The Scotch Cup international series of matches in 1962 involved four countries. The first and second series of games in 1959 and 1960 had matched Canada and Scotland against each other. The USA became involved in 1961, and in 1962 a Swedish team took part for the first time. The competitors were:
Scotland:
Bobby Young
Sandy Anderson
John Pearson
Willie Young (Skip)
Canada:
Wes Richardson
Garnet (Sam) Richardson
Arnold Richardson
Ernie Richardson (Skip)
USA:
Nick Jerrule
Terry Kleffman
Fran Kleffman (Skip)
Dick Brown (Fourth)
Sweden:
Arne Stern
Per Ivar Rydgren
Knut Bartells
Rolf Arfwidsson (Skip)
The four teams played a double round robin, the first games at the Falkirk Rink and the second round at the Haymarket Rink, Edinburgh.
The Canadians were undefeated in six games, the USA lost twice to Canada, the Scots lost all their games against Canada and the USA, and the Swedes did not win a game in their first appearance in the Scotch Cup.
The Scotch Whisky Association produced a promotional 16mm cine film after the event. Leslie Ingram-Brown recently had this original film converted to DVD, and he very kindly gave me a copy for my archive. It runs beautifully on the big screen television. I already had a VHS tape, but this is so much better quality. I've edited the DVD content down to two YouTube clips, each less than ten minutes, concentrating on the curling action and discarding the social events and the trip to the Glenkinchie Distillery. It's in black and white of course, and a bit grainy. Commentary is from Doug Maxwell who was to become the executive director of the Air Canada Silver Broom World Curling Championship in 1968.
The first clip, of the Falkirk games, is here. And I bet you smile when the pipers lead the players on to the ice!
The second clip, of the Haymarket games, is here.
It is fascinating to watch our sport fifty years ago. Twelve end games! So many people smoking, even when playing and when sweeping! The old Scottish hack, and the crampit used just by Willie Young. It was the Richardsons who inspired me when I began to play in the early 60s, and I just love watching them even now, particularly with their corn brooms.
Have a look out for faces you might recognise in the crowd!
[IMPORTANT: These clips are on YouTube as 'Unlisted', ie, only those who know the links can view them. They are not searchable. If you wish to share these clips with others that might be interested, please link to this page which you are reading now (the address is:
http://curlinghistory.blogspot.com/2011/08/1962-scotch-cup.html)
rather than directly to the YouTube clips themselves. I think it important that anyone watching the clips knows where they came from, that they have been edited, and can read what is written above. Thanks. Bob Cowan]
The top image is of the Falkirk Rink, long since closed, and is a frame from the DVD.
