Ice to see you, to see you ice!

Europe’s largest annual curling competition takes to the ice on Monday 18th January at the Dewars centre in Perth. The Yara Farmers Curling Championship, now in its 27th year, is a firm fixture in the Scottish farming calendar.

The championship sees up to 80 teams battle it out over 5 days of intense curling competition. Teams are made up of some of Europe’s top curlers and come from as far as Lyth in the north to Northumberland in the South.

Alan Wood, Yara Area Manager and Championship Organiser, is looking forward to seeing some world class curling "we have some top competitors again this year. Reigning champions Gordon Smith, Bill Thomson, Neill Smith and Mike Ferguson will be keen to win the title for a second successive year although teams skippered by Craig Watson, Bill Henderson and Greg Henderson are all in the frame for the winner’s trophy and first place cash prize."

Tove Anderson, Managing Director, Yara UK said, "it is the enthusiastic support of all the players and spectators that makes it such a pleasure for us to organise and run this event and gives Yara the opportunity to talk to farmers about the industry, respond to what they tell us and keep in touch with friends and customers alike"

The Dewars centre in Perth is situated in the heart of a vibrant agricultural community. "It is the perfect location for the championships" says Mr Wood "and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Directors and the staff at the centre.

"Competitors of all ages and abilities will be taking part and nearly 300 games will have been played when the competition draws to a close on day 5. We are also expecting to see a good number of spectators as in years past"

This year’s competition is a particularly poignant one, as Mr Wood explains "we will be holding a minutes silence before games start on day one in memory of Ainslie Smith who sadly passed away in 2009. Ainslie was the winner of the very first Yara Farmers Curling Championship held in 1983. He was President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, a well liked friend and a highly respected farmer who will be sorely missed. We will commemorate his life by doing exactly what Ainslie would have wanted.....enjoying a successful championship and the resulting camaraderie it brings."