Glasgow Uni Curling Club, Annual Review 2015

As summer draws closer many of us look forward to holidays, taking on a summer job, placements and, for some, graduation. However, it is often prudent to look back and reflect on the year just passed.

For the Glasgow University Curling Club, it has been an eventful one with a number of successes to note. It would not be possible to mention every one of the wonderful moments that the club has enjoyed this year, so here I shall endeavour to give you some of the highlights.

On the competition front, we have had a fantastic season. In the SSS Scottish Universities' League, Glasgow I (A. Schreiber, B. Fowler, R. Steven, J. Whittle, P. Dagen and A. McCluskey) won the league with a flawless record of seven wins and no losses.

The Glasgow Ashes was also started this year, as a revival of a challenge match held between Glasgow and Strathclyde many years ago. The teams were playing for the ashes of Alasdair Schreiber's old broom, which had been broken during a training accident in the previous season. The competition was tough and Strathclyde put out a strong team. Glasgow's team of B. Fowler (S), R. Steven (V/S), J. Whittle and P. Dagen managed to pull out an 8-3 victory to win the first ever Glasgow Ashes.

This season also saw Curling's début in the Glasgow Taxis Cup, as a demonstration event. Glasgow, Strathclyde and Caley each played one six end match against each of the other universities. Glasgow's team of A. Schreiber (S), B, Fowler, R. Steven (V/S) and P. Dagen were beaten by Caley in their first game, however pulled out a win against Strathclyde. The results put Glasgow in second place overall. We look forward to seeing curling at future Taxis Cup events.

Glasgow also entered three teams into the SSS Scottish Universities' Open at Stranraer. Glasgow 1 (A. Schreiber (S), F. Davidson, B. Fowler, J. Whittle (V/S)) made it to the High Road Semi-Finals on an impressive undefeated run. However, they lost out by a margin of only two shots in the semi-finals, losing the chance to defend Glasgow's double SSS title.

Glasgow 2 (P. Dagen (S), F. Murray (V/S), C. McIsaac, J. Black) made it through to the quarter finals of the High Road competition, equalling Glasgow 2's record from last season. Whilst the third team of H. Thorburn, C. Marin, A. McGowan and A. McCluskey may not have made it out of the group stages, but the third team made this year's the largest Glasgow contingent to go to the Scottish Universities' Open ever.

Outside of competition there have also been a number of successes. In November, Ben Fowler travelled to Champéry in Switzerland as part of the English men's team, playing in the Le Gruyére European Curling Championships B-division. The team, skipped by English veteran curler Alan MacDougal, won six of their seven group games, topping the table. They would go on to bring home the bronze medal - a brilliant achievement.

In January, Ben Fowler and Jim Whittle, representing England, along with Cristina Marin, representing Romania, went out to Prague for the European Junior Curling Challenge 2015. The English boys won two of their five games, losing two of the other three by the narrowest of margins. Cristina and her Romanian team were the first junior women's team to represent Romania at an international event.

In March, Alasdair Schreiber represented Great Britian at the 2015 Winter University Games, in Granada. Playing with Kyle Smith, Grant Hardie, Thomas Muirhead and Stuart Taylor, Alasdair and Team GB fought their way to a very impressive bronze medal. Another brilliant success.

The Club also had it's largest contingent of Blues and Colours winners to date; with Gina Aitken, Claire Hamilton, and Rachel Hannen picked up Blues, whilst Alasdair Schreiber picked up Half Blues. Rebecca Steven and Jim Whittle were presented with colours.

This year also saw us hold our largest Freshers' event yet, with over forty interested potential curlers coming along. We welcomed Fraser Baird, Paul Donaldson, Emma Hair, Andrew McCluskey and Lauren McIntyre into the club this year and we look forward to seeing them in the seasons to come.

We also saw our new committee take office in March, with Ben Fowler taking Alasdair's place as Captian, Connor McIsaas replacing Jim at Treasurer, Cristina Marin taking Rebecca's position as Secretary, Heather Thorburn remaining in post as Social Sec., and Peter Dagen moving into Cristina's old post of Ordinary Member. We wish the new committee the best of luck in the comming year.

We've had some brilliant social events too this year, courtesy of the Gorsvenor Café. Our Christmas dinner and AGM dinner were great nights out, with a dinner and drinks in the Gorsvenor and nights out in the QMU and in Viper. As well as that, our Social Sec., Heather, has continued to arrange weekly post-training socials in the Grosvenor and in Revolution, in conjunction with Strathclyde

Finally, we must say goodbye to a number of curlers who have finished their university careers; Alasdair Schreiber leaves the club, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Law, Jim Whittle is leaving, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Physics, Rebecca Steven is leaving, graduating with a Masters in Engineering, and Lucy Taylor is leaving us, graduating with a degree in Vetinary Medicine. We wish all our graduates the best of luck in their future endeavours and hope to see them on the ice in the future.

It truly has been a great year for the Club and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed and will remember for the rest of my years. It only remains for me to wish you all a good summer and good curling when the season starts up in September.