CHEERS AT THE RUGBY CLUB

Blairgowrie Rugby Club has raised a glass to the local community for its continued support.

Saturday this week sees the club host its annual 10-a-side tournament and ale festival at JJ Coupar Recreation Park.

Starting at noon, the host club will be up against sides from Cowal, Panmure, Ross Sutherland, Crieff and Strathearn, Lochaber, Stobswell and Montrose on the pitch.

And spectators taking in the action will also be able to enjoy at least 40 different cask ales sourced from a combination of Belhaven and Abernyte breweries.

A wider range of activities for this year includes the Ardblair Stones – which challenges hopefuls to lift nine increasingly heavy stone spheres onto barrels in the quickest possible time.

Perthshire Brass will kickoff the musical entertainment until approximately 3pm.

They will be followed at various intervals over the course of the day by wideranging Dundee talents Cover Daddy, Status Quo tribute act Accept No Substitute and rock ‘n’ roll headliners Slider – the latter of which takes to the stage from 8pm and will play until closing.

Food will be provided in the form of a barbecue, and there will also be a bouncy castle and other familyfriendly activities for festivalgoers to enjoy.

Club president Fraser Bissett once again thanked a whole host of local firms for sponsoring the event, and said the festival was the perfect way to begin the club’s season.

At the time of writing, the Blairgowrie-based companies backing the festival included: Learmouth Wealth Management; Algo; Ian Auchterlonie Plumbing and Heating Engineers; Blairgowrie Physiotherapy; Blairgowrie Bedding Centre; Activity Breaks; WM Coupar; DJR Services Haulage; Ericht Electrical; Graham Environmental Services; Cunningham Carpets; Robert Tweedie Handyman and Gardener; Scoop and Shake; Subway; Websters Garden Machinery.

Companies based further afield include: Abernyte Brewery; Burrelton Park Hotel; Alec Watson Electrician; Tastebuds; Colin Young Plumbing; JW Wheatley and Sons Electricians; DM Leisure; Dundee Audi; Dunkeld Fish Bar; East of Scotland Farmers; D&B Grant Fruit Farm; J&S Rodger Joinery; Jim Drummond Fencing; MacDonald Arms; Michael Duncan Window Cleaning Services; Michael Todd Forestry Contracts; Pete Hart Joinery; Red House Hotel; Scone Spray Shop; Smith and Sons Coaches; Tay Gas and Oils Services; Texacloth Wool Services; Write On Signs.