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Edinburgh Reporter
4 hours ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Daryl becomes young volunteer of the year
Daryl Stewart (23), a long-standing volunteer with sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, has been awarded the Special Recognition Award for Young Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Inspiring Volunteer Awards, run by Volunteer Edinburgh. The award ceremony, which took place on Monday at the City Chambers, marked the beginning of Volunteers' Week – a national celebration of the vital role that volunteers play across the UK. Daryl received his award from The Rt Hon. Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to supporting blind and partially sighted people in Scotland. Daryl, who has a cerebral visual impairment, first became involved with RNIB Scotland at the age of 14 when he joined the charity's youth forum. At the time, he felt isolated at his mainstream school. RNIB's youth group offered a transformative space where Daryl made friends and found his community. Since then, he has grown from a participant into a key figure in RNIB Scotland's volunteer network. He began volunteering at 16 and has since supported a wide range of groups and activities, from youth sessions to craft groups, walking clubs, and tandem cycling. This year, however, has seen Daryl step confidently into a leadership role, making his contribution more impactful than ever. Over the past 12 months, Daryl has taken on new responsibilities, moving beyond support to organising and leading multiple RNIB groups and activities across Edinburgh. He now independently plans and runs sessions, offering guidance, encouragement, and a warm welcome to participants of all ages. In addition, Daryl delivers Visual Awareness training to RNIB Scotland's partner organisations, equipping staff and volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to better support blind and partially sighted people in their own services. He has also played a key role in the reopening of RNIB Scotland's community café this year at their Edinburgh office, where he regularly volunteers by greeting visitors, giving tours of the newly refurbished space, and serving refreshments with professionalism and kindness. Daryl's commitment has had a measurable and lasting impact. as follows: Over 50 blind and partially sighted people have accessed group support because of Daryl's work. He's introduced 10 people to tandem cycling and 12 new players to the inclusive sport of Showdown. He's currently collaborating with Scottish Disability Sport to expand Showdown across Scotland, with ambitions to launch a national league hosted at RNIB Scotland's offices. He supports dozens of community members each week through his work at RNIB Scotland's café and local groups. When RNIB Scotland's main Edinburgh office temporarily closed for refurbishment, Daryl did not hesitate to go above and beyond. He worked with staff to ensure that community members could still attend groups and sessions – sometimes accompanying them on public transport, and in other cases meeting them at home to coordinate transport with drivers. He's also taken part in multiple Kiltwalk fundraising events, helping raise money to support RNIB Scotland's various services. 'Mention Daryl's name to anyone who comes through our doors, and they instantly smile,' said Jane Coates, Community Social Action Manager at RNIB Scotland. 'His energy, kindness, and commitment bring so much joy and reassurance to the people we support.' On receiving his award, a delighted Daryl said, 'I have loved my time at RNIB, I never want to leave!' Like this: Like Related
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Knox to notch a hundred
Darcy Knox used to sweep the floor at the Edgar Centre. This afternoon he will bring up 100 games for the Otago Nuggets when they play the Wellington Saints in Porirua. It has been quite a journey for the Nuggets captain. "Oh, it's really special," he said. "It was never a particular goal I set out to accomplish or anything like that. But it has been very easy to keep coming back because I love playing for our city and for our region. "I started this six years ago in the Showdown but also before that ... I was a development player. "And looking back even further, I first started coming as a kid to watch the games ... and I was a floor sweeper as well — so going from being a floor sweeper as a kid coming to the Nuggets camps to reaching 100 games as a player is pretty cool." The 30-year-old point guard is the third Nugget to reach the milestone this year, so he has had some mates along for the journey. He joins Josh Aitcheson and Matthew Bardsley in the 100 club. The trio have played a ton of basketball together over the years. They have won two championships together, flatted together and roomed together, so it was only fitting they bring up 100 games just weeks apart. "Josh I've played with since 2016 and we grew up playing reps. He's my flatmate as well, and then Bards, we've been great mates. We were roommates at the 2020 Showdown." The Nuggets won the 2020 Showdown. The tournament had to be reworked because of Covid and the entire competition was played in Auckland. All the players stayed in the same hotel. It was an intense time, and is one of Knox's favourite basketball memories. The 2022 title was up there as well. But in terms of individual games, the win against a full-strength Saints side in the capital in 2023 really stood out. "We had a couple of other guys out and you know we were really up against it. I remember the commentators cutting us down big time. "We played our hearts out. We played together and we left everything on the floor. "It was one of those rivalry games, and to get the win when we were up against a full-strength Saints squad in Wellington in front of 4000 people was really cool. "But some of the most memorable stuff is actually in those down moments as well. "You know, when you keep it together as a group or when it's tough and the things you learn from that. "I think that's where you build as a player and as a person, in those kind of valleys more than in the peaks. "The peaks kind of come from going through those tough times and being able to stick with it as a group." The Nuggets will need to do that this afternoon. They are on a nine-game losing streak, and the Saints are one of the form teams in the competition. It might be another one of those learning opportunities Knox mentioned. They have struggled to contain teams, but their defence has improved since the departure of Jose Perez. They lost some scoring power with his exit. But Jonathan Janssen stepped up in his absence and Don Carey jun remains a major threat. NBL Nuggets v Saints Otago Nuggets: Patrick Freeman, Jonathan Janssen, Don Carey jun, Joshua Aitcheson, Jaylen Sebree, Michael Ruske, Matthew Bardsley, Darcy Knox, Caleb Smiler, Liam Boomer, Noah McDowall. Wellington Saints (possible): Nicholas Marshall, Izayah Mauriohooho Le Afa, Jordan Ngatai, Hyrum Harris, Nicholas Muszynski, Samuel Gold, Hassan Munir, Rangimarie Dougall-Mita, Lukah Richards, Kazlo Evans, Arthur Pilcher
The Age
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
AFL live: Collingwood Magpies, Adelaide Crows face off at MCG before Power battle Cats and Dogs take on Dons
1.05pm Will the Crows 'hard tag' Nick Daicos? Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is 'extremely tempted' to buck tradition and deploy a hard tag on Collingwood playmaker Nick Daicos. The Magpie maestro has torn the Crows apart in their past two clashes at the MCG - both Pie wins in thrillers, by four and two points respectively. 'One-hundred per cent, we're tempted,' Nicks said of the prospect of tagging Daicos in Saturday afternoon's fixture at the 'G. Last year against the Crows, Daicos collected 41 disposals and 22 contested possessions following 37 and a goal the previous season. 'He is a fantastic player,' Nicks said. 'He's very hard to stop, even with a tag, it has been shown that he can beat that. 'But we're extremely tempted.' Recruit James Peatling, who has settled nicely into Adelaide's midfield, appears the likely candidate. The former GWS on-baller has been increasingly influential in a past month tipped by 24 touches and a dozen tackles in his first Showdown win, a five-point scrape over Port Adelaide. 'We would have a few that are really keen for it,' Nicks said of the tagging job. 'We have guys that really love that. 'Whatever the team needs, we have got a group that will embrace that. 'We will see how the game looks ... there's always plans in place for these things. We're not naive, we're not going to stand there and let a guy run around aimlessly. 'But also there are times when you can go to that (tag) and it doesn't work as well as you'd necessarily like and a lot of the commentary can be 'they didn't tag'. 'Well, maybe we just didn't get that bit right.' Nicks has been preaching a weekly focus while putting his fifth-placed Crows (six wins, three losses) on track for a return to the finals for the first time since 2017. But there's a sense this fixture against the third-placed Pies (seven-two) has long been in the back of his mind. 'There's so many hard match-ups ... that's why they're rated the best side in the competition, or one of,' Nicks said. 'There's so many weapons. Their scoring ability, it's not just their small forwards, they share it right around. 'It comes of their well-rounded game though - they defend so well, they're connected. 'I know a lot of teams around the league are looking at them at the moment and trying to work through what are they doing. 'Because their connection is as good as any at this point, going back to when they won the flag (in 2023).' The Magpies recalled stalwarts Scott Pendlebury, Brayden Maynard and Brody Mihocek while losing skipper Darcy Moore (shoulder) and Lachie Schultz (concussion) for the clash against the unchanged Crows.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
AFL live: Collingwood Magpies, Adelaide Crows face off at MCG before Power battle Cats and Dogs take on Dons
1.05pm Will the Crows 'hard tag' Nick Daicos? Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is 'extremely tempted' to buck tradition and deploy a hard tag on Collingwood playmaker Nick Daicos. The Magpie maestro has torn the Crows apart in their past two clashes at the MCG - both Pie wins in thrillers, by four and two points respectively. 'One-hundred per cent, we're tempted,' Nicks said of the prospect of tagging Daicos in Saturday afternoon's fixture at the 'G. Last year against the Crows, Daicos collected 41 disposals and 22 contested possessions following 37 and a goal the previous season. 'He is a fantastic player,' Nicks said. 'He's very hard to stop, even with a tag, it has been shown that he can beat that. 'But we're extremely tempted.' Recruit James Peatling, who has settled nicely into Adelaide's midfield, appears the likely candidate. The former GWS on-baller has been increasingly influential in a past month tipped by 24 touches and a dozen tackles in his first Showdown win, a five-point scrape over Port Adelaide. 'We would have a few that are really keen for it,' Nicks said of the tagging job. 'We have guys that really love that. 'Whatever the team needs, we have got a group that will embrace that. 'We will see how the game looks ... there's always plans in place for these things. We're not naive, we're not going to stand there and let a guy run around aimlessly. 'But also there are times when you can go to that (tag) and it doesn't work as well as you'd necessarily like and a lot of the commentary can be 'they didn't tag'. 'Well, maybe we just didn't get that bit right.' Nicks has been preaching a weekly focus while putting his fifth-placed Crows (six wins, three losses) on track for a return to the finals for the first time since 2017. But there's a sense this fixture against the third-placed Pies (seven-two) has long been in the back of his mind. 'There's so many hard match-ups ... that's why they're rated the best side in the competition, or one of,' Nicks said. 'There's so many weapons. Their scoring ability, it's not just their small forwards, they share it right around. 'It comes of their well-rounded game though - they defend so well, they're connected. 'I know a lot of teams around the league are looking at them at the moment and trying to work through what are they doing. 'Because their connection is as good as any at this point, going back to when they won the flag (in 2023).' The Magpies recalled stalwarts Scott Pendlebury, Brayden Maynard and Brody Mihocek while losing skipper Darcy Moore (shoulder) and Lachie Schultz (concussion) for the clash against the unchanged Crows.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Manufacturer Showdown: Info, format and more for All-Star Race's new twist
Automakers will have a special spotlight during NASCAR All-Star Weekend, with Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota all involved in the first-ever Manufacturer Showdown at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The competition within the competition will culminate at the checkered flag of Sunday's NASCAR All-Star Race main event (8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with one carmaker claiming the Showdown win — and bragging rights. Advertisement RELATED: All-Star Weekend schedule | Paint Scheme Preview See below now for all the details on the format and how it works. Come back throughout the weekend to see which cars are part of the Showdown and, ultimately, which manufacturer claims the award. FORMAT Each manufacturer will be represented by a set number of Cup Series teams in the All-Star main event. The size of each manufacturer team will be determined by the automaker with the least amount of cars qualified for the 250-lap feature — which means the field won't be fully locked in until after Sunday's All-Star Open (5 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and Fan Vote, when the All-Star field is fully set. Advertisement The other two manufacturers will field the same number of teams, with the drivers selected based on their starting-lineup positions for the All-Star Race. Teams will be scored against each other and now by their overall All-Star finish. The lowest combined total of finishing positions will be the winning manufacturer. In the event of a tie, the single best overall finishing position will determine the winner. TEAMS Team sizes and driver participants will be determined after Sunday's All-Star Open. Chevrolet: Drivers to be set following Sunday's NASCAR All-Star Open. Ford: Drivers to be set following Sunday's NASCAR All-Star Open. Toyota: Drivers to be set following Sunday's NASCAR All-Star Open. RESULTS Check back post-race Sunday to see which carmaker wins.
