Strathcona
Cup Canadian Tour to Scotland 2018
The
Canadians are HERE!
In
January the Canadian Strathcona Cup Team arrive in Scotland to play
for the Strathcona Cup,
the oldest trophy in International Curling.
It
is the grandest and likely the most valuable trophy in curling. It
rarely leaves the vaults. It was specially commissioned by Lord
Strathcona for the first Canadian tour to Scotland in 1909. (for more
info and photos go to :- strathconacup100.ca ).
As
a young man of 18, Donald Smith, (later to become Lord Strathcona)
set out from Forres to work for the Hudson Bay Company eventually
rising to the top. He made his fortune in trading, banking and
investment and was a major investor in the Canadian Pacific Railway.
He is famous for hammering in the last golden spike on completion of
the transcontinental railway in 1855 at Craigellachie, B.C. He became
an MP in the Canadian Government and was instrumental in forming the
‘Mounties’. Latterly he was appointed as the High Commissioner
for Canada to Great Britain and entered the House of Lords as Lord
Strathcona and Mount Royal.
His
handsome trophy is all about bringing together the Scots who
developed the game and the Canadians who have made curling one of
their National sports.
It
is unique in that it is a tour played Nationwide over a number of
weeks where curlers of both countries have the opportunity to
represent their country in the spirit and camaraderie that is the
essence of the game.
It
all started in 1902 when the RCCC decided to accept a long standing
invitation to send a team of Scottish Curlers to Canada to further
the special relationship of the international curling fraternity. A
team of 22 worthy Scottish Curlers were duly chosen from the four
Curling Areas of Scotland. Taking their own stones with them, they
set out to play in January 1903 on a 2 month tour, including ocean
and rail travel, from Halifax to Winnipeg, ending in a mini tour to
the USA from Minneapolis to New York.
Such
was the effusive praise from the Canadians of the success of this
Tour, the RCCC invited the Canadians to send a team to Scotland and
that such a Tour should coincide with the year that Lord Strathcona,
with his unique honourable status in both countries, was the RCCC
President in 1909. The Canadians sent curlers from every Province in
the country, even one from Dawson City in the Yukon who started his
journey to Scotland on a sled!
The
enthusiasm for this event has carried on over the years and is now
played for every 5 years alternating between Scotland and Canada.
Every point in every game counts and is recorded, so competition is
fierce right to the last stone played by every rink. Pride is very
much at stake. Scotland won on the last Tour to Canada in 2013 by
2876 shots to 2621, to even it up at 11 matches all since 1903!
The
Canadians arrive at Murrayfield on 30th
January to play their final games over 4 days against teams selected
to represent their Provinces so these matches may be crucial to the
overall result.
Even
If you are not one of the 80 Edinburgh Area curlers selected to
challenge for the Cup this time, please come along to welcome the
Canadians and give your support on any of the days from 30th
January to 2nd
February.
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