NEWSFROM ACROSSTHE COUNTY
CURLING CALL-UP Strathaven’s Aileen Neilson will skip the Scottish curling team at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Stirling next month.
Head coach Sheila Swan last week announced her final five for the competition, running across eight days at Stirling’s The PEAK from March 3-10.
Swan is looking for a mix of experience and new talent, and Neilson (47) will be joined by Robert Macpherson, Hugh Nibloe, David Melrose and Gary Logan.
The competition, which will provide crucial ranking points ahead of the 2022 Paralympics in China, will feature 12 teams for the first time.
Scotland will open their campaign against champions and three-time finalists Switzerland.
Matches will follow in the round-robin against Latvia, Germany, Norway, Korea, China, USA, Slovakia, Russia, Estonia and Canada.
Aileen said: “I was inspired back in 2005 the last time the World Championships were in Scotland and this is the first time they’re back on home soil, so it’s special.
“It would be fantastic if we can play well and hopefully get on the podium.
“It’s really special, it’s nice to get into a Scotland groove, and I might not get another opportunity to play in a home World Championships in my curling career, so I intend to relish it.”
Sheila Swan said: “It is always a difficult decision when you have developed a sufficient number of players to a standard that you believe can compete at the highest level of the game and, following a rigorous selection process, only some of the squad can make the team.”
Bruce Crawford, CEO of Scottish Curling, said: “We have selected a strong team to represent Scotland at this year’s World Wheelchair Curling Championships.
“The team has a good balance of experience alongside fresh talent, which will make them exciting to watch.
“We wish them every success as they strive to perform in front of a home crowd in the first event in the qualification process for the next Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing 2022.”
TARTAN TOUCH
Hamilton Rugby Club has been selected to be a Tartan Touch club for the third year in a row.
The Laigh Bent club are part of a record number of Tartan Touch Hubs for the 2019 season, with 44 around the country hosting the popular non-contact version of the game.
Clubs involved in 2019 range across the country, from Annan to Stornoway, with the number of participants increasing by 38 per cent from 2017-18.
Last year saw a variety of age groups participate in the sport, with ages ranging from under-12s all the way to 69, 30 per cent of whom were women and girls.
Tartan Touch ambassador Natalie Martin said: “We are so proud to be hosting Tartan Touch again at Hamilton Rugby Club.
“We are already putting plans in place to make this the best season ever at Hamilton.”
More details on the event will follow.
GYMNASTICS
World-famous National Danish Gymnastics Performance Team will put on two spell-binding performances at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility next month.
They will be at the North Lanarkshire centre on Friday and Monday, March 8 and 11, as part of a world tour. Both performances start at 7pm and last for 90 minutes.
Each show is a unique experience, combining a variety of modern rhythmic gymnastics, dance, artistic vaulting, tumbling, trampoline and high-energy acrobatics.
For details and to buy tickets, visit the Culture NL website.
DISABILITY JUDO CLASS
A specific disability evening class has been set up by Hamilton Judo Club in a bid to get more people involved in the discipline.
Over the last few months the club have been investing a lot of time trying to increase the number of people in South Lanarkshire with disabilities taking part in judo.
Starting on Tuesday, March 5, there will be a specific disabilities class taking place at the Jock Stein Sports Centre, from 7pm-8pm, and all are invited to attend.
For more information visit Lanarkshire Judo Disability Hub on Facebook, email john.dambrosio@hamiltonjudoclub. co.uk or contact him on 07747 740900.
PLAYERS WANTED
Clydesdale FC 2006s need a centre back and right back to provide competition for their current players.
The team is Lanarkshire-based and they play games in the CSFA B Division.
If you’re interested in joining, contact Colin on 07481 792472. Newmains Boys’ Club 2001s (under-19) are looking for players in all positions to strengthen their squad.
They will take players from across Lanarkshire, and the contact is Patrick Mccabe on 07903 299195. Hamilton’s Eddlewood Boys’ Club 2011s are looking to recruit two boys who are keen to be goalkeepers.
Both will be given separate one-to-one training outwith normal training times.
The club train on Monday and Wednesday in Hamilton, and play on a Sunday at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell. If you are interested, contact Brian on 07429 432982. North Motherwell Boys’ Club 2003s (under-16) are looking for talented individuals for various positions to strengthen their existing squad.
They are looking for players across North and South Lanarkshire, and play games in the Central A Division.
Contact Chris on 07412 032331 or John on 07970 465829.
AMATEUR FOOTBALL
Fixtures are taking place in various leagues across Lanarkshire.
Foster’s Central Scottish AFL (Saturday, February 23):
Black Rooster M & M Trophy third round: Colville Park Electric v Drumchapel United PYM.
Premier Division: Bannockburn v Drumchapel; Eastfield v Cambusnethan Talbot; St Patrick’s FP v Campsie Minerva; Stein’s Thistle v Greenock HSFP; Wishaw HSFP v Harestanes.
Division 1A: Bearsden v Stedfast K; Clydebank v Uddingston Anvil.
Division 1B: Ardencaple v Garrowhill Thistle; BSC Glasgow v Bridgewater; Newton Vale v Craigneuk. Sunday, February 3: William Summers Cup (over-35s) semifinal: Carfin v Cumbernauld Colts. Strathclyde Saturday Morning AFL (Saturday, February 23):
Stax Trade Centres Premier Division: East Kilbride Thistle v Rossvale Kelvinbridge; Tynecastle v Bengal Lancers.
Championship A Division: Southside White Cart v Blackthorn Rovers.
Championship B Division: Bargeddie v Lenzie Thistle.
Division One: Greenock HSFP v Newmains Hammers; West of Scotland v Nico’s.
Sunday, February 24: Interleague Trophy: SSMAFL v Midlands (Glasgow Green, 2pm).
CURLING
Results of curling matches held at Lanarkshire Ice Rink in Hamilton on Tuesday, February 19, were:
Lanarkshire Ladies’ League: I. Waddell 10, J. Craig 2; F. Motion 7, J. Brown 6.
Small Clubs’ League Section A: Calder 4, East Kilbride II 11.
Small Clubs’ League Section B: Carstairs 9, Cambuslang 6; Wishaw 12, Eaglesham 2; East Kilbride 10, Hamilton Coaches 4.
Super League: L. Carson 9, L. Steele 3; N. Murray 4, H. Neilson 6; D. Stobo 10, D. Hall 7.
Mixed Doubles Section A: J. and C. Morrison 3, A. Taylor and A. Hobbs 2; M. Mccreadie and A. Neilson 5, P. Murray and A. Mcilwain 1; J. and L. Blackwood 5, C. and A. Stewart 2.
Mixed Doubles Section B: S. Russell and A. Fox 5, I. and E. Fleming 3.
Men’s Senior League: R. Kenyon 6, R. Simpson 5; B. Smith 4, B. Marshall 5.
Crookedstone Trophy: I. Fleming 6, J. Tait 4; A. Kerr 7, B. Thomson 5.
West of Scotland Ladies’ League: EK and Hairmyres 7, Lesmahagow 3.
ROWING
Hamilton rower Rosie Payne this week put injury hell behind her as she was selected to represent Robert Gordon University in the 24th annual Aberdeen Standard Investments Boat Race 2019.
Rosie (18) will cox an eight-strong team against University of Aberdeen on the River Dee on Saturday, March 23.
Her team consists of Lauren Amner (19) from Glasgow; Sophie Telfer (19) from Kinross; Elizabeth Buchan (19) and Sarah Cameron (19) both from Edinburgh; Gregor Pittendreigh (21) and Gary Wilson (26) both from Aberdeen; Ingus Lismanis (21) from Latvia and Ethan Rebert (20) from Val D’isère.
For all the latest updates on the crews and their training, follow the Aberdeen Boat Race on Twitter @2019boatrace, Instagram @abdnboatrace and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ abdnboatrace