This week the eyes of the sporting world may be focused on the Champions League football or, if you are a Liverpool fan, the Olympics but last weekend saw a sporting contest of far greater signicance than either of these - at least to the Wilson household. I refer - of course - to the Rusty Nail International Curling Competition.
The Rusty Nail competition is played in a picturesque Scottish setting which, when the mist clears and it isn't raining (this is the West of Scotland [actually not sure why I wrote that, like it does not rain in the east, north, south etc of Scotland!?]) reveals a beautiful sea loch amidst steep mountainside glens. The journey there from Glasgow Airport is not particularly long at about an hour and a half but involves driving over the "Rest and be Thankful" - a name which describes the slopes leading to it and the response of walkers on ascending to it. This year was snow free but in previous years there has been a wait at the Rest and be Thankful car park for the snow plough to clear the single track sheep path that is the main road in. Oh and no reception on most mobile networks - we are talking isolation. Beautiful isolation.
So put a group of healthy, young (I speak here of mind and spirit if not body) people in such a clean, stress free environment with a multitude of outdoor activites available and what do they do? They spend the weekend indoors. That's what. A few hours on the curling rink (indoors), feeding (indoors) and a few more at the bar (indoors) and the day has passed. So we might as well hold it in an industial estate so long as it has a liquor licence and a curling rink.
Ten successful Rusty Nail competitions have taken place since the inaugural competition in 1998 (I think). Some infamous names are on the trophy - teams skipped by "God" Lumsden (a founder of the Rusty Nails "Club", now father of three), "I'll do it my way or I'll get grumpy" Grant Farquarson, "The Wetzikon Cigar" Harry Burger from Switzerland and more recently "Put your brush down here it comes" Ronnie Wilson (no blood relation) from the Markinch club in Fife. Others have gone home with the wooden spoon - The Wetzikon Cigar again (an exchange: the trophy won the year before for the more practical kitchen implement), the new boys and girls this year - first time we have had a team with average age under 30 - and many others.
But really its not about the winning and losing (and I am not just saying that because we did not win this year). It is about the camaraderie on and off the ice; of friendships made and revitalised over shared experience. Each year we have a "reception" hosted by one of the nationalities present or celebrating a significant birthday. This year was a (most excellent) Norwegian/Scottish affair with a birthday celebration for one of our number. The birthday girl was unaware of the plans and when the cake came out she was fumbing for her camera to take photographs of whomever we were toasting this year. Only when her name was mentioned in the birthday song did the truth dawn. The few seconds when Susan's face went spontaneously but in slow motion (without the need of a replay) from "Oh that's nice, I wonder who's birthday it is." to "Susan? That's my name, is there another Susan?" to "Oh doh, I just had my [significant] birthday, it must be me" was priceless. Susan Young, welcome to eligibility for senior competitions.
Later, like much, much later within the same 24 hour period, and more facial expressions. Again surprise but this time turning to alarm for one of our more modest number when the entire bar erupted into a spontaneous rendition of the Simon and Garfunkel song "Cecilia" when she walked into the bar. You can guess her name and I guess it does not happen all the time in Norway - hence the alarm.
For the record Markinch made off with the silverware for the second year on the trot - if they win it again they get to keep the curling hall. The boy with the guitar who is there the same weekend as the Rusty Nails every year, is this coincidence? I think not. won the singing contest for the second year on the trot - if he wins it again he gets to keep his voice till sunday. And the rest of us made off with happy memories for the eleventh year on the trot - if it happens again we'll be back for more.
Major, huge thanks to Mr and Mrs Ewan for the hard work organising the event.
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