CURLING 2010
On Tuesday 23 February the School Curling Team had a match against Merchistonians. With Mr Deakin accompanying the boys, the teams arrived to play the annual fixture at Murrayfield. The first team consisted of Mark Munro, Ally Brunton, Hammy McMillan and Grant Hardie. The 1st IV were confident of giving the Merchistonians a good game having won the Hay Trophy in Perth before Christmas. With a close few first ends the School set up a very good end and managed to secure a rare seven stones taking the score to 11-2. This would normally be enough to win a game; however credit must go to the Merchistonian team, skipped by Bill Hannay, who fought back strongly. After a tense final end the School managed to hold out for an eventual victory of 12-9. It was a great match and the first team got some much needed practice ahead of the main Scottish Schools competition in late March. In the other game four pupils were mixed with old boys to form two teams. This was a close fought game coming down to the last shot, resulting in the team consisting of Cameron Shaw and Andrew Mustard defeating the team of Gregor McMillan and Peter Mackie. A great afternoon was enjoyed by all.
CURLING 2009 (as of June 2009)
Two Merchistonians, Alistair Lindsay (MCS 52-55) and John Shedden (MCS 73-79), represented Scotland in a recent RCCC (Royal Caledonian Curling Club) tour of switzerland. The Scots were the overall winners of a sereis of matches played against the Swiss clubs.
The Merchistonian Cirling Club has not had a good season in that we lost three games, won one and peeled (drew) one. we cannot deny that the pool of players available in the Glasgow area, where the games are played, are on average in their mid-sixties and I again appeal to any young Merchistonians who would like to be part of the Merchistonian curling set-up to make contact with me. We had our annual match at the end of February against the Merchiston boys; this fixture is enjoyed by both sides and for the Merchistonians it is very good to see the continuing enthusiasm and skilful play from the boys.
CURLING 2008
At last Merchistonians clicked as a rink, having lost our two previous games in the early part of the season, and against Aberdeen GSFP on 24 January we ran out easy winners 11 shots to 3. On 7 February against Old Glenalmond, Gerry Watson skipped, where a tight game was just edged by Old Glenalmond, who won 6 shots to 5. Merchistonians however did win more ends the count being 5 ends to 3.
The match against the School took place on 26 February at Murrayfield Icerink. On this occasion we did not have a formal match, but mixed both groups so that 2 boys and 2 Merchistonians, were in each of the 4 rinks. Honours ended even with Grant Hardie skipping for the boys, winning. The McMillans father and son squared off as skips in the other game, father winning that one. We had a meal afterwards with traditional curling socialising. As this fixture is usually played in Edinburgh (unlike our other games) perhaps Edinburgh based curling Merchistonians might make themselves known to me for next year, and play against the school.
Bill Hannay- william.hannay@onetel.net
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