SPORT
The List selection at the best in sporting events over the next tortnight. Sport is listed lirst by event and then by day.
AEROBICS i Sunday 14 '
I Reebok National Championships Scottish Heats Gracemount Leisure Centre. Edinburgh. Competitive aerobics is the latest in fitness sports apparently. with competitors judged on strength. skill. co-ordination. choreography and presentation. Finalists will qualify for the UK Championships. and a chance to compete in the World finals to be held in Nashville at the end ofMay.
BASKETBALL Saturday 6
CARLSBERG NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY OFF SEMI-FINALS
WOMEN
I Livingston V Paisley Meadowbank Sports Centre. Edinburgh. 1.30pm.
I Edinburgh Royals v City at Edinburgh Meadowbank Sports Centre. Edinburgh. 3.15pm.
MEN
I Livingston v Glasgow Brightsiders or Paisley Mcadowbank Sports Centre. Edinburgh. 6pm.
I City at Edinburgh v Cumnock or Boroughmuir Meadowbank Sports Centre. Edinburgh. 7.45pm.
Sunday7
CARLSBERG NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY OFF FINALS
I Women's Final Meadowbzink Sports Centre. Edinburgh. 2pm
I Men's Final Meadow-bank Sports Centre. Edinburgh. 4pm. Daily admission £2 (£1 ).
FOOTBALL Saturday 6 .
TENNENTS SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL i I Dundee United v St Johnstone Iiast Iind Park. Dunlermline. 3pm. The 'I‘ayside teams clash in Fife for a place in the final. with Dundee L'nited believing this could be their year after constant failure at the final hurdle on many an occasion. Saints will be looking to cap an impressive season with their first ever appearance in a Cup Final.
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Heartsv Duntermiine'l‘yneeastle ! Stadium. Edinburgh. 3pm. ()ne oilhose games where it might be worth your while i plumping for an away win on the fixed odds coupon. 'l'he It'ifers seem to enjoy their away trips across the Forth Road Bridge.
I Rangers v Hibernian lbrox Park. Glasgow. 3pm. Rangers' Englishmen seem rather fond of the early bath ot'late. Even if they end up with only eight men on the park. they shouldn‘t have too many problems disposing of l libs.
FIRST DIVISION
I Ayr United V Clydebank Somerset Park. Ayr. 3pm.
I Clyde V Fortar Athletic Firhili Park. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Falkirk V Brechin City Brockville Park. Falkirk. 3pm.
BACKIN STOCK . a.
Stock carracing
Motor-racing in general has distinct limitations as a spectator soon. The sight of assorted unrecognisable Continentals zapping past the stand every live minutes or so at speed palls atterthe first two orthree times, and many a spectator has to resort to other torms ol entenainment, such as secretly wishing to see iust a teency-weency crash, or seeing who can do the best impersonation of Murray Walker saying ‘into the chicane’.
However, tour-wheeled fun of a rather more involving variety is proving extremely popular with crowds in File. They are flocking in thousands to stock-car meetings at Cowdenbeath and Knockhill to watch hand-built and
brightly-customised machines engage in spectacular competition, more than likely to involve some hairy-looking collisions. Forthe purists, it might not strictly be sport, but it certainly provides something to watch, and
regularly pulls in the lamin audiences.
Stock car racing has captured the public imagination, and the Scottish venues lorm part or a network of lourteen tracks across Britain that stage European and World Championship racing, as well as local meetings, although in many cases, organisers and promoters are enthusiastic amateurs and volunteers, and drivers have to have a distinctly eccentric turn at mind.
Race meetings at Cowdenbeath's Racéwall and Knockhill tarmac tracks usually consist at about 13 races divided by class into Formula 2 (titted with smaller 1300cc or 2 litre engines), Saloons, Hot Rods (those long thin things) and Minis. ‘Racing' might be a somewhat optimistic turn of phrase tor some of the contests, which would perhaps more accurately described as ‘survjval ol the littest’. You get the impression thatAlain Prost wouldn’t last tive minutes with this bunch.
Stock car racing is at Cowdenbeath Racewall on Saturday 6 and Saturday 13 April, starting at 7pm. admission is Stand: £14, Terracing £10 lor adults,
and £8 and £6 tor children.
; I Hamilton V Partick Thistle Douglas Park.
Hamilton. 3pm.
I Meadowbank Thistle v Airdrie .‘vleatlowbank Stadium. Iidinburgh. 3pm. I Raith Rovers V Airdrie Stark's Park. Kirkcaldy. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Cowdenbeath v Queen‘s Park Central Park. Cowdenbeath. 3pm
I East Stirling v East File Hrs i’ark. Falkirk. 3pm.
I Stenhousemuir v Berwick Rangers ()chilyiew I’ark. Larbert. 3pm
Saturday13
PREMIER DIVISION I Dundee United V Celtic Tannadice Park. Dundee. 3pm. Will Celtic's resurgence
': continue. against a [)undee Linited side who have been impressive this year in
rebuilding. and could be serious title contenders next year'.’
I Dunlermline v St Mirren East End Park. Dunlermline. 3pm. Two sides whose season ended when relegation was abandoned this season. and have been playing with a consequent lack ofpassion ever since.
I Hearts V Aberdeen 'I‘ynecastle Park. Edinburgh. 3pm. Hearts have had a woefully disappointing season. considering the talent they have at their
disposal. A win against Aberdeen would be a morale booster. if nothing else.
I Motherwell v Hibernian Fir Park. Motherwell. 3pm. More Premier Division also rans. in a game that amounts tolittle more than a contest for seventh and eighth places in the table.
I Rangers v St Johnstone Ibrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm. A chance to wrap upthe title for the learn with more red cards than a Labour Party Conference.
FIRST DIVISION
u I Ayr United V Airdrie Somerset Park. A yr.
3pm.
I Clyde v Partick Thistle Firhili. Glasgow. 3pm. An interesting example of the home team playing at their opponents'ground. One for the trivia buffs.
I Falkirk V Dundee Brockville Park: Falkirk. 3pm. A crucial promotion clash. with the home side desperate tosecure one of the two promotion places that they were instrumental in providing at the Scottish League restructure.
I Kilmarnock v Brechin City Rugby I’ark. Kiimarnock. 3pm.
I Meadowbank Thistle v Clydebank Meadowbank Stadium. Edinburgh. 3pm. I Morton V Hamilton Cappielow Park. Greenock. 3pm.
I Raith Rovers v Fortar Athletic Starks Park. Kirkcaidy. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Cowdenbeath v Arbroath Central Park.
Cowdenbeath. 3pm.
I Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir Bogitead Park. Dumbarton. 3pm
I Queen's Park V Alloa l lampden Park. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Stirling Albion v East Stirling Annfieid Park. Stirling. 3pm.
REESE- Monday15
I Edinburgh Musselburgh Racecourse. Musselburgh. Clth £7. paddock £3.50. First flat-racing meeting of the season at the seaside course. with plenty of bigfields expected for those spectacular five furlong sprints.
Wed 17/Thurs 18
I Ayr Ayr Racecourse. 2 Whitletts Road. Ayr. Club £8. Egiinton £5. First flat racing meeting for Scotland's top track. in the first two days of a mixed meeting. See next issue for a preview of the Scottish Grand National on Saturday 20.
SPEEDWAY " ‘ Friday5
I Edinburgh Gull Monarchs v Long Eaton Invaders Powderhall Stadium. Beaverhall Road. Edinburgh. 7.15pm. The speedway season revs into gear with a Gold Cup match. Monarchs field new boys Carsten Schott and Darrin Winkler against a Long Eaton side that will include [)anelan Staechmann. and possibly former Monarch Carl Blackbird.
Sunday?
I Glasgow Tigers v Stoke Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. (1.3llpm. More Gold Cup action with the Glasgow side fielding new signing Mick Powell. who joined Tigers from deadly rivals lidinburgh monarchs.
Fnday12
I Edinburgh Gull Monarchs vShetlield Tigers Pow derhall Stadium. Beaverhall Road. Iidinburgh. 7.15pm. Sheffield 'I‘igers return. after a three-yearabsence front the sport. and their powerful team includes Neil Evitts. Richard .‘vltisson. and Louis and Peter Carr. speetlway"sanswer to the \'an [)e Kerkhot brothers.
Sunday14
I Glasgow Tigervaiddlesborough Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow . (1.30pm. Another Gold Cup
clash. with Tigers taken on a tough
Tees-side team.
STOCK CAR RACING
i Saturday 6
I Racing Racewail. Cowdenbeath. 7pm. Formula 2. Saloons. Bangers and Minis are on the tarmac for a variety ol'races
from the File track. See panel.
Saturday 13
I Racing Racewall. Ctmdenbeath. 7pm. More bumps and bangs in y ariotis classes from deepest title. See panel.
J
The List 5 — is April—i154” 63