Locheye skip MacKenzie to end 2019 at the top of the Ross-shire Curling Province A League

Locheye Curling Club skip Richard MacKenzie will go into the new year sitting on top of the Ross-shire Curling Province A League – but he will come under pressure from Belmaduthy’s Iain Fraser.

Fraser has played a game less in the race for the Allan Moore Trophy, so will still be confident of his chances of securing success after the turn of the year.

In the fifth round of games MacKenzie took full advantage of a weakened Invergordon rink, skipped by his brother-in-law Nigel Murray, to come away with a 12–3 win.

That was a boost to MacKenzie’s shot advantage over Fraser, who sits two points behind the league leader alongside Peter Macintyre’s Belmaduthy rink.

Macintyre had a stiff challenge in the form of Caberfeidh’s second skip Jim Thomson, but prevailed 6–3, while Fraser swept Muir of Ord’s fifth rink skip Finlay MacKenzie aside in convincing fashion, winning 10–0.

Ann Gibb’s Ross Ladies took the first six ends on their way to a comfortable 7-4 victory over Muir of Ord’s David Carstairs, leaving Carstairs rooted to the foot of the table. Ian Munro (Caberfeidh) has moved level with Gibb after a 5–3 win over Peter Fraser (Belmaduthy Three).

At the halfway point of the B League Muir of Ord’s Alli Eddie has a two-point lead at the top of the table.

Eddie continued his four-match unbeaten run against Strathpeffer’s Brian Fraser, stringing together four ends in a row for a 7–4 result.

Eddie’s clubmate Ross Urquhart moved into a share of second place with Killearnan’s Duncan Clark.

Urquhart downed Ian MacIntyre (Caberfeidh 3) while Clark put a 7–2 over Muir of Ord’s third skip Richard MacWilliam.

Former Ross Ladies skip Heather Gill returned to the second rink in a losing effort against Caberfeidh’s Hamish Macrae, substituting for Iain MacKay.

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