The Edinburgh Reporter April 2019 issue

20 SPORT The Edinburgh Reporter
PoppyScotland Sportive
- entries now open
Over £200,000 has been raised fry the Sportive or the Armed Forces charity in the past six years
ENTRIES are now being accepted
for PoppyScotland's
sixth Sportive.
In past years over £200,000
has been raised for the charity
which supports the Armed
Forces community.
The cycle event which usually
attracts around 1,000 entrants
takes place in East Lothian and
the Scottish Borders. This year
it is once again being sponsored
by Fred. Olsen Renewables.
Speaking at the Crystal Rig
Wind Farm, on the Lammermuir
Hills, near Dunbar, in East
Lothian, Stuart Naylor the UK
Operations Manager for Fred.
Olsen Renewables said: “Poppyscotland
provides an invaluable
service for the Armed Forces
community, and, speaking as a
former RAF Serviceman, I feel
immensely proud that Fred.
Olsen Renewables not only recognises
these efforts, but will be
able to help raise much-needed
funds and awareness of the
charity through sponsorship of
this year’s Sportive.
"In developing a long-term relationship
with Poppyscotland,
we have been able to ensure
that all money raised at the
Sportive will be spent directly
on the charity’s many great
initiatives.”
Fran Tierney, 52, a keen cyclist
and member of the Poppyscotland
Sportive committee, said: “I
have participated in this event for
the past two years and absolutely
love it. I am a member of Kinross
Cycling Club and last year I tackled
the 100-mile route, which was
an interesting challenge due to
the wind! But after finishing, the
hot drink and toast brought a big
smile at the end to a great day.
“As a new member of the Sportive
committee, I will now be
helping on the day of the event –
and I can’t wait. Each of the three
routes offers a unique cycling
experience for both club and recreational
cyclists. The scenery is
amazing with a mixture of coast
and country with rolling hills.
If you have a bike, I definitely
recommend this event for your
diary.”
Poppyscotland’s Katriona Harding,
who organises the event,
said: “Today is all about telling
cyclists across the country that
your much-loved Sportive is back
again. The Sportive is always a
sell-out event, so we encourage
participants to sign up as soon as
possible.
“It is a privilege for us to have
Fred. Olsen Renewables on board
as our sponsor again this year
– and for the next two years as
well. Along with their support,
and the generosity of those taking
part, the Poppyscotland Sportive
has raised an incredible £211,717
which goes directly to our Welfare
Services team as they work
tirelessly to support veterans
throughout the country. What’s
more, 100 per cent of the sign-up
fee and any sponsorship raised
by participants goes directly to
Poppyscotland.
“Finally, I think it’s important
to let residents in East Lothian
know that the Poppyscotland
Sportive is not a closed-road
event. It has been designed by
our committee of experienced
local cyclists to cause as little
disruption as possible and we
are in regular contact with a
number of community councils,
but, of course, I would welcome
any feedback from the public.”
Best known for running the
iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal,
Poppyscotland reaches out to
those who have served, those
still serving, and their families
at times of crisis and need by
offering vital, practical advice,
assistance and funding. The
charity believes that no veteran
should live without the prospect
of employment, good health and
a home, and we all have part to
play in achieving this.
To take part in the 2019 Poppyscotland
Sportive, or for more
information, please contact Katriona
Harding, Events Fundraising
Manager at Poppyscotland,
on0131 557 2782, or at k.harding@poppyscotland.org.uk,
or by
visiting www.poppyscotland.org.
uk/sportive.
Golf with Edinburgh Leisure
WITH the lighter nights on their David Atkinson, Golf Manager at
way, Edinburgh Leisure gym and Edinburgh Leisure said: ‘The Golf
fitness customers can get in the Bolt On is great value considering
18 holes at Braid Hills may
swing of it, with a golf 'bolt-on'
membership, which will give cost as much as £27.50 at the
unlimited access to six stunning weekend. It will definitely appeal
golf courses all within driving to casual golfers, who might only
range of the city centre.
play a round or two every month
The Edinburgh Leisure ‘Golf Bolt but who like to use golf as part of
On’ spans all six of Edinburgh their overall fitness regime.”
Leisure’s courses which include: The Golf Bolt On Membership is
Braid Hills, Carrick Knowe, available to buy at any Edinburgh
Craigentinny, Portobello, Silverknowes
and the Wee Braids and online) -
Leisure site (but is not available
costs just £26 per month, in addition
to their normal membership. memberships/golf
www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/
Festival of Tennis
NEW to tennis or an experienced several special offers and giveaways
on the day.
player?
Join Craiglockhart Tennis
For more information or to book
Centre for a fun-filled afternoon of a slot visit edinburghleisure.
tennis activities on 21 April 2019 co.uk/festival-of-tennis or ask in
for all ages and abilities, where centre. Craiglockhart Leisure &
you can get a taste of the programmes
and courses on offer. EH14 1BZ 0131 443 0101
Tennis Centre, 177 Colinton Road,
Gannon Sports will also have info.cltc@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Fishing round up
by Nigel Duncan
PERMITS for the Esk at Musselburgh
are available from Ace
Bike Co at North High Street and
Tracy’s Open All Hours (green
canopy) at Eskview Terrace.
They are £20 with a senior (over
60) £10 and junior (under-16) £10
and a day ticket is £5 and fishing
is Wednesday to Monday only
with no Tuesday fishing.
Children up to 12 years-of-age
can fish free with an adult permit
holder and the salmon and sea
trout season ends on October 31
with the brown trout season closing
on October 6.
The season opens on the Water
of Leith on April 1. Permits are
free and are available from various
outlets including the Water
of Leith Centre at Slateford Road
and Post Offices in Balerno and
Currie.
Sevie Johnston, owner of Clubbiedean
Trout Fishery in the
Pentland Hills above Bonaly, has
confirmed fishing this summer
will be at 2017 prices and he has
purchased two new boats to add
to the six he already has in the
12-acre water.
He has also spent time cutting
weed in the picturesque reservoir
which is home to a sizeable number
of prime rainbow, blue and
tiger trout as well as wild brown
trout.
Stevie, now in his third year in
charge, has re-stocked and said:
“We’re only ten minutes from the
city centre and this is a cracking
fishery with a good head of quality
trout.
“Last year was not the best because
of the weather but anglers
were still catching fish and we
had a number of parties from
around the world trying fly fishing
as a sport.
He’s introduced a season ticket
which allows unlimited fishing on
a catch and release basis for £300
and Clubbiedean will be open
every day during the summer.
Pottishaw Fishery near Whitburn
opened its door to day ticket
buyers for the first time in seven
years on 24 March. Only 15 tickets
will be sold daily. Glencorse Reservoir
opened on 23 March.
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