SPORT LISTINGS
Events are listed alphabetically by sport, then by day. Fixtures are correct at time at publication, but may be affected by weather. Sports Listings compiled by Brian Donaldson.
BADMINTON Saturday 2
I Scottish Junior Championships Meadowbank Sports Centre. London Road. Edinburgh. Singles. doubles and mixed doubles with the brightest sparks in the shuttlecock business. See Hit List.
Sunday 3
I Scottish Junior Championships Meadowbank Sports Centre. London Road. Edinburgh. Semi-finals and finals. See Hit List.
Saturday 24
I Macallan International Men’s Challenge I)ewar's Ice Rink. Perth. Among those battling for a purse of £8000 is former World Champion David Smith. Semi-finals at 6.45pm and 9.15pm. Details from The Royal Caledonian Curling Club on 0131 333 3003.
Sunday 25
I Macallan International Challenge Dewar's Ice Rink. Perth. lt’s Finals Day with both men and ladies indulging in a ‘Skins‘ competition. Ladies' final starts at 12.15pm. while the men take to the ice at 3pm. Further information from The Royal Caledonian Club on 0131 333 3003.
Tuesday 27
I Macallan Scottish Championships Dewar's Ice Rink. Perth. Running from 27 Feb t0 3 Mar. this is one ol’ the highlights of Perth's Festival ofCurling. See llit List.
FOOTBALL
Saturday 24
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Celtic v Partick Thistle Celtic Pat-k. Kerrydale Street. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Hibs V Falkirk Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Itilmarnock v Hearts Rugby Pat-k. Rugby Road. Kilmarnock. 3pm.
I Motherwell v Raith Rovers Eir Put-k. Firpark Street. Motherwell. 3pm.
FIRST DIVISION
I Dundee V Airdrie Dens Park. Sandcman Street. Dundee. 3pm.
I Dunferrnline v Dundee United East End Park. Halbeath Road. DIIIIICTIIIIIIIC. 3pm. I Morton V Dumbarton Cappielow Park. Sinclair Street. Greenock. 3pm.
I Hamilton V Clydebank Douglas Park. Douglas Park Lane. Hamilton. 3pm.
I St Mirren v St Johnstone St Mirren Park. Love Street. Paisley. 3pm.
Sunday 25
PREMIER LEAGUE I Aberdeen v Rangers Pittodrie Stadium. Pittodrie Street. Aberdeen. 3pm.
Scottish volleyball: in a healthy state The game of volleyball may evoke a couple of images in your head. Firstly, the dark memory of school P.E. when two minutes of slapping a ball across a net was the reward for an hour of sit-ups, medicine balls and other forms of communal humiliation. And secondly, visions of bronzed individuals on the beach, leaping through the air to tire away a winner (usually in slow motion).
While volleyball may not be set to lure the legions who prefer their
Saturdays to be a mixture of cold pies and hot tempers, the sport in Scotland is in a pretty healthy state. Each weekend, from September to March, 74 teams compete in five men’s and three women’s national leagues with the west of Scotland — in the shape of Glasgow Ragazzi and Bellshill Cardinals — currently holding sway.
Youth policies may falter in other sporting fields, but in volleyball the schools are the key to the future. As Elspeth McRae, Executive Officer at the Scottish Volleyball Association, explains, the emphasis is on both fun and improving skills. ‘Working towards the national festival in Perth, we have our Team Sports Scotland co-ordinator encouraging participation,’ she says. ‘These skills are then fed through into the club structure.’
Accommodating spectators appears to be the only stumbling block to volleyball’s continued success. Matches are played in large arenas with courts running from edge to edge, but with the latter stages of cup competitions coming up in the next few weeks, where an audience of up to 1000 may be present, there will be plenty ot focus on individual games. (Brian Donaldson)
Semi-finals of the Royal Bank of Scotland National Cup take place on Sunday 24 March, with finals the following week. See future issues for details.
Saturday 2
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Aberdeen v Kilmarnock Pittodrie Stadium. Pittodrie Street. .-\berdeen. 3pm. I Celtic V Hearts Celtic Park. Kert'ytlale Street. (ilasgow. 3pm.
I Hibs V Rangers Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Motherwell V Falkirk l'iir Park. l'irpark Road. Mothet'well. 3pm.
I Partick Thistle v Raith Rovers I‘ll hill Stadium. liirhill Road. 3pm
FIRST DIVISION
I Airdrie v Dundee United ntoatttt-ood Stadium. Ctnubernauld. 3pm.
I Clydebank v St Johnstone Klll‘ttu it- Park. Arran Place. Clydebank. 3pm.
I Dundee v Dumbarton l)ens Park. Sandetnan Road. Dundee. 3pm.
I Duntermline v Morton liasl lilltl Pat-k. Halbeatli Road. Dunlermline 3pm.
I St Mirren v Hamilton St Mitten I’at'ls'. Love Street. Paisley. 3pm.
[EILEE- Saturday 24
PREMIER LEAGUE I Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils Kttkealdy Ice Rink. Rosslyn Street. Kirkcaldy.
7.15pm.
Sunday 25
BRITISH LEAGUE DIVISION 1
I Murrayfield Royals v Bracknell Bees .\ltu'raylield lee Centre. Edinburgh (willptll.
Saturday 2
PREMIER LEAGUE I Fife Flyers v Newcastle Kttkealdy Ice Rink. Rosslyn Street. ls'irkealdy. 7.15pm,
Sunday 3
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Fife Flyers v Milton Keynes Kings Kirkealdy Ice Rink. Rosslyn Street. Krrkealdy. 0.30pm.
[EEL- Saturday 24
I Scotland U18 v Republic of Ireland U18 Magnum Centre. .-\yr. 3.30pm l’ltone the SCUIIISIINL‘IITHII.‘\\Stk‘l;lllt)llt)11l)l~;i 53-1 3050 Ior full details.
FIVE NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday 2
I Scotland v England .\Ittt-rayi'ield. Edinburgh. 3pm. The Big ()ne. See Hit List.
Catch the best Sport this fortnight. w w
RUGBY
I Scotland V England Grand Slam? Who cares? The match against Will Carling’s men has its own particular edge. Whatever occurs. the loss of Gavin Hastings has proved to be less catastrophic titan some predicted. largely down to the point-grabbing habit of his successor, Michael Dods. See Listings. A’Illl'l‘til‘flt’ld. Edinburgh. Sat 2. 3pm.
CURLING
I Macallan Scottish Championship Perth plays host to men‘s and ladies‘ competitions as part ol‘ their Festival ol’ Curling. Now that the rcpcchage has been completed. the Iield is down to ten men and ten women lighting for a place on l’inals Day on Sun 3. As well as top class curling. there is the added spectacle ol‘ the Curlcrs‘ Ceilidh on Sat 2. For further information. contact The Royal Caledonian Curling Club on 0131 333 3003. See Li's/rugs.
BADMINTON
I Clydesdale Bank Scottish National Junior Championships The badminton hopes of tomorrow are on show as under-14s and under- 18s enjoy a weekend of fun across a high net. In both categories there will be singles and doubles for boys and girls as well as mixed doubles. The first action will be served up on Sat 2 at 9.30am--7.30pm, with all semi-finals and linals starting at 10am and 2pm respectively the nest day. Contact the Scottish Badminton Union on 0141 4-15 121?. for more details. .l/eutltnt‘btm/t‘ Sport's (Te/tire. Lilia/Hindi. Sui 3/511/1 .t’.
VOLLEYBALL '
Saturday 24
I The Royal Bank of Scotland National Cup Seim-I‘iuals day tor the men and women. l-'or Itill details of teams. times and \enues contact the Scottish \olleyhall Association on 01.3] 550-10.“
82 The List 23 Feb-7 Mar 1996