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.