THE
INTERNATIONAL CURLING FELLOWSHIP OF ROTARIANS
The International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians
was formed by Rotarians who had a love for the sport of curling.
Curling’s inclusion into the Olympics has made it a much more
recognized sport worldwide.
Although it is not known exactly where curling
began, the term curling was first recorded in Scotland.
Indications are that the sport developed around Perth, Scotland
and spread out from there. The original stones used were uneven
and not rounded. Uniformity of stones came around 1839. Today
all stones are made to very detailed specifications, from
granite obtained from the island, Ailsa Craig off the west coast
of Scotland.
The Curling Fellowship of Rotarians received it’s
status from R.I. in 1972, but it’s origin came out of a group of
Rotarians representative of Scotland, Canada and the U.S.A.,
that had organized a Rotary curling tour to Scotland in 1956. In
1957 Rotarians from Scotland returned to curl in Canada, (Quebec
and Ontario) and in the U.S.A., in the area of Utica and
Schenectady, in New York. The U.S.A withdrew from the curling
tour after the 1957 trip. Since 1958 the curling tour has taken
place every two years with Scotland and Canada alternating as
hosts. The tour now involves 22 Rotarians who are home hosted
during the 3 week curling tour.
The individuals that developed the Curling tour were
Aubrey Legge a P.D.G from Montreal and Bob MacKintosh of
Scotland
In 1972 Aubrey Legge turned his efforts to having a
curling fellowship approved by R.I. Within two months he had
the backing of District Governors in Canada, Scotland, U.S.A.,
and Sweden. This was followed by a formal application to R.I. In
May of 1972 the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians
was recognized.
The objects of the Curling Fellowship are to promote
international fellowship between curling Rotarians and to hold
every two years a curling competition to determine the champion
of the Curling Fellowship.
The first competition took place in Lachute, Quebec
with teams from Scotland, Canada and the U.S.A., and being won
by a team from Montreal. Since then the championship has been
won 8 times by Canada, 7 times by Scotland and once by the
U.S.A. The winner receives the coveted silver bell with a Rotary
Wheel on top. The winners of the first and second place team
receive gold and silver medals. The third place team receives a
bronze medal.
Scotland and Canada are each allowed 3 teams in the
championship. Those spots are hotly contested by many Rotary
clubs.
Besides Canada, the U.S.A., and Scotland, Sweden
sent a team to compete in 1990. Since 1994 a team from
Berwick-Upon-Tweed representing England has entered the
championship.
In 1996, Peterborough, Canada introduced a
friendship competition comprising of Rotarians who had played in
or had hosted previous world championships, so that Rotary
friendships created could continue to grow.
The last championship was held in Lockerbie,
Scotland in 2006. The 2008 event will be held in Brantford,
Ontario Canada with 10 teams competing in the championship event
and up to 10 teams in the friendship event. The curling
competition involves a round robin with two games per day. At
the conclusion of the round robin the top 4 teams compete in a
semi final and a final.
Aside from the curling, the fellowship events
include an opening reception, home hospitality, attendance at a
Rotary meeting and finally the closing banquet with presentation
of trophy and awards.
The week also includes a meeting of the fellowship’s
executive. The venues for the upcoming championships are:
Brantford Canada in 2008 and Scotland in 2010
The many traditions and customs associated with the
sport of curling, including its camaraderie fit like a hand in a
glove with Rotary fellowship. The 150 plus Rotarians and spouses
look forward to a great week of fellowship at the curling
championships.
John Young, President –
Hurlford Scotland
John Coles, Vice-President –
Brantford Canada
Harold Shantz Secr-Treas. –
Simcoe, Canada
For information email
curling@rotaryfellowships.org
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