An Aberlady Record ?

The opening game of regular season saw 'probably' a new low for the club in its 165 year history !

It was the lowest average age of any game certainly in my memory, and Adam and Julia were not the reason!  Of the eight players on the ice were our three new U17 reserves who in their second outing seem to have the line and length of our main players.

Anyway the game itself was, after two ends, with a score of 7 - 0 against,  looking like it was going to be a long night for the Maguire squad.  It was however a game of two halves and helped with a 4 of their own in the sixth end, and a yell of "Game On" from their skip they entered the final end only 2 shots down.  The final end saw them with several stones distributed round the twelve foot.  The two teams then took it in turns to remove the stone nearest the button.  With the final shot of the match Team Mackey misjudged the swing of the ice  and left a two to peel the match 8 - 8.  It was a good game with several classy, and in my case occasionally lucky shots, that seemed to be enjoyed all round.  The injection of youth into our games seems to be bringing out the best of our 'older' members.

Opening Bonspiel

An eventful night.

In the first game Graeme (and Adam - now known as the Two A55holes) took a commanding 4-0 lead against Team Peart.   However a loose final stone from Graeme (We wont discuss whose choice the shot was!) left Daniel with a draw for a 5 and the win.  Which he duly made.

The second pitted Team 'A55holes'  against Team Mackey.  (I think someone had told Julia that there weren't any pies on offer this year).  Again, the Maguire squad took the first three ends and another 4-0 lead, leaving everyone to think that lightening couldn't strike twice, could it ?  Julia played a risk it all shot with her final stone, which missed and left Team Maguire with the win.

The final game meant that Daniel had to win or peel to take the trophy, however all did not go to plan, with Julia taking a 5-0 lead after two ends.  Graeme an Adam, meanwhile were rehearsing their winners speech.  On a straight piece of ice, Team Julia managed to miss a 'through the port' hit FOUR times in succession and surrendered 4 shots.  The final end, Julia was heard to think, who do I want to win (As she now couldn't).  With Daniel getting a stone buried, Julia was unable to winkle it out with the last stone of the tourney.  This left Daniel with a peel and together with his last end win in game one, the winners. 

Meanwhile Graeme and Adam were trying to work out, having won seven ends out of eight, why they were relegated to runner up spot.

It was a fun evening and great to meet the Breeze Boys (Ali and Joey), our new junior subs, who were showing some of the older hands what this curling game was all about !

Congratulations to Team Peart.  Daniel was assisted by David Wyllie, Simon Rice and Rosie Clark. 

Province Games

The draws for Province Competitions have been added 

Syllabus

 The 25/26 syllabus (as at 28-8-25) has been added to the fixtures tab.

Season 25-26 - News

Ice is currently being booked and over the next couple of months this website will be getting its summer clean in preparation for next season. 

Anyone wishing to join should act asap and contact Pam or myself.

Provisionally, the season will commence with our Opening Bonspiel on Thursday 9th October and, as usual, it will be followed by supper at the rink.

Other games will be confirmed when the ice is finally confirmed.

Have a good and safe summer.

Seasons End & Friendship League

 Last night saw our final game of the season between Dave Wyllie's rink with Zack playing skip and two reserves in the team v The New Stones team.  Graeme, skipping for the New Stones generously gifted the opposition a shot whilst drawing for 2 himself in the second end but Zack kindly repaid the compliment with the final stone of the season, giving the New Stones 2 shots instead of 1.  The final score was, perhaps fittingly a peel and their first point of the league.

As the New Stones Skip, I was extremely impressed with how they all played and despite the final table position I thoroughly enjoyed playing with them.

Now the curling is over, the engraving, pie purchasing and accounts and preparations for next season have begun.

See You All at the Dinner and Prize Giving at Howie's, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh on Thursday 8th May 2025 - 6 for 6.30pm.  

President v Vice

Our AI President

Only one sheet this year. Never the less, our President was keen to win one more time before her term of

office concludes.  Despite Adam and Graeme "tag teaming" Julia was on imperious form and wasn't to be denied After taking the first six ends the Vice realised that an "eight" wouldn't be enough and offered an early handshake.  So it is the final congratulations of the season to Julia Mackey, Daniel Peart, Adam Hicks/Graeme Maguire and Stuart Richardson.

Friendship ? League

 With another devastating win, the winners of the Friendship League is Team Adam Hicks.  Three wins (two of them 'double figure') out of three.  Adam was assisted by Dale Callander, Rosie Clark/Sheena Munro and Julia Mackey.

One game left which will determine the 'wooden spoon' winners.

Friendship League

The first game in our new Friendship League got underway last night.  This league consists of a team made up of our New Stone recruits (coached and skipped this year by Graeme) and pitches them against our "Thirds" teams.

The game was played, against the John McOmish side, in very good spirit and the New Stones team played exceptionally well.  Lead Lesley played all her stones at a steady length and helped set up the ends nicely, while third Iona played some fine draws and take outs and with a bit more experience will make a fine skip.  Neil at second was a very new player, stepping in for the night also played consistently. 

The first end went to the New Stones and by the end of the third end they were 3 - 1 up, before John steadied his experienced squad. Going in to the final end the scores were pegged at 6 - 6.  With his final stone Graeme drew behind guards onto the button, only for the New Stones hopes to be shattered with an inch perfect shot (that had his sweepers very worried) by John to nudge it back for the McOmish side to take a 7 - 6 win.

The game created interest from some of the Oxenfoord players on the adjacent sheet who thought the game more interesting than their own because "Something changed with nearly every shot".

Most of the players adjourned to the bar afterwards and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the game and the friendly atmosphere.

Congratulations Roundup

 Congratulations to Team Julia,

Shots Competition

Julia Mackey, John McOmish, Dale Callander and Pam Clark/Jillian Bradfield for winning/retaining the title 

Peter Allan Shield

This came down to the final shot of the final game in 'Regular Season' but the Club overall champions and Shield winners are

Daniel Peart, Adam Hicks, John Good, Rosie Clark/Sheena Munro.

Friendship Competition

Team 4 (The New Stones Team) will be skipped by Graeme, unless more New Stones volunteer. Mike Wood will skip Rink 1.

The Team 4 rinks for the three fixtures  will be (running order to be decided on the day):-

Fri 28 Feb @ 18.00 hrs :- Graeme, Iona Hill, Lesley Paterson, STILL VACANT

Wed 12 Mar @ 19.45 hrs :- Graeme, Iona Hill, Lesley Paterson, Simon Rice

Mon 24 Mar @ 19.45 hrs:-  Graeme, Iona Hill, Lesley Paterson, Simon Rice.

 

We are still looking for 1 player on Fri 28th Feb @ 18.00.  This is open to any New Stones or Reserves (Pref being given to New Stones)

The Highs and the Lows of the Points

 With a diminished field we say CONGRATULATIONS to the reigning champions for successfully defending their titles.  David Wyllie took the crown in style, improving last years score by two.  Meanwhile Julia, despite fierce competition from herself took the ladies trophy increasing her score by 20% from last season.  Julia was the only competitor that scored in every discipline and also moves up three places to 8th (2nd lady) in the 'all time list'

Meanwhile Graeme improves from last years wooden spoon with a third, defeating John G into fourth.  Both Graeme and John recorded their lowest all time Aberlady Points scores.  As one lady present, who shall remain nameless (!) both their scores combined wouldn't have beaten our champion.

Let's hope for a much increased field next season.

     

   

The End of the Thirds ( and domination)

The final game of the thirds saw the championship winning rink without it's skip.  Team Hicks took full advantage and gave the McOmish squad their first loss and in the process administered a thrashing.  The final score being 16 - 2.  

Personally, I think Adam just got confused and thought that he was already playing in the Shots Competition (which starts on Fri 31st Jan).

EL Knockout round 1

Congratulations to Aberlady and East Linton as the winners who will go forward to play each other in the Semi Final on 16th Feb at 3pm.  There they will join Yester and Dirleton who got byes and will play in the other Semi.  The Final will be played straight after at 5.15pm.

The very experienced Athelstaneford side, played aggressively were beaten by a much younger and laid back team from Aberlady.

Good luck to the surviving four teams.

Happy New Year Steak Pies

 

In the club's first outing of the New Year it was perhaps appropriate for Team McOmish to secure The Thirds Crown.  It was a game of two halves, but Team John including John Good, Gavin Morton and the hybrid Maguire/Wood came out of the blocks strongly.  They secured the first four ends before conceding the last three.  As a result with wins in their first three games and faltering of the opposition win the first Pies of 2025. (with a game still in hand)