Category Archives: Competitions

SSS Trip 3

SSS League

On the 25th February 2015 EUCC partook in the third SSS league day in Perth.

The team representing the University consisted of Callum McLean at skip, Jayne Stirling playing third, Sarah Sloan playing second stones and Jakub Polak throwing lead stones.

The first game of the day was against Robert Gordon University.

Winning the toss, we went in to the game with last stone advantage. The 1st end was kept reasonably clear, allowing McLean to draw for a 1. In the 2nd end RGU were left with a straight nose hit to win back a 1. End three saw EUCC losing a 3 after a superb double take-out by the opposing skip. Unfortunately, a couple of unlucky shots on our part allowed RGU to steal a 1 in the 4th end. However, a  lovely double from Sloan and a great draw behind a guddle of guards by Stirling set us up well in the 5th, allowing McLean an open draw for a 2. Unfortunately, ends 6 and 7 didn’t go our way despite some great guards set up by Polak. RGU managed to steal a one in both ends, meaning the match finished 7-3 to RGU.

 

The second game of the day was against Strathclyde 1.

For spectators, this game may have been appeared quite bland – but for the players it was an excitingly close game. The game took a very defensive approach, a high percentage of stones being take-outs. Winning the toss again, we retained the hammer. An open house allowed McLean to draw for a one in the 1st end. Strathclyde then followed our lead in the 2nd end, scoring 1. Ends 3 and 4 were played in a similar way – EUCC having an open nose hit for a 1 in the 3rd, and Strathcylde drawing for their 1 in the 4th end. End 5 saw a double take-out from Polak and a great double run back from Stirling, finishing with a 4 ft draw by McLean for 1. In end 6, Sloan was very successful with both of her draws to the house. However, team Strathclyde managed a lovely strike through a portal to win back a 1. This meant that going in to the final end the scores were tied, EUCC having last stone advantage. A couple of slack shots from the opposing team allowed us to split the house in the 7th end, leaving McLean to conclude the game with a draw for a 3. Final score 6-3 to Edinburgh University.

 

Callum McLean

Edinburgh University 7 – 10 Carrington

Linlithgow League

On the 22nd February 2015 team Edinburgh University faced Carrington in another Linlithgow league match.

A team of Callum McLean, Eilidh Yates, Scott Cocker and Rowena Stevens faced Carrington this Sunday. The game started very positively – McLean played a great draw against 2 to score 1. Some successful take-outs kept the 2nd end clear, resulting in a blank end. With last stone advantage, EUCC had high hopes. However, a couple of slack shots presented Carrington’s skip with an opportunity to steal 5. A tough shot, but a fantastic take out through a port secured the opposition’s 5 in the 3rd end. In the 4th end McLean made excellent use of a corner guard (placed there by Cocker) to take back a 2. Again, a few unfortunate shots allowed Carrington to take a 4 in the 5th end. We came back fighting in the 6th end – Stevens put up two perfect guards and Cocker and Yates demonstrated some great draws – followed by two good shots from McLean, gave us 3 in the 6th. EUCC then forced Carrington to draw for 1 in the 7th, before we played a strike against a 2 to score 1 in the last end. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough though as the final score was 10-7 to Carrington.

Callum McLean

Edinburgh University 7 – 5 Corstorphine

Linlithgow League

On the 7th December 2014 the University side would make its last outing in the Linlithgow League this semester.

A team that featured Yeats, Sloan, Steven and Keatinge were all keen to go out and get the university club its second win in the competition. And thanks to some great curling they were successful in their mission! with a final scoreline of 7-5 to the EUCC the team of four managed to give the club a nice high to end on leading up to exam time. Sadly everyone must now put their brushes down and pick up their pencils as the exam time looms.

Thanks to Steven who made her debut with the University in this match.

 

Gavin McQuistin.

Edinburgh University 6 – 10 Vets

Linlithgow League

On the 30th November 2014 the University team would face off against Vets in the Linlithgow League.

The University would be represented by  Spain, Striling, Chiang and McLean.

Again the university would be fielding a very experienced team as all team members have been with the club for over a year at the least. Though they played a good game they weren’t able to beat the Vets. With a final score of EUCC 6 – 10 Vets.

Gavin McQuistin.

SSS Trip 2

SSS League

On the 19th of October 2014 The EUCC would make their second venture to Perth this year to take on the other University teams.

The team representing the University would be McLean at skip, McQuistin playing third, Fyfe playing second and Sloan throwing first stones. They were hoping to build on the success of the first trip to Perth that the team had made but as they were playing the two teams that were at the top of the table they knew it would be a challenge.

 

The first match was against Strathclyde 2.

Though the team didn’t play a bad game they were just not able to preform to the standard presented by Strathclyde 2. The team stared in disbelief as pretty much every shot made by the skip of the opposing team would be made no matter the difficulty. This left the final score at 11-2 to Strathclyde 2.

 

The second match was against Glasgow 2.

Again the team would play a good game of curling but they were once again up against a team that were on top form. Again they were left with a scoreline that they weren’t overly happy with but Glasgow 2 most rightly deserved for playing such a good match. The game ended 9-1 to Glasgow 2.

 

Overall it wasn’t the trip to Perth that the team had hoped for but one that was somewhat expected as they were playing two very tough teams.

Gavin McQuistin.

Edinburgh University 6 – 8 DAFS

Linlithgow League

On the 2nd of November 2014 the University team consisting of McCrossan, Chiang, Yeats and Johnston would face off against DAFS, the team that won the competition last year.

It what was described as an exciting match that saw both sides taking three points in at least two ends each. Sadly it wasn’t to be for the university team. However the team could be happy with such a close fought match against a tough opposition. Final Score: EUCC 6-8 DAFS.

Thanks very much to new club member Johnston for making his debut with the club.

Gavin McQuistin.

SSS Trip 1

SSS League

On the 29th of  October 2014 The University team would make their first venture up to Perth to face off against the other Universities in the first round of the Scottish Universities Curling competition.

The team of McLean at skip, Striling at Vice, Polák playing second and Fyfe throwing first stones would represent the University.

 

The first match was to be against Aberdeen 1, a team that the university side have had close fought matches with in most outings.

This time the Aberdeen would have the better of the University side in a match that would end 6-5 to Aberdeen. Though it wasn’t the start the university teams had hoped for they were happy to have such a good match-up and good curling against a very talented opposing team.

 

The Second match would be against Glasgow 1.

By this time the University team had got to grips with the ice, which tends to run a lot faster than Murrayfield, and they were feeling confident for their match against Glasgow 1. This confidence obviously shone through in a match that would finish 16-3 to EUCC.

It’s always good to get a win on the board at SSS and hopefully the team can carry onto future weeks.

 

With so many new curlers at the club you can expect to see the line-up changing over the year and potentially two teams travelling to SSS in future years.

Gavin McQuistin.

Edinburgh University 4 – 6 Aegon

Linlithgow League

On the 26th of October 2014 the University team would go up against Aegon in the Linlithgow League with a team consisting of Stirling, McLean, Yeats, and Polák.

In what would be a first of what I’m sure could be many close-run matches for the University team sadly ended in a loss. Unfortunately they would have had the hammer in the last end  but the bell had went during the seventh. The final scoreline was EUCC 4-6 DAFS.

We would like to thank Yeats and Polák who both made their debuts with the club during this match.

Gavin McQuistin.

Edinburgh University 1 – 11 Heriots FP

Linlithgow League

On the 19th of October 2014 Edinburgh Universities team consisting featuring Wallentin, Fyfe, McCrossan and McQuistin would face off against a talented Heriots FP side in what would be the first Linlithgow  match of the season.

Sadly their game was marred with tragedy as McQuistin’s broom head flipped upon sliding out causing him to miss his shot for one. His day didn’t improve much from there.

Sadly it wasn’t the debut that Wallentin had hoped for, yet the team put in very good individual performances sadly they just weren’t up to standard of play produced by Heriots FP that day. The final score at 11-1 to Heriots FP

Gavin McQuistin

Edinburgh University 6 – 8 DAFS

Linlithgow League
H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Edinburgh University  0  2 1  2  0  0 1  –  6
DAFS *  4  0  0  0  1  3  0  –  8

The EdinburghUniversity team consisting of McQuistin playing Skip, Sloan playing third, Stockton playing second and Curry playing lead. This was Sloan and Curry’s debut match for the club.

 

The first end didn’t go well for the University team. They lost the coin toss and they were unable to break through into the house due to the amount of stones left in play by their opposition. DAFS steals four in the first end.

 

The University curlers keep their heads up in the second with Stockton playing a draw in behind the oppositions stones. The opposition manage to get a chip on the stone and both spin out of the house. Sloan makes a strike at the front of the house which allows McQuistin to promote one stone onto the button and then draw a second shot around the guards to sit at the centre of the hose. EU takes two.

 

The third end begins. Curry makes a strike and a draw. DAFS answers back by removing these stones and start to form another group of guards at the front of the house. After several strikes from Sloan, McQuistin is able to draw one in behind to the middle of the house and the opposition skip is unable to get anything on it. EU steals one.

 

Curry starts off the fourth by landing a stone at the back of the house. DAFS plays one of top of this and Stockton does the same. DAFS once again plays one on top of this. Sloan isn’t given appropriate ice for her draw to do the same allowing DAFS to place a guard. Protecting the shot. McQuistin manages to use Sloan’s draw to displace the DAFS shot. An error from the DAFS skip allows EU to steal another two.

 

The fifth begins and most stones are once again in play. A “Guddle” forms at the front of the house and getting stones through becomes difficult. Sloan however manages to hit and roll behind cover. DAFS manage to get a chip on the stone yet they only manage to push it further behind cover. McQuistin’s attempts at placing guard fail to curl into the centre where wanted, allowing the DAFS skip to promote a stone. DAFS takes one.

 

Coming into the sixth end and DAFS appear to be in control again. After strikes from Stockton and Sloan, McQuistin faces three stones and has an option to either draw for one or attempt a double take out. With the knowledge that his draws had been more successful than his strikes in the past few ends and that the team was playing better against the hammer he opts for the draw. He regrets this decision as DAFS steals a three.

 

EU do their best to find three stones to bring themselves level in the last end. Curry again places a stone out wide on the house. DAFS continues their guarding game yet Edinburgh manage to get two stones in behind. Two draws from DAFS and McQuistin unable to do anything sensible the game ends. EU takes one.

 

Overall both teams were very happy with the standard of play. DAFS were given a challenge and EU stepped up their game – Especially Curry who was on the ice for their second time ever! – to take on last years runners up in the league. Hopefully more results like this to come.

Gavin McQuistin

 

Edinburgh University 7 – 6 Aberdeen University

Competitions, SSS League

SSS League

Perth Ice Centre, 20th March 2013

  H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Edinburgh University 0 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 7
Aberdeen University * 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 6

Edinburgh entered into the final round of SSS fixtures last Wednesday sitting rock bottom of the table and without a win all season (to be precise, an Edinburgh win in this competition hadn’t been recorded since 2010). Regardless, both teams came into this wooden spoon clash knowing that it was their best chance for a win and whoever got to grips with the conditions first would probably prevail.

The first end saw few stones in play as the respective front ends struggled with their weight. With his final stone the Aberdeen skip was facing an Edinburgh stone that was buried behind one of his own guards, but a brave call and a slice of good fortune saw him make a runback to secure the 2 he wanted with hammer.

Edinburgh hit back immediately, taking a three in their first end with hammer after the Aberdeen third missed both of his takeout attempts, however, McQuistin’s draw for 4 fell short of the house. From here though, it was all Edinburgh as remarkable consistency from McCrossan and Stockton constantly put Aberdeen under pressure. With stones in scoring positions, McQuistin was able to guddle the front, making it as difficult as possible for the Aberdeen skip to score. Coupled with some precise hits and draws from Stirling, maximum pressure was placed on Aberdeen’s last stones. This strategy paid off and after 5 of 8 ends McQuistin had led his Edinburgh team to a commanding 7-2 lead.

An improved showing from the Aberdeen team and a missed stone from McCrossan enabled them to eventually take advantage of the hammer for the second time and they scored a 2, taking the score to 7-4. Coming into the penultimate end Edinburgh thought if they could score even just one point their lead would be unassailable and the victory would be theirs. Unfortunately this was not to be and a slack end all round left the team in a perilous position with McQuistin facing 5 with his last stone. A nerve-wracking sweep later and the stone had drifted just off line, rolling to lie second shot and giving Aberdeen another point. They now sat within two of coming home.

The final end began and Edinburgh’s task was clear, limit their opposition to scoring one and they would win. McQuistin’s plan to keep it simple had to be altered when McCrossan buried a shot well behind a guard. This was followed by a superb draw to the button from Stockton. Stirling was left to mop up and take as many opposition stones out as she could, but it came to skips’ stones and Aberdeen still had a chance. McQuistin played his first stone facing one and although it was a superb shot it was burned by McCrossan and called sportingly, with the Aberdeen skip remarked that he could have got away with it had he wanted to. A difficult takeout through a port was expertly executed by the Aberdeen skip but it was not enough, as they only lay one with no stones remaining. McQuistin’s final stone was inconsequential and Stockton and McCrossan were able to ‘just clean’.

It was a terrific afternoon for Edinburgh University, dominating the game from early on, and holding off attacks from a dogged Aberdeen side. Is this long-awaited win the start of a series of victories for the club?  Time will tell.

 Eoin McCrossan

Edinburgh University 9 – 7 Aegon

Competitions, Linlithgow League

Linlithgow League

Murrayfield Curling, 17th February 2013

  H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Edinburgh University 0 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 9
Aegon * 3 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 7

Edinburgh University fielded one of their strongest teams for this Linlithgow league fixture with only the skip differing from the usual SSS team, with Fiona Spain joining Fraser Stockton, Jayne Stirling and Gavin McQuistin. The strength of the team, as well as the fact that only the night before the team had played on the ice as part of the club’s 40th anniversary celebrations, meant that they entered this match with a great deal of confidence.

However, this confidence would take a whack early on with Stockton successfully hogging the first stone of the match. With no one in the team quite able to judge their weight in the first end, Aegon exploited this and their hammer advantage taking a three in the first end.  However the students improved greatly with Stirling drawing accurately and McQuistin successfully clearing up Aegon’s stones. Had Spain’s final shot not been slightly too heavy they would have evened the game .

The university team continued their good form into the third end with McQuistin and Spain’s stones forcing Aegon to take a 1 with the hammer.  However Aegon were to up their game with their back end coming into the game and despite one or two pieces of luck they deservedly stole three in the next two ends.

Despite this, Edinburgh University were to get back into the game with some lovely guards by Stockton followed by some good work by Stirling and McQuistin meant that Spain was able to draw in for 2 and bring the team back into the game. The next end the students continued to improve most notably with Spain putting a draw through a seeming impossible gap which Aegon’s skip could not replicate.

With only a point in between the two teams in the final end confidence was high within the student team. An exemplary performance from the students headed by some excellent skipping by Spain meant that the Uni team sat with three in the house with Aegon’s last stone of the game to go. However, the pressure got to Aegon’s skip as he missed his take-out allowing the students to win.

There can be no doubting the effort put in by the team to come back from 7-2 behind to win and claim their second victory in the Linlithgow League this season which is in fact a new record for the club. They will undoubtedly be hoping to add to this however in their final few games before the end of the season.

 Fraser Stockton

Edinburgh University 3 – 7 Vets

Competitions, Linlithgow League

Linlithgow League

Murrayfield Curling, 10th February 2013

  H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Edinburgh University 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
Vets * 3 0 1 0 1 2 – – 7

Once again Edinburgh University faced Vets in the Linlithgow League. After a 10 – 3 loss during their last encounter the team was aiming to make an improvement.

The first end did not seem to show signs of this with Edinburgh Uni losing a three against the hammer. Yet the team kept their heads up and managed to take back a two with a brilliant promotion from McGaan and McQuistin drawing around wide to sit second shot.

The level of play now increased on both sides during the third end, which remained relatively tight. McQuistin managed to draw around limiting Vets scoring potential from three to one, placing the Vets skip under pressure and in the end Vets only took the one.

During the fourth end Edmunds (who had been making several successful take outs in all previous ends) managed another very impressive strike, yet this was matched by the opposing third. Due to a mistake made by the Vets skip, Edinburgh were sitting with a fair amount of stones in the house ,yet he then rectified this by limiting the student team to one.

The tight nature of the game continued into the fifth end with very good stones from all of the team. Sadly the pressure got to McQuistin who played a heavy draw, allowing the vets to take a one with a successful take-out

As the game continued into the sixth the Vets had adopted the University’s technique of “guddling” to protect two of their stones to steal against the hammer, leaving the final score at 7 – 3.

The team played extremely well, especially Nigrosh who was making her debut in the league. She kept up a good constant standard of play, with stones in play every end. Overall this was an improvement from the last encounter with the Vets and the University aim to continue this.

                                                                                                                                 Gavin McQuistin

 

 

 

Edinburgh University 1 – 15 Carrington

Linlithgow League

Linlithgow League

Murrayfield Curling, 13th January 2013

  H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Edinburgh University 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 – 1
Carrington * 5 3 3 2 1 0 1 – 15

Coming into this fixture the university team had incredibly low expectations. Having lost 15-1 in the previous meeting with Carrington this season they knew that even matching that score would be something of an achievement. Unfortunately that was all that they managed and despite the result, the teams remained friendly on the ice with Carrington encouraging the inexperienced Edinburgh team and bemoaning any bad luck.

A slow start did little to help the Edinburgh cause and by losing 8 shots in the first two ends the team knew it would be a difficult afternoon and a repeat of a story that had happened all too often this season. Edinburgh could never string a sequence of good stones together so never threatened to make it onto the scoreboard despite from some promising front end play including some very consistent draws coming from 2nd. Despite this, and admittedly partly due to the graciousness of the opposing skip, the University team finally scored their only point after McCrossan’s well hidden draw could not be removed. McQuistin did try his best however to promote an opposition stone and leave Edinburgh running out of ends in which to score.

This thankfully was not the case and the team played an improved final end to come away with an exact repeat of the season’s previous encounter: a 15-1 defeat. The team came off the ice dejected, feeling as though there was very little to be taken from such a performance but the opposition were full of encouragement and sympathy.

I left the rink with the words of the Carrington skip echoing in my head, “The last time we stuffed you, you went on to win the next one…” Who knows what’s around the corner…

Eoin McCrossan

Edinburgh University 3 – 13 Heriots F.P.

Competitions, Linlithgow League

Linlithgow League

Murrayfield Curling, 16th December 2012

  H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
Edinburgh University 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
Heriots F.P. * 0 0 6 0 1 1 3 2 13

A game of curling provided welcome relief from revision for 3 of the team this weekend but they might have wished they’d stayed at home as they toiled to a 13-3 defeat at the hands of a Heriots FP team that included a University alumnus, but the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story.

Before the match began strange events began to unfold as the teams were forced off the ice due to a problem with the plant. After a chat with their opposition and, as luck would have it, when the Heriots second began drinking his coffee, the teams were called back on the ice. More strange events followed as, converse to this season’s form, the university team took a 2-0 lead, stealing a 1 in both of the first two ends with some excellent final stones from McGaan.

Unfortunately the 3rd end provided a turning point in the match with Heriots taking a 6 with the hammer. What made it all the more sickening was McCrossan burning an Edmunds takeout that looked to have steered the team out of the worst trouble. Still reeling, the University took a 1 in the 4th and even threatened to storm back into contention in the 5th; and were lying 4 at one point after some superb front end play by Laing and McCrossan and some mistakes from their opponents.

From then until the end of the match Edinburgh never really threatened to score and had to make do with some kind words, a drink from their opposition and a 13-3 defeat. Congratulations must be paid to Laing, making her debut for the club, especially as the opposition were incredibly surprised it was her first full match.

Eoin McCrossan