Competition Archives - Page 2 of 6

First Competition Win For Lucky Lesley

Feb 292016

Lesley Mitchell (centre right) defies the odds to drive off the top prize in a UK wide draw organised by hotel group Village Hotels.

With thanks to Esther Green, Tricker PR.

Lesley Mitchell has never won a prize in a competition before. So when her name was selected to win a Mini Cooper in a UK wide draw that attracted tens of thousands of entries she simply could not believe it – and little wonder. Statistics show she had a greater chance of scoring a hole in one at golf or being injured by a firework than winning the brand new motor.

Lesley’s ticket was selected from more than 100,000 entries to the Village Hotel Club’s promotion to win a dream car.

The chance of winning a striking Mini One 1.2 Petrol attracted a massive swell of interest from revellers at each of the hotel group’s 28 hotels across the UK, from Aberdeen to Bournemouth, Edinburgh to Cardiff, and Glasgow to Blackpool.

When Village Hotels called Lesley by phone to break the fantastic news that she had won the car – worth £14,000 – she thought it was a workmate playing a prank. She and her colleagues had entered the draw while enjoying their office Christmas lunch at the Village Hotel in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, but none of them expected to be among the prize winners.

“When I got the call saying I had won I just automatically assumed it was some kind of hoax,” explains Lesley.

“We all entered the draw but never in a million years did I expect to win – I thought this can’t be right.

“It was a total shock as I have never won anything before, but after several conversations and emails from Lynn Fraser at the Village Hotel Group I realised it was true, it was a lovely surprise. To have won dinner, or a weekend break, would have been really nice but to win the Mini is the icing on the cake.”

The Mini prize looks set to bring maximum benefits for Lesley, who lives in Insch, Aberdeenshire, and is company secretary and office administrator for a chemical business in Bucksburn.

“Many years ago, in my youth, I had a Mini and this will be a lovely run-around,” Lesley continued.

“I’m calling this my ‘Mini Me’ and it will be my weekend car.

“I moved house last year and had the perfect Christmas in my new home, and then to find out I had won a car was just lovely. “

Lynn Fraser from Village Hotels said:

“It was wonderful to break the news to Lesley that her ticket had been picked at random as the winner of our nationwide draw which attracted over 100,000 entries from customers at our hotels the length and breadth of Britain.

“It’s not every day you hear that you have won a prize, let alone won a Mini, so it’s hardly surprising that Lesley was rather taken aback by her good news and that it took some time to sink in.

“It’s a wonderful car and everyone at Village Hotels hopes Lesley really enjoys her new driving experience.”

Village Hotels has 28 hotels located in towns and cities across the UK, boasting modern and friendly accommodation and excellent facilities. For more information, visit https://www.village-hotels.co.uk/

Old Susannah No 189 – New And Improved!

Opinion, Satire and Humour 2 Responses »

Feb 252016

Voice’s Old Susannah takes a look over the past week’s events in the ‘Deen and beyond. By Suzanne Kelly.

Fred the Aberdeen Voice editor is furious that we didn’t win a single award at the North Press ball thingy that Sarah Malone went to earlier this month, and he’s making some changes around here. We’re going to follow Aberdeen Journals Ltd’s lead, and start having a smart, successful newpaper. In that spirit, before we get to this week’s definitions, just a few words.

I am pleased to announce the Old Susannah column now has an official spokesperson. Buff McCracker, pictured, is our newest hiring. He is last year’s winner of the ‘Face of Moneymusk’ competition.

Buff has a high school diploma (nearly) and has worked as a personal fitness trainer at ‘Fancy a Kip?’ Lodge. Personal trainers from Kip Lodge have gone on to get into all sorts of fascinating positions, and I am sure Buff will do the same.

I am sure you will welcome him to the column, and in his role as spokesperson, you will look forward to hearing his in-depth analysis of local, national and world socio-political issues of the day.

Reader Offer:

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Sprinting home in your Mazarati, no doubt you want to see your delightful wife greet you at the door with glasses, a bottle, and this exclusive bottle opener.

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Reader Travel Offer:

7 night tour of Mintlaw’s finest combine harvesters

Join like-minded readers on this breathtaking tour of tractors in Mintlaw.

We start our trip on the A96 in a bus, and will stop at some of the finest B&Bs in the area, while looking at fields of rapeseed, and what kinds of farm vehicles we can spot from the bus.

Meals not included.

£1,999 per person.

Showbiz Exclusive! Local sleaze merchant shares lift for 2 minutes in Los Angeles with Rock god David Grohl.

Tony Cockroach says he’s met every A-List celebrity there is, possibly even Sarah Malone. Gosh I’m jealous. He’s been in the same lift as David Grohl! Result!!!! Did they have a conversation? No, but. Did they have anything in common? No, but. Was Grohl impressed that the man in the lift was from Aberdeen AND owned strip joints? No.

But he was from Aberdeen, and he was in the same lift as David Grohl.

Full story and pictures on pages 2,3,4,5 and 27.

(Old Susannah was formally introduced to Mr Grohl on the occasion of the first ever Foo Fighters UK show, at the Brixton Academy, quite a while ago. He was cool. Old Susannah was – until now – being cool by not making a big deal of it. But we did briefly speak. In today’s modern newsroom, clearly this is big stuff by EE standards. So now you know. And no, I wasn’t so crass as to start photographing or filming the man).

Read more about it here! Really! Tally ho!

Send us your story – sheep on the road?

Did your daughter come in 7th place in a spelling competition? Did you get your heid stuck in a bin? Did you find the image of Kate Dean in your buttery? Anything like that with pictures – call us and we’ll put it in the next paper. Up to £2 per story paid.

Competition! Aberdeen’s Prettiest Rowie!

Send in your Rowie photos, and the most beautiful Rowie will be bronzed, and kept forever as a beautiful keepsake! Your photo with your Rowie will appear in the next issue!

You can vote for your favourite Rowie by calling our special hotline – calls charged £0.99 per minute!

And with that, one or two definitions

Pro Lifers:

Who’s against life? Why no one I know, except for some zombie films, it’s safe to say many people are in favour of living. But the pro-lifers have some ideas they want the rest of us to sign up to, and I thought I’d best get their unbiased, professional advice.

I looked for them at the anti-war demonstration. But they weren’t there.

I tried to find them protesting the nuclear weaponry we’ve stockpiled which would wipe out half the planet. But they weren’t there.

I thought I’d find them helping to save the refugees drowning in the Med, but there was no sign of them there.

I thought they must surely be protesting the death sentences carried out in some countries, but there was no trace.

I thought they would be in the drought-stricken countries trying to feed the starving, but they were not there.

They were at the abortion clinic. They were at the family planning centres. They were at the chemists where women can get the morning after pill.

It’s not the living they want to save. They want to tell women not to have sex. They want to tell people not to use contraception. They want women to bear children whether or not the women are able to look after these children, can afford them, are adult enough to be responsible for new lives. They want the raped women to carry their children.

They don’t want you to do anything that doesn’t adhere to the moral codes they have signed up to, and they want to make you bend to their will. They don’t acknowledge that each and every single pregnancy is life-threatening to the mother. They don’t want you to know that women from prehistory to the current day engaged in family planning by taking herbal medicines to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

Pro life? Absolutely! Some might think this lot are a bunch of would be controlling, nosy, women-hating dictators who were not interested in the living whatsoever and hated sex and didn’t want anyone to have any. But they’re just telling us what the right thing to do is, and I’m sure you’ll give their message all the attention it is due. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14210094.display/

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[Aberdeen Voice accepts and welcomes contributions from all sides/angles pertaining to any issue. Views and opinions expressed in any article are entirely those of the writer/contributor, and inclusion in our publication does not constitute support or endorsement of these by Aberdeen Voice as an organisation or any of its team members.]

9th Dan Award For City Karate Master

Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport No Responses »

Dec 032015

By Charlie Abel.

Aberdonian karate students will have great cause to celebrate this week with the news that their very own Ronnie Watt OBE ORS, chief instructor of the NKF (national karate federation) and director of Shotokan for the WKC (world karate confederation) has been awarded a 9th Dan black belt (Kudan). It is believed to be the highest ever Dan grade awarded to an Aberdonian or a Scotsman.

This is a major achievement for Ronnie and for karate in Scotland.

Ronnie Watt’s name is already famous and well respected throughout the city of Aberdeen and the karate world. Being graded a 9th Dan Ronnie joins the elite ranks of the worlds most repected Karate masters.

Obtaining a black belt is very difficult, very few people manage to train hard enough, it takes at least three years and most people give up, perhaps one in a hundred achieve a black belt. Some will go on and get a 2nd Dan or higher. However, it is almost unheard of to achieve a 9th Dan in karate. Very few manage to reach this level, most are Japanese and it takes a lifetime of training.

This is a first for Scottish Shotokan Karate and it’s a great honour for the city having a home grown 9th Dan teaching and training karate, here in Aberdeen, Ronnie’s home town.

The 9th Dan will be presented to Ronnie by the International Shotokan-ryu Karate–do Shihankai (ISKS). The ISKS was set up in 2004 by an international group of world karate masters to protect and maintain the tradition of karate, which they see is sadly being diluted by many outside ‘fashionable’ influences. The ISKS is one of the most respected orders in the world of Karate today.

Karate has been a way of life for Ronnie and his family. He has won many competitions both home and internationally. To date he has trained over 25,000 students in his 50 years, many of them achieving black belt and going on to higher Dan grades, his students are well known for returning from World Championship tournaments laden with medals and golden trophies.

His wife Gail has been indispensible in running Ronnie’s NKF Karate Academy and his children, now adults are also very much following in his footsteps with Son Reeve (5th Dan) and Daughter Roxy (5th Dan) training karate regularly and teaching classes. Grandson Cooper (age 4) has also recently started training, keen to join his grandpa in the dojo.

Ronnie who has trained karate ‘religiously’ as a way of life for 50 years was recently entered into the European Hall of fame for Martial Arts (November 2015).

Ronnie has previously been awarded an OBE from the Queen. In 2010 was recognised by the Emperor of Japan with an Order of the Rising Sun – a very special award rarely given to foreigners. Ronnie joins good company with famous people such as Clint Eastwood, Gustav Eiffel of France, George Takei (Sulu, Helmsman of the Starship enterprise on Star Trek) Bobby Charlton, and ex UK Prime minister Sir John Major.

In 2014, Ronnie was awarded a Commemorative Medal of the Trnava Self-Governing Region (TSGR) of Slovakia by the TSGR’s president, Tibor Mikus for promotion of friendship between Scotland and Slovakia. Ronnie is also a Free Burgess of Guild member of the city of Aberdeen, (Freedom of the city) and is a banner bearer to the Knights of the Most Holy Trinity, who are a heraldic based charity organisation raising funds for good causes.

When asked about his 50 years in Karate and his 9th Dan Ronnie says,

“I’ve just loved karate, being karate. It’s what I’ve always done.

“I see a lot of people and see what it can do for them. The discipline, the training, the Budo (the way) it changes them. It changed me. Karate improves people. It’s beautiful….My 50 years have not been easy, but I’d do it again tomorrow..”

“ I’m very happy and really humbled to receive the 9th Dan. It’s amazing…I’m still learning!”

Having one of the worlds most decorated and respected Karate masters living and teaching in Aberdeen is a massive advantage to anyone wishing to learn more about Karate-do.

Visit www.karate-scotland.info for more info.

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City Hosts National Karate Federation Event

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Nov 122015

By Charlie Abel.

The National Karate Federation, Kumite Championships for 2015, held in Aberdeen at Cults Academy, were a great success.
The club had been preparing hard for the event that inspired over 200 people from both Shotokan and Wado to take part.

We were very lucky to have Lady Bruce in attendance as a special guest and she was very pleased to be given the honour of presenting the medals and trophies to the winners.

The day before the competition a referee seminar was held, instructed by Chris Davidson, our own WKC referee and chaired by Ronnie Watt.

Senior members of the NKF squad and executive committee took part and became fully qualified NKF officials for NKF competitions. The club would like to thank them for their hard work and for their assistance in running the competition so efficiently on the following day.

Back on the day when they first entered Ronnie’s dojo, many of the competitors never imagined they’d become karate champions.

The years of hard training have began to pay off, transforming some of the most unlikely people into confident athletes who have now began to realise the benefit of years of hard training. Karate never fails to inspire those of a certain character and will surprise the humblest of people.

Our Aberdeen club is very proud to have run such a successful tournament off it’s own back with no funding other than the entry fee which helped cover the cost of medals and trophies and hall hire.

This success is, yet again, testament to the hard work put in by the members under the expert eye of Ronnie Watt (8th Dan) OBE ORS who would like to thank the NKF members for their continued dedication to training real karate.

Here are the results:

Men’s Kumite

1st John McInnes
2nd Thomas Phillip
3rd Allrezar Bashar
3rd Craig Russell

Women’s Kumite

1st Chloe Calder
2nd Angela Mcintyre
3rd Carole Kelman
3rd Vivienne Grant

Boys 14-17 Kumite

1st Greg Brimmner
2nd Alasdair Russell
3rd Awi MacDonald

Girls 14-17 Kumite

1st Chelsea Stott
2nd Jack A Lynn Walker
3rd Shannon Morrison

Boys 10-13 Brown/Black

1st Benedict Bruce
2nd Ben Porter
3rd Naman
3rd Andrew Bonner

Girls 10-13 Brown/Black

1st Leah Provan
2nd Leila Adair
3rd Ellie Douglas
3rd Stephanie Ross

Boys 10-13 Kyu

1st Jack Mitchell
2nd Ryan Dreczkowski
3rd Lewis Mcintyre
3rd Nicholas Heny

Girls 10-13 Kyu

1st Megan Hunter
2nd Maggie Pirie
3rd Lauren Lesley

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School Pupils To Compete In Energy Industry Quiz

Aberdeen City, Articles 1 Response »

Nov 122015

Tim Martin of Ramboll Oil & Gas, meets pupils involved in Northsound Schools Energy Challenge.

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Senior Account Executive, Tricker PR.

Pupils from four secondary schools in the north east of Scotland attended the Aberdeen office of global engineering consultancy Ramboll Oil & Gas to take part in a quiz designed to test their knowledge of the energy industry.

Teams from Dyce, Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Hazlehead Academies took part in the quarter finals of the Northsound Energy Schools Challenge, a hotly-contested annual competition for school pupils in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

But those wishing to learn the results of the hard-fought contest will need to tune in to local radio station Northsound One on Sunday, November 29 at 3.30pm.

Ramboll Oil & Gas has sponsored the popular energy industry quiz, run annually by Northsound One, in an effort to encourage young people to consider the energy industry as a career option. This comes after an announcement earlier this year that, despite the challenging economic climate, Ramboll Oil & Gas UK will expand its Aberdeen workforce by up to one third after securing £1.3m worth of new work since the start of the year.

Tim Martin, managing director of Ramboll Oil & Gas UK, says,

“At a time when other firms may not be looking to hire, we are in the very fortunate position to be looking towards expansion. There are still a great many opportunities for those wishing to enter the industry.

“The energy industry offers very rewarding career prospects, and we are delighted to be involved in a competition that fosters an interest in the industry amongst school pupils. Those competing in the Northsound Energy Schools Challenge are the future of the energy industry, and everything should be done to encourage their passion and enthusiasm.

“We were incredibly impressed by the knowledge and professionalism of all of the teams, and regardless of who is the overall winner of the competition I am confident that these pupils have long and successful careers in the energy industry ahead of them.”

The Northsound Energy Schools Challenge is broadcast on Northsound One every Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm.

Ramboll Oil & Gas is a business unit within the Ramboll Group. With more than four decades of experience, the company is a well-established, independent and highly regarded provider of offshore and onshore engineering consultancy services for the oil and gas industry. Today, Ramboll Oil & Gas has offices in the USA, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, India, Denmark, Norway and UK, and employs around 900 specialists.

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Medal Success In France For City Karate Team

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Nov 102015

By Charlie Abel.

Ronnie Watt’s National Karate Federation have returned from Berk, France where an international open competition was held on the 25th of October 2015.
The competition was hosted by French instructor Alain Verbeek (6th Dan).
Alain’s club trains in the doctrines of Alain’s late instructor, Taiji Kase (9th Dan). Kase is a widely respected Japanese Karate legend.

Our Aberdeen based NKF team did exceptionally well during the competition returning with 4 international medals against some stiff competition which included 1 Gold and 3 Silver – Nissara Kirk taking the Gold and 2 Bronze, and John McInnes taking a Silver.

There were 150 competitors in all so Ronnie and his squad can hold their heads high.

A special training course was held the day before the competition. Participants in the course enjoyed 6 hours of karate training the day before the competition from 4 different karate masters. Participants travelled from around Europe to reach Berck for this rare opportunity with competitors from Germany, Austria, Scotland, France and many from Brittany.

Shihan Ronnie Watt (8th Dan) from Aberdeen focused on speed technique to score points in kumite. Sensei Alain Verbeek (6th dan) demonstrated Kase-ha sparring tactics, using various knife hand attacks in response to an attacker. Sensei Christian Le Romancer (Brittany) demonstrated bunkai and emphasised the importance of Kime (power, focus).

Sensei Dieter Langer (3rd Dan) from Germany demonstrated the structures behind the kata and the importance of form over strength.

Also present was the wife and daughter of Taiji Kase. They will soon publish a much anticipated book detailing the life and legend that was Taiji Kase. Kase was also a frequent visitor to Aberdeen and a close friend of Ronnie Watt.

Alain Verbeek has studied Karate for over 45 years and in this time Ronnie and Alain have become great friends.

At the end of the festival and competition Alain was surprised to receive a Samurai SHOGUN award for his service to karate and promotion of friendship between Scotland and France. The award was given after the closing ceremony of the competition in front of many guests and VIP’s including Chieko Kase (wife) and Sachiko Kase (daughter), the Mayor of Berk and the ambassador of Japan in France, Yoichi Suzuki.

The Auld Alliance is still strong. The NKF would like to thank the French families that hosted the NKF squad and for showing them such great hospitality.

After the tournament Ronnie and his NKF squad were invited to the Berck town hall to be treated to a special civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Berck, a senior MP and other VIPs from the area.

Ronnie was presented with a medal by the Mayor of Berk for promoting friendship and culture between France and Scotland through Karate.

Ronnie was also presented with a very special gift, from the people of Inverness, France.

This was an unexploded world war one shell (pictured right), encased in a special hand made box.

It had been fired into the area where the Scottish soldiers had fought, many giving their lives to fight for the freedom of France in the Great War, 1915.

Ronnie said he was “deeply moved” by this special gift.

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Marc Seeks Sponsor To Help Him Make Big Break

Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport No Responses »

Oct 012015

Top amateur Aberdeen snooker player Marc Davis is seeking a sponsor.

With thanks to Esther Green, Tricker PR.

An Aberdeen snooker player is seeking to break into the big time – but fears that without sponsorship he may never achieve his dream.

Marc Davis (27) is ranked 17th in the amateur Order of Merit and has represented his country in international tournaments.

That’s despite working full time, with family commitments and not currently having the backing of a sponsor to help support his attendance at snooker events.

Marc says that not having a sponsor to back him is seriously impeding his chance to progress.

He feels he has a lot more to offer and with more time to devote to practise, and being able to take part in more tournaments, he could develop and grow as a player – and put Aberdeen on the snooker sporting map.

Having funding to compete in the World Snooker European Tour, qualifying schools and open events would be a dream come true for Marc.

He says:

“Last season I finished 17th on the amateur Order of Merit rankings and I was the highest placed Scottish player ahead of Eden Sherav and Rhys Clark, who turned pro in the summer, and Scottish champion Dylan Craig.

“I beat some full-time players including the world number 70 which I think shows I have the ability to compete against the best players.”

The father-of-two works full time as a customer services manager in Aberdeen. Holding down a full time job to cover living expenses means that Marc doesn’t have the flexibility – or the funds – to travel to most of the national and European snooker events.

Marc says he’s not alone in finding it hard to secure sponsorship, adding that it is and it is tough for sportspeople in all disciplines to gain backing to allow them to train, develop and grow their talent.

He recognises that the current slump in the oil industry means that are less sponsorship deals being made available but points out that sporting achievement can derive wider benefits for an area.

He cites golfer Paul Lawrie as being a tremendous ambassador for sport in the North-east, showing what sporting success can bring.

Through the Paul Lawrie Foundation, the 1999 Open champion works to encourage and develop young talent.

Marc says:

“It’s my ambition to compete at the highest level of snooker and I believe that, with sponsorship support, I can do this.

“It would be amazing to get three year sponsorship but any support would be extremely welcome.

“Lacking sponsorship is holding me back from doing better things and it’s quite incredible how well I do in tournaments considering I don’t practice as much so go to events less prepared than others yet still get results.

“I’ve worked hard for 15 years to get to this standard and I just want to be able to compete and achieve my very best.”

Marc would love to hear from anyone interested in discussing sponsorship opportunities and can be contacted at marcdavissnooker@googlemail.com or 077602 46618.

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Local Magician Scoops Award for Entertaining Act

Aberdeen City, Featured No Responses »

Sep 252015

Paul Rae accepts the Jocky Scott Trophy for Entertainment from Aberdeen Magical Society president Garry Seagraves.

With thanks to Aberdeen Magical Society.

A local magician is celebrating after winning a highly competitive magic contest. Paul Rae was awarded the Jocky Scott Trophy for Entertainment by members of the Aberdeen Magical Society.

The trophy was presented by president Garry Seagraves after a close competition on Tuesday, September 22.

To fight off tough competition from four other local magicians, Paul performed a unique routine in which he predicted the outcome of a superheroic battle to pick up the trophy, which is awarded for pure entertainment value.

Paul says,

“I am almost speechless. I really never expected to win. I have been playing about with this idea for a while, as I wanted to create something that was interactive and fun with lots of laughs.”

The Jocky Scott Trophy for Entertainment, named after a popular former member of the society, is one of three annual competitions held by Aberdeen Magical Society, and was first awarded in 1985. Judged by a panel of magicians and invited members of the public, the award is given to the competitor who – simply – is the most entertaining.

Aberdeen Magical Society was founded in 1926, and is one of the most active magical societies in the country. With a membership ranging from full time professionals to amateur hobbyists, all those with a genuine interest in magic are welcome to join. Providing a warm and welcoming environment for magicians in the north east of Scotland, Aberdeen Magical Society is dedicated to developing the art of magic. In 2016, the society will celebrate its 90th anniversary.

For more information, visit www.aberdeenmagic.com or like Aberdeen Magical Society on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aberdeenmagicalsociety

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Scottish Bed Making Championship Launches In Aberdeen

Aberdeen City, Charity, Featured No Responses »

Jul 162015

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates.

Michele Binnie and Courage the Cat launch the Scottish Bed Making Championship

Cash for Kids’ Michele Binnie and charity mascot Courage the Cat launch the Scottish Bed Making Championship at Village Urban Resort

Hospital corners will be the order of the day when a new competition is held in Aberdeen next month. The city is to play host to the inaugural Scottish Bed Making Championship on Thursday, 06 August.

The brainchild of local children’s charity Cash for Kids, the event forms part of its fundraising efforts for this year’s Bed Appeal.

The appeal, which officially launched earlier this month, aims to provide underprivileged children in north-east Scotland with a bed of their own and local disabled youngsters with specialist beds.

The charity hopes this year’s Bed Appeal will raise around £25,000 to purchase beds for more than 100 local underprivileged and disabled children.

The Scottish Bed Making Championship will be staged at Kingswells’ Village Urban Resort and is expected to attract entries from hotels, guest houses, care providers and hospitals in north-east Scotland.

Teams of four will be challenged to make a double bed – fitting sheets, pillow slips and duvet covers – as quickly as possible, before then making a bed which will be judged on its presentation. Points will be awarded for each task, with the two highest scoring teams then taking part in a bed race to be crowned Scottish Bed Making Champions. The winners will also win a corporate bowling night courtesy of Codona’s.

Cash for Kids charity manager Michele Binnie said:

“We are very excited to be launching the Scottish Bed Making Championship, which will be an important part of the 2015 Bed Appeal. The appeal highlights the issues of poverty and disability that families here in the north-east are facing.

“The championship is open to any team that wants to show off its bed making prowess, whether they’re from the hospitality and care industries or another sector entirely. Cash for Kids is grateful to Village Urban Resort Aberdeen for getting behind the event and we look forward to a great evening on Thursday, 06 August.”

Tracy Harrison, general manager of Village Urban Resort Aberdeen, said:

“The Scottish Bed Making Championship is a fantastic initiative to raise funds for this important appeal. It gives housekeeping teams in hotels and guest houses, and nursing and care staff a chance to shine at something they have to do proficiently and speedily each day.

“The championship is not just about making a bed quickly, but also presenting it well. The judges will be looking for crisp hospital corners and well plumped pillows. It will no doubt be a fun and competitive event, and one that we hope our hospitality colleagues across the north-east, and further afield, will get behind.”

Entry to the Scottish Bed Making Championship costs £100 for a team of four people, all of which goes directly to the Bed Appeal. Anyone interested in entering a team should contact Michele Binnie on 01224 337010 or michele.binnie@northsound.co.uk, or register online at www.northsound1.com/bed.

Cash for Kids is Northsound Radio’s listeners’ charity. It makes grants to individuals, families, children’s groups, organisations and projects throughout the Northsound transmission area. All money is raised locally and spent locally to benefit local disabled and disadvantaged children and young people under 18. More information on Cash for Kids can be found at www.northsound1.com/cashforkids, or telephone 01224 337010.

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Talented Teens Set To Vie For NEX Factor Title

Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Featured No Responses »

May 292015

With thanks to Ian McLaren, Innes Associates. Pictures: JN Photography.

Amie Flett and Megan O’Brien, both 15, Bridge of Don. Credit JN Photography

Excitement is building for the north-east’s largest youth singing contest, ahead of this Saturday’s grand final.
The NEX Factor singing competition, sponsored by Apex Industrial Chemicals and RSL NDT, highlights the most promising music stars between the ages of 13 and 19 from across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

Twelve talented teenage acts will line up in the final at the Thainstone Exchange, Inverurie on Saturday, 30 May 2015, with all funds raised going to Aberdeen-based charity Cash for Kids.

Over 100 youngsters applied and through a series of auditions the judges whittled the field down to the final 12 acts – 11 soloists and one duo – to vie for the 2015 NEX Factor title and win a fantastic first prize.

This year’s winning act will receive £1,000 in prize money, a session at a recording studio, a personal art portrait, plus an amazing day out in London with world-renowned music artist Emeli Sandé, Aberdeenshire’s most successful pop star.

The 28-year-old multi Brit Award winning singer songwriter, who has had three number one singles in the UK, was keen to give her time to the winner of the NEX Factor after hearing about the competition’s charitable contributions. Each entrant was asked to donate £5 to Cash for Kids to help support local young people of a similar age who are ill, disabled or disadvantaged.

This year the NEX Factor also attracted interest from the X Factor production team who asked event organisers for talent recommendations for the hit Saturday night show.

Around 700 people are expected to pack into the Thainstone Exchange for Saturday’s final with the audience voting for the winner. Tickets are selling quickly, and all proceeds from the contest will go to Cash for Kids, which raises money for the welfare of local young people under the age of 18 living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Competition organiser, Yasmeen Ali, said:

“This year’s NEX Factor final is set to be a fantastic event. The finalists are of an extremely high standard. Regardless of who triumphs on the night, all of the finalists have done really well to get to this stage and I’m sure have very bright futures ahead of them. Those in the audience on the 30th will have a difficult job selecting the winner, but in years to come they can say they helped put these youngsters on the road to stardom.

“NEX Factor is a community event that benefits those in needs and encourages charitable giving in children. It’s for the kids, by the kids. We hope to raise a large amount to allow Cash for Kids to continue its incredible work. There is a lot of excitement amongst the finalists about the prospect of a day out in London with Emeli Sandé, and we can’t thank her enough for her involvement.”

This year, all but one of the finalists is female.

Each finalist will perform two songs chosen by themselves and they will line-up on stage in the following order: 18-year-old Courtney Murphy from Mintlaw; Tammi Whyte, 15, from Aberdeen; 17-year-old Alannah Moar from Laurencekirk; Banchory’s Anna-Louise Barton, aged 16; 14-year-old Kyle MacRitchie from Inverurie; Megan Williams, 17, from Dufftown; Rebecca Henderson, 16, from Kennethmont; Bucksburn’s Rachel Brechin, aged 18; 16-year-old Bambie from Inverurie; Talitha Brown, 17, from Aberchirder; 15-year-old duo Amie Flett from Bridge of Don and Megan O’Brien from Balmedie; and Iona Fyfe, 17, from Huntly.

Tickets for the NEX Factor final are priced at £15 per person and can be purchased via the Cash for Kids website at www.northsound1.com/charity/fundraising-appeals/nex-factor/.

Cash for Kids’ Michelle Ferguson said:

“There is a lot of talent in the NEX Factor final and I’d like to wish all the finalists the best of luck. This brilliant initiative is shaping up to be a great night out for everyone who attends and their contribution to the event will help to make a huge difference to the lives of children in the local area.”

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