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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Lazy Griff all set for a third crack at Lambourn in Irish Derby
Johnston's charge was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for the premier Classic, but belied those odds with an excellent effort to again finish best of the rest behind Aidan O'Brien's front-running colt and round three will take place at the Curragh this weekend. 𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐘! — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 7, 2025 'It wasn't an easy decision to come to, perhaps the Grand Prix de Paris might have been an easier challenge and we certainly wouldn't have been taking on a horse that's already beaten us twice, but the lure of the Irish Derby was too strong to turn down,' said Johnston. 'We're under no illusions about the task in hand because it is two-nil to Lambourn, but having said that we weren't afraid to have another go at him. 'It'll be interesting to see how the race pans out. You can't take anything away from Lambourn and what he did at Epsom at all, but at the same time he was given a very good front-running ride and we all maybe gave him a little bit too much rope on the front end. 'Sunday is going to be a different day on a different track with a different field and we're more than happy to have another go and see what we can do to reverse the form.' Christophe Soumillon was on board Lazy Griff at Epsom, but as the French-based Belgian is required to partner Goliath in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Johnston has turned to William Buick to ride his stable star in his bid for Classic glory. William Buick will ride Lazy Griff for the first time in the Irish Derby (David Davies/PA) He added: 'Obviously it's a shame as Goliath and Lazy Griff are probably Christophe's two marquee horses for the season at the moment and it's sod's law that they're both running on the same day. 'It's a shame for him, but we're able to bring William in who is obviously top-class but will also be very confident at the moment after a great Royal Ascot, it's a great replacement to call upon.' Lazy Griff and Lambourn feature in a 10-strong field following Friday's declaration stage, with Aidan O'Brien also saddling Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master and Gallinule Stakes scorer Thrice, as well as Serious Contender and Shackleton, both of whom performed well in defeat at Royal Ascot. His son Joseph runs Derby third Tennessee Stud, while Green Impact is a fascinating contender for Jessica Harrington on what will be his first attempt at a mile and a half. Ralph Beckett's Dante winner Pride Of Arras bids to bounce back from Epsom disappointment, with his stablemate Sir Dinadan completing the line-up.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Farrell hammers 'unacceptable' Lions issue as 54-year record comes to an end
The British and Irish Lions suffered defeat in their opening fixture for the first time in more than 50 years as Argentina downed them in Dublin with Andy Farrell not holding back with his criticism The British and Irish Lions suffered defeat to Argentina on Friday night as their summer tour got off to a less than ideal start in Dublin. Los Pumas produced a stunning performance to seal a 28-24 win. The result means the Lions have lost their opening game for the first time since 1971 - ending a 54-year record of getting off to the best possible start. That said, few teams from the past have played a team of the calibre of Argentina. They came up with three stunning tries - their winning score coming from Santiago Cordero in the second-half. Despite missing all of their French-based players Los Pumas took advantage of a Lions side still lacking in cohesion with a number of new combinations tried. Sione Tuipilotu and Bundee Aki partnered in the centres for the first time. England and Ireland stars came together in the front row but the forwards struggled to consistently nail their lineout. Head coach Andy Farrell bemoaned the amount of errors they made in the aerial battle, which was dominated by Argentina, and also claimed their number of handling errors on opening night were enough for an entire tour. READ MORE: British Lions star Mack Hansen 'wasn't good enough for Australia' and has Andy Farrell tattoo He told Sky Sports: "It wasn't exactly a show from us, it was a show from Argentina. First and foremost, congratulations to them, they thoroughly deserve their win. They capitalised on all the errors we made. But as far as we're concerned, there is a lot to do. You cannot win any Test match with that error rate. "We lost enough ball there for a full tour, let alone a match against a good side like Argentina. We threw passes that were never on. It wasn't just that, it was the aerial battle and the scraps on the floor. They were hungrier than us, that is just not acceptable. The lineout and breakdown work was off a bit at times. I'm disappointed. We need to be honest with ourselves, take the learning and improve, then at least it will stand for something." The Lions will now jet out to Australia as they prepare for their first game Down Under next Saturday. That will take place in Perth against the Western Force as their schedule of games against the Super Rugby teams begins. Farrell's side will be bolster by the return of a number of key players, many of whom are tipped to start the First Test. Finn Russell will come back in and potentially occupy the fly-half berth with hooker Dan Sheehan also returning. The likes of Andrew Porter, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier and James Lowe will also be available. Farrell added on the performance: "We were just a bit tentative and obviously I take responsibility for that. When we came out with a bit of fight at the start of the second half it was more like it, but we just suppressed ourselves with the error count that carried on late into the second half. You don't win Test matches when things like that happen. Where we're at will certainly concentrate the minds. We'll be honest with ourselves, we get on the plane to Australia [on Saturday]."
Scotsman
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Lions suffer 54-year first in defeat to Argentina on mixed night for Scots as one man impresses
Pumas upset odds to lift 1888 Cup as four Scots feature in Dublin Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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 British and Irish Lions lost an opening match for the first time in 54 years and it would be hard to argue that Argentina did not deserve their win in Dublin. They mixed skill and doggedness and were no respecter of their hosts' fancy reputations as they came from behind at the mid point of the second half to emerge victorious through Santiago Cordero's try, their third of the night. The 28-24 victory meant it was the Pumas who hoisted the 1888 Cup at the Aviva Stadium as the Lions went away to lick their wounds and pack their bags for Australia. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The tour begins in earnest next Saturday in Perth but this preliminary skirmish would have given Andy Farrell plenty to think about on the long flight south. The head coach couldn't help but be impressed by Sione Tuipulotu who marked his first appearance in the famous red jersey with an all-action performance which saw him involved in most of the Lions' best moments. Getty Images Duhan van der Merwe, his Scotland team-mate, had a less satisfactory evening and was guilty of losing possession at a crucial juncture just before half-time which led to an Argentina try for Tomas Albornoz, their outstanding fly-half. Van der Merwe had some dangerous moments during his 65 minutes but, worryingly he was seen with ice on his troublesome ankle after going off. Scotland forwards Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings came off the bench and the former had some trademark big carries. Cummings, who only got nine minutes, was busy enough. Ignacio Mendy had scored Argentina's first try and they led 21-10 at the break. But the Lions, who also scored three tries, through Bundee Aki in the first half and a penalty try and Tadhg Beirne in the second, got their noses in front to lead 24-21 before Cordero's clincher. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There had been pre-match grumblings about Argentina being weakened by the absence of many of their French-based players but they made the brighter start. The pressure was immediately on the Lions who went offside. The Pumas were happy to take the points and Albornoz slotted the penalty. Getty Images We got our first glance of van der Merwe soon after as he dummied and cut inside before being held up in the Argentina 22. The Lions had got themselves into a good position and thought they scored the game's first try only for Luke Cowan-Dickie not to ground the ball after breaking off from a lineout maul. Fin Smith restored parity with a penalty after 10 minutes but Argentina's response was immediate and emphatic. Santiago Carreras delayed his pass perfectly to play in Mendy who cut back inside to score. Tuipulotu tried to drag the Lions back into it but his try was chalked off. Both sides had knocked on in the build-up but Farrell's side weren't to be denied for long and Tuipulotu was a key contributor. The Glasgow centre popped the ball to Fin Smith who shipped it on to Aki. The Ireland centre powered over the line, taking three Pumas with him. It was a strong, strong finish and Fin Smith's conversion put the Lions 10-8 ahead. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Getty Images That was as good as it got in the first half for the composite side. Argentina's kicking game was on point and the Lions were finding it difficult to click. Albornoz added two more penalties, the last one just before half-time. The Lions stole the ball from the restart and it was shipped wide to van der Merwe but the Edinburgh man coughed up possession and Argentina broke away and scored, Albornoz finishing off the move and then converting his own try to put the Pumas 21-10 up at half-time. You have to go back to 1971 for the last time the Lions lost their opening game and they came out in the second half with a determination to avoid a repeat of that 54-year-old anomaly against Queensland in Brisbane. They scored two tries in the opening 13 minutes after the interval. Tuipulotu made a 40-metre break to move the Lions into the danger zone and they won a penalty which they kicked to the corner. Cowan-Dickie was held up on the line but not legally and the penalty try was awarded. The Pumas' lead was down to four points and it was wiped out completely by Beirne's try, the lock being played in by Tomos Williams after Tuipulotu had again made good headway down the left. Fin Smith's conversion made it 24-21 to the Lions but the Pumas weren't done. They were playing with an aggressive intensity which was forcing mistakes form their opponents and the capitalised once again.
Libya Review
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Libya Showcases Cultural Heritage at Desert Festival in France
The Friends of Fezzan Tourism & Heritage Association brought a vibrant taste of Libyan Saharan culture to the International Desert Festival in Tours, France, held from June 13 to 15. The event showcased traditional music, artisanal crafts, and culinary delights, immersing visitors in the rich heritage of the Libyan Fezzan desert. Organized by the French-based association Les Amis du Fezzan, the exhibition aimed to strengthen cultural ties and raise awareness of Fezzan's unique natural and historical legacy. As desert regions like Fezzan gain international attention for tourism and heritage preservation, initiatives like this festival help spotlight the region's traditional identity. The association's presence highlighted ongoing efforts to promote sustainable tourism in Libya's desert areas—featuring educational workshops, handcraft displays, and traditional musical performances. It also served as a platform for potential partnerships to support heritage conservation and increased cultural tourism. This participation underlines Fezzan's growing visibility on the international cultural stage, fostering cross-national engagement and dialogue centered on desert culture and sustainable heritage tourism. Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations. Libya's economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya's economy. The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions. The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition. Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges. Tags: Desert TourismFezzanHeritagelibya
The Herald Scotland
14-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
How Shetland's women became the toast of Tasmania
The potato blight had left Shetland communities on their knees. With many of the islands' menfolk away at sea, women far outnumbered the remaining men. Where on earth could a young woman go to find a future? Enter the formidable Lady Jane Franklin. Well-educated and, crucially, well-travelled, her arrival in Lerwick in 1849 could scarcely have been under less dramatic circumstances. And thanks to her, Shetland's single ladies and young widows were to become the most prized women of them all... Bereft after the disappearance of her famous explorer husband Sir John Franklin as he led a doomed search for a Northwest passage, Lady Jane had originally set foot in Shetland hoping to quiz the seafaring communities of the northernmost islands of the British Isles for clues to help find him. Read more by Sandra Dick: But once there, she encountered a generation of young women with remarkable qualities. Hardworking, resilient, church-going and English-speaking: ideal, she realised, for a new life as far away as possible from the windswept and bleak futures stretching before them in Shetland. Before long, Lady Jane and her companions were at the helm of an extraordinary female emigration scheme that aimed to deliver up to 500 young Shetland women to another island almost 12,000 miles away, Tasmania. For the Shetland women who dared to leave, the hope of a new and better life came at an enormous price: they would almost certainly never see their families or homeland again. But for those who eagerly awaited their arrival in Tasmania, there was a particular promise: Shetland women, they were told, were a cut above all the rest, they were 'moral, industrious and …infinitely superior to the usual run of female emigrant…' Lady Jane Franklin by Thomas Bock, 1838 (Image: Public domain) As it happened, the bold emigration scheme would not quite succeed as planned – far from delivering 500, the number of young Shetland women who made the demanding sea journey to new lives in Australia barely reached 50. And despite its high-profile figurehead, a backdrop of desperation and poverty set against the incredible leap of faith of those who dared make the arduous journey to the ends of earth, the Shetland female emigration scheme would go on to be largely forgotten. Meanwhile, those intrepid young Shetland women who did forge new lives in Tasmania - among them the Thomas sisters and the 18-year-old Anne Beattie and Barbara Hughson - little trace would remain and there would be few clues as to what happened next. The Shetland Female Emigration Society and the women it delivered to Tasmania may have remained lost in time but for a French-based university professor, Véronique Molinari. Having uncovered details of the scheme by chance, she now hopes to discover what may have become of the young women who gambled on a new life on the other side of the globe. That means scouring Australian archives for clues as to what became of them there, and the hope that back in Shetland, there may be some descendants. 'Finding out what happened to the young women who emigrated thanks to Shetland Female Emigration Fund still remains to be done, but is difficult to find out,' she says. 'It was not uncommon for single men to emigrate and then to go back home – up to a third of Scots single men who went to Australia eventually came back. 'But women didn't tend to ever go back.' She was looking into how the potato famine in Ireland had led to thousands of Irish female orphans being uprooted and sent to new lives in Australia, when she came across newspaper articles referring to hundreds of Shetland women also destined for Tasmania. Read more: What particularly struck her was the glowing references to the Shetland women's qualities: hailed for their looks, their skills, ability to adapt to harsh countryside and undaunted by remote landscapes - and English speaking - they were clearly considered to be a better class of emigrant. But despite being eagerly awaited in Tasmania between 1853 and 1856, and with thousands of pounds raised to help facilitate their passage, only a handful actually made the journey. That left the puzzle: why did so few make the journey, what made Shetland women so prized and what was life like for those who travelled? 'This particular research about the Shetland Female Emigration Society almost drove me mad,' says Véronique, Professor of British Studies at Grenoble Alpes University in France. 'The Australian press and archives I had access to regularly referred to those single females from the Shetland Islands who were eagerly awaited by the colonists in Tasmania, yet I found no trace of them having ever left or arrived. 'It took me about two years to understand what had happened.' Lerwick, Shetland (Image: NQ) The mid-19th century potato blight brought death and misery to communities stretching from Ireland, across the Highlands and Islands and to the tip of the British Isles, in Shetland. At the same time, demand was soaring from colonies such as Australia for fit and healthy men and women to help build the country and who wanted to make new lives for themselves. Shetland women were particularly suited – at least, it seems, to Lady Jane Franklin, a founder of the British Ladies' Female Emigrant Society and who had personal experience of life Down Under. She arrived in Lerwick having spent several years by her husband's side in his role as Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land (the colonial name of Tasmania). With the race on to map a Northwest passage, Sir John was appointed to lead what would be the doomed Franklin Expedition, with 24 officers and 110 men on board the ill-fated HMS Terror and HMS Erabus bound for the Arctic. With both vessels missing - later horror stories would emerge of the ships becoming ice-bound, supplies running out and crews resorting to cannibalism - Lady Jane embarked on a determined search, leading her to Shetland and its seafarers. On the same boat to Shetland was John Dunmore Lang, a Church of Scotland minister who had become well-known in his adopted Australia and who, as it happened, was in the midst of a tour of Scotland aimed at attracting new blood to the colony. The unmarried and widowed young women in Shetland appeared to both of them as ideal candidates for emigration. It seems they were knocking at an open door: Lady Jane was soon receiving attention from young Shetland women eager to find out if they might be suitable candidates for emigration. As well as poverty and famine, a key problem for Shetland women, found Veronique, was a gaping gender imbalance: the hazardous nature of the islands' men's work – often sailors or fishermen – meant the number of single women and young widows far exceeded the men. Cradle mountain, Tasmania (Image: Public domain - With confidence growing that there was no shortage of Shetland women willing to make the bold move, a philanthropic fund was launched to attract donations from around the country to pay for their passage to Tasmania. A Lerwick committee selected 21 for the first voyage to Tasmania on board the Joseph Soames, leaving from London in mid-August 1850. All but just two – knitter Anne and another woman, Elizabeth Smith, 20, who gave her job as housemaid – were listed as farm servants. They ranged from just 18 years old to the oldest, Henderson Jamieson, aged 31. Some appear to have been related: Helen and Jane Ninianson, aged 21 and 26, Elizabeth and Catherine Smith, 21 and 22, and Catherine and Elizabeth Tait, 28 and 22 seem almost certain to have been sisters. The journey south was long and hard but horror tales of dreadful conditions, violence and even on board rape meant that unlike many other emigrants, the Shetland women were given support of a matron and access to learning materials on board to make the journey more bearable. Their ship arrived at Port Adelaide on 23 November, with all 21 engaged to work with families with 24 hours of their arrival. According to one record, they arrived 'in the highest terms of their fitness, as far as could be ascertained, for the life they are to lead, of their pleasing and gentle manners, their good temper, their gratitude for the attention shown them, and their anxiety to employ themselves usefully.' While the ship's captain, Robert Craigie praised them as 'moral, very industrious, cleanly in their habits, accustomed to work in the fields, and when not so engaged to manufacture hosiery. 'They are religious, simple in their tastes, they speak English, and the appearance of most of them is pleasing. 'Indeed, I need not say they are infinitely superior to the usual run of female emigrants you are accustomed to see landed on your shores.' The Australian press and emigration societies could scarcely contain their excitement. Whereas Irish orphan emigrants were often sneered at and met with disparaging comments about their ability to work and look after their personal hygiene, the Shetland women were praised as Scandinavian in looks, and 'well adapted for country work', for their moral character and interest in religious worship. Shetland women were considered to be 'Presbyterian wives' used to isolation and skilled in the essentials for life in the bush such as 'baking, brewing, candle-making, carding, spinning, dairying, tending of cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry, caring of meat for winter stores, planting, hoeing, and clearing the garden and fields'. Their resilient nature – largely honed by the absence of men on the islands – and use of English and not Gaelic like their Hebridean counterparts, was also seen as a major benefit for teaching reading and writing. Hopes were high that 300 and even up to 500 Shetland women would make the journey. There would be disappointment, however. The next ship carried only 25, among them 17-year-old Martha Halcron accompanied by, presumably, her 19-year-old sister, Janet, and it would be the last. Despite having appeared eager to emigrate, when push came to shove the close-knit Shetland family structure meant even those with few prospects and a bleak future found leaving home for Tasmania a step too far. Although £5,500 had been sent from Australian colonists to pay specifically for the Shetland women's passage to Tasmania, the funds were diverted by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission to pay for emigrants from England, Ireland and the Highlands to other locations. Much to Tasmanian despair, not another Shetland woman would make the journey. According to Veronique, whose research article has been published on Edinburgh University Press, the episode sheds interesting light on how Shetland women were regarded compared to other emigrants, and upends the notion that women were reluctant emigrants, forced into leaving their homes for new life abroad. 'The contrast between the image of these fair-haired, blue-eyed, hard-working and religious Shetlanders, was simply astonishing when compared to how other female emigrants had been perceived,' she says. 'This research has mostly affected the view I had of women emigrants as victims. "I was amazed to find how the women in Shetland showed up to enquire about emigrating. Obviously, with so few men around, there was not much in Shetland left for them. "What made it more reassuring for them was new emigration societies being created by women like Lady Jane Franklin, and that they would be taken care of. 'The extent of the gender imbalance in Shetland and Orkney - the highest in the UK - (meant) emigrating to the other end of the world was a choice, and an act of immense courage.'
