Curl Edinburgh is one of several venues around Scotland preparing to host the Indoor Grand Match – the single biggest curling match in the world – on Saturday, 15 November.
The iconic fixtures used to be held outdoors but milder winters have meant going under a roof.
Still, thousands of curlers from across Scotland will take to the ice for the Ambassador Cruise Line sponsored event.
The concept stems from the legendary Grand Match of old, which saw thousands of curlers gather on Loch Leven, Carsebreck and the Lake of Menteith whenever Scotland’s winter froze deep enough to bear the stones. Those majestic occasions, with hundreds of sheets marked on the ice, are among the most iconic moments in curling’s story.
Scottish Curling introduced the Indoor Grand Match in 2000 to ensure the tradition could continue whatever the weather and the participants will be divided into two teams – North and South – with an imaginary line drawn across the country.
The inaugural event was a huge success, with more than 2,500 curlers competing simultaneously across Scotland. Since then, the Indoor Grand Match has taken place roughly every five years, keeping alive a cherished national rivalry.
The rules remain simple, in keeping with the traditions of the Grand Match. A line drawn between the River Forth and the River Clyde divides Scotland into two, North and South. Every curler in the country belongs to one of these regions.
On match day, hundreds of teams will play at once in ice rinks across the nation, from Kelso to Aberdeen, Dumfries to Inverness. Each game contributes to the overall tally, and at day’s end, one side claims the bragging rights and the coveted Grand Match Trophy.
This year, games will be hosted across 12 rinks:
Aberdeen, Forfar, Inverness, Dumfries, Greenacres, Border Ice Rink (Kelso), Lockerbie, Edinburgh, Lanarkshire Ice Rink (Hamilton), Kinross, Perth, and Waterfront (Greenock).
Vincent Bryson, Chief Executive of Scottish Curling said: “The Indoor Grand Match is a truly unique occasion. No other sport in the world can bring together this many people, in this many places, all competing as one. It embodies everything that makes curling special. Tradition, teamwork, friendship and pride.’
“It’s an incredible reminder of how important curling is to Scotland and we can’t wait to see the passion, the rivalry and the camaraderie on show when the stones start sliding on 15 November.”
