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This photograph shows curlers taking part in a local bonspiel. The location is unknown.

Curling is claimed to have originated in Scotland in the 16th century. The modern rules of the game, with four players on either side throwing two stones each, were set in the mid 19th century. Originally the game was played outside on natural lochs and specially constructed ponds but since the first indoor game in Glasgow in 1907, the game is seldom played outside.

A Bonspiel is a curling tournament which usually lasts for 2-3 days over a weekend. Apart from curling, a bonspiel is a good opportunity to have fun meeting other curlers and sharing food and drink. It could be seen as a winter equivalent of a summer picnic.

'The Bonspiel' or 'Grand Match' is a huge tournament played between North and South on the Lake of Menteith in Perthshire. For safety reasons the ice has to be at least 7 inches thick for the event to go ahead. As a result of this the 'Grand Match' has only been played 33 times in the last 150 years and only 3 times since 1945

This image can be purchased.
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Find out more about the photograph collector - Joseph Cook