Edinburgh golfer set for 'bold and brilliant' challenge in honour of late rugby star
An Edinburgh man is playing 25 rounds of golf over five days in honour of a late rugby star who died of motor neurone disease (MND).
George "Doddie" Weir, a Scottish rugby union player, died in 2022, aged 52. Inspired by the star's struggle, Graeme Smeaton aims to raise £25,000 for MND research through the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, a charity launched in the nickname of the player.
Mr Smeaton will walk a total of 125 miles, hit over 2,000 shots, and will have less than 25 hours of sleep over the five days. He will be joined by former Scotland rugby internationals John Barclay, Andy Irvine, and Roger Baird will join him across the week to keep pace and morale high. In memory of Doddie, he will wear Royal and Awesome's limited-edition Doddie tartan, 15 per cent of each sale goes to the charity.
READ MORE: Huge delays on Edinburgh Bypass as drivers urged to 'use caution'
READ MORE: 'Our Edinburgh scheme has a reputation for being tough - but it's misunderstood'
Graeme Smeaton, founder of Royal & Awesome golf, takes on the challenge from June 2-6. His JustGiving page had already amassed over £2,000 in donations by Monday morning.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
The rounds will be played on East Lothian courses Gullane, Luffness, Kilspindie and Longniddry. Ahead of the feat, Mr Smeaton said: "These courses are where I fell in love with golf.
"So to take on this challenge here, for a cause as meaningful as My Name'5 Doddie Foundation's feels incredibly special. I'm aiming to raise £25,000 but the main goal is to raise awareness of the incredible work the Foundation does to raise vital funds for MND research.
"This is nothing compared to what people living with MND go through every day. I just want to do my bit - and hopefully inspire donations along the way."
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Also joining will be Doddie's son Hamish Weir and friends and family of MND campaigner Scott Stewart, who lost his battle with MND in December 2024. Paul Thompson, director of fundraising and communications at My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, said: "Graeme's challenge is bold, brilliant, and full of heart, exactly the kind of energy Doddie brought to life.
"We're incredibly grateful for his support and can't wait to see him take on all 25 rounds. He's doing something extraordinary to help fund vital research and raise awareness of MND."
Mr Smeaton will be posting about the challenge on his Instagram account. Find out more information on Graeme's JustGiving page here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PGA Tour Makes Unfortunate Revelation about Scottie Scheffler This Weekend
PGA Tour Makes Unfortunate Revelation about Scottie Scheffler This Weekend originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Travelers Championship delivered plenty of drama on a hot Saturday, especially for those watching Scottie Scheffler's round unfold. While Tommy Fleetwood surged to a 16-under 194, building a three-shot lead, the rest of the leaderboard witnessed serious shakeups. Fleetwood, who has never won on the PGA Tour, has a golden chance. 'This is like my first real chance, so I'm really excited about that,' he said after a bogey-free 63. Advertisement However, the biggest shocker of the day came from Scheffler. Starting the third round tied for the lead alongside Fleetwood and Justin Thomas, he opened with a triple bogey, the first of his PGA Tour career. Scottie Scheffler fist bumps fans on his way to the first tee during the third round of the Travelers Championship golf Streicher-Imagn Images What began as a simple miss into the rough turned into a costly disaster. The PGA Tour summed it up best: 'Golf is hard, even for Scottie Scheffler. A triple bogey on the first hole moves him from T1 to T10.' Scheffler drove into five-inch rough, followed by a shot from a bunker that overshot the green. From there, two more chips and two putts sealed the triple. He posted a 72, marking just his fifth round over par in 55 this year, and dropped nine shots behind Fleetwood. Despite the stumble, Scheffler still birdied the final hole to finish tied for eighth, a testament to his resilience. The current world No. 1 hasn't missed a top-10 finish since March, but this round was a reminder that even the best aren't immune to golf's humbling nature. With Fleetwood leading and Keegan Bradley and Russell Henley close behind, the final round promises more fireworks. But for Scheffler, the PGA Tour's revealing stat about his triple bogey is a rare low in an otherwise stellar season. Advertisement Related: PGA Tour Sends Personal Message to Scottie Scheffler on Saturday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
David ‘Syd' Lawrence, England's first British-born Black cricketer, has died at 61
GLOUCESTER, England (AP) — David 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England, has died. He was 61. Lawrence's family made the announcement on Sunday with a statement through Gloucestershire, where Lawrence was the club president. He announced a year ago he had motor neurone disease. 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease,' the family said. ''Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed. 'A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was.' He played five tests for England from 1988-92, taking 18 wickets. His international career prematurely ended at 28 when he broke his knee cap after falling awkwardly when running in to bowl against New Zealand on the final day of a test in Wellington. A strapping fast bowler who was renowned for being one of the quickest on the English county circuit, Lawrence was beginning to establish himself in tests and a five-for against the West Indies in 1991 helped England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Viv Richards among his haul. Lawrence also played a sole one-day international against the West Indies at Lord's in 1991, taking 4-67. For Gloucestershire, he grabbed 625 wickets in 280 matches. The England and India teams gave Lawrence a moment's silence on Sunday in Leeds before the third day's play in the first test. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. After he detailed his experiences of racism during his playing career, Gloucestershire issued an unreserved apology in September 2021, and six months later he became the county's first Black president. Only last week, Lawrence received an MBE in King Charles III's birthday honors for outstanding services to cricket. At the time, he said, 'As a proud Gloucester man who achieved his dream to play for England on the cricket field, it means a great deal to me and to my family who have supported me with all their love during some difficult times. I have always put my heart and soul into any challenge I have faced and that is how I have approached things since my diagnosis with motor neurone disease.' He was fundraising to fight MND as recently as Friday, when Gloucestershire honored him during a Twenty20 game. Lawrence was also recently named an honorary life vice president of the England and Wales Cricket Board, and chair Richard Thompson paid tribute. 'David 'Syd' Lawrence was a true trailblazer of English cricket and a man of immense courage, character, and compassion,' Thompson said on Sunday. 'His impact on the game extended far beyond the boundary ropes. As a fast bowler, he thrilled crowds with his pace and passion. As a leader and advocate, he broke barriers and inspired change, becoming a powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport. 'Even in the face of his illness, David showed extraordinary strength and dignity, continuing to uplift others with his resilience and spirit. He leaves behind a legacy that will endure in the hearts of all who love cricket. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire cricketing community at this time.' ___ AP cricket:
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
David 'Syd' Lawrence, England's first British-born Black cricketer, has died at 61
GLOUCESTER, England (AP) — David 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England, has died. He was 61. Lawrence's family made the announcement on Sunday with a statement through Gloucestershire, where Lawrence was the club president. He announced a year ago he had motor neurone disease. 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease,' the family said. "'Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed. 'A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was.' He played five tests for England from 1988-92, taking 18 wickets. His international career prematurely ended at 28 when he broke his knee cap after falling awkwardly when running in to bowl against New Zealand on the final day of a test in Wellington. A strapping fast bowler who was renowned for being one of the quickest on the English county circuit, Lawrence was beginning to establish himself in tests and a five-for against the West Indies in 1991 helped England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Viv Richards among his haul. For Gloucestershire, he grabbed 625 wickets in 280 matches. The England and India teams gave Lawrence a moment's silence on Sunday in Leeds before the third day's play in the first test. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. After he detailed his experiences of racism during his playing career, Gloucestershire issued an unreserved apology in September 2021, and six months later he became the county's first Black president. At the time, he said, 'As a proud Gloucester man who achieved his dream to play for England on the cricket field, it means a great deal to me and to my family who have supported me with all their love during some difficult times. I have always put my heart and soul into any challenge I have faced and that is how I have approached things since my diagnosis with motor neurone disease.' He was fundraising to fight MND as recently as Friday, when Gloucestershire honored him during a Twenty20 game. Lawrence was also recently named an honorary life vice president of the England and Wales Cricket Board, and chair Richard Thompson paid tribute. 'David 'Syd' Lawrence was a true trailblazer of English cricket and a man of immense courage, character, and compassion,' Thompson said on Sunday. "His impact on the game extended far beyond the boundary ropes. As a fast bowler, he thrilled crowds with his pace and passion. As a leader and advocate, he broke barriers and inspired change, becoming a powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport. 'Even in the face of his illness, David showed extraordinary strength and dignity, continuing to uplift others with his resilience and spirit. He leaves behind a legacy that will endure in the hearts of all who love cricket. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire cricketing community at this time.' ___
