Cold Ashby pros Shane Rose and John Chivers have been dodging the recent snow showers in order to get some much needed, if slightly unusual, practice ahead of Midlands Golf Week from April 12-21.

The pair have been spending time on the range perfecting their moves as they prepare to host a special musical golf show as part of the free taster sessions later this month.

With Ashby being one of several Northants clubs to take part in Midlands Golf Week for the first time, Rose and Chivers are offering a golf day with a difference as they look to encourage people to give the sport a go.

Rose: “The musical golf show is something we first did to mark the opening of the club’s driving range and since then we have delivered it at events up and down the country.

“Put simply, we hit trick shots to match the music, for example ‘Swing low, sweet chariot’ will see us shaping special low shots. The show lasts for about 40 minutes, during which time we hit about 300 balls.

“We have added new trick shots over the years, songs which we can fit a shot to or a theme, such as dressing as Laurel and Hardy to perform the show.

“The weather hasn’t helped us practice it, but it’s a bit of fun and we will follow the show with some free introductory golf lessons for people. And they will get a chance to get out on the course.”

Other county clubs to offer free or discounted golf coaching for juniors or beginners over this period include Northants County, Northampton, Collingtree Park, Silverstone, Staverton Park and Cherwell Edge.

For more details, contact your local golf club.

Old Northamptonians moved up to third in Midlands One East with a comfortable 40-7 victory over Newark at Billing Road.

Newark had an early chance when the ONs were penalised from the kick-off but the attempt was wide and after just six minutes the ONs took the lead.

Newark possession was turned over on half way and Sam Howes went 50 metres to touch down.

Alex Rose converted to take his season’s league tally to 200 points.

The advantage was extended as the first quarter ended when Jake Spencer caught a Newark clearance before making ground up the left touchline and after he was stopped the ball was quickly moved across field for Richard Blank to finish in the right corner.

Newark missed a second penalty attempt and just before half-time the ONs had to defend a series of driving mauls but when they were again penalised and the ball was put into touch, the lineout was won by the home side and the danger cleared.

A yellow card shortly after the interval reduced the visitors to 14 and after Rose pushed the resultant penalty wide, Matt Mills won possession, one of several turnovers he executed during the game, Matt Love was tackled just short and Jack Bradbury was on hand to burrow over for the first of three ONs tries in a dominant 10-minute spell.

Rose was next over, weaving his way through from 30 metres after Ash Fullthorpe, Tom Holliday, Howes and Spencer had made the initial inroads and within a minute of coming off the bench.

Dan Napier showed power and pace to score the fifth.

Newark second-row Jon Evans ploughed over from short range and Matt Cox converted to reduce the deficit after Chris McKee had been sin-binned.

But on his return he finished off another concerted ONs attack as precision passing and off-loading splintered the Newark defence.Rose converted, as he had the previous three ONs second-half tries.

Scouts are no match for brilliant Buzzard

Old Scouts proved no match for a classy Leighton Buzzard side who eased to a 52-23 victory at Rushmere Road.

Scouts looked bemused as the game kicked off with a rare appearance of sun in their eyes, and allowed the kick-off to bounce. The visitors pounced on the loose ball and immediately set up a try-scoring attack with barely 30 seconds on the clock.

Ten minutes later promotion-chasing Buzzard were on the attack again and missed tackles saw them touch down and with the conversion sailing over they already had a 12-point lead.

Scouts did manage to quell further attacks with some ferocious tackling and eventually started to get a grip on their own game.

Three penalties from the boot of stand-off Adam Frost in as many minutes put some points on the board and, although Buzzard scored another converted try, 
Scouts hit back straight from the kick-off when Iain Simmons raced over and Frost converted from the touchline.

With the score after half an hour only 19-16 in favour of the visitors it looked like it was going to be a close-fought encounter.

However, as they are attempting to bounce back up a league at the first attempt, Buzzard had different ideas. A seven-pointer just prior to the break set them on their way to a comfortable win and they cruised through the second half, adding four more tries.

Scouts did get a consolation midway through the half when prop Maurice Bazini burrowed over and Frost converted.

Good Evans can’t stop St Andrews

Sam Evans’ second-half score was not enough for spirited Long Buckby as they suffered a 32-16 defeat to St Andrews last weekend.

Second-row Evans gave the home side hope when he crashed over at the start of the second half, but St Andrews eventually proved too strong.

The away team defied a sin-binning to claim a victory that owed much to what was a very powerful start to proceedings.

Jonny Palmer continued to keep Buckby in the game with his boot, kicking three penalties and converting Evans’ try.

But St Andrews made their way over for a late score to put a gloss on the result.

Frost seals Scouts’ place in semi-final

Old Scouts secured their place in the semi-finals of the Lewis Shield with a 24-22 win against ONs at Billing Road on Tuesday night.

A late try and conversion from Adam Frost settled a closely-fought contest.

Scouts’ other tries came from Maurice Bazini and Richard Bussey. Frost converted both and also kicked a penalty.

Owen at double to down Bugbrooke

Bugbrooke went down 22-19 in their Midlands Two East (South) rearranged game with Harborough.

Tries from Chris Owen (2), Jack Johnston, Michael Goode and a Callum Blair conversion saw Harborough home.

Saints centre Dom Waldouck will be out for the rest of the season after sustaining an injury in training last week, the Chron understands.

Waldouck, who transferred from Wasps to Northampton last summer, had to be removed from the paddock on a stretcher.

And the diagnosis is more severe than first thought, with the 25-year-old now expected to be sidelined for a period of months.

Waldouck will see a specialist to determine the exact extent of the damage, but the nature of his injury remains unknown.

His absence leaves the door open for Tom May and Luther Burrell, who both played a part in the defeat to Leicester last weekend, to scrap it out for the No.12 spot at the club.

Detectives have revealed the driver of a car that crashed into the side of a house in Little Billing last night has been arrested on suspicion of causing Grievous Bodily Harm.

Police were called to Swinford Hollow after the car smashed into the side of the terrace house, damaging two more adjoining homes.

The crash happened at 8.45pm last night and resulted in the male driver and his female passenger being taken to hospital with “serious injuries”.

The man, a 33-year-old from Thorplands, has since been arrested.

A police spokesman said: “We now have an update to the road traffic collision in Swinford Hollow, Little Billing, Northampton, yesterday evening.

“A 33-year-old man from Thorplands, Northampton - the driver of the vehicle involved in the collision - has been arrested at Northampton General Hospital on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

“He is currently in custody at the Criminal Justice Centre in Northampton.”

Police have refused to say anything further on his arrest.

Meanwhile, neighbours have revealed how they thought a “bomb had gone off” after a car smashed into the side of a house.

All three terraced houses are currently uninhabitable due to safety fears, with the owners having moved out already.

Daniel Murray, who lives in the third house along in the terrace, and the furthest from the impact, said part of his ceiling collapsed due to the force of the crash.

He said: “I wasn’t too sure what the noise was to be honest,

“I was sitting there watching the football and I just heard a humongous bang. I went out and could see the smoke coming up and the car in the wall.”

He said he then cut the driver free, using scissors to cut his seat belt.

Another eyewitness, Kimberly Grant, added: “I just heard a bang. It sounded like a bomb going off. I’ve never heard that sort of sound before.”

Taylor Marriott, who lives further along the main road, said she heard a car “screech” along the road before she also heard the bang moments later.

She said: “I heard the car come screeching down the road.

“Then I heard a huge bang. It sounded like the wheels were still spinning.”

A police spokesman said: “We are appealing for information about a serious road traffic collision which occurred in Little Billing, Northampton, at shortly after 8.35pm yesterday evening

“A green Vauxhall Vectra car left the road and was in collision with a number of terraced houses in Swinford Hollow.

“The fire service was also in attendance and the driver of the Vectra, a 33-year-old man, and his 25-year-old female passenger - both from east Northampton - were taken to Northampton General Hospital with serious injuries.

“Three properties were damaged as a result of the collision. No-one in the properties was injured but the occupants have been moved out pending repairs to their properties.”

Witnesses to this collision, or anyone with information about it, can contact police on 0800 174615.

Three town lads are up for this year’s Drennan Cup – and a share of the £3,750 prize money!

And one of them, Jamie Cartwright, who could seemingly catch monsters in a water butt, is in TWICE – for a 4-9 Ouse perch in February AND a 15-15 River Nene record barbel in October.

Also in with a chance are Raphael Kyte with his 7-11 December Ouse chub, and good old boy Mike Green with a 30-4 Chew Valley pike on fly last July.

Now it is all down to how many people vote for them (and a raft of other finalists) by emailing stephen.stones@bauermedia.co.uk or calling 01733 395099 in the Angling Times-run competition.

Personally, I wouldn’t vote for anyone refusing to declare which water they’d had their fish from...which would leave the town lads in and a great many others out.

Good luck Jamie, Raphael and Mike. Mine’s a Murphys if you win.

Courtney Hewlett had Castle Ashby’s Brickyard bream queuing up in Saturday’s match, netting 34, despite the chill weather, for 76lb. Mick Hewlett had 26--2 and Mick Waddham 19-2.

Wednesday had seen grandpa Mick top with 28-12 from the ‘yard as Ian Hutton had 25-6 and Frank Pizmenti 18-12. Dick Rogers won, Sunday, on Grendon with 15-12 followed by Josh Line 14-14 and Andy Jones 12-12.

An ad hoc bank holiday Monday Meadowlands do saw Tim Bull with 65-4 as Ian Lillystone had 38-14 and Mick Bull 36-8. The brothers Bull were runaway top pair.

Good weights rewarded White Hart Flore’s their ice-breaking at Barby Banks as Tom Griffiths caught 65lb, beating Drew Adams 49-14 into second with Gary Muddiman on 39-13.

Despite seven degrees of frost overnight, Bishops Bowl came good with a stream of double-figure nets led by Andy Pell 61-6. Mick Wheeler had 36lb and Joe Roberts 34-10. The venue’s Mitre pool is producing a stream of doubles for specci types.

TOWCESTER, Peatling Pools: Mick Goodridge 18lb, Darren Pannell 12lb, ‘Ferret’ Keele 10lb.

CASTLE, silverfish, Canons: Stuart Cheetham 9-10, John Lewis, 6-14, Bob Spencer 4-12.

TOWCESTER vets, Stockton: Gerald Greene 5-5, John Balhatchett 1-8, Mick Read 1-1.

COTTON Club, Flore canal: Russ Lay (1 bite, 1 perch), Marcus Annable 0-13, John Kirton 0-8.

FIXTURES: this weekend Carpin Capers re-starts opening Sunday mornings; Monday, Nene AGM, 7.30, Yeomen of England, Wootton; April 11, 8pm, Abington Park AC AGM at Old Northamptonians; April 12, Olney AGM, 8pm, Two Brewers, Olney.

April 14, MK teams of 4 canal league start 07703 556788. April 17, Castle AGM, 8pm, Far Cotton WMC.

Doubles from Will Briscoe and Liam Norton inspired Spartak to a 5-3 win over Devonshire Club and move them up to second in division two.

Matty Silecchia got the other for Spartak, who as a result move level on points with Roade.

Joe Handley, Max Payne and Barry Swallow all netted for Devonshire.

Manfield Rangers were beaten 4-2 by St Margaret’s Reserves in the only division one clash to go ahead.

Tom Retief, Brett Manning, Dan Kennedy and Jordan Casey produced the goods for Maggies, Jason Rose and 
Andy Ranft replying for Rangers.

In division three, Billing United eased to a 6-1 home win over Nene thanks to goals from Anthony Payne (2), Ben Turvey, James Hine, Steve Warner and Russell Collyer.

Adam Bell struck Nene’s only reply.

Both Butchers Loco and FC Ryan Munich’s original fixtures fell victim to the cancellations, but the clubs made every effort to arrange an alternative league fixture on private grounds and they must be commended for their efforts.

Munich took all three points in a 2-1 win with goals from Jack Harper and Dan Spence. Chris Moore hit back for Loco.

Four division five games bit the dust, with only one going ahead between Vesta and Northampton Hotspur.

Vesta claimed a 4-3 win to move up to fourth thanks to efforts from Andy Neal, Rob Pinney, John West and Tom Strand.

Hotspur replied through Matt Harris (2) and Jonnie Spooner.

Harpole suffered their first defeat since October 2011 as Moulton secured a 2-0 win to knock them off the top of the premier division.

The result ended a remarkable run for a team who had not lost a home game since the opening day of the 2010-11 season.

First-half goals from Adey Redmond and Ryan Ansell ensured Moulton took all three points.

Welford profited from Harpole’s rare setback as they beat Stanion.

Welford came back from two goals down to win 5-2, Joe Ellard leading the way with a double.

A Matthew Coleman effort and an own goal gave Brixworth all three points at Isham and pushed Kettering Nomads deeper into trouble, while James Reece netted four times in Roade’s 6-0 romp over Khalsa. Ashley Meeks and Craig Pugh got the others.

Heyford remain rooted to the bottom after losing 4-1 to Weldon - two further defeats will leave them unable to move off the foot of the table.

Lewis Trasler’s double for Wootton St George dented Burton’s hopes of overhauling Earls Barton at the top of division one.

Kislingbury smashed six past Everards in a 6-1 win to close the gap on Burton to a single point with games in hand.

Corby Eagles’ 9-1 win at Wilby gives them one hand on the division two trophy.

Colin Hutchison scored three while there were braces for Paul Caswell and Keith Leigh.

Wollaston are best placed to catch Eagles after defeating Daventry Comms with Lee Warman’s brace, but will need to win all their remaining games and have a minimum swing of 23 goals to do so.

A 1-1 draw leaves the top two in division three unchanged with Exiles leading the way from Ferrers.

Great Doddington moved a step closer to safety with a 1-1 draw against Grange Park Rangers. James Brooks was on target for Rangers.

In the reserve premier division, Harpole closed on leaders Blisworth following the narrow win over Spencer.

Tomek Simek scored the winner to move ON Chenecks A away from the bottom of the table in the victory over Milton, while Brixworth and Moulton drew.

Goals from Steve Ashton and Nicky Charlton put Earls Barton back on top of reserve division one after defeating Kisklingbury.

At the bottom both Bugbrooke B and Heyford remain in trouble. Bugbrooke lost at home to Orchard Park, while Mark Fletcher scored four for Old Grammarians in the big win over Heyford.

Matt Almond retained his Stanwick 10k title with another superb run on Easter Monday.

The current county champion, who runs for Birchfield Harriers, clocked a time of 31.38 to finish well ahead of second-placed Stuart Nelson, who crossed the line in 33.37.

Nicole Roberts, also of Birchfield Harriers, won the women’s race in 37.13.

Wootton Road Runner Graham Hollowell secured a top-50 finish, his time of 41.11 earning him 49th spot. Hollowell’s Wootton team-mate Tracey Harris finished 304th in 1.05.44.

Rugby & Northampton were in good attendance and were led home by Joe Horsley in 187th (53.23).

Andrew Pate, representing Northampton Road Runners, was 172nd in 52.05.

Sheona leads way in Silson Winter League

Silson Joggers met up last week for the fourth round of the club’s Winter Cup, this season’s fixtures having been badly hit by the recent weather conditions.

With the first round having been cancelled due to an excess of snow on the club’s winter home, the Silverstone circuit, rounds two through four are now complete, and with three races left to run, Sheona Smee has a comfortable, though not unassailable lead of 49 points over Stewart Shears.

In third at the halfway mark is Allie Ferrie on 200 points, just four ahead of Trevor George, but the nature of the handicap series is such that it’s far too early to call right now.

Meanwhile, for anyone who wants to get in on the act and run around the home of British motorsport, Silson Joggers are preparing for the 30th anniversary running of the Silverstone 10k.

The event, which also represents the opening round of the 2013 East Midlands Grand Prix Series, takes place on Wednesday May 8.

With a route that covers two laps of the former grand prix circuit, starting on the main grid and finishing in the pit lane, the smooth, relatively flat surface, and the fact that there is no traffic to contend with over the wide sweeping curves, makes it the perfect venue for a personal best.

More importantly it also means that it is ideal for both handcycle and wheelchair racers.

Entries for the event can be accepted on the night via cash or cheque only, while you can also enter 
online through the club’s website at www.silsonjoggers.org.uk.

Stagecoach Midlands says rising costs and reduced public sector investment have forced it to increase fares for passengers by nearly four per cent.

Fares in Northamptonshire will rise by an average of 3.9 per cent from Sunday, April 14, with the cost of a Weekly Northampton Megarider ticket - which is used by most passengers in Northampton - to increase from £11.80 to £12.

Most fares have increased by between 5p and 10p.

Stagecoach says its buses are still a far cheaper form of transport than cars, and says an independent survey carried out last year found it offers the best value bus fares “of any major bus operator in the UK.”

Stagecoach have said today that continued rising labour, energy, fuel and insurance costs, and reduced public sector investment in bus services, has left them with no choice but to increase some fares.

Steve Burd, managing director of Stagecoach Midlands, said: “We understand that this will be frustrating for our passengers. Unfortunately we have had to take some difficult decisions but we have done our best to keep fare changes to a minimum.

“We are facing continued rising costs in a number of areas of our business and we are seeing reduced public sector support for bus services as local authority budgets continue to be squeezed.

“We have worked hard to keep fares down for those who rely on the bus the most. As the cost of motoring continues to rise, our bus services continue to offer a greener, smarter and better value way to travel and we are committed to re-investing income from fares in further improvements for passengers.”

Upwardly mobile Caroline Bailey may not have Saturday’s Grand National in her sights this week but the trainer’s historic Holdenby North Lodge stables was this week celebrating its most valuable success.

Bailey, whose father Dick Saunders became the oldest man to win the National at the age of 48 in 1982 on the Frank Gilman-trained Grittar, saddled Noble Legend to take the £50,000 BetVictor Handicap Chase over 2m 6f under Andrew Thornton at Haydock Park last Saturday.

Six wins in the space of 12 months for Noble Legend and the fact the Bailey yard is in the rudest of health after also saddling Dermatologiste to win at Wetherby last week, suggests the Northants handler, who only took out her professional licence in 2007, is in red-hot form.

In fact the only recent body blow Bailey has suffered of late was when Noble Legend knocked her to the ground in the parade ring at Haydock before the race.

She said: “He is charming at home but as soon as he gets on a racecourse he is a real handful. On Saturday he suddenly whipped round and knocked me to the ground in the paddock. I’m just glad the Channel 4 cameras weren’t there at that precise moment!”

Thrilled by the success of Noble Legend, Bailey added: “The horse had qualified for the race some time back, so it was a race we had penciled in for him but you know these plans don’t always go smoothly.

“However, we knew the track, trip and ground would be in his favour.

“He is only a six-year-old and we are undecided if he will run again this season. He is owned by Peter Dixon-Smith at East Norton Hall in Leicestershire and we have always sat down and discussed it with him, although the horse wouldn’t want fast ground. Either way he is progressive, and looks as though he will stay further than three miles next season.

“It is easily the most valuable race we have won. Doctor David competed at that level but let us down on the big occasions while Castle Mane’s win in the Cheltenham Foxhunter’s Chase was before we had a professional licence.

“We have a staff of ten here and I am pleased for them. They have all ridden the horse at one time or another and it gives everyone a buzz in the yard.

Maintaining touch with grass roots is central to the Bailey operation, so it was important husband Gerald should saddle two winners on the same day at Garthorpe point to point in the form of Speckled Door and Sandpipers, especially as Noble Legend began life under this code. Speckled Door, who is named after a pub in Ireland, won his maiden race while the Alex Vaughan-Jones-ridden Sandpipers took the Intermediate contest.

Involving the family team is also central to the plot as twins Robert and Michael both had a day out, the former with his mum in Lancashire while the latter accompanied dad.

With parents both fully committed to the day jobs, switching attention to the winner of Saturday’s Grand National is best left to the eager young students of form, and Robert spends more time than most engrossed in the pages of the Racing Post.

While stable loyalty extends to a small place bet on the largely unconsidered Tatenen, trained by Richard Rowe but ridden by the Baileys’ stable jockey Thornton, the analysis is complete after a brief mid-morning break from activity in the kitchen. “I’ve narrowed it down to two,” says Robert. “Back Seabass and Cappa Bleu.”

OK Robert, I will.

Sporting Lings made sure of an NBC Cup final place by beating their Northants Combination counterparts Borough Alliance 3-2.

The Town League side were always in the lead courtesy of a double strike from from ace marksman James Church and a solo effort from Matt Brown.

In the premier division, Yardley United had more of the game against JLB but a hat-trick from Daniel Jennings ensured a 3-1 success for JLB leaving Tom Burston to hit Yardley’s lone reply.

The Eleanor Cleaning Services March Ball of the Month goes to Yardley United, who scored 11 goals in the month. Manager of the month is Harlequins boss Charlie Fleming after steering his side to wins over Hardingstone (4-1) and Thorplands Club 81 (6-0).

David Ripley believes the added depth to the Northamptonshire squad can pay dividends come September.

More specifically, depth in the seam bowling stocks that have been built up at the County Ground which can lead a push towards the all-important top two spots in the second tier of the County Championship, a quest that begins on Wednesday against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

The arrival of Trent Copeland, Mohammad Azharullah and Steven Crook provides the club with added strength in an area that proved to an Achilles heel last season.

And head coach Ripley, who is about to embark on his first full campaign in the job, knows this is an area that can make or break a campaign.

He said: “It tends to be about seamers and injuries and if we’ve got the depth that we currently have then we can maintain our push through a season.

“We’d like to start well but if we’ve got the depth then when others flounder hopefully we can push through.

“I’m pretty confident that if we don’t start exactly as we want then we’ve got a squad to cope with that.

“We want to make a good start because we’re excited about the work we’ve done and everyone feels that we’re in a good place.

“It’s a good time of year and we’re not alone as every side will feel the same but we’ve got a good spring in our step.

“We’ve had a good tour to Barbados and we just want to get stuck in.”

“If we can get that right then I think we’ve got a chance of getting promoted. If we can deliver on the things that we’ve talked about then we should be alright.

“There are probably five or six counties who will feel they should be in the mix for promotion and I see us as being in that group.

“It’s about playing well and I’m excited about watching us do that.”

A good deal of column inches will be used up over the next month commenting on the amount of cricket that is crammed into the embryonic part of the summer but Ripley isn’t one of those in the opposition camp and thinks that routine can be a good thing.

“Although it’s early, I quite like the idea of getting four games under our belt and the whole routine of it,” he said.

“We can play from Wednesday to Saturday, have Sunday off, practice Monday, travel Tuesday then play again and get into the season properly.

“We’ve talked more, and while it’s a word that I’m not too keen on using, it’s a modern coaching phrase, about getting the right processes in place and how we’re going to go about performing better.

“It’s Stephen’s (Peters) bag really, about how we’re going to approach the game and the attitude needed for the season.

“It’s 64 days of turning 
up with the right attitude and being up for it as your skills can take care of themselves.”

Peters himself believes the squad has the physical attributes to compete with the top teams this season and that their progress will depend on their attitude over the course of the campaign.

“I don’t doubt that we’ve got the skills to do well, we’ve just got to get our attitude right over the full course of the season and that’s what I want to see from us,” said the county skipper.

“You’ve got your so-called big clubs who will always have strong squads, like Lancashire, but we’re more than capable of beating those teams.

“And if we can be strong at home and pick up some good points on the road then there is no reason why we can’t achieve that.”

A LITTLE imagination, a lot of hard work, but most of all the will to succeed. That is the cornerstone combination upon which the new Brixworth Tennis Club opened up its doors on Easter Monday afternoon.

Thermals and a huge pot of tea might have been more appropriate than strawberries and cream, but Brixworth’s three hard courts are homed in an attractive setting and were soon overrun with activity and enthusiasm.

A five-strong committee has been built around chairman Will Haxby, who has been the driving force behind kick-starting the club into existence on premises shared with Brixworth Cricket Club.

Despite the fact around 70 people have already pledged allegiance to the cause since the turn of the year by taking out memberships, Haxby and the club’s new secretary Jonathan Martin were still nervous about opening support in a cold climate with other Easter pulls. They needn’t have worried.

As a large group of youngsters and more than a sprinkling of adults kept busy to stave off early April chill, local coaches James Haley and Laura Mineards supervised events on court.

Haxby said: “Much of what has been generated here is thanks to the support of a grant from Sport England but we also owe a debt of thanks to Dallas Burston and the cricket club.

“It’s incredible looking at it now to think the excavation work didn’t start here before 2005 when it was just a field, with the cricket club moving here three years later.

“Now there will soon be four changing rooms on site, including male and female for tennis and the next job of fund-raising will be towards the installation of floodlights.”

He added: “With the club so close to the edge of the village the idea has always been to create a social atmosphere for people who don’t want to drive ten miles to play their tennis.

“The cricket club are up here on Friday evenings in the summer and always enjoy a drink and a Bar-B-Q in a friendly environment and we jumped at the chance to be part of that

“Ideally you would want the courts to be used regularly during the day which is quite possible for retired people living in the village, and of course the children. After all, there are 500 of them at Brixworth Primary School just down the road.”

Club Secretary Martin has built the club’s new web-site – www.brixworthtennisclub.org.uk – where full details of junior coaching courses between April-June are posted but coach Haley can also be contacted on 07747 785344.

Club nights will be on Tuesday (for over 18s) as well as Friday from 5pm to dusk, and on Sundays between 2pm-6pm.

ONLY three weeks remain in the Dalepak Naps Winter Challenge and leaders Manor Mayhem and King’s Head Utd stretched the field a touch further last week. Both selected the 6/1 winner Noble Legend at Haydock Park – the locally trained Caroline Bailey runner benefiting from a fine ride from Andrew Thornton to score his sixth success in the last 12 months. It means the Harpole and Duston team of Sheila White and Katie Hughes still have a £6.10 advantage over the Spratton pub where ex-Cobbler Steve Phillips is ‘mine host’. There is then a gap of £14.02 back to Growly Bears in third. Saturday’s focus will chiefly be on the Grand National although no doubt the meeting at Chepstow will also enter the consciousness of our tipsters.

A REMINDER that the winter presentation/race night will take place at the Northampton WMC on Thursday April 25, when the doors will be open at 7pm. This gives tipsters the chance to re-register for the summer competition, which will start on Saturday May 4.

NAPS TABLE WEEK 22 of 25

*Denotes non runner switched to race favourite

Manor Mayhem NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) +43.50

King’s Head Utd NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) +37.40

Growly Bears Pepite Rose +23.38

Nag Nappers DECIMUS +22.13

Bugbrooke Badgers Softsong +21.50

Miracle Workers Handy Andy +18.25

Dave’s Doublers Ohio Gold +17.70

Sticky Wicket OSCAR MAGIC (7/2) +16.50

Mr Grumpy OSCAR MAGIC (7/2) +15.26

Go Getters Handy Andy +14.88

Trinity Old Boys DECIMUS (85/40) +14.38

Loco Saints Pepite Rose +12.88

Wright Nag Lost Legend +11.63

PWB Racing Tornado In Milan +11.00

TP Racing Pigeon Island +10.80

Barley Hill Punters NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) +10.57

Nu Vu Windows MONSIEUR CADOU (10/1) +10.50

Got Potential Leader Of The Gang +10.00

Spinaclean The Big Freeze +10.00

Tailor’s Dummies Cloudy Too +9.50

Ajay Club Best Boy Barney +9.40

Warkton Fields Tony Star +9.26

CJ’s Pickles NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) +9.25

Simple Minds Cloudy Bob +8.91

T&S Racing Coverholder +8.63

Sons of Black Sam Pepite Rose +8.25

Manor Inn Brackley MONSIEUR CADOU (10/1) +8.00

Max King Fontaine +7.88

Midland Band Pool Reginaldinho +7.88

Snowy’s Daughter Pepite Rose +7.39

Golfing Gourmets MONSIEUR CADOU (10/1) +7.35

Riches’ Floretunes Shoegazer +7.00

3 Ms OSCAR MAGIC (7/2) +6.73

Duston Con Club CEDRE BLEU (10/1) +6.50

Queen’s Park Snooker Reginaldinho +6.50

Evertonians Landscape +5.75

T&J Club Pepite Rose +5.38

Shonkies Lad Romeo Americo +4.50

Abington LTC Fairweather Friend +4.00

S&D Racing Shoegazer +4.00

Cock At Roade OSCAR MAGIC (7/2) +3.79

Yeoman Boys VIRAK (1/2) +3.65

Aye Boy UPSILON BLEU (evens) +3.54

Admiral Rodney Bathwick Brave +3.38

M & B Racing Call Me Sir +3.25

Crown And Anchor Little Chip +2.83

OXO Shoegazer +2.75

B C Magpie Flaming Charmer +2.25

Health Matters Pigeon Island +2.00

NCT Racing Rouge Et Blanc +1.83

Postman Pat Flew The Nest +1.83

Diamond Girl Ballyben +1.66

The Nap Hand Partnership Inoogoo +1.00

K9 Walkers Christopher Wren +0.50

Aardvark Racing CEDRE BLEU (10/1) +0.13

Cassandra Christopher Wren -0.25

Happy Dave Pepite Rose -0.25

Racegoers Quaddick Lake -0.40

Mug Punters Heavenstown -0.50

The Wolf Whistler CEDRE BLEU (10/1) -0.50

Bajan Racing King Fontaine -1.00

Gayton Bill Coverholder -1.00

The Uppers Quaddick Lake -1.12

Brinley’s Banker Hi George -1.47

Rosebery Ramblers CEDRE BLEU (10/1) -1.50

Plough Inn Everdon Yorkist -1.59

Blue Diamond Trouble In Paris -1.60

Moulton Mules Coverholder -1.75

Goody Goody Cloudy Too -1.91

Overstone Caravaners Brunswick Gold -1.95

Not Too Sad Mubrook -2.00

Phoenix Golf Inoogoo -2.00

Sons Of The Desert Pigeon Island -3.00

Greens Norton Racers Spiekeroog -3.25

Mayfield Park Best Boy Barney -3.25

Zulu Warriors Green King -3.25

Roade Walkers NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) -3.50

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid Moscow Presents -3.79

KAB Cloudy Bob -4.00

The Wife Can Do Better Quaddick Lake -4.00

West Haddon Bowls King Fontaine -4.00

Cobblers Youth On Gossamer Wings -4.24

Towcester S&SC Capellanus -4.25

Margil Social NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) -4.50

Nick Brown Racing Willie Hall -4.50

Delboy’s Trotters Coverholder -4.67

Charlie’s Angels Pepite Rose -5.12

Blisworth Garden Services OSCAR MAGIC (7/2) -5.17

Beatnik Beatles Flying Doctor -5.20

Weekley Saints Pepite Rose -5.33

Abfran Racing Chestertern -5.36

Towcester Racecourse Farm Pixie -5.50

Alcon Samingarry -5.75

Long Buckby Skittles Patsy Finnegan -6.12

Culworth Red Lion Frontier Spirit -6.25

White Hart Hackleton OSCAR MAGIC (7/2) -6.37

ACKO Shoegazer -6.50

Bulltree Boys NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) -6.75

The 3 Js Boris The Blade -6.75

Brixworth Wanderers Rowdy Rocher -6.89

Cogenhoe Star Shoegazer -7.00

Red Van Man NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) -7.37

Chelsea Pensioners OSCAR MAGIC (7/2) -7.50

Old Hamish Gulf Punch -7.78

Marron Racers Smadynium -8.00

Nene Valley Racing Hannah Jacques -8.45

White Horse Silverstone Spanish Arch -9.00

NIBS Leader Of The Gang* -9.36

Juddies Giants Notcantdoit -9.49

Roade FC Best Boy Barney -9.50

Earls Barton WMC Softsong -10.04

West Haddon FC Quaddick Lake -10.17

Royal Oak Walgrave Hi George -10.67

Barnstaple Nomads Castlelawn -10.99

Ashington Flyer Christopher Wren -11.00

Cripps Social Club Tony Star -11.00

Kingsley Park Airgun Patsy Finnegan -11.00

SPA Coverholder -11.17

Transco OB Little Chip -11.25

Marmalaid Racing Handy Andy -11.37

Maori Racing Coverholder -11.50

The Boys Cloudy Too -11.62

Lonesome Dove Hannah Jacques -11.75

Exiled Geordies Patsy Finnegan -12.00

Role On Circus Of Dreams -12.00

Tomnjack Circus Of Dreams -12.00

Fat Boy Christopher Wren -12.12

M & N Racing Scimon Templer -12.50

Trafford Bridge Fan Club Leader Of The Gang -13.25

Black Symphony Roman Flight -13.43

Sywell Flyers The Big Freeze -13.43

OK Coral Pigeon Island -13.50

The Likely Lads Landscape -13.58

Gusto’s Boys Abnaki -14.00

Lady G Kane River -14.00

Trueform Aurora Farmer Matt -14.00

Rothwell Cobbler HUMBIE (5/2) -14.75

Jaycee Club Brody Bleu -15.00

The Yarmouth Vagabonds Mubrook -15.00

Wooldale FC NOBLE LEGEND (6/1) -15.00

Harborough Hamtunes Ledbury Star -15.25

Old Sun Heyford Frontier Dancer -15.25

Whistle Blowers Tony Star -15.46

Dawn’s Boys Ballyben -16.00

Rosey Poets Hurraboru -16.00

Girls On Top Leader Of The Gang -16.47

Rifle Drum Leader Of The Gang -16.50

We Like Guinness Landscape -16.92

Nurses Know Better The Big Freeze -17.00

Second Glance Lifetime -17.00

Steeleye Ann Cloudy Too -17.00

The Viking Triptico -17.00

Dalepak Social Pigeon Island -17.50

Kingfisher AC Reginaldinho -18.25

St Mary’s FC Liberty Court -18.25

Betony Belle Fannythewundahorse -18.75

Cobblers Le Magnifique Big Society -18.75

Queen’s Park WMC Shoegazer -18.75

Holdenby Heroes Little Chip -19.00

Magster Pepite Rose -19.12

Pennies From Brisbane Circus Of Dreams -19.12

Northants Anglers Frontier Dancer -20.09

Baltimore Bullet Inoogoo -22.00

Clever Trevor Flew The Nest -22.00

Ex Equestrian Handy Andy -22.00

Forza Milan Shadows Lengthen -22.00

Heathens RFC Christopher Wren -22.00

Kingsley FC Pepite Rose -22.00

Monday Ballroom Sir Benfro -22.00

On The Edge Inoogoo -22.00

Only Foals And Horses Pigeon Island -22.00

Steady Aim Inoogoo -22.00

The Byrne Syndicate Christopher Wren -22.00

The N Club Inoogoo -22.00

A former apprentice at Northampton shoe manufacturers Crockett & Jones has admitted stealing £2,000 worth of goods from his employer to fund his cannabis habit.

Sully Illing, aged 18, of Gillsway, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, stole 10 pairs of high quality shoes on November 1 last year.

The teenager had been working at the shoe firm as an apprentice pattern cutter since August and was caught after a manager at the firm noticed the shoes were being sold on eBay.

Northampton Magistrates’ court heard today that Illing was using the money he received from selling the shoes to buy cannabis.

Claire McCarthy, defending, said Illing had started using cannabis after one of his best friends died suddenly two years ago.

The solicitor said Illing was using all his wages to buy cannabis and therefore decided to sell the shoes to get extra money.

She said: “He made the ridiculous decision to put a couple of pairs of shoes on eBay and it then became 10 pairs.”

Illing was sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work. He must pay £2,000 compensation to Crockett & Jones. Costs of £85 and victim surcharge of £60.

Farmers in Northamptonshire are struggling to cope with the “worst spring weather in a generation” which has ruined crops and killed livestock.

The county has experienced its coldest March since 1962 and many fields have been covered by snow at a time when dry, sunny conditions are needed to help crops grow.

Alison Pratt, spokesman for the East Midlands branch of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said the conditions for farming in the past few months had been the “worst in living memory” for many farmers in the county.

Mrs Pratt said there had been reports of newly born lambs suffocating in the snow and many crops were being ruined by the unseasonably cold weather.

She said: “Livestock producers do not expect to have so much snow on the ground at this time of year and this is making it very difficult for the lambing season.

“Little lambs don’t cope well in the snow and it can be easy for them to become buried. It is also a problem for other livestock farmers as they have to keep their cattle inside more and give them extra food which is expensive.”

Mrs Pratt said arable farmers were facing up to the prospect of a second failed harvest as crops had already been replanted due to the excessive amount of rainfall at the end of last year.

Mrs Pratt said: “We 
really need some warm spring weather as the longer it takes for the seeds to germinate the less chance there is of it being a good harvest.

“Farmers have said it is the worst spring in living memory.”

An award-winning rapeseed oil producer in Northamptonshire may be hit by a second ‘failed’ crop as a result of the extremely cold and wet spring weather.

Duncan Farrington, who runs Farrington Oils, based in Hargrave, near Wellingborough, said he was struggling to deal with an “18-month winter” of damp, cold weather.

Mr Farrington said: “If it does not warm up then our second crop 
may fail and that would be a disaster.”

The family of a Northamptonshire man, who received life-threatening injuries from an angle grinder, has thanked medics for their speedy help.

The 46-year-old was airlifted to a Coventry hospital on Good Friday after the power tool kicked back off the stonework he was working on at a house in Grange Park and caught him on the neck and other parts of his body.

His son, who asked that the family not be identified, said: “Dad is very experienced and used to be a builder, so he knows exactly what he’s doing. It was just a freak accident that you couldn’t predict

“It hit his throat but also his chest and his cheek.

“It was a major, horrific accident and we’re grateful for the messages of support from people living in Grange Park, but also to the doctor, the paramedics and the hospital team. I would have lost my dad if it wasn’t for them.”

The man is stable and recovering in hospital.

Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd rates his side’s trip to Bradford City on Saturday as a game between two sides who cannot afford anything but a win.

The Bantams were rated as one of the pre-season favourites for promotion from npower League Two this season but have seen their chances of going up diluted by an excellent Capital One Cup run.

Bradford reached the final of that competition and although they were routed 5-0 by Swansea City at Wembley the achievement is an enormous one for a club in the bottom tier of English football.

Although it has also produced financial benefits it may have undermined the club’s aim of reaching league one this season, with Bradford five points off seventh-placed Exeter City but with a game in hand.

Such statistics make a home win vital for Phil Parkinson’s men if they are to stand a chance of promotion, while Northampton know they cannot afford any more slips themselves if they are to finish in the top three.

“Bradford have to win if they want to maintain their bid for the play-offs and we have to win if we want to maintain our run to the top three,” said Boothroyd.

“And it’s a game between two teams that know each other inside out because we’ve already played each other three times this season.”

Boothroyd’s first visit to his home town club came when he took Town there for an FA Cup first-round replay in November, the third of three games between the two sides in quick succession.

Bradford won on penalties that night after a thrilling 3-3 draw that reunited several old friends, and the same will be true of the weekend match.

“Bradford is my home town club so I always look out for their results,” he said. “Between myself and Andy King we know the staff there pretty well too.

“I know Phil Parkinson from when he was at Charlton Athletic and when he was Alan Pardew’s assistant.

“And Andy and I know Steve Parkin because he was the captain when we were all together at Mansfield years ago.”

If the Cobblers’ management team are to put one over on their former colleagues they will need to improve an away record that is comfortably the worst of the top-seven sides in league two.

Although improvements have been made recently the team has still only won one of their past seven road fixtures but Boothroyd was pleased with how his team played at Cheltenham, especially in the second half, and wants to see those advances maintained.

“You look for reasons why but we have got into a habit of bouncing back quickly from defeats away from home,” he said.

“At the start of the seasons there were reasons why our away form was so poor and we identified them and addressed them.

“Since then we have improved away from home and I was really pleased with the way we played in the second half at Cheltenham.

“So we’re going in the right direction and we need to make sure we keep doing that; you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

Calum Clark is targeting Saints’ game at London Welsh on April 14 as he bids to make his comeback from injury.

The England forward has been out since suffering a shoulder injury in Northampton’s Heineken Cup defeat at Glasgow Warriors in January.

He was forced to have surgery on the problem and subsequently missed England’s entire Six Nations campaign.

He has also missed eight Saints games, but is optimistic about his chances of helping them achieve their aim of finishing in the Premiership top four this season.

And Clark believes the game at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium a week on Sunday is a realistic personal target.

“I’m not too far (from fitness) and fingers crossed it will be next week,” said the former Leeds Carnegie flanker. “I’m looking forward to getting back.

“It’s always hard watching the lads and we were on the end of a disappointing result (the 36-8 loss to Leicester) last weekend but you’ve got to look forward and not back.

“We’ve got to find some solutions to what didn’t go right last weekend and put it right.”

Police have confirmed a 25-year-old woman was taken to hospital after falling from a bridge over the A45 last night.

The road was closed in both directions, at around 10.30pm, close to the Queen Eleanor roundabout.

A police spokesman this morning said the 25-year-old woman was taken to Walsgrave Hospital with what are believed to be “serious” injuries.

Police closed the road last night, saying they were dealing with a “serious incident”.

Diversions were put in place from the A45, via the Queen Eleanor roundabout, and back onto the A45.