Heavy rain threatens T in the Park

By Cara Sulieman and Michael MacLeod

REVELLERS heading for this year’s T in the Park were put on flood alert last night after heavy rainfall swamped the area.

The Met Office said it expects “torrential downpours” right up until the weekend sparking fears of a washout.

Dozens of flood emergencies were reported yesterday with Tayside Fire and Rescue Service receiving its first calls from worried residents at about 9.30am before pumping out water from various locations.

Most of the calls came from the Kinross and Milnathort areas – both within a few miles of the festival site in Balado.

Boot-up for a mudfest at T in the Park in 2009

By Michael MacLeod

REVELLERS should pack their wellies for T in the Park this year as forecasters are predicting a muddy washout.

Torrential downpours and thunderstorms next week are set to leave the Balado festival site soaked, with the Met Office predicting localised flooding.

But with 10 days to go, organisers insist the heavy rain won’t put the festival in jeopardy.

And local garden centres are stocking up on Wellington boots and waterproofs to cash in on the mudbath.

In 2007 many retailers ran out of wellies on the first day of Scotland’s biggest music event, leaving music lovers with no option but to trudge around the Kinross site up to their knees in mud.

Scots student racing at Grand National

Rosanagh and her horse Summer Soul

By Cara Sulieman

AN EDINBURGH student is getting the perfect birthday present – racing at the Grand National this weekend.Rosanagh Robertson celebrated her 23rd birthday yesterday.

But the icing on the cake will be when she takes to the stirrups on Saturday.

The sports science student at Edinburgh University has always loved horses but has never had the chance to ride a professional racehorse before.

And now the lucky lady has been chosen as one of the 10 competitors to race in a charity nine-furlong race just before the main event at Aintree.

Applied online

She said: “I applied on the website, and they just asked about your fitness and riding experience. I’ve always been around horses and I’ve evented since a young age.

“I was really surprised when I was told I was in the final 32, as I’d almost forgotten about entering.”

At that stage the hopefuls underwent rigorous training as the final 10 were chosen.

It was only last week that Rosanagh heard the decision of the expert panel, which included BBC racing presenter Clare Balding.

Eight-hour training

In the run up to the big day, the student is getting eight hour training every day from Kinross-based trainer Lucinda Russell, but juggling this with the demands of her final-year dissertation are taking their toll.

She said: “Probably my fourth year at university isn’t the best time for this.”

The journey to the race was a long and testing one, with Rosanagh going through tests of stamina, riding ability, fitness and technique at Doncaster Racecourse.

But it was all necessary for the adrenalin junkie to master the art of riding a racehorse.

“Gallop very fast”

Rosanagh said: “Riding a racehorse is completely different from what I’m used to. They are trained to gallop very fast and not really stop.

“When you are riding in a race, you just hear all the other horse. You’ve got people next to you hitting your stirrup irons.

“I was a bit nervous at first, but then I loved it. I’m an adrenalin junkie – I’ve bungee-jumped and dived with white sharks.”

The standard of the competitors in this year’s charity race has impressed the organisers, who are hopeful that it will be bigger than ever.

Exceptionally high

Gareth Turner, of sponsors John Smith’s said: “The standard of all the riders who made it through training was exceptionally high, and all of them have worked tremendously hard over the last few months.

“This year’s race looks like being the most exciting yet, with more than £100,000 being raised for charity.”

Each competitor in the race receives £5,000 for their chosen charity, and the winner gets a whopping £50,000 for charity and a trip to Dubai.

Rosanagh will be donating her money to Tenteleni, a student charity providing educational opportunities in Africa.

Tragic toddler dies in her mother’s arms

By Cara Sulieman
A TODDLER with leukaemia who touched the heart of Sharleen Spiteri has died in her mother’s arms.

Bethanie Thomson, 3, received a stem cell transplant from her baby brother after being diagnosed with the disease aged just six months.

But the tragic tot, from Wallyford, East Lothian, lost her fight for life on Wednesday surrounded by her mum Vikki, dad Stuart and brother Joshua, 1.

Last night her parents were too upset to discuss their loss.

But Bethanie’s website has been flooded with tributes – including one from Vikki, who described her daughter as her “brave wee star”.

She wrote: “I’m so very proud of you in every way possible. You are such an inspiration to us all, you were so very brave all the way to the end.

“You will be sadly missed by everyone who met you and never ever forgotten.”

Spiteri met with the family last May as part of her work with CLIC Sargent and was so inspired by Bethanie’s plight that she even gave her a mention during her appearance on last year’s Children in Need appeal.

She said: “I do work with CLIC Sargent and there is one little girl out there, Bethanie, who is not very well.

“I’ve been lucky enough to spend some small moments with Bethanie and she has amazed me.

“To see someone so young be so aware of their situation and yet so full of life is both humbling and inspiring.

“The strength her family has shown in astounding. My love goes to Bethanie and her family.”

Although the tot was thought to be getting better, the family were shattered when they found she was relapsing at the end of 2007.

Just weeks before baby Joshua was born, the news hit the family hard.

But a ray of hope came when the baby was found to have the same blood type as Bethanie, allowing him to donate stem cells to his older sister.

Just days after he was born, doctors took stem cells from the little boy’s placenta and froze them before starting the treatment to save Bethanie’s life.

Doctors thought the treatment was working, but just before Christmas Bethanie fell ill again and was taken to Rachel House hospice in Kinross.

She passed away in her mother’s arms on Wednesday – alongside dad Stuart Jackson and brother Joshua.

Bethanie’s aunt posted a message of thanks to all those who had helped the family get through the last few years.

She said: “On behalf of Beth’s mum and dad, I would like to thank every one of our members for being so kind and supportive through this very difficult nine months.

“Your comments and prayers have meant so much to our family.”