excuse my ignorance as a relative newcomer but is this just a stand alone competition with a fancy name or does it actually qualify the winning team for something else?

I assume the former as surely if it was the latter you would want half a dozen or so teams in each

I see that part of the New Dawn is that next seasons European Playdowns for men and women will be between two teams in a best of five. Tom Brewster and David Smith in the mens; Eve Muirhead and Gail Munro in the womens.

Well said, David, and I totally agree.

Bob encourages us to discuss Copey's latest post. I find that quite hard since I agree with every word, however tautology is as much a symptom of old age as grumpiness so it is hard to resist.

I think all I can add is to repeat myself on the subject of curling's teleology. Those of you I have cornered in an ice rink bar on the subject any time in the last twenty years can look away now.  Is there a “purpose” in curling, and what is it? What is curling “for”? - because there is an answer now - “to win Olympic gold”, even though many of us would not have thought to ask the question in the first place.

That's not the answer I would come up with, if indeed one was required at all. My answer would promote breadth rather than height. Open rather than selected. A handshake rather than a contract.

It would need someone who has taken a large dose of bravery pills to dismiss Big Olga - and they would also need fast running shoes or a place on the Russian space program.  On the few occasions I met her she seemed to be a good coach.

We would appear to be not the only national curling group in crisis......I have just heard that Russian Women's Team Coach Olga Adrianova has had her contract terminated. The price of success is all relative.....as they say in investment brochures "past performance does not necessarily guarantee future returns"....
At least the RCCC does not send underperforming teams or individuals to the Gulag Archipelago.....yet!!

I suspect being director of competitions is a bit like being a social worker. The 99.9% of the time that you get decisions right no-one notices. However the  0.1% you get a bit wrong everyone else is an expert!! 

Yes, I hear what you're saying. I also have heard of similar problems, but when I thought them through I had to agree with Colin's decisions (in the grand scheme of things).

So yes, I am sure Colin will on occasion make a decision perceived to be wrong. But put yourself in his shoes, having to make these decisions to the best of his ability, and considerable knowledge and experience. He's human too, and might get it wrong. Until someone can come up with a better person and/or solution, I for one will support him in a very difficult role often manipulated by others.

John, I have to agree with Invicta.  In previous years I have had personal experience when involved in the organisation of a major event.  Half truths is perhaps not the right term but one group of players were told one thing one week by said individual then the next week at the event it had all changed. 

This was a local event but RCCC wanted to have their say and dictate why a completely obscure system to decide play offs when teams were tied.  At a local level we decided draw the shot given time constraints.  We were over ruled and draw shot challenge to decide play offs then 5 end games and after all this 2 teams were tied so it went to skips drawing the shot!! so at 1am the skips draw then shot.  It could have been finished at 7pm.  After we pointed this out were were told that all the last 4 hrs of farce was a 'fairer system' 

Triples all round at Cairnie House.

Curling has lost its Marcus Tullius (aka Cicero) and, for now, there's no one left to keep an eye on them or to publicise their shenanigans.

Much respect to Copie and all those others, who have been Blogging on an occasional basis, but we have lost a Star.