MINUTES OF 86th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF GANGRELS CURLING
CLUB, held at Greenacres Curling on Monday 17th March 2025 at 6.30 pm.
(photos to follow)
The President, Donald Cattanach, opened and initially chaired the meeting.
The following members were present:
Donald Cattanach David Hope Peter Reynolds
Allan Chapman Euan Lawrence Gillian Watson
Bob Cherry Steell McFadzean Ronnie Wilson
Robert Charters Richard Morrison
Peter Galloway Ernest Mutter
David Graham Jimmy Niblock
David Gray Ronnie Peat
Fraser Hogg David Richmond
Item 1 - Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from:
Jimmy Begg, Jenny Bloomfield, Simon Bloomfield, Jim Dunlop, Douglas Haddow,
Anne Hay, George Hay, Ally Henry.
Item 2 - Endorsement of Minutes
The Minutes of the 85th Annual General Meeting dated 19 Mar 24 were endorsed.
Proposer, Fraser Hogg, Seconder, Ernest Mutter.
Item 3 - Actions arising
The Secretary reported on the following minuted actions:
Item 6 - Constitution amendment. Action Ongoing (Item 12).
Item 10 - Venues and ice times. Action complete.
Item 11 - NWC Rinks and play format. Action complete.
Item 4 - Financial Statement
The Income and Expenditure Account for the year ending 31 Jan 25 had been
approved by Committee and signed off on 21 Feb 25. It had subsequently been
circulated by email to all members prior to the meeting. In his supporting report, the
Treasurer said:
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" Lady and Gentlemen, you have before you the income and expenditure for the
Club to 31 January 2025. I am open to any questions but firstly I consider they show
the Club financial transactions are not significant except for the difference between
the income collected from members for their RCCC/Scottish Curling membership fee
and the resultant shortfall of payment by a member. The member concerned had
been contacted on many occasions by email and telephone and promises had not
been kept to rectify the amount due. But for this unfortunate situation, our deficit
would have been £30 less.
There would have been no deficit if we had not agreed at the last AGM to pay £272
for the ice used at Greenacres as a familiarisation event. You will remember this
was an approved expenditure to introduce more members to the Greenacres’
experience.
My thanks go to David Graham who examined the supporting paperwork and signed
off that function.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the annual accounts put
before you."
There were no questions or objections and thus the Accounts as presented by the
Treasurer were unanimously adopted.
Item 5 - Reviews of past season and presentation of trophies
The President addressed the meeting as follows:
"Fellow Gangrels,
I am delighted that this second transitional season has been so successful. It may
not have started auspiciously with the postponement of the opening game but it will
finish on a high with the club's appearance in the final of the Province Knockout
against Stewarton Heather, here, on March 25th at 1800. Well done to all of us for
accepting the challenge and making our season work.
As planned, we bid successfully for ice at Greenacres on a Monday at 1230 along
with sufficient ice at Stranraer to permit three day outings. An invitation to return to
The Galleon was politely declined. We set up a regular and recognisable playing
programme with the addition of a mini league with Ayr and Alloway to maximise
game time and variety for our members. We have also maintained a competitive
presence. All will be detailed in the Match Secretary's report.
The commute has been less arduous than anticipated with the car share
camaraderie to some extent compensating for the loss of our regular post match
meal.
Our playing strength remains essentially static. It is a matter of regret that our current
status as a daytime club makes it difficult for our working members to enjoy the full
extent of our curling programme. In the longer term we can all see the existential
threat that this poses as new curlers are few, retiral age is rising and natural wastage
occurs. The prospect of making the club more attractive by returning to evening ice
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here appears to be remote although there may be some scope for morning play,
freeing up the afternoon.
As a direct consequence, Item 11 in the agenda seeks your permission to allow the
next committee to explore the options for a possible union with another club, Ayr and
Alloway, primarily to secure sufficient playing strength to give us a more certain
future. Your current committee's debate on this was lively, multifaceted and
protracted. It was only terminated by the intervention of a presidential wife
reclaiming her dining room and her husband as hour four approached. I wish the
new committee well in its deliberations which may be coloured by today's news of
progress in the provision of a new ice rink at Ayr projected to open in September
2027.
As our club is currently contracting, we are seeking to amend the Constitution at item
12 to reduce the now disproportionately large number of committee members.
The President is the President of the entire club. Contact with the non playing
membership has been minimal and is a matter of personal regret. The rink at Ayr
afforded casual opportunities to meet others which no longer occur here. We have
run two social evenings which have been well supported in an attempt to address
this.
In keeping with our traditional pattern we are holding the AGM after the Frame
Salver. I am delighted to see 3 members have made the journey without
participating in the competition. I can appreciate the arguments for a more Ayr
centric venue at a different time but for this year I see little harm in adhering to our
usual practice.
I have been blessed with a Committee which collectively knows a great deal more
about curling and the mechanics of running a curling club than I do.
A huge vote of thanks goes to our Secretary Peter who has coped manfully
throughout the season and before with the vagaries of ice rink administrators and
his own members, generating a surprising number of e mails while all the while
recovering from his knee operation. What would we have done without his
reminders? Refer to Spond ,of course! Match Secretary Bob and Peter spent a great
deal of time and effort populating the template with obvious success. We have had
games for all with due recognition of the demands of dual club membership. Not
easy. Thank you, Bob.
To Vice President Fraser, my thanks for your support, for organising the Christmas
event in conjunction with Gillian, who also organised the opening dinner, and for the
dietary advice with particular reference to rowies and skirlie.
Thank you too to Treasurer Richard who has calmly cared for the financial side of
the club. You have played relatively few games this season but I am pleased that
you are still on the reserve list for next.
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David and Allan played their part with solid contributions in committee. My thanks to
them. Thanks to Ronnie for his blog and to David Gray and Ronnie for their
representative duties on the various administrative committees.
A big thank you too, to Past President Gillian. As your Vice President, I watched and
learned technique. As President, I have enjoyed the obvious stimulation of working
with you, trying to stay ahead of your thinking while responding, somewhat
lethargically, to your social prompting.
Finally, thank you all for the opportunity to serve as your President. It is some half a
century since I last enjoyed such a title. Throughout an uncontroversial and hugely
enjoyable year, I have been guided by the fine traditions of the Gangrels. I am
delighted to pass on the mantle to my successor Fraser and wish him well in dealing
with the challenges to come."
Report on Open Competitions
Bob Cherry, in his role as Match Secretary, then presented his views on the 2024-25
season:
"This has been a classic Gangrels season with a few drubbings by better teams but
the occasional triumph!
Eglinton Jug
Cherry, Peat, Stubley ,Galloway lost to Dalry Union 10-1 in the first round and then
to A&A 10-3 in the Low Road. Notwithstanding, an enjoyable day!
Beresford Ladies
Team Morton won . Included Begg and Charters
Rink Championships
Battered once again 13-4 by Dalry. Peat, Cherry, Galloway, Cattanach
Province Medal
Hope, Chapman, Graham, Watson +2 against Curl Ayrshire
Galloway, Cherry, Peat, Cattanach +2 against Troon Portland
A creditable 3rd place behind Sorn and Stewarton Heather following on 2nd place
last year. Consistency!
Wilkie Trophy
Tarbolton unfortunately couldn’t raise a team to play us this year so by default we
retain the trophy.
Province Knock Out
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Peat, Cherry, Galloway, Mutter beat Galston 6-5 in first round
Peat, Hope,Cherry, Galloway beat Fairywell 12-3 in semi final
A good run to date. Playing Stewarton Heather in Final on 25th March (Post meeting
note: lost 2-12)
Mini League
A successful venture with some close and enjoyable games.
Gangrels 2 Lawrence, Watson, Galloway, Begg, Reynolds, Charters
Gangrels 1 Cherry, Peat, Graham, Kennedy, Niblock, Hogg, Cattanach
A&A 2
A&A 1
Stranraer
3 very enjoyable and popular days curling.The winners were:
October. Hope, McFadzean, Galloway, Mutter
November Reynolds, Lawrence, Niblock, Peat
February Galloway, Lawrence, Hogg, Haddow
Fraser Cup
Congratulations to Cattanach, Cherry, Charters, Chapman
Presidents Cup
Lawrence, Henry, Niblock, Richmond won the Knock Out final 11-3. Lots of other
members were involved!
Points
Ally Henry and David Graham tied on 28 points"
Trophy Winners 2024 – 25
The trophies won during the season were awarded to the following:
Fraser Cup Rink 2 (Cattanach, Cherry, Charters, Chapman). While
Skips rotated throughout the series, as the final Skip, the
Cup was presented to President Donald by Vice Pres
Fraser.
President’s Cup Rink 3 ( Lawrence, Gray, Niblock, Watson with subs
Henry (vice Gray) and Richmond (vice Watson) in final
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round.
Wilkie Trophy Donald Cattanach. Won by Gangrels due to Tarbolton
default.
Robert Boyd
Points Trophy Ally Henry and David Graham joint winners (28).
Frame Salver Rink 3 (Cattanach (S), Watson, Peat, Reynolds )(+6).
Sportsman’s Award Steell McFadzean (for the 3rd time!).
Due to the vagaries and programming difficulties experienced again this season
away from Ayr Ice Rink, no other Club Trophy events (Pairs, Drew Duncan Quaich,
Kirkbride Rose Bowl) had been competed.
Item 6 - Election of Office Bearers
With President Donald standing down, he handed over Presidency to Fraser Hogg
who assumed the Chair. President Fraser thanked Past President Donald for his
appreciable application and contributions while in office and also thanked the
Committee and membership for their support which he hoped would be maintained
as we determined the way ahead for the Club. He then announced that he had
invited Alistair Henry to be Vice President which he had accepted and this was
roundly acclaimed by those members present.
The Secretary then stated that the Committee composition for next season would be
at variance with that mandated in the extant Club Constitution and that Agenda Item
12 should now be taken. The proposed amendment to the Constitution was
unanimously agreed and the Secretary undertook to incorporate it and promulgate
the revised version on the Club website. Action: Sec.
An additional member was requested for the Committee membership to fulfil the
amendment to the Constitution and Gillian Watson magnanimously agreed.
The Office Bearers and Committee for 2025-26 would therefore be:
Honorary President Jim Lyburn
President Fraser Hogg
Vice President Alistair Henry
Past President Donald Cattanach
Secretary Peter Galloway
Treasurer Richard Morrison
Match Secretary Bob Cherry
Committee Gillian Watson
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Examiner David Graham
of Accounts
Item 7 - Fixing of Subscriptions
The Secretary reported that in view of the current cash in the Bank situation and
satisfactory state of the Club accounts as previously stated at Item 4, the Committee
proposed there be no change and thus Playing Member and Reserve subscriptions
should remain at £15 and Non-Playing £10. The Secretary added that we were
unlikely to be advised of the subscription fees for the RCCC, Greenacres and
possibly Curl Ayrshire Charity until about Aug 2025. The Committee
recommendation that Club subscription rates be accepted as above at £15 and £10
was unanimously endorsed.
Item 8 - Endorsement of Rink selection methodology and fixture plan
The Secretary thanked the membership for their input and summarised the results of
the annual questionnaire returns. This seemed to indicate sufficient support for a
similar programme to that just completed. Early discussions with the Match
Secretary suggested the plan for next season would be the same rotating Skips in 3
x 5/6 person Rinks for the Fraser Cup and President’s Cup. Moreover, it was
intended to expand the mini-league with A&A to be a 6 Rink event with 3 Rinks from
each Club playing each other twice over the season (10 games) which might equate
to 5 games each side of the festive break. Dates and venues had still to be agreed
for all the internal and external events being considered for the fixture list but no
show stoppers had so far been identified albeit it was ambitious and commitment
from Playing Members and Reserves would be essential. A draft ice bid had been
produced for both Greenacres and North West Castle but this needs to be endorsed
by the Committee when finalised and probably before its next scheduled meeting in
May. Greenacres had already stated that ice bids to them had to be submitted as
soon as possible and at the latest by 19 May 25. Dates and venues for games with
Beresford Ladies and Tarbolton had also to be agreed and finalised. The Match
Secretary added a note of caution that care would have to be taken to ensure that
we did not over-commit in terms of Rink capacity and that the fixture list issued, while
maximising playing opportunity, had some spare capacity to cater for the unexpected
especially with regard to player availability. The Secretary then went on to say that
as soon as an endorsed fixture list was available, it would be circulated to all playing
and reserve members to enable them to pencil in dates in their diaries and identify
potential clashes in commitments at an early stage. Allan Chapman echoed the
Match Secretary’s warning of Rink capacity which he foresaw as also being
applicable to A&A. He also requested that consideration be given to including A&A
in the forward planning for Points, Pairs and social events at Stranraer. This the
Secretary/Match Secretary undertook to do. Jimmy Niblock suggested that if Rink
capacity was a problem, reduce the number in each Rink to 3. While an interesting
stop gap measure in play terms, it did carry significant ice cost increase implications
for Playing Members as venues would not reduce their ice charges on a pro-rata
basis. For that reason, the proposal was probably not acceptable.
Action: Sec/Match Sec.
Item 9 - Election of Scottish Curling/Eglinton Jug/Ayrshire Province Reps
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The Secretary sought the agreement of, and it was endorsed, that the extant SC
Representative, Ronnie Peat, and Eglinton Jug/Ayrshire Province Rep, David Gray,
should continue.
Item 10 - Selection of venues and ice times for 2025/26
The Secretary sought and obtained a majority agreement to base the Club internal
games programme at Greenacres on Mondays at 1000 with 1230 as an alternative.
Whole day events at Stranraer would also be bid for mid week dates in late Oct, late
Nov and mid Feb 2026 to include lunch and bacon rolls on arrival for those who wish
them. A&A would also be made aware of our bid dates to permit them to do the
same for any spare sheets. He said that an ice bid would be drafted according but
that ice allocations were not likely to be know until about July. Once obtained and
the detail of external events sponsored by the Jug/Province/RCCC known, a fixture
list might then be issued about late Aug/early Sep. The Secretary and Match
Secretary had previously highlighted in their comments at Item 8 above that all of
their considerations would be focused on the availability returns on the data sheet
drawn from Member replies to the questionnaire. However, ice bids based on player
preferences and actual venue allocations may differ and would have to be managed
on a compromising basis. Action: Sec/MS/Committee.
Item 11 - Proposed establishment of a working group
The Secretary said that the questionnaire returns were unanimous in support of
considering the practicalities of a long term union with A&A. A&A too were also in
favour. He suggested that members now needed to consider a pathway and
timescale for such an amalgamation to then permit the respective Committees to
make recommendations to their memberships. He proposed a working group of 3
from each Club, with Gangrel members being the Secretary, Match Secretary and
Treasurer which, if agreed, could then be taken forward in conjunction with A&A.
Allan Chapman (President A&A) added the supporting view of his Club. Jimmy
Niblock asked if the long term future would maintain the discreet and distinct identity
of the Gangrels CC and what might the implications be should a new Curl Ayrshire
Charity ice rink be funded and built. Euan Lawrence proposed that contact be made
with Beresford Ladies to establish whether they too might wish to consider changes
in their own Club structure and play methodology. All of these points were noted and
would be taken in to the brief/terms of reference for the Club Working Group whose
composition was agreed as proposed earlier. Action; Committee/WG.
Item 12 - Constitution amendment
Taken and agreed at Item 6 above.
Item 13 - Any other business
Resolving the situation raised by the Treasurer with regard to recovering the non-
payment of the sum highlighted in his report at Item 4 above raised expressions of
discontent and concern. Jimmy Niblock recounted a previous similar incident in the
Club’s history and added that there had been a precedent in resolving it. The
President closed further discussion by stating he hoped to be speaking with the
person concerned shortly and that the matter should be left with the Committee to
implement the means to resolve the issue, hopefully to the satisfaction of all
concerned. Action: Tres/Committee.
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