‘Cool’ news for curling in Aberdeen

Tuesday 12 August 2003

With temperatures set to soar again across Scotland this week there was cool news for the Aberdeen curling fraternity with an award of £800,000 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme towards the construction of a new regional curling facility. As part of his summer tour, Frank McAveety MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport visited Aberdeen today to meet with 2002 world champion skip, Jackie Lockhart and members of the project group who accepted the award on behalf of local curlers.

Frank McAveety said: “This new investment can only increase participation in curling and help make the activity more enjoyable in facilities suitable for 21st century Scotland.

“ Scotland has a proud tradition in curling and this reputation was enhanced last year when our women’s teams dominated the World Championships and the Winter Olympics.

“ Sport is one of the most popular ways for people of all ages and abilities to be physically active, contributing to longer, healthier, and more productive lives.

“ I hope the people in the North East of Scotland make full use of this new facility and hopefully the next generation of Jackie Lockharts will emerge and achieve success on the world’s sporting stage.”

Since the impending closure of the Stoneywood rink in Dyce was first announced, the Ice Rink Club have been working closely with key partners including Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, BP, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and sportscotland to ensure the future of the sport in the region. Club members themselves have raised an impressive £440,000 towards the overall cost of £2.28m.

The new facility will be built at Summerhill on the west edge of Aberdeen, thanks to land made available from Aberdeen City Council on a long-term lease and includes a six-sheet curling rink with ancillary facilities for use by the 700 strong membership. The rink will be the regional centre for the development of curling in North East Scotland with the ultimate goal of producing potential future world and Olympic champions. It will be the regular training venue for the curlers in the Grampian Institute of Sport.

The rink will also be open to schools, universities, community groups and disabled people all encouraged to try out the sport and extend their use of the facility, supported by a full time curling development officer.

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland said: “I am delighted that sportscotland has awarded £800,000 for the development of a regional curling facility in Aberdeen. Over recent years Scottish curling has triumphed on the international stage and it is essential that there is the facility infrastructure in place to ensure its continued success.

“ This project is a good example of how through close partnership working we can achieve a positive outcome that will bring a significant benefit to the local community. Without the substantial efforts of The Ice Rink Club’s project group and the financial and in kind contributions from the other partners this project would not have gone ahead. In these times of falling Lottery income this is an excellent model for how good projects can be successfully funded. ”

Commenting on the award, George Stevenson, Project Group Chairman said: “The award today is welcomed by all the curlers in the North East of Scotland as it ensures the continuity of our sport.

“ We are most grateful to sportscotland for their financial support and for entering into a partnership with both Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. I would also like to thank the elected members of both councils for supporting the new curling rink and also BP who have been behind the relocation from the start.

“ During the past year we have seen a large increase in junior curlers thanks to Scotland winning gold medals at both the World Championships and Olympic Games. When we open in September 2004 it will be a new dawn for curling in the region and we look forward to attracting a large number of new members from all communities to participate in this up and coming sport.”

Accepting the award on behalf of local curlers, Jackie Lockhart said: “I'm delighted to here the news of the Lottery Award from sportscotland. It has been a turbulent time for curlers in the area not knowing if we would have a facility or not, but the project team has never given up hope.

“ Grampian is home to the reining world senior silver medallists as well as myself the past ladies world champion and what better way to boost and highlight our sport. Grampian can and I'm sure will produce more champions with the help of its new sports development officer based at this new facility.”