2020 Scottish Curling Awards – Voting has now closed
Voting has now closed.
We are pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2020 Scottish Curling Awards:
YOUNG CURLER OF THE YEAR
Emma Barr (20) 
Emma has again been shortlisted because of her ongoing commitment to the Scottish Curling Academy squad. She was the top scoring female athlete for the second year running in the end of season academy assessment, which uses a scoring system to measure several parameters, including technical elements, commitment to gym and on-ice sessions, communication, workshop attendance, competition results, mindset, drive and planning.
James Craik (18)
James has had a strong season both at home and abroad. He retained the Scottish Curling Junior Championship title – this time as skip with a new team. He went on to win the bronze medal at the World Junior Curling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia in February, and won the Asham U21 Slam Men’s Tour. James was also the second top scoring athlete in the end of season academy assessment.
Blair Haswell (20)
Blair has worked incredibly hard this season and was the top scoring Scottish Curling Academy in the end of season academy assessment. He also won his first Scottish Curling Junior Championship title as second for Team Craik. He went on to win bronze at the World Junior Curling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia in February, in which he led the statistics for the “second players” in the tournament over the week. He also won the Asham U21 Slam Men’s Tour, again with Team Craik.
GRASSROOTS COACH OF THE YEAR
Robert Forrest
Robert (Bob), a qualified RCCC Level 2 coach, is one of the most dedicated, hardworking and unassuming coaches in Ayr. He has adapted and improved courses for local Primary schools, ensuring they are efficiently run and enjoyable for P6 and P7 children. He has also developed the content of the program and composed excellent guidelines for the coaches who assist him. This has ensured a moment is never wasted with a lack of understanding of the content or delivery and makes it easier for new coaches to adapt and enjoy the experience as much as the children. In addition to the Schools program, Bob helps with Try Curling and Beginners courses, corporate groups, drop-in sessions and those needing additional assistance.
Alison Milne
Alison (Alay) is an experienced RCCC Level 2 coach, who has dedicated her time to help promote and improve Perth Junior Curling Club. Her commitment and enthusiasm towards the junior curlers is above and beyond. She is always on hand to give guidance and tips to the youngsters and other coaches. Alay has helped improve the performance of several juniors who have gone on to win championships. Not only does she coach, but she also volunteers her time to travel with various junior and senior teams to competitions all over Scotland.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Team Craik / Scotland – James Craik (skip), Mark Watt (third), Blair Haswell (second), Niall Ryder (lead), Angus Bryce (alternate for World Junior Curling Championships) and Iain Watt (coach)
Team Craik has had a successful year, winning the Scottish Junior Curling Championships, claiming the bronze at the World Junior Curling Championships in Russia, and winning the Asham U21 Slam Tour.
Team Mouat / Scotland – Bruce Mouat (skip), Grant Hardie (third), Bobby Lammie (second), Hamilton McMillan (lead) and Alan Hannah (coach)
Team Mouat won their third consecutive Scottish Curling Championship title this year. Unfortunately, they were unable to represent Scotland at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Glasgow because the championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Team Wilson – Rebecca Morrison (fourth), Maggie Wilson (third and skip), Jennifer Marshall (second), Eilidh Yeats (lead) and Colin Morrison (coach)
Team Wilson had an outstanding Scottish Curling Championship this season making it all the way to the final. They only lost one game in the round-robin stage to eventual winners Team Muirhead. They also come runners up in the Perth Masters against some good international competition.
ICE DIAMOND AWARD
Scottish Curling are pleased to award the 2020 Ice Diamond Award to Peter (Pete) Loudon for his outstanding contribution to curling.
Pete has chaired the Perth Masters for the last ten years and has been a committee member for around twenty. He is an outstanding leader overseeing all facets of the organising committee. His organisational skills and attention to detail are unsurpassed, which is evident in how successful the Perth Masters have become.
He has been instrumental in fundraising to realise a budget exceeding £60,000 a year to operate the event which has become the second largest “Cashspiel” outside the Grand Slams in Canada.
Pete has overseen many changes during his time as chair including the introduction this year of a women’s event which ran alongside the men’s bonspiel over the same weekend. The new format received overwhelming support from athletes, sponsors, media outlets, the curling fans who came to watch, and those who viewed online.
Whilst the Perth Masters has received some television coverage over the past 44 years, it has recently had national coverage on BBC Alba and online streaming through the World Curling TV YouTube platform, all driven by Pete.
The competition has had incredible support from some of the world’s best players over the years, including multiple Olympic, World and European winners and medallists. Not forgetting attracting some of Scotland’s strongest teams, and young up and coming talent, wishing to pit their skills against the world’s best.
In addition to the above, Pete was a member of the organising committee for the World Junior Curling Championship held in Perth in 2011 in which he was responsible for ticketing and the closing banquet. He is currently the vice chair of Perth Curling Club 1988 (formerly the board of directors for Perth Ice Rink Ltd). The committee support and advise the current management of Live Active Leisure who operate the Dewars Centre and helps organise various curling competitions.
Pete was also a top athlete, winning the World Men’s Curling Championship in 1999, the Europeans in 2007, 1999 and 1996, and Scottish Curling Championships in 2004, 2001, 1999 and 1995. He also competed in the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics for Great Britain.
Pete was also involved in coaching, and coached Gillian Barr and Julia Ewart to World Junior Championship titles in 1992 and 1997, respectively.
Scottish Curling is delighted to recognise Pete’s contribution to the development and promotion of the sport by awarding him with this year’s Ice Diamond Award. Congratulations Pete and thank you for your dedication to the sport.
Make your VOTE count!
The winner of each category (except for the Ice Diamond Award) will be decided upon by members of Scottish Curling through the online membership database. Simply log in to your account at www.rcccmembers.org and you should see the the poll on your Home Page.
Please note that if you share an email address with another member only one of you will be able to vote – one vote per email address. We suggest you register a unique email address if you wish to vote.
If you do not have access to your account please email Scottish Curling at office@scottishcurling.org or contact your Club Secretary and they will grant you access so that you can cast your vote.
Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 31 May 2020.
We would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination.
Photo credits:
Emma Barr – WCF/Stephen Fisher
James Craik – WCF/Richard Gray
Blair Haswell – WCF/Richard Gray
Robert Forrest – Kirsty Letton
Team Craik – Brian Battensby
Team Mouat – Tom Brydone
Team Wilson – Tom Brydone
Peter Loudon – Bill Duncan
Note: Scottish Curling reserves the right to change, amend, modify, suspend, continue or terminate all or any part of the Scottish Curling Awards process at any time without notice.
