Sport

The best golf courses in Edinburgh

Edinburgh and East Lothian courses include Musselburgh Links, Turnhouse, Gullane and Muirfield

16 Feb 2011

The game of golf got its first written mention in 1457, when King James II was so worried that his subjects were busy playing golf rather than practicing their archery that he issued an act of parliament, banning the game, with severe penalties for all…

Sports, activities and exercise in Edinburgh

Wide range of public sports and leisure centres in Scottish capital

16 Feb 2011

The people of Edinburgh are an active bunch, and the city has an enviable range of public sports and leisure centres that don’t cost the earth to use. The good news is that most of the facilities run by Edinburgh Leisure offer one-off classes and…

The best places to go horse riding near Edinburgh

Plenty of choice for places to explore the area on horseback

16 Feb 2011

Whether you’re an experienced rider or a complete novice, there’s plenty of choice in and around the city for saddling up and exploring the local area on horseback For sightseeing with a difference, try trekking at Tower Farm Riding Stables in…

Mark Beaumont to give talk at Edinburgh Book Festival

Enduring the elements on two wheels and two feet

18 Aug 2010

It’s been an incredible year for Mark Beaumont. Nine months cycling and mountaineering, solo, down the backbone of America were followed by three months of back-to-back public appearances. But before writing his second book – the first covers his…

Five sport shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2010

15 Jul 2010

From football and tennis to rugby and the Olympics, these shows go for the win.

Edinburgh Festival of Sport

2 Jun 2010

It’s a sad but true fact that the closest many parents come to sporting activity is dropping their kids off at the swimming pool or standing at the touchline on a Saturday morning. Which is why Edinburgh’s Active Schools campaign has just launched its…

How to get fit through jogging, swimming, skateboarding, frisbee and tennis

14 May 2010

Hey you! Lazybones! It’s warm outside, which means there’s no excuse for your sofa addiction anymore. Niki Boyle has the best suggestions for getting sporty through spring and summer...

The Blind Side

22 Mar 2010

(12A) 128min If movies could be made out of human foreskins, Kentucky Fried Chickenbuckets and American Football sponsorship deals, The Blind Side is the film the Republican Party would make to fund their next attempt to hang some chads. Based on…

Homeless World Cup Charity 5-a-side Tournament

9 Jul 2009

A charity footie tournament for teams of 5–7 players in aid of The Homeless World Cup Foundation (the cup takes place in Milan this year). Email: info@powerleague.co.uk or call 0141 847 5565 to enter. Powerleague, Kennedy Street, Glasgow, Sun 19 Jul.

In a League of Their Own - the best sports movies ever

19 Mar 2009

The release this month of controversial documentary Tyson and Michael Sheen football drama The Damned Utd reminded us just how unreliable the sports movie can be. So here, in no particular order, are some gold medal contenders and some first round exits

Own Goal - the worst sports movies ever

19 Mar 2009

Legolas the boxer? Sexing up carpet bowls? You’ve got to be kidding. Herein lie some of the worst sports movies ever.

International Scottish Student Festival

5 Mar 2009

A student party with a bit of a twist. This day long festival has been specially put together to celebrate the diversity of international students coming to Scotland. Crammed into the programme of events are various musical workshops (pictured)…

The Wrestler

8 Jan 2009

DRAMA/SPORT ‘What happened, did the price of tights go up?’ a sneering store-manager taunts Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke) when the impoverished wrestling star comes looking for work. Fighting a losing battle with his own finances, Randy…

Fighters •••• & Real Money •••

8 Jan 2009

SPORT/BOX SET Ron Peck’s 1991 documentary on boxing is a romantic, idealised, even sentimental portrayal of a sport often denounced as brutal and barbaric. Die-hard lovers of boisterous fight night atmosphere may be baffled: any action in the ring…

World International Acrobatics Championships

2 Oct 2008

The cream of the British acrobatic crop are gathering in Glasgow to compete over ten days against stiff competition from countries including Russia and China. Bring along a Union Jack to wave, and prepare to be amazed, excited or maybe just thoroughly…

Air apparent

2 Oct 2008

I am so stupid. I’m shuffling forward on a bench in a King Air plane above Hollister, California. Only now, at 15,000 feet, after a quarter of an hour of shivery anticipation, and a mere stride from an open door to the sky, do I realise the implications…

The Autumn Tests

1 Oct 2008

The Saffa Daniel Kemp came to Scotland as a backpacker and decided not to leave. He now lives in Oban after marrying the manageress of a local hostel. He enjoys fishing and is looking to join the army. How do you rate Scotland’s chances…

Also Published - 5 Football Books

21 Aug 2008

Lou Macari - Football: My Life The former Celtic and West Ham manager tells of a controversial and tragic life in and out of the game. Bantam. Giles Smith - We Need to Talk About Kevin Keegan Subtitled ‘A Bumper Book of Football Writing’, this…

Kickboxing

31 Jul 2008

It’s nothing to do with overdosing on Buffy the Vampire Slayer re-runs, kickboxing is meant to be a great work out. ‘And let’s face it, would you rather I vent my frustrations at you or focus them onto a well padded target?’ I ask my rather frightened…

Three others to try: Exotic and physical

31 Jul 2008

Capoeira An Brazilian blend of dance, martial arts and acrobatics, capoeira is not for the faint-hearted. Re-enact Vincent Cassel’s leaps through the lasers in Ocean’s Twelve with Group Senzala, who are one of the most famous capoeira groups in the…

Superstars

3 Jul 2008

SPORT Five, Fri 11 Jul, 8pm Sporting life was very different in the 1970s. Kevin Keegan had bubblier hair, the only athletes who used artificial enhancement to boost their performance seemed to be born female in East Germany and it was still possible…

Three others to try: Beach sports

10 Apr 2008

Body boarding If kids can catch waves by standing in the water with a polystyrene board and waiting, so can the most clumsy of adults. This is an ideal introduction to surfing, as body boards are smaller, lighter and cheaper than surf boards. Coast to…

Three others to try: Alternative Fitness

27 Mar 2008

Hula Hoopla classes Another blast from the past, this playground game is a great way to tighten flabby waistlines, slim hips and improve your Elvis-pelvis dance moves. Dance Base, Edinburgh (www.dancebase.co.uk, 0131 225 5525) pay-as-you-go classes…

Scotland vs Italy

15 Nov 2007

This is it, folks. The big one. The day when our nation discovers if we can turn 400+ years of entrenched pessimism into something beautiful. No, we don’t think we’re overreacting about this at all. Get your lucky rabbit’s foot out, let your epidermis…

Michael Weinreb

The Kings of New York (Yellow Jersey)

12 Mar 2007

SPORT Chess attracts both child prodigies and general oddballs, both of which can be found in abundance in this well-constructed and intriguing book about American’s top high school chess team. The Edward R Murrow School in Brooklyn is an…