Douglas Curling Club – 225th Anniversary Bonspiel
21/02/17 – FC
It’s not every day you get invited to a 225th Birthday Party but that’s what happened to Bob Thomson, Anne and Jack Hood and me on Friday 17th February.
Douglas CC was established roughly 50 years after it is thought that curling was introduced to the village. However, it wasn’t until 25th January 1792 that it was officially formed. A set of rules was laid down and each member paid sixpence(2.5p today) on entry and threepence (1.25p today) yearly. Oh how things have changed!
It was a very enjoyable day, starting at 2.30pm and ending for us at 9.45pm.
With 12 rinks from the Douglas Club and 12 invited rinks from other clubs including ourselves. Playing 4 ends on then 4 off, we were in the second session and so spent the hour watching how the play went for the 4 ends played before we were let loose on the ice. Of the 4 ends played we won 2 with the Douglas 11, skipped by Willie Mitchell, winning the other 2 and also by 4 shots to our 3.
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Oh, I should mention that I was driving and thus not drinking, but my fellow rink members were certainly enjoying the bevvy! So they had their red wine, gin and Guiness whilst watching the 3rd session after which we played our next Douglas rink. I have to admit that although I was on ginger beer (real goody two-shoes!) I cannot remember the rink’s skip, but probably Jack or one of the others may well be able to do so! However, I can tell you that we won 3 out of the 4 ends and 5 shots to 2. Where did we end up overall, we have no idea, but certainly not bottom, maybe somewhere in the middle?
DOUGLAS CC – Bi-Centenary Trophy
Inscription on the Trohpy:
Bi-Centenary
Trophy
1792-1992
Donated
By
Dr Sandy Addison
After playing our ends we headed to the restaurant to enjoy a very fine buffet dinner, followed in the bar with entertainment and ‘wee’ stories.
Everyone was in good party mood and out to enjoy themselves, we even had Archie Gilbert tell us a few of his notorious ‘stories’, non curling and somewhere near the bone 😉 on occasion, much to the delight of all.
Glad to say that when I got home I made sure that I went part of the way to catching up with the others in the consumption of alcohol by a nice glass of Malt!
Without doubt it was an anniversary to remember!!!
President
Frank
