Active Magazine // Stamford & Rutland // March 2017

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ISSUE 57 // MARCH 2017

Local people, amazing feats

Stamford & Rutland’s sport and lifestyle magazine

Iceland Trek 321 Challenge Round the World race

U n d e r yo u r ow n s t e a m Great places to go, by foot or on bike

ISSUE 57 // MARCH 2017

From tragedy to triumph How inspirational Matt Hampson is changing others’ lives

Will’s Walk www.theACTIVEmag.com 03

Gretton and Harringworth

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SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE. THE NEW MORE SPACIOUS MINI COUNTRYMAN. When was the last time you allowed yourself to truly roam free? We’re talking no plans, no maps – no worries. With bags of space, new technology and versatile enough for families to explorers, venture down the path less trodden when you discover the new more spacious MINI Countryman.

Book your test drive today at www.sycamoremini.co.uk to be first to see the bigger picture.

Sycamore (Peterborough) Ltd. Papyrus Road, Werrington Peterborough PE4 5HW Tel: 01733 707074 Official Fuel Economy Figures for the new MINI Countryman range: Urban 32.1–58.9 mpg (8.8–4.8 l/100km). Extra Urban 47.1–68.9 mpg (6.0–4.1 l/100km). Combined 39.8–65.7 mpg (7.1–4.3 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 113-162 g/km.

Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

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Editor’s Letter IN THIS ISSUE, WE LOOK AT THINGS YOU can do under your own power... places to go, walks and cycle rides to try.

All perfectly nice stuff that you can do without much thought or preparation. We’ve got some useful advice on how to keep your body in good shape while doing these things too.

But don’t we ever take these sorts of things for granted? Being able to go for a walk at a moment’s notice when the sun’s shining, or hop on a bike and head off into the country.

Our other main feature, about Matt Hampson, proves that every single step you take is precious, that every time you choose do do something, just because you feel like it, should be cherished.

In case you don’t know, but I’m sure you do, Matt was paralysed from the neck down in a rugby training accident with the England under 20 squad in 2005, and since then he has worked tirelessly to help people who have had similar terrible things happen to them.

To call him inspirational is understatement, just words. It’s the doing, the action, the sheer dog and fight and desire that sets him apart.

Now his foundation is looking to build a state-of-the-art centre where other people with life-changing injuries can come and get rehabilitation, help and care, and they are looking for support from local people.

We wish them all the best in the incredible endeavour, and if you want to help, contact details are at the end of the feature (see pages 2631).

Enjoy the issue! Steve

Publisher Chris Meadows chris@theactivemag.com Editor Steve Moody steve@theactivemag.com Deputy editor Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com Production editor Julian Kirk julian@theactivemag.com Art editor Mark Sommer mark@theactivemag.com Contributors Martin Johnson, William Hetherington, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth Photographers Nico Morgan, Pip Warters Production assistant Gary Curtis Advertising sales Lisa Withers lisa@theactivemag.com Sarah Stillman sarah@theactivemag.com Amy Roberts amy@theactivemag.com Editorial and Advertising Assistant Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com Accounts 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. Active magazine is published 12 times per year on a monthly basis. ISSN 2049-8713 A Grassroots Publishing Limited company. Company registration number 7994437. VAT number 152717318 Disclaimer

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

Copyright (c) Grassroots Publishing Limited (GPL) 2016. 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.

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Contents

ISSUE 57 /// MARCH 2017

ACTIVE LIFE

16

8-9 HOW TO...

Make Mother’s Day special, plus plan a garden makeover

10 NATURE

Featuring daffodils, blackbirds and pussy willow

14-15 RIVERFORD RECIPE

This month we cook a healthy parsnip and lentil dish

16-17 GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

Great ideals for a spring city break abroad

21 DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

Stamford estate agent Emma Sowden

24 WHAT’S ON

Great things to do locally for all the family

FEATURES 26-31 GET BUSY LIVING

We meet Matt Hampson and hear of his foundation’s plans

38-42 LEG POWER

The best places to go on foot or by bike

ACTIVE BODY 47 FOCUS ON SWIMMING

Essential advice from Function Jigsaw

48 DITCH THE DIET, EAT HEALTHILY

Simple advice to have you looking and feeling better

50

56

50-51 THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Tips and products to help you look great

REGULARS 33 KIT BAG

The latest cycling accessories

35 MARTIN JOHNSON COLUMN

The Sunday Times writer on age in sport

55 SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

We try out The Wheatsheaf at Langham

56-57 WILL’S WALKS

Will and dogs head out to Gretton and Harringworth

61 SCHOOL SPORT

Our focus on the latest achievements from local pupils

62-66 ROUND-UP

How clubs in the area are faring

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38

luxury

family living for only

£689,995

This executive family home on the edge of historic Stamford has been finished to a high standard.

A private drive leads to the modern five bedroom detached home, with a large open plan kitchen, family/dining room, living room, study, utility room and internal access to the double garage.

The master bedroom has an en-suite and a separate dressing room. Four further bedrooms, one with an en-suite and a family bathroom complete the first floor. The garden overlooks open countryside and the River Gwash.

This luxury home is within walking distance to the town centre and railway station. It is ideally placed for access to the A1, major road networks and regional airports.

Live in what is often regarded as one of the best places to live in the UK and home to Burghley House, one of England’s greatest Elizabethan houses, which was used for the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice and other period dramas.

Times from Stamford train station to:* Peterborough Station Leicester Station Nottingham Station London Kings Cross

13 minutes 41 minutes 1 hr 9 mins.

1 hr 35 mins.

(Peterborough to Kings Cross 51 minutes)

Times and distances to cities from Stamford to:* Peterborough Leicester Cambridge Nottingham

14 miles 31 miles 46 miles 45 miles

22 minutes 55 minutes 55 minutes 1 hr 5 mins.

Times and distances to airports from Stamford to:* East Midlands Stansted Luton Heathrow

46 miles 70 miles 72 miles 101 miles

1 hr 15 mins.

1 hr 10 mins.

1 hr 20 mins.

1 hr 50 mins.

Stamford: Visit • Explore • Live *Distances and times are approximate

The Paddock, Uffington Road, Stamford PE9 3AA www.allison-homes.co.uk Call 07717 895399 to arrange a viewing Prices and information correct at time of going to print. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

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Activelife MOTHER’S DAY TREATS, CITY BREAKS, HOSTS OF GOLDEN DAFFODILS, READERS’ CHALLENGES AND A DELICIOUS PARSNIP DISH Edited by Mary Bremner

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Activelife

HOW TO…

SPOIL YOUR MUM Mothering Sunday is on March 26, so plan to spoil your mum. After all she is the one who has gone above and beyond to teach you to mind your manners, get dressed and cross a road safely.

Breakfast in bed is a firm favourite as well as chocolates, flowers or lunch; but most important of all, spend time with her.

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HOW TO…

Make the perfect Mother’s Day card

琀㨀 ㄀㜀㜀㠀 ㌀㐀㘀㘀㄀㄀ 攀㨀 椀渀昀漀䀀欀氀漀猀攀渀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 眀㨀 眀眀眀⸀欀氀漀猀攀渀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 䬀氀漀猀攀渀Ⰰ 吀栀攀 匀琀椀爀氀椀渀最 䌀攀渀琀爀攀Ⰰ 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 䐀攀攀瀀椀渀最Ⰰ 倀䔀㘀 㠀䔀儀

A great one for the kids. It’s incredibly easy and they will have huge fun with the finger painting.

You will need: Pink and purple paint White paper Pink card On the white paper print three flowers vertically in a line.

Purple finger print in the centre and pink finger prints in a circle around it to make the petals. Fold the pink card in half, cut out the flowers and glue to the front of the folded card.

Easy!

䈀椀昀漀氀搀 䐀漀漀爀猀 簀 圀椀渀搀漀眀猀 簀 刀漀漀昀氀椀最栀琀猀 簀 匀氀椀搀椀渀最 䐀漀漀爀猀 簀 倀爀攀洀椀甀洀 甀倀嘀䌀 䌀漀渀琀愀挀琀 甀猀 琀漀 最攀琀 愀 焀甀椀挀欀 愀渀搀 攀愀猀礀Ⰰ 渀漀 漀戀氀椀最愀琀椀漀渀 焀甀漀琀愀琀椀漀渀 琀漀搀愀礀℀ ∠䴀愀渀甀昀愀挀琀甀爀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 䤀渀猀琀愀氀氀攀爀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瘀攀爀礀 戀攀猀琀 最氀愀稀椀渀最 猀礀猀琀攀洀猀 昀爀漀洀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 䔀甀爀漀瀀攀 ∠䠀椀最栀氀礀 琀栀攀爀洀愀氀氀礀 攀昀昀椀挀椀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 椀渀挀爀攀搀椀戀氀礀 猀琀礀氀椀猀栀⸀ 倀愀猀猀椀瘀栀愀甀猀 挀愀瀀愀戀椀氀椀琀椀攀猀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 爀攀焀甀椀爀攀搀

HOW TO…

Plan a garden redesign Spring is the time to plan you garden and if a redesign is on the cards contact someone like Ben Freeman (07703 337128) who will be able to help with landscaping work or lay new turf.

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Activelife

NATURE

DAFFODILS ‘I wander’d lonely as a cloud, That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden daffodils…’ The words of Wordsworth describe them perfectly and March is the month when daffodils start flowering in

our area. A bright, cheerful sight in many gardens, daffodils can be spotted on many verges having naturalised, both wild and cultivated. Head out to The Fens and you can see acres and acres of them – spring is coming.

BLACKBIRDS Blackbirds are a common sight in the garden. The male’s distinctive black plumage, bright yellow beak and eye ring make it instantly recognisable.

The poor female is brown with a slightly speckled breast. Part of the

thrush family, it is one of the most common birds in the UK and its distinctive tuneful song is a strong favourite. Monogamous, a breeding pair will normally stay together as long as they both survive.

Pussy willow This is the name given to the smaller species of the genus salix (willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring. Before the male catkins (not to be confused with those from a hazel tree) come into full flower they are covered in a fine, grey fur – likened to small cats, hence ‘pussies’. They appear long before the leaves and are one of the first welcome signs of spring.

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Activelife

Happy first birthday

A GLOBAL ADVENTURE Old Stamfordian Harry Brooks is entering the Clipper Round the World yacht race this year after being inspired by a poster he saw which revealed that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have sailed around the world. Here he tells us why he wants to compete in the gruelling race...

“It was this remarkable statistic that I saw on a poster at a station three years ago that inspired me to enter this year’s Clipper Round the World yacht race. The Clipper is the longest yacht race in the world – 12 identical 70ft racing yachts compete, each crewed entirely by amateurs like me, under the watchful eye of a professional skipper. In December I will be setting off on two of the legs of the tenth race. I will start on Australia’s Gold Coast and head to China via Vietnam, arriving in February 2018. This is both the hottest and the coldest leg in the whole circumnavigation, covers 6,300 miles and will be 46 days at sea.

The second leg leaves later in February.

Departing from the Olympic sailing city of Qingdao on China’s east coast, I will head east across the mighty North Pacific before arriving in Seattle in March/April 2018, having covered another 5,700 miles and spent 30 more days at sea. The Pacific is so vast that between the Island of Japan and the US mainland the nearest humans – apart from the race fleet – are on the International Space Station.

I grew up in land-locked Rutland, so vast oceans will be a challenge, and a huge change of pace and environment. But it is because of the small and close knit communities of Rutland that I am confident that the relationships with who I am sailing with will be solid enough to cope with

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the inevitable pressures of the isolation. While at Stamford School I was taught to challenge my comfort zones; be it on Duke of Edinburgh sorties in the Lake District or on the sports field. Let’s hope it all holds me in good stead.

By accepting this challenge I want to inspire the same sense of adventure in others. Racing a 70ft yacht across the world’s largest ocean, with an amateur crew, may seem like a far fetched prospect, but this is now my life for the next year.

My only sailing experience so far has been in a dingy on Rutland Water where I took my RYA courses. Obviously I have a lot to learn!

After leaving school I studied psychology at Leeds Beckett University and graduated last summer. I also joined the Army Reserve as part of the University Officers’ Training Corps. I am still living in Leeds, but often come home to Rutland.

I am training to become a dingy sailing instructor as well as training for the Clipper race.

This will be an amazing journey and one that captures the imaginations of thousands of people.

The race is covered by many newspapers in this country. Thousands of hours of onboard footage and interviews will be broadcast on Sky Sports.

And I am going to be updating you on my progress in Active every month.

This race is a huge logistical task and requires a lot of commitment and training, as well as kit. So far I have raised £11,000 of the £18,000 required, but I need more. If anyone is interested in sponsoring me, or helping with equipment, advice and clothing, I would be very grateful.

There are opportunities for media output with branded clothing and endorsements.

Harry can be contacted at harry.g.brooks@btinternet. com or on 07474 875011.

Wright Care at Home in Stamford is approaching its first birthday.

A small family-run business that thrives on promoting independence in the community, so helping people remain in their own homes, its services are tailormade to meet the needs of customers through a highly skilled, vetted team that offers continuity. ‘Keeping compassion at the heart of everything we do,’ is the company’s motto. It mainly offers a personal care service but also offers companionship visits that are proving invaluable. This could be a trip to the local garden centre, into town, appointments or just a home visit.

Wright Care at Home are now offering a voluntary service. The care team offer an hour free a month to existing customers. www.wrightcareathome.com. Tel: 01780 489227 Email: info@wrightcareathome.com Office 9, The Grey House, 3 Broad Street, Stamford PE9 1PG.

SHOP OF THE MONTH…

Greensleaves Florists Mandy Clarke and her team are busy preparing for Mother’s Day. They are up to their eyes in flowers, chocolates, baskets, bears, balloons and candles and will be delighted to see you.

Mandy does so much more than the traditional bouquets – vases, plants, fantastic arrangements and, interestingly, chocolate bouquets. She caters for every occasion – weddings, funerals, and celebrations.

Greensleaves, Stamford Garden Centre, Great Casterton, Stamford, PE9 4BB. 01780 480077. www.greensleavesflorist.co.uk

First 4 Adventure UK

Dingley, Market Harborough LE16 8PJ www.dingleyraces.com

Adventure for all

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

ADVENTURES FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES

• Open Silver and Gold Expeditions

• Open events in mountain biking, Navigation Award courses (NNAS), walking & wild camping in some of the most beautiful National Parks in the UK

• DofE Approved Maths and English Outdoor Activity Residentials

under 16’s FREE ENTRY!

• Bespoke adventures which can include: mountain biking, climbing, wild camping, bushcraft & survival, trekking, kayaking & trail running

Enjoy a great day out with family and friends

∙ Licensed betting ∙ Children’s funfair ∙ Bar and refreshments Try a new activity or take your hobby to a more adventurous destination Email Andy and Emma on: info@first4adventure.co.uk or look at our website: www.first4adventure.co.uk

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Easter Saturday, 15th April 2017 Sunday 7th May 2017 Saturday 27th May 2017

Gates open at 11.30am, racing commences at 2pm

Admission: £10 per person/Under 16’s free Race cards available for £3

Follow us on

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Activelife

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PARSNIPS MOLLY PARKIN WITH LENTILS AND GREENS INGREDIENTS

1 onion 400g parsnips Oil for frying 25g butter 1 tbsp light brown sugar 4 large tomatoes 75g Cheddar cheese Salt and pepper ½ pot double cream 25g dried breadcrumbs ½ tin dark speckled lentils 1 garlic clove 15g thyme 200g spring greens 1 bay leaf ½ tbsp Dijon mustard 1 lemon

METHOD

● Pre-heat your oven to 180C. Peel and finely slice the onion and set to one side. ● Wash, peel and slice the parsnips into 1cm rounds. Heat 1 tbsp oil with half the butter and half the sugar in a frying pan. Add half the parsnips in a single layer. (If your pan is large enough to fit all the parsnips in one go, use all of the butter, sugar and parsnips). ● Fry on a medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then turn over and fry for the same time on the other side until they are starting to colour and caramelise (1). Remove from the heat. Repeat with the remaining butter, sugar and parsnips if need be.

Wash and slice the tomatoes into 1/2cm rounds.

Grease a 25cm x 15cm casserole or baking dish. ●

RECIPE BOXES Riverford recipe boxes are a simple and inspiring way to cook. Every week, we deliver everything you need to make three tasty organic meals. Inside each box, you’ll find the freshest, seasonal organic produce, step-by-step recipe cards and all the ingredients in exact quantities.

The recipes are quick to cook and ideal for weeknights – most are ready in under

● Arrange alternate layers of parsnips, tomatoes and cheese, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper and finishing with a layer of cheese (2).

Pour half the pot of cream over the top.

1

● Bake for 20 minutes, then scatter over the breadcrumbs and bake for a further 20 minutes until the top is golden and the parsnips tender.

You may need to drizzle more cream towards the end, if so add to the side of the pan so the breadcrumbs don’t soak in it. ● Once you’ve added the breadcrumbs to the parsnips, heat 1 tbsp oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and fry on a low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until soft and translucent.

2

● Drain and rinse the lentils in cold water in a sieve. Peel and finely chop one garlic clove. Pick the leaves off three thyme sprigs. Wash the spring greens and strip or chop the leaves off the tough central rib stalks. ● After 10 minutes add the lentils, greens, garlic, thyme and bay leaf to the onion in the pan. Stir for 4-5 minutes to warm the lentils and wilt the greens (3).

Add the mustard, a squeeze of lemon juice and salt and pepper, all to taste. Serve the lentils with the parsnip bake. The lentils can be gently reheated if finished before the parsnips are tender or the parsnips kept warm in a low oven if vice-versa.

3

●

Tip: If you have a large frying pan that’s also ovenproof you can use it to fry your parsnips then use it layer your veg for the oven bake.

45 minutes. Think well balanced and nutritious, with a few treats thrown in. Our cooks come up with nine new recipes every week, so there is always plenty of choice.

There are three different varieties of recipe box - choose from vegetarian, quick, or original. A box for two people ranges in price from £33 for the vegetarian box, to £39.95 for the quick and original boxes. Delivered straight to your door, with everything you need to cook

included, generous portion sizes, and three delicious meals per box they offer great value for money.

No waste. No missing the vital ingredient. All you have to do is cook.

Visit: www.riverford.co.uk/recipebox to

find out more or call 01803 762059.

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Activelife

TRAVEL

SPRING TIME CITY BREAKS THE WINTER IS BEGINNING to take its toll, as we question when we are going to see some warmer weather and sunshine. Therefore, while we wait for spring to arrive at home, March could be the perfect month to get away on a city break. A long weekend in Europe in one of its many beautiful cities can be perfect to recharge the batteries and – if you’re lucky – find a bit of early spring sunshine. Most flights are relatively cheap at this time of year, so take your pick…

Head south to Seville in southern Spain, a beautiful city that is the capital of the Andalucia region. It’s famous for its flamenco dancing, bullfighting and tapas, with a Gothic cathedral.

The fabulously scented orange blossom will be in full bloom in March and the weather should be warm enough to sit in a plaza and enjoy an al fresco lunch surrounded by the heady perfume of the flowers. Make sure you explore the Centro Historico in the old town, a labyrinth of tiny streets with tapas bars and shops.

Or what about Paris? The most romantic city in the world is beautiful in the spring. Not as mild as Spain, but wrap up warm and walk hand-in-hand along the Seine. Climb the Eiffel Tower to admire the views and visit the Mona Lisa in The Louvre. Make sure you head down the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré to admire the designer boutiques.

WIN A pair of

HenryBLAKE The Wanderluster sunglasses worth £55 WHAT TO TAKE ● Comfortable shoes – you’re likely to be walking miles while sightseeing. ● A guide book. If you’re only in the city for a short time you need to plan your days so you get to see as much as possible. ● A coat that covers all the options – waterproof, lightweight and warm.

Perfect for sitting with a glass of vino and some tapas while enjoying the early spring sun. We’ve got two pairs to give away.

Simply head to www.theactivemag. com/competitions to enter.

Our standard terms and conditions apply and are available to view at www.

USEFUL WEBSITES INCLUDING LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTS www.skyscanner.net www.andalucia.com ● www.tripadvisor.co.uk ● www.more-travel.co.uk ● ●

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Why not book a Spring break this March with us at

Redwings Lodge in Rutland Claim your

10% OFF DISCOUNT

by booking direct with us!

Before Simply quote:

REDWINGS10 when booking

So what are you waiting for?

Offer valid between 1st March - 1st April 2017

Book direct with us at

www.redwingslodge.co.uk

01572 74 87 87 After

12 St Leonards Street Stamford, PE9 2HN

Tel 01780 654321 • www.classicstamford.co.uk

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Activelife

THE ICELAND TREK Nurses Sylvia Reid and Catherine Cole tell us more about what they are raising money for...

The delicious smell of pizza wafted from the bedroom. The sound of laughter was punctuated by cheers as PlayStation games were won and lost. To all intents and purposes it was just a regular boys’ night in. But this one was taking place in a hospice. The young man in the bed at Thorpe Hall Hospice was receiving end of life care, but his friends didn’t want that to change a long-held Friday night tradition.

Senior nurse Sylvia Reid helped make the evening happen. “He was too poorly to eat but he admitted just the smell of the pizzas made him smile,” said Sylvia.

The patient was given just what he wanted while his friends were left with a lasting memory of a fun evening. That’s the perfect demonstration of Thorpe Hall’s incredible care which Sylvia and registered nurse Catherine Cole provide to patients at the 20-bed hospice in Peterborough every day.

And it’s also the kind of story that has driven them to accept the challenge to Trek Iceland and raise funds for the hospice – contributing to the £2.8 million it costs to provide services at Thorpe Hall and in the community.

“As a team we work really hard to ensure patients and their families receive the best of care,” said Sylvia. “Of course seeing patients and those who care about them distressed and seeing how the patient’s illness impacts on all their lives is hard. But knowing we make a difference makes it worthwhile.”

Sylvia has worked as a nurse for 40 years – she’s chosen to Trek Iceland to mark her 60th birthday this year. She set up the palliative care service at the former Peterborough District Hospital and has worked at Thorpe Hall for almost two years. She has recently become the hospice’s clinical educator, leading the training and education strategy for the hospice.

Catherine came to nursing later – the 44-year old qualified three years ago and has worked at

Thorpe Hall for the last 12 months.

She said: “People often come in to Thorpe Hall feeling overwhelmed and fearful with sometimes complex and debilitating symptoms and to see the change that we can make to the quality of their lives is so rewarding. Enabling people to have a good death is a very humbling experience and to share such an emotional time with people makes my job worthwhile.”

The pair both work shifts which has made scheduling training for the Trek tricky.

“We’ve set ourselves the challenge of going for a walk at least once a week and I’m trying to get to the gym twice a week as well and Catherine’s doing her yoga classes,” said Sylvia.

“We’re lucky because we have lots of great places locally to walk so we’ve been to Rutland Water and Ferry Meadows. It’s given us the chance to try out our new gear as well. My walking boots, which have been comfortable walking round the house, turned out to not be quite as comfortable after six miles – they definitely need some more wearing in!”

The pair are preparing for a five-day trek across the glaciers and snowfields of Iceland in August, starting on the 10th walking up to 10 hours a day and sleeping in tents.

To find out how you can follow Sylvia and Catherine’s footsteps and support Thorpe Hall Hospice visit www.sueryder.org/thorpehall or call the hospice on 01733 225999.

ACHES AND PAINS Jess Lamb updates us on how training is going for the 321 Challengers...

“As I write this I have an ice pack on my left foot, which has picked up some bruising that refuses to go down and shouts at me every time I put my foot down too hard. James has been running with a sore knee which we suspect is due to old trainers. And Alex has been banned from any running until we all do the Bath Half Marathon after he tore some ligaments in his knee playing football.

James and I are managing to crack on with training, but Alex’s news has been disappointing as we had high hopes for some pretty impressive times from him.

It does really highlight that long distance running can take a huge toll on your body, and badly fitting trainers can affect your feet, ankles, knees, legs, back and cause all kinds of painful problems such as shin splints and runner’s knee. So we went on a trip to The Sweat Shop in Peterborough to have our gaits analysed – a little bit late maybe, but better late than never. This is where your running style is examined on a treadmill and you’re given the best shoes for your particular gait, taking into account stride length, cadence and the angle at which your foot strikes the ground.

Hopefully now James has new trainers his knee problems will disappear. Having acquired some new kicks and come to terms with the fact we have less than two months to go, James and I are training hard and feeling positive. We are building up to a final 20-22 mile run before the Bath Half Marathon, then there’s just two weeks to Rome and our first marathon.

The 321 Challengers are raising money for The Pelargos Foundation and Parkinson’s UK. To donate, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ team/321marathonchallenge

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Activelife

A day in the life of

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I

suppose I always wanted to be an estate agent. I left school at 16 and went straight into it, loved it, and have never done anything else. I grew up in Lincoln so started working there before moving to the north Norfolk coast and then came to Stamford six years ago. I worked for the Knight Partnership, along with Tom Wallis. We were usually first in and last out so when the partnership was sold to a large corporation both Tom and I decided that we wanted to set up on our own. We trusted each other and he is the only person I have ever thought I could go into business with. Neither of us like the corporate set up and knew Stamford deserved a good independent agent.

So that is what we did. We opened Sowden Wallis in May 2014 and were the youngest independent estate agents in town, aged 27 and 30. And we still are! It was hard at first; we both worked part-time in bars to supplement our income but the hard work paid off and 11 months in we were able to take on our first member of staff, Sarah. We pride ourselves on our customer service, backed up by the number of recommendations we receive from clients.

This is how our business has grown and we now have three staff. We specialise in sales and lettings and I know the area like the back of my hand.

A typical day for me is never the same but two or three mornings a week, without fail, at 7am I have an early morning swim at the SES pool or attend a yoga class. I always have breakfast before I go and then more when I get back. I struggle to do anything on empty so have to keep refuelling! I’ll be in the office by 8.45am and one of us will always fetch coffee from the Stamford Deli – we have a rota for this that we follow religiously. We all then sit down for our daily morning meeting to discuss what went on the day before, property-wise, and what is planned for the day. I try to stay in the office in the mornings working on the day-today running of the business, but this doesn’t always happen. In the afternoons I will usually be out on viewings or valuations. We close at 6pm but Tom and I are often in the office much later, or I’ll take my laptop home – I only live round the corner so it’s very convenient.

Anyone can run a marathon If I’m not working, I’m training. I am doing an Ironman event in July which is a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. Yes, I know I’m mad but I love pushing myself and I’ll finish it even if I have to crawl. I suppose you could

‘I’m doing an Ironman event... I know I’m mad but I love pushing myself and I’ll finish it even if I have to crawl’ say I’m proving a point and like to see how far I can push myself. I have run numerous marathons and competed in triathlons and half Iron Man competitions but this will be my first full one. My friends think it’s hilarious that I have become so sporty as at school I was always the one who got a note from my mum to get out of cross-country. But someone once said to me that I’d never manage to run a marathon so I had to prove them wrong, and I did. And that was it, I was bitten by the bug.

Training is gruelling though and sometimes I think I’m mad, but I love it. I’m on my bike all over the place at the moment, particularly in Rutland as I need to work on some hills.

Anyone can run a marathon really, they just have to put on a pair of trainers and get round somehow, but an Iron Man is different. I love the

discipline of it. You can’t wing it, you have to abide by strict rules and have the correct kit, which suits me perfectly.

But life isn’t all about training. I do take one day off a week and do most of my long distance training at the weekends, despite working on Saturdays. I love seeing my friends and have been known to come in from training and be out again, having showered, changed and applied make up in nine minutes!

I love my job; it’s busy, sociable and I meet a lot of people. I always wanted to have my own estate agency and am delighted that Tom and I managed it at a relatively young age. Stamford and its villages are fabulous and I’m really proud we are offering such a good service and have the reputation to prove it. www.sowdenwallis.co.uk

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 2 1

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17/02/2017 13:03

Activelife

FINANCIAL HEALTH

HOLIDAY PLANNING Now is the perfect time to spring clean your finances before your next family getaway, says Bryant Wealth Management’s William G Bryant Spring is in the air – but there is still time to hit the slopes. We recently returned from a family skiing holiday in the Alps. The weather was kind, we had fresh snowfalls and good après-ski to aide recovery for the next day’s trip out to the Folie Douce. But what made the holiday was that we enjoyed it as a family.

Holidays provide a great opportunity to escape the day-to-day grind and bond as a family. Skiing, in particular, provides an active holiday and shared experience that will hopefully keep my children’s interest and mean they want to still come on holiday with mum and dad long after they are obliged to do so.

Holidays are important to us as a family and we probably spend far too long planning them than we should. But the planning and anticipation are half the fun – searching out the perfect destination, imagining the feeling of sand between my toes and the sun on my back as we walk across a golden beach or perhaps the feeling of swooshing down the mountain to the next rest stop for a vin chaud.

While I’m sure I’m not alone in spending too much time planning our next family holiday, how many people can say they spend too long, or even the appropriate amount of time,

planning their family’s finances? The list of things to do can seem arduous and often things like updating your will, reviewing your life insurance or sitting down and trying to make sense of your pensions gets put to the back of the queue.

The uncomfortable truth is that you cannot keep putting off your financial ‘to-do’ list forever. What would happen to your loved ones if you hadn’t got round to arranging life or critical illness cover if something were to happen to you? Do you know how your estate would be distributed if you were to die with out a will in place? Have you thought about how you are going to fund your retirement without being a burden?

All these things can be addressed fairly quickly with the help of a good financial planner and will give you the peace of mind to carry on planning that next family holiday without the nagging feeling you really should be doing something else.

A good financial plan should be reviewed regularly and take a multi-generational approach. The next generation are facing different challenges. Gone are final salary pensions and jobs for life. The reality is that,

according to the Office of National Statistics, under 30s are spending a quarter of their disposable income on rent with many having little hope of owning their own home, let alone saving the equivalent of £800 a month for the next 40 years that a 25-year old today would need to save to retire on £30,000 a year at 65 (data from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment).

Parents and grandparents can help. Lifetime gifting is one tax-efficient way wealth can be passed down the generations; you should consider using your annual exemptions, or perhaps investing on behalf of a loved one.

In conclusion, there is no time like the present to give your family’s finances a spring clean. Get your financial plan in place and then you can enjoy planning your next multi-generational family getaway, safe in the knowledge you can afford it now and for years to come!

To receive a free guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, produced by St. James’s Place Wealth Management, contact William Bryant on 01780 668117, email william.bryant@sjpp.co.uk or visit bryantwealthmanagement.co.uk

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 2 3

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17/02/2017 12:06

Activelife

WHAT’S ON There’s lots going on in our area this month – why not get out and about and give one of these a try?

■ The snowdrops at Easton Walled Gardens have looked magnificent this spring. And this year you can recreate them in your own garden, or send some to a friend, as Easton is introducing Snowdrops by Post. The traditional galanthus nivalis snowdrops will be carefully packed and posted, along with planting and care instructions.

You can choose from 10 bulbs to up to 30. Prices start from £15.

You can also buy the renowned sweet peas, which will be delivered up to the end of March. www.visiteaston.co.uk/shop ■ New weekly meditation classes are starting at the Borderville Centre in Stamford from March 2. Buddhist nun and meditation teacher Gen Nyingpo will be giving a practical introduction to meditation as well as offering advice on how to remain peaceful in daily life by applying the techniques learnt in the groups. Classes cost £6 and are held weekly from 7.158.30pm. www.meditateinpeterborough.org.uk

2 4 M A RC H 2017 ///

■ Stamford Shoestring Theatre is performing Tartuffe, the hilarious classic by Moliere, between March 7-11 at the Arts Centre. It promises to be an entertaining performance.

Tickets are available from www.stamfordartscentre.com. www.stamfordshoestring.com ■ Proof that spring is around the corner is that gardens are opening under the National Gardens Scheme. In operation since 1927, and raising money for nursing and caring charities, last year the NGS raised £2.7 million. By visiting these private gardens that are usually opened only once a year you can pick up some inspiration and help raise money at the same time. There are usually some delicious cakes to sample as well. Gunthorpe Hall is opening on Sunday, March 26, from 2-5pm with The Old Hall at Market Overton opening the following month on Sunday, April 23. www.ngs.org.uk ■ Peterborough Greyhounds

has extended its restaurant with larger tables for bigger groups of people, and they’re proving very popular. They hold races three nights a week (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) where you can see some exciting racing and have great fun too. www.peterboroughgreyhounds.com

■ Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa is restoring its gardens to their Edwardian splendour as originally designed by renowned landscape gardener Harold Peto. Originally a family home, then a hotel before being requisitioned during WWII by the RAF when it was home to the officers of 617 Dam Busters squadron, the gardens are now being brought back to their former glory. Restoration is well under way with more than 2,500 plants already planted and formal terracing repaired.

Group bookings to view the gardens are welcome, as are any individual visitors. Call 01526 352411 to find out more.

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17/02/2017 13:03

Feature /// Matt Hampson

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

GETTING BUSY LIVING Paralysed from the neck down playing rugby, Matt Hampson is doing remarkable work helping others who have suffered lifechanging injuries. Jeremy Beswick meets an inspirational man.

TWELVE YEARS AGO, on the Ides of March, a young Oakham lad by the name of Matt Hampson was taking part in an England training session having been selected for the under 21s as a prop. He’d also recently been promoted into the Leicester Tigers first team squad and a very bright – possibly stellar – rugby career lay ahead of him.

As he’d experienced scores of times before, a practice scrum collapsed and the players rose wearily to their feet to reset and try again. All but one, who didn’t get up, and lay unconscious on the turf. Matt Hampson has been paralysed from the neck down ever since.

In his autobiography ‘Engage, The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson’, he talks about what now occasionally happens when he wakes: “Sometimes... I will open my eyes with no memory of how I got here... then the penny will drop and I’ll start to feel sorry for myself. Why me? A favourite scene from the Shawshank Redemption always helps. The greatest line in the history of cinema, and my creed... ‘I guess it comes down to a simple choice really – get busy living or get busy dying’.

So Matt got busy. For several years now he’s devoted his energies to his charity – and I suspect choosing the Matt Hampson Foundation’s motto of ‘Get Busy Living’ was one of his easier decisions. Those who know him well say that it was amazingly soon after his accident that he resolved to dedicate his waking hours to helping those with serious sports injuries that left them in a similar position to himself – and it is much more common for that to happen than I’d appreciated, with people getting in touch with Matt every day and more than 100 individuals helped to date.

I went to see them at the charity’s offices in Burrough-on-

the-Hill in Leicestershire and CEO Tommy Cawston told me about their beneficiaries.

“When you first have a life-changing injury you don’t know how you’ll cope,” he told me. “Matt has an empathy with their situation that’s so important – they know he instinctively understands. We can make a difference with specialist equipment, financial assistance and practical advice but the most important first step is the inspiration Hambo offers and the sense that they can still lead an incredibly active and rewarding life.”

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 2 7

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17/02/2017 16:59

Feature /// Matt Hampson

One person who’s benefited from Matt being a role model is Spencer Watts, a motocross rider now paralysed from the waist, who says: “When I met up with Matt for the first time... I was so inspired by him, it brought a tear to my eye. It just goes to show no matter what your injuries are, there are still things you can achieve and live the life you want to live. There are no words on how thankful I am on what Matt and the foundation have done for me; it’s just amazing!”

Or snowboarder Anna Turney: “In 2006 my life was turned upside down. I was 26 and aspiring to become a professional, but while competing in a competition in Japan I crash landed. The next day the doctor told me I’d broken my back and had a 98% chance that I would never walk again. I met Matt during my three months of rehab in Stoke Mandeville.”

A year later she tried Paralympic skiing: “I went from feeling as if my life was over to setting new goals to work towards... the charity agreed to fund two British team training camps to Austria and then I won six World Cup

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

medals in the build-up to Sochi. I have had bleak days but feel incredibly fortunate. Thank you Hambo, your team and fund-raisers for making dreams come true!”

These are just two examples of the many young men and women whose life opportunities have been enhanced by the charity’s work. But they now want to do more and are embarking on what is both their greatest challenge and greatest leap forward to date – the building of a £1m Foundation Centre which will enable them not only to help more people but also to bring beneficiaries and their families together for mutual support and encouragement.

Matt told me: “It’ll mean we can help anyone that approaches us and show them they can live a very good and fulfilling life” he said. “It will fill the gap between leaving hospital and finding a new purpose and role.”

Tommy added: “This will be a new focal point for the charity. Bringing people together who are in the same boat is just the best thing – for the beneficiaries and also for their friends and families. Whether it’s mother to mother, friend to friend - knowing that there other people going

Top and above

The planned £1 million Foundation Centre will enable the organisation to help more people, as well as helping to bring people in the same boat together for help, advice and friendship... and fun. Matt attends several fund-raising events at Leicester Tigers

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 2 9

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17/02/2017 13:03

Feature /// Matt Hampson

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

‘The most important first step is the inspiration Hambo offers and the sense that they can still lead an incredibly active and rewarding life’ through a similar experience and learning from each other and inspiring one another can only help. Plus there’ll be lots of amazing rehab equipment including a set of ReWalk robotic legs the foundation recently acquired through a donation from the Bernard Sunley Foundation.

This sort of equipment is so expensive so to give people the opportunity to try the latest equipment and benefit from it will have a huge impact on people’s recovery.”

Matt added: “It’ll be a beautiful setting. Comfortable, welcoming and a place where you can have fun.”

Just a couple of hundred yards from their office the long private driveway to the centre from the main road is already in place, but there is much still to be done. Matt said: “We need as much support as possible. Funds, equipment, people to get on board. We’re a small charity and want to make sure we spend our money on our beneficiaries so any contributions of manpower and materials are welcome” and Tommy added: “In fact we had an offer recently from the BGL Group, a big supporter of the foundation, who want to arrange for some of their senior management to come and give us a day of labour, whether it be site clearing, painting and decorating or helping plant the garden.”

We can all help – and in a variety of ways. For instance, any organisation would benefit from Matt’s outstanding motivational speaking, for which he asks only a donation.

Here are some comments from previous audiences: ‘A very inspirational guy’, ‘After hearing him speak, it’s hard to walk away without wanting to try harder, to do better’, ‘The ultimate motivational speaker’, ‘He personifies drive, determination, discipline and dignity’.

Or, of course, chip in as an individual – no matter how modest. Tommy told me that to walk in on a Monday morning and get a cheque for £8.50 from a 10-year old kid who’s run a cake stall at school gives everyone in the office a great lift. You’ll find a host of ideas at the ‘donate’ section of the website (www.matthampsonfoundation.org). So let’s all ‘get busy giving’ for the Matt Hampson Foundation.

Matt hopes that this will be the start of something even bigger. “The dream is to have centres all around the country and even abroad,” he told me.

As I left their office I reflected on just how valuable the mutual support the centre is going to offer will be, remembering – when I asked later who Matt’s own role model was – the answer Tommy gave. It was: “I know he would say that our beneficiaries themselves are now his role models and the guys he draws inspiration from. He gets just as much from seeing their achievements as they get from him’”

Above

Matt on the pitch at Welford Road with two of the foundation’s beneficiaries, Seb Goold and George Robinson

Matt and Tommy would like to put on record their thanks to all who have contributed so far including construction company Willmott Dixon, professional services firm MDA Consulting, architects Corporate Architecture, engineering consultants Couch Perry Wilkes, Salus and BSP Consulting, PR and marketing agency Cartwright Communications, digital distributor of household financial products BGL Group, earthmoving, ground engineering and restoration contractor, Barton Plant, and supplier, Peter Bennie, both part of The Bennie Group, and supplier GRS Roadstone Limited and AR Demolition.

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 3 1

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10/02/2017 12:58

Feature /// Gear

KITBAG ESSENTIAL GEAR FOR ADVENTURES ON TWO WHEELS

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2. SIDI shoes

Cycling shoes from SIDI are regarded as some of the best available. Starting from £130 for the Level shoe and going on to the top of the range Shot shoe used by multiple Tour De France winner Chris Froome at £350.

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Specialized’s collaboration with 686 has produced a jacket that will provide dependable insulation to keep you warm this winter, wherever you go.

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Cycling eyewear has always been cool, but with Nordic brand Bliz, the choice has got whole lot more interesting. Bliz produce a huge range including ‘smallface specific’ designed for those with smaller faces. Starting from just £25 for the Motion glasses through to the Velo XT at a mid-point price of £60 and on to top of the range eyewear in Cafe Ventoux limited edition colours, there is a pair for every pocket.

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/// M A RC H 2017 3 3

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17/02/2017 13:03

Guest column

Age is no barrier to success Some sports stars seem to get better with age, says Martin Johnson... roll on the centenarian Olympic gold medallist here was a time when the person in charge of sending ‘happy 100th birthday ‘messages from the Queen had almost as cushy a number as Willie Thorne’s hair stylist. A buff and polish once or twice a year, maybe, and the rest of the time on the golf course, or down the pub. Not any more though.

Raising your metaphorical bat to acknowledge a century is now so commonplace that Dame Vera Lynn will celebrate her own threefigure landmark this month by releasing a new album. News that the Forces Sweetheart still has enough oomph to go straight from blowing out a hundred candles on her birthday cake to the recording studio came at the same time as Roger Federer was winning the Australian Open at the age of 35, and the Williams sisters were contesting the women’s final with a combined age of nearly 72.

It’s only right that Australia should be the venue to remind us that hundreds of years from now, the people winning major sporting events will all have varicose veins and hair sprouting out of their ears – Australia being the first country to make it illegal to grow old enough to die. There are severe fines for anyone under the age of 21 crossing the road without the assistance of a lollipop lady, and at an Ashes match in Brisbane not so long ago, a spectator was evicted for sneezing. On the grounds (and you can’t make this up) that he might be infecting his neighbours with a contagious disease.

Years ago, they had a different take on what age a sportsman was considered to be old. When Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle, the BBC’s Harry Carpenter gasped “oh my God, he’s won the title back at the age of 32!” As if there’d been nothing like it since Methuselah won the Old Testament version of the title. However, Foreman himself was at it until the age of 48, retaining enough brain cells to eventually work out that there was more money to be made putting his name to fat reducing grills; while another American, Bernard Hopkins, was 49 when he won a world light heavyweight title in 2014.

Top class sportsmen everywhere are getting older and still winning things. Okay, you expect as much in sports like darts – Phil Taylor is a mere lad at 52 – and even more so in snooker, where competitors are required to do nothing more strenuous than sip a glass of water and apply some chalk to their cue. Steve Davis has only just retired at the age of 59, and Fred Davis was 64 when he lost a world championship semi-final in 1978. Eight years later he was still playing at the Crucible, finally bowing out at the age of 70.

T

However, even when it comes to the kind of sports which involve running around a bit the participants are lasting longer. Given the frenetic pace of the Premier League you might have to wait a while yet until anyone surpasses Stanley Matthews’ record of playing in the top division at the age of 50, but don’t be surprised if Wayne Rooney doesn’t run him close – he’s just beaten Bobby Charlton’s goal-scoring record for Manchester United.

Horse racing has seen some veteran combatants down the years, the most famous, of course, being the housewives’ choice himself, Lester Piggott. He was 60 when he retired in 1995, but was still wet behind the ears compared to a jockey by the name of Harry Beasley.

Harry was 39 when he won the Grand National on Come Away in 1935, at which point he might have been forgiven for calling it a day at the pinnacle of his career. However, he decided to go on a bit longer – 44 years longer to be precise – and took his saddle to the weighing room for the last time aged 83.

In cricket, Jack Hobbs holds the record for the highest number of first class centuries (199), the most remarkable aspect of which is that more than half came after his 40th birthday. WG Grace went on until he was 60, although neither Hobbs nor Grace ever played Twenty20 or did anything more strenuous in the field than stand in the slips.

Golfers are getting more competitive as they get older, and although Julius Boros remains the oldest winner of a major (the USPGA) at the age of 48, beating Jack Nicklaus (US Masters) by a couple of years, Greg Norman came close to winning the Open at Birkdale in 2008 at the age of 53, and the following year at Turnberry, Tom Watson was 59 when he lost in a play off.

In motor racing, the oldest world champion is Juan Manuel Fangio, aged 46 when he won in 1957, quite a feat in an era when drivers had nothing more than a leather cap and a pair of goggles for protection. The life expectancy of drivers nowadays, plus the fact that the F1 cars increasingly drive themselves, means that even Dame Vera could make it on to the podium. Especially if she was in a Mercedes.

There is, it seems, no age limit to sporting success any more, in which case we can expect someone in the not too distant future to open the traditional birthday telegram from Her Majesty and find a handwritten PS... “Congratulations on your 100th. And by the way, well done on your gold medal in the Olympic long jump.”  Martin Johnson has been a sports journalist and author since 1973, writing for the Leicester Mercury, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times. He currently writes columns for The Rugby Paper and The Cricket Paper, and has a book out called ‘Can I Carry Your Bags?’.

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 3 5

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17/02/2017 12:07

Feature /// Competition

WIN! THE CHANCE TO SET UP YOUR OWN CYCLING TEAM

Active has teamed up with Giant Store Rutland to offer an incredible competition with prizes worth hundreds of pounds.

Thanks to Giant Store Rutland you can win entry into the Rutland Cycle Tour sportive on Saturday, April 22. There are five places up for grabs, and you’ll cycle as a team with each member supplied with demo bikes and a race jersey for the middle distance of 78 miles.

You’ll even get a qualified race leader to guide and set your strategy, too.

How to enter We want to know why you think you deserve one of the places. Whether it’s for yourself, or if you’re already a team of five, it doesn’t matter. We’ll pick the five we think warrant a place.

Email sportive@theactivemag.com with your name and in up to 200 words tell us why you think you deserve a place.

The closing date for entries is March 20.

Please note that the competition is aimed at entry-level riders and entrants must be aged over 18. Our standard competition terms and conditions apply and are available at www.theactivemag.com.

3 6 M A RC H 2017 ///

Feature /// Get active

UNDER YOUR OWN STEAM Getting fit doesn’t have to involve hours in the gym or spending thousands on kit. Simply put on a pair of trainers or walking shoes, or get on your bike, and discover some great local destinations

3 8 M A RC H 2017 ///

Walker’s ways Launde Abbey Steve Moody takes a stroll to a hidden gem

Nicola Blower, MSK podiatrist at walkrite.co.uk, says: “It is a widely held belief that walking is good for you and as bipeds we have evolved to walk (and run) so walking allows us to use our bodies as they have been designed. It is also free and open to all abilities and age groups.

“The specific health benefits of walking were supported in a systematic review and metaanalysis (summary of large numbers of research papers) in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in June 2015. The researchers concluded that walking (via walking groups) is effective, safe and with good adherence and wide-ranging health benefits including a reduction of blood pressure, reduction of body fat, lowered body mass index and cholesterol, increased measures of cardiovascular fitness and in improvement in symptoms of depression.”

WALKING IS GREAT, BUT IT’S BETTER IF YOU’RE NOT LOST

Being able to navigate confidently opens up a world of enjoyment in the outdoors. As accredited providers, First4Adventure is offering a bronze award two day course on 14-15 March in Rutland following the National Navigation Award Scheme. Completion is validated to a national standard and you will receive a badge and certificate.

This course is for those who are over the age of 16, new to navigation, want to improve some existing skills and be confident to walk in the countryside with friends and family.

Course organiser Emma Martin says: “We are passionate about wanting everyone to gain a love of the outdoors and develop their confidence. We don’t assume any prior knowledge and hope the day will be full of questions, where we will allow plenty of time to practise skills in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Each group (no bigger than six) will have their own instructor.”

The cost of the course is £120 which includes

2 days training and assessment and the NNAS Bronze certificate upon completion of the course.

If you would like to join them please email Emma on info@first4adventure.co.uk or go to www.first4adventure.co.uk/navigationalcourses/

A FESTIVAL OF WALKING, RUNNING AND CYCLING

Corby Walking Festival is in its ninth annual year, has a new look and is being re-named as Corby Outdoors Festival.

Taking place from May 29 – June 4, it will include a wider range of outdoor activities such as cycling and running. It is hoped this encourages more people to be involved with the festival and experience the health and social benefits that walking and general outdoor activity offers.

As in previous years, the walk programme will still form an important part of the weeklong event and will celebrate the wealth of walking opportunities in and around the area.

The walking programme continues to offer a diverse range of walking activities, which will include local history and evening walks. There is also a chance for people to take in the amazing scenery at Fineshade Woods, Top Lodge this year. After your forager’s expedition, sample some food and beverages at the Top Lodge Café and take in the sights of the red kites wheeling overhead. For more information visit their website at www.forestry.gov.uk/toplodge.

The festival continues its special connection with Lakelands Day Care Hospice as the event’s beneficiary charity. They will be running their ever popular Wags and Wellies walk, to help fundraise for their continued work in palliative care and life limiting services. Walkers of the two and four legged variety are required.

Visit www.corbywalkingfestival.org.uk for more information.

Launde Abbey, East Norton, LE7 9XB, 01572 717254 www.laundeabbey.org.uk

MATT MUSGRAVE

GET FIT BY WALKING

Launde Abbey is one of those places that just captures the imagination. It’s a little off the beaten track in the midst of rural rolling countryside, between Leicestershire and Rutland, but once you’ve found it, you’ll be back again and again.

The abbey itself is used as a residential retreat house and conference centre; it has a gorgeous medieval chapel that is in daily use and a great restaurant serving delicious homemade food.

There are also lovely gardens, including a working kitchen garden where much of the abbey’s food is grown, and plenty of spaces for watching the world go by. For those who want somewhere different to visit there are some great walks and plenty of challenging cycle routes nearby, with hills and views to rival many other spots in the area.

One of the best things though, once you come over the brow of the hill and see the Elizabethan main house nestling in the natural bowl at the bottom, is the very warm welcome on offer.

Walkers and cyclists come from miles around, enjoying a well-earned rest, before continuing on their way. So, if you’re in the vicinity, or just enjoy the thrill of finding somewhere new, drop in for homemade cakes or lunch, and you’ll be very glad you did – I certainly was.

/// M A RC H 2017 3 9

Feature /// Get active

PUTTING YOUR BEST FEET FORWARD It’s a staggering fact that the average person living to the age of 80 will walk around 110,000 miles in their lifetime.

And when you take into account walking to and from school and playing with friends, children can walk up to 10 miles day.

But, despite all of this mileage, how many of us think seriously about the footwear we are using?

Rosemary Gray, a member of the team at North Shoes in Red Lion Square, Stamford, who is about to embark on a two-year stint as president of the Society of Shoe Fitters (SSF), has seen first-hand the problems that having the wrong footwear can cause people.

Rosemary, who has been fitting footwear for over 40 years, says: “You wouldn’t drive your car for 110,000 miles without having it serviced – and you shouldn’t put your feet through the rigours we put them through without having your footwear checked and fitted correctly... but, a lot of people do.

“People don’t realise that wearing the wrong footwear can damage their health, physically and mentally.

“Ill-fitting shoes can cause a lot of damage, especially if you are diabetic. If you don’t wear the correct footwear for the correct ‘job’ you can damage the tendons in your feet – and, if you suffer from arthritis, the wrong footwear can inflame arthritic joints.

4 0 M A RC H 2017 ///

“Wrong or badly-fitting shoes can lead to bad knees and bad backs later in life. The right footwear is also good for your mental well-being – if your feet feel good you feel happier in yourself. If your feet are comfortable, you feel comfortable, especially if you are an active person.”

Rosemary, who lectures in shoe fitting for the SSF, has some tips to help us all get on the right road with our footwear: Start them off on the right foot “It’s important to give our children a good start in life with their feet because they get used to having the right things. If children are not taught what is comfortable from an early age they will not keep their feet healthy as they get older and they will do damage to their feet later in life.”

Get the right footwear for the right ‘job’ You need a shoe that is well cushioned and supported to protect your joints while exercising, whether it is walking or running. It’s important to get the right advice at the fitting stage – always make sure you go to a shop able to give advice on all aspects of the footwear you need. Explain what you require the shoes for and a good shoe shop will guide you in the right direction.”

Wear the right socks or hosiery “When you’re choosing your footwear for a specific job, make sure you’re wearing the right

socks or hosiery. For example, if you’re choosing shoes for walking, don’t try them on wearing tights; wear the socks you will be wearing when walking.”

Go to an expert “The way a shoe has worn can indicate foot health problems. We have a saying – ‘A quick look at a pair of shoes can tell you a story’. Often people think they have the right size but after a few months of wearing start getting problems with blisters, or corns, or general foot pain and don’t put that down to having the wrong size. A good shoe fitter should be able to see by the way people walk if they have bad hips or knees or if they are leaning to one side.”

Rosemary Gray helps ensure a young customer gets the right footwear

HOW TO SPOIL A GOOD WALK! Golf has proven health benefits and is a great way to get in a walk while – hopefully – entertaining yourself at the same time.

Researchers reviewed 5,000 studies into golf and found it had physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages, and that the physical gains increased with age.

Balance and muscle endurance in older people were improved by playing the sport and it was also likely to improve cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic health.

The study found golfers typically burnt a minimum of 500 calories over 18 holes and those walking the course could cover four to eight miles.

Dr Andrew Murray, from the physical activity for health research centre at Edinburgh University, said: “We know that the moderate physical activity that golf provides increases life expectancy, has mental health benefits and can help prevent and treat more than 40 major chronic diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer. Given that the sport can be played by the very young to the very old, this demonstrates a wide variety of health benefits for people of all ages.”

There are lots of fabulous courses in the area including Burghley Park, Stapleford Park, Luffenham Heath and The Leicestershire, but one of the prettiest is Peterborough Milton Golf Club, designed by the famous James Braid and opened in 1938. It’s is a fine, challenging parkland course on the Fitzwilliam Estate, and being situated at the centre of a popular rambling area, the relaxing and enjoyable clubhouse is the perfect rural location and destination to enjoy refreshments, relax and chat over the walk with friends.

Special refreshment packages are available for walking groups.

Ample free car parking is also available. For more information visit the website at www.pmgc.org.uk or contact the secretary’s office 01733 380489.

FROM BIPED TO PEDALLER Many people find walking a bit too slow, and that the scenery just doesn’t change quickly enough for their liking. Which is one of the reasons why that other human-powered activity, cycling, has really taken off.

The issue can be where to go though. Just huffing and puffing along roads as lorries thunder by isn’t much fun, so best to do some research. Local shops such as Julie’s Cycles in Leicester can offer advice not only on what to ride and wear, but where to go to. Here are their three top tips: 1. The Sustrans National Cycle Network is ideal for cycling. Routes are on traffic free and quite country lanes ideal for cycling and seeing areas that you would miss normally.

2. Locally, places such as Charnwood Forest, part of the new National Forest, Brampton Valley Way and Rockingham Forest are excellent traffic-free locations.

3. Lots of great Apps are available for mobile phones such as Sustrans National Cycle Network and Bike Hub.

/// M A RC H 2017 41

Feature /// Get active

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE ADVENTUROUS? 25-mile loop: Fineshade – Brooke – Harringworth – Fineshade March is the perfect month to kick start your training and explore our local lanes by bike, spotting baby lambs and daffodils as you go.

The 25-mile loop starts and finishes at Fineshade Wood, where there’s a café and a Rutland Cycling shop, in case you need to top up on inner tubes or energy gels. The route takes in a few good climbs, so you’ll be ready for a well-earned cuppa and cake when you finish.

THE ROUTE 1. Park at Top Lodge, Fineshade (NN17 3BB).

Pedal back towards the main A43 road and cross over it, heading towards the village of Wakerley.

You’ll pass Wakerley Woods on your left.

2. Turn left at the T-junction, then right and over the bridge, heading towards Barrowden. Look out for baby lambs in the fields along this section.

3. At the junction entering Barrowden, ignore the first minor right turn and take the right hand fork, heading up the hill towards South Luffenham.

4. At the end of Barrowden village, turn right up Luffenham Road.

5. At the top of the hill, cross over the A47 and onto Barrowden Lane, dropping down into South Luffenham.

6. Cross over the main A6121 road and stay on Back Lane, skirting the village of South Luffenham.

7. Turn right onto North Luffenham Road, then shortly after you leave South Luffenham village, take a left turn to Pilton.

8. At the crossroads, go straight on, heading towards Pilton.

9. Keep straight on, through Pilton. Go round a sharp left bend, then turn right at the T-junction.

4 2 M A RC H 2017 ///

(17-mile route – As you enter Wing village, take a left turn, following the sign to Wing Maze. Pass the Maze on your right, heading towards Glaston. Keep straight on, enjoying the descent before the pull up to Glaston. Rejoin the route notes at number 14.)

10. Go through and out of Wing village, dropping down the hill and crossing the River Chater again. Then it’s up the hill towards Manton village. Cross over the road at the top of the hill, then go past the Horse and Jockey pub on your right (a good place for a quick pit stop, if you need one) and through a gate to get down on the main A6003.

11. Turn right onto the A6003 for ½ a mile, then take the first left turn, towards Gunthorpe and Brooke. Stay on this road, crossing the River Gwash, then turn left at the crossroads just outside the village of Brooke. Stay on this road, enjoying the descent down to cross the River BROOKE

Chater once again, before the short, steep climb up the other side. Follow the road as it bends round to the left, ignoring a right turn to Ridlington.

12. Keep straight on, until you reach the A6003 again. Turn left and immediately right, heading towards Glaston. At a small crossroads, go straight over, still heading for Glaston.

13. As you enter Glaston, turn right at the Tjunction. (17-mile route rejoins here.)

14. Go straight on, crossing the A47.

15. Keep going straight on over the crossroads, passing Seaton village on your right. At Seaton scrapyard, turn left, then stay straight on, ignoring the left fork. Pass under the magnificent Seaton viaduct and continue on through the village of Harringworth. Turn left at the T junction and head towards Wakerley.

16. Pedal through Wakerley village and take the right fork as you leave the village, to rejoin the road to Fineshade.

17. Cross the main A43 and ride back up to Fineshade car park, or stop in at the café for a well-earned cuppa!

RIDLINGTON

BARROWDEN GLASTON

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ACTIVE BODY SWIMMING AND SHOULDERS, EAT HEALTHILY RATHER THAN DIETING, AND SOME FASHION ADVICE FOR THE CHAPS

4 4 M A R C H 2 0 17 ///

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It’s available in either hatchback or convertible.

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Fuel consumption and CO2 figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. *Vehicle is for land use only. 3 year warranty consists of a 36 months’ unlimited mileage warranty (incl. 24 months’ Pan European warranty) which guarantees your vehicle against defective manufacturing faults for 36 months from first registration. This excludes wear-and-tear items. Retail sales only. T&C’s apply. Warranty subject to exclusions. See Fiat.co.uk for full details.

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17/02/2017 13:02

ACTIVE BODY

SWIMMING AND SHOULDERS Swimming is not only a great way to relax and recover, but there are some exercises you need to do to ensure you don’t cause shoulder injuries. By Function Jigsaw’s Tom Heeley THERE ARE SOME very common injuries associated with regular swimmers and I want to take a look at them and suggest ways to ease those problems.

Most injuries occur in the shoulder (90%), followed by the lower back and then the knee. Of the shoulder injuries, rotator cuff issues are the most common.

Rotator cuff problems usually occur because of reduced flexibility, lack of strength and poor muscle firing patterns.

Muscles such as the pectoralis minor and trapezius often end up being short and overactive, whereas muscles such as the serratus anterior and rhomboids are redundant. When this happens, there is often a knock-on effect to swim length, strength and, ultimately, pain.

Here we are going to explain some simple ways to lengthen the pectoralis minor and the trapezius muscles as well as strengthen the serratus anterior and rhomboids. This will compliment your swimming, improve performance and help reduce the risk of injuries.

ATTEMPTING EXERCISES If you are already in pain from an injury, please ensure that you seek medical

attention for a full diagnosis before attempting these exercises.

Firstly, we need to stretch those muscles which are short and overactive.

The trapezius can be easily selfmassaged using an Olympic bar and a squat rack.

Stand with the bar running from front to back, and resting on your trapezius muscle, push up into the bar and create tension on the muscle whilst moving left and right underneath the bar.

If don’t have access to an Olympic bar or squat rack, there is an exercise you can do just sitting in a chair. Sit on your hand with palm down and fingers facing in, sit up tall and take your ear to the opposite shoulder, then begin to look up and down, slowly moving your head as you do so.

Complete both sides with a gentle fluid movement for 30 seconds.

Here is how to strengthen the shoulder with three simple scapular stabilising exercises to help build shoulder stability and strengthen the serratus anterior and rhomboid muscles: Firstly, get yourself into a press-up position and instead of bending elbows and lowering them to the floor, push

through your shoulder blades and take your shoulder blades around rib cage, then sink into the movement and retract the shoulder blades back again.

Secondly, in a three-point row position place a weight in your hand and repeat the process, letting the shoulder blade come around the rib cage and then retract and return the shoulder blade near the midline of the back. Increase the weight as needed but maintain good technique throughout.

Three, place a light Active Kit band around the wrists, then stand against the wall and create a plank position. Take one arm off the wall and ‘crawl’ up the wall.

Reaching the shoulders end range then returning back to the starting plank position.

If you can create the time to repeat these exercises up to three times a week, it would be ideal.

For a video of how to do these exercises, visit: functionjigsaw.co.uk/blog/reduceshoulder-injuries-for-swimming/

@FunctionJigsaw info@functionjigsaw.co.uk www.functionjigsaw.co.uk

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 4 7

ACTIVE BODY

HEALTHY EATING, NOT DIETING, IS THE GOAL Survey shows high number of women unsatisfied with dieting and body image A recent survey of more than 2,000 women shows that almost half (41%) have tried at least one new diet plan in the past year but, despite their best efforts, two-thirds (64%) are still unhappy with the size and shape of their body.

More than one in three women (37%) tried between one and three diets during 2016, but others (4%) admitted to attempting up to five or more diets in the same time frame.

Of those asked, around half (48%) want to shed at least a stone, while over a third (35%) aim to lose 20lb or more.

Interestingly, nearly three-quarters (70%) don’t like the word ‘diet’, preferring ‘healthy eating’ instead.

When asked what they would ideally

4 8 M A R C H 2 0 17 ///

want from a healthy eating programme, as well as weight loss, nearly half of those surveyed said that boosting energy levels were at the top of their list (49%). They also want to enjoy a more youthful appearance (19.12%), a happier mood (14%), and an improved skin tone (14%). In other words, they want to switch on their body power – look and feel their best and not just see shrinking numbers on the scale.

Embarking on any new diet plan needs to be easy to follow and fun to maintain, but it’s much easier said than done. The survey clarified why women fail on diets. Primary reasons are boredom (15%), tiredness (13%) and, most of all, the lack of the plan’s ability to fit in with the realities of day to day living (18%). Other issues revealed by the survey

are hunger (12%), feeling deprived of food (10%) and finding the diet too complicated (4%). What’s more, nearly a quarter of women (23%) said a combination of all these factors stopped them sticking to diets.

The Healthista Women and Weight Loss Survey demonstrates that the key to long term health and fitness success is to understand the deeply-held truths behind what women really feel about their body, ensuring that they choose a plan which can genuinely reap rewards and, most importantly, last.

Anna Magee, founder of Healthista.com, the health, well-being and beauty site, said: “I was a serial dieter in my 20s and 30s.

Nothing was letting me reach my real goal – to love my body by making it the best and healthiest it could be by following a plan which was easy, fun and positive.

“When I realised that my body image issues weren’t just about weight loss but a combination of the feel good factors which could tick all my boxes, I discovered a way of eating and exercising that helped me drop the pounds without being bored, tired or under unrealistic time constraints. I regained my body’s mojo, enjoying more energy and vitality than I’d felt for ages. It’s clear from the survey that this is what most women are looking for.”

The results of the research have inspired a new Healthista Lean Energy Programme including four elements: the Healthista Fit HiT app from personal trainer Kelly Du Buisson, a 30-day Smoothie and Exercise Challenge, FREE Lean Energy E-Book and the Healthista Lean Energy product range (lean whey diet protein powder, lean Vegan diet protein powder & three new nutrient powder booster formulas, all formulated by leading nutritionist Rick Hay), all designed to deliver weight loss, sustained vitality and positive body image.

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17/02/2017 13:06

ACTIVE BODY

THE FINISHING TOUCHES You’ve done all the hard work in the gym, playing sports and getting fit, so now is the time to reap the benefits and add the finishing touches…

Edited by Mary Bremner

FOR MEN’S EYES ONLY The fashion weeks are over – did you even know they took place? Not to worry as we’ve done some research to find out what the discerning gent should be wearing this season.

And the news is good. Dust off your wax jacket as they are back in style – not that they ever really went out. The Barbour jacket is a classic and British made. Expensive unless you get lots of wear out of it, but there are plenty of cheaper alternatives. Rugged and hard wearing, it attracts all sorts and sometimes it’s amusing to speculate just who he is – the true countryman or the ‘wannabe’ who would like you to think that he has thousands of acres and lives the lifestyle; or, best of all, the man who couldn’t care less – ‘it’s a coat, so what?’

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It doesn’t really matter, the classic wax jacket is versatile, practical, hard wearing and a jacket of all trades. It’s the go-to jacket for many as it suits most lifestyles.

Perfect for going to the pub or walking the dog, but smart enough to wear to work as well. Worn by young and old, city or country, it’s fit for purpose and will last for years. Just don’t wear it with white trainers – that’s not a good look.

According to the catwalk, wearable, elegant clothing is in for men this year, clothes that you will be comfortable in.

Cashmere or wool roll neck jumpers (very Steve McQueen), soft suede jackets, white shirts, camel coats, the ubiquitous wax jacket and a splash of colour. Simple, elegant and masculine – hurrah!

And finally...

The latest fashions to show off

MAN’S WET SHAVE Shaving every day is a bit of a chore so luckily these days stubble and beards are fashionable so many men only trim their stubble weekly, or less frequently. This includes Alex Stephens, who reviewed a wet shave by Oliver Lee in Stamford, a hair salon that is the ‘go to’ salon for Stamford men, as well as women, and has been since it opened in 2014. Oliver is the only stylist offering a traditional wet shave in the town.

He learnt his craft in Bodrum in Turkey before getting his certificate in the UK. “Wet shaves using a traditional cutthroat razor are very popular. I have clients who come in twice a week without fail, others come weekly and many more come for special occasions. It’s a bit of a luxury treatment that many men enjoy, and benefit from,” Oliver told us.

Oliver makes it a bit of an occasion; there are spirits sitting on the table next to Alex – beer and wine too – and he’s welcome to help himself. Many men do, particularly if they come in the evening. A traditional wet shave offers many advantages – you get a much closer shave than you would with an electric razor, so there is no shadowing and, because the shave is so even, stubble regrowth is smooth and even. And it’s not just a shave, it’s more of a mini facial.

When Alex first arrived Oliver placed a hot towel over his face. This is to encourage pores to open making for a cleaner shave. He then used a traditional shaving brush to lather Alex’s face before wielding his cut-throat razor. He shaved Alex precisely, quickly and cleanly.

“Around the moustache area can be sensitive, particularly for those who don’t have it done very often,” said Oliver, but

Barbour Ashby wax jacket £198 www.cavells.co.uk

Alex wasn’t complaining. After the shave, Oliver placed a cold towel across Alex’s face. This closes pores which prevents in-growing hair and spots that could be referred to as stubble rash. He did a quick tidy up of the eyebrows and ears and then used some Paul Mitchell conditioning balm to massage into Alex’s skin. Oliver also used an awapuhi lotion to smooth and calm Alex’s skin to stop any tenderness.

When applying these conditioners and lotions he massaged Alex’s face each time.

Afterwards, Alex said: “It was very relaxing throughout, and the massage at the end was great. I always seem to miss a bit when I shave so was delighted to get a good close shave. I’d thoroughly recommend a wet shave – it’s a bit of a treat too. I’m definitely going to have another wet shave before a special occasion.”

The shave took about 30 minutes and costs £25. Appointments necessary. www.oliverleestamford.co.uk

HAND AND ARM MASSAGE Massages, particularly back massages, are very popular but a hand and arm massage is not quite as common, but they should be.

Our hands are the part of our body that gets the most abuse so it’s no wonder they often show the first signs of ageing. And what about the muscles that are being used repetitively for things like typing?

Therefore a hand massage is the perfect antidote. To have someone massage your hands and arms is incredibly luxurious, relaxing and calming. It helps stimulate circulation and blood flow and eases stiff joints. Hands being touched gives a sense of well-being and relaxation. The creams

that were used for our massage were from Prismologie. The citrine and bergamot body lotion smelt fabulous and was easily absorbed into the skin.

Afterwards our hands looked so much better. Combine this with a manicure for the ultimate hand pampering treatment.

A hand and arm massage feels quite different to a back one. Having someone tend to your hands and arms is a treat, and this, combined with the fabulous aromas from the creams, is the ultimate in relaxation. Oh to have it done every day.

Amelia Nour, 59 Francis Street, Leicester 0116 431 5395

Black and charcoal grey merino wool roll neck £99 www.gagliardi.eu

Loake brown shoe £125 www.northshoes.co.uk

Bright stripe scarf £25 www.fatface.com

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AUTHENTIC RESTAURANT A U T H E N T I C IINDIAN NDIAN R ESTAURANT & COCKTAIL BAR BANQUET NIGHT Offering a contemporary twist to classic cuisine. Bashoh means ‘KING’ in the Punjabi language and & COCKTAIL BAR the customer is always ‘KING’ in our restaurant.

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MON - SAT 12 NOON TILL 2:30 PM - S T U D E N T S R E C E I V E 2 0% OF F D I N I N G I N FO O D B I LL - R E G U L A R LI V E BA N D S A N D E N T ERTAI N M EN T - K I D S E AT F R E E ( T &C s A P P LY) -

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THE BASHOH COCKTAIL BAR

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20/01/2017 13:41

ACTIVE LOCAL

PIP WARTERS

STAMFORD GAIN RUGBY REVENGE OVER OAKHAM, WALKING AROUND GRETTON AND HARRINGWORTH, AND WE TRY OUT THE WHEATSHEAF IN LANGHAM

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19/02/2017 10:16

NEW...

We’re busy creating a walled kitchen garden over the next few months and we’ll be delighted to offer our locals and guests brand new options to enjoy outside!

Coming Summer 2017 to The Bull & Swan.

Highlights will include an outdoor cinema with seating, heaters and blankets.

Enjoy freshly prepared pizza from our new pizza potting shed, seasoned with herbs direct from our new walled kitchen garden.

T: 01780 766 412 thebullandswan.co.uk

Camra Pub of the Season in Spring 2016

“reassuringly splendid”

Stonebaked pizzas available to eat in or take away

Winner of the Best Steak and Ale pie at the British pie awards 2016 and Best Small Producer.

We cater for weddings and large parties on and OFF SITE including outside bars, BBQ’s for 100 plus people.

COMING SOON: Fresh bread and pies and “cook” style food for customers to takeaway and cook at home

www.thewheatsheaf-langham.co.uk

t: 01572 869105 2 Burley Road, Langham, Rutland, LE15 7HY

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Visit us on Trip Advisor to see independent views

17/02/2017 13:02

Feature /// Sportsman's Dinner

The Wheatsheaf, Langham Will and Wendy savour some fabulous home-cooked food at this village pub Will I don’t think I’ve ever stepped foot inside this pub before but, if TripAdvisor is anything to go by, then it’s doing very well indeed. It’s ranked number one out of 57 in the Oakham area so they are obviously doing more than a few things right.

Wendy It’s well lit from the car park and I felt welcome even before we stepped through the doorway and met Mike, the friendly landlord.

They have an impressive selection of something like 40 different gins behind the bar, but I’d already ordered a glass of Marlborough sauvignon blanc before I clocked that. It’s probably a good thing though because it would have taken me half an hour to choose.

Will Yes, Mike is a breath of fresh air and it’s obvious what an impact he has made. As he explained the building was empty for seven years until he brought it back to life three and half years ago, and he and Andy the chef have worked together ever since. Judging by the way the regulars are chatting with Mike it’s clear he has done a great job of establishing an enjoyable environment for everyone to come.

Wendy The number of 2016 British Pie Award certificates behind the bar suggest Andy is producing some excellent food. But before we get to the main courses it was lovely to have some freshly made warm bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to keep the wolf from the

door. The bread’s made on the premises every day and it’s hard to beat that.

Will I’m very pleased to see you so happy and glad that simplicity does the trick – I can manage that. And if we are talking about happiness then my sausage and black pudding Scotch egg starter (£5.75) was a package of pure culinary joy. I have had many a good Scotch egg over the years, but that was quite easily the best one I have ever tasted. Sometimes the meat can be a bit too heavy but this was far from it. The blend of sausage, black pudding and herbs was perfect and the egg was just runny enough. With all that flavour I didn’t touch the tomato relish.

Wendy I have to agree that was a fine Scotch egg but I enjoyed my crispy fried blanchbait (which is effectively whitebait) with dressed leaves and lemon mayo (£5.50) too. It was a healthy portion packed with fishy goodness.

Will My pint of Bombardier Pale was served at the right temperature and clearly comes from a well kept cellar. Mike has made a point of keeping his prices within the realms of reality for most people, and all the beer and food are very reasonable. Where he has really kept a lid on it though is wine by the bottle. With an excellent bottle of sauvignon blanc going for £15 he has resisted the urge to charge silly money and the results are clear – the place is full of happy people enjoying a drink.

Wendy After some indecision I’m glad I went for the steak and ale pie (£14.75), rather than the lamb and mint. As Mike explained the pies here are not just casseroles with a pastry lid, they are all individually made and fully encased pastry pies, served with your choice of potatoes and vegetables and a spare jug of thick gravy. My pie was excellent, although perhaps a little salty for my taste. And I didn’t make much of a dent in my new potatoes because I was so full.

Will I went for the sticky barbecue Stincanto (£15.75), which is a heavenly piece of pork marinated on the bone and then cooked for 12 hours. It was served with a homemade slaw and skinny fries and was even better than it sounds. I didn’t think the main course could live up to the Scotch egg starter but it most certainly did.

Wendy After all that lovely food we didn’t have space for puddings but something tells me they will be fabulous too. Mike’s a really interesting guy and it’s so pleasing to see someone tap into what people really want from a village pub and restaurant. We’ll definitely be coming back.

The Wheatsheaf

2 Burley Rd, Langham, Oakham, LE15 7HY. 01572 869105 www.thewheatsheaf-langham.co.uk

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19/02/2017 18:41

Feature /// Great walks

TOP STAT

dge was Harringworth Lo as a hunting ilt bu y all gin ori d by a deer lodge surrounde rather isolated a it’s ay tod park; mhouse. but attractive far

Gretton and Harringworth To the north of Corby the landscape opens up quickly to offer some good walks, as Will Hetherington discovers Photography: Will Hetherington

Difficulty rating (out of five)

THE ROUTE

Gretton is only a mile or two north of Corby but the countryside opens up quickly beyond the old steelworks and Rockingham Motor Speedway.

I parked on Kirby Road in the north east corner of the village, right by the bridleway leading east out of the village along the Jurassic Way. Head out on this farm track and when you get to the first farmyard almost immediately make sure to hold your bearing and keep straight to stay on the footpath. Don’t be tempted into following the track through the yard or else you will just have

5 6 M A RC H 2017 ///

to turn around as I did. Keep going in a straight line across a couple of pasture fields and you will find a gateway in the corner of the two hedgerows.

Stay on the Jurassic Way as it then deviates towards the south east along the hedgerow in a giant sheep pasture. Follow the bridleway around the perimeter of this field until you come to a gate on the south eastern field boundary. It’s clearly marked as the continuation of the Jurassic Way so go through the gate and turn left immediately.

There is now a mile-long stretch along the northern edge of a series of woods, where the dogs can enjoy themselves and you are unlikely to see another soul. It’s pretty flat going and easy underfoot here so just crack on until you get to the lake and Harringworth Lodge on your left.

When you reach the end of the lake turn left

and walk up to the Lodge then bear round to the right before skirting around the northern side of the old tennis court and head north. After less than 200 yards turn left on to the path heading west across the middle of the field. It’s marked on the wall on the right and this is where you leave the Jurassic Way. On the day I did this walk the next three fields were all heavy plough, and I felt like I had walked three times as far by the time I cleared the last one. So be warned, it’s tough on the legs in these conditions.

After the second field join the track heading south for a short stretch before cutting back north and then heading west again after the solitary farm building.

Once you have cleared this field you re-enter the giant sheep pasture from the early stages of the walk and you can soon retrace your steps back to Gretton.

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©CROWN COPYRIGHT 2015 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA 055/15

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Isolated Harringworth Lodge is the half-way mark on this lonely stroll; this stile behind Harringworth Lodge will keep you on the right path; your dogs can really stretch their legs on this Jurassic Way jaunt; Hollow Wood and Household Coppice are just two of the pieces of woodland you will pass on this walk

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park On Kirby Road in the north east corner of Gretton right next to the bridleway.

Refreshments You aren’t too far from Lyddington with the Marquess of Exeter and the Old White Hart.

Distance and time Four and a half miles/ one hour and 20 minutes.

Difficulty rating Three paws; if it wasn’t for the heavy plough in three fields this would be easy going all the way around.

Highlights This walk will give you plenty of solitude and Harringworth Lodge makes for an interesting half-way point. The dogs will love it too.

The pooch perspective Sheep in one field otherwise your dog will thank you for this walk.

Lowlights Heavy plough in three fields made it hard going when I did it.

For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking.

You won’t regret it.

/// M A R C H 2 0 17 5 7

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fresh wheels wedding.indd 1

10/05/2016 16:17

Feature /// Local sport

LRS event celebrates the region’s sporting stars Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport’s (LRS) inaugural celebration evening was a huge success, as local sport and physically active champions were heralded at the Leicester Arena in February.

Held in partnership with De Montfort University, 10 awards were presented throughout the course of the evening with groups and individuals hailed for their tireless dedication to making local sport and activities happen.

Hosted by local sport and physical activity advocate Gaynor Nash and BBC Radio Leicester’s Ian Stringer, the celebration saw some of the finest coaches, teachers, individuals and groups recognised for their efforts.

The evening acted as a way to celebrate the significant impact that sport and physical activity has made to improve people’s lives, through the work of LRS and its partners. The breadth of work undertaken by LRS and in partnership with all local authorities, schools, national governing bodies of sport and the voluntary sector, to make sport and physical activity more accessible was showcased.

LRS chair Andy Reed OBE said: “This event celebrates the hard work and achievements of schools, clubs, community organisations and volunteers operating in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland. It gives you a great idea of the range of work Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport and its partners are involved in.”

It wasn’t just about the awards though, with performances adding to the atmosphere. Nether Hall School were the first to take to the stage, wowing the crowd with their Grease Lightnin’ performance. And they were followed by Oaklands School, whose Hairspray themed dance was equally entertaining. And the action didn’t stop there, with a Clubbercise session getting everyone out of their seats and familiar with a glowstick!

The success stories of individuals helped to encapsulate the night, with feats of endurance and dedication to sport and physical activity heard. These included the Peter Walker Memorial Award winner Mick Ballard, who continues his 30 years of service to Barrow Runners in spite of suffering a stroke and seizure in 2016.

With previous GO GOLD Ambassadors Grace Garner (currently of Wiggle High5 Cycling) and Jonny Walton (Team GB athlete at the 2016 Rio Olympics) both on hand for a short Q&A and photo opportunities, both young and old got the chance to meet two of the area’s finest sporting talents.

De Montfort University’s director of strategic partnerships, Sarah Thomson, said: “De Montfort University is delighted to work closely with Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport. Through

LRS roll of honour:  The LRS Primary PE & Sport Premium Award Winner: Millfield L.E.A.D Academy, Leicester Highly Commended: Swallowdale Primary School, Melton  The John Buckingham Award for Developing School Sports Associations Winner: Leicestershire County Netball Association  The Hilary Johnson Award for Service to PE & School Sport Winner: Nigel Williams, Blaby Highly Commended: Dorothy Orr, North West Leicestershire and Stephanie Magee, Leicester City  The Workplace Health Award Winner: Ashmount School, Charnwood  Early Years Physical Activity Award - Most Active Setting Award Winner: Holmsdale Manor Nursery School, North West Leicestershire Highly Commended: Ashmount School EYFS, Charnwood and Daisy Chain Children’s Nursery, Blaby  Early Years Physical Activity Award Highly commended in the Stuart Lindeman Award for contribution to Sport (under 21) Champions Award were Beth Kenney of Hinckley & Bosworth and Harry Mathers from Rutland Winner: Katherine Mackness – Apple Tree Nursery, Harborough Winner: Kayleigh Nichols – Orchard End Nursery, Hinckley  Early Years Physical Activity Award - Parental/Carer Engagement Award Winner: Fairfield Preparatory School, Charnwood Highly Commended: Whetstone Baptist Playgroup, Blaby  The Alan Kind Award for contribution to Sport (Over 21) Winner: Linda Harris, Ibstock United Junior & Youth FC Highly Commended: Razia Noormahomed - Oadby & Wigston Muslim and Association and Alison Wilcock - Leicester Sharks Swimming Club  The Stuart Lindeman Award for contribution to Sport (Under 21) Winner: David Kennedy, North West Leicestershire Highly Commended: Beth Kenney, Hinckley & Bosworth and Harry Mathers, Rutland  The Peter Walker Memorial Award for Unsung Hero Winner: Mick Ballard, Barrow Runners Highly Commended: Ian Crisp, Burbage Cricket Club and Sue Foulkes, Leicester City Ladies FC

#DMUlocal, some of the hardest-to-reach groups are engaged in projects that focus on the three core lenses of education, health and regeneration. By working alongside various organisations, #DMUlocal offers a wide range of exciting projects that meet the needs of communities and have a transformative impact.”

Matthew Crackell, organiser of the inaugural

celebration from LRS, added: “We are all delighted with the inaugural evening and the work of the LRS staff that helped to make it such a success. It’s vital to recognise those whose work in sport and physical activity may often go unnoticed, and we hope that all of the winners, highly commended nominees and guests had a memorable and enjoyable evening.” /// M A R C H 2 0 1 7 5 9

59 SR schools extra SLSR OK.indd 36

17/02/2017 12:08

Charlotte Aspiring Engineer | Athlete

DISCOVERY MORNINGS Take a tour, observe lessons, meet the pupils, talk to staff and the Head.

Discover what makes every day at our Schools exceptional.

Tuesday 21st March | 10am –12 noon Stamford School (Boys 11–18) Wednesday 22nd March | 10am –12 noon Stamford High School (Girls 11–18)

st nd out To book your place sign up at www.ses.lincs.sch.uk/visitus or call 01780 750311

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17/02/2017 14:29

Feature /// School sport

Maddie given England U17 netball call-up Stamford High School student Maddie Munro-Hall (year 12) has been named in the U17 England netball squad for March’s European Championships in Belfast.

Maddie started playing netball when she joined Stamford Junior School aged nine. Since then, she has gone from strength to strength developing her skills and tactical awareness.

Recently, her accomplishments include being selected for the Loughborough Lightning squad aged just 15, before being drafted into the National Academy in October 2015.

Sports scholar Maddie is currently working hard on a six-week training programme prior to attending an England training camp in February.

Sports teacher Catherine Raitt said: “Maddie has worked her way up through the ranks with such determination and passion, and has been an asset to Stamford High School’s netball squad.

“We wish her well at the training camp and, of course, look forward to seeing her in action in March for England U17s.”

Unbeaten Oakham Oakham’s U19 netball team are celebrating after winning all nine of their games at the regionals tournament to book their place at the national finals this month.

Fantastic teamwork saw the girls achieve comfortable wins against, among others, Oundle (14-4), Repton (13-7) and Ratcliffe (17-8).

Assistant director of sport, Michelle Northcott, said: “We are very proud of our girls. This is the third year running that Oakham has made it through to the nationals at U19 level. It is a huge achievement for the team and highlights that netball remains strong at Oakham.”

The squad will travel to Welwyn Garden City on March 18 for the nationals, where they will be aiming to continue their winning streak.

CASTERTON COLLEGE SIDE KNOCKED OUT IN QUARTER FINALS OF SCHOOLS TROPHY The year 10 boys at Casterton College were knocked out the ESFA Small Schools Trophy in the quarter-final stage of the competition a er losing on penalties to Ellesmere Port Catholic High School.

The team started well, with Rory Hudson’s pace causing a lot of problems for Ellesmere’s defence. Casterton went 1-0 up when Hudson was fouled in the penalty area and Phil Rowe converted from the spot.

But in the second half Ellesmere Port came back strongly and Casterton resisted until the last minute of the game when they failed to clear a corner, the referee gave a penalty for hand ball and Ellesmere scored to take the match to extra time. Extra time was evenly fought out and the match was decided on penalties which Ellesmere won 5-4.

It’s a significant achievement for the boys to reach the later stages of a national competition which started with 160 teams.

National Cup progress Stamford School’s boys’ first XI hockey side has enjoyed a strong run in the National Cup of late with impressive wins both home and away.

The first round of the cup pitted the team against local rivals Uppingham School. A brilliant second half from Stamford saw the side emerge 4-1 victors, after having been level at half-time.

A much-fancied Trent College were the second round opponents. A flying start from Stamford saw them take a 2-0 lead. Soon the quality of the Trent College team started to show and Stamford found themselves 5-4 down with two minutes to play. However inspired play by captain Arthur Franklin resulted in two goals in two minutes giving Stamford the win.

Following on from the heroics at Trent College, the side then headed to Worksop College on a Tuesday night. The team played well, controlling the tie throughout. Two goals from sports scholar Joe Rogers put the tie to bed. The side will now enjoy a home tie in the fourth round which will either be against Rugby or current national champions Repton. /// M A R C H 2 0 1 7 6 1

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

Rugby

Stamford’s derby revenge

BY JEREMY BESWICK

I

t was a good month for Stamford, but not such a great one for Oakham – the stand-out match was the local derby between the two at Hambleton Road, which was as well-attended a match as I’ve seen there.

The game started with a bang as both sides scored tries in the opening five minutes, Oakham’s James Beanland with the first, Stamford’s James Green replying in kind with a rather soft score; the Oakham defence having spilt the ball in their own goal area.

Oaks had won the toss and opted to play with the slope in their favour which is, as their director of rugby Andy Williamson noted, “generally acknowledged to be worth two tries to the team playing down it – so Oakham knew they had to take full advantage”.

Oakham did indeed dominate possession for the rest of the half and added an unconverted try from Sam Woods and a penalty from Calum Crellin but a half-time lead of 13-5 with the slope against them in the second half was scant reward.

They had come close on several occasions to doing better. Looking back, Williamson commented that they’d “continued to spurn chances as they failed in a pushover attempt, were held up over the line and then managed to butcher another chance with a poor pass evading wing Sam woods with an open line in front of him”.

Oaks were also somewhat unfortunate when a Callum Crellin try was disallowed as the referee, as it were, penalised himself – and Oaks in the process – because he felt he’d inadvertently obstructed a Stamford player in the build up.

The second half belonged to Stamford.

Gathering their players together at the break, coach Matt Albinson and captain Bruce Parker gave the pep talk, as Albinson describes: “With only an eight-point difference it was clear that the game was still in the balance and crystal clear that this was their game for the taking.

“Composure, good game management and when to launch attacks was going to be crucial. The players simply listened quietly; you could sense there was much more to come from the team”.

Stamford’s pack began to dominate and 10 minutes in Richard Thompson scored in the corner, converting his own try to make it 12-13, and by now the pressure was resulting in a number of penalties to the home side and – eventually – a yellow card for Nick Houghton.

The line-out drive was proving an effective tactic for them and a further try – his first ever in purple, black and white from Fergal MacNamara – put them into the lead. With 10 minutes remaining they added another through David Martin and although Oakham got a consolation try from Henry Hives with two minutes left they were more soundly beaten than the final 24-20 scoreline suggested.

Afterwards Albinson said: “I am really proud of the day that the club have put on. I must say thank you to Oakham. Today’s game was a great advert for local rugby and long may encounters between our two clubs continue!”

Williamson, inevitably, was less buoyant in his summing up: “A disappointing result for

Oakham who knew they had failed to take their opportunities in the first half but credit to Stamford who defended well in the first period and ran out winners as they took full advantage of the slope in the second.”

So that’s honours even for the season, Oakham having won 10-5 earlier in the year at the Showground.

Stamford kept the momentum up the following week by securing a place in the final of the NLD Cup with a fine win at West Bridgford. It was a close affair, the closing score being 33-27, and the best move of the match was saved until last as David Martin, picking up the ball on his own 22, evaded several tackles for a fine individual try.

In contrast, Oakham exited the Leicestershire County Cup at the quarter-final stage at home to Melton, although they’ve since beaten Belgrave 19-5 in the league (tries from George Bagshaw, James Beanland and Rhys Grieve) following what Williamson called “a rocket at half-time” from coach Tim Andrews.

Stoneygate had a fine win at home to Vipers by 37-7 with fly half Ben Aspell named man of the match, with a mention in despatches for “excellent work from the whole Gate pack,” from skipper Cillian Brugha.

Oundle lost to Olney and table-topping Peterborough but also beat the Vipers, 32-19 away from home, the club’s Peter Croot putting their win down to “some tireless efforts from Simon New, Dan Page and Mark Rossouw”. They remain in contention for promotion, whereas it’s surely too late for Oakham and Stamford, two and five places respectively below them in the table.

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Tigers Talk Tigers issued an official release confirming George Ford’s return to Welford Road just minutes before Aaron Mauger held his regular meeting with the press. “We’re delighted to have a player of his quality and calibre� he told us. “He’s a leader, an on-field coach that plays with maturity beyond his years and that genuinely loves the game. You can see him bossing the play when he’s out on the field and the natural combination of him with Ben Youngs was a big consideration.�

Freddie Burns is, of course, going in the opposite direction and will begin next season at Bath. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Freddie,� said Mauger, “and I’ve no doubt about his commitment playing here for the rest of the season. He’ll want to go out with a bang�.

And it seems that the squad strengthening isn’t over yet either. “We probably need one more fly half. It’ll be good for George to have some more competition and, of course, we’ve his international commitments to bear in mind.�

Just the day before, three more players had also recommitted their future to the club with Brendon O’Connor, Mike Fitzgerald and Greg Bateman signing new contracts. “It’s a real positive for us� said Mauger. “All of them probably have their best years ahead of them and, with a number of our squad coming back from injury, I’ve noticed a genuine increase in intensity in training now there’s more competition for places.�

Tigers fans will be particularly encouraged that two of those injured players that have returned to full contact training and are now ready for selection are JB Pietersen and Telusa Veainu. What do they offer the side? “The x-factor,� he said. “With the ball in hand JP is probably our biggest threat. He’s a genuine finisher.�

A er losing their first three matches under Mauger a er Richard Cockerill’s departure, recent performances have been better, particularly the 34-9 win over Gloucester. Mauger added: “Our focus is driving the energy in our play and it was a good reflection of the work we’ve done in that area. One other thing we’ve been concentrating on is to show our skills, express ourselves and to do it with confidence.�

He was in no mood to be complacent, however: “There were some parts of the game where we took our foot off the throttle and they opened us up a little too easily at times.�

Another player who recently re-signed was Kiwi scrum half Jono Kitto. “I’m really excited and honoured,� he said. “I feel at home and it’s a cool home to have. I know I’ve improved a lot since I came here.� Who had helped him most? “Ben Youngs and Scott Hansen, but many have played their part.

I’m lucky with the people around me�. Did he feel Tigers were now back on track? “We’ve had a few bumps on the road recently but we’ve made some positive steps forward and it’s good that we’ve got the ball rolling again.�

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16/02/2017 16:27

Roundup

Football

D Day for Drury?

BY DEAN CORNISH

T

here’s no doubting that parts of this season will live long in the memory for Stamford AFC fans.

The Wrexham home game in front of 1,264 fans, the away replay that saw Stamford reach the FA Cup first round for the first time and, of course, the resulting game away at Hartlepool.

Manager Graham Drury was rightly hailed a hero for that cup run, but in a ‘hero to zero’ drop that Claudio Ranieri would be proud of, there are now sections of the Stamford faithful calling for his sacking following a very poor season in the league.

The Daniels are 17th (following relegation last season), they’ve not won in five games, there’s no settled squad, and attendances are falling weekly, so it’s understandable that the manager is under pressure. In the last month, Stamford have lost 2-0 to Market Drayton, 3-1 at home to Lincoln United in a dreadful display, drawn with bottom club Northwich Victoria, and lost at home to Belper Town.

Most fans expected play-offs as a minimum, but Stamford are bizarrely looking more over their shoulder towards the bottom, than they are to the top. They won’t be relegated again, as thankfully only two sides go down, but they’re far too far away from promotion for the liking of many fans. In mitigation, the fixture pile up following the cup run didn’t help

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league form in December, but since then, results should have picked up.

The main issue has been an inability to keep a settled side, a criticism that has often been levelled at Drury during his career. Failing to keep hold of players like Malone, Batchelor, Brown and arguably even Ryan Robbins has cost Stamford, and some of the blame should be laid at the door of Drury.

Meanwhile, in the United Counties League, results have picked up slightly for Oakham United under new manager Will Moody.

After a tumultuous period at the back end of last year, it seems that some stability has returned although results are still mixed with three recent home wins under Moody being interspersed with two heavy away defeats.

The good home wins were over Rushden & Higham, Burton Park and Woodford, with the defeats away at Lutterworth and also local rivals Bourne Town who had a Jake Mason hat-trick to thank for their 4-0 win.

In the same division, Blackstones had started life under new manager Andy Lodge like a train with three wins on the bounce.

However, athe run was ended with a 6-0 loss at Wellingborough Whitworth and a 3-0 home reverse against Potton United.

In the Peterborough Leagues, Ketton FC lead the way for our local sides with manager Rob Ward leading them to four wins on the

trot and sixth place in the Premier Division.

The return of Will Bird has boosted the side with five goals in the last two games helping the Pit Lane boys to a 5-0 away win at Stanground, a 5-1 home win against Holbeach and before that a 1-0 win over Thorney.

The Stamford Lions are hot on their heels though in eighth, with some superb results of late. Their league position could have been even better though, had they not been punished with a five-point deduction following the fielding of an ineligible player, goalkeeper Alex Brown.

On the field though, wins over Wisbech Town (4-0), Sawtry (7-1) and Stanground (9-0) show the current strength of the Lions. Surely promotion is a possible target next season?

At the other end of the table, Uppingham Town look certain to go down this year.

They’re rock bottom, having lost 19 of their 24 games this season.

In Division One, Stamford Bels are sixth having won their last three league games under new management. Sadly for them though, they lost their PDFL Cup semi-final at home against Oakham United Reserves, who won the game 3-0. Bels had the better of the first half and will feel that Oakham’s opening goal was a harshly adjudged penalty, but Oakham deserved the win in the end and march on to the final.

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Roundup

Equestrianism

Winning start for rider Rory

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

L

ocal jockey Rory Bevin has been hitting the headlines early this season, winning four point-topoints already. His first win of the year came at Alnwick at the beginning of January on Dynamic Island in the 12-runner Apartment Group Open Maiden.

Rory had also won on him in December.

Two weeks’ later they travelled north again, this time to The Jedforest Hunt Race at Friars Haugh, where Rory pulled off a double; firstly he won the Mussleburgh Racecourse and Royal Dick Vet Intermediate on For A Change, then Dynamic Island, still on an upward curve, took their second win of the day and the fourth of the season in the Edmund Vestey Restricted Race.

Both horses are family owned and trained at Oakham by Louise Bevin, and this was her first double. Rory is in the middle of his final year exams at university and is doing a great job of juggling revising and pointing.

Hopefully you will be able to see Rory in action at Garthorpe – the Cottesmore is on

Sunday, February 26, and exactly a month later the Belvoir will be hosting theirs on Saturday, March 25.

Show jumper Holly Smith’s brilliant season continued in Oliva in Spain on the Mediterranean tour, where she had two second places in the 1.45m classes on Quality Old Joker and Lammy Beach. On her third attempt at the 1.45 Grand Prix, she pulled off a fabulous win again with Quality Old Joker.

Unfortunately for Holly she came back to England with quite a bump – after only being back in the country a couple of days she had a fall while out hunting with the Quorn and suffered a bad fracture to her right leg. She has been told to take four months’ box rest, but I believe the surgeons were exceptionally pleased with the operation to repair the fracture.

The eventers are gearing up ready for the start of the season at the beginning of March.

Arena UK held one of the final BE JAS (jumping and style) competitions on February 11. Yet again they had a plethora of eventing

entries with the top 25% qualifying for the prestigious final at Hartpury. They run 90, 100 and Novice sections with great prizes up for grabs. Heidi Coy from Melton Mowbray was the winner of the Open Novice on an impressive style score of just 6.

Dressage rider Victoria Jones is very busy at the moment; not only is she still schooling her husband Richard’s horses whilst he’s off games, she has qualified Tijs H (Jazz to his friends) for the Small Tour to be held at Keysoe International – they will be a combination to follow over the season.

Winter is definitely party time for all the hunters and eventers, and the Wilberry Charity Ball at Normanton Park Hotel was another raging success for the charity run by local equestrians Amy Gill and Andrew Pridding. William Bowles even flew in from Australia to commentate on the evening, helping them to raise £1,500 from the raffle and auction. They are planning more equestrian themed fund-raising events, so please keep a look out for them.

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