Active Magazine // January 2015

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Win a stunning £2,000 bike!

Inside: an incredible Rutland Cycling competition

ISSUE 31 // JANUARY 2015

STA M FOR D & RU T L A N D’S SPORT A N D L E I S U R E M AGA Z I N E

Stride by stride How

ISSUE 31 // JANUARY 2015

to walk yourself fit, healthy and happy!

Head for the Borderville!

New year, new challenges

Know A Wigeon from a Rowan?

Take a look at Daniels' smart new home ground

Great ideas for being more active in 2015

Our handy spotter's guides when you're out and about

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Become a member of Stamford Endowed Schools Sports Centre New Year early bird deals available if you sign up before 31st January: • New annual membership will be charged at the 2014 rate, with no joining fee.

• Free inductions (worth £10) for new Gold members.

• Buy 4 Personal Trainer sessions of either 30 min or 60 min and get 1 free.

• Recommend a friend (must be new member, not an expired member) to sign up for the annual membership and receive an additional 1 month to your own membership.

Family & individual memberships available, gym & pool or pool only contact us for more information.

Facilities include:

• 25 metre swimming pool • 30 station air-conditioned fitness suite with state-of-the-art Life Fitness equipment • Free weights area • Free parking a short walk away • Shower/changing rooms • Hospitality suite

Contact us today on 01780 750050, email sportscentre@ses.lincs.sch.uk or visit

www.ses.lincs.sch.uk/sportscentre STAMFORD ENDOWE - No Order 378652 - 558468.indd 1

12/4/2014 9:06:29 AM

Editor’s Letter AS A KID, I USED TO HATE GOING FOR walks. Trudging along in my parents’ wake, I always thought there was somewhere better to be, such as out with my friends playing Star Wars or football. But as I’ve got older, I’ve really come to appreciate the benefits of a great walk. In my mind there are four elements essential for its success...

The first is weather: a bright, crisp winter’s day is as good as it gets – better even than a summer’s day in my mind.

Second: A dog. There is no finer thing than to see the look on a dog’s face as they skip along cheerily on a walk. It reminds us that sometimes, the simple pleasures are the best.

Three: ‘Circulosity’ (my word). A good walk should never double back on itself. It should always be forging ahead on new, untramped ground before returning to where you began.

Four: A pub. Obvious, really.

So I hope you enjoy our features on how to walk yourself fit in this issue. Getting fit and feeling healthy isn’t only about having the body mass index of an Olympic triathlete or climbing mountains for fun. For most of us, it’s about staving off the effects of excess.

Also, huge congratulations to Stamford School First XV rugby team, who have gone another season unbeaten: 14 wins in all. This is a tremendous achievement in such a fiercely competitive region for schools’ rugby.

But it is no fluke. In the last four years, Stamford lost two in 2011, were unbeaten in 2012 and lost one in 2013. With the churn of boys going through the team as they leave school each year this is a remarkable run of results. Praise must go to Dave Laventure and his coaches who clearly are creating something very special there.

More than 800 turned up to see Stamford Daniels’ first game at Borderville. It is quite a facility and hopefully the start of a run of success and a climb up the non-league ladder. If you haven’t been up there, please go: it really is worth a look.

Thanks, Steve

Twitter // @theACTIVEmag Facebook // www.facebook.com/theACTIVEmag

Publisher Chris Meadows chris@theactivemag.com Editor Steve Moody steve@theactivemag.com Deputy Editor Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com Production Editor Julian Kirk julian@theactivemag.com Art Editor Mark Sommer mark@theactivemag.com Contributors Martin Johnson, William Hetherington, Sandie Hurford, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth, Neil Moverley Photographers Nico Morgan, Harry Measures, Jon Clarke, Pip Warters, Andy Balmford Production Assistant Gary Curtis Advertising Sales Lisa Withers lisa@theactivemag.com Rachel Meadows rachel@theactivemag.com Office Administration & Accounts Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com Active magazine, The Grey House, 3 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG. Tel: 01780 480789 A member of the Stamford Chamber of Trade and Commerce If you have information on a club then get in touch by emailing editor@theactivemag.com. If you would like to stock Active magazine then email distribution@ theactivemag.com. If you would like to discuss advertising possibilities please email advertise@ theactivemag.com Active magazine is published 12 times per year on a monthly basis. Distributed by Grassroots Publishing Ltd. ISSN 2049-8713 A Grassroots Publishing Limited company. Company registration number 7994437. VAT number 152717318 Disclaimer

Copyright (c) Grassroots Publishing Limited (GPL) 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from GPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of GPL or its affiliates. Disclaimer of Liability. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, GPL and its affiliates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication.

Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material which they submit and for ensuring the material complies with applicable laws.

GPL and its affiliates are are not responsible for any error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertisement and will not be liable for any damages arising from any use of products or services or any action or omissions taken in reliance on information or any statement contained in advertising material. Inclusion of any advertisement is not intended to endorse any view expressed, nor products or services offered nor the organisations sponsoring the advertisement.

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LD

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SOLD IN 2014

VILLAGE: EMPINGHAM COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £1,195,000

TOWN: DEEPING ST JAMES COUNTY: LINCOLNSHIRE PRICE: £599,995

LD

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SO

SO

LD SO

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VILLAGE: ELTON COUNTY: CAMBRIDGESHIRE PRICE: £625,0000

SO

SO TOWN: STAMFORD COUNTY: LINCOLNSHIRE PRICE: £850,000

LD

LD

LD TOWN: STAMFORD COUNTY: LINCOLNSHIRE PRICE: £595,000

VILLAGE: TINWELL COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £865,000

SO

SO

SO VILLAGE: BARROWDEN COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £825,000

VILLAGE: HAMBLETON COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £1,500,000

16/12/2014 11:57

LD

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LET US SELL YOUR HOME IN 2015

VILLAGE: LANGTOFT COUNTY: LINCOLNSHIRE PRICE: £685,000

VILLAGE: TINWELL COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £885,000

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VILLAGE: UFFORD COUNTY: STAMFORD PRICE: £2,000,000

SO

SO VILLAGE: LOWER BENEFIELD COUNTY: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE PRICE: £895,000

LD

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LD VILLAGE: TICKENCOTE COUNTY: LINCOLNSHIRE PRICE: £285,000

VILLAGE: BARROWDEN COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £625,000

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SO VILLAGE: THISTLETON COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £1,175,000

VILLAGE: BARROWDEN COUNTY: RUTLAND PRICE: £950,000

16/12/2014 11:57

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Contents NEWS

ISSUE 31 /// JANUARY 2015

34

13 HELLO BABY!

New-born photography business starts locally

17 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

Burghley Park golf pro Mark Jackson

18-19 HEALTH AND WELLBEING The latest on looking and feeling great

22-23 FIVE THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY Ideas to get you and the family out and about

25 WHO’S NEW IN TOWN...

New feature focusing on local start-up businesses

27 BOWLERS WELCOME VIP GUEST

Commonwealth medalist visits Stamford IBC

28-29 WIN! A £2,000 BIKE

Enter our fabulous Rutland Cycling competition

30-31 KIT BAG

Essential gear for the sporting year ahead

17

42

33 MARTIN JOHNSON COLUMN

The Sunday Times writer on sport’s great excuses

FEATURES 34-41 NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Essential advice to help you get fit and active in 2015

42-45 NORDIC WALKING

Mary Bremner learns about this great form of exercise

46-49 RAMBLE ON

Jeremy Beswick joins the Rutland Ramblers for a day out

REGULARS 50-51 GREAT WALKS

WIN THIS BIKE

28

Will Hetherington heads to Ferry Meadows

52-53 DOG HEALTH

More great advice to make life with your pooch easier

55 SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

This month we try out The Black Horse Inn at Greetham

57-59 SCHOOL SPORT

Our focus on the latest achievements from local pupils

60-66 ROUND-UP

How clubs in the Stamford and Rutland area are faring

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COMING SOON

If you're in the market, you'll need to be...

coming 26 January 2015 Please call for more advice on this brand new portal

Stamford office t 01780 484 696 e stamford@smithsgore.co.uk

smithsgore.co.uk Annabel Morbey

Lois Simpson

Heather Lemmon

In Play

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DEREK HARRIS / ALAMY

Banish the blues Come on, get up and get out! Now’s not the time for battening down the hatches and piling on the pounds: there’s crisp fresh air, amazing scenery and a whole world of walks, runs and rides to go on in our beautiful region.

/// JA N UA RY 2015 9

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In Play

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GEOFF ATTON

Bumper Crowd at the Zeeco More than 800 fans turned up to see Stamford Daniels play their historic first game at the plush new Zeeco Stadium on Ryhall Road. To find out how they got on, see page 60...

/// JA N UA RY 2015 11

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Activelife GREAT THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO SEE, PEOPLE TO MEET // Edited by Mary Bremner

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hello baby!

Welcoming a new-born baby to the family is a magical time – and here at Active there seems to be a plethora of newborns at the moment. What better way to capture that moment than to have a portrait done of your newborn to capture the moment forever.

Babies grow at such an incredible rate that before you know it they will have changed completely from those precious first weeks, blink and you will

miss it. Chumba Newborn Photography, based in Baston are experts at taking new-born photographs – they should be, between them they have six of their own – so are the perfect people to entrust for those oh so important first pictures.

To find out more visit their website www.chumba.co.uk or ring them on 01778 561810. /// J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5

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Activelife OUT AND ABOUT

Winter fun at Ferry Meadows

Stamford events  Do you want to make more of your photographic skills? With the rise of the digital camera everyone can take pictures in an instant, but do you get the results you want?

To learn more about digital photography join a group at Stamford Arts Centre. The beginner’s course is on Saturday 10th January at 10am upstairs in the Burley room. This course shows you how to take the camera off the auto setting and take better photos. Or if you’re past that stage and want to progress further, join the intermediate course on Saturday, March 7, at 10am. Part of this day will be spent outside looking at correct camera set up settings and then how to process images in Adobe Lightroom.

Both courses are for 16 years and over and cost £60 per workshop. To find out more email boxoffice@ stamfordsartcentre.com  Don’t forget the pantomime. Aladdin is being staged at the Arts Centre from January 8-11.

With up to four performances a day the professional cast are certainly being kept busy! Lots of singing and dancing, one of the highlights of the Arts Centre’s year.

Ring the box office to book tickets on 01780 763203 or email boxoffice@stamfordartscentre.com

WILL HETHERINGTON

Ferry Meadows could be the perfect place to enjoy some winter sunshine. It lies three miles to the west of Peterborough, two miles east of the A1 off the Oundle Road. It has many activities on offer throughout January so well worth a trip.

A couple that particularly caught our eye is firstly the Wildlife and Nature Outdoor Photo Exhibition. This is a free to enter exhibition held at the Ferry Meadows Country Park throughout January and February. An open air exhibition of photos showing the wildlife of Ferry Meadows, taken in the Park by the visitors. The photos are on display at Roman Point in Ferry Meadows between 8 and 4 every day. Access is easy, drop in any time.

Or how about Birds in Winter? This is a guided walk that takes place on Wednesday 28th January between 9.30 and 12pm. Meet at Discovery Den for a guided walk looking at birds coming to the feeding station. You’ll also be able to study the wildfowl on the lakes. The cost is free but donations of £2 will be very welcome. The walk is on surfaced paths so suitable for all abilities including wheelchairs and buggies.

For more details of both activities, and others taking place at Ferry Meadows call Nene Park Trust on 01733 234193 or email visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

Magical movie music Keep Saturday, January 31, free and head to Wing Village Hall to experience music from Fordante Music. Award winning film composer Phil Mountford returns to the village with another tour of his ensemble Fordante featuring music from the movies as well as light classical music including some from Strauss this year.

The ensemble of piano, oboe, violin, viola and cello will perform music from the dance hall to the big screen including waltzes, polka, bolero and tango. They will also include some of their own lovely Venetian and Celtic inspired music as well as some popular film soundtracks. A concert ideal for all music lovers and those wanting an introduction to classical and film music.

The concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets are £9 in advance or £10 on the door (children £6). For information and tickets ring John Hackett on 01572 737394.

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17/12/2014 11:09

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04/12/2014 14:45

Specialists in bespoke construction projects, from extensions to entire new builds as well as period property restoration. Working with a trusted team of local craftsmen to create the property of your dreams

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Activelife LOCAL PEOPLE

A day in the life of Mark Jackson Burghley Park Golf Club’s professional on encouraging youngsters into the game I get up at around 6.30am, and a er a bowl of cereal and some orange juice head into work for my first lesson. I might be teaching an individual or a group taking one of our academy sessions or I could be instructing on the golf course.

Being on the course is completely different to playing on a range and people react differently. I try to help people choose the right shot, read the green and the wind, see the way the ball is lying and the distance they’ve got to go. With youngsters as well as accomplished players we try to get them to handle themselves in the best way they can. Some people thrive under pressure and others don’t.

I became interested in golf through caddying – earning £2 a round at the weekend or during the school holidays. Back in the day it was a great way of understanding what you should or shouldn’t do, but youngsters now prefer to get on and play. We go into schools to teach kids about golf, or the schools come here, and we’ve started an academy now for youngsters from five years old to 17. We give them lessons and teach the rules and etiquette of the game. Once they can play we pass them on to the junior section of the club.

We’ve been lucky and had some juniors coming through who have turned out to be professionals, gone on the European tour and even played in the Open Championship. The former Ryder Cup captain, Mark James, was a member here years ago. But the people I get the most enjoyment out of are those you see in the street a er 10 years or so who remind you that you gave them their first lesson. And now they’re bringing their own kids to play too. That’s really rewarding.

I qualified at the Belfry, the headquarters of the Professional Golfers’ Association. About 200 people across the UK qualify each year to become a golf professional and you have to pass exams in coaching, playing, retailing and all things to do with running a golf club. A er all, golf is a business.

I have experience of all different types of courses from municipal-run clubs to proprietary

ones and also members’ clubs like this one. We’re really lucky here at Burghley Park because it’s a beautiful parkland course, our groundsmen are excellent and we have a very strong ladies section as well as the men’s.

We tend to keep hold of our members and we have some people who have been here for 40 or 50 years. At the moment we’re still taking members, but there’ll come a time when we reach capacity. My main aim is to look a er our customers so they get a great experience. It’s like going out for lunch and having a waiter who really takes care of you. I’d say we’re a thriving club, with great practice areas as well as the course itself, which is going to be 125 years old next year. It’s the oldest course in Lincolnshire.

Coaching is mentally quite tiring though. I always say you should be as fresh for your last lesson as you are for your first. So at lunchtime I o en go to the club restaurant for one of Tony and Julie’s ham sandwiches or bowls of homemade

soup. I don’t have a regular break; I go when I can grab a few minutes.

The a ernoon usually runs along the same lines as the morning. I may be teaching or meeting someone about a membership, or we may have a visiting society to look a er. We could have up to 80 people from another club turn up and play and we want to make sure we look a er them properly.

A er the teaching day’s finished I might have meetings at the club – marketing or greens committee meetings, and then I leave at about 6pm, or o en a bit later in the summer.

I like to walk my dogs to relax – I’ve got a fox red labrador and a Jack Russell. On my days off I like to play golf with my good lady – she plays off a handicap of 16. We tend to play locally and sometimes I even play at Burghley Park.

I’ll o en have a light fish or a chicken meal in the evening, watch a bit of sport on TV and then go to bed at 10.30 or 11pm. I’m not a night owl. /// J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5

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Activelife

Health and Wellness Everything a woman needs to be fit, healthy and fantastic

// Edited by Sandie Hurford

Make this year’s resolution last Once the festive season is out of the way, quite a few of us turn to our overall health and fitness, and look for ways to make it better this includes li ing our winter blues too.

Christmas has le us feeling bloated and lethargic, and that thud on the doormat is the sound of those credit card bills arriving.

Reports suggest that, on average, we all put on around 6-8lb simply because of the extravagances of the Christmas season, and the evidence is brought into focus by our ill-fitting outfits. This quite o en provides ample motivation to start making changes.

It’s unsurprising, then, that top of the list of resolutions are, as a rule, losing weight, giving up smoking and cutting down on alcohol. But just how long do our good intentions last?

The difficulty we face is that smoking cigarettes, eating too much and drinking are all habitual behaviours, which require effort to correct, says Dr Michael G Millett, of the Clinic of Hypnotherapy & Holistic Practices in Grantham.

“Changing habits is something we traditionally find quite hard to achieve with no help,” he says.

“That’s because it is far harder for us to unlearn something than it is to learn it. Looking at it in those terms, it quickly becomes clear why numerous resolutions fail. The answer lies in replacing old thought processes with new and improved ones.

“Hypnotherapy gives us access to the subconscious mind, where our behaviours are stored; we can actually overwrite the old behaviours and replace them with the new ones.

“How would your waistline transform if you just stopped fancying all of the carbs? How easy would it be to stop cigarettes if you just didn’t fancy one, and if you began to think of yourself as a non-smoker or fitter, and healthier?

“How great would it be if next year you did not have to make the same kind of promises that you made this year. You don’t with hypnotherapy!”

■ Tel: 01476 568800 www.elevatedtherapy.com

Dr Michael G Millett, Clinic of Hypnotherapy & Holistic Practices, Grantham

Sitting near a window makes the most of any available natural daylight at this time of year

BEAT THE BLUES: Sit near a window Brace yourself for the gloomiest day of the year.

Monday January 26, also known as Blue Monday, is alleged to be the most depressing day of the year thanks to a number of factors, including poor weather conditions, low motivation and time elapsed since Christmas.

In fact, the lack of natural daylight at this time of year may provide the source of much of this low motivation and is perhaps the real key to beating the winter blues.

A recent survey into the impact of reduced daylight over the winter months found that the vast majority of us feel it has a negative impact on our wellbeing.

Residents in the North East are worst affected, according to the study, by Anglian Home Improvements, with a huge 87% saying the reduction in daylight over the winter months has a negative effect on their mood, while almost one in five North East respondents claim the impact is significant.

At a national level, 79% feel the shorter days have an influence on their mood.

While a lack of motivation during the winter is common, the study found that the overall impression varies quite dramatically from one

side of the county to the other, from 84% of those in the North East to only 72% in the South West noticing any impact at all.

These are startling statistics, especially as there are still more than two months to go before we reach British Summer Time.

Melanie McDonald, head of marketing and communications at Anglian Home Improvements, says: “The survey shows a clear link between natural daylight, mood and motivation.

“Many customers have told us they feel happier in the winter a er installing a conservatory as they can spend time watching what’s going on in the garden and make the most of the available daylight, so it’s encouraging to learn that little changes – like making sure you sit near a window or somewhere with as much natural light as possible – can make a big difference to how we feel and cope with winter.

“So keep your spirits up on Blue Monday and beyond by ensuring you get as much natural light exposure as possible, even if you’re indoors.

“For those with a well-insulated conservatory that is easily done but if not, sitting by a window can also make a big difference to your wellbeing and productivity.”

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JANUARY BLUES: 10 best ways to get the better of winter

An out-of-season holiday could help beat the January blues – and there are some good deals to be had

Many of us sink into depression in the winter, so it’s important to find ways to beat the blues on a budget. With Christmas and New Year just behind us, we are right in the middle of winter. The short days, dark nights and cold weather o en brings around a bout of winter blues.

There has been a lot of attention on the festive season, but once January turns up, many of us sink into mild depression. The urge to curl up and hibernate can be very strong, but it’s important to fight back and start living your life to the full, come rain or shine.

Julian House, founder of My Favourite Voucher Codes, said: “Many of us sink into depression in the winter, so it’s important to find ways to beat the blues on a budget – our voucher codes can help cut costs on lots of things.”

■ Enjoy yourself A er weeks and weeks of buying presents, indulging in food and drink, and generally celebrating, January can be quite depressing.

However, it doesn’t have to be Christmas to spend on yourself – take advantage of off-season deals and do something special every now and again.

■ Get out of the office Your job can o en seem like the most important thing in the world – a er all, it does pay the bills.

But remember, if you’re spending too much time at work, are you getting to see your loved ones as o en as you should?

■ Catch 40 winks With the dark nights and mornings, it’s easy to oversleep throughout winter. While we do need our sleep, we need the right amount of sleep. By sleeping too much and for too long, you might end up feeling more tired. Try to get between seven and eight hours a night, even at the weekends. If you start to lag by the a ernoon, have a 30 minute nap instead of those long lie-ins.

Photo: Comstock

■ Stick to New Year’s resolutions Many people start the New Year with the best intentions, but by the second week of January, it all seems a little bit too much like hard work. If you want to feel better about yourself, set realistic resolutions and stick to them.

■ Start eating healthily You don’t have to aim to lose weight or start some crazy celebrity diet to feel better about yourself, just eating healthy food will give you the vitamins and minerals you need.

■ Go on an alcohol detox Over Christmas and New Year you probably indulged in one too many alcoholic drinks. Did you know that alcohol is actually a depressant? Rather than helping you feel better, drinking can sink you deeper into depression. Switch wine and beer for a refreshing glass of ice cold water instead.

■ Jet off on holiday The sun is a great source of Vitamin D, and without it we can start to feel miserable. So instead of sulking around at home this winter, why not jet off somewhere exotic for a bit of winter sun – you can get some great deals at this time of year.

■ Reduce caffeine intake We drink hundreds, maybe thousands, of cups of tea and coffee over our lifetime, but caffeine can make you feel worse a er its temporary li . If you o en find yourself with a mug in hand, switch it for herbal tea.

■ Socialise with friends The holiday season is o en filled with unexpected visits from old friends, catching up with work colleagues and spending days with family members. This social interaction can be sorely missed once the festivities are over. Make a social date at least once a week to boost your mood.

■ Exercise Chances are, you’ve been meaning to start making the most of that gym membership for quite some time. Well, there’s no time like the present.

Regular exercise can help relieve stress and release endorphins, helping you feel happier.

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Activelife CHALLENGE

Cycling the world James Peach is on the adventure of his life – to cycle around the world and in the process raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. This month he arrives in Australia A er dosing myself up with valium to get on the plane – I’m a nervous flier, another reason to stick to the bike – we finally arrived in Melbourne.

The first few miles were exciting, new smells, new climate, wildlife and drivers. We got to inner-city Melbourne where I was delighted to see my elder brother for the first time in years.

A great way to start this new adventure, particularly as he was joining us for the first few days en route to Sydney.

We spent the next few days in Melbourne getting acclimatised, getting over jetlag, seeing the sights and sleeping in a bed, wonderful! Lots of research was done regarding wild camping/ trespassing laws, how strict the police are, are

there good cycle routes, do McDonalds still do free wifi and do crocodiles eat Englishmen? And then we were ready for off again.

We set off from my brother’s house and headed south east along the sea front. Most cities we have visited claim to have a cycle mad population but Melbourne is something else. All I could see was Lycra and thigh muscle.

Zooming along in huge packs, hundreds of them. All in matching lycra and branding and all gazing with great suspicion at a slow bearded fella with plenty of luggage in a dirty shirt and board shorts.

I then spent the next couple of days enjoying the company of my brother as we headed east along

the coast towards the national parks that make up the south eastern corner of Australia.

Once we got to Yarram it was time to say goodbye but it had been lovely to see him a er so many years.

Now it was time to put our backs into it and start making some serious headway. A er a long day of relentless cycling through lush dairy country we covered 170km and made it to Lake Entrance. But there were no camping signs everywhere.

A er wandering the streets for a while we stopped a police car and explained what we were up to. They told us to ignore the signs and we shouldn’t have any bother.

In America rules were followed to the letter, this was a very good sign….

Next we moved into forest land and headed towards the New South Wales border, then it was time to head north and the long road up the east coast to Sydney.

We had eight days to cover 1,200km. I spent days stuck in my lowest gear slowly climbing hill a er hill with suncream and sweat stinging my eyes as the relentless sun beat down.

The road ‘pops’ beneath you as the melted tar forms bubbles beneath the tyres and the flies are constantly landing on you, in your ears, eyes, mouth – welcome to Australia….

A er eight days of relentless heat, wind and hills we eventually saw the Sydney skyline, bridge and Opera House.

What a relief. Some of the past eight days had been the hardest miles we have covered since we set out all those months ago.

Australia has been no pushover and it’s almost broken us at times.

But now it’s time to enjoy the delights of Sydney and catch up with old friends. Happy New Year from sunny (hot) Oz!  To follow James visit his blog at www. thelifecycle.org which will also allow you to donate to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

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Melvyn Patrick Stamford Est. 1974 (Revived 2014) Here at Melvyn Patrick we are totally committed and appreciate each and every one of our clients old and new. The conversations are always full of banter on numerous topics. At Melvyn Patrick we love cutting hair and couldn't imagine doing anything else for a living.

We love to hear about the beef you have with your boss at work or the hustle and bustle of everyday life, remember "what's said in the chair stays in the chair".

We value your time and appreciate that as much as you love getting a haircut and as much as you love the salon banter, you have a lifetime of things to do!

Thank you for your custom, long may it continue.

Ladies Salon

RACEVIEW RESTAURANT

£7 DRINKS VOUCHER

Dine in the Raceview Restaurant and we’ll give you £7 of free drinks!* Must be pre-booked and pre-paid.

Simply cut out and hand this voucher to our staff

View menus and book online or call 01733 29 69 39 peterboroughgreyhounds.com Valid any Wednesday, Friday or Saturday race evening, up to the end of March 2015. *Maximum of one voucher per two people dining in the restaurant. All details are correct at December 2014, but are subject to change without notice.

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Activelife OUT AND ABOUT

Five things to do in January  Get out and about!

None of this sitting around feeling miserable going into hibernation mode. Don lots of layers and a woolly hat and hit the road. There’s nothing better than being out in the countryside walking in the fresh air on a cold and sunny day – perfect for blowing the cobwebs away and releasing those feel good endorphins…

NATURE

Hot to spot a rowan tree

 Hit the sales. It’s a January tradition to grab a bargain. Spend your Christmas money wisely.  Celebrate Burns Night on January 25th.

Pour the whisky, eat the haggis and recite some poetry. There are usually Burn’s Night suppers held locally – keep an eye out for the adverts.  Go and sample the delights of the new Zeeco Stadium at Borderville and watch a Stamford Daniels match or, if rugby’s more your style, , head out and watch some local rugby. It’s all about local teams this month.  Stick to your resolutions if it’s to get fitter. Join the gym, there’s plenty to choose from in this area. The trick to getting fit is make it part of your daily routine. Walk rather than drive, that will make a huge difference. Get into the groove of going to your fitness classes or gym sessions. Once it becomes a habit it’s hard to break, hence success!

The rowan tree, also known as the mountain ash is no relation to the ash family. Found throughout Britain is it more common in mountainous areas particularly in Scotland.

It grows at a higher altitude than any other tree in the country.

Its distinctive bright red berries are very visible at the end of summer. It can be found growing in very inaccessible spots, namely on top of boulders and cliffs but this is mainly as these areas can’t be grazed by sheep or red deer.

Despite being more common in Scotland it can be found in this area, particularly in gardens, streets and parks as it is widely planted for its attractive berries. The tree is very long living, up to 200 years. The red berries offer a rich source of food to birds in the autumn.

The rich red berries also give the tree its place in mythology.

Red was thought to be the best colour for fighting evil so the rowan has long been linked to magic and witches. Its Celtic name means Wizards’ tree. The Irish planted rowan near houses to protect against the spirits and the Welsh in churchyards. In Scotland cutting down a tree was taboo. The wood was used to stir milk to stop it curdling and was also used to make divining rods.

Today the rowan berries are still eaten. Sour, they are usually made into a jelly and are a good accompaniment to meat, particularly game and lamb.

NATURE

How to spot a wigeon

The Mill Stream on Stamford Meadows supports many mallard, the familiar wild duck, but it is not the most numerous of our winter wildfowl.

That honour belongs to the wigeon and visits to Rutland Water and Eyebrook Reservoir are needed to see large numbers of this northern duck. Wigeon are grazers and flocks are to be found near Whitwell, Normanton and Sykes Lane.

Wigeon are smaller than mallard, the drake having a grey body, white belly and attractive chestnut brown head with a yellowish forehead and crown. The greyish brown female is much duller, as in most ducks. Her call, a harsh

‘karr karr,’ is very different from the cheerful whistle of the male.

At Rutland Water, wigeon are o en approachable, flying or walking into the nearby reservoir when disturbed but quickly returning to the shore to feed. Over two thousand may be present in an average winter with a huge 8,098 recorded in October 2013.

Eyebrook counts have exceeded 1,000 but numbers there are now lower. Wigeon arrive in force from Russia, Iceland and northern Europe in September and October, returning in March and April. Up to 500 pairs breed in Scotland and northern England.

Terry Mitcham

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Uppingham Grows

FOOD

Start the new year with a healthy and delicious salad Purple sprouting broccoli, squash & spelt salad – courtesy of Riverford Organic Farms Serves 2 as a main, 4 as a side Ingredients 1 small red onion, finely diced 2 tbsp red, sherry or balsamic vinegar 1 tsp caster sugar 200g spelt grain 500g-600g (1 small) squash, deseeded & cut into thin wedges Olive oil for roasting 250g purple sprouting broccoli 2 oranges 1 tbsp dijon mustard 1 tbsp capers, soaked in water for 10 mins, drained & roughly chopped Extra virgin olive oil Sea salt and ground black pepper Large handful pitted black olives Large handful chopped parsley

Uppingham Grows is a recently launched social enterprise that provides life progressive and well being services for vulnerable and marginalised adults in Rutland who have a wide variety of needs.

Based on the Leicester Road allotments in Uppingham the service offers help with planting, nurturing and growing seasonal crops.

It’s a safe place for vulnerable adults to build confidence by growing and sharing local produce and learning how to make the most of seasonal fruit and veg.

In this environment friends will be made, healthy eating encouraged and well being increased by getting fitter through gardening and being outside.

To find out more contact Ric Ellis on 07793 069744 or email reenterprise@btinternet.com

Method Put the onion in a large bowl with the vinegar and sugar. Leave to so en in the liquid.

In a pan of boiling water, cook the spelt for 35-40 minutes, until just tender. Drain and leave to cool. Put the squash on a baking tray and toss in just enough olive oil to coat. Roast at 190°C for 30-40 minutes, until just tender and starting to colour.

In a pan of boiling water, cook the broccoli for 3 minutes. Drain, refresh in cold water, then drain again.

Peel the oranges and remove any pith. Cut in between the membrane either side of each segment and remove the orange segment.

Squeeze any le over juice into the bowl with the onion. Add the mustard, capers, 4 tbsp olive oil and season.

Mix in the spelt, squash, broccoli, orange segments, olives and parsley.

Check the seasoning and drizzle over a little extra olive oil to serve. Delicious!

refresh your diet with a weekly organic vegbox delivered free to your door

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/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5

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17/12/2014 11:22

GPL-GLR Half Page January Advert_GPL-GLR Half Page November Advert 16/12/2014 17:39 Page 1

New Year E-bike & Cycle Sale

SALE Cross Bike (Adults & Children)

Was £399 Now £290

www.getlostinrutland.com

Peloton Road Bike

Was £399 Now £290

Vist our shop. Open 7 days a week. Next to Cotton Traders.

e. info@getlostinrutland.co.uk t. 01572 868712 Rutland Village, Ashwell Road, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7QN – FREE PARKING! Roodog spotty e-bike

From £999

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17/12/2014 14:37

Activelife FOCUS

Who’s new in town...

Each month Active would like to introduce you to some new businesses who have set up in the area. They are all newly established and are often run by local people

Stamford Eye Clinic

Full Circle Health

A new opticians has recently opened in Stamford. Stamford Eye Clinic in St Peter’s Street opened in June and has been building up a good customer base ever since.

Many of you will be familiar with Malvinder and Kirpal who have been working locally for many years.

Malvinder was the dispensing optician at Boots but they have both now branched out on their own.

Stamford Eye Clinic specialises in sports prescriptions and supply well known sports glasses such as Bolle and Maui Jim. These frames are ideal for cyclists, golfers, shooters and sailors and all can be offered with your prescription lenses. It is vital for sportsmen to have the correct prescription, if you don’t have it could be why you can no longer maintain the same scores you used to.

So make an appointment to have your eyes tested. To find out more ring Stamford Eye Clinic on 01780 767403.

January can be the most miserable month of the year.

Christmas has been and gone, everyone is feeling full and bloated a er all the festive excesses and winter seems to have got its grip with spring a tiny speck in the distance. So what’s to be done to fight off the winter blues?

We think a trip to see Helen Cockles at Full Circle Health might help a lot.

She offers everything from yoga to massages to acupuncture to full retreats, taking pregnancy and baby yoga in on the way.

As well as standard acupuncture treatments she offers a facial rejuvenation and cosmetic sessions.

Very popular in America, it helps bring back a natural youthfulness to the face using massage and fine needling without the intervention of synthetic chemicals, botox or facial peels.

Grazia magazine has hailed it as a ‘facial revolution’, and now Helen Cockles is offering it in this area.

Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in health and well being and also trained in Thailand to perfect Thai massage, picking up yoga and acupuncture qualifications on the way.

To contact Helen visit her website www. fullcirclehealth.today or ring her on 07868 195482.

Feel Fantastic Fitness It’s January so we are full of good intentions. Rachel Ekins from Feel Fantastic Fitness can help you fulfil them.

Rachel, who went to Stamford High School, is a personal fitness instructor working from local gyms including the fitness centre at the Endowed Schools.

“I want to dispel the image that gyms aren’t female friendly,” says Rachel.

“I am more than happy to train men but specialise in training women.”

Rachel focuses mainly on weight loss and toning and her training has a health spin on it.

“I want to encourage women to enjoy training with weights and to reap the long term benefits of strength training.”

To find out more ring Rachel on 07703 789639 or email Rachel@feelfantasticfitness.com

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17/12/2014 11:16

Glen Eden (142)_Layout 1 19/03/2014 08:37 Page 1

Facial Rejuvenation & Cosmetic Acupuncture A revolution in Age Defence A bespoke service by Full Circle Health at

1a Knighton Grange Road, Leicester Find out more: Info@fullcirclehealth.today/07868 195482/www.fulllcirclehealth.today

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Activelife INDOOR BOWLS

Fresh start for indoor bowlers With its repaired roof and refurbished ÂŁ30,000 bar area, Stamford Indoor Bowls Club is ready to celebrate the New Year with a fresh intake of bowlers at its Exeter Gardens Stadium.

The club recently hosted a visit from triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ellen Falkner who was impressed by the club’s facilities since it has received a ÂŁ50,000 grant from Sport England used to plug a 20-year leak in its roof and install a new bar to entertain members and visitors. “I haven’t been to the Stamford club for many years,â€? said the 35-year old winner of the triples gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August, “but I am very impressed with the improvements that have been made and the enthusiasm of the members I have met. At a time when many bowls clubs are struggling, this is a very progressive club that is looking forwards.â€?

With that in mind Stamford IBC is hosting an open morning for potential new bowlers on Saturday, January 10 ( from 9.30am) when its coaches and experienced bowlers will be available to offer some basic instruction, while providing free equipment to understand the rudiments of the game.

Above

Triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ellen Falkner (far right) talks with the Stamford club during her visit

Press officer Bob Warters said: “Ellen’s visit gave the club a great boost and encouraged us to keep promoting the game as an opportunity not only to maintain a competitive level a er playing

football, rugby, tennis, cricket and hockey, but to provide a facility for regular exercise and companionship. “Bowls is not just for the more mature of us, it is proving an ideal sport for youngsters. Ellen was able

to coach some of the children who come along to play in regular junior sessions, who are aged between six and 15.�

For more information visit www. stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk

DISABLED SAILING

Sailability annual dinner

Above

Professor Maloney (centre) with (from le ): Martin Sutcliffe, Sarah Forsyth, Mike Baumber and Andrew Hunter (chairman of Friends of Rutland Sailability)

The annual dinner of Friends of Rutland Sailability was held recently at Greetham Valley Golf Hotel. Guest speaker was Professor Mike Maloney OBE who gave a talk entitled ‘Life Through My Lens’.

Professor Maloney is the first press photographer to receive an OBE for his work – covering news stories and famous people throughout the world.

From the record of his time working on The Chronicle newspaper in Lincoln, to being the senior photographer on The Sun, as well as undertaking many special assignments, Mike Maloney told fascinating stories and showed many of his photographs to the diners. His stories and photographs about The Royal Family were particularly interesting – especially those about his friendship with the Queen Mother.

A raffle raised ÂŁ818 for Rutland Sailability and chairman Martin Sutcliffe thanked everyone for their continued support for the disabled sailors who come to Rutland Sailability.

Details of the service Rutland Sailability offers to disabled people are available at www.rutland-sailability.org

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5

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17/12/2014 11:17

Activelife

Win a Specialized road bike to

Active and Rutland Cycling have teamed up to offer one lucky reader the chance to go for glory and complete a remarkable challenge

H

ave you always wanted to emulate Sir Bradley Wiggins or Lizzie Armitstead and compete in that dream event, but don’t have all the kit and an entourage of coaches and technicians to make it possible?

Well now is your chance. Active has teamed up with Rutland Cycling to offer one lucky winner a fantastic opportunity to fulfill their cycling dream. And Active will follow you all the way.

Cycle away with either a Specialized Tarmac or a Specialized Roubaix premium carbon frame road bike worth as much as £1,800 that will be sure to get you to the finish line.

But there’s more: the prize isn’t just the bike, it’s also the opportunity to benefit from the

internationally experienced road cycling staff at Rutland Cycling to help you achieve your goal.

GETTING YOU FITTED RIGHT

Right at the outset Rutland Cycling will get the right fit for you, using the latest in Retul sizing technology and years of good old-fashioned experience.

You’ll enjoy their all-new Bike Fit process, using the latest Body Geometry video capture technology in the hands of guys who have raced and coached at the highest level. You’ll then be helped with training, with the team getting you out on their regular organised rides and tailoring a bespoke race ready program. They’ll also offer you nutritional advice. So you’ll have no excuse.

2 8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 ///

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o

compete in your dream event!

HOW TO WIN

Which event or challenge will you go for? It doesn’t have to be the Tour de France, but we want you to use the bike for something exceptional.

To enter the competition send us your CV – not your actual CV, a cycling CV – stating your name, address, cycling experience (if any), the event you’d like to take part in or the challenge you want to take up and 100 words telling us why you should be shortlisted.

Send your cycling CV, along with a picture of yourself to winabike@theactivemag.com by February 28.

A er the closing date, a select panel will choose six people to be shortlisted. We’ll announce those in the magazine and then

readers will be asked to vote for who they would like to see win the bike. So what are you waiting for?

COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

The winner must be prepared to take part in publicity, including writing a training blog on a regular basis. Failure to do this will result in the bike being reclaimed by Rutland Cycling. The bike only becomes property of the winner upon participation in the chosen event. ● The winner must be prepared to engage with a training schedule worked with Rutland Cycling, for the event of their choice. ● To be in with a chance of winning the bike you must live within 20 miles of Rutland Cycling’s ●

Whitwell store. ● Entrants must be over 16. Entrants under 18 are able to apply but must have parental permission and parents must be prepared to travel to Rutland Cycling’s Whitwell store with the winner if the winner is unable to organize transport to the training sessions and event. ● The winner, and those shortlisted, must be willing to have their pictures printed in Active Magazine, and shown on social media. ● By entering the competition you confirm that you are in a fit medical state and the event will not put you in any medical danger. If you are unsure then please seek advice from your doctor before entering. Active magazine and Rutland Cycling will not be held liable for any medical issues that arise.

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5

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17/12/2014 14:07

Feature /// Gear

Kitbag

Get out and about with this essential winter kit SealSkinz Thin mid-length socks

Thin light mid-length socks ideal for a multitude of activities. They are insulated, breathable, waterproof and lined with merino wool for moisture control and comfort. Elasticated in the ankle and instep which offers support and a comfortable fit.

Price £30 From Get Lost in Rutland

Dirty Dog Mutant goggles

The blue Mutant ski and snowboard goggles from Dirty Dog are bright and stylish with a large faced goggle which has an interchangeable lens function.

They come with a Green Fusion mirrored lens as standard, as well as an orange one as a free extra too. The goggles have superior comfort, are strong and durable and also treated with an anti-fog and scratch coating.

Price £70 From Rutland Sports

Giant Defy Composite 3

The Giant Defy Composite 3 offers the ultimate blend of performance, comfort and value for money. A carbon frame absorbs all vibrations from the road while a Shimano Tiagra groupset provides flawless shi ing.

Price £749.99 From Rutland Cycling

3 0 JA N UA RY 2015 ///

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Adidas TX24 Carbon hockey stick

Featuring two carbon rods filled with foam to aid in shock absorption whilst increasing the power. The Touch Compound supports the contact patch with hook to ball and keeps it under control for better accuracy. Price £230 From G & L Sports, Peterborough

On Cloudster 2015

New for 2015 is the re-engineered Cloudster from Swiss brand On, which features the new Adaptive-Fit concept (an intelligent four-way stretch fabric that adjusts itself completely to provide the perfect fit) Price £110 From www.on-running.com

Soleus GPS Pulse + HRM

Keep racing with the Soleus GPS Pulse wrist-based heart rate monitor. The GPS Pulse measures your heart rate while on your wrist, no need for a chest strap. The rechargeable unit allows you to customise three viewable lines of data that track your speed, distance, pace, and heart rate. Set up to six interval timers, count calories, and store and review your date for later review.

Price £199 From www.argos.co.uk

Vegetable box

A good way to start eating healthily for the new year. Pictured is a medium veg box - eight tasty varieties of freshly grown and picked organic vegetables.

Price £13.95 with free delivery From Riverford Organic

Bollé sports eyewear

High performance sports spectacles for ultimate sun, UV and impact protection. These cater for all sports: cycling, athletics, marine, high impact, and are available with various colour filters for high contrast. The wide range can also incorporate your prescription for single vision and varifocal lenses.

Price from £100 From The Stamford Eye Clinic

/// JA N UA RY 2015 3 1

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17/12/2014 14:09

PERFORMANCE IS A STATE OF MIND.

FROM RAT RACE TO OPEN ROAD IN A HEARTBEAT

DISCOVER THE NEW ABARTH RANGE AT ROCKINGHAM CARS CORBY DIGITAL DISPLAY WITH G-FORCE INDICATOR AS STANDARD INCREASED COLOUR RANGE MORE CUSTOMISATION OPTIONS

Cockerell Road, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 5DU. Tel: 01536 268991 WWW.ROCKINGHAMCARS.CO.UK

The Abarth Range starts from £14,560. Models shown: Abarth 500 Custom at £15,540 OTR including optional Cordolo Red paint (£660), 10 spoke alloys (£320) and the new Abarth 500C Custom at £17,540 OTR including optional Cordolo Red paint (£660), 17" 10 Spoke Diamond finish alloy wheels (£320). The official fuel consumption figures for the Abarth 500 range: Urban 33.2 – 33.6 mpg (8.4 – 8.5 l/km); Extra Urban 52.3 – 53.3 mpg (5.3 – 5.4 l/km); Combined 43.5 – 44.1 mpg (6.4 -6.5 l/km), CO2 emissions: 150 -155g/km. Fuel consumption and CO2 figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. Factors such as driving style, weather and road conditions may also have a significant effect on fuel consumption.

Filename Size (hxw) Creation Date

114558_IDA00001_Q314_Abarth_TopGear_Rockingham_Cars_Corby_285x220_ON2390 285x220 Operator Paul www.rla.co.uk 06/10/14 Modified October 7, 2014 10:00 AM

Guest column

New year, new excuses: and some old ones too...

Martin Johnson on sports stars’ barmy reasons for failure t was always going to be interesting listening to Jose Mourinho after Chelsea’s first Premiership defeat of the season against Newcastle, and the always modest Portuguese manager didn’t disappoint. Defence at fault?

Missed chances on goal? Referee to blame? No, it was the ball-boys.

Not even Alex Ferguson, master of the pitiful excuse, ever came up with something as ludicrous as this. And quite how the ball-boys wasting time could possibly have played a part in Chelsea losing 2-1, Jose declined to say. Presumably, if they hadn’t squandered a couple of minutes throwing the ball back too slowly, Chelsea might have scored a second. It presumably not occurring to him that Newcastle might well have scored a third. It was bunkum of the highest order.

However, as footballing excuses go it still failed to overcome the best ever, which was provided by the soccer correspondent of the Leicester Mercury back in the 1970s. Involving a match between Leicester City and Arsenal, it finished 0-0 and was, by all accounts, a deadly dull affair which neither side deserved to win. Sorry, make that by most accounts, as the Mercury’s footie reporter made out a cast iron case for the fact that a brilliant City side wuz robbed.

Intrigued by this claim, I abandoned my usual principle of giving up on his hopelessly biased tosh after one paragraph and ploughed on. And when I came to the punch line, I, probably along with thousands of others, laughed so hard I nearly ruptured my spleen.

The culprit (make that culprits) turned out to be none other than the goalposts. Leicester being unique in having square ones, rather than the cylindrical norm. And their number 10 that afternoon, Jon Sammels, had struck both of them in the course of the 90 minutes, on both occasions seeing the ball rebound off them back into play.

Which persuaded the Mercury man to arrive at the conclusion that had the game been played with normal shaped uprights, both of those shots would have resulted in the ball going into the net off the post. So when it comes to ludicrous excuses, I think you’d have to agree that ball-boys wasting time comes a distant second to square goalposts.

In fact, Leicester in the 1970s was the country’s finest for sporting excuses, as the cricket team had the acknowledged master in its captain, Raymond Illingworth. Best known for his off-spin bowling, it was when he was batting that Illy came up with his real gems.

I

Whenever Illy was out, his team-mates would have a sweepstake on what excuse he would come up with. The guesswork was usually along the lines of “bloody hell, sun was in me eyes” or “spectator moved behind the bowler’s arm” but Raymond was always much more inventive than that.

One of his best was when batting against Somerset fast bowler AA Jones. When Illy lost his middle stump to him having a horrible, head-up heave, his team-mates feverishly exchanged theories as to what he’d come up with. Jones was the type of bowler who, at the point of release, made the kind of loud grunting noise favoured by modern day women tennis players, and no sooner had Illy got through the dressing room door he snorted: “well booger me.

Summat’s gotta be done about that groontin’. I thought t’umpire were calling no ball” On another occasion, having been clean bowled, Illy’s bat was first through the dressing room door, followed closely by its owner.

There was an expectant silence as his team-mates waited for the skipper to speak, followed by a communal guffaw when he said: “would you credit it. T’umpire gave me t’wrong guard.”

I am now thinking of telephoning Raymond to see whether he can come up with one for me. The reason being that I would like to commit regular murders on a Saturday afternoon, and as I have no wish to go to jail, I need a more plausible explanation than one plucked from the ‘dog ate my homework’ category.

The person I plan to do away with is that curse of modern day rugby, the MC, who stands in the middle of the pitch at every match and blathers incessantly into a microphone in the mistaken belief that he is entertaining the spectators. When all he is actually doing is making an unarguable case for the old proverb about noise and empty vessels.

I plan to start with the bloke at Sale who, for a match kicking off at 3pm, makes it totally impossible to hold a conversation with anyone from about 1.30pm onwards. Non-stop bellowing through a tannoy turned up to a decibel count way above Formula One levels, accompanied by vivid shafts of wit.

Such as, in a European Champions Cup pool match, greeting the spectators with “good afternoon! Bon après midi! Benevenuto!”

Thus brilliantly capturing the rich European flavour of a match between Sale, and, er, Saracens. This man, and all others like him, simply has to go. And come to think of it, I don’t need to consult Mourinho, the Leicester Mercury, or Raymond Illingworth. There’s not a jury in the land who’d convict me.

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 3 3

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Feature /// Get active

HOW TO HAVE

A HEALTHY,

HUMUNGOUS, EXHILARATING

2015!

Fed up of drudgery? Need to revitalise you and your family’s life? Follow our plan and this year will be epic…

3 4 JA N UA RY 2015 ///

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CULTURA CREATIVE RF / ALAMY

/// JA N UA RY 2015 3 5

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MORE THAN JUST A GYM UPDATED CLASS TIMETABLE STARTS EARLY JAN 2015

Keep your New Year’s resolutions FREE TRIAL for new clients of Zumba, Pilates, Spin, Weight Worx, or any class of your choice.

(Open to non-Members)

NEW FOR 2015!

For a trial period Westside Health Club is pleased to announce the introduction of a NEW and UNIQUE service provided by specialist nutritional experts featuring natural organic supplements supplied by Natures Sunshine.

The HEALTH expert team will offer 1:1 HEALTH checks and NUTRITIONAL programmes designed to enhance fitness and weight loss results.

Make sure YOU get the best from your membership at Westside.

fees g n i n i o j No

MEMBERSHIP OFFER Come and play at the best kept course in the region.

We have superb practise facilities, a well appointed modern club house and a very active social scene.

Top Coaching Professionals are available to improve your skills, whatever your current level.

* 7 day membership.

Other membership types available

For further information please contact Mark in the Burghley Park Pro-shop on 01780-753789 option 1. or email: mjpga@aol.com

Andrews-Coins Numismatist

Half Crowns Guineas

Florins Crowns Shillings

Sixpences

Pennies Maundy Sets

Half Pennies

www.westsideclub.co.uk

Westside Health & Fitness Club West Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PN

Offer covers 1st Jan 2015 - 31st March 2016

Special Offer Price £750* for the 15 month period until April 2016

LOOK OUT FOR THEIR FREE HEALTH TALKS for gym members on detoxing, weight loss, heart health and more.

CONTACT US TODAY: 01780 480651

15 MONTH

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Cash paid Always looking for quaility coins Free valuations without obligation Able to travel to you Collections or single lots

andrews-coins.co.uk 07754 949 760

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Feature /// Get active

that look? Miranda Dale of Westside Gym explains: “For many, cardiovascular and strength training using appropriate resistance and exercise volume combined with sensible eating is the solution. A good health club can help on your journey, offering expert advice whether novice or experienced exerciser. Fitness classes are a great way to get motivated and many classes also target cardio and resistance – helping to tone-up in one fun session.”

From January, Westside Health Club members will have the exclusive benefit of a brand new collaboration with local nutritional experts. You will be able to maximise your chosen fitness routines and focus on getting great results with bespoke dietary advice for that ‘New Year, New You’ toned look. // Westside Health and Fitness Club www.westsideclub.co.uk, 01780 480651

JUMP OUT OF A PLANE

Think it’s time to challenge yourself to be bolder? Why not jump out of a plane? A tandem skydive means that you are securely attached to an experienced and qualified British Parachute Association approved instructor. So what could possibly go wrong!

The minimum age is 16 years old with no upper age limit.

It’s quite simple, says Paul Dorward, manager at UK Parachuting: ● Book your experience ● Have a 20-minute briefing ● Get securely attached to a BPA approved tandem instructors ● Fly up to 13,000 feet ● Jump! // UK Parachuting, 01832 280490 www.skydivesibson.co.uk

SLEEP MORE

Good sleep is the foundation stone for a healthy life. In today’s overstimulated world, sleep is often a basic core need that is neglected most.

When we function with a sleep deficit for an extended period of time, our immune systems take a hit and we’re more likely to get ill. There are also a long list of additional health issues associated with a lack of sleep, such as weight gain and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

RUN A HALF MARATHON

The Perkins Great Eastern Run half marathon

TOM SCOTT SHINECHARITY.ORG.UK

attracts thousands of people each year and raises huge amounts of money for charity. This year, it takes place on October 11, giving you plenty of time to get training and prepared. // perkinsgreateasternrun.co.uk

GET TONED

After Christmas, getting toned is the target many have set themselves. But what do we mean by toned? Athletic? Form but without muscular bulk? Shapely? No flabby bits? All these definitions hold true but how to achieve

GET THE RIGHT KIT

“From head to toe it is vital to choose the right equipment for the type of exercise you want to be involved in.

“But it is getting more and more difficult because there is so much more choice than there was a few years ago, especially in footwear, and it is so important to try trainers on, speak to experts and touch and feel the different fabrics now available in inner and outer clothing rather than just ordering off the internet,” says Hedley Stroud of Rutland Sports. // Rutland Sports, www.rutlandsports.co.uk 01572 722675

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12/01/2015 18:11

is located close to the centre of Peterborough, providing easy access to all of our facilities.

We offer an extensive range of activities throughout our premises to suit the needs and abilities of all our members and guests.

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17/12/2014 16:35

Feature /// Get active

for health. You don’t get this huddled up indoors, which is why it’s even more important to get outside and get moving. It gives you a better chance of avoiding winter weight gain.

It’s harder to resist unhealthy temptation in the cold, and the only way to make up for those extra treats is to increase the amount of exercise you’re doing. ● Fresh air gives your lungs a chance to detox and breathe deeply without concern for breathing in other people’s bugs.

There are greater feelings of positive engagement, enjoyment and satisfaction from soaking up the pleasures of all that green space. ● Make small changes to what you eat. When it comes to eating healthier, the “all or nothing” approach is too extreme and not realistic for most people. Instead, identify one thing you know you can improve and commit to it for one week. Then choose something else for a week.

Within a few months, you’ll have a new diet that you may actually stick with.

GET YOUR KIDS PLAYING IN THE PARK JOIN A CYCLING CLUB

You’ve got a bike, helmet and assorted brightly coloured, tight-fitting clothing. You’ve got some miles under your belt and want to spread your wings a bit. Riding with others is easier, faster, and more fun than solo riding.

Dave Middlemiss of Rutland Cycling says: “Cycling clubs used to have to have the reputation as elitist, but that has, thankfully, changed. Stamford’s surrounding area has got plenty of Lycra-clad homeboys sniffing out niche coffees on a Sunday morning; Stamford Chain Gang, Bourne Wheelers, King’s Cliffe Flyers, Peterborough CC. “We’ve even got the regular Sunday ride from our Whitwell store if you want to witness some first class mis-shifts. Once you’ve ridden in a pack, solo riding is never quite the same.” // Rutland Cycling, www.rutlandcycling.com

DRINK MORE WATER

Staying hydrated is an important factor for fitness, weight loss and maintaining healthy skin. Often we mistake thirst for hunger and snack unnecessarily, when actually we just need more water. Staying hydrated can eliminate unnecessary eating, cure cravings and also reduce wrinkles, too.

EXPLORE OUTDOORS MORE

Outdoor retailers Get Lost has five reasons to enjoy the great outdoors in winter. ● The best pill you could take to keep healthy is a good dose of nature. Just 30-minutes exercise outside, such as, Nordic Walking, rambling, running or cycling, will give you new vitality. ● An energy boost: fresh air doubles the energy-enhancing effects of exercise alone. ● Get vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin essential

Little Kickers is the pre-school football programme which uses fun and imaginative games that help children develop early learning goals.

By building an engaging and pressure-free environment, children are taken on a football adventure. The sessions do not isolate individuals, which allows children to progress at their own speed while being aided by experienced coaches.

With four segmented age groups, continued progression can be achieved thanks to the detailed sessions built by FA qualified coaches and industry experts. Skills such as colour recognition, numeracy skills and body parts are all interwoven into the games, whilst they also focus on social aspects such as turn-taking and listening. // Little Kickers Peterborough, 01733 808905 E-mail: jodiesloan@littlekickers.co.uk www.littlekickers.co.uk

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Feature /// Get active

TAKE UP GOLF

Mark Jackson, Burghley Golf Club’s pro, reckons that anyone can take up golf, no matter how young or old.

He says: “An old saying is from an acorn an oak tree grows and this is very true for golf. We have members at Burghley Park who age from five to 95!

“So you are never too old to start playing golf.

Whatever age, every person still wants to enjoy the challenge that the game offers.

“However you may be playing, whether good or not, you will be surrounded by beautiful scenery and lots of wildlife.

“It is great to see three different generations of a family taking part and enjoying the game.

“There are few sports which allow this. So whatever your age, enjoy your golf.”

EAT MORE HEALTHILY

Top tips on healthy eating from Riverford – the local, organic veg box company... ● Plan ahead – finding time to plan meals isn’t always easy, but will keep your healthy eating on track. Try sitting down on a Sunday night to do a quick plan for the week. ● Start as you mean to go on – if you start the day in a healthy way you’re less likely to snack or opt for unhealthy options later on. ● Pick the right meal – quick, easy meals might work best for a weeknight with more time at the weekends for a real home-cooked feast. ● Get some inspiration – cooking meals yourself means you know exactly what’s in them.

Riverford has hundreds of recipe suggestions online and even a free to download app for the iPhone. ● Make it fun – try cooking as a family and don’t be afraid to try something new. // www.riverford.co.uk/sacrewell

LOOK AFTER YOUR EYES

Because our eyes are so precious, we need to really take care of them. One of the main ways to tell if our eyes are not functioning properly is when our vision appears to be out of focus, or slow to react and sensitive to different types of light levels.

Another sign of eyes not working properly is when the eyes appear to become red and feel sore, which could indicate an infection or some other eye problem.

Here are some scenarios below we should keep in mind, according to The Stamford Eye Clinic: Take care to protect your eyes when you are playing, especially in sports, eg. wear goggles for snow skiing, helmets and guards for cricket and fencing.

Turn on lights when it’s getting dark (especially if you’re reading), and wear sunglasses and hats on bright days.

Your eyes get sore if you stare at a computer or TV screen for too long, so do lots of different things in your spare time (you need exercise, and so do your eyes). // The Stamford Eye Clinic, www.thestamfordeyeclinic.co.uk, 01780 767403

GO ON AN OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE

Adventure is round the corner with the Panda Cross. Big on performance, small in size, full of kit - it’s always got an edge.

The new Fiat Panda Cross represents the pinnacle of the Panda’s off-road capabilities.

Building on the performance and heritage of the already exceptionally capable Panda 4x4, the Panda Cross possess truly astounding off-road capability, combined with city car practicality and rugged looks.

The new top of the range Panda Cross has all the features of the Panda 4x4 plus an all terrain control selector switch, automatic climate control, 60/40 split folding rear seats and enhanced 4x4 styling. // www.rockinghamcars.co.uk

WORK MORE ACTIVELY

It’s really easy to sit behind a desk all day and do no exercise. So if you have the choice of elevator or stairs in your office, why not always take the stairs?

If you need to speak to somebody in a different department, go and see hem rather than phoning or emailing.

Or if you have a meeting, perhaps get out of the conference room or restaurant and plan a walk in the park instead.

4 0 JA N UA RY 2015 ///

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Feature /// Nordic walking

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POLE WALKING NOT DANCING Mary Bremner sets aside her prejudices and tries her hand at Nordic walking Photography: Nico Morgan

I

t’s January so we’re all full of good intentions. Must get fitter, eat less, drink less, blah blah. But quite often it’s all talk and no action – getting fit can seem to be a chore, even though it is usually enjoyable. Some people find the gym boring and too repetitive, others just don’t like the atmosphere as gyms can seem a bit intimidating – they aren’t usually, but can appear so, and others haven’t found a method that appeals. “I’d prefer to be outside in the fresh air rather than in a gym,” is something you often hear.

I’ve just found an alternative to the gym that gives you just as good a workout. It’s outside in the fresh air, you’re spending time with a group of people, it’s low impact so kind to the joints, but boy do you work! Welcome to Nordic walking – pilates with poles.

Nordic walking originates from Finland. It was started by cross-country skiers in the summer as a way of keeping fit when there was no snow. Knowing its origins it makes sense as the Nordic walker does look like a skier without

the snow. They use poles in much the same way a skier does, not as a walking stick as I thought – how wrong could I have been.

Jo Douglas and Kathy Horner from Get Lost in Rutland had been encouraging me to come along and have a go for quite a while but I wasn’t sure I was quite at that stage in life where I needed a stick to help me walk – at least I hoped I wasn’t! I perceived Nordic walking to be for the elderly who just wanted a gentle stroll.

Very nice and sensible for those in the autumn of their lives, just not me yet.

Anyway, Jo twisted my arm so I arrived on a sunny winter morning to meet them in Braunston at the end of one of their walks. Jo was then going to teach me how to do it – walking with poles, can’t be that difficult surely?

Well first of all this group of walkers came striding into the village at a cracking pace.

“We’re just cooling down, we won’t be long,” called Jo as they disappeared round the corner.

And they weren’t, reappearing at a slightly less alarming pace. There were about a dozen of them, men and women and all ages ranging

from pensioners (very fit, lithe, agile looking ones) down to ladies in their thirties. But as this was a mid-week group much what you would expect. The group had come to the end of the walk so Jo took them through their stretches.

And that was enlightening straight away.

Stretches similar to those you would do at the end of a gym session or after a run – these people had obviously been using their muscles.

I grabbed a few of the walkers once they’d finished their cool down to ask them why they did it. It was interesting, all of them had a healthy glow and looked like they’d had a good workout. None were completely exhausted but you could tell they’d been exercising. Doing between three and four miles at the pace I first saw I’m not surprised. This took them just over an hour.

“It’s done marvels for me,” said Jo S. ‘I join the group two or three times a week and it’s good for the mind as well as general fitness. It also gets you out into the open air and countryside.”

Jeremy and Carolyn Siddall had much the

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18/12/2014 09:51

Feature /// Nordic walking

Clockwise, from far le

Mary is instructed in the art of Nordic walking; post-walk stretches; Get Lost in Rutland has a variety of ages in its walking groups

‘EVERY WALK IS DIFFERENT AND OUR FITNESS HAS IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY’ same view. “Every walk is different and our fitness has improved considerably and we are with a nice group of people who enjoy walking.

Nordic Walking offers something for everyone.”

And then it was my turn. Jo measured me up for a couple of poles, gave me some fingerless gloves that had a device to fit the poles to and we were off.

“Drag the poles behind you, and use your ring and little finger to push them back. Now start swinging the arms as you walk and use the poles to push on. Always using those two fingers and with the poles behind you.”

It sounds very simple and it is once you get the hang of it. After 10 minutes or so of catching the poles on the ground rather than lifting them (a common beginner’s mistake) my coordination kicked in and I was off. As I swung my arms Jo said “straighten them out in front of you and push backwards,” which I did. This helps propel you along. I was now doing it properly and we were setting a fair pace. I could feel my muscles working. By using poles you are using your arm and shoulder muscles as well as your legs making it easy to work hard.

The poles feel like two extra legs, definitely not a prop. I got used to them so quickly that when Kathy got me to lift the poles and carry on walking I missed them. It was very interesting

that I found the left pole much harder to co-ordinate successfully than the right.

“You’re right handed so are very biased towards your right side. Using the poles makes you use your brain evenly and both sides will become balanced. Nordic Walking isn’t just about the physical, the mental side of your body is being used as well,” said Kathy.

“Nordic walking helps you walk as nature intended. Not hunched up looking down. If you watch a toddler walk they stride out with their heads up. This method helps you recreate that. Your posture improves, as does your co-ordination. I have many people who come with back problems and within weeks their aches and pains disappear.”

There’s obviously more to this than meets the eye and when I delved a bit deeper talking to Jo and Kathy I was impressed. Nordic Walking burns between 20 and 40 per cent more calories than normal walking and tones up your whole body. Tension in your neck, back and shoulders is reduced. As it’s so low impact knees and joints are protected and posture, strength and co-ordination are improved, and all from walking with a couple of poles! But after trying it myself, albeit very briefly, I can see that all these claims add up. When I referred to it as pilates with poles I was right, you can feel your

core muscles working as well. Another huge plus about Nordic walking is that you are outside getting lots of fresh air and enjoying some fabulous scenery around Rutland. “‘We see parts of the area that we wouldn’t normally,” one of the group told me. “Jo is brilliant at finding walks that are very much off the beaten track.” A hidden benefit of walking in a group is the social side – mental stimulation as well as physical, and companionship.

Jo and Kathy have now taught up to 250 people, the oldest was 80, the youngest in their mid-twenties. They offer a free 45-minute taster session to get a feel for the sport and then four one hour training sessions, by the end of which it will feel completely natural and you’ll be ready to join one of the experienced groups.

“We are about nurture and encouragement,” said Kathy. Get Lost in Rutland now have groups in Rutland and Stamford and have started meeting in the Melton area as well.

There is a group out walking every day. What’s more it’s a cheap sport. A pair of good quality poles will cost you about £60 and you’ll need a good pair of walking shoes/trainers, and that’s it. Clothes are best in layers. The initial training costs £40 and then each walk costs £6 or is discounted if you sign up for blocks.

Jo and Kathy have groups for everyone depending on your level of fitness. The walk I saw was a workout one for the pretty fit. They call it the ‘blast.’ This covers between three and four miles and gives you a good aerobic workout. The walk and talk group were on a different walk but finished in the same place so joined in the stretches.

This group cover 1.5 to two miles and go at a more moderate pace but still get a good workout. They include those with lower levels of fitness who are just starting out, those who have injuries and those who are just building up their fitness again.

And then there’s the hardcore group for the more competitive. Some of the blast group come along too. This group meets in the evenings and at weekends to fit in with working lives. They time their route and try to shave minutes off each circuit. It’s faster paced and much more demanding. They can walk up to 10km. Much of this group is younger and many are getting fit for skiing holidays and triathlons.

Nordic walking really is a sport for everyone.

It’s great fun, easily accessible and you’re getting fit whilst out enjoying the delights of Rutland.

Don’t be like me and put off by the poles – they will quickly become your best friends.

INFO To find out more ring Jo on 07949 392018 or visit the website http://getlostinrutland.co.uk/pages/ nordic-walking

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17/12/2014 14:33

Feature /// Rambling

RAMBLE ON A short stroll on a Sunday with the Rutland Ramblers turns into a voyage of philosophical self-discovery for Jeremy Beswick Photography: Andy Balmford

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R

ain was falling persistently that Sunday morning. Surely nobody would venture out in such weather, I thought? Yet, there I was, stood in the car park of the Plough Inn in Greetham, with 30 hardy souls from the Rutland Ramblers about set out for what was billed as a ‘short stroll’ of around eight miles(!).

On the journey there, membership secretary Bob Lucas told me that they have around 120 members and organise Sunday walks twice a month. They and their sister groups in Stamford, Coalville, Melton Mowbray and Leicester are affiliated to the national Ramblers Association or – as they are now known – The Ramblers.

Rambling has a proud history of political activism in the UK. In 1932 the British Workers Sports Federation, a sort of Ramblers Association on steroids with a good dash of left wing politics thrown in, organised a mass trespass on Kinder Scout – the highest point of the Peak District – where they were involved in a fracas with the Duke of Devonshire’s gamekeepers, the noble lord having decided that this beauty spot was for his own use and not for the likes of you or I. Some of the trespassers were imprisoned as a result but the event is seen as a seminal moment in the history of rambling, which has been so crucial to the opening up of much of our countryside for everyone to enjoy.

Even today The Ramblers has its campaigning

side. Its CEO, Benedict Southworth, says: “Our goal is to protect the ability of people to enjoy the sense of freedom and benefits that come from being outdoors on foot, and also to protect and expand the infrastructure and places people go walking.”

They play a vital role in keeping footpaths open and in good repair for all of us.

Back on my walk I spoke to group secretary Lesly Hayes.

“As you’d expect, we enjoy the fresh air, being at one with nature and seeing parts of the countryside we’ve never seen before, but it’s also very sociable.”

That’s certainly true of this group and the miles seemed much shorter as I chatted with

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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! Need motivation to jump start your news year’s resolution?

There is something for everyone!

MOVE MORE 4 LESS Monday 19th January – Sunday 25th January 2015 All sessions £1 or FREE! As part of Move More 4 Less Week, Active Rutland are coordinating and offering physical activity sessions for a £1 or FREE! Some of the activities on offer include; zumba, nordic walking, yoga, swimfit, kickboxing, bowls, racket sports, cycling, groups runs and much much more!

Active Rutland is hosting a Move More 4 Less Roadshow on Wednesday 7th January 2015 in Oakham Market Square between 11am and 2pm.

Please pop along to meet the team, pick up a timetable and find out more information about up and coming events and how you can get involved.

Alternatively, download the Move More 4 Less timetable on our website at www.activerutland.org.uk/movemore4less to find out about sessions that are taking place near you!

Activities are not just taking place during Move More 4 Less Week. There are lots of opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity on a regular basis. Active Rutland is a programme designed to encourage you to become physically active. For more information on how to be active in your local area please contact a member of the Active Rutland Team on activerecreation@rutland.gov.uk or 01572 720936. To keep up to date with events, training and funding opportunities throughout the year, sign up to our newsletter using the following link www.activerutland.org.uk/about

New Year’s Resolution One: Get Fit! Why not make your new year’s resolution that bit easier by taking part in physical activity with a friend or colleague to help challenge and motivate each other week on week.

Start logging your activity with the Workplace Challenge Activity Log that rewards any participation in sport and physical activity.

Whether you choose to walk the dog or run a marathon, it all counts! The Challenge runs from Monday 5th January to Sunday 1st March 2015. The more activity you do, the more points you get and points make prizes! So don’t forget to log your activity from the Move More 4 Less Week. However, it’s not all about winning, spot prizes will be awarded randomly to participants, no matter how many points they achieve, for simply taking part!

To learn more about Workplace Challenge please visit our website on the following link www.activerutland.org.uk/workplacechallenge and start logging your activity today!

active rutland.indd 1

09/12/2014 18:42

Feature /// Rambling

Le and below

Rutland Ramblers meet twice a month; every walk is researched by a member to unearth some new trails; the group is very social, too

‘IT REMINDED ME OF A SORT OF PERAMBULATORY COCKTAIL PARTY, ALBEIT MINUS THE ALCOHOL’ many of my fellow ramblers – none of whom I’d met before – along the way. It reminded me of a sort of perambulatory cocktail party, albeit minus the alcohol, but with the ice broken from the start by being a group with a common endeavour and like minds.

Lesly added: “I’ve made some really good friends through rambling and I like the casualness of it. You just show up when you like.”

As I was discovering, this isn’t the only reason to join with them rather than take a solitary walk. Each Sunday there’s a different walk leader who has researched and travelled the route before and will be on hand to draw your attention to points of interest.

Furthermore, as another of my new acquaintances told me: “When I first moved to Oakham I didn’t know anyone but I was already a member of the Ramblers nationally, so showed up at the first opportunity to join the Rutland group.

“By the end of my first walk I had a new, ready-made social circle and all the other things you need when you move to a new area – the phone number of a reliable plumber, names of the best restaurants and all sorts of other useful gen.”

I fell back along the crocodile and met Margaret Cole, who pointed out another plus.

“My husband and I are keen walkers but if it’s just the two of us we tend to end up doing the same walks over and over – with this group we get to go places we’d never have found,” and the benefits were underlined by others who told me “It’s better than any medication.”

From another: “The sense of physical and mental well being is addictive.”

This was not the first time that’s been remarked upon. Good old Hippocrates – born 460 BC – knew a thing or two.

“Walking is a man’s best medicine” he said, an opinion echoed more than 2,000 years later

by Soren Kierkegaard (who, as this erudite readership doubtless knows, is regarded as the first existentialist philosopher).

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk,” he wrote. “Every day I walk myself into a state of well being and walk away from every illness.

I have walked myself into my best thoughts and I know no thought so burdensome I cannot walk away from it.”

How to join, and don’t forget spare shoes!

JOINING THE RAMBLERS will cost you £3 a month or £33 a year (£2 or £20 for concessions).

Members have access on their website to hundreds of group-led walks across the country every month, full access to their online library of walks and maps, and

receive four issues of Walk magazine a year. Membership makes an ideal present too (www.ramblers.org.uk).

You can find the next walk in your area and the phone number of the leader there too by searching with your postcode.

As for equipment, something waterproof to wear and a sturdy pair of boots is a good idea, although several participants on my walk seemed to get along perfectly well with trainers. A rucksack for your packed lunch and other bits and pieces is useful, but again – not possessing one myself – an emptied squash racket case did the job! One thing I overlooked was a spare pair of shoes to be le in the car, as your walking ones are likely to be unacceptably muddy for the après marche.

So, feeling a little footsore but mentally refreshed it was back to The Plough - in my socks - for the end of our few hours together and a chat over an ale or two.

Alas, a er that our paths had to separate again but I, for one, was very glad that – for a few hours at least – they had crossed.

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17/12/2014 14:36

Feature /// Great walks

Ferry Meadows Country Park There are plenty of family-friendly activities on offer here, but it’s also a good place for a stroll with the dog, as Will Hetherington discovers Photography: Will Hetherington THE ROUTE

Opened in 1978, Nene Park lies between Castor and Peterborough city centre, and Ferry Meadows Country Park occupies the bulk of the recreation area. There are three lakes offering watersports and there are also children’s play areas, nature trails, sculptures, two cafes, a miniature railway and the Nene Valley Railway.

Throw in a campsite, a caravan park and cycle hire and clearly there is a lot going on here. The area is also littered with Roman ruins so you never know; you might learn something here too!

But it’s also a good place to just go for a stroll with or without the dog. I was there on a beautiful Sunday morning and parked in the car park nearest to Castor. To get there from the A47 eastbound you have to drive all the way through

Ailsworth and Castor and just before the road crosses over the A47 take the right hand turn. Or you can come in from Marholm to the north, or the A47 westbound from the direction of Peterborough.

This car park offers access to Ferry Meadows from the north via the impressive stone construction of the Milton Ferry bridge over the Nene. This was the most convenient way for me, but it’s not the closest to the visitor centre or the other main activities in the park, so you would be better off going to the main entrance off the A605 Oundle Road in Peterborough if you want to be closer to them.

Once you are on foot in the park there are clearly marked walkways around all three lakes but I chose to walk east along the Nene towards

Clockwise, from above

One of the highlights of this walk is the view of the church in Teigh all the way back from the railway line. Teigh Lodge sits atop a small incline to the north of the village. If it’s a warm day there

the city centre before cutting back towards the visitor centre on the path which runs from Bluebell Bridge. This bridge links to Thorpe Wood golf course so if you fancy a laugh you can also watch golfers take on the perils of the tee shot on the third hole. It requires quite a big slice to actually put the ball in the water from this tee but it can be done…

If you do have the dog with you then staying by the river means it will have the chance to race around off the lead and have a dip in the water.

But with lots of young children enjoying everything on offer in the busier sections of the

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TOP STAT

s a Roman Dvrobrivae wa een Water settlement betw d rry Meadows an Newton and Fe rst the fort were fi the remains of s 30. The site lie discovered in 19 t, the old on Ermine Stree Roman Road.

park you will need to keep the dog under closer control. Once you have reached the main visitor centre there are any number of ways back to the car park so the choice is yours, depending on how much time and energy you have.

There are also a number of footpaths which head out to the west towards Water Newton and to the south of Castor and Ailsworth so there are plenty of places to explore. In fact there’s more than enough going on here to keep you coming back and exploring different routes.

Difficulty rating (out of five)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park Depends where you are coming from but I parked in the car park directly east of Castor. Otherwise the main entrance is off the A605 Oundle Road in Peterborough.

impressive stone archways over the River Nene. Lots of visitor attractions or you can just amble along in peace and quiet by the Nene. Happy family atmosphere.

Distance and time Totally dependant on how much time and energy you have. There are numerous walkways and public footpaths.

Lowlights If you are a er complete rural bliss this may not be for you.

Highlights Milton Ferry bridge provides

The pooch perspective Plenty of water, no livestock and dogs are more than welcome but you will have to keep them under close control in the busier areas.

Refreshments A couple of cafes or there is the Fitzwilliam Arms in Marholm just up the road.

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Feature /// Dog training

Please sir, can I have some more...?

How to stop your dog begging for food.

By Bobs Broadbent

D

ogs who learn to beg for food often fall into that grey area of learning a habit that is sometimes okay to do and at other times unacceptable, and such inconsistency is hard for a dog to decipher.

In fact, it’s that very variability that makes begging really worthwhile. Not dissimilar to the reasons why we buy a lottery ticket; it’s a gamble, and every bit more enticing when we hit a jackpot.

As well as a food reward, there is more reinforcement from the dog’s owner that runs in parallel and this gives lots of attention to the activity of begging. This interaction will only underpin your dog’s determination to expect something from you and encourage begging behaviour for your attention, even without the presence of food.

This process can begin early on in puppyhood and become really ingrained into a dog’s behaviour. The only way to stop it is to take a hardline approach. Of course it’s better to never let your dog beg for food and attention in the first place, but that’s sometimes more easily said than done!

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO STOP BEGGING

If you stop rewarding a dog for the action of begging the behaviour will disappear, eventually. The training method of ‘extinguishing’ a behaviour does take time and this will depend on the duration the dog has been begging for and consistency of the owners to carry out a corrective approach.

This will involve removing all verbal attention, both positive and negative, i.e.

“What a good boy, waiting for his little tidbit….” or “No, go to your bed, … you’re not getting anything from me today”.

Simply by communicating with your dog you are giving them attention, so you need to refrain from this.

Dogs really are much happier if they understand what is expected from them, and that’s why, as well as not rewarding your dog for begging, you need to begin a new routine that teaches your dog what they should do at this time. If you are to have success this needs to be a blanket approach and be carried out by everyone at all times.

During your meals, you need to train your dog to lie down on his bed and stay in a specific area when the family is eating.

This may take some time but eventually he will remain in position until after your meal is over and then of course praise his actions and offer him a reward.

Occasionally, when your dog is relaxed and quiet, calmly praise him and walk over to feed him a treat. With success you can fade out the treats so he will be content to share meals with you calmly and respectfully. Your dog will need to learn how to lie down and stay and this can be built up outside of mealtimes. Offering your dog a long lasting chew on his bed may also help him to be more successful and remove his attention from the table.

Bringing about an everlasting change will depend entirely upon your consistency because any re-introduction of your old habits and your dog will quickly (and legitimately) be back to the business of begging. Oh, and one last thing, for a period of time, your dog will try even harder to get your attention and begging will worsen before it starts to improve.

All your efforts will be worthwhile when you have a dog that knows what to do at meal times and you can eat in peace.

If you have any concerns about your dog’s behaviour, seek professional advice prior to introducing any changes to their routine, either from a pet behaviorist: www.apbc.co.uk or trainer: www.apdt.co.uk Bobs Broadbent, Dogknows. 01664 454 792 or email bobs@dogknows.co.uk.

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© JEREMY PARDOE / ALAMY

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17/12/2014 14:55

Feature /// Sportsman's Dinner

The Black Horse Inn, Greetham James and Debbie find honest pub food, a friendly welcome and unbeatable prices James Greetham’s a convenient place to get to from the A1 – I’ll certainly give it that! And if you’ve worked up an appetite playing golf at Greetham Valley or Rutland County, or you've been out for a walk in north Rutland, it’s a good place to go and find something to deal with those hunger pangs.

Debbie The Black Horse has changed hands a few times in recent years so it’s good to see it up and running, and I noticed last time we came through this way a few months ago there was some refurbishment work going on. It certainly looks OK from the outside, with plenty of lighting.

James It’s obviously a quiet night though, with not many in for dinner. That said it’s a good pint of Red Kite from the Grainstore brewery in Oakham. It’s always a pleasure to see a decent local brewery represented at the pumps on the bar of a local pub.

Debbie There’s plenty of dogs relaxing in the bar area. Perhaps we should have brought ours along for a bit of socialising? Then again it’s probably best she doesn’t get to love the pub too.

It’s hard enough getting you away from the bar as it is.

James I seem to have developed selective hearing so I’ll ignore that last comment. The barmaid’s got a friendly smile and there seems to be plenty of good honest pub food options on the menu. Landlord John used to run the Burghley Arms in Bourne and the Lord Nelson at Morton, among other places, so he’s got plenty of experience in the trade.

Debbie And he’s a nice fellow too who obviously cares about the business. The mozzarella cheese bites I had as a starter were cooked in a lovely light batter with an excellent sweet chilli sauce. I really enjoyed them.

James Yes and the pate and toast was a pretty big starter portion with a good side salad. And it was interesting to hear about the investment in the B&B rooms here – they sound like they are as good value as the food. With the Rutland holiday caravan park just on the edge of the village I can imagine it gets pretty busy here in the summer, with what looks like a reasonable sized beer garden out the front.

Debbie Yes, and as John said they are not trying to compete at the same price point as the Wheatsheaf over the road, which makes sense.

It’s all about providing good value here at the

Black Horse Inn. My lasagne main course with garlic bread and chips was a real cheese fest and I’m sorry to say I couldn’t finish it. Can you manage any?

James Ordinarily the answer would be yes, as you know, but after that substantial beef and ale pie, with a decent pastry top, ample filling, chips and peas I’m not sure I can… Oh go on then, just a bit of garlic bread and lasagne won’t kill me, will it?

Debbie I don’t know how you can! But anyway I am impressed with the value here. A substantial starter and a really filling main course for less than a tenner isn’t bad is it? I’m not sure many other pubs in the area can compete with that price. And kids’ meals are less than two pounds, too. Can’t argue with that for value…

The Black Horse Inn, Greetham Main Street, Greetham.

01572 868260 www.blackhorsegreetham.co.uk

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Feature /// School sports

Kart champion Teddy meets Lewis Local karting champion Teddy Wilson unexpectedly met his idol and current double Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

As a guest of Formula Kart Stars (FKS) at the 2014 Autosport Awards Teddy, from South Luffenham, had been asked to attend the star-studded event as one of three standout young UK kart racers and FKS ‘old boys’.

MSA British Cadet karting champion Teddy (13), was on stage with Junior World Karting champion Enaam Ahmed and World Karting champion Lando Norris in front of 1,200 guests, with Lewis Hamilton presenting the young champions to the room and dispensed some valuable advice.

Lewis reminisced about standing on the same stage almost 20 years ago and wished them all well with their careers.

Teddy said: “I’ve had an incredible year and being able to shake the hand of this year’s Formula 1 world champion and one of my racing idols was the perfect finale.

“Meeting Lewis after winning the same British championship that he won all those years ago is a huge inspiration. I just hope I can go on to enjoy a successful career in racing like him!”

CRICKET STAR BROAD GIVES ADVICE TO OAKHAM PUPILS International cricket star Stuart Broad returned to Oakham School to give an insightful talk to current pupils and staff about resilience in sport.

Broad took the time to visit his former school before heading off to join his England team-mates at their training camp. He took part in a Q&A session with director of sport Iain Simpson about his cricketing career and how he copes with the demands the sport places on him both mentally and physically.

His advice included: “You have to try to take everything in and filter out what works,” and outlined that he would always “give advice a good go, as you have to constantly try to tweak your game”, but that you also have to “back your natural ability, as this will take you a long way.”

Pupils were given some fascinating insights into his training schedule; from how o en he trains, to the differing levels of intensity depending on how close a match is.

He also described how he tries to balance the strict nutritional scrutiny he undergoes with “feeding the soul” (chocolate brownies were mentioned!).

He le students with some startlingly clear advice on how to exceed: “Make your basics better than anyone else’s” and “whilst it is good to have flair and get complicated, the key is to keep those basics strong.”

Stamford First XV go unbeaten in 2014 In defeating Loughborough Grammar School, Stamford School First XV claimed their fourteenth win from 14 games, bringing the curtain down on an unbeaten season.

Captain Charlie Dunbar was proud: “It has been a fantastic season. We were unbeaten in 2012 and lost just the one last year so we were determined not to let that happen again.”

As well as success on the field this term, the team have also won the prestigious Rugby World magazine team of the month competition and a number of the boys have gained representative recognition. Charlie Dunbar represented England Schools, George Cox has made the England 18s squad and Tom Roper has made the Holland 18s squad. Charlie and George have been playing for Northampton and flanker Henry Wills for the Leicester Tigers. Henry Mawhood, Oli Davidson and Sam Butler played for NLD, Callum Crellin for Leicestershire. Callum Corbett has played with Scottish Exiles and Josh Allen and Henry Hives have made the Midlands Lambs Independent Schools Barbarians squad.

Director of rugby, David Laventure, added: “They deserve a huge amount of credit for this achievement. They have worked very hard and shown great character at times when under pressure. There is plenty more rugby to come given the cup, sevens and a tour but for now they can be pleased and proud when they look back at 2014.”

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17/12/2014 14:58

Feature /// School sports

UCC pupils set new sporting records During the autumn term Uppingham Community College sports teams competed in 124 fixtures – a new record.

Four of the college teams have won their Varsity league competition with a further five teams qualifying to represent Rutland in School Games competitions at county level. The U16 rugby team have qualified for the knock-out stages of the County Cup with the U16 netball team repeating last year’s achievement of qualifying for the regional tournament.

As well as school fixtures pupils have enjoyed taking part in a wide range of lunchtime and after-school clubs ranging from archery,squash, equestrian to climbing, fencing, girls’ rugby and table-tennis. These are just a few examples of the exciting extra-curricular opportunities which the college provides.

This term the college also ran two very successful sports trips to Leicester Tigers and Nottingham Panthers ice hockey as well as starting a mentoring scheme for talented pupils.

In the new year pupils can look forward to having more exciting fixtures, clubs, trips and competitions as well as the 42nd Sports Tour to Don Bosco, Belgium for the annual sports exchange.

The college’s year 11 netball squad, who were runners-up in the County Cup, are pictured, right.

Uppingham U14s are county champions...

Uppingham School’s U14A girls netball team have been crowned County Champions, winning all their matches in the process.

The girls were triumphant in their pool, with wins over Our Lady’s Convent (12 – 0), Bushloe High School (9 – 1) and Kibworth High School (10 – 5).

Sir Jonathan North Community College was their next opponent in the quarter-finals and Uppingham won 11 – 2. In the semi-finals against Oakham School, the team were drawing 7 – 7 at full time, but scored the winning goal during the four minutes of extra time, making the final score 8 – 7.

The girls faced Kibworth High School once again in the final and secured their title with a 9 – 6 win. With excellent scores across the board, the U14 team look to be in an enviable position for the regional competition on the 31st January.

The team’s success follows on from a strong season for girls’ sport at Uppingham this term; both U14 and U16 girls’ hockey teams are also the Leicestershire County Champions.

The team list is: Sophie Burnett (Captain), Anna Ewbank, Zara Jackson, Lara Mullins, Alice Nicandrou, Katherine Porter, Lily Simpson, Sophie Sporborg, Grace TurbervilleSmith and Zara Twee.

... As are Stamford U16s Stamford High School’s Under 16 team beat Sir John Nelthorpe in the finals of the Lincolnshire County netball finals to be crowned county champions.

They also beat Caistor Grammar, Priory LSST, Toll Bar and Queen Elizabeth High School, Gainsborough on their way to the final.

The U16 team: Velvet Cordial (captain), Deanna Alderman, Charlie Clayton, Charlie Crombie, Olivia Ellson, Emily Goodson, Emily Grace and Emily Howard.

SAILORS SELECTED Stamford Endowed School’s James Leetch (Year 11) and Jemima Leedham (Year 10) have been selected for the RYA 29er UK Transition Training Squad.

Selection was made on the basis of three weekend training events and one open competition. James and Jemima are one of the lightest pairings in the 29ers, and have only been in the 29er boat for a few months but have improved their ranking in each event.

The aim for James and Jemima is to be at the front of the 29er fleet and to transition into the RYA UK Youth Squad, which could lead to World and European Championships, the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships and an Olympic pathway.

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17/12/2014 11:43

Football

Thumbs up all round for Borderville

BY DEAN CORNISH

T

he Stamford Daniels have finally started life in their spanking new ground on the edge of town, and although the team still aren’t firing on all cylinders, few could have any doubts that the club have done a sterling job with the new development, and the Zeeco stadium will be a great home for years to come.

The first competitive game at the stadium took place on December 13 with the visit of Nantwich Town. The game won’t be remembered as a classic, even though the Daniels twice came from behind to draw 2-2, but it will be talked about for years as the day that a bumper 819 people witnessed history in the making.

Plaudits must go to all involved in ensuring that an idea first mooted in the 1980s should now come to fruition so successfully, with special mention to John Burrows who presided over the project in the last few years.

I’ve often mentioned in this column how fantastic it is to see so many ‘Young Daniels’ playing on the 3G pitches and using the Borderville facilities. The great thing about the development is that it’s not just a new ground which ‘ticks the boxes’ for youth development and community involvement. It’s also a proper football person’s football ground. The superb terrace, the well-named corners of the ground, the excellent catering, a decent PA system and plenty of other smaller touches that really gives the Zeeco stadium a feel of a ground that could easily host conference football. Let’s hope it does one day!

On the pitch, at the end of November, David Staff’s men said goodbye to the old Wothorpe Road ground with a cracking 3-0 win over Rushall Olympic. 118 balloons were released before kick off on a poignant day for the club.

Ryan Robbins gave the Daniels an early lead, Dan Lawlor bagged the second,

before Nabil Shariff wrapped up the win and wrote himself a place in Stamford AFC history as the final first team player to score at the old ground. Celebrations were muted somewhat though with the news that top scorer Ryan Robbins broke his ankle during the game, an injury that will keep him out until February at least. His goals will be missed.

The following week, there was more bad news when the Daniels went down 3-0 away at Witton Albion, before the historic draw in the first game at the Zeeco the week after. David Staff’s men are currently sixteenth in the table, just five points above the bottom four, so a decent Christmas period is crucial if they’re to keep themselves clear from the relegation places.

2015 is a hugely important year for Stamford AFC. Hopefully attendances grow in their new home, and they stay in the division for the start of the 2015-2016 season.

Besizzled Suppliers of the tastiest reduced fat sausages

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GEOFF ATTON

It’s been a baptism of fire meanwhile for new manager Neil Cotton at Blackstones.

Cotton took over just before the 4-1 defeat to Rothwell, and things haven’t improved since then unfortunately, with ensuing home defeats to Potton (3-0), Lutterworth Athletic (2-1), and then a 6-1 tonking against league top scorers Wellingborough Whitworth. Blackstones have now dropped down to fourteenth in the division, and while relegation isn’t likely again this season, they’ll certainly be hoping for an improvement in fortunes after a tough few years.

In the Peterborough League Premier Division, Oakham United continue their strong form. Wayne Oldaker’s men are now second, just a point off the top with two games in hand. In recent weeks, they made light work of Peterborough Sports Reserves (3-0), and Sawtry (4-1), before then cruelly conceding a last minute equaliser away at challengers Netherton United on their 3G surface. The title challenge remains very much on though.

Let’s hope the New Year brings some

Above

The Daniels kicked off at their new Borderville home, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Nantwich Town

silverware to their Barleythorpe ground.

Outside of league action, Oakham lost in the Leicestershire FA Senior Cup to Bardon Hill Sports, but had better fortune in the Rutland President Premier Shield beating local rivals Uppingham Town 3-0 in a local derby.

Richard Kendrick’s Uppingham side are currently twelfth in the same division as Oakham, with an inconsistent side partly to blame for some mixed recent results.

Defeats away at Crowland and at home to Pinchbeck were soon forgotten though when they achieved a great 3-2 home win over Deeping Rangers.

Uppingham’s goalscorers that day were James Howe, Robert Montgomery and Jordan Neil.

In the first division, Ketton FC are still doing the region proud, sitting in second place in the league. A challenge for the title may prove a step too far though, with

Coates Athletic Reserves ahead of them and not looking like they’ll let anyone catch them. All Ketton can do is keep winning their games, and they’ve done that recently with good league wins away at Baston and at home against Moulton Horrox reserves.

Ryhall United are also doing well in the first division, currently in fourth place in the table with a game in hand on Ketton.

James Sheehan’s side have won their last four league games with recent successes at home to Sutton Bridge (4-2) and a cracking 3-2 away win at Netherton United reserves.

In Division 2 Ketton reserves remain above the Stamford Bels first team although they’ll be frustrated after a couple of recent postponements. Their only recent action saw a good 4-3 away win at Pinchbeck United reserves.

The Bels meanwhile have been in mixed form. After a 2-1 derby defeat in the cup against Ryhall United, they then picked up a superb 6-2 away win away at Guyhirn before crashing back down to earth the following week in defeat to Coates Athletic third team.

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Rugby

Stamford and Oakham regain winning form

BY JEREMY BESWICK

A

s we entered the festive season there was plenty of good cheer and, I’m glad to report, more “Ho ho ho” than “Bah humbug” for both Oakham and Stamford. Last month Active noted that Stamford had lost every match since the season’s opener and they’d need to win soon before losing becomes a habit.

December would see them play two matches they’d regard as ‘must-wins’and they duly obliged with home wins over Nottingham Casuals and West Bridgford.

Their season thus far had been severely impacted by injuries but something close to a first choice line up were available for the match against Notts, including a new fly half; Laurent Ross.

Town began strongly with their line-out performing well and the first period saw them run in two tries to Notts’ two penalties. Too often Stamford’s performances this season have been

deserving of that most tired of clichés – a game of two halves – as they consistently displayed a tendency to let opponents back into the game. This time it was a tale of two near-identical halves however, as a further two Town tries secured them a bonus point, the final tally being 26-6.

Coach Stef Arlow will have been delighted to see them follow this up with an impressive display in the 22-12 victory over West Bridgford and, although they unsurprisingly lost their following fixture away to high-flying Ashbourne, they are at least off the foot of the table.

Club captain Nick McDowell highlighted how well the seconds are doing. They’d like to recruit some more players so, if you’re looking for something to satisfy that New Year’s fitness resolution, get in touch at nickmcdowall@gmail.com.

Oakham’s month was a Christmas that came early. Having found life in their new division troublesome throughout the early

season, they turned the tables with four wins on the bounce which saw them canter up the table to sixth position. Narrow wins at home to Biggleswade and away to Dunstablians were followed by the visit of Leicester Forest, which was possibly their best win of the four.

The notable opening exchanges all involved fly-half Mark Matthews, who unaccountably (for him) missed two kicks before slotting one and then took an imaginative tap penalty to eventually force a penalty try. Matthews added two more penalties early in the second half as indiscipline saw Oaks reduced to 13 players, outside centre Adam Stimpson and open side flanker Toby Daw the guilty parties. It was to their great credit that they prevented Leicester from scoring during this period, the front row particularly (Ed Gomm, Adam Price and Rhys Grieve) performing heroics to keep their much larger opposite numbers at bay. Once back

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Richard Cockerill cut a relaxed figure as we sat down following Tigers’ win over Toulon back in December. Although somewhat frustrated that their famous victory had been overshadowed by some unprintable verbals from the opposition - former Tigers’ cult hero Martin Castrogiovanni directing them at Cockers himself, Delon Armitage at the supporters - he could at least say “I’m so glad it’s not me in the **** for once”.

His overall reaction to Castro’s abuse was unfazed. “My advice to him is to plead guilty and be contrite,” he said. “I was amazed at the outburst and have no idea where all the angst came from. He’s made a little bit of a fool of himself.” The Italian/Argentine had claimed that Cockerill had put it about that he’d le for the money “The whole thing is madness” he continued “The exact truth is that Martin didn’t want to be rotated and said if you’re not going to play me I’d like to go somewhere else.”

His reaction to Armitage’s tirade at the Tigers’ fans was also more in sorrow than in anger.” It just drives a wedge between the players and supporters. The danger is we’ll end up segregated like football. He may have been provoked by something someone said – I don’t know – but he’s a custodian of the shirt and a public figure. If someone has a pop at you, you can defend yourself – but in the right way.”

We moved on to his players, to Cockers’

to 15, Oaks kept the scoreboard ticking over and the last action of note inevitably involved Matthews , who sent the ball into orbit for Daw to score his redemption try.

Final score 21-3.

As we went to press more news was coming through of heroics away to fourth-placed Lutterworth. Six points down with seconds left on the clock Oaks repeatedly pounded the opponents’ line and, after four consecutive penalties, the referee finally awarded a penalty try which was duly converted, to enable them to truly ice their Christmas cake with a 17-16 win.

More glad tidings came from the U17s, who won the County Cup by beating

TIGERS IMAGES

Tigers talk

Above

Richard Cockerill has praised new signing Brad Thorn

evident pleasure about the contribution Brad Thorn has made to the side. “First of all it’s his play but secondly the confidence he gives to the youngsters around him” he said. “He’s like a big brother to Graham Kitchener, for one. It’s like - If anyone messes with me they have to mess with him. That’s a real benefit to all the youngsters coming through.”

Syston 19-10 in the final. This was their third consecutive win in the competition having won it at U15 and U16 level.

It fell to Stamford College Old Boys to be the pantomime villains, conceding exactly 62 points to both Bedford Swifts and Bourne with only seven points against the latter to their name. They remain firmly anchored at the foot of Midlands Three South East.

Stoneygate played just the once, against Coalville thirds, but continued to demonstrate that they should really be playing at a higher level by running up a whopping 96 points. One wonders if they regret turning down the league’s offer of

Tigers do remain inconsistent though, and while the forwards are giving them a platform the backs are really struggling to fire. Perhaps a combination of injury and lack of head coach are contributing to the situation.

But when Tuilagi, Bai and Loamanu are fit again we may see things change, and the news that All Black legend and ex-Tiger Aaron Mauger will join the club a er this season as head coach is certainly very welcomed – and much needed.

double promotion last year. Deepings had only the one league match which saw them beat Old Newtonians 21-12.

As this is the time of year for reflecting, I thought you may be amused by looking back at my pre-season predictions, which included what looks at present to be one spectacularly bad call (Stamford to finish fourth), an optimistic one (Oakham to finish second), two easy ones (Stamford College and Deepings will both do well to reach mid-table), and one good one (Stoneygate will finally lose a league match after five years but still be in the top-four).

All in all, four out of 10 - I’ll make a New Year’s resolution to do better.

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/// JA N UA RY 2015

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Roundup

Hockey

A tough month for both Rutland sides

BY NEIL MOVERLEY

ANDY BALMFORD

I

t has been the toughest month of the season yet for both Rutland Mixed hockey sides, as we predicted it might be in the last issue. Despite the first setbacks of the season though, both sides responded well and sit second in their respective leagues and poised for a title challenge in the New Year. The club is so determined to push on next year that they have even gone to the extent of bringing in a regular professional coach to take training session - an almost unprecedented move in recent Rutland Mixed Hockey history!

A tough run of fixtures coinciding with absences through work and illness meant that the Horseshoes dropped points in Division One for the first time this season.

Paul Willets stepped in to the fray and made some great saves playing in goal throughout November.

With an ever-rotating roster of defenders ahead of him however it sadly was not enough to prevent a loss to league leaders Leicester Hospitals in Groby. The hangover of that first loss of the season carried on into the next game against Nomads with the Rutland side finding themselves 2-0 down in the first half. After a rousing team talk from captain Phil Ash the Horseshoes

stormed into a 2-3 lead only to concede an equaliser from a set piece in the dying moments.

With five points dropped Rutland needed a response and found it in the next two games with a 7-2 victory over the Barbarians and a 4-1 victory over Leicester University. Whilst not performing at their fluid best the victories were just the tonic the side needed.

With title rivals also dropping points this

means that the Horseshoes enter the New Year only three points behind the top division’s leaders. Rutland have so far scored 40 goals in nine games but the defence will need to regain its ruthless edge if they are to maintain their title challenge.

Like the Horseshoes, the Oaks lost their first game of the season last month. The small size of the Rutland club’s playing squad came back to haunt them this month as a number of Oaks players stepped up to support the Horseshoes, leaving the Second Division side undermanned for a key fixture against the league leaders Forest Wanderers. With only nine players the Oaks played out of their skins but couldn’t hold out against overwhelming numbers eventually losing the game 4-1.

Due to exceptional performances throughout the rest of the month including victories over the dynamic Rangers, the anthropomorphic Panthers and Ducks, and an unfortunate draw against the nightmarish Gremlins, the Oaks enter the New Year in second place, kept off top spot due to goal difference.

If you are interested in a practice or a game all are welcome. For more details email tracey.taylor13@uwclub.net.

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/// JA N UA RY 2015

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Roundup

Equestrianism

Horsing around despite the cold weather

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

H

unting is still going strong and apart from a few late starts due to some sharp frosts, the weather is holding out well and the number of followers is still rising. All the local hunts have websites with the secretary’s number on it and they will help you if you are unsure where they are meeting.

Keysoe near Bedfordshire ran a big CSI 1 and 2* competition on the last weekend in November.

Many big names where there, with Tim Stockdale and Shane Breen two of the more famous class winners.

Popular French rider Dan Delstart, who is based locally at Farndish, near Wellingborough, was a very popular winner in the 1.35 m CSI2* class on Mayspring.

Dan is a regular competitor at Keysoe and holds training shows, demonstrations and teaches at his yard.

Dan was Tim Stockdale’s rider for two years and not only is he great at training (and winning), but also has an amazing French accent!

The first of the Wittering Academy Arena Events took place on that same weekend.

We made the best of the weather, which had cancelled dressage the weekend before, but used it to full advantage and built a water jump in the middle of the arena to make it as realistic to cross country as possible.

This was so popular that hopefully next time there will be a bank if there aren’t any downpours.

There is training on offer the day before in 20 minute sessions and in the lower class, you could really tell those who had practiced their turns.

It is obviously worthwhile because both Sofia Welch riding Murphy, who won the first 75cm class, closely followed by Megan Crowson with Agnes P, had both had a session the day before.

Becky Wooley jumped an impressive clear round to take the 85cm on Zeno, who was a past Young Event Horse winner with Piggy French. Kate Watson was one second slower to take second spot in the class on Tucker.

The bigger 1m class saw newcomer Jo Roberts victorious riding Mickey and Lauren Dolby took second spot on CJ, who is enjoying having some success after having some unscheduled holiday!

It’s not too late to join in the action though as there are two more competitions to go at Wittering – why not have a go as there is the chance to win some great prizes in the league competition, sponsored by Spillers.

Christmas time is notoriously centered around time off and stuffing yourself full of food, even for us horsey folk, with the emphasis very much on having a bit of fun with our four-legged friends and also training to get ourselves ready for the next season.

If you want to get out and about but are struggling to think of things to do in the frosty weather, you could always try popping down to Halefield Stud at Wood Newton for one of their regular training shows.

Their training shows are held every Tuesday afternoon from 12.30pm to 5.30pm, and you can go and jump two rounds under the watchful eye of Matt Lanni in their lovely warm frost-free indoor school.

Not only will you get a break from the weather, but it also only costs £20 for your session and you don’t have to book in advance!

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