SPORT LIST

SL9!“

The List selection at the best in sporting events overthe next fortnight. Sport is listed first by event and then byday.

ATHLETICS Saturday 28

I Scottish Universities Athletics Championships Wishaw Sports Centre. Wishaw. 10.15am—Spm. Eventsinclude throwing the curry. jumping into bed and running with the grant cheque. All rounded off with the traditional speed-cleaning of the flat before your folks arrive.

Sunday29

I SAAA 10km Road Race Crownpoint Sports Park, Crownpoint Road. Glasgow. Noon. A large entry is expected from Scotland‘s leading clubs. There is also a fun run (3km), beginning at 11am. for those not yet up to the longerone.

BASKETBALL Friday 20—Sunday 22

I British Championships Kelvin Hall. Glasgow. Fri 6pm & 8pm, Sat & Sun 2pm & 4pm. A somewhat misleading title as the four teams involved are Scotland. England, Ireland and Denmark! Yes. those basketball playing Scandinavians are in with an outside chance of liftingthe British Championships, after Wales dropped out. However. the winner is most likely to be decided on Saturday at 4pm, when Scotland plav England.

CRICKET Tuesday1 May

I Scotland v Essex Hamilton Crescent. Glasgow, 041 339 0688. 11am. Scotland‘s record in the Benson and Hedges Tournament has been similar to our record in the football World Cup. we‘ve been involved all right but never really got anywhere. This summer. of course. both records may change, but. more likely they won‘t. However. last year a bumper crowd for the nation‘s opening fixture gave Scottish Cricket quite a shot in the arm and this season there is even more reason to expect a good turnout with the resumption of sparring between Gooch (Essex) and Greenidge (Scotland). both recently returned from the West Indies, providing the main attraction in this one-day match.

FOOTBALL

Saturday 21 PREMIER LEAGUE

I Celtic v Dundee Celtic Park. Gallowgatc. Glasgow. Celtic will be h0ping to overcome their defensive shortcomings before facing the Dons in the Cup Final. They maintained some hope for their supporters by surviving the Semi-Final against Clydebank. whose fans it would appear have difficulty packing out a phone box never mind the Rangers‘ End at Hampden. Meanwhile. Dundee are staring at the big drop again. The last time they went down however. in 1980. it took them only a year to bounce back.

I Dundee Utd v Bangers Tannadice Park, Tannadice Street. Dundee. Rangers have

NOT SO GRAND $.-

Enjoying a flutter on the Grand National begins to take on a rather darker side when it dawns on you that there is a possibility your selection could end up as dogmeat. That was the late that betell backers oi Roll AJolnt and Hungary Hur, both killed in last week’s Aintree race.

Roll A Joint won last year's Scottish Grand National at Ayr, an altogether saier affair. At just over4 miles, the race is still a tough test at stamina, but the fences are a lot kinderthan their , Aintree equivalents.

Entries for the Scottish National on 21

April tend to be limited by the fact that it follows Aintree so closely. Nevertheless Welsh National winner Bonanza Boy is a possible runner, and well worth investing in it the ground softens up. Cavvies Clown is perhaps a more reliable tip. A safe jumper, his only fault is a tendency to dawdle at the

start, admiring the scenery. He ran up a useiul string oi victories a couple oi seasons ago, albeit under a cloud after a positive dope test.

The Scottish National is the culmination of an impressive-looking tour-day card, starting with two days tlat racing on the Wednesday and Thursday, and including the Scottish Champion Hurdle on the Friday. Admission prices at Ayr are among the cheapest in the country, but for those who prefer to see their fancies trailing home last from the comfort oi an armchair, Channel Fourwill be providing coverage oi the Friday and Saturday races. Cavvies Clown will do torme, butdon’ttell youririends. (Tom

Lappin)

Scottish Grand National. Ayr

racecourse Saturday 21 April 4.05pm.

retained the title but Jim McLean‘s men have nothing to lose that's right. they've lost it all already. Hence, a home win may give United‘s Mr Smilee less to moan about. but not much less.

I Hearts v Aberdeen Tynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. It'sthe unofficial play-off for second place behind Souness‘s lot. Aberdeen found some of their best form when they demolished Dundee United in the Semi-Final here a week ago. However. Hearts are desperate to get back into Europe and will settle for nothing less than second place in the League.

I Motherwell v Ribs Fir Park. Motherwell. ‘Well. once known as ‘an attacking team who sometimes win corners‘ have recently become known as ‘an attacking team who sometimes win fights‘.

I St Mirren v Duntermline Love Street. Paisley.

FIRST DIVISION

I Airdrie V Raith Rovers Broomfield. Airdrie.

I Clydebank v Morton Kilbowie Park. Clydebank.

I Hamilton v Albion Rovers Douglas Park. Hamilton.

I Falklrkaortar Brockville. Falkirk.

I Meadowbank Thistle v Ayr United Meadowbank Stadium. London Road. Edinburgh.

I Partlck Thistle vAlloa Firhill. Firhill Road. Glasgow.

SECOND DIVISION

I East Stirling v Montrose Firs Park. Firs Street. Falkirk. The Shire had adramatic reversal of their fortunes recently. they won a game. Unfortunately, the heady excitement of victory may prove to much for them to bear.

I Kilmarnock v Queen of the South Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. Time for Tommy (Burns) and co to leave the Second?

I Queen’s Park v Berwick Rangers Hampan Park. Glasgow.

I Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir Annfield, Stirling.

Saturday 28

PREMIER LEAGUE

I Dundee Utd V Hearts Tannadice Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee.

I Hibs V Dundee Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh.

I Motherwell v Celtic Fir Park. Motherwell.

I Rangers v Duntermline Ibrox Stadium. Glasgow. The Ibrox faithful get achance to salute the league-winners.

FIRST DIVISION

I Alloa Athletic v Clydebank Recreation Park. Alloa.

I Albion Rovers v PartickThistle Cliftonhill, Coatbridge.

I Ayr Utd V St Johnstone Somerset Park. Somerset Road. A yr.

I Clyde v Meadowbank Thistle Firhill. Firhill Road. Glasgow.

I Morton v Airdrie (‘appielow Park. Greenock.

SECOND DIVISION

I Cowdenbeath V E Stirling Central Park. Cowdenbeath.

I Dumbarton v Stirling Albion Boghead. Dumbarton.

DERE— Thursday 18—Saturday 21

I Ayr Races Ayr Racecourse. Whitletts Road. Ayr. Club £10, Paddock £5. Carrick Stand concessions £1. A big

four-day meeting containing the Scottish Grand National. See panel.

Sunday 24-Tuesday 24

I Perth Races Scone Palace Park, Perth, 0683 20131 . Paddock £10. Grandstand £6. ground £2. The first race is at 3.30pm on Sunday and 2.30pm on the other days.

ICE SKATING

Sunday24

I Scottish Ice Skating Championships Murrayfield Ice Rink. Edinburgh. (I31 337 (i933. 9am—(v3llpm. Individual championships, that is Robin Cousins-style rather than Torvill and Dean-style skating. only not to the same standard.

Saturday 28—Sunday 29

I Letts Scottish Judo Open Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road. Edinburgh. International light-weights compete on Saturday and the heavies on Sunday. Both days' throwing will commence at 9.30am.

Saturday 21

I Challenge Bouts The Hub Community Education Centre. Kilbowie Park. Clydebank. 8pm. £3. After the first bout of Kick-Boxing’s success at Bellahouston last month another ten bouts have been arranged. just for kicks. There will also be several demonstrations of a variety of martial arts and a licensed bar.

RUGBY Saturday 21

I Peebles Sevens Hay Lodge Park. Peebles. 1.3(i—o.3()pm. £1.50Withthe Leagues all wrapped up. it's the seasonof the sevens' tournaments. At Peebles. sixteen teams including Haddington. Watsonians. Gala YM. Peebles. Heriots, Walkcrburn. Melrosc. Edinburgh Accies. Mtisselburgh attd Stewarts-Melville will compete for the Thorburn Trophy.

Saturday 28

I Scotland U19 v Wales U19 Millbrae. Ayr. 1.30pm.

I Scotland U21 v Wales U21 Millbrac. Ayr. 3.15pm. A cltance for disconsolate Welsh rugby fans to look for future hope.

SPEEDWAY Sunday22

I Edinburgh Monarchs v Hackney Kestrels Powderhall Stadium. Edinburgh. 6.30pm. The first meeting of the National League against the team many considered to be the most exciting of last year's visitors.

Sunday29

I Edinburgh Monarchs v Ipswich Witches Powderhall Stadium. Edinburgh. b.3llpm. The new improved Witches with Aussie wonderkid Shane Parker are being widely tipped for this year‘s title. A tough test for Edinburgh‘s riders.

The List 20 April 3 May 199063