Fraser's final triumph as Belmaduthy veteran comes good
ROSS Province curling champion Iain Fraser triumphed in the final against his Belmaduthy club mate Ian Chisholm to win the President’s Cup — while Caberfeidh’s Angus Christie came through on the final night of league games to pip Strathpeffer’s Brian Fraser for the C League Championship.
Following his unblemished league record, Fraser lined up his champions against Chisholm in the President’s Cup final and from his opening two shots controlled the play to be six shots in front after five ends. Chisholm won the last two ends of play to take the final score to 7-3.
Strathpeffer’s second rink skip Skip, Brian Fraser saw his four-point lead over Muir of Ord’s Richard MacWilliam reduced to just two points after his ninth round tie when beaten 7-5 by MacWilliam, a result that also brought Caberfeidh’s Angus Christie into the mix with a round to play.
Christie and Fraser then met in last Monday night’s final round and lying two shots after the first end should have given the Strath Skip a confidence boost against his more experienced opponent. But the loss of three shots in the second end was a big knock back and when Christie’s rink of Douglas Gilchrist, David Elder and Jim Thomson scored five shots in end five they were on their way to the title.
The final score to the Caberfeidh curlers was 11-5 and the points brought them level with Fraser on 14 points but ahead in separating factor of shots won over the season, +24 difference to Christie over Fraser’s +8. MacWilliam missed out on the title and promotion by one point following his peeled 7-7 result with Linda Munro (Caberfeidh). Munro lost her four-shot lead when she conceded four shots in the final end.
Results — President’s Cup Final – I Fraser (Belmaduthy) 7, I Chisholm (Belmaduthy) 3.
C League Round 9 – H Vass (Ross Ladies) 3, A Christie (Caber 3) 9. R MacWilliam (Muir of Ord 3) 7, B Fraser (Strathpeffer 2) 5. L Munro (Caber 5) 11, T Miles (Strathpeffer 1) 5.
Round 10 – L Munro Caberfeidh 5) 7, R MacWilliam (Muir of Ord 3) 7. H Vass (Ross Ladies) 8, T Myles (Strathpeffer 1) 3. A Christie (Caberfeidh 3) 11, B Fraser (Strathpeffer 2) 5.