Latest news with #Colinton
Edinburgh Reporter
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Sports Club – both teams on the up
Celebrations all round at Edinburgh Sports Club as both their men's and women's tennis teams gained promotion from their respective divisions in the VMH Solicitors East of Scotland Leagues. Pride of place went to the men who won Division 7a by six points from Colinton 3. And in the individual stats Sports Club players filled the first five places in the table led by Greg Proctor (15 sets won, 3 lost). Others were Harry Spencer-McCarthy (13-3), Adrian Richmond (11-1), Sam Metcalfe (11-3) and Mark Differ (11-5). Pictured are, left to right – Richard Simpson, Greg Proctor, Paul Jenkins, Adrian Richmond, Marco Amore, Neil Kilpatrick, Neil Stone-Wigg, Mark Diffey, Innes Green, Harry Spencer-McCarthy and lying down, Sam Metcalfe. Sports Club ladies gained promotion after finishing runners-up to neighbours Grange in Division 7a. Christina Malcolm (16-3) and Michelle Johnston (11-1) were the division's top individual performers. Pictured left to right are Sandy Eden, Michell Johnson, Becca McDermott, Fiona Haston, Sarah Prescott, Mary Narine, Christina Malcolm, Carolina Tacchella, Stella Wang, Lindsay McLean and Clare Graham. Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
The inside story of the battle for control of Edinburgh
There might still have been a second Colinton by-election, because the SNP's Marco Biagi would probably still have left when appointed a government special adviser, and without the Spence controversy the Lib Dems would have won that too, giving them 16 seats. But even with 14, the Lib Dems are in pole position at the head of an informal Stop-the-Nats-and-Crazy-Greens coalition which, with Conservative support, has until now kept the bedraggled Labour administration in place. Read more Labour did surprisingly well, topping first preferences despite national chaos over welfare and winter fuel allowances, as well as bruising allegations of sexual harassment against former council group leader Cammy Day, for which police found no evidence of criminality. While a move to make Cllr Day the new planning convener at the final council meeting before the summer recess was wisely shelved – it would have come immediately before the angry debate over former Scottish Information Commissioner Kevin Dunion's report about how complaints against him were handled – the issue of his fitness for a return to a senior position has not gone away. The 11-strong Labour group – it would only have been ten had it not been for Ms Spence's resignation – is unstable because they cannot rely on Leith councillor Katrina Faccenda, already suspended once for voting against the whip, who has refused to accept Cllr Day's return after the end of his suspension. The plan for Cllr Day to be appointed at the next meeting in August after things have settled down presumes all Lib Dem and Conservative councillors will vote in favour, but also if the Lib Dems stick with their previous position of turning down the opportunity to lead the administration. This increasingly looks untenable. The Lib Dems can't continue to stand on a ticket of delivering better services, win the trust of voters and then refuse to take charge, ostensibly because too many of their councillors have other work commitments. Until now, the Conservative group has grudgingly accepted the situation to keep the SNP and their Green friends out of administration, which after the experience of 2017-22 is understandable. Lib-Dems celebrate their surprise victory (Image: free) But the SNP is running out of steam locally and nationally – beaten into fourth in last week's by-election – and in what were once Conservative heartlands they do not present a threat. Conversely, since the 2022 elections and all subsequent by-elections bar the unusual circumstances of the Colinton re-run in January, the Lib Dems are not just eating the Tories' lunch, but their breakfast and supper too, and Reform is taking home the leftovers in a doggy bag. It is therefore not in the Conservative interest for the Lib Dems to continue evading responsibility for running the city and being held to the promises in their many election leaflets. The three Conservative councillors who were around in 2007 when the Lib Dems formed a coalition with the SNP will remember just how hard they found it, and five years later the 17 Lib Dem councillors were reduced to three. But there are those in the Conservative group who cannot see past the old constitutional battle lines, failing to accept voters once prepared to lend them their support have moved on from prioritising the threat of independence. No longer the main alternative to Labour or the Nationalists, Edinburgh Conservatives now face an existential threat from both left and right, yet it appears some councillors would rather not force the Lib Dems into administration and instead approve a £40,000 a year convenership for Cammy Day to keep the SNP out. Like Cllr Faccenda, several Conservatives and Lib Dems have a significant problem with welcoming back Cllr Day as if nothing had happened, and the lack of any sign of contrition from the ex-leader has not helped. If not quite a full split, there is now a high chance of serious division in the Tory group, and as it stands if just four Conservatives oppose Cllr Day's appointment it will fail. The obvious solution is for the Lib Dems to step up to the plate, and with the next full council meeting not till August 28 they have all summer to reach a decision, time they intend to take, with nothing ruled in or out, and that presumably includes some being prepared to reduce their other commitments. Read more Labour won't give up a raft of convenerships and the accompanying responsibility payments – up to the £71,500 the leader Jane Meagher receives – without a fight, but they might have no option with a revived pact with the SNP ruled out by the national leadership. It's either that or letting the SNP lead a chaotic minority administration which will probably be unable to pass a budget. But if the Conservatives are to survive as a council force in 2027, the Lib Dems need to be prised out of the same comfort zone enjoyed by the SNP at Holyrood for so long, of taking responsibility for nothing and credit for everything and making electoral gains across swathes of middle-class Edinburgh simply by not being the Conservatives. It all seems such a long time since 2017 when the Conservatives took just short of 30 per cent of first preference votes and returned 18 councillors compared to just six Lib Dems, but that was before Partygate, Liz Truss and Reform. It's the same situation across the country, and former Morningside councillor Mark McInnes, now Lord McInnes of Kilwinning and the UK Conservatives' newly appointed chief executive, has his work cut out. John McLellan is a former Edinburgh Evening News and Scotsman editor. He served as a City of Edinburgh councillor for five years for the Conservatives. Brought up in Glasgow, McLellan has lived and worked in Edinburgh for 30 years
Edinburgh Reporter
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edinburgh Reporter
Jacob building up to Wimbledon
Edinburgh tennis pro Jacob Fearnley is reaping further benefits from the outstanding start to his career – world No 509 a year ago, and now he is pushing the top 50 – with a direct acceptance announced for one of the top Wimbledon warm up tournaments. It has been announced that the former Colinton junior and Merchiston Castle School tennis graduate will play in the Lexus ATP 250 tournament in Eastbourne from June 21-28. 'I made my ATP Tour debut in Eastbourne last year, so this is an event that is special for me' Jacob, the British No 2, told the Lawn Tennis Association website, adding: 'I love competing on the grass, I think it's a great surface for my game so hopefully I can challenge for more success this year. 'Getting to compete in front of your home fans is always an incredible feeling and being on the south coast in Eastbourne makes it one of the most unique events in the calendar. 'Winning the title in Nottingham last summer, in my first tournament out of college, gave me a huge amount of confidence and it's helped me get where I am today. I love competing on the grass, I think it's a great surface for my game so hopefully I can challenge for more success this year.' Jacob Fearnley Fearnley burst on the scene last summer after winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title in only his first event out of college in Nottingham. The 23-year-old came through qualifying to become the fourth Briton to win the trophy, which helped him secure a wild card to Wimbledon. Not only did Fearnley pick up his first Grand Slam win on his singles debut at SW19, he went on to take a set off seven-time champion Novak Djokovic on Centre Court in front of a packed out crowd. The Texas Christian University graduate has soared up the rankings ever since. He finished the 2024 season with four ATP Challenger titles and broke into the ATP top 100 in just his first six months on tour. So far this season, he's had his best run at a major to date – reaching the third round at the Australian Open, made his Davis Cup debut for the Lexus GB team in Japan and qualified for two ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami and Madrid. He's now up at a career-high ranking of world No.68. Now with a full season under his belt, more experience on the grass and having established himself on the ATP Tour, Fearnley will be one of the players to watch in Eastbourne this summer. For the moment Jacob's pre-occupation is the clay court season with direct acceptance to the upcoming Italian Open followed by the French grand slam event. In Rome he will want to cast aside any frustration from bowing out of the Madrid Open against Grigor Dimitrov when, in a second set tie-break to level the match, uncharacteristic errors undermined his display at critical times including two backhands into the net and an overhit forehand to give the Bulgarian his conclusive match point. In some respects one that got away after battling his way back into the match with the aid of an exquisite backhand smash and a superb stretch volley but Jacob can take encouragement from running the experienced former ATP Tour champion so close and knowing he is more than comfortable in such company. Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Best ever win for Fearnley
Jacob Fearnley will play world No 17 Grigor Dimitrov in the last 32 of the Madrid tennis Open after posting the biggest win of his career. The Edinburgh player came back from losing the opening set 1-6, to beat world No 20 Tomas Machac of Czechia 6-2, 6-3. Machac was an ATP tour winner in Acapulco this year, Provisionally the former Colinton junior moves to world no 59 and is guaranteed prize money of €52,595. Ironically Jacob felt it was a rolled ankle that required pain killers which was the catalyst for the win as it forced him out of his shell and on the offensive after a tentative opening set. Should they both win their next round matches – and Dimitrov will be a thoroughly difficult opponent – then Jacob could face fellow Texas Christian University graduate Cam Norrie in the quarter final. Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Jacob Fearnley into Madrid Open first round
Jacob Fearnley claimed a place in the first round proper of the Madrid 1000 tennis tournament on Tuesday with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over experienced clay court campaigner, Hugo Dellion of Bolivia. The Scot did not have it all his own way in the first set against the master of the drop shot and had to save a set point on his serve at 4-5. However, that hurdle cleared there was no looking back as the former Colinton club junior and Merchiston Castle tennis academy prodigy began to hit out and blew his top 100 opponent away. He now waits to see who he will meet in the first round proper but already Jacob is guaranteed prize money of E20,820 and 10 ranking points. With the exception of Jannik Sinner most of the world's leading men are competing in the Spanish capital with British No 1 Jack Draper seeded fifth and Scot Cameron Norrie also in the draw. Norrie faces Spanish wild card Martin Landaluce in round one. Jacob Fearnley after his straight sets victory to reach round one of the Mutua Madrid Open. A stylish volley from Jacob Fearnley in Madrid today. Eyes on the prize; Jacob Fearnley puts away a smash in Madrid today. Photographs courtesy of Alex Harkins and Gerry Reilly. Like this: Like Related
