BUTE Curling Club proudly took its place on one of the sport’s most historic stages as a local rink competed in the prestigious Grand Match — the unique North v South showdown played only once every five years.
The Grand Match has its roots in 1847, when curlers first met on a frozen loch near Penicuik. Only 38 Grand Matches have ever been held, largely because traditional outdoor curling required deep, safe ice — something Scotland’s milder winters rarely provide today.
The last outdoor Grand Match took place in 1979 at the Lake of Menteith, attracting more than 4,000 curlers. Bute had only just re-formed the previous year and was unable to take part, making this year’s appearance especially meaningful.
On Saturday, November 15, Bute’s rink — skip Donald Kinnear, third Duncan Lyon, second Mike Hislop and lead Nicola Speirs — travelled to Greenacres Ice Rink to represent the North of Scotland against Stewarton Heather Curling Club.
Despite learning pre- match that their opponents could field up to ten rinks and boasted a former national schools champion among their ranks, the Bute quartet rose to the occasion. Piped onto the ice alongside teams from Inverness, Nairn and Millport, they delivered some fine curling and trailed only 5–2 after four ends.
However, Stewarton pulled away after the break to secure a comfortable win.
True to curling tradition, the final score mattered far less than the camaraderie. The Bute players returned home with memories of a special day, proud to have represented the island in an event steeped in history and cherished across Scotland’s curling community.
