Scotland’s Ice Rinks Frozen Out

The biggest names in Scottish Curling are lending their voices to our campaign, bringing the desperate financial situation faced by ice rinks to the attention of government.

Olympian Rhona Howie and European Gold Medal winner Bruce Mouat share concerns that support and assistance from the Scottish Government needs to be increased and much easier to access.

Scottish Curling are working in partnership with SIRA, the Scottish Ice Rink Association, to highlight the devastating impact continued uncertainty around Protection Levels is having on the sport; with revenues expected to be down by 50% for this season alone.

We fully understand the need for robust safety measures during the Coronavirus Pandemic, but without direct financial support from government, rinks could face permanent closure.

Rhona Howie skipped Team GB to victory in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Her home rink, Greenacres in Renfrewshire, was forced to melt their ice when the local authority entered Level 3 restrictions earlier this month.

With that now changed to Level 4, the situation looks even more bleak:

Without direct financial support from the Scottish Government, many rinks face the realistic prospect of closure; with hundreds of young curlers left with nowhere to realise their potential.

But, equally concerning, is that rinks bring members of the community together to share a game, a chat and a coffee or drink.

Prolonged closures, and financial uncertainty mean oftentimes older members of the community are missing out on essential social interaction, as well as physical activity, leading to poor mental health and feelings of isolation.

Mike Ferguson speaks on behalf of SIRA, the Scottish Ice Rinks Association:

”As we have been doing since lockdown began we are pleased to be working closely with Scottish Curling at this very important time to try and secure supportive funding for ice rinks through submissions to sportscotland and Scottish Government. We recognise only too well the considerable pressure ice rinks all around Scotland are under both financially and operationally, and it is important all parties work together to achieve our common goals. Without ice rinks we have no ice sports and the threat of long-term closure is a real one for many rinks around the country.”

That concern is echoed at Murrayfield Curling Rink in Edinburgh.

The facility opened its doors for a matter of weeks, at great cost; only to be left with no choice but to melt their ice again.

Michael Wood, a director of the curling rink is worried the hammer blow will be too much to bounce back from:

“While we very much appreciate the support received back in April in the leisure industry grant, and subsequently from the furlough scheme, our financial position is more than challenging. Government need to understand that the high energy costs of thousands of pounds a week are incurred not only when the curlers are playing but also for weeks when ice is being prepared for play. We cannot run a stop/start process or create ice at the flick of a switch. Access to hardship funds providing little more than £1000 a month just isn’t enough to justify keeping the plant switched on. Unless we can have real confidence of being given a decent run at curling for at least a couple of months in the New Year, or significant support to stay ready to restart, it is more than probable that curling rinks will not be able reopen this season.”

European Gold Medal winner, and World Bronze Medal winner Bruce Mouat grew up curling at the facility, and knows the stakes are high:

Given that curling is a sport where social distancing is relatively easy, and the protocols that have put in place, we believe the rink of transmission of the virus is mitigated considerably.

For that reason, in addition to a direct financial package, we are lobbying sportscotland for the relaxation of the ‘group activity’ definition that is preventing traditional curling with 8 people per sheet continuing.

Some examples of the measures ice rinks have invested in, to make them COVID safe are:

creating one-way systems
wearing face coverings while not participating in exercise
adapting rules to maintain 2m distancing e.g. reducing from 2 sweepers to just 1
reduced number of sessions per day to allow sanitisation of venue and equipment
use of bubble system to avoid contact between groups
physical distancing signage on and off the ice
increased ventilation, fresh air intake and air filtration
bookings through clubs in advance for all sessions, avoiding cash handling
having trained COVID officers at every facility and every club

A letter is on its way to the Minister for Sport and Public Health, and to MSPs with ice rinks in their constituencies.

Please support our campaign by sharing this article, as widely as possible, and help save curling in Scotland, this season, and for the future.