Report by A Higson

Click here to view the embedded video.

Last year World Champions Canada crossed the Atlantic to become first winners of the handsome granite curling stone trophy.

This time it was merely the North Sea to be crossed, as the two Scandinavian teams pushed aside their competitors from Scotland, England, and Germany. The Scots were represented by two teams of international players, and a development squad. These three teams included between them some six members of the host club, South Lanarkshire.

Strathaven Skip

Despite losing so many experienced wheelchair curlers, the home club’s team was skipped by Jim Sellar, with Rosemary Lenton, David Morgan and Bill Masterton. Both Jim and Rosemary are seasoned international players, but their skills were not enough to secure victory. However the battle for third place was won by the Scotland 1 team, skipped by Strathaven’s Aileen Neilson.

Hampden and Murrayfield

The teams had been welcomed by South Lanarkshire Provost Russell Clearie who also hosted a reception for the eight teams and their coaches and helpers. At the prize giving dinner SLWCC Chairman Arthur Bell thanked the many sponsors of the tournament and all the players. He hoped that “Like the Vikings of one thousand years ago, the Swedes and Norwegians return regularly to Scotland… not nowadays for ‘rape and pillage’, but for this exciting annual international event”. The Swedes beat the Norwegians by eight stones to four, a result that Bell pointed out: “Would be as popular in Oslo as an English win at Hampden Park or Murrayfield is here.”

• For photographs of the event call Ian Archer on 0771 219 0501 or more information Arthur Bell on 01899 220064

Games will run throughout the season being played during normal club ice times (normally Mondays @ 12.15pm)

Score cards to be completed and signed by skips and passed to Ian Archer.

Teams and Dates of games TBC.

1. R. Lenton & S. Sutherland
2. G.Rainey & B. Douglas
3. P. Webster & James Smith
4. R. McPherson  & D. Telfer
5. T. Killin A.H &  R. Shanks

Section B

1. A. Higson & E. Fleming
2. G. Keith  & C. Taylor
3. B. Masterton & D. Cowan
4. I.Donaldson & G. Pocock
5. J. Sellars & H. Turner

Competiton Rules

1. Matches to be played over four ends or one hour
2. Matches will finish at the stated times – If you’re late starting, you eat into your allotted hour
3. If four ends are not complete after one hour, the end will be scored as it sits at the end of the hour
4. One more stone may be played to ensure both teams have played an equal number of stones
5. Two points awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss
6. Section final placing decided on points, then shots up, then ends
7. Team named first in match will play yellow & have last stone first end   
8. If one player fails to attend on time for a match, a substitute may be used but must be from the other section
9. Only leads can replace leads and skips replace skips.  If no sub is available, a player may play on his/her own
10. One point will be deducted for each end a team plays without their original pair
11. If a pair fails to attend on time for a match, one point will be deducted for each 5 minutes late.  After 20 minutes, the match will be forfeited and scored 4-0 on shots and ends
12. Please note that we have extra ice booked for practice on the hour you are not playing or not taking part in the competition

£5 Entry Fee per person to be paid before first match

It was the world’s first ever haggis curling tournament, sponsored by Lanark butchers Damn Delicious. The South Lanarkshire Wheelchair Curling Club, and guests the Upper Ward Ladies Curling Club engaged in battle. It was a tournament of skill (and lots of chance) as they aimed across the rink at an eight pound haggis.

Lockhart Steele the Ice Rink manager (and weel kent curler), and SLWCC coach Ian Archer presided over the action as teams vied to see who could get their 44lb stone closest to the frozen beastie. (Said Tinto-reared haggis was kept in the freezer for 72 hours before the match, just in case it tried to fly off during the game.) Certain curlers, but they were losers, alleged that the judges appeared to make up some rules as the game progressed. That was part of the entertainment, as the giant critter went sliding about the ice on a metal tray.

After the stones came in from all four corners of the ice for around 90 minutes, the judges settled on the two teams who’s combined efforts had been best. A short knockout match between them left the team of Bill Masterton, Steve Sutherland, and Garry Marshall winners with their Upper Ward team mate Jan Drife. And in the subsequent sudden death playoff it was Jan from Crawfordjohn who emerged with a very special title…”World’s First Haggis Curling Champion”.

Club members headed for the restaurant where Mike Shannon of Damn Delicious handed each of the winners their prizes… a prime Tinto Haggis. Then Jan received an engraved Lanark Glass crystal trophy (one to dedicate to future family curlers) declaring her world championship triumph. Wheelchair Club Chairman Arthur Bell said: “No matter how far some curlers knocked the haggis there was always someone even more determined to do better. It was huge fun, which is after all what amateur sport should be about.”

Event Date: 28th November at 1.15pm.

Yes it’s true, the world’s largest wheelchair curling club, based at Hamilton Ice Rink, is to hold the first- ever haggis curling competition. It will be on the 28th November at 1.15pm.

Six teams of wheelchair curlers, and one of ‘able-bodied’ curlers will slide their 44lb granite stones down the ice at a… HUGE HAGGIS supplied by the competition sponsors Damn’d Delicious of Lanark.

No picture editor worth his haggis, neeps, and tatties will wish to miss this unique event…never before played in the hundreds of years of the Scots (and our Colonies) involvement in the Roarin’ Game.

Amongst those playing will be the Great Britain team, the Silver Medalists at this year’s World Wheelchair Curling Championships. But will they be best at Haggis Curling?

…………………………………..

South Lanarkshire wheelchair curlers do it sitting down.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Each Monday between October and April I fold down my ‘chariot of fire’, and pack it into my trusty Saab 95 Estate. I drive through the hills of Southern Scotland heading for the ice.

“Ice?” you query.

Yes, some thirty miles north, near Glasgow, lies Hamilton with its ice-rink.

“With your one (not good) leg, don’t tell me you’re going skating?”

No, I’m actually off to my wheelchair-curling club.

“But you’ve got to heave 44lb granite stones down a sheet of ice for about 75 feet. How the Hell can you do that from a wheelchair without tipping yourself out?”

I know it sounds as unlikely as ‘Celebrity Camel Dancing’, but it works. I’ll explain how later, as it’s a sport most chair-bound folk can enjoy.

Micras and Mercs

Three seasons ago, when they set up South Lanarkshire Wheelchair Curling Club, there were four members. Now we’ve twenty-seven, so that means rather more cars. And more parking problems, but the local Asda who own the car park have helped.

All kinds and marques of vehicles from Volkswagen Passats to Ford Fiestas sit outside the rink. Carer, taxi, or a family member brings some curlers, who are unable to drive themselves. The Pococks, both in chairs, emerge down the ramp of their fantastic maroon Mercedes Sprinter Travelliner.

Gerald traded in his own and wife Wilma’s Motability cars to buy this one vehicle. Automatic, it’s converted for both driver and passenger in wheelchairs. Externally, it looks like ‘The A Team’ van with a Dr Who ‘Tardis’ interior.

So it’s in to the ice, with loud yells of “SWEEP” emitted from local farmer’s wives ringing around. You may know the sport involves one player (the skip) directs play at the far end. The curler with the stone slides several yards down the ice directing the lump of granite towards the skip at a far-away marked roundel. Two other players with brushes are directed by their skip to sweep the ice. This aids the speed and direction of the stone.

BUT WE CAN’T SWEEP, OR SLIDE DOWN THE ICE.

Steve Davies Assists

The secret of wheelchair curlers is a device from snooker and billiards. We use a cue. Unlike snooker’s wood, a curler’s cue is of coated extending lightweight metal. A plastic fitment on the end slides over the stone’s handle. So, with brakes fastened, a teammate holding us steady, we line up then forcefully push the stone towards the skip. He or she never needs to get hoarse with shouting as no sweeping is used. A slight turn of the wrist before releasing the stone causes it to curl left or right as our skip instructs. With experience this ‘handle’ becomes easier, and it’s critical if one is to place a stone where the skip indicates.

The club’s earliest lady member was Angela from Glasgow. This cheerful lawyer’s wife has had MS for some years, but it didn’t prevent her being in the team that won the 2006 Scottish Championship. With an ‘Autochair’ atop her Mazda she sets out with the full intention of reaching the ice rink before 12.30 pm. Sometimes Angela arrives on time, then we can get on with a game.

Three club founders still play. Craig, is a young man who really enjoys the challenges of the game, and he seems to get better each year. Club President Charlie drives down the M74 motorway from Lesmahagow. This grandfather has a knack of knocking out your best stone to beat you just when you thought you are winning. Then there’s Jim. He’s middle aged now, but a spinal injury in his mid-twenties put him into a chair for life. Ever cheerful he can be seen hurriedly wheeling for the exit after a game. (He’s not leaving, but having a fag with Frank, who’s survived a terrible stroke.) Jim won Bronze at the last World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Sweden. Indeed he’s travelled to Germany, Canada and the US to play wheelchair curling.

Now Jim is in Australia, with fellow member Bill. Both are bowling for Britain. Bill is particularly fine curler, and displays the typical bravery of so many wheelchair heroes. Two years ago he was on the top story of the Glasgow plastics factory where he worked. Suddenly, with no prior warning, he was on the ground floor. The factory had exploded. Nine of his co-workers were killed, and Bill lost a leg among other severe injuries. Now he’s an international sportsman. His wife Marion drives his navy blue Meganne, a wheelchair hoist in its funny posterior.

Muppets

Eddie like myself is a left leg amputee, and a serious cricket follower from Airdrie. Brian, bearded like Trotsky, is an MS victim and a retired policeman with a criminal sense of humour. These two bring a smile to everyone’s faces. Brian and I were compared to two of the world’s most famous laughter-makers… the two grumpy old men in “The Muppet Show”.

Cheek! Admittedly that was from an opponent as, with Gerald and Michael, we were finishing second in the 2007 Scottish Championships.

Alas some members with particularly difficult disabilities can’t play the fiercest games, but this doesn’t stop them taking part. Our experienced coach Willie Baird, helped by Stranraer Gold Cup winning curler Ian Archer, naturally takes a lot of time with them.

For last words I turned to recent member Gill, and club Secretary David. Gill, a young lecturer before TM put her in a chair in 2003, says: “I enjoy both the game’s physical challenge and the social pleasure of the club. It tests my skills and helps develop teamwork.”

David, a retired social worker and double leg amputee, spent his working life helping others with disabilities. He regards “the camaraderie as most important. The game is fully inclusive, with club members from 19 to 77 years. Everyone gets great stimuli of body and brain.”

Did I mention wheelchair curlers have to be more skilful than the able-bodied? Oh yes, it is great fun, and much more graceful than camel dancing.

Further Information

To find out more about our club (come and try curling for yourself!), use the simple contact form on this site and we’ll be glad to welcome you along.

To make contact with other Scottish clubs, The Royal Caledonian Curling Club can be reached by phone on 0131 333 3003.

The author, Arthur J A Bell, is a retired businessman who won many British and international marketing awards. He lost his left leg due to medical incompetence in 1999, and has written a book “My Chariot of Fire” about finding himself unexpectedly in a wheelchair.

Sadly, only months after this article first appeared the Club’s founding Chairman Charlie Russell died. He is still much missed by his fellow members.