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Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Experience Edinburgh's sporting heritage at pop up exhibition at St James Quarter
As part of the city-wide Edinburgh 900 celebrations, a new exhibition celebrating Edinburgh's rich sporting legacy opens this Wednesday at St James Quarter. Free and open to all, the exhibition invites visitors to explore Edinburgh Leisure's proud history of leisure and sport through engaging displays and stories. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Located in a dedicated Edinburgh 900 pop-up on Leith Street, next to Mor Bakery, the exhibition showcases the 'City of Leisure' theme and features highlights from three captivating Edinburgh Leisure displays. Great Lengths & Your Health is for Life Discover Edinburgh Leisure's 27-year commitment to promoting active lifestyles and delve into the fascinating history of the city's Victorian swimming pools, including the iconic Royal Commonwealth Pool. Great Lengths exhibition delves into the history of the city's Victorian swimming pools Teeing Off Through Time Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Celebrate Edinburgh's prestigious golfing heritage designed to be displayed at the 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy, held at Braid Hills Golf Course in May. Learn about the city's pivotal role in golf's origins, explore Edinburgh Leisure's six scenic golf courses, and uncover the stories behind historic tournaments like the Dispatch Trophy and Gibson Cup, which have shaped local golfing traditions for over 130 years. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, history buff, leisure enthusiast or simply curious, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience Edinburgh's sporting spirit - all under one roof. Discover Edinburgh Leisure's 27 year commitment to promoting active lifestyles at the pop-up exhibition at St James Quarter Admission is free, and no booking is required. If you missed the exhibition at the Royal Commonwealth Pool last autumn, now's your chance to catch it in the heart of the city. You can learn about Edinburgh Leisure's Active Communities programmes, which support over 12,500 people affected by health conditions, disabilities, inequalities and poverty to get active; membership options including their 4-week summer pass, available now; fundraising initiatives; and volunteering opportunities too.
Edinburgh Reporter
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Learn about Edinburgh's sporting heritage at pop up exhibition
As part of the city-wide Edinburgh 900 celebrations, a new exhibition celebrating Edinburgh's rich sporting legacy opens this Wednesday at St James Quarter. Free and open to all, the exhibition invites visitors to explore Edinburgh Leisure's history of leisure and sport through displays and stories. Located in a dedicated Edinburgh 900 pop-up on Leith Street, next to Mor Bakery, the exhibition showcases the 'City of Leisure' theme and features highlights from three Edinburgh Leisure displays. Great Lengths and Your Health is for Life Discover Edinburgh Leisure's 27-year commitment to promoting active lifestyles and delve into the fascinating history of the city's Victorian swimming pools, including the iconic Royal Commonwealth Pool. Teeing Off Through Time Celebrate Edinburgh's prestigious golfing heritage designed to be displayed at the 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy, held at Braid Hills Golf Course in May. Learn about the city's pivotal role in golf's origins, explore Edinburgh Leisure's six scenic golf courses, and uncover the stories behind historic tournaments like the Dispatch Trophy and Gibson Cup, which have shaped local golfing traditions for over 130 years. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, history buff, leisure enthusiast or simply curious, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience Edinburgh's sporting spirit – all under one roof. Admission is free, and no booking is required. You can learn about Edinburgh Leisure's Active Communities programmes, which support over 12,500 people affected by health conditions, disabilities, inequalities and poverty to get active, membership options including their 4-week summer pass, available now, fundraising initiatives and also volunteering opportunities. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hailes lift 125th Dispatch Trophy after 'big turning point' in Braids battle
Young Murrayfield team go down fighting in first appearance in final of historic tournament Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hailes, a Kingsknowe team, withstood a late fightback by first-time finalists Murrayfield to land a third Dispatch Trophy triumph in the 125th edition at a blustery Braids. But, as father and son Steve and Nathan McCulloch savoured a moment to savour along with Danny Crolla and Paul Page, they both admitted that the 'big turning point' had come earlier in the title decider. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Playing at the front against Archie Wyatt and Harry Hawthorne, the McCullochs had just lost the tenth and 11th after being three up at the turn. Hailes team members Steve McCulloch, Nathan McCulloch, Danny Crolla and Paul Page celebrate winning the 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy | National World It looked as though it could be back to all square after Steve's tee shot at the par-4 12th found some thick stuff on the right and Nathan was forced to take a penalty drop. But, in one of those classic match-play situations, Steve then rolled in a 20-footer up the slope for a par and their opponents three-putted from just over half that distance after paying the price for being above the hole with the approach. Team McCulloch duly won three holes in a row as Hailes regained the upper hand over the double foursome, helped by Crolla and Page just keeping their noses in front at the rear against Cameron Whyte and Stuart Thurlow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To their credit, though, a young Murrayfield team fought valiantly over the closing stretch, which, in contrast to earlier in the week, was playing into a stiff westerly wind. Both their couples won the 16th and 17th with birdies - Wyatt and Whyte hit quality 8-iron tee shots at the latter - and the gap, having been five with six to play over the double foursome, was suddenly down to just one with a hole to play in each match. It was a pity that plus-five man Wyatt was unable to convert a three-footer at the last to keep the contest alive, though, at the same time, the back Murrayfield pairing had found the gorse with their tee shot. The triumphant Hailes team show off a one-off quaich presented by Alexander Kirkwood & Son to the winners of the 125th Dispatch Trophy | National World Brian McNamara, who was in the first Hailes team to lift the trophy in 1975, was out watching as the Edinburgh Leisure-run tournament concluded, as was Gary Malone, who was in the other winning side along with McCulloch snr in 2015. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's a dream for me to win this again playing with my boy,' said Steve, a 59-year-old who plays off scratch and has won the Hailes championship 11 times on top of his six Kingsknowe title triumphs. 'I thought this opportunity had maybe started to pass me by, so it was nice to get in the team again.' Nathan was a teenager when he caddied in one of the pairings in the winning team a decade ago and admitted that had been a 'lot less stressful' than being one of the players hitting the shots. 'I felt so lucky to play with my dad in this event for the first time a few years ago, when we won a bronze, and, though neither of us felt great about our games coming into this week, we hit a lot of good shots,' said the 25-year-old, who plays off plus one. A third Hailes win in the Edinburgh Leisure-run event was watched by both Brian McNamara, who played in the victorious side in 1975 and also 2015 gold medallist Gary Malone | National World Crolla, a 32-year-old taxi driver off three, now has a gold and a bronze to his name and admitted that felt 'unbelievable' while it was a first medal for Page, who first played in the event nearly 40 years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is absolutely amazing,' said the 56-year-old one-handicapper of striking gold in an event being supported on this occasion by Golf Finance and Braid Hills Gold Centre, 'and we gelled really well as a team throughout the week.' Murrayfield were bronze medallists in 2023 before this excellent effort, which included a win over Duddingston, winners for the previous two years. 'We are taking it in stages,' said team manager Stevie Anderson, with Wyatt, Hawthorne, Whyte and Thurlow declaring in unison that 'we'll be back next year to try and go one better'. Semi-finals Hailes (Nathan McCulloch and Steve McCulloch 2; Paul Page and Danny Crolla 3); Heriot's FP (Stuart Langlands and Scott Dickson 0; Sam Hall and Steven Sinclair 0). Hailes won 5&4 Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Silverknowes (Keith Reilly and Graham Robertson 1; Chris Milligan and Connor McWatt 0); Murrayfield (Archie Wyatt and Harry Hawthorne 0; Cameron Whyte and Stuart Thurlow 7). Murrayfield won 6&5 Final Hailes (Nathan McCulloch and Steve McCulloch 3; Paul Page and Danny Crolla 0); Murrayfield (Archie Wyatt and Harry Hawthorne 0; Cameron Whyte and Stuart Thurlow 1). Hailes won 2&1
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Six teams to look out for in 125th Dispatch Trophy
College kids among players teeing up at the Braids in team tournament's milestone edition Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy gets underway at the Braids on Saturday, with 32 teams setting out in the annual battle for one of the best trophies in golf. Here are six teams to keep an eye on in the event's milestone edition, having been first played in 1890 and held every year thereafter apart from the First and Second World Wars and then for two years during the Covid pandemic. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 125th edition of the Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy stars at Braid Hills Golf Course on Saturday | National World Duddingston The winners for the last two years are heading back to the Braids with a similar squad, led by seven-time gold medallist Allyn Dick. He'll be joining forces with Jamie Duguid, winner of last month's Craigmillar Park Open, with Craig Pirie, Gary Thomson, David Miller and Conor Scott also in the squad. 'The 125th edition will mean this year is just that little bit extra special, combined with the chance of us equalling the record of wins in a row set by Carrickvale adds a little bit more pressure,' said Dick. 'But we're there to have fun and enjoy ourselves.' Heriot's A team comprising Scott Dickson, Sam Hall, Stuart Langlands and Steven Sinclair made it to the last eight 12 months ago before they all then missed out on the remainder of the rescheduled event after being hit by bad weather due to being involved in the Grafton Morrish, one of the FP events, in Norfolk. They'll start out on this occasion with Lothians champion Hall and Dickson being joined by Elliot Innes and Fraser Smith, with Sinclair and Langlands then set to come in if they progress to next week. 'We are hoping to have a good run again,' said Dickson, with a second-round meeting against Heriot's Quad (John Archibald, Ewan Gordon, Scott Johnston and Roddy Stevenson) on the cards if both teams win on Saturday, which would mean a repeat of the 2023 semi-final. Silverknowes The six-time winners and last year's beaten finalists are back with the same team from 12 months ago, meaning Keith Reilly, Graham Robertson, Chris Milligan and Connor McWatt will be hoping to go one better and land the club's first trophy triumph since 2014. Tam Caldwell, meanwhile, is teaming up on this occasion with Steven Garioch, Anthony Howden and Keith Tulloch for Silverknowes B. Stephen Gallacher Foundation It's a welcome return to the event for the four-time DP World Tour winner's foundation. 'We are thrilled to be involved in the Dispatch and especially the 125th edition,' said Stuart Johnston, who runs the foundation along with Scott Knowles. 'Both Scott and myself have been part of winning teams and know how special an event it is.' If flights home from the US at the end of their college campaigns all work out, Jake Johnston, Andrew Hendry, Calum Kenneally and Dylan Cairns will be flying the SGF flag on Saturday. 'All four have come through our SGF events and squads from an early age and are looking forward to representing the SGF,' added Johnston. 'The Braids is just made for matchplay and the boys know they will have to be at their very best to do well.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Murrayfield Archie Wyatt will also be teeing up straight after getting home for the summer at the end of the US college season. He's teaming up with Carl Johnstone, who played in the event for the first time last year, as well as Stuart Thurlow and Cammy Whyte, both of whom know the format well and what it takes to win matches. 'As has been the case every year since we started playing in the Dispatch, we are really looking forward to it,' said team manager Stevie Anderson. 'It's a tough tournament, but I am hoping we can do well. The guys are all playing well just now in the Summer League, so we have no excuses heading up to the Braids.' Hailes Ten years after picking up the trophy for just a second time, the Kingsknowe club are being represented by two teams and will be men on a mission. Steve McCulloch, a member of the triumphant team a decade ago, is joining forces on this occasion with his son Nathan as well as Paul Page and Danny Crolla, the current and a past Hailes champion respectively, in the top team. Fellow 2015 winner Marc Cairnie, meanwhile, is teaming up with Scott Finlayson, Robbie Sanderson and Fraser Sutherland in the B team. 'With two of the winning squad playing again this year, we are hoping we can channel the spirit of 2015 and bag the famous trophy once again!' declared Hamish Hamilton, another former Hailes champion and past participant.
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Braids ready for 125th Dispatch Trophy as greenkeepers do 'unbelievable' job
Gary Rodger and his team work wonders following recent damage to greens by e-bikes Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Greenkeepers at the Braids have worked wonders to get the Capital course ready for the 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy after mindless idiots on e-bikes wreaked havoc just over a fortnight ago. Head greenkeeper Gary Rodger and his team were left devastated after more than a dozen people on e-bikes were caught on video riding roughshod over the Edinburgh Leisure-run course in the build up to the milestone edition of the historic team tournament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In two separate incidents in the space of a few days, a number of greens were left badly damaged by tyre marks, leaving Rodger and his staff in a race against time to get the course playable for an event that was first held in 1890. Greenkeepers have 'plugged' the damage to the greens at the Braids caused by e-bikes | Contributed But, while scars may still be visible and will be for some time, it's mission accomplished, with the tournament, which has been won for the last two years by Duddingston and now bidding to become the first team for nearly 20 years to do the hat-trick, starting as planned on Saturday. 'Every bit of the markings were deep and some were really deep,' said Rodger, who was sitting at home when he was sent a video taken by someone out playing on the course at the time of the worst of the damage being caused. 'With some of the more superficial ones, we spiked up the turf and got some seed in there nice and early and we got some wetting agent on it and soaked it and those parts came back pretty quickly, which was great. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The one good thing about the drought at the moment is that there's a bit of heat there as well and that's helped us out with the recovery process, which has been fortunate.' The ninth green was one of those worst hit by the e-bikes just over a fortnight ago | Contributed Over the past fortnight, Rodger has worked in tandem with Hugh Dawson and Scott Higgins in repairing the damage and, in a personal show of appreciation for their efforts, the boss arranged a game for them all at Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart last weekend. 'Honestly, the boys have been unbelievable,' added Rodger. 'With the deeper marks, we've had to spend a lot of time plugging. We use the hole-changer and we take half the depths of what you would set a hole and we plug out in a row all the deep bits. 'We've had to go to the back of the eighth green, where not many people end up, to get those plugs but you have to put them back one by one and make sure they are all perfectly level, so it is a real time-consuming process. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There's no manual for something like this. Fortunately, we have seen things like this before elsewhere and plugging it out is the best way to do it because you are pulling out a plug that has loads of moisture in it and the surface is nice and clean as well. 'I think, all in all, we ended up losing about two days of man hours on it. That's two days when we are short staff and could really have been doing with spending it somewhere else.' Turf at the back of the eighth green has been used by the greenkeepers to repair the damage | Contributed Rodger, who played in the event himself around 20 years ago for BIGGA (British International Golf Greenkeepers' Association), prepared the course for a Dispatch Trophy for the first time last year. It was hailed by all the competitors for being in fantastic shape before heavy rain caused bad flooding, leading to the final stages of the event having to be completed later in the year. 'It's been a tough year,' admitted Rodger, who worked at Muirfield earlier in his career. 'I was hoping after the problems we had last year with the weather that we would have what you would class as a normal start to the season, but it's been pretty much straight into dry and cold conditions and that brings its own challenges. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We've also had some staff issues with a couple of guys being off sick for the long term, so it's been a bit of a battle for us as we've been down to three or four of us for the last five weeks or so. Then you get something like this happen and you are thinking 'just give us a break'. 'But, as a greenkeeping team, this is it for us. We really do get a kick out of setting the course up for the Dispatch. Everything is geared up for the Dispatch - we love it!' The green at the 12th was also badly damaged by the mindless idiots | Contributed2 As, of course, do the competitors and, though just 32 teams are taking part in the milestone edition, another exciting week lies in store high above the Capital. 'We still have 128 players competing,' observed Silverknowes star Keith Reilly. 'It's one of the best golfing weeks of the year and everyone always looks forward to it. The Braids is a great match-play course where anything can happen - and normally does!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Allyn Dick has won no less than seven gold medals - the latest two with Duddingston - and is now bidding to complete his second hat-trick after already achieving the feat with Carrickvale from 2007-09. 'I don't think there is a better place to be in the sunshine than the Braids, absolutely my favourite course as there is just something magical about the place,' she said. 'Dispatch week just makes it so much better. For those of us who have played there for years to the first-timers, it's special. 'With the weather forecast, we will hopefully see a hard and fast Braids, meaning lots of unpredictable bounces and lies but, for me, that's the joy the course gives you as no two shots are the same.' Helping mark the milestone event, Braids Hills Golf Centre and North Berwick-based Golf Finance have both provided financial support while Alexander Kirkwood & Son have presented a one-off quaich for the winners. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gary Rodger, the head greenkeeper at the Braids, treated his staff to a game at Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart last weekend as a personal 'thank-you' for their work over the past fortnight in particular but earlier in the year as well | Contributed 'This year will be 50 years since I first played in the Dispatch, missing one because of a broken ankle and the other last year because of a prostatectomy,' said John Archibald, one of the event's stalwarts and set to represent Heriot's Quad this year. 'Even though the numbers are very disappointing this year, it's still a great tournament to be involved in and definitely the best amateur team tournament. It still has an atmosphere on that first tee, even though you don't get all the heckling from the old Edinburgh Thistle balcony any more. 'I was seriously disappointed when I saw the reports of the e-bike damage on some of the greens - but that wilful damage will not deter from the spectacle of the event.' It certainly won't and, after being part of the team that has worked hard to get the course ready, the aforementioned Higgins will be among those teeing up on Saturday morning. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Scott is actually competing in the Dispatch for the first time,' revealed Rodger of his staff member. 'He's playing for Musselburgh Old Course - and he is buzzing for it!' First-round draw 8.00am Donuts@The 9th (Newbattle) v Caermount 8.15am Buckstone v Kilgour Wealth Management 8.45am Bank of Scotland v Hailes 9.00am Edinburgh Western v Prestonfield 9.15am Lochend v Heriot's Quad 9.30am Carrickvale v Heriot's 9.45am BBT v Stewart's/Melville 10.00am Turnhouse v Stephen Gallacher Foundation 10.15am Colinton Mains v Silverknowes B 10.30am Harrison B v Edinburgh Academical 10.45am Bruntsfield Allied v Harrison 11.00am Silverknowes v Musselburgh Old Course 11.15am Braids United v Edinburgh Thistle 11.30am Dalmahoy v Murrayfield 11.45am Duddingston v Hailes B Noon Kilgour Property Management v Swanston
