A WEST FIFE Curling Club are hoping that next month’s Winter Olympics will provide the inspiration for more people to take up the sport.

Since their establishment in 1980, Dalgety Bay Curling Club have welcomed male and female curlers of all ages and abilities and have members from across West Fife and as far afield as Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy and East Weymss.

As curling is set to be one of Great Britain’s best hope for a medal in Sochi, with Scot Eve Muirhead set to lead the team after winning the 2013 World Championship as Scotland’s skip, they hope it will help to boost their membership.

Taster sessions available at £1, and beginner classes starting this month and in March, will be hosted by Try Curling at Kinross Curling Rink where Dalgety Bay play once a month in the Green League.

As a member of the West Fife Province, they also play matches in the West Fife Province League at Kirkcaldy’s Fife Ice Arena and last year introduced a ‘Junior Skips League’ to promote and encourage less experienced curlers to move ‘up the rink.’ Dalgety Bay also host two inter-club league competitions, running from February to April and September to December respectively, as well as a knock-out competition and friendly matches against local clubs. They also host their own ‘Neighbours Bonspiel’ in March where several neighbouring clubs are invited to field a team to play against Dalgety Bay with a trophy for the winning club.

Ann McLanaghan, of the curling club, said, “Needless to say, there is much hospitality, banter and friendly competition at these events and the club has an extremely friendly atmosphere with a few social outings throughout the year. We have already held a pre-season ten-pin bowling outing followed by a meal and our much anticipated Christmas bonspiel where we all wear festive headgear and have some fun scoring on the ice.

“The Winter Olympic Games are nearly upon us and we are hoping these will spark interest in this wonderful game. I hope that people come along and try – we all did and have enjoyed great friendship, sport and competition since.” Taster sessions will take place in Kinross on Monday 17th February between 5.30pm-8pm, Wednesday 19th February between 6pm-8pm and Sunday 23rd February between 2.45pm-5.15pm. Beginner classes starting on Saturday 18th January and on Sunday 16th March in blocks of three are available from £50.

For further information or to register, contact Claire Milne by email kinross dev@royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org or visit www.kinrosscurling.co.uk.