Province League Round-up

Notice anything unusual with the image above (other than Gordie not ferociously shouting for sweeping on Ryan's stone)? 

Yep, you guessed it, there are only three Ballindalloch curlers on the ice, this was the theme for both Ballindalloch teams in our early session games on Wednesday night.  In the game in question Steve Mcgingle, third for Gordie Kennedy, pulled his calf muscle during the first end of play and had to leave it up to Gordie, Ryan and Tony to carry on without him.  This didn't seems to affect the team as they ran out winners over Bill Jaffrey's Fochabers rink in their opening game of the season. 

On the centre sheet Stuart Mackenzie had similar trouble, Kyle Mackenzie had to leave the ice in the second end due to ill health forcing the team to also carry on with three members.  Like team Kennedy, team Mackenzie held out for their second win in as many weeks. 

In the late session team Scott faced Forres' Charlie Watt, with both teams having won their first games it was always going to be a close encounter.  Team Scott took the early advantage going up 4-1 after four ends, Charlie pulled it back to peels after six ends, team Scott thought they had wrapped up the win with a big three in the seventh and a 7-4 lead going into the eighth end.  Some slack play and unlucky shots by team Scott allowed Charlie to build up a head and eventually take a four, Disaster!!  Into the ninth end and Charlie kept things clear, hitting every shot team Scott put into the house.  Lynn faced a hit and stick for the peel, which she did with ease to secure a hard fought point.  

All three Ballindalloch teams have made a promising start to the season, hopefully we can all resume where we left off when the rink reopens for curling in two weeks.

photo above shows Ryan, Tony and Gordie during their game on Wednesday night.

Province Division 3

Last seasons Division 4 champions took to the ice last Wednesday to play their first game in the lofty heights of Division 3.

Lynn Scott and her team of Alan Mcintyre, Robert Bremner and Don Gatt faced Fochabers Ronnie Christie and his team of Susan Durno, Francis Duncan and Stan Smith.

Team Scott got off to a flying start, opening up a five shot lead after three ends.  By the time the fourth end got underway Ronnie and his team had warmed up,  taking a big four and reducing the deficite to one, game on! Lynn took a single in the fifth before Ronnie took control of the game with a three in the sixth.

Into the seventh, and final end, things got interesting.  With Lynn about to play the last stone of the end this is what she faced:

                                                            

With three stones biting the four foot circle, knowone was sure who lay shot.  Lynn (playing red stones) elected to tap the red stone biting the top four to ensure at least the peel.  The shot looked good all the way, but on unpredictable ice, swung at the last missing the target stone and coming up short.

It came down to the measure!  After a few careful attempts it was given to the good guys, just!

The first, hard fought points on the board for team Scott.

P.s , as it turns out Ronnie had to call on a sub, but as the sub plays for a division one team, had to give up a penalty shot resulting in a win for team Scott.

Moray Province Division 5

                                    

Stuart Mackenzie and his rink got the 2012-13 season underway last night when they faced Linda Hardie's Forres side in the opening round of games.

Reports from within the team suggest they were rather rusty, being 5-2 down after 5 seemed to confirm.  Stuart, reverting to a sliding delivery this year, rallied his troops in the 6th however and took a three before securing the win with a steal in the 7th and securing the points.

Photo shows Mark Macklin, Bob Lawton, Gav Mackenzie and Stuart Mackenzie (proudly wearing his Ross County bonnet)

Aviemore 1976

I'm sure a few members will remember the days, before the Moray Leisure Centre opened, when they had to travel south to Aviemore for a game of curling.  Obviously I am too young to remember this but I have heard many nostalgic tales, usually after a few drams at a Bonspiel, about the great rink at Aviemore.

Well today I came across a feature on 'Curling History'  regarding the 1976 World Junior Curling Championships that were held at Aviemore.  Bob Cowan has posted two very good clips on his site showing the highlights of key games from the competition, and there are a few Ballindalloch Curling Club members past and present featured in the footage. 

Please have a look at Bob Cowan's page here and see if you can spot the Ballindallochers!!!

Photo above shows the Scotland team of Bob Kelly, Ken Horton, Willie Jamieson and Keith Douglas.  Photo copyright  'Curling History'

Mixed Doubles competition for Moray Province?

At this year's Moray Province A.G.M the idea of replacing the annual Mixed Pairs competition with the relatively new discipline of Mixed Doubles was suggested.  The idea seemed to be welcomed by some and dismissed by others.(surprise??!)

With entries dwindling for the pairs in recent years ( only ten teams entered last year compared with thirty 5 years ago)  change is needed to revitalise this once healthy competition.

 As yet there has been no announcement either way, but for those of you who regularly participate in the pairs, or who might fancy participating in mixed doubles, if it becomes a province competition, and have never seen it played here is the official World Curling Federation demonstration video for you to get a feel for the game and its rules. 

Click on the image to view video. 

Four Nations

The Royal Caledonian Curling Club are currently seeking applications from members to represent Scotland at the four nations competition, held at Ayr ice rink from 19th - 20th January 2013.

The competition sees Scotland compete against England, Ireland and Wales in a number of  games over the weekend.  If you are interested in applying please follow this link

Ballindalloch at Altitude

I recently came across an interesting Ballindalloch Curling Club related article on Bob Cowan and David Smith's website ' Curling History'

Click Here to have a look at the article
Picture above is taken from 'Curling History'