Seasonal Blog

Springsteen gig fears voiced

Edward — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:49:55 +0000

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."

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

Edward — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:12:37 +0000

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.

Centenarian sprint record foiled

Edward — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:11:20 +0000

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.

BBC SPORT | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Relief | Prince sprints around Sandhurst

Edward — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:48:10 +0000

Prince William has run a mile to raise money for the charity Sport Relief – and described the event as "awesome".

The race was held at Sandhurst military academy, Surrey, where the 24-year-old prince is training to be an officer.

About 1,500 people joined him, including his commandant Maj Gen Peter Pearson, former sprint hurdler Colin Jackson and rugby star Josh Lewsey.

The event comes a week before the charity holds its countrywide Sport Relief Mile to raise money.

Highlights: Prince William does a Mile

Sign up for the Sport Relief Mile

The assembled soldiers warmed up by dancing to YMCA and Don't Stop Me Now, Sport Relief's official single by McFly.

They finished the course, which included having to scale 8ft high walls, in 14 minutes and nine seconds.

Speaking afterwards, the prince said: "I really enjoyed the day. It's awesome.

"I really hope next week that everyone gets involved wherever they are."

They were followed around the course by every sporting team in Sandhurst, including cyclists, a polo team, beagles and their handlers and hockey goalies.

They were also joined by tennis players, keeping up a continuous rally as they ran.

Ghurkhas in full military dress with rifles, cadets towing a truck, families of Sandhurst staff, including mothers with prams, dogs, toddlers and grandparents also did the course.

As they recovered at the finish line, the prince was told by Mr Jackson: "You were leading the pack," but he replied: "I wouldn't say I was leading it.

"It was the commandant – he was miles away. I couldn't keep up with him."

Mr Jackson later said: "Sport Relief is a very special thing for me.

"I've seen how much something like today makes such a massive difference to people's lives and I'm proud to be part of it."

Sandhurst's chief of staff Colonel Finlayson and academy adjutant Maj Segrave also took part.

Sport Relief raises much-needed money to help vulnerable people leading tough lives in the UK and the poorer countries of the world.

Everyone who took part donated £2, meaning that the event raised £3,000.

Sign up for the Sport Relief Mile

BBC SPORT | Commonwealth Games | More sprint success for Jamaica

Edward — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:00:59 +0000

Jamaica took men's 4×100m relay gold to complete a clean sweep of the sprint events at the Commonwealth Games.

The Jamaicans were fourth at the last changeover before world record holder Asafa Powell ran down the leaders to finish in a time of 38.36 seconds.

South Africa took the silver medal in 38.98 and Canada the bronze in 39.21.

Hosts Australia were well placed at the final turn but fumbled the last baton change and did not finish. Jamaica were 0.16 outside England's Games record.

Nicholas Willis of New Zealand won the men's 1500m final in a race which saw Australian favourite Craig Mottram felled in a collision.

Mottram, the 5,000m silver medallist, was tripped when England's Andew Baddeley went down with two laps remaining at the MCG in Melbourne.

Both recovered to complete the race, Mottram finishing ninth and Baddeley last.

Willis finished in a time of three minutes 38.49seconds to take the gold, with Canada's Nathan Brannen second and Mark Fountain of Australia third.

Boniface Toroitich of Uganda won the men's 10,000m title in a close finish ahead of Kenya's Geoffrey Kipngeno and Faiban Naasi of Tanzania.

England's Gavin Thompson finished in eighth with a time of 29:41.77.

Australia took gold in the men's 4×400m relay final, with John Steffensen, Christopher Troode, Mark Ormrod, Clinton Hill coming home in three minutes 00.93 seconds.

South Africa took silver, and Jamaica bronze, with England's quartet of Andrew Steele, Robert Tobin, Marlon Devonish and Martyn Rooney just edged out of the medals.

Islanders seek natural selection

Edward — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:05:21 +0000

Island communities have joined together to campaign for an integrated approach to protecting some of the most spectacular Inner Hebridean scenery.

The group aims to develop an Archipelago Forum to oversee the management of the Staffa Archipelago.

The area around Mull includes Staffa, the Treshnish Isles, Little Colonsay, Gometra, Ulva, Eorsa and Inch Kenneth.

Islanders are now seeking support for the initiative, aimed at securing Unesco World Heritage Site status.

Letters have been issued to interested individuals and organisations in order to gauge support.

The group hopes the forum will attract land managers from each island, community members, nature and tourism bodies and education groups.

Its aims include support traditional fishing, agriculture and tourism, implementing an area wide management plan and aspiring to World Heritage status.

Roc Sandford, of Gometra, said: "Retaining the unspoilt nature of the Staffa Archipelago is vital if we are to sustain and promote this wonderful area, while ensuring it can be enjoyed by future generations.

"Unfortunately, some areas which support important habitats and species have not yet been formally recognised and as such remain vulnerable.

"We have formed the Archipelago Forum in order to press for the implementation of an integrated approach to management practices which capture the special remoteness and cultural and spiritual worth of the Staffa Archipelago as a whole."

He added the islands were remote areas of outstanding beauty of national and global significance.

The lack of any intensive agricultural development or significant settlement draws thousands of people a year from all over the world, sustaining many local businesses and benefiting nearby Iona and the Isle of Mull.

Wildlife in the area includes eagles, corncrakes, puffins, otters, whales and dolphins.

BBC SPORT | Olympics & Olympic sport | Athletics | GB’s Simeon Williamson – 60m sprint

Edward — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:49:47 +0000

When you get to the final of the 60m there'll be false starts and people going out you don't expect to, and there are just hundredths of a second in it.

No one has been winning under 6.50 seconds so the winning time may well be 6.53, which Williamson is capable of.

It's a big test for him after what's happened with selection, but he's 22 and I'd like to see him doing well.

This may help him push into the summer. It's a huge opportunity and hopefully he can grab it.

SEE ALSO Team GB for Beijing
29 Nov 07 | Team GB Athletics on the BBC
05 Nov 07 | Athletics RELATED BBC LINKS: Video tips – BBC Sport Academy Steve Cram's column Your say on athletics – 606
RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Beijing 2008 – athletics UK Athletics Find an athletics club in the UK Running tips and tools – Runners World The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Who are your tips for medals in Valencia? How many do you think Britain will pick up? BBC Sport's Saj ChowdhuryDebate athletics on 606

BBC SPORT | Other Sport… | American Football | Owens’ ban upheld by arbitrator

Edward — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:56:02 +0000

Owens publicly criticised the Eagles and team-mate McNabbTerrell Owens' season is effectively over after an arbitrator ruled the Philadelphia Eagles were justified in suspending him for four games.

Owens, 31, was suspended on 5 November for criticising the Eagles, quarterback Donovan McNabb and for fighting with former team-mate Hugh Douglas.

Two days later, the Eagles extended the suspension to four games.

The Eagles were adjudged to have clearly proved the suspension was justified by the arbitrator.

Philadelphia, currently struggling at 4-6 at the bottom of the AFC East, have made it clear they want Owens to play no further part in their season.

In a statement, the club said: "From this point, we look forward to moving on and will have no further comment on this issue."

Owens is seen as one of the best wide receiver in the league, but the Eagles – who lost last season's Super Bowl to New England – have made it clear they are content to let him go.

The player had been unhappy since the off-season, when the Eagles refused to renegotiate his seven-year, $48m contract.

The NFL Players Association had argued that the suspension should be reduced and wanted to force the Eagles to either play Owens or release him.

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Art on demand at National Gallery

Edward — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:22:48 +0000

Copies of more than 900 works of art at the National Gallery are being made available at the flick of a switch as new technology is unveiled.

Masterpieces on display at the gallery have been captured on advanced digital cameras.

The images have stored on computer so that visitors can obtain a copy almost instantly.

Until now visitors were only able to get a small proportion of the gallery's treasures on traditional printed copies.

The gallery said it has taken two years to capture all 2,300 works of art.

The "print on demand" technology will allow visitors to browse through and print in reproduction quality A3, A4 and A5 size prints.

By 2005 the gallery hopes to have the whole collection available.

National Gallery spokeswoman Clare Gough said: "We are committed to making our paintings widely available to the public, so they can enjoy the beauty of these images in their own homes."

The reproductions are said to be of a very high quality. The artworks have been captured by a digital camera which scans the painting directly.

The images are printed by a Hewlett Packard DesignJet printer onto high quality durable paper.

Santa sprint attracts thousands

Edward — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:21:00 +0000

Thousands of people dressed as Father Christmas have run through Liverpool in a record-breaking charity bid.

Sunday's Santa Dash, now in its second year, raises funds for the Marina Dalglish Breast Cancer appeal.

Organisers received 4,514 entries and were forced to turn hundreds away after running out of Santa suits.

It will not be known for four to six weeks whether the current record for the largest such gathering, currently held by a run in Wales, was broken.

The rival event, in Powys, also took place on Sunday.

Football stars

Event spokeswoman Yvonne Rothwell told BBC News, organisers had been inundated with entries in the last few weeks.

She said the Santa Dash promised to be great fun for all involved, and confirmed they were very much in competition with the other event.

"Hopefully we're going to take the record off of them," Ms Rothwell said.

Former Liverpool Football Club stars Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush were among those who dressed up for the run.

Father Christmas look-alikes set off on the 5km city circuit at 0930 GMT.