Edinburgh gets set for Festival of Cycling

City to host third Festival of Cycling from 11 – 21 June

The third Edinburgh Festival of Cycling will be held from 11 to 21 June, and Scotland’s greatest cycling celebration promises to be a real showcase of all aspects of bicycle culture.

The jam-packed 10-day programme features not only bike rides and races, but talks, films, drama, art & photography exhibitions, family events, and workshops. Among the rides there are several new rides, including the inauguration of the Capital Trail a long distance mountain biking challenge, and two new Audax rides aimed at beginners and families. There will also be rides and events for children and families.

The festival will feature inspiring speakers such as: Shannon Galpin, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, talking about her work in Afghanistan using the bicycle as a vehicle for social justice. Juliana Buhring (the fastest woman to cycle round the world) will be giving a Q&A after the Scottish première of ‘Inspired to Ride’ the new film about the 4,233 mile Trans America race, in which was the first woman to finish (and fifth overall). Also, new at the Festival is the powerful new drama ‘The White Bike’ by Tamara von Werthern, who was inspired to write the play by the death of Eilidh Cairns who was killed as she cycled to work.

This years Festival of Cycling will see the return of the Original Edinburgh Night Ride, for its third year: this is a supported ride which has been described as a magical mystery tour from Edinburgh to East Lothian and back through the mid-summer night – this ride sold out for the last two years.

Then there’s the Bike Curious Family workshop – showing families how bikes can be the perfect transport solution for children of all ages. Also, returning this year is Women’s Cycle forum, an evening of discussion, inspiration and networking on how to build a better world.

In addition to all this there will be plenty more to do including a literary tour, rides and tours for all-abilities, novice riders, children and the elite, workshops, exhibitions of art & photography, various workshops, including one where you can build a bicycle from scratch using bamboo to make the frame, and public meetings.

Throughout June, ‘Pedalling past: Edinburgh’s Cycling Heritage’, explores Edinburgh’s cycling heritage in a free exhibition at the Central Library, through historic photographs and other material from the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries.

The Festival also caters to the increasing amount of people commuting in Edinburgh. The Spokes’ Bike Breakfast will be free to all who arrive by bike and features a range of stalls, speeches, security marking and servicing for bikes at the Edinburgh City Chambers. The Brompton Fold-Fest will have prizes for the quickest in town to fold a Brompton bicycle at Biketrax and at the SEStran Commuter Challenge participants will set off from Ferrytoll, Ingliston, Straiton and Newcraighall by car, bus, train, tram, bicycle, or jogging/walking and head for St Andrew Square, to see which mode is the fastest and causes the least environmental damage.

Louise Haston, Commonwealth Games double Silver medallist said: “Over the past few years cycling in Scotland has gone from strength to strength and it’s great to see events such as the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling taking place,
especially for the 3rd year running.

“Events like this are key to getting people of all ages and abilities involved in cycling whether it be for sport, leisure, to stay fit or have fun! There are some fantastic events on this year’s calendar – I can’t wait to be involved!”

Director of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling, Kim Harding, says “This year we are bringing you our strongest programme yet: more rides, including the new Capital Trail and two new Audax rides. More films, including the première of ‘Inspired to Ride’ with a Q&A with one of the stars. Great talks, such as ‘Pedalling a Revolution’ by Shannon Galpin, founder of the nonprofit organisation Mountain2Mountain, on her social justice work in Afghanistan, a country where there is a cultural taboo against women and girls riding bicycles.

“Also, Emily Chappell a cycle courier taking on the world, and Swiss mountain biker Gian Liesch. The powerful new drama ‘The White Bike’ by Tamara von Werthern, plus books, photographs, workshops, rides and more. Did I mention the rides?”

Held across different venues around Edinburgh, more information on all events of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling and tickets are available online at www.edfoc.org.uk.

The Festival can also be followed on Twitter at @edfoc, on Facebook at EdinburghFestivalofCycling, on Instagram at @edfoc and on Flickr at edincyclefest. The hashtag for the event is #edfoc2015.

The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling is supported by Sustrans, Sestran, The City of Edinburgh Council, Spokes and the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative. Booking information and contact details for all events can be found on www.edfoc.org.uk, the online brochure can be browsed at goo.gl/TYrM6z.

May Day! East meets West in derby derby!

The British Roller Derby Championships are Europe’s largest Roller Derby Tournament, with 72 leagues from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland going head to head over the course of 2015.

Auld Reekie Roller Girls (ARRG) are in the Premier Division of the competition and have already travelled to Cardiff to take on Middlesbrough Milk Rollers in the first round of the tournament. That nail-biting game between two closely-matched teams resulted in a 114-108 win for the Edinburgh women.

Round two of the tournament will be hosted by ARRG at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Saturday 2 May, where Edinburgh’s finest will take on two of the UK’s strongest teams: Manchester’s Rainy City Roller Girls (RCRG), and – in what is guaranteed to be a very exciting game – ARRG face their closest neighbours and deadliest rivals in the Edinburgh v Glasgow Derby Derby!

ARRG are currently ranked number 1 in the UK rankings, but Glasgow are close behind at number 2. Will the mighty ARRG be able to hold on to their top spot, or will the Glaswegians opposition be too strong?

The day will also host games between Birmingham’s Central City Roller Girls (CCR), Middlesbrough Milk Rollers (MMR) and Cardiff’s powerful Tiger Bay Brawlers (TBB): it’s sure to be a day of fiercely-fought battles between the highest-ranking teams in the UK.

This is an incredible chance to see the country’s best teams play at the bargain rate of only £12 for the entire day – come and see why people are getting so excited about the fastest-growing women’s sport in the world!

British Roller Derby Championships: Premier Tier – Round 2
9am – 7pm, Saturday 2 May: Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh

Tickets: Tickets available from: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1353385
Full-day tickets: £12.00
ARRG vs. Glasgow tickets: £5.00
Free for children aged 14 and under.

What is modern roller derby?

Roller derby is an all-female sport that involves teams competing on an oval track in a series of ‘jams’ – two minute periods that see teams of five players each battling to score points.

During each jam, one player on each team is designated as the ‘jammer’ who scores a point for every member of the opposing team she passes.

The sport requires a punishing array of agile and athletic skills, from zig-zag blocking moves to body slams to all-out speed-skating.

To perfect these manoeuvres, skaters commit to several hours of practice every week, paying for gear and practice space out of their own pockets. While it has its roots in sports-entertainment-style exhibition games going back as far as the 1930s, modern roller derby has reinvigorated the game with a grass-roots DIY ethos that puts the passion for athleticism front-and-centre.

The trend finally reached Edinburgh in 2008, when a small group of women founded the Auld Reekie Roller Girls. The Edinburgh league now averages over 100 skaters, and is run purely on the volunteer efforts of its members.

ARRG became full members of the Womens Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in 2011. ARRG’s All Stars are currently ranked number 1 in Europe and number 60 in the world.

For further info go to www.arrg.co.uk.

You need friends: Montgomery Street Park to be transformed

‘Improving the facility in this way will undoubtedly enhance our school, and wider community’ – Jackie Reid, Head Teacher at Leith Walk Primary School

The Friends of Montgomery Street Park are celebrating a £40,000 grant from Biffa Award, a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK.

Montgomery Street Park will get a major upgrade after a group of local residents were successful in their funding bid. The grant from Biffa Award means that the hard-surface sports area, which is currently cracked, uneven and pot-holed, will be completely refurbished. The area will be levelled and resurfaced with rubber, then painted with lines for both football and basketball. New goal posts and basketball hoops will be installed and new seating added, in the form of long-lasting and low-maintenance recycled plastic benches.

The work will start in mid-March and should be finished by the end of April.

The application was the result of a public consultation exercise and several local groups, including schools, churches and youth organisations, wrote letters of support.

Jackie Reid, Head Teacher at Leith Walk Primary School, said: “Many of our pupils make excellent use of the park, which has become a hub of our community. As a school, we use the park extensively to ensure our pupils are active and healthy. We also hold our Nursery Sports Day there each year in June. Improving the facility in this way will undoubtedly enhance our school, and wider community.”

Rev. Gordy Mackay, Minister of Abbeyhill Baptist Church and local resident, said:“Montgomery Street Park is a vital and very valued space within our community. Over many years Abbeyhill Baptist Church has benefitted from our close proximity to the park. We have used the park for picnics, participated in fun days and enjoy taking groups of children and teenagers there to play games. These improvements to the park and the facilities within it will bring significant benefit to the park’s many users and will be greatly welcomed.”

Gillian French, Programme Manager at Biffa Award, said “Biffa Award is delighted to support this project, which has been led by local residents and involved local children. Outdoor spaces are incredibly important; the improved area will be a fun, stimulating and engaging place where children and their parents can meet and socialise.”

The funding from Biffa Award will go directly towards creating a safer and more usable space for park users, in what is the most densely populated area of not just Edinburgh, but Scotland (Census 2011). The upgraded sports facilities will be free to use. The improvements will promote active living and sports engagement, directly benefiting the health and wellbeing of local residents, who – having small or no private gardens – make good use of the park.

For more information about the Friends of Montgomery Street Park or to get involved in the group, visit

website montgomerystreetpark.org.uk

and Facebook page facebook.com/montgomerystreetpark

Auld Reekie to face Cambridge Rollerbillies

Tickets to the next Auld Reekie Roller Girls game just £5 when you sign up to the league’s newsletter

ARRG’s all-women roller derby team the All-Star Reserves hope to hit, whip and skate their way to victory against Cambridge Rollerbillies when they clash this Saturday.

The game will bring all the big hits and speedy skating to fans rooting for the Edinburgh girls to complete an Oxbridge double, after beating an Oxford team last month.

All Star Reserves’ captain Kiki said: “We’re so pumped for the last All Star Reserves game of the season and can’t wait to channel our amazing training into this game!”

However, the Cambridge team comes fresh from winning the Heartland Series tournament of 24 English and Welsh teams, with a stunning 184-59 score against Plymouth City Roller Girls. The Cambridge skaters have proved themselves fit, speedy and strong and are sure to bring their new skills and strategy to their game against Auld Reekie.

The All-Star Reserves hope to get loud support from the Edinburgh crowd on their home ground at Meadowbank Sports Centre in a fast and fierce demonstration of athleticism on wheels.

Supporters can also snap up merchandise and tuck into home-made cakes at the game on Saturday (28 February) from 2pm.

Tickets for Auld Reekie Roller Girls’ All Star Reserves vs Cambridge Rollerbillies are £8 on the door or £7 from the Brown Paper Tickets website. (www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1017167)

Free entry for children aged under 14 and only £5 if you sign up to the ARRG newsletter on the arrg.co.uk website.

Thinking caps on for LifeCare Quiz

We are holding another Pub Quiz as the last one was so much fun! We are very fortunate to have Robert the Bruce quizmaster at the helm again.

It’s on Friday 27 February from 8:30 – 11.30pm

(18+ only) here at LifeCare.

Tickets cost £5 each. Lots of fabulous prizes to be won. Bar and snacks.

Get your friends together and make a team!

Funds raised will help LifeCare with their work with the frail elderly and people without dementia throughout Edinburgh

Box your way to a new you at Granton

Seconds out …

Starts next week at Granton Youth Centre!

Balancing Act

Council strategy aims to balance safe drinking with economic development

A report that highlights the need to reduce alcohol-related harm in Edinburgh while supporting economic development will be presented to councillors next week.

The report to the City of Edinburgh Council’s Health, Social Care and Housing Committee on January 27 2015 will state that in the capital:

• the cost of alcohol-related harm to the Council’s social care services is £29 million;
• the impact on economic productivity is an estimated £85m;
• alcohol-related deaths doubled between 1991 and 2004;
• 47% of adults drink more than recommended guidelines;
• 26% of serious assaults committed in public places are aggravated by alcohol;
• Edinburgh’s alcohol-related hospital admission rate is higher than the Scottish average.

The report highlights a proposal to develop a local strategy on alcohol that reduces related harmful impacts while, at the same time, supports the capital’s aspiration for continued economic development. If approved, it will be developed through the Edinburgh Partnership.

It will also highlight ongoing work to deal with these issues by officers from the public and third sectors within planning, economic development, social work, licensing, public health, the police and the fire service.

Committee members will be asked to note the harm caused across the city, note that effective interventions need to focus on reducing harm across the population, and support further talks between Council services, Police Scotland, NHS Lothian and the third sector to develop the strategy.

A presentation on alcohol-related harm within the city will be made to Committee members by the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, the NHS and the police.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Health, Social Care and Housing Convener, said: “The negative effects of the misuse of alcohol, on the city as well as on individuals is laid bare in this report. It is clear that these issues have a far-reaching effect on people of all ages and social backgrounds.

“The Council has a duty to promote citizens’ health and well-being, but at the same time, a desire to encourage business development and to support financial growth of the city as a whole.

“Talks are at the early stages between services within the Council about how we reduce alcohol-related harm and support the economic development of our city at the same time.”

‘Village Urban Resort’ opens it’s doors at Crewe Toll

Free fitness open weekend 24 & 25 January

The ‘Village Urban Resort’ at Crewe Toll will finally fully open for business next week after lengthy delays. The hotel and leisure complex, built on the former Helix House site, was first expected to open in Spring last year.

Parts of the operation, including the gym and leisure complex, opened opened earlier this month and work is now complete on the hotel itself – bookings can be made from 19 January.

Original owners The De Vere Group sold off its Village Urban Resort hotel brand to an American private equity company last November. An affiliate of KSL Capital Partners acquired De Vere’s group of 25 UK hotels – and three under development in Edinburgh (Crewe Toll), Glasgow and Aberdeen – for a sum believed to be around £485m.

The Village Urban Resort boasts a wide range of top quality facilities:

‘Located in the heart of the capital city, our hotel in Edinburgh is perfectly situated for those looking to see everything that the city has to offer. After a long day of sightseeing, Village Edinburgh boasts some of the finest facilities in the city to help your relax and recharge including rejuvenating spa treatments at our Viva Urban Spa. Worked up an appetite? Why not grab a bite to eat at one of our in-house restaurants?’

Facilities include:

Premium ‘Upperdeck’ room upgrade
Beauty Spa
‘Hub’ meeting and events facilities
Sealy Posturepedic bed TV with satellite channel
Desk, lamp, telephone
Hairdryer and ironing board
Tea & coffee making facilities

The website goes on to say:

Our Edinburgh hotel has been designed to provide comforts akin to its magnificent surroundings. Attractions to suit the whole family are close by, from the thrilling attractions of Edinburgh Zoo and Deep Sea World, to the excitement of Murrayfield Rugby Stadium.

Free Fitness Open Weekend 24 & 25 January

Come along for free and see what Village Health & Fitness has to offer you. There’s a whole host of events for all the family featuring exercises from all around the globe. There’s a world of fitness out there and you can sample it for free at Village! Activities include: Themed studio master classes, family fun and face painting, sports supplements tasters, exclusive spa massage offer and unbelievable joining offers.

AARG! Exciting news from Auld Reekie Roller GIrls!

Change of season for city team now world-ranked 60!

We are excited to announce that the Auld Reekie Roller Girls Intraleague Home Season for 2015 is being held at a new time!

As our loyal fans will know, for the past three years we have run our Home Season from January – April. However, 2014 has seen our league take on a lot of new directions as we continue to grow, not only in number but in standing in the roller derby world.

In the past year, we have gone from being ranked #103 with WFTDA to being #60 in the world. That’s right, our wee Scottish team are the 60th best in the WORLD!

We are super proud of what we have achieved. We plan to continue this until we are #1, so we’ve made some changes and moved some things around – and that includes our Home Season!

So, exciting … we will now have our Home Season from September – November 2015! Keep a look out for dates which will be announced later next year.

Because this means we have a whole batch of amazing new rookie skaters who are having to wait a little bit longer to show off their skills in public, we are super excited to announce that we will be holding our first ever InARRGuration game on 30 November!

This is a closed game – friends and family of skaters only – but our whole league will be out in force to cheer on our new guys! The skaters who are making ARRG history have been teamed up as follows:

TEAM GREEN:

Bruiser Black #369, CirqueduSlay #23, Comet Sans #88, emKa#17, Harlot Bronte #303, Hex #71, Klara #14, Lannthrax#92 (guest – New Town Roller Girls), Major Vengeance #1984, Pummela#321, Shamonster#123, Trojan Virus #526, McSpeedy#145, Rage More #96, Bench – Chasing Katy. LUM –BintImperial

TEAM BLACK:

Bacon Roll #4, Ba Humbug #0131, Bunsen BurnHer #61, Coco Schnell – #39 (guest from Newcastle Roller Girls), Calamity Pain #808, Diamond Slayher #10, Jammy Mammie #333, Khal JoJo – #H2O (guest from Newcastle Roller Girls), Looney Tunes #148, Mairi #99, Pukeahontas #92, Roxy Rebel # 31F (guest from Fierce Valley Roller Girls), Teapot Rebellion #24, Tank Girl #46, Bench – DeeDee. LUM – Shiv

We are as excited as they are to watch their first ever inARRGuration game!

GO ARRG!!!”

http://arrg.co.uk/inarrguration-game/

Westwoods is simply the best

Westwoods Health Club at Fettes has been crowned the Best Premium Health Club in Scotland in the prestigious Health Club of the Year Awards UK. What makes the accolade even more special is that the competition judges were the club’s own members!

David Gibson, one of Westwoods fitness Instructor/personal trainers also won one of the five National People’s Awards.

Now in its fourth year, the MEMBERS’ CHOICE Health Club Awards received 35,000 votes from members rating their club on the quality of facilities, customer service and value for money. Four hundred club entries came from a mixture of small independents, public leisure centres, hotel clubs and some of the best known brands in the industry.

Westwood’s director Wendy Wallace said: “We were keen when we opened the club 12 years ago to not only offer a fantastic health and fitness facility but to also create a friendly social club that makes a real difference to the lives of many people. We would like to thank all of our members who took the time to assess our facilities as it is because of them that we have been presented with this award.”

General manager James Matthew added: “We are so excited to have won this award. The whole team works extremely hard to deliver a high standard of service and value for money.”

Westwoods member Kirsty Rennie said: “I have been a member for many years and I am delighted that Westwoods has finally been recognized for its excellent facilities and friendly, helpful staff. I love using the club especially when I know that my kids are being so well looked after by the fantastic crèche staff.”

Picture: The happy Westwoods staff team with the awards!