Scots comedy duo capture spirit of the fringe 161

By Alexander Lawrie
 
A SCOTS comedy duo has picked up a coveted award which catapulted previous winners The League of Gentlemen to stardom.
 
John and Gerry Kielty are to be presented with this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival Spirit of the Fringe Award on Sunday.
 
The Glaswegian brothers’ show, Greyfriars Twisted Tales, was picked ahead of hundreds of other acts as the one show which embodies the energy and driving force of the Fringe Festival.
 
The musical show which tells the many stories of the famous Edinburgh cemetery has attracted five-star reviews and has been near to a sell out for most of its Fringe run.
 
Previous winners of the award who then went on to far bigger things include comedy giants Ed Byrne, Ross Noble, Omid Djalili, and The League of Gentlemen.
 
The award is the only showcase of Fringe talent that encompasses theatre, comedy, dance and music.
 
John Kielty, 30, said: “We got the call this week to tell us we had won the Spirit of the Fringe Award and we were completely shocked, but obviously delighted.
 
“There are so many great acts at this year’s festival and to win the award really encourages us for the future.
 
“The reaction we’ve had from the audience, especially the kids, has been fantastic and we knew we were on to a winner with this show.
 
“It really has surpassed all our expectations.”
 
John is a former member of Fame Academy winner David Sneddon’s band The Sham, and co-wrote five tracks on his debut album.
 
He is also soon to join up with the world-famous Reduced Shakespeare Company as an actor and musical director.
 
Sneddon, who won the BBC’s television reality show in 2002, is also part of the two brothers’ comedy musical outfit, The Martians.
 
In 2006, The Martians won the Highland Quest for a New Musical competition with their production, The Sundowe.
 
The musical which toured the Highlands for over a year was produced by Sir Cameron Mackintosh of Cats and Les Miserables fame.
 
The heads of BBC Scotland’s comedy and drama departments are reputed to be keen on signing the duo up on extended contracts.
 
John said: “We’ve had tentative meetings with the BBC, but it’s very early days so we’ll see what happens.
 
“We’ve got a bottomless pit of comedy material, and the future looks very promising for us.”
 
The Spirit of the Fringe award first began in 1992 as the Grand Final of comic Melvyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe show.

Melvyn, who organises the awards, said: “When I first caught the guys act I was really surprised at how tight and professional they were. The unit of creativity they have going on has enormous potential.
 
“Their personalities really shine through and the relationship between the actors is excellent. The physical comedy is very funny and to be honest this is without doubt one of the best shows at this years festival.
 
“All in all, the Greyfriars Twisted Tales show is good old-fashioned, rumbustious theatre that incorporates everything that is great about the Fringe Festival.”
 
The award has now developed into one of the most respected prizes at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Female firefighter in Gladiators grand final 160

By Alexander Lawrie

A FEMALE firefighter is all set for the biggest fight of her life – by taking on the mighty Gladiators in the Grand Final.
 
Caroline McLeod, 31, has battled her way through three rounds of torturous tasks against the fittest women in Britain, and now only one more opponent stands in her way.
 
The super-fit firefighter from Cardenden, Fife, is up against 28-year-old Anna Miller, from Somerset, in a straight battle for the coveted title of Gladiator champion.
 
Also up for grabs during the tomorrow night’s (Sunday) televised final is a whopping £50,000 in prize money.
 
Caroline has fought her way past 20,000 other contestants to appear in this year’s final of the popular TV programme.
 
And in an exhausting semi-final, the tiny Fifer just edged her way past tough opponent Gayle Vickers, a PE teacher from London.
 
She now faces her ultimate test against pint-sized teacher Miller in tomorrow evening’s final.
 
Family and friends are preparing to travel down to London to watch Caroline compete against the strong muscle-bound Gladiator stars.
 
Stationed at Dunfermline Fire Station, Caroline has admitted she is “very nervous” at the thought of being one step away from the title.
 
She said: “I used to watch Gladiators when I was a teenager, and it’s been a dream of mine to compete on the show for years.
 
“The auditions were incredibly tough and I was really surprised to see thousands of other applicants turn up.
 
“I can’t believe I’m now in the final. It’s been a tough journey to get here and I’m going to give it my all. Hopefully that will be enough to win.
 
During tomorrow night’s final Caroline will have to negotiate gruelling events such as the Pyramid, Powerball and Hang Tough.
 
The super-fit step-mother-of-two said: “It was incredibly tough competing against the Gladiators. Panther especially was formidable because she is just so big. I was against her in a couple of duels but only managed to beat her once.
 
“But whatever happens tomorrow night at least I can say that I’m the only woman ever to beat Panther at the Pyramid event. I’m very proud of that achievement.
 
“It’s been a fantastic experience going up against the Gladiators, and hopefully I can push myself just one more time and actually win it.”
 
The Gladiators Grand Final is screened on Sunday evening on Sky One at 7pm.

Sporting legends do battle 159

By Karrie Gillett

TWO of Scotland’s sporting legends are going head-to-head in a charity duathlon.

Scottish rugby ace Gavin Hastings will compete against a team led by Olympic runner Liz McColgan when they take part in the race on the banks of Loch Ness.

But the two athletes are taking different approaches to the warm up for next month’s event with Hastings insisting it’s the participation that really counts.

The 46-year-old former Scottish team captain said:  “I’ve been out and about on the mountain bike and it’s fair to say that I was pleasantly surprised that I still had some life left in the old legs.

“As for the running – it’s 10k and I’m afraid I’m just going to have to grin and bear it.

“My fitness is average I would say. I’m there to have fun and that’s what it’s all about. Liz has certainly been motivating her team – for someone of her competitive nature it would be difficult for her not to get fired up about it.

“For me it’s the good old taking part that matters – the winning is totally irrelevant.”

And both sports stars admitted they have been watching the Beijing Olympics very closely, spurring them on to get even more active.

McColgan – who won a gold medal in the 10k during the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games – said that the success of the Scottish athletes in particular has been inspirational.

The Dundee-born runner – who was awarded an MBE in 1992 – said that sporting achievements were definitely on the up in Scotland.

“People always go on about Scotland’s poor health record with inactivity and obesity levels. And while we aren’t all going to be Chris Hoys and have that level of success, it’s important for people to just get involved in sport and take part to the level they want.

“After Hoy’s amazing achievements, you are going to get every little boy here wanting a bike for Christmas. It has a snowball effect and what Chris has done is going to do amazing things for Scottish sport.

“They’ve all done brilliant at the Olympics and the good thing is that because they have won so many medals, when it comes to 2012 it’s going to be everybody trying to lift their game again.

“And we have the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow just two years later so we need to make sure our athletes get the medals in Scotland.

“We need them to get medals for it to be the best Games ever.”

But the 44-year-old denied the accusations of her Monster Challenge rival Hastings and insisted that she was only taking part for the fun.

She said: “I’m entering with a family team and there are professional cycling groups who take part in the race who we would just never be able to beat.”

The First Monster Challenge goes ahead on Saturday September 13 at Loch Ness with more than 200 teams taking part.

Each team is made up of four competitors with each one having to complete two legs – one 10k run and one 20k cycle.

Cycle courier fit for a Gold medal 158

By Martin Couper

BRITAIN’S Olympic cycling heroes may be returning home exhausted following their efforts at the Beijing games, but for one cycle courier it’s all in a days work.

Because Eva Ballin can cover up to 80 miles on every shift – equivalent to an Olympian’s training regime.

The superfit 38-year-old took up the job with Eagle Couriers in 2000 after hearing of a friend’s experience and is now the only female doing the job in Edinburgh.

But modest Eva plays down her role insisting she could never go up against the likes of Chris Hoy or Nicole Cooke.

She said: “Hats off to the guys who cycled at the Olympics they were fantastic. Despite what I do there is no way I could ever compete against them. I wish I had gotten into cycling earlier because it is brilliant.”

And she added that to her the mammoth journeys are just part of the job.

She said: “You just manage because you need to. Normally the work takes your mind off the cycling and you’re just concentrating on getting the package delivered.

“The cycling is hard work but it’s also an ideal job to do if you enjoy being out in the open and keeping fit. I’ve had days where I’ve travelled 80 miles or so and it keeps me feeling fresh and energetic.”

The courier – who came to the capital from Germany in 1992 to study English Language and German Literature – has previously played ice hockey at Germany’s top level and has been capped for Scotland internationally after receiving her citizenship.

And while she was studying she always used her bike as a way to get around.

Fiona Deas, Director, Eagle Couriers believes Eva is a perfect role model for any other women interested in taking up the job

She said: “Eva has been with us for eight years now and she’s one of the most experienced cycle couriers in Edinburgh. There are a lot of men employed in this profession, so it’s really good to see that she’s showing them all that women can be just as good at the job.”

Eva also works part-time as a fitness trainer and teacher to bolster her income.

And while she loves her courier job, she conceded that such part-time jobs are necessary to get by.

She said: “I did my degree in Edinburgh and, a few years after graduating, I studied for a PhD in German cinema.

“But I was disillusioned and bored, so when a friend of mine told me about a summer she’d spent as a courier in Berlin, I just thought it sounded fantastic.

“Originally I’d only planned to do the courier job for the summer months and then find another job, but it’s now been eight years and I still love it. It’s not the best paid job in the world, which means that I teach German part-time and do personal training and sports massage for extra wages, but it’s far better than working in an office all day.”

And while the internet has contributed to the downturn in business for cycle couriers, Eva believes there are some jobs that will always require a more personal touch.

She said: “It’s nice that, even though we’re sending so much information electronically through e-mails these days, there are still couriers on bikes being used to deliver letters and important documents.”