East v West (Originally Town v Country) This Town v Country trophy was presented to the club in 1958 by a local farmer James C Leadbetter Snr of Newlands Farm, Milnathort. Mr. Leadbetter joined the club in 1952 & was President in Season 1958-59. His son James C Leadbetter Jnr (Jimmy) was also a member & past president of the club. The competition originated at the Annual General Meeting on 20th November 1839 when ‘The secretary laid before the meeting a packet which when opened was found to contain a Medal along with a letter as follows:- 4 November 1839 The Ladies resident in the Parish of Orwell or connected by relationship with the curlers belonging to the Orwell Club, beg to present the Orwell Curling Club with the accompanying Silver Medal for the purpose of further stirring up among its members the spirit of ‘Rivalry and Good Humour’ for which it is noted, and which curling is acknowledged to promote more than any other winters amusement.

Ladies have been said to partake in the exhilarating pastime and songs are not wanting in which allusion is made to their having done so, but the Ladies of this neighbourhood trusting that they may be thought to have been fully better employed in providing Beef and Greens for their curling friends on their return from the ice have as yet paid little attention to the rules of the game that they have found it necessary to apply to some of the Brotherhood of the Rink to embody their wishes as to the mode of conducting the competition, under the following regulations:- 1. This medal is to be contested annually by the TOWN against the COUNTRY members of the Orwell Club: those only to play who usually practice within the club. (There are 5 rules in total which are still to be noted here)

When Mr. Leadbetter donated the trophy in 1958 at the meeting, an interesting discussion arose. The members of the club were delegated to represent either town or country for a forthcoming game, but the planners found great difficulty in deciding on the status of Mr. R.W. Hamilton. He was finally designated a Town member.

Over the years, it became more difficult to separate the two & in season 1979-80 the competition was changed geographically to the East v West with the division being the High Street in Kinross, running up through The Muirs, along South Street, Milnathort, up Wester Loan towards North Street, past Orwell Church towards The Holton Farm, Middleton & beyond.

Trophy inscription reads: Orwell Curling Club Town v Country Trophy Presented By James C Leadbetter

First winners: • Season 1958-59 • Country 32 Town 30

Information obtained from old minute books, records & the trophy by Robin Kay, April 2023