TrendHFL Issue One - July/August 2012 by TrendHFL

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TREND HEALTH, FITNESS & LIFESTYLE

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Going for Gold We speak to Northamptonshire Olympians Frankie Jones & Anne Panter ahead of London 2012 LO O K GOO D

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ISSUE NUMBER: 1 - JULY/AUGUST 2012

THE EDITOR

Contents

I AM absolutely delighted to welcome you to the first edition of TREND Health, Fitness & Lifestyle, a brand new magazine for Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas. Every month we will bring you the very best tips on how to lead healthy, vibrant lifestyles, with plenty of features and interviews thrown-in. No other local publication caters for men and women who are interested in looking good, feeling good and being good as much as we do, and what better time to launch a magazine focusing on these very things, than at the same time as the Olympic Games come to Great Britain. We hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. Enjoy the issue, and the many more to come!

Steve

Steve Walsh, Editor In Chief ONSHIREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NORTHAMPT

FRESHEST

WARM-UP

5 Trend Notes All you need to know for the month ahead

10 Moment In Time Northamptonshire display team Air Gravity feature in our monthly picture special

12 Club Call News from the Northants sports scene

16 Diet & Nutrition

LIFESTYLE

Free!

We show you the perfect way to start the day with our breakfast special

18 Body Works Trend Columnist Rob Harris on how to tone those abs

for Gold Goinkg ire to Northamptonsh We spea ie Jones & Anne Olympians Frank London 2012 Panter ahead of LOOK GOOD

FEEL GOOD

www.TrendHFL.co.uk BE GOOD

On the cover: The London 2012 Gold medals. Picture: London2012.com

21 Recover Olympic physio Mark Buckingham shows you how to get back to fitness without breaking your body

HEALTH & FITNESS

MAGAZINE

TREND HEALTH, FITNESS &

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23 Doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notes Stay allergy-free this summer with the help of our advice

26 The Expert Former Team GB Physiotherapist & Trend columnist Mark Buckingham pops in for a chat

FEATURES

31 Interview: Frankie Jones We catch up with the Northamptonshire Gymnast ahead of the Olympics

34 Interview: Anne Panter Hockey ace Anne Panter talks to Trend ahead of London 2012

37 Flying The Flag Olympic Torchbearers Penny Mitchell & Jaime Moore tell us their stories

40 London Calling

The London Olympics are finally here! We take a look at the site to see where history will be made and medals won

LIFE & STYLE

50 Trend Setter The best clothes, accessories and gadgets every month

52 Beauty Make-up artist Aimee Garner shows the ladies how to get the perfect summer skin

53 Grooming Keep your cool this season, boys, with these best selling scents for men

55 Staying In/Going Out Our monthly entertainment spread

58 Calendar Plan your route through July & August Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

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TREND Notes We round-up the best bits to come across the TREND radar

Sound and super-vision The next generation of television viewing has arrived....again

IT’S pretty annoying knowing that your latest TV is already wildly out of date, but on the plus side, it means you can ogle at what is sure to be your next purchase - the beautifully stunning LG 55EM96OV 55” OLED TV. It doesn’t need a catchy name to sell itself, only the features that say the OLED TV combines industryleading CINEMA 3D technology with Smart TV capabilities, creating the

most immersive and comprehensive home entertainment experience on the market. What’s more, this super-tele has taken the latest 4-colour-pixel phone and tablet display technology, and introduced it on a wider, better scale, meaning an enhanced image that is the most vibrant, natural and comfortable to the human eye. The screen also delivers a perfect viewing experience without

distortion or loss of contrast regardless of ambient brightness or viewing angle. And at an incredible 4mm thin, it won’t take up much room, either. Sadly, it won’t be available for us to watch the greatest of sporting summers on, but it should be around to order in time for Christmas, if you’ve got the £8,000 it’s likely to set you back. www.LG.com Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

The Warm-Up - Trend Notes

Olympic pin-ups Fancy investing in some fine, limited-edition British art? Do it Olympic style...

‘A MUST have for any collector of Olympic memorabilia,’ say London 2012 chiefs. Admittedly some of these limited edition Olympic posters look decidedly ‘arty’ (see top right, in particular) but what better way to brighten up the living room than with this set of 12 official posters, each one designed by a British artist? You might prefer to store them in the attic and wait for your investment to mature, however, rather than ruining them with Blu-Tack. The full set are presented in a 30cm x 40cm format in a stunning commemorative box, complete with individually

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numbered certificate. Each poster was created to celebrate this summer’s Games and embodies the Olympic and Paralympic values. And of course, the print run is limited to 2,012 sets (you can see the theme here, can’t you?) At £120 for the set they’re not cheap, but at £10 each on beautifully thick 250 gsm paper, they’re well worth the money if you have some spare, and get our thumbs up. Or, if you’d prefer to see them hanging in a more appropriate setting, get along to the Tate Britain before September 23rd to see the full set. shop.London2012.com

The Warm-Up - Trend Notes

Behind the headlines The truth about life in the Olympic village

IN this modern era of high performance sport, we as a nation and as a media are almost as obsessed with what makes athletes succeed and fail, as to whether they actually do or not. What makes so-and-so tick? How did they overcome the odds? Why has the mercilessly talented sportsman bottled it again? The Secret Olympian panders to our need to delve in to the psyche of sport with a refreshingly honest take on the Olympic dream, in the story behind the headlines, that can often be a rather dull version of

its portrayal. Written by a British competitior at the Athens 2004 Olympics - who choose to remain annoymous - the Secret Olympian is a fun and interesting book, drawing in things we may often not think about and dispelling plenty of myths along with way and revelaing the truth about the epic post-Games binges, the insecurity and worries of those carrying a nation’s hopes on their shoulders, and why the Sydney Olympic village really ran out of condoms. Out now published by Bloomsbury Press.

Hot by name, boiling by nature HotPants can help you shed two jeans sizes in two weeks - if you can stand the heat... WHILST we were both sceptical and excited to receive a free pair of Zaggora Ladies HotPants to trial and review, we couldn’t wait to see if they were all they were cracked up to be. Boasting to help you lose two jeans sizes in just two weeks through nonstop wear, we were happy to take on the challenge and report back. It soon became apparent that the biggest challenge of all was getting

them on, having to inch them up slowly and at the same time tuck in the excess skin! But once on they were pretty flexible and easy to wear. Made with Celu-lite technology, the HotPants increase the core body temperature to help you burn calories - and boy did we feel the heat, which in turn led to copious amounts of sweat. To be honest, we couldn’t cope with the temperature, so only wore them when exercising. But

over the course of three 25-minute jogging sessions on the treadmill and the daily walk of the dogs, our writer managed to lose 2.5kg over the two week challenge without any dietary change. Was this loss due to the additional exercise or the HotPants? We’re not sure, but for those who can stand the heat, they’d be well worth a try. For more info visit www.zaggora.com

Use our discount code ‘HOTTREND’ to receive 20% off your pair of Zaggora Hotpants! www.zaggora.com

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The Warm-Up - Trend Notes

Be a pro in your own home

Gorilla Sports unleash professional standard at kettlebells to boost your home workout WE’VE been fans of Kettlebells for quite some time now, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate a good set when we see one. So when we came across this Pro Vinyl range from new-to-the-UK Gorilla Sports, we sat up and took notice. Made from a single piece of cast iron, these gut-busting bells boast zero joints inside their bold red coating, and judging by sales at

Gorilla HQ, they’re fast becoming a favourite. Incase you didn’t know, Kettlebells can be lifted like dumbbells for strength workouts, using moves like the Snatch, Clean and Jerk. Or they can be swung, either alone or in pairs, for an intense cardiovascular workout. The Gorilla Pro Vinyl range goes as light as a 4kg model or as heavy

as the 32kg beast (which makes us wince just looking at it). With a starting price of £11.99 for the 4kg, there’s no reason why you can’t pick one up to see what all the fuss is about. More fun though might be the top of the range 32kg, if only to see how the postman gets on with delivering the monster. www.gorillasports.co.uk

Truth equals beauty? New self-help book argues the values of integrity upon the soul LIFE coach and author Nicole O’Driscoll draws on her own experiences to offer her slant on the self-help genre in ‘The little book of truth and wellness’, attempting to answer questions such as ‘how do ‘truth’ and ‘integrity’ promote health and happiness in life?’ Growing up in a tempestuous household, O’Driscoll admits she “remained lost to abusive relationships, drugs and alcohol,” until her mid-twenties, and having turned her life around to achieve qualifications in general and mental health and a Ph.D in English Literature, she now shares her story and views on the world. “The kindest gift that being ill gives you,” she says, “is the permission to avoid people or situations that are toxic and likely to make things worse. “Stress, adrenalin, distress and ill-treatment set every-

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thing firing off more chaotically than the Sydney Millennium fireworks display. “Identifying what is toxic and getting away from those influences gave me the space to recognise all the ways I wasn’t being true to myself.” Available now at Amazon.co.uk

The Warm-Up - Trend Notes

A brush with the past? TREND HEALTH & FITNESS & LIFESTYLE

New tooth cleaning tool promises to do away with brushing

IS brushing your teeth about to become a thing of the past? It was inevitable that the humble electric toothbrush would succumb to technological advances at some point, and with new technology boasting to clean your nashers purely through the use of ultrasound, that point may very well have arrived. The Emmi-dent ultrasound toothbrush is the world’s first 100% ultrasonic toothbrush, cleaning and whitening your teeth without brushing or friction. Engineers have incorporated an ultrasonic chip in the toothbrush head which delivers safe ultrasound to the teeth and gums at up to 96 million air oscillations per minute. Compare that to the typical electric toothbrush which works at the comparative snail-pace of around 30,000 revolutions per minute, and you’ll see why they call it a break-through. From £94 at www.emmi-dent.co.uk

Rebels choose badge New rugby league team’s crest has been picked by public vote

NEW Northampton rugby league team, the Northampton Rebels, have picked their club crest ahead of what will be their debut season in 2013. The club picked their name, which pays tribute to Northampton’s support for the parliamentarians during the English Civil War, by public vote in May, with ‘Rebels’ successfully chosen ahead of Revolution, Vipers, Nemesis, Pioneers, Roundheads and Diggers. For the crest, the club - who will play their games at Sixfields Stadium, home of Northampton Town Football Club - once again put the choice in the hands of the public, who voted for the swords based crest (above), ahead of a trio of unsuccessful designs, show below.

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TREND Health, Fitness & Lifestyle magazine 10 Main Road Duston Northampton NN5 6JB info@TrendHFL.co.uk Editorial editor@TrendHFL.co.uk Editor In Chief: Steve Walsh: Email: steve. walsh@TrendHFLco.uk Tel: 07548 155 495 Thanks to: Katie Mitchell, David Dyson, Eleanor Cardozo

Advertising advertising@TrendHFL. co.uk Contact: Tracy Whittaker-Smith: Tel: 07544 391 675 Steve Walsh: Tel: 07548 155 495

Trend Health, Fitness & Lifestyle Magazine is owned and produced by Flux Publications Limited in the United Kingdom. Registered in England, company number: 7882277, VAT registration number: 127 6007 31. Distributed free every month to consenting subscribers. Free to read online at www.TrendHFL.co.uk. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all editorial contained in Trend Health, Fitness & Lifestyle, Flux Publications Limited accepts no responsibility or liability for errors that may occur. All articles are written for Trend Health, Fitness & Lifestyle and may not be reproduced, wholly or partly, without the expressed prior permission of Flux Publications Limited. The statements and opinions contained in the articles within this site are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of Flux Publications Limited or its affiliates. The appearance of advertisements in Trend Health, Fitness & Lifestyle is not a warranty, endorsement or approval of the products and services. Flux Publications Limited disclaims responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from ideas or products referred to in articles or advertisements in Trend Health, Fitness & Lifestyle.

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The Warm-Up

MOMENT IN TIME

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The Warm-Up DEFYING GRAVITY Northamptonshire display team Air Gravity fly around during their performance on ITV1’s Let’s Get Gold recently. The team placed second in the sports contest, ahead of 13 other teams, but eventually lost out to Gymnastics acrobatics team Acropolis.

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The Warm-Up - Club Call

L L A C CLUB

HOCKEY CLU

ubs l c l a c o l e v i we’ll g h t n o m orm to y f t r e a l p Ev a e r i tonsh p m a h t r o N ts and l u s across e r . s t n e ws, ev e n r i e h t e r sha s on. g n i o g l a r e n ge to s w e n r u o y email , d e v l o v h us n c i a t e r r o To ge k u . L.co F H d n e r T ges. a p Editor@ r e t t i w T ook or b e c a F r u o at

BONKERS ABOUT BADMINTON?

open to all Duston Badminton club is of 15 and players between the ages cy picking 115 so get along if yo u fan up a racket. to BadThe club, who are affiliated Northampminton England and the tion, play tonshire Badminton Associa the Duston on Thursday evenings at roster of Schoo l with their current ings in the 24, and on Monday even Northampton league. or call Email co lin_raper@o2.co.uk details. 01604 587239 for further

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Northampton Hockey awarded the England creditation, which rec providing a safe, effe vironment. The club have been a pendent nominated o fication of the club’s Club President, Andy been awarded this ac Board. “At Northampton HC a safe and effective would like to thank volved in this process

LOCAL CLUBS TEAM

Several local clubs across Nort with Bag 4 Sport, a social ente community organisations and unwanted and useless clothing

Across the county Black Panth minton Club, Rushere Rovers Y ON Chenecks FC and Long Buc with Bag 4 Sport, and the orga get on board.

Head to www.Bag4Sport.co.uk t how the scheme can benefit yo your club!

The Warm-Up - Club Call

NETBALL PLAYERS WELCOME

UB CELEBRATE AWARD

Club are celebrating after being d Hockey Board’s ClubFirst Accognises clubs as working towards ective and child-friendly club en-

accredited following an indeofficer’s visit and subsequent veriassessment file. y Dale, said: “We are proud to have ccreditation by the England Hockey

Ashmore Netball Club are looking for players for their Back to Netball sessions, held at Caroline Chisholm School, Wooldale Rd, Northampton. Sessions are only £3.50 a time with no commitment up front. Contact Rachel Smith at teamsmith@hotmail.co.uk for more details on days and times, or visit www.ashmorenetball.co.uk

we pride ourselves on providing environment for all players. We all of our members who were ins.”

Northants Basketball Club

UP WITH SPORTS CHARITY

thamptonshire have teamed up erprise which supports sports clubs, charities across the UK by turning g into useful cash, at zero cost.

hers FC, Kingsthorpe Kobras BadYouth FC, Towcester Hockey Club, ckby AFC Juniors have all worked anisation is looking for others to

to see ou and

The leading junior basketball club in the county

Interested in playing basketball? Come to the Northants Basketball Club - The Northants Basketball Centre is at NSG - Activities for girls and boys aged 4-18 - Qualified coaches - Fun sessions for beginners - National League teams - Club Mark and 4 Star status

Go on - join in the fun! Web: www.northantsbasketballclub.net Tel: 01604 644772 E- mail: northantsbasketballclub@hotmail.co.uk

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Health&Fitness Stay in shape with the help of our experts:

Rob Harris Accredited UKSCA strength and conditioning specialist, and senior regional ABA coach writes exclusively for you

Mark Buckingham Two time Olympic Physiotherapist tells you how to stay in shape every month in Recover

Dr Pippa Bennett Chief Medical officer of the Women’s Football Association joins the TrendHFL team in September

100 different ways to fight the fat Independent report says over 100 factors influence our bodies health

A REPORT by independent experts has shown that there are more than 100 internal and external factors that influence how able we are to manage our own weight and health profile. The government commissioned report shows the many factors that influence what, how much and how often we eat and exercise, and therefore our ability

to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The British Nutritional Foundation (BNF) believes that the extent to which we are able to successfully maintain a healthy weight is directly and indirectly affected by any number of these factors at any one time, and believes that people who pro-actively focus effort on addressing several of these factors

simultaneously will have more success in their efforts to lose and maintain a healthy weight. Bridget Benelam, senior nutrition scientist at the BNF explained: “We are all very different and the way that we behave in relation to external and internal stimuli varies considerably. So, what works for some people may not for others. “Studies have

identified at least 108 different factors that influence our ability to maintain a healthy weight. “So there are lots of different options to choose from in terms of making changes in our behaviour that could have a positive impact on our health.“ Download the BNF’s ‘Small Changes: Big Gains chart’ at www.nutrition.org.uk Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

Health & Fitness

Diet&Nutrition

Start the day in the perfect way and eat yourself fit

‘It’s the most important meal of the day’ as the saying goes, but why is having breakfast so important to us? We find out….

The Knowledge

hether you’re aiming to lose, gain or maintain your weight, breakfast has a crucial part to play – and that doesn’t mean not having it. Eating breakfast in the morning helps start your metabolism, allowing your body to kick-start itself after sleep, meaning you start burning calories earlier in the day. Studies also show that regular eaters are ‘Studies also show that breakfast significantly more likely regular breakfast eaters to be able to control weight successfully are significantly more their than those who skip the likely to be able to control morning meal. their weight’ Breakfast skippers are shown to eat more at the next meal, and often binge on high calorie, high fat alternatives. What’s more, eating a healthy breakfast helps give you a more nutritionally complete diet, improves your concentration, gives you more strength and endurance in physical activity and helps lower cholesterol.

So what makes a good breakfast? Breakfast, like every meal we eat, should be made up of a combination of the five main food groups: Carbohydrates, to give you energy; Proteins, which help the body maintain and repair itself; Milk & Dairy, to provide calcium for healthy bones; Fruit & Vegetables, to provide important vitamins and minerals; and Fats, to provide energy and essential fatty acids. Protein has a lot to offer when it comes to a healthy breakfast, as it helps the body feel full and in turn

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staves off hunger. Eggs contain some of the highest quality protein around and have shown to be excellent at satisfying our hunger. Though they have had some bad press because of the amount of cholesterol they contain, eggs have been certified to be perfectly safe to enjoy as part of a healthy lifestyle – just avoid frying. Cereals are most people’s breakfast of choice however, and it’s important you get the right one. Look for a cereal that is high in fibre, as this will also help stop that hungry feeling returning too quickly, but avoid cereals with a high sugar content. A bowl of high fibre cereal, made with semi-skimmed milk and topped off with a banana will provide you with everything you need to start the day in the perfect manner.

Breakfast fluids explained... During the night the body is still active in digesting and respiring, both of which absorb water, so it is natural that most of us are thirsty when we wake up. The best thing to drink when we first get up is water to replenish what has been lost in the night, and for those trying to lose weight, it helps to fill you up so you feel like eating less. The classic British cup of tea is fine also, but Coffee will cause dehydration, so balance it out with equal measures of water. Juices are a simple way of helping you get your five a day, so opt for some orange juice in the morning to give you some much needed vitamin C to fight off colds and infections. Alternatively, red grape juice and green tea are major sources of antioxidants required to help keep illness at bay and boost the immune system.

Health & Fitness

Five of the best: Breakfasts or scrambled egg on whole1 Boiled grain toast will give you the carbohydrate and protein you need to see you through the morning. Top it off with a banana and orange juice. yourself some whole-grain 2 Cook porridge oats with semi-skimmed

milk, and add some dried fruit to your bowl to boost your natural sugar intake, to provide energy.

Cereals are an English classic: Quick, easy and delicious. Pick up a cereal that has preferably five grams of fibre or more, and less than six grams of sugar. Shredded Wheat and Kashi are two of the best, but check out the labels on the side of the packets to pick your favorite. Pour over some semi-skimmed or skimmed

Recipe milk and add in some thawed berries from the freezer. faithful omelette will give you 4 The the opportunity to mix it up on the breakfast front while keeping it healthy. A vegetarian omelette will provide you with plenty of protein, while you can choose which ingredients to add for flavour.

are perfect for those 5 Smoothies who like to eat as they’re running

out the door. Blend some low fat natural yoghurt and/or some semiskimmed milk with your favorite fruits and berries, and knock it back while on your way to the car. Banana and summer fruit berries make a great mix, as does orange, mango and coconut. Experimentation is half the fun!

Training Tips

Slim Down: Try converting to skimmed, 1% fat milk and simply cut down your portion size a little. Alternatively have half your breakfast when you wake up and the other half mid morning. This will stop you snacking, while eating regularly speeds up your metabolism and your ability to lose weight.

Bulk Up: Eating increased amounts of protein will help you build muscle and workout for longer. Proteins are also critical for the body to repair itself to help you do more work, more often. Try adding an extra egg to your breakfast, or make a protein rich

smoothie (see right) to snack on.

Work Out: If you’re working out early in the morning, up your intake of carbohydrate to give you more energy. Quick release foods will be better as you need energy to be processed quicker than normal. Add some low fat yoghurt in to your breakfast as well as some nuts and seeds, which contain natural fats that will give you quick energy. If you’re eating relatively close to physical activity, choose a smoothie over harder foods as they may give you indigestion and are harder to break down, while the natural sugars and quick digestion time of bananas are perfect.

Breakfast Smoothies THERE really is no end to the greatness of smoothies. Great for breakfast, they also double as recovery drinks for after training and are fantastic snacks. The differences amongst smoothies come with how much protein you want and what sort of texture you like. Smoothies made with yoghurt are on the thick side and pack that protein punch for recovering from exercise, or for those looking to build muscle-mass. For a thinner textured that still packs plenty of protein, milk is a great alternative. Alternatively orange or apple juice provide a great base for those who need less calories. You can also add in oats if you are looking for something more filling, perfect for slow release energy.

Ingredients & Method 250ml of Yoghurt 125ml Semi-Skimmed Milk 2 Bananas Hand-full of Strawberries & Summer fruits Drizzle of Honey Blend all together and add the honey at the end to taste.

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Health & Fitness

BodyWorks

Hone your power zone to look and feel the part

We all want perfect abdominals and flat stomachs, but these exercises will make you feel stronger and more powerful, too...

The Knowledge

n real life muscles do not work in isolation from each other but in integrated patterns simultaneously. By choosing functional exercises that replicate natural human movement patterns, such as to bend, squat, lunge, push, press, twist and jump, we challenge the body’s systems as a whole unit, mimicking exactly how the body ‘This approach should work in everyday movements or sporting guarantees that you will actions. burn calories, look good, It allows the body’s and and perform everyday stabilising neutralising tasks much better’ muscles to switch on; thereby increasing the training effect upon the body and applying the fundamental principle of strength training. This approach guarantees not only that you will burn calories and look good, but that you will actually perform everyday tasks or leisure/sporting pursuits much better.

The corset So what’s the focal point for many of us? The ‘corset’ which surrounds the junction between the trunk and the legs. This meeting point is coordinated and held together

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by the abdominal, spinal erector, hip flexor and gluteal muscles. This central region is also known as the ‘power zone’ of the body. All functional movement forces will move through this area including leg to leg mechanics like running, because the ‘corset’ muscles stabilise the body during foot strike, so that unnecessary motions are minimised and all power created by the hip and leg muscles can be used to drive the body forward.

Rotational exercises Focusing on the mid-section, the training carried out by many are the conventional abdominal and lower back exercises such as the crunch and back extension. Compared with direct flexion and extension, or ‘in and out’ movements, there is much more rotational action in this mid-section to be explored in order to truly provide the strength gains desired, as well as making this area look good. On top of this, by increasing abdominal stability and functionality we can also improve our posture. And a strong pelvic girdle and trunk provide the anchor point for a stronger pair of legs, allowing you to perform actions at greater efficiency in everyday life.

Health & Fitness

By Rob Harris An accredited UKSCA strength & conditioning specialist, Rob has over 20 years experience in the physical preparation of high performance athletes, with a history of proven results. Tel: 07776 220145 Email: rob@synergy3training.co.uk

Abdominals Circuit: Month One The circuit These exercises represent a form of strength training and are typically performed with other supplementary exercises, when you are relatively fresh and nonfatigued. Perform all twisting and

lifting exercises slowly and in a controlled manner, emphasising on correct form throughout. After a few training sessions, the actions may then be sped up to a moderate tempo, but remember to maintain good control at all times. Focus on developing good, correct form while using weighted

equipment. Mid-section strengthening exercises can actually be carried out frequently (4-6 times per week) for relatively brief periods with no worries about overworking the area to detriment, compared to other areas of the body such as legs and arms.

Hammer Twist Develops dynamic stability for the entire ‘corset’ region in a standing position Start position: Hold a light weight medicine ball (or suitable alternative if you’re working out at home) in both hands, back against a wall, feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly flexed in a shallow squat position, ensuring the pelvic girdle is fixed in frontal plane. Motion: Twist your body to the right while extending your legs upwards, then twist back to the middle and to the left, squating as the ball comes towards the centre. Tip: Begin this exercise in a slow manner, and progress in speed (while still maintaining good control) over a period of several weeks. Reps: Perform 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.

Walking Trunk Twist Similar to the hammer twist, however the added momentum gained by swinging the ball and walking creates increased tension in the stabilising corset muscles, thus strengthening them Start position: From a standing position with your feet parallel and the weighted ball secured between the hands, held up by the right shoulder. Motion: Walk normally while simultaneously swinging your arms through a wide arc in front of you. Tip: Swings should be slow and controlled until learnt to progress to a moderate speed. Reps: Swinging for a total of 20-30 repetitions, repeat for a total of 2-3 sets.

PICTURES BY KATIE MITCHELL

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Health & Fitness

BodyWorks Abdominals Circuit: Month One Hanging Body Flex This exercise strengthens the integrative action of the muscles, which raise the thighs and stabilise the pelvis Start position: Start from a hanging position with your arms overhead and legs fully extended with a light weighted ball placed between the feet Motion: Raise your feet towards the chest with your knees bent while maintaining a firm grip of the weighted ball with your feet and ankles. Flex your feet and toes towards your knees throughout the entire movement and return to the starting position. Tip: Perform the movement at a slow speed during the first few sessions and progress to a moderate speed over time. Reps: 10-15 repetitions and up to 2-3 sets per workout.

Supplementary Exercises Pair up each exercise in the ab circuit with one from below, doing a set of each before repeating two or three times, depending on your level and build up gradually. Alternatively put them all in one big circuit, alternating between exercises in the ab circuit and exercises below to make a circuit of six.

Plank

Begin in the plank position with your forearms and toes on the floor. Keep your torso straight and rigid and your body in a straight line with no sagging or bending. Your head is relaxed and you should be looking at the floor. Hold this position for 10 seconds to start. Over time work up to 30, 45 or 60 seconds.

Bums, Knees & Ankles Lie flat with legs vertical, arms shoulder width apart. Raise torso 2-3â&#x20AC;? by bending at the waist. Take your hands behind your bum to touch and return to original position. Repeat the movement ensuring your hands make contact behind your knees, and then the same with ankles. Sequence = one repetition. Perform the movement slowly, 10-15 repetitions, 2-3 sets.

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Pole Sit-Ups

Lie flat, holding a pole or weighted barbell. Position over chest with shoulder width grip. Raise torso as high as possible in a slow and controlled movement by bending waist and hips while keeping the bar positioned above shoulders, and return to start. 10-15 reps, 2-3 sets.

Recover

Health & Fitness

Get back to your best without breaking your body Inspired by the London Olympics? Expert physiotherapist Mark Buckingham tells you how to get fit without the pain...

The Knowledge

e may not all be able to win medals for Great Britain but we can all enjoy a jog and maybe a little fantasy as we go. The London Olympics will inspire a generation to take up sport or to return to it, however nothing is more demoralising than making that initial effort only to hurt yourself in the first few sessions. If you’re unsure of your general health or suffer with blood pressure, breathing or ‘Nothing is more heart issues, you should demoralising than making consult your GP before starting any program. that initial effort only to The likelihood is that your then get injured’ GP will be delighted to help you get fitter. Finally write down why you are doing this. It helps you to stick with it if you have a stated goal. It could be to lose weight, to be healthier, to complete a charity event, or to simply get out and enjoy some fresh air.

Getting out the door When it comes to running, trainers are by far the most important piece of equipment and come in many different shapes and sizes. Advice from a specialist running shop is a good place to start but if you have a history of injury then seek the advice of a sports physio. Running in tennis or fashion trainers is not advised as they are not likely to give the correct amout of support for your ankles and feet. If you’ve not exercised for a while and are significantly out of shape, build-up a base level of fitness that allows you to be able to walk five km or three miles.

This should take approximately an hour at average pace.

Warm-up The evidence shows that for jogging there is little benefit in a whole series of hard stretching prior to getting going. A six minute walk building into a slow jog and another minute building up to your comfortable jogging pace will be fine as a warm-up. As you get better and faster a structured warm up will be of use but not for now.

Missing sessions & resting The training plan overleaf is a guideline and should not be treated as set in stone and inflexible. If you miss a session try to pick up at a point just below the difficulty of the next scheduled session and then aim to complete the following session as it is stated. In terms of exercising when you’re ill: DON’T! You will prolong the illness and feel rubbish. The training value is dubious at best. Rest and come back when you are well. Listen to your body – if you are feeling a bit down and tired – rest a day and be stronger for it. Rest is as vital as the running.

If it hurts Sharp pain anywhere when running is an immediate stop. Tightness in a muscle is to be wary of but you don’t necessarily need to stop. If you stretch the area and it is sharp then do stop, otherwise stretch for a minute and continue. If it does not clear then stop. If it hurts to tighten the muscle then stop, if it is just tender to stretch then you should be ok. There is no black and white here - though if in doubt, stop!

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Health & Fitness By Mark Buckingham Mark was head physiotherapist for Team GB athletics at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics, and is a director of Witty, Pask & Buckingham physiotherapists, Billing Road, Northampton For appointments call 01604 601641

Training Plan

Session One

Week 1

Walk 2 mins Jog 3 mins Repeat x 5 Total = 25 mins

Week 2

Session Two

Session Three

Same as session one

Walk 2 mins Jog 4 mins Repeat x 5 Total =30 mins

Walk 1 min Jog 5 mins Repeat x 5 Total = 30 mins

Same as session one

Walk 2 mins Jog 7 mins Repeat x 5 Total = 45 min

Week 3

Walk 1 min Jog 6 mins Repeat x 6 Total = 42 mins

Walk 1 min Jog 6 mins Repeat x 7 Total = 49 mins

Walk 1 min Jog 7 mins Repeat x 7 Total = 56 mins

Week 4

Walk 1 min Jog 8.5 min Rep x 5 Total = 47.5 min

Walk 1 mins Jog 10 mins Rep x 4 Total = 44 mins

Walk 1 min Jog 10 min Rep x 5 Total = 55 mins

Week 5

Walk 1 min Jog 12 mins Repeat x 3 Total = 38 mins

Walk 1 min Jog 15 mins Repeat x 3 Total = 48 min

Walk 2 mins Jog 20 mins Repeat 2 Total = 44 mins

No walk Jog 18 mins

No walk Jog 24 mins

No walk Jog 28 mins

No walk Jog 34 mins

No walk Jog 38 mins

No walk Jog 40 mins / 5km

No walk Jog 25 mins

No walk Jog 20 mins

No walk Jog 40 mins / 5km

Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Cool down

Plan

Do some simple calf, hamstring and quad stretches to help restore normal length and line of the muscle tissues. These should be held at a comfortable stretch for 30 seconds after your jog. Do not force it.

Put in a rest day after each session, with 20-30 minute cross-train or swim on one of your days off to take the stress off your joints. Have fun!!

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Doctor’s Notes

Health & Fitness

Beat the allergy blues by following these simple steps The Knowledge

xperts estimate that one in three of the UK population will suffer from allergies at some time in their lives and that number is on the increase. Although spring most readily comes to mind when we think of allergies, many of the same allergic triggers that can make spring miserable persist into summer. Add heat, humidity, and air pollution into the mix, and you have the recipe for summer allergy misery.

The trouble with pollen The biggest summer allergy trigger is pollen - tiny grains released into the air by male trees, grasses, and weeds for the

‘Many of the same allergic triggers that can make us miserable in the spring persist well into summer’ purpose of fertilising other plants. When these pollen cells get into the nose and eyes of susceptible people, they send the immune system into overdrive.  The immune system, mistakenly seeing the pollen as foreign invaders, releases antibodies - substances that normally identify and go after bacteria, viruses, and other illness-causing organisms. The antibodies attack the allergens, which leads to the release of chemicals such as histamines into the blood. These chemicals trigger the runny nose, itchy eyes, and other allergy symptoms. The pollen count measures the amount of allergens in the air and you can find out the daily pollen count in your area from various media weather forecasts.

Allergy Notes 1. Keep windows and doors shut in the house; try drawing cu rtains to keep out the sun and keep the temperature down 2. Change your cloth es and take a shower after being outd oors to remove the pollen on your body 3. Wear wrap-around sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes when you are outdoors 4. Keep car windows closed and consider buying a pollen filter for the air vents in your car 5. Don’t wear perfum e, scented lotions, or brightly coloured clo thing, all of which can attract bees and ot her stinging insects

As if all of these airborne allergens aren’t bad enough, add summer air pollution to the mix! One of the most common pollutants is ozone, which is created in the atmosphere by a combination of sunlight, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons from burning fuel. The stronger sunlight and calmer winds during the summer months can create clouds of ozone

around some cities. Studies have found that ozone and other air pollutants worsen symptoms of allergies and asthma. It’s nearly impossible to completely avoid allergies if triggers are all around you. However, you can ease sniffling, sneezing, and watery eyes by avoiding your main allergy triggers with some of our tips above. Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

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HEALTHY LIVING - The entrance and reception area at Nuffield Health, Sixfields, Northampton

Pass the health test at Nuffield Nuffield Health offer you a free Health MOT, with the ability to opt out if you don’t feel fitter and healthier after three months

The Knowledge

ouldn’t it be great if there was a standardised test to see how healthy we all are? We could see what was working in our bodies, what needed work, and where to focus our time and energy ‘A free, 60 minute health just like taking your car in for a service. It seems MOT is offered to all sign- at Nuffield Health, that is ups, helping you meas- exactly their wish, too.

ure your current fitness Health MOT in order to get fitter and Nuffield’s free, 60 minute healthier’ health MOT is offered

to all new sign-ups at the gym (or ‘Wellness Centre’ as the firm calls it), and is an in-depth assessment of your overall health, based on a series of checks and tests to determine your ‘health score’.

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Nuffield will measure your body mass index (BMI), resting heart rate, cholesterol, aerobic fitness, blood pressure and sugar levels, while you will also have the opportunity to discuss your hydration, alcohol intake, sleep quality and any existing injuries, with an expert advisor. You’ll be given a health score of between six and 100, which will be used to track your progress for whenever you want a retest, and you’ll get a personalised action plan to help you improve your overall health using Nuffield’s health & fitness, medical, physiotherapy and nutrition expertise, to help you get fitter and healthier - and improve your score.

Nuffield Northampton On top of an impressive welcoming assessment, Nuffield’s Northampton

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in Numbers

ACTION STATIONS - (left to right) The gym, jacuzzi and spinning areas at Nuffield Health

branch is a fantastic place at which evenings with swimming lessons taking to concentrate your health and fitness place, but that is balanced out by the efforts. freedom of the pool if you’re lucky It is clean, homely and has all the enough to be able to get along in offfacilities you would want and peak times. expect from a health club Under 16s are permitted in the ‘The focussed on fitness. pool between two and five in wet area It is not as big as the afternoons, giving you has a large some others across time to workout or relax the county, but if steam room, sauna and unwind in a childanything, that adds free environment, while and jacuzzi, for to the appeal, feeling allowing you to bring the homely and less of a those who like to kids when it suits. shell. The wet area has a large unwind’ steam room and medium sized Gym sauna with jacuzzi in-between the two, for those who like to unwind, The gym has comprehensive while changing rooms are spacious in cardiovascular and weights sections, size, as are the lockers. with an open plan but separate The club has a comprehensive free-weights area, and an adequate and popular class timetable that is matted stretching area. well worth exploring, with the usual The gym includes all the latest spinning, yoga and aqua-aerobics all kettlebells and power bags, while proving hits. there are individual televisions on Overall, Nuffield Health is a fantastic roughly half the bikes, cross trainers place to manage your health and treadmills. program, and the expertise offered Poolside throughout the club are unrivalled around Northamptonshire. Nuffield excels in the pool area too Staff are friendly, welcoming and always clean and without clutter. helpful, and help make using the Things can get a little busy on some facility a pleasure.

Details • • TIME TO GET A SWEAT ON One of the studios a Nuffield Health

• •

You can visit Nuffield Health, Sixfields, Northampton for free on a complimentary day pass. Tel: 0845 5270969 for more details Nuffield offer a free day-pass on their website, at: www.nuffieldhealth.com/rewards Ask for details on membership prices Free towels are given out on arrival for use at the club, saving you from lugging one around

Pieces of cardiovascular equipment in the gym

101

Number of hours Nuffield Health is open each week

21 66 Number of spinning bikes available

Classes available to attend every week

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Health & Fitness - The Expert

The Physio Northampton based former UK Sport head physio Mark Buckingham talks physiotherapy, the Olympics and tells us why Britain will shine at the Games.

Fact File Name: Mark Buckingham Occupation: Physiotherapist Work Place: Witty, Pask & Buckingham Physiotherapy Clinic, Billing Road, Northampton Career Highlights: Olympic Games: Head Physiotherapist, UK Athletics, 2000 & 2004

What is the job of a physiotherapist? “In the sports setting, you’re looking after the athletes physical well being as a primary job, but in the sports setting there is a huge amount of psychology that comes with that. “Effectively a physio is looking after the injured athlete and injured tissue, and also the performance side – if somebody has aches, pains, soreness, you will be looking at the muscles the joints, the ligaments, the tendons and the neural system and trying to work out what has been effected and how. “Allied to that, on the performance side you may be looking at why they can’t drive off that one leg as well as they once were or as well as they would like to - is there something stopping the messages getting through?” And what about people outside of sport? “Average Joe covers a multitude of different things. My work in a private practice is looking after the bad backs, the bad necks, the stresses and the strains. We do quite a lot of post operative rehabilitation work, from knee replacements to anterior cruciate ligament repairs and shoulder surgery. It is looking after all areas of physical wellbeing,”

Mark Buckingham is a director at Witty, Pask & Buckingham physiotherapists, Billing Road, Northampton. Call 01604 601641 or click here to email for an appointment, or click the logo to visit the website.

PICTURES: KATIE MITCHELL 26

Is there such thing as a classic case? “The classic is that 80% of us at one time during our life will experience lower back pain. It may be that you have overdone it decorating, overdone it gardening – you get the initial twinge that doesn’t settle down in a few days and maybe starts to give you pins and needles down your leg. “Coming through the door the first thing is to find out the severity of the symptoms, look at that person as a whole – how they are moving just walking in through the door will give you a good indication – and then talk to the person to get a good idea of what that problem is likely to be. “There are a lot of red flag questions

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as we call them, you want to eliminate the nasty’s that could be causing the problem, and then move on to the physical examination or range of movement: which bits hurt, which bits don’t – the whole gambit of things to see what that problem is. “Once you have decided what the problem is you can then move on to treatment for that which may involve hands on stuff, and then you may move on to strength issues or mobility issues depending on what has caused the problem in the first place.” How often can the problem be fixed without the need for any further treatment? “The vast majority, into the 80% of people, we don’t need to refer on. Sometimes you may want to get an X-Ray or an MRI scan to clarify between one or two aspects of a diagnosis. But usually you are able to go on the clinical judgment because you have seen these things time and time before. “If it doesn’t fit the clear pictures then you refer on but very few people – we are talking in the small single digit percentages – ever end up in surgery.” And athletes? Are they are willing patients? “They’re willing and eager for attention to the point where you don’t want to over-treat. They sometimes get too used to having that reassurance and that hands on stuff all the time. They are a different bunch and a different psyche entirely. “With those guys it is more to do with the psychology of what you are trying to do with them, sometimes more than the physical. You may have an athlete that when they are warming up says their leg just doesn’t feel like it is getting quite enough power through it. It may feel like there is a bit of stiffness which in your average person wouldn’t mean a lot. But for these guys trying to work at their absolute peak it is just not quite right.”

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Health & Fitness - The Expert should be there if all goes well. “But because it is a home Games and the athletes won’t have to be off six to eight weeks before in a holding camp, the best place for me to be is at home. “And I’m sure there will be the last minute phone calls, little niggles etc.” What’s it like seeing people you have worked with such as Mo Farrah go on to winning World medals? “It’s great. Seeing Mo over so many different events when I have been there, especially in his junior days when he was feeling his way in to the event, and he is now going out and making the next step up to the World stage. He is now the guy everyone is looking at as the one to beat. “The nice thing about people like Mo particularly is he hasn’t changed in himself, he is still a nice, down to earth, level headed lad.”

CONCENTRATION: Mark Buckingham treats a patient at his Witty, Pask & Buckingham physiotherapy practise.

What’s it like being physio at the Olympics? “You can tell it is an Olympics. World Championships are the same, it is still a massive peak of anyone’s career. But an Olympics, once every four years and with the kudos that it brings, there is a different type of pressure. “Is it a happy camp? It depends on if you’re winning. If you’re winning everybody is happy and if you’re not, it is the complete other end of the spectrum. “It is an extreme place – you are never going to get anybody who is having an ‘ok’ Olympics. “Knowing how to deal with those different psyches at any one time is part of being part of the medical team.”

athletics in the build up to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 there was very little funding, it was before the advent of lottery funding and before the advent of the English Institute of Sport, so there was no structure and no lead physios or medics, so there was no real knowledge of how the athletes were doing at any one moment. “So when we got out to Sydney, there were people turning up saying, ‘well I haven’t really trained well for six months’ and you’re thinking ‘but you’ve got an Olympic final in two weeks time. How does that work?’ “That had turned around by Athens (the venue for the 2004 Games) and as a result our work was a lot less actually at the Games.”

It strikes me that it’s a big job, being a physio at the Olympic Games. I take it there’s a lot of work to be done? “It has changed hugely in the last 15 years. “When I first started with

You left your role as lead physio for UK Sport after Athens to spend more time with your young family. With this being a home Olympics for Team GB, do you wish you were still in post? “Yes I wish I was there. I’ve got an involvement because I have got 10 athletes that

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FUN IN THE SUN: Mark Buckingham treats sprinter Christian Malcolm at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games

And would you back him to win in London this summer? “Yeh I do. Without a doubt. He has moved on leaps and bounds in this last two years. He can run that race in any number of different ways – he has got it all. “I am not a betting man but he’s as close as you will get to a dead cert. “There are other guys as well, Chris Thompson came in silver at the European Champions where Mo got gold (in the 10,000 meters, Barcelona 2010), and I think on his day Chris is as talented an athlete as Mo. “Hannah England - who I have known since her university days - came through for silver at the World Championships (in the 1500 meters, Daegu 2011). “We have some good guys and it is all about on the day – if you can bang out the big one on the day then you have got a great chance.” Mark Buckingham was talking to Steve Walsh

Features Time to

SHINE THERE was hardly going to be a contest for the subject that dominated Features this month. The Olympic Games has finally reached these shores for the first time in over 60 years, and for many of us, the first time in our lifetimes. To celebrate the arrival of the World’s sporting community to these parts, we’ve put together an all access pass to London and all the places, people and emotions that make up the Olympic Games. We tour around the venues in the Olympic Park that will make and break athletes over the coming 17 days. We talk to Olympic torchbearer Penny Mitchell, while Sydney 2000 Olympian Jaime Halsey tells us about her roll on the British Olympic Association’s Athletes Commission. Top of the bill though are Frankie Jones and Anne Panter, who will take to the most prestigious of stages in the next few weeks in their roles on the Team GB Gymnastics and Hockey teams, looking to win one of these beautiful Olympic Gold Medals (left). Made at the Royal Mind headquarters in South Wales, each of the 4,700 medals, which will be awarded across 805 victory ceremonies, took around 10 hours to complete, weighing in at approximately 400g each and measuring 85mm in diameter and 7mm in depth. Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

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Rhythm& Red White & Blues Wellingborough Rhythmic Gymnast Frankie Jones talks shouldering a nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expectations Words: Steve Walsh Pictures: David Dyson

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rankie Jones struggles to get the words out as she contemplates her appearance on the biggest of all stages this month. Ask the modest 21 year-old what her feelings are about representing Great Britain in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around competition at the Olympic Games in London, and you will hear a pause as Jones almost struggles to quantify what it means to have been given the opportunity of a lifetime. She is humble in her goals but acutely aware of what it means to be given the chance to shine for your country at the biggest of showpieces. Jones admits a place at the Olympics were quite literally

‘I don’t want to let anybody down’ Frankie Jones beyond her wildest dreams – the Wellingborough athlete only ever thought as far as a place at the Commonwealth Games – but now that she is on the verge of the biggest competition of her life, she is determined to make the most of the opportunity. “I just feel very honoured and privileged to be included in such a prestigious event,” says Jones, her voice cracking slightly as she attempts to take in the enormity of the occasion. “It never really crossed my mind that I could go to the Olympics. My goal for a long time was Commonwealth Games, and then I managed to do two Commonwealth Games, which was amazing. “And then the thought of the Olympics only really kicked in that it is happening this year. “There is pressure to look like a good gymnast and not let anybody down that has put hard work in to me, because everyone can see if you go wrong.

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ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Frankie Jones performs in front of the sculpture ‘Promise’ that was created by artist Eleanor Cardozo (inset) and dedicated to Jones, for her embodiment of the Olympic spirit “I just want to do as best as I can for my routines and look like a competent gymnast.” A world ranking of 70 meant that Jones had to rely on a host nation place to secure a spot at London 2012, a place she was given by the British Olympic Association after finishing as the top British competitor at the 2011 World Championships in Montpellier. Being the lowest ranked in the competition means Jones is starting to feel the pressure to produce a performance of Olympic proportion at Wembley Arena on August 9th, but she is realistic in her goals for the Games.

“It is not really a ranking goal for me, because it is such an honour to be included in it for me really,” she adds. “I’m more concentrating on the look of my routines and making sure I don’t look out of place as much as I can, and just to look strong and perform as best I can. “I guess there are always people watching you at competitions, but I think you just don’t want to mess up such a big competition as the Olympics. “I just want to do the best routines I can, and make everyone who has put work in to me proud, and do my best for them all.”

Promise for the new era

GOLDEN GIRL: (Clockwise from top) Frankie Jones replicates the pose of the sculpture ‘Promise’, a plaque commemorates Eleanor Cardozo’s art, and Frankie and Eleanor cuddle up at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 The ability to inspire is something Jones. that has followed the Welsh gymnast “It always surprises me that people around for the majority her career, but are affected by me. Seeing younger it is another subject that Jones gymnasts, when I do something finds almost as overwhelmin front of them, they get ing as she does pride really excited by seeing inducing. me. Being six-time British “I always feel honChampion brings an oured that I can inexpected amount spire someone else, of fan-fare inside it shocks me!” her own sport, but This time, however, she is hoping to be it will be Jones who the catalyst for a will be inspired by new generation of the weight of history children to take up and responsibility that gymnastics with her apcomes with being part Frankie Jones pearance in London. of Team GB. “I think it is really important “The greatest honour any to have British representation (at athlete can have is to comthe Olympics) so young gymnasts can pete for your country at an Olympic see that we are part of it and inspire games,” she adds. “There is nothing them to get there as well,” adds better that you can do.”

‘Going to the Olympics is the greatest honour’

ARTIST Eleanor Cardozo dedicated her dazzling sculpture, ‘Promise’, to Wellingborough gymnast Frankie Jones earlier this year, an act that stunned the 21 year-old. “That was such an honour, said Jones. “It was really surprising. I only found out once it had already been made. “It was just such a shock, and I’m so privileged. I can’t imagine anybody would be inspired by me and would want to make something so beautiful and then dedicate it to me. It’s phenomenal.” The carbon-fibre resin piece was one of a series of Olympic-themed artworks to go on show at Heathrow terminal five’s Expo Fine Art Gallery, and contains a plaque, stating: “This sculpture is dedicated to Francesca Jones, whose youth and talent embodies the Olympic spirit and the promise of a generation.” Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

Sticking with it Northamptonshire Hockey ace Anne Panter deserves her shot at London 2012 after years of injury heart-ache

Words: Steve Walsh Pictures: GB Hockey/Ady Kerry

LISTEN to Anne Panter’s story and you start to get a true definition of the phrase ‘Olympic spirit’. The likeable 28 year-old from Irthlingborough has battled injury after injury to keep her career on track, and faced down every obstacle in her way with the grit and determination that only comes from someone desperate to reach the peak of their powers. Panter was told she would likely never play again following surgery on her troublesome knee after helping Team GB to a sixth place finish in Beijing 2008, but now that her body is back to its best, she is ready to help Team GB to the ultimate prize: Gold in their home Olympics.

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“There’s been a few injuries along the way,” jokes Panter in what is a huge understatement. “I injured my ankle in a car crash [in 2003] and that kept me out for 18 months. “Then I ruptured my cruciate ligament back in 2005, so I was out for about a year rehabbing that, but it was never operated on at that stage. “And then I got back to playing in 2007 but during the lead up to the Olympics in Beijing, kind of from March 2008, my patella tendon started getting really painful. I basically had chronic patella tendonitis, which just got more and more painful. “We managed it through Beijing with a series of injections and strong painkillers, but we knew that wasn’t

going to get me through a whole four-year cycle [up to London 2012]. “So after Beijing we tried rest and then rebuilding and strengthening, because on both of my injuries – the patella tendonitis and the cruciate ligament – operations aren’t that successful generally. “So in the end we just tried to rehab, and went through every available option. That was really hard, because you are trying everything, and it isn’t really getting any better.” This was the low point of Panter’s career, as she was dropped from the funded GB Hockey squad because of a lack of playing time. It had been 18 months since the Beijing Olympics, in which time she hadn’t picked up a hockey stick once. “GB Hockey can’t continue to fund an athlete who doesn’t look like they are going to get back to playing, and I understood that,” adds Panter. “We kind of had a deadline at the end of 2009 where I had to be back playing, or be very close to, and I was nowhere near with no real answers as to how I might be able to get back. “I eventually had my operation in February 2010, and then it was a long old journey from there. I was just an athlete in rehab, so I wasn’t joining in with the rest of the squad, I was doing my own rehab in the gym.

‘It didn’t look like I was going to play again’ Anne Panter “It didn’t look like….well people didn’t think I was going to be able to get back playing hockey. So I actually got taken out of the programme (UK Sports’ World Class Programme, which funds athletes through Lottery funding) for a short time.” Despite the concern that her playing days were over, Panter upped sticks and moved to

CENTENARY TIME: Anne Panter receives a bouquet from GB Hockey Performance Director David Faulkner at the London Cup earlier this year to commemorate her 100th appearance for Great Britain, and poses in her kit (below)

Maidenhead to be nearer the squad’s training base at Bisham Abbey. “In the back of my mind I always thought if there was any chance of getting back to playing international hockey, I’d go for it. I knew I hadn’t let that dream completely die,” she explains. “But it definitely had to be the second priority. At that point in time it was actually more a case of having the operation to allow myself to have a normal life. I was constantly in pain and I didn’t do any activity, let alone play international hockey. “It was hard, it was really, really hard to come out of the programme, but I had really good support around me.” Panter lost the majority of muscle in her leg following the operation and rest period

it requires, and could barely bend her injured knee three months after surgery. With the help of a dedicated medical team at Bisham Abbey however, she managed to make the impossible possible, and returned to playing in March last year. “It felt brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” says Panter. “I had to accept and get my head around the fact that I may never play again, and that I was unlikely to ever play again, so to then have that, it just meant so much and it still does mean so much. “I had amazing support from physios and strength and conditioning coaches, so although I got taken off funding in terms of I didn’t get any money from hockey, I was still kept in a wider group to allow me to access Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

support, which was invaluable. “Just the fact that we have that is incredible. If I’d not had that support network there, there is no way I would be back playing.” With her injuries now behind her, Panter has her eyes firmly on the biggest prize of all – Gold at London 2012. Great Britain are ranked fourth going in to the tournament but are aiming for the top, buoyed by a silver medal-winning performance at the Champion’s Trophy in February, fought out by the World’s top eight teams. “I think if I’d never been injured and never had a set-back it would still be just as incredible (to go to London 2012),” says Panter. “I love London and the city of London will just be buzzing. People

‘We are realistic medal contenders’ Anne Panter talk about the Australians and their passion for sport, but I don’t think any other country actually get behind sport like we do in this country. “I think during the Olympics, there will just be this complete buzz across the country, and I think we will feel that. “We are realistic medal contenders this time. We are ranked fourth in the world, so we are there and we are playing for Gold. “We have what we call a ‘Gold Mentality’ in our squad, and that means that everything we do – everything, everyday – we do with the standard of Gold in mind. “If what we are doing is not good enough to win Gold, then it is not good enough. Whether that is training on the pitch, training in the gym, doing a running session, looking at video or being away from the group resting and recovering, it has to be at the level of what is required to win us Gold in London.” Panter’s story wouldn’t be

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GOOD TO BE BACK: Anne Panter in action at the Olympic Test Event at Eton Manor in April

complete without an obligatory spanner in the works, however. Towards the end of our in depth and frankly fascinating interview, I ask her if her body is in good shape going in to the games following her injury problems, and she begins to laugh while telling me the story of her latest mishap. Panter says: “I feel fantastic, really good, no problems with that at all – although I had a slightly scary moment last week where I had a tyre blow out on the dual carriageway in my car, and ended up losing complete control. “I went off the road and flipped two or three times. It was slightly surreal because I literally walked away with a slight bruise on my leg and some whiplash the next day. But in myself I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!” Let’s hope that luck stays

around a little while longer. The Women’s Olympic Hockey competition starts on July 29th.

Hockey Nation - Give it a go! ANNE PANTER appears courtesy of the England Hockey Board’s Hockey Nation programme, which aims to attract more people to the sport by showing you the best opportunities to get involved around your area. Whether you want to play, watch or become a volunteer ‘Hockey Maker’, there’s no better time to get involved in Hockey in your community. Visit www.HockeyNation.info to see how you can take part.

Penny aiming to take the next step Northamptonshire girl is aiming high as she targets making the jump from torch-bearer to Olympian in the next four years OLYMPIC torch-bearer Penny Mitchell is hoping to swap the small part she played in the 2012 Games for a starring role next time round. The 21 year-old trampolinist from Long Buckby ran with the Olympic flame along Alexandra Road in Corby after being nominated by her sister, Hazel, as reward for fighting back from a career threatening injury four years ago. Five operations and four years later, Penny capped a memorable 2012 with her first call-up to the Great Britain squad as she finished ninth in the under 21 European

GOLDEN CHANCE: The Olympic Torch, designed to include 8,000 holes to represent each torchbearer, was carried by Penny Mitchell (right)

PICTURES: KATIE MITCHELL

ALL SMILES: Penny Mitchell competes for Northants Trampoline Gymnastics Academy (right), and poses with the Olympic Torch (above)

Championships in Russia. And following her brush with the games this time round, she is targeting a place on the team in Rio in 2016. “I got my first GB callup just before I found out about the torch, so from GB cap to Olympic torch – it gives you extra motivation and drive, it’s really exciting,” said Mitchell “Long term, I’m looking towards 2016 and 2020. Short term, I’m just looking at the next stepping stones, and getting more GB caps.” The

Northampton University student was overwhelmed with emotion when she stepped off the torch-bearers bus in Corby, and waited for her moment in the spotlight. “I was really nervous – as soon as they opened the doors (of the bus) I had no idea what to do. “People were coming in for pictures, it’s just crazy. And then you just wait for the flame and wait for

your moment. “The run went really quickly. People kept telling me to slow down but the occasion carries you.” Mitchell believes the torch tour has given everyone a chance to embrace the Games before they finally start on July 27th, and has proved that they are not just exclusive to the sporting elite. “Just to let people who have aspirations or anything to do with sport... just to let them be a small part in such a big occasion is amazing,” she said. “That small part means a lot to everyone who was running, me included. “It is easy to think the Olympic games is just for people that do the sport, but actually it is for everybody, everybody can get involved. “There were so many people on the streets getting involved, and it was nice to see them have something to do with is as well. It is for everybody.”

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Halsey hoping to help class of London 2012

Former Olympian Jaime making the athletes voice heard as they prepare for a home Games

SYDNEY 2000 Olympian Jaime Halsey may have retired from competitive sport, but she is helping ensure that the stars of the future have everything they need to succeed. The 32 year-old, who retired from trampolining in 2009, sits on the British Olympic Association (BOA) Athletes Commission, which aims to give athletes a voice on key issues. Halsey and 13 other Olympians from the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games meet every two months to discuss key issues affecting athletes in the long and short term, a role that alongside her fledgling career as a coach, Halsey is relishing. “We meet every two to three months, and discuss all the topics across the Olympic agenda,” she explained. “The majority has been about 2012, but it could be about anything from talking about kit, to the Olympic Village – our views are designed to be all from an athletes perspective, to make it better for the athletes. “One of the guys who sits on it also sits on the International Olympic Committee as well, so he

comes back to us about things that have come up from that. “If ever the British Olympic Association want an athletes view, they bring it to us and we discuss it.” Halsey was inspired by her experiences of the Olympic Games - both positive and negative - to take up the role with the BOA. She became Great Britain’s first Olympic trampolinist when the sport made it’s debut at the games in 2000, but missed out on a place on the 2008 team despite earning Team GB a ticket to Beijing, reasons she believes help make her the ideal candidate to help Olympians of the future. “A lot of people who retire form gymnastics tend to not stay involved, and I wanted to give something back, some of my knowledge,” she said. “Even though I might not have a medal at an Olympic games, like a few of the

DOING HER BIT: Jaime Halsey, who is helping Olympic athletes of the future, poses with the Olympic Torch (right), and hands the flame over to another torch bearer (above)

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guys who sit on the board have, my view is still valid. I just wanted to put myself forward to help give a variety of different sports perspectives. “We were so naïve when trampolining first came to be an Olympic sport, and what we have learned from just three Olympic cycles has been incredible. “I feel like I’ve got so much knowledge. Firstly because I’ve been to the Olympics - it was a rough ride to get there but I learned so much – and secondly achieving another place for the country (in 2008) but going through the trial process and not getting the place, I feel like I’ve got both sides of the coin, which gains me a lot of perspective.”

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London Calling Finally, the waiting is over. The Olympic Games have arrived in London, taking place in a kingdom of sporting facilities that are the envy of the rest of the planet. We take you on an access all areas tour around the Olympic Park... Words: Steve Walsh Pictures: London2012.com

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n July 6th 2005 at 12:49pm British time, when it was announced by International Olympic Committee chairman Jacques Rogge that London would have the honour of hosting the Olympic Games in 2012, the Olympic Park in Stratford was just another piece of waste land, forgotten about across the capital and Great Britain. Seven years and 2,565 days later, on that same piece of wasteland, stands the proud creation of a nation ready to deliver ‘the greatest show on earth’ as the London Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOGOG) describes it. That same piece of wasteland is now the focus of billions of people across the World ready to watch the purest of sporting spehctacles. So what has replaced the derelict buildings, the polluted canals and disused green space? Nine new venues, housing 23,000 athletes and officials and hundreds of thousands of spectators for a 17-day sporting bonanza, all with the brief of delivering a legacy, both sporting and non-sporting, to Britain that will be felt for generations to come. And in a new era of not only recessive economies but also awareness of climate change, London set itself the

BUILDING A DREAM: Stratford, London has moved from derelict waste-land to Olympic dream-land across five years

“This is the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we ever dreamed of in British sport.” Sebastian Coe challenge of being the first ever ‘green’ Games. A whopping 98 per cent of construction waste was reused or recycled and diverted away from landfill sites, while nearly two million tonnes of contaminated soil formed the UK’s largest ever soil-washing operation in order to make it suitable for use in the Olympic Park.

The Olympic Stadium roof was made out of unwanted gas pipes, and recycled granite from King George V docks was used for the Stadium’s river banks. And the Olympic Park and Parklands make-up the largest new urban park in the UK for over a century Following the close of

the Paralympics on September 9th, the Olympic Village will create 2,818 new homes for Londoners, which will include a four-storey Polyclinic providing state-of-the-art healthcare and community facilities and Cobham Academy education campus, offering 1,800 places for students aged 3-19. The Stadium’s future is

Timeline to the Games May 18th, 2004 The International Olympic Committee officially shortlist London as a candidate city for the 2012 Olympics, along with Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris. July 6th, 2005 The London 2012 delegation travel

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to Singapore to make its final presentation to the IOC. Voting goes down to London and Paris, with London winning the bid by 54 votes to 50. December 14th, 2006 Demolition work starts on the Olympic site with the destruction of a disused sports hall on Eton Manor.

June 4th, 2007 The London 2012 logo is unveiled to a mainly negative response. May 22nd, 2008 Construction begins on the Olympic Stadium, led by British firm Sir Robert McAlpine, three months ahead of schedule.

still undecided, but the running track will be retained so as to provide a platform to host future events (London has already won the rights to host the 2017 Athletics World Championships), while the Aquatics Centre and Velodrome will have their capacities scaled down but will remain as outlets for community and high-performance sport. We take a look at the venues that will deliver sporting history over the next month, and the places where Britain’s sporting legacy will be felt for generations to come.

The Olympic Stadium The Olympic stadium has been a truly British creation. The design and construction was led by UK civil engineering firm Sir Robert McAlpine, and was constructed with the help of 240 UK businesses. The turf that adorns the field of play was grown in Scunthorpe before being transported to London and laid in March 2011, while the 80,000 black and white spectator seats were designed in the UK and manufactured in Luton. On top of that, the London Olympic Stadium achieved the rare feat of coming in on time and under budget. Over 5,000 workers ensured it took just three years to build from scratch once the site had been cleared, with plenty of man hours needed to fit the 338 kilometers of power cables, 11km of pipes, 140,000 concrete blocks and 15,000 square meters of plasterboard.

CENTRE STAGE: The Olympic Stadium looks glorious both in the sunshine and lit up a night

“The World will witness the most spectacular celebration of sporting achievement” Boris Johnson

Stadium Facts & Figures - The Olympic Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the Athletics track and field events - The total stadium island site covers an area of 40 acres, surrounded by water on three sides - 33 buildings were demolished on the Olympic site to make way for the stadium, with over 800,000 tonnes of soil taken away before construction could begin - enough to fill the

July 17th, 2008 Construction begins on the aquatics centre, two months ahead of schedule, with Major of London Boris Johnson declaring: “We will see a spectacular Olympic Park rise from the ground, culminating in 2012 when the World will witness a spectacular celebration of sporting achievement.”

August 2008 Britain celebrates four years to go to the London Games in style, with Team GB having their most successful Olympics in decades, picking up 47 medals at the Beijing Games. Boris Johnson outdoes himself at the hand-over ceremony, declaring: “Wiff-waff is coming home.”

Royal Albert Hall nine times over - 10,000 tonnes of steel make the London stadium the lightest Olympic stadium to date - The stadium stands 60 meters high with a perimeter of 860 meters - To ensure that the sporting action meets HD TV standards, the Stadium is lit by 532 individual floodlights, all housed in 14 towers reaching up to 70 meters above the field of play

October 31st, 2009 London celebrates 1000 days to go to the Games. February 22nd, 2011 The Velodrome becomes the first Olympic venue to be completed. Four-time Olympic Champion Chris Hoy says he “can’t wait,” for the Games. Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

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CHANGING FACES: The Aquatics Centre as it will look during the Games (top and bottom right) while the top left picture shows how it will be finished post-Olympics The Aquatics Centre

measures 160m long and 90m wide and weighs over 3000 tonnes - The Zaha Hadid designed Aquatics Centre will - Over 850,000 ceramic tiles were required to line have a capacity of 17,500 during the Games, hosting the pool, poolside and changing rooms swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and - The three pools - The 50 meter competition pool, the swimming element of the Modern Pentathlon, 50m training pool and the diving pool – hold a total before it is reduced to a capacity of 2,500 after the of 10 million litres of water Paralympics - The venue contains 9,000 tonnes of steel and the - The Aquatics centre’s iconic sweeping roof hardwood ceiling is made up of 37,000 strips

The Velodrome

READY TO ROCK: The Velodrome from above (top), inside (left) and the BMX track outside (right)

- The Velodrome was the first Olympic Park venue to be completed, ready in February 2011 - The 6,000 seat Velodrome will host Olympic and Paralympic indoor track cycling events - The Legacy facilities include the outdoor BMX Track, one-mile long road cycle circuit, 6km of off-road mountain bike tracks and storage for over 300 bikes. It will also be equipped with a 360 degree concourse level offering views over the Olympic Park and London skyline - The 250 metre track was laid by a team of 26 specialist carpenters, with 56km of timber laid to form the track surface, fixed in place with more than 300,000 nails

Timeline to the Games March 29th, 2011 Construction is completed on the Olympic Stadium as the last turf is laid. Chairman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and Olympian Franky Fredericks says: “Athletes that have spent a lifetime training for their Olympic dream deserve to be able to achieve it in the best pos-

sible conditions. I believe that those competing here in 2012 will not be disappointed.” April 27th, 2011 The first phase of ticket applications for the Games end with 1.8 million people applying for over 20 million tickets. Thousands of people

are left disappointed and ticketless. July 27th, 2011 The Aquatics Centre is completed, the last of the six main Olympic Park venues to finish construction. British diver Tom Daley celebrates a year to go with the pool’s first dive. Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

The Basketball Arena - The Basketball Arena is one of the largest temporary venues ever used for an Olympic Games, and will be dismantled after the Games to be reused elsewhere - During the Games the 35 meter high Arena will have a 12,000-seat capacity inside it’s 1,000 tonne steel frame

DON’T LOOK DOWN: The 35 meter-high Basketball Arena is one of the largest temporary venues ever used for an Olympic Games

The Copper Box - The Handball Arena, or Copper Box as it is known, will complete the rare feat of being scaled up after the Games, with it’s 6,500 capacity having another 1,000 added to it as it becomes a multi-use venue for community use, athletic training and events - During the Games it will host the Olympic Handball competition, the Fencing discipline of Modern Pentathlon, and Goalball during the Paralympic Games - The venue is designed with distinct copper-cladding and 88 rooftop sun-pipes to allow the field of play to be naturally lit - A retractable lower seating tier allows a variety of activities to take place on the field of play COPPER LOOK: The Copper Box makes impressive viewing Other 2012 Venues

Olympic Park Venues The Water Polo Arena: Next to the Olympic Stadium and alongside the Aquatics Centre, the temporary Water Polo Arena will be taken down after the Games. The Hockey Centre: Another tem-

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porary venue in the Olympic Park, the Hockey Centre will have two separate pitches, one with spectator seating. The facility will also be used for Paralympic 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football. Eton Manor: A new permanent sporting hub has been created on

the site of the old disused sports club. It will host Wheelchair Tennis as well as providing aquatic training facilities with three 50 meter pools. After the Games it will be transformed into a unique mix of sporting facilities for local and regional communities.

The Olympic Village - During the Games, the Olympic Village will house around 17,000 athletes and officials, along with shops, restaurants, medical, media and leisure facilities - The Village will also include a ‘Village Plaza’ where athletes can meet with friends and family - Athletes will have easy access to the travel and leisure facilities of the adjacent Stratford City complex, and the High Speed Javelin shuttle service will link the Village to central London in just seven minutes - After the Games, the Athletes’ Village will be transformed into 2,800 new homes, including 1,379 affordable homes - Post 2012 the Village will house the new Cobham Academy (top picture) – a worldclass new education campus with 1,800 places for students aged 3-19

VILLAGE LIFE: The new Cobham Academy (top) and affordable housing (bottom pictures) will adorn the Athletes village following the Paralympics

The Olympic Park & Parklands

GREEN GAMES: The Olympic Park & Parklands

- The Olympic Park is 2.5 square kilometres (246 hectares) in size, the equivalent size to Hyde Park, including 8.35km of waterways in and around the Park - 4,000 new trees, 30 new bridges and five new permanent venues were all planted and built by the 40,000 people who worked on the Park and Village - Ten rail lines will serve the Olympic Park - Over 4,000 trees, 74,000 plants, 60,000 bulbs and 240,000 wetland plants have been planted in the parklands as part of the largest planting project ever undertaken in the UK - The Parklands contain 45 hectares of wildlife habitats – including reedbeds, grasslands, ponds, woodlands, 525 bird boxes and 150 bat boxes

Other 2012 Venues London Venues The Excel Arena: Hosting Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Boccia, Paralympic Table Tennis, Paralympic Judo, Paralympic Powerlifting, Volleyball (Sitting) and Wheelchair Fencing

North Greenwich Arena: The O2 Arena will see Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline, Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball Earls Court: Volleyball Greenwich Park: Will host all Equestrian events Hyde Park: Triathlon, Marathon Swimming

Lords: Archery Wembley Arena: Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics Wimbledon: Tennis Horse Guards Parade: Beach Volleyball The Royal Artillery Barracks: Will host Shooting, Paralympic Shooting and Paralympic Archery Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

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Life&Style

Beauty + Trend Setter + Grooming + Staying In + Going Out + What’s On

Don’t let the weather rain on your parade

We may have hardly had any sun this summer, but brighten things up on the fashion front.... With Sally Osbourne

Unfortunately, due to the typical English weather, the sun hasn’t quite made an appearance this year! But don’t let that stop you from taking things bright and bold when it comes to your colours and outfits. This summer is all about brightly coloured tops, shorts, jeans and dresses, all en vogue and available at Ossie’s Clothing Store, Northampton. These can be teamed with a denim jacket, cardigan or blazer to weatherproof your outfit. Ossie’s also have some gorgeous printed macs from brand ‘Ness’ that are perfect over any outfit. For the gents it’s all about coloured chinos, very on trend and can be worn with a printed blazer from ‘Peter van Holland’ for a smarter alternative. For those of you lucky enough to be going away soon, the theme continues to your essential holiday wear - bright and bold, with floral print also very in for the girls. Whatever you’re wearing, have a great summer!

Sally Osbourne runs Ossie’s Clothing Store, Wellingborough Road, Northampton. www.ossieclothingstore.co.uk

In this month’s Life&Style Trend Setter

Smelling smooth

Head start

Our spread of the best men’s & women’s clothes, accessories and gadgets kicks off with the best picks from the last month page 50

We take a look at the best selling fragrances on the men’s market in our monthly Grooming page page 53

Fly through July and August at a glance with our brilliant Going Out and Calendar guides page 58 Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

Life & Style - Trend Setter

REMEMBER THE DOG Scottie Dog chalkboard, £25, www.lauraashley.com

BRIT ABROAD Union Jack Beach Hut t-shirt, £20, www.fatface.com

URBAN CHIC Dune Urban Sports Laidley high-tops, £75, www.dune.co.uk

BEAUTY BENEFITS Benefit small Beauty Bag, £22.50, John Lewis

BEACH BODY Ecote Beach Day Playsuit, £38 www.urbanoutfitters.com

RADIO STAR PURE Evoke DAB Radio, Orla Kiely Abacus edition, £129.95, John Lewis

TOUCH CONTROL Revlon touch control mirror, £39.99, Boots

LIP TEASE Topshop Tease lipstick, £8, Topshop

TEA TIME Kusmi green tea with jasmine, £12, John Lewis

BUMS ON DECK Strawberry deck chair, £30, Next

STYLE RIDER Ride in style on the work commute, or just for pleasure with this Raleigh Red or Dead bike, £349.00, Raleigh

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Life & Style - Trend Setter

EYE SPY Nikon Sport binoculars, Olympic 2012 edition, £239.95, NIkon

SCRUB UP Kent shaving brush, £35 from John Lewis

PUSH IT Premium push up grips, £30 at John Lewis

COOL WARMTH Nike Gilet, £14, House of Fraser

WASH & GO Harris tweed washbag, £45 www.anenglishhand.co.uk

TICK-TOCK Waterproof gold plated watch with leather strap, £319, Rotary

BRIGHT & BOLD Summer bright beads, £10 at Next

ACE! Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 90 Blx tennis racket www.wilson.com

LIGHTS, NO CAMERA Tripod floor lamp, £250, House Of Fraser

SUMMER SUN Men’s summer straw hat, £ 14 Next

A STYLISH VOYAGE Voyage Flock duffle & medium holdall £99/59, Debenhams

POCKET POWER Philips PicoPix pocket projector, £279.99, PC World

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Life & Style - Beauty

With Aimee Garner Aimee is a freelance hair and make-up artist based in and around Northamptonshire, who is known for creating exceptional looks which have earned her a leading reputation in the media industry. Contact Aimee at: www.aimeegarnermua.co.uk & sales@aimeegarnermua.co.uk

The secret to perfect summer skin

“This month is all about how to achieve the perfect summer skin - a step by step guide to the perfect summer make-up base and some essential summer products which you simply cannot live without!”

SUMMER SHINE: Our model shows off Aimee Garner’s tips for the perfect summer skin in three simple steps To start: Prepare the

skin using Clarins Daily Energizer Wake-Up Booster Cleanser and moisturise using Daily Energizer Cream-Gel. Using Illamasqua Satin Primer use a foundation brush to apply a light layer over skin, teaming with Illamasqua light liquid foundation in the correct colour to match your skin.

TOP TIP: For a quick change to evening, add a flick of eyeliner and some contouring around the eye and hey-presto you’re set to go! Step two: Using No 7 Skin Illuminator in ‘peach’ -

apply this to the top of the cheek bones, just under the eyebrows (at the outer edge) in the corner of the eyes and down the nose. This allows light to bounce off these areas making them look higher and smoother, creating a more youthful look. Add a brown based bronzer such as Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess underneath the cheekbones and apply a dusky pink blusher, such as Benefit CORALista blush, to the apples of the cheeks.

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To complete: Using

an eyebrow powder, darken and even out the eyebrows. Using a matte eye shadow the same colour as your skin tone, apply over the whole of the eyelid. Lengthen lashes with an eyelash curler and apply 2-3 coats of mascara. Following this you should be left with a fresh and dewy look, great for the daytime.

Life & Style - Grooming

Classic scents to leave you feeling smooth

DETAILS 1. PACO RABANNE - 1 Million The best selling mens product on the market is billed as an expression of every man’s fantasies that will make you feel confident and irresistible with it’s woody, oriental smell. 2. CALVIN KLEIN - CK One Shock Launched last year, this twist on a Calvin Klein classic boasts an oriental scent that will give you an energetic feel. Described by CK

as “sparkling, energetic and oriental with smooth spice and a masculine tobacco musk.” 3. JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Le Male Still one of the best selling male fragrances around despite having launched 17 years ago in 1995, Le Male promises a scent that “frees men from convention with a classic fragrance, both powerful and sensual.” 4. DIESEL - Only The

Brave Diesel tell us this man scent exudes victory, strength and conviction in what is “More than a name. A manifesto. What it takes to be a man.” Three years old and still going strong in the sales charts, Only The Brave has a strong feel and is similar to Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million in it’s oriental roots. 5. HUGO - Just Different Just Different brings together an innovative blend of notes to pro-

duce a surprising new scent that leaves you invigorated and curious. 6. GUCCI - Guilty “Young, fearless, with impeccable taste, the wearer of Gucci Guilty Pour Homme is a hero for our age - exuding charisma and more than a little dangerous. “His life may be under his control, but he refuses to exert any restraint over his passions.” Or so the press release tells us. An aromatic fragrance with a magnetic feel. Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

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NEXT MONTH

EXCLUSIVE REPORT

Inside the Cobblers topsecret training camp ISSUE GOES LIVE 13/8/12

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Life & Style - Staying In

Olympic games NOWADAYS you don’t even have to get off the sofa to emulate your favourite Olympic stars, which is why we’ve conveniently decided to showcase the two most popular Olympic themed games. The official effort, un-surprisingly titled: London 2012 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games, has some mightily impressive graphics to hook you in, as shown by the screen-shot below on the left. Those 90’s legends Mario & Sonic have got in on the act too (bottom right) however, with a Nintendo Wii-exclusive version, which should allow you to lark about a bit more while playing with friends.

BOOK POET Simon Armitage documents his extraordinary tale of walking the Penine Way, a challenging 256-miles route, without a penny in his pocket. Contemplative, moving and droll, it is a unique narrative from one of the countries most loved writers.

Both out now

Out now

DVD

BOOK From the acclaimed author of Ten Stories About Smoking, Stuart Evers, comes an electrifying novel about the power of dreams to destroy, of memory to distort – and of what it means to be home. On the run since the age of 18, Mark Wilkinson is propelled back to his real name and his real past.

Out now

VETERAN police officer Dave Brown is dedicated to doing ‘the people’s dirty work’ and asserting his own code of justice, but when he gets caught on tape beating a suspect, he finds himself in a downward spiral With an all star cast including Woody Harrelson Sigourney Weaver, and Steve Buscemi.

Out now

BOXSET To mark the 21st anniversary of their debut album Leisure, 90’s indie boys Blur present two-disc special edition boxes of all seven of their studio albums, with the first five also re-mastered. A must for anyone who remembers Brit-Pop, and a must for anyone who was there but can’t, each album comes with an entire disc of bonus material that includes a wealth of Blur extras, exclusive artwork postcards and an expanded booklet with unseen photos and liner notes, based on a brand new interview with the band. Includes the albums Leisure, Modern Life Is Rubbish, Parklife, The Great Escape, Blur, 13 and Thinktank.

Released July 30th

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Life & Style - Going Out

Silverstone serves up modern day classic Northamptonshire circuit hosts World’s biggest motoring festival once more

THE WORLD’S biggest classic motoring festival comes to Silverstone for a celebration of vintage motoring across the weekend of July 20th-22nd. More than 1000 historic racing cars spanning the ages will compete over three days of spectacular on-track action at the home of the British Grand Prix. On top of the amazing racing, in excess of 100 car clubs will be displaying 7000+ classic cars in the infield, while the new AA World

attraction will offer families of all ages an interactive motoring experience to remember. The festival will also feature air shows, trade stalls, live demos and free fun fair; and there’s the chance to go behind the scenes at the famous circuit with free paddock access as well as trackside grandstand seating. There will also be live classic rock and pop music from the likes of Adam Ant plus Mike and the

Mechanics, making the Silverstone Classic one of this summer’s top festivals. Adult ticket prices start from £30 which includes access to grandstands, live music as well as all classic car displays and paddocks. One not to be missed for any racing fan, book now to avoid disappointment.

Tickets from £30 www.silverstoneclassic.com/ 0871 231 0849

Drum & Bass gathering THE biggest and most ground breaking Drum and Bass talent line-up for 12 hours of thumping D&B beats at Northampton Roadmender on July 28th. Presented by Random Concept, Summer Gathering 2011 was a rip-roaring success that begs to be repeated.

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Last time out, thousands of people registered their interest and helped the event sell out weeks in advance. Think five stages (including the outdoor stage), over 80 artists and a lot of upcoming talent.

Tickets from £24 www.theroadmender.com

Life & Style - Going Out RESTAURANT REVIEW: Brabenec’s, Northampton THERE’S nothing quite like the buzz of a full restaurant. It gives you confidence that the place you are eating is trusted and recommended by others, and creates a fun vibrancy over dinner that you can’t get when it’s only you and the owner around. So it was a delight to see that Brabenec’s was buzzing when we visited on Saturday June 30th, and it didn’t disappoint on the food front. What strikes you about Brabenec’s is that it’s recipe for success is relatively simple in principle: Cook British favourites, cook them well and cook them from fresh. We had the Beef Wellington main, such a popular dish that it has survived the sixweekly menu change for five years, and were delighted with what we received - especially the accompanying saute potatoes and vegetables, brought for the table and on an unlimited supply (not that we needed anymore). A Raspberry and Amaretto Cheesecake rounded off a fabulous food experience (we left the starter to allow room for desert), and with a 10% discount card accompanying the bill, we’re sure it won’t be long before we’re back.

www.brabenecs.co.uk

Our reviewers pay in full for their meals

Flying high at Sywell Airshow THE Sywell Airshow returns for 2012 on Sunday August 19th, with several favourites from previous shows returning along with some new faces, and some old friends. The show will once again be supporting the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, for which they raised a staggering £31,744 last time out in 2010.

CINEMA The Dark Knight Rises EIGHT years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham’s finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy. With an all-star cast consisting of Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Morgan Freeman, we don’t expect to be disappointed by the latest in the franchise.

In cinemas from Friday July 20th

Gates open at 10am with flying displays starting at 2pm. In addition to the aerial displays there will be aircraft on static display along with military and vintage vehicles, numerous trade stands, flight simulator, fairground rides and the Sywell Aviation Museum.

Child tickets from £4, Adults £15, Family Ticket £35 www.sywellairshow.co.uk

LADIES NIGHT EVER wish the guys would leave you alone so you can enjoy a good night out with just the girls? It’s Ladies Night at Whittlebury Hotel & Spa on July 27th, so make sure you and your girls get along for the VIP treatment. Join in for drinks on arrival, threecourse set dinner and a full evening of entertainment - and stay over to make full use of the spa & leisure facilities. Proceedings start at 7:30pm and go on until 12:30am.

Tickets from £49 www.whittleburyhall.co.uk Twitter.com/TRENDHFL

July/August Monday 16

24 PLAY

An award-winning adaptation of ‘The Railway Children’ comes to Irchester Country Park, suitable for all the family. Tickets £12/£8 www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk

Wednesday 18

25 COMEDY

Winner of ITV’s “Show me the Funny” 2011 and star of Sport Relief’s Let’s Dance 2012 appears at Kettering Arts Centre. Tickets £8 willsbecky @googlemail.com

Issue two of TRENDHFL is LIVE! www.TRENDHFL.co.uk

Tuesday

14 FOOTBALL

Their League Two campaign may not get underway until Saturday 18th, but catch the Cobblers in cup action against Cardiff City at Sixfields. www.ntfc.co.uk

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Thursday 19 ANTIQUES

The BBC’s Antiques Roadshow makes an appearance at Stowe House. www.Stowe.co.uk

09 CRICKET

Northants welcome Yorkshire to the County Ground in the CB40 League. www.NorthantsCricket. co.uk

Want us to publicise your event? Email Highlights details to Editor@TrendHFL.co.uk! July 20th-21st THEATRE

Friday

20-22

Saturday

Sunday

MOTORING

SPORT

www. BugJam.co.uk

The London Olympic Games finally get underway with what is sure to be a dazzling opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. www.London2012.com

27-29

FAMILY

The fouth Singing Sticks Family Friendly Didgeridoo Music even takes place at Overstone Scout Camp. Think international Didgeridoo artists, hand-drumming workshops and a laid-back atmosphere. www. SingingSticks.co.uk

10 MUSIC

www.BlackBeautyLive. com

July 21st

The original and best VW festival is back for another year at Santa Pod as Bug Jam 26 comes to town. Featuring drag racing, Run What Ya Brung, four music arenas, show & shine, comedy, traders, stunt displays, jet cars, autojumble, funfair and much, much more!

27 OLYMPICS

The classic novel ‘Black Beauty’ is brought to life at Althorp House in a stylish and contemporary open-air theatre production.

A one-day music festival arrives at the Market Square in Northampton, with 10 hours of jazz and folk music plus local designers selling various goods.

Northamptonshire Trampoline Gymnastics Academy host an Olympic Open Day between 1-5pm. Meet Olympic torch bearers, members of Air Gravity display team and have your photo taken with the Olympic Torch www.NTGA.co.uk

July 28th-29th MOTORSPORT Rockingham hosts Thundersport!

www.Rockingham.co.uk

August 17th MUSIC

10 MUSIC

Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa hosts Grease Tribute Night. Get along in fancy

dress and be part of the show!

www.whittleburyhall.co.uk

11 MUSIC

Althorp Park plays host to the Battle of the Proms as the UK’s premier classical picnic comes to the county, along with Spitfire and fireworks. www.althorpe.com

17-19

BALLOON FESTIVAL

Balloons galore will grace Billing Aquadrome once again at the Northampton Balloon Festival. Flying at 6am and 6pm each day across the three day spectacle, there’s also the traditional ‘glow’ on Friday and Saturday evening at 9pm.

www.thenorthamptonballoonfestival.co.uk

It’s ABBA Tribute Night at Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa. Let your hair down and dance the evening away! www.whittleburyhall. co.uk

August 18th FOOTBALL

The Cobblers kick-off their League Two campaign away at Rochdale in nPower League Two. www.ntfc.co.uk

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