STEWARTON QUOITING CLUB

by Discus

Taken from the 1968 Bonnet Guild Festival Guide

WHILE no written evidence exists it can quite justifiably be assumed that the Stewarton Quoting Club was formed in the early 1850s. it can also be assumed that the game was played before then by small groups of men and boys on vacant sites in the town and by farmers in their own farmyards. The playing successes achieved by the club were not numerous, but included among these were their two victories in the Scottish Cup Final, the first in 1886 and the second in 1906.
Six of the eight players representing the club in 1886 were James Barclay, Thomas Barclay, George Browning, Robert Currie, John Highet, and William Paton. The names of the remaining two players have not been recorded (Attention should perhaps be drawn to the fact that the Scottish Cup was won by Darvel in 1884 and by Kilmarnock Union in 1885). Stewarton's opponents in the 1906 final were Kilmarnock Union and the game was played on the ground of the Rutherglen club. The Stewarton players on that occasion, were Gabriel Dunlop, John Highet, Adam Smith, John Stillie and the Barclay brothers, Alexander, James, Thomas and William.
Hugh, the youngest of the Barclay brothers, also played an active part in club games and individual competitions. Perhaps the most likeable of all the Barclays was Uncle John (or Uncle Jockie, as he was commonly known). He was a left-handed player of lightweight quoits and his marksmanship was of a high standard. His interest in the progress being made by young players was much greater than that shown by most of his contemporaries and his advice was thankfully appreciated by its recipients. The first playing ground occupied by the club was at the High Quarry, the second at the Laigh Quarry, the third at Corsehill Mill, the fourth at Standalane (behind Rose Cottage and adjoining what later became Cochrane Park), the fifth and last being at Braehead which was taken over in 1894.
Braehead ground was the biggest of its kind in Scotland, comprising ten rinks when in full use and a solidly-built club-house, donated by the " Mackie Trust, " added greatly to its attractiveness. The ground was bounded on the North and West side by the Kirkyard wall and permanent seating was set down alongside part of the wall for the convenience of the many elderly people who frequently forgathered at the ground. Elderly people in all generations have almost invariably been highly-critical of up-and-coming young players and a few of those attending the Braehead ground could be unsparing in their comments. It can be said, however, that much of the criticism was kindly meant and, more often than not, it brought about a higher standard of play by these up-and-corning youngsters, particularly those who were sensible enough to recognise that the criticism as applied to them was fully justified.
Throughout its long history the club produced many skilful exponents of the game, particularly during the period 1865-1910. even so it can be said that the high-water mark in Scottish quoiting was reached during the years 1865-1890. Stewarton's outstanding players at that time were the Currie brothers, Robert and Campbell, and it should be added that they were recognised as such by all their contemporaries.

In the 'sixties and 'seventies most towns and villages held annual Highland Gatherings embracing many sports items, including footracing, high jumping, broad-jumping, hitch and kick dancing and quoiting.
While Robert confined himself to the quoiting tourney, Campbell, a brilliant all-rounder, participated in most of them and established a new record of 5' 10½" in the high-jump at Johnstone. Perhaps it should be explained that this event was staged on a turnpike road and that in those days the body was almost erect when clearing the tape. Brother Robert, though much less graceful in his delivery of the quoit, was a better marksman than Campbell and a much doughtier opponent both in individual and in team competitions.
Two games in which he figured are worth recalling. The first relates to the final of the Stewarton club's annual Glasgow Fair Saturday tournament in 1874. In those days only three prizes were given by promoting clubs the other two players being Archibald (Alva) and John McGibbon. Currie " won the toss " for a final place. Archibald and McGibbon agreed to share their prize-money and that McGibbon should meet Currie in the final. Currie was the winner and the sequel was a money-match of 61 shots at Kilmarnock a few weeks later. This match ended all-square at 60 and is the only match of such importance known to have such an ending.
Currie led easily throughout the early and middle stages of the game, but when one of his quoits hit and badly injured one of a spectator's legs he was greatly upset and so lost touch. Even so, he claimed to be 61, but a change of referee during the game made it impossible to verify the claim by Currie that the original referee had failed to mark up a shot by him at the change-over. Stake-money was handed back and " No Result " declared.
This phenomenal game was the subject of much subsequent discussion, both verbal and in the press, and as long as 50 years later (in 1924) while acting as correspondent to the Kilmarnock Standard, I participated in a Letters to the Editor correspondence on the subject, the other correspondent being Mr. William Lindsay (the substitute referee) who was then Clerk to the Kilmaurs Parish Council.
The original referee was a Mr. Wilson, a Kilmarnock schoolmaster. The five Barclay brothers, as already stated, were all highly-skilled players and, with John Highet, they formed a strong combination in the Scottish and Ayrshire cup competitions. It can, I think, be said that Highet ranked next to the Curries. Four of the Barclays were married and each of them had two or more boys in his family. These boys played the game in their schooldays, but only one of them, Tom, son of Alexander, graduated to the 21 Yards game and during his playing career he undoubtedly maintained the high standard set by his father and uncles. Tom was also a dominating centre-half in the Stewarton Juniors football team and was for some years with St. Mirren F.C.
In recounting Robert Currie's successful career as a quoiter one is reminded of the fact that Ayrshire was particularly fortunate in that what was then known as the " landed gentry " were warmly interested in the game of quoits. This interest was indicated in a practical way by their donations of trophies for events to be staged annually and confined to Ayrshire players. The first trophy was presented by Sir Claude Alexander of Ballochmyle in 1840. It became known as the Ballochmyle Quoit and was played for annually on the ground of the Mauchline club for over 100 years. Lady Howard de Walden gifted a beautiful Silver Cup, the Earl of Eglinton gifted a Gold Quoit and the Marquis of Ailsa gave a Silver Quoit. The Gold Quoit and the Silver Quoit were won outright by Robert Currie. Another feature is worth recalling at this stage.
Throughout Ayrshire particularly many communities showed a strong preference for the game and this was often indicated by the friendly attitude of the laird, the minister, the local newspaper editor, the doctor and the school-master.
In the early years of this century the club decided to form a team of reserve players. This team, together with those set up by other Ayrshire clubs, took part in home-and-away games. John Lambert Gillies and John Muirhead were its most promising members. The fact that such a team became necessary was due to the upsurge of school-boy players who formed themselves into Street teams and played on vacant sites most convenient to the street in which they lived. Boy players in Dean Street, for instance, formed two playing rinks in the disused mill lade which used to divert water from the river Annick to Hannah's Mill. Dean Street in those days was much more densely populated than it is nowadays. One can recall the Connels, Craigs. Lindsays, Stillies and the Wilsons who played on the old mill lade. They, together with the boys in Holm Street, were the town's best players. Holm Street's playing site was in the public park, bounded by the old Back Road and the River Annick. Though smaller than Dean Street it was even more densely populated and I can testify that at least ten of its householders had one or more boys who played quoits on the old public park. Names which come to mind, are Barbour, Colquhoun. Felkin, Perguson (3 families), Lawrie, Nelson, Wilson and Young. High Street boys played at Cutsburn. The Gilmours and the Smiths were its most outstanding players. Kirkford played on Lainshaw Holm. Their best players were the Brownings, Ogilvies, Orrs and Wardrops. Lainshaw Street boys played on the Stewarton club's old ground at Standalane which they vacated in 1894. Here the names which one can best remember are Barclay, Blades and Stirrat.
It should perhaps be explained to younger readers that most boys played with horse-shoes which Mr. Baird, the local blacksmith, and his sons joined up and rounded off for a pleasingly modest fee. The distance played by the boys varied according to their age. During the long summer evenings two or three of the rinks not normally used by the club's team players were used by several members in games at the 10 yards distance. Quite a few of the 10 yards players were not sufficiently well endowed physically to engage in games at the full distance of 21 yards. Several of the short-distance games aroused much enthusiasm and, believe it or not, a remarkable display of partisanship by the onlookers.
Evidence of the club's high standing with quoiters throughout Scotland may be found in the fact that the numbers of entries received for the annual Glasgow Fair Saturday event exceeded those at any other similar tourney and that all the great players in the three generations preceding 1914 participated in the event. The same can be said of the fourth generation from 1920 onwards. Outstanding among them was John Kilpatrick who maintained the high standard set by his great predecessors. He was, I think, the finest sportsman of all the great players, a real gentleman in the best sense of the word.
Another feature which reflected greatly to the club's credit was the single mindedness of its officials and the fine service they gave to the club and to the National and County Associations.
John Barclay served as treasurer to the Ayrshire Association for many years. He owned a thriving tinsmith business and at the same time served as the local Town Council's sanitary inspector. Tom Kerr was a most efficient secretary and gave the club good service before moving to Kilmarnock to set up what became a successful hosiery business. Another assiduous official was William Ferguson who served as treasurer and as secretary during the pre-1914 period.
His son John was at that time a promising young player. John was the club's representative at meetings of the Scottish Association from 1920 and at the Association's annual general meeting in i926 he was elected chairman. In 1927 he was unanimously appointed secretary and during the next few years remarkable advances in the Association's activities were made. He and John McKenzie (S.Q.A. treasurer) interviewed English Association officials in 1929, the outcome being the staging of the first international match between England and Scotland in 1930. This match took place on the ground of the Parkhead club, and the series of similar international matches still continues. The Scottish single-handed championship was also set up during his term of office and a handsome Silver Cup to replace the old Scottish Cup was gifted by the owners of the " Evening Times ".
David Barbour, Tom Barclay, James Blades and Charles McMillan gave good service to the club as players and officials during the last 30 years of its existence and David Porter will be remembered for his long and voluntary service in keeping the ground in order during the same period.
The club staged its last Glasgow Fair Saturday tourney on 13th July, 1957, and its books were finally wound-up in 1960. It should be added that a creditable sum was donated to several Charities.
No historical record of the Stewarton Quoiting Club would be complete which did not include a warmly appreciative reference to Tommy Thomson who, for almost half-a-century, served the club as a player and as secretary. His devoted service to the club was almost awe-inspiring He was also a much-travelled visitor at. important team and individual contests throughout the West of Scotland and he was warmly welcomed at all of them. Most people in Stewarton invariably linked him and the club as inseparables and I feel sure that this reminder of his dedicated service to the club will enable them to recall his many likeable qualities.