Seasonal Blog

July 8, 2008

Springsteen gig fears voiced

A resident living near the planned venue of a Bruce Springsteen concert said it would force locals to listen "to a rock concert in bed" if it gets the go ahead.

Jack Buxton, who lives yards from Lancashire Country Cricket ground, spoke at a court hearing on Thursday in appeal against a council's refusal to allow a concert by the rock star.

Lancashire County Cricket Ground, SJM Concerts and Rocksteady Security, are fighting the decision by Trafford Borough Council to reject the licensing application for the event.

Springsteen, known as the Boss, was scheduled to perform the open air concert at the cricket ground on 29 May.

Organisers face having to refund more than 50,000 tickets after the license was rejected.

It follows complaints from residents about noise and crowd problems at previous events.

But the venue says the income from concerts is vital to fund a £25m upgrade of the 146-year-old ground.

Acoustician James Griffiths told the court: "It's about striking a balance."

"I understand that people will be disturbed, it's important to look at how many people are disturbed."

"This is not an isolated case.

"If you say that you can't have concerts with this level of noise, then this would probably mean a large number of concerts in this country would not go ahead."

Previous problems

Residents are concerned after anti-social behaviour from fans and noise levels at previous concerts by Oasis and Robbie Williams.

Mr Buxton, a retired administrator, who lives 700 yards from the cricket ground, said he is unable to sleep when the concerts are on.

"It's like listening to a rock concert in bed," he said.

"It's a cacophony of noise. We can't watch television or do anything."

July 5, 2008

BBC SPORT | Other sport… | Cycling | Cunego sprints to Amstel Gold win

Italy's Damiano Cunego won the Amstel Gold Race beating Frank Schleck and Alejandro Valverde in an uphill sprint to the finish line in Holland.

The Italian finished in six hours, 35 minutes and 29 seconds after breaking away with eight other riders from the peleton with 11 miles remaining.

Great Britain's David Millar came 74th, five minutes and 25 seconds back.

It was Cunego's first Amstel race, and the Lampre team cyclist is the new leader of the UCI ProTour.

"I always knew I could win this race and it's hugely satisfying to do it at the first attempt," Cunego said.

"I think I won because I'm more relaxed in the way I approach races and because I've really started to believe in my ability.

"I won the Giro d'Italia in 2004 but it was only after winning the Tour of Lombardy last October that I started to have confidence in myself in the big one-day races."

The 26-year-old, who took over the ProTour lead from Andre Greipel, rides his second race of the so-called 'Ardennes Week' on Wednesday, in La Fleche Wallonne.

July 1, 2008

Centenarian sprint record foiled

A South African man's bid to become the fastest 100-year-old to run 100 metres was foiled when a power failure stopped the electronic clock timing his sprint.

Philip Rabinowitz said he ran the distance in 28.7 seconds in Cape Town, beating the record of 36.19 seconds.

But the time cannot be recognised because it was not confirmed by the official timer.

Mr Rabinowitz, who turned 100 in February, said that despite the mishap, he felt "absolutely wonderful".

"I never thought I would be able to do it," he added.

The current record for a centenarian running the 100m was set by Erwin Jaskulski from Austria in 2002.

'Rabonoblitz'

Mr Rabinowitz will get another chance to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records in the autumn.

The competitor – known as Rabonoblitz – trains by walking six kilometres (3.7 miles) each day.

His diet includes two apples a day, oats, tea and toast for breakfast, a main meal of vegetables combined with either chicken or fish and a sundowner of ginger ale laced with cane spirits, according to the SABC News.

Mr Rabinowitz – who holds the record in the Guinness Book of being the world's oldest competitive walker – still works, handling accounts for his daughter's business.

He also participated in the South African leg of the Olympic torch relay earlier this year.

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