Active Magazine // South Leicestershire // June 2017 by Active Magazine

ISSUE 26 // JUNE 2017

HOW TO… South Leicestershire’s sport and lifestyle magazine

Mix the perfect strawberry cocktail Pitch a tent

DIGITAL DETOX How to get your kids off electronics and outdoors instead this summer

Cycle Circuit

Our new te monthly rou to ride

ISSUE 26 // JUNE 2017

WILL’S WALK Hilton Triangle

Give it a bash! Cricket legends are coming to your area

www.theACTIVEmag.com 06

“Just wanted to say thank you. Your support and guidance was so very much appreciated. Just settling into my new home which may not have happened without you! Many thanks and best wishes” “Readings have been a God send for me. A real hand holding experience and achieved a price well above what I expected”

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23/05/2017 15:36

Editor’s Letter I CONSTANTLY WORRY ABOUT WHETHER my kids watch too much TV or spend too much time on iPads and the like. It’s very easy, when you’re rushing about with all the things you need to do for life in general, to just let them sit there and stay quiet, and if you’re not careful, they’ve been static for hours, engrossed in the millions of hours of films and programmes available for downloading, right at their fingertips, or playing games, or chatting to friends on various messaging services. I’m not completely against technology though, because this generation of kids will be surrounded by it in everything they do as they grow up, and to try and keep them entirely away from it would be to inhibit their potential in later life, because they will need to be incredibly savvy about this stuff. Nevertheless, nothing can beat getting out and getting active, and so in this issue we’ve come up with a load of activities and events going on this summer that you can sign your kids up to. Mine will be there too, I can assure you: already, they’ve got golf, rugby, swimming, horse riding, football and dancing, among other things, timetabled for the summer. They’ll be knackered by the autumn, with a bit of luck. Talking of activities, I went to the opening of the Rutland Water Aqua Park recently, and this year it is even bigger and better. You can find out about it in our main feature. But the organisers are very keen to point out one thing: you must book before you go. Already it is proving to be incredibly popular and over the course of the summer they think as many as 60,000 people from all over the region will visit. So book early to avoid disappointmemt. 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 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 2059-8513 A Grassroots Publishing Limited company. Company registration number 7994437. VAT number 152717318 Disclaimer

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

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Contents

ISSUE 26 /// JUNE 2017

ACTIVE LIFE 11 WHAT’S ON

Great things to do locally for all the family

13 HOW TO...

Mix a strawberry cocktail and pitch a tent

16-17 RIVERFORD RECIPE

This month we cook a Moroccan carrot and chickpea bake

19 GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

Plan your ultimate rugby trip to New Zealand

FEATURES 22-29 DIGITAL DETOX

Ditch the tablets and phones.... get outdoors

31 MARTIN JOHNSON’S COLUMN

More wry observations from the Sunday Times writer

ACTIVE BODY 35 SHOULDERING THE BURDEN Expert advice from the Ashleigh Clinic

38 KIT BAG

The latest essential gear

42-43 THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Tips and products to get you looking good for summer

ACTIVE LOCAL 46 DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

Medical herbalist Ginny Kemp

48-49 CHALLENGE UPDATES...

How our intrepid fund-raisers are faring

50-53 A GREAT FUND-RAISING BASH Details of the 2017 Sports Bash

55 ON YOUR BIKE!

Our new feature gives you a great cycling route

56-57 GREAT WALKS

Another route through our stunning countryside

61 SCHOOLS SPORTS

Successes on the ﬁeld from our local schools

62-66 ROUND-UP

How clubs in the area are faring

4 J U N E 2017 ///

56 50

LONGFIELD HOUSE, GUMLEY

Guide Â£1,250,000

AN EXCEPTIONAL COUNTRY HOUSE, PERFECTLY COMBINING TRADITIONAL VILLAGE LIVING AND THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, WITH EXQUISITE DETAIL GIVEN OVER TO THE INTERNAL SPECIFICATION. SITTING IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE, THERE ARE FABULOUS ELEVATED VIEWS TO THE REAR OVER OPEN COUNTRYSIDE AND ACROSS FOXTON LOCKS, WHILST A SUPERB DETACHED THREE BAY GARAGE HAS A ROOM ABOVE OFFERING POTENTIAL FOR ANNEXE OR OFFICE USE. EPC RATING: D

fine & country.indd 1

18/05/2017 11:34

Activelife

Activelife COCKTAILS AND CAMPING. TADPOLES AND SWIFTS, THE LAND OF THE ALL BLACKS AND WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON CLOSER TO HOME Edited by Mary Bremner

6 J U N E 2017 ///

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Activelife

SADDLE UP The Women’s CiCLE Classic pro cycle race is being held for the second time on June 4. A top-class ﬁeld of nearly 100 riders will be competing in the 95km race that starts and

TAKE A PEW ﬁnishes in Melton Mowbray town centre. Last year 62 riders started the race, with only 13 surviving. This year entrants will be competing for a £1,000 ﬁrst prize.

Kilworth House Theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion it has teamed up with Cancer Research UK to offer you the chance to become part of the theatre’s history by taking part in ‘Take a Pew’. You can name a seat of your choice for a cost of £250 that will all go to the charity. The engraved plaques will be in place for the lifetime of the theatre. For more information ring 01858 881939.

The Menphys Mile Houghton-on-the-Hill Field Association is planning to raise funds for the playing ﬁeld in the village by running The Menphys Mile. It will take place on July 8 with the local school joining in gathering sponsors. Everyone is welcome.

SHOW EXPANDS TO TWO DAYS The Leicestershire County Show, held in Market Harborough, is expanding to a two-day event to be held on August 26 and 27. The 85-acre site next to Airﬁeld Business Park is an

ideal location and attracted 12,000 visitors last year. To ﬁnd out more about the show visit www.leicestershirecountyshow.co.uk.

SHOP OF THE MONTH

OADBY FLOORING Oadby Flooring opened in March this year. The family-run business has a long history of experience in the ﬂooring and carpet world. Greg Senogles, who was previously at Uppingham Carpet Co with his father, is now branching out on his own, but still has close links to the original business. Brought up in Leicester and Uppingham, Greg is returning to his roots. Pop in and see him, he has lots of products to choose from and can offer some good advice about what would look best where. Oadby Flooring, 1 The Parade, Oadby, LE2 5BB. www.oadbyﬂooring.co.uk.

8 J U N E 2017 ///

Individually Designed & Built Structures

naturalstructures beautiful oak buildings

Venari House, 1 Trimbush Way, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7XY T: 01858 467476 E: office@corporatearchitecture.co.uk W: www.corporatearchitecture.co.uk Malcolm Foulkes-Arnold 07885 304970 Richard Coppock 07889 129735

Holiday fun for 2017 at Uppingham

With a wide range of different courses and camps for children and adults in the summer holidays, there really is something to suit all interests! Music Science Sport

Drama Art Baking

Technology Creative Writing

For further information and to book:www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk Like us on Facebook

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Residential options are offered on all courses held in the summer. Subsidised places are available on a number of courses courtesy of the Windmill House Trust.

summerschool@uppingham.co.uk

01572 820800

25/05/2017 12:56

Activelife

WHAT’S ON There’s lots going on in your area this month, why not try some of these?

■ Celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18, at Rockingham Castle with the skilful horsemanship and hilarious antics of the Medieval Jousters brought to you by the Knights of Nottingham. Exciting displays of swordsmanship, pike drills and skill at arms combat will all be before you as you witness the knights’ battle for supremacy amidst the thunder of hooves and clashes of steel. A er all the excitement of battle, visit the living history village displayed by the Oxford Household. Cra smen display their skills, the jester entertains with jokes and tomfoolery, fire-eaters mesmerise and storytellers weave tales of mystery, magic and legend. Gates and tearoom open at 12 noon with the castle opening at 1pm. Entertainment begins at 12 noon with the jousting commencing at 2.30pm. www.rockinghamcastle.com

■ Wistow Maze is gearing up for a busy summer. This year the maze, which opens on July 19, will be celebrating Sherlock Holmes – it is 130 years since the novel was first published. There will be clues in the three miles of pathways cut within the eight-acre maze. www.wistow.com ■ Kibworth Book Fest takes place in early June. There will be numerous events and authors visiting the Kibworth Book Shop, based in the High Street. A must for bookworms. www.thebookshopkibworth.com ■ The Billing Off Road Show is being held on July 28-30. There will be two challenging off-road courses, demonstration areas, trade stands, auto jumble, Land Rover club area and lots more including camping. www.thebillingoffroad experience.co.uk

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Our team of fully qualified Coaches are adept at assisting you to recognise and overcome situations or thoughts that have the potential to cause issues and build solutions to a number of areas in your life. We use professionally recognised therapeutic techniques to help you achieve your goals, aspirations, build confidence and improve your resilience.

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If you want to reach your full potential then we would love to work with you. We are passionate about helping people develop, enabling you to be the best you can be. We develop and support the success and ongoing personal growth of all our clients.

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Activelife

HOW TO…

MAKE A STRAWBERRY COCKTAIL June means strawberries and Wimbledon and what better way to combine them than to make a ‘strawberry gin chin chin’ cocktail to sip while cheering Andy Murray on? INGREDIENTS 2 limes, juiced 500g strawberries 2 large cups of gin 3 large cups of soda water 1 tbsp sugar fresh mint to garnish METHOD Mix the sugar and lime juice in a large jug. Set aside a few strawberries (6-8) for garnish. Hull and finely slice the remainder then mix with the sugar and lime. Stir in the gin and soda, then add lots of ice. Add the mint sprigs to garnish. Garnish each glass with one of the set aside strawberries, sliced at the tip so you can fix them to the rim of the glass.

HOW TO…

Pitch a tent June... and thoughts turn to Glastonbury and festivals. Or if that’s not your thing, a camping weekend with dad to celebrate Fathers’ Day. But first of all learn how to pitch your tent. A word of advice though... practice before you go, then at least you’ll know if you have everything, and make sure it’s the last thing you put in your car so it’s the first thing out at the other end. Here’s how... ● Find a suitable flat spot to pitch and check for any hard or sharp objects. ● Lay the flysheet out flat making sure the doors are zipped up. ● Feed the poles through the sleeves on the flysheet and pin them in place. ● Peg out the tent with the tent pegs and guy lines (remember a mallet). Use the mallet to drive the pegs into the round starting at one end and working your way round. The level of tension should be the same for each peg. ● Make sure the guy ropes are taut. Attach the groundsheet inside using the toggles provided. Happy camping…

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Launde Abbey

Open daily for morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea

Cyclists and walkers very welcome Why not start your walk or ride at Launde then reward yourself with a delicious lunch at the end? Visit our website for maps and routes at www.laundeabbey.org.uk Launde Abbey, East Norton, Leicestershire LE7 9XB T: 01572 717254 I E: info@launde.org.uk Charity No: 1140918

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25/05/2017 16:20

Activelife

NATURE

THE SWIFT Parties of swifts screaming over the roof tops of our local towns are one of the best sights of summer. Not related to swallows or housemartins, swifts are the most aerial of birds, coming to earth only to nest. A streamlined body and narrow scythe-like wings fit swifts for a life in the skies. A wide bill enables them to hawk insects whilst aloft. The swift is one of the last summer migrants to arrive in early May and the first to depart by late August. Flocks numbering hundreds feed high over the reservoirs on summer days and are equally at home speeding low over fields, hoovering up insects a few metres off the ground. Swifts are almost entirely dependent on man for nest sites in the roof spaces of old buildings. The renovation or demolition of these has been a major cause of a huge decline in numbers. Swifts will accept nest boxes fixed below the eaves of houses and one Rutland villager now attracts eight pairs to his property. Architects are being encouraged to incorporate suitable nest sites in new buildings to accommodate the birds and in some urban areas (and at the Egleton Reserve) swift towers of 20 or more boxes have been established. Terry Mitcham

THE DANDELION A prolific grower and the bane of many a proud lawn owner’s life. They seem to grow everywhere and anywhere popping up all over the place, bursting into flower at the first sight of the sun. Flowering throughout the year, but more so between April and June. The flowers are followed by dandelion clocks and great fun is had trying to tell the time by counting the number of puffs it takes to blow away the ‘clocks’. This, of course, is how the seeds are

spread and helps to explain why the dandelion is so proliﬁc – a light breeze will spread those seeds far and wide. Dandelions can be used to make wine and broths, particularly teas which traditionally were made as a cure-all for many ailments. Today, dandelion tea is still popular as it is a diuretic high in vitamin C and good for digestion. Dandelions are edible, and can be included in salads. Rabbits are particularly partial to them.

Tadpoles A common sight at this time of year in many a garden pond, and who remembers having tadpoles at school watching them develop into a frog? A female frog lays between one and four thousand eggs in the spring, commonly known as frogspawn, in ponds, ditches and shallow, slow moving streams. After about 21 days the tadpole, an embryonic frog, leaves its protective jelly. This is when they are easy to spot in ponds as there are literally thousands of them but only about one in 50 will make it out of the pond as a froglet. Tadpoles transform into frogs by metamorphosis, gradually growing limbs, and then absorbing the tail. The ﬁnal stage is the change of the mouth from a small enclosed mouth to a large mouth the same width as the head. From June onwards they are ready to leave the pond as froglets.

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Activelife

1 6 J U N E 2017 ///

MOROCCAN CARROT AND CHICKPEA BAKE WITH CAULIFLOWER AND ALMOND COUSCOUS INGREDIENTS

300g carrots 2 red onions 1 large garlic clove 25g fresh ginger Moroccan spice pot containing: ● ¼ tsp turmeric ● 1 tsp ground cumin ● 1 tsp dried mint ● ¼ tsp cinnamon Oil for roasting and frying Salt and pepper 25g sultanas 1 tin chickpeas 1 lemon 25g ﬂaked almonds 1 tin tomatoes 1 cauliﬂower 1 tsp dried coriander 1 pot yoghurt

METHOD

● Preheat the oven to 190C. Peel and chop the carrots into bite-sized chunks. Peel the red onions and chop into about 10 wedges per onion. ● Peel and ﬁnely chop the garlic and grate the ginger. Mix them with the Moroccan spice pot, 3 tbsp oil and salt and pepper. ● Toss the carrots and onions in a baking dish with the spiced oil. Roast for 25 minutes, turning once during cooking.

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

● Put the sultanas in a small bowl and cover with cold water and leave to soak. Drain the chickpeas then ﬁnely zest half the lemon.

● Put the flaked almonds in a dry frying pan. Heat gently, stirring often until lightly golden and toasted. Transfer to a small bowl. ● After 25 minutes remove the carrots and onion from the oven. Add the tinned tomatoes and chickpeas. Toss together and return to the oven for 15 minutes or until the carrots are just tender. ● If you have a food processor break or chop the cauliflower into florets. Blitz until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Or you can coarsely grate it if you don’t have a processor.

● Transfer the cauliﬂower crumbs to the frying pan. Add a good glug of olive oil, lemon zest and dried coriander leaf (1). Stir-fry for 2 minutes, then stir in the almonds. ● Drain the sultanas and add those, with a squeeze of lemon juice, a little salt and more olive oil to taste (2). ● Remove the veg from the oven and serve with the cauliﬂower couscous and a dollop of yoghurt.

Tip: Cauliﬂower is delicious roasted as well. Cut into small ﬂorets, rub with oil, season and cook in a hot oven for 8-10 minutes.

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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WE CAN HELP YOU! Ideas, Inspiration and Individuality. Oh, and more plants than you ever dreamed of...

KIBWORTH GARDEN CENTRE

9am - 5pm Monday to Friday 10am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm Sunday

(0116) 2792754

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@KibworthGardenCentre

25/05/2017 12:55

KAI SCHWÖRER

Activelife

TRAVEL

WHERE LIONS ROAR New Zealand, the land of the All Blacks and where rugby is almost a religion. It’s amazing that such a small country (with a population of just over 4.5 million) should produce such a team – there must be something in the water. But hopefully all that is going to change with the British and Irish Lions tour. It’s going to be fascinating to watch, and even better if you can actually be in New Zealand to see it, so this month that is exactly where we are going. With a flight time of more than 24 hours from the UK, located in the south western Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is made up of two main islands, North and South. Auckland is the largest city, with Wellington being the capital – both are on the North Island. The country has so much to offer: dramatic landscapes, particularly on the South Island, fabulous beaches, breathtaking scenery (remember Lord of the Rings was filmed here), active volcanoes, bubbling springs and mountains, and don’t forget the wine and lamb…

GETTING ABOUT

New Zealand is relatively easy. You can hire a camper van for a DIY holiday, or a car, staying

at hotels and motels en route, or go by train. Make sure you see both islands, the more cosmopolitan North and the rural, beautifully scenic South. Travel between the two is a three-hour ferry ride across the Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton, said to be one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world. Or there are numerous domestic ﬂights between the two islands. North Island has the cosmopolitan cities, three times the number of people compared to the South Island and is rich in Maori culture. It’s also slightly warmer. South Island has dramatic mountain scenery, penguins galore, as well as sheep, as it is mainly agricultural, and Queenstown is the home of the bungee jump. A beautiful country with friendly locals, it really is a place where rugby rules. And if you get the chance to see the All Blacks perform the haka, even better.

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.newzealand.com www.newzealandsky.co.uk www.millingtontravel.com www.stamfordindependenttravel.co.uk

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VISIT OUR SHOWROOM VISIT OUR SHOWROOM VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm

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Tel: 01780 654321 Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm www.classicstamford.co.uk Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm St Leonard’s Lincs PE9 2HN Tel:12 01780 654321Street, Email: Stamford, sales@classicstamford.co.uk Tel: 01780 654321 Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk www.classicstamford.co.uk www.classicstamford.co.uk 12 St Leonard’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN 12 St Leonard’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN

12/04/2017 09:40

Activelife

TRAVEL

ULTIMATE GETAWAYS FOR THE HEALTHY FOODIE Nourish your foodie wanderlust with the crème de la crème of wellness destinations that serve only the healthiest gastronomic delights, from Health and Fitness Travel, the leading experts in tailor-made wellness holidays. For the superfood nomad: Atmantan Wellness Resort, India Escape to the regal sanctuary of Atmantan in the Sahyadri mountains and choose from a variety of different healthy meal programmes; go Ayurvedic and eat according to your body type, macrobiotic for a balanced palate, or explore mouth-watering Mediterranean and Asian cuisine to your liking. Seven nights from £3,345pp or £4,385 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, return ﬂights and transfers. For the raw food epicure: Phuket Cleanse Detox & Fitness, Thailand Phuket Cleanse champions the power of detox and conveys it with proper nutrition and ﬁtness, detoxifying through exercise and the food that you take in. Enjoy delicious, healthy food options with raw-vegan cuisine. Eight nights from £2,240pp or £2,415 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, an eight-day wellness program, and return shared transfers.

For the zen foodie: Kamalaya, Thailand Taste the luscious flavours of Thai cuisine the healthy way on the tranquil sanctuary of the Koh Samui coast. This retreat is an ideal destination for single foodies where they join the community table during meal times. Seven nights from £2,990pp or £3,390 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, return flights and transfers. For the wholefood wanderer: SHA Wellness Clinic, Spain Find out everything you need to know about the wonders of macrobiotic diet and healthy food preparation. In conjunction with your chosen wellness programme, group classes are held with varying themes, from energy breakfasts to detox cooking and weight control cuisine. Seven nights from £3,120pp or £3,560 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, return flights and transfers. For the gluten-free globetrotter: Sianji Well-being Resort, Turkey If you’re a ‘GF’ traveller, don’t fret, as Sianji Well-being Resort on the south-western Aegean coast will resolve your gluten-free holiday conundrum. With expert consultations from a professional dietician and detox specialists, be

guided with the best tailor-made nutrition regimen for you. Seven nights from £905pp or £935pp for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, return ﬂights and transfers. For the veggie voyager: Ti Sana, Italy Indulge in the best of raw and cooked cuisine with Ti Sana’s unique ‘healtheatarian’ philosophy, featuring a varied all-vegetarian menu. Tucked away in the peaceful Italian countryside, Ti Sana choose organic foods and locally farmed produce, which are handpicked (quite literally!) to provide guests with the highest nutritional quality and taste. Seven nights rom £2,190pp or £2,430 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, return ﬂights and transfers.

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25/05/2017 18:53

Feature /// Detox

GIVE YOUR KIDS A DIGITAL DETOX Worried that your children will spend the summer peering into tablets, mobiles and TV screens? Here are some great ideas to get them outdoors and active instead

2 2 J U N E 2017 ///

MAKE A SPLASH

Back for a second year following its highly successful launch in 2016, Aqua Park Rutland is gearing up to welcome families to the waterpark with its dedicated daily family slots. From Saturday, July 15, every 10am slot will be reserved for families with children age 6 – 13, to allow kids to take over the park and run wet and wild. The UK’s biggest water sports aqua park at Rutland Water this summer will more than double in size for 2017. With huge potential for dads to epically fail and mums to totally wipe-out, Aqua Park Rutland will offer one of the most entertaining ways to spend time as a family, whatever the weather. Now open until September 23, the park features more than 36 fun and challenging obstacles to climb, jump, crawl, launch, slide and splash over. This awesome adventure course provides an action-packed experience that offers challenge and excitement to all ages. The park has also commissioned the UK’s tallest inﬂatable climbing wall, named The Beast – a drop for only the biggest daredevils. New obstacles also include the Action Tower XXL and the Ice Tower XXL, providing a different set of challenges for guests to experience. Designed for a super-soaking good time, tickets are priced at £20 for a 50-minute experience, including a free wetsuit and buoyancy aid in order to tackle the awesome obstacles, balance beams, climbing walls, trampolines, blast bags and more. The course features obstacles such as Cyclone, the colossal Revolution, Jungle Jim, Kaos, Tango, Freefall

Extreme, the Summit Express and many more which promise to deliver real excitement and very wet landings. Visitors and groups must pre-book online at www. aquaparkrutland.co.uk to reserve their slots.

PERFECT YOUR SIX HITTING

Tom Flowers Cricket Coaching offers a variety of cricket coaching opportunities for children across the East Midlands. Its most popular offerings include the summer holiday camps, which run for four days from 10am-4pm at a variety of venues in the area. Courses are led by Tom and his professional ECB coaching staff, and include batting, bowling, ﬁelding and wicket keeping skills, plus games, competitions and prizes. TFCC also offer bespoke private individual cricket lessons, as well as club and schools coaching to hundreds of youngsters locally on a weekly basis. Owner Tom Flowers, a current ECB employed and ex-Sherborne School coach, said: “Our professional staff are passionate about cricket coaching and are dedicated to meeting the needs of every individual we work with. Improvement is inevitable when in a fun, safe and competitive environment, and we strive to maximise any individual’s potential, from beginner to advanced. “We work with a variety of local youngsters all year round, including many local children from surrounding independent prep and senior schools.” For more information call 07815647892 or visit www.tomﬂowerscricketcoaching.com. TFCC is sponsored by Harborough Blinds.

POOL YOUR TALENT

Corby East Midlands International Pool offers young people the opportunity to improve all their water-born skills. Supervised diving sessions on five, three and one metre boards are available each week with extra sessions being offered during the school holidays. To attend, children need to be a minimum of six years old, confident in water, able to swim 25 metres and sessions need to be booked in advanced as they are limited to 20 children per group. Diving taster sessions (for age six years plus, confident in water and able to swim 25 metres) are also offered during school holidays, where qualified diving coaches will introduce the basics of learning to dive from poolside and one metre springboard, while the surf and turf programme for children aged 7 to 11 years old has instructor-led fun and games in the studio and pool over a two hour session. There are also ducking swimming lessons for ages five years and older, one-to-one swimming lessons and intensive programmes during the school holidays to really improve confidence and technique. Then there’s the fun part: the 63-metre aquatube body ride, which is open every day (for timings see website), as well as the chance to book aquatic parties which can include supervised diving, swimming, under fives swimming and crèche parties too. For more information, visit www.corby.gov.uk/home/ leisure-culture/leisure-community-facilities/ corby-east-midlands-international-pool

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Feature /// Detox

GET INTO GOLF

One of the great things about golf for kids is that when they make contact, the ball ﬂies a long way, no matter how small they might be. The trick is making contact and academies such as Burghley Park’s give them the basics to improve very quickly. Burghley Park’s Junior Academy, sponsored by ao.com, uses the club’s driving range, chipping and putting greens and the three hole Academy course to give kids the full experience of golf. Crucially too, Academy members can use these facilities whenever they like so if you’re at a loose end for an hour or so you can take them to the club and hit a few balls or play a ‘round’. Burghley’s resident academy manager and assistant PGA professional Sam Beckett runs the programme, meaning kids get the same level of expert coaching as an adult would. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a

2 4 J U N E 2017 ///

club before, this is the best introduction to golf for iuniors in the area,” said Sam. Junior Academy lessons are held at weekends on both Saturday and Sunday mornings over a series of 10 sessions, and it is ﬂexible to suit you, so that if you’re away and unable to get to a session you won’t miss out. There has been a huge investment in the facilities at Burghley Park over the past year, with a new driving range, new greens on the main course, new catering and the Academy too. It’s part of a series of improvements taking place to turn Burghley into one of the premier clubs in the region, and a place that is attractive and enjoybable for the whole family to spend time at, whether they are playing or just bringing the kids along. For more information call Sam on 01780 753789 (option 1) or email academy@burghleyparkgolfclub. co.uk. Burghley Park Golf Academy, Stamford, PE9 3JX.

Ofsted registered and DBS checked. Churchill Summer Camps now run in Peterborough, Stamford and Oakham and parents can use childcare vouchers as payment. Telephone 01572 868304 or email info@ churchillsummercamps.co.uk for further details.

BE A GOOD SPORT

ACTIVITY CAMPS

Churchill Summer Camps offer an extensive range of more than 30 activities, including quad biking, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, bouncy castle, orienteering and cooking, and many children join for the ﬁrst time at the age of four and come year on year until they outgrow the camps at 14. The day camps are a great opportunity for children to make new friends and to try out new activities in a safe environment, surrounded by supportive and experienced staff, who are

Give your children the opportunity to learn new sports or improve their sporting prowess with a new holiday camp this summer. The Stamford Sports Camp is a multi-activity sports week for children aged 8-15. Organised and hosted by the Stamford Endowed Schools, the camp will run from Monday, August 21, to Friday, August 25, between 9am and 4pm each day. There will be 16 exciting sports and activities to try over the five days. These include football, fencing, karate, trampolining, table tennis, hockey, cricket, water polo, and more. Included in the price is a packed lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Chris Finch, sports and leisure facilities manager at Stamford Endowed Schools, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Stamford Sports Camp this summer. As a school, our ethos is to inspire our pupils and ‘light fires’ within them. “We hope that this camp is the first of many school holiday camps that will become a regular fixture in the SES calendar. Stamford Sports

Camp is open to all children in the surrounding areas. “We are also proud that we have many local clubs from the surrounding areas who have partnered up with Stamford Sports Camp to assist our own coaches in utilising our fantastic sports facilities and to inspire children to participate and enjoy sport.” The week will cost £185 per child plus a small additional fee if you wish to book early drop off (8am-9am) or late pick up (4pm-5.30pm) sessions. Scuba diving is also on offer as an optional extra after 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Places are limited. To book a place call 01780 750050 or visit www. stamfordsportscamp.co.uk.

“KIDS DON’T REMEMBER THEIR BEST DAY OF TELEVISION” Emma Martin, co-director of First 4 Adventure UK, based in Uppingham, which specialises in taking families, friends and schools into the outdoors, on how to engage with kids to get them off technology and into the great outdoors. “Any parent or grandparent will know how difficult it can be to persuade children to get off their mobiles, iPads and laptops. Let’s be honest, quite often we are just as guilty. And yet, once we are outside and free to explore, dream, play and have adventures we never wish we hadn’t bothered. “We work with lots of young people and see the benefits all the time of simply having a break from technology and the 24/7 world of social media. Although we are based in Uppingham, we work with schools from all over the country delivering the expedition section of The Duke of Edinburgh Award and, in line with DofE recommendations, we don’t allow any mobile phones or electronic devices while on expedition, except for an emergency phone. “At first, students are reluctant to hand their phones over, knowing it’s going to be three or four days before they will get them back, but their response at the end is

always interesting. Often, they have been relieved to have a break, it’s been a good excuse not to have to respond to messages and they’ve enjoyed the space just to enjoy friendships and the adventure of the expedition. “We notice that groups spend their time chatting, laughing, singing, resolving problems and occasionally crying but always communicating and developing relationships and personal skills. “As soon as we give them their phones back they are compelled to check messages and the communication between the groups diminishes. Just recently we were with a girls’ school from Rugby on a Silver practice and one of the students in her final review said “I’ve learned I don’t have to rely on technology but I can rely on myself”. Enough said. “We love nothing better than seeing children having fun in the outdoors whether that’s on a school expedition or residential or out of school. Climbing, abseiling, kayaking, trekking, wild camping and star gazing in the mountains, mountain biking or bushcraft are all fantastic opportunities for young people to challenge themselves, develop confidence, connect to nature and simply have fun, away from the pressure of exams and the

addiction of online gaming, videos and social media. “Let’s not be too puritanical about it; technology is also brilliant, useful, entertaining and educating. But let’s mix it up and take a walk outside… you never know where an adventure will lead you. Inspire your children by being a good role-model and go together; you’ll never wish you you’d all stayed in and watched more television!” Website: www.first4adventure.co.uk Twitter: @first4adventure Email: info@first4adventure.co.uk

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Feature /// Detox

UPPINGHAM SUMMER SCHOOL

WALK ON WATER

Stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP, as it’s commonly known) has quickly grown to become one of the most popular watersports because if you’re fit enough to walk up a flight of stairs you’re fit enough to paddleboard. It’s very easy to get standing and paddling away, and it is fantastic exercise. Kids, with their lower centre of gravity and natural fitness, find it especially rewarding. All you need to SUP is a board, a paddle and a leash and Tallington recommends Red Paddle Co inflatable boards because they are incredibly stiff, durable and have the same performance as a hardboard. The liberating thing about an inflatable stand-up paddleboard is how portable it is – it can go practically everywhere with you, but for a great place for kids to start, Tallington Lakes is safe and calm. www.tallingtonlakes.com www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com

HAVE A DRAMATIC HOLIDAY

Uppingham Summer School has been running a programme of residential and day courses in the heart of Rutland during the summer holidays for more than 15 years now; courses cover a multitude of different interests including music, drama, sport, science and technology, art and creative writing, and are aimed at children aged from seven and 18. Course tutors and coaches are all highly

qualified and are experts in their chosen field, and many also teach at Uppingham School. Popular courses include Young Musicians’ Week for young orchestral musicians, Jazz Big Band Week, Musical Theatre Week for those who enjoy singing, dancing and the glamour of the West End stage, and Rock Upp!, a week of songwriting, recording and gigging for aspiring rock and pop musicians. Also popular is the From Page to Stage drama course and the Art and Write Away and Get Write In creative writing courses. Its new Sensational Science course sold out within weeks of launch last year. Sport is not forgotten though, and there are various cricket, tennis, netball, rugby, hockey and football camps throughout the year. All courses offer a residential option, and can qualify as the residential section of a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Children are accommodated in one of the boarding houses with a pastoral team for support. They organise various evening activities including bowling, discos, film nights, scavenger hunts and sporting activities. Full details can be found on www. uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk.

BECOME A CHAIN GANG!

With summer on the way, what could be better than getting the children out cycling at one of Rutland Cycling’s stunning locations? With stores located at Whitwell and Normanton on the shores of Rutland Water,

Fineshade Wood, Grafham Water, Peterborough and Cambridge – cycling is a great way to spend a family day out, enjoying trafﬁc-free cycle routes, taking in the stunning scenery and stopping for a picnic en-route. Rutland offers the widest choice of hire bikes in Europe: adult mountain and hybrid bikes, electric bikes, children’s bikes, tag-a-longs, buggies and extras, including helmets, child seats and comfy saddle covers – all new 2017 models. Rutland Water routes include: The Family Trail (8 miles): Whitwell to Normanton and back. Picturesque, easy pedalling, with fabulous views. Pick up the children’s activity sheet at the Whitwell store to keep the children busy as they cycle! The Full Lap (17 miles) + Hambleton Peninsular (23 miles): Setting off from Whitwell or Normanton. Take on the challenge of cycling the full lap of Britain’s largest man-made lake. Stop off for a pub lunch or picnic en-route and enjoy the spectacular views. Peninsular Trail (15 miles): Setting off from Whitwell or Normanton (anti -clockwise). A beautiful, peaceful route, through Barnsdale Woods, along the waterside and around Hambleton Peninsula. Book ahead online at www.rutlandcycling.com/hire, by phone on 0330 555 0080 or at the store. Cycle hire prices start from £14.99 for adults / £7.99 for kids. There’s also a family ticket available for £39.99, which includes cycle hire for two adults and two children under 14 years.

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Feature /// Detox in providing supervision and activities for young people. Rockblok Summer Adventure Club 2017 will run Monday to Friday from July 24 to August 18, 8.30am – 4.30pm (pick up 5pm) Cost £30 per day (discounts available for early booking or booking three days or more). Call 01780 460060 or visit www.rockblok.com.

CREATE AND PERFORM

Make kites and them try them out, race and ﬁght your own robots and learn how to screen print – there are a number of creative and fun courses at Stamford Arts Centre over the summer holidays with local artists and craftspeople sharing their expertise. There’s also performing arts too, with a Singing for Fun and Pirates and Fairies sessions in August and fabulous ‘Theatre in a Week’ run by Kei Bailey and Gil Burns. Have you ever fancied creating your own Hogwarts style character and following in the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione? Join Bailey and Burns to explore your new character through acting and movement, using fun and dynamic creative workshops. This week-long opportunity for 8 to 16 year olds will include drama and dance sessions aimed at developing performance skills, leading towards a short performance for family and friends at the end of the week. Visit www.stamfordartscentre.com for more information.

GET FIT AS A FAMILY

ON AND ROUND THE WATER

Rutland Water is the perfect place for a balance of outdoor peace and tranquility to calm the kids and give them a day out in nature – there are trails, birdwatching from the banks of the lake or cruising on the Rutland Belle. Then, when they’re looking for more adventure, there are plenty of adrenaline-fuelled activities with watersports at Whitwell, a climbing wall, crazy golf, cycling or the new Aqua Park. And don’t forget the beach – a Mediterranean feel in Rutland which opens on July 1. If it’s a little bit of culture they are after then the open air theatre production of Wind in the Willows takes place on July 2, and not forgetting the hugely popular Rutland Steam Rally on June 24/25. Visit www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/water-parks/ rutland for more information.

GET ROCKING!

The Rockblok Summer Adventure Club, at Whitwell, Rutland Water, is a carefully planned programme aiming to offer low cost activity days, so, if you’re juggling work with summer fun, looking for one day or need to book consecutive days for your child, the Rockblok team can help. An exciting and memorable experience for children from ages eight and older, Rockblok instructors will guide adventurers in hands-on outdoor activities including awareness games and challenges, natural crafts, shelter building, fire making, abseiling, high ropes, storytelling and more, as well as fostering a vision of community, fun and friendship All supervisors, co-ordinators and instructors are DBS checked with the appropriate first aid qualifications along with a wealth of experience

Uppingham School Sports Centre offers a variety of different children’s activities including courses such as gymnastics, squash, mini tennis and our popular swimming lessons. As part of the membership members can also attend Fit Kids – a drop-in session giving children aged eight and over the opportunity to use the ﬁtness studio with an experienced instructor. Or members can do things as a family in Family Fit involving a training session around the centre’s new training rig. Non-members can also get ﬁt as a family participating in the centre’s Family Boot Camp on Saturday mornings at 9.30am. For more information visit www.sportscentre. uppingham.co.uk or call 01572 820830.

LEARN TO DANCE

Harborough Performing Arts Summer School has been running annually since 1999 and is a fun and exciting week of dance for children aged between five and 18 years old. There are half and full day courses depending on age, and the school takes place at the HAPA Studios on St Mary’s Road in Market Harborough. The five-day course consists of daily classes in ballet, jazz and a few other fun different dance styles, while there is an afternoon demonstration on the final day of the course for family and friends to watch what the students have been learning over the week. Visit http://www.harboroughacademy.co.uk/ summer-school for more information.

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Guest column

This is the end, my sporting friend... ...or not, as Martin Johnson explains why famous sports stars find retiring a hard thing to do ot all sportsmen and women have a natural shelf life. Golfers, for example, can go on coining it well past the free bus pass stage, the only time a calorie gets burned in snooker is when you chalk the tip of your cue, and not for nothing do most indoor bowls tournaments get sponsored by SAGA. When it comes to the more energetic pursuits, the players are much the same as a supermarket perishable, in as much as they all come with a bestbefore date. And yet, most of them ignore the number on the label. You may have immersed yourself in the saga of the retirement, or otherwise, of Chelsea footballer John Terry. Will he? Won’t he? It was so gripping I almost stayed awake once or twice. The 36-year old defender with the number 26 on his shirt left the field for the last time in the 26th minute of his final league match and then tearfully thanked his wife, his family, and the world and his dog in a way that would been over the top had he just won an Oscar. And before you all join him in reaching for the Kleenex, he’ll probably pop up again next season playing for Fulham or QPR. Back in 1974, when Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in the Rumble In The Jungle, the BBC commentator (ah, what nostalgia! sport on the BBC!) could barely contain himself when the referee standing over Foreman reached the count of 10. “Oh my god!” gasped Harry Carpenter, “he’s won back the title at the age of 32!” Boxing’s a pretty tough sport, but nowadays 32 barely elevates you out of the promising youngster category, and it was Ali who launched the era of boxers only retiring when they’ve become punchbags. As for Foreman, 20 years after the Ali defeat, he was becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion at the age of 45. And getting back to Terry, what on earth is the bloke thinking about? Stanley Matthews was still playing in football’s top division at the age of 50, the same age as Lester Piggott retired as a jockey. Or at least, the same age as Piggott when he retired for the first time. It is, by all accounts, not easy for sports people to retire, which is why so many go on for as long as they can. Psychologists have made a study of what happens to some of them: hitting the bottle, for example, like Andrew Flintoff and Gazza, or going a bit doolally, like Frank Bruno. Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, Celtic football manager Neil Lennon and Olympic athlete Dame Kelly Holmes are just a few of the high profile athletes who have made their depression public

after their retirement from professional sport. And boxer Sugar Ray Leonard is another who couldn’t face up to it, finally pipping Frank Sinatra for the world record number of comebacks. However, on the other side of the coin there are those who pack it all in when no-one expects it. Most recently of all Nico Rosberg, who quit when he won the Formula One drivers’ championship last year. Although I have a theory that F1 is much easier to give up early in an era where the cars are driven by a pit wall full of computers, than it was when the driver had no radio, and nothing in front of him but a steering wheel and a rev counter. As Rosberg put it himself: “There are other things in life than driving around in a circle.” Of all the sportsmen who retired early, no-one prompted such a sharp intake of breath than Bjorn Borg. With 11 grand slam singles titles to his name, the Swede retired at the age of 26, and almost immediately lost all the money he made in dud investments. Like so many others, he attempted a comeback, but finally retired for good at the age of 37. Another famous early retirement was that of the greatest amateur golfer in the sport’s history, Bobby Jones, who dominated the amateur game throughout his career and regularly beat the topranked pro golfers of his time. Jones won the U.S. Open four times and is the only man to complete golf’s grand slam in a single season. He won 13 of the 31 majors he ever entered, and then retired at the age of 28 after his most successful year ever in 1930. George Best was a year younger when he retired for the first time, largely because he had so many girlfriends on the go he was too tired to play football. He made a comeback of sorts for a number of clubs in short spells, until finally retiring in 1984, aged 37. Then there was the case of rower Steve Redgrave, who once said: “If you see me anywhere near a boat again, you have my permission to shoot me.” And before you knew it, there he was in a boat again. No. The only sportsmen who retire just the once are rugby players like Leicester’s Marcos Ayerza, who sounded bereft when medical advice forced him to quit this season at the age of 34. Mostly, though, their retirements are reminiscent of an antiques auction room. “Lot 26. John Terry. Are you all done now? Retiring for the first time… retiring for the second time…”  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?’.

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ACTIVE BODY SHOULDER INJURIES EXPLAINED, EXERCISE MORE WHILE PREGNANT, HOW TO BE STRONG YET STABLE, AND DRESS TO IMPRESS

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ACTIVE BODY

SHOULDERING A BURDEN Craig Mortimer, consultant musculoskeletal physiotherapist at The Ashleigh Clinic, explains how shoulders get injured and what you can do to recover Shoulder injuries are common – the joint is very mobile and shallow which relies on the muscles to not only provide the power but also the complex fine movements with the ligaments and facia (a cling film-like material which covers everything) to position and control so the arm is allowed to move through its intended movement and all the time in a stable pattern, such as in throwing a ball or lifting. The tasks we ask of it are many and as with all joints there are enormous compression and distraction forces going on that thanks to the network of nerves and receptors sending messages to the brain give us a continuous feedback of messages helping us to move efficiently. Common terms that most people have heard of are: ● Dislocation. Where the bones making up the joint slip out of place completely. ● Subluxation. Where the bones making up the joint partially slip out of place and may either spontaneously move back into place or need to be pushed back by a doctor or physiotherapist. ● Rotator cuff lesion. This is where the muscles, ligaments and capsule of the joint

are damaged without dislocation or subluxation. ● Supraspinatus tenopathy/impingement. This is a tendon at the top of your shoulder that helps initiate side movement. ● A/C joint problems. This is a small but very important joint that sticks out on top of the shoulder which helps control the movement of the arm during activity. ● Frozen shoulder. Generally this term relates to contractures of the muscles and ligaments that surround the joint which limit function making activities, particularly above shoulder height, very difficult. Common causes Shoulder movements rely on the joints surrounding it to allow efficient movement and the shoulder blade (scapular) is an important controller. When reaching out or throwing a ball, for example, negative pressures are created pulling the two joint surfaces together so the arm can pivot around its attachment. Any disruption to this mechanism causes a momentary loss of control and thus injury occurs. Common causes include throwing, lifting, reaching, repetitive movements, or a fall.

What are the symptoms? ● Pain. This can be immediate during activity or gradual over a period of time when it is more of a repetitive nature ● Loss of movement/function and power. The pain limits this due to the inflammatory response. ● Stiffness and inability to move the shoulder. Because of the inflammatory response the damaged tissues contract to protect themselves. This can be why you feel stiff in the morning with most injuries. In some cases you may feel numbness, pain and loss of power in the arm or hand. This can be caused by localised impingement of the nerve and may also suggest problems with your neck more centrally and a thorough examination of both areas would be advisable. If you have dislocated or subluxed your shoulder there will be obvious pain and lack of mobility. You may notice the shoulder contours have changed. Sometimes you may experience a dead arm feeling and be very apprehensive if anyone tries to hold your arm. This may need putting back into place and usually you are placed in a sling for anything up to four to six weeks. Remember to very slightly elevate your shoulder as this sometimes helps by taking some of the weight off the tissues surrounding the shoulder as they have been damaged. While you may not want this, my experience as a physiotherapist and a sufferer has found the immobility helps the tissue to settle and stabilise the shoulder. Further dislocations can mean surgical intervention may be required to help tighten the affected tissues. Then treatment and rehab can begin. Normal soft tissue protocol is very beneficial with the less traumatic injuries, so the use of cold packs to settle the inflammatory effects is always a good idea and seek physiotherapy at your earliest opportunity to speed up recovery. For general soft tissue problems mentioned earlier I am a firm believer of local treatment of the tissues, combined with an exercise protocol that will relate to the activities that the particular patient wants to do after recovery. For example a bowler in cricket will be given a basic shoulder program similar to other sports men and women, but will in the later stages require more sports specific guidance to help fully rehabilitate function and conditioning as well as reduce the risk of further injury and it will be very different from a rugby player. Again, my belief is ‘movement is everything’ and while you may have good strength. I believe this should be with a good functional and as full normal range of movement that is possible to regain.

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w ACTIVE BODY

THERE’S NO NEED FOR A PREGNANT PAUSE Surprisingly, a quarter of pregnant women in the UK stop exercising because they fear harming their unborn baby. More than a quarter of expectant mums who give up, or drastically cut down on exercise, do so because they worry they could damage their baby’s health, despite the fact that fitness has been proven to actually benefit pregnancy. Those who do exercise report positive effects such as keeping down swelling, helping with sleep and overall happiness and well being. But, over half of mums, and their pregnant friends, have felt fearful to exercise with over a third admitting they were uncertain about how to exercise safely. Not only is there uncertainty, but

nearly half of women wrongly think that running is risky for pregnant women while more than a third believe yoga can be too. Nearly a half of pregnant women feel there is conflicting information about exercising whilst pregnant and many of these women give up exercise altogether because of this. This isn’t surprising when, shockingly, one in 10 women admit they would be concerned to see a pregnant woman exercising, and this doesn’t allow for men’s opinion at all. This is an unfair stigma affecting pregnant women, many of whom say they have met with disapproval when exercising and felt pressure to stop doing activities to keep fit when pregnant.

There is obviously a greater need for more information about exercising when pregnant and general pre-natal health. Keeping fit during pregnancy should help with overall health and offer relief from the extra stress and strain put on joints as the body changes with pregnancy. Some believe, sensibly, that being fitter can help with the actual birth as overall fitness levels will be higher and stamina is obviously going to be needed. Common sense would suggest that if you are already exercising you should continue to do so, albeit possibly in a slightly different way. And if you don’t exercise it would probably be beneficial to start a gentle programme such as walking, yoga or pilates. ‘For a free online resource for guidance on exercising while pregnant visit aptaclub. co.uk/ActiveFor2 and remember to always consult your doctor before exercising during pregnancy.’

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ACTIVE BODY

KITBAG THE LATEST ESSENTIAL SPORTING GEAR 1.

1. Endura women’s shorts

Perfect for nailing technical climbs and hammering descents, and constructed from lightweight, durable four-way stretch nylon fabric, the Endura SingleTrack Lite II women’s shorts are lightweight and ready to make life more comfortable on the trail. Price £64.59 From www.rutlandcycling.com

2. Roxy sporty bra

The Keep It Roxy sporty bra features a sporty racer back and a small front cut out. The crop top has an abstract design with a contrast underbust band. Price £31.99 From www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com

3. Adidas running hoodie

Made from climalite fabric, the Response running hoodie keeps you dry with sweat-wicking technology, and if it’s chilly on an early morning or late evening run, use the thumbholes to keep your hands warm. Reflective stripes on the lower sleeves will help you stay visible. Price £44.85 From John Lewis

4. Roxy surf leggings

The women’s Keep It Roxy surf leggings are made from recycled nylon/polyamide and Lycra, making them super comfy and stretchy. They are a full length surf pant with mesh behind the knee to add to the comfort. Price £54.99 From www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com

5. Dryrobe changing robe

We’ve all been there. Had a fabulous time in or on the waterand it’s freezing when you come out. The thought of getting changed is horrible. Well, here is a solution; a waterproof and windproof changing robe, that has a super synthetic lambswool lining to make you feel lovely and warm. Big enough so you can strip off without having to wrestle with your pants or knickers! Price £99.99 From www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com

6. Endura jersey

Endura’s new Hummvee women’s short sleeve jersey is an all-round jersey oozing versatility, armed with two rear pockets and a zipped security pocket; the Hummvee is just what every cyclist needs when out on two wheels. Price £37.99 From www.rutlandcycling.com

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First 4 Adventure UK Adventure for all

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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

Are you running the risk of outliving your savings?

ife expectancy is increasing all the time. Over the last 30 years (1982 to 2012) life expectancy has increased by around eight years for males and six years for females to 79.0 years for males and 82.7 years respectively (Office of National Statistics December 2013). This means that someone retiring now will need to have accumulated a fund far greater than someone retiring in 1982 to generate the same income. I believe in adopting an individual approach to help you make the best decisions for your retirement fund – decisions that are right for you now and in the future. I specialise in guiding people through the decision making process, so that they can make an informed choice. The golden rule is to find out exactly how much you are going to need in retirement – and to start planning for it now. For further information, or to request your no obligation review to retirement planning, contact:

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The Partner represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title ‘Partner’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

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A strong glute medius not only stabilises the hip, but helps maintain tracking in the knee joint by reducing lateral stress on the knee during functional motions. Certain warm-up routines, such as short Active Band sessions work effectively enough to activate and strengthen the glute muscles before training. This has proven to improve lower body stability if done correctly. Once the correct structures are activated through this functional warm-up, the effects of a training session will be much more beneficial and target the intended structures of the body.

STRONG AND STABLE… Lauren Dobson of Function Jigsaw examines the merits of improving hip and knee stability by exercising with Active Bands

Are you currently suffering from any lower body instability problems? Do you prioritise reducing the risk of lower body injuries in your weekly training? Did you know that improving hip mobility and strength can have a huge impact on your lower body’s stability when exercising? When you train, it is important to work your hips through all ranges of motion and engage the hip abductors, adductors, gluteals and core muscles? All of these muscle groups are crucial in providing hip and knee stability for any active individual. If you only work the hips in one direction (forwards and back) by walking, running,

4 0 J U N E 2017 ///

cycling etc, there will be minimal strength and stability being formed through the lower body which is why common problems within these sports involve repetitive knee pain, achilles problems or ongoing lower back pain. Some exercises can look and feel strange, but increasing strength in the hip stabiliser muscles; gluteals, hip abductors and core muscles is the key to reducing risk of injury or re-injury in all activities. Whether that activity may be strength training, endurance training, netball, football, rugby or whatever. It’s simple and easy to do (sometimes). The hip joint is a ball and socket joint which works at its best when it has good strength and a good range of movement. The knee is a hinge joint which flexes and extends the knee (bends knee and straightens knee). It is important to support and protect the knee from any movements other than this by strengthening and stabilising the joint and surrounding structures (above and below). Short active band sessions A weak glute medius muscle (one of the backside muscles on the side of the hip) has been known to cause knee instability problems especially injuries to specific structures such as the anterior cruciate ligament.

Lower body exercises to do with the Active Bands: Crab walking/Lateral band walking Clam/Side-lying hip abduction Elevated hip bridges Ski walks/Half-circle walks These exercises emphasise training in correct movement patterns in preparation for functional movements such as running, jumping and landing, changing direction and acceleration/deceleration drills. For the exercises to be effective, you need to choose the correct band strength, aim to progress in strengths and most importantly, keep it consistent and frequent. Key things to remember Keep the band flat, not bunched Keep the band taut Keep your feet in line and facing forwards Maintain your intended position with the correct posture, avoid tilting your hips sideways. Stabiliser exercises More advanced hip stabiliser exercises such as side plank, step-ups, walking lunges and single leg hip bridging can also be used to improve hip and knee control whilst training in conjunction with Active Band exercises. Another important way of reducing the risk of injury and improving control, to be done alongside Active Band strengthening, is to frequently stretch and Active foam roll structures such as glutes, hamstrings and hip flexors. The majority of the population tend to focus on self-management techniques such as Active Foam Rolling once already injured or in pain. So why not reduce your risk of this from occurring and implement such things into your daily routine? Keeping these muscles mobile will also improve the mobility and the benefits of the Active Band training. For more ways of reducing risk of injury and improving lower body stability, contact Function Jigsaw. Buy Active Bands online at www.functionjigsaw.co.uk/active-kit-shop or call in at the clinic at 24 Long Street, Wigston, LE18 2AH.

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"Mr Cashman's copious research into the fate ofthe Old Loughburians during the First World War proved invaluable on our school trip to the Somme and Ypres battlefields. With his information we were able to easily locate the graves and monuments ofold boys we were interested in, and his research provided our students with an excellent appreciation for the context ofthe battles that our old boys fought and died in. Moreover, he had looked into the histories oflocal sports teams, 'celebrity' soldiers, Victoria Cross winners and infamous stories of incompetence and loss during the conflict and made sure that we made the most ofevery site we visited".

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ACTIVE BODY

THE FINISHING TOUCHES The dawn of summer means plenty of weddings and society events in the diary. Here’s some advice on what to wear for a special summer occasion Edited by Mary Bremner

DRESS TO IMPRESS June is the month of Ascot and the start of the wedding season, so it’s time to dress to impress. Ascot is fairly easy to dress for as there are set rules for the royal enclosure... hem lengths must be no higher than just above the knee, dresses must be modest, i.e no huge slits or low necks, strapless dresses are not allowed, nor are halter necks or spaghetti straps, and a hat is a must – not a small fascinator – a hat or a headpiece with a solid base of at least 10cm. It must be a nightmare for the stewards to police but, at least, as a visitor, you know what is expected of you.

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It used to be the same for weddings. Men would don their morning suits (tails) and ladies would wear a hat, gloves and a smart dress – it was as simple as that. But those days are long gone and some weddings have the most bizarre dress codes that perplex and irritate the guests. Beach formal, ethereal Mediterranean, fire and ice, to name but a few. What on earth is all that about? Maybe some weddings have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. Perhaps an old fashioned elopement should be on the cards to avoid the conundrum of what to wear!

Basically you need to find something that no-one else is going to be wearing, isn’t too expensive, or too fussy, that hopefully you can wear again. Remember you need to feel comfortable knowing that you will be happy dancing the night away without any mishaps. Weddings have become less formal, and quite often are a lot more fun because of it. You can wear black, but soften with brighter accessories. Hats are not always a necessity and trousers can be worn. But there is one rule that must not be broken – never try to upstage the bride, and never, never wear white.

BLISSFUL 60-MINUTE FACIAL AT AROHA

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After a few days away in Portugal my skin was in desperate need of some TLC – slightly burnt, extremely dehydrated and generally looking jaded after some late nights and plenty of fine wine and food. A holiday should enhance your looks, but I looked exhausted. So I headed to Aroha Beauty House in Uppingham for a rejuvenating facial. The pampering starts as soon as you walk in the door – I was treated to squares of cake with my coffee while waiting for Lottie to finish with her previous client. Once in the treatment room upstairs you have the whole floor to yourself, unless you want to book in with friends for a private party experience. There’s a hydrotherapy room too where you can indulge in a relaxing or invigorating bath before having a treatment. I had settled on a 60-minute facial which starts with a massage through towels concentrating on different pressure points on your back and legs to help the energy flow throughout the body. Next was a cleanse, exfoliation and massage of the upper back as that area can get very congested too with all the products that come into contact with the skin. Lottie isn’t a zealot over organic products but, as she explained to me: “We take care of what we put into our body, so why shouldn’t we do the same for our skin. Most products are made of strong

chemicals that are easily absorbed by our biggest organ and can cause untold harm without us realising.” She uses the Botanicals range which is 100% organic and seriously effective. I felt they were still working deep down the next day. Lottie used the rose nourish range on me as it’s good for sensitive skin, skin complaints such as redness, and mature skins, although anyone over 25 is considered mature in the skincare business apparently! First she used the nourish cleanse melt then the cleanse and polish scrub so my skin was beautifully clean before she applied the rose and camellia oil to massage my face, neck and shoulders. All the products smell heavenly and to add to the luxury you then choose a hand, foot or scalp massage while the revitalising mask does its stuff. I had a foot massage before she spritzed me with hydrating mist to balance the pH of my skin, and applied the nourishing night balm then eye balm. Before I was allowed to get up I was given a selection of chocolates to balance my blood sugar and a glass of water for rehydration. It’s a family business and you get a truly personal experience here. Kate Maxim A 60-minute facial costs £45. Aroha Beauty House, 43 High Street East, Uppingham, LE15 9PY. 01572 822853.

Riani women’s geo panel print dress, navy £165 www.cavells.co.uk

Tess large brim feather hat £85 www.johnlewis.com

AYUVERDIC BODY MASSAGE Ayuverdic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems aimed at maintaining balance in both body and mind. Ayuverdic massage is recommended daily to promote health, and relief from aches and pains, stress and fatigue. I visited the Kerala Ayurveda Clinic in Leicester to have a full body massage followed by a steam bath. First of all I sat in a chair for a head and shoulder massage. My therapist used a rapid rubbing motion to stimulate blood flow using a warmed carrier oil strongly infused with herbs

imported from Kerala. Warning! You end up swimming in oil by the end of the treatment so make sure you don’t wear your favourite clothes. Next I lay down on a bed and she used fairly fast and sweeping movements with firmish pressure. She concentrated on my feet and my palms which was heaven. She also made long circular movements on my stomach which is unusual as most massages tend to ignore that area, but it felt extremely relaxing and must work wonders on the digestive system. After 45 minutes of massaging I sat in a steam bath for 10 minutes which helps the detoxification process. Many ailments stem from our damp and cold weather so the heat felt wonderful. It’s vital to drink plenty of water afterwards and take it easy. 55-minute massage with steam bath costs £35. Kerala Ayurveda Clinic, 173 Belgrave Gate, Leicester, LE1 3HS. O116 2621118 www.keralaayuverdicclinic.com

Ember floral dress £140 www.phase-eight.com

Hats for hire or sale, based near Oundle. www.harringtonhats.com

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ACTIVE LOCAL ENJOYING THE SPICIER SIDE OF LIFE, THE FOXESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ONE-DAY CAMPAIGN GETS UNDERWAY, A WALK ROUND THE TILTON TRIANGLE AND A PREVIEW OF SPORTS BASH 2017

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ACTIVE LOCAL

A day in the life of

GINNY KEMP MEDICAL HERBALIST

did a medical science degree at Birmingham University, planning to do medical research but, at the time, my grandmother was seeing a herbalist because modern medicine hadn’t been able to resolve her condition. My maternal grandmother had also been cured of a persistent cough, treated by the same herbalist. It seemed a bit off the wall for me because I’d come from a very scientific double blind, placebocontrolled trial background, but I went along with her and was amazed at how clinical it was and how scientifically it was applied. I went back to university and did a three-year degree in herbal medicine in London where there was a lot of overlap with my original course in anatomy and pharmacology, but we also studied things such as phytochemistry (plant chemistry) and materia medica, which is our repertoire of herbs and their uses. I worked at Hyde’s Herbal Clinic in Leicester for seven years and then, after my first daughter was born, I set up in Stamford. I have just opened a new branch of my practice in Tilton-on-the- Hill. Patients often come with one problem but during the initial hour-long consultation we’ll usually find more than one thing going on. Most conditions are multi-factorial so if you address all the different aspects to a person’s condition then it’s more likely to be successful than just treating one. For example, if someone comes with irritable bowel syndrome it could be hormone, anxiety or diet-related so addressing hormones, diet and lifestyle, including stress levels, is just as important as looking at the bowels. I use orthodox tools such as physical examination and looking at blood test results where necessary. Anything that requires further investigation, I refer on to their doctor. The magic of herbs At the end of the session patients leave with a herbal prescription which is normally a tincture, accompanied by capsules, cream, or a shampoo, if required. Usually there will be five to seven different herbs in the medicine because if you use a combination of herbs you usually get better results. One of the great things is that one herb has lots of different actions. Lemon balm is very good for digestion, but also for anxiety, so in someone with IBS you’re ticking two boxes. Echinacea is useful for recurrent infections so with chest infections I’d use it with other specific respiratory anti-viral and anti-infective herbs. But if someone had recurrent urinary tract infections I’d use echinacea in combination with urinary antiseptics. Most herbs are very safe when properly applied but you need to be sure that you are using the right herbs/combination by seeking advice from a registered herbalist. I would never advise anyone to buy anything online as you don’t know where it’s come from or what’s in it. It generally takes a couple of weeks for the herbs to get into the system so patients go away for three to four weeks and then we assess how they’ve got on. I see a lot of long-term chronic conditions, so we don’t always expect to see a huge difference in the first weeks. When clients come back I also check they are on track with diet and lifestyle changes as doing the wrong things really can aggravate conditions. Some people may need treatment for a few weeks or months, others need on-going management of their condition. On a typical day I see people for initial and follow-up consultations and then it takes about 15 minutes to dispense each medicine, choosing from 150 different herbs. After my clinics I write personalised treatment plans for each new patient, dispense repeat prescriptions and do email or telephone consultations for patients who have moved away. I go to a kettle bell class once a week and try and do at least 10 minutes a day at home, but I have two small children so I’m normally running

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‘I have the luxury of time to sit down with people and really unpick what is going on’ around after them once I’ve finished work. I also give talks to groups like the WI, who often are familiar with herbal medicine as older members of their family used herbs from the garden. I recently gave talks to some local Young Farmers who had never come across a medical herbalist. I find working with children extremely rewarding because they are growing and adapting and often respond quite quickly. I commonly see problems such as eczema, anxiety, sleeplessness, growing pains or digestive issues. My favourite herb for children is chamomile – it’s very gentle yet effective; you can use it for sticky eye, digestive problems, eczema and more. As a simple home remedy you could try chamomile tea for mild tummy aches or sleeplessness. Always cover it with a saucer while you’re infusing it otherwise you lose a lot of vital benefits with the steam. For adults I use a lot of hawthorn as a heart and circulation tonic and damiana for stress. Cimicifuga is great for menopause; smilax is good for skin conditions and arthritis and I wouldn’t be without scutellaria baicalensis for allergies/asthma. The beauty of herbal medicine is that the prescriptions are bespoke as everyone is completely different and I have the luxury of time to sit down with people to really unpick what is going on. Contact Ginny on 07736 829755 or visit www.theherbclinic.co.uk. Three Cottages, Loddington Road, Tilton-on-the-Hill, Leics, LE7 9DE and The Broad Street Practice, 20-21 Broad St, Stamford, PE9 1PG. 01780 480889.

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25/05/2017 16:19

CLEMENT LUCK

ACTIVE LOCAL

START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON Hillclimber Charlie Martin tells us about her excellent start to the season The first race of the season and also my first time at Col St Pierre and first race with Team Schatz Competition, so the pressure was on. As weekends go, this one had plenty of scope for drama and unknowns so the butterflies were certainly present. I’d prepared more thoroughly than ever though, having spent two days over Easter driving the course back to back with my friend

and team-mate Sarah Louvet, who did a great job showing me the right line and turn-in points. 2017 is my ﬁrst full year driving with a team and I’ve got a clear set of objectives as I can now focus purely on my driving and get the beneﬁt of working with a coach throughout the season – it’s exciting but the pressure to perform is on. Col St Pierre is acknowledged to be the hardest course to learn in the Championnat de

France de la Montagne. I wanted to start on the right foot and that meant knowing the whole 5km inside out and backwards before I got in the car and started driving at race pace. Nudging 600bhp per ton, the Norma M20FC is surprisingly easy to drive (paddle shift is your best friend on a hillclimb), but my concern was that everything would happen too quickly and I’d lose track of the pace notes I’d learnt to recite in my head. Thankfully everything went well, and in between the first and second practice sessions I took nine seconds off my time to place well in my class. Sunday morning presented the best conditions (cooler track temperature) and I took another three seconds off moving into the lead as fastest lady ahead of the reigning French female champion in a more powerful car! This weekend was really about getting everything right and being realistic, so to finish ahead of some experienced drivers and ninth in a class of 24 was a solid start. Holding on to fastest lady was a huge boost to my confidence too and I can’t wait to get back in the car next weekend at Abreschviller. It’s the only other course on my calendar that I’ve not driven, but at 2km it should be relatively easy to learn – the challenge here will be the speed as it’s an extremely fast hill. Hopefully it won’t snow like last year, as that would be another first, and not one that I would relish. Follow Charlie’s season at www.gocharlie.co.uk or at www.facebook.com/charliemartinofficial.

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HE DID IT! Lynton Dawson tells us about the build up to the Marathon des Sables and how he coped in the race I am pleased to tell you that I have successfully completed the Marathon des Sables, but it wasn’t without drama. Training had gone extremely well until the week before I was due to leave when I came down with, what I thought, was a virus. But my throat got progressively worse so I went to the doctor who promptly sent me to casualty where I was diagnosed with a quincy, which is an abscess on the tonsil. I was admitted and had it drained before being put on a drip for steroids and antibiotics to cope with the pain and infection. This was very worrying as I was due to fly to Morocco on the Friday. I stayed in hospital until Wednesday and was advised not to fly out for the event. But as I could now eat and drink, and felt physically fine, I decided to go anyway so hopped on a plane (along with my medication). After a six-hour journey from the airport I arrived at the bivouac which would be our portable campsite. There were 1,200 competitors and 166 tents, which were basically tarpaulins propped up with sticks, and a rug covering the floor. The toilet was a chair in a portable tent with some brown plastic bags to place on the chair or the ground. We all had medical and safety equipment checks and 33 people were told they could not take part, which must have been heartbreaking for them and stressful for the rest of us. I was getting to know my tent mates and after a very cold night we were up at 5am to prepare for the first stage which would be 30.3km. Water was rationed daily, starting with 1.5 litres before being given another 1.5 or 3 litres depending on the stage. This was tricky as temperatures were above 45 degrees most of the time, topping 60 degrees on one day. The terrain was a mixture of stony ground,

mountain passes and sand dunes which made it impossible to run at times. Even the elite athletes had to walk some sections. More than 100 people dropped out including one poor man who had a heart attack on the first day and had to be airlifted to hospital. Thankfully he made a full recovery. All in all I covered 237 km in seven days, running the equivalent of a marathon, or more, daily, and one day 86.2km, with one rest day on the fifth day. The Marathon des Sables was immensely challenging, not just physically but emotionally and mentally. But it was worth it. I saw some fantastic scenery and made some firm friends and I would recommend anyone to try it, but be well prepared, physically and mentally, as you will be pushed to your limits, I was but am proud I completed the race and was able to raise money for familiesforHOPE.

SEVEN EVENTERS’ FINAL EVENT April 2017 saw the 7 Events team celebrate their last event of the campaign and completely smash their fund-raising target of £15,000. On April 23, Russell Gamadia ran the London Marathon in 4 hours and 15 minutes after an intense 12 months of training. He was incredibly pleased with his time. The team have now split the funds raised between four charities so they can start putting the money raised to good use.... • £1,413 to the Leicester Hospitals charity – bone marrow unit to support nurses with training and equipment for ward 23 at Leicester Royal Inﬁrmary.

• £4,239 to LOROS to purchase equipment for the hospice to make it more comfortable for patients. • £4,239 to John Humphries Memorial Trust to purchase three defibrillators for Evington, Oadby and Rushey Mead. • £5,239 to Teenage Cancer Trust Unit to buy lifesaving equipment for ward 27 at Leicester Royal Infirmary and make the ward a better place for young people. One final thank you from the team for people’s support throughout the year. And watch this space, they’ve got the bug – this isn’t the end of 7 Events, there’s lots more planned and on the way…

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ACTIVE LOCAL /// Sports Bash

Give it a bash! One of the region’s biggest charity sport events returns with Sports Bash 2017 promising more stars, more pitchside attractions and even more fun. By Jeremy Beswick Photography: Marc Moggridge

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THIS YEAR MARKS the region’s ﬁfth annual BGL Sports Bash and in that time it’s gone from strength to strength and has raised more than £100,000 for charity. It’s been my pleasure – and I do mean pleasure – to have attended for the last three years and I can testify that it’s the ideal opportunity for anyone with an interest in cricket, or even for those without it, to have a great day out while contributing to a very worthy cause. This year admission to the ground at Stamford School will be free for the ﬁrst time and proceeds from the optional activities inside will again be going to The Matt Hampson Foundation. The man behind it all is ex-England international Dean Headley who’s now Stamford School’s cricket coach and he’s used his connections to put together another all-star line up including Adam Hollioake, Chris Lewis, Alex Tudor, Geraint Jones and Phil DeFreitas to name but a few. The main event of the day is when the pros take on a ‘Local Heroes’ XI drawn from a variety of neighbourhood clubs in a T20 match. “The professionals love it,” Dean told me.

PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL SPORT

“You can get an ex-cricketer anytime, anywhere for a round of golf but normally getting them to play cricket is a nightmare, but it isn’t difﬁcult at all for this. It’s one of the most enjoyable events they attend. Every one of them who’s played over the years has said it’s a wonderful day.” Of course, it’s even more of a day to remember for those ‘Local Heroes’. Active’s own Chris Meadows, who usually turns out for Burghley Park, remembers his day in the spotlight fondly: “I made about 50 with the bat, including two consecutive fours off Freddie Flintoff, which will be something to tell the grandchildren about. “Although to be honest, I must admit I didn’t even see the third ball that followed. I think he was just reminding me how fast he could bowl if he wanted to. Let’s just say I got the point.” Not only do our local players get to pit their skills against the best, they and everyone else have the chance to mix socially with them as well. “Every year I’ve been the players have been really amenable and ready for a chat with anyone who comes along. They really enter into the spirit of things,” Chris told me.

For those too young to face even a half-paced ex-Leicestershire legend Daffy DeFreitas, the day begins with a Kwik Cricket Festival for local clubs’ under-10 sides; the winners of which are presented with the magnificent Humberts Cup and get to do a lap of honour around the boundary. Even if you’ve only a passing interest in cricket, there’s plenty more besides. “We’re trying to build a really nice family day out, not just cricket,” said Dean. Free to take part in are a golf driving challenge and a football shoot out – and look out for the spectacular Battle of Britain Memorial flypast as well. Then there’s ample pay-as-you-go fun to ensure that six or seven hours will fly by just as quickly as the Spitfires, including a climbing wall, gladiator challenge, human demolition, rodeo bull, assault course and bungee run. If you’re feeling particularly energetic and adventurous, a wristband for admission to all of these costs just £15. You’ll need sustenance after all that lot, so there are a host of food stalls and drinks outlets to cater for all tastes, so please don’t bring your own food. Your own chairs might be helpful though.

For those wishing to do it in style, there are a few remaining VIP tables in the main marquee. After the prosecco on arrival the four-course lunch is consistently of the highest quality, and there is also free pizza later on in the afternoon. The speeches and Q&A sessions with the players are just as sparkling as the prosecco and guaranteed to both hold your interest and to make you laugh. A table for 10 costs £795 – email dean@dcrevents.co.uk for the details. Headline sponsor BGL Group’s chief executive, Matthew Donaldson, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our support of the Sport Bash, which is a fantastic event right in the heart of our community. Last year’s event raised much-needed funds for very worthy causes and we’re excited to be working with Dean to grow the event. Fingers crossed for a sunny July!” For all who are interested, whether your taste on the day be champagne and canapés or beer and burgers, the date for your diary is Friday, July 21. Gates open at 11:30am and everything else you could possibly need to know is at www.dcrevents.co.uk/bgl-sportbash. See over for details of the pro players.

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ACTIVE LOCAL /// Sports Bash

PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL SPORT

Player profiles ADAM HOLLIOAKE Captain of Surrey with three County Championships and nine trophies in all. Also skippered England’s ODI side for whom he played 35 times and landed the Sharjah Cup – England’s first tournament victory for ten years. Now a successful cage fighter, not to be trifled with but known as a true gentleman.

PHIL DEFREITAS Won 44 Test caps and over a hundred ODIs stand as testament to his fast bowling, but he was also an explosive batsman – once plundering 42 runs in three overs off Craig McDermott – and a fine fielder. Had trials as a professional footballer before opting for cricket. His second career has included a spell at Oakham school.

OWAIS SHAH A schoolboy cricketing genius scoring a century in an adult side at the age of 12, he played six tests and 71 ODIs for England having played for England A at 17 and was named Young Cricketer of the Year in 2001. Now has plans to become a property developer and is part owner of Capital Hair Restoration.

ALEX TUDOR Right arm fast bowler with 13 caps for England including an innings of 99 not out against New Zealand which is the record for a nightwatchman. Once one of the brightest of England’s prospects, he would have achieved even more in the game had injuries not plagued his career. Now runs his own coaching company.

SIMON JONES Followed in his father Jeffrey’s footsteps into the Glamorgan and England sides. Selected by England as a fast bowler but nevertheless made 44 runs from 43 deliveries in his debut against India at Lords. Was the highest sportsman on New Woman magazine’s list of the world’s sexiest men, coming ninth.

USMAN AFZAAL Born in Rawalpindi, Usman played three tests for England and also starred for Northants, Notts and Surrey. Described by CricInfo as “a cocky, bare-knuckle batsman” he was also 12th man for the tour to India. With a top score of 204 n.o. and an average of just under 40 in first class cricket, his innings are rarely dull.

GERAINT JONES One of the greatest English wicketkeepers of all time with 34 test caps, including being part of the famous side that brought us the Ashes after 14 years. Will always be remembered for taking the catch at Edgbaston which brought victory by two runs. Now coaches at Brentwood School in Essex.

CHRIS LEWIS England all-rounder once seen as the next Ian Botham; he went off the rails after quitting cricket at the early age of 32 and served time in prison for drug smuggling, but now visits dressing rooms to advise players how to manage life after retirement and not to “make the wrong decisions”. First name is actually Clairmonte.

DANNY CIPRIANI One of the most naturally gifted rugby players of his generation, Cipriani would surely have had more than his current total of 14 caps had it not been for his wellpublicised misdemeanours off the pitch. Also played football for QPR’s youth side, but can he play cricket? We’re about to find out.

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ACTIVE LOCAL Ride-out 17. At the next T junction, turn left onto the B664, then climb up to a crossroads, turning right towards Horninghold. 18. Follow this road round and down to a T- junction. Turn right, signposted Stockerston. 19. Climb Knob Hill, before enjoying a long descent to rejoin the B664. At the bottom of the hill, turn left at the T-junction, signposted Uppingham (take care – this T-junction appears just after a bend). 20. Climb Stockerston Hill, the biggest ascent of the day, and enter Uppingham – a good place to stop for coffee and cake!

ON YOUR BIKE Rutland Cycling’s Sally Middlemiss suggests another great local route to get you out in the saddle Starting and ﬁnishing in Stamford, this 40-mile route takes us into Leicestershire and includes some great hills to the north of Eyebrook Reservoir. Starting with a gentle warm-up as we ascend the Chater Valley, we tackle a series of challenging climbs in the middle section of the ride, then enjoy a comfortable ﬁnish descending the Welland Valley.

THE ROUTE

Stamford to Lyndon 1. Head out of Stamford towards Ketton on the A6121. Pass through Ketton, then take the right fork at Keeper’s Cottage nursery, signposted North Luffenham. 2. At North Luffenham, go straight across the crossroads on to Digby Drive. Follow the road through the village. At the Fox pub, turn left, signposted Lyndon. 3. At the T-junction in Lyndon, turn left, signposted Wing. Lyndon to Lyddington 4. After crossing the River Chater at the foot of the hill heading out of Lyndon, bear right, signposted Wing, then cross the railway bridge and start our ﬁrst signiﬁcant climb. 5. Turn right at the give way sign and enter Wing village. Keep straight on through Wing, then pass Wing Hall café and campsite on your left as you leave the village. 6. Take the next left turn, signposted Glaston and Bisbrooke. Keep straight on. 7. At the crossroads, go straight on, signposted Bisbrooke. 8. Climb up to the crossroads with the A47 and go straight over, taking care to cross this busy road.

9. Keep straight on, on Top Lane, as you ride through Bisbrooke. 10. Then turn right at the unmarked T-junction in Bisbrooke and descend carefully, before starting the short, sharp climb out of the village. 11. At the crossroads, go straight over, signposted Lyddington. 12. At the T-junction, turn left, signposted Lyddington. Lyddington to Uppingham 13. At the village green in Lyddington, take the right turn, signposted Stoke Dry. 14. Climb up to the crossroads with the A6003. Go straight over, signposted Stoke Dry, again taking care to cross this busy road. 15. Descend through the village of Stoke Dry, then pass by Eyebrook reservoir on your left. As you cross the bridge, you’ll notice the county boundary sign as you enter Leicestershire. 16. At the T-junction soon after, turn right, signposted Stockerston.

Uppingham to Stamford 21. Follow the main road, then turn right at the T- junction. 22. At the crossroads, go straight over, signposted Glaston. 23. Pass the kids’ play area on your left, then take the 3rd exit at the roundabout, signposted Seaton. 24. Keep straight on to Seaton. Pass the George and Dragon pub, then turn right at the crossroads, towards Harringworth. 25. At the T-junction at the bottom of the hill, turn left, signposted Morcott. 26. Pass under the viaduct and enter Harringworth. 27. At the T-junction, turn left, signposted Wakerley. 28. In Wakerley village, take the left turn, signposted Barrowden. Cross the River Welland and re-enter Rutland. 29. In Barrowden, take the ﬁrst right, a sharp turn, signposted Tixover. 30. Climb up to the A47 and turn right, signposted Tixover. Take care along this short, steady descent along the busy A47. NB. If you have a gravel/cyclocross bike, you can cross straight over the A47 and join Barrowden Road, an unsurfaced lane which rejoins our route just before Ketton. This section isn’t suitable for road bikes. 31. Take the ﬁrst left turn after ¾ mile, signposted Tixover House and Grange. Follow this road past Tixover Grange and into Ketton, turning left at the T-junction and crossing the railway line. Cross the River Chater and pass the church and Railway pub on your right. 32. At the crossroads, turn right onto the A6121 and head back to Stamford. START/ STAMFORD

KETTON

UPPINGHAM WAKERLEY

HARRINGWORTH

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ACTIVE LOCAL Great walks

A TILTON TRIANGLE Beautiful countryside, a quaint village and a striking hill make this a walk to remember Photography: Will Hetherington

Difficulty rating (out of five)

THE ROUTE

Park anywhere in Tilton and make your way towards Loddington Road leading out of the south-east corner of the village. Before you pass the last houses on this quiet lane you will see the footpath signposted on the right. Take this path, which also forms part of the Midshires Way, for the early part of the walk. For the ﬁrst kilometre you will stay on the gated road which leads to a large farmyard. Once you have passed through the farmyard look out for the

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branch to the right, go through the first field and then follow the route down the edge of a large field with some woodland and a stream on the right. When you reach the bottom of the field you will see the bridge over the Eye Brook, which is a good opportunity to let the dogs cool down. Once you have crossed the stream it’s quite easy to follow the edge of the field on your left but the path actually runs further out into the field. It doesn’t really matter if you don’t spot the real path because ultimately you will end up in the same place. But assuming you do get on the right path, you will eventually come to a footpath crossroads in the middle of a field just before Skeffington Wood Road, where you turn left and down towards the Eye Brook.

Once you’ve crossed the water again there’s a long uphill stretch which will get your blood pumping and provide increasingly revealing views of the surrounding countryside. Near the top you will see the impressive Wood Farm through the hedge on the right, before crossing another grazing pasture and reaching Tilton Grange, which is on Loddington Road. Cross the road and follow the farm road north out the back of the Grange and heading towards imposing Colborough Hill. At 220 metres above sea level and with a good clump of the trees on the summit this is the most memorable landmark on this walk. And the best bit is that you don’t have to walk to the top of it, because the path back to Tilton cuts west halfway up the hedgeline. From here, follow the path through three ﬁelds and then rejoin Loddington Road for the ﬁnal stretch back into the village. Clockwise, from above

Colborough Hill is 220 metres above sea level; Tilton-on-the-Hill is only two miles north of the A47 and 10 miles east of Leicester; this walk crosses the Eye Brook a couple of times

TOP STAT

a l was the site of Colborough Hil er crash on Wellington bomb s The aircra wa May 28, 1941. a mission and returning from o, killing five it broke into tw of the six crew.

➛

START

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION WHERE TO PARK Anywhere in Tilton. The footpath starts from Loddington Road. DISTANCE AND TIME Three and a half miles/an hour and a quarter.

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HIGHLIGHTS Colborough Hill, Tilton village and the Eye Brook. LOWLIGHTS There were a couple of sheep grazing fields when we did the walk and some people (not me) might be disappointed to not scale the heights of Colborough Hill. REFRESHMENTS The Rose & Crown in Tilton or the village shop. DIFFICULTY RATING Two paws. There’s one long climb but other than that this is a pretty easy route, as long as it’s not too muddy. THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE Apart from the sheep fields the dogs should get a good run and crossing the Eye Brook twice provides plenty of opportunities for a drink and a dip. 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.

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16/02/2017 14:09

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ACTIVE LOCAL Sportsman's dinner

Spices at the New Greyhound Kate and Mim extend their repertoire in this welcoming Indian restaurant in Billesdon. By Kate Maxim I haven’t eaten hundreds of curries in my life and when I do, I generally order a take-away. And even then, I often order pretty much the same thing. I’d be a chef’s worst customer, choosing chicken tikka masala for me, and Bombay potatoes and mixed grill for my husband. Actually if I was watching my weight, I’d probably go for plain chicken tikka as it’s tasty but minus a fattening sauce. Yet as soon as I pulled up outside Spices Indian restaurant in the New Greyhound pub in Billesdon, the smell wafting over the car park had my mouth watering and I knew I would be extending my repertoire. Also I was with my friend Mim, who is a more experienced curry eater than me, and much more adventurous to boot. The owner Dylan is delightful: very friendly and full of information about the menu. Then again he should be as he has been running Spices for six years together with two sister restaurants in Leicester along with his brother and father. Spices is the only Indian around this area now unless you drive to Uppingham or head into Leicester. And, what’s even more interesting, it does a roaring trade in takeaways too so if you don’t fancy going out you can still take full advantage of the delicious cooking. And it really is delicious. We started with the

ubiquitous popadoms, dips and pickles. But these weren’t your run of the mill pickles. We had a hot green chilli dip that had a mighty kick to it; a beautifully fresh lime pickle; mango chutney (of course), onions, a soothing mint yoghurt, tamarind sauce and a coconut, almond and chilli mix. Weirdly orange, it was very sweet and crunchy and probably my favourite, but then again I do have a sweet tooth. We decided not to choose starters because we both find curries filling so wanted to concentrate our energies on the main course. Popular dishes for sports clubs (who rave about the place) are the mixed karahi with an assortment of chicken, and lamb and chicken tikka ripped off the bone, and chicken tawali (£8.95) which I chose as it came highly recommended by Dylan. Diced, tender chicken pieces were coated in a rich, fairly sweet sauce with plenty of raw peppers and onion on top to add to the texture. We did share but I could have polished that off in seconds, it was so tasty. Mim’s jeera chicken (£8.95) was also delicious: again it had a sweet edge, this time with the cumin, but with a hefty chilli kick afterwards. We’d departed from the pilau rice norm and plumped for onion fried rice (£2.95) which is definitely something I’d choose again, and sag

bhaji (£3.95) which had a fairly dry consistency with loads of garlic. A great accompaniment along with my peshwari naan which I can never resist but is hugely caloriﬁc, I’m sure. Mim sensibly chose a chapatti to mop up her sauce. The staff take great pride in using and serving such fresh ingredients and each stage of the cooking is done in-house and separately so you can ask for the heat of the spices to be turned up or down according to taste and dairy free diets, for instance, are easily catered for. The evening we were there, the locals were extremely friendly, lending a great atmosphere to the place. Parties of cyclists, walkers and sports clubs are all welcome and during the winter and spring there’s an early bird menu on offer which includes ﬁve dishes for £12.95 – a bargain if ever there was one. What we’re looking forward to now are the barbecues in the beer garden or, if staying at home is your thing, picking up a selection of prepacked marinated meats to cook on the grill at home. Roll on summer…

The New Greyhound Inn/Spices 2 Market Place, Billesdon, LE7 9AJ. 0116 2596226

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ACTIVE LOCAL Schools

Make a Colour Splash! Children are being invited to take part in the ﬁrst ever Colour Splash in the beautiful grounds of Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire. The Colour Splash 5K fun run/walk is at 7pm on Wednesday July 12. Organised by the Barrow Runners club, the event is raising money for the Barrow & Wolds Church Group’s work with children and families. The entry price of £15 for adults (aged 15+) and £10 for children (5-14) includes an event t-shirt, run number and pack of paint – 500 runners will throw their packs of powdered paint up in the air at the start, after a countdown by Rosemary Conley. Rosemary will lead a warm-up routine before the off-road run at the start/ﬁnish line in front of St Andrew’s Church in the grounds of Prestwold Hall. There is plenty of free parking on site. Whitwick-based GB runner Gemma Steel, a European cross country champion, will also be at the start line. Gemma visited Prestwold to meet the organisers and said: “This will be a great event for people to try running. The Colour Splash will be good fun with a great atmosphere and exciting for everyone taking part.” Colour Splash organiser Ian Paramore said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to take part in one of the most exciting running events around

– a multi-coloured, paint splashed celebration – all against the wonderful backdrop of Prestwold Hall. “To be helping countless local families at the same time makes it all the more rewarding. We hope experienced runners and novices alike will sign up, join in and have a great time.” The event is being sponsored by Leicester chartered accountants Mark J Rees. Stewart Collier, partner, said: “We are pleased to support a fun event in a unique setting which appeals to all ages whilst beneﬁtting local children.” St Andrew’s is one of four churches in the Barrow & Wolds Group, alongside St Mary’s in Wymeswold, Holy Trinity in Barrow upon Soar and St Mary’s in Walton. Funds raised will support their work with families and children. Alison White, Children and Families Lay Minister for Barrow and Wolds Group of Churches, said: “It will be great to get local people and families involved with this new event which really does bring a fun element to supporting our work with the Children’s Groups and we are very grateful to those involved with the organisation and support in launching this event.” Runners can ﬁnd out more & register to take part at www.barrowrunners.co.uk/colour-splash

Medieval event at Rockingham Skilled horsemanship and stunning, heart thumping, sword swinging and gut punching thrills will enthrall kids and adults alike at Rockingham Castle on June 18. Medieval jousting is being displayed by the Knights of Nottingham Exciting displays of swordsmanship, pike drills and skill at arms combat, will all be before you as you witness the Knights’ battle for supremacy amidst the thunder of hooves and clashes of steel. Gripping performances of bravery involve the audience, enticing them to become involved. Children to grandparents are encouraged to ‘boo’ the dastardly deeds of the Black Knight, to ‘cheer’ the chivalrous actions of the White Knight and be ‘tickled pink’ by the humorous antics of the drunkard knight. The gates and tearoom open at 12 noon with the castle opening at 1pm. Entertainment begins at 12 noon with the jousting commencing at 2.30pm.

INTERNATIONAL DEBUTS FOR HOCKEY PLAYERS It’s been an outstanding few weeks for Oakham’s hockey players – at both an international and club level. “To have so many of our players making their international debut is a testimony to the exceptionally high quality of Hockey at Oakham,” says Director of Hockey, James Bateman. Alice Huddlestone, who made her debut in the England U21 squad, score her first goal for the team whilst playing and beating the USA in a series of matches. Maddie Pearce also made her debut, in the England U18s against Holland and subsequently playing against Wales. Ali Eatch played alongside Maddie, also making her debut in the England U18 team against the Welsh U21 team. Matt Ramshaw and Lucas Ward both played in the England U18 matches against Wales U21s and Holland. Matt scored an impressive nine goals in the games against Wales, and another four against Holland. At a club level, Oakham’s players concluded their seasons, with Lucas Ward playing in the U18 National Cup Final with Beeston. Abi Rawlins, Amy Schanschieff, Alice Huddlestone and Maddie Pearce combined forces in the Beeston U18 National Cup Final against Reading, which they won (thanks in part to Alice’s goal!) Meanwhile, Old Oakhamian Kathryn Lane (13) has been busy training with England Hockey for the World League, which takes place in London this summer. “It’s fantastic to see so many players representing their club and country,” concludes James. “They are in the early stages of following in the footsteps of Old Oakhamian hockey player Crista Cullen, who won both bronze and gold Olympic medals.”

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

Cricket

Kibworth pick up where they left off with winning start BY JEREMY BESWICK

ibworth, who landed the ‘double treble’ last year by winning the Premiership, County Cup and League Cup for the second year in succession, started the season where they left off, winning away at Leicester Ivanhoe (Petrus van Biljon 100 not out) and beating Tamworth the following day in the National Knock Out (Matt Craven with a 50). Chairman Steve Ellwood was delighted at the composition of the side, remarking that “six home-grown players were on the field... a fine advert for what our juniors can achieve.” Sunny Patel has taken over from Craven as first team captain and merely remaining the most successful club in Leicestershire is not the extent of his ambitions, saying that he wants to add to their two victories, the last around 10 years ago now, in the National Clubs Competition. However, after that positive opening weekend Kibworth were then somewhat disappointed by only being able to manage winning draws in their next three Saturday league fixtures, albeit with the opponents leaving with just a solitary point on each occasion, having come nowhere near the total they had posted. Ellwood sounded somewhat disenchanted, saying after one match “once again the lads were frustrated by a negative response from the hosts who batted for a draw from early in the innings”. That’s the price of success I suppose. More positively, it’s been announced that the Pakistan Women’s World Cup side will be based at Fleckney Road during the build up to

the tournament and Ellwood said: “They will be training every day and playing full warm up games on Wednesday 7 and Tuesday 13, so what a fabulous opportunity to see international players preparing for the biggest competition there is.” While we’re on the women’s game, the club are very keen to recruit more female players and are offering free taster sessions for any girls or women who’d like to give it a go. The Ladies started their own campaign with a win against Ockbrook and Borrowash and it was a new recruit, Ellie Savage, who was the pick of the bowlers. She had a “dream start” according to captain Sam Walsh with a wicket in her first over. Walsh herself then carried her bat for 55 and Ali Wall was the other key batswoman making 85 not out as they won with five overs to spare. Market Harborough will be hoping for a more comfortable season this time around after flirting with, but finally escaping from, relegation last year. They’re bound to be helped in that objective by the recruitment of Rob Taylor as both a player and director of cricket. He will be in charge of all cricketing affairs at the club from Kwik Cricket for the youngsters to the first team. Still only 27, Taylor is a Scotland international who also played for Leicestershire for six years and the Foxes’ website comments that “his powerful striking of the ball and accurate left arm seam bowling makes Taylor an asset in all formats of cricket”

and captain Joe Gordon told me how much he is relishing the prospect of being in the same side as him. Although it’s early days, there are already signs of improvement and they sit comfortably just above mid-table at present. Another positive coming out of Taylor’s appointment is his contacts in the first-class game and this has led to Harborough following Kibworth’s example by increasing their investment in women’s cricket. England opening bat Tammy Beaumont has been appointed as their ambassador for the women’s game and her former England team mate, Lydia Greenway, will be basing her academy at the club and running training sessions in the evenings for a variety of age groups. Kegworth, newly promoted, have had a barnstorming start in their return to the Premier League and actually sit just above Kibworth at the top of the table at the time of writing with three wins and draw, including a fine away win over local rivals Lutterworth. The home side elected to bat on a pitch with much to interest the bowlers and Kegworth’s George Scottorn returned figures of 4 for 17 as Lutterworth were all out for 108. Scottorn then top scored with the bat with 34 not out to see them home. Lutts went on to have a losing draw, also at home, to Barrow Town but recovered from the trauma somewhat by winning away at Enderby. Things are much brighter for them in the T20 format, beating Kibworth and Loughborough Town to progress to the next round.

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Grace notes

ED MELIA

To Grace Road in Leicester for the first time this season on a wonderfully sunny Sunday a ernoon to see the Foxes take on Derbyshire Falcons in the Royal London One-Day Cup. The ground looked at its best as Clint McKay’s men made early inroads into the Falcons’ batsmen and, between overs, the club’s press officer Dan Nice was keen to remind me – or rather for me to tell you Active readers out there – that the Women’s World Cup is coming here this month, with England vs Pakistan on June 27. England’s opening fixture against India a few days earlier at Derby is already a sell-out, so move fast if you’d like to be here. Adult tickets are only £10, with 16 year olds or below a paltry £2. Great value to watch international cricket! Later in the day I bumped into Australian opener Paul Horton who was sitting this one out in spite of his record-breaking 277 not out a few days earlier. Even though it was his own highest ever score as well as an all-time best for the second XI he’d declared the innings himself – very selfless I suggested. Can’t imagine Geoffrey Boycott ever doing that. “It was the right thing to do for the team given the match situation,” Paul said, although Dan was more cynical: “I think he only did it because he was knackered.” Now 34, Paul is entering the final few chapters of his playing career and I asked him about his ambitions for this season.

“We all have our own goals depending on the stage of our careers and the older you get, the more you play, the more you want to win things,” he continued. “As a county we need to be progressing into the finals in white ball cricket and, a er starting last season so well with the red ball we need to be challenging for promotion again. There’s been a realisation that to make progress in both forms of cricket we needed more numbers in the squad and we’ve got that now.” Their push for promotion to Division One will be helped by the fact that it’s back to two-up, two-down again this season a er there being only one promotion slot last year. I asked who he’d nominate as players to watch this term. “Ned Eckersley,” he replied. “He’ll mature and continue to show the class he’s always had”. Ned, now approaching his prime at the age of 27, didn’t let him down when he came in to bat later, plundering 50 off his first 57 balls and eventually being run out for 80 with the match all but won. Paul also picked out a young bowler: “Another one to watch is Gavin Griffiths who’ll be able to show his great potential given a run in the side.” It turned out to be a comfortable five wicket win for the Foxes that day. The perfect start to what I trust will be many happy months of watching cricket around the county.

Above

Australian Paul Horton is excited about the season ahead for Leicestershire

/// J U N E 2017

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26/05/2017 13:42

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25/05/2017 11:30

ACTIVE LOCAL Round-up

Challenge

Beating the Rat Race

artin Rapko won our Rat Race entry competition. Here’s how he got on... “I was running as part of a team – me and couple of guys that I know and some I got to know on the spot. Four of us formed teamed up: Simon, Ella, Dave and I. We created a running formation and at 1.15pm we we’re off. “Running at Burghley House is one of the most scenic places I have ever run, probably only rivalled by Windsor Park. We kept pushing each other and kept together as team. The obstacles were incredible and can only be described as a playground for grown-ups. “Half of the team were new to this race. Dave had run before; Simon had experience with OCR racing but had never done this size of event, Ella was a complete newbie and discovered that she has a fear of heights. “Obstacles were in plenty of various types, sizes and difﬁculty. In this race nobody is forced to do obstacles if they feel unsafe or otherwise not able to do so. We had go at all of them, and the only one we skipped was ‘wetter than the otter’ as the cold was a worry and it was getting quite late. “Dave had signed up for the Half Mucker and so from the 13-mile marker it was just the three of us. “I have never run as part of a team on

THESE GIRLS CAN

course of this length before; it felt much easier as we joked and pushed each other. Our ﬁnal time on the course was six hours 30 minutes. “The course was very well marshalled throughout; all marshals were very supportive and helpful and the water stations had been superbly stacked. “I would thoroughly recommend doing the Rat Race. Once you start an event like this everyone is your mate.”

Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport (LRS) in partnership with local authorities, are hosting their third annual ‘This Girl Can’ Week from June 5-11. This special campaign week is designed to inspire local ladies to increase their activity levels and get moving. The week offers women and girls of all ages and activity levels some amazing opportunities to try new activities and sports, increase their confidence and self-esteem and enjoy more time with new and existing friends. There are over 220 sessions available including Zumba, health walks, Clubbercise and female only swims. There is also charity night out in Charnwood, six-week gym and swim membership offer in Leicester and a This Girl Can Event in Oadby and Wigston. The ladies taking part also have the chance to win a LRS This Girl Can t-shirt. They simply have to post a selfie of themselves at one of the This Girl Can Week sessions to LRS’s This Girl Can Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram accounts using the hashtag #ThisGirlCan. This Girl Can is a celebration of active women who are doing their thing no matter how they do it, how they look or even how sweaty they get, and this special campaign week is designed to inspire local ladies to increase their activity levels.  www.lrsport.org/thisgirlcan

Show your support for local sport... Email advertise@theactivemag.com /// J U N E 2017

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ACTIVE LOCAL Round-up

Equestrianism

Rockingham rocks! BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

ockingham International is now one of the biggest horse trials in the country and this year it did not disappoint. It ran over four days in mid-May with more competitors and horses there than I have ever seen at an event. Organisers David and Mary Laing had a packed schedule which included British Show Jumping, Pony Club Jumping, Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse and Arena Eventing alongside 20 sections of eventing. The 1 and 2* dressage kicked things off and although they were blessed with sunshine on the Thursday, the Friday looked like it was going to be a wash out. After heavy overnight rain, some lorries had to be pulled in and I don’t think anyone got out without a tow. Friday’s main class was the coveted DBYEH class, with riders fighting to qualify for the prestigious final at Burghley. Well-known local Ginnie Turnbull won the four-year-old section on Just Soda No Ice and JP Sheffield was victorious for the second year in a row on Miss Moneypenny in the five-year-old section. The Saturday again saw showers for the main body of the cross-country with Andrew Nicholson winning the 110-strong 1* section.

The 2* had so many entries they decided to split it into two, even though there were quite a few withdrawals after a soggy show jumping ring. Kitty King and James Avery were the final victors. The Sunday was all about the Loomes Championship, with the rider closest to the optimum time on the cross-country in any of the intermediate sections taking home a £7,500 watch. It ended up being a fight between Oliver Townend, Tim Price and Andrew Hoy, all of whom had multiple rides in the intermediate, with Oliver proving the winner. This is the first time it has been won by a British rider. The Arena Eventing took place at the same time, which is becoming very popular with nearly 100 entries in the 90 and 100cm sections. Emily Ferguson and Jake Surl both finished bang on the optimum time to win the 90cm and local rider Margo Sly with her very trustworthy Little Newmarket Bob took the 100cm finishing a tenth of a second under the optimum time. The whole event was a massive success – they were still running cross-country at 7pm on the Sunday evening – and definitely one to put in your calendar for next year.

On the same weekend the Melton Hunt Club held their annual point-to-point meeting at Garthorpe. Luckily for them the best weather was saved for the Sunday and the previous day’s deluge had left the ground good. The day started with three well-attended pony races, before the main race of the day being the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Race, which qualifies for the Novice Riders Championship Final. Three similarly rated horses took equal turns in leading with Beggar’s Velvet being the eventual winner by a good fifteen lengths ridden by Amy Cox. There was also a double for owner Mrs Williams, jockey Alex Edwards and trainer Philip Rowley, they won the Mixed Open and then won the very next race which was the Jockey Club Open Maiden for mares and fillies with their home-bred four-year-old Gadrose. Unfortunately, the last race of the day was voided after a fall for Richard Collinson where the running rail was damaged and a very quick decision had to be made as the course stewards felt they could not safely re route the rest of the field.

Show your support for local sport... Email advertise@theactivemag.com 6 6 J U N E 2017 ///

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