Greetings From Neuchatel

Jack and I enjoyed a Swiss Curling Tour in September 2014, organised by local curler Gordon Gilchrist (Lesmahagow CC).  Gordon has a lot of European curling contacts thus receiving invites for other competitions which is why we are currently in Neuchatel, Switzerland (Team – SCOTS-WHA-HA!).  Unfortunately Gordon could not go so The Hoods, Catherine and Jim Morrison (East Kilbride) and Kenny Hope (Dumfries) went instead.

Neuchatel are currently celebrating their 50th ANNIVERSARY and the 3-day bonspiel consisted of 5 games with the top 20 teams making the final for a 6th game.  There were 50 teams present.

We brought along a small gift for Neuchatel ie the wooden curling stone depicting the club badges of Lanark, East Kilbride and Dumfries CC’s.  The Highland Cow coasters were a great success as Europeans seems to love the look of our Highland Coo’s!!  Gordon sent along a bucket of  OOR WULLIE fudge sweets – well, trying to explain ‘Oor Wullie’ to the Europeans was a challenge – thanks Gordon.

At the time of writing, our team won our first game against the Italians : lost our second game (by one shot) against the French but won our third game against the Swiss.  The Schenkel system operates.

There are 10 curling sheets here – the curling hall has 3 sheets but the ice hockey arena has been transformed and has 7 sheets.  The weather is glorious : the company is great : we’re all having a great time and more invites are being received.  Tonight, we are all being taken onto the Lac by boat to watch a fireworks display then returns to Port du Neuchatel to change boats for an evening meal.

Ye cannae beat it!

Anne