Recently I came across some interesting images which relate to that visit, but all raised questions that I was unable to answer. The photo above, from the Royal Caledonian Curling Club Annual for 1909-10 is simply titled 'En Route'. Where was this taken? Was it in Liverpool, as the tourists joined a special train to take them up to Edinburgh on January 16, once they had disembarked from the Empress of Ireland (here)?
The report of the tour as published in the 1909-10 Annual notes that, "The curlers, after having been photographed and refreshed, left Riverside Station, Liverpool, by special trains (sic) for Edinburgh, their appearance with broom, bonnet, and tartan attracting general attention." Now, this confirms that the Canadians were indeed photographed at Riverside Station. However, whether the photo shows the Riverside Station is questionable, see the images of the station here.
The report in the Annual does imply that the curlers travelled on more than one train, but other reports would suggest this is unlikely.
The tour itinerary can be found here, and a list of all those in the Canadian party is here.
This is a postcard of the 'Canadian Curlers at Peebles'. Robin has described how the group travelled to Peebles by train on Monday, January 18. As they steamed into Peebles station, 'a great shout arose from the local curlers, who were lined up on the platform'. All then the visitors marched behind a pipe band to the town hall for a civic reception. The Canadians stayed overnight at the Peebles Hydro.
Given the mild weather, there was no natural ice, so actual curling was not in the programme. However, the group was royally entertained with a dinner at the Hydro, and the next day were taken in eleven 'motor-cars', 'six of which were private vehicles lent for the occasion', to visit Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott.
Given the mild weather, there was no natural ice, so actual curling was not in the programme. However, the group was royally entertained with a dinner at the Hydro, and the next day were taken in eleven 'motor-cars', 'six of which were private vehicles lent for the occasion', to visit Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott.
I think that the photograph above is of the group prior to setting off for Abbotsford. Note that several women are present! Indeed, the Canadians had brought with them two women. One was a 'Mrs MacDonald' from Toronto, and I presume she was the wife of Randolf MacDonald who was one of the Ontario players. The other woman was a Miss St Clair Silver from Halifax. She likely was the daughter, or sister, of the captain of the Nova Scotia players. The presence of the two Canadian women probably explains why 'several local ladies' also took part in the outing to Abbotsford. I wonder if it will ever be possible to identify who's who in the group photograph?
Motor cars were still not common in Britain in 1909. Less than 100,000 were on the roads.
Nowadays, with modern coach travel, it is easy to transport groups of curlers around the country. In 1909 though, the logistics were not a simple matter.
Three test matches, and other provincial matches, were played at the Scottish Ice Rink at Crossmyloof, as Robin describes here.
The photo of the curlers with the locomotive is from the 1909-10 Annual of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. The other images are scans of postcards in my collection.