THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Curling match takes place on Seaview lake
From the News Letter, January 27, 1879
The News Letter reported that on the previous Saturday that a challenge match of curling between the two teams of members of the Belfast Curling Club (the first curling club formed in Ireland) was held on Seaview Lake on the Carrickfergus Road close to Fortwilliam Park in Belfast.
A large number of lady and gentlemen spectators also attended to watch.
The two teams consisted of the following curlers, No 1 Rink: George Kidney, VS, skip, John Thompson, David Dunlop and Alexander Gibb, No 2 Rink: Alexander MacRae, skip, James A Bruce, John C Hunter and Thomas Frazer.
The paper’s correspondent wrote: “The ice during the early part of the game was keen and in excellent condition for playing, but towards the close of the match a slight thaw which had in the meantime taken place rendered it much more dull and consequently more difficult to deliver shots with any degree of accuracy.”
They added: “The match was, nevertheless, keenly contested and, with the exception of a short interval for refreshments, was played without cessation, and, at its conclusion the result was declared in favour of No 1 Rink which was skipped by Mr George Kidney, VS.”
The scores at the end of the came were reported as follows: for No 1 Rink, 13 shots and for No 2 Rink, 14 shots, the correspondent added, “the announcement of which was received with great applause”.