From the spòrsnis committee

WE WERE ALL saddened and shocked with the news of John “Balloch” Matheson’s death. He will be sorely missed. John worked on spòrsnis for several months in 2000 and indeed was responsible for our successful funding application to Sportscotland.

Committee members Norman Thomson and Iain Gordon Macdonald met with Donald MacRitchie (Domhnall a’ Mhinisteir ex 26 Swainbost) recently to discuss assistance with the carriage of equipment from London to Ness. Donald is delighted to help and has offered to collect and deliver the equipment at no cost to spòrsnis. This is a wonderful gesture and will save us a substantial sum. He is also happy to assist with any other equipment we may require to be delivered. We are grateful to Donald for this. Donald and his wife Catriona were given a guided tour of spòrsnis with which they were most impressed.

The pace of work at the site has now increased considerably following the trade holidays and we will continue to monitor progress and report significant developments.

blue is the colour

TWELVE MONTHS ago building work started at the spòrsnis site and, with the main structure now in place, the community eagerly awaits the completion of what promises to be a wonderful facility.
Last week, some of the Spòrsnis Board met with Gordon Anderson of the consultant architects, Anderson Associates, to consider colour schemes for the internal and external walls. The main hall will be finished in sky-blue with the other spaces mostly in pastel colours with brighter finishes to the exposed steelwork.
With more of the main contractor’s workforce now back on site following a two week break, painting and finishing the interior will start to give a clearer picture of what the centre will finally look like. It is already impressive, with excellent design features, notably the all-round viewing gallery on the first floor, the attractive entrance/reception area and the good natural daylight for the central main hall through the clever positioning of the roof windows. There are splendid views from many of the rooms across the machair towards Traigh Shanndaidh and Eoropie Dunes.
No date has been set for the opening but it should be early in 2006. Some funding is still required to furnish and fit out the spaces and the committee is busy examining all the options.

spòrsnis update

The largest and probably the most complex building project ever undertaken in north Lewis is progressing well with the new community facility at Lionel now two-thirds of the way to completion. Work on the internal walls of the £1.9M centre adjacent to Sgoil Liònail is almost complete. New boilers are being installed along with a sophisticated energy management system to link in the innovative renewables which are expected to account for 80% of the power requirements. A system to monitor closely the contribution from renewables is also being considered.

At the regular committee meeting on Monday, Chairman Calum Macleod, gave an update on the funding requirements to equip and fit out the facility. An estimated £85,000 will be needed and the committee is engaged in a number of fundraising events and applications to funding bodies. One of the items agreed was a regular competition in fios which appears for the first time in this issue.

The fine detail of some of the equipment and the internal finishes is now being considered. The installation of a climbing wall in a corner of the main hall was agreed subject to funding and suitability of the hall.
A number of external works require to be undertaken including: upgrade of the access from the main road to the school with the provision of a footpath; provision of water storage tanks to increase the water pressure, as the present system is not adequate, and the re-instatement of one of the two all-weather courts adjacent to the school, one of which was damaged and the other on which part of the new facility is built.

A representative of one of the private trusts which has already supported the project visited the site last week. Christine Scullion of the Robertson Trust was given a guided tour of the facility by Norman Thomson and was reported to be ‘very impressed’ with the development, and particularly delighted with the close proximity to the school. Norman also took Mrs Scullion to see the GAIN playpark with which she was equally impressed. The Robertson Trust was established by the Miss Robertson Sisters in May 1961. Miss Elspeth, Miss Agnes and Miss Ethel Robertson inherited, from their father William, a controlling interest in Robertson & Baxter and Clyde Bonding Company now known as The Edrington Group.

spòrsnis - past, present and future

A look back at ten years in the making of the spòrsnis project was the focus of a presentation by the chairman Calum I Macleod at Lionel School earlier this week. It was also an opportunity to look forward to the expected completion of the centre early in 2006 and address some of the challenges of successfully running the facility once it opens.

Almost ten years to the day since the public meeting resulting in the formation of Ness Sports and Recreation Association, and in the very same classroom in Lionel School, Mr Macleod highlighted the major milestones of the project at the public meeting on Monday evening. He noted that almost everyone on the original committee was still involved and thanked them for the amazing spirit of co-operation and unity throughout the ten years. He recalled the many plans that had been produced and the struggle to raise the funds to provide a facility which would meet the community’s aspirations. He thanked the many bodies which had supported the project and continued to do so.

The first breakthrough in the fundraising came when Sportscotland approved a grant of £500,000 back in 2000. This was followed by a similar commitment from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. There was generous support from Western Isles Enterprise and substantial European funding along with contributions from Crofters’ Commission, Robertson Trust, Gannochy Trust and the Hugh Fraser Foundation. There were several large private donations and tremendous support for the many local fundraising initiatives which included the launch of fios, a door-to-door collection, sponsored walks, curry nights, ceilidhs, carnival and a grand raffle. Additional funds were secured for the renewable energy elements.A community appraisal was conducted which resulted in 927 individual responses - a return of 85% - and over 30 local organisations sent in letters of support. All these helped to secure commitment from the funders and inform the design of the facility.

Early last year the design team led by Neil Ferguson of the Comhairle’s Technical Services Consultancy finalised the plans and the detailed specification. Tenders were invited from six contractors and of the three that responded the lowest was from Alex Murray Construction.A number of savings had to be introduced to match the funding available. This was achieved without having to reduce the overall size of the building and construction started in June 2004. The design team, including representatives of the spòrsnis committee, continue to monitor progress and have regular meetings with the consultant architect and the contractor.

Mr Macleod then invited questions and comments especially about how to make the best use of the available spaces.In response to one question he confirmed that funding was still required for equipment and furniture. This was expected to cost in the region of £80,000, some of which was already secured. There was a suggestion that the new status of the nearby Loch Stiapabhat as a Local Nature Reserve could benefit the centre through provision of interpretation facilities. Other suggestions included beautician/stylist service, a soft play area and crèche, and youth café space.

It was confirmed that the intention is to have the centre open to the public every day till 10pm. The programme for the day-time let of the main hall will link in with the school timetable with slots for community use each day and all evening. One full time post is expected to be created to manage the centre with a number of part-timers.

Mr Macleod thanked everyone for their contributions. He thanked the design team and many of the Departments of the Council for ongoing excellent support and finally paid special tribute to Carola Bell for her unstinting work. “If it wasn’t for Carola we would certainly not be at this stage with the project today.”

local cadets support spòrsnis

SPÒRSNIS HAS RECEIVED a donation of £200 from the Ness Detachment of the 1st Highlanders ACF. At the Cadets weekly drill at their base in Lionel on Monday evening, the cheque was presented by Lance Corporal Alasdair Smith to Donald A Morrison, vice-chairman of the spòrsnis committee. Thanking the cadets for their donation, Mr Morrison said: “I want to pay tribute to you all for making this very generous donation from your hard earned funds. We are delighted that you are able to support us financially but also for your interest in the centre. I’m sure that you will enjoy the facilities that will be on offer at spòrsnis early next year and behalf of the spòrsnis committee I wish you well in your activities over the summer months and for the future.”Detachment commander C/Sgt Anne Marvin explained how they had raised the funds: “On 14 May eight of us walked across the moor from Tolsta to Ness. It was a fine day and we all enjoyed it. We raised around £400 - we decided to split the money with spòrsnis and the rest will go towards buying some adventure training gear.”

The Ness ACF Detachment has been active for many years and is always encouraging more local youngsters to join up. There is an action packed programme including a two week summer camp and participation in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme at various levels over the coming year. Recently they had a weekend away in Benbecula where they took part in clay pigeon shooting, abseiling, rock climbing, mountain biking and experienced the rigours of camping out in the Hebrides in summer.Later in the summer Corporal Emma Wren will be one of 13 cadets from Scotland going to Fallingbostel in Germany for training.

Any youngster interested in joining the cadets can go along to the Lionel Old Schoolhouse on a Monday evening and speak to the cadets and the instructors and see for themselves what is involved.

early 2006 opening predicted for spòrsnis

Completion of the new community facility at Lionel is now expected early next year.

With the external structure of the £2M complex now largely in place, and mechanical and electrical services being installed, the design team is confident that an opening date in January or February can safely be predicted. But as with all major projects – and spòrsnis is the largest and most complex building contract ever awarded in Ness – there could be delays. However the spòrsnis committee will continue to monitor progress and intends to have regular updates in fios and on the new website www.sporsnis.co.uk.

A public meeting will be held in Lionel School on Monday 27 June at 8pm, where a presentation will be made to give everyone a preview of what will be on offer. The committee encourages all potential users of the facility including community groups to come along to the presentation and contribute their views particularly on the preferred use of some of the rooms and spaces allocated for child care and life long learning.

The committee is now engaged in finalising the specifications for some of the main leisure equipment. The £50,000 roller bowl package has been ordered from the leading supplier, Brunswick, and negotiations are in progress with Technogym UK to supply top quality units for the fitness suite. Each piece of gym equipment will be fitted with a TV monitor to ensure we can all get fit but not miss out on the latest instalment of our favourite soap. A £6000 sauna unit is to be supplied by Nordic Saunas. The logistics of running the centre once it opens is also being considered with visits planned to other similar community facilities next month. Fund raising to ensure the centre will be fitted out with the many pieces of furniture and equipment required continues.

The recent raffle raised about £2500 and the local Army Cadets contributed £200 from their sponsored walk in May. Spòrsnis Chairman, Calum Iain Macleod said: “The committee is grateful to all who supported the recent raffle and for the very generous prizes offered by the sponsors, Scottish Coop, Kenneth McLennan (Oils) and BP. We are also very thankful for the contribution from the cadets and for all who have supported the project over the past ten years.”

sporsnis fundraiser

Sally Bell pushed herself to the limits today by entering the Edinburgh University Sprint Tri-Athlon.

As reported in "fios" last week...

SPÒRSNIS COFFERS will soon be topping up thanks to the efforts of
South Dell student Sally Bell and her pals from St Andrews University. The gruelling event will push them to the limits with a 750m swim, an 18km cycle and a 5km run.

Co-athletes Carie Hoover and Toby Reynolds visited Ness with Sally in
January and were so impressed with the place and its people that they too
decided to take part in the event and raise funds for spòrnis.

The three athletes will be in top condition for next week’s event but Sally admitted to fios that she was not quite the picture of peak health a few months ago.

“All three of us have been following a training programme dowloaded
from the internet called ‘From Couch Potato to Triathlete in 12 Weeks’ and
have made great progress. I wasn’t quite a couch potato but I was certainly
not up to a trithalon then. Now, a few months later, we are all quite confident
of finishing in good form.”

More news of how they got on will be here soon...

Well done for so much effort guys.

Gymnastics winners

THE LEWIS & HARRIS Sports Festival Gymnastics competition was held in Stornoway last week and four of our local youngsters performed in the event. Pictured above are, Ceitlin Russell Smith who won both a Gold and Silver medal in the Under 14s, Katie Vann, who won 2 golds in the Under 12s, Laramie Finlayson, who won 2 Bronze medals in the Girls under 10s and Calum Vann who won 2 silver medals in the Boys Under 10s. Congratulations to all four of them and to their coach Catriona Macaulay of Cross Skigersta Road.

New funds for spòrsnis

THE SPÒRSNIS facility came one step closer this week with the announcement of £77,000 worth of new funding for the first phase of equiping the centre with the large scale capital items needed for the 10-pin bowling run and for the Sauna.

The funding is made up of £20,000 from the Comhairle’s Capital Grants Scheme for community initiated projects, £17,000 from the European funded Economic Development Programme and £40,000 from Western Isles Enterprise. A small shortfall of £8000 is still to be found for this first phase and fundraising will continue over the coming months.

Carola Bell of the spòrsnis committee told fios, “We are taking it one step at a time and are now looking at the fitting out and equipment required for other areas of the building. This includes the Childcare area and the Learning spaces. There’s also all the smaller equipment like tables and chairs and sports equipment. There’s still a long way to go before the the building is ready for use and the fund raising is finished, but the effort by the community and the support of public funders have been the vital ingredients to get the project this far and everyone is determined that spòrsnis will be an excellent
and well equipped facility.”

Although the project has suffered minor delays due to the recent storms, the committee are confident that the building will be up and running by the end of this year.

Spòrsnis latest

CONSTRUCTION of the sporsnis building at Lionel was delayed by the recent storms but no serious damage was caused to the structure.

The committee met on Tuesday and are confident that the work will be completed by the end of this year and that the district will have a state-of-the-art community facility.

There will be fundraining events in the coming months to ensure that the Centre will be fitted out to a high standard.