Aberdeen Athletes Take Belfast By Storm.
Aberdeen City, Featured, News, Sport No Responses »
By Charlie Abel.
Aberdeen's own National Karate Institute had more than just the luck of the Irish behind them on their recent trip to the Emerald Isle. Dedication and perseverance paid off.
They were representing the city on the world stage during the Belfast Open World Karate Championships held in Northern Ireland, on 29th of April 2018.
While many of us folks back home were tucking into our Sunday lunches and firing up the barbecues the Aberdeen athletes were burning off the calories and fighting their way through some really tough competition to win a staggering 34 medals.
The self-funded NKI enjoyed some great results bringing home 12 gold medals against fierce competition from the Irish and other countries. There were 16 different Karate Federations taking part.
Team coach and chief NKI instructor Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) (O.B.E. & Order of The Rising Sun) said:
"Our team were outstanding. I'm absolutely delighted! It's a fantastic result. All the team have been training really hard, some since the age of 7. To get so many medals against such fierce and overwhelming competition from around the world is remarkable.
"We were heavily outnumbered and underfunded, but these results show we were not out-classed.
"For such a small club from a small country we proved we have what it takes, against all odds, and I am so proud we can deliver for Aberdeen and Scotland.
"It goes to show that Karate training really brings the best out of people. All our students were first class in my eyes. Medals or not. "
Invitations for the NKI squad to perform and teach Karate have been coming in from around the world.
The NKF squad are back in training now and are aiming for success at the next festival, The International Karate Festival, which they will host themselves in Aberdeen this Summer.
Anyone interested in training Karate should call Aberdeen 734607 for more information.
The club meet in Aberdeen, Cults and Inverurie.
Ronnie Watt adds:
"We are always keen to attract new members of all ages."
Gold 12 Silver 15 Bronze 7 Total 34 Medals!!
Individual Senior Kata, Br/Black:
3rd – Grant Conroy.
Team Kata U14 Male Female Mixed:
1st – Kai Dark, Sophie Johnston, Nikita Kevra.
Individual Kumite, 14-U16, -57kg:
3rd – Benedict Bruce.
Individual Kumite Cadets, Male 16-U18, 65kg+ :
2nd – Connor Davidson.
Team Kumite Men Seniors:
2nd – Stuart Odell, Curtis Thornton, Ian Wallace.
Individual Senior Women Kata, Br/Black:
1st – Nissara Kirk.
2nd – Chloe Calder.
Team Kata Cadets Female:
1st – Yasmin Parsa, Leah Provan, Charlotte Walker.
Individual Kumite Cadets, Female 14-U16, -55kg:
1st – Yasmin Parsa.
3rd – Keira Cormack.
2nd – Leah Provan.
Team Kumite Female Cadets:
2nd – Yasmin Parsa, Leah Provan, Charlotte Walker:
Individual Kata, 5-U14, Br/Blk:
3rd – Kai Dark.
Team Kumite Seniors Female:
2nd – Chloe Calder, Nissara Kirk, Emma Stuart.
Senior Women Team Kata:
1st – Nissara Kirk, Chloe Calder, Emma Stewart.
Senior Female Ippon:
3rd – Nissara Kirk.
Individual Cadet Kata, 14-U18, White – Orange:
2nd – Keira Cormack.
Individual Kata, 5-U10, Green – Purple:
1st – Cameron Smith.
3rd – Harry proud.
Individual Kumite Female Seniors, +63kg:
2nd – Emma Stuart.
Individual Kumite Female Seniors, -63Kg:
Posted by Editor at 18:23 Tagged with: Aberdeen, Arts, Belfast, Bronze, Championship, Competition, Cults, Gold, Institute, International, Inverurie, Ireland, Karate, Martial, Medals, National, Self Defence, Silver, Sport, training
First In Quality Award For City Sports Facility
Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »
With thanks to Yvette Rayner, PR Account Manager, Frasermedia Ltd.
An Aberdeen sports facility is the first in Scotland to achieve the highest possible standard in the leading UK sports and leisure quality scheme.
Aberdeen Sports Village, which is based on the city's Linksfield Road, is the first facility in Scotland to have passed the toughest assessment offered by Sport Scotland's leading national quality scheme, Quest.
Quest is the best-known improvement programme within the leisure industry and its rigorous assessments challenge all leading leisure centres in the UK.
ASV has achieved Quest Stretch, which is only available to high performing centres, and is the highest possible achievement.
In order to qualify for a Quest Stretch assessment, centres must have been rated 'Excellent' in their previous Quest assessment. To achieve the top award, ASV went through a two-day assessment plus a mystery visit. To make the process even tougher, managers were not informed when the assessor or mystery visitor would be arriving.
ASV was particularly commended by Quest on its programme for older people, Evergreens, which helps participants remain active for longer, as well as its opportunities for children and disabled people.
Duncan Sinclair, CEO for ASV, said:
"Everyone at ASV is dedicated to providing the best service and facilities for all of our customers. We are delighted to achieve this award, as it is a testament of the high standards we strive to provide.
"Quest is an ongoing programme, which looks not just at our customer service but also the important work we do developing sporting opportunities in the community. Congratulations to all staff and volunteers at ASV, this award is very well deserved."
Quest's operations director, Caroline Constantine, said:
"Quest Stretch is the highest accreditation that can be achieved and as such it is an extremely demanding process. By meeting Quest Stretch's very high standards, ASV has shown its commitment to providing quality facilities and service to its customers. In these tough economic times it is more important than ever that local leisure facilities can demonstrate their value, and Quest Stretch accreditation helps them do just that."
Posted by Editor at 02:12 Tagged with: Aberdeen, Activity, ASV, Award, Children, Disabled, Elderly, Exercise, Fitness, Health, Leisure, Sport, Village
Lonach Highlander In Step For Great Run
Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport No Responses »
With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates.
George Reid (foreground with green jacket) dressed in his Lonach Highlanders outfit.
One of the runners taking part in this Sunday's inaugural Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run will have one of the most unusual warm-up routines of any participant.
George Reid of Tomatin will take part in a six-mile march and a four-mile hill race the day before he competes in the Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run 10k race.
The 63-year-old is a member of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, which holds its annual Highland Gathering and Games on Saturday, 26 August in the Aberdeenshire village of Bellabeg.
The event features the unique march of the Lonach Highlanders, a six-mile march through picturesque Strathdon that continues a near 200-year tradition.
Dressed in full Highland regalia and armed with an eight-foot long pike, George will join around 170 other men as they visit a number of local properties where they toast the health of the owners and the local area.
With a membership numbering 227 men, the Lonach Highlanders are believed to be the largest body of non-military men to carry ceremonial weapons in Britain. Clad in tartan, with pikes aloft, banners flying and led by a pipe band, the Highlanders create one of the most iconic cultural spectacles in north-east Scotland.
Getting underway at 8am on Saturday morning, the march precedes the Lonach Highland Gathering, which commences at 12 noon and features piping, highland dancing, tug o' war, children's races and light and heavy athletics events.
Having marched six miles and enjoyed a hearty lunch, George will join a field of around 100 runners of all ages to compete in the event's hill race. Runners interested in participating in the race, which is free to enter and features a £75 first prize, can enter on the day.
The challenging four-mile off-road course features a steep ascent as it winds its way round the hillside forest. It's a course that George knows well, having competed in the race 17 times, winning the competition for Lonach Society members six times.
For a man who has completed a number of marathons, ultra-marathons and is a member of Triathlon Inverness, the Saturday march and hill race will be ideal preparation for the Great Aberdeen Run, which he will run in his Lonach Highlanders uniform.
"I started running about 19 year ago and haven't really stopped. I run about four times a week and love it. I've covered all sorts of distances, including marathons in Edinburgh, London and Dublin, the 53-mile Highland Fling ultra and the 50-mile Highland Cross duathlon.
"It's brilliant to see the Great Aberdeen Run taking place and I'm looking forward to being part of it. A 10k run round Aberdeen will be a superb way to end the weekend. The Lonach Gathering is a fantastic day out and a stirring spectacle, one which I've been part of for the past 47 years. Lonach is the ideal warm-up for the Great Aberdeen Run and an event that I'd encourage visitors to the north-east to attend."
The Lonach Highland Gathering and Games takes place in the Aberdeenshire village of Bellabeg, which is around an hour's drive from Aberdeen. Events on the Highland Games field get underway at 12noon, with the Lonach Highlanders marching round the arena at 1pm and 3pm. Tickets are priced from £10 for adults and £4 for children.
Established in 1823, by Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Baronet of Newe and Edinglassie, the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society is a charitable organisation based in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire.
The society organises the annual Lonach Gathering at Bellabeg Park, Strathdon, which is held on the fourth Saturday of August. The main attraction at the gathering is the march of the Lonach Highlanders, a unique body of non-military men. Further information on the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, the Lonach Highlanders and the annual Lonach Highland Gathering can be found at www.lonach.org.
Posted by Editor at 23:34 Tagged with: 10k, Aberdeen, Community, Culture, Entertainment, Funding, Games, Highland, History, Lonach, Run, Tradition
National Success For Aberdeen Elite Swimmers
Aberdeen's performance swimming team is celebrating after an impressive end of season medal haul, leading to 14 swimmers being called onto national squads.
The University of Aberdeen Performance Swimming (UOAPS), led by Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Games coach Patrick Miley, is a partnership between Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Swimming and the University of Aberdeen and seven of the city's swimming clubs.
The ambitious programme, which was established to build on the city's previous success with David Carry, Robbie Renwick and Hannah Miley, has seen early results, with swimmers bringing home an unprecedented collection of 12 medals at this year's British Summer Championships.
In previous years, only a few swimmers from Aberdeen have qualified to be invited to the important end of season event, which invites swimmers ranked in the top 24 in their event. However, in July, 30 athletes from UOAPS headed to Sheffield. The successful squad included swimmers as young as 13, with an impressive podium display of three golds, three silvers, and six bronze medals.
Rosie Morgan, 14, of Aberdeen won her first gold medal at the UK-wide competition, while fellow Aberdonian, Gaia Alcaras, 15, took home one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
As a result of this season's success, 14 swimmers from Aberdeen have been invited to join the Scottish national squads, which will result in additional training and support for the potential champions.
Joining the 2017/18 Scottish national squad, which was announced this week, will be UOAPS swimmers Orla Adams, Fraser Agnew, Gaia Alcaras, Andrew Arthur, Thomas Beeley, Caroline McIntosh, Hannah Miley, Rosie Morgan, Connor Morrison, Yasmin Perry, Rebecca Reid, Anya Slessor, Jessica Thomson and Cameron Travis.
Mr Miley said:
"After just a few months, we have seen a tremendous change in the swimmers, resulting in much deserved medal wins. Taking 30 swimmers along to the championships for the first time made a real difference, as we had a fantastic team spirit, which really adds to the confidence of each individual performer.
"The swimmers have been training really hard, and everyone could feel the confidence growing with each new Aberdeen medal in Sheffield. We have been working on detailed training programmes, with every swimmer dedicating themselves to improving their performance. We have focused on a culture of success, and it was wonderful to see the results of our hard work on the podium at one of the most important meets in the country."
"The UOAPS programme has high ambitions, and it is working. Aberdeen was very well represented in Sheffield, and the outstanding medal haul is something to be proud of. Having a group of people dedicated to developing the very best athletes is a real benefit to the city and we hope to see this success continue into the next season.
"The aim of UOAPS is to produce the best, and with 14 young people representing Aberdeen in the Scottish national squads, and look forward to competing at Commonwealth and Olympic level, the programme is more than meeting its objectives."
Councillor Jenny Laing, leader of Aberdeen City Council, said:
"Aberdeen City Council has made a significant investment in high performance swimming to help ensure that elite talent stays and is nurtured within the city. It is hugely encouraging to see that investment paying off at such an early stage with the team's successful performance at the British Summer Championships. I am sure that this is just the beginning of what we and our partners hope will be an amazing success story in establishing Aberdeen as a major centre for elite swimming."
University of Aberdeen Principal, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, said:
"The team's performance at the British Summer Championships demonstrates the level of talent we are developing here in Aberdeen as part of this ambitious programme.
"Their impressive medal tally is not only a testament to the swimmers themselves, but to the dedicated coaching staff headed by Patrick Miley. On this form I expect the team to enjoy continued success, and I wish them all the best for the season ahead."
Medal winners:
Gaia Alcaras, 15, gold, women's open 400m IM; silver, women's open 200m IM; bronze, women's open 100m butterfly
Orla Adams, 22, bronze, women's open 400m IM; bronze, women's open 200m breaststroke
Kirsty Simpson, 21, silver, women's open 100m backstroke
Thomas Beeley, 18, gold, men's open 200m butterfly; bronze, men's open 100m butterfly
Yasmin Perry, 16, bronze, women's open 50m butterfly (16 yrs)
Connor Morrison, 20, silver, men's MC 100m breaststroke
Aberdeen Performance A team, bronze, women's 17 years/over 4 x 200m free team
Rosie Morgan, 14, gold, women's open 100m free
Posted by Editor at 23:33 Tagged with: Aberdeen, Athletics, City, Council, Education, Employment, Event, Sport, Swimming, University, Village, Youth
City Ice Hockey Team Supports Charlie House
With thanks to Yvette Rayner, PR Account Manager, Frasermedia.
Aberdeen's premier ice hockey team has pledged to support a local children's charity during its upcoming season.
The Aberdeen Lynx Ice Hockey Team, the second most supported sports team in the city, will be fundraising for Charlie House throughout the 2017/2018 season.
Charlie House is an Aberdeen-based charity that engages in activities and projects to support children with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions.
It also provides practical and emotional support to families from diagnosis onwards, helping the transition home after a long stay in hospital and onwards through their life journey.
Players and committee members of the Aberdeen Lynx, which is a not-for-profit organisation, plan to organise fundraising events for Charlie House throughout the season, this will include a charity ice hockey game, plus various raffles and competitions.
Charlie House will also have an article in the Lynx programme, whilst its logo will feature prominently on all players' and supporters' replica tops for the season.
Chairperson of Aberdeen Lynx Ice Hockey Club, Martin Hill, said:
"The Lynx are very proud to be partnering with Charlie House, as this will enable the charity to continue providing vital support for local children and their families affected by life-limiting conditions.
"We have been busy thinking up new and exciting ways for the Lynx to raise as much money as possible for Charlie House, as we are extremely passionate about getting behind worthy causes."
Dr. Sorcha Hume, general manager of Charlie House, said:
"We are delighted to be selected as the charity partner for the Aberdeen Lynx Ice Hockey Club. A number of our families attended matches last season, after the team donated tickets, and had a fabulous time. As many of our families' children have complex needs, it can be very difficult for them to enjoy a day out as a sporting event, as the access, equipment, and support they require can be substantial and sometimes it is just not possible.
"The Lynx team and management ensured everything was in place for our families to have the best possible time and for that we are very grateful. As a charity we depend on fundraising and partnerships to enable us to deliver the best possible support to our families. These funds will go towards the support of our everyday activities, such as our clubs and days out, so this new partnership is invaluable. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Aberdeen Lynx to the Charlie House family."
Posted by Editor at 20:56 Tagged with: Aberdeen, Charity, Charlie, Disability, Fundraising, House, Ice Hockey, Lynx, Sport
Light Shed On Aboyne Games Mystery
Aberdeenshire, History, Sport 1 Response »
Massed pipe bands at Aboyne Highland Games
For decades, a mysterious figure from the past has looked out from the minutes of the inaugural meeting of Aboyne Highland Games. Now, a century and a half on from that meeting, today's committee has finally been able to put a name to the person who in 1867 held the title of Lord Provost of Aboyne.
As part of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Aboyne Highland Games, the committee embarked on a project to identify the event's founding fathers.
In July 1867, 20 men met in Aboyne's Huntly Arms Hotel to discuss the possibility of staging the Royal Deeside town's first highland games. Within weeks their vision was a reality as several thousand spectators gathered to watch proceedings on Aboyne Green.
Next month, on Saturday, 05 August, a century and a half on, those scenes will be recreated on the town's green as crowds watch today's competitors vie for honours in light and heavy athletics, highland dancing, piping and fiddling. The event's success and appeal ensures it continues to be a highlight of the Royal Deeside summer events calendar.
Thanks to the work of Aberdeen and North-East Scotland Family History Society, a picture of each of these pioneering men has now been created. The professions of the men forming that first committee included a doctor, an innkeeper, a leather merchant, a flesher (butcher), a carpenter, a blacksmith, a wood merchant, a shoemaker, a gamekeeper, a railway porter, two masons and at least five farmers.
The most intriguing entry in the list of attendees was simply given as the Lord Provost of Aboyne, who was noted to have chaired the meeting. The title was most likely ceremonial as Aboyne was not a royal burgh, only a burgh of barony. For this reason, no official council records of Aboyne Town Council are held as part of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives.
A newspaper article was to prove crucial in unmasking this eminent figure. The Aberdeen Journal of May, 22 1867 carried a story in which the identity of the Lord Provost of Aboyne was confirmed as a Mr William Mackintosh. This matched the name that was signed at the end of the minute of the first meeting and not listed elsewhere in those minutes.
Kyle Randalls competing at the 2016 Aboyne Highland Games.
Born in early 1830 in the Inverness-shire parish of Daviot and Dunlichity, William Mackintosh was working as an officer of the Inland Revenue in Aboyne at the time of the 1861 census. Following the death of his first wife in 1862, he married Mary Symon in 1864 with whom he had six children. He worked as a general merchant in Aboyne for a number of years before moving to Aberdeen to work as an insurance agent, dying in the city in May 1898.
Amongst the other founding committee members were local GP Dr Alexander Keith, world-renowned highland games competitor Donald Dinnie and his younger brother Lubin.
The proprietor of the town's Huntly Arms Inn, Charles Cook, local farmers James Esson of Dess, William Grant of Mill of Coull and David Cooper from Glen Tanar, and blacksmith Alexander Gray were also among the group who helped to establish the games.
A fixture of Aboyne Highland Games, where the contribution different families have made to the local area is celebrated, is the clan village, which each year features 10 Scottish clans. This year the clans that will be represented are Burnett, Cochran, Findlay, Forbes, Fraser, Gordon, Hay, Leask, Leslie and Strachan. Aberdeen and North-East Scotland Family History Society will also be on hand to provide advice and assistance to those looking to research their own family history.
The Burnett clan will have one of the largest presences in the clan village at Aboyne Highland Games. Around 200 clan members are travelling to the north-east from around the world as part of a week-long programme of events that forms the clan's regular gathering.
Those visitors will be among the 10,000 spectators who annually attend Aboyne Highland Games, making it one of north-east Scotland's most popular traditional summer events. Locals and visitors will be able to toast the event's success with a commemorative whisky – a 14-year-old Longmorn bourbon cask. Each of the 292 bottles has its own individually numbered certificate.
Alistair Grant, chairman of Aboyne Highland Games, said:
"The Lord Provost of Aboyne has intrigued us for many years and it is great to finally learn a little more about this mysterious figure, and also the other gents who helped establish the games. We are very grateful to Aberdeen and North-East Scotland Family History Society for their assistance.
"The group has done a fantastic job researching some of the family history of the founding committee, identifying where they lived, their occupations and naming their direct descendants. When you look at their professions, these men had important roles to play in the local community and would have been held in high regard.
"Our 150th anniversary is set to be a special day and is being marked in a number of ways. A book containing old pictures and the public's memories of the games is being created, an anniversary whisky is being bottled and pole vaulting is making a return to programme. It will be great to once again see Aboyne Green come to life on games day and we look forward to welcoming visitors from far and wide to help us celebrate our anniversary."
Bottles of the 150th Aboyne Highland Games anniversary whisky, which retail at £49.95, can be purchased from the Aboyne branch of Strachan's of Royal Deeside.
Founded in 1867, Aboyne Highland Games is a traditional Scottish highland games held annually on the first Saturday in August.
The Aberdeenshire event, held under the patronage of Granville Gordon, the 13th Marquis of Huntly, attracts crowds of up to 10,000 people each year. Featuring a programme of traditional highland games events, including highland dancing, tossing the caber and piping, the event on the town's green attracts visitors from around the world and makes an important contribution to the local Deeside economy.
Further information on Aboyne Highland Games can be found at www.aboynegames.com.
Posted by Editor at 23:40 Tagged with: Aboyne, Entertainment, Family, Games, Highland, History, Sport, Tourism, Tradition
Historic Athletics Timepiece On Display At ASV
Aberdeen athletics coaches gathered at a leading sports facility this week to celebrate the work of an early 20th century sporting official at a unique historical presentation.
Aberdeen Sports Village, based on Linksfield Road, held the opening ceremony in honour of the work of Andrew Ross Scott (A R Scott), a former Scottish Athletics judge.
Mr Scott's great grandson, Andrew Walker, visited Aberdeen Sports Village with his wife, Hilary, to see the display featuring A R Scott's original timepiece, a unique athletics record book, and the medal awarded to Mr Scott by Queen Alexandra, at the 1908 Olympic Games in London.
Mr Scott was a Scottish Athletics official for over 15 years, taking on the role of president of the organisation in 1903. The Summer Olympics of 1908 was to take place in Rome, but due to an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the venue was changed to London, with each of the UK nation's supplying officials.
The final of the 400m was declared void due to elbowing, and the final was rerun with only one runner, after the other athletes refused to take part. Wyndham Halswelle, a Scot, ran the race to win gold, becoming the only athlete ever to win an Olympic gold medal by a walker. A Ross Scott was one of the judges for the rerun.
Mr Walker was given his great grandfather's memorabilia by his mother, and approached a current Scottish Athletics coach, Alex McGregor to find the best way to display the unique pieces. Mr McGregor decided to approach ASV, having run on the original Linksfield Stadium ash track as a boy over 60 years ago.
Several seasoned officials from Aberdeen Athletics Club met Mr Walker to hear the unusual story, which is now on display in a specially produced pod at ASV.
Duncan Sinclair, CEO ASV, said:
"The story of A Ross Scott and Wyndham Halleswelle is unique, and so we are delighted to display the beautiful timepiece, book and medal at our facility. It is fascinating to hear about sporting endeavour from over one hundred years ago, and it was a great pleasure to meet with so many experienced judges and coaches who came to welcome Mr Walker to Aberdeen."
Mr Walker commented:
"The display pod is everything I could have wished for. My mother and my great grandfather would be very proud to be part of this tremendous facility, encouraging young people to achieve their best."
Posted by Editor at 00:04 Tagged with: Aberdeen, Athletics, City, Council, Education, Employment, History, Sport, Village
Aberdeen FC Season 2016/17 – Fin Hall Reviews
Opinion, Sport No Responses »
By Red Fin Hall.
Well that's another season over, and what a season it was. Stretching back to 26th June last year when Aberdeen travelled to Brechin for a friendly, ahead of first competitive game in the Europa Cup at home to Fola Esch of Luxembourg, ending last Saturday with the epic and exciting Scottish Cup final against Celtic.
Nobody expected The Dons to get as close to being victorious in that final as they did.
This team, started by Craig Brown and moulded by Derek McInnes, has finally come to a crossroads, with Ash Taylor, Ryan Jack and Nial Mcginn, three first team regulars all looking for new clubs, and Peter Pawlett already signed for M.K.Dons. Rumours abound on social media about the future of Jonny Hayes and Derek McInnes, with Celtic and Sunderland seemingly interested in being their next employers.
It wouldn't take much for these rumours to be squashed with an official statement from the club.
This has been our most successful season without winning anything since Willie Miller was manager, but this time the future looks rosier, with the prospective of further finals and perhaps progressing past the qualifying rounds of the Europa League a distinct possibility.
The main stream media though are having none of it, doing their usual speculating and writing us off because "The Rangers" will be busy in the transfer market and Hibs will be back in the SPFL.
Also, the fact that we have lost so many players and only, so far, having signed Greg Tansey, means we will be weaker. But The Rangers will be in a bigger transition period than the Dons, if stories are to believed, with more than half their team being kicked out, or should I say, released. Their manager has already stated that he wants to bring in players he knows; and if this is true, then their is a greater chance they will be Portuguese with no knowledge of the Scottish game.
Aberdeen have been pretty consistent all season long with only the occasional lapse of form, none more so than the League Cup final against Celtic where the players went into the match on a great run of nine wins out of ten, the only loss being to Celtic.
Bad luck played it's part too, especially the away match to League survivors, Hamilton, in February of this year. Aberdeen had well over 20 corners, but couldn't put the ball into the home team's net and cancal out an 8th minute goal by Mikey Devlin. The Hamilton captain is a player that, apparently, McInnes is keen on.
Although Aberdeen had little chance of catching up with the champions, they have been in scintillating form. It was widely expected that the gap between the Dons and The Rangers, who finished in third place, would have been much closer.
However, it could have been wider had it not been for a few silly draws and especially those crazy 10 minute spells in our last three home games. Firstly, against The Rangers, we conceded 3 goals in that period despite being the dominant team throughout the match. The following home game, and the first after the split, saw us go to sleep for a few minutes, allowing St Johnstone to put two past us.
Thirteen days later visitors, Celtic were 3 goals up in the first 11 minutes. However, Jonny Hayes' 12th minute goal was a vital turning point. The players seemed to finally realise how good they were, and made the Celtic defence work harder than they had domestically all season, pushing them all the way. Away romps and consecutive victories against the other two Glasgow clubs, saw the team go into the final in fine fettle and full of confidence.
Well, we all know what happened there, so no further analysis is needed other than, perhaps, the manager's choice of substitutes.
In my opinion, the decisions to bring on Rooney (our top scorer, but a bit one dimensional at times) and replacing McGinn (a player that rarely plays his best in the big games, but still gives us width) with O'Connor, a midfielder, instead of Scott Wright (who scored a hat trick at Partick Thistle, and a natural keen and pacey replacement for the Northern Irishman) remain questionable.
It is pleasing that the supporters are still buzzing and confident and fully behind the team, and anxious for July to come around.
All in all, it has been a satisfactory season, and with the first game in the Europa League not taking place until July, this will be the first time since 2015 that the team have had a month without playing a game.
Unless a friendly is arranged in June that is.
Posted by Editor at 01:11 Tagged with: 2016/17, Aberdeen, AFC, Club, Cup, Dons, Football, League, Pittodrie, Premiership, Review, Scottish, Season
Podium Placings For North-East Wrestlers
Aberdeenshire, Sport No Responses »
With thanks to Clare Scott, Communications Consultant, CJS Communication & Marketing.
A long trip south proved more than worthwhile for a group of north-east wrestlers, with several among their number ascending all the way to the medallists' podium.
Wrestlers from Oldmeldrum-based V Wrestling Academy won a number of medals at the recent English Junior Wrestling Championships at Thames Valley Athletic Centre in Eton.
11-year-old Colby Taylor struck gold in the 41k category. His fellow club members Leon Etko and Erin Mortimer added to V Wrestling's medal haul taking silver and bronze in the 37k and 67k categories respectively.
There was further success for V Wrestling Academy in the Veterans' Championships, which took place over the same weekend. Club member Keith Mortimer returned to Aberdeenshire with a silver medal in the 90k category.
Head coach Vio Etko accompanied the team along with his fellow coach Nicolae Cojocaru.
"This was a long trip to make for some of our younger wrestlers but they certainly rose to the occasion.
"As well as showing commitment and focus while competing, they all demonstrated great team spirit and camaraderie. The medals are the icing on the cake of a really great developmental experience."
Leon Etko (12) repeated his silver medal success with a second placing in the 35k category of the recent International Tournament Calarasi Cup in Moldova.
Leon's achievement in Moldova replicates that of his father and coach Vio Etko, who won the silver medal 25 years prior in the same event.
V Wrestling Academy is based at ETKO Sports Academy in Oldmeldrum. Head coach Vio Etko is a seven-time British wrestling champion and the current Commonwealth Games bronze medal holder. He is also a former winner of Aberdeenshire Sport Council's Coach of the Year award.
Further information on V Wrestling Academy's coaching programmes is available by calling ETKO Sports Academy on 01651 873876.
Posted by Editor at 22:21 Tagged with: Academy, Competion, Education, Medal, Oldmeldrum, Sport, Tournament, Wrestling, Youth
ASV Events To Add £2million To City Economy
Duncan Sinclair, ASV CEO
A leading sports facility is forecast to bring over £2million to Aberdeen this year, as it welcomes high-profile national and international events. Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV), which is based on the city's Linksfield Road, is holding four national and international competitions in 2017, which are predicted to bring the significant economic boost
Each year, ASV holds over 200 events at the prestigious venue, from local festivals to international competitions, by working closely with community leaders and national sporting bodies.
The first of this year's prominent events, the Scottish National Age Groups Swimming Championships (SNAGS), took place at ASV at the end of March.
The event, one of the largest under 18 swimming event in the UK, brought an estimated £1million of economic benefit to the city. 1000 of the best swimmers in their age group competed, from over 90 clubs across the Scotland. For many, the prestigious event offered the chance to gain consideration times for the Commonwealth Youth Games, taking place in the Bahamas in July.
Netball Europe, which came to Aberdeen between 11-14 May, saw eight national and international teams compete in a series of matches, with spectator seats sold out for most matches. The four-day international under 21 championship featured 100 competitors from England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, as well as an open challenge section, introducing teams from Bermuda, Gibraltar, Israel and The Republic of Ireland.
ASV won the right to host Netball Europe after a sustained campaign by Aberdeen Sports Village and Netball Scotland, supported by VisitAberdeenshire.
In June, the British Masters and Senior Age Group Championships will be hosted at ASV's Aquatics Centre, featuring swimmers from the across the UK. Over 800 competitors will take advantage of ASV's impressive 50m pool, competing in a series of races, medleys and relays.
The busy swimming season culminates with the Scottish National Open Swimming Championship between 27 June and 2 July, showcasing the best of Scottish swimming, with over 300 current and future champions competing at ASV.
Duncan Sinclair, ASV CEO, said:
"ASV has been able to attract this year's national and international competitions by working closely with VisitAberdeenshire, Scottish Swimming and Netball Scotland. VisitAberdeenshire has calculated the swimming and netball events alone will bring an estimated £2million in financial benefit to Aberdeen, proving that leisure and tourism activities are a vital part of our local economy.
"The Aquatics Centre is now classed as an official Performance Centre by Scottish Swimming, as ASV can confidently deliver large, exciting swimming events.
"ASV is ideally placed to host high-profile competitions, and we are proud to welcome teams and their supporters from across the world to our outstanding facility."
ASV boasts a state-of-the-art gym, sports hall, indoor and outdoor athletics facilities, indoor football pitch, and a range of exercise classes, as well as the Aquatics Centre, which includes an Olympic standard 50m pool and 25m diving pool.
For more information, contact a member of the team at ASV on 01224 438900.
Posted by Editor at 02:08 Tagged with: Aberdeen, Athletics, City, Council, Economy, Education, Employment, Event, Netball, Sport, Swimming, Village, Volunteers, Youth