Just watched Bob's excellent video post courtesy of Kirsty Letton of Dave Smith & Co thumping a certain K Martin Esq in the world final 1991.

Observations would be:

1. If you have'ny yet seen it do so now by following the links.

2. Corn brooms - I've only played against them a few times but they certainly added another dimension to the game - effectively the ability to chage ice conditions. Have not seen them for years though - have they been outlawed ? If so would their re-introduction improve or hamper the game ?

3. Amazing that 20 years on there is a genuine prospect of a re-match between Messrs Smith & Martin - truly a sport that spans the generations - an interesting one would 1991 Martin vs 2011 Smith/McMillan and vice versa !! - including corn brooms, or maybe not.......

4. Hairstyles have improved in the last 20 years.

Finally I've looked at another thing today (briefly) - the new RCCC site - on a first pass certainly an improvement on the old and to be applauded.

Joining the dots, would it not be a great addition to the RCCC site to have a "history" video section with the like of the Winnipeg video - given modern technology anyl member could contribute any old video footage they may have lurking in their archives - quite sure a very interesting collection could be put together.

"Why the RCCC? Read my new Editorial and tell me if you honestly think the RCCC is at all interested in preserving the sport's heritage."

Ok HLW I have now read your new editorial, must confess I missed it earlier as I did not scroll down past the Winnipeg bit earlier as I was captivated by it, watched it more than once, then just posted. It is the first time I have ever seen any footage of this monumentous achievement, it happened at a time when I had given up the game due to marraige/work and at the time it hardly registered.

BTW also loved the BBC footage you put up on Rhona Martin's win.

We do need more of this, if nothing else to remind ourselves that pre the present central command and control selection we were a small country that had the ability to produce world class players that could punch above their weight.

In essence what we have going on here is:

1. RCCC Website - an information board, nothing more, nothing less. Fine as far as it goes, certainly improved today, if nothing else teams lists have now been posted. A bit of human interest from the President's pages but outwith pure times dates and stats that's about it really. Otherwise a tour of the site would teach you not a lot about the heritage and history of our game.

2. SCF - active, but a small minority, but fun.

3. Skip Cottage - does what's missing from RCCC site - and now the Scottish Curler magazine is RIP the only live feed of event info, news and photos available.

4. Independent web-feeds of live event coverage by Mitchnet - great on a rainy weekend.

If all were joined together you would have a one stop shop - information, news, entertainment, dialogue, nostagia, and sustainable.

I could dream on but meantime will continue to follow Skip Cottage - and will be more than happy to contribute to it's upkeep in return for the pleasure I derive from it - especially iof we are to be treated to a feast of memory lane archives.

I am sure many more feel the same.

I guess I'm frustrated/surprised/amazed that RCCC can't see this as means of holding and also adding to a captive audience and growing it - as you say yourself, it does not take much nowadays cost-wise or technically.

.

 

Gudder ,4. Independent web-feeds of live event coverage by Mitchnet - great on a rainy weekend.

Despite spending time and money developing a fully global webcasting facility over a number of years and with less and less sponsorship in the sport there is no real interest coming forward to continue this service past the Edinburgh international at Murrayfield this year.

Potentially an event website combined with an event group on Facebook, webcasting could reach over 150,000 curlers worldwide. This is based on figures found in the group advertising on Facebook and repesents people who  'like' curling.
UK - 5,500
Norway - 3,660
USA - 61,860
Canada - 34,160
Sweden - 2,200
Finland - 260
France - 17,420
Switzerland - 2,760
Germany - 780
Iceland - 100
Netherlands - 140
Poland - 280
Italy - 4,480
Ireland - 240