🥌Indoor Grand Match 2025🥌

 On the 15th of November, over 1000 curlers from all over Scotland took to the ice in 12 ice rinks to compete in the Grand Match.

The Grand Match was first held in 1847 in Penicuik when it was played outside. It was played outside for many years, with some 2400 players at the last 3 (thats 300 rinks!). It was a battle of North vs South.

Unfortunately, global warming and new health and safety rules meant to would be nearly impossible for an outdoor event of this scale to be held on a frozen lake and so the last Grand Match outside was played in 1979 on the Lake of Menteith.

In 2000, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club initiated an indoor version to be held across Scotland, in temperature-controlled ice rinks with nice safe ice. It was so popular that it was decided that it would take place every 5 years. Unfortunately, with the Covid pandemic taking hold in 2020, the Grand Match was cancelled for that year and there was a little uncertainty if it would be held again.

Luckily for all curlers, the RCCC made it happen in 2025, with the support of 12 ice rinks and many curlers (and a sponsor of Ambassador Cruise Line). North vs South, all for the love of the game. The games were played over 3 sessions.

Currie and Balerno had 2 teams out, one having an early start to play away in Aberdeen at 10am and a home team playing at Murrayfield. Both teams won their games for the South, which were added to the running total and after all games were finished and scores totaled, the South took the victory for the 5th time!

Here are a selection of pictures taken at Curl Aberdeen by one of the C&B teams:

Selfie with Father and Daughter (Photo credit: Karen Munro).

Selfie with our opposition, Banchory Curling Club (Photo credit: Karen Munro).

Jen and Betty taking a well deserved rest (Photo credit: Karen Munro).

Selfie with the team (Photo credit: Karen Munro).

The traditional stacking of the brooms at the 4th end (Photo credit: Curl Aberdeen).

The traditional 'dram' (whisky or Irn Bru) after the broom stacking (Photo credit: Curl Aberdeen).

Kettle Round 5.25 - 14th November

 Round 5 got off to a bang with 4 teams taking to the ice on the 14th of November.

Brian Fleming took on Niall Gunn and despite a strong start from Brian, a three, followed by a steal of another 3, just gave Niall the edge to take the win.

Dave Munro gave a strong, dominant performance against David Aitken, taking a 10-5 win.

Here is the league table after the first half of Round 5:

League Table after Round 5.25

 Here is the score sheet after the start of round 5:

Score Sheet after Round 5.25

Kettle Round 4.75 - 7th November

 Round 4 was completed on the 7th of November, with the final 4 teams going against each other. With two of the named skips not there, it was anyone's game!

 John Steven was up against Mike Wood's team, and despite a dominant start from Wood's team (skipped by Susan MacFarlane), it was John who took the win with a 1 in the last end!

Kerry Clark was up against Karen Munro, with Karen's team holding their own and claiming another win.

Here is the league table after the completion of Round 4:

League table after Round 4

Here is the Score sheet after the completion of Round 4:

Score sheet after Round 4

C&B Doubles Competition 2025 - 2nd November

Our annual doubles competition took place on Sunday the 2nd of November, with an impressive 16 pairs taking to the ice over 2 sessions.

There were a lot of mixed fortunes, with some high scoring ends!

The results are as follows:

Winners: Robin Copland and Ian Keron with +16(!)

Runners Up: John Steven and Joe Barry with +7

Third place: Betty Gibb and Allan MacLennan with +6

Special thanks to Jen and Dave for keeping the scoring and organising the sheets for all teams, its no mean feat!

Also thanks to all the subs that allowed us to keep all 16 pairs playing! We literally couldn't have done it without you!

Ian and Robin, winners '25 (Photo credit: Karen Munro)

Kettle Round 4.25 - 31st October 🎃

On the spookiest night of the year, 4 brave teams took to the ice! 

Fearsome Fleming (Skipped by Phil Barton) took on the Menacing Dave Munro. A close game which came down to the last end and was eventually won by Munro

On the other rink, Ghoulish Gunn took on Abominable Aitken (Skipped by Vicky Gumley). A good couple of ends at the start of the game for Gunn meant they were out of reach for Vicky so the win ultimately went to Gunn.

Here is the lurid league table after the first games of round 4 (not much of a change!):

League table after Round 4.25

And the scary score sheet:

Score sheet after Round 4.25

Kettle Round 3.75 - 24th October

The remaining 6 teams to compete in round 3 took to the ice on Friday. Some big scores and good curling on difficult ice, and one very close game!

Karen was very lucky, with the ice going in her favour, against Niall Gunn. A 6 in one end really took the game in one direction which made it very hard for Niall to come back from. David Aitken's team, who was skipped by Vicky, took a nice win over Mike Wood's team (skipped by his daughter Louise). The close game was Brian Fleming (skipped by Katie Wood) against Kerry Clark. Katie came back 6-0 down to draw the game 7-7 going into the last end, where Kerry finished the game with Bruce Mouat level draw right to the button to win the game.

Here is the league table after the games on the 24th of October:

League Table after Round 3.75

Here is the Score sheet after the 24th of October:

Score Sheet after Round 3.75

Kettle Round 2.75 and 3.125 - 17th October

Due to the game on Thursday the 16th, it means that these games were the final games for round 2 as well as the first games of round 3, which makes it great fun trying to think about the what to call each round!

Karen had a very close game against her Dad which came down to the last end! Tricky ice meant the game was very back and forth. The other sheet saw Niall and John go head to head. A run of 4 ends at the start set the game up for John, and despite a couple of ends, the game ultimately went to John.

Here is the league table after the games of the 17th of October:

League Table after Round 2.75/3.125

Here is the score sheet after October 17th

Score sheet after Round 2.75/3.125