Season 2009-10 Trophies and Prizes           Bull Cup winners [L to R] Eileen A (Pres.), David B (Skip), John F (Lead), Alaister F (2nd) Missing is Sheila D (3rd)       Rosebowl winners [L to R] Eileen A (Lead), Bob B (3rd). Missing are Ron A (Skip), Alister B (2nd)         Cook Shield winners [L to R] Bob B (Skip), Eileen A (Pres.)  Missing are Tom P (Lead), Ken G (3rd)         Kandersteg Shield winners [L to R] Neil A (3rd), Eileen A (2nd), Alaister F (presenting trophy). Missing are Sandy D (Skip) and John F (Lead)       Points winner [L to R] Bob B with President Eileen A

Only ten club members turned out on the chilly spring evening of Thursday 29th April for the 2010 Club's Annual General Meeting, which was held in the bar / lounge in Greenacres ice rink.  This was a disappointing turnout, considering that double that number had managed to attend the AGM in Season 2008-09.  Club President Eileen A opened the meeting by welcoming club members to the session and she thanked the members for turning up.  She asked for a 1-minute silence in memory of the late George Elder and Janette Wotherspoon, both of whom had been stalwart members of the Club for many years.  She then expressed her concern for club member Kenneth McLeod who was in hospital, but was expected to return home soon.  Eileen also reported that the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC) had passed the "1 player, 1 vote" motion at the AGM, which allows all members of registered curling clubs to vote on issues affecting Scottish curling as they arise - a breath of democracy!  Eileen reported that her two years as club president had not been easy, given the sad events that had occurred.  Finally, she hoped that everyone who played during the season had enjoyed their curling.  Comments from the audience confirmed that they had indeed! In her capacity as stand-in Club Secretary, Eileen then delivered an abbreviated Club Secretary's report.  Two new members joined this season - Tom P and David R. The club now has 28 playing members, 9 non-playing members, and 1 honorary member. Treasurer David B opened his report by thanking Neil A for his assistance in preparing the balance sheet.  He reported that the club had made a small surplus of £40 during the season.  He proposed that the current membership subscriptions (£34 for members whose Mother Club is Bridge of Weir and £23 for members whose Mother Club is other than Bridge of Weir), be changed for season 2010-11 to £35 and £18 respectively.  This was approved by the membership.  He also requested that skips should collect cash from substitutes from next season onwards. Match Secretary John F then delivered his report.  The Auld Clubs competition was won by Stephen McN of Lochwinnoch CC.  (Russell C, also of Lochwinnoch CC, won in season 2008-09, while Stephen won in the inaugural season of 2007-08.  More spirited opposition is required to end Lochwinnoch's monopoly of this trophy!  David B, Ron A, and Paul R had skipped teams in the 2008-09 competition, with David B's team finishing the best placed BoWCC team in 4th position.   David B's team finished highest up of the 4 BoWCC teams at the Stranraer weekend.  In friendly matches the club won only 1 out of 9 matches - a record that requires significant improvement in season 2010-11!  A BoWCC team skipped by David B won the District Medal against Brookfield.

Alex Stewart Trophy winners [L to R] Bill C (3rd), President Eileen A, Neil A (2nd) (Skip Sheila D is missing)     Knock-out Cup winners [L to R] Bob B (Skip), Pres. Eileen A, Alaister F (3rd). Missing are Bill I (2nd), Robert F (Lead)     MacLeod Cup winners [L to R] Bob B (Skip), Mary F (2nd), Paul R (3rd), Eileen A (Pres.) Missing is Moira J (Lead)     President's Shield winners [L to R] Eileen A (Pres.), Neil A (2nd). Missing are Ken G (Skip), Alan W (3rd), Maryel F (Lead)     Stranraer highest up team [L to R] David B (Skip), Eileen A (2nd), Neil A (3rd). Missing is Mary-Jane B (Lead)     Balyarrow Quaich winners (2008-09) Paul R (skip). Eileen A (President). Missing are Ian P (3rd), Neil A (2nd), Maryel F(Lead)

The BoWCC team lost out in the first round of the Barratt Cup against Auchenames.  The BoWCC team skipped by Ken G performed well in the Greenacres Daytime League, finishing in second place.  Bob B finished in second place in the 12th Province Points Competition, thus also winning the BoWCC Points Competition. John also announced future events for the calendar. .;; The 12th Province AGM will be held on Saturday 19th June.  The Indoor Grand Match (1 BoWCC team at Greenacres and 1 "away") will be held on Saturday 23/10/10.  The 12th Province weekend at Stanraer (for the Osprey Salver) will be held over the weekend of 29-31/10/10.  The Ottawa Valley Tour will be held from 4-15/11/10.  The triennial running of the Balyarrow Trophy will be hosted by current holders Haddington at Murrayfield Ice Rink on Sunday 20/11/10. Playing returns for season 2010-11 show a decrease from season 2009-10.  18 players wish to play in the Bull Cup, but only 12 (plus 3 reserves) in the Kandersteg.  (There will be 3 teams, which will play each other twice, with team rotation for each game, rather than for each end.)  The Cook Shield has 17 interested in playing + 1 reserve.  The Pairs competition has 11 players interested, and the Skins competition has 14 players + 2 reserves.  The Stranraer Weekend has 13 players + 3 reserves as do the Knock-out Cup and Auld Clubs competition.  President Eileen A then presented prizes to the winners of the club competitions. After the presentation, of prizes, Club office bearers were elected for next season as follows.  Ken G was elected President, and he thanked Eileen for her sterling work in the role, as well as acting as Club Secretary for this season.  Maryel F was elected as Vice-president, and Fiona E was elected as Club Secretary.  David B and John F remain in their current roles as Treasurer and Match Secretary respectively.  Bill C and Sandy D remain as Ordinary Committee members. Under AOCB, the following items were discussed :- David B asked the attendees if the Invitation Bonspiel should be run next season.  There was overall agreement from the attendees that this should go ahead.  The problem of converting invitees to the bonspiel into members of the club was discussed, as the track record of conversions form the bonspiel is not particularly good.  It was agreed to resurrect the "Merry ice" bookings (so called after the late David Merry, who would book casual ice at the weekend and invite anybody interested to turn up.)  The casual atmosphere placed less pressure on players, and allowed them to enjoy the experience more.  It was agreed to try this on 4 Saturday afternoons, after the Invitation Bonspiel. David B also asked if the club website could be simplified such that other members could maintain it.  It was also asked if a printable version of the handbook could be made available from the website.  Webmaster Paul R agreed to look at both of these suggestions. Finally, Bill C proposed a vote of thanks to the committee for organising and running the meeting. It was agreed that Bull Cup should be split to have 60% of the league phase in the first half of the season, and 40% in the second half. The attendees then adjourned to the Greenacres bar for a drink, and to look forward to next season.

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