Fixture Dates for 2021-2022

The following are the dates and times for Autumn and Spring League games for your diary. The teams will be announced seperately. From October to December everyone will be playing on every date (all Tuesdays). i.e. 4 teams on two sheets. We have very few reserves! From January to March we will only have 3 teams. Therefore one team will have every third week off which gives us more reserves for Spring. 

2021 -  2022

5th October 5.15pm   

12th October 8pm (Points)

19th October 5.15pm

26th October 8pm

2nd November 5.15pm

9th November 5.15pm  

16th November 5.15pm

23rd November 5.15pm

30th November 5.15pm

7th December 8pm

14th December 5.15pm  (Christmas Bonspiel)

 

11th January 8pm 

18th January 8pm

25th January 8pm

1st February 8pm (Doubles)

8th February 8pm

15th February 5.15pm

22nd February 8pm

1st March 5.15pm

8th March 8pm

15th March 8pm

22nd March 8pm

 Hello FCC Members.

It’s been so long since I posted a blog I hope this one works! It’s a copy of an e mail that Jim sent out but we are trying to sensors it reaches as wide a readership as possible. 

You may already be aware of the financial problems facing Ayr Curling Club. Jim’s e mail is a hint as to what FCC can do to assist. Please read it and if you require a copy of any forms/letters please let Jim or myself know (I couldn’t paste them into the blog).

Hoping you and yours are staying safe and prepared for Christmas 

Regards 

Alan 

Dear fellow Fullarton curlers,

I am writing to you regarding the current financial crisis facing the Ayr Ice Rink as a result of the COVID pandemic.

For those of you who have not renewed your Ayr Curling Club membership this year I have attached three letters from Ayr Curling Club which explain the situation and the background to it. There is also a form attached which I would ask you to complete and return to me by 31st December.

In brief the situation is that the running and maintenance costs for the rink mean that there is a very real danger that Ayr Ice Rink will not survive the pandemic and will go out of business in 2021.

The Scottish government have announced help for sports and some of the money, two million pounds, is to be allocated to ice rinks. As yet it is not known how much of this money is destined for Ayr Ice Rink and how far it will go to solving the current financial problem.

Ayr Curling Club have written to all members and clubs asking for pledges of financial support. As yet they are not looking for individuals or clubs to actually donate money.

Following discussion within the committee of Fullarton Curling Club we have decided that, with the agreement of the membership, we will make a pledge from our club funds. Mike McNeill, our club treasurer has confirmed that we will be able to do this without seriously compromising our own club's financial position. Fullarton Curling Club currently has a balance of £1184 with no known outstanding liabilities.

It was felt that it would be appropriate to offer the members three options to vote on for our club pledge: £200, £300 or £400. Whichever amount gets the most votes is what we will pledge.

On this basis, please use the attached FCCPledge Form and mark an 'X' in the relevant box beside the amount you feel we should pledge from club funds.

Please email your completed FCCPledge forms back to me at this email address by 31 December.

Best regards

Jim Paxton

President Fullarton Curling Dear fellow Fullarton curlers,

I am writing to you regarding the current financial crisis facing the Ayr Ice Rink as a result of the COVID pandemic.

For those of you who have not renewed your Ayr Curling Club membership this year I have attached three letters from Ayr Curling Club which explain the situation and the background to it. There is also a form attached which I would ask you to complete and return to me by 31st December.

In brief the situation is that the running and maintenance costs for the rink mean that there is a very real danger that Ayr Ice Rink will not survive the pandemic and will go out of business in 2021.

The Scottish government have announced help for sports and some of the money, two million pounds, is to be allocated to ice rinks. As yet it is not known how much of this money is destined for Ayr Ice Rink and how far it will go to solving the current financial problem.

Ayr Curling Club have written to all members and clubs asking for pledges of financial support. As yet they are not looking for individuals or clubs to actually donate money.

Following discussion within the committee of Fullarton Curling Club we have decided that, with the agreement of the membership, we will make a pledge from our club funds. Mike McNeill, our club treasurer has confirmed that we will be able to do this without seriously compromising our own club's financial position. Fullarton Curling Club currently has a balance of £1184 with no known outstanding liabilities.

It was felt that it would be appropriate to offer the members three options to vote on for our club pledge: £200, £300 or £400. Whichever amount gets the most votes is what we will pledge.

On this basis, please use the attached FCCPledge Form and mark an 'X' in the relevant box beside the amount you feel we should pledge from club funds.

Please email your completed FCCPledge forms back to me at this email address by 31 December.

Best regards

Jim Paxton

President Fullarton Curling Club

New Season Update September 2020

Our 2019-20 curling season came to a very abrupt end with the announcement of Lockdown on 23rd March, 2020. 

Our AGM and prize giving were cancelled at very short notice due to the arrival of Covid-19.

The committee were faced with a very difficult decision to suspend the club for the year 2020-21 as so many of our players were unavailable due to concerns about the virus, injuries and some even moving to another area. 

Since then the AGM minutes from 2019 and the audited accounts to March, 2020 have been e-mailed to the members. Prizes have been distributed and the trophies will be delivered as soon as possible. It is anticipated that an extraordinary meeting will be held next March to discuss our way forward. We expect to welcome many of our players back to the ice rink. 

Prize Winners for 2019-20

Autumn League - Mara, Katie, Steven & Richard

Spring League - Joe, Alison, Jennifer and Robin

Points  - Margaret

Doubles  -  Ronnie & Robin Wilson

Well done everyone!

Spring League Showdown!

Good Evening Drar Reader.
I’m trying something different tonight, I know you are not reading this in real time but as this is the Spring League Showdoen I’m going to blog from the comfort of the bar area, in real time. So here goes.
Rink 3 is Jim versus Steve Mc
Rink 4 is Joe versus Steve G in for David.

Joe is looking good in the first end, possibly a big score coming but Steve delivered two great stones and winkled Joe out the house, leaving with a single score.
Jim is building a good head too. Not many gaps for Steve to exploit. But Steve only needs one, he’s found it and sneaks in with a single as well.

There is no way into the house for Steve, he’s got one on the four foot but Joe has him surrounded and I don’t think it’s counting. He needs to promote a yellow if he’s going to cut Joe. Just not enough weight on that one. Two to Joe.

Nip and tick on Rink 3. Jim is guarding his two and Steve is helping him too. Not this time Steve, no way in, nearly a tap n roll. But it’s two fir the reds.

Third end. Guddle, guddle, Joe’s in trouble! Steve has this house sorted if he can promote a stone or two. Joe can’t seem to find away around the four front of house. More porridge Steve! That one was short and light. Steve takes a single.

Can’t quite see from up here but I looks like Jim is taking control. Only until Steve fils the gaps, knocks Jim out the house, slides in himself and that’s a two for Steve.

Right on the button Steve. Nice guards from Joe. That’ll please Steve no end. And so it proved. Joe couldn’t shift it. Steve couldn’t add to it. One red. 3-2 to Joe after four ends.

And for good measure, it’s very similar on Rink 3. With one on the button for Steve Mc. Jim just nibbles away, a wick here, a roll there and with the last stone, taps Steve out to take a one. It can’t be closer 3-3.

End four and I don’t think a stone has crossed the T line yet. Another guddle and from thus distance I can’t see whose doing what this end. Must be close, could be a measure? No, the stones are being moved and it’s anither single for Steve.

Quite the opposite on the other Rink. I can hardly see the rings for red stones. Looks like a big score coming Jim’s way. Although Steve has the hammer and there is a gap........and he found a way through. Just nicked his stone on the wrong side. It’s a two for Jim.

Can you get two stones on the button? Well you can but only one is going to count. As guards go up and gaps reduce its getting harder for Joe to dislodge that pesky red stone. It won’t take much but joe can’t nabsge it. Another single to Steve.

Jim is making Steve work if he wants to win. He’s kind of split the house and Steve is looking to reduce the score, maybe nick a one......another end where the last stone is crucial. You won’t believe it, halfway down the ice the stone stopped dead! That could be the killer blow for Steve’s title hopes. It’s another two for Jim and I think this is the last end.

Looks like Joe is taking control in the seventh. He’s sitting three and Steve is blocked out. Steve has shifted him but still looks like he’s lying two. He took a three. It goes into the eighth end and joe is leading!

Steve is building a good head too, he needs to! Could be lying three at the moment. But this is his last end, he’s run out of time. Jim is eating into this head. It’s very tight. And they are shaking hands! Who scored what? It’s a one to him. 8-3 to Jim.
That’s Steve’s chances all but gone. Hold on, what’s going on over in rink 4?

Steve is lying three. Now he’s lying one! Joe taps over and lies one. Steve shifted the stones at his first attempt but Joe is still lying. He’s guarded it well with his last stone. Steve has played with weight m, clipped his guard on the wrong side but it has knocked an an outside guard right into the mix! One to Steve!!!
A peel is enough for Joe to take the title. Congratulations to Joe and his team. It’s been a close battle all league long and fitting it should come down to the last stone of the last end. That was a great night if curling 🥌🏆🥌🏆😮🏆🥌

The Night of the Spouses

It’s getting exciting as the penultimate matches of the league could have a huge influence on the outcome. Would one team make have a great night and the luck of the ice? Could there be an upset? Read on............

Certainly there could be some latitude for players being upset as there were three couples on the ice and all opposing their better halves. So it is possible some were going home happier than others. But I’m sure they all kissed and made up before Horlicks and bed.

Normally at this point I give a brief resume of how the matches unfolded but his week, for a couple of reasons I’m just going to tell you about how the matches have affected the league ( don’t look or you’ll spoil the surprise!)

I think everyone who has played in the Spring league will agree the matches have thrown up some unusual situations, from both matches being high scoring to both matches being peeled. Joe and Steve are slugging it out for the title, each hoping to get an edge going into the last match, a cushion to give them a but if comfort.

Well you could not have scripted last nights results any better.
Joe and Steve won. Job done.
However they matched each other with the same margin of points difference and ends won, meaning the league is unchanged going into the final match.

All or nothing next week. Come on Dave and Jim, time to step up and cause an upset!

By the way, does anyone know what was on at the cinema last night? Apparently a couple of the players wanted to know 😉

Eleven is the magic number

Tuesday saw round seven of the Spring League and the matches were yet again competitive and exciting.

Jim took on David with both getting off to a high scoring start and Jim capitalising the most. A three traded with a four from David then another three from Jim. He followed that with a two which gave him a strong lead. He never looked back and although David as ever gave a run for his money, making Jim fight for every shot, it wasn’t until the seventh end that he registered another score. 

By then Jim was out of sight and with a shot tally that looked more like a phone number  3 0 3 2 2 1 0   ( it’s a taxi firm in Shettleston before you try it) the match’s was won in seven ends at 11-5.

On Rink Four Joe took on Steve. This has the making of an interesting match as Joe had only lost one match so far and that was to Steve. Again this was a close game in terms of tactics and shot making. 

It should have been sponsored by Right Guard thanks to the perspiration created from the sweepers trying to get guards up and failing miserably! Despite those shenanigans it was a case of last stones making the difference between a shot and a miss. 6-4 after four ends does not reflect the way the game had developed but Joe might not have seen it that way. 

Steve took his chances and stuck to his tactics and led 9-4 after seven ends. The teams went into the eighth with Joe clearly thinking a peel was on as a minimum. For a while he was absolutely on it and giving Steve a lot to think about. Ultimately Joe was left with a tricky last stone to knock Steve out and get a score but it wasn’t to be. Steve took another two and the match finished 11-4.

So eleven was the magic number this week. Steve has leaped over Joe on shots but there are two matches left. This league isn’t over and as we’ve seen in recent weeks, it would be foolhardy to predict what will happen in round eight.

A week off as it’s Doubles night next week but keep watching, it’s a cracking League!  

Congratulations Alison!

Congratulations to Alison who was part of Team McCorkell of Troon Portland who were Silver Medal winners at the RCCC Scottish Masters Championship at Greenacres. The link below tells you a little more. However when I spoke to an ever modest Alison on Tuesday she showed me her medal but omitted to mention the bountiful booty that went with it!

Well done to Alison and her teammates!
🥌🥈🍾🥌🥈🍾🥌🥈

https://www.ayrcurlingclub.co.uk/news/season-2019-20/aileen-mccorkell-runners-up-in-masters/