Frame Salver

Four Rinks took to the ice at Greenacres on Mon 17 Mar in the afternoon for the final internal Club game of this season for the Frame Salver trophy.  This was a planned 7 end competition with no scores to be shown on the scoreboards and the winner decided on the highest shots differential.  It was also the prelude to a meal prior to the AGM.  

Rink 1 (Hope (S), Graham, Gray, Cherry) faced off against Rink 2 (Mutter (S), Hogg, Lawrence, Charters) on Sheet A and it resulted in a tight match with Rink 1 winning 7-5 (+2).  

Adjacent to them on Sheet B, Rink 3 (Cattanach (S), Watson, Peat, Reynolds) were to prevail against Rink 4 (Chapman (S), Galloway, Niblock, McFadzean) with no quarter given.  Six shots up by the 5^th end, Rink 3 were in fine form and went on to win 8-2 (+6) to then be awarded the Frame Salver at the AGM prizegiving.

An additional 3 Club members then joined all the players and 19 members sat down to an excellent meal, well served and in a very convivial atmosphere.  It was much enjoyed by everyone and a most fitting close to the season.

POINTS RESULTS

 Crufts Best of Show had no sooner finished when 9 pedigree Gangrel Pointers stepped in to the show arena of Greenacres for the Club annual Points competition.  This was conducted on Sheets C and D and the differing ice on both in terms of keenness and swing soon had loud shouts of either glee or despair depending on the success or otherwise of carefully crafted shots played in each of the 8 out of 10 disciplines completed in the time allotted.  

Those who took part in order of play in this very enjoyable and frustration shared event were Ally Henry, Peter Galloway, Allan Chapman, Jim Niblock, Bob Cherry, Ronnie Peat, David Graham, Douglas Haddow and Fraser Hogg.  

The top 3 results were 1^st equal Ally Henry and David Graham with 28 points, 2^nd Ronnie Peat with 27 points and 3^rd equal Jimmy Niblock and Bob Cherry with 26 points.  The 4^th podium place was taken by Peter Galloway with 25 points.  With only 3 points separating the top 4 places overall, this gives a clear indication of the closeness in capability and competitive terms but it may not have seemed so at any single point in time over the duration of the event!!  Notwithstanding, it was enjoyed by all who took part.

PROVINCE KNOCK OUT SEMI FINAL - MON 4 MAR

 " What a result!  Gangrels (R Peat (S), D Hope, B Cherry, P Galloway) took to the ice at Greenacres late on the evening of Mon 4 Mar to play Fairywell (S Rennie (S), A Sloan, S Sutherland, K Rennie) in the semi-final of the Province Knock Out.  On the adjacent sheet, Stewarton Heather and Sorn were loudly proclaiming their presence and prowess! 

Undeterred by the white noise distraction,  the Gangrels stepped up to the hack having lost the toss and promptly stole a 2 on the first end.  Fairywell responded in proficient style to do the same in the next end, peeling 2-2.  And then the wheel came off their wagon as Gangrels got the better of somewhat fickle pace and swing ice with Skip Ronnie making life very difficult for Fairwell with skillfully placed scoring stones which were then protected from the inevitable barrier/strike weight onslaught.

By the close of the 5^th end, Gangrels had moved ahead to lead 6-3 but there was little room for complacency and every effort was then made to at least secure the lead advantage and at best increase it.  This they did by stealing another 2 on the 6^th end and then repeatedly guarding a close group of scoring stones to take another 4 in the 7^th and last end.  At the bell, hands were shaken with Gangrels winning 12-3.  This was a hard fought and well-deserved victory with sound team play and application throughout.

The final will take place at Greenacres on Tue 25 Mar at 1800 against Stewarton Heather with supporters very welcome and encouraged to attend."

Thanks to Secretary Peter for the above report and all his excellent reports from this year's games.

GCC v A&A MINI LEAGUE FINAL ROUND 6 RESULTS 3 MAR

 The final round of the mini league at Greenacres on Mon 3 Mar was a cracker with A&A1 v A&A2 on Sheet A and Gangrels 1 v Gangrels 2 on Sheet B with all 4 Rinks closely matched in capability and competitiveness.  Gangrels 2 were in the lead with 2 Points ahead of Gangrels 1 and A&A 2 just behind Gangrels 1 on Ends up.  So it was all to play for!

On Sheet A, A&A were in close competition end for end throughout the 8 ends played but A&A 2 edged ahead with a 3 in the 5^th end to lead 6-3.  A&A 1 took single shots in the  6^th and 8^th ends but A&A 2 kept their nose in the lead to win 7-5 at the bell.

On Sheet B, both Gangrels Rinks were to give no quarter and were peeling 3-3 at the close of the 4^th end.  Thereafter, Gangrels 2 won the next 3 ends to go in to the final end leading 6-3 but with Gangrels1 determined to achieve a good score to redress the difference but try as they may and thwarted by A&A2's defensive play, they were only able to secure a single shot to leave Gangrels 2 winning 6-4.

The results were close on both sheets with Gangrels 2 winning 6-4 and A&A 2 winning 7-5 but when added to the overall results table, Gangrels 2 won with 10 Points, Gangrels 2 came second with 6 Points and +21 ends, A&A 2 third with 6 Points and +20 ends and A&A 1 fourth with 2 Points.  The full details of the series is shown here.

This trial run of a mini league is considered to have been a commendable success and has set an impressive benchmark for next season should it be decided to continue and possibly expand the series.

Presidents Cup - Final Day

 Given the difficulties associated with the recent closure of Greenacres due to ice plant problems and the non-availability of original Rink members to play in the initially scheduled Presidents Cup High and Low Roads, it was evident that the most efficient and effective solution would be to hold both events on the same day and to have volunteers play a double header.  And so it was arranged that the High Road would be played at 1000 and the Low Road at 1230 on Mon 24 Feb at Greenacres.

The High Road saw Rink 2 (Cherry (S), Galloway, Wilson, McFadzean) play Rink 3 (Lawrence (S), Henry, Niblock, Richmond) on keen but somewhat inconsistent swingy ice.  It was a challenge for both Rinks but Rink 3 mastered the difficulties from the outset taking the first 3 ends to surge in to 9 stone lead.  Rink 2, realising the gravity of the situation, sought to redress the shortfall and took single stone shots in the following 2 ends to get on to the board but were still lagging 2-9 at the end of the 5th.  Rink 3 then increased their lead by taking another 2 in the 6^th which Rink 2 countered with a 2 in the 7th.  At the bell, Rink 3 were winners 11-4 and will be awarded the President's Cup for this season.

After a quick break for sustinance intake, the Low Road formed from the 2 lowest scoring Rinks in the first 2 rounds of the President's Cup took to the ice with Rink 1 (Hogg (S), Cherry, Graham, McFadzean) facing Rink 4 (Wilson (S), Peat, Henry, Galloway).  This was to become a more closely contested end for end game but Rink 4 edged in to the lead by taking a 4 in the 3rd end to lead 6-1.  Rink 1 took singles in the next 2 ends to close the gap but Rink 4 forged ahead once again by winning the next 2 ends to go in to the 8^th and final end leading 9-3.  Despite Rink 4 seeking to keep the head clear and limit scoring opportunities, Rink 1 thwarted those attempts and took a well crafted 3 to lose 6-9 overall.

The 5 players who took part in both consecutive games were more than glad to rest weary sweeping arms and legs and enjoy the end of day break and banter before heading for home.  Notwithstanding, everyone enjoyed the day and the spirited competition

MINI LEAGUE ROUND 5 RESULTS MON 17 FEB

 The 5^th round of the mini league series of the Gangrels v A&A was held on Mon 17 Feb at Greenacres with Gangrels 1 (Cherry (S), Cattanach, Niblock, Hogg) playing A&A 2 (Mitchell (S), Chapman,         L Wilson, J Cherry) and Gangrels 2 (Galloway(S), Lawrence, Charters, Reynolds) facing A&A1 (Baines (S), R Wilson, Haddow - 1 player short, thus incurring 2 shot penalty).  

Both games were played on the back extension ice Sheets E and F.  Gangrels 1 were in fine form from the start only losing a 2 in the second end to win 11-2 and taking 6 of the 7 ends played.  Gangrels 2 had a tighter match initially on keen but somewhat inconsistent swing ice to be peeling 3-3 at the conclusion of the 4th end.  Douglas Haddow then suffered a leg muscle injury which added to the overall reduction in their stone play and sweeping capacity which may have contributed to Gangrels then creeping ahead to win 8 (10 with penalty points) - 4 as the 8^th end finished.  

The overall league table is shown here with Gangrels 2 in the lead and Gangrels 1 lying second.

Province Knock Out

The Gangrels (Peat (S), Cherry, Mutter, Galloway) took part in the first round of the Province KO at Greenacres against Galston Haymouth (Boswell (S), Dykes, Brown, M Dykes) on the evening of       Fri 14 Feb. This was clearly not going to be a bonding Valentine's Night meeting with Galston showing their take out prowess from the start to take an early lead by 4-1 on completion of the 3^rd end.  

Not to be outdone, Grangrels then displayed their adroit drawing talents to take the next 2 ends to be peeling 4-4 at the end of the 5th.  Things were getting tense and the sweeping effort frantic as the next 2 ends came down to each side having to score on their last stone.  A single score from either side on the 6^th and 7^th ends resulted in a 5-5 peel with 5 minutes remaining on the clock.  

The high emotion was palpable as an early on the button stone from the Gangrels was repeatedly guarded from the persistent attacks of Galston who had the hammer.  Notwithstanding, continued fine protective play kept Galston's endeavours at bay and Gangrels won 6-5.  They now go on to play in the semi final against Fairywell on Tue 4 Mar at 2030."