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High Rankin standard wins the day in Moray Province Curling Mixed Knockout competition


By Bill Jaffrey

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In the final of the Moray Province Mixed knockout, the Rankin family together with lead Jodi Best overcame a very strong Andy Cameron rink 6-3 in a fine exhibition of high quality curling.

Jamie Rankin alongside mum Janice. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Jamie Rankin alongside mum Janice. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

The Rankins lined up with son Fraser at second and Salt Lake City Olympic gold medalist mum Janice at third setting up strong positions while dad Steve clinically cleared up potential opposition opportunities.

It came down to several coolly played last stone draws from skip Andy Cameron to keep his own team in the hunt.

Cameron’s three single shot ends however, were insufficient to counter a couple of two-shot scores and two more single shot ends from the Rankin combo.

In East Division 1, Elgin’s Kenny OswaId consolidated his spot at the summit with a good 8-5 win over Donald Ross.

The game was a precise reversal of their previous league encounter when the hoteliers took both points and with only two games to play, Kenny looks like a strong bet to pick up the title.

Division 2 leader Dave McPherson also took a step nearer winning his division, albeit whilst dropping a point against Alan Durno.

The Tennis Club lads looked to be in control all the way until a loss of three at the last end gave the Fochabers rink a share of the spoils.

Division 3 is the tightest and most competitive in the whole Province and Elgin’s Bob Stewart leapfrogged long time league leader Charlie Watt jnr with a hard fought victory over club colleague Helen Downey.

Counts of three and four in ends two and four and then a double steal ensured Stewart’s new position at the top of the table.

Watt jnr continues to falter from his previous seemingly invincible form, this time dropping a point to Gordie Kennedy, but the Forres rink are still well in the title race, only a single point behind Stewart.

Owen Watson moved his Moray junior team into contention with a very strong 9-2 win over Linda Hardie.

The Forres rink could only score two singles as the clinical juniors won five ends and are now only three points off the top of the division.

With Try Curling being extremely well attended in the aftermath of a hugely successful Winter Olympics and a fully subscribed Curling’s Cool Primary School Bonspiel taking place next week, it is very encouraging to see the popularity of the game booming at Moray Leisure Centre.

Results.

Moray Province Mixed Knockout Final

S. Rankin 6 A. Cameron 3

Moray Province East League

Division 1

K. OswaId (Elgin) 8 D. Ross (Sunninghill) 5

Division 2

D. McPherson (Elgin Tennis Club) 6 A. Durno (Fochabers) 6

Division 3

H. Downey (Elgin) 7 R. Stewart (Elgin) 9

C. Watt jnr (Forres) 4 G. Kennedy (Ballindalloch) 4

L. Hardie (Forres) 2 O. Watson (Moray Juniors) 9


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