This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8448669.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Grand Match off over safety fears | Grand Match off over safety fears |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An outdoor curling tournament has been called off because the emergency services said they could not guarantee players' safety. | An outdoor curling tournament has been called off because the emergency services said they could not guarantee players' safety. |
| The Grand Match, planned for the Lake of Menteith near Aberfoyle next week, would have been the first event of its kind for more than 30 years. | |
| The bonspiel would have involved 2,000 competitors from across Scotland. | The bonspiel would have involved 2,000 competitors from across Scotland. |
| The decision was made by the Grand Match Committee, which is responsible for all aspects of the tournament. | The decision was made by the Grand Match Committee, which is responsible for all aspects of the tournament. |
| The sport's governing body, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, said in a statement it was greatly disappointed the match could not go ahead. | |
| There are clear and obvious risks and the safety of the public could not be guaranteed Supt Davie Flynn | |
| The club said the decision had been made after "extensive discussions" with the emergency services. | |
| The statement added: "It has not proved possible to address all health and safety concerns and receive the full backing of the emergency services within the timescales involved. | |
| "Without achieving this it would be impossible to gain the necessary insurance to hold the event. | |
| "Every possible effort has been made to facilitate this unique event but it has been acknowledged that public safety must remain the primary concern." | |
| The club said the Grand Match Committee would continue to investigate other possibilities. | |
| Access problems | |
| Curlers have been playing on the Lake of Menteith, which has not frozen sufficiently for curling since 2001, for the past week. | Curlers have been playing on the Lake of Menteith, which has not frozen sufficiently for curling since 2001, for the past week. |
| The last Grand Match also took place on the Lake of Menteith in 1979. The one before that was in 1963. | The last Grand Match also took place on the Lake of Menteith in 1979. The one before that was in 1963. |
| Central Scotland Police, who were involved in the negotiations, said they had a number of "serious concerns" about the proposed bonspiel. | |
| Supt Davie Flynn said: "We understand the attraction of such an event and recognise this is an unique opportunity for people passionate about their sport to participate in. | |
| "However, there are clear and obvious risks and the safety of the public could not be guaranteed." | |
| Supt Flynn said it was not known exactly how thick the ice was and that other public bodies were generally advising people not to walk on frozen lakes or ponds. | |
| He added that there were further concerns about the amount of traffic that would have been trying to access the event on rural B-roads. |