A PEEBLESSHIRE curling club which was founded by a friend of Robert Burns is celebrating its 200th birthday.

Broughton United Curling Club was formed in 1816 by the Rev Hamilton Paul.

On Saturday the club hosted a bicentenary bonspiel at Murrayfield before a prize-giving ceremony in Broughton Village Hall.

The winners on Saturday were Peebles with West Linton taking the runners-up trophy.

But it has been curling which has been the winner for the past 200 years across Peeblesshire - and that is mainly down to one man.

Hamilton Paul was born in Ayrshire in1773, educated in Glasgow and ordained in1800 at Ayr.

He could not get a parish in the early years so worked as assistant at Coylton and did relief preaching in the area.

As a friend and admirer of Burns he did much to preserve Burns memory.

In 1810 he bought a majority share in The Ayr Advertiser, taking over as editor for three years before the post of minister of the united parishes of Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho came up.

Walter Noble from Broughton United Curling Club said: "He sold his holding in the newspaper and moved to Broughton in 1813.

"The new parish church was being built and Rev Paul insisted that the manse be built on the low ground at Easter Calzeat in defiance of the heritors and Presbytery, so that he might create a curling pond.

"He founded the club in 1816 and was elected club president and held this post till his death in 1854, a period of 38years."

Broughton United Curling Club has enjoyed been some long serving members over the years, including a dozen current players who helped celebrate the 175th anniversary in 1990.

The winning rink of the175th anniversary bonspiel was Benny Masterton, Grace Masterton, John Kay and Hugh Gibson, who are still all playing with the club.

But the longest membership on record remains George Deans Ritchie who joined in1871, became chairman in 1888 and remained chairman till his death in 1938. A member for 67 years, including chairmanship for half a century.

Famous Broughton curling names from the past include Dan and James Tudhope who skipped many successful rinks at Haymarket.

An entry in the 1937 minutes states that a Broughton rink reached the semi final of the World Championships, but gave no other details.

Another member of note was Sandy Dunlop who skipped a successful Scottish rink against England at Streatham ice rink, London in 1982.

Sandy also toured Canada in 1965.

He was a formerRCCC Council Member and Past President of Edinburgh CC and was President of Peeblesshire Province for 14 years.

Links with the club's origins remain in the form of the Goats Horn.

Mr Noble added: "One trophy that has been played for since the early days is the Goats Horn.

"This horn was from a pet goat of Rev Paul and when it died a horn was made into a snuff mull.

"The mounting of this trophy was carried out at the club's expense, and is still played for to this day."

The original minute book of the Broughton United Curling Club was lost in1849 while in Rev Paul’s care.

No written record of events exist until after the founder's death.

In 1873 the minutes record that Broughton joined the Royal Club, but the Royal Club annual has a conflicting date of 1896.

Only large open competitions were played on inside ice at Crossmyloof in Glasgow and Haymarket in Edinburgh.

All regular club games were still played on home ice at Rachan Mill pond, weather permitting.

The first mention of a booking being made for Haymarket's inside ice was 1949.

When it closed curling moved to Murrayfield and the dedicated curling rink in 1980 where Broughton still curl today.