ISTING
ATHLETICS Saturday 15—Sunday 16
SAAA/SWAAA NATIONAL INDOOR COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS Kelvinllall.
Glasgow.
CROSSCOUNTRY Sunday23
SWCCRRA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Callander Park. Falkirk. Scotland's best women runners plough across the mud.
CYCLING Sunday23
FOURTH TOUR OF EAST LOTHIAN Starts Musselburgh 10am. Fabulous fun around the picturesque roads of East Lothian as up to 2(chyclists tackle the lIISkmaudax. For those who may not be aficionados. an audax is not a race but a test ofendurancc; riders are not allowed to go any fasterthan 3(lkmph or arty slower than lSkmpb but simply (for want of a more suitable word) have to finish the course. If you're speedy. you can still enter by sending £2. an MRCC or AU K entry form and two SAEs by l5 February to Aileen Brown. St) Ilighfield Crescent. Linlithgow. West Lothian. Ell 49 780. There's an cxtraSIlp charge for independent i.e. non-club riders.
FOOTBALL Saturday 15
SCOTTISH CUP FOURTH ROUND
I Clydebank v Ribs Kilbowie Park. Clydebank. 3pm.
I Morton v Meadowbank orKilmarnock Cappielow Park, Greenock. 3pm.
I Dunlermline v Hearts East End Park. Dunfermline. 3pm.
I Rangers V Motherwell lbrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Falkirk V Dundee Brockville. Falkirk. 3pm. Looking for an outside bet for the cup? How about Dundee who have proved themselves to be a league apart in Division One and will certainly hold their own next year in the Premier League.
SECOND DIVISION
I Albion Rovers v Dumbarlon Cliftonhill. Coatbridge. 3pm.
I Clyde V East File Douglas Park. Hamilton. 3pm.
I Cowdenbeath v East Stirling Central Park. Cowdenbeath. 3pm.
I Oueen's Parkv Stenhousemuirllampdcn Park, Glasgow. 3pm.
Saturday 22
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Airdrle V SI Johnstone Broomficld. Airdrie. 3pm.
I Dundee Utd v Motherwell T annadice Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee. 3pm. I Dunlermline v St Mirren East End Park. Dunfermline. 3pm
I Falkirk V Hearts Brockville. Falkirk. 3pm.
I Hibs V Celtic Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Rangers v Aberdeen Ibrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm.
ONE-AH, TWO-AH
Wrestling. You know the score; either goodies with spray-on tans and trunks to match or baddies with beer-bellies and a surteit ot body-hair. Right? Wrong. Unlike the wrestlers which are now available in shoddily-made plastic doll Iorm, those that participate in real wrestling are real sportsmen. Wrestling is an Olympic sport and has been since the first Olympiad - not the one in 1896, the one in Ancient Greece.
The sport is divided into two styles; Greco-Roman and Freestyle. The tormer does not allow holds below the waist and is not practised in Britain. Freestyle (although the wrestling authorities Iervently deny it) is more like protessional wrestling in that competitors are allowed to throw their opponents to the mat by using leg holds. The manner in which the bouts take place will also be Iamiliarto those who remember Saturday afternoons with Kent Walton. There are two rounds at three minutes each, with the aim being to pin your opponent’s shoulders to the floor. In reality, the detensive prowess of the wrestlers who compete at national and international level is so great that a bout is rarely won in this way, but rather on points which are awarded Ior various throws and holds.
Maureen McGonigle Irom the Scottish Wrestling Federation says that there has been a resurgence in interest in the sport since American wrestling became popular with this country's pre-teens. Apparently the kids come along expecting triple-tag-team contests but stay anyway when they lind out that the sport is actually very ditterent but no less enjoyable.
On the same day as the East of
Judo: battling to retain its popularity amidst a new challenge Irom wrestling.
Scotland Open Wrestling Championship, Edinburgh will also be hosting a similarly ancient sport which has usurped the popularity of wrestling oi late -Judo. After an enormous boom in popularity in the 70s and early 80s, the sport has now stabilised somehwat but there is still no shortage at young enthusiasts eager to emulate the achievements ot Neil Adams. The Scottish Open has attracted competitors from Norway, Denmark and Iceland, in addition to the home nations, and should provide plenty of exciting action. (Philip Parr) The East at Scotland Open Wrestling Championships, Gracemount Leisure Centre, Edinburgh, Sat22 Feb. The Scottish Open Judo Championships, Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Sat22-Sun 23 Feb.
FIRST DIVISION
I Clydebank v Stirling Albion Kilbowie Park, Clydebank. 3pm.
I Kilmarnock v Raith Rovers Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. 3pm.
I Meadowbank Thistle v Hamilton Meadow-bank Stadium, London Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Morton v Ayr United Cappiclow Park. Greenock. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Albion Rovers v East Stirling Cliftonhill. Coatbridge. 3pm
I Clyde v Berwick Rangers Douglas Park. Hamilton. 3pm.
I Dumbarton v Brechin Boghead. Dumbarton. 3pm.
REESE"— Ffiday14
I Edlnburgn Musselburgh Racecourse. Musselburgh. Club £10. paddock £(t. First race over the sticks at the seaside course is at 1.45pm.
Saturday 22
I Edinburgh Musselburgh Racecourse. Musselburgh. Club £10. paddock £6. First race at 2pm.
ICE HOCKEY Sunday16
BRITISH PREMIER LEAGUE
I Murraylield Racers v Cardin Devils Murrayfield Ice Rink. Riversdale Crescent. Edinburgh. 6.30pm. £4.5()(£3). With Durham ahead at the top. this game is not quite as significant as it may be,but still expect an electric atmosphere as the Racers attempt to put one over on the team of the past few years.
JUDO Saturday 22—Sunday 23
SCOTTISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS Meadow-bank Sports Centre, Edinburgh. 9am—6pm. See panel.
RUGBY Saturday 22
MCEWAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
I Boroughmuirv Melrose Meggetland. (‘olinton Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. This could be the match tocomplete Boroughmuir's misery. They have already relinquished their title. probably to today‘s opponents. but a hefty defeat could also signal relegation.
I Currie V NanClI .‘ylalleny Park. Balerno. 3pm.
I Edinburgh Academicals v Gala Raeburn Place. Stockbridge. Edinburgh. 3pm. Edinburgh Academicals (only promoted last year. remember) have been the best of the also-rans behind Melrose thsseason. (iala. after winning their first four matches. have looked decidedly second best ever-since. no matter who they have played. Put your money on a home win.
I Glasgow High/Kelvinside v Stirling County (Md Anniesland. Crow Road. Glasgow. 3pm. Next door to each other in the centre of the league but neither yet assured of First Division survival especially as the likes of Watsonians and Boroughmuir are below them and could kick into gear at any little.
I Heriot‘s FP v Jed-Forest (ioldenacre. Bangholm Terrace. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Watsonians v Stewart's Melville Myreside. Myreside Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I West at Scotland v Selkirk Burnbrae. Milngavie. Glasgow. 3pm. The one predictable factor in the league this year was the relegation of West of Scotland - they look like not disappointingthe soothsaye rs.
MCEWAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 I Edinburgh Wanderers v Glasgow Academicals Murrayfield.Corstorphine. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Kirkcaldy v Corstorphine Beveridgc Park. Balwearie Road. Kirkcaldy. 3pm. Expect a hard fight between the two teams languishing at the bottom of Division 2. Satistically. Corstorphine’s attrocious points difference (they‘ve conceded more and scored less than any other team in the top two divisions) makes them favourites to lose. again.
I Musselburgh v Dunlermline Stoneyhill. Stoneyhill Farm Road, Musselburgh. 3pm.
I Preston Lodge FP v Wigtownshire I’ennypit Park. Rope Walk. Prestonpans. 3 m.
I Royal High v Peebles Barnton. East Barnton Avenue. Edinburgh. 3pm.
VOLLEYBALL Sunday 23
THE ROYAL BANK NATIONAL CUP AND PLATE SEMI FINALS John Wright Sports Centre. East Kilbride. Noon. Bellshill Cardinals v Coatbridge is the top game amongst the four semis to be played today with
Bellshill looking for their fourth filial appearance.
WRESTLING Saturday 22
East of Scotland Open (iracemount Leisure Centre. Edinburgh. ltl.3llam. See panel.
The List 14— 27 February 1992 55