Question for Scottish mnetters about the curling

[Clearinguptheclutter]

So like many I get slightly obsessed with the curling every 4 years and hear nothing about it in between

I live in England and grew up in Wales. Despite some ice rinks around, I’m not aware of curling being a “thing” at all.

which makes me think, in Scotland is it something that everyone learns as a child? Are there rinks everywhere?
or is seen as a niche/middle class/even elitist thing? Genuinely curious.
it’s a shame it’s not more of a thing south of the border it’s a great game IMO

@AgnesMcDooWas that the Junior Slam in Greenock? DD1 was there yesterday.

It was indeed 🤩🥌

There's actually an English curling club in Tunbridge Wells (Kent) at a rink there. Some of my son's school friends belonged. I believe one went on to represent England in international curling competitions!

Read a couple of years ago that when on tour Bruce Springsteen will hire some ice rink time to do curling with members of his band/road crew.

My do and dm played usually at Hamilton ice rink. They also had holidays at the curling hotel. Definitely a farming sport.

One of the biggest curling rinks in Ayrshire closed about 2 years ago. It was owned by the curling club and they got greedy, the club had been in that rink for over 50 years. It was very popular here that much so one of the hotels in Stranraer has a rink. I can look out of my window and see Ailsa Craig where the granite to make the stones comes from.

Our family went to Aviemore skiing at least once a year in the 1960s. There was a curling rink in the Aviemore Centre then. We used to go and watch. It was always busy. Maybe it is no longer there?

Neither are on the curriculum now so it’s a ridiculous comparison.

Dancing can be taught in a room in a school or elsewhere. Curling needs a rink. Teaching dancing is therefore much easier.

In my grandsons school, every pupil learns a Scottish poem for Burns Day.

Okay. Every Scottish person I know learnt both at school and all my Scottish friends and relatives are doing the same now. It's a massive cultural part of many Scottish childhoods.

It wasn’t of mine.

Same here.

probably one of the most useful lifeskills they teach at school. Equips you for every wedding you go to

i don’t know anyone educated in Scotland who hasn’t done this

Also no requirement to affiliated with farming to curl.

South of dcotland and v v popular here.
Primary kids go as part of curriculum.

Also ceilidh dancing compulsory part of PE primary though to s6 here.

This is my experience too as a lowland thing. My Dad and Grandpa, both farmers, both curled at Lockerbie years ago. I’ve had a go occasionally over the years, but don’t think I’ll be bothering the Olympics any time soon. It might be because I’m (just) English though 😂

I am in the North East of Scotland and there is a popular curling centre in Aberdeen. And I do know people who play.

Never thought id see hamilton mentioned on a mumsnet thread!

Also is the rink still there? I never curled but used to go ice skating at the aquatec in motherwell and occasionally east Kilbride. Even though my friends lived in Hamilton we never actually went to that rink.

very popular sport with farmers in fact I’d say everyone I know who curls is a farmer or one step removed from that life

What’s the link with farmers then?

I’m in Scotland and quite fancy giving it a go. Just might find somewhere while I’m not working!

Probably farmers because they are the ones with frozen fields.

Here in Canada it is very popular. It was brought over by early Scottish settlers and spread across the country. Most towns have a rink, and many school kids will have a learning day at the rink. I think it is most popular in the prairie provinces.

I don't curl now, but have in the past.

My daughter learned the basics at primary school in Perth

I'm from Ayrshire and never knew anyone who played it and certainly was never given the opportunity - we had all sorts of sports outreach projects at school but curling was never mentioned.

I thought it was more a Borders sport.

Btw we have had one of those big indoor sports and games places open locally - sw London - and curling is one of the options! It's not the real thing of course, but i thought it was interesting to see it (next to the axe throwing!).