The Perth Masters championship was inaugurated in 1971 by former World Champion Chuck Hay and his fellow directors of Perth Ice Rink.
The trophy was contested every year until 1987.
From then until 1994 the tournament did not take place.
However in 1994, with the assistance of local curlers under the chairmanship of David Hay, the event was restored as the premier event in the Scottish Curling Calendar.
This year will be the 48th time this illustrious Championship has been contested. Over these years we have hosted many of the games legendary teams, from all corners of the World. Olympic, World and European Champions regularly enter to vie for the Masters Trophy.
The Perth Masters has prided itself as the number one event in the World, outside of Canada. The event is skilfully headed by Chairman, Peter Loudon, a former World Champion and Olympic competitor himself.
This has been a key element to the Masters success over the years. It has always been organised by past championship competitors and all from the City of Perth. Another vital part of the event is the quality of the ice and curling stones which Paul Martin, our Ice Technician, prepares for the World’s elite athletes.
Once again this year we have a star studded field from thirteen different nations, competing for the £18,700 prize fund with a £7200 first prize.
The Masters is played for annually in a triple knock out format with 8 teams qualifying for the quarter finals, semi final and the final on the Sunday.
The City of Perth is regarded as being the “Curling Capital” of Scotland. Whilst a small City of 50,000 people, its curlers have made a big mark on the Curling World. Europe and Scotland’s first ever World Champion in 1967 was Chuck Hay and Scotland’s 2nd World Champion was David Smith in 1991 – both teams contained only Perth Curlers. Currently, Perth born Eve Muirhead – 2013 Ladies World Champion and four time World Junior Champion flies the flag for City of Perth curlers on the global stage.
The history of curling in Scotland can be found dating back as far as 1540. It is also clear that the first recognized Curling Clubs were formed in Scotland, and during the 19th Century the game was “exported” wherever Scots settled around the world in cold climates, most notably at that time in Canada, USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand.