Sport – Page 56 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

A sporting summer at Spartans

Youth Work Provision at Spartans Community Football Academy over the summer holidays:

Street Football In A Safe Place (SFiSP):

Monday to Friday throughout the holidays from 1 – 5pm

Ages: 7-18

Cost – FREE

Location – The Spartans Community Football Academy, 94 Pilton Drive EH5 2HF, next to Ainslie Park Leisure Centre.

Details – SFiSP offers the opportunity for young people to come and play (for free) in a safe, fun and friendly environment. Our Youth Work Team are on the pitch throughout the afternoon to join in the fun and also to make all participants feel safe.

Our 3G requires that everyone on the pitch must wear football boots while playing, but not to worry if you don’t have any as we have a boot bank for those who don’t have boots but would still like to play -and everyone is welcome to borrow a pair!

FooTEA: Days

Friday Nights

Ages: 7 to 11yrs (5pm to 7:30pm), 12 to 15yrs (6pm to 8:15pm)

Cost – FREE

Location – The Spartans Community Football Academy, 94 Pilton Drive EH5 2HF, next to Ainslie Park Leisure Centre (although on occasion we do hold this elsewhere but parents/guardians will be given plenty of notice)

Details – FooTEA is one of the main youth provisions we run here at the SCFA. FooTEA runs from 5pm to 8:15pm every Friday night here at the Academy. The young people who attend spend the first hour playing football, and then afterwards we have a hot meal together, before they are allowed to take part in various activities such as Baking, Xbox, Pool, Table Tennis, Arts and Crafts, etc.

Coaching: Bend it like Beesley (BILB)

Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm throughout the school holidays

Ages: 3yrs to 12yrs (split into three groups:3 -4, 5-8 and 9 -12)

Cost – £40 for the whole week or £8 per day.

Location – The Spartans Community Football Academy, 94 Pilton Drive EH5 2HF, next to Ainslie Park Leisure Centre

Details – ‘Bend It Like Beesley’ is our fun packed holiday programme aimed at 3-12 year olds, named after Spartans First Team star and SCFA Development Officer, Jack Beesley.

The emphasis is on developing young children’s football skills, whilst providing a thoroughly enjoyable week – all under the watchful eye of our highly-qualified Academy coaches.

For more info visit http://scfacoaching.com/bend-it-like-beesley-2/

Jamie Tomkinson,

Youth and Community Worker, The Spartans Community Football Academy

Twitter: Spartans_CFA

Telephone: 0131-552-7854

W: www.spartanscfa.com

Remembering a gentle giant

Edinburgh Northern organise charity fundraising tournament in honour of big ‘Loggy’

Following the tragic death of Richard Logg in a car crash on Christmas-Eve 2014, his team mates at Edinburgh Northern Rugby Football Club (@ENRFC) have come together to raise funds in his honour and to keep the memory of a ‘gentle giant’ alive (writes JACOB COURT).

The Club has already run several successful fund raising events for local charities, all chosen by his young family. Widowed & Young (WAY) and Richmond’s Hope, as well as national charity Home Start, have been at the heart of fundraising efforts thus far.

The next event to be hosted looks to celebrate the things that will always remind us of Loggy; a crunching rugby style, a love of spending time with family and friends – and a spirited enthusiasm for mischief and laughs!

Centred round a rugby tournament to celebrate ‘Loggy’ through the sport he loved, the Club are putting on a day of events, aimed at participants of all ages. Rugby, raffles, auctions as well as a BBQ, refreshments, live music and activities for children will all be laid on in order to foster as much as is possible of the spirit that draws people to small, community rugby clubs like Northern.

Donations are welcome but a good attendance would be much preferred with the setting of his home pitch in Inverleith Park being the venue for a three way tournament between his Club, Edinburgh Northern, a ‘Northern Legends’ team and a guest appearance from charity favourites, The Pigbarians.

Edinburgh Northern RFC would like to take this opportunity to welcome anyone with a passion for fun and a love of laughs to join us in Inverleith Park, East Fettes Avenue from 1pm on Saturday 25 July for a day of rugby, family games, barbequed meats and an evening of music.

Alex McLeish and Yogi Hughes to support world record bid at Spartans

A game of two halves? Try a game of FIVE DAYS!

Imagine running the equivalent of nine marathons back-to-back; imagine burning over 18,000 calories per day while only getting one or two hour intervals for a ‘quick nap’; imagine playing a full season of 90 minute fixtures within four days – that’s the Herculean task facing 36 hopeful World Record Breakers in North Edinburgh this weekend!

Friends, family and teammates of the late Falkirk defender Craig Gowans have been embarking on a gruelling training regime in preparation for their challenge to break the Guinness World Record for the longest 11-a-side football match.

The record was broken just weeks ago at St Mary’s – the 30,000 all-seater stadium and home of Southampton FC, but from the 4 – 8 July, Ainslie Park, home of The Spartans FC, will play host to one of the most ambitious of Guinness World Record attempts as the team aim to smash the current record.

The Craig Gowans Guinness World Record Match has support from a number of high-profile football associations and charities such as the Scottish Football Association, Football Aid, The Sick Kids Friends Foundation and the Hibernian Football Community.

A number of celebrities will also take part in the event, including ex-Rangers, Hibernian and Scotland boss, Alex McLeish. McLeish himself will be acting as a guest manager for the record attempt, while the current Scottish Cup holding manager, John Hughes, will also be there, showing his support.

Former teammates of Craig and current professional footballers, Scott Arfield and Thomas Scobbie have also lent their support to the World Record attempt.

The event has attracted much attention since the plan was formulated by the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund, a fund set up by Craig’s family and friends following his tragic death to ensure that his memory is used as a driving force for good.

Craig, a former Daniel Stewarts and Melville College pupil, died during training aged just 17, when a 20ft long pole used for transportable nets he was instructed to carry came into contact with power lines. He had signed his professional contract with the club just two weeks prior to the accident.

Since the charity was formed in April 2007, the fund has raised more than £80,000, supporting charities such as the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) and the Chesney Trust. The fund has also contributed towards building state-of-the-art educational facilities for children and young adults in places such as Malawi.

The two 18-man squads have already smashed their £37,000 fundraising target, inspired by Craig’s professional number at Falkirk, number 37, and the total continues to rise.

The money raised will be used to fund enhancements to the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France, specifically a state-of-the-art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name. The space will be a calming room with multi-sensory equipment providing a relaxing and stimulating space for children with sensory impairments.

The Craig Gowans Guinness World Record Committee, made up of Craig’s school friends Jonny Wallace, Dario Alonzi, Eoghan Molloy and Chris O’Shea, are working hard to ensure the event is as successful as possible and raises as much awareness as possible.

Members of the public are invited to the kick-off of the world record attempt at 1pm tomorrow (Saturday 4 July) and to support the players throughout the match until the full time whistle on Wednesday (8 July).

Anyone who would like to check the progress of the World Record attempt can get in touch through the website – www.tcggwrm.org,

on Twitter – ♯CG37www.twitter.com/TCGGWRM37

and on Facebook –www.facebook.com/TCGGWRM

Donations can be made via JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/teams/worldrecord.

For further info contact Jonny Wallace at TCGGWRM37@gmail.com

Be part of sporting history!

Volunteers needed to aid local world record attempt

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) and Craig Gowans Memorial Fund are recruiting hundreds of volunteers to get the ball rolling at an upcoming World Record attempt for the longest 11-a-side football match of all time.

Friends, family and teammates of the late Falkirk defender Craig Gowans are hosting the Guinness World Record attempt in memory of the young football star, and require the help of a vast range of volunteers to help make the event a success.

The Memorial Fund was set up by Craig’s family and friends following his tragic death to ensure that his memory is used as a driving force for good.

This four day mega-match will take place at Ainslie Park, Home of Spartans FC, from 4 – 8 July, with all proceeds going to the SKFF.

The participating players aim to complete at least 103 hours of football in order to beat the current World Record which was recently set in Southampton. In order to complete this mammoth football challenge the charity are calling for people of all skills to support the fundraising efforts.

Volunteers needed include referees, stewards, physiotherapists, general helpers, as well as people to assist with the event setup and tidy up.

The Craig Gowans Guinness World Record Football Match is expected to raise more than £37,000 for the Foundation. The money will be used to open a state-of-the-art Snoezelen Room in Craig’s name at the new Sick Kids Hospital in Little France. This calming space will use cutting edge multi-sensory equipment to provide a vital, stimulating area for young patients with sensory impairments.

Jonny Wallace, one of Craig’s closest school friends and an advocate of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund said: “We have organised many fundraisers in the past in memory of Craig but this epic match will be one of our biggest challenges to date and we need help from lots of volunteers for the event to run smoothly.

“Volunteers make all the difference to the success of our events and we would really appreciate any level of help for our upcoming World Record attempt whether it is for one day or all four.”

Rachel McKenzie, Head of Voluntary Fundraising at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “We’re extremely grateful that the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund has chosen to raise funds for the Foundation. Their upcoming world record football match looks set to be a very demanding challenge and we urge anyone that can help them during the event to show their support and sign up for a volunteer’s role online.”

To register as a volunteer at the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund World Record Breaking Football Match

visit www.tcggwrm.org/volunteer

or email Jonny Wallace at TCGGWRM37@gmail.com.

Tonight’s the night for KABO boxers

It’s been a lot of hard work for everyone involved, but they’ve made it. Tonight’s the night for ‘The Jewel of the North’, KABO’s biggest ever boxing event.

Some seats are still available for the show at Edinburgh College Granton Campus: there’s one ringside table left at £20 per seat, and you can also pay on the door (£15).

Doors open at 6.30 and the action starts at 7pm

Seconds out …

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Getting in shape for marathon charity match

Craig Gowans team plans world record attempt at Spartans

The football season may now be over, but friends, family and teammates of the late Falkirk midfielder Craig Gowans have embarked on a gruelling training regime in preparation for their challenge: to break the Guinness World Record for the longest 11-a-side football match!

The mega-match, which will take place from 4 – 8 July at Ainslie Park, home of Spartans FC, will raise money for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation on behalf of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund, a fund set up by Craig’s family and friends following his tragic death to ensure that his memory is used as a driving force for good.

Craig, a former pupil of Daniel Stewarts and Melville College, died during training when a 20ft long pole used for transportable nets came into contact with power lines. Craig, who was 17, had signed his professional contract with the club just two weeks before the accident.

Since the charity was formed in April 2007, it has raised over £80,000, supporting charities such as the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), the Sick Kids Friends Foundation and the Chesney Trust. The fund has also contributed towards building state-of-the-art educational facilities for children and young adults in places such as Malawi.

With each player running the equivalent of at least two marathons every twenty-four hours, the Guinness World Record attempt will be the most demanding challenge to date. The final few months of the training regime, and the attempt in July will be a real test of discipline and commitment for all players involved.

The two 18-man squads hope to raise over £37,000 (Craig’s professional number being 37 at Falkirk). The money raised will be used to fund enhancements to the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France, specifically a state-of-the-art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name, a calming room with multi-sensory equipment to provide a relaxing and stimulating space for children with sensory impairments.

The Craig Gowans World Record already has the support of high profile football associations and charities such as the Scottish Football Association, Football Aid, The Sick Kids Friends Foundation and the Hibernian Football Community.

A number of celebrities will also take part in the event, including ex-Scotland boss and current FC Genk Manager, Alex McLeish.

The Craig Gowans Guinness World Record Committee is a group of Craig’s school friends, Jonny Wallace, Dario Alonzi, Chris O’Shea and Eoghan Molloy who are working hard to ensure that the event is as successful as it can be and raise as much awareness as possible. The group launched the event at their flagship dinner on 28 March at Stewarts Melville school. The committee have so far raised over £22,000 and are hoping to smash their target.

The teams are looking for more volunteers to get involved in the event, at all levels. Anyone who would like to get involved in the World Record attempt can get in touch through:

the website www.tcggwrm.org

Twitter www.twitter.com/TCGGWRM37

and on Facebook www.facebook.com/TCGGWRM

Donations can be made via JustGiving www.justgiving.com/teams/worldrecord

For more info contact Jonny Wallace at TCGGWRM37@gmail.com

Kabo boxing event at Granton Campus

Edinburgh Reds go green!

The Edinburgh branch of the Manchester United Supporters Club has raised £1000 from a club raffle for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The branch, founded in 2001 by Peter Wood and Ian McKenzie, organise cost-effective luxury coach travel to United games for Scottish supporters.

Branch Chairman Peter Wood said: “Supporting Macmillan is a no brainer for us. Who hasn’t been touched by cancer? Raising funds is something we can do easily and very readily.”

Ian added: “I am aware of the support and care Macmillan offer as my wife is a nurse. This is an important cause to lots of people and one everyone should support them if they can.”

Macmillan’s Edinburgh Fundraising Manager, Jayne Forbes, said: “We couldn’t fund the services we provide without the support of people like the Edinburgh Reds. We support and improve the lives of people affected by cancer by providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support and by pushing for better cancer care. We’d like to thank Reds committee members Peter, Ian, Umeir, Waqqas and Gordon as well as the entire club for their excellent help.”

East meets West in titanic struggle

It’s an age-old rivalry that stretches back as far as anyone can remember – and the latest in a long line of sporting battles between Edinburgh and Glasgow will be fought out at Meadowbank later this month. LUCY GLENNIE explains …

The ‘derby derby’ rolls back into the capital in an all-Scottish battle of all-female fitness, strength, and speed on skates later this month when Edinburgh’s Auld Reekie Roller Girls (ARRG) will take on their greatest Scottish rivals Glasgow Roller Derby (GRD) at Meadowbank Stadium.

The latest roller derby game will see ARRG fighting to regain their crown from GRD, who came out on top in their last battle.

GRD are the finest they’ve ever been right now, having swept to the top spot in the latest UK Roller Derby Association rankings for the first time too. The slip from #1 ranking for ARRG has seen them training harder and smarter than ever in the last few weeks to be on peak form to snatch back the gold.

Will the mighty ARRG be able to reclaim their top spot, or will the Glaswegians opposition be too strong and hold the lead?

It’s sure to be a fiercely-fought battle between the two highest-ranking teams in the UK. This is an incredible chance to see the love-hate rivalry of these Scottish opponents – come and see why people are getting so excited about the fastest-growing women’s sport in the world!

Auld Reekie Roller Girls v Glasgow Roller Derby

2pm, Sunday 28 June: Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road

Tickets:

Tickets available from: http://www.brownpapertickets.com

Advance tickets – £5.00

On the door tickets – £7.00

Free for children aged 14 and under.

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.