Donald Mockett  It is with deep sadness and regret that Sweepers Curling Club announces the death of our long serving past President, Donald (Don) Mockett following a long and courageous battle with ill health. Don was came to Sweepers as a former member and supporter of the National Coal Board Curling Club, that merged with Super CC in 1999 to form Sweepers. He continued to support the Club as President after he was no longer able to play on a regular basis, stepping down at the end of the 2017 season. Some further insight into Don's working life story can be found HERE. (Link courtesy of Peter Campbell) Our thoughts are with Marjorie, his son Ian and family at this sad time. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Boreland Match - Andy Stevenson Quaich  In a tribute to Andy, Borland Curling Club generously donated a Quaich in his name to be played for at the annual competition between the two clubs. Game One at Kinross was keenly fought as usual with Sweepers taking command early in the game. Boreland got into their stride and came back, however Sweepers had a one shot lead going into the last end. However the plan to close out the game and hold Boreland, skipped by Bill Linton to a peel, didn't quite go as expected and they came home with a three at the last end winning 6-4. A two shot deficit was small in comparison to recent years, so there was all to play for in the return game at Murrayfield. Boreland were held to single shots in the first two ends before Sweepers got on the scoreboard 2-1. In the fourth end lying 2 with three stones in the house, aware that Sweepers were 4 shots down on aggregate, Ewan decided to take a risk with a raise take out on the only Boreland stone in the house that would leave Sweepers lying four to put the pressure on the opposition. Unfortunately it didn't pay off and Boreland extended their lead to 4-1. In the final end Sweepers were left with an almost impossible long double raise to score one and narrow the score to 5-4 in Boreland's favour. Ewan sent the final stone on its way but didn't curl as anticipated, resulting in the final score of 8-3 for the game. Boreland won overall with the aggregate score of 14 points to seven. More photos in the Gallery __________________________________________________________________________________________________ New Season - New Ice After 38 years' service, the old cooling floor was well beyond end of life. Once the contractors started removing the old floor in 2m2 sections, it became apparent just how badly corroded it was. Not only that, shortcomings in the method of construction were revealed and explained why, particularly in the last three years of it's life, stones were taking unusual routes down the ice in places. But that was then; old technology, building methods and attention to detail (or lack thereof).  Seeing the floor come up and its construction raised doubts about the integrity of the foundations. If it had to be replaced it would have seriously impacted on the budget and timescales. But once the old floor, insulation such as it was and the heating mat were removed. The foundations could be seen in detail. Fortunately, fears were not realised when the surveyors gave a thumbs up and work could commence in laying the new floor. Sweepers CC followed the project from the moment the contractors moved in until the first stone was thrown. Over 30,000 images recorded the entire process and the highlights form a series of four time lapse videos that can be viewed on the Sweepers YouTube channel.  Posted Sept 2018 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Boreland Matches - A Tribute to Andy Stevenson  But not the way anyone could have predicted with the untimely passing of Andy Stevenson, a long time member of Boreland an also the National Coal Board Curling Club that was to become Sweepers. Andy proposed the competition back in 1992 and put up a bottle of Highland Park single malt as the prize. Something he did for the next 24 years as a mark of kinship between the two Clubs. Until recently Andy played the "home" game for Boreland and the "away" game at Murrayfield for Sweepers -perhaps that's why Sweepers were on a running streak of wins for so long! The irony was that when having played for Sweepers and won, he couldn't share in the spoils. Having won the bottle 2016 after a run of wins, it was custom to crack open the bottle at the Boreland AGM at some point during the serious business of AGM matters. However, for whatever reason perhaps best known only to Andy, the bottle was opened early on in the proceedings with Andy and a fellow club member getting wired into the whisky. As the evening progressed, things more and more raucous to the point at which a ruling was made that from the following year the whisky (if won) had to remain sealed until the conclusion of business!  With a 7 shot deficit from game one, Sweepers had a tall order to turn the result round. This was not made any easier by losing a 4 in the first end. Despite what might have been a somber occasion, the game was played in good spirit with plenty laughs. Boreland rarely made a mistake but when Ewan played a draw to the Tee though what was essentially a narrow passageway of stones and Dave Linton failed to close the gap, Ewan, with last stone to score a 2 remarked, "Now I've got to do that again to prove it wasn't a fluke!" Sadly though, it was. The game ended 6-4 to Boreland. Ewan playing another perfect draw round the guards to the Tee thus proving he could play the same shot twice, just not one after the other. Stuart summed the game up by saying, "Well at least we won more ends than we did at Kinross". A comment that could easily have been Andy's who could always see the positive where others might see the opposite. Upstairs in the bar after presenting the whisky to David, Ewan proposed a toast to Andy's memory passing round the dram for everyone to take a sip.  Rest Peacefully Andy You will be missed but not forgotten. Open Day Success  They took to the ice for the first time to experience sliding, sweeping and delivering the stones guided by Club members. From the smiles on faces it would seem an enjoyable time was had with some giving consideration to taking up the sport at the beginning of next season. Unfortunately we won't have another taster session this season but if you would like to give curling a go, check out www.TryCurling.com for details of upcoming sessions. Some photos of the event are in the Gallery - HERE KG IV Trophy 2018 Update
After a close game against Clydesdale Bank, "Team Douglas" + Ewan scraped through to the quarter final on 2nd February and will play Musselburgh.
The final 7-3 score belies how close the game was with Clydesdale leveling the score at 3 each in the 6th end. Sweepers took a one shot advantage into the last but Clydesdale, with the hammer, narrowly missed what could have been a peeled game where there was less than an inch separating the shot stones.
Points Competition
A disappointing turn out for the Points Competition this year.
 Mae, Ian, Stuart and Ewan took to the ice. Lots were drawn to determine the bating order with Mae, joint defender leading off which is always difficult guessing the ice to take for each of the shots. Ian Mae and Ewan scored maximum points on the striking while Stuart was commended on being the only player to max out on the draw shot.
Given there were only four competitors, they ventured off into uncharted territory playing "Chip the Winner" and "Drawing through the port" which usually don't get played due to time running out.
This year the strangle hold of Ian and (or) Mae winning was broken with Ewan taking the honours with a total score of 37 out of a possible 72. Mae came in 2nd place with 34, Ian, 3rd on 30 and rear gunner Stuart scoring 29.
Web Spider predicts a few sore legs given each player threw 36 stones in just over an hour and a half!
Congratulations to Ewan on winning the Points.
Season 2016-17 AGM
 President Don Mockett welcomed everyone to the A.G.M. and Annual Dinner, which included a presentation by Quentin Russell, on the "Curl Edinburgh 2018" fundraising appeal, giving an update on the proposed schedule of works and the sums raised to date. He answered questions from the floor that helped answer many of the concerns over the fundraising proposals. AGM business followed, the detail of which can be found in the Minutes, in the Document Store. Following the dinner, presentation of competition trophies and prizes took place. Ian Blair's rink took the League Trophy, the Progressive Competition won by Ewan's Rink and the rink skipped by Mae Douglas winning the Knockout. With no time to play a draw to the button, the Points competition was a tie between Ian and Mae.    After many years' service to the Club, Don Mockett formally announced his intention to step down as President and that he had regrettably had to hang up his curling shoes. In recognition of his service to the Club, Don was presented with a crystal vase by Vice President and President elect, Gordon Moodie. A fitting tribute and would come in handy for the flowers!
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