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THE BEST EVENTS, TALKS AND SPORT
all New Edinburgh Ok. these four young designers might not be up to the standard of Vivienne Westwood yet. but surely if the Fashion Festival is about anything. it’s looking to the future of Scottish design. You saw it here first. The Fashion Loft, Mu/trees Walk, Edinburgh, Fri 28 Apr.
Ill Show Scotland Museums and galleries don't usually like to flaunt their wares, but this series of activities and events is a chance to reassess some very familiar faces. See showscotlandcom Various venues across Scotland, Fri 28 Apr—Mon 7 May.
1|! Beltane Fire Festival Fire, nakedness and Iashings of face paint are all staple elements of this night of mayhem celebrating the arrival of summer. The May Queen will be there along with the Horned God and White Warrior Women - how about you? Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Sun 30 Apr.
ill Why Does the Pope Have an Astronomer? Unlike the old question about whether the Pontiff is a Catholic or not. this query doesn't have an obvious answer. Luckily Brother Guy Consolmagno (pictured) from the Vatican Observatory is on hand to explain all. Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, Thu 4 May.
Gttin dn ad dirty
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The Claymores may be no more but American Football is still alive and kicking in Scotland as Colan Mehaffey discovers on a try out for the Edinburgh Wolves.
any in the sporting fraternity have described American Football as ‘rugby for softies'. As I wait to spend an afternoon training with the capital's gridiron outfit. the Edinburgh Wolves. l'm sincerely hoping this will prove to be the case. My apprehension isn’t eased by the arrival of the first player. a towering twenty stone behemoth I later discover is known simply as ‘Lump’. At this point I‘m fully expecting to spend the next few days in traction. L'pon meeting Wolves' Head Coach David Molloy he reassures me that this was unlikely. lle‘s more interested in dispelling the myth that the sport died in Scotland along with the Claytnores in 2002. ‘ln some ways the Claymores hurt the domestic game and we‘re
now starting to see an upsurge in both the number of
players and the volume of spectators.‘ The Wolves are one of only four Scottish teams participating in the British American Football League. Demand to see them has necessitated a move to Meadowbank Stadium for one of this season‘s games. Quite a breakthrough for an amateur outth which is as far removed from the high linance and glamour of the NFL. as a pub football team is from .-\bramovic’s Chelsea.
Amid the frenetic changing room activity of pads being attached to my comparatively feeble frame l'm given a run down of the basics. The team in possession has four chances (downs) to pass or run the hall either ten yards for another set of downs. or into the end zone for a score. The team in defence simply has to stop them. usually with entertainingly brutal hits. Initially l'm spared the contact drills as we embark on a series of vomit inducing fitness exercises. which involve a lot
of sprinting and. worse. sprinting while carrying an outsized team mate on your back. Coach Molloy is not surprised by my wretched condition. "This is a high intensity collision sport where the break between plays is invaluable for players to recover.‘
Having briefly rested it is now time for full contact practice. I'm a little anxious to hear a few cries of ‘hit the new boy‘ emanate from the gathered players. As expected l‘m repeatedly rammed side on and then tossed to the ground like a rag doll. The pads absorb some. but not enough. of the jarring impact and in an act of mercy l‘m led off to practice with kicker Martin Devlin. The passion and fanaticism l've witnessed all afternoon is astounding and Martin is no exception. making the 4()() mile round trip from lnverness every Sunday during the season. 'l fell in love with the sport when l was six and since then all I‘ve wanted to do is be a kicker. no matter what the cost.‘ I ask Coach Molloy how he finds these devoted individuals. 'A lot of the time people come along to a game. get into it and really want to have a go. We're always on the lookout for people of every size and shape to fill positions.’
After an exhilarating and exhausting afternoon spent with the Wolves I know I‘ll definitely be back but my aching body tells me that I‘ll be on the sidelines. watching them maul the opposition.
The Edinburgh Wolves play Glasgow’s West Coast Trojans on Sun 30th Apr, Jack Kane Centre, Edinburgh. Visit edinburghwolves.com and www.9ridironuk.co.uk for more information on American Football in Scotland.
27 Apr~l 1 May 22(16THE LIST 25