THE SPORT OF CURLING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19853, 17 July 1934, Page 10

THE SPORT OF CURLING

POPULARITY IN OTAGO

DESCRIPTION OF GAME In recent years in Central Otago * interest in the sport of curling has increased by leaps and bounds. A sport on the ice which is common In Scotland, curling is played in the winter in the Otago districts, where sufficient strong ice is available. The increased interest has naturally been followed by increased proficiency In the sport, so much so that this year a series of test matches with a visiting team of Australian curlers will be played. The first bonspiel, or set matches, will be held to-day, and advice from Oturehua is to the effect that the ice on the big dam is now in perfect condition for curling. Australian Curlers. At the invitation of the curling clubs of New Zealand, four members of the Curling Club of Australia will take part in matches in the Otago district. They are Captain and Mrs I. M. Moffatt-Pender, Mr D. W. Hattrick, and Mr T. Paulds. The matches will include three test games. Captain Moffatt-Pender, who founded the Curling Club of Australia sixteen months ago, on his arrival in New Zealand said that the sport was becoming increasingly popular. In Scotland every village had its curling pond as every town in Australia and New Zealand had its tennis courts. In Canada there were over 5000 clubs, including about 300 composed entirely of ladles. In Central Otago there were twelve or thirteen clubs. The curling stones used by the Australian team were made of granite and weighed between 29 and 43ilb. Shortly before the team left Australia, said Captain Moffatt-Pender, the team played a match with four Sydney curlers who had played the game in Scotland in their youth. This was the first match ever played In Sydney. Artificial ice was used for matches in Melbourne and Sydney. The team will remain in the Dominion until August 4. Game Described. Curling is a sport on the ice common in Scotland, where it is played by all classes of people in winter. The 1 game Is played with flattish round stones, about nine inches in diameter, each stone weighing from 301 b to 501 b. The stones, each of the players uses a pair, are provided with handles to enable the player to hurl them on the ice with the proper degree of force. As at bowls, the stones are hurled to an assigned point or mark. The game is as follows: Sides are made up, usually consisting of four against four, with a director styled “skip” for each; after which a certain length of ice is chosen on which to play. This is called the “rink.” Certain marks are then made at each end of the rink, consisting of several concentric rings, called “broughs,” and a centre, called the “tee.” The game is decided by time, or by one party first attaining a certain number of shots, such as 21 or 31; and the keenness displayed by rival sides in competing for victory is perhaps without parallel in any other pastime whatever. One on each side plays alternately. The chief object of the player is to hurl his stone along the ice towards the tee, with proper strength and precision; and on the skill displayed by the players in placing their own stones In favourable positions or in driving rival stones out of favourable positions, depends nearly all the Interest of the game. At a certain distance from each of the tees, a line—the “hog-score”—is drawn across the ice; and any stone not driven beyond this mark counts nothing and is laid aside. Control of Game. The sport is regulated by a body of rules Issued by a central association in Scotland called the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, which has grand matches in which hundreds are engaged once, if possible, every winter. Latterly, curling has migrated to countries overseas where Scotsmen can find ice of sufficient strength and keenness, and the game has been played in summer on artificial ice. Since 1902-3 Scottish teams have played many matches in Canada.