Fair City hosts cup centenary

Jan 13 2009 by Richard Wilkins, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A PARTY of 20 Canadian curlers was piped onto the ice at Dewars in Perth yesterday morning after arriving in Scotland in a bid to win back the historic Strathcona Cup.

The magnificent piece of silverware was put up for competition by Lord Strathcona, former Lord High Commissioner of Canada and president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in 1909.

The first event was played on the ice at the newly-built Crossmyloof Ice Rink in Glasgow 100 years ago after the weather ruled out any outdoor bonspiels.

The Canadian visitors won the trophy comfortably but the Scots are the current holders after gaining victory in Canada in 2003.

The event is normally held every five years but it was agreed to delay the latest competition until this month, to mark the centenary of its inception.

The 20-strong party, representing the North Tour, will play a series of matches at ice rinks in Perth, Elgin, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Forfar, Kinross, Kirkcaldy and Stirling.

They will then link up with their South Tour colleagues who have an equally exhausting itinerary in the south and west of Scotland.

The Canadian curlers yesterday played matches against the Perth and District and Breadalbane Provinces and the Upper Strathearn Provinces.

Last night they were guests at a special dinner in the Hay Suite at the Perth rink where one of the speakers was Chuck Hay, one of the successful rink members who lifted the Silver Broom World Curling Championship.

Today there are matches against the Strathmore Province and the Perth and District and Atholl Provinces.

The Canadians will also enjoy hospitality at a civic reception in the council chambers at lunchtime today, hosted by Provost John Hulbert, before travelling to Elgin on Wednesday for the tour proper.