1986

The Nairnshire Telegraph 7th January 1986

An historic 8-ender on 22nd Dec 1985 at Inverness by D H Forrester, A Kerr W Young and P Gordon in a Rotary League Match v Aberlour was recorded by Bill Young and reported in the local press:

C U R L I N G - Nairn Rink's 8 Ender

Playing in a Rotary Club league match against Aberlour the Nairn rink of Harold Forrester, Alister Kerr, Bill Young and Peter Gor­don achieved the exceptionally rare maximum possible score of eight at a single end.

Aberlour had a shot on the pot lid which they were guarding. On successive shots Nairn removed the guard and rolled into the four foot circle. After six shots each , Aberlour were still lying shot with two Nairn stones frozen against it and the other four in the house.

Harold's first stone tapped his own stones back on to the Aberlour stone so that it was no longer shot but probably second or third. Un­fortunately as the Nairn stones now formed a triangle guarding the Aberlour stone it would be im­possible to remove it and to re­tain the striking stone in the house-Also the formation of the stones was such that a strike on the lead Nairn stone would possibly re­move both the Nairn stones behind it, leaving the Aberlour stone shot again. Fortunately the Aberlour skip's first strike held out, it clipped the outside of the left hand Nairn stone pushing it onto the back Aberlour stone tapping it out of the house before the striking stone it­self rolled out.

Harold's final stone was played to the centre of the house so that Nairn were now lying eight. Aberlour had last stone. The same shot as the first strike looked on. A strike on the centre would undoubtedly cause damage and if it was square enough to stop the stone rolling out it might save the end. Even if it did roll it was un­likely to go far before hitting another Nairn stone.

Learning from the first strike less ice was taken and the stone launched up the centre line. This time the stone did take ice and it curled to the right. It just caught the edge of an earlier Aberlour guard just over the hog line which deflected it through the edge of the house without causing any damage - leaving Nairn with a perfect eight end.

1986 April 2nd  AGM

Satisfactory reports were presented from the Treasurer and the Match Secretary.  The Club had a credit balance of £400, although had lost £50 on the year's working.  It was agreed that the membership subscription would rise from £5 to £6.  In addition to the winners of the Club trophies, D H Forrester, D Roy, G Wilaon,and Des Coleman had won the MacFregor Bonspiel at Aviemore, and Bill Millar had won the Annual Outing.  It was reported "that for some outings there had been late call-offs because of the failure ofskips to advise their rinks early. Thanks are due to Nairn Ladies for helping to fill rinks at late notice".

Bob Pottie was elected President, and Des Coleman Vice-president.  Eric McFee was elected Secretary/Treasurer.

David Philip (retiring President) presented Sandy Gunn with a fishing rod and reel with the Club's thanks and best wishes, for excellent service as Secretary, Treasurer and occasionally Match Secretasry to the Club since 1960.   Sandy thanked all office bearers and club members for their help and assisstance over the past 26 years and wished the club good fortune in the future.

1986 November 3rd  Management Committee

The Dinner and Court arrangements for 6th February 1987 wre made:  Robin Brechin, Vice-pres RCCC to be the principle guest.  Gordon Asher (jnr) to be the piper to the Court.

The Ice Rink at Brora was consdered for the next Annual Outing, but was thought to be too remote, so Aviemore was decided on.

The Inverness Ice Rink had been sold by the holding company (Messrs Alan O'Neill, John G MacGreor and Eric F Brown) to the CAC Leisure Group, whose main business was cinemas.