I noticed Bob Cowan commenting on having 2 big junior events on the same weekend - Dumfries and Murrayfield. While I generally agree with his sentiment, and that of others like Robin Copland, regarding a lack of co-ordination of our curling calendar, I also think it's a cause for celebration that 59 junior rinks were competing across Scotland on one weekend. Fantastic eveidence that curling is not an old people's game, despite some of the doom merchants banging on about the aging demographic of our sport.

I also think that the lack of ice-time in some areas is a major brake on getting young people even more involved - discuss!

I see what you are trying to say BS, but you have your sums wrong. There were just nine Scottish junior teams competing at Murrayfield and some twenty-five at Dumfries. But we should also mention the well supported RCCC newcomers event at Greenacres, and the fact that a young Forfar team was in Sweden. And our top junior Eve Muirhead was competing in Canada. Pity that there was no Unders or Overs.

But yes, there's certainly much to celebrate in junior curling, particularly at grass roots. Nothing to be complacent about at the top level though, particularly as things change every year as teams age out.

A question for Backslider. Which event did he/she go along to support and what did he/she think of the standard of play?

Bob

Ooops butterfingers! What I was in the middle of saying was 59 rinks in total as reported on your blog Bob - I didn't say they were all Scottish but curling is about international friendship too! Good to see junior events generally going well across Scotland and further afield.

I'm curious as to what constitutes a "user-friendly" ice rink. I cant think of an unfriendly one, albeit some are grimmer and shabbier than others. Small rural ice rinks don't solve the transport problems John. A new rink in Pitlochry, or Sutherland or Argyllshire will still necessitate lots of driving to and fro.

And assuming you're having another go at the NCA, why would a shiny new rink in Kinross not be a great boon to local curlers, setting aside all arguments about the concept? As things stand, there is little scope to develop junior and school curling with the available ice time, let alone accommodate the rising seniors demand, the corporate potential, regional competitions.....

Heard a rumour that there are potential issues with the Inverness Junior International next season.

The Inverness event having run for almost 30 years with great success and been utilised for the European Junior Tour event a season ago may lose its date on the calendar. As I understand it the European Junior Tour Event is returning to Scotland but may be offered by the authorities to alternative venues with Inverness losing the date that has been a fixture on the calendar for decades.

As I say this is only a rumour and the decision may not have been finalised yet but I’m sure those who have built on the success of the event in recent years and embraced the European Junior Tour event a season ago will be bitterly disappointed if the Inverness Junior International becomes unworkable through no fault of their own.

Hoglinewamphray,

Thanks for the update. Points are valid and well made.

From the outside the European event piggybacked on the well established Inverness event a year ago. It would therefore be interesting to know where the instigation to invite bids came from, the ECF or RCCC.

That said, can’t really argue with allowing competition to host next seasons European event. Would be interested to know what the criteria will be.

However the reason I posted was that the thread was about the timing of junior events. I don’t know whether Inverness has been invited to bid for next seasons European event or if they intend to do so. However I understand the suggestion has been made that to avoid a clash of dates Inverness should host their tournament the weekend before or after the European Junior event.

I’m sure the organising committee suspect that given the suggested dates their competition is unlikely to attract the normal standard of field. This is based on it being unlikely foreign teams will travel on successive weekends. As you are aware the Inverness event has a long history of attracting top international teams.

Hopefully the current local Committee will weigh everything up and decide the efforts of those in establishing the competition over 30 years should be maintained and the event is worthy of their continued support.

Messiah,

Many ice rinks around the country only survive because they run skating at the weekends. Galleon Lockerbie hamilton Dumfries (previous to new ice) Inverness to name a few.  This is what keeps there costs down so curling is affordable. Rural ice rinks need the skating. I know te ice suffers but these ice rinks put the effort in and there ice is fine. Not as good as some rink like
Perth or greenacres(dare i say it) but needs must. I think a 5 sheet rink in rural areas without skating or some other duel use is a pipe dream.

Bob

I have just been filling in the diary for various curling events around the country involving my daughter who is of school age.

She will by very pleased to hear that she will not be as school on 7 Fridays over the curling season due to a number of bonspiels beginning on the Friday.  I know that my daughter loves to curl, but I know that her school work is important too, so how do I balance this.

One  solution might be to have all the 3 day Junior bonspiels start on the Saturday, and only the Semi's and finals would then be held on the Monday, meaning that the majority of the participants would be able to go back to school, college, work, bed, as appropriate, with only the top teams needing the Monday off. I know this will impact on viewers behind the bar, but is this a more sensible option for our youngsters in these 3 day events?

And I must agree with you, sir! This is the tip of the iceberg that is the future attitude of elite curling. Never mind the players, who make the effort and pay the costs (or most of), it is all about what the sponsors want, or the curling rink, or the organisers. Play fewer games or a workable format within weekend times, especially with Juniors. Curling, as with everything in life, must have a place alongside all the other things, and it is certainly no more important than a young person's education.