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PICTURES: Curling action from opening bonspiel at Forfar Indoor Sports

Curlers and skaters were at Forfar Indoor Sports for the weekend start of the 2023 season.

It's the start of a six-month season of curling and ice skating at the Forfar facility. All images: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson
It's the start of a six-month season of curling and ice skating at the Forfar facility. All images: Kim Cessford / DC Thomson

Forfar Indoor Sports launched into its 2023 winter season with a busy weekend on the ice.

The opening drew curlers from across Angus and beyond, while families flocked to the first skating sessions at the Suttieside Road rink.

It comes against the disappointment of the decision to close the indoor bowling club there.

Dwindling membership numbers and rocketing energy costs forced the move not to re-open the club after 30 years.

But Forfar Indoor Sports owner Mike Ferguson says prospects for the ice sports season are looking very good.

The Forfar rink is home to more than 40 clubs from across Angus, Dundee, Fife and south Aberdeenshire.

Centre owner Mike Ferguson said: “Curling bookings are looking really good for the season and we’ve attracted a lot of national competitions to Forfar.

“The sport was really hit hard by the pandemic, but it has recovered well and really tried to innovate in the way it does things.

“We’ve invested a fair bit in terms of trying to grow the curling side of things and we’re very positive about the season ahead.”

Photographer Kim Cessford caught up with the curlers participating in the opening bonspiel.

Forfar Indoor Sports launched into its 2023 winter season with a busy weekend on the ice.
Centre owner Mike Ferguson welcomes curlers to the event.
It’s the start of a six-month season of curling and ice skating at the Forfar facility.
Curlers happy to be back on the ice, Forfar Curling Centre.
Curling with ease.
The Forfar rink is home to more than 40 clubs from across Angus, Dundee, Fife and south Aberdeenshire.
Curling season is back!
Steady balance
Curlers happy to be back on the ice
Curling stones.
Speedy curling.
The sport was really hit hard by the pandemic, but it has recovered well
Quickly polishing the ice to make it more slippery and reduce the trajectory-curving effect of the stone’s “curl,” which is an important asset in a game of accuracy.
Sweepers guide the stone.

Curling ice is deliberately made bumpy instead of smooth by spraying water droplets onto the surface of the ice and letting them freeze. These bumps actually allow the curling stone to travel faster, because only the very tops of the bumps come into contact with the stone, which leads to less friction.
Curlers on the ice at Forfar Curling Centre.
Jill Donald and the sport she loves.
Discussing the next move
Focusing his aim.
Jill Donald at Forfar Curling Centre.
Curling Season is back!

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