Red will be worn in tribute to Dispatch legend Ian Taylor

Ian Taylor won three gold, three silver and three bronze medals

Ian Taylor picked up three gold medals, three silver and three bronze in the tournament playing for the Bank of Scotland.

His recent death after a short battle with cancer has led to that club’s team members deciding to wear red trousers – Taylor’s trademark – on Saturday.

“It was only at the end of March when Ian informed everyone the extent of his illness and that he was going for treatment before sadly passing away earlier this month,” said club secretary Alan Nisbet.

“Ian was a club champion and stalwart member of this club for many years, becoming legendary for his exploits in our Dispatch Trophy teams.

“The club was successful in the competition in 1977, 1985 and 1986 and runners up in 1980, 1991 and 2000. Ian played in all of these teams as well as three others that reached the semi-finals.

“With a total of nine medals, there won’t be many players who can boast this sort of record.

“Those who knew Ian will remember his trademark red trousers and myself and our four team members – Andy and Graeme Stevenson, Bill Buchan and Graham Lundie – will all be sporting red trousers on Saturday.”

Members of Royal Burgess, Taylor’s home club, also wore red at his funeral earlier this week in Eyemouth, where he’d moved with his wife after retiring.

They also formed an arch by raising golf clubs in the air as his coffin left the church in the Berwickshire town.

The sight of their opponents wearing Taylor’s trademark trousers should put Carrickvale on red alert as they bid to return to winning ways in an event being sponsored for the first time by golfclubs4cash.

Four-times champions in the past nine years, Vale are once again heading into the event with one of the strongest line-ups on paper.

It sees Allyn Dick joining forces with Craig Deerness while Paul Cunningham partners Craig Elliot, the latter having had his arm twisted by team manager George Alexander to make a rare competitive outing.

Also in action in the first round - against Kilgour Private Clients - are Carrickvale B, who have Simon Hermiston, John Pow, Josh Cullerton and Gary Yorkston on duty.

“Hibs’ participation in the cup final has caused some issues,” admitted Mark McLeod of the Kilgour Private Clients’ line-up, but that event at Hampden has had no such effect on Kilgour Wealth Management.

“That’s because we are all Jambos,” added McLeod of himself, Stuart Beck, Alan Bradley and Gordon Miller as they prepare to take on Lochend B in another first-round tie.

Making a welcome return to the event, which is being run on this occasion by Edinburgh Leisure, are Stevenson & Cheyne (1983) Ltd and they face Harrison Golf Society in Saturday’s opening match.

“It has been around three or four years since we last entered a team and it is made up of three Liberton members – John Hunter, David Liddle and Gregor Emmerson – one Merchants man in myself,” said Fraser Smith.

Among the 20 teams to receive a bye to Sunday’s second round are British Rugby Club of Paris, who will take on Temple Golfing Society with a depleted line-up.

“Two of our better golfing members, Gavin Hastings and Colin McClung, have indicated they will be available after the first weekend,” reported David Bell, who will be joining forces with Charlie Maran, Alan Williams, Ricky Cowan and David Bell.

“A lot of our members will not realise that the BRC team which plays in the Dispatch Trophy will be up against some of the very best golfers in the Lothians and those who do would need Leicester City odds before they would put money on the BRC team to win the trophy in 2016!”