Eddleston was represented by (left to right) Derek Brotherstone, Robert Robertson (skip), Archie Smellie and Drew Walker.

The 2005 Indoor Grand Match
Over 2,500 Curlers, from a record entry of 678 rinks across the country, took part in the 2005 Bank of Scotland Indoor Grand Match hosted in 24 Ice Rinks around Scotland on Saturday, 8th January.

Despite the dreadful weather a rink from Eddleston Curling Club travelled to Dumfries to meet a rink from Dalgety Bay.

Travel was difficult due to local flooding and their route was changed several times to avoid roads blocked by fallen trees between Moffat and Dumfries. All teams arrived safely and Eddleston played Dalgety Bay in a keenly contested match, the Eddleston rink emerging as victors by 12 shots to 2, in a very sporting game.

After the game both rinks retired to the bar to join fellow curlers to celebrate the occasion and enjoy a few drams and a very nice meal, and to swap a couple of 'war stories'.

Other local rinks had varying success, the pick of results showed Broughton Utd winning 8 – 5, Peebles losing 10 – 7, West Linton losing 10 - 3 and Newlands narrowly going down by 7 shots to 6. Our local rinks helped to represent the South and emerge as overall winners by 2639 shots to 2476.

Some Grand Match Facts First staged on January 15th 1847, the historic (Outdoor) Grand Match is contested between teams representing the North and South of Scotland. The (Outdoor) Grand Match, initially played at Penicuik, Linlithgow and Lochwinnoch, was held on the National Curling Pond at Carsebreck for 82 years (with two further outings to Lochwinnoch in 1864 and 1878) before being moved to Loch Leven in 1959, and subsequently the Lake of Menteith, where it was played in 1963 and 1979 – the most recent Outdoor Grand Match. Warmer Winters have made outdoor Grand Matches difficult to schedule of late, and led The Royal Caledonian Curling Club to move the event indoors for a Millennium Indoor Grand Match on 8th January, 2000 Following the success of the Millennium Indoor Grand Match indoor Grand Matches will be played every 5 years.

A Great Day Out ....