House Cleaning - Updates and the C Word

Due to the Covid closure of the ice rink last season, we have some outstanding games.  The committee has decided that the Knockout Competition for season 20/21 will be cancelled and the ice slots used for The outstanding President v Vice President game, which will open our season followed by the concluding Shots Competition between Dale and John Good.  Dale has a sizeable lead but can still be caught.

Due to many uncertainties over the coming season our playing roster has 'slimmed down' resulting on only 4 rinks for the coming season.  It has been decided that the Trophy Competition AND the Thirds Competition will be decided by a double round robin. The Shots Competition will remain a single round robin.

There will be many safety changes at Murrayfield this season.  These are subject to change before the season starts.  Some of these changes as as follows:-

Start Times - session times will start at different times on different sheets, adjacent sheets will commence 30 minutes apart, ie sheets 1,3,5 & 7 will start at the same time, while 2, 4 & 6 will start 30 minutes later.

Changing rooms - Please arrive dressed to go curling (with the exception of shoes) as there may not be changing facilities.

One Way -  There will be a one way system with separate entrance/exit doors.

Payments - ALL payments will be via your membership card - No cash payments.

Cafe/Bar - We are unsure what extent these will be available.

Playing - It is probable that there will only be one sweeper per stone, with sweepers restricted to BETWEEN the hog lines. (Skips will sweep, if they can be bothered, from the hog.  No sweeping of opposition stones)

Face Coverings - It has not yet been decided if face coverings will be required on ice, but should be worn elsewhere.  Further info when it has been received.

Update

With two games of the regular season left, the positions are becoming clear:-
Shots Competition:
Team Julia would appear to be stuck mid table and destined to remain there. Teams Wood and Maguire are battling out last place.  If Mike can win his last game he is likely to pull ahead of Graeme and save himself a wooden spoon.  The John Good Rink seem to have a clear lead BUT their last game of the season is against the 'Team of the Year' ie Dale.  If Dale can win by more then 4 shots, he will earn his crew another steak Pie.
Peter Allan Shield:
Team Callander have already secured the victory CONGRATULATIONS to Dale, David Wyllie, Pam & Rosie Clark (no relation), while their poor start to the season has condemned team Wood to the relegation slot.  With only two games left, all the other positions are also all locked in.  Well done to Julia for coming second in her first season as skip.  Team Good are third and the Maguire Rink finish fourth.
Overall, it has been a difficult season for some of our members.  Never the less, there have been many enjoyable moments on and off the ice.
Can everyone remember the President v Vice game on the 2nd April which will be followed by out AGM and supper.

Two in a Row

David Wyllie continued his stunning form by winning his second Aberlady Trophy in a week.
David and his team of Mike Wood, Alasdair Robertson and John McOmish took on the league leaders, Team Niven, in a top of the table, winner take all clash, in the Thirds competition.  After a disappointing night for the Niven Squad, Dave and his merry men came out decisive 10 - 3 winners, to lift the trophy and secure their steak pies !

What do Points Make ..........

Points make Prizes !
On a night of tricky ice (otherwise known as an excuse for low scoring) and only the regulation 9 exercises undertaken, our combatants took to the ice.  With neither of the reigning champs contesting the points, expectations were high.  What I/we were not expecting were two first time winners.  It was tight at the top but David Wyllie held on despite Graeme's late surge, to win by a single point.
In the ladies section, President Pam showed off her new skills, and scored a new high score, giving her the trophy and moving her up several places on the all time leader board.
CONGRATULATIONS to David and Pam !

Province Knockout

Well done to our young team of Julia Mackay, David Wyllie, Justyna Konowrocka and Daniel Peart, who were pitted against a very strong Haddington Rink in the semi-Finals.  Unfortunately in this instance we ended coming second.  (It should be noted that Haddington then went on to win the Final.)

Thirds Competition

Last night, on very quick new year ice the thirds competition got underway with defending champion John Niven taking on Cathy Macleans rink.  This was a tight game all the way with some excellent shots being played by both teams.  The end result, fittingly, was a peel at 5 - 5.

Trophy Competition - Final Results

Congratulations to Team Dale Callander who have taken their second trophy of the season and secured the first Steak Pies.  Dale, ably assisted by David Wyllie, Pam Clark and Rosie Clark lost only 2 games and finished 3 points clear, giving them a great start in the Peter Allen Shield.
Runner-up, also for the second time this season was 'new' skip, Julia Mackey with her lackeys, Stan Howard, John McOmish and a succession of 'rota' players.