Tony Dingwall says defeat in the pyramid play-offs doesn’t detract from Brora Rangers’ stellar season The Cattachs’ hopes of promotion to the SPFL were extinguished on Saturday as they drew 3-3 with East Kilbride at Dudgeon Park, meaning the Lowland League champions progress 7-4 on aggregate to the play-off final against Bonnyrigg Rose. it’s been an incredible season for Brora as they won a treble for first time in their history by lifting the Breedon Highland League the R Davidson (Banchory) Highland League Cup and the North of Scotland Cup It was also the first time since 1954 that a club has won every competition they play in at Highland League level in the same campaign. Midfielder Dingwall said: “In pre-season and at the start of the season the management team rebuilt the squad and at the start of the season I don’t think anyone fancied us to win the league “But here we are at the end of the season having won a treble “We’ve fallen a wee bit short in the play-offs but the experience of being involved in the play-offs will do us good going forward “When we come back next season we’ll be ready to go again and hopefully we can get ourselves back in this position competing in the play-offs again.” At one stage on Saturday it looked like Brora could overturn their 4-1 first leg deficit as goals from Dingwall Alex Cooper and Shane Sutherland had them 3-1 up Joao Balde’s strike and Scott Ferguson’s penalty earned East Kilbride a draw Dingwall added: “We had nothing to lose so we went out to have a go and see what happened “For a while things looked quite promising “We restored some pride and although it’s a sore one to take just now it doesn’t spoil a great season “We knew it was a mammoth task coming into the second leg “To a man we weren’t good enough and we let ourselves down but we gave it a good go and at 3-1 up you’re not sure what might happen “Then we got hit with a sucker-punch with their second goal which kind of killed the tie “But credit to East Kilbride they’re a good side and we’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Interim head coach Liam Fox says full focus is on the next match as the Jambos prepare to take on Ross County in Dingwall and admits it’s time to roll up the sleeves The Jambos head north on Saturday to take on Don Cowie’s Staggies who currently sit 11th in the William Hill Premiership table the interim head coach admits he’s enjoyed leading the players once more and acknowledges the difficult task his side will encounter at the Global Energy Stadium Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference there's always a bit of uncertainty for players and for staff we've got back to work on the training pitch There can be changes and there can be changes quick I think everybody that walks into this role as a coach or a manager understands that that's the way it is at the moment we need to get some points to get us out of the situation "Our full focus is Ross County away which is going to be tough I always think there's two ways you can look at things or you can roll your sleeves up and you can focus on what we have to do to go up there and hopefully win the game “The players have been first class this week on the training pitch but we're coming to the point now where it's alright me saying this and me saying that it's about producing when it matters and this weekend it's on Saturday at three o'clock “Hearts fans have numerous times over the years stood up and been counted and I think we're probably at the point now as players and staff that we need to give some of that back “There's been things that have went against us and we've made some poor decisions we've maybe lacked wee bits and pieces at times but I don't think you can ever accuse them of not trying But what I need to see come the weekend is a team that's willing to go to the well and put their bodies on the line and also in possession be brave and pass the ball and take responsibility pressure moments and that's where we all need to stand up.” You can watch Liam’s press conference in full on Hearts TV. © Copyright 2016 - 2025 Heart of Midlothian Home   News   Article who joined forces to release a debut album together say they are “blown away” by all the support they have received Hailing from Strathpeffer, Muir of Ord, Evanton and Invergordon, the group first met at Fèis Rois’ residentials — a music school which brings people together to learn and develop skills in traditional music across Ross-shire and beyond Robert Swayne (18) and Emma Racionzer (17) Their new album is titled Highstreet Loves You “We met through traditional music — Fèis Rois residentials really solidified our friendship,” said Emma “Ruairidh and Robert had been playing more contemporary music together for a while so they wanted to bring in some more musicians and instruments into the band That’s when we started playing together and became the unit we are today.” Highstreet have been playing together for around two years and have spent a year working on their album which was recorded in their bedrooms and partially at the Alness college It’s genuinely one of my favourite things to do in the world At the centre of the album is how much we love playing music with each other and just having fun There’s a lot of joy in playing music for other people “We decided to put an album together because we had been playing live a fair bit and people kept asking us where they could listen to our music I was really blown away by how many people went out of their way to support us — teachers friends and random strangers on the internet with an interest in DIY music too In the album’s first few weeks streaming on Spotify the band have already collected nearly 1000 monthly listeners with the song I Am Meat proving to be their most popular track so far on the platform Emma said: “Most of us are just about to leave high school in the summer Polly is set to study music at Edinburgh Napier Ruairidh is staying in high school and Flynn going off to Ayr Most of us are planning on keeping it a big part of our lives “We were also down in Glasgow to headline a DIY gig too Hopefully before the end of the year we will be working on a new EP Polly also has her own solo album coming out We should hopefully be playing a few more gigs too before we scatter off to the four corners of Scotland — but we definitely intend to keep playing together writing music and keep releasing some stuff hopefully!” Staff at a politician's office were terrified when an angry voter threatened to use AK47s The alarming incident happened on March 24 2024 in the SNP constituency office in Dingwall after 56-year-old Iain McIntosh of Glenisla Foyers had phoned the premises wishing to bring in documents for their attention More court news Crime news Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood told Inverness Sheriff Court said that McIntosh handed over a letter of complaint about some court proceedings and "as he was preparing to leave He left the office and CCTV led to his identification." the prosecutor added McIntosh admitted threatening behaviour and threatening to use firearms on others told Sheriff Gary Aitken that his client was very emotional when he first appeared and was again at court "He was engaged in conversation with staff where he was describing the difficulties he was having with other people Sheriff Aitken agreed and referred to the murders of Labour MP Jo Cox who was shot and stabbed in 2016 and Sir David Amiss who was stabbed to death in 2021` He said: "There are people who shoot MPs dead in constituency offices as there are people after 9/11 who thought they were being funny when they said they had a bomb in their bags before getting on a plane "This was exceedingly ill-advised language he used that day." Mr Mann added: "He has no connections to Ireland or AK47s." Sheriff Aitken responded: "They were not to know that he was letting off steam but made the situation worse." He told McIntosh: "Whatever you may have thought or felt it must have been concerning for those involved "You may think you were being funny or flippant so be careful in future with what you say." We use cookies to collect information about how you use the Police Scotland website We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services We are appealing for information to help trace Ian Ross Mr Ross’ family became concerned after not being able to contact him and reported him missing to police on Tuesday Officers searching for him traced his car to the car park of Beinn Alligin “Mr Ross was last spoken to by family on Sunday He is in regular contact with his family and when they hadn’t heard from him for a week and due to the fact of where his car was found we have experienced officers along with colleagues from local mountain mountain rescue teams searching Beinn Alligin and the nearby areas in an effort to trace him “We’d ask that anyone who may have seen Mr Ross since Sunday or his grey Dacia Duster car to get in touch “Information can be passed to officers via 101 Pleased quote incident number 2381 of Tuesday Police Scotland support those who wish to become police officers special constables or police staff by hosting various online and in-person recruitment events throughout the year supported victims and a thriving workforce Read about our 2030 vision and three-year plan Worried that your partner or the partner of someone you know might have an abusive past we'd appreciate your feedback on the service we provided Police Scotland has been working to make its websites more accessible - read our accessibility statement A former bookmakers in Dingwall could be set for a new life as a pizzeria after plans were lodged with Highland Council Applicant A Simoneli is seeking permission for a change of use at the former Aldo's Odds Bookmakers in Mart Road the building's use will be changed to permit it to house Class 1A Documents lodged with the application show an extractor flue on the exterior west-facing wall A supporting statement included alongside the drawing confirms the pizzeria "ambition" It said: "The applicant has a current tenant who runs a fitness class which would come under Class 11 This is a short-term lease and the applicant has future ambitions to open a pizza shop/takeaway The inclusion of Class 1A and 4 are to provide flexibility is neither of these options manifest long term Find out more about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal A BROTHER who assaulted his sister has been given unpaid work was found guilty by a jury at Inverness Sheriff Court last month pinned her to the ground and placed his hands around her neck Sheriff David Harvie ordered him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work within four months • Inverness man jailed for mugging teenager • Man fined after threatening Dingwall SNP office with AK47s • Son accused of throwing candle at mother’s face in North Kessock A 26-year-old man was taken to hospital after reports a person had fallen from a height in Dingwall Emergency services were called to Mart Road at 4.20am on Saturday The man was then taken by ambulance to the hospital in Inverness An area around the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill was cordoned off by police as investigations took place A police spokesman said: “We were called around 4.20am on Saturday, February 1 2025 to a report of a person having fallen in the Mart Road area of Dingwall and a 26-year-old man was taken to hospital.” Home   Sport   Article Ross County suffered a sixth consecutive Premiership defeat Although the Staggies took the lead midway through the first half through Ronan Hale Hearts were the better side throughout the afternoon and a double from Lawrence Shankland turned the game in the visitors’ favour The Jambos captain would then turn provider for Alan Forrest to cap off the victory with a third in the 82nd minute consigning County to a sixth league defeat in-a-row Forrest had a couple of sighters early on to test Jordan Amissah but it would be the home side who took the lead in the 26th minute Nohan Kenneh did well in the middle of the park to muscle his way past his marker with the ball finding Ronan Hale ahead of him who connected well with his strike to beat Craig Gordon and find the bottom corner Around 10 minutes before the interval there was a heart-in-mouth moment for Amissah who gave the ball away to Jorge Grant 30 yards from goal Hearts were able to work the ball to Lawrence Shankland but Amissah atoned for his error to make a good save to preserve his side’s lead The Jambos had another chance minutes later after James Brown gave the ball away but his first touch was poor and he ended up sending his eventual effort over the bar and out of the stadium The pressure would finally tell in the 40th minute though when Shankland turned Jonathan Tomkinson inside out before firing past Amissah to level the scores The first chance of the second half came County’s way as amidst shouts from the Jail End in Dingwall for a penalty first Hale and then Jordan White saw shots from inside the Hearts box blocked Hearts would quickly take control again though and would go ahead just before the hour mark when Shankland turned a cross in from close range Alan Forrest found himself through one-on-one with Amissah and would have made it 3-1 if not for a timely block by Zac Ashworth before Blair Spittal hit the bar from 20 yards out when an Akil Wright slip in his own half allowed Shankland to move forward with the ball and tee up Forrest for a simple finish The Staggies did come close to scoring in stoppage time as George Robesten forced a good save out of Craig Gordon before hitting the bar with the rebound but there was to be no late consolation for the hosts in Dingwall The Highland Historic Commercial Vehicle Road Run will this year take place on Saturday leaving from a popular starting spot in Dingwall Over 80 commercial vehicles will congregate at Dingwall Auction Mart the general public are welcome to come along for a look completely free of charge Flashback to Dingwall to Ullapool vehicle run Ross-shire man’s rich legacy celebrated as he turns 90 Ross-shire newsletter straight to your inbox twice a week - easy sign up The Mart cafe will be open for refreshments the group will embark on a 145 mile trip ending at Carrbridge where a social evening/raffle will be held for all entrants all surplus funds raised will be donated to Scottish Charity Air Ambulance and Highland Blood Bikes Police stopped a 34-year-old Dingwall woman for a suspected insurance offence as she rode her scooter through the town But when officers spoke to Kamilla Jasiniak of Gilbert Court they detected a smell of alcohol and a breath test proved positive More Ross-shire cases from the sheriff court Secrets of Easter Ross wartime tunnel revealed She admitted at Inverness Sheriff Court driving on Craig Road Dingwall with 73mcgs of alcohol in her system when the legal limit is 22mcgs Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald fined her £420 and banned her from driving for a year Dundee United Manager Jim Goodwin spoke to the broadcast media to preview our William Hill Premiership clash with Ross County on Matchday 31 defensive solidity and team news were on the Boss’ agenda ahead of our trip up the A9 When you have the kind of defeat that we had against Dundee then you want the next game to come around pretty quickly we've had a couple of weeks to let that one fester You could argue it was possibly a good thing that we had the break because we had several players playing on the day who weren't quite at 100% so it allowed us to get some good rehab into those lads They should be all good and raring to go for the game on Sunday against Ross County.  The Dundee game was so out of character for us in terms of the manner of the defeat and the number of individual errors that we were punished for We can't dwell on it and feel too sorry for ourselves We've got an opportunity on Sunday to go and make amends and pick up three points.   The next game is always the biggest and most important one Depending on how results go in all of the other fixtures we might have the opportunity to cement that top-six position that we find ourselves in at the moment with a positive result There are lots of different incentives there for everybody but it's not an easy fixture - we know that.  Ross County's home form in particular is very strong and we're expecting a really difficult game.  It’s vital that we finish the job off now with three games to go before the split If you went back to the start of the season before a ball was kicked and you asked most of the United supporters what their ambitions were for the season I think the majority would have probably said to stay in the Premiership consolidate and build on that next season.  The fact that we've been in the top six all season means expectations change - we all get a little bit greedy We start thinking about European football as well and sometimes we can get a little bit too far ahead of ourselves we've tried to make sure we stay grounded and never That message has been reiterated week after week because we've all been in the game long enough to know what can happen if you take your eye off the ball We haven't had particularly great results in the last couple of months and it's been disappointing in terms of our points returned but we have played some really tough opponents within that.  I've got great belief in the group and my backroom team They've shown all season that they're a good team when we're on it It's a very competitive league - results week after week would show that There's not a great deal between a lot of the teams in it.  was really uncharacteristic of the group and of individuals who have But these things happen in football and you've just got to make sure that we learn from the mistakes that we made and ensure they don't happen again between now and the end of the season.  We're actually a lot healthier now going into this game than we were going into the Dundee game - all the players are chomping at the bit to be in that starting XI It's my job to make sure I pick the right team and we get the formation and tactics right then we give ourselves a really good chance of getting the result that we want We just need to get back to the basics in terms of our defending by being resilient and keeping clean sheets something that we did really consistently at the beginning of the season.  We're at that stage of the season now where as much as we would all like really good performances and lots of free-flowing football there's so much at stake now for every team in the league - it’s about getting the result.  If we have to go to Dingwall on Sunday and grind out an ugly 1-0 win the team and the supporters would all take that I know there's lots of conversation going along about extending the league and bringing more teams into it but I don't think there's a great deal wrong with our game.  The Scottish Premiership this season has been very exciting The introduction of the play-offs and of the split were really positive for the game - there's excitement there to be had for supporters at every team in the league and it can only be good for Scottish football I'm disappointed to hear that Michael is going to be leaving but I think it's a compliment in some respects that we've identified a really good Head of Recruitment who has done a fantastic job for us and attracted the attention of another club There's a lot to the decision-making process for Michael in terms of the logistics of it He's based down in England and the opportunity that has been offered is closer to home I would imagine there's a little bit more salary involved as well.  we're disappointed to see him leave because we believe that this is the beginning of a long-term project for us - Michael was an integral part of that The work that he's done for the club last summer in terms of identifying some really good quality players for us who have come into the team and performed well is a real positive for him It's a position that is very much sought after - we can see that by some of the interest that we've already had in it go through the CVs and hopefully make another positive appointment in that Head of Recruitment role Dingwall Business Park could see three local businesses join the complex more than three years after first expressing an interest to open up there The businesses were denied permission at the time because of the flood risk from the nearby River Peffery Now new flood defence measures to divert the river have now been approved it has opened the door for businesses to finally open on the site The flood mitigation plans are being funded by NatureScot Highland Council and HIE and are expected to be completed later this year Councillors said the plan will make a “huge difference” to the business park The three companies asked the council to move into the business park in 2022 Graham MacGregor Joinery and Fraser Mackenzie Electrical wanted full planning permission to erect offices Heating and Roofing had submitted a tentative application for a storage unit They were all recommended for refusal by council planners as environmental agency Sepa raised concerns of the flood risk from the nearby River Peffery the units have been vacant since the plans were thrown in turmoil The businesses’ plans returned again to councillors today as they were only refused by planners because of the flood risk Councillors at the time in 2022 overturned planners’ decisions amidst worries Highland Council was “writing off an entire business park” by refusing the plans This decision left the businesses in limbo and the saga was referred to Scottish Ministers as a result of Sepa’s continued objection Sepa, who themselves have an office in the Dingwall Business Park, said the park was at risk of damage in a 1-in-200 year flooding event Scottish Ministers have reviewed the proposals and stated the business developments can go ahead once flood measures are completed Councillors have since agreed with Holyrood’s assessment and measures to amend the river can now proceed The flood prevention measures are a three-stage process of “re-meandering” the river and installing excess water runoffs into floodplains This includes creating a “mosaic of wetland features” to improve local biodiversity and animal habitats Money for the project will come from NatureScot’s nature restoration fund along with extra funding from HIE and £150,000 from Highland Council The main risk to the business park was the nearby bund adjacent to the park which was at risk of a breach during a flood Work on plans for the bund is still underway but it is anticipated the first stages of the  River Peffery plan will be completed by September Council flood planner Alan Fraser said risks of the bund collapsing were “significantly reduced” by the river flow restoration Dingwall and Seaforth councillor Margaret Paterson welcomed the flood management measures at the business park She said: “There’s no point in having a business park when you can’t allow businesses in She added the measures will make a “huge difference to the business park.” agreed it had also taken a long time for the flood measures to be brought forward She also hoped the proposals meant business park could soon expand She said: “This will help and it will take a little bit of time but it will make a huge difference.” AN “amazing” group of S6 leavers at Dingwall Academy have been given a proper send-off as their school days come to a “bittersweet” end many young adults across Scotland finished their last ever day of high school before beginning study leave to prepare for their last batch of exams this spring The leavers took to the academy corridors for ceilidh dancing and their annual tradition of a colossal Strip the Willow Do you have memories of the 1970s at Dingwall Academy? Dingwall man jailed for attack on chip shop worker the S6 leavers also re-organised themselves into their former primary school groups for a final photo Dingwall Academy said: “And another year group finishes another group of amazing young people with so much ahead of them.” Mario Di Carlo said: “Always a bittersweet moment CONCERNS about shocking antisocial behaviour within a Dingwall accommodation block whose residents include young children has sparked a no-nonsense action call from an angry local councillor Dubbed by one as “a house of horrors”, the concerns centre around a small minority of residents accused of severe antisocial behaviour ranging from drug-taking and violence to wilful destruction of property The claims centre on Ross Buildings on the town’s Mart Road - scene of a recent incident when a man was hospitalised after an apparent fall from an upper floor and a locus to which police have been called out “multiple times” Posts on social media and first-hand reports from locals in the town support claims that some residents of the building are living in fear with Highland Council being accused of inaction Such is the problem that fears are growing for not just the well-being but also the safety of residents of the block - particularly vulnerable children Highland Council this week refused to answer specific questions put to them Councillor Sean Kennedy branded the situation an “absolute disgrace,” adding: “I would seriously question if it is in any way acceptable to allow things to degenerate to this level – particularly near children.” • Violence - with one video showing a man armed with a hammer repeatedly trying to gain access to a flat • One resident armed himself with a homemade spear with a knife attached to a broom handle • People loitering in corridors apparently under the influence of drugs • Fire alarm systems left inoperable after being damaged • Severe deterioration of public areas including the back garden These claims were put to Highland Council - including the accusation that it has taken no action to deal with the problems We asked the council to comment on the alleged behaviour; the risk to residents particularly children; whether it is council policy to tolerate such behaviour around children and if the council is guilty of inaction We also asked if fire alarm systems being inoperable for an extended period of time is acceptable; as well as the cost to repair damaged parts of the building and cleaning up the corridors or outside areas A spokesperson said: “All reports of antisocial behaviour cases are taken seriously investigated with appropriate action taken and the council endeavours to keep complainant(s) informed of progress with the case in a reasonable timescale “Any concerns regarding criminal activities should be reported to the Police on 101 or 999 if it is an emergency” It then offered advice on who to contact if a “child is at immediate risk of harm” (police) and if a child “may be at risk of harm” to contact the Highland Child Protection Committee Police Scotland confirmed that: "Officers have attended a block of flats in Mart Road Dingwall multiple times in the past 12 months following reports of various offences including antisocial behaviour and noise complaints "We are working with Highland Council to tackle the issue.” Cllr Sean Kennedy said: “I have been absolutely shocked by what I have heard about that block of flats It is an absolute disgrace and things are getting worse leading to the police being called out so many times I heard the fire alarms were not working for a long time and on top of that we had a man hospitalised after a fall from an upper floor at the start of the month I know there are children living there and those children should not be exposed to any of the behaviour that I have been told about – and nor should any of the adults there either “Second, those flats are almost brand new, they were a fantastic addition to Dingwall, they removed unused eyesore buildings and replaced them with much-needed homes – their current condition is repulsive there are serious questions to be asked about who gets housed near children Everyone deserves a home but children can and must be kept safe from danger “I cannot tell you how angry I am about this and there is no chance that I am not going to let this rest.” A WONDERFUL night of excellent music was enjoyed by a capacity crowd in Dingwall with seasoned veterans sharing a stage with upcoming talent Tribute was also paid at Dingwall Accordion & Fiddle Club to regular club member who passed away recently after a short illness a regular drummer and always on stage to support his son Members were also shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Alice Woodward She and husband Bob from Inverness missed very few club nights over many years Ronnie Ross was a well known musician and entertainer in the area Sincere condolences were sent to all families Tina Paterson on her accordion was joined on keyboard by husband Lee Tina's sister Dawn played fiddle and making up the five-piece band on guitar and drums were Mum and Dad The club was also delighted to welcome the well behaved and happy five youngest family members too Such is the popularity of the band that listeners and players came from near and far to hear their unique sound the band treated the audience to many of their own compositions it came as a big surprise to see Sandy in the audience Visiting players were Hamish Smith (accordion) from Inchture Robert Miller (accordion) from Perth and the Wemysshill Ceilidh Band comprising Tom Cruickshank (accordion) and Amanda Murray (fiddle) Needing no introduction to the Dingwall audience were Brandon McPhee (accordion) and Robert Cameron (drums) Local players who support the club regularly playing accordions were Graham Wood and Monica Maclean A special mention to young Millie West from Golspie A club spokeswoman said: “We thank Monica for encouraging her young pupils to come and play at the club We were also pleased to have Heather Lyon playing fiddle Supporting on drums was Maggie Jamieson and Christine Matheson on keyboard.” It was summed up as “a truly wonderful night of excellent music” The spokeswoman said: “The club thanks you all for your continued support.” The last meeting of the season is on May 7 in the Legion Club with guests the Martainn Skene Trio MULTIPLE Dingwall homes have been left without power following an unplanned outage today (April 22) now has an engineer on site and plans to restore power by 4pm with the impacted streets being: Skiach Gardens Tulloch Avenue and some of Old Evanton Road SSE estimated that two customers are affected by the outage A Muir of Ord man who threatened to harm a Tesco staff member and his family after being suspected of being about to steal from the supermarket will be sentenced next month Graeme Gates of Balvaird Terrace had been on remand since October 4 after he was arrested for a series of offences committed two days earlier at the Dingwall store Inverness Sheriff Court heard that following being challenged he lunged towards the employees and attempted to engage him in a fight More court cases from Ross-shire Ross-shire newsletter twice a week to your inbox Later that same day, he assaulted a man in Peffery Park by knocking him to the ground where he repeatedly kicked him on the head and struck him on the body all to his injury. When he was traced and arrested, he spat on one officer and spat saliva and blood on another, and it struck her arm. Defending, Graham Mann told Sheriff Sara Matheson: "He has reached the stage where reports would not be necessary. But he is likely to be accepted into rehab facilities." Gates admitted attempted theft, threatening behaviour and three charges of assault. Sheriff Matheson deferred sentence until February 20 but again remanded him in custody. Official Celtic FC Website Enter now for your chance to be a winner Our exclusive 'SIGN FOR CELTIC' competitions with the chance to win some fantastic prizes AN opportunity to end the decades-long wait for a new-build special school in Dingwall could arrive with a £50m investment Councillors are being asked to decide whether to opt for new premises co-located with a new Dingwall Primary - buildings also regarded as past their sell-by date - or to opt for a standalone St Clement’s at an edge-of-town site already purchased on Docharty Brae It is proposed that informal consultations start immediately with design concluded by December 2026 construction starting in 2027 and the new schools open by 2029 • Council buys land on edge of town for St Clement’s • Can Dingwall revamp change face of county town? Ring-fenced cash will be used for loans to fund the £2billion Highland Investment Plan (HIP) – including a proposed £50 million investment in Dingwall The preferred option is to co-locate St Clement’s and Dingwall Primary within the same grounds on a field above the existing primary If St Clement’s is built on the Docharty Brae site the Dingwall Primary new build could be put on hold as currently unaffordable The council acknowledged: “Despite the reassurance provided over some of the concerns and issues raised not all parents are persuaded as to the potential benefits of co location” Many St Clement’s parents feel very strongly that the school must retain its independence from mainstream education To do that it would “retain its own head teacher” not share educational resources with the new building providing a safe and calm environment and access to dedicated facilities The council said: “The final decision will be based on delivering the greatest educational benefits for both schools and the maximum economic benefit for the wider community” However the “expanded mainstream provision would be available in the new Dingwall Primary School building” will set some St Clement’s parents’ teeth on edge The schools are central to the Point of Delivery or POD concept that is being pioneered in Dingwall to efficiently amalgamate service delivery sites in one place • Community: Shared or aligned service functions and opportunities for community service delivery and operational efficiencies to maximise the utilisation of assets within Dingwall and opportunities for aligned service delivery and operational efficiencies to maximise the utilisation of assets within Dingwall potentially aligned with office or business facilities The report written by eight high-ranking officials including the three assistant chief executives Malcolm MacLeod and Kate Lackie said options are still being actively considered for inclusion They said: “A series of design workshops will be held with stakeholder groups in the coming weeks to establish a clear vision for the new school building “This will ensure that it provides first-rate facilities to meet the needs of every child that will attend St Clement’s in the future and maximise the benefits to be realised from this once in a generation opportunity” the chairwoman of the St Clement’s parent council said: “It has been a very long journey for a new build St Clement’s School to be secured During this period a great deal of time and energy has been invested “We are so grateful for the support we have received and are now in a position where a site has been purchased and a consultation has taken place “Amongst a number of parents there is very strong feeling that the already purchased site at Docharty Brae can provide our children with an environment that is conducive to their ongoing development “This area allows for a vast range of sensory and natural benefits that may not be readily available in an alternative setting “The pupils have waited many years for a stand alone school with its own identity management structure and adequate facilities we just want what we feel is the best and right fit for our children and ultimately one that will allow them to thrive and reach their full potential” Local MSP Kate Forbes said she was encouraged to hear plans are progressing for the proposed new St Clement’s school and new primary She said: “This proposal will need careful consideration to ensure the needs of pupils at both St Clement’s and the primary school are met.” A DINGWALL High Street disturbance has resulted in a 26-year-old being taken to hospital The disturbance was reported at around 4.40pm yesterday (March 2) at commercial premises on Dingwall’s High Street was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged assault Dingwall and Seaforth garage rent to increase by 6% MacDonald monument to get £160k upgrade Dingwall rallying call over town’s 800th anniversary A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 4.40pm on Sunday, 2 March, 2025, we were called to a report of a disturbance at a premises on High Street in Dingwall. “Officers attended and a 26-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment. “A 41-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with assault and is due to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court on Monday, 3 March.” I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice England centre Fraser Dingwall wants to be “the glue” that helps Steve Borthwick’s side beat Italy at the Allianz Stadium after being selected for the first time in a year The Northampton number 12 won the last of his two caps during the 2024 Six Nations but will start alongside four of his club team-mates in the backs on Sunday after Marcus Smith and Henry Slade were dropped. Smith’s demotion to the bench came as a suprise on Wednesday, particularly after he had acquitted himself well at full-back during the wins over France and Scotland that got England’s title challenge back on track following defeat to Ireland. Elliot Daly has been drafted in to play 15 while Dingwall, who was part of 10 England camps prior to his senior debut against Italy last February, has been asked to be – in Borthwick’s words – the glue that holds the backs together. “He’s said that to me before,” said Dingwall. “I’ve been told that a lot to be honest and I don’t really see it as a negative thing. “One of my aims for this weekend is if I can go in and help everyone in that team play better than that’s a success for me. That’s how I see the glue element of it, how I can tie everything up and bring out the best in other people. “It’s understanding who is around you and the strengths that people have. At times it could be doing some ugly stuff to open up space for other people. It’s what you see and how you talk, if you can feed as much information to the people either side of you then hopefully they can make really good decisions.” A curveball selection given his long spell out of the side, Dingwall has long been seen as more of a facilitator for those around him than an impact player at Northampton. He is tasked with greasing the gears of victory over Italy that would keep England in contention to catch leaders Ireland – who enjoy a four-point advantage – ahead of next weekend’s final round. “There’s loads of elements to it, but largely it comes down to knowing who’s around you, knowing what they’re good at,” he said. “I’ve always felt like I’ve been tracking up, I’ve always been progressing. Flash back a year, I played for the first time, came out of it when Ollie (Lawrence) was back fit and since then I feel like every campaign I’ve still been on an upwards curve. “It would be very easy for me to sit back and say ‘I haven’t played again, it’s not moving how I want it to’, but I’ve felt like I’ve been moving closer and closer towards this since then.” Dingwall will be in familiar company on Sunday, with Northampton team-mates Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme starting on the wings, as well as Fin Smith at 10 and Alex Mitchell at scrum-half. “Having five of us in there is pretty cool for us and also the club,” said Dingwall. “Connections you have off the pitch massively helps how you communicate with each other and how you can review things very quickly. “There’s understanding how each other plays and how to bring out the strengths that each other have.” The guddle surrounding Dingwall Business Park will continue despite significant progress in alleviating the risk of flooding through the intervention of a local firm Councillors approved five planning applications related to the business park on Wednesday in a complicated set of decisions that were tentatively welcomed For years councillors and businesses have been demanding action over the impasse as to which statutory body holds the responsibility for dealing with the problem Critics remained scathing about the official response to a business park that can’t allow business to set-up shop with one describing it as “unbelievable – it is lethargic.” That is down to the risk of flooding as it is understood that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) sold off plots Those flood defences were not maintained sparking formal objections from SEPA – which ironically is located in Dingwall Business Park like HIE – on new applications Matters were further complicated when councillors tried to bring the issue to a head by agreeing planning approval for two developments But that led the Scottish Government to call-in applications so they could not be developed – including one from HIE to rebuild the flood defences A potential solution was closer to hand than HIE Highland Council or the Scottish Government than anyone knew in a Dingwall agricultural-environmental firm An ambitious scheme will see Lockett Agri-Environmental funded by NatureScot re-meander the Peffery River away from the business park. The company led by Richard Lockett has already conducted similar work further upstream but this project could help to unlock the business park for development The plans involved diverting one tributary to the river into a “mosaic of wetlands” during high water levels and directing the Peffery so it does not run alongside the business park The change is relatively small on the map but would play a significant role in relieving pressure on the flood defences Planning officer Susan Hadfield said: “They [Lockett Agri-Environmental] will move the main river channel away from the informal flood bund that reduces flood risk to Dingwall Business Park “The Flood Risk Assessment demonstrates that the works will significantly reduce shear forces on the informal flood bund and so reduce the risk of erosion and/or failure of the structure” The move will see conditions attached by Scottish Ministers but it remains unclear whether now that planning has been granted how far the developments can go That is because they all have a condition attached that “should prevent the commencement of development until a scheme to manage the flood” is agreed The council confirmed that work can start once the updated flood risk assessment has been approved But occupation of the site cannot occur until the associated Peffrey improvements are completed These works are committed and due to be completed over the summer Former budget leader and business consultant Alister Mackinnon has repeatedly spoken out against the lack of progress “I act as a consultant for some of the firms trying to get into the business park and the lack of progress in the last three years has been unbelievable – it is lethargic,” he said “So it is no surprise that some of the businesses that were planning to locate in the business park have gone elsewhere This is a business park and it is not open for business “And that is just absolutely unbelievable that people who are supposed to be encouraging businesses into the local area – i.e being the county town of Ross-shire – and they can’t do so “It is a lethargic attitude to business when the Scottish Government and HIE and the council can’t get together and work together for a solution “We are hopefully going to get a solution now but that doesn’t get away from the time and the money and the energy that has been wasted over the years – it is all talk and no action” Meanwhile HIE’s planning application to build the flood bund remains outstanding since 2023 partly due to planning matters related to the park being called in by Scottish Ministers A spokesman for HIE said: “Our application was put on hold pending exploration of the alternative option that is now being proposed This option has wider benefits and has greater positive environmental impact “We would expect it to go ahead if consent is granted and if funding is secured It’s too early to say what the total cost would be but we would look to make a contribution.” believe the planning application “remains undetermined” because “further information has been requested from the applicant which is still awaited On satisfactory receipt of this information the application will be determined” An ex-prisoner who had just been freed from spending 15 months on remand awaiting trial attacked a chip shop assistant when he was refused cheese sauce with his purchase because he didn't have enough money became violent when he heard someone in Renato's premises on the town's High Street call him "a beast" despite him being acquitted on Friday by a jury of alleged serious offences punched the man in the eye and head-butted him fiscal depute Shay Traynor told Sheriff David Harvie More court cases from Ross-shire Dingwall disturbance sees man arrested as one is hospitalised Newsletter from Ross-shire twice a week to your inbox was filmed by a customer and posted on social media Mr Traynor said: "He appeared to be intoxicated in the shop he was told he did not have enough money and his behaviour escalated He got on the counter and began throwing items “When the member of staff grabbed him by the shoulders to stop him Police were called and he was traced to a nearby car park and arrested “Officers described his behaviour as highly volatile and erratic and he made various threats to them ‘I am smashing your face in' and 'I am murdering you.' "His comments included references to an officer being 'lesbian',” Mr Traynor added Myhrin Hill told the court: "He was released from custody on Friday after being remanded awaiting trial for 15 months and he says his mental health has been affected "Someone made a comment to him about the charges against him and called him 'a beast' A background report may be useful although he has served prison sentences before." Sheriff Harvie told the lawyer: "I can defer sentence for a report but he will be remanded in custody or does he want a jail sentence today?" who was surrounded in the dock by prisoner escort staff He (the Sheriff) seems hell-bent on sending me to jail anyway." MacLennan relented and told the solicitor he would wait three weeks on remand for the background report to be prepared MacLennan had admitted two charges of threatening and abusive behaviour and one of assault to injury Sentence was deferred until March 27 for the report and he was again remanded in custody You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed It is no exaggeration to say that the Highland Investment Programme paper presented at the last meeting of the Highland Council is the most important and likely the most consequential I will vote for in my time as a Highland councillor Not just for young people in my own ward – Fortrose Academy pupils and the children who attend Dingwall-located schools like St Clement’s – but for the whole of the Highlands This is the point I made when I spoke in the debate and will reiterate here The investment is made possible because a percentage of council tax is helping raise the necessary capital this investment plan does not belong to elected members; nor to officers or to any sectional interest or stakeholder group It belongs to every Highland taxpayer and their families Elected members are the custodians of this plan on behalf of the biggest stakeholder group of all – Highland taxpayers and citizens We have duty as local councillors to the entire Highland Investment Programme To the big picture. We have a responsibility to spend wisely and to seek the best possible deals. Also, where possible, we need to achieve economies of scale, especially where these will deliver outstandingly favourable educational opportunities and outcomes – as proposed for Dingwall, with locating St Clement’s and Dingwall Primary School on one site The plan presented is only contentious if people choose to make it so the Highland Investment Plan wasn’t even a blink in the eye The context for Dingwall has changed – for the better From wondering how on earth we’d ever find the money to build a new St Clement’s with co-location via the Highland Investment Plan a new primary school can also be built within this funding envelope There are likely very few (if any?) elected members who have worked at both St Clement’s and Dingwall Primary Schools I speak with some degree of knowledge and ‘hands on’ experience many elected members have a direct interest in the present and the future pupils of this school My spell working at St Clement’s taught me so much about the potential of children a big part of the life of the school and its educational ‘offer’ was being able to access what the town and local schools had and not to be ‘hidden’ from view I know from my days that this mattered hugely to educators Dingwall Primary School showed me that inclusion can work the 400-plus children at Dingwall Primary School many of whom will be deprived and vulnerable deserve the promise of a first class building too The Highland Investment Plan is a plan for the whole Highlands All elected members must be mindful of that thrilled that this phase one investment will benefit my ward and that a school Black Isle children attend – St Clement’s – ensured Dingwall was a major focus for phase one investment too It would be truly tragic for the co-location vision to be jeopardised and for any projects to miss out What we voted for is the best solution for all the children of Dingwall for the town of Dingwall and for the sustainability of the programme in the years and decades ahead Cllr Sarah Atkin is a Highland Independent and Vice-Chair of Housing & Property Committee A burst main is set to leave some residents in the Dingwall area without water supplies until this evening Engineers from the company are on the site of the burst pipe but currently estimate that it could take until 6.45pm for the repairs to be complete a Scottish Water spokesperson said: "We are currently repairing a burst water pipe which is causing the interruption to the water supply for customers in Dingwall "The estimated completion time for the repair is 6.45pm We expect to complete the repair in a timeframe which means we do not plan to provide bottled water "The water supply will gradually return to normal for customers once the repair has been completed "If you would like to receive updates by Text message during service interruptions in your area, please provide your details at the following page: Sign Up for Alerts · Scottish Water "If you require immediate additional support, please use our How to Contact Us page "If you require additional support for future incidents, please use this link to sign up as a Priority Services Customer.” For the latest updates click here A 33-year-old mother of three who was concerned in the supply of drugs was placed under social work supervision for the next three years appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after previously admitting possessing cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cocaine at her home between December 11 MacIver was also ordered to participate in a programme to help her decision-making skills Mary-Ellen Scobbie told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: "She is very worried about going to jail She is a mother-of-three and one has special needs." Sheriff Macdonald told MacIver: "You could easily be sent to jail for the supply of Class A drugs but I will impose a community payback order as an alternative." A WILLFULLY-caused Dingwall fire in MacRae Crescent yesterday (March 17) has sparked a police appeal for information which took place at a residential property occurred shortly before 4pm on Monday when a fire was discovered at the rear door to the property The fire was put out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Sea eagles bill soars towards £1m as payouts to farmers and crofters increase Dingwall stolen Yamaha Kodiak quad bike triggers police appeal Tain Post Office flit flagged with planned new location confirmed Police Scotland Highland and Islands said: “We are continuing to carry out house-to-house and CCTV enquiries in the area.” Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number CR/0105363/25 or through the contact us page on the Police Scotland website. England’s returning number 12 Fraser Dingwall can have the impact of Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri when he wins his third international cap against Italy, according to scrum-half Alex Mitchell Dingwall is set to start for the first time since the 2024 Six Nations in Sunday’s game at Allianz Stadium after Marcus Smith and Henry Slade were dropped The Northampton centre has been described by coach Steve Borthwick as “the glue” that can hold England’s back line together as they seek a third straight win to put pressure on leaders Ireland, and Saints team-mate Mitchell has tipped him to take the kind of charge that the current world’s best player commands for the Premier League champions. “He is like a Rodri at Man City,” said Mitchell. “He doesn’t always get the great goals or the assists or whatever but he is a mainstay in your team and does all the great things. He is similar to that. “He is a quality player, a lot of the time he goes unnoticed because he does his job so well for the team and makes other players look so good. “He is like that glue guy – he is fantastic. His talk on the pitch, I have had for years at Northampton, is second to none. He talks you through the game and defensively he is quality. Hopefully we will see some of that.” The comparison to Rodri is high praise, with the Spain international – who starred in last summer’s Euro 2024 triumph – considered the heartbeat of the City team that has won four league titles in a row as well as the Champions League. He was voted the world’s best player in October and his absence this season through injury has been a key factor in City’s slump. Dingwall, who is typically considered a facilitator rather than an impact player at Northampton, has said he is aiming to make life easier for his team-mates on Sunday rather than seek out glory for himself. “He is very confident, he has been in the camps since his last time and he is great around the lads,” said Mitchell. “He doesn’t change too much from Northampton to England. He is a great defensive leader, he is excited and has trained really well all week so he is ready to go.” The 25-year-old’s inclusion when the team was named on Wednesday came as something of a surprise. He made his international debut in a narrow 27-24 win over Italy in Rome last February and kept his place the following week for the win over Wales, in which he scored his only England try to date. Additionally he was a part of 10 international camps prior to making his debut. Mitchell was asked whether the team had needed to work to keep Dingwall’s spirits high while he was being repeatedly overlooked. “Not too much,” he said. “He has got a good head on him, he has captained quite a lot at Northampton so he knows how to deal with himself. “With selection you chat to them to see if they need anything from you. He is a fantastic human so he knows how to look after himself.” Police have launched an investigation into a “wilful” fire at a property in Dingwall Firefighters were called to MacRae Crescent just before 4pm on Monday March 17 The fire was discovered at the rear door of the property Three crews were sent to the scene and remained there for about 45 minutes Detectives are now appealing for information following the wilful fire-raising at the residential property Officers are continuing to carry out house to house and CCTV inquiries in the area Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number CR/0105363/25 or through the contact us page on the Police Scotland website Information can also be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 Police have issued an appeal for information after a man was seriously injured after leaving the Ross County football match on Saturday The incident happened at 5.18pm in Station Square in Dingwall Anyone with information which may be relevant to the investigation should contact Police Scotland and quote incident number CR/0135971/25 Anyone with any information about the crime can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court A disqualified Dingwall driver who drove at speeds of up to 120mph to escape the police and forced other road users to take evasive action to avoid colliding with him Dingwall was also banned from driving for six and a half years and was told that he must sit the extended test of driving competency before he gets behind the wheel again He was disqualified from driving and not insured to drive at the time of the incident Inverness Sheriff Court heard that the 35-year-old father of two had been banned from driving on November 1 2022 for a year but at 2.15pm on August 16 2023 police on routine patrol in an unmarked car saw him in a VW Passat driving in Dingwall Fiscal depute Sophie Marshall said: "On seeing the unmarked police car which he recognised he made off driving at speeds of up to 70mph through Dingwall and on to Strathpeffer Road • A9 dangerous driving Inverness woman jailed after series of Highland incidents • Inverness serious assault: Man due in court in connection with attempted murder charge • Joiner ‘very upset’ over Black Isle accident that caused injury "He made several dangerous overtakes and travelled at speeds of over 120mph Ratajewski appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court last month to admit dangerous driving driving whilst disqualified and driving without a licence or insurance Ratajewski was seen driving an Audi from Tesco's and police quickly established by a computer check that he was a disqualified driver Sheriff Gary Aitken heard Ratajewski again sped off and was later traced and arrested He pleaded guilty to further charges of driving while banned and without insurance Samantha Morrison told the court: "He is currently on a community payback order for analogous matters." Sheriff Aitken noted: "You have an appalling driving record including previous convictions for driving while disqualified Your attitude towards road traffic legislation is truly appalling It is one of the worst pieces of dangerous driving I have seen on such a summary complaint in a long time DINGWALL Academy is establishing a reputation of producing some of the top school football teams in Scotland Last year they won three North of Scotland Cup competitions at under-13 boys level They have now gone on to progress to the last-16 of the Scottish Cup in their respective age groups the school has also seen a number of pupils representing the North of Scotland Select teams and one pupil going on to represent Scotland the under-13’s team have beaten Nicolson Institute from Stornoway 6-1 in the first round and Dunfermline High School 9-0 in the second round which are a Dundee United performance school 2-1 in the third round to set up a last-16 tie against St Mungo High School from Falkirk The under-14 team are also through to the North of Scotland Cup final where they will face either Charleston Academy or Mintlaw Academy The senior boys’ team are through to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup and will host St Ninian’s Glasgow on Thursday They have also reached the semi final of the North of Scotland Cup and will host Fraserburgh Academy on Tuesday Lewis Gibson and Ryan Macnamara are part of the North of Scotland Select Squad They recently beat Glasgow 5-4 to reach the semi finals of the National Trophy Lawrie also plays for Highland League club Clachnacuddin and he scored for the Lilywhites in their 2-1 win over Buckie Thistle last weekend. The senior girls football team are through to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup after beating Albyn School from Aberdeen in the first round 11-0 and then Perth High School in the second round 5-0 They now face Eastwood High School from Newton Mearns at home on Thursday February 6 at 11:30am for a place in the quarter finals The senior girls football team are also through to the North of Scotland Cup final for a second year on a row after defeating Nicolson Institute 3-2. They will now defend the trophy they won last year when they play either Millburn Academy or Tain Royal Academy in the final In addition, Keira Syrjanen has been called up to play for Scotland at under-17 level. She made her debut for Scotland against Iceland in October, and also scored for Ross County in their historic Scottish Cup second round clash against Bonnyrigg Rose at the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall. Dingwall Academy principal teacher of physical education Ali Mackay says it has been an incredible effort from the pupils and staff to achieve the amount of success they have had in recent years it has been great to see the growth of our football teams and for our football programme to go from strength to strength over the past couple of years “I believe winning three North of Scotland Cups last year in the same season has never been achieved by a school and this year we now have three teams in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup which is an outstanding achievement “A special mention needs to go to Kevin McKie who co-ordinates our football programme Ryan Ross and Rachael Macrae along with myself who take teams and also to ex-depute head teacher Dougie MacIntosh who assists with teams and also drives our team bus to all our games “Mike Stankie and Sandy Mackenzie also regularly referee games for us As a school we also really appreciate all of the support we have from parents “We have large numbers attending training on a weekly basis and we also have a Madrid Football Tour taking place in May for S2 and S3 pupils.” Dingwall Academy also remain the only school from the Highlands to ever win the Scottish Shield. In 1994, they defeated Cardinal Newman High School from Bellshill 1-0 at Hampden Park thanks to a goal from Neal Sinclair. A PROPOSAL for three lodges “on the edge of the NC500” has been granted approval by the Highland Council submitted by Reynolds Architecture on behalf of Mrs R will see the erection of single-storey holiday lodges alongside an agricultural building The site location is given as land 145m north-east of Eastside Knockfarrel Ullapool Stonehouse entrepreneurs warn new ‘second homes’ law will damage tourism innovation Ross-shire warehouse and showroom on market Get the Ross-shire newsletter free to your inbox twice a week the energy-efficient lodges will provide much-needed income to the croft The application states: “A high level of landscaping is proposed to the site to ensure that the lodges blend seamlessly into their surroundings so much so that they will not be seen from most vantage points The landscaping will result in a massive increase in biodiversity and extend the existing green belting.” It goes on to explain how solar panels and rainwater harvesting will feature in the design of the lodges to reach minimal carbon emissions from the site this small-scale holiday development is sustainable in design and discreetly situated within the existing landscape “This development allows for diversification of an existing croft providing funding opportunities year-round The site takes in scenic views of Ben Wyvis and the Knockfarrel Hill and is located on the edge of the NC500 allowing tourists to enjoy all that the Highlands have to offer.” Although the application was approved by the Highland Council’s Planning Committee on March 24 the proposal did receive two public comments objecting during the consultation period One of them stated: “The development is on good croft/agricultural land which in the last past has raised cereal crops (oats) and more recently used as grazing land by a near neighbour The road serving the east-side of Knockfarrel is not fit to sustain increased traffic — there are no passing places other than private drive-ends which usually have vehicles parked in them this crofting/agricultural land will be lost forever and no doubt housing applications will follow.” so that's an achievement that won't be missed by us but we know we've got three more games to keep building on that." Henry Pollock and his band of brothers pulled off a remarkable heist in Dublin on Leinster to make them believe anything's possible Fraser Dingwall admits that Northampton team-mate Henry Pollock coming off the bench to score twice on his Test debut in a record win for England over Wales was standard for a player who seems to write his own scripts Player of the Match more often than not for the U20s a Premiership debut in the cauldron of an East Midlands derby scoring on his Champions Cup bow against Castres … the irrepressible flanker with the mop of blonde hair officer-like accent and confident swagger is the closest rugby has to a comic book hero of a bygone age but with a social media presence befitting a modern superstar-in-the-making and Dingwall is glad that people outside of the Saints environment are getting to know the young man who is never far away from a camera it kind of seemed very fitting for Henry to be honest it didn’t really surprise me,” the England centre said He seems like one of those people who is going to constantly have these kinds of things.” Saints’ non-nonsense northern defence coach Lee Radford has jokingly likened Pollock to a character on Instagram called Monty who depicts the classic posh rugby boy stereotype Dingwall is delighted that Pollock’s senior England call-up has enabled people to get to know the man behind the myth properly “Because with the media focus and all the stuff throughout his age grade rugby he hasn’t always come across – to other people and other players – in the best light But to see people get to know him and realise that he is actually a really good guy and how he comes across isn’t always how he intends it’s been quite funny for us,” he said “I think for a long time people in the squad thought he was going to be a bit of an idiot but he came in and they actually really liked him and now understand why we were saying the whole time and all of the enjoyment you saw when he scored (v Wales) was that all coming out basically He feels basically like a little brother for a lot of us in the squad Dingwall captains Saints in the Premiership for the 18th time when Saints take on Leicester at Franklin’s Gardens tonight while Pollock will be hoping to make as big an impact off the bench as he has so often done for club and country the reigning Premiership champions are nine points behind Leicester who currently occupy the final play-off spot Leicester have won four of the last six league meetings including a 24-8 win at Welford Road in October “We’re in a position where we need to win as many games as possible so we don’t have a choice around how we want to turn up which is really exciting for the team,” Dingwall said Tommy Freeman has revealed that England team-mate Henry Pollock predicted his first Test try would come on the wing Join free and tell us what you really think Henry Pollock and his band of brothers pulled off a remarkable heist in Dublin on Leinster to make them believe anything's possible Is the Queensland boss the right man to lead Australia forward And will Joe Schmidt be tempted to stick around for Rugby World Cup 2027 Northampton Saints found a way of beating the fabled Jacques Nienaber blitz and inflicting another 'horrific' Champions Cup loss on the Leinster giants Okay now combine those national teams and super rugby teams I think the Wallabies have a better 30 man squad than the Lions the aussies probably will get well beaten and even though they were poor under eddie jones considering he brought in effectively a new team in a world cup year It will go down as one of the worst coaching decisions in history but the fact that so many young and emerging players were available to make that an option does speak to the depth in australian rugby And since then things have seemed to be on the up When was the last time the Australians had a good coach 4/10 is a pretty good record against back-to-back champs B&I Lions are no where near as good as this current Springboks outfit Mark Bosnich says stats are like bikinis - they show you a lot but they don't show you everything England's Director of Cricket Rob Key says ‘stats are for prats’ Another stat not worth reading into is that the Reds have the best tackle completion stats in the competition It blows my mind when I see articles about Leinster fans and some pundits blaming the coaches for the loss I recon the Irish are sitting with a massive choking issue…..until they can get that right they will win no big tournaments or games They will have to learn fast -WC is coming and surely they don’t want to go home at the QF AGAIN…… Good work getting some proper analysis out so quickly Nick Their attacking channel of kickoffs and phase play BREAKING: NZ Rugby Launches National "Rebuilding Era" Hotline for Devastated Fans Calls triple after another loss to a Tier 1 nation with a functioning lineout In a bold move aimed at tackling a growing national crisis New Zealand Rugby has unveiled a new 0800-REB-UILD hotline to offer emotional support to fans still trying to cope with the fact that the All Blacks are no longer the indestructible force of yesteryear Following yet another "promising" performance that ended in tears and post-match excuses the hotline will be staffed by former All Blacks who’ll gently whisper “It used to be better” and play reruns of Richie McCaw highlights to soothe callers through the pain From Dynasty to "Developing Nation" the All Blacks have now become the international equivalent of a banana peel — occasionally threatening but mostly stepped over by teams with better coaching and a functioning scrum Rugby pundits are beginning to ask the real questions: Should New Zealand be classified as a Tier 1.5 nation Is “We’re building for 2027” the new national anthem And most importantly: How many more assistant coaches do they need before they stop blaming the weather long used to smugly reminding the world of their World Cup count now find themselves angrily Googling the phrase "how to handle sporting mediocrity." Even the most loyal supporters have been caught muttering the unthinkable: “Maybe South Africa is just better now.” social media has been flooded with support messages like: A Look to the Future (Or Just the Past Again) New Zealand Rugby has reportedly asked Peter Jackson to create a new fantasy trilogy titled "The Return of the Glory Days," with Sam Cane playing Frodo — a brave but slightly out-of-depth hero wandering through the Northern Hemisphere hoping someone still respects him announcing a new strategy based on ancient Maori wisdom: when the canoe is sinking Let’s be clear — the All Blacks can still turn up on their day "on their day" feels more like a national holiday than a regular occurrence and remember — world rugby is more fun when New Zealand isn't always winning Absolutely agree - I have no doubt that they will make a much bigger thing of the end of the league results next year and hopefully have a proper Sevens’ Shield presentation then go to the winner takes all between the top eight teams It also gives smaller teams the possibility of winning the big one the Currie Cup used to be decided on who finished top of the log - then the marketing guys saw the potential in a winner takes all semis/final So in those comps as in the Super Rugby league table you can finish fourth in the round robin and still win the ultimate prize - and that’s where a lot of top sides come short Knock out rugby has a different mindset as is evidenced by Leinster in the 15’s game They swept everything in front of them but took 24 years to win their second WC Now why the heck would you like to see a “fish out water” in the 10 jumper for the AB’s I'd say the shield should be given greater weighting then Sevens is very unique though More like golf where a team can have a storming tournament and then not so much the next tourno The nature of it really means (which is great for the sport) that it's very unpredictable it doesn't feel right that one tournament result defines the sevens season Real winners were Argentina The WHOLE season shouldn't be defined by one tournament This is not one tourno but a SERIES of tournos I just feel that's different to the playoffs of a SR/EPL/URC/Top14 season Good theory SK Super Rugby and the northern comps have different strengths and weaknesses and I'm not saying one is better than the other However the length of the northern season means that you have to either rest your best players a lot or run them into the ground which leads to the issue you've described One of the things I like about SR is that the test players get a longer off/preseason and only have miss a couple of games So they are match hardened without being overworked Agreed but I think he was saying that taking the kick for goal was 50/50 Now that’s a match up that’s way too close to call but Saints absolutely have a great shot at the title here Absolutely smacked of rotation it definitely wasn’t appropriate and they totally underestimated Saints All the commentary beforehand was entirely dismissive of Saints and it was poetic to see things play the way they did RTE describing Saints as a mere “speed bump” Kearney stating Pollock “had a target on his back coming to Dublin” and he would be better served “keeping his head down and learning his trade” Horgan saying Leinster only needed to be at 80% Jeez they even turned down the 3 to level and go again and that’s despite having been taught the same lesson in previous tight CC losses Didn’t you mention something similar in the Irish team attitude about a lax attitude pre France in March what was Einstein’s definition of madness again something about doing the same thing over and over and still getting the same result Ps not sure at all Saints are best side in England and doubt they even win the 24 final without Obano’s 22nd minute red card Ryan hasn’t been starting ahead of McCarthy for a while either for Leinster or Ireland and RG was bought in for these games i know a tech expert who can aid you in recovering any crypto currency,reach her (infocyberrecoveryinc@gmail.com and telegram:marie_consultancy) A DINGWALL man who ran up a large drugs debt gave his sister £6000 to keep for him Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Kyle Kirkham had been dealing drugs for almost two years after being recruited by an organised crime gang to sell illegal narcotics in the Highlands And when police raided the 27-year-old's sister's home in Millbank Road they discovered almost £6000 he had given to her Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald was told that she refused to divulge the identity of the person who gave her the money However officers discovered that it was her brother and that he had been dealing for over two years Dingwall was traced and kept under surveillance and when they saw him going to a secluded area near Cambrai Court Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said it had a potential value of between £3520 and £4400 She added that Kirkham's phone was seized and it had messages going back to 2019 which indicated the supply of the Class A narcotic Kirkham admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs between April 6 2022 and had sentence deferred for a background report He appeared for sentence on Tuesday and the court was told that his parents had to repay a significant debt for him after he became easy prey for the gang Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald told the factory worker: "I could easily send you to jail today You were involved in significant amounts of Class A drugs for almost three years You may have felt pressured and trapped but when you were caught you had a lot of money However I have decided to give you a chance." She sentenced him to 180 hours of unpaid community work and to remain under social work supervision for three years The sheriff warned him if he did not co-operate he would definitely be jailed She also confiscated the £5760 he had given to his sister AN Ullapool businesswoman and her husband abused their Polish neighbours who they resented after they moved in next door to their Dingwall home Karen Ashcroft was representing herself when she and her 52-year-old husband George admitted abusive behaviour in Achany Court The 46-year-old boss described herself in court when asked if she was a Mrs that she was Miss and told Sheriff Gary Aitken that it was not pleasant living next door to the people who had complained about her and resulted in their arrest Mallard bar night out ended in police being called Ross-shire news briefing twice a week to your inbox She confessed she had been drinking before she shouted and swore at them late at night damaged their plant pots and made racist comments towards them Ashcroft pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing and his solicitor Pauline Chapman explained: "He was supporting his wife Miss Ashcroft elaborated on the problems she claimed the couple had Six people were living in a two bedroom house and there were 14 cars there She added that she had reported them to the police and the Highland Council I have asked for a move but the council told me I had to organise that myself Karen Ashcroft was fined £680 and George Ashcroft £500 Dingwall Academy’s senior boys’ football team will have the chance to retain the North of Scotland Cup after surviving a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the semi final For the second year in-a-row spot kicks were needed to decide whether Dingwall would progress into the final after they overcame Ellon at the same stage of last year’s competition Ryan Macnamara (2) and man of the match Lewis Gibson had given Dingwall the advantage only for two late goals from the Broch to bring the scoreline back to 5-5 Lewis Mackay and Lewis Gibson all converted while goalkeeper Ryan Ross made two vital saves to ensure it was the Highlanders who went through “We were 5-3 up this time before conceding two late goals so you’re thinking that’s your luck gone,” Dingwall Academy senior boys’ team coach Kevin McKie said “There’s a unique group of S6 boys in particular, where we have seven boys in the North of Scotland select squad who will be playing their own final in a few weeks. “That’s quite rare, and next year the S6 boys are leaving so the team will look quite different, but it gives the younger boys an opportunity to come in. “Being on track to win back-to-back North of Scotland Cups is a fantastic achievement but I’ve never got to two finals in-a-row with basically the same group of boys Lochaber and Fraserburgh on their way to the final which will be against Inverness Royal Academy at Clachnacuddin’s Grant Street Park on Monday Mr McKie hopes that a second consecutive triumph in the competition will be the perfect way for the crop of final-year pupils to sign off in their school football careers but says that if they do it will be the culmination of years of hard work “It’s worth mentioning that our head teacher Karen Cormack is so supportive of extra-curricular activity and sport and she is also retiring in the summer,” he added “She is so supportive of the PE department, and the girls have won back-to-back cups as well so it’s a real hotspot time for the talent here in Dingwall “This is the culmination of years of training going back to primary school Gordon Duff at Ross County and Alan Munro at Dingwall FC are both very supportive too so these boys have come together at the same time “I’m lucky that a lot of them are still in school. Craig Lawrie is playing in Clachnacuddin’s first team, and he’s still playing for us and we have a lot of guys in the Ross County under-18s so it’s a unique group we’ve got and this is the strongest group of players we’ve had together “We’ve had good players in the past who have gone on to play in the Highland League but to get to two cup finals in consecutive years and have so many guys in the North of Scotland is rare.” great food and camaraderie were the magic ingredients for a great night in Dingwall The annual senior citizens party thrown by the Dingwall Fire Brigade Community Group attracted around100 guests to the local Legion club Chairman Andrew Macivor said later: “We had a wonderful evening of entertainment tremendous music singing and dancing and would like to thank all the artists who gave us their time to perform and everyone who donated to the raffle and volunteered in any way to make our evening go so well.” Dingwall music club strikes a chord with five local causes to mark anniversary Good times roll at senior citizens’ treat He said an excellent meal was served by DM Catering Kerry Maclennan later posted: “Thank you so much for asking Garry and I to come along and sing at your party Absolutely fantastic night from start to finish Well done to everyone who organised this fabulous night.” Margie Maclennan echoed the sentiments of many when she wrote: “It was a lovely night nice to meet up with a lot people you don't see a lot of!” If you value our content, why not take advantage of a time-limited offer to get online access to all of our Highland News and Media content for a full 12 months for just £10? That includes sister titles like the Inverness Courier, Northern Times and John o’ Groat Journal all accessed through a handy app and available as easy to read e-editions. To find out more and subscribe, use the promo code HECTORMACKENZIE here Head to Digital + Annual and follow the prompts A former pupil of Dingwall Academy in the 1970s is keen to recruit other past pupils from that time to record memories of their schooldays in a book he is writing Iain Rose, a retired Army Veterinary Officer now living back on the Black Isle, is trying to create a historical record of life in and out of the Dingwall Academy classroom by interviewing around thirty people who were at the school during that decade Iain was a pupil at Dingwall Academy between 1974 and 1980 Though he headed south of the border and later across the world after qualifying as a veterinary surgeon at Glasgow University he retains strong memories of Dingwall Academy at the time • Dingwall Academy: ‘Dust off those bell bottoms and reconnect!’ • Sign up for our free newsletter His hope is that that there are others from that era who are prepared to be interviewed and provide him with their own accounts of what school life was like back then Said Iain: “I want to capture a sense of the Academy in the Seventies as we grew up in a decade of relative turmoil and the country was beset with labour strikes and power cuts “It could be a challenging place to survive in When I talk to my kids about their recent schooldays I realise how different things were in the Seventies and I think it’s important to try to capture reflections of the time before they become too misty and inaccurate” He wants anyone who went to Dingwall Academy between 1970 and 1980 and would like to be interviewed to contact him via the e-mail address below He said: “I’ve already conducted 10 interviews and written them up into roughly 2000-word narratives Most of my interviewees begin by saying they can’t remember much of their school days but by the time we’ve chatted they usually give me more than I can fit into my word limit I then send it back to the interviewee and we bat it back and forth until they are completely satisfied with what I’ve written and I’d like to capture a broad range of memories and thoughts “It’s not just tales of school that I’m after but also what went on after school and in the holidays Our school days weren’t just about being in class – we got up to all sorts of stuff as soon as the school bell rang.” Iain can be contacted by e-mail at iain.rose100@outlook.com or by phone on 07721 269483 Tony Dingwall believes Brora Rangers are thriving on the hunger shown by their latest signings The Sutherland outfit went through a significant transition in the summer with huge figures from the club’s trophy-laden past Martin Maclean and Dale Gillespie among eight players departing Those individuals have been replaced by younger performers who Dingwall reckons have quickly embraced the club’s fierce winning mentality Connor Bunce and Ross County loanees Andy MacLeod and George Robesten said: “We’ve gelled really well as a group despite there being a lot of changes “Those who have come in have done very well and fitted in well in the dressing room where there are still a good number of experienced “Some of the boys have also been shifted about positionally a wee bit with the gaffer deciding to put them in different roles “I’ve been playing centre-mid or off the front Brora have already lifted the North Of Scotland Cup performed admirably in the Scottish Cup before Saturday’s exit to Livingston and now face Formartine United in the Highland League Cup quarter-finals There is a strong desire to retain the trophy after last season’s penalty kicks triumph in the final against Fraserburgh who netted a penalty in the decisive shoot-out last March said: “We’re going well on all fronts right now although we went out of the Scottish Cup at Livingston we wanted to give a good account of ourselves but then in the second half we gave them a wee scare here and there - we had a few chances “The ball just wouldn’t fall for us to get that goal “We’re going pretty well in the league and have a couple of games in hand to close the gap on Brechin but they are games we still have to go and win “This early in the season it is going well but we’re not taking anything for granted.” Brora have already beaten visiting Formartine twice this season with a 6-2 triumph in the league in August and a 2-1 Scottish Cup passage in another home tie in October Dingwall added: “We’re definitely be hoping to win the tie strong side and have been up there challenging in the league for years now “We’re expecting a really tough game at our ground.” One of the Highlands’ most respected engineers has retired from Munro Sawmills after an extraordinary career spanning nearly 40 years Joining the Dingwall-based sawmill in the mid-1980s, Callum quickly became a cornerstone of the business — not just as a skilled and innovative engineer, but as someone whose work ethic, loyalty, and commitment helped shape Munro Sawmills into the business it is today Sawmill stalwart bows out after remarkable 43-year career Black Isle woman on the run after brain bleed drama Have the Ross-shire newsletter delivered straight to your inbox twice a week he played an instrumental role in the design and evolution of the site’s operations — building systems from the ground up and continuously finding ways to improve and refine the production process His exceptional knowledge of the machinery combined with his instinctive problem-solving skills The entire Blake family — along with everyone at Munro Sawmills — extends their deepest gratitude to Callum for his dedication and his unwavering commitment to the success of the business who hired Callum all those years ago and worked alongside him every step of the way “Callum has been one of the most important people in the recent history of this company he had a calmness and reliability that everyone respected We couldn’t have built Munro Sawmills the way it is today without him I’ve had the privilege of working with him for nearly 40 years — and it’s been an absolute pleasure.” Everyone at Munro Sawmills wishes Callum a happy