Half a century after two teenage curlers persuaded Perth Ice Rink to give young people a chance on the ice, Perth Junior Curling Club is preparing to celebrate 50 remarkable years with a special anniversary event.

Founded in 1976 by young curlers Gordie Muirhead and Gordon Sneddon, the club was created at a time when curling was still largely viewed as a sport for older generations.

Inspired by the excitement surrounding the 1975 Air Canada Silver Broom World Curling Championships in Perth, the pair believed the future of the sport in Scotland needed younger players. What began with determination, enthusiasm and a request for ice time has since become one of Scotland’s most successful junior curling clubs.

Producing more than 60 national champions and 20 Olympians over five decades, the club’s roll call of success includes Olympic champions, world and European medallists, national title winners and countless players who have continued enjoying the sport throughout their lives, and who now compete as seniors.

Reflecting on the origins of the club, founder Gordon Sneddon recalled the moment that sparked his passion for curling.

“In 1975 my dad took me to Perth Ice Rink to watch the Air Canada Silver Broom World Championship which was being hosted there. It was so exciting and such a big deal, with loads of press and TV from Canada making the trip. Although many of the competitors were older, there was a young Swedish team skipped by Ragnar Kamp that really inspired me and I remember thinking: ‘I want to play this sport.’”

The following season, Sneddon and Muirhead launched Perth Under-21s Curling Club, with Muirhead serving as president and Sneddon as secretary and treasurer.

Their vision immediately struck a chord with young people across Perthshire, attracting 73 members in its first season. Weekly Saturday morning games, coaching sessions and matches against clubs from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stranraer helped establish the club as a thriving hub for junior curling.

Fifty years on and the club remains as vibrant as ever, with over 90 active members supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, including lead coach and accomplished curler, Alay Milne.

Milne, who has coached with Perth Juniors since 2010, has been instrumental in organising the anniversary celebrations and documenting the club’s history.

She commented, “This club has given so many young people opportunities and memories that have lasted a lifetime. It’s about so much more than medals and championships; curling is a hugely sociable sport and friendships formed here often go well beyond the ice. We want this celebration to bring generations of curlers back together to share stories, reconnect and celebrate everything the club has achieved.”

To mark the milestone, Perth Junior Curling Club will host a special 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday 7 November 2026 at Perth Ice Rink.

The event will feature a fun, afternoon bonspiel bringing together past and present members for a series of short mixed-team games, followed by an evening supper, music, speeches and stories celebrating five decades of junior curling in Perth.

Organisers are encouraging all former members, whether they still curl or not, to attend, reconnect with old friends and share memories from across the decades.

The club is also appealing for former members and supporters to send in photographs, memorabilia and memories ahead of the celebrations.

Milne continued, “We’ve uncovered original minutes, team lists, and photographs going right back to the beginning. It’s been incredible seeing just how many people have passed through the club and gone on to achieve great things both in curling and beyond.”

Anyone interested in attending or contributing can contact the club via email at [email protected] or through Perth Curling on Facebook and @perthcurling on Instagram.