FFF - you are elected and I am waiting for the call!!

Jim paterson of Kinross, according to the article below - if its wrong blame google

http://www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org/areas/07/prv/lochl/club/Kinross48781/index.cfm

Thanks gm.  Doesn't look too hopeful after the recent reports on the Forum.  There is good black ice on the Millport Pond and with a bit of luck we will Curl for at least the next three days - on Sunday it is hoped to hold the Dumfries Cup match against Bute - a competition which my grandfather played in (and won) the first time it was ever played (1932?) and I am optimistic that my son, also Alexander like his great grandfather, will be able to take part.  If anyone is passing feel free to drop in

As long as I can remember, there has been an item on the RCCC AGM Agenda every year to fix the place(s) of the Grand Match. This is noted in the verbatim minutes printed in the Annual every year. It appears to have been in 2002 that the Lake of Menteith was removed from that list. At the 2002 AGM, the possible places listed were Stormont Loch, Loch Leven, Lindores Loch, Piper Dam, and Loch Morlich.

At the 2001 AGM, these five venues were listed PLUS Lake of Menteith.

The 2002 Annual does not seem to contain any explanation why the LoM was removed as a possible venue at that time. There may be something, but it doesn't jump out at me. No doubt there was a good reason for the Grand Match Committee to have made the decision.

Bob

Thanks, GM. Now I am REALLY confused. The committee made a decision many moons ago that it was to be Piper Dam (untried) or Loch Leven (uncertain, and the ripples come free). As many suggest, parking, access, F&B and local farmers are problems at LoM, so obviously it was a difficult decision to make. But the one they made makes no sense, because it says: IF Loch Leven EVER freezes well enough, it will be suitable for a Grand Match. And IF it is not suitable, there's always Piper Dam.

May I point out to the committee that there is a loch just down the hill from me, eminently suitable, friendly farmers and all, and it freezes really well. Only one problem: they drained the water from it fifty years ago.....

There are quite a few frozen lakes in Canada, though, just ask the Ice Road Truckers to take the day off!

Personally I fail to see why Loch Leven and Piper Dam should be on the list, but no other places, and especially Lake of Menteith. As FFF says, run the buses from Stirling, get organised. No swipe at Jim Paterson or anyone else here, they all know far more than I do, but the current determination to turn Kinross into the curling mecca of the nation against so much evidence and with so much money they don't have, is causing serious concern.

again i do not want to second guess the committee,but it does seem odd that they have cut their options from 6 or 7 lochs down to 2 - surely given our weather and the localised nature of it , their options should be kept open. Again i could think of a few other lochs not mentioned by HGW that could be used and would increase the chance of staging the event - loch morlich at Aviemore springs to mind - hard frosts, heaps of access and parking and a diver pal tells me its only a couple of metres deep.

When we get a spell like this - they should be able to think on their feet and just get the job done!

I'm with disco dave - if we dont get it this year with the current spell and the forecast for next week, we never will. The last time i curled outside i was 16 - some 24 years ago.


Come on RCCC give us a clue that you have plans in motion and prove you can think on your feet -Pleeeeese

Don't expect an answer on the RCCC site just yet -- it's crashed again!

Very, very good point from Wee Eddie, though. One Grand Match and EVERYBODY will know about curling!