From army to academia
The Round Strathaven 50 (RS50) and 15 (RS15) Charity cycle will be held on Sunday, August 18.
It is a challenging, fun cycle run ideal for both leisure and club cyclists following a route of 50 miles around the Strathaven area, through the surrounding villages of Sandford, Glassford, Chapelton and Auldhouse.
The growing number of cyclists who take part see the 50-mile route as presenting them with a very worthwhile challenge.
And it has also achieved fame for the home baking available at the various village halls for those who want to make a quick pit-stop.
There is also the alternative RS15, a 15-mile route for those who prefer a lesser but equally worthwhile challenge, and this is ideal for families with younger children.
The RS50 was held for the first time in 2002. It has attracted an increasing number of participants each year, and to date has raised over £100,000 for the benefit of both the Strathaven Scouts and Guides and various charities. As the event is organised by volunteers and costs are minimised, this ensures that almost all the entry fee goes to charity.
Participants can choose to donate more via an increased entry fee or to raise additional funds for the charities through sponsorship (sponsor forms can be downloaded from the event website).
Registration will take place at Strathaven Academy on Bowling Green Road. Please note Bowling Green Road is very narrow and best avoided by cars, and allow plenty of time (minimum one hour) to park and register.
Registration opens from 8.30am. Enter the hall through main entrance. There is plenty space at Strathaven Academy for bikes, and registration desks will be clearly identified by surname in alphabetical order for those entered via Entry Central. There will be a separate desk for RS15 entry on the day.
Cyclists will be requested to congregate after registration on the grass areas at the Lethame Road side of Kirklandpark School.
Marshalls and signage will indicate the route from Strathaven Academy. Please do not congregate on the road prior to start as this is an open road. Cyclists will be called from the holding area a few minutes before the start.
Both the 50-mile and 15-mile routes will start from Lethame Road at the Kirklandpark School entrance.
A stretch of Lethame Road will be closed for a short period to allow for the mass starts at 10am for the 50-mile route and 1pm for the 15-mile route.
On completion of your cycle, return your number to the registration desks at Strathaven Academy so that organisers know you have returned.
The closing date for entries is Sunday, August 11. Strathaven Camera Club’s print exhibition is showing in the corridor of the Avondale Community Wing.
This is also the camera club’s 70th anniversary and they are holding a photography competition. It has three sections – primary school, secondary school and adult – and is open to anyone who lives, works, attends a school in the ML10 postcode area and current camera club members.
Download the entry form and rules from the club’s website. The 2019 show will be held on Saturday, September 7. Strathaven Balloon Festival’s 20th anniversary event -will be from Friday to Sunday, August 23 to 25.
The festival now attracts pilots and visitors from all over Europe, with over 25,000 spectators attending over the weekend.
More info at www. strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk. Strathaven Folk Festival will be back for its fourth year on Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27.
The opening event will be held at the Festival Folk Club in The Drumclog Inn, Todshill Street, with special guests Skirlie providing the entertainment. Raffle and floor spots at half-time. Admission is £5, to be paid on entry.
On the Saturday, the festival organisers are also delighted to be hosting a very special children’s show, Artie’s Tartan Tales, featuring Artie Trezise of The Singing Kettle. This will be in The Epicentre. Doors at 10am. Show starts at 10.30am. Admission is £3 per person or £10 for a family of four, to be paid on entry. This event is sponsored by Strathaven and District Round Table.
A variety of acts from the folk scene will be performing acoustic slots at various shops, cafes and pubs around Strathaven. This will be between 1pm and 4.30pm.
Featured acts include Haggerdash, Luckenbooth, Pauline Vallance, The Drouthy Neebours, Mary Kathleen Burke, George and Bernadette, Graham Carter, The Mighty Joes, Skud and Lockie, Eric and Jackie Rice, Gina Graham, Holmstreet, Davy Mcnab, George Simpson, Lewis Douglas, Kevin Noon, Dougie Muir and Andy Newall, Gerry Mccluskey, Rona and Stan, Guy Heath and Wee Big Man.
Visiting musicians are invited to bring their instruments along and join a session in the downstairs function room at The Buck’s Head, which will be hosted by John and Helen Young from the Stonehouse Folk Club. If the weather is favourable then the outside courtyard can also be used. This will be running Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. Entry is free.
The Saturday Festival Folk Club will be held in The Drumclog Inn from 8.30pm till late. Admission £3, doors 8pm. This will be in the format of a ‘singer’s night’ where everyone gets the chance to come up to the mic and do a turn. Raffle at half-time. Entries for the Strathaven in Bloom calendar should be sent to Linda Cameron by email (cameron. muirbank@gmail.com) or alternatively if you want to store them on a CD or other medium you can hand it in to Craig’s Newsagents marked for the attention of Strathaven in Bloom.
The last date for submissions Saturday, August 31. is A Chapelton student has swapped the army for agriculture to have a career closer to home.
After growing up on a beef and sheep farm in the South Lanarkshire village, James Orr initially decided against a career in farming and joined the army instead.
But, after fulfilling his boyhood dream and completing tours in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, the 26-year-old applied to study agriculture at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in Edinburgh.
“Being Scottish and wanting to stay closer to home, SRUC was the natural choice,” he said. “I also felt the course gave the best coverage of topics relevant to a career in agriculture.”
While at SRUC, he took advantage of the opportunity to complete skills training, including a ‘using pesticides safely’ course.
Apart from his studies, he got involved in the Edinburgh Agrics rugby team as well as the Edinburgh Farm Management Society – becoming vice chair and then chairman of the student group which focuses on entrepreneurship and rural careers.
“Reflecting on my time at SRUC, I’m certainly glad I did it, as it’s opened a lot of doors,” added James.
“Going to Edinburgh also means you can enjoy a good student lifestyle, with good night life.”
Four years on, James has gained a BSC Honours degree and a job as a trainee consultant with SAC Consulting – part of SRUC – in Ayr.
The job offer follows on from a 10-week placement he did with the agricultural consultants in his third year.
He said: “I was nervous that after only three years my knowledge of agriculture wouldn’t be up to scratch and I wouldn’t be able to contribute effectively to a team of experienced agricultural consultants.
“However I soon realised that even at degree level, SRUC had already taught me enough to allow me to help them out, complete my own work with little assistance and argue with them at tea time over various agricultural subjects.
“I’m looking forward to starting the new job as it will enable me to keep learning and furthering my knowledge of agriculture. Being a 9-to-5 job, Monday to Friday, it will allow me to stay involved in the family business, helping my dad out and hopefully enable us to build a business that is sustainable both environmentally and economically.
“Having the off-farm income will also allow me to support myself and use the skills and knowledge I have learned at SRUC, and will learn at SAC, to improve the farm at home.
“I think an off-farm income is key to smaller farms surviving at a time where farm budgets are so tight.”