How curlers from Yorkshire swept all before them on international stage

Britain’s curlers have caught the imagination of the public at the Winter Olympics, but over a century ago it was a team from Malton who were winning all the plaudits.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2014, 00:00 BST
Derek Searle, 74, great grandson of William Wilkinson, with Margaret Shaw, Project Manager for Malton MuseumDerek Searle, 74, great grandson of William Wilkinson, with Margaret Shaw, Project Manager for Malton Museum
Derek Searle, 74, great grandson of William Wilkinson, with Margaret Shaw, Project Manager for Malton Museum

In 1907 a team made-up of William I’Anson, John Potter and William Wilkinson, from Malton, won an international curling tournament, known as a bonspiel, in Switzerland.

The town had built up quite a reputation for curling and now over a hundred years later an exhibition has been put together which tells the story.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Margaret Shaw, education co-ordinator for Malton Museum in the Community, said: “I’Anson was a racing trainer who came down from Scotland and brought his love of the game with him and apparently it really took off and they used to have various competitions in the town and in 1907 they actually ended up going to Switzerland where they ended up winning this international challenge cup.”

She said they played on a frozen pond before moving to play at a cricket club.

Derek Searle, 74, great grandson of Mr Wilkinson, has visited the exhibition.

The curling display is part of a Windows to the Past exhibition at the Museum in Yorkersgate. The museum is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Related topics:YorkshireBritainSwitzerlandMaltonMuseumCommunity