Curling: Silver dream team on form

Dec 19 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH Rotarian Bill Duncan and his tartan team returned from a gruelling Canadian tour with the cherished silverware in the luggage.

Retired banker Bill captained a 22-strong team representing the three Scottish Rotary Districts on the latest Scotland to Canada Curling Tour.

And they regained both the Bob Mackintosh Trans-Atlantic Quaich and the Duddingston Trophy.

Prior to flying out, the team had curled against the previous Scotland to Canada 2004 Tour team, and managed to win the John Cutler Trophy, paving the way for a clean sweep.

The tour began in Montreal where the tourists were welcomed at a banquet by captain Ken Thomson and his 2006 Canadian tourists.

Bill was asked to formally attach the 2008 tour pin to the ceremonial curling broom which signified the official start of the tour.

He said: “The first day saw a friendly curling match at Baie D’Urfe Curling Club, before the first of the popular home hosting evenings.

“From there the team moved to the first match in the Bob Mackintosh Quaich event at the Royal Montreal Curling Club, which is the oldest sporting club in North America, and we emerged with a 41-17 victory to set us on the road.

“From there, we built up a substantial lead in the series, after good wins at both Kemptville and Ottawa, where we were lucky enough to have a guided tour of the magnificent Parliament buildings.”

It wasn’t plain sailing for the Scots as the games came thick and fast and the Canadians were determined to mount a stout defence of the trophy.

But the final stop at Kitchener/Waterloo saw Bill’s team secure the quaich by 547 shots to 420 shots.

The 2006 Canadian tourists were confident about retaining the Duddingston Trophy but again the Scots rose to the challenge, and held on to win by 43 shots to 38.

At the final ceremonial banquet Bill and vice captain Jim Robb were presented with both trophies.

Again there was a Fair City link, with Jim, brother of local Rotarian David, educated at both Cherrybank and Craigie Primary Schools, before moving onto secondary school in the Perth.

Jim is now senior partner in the Inverness office of Graham and Sibbald, where he has lived for many years with his wife Eileen, who hails from Balbeggie.

Bill said: “This was a fabulous result on the curling front, but the Tour is also about Rotary fellowship and friendships, and the present tourists will be no different to those that have toured to either Scotland or Canada in the past, in having three and a half weeks that stay in the memory.

“We have forged personal friendships with many of our hosts and curling opponents which will last a lifetime.”

*The three trophies will be on show in Dewars from April next year until November 2010.