Ice Melters Curling Club
Encyclopedia
The Ice Melters Curling Club is a curling
club based in Southern England
. It was formed in June 2003, by Chris Munns, who wanted to provide curling opportunities for those based in England (a country that at the time had no curling facilities whatsoever). This was achieved by club members regularly travelling to other countries within Europe
to both train and compete.
At the same time, the club actively campaigned for the introduction of curling facilities in England
.
In November 2004 the club was able to base itself at England's first ever dedicated curling rink when [Fenton's Rink], near Tunbridge Wells
in Kent
, opened to the public. Privately owned, funded and built by a local landowner (and not any specific curling club) the rink is now at the heart of English curling.
, with the twinning aimed at promoting friendship and providing additional curling opportunities for the members of both clubs.
Benevolent Fund', raising money for the registered charity each summer through a number of sponsored activities.
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
club based in Southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
. It was formed in June 2003, by Chris Munns, who wanted to provide curling opportunities for those based in England (a country that at the time had no curling facilities whatsoever). This was achieved by club members regularly travelling to other countries within Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to both train and compete.
At the same time, the club actively campaigned for the introduction of curling facilities in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In November 2004 the club was able to base itself at England's first ever dedicated curling rink when [Fenton's Rink], near Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, opened to the public. Privately owned, funded and built by a local landowner (and not any specific curling club) the rink is now at the heart of English curling.
Champions
In January 2005, the Ice Melters Curling Club became inaugural Superleague Champions at Fenton's Rink, while it continues to send teams to compete at various bonspiels throughout Europe.Twin Club
The Ice Melters Curling Club is twinned with Malmö Curlingklubb in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, with the twinning aimed at promoting friendship and providing additional curling opportunities for the members of both clubs.
Community Amateur Sports Club
During 2004, the Ice Melters Curling Club was awarded 'Community Amateur Sports Club' status within the UK. The award recognises the quality of the club set-up and its policy of membership being available to all, regardless of location, nationality, gender, age or ability.Charity
The Ice Melters Curling Club also works hard on behalf of 'The Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Benevolent Fund', raising money for the registered charity each summer through a number of sponsored activities.