Latest News to Saturday 4th September

New To Curling? Want to Learn?

You can obtain further details by contacting David by email from here.

Funding News

Braehead Curling Development Group is delighted to announce an Award of £1,930 from The Big Lottery fund. This money is to be used for The RCCC "Curling's Cool" programme and to encourage new primary schools from The Renfrewshire Area to attend at Braehead Curling Rink. David Horne, The CDO at Braehead, has held Meetings with Active School coordinators in the area and pupils from four schools in Renfrew will benefit from the Grant.

Opening Funspiel! Sign up immediately...

You can obtain further details or enter now by contacting David by email from here.

Gary McFarlane in Rwanda

Many of you will already know that Gary has been called to participate in a building project in Rwanda and he is keen to let everyone know about the project and how you can follow his activities.
Here is what he has to say:

"Quite a lot of people have been asking myself and Roger Fleming why we are going out to Rwanda and what we hope to be able to achieve.
Basically I am project managing the building of a new Vocational Training College in Kigali Rwanda. Roger has designed the College and is coming to support myself and the construction process.
The College is aimed at ensuring that 100s of street children develop skills and qualifications, and ultimately get into employment. We expect to have it built by April 2011.
Apart from building the College we are also involved in developing partnerships with UK NGO's, business planning and curriculum development - sounds like a 5 year project to me!
From 19th August we will be away for at least 3 weeks, and then further trips later in the year.
For those who did not know we are going, or who want to keep in touch with us, and how our plans are going for the Ihumure Vocational Training College, we have set up a BLOG to which you can link here at:
www.randomffd.blogspot.com.

This we will try and keep up to date at least once per week, and hopefully more often If any of you want to provide practical help, advice, or have connections in Rwanda then you should know we rarely say no!
We are both very grateful for the interest shown and your prayers for the work.

Regards Gary..."

You can also find a more detailed account of Gary's involvement here, by Bob Cowan, who has written admirably on the subject and his words will fire your enthusiasm for the project.

RCCC Rink Championship

The draw for this competition has been made and you can view it now.
Immediately obvious is the different appearance of this page. This may change from time to time and finally settle on a 'house style' that fits the rest of the site. The details however will be accurate.
You will be assured to know that the draw was carried out in meticulous conditions using the latest technology. The national lottery should envy the extent to which Braehead have gone to ensure a fair and totally impartial result. Here is an official photograph of the system in use.

All draws will be done in the office by Bruce Harley and Pamela Stephen, to ensure fair play.
Visit the competition pages to get details now.

 Go straight there

Braehead Open Mixed Doubles Announcement

Braehead Curling rink are delighted to announce that the Braehead Open Mixed Doubles will take place on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 November 2010, with an entry fee of £80 and prize fund of £750. Visit the competition pages to get details now and get your entry in soon.

Go there now

Website Continues to Improve

You may not see many changes but in the background it's all action! The 'plumbing and wiring' are receiving full attention and this on-going work means that you may occasionally experience some odd behaviour. Please be assured that this is only temporary and that service will soon return to a much improved 'normality'.

Braehead Festive Cup and Young Curlers Club Dates

New Season details now available via the Menu Links under 'Junior and Ladies Branch'.

Braehead Membership Charging Information

Charging details for the coming season are now available. Visit the Braehead Link Menu.

Braehead Open Competition News

The Braehead Open starts early this year and you can download your entry forms now.
The competition will be held from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd October and we are anticipating a good entry this year. Visit the competition pages to get details now. Go straight there

Do Not Adjust Your PC!

Yes the website is changing, gradually at first but you will see the links establish and fill up with useful things. You will probably want to see the Member Clubs and Donations Pages? Go to the BCDG menu and you will find them there...

Start getting used to the new layout and thank you for your patience as we make this transition.

BCDG AGM - Wednesday 21st April

Has been held. Watch the site for documentary evidence of proceedings.

A Closing Bonspiel and Turkey Shoot - Updated!

Was organised by The Committee to mark the end of the first season of the new BCDG. It took place on Wednesday 31st March and attracted 16 teams to take part. Most of the teams were from the member clubs but several teams were invited as guests as winners of the various local competitions throughout the season. These teams were presented with their trophies by Bruce Harley (Leisure Manager) in the bar after everyone was provided with an excellent supper by the new Braehead Caterers. Braehead Staff also got a team together to take part in the Bonspiel and included Bruce, David Horne (Curling Officer), Chris Noble (Ice Technician) and Robbie Stewart (Curling Coach).
Norman Cathcart who is The Chairperson of The BCDG, Hosted the event. A Six end Bonspiel was first on the agenda and The Braehead Wheelchair Club won first prize and was presented to Eileen Neilson, Michael McCreadie and Eilidh Neilson by Stuart Horne (Photo attached). Not pictured but very much a part of the winning team was Gerald Pocock who tells us that no-one will believe him until his name appears on this website! More kudos to us all then!

The wooden spoon was awarded to The Braehead Staff team but as Bruce explained it was not about winning and losing. The Turkey shoot followed the Bonspiel and had players throwing stones from the four corners of the rink to The Frozen 'Bird' in the middle. After everyone had a go in the first round it then went to a play off between the qualifiers for the prize and it looked like young Andrew Grieve from The Braehead Juniors was going to pick up the Turkey. However, Eilidh Neilson, Bearsden Curling Club, with the last stone advantage played an out turn shot from the hack and Andrew's stone was pushed to the side as Eilidh's stone picked up the Turkey along with a nice Easter Egg as well. (Seen accepting her prize by the joint organisers;- Stuart Horne and Clive Thomson)

The evening was hailed a success by everyone and The BCDG will now be holding their AGM on Wednesday 21st of April but are already planning ahead for the new season.

David Horne
Secretary.

The Bonspiel Winners!

Big Easter Egg presented to Eilidh Neilson, a double winner. Note frozen poultry lurking in the background...

Braehead 'Try Curling' and 'Beginners Night'

Following the demand to 'Try Curling' after The Olympics it was decided to hold another session for those that were unable to attend the first sessions, held at Braehead at the beginning of March. Bruce Harley (Leisure manager) agreed to provide the ice for free and another 39 potential curlers came along to the rink on Thursday the 1st of April for their first attempt at Curling. This took the total adults attending the 3 Try Curling sessions at Braehead Curling rink to 127.
David Horne, CDO at Braehead, had decided to take full advantage of the Free Ice offer so he had also organised a Beginners Night following the above session for those that had already been along to one of the earlier Try Curling sessions.
All member clubs were contacted and a grand total of 36 regular curlers from 14 different clubs came along to make up the teams and provide help. Four RCCC Coaches were also on hand and as 34 beginners came along it was quite hectic sorting everyone into teams. Everyone took to the ice just after 8pm and played six ends of friendly curling and those with 5 in a team rotated but ensured that the beginners played 2 stones at every end. The night was extremely friendly with loads of fun and laughter, and even the occasional measure. Everyone returned to the bar for drinks and Long discussions about the great and not so great shots. The majority of the beginners stayed on for quite a while enjoying the banter and friendship. Many of the club members had brought along flyers to promote their own club but special mention must be made of The Virtual club who provided a total of 11 curlers/helpers over the two On ice sessions.
Bruce Harley was delighted to see so many people along and is keen to provide a similar session at the start of next season to ensure clubs are given the chance to recruit some of these enthusiastic Beginners.

David Horne
Curling Development Officer

View of come and try in action. A busy evening!

Same event, different perspective. Still plenty of action.

Outdoor Curling in Vision!

A number of Braehead clubs were involved over the winter in some outdoor curling - Alma, Cadder, Nondes, Gadloch, Cawder House and various other local curlers including Lenzie Ladies, had a fantastic days curling on Sunday 10th January 2010.

This was on the Gadloch in Lenzie.

This has now been captured and edited on video by BILL STEVENS.

You can view the video on Youtube by following this link here.

Virtual Club Success

A team from Braehead Virtual Curling Club has won the Centenary Quaich for visiting teams at the Crossmyloof Centenary Bonspiel last Friday evening.
There were seven other invited teams from established clubs taking part.
As the BVCC was the first Virtual Club to be established in Scotland and the members have only been curling for two to three years we thought that this success was worth sharing with others. It should be an encouragement to all those who are at the start of their curling careers.

Barbara Jarvie

The victorious BVCC star team!

 

David Duncan Competition Result

Please check the competition links to see the final scores and placings from the David Duncan.
The winning rink was skipped by Jack Steven, with I McDonald at 3rd, S Blyth at 2nd and J McFarlane at lead.

Mackenzie Crook Competition Result

Please check the competition links to see the final scores and placings from the season's Mackenzie Crook competition.
The winning rink was skipped by Jaqui Crawford, with E Semple at 3rd, A MacLennan at 2nd and D Ross at lead.

Morton trophy

Season 2009-10 has been a very successful one for Braehead ladies.
Braehead has played Stirling, Waterfront and Greenacres in the West section - 9 games in all.
Result: 7 wins 1 peel and 1 lost, total 15 points, lead position in the West section and a place in the finals in Kirkcaldy on 16th March 2010.

The 3 teams who will represent Braehead are :-
1. Kirsty Letton, Pat Orr, Margaret Withycombe, Judith Jackson;
2. Liz Paul, Jean McMaster, Julie Briggs, Sheila Black;
3. Jane Paterson, Sheila Fleming, Nanette Davidson, Meta Eccleston;


In the semi finals at 10.30 am (West) Braehead plays (South) Lockerbie (North) Forfar plays (East) Kirkcaldy The finals will be played at 2.15pm We hope to have a good number of spectators from Braehead at Kirkcaldy for this event.
If there is sufficient interest, a supporters bus will be organised and if you would like to book a seat on the bus, please add your name to the yellow sheet on the ladies branch noticeboard or contact Braehead Ladies Branch President, Margaret Withycombe, or Morton Secretary, Valerie Lindsay.