During the past year we have been doing everything we can to develop the future of the Circle, and the obstacles have been formidable. The technical side has been completed and we are confident of the design in every way, but the rest is simply taking a little longer. We have also been able to help at other venues on occasion, with real pleasure, and our spirits remain optimistic.
The Circle is now at the mercy of the governing bodies and their funding partners. It has become clear to us that private funding would be the wrong way to go, because a modern curling rink is a facility for the people and not for the elite. Ordinary curlers deserve the same quality ice as the elite players, which has always been the aim of the Circle, and in this sense a curling rink should be dealt with in the same way as a public swimming complex or gymnasium. We understand that the design is now accepted as the best way to go for the authorities, and with such a shortage of facilities in Scotland it is now their responsibility to help us progress. Find us the money for the Circle, because it is the best way to go for the future of curling.
Those of us who are free to do so will travel to any destination if we can be of help. Our costs are realistic and rational, simply send me an email and we'll see what we can do. As always also feel free to ask questions, we'll answer them as best we can, usually within the day (it depends largely on which part of the world we have to respond to!).
Meanwhile the website will receive an overhaul with some new (and controversial!) reports in the writing. All comments, disagreements or criticisms remain welcome, we don't mind being proved wrong.
John Minnaar
25 January 2008
scotcurlicegroup@aol.com