HIGHLAND WEEK OF INTERNATIONAL CURLING

Venue:

Highland Week of International Curling was first competed for in 1967 at the seven sheet ice rink in Aviemore.  It started as a fun bonspiel brining together curlers from around the world to compete in Aviemore.  The 1967 event was set up as a trail but proved to be so successful it has run ever since.

This was the home of the event from its' inception through until 1999, when following the closure of the Aviemore Rink it moved to the five sheet rink at Inverness Ice Centre. The Week has been competed for there since the year 2000.

The early competitions hosted up to 64 teams playing over the week, with games running from early morining through to the evening.  Participants stayed in three differnet hotels in Aviemore village, The Badenoch, The Strathspey and The Post House.

Parties were held in the rooms of all the hotels with the curlers making visits to them all.  A 'Curlers Court' was also held each year.

In these early years of the competition there were hostesses who looked after the participants and gave information on the local area and on places to visit. Two of these were Sandra South and Shirley Campbell, both of whom went on to become very active members of the Highland Week Committee.

Sponsors:

Highland Week of International Curling has attracted a number of sponsors throughout the years:

1967 to 1976 - Johnnie Walker

1980 to 1986 - Weatherseal

1987 to 1992 - Glenfarclas (Who also organised the Event)

1993 to 1995 - Barid's Malt

1996 to Present - Glenfarclas

For many years the event has also been sponsored by the Highland Council and by Macallan.

The Event:

The Highland Week of International Curling is competed for over 6 days of curling, Teams are divided into Sections of 8 or 10 and will play three games in Rounds 1 & 2 in a Schenkel System.  Following this you then enter the Knock-out Stages and compete in either:

High Road - Glenfarclas Silver Quaich

Middle Road - Alan Johnston Trophy

Low Road - Consolation Bonspiel

Rankings are decided upon points first, ends won, shots up, ends against and shots scored.