Active Magazine // South Leicestershire // January 2017

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EE

ISSUE 21 // JANUARY 2017

!

HOW TO… South Leicestershire’s sport and lifestyle magazine

Build a snowman Cook beetroot curry Make detox smoothies

The 12 months of fitness How to make 2017 your most active yet

ISSUE 21 // JANUARY 2017

N e w Tr av el Fe atu r e

Exercising the grey matter with chess

Will’s Walk Loddington and Launde

01

Check mates

www.theACTIVEmag.com

Cure your nd an w derlust isla th hopping in e Caribbean

Manor High School Applicaaons for Year 7 are welcome for autumn 2017 At Manor High we want to help you make the right choice for your child at this important transiion point.

We invite you to come and visit our school during the day where you will see how we prepare children over me to achieve the highest GCSE results, our inspiraaonal teachers, caring support staff and our rapidly evolving learning environment.

When you visit what you will probably experience most strongly is the feel of the school.

For us at Manor High, this is the fundamental factor and the most difficult to define. We refer to a “buzz factor”, a sense of belonging, energy and a colleccve desire to make success inevitable. Through strong relaaonships between home and school, we are able to achieve excellence together.

We are a small, focused, caring and personalised seeng. We will know you and you will know us. Through mutual respect and strong relaaonships, our students flourish in an environment they love.

Book your place on an Open Morning at: www.manorhigh.leics.sch.uk Apply for your place at our school at: www.leics.gov.uk/admissions

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07/12/2016 17:41

Editor’s Letter SO, AS ALWAYS, THE QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE you going to do differently this year? At Active, we’ve always tried to highlight everything that involved action and activity no matter how sedentary it might seem. For some, the start of the year means they are promising themselves they will take up some extreme activity: base jumping or Ironman events or something equally brutal. For others, they will be thinking “I’m just going to try and walk a bit more this year.” Whatever it is, it’s all equally valid, and into that I’d like to throw activity of a different sort: mental activity.

Our brains require training. A study published last year by King’s College London showed improvements in reasoning skills in older adults who used targeted brain training games over a period of six months.

According to experts in neuroplasticity at brainhq.com: “The brain can actually shrink or thicken; neural connections can be forged and refined or weakened and severed. Changes in the physical brain manifest as changes in our abilities. For example, each time we learn a new dance step, it reflects a change in our physical brains: new “wires” (neural pathways) that give instructions to our bodies on how to perform the step. Each time we forget someone’s name, it also reflects brain change— “wires”that once connected to the memory have been degraded, or even severed. As these examples show, changes in the brain can result in improved skills (a new dance step) or a weakening of skills (a forgotten name).”

So this year, why not attempt to exercise the grey matter more, as well as the rest of the body? Take up chess, read more books, do some puzzles, start painting perhaps.

I’ve taken up chess. Problem is, I got beaten by my seven-year old daughter. A lot more practice is going to be needed to train this shrivelled old mind into a lean, keen, thinking machine, I reckon.

Enjoy the issue! Steve

Twitter // @theACTIVEmag Facebook // www.facebook.com/theACTIVEmag

Publisher Chris Meadows chris@theactivemag.com Editor Steve Moody steve@theactivemag.com Deputy editor Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com Production editor Julian Kirk julian@theactivemag.com Art editor Mark Sommer mark@theactivemag.com Contributors Martin Johnson, William Hetherington, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth Photographers Nico Morgan, Pip Warters Production assistant Gary Curtis Advertising sales Lisa Withers lisa@theactivemag.com Sarah Stillman sarah@theactivemag.com Amy Roberts amy@theactivemag.com Editorial and Advertising Assistant Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com Accounts accounts@theactivemag.com Active magazine, The Grey House, 3 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG. Tel: 01780 480789

If you have information on a club then get in touch by emailing editor@theactivemag.com. If you would like to stock Active magazine then email distribution@ theactivemag.com. If you would like to discuss advertising possibilities please email advertise@ theactivemag.com. Active magazine is published 12 times per year on a monthly basis. ISSN 2059-8513 A Grassroots Publishing Limited company. Company registration number 7994437. VAT number 152717318 Disclaimer

Copyright (c) Grassroots Publishing Limited (GPL) 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from GPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of GPL or its affiliates. Disclaimer of Liability. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, GPL and its affiliates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication.

Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material which they submit and for ensuring the material complies with applicable laws.

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

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17

3 SL ed letterOK.indd 117

3

16/12/2016 12:30

Cabinet Makers

Manor House Farm Woodford Tel: 01832 730073

Email: enquiries@wychwoodcabinetmakers.co.uk www.wychwoodcabinetmakers.co.uk

Start The New Year

in a

luxury

family living for only

£689,995

This executive family home on the edge of historic Stamford has been finished to a high standard.

A private drive leads to the modern five bedroom detached home, with a large open plan kitchen, family/dining room, living room, study, utility room and internal access to the double garage.

The master bedroom has an en-suite and a separate dressing room. Four further bedrooms, one with an en-suite and a family bathroom complete the first floor. The garden overlooks open countryside and the River Gwash.

This luxury home is within walking distance to the town centre and railway station. It is ideally placed for access to the A1, major road networks and regional airports.

Live in what is often regarded as one of the best places to live in the UK and home to Burghley House, one of England’s greatest Elizabethan houses, which was used for the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice and other period dramas.

NEW HOME

Times from Stamford train station to:* Peterborough Station Leicester Station Nottingham Station London Kings Cross

13 minutes 41 minutes 1 hr 9 mins.

1 hr 35 mins.

(Peterborough to Kings Cross 51 minutes)

Times and distances to cities from Stamford to:* Peterborough Leicester Cambridge Nottingham

14 miles 31 miles 46 miles 45 miles

22 minutes 55 minutes 55 minutes 1 hr 5 mins.

Times and distances to airports from Stamford to:* East Midlands Stansted Luton Heathrow

46 miles 70 miles 72 miles 101 miles

1 hr 15 mins.

1 hr 10 mins.

1 hr 20 mins.

1 hr 50 mins.

Stamford: Visit • Explore • Live *Distances and times are approximate

The Paddock, Uffington Road, Stamford PE9 3AA www.allison-homes.co.uk Call 07717 895399 to arrange a viewing Prices and information correct at time of going to print. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

2406 1216

Contents ACTIVE LIFE 10-11 HOW TO...

Make a snowman, create a snow angel and mix a smoothie

ISSUE 21 /// JANUARY 2017

36

13 NATURE

Aconites, lapwings and otters

14-15 RIVERFORD RECIPE

An aromatic beetroot and coconut curry

16-17 GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

Our new travel guide focuses on the Caribbean

20 DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

Market Harborough auctioneer Will Gilding

25 WHAT’S ON

Great things to do locally for all the family

FEATURES 26-31 CHECK MATES

52

We give our brains a workout at a local chess club

36-42 GET FIT FOR 2017

Your 12-month health plan mapped out for you

ACTIVE BODY 46-47 GET YOURSELF CAR FIT

How to work out on your daily commute

58

50 THE LATEST SUPERFOODS

Our nutrition expert on foods to add to your diet this year

52-53 THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Tips and products to help you look great

REGULARS 33 KIT BAG

A focus on the latest skiing gear

35 MARTIN JOHNSON COLUMN

The Sunday Times writer on the joys of touring India

57 SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

We try out the The Stag’s Head in Maidwell

58-59 WILL’S WALKS

We head out to Loddington and Launde

61 SCHOOL SPORT

Our focus on the latest achievements from local pupils

62-66 ROUND-UP

How clubs in the area are faring 6 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

26

SO

SO

LD

LD SO

SO

EAST LANGTON, MARKET HARBOROUGH

£550,000 GREAT BOWDEN HALL, GREAT BOWDEN

£379,950

fine & country.indd 1

£850,000

LD

£850,000 GOADBY, LEICESTERSHIRE

LD

NORTH KILWORTH. LEICESTERSHIRE

09/12/2016 11:24

Activelife SNOWMEN AND ANGELS, SMOOTHIES AND HOT CHOCOLATE AND ESCAPE TO THE CARIBBEAN. LOOK OUT FOR OTTERS AND ACONITES AND MAKE A DELICIOUS CURRY Edited by Mary Bremner

8 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

/// JA N UA RY 2017 9

Activelife

HOW TO…

BUILD A SNOWMAN It’s not always as easy as it looks, but it is great fun.

Snow that is very icy or fluffy can prove tricky for building, so be warned...

First of all pick your spot. A shady part of the garden is best as the snow won’t melt so quickly.

Make a snowball and keep adding to it until it is large enough to roll in the snow. Then just keep rolling it until large enough to form the lower body of the snowman. Make a slightly smaller ball for the upper body and place on top of the first ball. Use

1 0 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

some snow to pack between the two balls to make it more stable.

Do the same to make the head, just make it smaller.

Then lift it on to the body and secure it, again using more snow to make secure.

Use a shovel to smooth the sides of the body.

Use two pieces of coal for the eyes, a carrot for the nose and either stones or more coal to shape the grin.

If you have a hat and scarf to place on the head and around the neck, even better.

HOW TO…

MAKE A HEALTHY DETOXING SMOOTHIE It’s January so thoughts turn to purging the body of all the excesses of Christmas. This smoothie tastes good, aids digestion and is incredibly easy to make. Don’t be put off by the colour...

Ingredients ¾ cup pineapple juice or coconut water ½ cup fresh spinach ½ chopped pear ½ green apple, chopped ¼ avocado, chopped 3 broccoli florets Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Drink immediately.

Unique battlefield tours for individuals, small and medium parties in Belgium or France.

Discover the personal stories ofsoldiers at Ypres, The Somme and Arras.

I

David Cashman

GutLDof ATTLEFIELD GUIDES

I have been a regular visitor to the World War One battlefields for 22 years. I am an associate member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and The Western Front Association.

I delight in discovering and seeing new aspects of this period in history and sharing with those who accompany me.

HOW TO…

Create a snow angel Everyone has to do it, whatever your age, and it can’t help but bring a smile to your face. And, for luck, you must do it before throwing the first snowball…

Lie on your back on the fresh snow and spread your arms out straight beside you. Then swing them straight almost to the top of your head and down again. Do this a couple of times. To make the skirt, open and shut your legs at the same time – you can’t help but laugh.

Make the perfect hot chocolate After all that strenuous exercise in the snow I think we can allow ourselves the indulgence of a hot chocolate to help warm up.

Ingredients 125ml full fat milk 1 tbsp good quality drinking chocolate Handful marshmallows Put a tablespoon of drinking chocolate in a mug. Heat the milk in a pan until it starts to simmer. Add a little of the milk to your mug to dissolve the powder. Pop a few marshmallows into the mug as well. When your milk simmers put it in a lidded container and secure the lid tightly. Then shake it hard to make it froth. Immediately pour over the chocolate mix, give it a stir and add a few more marshmallows to the top for luck.

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

"David's knowledge is first rate and the movements ofCorps and Divisions were explained clearly, yet mixed in were vivid personal stories and adventures ofindividual soldiers who fought over the ground we visited and that highlighted clearly the part played by my old Regiment, enlightening... marvellous, would go again".

WWW.WESTERNFRONTPILGRIMTOURS.COM 01476 860 767 / 07766 72176 4 No.3, The Lodge, Burrough Court, Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire, LE14 2QS

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 11

Rooftop Group

is the new management for Rooftop Photo and other projects for the Corby and Northamptonshire Community.

We are a team of artists who do collaborative art and photography based projects and workshops and we are always looking for investors and sponsors and young talent who have interesting ideas.

Snowdrop Spectacular at Launde Abbey

February 9th until March 12th 2017 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm each day

Come and enjoy a stroll through the snowdrops at beautiful Launde Abbey, followed by a delicious cream tea. ÂŁ6.50 per person (to include the cream tea)

If you want more information want to be involved please send an email to rooftopphoto@gmail.com or call Andrej on 07776814149 rooftopphoto Artwork logo designed by Raychelle Rouchy, idea by Andrej Berezin.

SU advert ActiveMag 220x140 NOV'16 ARTWORK.indd 1

12.indd 1

A LAUNDE ABBEY FUNDRAISING EVENT

Launde Abbey, East Norton, Leicestershire LE7 9XB T: 01572 717254 I E: info@launde.org.uk Charity No: 1140918

11/11/2016 10:56

16/12/2016 17:40

Activelife NATURE

THE OTTER The inquisitive and playful otter is one of Britain’s most recognisable wild animals. A common sight until the 1970s, they all but disappeared in the latter decades of the 20th Century. Thankfully, due to a concerted conservation effort, they are now becoming a more common sight and numbers are increasing healthily. They can now be spotted locally on some of our rivers, mainly at dawn or dusk as they are quite nocturnal creatures.

Otters are superb swimmers with webbed feet and streamlined bodies with a thick rudder like tail. Their dense fur, brown on the back and cream on the belly and chin, offers protection from the water and cold temperatures.

They mainly feed on fish, but will take frogs, crayfish and water birds as well. They need to eat up to 1.5kg of food a day. They breed in the spring with the mother usually giving birth to two or three cubs that are able to swim at 10 weeks. They will stay with their mother until about 14 months old.

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing an otter in the river locally, and if you get the chance to see them playing you really are very lucky. And, of course, who can ever forget the book Tarka The Otter by Henry Williamson that was made into a film that is still a classic today?

THE LAPWING Lapwings, one of our larger waders, are birds of open country and reservoir margins. Named for their broad rounded wings, narrower in the female, their other names, peewit and green plover are descriptive of their call and appearance.

Their dark green upper parts, white breast and belly and distinctive long crest make identification straightforward. They feed on a variety of invertebrates – worms, slugs, spiders etc.

From March onwards the noisy tumbling display flights of the males are a feature of some arable fields, although lapwings are not common breeding birds locally. Nests are usually in pea, bean or spring cereal fields where the sitting bird, incubating four eggs has a good view of the surrounding area. Despite this vigilance, however, many clutches are lost to carrion crows.

Birds begin congregating from June onwards, the largest numbers at reservoirs in autumn and winter, when British birds are joined by continental migrants. Eyebrook Reservoir and Rutland Water host large flocks with 2,479 at Rutland Water in December 2014.

Birds feeding on farmland are frequently accompanied by black-headed gulls which steal some of their food but in compensation the lapwings receive early warning of likely predators from the watchful gulls.

Terry Mitcham

1 0 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

ACONITES Look out for aconites that will hopefully start flowering by the end of the month. Often found growing with snowdrops, they are a welcome sight that spring is on its way. Found mainly in woodland or churchyards they naturalise quickly and make a superb show with their bright yellow flowers in late January/early February.

Could this be your office?

Easton Walled Gardens is looking for a senior designer to join the team. This ancient 12-acre garden has been restored by Ursula Cholmeley into a leading garden attraction including meadows, roses, sweet peas and much more. They are looking for an experienced, qualified gardener.

To find out more visit www. visiteaston.co.uk/about/jobs

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 1 3

Activelife

1 4 J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 ///

AROMATIC BEETROOT AND COCONUT CURRY INGREDIENTS

1 large red onion 1 bunch of beetroots Oil for frying 1 large garlic clove 25g ginger 4 tomatoes ½ tsp black mustard seeds Aromatic spice pot containing: 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground cumin ¼ tsp turmeric ¼ tsp ground cinnamon 2 bay leaves ¼ tsp chilli flakes – add to taste 1 tin coconut milk 100g quinoa 25g dessicated coconut 1 lime 1 pot of yoghurt

METHOD

Peel, halve and finely slice the red onion. Wash, peel and chop the beetroot into wedges, not too thick, approx 2cm at their widest.

●

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large pan with a lid. Add the onion and gently fry for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water if they start sticking.

Add the beetroot, garlic, ginger, aromatic spice pot, bay leaves and chilli flakes to the pan and stir fry for a further two minutes.

●

Add the tomatoes and tin of coconut milk (stir before adding if it has separated). Season with salt and pepper.

●

Put the lid on the pan and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring now and then until the beetroot is tender. Top up with a splash of water if needed.

●

Boil a kettle of water, rinse the quinoa well in a sieve. Transfer to a pan, cover with plenty of hot water, bring to the boil and cook for about 15 minutes until the grains have popped open.

●

While the beetroot curry and quinoa cook put the dessicated coconut into a dry frying pan. Heat gently, stirring often until lightly golden and toasted. Transfer to a small bowl.

●

Drain the quinoa. When the beetroot is ready squeeze in lime juice to taste, adding more salt and black pepper if needed.

●

Serve the beetroot curry with the quinoa sprinkled with the toasted coconut and a dollop of yoghurt.

●

●

Peel and finely chop the garlic clove. Peel and grate the ginger. Wash and dice the tomatoes. Add the mustard seeds to the cooked onion. Fry until you hear them start to pop.

Tip. Wear rubber gloves when handling the beetroot to prevent your hands becoming stained.

●

RECIPE BOXES Riverford recipe boxes are a simple and inspiring way to cook. Every week, we deliver everything you need to make three tasty organic meals. Inside each box, you’ll find the freshest, seasonal organic produce, step-by-step recipe cards and all the ingredients in exact quantities.

The recipes are quick to cook and ideal for weeknights – most are ready in under

45 minutes. Think well balanced and nutritious, with a few treats thrown in.

Their cooks come up with nine new recipes every week, so there is always plenty of choice.

There are three different varieties of recipe box - choose from vegetarian, quick, or original. A box for two people ranges in price from £33 for the vegetarian box, to £39.95 for the quick and original boxes. Delivered straight to your door, with everything you need to cook

included, generous portion sizes, and three delicious meals per box they offer great value for money.

No waste. No missing the vital ingredient. All you have to do is cook.

Visit: www.riverford.co.uk/recipebox to

find out more or call 01803 762059.

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 1 5

Activelife

TRAVEL

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER 1 6 JA N A RY 2017 ///

THERE ARE SO many places to see and so little time to do it. Sipping cocktails on a sun lounger with a good book is one way to enjoy a break but we thought we would suggest a few slightly more adventurous ideas over the next few months.

It could be trekking in Outer Mongolia, on safari in Africa or even a staycation. This month, to escape the dreary winter, it needs to be sun – so how about pushing the boat out and heading to the Caribbean?

Perfect for island hopping as you get such a mix of cultures, style and atmosphere, the Caribbean islands are relatively close together so it’s easy to travel between them by ferry, plane or seaplane. You can mix the lush mountainous St Kitts with the white sands of Anguilla, sample the sophistication of Barbados and then the quiet, rustic Grenadines.

Fly to one of the larger islands direct from the UK and then organise your onwards travel, or get a travel agent in the UK to do it for you. The best months to travel are between December and April when it’s drier, cooler and less humid.

WHAT TO DO

WHAT TO TAKE

● Scuba diving is a must. There are reefs and wrecks galore to explore along with a vast marine life.

Suntan lotion – obviously A lightweight waterproof for the sudden downpours ● Sun hat with a floppy brim ● Don’t take any camouflage clothing – some of the countries prohibit civilians from wearing it

● Shark, tuna or marlin fishing. There are lots of boats to charter that will take you offshore to find the bigger fish. It doesn’t need a lot of skill, just plenty of strength and a large rod. Make sure you pick a knowledgeable charter.

● ●

● Whale watching. Humpback whales are a regular sight in the Caribbean as they migrate from North Atlantic feeding grounds.

The best time of year to spot them is between January and March when they come to the warm waters to breed. Sperm whales are resident all year round and you are bound to see pods of dolphins. ● And there is so much more to do. Hike through the cloud forest in Puerto Rico up the Mount Britton trail, zip wire in St Lucia, paint in Jamaica or take the train in St Kitts following the sugar cane route from plantations to factory.

BOOK OF THE MONTH ● The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

This is the last major work of fiction to be published in Hemingway’s lifetime in 1951.

Awarded the Pullitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953, it was cited by the Nobel Committee as contributing towards the Nobel Prize for Literature that Hemingway won in 1954.

USEFUL WEBSITES INCLUDING LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTS www.stkittsscenicrailway.com www.beachesresorts.co.uk ● www.gotopuertorico.com ● www.caribbeantravel.com ● www.stamfordindependenttravel.co.uk ● www.more-travel.co.uk ● www.oundletravel.co.uk ● ●

WIN A pair of HenryBLAKE The Wanderer sunglasses worth £55 Perfect for a Caribbean getaway or for keeping the glare out of your eyes while supping glühwein on the slopes this winter.

We’ve got two pairs to give away. Simply head to www.theactivemag.com/ competitions to enter. Our standard terms and conditions apply and are available to view at www.theactivemag.com.

/// JA N A RY 2017 1 7

Quality garden birdseed at farm gate prices Stock up on your wild bird food and enjoy the scenic walks and an abundance of wildlife on our award winning conservation farm, why not combine a trip to the picturesque Eyebrook Reservoir when visiting us?

Quality seeds, mealworms, suets & feeders

Great Value 20kg Mixed Seed £10.00

@Eyebrook_Birds

Open Friday & Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 9am – 12pm

You are welcome to collect at anytime but please phone to ensure we are here to serve you. Rectory Farm, right of Church, Great Easton. Tel: 01536 770771

www.eyebrookwildbirdfeeds.co.uk

18.indd 1

THE KILWORTH CHALLENGE 2017 27TH-28TH MAY 2017

EVENT INFO:

2-DAY TEAM EVENT 30 MILE COURSE DEMANDING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES OPEN TO ALL OVER 18

www.thekilworthchallenge.org

“ Tougher

than the mudder S. Jones, previous competitor.

”

16/12/2016 17:40

Activelife

LYNTON BRAVES THE HEAT Meet Lynton Dawson, a tutor at Premier Training International who trains fitness instructors and lives in Brixworth.

Father of two Lynton was a regular runner taking part in triathlons and running events ranging from 5k sprints to ironman triathlons and ultra marathons all over this country and Europe. However, injury forced him to take a three-year break but he’s now raring to go again and has set himself the ultimate challenge – the Marathon des Sables.

He starts on April 7 racing in an ultra marathon that takes place across the Sahara Desert. But it’s not just a one-day race, it lasts six days and will cover a distance of up to 156

miles, with Lynton running a massive 55 miles on one of these days. Lynton will have to endure temperatures of up to 50 degrees centigrade and will have to carry all his own supplies including food and drink. This is why it is described as the toughest foot race on Earth with many people not finishing.

Lynton turns 40 this year so decided, as well as returning to ultra marathon racing, he wanted to do something special to mark the occasion and raise some much -needed funds and awareness for the charity familiesforHOPE. This charity helps the families of children diagnosed with holoprosencephaly (HPE) and related brain malformations. The vast majority

of children born with this condition do not survive beyond the first six months of their lives. Through Facebook group I Run 4 Michael (IR4), Lynton has buddied up with a three-year old girl in America and plans to present her with his finisher’s medal to acknowledge her enthusiasm for life and her continuation to defy the odds. He also hopes to raise at least £10,000 for the charity.

Over the next few months we will follow Lynton, learning about his training and kit purchases. If any company has any advice or kit to offer Lynton please do get in touch. www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ lynton-dawson

Roll on number Seven As 2016 comes to a close and with six events successfully completed, Jit Chauhan, the brains behind the 7 Events series of challenges, answers a few questions...

What’s been your favourite part?

The Raas Garba event in July was my favourite, seeing so many people come together and have a fantastic time. This one event allowed people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to unite and enjoy a traditional night of dancing in an upbeat and exciting atmosphere.

What’s been the most challenging?

There’s always a small challenge when organising anything for teams, but nothing has been too difficult. I found the Prudential Ride challenging but worked hard to complete it, which was a huge personal achievement for me.

Who has 7 Events helped?

The Silver Star health bus has referred several

people to doctors already, which has meant some people have identified issues early and have been able to deal with them before anything got out of hand.

The 10k Cannock chase run helped the team in many ways. Many of the team had never run before so it helped raise their fitness and confidence levels and made them realise what they could achieve.

Our biggest success was working with the John Humphries Memorial Trust and showing people how to do CPR heart resuscitation.

We’ve taught people life-saving skills that are invaluable and may save people’s lives in the future.

All in all, it has been a tough year but incredibly rewarding and 7 Events has helped hundreds of people and will be helping more with the £12,690 we’ve raised – now we just need to decide how to spend it and where to place our first defibrillator! www.7events.org

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 1 9

Activelife

A day in the life of

WILL GILDING

AUCTIONEER

I

work with my brother Mark and my father John, who established the business more than 30 years ago. Originally I studied genetics and microbiology but when I decided I didn’t want to pursue science any further I applied to the top three houses – Bonhams, Christie’s and Sotheby’s – and I was fortunate to get a position at Bonhams to specialise in 20th Century decorative arts. I’d spent Saturday mornings and summer holidays during my childhood helping behind the cabinets so I’d developed an intrinsic interest and eye for antiques. It’s a fiercely competitive world and all my contemporaries had done fine art degrees, often had a masters and spoke a foreign language. I was exceptionally lucky to get in.

I’ve been at the family firm for nearly four years. We have a team of valuers and each person has their area of interest such as militaria and medals, jewellery, toys and pop culture. We hold an antique and collectors’ sale every two weeks and punctuate our calendar with specialist sales such as vintage themed auctions or 20th Century design.

There are four ways to bid at auction: you can be in the room; leave a bid with us beforehand; bid on the telephone or online. John, Mark and I do the lion’s share of auctioneering with our jewellery expert Denise. An average sale is 600 lots and we can sell 100 lots per hour. You need to sustain a good pace both for your own rhythm and to keep the buyers’ attention. If you dawdle too much they lose interest.

People watching There’s a very individual relationship between an auctioneer and a bidder as it’s an observation game. Some people are very bold and it’s obvious when they’re bidding; others do the good old-fashioned nod and a wink but most people will wave their paddle card. As well as reading all the faces in the room and executing the absentee bids on paper in front of you, the internet screen will be flashing too. The screen will flash if a bid comes in but we can also see if someone is hovering over the bid button. When everyone in the room has finished I might wait, with my gavel raised, to see if someone online is still thinking about it. The skill is reading the signs in front of you and ekeing out an extra bid if you can. It’s a completely unique buying and selling experience and it really defines the meaning of value. Something is only worth what two people are prepared to pay on the day.

The trick in getting the true market value is to

2 0 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

‘Something is only worth what two people are prepared to pay on the day’ make sure you’ve got the right people looking at the sale. People come from all over the country and about 20% of our buyers are from abroad, particularly America, France and Asia, with the Chinese market being very strong for the last five years. Buyers and collectors have changed and are now looking for more specialist sales.

Someone in the Outer Hebrides might be a collector of Clutha glass or Moorcroft pottery and if you’ve got 30-40 lots then they’re more likely to travel than if you only had a couple.

With the traditional ‘brown furniture’ market it’s the simple economics of supply and demand. There are loads of oak, walnut and mahogany items which have survived for 300 years but now blonder woods in smaller, simpler styles are more in fashion. People are downsizing and just don’t have the space. You can get a 200-year-old Georgian tea table in oak for £50. Fifteen years ago it might have cost £150.

I feel there’s still a place for antiques. Maybe not on the same scale as before but a small handful of choice pieces inject character and history into a modern home. Sentiment is a trait which is nowhere near as strong as it was and

people often don’t want to live with an object belonging to their granny, preferring to sell and buy something with the proceeds. If they have wall space nowadays people often hang family photographs rather than original artwork so you can get a very pleasing Victorian watercolour for less than £50.

We like to think that with the amount of information available we can identify most things in advance of a sale but there are a lot of areas to assess and we’re not experts at everything. There’s always something that crops up that goes above and beyond expectations.

I’m always working towards the next sale. On a Wednesday the old items go out and new stock comes in. That’s a very physical day, moving things. I spend the next five or six days cataloguing for the next sale, photographing, researching, valuing in-house or in people’s homes and replying to the stream of emails asking for images and condition reports before buyers decide to make the journey here. Then on sale day, as soon as the gavel falls on the last lot, I’m automatically thinking of the next one.

Gildings Auctioneers, 11 Great Bowden Rd, Market Harborough, LE16 7DE. 01858 410 414.

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Please Quote: ActMag16

16/12/2016 17:44

Are you running the risk of outliving your savings?

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ife expectancy is increasing all the time. Over the last 30 years (1982 to 2012) life expectancy has increased by around eight years for males and six years for females to 79.0 years for males and 82.7 years respectively (Office of National Statistics December 2013). This means that someone retiring now will need to have accumulated a fund far greater than someone retiring in 1982 to generate the same income.

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

The title ‘Partner’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

There is always more to discover at Gildings Auctioneers

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Please call 01858 410414 or email sales@gildings.co.uk to make an appointment for your free sale valuation.

Please check the website gildings.co.uk for current forthcoming sale dates.

Gildings also run a Valuation Roadshow throughout Leicestershire.

Please see gildings.co.uk/roadshow for venues & dates.

MARKET HARBOROUGH SALEROOM THE MILL GREAT BOWDEN ROAD LE16 7DE T: 01858 410414 SALES@GILDINGS.CO.UK

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Viewing times for sales are also published on the website.

They are usually Saturday morning prior to sale, 9am–4pm on Monday and first thing on the day of the sale.

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16/12/2016 17:39

Activelife

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ELEVENTH SHOP FOR RUTLAND CYCLING Rutland Cycling will be opening a stunning 10,000 square foot cycle centre at the new Everards Meadows Country Park adjacent to Fosse Park in Leicester.

The award-winning family business from Rutland will be bringing its range of electric, road, mountain, hybrid and children’s bikes to Leicester in partnership with the family owned Everards brewery.

The store will open in spring 2018 within the newly-created country park which will have purpose-built cycle trails and cycle skill loops linking to the traffic-free Grand Central Way into the city centre. As well as bikes to buy there will be some to hire so you can enjoy the delights of the new country park and cycle paths. www.rutlandcycling.com

£1,000 raised for Movember appeal The Harborough Movember Run that took place in November has raised £1,000 for the prostate cancer appeal.

The Night Vision Tunnel Run followed the route of the old railway line to Northampton, taking runners through the 420-metre Great Oxendon tunnel.

300 runners took part, 50 of whom completed the dawn run – a new event which saw runners run before sunrise. To find out about other forthcoming events and to see photographs and finish times visit www.raceharborough.co.uk.

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Activelife

WHAT’S ON There’s plenty going on this month in our area. Here are some dates for your diary…

■ Leicester Racecourse has announced that hit ’90s girl group All Saints will be headlining their 2017 Ladies Day event with Mark Wright also on the bill hosting a live DJ set.

Ladies Day will take place on Saturday, July 8. Tickets are on sale now. Before the evening’s entertainment there will a full race card taking place offering some exciting horse racing. www.leicester-racecourse.co.uk ■ The Simon Says Festival is set to return in 2017 from July 29 to 30. The event, which showcases the best of Leicester’s music scene along with headline acts, is organised by De Montfort Hall and tickets are on sale now.

Headliners and acts will be announced shortly. www.demontforthall.com ■ Harborough Theatre is holding a comedy night – Ha Ha Harborough – on Saturday, January 7. Tickets cost £8 in advance and are available from shipoffoolscomedy@yahoo.co.uk or £9 on the door. www.harboroughtheatre.com ■ Lutterworth Comedy Club is holding a comedy night on Friday, January 6. www.thecomedyclub.co.uk/ comedy-venues/lutterworthcomedy-club ■ Leicester University hosts many lectures that are open to the public covering many topical subjects with renowned lecturers. Keep an eye on its website to see what’s coming up. Most lectures are free and are open to the public. www.le.ac.uk/about-us

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 2 5

Feature /// Chess

CHECK MATES

Time to exercise your mind?

Jeremy Beswick visits Wigston for a Leicestershire and Rutland Chess Association match Photography: Pip Warters

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Feature /// Chess

IT WAS THE ROMAN poet Juvenal who, when listing what is desirable in life, coined the phrase ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ or, for those of you whose Latin is as ropey as mine, ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’. It’s fair to say that we at Active tend to concentrate more on the “corpore” than on the “mens”, the health and psychological benefits of physical exercise being well known to us all, but what is perhaps less generally understood are the very real advantages of a work-out for the mind. And what could be a better work-out than a game of chess?

It turns out that this idea isn’t just an intuitive guess and the evidence for the benefits is much more than anecdotal. Several peerreviewed academic studies have demonstrated that regular chess playing will raise your IQ, for example. It does so by stimulating growth in the number of dendrites – tiny parts of your brain responsible for the signals between neurons – and the more of those little fellows you have, the faster your mind will operate.

Furthermore, chess promotes this growth in both hemispheres, not just in the logicallyoriented left side but also in the creative right side.

Indeed, a study by The New England Journal of Medicine showed that elderly chess players were less likely to suffer from dementia than

2 8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 ///

their counterparts and it’s also been shown to aid recovery from a stroke. At the other end of the age scale, children will develop improved concentration, memory and attention spans.

While an improvement in mathematical skills might have been expected, more surprising is that it also improves reading skills as well. No wonder the number of nations around the globe formally incorporating chess into the school curriculum continues to rise.

You may not be planning a major role on the world stage yourself but, whatever your age, chess will do you good. If you’ve never played before there are plenty of books and online game versions designed for the absolute beginner and if you played in your youth so much the better. Either way, the best way to improve – and to enjoy it – is to compete against as many different opponents as possible. To this end, there are friendly chess clubs all over the area that will enable you to pit your wits against others. Not just against experts but people of a similar skill level to yourself in a welcoming environment.

The Leicestershire and Rutland Chess Association (LRCA) has 16 of those clubs spread across the county and I went along to the one at Wigston to meet chairman Mike Salisbury. “I started playing 60 years ago,” he told me to my surprise – his appearance

‘Several academic studies have demonstrated that regular chess playing will raise your IQ’ making me wonder if some scientist somewhere should study whether chess retards the ageing process as well.

“And there are plenty like me, but we’ve many young players too with a thriving juniors section,” he went on. “I liked competing at all sports and with chess it doesn’t matter how old you are, although if I’m honest my ratings are drifting downwards like my golf handicap now.

But I’m comfortable with that and enjoy it just as much, if not more, than when I was at the peak of my powers.”

We were talking in the bar surrounded by a few friendly games while a league match took place in the more formal peace and quiet upstairs.

“I always have a beer when we’ve finished,” he said. “I’ve made lots of friends through chess and, although league games are a serious

Far le

Author Jeremy, right, tries his hand at chess. The club has members of all ages and abilties

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 2 9

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Feature /// Chess

business, we all enjoy a laugh and a joke afterwards.”

He explained that every club player has a grade based on their most recent performances.

It operates rather like a squash ladder, in that if you beat someone with a much higher grade than yourself you’ll gain more points than by beating someone with the same or similar grade.

Anyone with a score of under 100 is at the beginner stage or thereabouts, whereas a Grand Master will be around 250. As you improve so your grade rises.

These ratings are useful in many ways. “The county has competitive teams at varying levels of ability, not just at the highest, so you can represent Leicestershire and Rutland at chess even if you’re a relative starter,” Mike told me.

That would increase the self-esteem of any youngster in need of it, I thought, as we were joined by kindred spirits Neil Beasley and Andy Morley.

Neil is Wigston’s club secretary and has played at a pretty high level. What did he enjoy most about it?

“Through chess I’ve met hundreds of people,” he said. “I like the fact that it’s one to one. Just you and your opponent with no luck or external factors involved.” He added: “You can lose yourself totally in a game. Nothing else matters once that clock starts and you leave all your cares and worries behind you.”

Andy added: “There’s a lot of psychology in the game. People, unlike computers, have their individual strengths and weaknesses. For example, some are risk averse whereas others have a more aggressive style of play. If you understand them you can adjust your own tactics accordingly.”

The famous Grand Master Viktor Korchnoi may have meant much the same thing when he said: “The human element, the human flaw and the human nobility – those are the reasons that chess matches are won or lost.”And former undisputed world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik said: “I am convinced the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.”

Andy continued: “One of the other things I like is that, whether you win or lose, each board should improve you as a player – you always learn something from a game. It’s a level playing field and only your own wits matter.”

A further insight these three gave me is that the gap between bottom and top of the ability range is not that great and that a decent club player, though most unlikely to win, can play a Grand Master and “keep him occupied” – as they put it – for a good 20 to 30 minutes. That’s different from some sports, squash say, or tennis, where it would be an embarrassment for a relative beginner to play a professional, whereas

Above

A league match taking place at Wigston. As well as formal competitions there are plenty of friendly games played too

in chess two opponents of differing grades can both enjoy playing against each other.

It was obvious that these three also enjoyed being with one another and had forged a close friendship based on a common love for the game that had kept them alert and fresh and given them untold pleasure through the years.

They were stimulating and amusing company too.

So, I wonder, is it that smart people play chess or that playing chess makes you smart? It seems to me that both things are true.

LRCA WEBSITE AND CLUB CONTACT DETAILS lrca.org.uk/newlrca/officers JUNIOR CHESS CONTACTS Bob Wallace 01572 756828 or 07711 957 142, robwallace.bob@gmail.com Paul Mottram 01572 823918 or 07989 151174, paul@paulmottram.com

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 3 1

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Feature /// Gear

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2. Dakine Heli Pro 20l Northwoods backpack Dakine’s Heli range has expanded rapidly from the first iconic Heli pack in 1996 with years of research and development leading to the new series of packs perfectly tailored for any backcountry mission. This pack is perfect for a mix of on and off mountain use.

The integrated vertical snowboard and diagonal ski carry systems allow you to be hands free whilst walking to the first lift or hoping off a helicopter.

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3. Mountain Toesters socks Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, walkers and those who just want toasty warm feet, the Mountain Toesters are designed for use in hostile mountain environments. Made in Britain, the socks offer excellent warmth and durability thanks to the thick knit and insulating and compression resistant properties of wool.

Price £20-£22 From extremities.co.uk

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4. Henry Blake The Wanderer sunglasses These Henry Blake skiing sunglasses are lightweight and crafted from eco-friendly wood-fibre acetate, with extremely robust five barrel hinges for lasting strength, and Carl Zeiss lenses.

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The sling allows an avalanche victim to breathe fresh air from the snowpack, while diverting exhaled CO2 away. Black Diamond suggests that with the Avalung II you can increase your ‘air time’ trapped under the snow to 58 minutes.

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/// JA N UA RY 2017 3 3

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16/09/2016 13:50

Guest column

The unique ‘joys’ of a cricket tour to India Martin Johnson recalls following the England cricket team on tour he England cricket team fulfilled all the predictions of doom and gloom on their winter tour to India, but at least they made it home for Christmas. Unlike 1981, when team captain Keith Fletcher, having just been served a plate of curry for his Christmas lunch in Delhi, asked the waiter if they had anything a “bit more Christmasy?” Whereupon his mutton vindaloo was whisked away to the kitchen and back it came with a sprig of holly on top.

In those days hotels had neither culinary variety nor comfort, and if you ever saw a sign saying ‘pets welcome’, it meant you were almost certain to be sharing a room with a rodent of the non-cuddly variety. These days, though, air conditioning, luxury bathrooms and a choice of about half a dozen restaurants are pretty much standard.

And as for the traditional explosion when European plumbing meets sub-continental gastronomy, the food is now so safe that the biggest risk of incontinence is to take a flight with Indian Airlines. If you weren’t religious before boarding, you’ll certainly have found God by the time you land. However, a five-Test tour of India remains the toughest cricketing assignment of all, both off the field and on it.

The post-mortem into the defeat was the usual one of India’s batsmen playing England’s spinners better than England’s batsmen played India’s spinners, which was mostly the result of superior footwork. And if you’ve ever attempted to cross a road in India, you will understand why the Indian batsmen are so nimble on their feet.

To get to the other side in one piece without being catapulted on to the pavement by a tuk-tuk taxi or a sacred cow, is every bit as fine an achievement as scoring a Test match century on a pitch which is more or less identical to the main road. Ninety per cent dust, and littered with potholes.

The great shame about England’s recent tour is that the price for getting home in time for Christmas was to cram the five Tests into a ludicrous period of seven weeks. Which meant that the time not actually playing would have been spent practising and travelling, resulting in the players seeing hardly anything of a unique country.

They certainly wouldn’t have spent much time, if any, pursuing the cricketer’s normal rest day activity of a round of golf. Shame.

Golf in India is a test of character like nowhere else, not so much because of the difficulty of the courses, but rather because it’s a tough job sustaining a cordial relationship with your caddie over the course of three to four hours. They perform the caddie’s primary function of carrying your bag with admirable efficiency, but the

T

other aspect of the caddie’s role, geeing up their man and fuelling his self-esteem, they’re not so good at.

Should you, for example, slice your tee shot into the kind of terrain liable to be concealing tigers and cobras, your man will shake his head and exclaim: “Very bad shot sir!” Should you leave a 10foot putt short, you will hear: “Not hard enough sir!” And should your game fall apart under this kind of psychological battering, your caddie will smile and say: “You are a terrible player, sir. Terrible.”

If you’ve spent any time at all in India, nothing that takes place in one of its hotels will come as a surprise. I did come close, though, while sharing a pot of tea with a colleague in his hotel room in Jaipur. There was a knock at the door, followed by two men entering the room and proceeding, without so much as a by your leave, to remove the fridge that was attached to the wall.

“What are you doing?” enquired my friend.

“Taking fridge, sir,” came the reply.

“I can see that but why?”

“Fridge no good sir”.

“It works perfectly.”

“No sir. No good. Take fridge.”

And off they went with it. Almost certainly because there were not enough fridges for every room and someone had complained that they hadn’t got one.

If these little quirks don’t go some way towards explaining that sudden England batting collapse, then allow me to suggest that the most difficult part of touring India is something you really can’t avoid. Namely, breathing. I was lucky enough not to be anywhere near Chernobyl when the reactor melted, but sticking your head out of a Mumbai hotel window and inhaling deeply will leave you, in about two seconds flat, with the lungs of a lifetime 60-a-day smoker.

However, there is one thing about this winter’s tour that will stand the England players in good stead when it comes to this summer’s Test match programme against the West Indies and South Africa. On the assumption that a player has at some time had to a) order room service, b) queue for a train ticket, c) cash a travellers’ cheque, or d) ask to be connected for an overseas phone call, he will now either be in a secure establishment being fed with plastic cutlery, or else he’ll have acquired so much patience that Test cricket will seem a doddle.  Martin Johnson has been a sports journalist and author since 1973, writing for the Leicester Mercury, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times. He currently writes columns for The Rugby Paper and The Cricket Paper, and has a book out called ‘Can I Carry Your Bags?’.

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14/12/2016 10:45

Feature /// Get fit

THE 12 MONTHS We’ve all made those New Year promises to do something new, or get fitter and healthier. Well, here are a dozen ideas to put it into action. Perhaps try one a month in 2017‌

3 6 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

OF FITNESS

/// JA N UA RY 2017 3 7

Feature /// Get fit

1. KEEP MOVING

It seems simple, but so often we tend to just not move enough. So a simple thing to consider year-round would be to keep moving. The body likes and needs movement, even if you have a desk job: make sure you have an active break from sitting every 30 minutes to prevent degeneration of cartilage which can lead to arthritis. Aim for around 150 minutes of exercise each week, even if this is just taking a walk.

Nutrition, carefully planned training and rest can help to avoid injury, but there is always that potential. If you have issues visit MBST in Stamford at Cell Regeneration. www.mbst-therapy.co.uk

2. TRY ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture forms a part of traditional Chinese medicine where the basis of diagnosis and treatment is that the mind and body should be in perfect balance. This ancient system of healing has developed over 2,500 years and is a gentle and effective treatment that focuses on helping the whole person, aiming to improve their entire health and well-being. Today it is widely used and accepted all over the world and 25% of the world’s population have acupuncture on a regular basis.

Acupuncture is also considered suitable for people of all ages and can be very effective even when integrated with conventional medicine.

The treatment is widely considered to be beneficial for a range of symptoms resulting from illness, from clearly defined complaints or to improve general feelings of wellbeing and help with relaxation.

Acupuncturist Duncan Ford says: “If you are

3 8 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

having acupuncture, make sure they are a full member of the British Acupuncture Council.

BAcC acupuncturists have degree level qualifications and adhere to codes of safe practice and professional conduct in order to be registered and insured by the council.”

Call Duncan about acupuncture and what it can do for you on 07714 575720, or drop into the The Broad Street Practice in Stamford.

3. STRETCH MORE

Recovery, the period after exercise, is a vital element of getting fit. This is when your body has the time to repair microscopic damage to the muscles and makes them stronger in response to the stress of exercise.

Massage therapist Keith Read says: “Stretching after exercise reduces muscle soreness and speeds up recovery time too. A regular massage also helps with those stiff aching muscles. Getting fit with friends can be

more fun and increase motivation. Doing this in organised sessions, with a qualified instructor, will make sure you get the most from your exercise with a lower risk of injury.”

Sessions take place from the main car park in Bourne Woods on Fridays at 10.30am. They involve a short warm-up run followed by drills over a short distance designed to improve running style and fitness. Followed by a short cool down run and stretching. Each session lasts about an hour and are suitable for all abilities.

Visit www.handson-massage.co.uk for more information, or call Keith on 07904 051873.

4. REDUCE CHEMICALS AND SUGAR

Exercise is very important to keep fit and healthy, but it only counts for 20% for staying in shape. The other 80% comes from nutrition and lifestyle changes, says rehabilitation expert Ian Shepherd.

He says: “Try reducing your exposure to chemicals such as perfume and household chemicals. These cause problems from headaches, food intolerances and raise the levels of oestrogen, causing hormone issues.

“Eat more digestible foods such as potatoes, ripe fruits and dairy and avoid foods which are hard to break down by the stomach – nuts, seeds, grain, etc. These are indigestible for humans, feeding the growth of bacteria, promoting intestinal distress and cause weight gain.

“Restricting sugar is a massive buzzword the fitness industry likes to use, saying it causes cancer and makes you fat, natural sugar in fruits and raw cane sugar offer benefits when combined with proteins and fats.”

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NO joing fee on ALL memberships For more information contact our friendly team on: 01572 820830 ussc@uppingham.co.uk www.sportscentre.uppingham.co.uk

Feature /// Get fit

5. MEET NEW PEOPLE

“Exercise kicks the happy endorphins in your brain into action which gives you that feel-good buzzing feeling. Many friendships have been made at my aerobics classes, which also helps with well-being and makes the classes more enjoyable and fun,” says Sarah Markwell-Cook or Ryhallite Fitness.

“Changing the routine and music every six weeks keeps the exercises fresh, making it suitable for all ages and fitness levels and, most importantly, making exercise fun is paramount.”

Call Sarah on 07496 456306

6. DANCE MORE

Perhaps inspired by the atmosphere of the Rio Olympics, 2016 has seen the continued popularity of Zumba. With its upbeat, carnivalinspired dance fitness routines, Zumba is all about having fun with friends while shaking what your mama gave you.

And 2017 is likely to see the funky fun factor of Zumba staying high on our list of fit faves with further emphasis on exercising whilst having so good a time you don’t even realise you’re working out. In fact expect to see all kinds of dance based classes cropping up next year; from the graceful, toning, posture pleasing ballet workouts of Barre Core, through to Strictly Come Dancing classes that teach you the classic styles of ballroom, waltz and foxtrot while also super cha-cha-charging your workout.

4 0 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

7. MAKE SOME FITNESS AND FOOD CHANGES

“Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables will help boost your immune system and following a high protein nutrition plan with complex carbohydrates will help you beat that bloated feeling and fatigue,” says Fit2Fab’s fitness instructor and personal trainer Louise Sheehan.“Interval training and weight training is great for weight loss, toning up and increasing your fitness levels. Try not to have more than two days off in a row before exercising again.

“And make it realistic – make short-term and long-term realistic goals. Try to stay motivated and believe in yourself.

“For the winter blues, incorporate more high energy workouts to beat those winter blues.

High energy workouts increase your adrenaline and will release those ‘feel-good’ hormones which will make you feel better and more energised. Try getting outdoors as well, even if the weather is miserable, fresh air and natural light will boost your energy, lift your mood and increase your vitamin D levels.”

8. BUILD MUSCLE THROUGH SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING

Building muscle is important as it increases your metabolism, as muscles use more energy than fat. It is also essential to cut down on calorie intake, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut out the treats all together though. Taking up a new sport such as skiing or snowboarding is

perfect as it works muscles you didn’t even know you had, plus it is great fun for friends and family. At Tallington Lakes, you can get expert tuition from their instructors.

Call 01778 381154, follow them on www.facebook. com/tallingtonlakes or email sales@ tallingtonlakesproshop.com

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Feature /// Get fit 9. BE STREET SMART

From Parkour to pull-up bars, the ‘street-style’ outdoor fitness trend is springing up in parks and gyms. More local parks are incorporating training equipment, and more gyms are adopting rugged ninja warrior-style workouts.

Triangle pull-up bar and horizontal bars give you the perfect chance to get creative with your workout while outdoors, while there are now obstacle classes and personal training for those wanting a more rugged approach to fitness.

10 GET BODYPUMPED

Bodypump is for anyone looking to get lean, toned and fit – fast. Using light to moderate weights with lots of repetition, Bodypump gives a total body workout and will burn up to 540 calories per session. Instructors will coach participants through the scientifically proven moves and techniques pumping out encouragement, motivation and great music – helping them achieve much more than in a standard class.

Westside Health and Fitness Club is launching a new partnership with fitness class provider Les Mills. The classes, which are being launched in January, will complement an already varied programme of group fitness

4 2 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

activities and give a new and exciting addition to what is offered at Westside. Members and non-members can take part in the classes, with non-members attending on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Visit www.westsideclub.co.uk or call 01780 480651.

11 LOW IS THE NEW HIGH

After a few years of high-intensity everything, it could be time to shift back towards understanding the role of low-intensity steady-state training (LISS) in promoting weight loss and overall fitness. HIIT (high intensity interval training) works, but too much can cause over-use injuries. Plus, resarch demonstrates that HIIT can cause a negative experience and emotional responses, which could be used as a reason for quitting an exercise program. Trainers that know how to utilise LISS can give their clients long-term programming solutions that help promote adherence to regular physical activity.

12 TAKE UP A SPORT – ANY SPORT

There are thousands of clubs in our area, offering every activity you can think of. Why not give any of them a go – even once? You never know what might get you hooked!

琀㨀 ㄀㜀㜀㠀 ㌀㐀㘀㘀㄀㄀ 攀㨀 椀渀昀漀䀀欀氀漀猀攀渀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 眀㨀 眀眀眀⸀欀氀漀猀攀渀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 昀愀挀攀戀漀漀欀⸀挀漀洀⼀欀氀漀猀攀渀甀欀 䬀氀漀猀攀渀Ⰰ 吀栀攀 匀琀椀爀氀椀渀最 䌀攀渀琀爀攀Ⰰ 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 䐀攀攀瀀椀渀最Ⰰ 倀䔀㘀 㠀䔀儀

䄀氀甀洀椀渀椀甀洀 䈀椀昀漀氀搀 䐀漀漀爀猀 簀 圀椀渀搀漀眀猀 簀 䘀爀漀渀琀 䐀漀漀爀猀 簀 刀漀漀昀氀椀最栀琀猀 簀 匀氀椀搀椀渀最 䐀漀漀爀猀 簀 倀爀攀洀椀甀洀 甀倀嘀䌀 圀椀渀搀漀眀猀 ∠䴀愀渀甀昀愀挀琀甀爀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 䤀渀猀琀愀氀氀攀爀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瘀攀爀礀 戀攀猀琀 愀氀甀洀椀渀椀甀洀 最氀愀稀椀渀最 猀礀猀琀攀洀猀 昀爀漀洀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 䔀甀爀漀瀀攀 ∠䠀椀最栀氀礀 琀栀攀爀洀愀氀氀礀 攀昀昀椀挀椀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 椀渀挀爀攀搀椀戀氀礀 猀琀礀氀椀猀栀⸀ 倀愀猀猀椀瘀栀愀甀猀 挀愀瀀愀戀椀氀椀琀椀攀猀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 爀攀焀甀椀爀攀搀 ∠䠀椀最栀氀礀 欀渀漀眀氀攀搀最攀愀戀氀攀 猀琀愀昀昀 眀栀漀 漀昀昀攀爀 攀砀挀攀氀氀攀渀琀 愀搀瘀椀挀攀 ∠䔀砀挀攀瀀琀椀漀渀愀氀氀礀 栀椀最栀 猀攀挀甀爀椀琀礀 爀愀琀椀渀最 漀渀 愀氀氀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀猀Ⰰ 洀愀渀礀 愀挀栀椀攀瘀椀渀最 倀䄀匀 ㈀㐀

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ACTIVE BODY GET CAR FIT, HOW TO USE SPORT TAPE FOR BETTER MUSCULAR CONTROL, AND THE SUPERFOODS TO TRY THIS YEAR Edited by Mary Bremner

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 4 5

LIVE WELL

4 6 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

ACTIVE BODY

KEEP FIT IN THE CAR Do you spend a significant portion of your life in the car? Here are some helpful tips for keeping active behind the wheel by Steven Berkman of Boost Physio The daily commute, school run and ferrying children to and from extracurricular activities after school and at weekends can mean hours spent in the car.

Not only can it play havoc with your back, neck and overall health, it can also be extremely stressful and impact your emotional as well as physical well being.

It is not uncommon to experience a range of musculoskeletal problems from spending too much time in the driver’s seat, that over time can build up into serious health issues.

Steven Berkman says: “When we are stuck in a car for a long time, negotiating traffic, worried about getting the kids to school on time, the stress can build up and it can have a negative impact on our bodies. The back and neck pain we experience when driving is often caused because tension is making us clench muscles in our necks and jaws.

“Often, many of us are not sitting correctly in the car seat, putting unnecessary additional pressure on our bodies. There are lots of things we can do to relieve the physical and mental stress of the dreaded school run.”

“Small, smart daily exercises can help keep you out of pain and relaxed. The school run workout is easy and will keep your stress levels down and combat the physical stress on your back and neck caused by sitting too long with your muscles tensed up”, he continues.

Stationary leg stretch When stuck at long traffic lights, put the handbrake on, take your feet off the pedals and put your feet flat on the floor. Lift up on to your toes in a pumping up and down motion to work your calf muscles and give your circulation a boost.

Upper arms and chest stretch Interlock fingers and turn palms outwards, straightening your elbow and stretch up towards the ceiling of the car, hold 5-10 sec.

Good driving position It’s worth taking some time to make sure you are sitting properly. Our seat position and the actual seat might be wrong, putting strain on our backs and the sheer amount of time sitting is not good for us.

Getting your set position right is key.

Small adjustments in height, distance from steering wheel, height of steering wheel and angle of the head rest can make a huge difference. A good driving position will reduce stress and make the journey more comfortable.

Knees - both knees should be slightly bent and the left knee should still be bent when depressing the clutch

Back and shoulders should rest firmly against the seat. Adjust the angle of the back rest so it provides continuous support along the length of the back to shoulder height and avoid reclining the seat too far back.

Elbows should be bent at 30 to 40 degrees.

Head position should be about 2.5 to 3cm away from the restraint Take a break between trips If you can, don’t just drop the kids off and dash off. Leave home five to 10 minutes earlier, park a little bit away from school and walk the rest of the way and once the children are safely deposited at school go for a 20-minute walk before you get back in the car and get on with your day.

Of course, this is not always possible, but ideally, if you can find some time before you get back on the road and back into the school run traffic it can make a difference to your mental and physical health. If you haven’t got time for a walk get out the car anyway and do some stretches and if you can’t leave the car turn off the engine and do the in-car exercises.

Traffic jam neck roll Sitting in traffic is stressful, the clock is ticking and the atmosphere in the car can get very tense. Try these quick exercises to relieve tension, if the children are in the car, teach them how to do these exercises too and you can make a game of it.

1 Safety first: Put the handbrake on and keep an eye on the traffic ahead.

2 Shrug your shoulders up and down and roll them forward and back to relieve tension 3 Slowly tilt towards your right ear to your right shoulder, hold 5-10sec. Repeat to the left.

4 Place your chin towards your chest and hold 5-10sec.

5 Look straight ahead and turn your head to the right, hold 5sec and repeat to the left.

/// JA N UA RY 2017 4 7

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ACTIVE BODY

TALE OF THE TAPE Many sportsmen and women have found Kinesio Tape provides huge benefits. Function Jigsaw’s Tom Heeley explains what it does WHAT IS IT? Many of you have probably seen some sportsmen and women wearing brightly coloured tape in weird and wonderful patterns when running round a track or hitting a ball, but what does it do?

The tape was designed in 1979 in Japan

by Dr Kenzo Kase. Dr Kase was a chiropractor who soon realised that, although his work was effective, it was mainly short-term. He needed something that would help the effects of his treatments to be more prolonged after the patient walks out of the door.

Kinesio Tape can be applied in hundreds of ways and has the ability to re-educate the neuro-muscular system, reduce inflammation, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing, and assist in returning the body to homeostasis.

In order to get the right taping for your needs, it is best to go and see an expert who can help come up with the ideal taping strategy for your issue.

WHAT DOES IT DO? Kinesio Tape can be used for chronic pain through to cramps and postural stability.

On the back of the elastic tape there are wave-like patterns which act as fingerprints to lift the skin as well as offer feedback to the central nervous system.

Some of the great things about Kinesio Tape are: 1) The adhesive lasts for days.

2) The effects last for days.

3) You can play sport in it – except swimming.

4) Doesn’t come off in the shower.

5) Is not too restrictive.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Some ideas suggest that over time, the tape reminds the muscles of the correct posture the joint should be in. For swelling, with the wave-like pattern and elastic fibres, the tape lifts the skin and gives a

space between the dermis and the muscles for lymphatic drainage.

After a lateral ankle sprain or dead leg, Kinesio tape can help to elevate the skin and reduce recovery time by aiding in the drainage of swelling.

At Function Jigsaw, we use a brand called SportTape which can be bought from our online shop or at the clinic. It is simple to apply and SportTape have a great online instructional app to show you how to apply to your areas of needs.

For 20% off sales of SportTape through www.functionjigsaw.co.uk put the following voucher code in at the check-out: ACTIVEMAG20.

Alternatively, quote the same code in our Wigston clinic for the same offer.

@FunctionJigsaw info@functionjigsaw.co.uk www.functionjigsaw.co.uk

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 4 9

ACTIVE BODY

SUPERFOODS 2017 So what will be the must-have food this year? We cast our eye over some new healthy additions to the larder AVOCADO OIL Groundnut, rape and olive have all had their time, but the new superoil is avocado. It is packed with nutrients such as carotenoids, lutein and vitamin E that leaves the skin glowing, and also boasts high levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which reduces damaging levels of inflammation in the body and helps to protect against heart disease, dementia and stroke.

Similar in texture to olive oil, the bonus of avocado oil is that it can be used for cooking due to its high smoke point.

INULIN PREBIOTIC Probiotics are live micro-organisms that when taken can help improve gut health, which is essential for overall health and vitality. But for probiotics to have an effect we need to create the right environment for the good gut bacteria to thrive.

Inulin is a fructan, which is indigestible by our body, but the good bacteria in our gut flora flourishes in its presence and makes it stick to the bowel wall.

Not only does it support probiotics, but

5 0 J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 ///

inulin also helps to improve absorption of minerals, and can also help satiate the appetite to aid in weight loss. You can buy it in powder form or find it in foods like chicory and Jerusalem artichokes.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Activated charcoal has been used for thousands of years to remove parasites and bacteria from the body, and 2017 will see it become the new superfood to add to juices and even skincare.

Acting like a trap, activated charcoal helps to rid toxins and chemicals within the body, by catching and eliminating them out of the system.

But you have to be careful because it can trap all the good stuff too, so it’s best taken half an hour before eating, and if you have IBS or Crohn’s Disease, you should avoid it too.

GELATIN Grass-fed gelatin, not the artificial, sugarladen kind, is now being used in health foods and drinks for its gut-healing,

skin-boosting, nail-strengthening properties. Bone broth-based dessert jellies, healthy gut-healing gummies and gelatininfused smoothies and juices, are the ways to take it.

SACHA INCHI INCA NUT This is an easily digestible nut that is rich in essential fatty acids, sure to push the humble almond off its superfood perch. The seeds are rich in protein, omega 9 and vitamin E and A and can be eaten whole or in the form of a superfood powder or oil.

Cole Nutrition offers a full dietary analysis to identify the requirements for each individual.

Together, we look at current eating and lifestyle patterns or habits and identify possible changes in realistic and achievable terms. Whatever your lifestyle, Cole Nutrition will endeavour to find the perfect balance for a happy, healthy you.

If you would like to book a consultation or find out more about what we offer, contact Helen Cole on 07966 050 193, email colenutritionh@ gmail.com or visit www.colenutrition.co.uk.

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ACTIVE BODY

THE FINISHING TOUCHES You’ve done all the hard work in the gym, playing sports and getting fit, so now is the time to reap the benefits and add the finishing touches…

Edited by Mary Bremner

GET AHEAD, GET A HAT Hats, as well as being essential for winter, are also something of a fashion statement this year.

What you are wearing on your head says a lot about you: do you want to stand out from the crowd, blend in or make a statement?

The myth about losing half your body heat through your head has been dispelled but there’s no denying freezing cold ears are not pleasant.

5 2 J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 ///

And if you’re follicly challenged a hat is essential.

There’s a huge amount of choice out there.

Men can’t go far wrong wearing a beanie. They fit snugly round the ears and keep your head really warm and can even be worn with a suit these days. They are also ideal as you can take them off and slip them in your pocket very easily. Or what about a tweed cap? Forget about looking too ‘country’; even David Beckham wears one these days. A trilby can look good on anyone, male or female – get a showerproof one and they are ideal for keeping the rain off your face.

Everyone is wearing a bobble hat this year.

They come in all shapes, sizes and colours and look great on everyone whatever your age or sex.

A practical hat that won’t blow off in the wind, pull it down over your ears and away you go.

Brimmed hats are very on trend, particularly the classic wool felt man’s hat that looks equally as good on a woman. There’s something about a brimmed hat that adds style to any outfit. We could go on and on... fur hats, trapper hats, berets. You name it, they are out there - the choice is yours.

ION ACTIVE POWER TREATMENT FACIAL January is possibly the month when your skin is at its greyest... you’ve not seen the sun for months and the effects of central heating and, possibly a lack of fresh air, are taking effect, as well as any Christmas and New Year over indulgences. So it’s an ideal month to have a facial.

I had the Dermalogica IonActive Power Treatment facial from an expert therapist who is trained to offer professional advice about your skin. This facial combines thermal activity and the latest treatment room technology to optimise product penetration for rapid results. It’s an ideal treatment for ageing skin, uneven skin tones, acne and dehydration.

Using a magnifying light the therapist is able to look at your skin in detail to see what are the best

products to use. What’s interesting about this facial is that a micro-current bio therapeutic machine is used that helps with product penetration. It sounds much worse than it is as you only feel a slight buzz when it is used on your skin. I had a cooling geloid mask – you can choose from a warm one or cold one. While this was working the therapist gave me a neck and shoulder massage that eased my knotted muscles.

The overall effect is brightening. I looked like I’d had a good night’s sleep and the ‘laughter lines’ around my eyes were smoother, so a win-win situation for me. This facial is recommended as part of a three- or six-part treatment.

Cost £55 for 45 minutes. www.dermalogica.co.uk

And finally...

The latest fashions to show off

The Suffolk Fedora £85 Beautiful crushable wool felt fedora that has been customised with feathers to add an individual twist. www.hicksandbrown.com

Somerville bobble hat £75 Women’s plain knit bobble hat in pink, mole or grey www.cavells.co.uk

Bramsby shearling trapper hat £34.50 A warm classic www.jackwills.com

LIVER DETOX Let’s face it, we’ve all probably over-indulged during the last few weeks. I always feel that I’ve eaten too much rich food and drunk too much alcohol so a few weeks of simple food and water is called for in January. Laura from LTD Beauty has the answer. She’s offering a liver detox treatment which is ideal to start the month.

The liver has to work 24/7 to process everything in your body and signs that it needs some tlc are insomnia, dark circles under the eyes, tiredness and joint pain. This treatment helps kick-start liver detoxification.

Castor oil is applied on a cloth and then placed on the abdomen over the liver. A heat pack is placed on top for the next 30 minutes. It was fantastic lying there with the warmth permeating through my abdomen, I felt better immediately.

And to help with the relaxation Laura gave me a therapeutic scalp massage which was fabulous and certainly ticked all the boxes.

Castor oil is high in ricinoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that has great healing properties. This

helps with the liver detoxification, increases lymphatic drainage and reduces inflammation so helping with bloating and constipation. It also helps boost circulation.

That all sounds very scientific. All I know is that a erwards I felt relaxed, less bloated, had much more energy – and had a perfect night’s sleep that night. Definitely a treatment to recommend.

Liver Detox Pack costs £35 for 30 minutes. www.ltdbeauty.co.uk. 07399 591343

Plain rib beanie £16 A woollen blend beanie that is slightly stretchy for the perfect fit www.fatface.com

Jaxon and James marl tweed Newsboy cap £16.95 The tweed cap with a slight twist. www.hatsandcaps.co.uk

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 5 3

FREE Restaurant Upgrades throughout January!

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Entry, Programme, Fast Food Diner Meal, Two Drinks & Tote Bet PLUS an Entry or Restaurant Voucher for use on another occasion!

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16/12/2016 17:39

ACTIVE LOCAL

NICO MORGAN

WE HEAR THE LATEST ON THE EQUESTRIAN SCENE, HEAD OUT TO LODDINGTON AND LAUNDE AND TRY OUT THE STAG’S HEAD IN MAIDWELL

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 5 5

55 SL local opener.indd 45

15/12/2016 13:56

OPENING TIMES Open seven days a week 12 noon – 11pm Food is served from Tues – Sat 12-2.30pm & 6.30-9.30pm Sunday 12-4pm

The Red Lion is a friendly dynamic free house that prides itself on offering something a bit different and, we think, rather special.

Our team of chefs pride themselves in freshly prepared, locally sourced seasonal food delivered with warm friendly service.

All of our bread, ice cream and desserts are homemade and we are constantly striving for

new and exciting dishes whilst ensuring that we never forget the Red Lion Classics that are so popular with our customers.

Put simply, we want to serve you exceptional quality food, drinks and service in beautiful surroundings.

With specially selected beers, wines and champagne, The Red Lion is the perfect venue for a quick drink or a great night out.

Call us on 01858 463571 Email theredliongb@gmail.com

THE RED LION I 5 Main Street, Great Bowden, Leicestershire, LE16 7HB I www.redlion-greatbowden.co.uk

A traditionally run public house in a rural setting offering accommodation, food, drink and fine wines.

Our menu offers traditional fayre and great specials to tempt all tastes.

Harborough Road Maidwell Northampton NN6 9JA info@stagshead-maidwell.co.uk

01604 686700

56.indd 1

www.stagshead-maidwell.co.uk

16/12/2016 17:38

Feature /// Sportsman's Dinner

The Stag's Head, Maidwell Kate and Jack revel in the warmth of this friendy village pub Kate I should think this pub gets lots of passing trade, being situated right on the main road between Market Harborough and Northampton and also just off the A14. But as soon as I walked in I sensed a genuine community feel. It’s full tonight and there’s a lot of friendly banter going on at the bar.

Jack The bar staff, Simon and Rachel, told me they put on different events throughout the year to attract people in, but also to build that local pub appeal. There’s an annual beer festival and the cider festival is always on over the Father’s Day weekend, so it’s easy to remember the date.

They have dog shows, race nights and family fun days too and they raise lots of money for charity. The garden out the back is huge so it’s a great venue for all kinds of events.

Kate Not that we can see it clearly tonight, but as it’s so cold I’m enjoying sitting in a cosy bar and looking forward to some delicious food to warm me up. The menu is certainly extensive and the dishes on the specials board look appetising. I’m going to try the wild cranberry and brie tart (£5.25) as it’s seasonal, but let’s share the whitebait too (£4.95).

Jack I’ve always loved whitebait but sometimes

you just get large ones or only small ones – these are nicely varied in size. And the batter is very light. Nothing stodgy about these. And the tartare sauce is packed full of flavour. Having dispensed with those, let’s dig into the tart.

Kate The pastry case is also very light and airy.

And there’s been no skimping on the brie which tastes absolutely delicious with the cranberries. I used to make my own cranberry sauce at Christmas but I seem to have given up in recent years.

Jack I don’t blame you. It leaves you more time for other things, like coming here. I’m having the Indian chicken curry with naan bread (£10.95) although I was listening to a radio programme the other day about how it’s not necessary to call it naan bread as naan means bread, so it’s a bit like saying bread bread. Then again it’s never a bad thing to spell things out. It’s very tasty with just the right balance of spices, and the timbale of rice is huge. Luckily I’m very hungry, so top marks from me.

Kate I’ve gone for the lamb tagine with basmati rice (£11.50). I can never quite decide whether to tip meals out on to the plate when they’re served in a separate pot but if you don’t, you couldn’t

coat the rice in this deliciously rich sauce. It’s the perfect winter warming food. And now I’m going to ruin it all by choosing a trio of Gallone’s ice cream (£3.75). I just couldn’t manage to eat the caramel apple pie, chocolate fudge cake or vanilla cheesecake, however tempting they look.

And I want to try ice cream made by Northampton’s own producer. They’ve been making ice cream since 1895 apparently.

Jack And I can see why they’re so successful.

The chocolate chip is as rich as a chocolate ice cream should be without being sickly and the rum and raisin is really strong with big fat juicy raisins. A perfect finish to the meal. And if it were New Year’s Eve and we’d booked in for the celebratory meal they're hosting here and we lived within a four- mile radius then the landlord Rob or Simon would drive us back home at the end of the night. How is that for community spirit?

The Stag's Head Harborough Rd, Maidwell, Northampton, NN6 9JA. 01604 686700. www.stagshead-maidwell.co.uk

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Feature /// Great walks

TOP STAT

Loddington and Launde

od and Launde Launde Park Wo hectares of 95 er off Big Wood minated by do d lan od ancient wo oak, field th wi o als ash, but st l. They also ho maple and haze owers fl d lan od wo plentiful and insects.

Stunning views, woodland nature reserves and an ancient abbey make this walk stand out. By Will Hetherington Photography: Will Hetherington Difficulty rating (out of five)

THE ROUTE

Park in the middle of Loddington. It’s a small village with no pub but you should be able to park on the verge somewhere out of the way.

Head east past Loddington Hall and then turn right shortly afterwards on Belton Road. These country lanes are very quiet so you won’t have to spend your time diving into the hedge for cover.

After 200 yards you will see the footpath sign pointing off to the left in a gateway. Take this path which cuts across a series of small fields and gradually climbs up to the high point of 190 metres just to the east of Copthill Farm.

I encountered some inquisitive horses in a couple of these fields and that, coupled with some high double stiles on muddy ground, made this an awkward early part of the walk with two

5 8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 ///

dogs in tow. However, the views back to the south made up for the trouble. Keep following the path until you hit the southern edge of Launde Park Wood. If you want a very long walk you can turn right here and follow the square around to take in Launde Abbey but I wouldn’t advise it. This walk is long enough as it is.

So turn left here and track along the bottom edge of the wood, passing one derelict farm and one house very much still in use on the right. You will come to a roadway and the entrance to Launde Park Wood on your right. It’s a nature reserve and well worth a stroll around if you have time. If not then keep going on the farm track and cross over the Loddington to Launde road to keep heading west.

You will descend for a few hundred metres with what looks like a keeper’s cottage down to your right. And then start climbing up the hill towards Launde Big Wood on the top. You will see an entrance to this wood near the top, and like its sister wood to the east it’s a nature reserve and worth investigation if you have time.

If not keep along the edge of the wood enjoying

the views to the south west before dropping down on the footpath towards the Loddington to Tilton road. Turn left and walk back into Loddington. The village plays host to a Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust research project so don’t be surprised to see a few pheasants around. If you have time then a walk to the isolated church which is inaccessible by road is also a good idea. And when you are done, a visit to Launde Abbey just over the hill will be worth your while.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park Where you can sensibly on the grass verge in Loddington.

Distance and time Three and a half miles/ an hour and a quarter.

Highlights Loddington’s isolated church with no road access. Two nature reserve woodlands and ancient Launde Abbey.

And the views which make walking in Leicestershire so special.

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START

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Lowlights There are some really high double stiles, horses and mud in the first section which almost made me regret taking the dogs.

Plus a lot of pheasants in various sections means you need to keep close control of the dogs.

Refreshments Launde Abbey is an interesting place and well worth a visit (www.laundeabbey.org. uk), otherwise the Blue Ball at Braunston is always a good choice.

Difficulty rating Four paws; tricky stiles and plenty of ups and downs.

The pooch perspective It’s not the best walk for unruly dogs because of the presence of a lot of game, horses and the tricky stiles. Also there is limited fresh water.

For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.

©CROWN COPYRIGHT 2015 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA 055/15

Clockwise, from above

Loddington is accessed by a network of quiet country lanes; look out for this derelict farm on the southern edge of Launde Park Wood; Hall Farm is on the outskirts of Loddington; Launde Abbey is an Elizabethan manor house

/// J A N U A R Y 2 0 17 5 9

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14/12/2016 12:52

Feature /// School sport

Oakham hockey and netball squads win through to finals Oakham School’s 1st VI has successfully qualified for the national indoor hockey finals, after placing as runners-up in an incredibly fierce regional tournament.

During the tournament, the team beat Malvern (11-0), Rugby, (6-0), Warwick (5-1), Worksop (4-0), and drew against Repton (2-2).

The final game of the competition saw Oakham face Repton for the second time, who were victorious in claiming the Midlands title.

However, in reaching the final, Oakham has successfully secured their place at the national finals at Whitgift School in January.

Elsewhere, both the U16 and U19 teams from Oakham School have reached the Regional Schools Netball Finals.

At the County U19 tournament, Oakham girls dominated the field of teams, beating Hinckley (14-0), Welbeck (14-5) and Wigston (24-1) with a draw against Loughborough High (5-5). They then battled hard and won their semi-final match against Queen Elizabeth School (9-2) to secure their place in the finals. After beating Ratcliffe 13-7, they were crowned county champions!

At the County U16 Netball tournament Oakham beat Robert Smythe (14-2), Kibworth (12-8), Uppingham (6-5) and Ashby (21-0) and then faced Loughborough High in the final.

They finished as runners-up, (narrowly losing 10-9) but have won their place in the Regional Schools Netball Finals.

Clockwise, from le

Oakham’s team which has qualified for the national indoor hockey finals; the U16 team which finished as runners-up in the county netball tournament; and the U19 team which was crowned county netball champions

Do you know an inspiring local sports teacher?

In an effort to recognise Leicestershire Early Years achievements in incorporating physical activity into their environment, LeicesterShire & Rutland Sport have opened nominations for three awards: • Most Active Setting Award • Early Years Champion Award

• Parental/Carer Engagement Award This is your chance to nominate Early Years settings and staff from Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, who you believe are successfully implementing physical activity strategies into their settings.

The awards will be presented at the LeicesterShire & Rutland Sport Celebration Event on the February 9 2017 at Leicester Arena.

The closing date for all nominations will be Friday January 13, 2017. Visit: www.lrsport.org/forms/ view/earlyyearsawards2017

17-year old George is flying high After two years of hard work and dedication, George Walker has received his private pilot’s licence three weeks after his 17th birthday – making him one of the youngest pilots in the world at the moment.

George, who is in form six at Oakham, has spent years undertaking considerable amounts of flight training at Rutland Flying School, as well as taking part in numerous tests to achieve this incredible feat.

To begin with, he had to undertake 35 hours of flying with an instructor, moving on to then undergo 10 hours of solo flight.

George also had to embark on a solo 180-mile cross-country flight, involving two away landings (he flew to the other side of East Midlands airport and then around Birmingham to Gloucester and back).

The practical flying exam was three hours long and was a thorough test of his flying

abilities. It included technical flying and dealing with emergency simulations such as a loss of power mid-flight and engine failure on take off or landing.

Alongside all of his school studies, George has read reams of technical flying books and manuals – in order to pass nine separate written tests (each with a minimum pass mark of 75%), on subjects as diverse as navigation, the weather and principles of flight. /// JA N UA R Y 2 0 1 7 6 1

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16/12/2016 12:29

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

Rugby

South keep up the drama

BY JEREMY BESWICK

S

outh Leicester continue to entertain their supporters with another month of tight results and nail-biting finishes. We reported last time how they’d drawn 21-21 against Caldy and then beaten Preston by a mere two points out of an aggregate total of 42. The drama was to be maintained, firstly against Otley.

It didn’t seem that the crowd was in for another thriller at half time, South being comfortably ahead at 21-7 with tries from Harry Priestner, Aaron Martin and Calum Gunn, but two early converted scores brought the visitors level before a third from Roberts gave them a five-point lead. South’s Ryan Hough brought them back to 26-26 but back came Otley again, prop Tiploma restoring the five-point gap. A quick tap penalty from South’s Adam Shaw then enabled Tom Cheney to score the tenth try of the match and Rickie Aley’s successful conversion proved to be the only points separating the sides as they finished with a narrow victory 33-31.

It was almost as close the following weekend at Hinckley, although there was less in the form of entertainment with South losing out by 10-6 having had two yellow cards, but there was again no lack of drama when Tynedale came to Welford Road seven days later. After an early try from the visitors Jacob Heath went over for South following good work from Martin Wolfenden and they then took the lead through Aaron Martin, a subsequent penalty to Tynedale pegging it back to 12-13 at half-time.

The visitors increased their lead two minutes into the second when a penalty was awarded and as the home defence “dawdled

back expecting a kick at goal” as chairman Wayne Marsden put it, Tynedale took it quickly and were rewarded with a converted try. South clawed things back with two penalties from Aley but what Marsden called “a mysterious penalty” meant Tynedale led by five points going into the last 10 minutes.

That man Aley was soon instrumental in putting South ahead with a visionary kick across making a try for Blane Howe, then adding the conversion to give them a narrow two point lead. Alas, three rapid penalties to the visitors – one short, one wide, one successful – was enough to tip the final result in their favour by 26-25.

At least the following away game at Scunthorpe allowed everyone to draw their breath; South running out comfortable 35-10 winners with tries from Adam Shaw, Nick Cairns and Blane Howe, but the narrow margins returned thereafter with South’s trip to Luctonians.

There wasn’t much in it at half-time, Lucs edging it 15-14. They then scored two further tries and led 29-17 with the clock winding down as, according to South’s Mick McNeill: “The home side appeared to be in control.”

However, Calum Gunn narrowed the gap and then, amazingly, a Chris Gibbs try brought the match level in the last minute with the conversion still to come. It was of course Aley who stepped forward, held his nerve and slotted it – just as he had against Otley a month earlier - to see South home by 31-29. McNeill generously acknowledged it as “The Great Points Robbery”.

Leicester Lions opened with a tough home match against Caldy, who Lions captain Matt Tuckey described as a “classy league leading

side,” but started well with an early try from fly-half James Grayson. However, thereafter the half belonged to their guests with three tries of their own making it 5-21 at the break.

The second period was much more even and only an exchange of penalties had troubled the scorer until the last two minutes when, scenting the possibility of a bonus point for four tries, Caldy went over again to make the final score 11-31.

A weekend off followed, the away tie against Preston being postponed, so the next match was a home fixture versus Otley. Lions were quick out of the traps, wing Devon Constant claiming the opening try after three minutes and Grayson cancelling out an Otley penalty with a drop goal before Ollie Tapscott bagged Lions’ second try with still only 15 minutes gone. Back came Otley with a converted try of their own before Drew Rudkin and Grayson ensured Lions would go into the break with a comfortable 29-13 lead and a bonus point already in the bag. To their credit; however Otley fought back to 29-25 before a late penalty from Grayson stopped the comeback and ensured they would go into the local derby at Hinckley in winning form.

Finding themselves 11-6 down early into the second period, there followed a tense half an hour, another penalty from Lions’ Grayson being the only score, until they produced what the club’s Mike Howkins called “the best flowing move of the game,” as full-back Ian Smith showed good pace to give Lions the lead for the first time by 14-11. With three minutes left a penalty to Hinckley drew the scores level but Lions were then awarded one of their own and Grayson kept his cool to give them the victory.

6 2 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

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TIGERS IMAGES

Tigers Talk Speaking before their humbling against Munster, Tigers’ director of rugby Richard Cockerill was in a positive mood following their run of five consecutive wins.

“We’re in a good place – a good position. The next five weeks will define our season,” he told me. It was all rather in contrast to his frame of mind following what can only be described as an embarrassing defeat in Ireland.

“Munster won every bit of the physical contest,” he acknowledged. It wasn’t to be a good weekend for East Midlands rugby, with Northampton also crushed by Leinster.

No doubt Ben Youngs will also be feeling somewhat deflated. A er being England’s best performer in the recent round of internationals and “in fantastic form and understandably full of the joys of life,” according to Cockers, the Munster match was billed as the contest to settle the question of whether he or Conor Murray should be the Lions’ scrum half.

No contest so far.

The only good thing about that match was the return of Manu Tuilagi. Cockerill said: “We’ve been very patient with him because we think he’s a special player. His part of the deal is what he does away from the club and he’s done that very, very well”. They will need him to be on top form if they’re to progress from the pool.

Part of Ben Youngs’ improved form of late has been down to Eddie Jones’ insistence that he drop a couple of kilos in weight, although the player himself puts it down to Aaron Mauger’s coaching: “Mage has been great. He’s been very influential on the way I play.”

Otherwise it’s a bit of a mystery to him.

“I’m doing the same things I’ve always done,” he told me. “I can’t really put my finger on it but long may it continue.

“Being surrounded by great players is a help. I only have to worry about me, not anyone else, and the platform for my kicking is superb because of others. Plus, Jonny May is so quick he makes a poor kick into a decent one.”

Had Eddie Jones held a de-brief for the squad a er England’s last match? “Yes, we talked about the last match on the Sunday a erwards,” said Youngs. “He’s very much ‘Well done lads but we need to improve’. It’s a constant strive to be better.

On to the next thing and the balance is right between being right on it and having a bit of a laugh”.

He’s also told the players they need to play well for their clubs to continue to get picked, which will be music to Cockers’ ears.

We touched on how the club manages the return of international players. “The danger is there’s lots of highs – emotional stress that sometimes as a player you’re not aware of but it can have an effect on returning to the club game” he said.

When they get back from four weeks away do they need a rest? “We do have those conversations but our two are not like that. The club is every bit as important to them as England”.

Above

Ben Youngs has produced some stellar performances for England – the challenge now is to transfer that form to Leicester

/// JA N UA RY 2017

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14/12/2016 10:52

Roundup

Football

Oadby’s youngsters rally

O

adby Town’s young side, after a terrible run of seven matches that yielded just a single point, showed great character to come back to win three on the bounce.

The first was some feat, coming against high-flying Eynesbury who are second in the table. Oadby started brightly, their positive interchanging of passes easy on the eye and the chances started to come, firstly for Jordan Pick, then for Harry Alcock – only denied by a full-stretch save by the Eynesbury keeper – and again for Pick who shot just wide. After a goal line clearance from a corner, Oadby were awarded a penalty for a trip on Carlton Beardmore and Sam Burton made no mistake with the spot kick.

The lead was well-deserved and the visitors were fortunate to equalise with a header from a set piece just before half-time. To be fair, they had much the better of the second half although Oadby nearly took the lead through Burton whose shot just beat the post.

Eynesbury continued to press and came close on several occasions, including a goal-line clearance from Kieran Henfrey and a goal disallowed for offside, but it was to be Oadby’s day. Deep into stoppage time substitute Lamar

BY JEREMY BESWICK Parkes picked up the ball from an Eynesbury corner and powered forward. Passing to Pick who laid it on for Beardmore who calmly rounded the keeper and threaded the ball in from an acute angle.

Coming after a disappointing couple of months this was an important victory.

Co-manager Graham Chambers told me: “We’d had some really bad results against teams around us in the table and a side as young as this has fragile confidence so the belief and confidence we gained from this was a game-changer for us.”

So it proved as, buoyed by their success, they went on to beat Yaxley away from home 3-2. Chambers said: “They have one of the biggest budgets in the league, a great set-up with a 3G pitch but, in spite of us getting a red card after half an hour, the lads found a fighting spirit from somewhere and dug in.

Not only dug in, but went into the break 2-0 up. The second half was like the Alamo to be honest and a bit scary, but we got there in the end.”

The trio of wins was completed by knocking Huntingdon out of the cup, again away, by 2-0. Alas, that was to be Chambers’ last match as co-manager, as new work

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commitments mean he can no longer guarantee to be there of a Saturday afternoon, though he will continue to be heavily involved with the club and is set to join the committee.

“I’m more than gutted,” he told me. “This is going to be a phenomenal team in a year or so.

We play football as well as anyone in this league and the physicality will come. They’re learning to ride with the knocks and we have to expect ups and downs and the inconsistencies that go cap in hand with being a young team. I’ll still be at the club every opportunity I can.”

Co-manager David Clay now takes up the reins and the club will start the search for a young coach to help him, but Chambers’ departure may have rocked the team as they were unable to keep up the good work, going on to lose to both Desborough and Cogenhoe.

Oadby are due to meet Harborough Town in the Boxing Day fixture and their hosts that day have had a difficult time in the past few weeks, in contrast to the rich vein of form they were in earlier in the season.

After a 3-1 defeat at Peterborough Sports they entertained a top side smarting from a defeat the previous weekend at the hands of a side 10 places below them. Yes, you’ve

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6 4 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

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15/12/2016 10:16

VOX FOX I’m sure all you Foxes fans out there are fed up by now with those endless press articles searching for explanations for City’s lack of form in the Premiership this season (in spite of their recent demolition of Manchester City and European success), especially as you’ve probably all discussed it at great length with your mates and – if you’re honest – reached as few definitive answers as the pundits have.

For those of you who’ve not yet lost the motivation to continue the debate, here’s a reminder of what we might call the duffer’s guide to the Foxes’ new season – so you don’t forget how to conduct any pub discussion you might want to join in with. Just take your choice and perm any three from the following to appear knowledgeable.

A) It’s the psychological impact of no longer being underdogs.

B) Other teams are trying harder because everyone wants to beat the champions.

C) Other teams have worked out their tactics and know how to combat them.

D) New refereeing guidelines about set piece defending, a strength last year, means they’re vulnerable this campaign.

E) Mahrez and Vardey are less hungry having signed lucrative new contracts.

F) Difficulty in integrating the new signings which will pass in time.

G) The inevitable extra strain and distraction of playing in Europe. And, my own personal favourite...

H) N’Golo Kante was the key player and his departure to Chelsea has le a big hole in midfield.

guessed it; this was Yaxley’s next game after their loss at Oadby. Yaxley opened the scoring after 15 minutes but Harborough had their fair share of the play with Barnes Gladman to the fore and several chances in a first half that rather irritated the club’s Gary Wainwright who said: “Yaxley seemed content to see the half out and their time wasting, or managing of the game depending on your point of view, frustrated both Harboro’s players and supporters.”

They were more than lively in the opening ten minutes of the second half however, scoring twice to seemingly put the game beyond Harboro’s reach as “Yaxley were now dominating all areas of the pitch and in complete control and Harboro’ were second to everything,” acknowledged Wainwright. With 15 minutes to go, three Harborough substitutes, Dino Tuksar, Lukas Blackwell and Costin Tanga-Gibson shook things up a bit and it was Blackwell’s pass that played Barnes Gladman in for their opener, the same player adding a second shortly afterwards.

At 2-3 it was game on with Yaxley “on the ropes” and Gladman nearly bagged an unlikely third but the fairy tale comeback was not to be.

Even the saintly Gary Lineker was reduced to a four-letter word rant on Twitter on his departure. Alex Ferguson, a man not generally given to overstatement, is on record as saying that “Kante is by far the best player in the Premier League” and the joke going round the professional game is “80% of the planet is covered by oceans. Kante takes care of the rest”. All this praise for a player who, as Kasper Schmeichel told us, arrived at Leicester without a car and explained: “Why do I need a car when I can run everywhere?” What a bargain Chelsea got for their £30m!

Whatever your own pet theory, there’s no disgrace in being unable to put your finger on it, given that the professionals, for all their multi-million salaries, seem equally at sea, with both Ranieri and captain Wes Morgan recently professing themselves at a loss to explain it. Let’s not despair. They may surprise us yet.

Above

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is at a loss to explain his side’s lack of form in the Premiership this season

Show your support for local sport...

Email advertise@theactivemag.com /// JA N UA RY 2017

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15/12/2016 10:17

Roundup

Equestrianism

Fund-raising and hunting dominate the local scene

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

L

ocal rider Bruce Langley-Mckim has been doing a sterling job of raising money recently with the local Irish Draught stallion Cos Me Is Black.

You may remember that last month Bruce infamously rode the stallion sidesaddle at Great Gidding; well this month has taken him to Lloyds Bank in Corby to raise money for Children in Need collecting with a bucket.

Thorpeley Stud has also donated a covering fee of the stallion and given away two sidesaddle lessons. The stud has helped to raise £2,541 for various charities over the last three weeks.

The late Hannah Francis has been awarded the Helen Rollason Award for inspiration at The Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year Awards.

Hannah ’s Willberry Wonderpony ‘kickingcancersbutt’ charity has been set up primarily to raise funds for bone cancer research and to grant equine wishes to the seriously ill.

Local equestrians Amy Gill and Andrew

Pridding saw Hannah riding at Tattersalls earlier this year and were so inspired by her story that they are helping to raise funds and awareness by running a Willberry Wonderpony Ball at Normanton Park Hotel on February 4.

Tickets cost £40 each and include a three-course dinner. If you would like tickets or would like to donate an auction prize don’t hesitate to contact Andrew on andrewgregpridding@icloud.com.

Hunting is in full swing, which means the hunt rides have started. Hunt rides are such a great sight to behold and definitely worth a visit. They normally start at noon.

Dominic Gwyn-Jones has made a formidable start by winning the Yeomanry Hunt race; he won by a massive 29 lengths riding his horse Puzzle. Dom suffered a badly broken leg a year ago and is enjoying being back to full competitive fitness.

The Melton Hunt ride is the real one to watch around here; this year it’s the turn of the Quorn and will be held at Great Dalby on February 19.

Event rider Richard Skelt from Folksworth has even bought a steed especially for the occasion. It’s been something he’s always dreamed of doing, even though I have to admit when I saw him watching last year I thought he was joking when he said he was going to do it.

Nevertheless, he is busy out hunting him at the moment and has already started taking him to the gallops to get him fit for the gruelling three-and-a-half mile ride.

His horse is a whopping 18hh and Richard is fully aware of how tough it can be, especially when he’s so big.

Richard is hoping that all this work will pay off and that he will be able to event Swing next year.

You may have seen in the news recently that hunting yet again has found itself having somewhat undeserved negative press.

Christmas and new year meets are always very popular for the public and the hounds are usually all out on show in a town local to you, so this year, more than ever, please do go and support your local hunt.

Show your support for local sport...

Email advertise@theactivemag.com 6 6 JA N UA RY 2017 ///

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