Heavens open in Dumfries, but play goes on!

Despite treacherous Weather conditions, the GSCT/CCT Challenger series, sponsored by Lely, went ahead at Dumfries. The weather did however affect the Blogage, as internet access was severely disrupted.
So apologies that this was not updated throughout the weekend, but here is a round up of this weekend's event!
Ladies Event
In the Semi finals both games went down to the last shot of the game.  Gray managed to draw the button to score 2 and beat Drendl and Maillard stole 1 from Gisler to win the other Semi Final.
 
Lauren Gray and here rink of Jennifer Dodds, Vicky Wright & Mhairi Baird beat Isabelle Maillard's rink of Andrea Marx, Bettina Bouhlel & Fabienne Furbringer in a very close final where Lauren and her team managed to keep the last end clear to score 1 and win 6-4

Ladies Final Standings
Gray (Sco) - 1st
Maillard (swi) - 2nd
Drendl (Ger) - 3rd
Gisler (Swi) - 4th
Fleming (Sco) & Rilea (Swe) - 1/4 Finals
 

Men's Event
Bruce Mouat took on 2014 champions Tom Brewster in the Final of the Men's event where the final also went to the wire with some great shots and powerful sweeping on display.  With the game tied after 7ends Mouat had the hammer in the last end.  Brewster was lying 3 shots when Bruce came to play his last stone where he needed to lift a double and stay to win.  He duly lifted the double and then everyone's hearts were in there mouths and the gasps were let out as the stone started to roll.  It came to rest with the thought of a measure in mind, but as the teams studied the stones team Brewster agreed that it was one to Mouat and Bruce and his team of Duncan Menzies, Gregor Cannon, Angus Dowall & Bobbie Lammie were Lely Challenger Series winners for 2015

Mark Armstrong from Lely came along to watch the final along with a good crowd of spectators.  Mark presented the teams with there prizes.

Mens Final Standings
Mouat (Sco) - 1st
Brewster (Sco) - 2nd
Hardie (Sco) & Bryce (Sco) - Semi Finalists
Smith (Sco), Hamilton (Sco), Thune (Den)  & Van Dorp (Ned)  - 1/4 Finalists

A big thanks went out to the Sponsors Lely, Scott Henderson for producing great Ice for the teams and all the volunteers at Dumfries who helped run the event, transport teams and keep the event running over the 3 days.

There is a big break for the GSCT now, with the next event being Aberdeen City Open 5th - 7th Feb 2016.

Have a great festive season folks and see you all in the New Year!

Lely Challenger Tour Event in Dumfries

Play is underway at the Lely Challenger Tour event in Dumfries. You can follow the action at http://www.dibca.co.uk.

Team Mouat takes Goldline Scottish Curling Tour Forfar Open title

Forfar Open winners - Team Mouat

The final of the Goldline Scottish Curling Tour Forfar Open started with little risk being taken from either team and Team Macleod had a slight upper-hand with a score of 1-0 after 3 ends.

The fourth end saw lots of stones in play with skip Bruce Mouat narrowly missing a raised take-out for 3 with his last stone and taking just 1 shot  to level the game at 2-2.

A guddly fifth end saw Scott Macleod get his first stone hidden in the 4 foot however Bruce Mouat played a raised take-out to remove. Scott attempted the same draw again but it slipped to the back 12 foot and gave Team Mouat a significant steal of 4 shots.

Throughout the sixth end, Team Macleod tried to make use of opposition counters to freeze and have as backing. A successful corner freeze from Scott Macleod with his first shot and a four foot draw with his last stone saw a score of 2 added to the board for Team Macleod.

A steal of 1 for Team Macleod in the seventh end saw them go 1 down into the final end. Typically, the guards went up with Team Macleod playing an aggressive end and Team Mouat trying to keep the end as clear as possible. The final stone saw skip Bruce Mouat faced with a nose hit which he executed well to give Team Mouat a 7-4 win and the Forfar Open trophy.

Finalists L-R; Ross Fraser, John Penny, Derrick Sloan, Scott Macleod, Bruce Mouat, Bobby Lammie, Gregor Cannon & Angus Dowell

Team Macleod puts out GSCT leader Team Hardie

The quarter finals were great for the spectators with Team McGlynn having a great game and forcing skip Bruce Mouat to draw the 4 foot with his final stone to win the game. Team Mouat will face Team Bryce in the semi-final after they overcame Team Joiner in this morning's quarter final game.

Team Bryce in action in the quarter final

The ladies quarter final game between Team Jackson and Team Aitken was closely matched with Team Jackson running Team Aitken out of stones in the final end to win the game. They will face Team Macleod who played a great game to see off Team Hardie, current leaders on the GSCT leader-board.

Team Macleod in action in the quarter final

Forfar Open Quarter Finalists

The round-robin games have now concluded; Team Jackson had a convincing win over Team Fleming to qualify whilst Team Aitken and Team Murray were neck and neck going into the last end with Team Aitken stealing the last end to take a quarter final place.

Team Mouat was given a good run for their money by Team Kirk however after stealing 3 in the 6th end, Team Mouat never looked back. Team Macleod got a good head-start and were 6-0 up after 3 ends, keeping a solid performance thereafter to secure their place in the quarter finals.

Team Jackson

Team Macleod

Team Mouat

Team Aitken

Tomorrow morning's quarter final line-ups will be as follows:-
Team Bryce v Team Joiner
Team Jackson v Team Aitken
Team Hardie v Team Macleod
Team McGlynn v Team Mouat

The red and blue sections are now complete and see Teams Hardie, Joiner, McGlynn and Bryce through to the quarter finals. The final round-robin session is now underway to determine the remaining 4 quarter finalist teams.

Team Hardie

Team Joiner

Team McGlynn

Team Bryce

Forfar Open Session 2 Results

In Session 2 of the Forfar open, the green and pink sections took the ice. Wins for Mouat and MacLeod in the green section over Taylor and Kirk respectively.  In the Ladies section Sophie Jackson triumphed over Karina Aitken, Sophie is playing without her lead Rachel Hannen this weekend, she is currently in Denmark representing Scotland as alternate for Eve Muirhead.   In the other game Hannah Fleming came out on top against Katie Murray.

The Red and Blue Sections are on the ice at the moment.  Scores can be found on the results page, Team Hardie are again in a commanding position.  As are Bryce, Shaw and Brydone after disappointments last night.

Live Scores: http://scottishcurlingtour.blogspot.co.uk/p/results.html

Team Bryce Post End Chat.  Looks like skip has some explaining to do

Forfar Open

We are well under way at the GSCT Forfar Open 2015. The ice conditions are excellent and atmosphere is buzzing.  The first round of games are complete and there was wins for Hardie & Joiner in the Red Section.  Wins for the two local teams in the Blue Section, McGlynn and Ferguson.

The 2nd session is under way, scores can be found on the results tab.  Currently Mouat is in control against Taylor, with the rest of the games very tight.

http://scottishcurlingtour.blogspot.co.uk/p/results.html

Forfar Open Draw

The Goldline Scottish Curling Tour Forfar Open gets underway this Friday at 6.00pm. £400 for the winning team and £300 for the top women's team is up for grabs as well as the Forfar Open Trophy.

3 of the top 4 teams on the Goldline Scottish Curling Tour leaderboard; Hardie, Mouat and Bryce will have their eyes firmly set on the Trophy and the accompanying 15 points to help them on their way to the GSCT first place prize of £2000.

 

Forfar spots still available!

There is still room for a couple of entries into the GSCT Forfar Open 2015, being held on 20^th – 22^nd November. An extra few men’s or mixed teams would round off the numbers for a simpler draw format. It would also be a fantastic opportunity for any senior teams to play on the ice where the Scottish Senior qualifier will be played, in January. 

The first draw will begin at 6pm on Fri 20^th November.

Forfar always run a terrific competition, which is great value, including a complimentary dinner on the Sat night, as well as plenty of entertainment.

Entry forms can be downloaded here: http://www.forfarindoorsports.co.uk/attachments/article/188/forfaropenentryform2015.pdf or just call Mike Ferguson, or Graham Smith on: 01307 46866

The winners of Edinburgh International 2015

Winners 2015 - Team Smith
(Right to Left)
1 Cammy Smith, 2 Kyle Waddell, 3 Thomas Muirhead, 4 Kyle Smith (Skip)
Coach Viktor Kjäll

Runners up 2015 - Team Van Dorp
(Left to Right)
1 Carlo Glasbergen, 2 Laurens Hoekman, 3 Wouter Gosgens, 4 Jaap van Dorp (Skip)
Alternate Joey Bruinsma, Coach Shari Leibbrant

The final was a close encounter up until the 6th end. It was 4-4 after 5,
but the Smith rink got a big 3 in the sixth and they were always going to be difficult to catch, with only 2 ends to go.
The final score was 8-5 

Congratulations to the prize winners and see you all in Forfar for the next GSCT event!!!!!

Photographs courtesy of Jayne Stirling Photography

Your Finalists for Edinburgh International 2015

Van Dorp (NED)

·         (Left to right)

·         1 Carlo Glasbergen

·         2 Laurens Hoekman

·         3 Wouter Gosgens

·         4 Jaap van Dorp Skip

Smith (SCO) 

·         (Right to Left)

           1 Cammy Smith

·         2 Kyle Waddell

·         3 Thomas Muirhead

·         4 Kyle Smith Skip

        Photograph courtesy of Jayne Stirling Photography