A touring team has to be fit going into their trip, says Greig Henderson, for the rigours of it all can be exhausting.
That includes the eating and drinking and socializing — not to mention the actual play.
Henderson is the team leader for the Scottish curlers on the western Strathcona Cup tour. They were in Victoria and North Saanich Wednesday, holding onto a slight lead in points as they started play at the Glen Meadows Curling Club.
“We were six shots up on the day,” he said, noting that between the west, central and eastern contingents of the Strathcona Cup, it’s the nation with the most shots overall that takes it.
In 2009, it was Canada, during its tour in Scotland, that won back the cup. Scotland had held it five years prior to that. The event is held every five years, since it started with a group of players from Scotland coming to Canada and the U.S. in the early 1900s. Ever since, Scotland and Canada have played for the right to bear the cup home.
The visitors played at the Victoria Curling Club Wednesday morning, splitting the matches 2-2, but holding that small shot lead overall. Their results, said Henderson, will be combined with the rest of the teams for the final result.
With curlers aged 43 to 73, Henderson said they had to be in shape for this three-and-a-half week tour.
“The travel at times can be tiring,” he said. “But it’s mostly the food and drink that people throw at you.”
He added the Canadians have been great hosts and the team is enjoying its time here.
The Scots were piped into Glen Meadows and posed for plenty of photos before play started.
Watch the Peninsula News Review for more results and photos from the event.