Active Magazine // June 2013

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All the runners And riders

EvEnting, point-to-pointing and how to buy a horsE ISSUE 12 // JUNE 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

down to eArth How to see Rutland from 13,000 ft

ISSUE 12 // JUNE 2013

Flyboarding

Jet out of the water like Iron Man!

How to look great on your honeymoon What a racquet!

How to get into tennis, badminton, squash and table tennis

Reach for the sky

Lincolnshire Lancaster nears take-off www.theACTIVEmag.com 12

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Editor’s Letter AMAZINGLY, THIS IS OUR TWELFTH issue, which means Active is a year old! Or not, if you go for the exact date of the first issue, which is at the end of June. It caused quite a few furrowed brows in the office, with nobody exactly able to work out which was the official birthday. So like the Queen, we’ve decided on two dates, and therefore two cakes. Happy days.

It’s been quite a year, and when we launched the magazine we had an inkling that the post-Olympic glow would lead to a rise in interest in getting out and playing sport, getting fit and doing all sorts of constructive things in our leisure time.

Little did we know just what a boom there would be in our area – way beyond anything anybody could have imagined.

You only have to see the number of cyclists wooshing down the lanes of Rutland at the weekend or the runners out striding along pavements in the evenings to see that almost everybody is out and about being active.

Where once, we shopped when we weren’t working, now ever more discretionary spend is going on sport and leisure activities.

Yes, everybody still needs a new pair of jeans or a fancy coffee maker, but they’ve added a carbon fibre racing bike frame and membership of a sports club to the list, and instead of sitting inside watching their new flatscreen TV, they’re all out jumping in lakes or out of planes.

So it’s been an amazing year and hopefully a fulfilling and healthy one for you, too.

We’d like to thank our advertisers for their support, without whom Active would not have been possible, but most all we’d like to thank you, the reader, for being the most positive, proactive and personable bunch an editor and his team could wish to produce a magazine for.

Enjoy the issue.

Thanks, Steve

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

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 Tyrell, Alexa Cutteridge, Sandie Hurford, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth, Bob Warters 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 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 NEWS 11 I STAMFORD SKATEPARK UPDATE

Team to go it alone after council pulls funding

12 I OPEN WATER SWIMMING Rutland Water to host a variety of events

Issue 12 /// June 2013

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14 I WORKING OUT

A new gym opens its doors in Stamford

HEADS UP 18-19 I KITBAG

All the best gear and gadgets

21 I MARTIN JOHNSON

More from the Sunday Times sports writer

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FEATURES 22-27 I ADRENALINE JUNKIES

We investigate activities for the more daring among you, from parachuting to mucking about on the water

28-31 I HORSE TRADING

Looking to buy a horse? Julia Dungworth arms you with a host of top tips to ensure you buy the right horse for you

32-35 I RACQUET SPORTS

Tennis, squash, badminton, table tennis... how to get involved in these sports through local clubs

38-41 I RETURN TO THE SKY

The story of a Lancaster bomber and two Lincolnshire brothers looking to get it airworthy again

REGULARS 42-43 I COURSE NOTES

Our golf course review team head to Peterborough Milton

50-51 I GREAT WALKS

Will Hetherington tries the Manton to Braunston loop

53 I SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

Dean and JT have lunch at The Orangery at Burghley House

55 I GREAT RUN

Alexa Cutteridge tries a run from Stamford to Uffington

56-59 I SCHOOL SPORT

Our focus on the latest achievements from local pupils

60-65 I ROUND-UP

38

How clubs in the Stamford and Rutland area are getting on

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In Play

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Joining the Rat Race

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Photography: Harry Measures

Entrants set off on the gruelling Rat Race which took place in Burghley Park in May. See pages 16-17 for more details.

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In Play

Rockingham rocks Crowds flocked to the Brigstock Horse Trials at its new home at Rockingham Castle. See page 64 for more details.

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annual open evening Tuesday 9 July 2013 from 5.30pm – 8.00pm For prospective students currently in years 4 and 5 and all others welcome 3 key note presentations from Mr Beckett at 5.30pm, 6.15pm & 7.00pm in the Conference Centre Call us or visit our website for more details:

01778 342 159

www.deepingschool.org.uk

Park Road, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8NF

News

Stamford skatepark to go it alone Committee vows to go ahead and build long-awaited skatepark in the town despite council pulling its funding AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR the long-awaited Stamford skatepark has suffered yet another blow as South Kesteven District Council pulled their promised funding, blaming delays in the planning process.

The £4,500 Communities Grant from the council was agreed back in 2011 and since then the skatepark committee have raised £150,000 from donations, fundraising and other grants to finally build the facility on Stamford’s recreation ground. But due to extensive planning and a litany of additional requests from council planning officers, the deadline set by the council expired and the funds were diverted elsewhere.

Committee chairman Marc Stanier, however, is hardened to such news a er such a long slog getting this far, and he says the skatepark is getting built, with or without SKDC’s support.

“We’re still on track and moving in the right direction. The response from the public since this news appeared has been pretty amazing, with a number of notable donations from individuals as well as local businesses.

“People are annoyed at the council’s decision. I wonder if people have taken this as a ‘Stamford versus Grantham’ issue.”

Despite the loss of funding, the group have enough to begin building and are now just waiting for a confirmation date from the skatepark builders, Maverick, which Marc expects to be “very, very soon”.

However, any contingency money for the build has now been used on meeting the planning officers’ additional requests and so continued support and donations are still encouraged.

Local bar and music venue, the Voodoo Lounge, will be holding two fundraising gigs on June 15 and 21.  For more info or to donate or contact Marc, visit www.stamfordskatepark.co.uk

Above A similar skatepark being enjoyed by youngsters in Saffron Walden

Hotel hopping raises £2k STAFF FROM THE HILLSBROOK Hotel group who work at the William Cecil and Bull & Swan hotels in Stamford have completed a 280-mile cycle ride, where they visited hotels from the group and raised £2,000 for charity Head Smart.

Team Hillbrooke was led by senior operations director John Crompton with operations director Paul Brown and marketing co-ordinator Sophie Taylor. They le the William Cecil and cycled 105 miles, stopping at two of the group’s hotels in Buckinghamshire and Pangbourne.

The next day they rode 105 miles to Wiltshire, and the final 58 miles the next, finishing at The Master Builder’s House Hotel in Beaulieu.

John said: “The realisation and enormity of the 280 mile cycle ride is still sinking in. The support we received has been superb.”

EVENT WATCH WATCH THIS RUTLAND WATER DAMBUSTER TRIATHLON, JUNE 22 Rutland Water is probably one of the best locations for triathlons, and June sees a 1.5km swim, 42km cycle and 10km run.

ENTER THIS PAIN AND THE SUFFERING OBSTACLE RACE, JUNE 23 Rockingham Castle hosts this event which sees entrants put themselves through a 10-mile obstacle race, featuring over 35 obstacles. www.thesufferingrace.co.uk

Above

Team Hillsbrook at the end of their epic 280-mile cycle ride in Beaulieu

TRAIN FOR THIS GREAT EASTERN RUN, OCTOBER 13 Now, you’ve plenty of time to get in shape for the Great Eastern half marathon, 5k fun run or wheelchair race. Entry fees are £21 for members of UKA affiliated athletic clubs. www. perkinsgreateasternrun.co.uk/enter

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News

Open your mind in the o Summer is the season for indulging in open water swimming events and with an enormous open water facility at Rutland Water on our doorstep we’re spoilt for choice for events locally. Active has the lowdown NOW THAT OUR SUMMER is officially here, if not technically, it’s time to enjoy the outdoors properly. And if you’re a keen swimmer, there’s never been a better time to enjoy open water swimming in our local reservoirs, lakes and rivers, as there are a number of events and sessions taking place that will help inaugurate you into the invigorating world of swimming as nature intended (er, that’s outdoors, not in the nude...).  Rutland Water’s reservoir will host a number of swimming events this year for those either looking to try their hand at open water swimming, compete in multi-discipline events, or simply raise money for charity and get active at the same time.

The Big Charity Swim, held by Anglia Water in association with Inspire2tri, is a fund-raising event at Whitwell Creek on the water’s north shore and will include 500m, 1k, 1.5k and 3k distances, for all abilities. The entry fee is £20 but the great part is that £5 will be donated to one of the seven charities involved, including Help for Heroes, Cystic Fibrosis and British Red Cross, and also includes parking and timing. Wetsuits are mandatory but can be hired for £5. The event is not until September 8, so you have time to get in training, and for the water to warm up! www.angliawater.co.uk/news/events  And if you’d like to train in the same location the Big Swim takes place at, Inspire2tri are holding open water swimming sessions at Rutland Water throughout the summer, on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

Mary Hardwick of inspir2tri said: “Anyone who can confidently swim 500 metres is welcome, but they must wear a wetsuit.

“You can hire them on the day for just £3. It’s an incredibly safe environment to try open water swimming and most tend to make a day of it and stay up at Rutland Water a er their swim, using the inclusive all-day parking ticket.” info@inspire2tri.com or call 01572 244224  Later this month the Dambuster Triathlon takes over the reservoir for its multi-discipline event for individuals and relay teams. The triathlon includes a 1.5k swim across the open water, starting the event from outside the Harbour Bar, followed by a 42k cycle ride around the surrounding country lanes of Rutland, and a 10k run around the lake and across the dam. One thousand competitors will take part (entry has closed as we went to press) and the event has been selected by the British Triathlon Federation as a qualification event for the world championships in London in September. The Dambuster event takes place on June 22.

Bourne indoor football league BOURNE LEISURE CENTRE will play host to the town’s only 5-a-side indoor football league in the coming weeks, but organiser Steve Williams says he expects the league to grow quickly and spread to Stamford, Peterborough and the surrounding area.

“We want people to get in touch and register their interest, and hopefully get a team together, with work mates or friends, and come and play proper competitive indoor football, have some fun and get fit,” Steve told Active.

“We’re hoping we can grow the league and run matches in Stamford and other areas in the region, too.”

Teams consist of 5 players with a maximum of 7 players on game night, and will cost £24 per team, for a 30-min match. Steve says: “It’s a great way of getting active, having a laugh with a group of mates, playing weekly games with an emphasis on playing competitive football but without the attitude. So you get your team together and get in touch.”  For more information, email Steve on: indoorfootball.bourne@ymail.com

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e open water

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Photography: BlueSeventy

*charges apply to all spa treatments and equipment hire where applicable

Get on the grid ABARTH IS RUNNING A EUROPE WIDE competition to find the next young racing star, and Rockingham Cars in Corby will be hosting a special Abarth Open Day this month to help launch the Make it Your Race series.

Drivers aged 18 and over will be able to enter the competition on the day, and if successful on the UK-based selection stages, will progress through to Boot Camp, with four other Brits, which will be held in Italy. A er a series of challenges each team of five will be whittled down to select the one who will go forward to represent their country in the final of Make It You Race 2013.

Abarth dealer Rockingham Cars in Corby will hold their open day on June 8, where you can test drive the full range of Abarth road cars and also test your racing skills in the Abarth Race Simulator. ď Ž More information from www.makeityourrace.com or www.rockinghamcars.co.uk

Barnsdale Hall Hotel country club

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News

Rhino’s opens its doors Family effort is aiming to make new business venture Stamford’s most diverse gym THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN JUST as Active went to press and the family team at Rhino’s Gym in Stamford were eagerly working away installing the most diverse range of equipment we’ve ever seen in one space.

As you read this the 10,000 sq warehouse will now be filled with every type of cardio, resistance and strength piece of kit; the large studio will now have had its vast wall of mirrors installed; the special sprint track surface will now have been laid along the full length of the building, painted with two lanes; and the shower and changing facilities will have been tiled and plumbed.

“We’ve got the most diverse training facility around here,” said owner Sam Swann, “there’s nowhere like this in the area, and there isn’t anyone we don’t cater for.”

But despite the macho-sounding name, the team are keen to stress this is not just a bodybuilding gym like Muscleworks or an exercise class centre like LA Fitness, but both, and more.

Sam’s business partner, and father, Nick explains: “We are a traditional, honest old style gym, with a fun, friendly environment and the best level of equipment available.

“And our pricing reflects this too, as there’s no membership, no joining, no contract, just a straightforward tariff of £4 a session, £12 per week or £28 per month. You can buy a deal for 6 months for £150 or year for £290, too.”

With the gym’s range of classes already booked up, and scheduled throughout the week, plus a roster of personal trainers and class instructors, Rhino’s aim to offer something for everyone.

“We’ve got kick boxing, boxercise, pilates, zumba, bokwa, conditioning aerobics, bootcamp...” Nick enthuses. “There’s even giant

SPORT SHORTS PETERBOROUGH JOINS NATIONAL LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL A er establishing the city’s first ever Ladies National League volleyball team, Peterborough Harriers Volleyball Club has found its Men’s team has been granted a place in Volleyball England’s National League, Division 3 North for the 2013-2014 season.

Commenting on the achievement, Steve Knight, Peterborough Harriers VC chairman, said: “Being accepted into the National League is very exciting news for our Men’s squad and will help further raise the profile of our club, and more importantly, of the sport locally.

“Peterborough Harriers VC has been reaching all the goals it has set for itself over the past four years – and this is another target met.

“The Ladies have made great strides during their first season in the National League. Now it is up to the Men to match them!”

ANYONE FOR TENNIS Apethorpe Tennis Club is a small, sociable tennis clubwhich is looking for new members. For further information visit www. apethorpetennisclub.co.uk or contact Jenny on 01780 782037 or Geoff on 07913 668531, email: geoff_j.g@virgin.net  See our racquet sports feature – starts on p32

tug-of-war ropes and the heaviest weights in Stamford!” But there is one important rule that the boys take very seriously: “You must have fun and smile.”  Rhino’s is on Gwash Way off Ryhall Road, Stamford. Visit www.rhinosgymnasium.co.uk or call 07554 219400 for more information.

Stamford social group hits 100-member mark STAMFORD SOCIAL & ADVENTURE GROUP has hit the 100-member mark, having only formed last December.

The group’s founder Rob Blake said reaction had been phenomenal to the idea, which gets people together to take on different activities such as walking, karting, cycling and jet-skiing.

He is on the lookout for more members and organisers to help with the club’s burgeoning numbers.

“Summer is upon us which is really when the group should come into its own with the better weather, and the many more opportunities/options for fun and adventurous meet ups.

“Its been really hard work but I have enjoyed the challenge and we have had a lot of positive feedback.

“I think if we can grow another 50/60 members then within that group I will probably get another organiser, a few more hosts and plenty more very active members, and a er that, think the group will pretty much self evolve on the continued success, positive feedback and more diverse range of meets-ups.

“We have gained two sponsors, Tallington Lakes and Rutland Cycling, who are great fit with the type of activities our members like to do, and they can enjoy the benefits of great discounts of there favourite sports/activities whilst enjoying their favourite passions more, which in a nutshell is really what this group is all about.”  For details of how to join, visit www.meetup.com/Stamford-SocialAdventure-Group

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ACTIVE LADIES WIN AT TRIALS We like to feature the best new sporting stars in the area, and two talented riders who have appeared in our fashion photoshoots triumphed at the Brigstock International Horse Trials recently.

Emily Meredith, right, won the BE Novice on Ginger Cake, while Pippie Polson, le , won the BE100 on Waipuna Rose.

Pippie, who works for Smiths Gore in Stamford, won in the BE100 on her first attempt at that level on her new horse.

She has owned the Waipuna Rose for just over a year now and was also third in the BE90 held at Keysoe two weeks before.  For a full report from the event, turn to page 64.

Top cricket stars back in town for Ashes event Games featuring ex-Ashes stars in Stamford and a Harry Judd charity match at Uppingham STAMFORD SCHOOL IS ONCE AGAIN hosting a cricket match packed with stars following last year’s highly successful event.

This year the theme is the England v Australia with the Ashes upcoming, and a number of ex-test players are confirmed with Mark Ramprakash, Gladstone Small, Phil DeFreitas, Paul Nixon, Alex Tudor and Neil Fairbrother taking on an Australian test XI. The ‘Cinders’ 20-over-a-side game takes place on Friday, July 26 with entertainment provided for the whole family: Leicester Tigers’ ‘the Maul’ and the ECB Cricket Factory roadshows will be present, as well as beer tents for the adults and Grasmere Farm hog roast, burgers and sausages to keep you going.

The day will start with the Chesterton Humberts Under 10s Cup, which will involve 12 local teams in a Kwik Cricket competition.

The event last year drew a crowd of more than 3,000 people on a glorious summer day, and Will Phelan, head of Stamford School, said: “I am excited that Stamford School will be hosting the Stamford Cinders match.

“This is a community event and a day for all cricket lovers and their families from Stamford and the surrounding area. The Endowed Schools are proud of their connections with the town, and

our links to its people, shops, businesses and industry. It will be a great day for everyone.”

Dean Headley, cricket professional at Stamford School, added: ”The Stamford Cinders match will be this summer’s ‘alternative Ashes’, and I am looking forward to welcoming back many of my former team mates and rekindling our great

rivalry against the former Aussies. It will be fantastic to stage this sporting family day again, raising the bar for promoting sport in the area. I do hope the local community and businesses get fully behind this event as they did last year.”  For more information and tickets, go to www.dcrevents.co.uk/stamfordcinders

CELEBRITIES IN FUND-RAISING ACTION AT UPPINGHAM MCFLY DRUMMER HARRY JUDD is supporting a charity cricket match being hosted by his old school, Uppingham, this month in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust and The Eyes Alight Appeal.

Harry will join forces with celebrity friends, including Mark Foster, Jake Humphries, Freddie Flintoff, Robbie Savage, Jonathan Agnew and Steve Harmison as they take on an

Uppingham School XI team on Saturday, June 9. Both charities are close to Harry’s heart, and this year he has raised over £20,000 by running the London Marathon and taking part in Tough Mudder.

The money raised will be split equally between both charities, with a donation from this event going towards a cricket scholarship for Uppingham School.

Harry said: “It’s a great opportunity to raise money for some incredible causes. I’m really looking forward to playing with some absolute greats of the game as well as a few of my good friends.”

Due to its popularity, there are very few tickets le for the event already, although you can try at www.uppingham.co.uk/Harry-JuddCharity-Cricket

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Photography: Harry Measures

News

Mud, sweat and tears at the Rat Race First event at Burghley is a qualified success, with organisers pledging to resolve teething issues for next year STAMFORD’S FIRST Dirty Weekend adventure race was held at Burghley Park last month and thousands of competitors put themselves through the gruelling 13 and 20-mile obstacle courses.

Around 5,500 crazy people turned up to endure the 200 obstacles, which included plenty of water and mud, spread out over the Burghley Estate.

Jonathan Albon was the first man to make it round, clocking a time of 2:51:59 (although David Hellard who wasn’t part of the elite first group did pip his time getting round in 2:51:04). Danielle Murphy wasn’t far behind, finishing first for the ladies in 3:31:27.

There was a great local presence at the event as many local people had volunteered to man the various obstacles. Stamford Rugby Club proved a tough obstacle, runners had to work their way through the club players who were armed with tackle pads.

The club’s Henry Flint said: ‘It was a great experience,and we enjoyed looking out for people we knew to make it harder for them, but with 5,500

people going past I ached for ages a er. I’d definitely look to volunteer again next year.’

There were a few teething problems, leaving some disgruntled entrants complaining about a lack of planning a er problems with facilities. Lauren Broom, a barmaid at the Jolly Brewer, Stamford, completed the 20-mile course and told Active: “We kept getting bottlenecked at obstacles and had to stand around soaking wet getting cold while we waited. And the refreshment stands ran out of supplies early on.”

Paul Lo house, also of Stamford, complained about the post-race facilities: “The bar had about eight people serving thousands and ran out of beer pretty quick, so I went home.”

But the Rat Race team have been quick to respond, saying some factors were impossible to judge before the event, and now that the problems been highlighted will make every effort to address them for next year.

Marketing manager Danielle Brodie told Active: “The main issue we had is that a lot more people

camped than we expected. With the camping being included in the entry fee there was no real way to ascertain how many were planning to camp – something we will separate out from the entry fee for 2014 so we know the numbers and can provide the correct amount of facilities.

“Congestion on the course is a problem that will be rectified for 2014. We tried to identify where possible bottlenecks would occur and added extra lanes into places pre-event but now we can work on the feedback and make the course flow much better.

“The Pit-Stops we can only apologise for… we under-estimated the quantities and flow rate of people through them… and we will absolutely ensure that they are fully stocked with food and water for 2014.”

Problems with lack of toilets was caused by suppliers, and will also be addressed, as will the bar, which will be bigger and greater staffed next year.

But for the rest of the event, most had a great race, some raising hundreds of pounds for worthy charities, and here are the pictures to prove it.

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WHAT THE ACTIVE TEAM THOUGHT “I approached the Rat Race Dirty Weekend with a distinct lack of respect. I didn’t train. But I somehow made it round all 20 miles and 200 obstacles, mainly thanks to the rest of the Active team. We all stuck by each other and ensured we all made it to the finish line. I’d definitely recommend it to others (although I may not have said the same at mile 14!) and i’m sure Rat Race HQ will sort the teething issues for next year’s event. Will I do it again? Quite possibly…I might actually train for it next year, too!”

Chris Meadows “Overall, the Rat Race is challenging enough to be interesting, but easy enough to also be fun. Water jumps, mud crawls, and climbing frames made it feel like being regressed to being a child in the summer holidays at times, although I don’t quite remember doing 20 miles of it as an 11-year old!”

Dean Cornish I was slightly worried about the 20 muddy miles and obstacles. However, it ended up being the best sports event I have taken part in! The friendly banter around the course and speaking to random people was another highlight!

Alexa Cutteridge

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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 Hot-Pot barbecue This clever little barbecue sits in disguise as a terracotta herb garden when not in use, but can be fired into action the instant the summer sun makes an appearance by li ing off the plant lid to reveal the grill. It’s actually made from stainless steel covered in a heat insulating ceramic coating and it comes with a pair of tongs, too. Grilliant!

Price £99.99 From www.prezzybox.com

Free Gatorade Team Sky’s sponsor Gatorade are offering a full refund on all Gatorade products purchased at Oakham Cycle Centre if a member of Team Sky wins this year’s Tour de France. Purchases must be made before June 29 and you must then register at Gatorade.co.uk.

Oakham Cycle Centre sell the 350g tubs of the new Series Pro performance drink powder for £9.99, while the 500ml Recovery drinks are £1.99.

From www.oakhamcyclecentre.co.uk

Fuji FinePix XP200 This new super-tough camera from Fuji is ready to capture some serious action with its 16 megapixel sensor, as it’s waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and freezeproof! Yep, you can drop this from 2 metres or submerge it 15 metres below water, kick it across a beach and leave it out in -10˚C temperatures. With HD movie, 10fps burst mode and wireless transfer, it’s our kind of camera.

Price £229 From PC World, Stamford Retail Park

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Coleman Biker sleeping bag This compact little sleeping bag is perfect for adventurers and those travelling light as it packs down into a relatively tiny package for easy transport. The mummy-style bag features a Coletherm microfibre lining for extra warmth in dubious summers and can be vacuum packed in its waterproof dry gear pouch. A brilliant sleeping bag for the price.

Price £14.99 From www.getlostinrutland.com

Blue Seventy Fusion wetsuit Rutland Cycling has launched a new triathlon range in store and online, and is now running open water swimming sessions at the reservoir too, so you may want to be looking at a new wetsuit if you plan to get involved.

The latest offering from Blue Seventy is a great entry-level suit packed with features such as quick exit panels on the back of the legs for quicker transitions and reduced drag through 4mm buoyancy panels in the lower half to help improve body alignment. And if you take part in the swimming sessions, you get 10% off.

Price £228.99 From www.rutlandcycling.com

Blackburn Atom SL 3.0 bike computer Sea-Doo Aqua Ranger sea scooter Whether it’s in one of the many local lakes or in a swimming pool, these entry-level sea scooters from Sea-Doo are an absolute hoot and a novel way of doing some shallow scuba diving. The Aqua Ranger will take you to a maximum of 30 at up to 2.5mph, and will run on its rechargeable battery for up to an hour and a half. For ages 8 and up.

Price £269.99 From www.158performance.co.uk

You can save a fiver on this great little on-board cycle computer at Cycle Wright now. The Atom SL 3.0 is wireless and boasts a big, clear display offering current, average and maximum speed, with pace arrow, plus trip/distance odometer and a ride timer. Will mount to the handlebar or stem.

Price £34.99 From www.cyclewright.co

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22/05/2013 22:15

Guest column

Trashed hotel rooms, the 99 call and a shoeing from brothers in arms The Sunday Times sports writer Martin Johnson on the special bonds and memories of the British and Irish Lions

I

t was Monday night training down at the Leicester Tigers ground and I was having a pint in a now defunct bar at Welford Road when the door opened and in walked a chap whose face appeared to have just lost an argument with one of Eddie Stobart’s lorries.

It was certainly not a face that I immediately recognised, and it was only when it spoke that I had a tentative stab at the identity of its owner. “Brace? Is that you?” And it indeed it was. Peter Wheeler, the Leicester and England hooker.

The date was 1980, England had just played Wales at Twickenham, and it had not been pretty. Wheeler’s two black eyes and swollen cheek (placing him among the relatively minor casualties) were sustained shortly after preparing to clamber back to his feet from the bottom of a ruck. Still horizontal, and spotting a pair of advancing red stockings, his first thought was: “Oh heck, I’m in trouble here.”

His second thought was: “phew, that’s lucky it’s my old mate Pricey”, and his third was “ouch, that hurt”.

It was confirmation, if any were needed, that rugby matches between England and Wales come with an automatic 80-minute suspension of friendships, even though Wheeler and the Wales and Pontypool prop Graham Price were extremely close chums. That bond had been formed after spending three-and-a-half months in the British Lions’ front row in New Zealand, and similar friendships will be forged when the Lions tour Australia this summer.

The best known example of the one for all and all for one Lions’ togetherness came on the 1974 trip to South Africa, where captain Willie John McBride – who on three previous Lions tours had finally had enough of home referees turning a blind eye to the Lions being physically roughed up, introduced the famous “99” call.

It obliged each Lion to whack the opposition jersey nearest to him, and the fact that full back JPR Williams found himself isolated an awfully long way from the action when the call eventually came in a Test match didn’t prevent him from obeying the skipper’s instruction. Estimates of how far he ran to thump the Springbok lock Moaner van Heerden vary, but none put it less than 40 metres.

“In those days”, Wheeler recalls, “the players bonded so closely

because we had something like 10 matches before the Tests began, and 25 or 26 games on the tour. We’d have maybe seven or eight different room-mates, always a different nationality, and when you’ve been together for 16 weeks you can see why you end up with so many new chums. And even though tours are so much shorter now, the same thing will apply again in Australia this summer.”

One of the biggest changes on a Lions tour is the way the home team rest so many of their Test players for the mid-week games. For teams like Canterbury, Natal or Queensland, taking the Lions’ scalp was a badge of honour.

Then there are the referees, who were so biased when Wheeler was playing that the Lions used to reckon on being 8-10 points down before the game had kicked off. And if they got past the opening 10 minutes without at least two split lips and a concussion, with the referee conveniently looking the other way, it was rare.

Wheeler recalled his first Lions Test in New Zealand, when they were offered the choice of three home referees. They picked one, and although they lost the game, he was scrupulously fair and the Lions wanted him in charge again. Sadly, though, being scrupulously fair was not the criterion the All Blacks were looking for and when the second Test came around his name had been withdrawn.

Wherever they tour, everyone looks forward to a visit from the British Lions, with the possible exception of the local hotel and bar proprietors. Before the 1950 Lions tour the players each had to post a bond of £50 as indemnity against breakages, and the 1968 tourists to South Africa boasted a group known as the Loyal Order of Wreckers, who prided themselves on their ability to dismantle a hotel room in under 10 seconds.

“Well” said Wheeler, “it’s probably fair to say that quite a lot of things seemed to get damaged and broken in the amateur days, but all I can suggest,” he said with a grin, “is that the fittings must be a lot more robust nowadays.”

There is a history to the Lions which makes this tour special. It is the pinnacle for a British rugby player, and he has to go to some of the toughest rugby places on the planet to try and win a test series.

Australia have not been at their best in recent years, but they’re starting to look the business again, and when it comes to taking on the Poms, they never need much motivating. Australia v England at rugby, England v Australia at cricket. Quite a summer in prospect.

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24/05/2013 19:59

Feature /// Skydiving

Rich Beach: Gravity Slayer!

We sent our intrepid writer into the sky, in two very different ways...

HIGH TIMES STAMFORD FROM ABOVE is a fascinating sight. You can’t fully appreciate the grandeur of Burghley House’s golden rooftop from the ground. It’s a cloudless day, probably the first of the year, and the blue sky arcs around the distant horizon, the different layers of atmosphere clear to see; the banding of colour separating us from the troposphere looks close enough to touch.

I could look out the window of a plane all day long, especially when flown over my home town. It’s a blissful, calming experience, and it always reminds me of Richard Bach’s novella Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a tale from the perspective of a bird learning to fly.

WHOOOSH! I’m suddenly pulled from my reverie by the dramatic change in temperature in the cabin, coupled with a violent cacophony as

air rushes by. We’re at 13,000ft and someone has just opened the door. Yes, this is the end of my trip in this perfectly functional Cessna Caravan.

I won’t be in it when it lands. It’s time to learn how to fly like a bird. Well, fall like a stone.

I’m strapped to the front of Grant Richards – the head honcho at UK Parachuting, based at Sibson airfield near Wansford. I’d like to keep looking out the window as I’ve just spotted the old canal, but the rush of air in the cabin has changed the tempo and the sense of anticipation is palpable among both the experienced club members, who’ll jump solo, and the first-time jumpers, who will tandem jump.

By the time I’ve slipped my gloves on the three people who were sat on the bench seat in front of me have gone. Sucked into the noisy abyss. I’m buoyed by their calmness and acquiesce to the fact I’m just a passenger from now on, putting my life in the hands of Grant,

who does this, as his day job, as many as 25 times a day. I’m in good hands. In fact, I’m in his lap, so he can make final checks of the straps that potentially separate me from a me-shaped impression in Sibson’s airfield.

Grant shuffles us forward along the bench, towards the gaping hole in the fuselage, nods at the photographer hanging out the door, and...

OH MY GAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHHHH...!

There is nothing that comes close to this.

Breathtaking is a term often used to describe incredible experiences, but that moment when your bum loses contact with the plane floor and you fall from the doorway into the sky, that millisecond... Well, it really is the only thing I’ve ever done that actually removes the breath from your lungs in an instant.

Grant and I were hurtling towards the ground at around 120mph. Below me was the plane, disappearing, smaller and smaller. Hang on.

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Breathtaking

Blessed with a rare blue-sky day in May, Rich gets to see the local area like never before, in one very intense and unforgettable aerial experience

‘I WONDER IF, EVEN AFTER A THOUSAND JUMPS, THE FEELING EVER BECOMES ANY LESS THAN MIND BLOWING’

LEARN TO FALL LIKE A STONE...

UK PARACHUTING will throw you out of a plane, in the most professional manner, from just £199 (mid-week). Weekend prices start from £240 and there are reduced rates for groups. And if you get the bug, an 18 jump experience, which will culminate in your BPA parachuting licence, costs £1300. There is also the possibility of jumping for any number of charities and UK Parachuting can give you all the help you need to organise one. Call 01832 280490 or visit www. skydivesibson.co.uk Watch Rich’s video of the day at www.vimeo.com/ richbeach/skydive

Don’t I mean above? No. We had dived out of the doorway and were still upside down, plummeting head first. My breath had clearly returned. I was screaming a prolonged and extended ‘Yeah!’. I wonder if, even after a thousand jumps, that feeling ever becomes any less than mind blowing.

Sarah Hall was my photographer and filmer.

She had clung to the side of the Cessna while Grant and I shuffled to the edge, pulled a silly face for the camera and then jumped. When we levelled out and I lifted my head up, Sarah was there in front of us filming and photographing my shrieking face, which was now about midway through that sustained ‘Yeah!’

Looking back down towards the ground, I couldn’t see anything but the brown and green quilt of colours below. This is incredible. How can falling be so insanely exciting? And falling.

And falling. And falling...

The curvature of the horizon isn’t slight; it is very apparent and reminded me how small our little planet is. And how ridiculously high I was right then, for a human at least. We were falling at around 176 feet per second. You don’t want to get too excited at that speed as a moment of overzealous waving at the camera and mimicking superman sent us into a little wobble, which Grant corrected immediately with his own expert arm position. It must be quite a liability having an idiot strapped to you while doing something as technical as skydiving.

It wasn’t all good: the pain in my ears from the rapid pressure change was acute. I couldn’t do anything to clear them, but realised I was wasting precious seconds of freefall just thinking about it, and so blocked it out and focused on the sensation of falling. But falling 8000ft only takes about 45 seconds, and so it was over almost as suddenly as it began.

Sarah disappeared out of view in an instant as she tracked away from us. A sudden jolt pulled us from horizontal to upright and immediately the noise stopped, replaced with epic silence. We had deployed at 5000ft and decelerated from 120mph to 40mph in about 800ft. For the next four minutes or so we would gently drift downwards while Grant talked me through all the landmarks, letting me steer the chute briefly, while making seagull noises, before finally dropping onto the airfield, feet up, and sliding to a gentle halt on our bums. I collapsed, sated with exhilaration, between Grant’s legs. It would’ve felt awkward if it hadn’t felt so good.

I will never look at my surroundings the same again. And I’ll continue to envy birds for their power of flight. And I may have to do this again. There’s something quite addictive about experiencing gravity in such a visceral way.

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21/05/2013 16:17

Feature /// Flyboarding

WATER WAY TO FLY THE FACT THAT no-one on the team could explain exactly what I was being sent to do over at Tattershall Lakes should’ve worried me.

Alarm bells should’ve rang when Christian at 158 Performance – who had organised the test of the firm’s new water-based toy – also couldn’t really get across to me what I would be testing out. And I should’ve noticed how Chris, Active’s publisher, kept referring to it as ‘water boarding’ – a well-known form of torture.

Water boarding would’ve been a breeze, it turned out. It’s no surprise no-one could explain what Flyboarding (it’s actual name) was, as it’s so new, very few people have seen it let alone tried it. But less than an hour away you can strap your feet to a high-powered water jet and be fired out of a lake into the air, and then crash back down into the water, over and over.

OK, that’s not fair on Flyboarding. I just wasn’t very good at it. Let me explain what ‘it’ is: the board that was strapped to my feet, with snowboard-style bindings, essentially has two high pressure nozzles on either end. Water is fed into these fixed nozzles and pumped through a long length of fire-fighting grade hose from the powerful impeller of a supercharged, four-stroke Seadoo jetski. When my torturer, er, I mean co-pilot David gasses the throttle of the jetski, instead of it moving, the jet of water courses through the hose to the Flyboard, that should be

directly beneath me in the water at this point, and lifts it and myself out of the lake, only to balance on the two jets of water and hover about eight feet off the surface. Well, that’s theory...

Even below the water, thrashing about like a tuna in a net, I could still hear the belly laughs coming from the shore. Chris was in tears, and Christian could barely hold my camera still.

After four or five attempts, it was clear I was lifting out of the water much quicker than 6ft 6in, 16st Christian did. I was coming out of the water so quick my brain didn’t have a chance to remember what I had to do: keep my body dead straight and look ahead.

The shock of lifting up so quickly dumped the crucial information from my brain, or sunk it to my feet. My bum was sticking out like I’d been kicked in the groin and I was staring down and marvelling at high up I was. That’s when I started to topple backwards each time.

Wide-eyed and slack-jawed, with cartwheeling arms, I splashed down backwards into the water again and again and again.

But as I stayed up for a millisecond longer each attempt, and realising all the effort had warmed me up, my competitive streak kicked in and I became determined to hover like Ironman.

Finally, with my body rigid and vertical, I gave the signal and lifted out of the water, with my arms outstretched, like some mythical deity or Dynamo the magician. It’s a bizarre feeling. It flips your stomach the first few times. In a fun way. But the moment I got carried away with

actually hovering, I’d start to move and forget everything, and fall. But this time, I panicked to the left, and went left. Then I was hovering forward, quickly. I wasn’t in the water! I was Ironman! I was Rocketman! I was Micheal J Fox in Back to the Future on a real-life hoverboard! I was...SPLOOSH! Cue laughter from the shore.

After the third ‘one last go!’, I jetted towards the jetty, dragging my jetski co-pilot with me, and handed over to Chris. Now, I’m not casting aspersions, but it’s clear that the heavier you are, the easier it is as you lift slower. Suffice to say our publisher lifted out of the water like a dancing dolphin at SeaWorld and hovered above the lake, for ages. There was no laughter.

This isn’t funny. “Give it more gas, David,” I shouted, determined to dislodge my smug boss from his improbable perch. But more gas just hovered Chris higher, and now with such a look of nonchalance on his face you’d think he was standing there waiting for a bus.

I’d be back. I won’t be beaten at something so fantastically bonkers it couldn’t be more up my street if it moved in next door. And I’d bring a group of uncoordinated friends with no head for heights. Group parties get the most fun out of the Flyboard anyway, as you get to play on the jetskis too, and eat at the shoreside barbeque.

When I return to tame this hover board, I’ll gorge myself on cooked meat first and see if the ballast helps [we do not recommend over-eating before swimming in open water! - Ed].

I am Ironman, honest. I’m just a little rusty.

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25/05/2013 07:28

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 King’s Speech to children's favourites...

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Feature /// Flyboarding “I’ve got it, I’ve got it!”

Rich finally manages to balance the Flyboard’s powerful water jets and hover in the air. At least for 1/250th of a second while this photo was taken...

HOW YOU TOO CAN FLY LIKE IRONMAN A 30 MINUTE session with the Flyboard starts from £60, but the real fun is with a group. 158 Performance will organise bespoke packages for groups, but, if you have a go and want to get involved in the serious world of professional Flyboarding competition, you can buy one to plumb to your own jetski for £4450. For more information, call 01778 341144 or email info@158performance.co.uk

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Feature /// Buying a horse

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BLUEMOON STOCK / ALAMY

B

uying a horse is a huge decision, mainly because finding the right horse for you is similar to looking for Mr (or Mrs) Right: you are really hoping to find an equine partner who will fulfil all your wildest dreams.

But it can be a very expensive business and if you choose unwisely it could cost you a fortune, and even your safety. However, it has become easier to buy these days as new laws are in place to protect the buyer.

One of the main things that has changed is that dealers used to have such a bad reputation. This is not the case at all now because dealers cannot afford the reputation of selling bad horses, so if you are not happy, they will often try and find you an exchange, even if you just feel you are not ‘gelling’ with your horse.

If you buy from a dealer The Sale of Goods Act 1979 will apply to the transaction and if the horse is unsuitable or unfit for purpose you will be entitled to a refund.

You have six months to do this, but you will have to prove that the horse is not as

Horse

trading With some of the best riding in Britain in our area, buying the perfect horse is important.

Julia Dungworth explains what to look for

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22/05/2013 22:17

Sharp. The new E-Class Saloon.

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Mercedes-Benz of Boston Boardsides, Wyberton Fen, Boston, Lincs PE21 7NY 01205 360200 www.mercedes-benzofboston.co.uk Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new E 220 CDI SE Saloon: urban 44.1(6.4), extra urban 60.1(4.7), combined 52.3(5.4). CO2 emissions: 128 g/km. *Business Users only. Advance payment applies. *All payments subject to VAT. Finance based on a Contract Hire agreement, 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges may apply. Rental includes Road Fund Licence for the contract duration. Orders/credit approvals on E 220 CDI SE Saloon models between 1 April and 30 June 2013, registered by 30 September 2013. Subject to availability, offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Credit provided subject to status by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited, MK15 8BA. Prices correct at time of going to print (05/13).

Outdoor Camping Exhibition Britain has gone completely mad for festivals. Whether you’re an old time festival camper or a newbie, everyone forgets the little things which can make and break a festival.

We have put together a little kit to help you along the way to best enjoy your camping festival experience. It has 8 essentials and can be purchased at 20% off when you buy a tent, sleeping bag or blow up mattress.

Fancy yourself as a Pro Golfer? In store we are hosting a Charity putting competition. £1 a go for 5 attempts. Prizes to be won.

Bear Grylls, Regatta, Craghopper and Hi-tech walking book and Bridgedale socks.

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PETE TITMUSS / ALAMY

Feature /// Buying a horse

described - e.g. it’s 15 when it was sold to you as a five-year old, or that you bought it as a first time happy hack and it napps so badly (i.e does not move freely forwards in the direction that you want it to) that you can’t get it out the yard.

The other thing to remember is that I have seen people I know well, people that I would class as friends, people that would help old ladies cross the road, suddenly turn around and lie through their teeth if they think they are going to sell their very own ‘trusty’ steed to you (stable name Lucifer)!

So tread carefully when buying from associates. It can get personal, because a horse is not a mechanical object and objectivity can be hard to find.

Before you start your search, write a brief description of what you want in a horse and your ambitions. Give that list to a friend who will stay neutral throughout the process and who will make sure that what you buy is what is on that list.

When you are going to look at a horse, do take someone with you if you’re not an expert: preferably your riding instructor or someone more knowledgeable than you.

Always make sure you can have a good look at the horse in the stable before you get on. Not only do you need to use this time for looking for lumps and bumps, but check out their attitude, ask if it’s OK to walk behind him and then go hand first and see if they look happy with that.

Do watch him being tacked up, ask about his tack and bits, etc, and ask lots of questions, such as does he hack alone, is he good in traffic and good to catch, has he had any lameness issues.

Then ask to see the horse ridden and jumped before you get on him. If they say he’s been jumping 1.10m, make sure you see him jumping 1.10, even if you have no intention of doing it.

When you are riding, try and stand him still and see if he will be patient, and also see if you can just take him for a walk away from the yard and his mates to see if he resists.

Don’t assume that you can do better than the previous owners. If they can’t get him to trot round in an outline and they have had him for two years, the chances are he’s not going to do it for you either. Do go back and see him again once more if you are not sure. If you are not sure by then, don’t go back for a third time.

Make sure you see the passport, so you can check his breeding and age (it is illegal to sell a horse without one) and don’t leave a deposit unless you are 100% sure, as you’ll be legally obliged to buy it once you have done that.

Do have him vetted, even if you are buying a cheap horse (under £3,500), as he is still an investment and any money thrown away is a lot of money. And don’t buy if your vet tells you not to. No good will come of it.

I know people who have fallen in love with a horse and no amount of advice will change their mind. But you have to toughen your heart, or

‘WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A HORSE, DO TAKE SOMEONE WITH YOU IF YOU’RE NOT AN EXPERT’ you will be set for a fall, metaphorically or physically, in the end.

Finally, make sure you get a receipt with a brief description (i.e. 16.2hh, Bertie, hack, five years) and keep the receipt and the advert in case something goes wrong.

On the positve side, it’s also nice to look back on it in years to come.

The other thing to think about is employing someone locally to find one for you. This takes all the stress and travelling out of the equation and someone that will get you what you said you wanted, avoiding the scenario of “I know it’s five years younger and not quite big enough for me, but it looked so sad when it was lying down in the field that I just had to buy it.”

Follow this advice and you will have many years of happy riding around our fantastic area.

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IMAGE SOURCE / ALAMY

Feature /// Racquet sports

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Sandie Hurford tightens her strings and heads off in search of local racquet sports

T

he crack of a squash ball, thwack of a badminton shuttle, soft thud of a tennis ball, tick-tock of a pair of table tennis players. Those sounds are so evocative, whether you’re a racquet player or not, and they all conjure up different ambiences. Wikipedia amazingly lists 35 varieties of racquet sports, though the ones already mentioned are the ones you’re most likely to have tried at some level.

SQUASH

ARE YOU BEING SERVED?

There’s a certain smell to a squash court, probably emanating from all that sweat splashed around as players burn off up to 1,000 calories per hour (Forbes magazine rated squash as the number one healthiest sport to play, though it also claims a regular crop of heart attack victims among its veteran devotees).

Squash is a fast-moving game that requires skill, speed and supreme fitness, with the ball reaching speeds of up to 170mph. Played by two (singles) or four players (doubles) in a fourwalled court with a small, hollow rubber ball, the opponents alternate in striking the ball with their racquet on to the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court.

The game began in the 19th century and was formerly called squash racquets, a reference to the ‘squashable’ soft ball used in the game (compared with the fatter ball used in its parent game racquets or rackets). Harrow School is credited as the game’s birthplace, when young pupils who couldn’t compete with older boys for space on the proper racquets courts invented their own version using a rubber ball instead of a hard one.

Supporters have long lobbied for the game’s inclusion in the Olympics, although even played on a glass-walled court for better viewing it has a reputation as a poor spectator sport.

Interested in playing? Try these clubs www.rutlandsquash.co.uk www.stamfordsquashclub.org.uk

BADMINTON

Badminton is probably the sport most easily taken up by amateurs as it’s relatively easy even for children to get the shuttle across the net, and that makes it a great social activity.

Most local sports centres have a badminton club where anyone can turn up and get a game at their level, however lowly.

But at higher levels it barely resembles the lighthearted activity enjoyed by all age groups on

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BLEND IMAGES / ALAMY

Feature /// Racquet sports

the beach or in the garden. Especially in singles, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, agility, explosive strength, speed and precision. Watch the Olympics (it has been included since 1992) and prepare to be astonished at the speed and dexterity of those lithe players.

Badminton is played on a rectangular court which is split by a raised net. A game is best of three sets – and a set is won once the player or team reach 21 points. If the score is level at 21-21, then play continues until one side has a twopoint advantage.

The shuttlecock (or shuttle) is a feathered (or plastic, mainly in uncompetitive games) projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently than the balls used in most racquet sports; in particular, the feathers create much higher drag causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than a ball.

Shuttlecocks have a much higher top speed when compared to other racquet sports, travelling at more than 250mph during a vigorous rally. Because shuttlecock flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is played indoors.

It’s all thanks to the Duke of Beaufort that badminton is played in the UK. A military officer, the duke brought back a version of the game from India in 1873 and named it after his home, Badminton House.

Although the origins of badminton lie in the UK, it is actually Asian players who have tended to dominate the sport in recent history, having won 69 out of the 76 medals available in the sport’s Olympic history.

Interested in playing? Try these clubs www.uppinghamhillbadminton.co.uk www.stamfordbadmintonclub.co.uk www.oakhambadmintonclub.co.uk

TABLE TENNIS

More than 20% of the world’s population play table tennis (also known as ping-pong, though that makes it sound somewhat recreational), making it one of the world’s most played sports.

Even recreational players can relatively quickly

become highly skilled and ping-pong at the professional level is truly a sight to behold.

The game (for two or four players) takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, players must allow a ball played toward them only one bounce on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side.

Play is fast and demands quick reactions.

Spinning the ball alters its trajectory and limits an opponent’s options, giving the hitter a great advantage. Played at a lightning pace (the ball can travel at 100mph), a long rally – though rare – is a truly awesome spectacle. You have to watch very carefully to see the different techniques used by players to get the better of their opponents.

The game was initially played in Britain in the early 1900s, but it is now China that dominates it, winning a total of 47 medals in 28 events, including 24 gold medals, since the sport became an Olympic event in 1988.

Despite its Olympic status, table tennis can also be played at any level and at any age – the oldest participant in the World Veterans’ Table Tennis Championships was 100-year-old Australian Dorothy De Low! Interested in playing? Try these clubs www.lrsport.org www.rutland.gov.uk

TENNIS

Newly-mown grass, cucumber sandwiches, guaranteed hot, sunny afternoons – that’s the tennis we all know and love from the PG Wodehouse chronicles. But then came along the likes of Federer, Sampras and Nadal, turning the game on its head with the latest racquet technology and changing standards in player fitness.

The modern game of tennis originated in Birmingham in the late 19th century as ‘lawn tennis’ with close connections to games such as croquet and bowls as well as to the older racquet sport of ‘real tennis’.

The rules haven’t changed much since the 1890s, though from 1908 to 1961 the server had to

keep one foot on the ground. The tie-break was adopted in the 1970s, however, and a recent addition thas been electronic review technology coupled with a point challenge system, which allows a player to contest a line call.

Wimbledon, still enjoyed by many for its Pimm’s, strawberries and people-watching, has become big business – no longer prone to the vagaries of the British climate thanks to Centre Court’s retractable roof (they’re planning one over Court One, too).

Played at professional level, tennis can be a gruelling sport that can take four to five hours to complete. At club level, a game of singles takes an hour or two at the most and people with average physical fitness can play well into their senior years. As they slow down, players switch to doubles to continue enjoying the game, though improper techniques can lead to injuries such as the infamous ‘tennis elbow’.

For frustrated beginners, it can seem ridiculously impossible to keep the ball within the court at all. But get it right, find a good local club of likeminded individuals and it can become an addictive addition to your social life.

Interested in playing? Try these clubs www.oakhamltc.org.uk www.stamfordtennis.co.uk www.corbytenniscentre.co.uk

ANYONE FOR TENNIS ?

Looking for a small sociable tennis club, then we are looking for you. For further information visit our website www.apethorpetennisclub.co.uk or contact Jenny on 01780 782037 or Geoff on 07913 668531

ANYONE FOR TENNIS? Situated in the grounds of Stamford School, off Conduit Road, Stamford Tennis Club was founded in 1993 and is the third largest tennis club in Lincolnshire.

Owned by the members and run by committee, it is affiliated with the LTA and offers a range of social and competitive tennis, coaching and social events, including quarterly tournaments.

Chairman Gavin Kelly said: “With seven hard courts (four floodlit) and six astroturf courts, we offer a wide range of social and competitive events – to suit all standards of players.”

Membership starts from £100 per adult, £165 per couple, or £175 for a family (ages range from 5 to 85). A clubhouse provides somewhere to shelter if it rains and there’s a kitchen which allows members to organise refreshments.

There are toilets, changing rooms and parking.

The club enters a number of teams in local leagues. Social tennis sessions for varying abilities are held on Tuesday and Sunday mornings and Friday evenings.

Group coaching programmes run all year round and children’s tennis camps are run during school holidays in addition to the regular year-round children’s coaching programme.

Private lessons are also available.

Members may use the seven hard courts when not required for use by Stamford School.

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Feature /// Golf

Toft golfer in the Open A South African based at the local golf course is set to tee off at Muirfield in July Words Bob Warters DARRYN LLOYD, a 23-year-old South African based at Toft Hotel golf course, near Bourne, achieves a lifetime ambition in July when he competes in the Open Golf Championship at Muirfield.

Durban-born Lloyd, who plays on both the Sunshine Tour in South Africa and EuroPro Tour in the UK and Ireland, earned his spot through the 36-hole Africa International Qualifying event at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington’s East Course earlier in the year.

He has been attached to Toft since emigrating to Lincolnshire as a 15-year-old and returns to complete his practice here next week after a third place in Swaziland, 21st in Zimbabwe and two second places in the Big Easy Development Tour where he leads the order of merit.

Darryn says: “Growing up in South Africa, The Open was one of the majors I wanted to play in and I decided that once I got my handicap low enough I could take a shot at it. I missed it a couple times by a shot –so to make it this time was a great relief.

“I’ve already been up to Muirfield to play a practice round, with my girlfriend Hannah steering my trolley. It’s just as great a course, even in April, as they said it would be. It was something I’d always dreamt about,” said Darryn, who finished third in the Open qualifier thanks to a birdie at the final hole.

He recalled: “I started my final round with an eagle at the first hole and notched up four birdies and four bogeys before birdieing the last to avoid a play-off.”

So how did his career start?

“My mother worked for an investment company and organised a team building event at a local golf range in Durban. I went along as a 10-year-old and immediately enjoyed it.

“I got my own clubs and at 14 wanted to play more seriously.

“My handicap started to come down and when we emigrated in 2004 I soon got to four handicap, aged 15,” said Darryn, who played in several major amateur events but decided his goal was to turn pro, which he did aged 18 with a handicap of plus one.

“My amateur record wasn’t anything to write home about; I was not as interested in the amateur side as perhaps I should have been; I just wanted to turn professional.”

Darryn’s time is now split jointly between his native South Africa, where he first claimed his pro playing rights back in 2009, playing alongside major champions, Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel and Luis Oosthuizen, and the minor professional events which are held throughout Europe.

“I led a couple of Sunshine tournaments going into the last day but wasn’t able to capitalise but I’m gaining valuable experience and my Open appearance can only be a big help,” he says.

“My ambition is to be a worldwide golfer and The Open is a great opportunity and a great place to start.”

Ketton-based contributor Bob Warters is editor-at-large with www.GOLFmagic.com - the internationally recognised website for golfers - and will be compiling a preview and Open diary with Darryn Lloyd on the website before and during the event, which starts on July 18

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Feature /// Lancaster restoration

REACH FOR THE SKY Photography: Harry Measures

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Two local brothers are aiming to have a rare WWII Lancaster flying over our skies again soon. Harry Measures investigates

D

uring the war, the roaring sound of Merlin engines over the rolling Lincolnshire countryside was frequent – fighters by day and bombers by night. Thanks to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, we still get to hear those evocative sounds from time to time as Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster take to the skies for various flying engagements.

The symbol of Bomber Command, the Memorial Flight’s Lancaster is the only airworthy model in the UK. But that number could be doubled thanks to the dedication of two Lincolnshire brothers determined to see another Lancaster in British skies.

At a small family-owned museum at a former World War Two airfield located just an hour’s drive from Stamford, in East Kirkby, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre was founded in 1988 by two farmer brothers, Fred and Harold Panton.

They acquired Avro Lancaster ‘Just Jane’, NX611, in 1983 as a tribute to their fallen brother, Christopher Panton, a flight engineer serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force 433 Squadron who was shot down during a raid over Nuremberg on the night of 30/31 March, 1944 – later dubbed ‘Black Friday’ due to the terrible losses incurred.

The Panton brothers had also purchased the former site of RAF East Kirby in 1981, which flew Lancasters from 57 and 630 squadrons from 1943 to the close of the war in Europe.

NX611 was built in April 1945 and was originally destined for the RAF’s Tiger Force, the group selected to fight in the Pacific. This never materialised though, due to Japan surrendering earlier than expected. This meant that NX611 did not see any active service in World War Two and was subsequently placed into storage,

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Feature /// Lancaster restoration

where she remained until 1952. She was then purchased by the French government who used her for maritime patrol on the French Naval Air Arm. After 10 years she was moved to New Caledonia where she was used for air-sea rescue and cartography. In 1964, the French presented NX611 to the Historical Aircraft Preservation Society (HAPS) and flew her to her new home in Sydney, Australia, where she was overhauled before undertaking a nine-day, 12,000-mile journey back to the UK in May 1965.

Once back in the UK, HAPS operated her for a number of years until it could no longer afford the operating costs and put NX611 up for auction. This is the first time the Panton brothers attempted to buy NX611, but were unsuccessful.

The new private owner lent it to the RAF as a gate guardian for RAF Scampton, but the brothers kept in contact with the owner and were subsequently able to purchase her at last, albeit with the agreement that she was to complete her 10-year service as gate guardian.

Finally, in 1987, NX611 was delivered to East Kirkby courtesy of the RAF, where she gained her nickname Just Jane, and the accompanying nose art. In 1993 the first steps were made to restoring her engines, which had been sat idle for more than 20 years, back to running condition. It was a lengthy process: the first engine alone cost £7,000 and took almost 700 man hours.

‘HOPES ARE HIGH THAT IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO THE LANCASTER COULD ONCE AGAIN LEAVE THE GROUND’ The engines were steadily completed one at a time until all four engines were in a running, however not in airworthy, condition.

This has enabled the museum to run Just Jane on fast taxi runs, which are performed at the museum on a regular basis. Visitors can not only watch these runs, but also ride in Just Jane during them, and East Kirkby is the only place in the UK that you experience this.

These taxi runs make up just some of the events the museum organises – other occasions include full air displays, where World War Two aircraft perform in the skies above the airfield.

As well as aviation-orientated events, car rallies and even photographic days are on the calendar. The event to round off the year, the night taxi, is a fantastic experience and allows you to get a feel for what it would have been like to be on the airfield during the war as the

Lancasters left for Germany, some never to return.

Since the Lancaster has been taxiing, the museum has set itself a new, longer term goal; to enable Just Jane to feel the wind below her wings once again. Started in 2005, a major milestone was reached in December last year when the museum took delivery of the fourth airworthy Merlin engine.

Many pieces of the jigsaw are still missing though, so nobody is quite sure how long it will be before Just Jane can fly again. There are hundreds of pieces needing inspection and possible replacement, and every replacement or repair costs money and time.

After all, with only two flying Lancasters in the world (the other is in Canada), there isn’t a plentiful supply of spare parts sitting about.

But hopes are high that in the next year or so the Lancaster could once again leave the ground.

One thing is for certain though, “Just Jane” will always be a working, living memorial to not just Christopher Panton, but the 55,573 aircrew from Bomber Command who lost their lives during the Second World War.

MORE INFORMATION Updates on progress made are published on the museum’s website. Visit www.lincsaviation.co.uk

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Feature /// Rough notes

Peterborough Milton This month the Active team unearths a little known gem set in stunning parkland on the outskirts of Peterborough. Steve Moody reports If you’re a casual golfer, you might not even know that Peterborough Milton Golf Club exists, because to get to it you have to drive down a road seemingly going nowhere out the back of Castor. It’s been there a good while though, as the club is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Chris the publisher drove and he didn’t seem entirely sure where he was going, a state of affairs that continued right on to the first tee where his usual booming drive fizzled damply into the hedge 20 yards to the left.

His second was a bit better, but his third, and then fifth found the lake, and only a desperate up and down spared him from an 11. I would have chuckled myself (actually I did), but my perfect straight drive also found the water. Three wood off the tee here, then.

Peterborough Milton is not the longest course at 6,560 yards and a par of 71, but it is a pretty parkland layout, designed by James Braid in the late 1930s, remodelling and extending the nine-hole course of the late Earl Fitzwilliam within the grounds of the family home, Milton Hall, which sits at the start of the 13th hole.

The earl was an avid collector of tree species and at one time it is reputed there was a sample of all known European species within the grounds of the hall.

Certainly, Chris was mightily impressed with the flora and fauna, commenting on the various wood all the way round, while our

other playing partner Biggsy spent a lot of time having a closer look at them thanks to his predilection for punched slices.

Too close to the end of the hockey season, he claimed, and not enough time to get this new season’s swing operating.

Probably the real stars of the course are the par threes, which are all fairly short but exceedingly lovely being surrounded by trees with contoured greens.

They’re especially lovely if you play them like me, with accurate tee shots and some easy putts, including one ten-foot swinger that dropped for an important birdie when the game was looking like it might get tight.

As my usual par three efforts result in double bogies, it was a welcome change.

Handily though, for us shorter hitters, there aren’t too may long holes: even the par fives are just over 400 yards, although there are some fiendishly placed bunkers and trees which can ruin your score.

Chris whacked it too far to matter, Biggsy smashed everything too far right to even encounter traditional hazards, so it was left to me to spend many holes splashing out of sand.

What’s also nice is the telephone at the start of the ninth where you can ring ahead to the cabin and order your food.

I do generally find a restorative Mars bar and a Red Bull does the trick halfway round, although scuffing it off the tee in front of assorted grazers at the cabin and those teeing

off on earlier holes wasn’t ideal.

By the time you come to the 18th, it’s clear that Milton is a very pleasant golfing environment, and the last hole offers up some water and a massive bunker, plus an uphill approach which ensures an exciting finish if your scores are all close together.

But Biggsy was on his 13th ball by this point and Chris’s challenge had faded with my epic birdie putt on the 16th, and I was left to stride up to the last, soaking in the glory. Now I know how Tiger must feel.

Peterborough Milton is a thoroughly decent golf course – almost gentlemanly in feel.

It’s not like some of these nasty, brutish modern courses that are ridiculously long with daft danger at every turn, but it’s well kept and pretty, with just the right level of challenge. It was worth the effort of finding it.

CHRIS’S VIEW Another course I’ve not played, and another local gem. I didn’t get off to a great start, initially endangering those practicing on the driving range and then targeting the ducks in the water trap, but once I’d remembered how to hit a golf ball I was able to enjoy the course.

There are some special holes making it hard to pick a favourite in this wellestablished Peterborough parkland. But I’ll go with the picturesque par four tenth which was one of Henry Cotton’s favourite holes in the country.

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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

What are the alternatives?

More and more people are turning to alternative therapies and complementary medicine, with a 50% increase in the market in the past five years. We look at what’s available locally

A

LTERNATIVE MEDICINE EXISTS in all cultures to some degree and terms such as traditional medicine, indigenous medicine or folk medicine are used to describe such practices, which can date back hundreds or even thousands of years.

There are more than 100 systems of alternative medicines still in practice all over the world.

Every country has its own traditional system: for the Chinese, it is acupuncture, for the French, magnetic healing; for the Germans, heilpraxis; for the English, herbalism; for India, ayurveda; for Japan, shiatsu.

Numerous complementary and alternative medicines are available in the UK. Some of them have been known to help alleviate the symptoms of certain illnesses, in cases where orthodox medicine does not seem to have offered a complete solution.

Some of the most popular forms are: ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture is a system of traditional medicine that has been in use for over 2,000 years. It originated in China, where it still features in mainstream healthcare and is often used in combination with western medicine. It is now one of the most popular forms of complementary medicine throughout the world.

By using fine needles inserted at specific points on the body, acupuncture aides the flow of energy or ‘Qi’ around the body’s energy channels or

meridians. It is the correct, balanced flow of this energy which leads to health and wellbeing; stagnation or blockages result in ill health and disease. Acupuncture can offer a potential solution to problems that may have been resistant to other treatments and can help improve your sense of wellbeing – even if you have no particular problem but just feel ‘out of sorts’. It may also be used in the West as an anaesthetic agent and as an analgesic. Side effects can include nausea and fainting.

The profession has robust self-regulation by the British Acupuncture Council.

■ Stamford’s Broad Street Practice (www. thebroadstreetpractice.co.uk) has two acupuncturists working there – Duncan Ford (www.dfordacupuncture. co.uk) and Julie Devlin. The practice also offers osteopathy, hypnotherapy, nutritional therapy and sports and remedial massage.

AROMATHERAPY Using ‘essential oils’ distilled from plants, aromatherapy treats emotional disorders such as stress and anxiety, as well as a wide range of other ailments. Oils are massaged into the skin in diluted form, inhaled or placed in baths.

It is often used in conjunction with massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, herbology, chiropractic, and other holistic treatments.

It can help to promote relaxation and is currently widely used in the management of chronic pain, depression, anxiety and stress, insomnia and some cognitive disorders.

Popular oils used include chamomile, lavender, rosemary and tea tree.

Side-effects can include allergic reactions, headache and nausea.

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■ Angela Cardew at LimeGreen Therapy (www. limegreentherapy.co.uk), who provides a mobile massage service in the Lincolnshire/Rutland area, also offers aromatherapy and reiki treatments.

HOMEOPATHY A medical system that uses infinitesimal doses of natural substances – called remedies – to stimulate a person’s immune and defense system.

A remedy is individually chosen for a sick person based on its capacity to cause, if given in overdose, physical and psychological symptoms similar to those a patient is experiencing. Common conditions homeopathy addresses are infant and childhood diseases, infections, fatigue, allergies, and chronic illnesses such as arthritis.

Homeopathic treatment is available within the NHS, though not all primary care trusts or GPs agree to fund referrals.

The homeopathic approach is based on the concept that ‘like cures like’ – in other words, that “an illness can be treated with a substance, taken in small amounts, that produces similar symptoms in a healthy person”. For example, the homeopathic remedy allium cepa is made from an extract of onions. If a person chops onions, they make the eyes sting and water and the nose run. Using the homeopathic philosophy of ‘like for like’, this means that a disorder with these symptoms should be cured by a small dose of onion. Hence, allium cepa may be used to treat hay fever.

There have been many publications and much debate and controversy about the evidence for homeopathy. Trials have shown some benefits but it has also been suggested that they are due to the quality and holistic nature of the consultation, rather than to the remedies themselves.

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work with joints, muscles and connective tissue and to diagnose and treat soft tissue imbalances and abnormalities in skeletal function.

Manipulation techniques are commonly used for low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headache and sports injuries.

Osteopath Perry Westbrook, from Stamford’s Broad Street practice, says: “Our hands-on techniques stretch and decongest the soft tissues, increase circulation and improve joint mobility, helping to reduce pain and stiffness. Improved biomechanics enhances overall health and vitality creating an environment in which the body has a real chance to heal.”

Much has been made of the potential dangers of spinal manipulation but (despite its widespread use) serious complications seldom occur and the risk of a serious complication due to manipulation is extremely low.

CHRIS ROUT / ALAMY

REFLEXOLOGY Reflexology is a system of massage of the feet based on the idea that there are invisible zones running vertically through the body, so that each organ has a corresponding location in the foot. It has also been claimed to stimulate blood supply and relieve tension.

The concept behind it is that reflex points on the feet and hands correspond to all of the organs, glands and parts of the body. For example, the toes represent the head and the ball of the foot represents the chest and lung region. By applying pressure to these points, it is thought that blood circulation is improved, the body relaxes and organs and glands become balanced.

There is less research on the proposed mechanism of action of reflexology than on acupuncture or manipulation. It is thought that the areas activated by massage of the feet may have something in common with the lines of ‘qi’ in acupuncture.

HYPNOTHERAPY Hypnosis is a natural phenomenon. We all go in and out of hypnosis on a regular basis throughout the day. Day-dreaming, being miles away, ‘losing’ part of your car journey to work, are all examples of natural hypnosis.

Shirley Balfe, hypnotherapist at Stamford’s Broad Street practice, says: “A hypnotherapist makes the state happen when it is required in the session. There are no swinging watches or whirling machines. The therapist simply talks to you in a calm, quiet voice while you relax in the chair with your feet up. What could be nicer?”

When in a state of hypnosis, the mind is open to change. If someone wants to stop smoking or nail

biting, or is unduly nervous about an up-andcoming exam, a session of suggestion therapy can resolve things. If a person is suffering from anxiety, stress, panic attacks, depression, phobias, stuttering, etc, hypnoanalysis would be used to find and treat the root cause of the problem.

Conditions amenable to treatment include: smoking cessation, weight control, irrational fears and phobias, stress management, compulsive behaviour, anxiety and panic attacks.

MANIPULATION THERAPIES The ‘manipulative therapies’ include osteopathy and chiropractic. The two therapies have some similarities in that practitioners use their hands to

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Feature /// Health and beauty

Honeymoon heaven How to make the most of your post-wedding break, plus win a Trumper grooming kit on page 49 CAVELLS Cavells has a fantastic range of clothing for anyone lucky enough to be packing for a honeymoon.

For travelling, a coloured pair of jeans is a nice alternative to denim, and bright colours always work their best in the sunshine. J Brand, Hudson, Paige and Not Your Daughters Jeans have all included coloured denim this season, so there is plenty of choice. Teamed with a simple white shirt this will make a lovely easy outfit.

The art of easy packing is to include things that can be dressed up or down and layered for different temperatures. .

Chinti and Parker have a simple cotton maxi dress in navy or parrot blue and their trademark pocket detail which is a perfect ‘daytime’ dress, while Michael Kors has several maxi dresses in their collection this season which could be dressed up or down. A favorite maxi dress in Cavells is one by D’Exterior and is in a knitted fabric with threads of lurex through and this could be worn to a very glamorous occasion, if needed!

There are also wonderful, glamorous cover-ups from Juliet Dunn to waft around the pool or beach: a specialist collection of ‘resortwear’ and include beautiful silk caftans with sequin detail or if you prefer a more understated look, there are embroidered cotton kaftans in sleeved and sleeveless styles that are perfect for a beach holiday. Star Mela , sold in Cavells South Street, also do a very pretty collection of these too.

ARCH LABEL DRESS AGENCY Regardless of where you are going knowing what to pack for such an eagerly awaited holiday will make it all the more enjoyable, romantic and exciting.

Here are a few pointers from Arch which will hopefully ensure you are well equipped for this once in a lifetime romantic interlude.  Pack for all contingencies – the weather here is consistently bad and we therefore believe the weather abroad to be wonderful - it usually is but can be changeable!  Choose fabrics which travel well so you don’t have to go near an iron. Anything which hasn’t travelled well, hang in a hot/steamy bathroom and wrinkles should fall out.  Cater for cooler evenings –fine cashmere scarves are versatile and can double up as shawls. They are also great to travel with on a chilly aeroplane.  A long silk maxi dress for some serious “wafting” to and from supper. A white dress is also useful as you can wear during the day or after sunset with bangles and necklaces.  A large straw hat will not only protect but add some style, as would a straw trilby. Marni do some great printed cotton sunhats.  Poolside chic – a couple of well cut bikinis and a couple of swimsuits along with kaftans and strapless maxi dresses. A good kaftan is worth the investment. Missoni Mare do the most beautiful crochet knit beachware colourful, crease free, timeless and beautiful and you can even wear it in the evening.

COLIN BELL Colin Bell Menswear of Stamford has over 26 years of experience in selling quality clothing for men. They specialise in smart, casual clothing ideal for holidays, honeymoons and cruises.

With a large selection of stock from quality brands such as Gant, Fynch-Hatton, Camel Active, Meyer Trousers and Magee there is plenty of choice for your perfect holiday. Smart summer trousers in lightweight cotton fabrics and the classic cotton ‘chinos’ are available in a wide range of colours. Also available are Jeans in various denim washes and cotton fabrics that are not too heavy for hot climates and travelling.

Colin Bell has a vast range of casual shirts, both short and long sleeved, that are ideal for holidays. In fabrics such as pure cotton to linen.

Plain, striped and checked, there’s something for all occasions. They also stock a great range of polo shirts from brands such as Gant and Fynch-Hatton. These come in a wide range of bright colours and are the perfect partner for those shorts! For a more formal evening out at a nice restaurant, Colin Bell have a selection of lightweight summer jackets from quality brands such as Magee, Gant and Benvenuto, which, when worn with a casual shirt and chinos completes that smart, casual look.

Call in at Colin Bell Menswear, 7 Sheepmarket, Stamford.

TURN OVER THE PAGE TO ENTER OUR TRUMPER GIFT SET COMPETITION

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Feature /// Weddings

Wedding help Need some expertise for the big day? Try these local companies out GRANGE FARM Nestled amidst its own little oasis of countryside, just 1.5 miles west of Wansford, Grange Farm offers a beautiful setting for weddings, parties and other special events.

The permanent marquee, sited alongside a beautiful lake, provides unrivalled flexibility to make your special day your own. Spacious enough to accommodate up to 250 guests for a formal sit down meal, smaller parties are offered more intimate space via clever internal screens and decoration, while wedding and celebration photos will be simply stunning, courtesy of the established woodland that provides a scenic backdrop to this unique venue.

Whatever the occasion, your party will be greeted by the experienced and friendly Grange Farm team, for whom nothing is too much trouble and service is always with a smile.

Speak to Charlotte on 01780 782459 or charlotte@grange-farm.co.uk.

Website: www.grange-farm.co.uk

STAMFORD WEDDING & PARTY COMPANY The Stamford Wedding & Party Company is a group of local established companies with many years of experience in the wedding, hospitality and outdoor events industry headed up by Andy Beamish of Events and Tents and Three County Marquees, and Susan and Bertie Fenner of Jeeves Catering Ltd. Not only do they arrange the venue, marquee and catering but also elements such as wedding cakes, the bar, entertainment and photography.

By utilising their contacts and packaging everything under one roof not only is it easier, but most importantly, it saves you money.

They have a variety of packages available at exclusive venues in the area or to feature at home. They can accomodate most budgets and requirements - all you need to do is let them know what you’re looking for and they will create the perfect package for you.

Telephone 01778 345020 or email info@stamfordweddingcompany.co.uk or see their website: www.stamfordweddingcompany.co.uk

WIN THIS TRUMPER GIFT SET FROM COLIN BELL Win a high quality Trumper grooming fit set by answering this simple question: ON WHAT TWO STREETS IN LONDON ARE THE TRUMPER’S SHOPS BASED? Send your answer to trumpercomp@theactivemag.com, by June 21

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Feature /// Great walks

TOP STAT

was the site of Martinsthorpe nbigh’s grand De of rl Ea the And before the e. us ho try coun tion, this was en erv int rl’s Ea ssing point cro nt rta po im an to on the Oakham d.

Uppingham roa

Clockwise from above

Stunning views dominate this walk, including Old Hall Farm in Martinsthorpe; glorious honey coloured stone is a feature of the area; much of this walk is on quiet lanes and over fields; the Blue Ball in Braunston – time your visit right and you may be rewarded with a few roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings going spare

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Manton to Braunston loop A seven-mile walk with fine views and two excellent pubs ticks all the boxes, says Will Hetherington Photography: Will Hetherington THE ROUTE

Park in the newly constructed car park at the Horse & Jockey pub in Manton. If you don’t think you’ll be popping in for a drink at the end, then there is plenty of space to park on the road. Walk out of the car park and turn right up the hill towards the road through the village. Turn right and cross over the main Oakham to Uppingham road and pick up the start of the footpath heading west to Braunston.

Fairly soon you will come to the old settlement of Martinsthorpe. Until very recently this has been entirely unoccupied but, as you will see, work is well underway to develop Old Hall Farm. It looks like it’s going to be a stunning house, if a little remote!

From this part of the walk there are also great views north to Gunthorpe and south to Preston and Ridlington. Once you have passed Martinsthorpe you will find a more established track, which takes you along the ridgeline, passing America Lodge on your left. When you reach the road junction keep going straight on, following the signs to Braunston. From here you have to walk on the road for a mile or so until you get to the village. But on the Sunday afternoon we enjoyed this walk we saw fewer than 10 vehicles on the road, so it’s a peaceful stroll.

When you reach pretty Braunston, one of Rutland’s finest villages, make your way up past All Saints’ Church and go for a pint in the Blue Ball. If you are lucky, as we were, there might be a few roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings going spare from lunch, too. The problem with this pub is that it’s a bit hard to leave. In fact you

could start and finish the walk here if you wanted.

Once you have summoned the willpower to head for the exit, head back down the road the way you came, looking for the footpath sign off to the left opposite the churchyard. From here you have to follow the signs and your nose, as the path bends and twists a bit at the start of the eastward march towards Brooke and Manton beyond. It’s not that tricky but, as always, make sure you have an OS map with you.

After 10 to 15 minutes you will come out on the road about a third of a mile north of Brooke. Turn right and walk along the road into Brooke. Take the right fork before the church and look out for the footpath sign nestled between the houses beyond the church. From here you are out into open fields all the way back to Manton, and it’s a lovely way to finish the walk, with some classic ridge and furrow remainders on display.

When you eventually return to the Horse & Jockey you will be ready for another drink, and maybe something a little more substantial, in a pub which has seen a lot of investment and improvement in recent times.

THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE

This is a good walk for the dog. There were no sheep or cattle in any of the fields on the day we did it and there was plenty of water around, too.

Difficulty rating (out of five)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park In the Horse & Jockey car park at Manton, if you are going to step inside at some point. Otherwise there is plenty of space on the road. Or you can park near the Blue Ball in Braunston and start and finish there instead.

Highlights This is a really good leg stretch with varied terrain and sights. The views of Gunthorpe at the start and the peace, tranquility and beauty of Braunston and Brooke stand out. And there are two excellent pubs en route.

Distance and time Seven miles, two and a half hours.

Lowlights Crossing the main road at the

start is not the nicest way to begin, but a er that it’s plain sailing in the quiet countryside.

Refreshments The Blue Ball at Braunston, or the Old Plough. The Horse & Jockey at Manton. You shouldn’t get thirsty or hungry on this walk.

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WEDDINGS & OCCASIONS Grange Farm offers a beautiful setting for weddings and special occasions. Our new lakeside marquee offers unrivalled flexibility to make your day your own.

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Feature /// Sportsman’s Dinner

The Orangery, Burghley House This month JT and Dean get washed and brushed up for a trip to the big house JT Having crawled through mud in my Lycra outfit at Burghley Park during the Rat Race, it was nice that the next time we were at the estate we were in the more salubrious surroundings of The Orangery, in slightly more dapper clothing. I could get used to such posh surroundings.

Freedom beer with it was excellent. Giles, the restaurant manager, sourced it from Staffordshire. It’s a crisp lager – not like the usual industrial stuff.

Dean Stocking up on the carbs again for your next extreme outing?

Dean I was pleased to see you didn’t turn up in your Lycra, a sight I’d be happy not to see again.

It certainly is very grand in The Orangery, but I didn’t feel out of place. There is a very relaxed feel at lunchtime in the restaurant, quite possibly due to the mix of diners and the welcoming staff.

JT I agree. It’s a perfect mix of smart and relaxed.

If you want to get dressed up for a full-on lunch you could, or you could easily just pop in wearing jeans and t-shirt. Proper modern dining in a lovely old glassy room looking over the south lawns, where I enjoyed watching the Olympics on the massive screen they erected.

They’ve got a film festival on this summer too, with kids films and a spot of James Bond, which I’ll be going to. If they’ll let me in.

Dean I’m sure they will. You didn’t misbehave last time did you?

JT Of course not! This is a classy spot, and the food reflects that: I went for a chicken caesar salad starter and a burger for main. Apparently the firm who run the restaurant, Absolute Taste, also do the McLaren F1 team’s catering at races.

I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a racing driver.

JT Yep, the next one is attempting to ride round all five main test grounds in England to raise money for Uffington Cricket Club’s new pavilion. And after the glorious crème brulee made with honey from Stamford, I reckon I could add in Cardiff and Durham’s test cricket grounds, too.

Dean I think the less we talk about your driving the better. The menu offered a great selection; I chose the potted shrimp to start and pork belly as my main. Both courses were presented beautifully, and they tasted as good as they looked. The pork was wonderfully succulent. It’s a tough meat to get perfect, but they managed it.

JT Yeah, the chicken was really good, with lots of lovely creamy, salty sauce and a real twang of anchovies. There was so much of it I could have had it as the main course. The burger was hearty fare too, with lots of chips – it’s massively important to have lots of those – and the

Dean Eton mess for me to finish – couldn’t not choose it in such grand surroundings. And I’m glad I did. Caramelised bananas and lime zest were a nice twist to the classic strawberry version. Overall I was very impressed with The Orangery. The food, the service and the setting were fantastic, so I wasn’t surprised to see every table full while we were there.

JT Yes, we went on a Monday lunchtime and it was buzzing. Superb atmosphere, great location, excellent food and not a mud pool in sight. Bliss.

The Orangery Restaurant

Burghley House, Stamford 01780 761989

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Photography: Harry Measures

Feature /// Great runs

Uffington loop Alexa Cutteridge heads east out of Stamford for a run over the fields to Uffington This run was shared by an old school friend of mine, Rebecca Brown, who is currently one of the coaches for Stamford Striders.

It’s a great route that explores the east of Stamford, making the most of the towns scenic views including a finish down by the meandering River Welland.

Perfect for a Sunday slow recovery run or a fast post-work run in the evening sun – it’s time to ditch those thermals and bring out the shorts and sunnies summer is on its way (can you tell I am an optimist?!)

THE ROUTE Start at Morrisons. To the right of Morrisons take the path which leads around the back of the supermarket and on to Ryhall Road. Turn right and continue past McDonald’s and the traffic lights. Just before Altec on the right hand side you will see a footpath sign taking you on to Gypsy Meadows – out of the town and in to the countryside you go!

Turn immediately left in the field and follow the edge of the field for two sides until you get to a little bridge in the opposite corner. Go over this bridge and head up the hill. This is a perfect time to up the pace and bring out the hill sprint – the warm-up is over, get that heart rate up.

Remember: don’t leave your legs to do all the

hard work – use those arms and keeping your chest open and shoulders back as you charge up hill! At the top of the hill, whilst catching your breath stretching, you can enjoy the incredible view of the town and surrounding countryside.

Next go over the stile ahead amongst hedge row and turn right joining Newstead Lane. This is a long down hill run so pick up the pace. At the bottom of the hill you pass an equestrian centre on your right and Newstead Mill. Follow the road around to the left and join the main road heading out towards the pretty village of Uffington.

Cross the road to run on the pavement. You will find the pavement changes again across to the left and just after it does this look out for a footpath sign on the right.

Cross the road for the final time, go over the style and follow the marked footpath taking you through a grass field running by the river Welland. At the end of the grass field is a metal gate; go over the style to the side of it and ahead you will see Hudds Mill - a wonderful renovated mill house.

Bear right at the Mill and head up the track which takes you back out on to Uffington Road with Morrison’s ahead of you.

Cross over the road and return back to the start – just in time to grab some yummy recovery food for supper.

STATS UFFINGTON LOOP DISTANCE 3 miles TERRAIN Road and footpaths, one long uphill, one long downhill DIFFICULTY 2/5

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Feature /// School sports

SUMMER COURSES UPPINGHAM Summer School is running a wide range of courses for both children and adults covering everything from music to drama and sport, and arts & cra s to science and technology.

The Festival of Sport takes place from 12-15 August and incorporates four days of hockey, rugby, netball and tennis coaching. Children have the option of focusing on a particular sport, or they can mix and match and try two days of two different sports.

Coaching is aimed at children aged 7-14 of all sporting abilities.

Other highlights include Get Write In, a creative writing course aimed specifically at teenagers, and Time Tunnel Tardis, a new interactive history course for 6 – 11 year olds.

There are plenty of musical options too, ranging from Total Music Powerhouse, Uppingham’s very own Rock School, through to Glee Week for children who love to combine singing and dancing, or Young Musicians’ Week or the new Chamber Music Weekend.

Thespians are not forgotten either, with the ever popular From Page to Stage drama course taking place from 12-16 August in Uppingham’s own theatre.  For further information or to book visit www.uppinghamsummerschool. co.uk or call 01572 820800.

ABBIE KICKS OFF ABBIE BREWIN has gone from strength to strength in Stamford School’s U18 football team over the last two years.

Instrumental in the conquest of the ISFA National Cup in the 2011-2012 campaign, she played an even more influential role this year, guiding the team to yet another national final. As a result she has gained a place in the England ISFA team and scored a record 41 goals for the school. She has also been rewarded with a trial with Nottingham Forest Ladies.

Fabrice Vié, Stamford High School coach said: “Abbie is a class act on the pitch, technically very able but also always working hard for the team, the ideal midfielder. We wish her all the best for the future and there is no doubt we will miss her.”

England call-up for Oakham hockey girls TWO STUDENTS FROM Oakham School have been selected to play hockey for England Under 18s. Kathryn Lane and Amelia Milton, both aged 17, were selected to be part of the squad and have taken part in the squad’s first tournament.

“Being captain of the England U18 team was an incredible experience,” says Kathryn. “I really enjoyed it and hope to get some better results later on in the year.”

The team played Scotland, Holland and Germany in the tournament.

“In the first game we beat Scotland 3-2 which wasn’t a great performance, but we picked ourselves up and only lost 2-0 to Holland the next day which was a good defensive performance,” says Kathryn.

“We had to beat Germany to get into the final, but unfortunately we lost 4-1. We had some good chances but were unable to convert and a couple of defensive errors let in goals.

“That meant we were in the 3rd/4th play off against Scotland on the final day. We had all the pressure, but they scored a breakaway goal in the first half; which we didn’t respond to. Despite having a lot of circle entries, we again couldn’t convert and the game ended 1-0.”

Both players were part of Oakham’s successful Hockey team that made it to the National Finals this year.

Above

Oakham pupils Kathryn Lane and Amelia Milton

Cricketers remain unbeaten STAMFORD SCHOOL First XI brought the curtain down on a successful half term of cricket by defeating Worskop College by three wickets.

Zak Chappell (47) and Ben Harford (38) led the way on the way to chasing down the home target of 172. This win sees the side go into the break unbeaten with seven wins from seven games.

The season started a solid

victory over Uppingham in a 20/20 contest before a comprehensive win over TDA Peterborough. Captain Charlie Page-Morris inspired the side with the ball taking 4 for 32 to deny Bedford Modern School victory.

A week later he did it with the bat as his tidy knock of 81 made a significant dent in Haileybury School’s chance of a win.

Henry Charlton tormented the visiting batsmen at the death taking 5 for 22.

Master IC Cricket David Jackson was full of praise for the team: “They should be proud of their record. There are tough tests to come but as long as they keep their focus and work hard, they will be tough to beat. They are a young side who continue to impress performing under great pressure.”

Copthill teams enter Rat Race COPTHILL PARENTS and teachers entered three teams in the Burghley Rat Race.

Headmaster Jonathan Teesdale said: “Well done to everyone who took part in this fantastic event, it really was a true experience of team work at its best, something us Copthillians are pretty good at!”

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SHOOTING

Ben wins on the waves LOCAL SAILOR BEN JENNINGS has won his first national title, becoming the National Inlands Champion.

The event was held at Grafham in May and is one of the key events in the racing calendar.

Sailors took part in six races, spending 6 hours out on the water in changeable and very challenging conditions. Ben was lying 9th overnight and went into the final race lying 3rd having gained two 2nds in races 4 and 5.

He then held his nerve during the final race to win both that race and the championship title.

On the basis of his recent results Ben has been invited by the RYA to join the British Sailing Team for the Topper Irish Championships in July. Ben will be part of a team of 12 sailors representing Great Britain.

Ben trains with the National Junior Squad throughout the year and also at Rutland Sailing Club in Edith Weston. He attends the King’s School in Peterborough.

THE STAMFORD Endowed Schools shooting team, made up of 10 senior school pupils, have won the Country Life Small Bore Competition for the second year running.

SES entered an A and B team each consisting of four firers and a non-shooting member who guides the firers onto targets.

121 teams entered the competition and the SES A Team (J Hudson, H Mintern, F Babbs, S Taylor, A Bichan) won outright with a score of 487 out of 500.

The SES B Team (E Joyce, A Pywell, R Coe, E Bilsby, J Stops) came sixth with the highest B team score of 387 out of 500, meaning that they won the Silver Salver.

The A Team won the Grouping with a maximum score of 100 out of 100, won the Rapid with a score of 146 out of 160, won the Snap with a maximum of 120 out 120 and came second in the Landscape with a score of 117 out of 120.

Shooting coach, Steve Denham, said: “Well done to both teams for their fantastic achievement. What’s most impressive is that the A team had all four firers in the top five shots in the country out of a total of 484 firers.

“And two firers from the B Team were also in the top 10.

Congratulations!”

The team consisted of: Freddie Babbs, WO2 Steve Denham MBE (Coach) Joe Hudson (Capt) Andy Bichan, Emily Joyce, Anna Pywell, Emily Bilsby, Hetti Mintern.

Oakham athletes remain unbeaten OAKHAM SCHOOL athletes are enjoying an unbeaten season. Both teams (Girls and Boys) have seen off some fierce competition regionally and nationally.

The Girls are on course for an amazing unbeaten second year and have once again dominated the regional circuit.

“One of the highlights of the season so far was the Senior Girls 4 x 100m Relay team (Ashley Bird, Sarah Dunkley, Gina Hadfield and Lucy Johnson) setting a new school record in winning the Sarah Owen Trophy at the National Achilles Relays, beating amongst others Millfield into second place,” said Director of Athletics, James Clarke. “This arguably makes them the fastest Senior Independent Girls School Team in the country.”

“The Boys victory down at Eton will live long in the memory and saw the team beating schools including St Paul’s, Harrow and Eton,” says Director of Athletics, James Clarke.

“Further wins for the team at Bromsgrove, Rugby and Oundle have provided the squad with a record of Played 20 Won 20,”

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Summer Holiday Fun for everyone at Uppingham Uppingham Summer School abounds with choice for summer holiday activities. Music, drama, sports, arts & crafts and more – there is literally something for everyone of all ages.

Music Chamber Music Weekend, Young Musicians Week, Jazz Big Band Week, Total Music Powerhouse and Glee Week Technology & Science Creative Technologies Powerhouse and Summer Science Factory Drama From Page to Stage

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Feature /// School sports

Kids take to the West End COPTHILL SCHOOL in Uffington have taken a group of children on a once in a lifetime adventure to perform at one of the country’s top theatre venues.

The Copthill Wildcats are children from Years 5 and 6 at the school who for the past three months have been working hard to prepare themselves for performing at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket – home of Phantom of the Opera.

On Sunday 19 May the children performed three medleys from famous musicals – Matilda, We Will Rock You and Shrek.

Jonathan Teesdale, Headmaster at Copthill School said: ‘’It’s a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to expand their talents by performing at such a prestigious theatre, we’re very proud of the children.”

The group have been taught by members of the Wildcats Post 16 Academy, with support from tutor Caz Dolby.

Caz, owner of Wildcats, said: “We are really pleased to have been able to work with the wonderful students at Copthill School and in helping them to become West End stars for the night. They have all enjoyed it immensely.”

Young sailors crowned regional champions SAILORS FROM OAKHAM SCHOOL have been crowned regional sailing champions. They fought off some great competition from 14 teams from across the region to win the BSDRA team Racing Eastern Champs, at Rutland Sailing Club, in May. In total, the teams sailed in 54 races throughout the day. Teams from Oakham School, Ipswich School, Rutland Youth and Royal Hospital School reached the semi-finals.

Last year’s winners, Rutland Youth, performed exceptionally well but were knocked out by the eventual winners Oakham School.

Pupils Sarah Kent (Captain), Mary Henderson, Misha Radionovskiy, George Hunter, Will Robinson and Megan Nagel have been sailing at Oakham for up to seven years.

“Rutland Sailing Club clearly has both excellent youth team racers and experienced adult supporters in strength – it’s a great club for team racing,” says Nick Neve, Head of Sailing at Oakham School.

“Oakham students train with and race against the club youth team throughout the winter, sharing each other’s boats. It’s a great opportunity for young sailors!”

Cadets are stretched to the limit STAMFORD ENDOWED SCHOOLS’ CCF Combat Cadet team, under the leadership of Chris Allison, were active in the STANTA training area near Thetford. This annual competition tests the tactical knowledge, navigation and fitness of cadets designed to stretch teams to their limits.

None of the members of the team had any experience of the competition, yet through their physical endurance and commitment, they achieved 8th place out of 19 teams after strong performances in the night navigation, march and assault course. With further training for individual stands in the first phase, they look set to be favourites for 2014.

Pictured (from left to right), back row: Will Adams, Jimmy Dodworth, Capt Mike Holdswoth, Chris Allison (Team Captain), Capt Rupert Dexter, Josh Rushby, Michael McLaughlin. Front row: Marine Tom Plant RM,(OS), Tom Tonge, Mike Griffiths, Dan Adams, Harry Martin, Pte Will Plant PARA, (OS), George Morley (Admin).

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

Cricket

Season gets underway amid the showers

BY JEREMY BESWICK

W

elcome to Active’s inaugural cricket round-up. Throughout the season we’ll be featuring local cricketing sides and in this edition we’re headlining Stamford, Uppingham and Oakham with briefer details on the others.

Several fixtures have already been rain affected – surely we can’t have as severe a problem as last year, can we? I fear the associated lack of revenue would be serious for some clubs, so let’s cross our collective fingers and bring on the sun.

Stamford’s first elevens (South Lincs and Rutland Leagues) have had a contrasting start to the season. The Saturday side has won five out of six, their only defeat no disgrace coming as it did against highflying Billingborough, whose Roy Tilley took five for 12 as town stuttered to 84 all out.

However, victories against Moulton, Lindum 2nds, Belton (where Liam Dave and Chris Bore made an opening stand of 116) and Sleaford mean they’re only three

points adrift of table-topping Bourne, and also progressed in the cup at the expense of Ufford Park as young Zak Chappell (no relation surely?) hit an unbeaten 70 including three sixes.

In the league Liam Dave, Neil Williams and Andrew Hulme have been the pick of the batsmen whilst veteran bowler Bill Hall has caught the eye.

The Sunday Rutland League side has had a torrid time, losing all four completed matches in spite of the aforementioned Chappell averaging 58, so rather than intrude on private grief let’s move on and hope to have better news next month.

Uppingham Town’s Saturday side makes its debut in the Everards league this season, and it’s been an encouraging start, winning their first three matches against Syston 2nds, Ilston 2nds and Langton 2nds.

On a greenish home wicket against Syston, Danny Dumford polished off the opponents’s innings with four wickets in a four over spell for just a single run, all out for 88. The other Dumford – captain Jamie – made it a family affair with 61 not out

from just 56 balls for a nine wicket winning margin – not a bad start to their Everards career.

It was a similar story against Ilston, Uppingham’s bowlers shining again as Ilston were all out for 87 and the batsmen went one better this time to win by ten wickets. Next up, in a rain affected match, were Langtons, where Alex Ashwin saw town home with a rapid 40 not out.

Alas, harsh reality set in against Hinckley who scored 210 and then had Town at 40 for 5 from which they were unable to recover, finally being all out for 90.

Looking to bounce back against Newborough they totalled 140 for 8 and then a fine bowling performance kept the batsmen under control and finding runs hard to come by.

McCracken however (top scorer with 74) weighed in with a late 16-run over and the final balls were tense, but when he was out to Danny Dumford the tide turned in Uppingham’s favour, winning by five runs.

The Sunday Rutland League side has had less luck with the weather, two fixtures

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failing to complete, but they won their other two against table-topping Market Overton and Newborough.

Town batted first against Market Overton and made 158-9, those Dumford brothers top scoring along with Mark Cox. In the second innings, Dumford of the Danny variety also weighed in with three wickets but, not be outdone, Ben Collins took four for 23 with brother Max claiming four catches as Marko were all out for 125.

So far Oakham’s season echoes that of Stamford’s, with relative success in the Everard’s League in contrast to their Rutland League form, where they lost their opener at home to Newborough by four wickets in spite of Bhavin Shukla’s 58, their following match against Bretton being abandoned.

The Everards opener against Cosby saw Jamie McCormack top score with 41 out of a total of 209, the opponents only managing 133-8 in reply, to hand Oaks a winning draw. Next up were Bitteswell, who reached a respectable total of 185-4, but a spirited batting performance led by that man Bhavin Shukla (68 not out) saw them reach the total with six wickets in hand.

They disappointed against Newton Linford however, managing only 81 all out in response to the home side’s 221-7.

And so to the Lime Kilns for Oakham vs

Whittlesey in the Rutland League, the last game before going to press. A beautiful day as TMS’s coverage of the last innings of the Lords’ test match floated out from the pavilion. For a while we were in a parallel universe to Lords as Oakham, batting first, appeared to be in competition with New Zealand to lose as many wickets as possible in the shortest practical time.

Indeed, Oaks were reduced to 17 for 5 at one point following some fine opening bowling, particularly from Palmer, as the ball swung more than Silvio Berlusconi at a bunga bunga party.

Alas for the Kiwis they had no Shukla in their side who, ably abetted by Darran Jones, built a partnership of 117 for the sixth wicket, the innings finally closing at a defendable 189-4.

As at Lords, the last action was a run out, Steve Radford the unfortunate victim – not having faced a ball. The general hilarity that greeted this event was explained by the identity of the square leg umpire who adjudged him out of his ground – his son.

Oakham’s bowlers included Nick Davies from the under-15s who took two wickets in his first two overs, reducing the opposition to 80-6 at one stage as an improbable victory looked on, but Whittlesey dug in to win by four wickets with seven overs to spare.

So how good is this Shukla? Malcolm Rawlings – scorer, groundsman and seasoned observer (Oakham debut 1953) – reckoned “Certainly one of the best 10 batsmen I’ve seen play for Oakham in the last 60 years”.

Elsewhere, Market Deeping topped the Lincs table until narrowly losing to second placed Grimsby, Barnack, Burghley, Castor and Ufford Park all had mixed starts, Uffington won one and lost three and Laxton are still searching for their first win.

Ketton registered their first victory against Stamford seconds and Easton got off to a flier with three wins, bowler Jonny Grove’s statistics for the season so far being seven wickets for an average of 8.5 runs.

Wakerley and Barrowden won their first match against Ufford Park seconds and then lost to the development sides of both Market Deeping and Barnack.

Bourne’s Saturday side record is won three, lost three, while the Sunday team has a similarly even-handed won two, lost two.

The batsmen have some of the highest averages around but the bowling attack could do with a bit of strengthening.

All in all, a great start to the local cricket season with some outstanding performances and no little drama. Let’s hope that the rain stays away and I can report on a full fixture list next month.

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Roundup

Football

Daniels are on the way up

BY DEAN CORNISH

W

ell, what a season for the Stamford Daniels, who secured promotion in dramatic fashion on May 10 in front of their biggest crowd in eight years when they beat Chasetown 2-1 in the Play-Off Final to gain promotion to the Evo Stik Premier Division.

It was Roy of the Rovers stuff at Wothorpe Road with Ricky Miller’s stunning winner nestling into the bottom left hand corner of the net after 83 minutes of a tense, evenly contested final.

The winner sparked wild scenes around the ground which were then emulated once again on the final whistle when the utter delirium brought a pitch invasion as fans, players and management celebrated together before the play off trophy was awarded.

Anyone who follows this column every month will be aware that just a month ago, promotion was a distant dream for Wayne Hatswell’s men whose poor form towards the end of the season saw them drop from potential title winners, to possibly dropping out of the play off positions altogether.

In fact, going into the final game of the season away at second bottom Mickleover Sports, the Daniels needed a win to guarantee their play-off position and avoid

dropping out of the top five for the first time since August.

Thankfully they got that, but it took a 93rd minute Andy Hall winner to secure a fourth place league finish and enter the lottery of those play offs.

Finishing fourth meant an away semi-final at Derbyshire side Belper on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Nailers had been in hot form going into the play offs and had hammered the Daniels 4-0 just a few months previously.

Daniels fans then could be forgiven to have given up hope of promotion when they went 2-0 down in that semi-final after just 14 minutes.

In fact, Belper had a gilt edge chance to make it 3-0, but thankfully Jon Froggatt mis-hit his shot, and at that point the whole promotion push seemed to make an about turn in favour of Wayne Hatswell’s side.

Just a few minutes later, Ricky Miller pulled a goal back and after that Stamford dominated with it being no surprise when they equalised from an Andy Hall penalty after Miller was brought down.

In extra time, the Daniels dominated the home side, taking lead through a deft Ricky Miller touch from Danny Brooks’ free-kick.

The 4-2 win was then wrapped up when

Shawn Richards broke in the 119th minute, rounded the keeper and slotted home to send the 150 travelling Stamford fans into raptures behind the goal.

Fifth placed finisher’s Chasetown’s 2-1 away win at second placed Coalville in the other semi final meant that the play off final was to be played at the home of the Daniels, by virtue of Stamford finishing the season higher than the Staffordshire side.

In front of a bumper Friday night crowd of 861, the Daniels took the lead after just 4 minutes with a Danny Brooks belter of a free kick.

The away side equalised on 14 minutes and it remained 1-1 and extremely tight for the next 70 minutes before Miller’s 31st goal in 31 games ensure that Stamford will line up next season alongside big names like FC United of Manchester, Witton Albion, Worksop Town and Blyth Spartans, while also resurrecting local derbies against Grantham Town and King’s Lynn.

Wayne Hatswell knows that the only target will be survival next season, although he won’t be there to witness it having taken up a coaching role with newly promoted Football League Division Two side Newport County.

When asked about his new appointment, he said: “It is an incredible opportunity and

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one I couldn’t turn down. I have enjoyed every minute of my time at Stamford.

“I have made some great friends and I have not got a bad word to say about anyone at the club.”

David Staff will be in charge of the team next season. Director of football Guy Walton said: “We were grateful to David for taking caretaker duties when searching for Graham Drury’s replacement.

“Wayne Hatswell acknowledged Staffy’s footballing qualities and their relationship flourished and was fundamental to the squad’s success.

“We wish to support our players and having identified his strengths and shared vision for The Daniels, Staffy will take the manager’s role with immediate effect.”

The Daniels’ budget is likely to be the lowest in a league that they were relegated from at the first time of asking in 2008, so David will have his work cut out.

If they can keep hold of leading scorer Ricky Miller, player of the year Richard Jones and winner of most man of the match awards, Andy Hall, then they’ve got a chance.

For the moment, it’s worth celebrating a dramatic season at Wothorpe Road that included boardroom comings and goings, manager Graham Drury defecting to

Boston United, a subsequent mini player exodus, a new manager, an FA Trophy win over FC United of Manchester, a slump in form, but ultimately the pre-season target of promotion, followed by the loss of another manager. A great year to be a Daniel.

It wasn’t such a great season for the other Stamford side, Blackstones, who finished second from bottom of the United Counties League and were subsequently relegated from the United Counties League Premier Division.

Stones’ lost their final six games of the season, conceding 23 goals in the process.

Debutant manager Dave Stratton hasn’t had the best of luck since taking over in January, but he’ll know his side will need to up their game if they’re to challenge for promotion back to the Premier Division at the first time of asking.

In the Peterborough League, Oakham United had a good end to the season, winning four of their last five games to finish fifth in the Premier Division.

Andy Saddington’s side conceded 79 goals over the course of the season, with defensive frailties seemingly holding them back from a possible tilt at the title.

A fifth placed finish is still a good achievement though, and they’ll also be pleased to have done the double over

Uppingham Town though, and finished two points and two places ahead of their Rutland rivals, who themselves finished strongly winning five of their last six games and scoring 17 goals in the process.

With two sides scoring so freely and performing so well in the closing weeks of the season, you sense that there is a good couple of seasons in prospect for both Oakham United and Uppingham Town next season.

In the First Division, Ketton finished top dogs of the local sides with a creditable sixth placed finish, culminating in 45 points from their 28 games.

With King’s Lynn Reserves being promoted out of the division, there’s already talk of a title push next season for the boys from Pit Lane.

Ryhall United finished two places behind in eighth, which is a good result considering this was their first season in Division One after their promotion last season.

It wasn’t such a great year for Stamford Bels though who struggled with form at key times, namely having a winter of discontent with 13 defeats on the bounce before Christmas.

The Bels finished second from bottom in Division One and will need to improve next term.

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Roundup

Equestrianism

Brigstock pulls in the crowds

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

T

he Brigstock International Horse Trials held its annual event at the new and amazingly popular Rockingham Castle near Corby on May 22.

The event was massively over-subscribed with the organisers putting on an extra day of dressage to cope with the influx of entries.

They ran classes from BE100 up to CIC**, again so popular that hay to cancel the BE100 on the Saturday.

The organisers had also managed to secure one of the Greenwich Olympic fences for the CIC**, the infamous horse shoe.

This made for great viewing as the spectators were then encouraged to take a walk up to the top of the hill to see it and also see the back aspect of the castle and the magnificent views back over Eyebrook Reservior.

It was a hot competition to watch with all the usual big names there such as William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson, with a lovely big show jumping ring in the centre of the trade stands.

Rosalind Canter was the one to shine through all the usual suspects with an amazing double, winning both CIC**

leading both sections right from the start and even more amazingly, she finished on both her horses Emill and Zenshera on the same score of 42.9 with a clean sheet all the way through.

Pippie Polson, who works full time for Smiths Gore in Stamford, also had a win in the BE100 on her first attempt at that level on her new horse.

Pippie has owned the Waipuna Rose for just over a year now and was also third in the BE90 held at Keysoe two weeks before.

Not that the organisers really needed any help bringing specatators in to the trials’ new home, but they also ran some huge show jumping classes including a 1.40 and an accumulator.

That same weekend, locally to Rockingham, Dingley held the Fitzwilliam (Milton) Hunts Point-to Point, where It Was Me, ridden by Carey Williamson, was crowned East Anglia’s Champion Point-toPointer of 2012-13 following a thrilling win in the Ladies Open Race.

It Was Me held off the hot favourite Palypso de Creek by a neck, clocking the fastest time of the day.

Ben Rivett, from Norfolk, and Gina Andrews, from Hertfordshire, each had to

settle for a second place, which rubber stamped their positions at the top of the table in the County Linen Services Men’s and Ladies East Anglian Jockeys Championships.

Point-to-Pointing has nearly finished for the season with a few meets still at the beginning of June, if you fancy a great day out, such as the Meynell & South Staffs meet at Garthorpe on Sunday, June 2.

JumpCross has also had its first running of the year after a delayed start due to bad weather.

This time, however, the sun shone down on Wittering for a great day of competition, with nearly 90 starters over the day.

Sabrina Lucas swept the board in the junior classes, winning both the Intro and Group 3. Alison Cooke on Saatchi continued their good form from 2012 and took the Senior Group 3.

Newcomer to the sport Henny Mcintosh had a rather lively ride on her new ride Ekcentric to win the fiercely competitive Group 2 being the only one in that section to clear both the jokers.

JumpCross now has a full calendar for the season, so be sure to check that out at www.jumpcross.com

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Golf

Burghley Park going well

B

urghley Park A team’s unbeaten record remained intact after a tricky away fixture at Tydd St Giles. An under-strength team (Burghley ended up a man short in one match, meaning that Paul York had to play solo against two opponents) performed well to come away with a half.

Burghley Park’s Ladies welcomed a team from Greetham Valley for a South Lincolnshire League B team fixture, and despite periodic torrential downpours ran out convincing 4-0 winners. The Burghley side contained several players with little experience of league play, making the result especially pleasing for captain Janet Duff.

The Ladies Jubilee Cup was played in May, with victory going to the club’s lowest handicapper, Hannah Vaughan, who shot a net 72 off a handicap of 6. Close behind was Jo Bell in second place with 73, edging out Joan Hickman on countback.

Burghley Park’s Seniors had an up and down week, with a disappointing home defeat against Toft, followed by a successful and well supported Spring Tournament the next day, in which Seniors captain Pete Hickman stormed away from the field to win by 6 shots with 42 points, earning him a cut from 11 to 9.

The inaugural competition for the Mulligan Trophy, in honour of Burghley Park stalwart Howard Mulligan, who died last year, was played last month.

Club captain Richard Gilbert, who had driven the fund-raising effort for the new trophy, said: “I’m delighted that well over 100 members took part in this new event. He was a massive influence here at Burghley and I’m delighted that so many turned out to honour his memory.”

The competition, which was open to ladies and men, was won by Dominic Higgs with an impressive 42 points, and the trophy was presented to him by Pat Woolmore, Mulligan’s nephew.

The Seniors have been putting lots of miles on their cars in the last week, with three away matches at Woodhall Spa, Spalding and Rutland County. Unfortunately, all the travelling seems to have taken the edge off the Burghley team, as they lost two of these three matches, but won at Rutland County.

STOKE ROCHFORD Stoke Rochford’s May Monthly Medal was a competitive affair but very few could get anywhere near Simon Yelland’s net score of 65, which was good enough to win by two shots.

The thriving Stoke Rochford Ladies section has also enjoyed a busy May with a number of trophies up for grabs.

The Silver Rose 0-20 handicap was won by Judy Rawson with a net 71, the Marlow Midway 21-28 handicap was won by Lynn Ewart (net 77), and the Leverett Cup 29-36 handicap was won by Ruth Greenfield with a net 76.

Overall gross was Pam Watson with a 79.

Meanwhile, the EG Medal was won by Sue Booth with a net 70.

GREETHAM In the Men’s competition for the Colin Easson trophy, Adam Smith overcame the cold and extremely high winds, with gusts of up to 60mph, to take the win with a gutsy 38 points on the Lakes course.

Adam, off 23, said that it was a very tough game but he was overjoyed if somewhat surprised to have won it, even with the conditions he didn’t think that his score would stand up.

In the Ladies Medal, scratch player Sophie Beardsall was once again the class of the field taking the medal and the lowest gross with a sparkling 74. Twenty seven handicapper Fay Taylor took second place with a net 76 and Amanda Cassie was third with a 77.

Show your support for local sport and advertise in our classifieds Email advertise@theactivemag.com or call 01780 480789 /// J U N E 2013

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ISSUE 1

JULY 2012

www.theACTIVEmag.com

Rutland Water Fly Fishing

Run Alexa, Olympic Run! interview

OCTOBER 2012

Shoppers, drinkers and anoraks - know any of them?

Run Alexa, Run! Our runner on Uppingham’s Mad Horse run

How to get into tennis, badminton, squash and table tennis

21/04/2013 23:15

Reach for the sky

Lincolnshire Lancaster nears take-off www.theACTIVEmag.com 12

COVER iss 12.indd 116

25/05/2013 07:36

HERE’S TO THE NEXT YEAR IN ACTIVE COUNTRY!

/// J U N E 2 0 1 3 6 6

Birthday page.indd 66

25/05/2013 08:48

1591 GPL-MM Full Page Advert for Active_v5_GPL-MM Full Page Advert for Active 15/12/2012 13:52 Page 1

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fam A brill ily d iant ay o THE STAMFORD CINDERS ut.. .

England MastE MastErs Mast Ers vs australian MastErs The ‘Alternative Ashes’

sponsored by

Friday 26th July 2013 Stamford School Grounds

9am Gates open 9.30am - 1.30pm Chesterton Humberts’ Under 10 Cup 2pm 20/Twenty big match 6pm • LeICeSTer TIGerS OW ‘THe MAUL’ rOADSH Finish T • eCB CrICke CT FA Ory rOADSHOW 7pm • kIDS FUn ACTIvITIeS • Beer TenT Gates close Food and drink available all day

This event is advance ticket only.

www.stamfordenglandmasters.co.uk architecture / masterplanning/ design