AS a rule, I try to keep the diary light-hearted and fun. No, honestly, I do. This week though, I’ve shifted the goalposts slightly. You may have seen earlier this week reports of the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) in to four deaths at rallying events in Scotland, one on the 2013 Snowman Rally, the others during the 2014 Jim Clark Rally.
The gist of most news reporting was that the three fatalities on the Jim Clark tarmac rally were avoidable, had, as the sheriff stated, a designated zone had been “created, delineated and identified” so it “clearly prohibited spectators or photographers from standing anywhere in that area”. I get that, as most people do.
What most people didn’t get to see was that tucked away in the sheriff’s determination, spread over 171 pages and condensed in to just the 62,000-plus words was evidence stating that of those who died on the Jim Clark rally, personal warnings had been given that they were standing in a dangerous place, while signage warns ‘motorsport is dangerous.’
Yet this week, some claimed they hadn’t realised the dangers of being a few feet away from cars doing 80mph, using the ‘no-one told us’ line.
Legislation may have helped. But so would have some common sense.
LAST Saturday at Murrayfield was a game and a half when Scotland took on New Zealand, and a day and a half for a certain Doddie Weir. The 67,000 sell out crowd rose as one as Doddie walked on to the pitch to deliver the match ball, flanked by sons Hamish, Angus and Ben.
It was moving occasion, and one superbly managed by the Scottish Rugby Union for one of their own. I speak for many when I say to the SRU, a heartfelt thank you.
MONDAY saw the draw made for the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup, with 1998 cup winner Colin Cameron joined in the Sky Sports studio by Doddie Weir, who claimed he used to play football for Stow. Any evidence of that would be welcome.
The boys were given their brief and two practices just to make sure everything ran smoothly. I’ve read folk on social media witnessing these rehearsals and the glamour ties we could have had.
Well, in the two trial draws, not one single tie of note stood out, unlike the real draw which delivered both a Lanarkshire and an Edinburgh derby.
One for the conspiracy theorists to consider.
LASTLY, I noted from the Europa League games on Thursday that Partizan Belgrade beat Young Boys. Nothing strange in that, except the Partizan side included a Marko Jankovic, a Marko Jevtovic and a Marko Jovicic, in addition to two players called Nemanja Miletic numbered 73 and 26 to avoid confusion.
This is almost back to the good old pre-season games where four ‘Trialists,’ two ‘Newman’ and a Junior or three would be listed to play.
I also recall a Paul Taylor and a Paul H Taylor (‘H’ was for Henry) playing for East Fife in the 90’s. On one occasion – a cup tie against Hibs – I wrote the latter had ‘failed the litmus test.’
Chemistry O level me.
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