This was the last game of the season, the double-header when all four teams were on the ice. And it had the potential to be a cliff-hanger.  Although coming into the evening Team Deemo were ahead in the league on 18 points, Team MacConnachie were just behind with 16 points.  If Team Deemo were to lose and Team MacConnachie win, the two teams would be level on points and it would be down to shots/ends to decide the overall League winners and depending on the scores, it could have been very close.

In the end though all of this was academic.  Although we beat Team Deemo, Team Garner beat Team MacConnachie so Team Deemo were crowned League winners for the 2024/25 season.

As far as Team Waterlow were concerned though this game was a matter of pride.  We hadn’t won a game since 4^th February – with a run of five lost games, we desperately wanted a win.

Both teams started the game a man/woman down.  Team Deemo were short not just their doughty third, Jim Craig, who mystifyingly was away golfing in Spain, but also Steve Laux whose calendar planning had clearly glitched somewhere.  Meanwhile Team Waterlow were short of Donny Hay who was unavoidably absent due to work in London. Because all four teams were on the ice, reserves were at a premium.  Supersub Bob Cameron had already taken Jim’s place while Colin Appleby was playing in Geemo’s place in Team MacConnachie. And that was it – no-one else was available.  So, it was three against three – there were going to be some tired sweepers by the end of the evening

Contrary to our recent habit we managed not to drop a chunky score in the first end, instead scoring a comfortable three.  But then it went a bit pear shaped as we fell back into our customary style, losing a two, a six and a single over the next three ends. 

But then the fight-back began as we gained useful twos in each of the next two ends.  It was level pegging at seven-all as we went into what we thought would be final seventh end.  Team Deemo were struggling as we desperately guarded a single counting shot which despite his best efforts, Deemo couldn’t get at.  8-7 and we thought it was all over!  But it wasn’t.  Deemo’s last stone had rolled to a halt seconds before the bell and unsurprisingly he was dead keen for another end.  Oh, the agony!

It was a tense eight end but with the help of both skill and the curling gods, we built up three lying stones which were pretty well guarded by a variety of colours at the front.  Any gaps that appeared we were able to fill and Deemo was left with little to go for.  So, a very satisfactory result all round – Team B achieved a much-needed end-of-season victory while Team C’s hold on the title was unaffected.

We retired tired but happy to the bar for drinks while Team Deemo could admire the trophy they had deservedly won before it was whisked off to the engravers to record their names for posterity.

John.

This was the year the Holyrood Awayday came of age – our 21st visit to curling rinks across the country.  Over the years we have managed to experience a wide variety of venues, a good number of which are now sadly no longer in existence as smaller rinks have given up the unequal struggle against dwindling membership and rising costs (or is it just the curse of Holyrood?). In choosing where to go we are also limited by distance (a two-hour drive is about the limit for a day trip) and whether the venue offers weekend ice for visitors.

This year we alighted on Dumfries Ice Bowl which just about meets the distance criterion but previously hadn’t offered weekend ice. So, two sheets had been booked by Ken for mid-day on Sunday 23^rd March.  Despite one or two notable absences (I mean who goes abroad golfing in the curling season?) we raised 12 members and two guests which meant we were comfortably able to arrange four teams for a light-hearted bonspiel.

Dumfries is a fine venue with a dedicated six sheet curling rink and a separate ice-skating rink. After assembling in the café for pre-game coffees and snacks (and having sorted a slight confusion regarding our start time) we headed for the ice.

The ice hall was curiously warm. Within a few minutes of a little light sweeping the cosy Holyrood fleeces were being shed (although Billy was as ever already down to short sleeves). The warmth also had the effect of making the ice very keen. Even more notable was the amount of curl taken by the stones – far more than we are used to at Murrayfield. We were allocated the two outer sheets which unfortunately meant that we were somewhat far apart – however, the Scottish Curling Junior Mixed Doubles Championships were taking place on the centre sheets so this was understandable. However, the indications were that the heavy curl was a characteristic of the whole rink.

We played the same bonspiel format that we had pinched from VETS Curling last year: Only one take out allowed and a point for every stone in the house – and with a three-point bonus for the winning stone.  Team rotation means everyone gets to play every position.

Unfortunately, Richard had gone down with a bug so had had to call off at the last minute. This meant three teams of three and one team of four.  However, apart from the additional sweeping (good cardio exercise!) everything worked well.

The team of four (Colin, James, Fiona and guest Mike – see photo) came out as overall winners and received their magnificent miniature gin bottle prizes as well as the unique gold-painted wooden trophy (which we clean forgot to include in the photographs).

The winner of the individual prize (for achieving the highest points difference for the two skipping turns) was Billy with an impressive +10, just pipping Fiona by one.

Perhaps the least memorable part of the day was the catering but the craic was good and we all enjoyed the downtime after the exertions of the game.  A good day was had by all.  And let’s start thinking about venues for next season.

John.