Nairn’s Oatcakes Ltd., has secured a new unit in Prestonfield Park to the south east of Edinburgh city centre, adding to their existing 6,004 sq ft facility within the estate.

The company has agreed a deal for a six year lease at an annual rent of £33,170 with landlord Prestonfield Development Company, a joint venture company between J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC and the Walker Group, for Unit 3, Block F – a 4,914 sq ft end-terrace unit. The new unit will be used for Raw Material Storage and the manufacture of Gluten Free cereals.

Pritchard Property Consultants represented Nairn’s, with Burns and Shaw and JLL acting for the Prestonfield Development Company.

Comprising a total of 10 industrial units, Prestonfield Park currently has a range of tenants including PTS Building Supplies, St Andrews Timber Limited, Howden’s Joinery and the City of Edinburgh Council. Access to the park is via Peffermill Road which connects to the A7 – one of the main arterial routes in the city – and the A1 lies approximately 2 miles to the east.

Kirsty Palmer, Associate Director, Industrial and Logistics, for JLL, said: “Over the past year, Edinburgh has witnessed more sustained demand and dwindling industrial stock in key strategic locations offering good quality accommodation. Nairn’s decision to expand on a site which has served it very well to date made good business sense.”

Niall Burns, Partner at Burns & Shaw, commented: “Nairn’s expansion at Prestonfield Park is testament to the quality of accommodation on site, which is supported by excellent links to Edinburgh and the wider area. Prestonfield Park offers modern, accessible and flexible space to occupiers and this is reflected in the range usage including trade, storage, distribution and manufacturing”.

Bruce Walker of Prestonfield Development Company, explained: “We are delighted to see the final unit let at Prestonfield Park. It is encouraging to see existing tenants enjoy business success providing them with the confidence to expand. The units are high quality and this is reflected in the Tenants we have secured.”

Ken McGarrity, Group Finance Director of Nairn’s Oatcakes, said: “The rapid growth in Sales of our Gluten Free product range has brought about this expansion. We are delighted to extend our working relationship with Prestonfield Development Company, and the use of this new unit for Storage and Gluten Free Cereal manufacture enables us to significantly expand our capacity for the manufacture of Gluten Free Oatcakes and Biscuits in our current unit.”

To mark the mention of Edinburgh’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Ian Rankin’s ‘Saints of the Shadow  Bible’ the author was invited to help create a cocktail in the style of the iconic Rebus.

Ian Rankin spent time with Caley Bar Manager, Michael Nawrot, finessing the taste which Rebus would enjoy and The Rebus Rob Roy is the result!

Ian Rankin said: : ‘Rebus is in many ways a complex character, but not when it comes to drinks. He’d want beer and whisky, so we’ve given him the best of both!  He’d also want something redolent of Edinburgh – able to warm a body when the weather outside is dreich. This is a full-blooded drink, to be sipped slowly, maybe while enjoying a good read…’

Dale MacPhee, General Manager of the luxury five star hotel, said: ‘I was engrossed in Ian’s book when I came across the reference to our hotel, what an amazing honour!  Ian’s books sell internationally and I’m sure that many of our guests from home and abroad are also avid readers.  I was keen to develop the association and after chatting with Ian himself, agreed that the addition of an exclusive Rebus cocktail on our list in The Caley Bar was a perfect fit.’

The cocktail which features 50ml Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky is stirred with 10ml of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, 15ml of Martini Rosso and topped with a head of Innis & Gunn Lager.  The Cocktail is a twist on the classic Rob Roy cocktail, conceived at Waldorf Astoria New York, tailoring to serve Rebus’ simple tastes.

The Rebus Rob Roy is available in The Caley Bar now priced at £10.  The Caley Bar is open from 4pm – Late Monday – Thursday, noon – late Friday – Sunday.

Edinburgh Airport on the telly – Book Groups – Funding advice Open Day in Corstorphine – British Academy Big Debate in Edinburgh – Scottish Secretary in Murrayfield

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Needing some Easter reading inspiration? The book groups across all Edinburgh City libraries are reading a wide selection of novels and non-fiction. You can read more here.

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British Academy Big Debate: The Best Years of our Lives? Body, Brain and Well-Being

Assembly Hall, Mound Place, EH1 2LU

Tuesday 29 April 2014 at 6pm

This debate will discuss the true consequences of an ageing brain and body, how our genes, environments and lifestyles affect our older selves and whether it is time to rethink what we perceive an older person is capable of.

Speakers include Professor Ian Deary (University of Edinburgh), Professor Catharine Ward Thompson (University of Edinburgh), Sally Magnusson (BBC Scotland) and Professor James Goodwin (Age UK)

The event is free to attend, please register on the British Academy website.

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The news all Hearts supporters have been hoping for came tantalisingly closer today with the news that Edinburgh’s most successful football club moved a step closer to coming out of administration after creditors of the now defunct Lithuanian bank Ukio Bankas approved the sale of shares in the club.

Ukio Bankas is Hearts’ biggest creditor and owns 29% of the club’s shares as well as holding a security over Tynecastle Stadium, Hearts home for the past 128 years. However, these shares will now be sold following agreement at a meeting of the bank’s creditors committee in Lithuania on Wednesday.

Ian Murray MP, who has fronted the Foundation of Hearts, the fans group who hope eventually to run Hearts, said: “Ukio Bankas creditors met this morning and approved the deal. Sale and purchase agreement needs completed, but we can say deal done. It is absolutely fantastic news.”

Following the agreement last week with the bank’s parent company, UBIG, to buy the investment company’s 50% holding in Hearts, it seems almost certain Hearts will exit administration in a matter of weeks, thus enabling businesswoman Ann Budge to complete a £2.5m takeover of Hearts before transferring ownership to the Foundation of Hearts within five years.

Budge gave a brief statement to the media following the announcement:-

“This is the beginning of a new era for Heart of Midlothian Football Club,” she said. “I would personally like to express my gratitude to the fans for their support and I am confident that together we can rebuild Hearts to once again become one of the greatest clubs in the country.

“I’m very much looking forward to the beginning of this new chapter in the club’s history. We’re not across the line just yet but this is a very positive step and we are almost there. The fans have been magnificent throughout but I would urge them to keep backing the team in their numbers during the last few games to ensure we get to the end of the season.

“The end is now in sight and together I am confident we can achieve our target.”

Hearts can now begin exiting administration after 27 April – following a 20-day ‘cooling-off’ period for the UBIG share deal. Administrator Bryan Jackson said: “This is one of the final hurdles in the transfer of ownership of the club. I would like to thank the creditors of both UBIG and Ukio Bankas for agreeing to this deal and also the patience and forbearing of Ann Budge and the Foundation of Hearts.

“There is still some work to be done to conclude proceedings, but we are now very close to a successful conclusion.”

The City Art Centre will be showing off a new painting by Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912 – 2004) in  A-Z: An Alphabetical Tour of Scottish Art, a free exhibition which opens on 26 April 2014 to launch the City Art Centre’s newest permanent gallery space.

The major new painting has been acquired through the Art Fund and Barns-Graham Charitable Trust.

Visitors to the City Art Centre will get their first opportunity to see the newly acquired Untitled – Firth of Forth Series, an abstract canvas inspired by the experience of crossing the Forth Rail Bridge, in the upcoming exhibition A – Z: An Alphabetical Tour of Scottish Art, which opens its doors in a newly refurbished gallery space on 26 April.

The City Art Centre holds one of the finest collections of Scottish art in the country including two other artworks by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: the oil painting Rocks, St Mary’s, Scilly Isles (1953), and the smaller gouache Seaweed and Stone, Skull (1988). Until now, the City Art Centre collection has not included any examples of work from Barns-Graham’s late period (mid 1990s onwards), which is often considered one of the strongest and most experimental stages in her career. The acquisition of Untitled – Firth of Forth Series which was painted while the artist was in her late 80s, allows the City Art Centre to better represent this Scottish artist.

A – Z: An Alphabetical Tour of Scottish Art is the first exhibition to be staged in the City Art Centre’s newly refurbished lower ground floor gallery. This exciting space has now been redeveloped to create a dedicated area for showing the permanent Scottish Art Collection. In the coming years, visitors will be able to see more of this collection than ever before, through a changing programme of temporary displays.

Scotland has been the home and inspiration of a stunning array of visual artists for generations and the new A -Z exhibition introduces some of the men and women whose work makes up this rich collection. Painters, sculptors, photographers and printmakers from the 17^th century to the present day will all be featured, representing the key movements that have shaped Scotland’s artistic identity.

The Scottish Art Collection, cared for by the City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries, is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland. The refurbishment of the lower ground floor gallery has been undertaken with the support of Museums Galleries Scotland through the Recognition Capital Fund.

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “We are delighted to be displaying for the very first time this exciting new acquisition by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham during a very exciting season for the City Art Centre. The upcoming A-Z exhibition will shine a light on Scottish art through the ages and I can’t think of a more appropriate launch for the collection than the centre’s beautifully refurbished gallery space.

“The curators at the City Art Centre have worked closely and tirelessly to line up an exhibition and collection that will do justice to the great work of artists from across the country and the centuries.”

Joanne Orr, chief executive officer of Museums Galleries Scotland, said:

“Museums Galleries Scotland is delighted to have supported the refurbishment of the City Art Centre through the Recognition Capital Fund.

“The redeveloped space will feature a new home for The Scottish Art Collection, which is comprised of historic and contemporary artists and consists of around 3,500 works of Scottish art in the form of paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture and tapestries. The Collection is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland.”

This week’s photo is from Col Walder, who visited Dalhousie Castle just outside the city.

The Stockbridge Photography Club is a non profit community club. We don’t have any joining fees, and provide aspiring photographers with education and experiences to help them get the best from their camera.

We’re about to announce a calendar of events for the next few months. More information can be found on Facebook or our website, where you can sign up to receive email alerts when we add new events.

Submitted by Stockbridge Photo Club

Research reveals what your sleeping position says about your relationship

Research carried out at the Edinburgh International Science Festival has discovered what people’s preferred sleeping position reveals about their relationships and personality, in the first survey of its kind to examine couples’ sleeping positions.

The work, carried out by University of Hertfordshire psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman, involved asking over 1000 people to describe their preferred sleeping position and to rate their personality and quality of their relationship.

The research revealed the most popular sleep positions for couples, with 42% sleeping back to back, 31% sleeping facing the same direction and just 4% spending the night facing one another.  In addition, 12% of couples spend the night less than an inch apart whilst 2% sleep over 30 inches apart.

‘One of the most important differences involved touching,’ noted Wiseman, ‘94% of couples who spent the night in contact with one another were happy with their relationship, compared to just 68% of those that didn’t touch’.

In addition, the further apart the couple spent the night, the worse their relationship, with 86% of those who slept less than an inch apart from their partner being happy with their relationship, compared to only 66% of those who slept more than 30 inches apart.

The work also revealed that extroverts tended to spend the night close to their partners, and more creative types tended to sleep on their left hand side.

‘This is the first survey to examine couples’ sleeping positions, and the results allow people to gain an insight into someone’s personality and relationship by simply asking them about their favourite sleeping position’ noted Wiseman.

Professor Richard Wiseman is the author of Night School, which examines the science of sleep and dreaming after a 2-year study into dream control which was launched at the Edinburgh International Science Festival in 2012.

He returns to the Science Festival on Thursday 17 April, 2014 to talk about his findings in Richard Wiseman’s Night School, sharing with the audience insights into the power of the sleeping mind, and how they can improve their quality of life through sleep. The event involves live EEG projection, a demonstration of mass suggestion, and several pairs of yellow glasses.

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after up to 21 pet rats were abandoned in two separate incidents in West Lothian.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity was first alerted at around 2pm on Saturday afternoon when a group of female rats was discovered huddled by the side of the B8084, a single track road just off North Street in Armadale leading to Eastoun Road in Bathgate.

The charity was then called to rescue 13 male rats found loose in the garden of an empty property at 3.30pm on Dean South Road in Livingston.

The rats are now in the care of the Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothian’s Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

Inspector June Chalcroft said, “We believe these abandonments may be linked given the close proximity of both locations and the fact all the rats are white with grey markings.

“Although eight rats were initially reported in Armadale, when I arrived they had scattered and only three remained. There was woodland nearby so, sadly, it’s possible they have run in there and likely they will never be found.

“We are very keen to trace whoever is responsible for these cruel and irresponsible abandonments and we would urge anyone with information to contact us.

“All the rats are friendly and in good condition and we’ll soon find them loving new homes with responsible owners.”

Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

A 21 year old man has been sentenced to 10 years six months in prison for culpable homicide following the death of a 28 year old man in Mayfield, Dalkeith in November last year.

Dean Williams, who was sentenced at Glasgow High Court today(16th April), also received a further three years on licence.

28-year-old Craig Don Essen, also known as Craig Don Klark, was fatally stabbed following a disturbance outside The Rowantree Inn on the evening of Sunday 24th November 2013.

Following extensive inquiries, Dean Williams was arrested and charged with murder. He pled guilty at Glasgow High Court on Friday 21st March 2014.

Detective Inspector Scott Cunningham from the Major Investigation Team, who led the investigation, said:  “I acknowledge this sentence which has been handed down to Dean Williams.

“My thoughts are with Craig’s family and I pay tribute to them for their dignity and strength shown throughout this tragedy and I sincerely hope this brings some form of closure to them.”

A man has been arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act as part of a Police Scotland investigation into the importation of cannabis into the UK.

Detectives in Edinburgh seized over 8.2kg of cannabis from two parcel delivery depots in February and established the drugs had been shipped from Canada.

Further enquiries were carried out and revealed that similar packages had been sent to other depots across Britain.

Officers from the Capital then travelled to London on Friday 11th April and detained a man at a hotel in the centre of the city.

At this time a further 15kg of cannabis was recovered from a parcel depot in the Soho area.

In total, cannabis worth over £100,000 was seized along with around £2,500 in cash.

The 49-year-old was transferred back to Edinburgh and was due to appear in court yesterday.

Detective Inspector John Kavanagh said: “As this arrest demonstrates, Police Scotland are committed to tackling drug crime wherever it arises and however far it stretches beyond our borders.

“Anyone responsible for the production or distribution of drugs in and out of Scotland will be robustly pursed by our officers.”

Police in the north east of England are appealing for the public’s help in finding a missing man who may have travelled to Scotland.

Richard Bennett was reported missing on Wednesday 9th April after not being seen by his neighbours on Lumley Court in Hebburn, South Tyneside, for more than a week. Officers have carried out enquiries and believe he may have gone to Scotland.

The 44-year-old, who had been expected to return home on Friday 11th April, is described as 5ft 8 to 5ft 10, stocky build, with dark short hair and facial hair. He may have been wearing a red waterproof jacket, dark walking trousers with green gaiters and walking boots and carrying a rucksack.

Anyone with information on Richard’s whereabouts is urged to contact Northumbria Police on 101.

Two people have been arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act after police in Edinburgh recovered a large quantity of cocaine in the west of the city.

Officers carried out a stop and search of a 52-year-old man in Fowler Terrace and found him to be in possession of a quantity of heroin.

A subsequent search of his home address in the Fountainbridge area resulted in more heroin being seized along with over £14,000 in cash. A 50-year-old woman was also arrested at this time.

In total, the recovered drugs amount to around £48,000.

The pair are expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

DI John Kavanagh said: “We are committed to tackling drug crime across the city and removing those responsible from our communities.

“Whenever we identify criminal activity or receive information from the public relating to ongoing offences we will respond accordingly.

“Anyone wishing to report crime in their area can contact us on 101 or speak with their local policing team.”

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following a suspicious fire at a block of flats in Dumbiedykes Road which broke out around 4am this morning.

Officers responded along with colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service after a stairwell was reported alight.

A number of residents were evacuated from the block and some were treated for minor smoke inhalation at the scene. However, no one was injured.

It is believed the fire was started deliberately and anyone who can assist police with their investigation is asked to come forward.

Chief Inspector Richard Horan said: “We are investigating the cause of the fire and are keen to hear from anyone who was in or around Dumbiedykes Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning.”

“Police officers will remain in the area while we continue with our enquiries and members of the public who have information that may assist this investigation can speak to these officers, call our non-emergency 101 number, or make an anonymous report via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

New bus service to Barnton – Big Beach Clean Up – Shakespeare at the King’s – POP 2014 – Cadbury Easter Egg Trails

From 22 April Lothian Buses are running a new number 43 service from Waterloo Place to Barnton. Will you use this bus? Will this be a big change for you? It will run every 15 minutes along Queensferry Road.

For the timetable click here. 

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The Marine Conservation Society want you to join in their Big Beach Clean up at the end of this month, 24 – 30 April 2014.

Join us this Easter for the third Big Beach Clean-up, and help clean your nearest beach ready for the summer. Marine litter is a problem that we can all play a part in solving, and what better way to start than with a day at the beach.

So much more than just picking litter, you’ll be contributing to a national survey, and meeting others from your community who want to protect the local environment.

More details of how to get involved here.

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From today at the King’s you can get a taste of Shakespeare. The all-male company staging this production has produced a trailer:-

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCSLLyy3KAY]

Tickets here.

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Remember that POP 2014 takes place on 26 April 2014. Cyclists wanting to tell the government that they have to make changes to allow Scotland to become a cycle friendly nation should get involved. You can also walk the short route from The Meadows to Holyrood on foot. Last year there were thousands of cyclists along the route.

The eight-point plan includes demands for

1. Proper funding for cycling.
2. Design cycling into Scotland’s roads.
3. Slower speeds where people live, work and play
4. Integrate cycling into local transport strategies
5. Improved road traffic law and enforcement
6. Reduce the risk of HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians
7. A strategic and joined-up programme of road user training
8. Improved statistics supporting decision-making and policy

More information here.

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Eggsplore some of Edinburgh’s heritage gems this Easter with the National Trust for Scotland and Cadbury as a series of Easter Egg Trails get underway.

Over the Easter weekend the Georgian House in Charlotte Square and Gladstone’s Land on the Royal Mile are running Cadbury Easter Egg Trails.

For 2014, the theme is adventurers – children will receive a make-it-yourself pith helmet, a Trail Journal containing all the clues needed to complete the trail and an Eggsplorer Passport to be stamped along the way. On completing the trail they will be rewarded with a delicious Cadbury Egghead.

Marketing Manager, Carly Lamberty, says the properties are looking forward to this fantastic family event. She said:-“It’s fantastic to be working with Cadbury again to bring Easter fun to Edinburgh! This year, we’ll be encouraging young people to eggsplore Scotland’s heritage and uncover all of the secrets that our properties hold.

“This is just the start of a packed programme of family events here and at Trust places all over the country, which will help turn Scotland into your playground in 2014.”

Cadbury Easter Egg Trails take place as follows:

Georgian House, 7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4DR

Wed 16 – Tue 22 April 10am-4.30pm

Also running on 16, 17 & 22 April same times

Gladstone’s Land, 477B Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2NT

Fri 18 – Sun 20 April, 10am-4.30pm

Usual entry prices

Cadbury Easter Egg trails take place at sites all over Scotland on selected dates from Friday 18 – Monday 21 April – for full details visit www.nts.org.uk/Easter.

Edinburgh Zoo announced earlier today that they carried out an artificial insemination procedure on the female giant panda Tian Tian (‘Sweetie’) last weekend. This followed a drop in the female panda’s hormone level during the very short 36 hour breeding window, which meant that natural mating was unlikely to be successful.

The pandas have been off show for a day or two but the public will get back in to have a look at them tomorrow.

The ten year-old pandas have both bred before, although not with each other, but last year Sweetie was definitely pregnant but did not carry the pregnancy to term. Tian Tian previously had twins in 2009 while she was still in China.

The two pandas are living in a climate which is broadly similar to the area of China where they came from, but this is the most northerly place that giant pandas have ever been kept.

These two animals are a big attraction for the zoo, but more importantly they carry with them the hopes of a successful breeding outside China to allow research into breeding methods and the continuation of the species.  The zoo say that Scottish expertise in veterinary medicine was one of the main drivers in ensuring that the pandas came here in 2011. Tian Tian and her male companion, Yang Guang, are the only two adult pandas to come out of China and are now on loan to Scotland for 10 years at a cost to the zoo of $1m per annum.

The Edinburgh Reporter was among a handful of media allowed in to see the pandas today, although Tian Tian was asleep inside and we were not able to see her. Yang Guang came straight out into his enclosure after it had been cleaned by his keepers and headed for his food. Pandas eat about £70,000 of bamboo each year, most of which is grown in Germany. Some is grown in the grounds of Edinburgh Zoo and there is a display nursery right next to the panda enclosure which visitors can walk around.

We spoke with Iain Valentine about the chances of a successful pregnancy this year.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kqC9abYvg]

Police in Edinburgh are urging retail staff to remain vigilant for a scam known as ‘Ringing The Changes’ following an incident in the city-centre on Sunday.

A man entered a store on the Lawnmarket at around 4pm and asked a member of staff to exchange a sum of cash. During this time the suspect used distraction tactics and left the shop with an additional four-figure sum.

Officers are appealing for assistance in tracing this man and anyone who recognises his description is asked to come forward. He is described as white, 30-years-old, 5ft 7ins tall with a slim build and black hair. He was wearing a black shirt and grey trousers.

Constable Steven Skirving said: “This scam is often used in busy premises where staff have access to large sums of cash.

“The suspect then tries to confuse employees into handing over more money than they came in with.

“We would urge all staff to beware of this ploy and report any suspicious activity in their store to police immediately.

“In addition, anyone with information in relation to this incident is also asked to get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

People living in certain areas near the airport may experience additional noise during the maintenance which Edinburgh Airport are carrying out on one of their runways.

They are to carry out essential maintenance work on the main runway over the next three weeks.

The work will be carried out during the weekends of 19-20 April, 26-27 April and 03-04 May between 2300hrs and 0530hrs.  This is required to ensure safety on the main runway. During this time, aircraft will use the airport’s secondary runway which of course means that the planes will use a slightly different route on approach and take off.

The airport promise that only a very small number of flights will operate during the time of work and these will be using an alternative take-off and landing route. The  main runway will reopen before 6am each morning so flights can then operate without disrupting local residents and passengers.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Our runway is subjected to very heavy loads and forces and can degrade over time. This work will involve resurfacing a number of areas on the runway, particularly at the aircraft touchdown zones.

“As we will be operating a different take-off and landing route some areas around Edinburgh may experience an increased level of aircraft noise between the hours of runway maintenance. Although this runway maintenance work may cause some minimal inconvenience in the short term, it is essential that we continue to invest in and improve our facilities.”

Areas potentially affected include:

Bonnyrigg Loanhead Fairmilehead Colinton Sighthill South Gyle Oxgangs Kirkliston Bo’ness

Combining the thrill of horse racing and capital celebrations, one of the most prestigious dates on the Scottish racing calendar, The Edinburgh Cup, is set to return for its fifth year at Musselburgh Racecourse on Saturday 7 June 2014.

Set to draw in crowds of more than 7,500 from across the country, The Edinburgh Cup is renowned as the capital’s premier raceday, with ‘live’ top quality horseracing at Musselburgh and coverage of the Epsom Derby meeting on the big screens and racecourse televisions.

For the first year ever, Musselburgh Racecourse will be adding to the already delectable hospitality on offer by showcasing some of the capital’s most exciting producers and artisan food outlets. The likes of Edinburgh Gin, Well Hung and Tender, Union of Genius, Big Blu Pizza and Country Refreshments will be making mouths water with their culinary creations.  All this plus 13 bars lined up to quench racegoers’ thirsts with top tipples including the all-important celebratory Pommery fizz!

Making his Musselburgh debut, DJ and television presenter Scott Mills will be taking the party to the next level as the racing draws to a close. Whether celebrating or commiserating their mixed fortunes, racegoers will be able to party into the evening at the After Racing Party, ensuring that this year’s event, the first of Musselburgh’s two Super Saturdays, will definitely be a day to remember!

Mary-Ann Sandercock, commercial manager at Musselburgh Racecourse, said:  “The Edinburgh Cup has everything; top quality horseracing combined with a great social day out, fantastic food and great entertainment – and racegoers can party on after racing with DJ Scott Mills.”

With race day prize money in excess of £140,000, the Edinburgh Cup remains one of Musselburgh’s richest flat races and racegoers can enjoy a slice of the action with tickets starting from £25 per person, providing access to all public areas of the racecourse including 13 bars as well as numerous food outlets.

For a more exclusive experience, a host of packages offer an extra touch of luxury to the day. The Picnic Pavilion  package (from £50 per person)  takes you  close to the action as the horses battle their way to the finishing line with a reserved picnic table by the winning line.

Providing an elite marquee facility with a real members club feel, the Edinburgh Cup Club package (from £60 per person) offers  VIP access with reserved tables, a dedicated bar with garden area. The Club is located next to the Winning Post, alongside the final half furlong in the centre of the racecourse – you can’t get closer to the action.

All day access to ‘the place to be and be watched’, you’ll be sipping on a glass of champers in the Pommery Champagne garden as you take a flutter on your favourites with tote vouchers in the Champagne package (£48.25pp).

For further information or to book please visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk or call 0131 665 2859.

The lovely photos are courtesy of Rob McDougall.

One of our pandas could be pregnant! And yes that is the female panda Tian Tian in the photo.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) can confirm that artificial insemination was carried out on female giant panda Tian Tian on the afternoon of Sunday 13 April. Introductions between the pair were attempted but unsuccessful.

Artificial insemination was also carried out on Tian Tian last year but the pregnancy did not carry on till full term.

Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Pandas for RZSS, said:-“Although it often varies from year to year and from panda to panda, this spring Tian Tian came into oestrus 13 days after the crucial hormone crossover, whilst last year she took us to day 14.

“From the start, when the pandas started to show breeding behaviour early this spring, both were showing very positive signs. We were hopeful natural mating would occur this year, but in the end Tian Tian’s hormones started to fall quickly which meant her breeding window could be much shorter. Although our Chinese expert Doctor Wang Chengdong, from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP), was confident the pair would mate naturally, after the first unsuccessful introduction attempt time restrictions meant we needed to move quickly to artificial insemination.

“The artificial insemination procedure was undertaken by reproduction specialists Professor Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, Dr Frank Göritz and Dr Robert Hermes, from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin, along with RZSS’s veterinary and panda teams. Samples were used from Yang Guang only.

“The procedure would not have been possible without the dedication of our RZSS team and collaboration with a network of academic, scientific and environmentally-based institutions – everyone has played a crucial and invaluable role.

“Both pandas recovered well from the procedure and were up and about shortly after, in fact Yang Guang was enjoying honey and bamboo some 15 minutes later. The panda enclosure will remain closed to the public until Wednesday, but both pandas have been out and about, are eating well and are in good health.

“As giant pandas experience pseudo pregnancies and delayed implantation, it is very likely we will not 100% know if Tian Tian is pregnant until she gives birth. This is usually August to September but can continue much later, as we saw last year.”

Chris West, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said:-“As a conservation organisation, we believe giant pandas are too important a species to be allowed to become extinct. Although the breeding window is incredibly brief, pandas are in actual fact not poor breeders, they existed on the planet for many millennia before man intervened and deforestation caused the increasing fragmentation of populations.

“As a result of a partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA), a non-profit national organisation dedicated to giant panda conservation and the largest conservation organisation in China; we are bringing our skills in genetics and animal husbandry to ensure a genetically healthy and diverse population exists ex-situ, as well as in the wild. We are also in the position to aid a fellow conservation body financially, with this money being targeted towards the restoration of bamboo habitat in China.

“If we can successfully assist Tian Tian and Yang Guang to breed, we will be adding to the total number of pandas in zoos around the world and in breeding centres in China. The more there are, the greater and more diverse the gene pool is from which pandas can be selected for re-introduction.

“In the last two years, a male and female panda have been re-introduced into the bamboo forest reserves in Sichuan Province. They are being closely monitored using tracking devices so we will know if they survive, mate and breed, either with wild pandas or each other. It’s a slow process but the experience gleaned from experts around the world in caring for pandas in captivity has shaped the form of release and hopefully over time, more will be suitable for re-introduction.”

In 2013, RZSS successfully performed the first artificial insemination procedure to take place on a giant panda in the UK. The team have since been able to confirm that Tian Tian did become pregnant, however most likely reabsorbed the foetus late term – a common occurrence in giant pandas both in zoos and the wild.

The Edinburgh Reporter interviewed Chris West recently about the likelihood of a pregnancy this year:-

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJZ2LN6aidk]

CHARMING PORTRAIT BY GLASGOW BORN SCOTTISH SOCIETY PAINTER JAMES GUNN AT BONHAMS SCOTTISH SALE

A charming informal portrait by the Glasgow born Scottish society painter, Sir James Gunn (1893-1964), is to be sold at Bonhams Annual Scottish Sale in Edinburgh today.  It is estimated at £7,000-10,000.

The Green Necklace demonstrates Gunn’s great gifts of elegance and precision even though he was famous for working at speed and rarely used under-painting preferring, as he put it himself, to “just bash it on.”

The ninth of ten children, Gunn was encouraged in his ambitions to become a painter by his father, Richard, who took him to London and arranged a meeting with Sir Edward Poynter, the President of the Royal Academy.  With Poynter’s endorsement, Gunn then trained in Edinburgh before following in the footsteps of so many Scottish artists before him and moving to Paris.

He became one of the leading society portraitists of his day and was in great demand to paint establishment figures.  His Conversation Piece of 1932 which depicts the three great men of letters of the time – Hilaire Belloc, G K Chesterton and Maurice Baring – was a great success.  It is now housed in the Royal Lodge at Windsor and several of Gunn’s portraits are in UK national collections.

Head of Pictures at Bonhams Scotland, Chris Brickley said, “Sir James Gunn is famous for his official portraits but as The Green Necklace shows he was equally at home with less formal, more intimate subjects.”

The Scottish Sale, which is now in its 15th year, has traditionally been held in the autumn but has now moved to its permanent new date of late Spring. All the major names in Scottish art are featured in the sale which also includes a huge range of objects related to Scotland from highland dress, to silver and glass; from books and furniture to whisky and ceramics.

The sale will take place at Bonhams Edinburgh saleroom, 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JJ over two days, today and tomorrow 15-16 April 2014.

Jazz Festival tickets on sale today – Streams of Story: An evening of water tales – Inverleith House open weekend – National Library of Scotland shows off the book sculptures – Film at the Botanics

Some tickets for the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival go on sale today. Big names including Van Morrison and Jools Holland along with Mel C will be coming to Edinburgh. Get ready to go online or phone in for your tickets!

More details here.

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Thursday 24 April 2014, 6.30-8.30pm. £5/£4 conc. Free for water collectors.
Refreshments included.

To celebrate Tania Kovats’ Oceans, The Fruitmarket Gallery presents a fun evening of water tastings, poetry and a chance to hear stories from the water collectors who helped Tania Kovats bring the world’s seas to The Fruitmarket Gallery.

Shetland poet Jen Hadfield will be travelling over sea and land reading work resonant with the themes of the exhibition. Water sommelier Ericka Duffy will also be bringing her tasting skills to the Gallery, giving you a flavour of different mineral waters from around the world.

Supported by The Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Fund.

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Inverleith House at the Botanics is hosting an Open Weekend on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May from 10am to 5pm. There will be events including talks by exhibition staff, performance, live music and special offers on limited edition exhibition catalogues and posters.

Events are free but booking is essential. Email ihouse@rbge.ac.uk to reserve a place.

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Just a reminder that some of the seventeen book sculptures are on display at the National Library of Scotland.  They are all wonderful and very much worth a look!

This is one delivered only last summer.

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A film is being shown at the Botanics tonight which they say will change your life. Here is a trailer.

[vimeo 68072823 w=500 h=281]

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Book your tickets here. 

PROJECT WILD THING – official trailer from Green Lions on Vimeo.

Hibernian under-20s are back in action tonight against Hamilton Academical at Livingston’s Energy Assets Arena, kick off 6pm.

With three games remaining, James McDonaugh’s  (pictured) side are three points clear of Celtic in the race for the SPFL U20s League title although the Hoops have two games in hand. Rangers are also in contention sitting seven points behind with three games in hand.

Whatever the final outcome, it has been a successful year for the Hibs’ youngsters who have also gained promotion from the Central Taxi’s East of Scotland First Division.

Tom Gardiner, who moved to Hibs from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer has established himself in defence and is enjoying his life north of the border.

The 19 year old told Hibernian TV: “This season has been a great challenge and playing week in, week out with the 20s and playing alongside older players, who have been in and around the first-team has been great.

“It’s a great level and we’ve been doing well in the league and it’s been a great journey throughout the season.”

Tom’s father, James, travelled to Greenock from London last week to watch his son play against Celtic at Cappielow a round trip of 452 miles and the players rewarded him with a fine 2-0 win.

Tom continued: “It was pleasing, he was in two minds whether to come up or not, so it was a good game for him to come up and see.

“It was great to get the second win of the season against Celtic as well and to get the clean sheet. I was pleased for my dad to see it.”

“Playing against Celtic was good, it was what we want to deal with, it’s hard and it’s always a challenge playing Celtic. We dug deep throughout the match and we got the reward at the end of it.

He said: “We’ve always got the chance. If we just kick on with the last three games then you never know what will happen but it was a good win (over Celtic) and we will see what happens come the end of the season.”

Supporters are reminded that admission is via donation to a bucket collection around the ground. If you can head through to Livingston to cheer on the under-20s your support would be greatly appreciated by the players.

Photo by John Preece

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

Hibernian Ladies’ and Scotland international goalkeeper Shannon Lynn has joined Swedish side Vittsjö GIK on a three-month contract whilst Jenna Fife has been recalled from her loan spell with Hutchison Vale.

Manager Willie Kirk told Hibernian TV: “Losing Shannon is obviously a blow but we have two quality keepers waiting in the wings.

“Hannah (Reid) and Jenna are both capable of coming into the side and doing well and the fight for the number one jersey starts this week at training.”

Meanwhile the on-form Ladies easily secured their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup with a comprehensive 7-0 victory over Buchan at Albyn Park on Sunday.

Kirk continued: “The referee [Erin Cunningham] wanted to postpone the match due to the extreme weather conditions.

“Thankfully, we were able to make her see sense given Buchan had paid out £600 to hire a bus to get here and the rearranged fixture would’ve been played in midweek.

“The weather was horrible and there were a couple of daft periods where the ball just wouldn’t stay still for set pieces, but I felt it was a decent performance from the girls in the end.

“It wasn’t the nicest performance for us and in the first half, with the wind behind us, I felt we didn’t make the most of it and instead kept playing the wrong ball.

“We tried to play it in behind Buchan too often and persisted even when it was evident it wasn’t working.

“We changed it at half time and in the second half we kept the ball better, making more of our opportunities. The two goals just after the break killed the game and we were quite comfortable.”

Van Morrison, Jools Holland with special guest Mel C,  Bill Wyman and a Mandela Day Concert are all confirmed for the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 18 – 27 July 2014 and  tickets for four headline acts will be released today at noon.

The full programme will be launched in May, set to include a host of exciting Festival firsts and one-off specials that will delight enthusiasts and entice new audiences.

The four acts whose tickets are released today will all perform at the Festival Theatre.

Tickets are available to the general public from today at 12 noon

Online at www.edinburghjazzfestival.com and via Festival Theatre on 0131 529 6000 or in person.

The Festival’s opening day, July 18, is recognised worldwide as Mandela Day and has a special resonance this year. The Festival presents three of South Africa’s greatest musical acts

Revered pianist, Abdullah Ibrahim, opens the show. In the late 50s and early 60s, his group made the first South African jazz record and, for many years in exile, he was a torchbearer for South African music. He played at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration, and now in the year he celebrates his 80^th birthday, he will headline at Carnegie Hall in New York and The Royal Festival Hall in London. Following up are Freshlyground, the high-energy band whose official song of the World Cup in 2010 underlined their status as the musical voice of a nation’s adolescent democracy; and closing the show are the legendary Mahotella Queens who have been South Africa’s most popular singing group for 50 years. They have played all the major world stages and were featured in London’s Hyde Park for the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations in 2012.

On Sunday 20 July at 7.30pm the undisputed king of boogie-woogie, swing, and R’n’B, Jools Holland is back with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and an all-star line-up including long time vocal partners Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall, and this year a much-anticipated guest performance by Spice Girl, Melanie C.

Legendary singer-songwriter Van Morrison will light up the stage on Tuesday 22 July at 8pm. Morrison grew up listening to artists such as Ray Charles and Solomon Burke, as well as Woody Guthrie, Muddy Waters and Charlie Parker, courtesy of his father’s record collection. These artists made a real impact on his work, and much of his music has been influenced by the Celtic tradition and jazz as well as soul music and R’n’B. He’ll play music from across his huge back catalogue, plus blues classics, an odd jazz standard, and music from his recent CD, Born To Sing.

Rock ‘n’ roll icon, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman brings his star power to Edinburgh on Sunday 27 July at 8pm. His musical rebirth as the driving force behind the fabulous Rhythm Kings sees him return to his musical roots, bringing back to life the kind of classic rhythm and blues that first inspired Wyman to pick up the guitar as a teenager.  Wyman’s all-star band will be joined by the original Average White Band singer and guitarist, Hamish Stuart, featured for many years with Paul McCartney.

The packed programme of world-class acts to be released in full in May includes an international jazz supergroup the Mike Stern/Bill Evans Band featuring Dennis Chambers; the Edinburgh debut of Grammy-nominated trumpeter and composer Christian Scott; the popular return, with his exceptional big band, of Chris Barber; and getting the party started with their old style jazz and blues-fuelled stage presence, Davina and the Vagabonds.

There will be a programme of special projects funded by the Scottish Government’s EXPO fund and a reprise of the Tron Kirk Festival Club, which proved to be a big hit in its introductory year last year. The two free events organized by the Jazz & Blues Festival – The Mardi Gras and the Edinburgh Festival Carnival – will take place on the 19 and 20 July respectively.

Police are appealing for witnesses following two indecent assaults in the Leith area of the city in the early hours of this morning (14th April), which are being treated as linked.

The first incident happened around 12:15am on Easter Road when a 30 year old woman was putting a rubbish bag out onto the street. She was approached by the suspect, who then grabbed her and followed her back to her flat. He ran off after the victim raised the alarm, and was lost to sight as he headed onto the cycle path behind Leith Academy.

The second incident happened around 1am on Henderson Street when a 23 year old woman was alighting from a bus. As she walked towards Giles Street, the suspect approached her, grabbed her with both arms and indecently assaulted her. She managed to scream for help and he was disturbed by a witness in a neighbouring property.

The suspect is described as white, 6ft tall, slim to medium build, 20 to 30 years old, short blond hair, wearing a dark grey coloured jacket, possibly with a hood, dark jean and a German or Easter European accent.

Detective Inspector Morag Bruce said: “Incidents like these are extremely rare, but the victims were left shaken and distressed.

If anyone has any information or recognizes the description of the suspect, they are urged to contact police immediately.”

Police are appealing to anyone with information that can assist their inquiries to contact Police Scotland on 101, or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

COSTA MORNINGSIDE TRIALS EXCLUSIVE COFFEE MASTERCLASS LED BY INTERNATIONAL COFFEE CONNOISSEURS

• To celebrate UK Coffee Week 7-13 April 2014, Costa, the nation’s favourite coffee shop, launched an exclusive Coffee Masterclass programme at selected stores across the nation
• Costa Morningside store in Edinburgh held a Coffee Masterclass for its customers on Friday evening

• Portuguese barista extraordinaire Gisela Dos Santos, led the hour-long taster session alongside colleagues from Gibraltar and Italy

For many coffee lovers, UK Coffee Week is considered as an annual highlight – and this year is no different. Thankfully, coffee connoisseurs didn’t have far to go for the ultimate experience to indulge their coffee passion.

To celebrate UK Coffee Week, the nation’s favourite coffee shop, Costa, has launched an exclusive Coffee Masterclass trial for a handful of customers in Morningside, Edinburgh

Customers who attended the Coffee Masterclass at Costa’s Morningside store were treated to a hands-on tutorial with Gisela Dos Santos, who joined Costa in Edinburgh having relocated from a store in Portugal. Tipped as one of Costa’s brightest stars, Gisela Dos Santos treated her guests to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Costa; hints and tips on crafting the perfect drink as well as providing guests with the opportunity to brush up on their knowledge of Costa’s famous Mocha-Italia blend.

Gisela Dos Santos also rounded up the evening by teaching her guests to make their favourite drink. Gisela was joined at the coffee shop by Gibraltan store manager Arcon Patron and Italian barista Enrique Servrse.

Gisela Dos Santos said: “It was fantastic that we had the opportunity to share our knowledge with our customers. It was a real privilege to speak to our guests about our world famous Mocha-Italia blend – some were astounded as to how much work goes into creating the perfect blend, from sourcing our beans to the serving process, it’s our expertise which make a cup of coffee, a Costa cup of coffee!”

Costa’s Master of Coffee, Gennaro Pelliccia said: “We’re delighted to have created an opportunity to share our passion for coffee with our coffee loving customers. At this stage we wanted to trial our Masterclasses at select stores, but given its success we’ll hopefully look to roll this out on a larger scale for next year’s UK Coffee Week.”

Submitted by Nathalie Agnew

This Easter Edinburgh Zoo’s Discovery and Learning department is working in partnership with Edinburgh City Council to provide a unique day out for children from Edinburgh’s Drylaw, Wester Hailes, Sighthill, Craigmillar and Leith communities.

The Zoo Explorers programme offers children aged between eight and 12 years old the chance to spend a day at the Zoo, combining a fun day out with extended access to educational facilities. The Council worked with youth groups, community centres and development workers within four key areas of Edinburgh to invite a total of 96 children to take part in Zoo Explorers.

As part of their day out, the children will make enrichment for the Zoo’s animals, such as sun bears, banteng, monkeys and big cats, and then watch as the animals enjoy their treats. They also get to experience a hands-on meet and greet with some presentations animals including Dillon the three-banded armadillo and the Zoo’s group of giant African land snails.

Amy Cox, Senior Education Officer for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the charity that owns and operates Edinburgh Zoo, said:

“We are delighted to work with Edinburgh City Council to bring children to the Zoo who otherwise may not have the opportunity. This is the second year we have run Zoo Explorers and the feedback we receive from the kids is fantastic. They especially love the hands on element, where they get to make various types of enrichment for our animals, like filling boxes with scented hay, and then watching the animals forage and play. Our giant African land snails, which can be longer than a child’s hand, and Dillon the armadillo are star attractions during the animal meet and greets.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Convener for The City of Edinburgh Council, said:
“The Council’s partnership programme with Edinburgh Zoo has enabled these children to have a unique day out. Across the year, the Council provides young people from different communities with access to a range of positive experiences such as learning about the life of a zookeeper. We support this service through contracts and grants and the Capital Coalition is determined to provide fair access to the best that Edinburgh has to offer, helping to ensure every child has the best start in life.”

RZSS runs a variety of educational workshops and outreach programmes with schools and groups all around Scotland with the aim of increasing awareness about the importance of conservation as well as to inspire the next generation into action. Funding received by players of People’s Postcode Lottery assists in the Society’s educational aims, including the Zoo Explorers programme.

Hazel Johnstone, Trusts Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery, said:

“I am pleased that the funding received from players of People’s Postcode Lottery is helping to further expand the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s educational projects both onsite and around Scotland.”

Zoo Explorers runs until Thursday 17 April.

LADIES’ LIFESTYLE EVENT POUT RETURNS TO THE CORN EXCHANGE

The award-winning ladies’ lifestyle event Pout is returning to the Corn Exchange in September.

The annual event, launched in 2012, has proven a huge success with a range of Edinburgh retailers – with national brands such as Debenhams and SemiChem and local bespoke, boutique retailers such as Odyssey Boutique, wo:mankind and Norton House Spa.

The weekend event, being held on September 27^th and 28^th, welcomed 3000 women last year and is targeted at aspirational women living in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Neil Rudram, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Corn Exchange, said:

“Pout is a fantastic event which, despite its brief history, has already become a key date in the calendar for women of all ages in the region. In 2012, 2000 women enjoyed the weekend and this figure jumped to 3000 in 2013. We are confident this year will be even bigger and better than ever.

“It is great to be able to showcase the vast array of beauty and lifestyle businesses Edinburgh and the Lothians has to offer and bring them all under one roof for a weekend of indulgent pampering.

“This is a great opportunity for businesses of all sizes to connect with thousands of women who are eager to hear how they can treat themselves and their friends and family locally.”

The Corn Exchange is currently building its menu of exhibitors and treatments for the September weekend as well as exploring sponsorship and partnership options.

For more information, contact Neil on neil.rudram@ece.uk.com or 0131 477 3500.

With only 100 days to go until the start of the Commonwealth Games, the City of Edinburgh Council and Dance Base are urging residents to show their online support for Scotland’s second teams for the chance to win tickets to Glasgow 2014 events.

The Support a 2nd Team programme, which is led by sportscotland, aims to encourage local communities to engage with the cultures of the Commonwealth and develop links with their nations and territories.

The City of Edinburgh Council and Active Schools is encouraging everyone to join in the fun by learning and performing the first ever ‘virtual flashmob Haka’.

To kick off the celebrations, a flashmob of young people took to the streets of the Grassmarket this afternoon to demonstrate their support for Edinburgh’s second team New Zealand in the 100 day run up to Glasgow 2014. The flashmob members, who performed their own version of the famous Maori ‘Haka’ dance and chant outside Dance Base, joined from Edinburgh Active Schools and community sports hubs.

Schools, community groups, clubs and businesses are encouraged to learn the moves and chants with a simple follow-along tutorial video. Groups can film their flashmob and send it to haka@dancebase.co.uk for inclusion in a final ‘virtual flashmob’ video which will be launched in July in time for the Commonwealth Games. The Virtual Flashmob Haka has been created by Dance Base and New Zealand dance company Taki Maori as part of the nationwide dance project Get Scotland Dancing, supported by Culture 2014.

Running alongside the virtual Haka competition, Edinburgh Council’s ActivCity hub for sport and physical activity is putting residents’ Commonwealth knowledge to the test by encouraging people to guess the name of the Capital’s ‘other’ second team for the chance to win further Commonwealth tickets. Social media followers can enter the competition by sending their responses as a direct message with the hashtag #Edinburgh2ndTeams to the @ActiveEdinburgh Twitter account, the social media hub for sport and fitness news in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh’s Festival and Events Champion, Councillor Steve Cardownie, said: “The countdown to the games is on and with just 100 days to go, I hope people will feel motivated to get involved and show their support for the Games and Edinburgh’s second teams.

“The Council’s team of Active Schools Co-ordinators encourage young people across the city to be excited by sport and more physically active. Based in schools across the Capital, they provide opportunities and motivation and it’s fitting that we have teamed up with Dancebase to offer everyone the chance to join in Edinburgh’s build up to the Commonwealth Games fun.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said: “With just 100 days to go until the Commonwealth Games begin, everyone has a role in making Scotland shine even brighter this summer – when Scotland takes centre stage and we can show the world it’s a great place to live, work and invest.

“Get Scotland Dancing is one of the government-supported legacy projects for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a cornerstone of the Cultural Programme.  It aims to create a lasting dance legacy for communities across Scotland, widening access to dance and strengthening the sector for the long-term.

“The Virtual Flash Mob is a fantastic way for local people to get involved in dance, get active and try something new while learning about New Zealand culture at the same time. It’s an innovative way of local people coming together and creating and celebrating their own legacy from the Games, and I’m pleased that through legacy programmes such as Community Sports Hubs, Get Scotland Dancing and Support a Second Team have inspired this to happen.”