This week saw Ayrshire Province play the annual match against Renfrewshire X11 Province for the Harry Hart Trophy. The three Ayrshire rinks were skipped by Ian Alexander (Dalmellington), Billy Howat (Ayr) and myself (Troon Portland). Ian, with Ladies Rep, Margaret White, at three, Rob White at two and Dave McIntyre leading took on a Brookfield CC rink skipped by Glen Thornton. Billy with Gavin Morton at three, Jean Morton at two and Disnae curler, Sue Howat, leading took on a Reform CC rink skipped by Mike Burton and my Troon Portland rink of Alison Young (lead), Mara Lindsay (two) and Bert McKay (three) took on a Between the Sheets CC rink skipped by Austen Brown.
My rink lost 4-5 but Billy's rink won 8-5 and Ian's rink took the honours 10-3. With Ayrshire Province winning by 22 shots to 13 shots the Harry Hart Trophy was retained by Ayrshire for the fifth year in a row and the trophy was awarded to Ian's rink as being the highest up rink in the winning side.
As an interesting footnote, Harry Hart was the person who hired out the rowing boats from the shore at Largs.
Andrew Kerr
Ayrshire Province