Curloneout lift trophy!!

edwards drops one

Team curloneout have lifted there first and probably only silverware of the season by winning the Dumfries Lions Trophy for the second year running.  The weekend got off to a bad start right away as the team had another injury blow dealt to them when second Davie Morton was ruled out of action with a severe bout of the Gary Glitters.  Favourite substitute Scottie 'Big Boy' Hamilton was unable to slide into the team at short notice so an SOS was put out and Top Castle Douglas curler Davie McMikan answered the plea at the eleventh hour.  Davie a close friend of the team was brought in due to his excellent accuracy and speed with the pint glass.  Disaster almost struck before the first game of the weekend when Skip Duncan Gracie was almost rendered unconscious in the car from a Kenny Edwards fart.  It was touch and go for a while  but brave Gracie managed to battle through the pain barrier.  The first game of the weekend was but to bed early and the team on 11-1.  Game 2 was up against the Dumfries ladies team ( Sisters of Mercy) and Duncan and Kenny decided the best form of attack was to soften them up pre game with some old music on the team wireless.  Some may say this was dirty tactics but all is fair in love and war and after a couple of songs by ABBA the Sisters were under the command of sweet talker Kenny.  After a shaky start from the team which was not helped by Gracie's requirement to leave for his work halfway through the game the team ground out a convincing result and won 15-1.  Saturday morning saw team curloneout top of the schenkel and would be playing a good Graham Sloan team who were close behind in second spot.  The Game got off to a good start and the 1st end was well set up by Kenny the gimp and Davie the Farmer. which left Robbo a couple of nose hits to lay 2.  Sloanie was teased into a tricky double with a loose shot (unsurprisingly) from Gracie.  Fortunately Sloany Jammed on a cheeky 12ft biter and left gracie an easy draw for 3.  Gracie showed no fear and flicked the button for 3.  The good play continued untill end 5.  At the start of end 5 the team were 9-3 up and cruising.  Holding the brush after playing his two stones, Kenny Edwards had what can only be described as a mental breakdown and decided that instead of hitting for home he would "Mix it up".  This played right into sloans hands and he couldn't believe his luck when he got back into the game with a nice 2.  Edwards received a swift kick in from the boys and after taking his anti lunacy pills got back into the right frame-set for the 7th and last end.  Unfortunately third Scott Robertson decided the last end was the time to play like a 90 year old pensioner and after a couple of hugely entertaining misses left sloan lying 3 when Gracie came to play.  Gracie still fuming with edwards's replapse in the 7th ended up with a teaser to win the end but was dangerous as it could of gifted sloan a 4 and a peel.  Bravely Gracie chucked it up the wing and lost a 3 but took the game 9-8.   The win set up a 'Final' against local superstar Jim Hogg -  'Dog'.  It was a close game and some nice play in the second saw a steal of 2 which put the team on the front foot and made it difficult for the hogg dog to get back into the game.  The Team went onto the last end 1 up with last stone and the game was won with a couple of big rips from Davie McMiken cleaned up the end and left Gracie an open house when he came to play.  With Jim Hogg - Dog leaving his last freeze attempt short the game and trophy was won, Gracie rubbed salt into the wounds by slipping a third rock into the button for a 3 final score 8-4.  

Champs 2011

A couple of special mentions are in order...  Firstly to Davie McMikan who slipped straigh into the team without any issues and played very well in all 4 matches.  Davie's good performance has put him up to first reserve and any more poor excuses from David Morton may see him promoted to full time Second.  Davie's unique sweeping tecnique is clearly grafted from sweeping the byre but it proved pivotal in managing the tough dumfries ice.  Also a special mention goes to David Owen, Claire Sloan, Daddy Owen and Derek Purdie who took an 8 ender in there game against Graham Sloan.  Dave had to rip a triple to lift it and played it perfectly!! Well done.

Daves 8