Competitions

Orwell Curling Competition Formats
More will follow in due course about the history of the trophies but first a resume of how the rink selections work & the format of the current competitions with regard to individual progression through the club.

The annual AGM which all members are encouraged to attend is the starting point to format the club for the forthcoming season. Prior to the meeting it will be determined how many playing members we will have whereby we can then determine how many rinks we can have in our main Holton competition, whereby we can then determine the number of skips required.

Skip selection is determined by vote with all attending ordinary members at the AGM eligible to vote. Automatically, the winning skip of the previous season’s Golland competition is invited to take up the position of skip if they wish, if they do, then the remaining number of skips required are then selected from the votes & that is all that is required with regard to rink selection at the AGM. In the following weeks there is a Skips & Office Bearers only meeting where all the rinks are selected for the competitions that we have decided to play in for the forthcoming season including all club & outside games, the idea being that the skips know the ability of each curler & select their positions accordingly in each of the competitions. Again, automatically the winner of the previous season’s Tom Page is invited to be a club third & skip in the Golland.

Progression through the club was perhaps easier in previous years when the club had a healthier membership. If we go back say 20 to 30 years, we could have around 50 active playing members, the Holton competition would have comprised of approx. 10 rinks & there would be a very healthy reserve list of 20 to 22 curlers. When you joined, firstly you would go on the reserve list for the first year & wait for the phone to ring to be asked to sub which it did a plenty. You would also be selected into the Tom Page competition for leads & seconds only if numbers were required. The selection process for anyone requiring a sub was that you went to the reserve list first, if that was unsuccessful you then went to the leads, if that was unsuccessful you then went to the seconds & so on. This was all done by land line phone calls which could be very time consuming unlike the current format of a blanket email which has been the way for the last few years! I’m not sure it’s the best way & one thing to remember is that it is very important to inform your skip of who your substitute is so they know they have a full rink turning up for the game!

You progressed on your ability which is still the case but because of the reduced number of active playing members in the club & now that we gather the information on everybody’s playing intentions the competitions have had to be reformatted over recent years explained as follows:

Opening Bonspiel – Channel Quaich
This is a one off game to start the season & one of the few opportunities to be together as a club where we can meet our new curlers. In the past, the entire club would have been involved in this game but now because we ask players intentions in what they would like to play in, the numbers reduce!

The winners are the highest scoring rink, presented with the Channel Quaich, named after the farm owned by our local legend & farming entrepreneur, Sandy Braid who was a stalwart in the club for over 50 years acting as our ‘Lord’s Officer’ at our annual Dinner & Court as well as many other club dinners.

Holton
This is our main competition which all members are encouraged to play in, currently comprising of 6 rinks played in a league format whereby each rink plays everyone once. 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw & 0 for a loss, the rink with the highest accumulated points are the winners with a play-off if equality on points.

Golland
No skips play in this competition with the winning skip being invited to be a club skip the following season.

Currently a league of 3 rinks using the same scoring system as the Holton but in the past this has been 2 leagues of 4 or 5 rinks with the winners of each league playing a final.

Nelson
All players can be included, currently a league of 3 rinks using the same scoring system as the Holton, this has always been a league competition but in the past there could have been 6 to 8 rinks involved.

Tom Page
Seconds & Leads only, the idea being that it allows these players to move up positions & get the opportunity to experience being a Skip, Third etc & in the past reserves would be included in these rinks

Currently a league of 3 rinks using the same scoring system as the Holton, but in the past this has been 2 leagues of 3 to 4 rinks with the winners of each league playing a final. The skip of the winning rink is then invited to become a club Third & Golland Skip the following season.

Skips & Thirds
As the name suggests, Skips & Thirds only. Currently a league of 3 rinks using the same scoring system as the Holton & in addition these rinks are used in the more competitive rink competitions such as John Stewart Double Rink Knockout & Wilson.

Mixed League
Introduced to the club several years ago as a more fun aspect with our sister curlers Orwell Ladies who several of our members wives or partners are members. Always popular, currently 8 rinks using a mixture of men & lady skips, 2 leagues of 4 with the top 2 rinks playing a final.

Pairs
All players can be included. Knock out format, 3 stones per player over 5 ends or 1 hour max resulting in the final, 4 stones per player over 8 ends or the bell. A very different & challenging way to play a game!

Kinross
All players can be included, this is our annual derby against our local rivals Kinross Curling Club which has been played every year since the mid 1800’s originally on outside ice!

Currently 6 rinks played over 2 consecutive sessions with 3 rinks per session using a combined scoring system. In the past this has been 8 rinks with 4 rinks per session whereby we take over the entire ice rink for that evening & all those playing in the 1st session are encouraged to stay & support the 2nd session along with the opposition making it a great fun sociable night off the ice but absolute rivalry on the ice….we haven’t won for several years now..!!!

Lomond League
All players can be included. Played in Perth this competition has been running for many years originating with the rule that clubs entering must have a view of the Lomond Hills from their pond. The league has its own secretary who tends to serve for a few years at a time & a President  that is selected from one of the playing clubs which rotates alphabetically each year tending to be the current President of that particular club. Currently this is a league of 14 local neighboring clubs so it’s a good opportunity to play against & meet other club curlers, the club with the highest points are the winners, currently as I write this Orwell are at the top of the table!

East v West
All players can be included, this is a one off game & as the name suggests, East of Orwell Parish v West of Orwell Parish with the division being Kinross High Street through the Muirs, along South Street & up North Street Milnathort, past Orwell Church towards Holton Farm & beyond. Winners are the side with the highest combined score. Currently 4 rinks played over 2 sheets but in the past this was 8 rinks played over 4 sheets in one session & the rinks were selected by one person for each side who was nominated & agreed at the AGM

Seniors v Juniors
All players can be included, this is a one off game & as the name suggest the Seniors v Juniors of the club with the dividing line getting higher every year, most of us wishing we can still make the junior side! Winners are the side with the highest combined score. Currently 4 rinks played over 2 sheets & in the past this was 8 rinks played over 4 sheets in one session with the selection process as E v W but with different people selecting.

Married v Batchelors
Not played any more as we ran out of bachelors! Again, this was a one off game which could have had 2 to 3 rinks on each side!

Points
Open to all & a test of your individual ability over 10 disciplines with the overall winner having the highest accumulated score. Within this competition there is also the Alex Gardiner Trophy awarded to the highest up Second, Lead or Reserve who is then promoted to or remains a club second in addition to which, it has been the norm to then make them a Tom Page Skip.

Closing Bonspiel – Black
All players can be included, this is a one off game to close the season. The winners are the highest up rink presented with the Black Kettle Trophy which is probably the most expensive owned by the club. Previously this competition was called the Black Kettle whereby Skips & Thirds swapped positions to give the Thirds experience of being a Skip with the expert advice of a Skip beside them in Third position with 2 leagues of 4 to 5 rinks, the winners of each league playing a final.