Winter Sport - Keen Lakes curlers go the extra miles (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Winter Sport - Keen Lakes curlers go the extra miles

9:34am Friday 26th February 2010 in

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CURLING enjoys centre stage when the Winter Olympics comes around, but a group of South Lakeland enthusiasts have shown an unswerving devotion to the sport for nigh on 30 years.

While most sportsmen and women of retirement age head to the local indoor bowling green or swimming pool, these curling afficiandos regularly embark upon a 150-mile round trip to play in Lockerbie Ice Rink in Scotland.

The Lakeland association began almost 30 years ago with different groups travelling up to play friendlies.

Then five years ago such was the interest that the rink suggested they formed a league.

Kentside Probus team are one of six teams from the area who compete from October to March for the South Lakes League title.

Each month on a Thursday during the winter - December’s festive break excepted - the teams of four meet up at Kendal RUFC to travel by car up the M6 to do battle in fleeces and woolly hats on the ice.

Champions Kentside Probus have won the title for the past three years in competition against rivals from Windermere Golf Club, Windermere Rotary, the West Callies, the Nomads and the Ice Cubes.

Paul Singleton organises the Probus team and its fixtures and says: "It's very friendly but competitive - you don't go all the way up there to lose!

"It's a full day out - we set out about 10 o’ clock in the morning and are back by five in the afternoon.”

It costs only £6.20 per person to play and the cool conditions means there are certain rituals that have to be observed.

"When we get there we always have a bacon sandwich and a coffee to get us going ...and a cup of tea afterwards,” said Mr Singleton.

He explained: "We have a couple of experienced, talented players in the Probus team which probably helps explains our success.

“Out on the ice it is quite tactical with teams choosing to play their better players once the pattern of an end is established.

“There is a certain amount of athleticism required to send the 20kilos (44lb) stone on its way and there is the energetic use of the brushes to control it. “ The Lockerbie link is a thriving centre for the sport and Great Britain men’s team captain David Murdoch is regularly spotted there and his mother Marion serves behind the cafe bar.

But even Mr Singleton admits even he sometimes is baffled by the top-level game.

"At Olympic level the play can be so subtle that without the TV commentary you would not know what is going on until the end reaches its climax.”