It was a roaring success for the roaring game in Dumfries this April with the Rotary World Curling Championships 2022 at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. Over 100 curlers and their partners attended the week long event and the Dumfries Ice Bowl once again expanded the excellent reputation it has for hosting major curling events in Dumfries. Curlers from Canada, United States of America, England and Scotland descended upon Dumfries to experience our town and hospitality.
The competitions were keenly contested throughout the week with teams evenly matched going into the last day of the Round Robin. Two competitions ran concurrently, one for the Rotary World title and the other for the Friendship title with the team from the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie Sunrise from Canada coming out on top over the Rotary Club of Ayr to win the Rotary World title and for the Friendship title the Rotary Club of Westhill from Aberdeen winning over the Rotary Club of Grimsby from Canada ensuring successes for both Canada and Scotland. Great praise from all the curlers was provided for the volunteers from Dumfries Ice Bowl Curling Association for the quality of the ice and their preparation and hard work throughout the week to provide first class facilities for the Championships. The Rotary World Championship dates back nearly fifty years to 1972 with the Friendship event being introduced in 1996. Each country holds its own qualifying competitions for the Rotary World Championships and teams from Perth, Dumfries Devorgilla, Ayr and Forfar were successful for this 2022 event. The Friendship event was also well represented locally with teams from Stranraer, Kirkcudbright, Lockerbie and Dumfries all taking part.
A full programme of social events was arranged for the Championships and great thanks goes to the Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club for Banquets during the week as well as the main hotel for the visitors. Top entertainment showcasing the best of our Region was provided including the marvellous Claire Hastings and her band, Castleband and an evening of Burns entertainment including John Caskie, Callum Watson, Willie McRobert and John Glover. Partners and non-curlers were treated to sightseeing trips throughout the week including visits to Annandale Distillery, The Devil’s Porridge Museum, Ellisland Farm and Portrack Garden of Cosmic Speculation.
Bob Carruthers the Chairman of the organising committee said “the Championships have been a tremendous success. Organising the event was a real team effort with Rotary Clubs throughout the south of Scotland taking a role in the organisation with the Rotary Clubs of Dumfries Devorgilla, Dumfries, Lockerbie, Thornhill, Dalbeattie, Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright all involved. I would like to thank all the local businesses that provided sponsorship to make it possible for us to hold the event and special thanks should also be mentioned to Criffel Coaches, Dumfries and Galloway Council and particularly Graham Sloan, the Curling Development Officer at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. This was the first time that the Championships have been held in Dumfries and we have ensured lasting memories and friendships for our visitors of their time in Dumfries and hopefully a return of the Championships to our Region in the future.”
