The Scots are coming to the Cornwall Curling Club on Saturday January 19, as part of the century-old Strathcona Cup Tour. Spectators are welcome to attend everything but the dinner.

The Strathcona Cup 2013 Tour (http://strathconacuptour2013.co.uk) is an event with a history of over 100 years and, as such, entails some ceremonial aspects.  Prior to the beginning of the Cornwall game at 3:00 p.m., there will be a “Canopy of Brooms” (comprised of the sixteen Cornwall curlers) outside the Club to welcome the Scottish curlers as they disembark from their bus.  This will be followed by a piper leading the players onto the ice, and an official opening ceremony.

In order to have everyone in place for the official welcome, it is important that the curlers in the event arrive at the Cornwall Curling Club NO LATER THAN 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, January 19.  At the completion of the game, we have arranged a Prince Edward Island Oyster Society (www.peioystersociety.ca) “Shuck In” ceremony for the Scottish curlers, followed by a dinner for the curlers with a Robert Burns theme. After dinner there will be entertainment, and everyone is welcome to attend from 9:00 p.m. onward.  We are hoping for a large crowd to give our Scottish visitors a real PEI party experience!

Here are the Cornwall teams for the Strathcona Cup (skip to lead):

Bob MacWilliams, Roy Coffin, Jamie Ballem, Jim Farquharson

Roddie MacLean, Leslie Hardy, Donald Weeks, Mark MacDonald

Ernie Stavert, Ray Biagé, Paul Durant, Derek MacEwen

Craig Mackie, Danny Kneabone, Kimball Blanchard, Myron MacKay

Between now and January 19, Cornwall skips might want to arrange a practice game to get to know your team.  While this is a “friendly” curling tournament, we are representing Canada and consequently want to make a decent showing.  Since the Strathcona Cup is a Canada versus Scotland event, an aggregate scoring system will be used.  The winning team is determined by the total number of points scored by each country, not by the number of games won.  In other words, scores are important!   Each team will play a full eight-end game and ties will remain unbroken.  When the Tour is completed at the end of January, the Strathcona Cup trophy will be awarded to the country scoring the most points during all the games played across Canada.  Be forewarned that we are aware that the Scots have been practising!