12 teams arrived at Fochabers PC on Sunday 21st April for the first Grand Prix of 2013.  Players were greeted to bacon rolls & coffee at breakfast (thank you Shirley) and a veritable feast of chilli, nachos and Mrs Stronach’s famous home baking for lunch.  The SPA would like to thank Fochabers PC and all their volunteers for their hospitality over the whole weekend.  We were delighted that the SPA’s founding President, Chris Pern, paid a visit to the piste during the competition.

The SPA are using the Swiss Ladder system to determine the order of play and the BHN/fBHN ranking method. In addition, timed games have been reintroduced this year.  Games are limited to 60 minuted plus an additional end (with a one boule each tie breaker if necessary).

The teams seemed to adapt to the new format quite easily and, with play ceasing bang on 6 pm the timed games element worked out perfectly.

Ranking points and standings in the Grand Prix Series are therefore as follows:

Congratulations to Les Cremants, Grand Prix 1 winners: