This is a curling competition held in Stranraer with a fair amount of eating and drinking thrown in. Of course I don't curl so I was really only there for the food, but I have been inducted as a WOHFTF groupie.
Every November Fiona, her curling pals, and the entourage (in total there were 17 of us) head off to the North West Castle in Stranraer where a weekend event is organised. The hotel was the first in the world to have it own indoor curling rink.
The hotel runs competitions throughout the curling season (October to April) where you get 2 nights full board with entry to the group stage of the curling. You also get to use the pool etc and get a buffet lunch. Normally the group will have at least 2 teams entered, so in addition to their placings in the overall competition there is the private rivalry between the teams. The curling is bookended by lots of fine eating and drinking.
Fiona and I arrived just before 1900 on Friday evening and once we had checked in we met up with the others in the dining room. After dinner and retiring to the bar we had a fairly early night, with the teams anxious about the next days play.
As Fiona was on ice at 0830 she left me to sleep, so after breakfast I headed down to the rink to see how they were getting on. As is common with curling rinks, the viewers gallery overlooks the short end of the rink, and there is a bar. They won so they then held the post match discussion. It seems curling is a very social sport. It is customary after a game for the winning team to buy the losers a drink and discuss the match.
After the game it was out for a walk through the shops of the village - this is also the custom it seems. After some retail therapy it was back for lunch and the next match. While Fiona curled and won again, I was up preparing a training plan for my cubs - there is a lot more to this Bagheera business than anyone let on. Once Fiona was done we headed off for a swim (really a sit in the sauna and jacuzzi) though we did actually do about 3 lengths each. Then it was dress for dinner. And then veg out with the rest of the wine...
Sunday morning was low key - after breakfast we planned on a drive out to Port Patrick but eventually decided that by the time we got out there it would be near enough time to come back, so we just walked around the harbour in Stranraer. It was a lovely still morning and the sea was like a mill pond:
After our walk it was back in for lunch and Fiona's third game. Since this wasn't that long after breakfast she decided to only have the soup and dessert and left he main meal plated up for after her game. The rest of us just ate again.
That was them into the semi finals.
After a quick turn around it was out again onto the ice. I have to admit this was the first match I've actually watched from start to finish and I do have to admit that once you have a vested interest it becomes more exciting. At this point the gallery/bar was filling up as the others players finished their games and watched. This was a close game with great shots and strategy by both sides. Fiona and the teams came through this close game in the front and were now into the final. After the customary drink with the opposition it was back out onto the ice for the final and another close game, with both sides evenly matched. After Alan's final shot the opposing skip realised they were now too far behind to catch up and they 'shook hands' the formal method of conceding defeat. Again the round of drinks and then the prize giving for an exhausted team.
The best thing about the victory is that they are now invited back to play in the champion's weekend in March - another weekend away.
