CURLING certainly appears to have been a popular sport in Malton back in the early 1900s, judging by the number of curlers on view in this picture of Malton curling rink. It was sent in by Mr and Mrs Digby and Jean Rawling of Malton, who believe it was taken some time before the First World War.

The tallest person in the centre of the picture to the left of the woman is famous race horse trainer William I'Anson, who owned the Highfield stable in Norton. He was a member of the curling team from Malton (along with John Potter, William Wilkinson and another friend), who won the Bonspiel Trophy in St Moritz in 1907.

The picture was taken by M Boak and Sons of Bridlington, Driffield and Malton. Mrs Rawling said they came across the picture when they were clearing out her grandmother's house. John Potter, member of the international trophy-winning Malton curling team in Switzerland, was not the only one in his family to enjoy the sport.

Elizabeth Morley, who lives in York but comes from Malton, told the Gazette & Herald that her grandfather - William Potter and brother of John - was also a keen curler who travelled to Belgium to play in competitions. John was the landlord of the New Globe Hotel in Malton for over 40 years during the first half of the last century.

Mrs Morley is the owner of a number of books detailing the history of Malton. She said she had found at least six entries documenting curling events in the town in December and January at various times from 1871 to the early 1900s. According to her findings, curling used to take place on Welham Pond - probably a private one - near the stately home of Welham Hall off Welham Road in Norton.

Matches against Hull and Harrogate are mentioned, as is "curling by torchlight."

An Old Maltonian's memories of curling

Many congratulations to the Scottish girls who gained us our first Gold Medal in the Olympic Games. To the uninitiated, this may seem a sport unworthy of being included in the games, but anyone who has tried to exhibit such accuracy on an icy surface would soon realise his ignorance. That last vital shot, with such clinical perfection, was spectacular. Perhaps the critics can be forgiven their fallibility, as we have not had the severe winters of the olden days, when we could expect two or three weeks' skating every January.

At the turn of the century, Malton had its own curling rink, which took the form of two concrete platforms just behind the cricket pavilion, about where the new pavilion now stands.

In fact, in 1908, a team led by William I'Anson, together with John Potter of the Royal Oak, William Wilkinson and another friend won the Bonspiel Trophy for Malton in the Swiss town of Kanderstegg.

Even up to the last war, heavy winters were to be expected, and Castle Howard Lake was the target for most enthusiasts on a Sunday morning. In the old days, the ice could be very thick, and it was said that a local farmer had led his horse and cart over it, but I was not there to witness it. Usually, the first deep frost produced a sheet of ice just like a plate glass window, and it was possible to follow large pike cruising around seeking their dinner, but when it snowed we all had to scrape an area clear for the next day's sport.

Most people trudged around happily, but some, even quite elderly, could be seen cutting figures of eight and loop threes with surprising elegance. Then, of course, there were the ice hockey enthusiasts racing and falling about. The Howard family and local "county" friends all took part in their own way. They were days to remember.

It was usually reckoned that one inch of ice was safe for skating, but when a thaw set in, it was not advisable to take chances. One Sunday morning, my father went through the ice up to his waist. As it was only 15 yards from the shore, everyone thought it quite amusing, but even with a ladder and rope, he had great difficulty, and when we got him home, his trousers stood up on their own - still frozen. He admitted to me some years later that he nearly gave up the struggle.

My mother was not amused, however, as he was wearing his best suit at the time!

FROM AN OLD MALTONIAN

Updated: 10:37 Thursday, March 07, 2002