FRASER CUP ROUND 8 REPORT

 Team Port were sitting in the lead overall in the Fraser Cup series but Team Starboard could still win if they were successful in all the final 3 games this year.  But was it to be - that is the question?!  From the outset, on the best quality of ice at the Galleon we have had so far, Team Port (Watson, Graham, Cattanach and Mutter) made it clear they would be taking no prisoners.  

Three up by the second end and playing consistently well as a Rink, they cast the gauntlet down to Team Starboard (Peat, Hogg, Galloway and McFadzean) with more to come.  A 4 shot score in the fourth end saw them surge well ahead 7-1 and then take another 2 in  the next end.  Time and inspiration ran out for Team Starboard at the close of the sixth end and they shook hands losing 2-9.  

With 2 games remaining in the series, Team Port's overall lead cannot be surpassed.  The results table is shown here or click on the link in the side panel.

FRASER CUP ROUND 7 REPORT

 With only another 3 rounds of the Fraser Cup to go before the end of the year and Team Port slightly in the lead, drawing level was the Team Starboard aim.  Team Port (McFadzean, Stubley, Graham and Begg) took the lead in the first end but Team Starboard (Galloway, Peat, Hogg and Gray) did well to safeguard 4 lying stones in the second end.  But then things changed, not all for the better!  

David Stubley was intently watching the start of the 3^rd end from within an adjacent sheet but failed to notice an inherently hazardous blob of ice from a leaking valve in the roof covering which he then stood on and was pitched head over heels to land heavily and crack his head on the ice.  The game was stopped while assistance and medical checks by Jimmy Begg were conducted and David then escorted off the ice to recover and complete a near miss H&S report for the Galleon Centre administration.  Regrettably he did not only injure his head but also suffered the effects of whiplash to his head and shoulders which terminated his ability to play any further.  

Notwithstanding, Team Port, now being a player short, they drew level by the fourth end and then scored a 3 to take the lead.  Try as they may, Team Starboard could not recover sufficiently and even in the last end when they were lying 4, Steell with his last stone pegged the lead to 1 and shook hands winning 7-6.  The results table is shown here or click on the link in the side panel. 

Open Competition Reports

 Rinks Championship Wed 1 Nov.  Team Hope ( Hope, Cherry, Cattanach and Watson) faced up to Galston 1 in a late evening 1^st round at the very pleasing ice and surroundings of Greenacres.  The opposition was in top form and despite seeking to contain their prowess on the very keen and swingy ice, the Gangrels eventually lost 3-12.

Eglinton Jug Sat/Sun 11/12 Nov.  The Gangrels were unable to resource a full Rink for this prestigious competition and had to withdraw at a relative late stage.  Notwithstanding, a scratch alternative Rink under the banner of Ayr Curling Club 2 was formed.  This comprised Peter Galloway, Bob Cherry, Isla Robison (BL) and Jak Kane (Sorn).  The venue at Greenacres was superbly prepared for this intensive play competition over both days with High Road and Low Road knockout routes.  The ice was superb, the catering excellent, the play organisation very well administered and the social buzz evident.  In the first round of the High Road against Riccarton, ACC2 eventually lost 3-8.  In the afternoon, they went on to play Ayr Country Club in the afternoon and won 9-3.  A very early start on the Sunday morning for a 0900 game in the second round of the Low Road against ACC1 (Gavin Morton, Andrew Baird, Jean Morton and Lucy Morton) developed into a very tight and enjoyable tussle.  Team Galloway (ACC2) took an early lead of 3 and thereafter it was even scoring until the penultimate end when Team Morton took the lead and then in the last end buried 2 scoring stones behind and impenetrable wall to win 8-5.  Subsequently they went on to be the well deserved winners of the Low Road.  In sum, this was a highly enjoyable event, very well planned and administered and superbly well hosted in the venue of Greenacres.  The Province round of competitions will be held here on 6 Jan and 28 Feb 24.  The details are shown on the fixture sheets.

Fraser Cup Round 6

 The heavy rain and flooding seen on the journey to the Galleon Centre on the afternoon of 14 Nov did not bode well for good curling.  And so it proved!  The high humidity produced a misty haze on the ice sheet and the ice itself was dour and generally unresponsive to inturn and outturn considerations.  It was therefore clear that there was not only to be competition between Team Port (Cherry, Begg, Stubley and McFadzean) and Team Starboard (Charters, Galloway, Morrison and Chapman) but also contending with the unfavourable ice condition.  

Notwithstanding, 8 ends were achieved with Team Port winning 6 of them and Team Starboard scoring 3 in the other 2.   After 2 days of superb curling and social settings of Greenacres in the Eglinton Jug the previous weekend, the Galleon experience was again a significant disappointment only tempered by Team Port securing a well deserved victory 7-3.  Team Port returns to the top position.  The Fraser Cup results are shown here or click on the link to the side panel.

Fraser Cup Round 5

We had some company in the rink tonight with 4 rinks from Symington joining us at the Galleon.  They included Ernest & Jennifer Mutter and a lot of weel kent faces.

Robert Charters skipped the Starboard team to a 6-5 victory in a very close game. Starboard were two shots up at the last but Port were lying two shots with guards.  Undaunted, Robert drew the 4 foot to cut them down to one shot and win the game.

The ice continues to make improvements. 

Team Starboard thus moves to number one position by virtue of being two ends ahead.

The table is here or click on the link in the side panel.

 

Fraser Cup Round 4

 "Team McFadzean (Mcfadzean, Cherry, Graham and Cattanach) and Team Peat (Peat, Charters, Galloway and Morrison) had the ice rink at the Galleon to themselves for this afternoon event between 3.00 - 5.00pm.  The ice was in fine shape and much keener than previous rounds which was a continued pleasure.  Team Peat took the lead in the first end but thereafter the outcome was clear with Team McFadzean taking a 3 in the Second and Fourth ends followed by a 1 in the Sixth and a 2 in the Seventh.  Team Peat struggled to recover with single shots in the Third and Fifth ends but it was insufficient to then shake hands with Team McFadzean winning 9-3."

Many thanks to Peter Galloway for the above report.

The Fraser Cup Table can be found here or by clicking on the link under Competition Results