Merchistonian Sports News

RUGBY

Merchistonians v School Rugby Match - Tuesday 18 March 2008

The match was a huge success with a big Merchistonians squad, captained by Scotland Under 20s hooker Fraser Brown coming from behind to win against a Leavers XV by 22 points to 17. A late try from Fraser Brown (his 4th of the afternoon) was converted by Tom Rainey to ensure that the Merchistonians won the match. Earlier scores from Cameron Godfrey (x2) and Angus MacIlwraith (man of the match) gave the Leavers a slender 17-15 lead.
The quality and size of the Merchistonians with Scotland Under 20s Number 8 Jonathan Baird also outstanding proved too much and they probably just deserved the win.

SHOOTING

ANNUAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS VETERANS FULL BORE SHOOT, BISLEY

Once again, the annual public schools veterans full bore shoot took place at Bisley in July. Having had a very good turnout for the clays and .22 shoot, it was good to see that we were able to almost field two teams of five (first time in many years!)

The weather was very kind and the day started with an informal gathering prior to heading to the range. Once at the range, both teams were targeted beside each other and once kit was borrowed from other team members everyone had a shoot and enjoyed themselves. Although the B team only had four members, our A team did well being beaten to the winning post by Dollar and Glenalmond.

(Photo: L to R … Lewis Allen, Peter Hulme Cross, Andrew Moffat and Bob Allan)

Post shoot refreshments were taken in the form of a BBQ and some cold beers which ended a very enjoyable day. My thanks go to all who participated and especially to Mike Ferndale as team photographer. Those who turned out for the Vets included Iain Brechin, Bob Allan, Richard Macmillan, James Anderson, Neil Armstrong, Lewis Allen, Mike Ferndale, Andrew Moffat and Peter Hulme Cross.

As a side note, I would like to remind all those who don’t shoot on a regular basis that due to new rules/regulations the timings next year will be different. The reason for this is that all those who attend and are not members of a recognised club will have to participate in a practise shoot in order to be deemed competent prior to the Veterans match starting. This will mean meeting much earlier. I will obviously communicate timings etc once known next year.

Richard Macmillan

Shooting Secretary

richard@forbeslawson.co.uk

07801 334716

Merchistonians v School Shooting Match - Saturday 17 May 2008

Saturday was a great day and a very good turnout. The old boys managed to put together a full team of 8 which was the first time in years. It is good to see a few youngsters coming through and still interested in shooting.

The day started by meeting at 10am at Cluny Clays in Fife. Archie Hambling had arranged a sporting layout which involved shooting 25 clays over 5 different stands. The teams were split and contained two from the school and two old boys. The weather was a bit poor but the rain soon stopped when shooting began. The school fielded a fairly young team and unfortunately could not hold off the old boys who won. The school's score was 95 ex 200 with the top gun being Harry Ogilvie with 16 ex 25. The old boys score was 131 ex 200 with Richard Macmillan top gun on 23 ex 25.

After a brief trip down to Edinburgh, lunch was enjoyed at the school and we headed to the range for the shoulder to shoulder match. As most of the old boys had not shot for some years, confidence was not particulary high. This indeed was reflected in the scores with the old boys finishing on 684 ex 800 and the school winning on 702 ex 800. Top school shot was James Duncan on 96 with Iain Brechin and Richard Macmillan leading the old boys.

So honours were even on the day unless of course you add the two scores together and the old boys had a resounding victory!

Many thanks go to Archie Hambling for making the day run very smoothly.

The old boys team pic is made up from left to right of Iain Brechin, Charles Sampson, Bob Allan, Richard Macmillan, James Inkster, Alex Whalley, Lewis Allen & George Russell. 



Richard Macmillan
Shooting Secretary

GOLF: see separate pages

FISHING

The Merchistonian Fishing Outing to Fordoun Loch, near Auchterarder took place on Saturday 2nd June, attended by Fishing secretary, Charles Guest, David Robinson and his daughter Lucy, Donald Miller, RM Allan, Ben Ballantyne, Andrew McDonald and J Reith.

The total catch was as follows:

Rainbow Trout – 10 fish, total weight 24lb 11oz

Brown Trout – 7 fish, total weight 5lb 8oz

Total fish 17 with a total weight of 30lb 3oz

The largest Rainbow Trout was caught by Andrew McDonald and weighed in at 3lb 11oz, and the highlight of the day was David Robinson’s daughter, Lucy, catching her first Rainbow at 2lb 11oz.

Many thanks go to Charles Guest for organising such a successful event - anyone interested in participating in next year’s outing should contact Charles Guest at charles.guest@ryden.co.uk.

For details of the Trip to Morton Fishery, 16 August 2008 click the link to download the pdf document

FIVES

92 (School) - 97 (Merchistonians)

I am delighted to say that I have now managed to establish a pool of Merchistonian Fives players and I was able therefore to act as manager for this year's match against the school and put out a strong team to face a fit and very capable school team.

This was a terrific battle. The match was played in great spirit and Charles Swan and I witnessed a hugely exciting match which went right down to the wire. It had been nip and tuck throughout the whole game but James Welch and Andy Donaldson won their fourth game 15 - 2 which edged the old boys ahead. In the other court Ed Murray and Alan Glen fought for every point and doggedly took 22 points over the final two games off the school's hard hitting and talented first pair - a classy and big effort showing from our 'veterans'!!

With thanks to Charles as usual and to James, Andy, Ed and Alan for their efforts on court. I am hugely appreciative of the efforts made to attend as well.

As always I am keen to hear from Merchistonians who would like to get the gloves on again. Please get in touch - ramstane@btopenworld.com or 07771854881

Ali Turner
Fives Secretary

CURLING 2008

At last Merchistonians clicked as a rink, having lost our two previous games in the early part of the season, and against Aberdeen GSFP on 24 January we ran out easy winners 11 shots to 3.  On 7 February against Old Glenalmond, Gerry Watson skipped, where a tight game was just edged by Old Glenalmond, who won 6 shots to 5.  Merchistonians however did win more ends the count being 5 ends to 3. 

The match against the School took place on 26 February at Murrayfield Icerink.   On this occasion we did not have a formal match, but mixed both groups so that 2 boys and 2 Merchistonians, were in each of the 4 rinks. Honours ended even with Grant Hardie skipping for the boys, winning. The McMillans father and son squared off as skips in the other game, father winning that one. We had a meal afterwards with traditional curling socialising.  As this fixture is usually played in Edinburgh (unlike our other games) perhaps Edinburgh based curling Merchistonians might make themselves known to me for next year, and play against the school.

Bill Hannay - william.hannay@onetel.net

CRICKET

This year's Merchistonian Cricket Match took place on Saturday 24 May 2008. Report to follow shortly.

James Holroyd

TENNIS

Merchistonians wishing to play tennis should contact John Robb John.Robb@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

This year's Merchistonian v School Tennis Match took place on Saturday 24 May 2008 with the School winning 5-4. This was a close call and the standard of both the School and Merchistonians was very impressive.