As a fellow club member of the late Ian Turnbull, we were regularly informed of the "near misses" and the folly of having to have 8 inches of ice these days.

As i understood things - there were around 6 or 7 lochs that were suitable -- how come we are down to 2 with both being on the east side and relatively close to the sea (piperdam at any rate)?

I cannot beleive that the loch that last held a grand match would not be considered - especially as it seems to be frozen to the required thickness with no snow. Why is this - did the rCCC say anything sandy?

I can assure you that loch leven stands no chance - it is unevenly frozen with the complete freeze only within the last few days. there is also the melted snow surface and snow lying on top.

As for the holiday thing - It is now the working week the only holiday days being Thurs, sat sun and Mon - which would give the markers time to mark the rinks over the weekend for a Tuesday kickoff - within the forecasted cold snap!

comee on RCCC - some of us have never curled outside !!!!!!!

Oh aye and what to say??

Dear Bill, I hear the Lake of Menteith is frozen up and would be suitable for a Grand Match, please can you fix it for us??  Oh yes and I'll pay my subs next time I see you!!   


.... Actually, I suppose it would be quite good to have it on Dumbarton's watch   

I hear that Jimmy Saville lives here now!

Maybe he can "Fix it"

Sadly I think the chance is gone - getting mild up here so role on next year. My Dad was fortunate enough to play in a few Grand Matches - the last of which is on the edge of my concionous - must have been about 1977/78/79 ? Anyway he enjoyed it and still rejoices in telling the tale about the player who was stretchered off immediately following the the start gun-shot. Point is that there are a lot  curlers like me who have never experienced the Gm but would love so to do - a bicker about 'elf and safety or traffic conditions surrounding the Lake of Mentieth goes no way to salving my wish - which is to be part of the Grand Match and well if we have to cut a few corners to stage it then let's do so.

I'll go with sandy on this one and might even raise it to £20

Every Club entered for the Grand Match pays an entry fee. As the last GM was in '79 then surely there should be quite a fund there. Or has it been squirreled away on other projects.
I played in the '79 GM. It was certainly one of my most memorable days.
Perfect weather, great conditions, great scenery and great company.
So good I cant remeber if we won our game!

Hi John,
Yep the grand match entry fee is paid yearly.  i
It is included in the RCCC entry form which each club submits prior to the start of each season.  With an entry fee of around £5, if I remember rightly (please correct me if I am wrong).

Unfortunately, I am too young to remember the last grand match, and can only dream of such an event.  But if one was to come off this winter, it sure would be a spectacle to attend and play in.

According to the RCCC, we are talking of 500 teams here:

http://www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org/competitions/dyncat.cfm?catid=21290

At £5 per team (and never mind the recent freebies!), that is £2,500 per year. In itself, not the end of the world, but over thirty years that's £75,000, absorbed by admin costs. To run nothing. How difficult can this be to run? But I am not making accusations of any kind here, I'm simply wondering how so much money can disappear into thin air.