1897

January 1897

A friendly charity challenge match was played between Nairn and Auldearn. The second article in the same edition of this newspaper refers to J.J.Annan's rink as "Nairn" although the said skip was a member of the Auldearn club.

St Ninian Press and Nairnshire Advertiser, January 1897

Curling - On Monday last the Auldearn Curling Club played a friendly game on their own pond. Two rinks composed of Auldearn players against two composed of Nairn players, for the price of a boll of meal towards the funds of the Nairn Soup Kitchen. The Auldearn rinks won by three points, so the Nairn men had to pay the price of the meal ………

An interesting match which was played on Friday of last week, between a rink of the Banks of Findhorn club, skipped by Sir William Gordon Cumming, and a scratch team skipped by Mr J. J. Annan, Nairn .

22nd January 1897

The lack of ice in Nairn was noted in a report in the Inverness Courier of 22nd January 1897

The beginning on 1897 saw a great amount of curling activity. Items of local interest reported in the 'Annual' of 1897-98 include the following -

26th of January 1897. A Grand Match was held at Carsebreck on the 281 rinks had been reported as entered, but 246 took part. The railway companies came in for much criticism as their 'special' trains were unable to deliver many of the participants to Carsebreck Halt on time. A future president of Nairn, Mr Wm. Whitelaw, playing for Perth ( a constituency he represented in parliament) went down 9 shots to 19 to a Slamanan rink. The most northerly club represented in this classic competition was Carrbridge.

27th January. The Nairnshire Telegraph reported on competition for Club Prizes at Auldearn.

29th January. Ross & Cromarty Province held a well attended bonspeil at Muir of Ord.

January 29th. There were District Medal matches, both played on the same day. Cawdor lost 37 to 62 against Banks of Findhorn, and on the same day Auldearn beat Dyke 50 to 40 at Logiebuchany. Glenferness were due to play Beauly but called off, so Beauly were awarded the medal on a 'walk over'. On 3rd February, Dyke lost to Forres, 35 shots to 39, in a Distrct Medal match on "fair" ice on Forres pond.

1897 -98 'Annual', report from the Inverness Club indicates that curling was flourishing in the Area:-

" Curling is a flourishing game beyond the Grampians. This is especially the case in Ross-shire, which was recently formed into a province on its own account. In 1853 there were only two clubs in the North, those of Inverness and Golspie ; now there are about thirty, with a membership which enables each club to play for the Caledonian Medal, with at least two rinks. Within the last two years the Inverness Club has been making great strides with regard to play, and it is not unusual for it to send by rail; twenty or fifty miles away, from ten to fourteen rinks."

29th December

A Moray Province bonspeil was held on BlairsLoch Forres.

Transcript from 1898 -1899 RCCC Annual

PROVINCE OF MORAY CURLING ASSOCIATION.—Annual Bonspiel.— On December 23rd Blairs Loch, near Forres, presented an animated and pleasant appearance, covered with nearly two hundred enthusiastic curlers intent on a day's thorough enjoyment at their favourite pastime. The occasion was the annual bonspiel held under the auspices of the Province of Moray Curling Association. The east and west divisions of the province were pitted against each other, and clubs were represented from the east as far as Banff, and from the west as far as Cawdor.

The weather was on its best behaviour—for curling. For the last few days we have had real Christmas weather—hard continuous frost—until now every loch and pool is covered with a thick coating of ice, and occasionally with curlers and skaters. Yesterday the ice on Blairs Loch was as good as any curler has ever seen or could wish to see, scarcely a rough piece could be found. There were few or no hoggs,' the main difficulty with curlers being 'to keep their hand in,' unlike last year when the players had to wade almost ankle deep in water. If fine scenery can add anything to the pleasure of the game, the curlers enjoyment should have been complete. Situated in the heart of the woods of Altyre, it is sur- rounded on every side with trees which shoot up from the very edge of the water. The birch especially looked beautiful, covered with hoarfrost, and the sun's rays glittering like a mass of crystals. It was regretted that Sir William Gordon Cumming, who is an enthusiastic curler, was unable to be present, but a special vote of thanks was tendered him for so kindly placing the splendid Loch of Blairs at the disposal of the Association, and sending his men to assist in the arrangement of the rinks. A telegram announcing the result of the bonspiel was despatched to Algiers, where Sir William at present is. Mr. Robert Walker, factor, Altyre, was also cor- dially thanked for giving so much of his time and trouble in making preliminary arrangements, and carrying out so successfully one of the best bonspiels the Association has ever had.

Mr. D. A. Shiach, solicitor, Elgin, the Secretary of the Association, proved himself to he a capable and energetic official. His arrangements were most complete and satisfactory, reflecting great credit on himself, and proving to others the means of thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Thirty-six clubs were represented by teams, making up a total number of 144 players. Two teams from Ballindalloch did not put in an appearance and some rearrangement was necessary. These teams were drawn against Dyke No. 2 and Forres No. 5, and by Dyke taking the position of a west team matters were put right. The gun shot, the signal for starting play, was fired at twenty-five minutes to one, and with one exception from that time till the end the opposing teams settled down to steady play. The exception referred to occurred for luncheon, which was excellently served by Mr. Wyness, Commercial Hotel, Forres. A steaming hot repast in such a place and on such a day was most desirable, and if some of the liquids had to be thawed before they would consent to leave the bottle, it only added to the humours of the situation.

When the cards were handed in at the close of the day, it was seen that the West division were victorious by a majority of 56 shots. The two teams contributing most to this were Dyke No. I, skipped by Mr. James Beattie, and Forres No. 3, skipped by Mr. J. Bliss, which beat their opponents respectively by 15 and 11 shots. The Dyke team, with this majority, secured the medal given by the Association to the team having the largest majority over its oppon- ent. Last year this medal was won by a Ballindalloch team with a majority of 44. For the Eastern division the team that had the largest majority was Keith No. 1, skipped by J. Ward, which had a lead of 13 points. A peculiar feature in the game was that the two Aberlour and two Glenferness teams, which were drawn against each other, were all equal, having 9 shots each.

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