STRANRAER CHRISTMAS CHEER VISIT 13 DEC

 "Fourteen Gangrels and 2 Spouses (Margaret Morrison and Linda Wilson), the latter who were kindly filling in gaps in available Playing Members, made up 4 Rinks for a day's Christmas cheer social curling at North West Castle on Wed 13 Dec.  Our first Club visit in October had set the bar high in terms of quality of ice, ambiance, food, bar service and overall support.  Once again, everything was first class and a must be there for the next scheduled visit in Feb 2024.

The competition scoring was based on cumulative shots up with the morning Rinks being swopped for play in the afternoon session.  Team Cherry (Cherry, Chapman, Dunlop and Hogg) met Team Galloway (Galloway, Peat, Cattanach and Margaret Morrison) while Team Reynolds (Reynolds, Hope, Gray and Henry) played Team Morrison (Richard Morrison, Steell McFadzean, Ronnie Wilson and Linda Wilson) in the morning session.  

At the snack lunch break, served in one of the function suits with us all seated together at a long table, Team Reynolds were 9 shots up with Team Cherry hard on their sliders with +8.  With hunger pangs and thirst slated, the Rinks moved back on to the ice with the titans Team Cherry facing Team Reynolds and Team Galloway against Team Morrison. Team Reynolds kept their brushes up and in front with another +3 shot win to win overall.  Team Cherry came second with neither Team Galloway nor Team Morrison able to make up the gap in score differentials from the morning tussles. 

 Vice President Donald presented the prizes and thanked Gail Munro and the hotel staff for a superb day of curling, hospitality and social bonding opportunity."

Many thanks to Peter for the above (and other) reports.  The photos above were taken with my old phone.  I picked up a new one yesterday and hope it can manage without the light interference.

Ronnie

(and for some, still to be discovered, reason the link to the Fraser Cup table after round 10 is not working) 

Fraser Cup Round 10

 In nautical terms, Port is red and Starboard is green but in tonight's final round of the Fraser Cup at the Galleon, it was a whitewash!  Team Port (Watson, Cherry, Gegg and McFadzean) sailed a course against Team Starboard (Galloway, Charters, Hogg and Morrison) which was true team event, incisive and achieved the result they aimed for.  

Six ends were played on good ice and all were won by Team Port, even when Team Starboard thought  they were well placed to break their duck, the measure determined otherwise!  Team Port left the ice with their heads held high with a final win of 9-0 and an impressive overall total points win for the Fraser Cup.  The results are shown here or click on the link opposite.

Gangrels Christmas Dinner

 What a great idea it was to have a Gangrels Dinner. It was an opportunity for everyone to get together, have a chat, swap stories and enjoy the club atmosphere that we miss from our weekly games at Ayr. 

The food and service were very good and the time flew by, always the sign of a good night.

Congratulations to Gillian and Peter for all the effort they put in to the organisation. Our next event is this coming Wednesday (13th) when we travel to Stranraer for two games and a lunch.

FRASER CUP ROUND 9 REPORT

 Team Port (Watson, Begg and Cherry - Stubley still injured from his fall 2 weeks ago) continued its relentless quest for supremacy in the Fraser Cup against Team Starboard (Galloway, Charters, Peat and McFadzean) in the 9^th round yesterday afternoon at the Galleon.  

The ice was in fine condition and with 4 Rinks from A&A also playing at the same time as us followed by Rinks from Tarbolton and Symington, it was quite like the recent past when playing at Ayr!  This was a close game initially on pleasingly keen and swingy ice which Team Port got the measure of very quickly and were 4-3 in the lead at the fifth end.  Team Starboard thought they had secured a well hidden peel in the 6^th end with just a hint of their lying stone showing behind 2 of Ports' but a superb back weight last stone from President Gillian ended that hope with them scoring 2.  

They went on to take another 2 in the last end to win 8-3.  One final round of the Fraser Cup to go on Tue 12 Dec at 1500.  The results table is shown here or click on the side panel.

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.