NEWS UPDATES GAVIN JUST HAS EDGE IN EDINBURGH HALF-MARATHON! Last month's Edinburgh Half-Marathon saw Connor's sister Stephanie and stepfather Gavin lining up on the start line. "We both came in quicker than expected," said Stephanie, "myself at two hours nine minutes, while Gavin beat me coming in at two hours three minutes! It really brought home to both us just how much training we're going to have to do before heading to New York!" Both Gavin and Stephanie have been successful in their bid to take part in the world-famous 2016 New York Marathon on Sunday, November 6. (A full feature article on the pair's build-up to the New York event will appear on the Connor's Journey web site at a later date). Gavin puts his best foot forward during the Edinburgh Half-Marathon on May 29. GRAND SLAM SKIPPER HAPPY TO SUPPORT CONNOR'S JOURNEY AS the captain of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam-winning team, David Sole needs little introduction to rugby supporters the world over. Last month he received a special welcome from members of Peebles Rugby Club's Laureate Society when he hosted a whisky-tasting evening on behalf of The Balvenie company in the clubrooms. The event proved a thoroughly enjopyable occasion, with the gratifying sum of £375 being raised for Connor's Journey. Russell Brock, chairman of the Laureate Society, explained that the society was formed 13 years ago by Ian Dempster, and comprises local businessmen keen to help support the Peebles club's players. "One of the Laureate Society's members is Lord Smith of Kelvin, who had successfully bid at a charity event for a tasting reception given by The Balvenie. He kindly agreed to let the Laureate Society organise the tasting, which was hosted by David Sole and proved most enjoyable. At the end of the evening a collection was taken amongst our members, and we asked David if he would nominate a cause to which the collection could go towards, and he chose Connor's Journey, which we were all happoy to support." David's son Chris is in fact a friend of Connor's, as they were in the same school year at Merchiston. The Hughes family would like to express their thanks to David and the Laureate Society for their kind support. David Sole, hosted special evening in Peebles. MERCHISTONIANS OUT FOR REVENGE IN OLD BOYS' RUGBY MATCH! AS rugby rivalries go, the one between Merchiston Castle School and the Edinburgh Academy is one of the longest and keenest on record. So it's hardly surprising that excitement is already building for the annual Academicals v. Merchistonians old boys' match. Proceeds from this year's fixture, which takes place at Raeburn Place on Saturday, June 4, will be divided between Connor's Journey and BATs (a community amateur sports club backed by the Broughton, Edinburgh Accies and Trinity Accies rugby clubs, aimed at introducing the game to youngsters in North Edinburgh). Connor attended Merchiston as a pupil, and the school has been hugely supportive of Connor and Connor's Journey fund-raising activities since the time of his accident. "We're all very keen to continue helping Connor in any way we can," Merchistonians RFC secretary Oli Green comments, "and hope the annual old boys' match will give a considerable boost to the cause. The old boys' match will be followed in the evening by the former pupils' dinner in the Double Tree By Hilton Hotel, at which there will be an auction of top items, so the stage is set for a truly memorable day." The Academicals have come out on top in the last two fixtures between the teams, so Oli is hoping it will be third time lucky for Merchistonians this time around. "We're very much hoping Connor and his family will be a able to come along on the day," says Oli, "and our players will certainly be pulling out all the stops to try and make sure we get the right result!" The match kicks off at Raeburn Place at 3pm, with the clubrooms open from 12 noon. A range of attractions will also be situated around the ground, making the occasion a great family day out. Merchistonian & Academicals players go head-to-head in last year's rugby match. LOCAL FIRM ENABLES NEW GATEWAY TO OPEN UP FOR CONNOR A BIG 'thank you' goes out to Colin Robertson of local company Robertson Timber Ltd, Charlesfield, St Boswells, for his kind help in donating materials to allow the back garden gate at the Hughes family's home to be rebuilt. This will allow Coonor to have direct access to his van and also to his trusty off-road wheelchair, the 'Boma'. The new arrangement will make a big difference to Connor's comings and goings, and the family are extremely grateful to the Robertson Timber company for their kind support.