Cold Ashby eased their relegation fears with a commanding 7-1 victory at Priors Hall, who now lie one point adrift of safety in division three.

Although Ryan Genner took the opener for the Corby club on the 18th, a couple of narrow defeats for Rory O’Connor and Callum Farr were the closest Priors came to grabbing anything else.

Jack Hall and Bob Clayton both won 4&3, Mark Conway triumphed 7&5, while Ashby team-mates Paul Askew and Greg Croxton were both three holes ahead when they finished their games.

In division one, Wellingborough’s title ambitions suffered a blow as they lost 5-3 at Staverton Park, who moved level on points with Overstone Park at the foot of the standings.

Despite losing the first and third ties on the penultimate hole, Wellingborough looked well set as Chris Leonard (2&1), Jamie Milligan (4&3) and Chris Howes (3&2) gave them the lead.

Josh Morris levelled up the scores however, Michael Franklin added another home point by defeating Ryan Connolly 4&2, before Miles Mudge won the last hole to beat Jon Harris.

If Wellingborough beat Overstone at home on Sunday, it will set up a winner-takes-all contest away to reigning champions Peterborough Milton the following weekend.

Exclusive screenings for parents of babies under one have been scheduled by the new Errol Flynn Filmhouse at Royal & Derngate.

A spokesman for the cinema said: “The screening will give people the chance to catch up on the latest movies with their baby in a safe and sympathetic environment, without the worry of causing a disturbance.”

The next Parent And Baby screening will be Joss Whedon’s beautiful new black and white version of Much Ado About Nothing, which can be seen at 11am on Monday July 22.

“Shot much in the spirit of the stage play on which it’s based, Whedon’s version of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy was filmed in his Santa Monica mansion in just 12 days,” the spokesman said.

“Though retaining much of Shakespeare’s original dialogue, its more flowery corners have been rounded off in deference to modern (and younger ears), making it a pacey and amusing film that even Shakespeare-phobes will find engaging.

“Sited adjacent to Royal & Derngate, the newly opened The Errol Flynn Filmhouse has state of the art digital projection equipment and great quality sound.

“The luxurious reclining leather seats have side tables, so customers can comfortably enjoy refreshments in the auditorium before the film starts, and a carefully chosen range of drinks and snacks, including locally-sourced products, will be available from the cinema’s bar, which will be open around 30 minutes before the film starts,” he added.

Admission to the parent/carer and baby screenings is £6.50, with the baby (aged under one year old) going free. Tickets can be bought on the day or booked in advance by calling Box Office on 01604 624811, or online at www.errolflynnfilmhouse.com.

Normal service was returned with interest at Long Buckby’s annual grass court tournament at the weekend, 12 months after the first ever total wash out in its 113-year history.

Sunstroke rather than flooding was a more prevalent problem as the 13 courts hosted some 250 entries with men’s and ladies doubles and veteran events on Saturday, with mixed doubles fare on Sunday.

The Buckby event is a remarkable piece of intensive timing and tribute to industry as tournament chairman Charles Jackson, one of a 17-strong committee explained.

He said: “The same people have been coming back for years. Most of those travel from within a 40-mile radius although we used to have a couple who came from Cornwall every year.”

Buckby folklore also recalls the one-legged player who once equipped with his false limb proved no slouch around the courts which are transformed from their usual guise of rugby or cricket field inside five days.

“Everyone on the committee knows what they are doing,” said Jackson. We have a meeting on Monday, the courts are marked out on Tuesday, with the grass cut on Wednesday. The lines are painted on Thursday and the nets and posts put up on Friday.

“We raise more than £1,000 every year, most of which goes back to the sports club although we try to invest in something every year such as net posts or stands. By 9.30pm on a Sunday everything is back to normal and they can play cricket here again on Monday evening.”

Heavy roller treatment also ensures notorious grass court bounces are not extreme, something County LTC pairs Dave Garrett/Barry Wilson and Laura Mineards/Catherine Thompson mastered on Saturday in the men’s and ladies events.

Wilson/Garrett were pushed to an 8-6 tie-break limit in their group by Mike Preston and Dave Barrick, while in the other half of the draw some excellent tennis by Kettering’s Jordan Parker and his partner Wayne Tideswell saw them reach a final before succumbing 6-2. Wilson/Garrett beat Jonny Searle/Carl Barrick in the semis, while Tideswell/Parker beat Preston/Barrick.

Saturday’s veteran men’s event saw Dave Brown (County) and Brian Perry (Kilsby) beat Tim Walden/Neil Caswell (Abington). Mineards/Thompson were 6-2 ladies final winners against Amie Norman/Lynn Adams.

Sunday’s mixed final saw the County combination of Dave Garrett/Catherine Thompson beat Josh Winters/Pippa Fisher (Northampton) in the final. In the semis, Garrett/Thompson beat Ben Foster/Laura Mineards while Wintets/Fisher beat Amie Norman/Dominic Sefton (Abington).

Brampton Heath missed a golden opportunity to take a clear lead at the top of group A as they crashed to a 8-0 home defeat to Kettering, who they had beaten away last month.

After a slender victory for Rob Aarts and Richard Grove in the opening tie, Kettering moved further clear by taking the next three games by four, one and two holes respectively.

Needing two convincing wins to snatch the victory, Brampton’s Lee Butler and Daniel Moore halved the penultimate game before fellow home members Don Field and Andy Churchill did likewise in the last tie.

Northampton moved level with Brampton and Kettering on six points after recording a 19-0 home success against Rushden.

Although all the matches were relatively close, Northampton always held the upper hand as they improved their points difference with a series of good wins.

Cherwell Edge gained bragging rights over Silverstone as they secured a 14-8 group B victory at their sister club.

The away side started strongly as Geoff Stone and Matt Riddle took the opening match by eight holes and John Thompson and Ben Anderson extended the lead by one more in the next game.

Silverstone responded as Lee Coughlan and Steve Pedder (five holes), Peter Sapey and Tim Roberts-Holmes (one hole) and Clive Nicholls and Nigel Parsons (three holes) left the match all square.

Cherwell duo Duncan Bidwell and Sena De Thabrew kept their nerve in the final match as they beat Trevor Barnes and Richard Morey by five.

Overstone Park made it five wins out of five outings in group C with a 12-3 home success against Oundle.

In a relatively tight match, the home side made the decisive surge late on as Chris Hoy and Tony Ames took the fourth tie by five holes, while Dave Mandley and Ivan Roy won the closing game by four.

Group D leaders Farthingstone were no match for Cold Ashby on their own track as they went down to a 16-1 away defeat.

With Jim Burberry and James Lovett taking the first game by five holes, the hosts extended their advantage in the middle ties before Stephen Bull and Younus Nabi completed the scoring with a six-hole win.

The number of recorded burglaries and thefts in Northamptonshire last year increased more than any other force in the whole of England and Wales, statistics released today have confirmed.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) today published crime statistics for every force in the country.

The figures, which were first revealed in the Chron in April, show crime across the county was down by five per cent.

However, it also reveals that despite an overall fall in crime, only police in Cheshire, Kent and South Wales saw smaller percentage falls.

It also reveals that burglary in Northamptonshire increased at a faster rate than anywhere else in the county between April 1, 2012 and March 13, 2013.

Dwelling house burglary across the county went up by 27 per cent, the biggest rise in England and Wales.

The number of thefts from a person across the county almost doubled, going up by 48 per cent - again the biggest increase anywhere in the country.

It comes as Northamptonshire was today named as one of five police forces that will struggle to cope with future budget cuts by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC).

Inspectors said they were “deeply disappointed” with “missed opportunities” to drive major efficiencies in some forces.

Others would struggle to accommodate future cutbacks, they found, identifying police forces in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire, as well as Northamptonshire.

The crime statistics, which were revealed by Northamptonshire Police in April but have been published today by ONS, are;

Total crime - down by five per cent

Total crime (excluding fraud) - down by four per cent

Violence against the person - down by 12 per cent

Violence with injury - down by 13 per cent

Violence without injury - down by 12 per cent

Sexual offences - up by five per cent

Robbery - down by 13 per cent

Theft - up by three per cent

Burglary - up by 14 per cent

Domestic burglary - up by 27 per cent

Non-domestic burglary - up by four per cent

Vehicle offences - up by nine per cent

Theft from the person - up 48 per cent

Bicycle theft - down by 23 per cent

Shoplifting - up by 18 per cent

All other theft offences - down by 21 per cent

Criminal damage and arson - down by 10 per cent

Drug offences - down by eight per cent

Possession of weapons offences - down by 12 per cent

Public order offences - down by 20 per cent

Miscellaneous crimes against society - down by 11 per cent

Fraud - down by 31 per cent

Across the county, crime has fallen to a new low despite cuts to police budgets and rank and file numbers, official figures show.

But the number of reported rapes has risen by two per cent in the past year, with the increase thought to be linked to the knock-on effect of the Jimmy Savile investigation.

Fraud has also soared by 27 per cent though overall crime is down by nine percent on last year - the lowest level since the Crime Survey for England and Wales began in 1981, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The data was released as the body representing rank and file officers warned forces would be unable to cope with a repeat of the 2011 riots as a result of Government austerity measures.

Prime Minister David Cameron hailed today’s figures as “good news”.

Speaking during a visit to Hammersmith police station in west London, the Prime Minister said: “This is good news because we see a reduction both in recorded crime and in the British Crime Survey, which shows that crime now is at its lowest level since 1981.

“I think we should congratulate the police. As a Government we have asked them to do more with less resources. They have performed, I think, magnificently and I think all the work that has gone into crime prevention has helped as well.

“This is good news, that Britain is getting safer as well as stronger.”

Big-match atmospheres and the dream of a home quarter-final are inspiring the Steelbacks in their Friends Life t20 campaign.

That is according to the man leading them from the front, captain Alex Wakely.

They have won all four of their matches at Wantage Road so far and all have been played out in front of a large support.

The people of Northamptonshire have certainly come out in force to back their boys.

Which is something Wakely is keen to acknowledge and he emphasised the inspiration it offers to his players.

“I really want to say how good the crowds have been,” he stated.

“We love playing in front of big crowds like we have done so far.

“It makes it so much more enjoyable for us and gives us a chance to perform and entertain people.

“It’s great that people are talking about Northants Cricket again and are coming in to watch us – long may it continue.

“The atmosphere has been great here. They’ve really got behind us.

“But then I suppose it is news to them to see us winning!

“We haven’t done it enough recently but hopefully we are now showing them that we can win those crucial moments and crucial games.”

That winning feeling has certainly brought a momentum to the Twenty20 push.

But talk to anyone at the club and they will be quick to emphasise there is no getting ahead of themselves.

However, Wakely did admit he would love the chance to experience again the sort of atmosphere the County Ground produced when Hampshire were beaten on a dramatic night back in 2009.

“If we could get a couple more wins and a home quarter-final that would be brilliant,” Wakely said.

“David Willey and I both played in the quarter-final we had here against Hampshire and we both remember it so well.

“We were at long-on and long-off, right in front off the crowd and they were all banging on the boards.

“It made the hair stand up on the back of our necks.

“It was the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in and the memory has really stuck with me.

“If there is any chance of getting that again it would great.”

A public meeting has been called to discuss pollution which has resulted from a nut factory fire in Northamptonshire

The major fire started at Quality Nut Products in Weedon, on June 26 and firefifghters’ successful efforts to put it out saw huge volumes of water enter a nearby balancing pond, which subsequently became polluted.

Representatives from the Environment Agency, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and Daventry District Council will attend the meeting, which will be led by Weedon Bec Parish Council, on Wednesday July 24 at 6pm at Weedon Bec Village Hall.

Karen Pell, a senior environmental protection officer at Daventry District Council, said: “We are pleased with work that was done to put out the fire and minimise pollution. We know that the pond in Weedon received some water and are working with the community to assess the odour this is causing.

“As the pollutants in the fire water break down we anticipate there will continue to be a smell and are monitoring the impact of this on residents.

“We are working with the Environment Agency, the community and the owners of the factory to see what solutions might be found.

He added: “Public Health England have confirmed that there are no health risks associated with burnt nut oil.”

The fire service and Environment Agency controlled the water runoff from the site by blocking surface water drains.

However, drains at the premises, within the hazard zone, did allow water to enter the local drainage system, which leads to a balancing pond below the site.

The Environment Agency treated the balancing pond to keep oxygen levels high, with the aim of supporting aquatic life.

When they saw the balancing pond was too polluted to maintain life, specialist contractors were brought in to contain and clean up as part of the ongoing incident management.

A joint decision was then made to contain all pollution in this area to ensure there was no contamination of the River Nene.

Greg Oakes from the Environment Agency said: “We work hard with our emergency partners to prevent fires from causing significant pollution. We have to balance the need to put fires out with the possibility of producing contaminated fire water that could escape”.

“This fire lasted for many days and we managed to contain almost all of the fire water and put the fire out without further damage to property”.

“We have worked hard to contain what water did escape and our efforts here continue.”

“We are aware that the pond in Weedon has been badly affected. We have dedicated a lot of resources during the emergency to clean the pond. Now that the emergency is over our contractors will attend one final time to clean as much of the pond as possible.

“The pond will take time to recover. We are currently trying to ascertain who owns the pond to discuss what should be done to further clean it up. We will sample and monitor the water quality to ensure no damage to the Nene occurs.”

Group Manager Luke Hodson, of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “This was a significant fire which was contained by the efforts of our firefighters and working with staff from partner agencies we were able to reduce the impact of the fire and associated hazards to surrounding commercial and residential neighbours.

“Working with the Environment Agency we were able to contain the pollution and stop its path to the River Nene and the devastation this would have caused.”

The Environment Agency has continued to use contractors to clean the pond and estimate this will continue until the weekend.

Efforts are now being made to trace the pond’s owner to ensure that any further works to clean up are completed.

Mrs Pell added: “We have also contacted the loss adjuster acting on behalf of the factory owners and will continue to liaise with them closely to ensure work progresses as required.”

A paedophile is awaiting sentencing after a court heard he had filmed young pupils as they walked to and from a Northamptonshire primary school.

Stephen Conroy, aged 53, was found to possess thousands of printed images, DVDs and videos of child pornography after police raided his house in February this year.

As well as finding the pornography, which was plastered all over ceilings and walls of three bedrooms, officers also found children’s underwear and a schoolgirl’s outfit, Northampton Crown Court heard today.

Alex Bull, prosecuting, said Conroy had filmed children coming to and from school using a camcorder.

Ms Bull said: “The defendant’s house was in close proximity to a school which can be seen from an upstairs window and the sound of children can be heard from the house.

“Children also regularly walk past the address to get to school.

“There was a home-made masturbation device by a window which had a view of the street. In regards to the masturbation station, he admitted that is what he used it for,” she added.

Conroy, who lives in Corby, was found to possess more than 30 of the most serious Level 5 child pornography involving children as young as one-year-old.

After being interviewed by police, Conroy said he had initially not realised he was doing anything illegal and had been searching for images of teenagers.

Alex Bull said: “Conroy told officers he thought the children in the images were innocent and beautiful and works of art but probably did not understand what was going on.

“He said he liked children and thought of himself as childlike.”

Conroy told officers he had started looking at child abuse images in 2006 and later searched for “school uniform porn”.

Conroy has pleaded guilty to a series of charges of possessing and making indecent photographs of children as well as possessing extreme pornography.

The sentencing of Conroy has been adjourned for a short period due to the unavailability of certain evidence.

Cold Ashby’s members will be keeping a close eye on the Open Championship this weekend since the winner’s face will soon become part of their clubhouse surroundings

With the 142nd tournament starting today (Thursday) at Muirfield and finishing on Sunday, the club have honoured each of the previous 79 different winners with a photo on the wall in their main bar.

Club owner David Croxton said: “We always look forward to adding new faces to our Open Championship wall. Willie Park snr is the first picture following his success in the inaugural event in 1860.

“Last year’s champion Ernie Els was already up following his previous victory in 2002, meaning Darren Clarke was the last new face in 2011. It would be nice to add another British winner this year.”

In the most recent club competition, back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holes helped Richard Green win the July Medal on countback from the consistent James Wallis.

Both men compiled a net 65 to nudge a single stroke ahead of Jim Burberry, David Munday, Ashley Lloyd, Spencer Daniels, James Lovett and James Gibson.

Farthingstone

Ian Donald claimed a gross and net double in the Club Championships as the four-handicapper fired gross rounds of 72 and 73.

With two of the leading contenders Paul Hodgkiss and Matt Hodgkiss on county duty, Donald completed his last seven holes on day two in two-under-par to finish seven clear of ex-champion Darren Matthews.

Hellidon Lakes

Paul Craig was crowned club champion after he birdied the eighth, 12th and 13th holes in the second round to secure a three-shot win from Paul Upfield in the 36-hole tournament.

The second division prize went to Lloyd Rawlins (173) by a single stroke from Malcolm Gregory. The Hellidon Scut was claimed by Keith Meadham (38 points) by one from Tom Upfield and Ashley Starbuck.

Northampton

David Haggan completed his last eight holes in gross level par to grab a countback victory from high-handicapper Keith Roddis (net 68) in the fourth round of the Northampton Cup.

The best gross score of 69 came from Simon Williams, who eagled both the third and 11th holes.

Forty points was the leading mark in both the top two divisions of the July Stableford & Cancer Spoon Competition as Linda Sherry and Jennie Woods took the respectively honours.

Overstone Park

Billy Beard bagged a hole-in-one on the 17th hole during the July White Tee Midweek Stableford as the five-handicapper carded a tally of 41 points.

The score still wasn’t enough to claim the top prize as Ian Kennedy’s gross level par round, which included three birdies, clinched the honours by a single point.

Rushden

Rushden has become the newest 18-hole golf course in Northamptonshire after the club officially opened its new set of nine holes over the weekend.

Club captain Tony Johnson had the honour of striking the first drive as he used a vintage hickory club to hit his ball down the middle of the opening fairway on Saturday.

Kingsthorpe

Raq Mistry led the way on Captains Day as the high-handicapper compiled an excellent score of net 60 to finish two ahead of Chris Spickett, with Neil Picton in third on 65.

With the members enjoying the hot weather, skipper Paul Walters handed over the gross prize to Peter Scott, who bagged three birdies in a round of 71.

Collingtree

Craig McClurg smashed a magnificent tally of 46 points to win the fourth round of the Colonial event by three from Lamont Montezu.

On a good day for scoring, Paul Woodbridge (41) was runner-up on countback from Mark Johnson, with former skipper Craig Robb and Patrick Kennedy a further point adrift.

Cherwell Edge

Three gross birdies in a fluctuating round of net 65 secured first prize for 17-handicapper Peter Sprey in the July Medal.

Matt Draper (net 68) won the first division by a single shot from Ben Anderson and Kevin Cole, while Phil Collett (68) led the way in the third category by one stroke.

Brampton Heath

David Mayes overcame a slight wobble towards the end of the fifth round in the Seniors Golfer of the Year Comp as he compiled a winning net 64. Brian Bentley was three shots back in second.

In the seventh ladies Order of Merit event of the season, Ruth Easton’s net 71 proved sufficient to win the Midsummer Major as she finished two ahead of Gillian Sparrow and Helen Milner.

Staverton

Paul Johnson birdied the 17th and parred the 18th to finish two ahead of Gary Dorney on Captain’s Day with 42 points. Chris Pendlebury, Andrew Swain, Steve Barns and Josh Morris all bagged 38.

The Over-65s Comp witnessed an even better score as Brian Scott fired 43 points from the yellow tees to beat Guy Gibbins by three.

Daventry

Peter Montgomery’s net 65 was the leading score in the Summer Medal as the 17-handicapper finished two shots clear of Chris Duff and first division leader James Berry.

Helen Primett enjoyed a convincing victory in the Ladies July Medal as a round of net 75 gave her a five-shot advantage from Lynda Partis and Jean Poolton.

Silverstone

Mark Riley warmed up for this weekend’s Club Championships in the best possible way as he won the latest Pro Shop Stableford with 41 points. Ian Bradley was second on countback from Barry Goodman on 37.

Delapre

Anne Wright underlined her position as the best golfer at the club as she completed a gross (159) and net (141) double in the 36-hole Ladies Club Championship.

Whittlebury

A brilliant total of 47 points clinched the Tom Cliff Trophy for Geoffrey Picken in the latest 9 O’Clock Club Competition.

Joe Widdowson admits he hasn’t watched the play-off final defeat to Bradford City again.

But the left-back, who came on as a second-half substitute in the disappointing 3-0 reverse, says the group are ready to use the nature of that loss to inspire them to go one better and win promotion this season.

“It took a while to get over that and it was a really disappointing way to finish last season,” said Widdowson, who captained the Cobblers in their friendly match at Cogenhoe United on Tuesday night.

“But it’s in the past and we move on to something new now. This is the start of something fresh and new.

“We have to go again and put it out of our minds. I haven’t watched the game again and I don’t want to watch it.

“I don’t think we’ll forget it because it was a massive occasion and a huge game, we just have to use it now to spur us on to bigger and better things.”

Widdowson will hope those things involve him; he missed the end of last season with a knee injury that has now completely healed.

“I feel like I’m completely over that now, it hasn’t caused me any problems over pre-season and I’m feeling really fit and really good,” he said.

A couple of weeks of rest and a rigorous summer training schedule has helped that.

“It has been very hot,” he said. “But the training has been good. We work hard and we work intensely under this manager.

“We all enjoy it and it’s all football-based so it’s not so unbearable when you’ve got a football involved.

“That’s what we need because it is a hard time. The week in Croatia was very hard because the sunshine makes you sweat a bit more but it was a good week, we got through a lot.”

Does the Nene now hold barbel to rival the British record busters of the neighbouring Upper Ouse in its heyday?

Duncan Kay has just landed a 16-8 from the river – following a 13-8 on his first cast of the season – and reckons he has seen one around the 22lb mark!

Once best known for big carp captures, the specimen hunter extraordinaire has had tench to 10lb this summer...and has banked an amazing 99 double figure 
barbel during his career – so far.

“I’m trying for the extra one to make the hundred, but it is proving very hard,” said the Northants specimen group member whose latest captures have been made using a 15 foot rod and float to work pellet down the edge of the current.

Gilders’ staffer Dan Todd had three tench to 4lb on corn from the town’s Nene, then moved to Napton reservoir where he netted 28 to 5-4 for more than 100lb. His mate Paul Bond had 10 tincas, and roach to 1-14.

Paul Yorke caught Stanwick’s biggest of the week, a 27lb common, while ‘Keith’ had two low 20s.

Last week saw the 50th anniversary of the late, great, Billy Lane’s 1963 world championship win, with a sell-out 79 peg Coombe Abbey open marking the occasion.

Sadly it was a dour do and Adam Rooney won with a three-bream 18-12 as Andy Wheildon had 11-4 of roach and Gary Davies 10-4.

Small carp and barbel were feeding for White Hart Flore at Bishops Bowl as John ‘rockin’ Berry rocked in with 85lb. Steve Bull had 51-8 and Trevor Griffiths 44-8.

Mobbs Miller’s Canons jaunt saw Mick Dudley win with 84lb, mostly carp. Jim Broadbent had 67lb and Chris Jones 44-12.

TOWCESTER, Flecknoe: Phil Wintle 80lb (carp), Dave Martin 70lb, Mick Goodridge 55-10.

COUNTY vets, Canons: Nick Antonacci 68lb, Paul Lafflin 67-12, Alf Gillard 65-8.

CASTLE Ashby: midweek, Brickyard, Dave Bowler 38-12, Pete Gibson 38lb, Courtney Hewlett 29-14; Saturday, Brickyard, Chris Garrett 68lb, Keith Garrett 52-8, Hewlett 25-12; Sunday, Grendon, K Garrett 66-4, John Kent 56-4, Darren Driver 44-12.

BUCKO charity sweep, Shearsby Valley: ‘Forrest’ 42-5, Mark Greenway 39lb, Luke Downing 32-10.

MK vets, Clattercote: Paul Barnes 38-15 (bream), Austin Maddock 20-11, Ted Brown 16-4.

FLORE & Brockhall, Silver lake: Rob Rawlins 26-8 (bream) Mark Phillips 15-12, Terry Smith 15-4.

NEWPORT, Abbeys pits: Dave Tebbutt 7-13, Barry Glidewell 3-8, Roger Tebbutt 3-4.

RUSHDEN, Cranford Hall: Steve Tuffnell 6-12, Steve Dunnel 6-4, Paul Moore 5-8.

CASTLE, silverfish, Crescent lake: Alf Gillard 6-4, Geoff Lewis 6lb, Bob Spencer (framed AGAIN) 5-6.

TROUT: Rutland’s 20 year-old brownie record obliterated with a 17-6-4 as 1,586 fish were caught (3.7 per rod); Elinor 209 (2.4); Pitsford 263 (2.4); Ravensthorpe 164 (5.2); Grafham 655 (3.54).

The return of soft ground could prove the catalyst for a long distance Group race success for the ultra-consistent Number Theory, owned by Duston man Mohan Fonseka.

That is the belief of John Holt, trainer of the five year-old Halling gelding who has seen his stable star rise through the ranks, transforming him from modest handicapper to the fringes of top class.

Raised in grade this season to contest a Group 3 event at Sandown before running creditably in the Ascot Gold Cup won’ by the Queen’s horse Estimate, Number Theory turned out at York last Saturday in the Listed John Smith’s Silver Cup where he finished third of eight behind the Willie Haggas-trained Sun Central.

The five year-old is still showing improvement at every turn.

Holt said: “His days of running in handicaps are over for now. He will be contesting Group Two and Group Three races and his next run will be over 2m in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup.

“However, we might think about going back to the Ebor again where he was third last year (behind Willing Foe).

“If he gets soft ground for one of these races I’m pretty sure he can win one.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s effort, Holt said: “He was still leading half a furlong from home and was just done for a bit of speed which probably wouldn’t have happened in softer conditions.”

Number Theory’s efforts may have done much to enhance the name of a Holt, one of the game’s smaller scale trainers, but he in turn was keen to give thanks to owner Fonseka.

“I am just pleased for the owner because he came to me asking to buy him his first horse and this has been the result,” said Holt.

NATIONAL Hunt jump jockeys Tom Messenger and Charlie Poste have regularly impacted on the worlds of county race followers in the past few seasons, and both enjoyed a welcome success on Sunday.

The early months of this National Hunt season are traditionally quiet, so the fact both should ride a winner on the same day at separate jumping cards was something of a stand out event.

For while Creaton-based Messenger was on board the 8/1 shot Raktiman for Chris Bealby in the novices’ selling hurdle at Southwell, Poste was closer to his own home base near Stratford now when he partnered 13/2 scorer Daneva for Matt Sheppard in the 2m 4f handicap chase.

Messenger’s efforts on Raktiman, who was sold out of Bealby’s yard for 7,000gns at the subsequent auction, appeared to earn both praise and punishment in equal measure.

For while Lincolnshire trainer Bealby and Attheraces presenter Matt Chapman were glowing in their tributes, the jockey was handed a nine day ban for his use of the whip on the quirky individual.

Poste said: “At this stage of the season it is just good to keep ticking over.

“I have a ride at Market Rasen on Saturday on another horse for Matt Sheppard named Another Flutter.

“I also hope to be riding for Robin Dickin and Richard Lee as the season picks up.”

A 41-year-old man has died in hospital seven weeks after he suffered head injuries in an assault in a Northamptonshire town.

Northamptonshire Police confirmed today that Marc Sturgess, of Stamford Road, Kettering. died in hospital on Monday after being assaulted on June 1.

Six men, all from Kettering, were arrested in June on suspicion of serious assault and remain on police bail.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Behan, leading the investigation, said: “Firstly, I wish to express my sympathies to Mark Sturgess’s family.

“I would ask anyone who was in the area of Barnwell Road, Kettering between 11.00pm and midnight on 1 June, to contact us.

“I would especially like to speak with any taxi drivers who bought passengers to the area at those times.

“I would like to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident.”

The alleged assault took place in Barnwell Street, Kettering.

Six people have been arrested and 21 vehicles seized after Northamptonshire Police carried out a countywide day of action targeting burglary, vehicle crime and drug dealing.

Officers executed 12 drug warrants at homes in Northampton, Daventry, Towcester and Corby on Wednesday and five men and one woman were arrested for drugs and theft offences.

Two men, Carl Lewis, aged 23, of Willis Way, Towcester, and Perry Joyce, aged 22, of Islington Road, Towcester, were subsequently charged with possession with intent to supply controlled drugs.

More than 50 vehicles were stopped after being scanned by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and officers seized 21 vehicles, including two that were found to be stolen.

Ten were uninsured, five had no tax and four drivers did not have a valid driving licence.

Police were also went out to meet people and give out crime prevention advice.

At Tesco, in Mereway, Northampton, police spent the day patrolling the car park and giving crime prevention advice to drivers visiting the store and petrol station.

They spotted more than 170 cars where drivers had left valuable items in the car that could be seen easily by a potential thief, or had even been left unlocked.

Officers were also on patrol in Dallington, where they spoke to more than 80 people and gave out hundreds of crime prevention advice leaflets.

Police in Brackley took the mobile police station to Deanshanger to meet local people and carry out speed checks.

In Wellingborough, 30 motorists were stopped as part of a ‘rogue trader’ operation. Various offences were detected, including vehicle defects, no MOT and use of a mobile phone while driving.

Sergeant Neil Cahalin, who led the day of action, said: “It was a highly successful day. As well as carrying out search warrants, making arrests and seizing vehicles, there were several community events. These gave us the chance to meet and talk to local people and give out useful advice and information.

“The ANPR team were particularly successful, seizing more vehicles in a day than in any previous operation, showing our determination to crackdown on motorists who drive without valid insurance or a driving licence, putting other road users at risk. One follower on Twitter even described the day as like a live episode of the TV show Road Wars!”

The day of action formed part of Operation Guardian, the ongoing operation to tackle burglary, vehicle crime and related offences.

Police officers investigating the alleged murder of 72-year-old Northampton man, Giuseppe Miceli, will return to the scene of his death tomorrow to speak to potential witnesses.

Mr Miceli was found dead at his home in Bants Lane, Duston, at about 1.45pm on Saturday July 13. He died as a result of head injuries.

Investigators are now keen to talk to anyone who may have been in the area from lunchtime on Thursday July 11 through to the afternoon of Saturday July 13.

Det Supt Kate Meynell, who is leading the investigation, said: “Bants Lane is a busy residential road and through route, and a lot of people will have driven or walked through this area in the 48 hours leading up to the discovery of Mr Miceli’s body.

“We are really keen to speak to people who were in the area this time last week.

“They may not think they saw anything suspicious but every bit of information is important and may help us build a full picture of the circumstances surrounding Mr Miceli’s death.”

Uniformed officers will be on patrol from 10am on Friday and will talk to residents and people travelling through Bants Lane and the surrounding area.

A 40-year-old man from Wellingborough has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody in Northampton.

Anyone with any information can call police on 101 or 03000 111222, extension 341078 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Lateef Elford-Alliyu might have scored four goals in the 6-0 win at Cogenhoe United on Tuesday night but the star of the evening was playing at the other end of the pitch.

Right-back Connor Roberts’ was not exactly overworked – and that’s understandable given the distance between the two clubs in the footballing pyramid.

But everything he did, he did well, whether it was competing for 50-50 challenges or timing a lunging tackle.

Roberts is technically a centre-back and although it is fair to say he has some growing to do before he can be fielded there, he looks fully capable of being the next hot prospect off the Sixfields production line.

The teenager should get the chance to impress again, when Peterborough visit Sixfields on Saturday for a pre-season friendly.

“I thought he did really well,” said Aidy Boothroyd. “He’s only four days off being a first-year apprentice and he’s got an awful lot of talent.

“He looks like he’s just come out of primary school but people can’t get past him and he’s a terrific defender.

“He won’t be right for this season but it’s good to have another one coming through – we’ve also got Ivan (Toney), who has come through as well.

“The young players aren’t going to be our stalwarts for the whole season but they will come into my thoughts in the middle of the season when we start to get injuries and suspensions.”

An increased role for the youngsters is part of what might be a sea change at Sixfields this season, with Boothroyd already seeing the signs that this Northampton side will be quite different to last year’s.

“It’s clear that there is a lot more running power in the group, there’s more energy and there’s more football being played,” he said.

“I want to have to right balance to be able to win in a variety of ways so I’ve got to have a good think about the players we’ve got in on trial.”

Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Peterborough United falls into a unique category – a non-competitive fixture for which there will be a police presence.

But while there is a very small potential for friction between the teams’ supporters, manager Aidy Boothroyd confesses to being an admirer of the way Peterborough United have progressed in recent years – to the point where he is happy to use their model of success as a template for his own team.

In the 1970s and 80s the idea of a friendly between the Cobblers and Posh would have been unthinkable, but it is a measure of the way the relationship between the two clubs has changed that such a fixture can now go ahead.

For years, players have represented both teams with distinction; Tommy Robson, Jim Hall, Wakeley Gage, Phil Chard.

The list is almost endless.

More recently, players have even been despatched on loan down the A605 with increasing regularity and varying degrees of success.

Last season’s Sixfields player of the year, Kelvin Langmead, was signed directly from London Road and is one of the club’s most liked players of the past decade.

Such nebulous details are of little concern to a practical man like Boothroyd, though.

Instead he sees the friendly as a good chance to sharpen his players up after two fairly routine games against United Counties League opposition.

And he will also be able to get a close-up look at a team representing a club he feels are of a similar size and stature to his own, and whose rise up the Football League provides a perfect blueprint.

“Although we think of them as our rivals they are a club we think we can emulate in many ways and we see them as a model for what we want to do,” said Boothroyd, who began his coaching career at London Road after a knee injury caused his retirement as a player there when aged just 27.

“They went from the bottom division to the championship in the space of a few years and they are a similarly-sized club to us.

“It’s the town where my son was born and it’s the club where I got my first coaching job so I’ve got an affinity for the place, like I have with all of the places I have been to.”

As pleasing as the wins at Sileby Rangers and Cogenhoe United were, they were games that were – for both teams – mainly exercises in fitness-building.

Saturday’s match will be an extension of that but with a degree of pride at stake.

With nothing on the line and temperatures set to be very high again, the game is unlikely to contain the kind of rattling challenges and confrontations that are the traditional hallmarks of derby games.

But there will be an extra edge to proceedings, an element that Boothroyd is relishing.

“I think there will be a good intensity to the game because they are a good side,” he said.

“They are a team that has just come down from the championship and they want to get some momentum in their results, just like we do.

“They’ll have a bigger squad than we will have, but these are the games you want to test yourselves in.

“It’s important that we continue the good work that we have done and at the same time build on it by looking to improve one or two things.”

Langmead will not get the chance to play against his former club after undergoing exploratory knee surgery this week.

It is unlikely another former Peterborough player, Clive Platt, will play either, as he continues his rehab alongside Chris Hackett and outside of the main group.

Roy O’Donovan and Lee Collins, who both sat out the game at Cogenhoe with minor injuries, should both come back into contentions and all four trial players are likely to again feature.

A woman from Northampton who threw a chopping knife at her neighbour has been handed an injunction warning she faces arrest if she attacks him again.

Frances May Smith, of Littlewood Close, Spencer, threw the knife and other items at her neighbour out of her 
window, which overlooks 
the entrance to their block of flats. Other items thrown at him included a garden gnome and a DVD player.

Northampton Crown Court heard she had been arrested and sectioned several times, but had always been subsequently assessed as mentally well. Her behaviour allegedly became so frightening for her neighbour that a meeting of police, Northampton Borough council’s anti-social behaviour team and other professionals had to be called.

Judge Alison Hampton said: “I’m really quite surprised if she has been released each time because you can be detained if you are deemed a risk to others.”

The borough council applied to the court for an injunction, which was granted last week in Mrs Smith’s absence. She will be able to give her side of the story to the court at a second hearing, which is likely to be held in August.

In the meantime the injunction bars her from contacting her neighbour or causing him alarm, harassment or distress to him, households or visitors. Any breach of those would be grounds for arrest.

A man accused of murdering a 72-year-old coin and medal dealer in Northampton has appeared in court this morning

Mark Ellson, aged 40, of no fixed address, appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court charged with murdering Giuseppe Miceli.

Wearing glasses, a dark T-shirt and dark trousers, he spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

He was remanded in custody and will appear before Northampton Crown Court on Monday.

Mr Miceli was found dead at his home in Bants Lane, Duston, at about 1.45pm on Saturday, July 13. He died as a result of head injuries.

He was involved in the coin and medal trade for more than 40 years after moving to England, and had planned to retire next year.

He ran his business, The Coin and Medal Centre, from his home, and previously had a shop in Wellingborough Road, Northampton.

Every day this month the Chron is teaming up with the Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) to feature a ‘Business of the Day’ – giving you more information about an independent firm in the town.

Today, we highlight 32 The Guild in Guildhall Road

For footwear designers Mark and Zoie Walker, there was only one place to open their first fashion and lifestyle store. Northampton.

Given the town’s boot and shoe heritage it was an obvious choice, and the store is now home to Mark’s very own exclusive range of footwear, as well as other established designers such as Oliver Sweeney.

But 32 The Guild is far more than just a shoe shop. Tucked away down Guildhall Road, opposite Royal & Derngate, it sells everything from scented candles and leather-bound notebooks to perfume and chocolates. You can even enjoy a freshly ground coffee and croissant as you browse.

Mrs Walker said: “We’re a bit different to most shops in that we don’t just focus on one product, we just try to sell nice things that people look at and fall in love with.

“Our background is very much in shoes and this is exactly the kind of place we wanted to showcase our designs but we go way beyond that with other lifestyle brands that you just can’t get anywhere else in town.”

32 The Guild stock perfumes normally only available in high-end stores such The Conran Shop or Liberty, bringing a flavour of London to the back streets of Northampton town centre.

The shop has only been open for three months but there are already plans to expand, with a dedicated mens’ section earmarked for upstairs, leaving the front room solely for womens’ clothing and the back room for accessories and other items.

SPECIAL OFFER: Quote discount code ‘CHRONGUILD’ to get 10 per cent off selected non-sale items today.

32 THE GUILD

32 Guildhall Road, Northampton

01604 962196

www.32theguild.com