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The Herries Maxwell trophy is played between Scotland and the USA. Touring parties travel to play for the trophy on a 10-year cycle. The last Scottish tour was in 2007 when we toured the USA and brought back the trophy. Unfortunately, it was recovered by the USA in their return tour in 2012.

Commander Herries Maxwell was President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in the year 1950 – 1951. He had travelled out to the USA with some fellow Scots tourists twice during 1949 (1950-51 Annual – pp. 63-64). His photograph, in full Naval uniform, is shown at the beginning of the same Annual.

Although it does not state it in so many words, it is assumed that, having in mind fond memories of these visits, and the generosity shown by the Americans to the Scots, herries-maxwelltogether with the Royal Club’s decision to establish a permanent tour-pattern, he decided to have a trophy especially created for this tour and generously donated same to the Royal Club. It is also likely that his wife’s family connections to Shenectady, New York would be a factor in his desire to recognise the trans-Atlantic ties.

The first tour took place with the USA travelling to Scotland in January, 1952. The Royal Club President of the time was David M. Hutcheon and it is recorded in the Annual that King George VI died during the tour – the only sad note.

The undernoted shows a brief history of each tour with the scores.

Year Who was President Who was where Who Won Scots Score USA Score Winning margin
1952 David M. Hutcheon USA in Scotland Scots won 479 366 113
(No scores given but a report is on page 65 in the 1952/53 Annual. Scores were supplied as a result of the 2001 Tour)
1955 (not 1957) John Watson Scots in USA Scots won 319 278 41
1962 Festus Moffat USA in Scotland Scots won 367 219 148
(The cup was actually presented by Commander Herries-Maxwell who stated: ‘I look on this Trophy not only as a cup to be fought for but as a token of the good fellowship between our countries.’)
1967 ? Bill Robertson Aikman Scots in USA Scots won 1293 1186 107
1972 W. D. Wilson USA in Scotland Scots won 1041 935 106
1977 Bob Grierson Scots in USA Scots won 1216 998 218
1982 Jim Whiteford USA in Scotland USA won 887 909 22
1987 Alex F. Torrance Scots in USA USA won 771 784 13
(The tour was captained by Alex Torrance. No individual scores given in Annuals, but figures supplied as a result of the 2001 Tour)
1992 Charles Binnie USA in Scotland USA won 793 856 63
1997 Alex Torrance Scots in USA USA won 747 807 60
2001 Ainslie Smith USA in Scotland USA won 764 1033 269
(Tour took place in 2001 to avoid the Olympics being hosted by USA in 2002)
2007 Alistair McCabe Scots in USA Scots won 949 869 80
2012 Pat Edington USA in Scotland USA won 797 1075 278
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