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GALLOWAY MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM AID INJURED TEENAGER

INJURED TEENAGE WALKER RESCUED

 

About 6.10pm on Saturday 8th February 2014, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team were called out to rescue an injured teenage walker who had injured her leg whilst walking on the Merrick footpath near Loch Trool.

 

The young lady was treated by our Casualty Carers at the scene before being stretchered off the hill to an awaiting ambulance.

 

Ken MacKenzie, Depute Team Leader who co-ordinated the rescue said

“We had fourteen personnel involved in the casualty evacuation. The Merrick path is rough and bouldery; very wet and muddy in places. Our casualty took a nasty slip and this unfortunately enkindled an old injury. She was unable to weight bear, so we had to administer pain relief and stretcher her off the hill to an awaiting ambulance”.

 

The casualty was one of a group of walkers intent on staying overnight in a nearby bothy before ascending the Merrick hill on Sunday morning.

 

For more information about the voluntary activities of Galloway MRT including details of incidents, training, walk routes and much more, visit www.gallowaymrt.org.uk.

 

QUEENS SIGN MARK KERR

Mark Kerr Signs On

The club has today completed the signing of Mark Kerr for the rest of the season. Mark, who will be 32 next month was recently released by Partick Thistle but has previously had spells with Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Aberdeen, Dundee United and of course started his career with tomorrow`s opponents Falkirk. He also had a year and a half playing in Greece.

Mark will be available for selection against Falkirk and we welcome him to Palmerston.

Manager Jim McIntyre said, “Mark is a fantastic addition to the squad and I`m delighted to have him on board. He has a wealth of experience and he will be great with the younger players.”

CASTLE DOUGLAS CHIPPY CELEBRATES NATIONAL CHIP WEEK (17-23 February 2014)

Chip Week – Celebrating a traditional British treat

with Moore’s Fish and Chip Shop

National Chip week is celebrating its 23rd Year (17-23 February 2014) across the country to celebrate this great British favourite with events and activities in fish and chip shops and restaurants across the country including Moore’s Fish and Chip Shop in Castle Douglas.

 

To celebrate Chip Week (17-23 February), Moore’s are running a competition to Guess the number of Portions of Chips Sold During chip week (17-23 February) where one lucky winner will win a voucher for Two Fish Suppers to spend in the shop. We are also donating 20p from each portion of chips sold to raise money for the Learning Centre Castle Douglas Primary School

 

 

 

Andrew Moore, Owner of Moore’s Fish and Chip Shop says “Chip Week is a great opportunity to remind people how much they enjoy this great British tradition” Moore’s Fish and Chip Shop has been in the family and open for 37 years.

Andrew also stated that over the past year the shop has changed dramatically but the food is still the High Quality Traditional Product that we have always produced.

 

Chip Week, which is run by Potato Council who is funded by potato growers and potato trade purchasers, has a host of interesting recipes, facts and figures

and a Chip Week Quiz at www.chips.lovepotatoes.co.uk

 

 

 

D&G Council Leader and Depute Leader speak out against Police Control Room closures

Council Leader and Depute Leader speak out against Police Control Room closures

Thursday, 06 February 2014 10:41 AM
At today’s meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council (Thursday 6 February), Council Leader Ronnie Nicholson gave a strong statement on his views about the closure of the Police Control Room in Dumfries. The closure by Police Scotland was approved at last week’s meeting of the Scottish Police Authority. Councillor Nicholson said, “On Wednesday 22 January, both the Depute Leader and I met with Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick of Police Scotland. We raised our concerns over the future of the Police Control Room and we stressed that before any final decisions were made there was a need for consultation with partners, including local authorities. DCC Fitzpatrick stated she had no details that any announcement or decision was imminent, but gave a commitment there would be early engagement and dialogue before any changes were made. Twenty-four hours later the proposal to close Dumfries Control Room was on the front page of the Herald newspaper. This has left both the Depute Leader and I believing that we were misled by Police Scotland and questioning Police Scotland’s commitment at national level to any meaningful partnership working and engagement. I took the opportunity to raise this at the COSLA Leaders’ meeting on Friday 31 January 2014 and the matter will be further debated by COSLA Leaders at their February meeting. The proposals for Police Control Room closures were published formally on 24 January with just one week’s notice before the Scottish Police Authority’s meeting. Ahead of the meeting the Depute Leader and I made representations to both the Police Authority and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice. However, the proposals were effectively rubber stamped by the Authority members with no dissent and little meaningful scrutiny. The proposals in relation to Dumfries will mean that in just over 2 months time the control room locally will close with the loss of 34 civilian staff jobs. Dumfries was chosen as the first stage of the transition, despite it being the most difficult commute option for alternative control room employment. It is clear from speaking to staff that redeployment is simply not an option. This is compulsory redundancy for those staff by another name. This is not necessarily an issue about the rights or wrongs of a Scotland wide Police force or even whether Police Scotland’s argument regarding technology improving services is valid or not. For me, it is an issue about whether we have a police force that is seriously interested in working in partnership with local authorities, what, if any, the relationship is between the Scottish Police Authority and local communities and most importantly it is about ensuring that there is a fair distribution of civil service jobs in every part of Scotland, whether that is Police Scotland or any other national public body. If we are to genuinely have a Scotland wide police service that isn’t just about having a distribution of officers in our region, we also need to have our fair share of civilian posts. I will be writing to Police Scotland’s Chief Constable, Sir Stephen House, to request a meeting to raise this point, to discuss whether any alternatives to the Dumfries closure will be considered, but also my concerns over the relationship between Police Scotland and local authorities. I will also be writing to Vic Emmery, the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority to request a separate meeting to discuss my concerns over the way in which they handled these proposals and their complete failure to press Police Scotland on what their strategic plans are for the Police service. Police Scotland are simply bringing forward proposals on an ad hoc basis that are being nodded through by the Police Authority, without any clear vision of what the future structure of the service should be and what that means for communities such as Dumfries and Galloway and the dedicated staff and officers who serve our region. My message from this council to Police Scotland is very clear. If you are to go ahead with this closure then the only way you can be fully recognised as a service for the whole of Scotland is to ensure that you locate other functions in Dumfries to provide staff losing their posts with alternative employment. Councillor Nicholson asked the councillors to agree to place on record the Council’s unanimous opposition to the closure of Dumfries Police Control Room and the way on which the decision was handled. He also asked councillors to give their full support to Control Room employees who will become redundant shortly. To support these staff, councillors agreed to the Council making every effort in pursuing Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to either cancel or postpone the closure proposals and consider ways of either continuing with the Control Room in Dumfries or providing suitable alternative employment for these employees, who realistically do not have the opportunity of redeploying to the central belt. Depute Leader, Brian Collins, gave support to the views of the Leader on the issue of the closures. He said “The Leader and I met with DCC Rose Fitzpatrick on 22nd February. It is not that long ago that this Council was the police authority for our region. Such a meeting would therefore have been commonplace until recently. Certainly it would not have been so out of the ordinary that either you or I could be in any way mistaken about what was, and more importantly, was not said about Dumfries control room. As the police authority for our region we were accustomed to enjoying a good relationship with our local police officers of all ranks. Our understandable disappointment at senior commanders of Police Scotland aside, I have every confidence in Chief Superintendent Kate Thomson and the officers of V Division. I think we do have a good working relationship and, for my part, I am determined that will continue. As the police authority many members here have considerable experience of scrutinising the police and holding its senior officers to account. We have done so for years. I saw very little either of scrutiny or of holding Police Scotland to account in the Scottish Police Authority’s consideration of the control rooms proposal at their meeting last week. I can only imagine how galling it will have been for the control room staff I met last week to see the proposal agreed, unamended, leaving them the first to face the consequences of closure in a matter of weeks from now. It is not Police Scotland’s function to deliver economic regeneration – that is our job. Aspects of the case they made in favour of reorganising control rooms are persuasive. However, it is, in my view, the role of the Scottish Police Authority to balance the operational needs of the police force with the wider interests of ensuring that the benefits of public sector jobs are distributed throughout Scotland. In that regard at least they have failed the South of Scotland. Although the SPA has made its decision, we should not let the matter lie there. It is entirely right that we continue to pursue the interests of those civilian staff who, as you say, face redundancy in all but name. We have had far too little time to respond to this situation, but we have not been idle. I too hope that all members will support the actions this Administration has already taken, and what we propose to do next, to promote this region’s interests, send a clear message that the way this has been sprung on our region is unacceptable, and do the best we can for the staff.”

CLOTHING ON STORAGE HEATER CAUSES FLAT FIRE IN DUMFRIES

A flat in Dumfries sustained significant damage from flames, heat and smoke after a fire took hold in the early hours of Thursday (6 February).

 

Two Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews from Dumfries responded to the incident at the town’s Kirkpatrick Court shortly after 2:20am, with firefighters reaching the scene around six minutes after a member of the public made a 999 call.

 

Station Manager Craig McGoldrick said: “The incident commander sent two firefighters into the property wearing breathing apparatus and equipped with a hosereel water jet.

 

“They found a fire had broken out within the living room and successfully extinguished the flames before they could spread, however the remainder of the property and the block’s communal stairwell had been damaged by smoke.

 

“Fortunately no-one was hurt in this incident but it is a clear reminder that fire can strike anywhere at any time.

 

“This fire appears to have been caused by clothing having been left on a storage heater and we urge anyone with portable heating appliances to be mindful of the risk and make sure they use their devices safely.

 

“Any type of portable heater can start a fire if it is used incorrectly so it’s vital people read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions before using one.

 

“They should always be switched off before you go to bed and things like furniture, bedding, curtains and clothing should never be placed too close as the heater could cause them to ignite.”

 

Firefighters in Dumfries and Galloway, like their colleagues throughout Scotland, constantly work to reduce the number of fires by taking potentially life-saving advice to residents of their communities.

 

By working closely with members of the public and their fellow professionals from health, housing, education, social work, police and other agencies, firefighters have seen a steady drop in the number of fire-related deaths and injuries over the past decade.

 

House fires remain a significant threat to life, property and the local economy however, and SFRS officers are determined to continue working to reach those who could most benefit from their advice and support.

 

Station Manager McGoldrick continued: “Even where no-one is hurt or killed, fire in the home is incredibly traumatic and often leaves deep emotional trauma in its wake.

 

“Small fires can cause massive damage to property meaning significant financial cost to the people involved and the loss of cherished possessions that can never be replaced.

 

“Working smoke alarms give people the best chance of escaping a fire in the home without injury and it is absolutely vital every property is protected by these life-saving devices.

 

“In quickly drawing attention to the danger, working smoke alarms not only buy vital time for people to get to safety, they also raise the chance firefighters will be able to limit the damage by stopping the flames from spreading.

 

“We need the public’s help to protect our communities. Many of us look out for someone who could be vulnerable and it’s important we put them in touch with the fire service so the right support can be provided.

 

“Thousands of people have already benefited from a free home fire safety visit, where local firefighters pop round at a convenient time to share some tips and provide welcome reassurance.

 

“It’s a very effective programme that has proven hugely popular, so if anyone thinks they or someone they know could benefit, then we want to hear from them.”

 

Anyone can join Scotland’s fight against fire and register for a free home fire safety visit by calling 0800 0731 999 or texting ‘check’ to 61611. They can also fill out a form at www.firescotland.gov.uk or contact their local fire station.

 

SFRS has published advice to ensure home heating appliances are used safely, which can be found at www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/for-householders/home-heating.aspx

CCTV FOOTAGE OF MISSING ANNAN MAN RELEASED

MISSING ANNAN MAN – CCTV IMAGE RELEASED

 

Police in Annan have released a CCTV image of missing man Ian Carruthers in the hope it might prompt memories of local people who may have seen him on the evening he went missing.

 

The image was taken at the Coop in Annan at around 20.00hrs on Thursday 16 January, around five hours before he went missing. Police believe these are the clothes he was wearing when he went missing.

 

Ian was last seen at around 01.30hrs on Friday 17 in the Longmeadow Avenue area of the town. Despite widespread searches, numerous appeals and extensive police investigations, his disappearance still remains a mystery.

 

Throughout the detailed investigation police have used specialist search officers, the police helicopter and also had assistance from local partner agencies including the Coastguard, Nith Inshore Rescue, Fire and Rescue Service and the Moffat Mountain Rescue Team.

 

Chief Inspector Steven Lowther said: “We hope the new image might stir someone’s memory of the night Ian went missing.

 

“The response from the local community has been magnificent and I would like to personally thank them for their support to our investigation. However we are still keen to speak to anyone who may have any information on Ian’s whereabouts or even if they saw him during the night he went missing. We have been building up a picture of his movements in the lead up to his disappearance and any extra information would be useful towards the enquiry, no matter how small and insignificant they think it might be.

“We are also aware of some inaccurate rumours that are circulating in the town regarding the possible circumstances of Ian’s disappearance. I would like to stress that unfounded gossip hinders any police investigation and causes further distress to the family involved.

 

“I would like to remind everyone that this remains a live missing person enquiry and we are committed in continuing our investigation into Ian’s disappearance. If anyone has any information please contact Annan police on 101.”

 

MOVE TO ENCOURAGE LESS FOOD WASTE

Cut food waste to save more money

New campaign calls on Scots to stop wasting and start recycling food.

 

Waste less food and save around £470 a year. That’s the message of the new food waste campaign from the Scottish Government, which is encouraging Scots to reduce the amount of food they waste, and start recycling what they can’t use.

As a nation, we waste one fifth of the food we buy every year – most of which could have been avoided. It’s expensive and it’s bad for our environment. 630,000 tonnes of food and drink is thrown away annually – costing Scots over £1billion and creating harmful greenhouse gases.

This national campaign seeks to demonstrate that by making small changes and reducing the amount of food thrown away – families can save an average of nearly £40 a month and do their bit for the environment.

With more than one million households – that’s over half (53%) of the country – now part of local food waste collection schemes, it also aims to get Scots recycling foods that can’t be used like banana skins, bones and tea bags.

Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead said:

“If we used up all the food and drink we currently waste, it would cut carbon emissions equal to taking one in four cars off Scotland’s roads. We all waste food without thinking, but by making a few small changes, we can make a big difference to our budgets and the environment. By shopping smarter and wasting less we can save money and help create a greener, cleaner Scotland now and for the future.

“The best thing we can all do is to prevent food waste, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. As well as helping people to reduce food waste, this year’s campaign is encouraging Scots to recycle the food they can’t use, by using food waste collection services which have now been rolled out in more than 50 percent of the country, or by composting at home where these services aren’t available. By reducing the amount of food that ends up in landfill, we’ll be cutting harmful greenhouse gases.”

The new call comes a month after new waste regulation rules came into effect for Scottish businesses making it compulsory for all businesses in Scotland to recycle key materials including food waste.

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland said:

“We’re seeing a really positive change in attitudes to food waste across the country. We want to continue building on this; raising awareness of the environmental and economic impact of food waste and offering practical advice to help householders waste less and save money.

“Food waste that cannot be used or avoided is easily recycled or composted. Over half of households across the country now have access to food recycling services and councils are continuing to roll these out in towns and cities nationwide. Recycling food waste can also generate renewable energy and be turned into a fertiliser to benefit Scottish farmers.”

For Scots who don’t yet have access to a food waste collection, composting is an easy alternative. There are a number of ways to produce compost and there are methods available to suit all lifestyles – go to greenerscotland.org for all the information you need to get started.

The national Food Waste drive is supported by TV advertising, outdoor, media, press and social media. It will also take to the streets with a national information roadshow visiting towns and cities in every local authority across Scotland. Key partnerships with leading retailers and supermarkets are also being developed.

The Scottish Government has committed to ambitious climate change targets of a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2020 and an 80 per cent reduction by 2050. This includes a ban on food waste, from landfill by the end of 2020, which will help reduce emissions.

For more tips and information on wasting less food, recycling and local food waste collections services in your area go to greenerscotland.org

 

 

All stats – Zero Waste Scotland

SOLWAY SHARKS UPDATE

 

Match Report


 

This weekend the Magnox Ltd. Solway Sharks welcome the Sheffield Spartans to the Shark Tank for our final league encounter of the season. The Spartans currently lie in sixth place in the league but are just five points behind fourth placed Sutton Sting in the race to qualify for the end of season Play-Off Weekend to be held here in Dumfries in the middle of April. Just before New Year the Spartans produced one of the performances of the season when they beat the Sharks three-two on their home ice and they will be eager to add a road victory over the league leaders. Last weekend the Sharks added four vital points to their haul for the season with wins in Manchester and Telford and are now just six points away from retaining their league championship crown. Face-off at Dumfries Ice Bowl for what promises to be an enthralling encounter is at the usual time of 7pm on Saturday evening.

The Solway Sharks, sponsored by Magnox Ltd, were well below their best when they travelled down to Altrincham on last Saturday but despite a spirited effort from the Manchester Minotaurs the Sharks eventually came home three-two winners despite a last minute scare.

After a fairly mundane start to the game it appeared to be business as usual for the Sharks in the seventh minute when Stevie Moore latched onto a Bob Chalmers pass and sped through the centre of the home defence. As he crossed the blueline he looked up and saw that the Manchester netminder was favouring her near post so chose to shoot high to the far post. Jackson did well to get her blocker to the shot but could only divert the puck into the roof of the net. If Solway thought they were to be on easy street then Manchester had other ideas. As the ninth minute approached Brian Worrall and danger man Lukas Zemen combined well on the left before feeding Jarred Dickinson in the right-hand face-off circle and his shot eluded netminder Gary Russell’s grasp and found the net via the far post. Worse was to come for Solway four minutes later with Zemen again the provider this time to Brian Worrall who shot speculatively from the right wing and to his delight watched as his shot found the back of the net. The Sharks attempted to pick up the pace for the remainder of the period but they found the Manchester defence resolute and netminder Nichole Jackson in excellent form when called into action. 

Four minutes into the second session Solway levelled the scores when Bob Chalmers and Frazer Goldie combined on the left to find Pavol Melichercik on the Minotaurs blueline. The Slovakian forward sprang into life and sped across the face-off circle before he cut sharply across the face of Jackson’s goal and pulled his shot around the keeper and into the net. Just after the mid-way point in the match Joe Coulter did well to force his way through the centre of the opposition’s defence, but with Struan Tonnar free to his right, he chose to shoot low only to see Jackson make another excellent save at her post. With five minutes remaining in the period Stevie Moore picked off a Manchester pass in his own defence and passed square to Ciaran Quinn, immediately the Solway “D-man” looked up and spotted Ross Murray free on the right. The pass was perfect weight to send the Sharks forward through on goal and with time on his side Murray picked his spot and fired home the go-ahead goal from the high slot.

The final session saw a closely contested encounter with both sides aware that the points were there for the taking with Solway generally holding the greater share of possession and territory. The fact that there was to be no more scoring in the game was down to resolute defending from the Sharks and another excellent display of goal-tending from Nichole Jackson for the Minotaurs. It was looking like Solway would contain the Minotaurs with a professional road performance as the game entered its final minute but the home side had other ideas and made one final push to level the scores. With just four seconds left on the clock Jarred Dickinson found himself totally free in front of goal, his shot beat Gary Russell but he could only look on in despair as his shot cannoned off the Sharks goal frame. As the Manchester man hung his head in despair the hooter sounded to end the match.

Scoring statistics for the Sharks were as follows: Stevie Moore one goal and one assist, Pavol Melichercik and Ross Murray both 1+0, Robert Chalmers 0+2, Ciaran Quinn, Juraj Senko and Frazer Goldie all 0+1. Gary Russell in the Sharks goal saved seventeen of the nineteen shots that he faced (save percentage 89.47%).

 

On Sunday the Magnox Ltd. Solway Sharks made the long journey down to Telford to face the improving Titans. The home side have been bolstered in recent weeks with the return of some old players and the addition of some fringe players from the EPL Tigers. With the Titans picking up their first point of the season the previous Sunday through a five-five draw with Whitley the Sharks knew they would be in for a tough game.

After a scoreless first period where defences were generally on top the Sharks stepped up a gear as the second session got underway and got their reward six minutes later. On a powerplay Alan Crane and Bob Chalmers combined to allow Juraj Senko a shooting opportunity and the likeable big “D-Man” duly found the net. The Sharks scented blood and continued to press the Titans and on the twenty-nine minute mark Pavol Melichercik provided the pass for Conor Henderson to double their advantage with a neat finish. Solway were not content and continued to drive home their advantage. Five minutes later Craig Thurston slotted home a Frazer Goldie pass to make it three-nil and with just forty-five seconds left in the period he was on the score sheet again when he coolly netted after good work from Melichercik and Henderson.

If the Titans held out any hopes of a third session revival they were to be disappointed as the Sharks netted twice in the first five minutes of the final session. Firstly when Struan Tonnar made the score five-nil when he converted a Senko pass and then Pavol Melichercik fired home after being set up by Frazer Goldie. To their credit the Titans kept fighting to the end and in the fifty-second minute they got a consolation powerplay goal when Maccauley Heyward set up Paul Davies to score.

Scoring statistics for the Sharks were as follows: Solway’s Man of the Match Craig Thurston two goals and no assists, Pavol Melichercik 1+2, Juraj Senko and Conor Henderson both 1+1, Struan Tonnar 1+0, Frazer Goldie 0+2, Bob Chalmers and Alan Crane both 0+1. Gary Russell in the Solway goal saved all sixteen shots that he faced (save percentage 100%) before being replaced for the last twelve minutes by Kieran Hobbins who saved three of the four shots that he faced (save percentage 75%).

An Afternoon with the Artists – and Create Your Own Jewellery

 

Meet leading artists and makers from beautiful Dumfries and Galloway at Glasgow’s Lighthouse centre for design

Spend an afternoon with three leading Dumfries and Galloway artists and makers – learn to make jewellery from buttons, beads and bits of old bra.

An Afternoon with the Artists takes place at The Lighthouse in Glasgow, on Saturday 8 February from 1pm to 4pm and is free – but places need to be booked in advance.

It is a chance to hear talks by renowned glass maker Amanda Simmons and printmaker Colin Blanchard. Jeweller Alison Macleod will lead a workshop on making jewellery from found objects, and participants are invited to bring small objects along which they can transform.

All three currently have work in the D&G|OUT exhibition at the Lighthouse, which showcases 18 makers, designers and artists with strong links to Dumfries and Galloway and runs until 22 February.

The exhibition and afternoon event have been produced by the D&G visual art and craft organisation Spring Fling.

Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “This will be a really enjoyable afternoon, with three wonderful artists and makers.

“Alison produces exquisite jewellery using found items – turning buttons, beads, gaming pieces and even bits of old bra into something precious.

“Colin’s love of wildlife comes through in his art, and he has a deep passion for original printmaking.

“We are also very lucky to have Amanda taking part – her glass is quite amazing – and talking about her experiences working round the world from the Scottish Highland to Chicago.”

Spring Fling is best known for running Scotland’s premier open studios visual art and craft event. Over the last 11 years this has earned an estimated £7,100,000 for the regional economy – bringing in around £1 million in 2013.

For tickets to An Afternoon with the Artists go to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dgout-artist-talks-and-workshop-tickets-9577359139

Spring Fling is organising three national exhibitions exhibitions, all of which have been made possible by a crowdfunding appeal which raised £3,000. They take place at:

D&G|OUT: The Lighthouse

Cutting edge design by makers with a national and international profile, this exhibition will include a series of artists’ talks and workshops.

31 January – 22 February

Preview: Thursday 30 January 6-8pm

The Lighthouse

11 Mitchell Lane

Glasgow G1 3NU

D&G|OUT: The Biscuit Factory

The UK’s largest commercial gallery presents a collection of visual art and craft.

9 April – 18 May

Preview: Friday 11 April 6-8pm

The Biscuit Factory

16 Stoddart St

Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1AN

D&G|OUT: James Harvey Fine Art

Dumfries and Galloway pops up in Chelsea: this short exhibition of visual art and sculpture will include a series of talks and workshops.

24 – 26 April

Preview: Wednesday 23 April 6-8pm

James Harvey Fine Art

15 Langton St

London SW10 0JL

Get your skates on to volunteer at the IIHF Championship

Get your skates on to volunteer at the IIHF Championship

The organising committee of the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, being held at Dumfries Ice Bowl, is looking for enthusiastic people who can help as off-ice officials for various roles throughout the tournament. The forthcoming Championship takes place in March 2014 where the following teams will take on the home team, Great Britain.

24th – 30th March 2014: Under 18’s Men – Korea; Croatia; Romania; Lithuania; Netherlands

Roles that are available include goal judges, penalty box assistants, game sheet assistants and game statistics assistants. Training and support will be offered for anyone that can volunteer their time and be part of the backroom team for the Championship. We would also be interested in hearing from anyone interested in volunteering as an official tournament driver.

Becoming a volunteer is a brilliant opportunity to be a part of an amazing international event. Previous volunteers have enjoyed privileges such as free fleeces and tickets for games, but the benefits go far beyond that.

Kirsty is someone who had never previously volunteered at an ice hockey match but was inspired to help out at such a big event.

“I enjoyed volunteering at last year’s IIHF World Championship as it was a great opportunity to be involved in such a big event that had a great atmosphere. I am volunteering again this year as I had a great time last year and would recommend anyone to get involved as I didn’t know much about Ice Hockey but I learned a lot while helping out and think it is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in an exciting event in our local area.” Kirsty Robertson

Councillor Colin Smyth, the Council’s Event Champion says:

“The Council really wants to celebrate the Championship with the local community, and becoming a volunteer is a great way to be a part of a world class sporting occasion. Ice Hockey is a thrilling live sport to enjoy and we want to continue the excellent work that was started in December at the under 20’s.”

If you are interested in volunteering your time at one of the events, please get in touch with Scott McMeeken for more information:

Scott McMeeken – Priority Sports Officer

DG One Leisure Complex, Hoods Loaning, Dumfries, DG1 2HT.

Email: [email protected]    Mobile: 0782470