FRASER CUP LEAGUE ROUND 5 RESULTS

"Rinks from A&A and Gangrels met in the 5^th Round of the Fraser Cup League at Greenacres on Mon 17 Nov with the Rinks from each Club in direct opposition to each other.  On Sheet C, Gangrels 2 (Lawrence (S), Galloway, Charters, Niblock) faced Gangrels 3 (Gray (S), Mutter, Henry, B Cherry) and it had all the hallmarks of being a game of the titans with Gangrels 2 top of the league and Gangrels 3 close behind at 3rd.  The ice was keen and very swingy at both ends and it was clear from the outset that mastering line and pace was going to be crucial.  And so it proved with Gangrels 2 taking the first 2 ends with Gangrels 3 retaliating in the 3^rd to peel 3-3. It was nip and tuck thereafter with the hammer advantage being played but Gangrels 3 just kept their nose in  front to win 7-6 after 7 ends.

On Sheet D, A&A2 (Mitchell (S), H Kennedy, Shanks, J Cherry) had similar problems against A&A3 (R Wilson (S), Ireland, L Wilson, Haddow) but A&A3 also had the psychological pressure of having yet to gain points in the league.  But that they were then do in good style.  They lost singles in the first 2 ends but then bounced back in buoyant fashion to take 7 over the next 2 ends to lead 7- 3 going in to the 6th end.  Single shot successes in the final 2 ends resulted in A&A3 winning 9-3 and gaining 2 points in the league totals.

Indoor Grand Match

The RCCC's Indoor Grand Match was held throughout Scotland on Sat 15 Nov and the Gangrels took part at Greenacres against Helensburgh 2.  Traditional Grand Matches used to take place on frozen lochs whenever weather conditions permitted but the indoor version was first held in 2000 to celebrate the millenium and due to its success has continued every 5 years since except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the pandemic.  

Billed as a battle between the North and South of Scotland, this year's event brought together 1560 curlers from 281 clubs competing in 390 teams and stands as one of the largest single-day mass participation sporting events in the country.  

As in the traditional format, an imaginary line is drawn between the Rivers Forth and Clyde to divide the country into North and South. Matches are played similtaneously over 3 sessions at the 12 participating Ice Rinks with scores tallied at the conclusion of all games.  The side with the highest total points is declared the winner.

Greenacres had orchestrated their hosting of the IGM in a most memorable, fitting and pleasing manner so there was a real buzz as competitors paraded on to the ice in Sheet order behind a piper.  The Gangrels Rink (Ronnie Peat (S), Bob Cherry, Peter Galloway, Fraser Hogg) playing for South, stepped up to the Sheet D hack against Helensburgh 2 (Ian McArther (S), David Forrest, Ian Chatten, George Kerr) representing North.  The ice was keen and swingy with Gangrels taking a single in the first end but then rocked by losing a 4 in the second.  Shaken but not stirred, Gangrels then took the next 2 ends to lead 6-4 at the halfway point when brooms were stacked and glasses of amber nectar served.  Warmed up, play recommenced with Gangrels taking singles in the next 2 ends to lead 8-4 at the 6^th with 2 culminating ends to go but here Helensbugh 2 came back fighting to score 2s in both ends to peel 8-8 which was a fitting end to a good game.

A few more drinks and game analysis over a pleasant 2 course lunch concluded the day and both teams headed their seperate ways home North and South in the sun.

The overall result of the Ambassador Cruise Indoor Grand Match was another win for the South, this time 1356 - 1287 over the North."

Gangrels Rosebowl Round 2

 The  second round of the Gangrels Rosebowl competition took place on Mon 10 Nov at Greenacres at 1000 between Rink 1 (Chapman(S), Cattanach, Cherry, R. Wilson (sub Peat)) and Rink 3 (Galloway(S)(sub Gray), Hogg, Mutter, Reynolds).  

We had the whole ice rink to ourselves other than practice ice on the sheets either side of us which was somewhat unusual as the focus was very much on what we were achieving, or not, on Sheet B which the ice technicians were particularly interested in as to its speed and swing.  We were soon to realise why as both factors were difficult to guage and variable over the first few ends.  

Despite the best efforts of Rink 1 to thwart the steady and consistent single scoring rate of Rink 3, they were unable to do so and with taking a concluding 2 on the final end, Rink 3 won 8-0.

Gangrels and Beresford Ladies

 The annual Gangrels/BL combined Club's social curling event took place at Greenacres on Wed 5 Nov with 10.00 am ice.  Four mixed Rinks took part and despite the date and  heavy rain, there were no fireworks or damp squibs but lots of banter, good humour, enjoyable curling and a very pleasant and convivial soup/sandwich/hot drink lunch afterwards!

We had been allocated ice Sheets A and B and on Sheet A, Rink 1 (Carol Simpson (S), Donald Cattanach, Una Semple, Peter Galloway) played Rink 2 (David Graham (S), Corrie Lawrence, Fraser Hogg, Sandra Taylor).  Rink 1 took the first and subsequent 6 ends without incurring a loss to win 13-0, albeit Rink 2 were very unlucky on a number of occasions not to have taken out lying stones or indeed wicked off to lie and score at least a single.  On Sheet B, Rink 3 (Gillian Macdonald (S), Euan Lawrence, Anne Naismith, Bob Cherry) and Rink 4 (Ronnie Peat (S), Sally McCandless, Jimmy Niblock, Joyce Arnot) locked horns in what was to become a game of 2 halves.  In the first 3 ends, Rink 4 scored well to lead 5-0 but then Rink 3 realised the gravity of their situation and set to with a will to take the next 4 ends to then shake hands 7-5 winners.

All 16 players then retired to the Lounge for a pre-ordered snack lunch which was, in the main, much enjoyed, albeit the soup was not to everyone's taste/palette but the sandwiches and company certainly were.  President Fraser summarised the results with Rink 1 being declared the outright winner and thanked Greenacres staff for their ice preparation, catering and event hosting.  President Carol thanked the Gangrels for arranging the event, all the players for their enthusiastic participation and expressed the hope that it would be repeated next year when BL would take the lead in arranging.

Fraser Cup Round 4

 The fourth round of the Fraser Cup League took place at Greenacres on Mon 3 Nov at 1000 where Gangrels 3 (Reynolds (S), Gray, Mutter, Henry) played A&A2 (Mitchell (S), H Kennedy, Shanks, Thow) on Sheet A and on Sheet B, Gangrels 2 (Galloway(S)(sub Stubley), Lawrence, Niblock, Hogg (sub Charters) played A&A1 (Baines(S), Graham, Black, J Cherry).  All of this in the aftermath of the weekend's Eglinton Jug busy match programme and spirited social gathering but the ice had been well restored and the lounge area cleared of the post award ceremony celebrations!

On Sheet A, A&A2 took an imposing 4 shot lead in the first end with another single in the 3^rd end to stay in front 5-1but Gangrels 3 kept their heads up and recovery determination in place to take singles in the next 4 ends to peel 5-5 at the close of the 7^th end.  On the adjacent Sheet, A&A1 started well to lead 4-0 going in to the 3^rd end but other than taking another 2 in the 6^th end, Gangrels 2 countered by winning 4 of the last 5 ends to win 9-6 overall at the end of the 8^th end which was started very shortly before the bell sounding and Gangrels 2 leading 7-6.

Eglinton Jug

 "  Twenty four curling Rinks were entered into the annual Eglinton Jug knockout competition over the weekend of 1^st and 2^nd Nov held at Greenacres.  The Gangrels Rink of R. Peat (S), B. Cherry, P Galloway, F Hogg had a bye in to the High Road 2^nd round against Sorn 3 (R. Clark (S), G. Thomson, A. Cameron, J. Johnson) which took place at 1230 on Sat 1 Nov on Sheet F.  The back sheets of ice had not been producing ice of the usual Greenacres quality since the installation of the new ice plant and these teething issues were again evident and the Gangrels struggled to cope with the vagaries of swing and speed while Sorn adapted much more quickly.  A loss of 4 in the first end was a warning and blow to the Gangrels but matters did not improve and only got worse with them not getting on to the board over the next 5 ends to lose 17- 0 and shake hands with bowed heads at the conclusion of the 6^th end.  The only benefit was an early drink and snack lunch before the 5 other occupied sheets finished their games and filled the bar area!

That loss saw the Gangrels Rink then scheduled to play in the 3rd round of the Low Road at 1830 against Curl Ayrshire 1 (D. Reid (S), M. Shaw, E. Shaw, L Collins) but this time on Sheet B in the main ice hall.  Buoyed up by an appreciable afternoon lunch break and the expecation of better ice and a more consistent playing performance, Gangrels set to with a will but were immediately deflated by losing the first 3 ends to be trailing 0-7.  A single shot win in the 4^th end lifted spirits but was short lived with recurring losses in the next 3 ends to see the game drawn to a premature close at the 7^th end with a loss 1-13 to Curl Ayrshire who had performed consistently well against  jadded Gangrels.

The competition continued on Sun 2 Nov with the High and Low Road semi finals and finals, neither of which had Gangrels participation!  The Eglinton Jug Trophy was ultimately won by Stewarton Heather which was presented to them by Lord Eglinton accompanied  by Lady Eglinton.  

The organisers, Umpires and Greenacres ice and catering staff did yet another fine job in administrating and supporting the event and are to be commended for their individual and collective endeavours which were much appreciated."