Active Magazine // January 2014

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Reasons to be cheerful Why cheerleading is more than just shaking your pom poms ISSUE 19 // JANUARY 2014

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

ISSUE 19 // JANUARY 2014

A fun and fit

2014 Our exhaustive A to Z guide to great things to do in the area

IS YOUR FOOD SUPER? How to eat (not play!) like the England cricket team

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Walking and cycling

Is youR dog healthy?

Ride round Rutland and walk to Casewick Hall

Advice on keeping your canine in tip top shape

www.theACTIVEmag.com

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Editor’s Letter

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

I STOOD IN THE MUD AND FREEZING WIND in a field just outside of Stamford, and thought, “this is going to be brilliant!”.

The new Stamford Daniels/Burghley House Preservation Trust/New College project on Ryhall Road to build a sports centre, football ground and Astroturf pitch is forging ahead and is scheduled to be completed at the end of next summer. It will give Stamford a top quality sports venue for the community – something for which it has been crying out for years.

The Daniels need a new home: the old one is dilapidated, and if they want to attract new supporters they need a new stadium. As much character as there is at Kettering Road, they can’t currently accommodate the youth and women’s teams there. With the new facility, everyone will be able to train in one place, and the all weather pitch will be available for hire, too.

Add in function rooms and a sports hall and suddenly the club will be opened up to the whole community, and that means more people will visit the ground and decide that on a Saturday afternoon, perhaps they’ll visit and watch the football, which should mean bigger crowds and more revenue.

As always, there have been planning concerns, but the bank (to be attractively landscaped) between the facility and town is vast and should shield nearby residents from noise.

And speaking to Guy Walton from the Daniels, it’s clear they are very sensitive to any locals concerns. After all, they’re a local club and they want the best for Stamford too.

So at the start of 2014, this is a good news story that will bring plenty of cheer to the area. I hope you have a equally positive 2014.

Art Editor Mark Sommer mark@theactivemag.com Contributors Martin Johnson, William Hetherington, Dean Cornish, Jon Tyrrell, Sandie Hurford, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth, Bob Warters Photographers Nico Morgan, Harry Measures, Jon Clarke, Pip Warters Production Assistant Abigail Sharpe Advertising Sales Rachel Meadows rachel@theactivemag.com Lisa Withers lisa@theactivemag.com Accounts Amy Roberts amy@theactivemag.com Active magazine, The Grey House, 3 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG. Tel: 01780 480789

A member of the Stamford Chamber of

Trade and Commerce

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

Thanks, Steve

Disclaimer

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Copyright (c) Grassroots Publishing Limited (GPL) 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from GPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of GPL or its affiliates. Disclaimer of Liability. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, GPL and its affiliates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material which they submit and for ensuring the material complies with applicable laws. GPL and its affiliates are are not responsible for any error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertisement and will not be liable for any damages arising from any use of products or services or any action or omissions taken in reliance on information or any statement contained in advertising material.

Inclusion of any advertisement is not intended to endorse any view expressed, nor products or services offered nor the organisations sponsoring the advertisement.

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CONTENTS NEWS 11 I GET BACK INTO NETBALL Local league looks for new members

12 I SKATEPARK SUCCESS

Long-awaited Stamford site set to ďŹ nally open

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13 I KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY Triathlon event for all ages and abilities

HEADS UP 18-19 I KITBAG

All the latest gear and gadgets

21 I MARTIN JOHNSON

The Sunday Times sports writer on the Ashes debacle

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FEATURES 22-27 I CHEERLEADING

Jeremy Beswick has his preconceptions well and truly altered after meeting a local cheerleading group

28-33 I SUPERFOODS

Putting the right fuel into your body is as important as exercise. Here we explain superfoods and offer two recipes

34-39 I A TO Z OF EVENTS

We’ve compiled a host of events and ideas to get you up and active during 2014

REGULARS 40-41 I HEALTH AND BEAUTY

The latest advice to help you feel fitter and healthier

43-43 I GREAT WALKS

Will Hetherington and Ella head to Casewick Hall

47 I SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

JT and Will try out Red India in Oakham

49 I TRIATHLON TRAINING

This month it’s a 32-miler around Rutland Water

50-53 I SCHOOL SPORT

Our focus on the latest achievements from local pupils

54-58 I ROUND-UP

How clubs in the Stamford and Rutland area are getting on

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In Play

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Special fund-raising goal

MATTHEW ROBERTS

Pupils from Oakham School have rallied together to raise more than ÂŁ1,000 by scoring as many goals as possible over a weekend to raise money for leukaemia and lymphoma research in support of their teacher, Martin Scanlon. Full story on page 53.

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In Play

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Red sky at night...

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Photography: Tigers Images

A stunning sunset provided the backdrop for Leicester Tigers’ Heineken Cup match against Montpellier at Welford Road on December 8. Tigers won 41-32 and then beat Montpellier 14-15 in the return fixture in France the following week.

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News

Get fit by getting back to netball A LOCAL NETBALL league is inviting women looking for an alternative way to get fit in the new year by revisiting their youth and getting back to netball.

The training is held at two locations, offering outdoor and indoor sessions, and league member Tina Sayers promises it to be a very welcoming environment for anyone regardless of ability: “We have players of all ages, shapes, sizes and ability levels, so no-one will feel intimidated, whether taking first steps of revisiting an old sport – everyone’s welcome and they’ll soon realise we’re all in the same boat when they meet us!�

The outdoor sessions are held in Oakham at the Catmose Sports Centre, starting on January 6, with a ÂŁ12 fee for a six-week period. The indoor session is at Uppingham Community College from 7-8pm, starting on January 7, costing ÂŁ2 per session, with the first session free.

Like Rutland County Netball League on Facebook to see photos and to find out more about the multi-award winning league who claim to be responsible for ‘an army of women across Rutland with a new netball obsession’. ď Ž Email b2nrutland@ outlook.com for more details or to book your place.

Lizzie’s drastic action UPPINGHAM PHOTOGRAPHER Lizzie Haines (pictured) has decided to do something drastic to raise money for breast cancer and have all her hair cut off on Valentine’s Day. Having managed to raise £3,500 for cancer charities by cutting her long hair into a short bob a er her dad was diagnosed with the disease, the 33-year-old is hoping to raise even more this time, now her hair is longer than ever.

Lizzie has planned a series of fund-raising events in the area leading up to the main event, to be held in Leicester’s Manhattan 34 cocktail bar, where there’ll be cocktails, entertainment and prizes.

Her hairdresser, Jennifer Chase of Silver Arcade’s Hair & Booty, promises tears when the big day finally arrives: “I’ve been cutting Lizzie’s hair for years. I can’t stand the idea of cutting it off but I clearly can’t argue with her when it’s for such a good cause.â€? ď Ž To support Lizzie visit www.justgiving.com/chopforcopp

Coffee shop gets cosier

Above

Local artist Karen Neale with her picture

LOCAL COFFEE SHOP Frothys celebrated its sixth year on Ironmonger Street in Stamford and coincided the birthday with the relaunch of the lower ground floor.

The newly redecorated snug looks set to be a popular escape from the impending winter weather for Stamford’s shoppers. And they’ll get to enjoy the work of local artist, Karen Neale, whose depiction of Stamford’s Friday market was unveiled during the event and will hang in the snug for visitors to come and admire over a coffee.

Owners Louise and Richard Wright said the evening was a huge success and would like to thank all their customers and friends for attending and look forward to seeing everyone in the new year, in ‘the snug’.

OPEN SESSION AT STAMFORD BOWLS CLUB The Stamford Indoor Bowls Club is staging a free Open Session on Saturday, January 4, for anyone wishing to try the sport and potentially sign up for a series of regular coaching.

The club is keen to impress that all ages are welcome and that bowls isn’t ‘just for pensioners’.

In fact, many of the players have been enjoying competitive sport all their lives and enjoy the same competitive thrill, competing in local and national tournaments.

The club’s press officer, Bob Warters says: “It wasn’t until we joined the bowls club that at least five of us discovered we all played for the same football club – Stamford Rovers – in the late 1960s and we hadn’t lost any of the competitive spirit that had driven us back then. “We now want others to share in a sport that gives so much to all the family, whether you’re aged eight or eighty and everything in between.�

The taster session will start at 9.30am until midday and all equipment and instruction is provided. The Stamford IBC is at the edge of the playing fields off Exeter Gardens, Stamford. ď Ž For more information, call 01780 756452 between 9.30am and 8.30pm.

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News

Stamford Skatepark finally opens to public AS YOU READ THIS the long-awaited Stamford Skatepark on the town’s recreation ground will finally be open, offering the multitude of patient skaters, bmxers and rollerbladers from the area a safe, professionally built and properly run freesports facility.

With numerous hurdles and an opposed minority, the leisure facility has taken more than five years to come to fruition and offer the local

youth somewhere to practice their self-propelled passion. Thanks to hard working volunteers and campaigners, running events, selling merchandise and raising funds, over £150,000 was finally raised and the build began in earnest just a couple of months ago.

At the time of going to press, committee chairman Marcus Stanier said: “We’re 99.9% set to open this Saturday! We’re just waiting for the town

council to approve it at their meeting tomorrow night before we can make it 100% official.”

No major opening celebrations are planned, for the simple reason the young people of Stamford have waited long enough and will be itching to get rolling around the concrete bowl, ramps and obstacles: “We just want to ‘cut the ribbon’ at 10am on Saturday morning then let the young people get in there and enjoy it,” added Marcus.

Last chance to step back to the ’70s IT’S YOUR LAST CHANCE to see the Forty Years On exhibition at Peterborough Museum, with its final day being on Sunday, January 12.

The exhibition tells the story of Peterborough when it began its rapid expansion during the late ’60s and early ’70s, and includes original photographs and maps, and you can also hear the radio advertisements from the original media campaign to encourage newcomers to the city.

Other features include real clips of residents describing the huge period of change as they lived through it, which you can listen to through a real Bakelite phone of the era. An activity corner will keep youngsters entertained, where they can enjoy the music and fashion of the period.

The Forty Years On exhibition is the result of a partnership between the Vivacity Archives Service and the Eastern Angles Theatre Company and is free to visit.

Museum opening times are Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm, and Mondays in school holidays and bank holidays, 10am-5pm. It’s free admission to the exhibition, except on special event days when charges apply.  For more information, call 01733 864 663, email museum@vivacity-peterborough.com or visit www.vivacity-peterborough.com

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40 years and 850 hours volunteering VIVACITY CULTURE & LEISURE would like to say a very special thank you to volunteer John Naylor, who has reached the grand milestone of 850 hours of volunteering for the not-for-profit organisation.

John has been volunteering with Vivacity for just over two years, and has been an extremely active member of the team during this time. He has volunteered at many festivals, events and activities, most recently devoting his time to the Forty Years On project.

Anyone can become part of Vivacity’s team of volunteers, who give up their time and share their skills for many reasons, be it a great way to gain new skills, enhance your CV, improve employment prospects or just meet like-minded people and help in your community.

Opportunities are available involving sport, libraries, history, fundraising and helping at one-off events, such as the annual Heritage Festival.  For more information, call 01733 864 775, email volunteering@vivacity-peterborough.com Right John Naylor shakes hands with Vivacity’s chief executive Kevin Tighe

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Triathlon fun for all the family at Woburn IF YOU’RE BIG INTO TRIATHLONS and looking for something to train for in 2014, Rutland Cycling is sponsoring a major charity race.

The event is being held at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, on Sunday, September 7, giving you plenty of time to prepare.

In its seventh year, the ‘Tri for Life’ triathlon will return to the picturesque setting of Woburn Abbey’s 3,000-acre deer park for the run, cycle and swim, and will offer three distances in the main triathlon events, but also include a standalone 10km run, and two junior events for kids so the whole family can get involved.

The adult triathlons comprise of a short distance (400m swim, 20k cycle, 5k run), a medium distance (800m swim, 30k cycle, 7.5k run), and a long distance (1,500m swim, 40k cycle, 10k run). Youngsters from 4-8 years-old can enter the Scootathlon (400m scoot, 400m cycle, 250m run) and 9-15 year-olds can take on the duathlon (500m run, 3k cycle, 500m run).

As the official bike partner of the event Rutland Cycling will be supplying hire bikes to the Prezzo Team, and also to all participants requiring a triathlon bike. Its team of bike mechanics will be on-hand all day to help set-up the bikes and deal with any punctures or problems, whether on a hire bike or your own.

A special low hire price of £35 will be set for the day, but participants will need to book in advance to secure one of the 150-strong fleet of bikes. No participant can enter without a cycle helmet, which can also be hired on the day.

In addition to the triathlon events, there will be a mini funfair, face-painting, inflatables, body zorbing and rock climbing.

EVENT DETAILS Price: £70 individuals, £200 relay teams. Check website for sponsorship details at www.triforlife. co.uk Location: Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire Date: Sunday, September 7 How to book a hire bike: Call 01780 460705 and quote TRIFORLIFE. Online bookings available (Early 2014)

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RUTLAND CYCLING’S WHITWELL store staff will be leading more group night rides throughout

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Stamford sports centre is on track BUILDING WORK IS WELL underway on the new football stadium and sports educational facility on Ryhall Road on the outskirts of Stamford.

The football stadium, which is set to include a sports hall, gym and associated teaching and changing rooms, was given the go-ahead from South Kesteven District Council in October.

The £5 million development is a three-way partnership between the Burghley House Preservation Trust, Stamford Association Football Club (AFC) and New College Stamford, with contributions from grant funding and from the sale of the existing football ground.

The stadium and its associated facilities, which will be shared with Stamford AFC, will give the students of New College access to a professional sports environment as well as providing a more accessible facility for local community groups to enjoy.

The building is to be highly sustainable and will include recyclable energy sources for heating, cooling, power and lighting. It utilises the dip in the land as a natural screen, with new woodland planting also being used to blend the development into its surroundings.

David Pennell, Burghley House Preservation Trust estates director, said: “This will give the town a facility that will be of benefit not just to the football club and its supporters but also to students and many other community groups in and around Stamford.”

Guy Walton of Stamford AFC added: “Our project offers an innovative solution to the sporting demand within our community. We are committed to the partnership’s vision of a facility benefitting education, football and sporting users and creating a sporting legacy for the town.”

New College Stamford principal, Andrew Patience, added: “Having a purpose built, sports facility is going to make a huge difference to both our students and the local community.”

Above

Burghley House Preservation Trust estates director, David Pennell; director of Stamford AFC Guy Walton; New College Stamford principal Andrew Patience and senior site executive Dean Hall Picture: Tim Scrivener

Wildcats warm-up Santa runners STAMFORD’S ANNUAL Santa Fun Run had another successful year in December, when an army of Santas descended upon the grounds of Burghley Park to take part in one our most popular community Christmas events.

And local dance troupe Wildcats led the throng of red runners in a warm-up at the start of the event, before the dance students took to the starting line with everyone else and ran the race, raising money for the Wildcats Foundation, a charity that works with local children with additional needs.

Caz Dolby, owner of Wildcats, led the pre-race exercises supported by a number of her students, aged from 7 to 20 years-old, and she said: “We always support the Santa Run as it is a great family event that all our students can get involved in.

“It always gets everyone feeling very festive and we particularly enjoy leading more than 800 Santas in the warm-up before the race.

The day was once again blessed with winter sunshine and early estimates suggest the money raised from the event looks set to be around £20,000, which once properly counted will contribute to the Rotary Club’s myriad local community projects.

Above The Wildcats team who took part in the event to help the fun runners prepare at Burghley

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Le and below

The temporary pens in Uppingham market place – a scene unchanged for decades. Cattle, pigs and sheep from across Rutland were judged

Uppingham hosts 107th Fatstock Show Farmers and some prize beasts took over the market place in Uppingham for the annual show which aims to find the best animals in Rutland FARMERS AND THEIR MOST prized beasts took over the market place in Uppingham recently as the 107th annual Fatstock Show took place.

The historic livestock event is the only remaining one of its kind that is still held in the same manner as it always was, within temporary fences in the market square, harking back to pre-1954 when the event was a weekly occurrence.

In fact Fatstock has only ever been cancelled due to a world war and two outbreaks of foot-andmouth disease.

This year, the pens were filled with the healthiest and best groomed pigs, sheep and cattle from Rutland, and judging kicked off at 10am.

Cows had their rumps fondled by a man with a clipboard and rosettes were stuck on long-haired heifers and inquisitive pigs. From an observer’s point of view, it was a wonderfully eccentric rural community event; to the farmers it was the culmination of a year of utter dedication to their prized livestock, in an unforgiving period for farming in general, and a time to be publicly proud of their hard work.

The judging wrapped up as quickly as it had began and everyone got down to the important

business of a ernoon drinking while the winning animals basked in the glow of their victory. And some just ate their rosette.

THE WINNERS OF THE 107TH UPPINGHAM FATSTOCK SHOW Cattle Champion beast - C.Davies, Top Field Farm Reserve champion - T.A & L.C. Lyon Best pair of beast - J.Turner Sheep Champion pen of three sheep - J F Burbidge and Sons Reserve champion pen of three sheep - J F Burbidge and Sons Best pen of ten sheep - Moonshine Farms Pigs Champion pig - Dale & Cox Reserve champion - Dale & Cox Best rare breed pig - Brooksby Melton College Smith Gore Cup for the most outstanding exhibit - Cattle - C.Davies, Top Field Farm

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Feature /// Gear

Kitbag

The latest and kit to keep you active this winter

Peli 2720 LED headlight

This head-mounted torch from Peli is packed with features and introduces new motion sensor activation technology, making using it even more convenient than ever. A wave of your hand in the right way will switch it on or off, and it can beam 790 candelas of blazing white light or be adjusted down to 60 candelas for general needs. It even has a red light for preserving night vision or for use as an SOS signalling beacon.

Price £53.47 From Local stockists and www.outdoorgb.com

Darn Tough ski/rider socks

These Edelweiss over-the-calf cushioned merino wool ski socks/riding socks are the Land Rover of footwear. Not only do they offer protection from nasty whiffs thanks to their natural deodorising qualities, but they can also protect you from actual knocks and bumps. The front area is padded to protect shins getting banged, perfect for skiiers and horse riders.

And they’re guaranteed for life, to boot.

Price £21 From Get Lost in Rutland, 01572 868712

Dirtwash chain cleaner

Easy to use and an effective way to clean and degrease your bicycle chain, preventing the build-up of grease and road dirt that wears chains and makes gear shi ing sluggish. The Dirtwash chain cleaner machine is filled with degreasing solution and clips over the chain, as the chain passes through the cleaner machine, a gear-drivenfour-way brushing action thoroughly cleans and degreases your chain. Comes with 75ml of degreaser.

Price: £13.99 Price: CycleWright, cyclewright.co

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LAS Kripton cycle helmet

This Italian-designed cycle helmet looks good and performs even better. It’s lightweight at only 260g, and uses the Perfix (R) System, with a single size adjustable from 51 to 62cm, meaning this lid will always stay in place. An efficient 20-vent system ensures constant airflow for greater comfort and removable Veltec padding is washable and features antibacterial and antifungal treatment.

Price: £58 From CycleWright, cyclewright.co

PhD diet whey

Anyone looking to hit the weights in 2014 may choose to supplement their diet with extra protein, and PhD’s diet whey powder is as popular as they come. Available in 1 and 2kg pouches and tubs, offering 20 and 40 servings respectively, they’re a great whey, sorry way, of honing lean muscle as part of conditioning program.

What’s more, they come in five flavours: chocolate orange, vanilla creme, strawberry delight, white chocolate and Belgian chocolate.

Price £40.99 (2kg) From Stamford Sports Nutrition

Trekmates GORE-TEX gloves

Stay outdoors for longer wearing these toasty gloves from Trekmates. They’re waterproof and windproof but breathable too, and feature pre-curved fingers for extra comfort. They have an insulated liner and are secured at the wrist with a friction strap, and a drawstring cuff enclosure will ensure you’ll keep dry during any forthcoming snowball fights.

Price £50 From Get Lost in Rutland, 01572 868712

Kanken backpack

A great example of Swedish form and function, this gym bag from Fjall Raven is made from highly durable, lightweight vinylon F and features a full-size front opening pocket, meaning getting shoes and bulky items and out is a cinch. Two side pockets and a zippered front pocket bolster its storage. A top handle plus padded shoulder straps make it very versatile, and the logo is reflective so you’ll be seen at night.

Price £59 From hdfitnesssolutions@gmail.com, 07971 283155

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www.rutlandcycling.com

UP TO 50% OFF

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Ashwell Road Oakham Rutland LE15 7QH

A Complete Veterinary Service From routine examinations, vaccinations, micro-chipping and preventative healthcare to specialist diagnostics and surgery, we provide an extensive range of services in our purpose built hospital. Our experienced and dedicated team of vets, nurses and support staff offer the highest level of veterinary care for all your animals. We provide a range of annual Pet Packages which deliver preventative healthcare and advice, through regular vet checks and nurse clinics, in an affordable way.

To compliment our services we have a retail area which stocks food, treats, toys and other animal essentials.

We provide a 24hour emergency service onsite in Oakham.

For more information please contact our reception on 01572 722646 or call in to see us.

www.oakhamvethospital.co.uk

Equine: 01572 722647 Small Animals: 01572 722646 Farm: 01572 722647

Guest column

Clowns dressed as cricketers, KP’s ego and Barmy batting Martin Johnson is unimpressed by England’s Ashes efforts recently wrote an article that offered incontrovertible proof that you cannot write about sport, and certainly not a sport as unpredictable as cricket, without the Law of Sod poking its nose in where it’s not wanted.

When the Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said before the current Ashes series that he was planning to paint a metaphorical bullseye on the front of English batting helmets, and that a second prize of breaking a few English fingers would be more than acceptable, I felt confidently able to inform readers of the Sunday Times not to lose too much sleep.

My reasoning being that Mitch had spent the previous three years failing to locate the whereabouts of the pitch, never mind someone’s cranium. So what happens? He runs through England’s batting (if that isn’t a contravention of the Trade Descriptions Act) like a oneman bush fire, and sends Stuart Broad off to A&E with a toe-crusher.

It’s almost worthy of one of those Private Eye spoof apologies...

“In common with other newspapers and magazines, we recently published a number of articles under such headlines as ‘Put Your House On Peerless Poms’ and ‘KP Set To Feast On Aussie PieChuckers!’, which may have given the impression that Alastair Cook’s Brave Boys merely had to turn up to win the Ashes.

‘The passage ‘Make no mistake – Al and KP will stuff Michael Clarke’s Convict Crew’ may in particular have given rise to the unintentional inference that Messrs Cook and Pietersen would mastermind another stunning England triumph. We now accept that Mr Cook is barely capable of captaining a seaside pedalo, and Mr Pietersen is a nothing more than a witless clown with a penchant for giving catching practice to Australian fielders. We therefore apologise to all English cricket-lovers for any distress caused.’

It is a longstanding tradition on an England tour to Australia that the players turn up for Christmas lunch in fancy dress. In which case, some of them might have decided to come dressed as cricketers.

If you close your eyes you can conjure up a picture of the cheese waiter saying to Andy Flower: “crackers, sir?” And Flower replying: “not yet, but much more of watching this lot and I soon will be.”

There was certainly some evidence of at least the embryo of an Australian revival last summer, and many of us felt that the 3-0 margin was a little flattering to the home side.

I

However, while it was enough to forecast a much closer series than the previous one, no-one suspected that one of these sides would end up being humiliated. Or if so, that it would be England rather than Australia.

It’s almost a throwback to the days when England were getting carved up by a Waugh or two, or a Warne, or a McGrath. Remember 2006-7, when England went there as holders of both the urn and a collection of MBEs? Five-nil to the Aussies.

On that occasion you had an early clue that everything might not turn out very well, when Steve Harmison was sufficiently distracted to mistake the stumps for the bloke fielding at second slip.

This time, though, the hoped-for script seemed to be going nicely to plan on that opening day in Brisbane, with the Australian top order back in the pavilion, and not even 150 on the scoreboard. By the fourth innings, though, England were walking out to try and score over 500 to win, as they were in the second Test in Adelaide, and again in the third Test in Perth. A statistic that’s never previously occurred in the entire history of the game.

The batting, frankly, has been appalling. There has only been one drop-in pitch so far, in Adelaide, but no less than three drop-in Test matches for England’s batsmen. The kind of drop-in you get from a neighbour for afternoon tea. Drop in for a cuppa, or maybe two, but never long enough to outstay your welcome.

The worst culprit has been Pietersen, a man you suspect has a large mirror installed in his bedroom, and who is rarely displeased by what he sees in it. Which made Australia’s plan to attack his ego, rather than his stumps, look not only simple, but obvious.

You don’t have to be a Michael Clarke to come across as a savvy captain when KP comes in to bat. Firstly, you put two men at short midwicket, invite Pietersen to give one of them a catch and wait for it to happen. Or, you bring on the spinner, post a man on the long-on boundary and wait for Pietersen to hit it to him.

However, while the batting has been the weakest of England’s three disciplines, the true test of whether a side has had it’s spirit broken is invariably the fielding. Which in Perth was as near to the wheels parting company with the chassis as makes no difference.

Shortly before the Perth Test, a cricket computer game was withdrawn from sale in Australia because of glitches which included “fielders moving in an apparent state of uncertainty, diving on the ground randomly, and throwing in the wrong direction.” However, if one of the game settings allows you to pick England as your team, the thing is probably back on the shelves by now.

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Feature /// Cheerleading

Reasons to be

Cheerful

Cheerleaders in a mass display at Daytona Beach in Florida where they are competing in the All America Cheerleading Championships. In the US it is considered a genuine sport

Jeremy Beswick plumps up his poms-poms and prepares to have his cheerleading illusions shattered

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Feature /// Cheerleading

W

hat are your preconceptions of cheerleading? Probably the same as mine were: pink pom-poms, irritating chants and too much make-up.

Those assumptions started to take a battering when I discovered that cheerleading was originally “men-only”. In the 1930s, male cheerers were thought every bit as macho as star quarterbacks and it attracted to its ranks actor James Stewart and even – gosh - George W Bush.

Women got involved because of the shortage of young men at home during the war years and afterwards there was even a move to ban their continued participation as it was thought too masculine.

But the girls kept it going, and as I’ve found, it’s much tougher than you might think. Very tough, in fact. Here’s a description of one move, called a pike basket: “The flyer is thrown from

‘RATHER THAN JUST WAVING YOUR ARMS, IT’S A DEMANDING SPORT THAT REQUIRES HIGH LEVES OF FITNESS’

an extension where she fully extends her arms, using her shoulders to set up. Then, at the peak of the toss, the flyer will bring her chest to her knees. Subsequently, on the way down, she’ll then arch her back and land in a cradle position.”

Not something you’re likely to find me doing on a Friday night - unless I’ve fallen down the stairs.

So, rather than just waving your arms around and shouting, it’s a demanding sport requiring high levels of fitness. If you doubt the robustness of the athletes – and at the professional level they undoubtedly are athletes – I draw to your attention Kristi Yamaoka who, when performing at a basketball game in 2006, fell from a human pyramid fracturing a vertebra and bruising her lung. Although semi-concussed on a stretcher, she continued to perform the routine’s hand movements as she was wheeled to the waiting ambulance. It’s well worth looking up on YouTube – I wouldn’t mind showing it to a few pampered footballers that come to mind....

Each move or stunt is strictly choreographed and has its own name such as a herkie, cupie, teddy sit, leapin’ lora, scorpion or wolf wall, to name but a few. Intensive rehearsal is needed to master a routine which typically lasts for two to three minutes and there are strict rules about what’s legal in terms of how the move is performed.

My final prejudice, that it’s almost exclusively American, was punctured when I found out

Above and below

Members of the East Elite All Stars practice their routines ahead of their first competition in April

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Feature /// Cheerleading there are 24,000 cheerleaders in 825 squads right here in the UK. One such squad is the newly formed East Elite All Stars based in Peterborough. I spoke to coaches Lisa French and Vicky Thurston who’ve both been cheerleading for 13 years, and are incredibly dedicated to their sport. Their focus is on competing at organised events.

“When you perform in an arena the atmosphere is electric, overwhelming,” said Lisa. “The bright lights, the audience and judges with the other teams cheering you on – the adrenalin you get is unreal. On stage I feel as if I can lift an elephant.”

Perhaps there’s hope for me yet.

Vicky, who’s a schoolteacher by day, explained that they have formed the All Stars to commit themselves more seriously. “It’s great fun with a shared spirit amongst the teams but you need dedication and determination,” she says. “You must be fit but all shapes and sizes are welcome. After all we do need size 8s, but we also need people to lift the size 8s.”

Lisa adds: “We currently have about 50 cheerers split across youth level, which is for 6-11 year olds, junior which is 11-15, and senior.

We’d dearly like to recruit some more to the ranks. Men are welcome too. We currently have

one male senior and I’m sure he’s fed up being the token man!”

“It’s a great way to make new friends and it’s a really fast growing sport.” Vicky continues.

“For juniors in particular it teaches teamwork and trust in your colleagues. From that trust comes friendship and it’s really good for confidence building.”

I asked Lisa what she enjoyed most about coaching. “It’s seeing the athletes learn something new and successfully execute it. That really gives you a sense of achievement: ‘Wow! I helped you learn that’. That’s the best feeling,” she says.

Aside from competing they’ll also perform at charity events, fetes and all sorts of celebrations.

“We’re keen to support the community,” said Lisa, “and if we’re to attract a sponsor in the future we know we’ve got to be out there giving them some exposure.”

Got a wedding or significant birthday coming up anyone?

Lisa and Vicky are so passionate about cheerleading it’s bound to rub off on you, as it did on me. The All Stars are a non-profit organisation operating for the love of the sport so, if this sounds like your cup of tea – or your child’s – pick up the phone and get some

razzamatazz into your life. Move fast though. To be ready for the first competition in April you’ll need to get started straight away. “You’ve nothing to lose,” said Vicky. “Come and see what we’re really about. The first session is free.”

Having watched them spiral and spin and leap with astonishing speed and precision, I wished I was 30 years younger. Vicky did helpfully mention she was defibrillator-trained but, even so, I think this old hack will have to stick to the pom-poms.

Lisa can be contacted on 07730 045 805.

EAST ELITE ALL STARS AT A GLANCE Where: Footworks Academy of Gymnastics, Maxwell Road, Peterborough When: Friday evenings Cost: £3 per session for juniors, £3.50 for seniors First competition: Future Cheer “Adventure in Atlantis” April 12, Loughborough Second competition: Future Cheer Internationals July 12-13, Bournemouth Lisa and Vicky are NCSSE and first aid qualified, DRB checked and have USASF levels 1 and 2 coaching certificates Fees for performances: Charities – no charge. Others – “very reasonable”

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Feature /// Superfoods

COOK THE COOK WAY Want to emulate the English cricket team? Perhaps not at the way they play cricket, but Mary Bremner tells you how to eat like them. Plus over the page are two great superfood recipes

A

re you feeling the ill effects of too much food and drink over the festive period? Most of the population is feeling the same way and making New Year resolutions to eat more healthily.

But how do you go about it? Maybe it’s time to take a leaf out of the England cricket team’s book. They have had a tough time on tour, and been openly ridiculed in Australia (well they would be wouldn’t they?) when their menu requirements were leaked to a newspaper, and it’s very easy to mock, particularly when mungbean, quinoa and tofu are mentioned. But when you study their menus the food sounds delicious and includes lots of ‘superfoods’.

Mungbean curry with spinach and fennel and halloumi salad with lemon dressing sound very tempting and almond and cinnamon flapjacks sound a must: nutritious, tasty and healthy.

So what are ‘superfoods’ and why are they ‘super’? A superfood is classed as being able to help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer and, an extra perk, possibly put you in a better mood. And best of all these foods are all easily available to buy and don’t cost the earth and, would you believe, turkey is one of them – so

maybe we’ve done ourselves some good over Christmas!

Blueberries are packed full of antioxidants as well as potassium and vitamin C so are classed as ‘super’. They are also anti-inflammatory – the darker the berry the more antioxidants they have.

Salmon is an Omega-3 rich fish and is included on the list (make sure it’s wild, not farmed). This lowers the risk of heart disease as well as helping with arthritis and possibly memory loss and Alzheimer’s. There is some evidence it helps reduce depression as well.

Soya helps lower cholesterol, as do oats, and both have been proven to be as effective as statins in doing so.

High fibre foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables are great for aiding weight loss as they keep you feeling full for longer. Broccoli and beans (such as mung and endame, not baked), spinach, tomatoes and oranges also make the list here.

For the tea addicts some really good news, it makes the list too – green and black – and is full of antioxidants. Green tea in particular is known to reduce cholesterol and can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

But best of all chocolate’s ‘super’ too! (in more

ways than one). Again, full of antioxidants it can help lower blood pressure. Dark chocolate with 60% or higher cocoa content is what you need.

The darker the chocolate, the lower the fat and sugar content. Everything in moderation needs to be applied here.

A good ethos of eating healthily is eating local produce and always cooking from scratch, no processed foods or meats (just like the cricketers). After the horse-meat scandal of last year it makes sense to know where your food is from. Buying meat from your local butcher is ideal as he will usually tell you which farm it is from. You may have to pay slightly more than you would in the supermarket but it’s better to buy a smaller amount of good quality meat that has been sourced locally. You’re supporting local businesses, you’ve got peace of mind and think of all those food miles you’re saving.

Studying the cricketers’ menu it is noticeable that as well as all the superfoods there were no red or processed meats, very few carbohydrates, and only ‘good’ ones at that.

And, of course, always consider portion size.

Eat less, move more – and eat healthily – and maybe we could all have a body as fine-tuned as the English cricket team. Here’s to getting started...

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Feature /// Superfoods

Super curry Mungbean and spinach curry

BRIAN YARVIN / ALAMY

This recipe includes many of the superfoods in one go

INGREDIENTS 1 cup mungbeans, soaked overnight 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp brown mustard seeds 1 sliced onion 2 tsp cumin seeds 10g fresh grated ginger 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp chilli powder (to taste) 4 cloves crushed garlic, 1 large tomato, chopped 2 carrots, sliced into half moons 500ml water 2 large handfuls fresh spinach METHOD Heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. When they start to pop, add the cumin seeds and onion and sautĂŠ until the onions become clear then add the chilli, turmeric, ginger, garlic and tomato.

Continue to heat gently for five minutes until the tomato has cooked, then stir in the mung beans and carrots.

Add the water and bring to the boil, simmer with a lid on for about 30 minutes until thick, stirring frequently. Add more water if the liquid dries out too much. Add salt if desired. Finally stir in the spinach and remove from heat.

TIM GAINEY / ALAMY

Serve with brown rice, and a spoonful of natural yoghurt.

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Feature /// Superfoods

Super smooth Blueberry smoothie INGREDIENTS 1 banana 100g blueberries Apple juice METHOD Chop the banana and put in a blender along with the blueberries. Whizz together until blended and then, depending on the consistency you want, add apple juice.

For those with a sweet tooth add 1 tsp of runny honey

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Feature /// Events

A FUN AND FIT 2014 Our exhaustive A to Z guide to great things to do in the area this year that are healthy and entertaining, or both!

Words Steve Moody

Activ-ate your life!

The first one is simple: just be more active. And that means taking the stairs instead of the lift, walking when you usually might go by car, adding an extra mile on to that dog walk or finding the time just to do more things with your family.

It’s amazing the differences small changes can make.

Be prepared to suffer!

The Suffering at Rockingham Castle on June 28-29 is a course designed by obstacle racers for obstacle racers. They have tirelessly crafted this course to try and break you, from beginning to end, but when you cross the finish line you know you’ve completed something new, and something amazing!

If it seems intimidating, the organisers are offering some workouts from couch to 5k, training for your first 10k and doing your best 10 mile times. // For more details visit www.thesuffering.co.uk

Cycle with your kids

The weekly Mums and Tots ride leaves Rutland Water or Fineshade Wood every Friday morning, starting at 10am. Dads and other carers are welcome too! Rides are at a leisurely pace, around five miles, and are suitable for all abilities.

Free to join with your own bike – or take advantage of special reduced hire rates. // For more details and to register on a ride, email rides@rutlandcycling.com or call 01572 737626.

Detox

Boost energy levels, accelerate weight loss, clear the skin and improve digestion with a detox.

January is a perfect month to give your body a cleanse after the Christmas binge, but a seven-day detox at any time can help get you back on track if you’re feeling sluggish or want to kickstart weight loss. // Westside Health and Fitness Club is offering a “12 Days Of Fitness” programme. Contact Fitness Manager Paul Brewster on 01780 480651 for more information

Easter egg hunting

Burghley’s Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 20 will once again be taking place in the Gardens of Surprise, from 11am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm). Follow the treasure hunt around the gardens and solve the riddle to claim your chocolate egg.

Parents are also asked to test their Easter knowledge to try and win a family season card.

All entries will go in to the prize draw for a giant chocolate Easter bunny. // Visit www.burghley.co.uk for more information

Finish faddy diets

“Make 2014 the year to not diet. Ditch the faddy diets, throw out the diet books,” says personal trainer Carls Simcock.

“Eat well and move more, feed your body the best fuel you can and let it become a lifestyle, a change for you, for the rest of your life. Move more throughout the day and allow exercise to become a priority. Try a little cardio, more weight training and lots of clean eating. Be

organised, always have fresh water and healthy snacks with you, so you are not reaching for the biscuits by 4pm,” she says. // Speak to Carls Simcock on 07971 283155 or email hdifitnessolutions@gmail.com

Get into golf

Lots of golf courses have much more open playing policies now so you can pay and play rather than forking out hundreds of pounds on membership fees. But if you’re completely new to the sport, then get in touch with the Leicestershire and Rutland Golf Partnership – it offers beginners courses and lots of advice. // Visit www.lrcgp.org.uk

Have a good stretch

Make sure you stretch this Christmas so you’re ready to get fit in the new year.

“As a sports podiatrist I regularly treat people with injuries who have recently taken up a new sport or decided to get fit after a period of abstinence,” says Simon Miles. “Whilst all over body conditioning and flexibility can reduce incidence of injury, one of the most commonly observed problems is a reduced range of motion in the ankle.

“This is often caused by a tightness in the calf muscle and this tightness can cause a number of biomechanical compensations to occur; which can be a precursor to picking up an injury, halting your plans before they even begin.” // Contact Simon at the Physio and Sports Injury Clinic at Greetham Valley Golf Club on 01572 812212 or email info@physiosportsinjurygreetham.co.uk

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Stretching is essential before and after a workout

Battle The Suffering at Rockingham Castle in June

Burghley’s Easter egg hunt takes place in April

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Feature /// Events Rutland Cycling is organising off-road night rides every Tuesday evening

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Intensive BOKWA workouts

There’s a new fitness craze sweeping the nation and now it’s arrived in Stamford: BOKWA (“BO” means light boxing and “KWA” represents the cultural and traditional dance Kwaito ) is an intense cardiovascular workout combining South African war dance, Capoeira, Kickboxing and Steps and is for people of all ages and abilities. It’s also great for burning calories – up to 1,200 calories per session. // Check out www.bokwa.com or contact Sam McGreevy on 07887 802 621 or email sammcgreevy@hotmail.com

Join a cycling tour

Join more than 1,000 riders on April 26 at the Dare 2b Rutland CiCLE Tour. Choose from four routes on Rutland’s original sportive, all starting at the Giant Store Rutland on the south shore of Rutland Water.

There is something for riders of all levels of fitness and experience. The 59-mile route is ideal for those new to cycling and cyclo-sportives, but still hard enough to provide a personal challenge. For completely new riders there is now a 21-mile option which is less hilly than the other routes. The toughest challenges come from the 100 and 75-mile options, which feature the most picturesque lanes and villages the area has to offer. // Visit www.itpevents.co.uk to enter and like its Facebook page to be kept informed.

Keep the kids entertained

Need to keep your kids active during the holidays while you’re at work? Churchill’s OFSTED registered camps, which have been running in the area for well over 20 years, provide a wide range of over 30 fun activities to

keep your child (aged from four-14) entertained in all the school holidays. Activities include bouncy castles, arts and crafts, fencing, Kwik cricket, archery, baking and more. Camps take place at Stamford Junior, Brooke Priory and The Peterborough schools. // Call 01780 753461 or email:info@ churchillsummercamps.co.uk

Love is roller skating…

Enjoy a special Valentine’s themed roller-skating session at Werrington Leisure Centre on February 15 with your favourite romantic tunes, decorations and brilliant atmosphere, a fun session for all the family, or just the two of you… // Call 01733 576 606 for more information.

Night riding

Every Tuesday Rutland Cycling will be hosting an off-road night ride around Rutland Water.

Joining forces with some of the top cycling brands and suppliers in the business, you can demo and try some of the best gear in the cycling world. All rides start at 6.30pm with bikes and lights available to hire. // For more details email rides@rutlandcycling. com or call 01572 737 626.

Only do what you can do

It’s easy to plan a grand campaign of fitness, but according to fitness trainer Judith Ewing, try not to be too ambitious to start with.

She says: “Be realistic. Dont launch yourself into a fitness routine which you wont be able to maintain. Set long term strategies which you know you can keep and will fit into your lifestyle. Choose an exercise which you enjoy and can improve on. Set yourself realistic goals and you are more likely to continue throughout the months ahead.” //Judith Ewing, www.judithewingfitness.com, judithewing2@hotmail.com

Paddle in Peterborough Meditate

Change your mind, change your life: meditation classes, workshops and retreats are available at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Peterborough from February 3 // Telephone 01733 755444, email info@ drolmacentre.org.uk or visit www.meditateinpeterborough.org.uk for more information.

The Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival takes place at Peterborough Rowing Club, Thorpe Meadows, on June 14 and it’s time to get a team together and be part of it!

Exciting, colourful and great fun, no previous experience is required to enter a team of up to 11 people into the event.

The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. // Call 01780 470718 or visit the festival website at www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/peterborough

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Stamford Endowed Schools Entrance Examinations Saturday 18th January 2014 (for entry in September 2014) For entry into the senior schools, assistance with fees is available through SES scholarships and bursaries, which have no catchment area restriction.

Stamford Junior School

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Stamford High School

Girls 11-18

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Sixth Form

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For all enquiries and to register, please call 01780 750310 or email

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Extensive bus service and easy rail links.

Provisions are in place to help busy parents.

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Feature /// Events

Quit qutting!

Do more exercise. It’s a ubiquitous new year’s resolution, so how do you stick to it? TriCoach3’s Jon Sheehan says all those tactics, like putting pictures on the fridge and getting friends to put pressure on you don’t work.

Instead you need to plan ahead and work out the times you can train in the week and put them in the diary, he says.

Then find a training partner to meet and train with, helping to encourage keeping dates and a bit of healthy rivalry, set goals, introduce variety to your training so you don’t get stuck in a rut, join a club or employ a personal trainer to keep you on your toes and push you a little more than you will training on your own. // Visit www.tricoach3.co.uk for more advice or for tailored training plans.

Race some Rats

The Rat Race Dirty Weekend in Burghley Park on May 10-11 is claimed to be the world’s biggest assault course, followed by an epic after-party of festival proportions.

The run itself consists of two options: Full Mucker (20 miles) and Half Mucker (13 miles). // Further details can be found at www. ratracedirtyweekend.com

Shape up!

Whether you’re after a casual jog on a treadmill, looking to add power with heavy weights, a quick conditioning class, or some hard Crossfit work, Rhinos in Stamford has plenty of kit for the job. With no joining fee, no contract, and no peak or off peak times you can try out whether a gym is right for you, without having to commit for the whole year. // Email rhinosgymnasium@live.com or call 07554 219400

Take to the skies

Why not learn to fly a helicopter? We are heading for a global shortage of helicopter pilots in the next five years and it is a perfect time to think about a career change -– often the first trial lesson can lead to an exciting and challenging opportunity to re-train as a helicopter pilot and Helicentre Aviation will be holding a couple of career days in January and February which are free to attend. // Contact captain Sarah Bowen at Helicentre Aviation, Leicester Airport, on 0116 259 0186 or email sarah@flyheli.co.uk

Understand outside influences

Gaining weight and feeling sluggish? There may be all sorts of influences at work, and it is worth finding out what they are.

According to Sophie Driver, Nutritional Therapist at the Broad Street Practice gut bacteria, obesogens (chemicals that mess with the hormones that regulate our metabolism), lack of sleep and stress all help make us more toxic. She says: “So this year, rather than expecting a quick “detox” once a year to sort us out, let’s take a more holistic view and avoid the causes of a “toxic” overload.” // For more information, call Sophie on 01780480889.

Very fine vegetables!

Those with green fingers have long known that gardening is good for you – physically and mentally. And now it has been proven scientifically. US researchers have found that smelling roses and pulling up weeds can lower blood pressure, increase brain activity and produce a general upbeat feeling.

Barnsdale Gardens are offering a wide variety of courses this year, including Basics of

Vegetable Growing, Composting and Vegetables All the Year Round. // For more information, visit www. barnsdalegardens.co.uk or email courses@ barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Windsurfing

Rutland Water again: a great place to learn to windsurf. Get in touch with Anglian Water which offers board and sail hire and has a windsurfing school. // www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/what-todo/watersports

X-treme sport

Why not jump out of a plane? It’s the ultimate thrill, and you get a great view of the area too.

You can do tandem dives and accelerated freefall courses at Sibson. // www.skydivesibson.co.uk

Yachting

Rutland Water is one of the finest places in Europe to learn to sail, and the clubs on the water are very welcoming. Rutland Sailing Club is a private members club and will help get you started but Anglian Water also offer hire and tuition. // Visit www.rutlandsc.co.uk or www. anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/what-to-do/ watersports

Zzzzzz

And finally, get some good sleep! It’s all well and good doing the exercise but sleep helps performance too: a Stanford University study found that college football players who tried to sleep at least 10 hours a night for seven to eight weeks improved their average sprint time and had less daytime fatigue and more stamina.

Joining a new club and learning a new sport is a great way to get fit

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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

Have you signed up for Dry January?

A

SURVEY BY ALCOHOL Concern to launch its Dry January campaign found that people do not know about the link between alcohol and cancer and that healthcare professionals are not asking enough questions about how much people are drinking.

The survey of more than 2,000 UK adults showed a worrying lack of knowledge about the illnesses caused by alcohol. It also found that people were not being asked routinely about how much alcohol they drink by their GP or nurse.

Launching the Dry January campaign, Emily Robinson, director of campaigns at Alcohol Concern, said: “It’s all too easy to slip into unhealthy habits and find that you’re drinking alcohol at a level which can put you at risk for a range of illnesses such as cancer and stroke.

“These survey results show we are still not

Kaj Gardemeister | Dreamstime Stock Photos.jpg

A campaign by Alcohol Concern is aimed at the social drinker, encouraging them to give up alcohol for a month

having the right conversation about alcohol. It’s really important that healthcare professionals ask people about how much alcohol they drink, which is why we’re encouraging them to use Dry January as an opportunity to start new conversations with their patients about alcohol.

“Dry January is aimed at people who do not have an alcohol problem but who might be drinking a bit too much, too often. Having the break allows us all to think about what we’re drinking, break those bad habits and in the long term cut down and improve our health.”

The survey reveals that while many people understand the relationship between drinking too much alcohol and liver disease, there remain other common illnesses such as cancer, where there is strong evidence to show they can be caused by drinking too much alcohol, which the public do not know about.

■ 66% of people did not know of the link between alcohol and bowel cancer.

■ 59% of people did know of the link between alcohol and stroke.

■ 58% of people did not know of the link between alcohol and mouth or throat cancer.

But people do seem to be getting the message about alcohol and depression (59% knew the link) and alcohol and reduced fertility (58% knew the link).

The survey also asked the public if they had ever been asked by a range of different healthcare professionals about the amount of alcohol they consume. Over a third of people (34%) said that they had never been asked about their consumption and only half of all people ■ (52%) said they had been asked about alcohol by their GP. ■ 29% had been asked by a nurse ■ 11% had been asked by a dentist ■ 3% had been asked by a pharmacist ■ 34% had never been asked by one of the above.

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CAN YOU STAY OFF THE BOOZE FOR 31 DAYS? Feel better. Save money. Make a difference. Your chance to ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline, and save the pennies.

Your mission: to avoid that cheeky after-work pint, that glass of wine on the sofa or that big boozy night out, for the whole month.

Make a real difference to the lives of those harmed through alcohol misuse by getting family and friends to sponsor you and raise money for Alcohol Concern (www.dryjanuary. org.uk/) A new, improved you!

Cutting back on alcohol also helps with general wellbeing. You’ll probably notice the benefits quite quickly.

■ Feeling better in the mornings.

■ Having more energy and feeling less tired during the day.

■ Your skin may start to look better.

■ You’ll start to feel in better shape.

■ You may stop gaining weight.

■ You may also lose weight.

A few ‘harmless’ drinks?

Did you know that regular drinking over the lower-risk guidlines increases the chances of suffering from any of the conditions listed below? The more you drink, the greater the risks.

■ Cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus or larynx.

■ Breast cancer in women.

■ A stroke.

■ Heart disease.

■ High blood pressure.

■ Liver diseases.

■ Pancreatitis.

■ Reduced fertility.

A spare tyre If you drink 10 pints a week, you could be taking on more than 120,000 calories each year.

KEEP JANUARY DRY WITH A LITTLE HELP As memories of December’s merriment fade and 2014 gets under way, thousands of us start the New Year with good intentions.

Dry January and the commitment to abstain from alcohol for the month is an increasingly popular way to make up for the excesses of Christmas and Belvoir Fruit Farms, with its range of fruit cordials and pressés, can help keep you on the straight and narrow.

To help you keep up appearances, Belvoir has linked up with award-winning mixologist Andy Mil to create two stylish mocktails that look and taste so good, who needs cocktails!

Andy, a supporter of Dry January, said: “Anyone determined to stay dry for the month won’t miss the kick of alcohol if they give these mocktails a go.”

BLACK & BLUE FRUIT FOOL 1 part Belvoir Blueberry and Blackcurrant cordial 1 part lemon juice 2 parts pineapple juice Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish by sprinkling some crushed frozen raspberries onto the froth on top of the drink formed by the shaking.

■ To make it even fancier, buy some rice paper cupcake garnishes and float on top of the drink as well as the raspberries.

BELVOIR’S LAZY CHAM 1 teaspoon agave syrup (or use honey) 1 tablespoon lemon juice Top up with Belvoir Elderflower Pressé Stir in a cocktail shaker or small jug the first two ingredients with a little splash of the elderflower pressé. Once mixed, simply strain into a champagne glass.

Garnish with a strip of lemon peel removed with a potato peeler.

■ If you want to be really fancy, take a pair of zig-zag hemming scissors and trim the edge of the lemon peel, then twist into the glass.

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Feature /// Great walks

A grand park and a perfect pub This gentle stroll takes in stately Casewick Hall on the way to one of the best village pubs in the area, as Will Hetherington discovers Photography: Will Hetherington

Above and right

This walk unearths some hidden gems in terms of countryside walks, meandering from Uffington to Casewick and back.

The route takes in stunning Casewick Hall, still a grand house but now sub-divided into smaller homes. The Five Horseshoes at Barholm is great place to stop for a pint, especially in the summer when you can take advantage of the large beer garden. And if you fancy a winter walk, there’s uaually a roaring fire to greet you

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TOP STAT

Trollope of In 1621 William son Thomas Thurlby and his e Casewick estat purchased the in the family and it remained three for more than centuries a er that.

THE ROUTE

Park up somewhere out of the way in Uffington, and walk north east on the quiet road out of the village. After roughly half a mile you will cross a cattle grid which is impressively framed by a grand old gateway. After this you are in the grounds of the attractive Casewick Hall, home to the Trollope-Bellew family for centuries before it was split up and sold as private housing in the latter part of the 20th century.

But this hasn’t had a detrimental effect on the grandeur of the parkland with its ha-ha and ancient trees. The house and grounds now comprise several private dwellings but the whole area retains its secluded air of quiet country life, and makes for a very pleasing element of this gentle walk.

The footpath through the park sticks to the main access road with the hall on the right, and open parkland to the front. This area in front of the hall was once home to the Casewick estate cricket team, and it doesn’t take Roald Dahl’s creative genius to cast the mind back 100 years and imagine what a peaceful sight that must have been on a warm summer’s afternoon.

But back in the present day the footpath carries on through another lovely old gateway and past a number of outbuildings on the right, which have now all been converted to private homes.

The Old Wash House is on the market at the moment and, while it may not have the same immediate impact as the main hall, it would be a wonderful place to live.

As you leave the buildings of Casewick behind the path goes through a farm gateway and bears slightly left straight across a field with a handful of grand old trees standing guard in the middle of it. When you get into the next smaller field head diagonally to the far left corner and find the sometimes well hidden route to the East Coast mainline crossing on the embankment above.

Once you have crossed the railway, taking extreme care of course, the path takes a fairly clear route across the first grass field and then along the boundary of a couple of fields as it heads north to the pleasingly rural little village of

Barholm. The village is still largely owned by the Trollope-Bellew family and the present custodian is Lincolnshire councillor Martin Trollope-Bellew.

The footpath enters Barholm via an often muddy lane which passes to the rear of the Old Hall before leading on to the road through the village and directly to the beer garden of the Five Horseshoes.

As part of the estate this pub has been protected from some of the less savoury developments which have stolen the rural charm from so many other village pubs. And it’s all the better for it.

Emma and Matt know how to run a happy inn and at peak times it gets very busy, but this only adds to the ambience. This is a cracking real ale pub and you can expect familiar beers from established names like Oakham Ales, as well as plenty of great beers from the likes of Simon Raines’ Star Brewery. They don’t do food, which is all part of the appeal, and anyway a packet of nuts should keep the hunger at bay for the return journey to Uffington.

Sadly it’s not open during the day Monday to Friday, but if you get settled in here on a Sunday afternoon you may not want to leave.

Difficulty rating (out of five)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park Anywhere you can in Uffington.

Five Horseshoes is one of the best pubs in the area.

Distance and time: Five miles/one and half hours (plus the time you spend in the Five Horseshoes).

Lowlights You must take care when crossing the East Coast mainline. Inter-city trains travelling at 100mph are not to be messed with.

Highlights Casewick Hall and the surrounding parkland is something of a hidden gem in this area, but is surprisingly grand and makes for a very pleasant section of the walk. The

Refreshments The Five Horseshoes in Barholm is run by a friendly team and is a proper village pub with a brilliant atmosphere. Expect a roaring log

fire on a cold winter’s day and a big beer garden for whiling away those long, hot summer a ernoons. This is the sort of pub that dreams are made of. But beware – it’s not open during the day on Mondays to Fridays.

The pooch perspective There are sheep in Casewick Park and the railway line is an obvious obstacle, but otherwise a well-trained dog will have plenty of fun on this walk.

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MBI / ALAMY

Feature /// Pet advice

Ask the experts We ask pet care experts for advice on how to help your dog stay healthy and happy Tracey Longmuir of Isis Pet Care offers some simple tips to help your dogs to stay healthier...

CHANGING DIET

If your pets are suffering from itchy skin, excessive moulting, anal gland problems, bad odours or stinky breath then a simple change to their diet may work.

Some foods that are specially formulated for specific problems may get rid of these problems. They’re usually hypo-allergenic and free from additives which can cause irritations and if you contact the food companies direct they will normally send you free samples to try.

Also everyday products can help such as apple cider vinegar which can be used in combatting fleas, ear mites and infections and itchy sore skin when used in a variety of ways.

WHITE RICE FOR AN UPSET STOMACH

For an upset stomach, try cooked white rice. Cook the rice according to package directions and feed this to your dog for a couple of days instead of their normal food.

On the second day you can add chopped up chicken or turkey to the rice.

It’s the white rice that will settle their stomachs and cleanse their system of whatever was causing it to be upset.

HELPING JOINTS

If your dog is getting older, walks are taking their toll and their joints seem stiff then cod liver oil and Glucosamine are as good for our four legged friends as they are for us.

Along with a diet that is made for joint care you should see an improvement in approximately six weeks.

Hydrotherapy and swimming is another way to help improve the mobility of an ageing dog with arthritis, not to mention how it will speed up rehabilitation from an operation for a dog of any age. It can also be used to aid recovery from a stroke.

STRESS AND ANXIETY

Some behaviours that we may purchase medicines for, such as stress, anxiety and car sickness, could benefit from some professional training or therapy such as behavioural training or Tellington Touch therapy.

This is often used on humans and horses as well as dogs and although these courses may be as expensive, if not more so than some medicines, it is a way of treating the source of a problem so it does not reoccur.

Examples of this include the stress of fireworks night, car rides and leaving the house, rather than treating the symptom every time it recurs.

Contact: Tracey Longmuir, Isis Pet Care, www.isispetcare.com

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Bobs Broadbent of Dogknows on how to get your dog used to being checked over.

MAKING A DAILY HEALTH CHECK

Dog’s are a different species and don’t touch, hold and hug as we do so we need to get them used to being handled from an early age and maintain this on a daily basis throughout a dog’s life.

It’s important to go at a dog’s pace and not force them to be handled if they don’t like it; go slowly and gently until your dog is happy to be touched all over.

A dog that is happy to be handled will make a better patient at the vets, when they need to be examined and it helps you to really know the condition of your dog so you understand when things are not right.

Introducing daily handling in the form of a health check will not only prepare your dog for a visit to the vets, it could also make a positive difference in preventing ailments and injuries. For example, thorns, burghs and stones can create discomfort as well as break the skin and cause an injury so removing them quickly offers preventative care. You might also notice lumps and bumps appear enabling early treatment.

Assuming your dog is happy to be handled all over, run your hand along your dog’s back and then their undercarriage, taking special notice inside of their front and back legs. Then move down each leg to their paw and feel between the paw pads.

It’s really beneficial to stroke a dog’s tail upwards, in the way it needs to be positioned when having their temperature taken. It’s an unusual action so getting them used to this can help what can be an unpleasant experience.

Take special care around a dog’s head, especially for puppies, as they are very sensitive to being touched in this area. Check your dog’s ears, eyes and carefully open their mouth.

Make sure you offer a tasty titbit after doing this, so they learn something nice happens afterwards and will want to do so again. In the long term, all dogs benefit from having their teeth regularly cleaned and some breeds require specific kinds of daily care such as cleaning between folds of skin.

Contact: Bobs Broadbent, Dogknows , 01664 454 792, bobs@dogknows.co.uk

A trip to the vets with Chris Booth THE WINTER VOMITING BUG Chris Booth MRCVS of Oakham Veterinary Hospital on how to combat upset stomachs.

You may be aware of the dreaded norovirus that seems to be spreading across the UK. Outbreaks seem to be more common during the winter period and this winter is no exception. The Guardian reported late last year that nearly a million people could have contracted it so far this winter, with outbreaks in 61 hospitals.

What you may not be aware of is the increasing incidence of stomach upset in cats and dogs during this winter period. Although our pets cannot catch norovirus there are plenty of other causes of vomiting and diarrhoea in our pets. By far the most common cause is eating something that does not agree with the stomach.

This could be because the food is too rich or unsuitable (dietary intolerance or allergy), is inedible and gets stuck (foreign body), or because it is contaminated or rotting. Parasites can also upset the stomach, for instance roundworms, tapeworms and some protozoa

(amoeba-like parasites).

Scavenging and hunting increase the risk of worms, while protozoa seem more common in puppies.

Some infections, such as parovirus, coronavirus, distempter and salmonella, also make pets unwell.

To prevent some of the worst causes of upset stomach it is worth making sure that your dog’s vaccinations are fully up to date.

Regular worming with a good worming product at least every three months will also help. Contact your vet for information on vaccinations and worming treatments. Feed a good quality diet and try to avoid any sudden changes in the food given. When changing from one food to another it is always wise to introduce the food slowly over a few days.

If you notice any symptoms please contact your vet for advice. In mild cases starving for 12-24 hours and feeding a low-fat bland diet is o en all that is needed. In more severe cases, e.g. where your pet stops eating or drinking, becomes dehydrated or depressed, please seek veterinary attention as soon as possible as further treatment may be required.

Puppy School Rutland

A six week training & socialisation course tailored specially for vaccinated puppies up to 20 weeks of age.

Our classes are fun and friendly and you will learn how to use modern, force-free and kind training techniques.

Classes are held at Oakham Veterinary Hospital on Wednesday evenings.

To register your puppy, please contact Bobs Broadbent by e-mail: bobs@dogknows.co.uk or phone: 01664 454 792

www.puppyschool.co.uk

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1967 TTN-January Quarter Page Active Advert_TTN-January Quarter Page Activ

NEW MENU OUT NOW From January 21st we will be serving food including a themed menu on Tuesday nights

LUNCH OFFERS

Keep an eye out for our February and March lunch offers at www.whitehorsebaston.co.uk

THE HORSE’S HAPPY HOURS! Monday to Friday, 5pm-7pm

Save 30p off all draught products and glasses of house wine.*

TREAT YOUR LOVED ONE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY Bookings now being taken, please call 01778 560 923

The White Horse, 4 Church Street, Baston PE6 9PE *Terms & Conditions apply

Red India.indd 1

Proud Sponsors of Burghley Park & Uffington Cricket Clubs

2 Not So Large pizzas, 2 toppings and bottle of house white, red or rosé wine for £21.95 throughout January & February Our pizza offer is available Monday to Thursday 6pm to 9pm during January & February 2014.

Deli M

enu The Tobie Norris is a charming Served Saturday building with 7 unique rooms from 12pm over 3 floors, an orangery and a large enclosed garden. We have until 5pm 5 hand pumps, 2 are dedicated to Adnams Best Bitter and Castle Rock Harvest Pale Ale. The other 3 are for our guest beers.

pizzas, 2 Not So Large a bottle 2 toppings and 1.95 of house wine £2 day tur Sa to ay nd Mo 6pm-7pm

The food we serve is of the highest quality. Our speciality is stone baked pizzas with a choice of toppings from the traditional to the slightly quirky!

12 St Pauls Street, Stamford, PE9 2BE Tel: 01780 753800 info@tobienorris.com www.tobienorris.com

11/12/2013 21:22

Feature /// Sportsman’s Dinner

Red India, Oakham JT and new dining partner Will head to a popular curry house in Oakham Will Handy to have the long stay car park right behind the restaurant, especially as it’s free after 6pm. Also it’s a nice touch to arrive as the church bells are ringing out on a cold winter’s night.

Can’t wait for a warming curry.

JT I’ll just nip along to the off licence a few doors down. I love a bring-your-own booze restaurant – it means you can drink anything you want and it helps to keep the cost down. Just hope they have Kingfisher or Cobra – two of my favourite beers to have with a curry.

Will That’s right JT, you take advantage of me driving tonight! To be fair though, you may as well make the most of it because this won’t happen often.

JT Perfect; two large bottles of Kingfisher procured and I’m ready. Good to meet Abdul, the manager, on arrival and he seems rightly proud of this little gem of a restaurant. The front room is full and I see the ladies from Oakham Museum are enjoying a good night out in the back room. These poppadoms are top notch, too.

The onion and chilli sauce combo is perfect.

Will My family have been coming here since it opened six years ago and they always recommend it, but I’ve never been before so let’s have a look at the menu. Hang on a minute... all these chef’s specialities have very European names – Victor’s Vindaloo, Murray’s Mint and Malcolm’s Mumbai. Oh I see, they’re named after regular customers; great idea. It really gives a personal touch to the menu.

JT I’d love to see my name in highlights on the menu one day! But in the meantime I’m glad Abdul was happy to recommend some dishes.

And this starter of strips of beef with peppers in a sweet and sour sauce has a good blend of flavours. I’d be proud of cooking this at home.

Will Don’t put yourself down JT, you’re a pretty good chef. And yes my chicken Jaipuri starter has the same subtle blend of flavours and the portion size is just right. It won’t ruin my appetite for the main course, although that would take some doing!

JT That first bottle of Kingfisher went down pretty quick. I hope two will be enough.

Anyway here’s the main courses and this Magnificent 7 curry, with seven different types of chilli, looks spectacular.

these small portion Jeffrey Hudson naan breads, named after the eponymous famous local little fellow. What a great idea. These guys have really thought about the whole menu and that makes them stand out from the crowd.

JT I’m not surprised the sister restaurant which opened in Uppingham earlier this year is doing so well, and they are planning an extension here.

I can’t wait to come back. Perhaps I’ll bring a bottle of Merlot or Rioja next time too, like those guys on the table next door.

Will Good idea. It was great to meet Farook before we left but perhaps you should go steady on the Merlot JT, after you had that fall on the railings on the way back to the car park.

JT Whatever. Home James!

Will Graeme’s Goan green chicken curry looks and tastes amazing too; I’m glad I went with the recommendation of the house. And the two side dishes of ochra and tarka dall go together like Morecambe and Wise.

JT You’re a bit out of date there Will; I’d say more like Ant & Dec. But you’re right, it’s a great combination and the spicing in this curry is perfect. Abdul was right– it’s not all about the heat, it’s the blend that’s important. And clearly head chef Farook knows his onions, and chillies, and ginger, and turmeric…

Will Alright JT, we get the message. Those Kingfishers have clearly kicked in! And I love

Red India

26 Melton Road, Oakham.

01572 724999

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10/12/2013 21:57

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06/12/2013 11:54

Feature /// Great rides

The Rutland Loop Jon Sheehan of Tri Coach 3 will be offering routes and training advice for cyclists, runners and swimmers over the next few months. This month is a pleasant 32 miles from Stamford around Rutland Water and back Starting at Stamford Garden Centre, turn right on to Casterton Road. At the crossroads take a right and head towards Ryhall. At the junction turn left and head out towards Careby. At the crossroads for Carlby, turn left and head to Pickworth. Take the next left and spin across to Pickworth. At the junction turn left and spin through the village, taking the ďŹ rst right as you exit the village.

Follow this road across towards the A1. At the next junction turn left and spin down the hill turning right under the A1. Stay on this road until the next crossroads where you turn right and head towards Exton. Go straight over at the next crossroads, and turn left at the T junction.

Take the next right, and then a left at the next junction heading towards Oakham. At the roundabout turn left and head across to Rutland Water. At the next roundabout go straight over and spin along the main road, taking a left at the top of the sharp incline into Manton.

Spin through Manton and take a right just after the garden centre. Follow this road into Lyndon and take a left on to Luffenham Road, climb the sharp incline and take a right opposite the Fox and Hounds. Sweep right and then left until you reach the crossroads. Go straight over the junction and follow this road until it joins the main road into Ketton. When you pass the cement works turn left onto Ketton hill and climb up the hill and back into town.

STATS Start/Finish Stamford Garden Centre, Casterton Road Distance 32.52 miles Time 12mph = 2.42:30 15mph = 2.13:07 18mph = 1.48:20 Elevation 1,593 Difficulty 7.5/10

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Feature /// School sports

Strong year for Stamford rugby STAMFORD SCHOOL HAS celebrated another strong season on the rugby fields with all three senior sides dominating their fixture lists on the back of an unbeaten tour of Canada.

The Third XV led by skipper Matthew Lammin only lost two games last season and this year were determined to do even better. George Hunt-Pain and Josh Rushby were inspirational in achieving 11 wins from 12 games. The Second XV only lost once in 2012 and went unbeaten against all the other teams on their fixture list.

In the absence of the First XV, due to Cup commitments, the 2nd XV accepted the challenge of playing Welbeck College’s First XV and such was their quality played a cracking game to finish 20-17 losers. George Morley, Chris Lipscombe, James Dorrington and Ben Groom were superb in their final year at the school.

The First XV accepted the gauntlet laid down by their unbeaten 2012 predecessors. They have enjoyed a wonderful season winning 15 of their 16 games with the one blemish a 20-17 loss away at Bedford School. They have been ranked tenth in the Daily Mail Trophy league of the best rugby playing schools in the UK and their win over Bedford Modern School means they can look forward to a mouth-watering home tie with Warwick School in the last 16 of the NatWest National Cup.

Captain Connor Collett was pleased with his team: “We were all determined to prove that last year’s achievements were no fluke and the boys have delivered some great performances.

Everyone has played their part. We can’t wait for January!”

Connor has led by example and been outstanding, closely followed by George Cox and Declan Spaine who have both been selected to play for Northampton Saints Academy.

Director of Rugby David Laventure was full of praise: “We have a great environment here and a successful culture around developing the players. That’s a mighty impressive set of results across the whole VI form on the regions strongest fixture list.

“They deserve to put their feet up and reflect on a great season – apart from the First XV who will of course be hitting the gym and monitoring the calories over Christmas!”

Stamford are county netball champions THE NEWLY FORMED Stamford High School First VII were crowned netball county champions after competing in the Lincolnshire County Tournament.

The SHS team started the tournament with some great wins against Brigg, Lincoln College, Caistor, Bourne and Priory LSST. The next team the girls faced was Deeping, who had also won all their games so far. It was a tough match and after putting up a great fight, the SHS team managed to win by one goal at the whistle.

The final match was against QEGs Horncastle. After a disappointing start, trailing by 0-6 in the first few minutes, the SHS team knuckled down and played some excellent netball. Unfortunately they came away with their first defeat of the day with a final score of 15-16. After a nervous wait, the team were eventually crowned County Champions on goal difference.

Team captain Molly Atkinson said: “We were ecstatic to discover that we had won the tournament and would go forward as Lincolnshire County Champions. The team is really looking forward to the regional round in January.”  Old Girls of Stamford High School turned out in force in December to take on the current 1st XI to conclude the 2013 hockey season. Captained and organised by former 1st XI captain, Georgie Bendle (2009), the turnout from the Old Girls was the best yet. One goal in the first half and two in the second from the well-drilled 1st XI left the final score at a very respectable 3-0.

Right Stamford High School first XI hockey team line up before their match against the Old Girls

Above Stamford High School first VII netball team

 Uppingham Community College sent an U16 team to take part in the Leicestershire and Rutland Netball County Cup. The team was a mixture of Year 10 and 11 Girls and they won six games in a row to make the final. In the final they were narrowly beaten by Loughborough High but thoroughly deserved the runners-up prize. The team have now qualified for the regional championships at Repton School in January.

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Above and top right Graham Rowntree at Oakham and Craig Newby at Stamford

Formers Tigers turn up to train with pupils EX TIGERS, ENGLAND and All Blacks stars have been training rugby teams in the area.

Graham Rowntree, the English and British Lions forwards coach, dropped into Oakham School to give a training session ahead of their fifth round Natwest Schools Cup game.

Director of Rugby Ian Smith, who was

Graham’s former teammate and coach at Leicester Tigers, said: “This afternoon will live long in the memory of all who had the privilege to witness the coaching session.”

Rowntree is the third former Tigers player to have coached the Oakham School squad this season, after Austin Healey and George Chuter.

Stamford School U13 rugby teams enjoyed expert coaching from former All Black and Tigers star, Craig Newby. He spent the majority of his career in New Zealand, playing for the Otago Highlanders as well as representing his country. Since retiring in 2012, Craig has become a consultant for the Matt Hampson Foundation.

GREAVES WINS GB DUATHLON PLACE OAKHAM ATHLETE Josh Greaves has won a place in the Under 20s GB Duathlon team.

Josh qualified for the team a er placing third in the Under 20s European qualifier at Grafham Water. During the race, he undertook a 5km run out and back followed by a 20km bike and 3km run.

“I’m delighted that I finished third in the Under 20s category as I was competing against much older athletes,” says Josh. “I was hoping to qualify in 2015, so to have done it a year earlier is just great.”

He will represent GB in 2014 at the European Sprint Distance Duathlon Championships, which will be held in Holland in April.

Bourne Grammar School reach national cross-country finals FOR THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR Bourne Grammar School reached the national final of the Cross Country Cup held at Southend High School for girls.

Bourne Grammar was one of only eight schools nationally to have four teams reach the Regional stage held in Boston and it was hoped that at least one team would progress to Southend for the final. The six-boy team consisting of Cameron Everist, Scott Taylor, Lucas Fidler and Jack Scholes from year 10 along with Bradley Allen and Archie Waddell from year nine performed extremely well against the best competition in the country. The conditions were almost perfect at the start of the race, as the 144 athletes surged over the start line and into the 150m incline.

As the field thinned after the first lap, Cameron Everist led the way for Bourne in the midst of the group, closely followed by the rest of the team. The fast 4.5km course started to take its toll on many of the athletes, although Cameron maintained his place in the middle of the pack.

As the second lap commenced, Scott Taylor slowly but surely picked his way through the field to stay in contention and close behind Lucas, Bradley, Jack and Archie all worked hard to maintain a high pace. As the race drew to a close it was a delight to see all six students give their all right to the finish.

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 14 5 1

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// To advertise on the Market Place page please email marketplace@theactivemag.com or call 01780 480789 Untitled-2 116

16/12/2013 14:34

Feature /// School sports

Pupils raise money for charity PUPILS FROM OAKHAM SCHOOL have rallied together to raise over £1,000 by scoring as many goals as possible, to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research.

The students, from across all sports played at Oakham, came together in support of one of their hockey coaches, 23 year old Martin Scanlon, who is battling against Lymphoma Cancer.

Martin, a former under-21 international hockey player, was originally diagnosed last year.

Despite successfully fighting off the cancer and returning to coaching at Oakham and playing for Beeston Hockey Club, he has recently been readmitted for chemotherapy.

On hearing the news, Martin’s close friend and Beeston teammate announced he will be donating £50 to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research for every league goal he scores. This has led to the hockey community coming together to raise money as part of the #score4scan campaign.

The Oakham School sports department wanted to help raise money for the cause, and so they dedicated a whole weekend to the “Score4Scan” campaign. Every point or goal that Oakham scored over the weekend equated to a £1 donation. In total, there were 39 games played (in rugby, hockey, and lacrosse), with 450 pupils taking part and 239 points scored. As well as

pupils donating money for their goals, there were pitch side collections and general donations from pupils and staff. In total, over £1,000 was raised for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research.

“This was a real chance for everybody involved in sport at Oakham to really show their support for Martin and to get behind him in his second

Strong squash standard STAMFORD SCHOOL’S 1st V Squash Team had another superb term, with some high quality performances against local rivals.

The First V beat Oakham School on two occasions during the autumn term with scores of 4-1 and 3-2. After being defeated by Uppingham at the start of the season, the 1sts went on to get their revenge in November with a 3-2 victory.

The boys have also played four matches in the National School Tournament winning all bar one against Kenilworth School.

Francis Williams, Squash Coach and Sports Teacher at Stamford School, said: “These boys have been together for the last four years playing consistently throughout the school year. They have been through many losses when they first started playing 1st V Squash, as they were so young, but are now reaping the rewards. Until the loss to Kenilworth School in the National School tournament this team had not lost for two years.”

fight against the illness,” says Iain Simpson, Director of Sport at Oakham. “It was important for us to let Martin know that he has so much support here at school. ”  If you would like to donate yourselves or read more about the #Score4Scan campaign go to: www.justgiving.com/samward15

BROOKE HOCKEY AT IAPS EVENT AFTER LAST YEAR’S unbeaten season, Brooke Priory’s girls hockey team have had a lot to prove and they have gone from strength to strength.

Arguably the highlight was taking part in the regional IAPS tournament which was held at Repton, but the girls have also enjoyed some very competitive fixtures against Stamford, Copthill, Grantham, Laxton and St Hughs.

Head of Sport, Wayne Faulconbridge, said: “It is always a pleasure to see how far children can progress in sport when they are filled with enthusiasm and inspiration.’

UCC GIRLS WIN RELAY TITLE

Pictured (from le )

Tom Davies, Oliver Huxley, Edward Pritchard, Zak Chappell, Sam Barnett and Dr D.F. Williams

THREE YEAR 7 girls recently became the first students from Uppingham Community College to win a Leicestershire & Rutland Schools Cross County Relay title.

The race took place at Thomas Estley Community College on a relatively flat course around the school grounds. The girls, Alice Freeman, Georgina Wilson and Scarlett Wilson, led the race from the start and won the four lap race comfortably to win the trophy.

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18/12/2013 16:54

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

Football

Festive season brings upturn in fortunes

BY DEAN CORNISH

A

beat Worksop 3-1 in the not so crucial ny pundit will tell you that Doodson Cup, fans could have been the Christmas period is the forgiven for thinking they’d really turned most crucial time of year for the corner and mid-table obscurity was any football team looking to well within reach. either prove their credentials Next up came fellow relegation or turn around their fortunes. candidates Frickley Athletic where the But for Stamford’s sides, it’s been the lead Daniels picked up a creditable away point up to the big day that’s been incredibly in a game that was more ‘mustn’t lose’ than important, and surprisingly successful for ‘must win’. both of the major non-league sides as they However, then the Daniels’ four-match battle against relegation this season. unbeaten stretch was undone with a Stamford AFC have done their hopes of comprehensive 2-0 home defeat by Ilkeston staying in the Evo-Stik Premier Division the Town to put them back in the relegation world of good with some good results in zone and bring their fans back to the harsh the last four weeks since my last round up. reality that the slog against relegation On November 23, David Staff’s men probably won’t end until the final few produced one of the upsets of the season so games of the season, if at all. far when they travelled to the North West to With the bottom three seemingly already play-off candidates Marine and beat them adrift though, there’s potentially only one 3-1, courtesy of a Ryan Robbins hat-trick. relegation place left – hopefully the Daniels To prove their good form wasn’t a fluke, aren’t the unlucky ‘other’ ones to drop back the Daniels then went one better by beating down to Step Four. top of the table Skelmersdale at home 2-0.

Westside active advert 4/12/13 14:26 Page 1 Do try and get to a Stamford game over At this point, the Daniels had got the festive period. themselves out of the bottom four for the Anyone who has followed Blackstones’ first time in a while, and when they then

fortunes over the last couple of years will know their struggles all too well. An early Christmas miracle seems to have taken place at Lincoln Road though, with a turnaround in fortune of biblical proportions.

In last month’s column we reported how Blackstones’ poor form included losing against a side who had lost 65 successive games. Amazingly since losing to Northampton Spencer, Gary Peace’s side are unbeaten in six, winning five of those games on the spin against the likes of midtable Olney, Raunds, Irchester, Rushden & Higham and Rothwell, and then drawing 2-2 away at league leaders Oadby Town.

Addie Staffieri’s 11 goals in 12 games and Dan Fountain’s cameos seem to have been the catalysts for change for the Stones, and if they keep this run going, they could be looking at promotion rather than relegation!

The amazing run of form has well and truly stopped the rot, and Blackstones now sit fourth from bottom – some achievement considering where they were heading after

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Right Stamford Daniels’ Ryan Robbins scores against league leaders Skelmersdale

that famous defeat to Woodford.

Meanwhile, in the Peterborough League Premier Division Uppingham Town seem to have found their feet again after their minor blip in November.

Richard Kendrick’s men earned a good 3-1 away league win at Deeping Rangers on November 23 before following that up with cup victories away at Coates Athletic and Moulton Horrox (on penalties), before winning the big Rutland derby 1-0 away at Oakham United.

With four games in hand on table toppers King’s Lynn Reserves, and only a 10-point deficit, Uppingham are still in with a shout at the title this year, although as mentioned last month, a top three or four finish is a more realistic aim.

Oakham United, conversely, haven’t had a great few weeks after their recent upturn in fortunes. They have lost recently at home to Stilton, got hammered away at Moulton Horrox, were soundly beaten at home by Whittlesey before then losing the Rutland derby as above to their county rivals.

They’ve gone from mid-table to back

down to fourth from bottom, although their position is slightly false considering their points deduction following their early season troubles. Wayne Oldaker’s side though should definitely have enough to avert getting pulled too seriously into the relegation places come the spring.

In Division One, Ketton are still our strongest local side with some scintillating league form, having won their last nine league games.

Recent results include a 3-1 win over Netherton at home and a 6-0 crushing of Peterborough ICA away from home. If they keep up their good form, there’s a good chance of promotion this season for the boys from Pit Lane.

Ryhall United are also going well, sitting in eighth position in the league. James Sheehan’s men have won their last three games, scoring 15 goals in the process.

Impressive stuff.

The Stamford Bels are currently third bottom with some ever erratic form. After a draw at Sutton Bridge toward the end of November, The Bels then beat

Peterborough ICA before succumbing to two December defeats at home to Holbeach and Long Sutton.

In the Leicestershire Senior League, Cottesmore took a major scalp in midNovember when they won against unbeaten league leaders Allexton & New Parks 2-1, with goals from Jake Culverwell and Chris Shaw. They were unable to repeat the result in the return fixture the following week though, losing 4-0 to an Allexton team who were hungry for revenge.

They then took on Shepshed Dynamo Res, leading to what manager Neil Miller described as the worst performance of the season losing 3-0.

After some strong words with the players they took on FC GNG the following week and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners with a much improved performance and goals from Dave Gordon, Robbie Preira and Harry Stannard, and followed this up with a 2-2 draw away at Shepshed Dynamo Res with Luke Smith and Stannard scoring the goals.

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19/12/2013 19:33

Rugby

Love-ins, late arrivals and lineouts

BY JEREMY BESWICK

J

ust after we went to press last month, Oakham won the bragging rights by beating Stamford 25-0 in the local derby.

Home skipper Matt Albinson was gracious in defeat: “Hats off to the Oakham boys. They played as a unit from 1 to 15 and look a good side.”

Oaks coach Tom Armstrong managed to win graciously, too. “Stamford are a good side and I can’t imagine them struggling this season,” he said in the programme for the next match. Any more of this and they’ll be sending each other Valentine’s cards or, worse, exchanging Stamford’s new charity calendar – with photographs of the players’ “tackle out”. See www.afterumbrage.org.uk for details – proceeds to carers of terminally ill relatives.

Before their next game against tabletopping Spalding, Oaks president Keith Crellin reflected on their fine start to the season.

“This is the highest standard of rugby I’ve ever known us to play,” he told me.

“Our forwards, in particular, are fantastic at defending our lines.”

I couldn’t disagree and you’d have got long odds on them then going on to lose

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give them victory but it was not to be. Carel Fourie received his weekly yellow card as usual – time for some New Year’s resolutions, methinks.

The following week Oaks somehow just didn’t show up against Ashbourne – almost literally as traffic delayed their appearance until the last minute – and Armstrong acknowledged they had a poor game. It was 10-10 at the break after tries from Richard Pocock and George Reid but Ashbourne’s 17 second half points proved too much.

Stamford Town bounced back from that defeat by Oakham by winning 31-17 at Kesteven, the forwards playing outstandingly well, excelling at both scrum and line-out.

Although they then lost against Spalding, going down 40-22 away to the league leaders is a result that won’t be bettered by many teams above them in the table.

Likewise Loughborough, also away, to whom they lost 17-7.

Stamford College Old Boys continued their improved form losing narrowly 19-18 away to Westwood. Alas, their regular curse of an unfit front row returned and the match against Thorney had to be conceded,

their next three games, but this they contrived to do – 13-18 that day, 10-27 at Ashbourne and 3-22 against Bakewell.

There was no disgrace in losing that tight and exciting match to Spalding, with some eccentric refereeing decisions doing them no favours.

Indeed I understand an Oakham player was red carded in the dressing room afterwards for, ahem, explaining the rules to the official in question, who also demanded the names of the supporters – yes, supporters – who’d had the temerity to politely point out to him that Spalding’s lineout thrower was encroaching on to the field of play. Which he was, by the way.

Referees have a tough job and do the game an inestimable service and I salute them. Almost all of them.

Oaks had led 10-3 at one stage after a well-worked try in the corner by George Reid, converted by Mark Matthews, who then added a penalty, but that proved to be the only try of the game as Spalding’s scrum dominance resulted in several penalties clocking up against the home side.

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TIGERS TALK Tigers boss Richard Cockerill was in a more ebullient mood at this month’s press conference a er their fine home win against Montpellier although, being the perfectionist that he is, anything but complacent.

“It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance,” he told me. “We played some really good stuff and scored great tries but we let ourselves down a bit by letting them back into the game.” Referring to the defensive lapses that allowed Montpellier to score four breakaway tries, he continued: “I think we got a bit too excited – carried away with how well we were playing”.

As he predicted, the return fixture was very tough and physical and more direct. It’s been a long time since the Tigers have won in France, so their last minute victory will have been celebrated hard.

Players such as Tom and Ben Youngs and new signing Jamie Gibson really performed, and if Tigers can get out of the group with wins in their final two games, away at Treviso and home to Ulster, then they will be in a fantastic position come the knock-out stages in the spring, with a number of star performers set to be finally fit by then.

Asked about the speculation regarding club captain Toby Flood’s future, Cockerill was philosophical.

“It’s no secret that Toby hasn’t re-signed but, look, he’s a good bloke and has been very professional about it all. If he does decide to leave we’ll need to be in the marketplace come January.”

The rumour is that Flood’s bound for Toulon as a replacement for Jonny Wilkinson, who’s nearing retirement. “He won’t be a better player for being in France. He’ll be a richer player, but no better,” added Cockerill.

On the up side, Manu Tuilagi is close to his comeback from injury: “Manu hasn’t played for several months but he’s returned to the first team squad. We’re looking for the right game to bring him back.”

I asked second row Graham Kitchener – man of the match against Gloucester and recently tipped as England’s next lineout king by 29-cap veteran Louis Deacon – how the new scrum laws have affected the game, now they’ve had a chance to bed in.

“It’s a lot safer and more scrums are staying up.” he said. “From a second row perspective there’s less momentum but I’d say I’m on the positive side of the fence and it’s an improvement.”

Interesting character, Kitchener. Six feet seven inches tall and just under 20 stone, he played for Wolverhampton Wanderers academy and cricket for Shropshire, was Midlands under-17 shot putt champion and is currently fitting in degree studies at Birmingham

but they followed this with a 24-22 victory away to Aylestone Athletic – four tries earning them a bonus point.

Not bad considering they still have half a team out injured and they’ll be looking to improve on their current mid-table position as the season progresses.

Above

Second row Graham Kitchener has welcomed the new scrum laws, saying they’re an improvement.

Picture: Tigers Images

University around his Tigers commitments. Bet he was head boy at school too, the talented swine. Actually, remembering just how big he is, I take that back.

Deepings, a team in transition with a lot of youngsters as regular readers will know, will have been cheered by their 25-17 win against Northampton Casuals, coming as it did after a long run of defeats.

It wasn’t to last though, and they were thrashed 83-8 at Northampton Men’s Own

and followed that by going down 24-3 at home to Queens.

Stoneygate played only once, Lutterworth thirds and Loughborough fourths both conceding. Their 100% record remains intact after a 71-16 home win against Coalville thirds.

Support your local team Email advertise@ theactivemag.com or call 01780 480789 Bokwa.indd 1

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/// JA N UA RY 2014

57

19/12/2013 14:59

Roundup

Equestrianism

Cross-country fun and dressage debuts

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

I

t was quite an inauspicious start to this season’s Melton Hunt Club Ride at Willoughby, just the other side of Melton, when I turned up at five to kick off and the air ambulance was flying over!

I think this was maybe just a warning to the riders to take heed on the way round the ‘take your own line’ course, with some of Leicestershire’s more formidable hedges on offer for those brave enough to take them on.

This year’s winner Zoe Gibson took the title for the third time, riding the 10-yearold Tempo, who has also won the Fernie’s Harborough Ride and the Golden Button, which are the three biggest and most prestigious of all the cross-country rides in the area.

It often seems to be a race between Richard Walker and Zoe Gibson, although without Richard’s presence Zoe still had her work cut out to beat Irishman Dominic Gwyn-Jones on his first ever ride at the Melton.

Athough admittedly he has done the Golden Button and the Harborough before, he is also one of very few that ride in a racing saddle too, which I have to say is quite brave for that kind of terrain.

However, it has been much drier this year

than it has been in more recent years.

Dominic is more recently known for his antics hunting with the Belvoir, but bought his steed especially for the race.

Another Puzzle has run unsuccessfully under rules and is also owned with a school friend, Edward Collins, but he was unable to ride due to a bang on the head from a fall he sustained last year (I bet that’s what they all say!).

Notably Zoe’s 16-year-old daughter Harriet was also making her Melton debut and finished in a very credible fifth place, also taking the title of best Novice and Under 25. I think she may take that title a few more times yet!

On the other end of the horsey spectrum, all the local riders seem to have turned into dressage divas.

Kelly Davies from Stamford recorded her first win on her mare Rio Negra, who is

by Negro, who is also the sire of the very famous Vallegro.

Not only did she win the Prelim test on a score of 72.3% in Wittering Academy’s league but then also went on to win the Novice test on 76.5% too, although even Kelly did admit to feeling a little worse for wear with the event being on a Sunday morning the day after a, how shall we say, enjoyable Saturday night before.

I too have done my first official British Dressage test.

I decided to throw myself into the deep end and do a Medium Freestyle (to music) at Keysoe, where Sonic Boom and I won, which qualified us for the regionals along with Charlotte Hollis who was in the same section on her very consistent mare Suitably Gracious.

Stamford-based Jo Roberts riding Wilfred also managed to qualify for the Elementary too.

Antonia Brown from Brigstock, who runs a very successful horse selling business with her husband Tim, had a massive haul, winning nine tests in just seven days, which must be some kind of record.

Also, new local Kelly Aldous, who has recently relocated to Belmesthorpe, has flipped to the dark side for the winter season and has won two Novice events and two elementary events on her dressage debuts.

If you fancy a little festive goodwill and want to burn off a few excess calories, then don’t forget to go and support your local hunts.

All meets will be in their usual haunts and will be more than happy to welcome you and your family.

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12/12/2013 18:35

18/12/2013 16:30

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