Tasty ties set up as draw made for 125th Dispatch Trophy at The Braids

Duddingston, winners for the last two years, and the Stephen Gallacher Foundation are among 32 teams teeing up in the 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy at the Braids.

Though down, disappointingly, on last year’s figure of 45, the milestone edition of the historic team tournament is set for some tasty ties in the opening round on Saturday week.

Heriot’s, beaten semi-finalists last year, face five-time winners Carrickvale, while Braids United take on two-time trophy winners Edinburgh Thistle in an all-Braids clash.

The 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy will involve 32 teams at The Braids | National World

Bidding to become the first team to land the coveted prize three years in a row since Carrickvale achieved the feat 16 years ago, Duddingston are up against Hailes B.

After meeting in last year’s final, Duddingston and six-time winners Silverknowes are in the same half of the draw on this occasion in the Edinburgh Leisure-run event.

Silverknowes, who are bidding to lift the trophy for the first time since 2014, start out against recent newcomers Musselburgh Old Course.

Murrayfield, one of the teams who have brought a freshness to the event in recent years, are up against Dalmahoy while Prestonfield, a welcome addition to the line up, face Edinburgh Western.

Though not the first time they will be taking part, the Stephen Gallacher Foundation is making a welcome return for this special edition.

Turnhouse will be their first-round opponents, with the winners of that one then taking on either BBT, another Turnhouse team, or Stewart’s Melville.

The Dispatch Trophy was first held in 1890 and has taken place every year apart from during the First and Second World Wars and then for two years during the Covid pandemic.

This year’s event has secured sponsorship from the Braid Hills Golf Centre and North Berwick-based Golf Finance.

The second round will be played on Tuesday, 20 May followed by the quarter-finals on Thursday, 22 May. The semi-finals and final will then be played on Saturday, 24 May.

First-round draw

8.00am Donuts@The 9th (Newbattle) v Caermount

8.15am Buckstone v Kilgour Wealth Management

8.45am Bank of Scotland v Hailes

9.00am Edinburgh Western v Prestonfield

9.15am Lochend v Heriot’s Quad

9.30am Carrickvale v Heriot’s

9.45am BBT v Stewart’s/Melville

10.00am Turnhouse v Stephen Gallacher Foundation

10.15am Colinton Mains v Silverknowes B

10.30am Harrison B v Edinburgh Academical

10.45am Bruntsfield Allied v Harrison

11.00am Silverknowes v Musselburgh Old Course

11.15am Braids United v Edinburgh Thistle

11.30am Dalmahoy v Murrayfield

11.45am Duddingston v Hailes B

Noon Kilgour Property Management v Swanston