CURLING ON THE ERIE CANAL, PALMYRA, NY

Curling is an ancient game on ice founded in Scotland.  Every year the Rochester Curling Club is invited to our town to play.  Out of the ten years they have been invited, the weather has only gone along with them five of those years.  This year is one of them the weather went along.  I had never seen it before so it was interesting to me.

Curling is a winter game or sport in which opposite rinks (teams) take turns delivering their rocks (42 pound polished granite stones) down a 144-foot long sheet (ice alley).  Points are scored in each end (inning) by placing your rinks' rocks closer  to the button of the house (center of the target) than your opponent's rocks.  This gives curling it's nickname of "chess on ice".

Each rink has four players: Lead (throws first rocks), Second (second rocks), Vice-Skip (third rocks) and Skip (the captain who throws fourth rocks).  While one player delivers a rock, two of the teammates follow it with  brooms poised, ready to pounce and sweep in front of the rocks in order to extend its distance and keep its path straighter.  Skips stand at the far end of the sheet reading strategy and calling the shots and sweeping.  Be careful not to hog your rock or burn one with your broom or it will be removed from the play.  It's sounds complicated but is easy to understand it if you see it.

Picture four shows the granite rocks they use.  Picture five shows the brooms. Six shows someone sending off a rock. Seven shows one using their broom.  I really enjoyed being there to see curling.