The new curling season kicked off this week in Moray Leisure Centre with mainly keenly contested games played on big swinging ice.

In Division 1 Neil Durno,temporarily suspended from harvesting by continued wet weather was always ahead against Andy Cameron’s Aberlour. Despite a solid 4 at the seventh end, Andy cane up short for a 9-5 loss.
Kenny Oswald had a thumping 12-2 win over the defending Province champions of Buckie. Scores at all but the fifth end, gave the Elgin rink an easy opening night win.
In Division 2 the games were all pretty tight affairs.Mike Macdonald,now a man of leisure,trailed Dave McPherson’s Tennis Club 5-2 going into the final end, but picked up 4 shots to sneak a single shot win.
Abby Duncan’s Fochabers loons gave up 3 shots at the first end, but gradually fought back with 4 singles and then a match winning 2 at the last to pip Forres’s promoted Howard Anstruther 6-4.
Bill Jaffrey and Ballindalloch’s cup winning Ryan Mackenzie had a ding dong battle before a come from behind 4 at the last end gave the Fochabers rink a 7-5 victory.
In Division 3 the Forres rink of Charlie Watt jnr scored a single shot at each of 5 ends,but couldn’t stop Darnaway’s Eddie Milne running out 7-5 winners.
Bob Stewart was 5-0 down to Molly Keen’s Junior rink after 3 ends,but the wily Elgin rink’s vast experience paid off in the end for a tight single shot win.
Brian Cantlay’s Rotarians and Ronald Christie’s Fochabers fought out a 6-6 draw, with the lead changing several times before honour was evened at the last end with a Rotary double.
Should any readers like a “go ” at curling,Moray Leisure Centre is holding a come and try day on 9th October between 1pm and 3 pm. There are also ” try curling” days and opportunities to start or to resume curling at the virtual club at MLC. Please check the Moray Province website or MLC for further information.
All results and League tables can be seen on moraycurling.co.uk