World Junior Curling Championships 2013

This Thursday sees the start of the World Junior Championships. The Russian resort of Sochi is hosting the event and this will be a further trial of their ice and facilities before they host the Olympics in 2014.

Scotland's Hannah Fleming from Lockerbie will be defending the Gold Medal she won last year and will no doubt be trying to put the disappointment of losing the Scottish Women's championship to Eve Muirhead a week or so ago.

In the Men's event, we are again represented by Perth's Kyle Smith. His team will be looking to improve on  a creditable Bronze from 2012.

The schedule of games can be found here. Please bear in mind that Sochi time is 4 hours ahead of us.

The WCF is providing free coverage and this can be found by using this link.

Pairs Competition

Gangrels Pairs Competition

 This report from David Hope

The High Road Semi Final was contested between Colin Naismith and Peter Galloway who were playing Robert Charters and Bert McKay.

This was a close game, which could have gone either way. After two ends it was peeled at 1 each. The last end could have gone either way with Robert and Bert just easing into the final.

Peter Galloway, Bert McKay, Robert Charters and Colin Naismith
Bert and Robert were winners of High Road

The Low Road Semi final was contested between Jim Henry and Robert Boyd who were up against Francis McCrossan and George Hodge. Jim and Robert got off to a good start but Francis and George kept plugging away with them getting a 2 at the third end. However Jim and Robert went onto win the match.

George Hodge, Francis McCrossin, Robert Boyd and Jim Henry

The second High Road Semi Final was played out between Harry Peters and David Hope who was up against Jimmy Niblock and Euan Lawrence. Although Jim and Euan got a single shot at the first end. It could have been a different story and the same story was to continue for Harry and David for the next few ends where Jim and Euan would deny them a shot. Jim and Euan went onto win this tie.

Euan Lawrence, Jimmy Niblock, Harry Peters and David Hope

The Final low Road took place between David Gray and Peter Kennedy who received a bye from the previous round and they were up against a changed rink of Jim Henry and (Robert Boyd). Unfortunately Robert had another game to play in at this time so George Hodge stepped in to play in his place. After a nip and tuck final of the Low Road David and Peter came through in the end to win what was a very close last end.

Final of the High Road was between Bert McKay, Robert Charters and Jim Niblock, Euan Lawrence. The Final got off and running with the first end going to Jim and Euan by a single shot. At the second end Bert and Robert got a four. At the third end Jim and Euan got a single shot. The fourth end was a bit of a nip and tuck with both teams having a tough last end with Bert and Robert getting a single shot to win the Pairs Trophy.

A special thank you to all the members who took part in this competition.

Pairs - 2nd Round

The second round of the Pairs Competition took place during the late session tonight and there were one or two byes caused by unforeseen circumstances.
Despite these issues, the top half produced good wins for Colin Naismith and Scott Thomson, George Hodge and Francis McCrossin and Steell McFadzean and Allan Hastie.
The bottom half had only two games played resulting in wins for Jimmy Niblock and Euan Lawrence, and David Gray and Peter Kennedy.

The semi finals and final are on this Friday night (22nd February) and the line up is as follows:

Playing at 6.15
Top Half

Bob Charters and Bert McKay  v   Colin Naismith and Scott Thomson  (High Road)
George Hodge and Francis McCrossin   v  Steell McFadzean and Allan Hastie   (Low Road)

Playing at 7.15
Bottom Half

Harry Peters and David Hope   v   Jimmy Niblock and Euan Lawrence   (High Road)
Willie Scott and Bob Grassom   v  David Gray and Peter Kennedy    (Low Road)

Playing at 8.30
Low Road Final

Playing at 9.30
High Road Final

These are the official placings but I know that substitutes are being arranged to ensure that we have 16 players on the night.

Scottish Championships on BBC

The next two nights will see the finals of the Women's and Men's  Scottish Championships at 11.20 on BBC2.
The women's game is on Tuesday Night and the Men's on Wednesday.

President's Cup Finals Night

6.15 on the ice saw the start of the semi final games. The first was between David Hope's team, skipped by George Hay and Jimmy Begg's team, skipped by Euan Lawrence. George found himself 5-1 behind after 3 ends and couldn't quite pull off the comeback, losing 8-2 after 6 ends.

Semi finalists
Richard Morrison, George Hay (skip), David Hope, Jim Henry

The second semi was a keenly fought game between Bert McKay's team skipped by Jim Dunlop and Ronnie Wilson's team, skipped by Ronnie Peat.
This went to the 7th end and the two Ronnie's coming out on top by 9 shots to 4.

Semi finalists
Gerry Watson, Bert McKay, Jim Dunlop (skip), Allan Hastie

After a short break to replenish fluids and recharge batteries, the final took place at 8.30.
After three ends, Euan's team had built up a lead of 4 shots to 1, but they were destined not to score another shot as Ronnie's team of Peter Reynolds, Robert Boyd and Ronnie Wilson triumphed by 9 shots to 4.

 President's Cup Finalists
Ken Ross, Charlie Jack, Euan Lawrence (skip), Bob Cherry

President's Cup Winners
Ronnie Peat (skip), Peter Reynolds, Robert Boyd, Ronnie Wilson

Points Competition

Hearty congratulations to Robert Boyd, who won this year's competition with an excellent score of 45 points.

The scores from last night were as follows:

Robert Boyd.........................45
Peter Galloway.....................42
Russell Boyd........................40
David Hope...........................36
Bob Cherry...........................35
Ronnie Wilson......................34
George Hay..........................30
Ken Ross.............................29
Ernest Mutter........................26
Peter Reynolds.....................22
Jim Henry.............................18

Pairs First Round Results - plus Two other Match Reports

Tonight saw the first round of the pairs. Winners tonight will play in the high road next week and losers in the low road.

The Three Wise Men?

Playing at 9.30 next Monday

High Road
Bob Charters and Bert McKay  v    Jimmy Begg and Forbes Watson
Ronnie Peat and Ken Ross        v     Colin Naismith and Scott Thomson

Low Road
George Hodge and Francis McCrossin v Richard Morrison and George Hay
Jim Henry and Robert Boyd     v    Steell McFadzean and Allan Hastie

Guard!

"Just draw a wee bit more"

Playing at 10.30 next Monday

High Road
Harry Peters and David Hope            v   Charlie Jack and Bob Cherry
Jimmy Niblock and Euan Lawrence   v   Peter Galloway and Ronnie Wilson

Low Road
Ian Ruthven and David Kidd               v  Willie Scott and Bob Grassom
Austin Thomson and Peter Reynolds   v   David Gray and Peter Kennedy

Deep in thought

"8 shots - That'll do nicely"

Other Match Reports

Last Friday saw two teams from Gangrels playing Ayr & Alloway in the annual match between our two clubs.
In the first game, David Hope's team of Russell Boyd, Robert Charters and Bob Cherry faced up to an A & A team including our own David Scott, Ronnie Wilson and Peter Reynolds. The score was close at 5-4 to the Gangrels after 5 ends, but we then scored 2, 5 and 2 to finish comfortable winners at 14-4.
In the second game Robert Boyd's team of Ronnie Peat, George Hay and Jimmy Begg played well and eventually won the game by 8 shots to 5.

On Sunday, Gangrels joined Stewarton Heather, Crosshill and Ayr & Alloway to represent Ayrshire Province in the RCCC Waldie Griffith Competition at Braehead.  Our opponents were Dunbartonshire Province and we played against Bearsden Ski Club.
Overall, Ayrshire won the match by one shot, but Gangrels were the most successful club, winning by 10 shots to 3.  We were represented by Ronnie Peat, Robert Boyd, Jimmy Begg and Francis McCrossin.

Parish Trophy 2013--A Rare Gangrels Win

David Gray has sent the following report on a magnificent victory.  

"9 Clubs entered for this years competition with early rounds being played, competing for the semi final and final playoffs on Monday 4th Feb.

 

    Our first round opponents Crosshill were double booked for our scheduled date and despite us rearranging the time, they withdrew from the competition, so the Gangrels team of David Gray, Robt Boyd, George Hodge and Peter Galloway along with Sorn, Tarbolton and Galston, qualified for the playoffs.

 

       In the semis we were drawn against Gavin Morton and his Galston team which included Euan Lawrence. We played a great drawing game, on very keen but true ice, building on a consistently good lead stones--so important, from Peter and George, and followed by experience of Robt. Although a close game, we were in control most ends and helped by a 5 at one end, were clear and worthy winners at the bell.

 

   Tarbolton skipped by the wily Willie Morton had an excellent last stone win over Sorn and thus a Gangrel/Tarbolton final had the bookies scratching their heads !

 

 

   At the first end in the final we seized on a half chance with our last stone to clip out our opponents stone to lie 5. Thereafter we continued to draw well, remain focused, giving little away. Although Willie Morton won two ends with single shots when he played two wonderful shots,Tarbolton shook hands after 6 ends of a scheduled 8 ends final.

 

   It was a great team effort, with all playing well--thanks guys."

Thanks David, and I'm sure all the club will join in with hearty congratulations to you and your team.

Next week is particularly busy for  club games so here is a brief reminder.

Monday  11th February  -  Pairs First Round   6.15 or 7.15 depending on top or bottom half.

Tuesday 12th February  -  Points Competition 6.15 or 8.30 depending on draw.

Thursday 14th Feb     -   President's cup semi finals 6.15 final thereafter at 8.30.

Kirkbride Rose Bowl First Round

All eight teams were on the ice tonight in the first round. Some of the games were closer than others but the four winners, who qualify for the High Road semi finals, were Ronnie Wilson, David Gray, Jimmy Begg and Bert McKay.
The losers don't miss out on extra games, though, because they will play in the Low Road Semis,
Scott Thomson will play David Hope and Jimmy Niblock will play Steell McFadzean
All the games take place on 4th March at 5.00 pm and the full draw is here.

Next week sees the start of the Pairs Competition, with the top half of the draw playing at 6.15 and the bottom half at 7.15.  The second round is on Monday 18th February and the full draw can be found, as usual, either by clicking on the Club Fixtures link on the right side of this page, or by clicking here.