Who Doesn’t Love a Hometown Hero?

Pride and disappointment were the dominant emotions on Saturday night as the Team GB, with strong Stranraer representation, came up just short in the men’s curling final. Just as it was four years ago in Beijing, they had to settle for silver — despite leading after six ends and looking on course to end a 102-year wait for gold.

Curling has a rich heritage around these parts. Someone recently shared an article from the Galloway Gazette reporting on a match that took place between the Rhins and Machars in December 1875. The match took place at the suggestion of a “Dr Easton of Stranraer”, who, it turns out, was an elder in our congregation. In those days, of course, curling was an outdoor sport. Easton had first broached the idea the previous year, but “John Frost was unfavourable”. Not to be deterred, the “Grand Bonspiel at Loch Skerrow” took place the following year, despite melting ice forcing the pitch to be shortened at places. The Gazette dubbed it “the most important match that has ever been played in Galloway”.

Fast forward 150 years and the BBC website was running articles about the hotel ice rink in Stranraer producing some of Scotland’s best curlers. Given all the local interest, anticipation was at fever pitch as Team Mouat recovered from a mixed showing during the round robin matches to reach the final. Alas, the Canadians saw their opportunity and took it. Read the rest of Rev. Stephen Steele’s article for a local newspaper here.