Sport

New Blackmore Vale, July 23, 2021 Sport Couch to 5k off to a flying start in North Dorset

Running club Dorset Doddlers has begun its first Couch to 5K programme and the response has been overwhelming, says run leader Paul Russell. “We have had an amazing start to the course with people signing up from all over North Dorset: Blandford, Shaftesbury, Sturminster and many from the villages. “We have also had interest from all age ranges. “The youngest on the course is 17, and we also have a young lady of 67.” C25K sees runners take on a proven 10-week course for all abilities but particularly suited to beginners. At the end, runners get free entry into the Stur 5k, which is being held on August 8, the same day as the popular Stur Half marathon. “Right from the very start the group has bonded and the support for one another has been evident, with members meeting up during the week to get their extra runs completed,” added Paul. “This is the first time we have run a C25K, and it looks like it has been a great decision. “This is a chance for us to give something back to the community. “Joining a running club is extremely daunting, but by starting with the C25K you get all the benefits of running such as improved physical and mental health as well as meeting likeminded people and making friends.” The course is free and no pressure is applied to join the main running club.

Sherborne keep it tight

Dorset Cricket League Premier League July 17

Sherborne 134/6 Martinstown 1 33 Sherborne (19pts) bt Martinstown (5) by four wickets

The visitors chose to bat but never got away from a tight Sherborne bowling attack, losing wickets at regular intervals. The biggest partnership was only 41 and the wickets were shared, with two each from Shane Pulling, Andy Nurton and Josh Lawrence. Roger Parfitt was the pick with 324. In reply, Sherborne knocked off the runs in 31 overs, leading run scorer Lawrence leaving the glory to Craig Jones (68) and Mark Lock (28), who put on 75 runs for the second wicket. Sherborne move ahead of Martinstown into third place in the table.

July 10 Cancelled: Bere Regis v Sherborne – 5pts each

PEDDLE POWER: Stuart Priscott is in the saddle Your chance to donate and help bring cricket to children

The Dorset Cricket Board is appealing for cricket fans to support Stuart Priscott, who has cystic fibrosis and is currently cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End. Stuart is operations manager for Chance to Shine, a charity which aims to bring cricket to children in state schools and engage with the game and physical activity. Keith Brewer, the board’s director of cricket development, said: “In Dorset we have benefitted from the charity, enabling us to work in nearly all state primary schools and a large proportion of secondary schools per year.” By Monday, Stuart had raised 77% of his £100,000 target to benefit Chance to Shine and Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Donate at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ StuartPriscott

Division One July 17

Weymouth 153

Stalbridge 164/5

Stalbridge (10pts) bt Weymouth (0) by 11 runs

Stalbridge got back to winning ways in a lowscoring match against Weymouth in what was a 2nd v 3rd table clash. Stalbridge were put into bat and scored 164 off 40 overs, with Chris Ware top scoring (64). Weymouth took the match the full distance but were finished off in the last over 12 runs short of their target. Stalbridge remain second, 37 points behind leaders Puddletown.

Compton House 233 Beaminster 261-5 Beaminster (20pts) bt Compton (7) by 28 runs

Compton failed to capitalise on last week’s triumph over Stalbridge, losing a tight high-scoring game to basement rivals Beaminster –their first win of the season.

Witchampton 84-1 Marnhull 83 Witchampton (20pts) bt Marnhull (1) by nine wickets Marnhull were made to rue their decision to bat first, being skittled in 26 overs. Will Primrose top scored with 14 and only two other players made double figures. Marc Hayter took 4-18. The home team lost just one wicket in response, a runout, with Marnhull taking the opportunity to give eight bowlers a spin.

July 10

Stalbridge 70 Compton House 71-2 Compton (19pts) bt Stalbridge (1) by eight wickets

Division One July 10

Stalbridge 70 Compton House 71-2 Compton (19pts) bt Stalbridge (1) by eight wickets

Fantastic bowling saw Compton House thrash highflying Stalbridge in one of the upsets of the season. Put into bat, Pat Reynolds dismissed Josh York and George Coleman with 20 on the board. Prolific Stuart Sweatman was next out for 15, bowled by Joe Watts. James Lewis was the only other batsman to make double figures as Stalbridge, second in the table, lost their last six wickets for eight runs. Reynolds (2-11), Watts (217) and Chris Haynes (2-17) did the damage before Piers Griffith Jones mopped up the last three wickets in eight balls. Compton, second bottom of the table, knocked off the runs easily, with Michael Harper 41 not out.

Division Two July 17

Shillingstone 190-7 Blandford 185-9 Shillingstone (19pts) by Blandford (11) by five runs

Title challengers Blandford lost their second in a row as a spirited Shillingstone took the honours. Hugo Hartley hit 81 as a series of good partnerships resulted in a decent target for Blandford to chase. But while there were four scores around the 30-mark, excellent bowling pegged the visitors back. Lucie Spooner boosted her growing reputation with figures of 8-1-22-3 including three key early wickets. And in a tense finish, Thomas Miles also pocketed three wickets to finish with 3-18 and choke Blandford’s response at the death.

TAKE THAT: The matches start at 9am on Saturday at North Dorset RFC Scrum down for 150 games of rugby at North Dorset 7s

The North Dorset 7s, one of the largest community-run one day rugby tournaments in the Southwest, resumes tomorrow after a two-year gap. Now in its eighth year, the tournament is set to be the biggest yet on and off the field, with more than 150 matches across seven pitches and 64 teams taking part. Staged at the North Dorset RFC ground near Gillingham, both elite and social teams take part in men’s and women’s games, with a veterans’ tournament for those aged 35+. Off the pitch, the Dorsetbased Gritchie Brewing Company is the main partner, while Gloucester’s Italian rugby star Jake Polledri will be serving his own Just Pressed cider. There is a food court, a summer barbeque and hog roast while the Lions test match against South Africa (5pm) will be broadcast on a giant screen, with live music until late – DJ Rossko, late of Legends Nightclub in Gillingham is back, along with soul singer Samuel Jack. The event charity is Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), one close to North Dorset RFC’s heart after losing club captain Max Biles in 2009, aged 29. To date, North Dorset 7s has raised more than £13,000 for CRY. n Tickets available from nd7s.co.uk, booking in advance recommended. Tickets £8.50; £10 on the gate. Very few camping tickets remain.

Shaftesbury 163-9 Corfe Mullen 119 Shaftesbury bt Corfe Mullen by 44 runs

Shaftesbury beat their nearest rivals but remain rooted to the bottom of the table. Openers Lawrence Yeo and Kris Martin both scored 28 apiece, and Sam Harris scored a quickfire 35 to give Shaftesbury a decent platform before Marc Doble dismantled Corfe with 4-13, backed up by Yeo (3-25) and Chris Pym (2-31). July 10

Blandford 129 Poole 2nds 155-4 Poole (19ts) bt Blandford (5) by 26 runs

In a rain-affected match, Poole batted with Aryan Mehta top-scoring (67no). Blandford were set a target of 169 off 36 and started well, Jamie Mitchell (27) and Luke Carter putting on a 56run partnership. But the team slumped to 937 and subsided after a mini-revival meaning Poole 2nds leapfrog Blandford to lead the table by seven points. Cancelled: Shillingstone v Shaftesbury – 5pts each

WINCANTON GOLF CLUB RESULTS

Monthly Stableford July 1: John Burns 2: Trevor Mills

Seniors’ Monthly Stableford 1: Chris Dibben 42 2: Kevin George 35 3: Brian White 34

Jigger Anniversary 1: Richard Czemerda 40

Ron Smith Trophy 1 Brian White nett 64 2 Harry Eden 66 3 John Reed 67

Monthly medal 1 Jim Phillips nett 63 2 Rab Clyde 71 3 Brian White 72

New Blackmore Vale, July 23, 2021 Sport Superbiker Brad aims his sights at Brands Hatch

Stalbridge rider Brad Jones continued his learning curve in the second round of the British Superbikes Championship, held at the 1.2-mile technical circuit at Knockhill, Scotland. Jones, in the very early stages of his Superbike career, was eager to get going after a positive debut in the premier class. “I am learning a new bike and way of riding after many seasons on a 600cc bike. “My goal for the weekend in Scotland was to finish all three races and make progress from start to finish,” he said. Jones worked with his iForce Lloyd & Jones BMW team to make bike adjustments that would improve his lap times and positions – which he did. His fastest lap time went from 49.1 seconds to 48.4, and he improved his overall race time by five seconds. Brad recorded two 18th places and a 19th out of a grid of 28. “Overall, the second round was productive. “We made big improvements over the weekend and I feel myself and the team have made a step in terms of lap time and race pace,” said Brad. “My next goal is to get Top 15 finishes, which will put me in a points’ scoring position. “From there we will aim to keep moving up the results sheet. “Now I really look forward to Brands Hatch next weekend,” he added.

Rookie Simon takes a step up to national class racing

AROUND THE BEND: Simon Bastable takes the corner at Donington Picture: Kerry Rawson

Wincanton rider Simon Bastable got his Ducati TriOptions Cup challenge underway this month, with the first round held during a World Superbike event at Donington Park in Leicestershire. A rookie in the national class, this was Simon’s first time to test himself in a full grid of riders –and in front of a World Superbike crowd. Free practice and qualifying went well and he qualified 26th of 41 riders with some long-established series regulars behind. In the first race proper, Simon was 25th until two laps out when he caught Oliver Savage to go 24th, in the process setting his fastest lap of the race. The starting grid for Race 2 is determined by the fastest lap times, and that lap put him 22nd on the grid. But a big wheelie at lights out resulted in Simon having to close the throttle to bring the front end down and saw him drop to 29th by the first turn. The rest of the race went well and seven overtakes saw him battle back to 22nd – where he had started. “We were really pleased with our race performance. “It felt like we had the pace for a Top 20 finish – if we had made a better initial getaway,” he said. “Overall, it was a really positive start to the season in what was my Ducati Cup debut. “Lots of lessons learnt and some areas identified where we can improve for the next round back supporting the British Superbikes at Brands Hatch next weekend. “On a personal note, getting out on the track at one of the world’s iconic race circuits, at a World Championship level event and racing against some of the true legends of our support such as John McGuiness and Chris Walker, both of whom have raced at world Grand Prix level, was a bit of a dream come true.” “As always I’d like to thank our sponsors for their continued support: Wincanton Motorsport Ltd, Hamlet Lettings Agents and WSC Performance.co.uk.”