Curling: Yara Farmers championship starts in Perth on Monday

Jan 15 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

EUROPE’S biggest annual curling competition takes to the ice on Monday at the Dewars Centre in Perth.

The Yara Farmers Curling Championship, now in its 27th year, is a firm fixture on the Scottish farming calendar.

The championship sees up to 80 teams battle it out over five days of intense curling competition. Teams include some of Europe's top curlers and come from all over the UK.

Alan Wood, Yara erea manager and championship organiser, is looking forward to seeing some world class curling.

He said: “We have some top competitors again this year. Reigning champions Gordon Smith, Bill Thomson, Neill Smith and Mike Ferguson will be keen to win the title for a second successive year although teams skipped by Craig Watson, Bill Henderson and Greg Henderson are all in the frame for the winner's trophy and the first place cash prize."

Tove Anderson, managing director, Yara UK said: “It is the enthusiastic support of all the players and spectators that makes it such a pleasure for us to organise and run this event and gives Yara the opportunity to talk to farmers about the industry, respond to what they tell us and keep in touch with friends and customers alike."

“Dewars in Perth is the perfect location for the championships and I would like to thank the directors and the staff at the centre.

“Competitors of all ages and abilities will be taking part and nearly 300 games will have been played when the competition draws to a close. We are also expecting to see a good number of spectators as in years past.”

This year's competition is a particularly poignant one. Mr Wood explained: “We will be holding a minute’s silence before games start on day one in memory of Ainslie Smith who sadly passed away in 2009.

“Ainslie was the winner of the very first Yara Farmers Curling Championship held in 1983. He was president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, a well liked friend and a highly respected farmer who will be sorely missed. We will commemorate his life by doing exactly what Ainslie would have wanted...enjoying a successful championship and the resulting camaraderie it brings.”

Dewar’s Centre

RESULTS (January 11): Super Leagues, Division Four – AM Davidson 10, T Smith 3; R Brydone 4, S Grant 8; I Parkinson 14, D Findlay 3; R Leadbetter 4, D Scougall 10; I McGowan 4, A Harris 5.

Royal Caledonian Curling Club – Dunning (1) 11, Airleywight Ladies 3; Dunning (2) 10, Glendoick 4.

Breadalbane Province – Killin (2) 7, Glenorchy 3; Kenmore (2) 10, Glendochart 8; Aberfeldy (2) 6, Killin (1) 7; Aberfeldy (1) 1, Kenmore (1) 12.

January 12: Norie Miller – AM Davidson 14, A Lyburn 1; M Armstrong 13, N Fordyce 2; K Cameron 7, S McLaren 6.

Robert Stirrit – General Accident 6, Airleywight Ladies 8; Findo Gask 8, PRI 6; Glendoick 8, Bank of Scotland 10.

Atholl Knockout – Grantully 8, Heart of the Highlands 5; Tullymet 16, Toberargan 6.

Carse League – General Accident 5, Fingask 12; Glendoick 8, Rossie 4; Dundee University 2, Dunning 11; Dundee CC 10, Craigiehill 4; Balruddery 7, Errol 5; PRI 6, Panmure 6.

January 13: Super League Division One – WD Smith 5, A White 2; E Loudon 8, G Cormack 5; I Watt 3, R McGregor 5; G Connal 8, M Sutherland 6; G Shaw 9, C Millar 2; G Muirhead 4, M Combe 5; K Kinnear 8, D Laird 3; I Drysdale 4, W Smith 5. Division Two – K Fearn 7, G Morrison 7; J Ewart 6, N Fleming 7; I McLaren 6, H Milne 5; M Silvera 6, R Hughes 6; A Bowie 10, A Hempseed 6; J Marshall 1, M Guild 13; D Imlay 5, D Smith 6; GT Russell 5, A Doig 7.