We Are The Champions

 The last match of the Spring League was played on Tuesday night.

We had two substitutes, so thanks to Richard and to Valerie from Disnae for turning out to what was an experience for all, some good, some bad :-(

This was the league decider. if Margaret won, Team A were Champions. If Jim won, it would be Team B. I didn't want to consider the outcomes if the match was peeled!

Things got off to promising start for the C Team, taking a two having dominated the first end. That promise was very quickly replaced by deflation when, with the last stone from Margaret, the score changed from a single to Team C into a seven (say it quietly) to the A Team.

Undeterred but slightly bruised, the Red stones went back down the ice to the end they preferred. Once again they took control and notched up a three! Cutting the deficit to just two felt a lot better........for all of about fifteen minutes!

Once again with last stone Margaret delivered a marvellous shot which, even though it was a Plan B result, was way better than hoped for, kicked a Red stone way, rolled into the four foot and before you could blink......a four!

That really took the wind out the C Team's sails but they battled on, losing a single in the fifth it started to look like too high a mountain to climb. However a two followed and a three in the last end meant the three Skips and an ever accurate Ben proved to strong a combination for the battling Team C.

The result confirmed a huge victory for the A Team and winners of the Spring League. Congratulations to Margaret and her Team, Bill, Sue, Ben and all those who subbed throughout the league.

A Tale of Two Cues

Teams A and C met for an important match at the tail end of the league……and a live blog too! 

In the first end Team B squeezed a single for the yellow stones but don’t blink because the A Team took control in the second end. Margaret is deadly with the cue and before you know it a four was on the board. 

The ice is not being kind to Mara yet, the Reds are in control again, lying two as the Skips take to the hack. Margaret has put up a well placed guard. Mara nudges that stone up and tightens the red stone’s control. Another guard. That yellow stone just isn’t going to turn, it’s clipped another yellow which drifts out and another deuce to the Reds. 

Fourth end and a Yellow stone is on the button with Reds gathering around the outside. That yellow is looking vulnerable and sure enough it soon gets moved. Lots of room in the house if the B Team can get passed those three Reds scoring in the 12ft. A lovely draw from Jim P, in the four foot, just beyond the T but exposed. Margaret the Cue is in the hack! Slightly off line, tap, tap, roll. It’s just touching the four foot. Lovely draw in, bit of a tap n roll. Is that yellow lying two? No! A Red stone has just pipped them and with the last stones nit changing the positions, a single to Team A. 

Tentative lead stones in the fifth, Reds guarding the centre of the house, suddenly scattered and the house is open. Yellow stones are creeping into the twelve foot but there are gaps everywhere. Anything Yellow can do, Red is copying. Nothing in it at the moment. Over to you Skips. Whose going to take advantage? ITMA - It’s That Margaret Again, cuts Mara to one, last stone to come. Drat, it just wouldn’t curl enough. Just a single to Team B. 

That’s more like it for the Yellows. Populating the house and protected by Red guards. It’s another cue stone, this time from Bill and it shatters the head that was building for the B Team. Jim hits straight back, this is exciting. The ice is not Mara’s friend tonight, she is having it all to do and ITMA strikes again! Sneaking in for another single.

The B Team fought back in the seventh end and at this stage in the match the Reds could afford to lose a shot, or maybe two and so it proved to be. Another well contested end with the A Team taking a single but going into the last end requiring a five to Peel was always a tall order. Taking another single in the last end meant it was four ends apiece but that big score in the second end was the difference and the A Team are top of the league with one match remaining.

 This week Team A met Team C and with a bit of a scheduling mix up, Team A could only field three players.......but what a three that included Ronnie as sub! The C Team also had a sub with Richard stepping up for globe trotting Charlie.

Losing the toss, Team C elected to play yellow stones and off they went. Sticky slow ice to start with and everyone testing their weighted stones, there was a group of reds gathering front of house but Jim say the draw was on and with some good stones it was Team C who took the first end with a two.

A similar start to the second on but much less space to exploit when it came to the Skips. Once again Jim was lying two but Margaret has a hammer opportunity to nick in and steal the end. Looking on line and heading for the nick required, despite furious sweeping by Ronnie the stone to stay straight. The resulting wick pushed a red stone out of the way and Team C stole a three.

The third end started similarly to the first, reds on the outer ring of the house and draws possible down the right hand side. This time it was the A Team who took the two. Similarly in the fourth end the A Team took control early on and try as they might the yellow stones were not getting far enough into the house to cause problems. Another two to the reds and the deficit was down to one at the halfway mark.

Confession time from the author........before delivering his first stone of the fifth end, he forgot to clean it. The resulting score on the ice resembled the Mariana Trench, although somehow stone Five made it over the hog line and presented a useful long guard. The ice technicians would not be impressed. This helped Jim's team defend their stones and take another two.

Back up towards the car park end and again Team A were dominant. With the hammer Jim had the chance to steal a single, or if he could dislodge Margaret's scoring stones, even take a two. The line was good, the weight was good but the stone just fell away at the end, shifted one red and Margaret had a single.

There were several opportunities in the seventh end for either team to really take control as the first and second scoring stones, one a piece, were sitting in the twelve foot behind the T line. However with guards from both sides front of house, the draw in was tight and several stones fell short. Initially placing a guard down the left, Jim left Margaret a tricky shot down the right to sneak a single. Nearly but not quite. The reds were lying but there was still a gap for Jim to slip inside. He certainly made his sweepers work for it and with some vigorous brush work the last stone crept into the house and just far enough into the eight foot to make all the gasping for breath worth it!

Need three to peel in the last end the A Team started well, the split the house and were making things difficult. with a couple of yellows just off the brush and wicking red stones in a less than hoped for direction, it might just come off. With her first stone Margaret delivered an excellent stone to sit on top of a yellow and outscore them by two. With the dreaded call of "same again" Margaret sent her last stone down the ice. Good line, good weight, good grief........just inside where it was needed and shifted another red. A single was scored.

So a much needed 8-6 win for Team C and with everyone having two matches left it is still a close thing. Whose your money on????????

Ayr @ 50

 The Ayr @ 50 celebrations were held at the ice rink on 19th February. 

The day started with three sessions of curling, teams playing six end matches. All sections of the club were represented from Little Rockers to Seniors. The games were all played in a friendly atmosphere with a hint of rivalry. 

The Fullarton Team of Mara and Jim, myself and our super sub Pat Galloway were up against Beresford Ladies and as always seems to be the way with us this year, also up against a wall……we were on Rink 1!

We lost a two in the first end but soon got the measure of the ice and our opponents. We took the next five ends and came out with a 7-2 victory. It was a close match, played in good humour and obviously nice to get the win. 

With tables laid splendidly, 138 curlers and guests, including ACC Past Presidents, ACC Past RCCC Presidents, ACC Past RCCC Presidents - Ladies Branch, ACC gold and silver Olympians, World Champions, Senior World Champions, senior and junior European medalists, National Champions (PHEW!) all sat down to be welcomed by ACC President Ken Ireland. 

Ken announced that the ice money from the days curling, somewhere around £1200 would be donated to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

After a splendid meal from Lorrie and his team, there were speeches from Liz Goldie and ACC Past President John Collins. Then came  the prizes for the day’s matches. One for the winner of each session, based on winning margins of points then ends and an overall prize of The Highlander Trophy to the best score overall.

Session One - Irvine Ladies

Session Two - SYMINGTON - who with the highest overall score of all sections, were also winners of the Highlander Trophy.

Session Three - FULLARTON …..yes you read it right!

No one looked more surprised than the four of us, mainly as we’d been on the same Session as Scott Andrew’s team and they had put up a huge score. However in the end their winning margin was the same as ours but we took more ends. A fabulous surprise! 

Through the evening the silent auction had been on going and when the clock struck 9:25 the auction closed. 

All the lots went for more than the starting prices and in total £1348 was raised and will go towards the ACC Development Group. 

With that it was a toast to Ayr Curling Club, then cloaks and carriages. A splendid night not to be forgotten by all who were there. 

The Magnificent Six

This week it was Team B v Team C and with only three on each side, the magnificent six took to the ice.

Team C lost the toss and got the match underway. The ice was sticky in patches with stones seeming to slow down then regain speed, making it difficult for everyone to judge their weight. It looked like Jim's team had adapted best and found themselves lying four with Mara's last stone to come. It made its way into the house but not enough to make a difference and a surprising four went on the board for the Red stones.

You can't win a game in the first end and Mara knew there was plenty of time to rectify the score line. So the B Team were pleasantly surprised to be lying five when Jim took to the hack for his final stone. There was a tiny gap through which stone could slide and reduce the score. That was Plan A.

We all know that Plan A doesn't always come off and neither did Jim's but with a tap and roll off an outlying yellow, a swift curl towards a scoring stone in the eight foot, shifting it sufficiently to keep Jim's stone moving, by some inexplicable trigonometry the last stone ended touching the button for a single.

There is a saying in golf "not how but how many". The C Team had no idea how (Katie's excellent sweeping perhaps?) and it's fair to say everyone looked surprised to say the least but a One went on the scorecard.

Still early days. 

Mara built a strong and secure head in the third, there was little Jim could do to penetrate it. Two choices, go for a difficult scoring shot and risk losing more than a single, or accept the situation. Accepting the latter seemed like the sensible choice. Third end, 5-1, that's ok.

Similarly in the fourth, both teams had stones in the house and scoring but it was Mara with the upper hand. Once again Jim had to go for last stone glory, this time for a potential two. His stone fell short and another single went to the Yellow team, now it's 2-5 at the halfway mark.

With the ice still catching out players, never quite sure how much draw there would be when straying from the centre line, the fifth end was following the pattern of three and four. Now it was Mara with an opportunity to steal the end. Almost but not quite. Another single. Team C restore their four point lead.

In fact ends six and seven followed the same pattern, well guarded, well positioned heads, requiring accurate stones and the ice still not always being kind. Mara took them both with singles. Suddenly going into the last end The C Team were only ahead by two but had only taken one end in five. 

Straight out the hack David and Jim P were on the money for the B Team. Stones were nicely positioned in the head and proving difficult to move. Some close but no cigar red stones did not change the situation. Mara played two fabulous stones, guarding her scoring stones and narrowing the gap to reach them. Now Team B were lying two. With last stone Jim was left with no choice. He had to move some yellow stones and at the very least reduce the damage to a single.

Played with good weight and good line, all was shaping up nicely for the tap, tap he needed. As the stone entered the house it curled too much to the left, caught a yellow stone at the wrong angle, spun across the house, removing another yellow but also a vital red! Two stones were scoring and they were yellow!

Mara's patience, tenacity and experience had won through. You can't win a game in the first end but you can't lose it either. In a game of eight ends anything can happen. So with the match peeled at 6-6 the six players shook hands on what had been an enthralling game.

Red Stones Get The Measure

 Teams A and B met on the ice this week in the fourth game of the League.

The A Team, playing with red stones got off to a flying start in the first end, setting up a potentially painful score with only the Skips to deliver. Bill, stepping in for Margaret, had done all he could to stop Mara from being on the receiving end and even Mara was thinking things looked bleak. 

It may be a cliché but also a truism. Its not over until the last stone is delivered. Mara went for a gap, needing to draw, tap her own stone and move the reds further out. Frantic sweeping to get the stone close enough, it slid in, did everything it had to do and the Red Team looked on in disbelief. Team B were lying five against and in the end they took a two!

It was only the first end..........

Back down the other end Bill was not taking this lightly and the attack was on in the second end. Another head was building well. Nicely placed guards were protecting his stones and try as they could Mara's team were not getting the breaks on the ice and couldn't get passed the guards. Lying three and with the hammer, Bill chose to throw short and take the score.

The third end was a very tight affair. several stones trapped in and around the two foot made it hard for both Skips to make any headway. With the B Team certainly scoring a single, a measure was called by the A Team's third.....................at this point I'll hold my hands up and say I should have received a yellow card for time wasting..............having called the measure, then taking a second look at the stones, it was going to be two to Yellow. However we went through the process and my poor call was found out. :-(

Ever onward and with consistently good Lead stones from Ben, Bill again got the better of things and took another three in the fourth end. Big scores from both sides but still a close game at the halfway mark with only two shots in it.

There was some scrappy shots in the next two ends, not really helping either Skip to take control of the head. Close calls but the A Team took two singles. In the seventh, more good guards making it hard for stones to draw around and into the house. Mara taking a single and with a few minutes before the bell, onto the eighth. Mara needed three to Peel. Bill had last stone.

Guards went up and some other stones fell short making the front of house a bit congested. Both Thirds played accurate shots to move those stones that were in the house out towards the margins. however there was still a chance for the B Team to find a draw into the house, or the A Team to further protect their slender single stone.

Team B's last stone came up a bit short and clipped a guard. At that, Bill shook hands with Mara to bring a close match to a conclusion. Chances could have been taken, some were and in the end the A Team came out victors 9-5.

That closes the gap in the League on points but Team B are still ahead on Ends and Shots. All to play for!

A Tale of Two Subs

Tuesday saw Teams A and C take to the ice, each with a Super Sub in the shape of Alison, covering for Katie and we welcomed Valerie from the Disnae Club who stepped in for Anne.

The first two ends were tense and tight, the players working out just how the ice was reacting to the stones. Short stones, long stones and congested houses made for exciting shot making. So it was honours even after two ends, one shot each.

Team A started the third end by building a good head, each side were finding the house but it was the red stones who were proving to be most accurate. Jim had the hammer and an opportunity, if not to take the end, then to reduce the deficit. However the curling Gods did not look favourably on the last stone, online, good weight but the connection went the wrong way, moved a red and Margaret had scored a four. OUCH!

Undeterred, Jim came out fighting in the fourth. this time it was the yellows who occupied the best positions. Although narrowly missing an opportunity to lie three with one last red stone to go, Margaret narrowly missed dislodging her opponent and it was two to Team C. 

That helped narrow the gap and in the fifth Jim's rink continued to control the head in the early stages. Then the skilled cue deliveries by Margaret found gaps, wicks, and taps. Two stones later the reds were lying two and had restored their comfortable lead.

Four down and three ends to play, Jim wasn't done yet. A bit of a guddle outside the house but the yellows had found the spaces and were lying three, well guarded and with the hammer. Would Jim risk going for a four? Was there the space to score safely or would it end up with a two? Jim made his call, Bill performed his impression of a certain feathered bird and Jim let his last stone fall short, took the three and reduced the deficit to only one.

The seventh end was an absolute guddle, was anyone going to manage to get a stone in the house! Well, yes they did and when they did, the stones were well guarded. With great shots from Bill and Margaret, they found a gap, opened it up and left a shot for Margaret to steal a single. Was that going to be enough to take the victory. The clock was approaching 1915 but the bell hadn't sounded so it was on to the eighth end. 

Jim had already taken a three in the sixth, could he repeat it? Some wonderful Lead shots and guards by the Seconds set up a very close finish to the match, everyone was looking for a good draw down the right side. Two stones were nestled together on the four foot, guarded. It needed a yellow stone to slide in and take a score. In the end it was the red of Team A who were lying by one and they won an exciting and close fought game 9 -6.