Three rinks headed off to Kelso at 9.30 last Wednesday morning to play for the Tom and Mattie Smillie Quaich. In a change from previous years we all went by minibus this year but having taken the scenic road around the houses to pick up President Gavin at Adamhill we were beginning to question whether we would ever reach Kelso !
However, once the driver found the A77 we made good time and arrived at the Cross Keys in The Square at Kelso for a light lunch - as befitting highly developed athletes !
Suitably refreshed we took to the ice with Bert Andrew's rink up against Michael Sutherland, President Gavin against Jim Cullen and Billy Howat against a rink from the Coldstream Club.
Jim gave Gavin a run for his money but Gavin just squeezed home. Billy was going pretty well and was looking as though he had the trophy in the bag but lost a one in the last end whilst Bert picked up a two in the last end to claim the Quaich as the highest up rink in the winning side but, notably, all three Ayr rinks won which was something of a rarity at Kelso !
The ice, under new manager, Graeme Baxter, was excellent and, indeed, Billy reckoned it was the best ice he had played on all year with big draws on both hands.
Afterwards we all enjoyed traditional Borders' hospitality and eventually arrived back in Ayr at 10.30 - a long day !
Thankfully the President slept all the way home !!!
President's rink was Jean ( there to make sure he behaved !), Bill Alexander and Dave McIntyre.
Billy's was Fiona Bain, Vice President Bobby and John Wylie.
Bert's was Anne Kerr, Andrew Kerr and Moira Duncan.
Thanks to Andrew Kerr for his reporting from Kelso.
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