The first Wednesday in March has become settled in the Club diary as the fixture for the annual match against the New Club of Edinburgh. It was the turn of XX Club this year to host what is always a most enjoyable encounter, and arrangements were made to meet at Braehead for coffee and bacon rolls to be followed by two rinks of curling at 10am.
Some last minute juggling of teams was required as New Club organiser and stalwart Michael K Brown took ill the day before and with all his reserves utilised, Allan Higgins was persuaded to 'swap' jerseys and clubs for the day. Further angst followed when the Secretary took ill in the early hours and David Sillito - who had been on standby for a hitherto injured Gordon Deakin, later passed fit - was pressed into action before he had completed his morning shave.
All this upheaval however did nothing to affect the arrangements, and if anything seemed to provoke the two XX Club rinks to play their best curling. As with all encounters between the two clubs the score-line was a mere incidental to the day's enjoyment. Suffice to say that XX ran out comfortable winners in both matches with an aggregate score of 20 shots to 5, so congratulations to the eight XX representatives skipped by Messrs Deakin and Sillito.
Thanks to Norman Walker, the private room at the Western Club had been set aside and a most enjoyable and affable private party lunch ensued, with the visitors being guided across the road to catch the 4pm train back to Edinburgh.
It was a shame not being able to say farewell to the indisposed Michael K Brown, who has been instrumental each year in the arrangements for the fixture. He is moving down to Hampshire to be closer to his grandchildren and we wish him and his family well for many years to come. In the meantime Gordon Bellingham has taken over the administrative duties for the New Club and we look forward to learning of arrangements for next year when it will be the turn of XX club to travel through to Murrayfield and the capital.
Some last minute juggling of teams was required as New Club organiser and stalwart Michael K Brown took ill the day before and with all his reserves utilised, Allan Higgins was persuaded to 'swap' jerseys and clubs for the day. Further angst followed when the Secretary took ill in the early hours and David Sillito - who had been on standby for a hitherto injured Gordon Deakin, later passed fit - was pressed into action before he had completed his morning shave.
All this upheaval however did nothing to affect the arrangements, and if anything seemed to provoke the two XX Club rinks to play their best curling. As with all encounters between the two clubs the score-line was a mere incidental to the day's enjoyment. Suffice to say that XX ran out comfortable winners in both matches with an aggregate score of 20 shots to 5, so congratulations to the eight XX representatives skipped by Messrs Deakin and Sillito.
Thanks to Norman Walker, the private room at the Western Club had been set aside and a most enjoyable and affable private party lunch ensued, with the visitors being guided across the road to catch the 4pm train back to Edinburgh.
It was a shame not being able to say farewell to the indisposed Michael K Brown, who has been instrumental each year in the arrangements for the fixture. He is moving down to Hampshire to be closer to his grandchildren and we wish him and his family well for many years to come. In the meantime Gordon Bellingham has taken over the administrative duties for the New Club and we look forward to learning of arrangements for next year when it will be the turn of XX club to travel through to Murrayfield and the capital.