Silverknowes all set for title defence

Harrison, in 2000, were the last club from the event's magnificent home venue to lift the trophy and, on two occasions in the last three years, all the Braids sides have gone out before the quarter-finals.

Keith Reilly, a member of the Silverknowes side heading up to the Braids as defending champions, is surprised at the lack of recent success from the players who know the bumps and borrows of the Capital course like the back of their hand.

But he also reckons it will be making those members of Harrison, Edinburgh Thistle, Braids United and Edinburgh Western all the more dangerous in the latest staging of an event that remains as keenly anticipated today as it did in 1890, when it was first staged.

"We were having a look over the results from recent years over a drink at Silverknowes and were talking about how the Braids clubs haven't done as well lately," said Reilly.

"That's surprising because they have some really strong clubs. Harrison, for one, while Braids United reached the semi-finals this year in the Edinburgh Municipal Winter League.

"I fully expect one or two of the Braids clubs to do well this year and you want that to happen because it adds to the event when one of those teams gets to the later stages."

Silverknowes themselves are up against one of the Braids sides in tomorrow's opening round, launching their trophy defence against Thistle Thursday.

"We could then face Edinburgh Thistle on Sunday and Harrison are also quite close to us in the draw as well," added Reilly.

Despite ending Carrickvale's three-year reign as holders, Silverknowes are not being represented by the same winning quartet, with Paul Heggie replacing Paul Ross. Heggie was in the team in both 2008 and 2009, when he partnered Reilly on both occasions - but without much success.

"It looks as though we will be changing the pairings," revealed Reilly. "I'm going to be with Tam (Caldwell] for the first time and Paul will play with Graham (Robertson]. Paul is playing really well at the moment - he's striking the ball brilliantly - and I think it will be good for him to be with Graham, who is very steady."

Unlike his three other team-mates, Heggie is still waiting to pick up his first medal in the event.

"I remember being in that position myself," recalled Reilly. "I tried for years and it was a great feeling when I got through on the Thursday night for the first time.

"We got hammered on the Saturday morning but to get your first medal in the Dispatch Trophy is still a great achievement."

Reilly, a member of all three trophy-winning Silverknowes sides in the last 13 years, is hoping a recent hand injury has healed.

"I had to concede my Lothians Champion of Champions tie last week as I couldn't even lift a wedge off the ground," he said.

"I think it is tendinitis in my right wrist but I played in our Summer League match at West Linton earlier this week and should be okay."

Silverknowes aren't the only side making a change from a winning line-up as Carrickvale have lost Allyn Dick from the side that held a vice-like grip on the trophy until 12 months ago. Simon Hermiston, who qualified for the match-play stage of the recent Lothians Championship, comes in for him and will partner David Ewen with Craig Elliot and Darren Coyle keeping their partnership intact.

Changes are also likely in the Stewart's-Melville side that secured bronze medals last year along with RICS.

That's because the likes of newly-crowned Lothians champion Alan Anderson and Kevin Cattanach are Bruntsfield Links members and the event clashes with their club championship.

Heriot's could also be without John Liddel for the same reason, but Watsonian look as though they'll be heading up the Braids on this occasion with a decent chance of staking a medal claim.

The Watson's' old boys have already chalked up one notable success on the fairways this season with a victory in the Halford Hewitt. Flying the flag for them this weekend will be Greg Nicolson, Richard Craig, John Nisbet and Jamie Kennedy, the latter making an appearance after moving back from America.

There, he played college golf with fellow Scot Russell Knox, who is now on the Nationwide Tour, against the likes of Ryder Cup player Dustin Johnson. As always, the event will be a chance for some old friends to meet up again, the likes of former Hearts defender Jim Brown being a regular in the Bruntsfield Allied team.

But, at the same time, it is also encouraging to see the return of The Scotsman as well as two new teams - Kilgour Wealth Management and Kilgour Private Clients - taking part for the first time.

The Scotsman team includes Evening News rugby correspondent Bill Lothian, who will fulfil a lifelong dream when he tees off in the event.