28/07/2023
The Rotary World Curling Championships were held last year in Dumfries. Over 100 curlers and their partners from Canada, United States of America, England and Scotland attended the week-long event with the team of Grande Prairie Sunrise from Canada winning the Rotary World title and the Rotary Club of Westhill from Scotland taking the Friendship title. As well as a week of great fellowship between curling Rotarians, the event was also able to raise money for good causes.
During the event guests from were able to visit Portrack House and experience the spectacular Garden of Cosmic Speculation, the much-loved garden designed by the late Charles Jencks. It comprises a garden like no other with gardens, landforms, sculpture, terraces and architectural works. The Garden of Cosmic Speculation uses nature to celebrate nature, both intellectually and through the senses, including a sense of humour. A water cascade of steps recounts the story of the universe; a terrace shows the distortion of space and time caused by a black hole; a “Quark Walk” takes the visitor on a journey to the smallest building blocks of matter and a series of landforms and lakes recall fractal geometry.
The well-known and respected UK cancer charity Maggie's was set up by Charles Jencks and his late wife Maggie, who helped design the garden and the charity was supported by the Rotary World Curling Championships during the event and were delighted to be able to present the fantastic sum £7,218.11 to Maggie’s at Portrack to support the magnificent work the charity does supporting people with cancer.
The success of the 2022 Championships has been a demonstration of team working, with a combination of 7 clubs comprising Rotary Clubs of Dumfries Devorgilla, Dumfries, Lockerbie and District, Thornhill, Dalbeattie, Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright all coming together to make the event a success with a real team effort and ensuring the 2022 Championships followed the many traditions and customs associated with the sport of curling, including fellowship.
We were delighted to present Valerie Ross, the Head of Trusts, Statutory and Strategic Relationships for Maggie’s with a cheque for £7,220 along with Rotarians Bob Carruthers, Stewart Lee, Colin MacLaine, Kenny Murray, David Henderson, Ian Potts and Maureen McKerrow.
Valerie said:
“We are hugely grateful to the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians for their generosity in donating this incredible sum to Maggie’s.
“It’s wonderful that these seven Rotary Clubs have united, in the true spirit of Rotarians across the world – in fellowship, with passion and energy – to not only host this incredible event but to choose to support people with cancer.
“Thanks to the generosity of every Rotarian who organised and attended this prestigious event, Maggie’s can continue to provide expert care and support for people with cancer and their loved ones, when they need us most.”
Dumfries Curling Matt Murdoch Curling Foundation Dumfries Ice Bowl Rotary in Scotland Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland Maggie's Centres
