Minutes extracted from th club's original minutes book covering the first few years of the clubs existence. February 19th, 1858 A Bonspiel was played on Portmore Loch between four Rinks of the Peebles club and an equal number of Eddleston the Ice was in fine condition. When al the Rinks had finished victory was declared for Peebles by twenty two shots. February 22nd, 1858 Owing to previous notice from the Grand Secretary Messrs Ballantine, Fisher, Small, and Plenderleith started with the 2pm train to join the Great Match at Blackford but a telegram having been sent to Edinburgh that the Ice was not in condition. The next train brought them all safe to Eddleston. February 26th, 1858 Fourteen Members of the Club met on Portmore Loch to compete for their Club Medal, the Rinks being laid off, the
players by ballot took their places each determined to be the winners but when all the points had been counted the Rev. Alexander J. Murray stood highest on the Pool by one shot. February 27th, 1858 Two Rinks from the Club met two Rinks of the Newlands Water Club on Portmore Loch to decide a Challenge sent by the latter, the Ice was soft and the tees shortened but at the finish Eddleston stood twenty five shots ahead. March 10th, 1858 Two Rinks from the Club met two of the Stobo Rinks on Berespool ? Pond. When time was called Stobo counted one shot ahead. March 13th, 1858 One Rink from the Club met one Rink from Peebles on Portmore Loch. When the game was finished Eddleston stood twenty six shots ahead. This finishing the Curling for the season and after five Spiels Eddleston stood thus Eddleston | 19th Feb | lost | 22 shots | | | | 27th Feb | gained | | 25 shots | | | 8th Mar | lost | 15 shots | | | | 10th Mar | lost | 1 shot | | | |
13th Mar | gained | | 26 shots | | | | | 38 shots | 51 shots |
gained by 13 shots |
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October 22nd , 1858 Pursued to notice a meeting of the Eddleston Curling Club was held on the evening of the 22nd of October 1858. Mr George Douglas having previously resigned the offices of Treasurer and Secretary the meeting proceeded to appoint one of their number to fill these offices. Mr Small, Mr Gray and
other members were nominated but declined to act. Mr Mark seeing the difficulty in which the club was placed volunteered to do the duties of these offices for one year on condition that some of the other members should take their turn and release him at the expiry of that time. The club however cannot part with Mr Douglas as their Treasurer and Secretary without expressing and recording their grateful acknowledgment for his past invaluable services.
A schedule had been sent to the club by the Secretary of the R. Caledonian to be filled up by the names of the Office bearers and members forming the Eddleston Club for the year 1858/59. Mr Mark was instructed to fill it up and transmit it to the Secretary of the Royal Caledonian before the 1st November next, the following is a copy: W. Forbes MacKenzie Esq., President
James Wolfe Murray Esq., Vice President
The Rev. Alexander J. Murray, Chaplain
Robert Smith, Representative Member
Alexander Mark, Treasurer & Secretary
Committee
Archibald Plenderleith Robert Gray John Fisher
William Small Samuel Paterson Ordinary Members
W. Forbes MacKenzie Esq. James Wolfe Murray Esq. Robert Smith
Alexander Mark Rev. Alexander J. Murray Thomas Smith
Robert Gray George Douglas Archibald Plenderleith
Samuel Paterson Dickson Nimmo John Fisher
James Wilson William Small James Kello
James McDonald John McLaren William Ballantine By cash from George Douglas | balance
| £ 0. 2. 2 | By /6d from each member | | 0. 9. 0 | | |
£ 0. 11. 2 |
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8th November | Paid annual subscription to R. Caledonian 1858/59 | £ 0. 8. 0
| - " - | Paid 2 copies of Annual for 1859 @ 1/- each | 0. 2. 0 | - " - | Paid Pond rent for year 1858/59 | 0. 1. 6 | | | £ 0. 11. 6 |
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Season 1858/59
In season 1858/59 there were no games played by the Club, the Ice never being in proper strength owing to the mildness of the season. Only four of the members played a short game on the afternoon of the 24th November 1859 (should probably read 1858). October 21, 1859
A schedule having been sent to the club by the R. Caledonian Secretary requesting this club to return a list of members for the year 1859/60. The club having met this evening when the following list of members was returned viz: W. Forbes MacKenzie Esq., President
James Wolfe Murray Esq., Vice President
The Rev. Alexander J. Murray, Chaplain
Robert Smith, Representative Member
Alexander Mark, Treasurer & Secretary Committee
Archibald Plenderleith Robert Gray John McLaren
William Small Samuel Paterson Ordinary Members
W. Forbes MacKenzie James Wolfe Murray Robert Smith
Alexander Mark Rev. Alexander J. Murray Colin MacKenzie
Robert Gray George Douglas Archibald Plenderleith
Samuel Paterson Dickson Nimmo George Douglas Jun.
James Wilson William Small William Ballantine
James McDonald John McLaren Occasional Members
Simon Linton Noble William H. Bayly William White
Adam Dick Thomas Smith October 25th, 1859 Six members of our club met this day on the pond at Borland and played a game of 31 shots. January 2nd, 1860
The Committee of Curlers having met and from the previous appearance of this season consider it likely to be a favourable year for curling there having already been seven days of good Ice and good play have come to the resolution that the members of the club should dine together in the schoolroom on the evening of the old new year the 13th Inst. with a Ball after the dinner and that the intimation be
given to all the members by circular and the President of the club invited to take the Chair and that a few special friends be invited. January 14th, 1860 According to the foregoing resolution of the Committee the members of the club dined together in the upper schoolroom who, along with the friends invited, amounted to 36 in the unavoidable absence of
the President who had that day to attend the funeral of a relative. Mr Gray was nominated to fill the Chair who did its duties in admirable style. Mr Mark acting as Croupier, the dinner tickets were 2/6d each. The dinner was furnished by Mr Mitchel of the CrossKyes and gave every satisfaction. At nine o'clock most of the young men left the dinner table and commenced Ball in the lower school
which was carried on with glee in country dances, quadreels and Polkas until three in the morning when the party broke up all highly pleased. January 26th, 1860 It having been resolved on by a majority of the Club to have a medal bought by subscription and played for annually by the subscribers, the following is a list of the subscribers with the amounts: Alexander Mark | £ 0. 1/ 6 | | Brought forward | £ 0.16/ 6 | George Douglas | 0. 1/ 6 | | John McLaren | 0. 1/ 6 | William White | 0. 1/ 6 | | George Douglas Jun | 0. 1/ 6 | William Anderson | 0. 1/ 6 | | Total | £ 0.18/ 6 | William Small | 0. 1/ 6 | | | | Samuel Paterson | 0. 1/ 6
| | The above applied to repairing Eglepond and referred to in | Robert Smith | 0. 1/ 6 | | minute of 10th April, 1862 | Rev. A.J. Murray | 0. 1/ 6 | | | | Arch. Plenderleith | 0. 1/ 6 |
| | | William Ballantine | 0. 1/ 6 | | | | James Wilson |
0. 1/ 6 | | | | forward | £ 0.16/ 6 | | | |
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February 1st, 1860 Thirteen members of the club met this day on Portmore Loch to compeat for the Club Medal of this season. After the usual round of points had been played it was found that the two highest players were equal, viz the Rev. A.J. Murray and Mr William Small both standing at 10 points each. Two additional points were played by them when the prize was gained by Mr Murray at 12 shots.
The Cringeltie Medal left by the late lamented Mrs Wolfe Murray was also played for on the afternoon of the same day and on the same Ice and also gained by Mr Murray at 11 shots. February 3rd, 1860 This day the Royal Caledonian C.C Grand Match was played on the Pond at Carsbreck. 174 rinks started, when the game was finished the South side of the Forth beat the North side by 142 shots. One
Rink from Eddleston Club played, Mr Plenderleith Skip, whose rink lost by one shot, he counting 11 and opponent 12 shots. February 13th, 1860 This day three rinks of the Eddleston Club played three rinks of the Whitehill Club on Whitehill pond for District Royal C.C.C. Medal of 1858. The following is the result: | EDDLESTON | | | WHITEHILL | | Skip |
Robert Gray | 29 | Skip | Mr. Cunningham | 24 | Skip | Mr. Plenderleith | 28 | Skip | Mr. Granger | 15 | Skip | George Douglas | 15 | Skip | Mr. Main | 43 | | | 72 | | | 82 |
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October 26th, 1860 The following is the list of members returned by Eddleston to the Royal Caledonian C.C for the year 1860/61: W. Forbes MacKenzie Esq., President
James Wolfe Murray Esq., Vice President
The Rev. Alexander J. Murray, Representative Member and Chaplain
Alexander Mark, Treasurer & Secretary Council & Committee
Archibald Plenderleith Robert Gray John McLaren
William Small Samuel Paterson Ordinary Members
Archibald Plenderleith Robert Smith Alexander Mark
Rev. Alexander J. Murray Robert Gray Samuel Paterson
George Douglas Jun. James Wilson William Small
William Ballantine James McDonald John McLaren Occasional Members
W. Forbes MacKenzie Esq. James Wolfe Murray Esq. Simon Linton Noble
George Douglas Patrick Melrose December 28th, 1860 Eleven members of the club met this day on the Harcus Pond and played for their Club Medal, it was well contested and gained by Mr Wm. Small at 11 shots. January 5th, 1861
This day 3 rinks of the Eddleston Club played 3 rinks of the Newlands Water Club on the Whim Pond for the Royal Caledonian District Medal of 1860, the following is the result: | EDDLESTON | | |
NEWLANDS | | Skip | Robert Gray | 24 | Skip | Mr. Somervil | 22 | Skip | Arch'd Plenderleith | 18 | Skip | Jas. Thom | 34 | Skip | Robert Smith | 21 | Skip | Chas. Lawson | 24 | | |
63 | | | 80 |
Transcribed by,
Robert Robertson | 
