Rotary world curling finals in Perth

Apr 9 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Rotary world curling finals in Perth

PERTH Rotarians came close to capturing a world curling championship on home ice.

Fair City Rotarians hosted the 20th International Fellowship of Curling at the Dewars Centre.

Perth Rotary Club, represented by Aly Milne, Russell McCabe, Hamish Milne, Bill Duncan and Alistair Ritchie fought their way through to the final of the world championship event, only to lose a three at the first end and face an uphill battle.

The Canadian team from the Rotary Club of Stettler captured the gold medals by a margin of 8-4.

The week started well for the Perth team with six straight victories, but after defeats from both Peterborough, Ontario, and Stettler, they ended the round robin phase in second place behind the winners.

This, however, is the best performance by the Perth club since Chuck Hay won the event back in 1978, and the rink was delighted to pick up the silver medals at a closing dinner at The Marquee at Dewars.

Running parallel with the main event was a Friendship championship. Both Perth St Johns and Perth Kinnoull Rotary clubs fielded teams, and enjoyed a tremendous week of fun and fellowship. Ayr won this event after beating a very good Grande Prairie team from Alberta in the final.

The ladies were well looked after by Jill McEwan and her team of helpers who organised a Partner's Programme, which included visits to Blair Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Glenturret Distillery and Discovery Point, plus a shopping discount scheme in St John Street and George Street.

The big winners were the participants and partners who enjoyed a week of fellowship, including a visit to Scone Palace, a home hosting evening by local Rotarians plus a massive joint Rotary Club meeting of the three Perth clubs, with 206 attendees entertained by the PA’s Gordon Bannerman and David Hay, coach to the GB Olympic men's curling team.

The players will assemble again in two years time, in Potomac, Washington, USA for the 21st championship.