Day 3 - First Counting Match (Greenacres)

Day 3 of the tour started with the 2017 Scottish Tourists holding Curling Court. There is a long tradition on the Tours where the Tour names a Sheriff and a Judge. The Sheriff and the Judge are responsible for enforcing infractions by the Tourists both large and small. The Judge assesses fines for infractions ranging from £2.50 and up to £25 and the Sheriff collects the funds.  Funds collected from fines are used for various things such as purchasing beverages for the bus and funding Tour reunions. 

After the 2017 Tour completed their Curling Court, the current Tour held their first Curling Court.  Captain Leland Rich was assessed a £25 fine for not knowing the whereabouts of the Herries-Maxwell trophy for which he was responsible.  Additional fines were assessed to various Tourists for infractions such as hogging a rock, wearing your name tag in the wrong side, not wearing a blazer during the entertainment and for being the only American team to lose an Exhibition match that day (and being soundly thrashed).  Fines other than Leland’s were generally £5.

After Court, the Tourists prepared for their trip to Greenacres Curling Club for the first official matches of the Tour.  On the way, the Tourists again got some great views of the Scottish countryside.  The last photo below shows the view from the warm room of the Greenacres Curling Club with sheep in the pasture just past the parking lot  




Upon arrival, the Tourists were welcomed by local dignitaries from the Renfrewshire Council including the Provost (Mayor) of Renfrewshire and another speech from Michael Ferguson, President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, where he facetiously exhorted the Scottish teams to “Win! Win! Win!”. 



Four matches held today (Team Rich had the bye) and all 4 were fairly competitive with some big ends happening on each side, but in the end, the United States took an early lead of 5 points over Scotland.  USA Leads 29-25.

Once again, at the end of the 4th end we were treated to a broomstacking break and a wee dram of whisky.




Team Jackson (USA) wins over Team Thorpe (Scotland)

Team Brown (Scotland) wins over Team Wright (USA)

Team Richardson (Scotland) wins over Team Anderson (USA)

Team Beadle (USA) wins over Team Barclay (Scotland)

After the matches, the Tourists were treated to banquet at the Greenacres Curling Club.  It started with a welcome by the Scots, the recitation of the Curling Grace, and a toasts by the Tourists to their Scottish hosts.  The Scots presented the Tourists with their own “Jimmy Hats” to wear throughout the evening.


To conclude the evening, the Tourists serenaded their hosts with the Tour Intro Song, Will I a Sub Be? And a Curling version of Highland Cathedral as well as two entertaining stories. 


          USA                SCOTLAND
29                        24

Here is our progress through Scotland so far:



Access the Tour photo share here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d5uWGEjqgF93FQWA8



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