Irish Times article – Sport Remains on ice

The Irish Times have picked up on the ICA’s frustration with the lack of ice facilities in Ireland.

Association enjoying ‘furious peak’ in enquiries during Winter Olympics in South Korea

The sport has received so much attention during the Olympics. All we need is an Ice Rink and we could be there too.

Please also add your name to the Petition for Ice for Ireland and also have a look and like the Ice for Ireland Facebook page and keep watching the curling!! Here’s a link curling on the Olympic website.

Stranraer weekend won by skip Wilson number 3

The winner of the high road

Another enjoyable ICA Stranraer Weekend at the North West Castle Hotel and Ice Rink complex ended with a win for Team Wilson, but it wasn’t PJ or Peter skipping his team to the top spot this year, but John Wilson, PJ’s son.

It was a changing of the guard moment when John, ably supported by Katie Stevenson and Lyndsay Spence from Lockerbie, and his old Stranraer Academy school mate Andrew Chambers, swept through their four games undefeated, taking the Granite Trophy with a comprehensive victory over Johnjo Kenny, Gillian, Russell,  John Burns and Russet Fullarton in the 1v2 high road final round on Sunday afternoon.

High road runners-up

The runners-up in the high road and winners of the Ailsa Craig painting by Jane Paterson were the team of David Whyte, Kara Compton, John Ferguson and Frances Whyte, who finished on the same points as PJ Wilson’s team, but just squeaked second place by one end with 17 ends scored.

Low road winners

The low road winners of the Irish Oak low road trophy were Billy Johnston, Kate Adams, Gordon Adams and Elspeth Johnston and the low road runners-up, taking home the Basil Gray Memorial Trophy  were Stuart Wilson, Elaine Turnbull, Tommy Campbell and Anne Wilson.

Low road runners-up

A raffle at the Saturday night reception in the North West Castle Hotel raised £270 for ICA funds.

The ICA also welcomed Canadian curler Matt, currently based in Dublin, and hope he comes back to play with us on a regular basis.

Curling at the Olympics; Curling in Ireland

We have been receiving a considerable number of enquires from people wanting to try curling, as a result of the excellent coverage of curling at the Olympics.

As an Association, we are hugely frustrated that we can’t offer any opportunities in Ireland at the moment due to the lack of any facilities. We have, over the last 15 years, tried along with the Irish Ice Hockey Association and the Irish Skating Association of Ireland, to get a viable ice rink up and running but to no avail. We are still trying!!

We hope to be able to offer some come and try sessions next Christmas but we realise that this doesn’t appease demand at the moment.

Stranraer Ice Rink, in Scotland, is offering come and try sessions (this is the closest ice rink and the cheapest to get to) and you would be made most welcome. Click Try Curling link below.

In the meantime, please also add your name to the Petition for Ice for Ireland and also have a look and like the Ice for Ireland Facebook page and keep watching the curling!! Here’s a link curling on the Olympic website.

If there are any more developments we will keep you posted. Please do not hesitate to contact us or like us on Facebook.

Kinross winners

A most enjoyable spring bonspiel was held on Sunday at Kinross.

President David presenting the trophy to winners Frances, Gillian, Niamh and James

The event was won by the rink of  James Russell, Frances Whyte, Gillian Russell and Niamh Begley, who were presented with the perpetual trophy and prizes by ICA President David Whyte.

The Association was delighted to welcome three potential new members – Maria O’Neill, David McHale and Niamh, one of the winners.

Teams drawn for Bonspiel weekend in Stranraer

Last years winners: Peter, Karlyn, Louise (presenting), Frances and David

As we return to Stranraer – not long after the 4N – the draw for the first game  always has everyone on tenterhooks. The Secretary and the President conducted the the draw at other ends of the telephonic communicating device and to ensure absolute fairness, two adjudicators – Ellie and Fergus – were in attendance. (Labrador and Flat-coated Retriever respectively).
So here it is:

Saturday 9.00 am

PJ Wilson vs Kate Adams
Ian Donald vs John Gilmore
Tommy Campbell vs JJ Kenny
David Whyte vs Michael Sutherland

11am

John Brown vs John PJ Wilson
Drew Paton vs John Graham
Jim Cannon vs Bill Gray
Andy Robinson vs Arran Cameron.

Can we also ask that teams bring one raffle prize for the Grand Draw.
Many thanks and see you there.