The Rampant Scotland Newsletter - your weekly insight into what has been happening in Scotland, snipped from the Scottish media, for Scots in Scotland and abroad, bringing you news, events plus a Scottish magazine section. Printed with 100% recycled electrons.Previous editions of this Newsletter are available in the Archive> and the Index to the other pages of the Rampant Scotland site is available here>.
The Scottish Snippets Newsletter in its original format began in April 1997 and continued in an unbroken series for 591 issues. Although no longer produced in that format there is now a regular update on the new and updated pages on the Rampant Scotland site and also "Scottie's Diary" on an intermittent basis, To receive this, kust send an e-mail to Scottie with "Subscribe Newsletter" in the subject line.
Issue Number 500
Some overseas readers claim that they know more about Scotland via the Snippets than relatives and friends living here. Of course, there are not many folk in Scotland scouring half-a-dozen newspapers a day specifically looking for interesting news items on Scotland. The newsletter seems to be getting longer as the years go by. Not sure whether that's because there's more news worth reporting, or I'm finding more, thanks to online news sites - or I'm becoming more long-winded! Probably a combination of all three! Of course, I include a lot and assume that readers will just read the bits that interest them. The addition of the weekly "Colour Supplement" with large format pictures taken in Scotland in the previous week or two has added to the output too. Since it started in July last year, nearly 450 graphics have been displayed there.
There are times when I wonder whether all the work involved is worth it - and then I get an appreciative e-mail from a reader on the other side of the world or I think of the many e-mail friends I have made over the years - and I know the answer!
The illustration above shows "Scottie at work" - after climbing the 500 steps to the top of the Glasgow Tower for photographs for a feature article for Rampant Scotland.
Current Affairs
Graphic courtesy of Tunes of Glory.
Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
Pig-headed giant begone or I'll make you repent
Entertainment
Sport
In the First Division, Gretna returned to their winning ways and shot to the top of the table, though only on goal difference from Hamilton. St Johnstone and Partick Thistle are both just one point behind - but have a game in hand. Airdrie United sit one point below Queen of the South at the foot of the First Division.
Despite losing on Saturday, Greenock Morton are still 3 points above Stirling at the top of the Second Division. Forfar remain at the foot of that table, 8 points below Raith Rovers.
In the Third Division, East Fife are at the top, with four points more than Queens Park, though the Hampden side has played one less game. Elgin City are at the foot of the table, 6 points adrift from East Stirling. Currie have a good lead in the Scottish Rugby Division 1 table, 6 points ahead of Ayr. Aberdeen are struggling at the foot of the league, with Hawick 4 points ahead of them.
Magazine Section
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Phew!
Well, it's not quite the same as climbing Mount Everest, but an unbroken series of 500 weekly editions of the "Scottish Snippets" is maybe worth a comment or two. I know that quite a number of readers from the early days are still getting their weekly news about Scotland via these newsletters. And I'm glad to say that the number of page viewes keeps growing, which is encouraging.
Tartan Week 2007 in New York
Once again the Scottish Executive is supporting Tartan Day celebrations in April in the US and once again the finance will be largely going into New York events, where it is thought the biggest impact can be made. Tartan Week 2007 will run from April 1 to 8 and there will be a sponsored 10k run through Central Park, a Scotland Village in Grand Central Station, "Tartan Bites" (a series of literary events in New York promoting contemporary Scottish literature) and "Dressed to Kilt" (a contemporary fashion show hosted by the US Friends of Scotland). Scottish Museums & Scottish Screen are presenting a film archive set to music, promoting Scottish genealogy and diaspora, while "Scotland Rocks New York" will have examples of Scotland's vibrant music scene in a contemporary music festival. The traditional Tartan Day Parade on 6th Avenue is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 14 in 2007.
1% Tax on Market Value of Houses Rejected
Three years ago, First Minister Jack McConnell promised that the council tax system would be reformed. But agreement on the way forward proved to be difficult, so two years ago he set up an independent enquiry to come up with proposals (ie, the subject was kicked into the long grass). But he should have known that the chairman of the committee given the task, former Bank of Scotland chief executive Sir Peter Burt, would produce an innovative recommendation. Having looked at all the options (and demolishing the various ideas which have been propounded by the various political parties) he came up with a 1% tax on the market value of people's homes. He claimed that new "Local Property Tax" would leave 45% of Scots better off, 20% at more or less the same - but that would leave 35% of home owners, in above average value housing, paying considerably more. Currently, the local government tax is in bands, based on the estimated value of a house. But even before the report had been published, the First Minister had leaked to the media that he did not accept the proposal. The thought of 35% of highly vocal voters howling in anguish at the election next May was presumably too much. The "official" response, however, was that the report had to be considered carefully in detail and that it would act as a "catalyst" for an informed and constructive debate on the future of local taxation in Scotland (doubtless after the election). The fact remains that the £2 billion raised by local taxation each year (a figure which has grown at a much faster rate than inflation or wages) has to be found from somewhere.
St Andrew's Day
Apart from perhaps the odd TV special on BBC Scotland, St Andrew's Day used to pass virtually unremarked in Scotland. In recent years, the Scottish Executive has been prodded into action, even (somewhat reluctantly) eventually backing 30 November as a national holiday (so long as workers gave up another day's holiday in lieu). They have also undertaken to support a "One Scotland Ceilidh" and city centre party in Edinburgh, supported by music artists such as Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain and Shooglenifty. In Glasgow, there is a "Ceilidh on Ice" at George Square and there will be live music and dancing in Port Street in Stirling. Inverness sees local communities flying the flag for Scotland and celebrating the cultural diversity of the region with live music from local band Schiehallion. Around the world, British embassies are flying the saltire or hosting balls, ceilidhs or receptions for St Andrew's Day. Various events are being staged at such diverse locations as Bulgaria, Berne in Switzerland, Moscow, Beijing, Chicago, Ankara in Turkey and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. And the Slovenian-Scottish Friendship Society is hosting an event for 250 people including the mayor of Ljubljana, the Provost of North Ayrshire, Scottish pipers and Slovenian businessmen, with actors reciting Burns and local poet France Preseren in English and in Slovene.
Commemoration of Union of Parliaments 1707
There is no doubt that the Union of the Scottish and English Parliaments in 1707 was a significant event. But while historians and those who support the union would want to celebrate the 300th anniversary next year, those who think it was one of the worst things that happened to Scotland - and should be totally reversed - would rather forget about it. So the Scottish Executive has had to plot a careful course on the issue and the events announced this week are said to have been designed to "inform and stimulate debate about the legacy left by the Act of Union." Highlights (using the term loosely) include primary and secondary schools participating in an education project led by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The National Museums Scotland is staging an exhibition of Union-related objects and document and the National Galleries of Scotland will hold an exhibition of portraits of people associated with the Union. There will also be a series of seminars, book launches and a debate by the National Library of Scotland titled 'The Road to 1707' exploring the events, causes and debates surrounding Scotland's Union with England. Not a lot of celebration in all that...
Air Passenger Numbers Grow Despite Security Delays
The long queues and restrictions on hand luggage didn't seem to deter many people from travelling by air last month. The British Airports Authority (BAA) has reported an overall increase of 3.4%, compared to October 2005 and indeed international traffic rose by 6.8%. Friday 13th October was also one of the busiest days of the year, as thousands jetted off to the sunshine at the start of the one week autumn school holiday. Football fans also contributed to the numbers, with Celtic supporters going to Lisbon and Rangers fans to Livorno in Italy. In the year to October 2006, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports (all owned by BAA) handled 20.5 million passengers.
Scotland's Economy Set to "Boom"
The latest economic forecast by the Bank of Scotland suggests that Scotland is likely to enter what they describe as a "boom" period, with growth forecast to accelerate to 2.8%, which is a full 1% higher than the historical long-tem average growth rate. The Index of Leading Economic Indicators report by the bank suggests that economic growth in Scotland will accelerate in the final quarter of this year and will continue to do so into 2007. Scottish businesses are reported to be confident about future growth and data for consumer sentiment also indicates a brighter forecast for consumption.
Interest Rates Rise to Five-Year High
Economists expected the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee to raise interest rates at their monthly meeting this week due to inflation remaining stubbornly above the government's 2% target, and on this occasion the committee obliged, by upping the base rate to 5%. That was the second increase of 0.25% since August and the highest level since September 2001. Analysts are predicting another rate rise early next year. While that is good news for investors, mortgage payers will have to find the extra cost when lenders pass on the higher rate. Of course, it will also have an impact on that prediction of an economic boom next year (see previous item).
Another Express Rail Link Between Edinburgh and Glasgow?
With the elections for the Scottish Parliament looming in May next year, the media is being fed a flow of stories and plans by the political parties about the great ideas they would be implementing if elected (and had failed to implement over the last four years). The Labour party claims that it is "committed to improved transport links between Glasgow and Edinburgh" and a spokesman for their Liberal Democrat coalition partners says that "the party is proposing to do "something" about the rail link between the two cities." Rail campaigners have been pushing for improvements for many years - the journey time between Scotland's two largest cities is no better than it was 30 years ago and once the loop to Edinburgh airport is eventually constructed, it could take even longer. Newspapers have speculated that a new route from Glasgow Central through north Lanarkshire (a heartland of Labour ministers) could increase capacity. Electrification of a new route and/or the present Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh service would also speed up the service. It is likely that Transport Scotland, the government agency responsible for overall policy will lay out the strategic options in a few weeks.
Lung Cancer to be a "Thing of the Past"
Scotland's Chief Medical Officer claimed this week that the smoking ban in public buildings, introduced earlier this year in Scotland, will help to dramatically reduce future lung cancer rates. He pronounced that lung cancer would become a "thing of the past" as more people gave up smoking and others were no longer subjected to second hand smoke. Lung cancer is currently Scotland's biggest cancer killer, with 90% of cases attributed to smoking. More than 4,500 new cases are diagnosed each year - and over half die within four months. Scotland has one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the world and a recent study has suggested that even a highly successful anti-smoking campaign will take 20 years to have a real impact, because of the number of people who are currently developing the disease without any symptoms showing up. So it will be a long time before the Chief Medical Officer's eye-catching claim is likely to come to fruition.
Clydesdale Bank In Virtuous Circle
David Thorburn, the chief operating officer of the Clydesdale Bank - a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank (NAB) - announced this week that operating profits had jumped by 16.7% to £454 million. Provisions for bad debts had increased too, however, but pre-tax profits were still up by 8.3% to £326 million. Thorburn says that the bank has "got out of the vicious circle and into a virtuous circle". For many years, Clydesdale Bank has struggled with rising costs, losing business, closing branches and falling revenues. While a reduction in the cost:income ratio to 61.1% this year is an improvement, it is still well above the level of its competitors such as Bank of Scotland and The Royal Bank of Scotland. But the bank hopes that completion of the integration of its information technology platform with its sister company, Yorkshire Bank, will reduce costs further. There have been concerns over the years that National Australia had not been providing sufficient capital support and would sell its under-performing UK banking arm. But NAB's Scots-born chief executive John Stewart commented recently that the UK-based banks were "not for sale".
The illustration of Robert the Bruce is from a Clydedale Bank £20 note.
Flybe Takes Over BA Connect Routes
Budget airline Flybe is to take over the loss-making regional business airline BA Connect, a subsidiary of British Airways. The airline says that the merger will result in increased services between Scotland and England and possibly new routes to European destinations such as Scandinavia. A new service between Aberdeen and Southampton will get off the ground next year and the Inverness to Gatwick service is likely to see an increase in daily flights from three to four or five. Flybe claims that their fares averaged 30/50% below that of BA Connect. Despite the lower fares, Flybe expects to turn the last-year loss of £6 million in the operations of BA Connect into a profit by 2008/09.
New Transport HQ in Aberdeen Scrapped
Two years after submitting plans for a new world headquarters building and bus depot in Aberdeen, transport giant FirstGroup has abandoned plans for the £10 million project. The company says that they are frustrated by the protracted approval process, during which time the costs for the construction have risen sharply. The company had been waiting for a response from the Scottish Executive in Edinburgh after a lengthy approval process in Aberdeen. The campaigners who fought against the development are, of course, jubilant. But despite assurances by the company that they still want to remain in Aberdeen, there must be concerns that they might move away to another location. Aberdeen City Council members said that the planning delays also sent out the wrong message to businesses seeking to locate and relocate in Aberdeen. The problem is, however, that a long-winded planning approval process applies across the whole country.
Make My Overdraft King Size
Banking giant HSBC is to open a Scottish HQ office in a landmark building in Edinburgh's Princes Street, at a corner site previously used by the Burger King restaurant chain. The bank currently has a branch in the Capital in Hanover Street and the new outlet is part of a strategy to provide competition for the main Scottish banks such as The Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of Scotland on their home turf. Burger King had created a striking wooden facade (see illustration), which was radically different from the traditional burger chain look. The new HSBC Scottish HQ is due to open on January 22.
Scores on the Doors
For some time, customers of businesses selling food to the public have been able to view online inspection reports on hygiene inspections. But few bother. Now a pilot Food Hygiene Information Scheme has been launched which will mean that the premises have to display certificates on their doors or windows, showing how well they did in their last hygiene inspections. The notices will indicate whether they have "passed" - or whether "improvement is required". The Food Standards Agency hopes that the scheme will give customers peace of mind in an easily accessible form and so allow them to make informed choices. Needless to say, the scheme is likely to raise standards - what restaurant would want to display an "improvement required" notice for long? Around 3,000 premises in Perth, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fife and Renfrewshire are taking part in the pilot before the scheme is rolled out across Scotland.
Record Sales for "Seriously Bad" Tonic Wine
Buckfast Tonic Wine has been singled out by the Scottish health minister because of its supposed links with anti-social behaviour in some of Scotland's poorest areas. The Scottish Executive justice minister, Cathy Jamieson, has also called for it to be taken off the shelves. But they say that even "bad" publicity is good for sales - and that has been the experience of "Buckie" or "commotion lotion" as it is sometimes called locally. Despite the total lack of formal advertising in Scotland, Buckfast sells 60% of its output in Scotland - and sales have boomed since the ministers drew attention to it. The 15% fortified wine is produced by the Benedictine monks at Buckfast Abbey, who earned £3.5 million from sales of £30 million last year. The monks have donated large sums to charity, including £500,000 to St Andrew's Hospice in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. The distributors argue that the product is a normal drink and that ministers are attacking it to cover up their failings in tackling the general alcohol drink problem in many sections of the population.
Taking a Nip to New Heights
We are used to coaches and taxis carrying advertising and Glasgow Underground even had their rolling stock painted to advertise Morgan's Spiced Rum for a spell - but an aircraft branded with Highland Park whisky? That is exactly the deal which has been agreed between the Orkney distillery and Loganair. The Glasgow based airline operates air services to the Highlands and islands - including the northern isles. Two of the company's twin-engined Islander aircraft have the words "The best spirit in the world" printed across their wings. It is thought to be the first such branding by a scotch whisky company. As a memento of their flight, passengers will receive a certificate to mark their flight and - far more valuable - a miniature bottle of Highland Park single malt. The gift may even apply on the world's shortest scheduled airline flight - the two-minute inter-island journey from Westray to Papa Westray.
Xmas Stamps Launched at Xscape
This year's special Christmas stamps were publicised at a launch at the Xscape indoor ski slope at Braehead, near Glasgow. The Royal Mail created a winter wonderland with a gigantic Frostie the Snowman. The stamps this year feature a range of well known Christmas characters, including Santa and a snowman. And to save people having to lick all their stamps for all their Christmas cards, the special issue is of the self-adhesive kind.
Blaze on Arthur's Seat
It is one of the idiosyncracies of British life that every 5 November thousands of otherwise sensible people celebrate the capture in of Guy Fawkes in 1605. He was attempting to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London along with King James VI (who had become the monarch of the combined United Kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1603). A relieved government passed a law compelling people to celebrate 5 November thereafter - and it took until 1859 before the law was repealed. But old habits die hard, particularly when there is fun involved - such as letting off fireworks and having bonfires (with effigies of Guy on top). Over the years, however, instead of the celebration being just on 5 November, more and more and louder and louder fireworks have been disturbing residential areas. Laws have had to be passed restricting the sale of fireworks and that has been fairly successful. But every year there are people injured by fireworks, often involving the loss of sight or fingers. This year was no exception - and to cap it all, a stray firework on Arthur's Seat, the volcanic hill which overlooks Edinburgh, caused a huge blaze. Over 20 firemen fought the outbreak for four hours. While that was the worst out of control fire on 5 November, the fire brigade received 500 calls that night about other incidents around the city.
Edinburgh Car Owners Sleeping Easier
It has become almost a ritual for many Edinburgh car owners who keep their cars parked in the street overnight. They have to dash out in all weathers before 8.30am to feed the parking meter before the "Enforcer" parking attendants appear on the scene. But not any more. In an unaccustomed gesture of generosity, Edinburgh City Council has changed the operation of their pay-and-display machines. Car owners will now be able to pay for the next day's parking the evening before. Indeed, tickets which are bought in the late afternoon, will still be valid the next morning, if they still have time on them after parking restriction finish at 6.30pm. And another change means that the machines will give the precise amount of parking time that has been paid for. Until now, putting a £1 coin in a machine where parking costs 40p for 15 minutes, drivers would only get 30 minutes for their £1 - now they will get exactly 38 minutes. There are 3,000 metered parking spaces in the centre of Edinburgh Recently, it was reported that motorists who didn't get back to their cars before the meter ran out in George Street in Edinburgh, incurred nearly 21,000 parking fines last year. Even if the penalty is paid within 14 days, the fines total £630,000.
Rob Roy Would Have Thought It a Steal
The village of Drymen was one of the places Rob Roy MacGregor had on his visiting list when he was pursuing a career of cattle rustling - or collecting "black meal" for "protecting" cattle from others. He would have smiled, however, at the community there buying its entire village square for the nominal sum of £1. Drymen is a pleasant village 20 miles north of Glasgow in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Country Park. Many Scottish villages are based on "ribbon" development along a main road. Drymen, however, has an open square in its centre, with part of it left as grass - though much of the area is currently used as a car a park and housing an ugly bus shelter. The ownership of the village square was a bit of a mystery for a long time and it took a lot of research to establish that Montrose Estates actually held the title deeds to the area. The company agreed to sell the title to a community group, who now plan to make major improvements. It will mean losing 28 car-parking spaces, reducing the width of the main road and giving the space back to pedestrians.
Weather in Scotland This Week
Maximum daytime temperatures had a bit of a roller-coaster this week, starting off on Sunday at around 13C/55F and Aberdeen recorded 15C/59F on Tuesday. But maximum temperatures fell to around 8/9C (46/48F) by Thursday. The drop was due to clear, sunny skies that day, but that didn't last long and Friday saw strong winds driving in rain clouds but temperatures up to 12/13C (54/55F) before falling again on Saturday. The outlook is "continuing changeable" - as you might expect.
This Week's Colour Supplement
This week's large format photographs taken in Scotland to show the current season and its flora and fauna include a red sunset near Kinross, male and female Goosander, a Mallard, a young Great Crested Grebe, and a Rook. See This Week's Colour Supplement.
"Singularly Unmatched by Even a Smidgen of Talent"
A new collection of the works of the poet (of a sort) William Topaz McGonagall, including his play entitled Jack o’ the Cudgell (or the Hero of a Hundred flights) has been described by a Glasgow University academic as a "blunt instrument of a play" and McGonagall as "a writer of indefatigable ambition, singularly unmatched by even a smidgen of talent." But historians in Dundee (where he is regarded as "one of their own" as he lived there for a number of years) have leapt to his defence, arguing that despite his lack of a formal education he had tried to bring poetry (well, his brand of verse) to the masses. Outside of Dundee, McGonagall is generally regarded as "the world's worst poet" - and as such has amassed a large and loyal following, who enjoy the (unintended) humour of his works. JK Rowling even named Harry Potter's teacher Professor McGonagall in his honour - and I have to confess I am a fan of McGonagall too. Some of his admirers paid for a plaque to be placed in Greyfriar's Churchyard in Edinburgh (see illustration) where hi is buried, in an unmarked grave. Another of McGonagall's theatrical episodes involved him performing Shakespeare's Macbeth (as a one man show) and refusing to die at the end - until the audience dragged him off the stage. What a man! And Jack o' the Cudgel? Here's a taster of his genius:
For my name is Jack and I hail from Kent.
Detailed Immigration Lists
Genealogists, both professional and amateur, will welcome the availability on the Web of what is described as the most detailed immigration lists to be published so far. They cover passenger lists for voyages between the British Isles and North America between 1820 and 1960. That was a time of mass migration, when over 100 million people moved across the Atlantic from Europe. It is calculated that by 1900, one in 20 Scots (roughly 235,000 people) had emigrated to North America, often sailing from Glasgow and Aberdeen. The immigrants shaped the continent and often founded the companies which populate the New York Stock Exchange. The passenger lists are available at www.ancestry.co.uk Access is free until only the end of November - thereafter an access charge will be levied.
Statue to Buffalo Bill - in Glasgow's East End
As if there weren't enough "cowboys" in the east end of Glasgow without having to erect a statue to another one... But a housing developer has commissioned a statue and a plaque to William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, to commemorate the staging of his Wild West Show at that location in November 1891. It caused a major stir in Scotland at the time, as crowds flocked to see real Indians re-enacting Custer's Last Stand and Annie Oakley showing off her shooting skills. The show was based in Dennistoun for four months - and Cody even went along to Ibrox Stadium to see Glasgow Rangers play Queen's Park. It was during the visit that a number of artefacts were donated to the city - including the "Ghost Dance Shirt" (seen here) which was returned to the Lakota Sioux in 1999. target="_blank"
Next Week in Scottish History
Wet Wet Wet Hogmanay
During this week, some of Scotland's major cities announced the musical entertainment they are organising at their New Year's Eve celebrations. In Aberdeen, Wet Wet Wet, who have been entertaining their fans for 20 years, will be headlining the Hogmanay celebrations. In Glasgow, the Fratellis, The View, Sandi Thom and Suspiciously Elvis are lined up to keep the crowds happy in George Square until the bells ring out. Donnie Munro of Runrig fame and the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band and Mischief la Bas will also be providing entertainment. The Fratellis will be racing along the M8 motorway after their performance, so that they can also entertain the crowds in Edinburgh's Princes Street show. They will be joining pop veterans the Pet Shop Boys and the new Scots teenage soul sensation Paolo Nutini. At Stirling Castle, the Hogmanay revellers will be entertained by Deacon Blue, one of Scotland's most popular pop bands. They formed in Glasgow in 1985 and were one of the top-selling UK bands of the late 1980s/early 1990s. They are being joined at Stirling by a ceilidh band and Stirling's own Lauren Tilley, plus Stirling's Royal Burgh Pipe Band and a fireworks display.
Raising the Bar for Scottish Ballet
Plans for the creation of a new home for Scottish Ballet at the Tramway arts venue in Glasgow were approved this week by the City Council. The £11 million project was initially controversial as the historic arts theatre and exhibition space already operating at the Tramway feared that they were being pushed into a smaller space. But somehow the architects have managed to squeeze the proverbial quart into a pint pot, by utilising unused parts of the site and all parties seem to be satisfied. The project will create three large rehearsal studios and fitness areas as well as office accommodation for the ballet company. However, only £7.5 million of the £11 cost has been secured so far.
New Concert Venue
Historic Inveraray Castle in Argyll is to be the location of a new festival starting next September. The extensive grounds of the home of the chief of the Clan Campbell will provide space for a number of stages as well as onsite camping options, including bespoke teepees and pods. Named "Connect", the festival is said to be lining up an "eclectic mix of internationally acclaimed artists" and transport is being organised via a fleet of buses for the 90 minute journey from Glasgow, past Loch Lomond and across the "Rest and Be Thankful" to Loch Fyne. Further information (including, presumably, the music on offer) will be available via www.connectmusicfestival.com.
Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Aberdeen 1
Dundee United 2 Rangers 1CIS Cup Quarter Finals
Celtic 1 Falkirk 1 (Falkirk won 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out)
Kilmarnock 3 Motherwell 2
Rangers 0 St Johnstone 2
Hibernian 1 Heart of Midlothian 0Bank of Scotland Premierleague Results - 11 November 2006
Aberdeen 2 Motherwell 1
Dundee United 1 Kilmarnock 0
Hibernian 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0
Rangers 2 Dunfermline 0
St Mirren v Celtic will be played on Sunday and Falkirk v Hearts on Monday.Scottish Football League First Division Results - 11 November 2006
Gretna 5 Queen of South 0
Hamilton 2 Airdrie United 1
Livingston 2 Dundee 3Scottish Football League Second Division Results - 11 November 2006
Ayr United 0 Alloa 1
Brechin City 1 Raith Rovers 0
Cowdenbeath 3 Forfar 2
Stirling Albion 2 Greenock Morton 1
Stranraer 2 Peterhead 1Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 11 November 2006
Arbroath 1 East Stirling 2
Berwick Rangers 2 East Fife 1
Elgin 0 Albion Rovers 3
Montrose 0 Queens Park 3
Stenhousemuir 1 Dumbarton 0BT Scotland Rugby Division 1 Results - 11 November 2006
Ayr 40 Hawick 8
Boroughmuir 23 Melrose 27
Currie 51 Dundee 0
Glasgow Hawks 34 Aberdeen 7
Heriots 6 Watsonians 24League Tables
Last Sunday, Dundee United's defeat of Rangers allowed them to move up from the bottom of the Scottish Premier League. But the shock result left Rangers 15 points behind Celtic, having won only two away matches out of seven this season. Although they were third in the SPL, thanks to a slim goal difference, Rangers sat uncomfortably with the same number of points as Aberdeen, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Kilmarnock. Saturday's results changed that a bit, with Inverness and Kilmarnock losing. Now, Celtic are still way out in front, with Rangers and Aberdeen 12 points behind and Hearts in a position to leap-frog over both if they win against Falkirk on Monday. Dunfermline are at the other end of the SPL table, 3 points adrift from Motherwell.
Glasgow's Uefa Cup Final Logo
The logo to promote the Uefa Cup Final being staged at the National Stadium at Hampden, Glasgow, on May 16 next year, was unveiled at a special event this week. In addition to incorporating the image of the Uefa Cup, the wording "Glasgow 2007" uses a font inspired by one created by the Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The logo will be used by the media, sponsors and licencees to promote the event and will be seen by millions of football fans across the continent.
CIS Cup Quarter Finals
Celtic had hoped to win the "treble" this year, but fell at the low fence of the CIS Cup quarter-finals against Falkirk this week. The match ended 1-1 and in the Russian roulette of the penalty shoot-out, it was the Falkirk players who held their nerve to win 5-4. Kilmarnock showed why they are so far up the league table this season by defeating Motherwell 3-2 in a hard fought match. In the local Edinburgh Derby, Hibernian surprisingly defeated rivals Hearts 1-0. But it was St Johnstone's astonishing 2-0 defeat of Rangers at Ibrox that sent eye-brows up. Admittedly, Saints are pushing for promotion at the top of the First Division, so it's not quite in the same class as the time Berwick Rangers knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup. But the result, coming after the defeat of Rangers by Dundee United a few days earlier, prompted angry reaction from supporters. The semi-finals will be Kilmarnock v Falkirk and St Johnstone v Hibernian and will be played 30 and 31 January.
International Rugby Season Kicks off
The Scotland rugby manager expected the team to run up a cricket score (well, 60 points at least) against Romania in their first match of the international rugby season. Although it didn't quite reach that level, they had a comfortable 48-6 victory. More surprising, was the home defeat of the England rugby side by Argentina, with a score-line of 18-25.
Sports University for Scotland?
With the next election for the Scottish Parliament scheduled for next May, the political parties are trumpeting their ideas to improve the country (and ignoring the fact that these "new" policies never saw the light of day in the last 3/4 years). The First Minister has gained backing from his policy reform group for a government funded, dedicated sports university to help to nurture future stars. Currently, many of them have to take scholarships abroad or training centres in England. Some of the Scottish medalists at the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne trained at Loughborough University School of Sport & Exercise Sciences in England. Although all the Scottish universities would be invited to submit proposals, Stirling University (pictured here), which already has 5-star sports facilities, is likely to obtain a special role. The Stirling campus has already been selected as the headquarters for the Scottish Institute of Sport. But the proposals would see the creation of a "Scottish University of Sport" which would allow people with talent to pursue both academic and sporting courses.
Pirates Rescued by Shopping Centre
The Paisley Pirates ice hockey team have been saved from sinking as a result of reaching an agreement to use an ice rink at the Brahead Shopping Centre in nearby Renfrew. The team, along with many other ice sports enthusiasts were left with nowhere to play when the Lagoon rink in Paisley was forced to close for health and safety reasons. The Pirates play in the Scottish National League and would have folded if a venue for their matches had not been found. The Braehead arena is having to invest £100,000 so that it can be quickly transformed from the ice rink back to a normal surface for other events such as basketball, tennis and indoor pop concerts.