Published: Friday, 15th January, 2010 11:47am

Curlers crack up over cancellation

MORE than 30 local curlers were left high and dry this week after the last-minute cancellation of the famous Grand Match.

The winter freeze had given the Royal Caledonian Curling Club the opportunity to host the bonspiel for the first time in 30 years on the Lake of Menteith.

As many as 2,000 players were expected to compete in the North versus South match on 250 specially created rinks.

But with only days to go until the once-in-a-generation game, the plug was pulled after objections from the emergency services and Stirling Council.

Peebles curler Roger Scott told the Peeblesshire News: "It seems that in the current climate - no pun intended - we are not allowed to take any risk even if we are freely willing to undertake the risk.

"Everyone that was due to go up is absolutely gutted. We probably won't get another chance.

"The last Grand Match took place in 1979 and 2,400 curlers had a fabulous time. It now looks as if such an event may never happen again."

Honrary president of the local curling club, Jim Forsyth, along with retired farmer Jimmy Ritchie, are among the very few surviving Peeblesshire players to have taken part in the last Grand Match.

Peebles was due to send two rinks of four players to join the South team with a further two rinks from Penicuik, and one each from West Linton, Biggar, Eddleston and Broughton United.

Despite the late call-off many still took to the ice on Tuesday with rinks being played throughout the day and into the early evening.

The Grand Match has only taken place on three occasions since 1945.