It was great to see so many players in Christmas Sweaters, Hats etc and really entering into the spirit of the Christmas Bonspiel! Despite three teams having only 3 players the games were played in the usual competitive manner. There was no doubt about the winners - The team of Bill Inglis, Margaret Morrison and Jennifer Peat had it! Ronnie, Bert and Freda were in 4th place with the teams of Mara, Jim P, Anne & Dave and Richard, Alison & Joe tying for joint second. We enjoyed the usual refreshments from the bar and an excellent Festive meal with prize giving afterwards. President Jim thanked Mike McNeil for donating wine for the prizes.

And the winner is……..

The final match of the Autumn League would decide the league positions, so there was still much to play for as Alison’s Team C took on Margaret’s Team A.

Straight out the hack it was bish, bash, bosh from Team C and before we had even had time to convince the Iceman that we had paid for the ice……….they were lying three. Not even Margaret’s keen eye, last stone and clever cue skills could get in amongst the Yellows. Three shots to Team C.

Well it looked like that just got Team A’s gander up as back they came, popping stones in the house from all angles and guarding any prospects of a yellow sneaking in. Anything you can do. It was a three to Team A.

The third end was, initially, a very tight affair. One stone each, almost on the button but there was a path to glory. Yet another keen stone from the Skip. Nicely down the centre line, just passing some long guards and ping, pong, pow as red hit yellow, hit red, hit yellow and from nowhere, Team A were lying two. It was a tight line for Alison to draw into her own stone in the 12 foot and hopefully dislodge the reds. Not to be but oh so close. Two more to the Red Team. 

It was tit for tat in the fourth with Alison taking a single and getting back to within one. But in the fifth Margaret dominated, closed out the rink and took another two. 

The sixth end was tighter than the fourth, both teams had stones in the house and both had chances to come out on top. Alison was facing another tight draw with weight to tap up a stone and get inside the lying red. The stone looked good all the way but just wicked a guard as it entered the house and that was it. Although it then took a measure, a second look, then a third, to agree that it was just a single to the A Team.  

Once again the teams were well matched in the seventh. Opportunities went begging with both sides and the head became ever more congested just on the front fringes of the house. With yellow finding no way through, the reds took a single. 

With a minute to go on the clock and lying 4-9, very sportingly Alison shook hands. And that brought the Autumn League to a close. 

CONGRATULATIONS to Team A for winning the league.

We should also thank all those who made the league possible under trying circumstances. Our Committee had to do a lot of juggling, as player numbers fell, to get a league at all. And without the players - the regulars and the subs, it would not have been any fun at all. But it was!

Now it’s onwards to the Spring League. Looking forward to seeing you all!!!

🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

Annual Match against Darvel CC

 Jim Paxton, Richard Morrison, Jennifer and Ronnie Peat were the chosen few who represented Fullarton in the match against Darvel.   Daravel were represented by Jacob Little, with Duncan McNaught, Chris Clow and Ann Nicol.

In a closely fought game the score was 4 shots each after four ends. We lost a 3 at the fifth but took singles at the next two ends to be one down playing the last.  We were lying well with a stone in the four foot and  good guards but Jacob played an immaculate angled double to lie the winning shot. 

An enjoyable game and there was some good chat afterwards in the bar.

Sporting play

The seventh match of the league saw Bill taking on Margaret.

First off we must thank Kay and Jack from Disnae for stepping in, without them there would not have been a match.  We hope they will join us again soon. 

On what was a sticky and slow sheet the game got underway. Would the adage “lose the toss, win the game” be apt this evening? Team B were first in the hack. The ice was certainly frustrating deliveries with stones falling short, little draw on the ice and a bit of a guddle developing. 

Seeing what was developing Margaret took the initiative, guarded well and took a single. The second end saw everyone getting their eye in and stones were congregating in and around the house, few opportunities  to exploit the gaps but they were there and once again Margaret took them. A brace in the house and the second end went to Team A.

Every position was hard fought and nothing was taken for granted in the third. Bill was using all his experience to develop a head and shut Margaret out, it was close but another single went the A Team’s way.

In the fourth the match started to swing one way, it was a more attacking approach from Margaret who could see a big score developing in the house. There were some near misses from Anne and Bill, inches away from wicking the scoring stones but those inches meant Margaret took a three.

There still wasn’t much draw in the ice although it was quicker by the fifth end and once again Bill had a difficult task to dislodge the red stones. There was a gap if his stone could draw and tap away Margaret’s lead. What a time for the ice to decide there should be more draw, looking good all the way down the rink, in the last third it took a swing to the right and caught a red, front of house. It was another two for Margaret. 

Bill was not for giving up, he came back in the sixth with some very accurate play, shutting Margaret out and taking a single. Again in the seventh Bill was on top and shut Margaret out of the house. Another one to Team B.

Although the bell had not gone, it was very sporting of Bill to concede at that point. 

This was an important win for Team A but with two matches to go and although out of contention to win the league, Team B can still have a say in this completion. 

Or will it go down to a decider at the last match? 🤔🥌🤔🥌

Plan A or Plan C?

After the now traditional elbow tapping it was down to business for Alison and Margaret. Determination and concentration were evident and the match was a tight affair initially. 

It was very much nip and tuck in the first three ends with very little in it each time. Both sides had their chances with a mixture of attacking heads and defending precarious positions, even trying not to lose big scores if possible. 

The outcome of all this jousting was that Alison took singles in each end and whilst Margaret was reflecting that the A Team were fortunate only to be three, she was already heading for the half way mark, playing catch up against a focused and accurate playing C Team. 

Something had to change.

Fourth end and Alison has built up a strong head but there was a gap where, if Richard played an accurate draw, the tap up was on and the head would change. With his second stone heading down the ice it was evident there would be a tap up but not the planned for stone. Always have a Plan C!

Tap….that shifted the yellow guard, tap…….that shifted the red behind, crack……the red splits the two C Team yellows and suddenly Margaret is lying two. As in golf, it’s not how they go in!

The comeback was on but some smart tactical play from Alison helped her stretch the lead once again with a two in the fifth. The ends are running out and Alison doesn’t look like she’s giving anything away tonight. 

In the fifth end several stones had slowed up and not made it into the house, in the sixth they were queuing up at the back of the house with stone upon stone nestling together. With the A Team lying but the front of the house still open Alison looked to capitalise. Excellent deliveries well swept into place. Then Margaret seized the initiative, removing Alison without disturbing too many stones at the back and before you knew it she had grabbed a four. 

One up with two to play, never a comfortable position. Once again a crowded house with yellow sitting almost on the button but a couple of reds might cause Alison problems if they could just tap that scoring stone out the way. 

Another splendid delivery from Richard was on line all the way. Looking perfect to tap away the yellow and lie three. At the last gasp, when the sweepers could do no more the stone connected with the two reds, sent them spinning out either side of the house, leaving Alison still lying. Well, what goes around comes around. Having opened everything up Alison grabbed her chances and filled the house with yellow. Having just lost a four, she got them all back, took the lead and was in a strong position to win. 

The eighth end was as tight as the first three, as was the house, stone upon stone, few gaps to exploit and  Margaret needing a three to win. It wasn’t looking hopeful and with some accurate stones from both teams  it was just a single to Margaret. 

9-7 to Alison in a close game and entertaining game.

As we’ve passed the half way point of the league, the table is taking shape but don’t read too much into anything just yet. There is everything to play for. Mathematically any team can still win the league. Tuesday next will be an important match for all three teams………watch this space 😉🥌

The Night Of The Subs

 With Tuesday’s match being so close to Hallowe’en it seemed appropriate to have so many subs guising for their regular team mates! No fancy dress or scary masks to be seen but thanks to all four of you for turning out and ensuring the game went ahead. 

Appropriately, in the first end there seemed to be a ghost in the house as none of the stones wanted to either enter, or stay in it, for very long. The result was a blank end and some blank faces as to who still had the hammer. Quickly resolved and my suggestion that we would be playing an extra end to make up for it drew some looks as cold as the ice itself. Worth a try 😮

The second end was more successful though no less tight as Bert and Bill battled get the first score whilst contending with ice which was not always doing as we had hoped. Bert snuck in with a single.

Bill stormed back with a three in the third, thanks to some accurate stones finding gaps that others couldn’t see. The fourth end was just as tight and with Bill lying but Bert with the hammer, a single with last stone to Team A kept them in the game. 

Bert built up good heads in the fifth and sixth ends, guarding well and testing Bill to try and find ways through as he had earlier. It wasn’t to be and with twos in both ends Bert snuck ahead with two ends to play. 

Roles reversed in the seventh, Bill in command, although he was hoping for more than a single going into the last end. However, two back and needing a three to win, Bill did get off to an encouraging start. There didn’t look like any way in for Bert but it would take the Skips shots to decide if Bill could sneak the three or Bert could reduce the number of scoring stones. 

Bert’s first stone was perfect weight and line, not quite reducing the number of counting stones but giving Bill something to think about. If he could get a nick with his last stone he could possibly remove Bert and get his three...........good weight but would it turn enough..........ohh so close! 

Bill was still lying two but Bert, taking a little less ice delivered another accurate stone and reduced Bill to one.

Bill took the end but the single gave Bert the match at 6-5. 

We are a third of the way through the series and whilst Margaret has a perfect six points, it’s still early days! 

Margaret stays top of the League

Three subs were required for Margaret's team last night - four, in fact, since one of the subs needed a sub.

The subs hit it off at the start and soon were leading by 5 shots.  However Bert McKay's team (who didn't have any subs) fought back to make it 5-3 after 5 ends.

The subs got their act together with a 3 at end 6 and the game eventually finished at 9-5 to Margaret's team.  Well done Ronnie, Mara, Jim Paxton and particularly Sue Fisher who, as the only non-sub, played very well to set up the victory.

What do Points mean? Competition!

Tuesday saw the long awaited return of The Points Competition and having held onto the title for two years Margaret decided it was time we all had a go at wrestling it from her.

Nine eager curlers arrived with high hopes and expectations. With Ronnie in charge of instructions for what each test would involve and how to score them, we set off on our quest.

With challenges ranging from tap outs to tap ups, wick in to wick off everyone got into the spirit of the competition, keeping score, passing on instructions and moving stones around, there was a community spirit feel to the event.......although a few were also keeping a keen eye on the scorecards at each end. 

Early on my own score looked more like computer code than point but others were showing their prowess with accurate stones, well weighted stones and near misses.

In all we achieved eight (I think) tests and the anticipation grew as Margaret got out the abacus and totted up the zeros, ones and twos.

And in second place it’s..........a tie!

On 22 points were Jim and Richard.

But the winner..........with 23 points was..........the Ringmaster himself - Ronnie 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾

Congratulations to Ronnie and thanks to Jennifer, Margaret, Bill, Bert and David for their gallant efforts. 

Hope to see you all and a few more, next year 😊

It’s kippers off.......and away we go!

 Welcome back Everyone 😊

After all the ups and downs of the last 18 months it was great to have two teams on the ice for the first game of the Autumn Fixtures.

Firstly, a huge thank you to the Committee for all their hard work, patience and determination in getting us to this point. The enthusiasm for being on the ice was palpable and would not have happened without them.

Also thanks have to go to ACC for everything they have achieved too.

But what of the first match...............

We welcomed Sue Fisher for her first game with the club and were grateful to the three subs Ronnie, Richard and not least Joe who had only turned up for his tea and ended up having to work hard before he got it! 

The game got underway with a rapid start by Bill, taking the first two ends and leading 4-0. Knocking the rust off, Margaret was not for letting that kind of start dent her determination and fought back with a couple of threes in reply. Team A led at the halfway mark and both teams agreed, the ice wasn’t very keen on offering up much of a draw, which was making for some frustrating stones..........but we were back playing!! 

Not to be outdone, Bill scored another three and with Margaret sneaking a one in the sixth it was even stevens going into the seventh end. All to play for and still the ice was not for drawing. Gaps appeared, guards went up, stones wouldn’t behave and then.......another three! 

There were some tired sweepers out there, looking at the clock, looking at the score, looking at the Skips.

We had time for the eighth end and Bill was determined to get a four and clinch the match. Margaret was just as determined that he wouldn’t. Another end with possible openings and guards almost doing their job. Bill was looking at every possible gap but Margaret had built up a head and could see the winning line. 

With his last stone Bill couldn’t quite make the gap he was going for (that pesky ice not drawing again) and Margaret took a, yes you’ve guessed it, a three.

A game of threes, three subs, three shots scored six times (3 x 2 😉 ) and no matter the result everyone agreed it was a well played game. 

It was lovely to be back on the ice.

Results - Autumn League Fixtures

 The Autumn League Fixture List

Results after Week 1

Date	Teams	Result	Team	Points	Shots +	Ends	Team	Points	Shots +	Ends
5-Oct	A v B	13 - 7	M Morrison	2	6	5	B Inglis	0	-6	3
19-Oct	B v C		B Inglis				Alison/Bert
26-Oct	C v A		Alison/Bert				M Morrison
2-Nov	B v A		B Inglis				M Morrison
9-Nov	C v B		Alison/Bert				B Inglis
16-Nov	A v C		M Morrison				Alison/Bert
23-Nov	A v B		M Morrison				B Inglis
30-Nov	B v C		B Inglis				Alison/Bert
7-Dec	C v A		Alison/Bert				M Morrison
Team	Team	Played	Points	Shots +	Ends	Position
A	M  Morrison	1	2	6	5	1
B	B Inglis	1	0	-6	3
C	Alison/Bert	0	0