Sports News

British junior record holders Molly Caudery and Jake Norris head the 40-strong British junior team for the World Junior Championships in Tampere from 10-15 July.

Caudery twice broke the British record in Mannheim at the weekend, vaulting 4.45m and 4.53m on her way to victory, moving her to outright second place on the world junior rankings.

Norris, who is ranked second in the world at Under-20 level, backed up his record breaking 80.45m throw in Bedford at the England U20/U23 Championships with another 80m plus throw in Mannheim, recording 80.28m to take victory.

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in the women’s heptathlon Niamh Emerson (David Feeney, Amber Valley & Erewash), who is currently ranked fourth in the world at junior level, will look to add another medal to her tally on the world stage.

Fellow Commonwealth Games star Alastair Chalmers (Dale Garland, Guernsey) set another 400m hurdles personal best at the weekend of 50.52 in his native Guernsey, while fellow 400m hurdler Alex Knibbs (Nick Dakin, Amber Valley & Erewash) set a huge personal best of his own, clocking 50.57 in Mannheim – the pair sit fourth and fifth respectively on the all-time British junior list for the 400m hurdles.

Jona Efoloko (John Smith, Sale Harriers Manchester) will look to build on his European Under 18 and Under 20 200m medals in 2016 and 2017 respectively with a first world championship medal, while Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas, Herne Hill Harriers) will compete outside of the United Kingdom for only the second time.

European Under-18 gold medallists Holly Mills (long jump, James Coney, Andover) and Isabelle Boffey (800m, Douglas Stone, Enfield & Haringey) earn another British vest, as does double European Under-18 & Under-20 1500m champion, Jake Heyward (James Thie, Cardiff).

Current under-20 women’s 3000m European leader and fourth placer at the European Junior Championships in Tbilisi last year Amelia Quirk (Mick Woods, Bracknell) is selected and is joined by fellow endurance runner Tom Mortimer (Christopher Brown, Stroud), who is ranked second in Europe in the 5000m and recorded a 20-second personal best at the weekend of 13:57.95.

Team Leader for the British juniors, Trevor Painter, said: “We’ve selected a strong team for the World Junior Championships that we believe has an excellent chance of challenging for medals.

“We saw some excellent performances at Mannheim International over the weekend which produced great levels of competition from all our athletes, with personal bests broken all over the track and field, a trend which we hope continues in Tampere.

“The team contains a strong array of medal prospects and athletes that we believe can reach the finals of their respective event and thrive on the World Junior Championship stage.”

The British Athletics junior team for the World Junior Championships on 10-15 July 2018:

Protecting the existing supply of sports playing pitches, enhancing them and providing extra new sites wherever possible are the key themes underpinning a new strategy to promote sport at all levels.

It was one of the toughest world championships in history with over 2300 competitors from 41 countries, after a long competition and several tough rounds Chloe had to compete in a deciding contest for the gold medal. Chloe held her nerve and kicked and punched her way to become world champion in spectacular style in front of a vocal and packed arena.

Well over half of Brits are shunning the pub to watch the World Cup at home with friends and family this year (57%), according to a new study.

The survey of 2,000 people, commissioned by The Ice Co found nearly half of Brits (45%) think the pub is too “laddy”, with a similar number (43%) saying they'd rather watch it in a more civilised environment.

When it comes to the ideal drinks to serve at a World Cup viewing party, beer comes out on top. The top 10 drinks are:

1. Ice cold beer (47%)
2. Soft drinks with ice (35%)
3. Cider in chilled bottles (25%)
4. Prosecco (24%)
5. Cocktails (23%)
6. Extra chilled wine (22%)
7. Gin and tonic (16%)
8. Red wine (11%)
9. Baileys on ice (9%)
10. Whisky on the rocks (6%)

So, what makes the perfect World Cup viewing party at home? The study shows having plenty of snacks in the house (52%), having lots of cold drinks in an ice box or bucket (43%), making sure everyone has a seat (37%) and stocking up on ice for drinks (33%) are the most important factors.

The Ice Co's findings have been included in a new report by food and drink futurologist Lyndon Gee, called World Cup 2018: We'll be playing at home, not away! In the report, Lyndon has also created World Cup drinking personalities, including the Penalty Taker who loves drinking games and the Referee, who tried to organise everyone and make sure all glasses are filled equally.

Lyndon Gee, commented: “There's lots of research out there, which I've cited in my report, to show that staying in is the new going out. The rise of trends such as hygge and lagom have helped fuel all of this, with many of us preferring the comfort and cosiness of our own homes than being in a busy bar or pub. This year's World Cup is no exception, with the survey from The Ice Co clearly showing a large proportion of Brits are shunning the pub, with many people saying the environment is too “laddy” and that they would rather celebrate in a more civilised way with friends and family.

“Ice cold beer is still the most popular alcoholic drink but low and no-alcohol varieties are gaining a lot of traction. Soft drinks are no longer an afterthought for summer parties, and this is evident with the growing trend for adult soft drinks. Cocktails and mocktails are also bang on trend this summer, so we'll see many people serving these at their World Cup viewing parties.”

When it comes to the ideal number of people Brits want to invite round to their World Cup party, the study shows five or six close friends and family members is the “sweet spot”.

Ginny Durdy, marketing manager at The Ice Co, which commissioned the research, said: “Our study showed two-fifths of people (22%) hate queueing for drinks at the pub. So, one of wonderful things about hosting a World Cup party at home, is you don't have to do this! There's nothing quite like getting your friends and family round to your house for a World Cup viewing party and serving them cold soft drinks, wine and beer all day long straight from a box or bucket filled with Party Ice. It's also worth stocking up on Super Cubes or slow melting Premium Ice cubes, which are a brilliant way to keep drinks like gin and tonic, cocktails and mocktails cold while you're watching the game.”

With the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia^TM just one week away, Qatar Airways, the Official Partner and Official Airline of FIFA, is preparing to unite football fans from around the world as it begins the official countdown to the World Cup.

With the first World Cup match set to kick off on 14 June in Moscow, the award-winning airline will bring fans from across the world to Russia to celebrate their love for football by taking part in one of the most highly-anticipated events on the global sports calendar.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “With just seven days until the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia^TM begins, we could not be more pleased to be taking part in this event as the Official Partner and Official Airline of FIFA. This year’s tournament is especially exciting, as it is the first to take place in Russia, an extremely important market to us. In the past year, we have extended our reach in Russia by launching new daily services to St. Petersburg, Russia’s glittering cultural capital, complementing our triple-daily services to Moscow.

“As the Official Partner and Official Airline of FIFA, we are delighted to see the excitement building, as fans from around the world prepare to gather in Russia to cheer for their teams and celebrate their love for the game. As an airline, we believe in the power of sports to bring people together, and there is no greater event than the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia^TM to celebrate a love for football.”

Last week, Qatar Airways launched a new 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia^TM campaign, featuring a re-recording of the classic song ‘Dancing in the Street’ sung by renowned singer and TV star Nicole Scherzinger. The upbeat TV commercial has seen tremendous global success, with more than 20 million views  across the airline’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

To celebrate the upcoming World Cup with fans and passengers, the airline launched a social media campaign last month titled ‘FIFA Fan Match’. Participants were asked to describe themselves using five emojis for a chance to win tickets to watch the semi-finals in St. Petersburg. The highly engaging campaign was a great success, with five lucky winners from around the world looking forward to attending the World Cup semi-final match in Russia.

In April, Qatar Airways signed an MoU with Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, Russia’s third-largest airport, committing to a potential acquisition of up to 25 per cent of the airport’s total shares, complementing the strong ties established with the country, and in support of the airline’s existing investment strategy.

To celebrate the Year of Culture between the State of Qatar and Russia, the airline also earlier this year announced a five-year partnership with Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair, a prestigious event that unites the contemporary Russian art market and helps its contributors establish contacts with the international art community.

In December 2017, Qatar Airways launched a new daily service to the cultural capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, doubling the number of Russian routes operated by the carrier. The addition of St. Petersburg to Qatar Airways’ route map demonstrates the importance of the Russian market to the carrier, which has been flying to Moscow since 2004. The award-winning airline currently operates three daily flights between Moscow and Doha, in addition to a daily flight between St. Petersburg and Doha.

In May 2017, Qatar Airways announced a groundbreaking sponsorship deal with FIFA, which saw the award-winning airline become the Official Partner and Official Airline of FIFA until 2022. The partnership, one of the biggest sporting sponsorships in the world, gives Qatar Airways extensive marketing and branding rights at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and the 2022 World Cup Qatar™, with an expected audience reach of more than two billion people per tournament.

The agreement sees Qatar Airways become the Official Airline Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the FIFA Under-20 and Under 17 World Cups™, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™, and the FIFA Interactive World Cup™.

The airline’s partnership with FIFA builds on its existing sponsorship strategy with premier sporting clubs around the world. In March, Qatar Airways signed a five-year partnership agreement with leading German football team FC Bayern München AG, making the award-winning airline an FC Bayern München platinum partner until June 2023.

Qatar Airways also recently revealed multi-year sponsorship agreements with Italian football club AS Roma, for which it will become the Official Jersey Sponsor through the 2020-21 season; and with Argentinian football club Boca Juniors, for which it will become the Official Jersey Sponsor through the 2021-22 season.

As part of a newly-enhanced three-season deal with Formula E, announced in Doha in January this year, the airline will also be the title sponsor of the upcoming Qatar Airways New York City E-Prix, taking place on 14-15 July.

The award-winning airline has received a record number of accolades recently, including ‘Airline of the Year’ by the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, which was held at the Paris Air Show. This is the fourth time that Qatar Airways has been given this global recognition. In addition to being voted Best Airline by travellers from around the world, Qatar’s national carrier also won a raft of other major awards at the ceremony, including ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge’.

Qatar Airways recently revealed a host of upcoming new global destinations, including the announcement that it will be the first Gulf carrier to begin direct service to Luxembourg. Other exciting new destinations to be launched by the airline include Tallinn, Estonia; Valletta, Malta; Cebu and Davao, Philippines; Langkawi, Malaysia; Da Nang, Vietnam; Bodrum and Antalya, Turkey and Málaga, Spain.

Gina Akpe Moses has spent the last 12 months preparing to race in the 2018 World Under 20 Championships, taking place in Finland next month.

Now, the 100m sprinter is further motivated to pick up a second gold medal after receiving the top trophy at BMet’s Sports Awards.

The 19-year-old received the Elite Sportsperson of the Year Award after qualifying for the championships and being on target to achieve top marks in her applied science course at Matthew Boulton College.  She has also completed an Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE).

“I’m honoured to get this award, especially as the college has so many athletes doing brilliantly in their teams and individually.” said Gina.  “I opened my season with a personal best and have been doing everything I can to keep performing at a high level.

“Awards like this and support from other students and my coaches makes me appreciate how far I’ve come.  All of it encourages me to keep looking ahead and be a better athlete.”

She continued: “The World Championships are another opportunity for me to compete against the best of the best.  Getting gold again like last year would just be amazing.  I believe I can still improve on my race time and the 2020 Olympics are an achievable goal.”

Commending Gina on her award, BMet Principal Andrew Cleaves said: “She is a rising star that keeps on rising.  The award is our way of congratulating her on her ability to make it work both on and off the field.

“This is the first time we have presented an elite sportsperson award to a student and she is a most deserving recipient.  Here’s to Gina having another excellent summer of success.”

Following the championships, Gina hopes she’ll be selected for the Senior European Athletics Championships which will be in Berlin in August.  She will then take up a place at university to study psychology.

“My college course has given me a massive insight into the different fields of science I can go into,” she added.  “I’m now an expert at juggling my training schedule with classes and coursework deadlines and of course taking time just to hang out with friends and family.  If you believe enough in what you want to achieve, somehow you make it all happen.”

BMet’s Sports Awards were held at Aston Villa Football Club with presenters including midfielder, Jordan Lyden and women’s team captain, Katy Walsh.

Over 100 students received awards in recognition of their success in individual and team competitions at both regional and national level.  Individuals were also commended for academic achievement as well as for going above and beyond in their roles as coaches, volunteers and ambassadors for sport.

We’re going to make this event a great celebration of cricket and the cultural diversity of our sport, says David Richardson. The greatest cricket celebration is just one year away. To celebrate this milestone, the LOC has released the ICC Cricket World Cup Declaration by London Poet Caleb Femi. ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson: “The ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales is truly unique. No other country in world cricket offers every competing nation a ‘home crowd’ atmosphere”.

CWC Managing Director, Steve Elworthy: “England and Wales have a rich history of staging great cricket and global sporting events with phenomenal public support. We know the ICC Cricket World Cup will be no different and fans will turn out in record numbers to support the event’. With the Cricket Family ballot closing at 8pm (BST) on 1 June – there are just two days left to register – and the response has been outstanding”.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock: “Cricket is a common language that unites nations across the world and it is fantastic that the ICC Cricket World Cup is returning to England and Wales next year”. Today marks a year to go until the greatest celebration of cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup, gets underway when hosts England take on South Africa at The Oval in London.

The format for the 2019 edition, the same used in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, sees the 10 best teams in the world go head to head in a round-robin format, resulting in a true world champion. Building on the overwhelming success of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 and 2017 as well as last year’s ICC Women’s World Cup, it is anticipated that every one of the 48 matches will attract diverse crowds creating a unique atmosphere where every team has home support.

To celebrate the milestone and start the countdown, London-based artist Caleb Femi has written a Cricket World Cup declaration setting out the promise of the event to fans around the world and what it means to cricket fans in England and Wales.

A launch event on the iconic Brick Lane will bring together cricket ambassadors, such as England captain Eoin Morgan as well as ICC Cricket Hall of Famers Brian Lara and Waqar Younis, local street cricket projects, and community leaders.

ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson said: “The ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales is truly unique. It offers every competing nation a ‘home crowd’ atmosphere with passionate fans. That combined with the best teams in the world going head to head in outstanding venues is a fantastic combination for cricket fans globally.

“We’re going to make this event a great celebration of cricket and the cultural diversity of our sport, bringing people and communities together from Manchester to Mumbai and Southampton to Sydney.”

Interest in tickets has reached a new peak in the Cricket Family Ballot and Steve Elworthy, the ICC Cricket World Cup Managing Director, said: “England and Wales have a rich history of staging great cricket and global events with phenomenal public support. We know the ICC Cricket World Cup will be no different and fans will turn out in record numbers to support the event.

‘‘With the Cricket Family Ballot closing at 8pm on 1 June – there are just two days left to register – and the response so far has been outstanding. We thank all those, from around the world who support this great game on a regular basis and it is fitting they had priority access to tickets.

“But everyone will get a chance as the Public Ballot will open on 1 August 2018 and then in September the remaining tickets will go on open sale. Our initial campaign has been an enormous success and we can be proud of the progress so far.

“Our aim is to deliver an outstanding tournament for the players, the match officials and the fans. In hosting the CWC we have an opportunity that will leave a lasting impression that will inspire more people to play or get involved in cricket not only in England and Wales but across the world.”

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock said: “Cricket is a common language that unites nations across the world and it is fantastic that the ICC Cricket World Cup is returning to England and Wales next year. We have a brilliant track record in the UK for hosting major sports events, which help inspire future generations to take part. I’m extremely proud that we will host the biggest tournament in cricket and look forward to welcoming the world in the summer of 2019.”

The ICC Cricket World Cup will culminate with the fifth final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on 14 July and Lord’s will be one of 11 venues joining Bristol County Ground, Cardiff Wales Stadium, County Ground Taunton, Edgbaston, Hampshire Bowl, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval, The Riverside and Trent Bridge as host venues.

Next week the borough of Haringey welcomes a competition with a difference, the World Football Cup.

Coles Park Stadium in Tottenham – home to Haringey Borough FC – is hosting the CONIFA competition, made up of non-FIFA teams from all over the world. Five games will be played there from May 31 to June 3. And the man tasked with getting the stadium and 3G pitch ready is Borough men’s manager Tom Loizou.

"I’m the Borough manager but I’m also the groundsman. So I’ll be brushing the pitch, checking the floodlights, cleaning the stands – even making sure we’ve got the burgers in."

Tom has been Borough manager for nine years, and has helped them soar up the leagues. They’ve just been promoted again, and next season they’ll play in the Bostik Premier. But that doesn’t stop him pitching in.

"I brush the pitch twice a week, I do the weeding around the club grounds. After every game I sweep the terraces. I have to unblock the toilets, I put up the nets, I do all the maintenance and painting."

Tom, who has years of coaching and managing experience and did a stint as Leyton Orient’s caretaker-manager, works tirelessly on the stadium all year round. The dugouts were welded together by a local mechanic and one of the stands used to be a driving range.

He says:

"I had to hand-dig the fences around the edge of the ground. I started in April last year and finished in August. There were too many pipes and wires to use machinery. It had to be done for the start of last season and I managed to get it done the day before kick-off."

But he says the 110m x 70m artificial 3G pitch is a blessing.

"When it was grass I had to cut it, seed it, get new soil. Now the pitch is made of shredded lorry tyres – black rubber. So you get a nice bounce. It’s much better to manage, but I have put on two stone since I stopped having to cut the grass."

Tom is the only full-time member of staff at the club, but has a strong team of volunteers around him – including his son and daughter. Tom says:

"It’s like a big family here. We’re trying to create a nice atmosphere so that everyone feels welcome. The fans have been unbelievable – they push us on and you end up working for them. When we went up the chairman, Aki Achillea, was acting just like a fan. The players had huge smiles and brought their kids on the pitch, players were mingling with the fans – that’s what I want for the club."

"My personal mission is for everyone to know Haringey Borough. Three years ago no one wanted to play on our pitch or come through the gates. Aki put his money where his mouth is and now we’re here. I’m a Gunner and he’s a Spurs fan, so we’re also proof that the two can live in harmony…"

The World Football Cup will be the first time the teams and players have come to Haringey Borough and this will put us on the map – I’ll also be keeping my eye out for some new players.

Football fans prefer their old school Premier League football heroes than today’s current crop of names according to a poll. When asked who would be their ideal goalkeepers, defenders, wingers and strikers in their five-a-side team, football fans put the likes of Beckham, Henry, Ronaldo, Gerrard, Schmeichel, Ferdinand and Terry over today’s footballing names including Salah, Kane, Aguero and Cech.

The research, carried out by Cadbury for its new “Ultimate 5-A-Side Tournament” promotion, which gives the public the chance to play with and against five football legends, also revealed we love playing five-a-side football.  The average five-a-side player spends 68 minutes a week playing – with women playing 1 hour 10 minutes and men playing 1 hour 7 – that’s almost 2.5 days a year. The findings also revealed that football fans think the goalkeeper is the most important position (21 per cent), over strikers, midfielders and centre backs.

Despite legendary players topping the dream five-a-side lists, when asked to pick one season of Premier League that has boasted the best calibre of players, the current season came out top, with almost one in ten (9 per cent) of football fans voting for it.

Thierry Henry, Cadbury ambassador and one of the football legends in the five-a-side promotion, reveals his top tips for a successful five-a-side team:

“Five-a-side is a great way to bring people together, it’s easy to organise and play. The five-a-side game is all about quick movement, taking fewer touches and good decision-making. It’s also a really good exercise in encouraging people to adopt good positions on the pitch, anyone chasing the ball around will be found out! This is a fantastic competition from Cadbury and I’m looking forward to meeting the winners later in the summer and playing a few games with them!”

Jamie Redknapp's ultimate 5-a-side:

• David Seaman
• Tony Adams
• John Barnes
• Steven Gerrard
• Robbie Fowler

Alex Scott's ultimate 5-a-side:

• David de Gea
• Tony Adams
• Steven Gerrard
• Thierry Henry
• Cristiano Ronaldo

• Fans said playing football with their idols would inspire them to play more football (21 per cent) or up their game (23 per cent)
• 18 per cent would just be concerned about making sure someone filmed it!
• When asked how they would react if they met one of their football heroes, 29 per cent would take a selfie, followed by ask for an autograph (21 per cent) or post a picture to social media (20 per cent)
• If they could only pick one person to play against a Premier League five-a-side team, nearly one fifth (19 per cent) would be most likely to pick their best friend, whilst one in 10 (10 per cent) would opt for their brother
• Those who play five-a-side said they like the game because anyone can play (49 per cent) and it brings work colleagues together (43 per cent)
• Skill (41 per cent) and stamina (36 per cent) are cited as the most important attributes for a five-a-side player.

Raphael Capitani, Brand manager, Cadbury says: “As part of our ongoing partnership with Premier League, which offers fans a host of money-can’t-buy opportunities; we’re very excited to be giving Cadbury fans the chance to win this once in a lifetime experience. Meeting your football heroes is one thing, but the chance to play in a five-a-side game with five football legends is another. We can’t wait to see the reactions on the day”.

The Cadbury promotion gives lucky winners the chance to play five-a-side football with legends Thierry Henry, Shay Given, Jamie Redknapp, Jimmy Bullard and Alex Scott. Football fans can win the chance for themselves and five mates to play either with or against these legends by heading to the Cadbury5Aside.com website throughout May and registering any Cadbury chocolate single bar barcode to get a chance to win a spot in this ultimate tournament. Terms and conditions apply.

Whether you fancy yourself as the next Kyle Edmund or you’ve never picked up a racquet, you can play tennis for free at your local David Lloyd Club on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May. All UK David Lloyd Clubs will open to the public for a tennis-filled weekend between 2pm and 5pm each day. All you have to do is register to play at www.davidlloyd.co.uk/GBTW. Take a look at what sessions we're running and the day's schedule here.

Not only can you enjoy our amazing tennis facilities but you can make the most of the whole club, meaning you can try a group exercise class or take a dip in our outdoor pool or enjoy a spot of lunch in the sun after your tennis session.

The Grand Finals for the inaugural season of the Overwatch League, which will determine the champions of the world’s first global city-based esports league, will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, over July 27–28, 2018.

Following the end of the Overwatch League regular season on Sunday, June 17, the postseason will begin with a field of six teams on Wednesday, July 11, at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles in Burbank, California. After the playoffs conclude, two finalists will take center stage in the Big Apple—at the home arena of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets—to battle for a share of the $1.4 million USD prize pool, the Overwatch League trophy, and a place in the history books.

The Grand Finals will feature an immersive on-site fan experience at Barclays Center, and will culminate in the ultimate showdown for the Overwatch League championship: the first team to win two best-of-five matches will take home the trophy. Play begins Saturday, July 28, at 02:00 CEST with the first best-of-five match, and continues the same day at 22:00 CEST with the second and potential third series.

“The Overwatch League Grand Finals will be an epic experience for fans and viewers,” said Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer. “We want this to be the pinnacle of esports, and holding it at a world-class venue like Barclays Center, in a global capital like New York, will help us celebrate not only the league’s two best teams, but the fans, partners, and players who have joined us on this incredible journey.”

“We are thrilled to host the inaugural Overwatch League Grand Finals, as we are quickly becoming a marquee destination for global esports leagues,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “This past year, the Overwatch League became the breakout league in the sports industry, and we anticipate drawing a dynamic international audience to experience the event live in July.”

University of Wolverhampton (UWR) Race Team engineering students have unveiled their 2018 MSVR Formula 3 Cup racing car at the £10 million Telford Innovation Campus.

The launch event saw team sponsors, students and staff gather together to see the new livery for the very first time ahead of the first race of the 2018 season.

For the past two years, UWR has taken second place in the national F3 Cup Driver’s Championship.

As the only University competing in the MSVR F3 Cup, UWR is taking part in all 17 rounds of the competition at world famous tracks including Brands Hatch, home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone, and Donington Park.

An investment of £10 million in the University’s engineering facilities at its Telford Innovation Campus in Priorslee has created world class education facilities for engineering students including industry standard design, development and testing facilities. Students from across the School of Engineering and the wider University test, prepare and race the cars, learning all the skills required to be part of the highly competitive world of motorsport.

UWR takes part in the F3 Cup, the IMechE Formula Student competition, the British Hillclimb Championship (driven by University of Wolverhampton Honorary Graduate, Graham Wynn OBE) and also two Morgan development cars new for the 2018 season, the Plus 4 Club Sport, which the team are racing in this year’s AR Morgan Challenge on behalf of the Morgan Motor Company.

‌Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton and Chairman of the UWR race team said: “The significant investment we have made in engineering on the campus has provided us with facilities which are amongst the best in the country combined with a really attractive course offering for students who want to study engineering.

“With a competitive motor racing team and committed sponsors, our students have a real hands-on engineering experience which meets the needs of future employers.

“On behalf of UWR, we thank our sponsors for their contributions which make our success possible.”

Patrick Clarke, 21 from Stourbridge, a third year Engineering student, said:  “We’ve launched the new livery which reflects the University’s new brand.  We’re coming up to the start of the new F3 season and we’ve got big hopes for the competition this year.  We’ve come so close for the past two years and this year we’ll be pushing for first place.”

The first race event of the F3 Cup season takes place on 21^st and 22nd April at Donington Park National.

UWR Team sponsors include FBC Manby Bowdler, Santander, the Engineering Integrity Society, EOS/Additive Minds, Wynn Developments, Pro-Fix Access, Midland Scaffolding Services, Tungaloy UK, Sercal NDT, Quickgrind, Beta Tools, Morris Lubricants, Graphite Additive Manufacturing, MTD CNC, Bri-Stor/Hex Vinyl, Crosslink Solutions, Lenovo, Zuken and Airweld.

An 81-year-old man from Harborne in Birmingham, who has taken part in every London Marathon since it began in 1981, has announced that he will run again on Sunday, but this time using crutches.

Dale Lyons, who is running for the third year in a row for the disability charity Sense, has had ankle and knee replacements, but is adamant that this won’t stop him from losing his London Marathon ‘Ever Present’ title.

Dale said: “This year will be my third year supporting Sense. It was supposed to be my last race in 2017, but as an ‘Ever Present’ it’s hard to let go when you’ve got the running bug. My training has taken a hit due to sciatica, knee and ankle problems. I am not sure if I will be able to finish the marathon this year, but I will certainly not give up.”

Dale attributes his success to ‘clean living’ and is hoping to add to the sum of £50,000 he has raised for charity.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has opened sign-ups for its hugely successful Tennis for Kids programme. The grass roots initiative, now in its third year, is back offering children aged four-11 all over the country a value for money and fun introduction to tennis – which includes six sessions, their own kit including a racket, balls and personalised t-shirt all delivered directly to them for £25.

To mark the launch, Tennis for Kids representatives Alfie Hewett, British Wheelchair Tennis legend, 2016 Wimbledon Champion and World No.1, along with doubles ace, Joss Rae and former British No.1, Annabel Croft, with the help of Britain’s biggest tennis balls, are out in Manchester and London in a bid to encourage children to pick up a racket.

Tennis for Kids has already inspired over 35,000 children to try tennis for the first time, with over 50% continuing to play on a follow-on course. This year, the LTA plans to further grow the number of young players across the nation and meet rising demand for the programme, with some key changes including; being an ‘always on’ programme, widening the age range to four – 11 year olds and broadening the locations with even more accredited coaches taking part than ever before.

The courses are aimed at children who have never played before, so focuses on fun and getting kids active, combining basic hand eye co-ordination with rudimentary tennis skills. Beyond the practical side of the sport, the sessions will be teaching children how to work with a partner, become a valuable member of a team -  all in a fun and relaxed environment. Parents are also encouraged to join in for the final session which has a ‘Family Time’ theme.

Alfie Hewett, World No. 1 Wheelchair Tennis Player said: “It’s brilliant to have the chance to inspire more children to pick up a racket and try tennis for the first time with Tennis for Kids. I fell in love with the sport at a young age and I’m fortunate that it’s led to my career and the friendships I’ve made along the way. Tennis has given me so much both on and off the court, and I would encourage any child to give Tennis for Kids a go – it’s the perfect place to start.”

Joss Rae, former British Tennis star said: “My parents introduced me to tennis when I was young, and I soon became hooked. I always looked forward to my coaching sessions and seeing my friends on court. Now as a coach myself, I’m passionate about getting more children excited for tennis and initiatives like Tennis for Kids mean more opportunities for children across the country to try it and hopefully continue playing for the rest of their lives.”

After Great Britain’s historic Davis Cup by BNP Paribas win in 2015, Tennis for Kids was launched in April 2016, to establish a genuine tennis participation legacy and develop a new generation of tennis loving children across the country.

Leon Smith, Davis Cup Captain and LTA Head Coach of Men’s Tennis said: “It’s incredible to see how many children have benefitted from Tennis for Kids since its inception in 2016. We wanted to make tennis more accessible to all and I am excited to see how the new changes this year will continue to inspire generations of tennis-loving kids. By training up coaches to deliver more courses than ever before, we’re hoping even more children who haven’t tried tennis will pick up a racket, give it a go and continue to play this great sport throughout their lives

The six session course is £25, averaging just over £4 per lesson and is available for children aged four – 11. Those who sign up will also receive a tennis racket, ball set and a Tennis for Kids personalised t-shirt to ensure they’re equipped for the on-court fun. Places are available all year round with dates pending on local coach course timings.

A scheme which encourages parents who have received help from children's services to "champion" the support available to other mums and dads has received another national award from the Family and Childcare Trust.

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Parent Champion coordinator Reeta Shemar was named Coordinator of the Year by the Trust last year – and now the scheme itself has been named Parent Champion Scheme of the Year 2018.

The scheme recruits local men and women to talk to other parents about their experiences of children's social care services.

The volunteers work to build trust among families, and inform parents about the various opportunities available to them – such as the free childcare offer to three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.

Parent Champions also offer one-to-one advice to encourage new and prospective mums and dads to get help and support from their local Strengthening Families Hub and elsewhere, and enable parents to have their say on the development of services.

The Parent Champions have been instrumental in shaping how the scheme moves forward, for example working from Job Centre Plus offices or setting up self-help groups for parents struggling with mental health problems.

And as well as helping others, Parent Champions reap benefits of their own. Becoming a Parent Champion strengthens participants’ employability by developing their skills and confidence, and a number have gone on to secure paid employment or join training programmes thanks to the support they receive in their voluntary role.

Emma Bennett, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Children’s Services, said: “The Parent Champions scheme is a fantastic initiative which enables mums and dads who have had first-hand experience of children's services in Wolverhampton to share their knowledge with others.

"They give a few hours a week to talk to other local parents about the services which are available to them, and because they are parents themselves, they are able to share their own experiences in a relatable, trusted and informal way.

“I am delighted that the efforts of our Parent Champions, and the support of the City of Wolverhampton Council, has been recognised on a national stage by the Family and Childcare Trust.”

Reeta said: "We have trained 36 volunteers over the last two years or so, and are preparing to induct a new cohort who will soon be out and about sharing their knowledge with local families.

“The scheme is a fantastic example of the benefits that volunteering as a Parent Champion can bring, and I would encourage anyone who is interested in taking on this important role to contact me to find out more.”

Sport is set to play a starring role in Australia from next week, with a major Commonwealth ministerial conference taking place the day before the 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

The Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, will chair the ministerial meeting before attending the opening of the Games.  She will also participate in Gold Coast’s Trade 2018 initiative and the Women of the World festival in Brisbane.

The 9th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting will be held in Gold Coast on 3 April.  Governments will focus on collective action to measure the contribution of sport to development objectives in areas such as health, education, economic improvement and community.

In addition, ministers are expected to discuss how to improve links between government and sporting organisations. They will also consider ways to embed a rights-based approach in government sport policy, for example ensuring sport is free from abuse and discrimination, and tackle sport integrity threats such as doping and match-fixing.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said, “The Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting further demonstrates our work in harnessing the role of sport as a development tool, supported by strengthened governance, sport integrity and the protection of human rights in sport, towards more inclusive and sustainable development.

“Sport is a valuable asset, making an important contribution to strengthening the economic, social and cultural bonds of our growing Commonwealth family. The reach and impact of the Commonwealth Games exemplifies this.”

The launch of the Commonwealth Games will see athletes from 71 countries take part in 275 events during the course of the competition, which runs from 4 – 15 April.   For the first time, there will be an equal number of events for women as men.

In addition to the ministerial meeting and Games, the Commonwealth is also supporting a ‘pop up Commonwealth House’ initiative led by the governments of Queensland and Gold Coast. Commonwealth House will host business events to promote investment opportunities and establish international partnerships with the aim of developing new supply chains across the 53 member countries.

The venue will also play host to the third annual Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development on 6 April 2018. The debate will feature panellists including St Lucia’s Minister of Culture and Local Government Fortuna Belrose and two-time ju-jitsu world champion Shantelle Thompson.

The Commonwealth’s Head of Sport for Development and Peace, Oliver Dudfield, said, “The Commonwealth debate has become a leading global policy discussion on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

“This year, the debate topic is ‘Sport pays for itself in the Commonwealth” and will consider how the return from investing in sport can be enjoyed by more people and more communities across the Commonwealth.”

While in Gold Coast, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will also deliver the concluding speech at gold coast’s ‘Trade 2018’ initiative, which will include a preview of the trade research that will be presented at next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London. The ‘2018 Commonwealth Trade Review’ magazine will also be launched at the event.

Following her visit to the Games, the Secretary-General will attend the ‘Women of the World’ (WOW) festival in Brisbane. The festival, which runs from 6 – 8 April, will focus on the achievements and challenges of women and girls in the Commonwealth.