Active Magazine // Stamford & Rutland // September 2017

Editor’s Letter

IT’S ODD HOW FANS OF TEAMS AND watchers of sport can utterly reverse their mood or opinions in the blink of an eye.

The other week, the prevailing opinion was that “fat, paceless, old” Wayne Rooney was past it. He plays one-and-a-bit decent games for Everton, is rejuvenated, with all the speed and dash of a young buck, and he’s back in the England squad.

Except he isn’t. Wayne saw the sense that being picked by Southgate, and having a quiet second half against Brighton and Hove Albion sometime, would mean the knives and comment sections would be out in force, and he’d be fat, paceless and old again and of no use to England. So he bowed out gracefully, or as gracefully as a man with a Brillo pad on his head can bow.

Closer to home, and with a few more years ahead of him than Rooney, George Ford makes his league return to Leicester Tigers this month, four years after bolting out the door to Bath with barely a backward glance. The announcement of his re-signing earlier this year caused much consternation among fans, with plenty reckoning that with Freddie Burns going the other way to Bath, they had got the better deal.

But I’m willing to wager that should George dance his way through a couple of Premiership defences, throw some of those sumptuous passes he’s known for and kick his goals, barely a person at Welford Road will remember Freddie Burns’ name by November. Conversely, if Ford doesn’t, they’ll be calling for Burns to be carried head high in a procession down the Aylestone Road.

Such is the nature of sport. Us mere amateurs, whose stock-in trade is past glories (have I ever told you of the time I scored a first-half hat-trick in my first ever U11s football match against Porton FC?) can’t imagine what it must be like to have our performance and ability judged minute by minute, and then reassessed the next time, and the time after that, and so on.

So good luck to Ford and all those other professional sportsmen and women playing for our teams in the region this upcoming season. If all of them have gone even further up in our estimation by next spring, then we’ll have all had a good season.

Enjoy the issue! Steve

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 Chauhan lisa@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 2049-8713

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

ACTIVE LIFE

13 WHAT’S ON

Great things to do locally for all the family

15 HOW TO...

Make marrow chutney and brew blackberry gin

18-19 RIVERFORD RECIPE

This month we cook a red Thai chicken curry

21 TRAVEL

Why not visit the Emerald Isle?

FEATURES

22-27 BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS SPECIAL

Where to watch, what to do, who to see

28-33 COUNTRY CASUALS

What to wear at Burghley and this autumn

35 MARTIN JOHNSON’S COLUMN Football season’s here... time for a new replica shirt

ACTIVE BODY

39 A QUICK FIX

Advice from The Avicenna Clinic on dealing with pain

44-45 THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Tips and products for your new autumn look

ACTIVE LOCAL

49 DAY IN THE LIFE OF... Garden designer Teresa Kennedy

50-51 CHALLENGE UPDATES... Updates on our intrepid fund-raisers

58-63 SHOOTING STARS

How you and your dog can get involved

64-67 SEASON PREVIEWS

Will it be silverware for Leicester Tigers and City?

77 ON YOUR BIKE!

A great cycling route from Rutland Cycling

78-79 GREAT WALKS

Taking in Woodnewton and Southwick

82 SCHOOL SPORTS Successes on the field from our local schools

86-90 ROUND-UP

How clubs in the area are faring 22 44 64 78

GO WITH YOUR GUT.

STREETS AHEAD.

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STURGESS LAND ROVER

Land Rover has proudly supported world-class competitions and riders for decades because Equestrian pursuits test skill, power and partnership. We hope to see you at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Sturgess Land Rover 445 Narborough Road, Leicester LE3 2RE 0116 416 1438

www.sturgesslandrover.com

Active life

AUTUMN IS COMING, WHICH MEANS PARTRIDGES, MARROWS, DADDY LONG LEGS, BLACKBERRY GIN AND DELICIOUS FOOD. ALSO, VISIT THE EMERALD ISLE AND FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON CLOSER TO HOME

Edited by Mary Bremner

The GLE. Experience adventure.

The GLE features striking porportions and dramatic bodystyle with its dramatic air intakes, twin-louvre grille, and wraparound full LED headlamps. Power domes on the bonnet further emphasise the car’s dynamic, purposeful character, Inside, the spacious cabin matches sumptuous materials and finishes with a wealth of on-board technology including a 8” display and the COMAND Online entertainment and navigation system.

Equipped with 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive as standard, the GLE is ready to take on the world.

Contact your nearest Robinsons Mercedes-Benz retailer to arrange a test drive today

Representative example GLE 250 d 4MATIC AMG Line including optional metallic paint 36 monthly payments of*(Term of agreement) £499

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new GLE range: urban 18.0(15.7)-42.8(6.6), extra urban 29.4(9.6)-51.4(5.5), combined 23.9(11.8)-85.6(3.3)*. CO2 emissions 276-78*g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Whilst this offer is only available through Mercedes-Benz Finance, we do arrange finance behalf of other finance companies as well. Model featured is a Mercedes-Benz GLE 250 d 4MATIC Sport at £51,290on-the-road (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel). Specification imagery may show optional features. Content relating to finance is promoted by Mercedes-Benz Finance. Your Retailer may offer finance on behalf of other companies. *Finance offer based on a GLE 250 d 4MATIC Sport on a MercedesBenz Agility Agreement, on 10,000 miles per annum. Vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges apply. †Payable if you exercise the option to purchase the car. ††Includes optional purchase payment, purchase activation fee and Retailer deposit contribution. Orders/credit approvals on selected GLE models, between 1 July and 30 September 2017, registered by 31 December 2017. Guarantees may be required. Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Credit provided subject to status by MercedesBenz Finance, MK15 8BA. Prices, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions correct at time of production.

The best or nothing.

Robinsons Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz of Peterborough, Club Way, Cygnet Park, Peterborough, PE7 8JA 01733 294900

PILATES IN PADDOCKS

Harri Green is a keen amateur rider – eventing, dressage – you name it, she does it. She is also a qualified pilates instructor and specialises in teaching it to riders.

“I work on all the muscles that are needed for riding, the core muscles in particular, including muscle balance and posture,” she says.

But you don’t have to be a rider to enjoy her classes, everyone is welcome.

Harri holds classes at Westside Gym in Stamford and Oundle Fitness Centre, as well as running classes in paddocks! Many clients are equestrians and as a mobile tutor she holds classes in their yards as well as private sessions.

Find her on Facebook (Core Performance Pilates) or call 07545 275470.

BALLROOM BLITZ

School

classes in October at

Ideal for beginners who want to try ballroom, Latin and rock and roll, dancing is the perfect way to keep fit while having fun at the same time. Open to all and run by experienced teacher Janina Mossman, classes are £7.50 a week.

The course lasts four or five weeks, depending on which course you take. www.neneschoolofdancing.co.uk or ring Janina on 01778 590655

Sushi comes to Rutland

The first sushi restaurant in the county opens its doors in Oakham on September 1. Eat in or take away beautifully rolled, responsibly sourced, fairly priced, nutritious delights at Fish Tank Sushi in Baker’s Yard, Oakham. www.fishtanksushi.com

SHOP OF THE MONTH

THE LEAN PANTRY COMPANY

The Lean Pantry Company has recently opened in Stamford’s High Street. The brainchild of Seema Khanna, the philosophy is to not use wheat, dairy or refined sugar in their recipes. Everything is gluten-free and they offer a vegan range as well. Well known for their breakfast and brunch menu, which they serve all day, lunches and cakes are also delicious and popular. Seema’s passion is cake making and she is now supplying celebration and birthday cakes to order, including vegan ones. Private and corporate parties are also catered for on the premises, using the upstairs space.

www.leanpantry.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON

There’s lots going on in your area this month, why not try some of these?

■ Stamford’s third Georgian Festival runs from September 21-24. There’s lots to entertain everyone including markets, street theatre, acrobats and celebrity speakers. Much of the festival will be free, including events on the Meadows over the weekend. Look out for people wandering the streets in full Georgian costumes, mingling with everyone else. www.stamfordgeorgian festival.co.uk

■ The Rutland Vitruvian Triathlon takes place on September 9. It’s a tough course with more than 1,000 competitors tackling a 1.9km

swim, 85km cycle and 21km run. Pop along to cheer everyone on. And do the same on September 17 when it’s the Rutland marathon and half-marathon.

■ The Swim Rutland Night Swim takes place on September 2. Relish the opportunity to swim under the stars with a glow stick and luminous hat before joining everyone back on shore for food, drink and music. Open water swimming at Rutland Water continues every Sunday until the end of the month with small group coaching on Thursday nights. www.discover-rutland.co.uk

■ September 10 is family volunteering day at Ferry Meadows. Pop along to help the rangers out in the park. Everybody is welcome and all tools and training will be provided – just bring plenty of enthusiasm. www.neneparktrust.org.uk

■ This year’s Liam Pridmore Memorial Bike Ride takes place on September 2, starting at The Blue Bell pub in Glinton. Now in its sixth year, the event is held in memory of Liam Pridmore from Peakirk who died, aged 12, from an aggressive brain tumour. So far the event has raised more than £35,000 for charity. There will be a

number of different rides to tackle, according to age and ability, along with a barbecue and entertainment. To find out more about the charities they are supporting this year, including Faith’s Journey, go to www.liamride.com

MAKE MARROW CHUTNEY HOW TO…

Marrows seem to grow in front of your eyes, they expand so rapidly. If you find you can’t keep up with eating them, turn them into chutney instead using this very simple recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 kg marrow

220g sliced shallots

220g sliced apples

220g sultanas

220g demerara sugar

850ml malt vinegar

Pinch of salt and pepper

METHOD

Cut the marrow into small pieces and place in a large saucepan with the shallots, apples, sultanas, sugar and vinegar. Give a good turn of the salt and pepper grinder into the pan. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it starts to thicken.

Leave to settle for 10 minutes then spoon into jars, put on the lids and label.

HOW TO…

Brew blackberry gin

Blackberries are prolific and early this year, so let’s make the most of them. Crumbles and jam are delicious but why not branch out this year and make blackberry gin? It’s really very simple and, with this recipe, you don’t have to wait for months before you can drink it…

INGREDIENTS

1kg blackberries, 500g caster sugar, 500ml gin

METHOD

Put the blackberries and sugar in a large pan and cook down very gently until the fruit has dissolved and become pulpy.

Pour the gin into a large jug and strain the pulped blackberries in.

Stir well , pour into bottles and seal. It should be ready to drink in less than a week.

SEARCH: SYCAMORE BMW

NATURE

THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE

This attractive gamebird was introduced into Britain from western Europe and has thrived in the drier climate of eastern England.

Locally it is a well established breeding bird whose numbers are boosted by large releases on some farms and estates. Many will be seen in the fields on the western side of Eyebrook Reservoir from September, where supplementary feeding discourages them from straying.

Red-legged partridges pair up in March and are most active at dawn and dusk. The males give their characteristic ‘chukka-chukka’ calls from the ground or from exposed perches on gate posts or farm buildings. The nest is usually hidden beneath a hedgerow and the clutch of up to 16 eggs, blotched with red or grey, is incubated for around 24 days. Some nests are found by carrion crows and predated eggshells are often seen on footpaths in spring. The chicks can forage for food immediately but are tended by their parents until they fledge. At close quarters this is a stunning species with white cheeks and throat bordered by a black band. The flanks are barred with black, white and chestnut and the legs and bill are red.

Terry Mitcham

DADDY LONG LEGS

September is the month when daddy long legs can inundate your home. Also known as crane flies and harvestmen, this name coincides with the time of year when they are most visible, during and after harvest.

The adults are on the wing during late summer and are busy concentrating on mating and laying their eggs. The larvae of the daddy long legs are grey grubs known as leather jackets that live underground, and are the bane of many a gardeners’ and farmers’ life as they eat plant stems and roots.

Easily recognisable, the daddy long legs is a brown long bodied insect with translucent wings and very long legs that easily fall off if handled. Very common throughout Britain, and instantly recognisable.

Hazel nuts

The perfect nut for woodland foraging, and here on our doorstep this month. Hazel grows throughout the country and is often used in hedges. To pick the nuts you need to be quick to beat the squirrels – as we all know Squirrel Nutkin was quite a fan. They will be fresh and green at this time of year but still tasty, so pick a few and eat them on the hoof. If you wait for them to ripen, turning nut brown, the squirrels will beat you to it.

RED THAI CHICKEN CURRY WITH GREEN BEANS AND CASHEWS

INGREDIENTS

200g brown basmati rice

Salt and pepper

1 red onion Oil for frying

25g ginger

2 garlic cloves

2 tomatoes

1 tsp turmeric

1 pack red Thai curry paste

1 tbsp tamari sauce

400ml coconut milk

125g green beans

30g cashew nuts

15g coriander

1 lime

300g diced chicken breast

20g basil

1 fresh chilli

METHOD

● Boil a kettle. Rinse the rice in a sieve under cold running water then add to a saucepan with a pinch of salt. Cover with boiling water, stir once and simmer for 20-25 minutes until tender.

● Peel and finely slice the onion. Heat 1tbsp oil in a saucepan. Fry the onion gently for 10 minutes until starting to soften.

● Peel and finely chop or grate the ginger and garlic. Roughly chop the tomatoes.

● Add the ginger, garlic and tomatoes to the onions after 10 minutes (1). Cook for three minutes then add the turmeric and Thai curry paste. Cook for another minute then add the tamari and coconut milk. Season with salt and simmer for 10 minutes.

● Trim the green beans and slice thinly at an angle.

● Roughly chop the cashews and toast them in a dry frying pan until lightly coloured (about 2-3 minutes). Roughly chop the coriander. Halve the lime.

● Season the chicken lightly with salt and add it to the curry along with the sliced beans. Gently cook for 5-8 minutes or until the meat is cooked through.

● Stir two-thirds of the cashews into the curry. Tear in the basil leaves (2). Stir well and check the seasoning, adding more salt if needed. If you want more heat, slice and add the fresh chilli to taste.

● Drain the rice and serve in generous bowls with the curry. Garnish with the coriander, remaining cashews and half a lime each for squeezing.

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. Our 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.

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm Tel: 01780 654321 Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk www.classicstamford.co.uk

Tel: 01780 654321 Email: sales@classicstamford.co.uk www.classicstamford.co.uk

St Leonard’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN

TRAVEL

THE EMERALD ISLE

Guinness, shamrocks, the craic, Father Ted, and kissing the Blarney Stone... it has to be Ireland, where the grass is always green. This is because Ireland has quite a high rainfall but September can be a beautiful month to visit, particularly if we have an Indian summer.

Ireland is a country where the locals are friendly. Walk into any pub or shop and you’ll soon have someone chatting to you – and there are a lot of pubs, every tiny village has one. It used to be the case that someone would stop their car, blocking the road to get out and have a chat, and the car behind would join in. This is still true in some of the more rural parts.

But it’s not just about the craic and Guinness. The country is steeped in history and culture, legends and myths. Visit Dublin this month and enjoy The Fringe Festival that runs from September 9-24. This theatre festival has performers from all over the world.

A visit to the second city of Ireland, Cork, way down in the south west is a must. This is an attractive city with a large harbour. Make sure you see the castle-like Cork City Gaol which once held prisoners bound for Australia. Whilst in Cork pay a visit to Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland. There are restaurants, pubs and cafes galore in this pretty, colourful harbour town that is protected by two ancient forts. Whilst in Kinsale you can join the Wild Atlantic Way Cycle Sportif that starts in the town on September 13 and finishes in Donegal on the 29th.

There are so many places to visit in Ireland that a tour of the country is a must. You can take in The Giants Causeway (in the north), Galway, Waterford and Wexford and don’t forget around nearly every corner is a castle, often in ruins. Windswept beaches and green pastures galore.

It’s probably best to hire a car to get round more easily, just be prepared as the country roads can be narrow and winding, but you’ll find some beautiful sights round every corner.

A country that needs re-visiting time and again, and you will always be assured of a warm welcome.

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.wildatlanticwaycyclesportif.ie

www.tedtours.com

www.ireland.com

www.discoverireland.ie

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is one of the biggest and toughest sporting events in the country. Nico Morgan presents an insiders’ guide on what to look out for beyond the shopping and refreshments village

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is one of only six equestrian events worldwide which are given the top 4* rating. It’s the pinnacle of the sport of eventing and it’s tough.

Although described as a three-day event, it actually takes place over five days. The first day, Wednesday, August 30, is free to attend but the shopping village will be in full swing and you can also attend the first vets’ inspection in the main arena.

This year Burghley is offering an event guide which can be purchased on its own or as part of a bundle which includes lots of goodies in a Burghley bag. There are golden tickets each day which will win prizes.

Here’s what to look out for in the three key disciplines...

DRESSAGE

The dressage phase of the three-day event tests the basic training of the horse before the cross-country and show jumping phases. It takes place over two days (Thursday and Friday) in the main arena.

Dressage ‘tests’ are performed in a 20m x 60m area, marked out by white boards. Each competitor waits until a bell is rung to indicate the judges are ready and then performs a predetermined set of movements. It is important to be quiet and not move about when a test is underway. Judges assess the precision and elegance of the performance, obedience of the horse, its three gaits – walk, trot and canter –and also how the rider performs too.

What to look for

Each movement is marked out of 10 and then they are converted into a penalty score: the lower the better. If a horse and rider combination gets 7s for each movement they will end up with a score of 45. The leaders are likely to get into the mid or even low 30s which would need 8s, 9s and 10s during the test.

Do say…

“Gosh, this horse has wonderful impulsion”

Don’t say...

“I love the horse dancing bit”

CROSS-COUNTRY

Captain Mark Phillips has designed this year’s cross-country course, which is about four miles long, with nearly 45 jumping efforts spread around that course.

The course at Burghley is notoriously one of the biggest and toughest in the world and there is no doubt that it will have a significant impact on the competition. Each of those fences can be up to 1.4m in height, with a top spread of up to 2m. The most famous fence at Burghley is the Cottesmore Leap, which has a ditch in front of it wide enough to drive a 4x4 vehicle through.

Nowadays the safety of horses and riders is paramount, so solid fences are fitted with safety devices which cause the fence to collapse if they are hit hard.

The time allowed will depend on the exact length of the course but will be about 11.30 minutes in total. Horses and riders who do not complete the course inside the time allowed will be given time penalties at a rate of 0.4 penalties for every second over the time.

Any refusal or run-out on the course will result in a 20-point penalty which could be more than half of the dressage score before that phase. This year competitors should be aware of a new 50-point penalty, which can be given if the fence judges rule that the horse did not pass within the flags at any obstacle.

What to look out for

There are some riders who just make any cross-country course look relatively easy. It really isn’t! These are the ones to watch.

Do say…

“They look fit!”

Don’t say...

“Oh, I do hope they fall in the water!”

SHOW JUMPING

Sunday’s show jumping course will consist of 14 to 16 fences. They will be a mixture of ‘upright’ fences (a single vertical obstacle) and ‘oxers’ or ‘parallels’ (a fence which consists of two uprights with a gap between them).

Officials calculate the time allowed to ride the course based on a set speed. There are no prizes for going faster than necessary but if a rider is over the time allowed they will incur time penalties at a rate of one per second they are over the time; much more expensive than on the cross-country course.

This main arena is part of a Grade 2* listed park at Burghley and this means that the ground cannot be levelled off to make this phase of the competition easier. Riders therefore must take the terrain into account when they are riding the course. The riders will have a chance to walk the course after the second vets’ inspection on Sunday morning but the horse will have never seen the course when it comes to start this phase.

The jumping is done in reverse order, with those in the first session being the competitors in the places below 20th place. The top 20 jump in the afternoon session.

Penalties during the show jumping phase include four for knocking a pole down or refusing to jump a fence. Two refusals or a rider fall results in elimination.

What to look for

If scores are close after cross-country then a clear round can mean a significant jump up the leaderboard.

Do say…

“I’d love to see this combination have a double clear”, meaning that they jump clear round the show jumping course having previously not had any jumping penalties on the cross-country course the day before.

Don’t say...

“Good luck! Break a leg!”

Launde Abbey

Open daily for morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea

Cyclists and walkers very welcome

Why not start your walk or ride at Launde then reward yourself with a delicious lunch at the end?

Visit our website for maps and routes at www.laundeabbey.org.uk

Launde Abbey, East Norton, Leicestershire LE7 9XB T: 01572 717254 I E: info@launde.org.uk

Charity No: 1140918

WOULD YOU DO?

anglianwater.co.uk/leisure

AT LAND ROVER BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS 2017

Come and meet talented artisans and producers selling unique, stylish and delicious products in CL’s Maker’s Marquee, located next to the Land Rover Arch by the cross-country course.

THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITORS INCLUDE:

Tripster & Smith (homeware) Masons Yorkshire Gin (craft gin) Willy Chase’s (popcorn) Virginia’s Artisan Soap (beauty) Parkers

Cufflinks (accessories) Indigo Boo (fashion) Lucinda Frances (fashion) Super-Skin (beauty) Petcap (accessories) Lavender Hill

Clothing (fashion) SAHEL (fashion) Chase Distillery Shop (vodka & gin) Welligogs (fashion) Louisa Elizabeth (art & gifts) Brock & Morten (rapeseed oil) Simone Micalef (jeweller) Gemma J (jeweller) By Sikora (accessories) Jina Gelder Illustration (artist)

Heather Stowell (jeweller) Isabee (children’s clothing) Jelly Bean Photography (photos) Smash Porcelaine France (homeware)

Christie Lloyd (art) Coban Rugs (homeware) Laughing Dog (pet food) Muck Boots (footwear) Justin Reece (footwear) Masons

Yorkshire Gin (gin) Hawkcombe Country Outfitters (fashion) KC Collection (fashion) Love & Lilly Jewellery (jeweller)

The Stripes Company (accessories) Chandrika Thomas (perfume) Indriftic (accessories) Hen House Candles (candles) Turner & Bell (pet accessories) Hen House Candles (candles) Turner & Bell (pet accessories) MacMaster Designs (homeware) Win or Lose (accessories) That Cosy Feeling (homeware) Fresh From Nature (homeware) Daisy’s Vintage Tea

PLUS the chance to win a CL sofa, pick up a special show offer for CL’s Interflora bouquets and enjoy tea & homemade cake in Daisy’s Vintage Tea Room. And visit the Country Living Pavilion on Avenue A for more stylish shopping – we look forward to seeing you there!

Contact us

tel: 01780 782328 email: thepapermills@gmail.com facebook: @thepapermills

Booking highly advised during Burghley Weekend!

Monday - Sunday 11.30am till late

Lunch served from 12-2.30pm Mon - Sat Dinner served from 6-9pm

Located in the picturesque village of Wansford just off the A1, The Paper Mills is the perfect location for the Burghley weekend for lunch, dinner and drinks.

Let the small but friendly team welcome you to this traditional English family owned pub.

Good selection of lager and ales. Popular wine list sourced locally.

Food is freshly cooked to order.

Locally sourced ingredients from within 30 miles of the area. We maintain close relationships with the local farms, bakeries, butchers and breweries. Our menu is a balance of classic British pub, Mediterranean and Asian inspired dishes. Classic desserts and daily specials on offer too.

Dogs allowed in bar area or garden

We have Sky TV so will be showing sky sports. 40/50 seater restaurant

SIX GREAT SPOTS TO WATCH THE CROSS-COUNTRY

Lion Bridge

An early fence which provides great scenery. Caused world champion Michael Jung’s demise in 2015.

Discovery Valley

The viewing of the title sponsor’s main fence is brilliant (right next to the bars) and gives you two views of each rider as they progress backwards and forwards.

Storm Doris

A new fence which uses the trees which fell during the storm. Several options here.

SHOPPING

From horseboxes to handbags, saddles to sheds, boots to bronze sculptures and clothing to cake, there really is something for everyone at Burghley. So, if you’re not into horses, and need a change of scenery from the bar, then head to the shops. If you’re starting early why not kick off with a bacon sandwich from the Marquess of Exeter & Launde Farm Foods stand in the food court, then make your way around the trade stands full of energy. You’ll need it as there is plenty to see.

Here are some of our favourites:

Dawson’s - Despite being based in Stamford, the fine jewellers decamps to Burghley Park for the week. Dubarry - A mainstay now and and worth a visit for a cracking pair of waterproof boots.

Clare Brownlow - Quirky paintings all produced with a pheasant feather.

Cottesmore Leap

An iconic fence which makes everyone gasp but generally rides well.

The Trout Hatchery

A classic. Several routes through the different ponds and great viewing.

The start and finish

Although the start and finish fences are straightforward it is always great to see the ‘game faces’ on the way out and the elation on the way back.

HISTORY

1961 – First event at Burghley, put on by The Marquess of Exeter to replace an event at Harewood House, which was cancelled due to a suspected outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

1962 – Burghley first hosts the European Championships. No other venue has hosted the championships as often as Burghley.

1979 – Andrew Hoy becomes the youngest person to ever win the event (he still is!). He was 20 then.

1994 – William Fox-Pitt wins the event. The first of a record six wins. Two of this year’s competitors, Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson, have won it five times.

2003 – Pippa Funnell wins Burghley and with it the first ever Grand Slam of Eventing (Burghley, Badminton and Kentucky).

2014 – Andrew Nicholson makes history by winning Burghley for the third consecutive year.

2015 – Michael Jung wins Burghley on his way to only the second ever Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.

PAST WINNERS

2016 Christopher Burton (Australia) riding NOBILIS 18

2015 Michael Jung (Germany) riding LA BIOSTHETIQUE SAM

2014 Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) riding AVEBURY

2013 Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) riding AVEBURY

2012 Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) riding AVEBURY

2011 William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) on PARKLANE HAWK

2010 Caroline Powell (New Zealand) on LENAMORE

Fairfax & Favor - Another expensive boot company, and one that is very much en vogue at the moment.

Country Living Pavilion and Makers’ Marquee

- There are lots of great independent designers, artisans and crafts people all under one roof so spend some time perusing both.

Joules - Clothing sponsors Joules have a huge stand offering up all the official merchandise.

Sturgess Land Rover - Looking for a new car?

Check out the new Range Rover Velar which will be on display.

Legacy - Vintage fashion and jewellery.

Scotts of Thrapston - Fine equestrian buildings, summer houses and bespoke timber buildings.

Zaini Hats - Designers of beanie hats and other winter accessories for the season ahead.

Wacky Socks - British made premium quality multi-sport socks.

LOCAL STARS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Simon Grieve, based near Oakham: “Both my horses (Douglas and Drumbilla Metro) are brilliant jumpers who love their jobs and I hope we’re all going to enjoy the experience as much as each other.”

Richard P. Jones, from South Luffenham, with Alfie’s Clover. Willa Newton, from Stonesby, near Grantham, with Chance Remark.

Angus Smales, from Allexton in Rutland, with MJI Mount Echo. Andrew Hoy (AUS), from Somerby in Leicestershire, with The Blue Frontier.

FASHION IN THE FIELD

The Active team gets togged up for the trials, and the autumn weather beyond, in this season’s most stylish clothing. Just one question, where are the editor and publisher?

Photography: Nico Morgan

ABOVE

Will wears Levis 511 slim fit Stokjo stretch jeans, £85, Polo Ralph Lauren slim fit polo shirt in fall royal, £85 and Barbour Duke wax

STOCKISTS

Cavells: 16 Mill St, Oakham, LE15 6EA. 01572 770372 www.cavells.co.uk.

Seasalt Clothing: 18 High St, Stamford PE9 2AL. 01780 310040 www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk

Inner Wolf: Wistow Rural Centre, Kibworth Rd, Wistow, LE8 0QF. 0116 337 3053 www.innerwolf.co.uk

Thanks to Will, Kate, Lucy, Mary and John for modelling. Models all wore their own footwear but all brands are available from Cavells South Street. Thanks also to Bracken, Ella, Maisie, Knibbs, Mia and George!

ABOVE

Kate wears Brax Shakira The Skinny Free to Move mid denim jeans, £99.95, Paul Smith Multi Stripe sweater, £155 and Brax Genf down gilet in dark olive, £159.95 from Cavells.

BELOW

Mary wears Oui slim fit Baxtor Jeggings in grape leaf, £115 Vilagallo silk Otilia Woodland top in grey/multi colour, £209 and Vilagallo Isa Woven jacket in coral, £239 from Cavells.

ABOVE

Lucy wears Essentiel Ovina bird print shirt dress with rhinestone collar in Mars red/multi, £238 from Cavells.

LEFT

Mia models the small green Ruff and Tumble dog drying coat from £38 from Cavells Country.

BELOW

Ella shows off a selection of boot brands available at Cavells Country.

FAR LEFT

LEFT

Purple

BELOW

Midge

The Old Mill • South Street Oakham • Rutland • LE15 6BG www.cavells.co.uk

“A clear-eyed, energetic, forward-thinking school”

- The Good Schools Guide

With a proud heritage and progressive outlook, Oakham is a high-achieving independent school in the heart of England where opportunities are both inspirational and obtainable. A shared belief in making the most out of any opportunity and to be the best you can be sets us apart from other schools. With a welcoming and friendly support structure, Oakham offers an ideal environment for boys and girls aged between 10 and 18 to learn, thrive and prosper in our modern world. We’re one of the UK’s top schools for the IB Diploma and our students achieve consistently excellent A-level results, whilst still having time to enjoy an exceedingly rich extra-curricular lifestyle.

What makes Oakham so special? oakham.rutland.sch.uk/Meet-Us

To organise a visit please get in touch with our admissions team: admissions@oakham.rutland.sch.uk

01572 758758

oakham.rutland.sch.uk

We look forward to meeting you

Oakham in their words

ABOVE

LEFT

BELOW

Kate wears Trail Board trousers in indigo, £62.50, Duet night splash Sailor shirt, £29.95, Fruity jumper in mustard, £59.95 and Encompass coat in dark cinnamon, £150 from Seasalt Clothing. Knibbs’ leash is Ezydog Zero Shock Dog Leash, £21.95 and Ella is on the purple dusk Ruffwear Roamer Leash £38.95 from Inner Wolf.

RIGHT

An impressive collection of one & two bedroom apartments and three & four bedroom houses, there’s a home for everyone at Oakthorpe from Kier Living. This exciting new development is perfectly situated in the cathedral city of Peterborough, which boasts a variety of attractions and amenities, as well as being just 50 minutes from London Kings Cross by train *

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Sales & marketing suite open daily 10am - 5pm Thorpe Road, Peterborough, PE3 6AW

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07864 997591

T Getting shirty

The start of the football season only means one thing, says Martin Johnson... time to buy a new replica players’ shirt

here’s usually a clue when something momentous is about to happen. White smoke from the Vatican equates to a new Pope. The first cuckoo of the year means that Spring has arrived. And when you’re at the supermarket, and some pot-bellied bloke wearing a shirt with ‘Rooney 10’ on the back is shovelling lager into his trolley, you know the football season is here again.

I’m not entirely sure when replica football shirts became such big business (they reckon Paris St Germain will recoup a large chunk of the £198 million they forked out for Neymar in sales of the things) but it certainly wasn’t when I first stood on the terraces back in the 1950s. And even if Newport County had had a club shop, they’d have made less from selling replica jerseys with ‘Hunt 10’ on the back of them than from the half-time Bovril takings.

The strange thing about football in those days was that when a team wearing blue shirts played away from home, they wore blue shirts. Unless the home team also had blue shirts, in which case they were obliged to change them for a colour that enabled spectators to work out which team was which. Although in Newport’s case this wasn’t entirely necessary as they were easily identifiable by the number of goals they were letting in.

Nowadays, however, there is a serious argument for believing that the replica away strip is such a rip-off that the people selling them ought at least to have the decency to wear a mask. After all, Dick Turpin did. Why, for instance, would Manchester United –famous for playing in red – have commissioned an all-grey strip for away games a few years back? Couldn’t have been to make more money surely? Although it backfired a little when they kept losing, and the players complained that the colour was so dull they kept passing the ball to their brighter shirted opposition.

This season, Manchester United adult replicas, home or away, will set you back £60. Although if you prefer long sleeves you’ll be asked for an extra tenner. And if you want one with ‘Lukaku 9’ on the back – and let’s face it, who wouldn’t – we’re talking £82.95.

What’s more, the shirts change every year. What was once little Johnny’s pride and joy suddenly becomes something so dated he wouldn’t be seen dead in it. You can’t be seen out wearing something with ‘Eon’ on the front, or ‘Halifax Building Society’ if the 2016-17 model is now singing the praises of ‘Bloggs’ Lavatory Brushes’.

Apart from having to change into red to avoid clashing with Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, England were playing for over a century in plain white until the FA cottoned on to the fact that there was money to be made from changing them every year.

When Scotland played England in 2016, England were ordered to change to red because the Scots had abandoned their traditional all blue jerseys to ones with clashing (at least according to FIFA) white sleeves. And then when England hosted the Scots at Wembley in the same year, the away team played in shocking pink. Not surprisingly, their football matched their shirts and they lost 3-0.

No wonder parents start making wimpering noises when the new football season comes around, so much so that their first thought is to get little Johnny interested in rugby instead. But hang on a minute… the oval ball lot are at it too.

Take Northampton. They have three replica jerseys – home, away and one for cup games. The home and the cup versions bear some marginal comparison with the shirts they wore for decades but the away jersey doesn’t really give you a clue as to which team you might be watching. However, at least the Saints’ jersey designers have drawn their inspiration from something other than the Beatles’ psychedelic period. Unlike the French side, Stade Francais, whose shirts make the Sergeant Pepper LP cover look almost dowdy.

In New Zealand, the national rugby jersey is as religious a garment as the shroud of Turin, and I was once flown – along with half a dozen other UK journalists – all the way to Wellington, courtesy of Adidas, for the unveiling of a new All Black shirt. And when the thing was unveiled, live on the news would you believe, the audience let out a collective gasp. Largely because it was a black shirt with a silver fern. Just as it had always been.

Everywhere you look in sport, players’ kit is being messed around with. Take the England cricket team. For decades they took to the field wearing white shirts and cream sweaters, and now they emerge in cream shirts and white sweaters. Mind you, cricket makes far less out of replica kit than soccer or rugby, for the simple reason that most of the money goes to the fancy dress shops. Why fork out to look like Alastair Cook or Joe Root, appears to be the fans’ motto, when you can come as a giraffe, or a bunch of bananas.

 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?’.

Traditional values of care and service combined with cutting edge technology and expertise

The equine veterinary team at Fellowes Farm, based in Cambridgeshire, includes a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and European Specialist in Equine Surgery, RCVS Advanced Practitioners in Surgery, Medicine and Dentistry alongside multiple RCVS certificate holders.

Equine

Whether its keeping your elite equine athlete at peak performance or caring for your well loved pet we’ve got it covered.

Acupuncture ● Artificial Insemination ● Scintigraphy (Bone Scanning) Dentistry ● Endoscopy ● Gastroscopy ● Pre Purchase Examinations

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ACTIVE BODY

GET THE PERFECT PERSONAL TRAINER FOR YOU, THIS SEASON’S MUST HAVE JACKETS AND HOW TO REST – ACTIVELY!

FUN AND GAMES, UNTIL…

Hany Elmadbouh, founder and senior consultant at Peterborough’s private healthcare facility Avicenna Clinic, talks about the cycle of pain and the importance of getting treated promptly

IF YOU’VE ever experienced chronic and persistent pain, you will know there aren’t many things you wouldn’t try at the promise of a reduction or removal of the suffering you feel. It’s mentally draining, life altering and, if battled with for long enough, can even lead to knock-on conditions such as depression.

However, what few patients understand is the importance of starting treatment as soon as possible. Although it can be tempting to just rest and give it time, the reality is that as soon as you feel pain your body immediately starts to adapt, which creates what is known as a pain cycle.

A pain cycle is a vicious spiral of poor posture and unbalanced motion creating chronic pain and recurring injury.

The cycle starts with a simple injury. Once injured, the body moves to avoid pain. You’ve probably experienced it – a slight limp or a tendency to favour one side more than another. Whatever it may be, if it hurts to move normally, but feels better to move with your body distorted, your motion will become distorted.

Because pain causes the body to compensate, over time the muscles, ligaments and nerves adapt and learn to move differently. The result may be that some muscles tighten up, others may weaken. Your ligaments will stretch to allow for the new and uneven body motion and even your nerves learn to adapt to allow for the imbalance in your movement and motion.

The body is a wonderful thing

However, we are not designed to move in an unbalanced way. Unbalanced motion creates chronic postural changes and the body changes accordingly. While you may think that you have fully recovered and can get back to normal movement, trying to exercise with unbalanced motion only serves to aggravate the problem.

Picture a piece of paper. Now imagine folding that piece of paper – creating a crease across its usually smooth surface. What happens once that piece of paper is put under some form of stress (a light breeze for example), is it will bend along the fold.

The same thing happens to the body. Once you have changed the way in which you move to compensate for the pain, your body’s muscle memory kicks in and will continue this poor pattern of motion. This adaption to your ligaments and muscles then creates a new injury, for which the body adapts. And the cycle continues.

The only real way to break the cycle of pain is to restore normal movement as soon as possible.

Most people will have their go-to injury solution. For some it is physiotherapy or osteopathy. Others may turn to a chiropractor or acupuncturist. And while these options will, most often, help to reduce pain and improve movement, sometimes they will need to form part of a complementary treatment plan to manage the immediate symptoms whilst restoring full movement in the longer term.

The secret to getting the right treatment plan is in getting the correct diagnosis as soon as possible after the onset of pain. As soon as a pain cycle starts, the body starts to adapt.

And once that adaptation begins, the distinction between the injury and the related symptoms becomes more complicated.

The quicker you can treat the issue and restore normal movement, the less likely the patient is to require more invasive treatment. Obviously, in some cases it is unavoidable, but much pain and money could be saved if patients received comprehensive care as soon as possible, after the onset of their pain.

Avicenna Clinic, 1 North Street Peterborough, PE1 2RA

T: 0330 202 0597

F: 01733 516 014

E: info@avicennaclinic.com

W: www.avicennaclinic.com

TRAINING SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU

Stuart Webster recently moved to the area and has set up his physical performance and consultancy business mysportspecifix.

Stuart has lots of experience in the industry – a degree in sports science followed by an MSc in strength and conditioning was then followed by five years as a Royal Marines Commando where he ended up training elite infantry soldiers in a physical training capacity, so he knows what he’s doing. He also now trains personal trainers and coaches to level three and beyond.

He is bringing all of this experience to our area offering one-to-one coaching as well as training groups, athletes and teams including Peterborough United football club.

Stuart’s mantra is all about strength and conditioning and corrective exercise. He’s interested in the athletic development of a team, or an individual, basing his training on movements not muscles. You can improve your athletic performance by improving your flexibility, mobility, strength, power, agility and cardiovascular fitness. Stuart’s methods will help with all of this with injury prevention being top priority.

As well as sports specific training Stuart also offers health and fitness guidance for weight loss and post-rehabilitation concerns.

Much of Stuart’s work is done at local gyms, including Rhino’s Gymnasium and Fusion3Fitness in Stamford and Uppingham School Sports Centre. But he also runs an online consultancy so he can train you wherever you are in the country, (or the world for that matter). This method is proving very popular. Stuart limits the amount of people he trains, prioritising quality over quantity so he can give everyone 24/7 attention. And it’s not just about training. He will advise you on how

and when to eat in conjunction with your training and prescribe a structured schedule in terms of days, times and venues, not necessarily in a gym.

Basically you hand yourself over to Stuart, committing to six or 12 weeks. You fill in a very comprehensive form that asks specific questions about weight, height, lifestyle, injuries, etc, and your long-term aim.

Stuart is very keen for his clients to have an end goal, be it to lose a certain amount of weight, run 5k, complete a triathlon or make it in to the first team squad. Once you have filled in the form Stuart will have a chat to you, via telephone or Skype if necessary, and devise an individual training programme for you. Each client has a specific programme, according to their needs. To make sure you are doing the exercises correctly Stuart has a YouTube channel you can access to see him doing the exercises. Don’t worry, he might have been a Royal Marine, but he’s not at all shouty and scary. He’s calm, enthusiastic,

CHEWY MOON

encouraging and inspirational.

“Many of my clients range from endurance Ironmen and triathletes to the more technical sports such as football, tennis and golf. I offer an holistic approach from proven research based methods. Battery tests, movement screening, sports specific conditioning and periodised programming is only part of the jigsaw to making significant improvements in your performance. Training for running long distance is not just about running long distances. Strength training and high intensity work has a significant effect on physical performance and adaptation, something which some people are not aware of,” says Stuart. Stuart will also offer guidance to potential recruits to pass their fitness tests in order to get into the armed forces.

When he’s not busy training others he enjoys playing football for Stamford and is a gymnastics fan, particularly the Olympic rings. Have a look at his blog where he offers lots of advice. An inspiring athlete himself he could well be the person to help you achieve your goal, he’ll be with you all the way.

www.mysportspecifix.com. Stuart charges £250 for 12 weeks of online training, which works out to be about £20 a week.

Chewy Moon is the healthy snack company devised particularly for children. All snacks offer healthy alternatives to the usual treats, packed in a weekly box for your child. They offer a choice of boxes, including five delicious snacks to suit your child’s taste and age, ranging from savoury to the sweetness of fruit, packed in a smart box including a fun pack offering nutritional advice, aimed at educating children to eat healthily. Prices start at £4.99 a week with a proportion of the profits going to Great Ormond Street Hospital. They also supply the hospital with free boxes. www.chewymoon.com

GET HEALTHY –

HAVE A LIE DOWN!

Teachers of the Alexander Technique are urging you to take on stress by lying down this October

BEING ACTIVE IS IMPORTANT for your health, but is your rest active too? The Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) is leading a National Lie Down Day in an attempt to equip us with a technique which helps to manage stress.

During Alexander Awareness Week (October 9-15), the society and 3,000 teachers worldwide will be encouraging everyone to pick a day in which they can lie down for 10 minutes in the ‘semi-supine position’.

The position, also known as ‘active rest’, is one of the best ways to restore and reconnect the body and mind; a little like the reset button on a computer. As well as realigning the spine, it stops you feeling overwhelmed, allowing you to focus on yourself and providing vital time out to quieten the mind and process emotions.

Acknowledging and taking control of the emotions associated with stress is key to dealing with them. It is when they begin to control us that they become dangerous

and, at worst, can lead to severe physical and mental health problems.

Alexander teacher Sue Laurie said: “Lying in the semi-supine position is the best way to stop and take charge of your mind. And although you’re not actually ‘doing’ anything, this can be harder than it sounds.

“We often have the knowledge of what we should do to take care of ourselves but when you’re stressed or fraught, the thought of pausing or slowing down, let alone be seen to just lie down on the floor, isn’t instinctive!

“We want to change that and show people how taking just 10 minutes out of their day can make a huge difference. The impact that the technique has on body and mind is immediately palpable.”

During Alexander Awareness Week participating teachers are offering discounted lessons.

www.alexandertechnique.co.uk

HOW TO HAVE ACTIVE REST

● Lie on the floor, preferably with a mat or blanket underneath your body and a couple of paperback books under your head. The books are the right height when you feel no tension in your throat

● Bend your knees with your feet flat on the floor about shoulderwidth apart. Feel your back spreading on to the floor

● Take some time to allow yourself to ‘arrive’ and settle in this new position

● Notice how you are in contact with the floor and your head with the books; notice the main weight-transmitting areas – the back of your head, the two shoulder blades, the back of the hips and the feet

● The best way to stop and take charge of your mind is to notice the thoughts whirling around in your head and think ‘no’ to them; the Alexander Technique calls this ‘inhibiting’. Bring your mind back to concentrating that your neck is free, lengthening, going up and out of the shoulders and that your back is gently spreading and widening on to the floor

● Each time your mind starts to wander, gently bring your attention back to where you are, noticing what you can see, hear and feel

● Try calmly thinking these thoughts (remember they are just ideas, never actions): think of the whole of your back, starting at your tailbone and gradually working all the way up to the top of your spine, with the idea of a gentle unfurling all the way up, together with an expansion or widening of your torso. Since your hips and feet are fully supported by the ground you can imagine your knees so free that they could just float up away

● When you have managed to get yourself really still, think of something that makes you feel stressed and notice what it does to your body. Then inhibit and let your thoughts become quiet again.

● Think about the stressful thing again, but this time omit the tensions you noticed as you inhibit and you can see just how powerful your thought is.

THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Autumn is on the way, so it’s time to pack away the summer dresses and flip flops and start thinking about your new warmer seasonal wardrobe

Edited by Mary Bremner

JACKETS, JACKETS, JACKETS

Autumn is upon us and sadly summer is starting to feel like a distant memory. Hopefully we will enjoy an Indian summer and eek the warm weather out for a little longer, but all is not lost.

Autumnal mornings and evenings can be chilly, even if the days are still warm, so it’s the right time to invest in a jacket – every cloud has a silver lining!

The perfect jacket should add an air of smartness to most of your wardrobe, be it

jeans and a t-shirt, or dresses and skirts. Choose wisely and your jacket can be worn on many different occasions – from the formal to casual – so it might be worth investing slightly more if you are going to get lots of wear out of it.

It’s interesting how shrugging a jacket on over even the most casual outfit can lift it to a different place.

What style do you choose? There are a myriad to choose from – the classic tweed

or checked never goes out of fashion and, because they are multi-coloured, are very easy to co-ordinate. Utility jackets are very popular, particularly in khaki, and beaded or decorated is even better. And if you can get hold of a coloured, cropped suede jacket you will be on to a winner.

Make sure that any jacket you choose is loose enough to be able to fit a few layers under it, that way you can wear it well into the winter and make it money well spent.

IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL WELL-BEING

A holistic massage is not like your traditional sports massage. Well it is, but it offers much more than just a massage to ease tight muscles. The holistic approach is much more personal. You meet your therapist and discuss your medical history – as per normal – but also discuss your lifestyle and mental wellbeing. A holistic massage is all about mind, body and spirit. Your massage therapist is mindful of you as a whole rather than just a knot of aching muscles.

Emma Lannigan (Canham) works from her home in Market Deeping and offers many treatments including reiki and holistic massages and can combine the two. She is also a mental health first aider. Emma is very well qualified, insured and a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists. She came to therapy after a successful, stressful career where she had experienced depression.

Deciding that she “wanted to be happy”, she realised she had a connection to reiki and it developed from there. She then became a trained NLP (neuro linguistic programming) and hypnotherapist practitioner and coach and ITEC holistic massage therapist and after seven years of being a reiki master she is now a reiki teacher, too.

And she’s also written a book, ‘belifehappy: give, play, love, learn, about finding happiness for a lifetime’. So she has lots of experience and empathy and is all about helping people and offers one-toone coaching.

Many of her clients just want to commit to self care and include treatments such as reiki and holistic massage to support their fitness and emotional wellbeing.

Back to the massage. A holistic massage is a treatment that is intended to make you relax mentally as well as physically. The

therapist makes it clear that you are ‘allowed’ to relax, this is ‘your time’. It is often the first time that many people allow themselves to relax fully. The massage itself can take from 30 to 90 minutes, but regular holistic massage treatments include a 60-minute full body massage and is based on Swedish techniques. Firm pressure is applied, but not deep. It’s nothing like a sports massage which can sometimes be painful, albeit beneficial.

I started by laying on my front and had my back and legs massaged while gentle music with the sounds of the sea played in the background – all very soothing. Then it was arms, hands and fingers. The neck massage was fabulous and the muscle stretching that Emma did was really beneficial.

She finished with the front of my legs and feet, which I could have had massaged all day. I don’t think I’ve ever had my hands massaged and I can’t understand why not. They are the part of your body that probably work the hardest and need the most care. It’s also strangely intimate having your hands held.

At the end I did feel I had completely relaxed. Emma’s room is a haven, I felt safe and secure and let her work her soothing hands on my aching limbs. She found the knots in my neck and eased them. I certainly felt reinvigorated when I left and will be back for more. www.emmalannigan.com

Back, neck and shoulders (30 mins, £25. Extra 10 mins for arms & hands, £30). Holistic full body massage can include scalp, face, and feet (60 mins, £38/75 mins, £45/ 90 mins, £53) Reiki (60 mins, £35) 1:1 Coaching from £45 per hour Packages available for regular clients committing to self care.

ACTIVE LOCAL

WALK ROUND WOODNEWTON AND SOUTHWICK, THE CRICKET SEASON REACHES ITS FINALE, AND HOW WILL TIGERS AND CITY FARE THIS YEAR?

A day in the life of TERESA KENNEDY

GARDEN DESIGNER AND

LANDSCAPER

Ihave been designing and creating outdoor spaces for individuals and companies since 2010, working in the south of England. But I’m from Rutland originally and having returned here recently I am back on my home turf as Viridis. The origins of the name Viridis are Latin – a link to my early days in soft landscaping when I learned the name of every plant I worked with in Latin. It means ‘youthful, fresh, green,’ and that’s very much a description of the style I bring to every project.

I have definitely learned my trade on the job. I’m precise when it comes to detail and have never seen my work as a chore. I learn from everybody I can, including all the clients that I meet, my suppliers, media and keen gardeners, building up an in-depth and varied knowledge that I apply to my projects.

The soft side of landscaping – the designing with plants – is where I started. I would create new planting areas, or container gardens, and plan meticulously so they evolved throughout the seasons. I’d work with leaf shape, height, flower-head form, shades of foliage, and then bring it all together with colour. This is where the Latin came in as I would talk through my ideas with the nurseryman who would make new suggestions of plants I had yet to work with. The Latin would help me to deduce the characteristics and visualise it in place. It’s addictive!

After about two years I was given an opportunity which really pulled me forward. It was a commercial project that was larger than I was used to, with a huge budget and a short timescale. This led to three more projects. That was definitely my way into hard landscaping which allowed me to look at the structure of the space and get more creatively involved. Again, I developed these skills by learning from the contractors I worked with, plus I’ve got a few old manuals that have been passed down through generations which are a good read. When working on a design I still start with the plants and work back from the finish. I think that’s quite a unique way to approach it but I see the hard features as being the stage for the planting.

Visionary design

A garden designer has a vision for a garden, combining creative skills and knowledge of materials, structures and plants. At this stage in my career I’m driven by my clients and their style – so in recent months I’ve worked on a

“Youthful, fresh and green is a description of the style I bring to every project”

modern Japanese style, courtyard outdoor room, traditional English country garden and a contemporary – but I will develop a signature style in time.

There is no typical day because my work involves design, sourcing materials and implementing. When we’re on a project I’ll always be on site first thing in the morning to meet the clients and talk about what we’re going to do that day, and any possible amendments. I have a very open relationship with a client, it’s an organic process that we are all part of.

I will physically work on a job from beginning to end and bring contractors in to do particular elements. I never see myself as the top person, I see us as a team of people with different skills. I respect their talents and we all fit in together.

I hand pick everything that goes into a project myself starting with the right team, the best materials, the perfect plants, etc. In the run up to the start of a job I will do all the preparation work and make a few tweaks later on as needed. I use as many local people as I can find and

build strong relationships with my suppliers as they are my ultimate support and a vital knowledge base.

In the evenings I will visit new clients and draw. When I first meet a client we just talk while I sketch. I get the information I need to build a picture of what they want and we talk about budget right at the beginning. It’s always a descriptive, flamboyant conversation which gets everybody excited. Over time a garden will change and it’s lovely to watch it grow and flourish. I see that as my job, to get the clients to connect with their outside space.

In my spare time I like to travel. I love to do anything that takes us all out of a day-to-day routine. We took our kids around Europe for a year – the gardens were inspiring, and very different to the English style, so I like to introduce a bit of that flair if I get the chance.

My next challenge is the Rutland Half Marathon so I’m trying to squeeze in some training, which involves me running up a skip load of hardcore with a full wheelbarrow. http://viridisdesign.co.uk, 07726 334501.

SAMPLING THE SEA

Bryony Meakins is circumnavigating Britain to raise awareness of sea pollution

Keen sailor Bryony Meakins, who lives in Melton and is a member of Rutland Water Sailing Club, is joining the second leg of ‘eXXpedition Round Britain’ that set sail on August 7 from Plymouth on a month-long circumnavigation of the UK.

The boat (a 72-foot sailing yacht) is crewed by an all-female team who aim to explore the issue of plastics, chemicals, endocrine disruptors and carcinogens in our personal and global environment. They will be taking samples along the way to understand how much plastic we have surrounding the UK and making stops to carry out beach cleans and to meet coastal communities to talk about marine plastics and what can be done.

Bryony, who is a marine scientist working in Peterborough, joined the boat for 10 days last month boarding in Arran, stopping in Stornoway before ending in Edinburgh. As a marine scientist Bryony understands the threats that plastics pose to our marine environment and tells us that The Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050!

Passionately interested in marine life, Bryony has been trying to find ways to reduce her use of single use plastic. These are mainly simple things such as buying in bulk, using re-usable shopping bags, coffee cups and water bottles. She refuses straws when buying a drink as they are the main single use plastic item found on beaches globally. To find out more go to her blog www.allthingsbriney.com Next month Bryony will tell us all about her trip. https://www.gofundme.com/exxpedition-uk-marineplastics

This mum’s gone to Iceland

An innocent game of football with her young son nearly put paid to Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice nurse Catherine Cole’s Iceland Trek challenge just days before she was due to leave.

Catherine suffered a hairline fracture to the fourth toe on her left foot when kicking a football barefoot – the weekend before her departure. Following a hasty visit to casualty where her toe was splinted, Catherine took the doctor’s advice and pulled on her walking boots to test her mobility.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I was to be able to walk comfortably for an hour and to suffer no after effects,” said Catherine. “I had finally hit my fund-raising target of £2,450. I couldn’t imagine getting so far and then having to pull out having done something so daft at the last minute.”

Sadly for the ladies, this latest near disaster isn’t the first one to happen. Catherine will not be joined by her colleague, Sylvia Reid, who

fractured her ankle and damaged ligaments during a training weekend in the Lake District. Sylvia had no choice but to pull out of the charity challenge, which she’d taken on to mark her 60th birthday.

Sylvia has promised to be with Catherine in spirit as she heads to the frozen wastelands to tackle 50 miles of glaciers, lava fields and fast flowing rivers. She’ll be with trekkers from around the country raising money for other Sue Ryder hospices on the five-day challenge. Not only do they have up to 12 hours of walking a day to face, they will also be camping in the wilderness under the midnight sun with just a couple of hours of darkness a night.

Sue Ryder has recently announced its international treks and challenges for next year. If you’d like to follow in Catherine’s footsteps there’s lots of information on the website www.sueryder. org or call Thorpe Hall’s fund-raising team on 01733 225999.

AND THEY’RE OFF!

Harry Brooks, who is joining the Clipper Round the World yacht race later this year, tells us about the different roles on board...

It’s here, the biggest yacht race in the world has started. 12 boats set sail on August 20 from Liverpool to compete in The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. With a crew of 24 people on board, changing after each leg, life has to be disciplined on the Clipper 70s during the voyage. Each crew is led by a professional skipper who is in charge of the boat, performance, welfare and tactics. The crew is split in half and then again into smaller groups called watches. These watches then work on a shift pattern of four hours on and four hours off. Each watch has a leader responsible for running the watch, making decisions and keeping on course.

The helm is the person who is steering the boat keeping to the route set by the skipper. There are up to four people who run the primary winches in the centre of the boat, known as coffee grinders. These winches can pull any of the ropes on the boat. Then there can be up to four other people running the secondary winches which can pull up to eight ropes at a time.

There will always be someone at the front of the boat calling sail trim. They communicate with the winches to tell them when to pull in ropes, and by how much. This is very tiring stuff so the most important role on board any boat is that of Mother Watch. These heroes are in charge of cooking a hearty meal for the crew and the vital supply of tea to those on deck, as well as cleaning duties.

The crew will rotate these roles on the voyage so everyone does each job at some point. I’m not sure which one I’m looking forward to – or dreading – the most!

To keep an eye on the race go to www.Clipperroundtheworld.com

Saddle time

Dan Griffin and Fergal McNamara are upping their miles on their bikes as they haven’t got long until they start their 300-mile ride from London to Paris to raise funds for the Matt Hampson Foundation.

They are beginning to get to grips with the need for padded shorts and how hard it is to unclip your feet from the pedals when you need to put your foot down at traffic lights. There have been a few unscheduled falls, much to many drivers’ amusement.

Fergal has been on holiday in The Alps so has spent time mountain biking. Now he’s home he is trying to do at least 100 miles a week on the bike as well as rugby training and a couple of sessions in the gym a week.

Dan is doing much the same

and the lads are often cycling together, tackling the hills between Oakham and Uppingham to get some hill climbing experience. They leave London on September 13 and their first day will be the longest, cycling 95 miles to Dover. They are determined to rise to the challenge and are upping the miles each week so they can cope with 300 miles in four days.

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ GriffandFergalgocycling

DON’T PANIC

September is the last full month of training before the race on October 8.

‘Don’t panic’ is the advice from our two experts, Joanna Espin and Dan Swan. You might be feeling that you haven’t done enough training; this probably is self-doubt setting in.

Dan says if you’ve run nine or 10 miles during your training you will easily manage 13: “It’s not a lot more so you’ll be ok. If you can run 10 miles, you can run 13.”

Joanna is carrying on with her campaign to run a half marathon a month for the next 12 months.

Training this month has been a lot of swimming along with running on a treadmill, as due to work commitments she has been unable to get out as much as she would have liked.

Joanna also advises not to panic: “If you really feel you haven’t done enough training go back to basics with the Fartlek method – run for five minutes, walk for 10 and gradually build it up. Do this every day and you will quickly build up stamina.”

She also strongly advises staying off social media so you don’t see what everyone else is posting. Focus on yourself and what you are doing, forget about everyone else and concentrate on how you will feel when you cross the line having run your first half marathon.

Towards the end of the month, when it’s only a few weeks to go, they both advise doing three shorter runs of three or four miles a week as it’s less harsh on the body. You are still covering the miles, but not all at

once, and won’t be tiring yourself out.

They also both say to look after yourself. Eat well, keep hydrated, get plenty of sleep, keep stretching and, if you have any niggles, get a massage and listen to what the therapist tells you as incurring an injury at this stage could be disastrous. Interestingly, even though both are seasoned runners they both say they get nervous before every race, so remember every runner is in the same boat. Don’t panic during these last few weeks of training –enjoy them, even if the weather is dire. As Joanna says ‘once you’re wet, you’re wet!’ At least it will keep you cool.

MEDICAL ADVICE

Fitzwilliam Hospital physiotherapist Miriam Rivotti advises runners to:

l Keep muscles in good condition with healthy nutrition, consistent and balanced training and allowing enough time for recovery.

l Warm-up properly as it increases muscle temperature and range of joint motion and reduces musculotendinous stiffness.

l Try dynamic stretching which incorporates sportspecific movement. If the worst happens, physiotherapists can tailor a treatment programme. www.fitzwilliam-hospital.co.uk

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SENIOR OPEN COMES TO STAMFORD COURSES

Burghley Park and Luffenham Heath Golf Clubs have been awarded the Men’s Open Seniors Championship in June 2020 by governing body England Golf.

The 54-hole competition, played over the two venues, will take place over four days and is one of the highlights of the amateur golfing calendar.

Burghley Park (pictured) has seen a significant and sustained investment and improvement in facilities and the course over the past two years, with more planned in the coming years, and the awarding of this championship is a reflection of that, said Bill O’Driscoll, club captain and chairman of the golf committee at Burghley Park.

He said: “The awarding of this high profile national championship represents just how far our club and course have come in a short space of time. Awards of championships of this status do not happen to every club. To join the group who have hosted championships of this status makes me very proud.”

WANT TO BECOME A MORRIS DANCER?

A group of Morris dancers is on the lookout for new members. Braybrooke Morris Dancers started in 1988 when the town band from Vollinghausen in Germany performed at Braybrooke’s village fete, with an invitation to join them in Germany the following year. The invitation was accepted and it was decided that Braybrooke should put on a performance to

entertain their hosts and chose Morris dancing. The ‘side’ has been together ever since and is looking to recruit three or four new members.

Morris dancer Bill Hewitt explains: “Throughout the summer we dance outside a different pub every Thursday from April 23 (St George’s Day) until the end of August.

“As time passes on and the average age of the

side increases we don’t jump as high as we used to and we’re a bit slower, but most importantly we have fun. It is a chance to meet new people, and being a Morris dancer is also a great way to embarrass your children! We would love to be able to ensure this tradition continues.”

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PETEROROUGH RETAINS CYCLING FESTIVAL

The East of England Arena and Events Centre (EEAEC) has announced that Golazo Cycling –organiser of the Tour of Cambridgeshire Festival – has committed to holding the international cycle racing and cycling event at the venue for the next three years.

This will start on June 1-3, 2018, returning in 2019 and 2020.

The Tour of Cambridgeshire Festival, which attracts thousands of competitive cyclists and cycle enthusiasts from all over the world, forms part of a global calendar of 17 events where competitors qualify for world championship cycle races.

Malcolm Smith, managing director of Golazo Cycling, explained the decision to commit to the venue for three years: “Organising the Tour of Cambridgeshire Festival is an extremely complex operation, and this three-year commitment to the East of England Arena and Events Centre provides us with specific certainties around the location and facilities to enable our planning to extend ahead to 2020.

“We’ve held the festival at the arena for the last three years, and with each successive year we’ve discovered yet more features and facilities we can use to improve the next edition of the event.

“The ability to use the 5km internal road

network and access gates to public roads simplifies the organisation of the road races and time trials, whilst the choice of suites and rooms around the whole venue means we are able to offer our control room, medical staff, the traffic management police, event commissars and even VIP ticket holders their own dedicated facilities with network connectivity.

“With more than 7,000 entrants already registered for the Gran Fondo and Sportive event alone, meticulous planning, traffic management and medical provision is essential to the success of the event.”

Jason Lunn, the East of England Arena and Events Centre’s general manager, added: “The Tour of Cambridgeshire Festival is an internationally significant event within the world of cycle racing and this commitment to hold the event here for the next three years is a great reflection on the capability and capacity of our venue, and an endorsement of the importance we place on the entire visitor experience.

“Having completed extensive refurbishments, we can now offer the Tour of Cambridgeshire Festival a greater choice of facilities than ever before, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the many competitors and visitors back over the next three years.”

ART IN LYDDINGTON

This year Art in Lyddington is being held from November 3-5 in St Andrew’s Church.

The preview will be opened by the High Sheriff on November 2 from 6:30pm, with tickets at £7.50 (including a glass of wine and canapés).

The event will be sponsoring renovation work to St Andrew’s Church and will also support various charities, including the High Sheriff’s chosen charities.

Tickets for the preview can be ordered in advance via barbara@theoldparsonage.net.

Again, there will be the opportunity for people to choose their favourite artist and help them win £100 worth of Great Art vouchers. Great Art is supporting with vouchers worth £700.

All artists interested in exhibiting are asked to email barbara@theoldparsonage.net.

NEW KETTON CLUBHOUSE

The new clubhouse, bar and function room facilities at Ketton Sports and Community Centre will be opened at the village fete on September 16.

Funding for the project (completed by Sheffield & Ford), has been a difficult but rewarding challenge. The board has been delighted with the offers of help and pledges of support from local people, groups and businesses.

In-kind support from local businesses and tradesmen have contributed to the lowering of costs, while a buy a brick campaign and leaflet distribution resulted in more than £14,000 being raised.

Grants have been received from Rutland County Council, Cory Environmental Trust, Lottery Awards for All, Waitrose, Tesco, Ketton Parish Council, the Whitebread Trust, Sport England, the Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, Grantscape and the Garfield Weston Foundation.

HUNTING THE SHOOT

Want to get into game shooting with your dog but don’t know how to? Mike Barnes explains that it’s not such a clique after all

YOU’VE SPENT HOURS and months training your gundog. You’ve concentrated on steadiness, recall... and finally there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It may not be the perfect dog but it’s yours nonetheless, and everyone tells you what a good dog you have and asks why don’t you go on a shoot?

Go on a shoot? You love the idea but are not sure. It’s not a closed community, but it is a bit like finding an elusive tribe. They are there but you are not sure how to find them. So you ask around or know someone that knows someone and finally you are invited! But if you have no idea what to expect, let alone understand what goes on, here is some advice.

Tips for you and your dog

● Be sparing with the whistle. I know it’s essential but you want to look like a professional handler and not someone in the park on a training routine. Keep commands to a minimum.

● Don’t walk around with the whistle in your mouth. Use the slip lead a lot.

● Keep your powder dry. Your dog will do all the work and make you proud so don’t keep telling everyone how new you are to all this.

● Don’t be pushed into doing something that is alien or difficult.

● Don’t show off as you don’t need the pressure and it’s the first time your dog may be chasing across a field. Anything can happen.

● Enjoy. Local shoots are the best fun for a gundog owner and your dog. It’s the culmination of all that training work that has been put in.

● Keep an eye on the dog. It will behave differently (as if on steroids). It will overwork itself and it may not know when to stop. It may get very nervous. Adjust training afterwards.

● If the dog is not used to shotguns, keep well back from the line of guns and give plenty of praise.

Relax and enjoy.

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Who does what?

Guns

They pay the money and shoot the birds. Usually 9-11 in number. They may have a dog and that dog is either great or a complete accessory. It usually sits with them.

Keeper

The guy who has spent most of the summer rearing, protecting, feeding and generally looking after the game being shot. He cajoles and organises the beaters.

Shoot captain

The person who usually decides where to go and organises things alongside the keeper.

Picker up

The folk who stand behind the guns and generally find all the birds that are not obviously shot in a field.

Beaters

They do the work. Usually waving something and driving everything to the waiting guns in an orderly fashion.

Land owner/organiser Who can also be a gun.

The process

Now this is where it can get a bit complex. At the start, just remember the basics. A group of people slowly cajole a bunch of birds on a particular piece of land towards a line of waiting guns. They shoot them and you move on to the next ‘drive’.

If you are a beater you will be in a field somewhere awaiting orders. At the beginning, the guns are in the warmth drinking sloe gin/ coffee while numbers are handed out. This is

pretty important as it tells them where to stand ‘in the line’ – you get a number and find a stick in the field (a peg) with that number on it. The next drive you leapfrog a few numbers which gets everyone a chance to meet new folk and get a mixture of shooting positions. They set off in cars or as one in a shoot vehicle – which can be a purpose-built one or a tractor and trailer.

They arrive at the chosen spot and look for a stick with that number on. They stand in a line at the edge of a wood or in a valley awaiting the beaters to drive the birds towards them.

If you are picking up you generally go with the guns (more of this later).

The day is made up with a number of drives interspersed with soup, alcohol and some form of pie. Lunch can be a sit down affair for the guns (commercial and upmarket shoots) with everyone else in a shed of some sort (aspirational and DIY). I have eaten in everything from a metal container to shoot lodges with staff, and the basic principle is the same for all. There is usually a break for ‘elevenses’ for something warm.

The number of drives varies depending on weather, how many birds have been shot and daylight.

Everyone should pick the cartridges up and if you see some on the ground put them in your pocket.

Mostly after the drive there’s an amble back to the transport and everyone picks up and finds the birds. That can be tricky depending on where the guns were standing. There may be water and certainly some form of cover that birds have fallen into. That is the time to let your dog do what it does. Great fun.

Types of shoot

Shoots all follow the same format and the detail depends on how ‘commercial’ it is, which is generally linked to how much it costs to shoot there.

The more commercial, the more formalised and the greater the divisions of labour (i.e. folk having set roles and jobs). This is not a strict categorisation as they all have different approaches but generally, for simplicity, they drop into basically three types of shoot...

1. Commercial or ‘professional’

Usually defined by the cost of taking part and/ or the number of birds expected to be shot on the day. This shoot would be anywhere between 250 and 600 birds shot. Also defined by the standard shooting clothing and expensive guns, size of vehicles outside, number of private number plates (or the ‘old money’ with the old car) and the ‘hierarchy’, i.e. strict boundaries between the guns and the beating proletariat.

Facilities for transporting guns is normally brilliant and usually a tie is worn. It’s a smart occasion, outdoors. Full-time staff will rear and look after the birds and manage the shoot.

The dogs are usually very well trained and you need to be on top of your game to pick up here. You can beat but you still need to train a dog as the dangers of it ‘running’ in or off are quite dangerous. Ruin a drive and they will lynch you as well.

2. ‘Aspirational’ shoot

By this I mean that they follow the traditions but can be less formal. These usually have the same clothing and the large cars and usually the men

are wearing a pheasant emblem somewhere –tie, cufflink or jumper.

They also mostly dressed the same and all wear breeks and gaiters as they do in the other group. The difference is that it is less ‘serious’. Pubs are involved at the end.

3. DIY or farmers’ shoot

Everyone mucks in. These are really good places to get your inexperienced dog working without feeling a prat.

Birds numbers tend to be lowish and you bring your own grub and eat it in a barn. Clothing is whatever keeps you warm and dry and nods to the above groups.

It is taken as seriously but the guns have probably reared the birds (as opposed to a keeper). Usually loads of dogs on bailing twine and great fun. As long as you don’t disturb the birds most things are taken as being OK.

Payment

Most shoots pay the beaters something. Same with the pickers. DIY shoots just get the family and friends involved. Don’t expect to get rich on it but it’s great when someone gives you cash for something you love doing.

If you are asked to help yourselves to a brace that usually means you take two birds, usually hanging as a cock and hen bird somewhere near shackled by the all-important bailing twine.

Get the plump ones that have few signs of shot. The guns usually choose first if they offer that to them.

Picking up, flushing and beating

A dog generally has three roles on a shoot which you can do separately or combine. It all depends on your dog and what you want to do...

1. Picking up

This is the interesting bit. Try and pick up. It allows you to use all that training and take some time about it.

You are effectively finding birds in rough cover and those that are ‘runners’ or ‘winged’ (shot but not dead). This is directly proportional to how poor the guns are at shooting things. Someone who picks up is King as they cannot exist without you. Arrange who is going where.

You stand behind the guns at some distance (50-100 yards) and you watch everything that is being shot.

Generally don’t move until it’s all over and then pick up and find the birds. Don’t go near the gun with a dog as they want to generally pick up their own. Stay with guns at all times unless told otherwise.

2. Beating line

You generally walk in a slow line making some noise. That drives the pheasants or partridge slowly forward. Keep in a line and stand still when a shot is fired. Then all move off together. This is the tricky bit if your dog is unsteady as the last thing you want it to do is chase or move forward too quick. That ruins the drive as the idea is to release a steady stream of birds over the guns in one direction.

A charging spaniel will scatter everything everywhere all at once. Not good.

3. Flushing

A variation on the beating line – you are probably working a hedge slowly and your dog is pushing all the birds forward and/or flushing them towards the guns hopefully. You may also put your dog into a small wood or coppice to flush any game in there.

Clothing

This is a little bit of a mixture of personal, practical and how traditional you feel.

If you are picking up I prefer to be dressed as near to how the guns are otherwise I look like a vagrant at a party. In reality, they know who you are, what you are doing there and they need you. You have a special quality and that is a dog.

Don’t wear anything bright and shiny or a pheasant will veer off as you stand out like a light bulb.

Carry a stick as it helps and if you are lugging birds back you need a bird carrier (like two bent coat hangers on a strap) or something to put them in. Beaters just need to wear anything that stops the rain and thorns.

What to avoid

* The person standing with a dog and holding the gun. He generally wants to pick up the birds he has shot which he will do at the end of the drive

* Picking up anything while the drive is going on. The drive usually ends with a blast of a whistle or a horn and they all put their guns into the gun slip. Now it is time to do your thing. The exception is when a bird is shot and running away. In case of losing it you may take the decision to send your dog.

* Your dog constantly retrieving dead birds from the game cart

* An over-excited whining or barking dog. It happens when they are young. Retreat quick out

of earshot and give lots of calmness. Don’t get angry.

* Unsteadiness. Your dog is programmed on home turf. Probably rock solid. This is a different world so watch him or her. There also may be a lot of ground game in the form of hares and rabbits bolting ahead of the beaters so keep a lead on if you are not sure.

*Barbed wire. There is usually a lot of it on the average shoot.

Mike has been shooting and fishing for most of his life. He now trains gundogs and is an instructor with the Guild of Dog Trainers, Lincolnshire Pet Gundogs, Rutland Gundogs and writes for Shooting Gazette. He lives in Rutland with his family. He can be contacted on 07803 617859. rutlandgundogs.com.

LESS TURBULENCE, MORE TRIUMPH, PLEASE

The two major Leicester sporting sides – City and Tigers – had dramatic and difficult seasons last year. They will both now be hoping for more consistent success, says Jeremy Beswick

LEICESTER CITY

After the rollercoaster of the last two seasons –that unforgettable Premiership title followed by a relegation-threatening start to their last campaign before the back-to-basics rally under Craig Shakespeare – only a fool would try to predict how the Foxes’ season will pan out this time around. Doubtless that’s why Active thought I was just the man for the job.

One thing that’s pretty sure is that it won’t be boring, although perhaps we could do with a little less excitement and rather more points than the opening 4-3 defeat at Arsenal yielded. Leicester were, however, winning the match with seven minutes to go and looked to be back to their counter-attacking best at times.

Although hanging on to Vardy and Mahrez, particularly if the latter stops sulking, will be key to their prospects, the most obvious changes to assess are the players the club have brought in – five of them at a total of over £60m. Not in the same league of profligacy as the Manchester clubs but a substantial investment nevertheless.

The most expensive at £25m is 20-year-old Nigerian international forward Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City. Given the strength of their squad his opportunities there were limited but, when he did play, he impressed – notably in the FA Cup against Aston Villa when he scored a hat-trick and laid on a fourth goal for Raheem Stirling. Certainly it seems he still has his admirers at the Etihad as City have insisted on a £50m buy-back clause in the contract.

Coming on as a late substitute against Arsenal he showed some neat touches but his presence in the hole seemed to confuse the team’s attacking intent. More work is going to be needed on the training ground to dovetail him into the side, however Shakespeare said: “We’ve tracked his progress for some time, so we know how much quality he’ll bring to the squad. He’s young, he’s hungry, he’s ready.”

Once he settles I wouldn’t bet against him

rivalling Vardy for highest goalscorer and, if I’m right, that will be some impact.

Centre half Harry Maguire comes from Hull City at a cost of £17m. The 24-year-old will strengthen what was a problematic position last year, particularly when Robert Huth and Wes Morgan were injured. Although uncapped by England he has many admirers and Leicester had to compete vigorously to land him. The player himself said: “There were a number of clubs interested.... you can see that with the structure of the club it’s going to look upwards rather than down so that was a big reason why, as soon as I knew there was an interest, I wanted to jump at the opportunity.”

Vicente Iborra arrives from Sevilla for £12.5m. An experienced defensive midfielder, Iborra may well have been bought as insurance against Danny Drinkwater moving to Chelsea, a rumour that now seems to have subsided. However, I wouldn’t put it past Shakespeare to surprise me and use him as an occasional target man, his impressive physique and height

causing havoc for others to pick up the scraps. Having played against him twice in the Champions League, they know what they are getting for their money.

Bosnian goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, also from Hull, and George Thomas from Coventry complete the signings. Jakupovic, at 32, is clearly coming as understudy to Kasper Schmeichel whilst Leicester- born Thomas is a 20-year-old striker with a Vardyesque work ethic who’s played for Wales at all age groups apart from the full national side.

The signings overall look well-judged and the Foxes will be a better side for them. If all the other teams had stood still I could see them making the top four at a pinch. However, nearly all the others have strengthened too and in all honesty I can’t believe that any of the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, or even a Wembley-stricken Spurs, will finish the season below them. Top ten certainly – but wouldn’t it be just like Leicester to surprise us once more?

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LEICESTER TIGERS

Leicester Tigers have made some exciting signings in close season that bode well for their Premiership chances – and those players returning from injury represent equally good news. Apart from George Ford, relatively old news as it was announced last season, the headline recruitment is England’s Jonny May.

This is a key move for May at the age of 27 and he seems to know it, saying: “I’ve scored some good tries for England, I’ve done some good things with Gloucester but I know there’s more in me and I want to take my game to the next level. I’m at the top of my game and I’m not going to have much longer – four more years realistically – and I want to challenge myself.”

That’s important to Tigers’ prospects for the coming season because although May’s talent has never been in doubt – coach Matt O’Connor saying Jonny is an out-and-out finisher with an outstanding try-scoring record – his maturity has been an issue to some, including Eddie Jones. If he’s over that, as Jones evidently believes he is by picking him for England again, then we can expect great things from him at Welford Road this season.

George Ford’s competitive debut may well be in concert with the returning Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua, both of whom are in contention for the opening Premiership game against Bath

after long lay-offs. What a midfield that will be if it clicks – a trio good enough to walk into any international side and one I wouldn’t swap for any other in the premiership. With Logovi’i Mulipola and Tom Brady back fit too, the squad had a solid feel to it that fills me with confidence.

Many fans will be disappointed that JP Pietersen has left for Toulon but will also probably acknowledge that he never quite hit the heights for Leicester, possibly missing a yard of pace from his best days, so won’t see that as too much of a negative.

Other close season arrivals are George Ford’s brother Joe from Yorkshire Carnegie, flanker Dominic Ryan whom Matt O’Connor knows well from his Leinster days, American prop Chris Baumann, Gareth Owen from Scarlets and the men who will need the biggest jerseys on the pitch, if not for their physiques then to fit their names on the back, Valentino Mapapalungi and May’s ex-Gloucester team-mate and Tonga back row Sione Kalamafoni, who will be required to do the heavy lifting from 8 that was patently missing last season.

So what we can expect from this squad? I certainly expect us to reach the semi-finals, after all we always do and, further, if we can do it in a season as disrupted as the last one than we should walk it this time.

The key question is do we do enough to earn a home semi-final? I’d always back us to win a home one and after that, well, all bets are off because the final itself is a one-off.

For me, the player most likely to make that tiny difference is Manu Tuilagi. Manu had an operation in January and according to O’Connor is in good shape physically – “injury-wise he is flying,” he said – but I can remember similar things being said at the start of the last two seasons only for a groin and a hamstring, and then a freak knee injury which called a premature end to the season for him.

For the man as much as the team I hope his two years of what O’Connor called “mental torture” are at an end. Key will be getting a run of games to get battle hardened, but that’s been Manu’s problem: he came back super-fit last year but his presence and profile means he attracts a lot of attention from the opposition (his last injury was due to being hit by three defenders coming from three directions, all at the same time), making it hard to progressively work back to his best over a period of games. As with everything with Manu, it’s all or nothing.

The bookies make the Tigers the outsiders of the big four – Saracens are at 5/4, Wasps 11/4, Exeter 9/2 and it’s a whopping 14/1 for the Tigers. If Manu can keep fit that’s worth a fiver of anyone’s money.

STAMFORD GEARS UP

A new woman’s team, investment in the clubhouse and new players sees Stamford Rugby Club start the season on a high

Stamford Rugby is eagerly awaiting the onset of the new season thanks to new initiatives being put in place and new faces joining the club.

This month will see the next generation of rugby stars joining the under 5s, colts stepping up to compete for senior jerseys and new members across the club strengthening the membership base.

From a playing perspective the club will be fielding a 1st XV, Development XV, Vets XV, Colts XV, minis and juniors from under 4 to under 16 and for the first time a women’s XV at under 15s, under 17s and seniors (see right).

The clubhouse, Sky and BT Sports have been updated, and a refurbished bar is also in the offing. Both the pitches have also benefitted from much work to ensure the surfaces are the best around.

Colts XV

The Colts XV provides players with a pathway into playing senior rugby. The U17 and U18 age groups can present real retention issues, with players focusing on both their academic and work life responsibilities, their time is precious. However, with the appointment of a permanent coach and a program of coaching that has seen the boys join the senior training sessions there is an impressive 30 players registered for the new season.

For the forthcoming season the club will be participating in a new regional program to develop colts rugby, working closely with other local teams.

In addition to the regular season it will host the COBs (Colts Old Boys) festivals once again this year, inviting local clubs to bring together their past colts to take part in a day of high quality rugby.

Mini and junior rugby

The club is offering rugby for eager new players as young as four, with qualified coaching at all year groups through to under 16 level.

Minis rugby is open to boys and girls from the ages of 4 to 11, while junior rugby is for boys aged 12 to 15. The first day back is September 3, with mini fixtures starting in October. Junior rugby also starts on September 3 with fixtures the following week.

The Stamford Festival in April 2018 is likely to be a two-day affair for the first time with the club making the most of a very big demand for this fixture and all members of the club will be involved.

Safety

The club continues to strive to provide the safest and most enjoyable rugby environment for all, as director of rugby David Laventure explains: “We’ve invested heavily both financially and time-wise in the most important parts of a rugby club: player welfare. We want boys and girls to enjoy the game for as long as possible.

“We have targeted high level coaching expertise, mitigated a unique coach education programme alongside the usual RFU opportunities and made player safety a priority at all levels with better coaching and higher levels of physio and first aid coverage. We are continuing to look at development programmes with Stamford College and refereeing coaching support in tandem with Stamford School.

“Rugby remains an awesome game to be part of and we want to give everyone the opportunity to be part of it. We want to hear from anyone who can make a difference and we will support them.”

SENIOR RUGBY

The senior squad has been training since the beginning of July, completing sessions at Rutland Water, on the Meadows and even in Peterborough at Bounce.

A mix of venues and activities has presented the squad with plenty of challenge and enjoyment and with new faces joining the mix, competition for places is healthy.

The squad welcomes back several key players who were unavailable for selection across the majority of last season: James O’Shea in midfield, Tom Wire back following knee surgery in the back row, while Robbie Smith, who broke his leg against Peterborough in February, will be back in September. Rees Burns returns to the area and Andrew Marshall, previously a colt at the club, returns to the fold and will add physicality.

With head coach Matt Albinson bringing the colts squad into the training structure it is hoped that there will be some of the younger purple, black and whites also pushing for a senior jersey –some at 1st XV level.

The first league outing for the Purple, Black and Whites is away to Belgrave on September 9. If you want to be part of it then simply attend training on a Tuesday or Thursday at 7pm at Hambleton Road.

 Don’t miss the – Stamford v Oakham derby (Saturday, September 23, kick-off 3pm). Accompanied by a beer festival and pre-game lunch.

WOMEN’S RUGBY

Stamford is looking to create women’s under 15s, under 18s and 1st XV squad for the forthcoming season. Interest so far has been excellent with more than 20 players attending training. Training takes place every Wednesday at 6.30pm at the club. If you are interested, come along and have a go or even just to watch, have a chat with some of the team and see the coach, Dan Thacker.

THE RIGHT STUFF

RAF Wittering is steeped in history but is now a base that is very much looking to the future. Publisher Chris Meadows went to find out what goes on behind the security fence

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Situated on the A1 just south of Stamford, RAF Wittering has been a permanent fixture in the area now for more than a hundred years, although its purpose in the Armed Forces has changed regularly since May 5, 1916, when it began as RFC Stamford. It formally became RAF Wittering in 1918 when the RAF formed, but was closed in 1919 at the end of the First World War, only to be re-opened again in 1924 following an Air Defence Review.

The base was a vital part of the strategic nuclear deterrent in the Second World War, its runway built to take the ‘V’ bombers. But in more recent years it was the home of the Harrier until they were taken out of service in 2010. You could often see the impressive vertical take-off and landings the aircraft was famous for.

Since the departure of the Harrier, the sound of high-speed jets in the skies above have most likely either come from RAF Coningsby, where the Typhoon is based or, if you’re lucky, the Red Arrows from RAF Scampton as they’re on their way to or from impressing crowds with their display.

RAF Wittering is now home to around 1,500 personnel from operational units such as the No. 38 Group A4 Force, the Royal Air Force’s engineering and logistic Air Combat Service Support Units and No. 22 (Training) Group.

It’s the training side of the base that mainly utilises the air space above Stamford and Rutland now, along with the odd Hollywood blockbuster flight – the opening sequence of Mission Impossible: 2 featuring Tom Cruise was filmed over RAF Wittering, with the Airbus A400M Atlas used for the stunt having taken off from the base.

The University Air Squadrons form a vital part of the RAF, recruiting and training pilots of the future, so I headed the short journey down the A1 to get a taster of what the students are put through.

Turning off the A1 the base’s history is clear as an

ex-service Harrier sits proudly at the entrance, although I’m reliably informed that there’s no chance of it going anywhere now as its engine has been removed.

Once I’d been granted security clearance, I drove into the compound. The vast size of the base soon becomes apparent, it covers nearly 200 acres with 9,000ft of runway at its centre, one of the biggest in Lincolnshire. I was hosted by OC University of London Air Squadron Leader Ben Plank, an ex-Red Arrows pilot, and now in charge of training up the RAF’s pilots of the future.

Ben had lined up a flight in one of the squadron’s training aircraft. So, first port of call was a safety demonstration video before heading off to get kitted out. It’s RAF policy to ensure that all pilots, and passengers, wear the correct safety gear from head to toe, including long johns and a parachute. I did check with Ben that the

parachute was standard procedure, and he was quick to reassure me, while at the same time also kindly pointing out where the sick bag was stored with a grin.

We had lucked out with the weather, glorious blue skies and great visibility. Having been through all the preliminary checks before getting into the plane and also when on board, we took off with the A1 behind us and headed over towards Rutland Water, which immediately seemed surprisingly close. It was at this point I became very envious of all the students that get to do this on a regular basis.

The surrounding countryside was in full summer glory; the rape fields a vibrant yellow creating a magnificent patchwork across the horizon. We were up in the skies for about an hour, circumnavigating Rutland Water and its surrounding towns and villages taking in sights such as Launde Abbey, Hambleton Hall and Burghley House, which is even more impressive from the air.

The serenity wasn’t to last though, as Ben showed me a taster of what the Tutor aircraft is capable of and what the students get to experience.

Despite enduring a bit of G-force, the sick bag thankfully remained intact. It does put it into perspective though as to what Ben’s body must have had to put up with when he was part of the Red Arrows, pulling 8G at speeds of up to 550 knots (just over 600mph). Thankfully, the Tutor cruises at a much lower speed.

As we landed and taxied back Ben briefly explained about the benefits of joining the squadron: “There are 15 squadrons situated around the country training nearly

1,000 undergraduates from universities across the UK and Northern Ireland. We attend freshers’ fairs at each and will be looking for new members after the summer break for the 2017/18 academic year.

“For those that decide on a future in the RAF there are various sponsorship schemes available to help ease the financial burden. Competition is always fierce for places, but we select purely on merit. As a cadet you’ll learn how to be an effective team player and develop lifelong leadership skills. Our training is accredited by both the Institute of Leadership and Management and the Chartered Management Institute so you’ll take away an internationally recognised qualification.”

Once I had my feet back on terra firma I caught up with current student Ollie Bennett and asked him why he’d signed up: “Just like many of the students on the squadron, it has been my life-long ambition to become a pilot in the RAF and the University Air Squadron is the natural progression towards that goal.

“It offers students an insight into the military without any obligation to join at the end of their degree, which means that you can be doing your first solo flight one week and on an Alpine mountaineering expedition the next… it’s hard work but immensely rewarding. So why wouldn’t you want to join?”

Sadly I no longer fall into the age criteria to apply, but if you’re interested in following in Ollie’s footsteps, then you can find out more about what the RAF University Air Squadrons can offer at https://www.raf.mod.uk/ universityairsquadrons/. Below

The Active Rutland Community Sports Awards

2017

Who will you nominate?

www.activerutland.org.uk/ communitysportsawards

Tel: 01572 720936

Email: activerutland@rutland.gov.uk

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Do you know a volunteer who has put time, effort and commitment into your organisation? Are you coached by someone truly special? Celebrate and award these fantastic individuals and projects at the Active Rutland Community Sports Awards 2017. We have 17 awards for you to nominate an individual, coach, club, volunteer or project. The criteria and information on how to nominate is available online at www.activerutland. org.uk/communitysportsawards.

Deadline for nominations: Friday 29th September 2017

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ON YOUR BIKE

Rutland Cycling’s Sally Middlemiss suggests another great local route to get you out in the saddle

This is a challenging road route and not for the faint hearted! It’s one of my favourite training rides and incorporates some steep hill sections, particularly around Launde. However, the hard work put in on the climbs is rewarded with some beautiful panoramic views and long, sweeping descents. You’ll want to make sure you are well prepared, with plenty of drink and energy snacks to keep you going.

THE ROUTE

Oakham to Gaddesby

1. Head out of Oakham on Cold Overton Road, following signs to Knossington.

2. Take the right turn to Cold Overton.

3. At the t-junction, turn left, passing Gates’ Garden Centre on your left.

4. Keep going straight through Cold Overton and Somerby villages, following the signs for Somerby and then Pickwell.

5. Pass through Pickwell, then shortly after leaving the village, take the left turn to Little Dalby. Keep following signs to Little Dalby.

6. Take the left turn, signposted Little Dalby and Great Dalby, to briefly join Gartree Trail (Sustrans Route 64).

7. In Little Dalby, turn left and head towards the village centre, following signs to Burrough.

8. At the t-junction with the B6047, turn right towards Melton Mowbray, then first left, signposted Kirby Bellars. Look out for the interesting yellow thatched cottage, up on your left soon after the left turn.

9. Take the first left turn on to Station Road, signposted Ashby Folville.

10. At the crossroads, turn right to Gaddesby, then at the t-junction, turn left to Gaddesby.

Gaddesby to Launde

11. Enter Gaddesby and turn left at the t-junction, heading for the village centre.

12. At the t-junction with the Cheney Arms pub on your right, take the left turn to Ashby Folville.

13. Ride through Ashby Folville, following signs for Twyford.

14. Turn right at the t-junction, then first left, to John O’Gaunt and Burrough.

15. Take the right turn to Marefield, on to a gated road. Just after the cattle grid, take the left fork to Marefield and keep following signs to Marefield.

16. Ride through Marefield, then take the right turn, signposted Halstead.

17. At the t-junction, turn left to Owston and Oakham.

18. Take the next right turn, signposted Launde (and Sustrans Routes 63 and 64).

19. At the crossroads, take the left turn to Launde.

Launde to Eyebrook Reservoir

20. With Launde Abbey straight ahead of you, take the right turn towards Loddington, then turn left to Belton.

21. Ride through Belton, following signs for Allexton.

22. Cross the A47 to join the minor road to Allexton, then take the left turn, signposted Stockerston. You’ll pass Sweethedges tea rooms on your left – a welcoming pit stop after those challenging climbs, with good old-fashioned fare and homemade cakes!

23. At the first t-junction, turn left to Stockerston, then at the second t-junction, turn right to Stockerston. Enter Stockerston on the B664.

Eyebrook Reservoir to Oakham

24. On the bend, take the left turn to Stoke Dry, then take the next left to Stoke Dry, passing Eyebrook Reservoir. Ride through Stoke Dry.

25. Cross the A6003 and enjoy the long descent into Lyddington.

26. At the junction, turn left to Uppingham.

27. Keep straight on, ignoring a right turn to Bisbrooke, then turn right to join the A6003. Stay on this road through Uppingham, then cross the busy roundabout with the A47, to join the minor road to Ayston.

28. Ride through Ayston. At the t-junction, turn left to Ridlington and Brooke, then keep following signs to Brooke. Pass through Brooke and drop down into Oakham to complete your ride.

Chapeau!

WOODNEWTON AND SOUTHWICK

The villages and countryside just north of Oundle make for great walking, as Will Hetherington discovers

Photography: Will Hetherington

Difficulty rating (out of five)

THE ROUTE

Park on Main Street near the church in Woodnewton, then walk down the lane signposted to Conegar Farm which also has a footpath sign at the top of it.

Bear left with the farm and the Willow Brook cascade on your right and follow the track as it gradually rises south-west into the open fields beyond. As you gain height there are superb views all around and the hedgerows are dotted with ancient oaks which only add charm.

You will soon pass through one small wood and then drop downhill and enter a large piece of woodland. Follow the footpath south, ignoring a lot of wider cut rides through the woods. Keep heading south until you are very nearly on the

bottom edge of the wood and follow the path until you come to an obvious right turn out into the open field and Southwick to the south. Follow the path and just before you get to the village there is a stream where the dogs can cool down and have a drink.

The middle part of this village appears to have been untouched by time and when you reach the road turn left and head east along the road towards Woodnewton, passing Southwick Hall on the left. Stay on the road for about half a kilometre and then, after a sharp left hand turn through a dip and Wych Spinney, you will see the footpath heading off to the right in the hedgerow. Take this turn and then head east across the fields. You will pass Southwick Grange but keep heading straight through a couple more fields until you come to a four-way junction. You need to be on the lookout for this as it’s not immediately obvious but turn left here and head north.

And then when you see Stone Pit Lodge coming up on your right make sure you take the footpath through the hedge and don’t stay on the farm track, as you will just have to double back.

Once you are on the right track keep heading north and you will pass through a small piece of woodland in a dip with a stream and then up to the Woodnewton to Fotheringhay road. When you reach the road turn left and shortly afterwards turn right towards Woodnewton and from there it’s five minutes walk back to the village. You have to walk past the White Swan to get to the car so it would seem silly not to pop in for a light refreshment.

TOP STAT

Southwick Hall is a limestone manor from the 14th century. The house was altered many times, but it is still essentially the same building that was first erected around 1300.

WHERE TO PARK

On Main Street near the church in Woodnewton.

DISTANCE AND TIME

Four and a half miles, one and a half hours.

HIGHLIGHTS

The first section through Conegar Farm and uphill provides some lovely views. Southwick is a stunning old English village. Two superb pubs.

LOWLIGHTS

Half a kilometre on the road heading out of Southwick, but it’s not a busy road.

REFRESHMENTS

The White Swan in Woodnewton and you will also find the rather splendid Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick. It’s a lovely pub but remember there’s a long way to go from here, unless you decide to make it your start and finish point.

DIFFICULTY RATING

Two paws; it’s a decent distance but there’s nothing too demanding.

THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE

I didn’t see any livestock on the way around and there are a few streams at the right times.

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.

BREAKFAST CLUB

The Marques of Exeter, Lyddington

I think it’s best to start this review with a warning. If you decide to go to The Marquess of Exeter at Lyddington, and you choose the slow roasted shoulder of lamb sharing dish, make sure you do this with a) somebody you like, or b) somebody on a diet. Because it is a dish of such succulence and indulgence that you will be gimlet-eyed every time they saw away at another piece, checking that they are not pulling away more of the mouth-watering meat than they should be.

I went with publisher Chris Meadows, who fortunately had just returned from holiday where he had clearly over-indulged, and this probably avoided an embarrassing shouting match in the pub whereby we fought over the last few scraps. It will do that to you, this lamb, if you’re not careful.

The lamb, £42 for two and served with crispy fresh vegetable side plates, sauteed potatoes and mint sauce, melts in the mouth, yet has that wonderful crispy crust that hours of cooking delivers. It’s local too, grass fed and ethically reared by Launde Farm Foods, Gwilym and Alex Owen’s award-winning business in

Leicestershire. This really is as good as it gets, and although we went during the evening, would be a magnificent Sunday treat.

Believe it or not, we did also eat other food, despite our (OK, my) gluttony on the lamb front.

To start, Chris had tuna carpaccio with Asian salad, wasabi mayonnaise and pickled ginger, a dish he reckoned was light yet spicy, with a wonderful fresh zing thanks to the pickles and wasabi.

I went for the garlic and chilli tiger prawns with olive oil and rye bread. The prawns were large, tasty and juicy, and were swimming in a very tasty, smoky and spicy sauce. Just as you would want it.

Although we didn’t know it at the time, not realising the large chunk of steaming lamb that awaited us, we munched through a freshly baked loaf that Paul Hollywood could not have found fault with.

Part of the allure of the Marquess, aside from the food, is the excellent surroundings, which manage to balance country pub cosiness with a touch of elegance. You feel just as home sitting at the bar with a pint of real ale and some peanuts

as you do sipping on an expensive claret. Relaxed fine dining, I’d call it.

Having not fallen out over the allocation of the lamb, Chris and I felt it necessary to have pudding, if only for the sake of a thorough investigation, even though I was feeling pretty full at this point.

Chris, having been in training for this sort of herculean eating challenge over the previous week, managed to finish off his creme brulee served with homemade shortbread, declaring it superb.

I had a fair degree of success with an excellently light cheesecake, with poached fruits and the requisite crispy biscuity base, although I didn’t quite make it to the end.

Nevertheless, I reckon I’d won the battle of the Launde lamb, so I was well satisfied with what is an exceptional eating experience.

STAMFORD ON TOUR

Pupils from the Stamford Endowed Schools toured Sri Lanka and Japan to play hockey, netball and rugby

Over the summer break Stamford Endowed Schools pupils undertook two tours – girls from Stamford High School visited Sri Lanka to play netball and hockey while boys from Stamford School toured Japan playing rugby.

Sri Lanka

Head of sport at Stamford High School, Maria Bewers, described the Sri Lanka adventure.

“Stamford High School girls always make the most of new experiences and opportunities and the Sri Lanka tour was no exception.

“The girls fully embraced the culture, excursions, local food and interaction with the locals, plus the testing temperatures, with great enthusiasm and interest. We were so impressed with the local level of strength on the hockey field and the incredible 99% accuracy on the netball courts.

“The Stamford girls made amazing progress and we came home with some good wins and valuable lessons learnt from tough battles. As always, the girls made the staff proud.”

Japan

Rugby is booming in Japan ahead of hosting both the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics.

The boys shot round the country on the famous Bullet train, passing through Tokyo,

Yokohama, Hiroshima, Yamanashi and Kyoto, sightseeing and taking on the top rugby playing schools in Japan.

The second side won two, lost two and drew one, whereas the A side won all four of their games.

The boys won many new friends and enjoyed being interviewed on national TV.

Director of rugby David Laventure said: “The boys were outstanding on and off the pitch and I’m sure they will look back on all their experiences with very fond memories.

“They were presented with many challenges, some cultural, some physical, and they responded brilliantly. It certainly proved to be the adventure of a lifetime!”

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MEDALS GALORE FOR DEEPING SWIMMERS

Deepings Swimming Club’s national squad took home six medals, made 13 finals and swam four new Lincolnshire county records at the British Summer Championships and England National Summer Championships, capping a highly successful season for the team.

The seven swimmers competed in 16 events at the two championships, which took place on consecutive weeks at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield.

Sixteen-year-old Isabel Spinley led the way at the British Summer Championships winning silver in the 100m butterfly final and bronze in the 200m butterfly final. In both events, she swam new club and Lincolnshire county records. Isabel also made the final of the 50m butterfly, finishing just outside the

medals in fifth, after swimming yet another new club and county record in the heats.

Deepings’ front crawl superstar Alex Wray, now swimming for Loughborough University, won bronze in the 50m freestyle before anchoring the 4x100 relay team to gold. He also made the 100m freestyle final, finishing eighth with a new personal best.

Tom Adams and Bailie Harrison also put in outstanding performances at the British Champs. Tom made the final of the 100m butterfly, finishing eighth in a new club and county record of 59.71 seconds – the first time the record for 15-year-olds has dipped below one minute. He was just outside his personal best in the 50m butterfly, finishing 18th in his age group.

Bailie also narrowly missed her

personal best in the 50m butterfly, but swam strongly to finish a creditable 16th in her age group.

Isabel, Bailie and Tom also competed at the England National Summer Meet, where they were joined by Louis Metselaar, Ben Beedell and Chloe Jones.

The team enjoyed another exceptional competition. Louis Metselaar, swimming in his first national meet, won bronze in the 100m breaststroke with a new club record and finished sixth in the 50m breaststroke with another club record.

Tom Adams followed up his British Championships performance with a bronze in the 200m butterfly after smashing the club record. Ben Beedell also competed in the 200m butterfly but narrowly missed the final in his first national swim.

OAKHAM SAILORS TAKE BRONZE AT U14 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Two sailors from Oakham School have won a bronze medal in the RS Feva Junior (U14) sailing world championships at Medemblik in the Netherlands.

Spike Marlow and James Mansfield (both aged 13) competed against 352 sailors from across the world and dealt with up to force 6 winds and challenging sea conditions over five days of racing to win an impressive and much-coveted third place in the Junior class.

Their win was even more impressive given it

was their first time sailing in this competition and visiting Medemblik. They also placed 23rd in the Bronze Fleet of the regatta, which included adults.

“The boys sailed together brilliantly and I am absolutely thrilled with the result,” said Oakham School’s director of sailing, Nick Neve. “We have had a fantastic week of great sailing and I am incredibly proud of all the Oakhamians who competed. It was a good experience for everyone and I am delighted with their performance and teamwork.”

Isabel finished just outside the medals in the 400m individual medley, in fourth with a new pb, while Bailie Harrison was eighth in the final of the 100m butterfly, just outside her best time.

Chloe Jones competed in the England Nationals for the first time and produced an excellent performance in the 800m freestyle, finishing eighth.

Lynn Chapman, Deepings SC head coach, said: “This has been our best-ever summer nationals. Our swimmers prepared well and each one performed at an exceptional level over the two weeks.

“I am immensely proud of all of them. They deserve their summer break and then the hard work starts again in September as we look to get them to the winter nationals.”

PANTHERS IN ACTION AT LEEDS RACE

An inspirational weekend racing was enjoyed by the Ketton Panthers at Leeds in June. Six Panthers competed in the high profile technical world qualifier starting with a pontoon dive start into Roundhay Lake at 7am. This was followed by a taxing hilly cycle course and a challenging run. All on a wet and very windy day.

Tom Hattee finished fifth in his group and all Panthers achieved good results in a national field.

Darley Moor results

Tom Hattee 1st place

TS3 boys (under 14s)

Imogen Dee 3rd place

TS3 girls

Phoebe Reeves 3rd place

TS1 girls

Abi Cooper 4th place

Youth girls

Trystan Barnett 6th place

Youth boys

Joe Johnson 9th place

TS1 boys

Sophie Reeves 10th place

TS3 girls

Roundup

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

Cricket Uppingham stutter but remain in contention

BY JEREMY BESWICK

There’s still all to play for in Leicestershire League One for both Uppingham and Oakham, although it’s a fight for promotion for the former and a relegation battle for the latter.

Despite not having lost since the first day of July, a series of draws means Oakham remain in danger. With Houghton and Thurnby seemingly adrift at the very bottom, they are competing with fellow strugglers Loughborough Seconds and Leicester Banks for the remaining slot, so their recent visit to Banks could have been decisive.

Losing the toss and being put into bat, Oakham’s openers Wes Durston and Vivek Naker made a solid start, Durston with the majority of the early runs and, according to bowler Charlie Baker, dispatching the ball to “the city training ground, pavilion, petrol station or surrounding houses” as he reached his 50 off 36 balls.

Naker’s departure for 20 brought Cameron Flowers to the wicket to form what can be a match-winning partnership, these two big hitters able to put the game out of their opponents’ reach in just a few overs. Alas, luck was not on Oakham’s side as a drive from Flowers hit the bowler’s boot and then cannoned on to the stumps with Durston out of his ground.

Thereafter tight bowling from Banks on a dampish wicket restricted them to 213, “50 runs short of where they wanted to be,” according to Baker, who then opened the bowling with Ed Tattersall and soon had

Banks’ Patel caught in the slips. Rory Brown then picked up two wickets and Durston bagged the other opener, Kumar Tattersall claimed his second wicket with a sharp bouncer and thereafter Banks batted for the draw and although Oaks came away with the majority of the points they were – as so many times this season – unable to bowl out the opposition for the maximum 30 points. Two further draws were to follow against Hinckley and, much to their credit, table topping Langtons, but with Sileby and Uppingham amongst their last five opponents their season looks like going down to the wire. Uppingham stuttered a little this month but remain in second place. A regulation win at home to Earl Shilton (Ben Farnsworth 104 n.o) was followed by losses to Newtown Linford and Loughborough. They also lost the final of the South East Regional T20 competition –opponents Langtons with an impressive 207 for 3 in the first innings and despite Uppingham starting well with Jamie Dumford in impressive form, the high target meant risks had to be taken and things didn’t fall their way, eventually being all out for 163.

Stamford Town sit proudly atop Hunts League Division One with two recent wins, the first against Southill Park and the second over their closest rivals for the title, Newborough. Batting first Town made 212, captain Tom Williams top scoring with 49. In reply Newborough struggled to 145 all out, Tim Juggins with three wickets and Steve Armstrong and Ben Peck with a brace apiece in what was a good overall team performance.

On the village scene, Empingham are having a wonderful season in Grantham and Melton Division One having won their last 14 games. Although the definition of a win in this league includes what would be termed winning draws elsewhere that’s still some achievement. They reached their 10th consecutive victory away against Barkby.

Batting first they lost early wickets and were 19-3 at one stage but Tom Cooper came to the rescue with 115 not out and “left the bowlers reeling... in one of the innings of the season,” according to fellow batsman Freddie Turner. After managing just 42 runs off their first 16 overs, Barkby sought to bat out the match which they did, finishing on 170-4.

Next up was a home tie against Stamford’s Sunday seconds. Batting first Stamford made 167 all out, youngsters Zac Treweek and Ollie Pickwell pitching in with key wickets and Empingham reached the total with ease, losing only the wicket of John Chell (50). Batsman Baz Sharp noted that his colleague Tom Cooper “has now not been out in his last three innings, scoring 239 runs in the process and is showing no signs of slowing down”.

Last month we reported how Market Deeping’s teenage bowler, Pat Brown, was in the 12-man Worcestershire squad for the first time against Glamorgan and that, alas, he didn’t get to play despite all at MDCC crossing knees, fingers, legs and toes for his inclusion in the team. Well, this month they got their wish as Brown made the XI against Sussex and also claimed his first wicket. Congratulations to him and all at Deepings.

Grace Notes

Leicestershire’s academy is churning out talent. Jeremy Beswick talks to one of this year’s alumni

The strength of a county’s academy is a good predictor of its future and the Foxes’ set-up is gaining a reputation as it continues to deliver a steady stream of talent to the first team.

In the past few years England players such as Stuart Broad, Luke Wright, James Taylor and Harry Gurney got their first chance here and the impressive current cohort includes Zak Chappell, Rob Sayer, Aadil Ali, Lewis Hill, Jigar Naik, Tom Wells, James Sykes and Ollie Freckingham.

Another, who signed his first professional contract this year and made his debut against Sussex in July, is all-rounder Will Fazakerley. I caught up with him the day before a second XI match and a week or so before he was due to represent his native Guernsey in the World Cricket League Group 5.

How did a lad from the Channel Islands end up at Leicestershire I asked? “I was on Sussex’s books early on but Leicestershire scouted me and made me an offer,” he said. “It just seemed all round to be a better opportunity with more going on here.”

Will had been no mean footballer and hockey player as well. “Obviously the time came when I had to choose and I felt I had the best chance to make it at the very highest level in cricket,” he said.

What was it like making his first team debut? “It being at Sussex I knew a lot of their younger players really well so that was a bit strange,” he reckoned.

“Also my family were all there with some friends clustered together in a corner of the ground and I got a bit of stick from the other players about that because they were quite, well, vocal. I was thinking ‘please just be quiet’ to be honest.”

I get the feeling that Will was just relieved to get that milestone out of the way and hadn’t really enjoyed it that much. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be but in the event it didn’t quite go to plan,” he remembered.

I admit I’d neglected to look up the scorecard for that day which, when I did, showed “Fazakerley – 0” in both innings. However, that’s happened to many a debutant who’s gone on to great things and “the positives are I played a first class game at the age of 18 and got a wicket. It was good experience to see how hard top tier cricket is”. Will’s role model is Jacques Kallis. “I aspire to be like him,” he told me. Then, remembering it’s good form – particularly at his age – to show some modesty added: “I’d love to become half the player he was.”

Time will tell but this youngster strikes me as having an inner strength of character that will serve him well. His last words to me were: “Now I’m just determined to show that my debut was a one-off and set the record straight.”

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Live Life in Balance

Football Time for Drury to deliver

BY DEAN CORNISH

When Graham Drury returned to manage Stamford AFC for the third time towards the end of 2015, he was hailed as the returning messiah, the man who would save the club from relegation and push them on to a higher level.

Sadly, it hasn’t worked out like that with the club going down that year, and then failing to get anywhere near promotion back to ‘step 3’ (three promotions from the football league) last season, finishing a disappointing 16th.

That said, the club did have that memorable FA Cup run last year, Drury guiding the side to the 1st round for the first time ever. This season, it’s time for Stamford to get back to the level that their ground, the attendances and the size of the town deserve. Promotion should be the only target. Drury has managed both Corby and Stamford to promotion out of this level, so we all know he’s capable.

One of the issues last year was the high rotation of players at the Zeeco Stadium, something that Drury has to accept the blame for. Plenty of good players left the club without necessarily wanting to, and many of them went on to star for sides at higher levels

(Jevani Brown who has signed for League 2 Cambridge United, and Tom Batchelor, to name just two). This year, it seems Drury has recruited well over the summer, but the key will be keeping hold of the ones who perform.

Last season’s fans’ player of the year, goalie Sam Donkin, has left the club but Drury has recruited Dan Haystead between the sticks. Another player to leave is Rogan McGeorge, who was let go and has since joined newlypromoted Peterborough Sports FC.

New signings include Mike Armstrong, a utility player from Belper, and also Hayden Goddard, who has also featured for Belper, as well as Ilkeston Town. Pearson Mwanyogo has joined from Conference Premier side Solihull Moors. A player that many tip to become a fans’ favourite is Jack Jeys, who joins after impressing for Bedworth Town.

Rob Morgan, who scored during preseason against Deeping Rangers, also joins the ranks, as well as Danny Draper and Ben George adding to the new faces. Two returning players who could make the difference in the middle of the park are Jake Duffy and Elliot Sandy, both of whom have the potential to open up games.

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I also have a feeling that this could be the year for John King to show his talents; he’s created various chances in pre-season and could become a real force. Added in to the mix is the experience of John Challinor, potentially playing his last season at this level, and Jordan ‘Bully’ Smith who will hopefully become the main man up front. The Daniels start their campaign away at Market Drayton. Elsewhere, Blackstones look set for a good one in UCL Division One under manager Andy Lodge. They started the season well with a 3-0 away win at Burton Park. In the same division, Oakham United will hope for a settled season, although it’s started badly with a 5-2 home defeat to Irchester United.

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Equestrianism A golden day for Matti

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

It was a golden day for local rider Matilda Lanni (Matti) at the FEI European Championships in Samorin, Slovakia, where she was part of the team that secured gold for British Showjumping’s Team NAF Children on August 10.

Having put themselves in a strong position during the first qualifier, with three of the four Team NAF riders jumping clear to keep the team on a zero penalty score, the young Brits knew that it was all to play for.

Under the watchful eye of chef d’equipe Clare Whitaker, the horses and riders delivered clears aplenty to ensure that the team carried no penalties forward to the gold and silver medal jump-off with Belgium. Great Britain then held their nerve to deliver three jump-off clears, a tally that the Belgians could not match.

Third in was 13 year-old Matti , who so far had a brilliant championships with Newbridge’s Master Brown (Boston), an 11 year-old bay gelding owned by Stacey Webb Across the three rounds, this talented combination jumped clear to ensure progress forward to the individual medal competition with zero penalties.

Then to the jump-off.After two rounds of highly competitive jumping, Great Britain and Belgium were tied on a fantastic score of zero penalties, which led to a jump-off for the team gold and silver medals.

Entering the arena with great hopes, Angel Tough, Jocasta Symons and Matti Lanni all secured brilliant clears while the Belgians finished with just the one clear round and two four penalty scores for eight overall.

Such was the form of his team-mates, Oliver Fletcher was not required to jump again and the team punched the air with delight when realising that they had become European champions.

Matti, from Halefield Stud at Woodnewton, is probably better known as the daughter of top showjumper and trainer Matt Lanni. Her mother Milla also used to event very successfully at the top level, including winning the Blenheim Horse Trials.

Eighteen-year-old Richard Coney, from Honington, had another great result at the Racesafe Junior European Championships at Millstreet in Ireland over the last weekend in July. He did an impressive 40.3 dressage on his own nine-year-old horse Kananaskis followed by a foot-perfect cross-country inside the time,

then just slightly marred his score with two time penalties in the show jumping to an otherwise clear jumping round.

However, a lot of others suffered the same fate. This left him in a solid seventh place, helping the British Team to take the silver medal. Fellow team member Bubby Upton from Suffolk also took individual gold on her steed Eros DHI.

Both Linda Cowd and Claire Ludekas from the Wittering Academy Riding Club qualified as individuals for the NAF British Riding Club Championships back in June at Little Downham, where their team came a very close second.

The finals were held at Swalcliffe in Oxfordshire over the second weekend in August.

Linda competed her long time partner Tommahawk in the 80 final, where she finished a very respectable 14th in a hotlycontested section which people had travelled to from as far away as Scotland and Cornwall.

Clare competed in the 90, on her horse Duke, and coincidently they also finished 14th. Both combinations were thrilled with their results and are looking forward to trying to qualify for next year.

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Saturday 7th October 2017

Stamford School | (Boys 11-18)

Saturday 7th October 2017

Stamford High School | (Girls 11-18)

Saturday 14th October 2017

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Wednesday 11th October 2017

Sixth Form | (Girls & Boys 16-18)