PICTOU -Scottish curlers who are travelling the east coast of Canada as part of the Strathcona Cup were competing against Pictou curlers in the New Caledonian Curling Club Thursday morning.
The Strathcona Cup is won through a tally of games played throughout the month of January across Canada between Scottish and Canadian curlers. It is the oldest international curling event in the world.
Iain Hamilton was watching his fellow Scottish curlers compete against Pictounians Thursday morning. Hamilton, from Kirkintilloch, Scotland, said while he’s been enjoying the curling aspect of the trip to Canada, he’s been relishing his time off the ice as well.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying it. I haven’t been to Canada before,” he said. “It’s lovely, very like Scotland. We were surprised that it wasn’t colder and snowier.”
Hamilton said he’s glad the Strathcona Cup has taken him to Pictou, where Scots settled in 1773.
“That’s really what we’re trying to establish, that’s what we love to do is see where the Scottish settlers first came,” he said.
After the morning of curling matches, the Scots planned on taking a tour of the Ship Hector replica and Hector Heritage Quay, just across from the curling club in downtown Pictou.
The Strathcona Cup continues with games between Scots and Canadians throughout the country until Jan. 31 when the final tally decides which country wins the 2013 title.
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