Active Magazine // February 2013

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HIGH-TECH TREASURE HUNT Try the new sport of Geocaching and win amazing prizes

ISSUE 8 // FEBRUARY 2013

STA M FOR D & RU T L A N D’S SPORT A N D L E I S U R E M AGA Z I N E

EXCLUSIVE

Chaps! Valentine survival guide How to wine and dine your lady

Hat’s off New Daniels boss on his plans for promotion

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HOCKEY // FOOTBALL // RUGBY // HORSES // STALWART // SPORTSMAN’S DINNER // RUN // WALK

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on England cricket and school days in Rutland

Bin botox, sack surgery: do it naturally!

www.theACTIVEmag.com

ISSUE 8 // FEBRUARY 2013

Stuart Broad

How to age gracefully

27/01/2013 16:33

N EW Ufford, Stamford A recently extended stone house set in a desirable village with striking family living accommodation and views looking over the garden to the rear.

Large kitchen / breakfast / living room, drawing room, study, utility / boot room and WC. 3 ensuite bedrooms, 2 further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Large garden and double garage.

Guide Price ÂŁ750,000 Stamford office t 01780 484 696 stamford@smithsgore.co.uk

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Editor’s Letter THEY SAY THAT GOLF IS A GOOD walk spoiled, but I have to admit when I first heard of it, Geocaching seemed an even better way to ruin a stroll through Rutland than hacking a ball about hopelessly, as I tend to do.

Using GPS systems to find little boxes with pen and paper in them hidden in the countryside didn’t really appeal, so I sent our intrepid deputy editor Rich out on the hunt. If it involves Gore-tex and a gadget, he’s all over it. As it happens, when he reported back it seemed rather good fun, and you can read about this growing pursuit in this issue, and have a go yourself: we’ve hidden two caches locally. Find them, send us the code inside and you could win some cracking prizes.

Also in this issue, Frank Hayes of Oakham School, Lancashire and England, speaks to Stuart Broad, of Oakham School, Nottinghamshire and England. It’s a big year for one of our most high profile local sportsmen, with Ashes series home and away, and he talks candidly about his career so far and plans for the future.

It’s a big year for Wayne Hatswell too, Stamford Daniels’ new manager, who will be trying to gain promotion for this ambitious club which has just revealed plans for a shiny new stadium in the town, and we have the inside view on it.

Hopefully the snow will finally have melted and sport will be back on the agenda in February, but for most chaps, one fixture looms large this month: the 14th. Valentine’s Day is always a stressful occasion for men, especially those who are more at home with a few pints in the pub after a match than creating gastronomic delights in the kitchen for their loved one. But have no fear: we have created a foolproof tactical plan for Valentine’s victory.

Enjoy the issue.

Publisher Chris Meadows chris@theactivemag.com Editor Steve Moody steve@theactivemag.com Deputy Editor Rich Beach rich@theactivemag.com Production Editor Julian Kirk julian@theactivemag.com Art Editor Mark Sommer mark@theactivemag.com Contributors Martin Johnson, William Hetherington, Dean Cornish, Jon Tyrell, Alexa Cutteridge, Sandie Hurford, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth, Simon Cooper, Frank Hayes Photographers Nico Morgan, Jonathan Clarke, Harry Measures Production Assistant Abigail Sharpe Advertising Sales Rachel Meadows rachel@theactivemag.com Paula Scott paula@theactivemag.com Jess Wade jess@theactivemag.com Accounts Amy Roberts amy@theactivemag.com Active magazine, The Grey House, 3 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG. Tel: 01780 480789 If you have information on a club then get in touch by emailing editor@theactivemag.com. If you would like to stock Active magazine then email distribution@ theactivemag.com. If you would like to discuss advertising possibilities please email advertise@theactivemag.com Printed in the UK by Warners Midlands plc. Active magazine is published 12 times per year on a monthly basis.

Distributed by Grassroots Publishing Ltd ISSN 2049-8713 A Grassroots Publishing Limited company. Registration company number 7994437. VAT number 152717318 Disclaimer Copyright (c) Grassroots Publishing Limited (GPL) 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from GPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of GPL or its

Thanks, Steve

affiliates. Disclaimer of Liability. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, GPL and its affiliates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material which they submit and for ensuring the material complies with applicable laws. GPL and its affiliates are are not responsible for any error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertisement and will not be liable for any damages arising from any use of products or services or any action or omissions taken in reliance on information or any statement contained in advertising material.

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CONTENTS NEWS 11 I STAMFORD’S NEW STADIUM

Plans revealed for a new home for The Daniels

14 I LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

Local racing driver bags a 500bhp McLaren for 2013

Issue 8 /// February 2013

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12-13 I RAT RACE UPDATE

Five reasons to enter Stamford’s big race of the year

HEADS UP 20-21 I KITBAG

All the best gear and gadgets

23 I MARTIN JOHNSON

The Sunday Times writer on the upcoming Six Nations

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FEATURES 24-27 I EXCLUSIVE: STUART BROAD

The England and Nottinghamshire cricketer on international cricket and his time at Oakham School

30-33 I GEOCACHING

Rich Beach joins the hunt for elusive caches hidden in and around Stamford using a portable GPS system

34-39 I VALENTINE’S SURVIVAL GUIDE

Recipes and expert advice for chaps to ensure that your Valentine’s Day goes without a hitch

REGULARS 45 I SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

Dean and JT enjoy a meal for two at long-time favourite The Crown in Stamford

47 I GREAT RUN

Alexa Cutteridge tries out a local run based on her father’s PE lessons at Oakham School

48-49 I GREAT WALKS

Active’s resident walker Will Hetherington heads to Barnack for this month’s report

51 I MANAGEMENT IN SPORT

Mary Brooks of MAP Knowledge looks into the different speeds at which we learn new things

ROUND UPS 52-57 I ROUND-UP

How clubs in the Stamford and Rutland area are getting on

58 I STALWART

Stamford College Old Boys chairman Gavin Moss

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27/01/2013 20:47

In Play

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25/01/2013 18:45

Photograph: Harry Measures

Downhill dynamos Forget traffic chaos and panic buying in supermarkets – this is what the snow is really all about. Families headed to Val de Collyweston for a spot of impromptu downhill action following a solid dumping of snow at the end of January.

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25/01/2013 18:45

In Play

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26/01/2013 07:53

The hunt is on

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Photograph: Nico Morgan

The Cottesmore Hunt gathered in Oakham recently. Local hunts have reported strong local support, both with riders and those on foot turning out. For more on the local equestrian scene, turn to page 54.

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26/01/2013 07:53

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News

Stamford’s new sports stadium Public invited to see proposals for sports stadium on Ryhall Road which will become home of The Daniels and college sports hall MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC were invited to see the revised plans for Stamford’s new football and sports stadium last month, which, if approved, will become the new home to the Stamford Association Football Club (aka The Daniels) and also provide a new sports hall and educational facilities for New College Stamford.

Burghley House Preservation Trust, New College Stamford and Stamford Association Football Club presented the new proposal at the Stamford Arts Centre.

Members of the public, many of whom were residents living in the immediate area of Ryhall Road where the stadium site is located, turned up to ask questions and see how the plans had changed since the original proposal was submitted and approved by the council.

The initial proposed development featured a new first team grass pitch within a two-storey, 1,500-seat spectator stadium, plus a second multi-use artificial training pitch. Changing rooms and adminstrative areas were to be within the stadium itself.

New car parking, access road and extensive landscaping, designed to mask the view and the sound of the stadium, completed the proposal. The approved scheme is linked to the development of the existing football ground as the club are legally obliged to have the new ground ready for football matches before work can begin on the current Kettering Road site.

Since then, the group have partnered with the college and developed the revised plans which will see the proposed grass pitch built 10 metres further away from the nearest houses, but the fundamental change is a new indoor facility to house the changing rooms and administration facilities while providing a new sports hall for use by New College students, as well as offering the club an indoor function space.

New College Stamford principal Andrew Patience said: “If planning permission is granted, we will have a fantastic facility which will greatly benefit our students.

“Having a modern, purpose-built sports facility will make a huge difference. We hope that planning permission is granted and that we can develop a football and education facility that Stamford will be proud of.

The multi-million pound development will be funded through a combination of about £2 million in grants.

The Football Association will provide about £640,000 and the Skills Funding Agency will provide £1.3 million. The rest of the project will be financed by New College Stamford and the Burghley House Preservation Trust.

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Height of Approved Building

THE NEW STADIUM PLANS IN DETAIL 1. A new first team grass pitch and multi-use artificial traiing pitch 2. Sports hall, relocating all approved facilities into single purpose building, now further away from existing houses and shorter than approved stadium 3. Car and coach parking, now with area for overflow parking 4. Landscaping and sustainable drainage, designed to absorb both sound and mask the building from nearby houses 5. Access off Ryhall Road with an extended footpath/cycleway, as per original plan

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News

Countdown to the Burghley Rat Race The world’s largest obstacle adventure race is coming to Stamford in May – here’s how you can get involved

DIRTY WEEKEND SURVIVAL GUIDE: PART ONE Get physically prepared

Judith Ewing, a local personal fitness trainer, offers her expertise and advice to the hundreds of adventure racers taking on the Dirty Weekend in May. Here are a few tips that can help you to prepare yourself and survive the day: // Prepare yourself physically beforehand. You will not make it around the course by just getting up that morning without prior physical preparation. You should have been training on a regular basis for the past six months, around three to four times a week. The best form of training would be running, starting at a slow pace and building up so you can comfortably run for an hour. Just a steady jog is enough. You will need upper body strength so some light weight training in the gym

THE COUNTDOWN to the world’s largest obstacle adventure race continues, but there’s still plenty of time to get a team together and sign up for the Rat Race Dirty Weekend, which takes over Burghley Park on May 11.

Here at Active we’re putting our money where our mouth is and getting a staff team together, simply because we know we’d be mad to miss out on the fact this infamous adventure race, which will feature never-seen-before record-breaking obstacles, is landing in our own back yard.

If you’re still not convinced, we promise we won’t think any less of you if you only take on the Half Mucker – 150 of the full 200 obstacles over 13 miles – rather than the 20-mile Full Mucker. But just to help motivate you, here’s five reasons why we think you should run the Rat Race...

would be needed, plus abdominal work so you have a strong core. Basically a mix of cardio training and weights would be the best, or perhaps find a local circuit class. // The night before the event, eat a carbohydrate meal such as pasta. Load up and enjoy a big meal. No alcohol and an early night so your body is completely rested before the event. On the morning of the event, eat more carbohydrates. Porridge is an excellent form of energy and it has a slow release so will give you that much needed energy. // At the starting line prepare yourself a few minutes before with a gentle run on the spot to wake up your

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IT’S BIG, VERY, VERY BIG

Rat Race is well established as the country’s best adventure race events organiser.

Burghley’s Dirty Weekend will arguably be the world’s largest, and potentially toughest, assault course and it’s followed by sport’s biggest a er-party, featuring a 1,000-seater beer tent where a dozen real ales will be on offer, including Rat Race’s own Blonde 3.9% ale. A PA system standing as tall as some of the obstacles will blast out live music from the giant stage, courtesy of some of geniune headline acts, to be announced very soon.

There is no other sports event with such a festival vibe; mud, music and camping – it’s the Glastonbury of the sport world. If you can run, have a decent level of fitness and really don’t mind getting very wet and muddy, this really is not to be missed.

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DO IT FOR CHARITY

Raising money is always a good reason to challenge yourself and do something out of your normal comfort zone. Whether you have personal reasons to support a particular charity, or you simply want to not waste the opportunity to raise money for an important organisation, this is the event to do it at.

Local engineer Paul Scholes will be raising money for the Histiocytosis Research Trust a er he and his wife Andrea lost their two-year-old son Oliver to a rare blood disorder last year.

The couple aim to raise £10,000 for the charity and will be entering a number of events this year for the cause. If you’d like to support Andrea and Paul, you can make a donation at www.justgiving.com/ Paul-Scholes.

Alternatively, Cancer Research is The Dirty Weekend’s official sponsor and if you raise £100 or more for the charity, Rat Race will cover some of your entry fee.

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voucher, just answer this question: some of the Dirty Weekend obstacles will utilise Burghley’s famous course, normally used by... A) Ferrets, B) Chimney sweeps C) Horses.

Send the answer to ratrace100@theactivemag. com, putting ‘Rat Race voucher’ in the subject line.

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THERE’S HARD CASH TO BE WON!

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THERE’LL BE OBSTACLES SO BIG THEY WILL BE WORLD RECORD BREAKERS!

If you’re motivated by a bit of filthy lucre, then perhaps the chance to walk (limp) away with a cool £1,500 cash in your (soaking wet) pockets is enough to get you to the finish line first. That’s the prize for first lad and first lass. They’ll also get £150 Rat Race Store voucher each.

Second lad and second lass get £750 and £100 Rat Race Store voucher each, while the top 10-person team and top five-person team win £50 Rat Race Store vouchers.

Plus all winners get free entry into next year’s event, whether they’ll want it or not!

Which means, if you’re the first or even only competitor to complete one of them, you’ll also be a world record breaker.

Expect the tallest, the longest, the most evil and the most challenging obstacles, such as the world’s longest monkey bar section – 400 rungs over 105 metres of arm-wrenching hell.

THERE’S £100 OF KIT UP FOR GRABS!

We’ve teamed up with Rat Race to offer an Active reader a £100 kit voucher to spend in the Rat Race online store, so you’ve no excuse for not having a decent pair of running shoes. Go for something like the Adidas SuperNova Riot3, in the clearance section for £49, and you’ll have enough for the SuperNova Riot Womens, also at £49 (both reduced from £85), so you can blackmail your partner to join you with the offer of free new shoes!

To enter for a chance to win the Rat Race Store kit

body. Stretch your legs with thigh stretches, hamstring stretches and calf stretches. Standing stretches are the best as they are just enough to prepare those muscles.

Dont bounce with the stretch - just hold for about 10 to 15 seconds. // You will get very wet on the assault course, which will drain your body of energy and leave you cold when you stop moving. Layering up with technical fabrics, or a merino wool baselayer, is far better than a cotton T-shirt which will hold the water and make you cold later in the day. Some modern fabrics offer fast-drying qualities, while most will be well-fitted to offer a barrier of warmth against your skin while alllowing moisture from sweat to escape. Waterproof trainers or

lightweight mesh shoes? Neither will keep you dry on this course, so just make sure your socks fit well and won’t rub. // 20 miles is a long way and your body will need fuelling throughout. The event will feature Pit Stops every five miles or so, offering water, squash, sweets and chocolate, but no energy gels or drinks. One of the best forms of energy I’d recommend is jam sandwiches.

Packed with carbohydrate and sugar it will give you the boost you need. Also Jelly Babies or Wine Gums are full of easy to eat sugar, but you may want to keep them in a freezer bag to keep them dry! // Finally, a er you have finished the course immediately

get warm and stretch out thoroughly. Repeat the stretches you did before you started but hold for longer, say 30 seconds to a minute. A hot shower, if you can get one, will ease those sore muscles. Finally, load up again with another carbohydrate based meal.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!!

Judith Ewing is a fully-qualified personal trainer and fitness instructor. She is known for her versatility and fun approach to fitness and has an enviable reputation in the industry. She has 25 years’ experience and is based locally. For all information visit her website at judithewingfitness.com or call 07771 866123.

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News

Local racer to endure the Blancpain in GT3 McLaren Alexander Sims joins Hexis Racing to take on the famous endurance series in a 500bhp supercar WANSFORD BASED RACING DRIVER Alexander Sims switches from his Formula 3 single-seater race car to a GT3-spec McLaren this year to take on the Blancpain Endurance Series (BES).

He will drive the 12C MP4 GT3 with last season’s FIA GT1 World Championship runner-up, Stef Dusseldorp, and Alvaro Parente at Hexis Racing. The trio will compete in the Pro-Cup class, which begins in April with a three-hour race at Monza before coming to the UK for the Silverstone round in June. It also includes the famous Spa Francorchamps 24-hour race in July.

We caught up with Alex as he drove across France from a meeting at Hexis Racing: Active: You must be pretty pleased to be a part of such a strong team?

Alexander Sims: I am. It’s a great opportunity.

Hexis is a top team and BES is a top series. I’m very grateful to McLaren and Hexis.

Active: How different will this be compared to Formula 3, and are you physically prepared?

Sims: It’s quite a different experience as you’re basically in a stripped-out production-based car, whereas Formula 3 is an open-wheeled singleseater. Between 2007 and 2011 I was very much on the single-seater ladder, heading towards Formula One. Driving these cars is very demanding and I have to be fit enough and strong enough to do so. This year, driving the Hexis McLaren will admittedly be less demanding than single-seaters but obviously with endurance racing the duration of races is much longer.

Active: Are you having to undergo a particular fitness regime for endurance driving?

Sims: I had a fitness regime for the physically demanding single-seaters and I don’t plan to cut back on that training. Even though I don’t need to be as strong in the Hexis car, I‘d like to be better physically prepared than maybe I need to be. I raced at the Le Mans 24-hour last year, so I know what to expect. There’s no real training program for endurance racing, but as we get closer to the main 24-hour race at Spa in July, I’ll probably try

to get into the sleep pattern that I’ll use at the time. So once we’ve established exactly what time I’m driving and when I’m not, I can work out when I’ll be grabbing two or three-hour sleeps, and adjust my sleeping pattern to that in the days leading up to the race.

Active: Will you have a plan as to what and when you can eat and drink for the 24-hour race?

Sims: You simply eat and drink when you get out of the car. Inside the car you have about half a litre of water which is pumped through to you via a tube. Unfortunately you can’t have anything other than water; no isotonic drinks, as they clog up the pump system. And it’s not like you can have a Camelbak of water in there with you. These teams have spent thousands developing these cars to the last fraction of a gram. Suddenly adding additional weight like liquids just isn’t viable. I’ve done plenty of long runs and triathalons where you have your hands free and can eat an energy gel or drink an isotonic drink. Not so in the car. You just have to prepare and stick it out.

BES CALENDAR     

Monza, Italy – April 14 Silverstone, Britain – June 2 Paul Ricard, France – June 30 Spa, Belgium – July 28 Nurburgring, Germany – Sept 22

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Feature /// Wayne Hatswell

Hats into the ring Dean Cornish speaks to Stamford Daniels’ new manager Wayne Hatswell

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, there’s always a feeling of ‘out with the old and in with the new’, but not necessarily where football is concerned.

Normally, January is all about FA Cup upsets, getting stuck into the start of the ‘business end’ of the league season and hastily signing loanee Scandinavians to try and keep your team in the division, rather than witnessing exciting long term plans for the future.

Stamford AFC is a different kettle of fish these days though, with early January showcasing a professional exhibition on the exciting £5 million pound new proposed ground (see page 11), and also a press conference (at the Daniels, a press conference!), to unveil the new manager who will hopefully gain promotion, and maybe lead the team out at the new ground in the coming years. That man is Wayne Hatswell. He’s 37 years old, from Swindon originally and a notable centre-half with Cambridge United, Oxford United and Forest Green Rovers, among others.

So, I presume you’re pleased at your first managerial appointment?

Hatswell I’ve been thinking about going into management for four or five years, since leaving Cambridge United really. I always helped out coaching the younger lads at whichever club I played at, so I knew management was right for me, and I’m overjoyed to be at the Daniels now.

It seems a very well-run club and it’s an exciting time for the Daniels.

Were you surprised to be offered the job?

Hatswell I agree that I probably wasn’t the name many would have expected to be chosen as new manager, especially with so many other applicants, but I think the club wanted to move away from the predictable and look to someone ambitious and on their way up, who can be successful at the club in the long term. I’m pleased to be working with David Staff.

Everyone says great things about him. I didn’t know him before, but we’ll work well together.

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‘I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING INTO MANAGEMENT FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, SINCE LEAVING CAMBRIDGE UNITED. I’M OVERJOYED TO BE AT THE DANIELS. IT SEEMS A VERY WELLRUN CLUB AND IT’S AN EXCITING TIME’ What made you apply for the job? Do you know much about Stamford AFC? Hatswell To be honest, I initially applied for the job at Boston United but didn’t get a look in.

Obviously, I followed who else was in the frame for that job, and as soon as I knew that Graham Drury had been given the role, I realised the manager’s role was free here. I’ve been working in Corby coaching as part of ‘Football CV’ so know the area as it’s only 12 miles down the road. I also came and watched the team play Kidsgrove on Boxing Day. No-one knew I was there, but I wanted to watch the players and experience how they were set up. I’ve also seen a video of the King’s Lynn game. Normally when you take over a side, they’re languishing, but hats off to Graham Drury and Staffy as caretaker manager, as I’m not inheriting a mess. I feel lucky to inherit a team that is ‘up there’.

You had a good start to your career at the Daniels with a merited 3-1 win away Gresley.

Hatswell It was just great to be back involved on a Saturday afternoon. I had knots in my stomach all week, and especially on the way to Gresley. I did fear the worse when they took the lead early on through a set piece, and it was disappointing to concede marking zonally. Maybe the occasion caught up with them, but eventually they settled and we changed things slightly, and they fought well to get the win. There won’t be many teams who win away at Gresley.

The Daniels are second in the league, but Coalville at the top don’t seem to be faltering at all – can you win the league?

Hatswell Never say never regards Coalville slipping up. They’ve got tough fixtures, and others will raise their game when they play them. They’ve still got to play us at our place, and still have to play King’s Lynn, too. The Daniels need to make sure they capitalise if Coalville do slip up. If they draw, we need to have won. If they do lose a couple, they’ll get nervous. It’s amazing what can happen when the pressure’s on. There’s still 60 points available.

So what sort of style can Daniels fans expect?

Hatswell I hope we’ll be adaptable, rather than play just one way. I’ve coached a lot so I hope to improve players technically, and also tactically. I know that the league is tough, and won’t let players mess around with the ball at the back. I’ll make sure we’re organised, and will then be positive in the final third. In terms of the league, I’m learning about the Evo Stik. I’ve got friends at Chasetown and Sutton Coldfield so know what is needed in non-league.

Before we go, can I ask you about your famous own goal, that became a YouTube sensation?

Hatswell That always gets mentioned! It’s like water off a duck’s back now to me. I scored some great goals at the other end, too!

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News

Tigers mascot winner

Independent Nursery and Day School FOR CHILDREN AGE 2 TO 11 YEARS

Join us for an informal

toUr morning Where the children will be delighted to show you their Copthill.

thursday 14th february from 9.00am – 11.00am

Callum McCombie of Oakham won the Active Leicester Tigers mascot competition which saw him run out with the team as official mascot for the LV Cup match against Wasps at the end of January.

FURTHER AFIELD CAISTOR SHOWJUMPING Caistor’s Equestrian Centre holds its evening showjumping sessions and classes in their international-sized indoor and outdoor arenas.

They have many novel jumps, built by BSJA course builders, and make them look worthy of Olympia events. The glass-fronted cafe offers the usual food and refreshments, as well as great viewing.

And Friday nights is curry night.

Friday, February 8 and Friday, March 8, 5pm-6.30pm. Details: www.caistorequestriancentre.com BELTON RAMBLING The Ramblers are off on a leisurely 10-mile group walk on Sunday, March 3, starting in Belton at the Tower car park at 10am (grid ref: SK944388 Lincolnshire NG32 2DF). Walks are for members and non-members of the Ramblers Association. Walk day contact is Keith on 07504 074929.

ROLLER HOCKEY The Eastern Counties Roller Hockey Association’s U11 League Division 1 tournament takes over the Bushfield Leisure Centre in Orton Goldhay on Saturday, March 23, where the roller hockey teams from Cottenham, King’s Lynn, Peterborough and Kent will clash sticks. The event, which runs from 9.45am to 3pm, is free to watch.

Contact 01733 864656

More than just an education w w w. c o p t h i l l . c o m Copthill SChool, Uffington, Stamford pE9 3ad tEl: 01780 757506

WOOD GREEN RESCUE WORK The famous Wood Green animal rescue centre in Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, is running a Rescue Worker for a Day Experience where you get involved with feeding, handling and health checking some of the animals, with experts in dogs, cats, small animals and field animals on hand to answer your questions. The sessions run on Saturday, February 2, and Thursday, February 14, and would make a great gi for any young animal lovers in your life. Booking is required. Cost: £50. Contact 0844 248 8181.

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Olympic volleyball stars visit Catmose College Pupils given an insight into the sacrifices needed to make it to the top in sport IN THE SAME WEEK British Volleyball announced their intention to appeal against an 88% cut in their funding, two Olympic volleyball stars gave local students a demonstration of their skills at Catmose College in Oakham as part of the Leicestershire and Rutland Sport (LRS) Olympic and Paralympic Roadshow.

Maria Bertelli was part of the volleyball team that won the very first indoor medal for Team GB last year, and Andrea Green, who plays both standing and sitting volleyball, proudly took the first ever serve of a sitting volleyball team, at London 2012.

The duo shared their inspiring tales of adversity that led to their Olympic dream, in the face of almost impossible challenges at times. “If you want to be successful,” Bertelli said, “you will have to overcome lots of challenges. Before we got to the Olympics the GB team had to overcome challenges.

“We had our funding taken away and at one point were appealing for supermarkets to feed us and were staying in a fire-station rather than a hotel in order to continue with our dream. Success means the best that you can be.”

The students were then given a masterclass in volleyball, with the help of Volleyball England development coach, Gerard Van Zwieten, who is always on the lookout for the next Team GB stars.

“We visit many schools and when we find promising athletes we encourage them to join their local club, in this case Melton Voleyball Club, run by Paul Bushell.”

The students split into teams and competed in a mini tournament before bad weather forced a

U18s games THE 2013 LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND School Games Summer Championship will be held at the Uppingham Sports Centre, bringing with it more than 1,000 young competitors from Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.

The games, open to 5-18 year-olds, is part of an initiative to create a legacy from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Councillor Gene Plews, responsible for youth and sports, said: “As the host, Rutland will be able to showcase its excellent sport facilities, not to mention the wealth of young talent we have in the county. I hope this inspires more young people to get involved in sport this year.”

premature end to the a ernoon. Paul Taylor from LRS, who facilitated the visit, said: “The aim is to inspire the young generation. All the Olympians who come and tell their stories had a moment in their lives that triggered their decision to take up a sport. We want these visits to be the same inspiration to youngsters in the hope some of them may follow their own Olympic dream.”

But they’ll have an uphill struggle if they do; just days a er the visit, British Volleyball president Richard Callicott said in response to the sport’s funding cut: “It seems frankly unfair a er our brilliant endeavours at London 2012, when we were required to produce credible performances, that we should be rewarded with precisely nothing.”

 SHIV THAKOR NAMED U19 CAPTAIN Cricketer Shiv Thakor, who le Uppingham last summer, has been named captain of England’s under 19 cricket team that will play two four-day Tests and five one-day internationals in South Africa this month.

Last autumn, Shiv agreed a new two-year contract with Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

The teenager made a successful step up to first-team cricket at Grace Road last season, topping the batting averages in the County Championship on a summer contract while he was still at school. He has represented England at various levels, and became the first Leicestershire-born player to score a century on his first class debut for the county.  CAMERON TO REPRESENT WALES James Cameron, a year 12 pupil at Stamford School, has been selected for the Wales Under 18 basketball team.

James has been an integral part of Stamford School Basketball squad for the last four seasons and top scorer for the last two, which have seen the squad go unbeaten.

Stamford School head of basketball, Garry Mitchell, said: “James has worked really hard and deserves his opportunity; it is a great experience for any sportsman to play internationally.”

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Feature /// Gear

Kitbag

Got the idea, but no gear?

Here’s some great sporting stuff to spend your hard-earned on Musto Ladies’ shooting jacket Set the style standard on the next shoot with this Musto Ladies Stretch Technical Tweed Jacket in Ismay. Made using Scottish wool with stretch to allow unrestricted movement, the Musto Ladies is water and windproof.

Price £474.99 From Barnack Country Clothing 01780 740 115 www.barnack.co.uk

Giant Avail 5 Ladies

Petzl e+Lite Zip Headlamp

This road bike has a super-lightweight aluminium frame and clever ‘roadtaming’ technologies for improved riding comfort. Aimed at riders between 5’ and 5’2” tall, this is perfect for petite women wanting a serious sports bike at a competitive price.

Price £499 From www.cyclewright.co.uk 01778 560 495

Perfect for this time of year, this ultra-compact emergency headlamp is suitable for any outdoor pursuit, thanks to its super-bright light (26 lumens up to 29 metres), and shrugs off temperatures down to -30˚C. Always ready, it’ll store for up to 10 years and still work, plus it’s waterproof. Don’t leave home without one.

Price £21.99 From www.rutlandoutdoor.com

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Specialized Epic FSR Comp Carbon 29er Rutland Cycling have slashed prices on many top-spec bikes, including this full-suspension cross-country trail bike. It should be £3,199, but Rutland has sliced over a grand off the price!

Price £2,099 (0% finance available) From www.rutlandcycling.com 01572 332032

Slazenger V12 As used by Johnny Bairstow, this handmade, grade 1+ English Willow cricket bat is limited to just 200 numbered items and comes with a certificate of authenticity and a signature card signed by cricket legends Alec Stewart and Gordon Greenidge. It features a semi-oval 12-piece cane handle with Octoplus grip, contoured edge profile and a low blade profile and middle, and comes pre-knocked in by Slazenger.

Price £325 (rrp £425) From www.vitascricket.co.uk 01733 201144

Garmin 210 This GPS-enabled watch records your time, pace and distance so you can monitor your performance. It also records your heart rate to offer calorie calculations so you know how much you’re burning. All of this info can be downloaded onto your computer to give you a map of your progress.

Price £170 From Advance Performance 01733 891111 www.advanceperformance.co.uk

Qmountz iPhone case If you can’t stretch to a GoPro action camera, this GoPro-esque case for your iPhone could be the answer. Waterproof, shatterproof and shock resistant, it’ll keep your phone safe while it’s fixed to your helmet, chest, handlebars or car roof. It’s so new, you can only buy online at present. Iphone 5 version out soon.

Price Case €79, Qmountz fisheye lens €29 From www.maptaq.com

Supido Personal Sports Radar Think you’re fast? Want to measure how quick your serve is, or how fast a bowler you are? This radar device sits on a flat surface and measures any speed up to 150mph. Can be used for almost any sport – such as cricket, tennis, running, cycling, squash, football and more.

Price £84.99 From Rutland Sports, Oakham 01572 722675, Bourne 01778 426482

Jabra Sport headphones + App The Jabra Sport Bluetooth headphones, featuring FM radio, connect to your phone’s music library cordlessly, while also allowing you to take calls on the run. They come with a free Endomondo Sports Tracker.

Price £99 (corded version £59.99) From BuyJabra.com

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Guest column

Everyone wants to beat the English, on the field and in the drinking games The Sunday Times sports writer Martin Johnson on the unique mix of fervour and friendship during the Six Nations

T

uning in to watch Tottenham play Manchester United the other Sunday, it occurred to me that even if you didn’t know how the result would pan out, any reporter worth his salt could have written most of his report before kick off.

You knew that several fit males were about to fall over for no reason, and that a purple-faced septuagenarian – notwithstanding being a knight of the realm – would spend most of the game ranting at any official incompetent enough not to have awarded his team a penalty.

Compare and contrast to the upcoming Six Nations rugby championship. Whilst medical science continues to investigate the serious possibility that football players have some kind of inner ear balancing problem, a rugby player’s basic instinct is to remain upright even when his ear’s been bitten off. And only when the ref insists will he consider nipping off the field to have it sewn back on.

Meantime, the people in charge of the two teams involved will not be striding angrily up and down the touchline, chewing enough gum to have plugged the hole in the Titanic, and haranguing the referee. Instead, the two coaches are sitting quietly up in the stand and after the game will happily explain to the media where they got things wrong, rather than blaming it all on the officials.

It’s a unique competition; not as skilful maybe as its southern hemisphere counterpart, but in many ways more compelling for the tribal element. Many of the combatants will shortly be linking arms under the united flag of the British Isles, but before that they’ll be glaring each other down as they belt out Flower of Scotland, Land of My Fathers, La Marseillaise...

If you offered a Scotsman the choice between a Six Nations victory over England this year, or beating the All Blacks in the next World Cup final, he wouldn’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.

The Scots might like to think of the Sassenachs as their own personal enemy, and only they have an anthem dedicated to a dislike of the English, but the plain fact is that England are the side everyone detests in the Six Nations.

I recall covering a game between Scotland and Wales several

years ago, but was more memorable for the joyous reaction of both sets of fans when news came through of an England defeat in Paris.

They hugged each other and shared a song which centred around the darkest place to park – anatomically speaking – a sweet chariot.

In recent years, for games against the auld enemy at Murrayfield, the Scots have greeted England’s entry on to the field by confronting them will all sorts of historical imagery, including hordes of torch brandishing dervishes dressed in outfits straight from Braveheart.

You can understand why the Scots dislike England so much. I mean, wouldn’t you? If your one time rulers had forced all the men folk to wear skirts, and made everyone listen to a fiendish noise from a pig’s bladder that the Emperor Nero once employed as an alternative punishment to being thrown to a lion.

However, the Welsh, who finish this year’s tournament with England visiting the Millennium Stadium, would take no small umbrage if you suggested the Scots wanted to beat England more than they did. The most ferocious match in the history of the competition, then the Five Nations, was at Twickenham in 1980.

Ringer, the Welsh flanker, was sent off in the first half, but the wonder was that no-one else joined him.

Peter Wheeler, the Leicester and England hooker, ended the game with a huge black eye, and I asked him which dastardly Welshman had been responsible. “Actually”, said Wheeler, “it was Maurice.”

Wheeler was having a bit of trouble with the Welsh front row, and in the act of turning to ask Maurice Colclough to “send one through”, discovered – somewhat painfully – that his second row colleague had already anticipated the request.

Perhaps the outstanding thing about the Six Nations is the invasion of the home cities by travelling supporters. Dublin’s pubs full of Welshmen, Parisien bars reverberating to Flower of Scotland and English fans flocking down to the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

Television has nibbled away at some of its flavour by imposing kick off times designed to inflate its own audience.

Heaven forbid that the very essence of the Six Nations is ever lost – two sets of fans mingling in the bars before the game and 80-odd thousand people spilling out on to the pavements afterwards, all monitored, and this is the thing which truly amazes, by half a dozen bobbies and a couple of traffic wardens.

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Feature /// Cricket

Stuart Broad faces Ashes tests both at home and in Australia and the Champions Trophy in England this year. His ex-Oakham coach Frank Hayes talks to him about his time at the school and plans for a huge 2013

BROAD A

EDUCAT ION

I

t’s been a tough winter for Stuart Broad, bowling under difficult conditions at the start of the India tour which saw him dropped, and finding himself sitting on the sidelines injured as the England team found a way of winning.

But there’s no doubt he will be back, because he is a determined character and a fighter. It was one devastating 12-over spell in 2009 that propelled England towards the Ashes and Stuart to his place among the stars of world cricket, proving his mettle.

At the age of just 23, Broad took five for 37, including a spell of four wickets for eight runs in 21 balls, to devastate Australia and swing the series dramatically England’s way. Two balls later, the fabled urn was secured.

Many who witnessed his early development seem amazed when I tell them that I always felt that he was good enough to play at the highest level, having watched his development through his school years.

Unlike others who fleetingly promised much, he was the one to watch. He was always on a steady learning curve as he continually improved and augmented his style and technique.

This was no flash in the pan. Here was a fanatically determined character, certain from a young age that he would

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Feature /// Cricket

‘I SPENT ALMOST AS MUCH TIME WORKING ON MY CRICKET SKILLS AT OAKHAM SCHOOL AS I DO AS A PROFESSIONAL NOW!’ make cricket a career, just as his father Chris had before him.

It was at the tender age of 13 that I first threw him balls in the Oakham School nets. From those early times I had no doubts that he had the ability to play to at least county level.

Not only did he play aesthetically-pleasing shots but he possessed the elusive quality of timing for which many search but never find. His bowling, too, was natural and he always produced an upright seam which, in turn, produced movement in the air and off the pitch.

Speaking to him, he relishes his time at Oakham: “I was lucky to be involved with first team cricket at Oakham School from 14 years old, and the exposure to that was a big learning curve. We had some fantastic cricketers at the school and having the opportunity to work closely with them allowed my game to develop quickly.

“I have extremely fond memories of my time there.

Oakham is a school that encourages pupils to improve themselves all the time, so it doesn’t surprise me to see pupils go on to have successful careers. I spent almost as much time working on my cricket skills at school as I do as a professional now! Facilities were always exceptional so I was very fortunate to be there.”

Only once during his time at the school was he lost for words in a cricketing scenario when, at 15 years of age, he started missing half the balls thrown to him. He was nonplussed but listened avidly as I pointed out that even two years before he would have hit them all for four.

Only the mind can complicate matters such that the body cannot react as it once did. Whatever the cause of that predicament, the following week he never missed a ball. This was, and always will be the key for Stuart; he must be natural – if others complicate the game and influence him, then all is lost, if others prescribe a technique and method, then all is lost, if personal input is excluded, then the flair is gone. He listened, experimented and practised such that his own ability was used to hone skills which were never a product of stereotyped coaching.

It’s an approach that he still uses today, even in the midst of the vast amount of analysis and data the England team produces. His advice to anyone trying to make their way in the game is this: “Keep things as simple as possible.”

During his time at Oakham, Stuart was a quiet, selfeffacing, modest, yet personable lad unafraid to give his views. I taught him physics at GCSE and, while he was not one of the most academic of students, with reference to cricket I’ll swear he knew more about fluid dynamics, pressure and force than I did.

On one occasion I listened intently as he explained to the class that a pressure difference of only one per cent on one side of a cricket ball would cause it to swing nearly four metres over the length of a cricket pitch. When he’s mastered that out on a pitch, it will be quite a thing to see!

When he gets it right, he is a formidable bowler. This was

starkly illustrated when I watched him, from the vantage of the Oakham School Sports hall balcony, bowl against Northants for Leicestershire early in his career. He bowled three overs before lunch on the first day and was, quite frankly, unplayable; balls starting leg stump at around 85mph ‘swung on the bounce’ to be taken chest high in front of first slip by wicket keeper Nixon. Nobody in the world could have played those deliveries.

It has not been totally plain sailing and there have been problems, especially at the beginning of his England career when his action was changed by a well-meaning if unenlightened coach. Generally, however, when he walks out onto the arena it is the very soul of the player that one sees – not, as far too often witnessed in others, a sad caricature or stereotype of some system or coach. And it is only from this scenario that genius can eventually emerge.

So with a massive year for England cricket coming up, I ask him about his plans.

“I don’t like to look too far ahead as in international sport things can change so quickly,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to be involved in two Ashes series wins, a T20 World Cup win and in the side that reached the top of the test world rankings but I have a huge hunger for more. At 26, I’ve experienced quite a lot and my aim for 2013 is to bring more consistency into my game. As a team, with the Champions Trophy being in England, we have to set that as a realistic target to win. In our own conditions we play some very good ODI cricket so we need to show that in the world tournament.”

Temperamentally Stuart is sound and even during his younger career he was never rattled by the ravings or sledgings of gnarled old professionals. During the Twenty20 finals at Trent Bridge in 2006 one seasoned professional, having played and missed at his first delivery, thought a word or two might just upset his opponent. The second ball nipped back and all but cut him in two. A second word inadvisably followed before the third delivery was nicked to the keeper and the embarrassed stalwart was out for nought.

Stuart is good for the game and youngsters would be wise to take heed of his attitude. Success has generally followed when he has been true to his own gut feeling and on such occasions he has been a match winner for the national side.

Oakham School and Stuart Broad go hand in glove and, although some of the current cricket fraternity think he is fairly aggressive (what fast bowler isn’t?), he basically remains a well-balanced lad with his feet firmly on the ground, learnt from his days of cricket in Oakham.

He says: “I learnt the importance of winning as there was a huge amount of pride taken in the records and history of the 1st team, and players took the cricket, especially against local rivals, very seriously. Mixed in with this was the relaxing and calming effect of coaches, feeding our love of the game with stories from their careers, improving our skills with advice and encouraging us to enjoy our success.”

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FACTFILE FULL NAME Stuart Christopher John Broad BORN June 24, 1986 Nottingham AGE 26 MAJOR TEAMS England, Kings XI Punjab, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire NICKNAME Broady PLAYING ROLE Bowler BATTING STYLE Le -hand bat BOWLING STYLE Right-arm fast-medium HEIGHT 6 5 in EDUCATION Oakham School

BEN LEWIS / ALAMY

Stuart Broad bowling during the fi h Ashes test match in 2009

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Feature /// Cricket

NET GAIN

As spring approaches, cricket nets begin again. Steve Moody looks at ways of making them more productive Photography: Jonathan Clarke

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ou know summer is coming when you first set foot in a freezing sports hall, pick an old cricket ball out of a bag and attempt to lug it 22 yards. It feels the weight of a cannonball and for days after every muscle aches.

Some players love cricket nets, others can’t see the point, and I admit to siding with the former. The argument for the latter goes that nets are not good practice for what goes on in the middle – the Ian Botham philosophy, that instead of running about like a headless chicken he was better off getting legless with a chick in the bar – but there is a counter to that: if practice doesn’t make you better, why do so many professionals (Sir Ian excluded) spend so much time doing it?

The problem is the wrong type of practice. Every cricketer will know players who bat in the nets as though they are chasing 20 an over, that every spliced shot drifting into the roof of the netting into the air is accompanied by a cry of ‘six’, and every top-edged reverse scoop is claimed to have dropped into a gap, not first slip’s hands.

Then there are the bowlers, charging in off a long run past the stumps and delivering the ball from 16 yards, short and on to the sports hall floor not the mat, resulting in a fearsome, leaping delivery that Curtly Ambrose in his pomp would flatten Athers with.

Or the hopeless bowlers who are only there for a bat, rolling their arm over and propelling the ball with a deafening clang into the sports hall roof, or those that just stand around chatting while the batsman looks on, wondering if anyone is going to send him something to hit in to the next five minutes.

So, nets can be frustrating. But I’ve also seen when they have been properly run, and batsmen have targets and things to work on, and bowlers have plans, all running in and playing it with as much competition as in a match.

Then they can be extremely productive, and fun too.

So we’ve provided some ideas for making your club’s net sessions more useful and enjoyable. And, of course, there’s always the opportunity for a well-deserved beer or two afterwards.

NOVICE BATSMEN

Challenge 1: How many balls in a row can the batsman hit sucessfully, or leave (without getting bowled!), before they play and miss. If the ball hits the pads, it counts as a “play and miss”.

Challenge 2: Can the batsman hit every delivery as hard as they can, regardless of line and length. How many balls in a row can they do this for without missing or mishitting the ball!?

INTERMEDIATE

Challenge 1: Set a target length either by chalk line, or by use of markers on the edge of the wicket. This should be a length which provokes indecision into the batsman as to whether to play forward or back. Bowler scores a point every time ball lands in this area. Count points and set targets of points per number of deliveries.

Challenge 2: As above, although also rate the shot that the batsman has to play into either attacking shot (zero extra

points), defensive shot (one extra point) or play and miss/ leave (two extra points). Bowler scores extra points only when ball pitches in target zone and doesn’t go down legside.

ADVANCED

Challenge 1: Set up a group of markers to simulate gaps in the field. How many balls out of a set number bowled can the batsman manipulate into the gaps.

Challenge 2: Can the batsman manipulate the balls into the gaps in a set order, i.e.work around the gaps in a clockwise fashion. Count how many times in a row they hit the gaps.

Source: www.ecb.co.uk

A PROFESSIONAL’S VIEW “As a professional cricketer you spend at least half your time training in a net, so you get pretty used to them. That said net practices are always different because they throw up varying challenges. O en the coach will outline the purpose of the practice and that can range from a four-day scenario to a T20 yorker session, they are all different.

“At the start of the net session the coach will have designed the format and posted the lists of the running order for all to see. As an all-rounder I will have to check both columns to see when I’m involved.

“Usually the batters will bat alone but there will most o en be two nets simultaneously, one for three quickies and the other for three spinners. So once I’ve checked to see when I’m batting the next thing I’ll look at is to see which bowlers I have to face, trying to formulate a game-plan.

“Each batter will have 10 minutes per net then swap over. This format allows the fast bowlers to give everything for twenty minutes before enjoying a rest whilst fresh bowlers come in to take over.

“Some of my team mates grow tired of net practices but they are the best way to train especially during bad weather and they are here to stay.”

WES DURSTON, DERBYSHIRE CCC & OAKHAM COACH.

Vitas Cricket has a great facility for batsmen looking to get back into the swing of things or work on certain parts of their game. In its facility in Fengate, Peterborough, it has a bowling machine and full length net for hire.

Handily, the bowling machine can be operated automatically so the batsman can control the deliveries.

In an hour you can expect to face up to 300 balls, and in half an hour up to 150. Great for really nailing your technique on a certain shot, or just getting your eye in ready for the weekend.

NET HIRE PRICES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 30 minutes – £15. 1 hour – £25 Visit www.vitascricket.co.uk for more information

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Feature /// Geocaching

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY… Photography: Rich Beach

Geocaching is a modern day treasure hunt using the latest GPS technology.

Rich Beach goes on a search in and around Stamford

“HAVE YOU LOST SOMETHING?” asked the eldery man standing over me. Possibly my mind, I thought, considering how I must look, on my hands and knees, scuttling around a litter bin at Stamford’s coach park.

“Erm, I’m looking for something,” I replied. “I just don’t know what, yet...”

Perplexed, the old chap shuffled down the slope towards town, leaving other disembarking coach passengers to study the strange man, now with his head inside the bin. I checked the GPS device in my hand again. I was right on top of the marker.

This is Geocaching – the high-tech way of looking highly conspicuous in public places. It’s a modern-day treasure hunt for hidden caches

using GPS co-ordinates and clues, rather than paper maps with an ‘X’ stamped on them.

It began 13 years ago in Oregon when someone decided to bury a bucket containing books, videos, food and a catapult, then posted the GPS co-ordinates on a local website. Today more than 1.9 million people hide and hunt for caches of various sizes, descriptions and value, logging their finds and challenges on geocaching.com.

Geocaches can be hidden anywhere, be it town, country, woodland or coastline.

Along the way you get outdoors, and go places you probably wouldn’t usually explore. It sounds oddly simple, and like me you’re probably wondering what the fuss is all about – walking to a spot, finding the cache, which mostly contains

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little more than a logbook and a pencil, and writing your name in it. I wasn’t expecting to strike gold, but I’ll take any excuse to walk around my town and call it ‘work’.

After a chat with the folk at Precision Outdoors, I picked up a Magellan handheld GPS device, specifically designed for Geocaching. The Magellan eXplorist GC has a screen and a toggle control and came already loaded with all the local cache co-ordinates. Normally you’d download them from geocaching.com.

I found one called ‘Eleanor’s Cross’. It was apparently only 400 metres away. Off I went, walking through the High Street staring at the screen watching the arrow (me) slowly move through the live map. In no time I arrived at the

previously mentioned bus station bin. It had to be in the bin. But I couldn’t find it. And I didn’t really know what I was looking for.

I’ve seen pictures of lunchbox-size caches with souvenirs inside with the log book (the rule is, if you take something you must replace it with something of equal value). But there was nothing.

After the third person asked if I was OK, I got off the floor, dusted myself down and conceded defeat.

Next on the list was one called ‘Sneaking around Stamford’. But the funsters who planted these particular caches seem to have hidden them on private property. I had been told how a number of Geocachers had been arrested while snooping around people’s property.

Finding myself on the wrong side of the Welland, looking at someone’s garden on the other side, I quickly ruled that cache out too.

So after a great walk around the Meadows in search of more, seeing the kingfisher divebombing the water from an overhanging branch right in front of me, I circled the approximate location of the last co-ordinate of my day, ripped my trousers on some brambles and found nothing. The dog was a happy boy, and it had been a nice walk. But fruitless.

DAY 2

I wasn’t getting on with the device’s controls, being so used to touchscreen of my iPhone. There had to be a Geocaching app I could download for

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MAKEOVER MORNING with lunch at Hambleton Hall “NEW YEAR, NEW YOU” Thursday 28th February COLOUR” “SPRING SPRING INTO COLOUR Thursday 25th April “SUNSATIONAL STYLE”” “SUN Thursday 16th May “LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER” Thursday 6th June Four individual mornings to enjoy fashion tips, beauty ideas & hair styling, followed by a two course lunch at Hambleton Hall.

Tickets - £35

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Enjoy a Reflexology treatment during February 2013 in the tranquil setting of one of our treatment rooms for the special price of just £30 (usually £60) Spa days start from just £70 If you would like further information, contact the spa on 01572 787057 or visit www.staplefordpark.com * This offer does not apply to spa days and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Feature /// Geocaching free on to my phone, which allows you to follow three challenges. If Iwanted to find any more I’d have to upgrade to the full version for about three quid, but of course the Magellen is waterproof, but my phone isn’t. The sun was shining though, and three would be enough.

Actually, one would be enough.

The first was on Barnack Road. With the help of my friend Steve we followed the blip on the map, watching the distance counter tick down until a message appeared on screen saying ‘Found it!’.

We hadn’t, but we were clearly on top of it. We trawled our fingers through the ivy covering of the stone wall. Nothing. We walked around the other side, into the graveyard, and investigated the wall’s cracks and crevices. Nothing. We repeated this a couple of times, before deciding it was on the other side of the road. There stood a road sign and Steve set about his search.

“Got it!” he shouted. Sure enough, he pulled a tiny pill-sized magnetic container off the back of the sign. It immediately became obvious why I’d struggled to find the others the day before. If this was the size of cache I was looking for, I could easily have missed the others. Steve unscrewed the container and pulled out a rolled strip of paper scribbled with others’ dates and initials and added our details to the log.

Our mood suddenly changed, bouyed by our find. A sense of achievement, that childlike glee at an unexpected find. Somebody else had placed it here, and we’d added to it. A vast, secretive group of people hiding things in plain sight all over the world opened up to us.

I could imagine how caches hidden around the Peak District or on Munro Mountains would be exciting hunting. But even in Stamford there is enough off-piste countryside to lose yourself in seeking out these hidden surprises.

We needed to get out of the town centre. Once we found our second – another tiny metal capsule hidden behind a road sign – we headed off-piste for the third and final challenge, into my favourite place: Burghley Park.

The ‘Race for Life’ challenge took us deep into the park, under the ancient trees and among the ruminant beasts. The unseasonally mild winter meant late autumn colours were still clinging on to many of the trees and covering the ground with a brown and red carpet.

As we crossed the fields and headed towards a mob of sheep, I recalled watching those early episodes of Treasure Hunt with the overtlyenthusiastic Anneka Rice. I wondered where I could hire a helicopter and a jumpsuit...

“It looks like it’s by that tree,” Steve said, pointing towards a small copse near one of Burghley’s more extreme horse jumps. This particular cache included a clue on the app, although we thought it could have been a bit more cryptic: ‘It’s under a flat rock’.

However, there was more than one rock scattered about amidst the tree roots, so we Clockwise from below

Rummaging round in litter bins at Stamford coach park on the first part of the Geocaching adventure; the caches can be incredible small and difficult to find; once discovered you log your details on a book contained inside; GPS devices help in the search

inched towards them all with our eyes fixed on the GPS. The signal was as accurate as we were going to get, so it was down on our knees carefully lifting rocks, trying not to disturb any insects as we went.

Stop the clock! Nestled in the nook of a gnarled old tree’s roots was a small black plastic container.

Bigger than the previous finds, this flip-top box popped open to reveal a laminated card stating this was an official Geocache. The rest of the capsule was taken up with a large log book, but there were no trinkets or treasure. It didn’t matter.

That wasn’t really the point, and we headed back to mine for a warming cuppa, beaming with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

In the end, it had been a fun walk around Stamford and a great way of changing my usual dog walking route and adding an element of adventure. I was surprised, considering how cynical I am, just how excited we got when we found the caches, especially the first and last.

There are hundreds of hidden caches all around the local area. Perhaps just feet away from you right now….

WIN!

HIDDEN TREASURE IN OUR GREAT COMPETITION We have created our own caches in Stamford and Rutland, and posted the co-ordinates and clues on our website. Inside our cache is a code and an email address - email the code to us and we’ll pick a winner on March 1.

The winners from each cache will either receive a superb pair of Hunter wellies from Barnack Country Clothes, or a £50 voucher to spend in Cavells in Oakham.

Happy hunting!

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Feature /// Valentine’s day

VALENTINE’S SURVIVAL GUIDE Let’s face it, for a chap, a lot of things can go wrong with Valentine’s Day. Just follow our recipes and expert advice, and you’ll end up triumphant

The Starter The Bull and Swan’s scallops with watercress and black pudding bon bons For the black pudding bon bons: ● 80g black pudding

WHICH WINE

● 10g plain flour ● two eggs ● 100g panko bread crumbs ● 20g butter

Wine for the scallops.

By Blake Johnston, The Stamford Wine Company.

● 10ml rapeseed oil ● ¼ lemon ● Three hand dived scallops ● One bunch of watercress

Method Place the watercress in boiling water for one minute, drain the water squeezing all the water out of the watercress, place into a food processor and blitz to a fine paste, pass through a sieve keep warm and put to one side.

Roll the black pudding in to balls, then roll through the flour, then the eggs, then flour again and finally through the breadcrumbs, deep fry and put in the oven for one and a half minutes. In a very hot pan, place the oil and the scallops for 1

minute, turn over and put in the butter and lemon juice and leave for a further one minute.

DON’T FANCY COOKING? Photography: ????????

Phone The Bull and Swan, Stamford, on 01780 766412 for reservations.

Domaine De Montmarin, Viognier, 2011 An aromatic wine with lovely white fruits, floral notes and a touch of white pepper spice to face up to the peppery watercress. Good natural acidity is there to cut through the fat in the black pudding nicely.

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The Main The Crown’s sesame-coated tuna with a warm roasted Mediterranean salad and olive tapenade For the tuna ● Two tablespoons soy sauce ● ½ tablespoon fish sauce ● ½ tablespoon clear honey ● One tablespoon sesame oil ● ½ tablespoon rice wine vinegar ● Two 6oz tuna steaks ● Four tablespoons sesame seeds For the Mediterranean salad ● ½ aubergine ● One green pepper ● One red pepper ● One courgette

● One red onion ● Fresh basil leaves ● Olive oil

For the olive tapenade ● 50g pitted black olives ● Two garlic cloves ● One tablespoon capers ● Zest and juice ½ lemon ● Three tablespoons olive oil

Method Cut all of the vegetables into half-inch cubes. Place in a baking tray and sprinkle over chopped basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and put in a hot oven (170˚c).

Put the olives and capers into a blender with the lemon zest and juice, garlic and olive oil. Process until smooth and transfer to a small bowl.

In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, honey and sesame oil. Divide into two equal parts.

Stir the rice vinegar into one part and set aside as a dipping sauce.

Spread the sesame seeds out on a plate. Coat the tuna steaks with the remaining soy sauce mixture, then press into the sesame seeds to coat.

Take the vegetables out of the oven a er 20

minutes so that they are warm but still have a slight bite. Leave to one side.

Heat olive oil in a non stick frying pan over high heat until very hot. Place steaks in the pan, and sear for about 30 seconds on each side. Serve with the dipping sauce and wasabi paste.

Take a warm plate and place a bed of warm vegetables in the centre. Put the tuna steak on top with a spoonful of olive tapenade to the side.

Dress with a couple of fresh basil leaves Serve with the dipping sauce on the side to share.

DON’T FANCY COOKING? Phone The Crown Hotel, Stamford, on 01780 763136 for reservations.

WHICH WINE

WHICH WINE

Red wine for the Tuna.

By Blake Johnston, The Stamford Wine Company.

White wine for the Tuna.

By Blake Johnston, The Stamford Wine Company.

Henri Prudhon, Saint Aubin, Les Argillers, 2008.

We need to be careful not to overpower the fish, but we also have the spices to deal with. Pinot Noir is the grape of choice here, something with a touch of spice provided by some oak. Lightly smoked on the nose with lovely summer red fruits and a touch of tannin. This is proper old school single vineyard Pinot from one of my favourite Burgundian producers and a lesser known appellation. Henri Prudhon, Saint Aubin, Les Argillers, 2008.

Jurtschitsch/Sonnhof Grüner Veltliner Stein 2010 Everybody knows that Gewurtztraminer is the wine of choice for spicy dishes, but when it comes to Japanese/Chinese flavours the Gruner has the edge in my book. 2010 Jurtschitsch/Sonnhof Grüner Veltliner Stein is creamy and full bodied with bright apple notes and a strong spicy finish.

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UPPINGHAM

Treat A

A Thu 13 rsda 0 2 y 14th February

Enjoya Relaxed

Dinnerfor

Food served

6.30pm until 9.00pm

Complete the evening by treating someone special to an overnight stay.

Menu TEL: 01572 823535 TEL: 01572 823535 TEL: 01572 823535

MARKET PLACE UPPINGHAM RUTLAND LE15LE15 9PY 9PY MARKET PLACE UPPINGHAM RUTLAND LE15 9PY MARKET PLACE UPPINGHAM RUTLAND INFO@FALCON-HOTEL.CO.UK EMAIL: RECEPTION@FALCON-HOTEL.CO.UK EMAIL: RECEPTION@FALCON-HOTEL.CO.UK MARKET PLACE UPPINGHAM RUTLAND LE15 9PY EMAIL: RECEPTION@FALCON-HOTEL.CO.UK View Online

TEL: 01572 823535 Room No: No: Room No: TEL:Room 01572 823535 EMAIL: RECEPTION@FALCON-HOTEL.CO.UK www.falcon-hotel.co.uk

RKET PLACE UPPINGHAM RUTLAND LE15 9PY

EMAIL: RECEPTION@FALCON-HOTEL.CO.UK

Rate: Rate: Rate: Room No: om No: Rate:

Feature /// Valentine’s day

The Desert The Falcon’s dark chocolate orange torte Ingredients 450g dark chocolate 650ml double cream (at room temperature) Zest one orange Juice of half an orange 100g butter For the Base 250g digestive biscuits (crushed) 150g butter for base

Method A delightfully quick and easy desert to make for the special person in your life. It is wickedly scrumptious too: grease and line a 25cm cake ring.

Lightly whip the cream until just thickening. Take one spoon of the chocolate and fold into the cream, then add all the cream back to the chocolate, folding in gently.

For the base, crush the digestive biscuits and pour in the melted butter. Press into the base of the cake tin. Refrigerate to set.

Add all of this mixture to the cake tin and place in the fridge to set for 2/3 hours or over night.

In a bowl, over heated water, add the chocolate orange, orange zest and juice, and butter. Once melted, leave to cool slightly.

DON’T FANCY COOKING? Phone The Falcon Hotel, Uppingham, on 01572 823535 for reservations.

WHICH WINE Wine for the Pudding. By Blake Johnston, The Stamford Wine Company.

Chateau de Cerons For a rich sweet dish like this then you need a powerhouse desert wine.

The best known of all is of course Sauternes from Bordeaux, however I recommend Chateau de Cerons from a lesser known appelation next door. Rich and golden in the glass, very sweet but tempered nicely with citrus. Marmalade in a glass!

WHICH FIZZ

By Blake Johnston, The Stamford Wine Company.

Champagne Marguet, Rose, Grand Cru, NV. Beautifully balanced wine with summer berries and other fruits harmoniously tied in with fine so bubbles and a lovely dry yet refreshing finish. All grapes selected from the finest Grand Cru Villages. Perfect for spoiling someone on Valentines day!

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Baubles and Bangles

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Fabulous fashion, jewellery and accessories 2 New street Oakham 01572724177 10 St Mary’s Hill Stamford 01780763633 12 Orange Street Uppingham

New Year, New Look, New Menus, New Local Ales!

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Still freezing in Feb? Join us by our log fire and enjoy home-made pub classics or February specials

Guests under 10 yrs old go free on the Children’s menu main

meals with eachadult ordering a main meal throughout February

Valentine’s Day

We have a tempting Valentine’s menu (see our website), served on Thursday 14th and Saturday 16th Feb, so come and share a cosy evening in the countryside

Live Music

February Live Music - every Saturday from 8.30pm Check website news for great local bands

2013 Weddings and Celebrations

Planning your wedding or family celebration? We still have some weekend availability for bookings in our wonderful marquee, set in Etton’s beautiful countryside

Mother’s Day - Sun 10th March

Treat Mum to a Classic Sunday Roast or something different from our special Mother's Day Menu

The Golden Pheasant, 1 Main Road, Etton, Peterborough PE6 7DA Tel: 01733 252387 info@thegoldenpheasant.net • www.thegoldenpheasant.net

Feature /// Valentine’s day

Let love bloom That last minute dive into the petrol station to grab flowers never works. She can tell they’ve been sat on a forecourt for three days, and the smell of diesel gives it away too. We’ve asked Amanda Clarke of florists Greensleaves for her advice.

Talk to your florist - ask her what she thinks and what flowers are best at the moment. They’ll have plenty of options and work out what suits your valentine.

Have them delivered. Women will o en say it was embarrassing to have flowers delivered to their work, but secretly they love the attention and jealous looks from their colleagues!

Valentines is about love, romance and flowers: you don’t have to have a dozen red roses - have another colour.

You want to ‘wow’. We can all do a dozen roses, but I can do that and more – perhaps something different and special. How about a single red rose with a diamonte pin in the centre, laid on the pillow?

Some people don’t like roses, and if you are not careful, you can end up overpaying for them at some places, so go and talk to a specialist and see what they can do instead.

If you buy your flowers the night before and want to hide them, stick them in water in the boot of your car – they’ll be fine in there overnight.

Remember, it doesn’t have to be a massive gesture just a flower thoughtfully given will do sometimes. It depends on your girl: those who are a bit hippyish love

something a little more unconventional and unstructured, those who are more traditional might want a showpiece bouquet. www.greensleavesflorist.co.uk

Heart health With love in the Rutland air this February, some ways to keep their heart in the best health possible.

By Alexa Cutteridge

As you know, your heart is one of your vital organs, a human pump delivering oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles and removing carbon dioxide and other waste products.

So how best to look a er your heart? Obviously diet and exercise are vitally important.

Firstly, try and reduce levels of salt in your diet – limit your intake to 6g and avoid foods containing more than 1.25g salt per 100g.

Switch bad (saturated) fats for good ones (monosaturated), so ditch the chips with tommy sauce and enjoy roasted sweet potatoes with avocado instead. The good fats in foods such as nuts, seed and avocado have been shown to lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels and cut heart disease and cancer risks.

Include foods high in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet such as oily fish and flax seeds. For regular exercisers omega-3 intake may help improve aerobic capacity and endurance.

Try and eat more beans and pulses, which are not only a great source of protein but beans, for

WIN! A STAY AT THE BULL & SWAN Good real ales, a diverse, unstuff y wine list, fine food locally sourced and a great team will make a perfect visit to The Bull and Swan for one lucky couple winning a night’s stay in our competition.

The winner will win an overnight stay with breakfast in one of their seven luxury rooms, known for its “quirky luxury”.

And if you time it right, they are also showing the 6 Nations for the duration of the competition, making it the ideal weekend break! Keep updated on twitter @thebullandswan To enter the draw, email the answer to tbas@theactivemag.com to the following question by February 14: Who are the current 6 nations champions?

example, contain soluble fibre that reduces cholesterol. Meanwhile, flavonoids and other chemicals in beans reduce the risk of heart attack.

Eat whole grains such as unrefined cereals, wholegrain bread, brown rice. Current scientific evidence indicates that whole grains play an important role in lowering the risk of chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease.

Include foods that have been shown to help reduce levels of LDL-cholesterol, such as – oats, oily fish, nuts and olive oil.

And finally, a valentine’s tip: ensure your true love buys you dark chocolate this valentines!

Flavanols in dark chocolate have been shown to keep blood vessels healthy, while epicatechin increases nitric oxide levels to keep blood pressure low! www.livestrong.com/article/452072-what-areheart-healthy-foods/#ixzz2HBkLkG4n Anita Bean – Food for Fitness

Get your heart fit: To keep your heart strong and healthy it needs exercise. Aim to do at least five 30 minute cardiovascular sessions of exercise a week. If you aren’t at risk of heart attack, make sure three of your workouts include high intensity exercise for positive adaptations to take place.

Going for a walk is certainly better than sitting on the sofa but you need to challenge your heart to get true results.

Have a go at these pulse raisers: 10 burpees, 10 tuck jumps, 10 star jumps (x3) ● 10 squat jumps, 10 mountain climbers, 10 lunge jumps (x3) ● Hill sprints – 50m/100m sprint up hill, jog/power walk down hill for recovery (x4) ●

Swim sprints – one length sprint swim, one length recovery (x5, rest, x5)

●

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Feature /// Hockey

Stick it!

Bourne Deeping Hockey Club is growing, with a new pitch, new teams and new young stars coming through. Steve Moody finds out more

H

ockey is a fast moving game, and Bourne Deeping are a suitably fast moving club. Last month, they moved to a new Astroturf pitch in Glinton, less than two years after

they were formed.

Bourne Deeping Hockey Club was offically formed on 10 May 2011, the product of a merger between two clubs; Market Deeping HC and Bourne HC. Originally formed in the 1920s and ’70s respectively, both Bourne and Market Deeping Hockey Clubs have great a deal of history as individual clubs in their own rights, and both clubs have produced an abundance of local talent who have gone on to play at National League level.

The merger happened to gain strength: the club now has 140 full members, five men’s teams and two ladies, and has moved to a new pitch in Glinton.

According to the club’s Rob Chorlton: “Both clubs needed more players, and merged finances meant we could start getting our own pitch and clubhouse.

“The extra players mean that each side can put a squad of 14 out each week, rather than players having to turn up twice, to help as subs with other teams.”

Such has been the success of the merger that

that the club is now looking to add a sixth men’s team and a third lady’s in the near future.

“We’re trying to get more men’s and ladies teams because now that we are playing at Arthur Mellows Village College’s brand new Astroturf we think we should be able to attract players from the school who haven’t had access to hockey before.”

For the established sides, things are on the up, too: the men’s first team is joint second in Division Two North of the East League, having been promoted last year, and the seconds are looking to make the leap up from their league too, which Rob says is vital to ensure there is not too big a gap between the sides.

As with all clubs, young players are vital for a successful future.

“We’ve got some really good younger players coming through: Chris Clarkson, Ben Slack, who’s just back from university, Matt Clarkson, and Harry Oakley is playing in the third team but on the verge of breaking into the first team.

They’ve all come through the development programme we have.”

Essential to the future of the club is the Junior Academy which has been recognised by England Hockey. They currently run two coaching sessions a week with as many as 60 children attending, aged from six to 16 years of age.

The club has been awarded a Club First accreditation, which recognises it is run in a

professional manner and adheres to governmental policy, such as CRB checks and qualified coaching personnel. The club has been accredited to Club First status which allows Lottery and England Hockey funding.

“Training takes place for under 13s at the Deeping Leisure Centre Astroturf on Saturday mornings, from 9am to 10.30am,” says Rob. “For the over 12s and adults, it is at Arthur Mellows Village College in Glinton, on Monday evenings from 7pm until 9pm. We have coaches at level 2 that run these organised sessions and level 1 coaches that help out to keep the numbers in the groups as small as possible. Thursday nights from 7pm until 9pm are the training nights for the first and second team squads.”

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Training sessions are “pay as you play” so there is no big outlay upfront. If you are unsure where your old stick is or not sure whether the kids will like hockey, why not visit anyway. In fact, Rob reckons the club has picked up players when parents have brought their children down and thought they would like to give it a go, too.

It’s that sort of relaxed and friendly club.

CONTACTS For more information visit www.bournedeepinghc.co.uk Junior coach Sue Oakley – susanmoakley@googlemail.com Club secretary Graham Brewer graham_brewer@yahoo.co.uk

JOLLY HOCKEY IF YOU PLAYED hockey many years ago at school, it is unrecognisable now from that game played on muddy, bumpy grass pitches, with big, hooked sticks.

The days of attempting to stop a speeding, bouncing ball from smashing into your knees have gone with the introduction of Astroturf pitches. A lot of the fussy rules have been binned too, such as not being able to

turn your back on opponents when you have the ball, and new rules to speed the game up have been introduced.

For example, free kicks can now be taken immediately and don’t have to be passed to anyone else: you can just set off again, which has allowed the game to flow more and cut out cynical fouls.

And there are unlimited roll-on, roll-off substitutions,

which is handy in such a fast paced game.

Because there is less contact (theoretically at least!) than in football or rugby, players are also able to play until they are much older, and the speed of the game means it is great for fitness too.

For more information, visit www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk

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Feature /// Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness

Everything a woman needs to be fit, healthy and fantastic. Edited by Sandie Hurford

We’re a nation of WAGs That’s Women Ageing Gracefully, eschewing cosmetic surgery and fillers

K

im Basinger recently celebrated her 59th birthday – the age pinpointed by a survey as the year to start growing old gracefully. The survey also revealed that women believe heavy make-up and mini-skirts should be given the heave-ho by the early 40s.

The research, which polled 2,000 women aged 45 and over, also revealed that Madonna and Anne Robinson were the celebrities women say are ageing LEAST gracefully.

The poll, by anti-aging brand Nurture Replenish Skincare, found: ■ Heavy eyeliner is out for women past 43 ■ One third think false eyelashes are out by the time we reach 40.

■ Nearly 40% say heavy blusher should go by 40 ■ But red lipstick is OK. This classic can stay, as 38% of women say you never need to ditch it.

■ 43 is the age women think they should give up the fake tan.

■ And nearly half say anything with glitter is a no-no past 40 – partygoers beware.

■ 41 is the cut-off for leather trousers and mini-skirts.

Even fairly innocuous tight tops need to be thought through when women reach 45. Half of those in the study said women over 50 could not get away with tattoos and a third said bleached hair was not becoming for an older lady. Nearly a third of the women polled said they worry

they’re too old to wear certain items in their wardrobe. A whopping three-quarters of men said certain looks were ageing and that they were put off by women who try too hard.

A spokesman for Nurture Replenish Skincare said: “Many women will be able to relate to these findings. It’s true that as you get older you may have to adapt your look but every woman will face this stage at different times in her life.

Red lipstick is OK to wear whatever your age

“What’s important to remember is to be yourself and don’t be forced to look a certain way because you feel you have to.”

After a year of cosmetic horror stories about dodgy implants and fillers gone wrong it’s not

surprising that 74% of women are saying no to surgery. The average woman over 45 would like to shave just five years off her real age but less that 10 per cent would actually lie about their real age. Despite living in an age-conscious society, a confident 59 per cent of women said they think they look younger than they actually are and said they don’t need the latest trends in fashion and make-up to look good.

The poll found that respondents declared a good diet and a strict skincare regime as the answer to staying youthful, with just eight per cent threatening to resort to surgery, although a more frisky 10 per cent said it was a younger man and only one in twenty credited lots of make-up.

Being wrinkle-free was the must-have attribute to looking good when you hit your fifties and sixties.

A spokesman for Nurture Replenish Skincare added: “It appears we are seeing a Botox backlash. Women seem more interested in looking good than looking 20.

“It’s good to hear that women in their fifties feel confident enough in their looks to stop being a slave to fashion. It’s encouraging that women only want to shave five years off their real age and most are not interested in cosmetic surgery.

Nowadays, with so many advances in skincare, that is achievable. The key is to adapt and change your routine as you mature.”

WANT TO BE A WAG? THEN SAY NO TO...

False eyelashes

Tattoos

42

Heavy eyeliner

Glitter make-up

Fake tan

Bleached hair

Leather trousers

Tight tops

Heavy blusher

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 ///

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CELEBRITIES THAT ARE GROWING OLD MOST GRACEFULLY The WAGs study also found that Helen Mirren was believed to be the celebrity that is growing old the most gracefully. Runner-up was Bond actress Judi Dench, followed by Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley.

1. Helen Mirren

2. Judi Dench

AGEING PAST THE MENOPAUSE

WHAT THE IMAGE EXPERTS SAY

The female body begins to age from as early as the age of 30, although we don’t necessarily notice any physical changes until much later on.

The most visible changes affect the skin and hair, although ageing also has a significant impact on the brain and mind. If you are approaching or going through the menopause, there is plenty that you can do to reduce the risks of damage.

On the Menopause Exchange website, gerontologist and anti-ageing expert Dr Marios Kyriazis looks at the effects of ageing at and around the time of the menopause. He concentrates on skin and hair changes (eg. wrinkles and thinning hair) and memory problems, with advice on ways to combat the ageing process.

“No-one can escape the effects of ageing on the body, but it is possible to reduce the risk of noticeable changes,” says Norma Goldman, founder and director of The Menopause Exchange.

“In his article, Dr Kyriazis discusses the role of food supplements, skin and hair products and cosmetic surgery.”

The Menopause Exchange is completely independent. Free membership entitles women to newsletters, emailed four times a year and packed full of practical information on symptoms, osteoporosis, ways to cope with the menopause (including HRT, complementary therapies, nutrition and self-help measures), chronic health problems (e.g. heart disease and diabetes) plus much more.

There is also information on the talks and seminars given by Norma Goldman to women, healthcare professionals and organisations.

Visit the website at www. menopauseexchange.co.uk

The gym has become an important activity to look one’s best in the middle-aged fight for fitness. But the face is o en overlooked despite the fact that this is what people notice the most. From the age of 30, the facial muscles start withering, the face is not as well supported and starts showing signs of ageing.

The Slendertone Facial muscle toner uses electro-muscle stimulation technology to tone and li the muscles of your face. Slendertone asked a range of image experts for their beauty tips.

Aneleise Deane, fashion stylist and image consultant who has advised Kirsten Dunst and Twiggy: “I always say that it is better to try and be the best you can be with the natural assets you have. I suggest playing up the positives and downplaying perceived negatives. The rise and rise of celebrities with curvaceous body types is testimony to a growing acceptance of a range of shapes – witness our admiration of Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé or Kelly Brooke – all of whom look stunning in clothes which show off their Rubenesque curves.

Award-winning make-up artist Sarah Brock concurs: “People are becoming savvy to frozen and immobile features or over-plumped lips – they don’t want to look like waxworks, they want to remain recognisable. The trend for 2013 is natural and so rather than hard and un-natural.”

Slendertone Face Ambassador Nichola Joss adds: “Most people want to avoid looking obviously ‘worked on’ using injectables or surgery and are looking for a way to hold back time in a more natural, discreet way.

Slendertone Face is a great tool for exercising the face and achieving a natural faceli with your own muscles!” www.slendertone.com

3. Joanna Lumley

THE FRENCH SECRET TO ANTI-AGEING AND BEAUTY? Cambridge-based biotech company Lycotec has developed a technology which helps to identify new anti-inflammatory factors in an unexpected food product – Roquefort and Camembert cheeses.

Extensive laboratory and clinical validation has demonstrated that these factors, which occur during ripening of the cheese, have unique properties allowing them to perform best in such acidic environments as the lining of the stomach or the skin surface.

Acidification is also a common process accompanying inflammation, eg. in a joint affected by arthritis or in an active atherosclerotic plaque on arterial wall. Moreover, there is a growing consensus that sub-clinical inflammation is behind ageing processes, from the loss of skeletal muscles in older people and cellulite to metabolic and cardio- and cerebro-vascular age-related conditions and diseases.

In a recently published paper “Could cheese be the missing piece in the French paradox puzzle?” the Lycotec team suggested that regular consumption by the French of Roquefort, Camembert and other moulded fermented cheeses (maybe together with red wine?) could be behind the fact that this nation has the lowest rate of cardiovascular mortality in the developed world despite a diet high in saturated fat.

This discovery could lead not only to the creation of new pharmaceuticals to control inflammation cascades, but also to the development of new anti-ageing and beauty cosmetic, food and beverage products.

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Feature /// Sportsman’s Dinner

The Crown Hotel, Stamford Dean and JT head to The Crown – the scene of some of Dean’s greatest ‘triumphs’ Dean So, this month it was off to probably my favourite ever Stamford venue, The Crown.

Over the last 10 years, I reckon I’ve spent more nights in there than in any other spot in the area.

Whether it’s just for a nice quick drink with friends, a special night out, Sunday dinner or even a date or two, The Crown is often the venue of choice.

JT A date or two Dean? Are you sure you’ve had that many? I agree though. The bar has the feel of a swanky London venue, yet also somehow manages to exude ‘country’ as well. You feel like you’re almost as likely to see a tweed jacket and Hunters at the bar, as you are seeing a lady wearing Jimmy Choos, although I think flats would be more suitable in this weather.

Dean Not that you’d know Jimmy Choo from Jimmy Krankie. But we first had a quick drink in the bar before sitting down for food. I like it for the quality selection of beers on offer, both on draught and in bottle. It also has one of the most impressive looking bars! Their staff all know how to pour a cocktail or two as well.

JT I didn’t have you down as the cocktail type, Dean. Personally, it’s one of my favourite bars in town, I love the art on the walls: I’ve been in love with that woman smoking the cigarette ever since I first stepped foot in here.

Dean I thought you being a healthy athlete wouldn’t go for a smoker?

JT Beggars can’t be choosers. Anyway even an athlete needs a vice.

Dean Aren’t you doing the London Marathon

this year? Talking of which, you should join the Stamford Striders running club. There were a few members in there the night we went, all of them drinking champagne. Not sure that would be on Mo Farah’s menu this close to the Stamford Valentine 30k run.

JT For traditional, quality food at a reasonable price, this place takes some beating. A lot of the produce comes from the family farm in Tallington, so I understand. I was really torn... I love a good lamb shank but plumped for the burger.

JT Well, everyone needs a night off once in a while.

Dean My main course of steak was as succulent, and well cooked as I’ve ever had, to be honest.

And served up with all the trimmings.

Absolutely delicious.

Dean True. We were seated in the lower lounge, a lovely room that feels informal, yet really smart as well with a roaring log fire for those perfect wintry Sunday lunches. There’s loads of other great space to eat as well, ranging from slightly more formal dining areas to the superb patio in the summer. I actually think that patio has one of the best views in town. And it is kid friendly!

JT There’s often a few great views in the inside bar on a Saturday night as well.

Dean I agree. It’s always been the best place in town for ‘meeting and greeting’, shall we say.

JT If you say so. I’m sure you’ve honed your ‘meet and greet’ skills on many occasions.

Dean In terms of food, The Crown exudes quality. The menu has a great selection, a good mixture of classic British meals as well as more sophisticated dishes.

JT My starter of fillet of mackerel en croute was divine... plenty of omega three oil.

Dean And my broccoli and cream soup was delicious. Ideal for a winter evening.

JT I had the burger with cheese, bacon, double fried chips and onion rings, to satisfy my protein and carb intake. I’ll come back for the lamb shank next time. Protein is essential for any marathon runner and entrant into the Rat Race as you are Dean. See website for sponsorship details…

Dean Overall, The Crown is one of the best places to go in Stamford. It’s done out in a contemporary style, yet is also furnished with local antiques mixing the old and the new perfectly. The bar staff and waiting staff are smart and eager to help, and the food is traditional and of a very high quality. The bar is also the perfect place for a pre- and post-meal drink, giving diners the chance to socialise in an informal atmosphere.

The Crown Hotel

All Saints’ Place, Stamford 01780 763136 www.thecrownhotelstamford.co.uk

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Feature /// Great runs

Oakham and back again Alexa Cutteridge relives PE lessons of her father’s youth with these Oakham-based routes ///

Photography: Harry Measures

WHAT WERE YOUR FITNESS SESSIONS like when you were at school? My dad, who captained the 1st XV rugby team for Oakham back in 1971, always talks about the team fitness sessions they used to do around Rutland.

Even though it clearly was aeons ago when he did them, amazingly all the landmarks are still in place, so I decided to share them with you, Active readers, so you too can relive the joy of school runs.

Handily though, you don’t have to do them in t-shirt, shorts and plimsolls whatever the weather, there’s no need to stop for a crafty fag halfway round, and the showers are probably hot at the end of it, too.

Both runs being relatively short in distance means you can squeeze them in to busy days plus they avoid muddy fields and tracks which can cause chaos for runners at this time of year. No excuses – get active team!

EGLETON TRIANGLE From Oakham Market Square head out to the High Street and join Stamford Road.

Go over the first round about and then turn right towards Hambleton. Run along the path to the left and ahead on the right you will see a signpost to Egleton.

Take this turning and pick up the footpath alongside

Church Road towards the pretty village of Egleton. At Forge Cottage turn right on to Hambleton Road. Continue along the country road until you get to Uppingham Road.

Turn right and run along the side path to the main road taking you back towards Oakham. When you get to the roundabout on Stamford Road, take the first exit at the roundabout and return back to the Market Square.

OAKHAM TO BURLEY ON THE HILL Run along Ashwell Road, heading away from Oakham town.

Go straight over the roundabout and you will see Ashwell playing field on your left. Here you begin a slow hill climb for around fifteen minutes – pace yourself!

At the crossroads turn right on to Langham Lane and head slightly uphill again towards the pretty village of Burley.

When you get to the village enjoy the beautiful view from the top and then turn right on to Oakham Road as you descend back down in to Oakham.

At the bottom of the hill take the third exit at the roundabout and continue on Schofield Road. At the next roundabout take the first exit on to Ashwell Road returning back to the start.

STATS EGLETON TRIANGLE DISTANCE 4 miles TERRAIN Road and track OAKHAM TO BURLEY DISTANCE 3.7 miles TERRAIN Road

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Feature /// Great walks

Hills and Holes and Walcot Hall

A gentle stroll with some attractive landmarks around Barnack, as Will Hetherington discovers Photography: Will Hetherington THE ROUTE

You can park in any one of the convenient parking areas around the edge of the intriguing 50-acre Hills and Holes nature reserve in Barnack.

Once you have entered this Site of Special Scientific Interest, enjoy a stroll around the deep hollows and let the children play hide and seek while the dog stretches its legs. But be careful not to damage any of the ‘flora, fauna, or geographical features’ or you may be hit with a £20,000 fine by Natural England!

When you are ready to start phase two of this walk (probably after about 15 minutes), make your way to the south-west corner of the site along any of the multitude of tracks. Look for the footpath which runs beside the high stone wall away from the village. This will take you along a field boundary until you pop out on to the road.

Turn left here through the gateways and into the pastures in front of Walcot Hall.

Keeping the high wall on your left pass the grand gates which provide a majestic view of the hall and keep going. It’s a peaceful landscape away from any traffic and it’s also easy walking on well defined tracks. The path makes a very gradual descent towards the village of Southorpe as you pass through a couple of fields, before eventually joining the road at Grange Farm.

Turn left and walk north along the road through the village. You have to walk on the road for a small section of this, but it shouldn’t be too busy. Look out for Southorpe Meadow on the right. This is a wildflower-rich hay meadow, which features some rare flowers in spring and summer and is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

And on the left of the road is a large piece of limestone, which has been there since Peterborough and Ely cathedrals were built circa 1450. According to the plaque on the stone it fell off one of the carts transporting it from the quarry to the River Nene.

When you reach a sharp right hand turn in the road at the northern edge of Southorpe look for the stile in the hedge next to Hall Farm. Cross over here and go through the grassy meadow and the arable field towards Barnack. Cross the road after the arable field and re-enter Barnack on the footpath by the cricket club where you can either turn left or carry on and explore the village.

When you are done you can retire to the Millstone pub which is very close to the Hills and Holes for a sandwich and a pint.

THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE

The Hills and Holes are great fun for dogs and children. There are signs in front of Walcot Hall asking for all dogs to be kept on leads, not least because of the pheasant shoot , and you will have to use the lead on the walk through Southorpe.

Difficulty rating (out of five)

Clockwise, from right

Stone wall guides you out of Barnack towards Walcot Hall; the impressive approach to the hall through an avenue of trees; the reason why the site is called Hills and Holes; one of the stones taken from the quarry in Barnack. This stone lies in Southorpe, where it is said it fell from a cart en route to the River Nene

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park There are a number of parking areas around the Hills and Holes but the main one is on Wittering Road.

Southorpe for a short section and there are parts of the walk where you will have to keep the dog on the lead.

Distance and time Three miles/one hour (it’s pretty easy going).

to as hollows) is a special place which acts as a giant playground.

The walk past Walcot Hall is peaceful and the view of the house, which was built in the mid-17th Century, offers a glimpse of a life less ordinary.

This is a good stretch of the legs without any demanding hills.

Highlights The Hills and Holes (o en referred

Lowlights You have to walk along the road in

*Readers are advised to take an OS map with them

Refreshments The Millstone in Barnack. Or if you make a bit of a detour you can head to the White Hart in Ufford.

4 8 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 ///

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TOP STAT

d Holes is a Barnack Hills an which has a are d lan ss gra site of developed on the workings. disused quarry quarried was The limestone uses and used in local ho Cathedral Peterborough

/// F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

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Feature /// Management in sport

The speed of learning Mary Brooks of MAP Knowledge looks into what you get out of learning at different speeds and in varying environments THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT speeds of travel, from walking to supersonic planes, and they all offer us a differing experience, too. And the way each ‘journey’ takes place can give us ideas of ways of learning and management...

WALKING

The experiences of walking are many – you can breathe the air, smell the fragrances, hear the noises from your surroundings and see in detail many things. You take in the surroundings notice much more – this is a traditional training experience with a trainer-led programme and with other learners.

RUNNING

Much quicker and you notice things in less detail. But you can stop if you want, and running normally starts with a warm-up and a warm down. This has to be blended learning where you can have the training room experience and some associated distance training. This way you take the heightened personal experience and control the quicker speed of learning in your own time.

RIDING A BIKE

Covering bigger distances in faster time. The

detail can be there depending on how fast you ride, and if you don’t hold your head down most of the time. You need to balance well and be able to steer the bike in the right direction.

This is truly blended learning where you attend the training room experience and work on associated online learning.

DRIVING

It can be either stressful or exhilarating, depending how and what you drive. This is total online learning that you can pick up or put down as you like – you need to know what you are doing, have the right equipment and balance of motivation to enjoy it, be able to follow an IT technician’s instructions and be able to keep on track despite the distractions that pass by.

TRAIN TRAVEL

Trains can be lonely places, where you are aware of everyone around you but have a choice of whether to interact or not. Fast journey speeds too, hardly able to glimpse the details of the outside world. This is a total online management course or telephone seminar with set times and dates – where others are participating too in their own worlds – all together but strangely insular too in working on your computer, phone

or tablet completing the online work or listening to the speaker as you know others are too, on their own.

AIRPLANE TRAVEL

This is like the train in the sky really – set times; albeit much faster speeds, covering far more ground, and again mostly can be in complete isolation. This is today’s holistic online learning experiences where you can pick and choose what you want, when you want; access it from where you want to and on a variety of devices.

You do not need to speak to anyone, you can be entirely focused and do it at your own speed.

The choice of how you learn in the 21st century-wide landscape offered today covers everything too from soft skills to highly technical options, from a classroom to a phone, with others, by yourself. And whilst the training and learning world is moving on – the choice still remains with you, as mostly does your travel requirements.

MARY BROOKS T: 0845 459 4076 E: mb@mapknowledgelimited.com W: www.mapknowledgelimited.com

/// F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

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

Football

New men lead Daniels and Blackstones, and Bels ring

BY DEAN CORNISH

I

t has been a mixed period for Stamford since the departure of Graham Drury to Boston United, as the Daniels try and keep up the pressure on Coalville Town at the top of the table. It seemed very much a case of Graham Who? on Boxing Day when David Staff took the reigns as caretaker boss and presided over a cracking 4-1 win against Kidsgrove Athletic. Gary King scored two in that game before then being tempted away by a high earning offer from big spenders Spalding United.

The Daniels were next in action on New Year’s Day when a crowd of 749 at King’s Lynn (including a large and vocal Stamford away following) saw the Linnets pull of a 2-1 win with two late goals breaking Daniels’ hearts.

Ex-Football League professional, Wayne Hatswell, was then appointed as manager and his first game in charge saw a battling 3-1 win for the Daniels away at Gresley which moved his side back up to second in the league. Ricky Miller banged in two more goals in that game to take his tally to

19 in 12 games. Stamford knew it would be hard to keep hold of him and so it has proved as he’s joined Arlesey Town.

Hatswell’s first home game in charge didn’t go quite so well, losing 1-0 at home to Leek Town which makes the task of catching Coalville Town even more difficult. Keeping the Daniels in the play-off picture will be Hatswell’s realistic aim.

Meanwhile, Blackstones also have a new manager with Yaxley veteran Dave Stratton taking over the vacancy left when Darren Jarvis and Michael Goode left for Peterborough Northern Star. Stratton’s managerial career got off to a good start with a pleasing 2-1 home win over Long Buckby on January 12. Before that, it hadn’t been a pleasing start to 2013, with a 3-1 defeat against Spalding United and a 5-1 thumping against Newport Pagnell on the first Saturday of the New Year.

There wasn’t much cheer on Boxing Day either when Deeping Rangers ran out 3-0 winners. Stones fans will be hoping that Stratton can turn their fortunes around and keep them clear of any slim relegation fears.

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In the Peterborough League, Oakham United’s defensive problems were highlighted once again when they were thrashed 6-1 away in their first game of 2013.

Also in the Premier Division, Uppingham Town’s league form remains strong, starting their year off with a good 1-0 home win over Leverington Sports to consolidate their mid-table position.

In the First Division, the Stamford Bels have turned their form around in a reversal of Lazarus proportions. Since losing 13 games in a row earlier in the season, Martin Conneely’s men have won three games on the bounce to haul themselves off the foot of the table.

Ryhall United celebrated a great win over title chasing Moulton Horrox on January 12 although inconsistency is likely to see James Sheehan’s men finish in the bottom half of the table.

Ketton’s similarly mixed form means it’ll be an interesting battle to see which of those two finish the highest come the end of the season.

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5 2 F E BRUA RY 2013 ///

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Rugby

Boers, balloons and baths

BY JEREMY BESWICK

O

akham started the month with a narrow defeat at home to Ashbourne 20-25 but followed up with two wins as they continued their slow but inexorable climb towards the top of the table. Second spot, meaning a play-off for promotion, doesn’t look beyond them.

Coach Tom Armstrong was disappointed not to beat Aylestone St James by a wider margin than 18-6: “We had played once in five weeks and I think that showed”, he said. Tries from James Beanland and Adam Stimson contributed.

The next home match posed more of a challenge, Oaks having lost away to Leicester Forest earlier in the season.

A lively first half saw number 7 Carel Fourie at his ‘combative’ best, seemingly re-enacting his own version of the Boer War. Certainly no Valentine’s Cards will be forthcoming from the opposing side and a penalty, a try from a rolling maul and the conversion saw Oaks 10-0 up at half time.

Doubtless it was cold hands in the freezing conditions that caused both sides to spill the ball so often in the second half; play was at times reminiscent of a dog chasing a balloon, but Oaks eventually ground out a pleasing 13-0 win, the Leicester backs failing to carve out any clear

scoring opportunities. However, the highlight of the day was your author winning £72 in the club raffle.

The surprise that Stamford Town had in store for us this month was not three wins, but a defeat in the last match before their cup semi-final against Stourbridge.

Unbeaten going into the fixture at Rushden and Higham, they led 11-3 at the break but allowed The Den to make good use of the slope and dominate the second half, finally losing 11-31 and suffering the indignity of a bonus point to the opposition.

Captain Matt Albinson had warned of complacency earlier in the month and time will tell if this was a glitch ahead of their glamour tie or something more troubling.

Previously, it had been service as usual with victories away to Daventry (15-8) home to Stockwood Park (48-7) and at Northampton Casuals (43-0, Matt Jane and Mark Taylor both with two tries).

Stamford College Old Boys opened with a creditable 5-5 draw away to Corby, which was nearly even better.

“We dominated the second half and were inches away from a winning try” said skipper Carl Walker. This was a welcome relief from what all acknowledge to be a tough season – later they lost 0-66 to St Ives,

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0-52 to Bedford Swifts and had to concede the match with St Neots. What is impressive about College is their never-saydie attitude, still competing and scrapping when 40 points down. Walker points out they’re still a young side, especially in the back division and singled out Haydn Johns and Adam Chapman as two for the future.

Deepings opened with a 25-20 home victory against Northampton Casuals followed by a very creditable 15-21 win in the swimming baths that was Queens’ back-up pitch.

Chris Sorlie and Ross McLean were among the try scorers. Captain Dan Ainsworth was disappointed that a last minute Queens try cost them a bonus point, but was more positive about the loss to in-form Rugby St Andrews that followed, “taking plenty of positives” from a match that he reckoned could have gone either way, as they lost 12-22.

Fewer consolations could be taken from the 50-0 thrashing at Stewarts and Lloyds, although the side was weakened by injuries. Ainsworth points out that their next three games are against teams with a similar points tally.

“If we win all three we’ll climb the table” he says. Still some way to go to match the table-topping ladies team then.

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/// F E BRUA RY 2013

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Roundup

Equestrianism

Great support for local hunt meetings

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

Photography: Nico Morgan

T

he Yuletide period is a superb time to go hunting and get the blood pumping after all the festive fattening up, and it is fast becoming a tradition to blow out the cobwebs on Boxing Day. The Cottesmore Hunt meet was at Cutts Close at Oakham, hosted by the Whipper Inn Hotel, where they also had a collection for Macmillan Cancer Trust. It was the biggest turnout for years, both mounted and on foot. Richard Hunnisett then lead the huge field through Oakham and then on to the best Cottesmore Tuesday country.

I went to Grantham to see the Belvoir Hunt meet. They met in the middle of town next to a small fun fair, and it was great to see that they too had a good mounted turnout and it was especially pleasing to see so many non-equestrian people coming out.

Although it continued to be too wet for many outdoor equestrian activities, Arena UK near Grantham had a very popular four day show jumping show over the New Year, which included a New Year’s Eve party.

One of the fun classes was a “New Year fancy dress accumulator” which was won

by Liane Smith. They ran 27 classes over the four days with many classes attracting more than 50 competitors.

If you fancy trying something a bit different, why not try going to watch the

Above

Members of the Cottesmore Hunt in action on their recent meet at Oakham

Melton Hunt Club Cross Country Ride at Willoughby on February 10 at noon. This is a race with a difference: it runs over 3.5 miles of Leicestershire farmland and the course is open a week beforehand for the riders to inspect. The start and finish are fixed and it is up to the riders to pick their own route between the two, with some of the biggest hedges, ditches and rails to negotiate that you could possibly imagine.

The winner is obviously the first past the

post but there are various other prizes to be won. It is very exciting to watch, with a handful of riders gunning for the highly coveted trophies, and a lot of the other runners have it on their “bucket list”, which shall we say makes the sport what it is – fun for everyone, including the spectators.

It is also about to become point-to-point season. Please go out and have some fun and support your local hunt this year, they are great days out. Put these point-to-point dates in your diary:  March 3 - Garthorpe (Cottesmore)  March 24 – Garthorpe (Belvoir)  May 18 – Dingley (Fitzwilliam)

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Hockey

Rutland improve after suffering new year blues

BY SIMON COOPER

R

utland Hockey Club’s two mixed teams took on sides from local rivals Market Harborough in their first encounters of 2013.

Unfortunately, Harborough appeared to have over-wintered the better and came out on top in both.

At least the Horseshoes (the Mixed 1st X1) managed to bounce back the following week, emerging 5-4 victors over Loughborough Carillon.

With only nine players on the pitch, it was certainly hard work for the Rutlanders, who were indebted to stand-in goalkeeper and man-of-the-match John Meadows.

His brother Chris scored two, and Wes Durston three, as Rutland’s attack fired nicely.

However, there were some nervous moments towards the end, not least after a labouring Phil Ash, rarely seen in a defensive capacity, diverted one spectacularly into his own net.

The Men’s side have only had the one fixture thus far in 2013, travelling to Ely to play a side just below them in the table.

The home team were a useful outfit, but the Rutlanders were able to manipulate the ball with a little more purpose and penetration, with Pinner and Woods at the back providing a solid platform.

A solo effort from Owen Evans, bashed

in from close range after a mazy dribble, opened the scoring, before he then made Rutland’s second with a threaded hit to a charging Woods to deflect home.

Alan Selby came close a couple of times before Warren Ginn, having tweaked his radar after a couple of early attempts, walloped in Rutland’s third. Ely nicked one back towards the close but it was too little, too late.

The match was also notable for your correspondent’s return to competitive action; a typically haphazard performance at least contained the highlight of some last ditch, goal-line heroics after keeper Ollie Carrick had gone walkabout when the score was still 2-0.

Rutland’s Ladies 1st X1 started the year with a League Cup victory away at Oundle.

The Rutland girls got off to a flying start; Anne Pollock profiting from Nicki Perry’s intelligent movement up front to burst through and rifle in four first half goals, with Oundle adding one of their own in between.

The home side came out fighting at the start of the second period though, and levelled things up with a goal from free play, another from a loopy short corner and the equaliser from the penalty spot.

Thankfully Rutland were able to lift themselves and come again. Sarah Sissins,

in a rare outing in the forward line, putting their noses back in front and Kerry Rough sealing the deal from close range. The following Saturday, Oundle made the trip to Rutland for a regular league game.

Despite fielding a changed line-up, the Rutland team again began well, Pollock confirming her return to goal-scoring form by netting another first half hat-trick.

As per the week before, the Oundle side upped the ante after the half-time break, but this time Rutland were able to weather the storm without conceding and as they regained control more goals followed for Pollock, Brahamachari and Penny Skipper.

Only a point separates the top three sides in the Premier Division, so watch this space to see if Rutland’s promotion push can continue into 2013 – with seven games still to play there are sure to be a few twists and turns.

The youngsters of the Ladies 2nd X1 have yet to restart their league campaign, their only scheduled game against Cambridge Nomads being called off.

More than 20 girls turned out for a training day though, with captain Jennifer Pollock being so pleased with the response that she is hoping to run a series of mid-week sessions in the coming weeks and months.

Show your support for local sport and advertise in our classifieds Email advertise@theactivemag.com or call 01780 480789 /// F E BRUA RY 2013

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25/01/2013 19:29

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Roundup

Golf

Air ambulance appeal GREETHAM VALLEY After the tragic death of Greetham Valley chef James Adamson in August 2010, member Colin Eversden decided to find a way to get funds for the Notts and Lincs Air Ambulance service after their valiant efforts to save him.

Airshots Golf Society have raised £1,400 in the last 12 months and is made up of 32 members from four different golf clubs and they play six or seven venues each year.

Eversden hopes to attract more members for the 2013 season and raise even more funds. Greetham Valley vice-captain Shaun Denholm, who runs the Air Ambulance Lottery, said that a small amount from a lot of people can add up to be a massive help to the service. For details of how you can enter the lottery or join Airshots, contact Fred Aspin at fwapropguard@msn.com Round 13 of the Winter Order of Merit was very unlucky for some, played in cold and windy conditions, with only three players managing to come in under par. Chris Wheatland jumped from 28th to twelfth position when he took his first win of the series with 40 points.

The top five all struggled in the conditions.

Adam Clegg has dropped off the top spot and is now second with a 153 points. Ian Copley moves up to first place with a 155, while George Grant is third with a 148.

NORTH LUFFENHAM It seems there are exciting times ahead for the coming year at North Luffenham as membership numbers have increased by almost 20% in the past eight months.

In addition, golf professional Mark Jackson is now working out of North Luffenham, having spent many years as professional at Toft.

In the recent Sunday medal, played in bitterly cold weather, there was a low turn-out, as expected. In Division A, all players returned nett scores above 70 except Dom Freckingham, who carded a magnificent nett 66, playing off 17.

In the latest round of knock-out ties, Keith Bellamy (playing off 18) beat Gordon Knox (off 11) by one hole, in the gents knock-out final. In the Seniors knock-out, Bob Dixon awaits the winner between Tom Little and Gordon Knox in the final. In the recent semi-final, Dixon (off 13) beat Malcolm Hird (off 16) by one hole, having been four down after eight holes.

BURGHLEY PARK Round four of the Burghley Park Winter League was completed with the stand-out performance coming from Paul Wilkinson who grabbed six birdies in securing a 3&2 win with partner John Mayman over Dean Vaughan and Matt Lem, currently the club’s best juniors.

The result maintained Wilkinson and Mayman’s 100% record in Section C, where their maximum 12 points gives them a three point lead over John Tilley and Charlie Gardiner, whose 3&1 victory over Chris Quinn and Mike Barton leap-frogged them over Vaughan and Lem into second place.

In Section A, positions are unchanged, but the withdrawal of one of the teams has compressed the middle of the table and, with there now being a bye in each round, interest should be maintained until the very end of the league phase.

Chris Townsend and Alan Cole are now clear at the top on 10 points, courtesy of the biggest win of the round, 6&5 over Bob Emmins and Chris Bradshaw, over whom

they now have a four point lead in second spot. There are also clear leaders in Section B, where a one-up win for Paul York and Mark Duffen over David Tilley and Graham Bedford puts them on 10 points, three clear of Stuart Ward and Jon Tyrrell, and Tilley and Bedford, both pairs on seven points.

RUTLAND COUNTY More than 100 golfers turned out at Rutland County for the Gary Freckingham Memorial despite some heavy rain showers which had closed many other local courses.

Chris Hibbitt took first spot with 44 points while Dave Saddington just pipped Jason Creed on countback with 43 points for second place and Mitchell Buck came in fourth on 40 points.

Nearest the pins were Clive Froment and Stuart Rose. Keiron Foster was nearest the pin in two on hole 12. Luke Gale smashed the longest seven-iron on the sixth hole and the longest drive went to Stuart Rose on the par-five 10th. Event organiser, Ollie Freckingham, was pleased to announce a £550 charity donation to the British Heart Foundation.

The annual New Year ‘Two Clubs and a Putter’ competition attracted a modest field despite a very bright day for golf. Scores were also modest and so Deggie Palmer’s 35 points were enough to secure victory which, allied to a double share of the 2’s money, gave him a smashing start to 2013. Rick Collins just managed to edge out Martin Clark by one point for second place with 32 points.

The Lady Beginner’s groups are starting up again soon, so any novice lady golfers are encouraged to call Tracy on 01780 460330 to get more information about the Thursday and Saturday sessions.

Show your support for local sport and advertise in our classifieds Email advertise@theactivemag.com or call 01780 480789 /// F E BRUA RY 2013

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Feature /// Stalwart

Gavin Moss C H A I R M A N , S TA M F O R D C O L L E G E O L D B OY S Words /// Will Hetherington Photography /// Jonathan Clarke

‘YOU CAN’T BEAT THE CAMARADERIE OF RUGBY; IN THE CHANGING ROOM, ON THE PITCH AND IN THE PUB AFTERWARDS’

A

t the age of 43, Gavin (or Mossy as he is universally known) still doggedly plies his trade in the back row, using all the experience he has gained in 23 years of playing rugby for the college. But he readily admits he is not the longest serving player the club has. Ray Bates, Steve Pulley and Glen Hill can all pull rank on him in that department.

None of them have been chairman, coach and player though, and Mossy’s commitment cannot be questioned.

Numerous injuries have taken their toll but it’s been worth it. Back in the early 1990s when he was playing in the centres and “had actual pace” the college saw some notable successes.

Victory in the Tom Ollerhead Cup, defeating Spalding 2nds 9-6 along the way, was a notable achievement.

Although not quite as impressive as three successive promotions in the league, as champions, in the mid-’90s.

College eventually reached the heights of East Midlands 2 where: “We got thumped and beaten constantly!”

And who were the stars of that team: “Jim Scrimshaw and Sean Hughes were the best wingers we’ve ever had and for three or four seasons they were unstoppable. We had a strong pack with the likes of Tommy Smith, Dave Hickman, Dave Revell, Glen Hill and Tim Prior. And Sean Carlton was a top scrum half. In terms of coaches Glyn James was always dedicated to the cause.”

These days it’s harder for rugby clubs to get people to commit to playing every Saturday and Mossy has an idea why: “Saturdays aren’t the same. People didn’t really have to work on Saturdays back then, and were more prepared to commit to rugby from Saturday lunchtime.

And when I was at school we were offered football, rugby or cricket, but now there are so many other things.”

So how did the love affair with rugby start? “When I was a schoolboy in Deeping I was a big lad and I started off playing prop. Academically I failed and went to Stamford College and did my ONC in engineering.

Funnily enough I soon lost all the weight I carried as a schoolboy, hence the move to the centres. At 18 I started as an apprentice at Molins in Peterborough and began playing rugby for the College Old Boys, after a year with Bourne. Sadly, Molins shut the Peterborough site in 1998 and made 600 people redundant, which is when I set up my own engineering business in Bourne.”

I wondered what it is about rugby that has held such a strong grip on Mossy all these years?

“You can’t beat the camaraderie; in the changing room, on the pitch and in the pub afterwards. I also enjoy coaching and watching, not just playing. I don’t support any of the big clubs. I can watch any game anywhere and pick a team I want to win based on the way they are playing. Although I could never support a French team over an English one!”

In recent years there has been some upheaval for the club, not least the move from the college grounds to Queen Eleanor School in 2004. “We didn’t have any choice, but the school were brilliant. Tony Chick was the chairman then and he did a lot of work to make the move happen, along with James Genever and Daryl Frisby. And for the last five or six years Carl Walker has been captaining the side with incredible enthusiasm.”

With a deep love of the sport and his club Mossy is typical of the sort of person you will find at the heart of sports clubs all over the country. Long may they last.  For more information about training and playing for college call skipper Carl Walker on 07854 371783.

5 8 F E BRUA RY 2 0 1 3 ///

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