Thursday, March 14, 2024

Final Games at Greenacres

 We could not have asked for nicer Spring like weather to facilitate the final games event at Greenacres on Wed 13 Mar.  Eighteen players and the Treasurer as a spectator enjoyed a very pleasing 2 sheet social but competitive afternoon slot followed by an equally satisfying snack lunch of homemade soup (2 choices), fresh tasty sandwiches and tea/coffee.  

Team Henry (Henry, Cherry, Cattanach, Hogg and A Hay) faced Team Stubley (Stubley, Peat, Graham, Galloway and G Hay) on Sheet B with Team Henry taking 6 of the 7 ends played to win 11-1.  Next to them on Sheet C, Team McFadzean (McFadzean, Charters, Gray and Reynolds) stood too against Team Lawrence (Lawrence, Wilson, Niblock and Haddow) and mirrored the trends of Sheet B by losing 7 of the 8 ends played with Team Lawrence winning 12-1.  

The combined winners prowess must have impressed the local ladies Rink playing on Sheet A who enquired where the Gangrels came from and why they were all taller than 6 feet with inordinate sweeping ability.  Some of our players must have been keeping a low profile while their attributes were being observed but nevertheless it was nice to know our play ability was being admired!!  It was a splendid end to what has been a trying and uncertain season with play at a number of differing venues and much enjoyed by all who participated.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

PROVINCE KNOCK OUT REPORT - 28 FEB 24

 

Gangrels Team Henry (Henry, Cherry, Mutter and Galloway) faced Sorn in the quarter finals of the Province Knock Out on Wed 28 Feb at Greenacres in a late evening slot.  Five sheets were in play so it was a lively, spirited and very competitive atmosphere with many Ayr centric well known faces to the fore.

  The weather conditions for the drive to and from the venue were demanding but this was all good preparation for the curling task which was to follow which was to be equally challenging. The first end set the scene as it was blanked but Sorn then took  a shot in the next 2 end to lead.  Gangrels quickly responded by taking the next 2 ends to lie 2-2 at the 5th end.  And then we lost the edge against some very tactically adroit considerations and takeout/guarding shots from Sorn to lose the next 3 ends in very close play to finally shake hands at the close of the 8th end losing 2-6.  

The result would have been even closer were it not for an unfortunate pick up by the very last Gangrels and match stone which was disappointing.  For those who may be interested in spectating, the semi final of this Province event will take place at Greenacres at 2030 on Mon 18 Mar.  The final will be held on Tue 26 Mar at 2030, again at Greenacres.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

PRESIDENT’S CUP - FINAL ROUND REPORT

 The last round of the President's Cup and final internal club competitive game for this season took place at the GALLEON on Tue 20 Feb.  Team Port (Begg, Cattanach, McFadzean and Stubley) already had an unassailable lead in the overall competition but Team Starboard (Peat, Galloway, Charters and Kennedy) looked forward to breaking their duck in the series and close on something of a high.  

They opened the scoring with a single shot in the first end on unaccustomed relatively keen and swingy ice.  However Team Port came straight back at them with a 2 in the next end to take the lead but then things stagnated.  Team Starboard won the next 4 ends with a particularly welcome score of 4 in the fourth end to lead 8-2 going in to the final end.  

Team Port tried hard for a high score to conclude the game but Team Starboard kept the house clear to peg their loss to a 2 and shake hands 8-4 winners. The results table is shown below.


Rink           Played Won Drawn Lost Points Ends+ Ends- Shots+ Shots- Position

Port                3        2         0         1        4         10       12      20         21          1

Starboard      3        1         0         2        2         12       10      21         20          2

Friday, February 16, 2024

Stranraer Visit 15th February

Sixteen Gangrels made up 4 Rinks for the end of season social day's curling at North West Castle on Thu 15 Feb.  Despite a driech weather drive to the venue, everyone made it on time and spirits were soon lifted by the quality of ice, ambience, food and support overall which was, once again, first class.


The competition scoring was based on cumulative shots up with the morning Rinks being swopped for play on different sheets in the afternoon session.  Team Hogg (Hogg, Galloway, Wilson and Dunlop) faced Team Graham (Graham, Cattanach, Hope and McFadzean) while Team Niblock (Niblock, Watson, Peat and Mutter) played Team Gray (Gray, Reynolds, Cherry and Charters) in the morning session on sheets 3 and 4.  At the snack lunch break, Team Gray were an impressive 12 shots up with Team Graham contending in second place with +6.

After a most enjoyable lunch of homemade soup, filling fresh made sandwiches and tea/coffee, the Rinks moved back on to the ice on sheets 1 and 2 with the leaders Team Gray facing Team Graham and Team Hogg against Team Niblock.  The giant tussle on sheet 1 saw Team Graham overhaul the overall lead held by Team Gray to win by a cumulative +10 shots with Team Gray now in second place with +8.  President Gillian presented the prizes to the winning Rink.



Wednesday, February 7, 2024

PRESIDENT’s CUP ROUND 2 REPORT

 Team Port (Watson (S), Cattanach, Begg and Cherry) and Team Starboard (Charters (S), Hogg, Galloway and Peat) took to keen but slipy underfoot ice at the Galleon on Tue 6 Feb in the second round of the President's Cup.  With Team Port already in the cumulative lead, their mind set was clearly to capitalise on this and enhance their overall position.  

A steal in the first end saw Team Starboard take the lead but in the next 2 ends Team Port surged ahead with a 4 stone lead.  Team Starboard fought back with a 3 in the 4th end to peg the scores at 4-5.  Undaunted, Team Port took the next 2 ends with some fine play and skilful draws by their Skip to lead 8-4 in to the final end.  

Try as they may to at least peel or at best achieve a significant score, Team Starboard could not prevail but did secure a 2 stone win to finally lose 6-8.  The last round of the President's Cup is scheduled for 20 Feb having had the ice booked for 16 Jan cancelled due to ice quality problems.  The results can be found here or click on the side panel."


 Team Port:  S McFadzean, J Begg, D Stubley, B Cherry, D Cattanach, D Graham, F Hogg, G Watson, A Henry

Team Starboard:  R Charters, F Hogg, R Peat, P Galloway, R Morrison, D Gray, A Chapman, S McFadzean, P Kennedy


Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Gangrels match V Tarbolton

The annual competition against Tarbolton for the Wilkie Trophy took place at the Galleon on Tue 30 Jan.  The trophy was first played for and presented in 2002 and since then has been won by Tarbolton 12 times and the Gangrels 8 times so it was all to play for to wrest it from Tarbolton custody once again and seek to redress the balance.  

Gangrels 1 (Begg (S), Stubley, Graham and McFadzean) and Gangrels 2 (Hogg (S), Peat, Galloway and Charters) took to the relatively uninspiring ice keen to show their prowess against the opposition.  Both sheets were closely matched for the first 2 ends and scored the same but then Gangrels 1 began to accelerate in to the lead with a particularly welcome score of 4 in the sixth end to then lead 9-1.  Tarbolton then took a single in the last 2 ends with handshakes at the end of the 8th with the score to Gangrels 9-3.  Not to be outdone, Gangrels 2 adopted a more measured pace to lead 6-2 at the 6th end with Tarbolton responding with single win shots in the last 2 ends and Gangrels 2 were very happy to clear the ice 6-4 winners.




With 2 clear wins on both sheets, Secretary Peter was presented with the Wilkie Trophy to give the Gangrels their 9th win in the series.  It is hoped that this annual meeting will be repeated again next year and for many years to come at whatever venue both Clubs will then consider as "home" ice."

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Gangrels Points Competition

 Seven stalwarts took to the somewhat dour and unpredictable ice at the Galleon on the evening of Tue 23 Jan and in the time allotted played 9 of the disciplines.  From the outset it was clear that this was going to be a low scoring annual event as compered to past trends but, notwithstanding, determination and application prevailed in what was to be a frustrating but fun competition.  Despite still limited by his whiplash injury sustained from a fall on the ice in early December, David Stubley did very well to read the ice to his advantage and won with 25 points.  Ronnie Peat came second with 20 and bringing up the podium 3rd place was Peter Galloway.


Tarbolton CC were playing on Sheet B adjacent to us and, very regrettably, one of their members slipped and fell very heavily on to the ice sustaining a shoulder/arm injury which necessitated his being stretchered off to receive medical treatment.  It is hoped that the damage is not too serious and that he recovers fully to join us next week when we meet Tarbolton in our annual match for the Wilkie Trophy which they currently hold.  Members playing at the Galleon need to be aware of the propensity for slips, trips and falls on the type of ice there and take the appropriate care/protection.