Active Magazine // July 2013 by Active Magazine

Croft, Flintoff, Tufnell, Harmison Top sports stars talk to us about the Lions and the Ashes ISSUE 13 // JULY 2013

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

ISSUE 13 // JULY 2013

W HY DON’T ?to YOwU ays

Great entertain kids this summer

GEt that pErfEct SUmmEr bodY

WaLkInG and rUnnInG

Easy exercises for that pre-holiday tone up

Stamford, Easton-on-theHill and the Luffenhams

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at a pUSh Beer, a board and coins-why push penny is the perfect pub game

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Editor’s Letter WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF THE OLYMPICS? A year on, Sport England has tried to put it into ﬁgures and has had mixed results. It found that 15.3 million people are playing sport once a week, every week, which is 1.4 million more than in 2005 when London won the bid, but when the last set of ﬁgures were published in December 2012 they showed 750,000 more people playing sport than the previous year. Six months on a growth of 530,000 has been maintained from last summer, so there has been some drop off. Although I think we can blame a miserable winter and ridiculously cold spring for some of that drop. Anecdotally, having spoken a lot to local clubs about the issue, there has been a surge in interest in the last 12 months, but to keep this momentum up we need heroes to inspire kids. Unfortunately, after a brief effort on some other sports, the national media has returned to its obsession with football. Open any newspaper or internet sport site and our winter sport dominates throughout the summer, too. I’ve nothing against football, but its record of producing inspirational national heroes of a calibre to match Sir Bradley Wiggins or Nicola Adams is pretty average. Perhaps that’s just the result of being a team sport we’re not very good at. Hopefully though, the next generation will be inspired by our Ashes cricketers this summer. Maybe Stuart Broad or Joe Root will be the hero? Or perhaps it will be David Warner or Michael Clark? We’ve asked local cricketers, and some others including Tuffers and Freddie Flintoff, for their thoughts in this issue. Enjoy the issue.

Publisher Chris Meadows chris@theactivemag.com Editor Steve Moody steve@theactivemag.com Deputy Editor Rich Beach rich@theactivemag.com Production Editor Julian Kirk julian@theactivemag.com Art Editor Mark Sommer mark@theactivemag.com Contributors Martin Johnson, William Hetherington, Dean Cornish, Jon Tyrrell, Alexa Cutteridge, Sandie Hurford, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth Photographers Nico Morgan Jonathan Clarke Harry Measures Production Assistant Abigail Sharpe Advertising Sales Rachel Meadows rachel@theactivemag.com Accounts Amy Roberts accounts@theactivemag.com Active magazine, The Grey House, 3 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG. Tel: 01780 480789 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 Printed in the UK by Warners Midlands plc. 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. Registration company number 7994437. VAT number 152717318

Disclaimer

Thanks, Steve

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Copyright (c) Grassroots Publishing Limited (GPL) 2013. 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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CONTENTS

Issue 13 /// July 2013

NEWS 11 I GET BACK TO NATURE

Enjoy leisurely nature rides at Rutland Water

15 I LUFFENHAM HEATH HONOURED

Club to host qualifying round for The Open

16-19 I ALL-STAR CRICKET

McFly’s Harry Judd hosts star-studded match at Uppingham

HEADS UP 20-21 I KITBAG

All the best gear and gadgets

23 I MARTIN JOHNSON

If you’re an Aussie, this won’t make enjoyable reading...

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FEATURES 24-29 I A LION AND A TIGER

We catch up with Leicester Tigers’ Tom Croft ahead of him ﬂying out to tour with the Lions in Australia

30-35 I SUMMER FUN

Dreading the thought of keeping the kids occupied during the summer holidays? Help is at hand with our guide

38-43 I GET BIKINI FIT

Not looking forward to getting into your swimsuit by the pool. Follow our advice and tone up in time

REGULARS 44-45 I HEALTH AND BEAUTY

The latest advice to help you feel ﬁtter and healthier

48-49 I GREAT WALKS

Will Hetherington heads out to The Luffenhams

50-51 I COURSE NOTES

Our golf course review team head to Rutland Water GC

53 I SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

Dean and JT try out the Buddha Lounge in Stamford

55 I GREAT RUN

Alexa Cutteridge tries a run from Stamford to Easton

56-59 I SCHOOL SPORT

Our focus on the latest achievements from local pupils

60-65 I ROUND-UP

How clubs in the Stamford and Rutland area are getting on

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In Play

And they’re off... Rutland Water hosted the Dambuster triathlon in June. Nick Dunn won the men’s event and Eloise Du Luart the women’s race

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Photography: Mark Epton (www.revolutionimages.co.uk) ///

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In Play

Pain and Suffering Competitors set off for the first running of The Suffering 10k obstacle race at Rockingham Castle.

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News

Rutland Water nature rides Join Rutland Cycling and the Wildlife Trust on leisurely rides and learn about the local wildlife IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE less action in your cycling activity, then why not join one of Rutland Cycling’s nature rides around Rutland Water where you can visit the osprey breeding programme and learn about the work undertaken on the nature reserve? Rutland Cycling has partnered once again with the Wildlife Trust to offer nature loving cyclists a leisurely group ride to the Lyndon Visitor Centre, from the Giant store in Normanton (about three miles), where they will be able to learn about the ospreys and other wildlife and watch video footage of the ospreys. There will also be the opportunity to cycle down to the main hide to see the ospreys in Manton Bay, who are already busy rearing their chicks. There are three rides this summer, starting on Sunday, June 23, again on Tuesday, July 16 and a final ride on Monday, August 5. Each ride will start at 10am, including an hour and a half stop at the reserve before a gentle trundle back to Normanton in time for lunch (10am-1pm approximately). The cost of the ride will be £10 (includes bike hire should you require a bike) and is payable via credit or debit card at the Giant store.  Places are strictly limited so book ahead to avoid disappointment. Register your interest by emailing rides@rutlandcycling.co.uk

Above

A group prepares to head off on one of the popular nature rides

Improve your MTB skills YOUNG MOUNTAIN BIKERS looking to improve their skills should get themselves up to Fineshade woods this summer holiday, where Rutland Cycling will be running an MTB skills course every Saturday from July 27 to August 31. Rutland Cycling’s marketing co-ordinator, Kerry Rough, says the course “aims to target semi-sporty young people that might not ordinarily seek out sporting opportunities”. The course will be run by a certified CTC (national cycling charity) Trail Mountain bike leader and will take place on nontechnical trails and tracks at Fineshade, including trail rides and skills sections. The weekly coaching sessions will run twice a day at 9am-12pm and again at 1pm-4pm.  To register your interest, email rides@rutlandcycling.co.uk

ACTIVE SCOTT BIKE WINNER Back in April we teamed up with Rutland Cycling to give away a Scott Speedster 40 road bike, worth £800. The lucky winner is from Ayrshire and found a copy of Active in a Scottish hotel. Stephen Knight (below) entered the competition by correctly answering the question ‘Who founded Rutland Cycling and when?’ Stephen received his bike last week and has already ridden out to the Ayrshire coast.

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News

TaeKwon-Do success Local club goes from strength to strength with six students achieving perfect scores in a grading event THE STAMFORD AND OAKHAM TaeKwon-Do club is celebrating a brace of victories a er a recent grading event in Coventry where six students passed with a 100% pass rate. Leon Grant and Jo Auciello both successfully achieved their 1st Degree Black belts. Jessie Auciello, Chris Park and Imogen Freeborough all passed their interim gradings towards their 2nd Degree Black Belts, and Liam Watkinson was successfully awarded his 3rd Degree Black Belt – an early 18th birthday present for Liam, who was given the privilege of taking the test 10 days before turning 18 due to his dedication to training for the past 13 years. Students under 12-years old are tested in a range of learning patterns from the national curriculum, including self-defence, sparring and a written thesis. They are even tested on the Korean language and, like the adults, have to break a block of wood to pass. Jo Auciello was awarded best thesis award in the adult section, and Jessie Auciello received the award for the highest pass mark of the children’s section, but also had the highest pass for the whole day. The success in Coventry follows a constant stream of awards this year, including 13 medals claimed at the Scottish championships in April by nine students from Stamford, who were selected to form part of the England teams for the Four Nations tournament, where the ladies team returned with Gold. Half of the team was made up of Stamford students Sam Berridge, Emily Reeson and Jo Auciello. Jo Auciello had a particularly good day, bringing back Triple Gold, achieving the top spot in all disciplines – Patterns, Sparring and Destruction. The England Squad will be returning on two occasions to Catmose Sports Centre in Oakham in June and the students are now training for the

Above The Stamford and Oakham TaeKwon-Do club at their recent event in Coventry Right and below Some of the club’s youngsters with their medals

TaeKwon-Do International in Coventry in July and the World Championships in London in August, where instructor and former world champion Richard Auciello plans to compete again.  The club is currently taking on new students in both Stamford and Oakham. For more information visit www.tkdclasses.co.uk or call 07771 865373.

Swimming lessons at SES STAMFORD ENDOWED SCHOOLS ARE launching a swim school for local residents starting in September at the Junior School’s indoor pool. The lessons will be tailored to beginners under the Amateur Swimming Association’s (ASA) Learn to Swim Framework, but the school will also cater for technical disciplines such as synchronised swimming, diving and even water polo. Lessons will run in the evenings on weekdays and at weekends, throughout the year. Chris Finch, sports centre manager, said: “Our fully qualified instructors will provide expert tuition to small groups, allowing members to develop quickly and confidently. Badges and certificates will be awarded to motivate the children and reward their achievements.” The school will hold open days on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 18 (4pm-6.30pm) to give everyone the chance to be assessed and enrolled.  For more details call 01780 750050 or email sportscentre@ses.lincs.sch.uk

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Wildcats get gymnastic LOCAL MUSICAL THEATRE school, Wildcats Academy, has launched a new arm to its accredited courses for youngsters with the new GymCats school which aims to teach budding gymnasts beginner and intermediate floor based gymnastics skills. The course, which runs on a Wednesday from St Georges School Hall, Kesteven Road, Stamford, is British Gymnastic accredited and will enable students to work towards their British Gymnastic Proficiency Awards. The awards test children in various areas from the floor gymnastics syllabus and gives students something to work towards. Caz Dolby, owner of Wildcats, said: “GymCats offers the same professionalism as the current Musical Theatre classes, giving parents confidence in sending their children to qualified quality provision. We are looking forward to seeing our GymCats progress through the awards scheme.” Alongside the awards, classes teach core skills such as flexibility, stability and strength. They are run by qualified instructor Julie Halliday who has a wealth of experience teaching gym across the local area.  For more information call 01780 762000 or admin@wildcats-uk.com NE082 Active Mag advert 188wx125h email v1:Layout 1 14/12/12 11:09 Page 1

Save 20% at Active Camping BARNACK COUNTRY CLOTHING’S camping shop, Active Camping, is offering Active readers 20% off all camping gear in store. Here’s three bits of kit from the shop that we’d pick for the month and how much they cost with the discount applied:

Above: Gelert Quick Pitch SS Compact tent, £25.59 Right: Highlander Tranquair Chair, £10.39 Below: Outwell Melamine 16pc Picnic Set, £27.99

Service with excellence.

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www.neneoverland.co.uk sales@neneoverland.co.uk T: 01733 380687

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News

A Testing schedule for Uffington Seven players cycle 500 miles in five days to six Test match venues to raise funds for a new pavilion SEVEN PLAYERS FROM UFFINGTON Cricket Club cycled more than 500 miles in five days, visiting six iconic Test venues, in a bid to raise money for a new pavilion, and ended up live on Test Match Special too. Over the May bank holiday period, the team cycled from Uffington to Lords, and then to the Oval, a er a mammoth 15 hours in the saddle. Then despite torrential rain, high winds, cold temperatures and numerous punctures, the boys battled from London to Birmingham to visit Edgbaston. The next day saw them set out to Old Trafford, Manchester, followed by the trek across the Penines to Leeds, where club secretary John Burton was invited into the Test Match Special commentary box during the live broadcast at the New Zealand Test match to talk to Jonathan Agnew and Michael Vaughan about the remarkable feat. On the final day, the team powered home to Uffington, stopping off at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on the way. Team leader Will Fry said: “At the start of the challenge, I wasn’t sure we’d all make it back. Thankfully, everyone completed the ride, and I’m

Above The cyclists and their support crew arrive back in Uffington a er the marathon five-day fund-raising ride

proud of what everyone has achieved. We owe a lot to the help of the support team (Shelley Burton and Rachel Fry), and also kit sponsors Precision Sports, Rutland Water Cycling and Ian Williams building contractors.”

Burghley announces Cricket Week fixtures BURGHLEY PARK CRICKET WEEK, sponsored by Hindmarch (Stamford) takes place in the first week of July. Starting on Monday July 1, the evening Sixes competition will see local sides battle it out to win the trophy claimed by Yaxley last year. Cricket week has been a Stamford institution since 1894 when the committee meeting to discuss it said ‘it was resolved to have a cricket week either in the last week of July or the first week in August, as can be best arranged. The matches, if possible, to be against Capt. Greville’s XI, M.C.C. and Free Foresters’. The event has grown with the inception of the evening Sixes in 1959, and all-day games on each day, and the organisers expect to see even bigger crowds than the thousands who turned up to watch games last year. The real ale festival in the marquee, sponsored this year by Grange Farm Leisure, will offer up to 20 real ales each day.

All day game fixtures Monday, July 1 Tuesday, July 2 Wednesday, July 3 Thursday, July 4 Friday, July 5

Sixes fixtures

Ex Tempore DS Invitational XI Lincs Gents West Norfolk Leics Gents

July 1 Yaxley v Laxton Park Stamford RUFC v Nassington Oakham v Barnack July 2 Old Oakhamians v Burghley Park Castor v Ketton Newborough v Uffington July 3 Stamford Town v Empingham Uppingham v Ufford First quarter final July 4 Quarter finals July 5 Semi finals and final

The team have raised more than £3,000 so far, and would welcome any further donations to www.sponsor-uffington.co.uk. All proceeds will go to the building of the club’s new pavilion.

MASTERS CRICKET COMPETITION WE’VE GOT TICKETS to give away for the Masters cricket this month, in which an England team including Mark Ramprakash will now take on an All Star XI featuring legends of the game. The organisers had planned to field an Australian Masters XI, but many ex-Aussie stars are staying away from England this summer rather than making the usual trip to the Ashes. The event is taking place at Stamford School on July 26. The first prize is two VIP tickets to the match plus a signed shirt. The runner up prizes are two entry tickets for two people. To enter, answer this question: Where in England will the first Ashes Test be held this summer? The closing date for entries is July 20. Email your answer to: masters@theactivemag.com

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News

The Open comes to Luffenham Luffenham Heath makes history by becoming the first golf club in the area to host a regional qualifying event for The Open Championship Words: Mike Warner

LUFFENHAM HEATH GOLF CLUB made history this month as the first Leicestershire and Rutland venue to host regional qualifying for The Open Championship. The highly-regarded club is one of just 14 across Great Britain and Ireland to host the prestigious event having been selected by golf’s governing body, the R&A, in 2010 following an upgrade and extension. On June 24, as Active went to press, up to 127 players took to the 6,563-yard par-70 course, including Luffenham’s head pro Ian Burnett and assistants Tom and Sam Sharpe. They will be bidding to seal a spot in local final qualifying, which takes place at East Lothian courses Dunbar, Gullane No.1, The Musselburgh and North Berwick on July 2. Further success in that event would secure a place at the 142nd Open Championship and the chance to tee up alongside the world’s best at Muirfield on July 18. “It’s very big for the golf club and golf in the region and we are extremely pleased and proud,” club manager Tim Stephens told Active. “It has generated a lot of interest and we’re honoured the R&A has selected us.” The club, which opened with a match between six-time Open champion Harry Vardon and five-time Open champion James Braid way back in 1911, has been in close contact with the R&A throughout its preparations and while the nerves have increased as the event has drawn ever nearer, Stephens says

everyone has taken it in their stride. “We are comfortable with where we are,” he said. “There are still a few ‘T’s to cross and ‘I’s to dot, but the course will provide a very fair and, hopefully, a very enjoyable test for all of the players.” Players will have every opportunity to get to know the layout with practice sessions scheduled for June 21 and 23. Two ‘divot parties’ will help the greenkeepers ensure the course is in perfect condition for the main event, which get underway at 8am on the Monday in front of what the club hopes will be a decent crowd. “We’ve had a lot of interest and if people want to come along they’re more than welcome. It’s our first time so we don’t know what to expect but hopefully the sun shines and it attracts a crowd.” And having had three years to prepare for this event, Luffenham’s team will have just 12 months to prepare for its return – assuming all goes well, the course will host regional qualifying until 2017. Stephens added: “To have it for five years is a real positive in terms of status and our ability to market the club. “There has been a lot of preparation for this first year but in future we will be able to revert to the plan as I’m confident we’ll do a really good job.” Top: Luffenham Heath’s 18th green could witness plenty of drama when Open Championship regional qualifying is played on June 24 Above: Luffenham Heath’s head pro Ian Burnett will be among the players trying to progress from regional qualifying.

For more information on the event or the club itself, visit www.luffenhamheath.org or call 01780 720205.

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Feature /// All-star cricket

Harry Juddâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charity all-star cricket match

Jeremy Beswick sits watching cricket and chewing the fat with Harmy, Tuffers, Freddie and Harry. A tough day...

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AN UPPINGHAM OLD BOY went back to visit the school last month; unremarkable, one might think. However, when it’s Harry Judd of the band McFly and a former winner of Strictly, then the interest of the area’s teenage girls reaches, well, something of a frenzy. Add in a charity cricket match with Freddie Flintoff, Phil Tufnell, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Mark Foster, Kerry Dixon and Robbie Savage and you can be sure the 2,000 tickets will be sold out before you can say “tango”. So, on a breezy but sunny Sunday a ernoon the school’s first XI got to play against their heroes – in front of a somewhat bigger crowd than the usual smattering of parents. Esse, captain for the day and scorer of an impressive 50, called it “surreal. Walking out to bat in front of all these people and looking up to face Hoggard and Harmison opening the bowling.” Not to mention the ever shy-and-retiring Robbie Savage’s bright yellow boots. The school make a really good fist of it, ending on 251-6 from their 35 overs. One highlight is Hoggard being hit for six and really bending his back for the next delivery – with the same result, to the great amusement of his team mates. As the All-Stars start their innings, I sit down with one of life’s natural number elevens and “I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here” winner, Phil Tufnell. He tips England to win the Ashes 3-1 and the conversation dri s to football “Good I was, le half, number 6”. He’s an Arsenal fan: “Nice to see old Lee here, used to watch him a lot at Highbury”. As Freddie Flintoff’s wicket falls (caught, thereby giving two schoolboys a special memory) he struggles to leave the field through a throng of girls and I’m joined by Steve Harmison, who picks up on the football chat. He’s a devoted Newcastle supporter, and surprisingly (to me, at any rate) a quiet, thoughtful type “There’s a lot of people having a go at Alan Pardew, talking about his job and so on. I think it’s disrespectful”.

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Feature /// All-star cricket

I ask Steve how hard the stars are trying – it must be difficult to judge it sometimes? “You try hard enough. I can see the headlines if I hit a 16-year old on the head or the hand. It wouldn’t be a great day out if a little lad gets carted off. Bowl with a bit of pace, pitch it up”. Then Harry Judd is out and the teenage throng on the boundary becomes a horde. One of their number runs around in circles shouting: “Oh my god! Oh my god!! He actually touched me!!!” Are Steve’s thoughts turning to retirement? “Yes, it’s my last season for Durham. Can’t see me playing much as the type of cricket they play doesn’t suit me. I’d like to get into more media stuff, but not the jungle like Tuffers, I’m terrified of creepy crawlies. Also, I’ve got two le feet so you won’t find me on Strictly.” Who’s the worst player on your side? “The worst?” His somewhat dour face transforms into a beaming smile. “Matthew Hoggard. He’s absolutely useless. Did you see that lad hit him for two sixes? He was really trying with that second ball”. Freddie escaped the pubescent pack and had a chance to freshen up. Is he going to box again, I ask him? “I haven’t even thought about it. I ripped my shoulder out and had surgery two days a er the fight. This is the first time I’ve been able to play cricket since. I’ve been concentrating on moving back North to get my family settled.” His three young daughters are here and they

seem to adore him. How’s the day been so far? “I enjoy it. Obviously you’re not going flat out and I know I can’t play like I used to but you try, to a degree”. What’s next in his career? “I’ve just started a show on Radio 5, but I’ve done some amazing things, travelled the world, but now it’s time to take stock. It’d be good to see the kids grow up, that’s one of the benefits of retirement. I’m pretty chilled to be honest.” He was on the Graham Norton show the other day, trying to explain cricket to Jennifer Lopez. “It’s tough to describe a game that lasts five days and can still be a draw to an American. I’m sure they’d get the 20-20 stuff though – look at baseball, o en nothing happens. I really got on with Graham Norton – he’s brilliant”. And J-Lo? “Er, let’s just say she’s pretty good looking in real life”. By now the All Stars need 20 off the last two overs to win. Harry Judd and I are watching from the roped-off, fan-free section of the boundary. He’s scored 75 and is a surprisingly good, technically correct, batsman. We talk about the real winners today, the two charities: Eyes Alight Appeal and The Teenage Cancer Trust. Earlier I’d been the lucky recipient of a hug from Harry’s brother-in law Rupert, who was brain Above: ex-footballer Robbie Savage, Tuffers and swimmer Mark Foster share a laugh

damaged in a road accident. The Appeal, started by Harry’s wife Izzy, raises money for “giving those undergoing brain injury rehabilitation something to look forward to” so that explains one of Harry’s choices, but why the Teenage Cancer Trust, laudable though it is? “When my best friend was 12 he was diagnosed with cancer, so I do what I can. Did the marathon in support, opened Addenbrookes with Sarah Ferguson,” he says. The trust tries to ensure that young cancer patients are cared for in special units surrounded by others of the same age group. Otherwise o en treated alongside elderly patients at the end of their lives, teenagers can feel incredibly isolated. What’s it like coming back to the old place? Harry says: “I know how fortunate I was to be here. I absolutely loved it. Le a year early because of the band. The other guys just couldn’t understand why I missed school – they all hated theirs. It’s been 10 years but it really does feel just like yesterday I was here.” Was he a model pupil then? I know he played for the first X!. “I was a bit cheeky. I was the Marmite kid – the teachers either loved me or hated me.” All the team are together now, genuinely engaged and willing their last batsmen to succeed, but Uppingham hold firm, winning by six runs. As I leave the VIP area two girls run up. Do they

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WHO WILL WIN THE ASHES? We asked cricketing stars and local club captains for their predictions on the upcoming series PHIL TUFNELL It won’t be as straightforward as people think, but we’re a better side than them at the moment. Especially the batting line up. 3-1 to England I reckon. We’ve got the Champions Trophy coming up as well. England stand a reasonable chance – semi-final or something like that. STEVE HARMISON Over five tests? I think the only way Australia can win is if they get off to a great start. Win the toss, bat first and put 400 on the board would be the ideal platform. Show the English people they can come over and compete, then Australia will have a chance. In 2005 the one thing we le Lords with was a real belief we could win because we could bowl Australia out twice. But, the amount of times each team gets 400 on the board will be key. The difference is England have got it in them to do that three times, Australia only once. That’s why I’m saying 3-1 to England.

From top down: Robbie Savage bowling; the Uppingham 1st XI and Harry Judd All-Star XI pose with the umpires before the match; One of the Uppingham batsmen returns to the pavillion

FREDDIE FLINTOFF England are good. There’s competition for places which always helps. I can’t see it going any other way than England winning, unless they play really poorly or Australia play out of their skins. 3-1 to England. JAI NAIRN Ketton CC captain England to win 3-1 (weather not helping). Cook and Swann pick of the England players, Clarke and Starc pick for Aussies ... FRANK HAYES Ex-England and Lancashire CCC, Oakham School I must admit I haven’t seen an Australian side quite like this one for a while. I don’t recognise half of them and they appear to be at odds and ends. Many of them appear to have flawed techniques and the recent Warner incident seems extraordinary. This might be indicative of some extremely poor management and the selection of the side also appears to be unsatisfactory. However, in the bad old days when most Australian cricketers and indeed

Australian blokes in general could take their fill of Victoria bitter, they had some good sides and perhaps the incident means that they’re going to drink their way back into form and cripple their opposition in the bar. Whatever the case, England have better batsmen, better bowlers, better fielders and they certainly have better techniques. They are selected and managed impeccably. England 3 Australia 0 (But if the weather is fine they could win the lot!) STEVE MOODY Active editor and Uffington CC captain There’s no way Clarke’s back will last five Tests, and if the Aussies lose the first test they’ll collapse like a house of cards because their confidence must be shot a er the drubbing in India, especially with England preparing dry pitches that suit Swann’s spin against all their le -handers. Working on the theory that weather will intervene once, that’ll be 4-0 to England then. CHRIS MEADOWS Active publisher and Burghley Park CC captain 3-1 to England, allowing one match to be lost to the predictably wet British summer. The Australians, even as below par as they seem to be at the moment having lost convincingly to India recently, are always a danger. But England have a great squad. Cook will play a pivotal role with the bat, and with the likes of Trott and new boy Root the Australians will have to bowl well. That could be a problem, not having bowlers of old like Lee or Warne that could change games, whereas England have Anderson, Swann and local boy Broad. The only character in the Australian side seems to be David Warner, who will no doubt have to overcome the sledging following his misdemeanour in Birmingham. It’s nervy times, too for skipper Michael Clarke as he’s suffered from a back injury recently, and even if he’s fit enough to play will he manage to play all five tests?

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Feature /// Gear

Kitbag

Got the idea, but no gear? Here’s some great sporting stuff to spend your hard-earned on Sailcloth holdall These great barrell kit bags are made from genuine Bainbridge woven sailcloth, so they’re sturdy as well as stylish. They’re available from Stamford’s new men’s gi shop, Digby & Gunn, who also sell sailcloth wash bags from the same range, amongst other interesting gi s. The large bag has a 75-litre capacity, while the smaller size holds 43 litres. Both feature a handy grab handle on one end. Price: medium - £26, large - £42 Contact: Digby & Gunn, 01780 754296

Binachi Oltre XR Musto Buckden shooting boots Shoot in style with these waterproof and breathable leather boots from Musto. Featuring a hard-wearing Vibram sole, these boots will remain comfortable all day long, made even more so thanks to a tapered and curved double layered leather upper. A full length waterproof zip keeps water out and makes slipping them on and off a quick affair. Price: £249 with boot trees (down from £324.99) Contact: Barnack Country Clothes: www.barnack.co.uk

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This super-trick road bike is the Oltre XR from Bianchi and it’s one of the best racers you can buy, as campaigned in the Tour de France by the Vacansoleil-DCM team. Constructed using carbon fibre sheets formed from nanotubes, this is one incredibly responsive and super light frame that manages to offer a level of compliance due in part to its ultra-thin seat stays. With its carbon wheel set, it weighs just 6.9kg. But best of all it uses the amazing Campagnolo Super Record EPS electronic gear shi system, just like the pro team’s bikes. Now available to test ride at Windmill Wheels, Oakham. Price: £9,500 Contact: Windmill Wheels, Oakham www.windmillwheels.co.uk

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KTM Revelator Master 3F This bike from KTM shows all the hallmarks of quality synonymous with the brand’s motorised offerings (KTM have actually been making push bikes since the ’60s). The super light carbon frame set with its chunky Pressfit bottom bracket makes for a stiff and responsive powerhouse of a chassis topped off with an exceptional lightweight Mavic aero wheelset that feature aluminium, bladed spokes for increased performance. Drivetrain and braking mechanics are dealt with by Shimano Ultegra components, making for one serious-minded road bike package. Price: £2,549 Contact: Gear4cycles, gear4motorcycles.co.uk

Zuuk shoe Is it a shoe or is it a slipper? Perhaps it’s a shlipper. Whatever they are, these lightweight multi-sport shoes can be folded away into rucksack pocket and whipped out at the campsite, park or sports field when you’re feet need a little comfort. The mesh upper keeps your feet cool and the sockliner has anti-microbial properties and moisture management to keep you dry and fresh. And you don’t even need to lace them thanks to the toggle lacing system. Price: £30 Contact: Get Lost in Rutland, Oakham getlostinrutland.co.uk

RadioshackL eopard Trek Elite Aero Jersey Improve your aero efficiency, keep cool and look the business in these pro race fit cycling jerseys. Designed for a perfect fit in the riding position, these jerseys include mesh fabric on the back and mesh Superlight inserts in the armpits for extra ventilation, plus Hexa-channel fabric that wicks moisture away. These are a trim fit, so try on in-store first or go one size up than normal. Price: £54.99 Contact: Rutland Cycling, Whitwell. rutlandcycling.com

Light My Fire meal kit There’s no better way of making sure you eat well at this summer’s outdoor events than filling the Light My Fire outdoor meal kit with your favourite tucker. Great for festivals, picnics and watching films on the grass at the Burghley Film Festival (1-4 August), the kit makes preparing food easy, as well as transporting it, as it includes a combined colander and cutting board as well as two plates, a spill-proof cup, a small pot with lid, and a spork to eat with. Price: £11.96 (reduced from £14.95) Contact: Active Camping, Barnack activecamping.co.uk

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Peterborough Town Sports Club

MONDAY 29 JULY - FRIDAY 2ND AUGUST • 9AM - 5PM Led by fully qualified, CRB checked and First Aid trained coaches, Sports4All will offer children a great opportunity to experience a minimum of three sporting activities each day, develop new skills and make new friends. The week will culminate on the Friday with a Games Day. Children are welcome to attend for all five days or just on selected days of the week. They will need to bring a packed lunch each day, plenty of drinks and a refillable water bottle. Sports4All is open to boys and girls aged between 7 – 15 years.

£100 per child, per week or £25 per child, per day Places are limited so please book early.

5-DAY SUMMER SPORTS CAMP

SPORTS ON OFFER...

HOCKEY CLIMBING WALL SQUASH CRICKET TENNIS FOOTBALL

For more information or to register your child email manager.ptsc@btconnect.com www.ptsc.org.uk Peterborough Town Sports Club Bretton Gate • Peterborough PE3 9UZ • Telephone: 01733 262 202

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Guest column

They’re spoon-fed, forelock tugging wimps, and now we’ll beat them in The Ashes The Sunday Times’ Martin Johnson wonders if Australia has forever lost its machismo... and its cricketing prowess, too

once made the mistake of saying to Mike Gatting that Australia’s victory in the final Test in Sydney in 1987 didn’t matter, as England had already won The Ashes. It would be hard to pin down the precise shade of purple his cheeks turned – Victoria plum comes closest. “Listen” said Gatt, when he’d regained his composure. “You give these @*^”@%s the faintest sniff and you live to regret it. When they’re down, keep ‘em there, because they’ll sure as hell do the same to you.” For the next 20 years, Australia not only kept winning the Ashes, but did so with such a condescending air of arrogance, it was hardly surprising we went over the top after beating them in 2005, with open-topped bus rides and MBEs. That period in between took some getting through, especially during an away series. Their journalists revelled in it, it was one long mickey-take, with a rare honours-even day’s play at the MCG producing the back page headline in the Melbourne Age:“ A Strange Day At The Cricket. England Fails To Collapse.” They also ridiculed the way we kept raiding South Africa to try and find someone who could a) hold a bat and b) had some connection to a second cousin which might qualify them as English. On one occasion we unearthed an Australian who wasn’t good enough for their team, by the name of Martin McCague, which one newspaper reported thus: “The only known occasion of a rat joining a sinking ship.” I mention all this because Australia found themselves going into the 2013 Ashes series in such a stage of disarray that there was every danger of people starting to feel sorry for them. To which I say, and I think I can safely speak on behalf of Mike Gatting, David Gower, Ian Botham, and one or two others: “Don’t even think about it.” You wonder, though, quite what is happening to the Australian cricket team and it is difficult not to equate it with what is happening to Australia itself. This once pioneering country, where jolly swagmen resourcefully panned for gold underneath a coulibah tree, and anyone who couldn’t drink 10 pints of Fosters in half an hour was a big sheila’s blouse, has now become the nannying centre of the universe.

Drive for 1,000 miles down an Australian highway at 55mph, and how many times do you think you’ll be overtaken? None. Because they all obey the speed limit. Up at the golf club, there’s a shoe cleaning machine, with a sign saying “Warning! Danger of Death!” Underneath is a list of four different ways of injuring, or killing yourself, with the nozzle. And if you survive that, and head off to the cricket, you can’t sit down without an electronic scoreboard issuing instructions on how to negotiate a tip-up seat without ending up in A&E. They’re still making Foster’s advertisements, for UK consumption, in which Australian males are portrayed as free-spirited, pioneering, jack the lads, but the sad truth is that they are now a nation of spoonfed, forelock tugging wimps. It would be interesting to get the thoughts of people like Jeff Thomson and Allan Border on the “characters” in the Australian dressing room, but you wouldn’t be able to print them. It all started with Homeworkgate, when one of these off the wall coaches they employ got hot under the collar when several players failed to fill in some questionnaire. And then we had the David Warner business in a Birmingham boozer, when he took a swing at England’s Joe Root. In keeping with his form with the bat, he almost missed, with just a faint mark coming up on Hotspot. And this was the bloke (touted as a future Australian captain would you believe) who had just been fined for some juvenile rant on Twitter at two Australian journalists. The nightclub business earned him a ban, but it wasn’t imposed by the tour manager, or the coach, or the captain, or a committee of all three , but by an Australian judge via a video link. Begging two questions. Firstly, what’s the point of having a tour manager? And secondly, is this another example of the State demanding a say in everything? Maybe, in that case, the Australian government should be concerned enough – given that their only batsman scoring runs, captain Michael Clarke, continues to be plagued by back trouble – to adopt the same approach as Neville Chamberlain in 1939. “I am speaking to you from the cabinet room in Canberra. We informed the Australian chiropractor than unless we heard from him by 11am that Michael Clarke was fit to play all five Tests, a state of anxiety would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such assurance has been received, and that, consequently, this country is about to be stuffed by the Poms.”

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Feature /// Tom Croft

THE LION AND THE TIGER

Tom Croft learnt his rugby at Oakham and Leicester, and is now on his second Lions tour. Jeremy Beswick caught up with him before he left for Australia Photography: Tiger Images

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New from September 2013

The Stamford Swim School Classes for children and adults, from learners to competitive swimmers • Open to all • Small group sizes • Competitive pricing • Fully qualified instructors • Badges and certificates awarded • Weekday evenings and weekends throughout year • Structured progression in ASA ‘Learn to Swim’ framework • At Stamford Junior School’s 20m indoor pool – easy access and parking

For more details please contact us on 01780 750050 or email sportscentre@ses.lincs.sch.uk w. ses.lincs.sch.uk

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Be a happy CAMPER. Don’t be afraid to get lost!!

Camp. Walk. Run. Cycle. Swim.Golf.

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BE THE ADVENTURE.

Sizzle the Sausages. Summer. Bike Hire. Explore. Relax. Drink. Laugh. Unwind. Enjoy Rutland. Fish the waters; tee off the green and feel the wind on your face sailing. Be outdoors, exercise and

enjoy the family. Enjoy Style and Function.

Comfort Simplify your life if only for a short time

Be truly happy and camp. Visit Get Lost in Rutland for all your camping accesories and

outdoor clothing for the great outdoors

Rutland Village, Ashwell Road, Oakham, Rutland LE15 7QN Open 7 days a week Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 10-4

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LY JU N SO ALE A S SE D ENT I M T

Feature /// Tom Croft

imeline: April 2012, Harlequins’ Stoop Ground, Twickenham. Leicester Tigers’ Tom Croft has been injured tackling Nick Easter. Surrounded by medical staff immobilising him, he’s laying on the ﬂoor and about to be taken to hospital – an occupational hazard for a blindside ﬂanker. What he doesn’t yet know is that he has a triple fracture of a vertebra and his condition is serious, very serious. Paralysis is a likely prognosis. Crucially, Tom is operated on by world class surgeon Peter Hamlyn, who makes an incision in the rear of his neck, removes the shattered vertebra and inserts several screws and a metal plate. Months of wearing a head brace 24 hours a day follow, and even “washing my hair hurt”. Just eight months later he returned for the Tigers and then, to a heartfelt standing ovation, came off the bench for England against Italy. The fairytale continued with the announcement of his inclusion in the Lions squad for the tour to Australia. Tigers’ director of rugby Richard Cockerill, not a man given to hyperbole, calls his comeback “nothing short of remarkable”. Yet you can tell Tom’s tired of being asked about it, when we went to speak to him ahead of the Lions tour. “I’ve moved on. There’s so much metal in my neck that it’s probably the strongest part of my body now. So, no long-term implications to

worry about – apart from a lifetime of setting off airport metal detectors,” he jokes. Tom is one of Oakham School’s golden generation that included Lewis Moody and Stuart Broad, who remains a mate. When Tom was picked again for the Lions he tweeted his congratulations, adding that he’d taught him all he knew. Tom’s keen to set the record straight: “Total rubbish. I taught him how to bowl!” How important was the school in his development as a player? “Absolutely huge. The decision to move to Oakham was partly rugby related, partly academic. Mr Welch was the master in charge. I was very raw when I came and they developed me in the right way.” It’s touching – and typical of his modesty – that when I mention another two of his teachers he can’t bring himself to repeat their forenames, referring respectfully to them both as Mister. Were the standards demanding? “I remember I went straight into the ﬁrst team and my opening match was against Notts High. We won 50-something to nil and I reckoned we’d done well. Not a bit of it – we got a right b*******g from the head coach afterwards for not being good enough.” Was it always rugby for him or did he, like a lot of top sportspeople, excel in other areas? “No, it was always rugby for me. In the summer I played a bit of hockey, got into the third team at cricket, and did some athletics. Mostly ﬁeld events as I was too lazy to go running. Oakham’s a great school. Work hard, play hard. As long as you do that they’re pretty relaxed about

‘WE WON 50-SOMETHING TO NIL AND I THOUGHT WE’D DONE WELL. NOT A BIT OF IT – WE GOT A RIGHT TELLING OFF FOR NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH’

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Ashwell Road Oakham Rutland LE15 7QH

Equine Hospital, Referral Centre and Equine Fertility Services We are a long established equine hospital with purpose built facilities and an extensive range of diagnostic equipment. As a clinical associate of the University of Nottingham Vet School we benefit from their specialist staff who work alongside our experienced veterinary surgeons and nurses. Together they provide the highest level of veterinary care and expertise as required by our RCVS Tier 3 hospital status. A complete equine veterinary service is available from routine yard visits to specialist diagnostics and surgery.

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Equine: 01572 722647

Feature /// Tom Croft everything else, but we did get into a bit of trouble making our own versions of the Jackass films” (The remainder of Tom’s answer has been redacted on the grounds of good taste). Our conversation is happening a stone’s throw from the Tiger’s training ground, before getting on a plane to meet up with the Lions. Is he ready? “I’m getting there, I’m happy with the way it’s going. It’s my close game I need to improve on.” I tentatively point out (very tentatively – he’s a big lad) that you could say that was the case even before the injury. Fortunately for me he laughs: “Nothing really changes, I’ll probably be told to improve my close grappling until I retire. Maybe when I get older and my pace starts to go I’ll have to concentrate on that more.” The win in the Aviva Premiership final against local rivals Northampton Saints was the Tigers’ ninth final in a row, and the 10th league title, and Tom is proud of the title. “It’s a great record but if you look deeper the last two finals have been deeply frustrating. We’ve enough boys involved this time who’ve felt that disappointment and we didn’t want that to happen again.” Yet was difficult to blot out the Lions tour for this game? He’s emphatic. “Very easy. This game is far too big. This as all about the Tigers, it’s what we’ve played for all season. The Lions wait until Sunday, on the Saturday it was all about Leicester”. We can rest assured Tom was delighted with the 37-17 win in the controversial and

compelling game that followed. It was not without personal drama either, the crowd seeming to hold its collective breath as he was up-ended in a line out, falling heavily to the ground head-first. Luckily those screws held… Competition for starting positions with the Lions will be as fierce as ever, but Tom has impressed in the warm-up matches, scoring a try on the stroke of half time in the 69-17 victory against Western Force before being concussed after a clash of heads (you kind of need to watch him from behind your hand sometimes). He added another try with a great finish in the match against the Waratahs. Whether he will make the starting fifteen remains to be seen, but knowing him I wouldn’t bet against this fairytale, which began with a nightmare, having a happy and glorious ending. As they say in the theatre, break a leg Tom. But nothing else please.

‘IT WAS ALWAYS RUGBY FOR ME... I DID SOME ATHLETICS AT SCHOOL, MOSTLY FIELD EVENTS AS I WAS TOO LAZY TO GO RUNNING’

FACT FILE FULL NAME Thomas Richard Cro BORN November 7, 1985, Basingstoke EDUCATION Oakham School AGE 27 MAJOR TEAMS British and Irish Lions, Leicester Tigers, England TIGERS DEBUT 2007 POSITION Back row HEIGHT 6 5 in WEIGHT 16st 7lb ENGLAND CAPS 38

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Feature /// Summer fun

WHY DON’T YOU?

With the summer holidays approaching, are you worrying about how to keep the kids entertained? Here’s some great ideas of fun things to do... Words Steve Moody

A terrarium is a completely self-supporting ecosystem, where the plants replenish the air with oxygen, sunlight provides the light and power, and water comes from moisture in the soil. As the dead leaves fall off, they decompose and provide food for the soil. You’ll need a clear glass container with a wide neck to allow your hand in, small stones or gravel, activated charcoal (from a pet store), potting soil, a small sponge, a piece of screen, mesh, or cheesecloth, and plants or moss. Select your plants. They should be small, like shade, and not grow too fast or too tall. Put the gravel in, sprinkle a small amount of activated charcoal on top and cover with a piece of screen with a slit cut in the middle. Slice the sponge to one third of an inch wide and stick it in like a candle between the slit in the screen and anchor it in the gravel. The sponge will bring moisture up to the plant roots. Cover with potting soil and place your plants in them, packing the soil loosely around them. Then spray your plants with water and cover.

like, depending on the size of bubble you want. Pour bubble solution into a shallow baking pan, and holding one straw in each hand, leave the string hanging slack between them. Dip the straw-and-string loop into the solution, then lift it out slowly, taking care not to break the ﬁlm of bubble solution. Pull the straws apart until the string is taut, then hold the bubble ﬁlm in front of a fan or the wind and watch a giant bubble take shape!

Geocaching

If your kids complain about going on long, boring walks, try Geocaching to liven things up. Download co-ordinates from websites such as www.geocaching.com and head out to ﬁnd the caches. There are loads of sites located all around Rutland, but you’ll need the App on your mobile phone or a GPS device in order to get out and about and ﬁnd them. CULTURA CREATIVE / ALAMY

Build a terrarium

Make giant bubbles

Nothing beats bubbles so big you could almost jump in them, and you can easily make a contraption to do it. You only need string, two drinking straws, bubbles and a baking pan. Thread a length of string through two straws, and tie the ends together to make a loop. Leave as much slack string between the straws as you

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TAPLIGHT / ALAMY

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BUR_FilmFestival_FlyerDL_ART#5 Holly draft_A5 15/05/2013 14:04 Page 1

BURGHLEY 1- 4 AUGUST Four days of fabulous films from Bond and The Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Speech to children's favourites...

WWW.BURGHLEY.CO.UK

Feature /// Summer fun This game can be played indoors or outdoors. All you need to do is cut ﬁve or six holes big enough to roll a marble through, of different sizes and shapes (semicircle, triangle, rectangle, etc) in one long side of a shoebox. Write a number between one and 10 above each hole, giving easier holes lower numbers and harder holes higher numbers. The players take turns shooting their marbles one at a time through the holes from a designated spot. If a marble misses, it stays where it lands. If a marble goes through a hole, its owner retrieves it and collects the designated number of marbles from the playing area. The winner is the one with the most marbles at the end.

If that’s not enough then explore the working watermill and play in the indoor activity barn. // Visit www .sacrewell.org.uk

Homemade slip n’ slide

Roll out a tarpaulin or protective sheet (they cost less than £10 at most hardware shops) on the lawn, stake it down, wet it with a hose and add some kitchen soap. Hours of slippery fun!

Press flowers

An old-school activity that still brings hours of fun. On a nature walk with your children collect assorted wildflowers and leaves, take them home and put them into a flower press, or a heavy book. After about a week your child will have pressed flowers and leaves to use in craft projects or to put into frames. WEESTOCK IMAGES / ALAMY

Marble arcade game

Angry Birds water balloons

Annoyed when your kids are inside playing computer games and it’s sunny outside? Why not play a more active version of Angry Birds. You will need some water balloons, a permanent marker and some washable chalk. Draw your designs on the ballons, ﬁll with water and then draw your pigs on paving slabs. Perhaps you could even add in some obstacles to throw past.

Feed the animals

STEPHEN SHEPHERD / ALAMY

Feed the friendly animals, hop on the bumpy tractor ride, make friends with the baby lambs, meet the shire horses and say hello to Jolly Joules and Dicky Mint the donkeys at Sacrewell Farm.

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Active USSC Quarter page 18.6.13:Layout 1 18/06/2013 15:43 Page 1

SUMMER

OPEN DAY Sunday 21st July 10.00am - 4.00pm

NO JOINING FEE for memberships if you sign up on the day Plus, try our tennis tasters, cardio tennis and adult matches with prizes to be won.

www.sportscentre.uppingham.co.uk E: ussc@uppingham.co.uk T: 01572 820830

Feature /// Summer fun

Frozen rescue

Want a cheap way to cool kids down and entertain them for an hour or two? Fill a container (metal cake tins work well) with small toys and objects. Fill with water and freeze. A three inch cake tin takes just a couple of hours to freeze completely. Once solid, turn upside down and run warm water on the back of the container until the block of ice comes loose. Use a small hammer to crack the ice open. Once the kids get a nice crack going, the rest breaks apart easily and they can spend time trying to ﬁnd ways of releasing the toys.

Try fly fishing

On July 14, Rutland Water Fly Fishers have a junior day (for 10 to 17 year olds) where they can ﬁnd out more about the sport. Entry fee is £15 and that includes boat and tackle hire, lunch, free club membership and some tuition too. // Visit www.rwff.org.uk

Learn to sing and act

Inspired by the TV programme, Glee Week at Uppingham Summer School is a week of singing, dancing and movement that culminates in a high-energy show in Uppingham Theatre in front of parents and friends on the ﬁnal afternoon. The drama week From Page to Stage is ideal for budding thespians, whilst Total Music Powerhouse is just the thing for aspiring rock musicians. The ever popular and long running Young Musicians’ Week is being augmented this

year by the new Chamber Music Weekend, aimed at more advanced classical musicians. // Visit www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk or call 01572 820800.

Make gloop

Kids love making a mess, and gloop is great fun. You will need a tray with sides, cornflour, water, food colouring and glitter. Put some cornflour in your tray and add some water. You will need to play around with amounts, and mix it together until you get a very thick milkshake consistency. Then add some food colouring to it or glitter to make it more fun too. You can build it up to make a tower, but as soon as you pick it up it runs like water through your fingers!

Hone your sporting skills

Uppingham Summer School’s Festival of Sport incorporates four days of hockey, netball, tennis and rugby coaching. It is aimed at all levels from

beginners right through to county standard players, and is the ideal pre-season training opportunity or chance to brush up on new skills before returning to school. There will be the opportunity to ‘mix-andmatch’ too, for any children who might wish to do one sport for two days and another sport for the remaining two days. // Visit www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk or call 01572 820800.

Paint a pot

Is your child the next Picasso? Then get them down to Pots of Fun in Stamford. They don’t need to be a budding artist though to enjoy themselves and there is always someone on hand to give tuition. Once you’ve paid the one off studio fee of £3.75 per painter, you then choose the ceramic piece to paint (which are individually priced), sit down and start to paint. Once done, the masterpiece will be glazed and ﬁred ready for collection in 7-10 days. It’s a great idea for kids parties. The studio has a café too offering tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes. // www.potsoffunstamford.co.uk

GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS OF YOUR OWN? If you’ve come up with some great ways to entertain kids this summer, then why not share them with others on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/ theACTIVEmag. We’d love to hear your ideas!

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Feature /// Push penny

The money game Traditional pub games are dying out, but in Stamford the sport of push penny is thriving thanks to a host of champion players Words /// Photography: Rich Beach

sually when I’m pushing pennies around on a pub table it’s because I’m counting pocket change to see if I can afford another ale. But tonight I’m pushing pennies around for another, more sporting reason: I’m learning push penny with the Jolly Brewer league... It was a couple of months ago, on their regular Tuesday evening meeting, when I ﬁrst saw this group of men turn up in the pub with their slick-topped wooden boards under their arms and a handful of smooth-faced coins. I watched as they played, punting these large old pennies up the board and chalking off tallies down both its sides. What are the rules? Where do you get those big coins? Who’s winning? I had so many questions. Tonight they were answered. Bob started playing shove ha’penny on highly polished slate boards back in the ’60s. “That’s why I’m used to a fast board,” he tells me. He’s

been playing push penny since 1977 and has been playing with Ian for the last 20 years. “Because he’s an old fart,” laughs the third member of the team, Karl, who joined the boys about five years ago. Bob and Ian kick off the first game while Karl chalks the scores and adjudicates over play. They’re more than happy for me to join them and seem touched that someone has taken such interest in their sport. They begin play with a three-way commentary. The first thing I learn is how every board is different and has its own characteristics, which can affect play in various ways, and every team or league around the country probably has its own rules. I like it already. Surely that affords a certain degree of creative licence in scoring decisions. “The thing is,” Bob tells me, “when you play away, the home team have the final say, as you have to play using their board and their rules. Things used to get quite tense.” So what are the rules? Well, in this pub at least, you have three pennies per go and the aim

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Bob and Karl during a game of push penny. The game looks simple, but isn’t, and involves a great deal of skill

is to hit them up the board and land each between the lines, in the areas called ‘beds’. There are nine beds and you must land three coins in each bed, meaning you have 27 scores to finish. The first to finish wins. Simple. “Here, have a go,” Ian offers. I take up position as a right-handed player and tap the coin with what I consider to be a gentle touch. It flies up the table like a clay pigeon out of a trap. Control is clearly key. But angles and knowledge of the board are also crucial. On the second game I notice how perfectly Ian scuttles one coin diagonally up the board and it stops in one bed as if there was a concealed magnet beneath the board. “If you play against the grain,” Ian says, “diagonally across the board, the coin slides slower. Also, with years of use, the middle of the board is smoother than the edges, so if you aim for the edge you have a better chance of it stopping where you want it.” It seems there are deeper intricacies to the game than first appears. So it’s ambiguously governed and sneaky, too. Show me more... By this point – about half past ale number three – it had become clear that Ian wasn’t fluking every victory. “He’s a six-time world champion,” Karl reveals. “And he’s in training

now for next month’s world championships here in Stamford.” Time to get some training from the champ then. “Do you do any trick shots?” I joke, sort of. “They’re all trick shots,” he says. “Watch...” There are three different weights of coin. Ian positions the heaviest at the table’s edge and punts it with the fat part of his palm, but at a slight angle. It stops just short of a bed, straddling a line by just a few millimetres. “Ooh, unlucky,” I say. He lines up the next coin, the lightest, and taps it towards the first. It hits its target and, as the first is heavier, bounces backwards and lands bang in the middle of a bed. But the heavier coin is also nudged with millimetre perfection into the next bed up. Two scores, one coin to go. “That first coin, the heavy one you send first, is called the ‘lay’,” Ian explains. “Yeah, and at our age it’s the only lay you get!” laughs Bob as he drains the bottom of his glass. Ian then explains that he’s going to put some spin on this last coin. Just like a snooker shot, the coin hits the lay and recoils back, more than the last and, again, landing right between the lines. The white chalk tallies are filling the board’s edge.

Once Ian has won another game, he shows me another example of the beneﬁts of knowing your board. He lines up another coin, palms it and it stops dead, almost suddenly, within a bed. “If you look closely at the board,” Ian says, “you’ll see a join.” The line is almost imperceptible, but it’s there. “This board is made from two pieces of wood, and if you aim for that join you can get it to stop right on it.” Sneaky. Flipping one of the shiny coins over reveals the smooth, highly polished surface, which has had its face sanded off using aluminium glass paper. At the coin’s edge there is a slight bevel, which helps the coin glide better and keeps it from digging in. The boys each had their own sets, personally conditioned by their hand, carefully wrapped in cloth and secreted in small carry boxes as if they were precious medals. Ian’s winning pattern remains consistent and his chances in the championship look pretty good from where I’m standing. However, it seems there are a number of great players in Stamford, hence the world championships being hosted here. “There are more champions in Stamford than in any other UK town,” I’m informed by Paul, a late arrival, and the club’s secretary. Paul’s also been playing for decades, but fears for the future of the sport, and for all traditional pub games. “When I was young all the pubs in Stamford had a push penny board. I got married in 1977 and needed a reason to get out the house! I used to go and play down The Vaults. Now I see they have a knitting league there... “The worry is that pub sports are dying out,” Paul says. “We’re struggling to keep push penny alive. When I was young pub games were in every pub. These (points to a dart board) took up a lot of my time as a youth. There used to be a petanque league in the summer around here. Not sure if that’s still going.” I end the evening pushing pennies around on the bar, to see if I have enough for a last pint. “There’s no new blood coming into the sport,” Paul tells me. “No young people to carry it on in the future.” I’m no spring chicken, I think to myself, but I’m two generations ahead of these guys. “I’ll see you next Tuesday then fellas,” I say as I pour not enough pennies back into my pocket. And in the meantime, I’m going to track down this petanque league. Or the knitting. Not decided yet...

STAMFORD’S WORLD SERIES The first and second rounds of The Batemans Yella Belly Gold World Pushpenny Championship take place around Stamford on July 2, at The Jolly Brewer, The Lord Burghley, The Hurdler, The Theatre Lounge and Blackstones, with the last eight final on July 9 at The Hit and Miss on Foundry Road.

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Feature /// Bikini fit

GET BIKINI FIT! Personal trainer Judith Ewing has some simple training tips to help you get that perfect summer holiday body

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NIKITA BUIDA / ALAMY

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Feature /// Bikini fit

Bicep curls

// You need to work the front of the arm too, so

some simple curls with your arms in front of you raising up and down will do the trick. // Start with fist clenched and graduate to tins or bottles of water to add weight. Perhaps invest in some weights - three to five kilogram ones would be sufficient to add tone. Perform five times a week.

UPPER BODY STRENGTH Press-ups

// Start with your knees on the floor and lean forward so your weight is over your chest. Lower and raise the chest by bending the arms. // To make it more difficult take the knees off the floor so using your body weight. This is tough but a great exercise. Perform this routine four times a week. IMAGE SOURCE / ALAMY

he time is on us when we are going to unleash our winter bodies to the world at our annual summer holiday overseas. This will hopefully include time in the sun on the beach or around the pool. So how to be body confident when you unbutton on the first day of your holiday? It’s a daunting thought, I know, but is easily remedied with some good preparation beforehand. You need to prepare about two months before your holiday by changing your diet and exercising regularly. Let’s look at some exercises that can get you beach fit. As for repetitions, try as many as you can: work to failure, so you can’t do any more.

ARMWORK

Arms, especially on women, are not displayed much and can be a big worry with the anticipated unveiling on your holiday.

Tricep dips

// The back of the arm can become slack very quickly, so this exercise really does tone up this troublesome part of the arm. Sitting on the ﬂoor with hands facing the body, bend wand straighten the arms with the elbows acting as a hinge travelling backwards. // As you get stronger, take the bottom off the ﬂoor and perform the same - you will be lowering and raising your body weight. // If you are really strong, perform from a raised position such as the bottom of the stairs or sturdy chair. Perform four times a week.

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Feature /// Bikini fit

// The tummy is another area which is rarely on show but some quick fire basic sit ups can change your appearance quickly. // Lay on the floor on your back with legs bent and hands behind your head with elbows out and raise shoulders off floor. You don’t need to come up far and keep your elbows out all the time. // Aim for a maximum of 200 repetitions by the time you go on holiday so start this exercise about three months before you go away. Sounds a lot but you will get strong quickly. Perform four times a week.

The golden rule to lose a bit of weight is no carbs after 5pm. // A couple of weeks before your holiday, if you still want to lose a more weight, take out carbs completely. This should be done for a maximum of two weeks but it really does work. // Finally remember alcohol is loaded with carbohydrates and sugar so maybe change your drinking habits – just drink at the weekend and

not at home in the week. Wine and beer is basically liquid cake and is extremely caloriﬁc, so just cut back. You can enjoy a drink by the pool when you get there! // If you practice these little changes in your exercise and diet you will feel much more conﬁdent and will only be enjoying admiring glances instead of covering up. PHOTOALTO SAS / ALAMY

ABDOMINALS Sit-ups

LEGS

// It is pretty easy to tone up your legs - just try to walk, cycle or jog three to four times a week for around 20 to 30 minutes. Work to your maximum so a brisk walk, not a stroll.

DIET

// Once you have added these exercises, you need to think about your diet. Over the two to three months before your holiday, start cutting back on your carbohydrate intake so for example, have a breakfast and lunch which includes carbs but your dinner should consist of protein only. // So eat meat, ﬁsh and salad and/or vegetables.

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Feature /// Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness

Everything a woman needs to be fit, healthy and fantastic. Edited by Sandie Hurford

TRAVEL NEWS Get an EHIC

Make sure you have the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are travelling to a European Union member country – it will ensure that you have easy access to healthcare in that country. Obtain your EHIC from www.ehic.org.uk, by calling 0845 606 2030 or fill in a pack at the Post Office.

New sunshine oral spray

Vitamin D3 is now available in a convenient flavoured oral spray and just one spray delivers 400mg, the recommended daily amount children need. The lack of sunshine in the UK is contributing to a four-fold rise in rickets, a disease which was thought to be something of the past. Rickets causes so and deformed legs in children and an alarming 25% of the UK population is now at risk. As well as the lack of sun, eating less fish, eggs and liver which contain small amounts of vitamin D and spending more time in front of TV and computer screens are also taking an alarming toll on our childrens’ bone development.

Travel insurance

Holidaymakers with pre-existing medical conditions can now plan a holiday without the stress and hassle of shopping for competitive travel insurance. MedicalTravelCompared. com is the first standalone travel insurance price comparison site created specifically for people with current or past medical conditions. The site has been developed by travel insurance experts in recognition of the particular difficulty those with a pre-existing medical condition and the over 65s can have in securing appropriate travel insurance cover at the right price. MedicalTravelCompared.com offers a list of travel insurance policies and their premiums to cover the relevant medical conditions. Importantly, many of the travel insurance providers on the MedicalTravelCompared. com panel have no upper age limit on single trip policies.

Holiday health A break abroad may be just what you need after a long winter but travel to different environments and climates brings its own risks

EOPLE NOWADAYS ARE OFTEN travelling much further for their holidays and staying away for longer. As well as the usual health hazards, such as accidents, sunburn and tummy upsets, they could be exposing themselves to diseases such as malaria and rabies that can prove serious or even fatal. But there are plenty of safeguards to help protect yourself.

FOOD AND DRINK Many illnesses, including travellers’ diarrhoea, hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera, are contracted through contaminated food and water. Diarrhoea is the most common illness contracted abroad, affecting 20-60% of overseas travellers. You can reduce your risk by following basic guidelines: Water – In countries with poor sanitation, don’t use tap water to drink or brush your teeth unless it has been treated. Filtered, bottled, boiled or chemically treated water should be used. Bottled ﬁzzy drinks with an intact seal are usually safe, as are boiled water and hot drinks made with boiled water. Ice in drinks should be avoided. Food – Some developing countries use animal

waste as fertiliser so certain foods, especially those growing close to the ground, are particularly prone to contamination and should be avoided. Foods to avoid: ■ Salads, such as lettuce ■ Uncooked fruits and vegetables, unless you can wash them in safe water and peel them yourself ■ Fresh or cooked food that has been allowed to stand at room temperature in warm environments, or that has been exposed to ﬂies, such as in an open buffet ■ Unpasteurised milk, cheese, ice cream and other dairy products ■ Raw or undercooked shellﬁsh or seafood ■ Food from street traders, unless recently prepared and served hot on clean crockery Food served even in good-standard hotels or restaurants may not always be safe as it may have been contaminated during preparation. Try to pick places to eat that have a reputation for serving safe foods. As a rule, only eat freshly prepared food that is thoroughly cooked and served very hot. Always wash your hands after going to the toilet and before preparing or eating food.

Staying closer to home

British holidaymakers are generally choosing to take a break in the UK or Europe this year, rather than heading off to more exotic climes. Holiday rental site HomeAway.co.uk reveals that 90% of their top ten 2013 holiday destinations are on home shores and within Europe. Whilst the site offers properties around the world, HomeAway.co.uk believes this new trend for holidaying close to home could be attributed to the uncertain economy, increase in flight costs, having to travel during the school holidays and people simply wanting to drive rather than fly to their destination.

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JUPITERIMAGES

HOLIDAYS CAN HELP YOU LIVE LONGER

DVT AND JET LAG If you think you may be at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), seek advice from your GP. On long-haul flights, get up from your seat to walk around and stretch your legs whenever you can. Compression stockings may reduce the risk of developing DVT. Exhaustion, headaches, disorientation, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, stomach pains and upsets are all symptoms of jet lag, which happens when you cross over time zones and disrupt your biological or body clock. You can help prevent and alleviate some of the symptoms by: ■ Drinking lots of water – dehydration associated with flying makes jet lag worse, so drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, tea and coffee. ■ Sleep – children and babies, who can sleep almost any time, rarely show symptoms of jet lag so if you can sleep through as much of a long-haul flight as possible, your symptoms will be reduced. Get plenty of sleep before you travel too – if heading east, try going to bed and getting up earlier; for westward journeys, try going to bed and getting up later. ■ Wearing sunglasses – Research by the Edinburgh Sleep Centre on behalf of British Airways reveals that people can adjust their body clocks when travelling through different time zones by using sunglasses to alter their light patterns. ■ When you arrive – adjust your watch to the local time as soon as possible and avoid going to sleep until bedtime (local time). ■ Back home – eastbound journeys produce worse jet lag as you ‘lose time’ across zones so if you’re coming from the US or South America, for example, plan to have some days off, at least over a weekend, before returning to work. SUN PROTECTION Skin cancers are caused by damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Protecting the skin from the sun can help prevent these cancers and

Cancer Research UK offers the following SunSmart messages: ■ Spend time in the shade from 11am-3pm. ■ Make sure you never burn. ■ Cover up with a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses. ■ Take extra care with children. ■ Use factor 15+ sunscreen. TROPICAL DISEASES Parts of Central America and South America, central Africa and south-east Asia carry a higher risk for the transmission of malaria and similar diseases, such as yellow fever, dengue fever and tick-borne encephalitis, and you should contact your doctor about vaccinations at least six weeks before departure. Follow your GP’s advice on inoculations or anti-malaria tablets as travel insurance won’t typically cover you for overseas treatment if you neglected to take sensible precautions (like taking your malaria tablets) prior to travelling. Malaria is one of the most common insectborne infectious diseases in the world and approximately 1,750 travellers return to the UK with malaria each year, the majority having acquired it in Africa. Advice from your GP or travel clinic is essential as there are certain regions where mosquitoes have become resistant and the medication is less effective and, for people travelling for longer periods, the medication may also be different. It helps if you can avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and the Department of Health offers the following advice: ■ Wear clothes that cover your arms and legs ■ Use insect repellent ■ Sleep in a room with mosquito screens at the window or under a mosquito net ■ Kill any mosquitoes in the room with a ‘knockdown’ spray If you develop a fever or feel ill while you’re abroad, or for up to three months after you get back, see a doctor immediately. Tell them if you’ve been to a country where malaria is a risk.

A study by tour operator Kuoni and healthcare charity Nuffield Health reveals that holidays can help people live longer. The Holiday Health Experiment, the first of its kind, set out to establish whether the much-discussed ‘feel-good factor’ generated by vacations is based on physical and psychological fact. Participants were divided into a travel group, sent on a holiday for two weeks to Thailand, Peru or the Maldives, and a non-travel group, who stayed at home and continued working. All had stress-resilience testing and a health assessment, carried out alongside psychotherapeutic tests. The experiment found that the holidaymakers benefited from lower blood pressure, improved sleep quality and improved stress management, with the effects continuing for at least two weeks a er returning home. ■ The average blood pressure of the holidaymakers dropped by a beneficial 6% while the average of the non-holidaymakers went up over the same period by 2% (avoiding high blood pressure is important to avert risk of stroke and heart attacks). ■ The sleep quality of the holidaymakers improved while that of the non-holidaymakers deteriorated. Holidaymakers saw a 17% improvement while the average for non-holidaymakers reduced by 14% (quality of sleep is important for the body to physically and mentally repair). ■ The ability to recover from stress (known as the stress-resilience test) saw an average improvement of 29% among holidaymakers. This compared to a 71% fall in stress resilience scores among the non-holidaymakers (the higher the stress resilience score, the better the body is recovering from stress efficiently). Dr Lucy Goundry, of Nuffield Health, said: “For the first time, our clinical results show how holidays helped these couples reduce their blood pressure, improve their sleep and manage their stress levels better. “These results clearly demonstrate that on holiday our resilience to stress improves, which is hugely important as most of us will return back to stress when our holiday ends but being more resilient to it helps lay the foundations for improved productivity at work, better energy levels and ultimately happiness. “As many as a third of workers do not take their full holiday entitlement each year. I urge everyone to ensure they plan their holidays carefully, working hard is important but so is taking time to rest and recuperate.”

ACUPUNCTURE ADVICE Further to our piece on acupuncture last month, and the mention of potential side effects, Julie Devlin of the Broad Street Practice says: “There are, in fact, very few side effects from acupuncture when practised by a fully qualified practitioner. “On its website, The British Acupuncture Council (www.acupuncture.org.uk) says: ‘Any minor side effects that do occur, such as dizziness or bruising around needle points, are mild and self-correcting.’ “Our practitioners are always happy to answer any questions you may have regarding any of the treatments offered.”

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A great style for every occasion come and see

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Feature /// Weddings

Wedding help Need some expertise for the big day? Try these local companies out GLADSTONE CARRIAGES OF OAKHAM Olympic gold medal winner Jessica Ennis chose an Oakham company to ensure her wedding transport was ahead of the pack. Jessica and childhood sweetheart Andy Hill chose Gladstone Carriages of Oakham to supply her bridal car, a stunning old English white 1949 Jaguar MkV. She told the company that she and Andy had decided on a period vintage or classic car when they were teenagers and they fell in love with the car as soon as they saw it. Gladstone’s driver Ron, said she was just like any other young bride: “I arrived at her home a little early, and as I drew up on the drive I saw her peek through the curtains; the next moment she was outside enthusing over the car with her bridesmaids, all in their dressing gowns! It was just delightful. “Her dad Vinney invited me in for coffee and Jessica’s labrador came over and wanted me to make a fuss of him. It was a truly normal family home. When she came out to depart in the car she looked just amazing, wearing an ivory gown with ruffled skirt and floor length veil, and she carried a bouquet of cream and pink roses.” “It was a 20-minute drive to the church and the three of us chatted all the way; all the villages we drove through had people lining the roads with children waving the Union flag. After the ceremony she came out of the church to the sound of the Beatles classic All You Need is Love.” “As we drove off to the reception venue I said: “Congratulations Mr and Mrs Hill,” and she said: “Oh Ron I will have to get used to that, thank you.” “  Why not book Jessica’s car for your own wedding? For details see www.gladstonecarriages.co.uk

MATCHMAKER Matchmaker is located in the centre of Stamford and is your local independent bridal boutique established now for over 30 years. We stock many different dress designers such as Ronald Joyce, White One and Ellis and Romantica bridesmaids. Our prices range from £350 to £2000 for wedding dresses and £135 to £300 for bridesmaids. Matchmakers experienced staff help you at every stage from choosing your dream dress to your fittings and all the alterations are done in house by us so we can alter your dress to suit your specific needs and specifications. We try and create a relaxed environment for you and your family and friends so you can enjoy the experience of choosing your wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses. We are open 10-4 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday  Appointments are always advised although not always necessary, but Saturdays do fill up fast. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call and book an appointment. We look forward to seeing you - 01780 753466, 22 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG.

JONES WEDDING CAR SERVICE Trusted and reliable wedding car business – finalists in the 2013 Mercury Customer Care Awards Our cars are cool in the summer and keep you warm in the winter. Our wedding cars are contemporary stunning silver Chrysler 300Cs in immaculate condition and only used for weddings. Whether it is one or two cars you choose for your special day, you can expect our cars to be freshly valeted inside and outside. All cars are fully air conditioned. We offer a very professional and flexible wedding car service from the initial call/email from our client’s right through to the wedding day and after sales service. We are extremely passionate about providing the very best kind service for our clients with little extra touches such as a seamless and stress free booking process, cars that are in immaculate condition, champagne served in the best cut glass flutes, the cork placed in a silk tote bag with a piece of silver for good luck and presented to the bride and groom, the rolling out of the red carpet for that extra special photograph. Champagne service To add to the pleasure of the day, a champagne service is offered and permits the new husband and wife to rejoice their marriage immediately following the ceremony as opposed to waiting until arrival at the wedding reception venue. Served cooled and in gorgeous champagne glasses, it’s an ideal photo opportunity! Dedicated chauffeur You can expect a professional, experienced and well dressed chauffeur on your special day. The chauffeur will be dressed in a smart dark suit and will arrive in plenty of time before the arranged time, to help ease any nerves. Wedding photography Your chauffeur will be more than happy to help with more than just the driving and will work with your wedding photographer to make sure you get the perfect shoot.

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Feature /// Great walks

The Luffenhams and Morcott

Away from the main roads these peaceful villages offer some stunning views, as Will Hetherington discovers Photography: Will Hetherington THE ROUTE:

You can park in any of these three villages, but we started from South Luffenham so parked on Back Lane, just by the Foss – the stream that runs through the village. From here head north up the road for less than 100 yards and look for the footpath to the left down a track between some houses. Follow the path past a grazing paddock, over the old branch line and through the stables and within a couple of minutes it’s open countryside with lovely views. The path heads west for a mile to Morcott, and it’s an idyllic scene as you approach the village and cross the Foss. If you are used to driving through Morcott on the A47 then you will be surprised by just how peaceful the old part of the village is, with some stunning stone houses to boot. Walk up Church Lane and turn right on to High Street. Then take the next right on to Willoughby Lane, which leads out of the village and towards North Luffenham. From here it’s on the road for less than a mile and a half, the ﬁrst half of which is uphill. I wouldn’t normally recommend a walk with such a long stretch on the road but unless you go back the way you came this is the only option, and it’s deﬁnitely worth it. On the Saturday afternoon we did this walk a grand total of 10 vehicles passed us on the road, and some of the views from the gateways are very special. You might even be lucky and see a family of hares enjoying the open country as we did. As the road starts to head downhill towards North Luffenham there is a bridleway off to the right back towards South Luffenham if you are

pushed for time, but you will be missing out if you take it. Shortly after the road crosses the Stamford to Oakham railway there is a footpath off to the right through the hedge. From here there is a great view of North Luffenham church as you walk through the flower meadow uphill towards the village. You also cross the River Chater as you go through this meadow, although it’s a disappointingly charmless metal bridge! Pass through the churchyard with the primary school on your left and then turn right on to Church Street. Follow the road round to the right, as it becomes Chapel Lane, and look out for the footpath through a small iron gate in a stone arch on the next left hand bend. From here, head downhill through a couple of green fields, until the path brings you out on the road for the final stretch. Go under the railway and up the hill and turn left back into South Luffenham.

THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE

Around North Luffenham there are a number of signs asking you to keep dogs on the lead. But between South Luffenham and Morcott there is plenty of scope for a bit of leg stretching. And you cross the Chater and the Foss twice so there is plenty of water around. Obviously the mile and a half on the road between Morcott and North Luffenham isn’t ideal but we had a tired dog by the end of the walk so it’s not a deal breaker.

Difficulty rating (out of five)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park It depends where you want to start but consult your OS map and park anywhere convenient in Morcott or North or South Luffenham. We parked by the Foss stream in South Luffenham. Distance and time Four and half miles, an hour and a half.

Highlights Quiet villages, lovely views and some babbling brooks. If you want churches, stone houses, open fields, flower meadows and a pub or two this walk has it all. Lowlights There is a mile and half stretch on the road between Morcott and North Luffenham but it’s a very

quiet road with some stunning views. It’s worth it. Refreshments The White Horse at Morcott and the Coach House at South Luffenham are both on the main road but it’s not much of a detour. There is also the Boot & Shoe in South Luffenham and the Fox & Hounds in North Luffenham.

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TOP STAT

Luffenham In 1642 North of a minor was the scene . Lord Grey Civil War siege surrounded and his forces ll, but there Luffenham Ha g and was little fightin Noel Royalist Henry surrendered.

Clockwise, from le

Quaint archway in Chapel Lane, North Luffenham, leads you out across the fields and back down to South Luffenham. Walking gives you a chance to take in the beauty of these o en overlooked villages which nestle close to the A47. Despite a section on the road, this walk has plenty of open fields to let the dog off the lead

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Feature /// Rough notes

Rutland Water GC This month, it’s the Normanton course at Rutland Water and a game of skins, but shirts stay on though. By Steve Moody RUTLAND WATER IS A GOLF CLUB ON THE RISE. Over the past few years it has turned from a short nine-hole fancy with a little clubhouse into a proper trip, with some tough holes and rollercoaster greens, and a very swish new clubhouse. It’s apparent how much things have changed up here by the time you take your second shot. From the first tee, the view is pretty much as it always has been, heading out towards Rutland Water and then turning right. But you’ve got to get there first: I scuffed my drive about 100 yards, and playing partner Matt nailed a drive so perfectly he went past the turn and into the rough. Chris eschewed his usual devil-may-care approach and hit a boring long iron to the perfect spot. As luck would have it he made a mess of the rest of the hole and with me hacking about stiffly, Matt came away with the first skin. When it was suggested we play skins, I offered the opinion that this wasn’t the sort of place for such deliberate defiance of the dress code, but it’s some sort of game where consecutive holes that are halved are added up and the eventual winner of a hole collects the lot. It was Chris’s idea, and the reasons why became clear later. The next couple of holes fall gently towards the reservoir, with the second a fairly simple par five if you avoid the pond on the drive, and get your approach club right. It’s the sort of course where that choice is the most important, especially on the front few holes where hard ground running downhill could easily see you overclub and end up heading towards the cyclepath that runs along its edge. The third is a fun hole, and one that offers glory or despair in equal measure. At 260 yards downhill and gently to the left you can

go at it with a long stick, but you have to avoid the water on the right (as Chris did). Or you can lay up with a short iron (as I did), or hook it into the trees (as Matt did). A short chip and a knock up a steep green and there’s you’re birdie, if you’re me. The fourth is a short par three climb back from the side of the water and it’s one of those holes that people get wrong a lot, mainly because the prevailing wind always seems to be into your face, but you can’t feel it from the tee. Add in the slope and a long, thin green and players seem to regularly come up short. Like Chris, who in trying to smash a lob wedge or something daft hit it about 50 yards. Matt and I had more sense, picked right and parred the thing. There are two more interesting par fours before you turn back towards the clubhouse and the finish of the front (and original) nine. I’d played pretty well by this point, and had five ‘skins’ while the other two didn’t have many between them. Easy game this, I thought. But it was not to last. The back nine at Rutland Water is relatively new at about five or six years old, but other than the small, young trees you wouldn’t know it because they’ve done a lot of work landscaping the holes and using the contours of what were pretty much fields before to make a varied challenge. There are some long par fours, and one fiendish par three with water in front and sand behind. It’s hard to splash out and keep it dry, I found (in fact, impossible). Chris then suddenly appeared to become rather good at this ‘skins’ game, not least because he hits a ball miles and when he gets it right, it’s almost impossible to keep with him.

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So while Matt and I kept cancelling each other out and thus not winning any holes, Chris kept hacking about and then unleashed a 300-plus yard drive and a couple of gentle knocks to win the 500-yard par ﬁve 13th hole and about six skins. The second half of Rutland Water is harder than the ﬁrst, not least because some of the greens are up hill and down dale, with numerous steps and slopes, and they can be fast too. It’s clear that the front half was created to give less able golfers a nice nine-hole course, the second half is much more challenging, and I failed it. Matt didn’t do much better, losing his cherished Golden Bear ball that had been proving such an able servant for a few recent rounds, while Chris went on an imperious run of form, and won by miles. It’s a course with a good combination of holes going left and right, long and short, and if you’re not a good putter you will struggle on the later greens, but on a sunny day, watching the boats on the reservoir, it’s a lovely place to be. Handily, I discovered that although we owed him money for the number of skins accrued, the winner has to buy a round in this game, which actually put Chris out of pocket. And as he’s on a carb-free diet, which meant he couldn’t have any of the superb home-made Victoria sponge on offer in the club house, he had to watch us devour it instead. Result.

Rutland Water Golf Club Lodge Farm, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8HB Tel: 01572 737525 www.rutlandwatergolfcourse.co.uk

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1794 TTN-July Half Page Active Advert_v2_TTN-July Half Page Active Advert 11/06/2013 12:20 Page 1

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Feature /// Sportsman’s Dinner

The Buddha Lounge, Stamford This month JT and Dean try out the new Thai restaurant on St Mary’s Hill JT This week we tried out Stamford’s newest eatery, the Buddha Lounge on St Mary’s Hill. This beautifully historic building is where Fratellis used to be. They reckon it’s haunted in the crypt downstairs, but I love it down there, and the location makes it the perfect town centre restaurant.

Dean I love this style of menu; it means I can spoil myself without feeling greedy. It’s a proper menu, too. Sometimes with a buffet you get a limited choice, but there’s a full range of dishes to choose from. Did I ever tell you about that night on Koh Samui in the ’90s? The stars were just overwhelming, man….

Dean So it’s not a real Buddha’s lounge then? We don’t have to sit on the ﬂoor half naked do we? Mind you JT, you have the gut for it!

JT Zzz… give it a rest Dean. I fancy something a bit hot. The menu gives a chilli based key next to each dish, so you know how to pick the spicy dishes if you want to! The more the better for me! So, for me the tod mum pia for starter, a spicy ﬁsh cake with chilli sauce, followed by the two chilli-rated pad krapraw, which is stir fried chicken with basil, onions, garlic and more chilli. And ﬁnally the pad kemao rice noodles with vegetables and a hint of chilli.

JT I might have the gut but it sounds like I also have the brains! No Dean, the Buddha Lounge has recently opened, offering a buffet style menu. It’s run by the same people who run the Saffron Lounge in Ufﬁngton. Dean Ahh, we went there in April didn’t we? I really enjoyed it; let’s hope it’s equally as tasty and good value. And I do love Thai food. Always reminds me of my time as a backpacker. JT Will you stop banging on about your time as a backpacker? You work now. Hair braids, sandal, and ﬁsherman’s trousers aren’t welcome in the real world. I’m sure it’ll be great food here by the way. Shah, the manager, has 30 years’ experience in cooking Thai food and has put together a vastly experienced team. You were right on the value, too. You get a starter, main course, rice or noodles and a side dish for £9.95 (Sunday to Thursday) and £12.95 (Friday and Saturday).

Dean Blimey JT, you have gone chilli mad? Nothing as hot for me. I’m more of a classic man myself, so the satay chicken followed by the green curry with coconut rice will do me fine. Green curry reminds me of my 19th birthday on Koh Pha Ngan where we found a secret beach... Actually, there’s definitely more choice of Thai food on this menu than I found in the whole of Thailand in two months – pad Thai and green curry was all I had then. Anyway, fancy a beer JT? I see they serve Singha, which is one of my favourite Thai beers. Well, it’s the only one I know actually. Reminds me again of my time in the Ang Thong Marine Park with a local fisherman.

JT Will you stop banging on about full moon parties, the Khao San Road and anything else that happened 16 years ago. Anyway, your choice of beer was a perfect accompaniment o my starter. There’s nothing better than an ice cold beer and a hot dish. Dean It went equally well with my very tasty, if not quite as spicy, dishes. My green curry was divine; a lovely consistency and so tasty, and the rice was perfect, too. One of the best things about Thai food is I never feel too full afterwards – with some meals you feel too full but Thai is always light enough, and always feels healthy. You get your full ﬁve a day in any Thai dish. JT I agree, my dishes had enough kick to satisfy my chilli fetish but not too much to disguise the taste. Overall, a very well balanced meal and all for less than the price of a bottle of wine in some Stamford establishments. Dean It’s deﬁnitely a welcome addition to the Stamford restaurant scene – well worth a visit for either a casual night out or a special occasion, especially if you want to relive those special holidays in South East Asia. I would recommend booking though, as it does get very busy.

The Buddha Lounge

13 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DS 01780 754333

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Wittering View Mad advert May 2013:Layout 1 02/05/2013 10:16 Page 1

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Feature /// Great runs

Stamford to Easton-on-the-Hill Alexa Cutteridge crosses the railway, loops round Easton and ends up with an ice cream Start at the Meadows bridge on The George side of Stamford. Turn left and head to the second meadow towards Tinwell, running along side the River Welland. Go over the big green bridge and turn right continuing next to the bank of the Welland. You will then go under the A1. Eventually the grass path comes to an end by another bridge which goes up into Tinwell. Turn left and run along the side of the ﬁeld. After a minute or two you will see a woodland path off to the right – take this until you reach the railway crossing. Cross carefully and get ready for the long uphill stint. Either take it easy or go for interval sprints up the track to maximise your training. At the end of the track you will see the pretty village of Easton ahead. Before you enter though, turn left by the allotments and run along the farm track and by the church. The views of Stamford from the top of Easton are

fantastic and you can really see why it is one of the best places to live! Ahead to the right you will see a footpath sign. Take this footpath all the way down hill passing through fields and over a few stiles. You will see ahead the second railway crossing – aim for this direction on the footpath. Go up the steps and cross the railway once again with care. Bear right, run across the corner of the field, go over a bridge and under the A1 once again. As you come out from under the bridge you will recognise where you are – ahead of you is the green bridge you first ran over! The last leg of the route takes you over this bridge and back round the river Welland, through the second Meadows and back to the main Meadows where you started. Why not go for a sprint finish at the end before enjoying a stretch and refreshing lolly from the ice cream man!

STATS STAMFORD TO EASTON ON THE HILL AND BACK DISTANCE 5.2 miles TERRAIN Footpaths, fields, farm tracks, one big uphill, one downhill DIFFICULTY 3/5

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Feature /// School sports

CATMOSE WIN CUP... CATMOSE COLLEGE beat Uppingham Community College and Casterton Business and Enterprise College for the annual Livingstone Athletics Cup. The team won by 63 points, bringing the trophy back a er a long absence from the Catmose College trophy cabinet. Catmose’s Year 9 students produced some excellent results with Jack Astill throwing a personal best in the discus and finished either first or second in his five events. In the girls section, Chelsea Lucas won the 100m and 1500m. A number of Catmose College students were selected to represent Rutland at the County Athletics at Saffron Lane, Leicester: Charlie Dalby, Ben Buckby, Ben Higgins, Sam Wilkinson, Tabitha Woolhouse, Alice Lucas, Emily Broughton, Holly Imison, Georgia Whittemore, Eve Orton, Jessica Guy, Jack Astill, Dougie Hempkin, Rory Madelin, Jamie Maxwell, Chelsea Lucas, Charlotte Cramphorn, Jessica Curtis, Josh Limbrick, Harry Wiles-Bull, Ashley Chamberlain, Will Durno and Charlotte Bell.

SCIENCE IS FUN FOLLOWING ON from the success of ‘Liquid Nitrogen Day’ where students made ice cream and watched 500 ping pong balls explode, Catmose College will be holding a Science Week dedicated to the theme of space between July 1 to 5. During the week, different groups will be covering a strand linked to the overall space theme. These include designing a suit for an astronaut, developing a satellite, launching a rocket in to space and designing a Mars rover. Spanning the whole curriculum of the College, students will be looking at the theme of space in other lessons during the week, such as; the space race in History and weather satellites in Geography. Each day of Science Week will have a key element to bring the theme to life, including a high altitude balloon launch to capture images from the edge of space, and a trip to the National Space Centre.

Uppingham to host school summer games MORE THAN 1,000 ATHLETES, disabled athletes and spectators are to attend the School Games Summer Championships at Uppingham on June 28, which see children competing in a series of sports including girls football, tri-golf, netball, tennis, swimming, basketball and gymnastics. Sports stars acting as Leicestershire & Rutland School Games Ambassadors are former Leicester Tigers players, Harry Ellis and Matt Hampson, as well as London 2012 Team GB Paralympian Sam Ruddock. The School Games were launched as an opportunity to motivate and inspire millions of

young people across the country to take part in more competitive school sport. It is a key Government priority for realising a meaningful legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All Primary, Secondary and Special Schools across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland have been given the chance to get involved in the Schools Games, through the help of their PE departments and School Games Organisers.  For more information visit www.lrsport.org/ schoolgames. Full results will appear in the August issue of Active.

Duo on course for success TWO YOUNG STAMFORD golfers have enjoyed outstanding success this year, reducing their handicaps to 5, and winning some notable trophies along the way. Charles Petrie (aged 13) and Hugo Kedzlie (aged 12) won the national Independent Schools Junior Schools Cup in October for Stamford School, on the testing Seve Ballesteros designed London course The Shires, and both will be competing in the individual Junior Open just before the end of the summer term at the same venue. Recently, Hugo won the Lincolnshire County Boys Championship U14 Trophy and the U16 Salver with scores of 74 and 75 gross. The boys’ aim is to continue improving their game in order to emulate the golﬁng achievements of former pupil, Mark James.

Above

Stamford golfers Hugo Kedzlie, le , and Charles Petrie

Kids’ activity trip on TV PUPILS ON A THREE-DAY activity trip have been interviewed for a Channel 4 TV programme looking at an activity centre in the heart of Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park. The pupils, aged 10-13 from Oakham School, were taking part in their annual trip when they were asked to give their opinions of how students can be inspired through outdoor adventure. The pupils were taking part in a wide range of activities, including canoeing, archery, rock climbing, caving, abseiling and weazling (crawling over, under and between rocks). “It really is an amazingly remote venue, set on the banks of the River Derwent,” said outdoor activities Cco-ordinator, Steve Gorman. “Looking at their faces as they paddled a canoe for the ﬁrst

time straight through the rapids was a real highlight.” The programme, called ‘Compare your life’ is scheduled to be aired on July 25 at 8pm. The programme works with families to abandon the rat race and to be their own bosses, by helping them to choose a new business or career. Focus Activity centre, where the pupils were staying, was one of the businesses being considered. “‘My favourite activity on the weekend was the abseiling and climbing,” said pupil Millicent Pardoe. “I think it was just the idea of looking back at what you had come down or climbed up and thinking ‘wow I did that!’ And really learning to persevere and carry on because the feeling afterwards makes you feel so proud.”

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Hockey winners TWO OAKHAM STUDENTS have just been given the accolade of ‘Player of the Season’ from Leicestershire & Rutland County Hockey. Ollie Jacques (U14) and George Edwards (U17) were delighted that their talent and effort had been recognised. They were both given their awards by guest of honour, FIH umpire Hannah Sanders, and chairman of Leicestershire & Rutland Schools & Youth Hockey, David Cawthorne. Elsewhere, 23 Oakham pupils have been selected for Nottingham Junior Regional Performance Centre hockey squads after playing for Leicestershire in the JAC Selection Tournaments. “This is the largest number of pupils to be selected from Oakham to date and it just shows the level of hockey being played at school,” said director of hockey, Ashley Denman. The pupils selected are:  U15 Girls: Ellie Hunt; Liv Peacock; Phoebe Burrows; Jessie Dooley; Bella Roddis; Hannah Leach.  U16 Girls: Evie Drew; Rebekah Foster-Collier; Alice Huddlestone.  U18 Girls: Maddie Pugh; Katie Cooil.  U15 Boys: Ollie Jacques ; Nathaniel Taylor; Seb Davies.  U16 Boys: AJ Stanton; Thomas Schanschieff; Edward Tattersall; Mark Pollock.  U17 Boys: Tom Gorman; Cameron Down.  U18 Boys: George Edwards.  U18 Boys: Monty Fynn - East JRPC  U15 Boys: Will Means - East JRPC Oakham current and past pupils, as well as current teachers, are also dominating the sport at a national level. Oakham’s three England players (U18s Amelia Milton, Kathryn Lane, Monty Jefferson) are working hard preparing for the U18 European Championships to be held this July in Belgium (Boys) and Ireland (Girls). Old Oakhamian Caitlin Jeffries has been selected as goalkeeper to represent England U21sin the World Cup to be held in Germany this August. After her world cup experience, she will be coaching the Oakham goalkeepers in their pre-season training camp. Oakham hockey teachers, Ellie Watton, Katie Long and Maddie Hinch, played against New Zealand in a test series at Bisham Abbey in preparation for the Investec World League hosted in London at the end of June.

Right

England under 18 player Amelia

Above

George Edwards

Below

Ollie Jacques

TEDDY IS A KART STAR ELEVEN YEAR OLD RUTLAND cadet kart racer Teddy Wilson made motorsport headlines recently a er a ground-breaking win in Wales against 50 of the country’s top young drivers. Racing in the Little Green Man series at Glan Y Gors, Teddy won both heats, the final and the awards for pole position and fastest lap – a feat which has never been achieved in this series. This season Teddy is driving in team Next Generation Motorsport (NGM) in the IAME Cadet class of the LGM Series and Super One British Championship. NGM team boss David Bellchambers said: “Teddy made a move to get into the lead with two laps to go. That was well-timed and broke the momentum of his rivals. This dominant performance puts Teddy in a great position to stake his claim for the British Championship.” Teddy is currently lying eighth in the Super One championship a er round one and fi h in the Little Green Man series championship. Teddy, who lives in South Luffenham and attends Uppingham Community College, said: “’m really pleased with this result – particularly as I was racing against all of my Super One contenders. “Now I’m looking forward to returning to Glan Y Gors circuit for the British Championship next week.” Teddy began karting when he was six and is sponsored by Total Kart Shop in Fengate, Peterborough.

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Which sports will your child excel at? Tel: Wendy Bromwich, Registrar, 01572 724778 e-mail: wb@brooke.rutland.sch.uk website: www.brooke.rutland.sch.uk

Feature /// School sports

Girls represent Leicestershire FIVE STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL students were selected for the U14 Leicestershire Hockey Squad to play in the inter-county Midlands Tournament in May. The girls were; Allys Ceraldi, Rhona Kelly, Maeve Macdonald, Sophie Skelton (all Y8) and Charlie Crombie (Y9) was selected to captain the Leicestershire team. Eight teams competed in the tournament including Shropshire, Birmingham & West Midlands, Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire. Leicestershire smashed their way through to the finals, winning every match, but unfortunately they were defeated 2-0 by Derbyshire in the final. The girls are now looking forward to pre-season hockey training with their Stamford High School team mates in August. Olympic Bronze Medallist, Crista Cullen, will be joining them for the five day training at Wellington College. Lucy Hornby, head of hockey at Stamford High School, said: “The girls have worked extremely hard to get to where they have in the county set up and thoroughly deserve the recognition. County representation at this age group sets them in great stead for their future hockey careers and we’re extremely proud of how far they have come.” Pictured, from left: Maeve Macdonald, Charlie Crombie, Rhona Kelly, Allys Ceraldi and Sophie Skelton.

Brooke’s golden year PUPILS AT BROOKE PRIORY School in Oakham have been celebrating a superb year of sport. In the Autumn term the girls’ hockey team had a fabulous, unbeaten season, while the boys began the new academic year with rugby and demonstrated great agility and determination, losing only one match. In the spring, the girls netball team won the honour of representing Rutland in High 5 Netball at the Youth Games, while the U11 Girls Team took the Silver Medal at the Midland Independent Schools Gymnastics Association Competition in Birmingham in April and Year VI pupil, Clare Maitland was fourth overall. The school has a strong equestrian connection and the U11 Show Jumping team all managed to go clear in the jump-off at the first ever Brooke Priory Show Jumping Competition at Hill Top Farm in May, resulting in first place. With every child having a weekly swimming lesson, the school has seen some very good results, securing places in both the Freestyle and Mixed Stroke Finals at the English Schools Swimming Association 19th National Primary Schools Team Championships in Sheffield, winning both events at the area gala to qualify. At cricket, the senior team is currently flying high, with a raft of wins under their belt and have their sights set on county honours. With two old boys, Stuart Broad and James Taylor, both playing for England there are some role models and many of the young sportsmen will aspire to follow in their footsteps.

TOP AWARD FOR VELVET Above

Brooke’s hockey team which was unbeaten all season

Head of sport, Wayne Faulconbridge, said: “We introduce all our pupils to a wide variety of disciplines at an early age and develop their skills and understanding as they progress up through the school. Thus when the children reach Years V and VI they are well-prepared and I am delighted with the latest results.” Headmistress, Elizabeth Bell, said: “Our boys and girls have been quite amazing this year, coming home with medals and trophies almost every time!”

VELVET CORDIAL has been awarded Lincs Academies Player of the Season 2012/13 for netball. She started playing at county level in September 2012 and since then she has become a key member of the Lincolnshire Academies team. As well as playing netball at county level, Velvet is a member of the Sleaford Barge netball club where she trains and plays matches every week. Velvet has also been a key netballer for Stamford High School and she has recently been awarded the Junior Netball Trophy.

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Roundup The scores, star performers and stats from a month in Stamford and Rutland sport

Cricket

Deeping, Stamford and Uppingham shine BY JEREMY BESWICK

e start with Uffington who, more used to Rutland League Division 3, recently grappled with a five-day test including commentary by Jonathan Agnew on Test Match Special at Headingley. You might want to read that sentence again. The explanation’s that the ‘five-day test’ is an endurance event; seven players travelling to all six traditional Test grounds in five days – by bicycle! The club needs £20,000 for a new pavilion, and this is part of their fundraising efforts. As for TMS at Headingley, opening bat John Burton’s blog takes up the tale: “Last week I popped an email to Adam Mountford, the TMS producer, to see if we could get a picture. To my surprise he mailed back and invited us to the box. “Now, cricketers know what an institution TMS is so we were honoured and a bit nervous as we entered the box, met Aggers, and the team. To my surprise Adam sat me down next to Ashes winning skipper Michael Vaughan, gave me the

headphones and started to ask me about the challenge. Incredible. What an honour and, once I stopped shaking, great fun”. I was delighted and surprised to hear it live – when you hang up your boots John, I’d consider media work. To read more and to make a donation visit www.sponsoruffington.co.uk. Back home, the results haven’t been quite as thrilling. Captain Steve Moody told me: “We got hammered by Long Sutton when one of their very talented young lads (Paul Edgeller) bowled really, really quickly and knocked our top order over, then lost to Tilton and Lowesby, and Castor and Ailsworth. Notwithstanding the fact that they’re both cheating by having two villages joined up to make one team (!) they’re both strong sides that bat deep and not surprisingly are first and second in the league. And we lost the first one off the penultimate ball of the game and the second in the penultimate over.” “So it’s been a tough few weeks, but we’d probably played better than our results suggest, and so beating Stamford

2nds by about 100 runs cheered us up a bit. To really compete, we’ve probably just got to be a bit savvier late on in our innings, and turn 200 into 220. With our bowling attack, we’ll be very hard to beat then”. That’s if the cyclists have recovered. I don’t think I ever would. Market Deeping led the Lincs Premier League before their match against Lincoln’s Lindum Ramblers. Unlucky to lose on the last ball against Sleaford, they followed up with a three wicket win against Bourne, Mehul Adatia claiming a hat-trick, then victory against Louth moved them to the top. Alas they were only able to muster 83 all out against the Ramblers. Despite having them 22 for 3 in response, Deeping were unable to defend such a small total and the home side lost no further wickets, reaching the target in 20 overs. Also hitting top spot, this time in the South Lincs league, were Stamford. Opener Liam Davé is in ﬁne form, making 155 not out against Welby, who they crushed by 122 runs. Davé followed this up with 137 at Skegness out of a total of 279, the home side

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managing only 113 in reply. Perhaps they should lend a few players to the Sunday side, who are yet to win this season. Back to the Premier and looking enviously up the table up towards Deeping are Bourne, who are rather closer to the bottom. They have, however, won the Twenty20 Winkworth Cup, beating Bracebridge Heath in the ﬁnal. Less than a week later Bracebridge got their revenge in the league, an opening stand of 180 contributing to a formidable total of 288-6. Bourne could manage only 203 in response, but did at least hold doggedly on to their last wicket earning a losing draw rather than an outright defeat. In Rutland League 1 it’s won one, lost two so far this month. An away win at Nassington was followed by losses to March Town and Finedon Dolben, in spite of a ﬁne 77 from Tom Dixon. Burghley Park’s performances haven’t quite matched the beauty of their quirky ground. Captain Chris Meadows takes up the story: “It’s been a mixed season so far for the club. The 1st XI have struggled to pick up many wins but it’s often the way, and the team tends to improve as the season goes on.

“There certainly aren’t many highlights from last Saturday’s loss against Southill Park. But an away fixture this weekend against local rivals Barnack is key to remaining in Hunts Div 1.” “The mid-week XI have fared better, progressing to the semi-final of the Stamford Knock Out Shield and are winning league games too now the weather seems to be improving. “The Sunday XI has continued their good form of the season and are a challenge to any visiting side. The U9s are the pick of the club at the moment though, as they’re top of the BCYCA league. Should I be selecting some of the lads for our 1st XI? I’m sure it won’t be long”. Watch out you seniors! Uppingham Town has a happy clubhouse with all four teams winning on two out of the four weekends covered here. In the Everards League they played Countesthorpe with 10 men due to several illnesses (not related to Leicester Tigers playing in the Aviva final that weekend then - no? Just checking). Notable contributions to their innings of 203-7 included skipper Matt Dumford’s 40, David Fish’s 35 and sixteen-year old

Harry’s Butchart’s 25 at more than a run a ball. Mark Cox’s heroics with the ball (7 for 22 off 13 overs) saw 10-man Town win with nearly two overs to spare. A winning draw against Shepshed seconds saw them move to second in the table, where they remain in spite of also beating Ibstock 2nds. Captain Jamie Dumford said “It’s going OK, we’re back on track. Second in the Saturday league, but we lost in the Rutland league a couple of weeks ago (to Bretton). Market Overton are running away with that one, although we’ve beaten them. Now the schools and universities are finished we should just get stronger as players return.” That’s something I’ve heard a lot and is true of quite a few local sides. Elsewhere, the Rutland Twenty20 competition began, Oakham beating Uppingham 2nds whose first side are the reigning champions. A grand way to spend a summer evening, so keep an eye out for those fixtures. Finally, a few observations on my own magnificent innings of one not out for The Wheatsheaf at Oakham. As I took guard... (Editor’s note: the next 10,000 words have been omitted due to lack of space. And interest).

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Roundup

Equestrianism

Show season in full swing BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

he county show season is in full swing, and the sun has been shining down on the summer events with the Rutland Show and Deeping Show being our more local ones. Unfortunately, both events were held on the weekend of June 1 and 2, leading to inevitable diary clashes. The Deeping Show was lucky for many locals with Clare Wagstaff, who keeps her horse at Kings Cliffe, winning the Novice Riding Horse and then going on to win the Riding Horse Champion Class on her own horse Spring Along Daisy, which qualiﬁed her for Equifest in August at Peterborough Show Ground. Russell Nearn from Lyddington also qualiﬁed his new horse Freeze The Flame in the Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorse Class. Russell was really surprised to win, having had second thoughts about going at all when his alarm went off at 4am. He is hoping to point-to-point his new, obviously talented steed next season, so keep a watch out. Both shows ran big show jumping classes. Mark Williams from Brooke, one of our favourite local show jumpers, took the spoils in the 1.30 class at the Rutland Show,

which was reportedly huge in both entries and in height. They had really good show jumping entries all day in the main ring and as usual the spectators flocked in. The organisers of Baston Show also ran their annual event at Grimsthorpe Castle the weekend prior. They boasted qualifiers for the Royal International Horse Show, BSPA & BSPS Championships, Equifest and the North of England Show. They also ran over 40 classes from Mountain & Moorlands to Ridden Coloureds. They had a brilliant attendance and people drove from all over the country to compete there. Shelford, near Nottingham, ran its affiliated horse trials competition on weekend of the May 26, and Karen Dungworth from Lound near Bourne made her first appearance out in the eventing world after a two-year break, to win one of the BE90 sections on her own King Chiminee. Karen’s ambition is to do Belton Novice next April; the combination just rolled one unlucky pole in the showjumping to add to

their very good dressage score and immaculate cross country. Shelford ran for three days over the Bank Holiday weekend and also ran an unaffiliated competition on the Tuesday, all of which were full. Local rider Kate Walls had a very successful trip up to Bramham Horse Trials in the first week in June for the Young Event Horse Class; where she won the five-year-old section with her own Cooley Lands, aka Cyril. Kate fought off a huge class of professionals to win on Cyril, whom she also qualified as a four-year-old last year. The young event horse classes qualify you for the final held on the Friday at our most local horse trial, Burghley. Our other very local horse trials runs at Buckminster on July 6-7, and the entries haven’t closed yet even though they already have 450 entries. If you can’t make that, there’s no excuse not to be active as Buckminster also holds its annual show the weekend after, where they hold everything from showjumping, gymkhana, side saddle, dog agility and much more including a BBQ, with proceeds going to Clare Lomas and Spinal Research. It’s got to be worth a day out.

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Fishing

Three wins in a row for Richard at Rutland

mpingham’s Richard Cooper won the Tuesday Night Boat League for three consecutive weeks in June. With the season takes at 22,324, returns at 4,255, Rutland Water is maintaining an excellent rod average with 4.29 per week. The best fish recently went to Adrian Gorman, on holiday from Galway in the Republic of Ireland. Adrian took a superb Rainbow that turned the scales around to 6lb 2oz. Anglers catching 5lb fish included Bob Church, and although a storm cut Bob’s boat trip short, he netted a 5lb 6oz specimen from the Sailing Club. Others with similar sized fish were season ticket holders Jim Watts, from Ryhall, Oakham’s Geoff Wanless and Empingham’s Rich Cooper. Both Geoff and Rich took their fish during the Tuesday Night Boat League meeting. Many areas of the reservoir are producing fish, with the bottom of the arms slowly waking up after weeks of steady easterly winds keeping things quiet.

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Various methods are working from floating lines with nymphs/buzzers and dry fly through to various sinking lines and lures for those who like pulling flies. A high percentage of fish are being recorded between 3 and 5lb. Buzzer hatches are still occurring with fish feeding well on these along with snails, shrimp, daphnia and corixa. One or two olives are starting to show, and with sedge and this year’s pin fry not far away, there is no shortage of food available. Earlier in the month, the best fish at Rutland Water was a fine 7lb 12 5/8oz Rainbow taken by Alex Urquhart of Hinckley. He caught this fine specimen whilst boat fishing near the Sailing Club on a black buzzer. Lots of heavy bags have been recorded. Two notable bags came from Jim Gamble and his son Tom from Willoughby Waterleys, Leicestershire. They landed eight fish between them on the day for 28lb 8oz, including a 5lb 15oz Rainbow.

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The other notable bag was from M French of Stanley, County Durham, who managed eight fish for 29lb including a 6lb Rainbow during his outing. In the Anglian Water Floating Line match on Saturday, June 8, several eight fish limits were recorded in what were overcast conditions. Julian Hubbard took the biggest fish prize of the day with a fish weighing 3lb 14oz. First was John Tattersfield and Mark Harrison with 16 fish for 36lb 7oz In the Rutland Water Fly Fishers Cutting Trophy on Friday, June 7, fished on a fine, clear evening with a chilly north easterly wind, Dave Porter ran out an easy winner of the competition with his catch taken on dry hoppers. Dave pipped Rob Teasdale by one ounce to take the prize for the best fish. Dave’s fish had been feeding mainly on pink shrimp. This was quite a good result considering the conditions. John Wadham said: “We all had a lot of fun casting to many apparently ‘impossible’ rising fish.”

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Roundup

Golf

Burghley away day, Greetham gales and Stoke stableford BURGHLEY PARK Club captain Richard Gilbert took 27 Burghley members to Knebworth for his captain’s away day in June for an 18-hole Stableford competition. Many found the hilly track to be challenging, but the course was in great condition (especially the greens), and everyone had an enjoyable day. The event was dominated by 14 handicapper Bob Emmins, who hit eight pars and two birdies to record an outstanding 44 points over a course he’d never played before. Judge Javan proved highly imaginative with his ﬁnes for misdemeanours, raising an impressive £54 for the captain’s charity. Cummins Engineering continued their stranglehold on the Mirlees Trophy event, held annually at Burghley Park Golf Club between local Stamford companies and institutions. The event has been running for more than 30 years, and is played in teams of four, as a better ball Stableford aggregate competition. Cummins have taken the trophy for the past two years, and were determined to make it three in a row. Both pairs played consistently well, with

an outstanding performance from Darren Russon and Mark Crampton, whose 42 points was the best score of the day. Chris Townshend and Alan Cole supported well, with 38 points, giving Cummins the title by two points from the Burghley Park Juniors team on 78. Both junior pairs came in with 39 points, with steady performances from Sanjay Nithiyalingam, Joe Carr, Andy Carr and Richard Vaughan. The June Midweek Stableford, played on fast greens under leaden skies, proved challenging, with only ﬁve of the 72 entrants managing to beat par. Scores of the day came from Billy Earl and Ken Forrest, who had a titanic struggle for victory in Division 2, with both players recording an excellent 41 points. Earl snatched the win on countback, and both were cut two shots for their efforts. But performance of the day came in Division 1, where A team stalwart Nick Glover came in with 39 points to regain his status as a scratch golfer, his handicap coming down to 0.4. Twenty-ﬁve teams entered the three-man team event, with the top three sides breaking the 100-point barrier.

Clear winners, on 107, were George Grant, John Neal and Cliff Harper, ahead of Alex Sherwin, Bill Simpson and Andy Peill on 104. The Ladies A team took on Blankney on home turf, and the fixture was close right across the pairings. But narrow losses in matches one and two meant it was always going to be an uphill fight, and Burghley went down 1½ - 2½. The Ladies B team travelled to Belton Woods on Sunday and although the handicaps of both teams were very evenly matched, home advantage proved decisive, with Burghley going down 4-0. In The Ladies Trophy, there were 26 entries, and Becky Ferguson claimed a runaway victory with 39 points, and a handicap cut to 23. Carol Chapman claimed second place on 32 points, squeezing out Wendy Higgs on countback. Stewart Ward and Active’s own Jon Tyrrell are continuing their good run in the national Daily Mail Foursomes challenge. They hosted a pair from Carholme Golf Club in Lincoln in the fifth round, and played steadily to take the win one up. The match was tight all the way, but Ward and Tyrrell were on fire with the putter,

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holing out from all over the green to secure a narrow but deserved victory. Burghley’s A Team got back to winning ways at the weekend, with a solid home 4-2 win against Blankney, who before the match were level on points with Burghley at the top of the league. Team captain Mark Yarham said “I’m delighted that we got back into the winning habit, and consolidated our position at the top of the league. We’re determined to bounce back into Division 1 next year.” GREETHAM VALLEY The June medal at Greetham was played off white tees on the Lakes course, and the weather was overcast, but at least it was dry. Steve Burgon off 16 and playing in division two had an absolutely fantastic game, and came off the 16th green having dropped just eight shots only to have a nightmare ﬁnish with a treble bogie followed by a double. However, and much to his surprise, his nett 69 was still enough to win the medal Steve said that he could have kicked himself for the silly errors that cost him a fantastic round and a possible cut to 12, having said that, he was very pleased that the hard work that he put in for most of his round was rewarded. Howling winds with gusts of 50-plus miles an hour and rain forecast greeted the

competitors playing for the London Pride medal. The competition in two divisions was noticeable for some really good scores and some real stinkers. The best score of the day came from Alex Carter off 12 playing in division one who not only ripped the course apart to win the competition but took the lowest gross to round it off. With a nett 63, the nearest competitor to him had a nett seventy. Alex will have to wait to see if he has qualiﬁed for the London Pride Gold Medal ﬁnal which is played for at Woodhall Spa. Only two competitors from each county in England will qualify for what is a great prize for club handicap golfers. The weather was dry but cloudy for the 56 ladies playing in the Open on the Lakes course. The competition was a team of four with the best two scores to count off three quarter handicap. The team of Yvonne Wanby, Lora Law, Jill Edmond and Olive Green from Luffenham Heath were the eventual winners with 76 points. John Taylor won division one of the seniors June medal, the best gross of the day and second place went Ken Stewart with a great eighty. Peter Palmer won division two on countback from Ian Kellam. Both players scored a nett 68. Seniors’ captain Rod Wells and his team

are having a very successful year but had one of their few losses when playing against Rutland Water away. However, they bounced back only a few days later with a four to two win away at Humberstone Heights. Rod and his team haven’t lost many games away this year. The Ladies are also doing very well. Despite wind, rain and lightning, the league team won away at Blankney by two and a half to one and a half. In the match at home to Scraptoft, the Greetham team won 4-0. STOKE ROCHFORD Chris Jones played the last 11 holes in one under par, and had a birdie on the 18th to thank for victory in the June Saturday Stableford. His total of 40 points was enough to edge home ahead of Ashley McLean (39 points) and Andrew Watson (38). The prize for lowest gross score was won by Nick Watson who scored 34 points. The following day, 68 players lined up in the Coronation Cup which took the format of a bogey competition. The winner was eight handicapper Richard Allen who ﬁnished four holes better than the course. He narrowly edged out Ben Smith and Rory Croft. Roger Rawson won the prize for the lowest gross score.

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Feature /// Stalwart

Gary Salisbury G R E E N K E E P E R , B U R G H L E Y PA R K Words /// Mike Warner

alking the fairways of an Open Championship beside the world’s greatest players is a dream that weekend hackers have on an almost nightly basis. But for Burghley Park Golf Club greenkeeper Gary Salisbury it is a reality. When defending champion Ernie Els and Co begin their battle for the famous Claret Jug at Muirﬁeld on July 18, Gary will be standing on the tee next to them. It will be the third time Gary, who has worked at Burghley for 12 years, has been part of the Open Championship’s support team of greenkeepers having carried out the voluntary role at St Andrews in 2010 and Royal St George’s in 2011. “The whole experience is incredible,” Gary said. “It’s hard work but it’s the prestige of being able to walk inside the ropes, which only a few people can do. Plus you get to walk some of the best courses in the world.” The 34-year-old will be part of a team of 50 greenkeepers who will arrive at the East Lothian course at around 5.30am each day and perfectly rake the bunkers (“Who rakes each bunker is noted in case there are any complaints from the players,” Gary reveals). Each greenkeeper is then assigned a group to walk with and must

perfectly rake any bunkers used during their round. “In my first year I was assigned a group including Mark O’Meara (who won the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1998),” Gary recalls. “He walked over, shook my hand and said: ‘I hear you’re a little nervous. Don’t worry, I’ll try not to get it in any bunkers!’ It helped me relax.” Once play is complete the greenkeepers then head back out to repair divots, finally finishing work around 10pm. But the hours are well worth it. Gary has been

‘THERE’S NOTHING LIKE WALKING DOWN THE 18TH ON THE SUNDAY WITH THE STANDS FULL’ fortunate enough to rake for Webb Simpson, Steve Stricker and Alvaro Quiros among others, while a signed ball from Tiger Woods and an autograph from Rory McIlroy are among his prized possessions. But it’s not a player or piece of memorabilia that lives longest in Gary’s memory. It’s a moment.

“There’s nothing quite like walking down the 18th on the Sunday with the stands full. The atmosphere is electric and I’ve been fortunate enough to be with players who are in the top 10.” So who does 28-handicapper Gary hope to have the privilege of raking for this year? “It’d be great to get Tiger or Rory. Nick Faldo (who won at Muirﬁeld in 1987 and 1992) would be superb too, or Ian Poulter as he seems like he’d be a good laugh.” Despite annually rubbing shoulders with the world’s best players, Gary has no desire to leave the day job and follow the stars around the globe with wife Nicola and young son Edward. “I’ll keep doing the Open as long as they keep asking me, but I love working at Burghley. I’ve got a picture of me planting a tree here aged eight and I used to help my dad at weekends and during school holidays. “I worked in rooﬁng for a while after leaving school but didn’t enjoy it. The job came up here and the rest is history.” And on Sunday, July 21, Gary will once again be part of history when he witnesses another Open champion lifting the Claret Jug. // Do you have a Stalwart worth celebrating? Email steve@theactivemag.com with details

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