DEADLINE 15-11-19

Clubs are urgently requested to forward their nominations for our external competitions but particularly for the Edinburgh Area Bonspiel due to be held on the 6th December.
All nominations are to be sent to the Province Secretary (John Trotter) by 15th November at the latest.

Province Bonspiel

The draw for the Province Bonspiel in January has been completed and can be found on the Fixtures Tab (above)

AGM Notification

Would all clubs please note that our AGM will take place on Wednesday 20th May 2020 at 7.30 pm.  It will be held in the Haddington Day Centre.

Province Competitions

The Draw for the Knockout and Pairs competitions were carried out at Thursday's committee meeting.
The full draws can be found on the 'Fixtures Tab' (above).

Clubs are urgently requested to forward their nominations for our external competitions but particularly for the Edinburgh Area Bonspiel due to be held on the 6th December.
All nominations are to be sent to the Province Secretary (John Trotter) by 15th November at the latest.

Province Committee Meeting

A meeting of the Province committee to which club representatives are invited will take place on Thursday 24th October at 7.30pm in the Haddington and District Day Centre, Neilson Park Road, Haddington, EH41 3DT. Parking is available in the Council car park opposite.

This meeting will among other matters carry out the draws for our various competitions.  The draws will be added to our Fixtures & Draws Tab (above) thereafter.

The dates/venues/opponents for our various competitions, where known have already been added.

Spring Cleaning

Ice allocations are due by the end of July.
In preparation for the new season, the website will be updated over the next couple of weeks, as information is available.

AGM Details

The Annual General Meeting of the East Lothian Province will be held at Athelstaneford Mains on Wednesday 22 May 2019 at 7.30 pm .

Each Club may be represented by up to two of its members, but not more than one of these may vote on any matter.

Agenda

1 Apologies for Absence

2 Matters Arising from minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 23 May 2018

3 President’s Annual Report 2018-19

4 Financial Report 2018-19

To receive and approve the Financial Report 2018-19

5 Affiliation Fees Payable by Member Clubs

6 Appointment of Office Bearers 2019-20

The President, Ian Donald and Vice President Walter Scott have both served one year of their two year appointment.

Appointment of President: n/a

Appointment of Vice-President: n/a

Appointment of Treasurer: n/a

Appointment of Secretary:

Elinor has served both years of her two year appointment and is not standing for re-election. Proposer : Seconder:

Website Administrator:

Independent Financial Examiner:

Archivist:

7 Edinburgh Area Report

Edinburgh Area Representative: Calder Benzies

Appoint two representatives to this Committee - normally President and Secretary.

Edinburgh Curling Club Report

AGM – Thursday 5 September, 7.30pm in the Clubrooms

RCCC Report

8 Province Competitions 2019-20

Ice Allocation for next season.

1) Knockout Competition 2 sheets, 2 sheets, 2 sheets for semis & 1 sheet for final

2) Bonspiel 6 sheets

3) Pairs 4 sheets, followed by 1 sheet

4) Doubles discuss format

9 Inter-Province Competitions 2019-20

1) National Province Championship - Qualifying Team and Reserve Team:

East Linton won the knockout this year, so will represent the Province at Greenacres. Do any other clubs wish to enter?

2) Border Challenge at Kelso:

East Lothian hosted this year therefore Borders to host in 2019-20.

3) Waldie-Griffith:

Entry to be made when RCCC application form available.

10 East Lothian Curling Archives: Report by David Affleck.

11 Any other competent business:

Adoption of East Lothian Province Competition Rules – to be reviewed annually

12 Next Meeting – Thursday 24 October at 7.30pm

Knockout 2018/19

P Neilson, R Aitken, J Black & I Donald (Pres)

The two Semi Final games were between East Linton versus Haddington and Athelstaneford versus Yester; last year's winners.
The first session produced a comprehensive win for East Linton over Haddington whilst the other game ended in a peeled game of 6 shots each with a draw shot challenge to follow for the two skips; neither stone needed sweeping and both just held on at the back of the rings to give Athelstaneford the game by the narrowest of margins.
The start of the final had to be delayed as one game had just finished before the bell went for the next session.
In the final Athelstaneford with J Shedden, K Stark, D Scott and B Bowie took on the East Linton rink composed of R Aitken, P Neison, J Black and A McCrone.
Athelstaneford started strongly with a 1 in the first end followed by another 1 in the second end. Unfortunately that was the end of play for Andrew McCrone the lead for East Linton who had to withdraw through injury to his back and the game carried on. In the third end the 3 curlers from East Linton appeared on the board for the first time with a hard earned 1 shot. The game heated up and with some excellent play and they levelled the scores with a further shot in the fourth end. Athelstaneford then stole the lead with some magnificent play in the fifth end; but not to be outdone East Linton bounced back with a 1 to level things in the sixth end, going into what was to be the final end peeled.
The final end saw a number of Athelstaneford stones sitting around the button but a brilliant last stone from Robin Aitken of East Linton nestled against these to take shot. This then left the Athelstaneford skip Johnny Shedden to draw with his last stone to move the East Linton stone and lie to take the end and the game; the stone looked right on track to achieve the desired result but in the end just marginally run out of steam to nestle close to the button but not enough to dislodge the opposing stone.
A brilliant final which was a credit to both rinks and one which the small contingent of spectators thoroughly enjoyed.
Congratulations to Robin and his rink in what was a momentous occasion for East Linton having only won the Royal Bank of Scotland Quaich once before back in 1995 when the trophy was first presented.
Our thanks to all who took part over the three days of competition.

EL Province Bonspiel

I Donald (President), A Kerr, A Young, D Munro (Past President)
J Shedden (skip) and S Main

The Bonspiel was once again played in good spirit on very keen ice.
After a close win in round 1 against Haddington 2 (The defenders) Athelstaneford, fortified by their soup and sandwiches went on to teach another (nameless) club a harsh lesson.  Overall the Athelstaneford 1 Team of Johnny Shedden, Shelagh Main, A Kerr and A Young were clear winners with a total of 23 shots up. Runners up were Dirleton on +5 shots and Aberlady with +4.
Athelstaneford now break clear of Dirleton and Whittinghame into a clear second place, behind Haddington for the overall number of wins since this trophy was first competed for in 1859.

Conviviality continued (as apparently did checking of mobile phones) in the bar following the games.