly remembered and much missed as an enthusiastic and valued member of Drymen CC.
Congratulations to our winning team of Mary MacDonald and John Steel after beating Alan Brunger and Anne Ewing in a closely fought final last week. After a shaky start getting to grips with the rules and format of mixed doubles, we all enjoyed our evening’s curling.
The Doubles Format is fairly new for us as a club and involves pairs playing against each other with 2 stones already placed on the ice, one in the Head and the other before acting as a Guard. It means a lot of trying to draw around to get your stone into the Head. Plus, you are not allowed to knock other stones out of play until you are delivering your 4th stone of an end.
The Winners were Mary MacDonald and John Steel who won in the final playoff by 3 Ends to 1, beating Alan Brunger and Anne Ewing. In the playoff for 3rd and 4th place Lorna Young and Andy Kinninmonth won by 4 ends to 1 against Chrissie Bilsland and Janet Simpson. I think we all agreed that it tested your brain quite a bit, so for those of us not great on strategy it was a challenge indeed!
Congratulations to Chris Bilsland and her team of Andy Kinninmonth, Elsbeth Goodfellow and Archie Glen on winning the League Cup 2023. Competition was tight throughout the league and it was all down to the last game when Chris’s team triumphed over John Steel and his team to win the game and the League.
Despite having fewer members curling as usual, the banter was flowing and it was an entertaining game. Some members who had not played since last year were distinctly wobbly (myself especially) and at one point I was blethering too much and crouched down on the hack minus a stone (I thought something was missing). The winning team was skipped by Andy Kinninmonth, with Elsbeth Goodfellow (3rd), Mary McDonald (2nd), Lorna Young (lead). Commiserations to Les Goodfellow’s team of John Steel (3rd), Sheila Steel (2nd), Helen Watson (lead). The Results were 6 Ends to 1 (9 points to 1).
Lorna Young
Welcome to the start of our 2023/24 curling season. Our opening bonspiel is on Tuesday 12 September at 6pm with Andy Kinninmonth skipping his team against Les Goodfellow’s team. We also have a team playing in the Forth Valley Knockout on Wednesday 13 September. Good curling everyone.
Congratulations to Andy Kinninmonth and his team of Elsbeth Goodfellow, Alan Brunger and Sheila Steel on winning the League Cup which was presented at our New Year dinner on 4 January at the Clachan Inn, Drymen.
Next week sees the start of the Clachan Cup. Teams and Fixtures can be found on this website but be aware that some games are on Wednesdays this time, so please double check before you travel to the Peak!
Our annual challenge took place on 9 January. It was a closely fought battle with the Ladies leading 5-3 at the 6th end. The Gents managed to score 4 at the 7th end, taking them into the lead and they finished off with another 2 points to steal the game 9-5. The wooden spoon goes to the ladies (again!). Well done both teams:
Ladies – Helen Watson, Chris Bilsland, Anne Ewing, Lorna Young
Gents – Alan Brunger, Andy Kinninmonth, Fraser Robb, Archie Glenn
A little earlier than usual we gathered at Greenacres Curling Rink for the Annual Jimmy Bilsland Trophy which is sponsored by James D Bilsland (Jim). Lunch was provided which provided much needed warmth for the temperature of the rink. 4 Teams played in total with the 2 winners of round one going into the playoff (the others could sit in the warm restaurant and watch !!). The scores were as follows:
Part 1:
John, Janet, Lorna 11 pts, 5 ends
Jim, Drew Jolly, Fraser 3 pts, 2 ends
Chris, Andy, Alan, Helen 9 pts, 5 ends
Les, Jean Leitch, Sheila 5 pts, 3 ends
Final:
Chris (Skip), Andy, Alan, Helen 6 pts and 4 ends
John (Skip) , Janet, Les, Lorna 6 pts and 4 ends
Since there was a peal, the Skips threw a stone each with John Steel having the best stone. The photo shows the winning team with Jim Bilsland presenting the trophy.
Drymen Curling Club 