SCHOOL SPORTS: WHEN WILL PARENTS BE ALLOWED TO WATCH THEIR CHILDREN TAKING PART?
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Free pictures on behalf of West Dunbartonshire council.
2019 Loch Lomond Highland games at the Moss O' Balloch. A record number of visitors turned out to watch the popular annual Loch Lomond Highland Games at Balloch today.
More than 9,000 visitors attended the event, in Moss OÕBalloch Park, for a range of traditional highland game competitions including cycling, running, hammer throwing and heavy weights and the traditional tossing of the caber and tug-of-war.
Dancers entertained the crowds by performing traditional highland dances with their immaculate costumes and perfect hair, and spectators enjoyed music from Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun and Tulliallan pipes and drums.
The popular games welcomed visitors from as far afield as Germany and Canada who travelled to Scotland to enjoy the traditional Scottish games and was broadcasted to millions of viewers in China watching Chinese travel programme ÔZhuÕs life in BritainÕ.
Aynsley Gouck, Assistant Director of Niagra Highland Dance Academy, said ÒWe are over from Ontario Canada and we are attending four Highland Games during our visit. We love Balloch itÕs a beautiful area of Scotland and weÕve been looking forward to our visit. The Highland Dancing competition is very well organised and the girls are very honoured to be dancing in Scotland.Ó
German friends Tina and Arthur Helbig and Kirsten and Volber Rademacher, said: ÒWe are in Scotland for 10 days and although weÕre not staying in Balloch we couldnÕt miss this event. ItÕs a great to see all the smart girls in their beautiful Highland dress and hear the pipe band. We are very excited to be here today.Ó
West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl, said: "This yearÕs event was a fantastic day and helped by the wonderful weather. Well done to all the competitors for putting on a great show and thanks to the spectators for encouraging the athletes and putting on a great show. ItÕs always lovely to meet visitors who have travelled around the world to attend this great event. I am proud of our Scottish heritage and the Games are a great way for tourists and visitors to get a true taste of Scotland. Well done to the GamesÕ committee, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust and West Dunbartonshire Council on organising yet another hugely successful event.Ó
The Chieftain of the Loch Lomond Highland Games, Major James Macrae said: "I am delighted with this yearÕs event which has been a great success and has been very well attended. WeÕve been really fortunate with the weather the last two years and we are grateful to the thousands who came along, which is great testament to everyone involved in organising the Games. Over the years, the games have attracted contestants and spectators from home and abroad every year and I would like to thank everyone who played their part in making this yearÕs games a huge success. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our contestants and sponsors, in particular West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, for their continued support."
For a full round up of results please visit Loch Lomond High Games website at www.llhgb.com
Copyright photo by Paul Chappells, 07774730898
www.paulphoto.co.uk
Picture by Bill Heaney
By Bill Heaney
When are parents going to be allowed to watch their children taking part in school sports on a Saturday morning – or any other day for that matter?
MSP Jeremy Balfour asked the SNP Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville, to provide an update on when parents will be permitted to attend school sports to watch their children play.
But Ms Somerville, pictured right, told him: “Our priority is keeping children, young people and school staff safe. The guidance on reducing Covid risks in schools is in line with the current advice from the Covid-19 scientific advisory sub-group on education and children’s issues. The sub-group keeps the mitigations in schools and early learning and childcare settings under constant review.
“It considered the issue of parental attendance at school sporting events at its meeting on Tuesday 21 September, and it will provide advice to ministers on that and other issues in due course. We will consider that advice, and we will announce the outcome as soon as possible.”
Jeremy Balfour was not content with her reply. He told the Minister: “I find it incredibly strange that, on Saturday morning, when my girls are playing football, I cannot watch them but, on Saturday afternoon, when we go to the local running club, I am able to go and watch them. Why the difference between a school activity and an activity run by a club? Are parents not entitled to go to both?”
She replied: “That is very much being kept under review, and it has been the subject of a most recent discussion within the scientific advisory sub-group. It was also briefly discussed at the Covid-19 education recovery group—CERG—this morning.
“I absolutely recognise the situation that Jeremy Balfour talks about, and that is exactly why the sub-group has been assessing the evidence. I will consider that evidence in due course, when it is presented to me, and I will of course ensure that we provide an update on it as soon as possible.”
Mr Balfour’s Conservative colleague, Liz Smith, said: “I listened carefully to the reply to Jeremy Balfour. The cabinet secretary will know that I am not the only member who has received, throughout the summer, a considerable number of emails from parents right across Scotland asking what the logic is behind the decision.
“They want to know why they cannot go to watch their youngsters taking part in school matches, when many thousands can attend football matches and last week’s TRNSMT concert. Is there any logic in that decision?”
Shirley-Anne Somerville told her: “We are of course listening carefully to the emails from parents that are coming in to members, and directly to the Government, on the issue. As I said to Jeremy Balfour, that is exactly why the advisory sub-group has been looking at the issue again.
“I hope that the chamber expects me, rightly, to listen carefully to the advice that comes from the advisory sub-group on that and on all other issues. The measures have been kept under review since schools got back.
“We have kept mitigation measures in place to ensure that we were, therefore, allowed to make other changes, for example, around self-isolation, but we are keeping the arrangements under review.
“I have said to Liz Smith and Jeremy Balfour that the matter has been looked at and I assure Liz Smith that, when I have the advice, I will respond to it as expeditiously as I can.”
