A better standard for social housing repairs is to be introduced in Northampton from 2015 to help combat tenant horror stories of homes ‘destroyed’ by maintenance.

From January 5, 2015, the current borough council managed stock of social housing will transfer over to an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) that will maintain the properties.

All Northampton’s social homes are currently maintained to the Government-set Decent Homes standard, which states that homes should be in a ‘reasonable’ state of repair and ‘reasonably modern’.

Last month however, 56 tenants in Northampton complained that ‘upgrades’ to their property by contractors had actually left them in a worse state than before.

Speaking to the St James Residents’ Association last week, Jim Mitchell, of consultancy firm, Peers, which is overseeing the ALMO implementation, said a new Northampton standard would help to stop poor repair work.

He said: “The ALMO promises to improve management quality, especially when it comes to ‘decent’ homes.

“People’s houses have been left virtually destroyed rather than improved so we are creating our own standard.”

While the borough council will continue to own all its housing stock from 2015, the ALMO will be responsible for managing premises, dealing with complaints, collecting rents and for contracting repairs among its remit.

Work is now beginning to set up a management board, which will include five housing tenants, five borough councillors, four independents and two council staff.

It will be up to the board to decide what the ‘Northampton standard’ entails, though Mr Mitchell said the criteria could be that repairs are made ‘good’ as opposed to the current ‘reasonable’ standard.

He added that early plans included giving tenants who make applications for repairs a reference number so they can keep track of where they are on the waiting list.

A Northampton MP has accused the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) of being “vindictive” after it announced a fine of almost £170,000 against an estate agency business, which has 11 premises in the county.

Conservative MP for Northampton South, Brian Binley, has said he was “absolutely stunned” the Government regulator had chosen to issue its largest-ever fine against Jackson Grundy Ltd.

The fine was announced in a press release issued by the OFT last Friday, the day it was closed and its powers, in respect of estate agents, were transferred to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

The fine related to a series of minor administration errors the OFT identified following a visit to one of the Jackson Grundy sites in June 2012.

Despite the fact the Northampton company had voluntarily accepted the OFT on to their premises and made the recommended changes to their processes, the regulator decided to impose the £169,000 fine 18 months later.

Mr Binley said: “I am absolutely stunned that the Office of Fair Trading, in its final throes, has hit out in this manner. To fine a well-known established company £169,000 seems to me to be unnecessarily vindictive, not least when you note that the company openly welcomed help and advice from the OFT as to how they could improve their processes to ensure they did not fall foul of money laundering rules.

“Indeed it becomes even more vindictive when you note that the Office of Fair Trading itself had recognised that the company had reacted and changed its processes for the good. We should be supporting British businesses rather than trying to destroy them.”

Mr Binley said he would be writing to HMRC and raising the Jackson Grundy case with the treasury minister responsible.

Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said he also thought the fine imposed by the Office of Fair Trading was “excessively harsh”.

Councillor Mackintosh said: “You need to question their motives in their last week of operation.

“I am pleased that Brian Binley is fighting this in Parliament and I will do whatever I can to support him in this campaign””

David Jackson, managing director of Jackson Grundy Ltd, said the company had appealed the decision and strongly objected to the OFT issuing a press release before the appeals process had been completed.

Mr Jackson said: “We are bewildered and saddened by the actions of the OFT and feel the decision was rushed due to their impending closure.

“The fine is grossly disproportionate in light of the minor administrative breaches identified”.

Jackson Grundy has been based in Northamptonshire for 20 years and employs more than 60 people.

Planners responsible for placing 26,000 homes in Northampton, and easing the resultant traffic congestion, have cancelled a public meeting, saying there was “little or no business of importance” to discuss.

Members of the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (JPU) gave the emailed reply to residents’ action groups, who said they have had four out of seven meetings cancelled in the last 12 months.

It comes only a fortnight after a public examination of massive housing plans which featured four days of evidence, with the planning inspector sitting from 9.30am to 5.30pm each day.

Patrick Cross, chairman of Whitehills and Spring Park Residents’ Association (WASPRA), said: “I can’t believe they can say there’s nothing to talk about when there’s clearly so much at stake for the whole town.

“Lots of issues are still contentious, from the warehouse units at junction 16 of the M1 to how one in six motorists will be expected to walk or cycle to work.

“What a ridiculous reason to give.”

One email from Councillor Chris Over to Mr Cross, giving reasons for the cancellation of the April 7 meeting, said: “It was my understanding that we had little or no business of importance to discuss.”

Another, from David Atkinson head of the JPU: “On this occasion, as on occasions in the past, it was noted that there is insufficient business on the agenda for the Committee to consider.

“In the interests of making best and most effective use of time, the chairman, in consultation with his partnership colleagues, including councillors, decided that cancelling this meeting was the most appropriate course of action. This has now been done.”

Ambulance crews were again queueing with patients in Northampton General Hospital corridors yesterday, for the fourth consecutive day.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) crews are required to stay with their patients at the emergency department until their care can be safely handed over.

Although patients are always monitored by a trained NHS worker while waiting, sometimes they have to wait in corridors if there are no doctors or cubicles available.

An EMAS crew member said: “At lunchtime [on Wednesday] there were half a dozen ambulance crews, with patients on trolleys, holding in the corridor with more on the way.

“Earlier in the week the emergency department had patients who had been there for as long as 12 hours as there just wasn’t space on wards for them.”

It is understood that there were similar queues on Tuesday and Sunday, with Monday even busier.

A paramedic told the Chron yesterday: “I’ve spoken to crews today and the situation appears to becoming more and more frequent; crews are now expecting to be held rather than not, and in some cases are pre-empting patients and relatives prior to getting to the hospital that there is a possibility of a protracted wait.

“At least one family member refused for their elderly and ill parent to be taken to hospital because they didn’t want them left for hours on a trolley bed in a corridor waiting to be seen.”

Detailed figures for March or April last month are not yet available, however statistics showed that ambulance crew handovers lasting more than one hour rose from about 100 in January to about 150 in February.

That month, one in five patients arriving at NGH’s A&E department took longer than the target time of four hours to be admitted or discharged.

The hospital said it was taking on more emergency department staff and looking at plans to physically improve the layout of A&E, particularly the facilities for children and young people.

Restoration specialists are being sought to complete a programme of repairs, alterations and improvements to Delapre Abbey in Northampton.

The borough council is asking for companies to come forward and bid to take on the work which will see more than £3million invested in bringing the ancient abbey back into use.

The project involves refurbishing parts of the main building, rebuilding the conservatory and opening the south wing for events and public access.

Northampton Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration enterprise and planning Councillor Tim Hadland, said: “The restoration of the Delapre Abbey is one of our key heritage projects.

In the last few years we have secured a significant amount of funding and raising the building’s profile as an important regional asset.

“A successful bidder would be taking on a very prestigious project as we bring this much loved building back into use.”

The work is being funded by a £3.6 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant supported by a with £1.34 million contribution from Northampton Borough Council.

Rodney Giddins, secretary of Friends of Delapre Abbey said: “We’ve waited a long time for this and are delighted that work will start later this year to bring this important historic building back into use.

“We hope that the local community and visitors from further afield will support the project and help the Abbey to have a sustainable future.”

For more information about the project and tender opportunity visit www.sourcenorthamptonshire.co.uk/contracts/show/id/10100

Northamptonshire are in talks with Rory Kleinveldt as they bid to plug the gap left by Jackson Bird’s no-show.

The South African seam bowler, who has made 20 international appearances including four Test matches, had been identified as a potential replacement in case the Bird deal fell through.

And with that scenario coming to pass, all efforts have been channelled towards a player who briefly crossed the club’s radar prior to Trent Copeland being recruited this time last year.

Speaking about the negotiations, chief executive David Smith said: “We’ve agreed terms in principle and are waiting to hear back from Cricket South Africa.

“It’s a bit in the lap of the Gods as all these deals tend to be but we’re very hopeful that Rory will come as he’s the kind of cricketer who could do a good job for us.”

As things stand, a side with no overseas bowler and David Willey on the sidelines with a back problem looks significantly under strength and should the Kleinveldt deal be agreed, the intention will be to have him available for the County Championship opener against Durham on April 13.

About a quarter of applications to Northamptonshire NHS bosses for certain types of planned surgery have been rejected in the last three months, a prospective Labour MP has claimed.

The claims are based on figures come from the first three months of a Northamptonshire scheme where a panel of NHS Nene doctors decide whether patients will derive significant benefit from each elective operations in certain categories.

Richard Garvie, the Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate in Wellingborough & Rushden, who made a freedom of information request for the information, said: “I’m worried that this new ‘Dragon’s Den’ style approach to approving elective surgery requests is financially-driven, and patients are now losing out due to an expensive reorganisation and part privatisation of our health service.”

The new Prior Approval Team decide on a case-by-case basis which patients can have several procedures including tonsils removal, carpal tunnel decompression, dupuytrens contracture surgery, ganglion and mucoid Cyst, grommets in children, some hip and knee replacements, male circumcision as well as nose surgery.

The total number of prior approval requests for the above procedures was; December 72, January 233, February 156.

The total number of requests granted for referral to hospital was: December 58, January 177, February

123

The total number of requests declined; December 14, January 56, February 33.

However NHS Nene claimed in its reply to Mr Garvie that, although the number of elective surgery procedures applied for is measured by the number of prior approval requests, “there is not a direct correlation to the number of procedures turned down.”

In a further explanation of its reasons it claimed that the number of refusals had not significantly changed because of the new process.

It added: “Based on historical information up to a third of all requests do not become an elective surgery procedure for a number of reasons.”

It added: “The prior approval requests are clinically reviewed and those which to do not meet criteria within the existing Nene & Corby CCG Prior Approval policies are declined.

“This is no different from before the change in process, however now the hospitals can be sure that patients referred to them meet the criteria.

“Any patients who are declined are referred back to their GP who will work with the patient to look at alternative treatment.”

People living and working in Towcester and surrounding villages are being warned to reduce their risk of vehicle crime after a spate of thefts in the past few months.

A number of thefts from vehicles in the Towcester area have been reported to Northamptonshire Police, in particular thefts from trucks and vans.

Inspector Andy Hall said: “We are currently experiencing increased levels of theft of tools from trucks and vans. These vehicles are being targeted because they belong to builders and other trades people and often contain tools which are easy to sell on.

“Owners should make sure their vehicle is locked when the leave it, even if it’s only for a few minutes, and I’d urge them not to leave tools or other valuables in it, especially overnight.

Anyone who sees anything suspicious can call police or 101 or, if a crime is in progress, call 999. If anyone is aware of someone trying to other to sell cut-price tools they are also advised to call police. If possible, people are asked to note descriptions of those involved and registration numbers.

For more vehicle crime prevention advice, visit www.northants.police.uk/crimeprevention.

Harpole closed the gap on premier division leaders Standens Barn to two points after a 2-0 victory over Monks Park WMC.

Sam Lavelle and Gary Purton got the goals for Harpole, who remain third.

Top dogs Barn were held to a 1-1 draw at Dynamo, who found the net through Dean Lukeman.

Bottom club Blakesley recorded their second league win of the season after winning an 11-goal thriller at AC Squirrels.

Blakesley triumphed 6-5 with goals from George Boniface, Neil Brown, Jack Vacher (2) and Neville Brown.

Squirrels struck back through Andy Smith (3), Paul Whittaker (2) and Nick Aitkin.

Division One

Midshire Electrical moved five points clear at the summit after victory over Sunnyside Corinthians Reserves.

Ross Skidmore, Tom Townsend and an own goal saw Midshire triumph 3-2.

St Margaret’s Reserves came out on top of a seven-goal thriller at Fox & Hounds. Joe Moriarty scored twice in the win including one from the spot. Eddie Stewart and Dan Kennedy got the others.

Royals and Spartak fought out a 2-2 draw to remain second and third respectively.

Division Two

Glenn Moore hit a double as Duston & Diamonds thrashed Golden Horse 6-1. Scott Chilton, Craig Merrick, Bret Parry and Chris Charles also scored.

Division Three

Jack Wright got the only goal in Wootton Fields Wanderers’ 1-0 win at Windmill Warriors, a result which keeps them top.

Billing United moved up to second following a 5-3 victory at Thorplands Club 81 Reserves.

Division Four

Sean Wilkes hit a hat-trick as FC Gallery continued their 100 per cent record with a 7-0 thumping of AFC Pioneers.

Other strikes came from Nicky Woodruff, Glenn Roberts, Dan Oats and an own goal.

Second-placed Northampton Hotspur drew 3-3 with Royals Reserves, Jonnie Spooner, David Williams and Tom Jullings all netting. Jake Mardell (2) and Tom Cronin hit back for Royals.

Paul Pearson and Anthony Bell both struck doubles in Nene’s 4-2 home success over AFC Obelisk United.

Division Five

Ali Foote scored twice to inspire Sparak Reserves to a 4-1 victory at the expense of Abington Stanley. Aaron Tindall and Ben Jones chipped in with singles.

Goals from Paul Tidman , Luke Wilson and Ben Smith ensured FC Lokomotiv Moulton Reserves beat Northampton Hotspur Reserves 3-1, while Welland Valley enjoyed a 4-0 win at bottom club Hartwell Forest Reserves.

Thorplands Club 81 A and Brafield United had to settle for a point apiece after a 4-4 draw.

Thorplands’ goals came from Jack Grant (2), Richard Dunkley and Dan Ashby.

Captains League Cup

Zedi United reached another cup final following a 4-2 victory over FC Ryan Munich after extra-time.

Dan Healey (2), Dan Martin and Kyan Hendrickson were the men on target.

Roade eased to victory in the other semi-final, beating The District 3-0 thanks to efforts from Denim Salmon, Zach Pugh and Karl Hoy.

Andy Seaton struck twice as James King Blisworth moved to the premier division summit thanks to a 3-1 success over Corby S&L Khalsa.

Ross Arundell also netted for Blisworth, who replace Harpole at the top.

Harpole suffered a 2-0 defeat to an in-form Brixworth side, who have a few games in hand on their rivals.

Milton made home advantage count and were victorious against Moulton to the tune of 6-3.

Max Gray hit a hat-trick alongside further strikes from Stuart Schofield, Robert Turner and Glenn Billingham.

Division One

Walgrave Amber, struggling to gain points for survival, were denied the chance of any when they were beaten 2-1 by Wellingborough Old Grammarians.

Wilby managed a 2-1 win over seventh-placed Corby Grampian.

Wollaston Victoria hosted an in-form Wootton St. George but didn’t let them have it easy. Wollaston made Wootton work hard for their 5-3 win.

Division Two

Leaders Weedon eased to a 7-3 success over FC Titchmarsh.

Ben Drinkwaterled the goal onslaught with five, while Thomas Murfitt and Tom Waldock chipped in with one apiece.

Second-placed Corby Ravens beat Grange Park Rangers 3-0 to remain four points behind Weedon.

SPA couldn’t make home advantage count losing 7-0 to Daventry Drayton Grange.

Daventry’s goals came courtesy of Samuel Dengel, Michael Fielding, Luke Hickman, Richard O’Malley (2) and Darren Taylor (2).

Spratton gained a much-needed three points after beating Higham Town 3-2.

West Haddon Albion kept a clean sheet after beating bottom of the table Great Doddington 1-0 thanks to a Joe Smith goal.

Division Three Cup

Kislingbury are out of the cup after going down 6-0 to Corby Shamrock.

Division Three

Northampton Mereway moved six points clear at the top after a 5-1 victory over Kettering Ise Lodge.

James Brown (2), Richard Crockett, Darran Donavan and Anthony Payne were the men on target.

Steven Dodds scored to earn Northampton Obelisk a point in a 1-1 draw with Corby United.

Reserve Premier Division Cup

Weldon United booked their place in the final with a pulsating 4-3 win against a youthful James King Blisworth side.

Reserve Premier Division

Harpole could only draw against Milton to leave Harpole safe and Milton struggling to avoid the drop. Milton scored through Dan Gray.

Kettering Nomads found that home advantage was no help to them and finished up with the visitors Brixworth going home with a 4-1 victory.

Ringstead Rangers came back to earth with a bump after last week’s win over Weldon with Bugbrooke A defeating them on home soil 3-1.

Reserve Division Two

Higham Town came up against league leaders Weedon and had a battle on their hands but did well to keep the score down to 2-0. Both of Weedon’s goals came from Matthew Farrell.

Tom Yorston scored twice as West Haddon overcame Corby Strip Mills 2-0 on home soil to keep them mid-table.

Yardley United moved up to third spot by beating second placed JLB 5-1 with Ian Dickinson leading the way with a double to go with singles from Tom Burston and Daniel Scott plus an own goal.

Leaders Delapre Old Boys opened up a nine points gap after hammering Duston 
Dynamo 9-1.

Colin Cooper and Gavin Hitchcock netted three apiece with the other goals coming from Chris Kirby, Ant Kirby and Martin Stones leaving Nathaniel Weston to score Duston’s consolation.

Hardingstone just edged out Falcons United by the odd goal in three. Leon Cosford and James Morgan both hit the target for the Stones, which left Bret Greenhalf to net Falcons’ reply.

Liberty Stars completed a 4-1 victory over bottom markers Thorplands Club 81 courtesy of strikes from Vit Chiwa, Thulane Khoza, Prince Kwatengi and Katende Ssemakula. Thorplands retort came via Uclid White.

Spartak got the better of Yusen Logistics 4-3 with Jonathan Byrne hitting a hat-trick and Aaron Crampton and Liam Harris netting one each while Yusen’s goals were shared between Luke Channer, Robert Osicki and player secretary Matthew Mullen.

Chris Wilder has stressed there is plenty of fight left in his Cobblers squad and is bracing himself for six games that will determine the side’s Football League fate.

Town play at Accrington this weekend before a home game at Burton Albion that precedes a huge Easter double-header against fellow strugglers Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth.

Those matches will establish whether or not the club will extend a League stay that began when they joined the Southern League in 1920.

And Wilder says his squad has definitely got the stomach for the fight that lies ahead.

“If people write us off then there’s nothing I can do about that,” he said.

“We haven’t taken advantage of a few situations in our recent games, but we’re still only three points off it.

“The club has been down there all season and there is a lot more fight left in the staff and in this group of players that people expect and are making out.”

Wilder accepts the criticism of the fans and understands that there are some doubts about the team’s ability to complete their great escape.

But he is confident they can return to their pre-slump form and has had a ‘smile on his face’ in the build-up to the Accrington game.

“I understand (supporters’ concerns) but the season can’t end after 40 games, there are six games to go and it isn’t over from my point of view,” he said.

“It goes on and we get on with it.

“I’m involved with football and it’s a great job, but in our last game we didn’t do our jobs properly.

“We have done that in the past and we have done in our careers and we need to get back to that.

“There was definitely a smile on my face in training this week and I looked forward to working with the squad again in the build-up to Saturday.”

James Falvey produced a superb kicking display as Towcestrians swept aside Buckingham 54-17 at Greens Norton Road.

In front of a large, expectant home crowd, Tows went 14 points up in the first five minutes to establish a stronghold in this local derby.

Matt Yuill grabbed the first try as he broke through to touch down under the posts, then a lucky bounce saw Adam Wilkinson score wide out.

Buckingham then began to wake up, throwing their forwards at the Towcester defence.

The constant barrage led to a piece of ill-discipline which resulted in the yellow carding of Sam Sterley, depleting the home side.

This did not dampen their spirits as Marc Yeates broke away to score. He then turned provider as he shipped he ball on to Craig Holton to score.

The first half finished with another try, this time at close quarters from Liam Wilkinson. Falvey was in magnificent form, converting all five of Tows’ first-half tries.

After the break Tows’ discipline dropped for the second time, Yuon Skelton being sent to the bin and provoking a Buckingham attack that was finished off by a try from the scrum.

The Tows backs were still looking dangerous as the game progressed.

Falvey and Adam Wilkinson scored the next two to take the game out of reach.

Buckingham refused to lie down, however, as a quickly- taken penalty was scored by James Finard.

As the game drew to a close, David Devlin-Jones, who had looked threatening throughout, scored Tows’ eighth of the afternoon.

Buckingham finished the game strongly with a consolation try.

Tows’ second string were beaten by Ampthill IIs, while the IIIs lost to Long Buckby IIIs.

Towcester colts beat Rushden & Higham colts 24-8.

Mens Own too strong for Daventry

Mens Own fielded their strongest squad of the season and were rewarded with a 32-21 victory over Daventry.

Jonny Rust, playing alongside his brother, Luke in the centre scored his first points for the first team with a penalty kick on five minutes to open the scoring at 3-0.

Adam Baker increased the scoring on 16 minutes finishing well to score in the corner for 8-0.

The forwards were totally in charge in the scrum and the backs were using the ball well, launching attacks towards the Daventry line and, on 25 minutes, Chris Gould put in his usual hard-working performance, taking a good pass from Luke Rust to score.Jonny Rust converted to make it 15-0.

Daventry staged a comeback with a converted try on 35 minutes to make it 15-7 at half-time.

A second converted try on 45 minutes closed the gap to one point at 15-14.

Relentless pressure in the scrum won the Own a penalty try which was again converted by Jonny Rust for a 22-14 lead.

A further two unconverted tries on 55 and 72 minutes from Steve Ennew and Nick Brown put Mens Own out of sight at 32-14.

Daventry had the final say on 79 minutes to finish the scoring, but Own were worthy winners at 32-21.

Joe Ealing took the Mens Own man-of-the-match award.

ONs claim biggest league win in four years

Old Northamptonians recorded their highest league win for four years as they overwhelmed Coalville 77-5.

Once the ONs had withstood 10 minutes of Coalville pressure they scored tries at regular intervals.

Six first half scores, four improved by Tom Goodman gave the ONs a 38-0 lead.

Seven further touchdowns after the break, with Goodman converting just two as the strong gusting wind blew his efforts off target, gave the ONs their 77-5 victory.

Heathens fail to build on good start

A combination of injuries and lack of focus saw Heathens fail to build on a solid first half in a 32-10 defeat to Leighton Buzzard.

Heathens opened the Courage Best Merit Table fixture with a clearly defined game plan that resulted in an early try from scrum-half Marty Campbell.

Buzzard then claimed the lead when a series of missed tackles allowed them in for a converted score on 20 minutes.

A further score on 34 mins gave Buzzard a 12-5 advantage at half-time.

Heathens then lost their way and three tries in 15 minutes put the game out of their reach.

The visitors did return to the scoreboard when Joe Yeo secured his maiden score. But Buzzard had the final say with another try to give them a 32-10 win.

This Saturday, Heathens take on Podington in a friendly at the Racecourse (3pm).

The Rainbow Hunter, Pineau De Re and The Package... this year’s Grand National Tricast is already etched in my mind which should save a lot of time and effort pin sticking on Saturday.

As retirement columns go, this one promises to be one high on expectation, if less certain on delivery.

Current odds of 33/1, 20/1 and 33/1 should never be sneezed at in single bets; let alone linked up in a bracket. So Great Expectations it is, and those ‘capital’ letters are present for a reason...

It has been brought to my attention The Rainbow Hunter actually passed the winning post in second place behind Auroras Encore in last year’s race.

Had the jockey Aidan Coleman been with him at the time, he would doubtless have been half those odds, if a little higher in the handicap, in which case he probably wouldn’t have won The Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in January.

The Rainbow Hunter is trained by Northamptonshire born and bred handler Kim Bailey, now based near Andoversford in Gloucestershire. Bailey says his 10 year-old goes to Aintree fresh and well and remarked: “He was unlucky last year when his jockey was knocked off so superglue is likely to be applied to the saddle this year.”

Bailey added: “A clear round and good ground, who knows... it will be exciting to say the least.”

Pineau De Re has been stored away in my investment portfolio since before his slightly unorthodox prep run in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival when his troubled passage and storming late run saw him beaten a nose and a neck in the 23 runners headed by Fingal Bay.

The Package has been talked up by no less an authority than injured jockey Ruby Walsh and as he remains the only National candidate with a course win at Towcester to his name (this was his racecourse debut in a bumper almost seven years ago) I need him on my side!

Great Expectations are one thing but should something in the crystal ball prove a little hazy, there is always Plan B on which to fall upon... along with any handy sword which might be lying carelessly around.

In the words of the great Wilkins Micawber ‘something will turn up’ and in my case that is Sunday’s Pytchley point to point at Guilsborough (first race 1.30) followed (with almost undue haste) by Towcester’s next temptation on Thursday (first race 2.10pm).

Guilsborough has attracted 92 entries for Sunday’s six race card which though fewer than normal, reflects the fact there are seven point to point cards up and down the country. “We still have the second highest number of entries of those meetings,” said organiser Gerald Bailey.

The highlight looks like being a men’s open re-match of last year’s Championship final at Cheltenham between Doctor Kingsley from the Pauline and Doug Harkin yard, and Gunmoney, trained by Bailey and ridden by owner’s son Johnny Russell.

Doctor Kingsley was a long odds-on winner of the men’s open race at Whitfield last Saturday.

Following Northants trainer Alex Hales in the last race at Towcester has proved a successful formula over the course of the last three meetings and perhaps Periquest can continue the theme next Thursday when he has been earmarked for the bumper.

Periquest ran green on his debut at Market Rasen and then saw his chance blown away in the horse box en route to Uttoxeter when he boiled over with the anticipation. Before then, Hales is looking forward to running Royal Supreme in the bumper at Aintree on Saturday.

Hales recently spent his 40th birthday driving this former Keith Dalgleish-trained four year-old back from Scotland for its new owners, the horse having won at Sedgefield in January.

Back at Liverpool, Hales’ training neighbour Ben Case has similarly been in good form and plans to saddle three runners on Friday in the form of Themanfrom Minella, Midnight Jazz and Brass Tax.

Themanfrom Minella is due to run in the 3m novices’ hurdle while Warwick winner Midnight Jazz has an entry in the mares’ bumper.

Brass Tax will hopefully get a run in the Crabbie’s Topham Chase, over the Grand National fences.

Case said: “Midnight Jazz is out of Ring Back who was placed in this race for us back in 2006 (at 50/1). Perhaps Midnight Jazz can run as well for us, or even a little bit better.”

ANOTHER spring, another White Acres festival series – and Northampton angler Steve Ringer has picked up another cool £3,500!

Not bad for five days ‘in the office’. And he won in typical style... with four straight section wins.

Under the Cornish festival’s rules he ‘dropped’ his fifth result, a mere second, to finish with a perfect score. As Ringer senior, Geoff, said: “It certainly beats working.”

A much, much smaller payout went to Steve Bull for topping White Hart Flore’s Barby Mill match with 108lb of carp. Tom Griffiths had 50lb and Bert Isles 40lb.

The sunshine had chunky carp moving at Stanwick with Trevor Gurney banking a 28-6 mirror and a 26-4 common from Roman. Chris Oliver’s 29-2 topped Elsons’ list of 20s while Sam Ribano had a Mallard 24-8.

Daventry’s opening match saw Ivan Mills with 55-6 of Tofts’ carp. Gareth Hawley had 34lb and Carl Hulley 25-10.

Vast numbers of rods get started on the cut and Gabrielle Kyte, eight – yet another generation in a successful local angling dynasty – experienced fishing’s magic at Stoke Bruerne when she fished with dad, Patric, to catch a 1-7 perch.

In later life huge numbers shun the cut – because of, at times, the increasingly hostile environment of today’s towpaths.

Manic against-the-clock mountainbikers ‘shouldering’ aside all in their paths, and water-borne ‘squatters’ with aggressive dogs mooring and taking over sections of path as ‘their’ territory, are all too often part of the picture.

The Canal & river Trust needs YOUR help to establish the true extent of the problem...and all you have to do is what most anglers are oh so good at – have a MOAN!

So if you care a jot about the future of canal angling, please go to their website at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk – or go via www.anglingtrust.net/ – and tell it like it is!

Some ‘antis’ will go on to portray ‘obstructive’ (paying) anglers sitting in their way as the problem and the whole of the problem.

If you don’t do their survey you will help undermine future generations’ canal fishing...all because you didn’t bother to have a moan!

CASTLE Ashby: Brickyard, Saturday, Mark Moody 38-12, Ian Hutton 20-8, Frank Pizamenti 16-2; Grendon, Sunday, Keith Garrett 33-8, Darren Divers 32-8, Bob Reed 25-12.

COUNTY vets, Canons top: Alf Gillard 28-12, Nick Antonacci 19-12, Paul Lafflin 19-2.

FLORE & Brockhall, local cut: Ray Ayres 7-8, Paul Humphries 4-3, Steve Smith 3-4.

NENE, Bugbrooke cut: Dave Gibbons 6-2, Brian Beard 4-4, Chris Howard 3-14.

AS of now it is a criminal offence to fish unless you have a NEW rod licence.

AGMs: N’ton Nene April 14, 7.30pm, Yeomen of England, Wootton; April 16 Castle AA, 8pm, Far Cotton WMC.

Top county amateur Ryan Evans played a crucial role in Europe retaining the Sir Michael Bonnalack Trophy as he grabbed four points from five games in a 17½-14½ team victory over Asia in India.

Evans was superb in the singles as he bagged six birdies and an eagle in just 14 holes as he thrashed Taylor MacDonald 6&4 to set Europe on their way to victory on the final day.

In an event which has featured the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari in the past, the Wellingborough member carded 15 birdies and an eagle in his two fourballs wins on the opening two days.

Evans, who celebrated his 27th birthday on the penultimate day, also bagged six more birdies whilst picking up one point out of two alongside Ashley Chesters in the foursomes.

NPGA

Amateurs Max Armstrong, Gavin Hitchcock and Liam Humphreys, plus pro Paul Armstrong, coped best with the adverse weather in the NPGA Winter Series Pro-Am at Peterborough Milton.

On a cold windy day when a hail storm forced a brief suspension in play, the Kingsthorpe quartet triumphed by a single stroke after shooting the leading mark of nine-under-par 133.

Bryn Morris (Kibworth) compiled the best individual pro score of two-over-par 73. Priors Hall’s Jon Handyside (74) was second by one from the experienced trio of Tim Rouse, Simon Lilly and Dan Wood.

Kraft Nabisco

Leading Northants professional Charley Hull goes head-to-head with all the world’s best players in the Kraft Nabisco as the first major of the year tees off at Rancho Mirage in California today.

Kingsthorpe

Lee O’Connor and Kev Purkis found their best form over the closing holes in the President’s Trophy as they smashed 26 points on the back nine.

The pair’s eventual betterball points total of 43 sealed victory by a single point from Steve Jackson and Jez Walding.

O’Connor went into the comp in confident mood after winning the Marc Birch Trophy Charity Day for the second successive year just 24 hours earlier with Paul Fountain, Dale Betts and Vernon Goodes (95 points).

Silverstone

Dave Makepeace, Tracey Bishop, Dick Deller and Ellis Tiffen all hit good first drives after taking over as the new men’s, ladies, seniors and juniors club captains respectively on Inauguration Day.

After watching his son smash the longest drive, Tiffen’s father Steve capped an excellent day for the family as he won the team event alongside Scott Barnes, Daniel Clayton-Drabble and Nigel James.

Four points was the margin of success 24 hours later in the Pro Shop Stableford as Ray Dyson (42) grabbed the plaudits from Tim Dean, with Pete Green third on 36.

Collingtree

Barry Stonhill, Ray Peters, Brendon Moss and Kieron Healey were successful in the Captains Drive-In Competition as their tally of 95 points was one more than the second-placed side.

Ralph Crawley and Jack McGuinness both hit straight drives to begin their respective terms as the 2014 Seniors and Juniors captains earlier in the day.

It was a slightly different story for new Club Captain Ade Kilshaw however as a lack of golf in recent weeks proved costly as he smacked his opening shot into the driving range.

Brampton Heath

Three pars in the last four holes completed a consistent round for Michael Gardner in the Senior Winter March Stableford as he bagged 43 points.

The 20-handicapper nudged two points clear of Christopher Brack, who also finished strongly, with Stuart Flude in third on 40.

Cherwell Edge

High-handicapper David Wetherall displayed some flashes of brilliance during the Seniors March Stableford as he secured top spot with 41 points.

Birdies on the 13th and 16th holes helped lift Wetherall one point clear of Peter Barrett, with George Weaver a further point back in third position.

Cold Ashby

Colin Mutton was in good touch on the par threes and par fours during the White Tee March Stableford as the 22-handicapper shot the best score of 40 points. Steve Bliss and David Munday were next on 38 apiece.

Lyn Thomas and Jayne Neal were the combination to beat in the Ladies American Greensomes as their tally of 35 points lifted the three clear of Barbara Stean and Isobel Robertson.

Northampton

Jean Mckenzie saw her handicap come down to eight after carding a dozen pars in a winning round of net 70 in the Ladies Thistle Cup.

Charlie Astbury’s handicap also dropped into single figures after she picked up the runners-up prize with a 73.

Overstone Park

Colin Humphries won the Seniors Yellow Tee March Stableford in style as a birdie on the 18th hole secured a countback victory from Ivan Roy (38 points). Peter Thorpe, Mike Roy and Terry Mayo were next on 36.

At the other end of the age scale, Baylie Pike served further notice of her potential as she won the Junior March Medal with a net 70. Dan Smith clinched the best gross prize with a round of 82.

Staverton

One point was the margin of victory in both the competitions in the 20th round of the Vets Nine-hole Winter Series.

Clifford Patch’s 21 points over the outward stretch lifted him clear of Chris Conway in the Blue Comp, while Roger Chamberlain (20) collected the Back Nine Red prize from Guy Gibbins and Mike Ratcliff.

Whittlebury

Stephen Herring parred half the holes he played in the third round of the Winter Trophy as the 17-handicapper compiled the leading mark of 39 points.

Colin Anton (38) finished second in the latest 9 O’Clock Club Competition on countback from Andy Bartlett.

Hellidon Lakes

Mike James was the only player to come to terms with carrying a lighter bag as he won the Three Club Competition on 36 points. Andrew MacDonald was a distant second.

Northampton & District IBC was the venue for a week of EIBA National Championships.

The only county interest saw Kingsthorpe’s Jim McKee up against Adrian Sussex (Egham IBC) in the Over-60s Men’s Singles and the Northants man found himself 17-1 down after nine ends.

And, despite his best efforts, McKee eventually slipped to a 21-3 defeat.

Wellingborough set for Denny Cup showdown

The big day is approaching for Wellingborough when they they take part in the national semi-finals of the Denny Cup in Darlington next week.

The players will head north next Friday before taking on highly-fancied Desborough IBC (Berkshire) at 10am on the Saturday.

Should Wellingborough advance, they will take on either Stanley IBC (Co Durham) or Wey Valley (Surrey) in the final.

Five prepare for England junior trial

Five county youngsters have been selected for Bowls England’s Junior International Trials, which will be held in May.

In this women’s trial, which will be held at Victoria Park in Leamington on Monday, May 26, the format will see four teams comprised of a singles, pairs, triples and fours component.

Desborough’s Rebecca Wigfield has been called up for the Green Team take part in the singles discipline, while Higham Ferrers Town’s Chloe Wordingham will lead in the triples for the Yellow Team alongside Huntingdonshire’s Hannah Overton and Leicestershire’s Katie Smith.

The men’s junior trial will be held on the same day with Jamie Walker, who competes for Northampton West End in the outdoor season, Callum Height (Thrapston) and Connor Cinato (Kettering Midland Band) all set to feature.

Walker, meanwhile, reached the final of the Planet Bowls Singles tournament on his home indoor green at Wellingborough.

The county star battled his way through five matches in the event, which was sponsored by Wells Young Brewers, to set up a final clash with Lloyd Sabatini (Whiteknights IBC).

Sabatini beat Desborough’s Sam Gamble, who was the other top performer from the county, in the last four.

In the final, Sabatini took the first set 9-2 but Walker showed his drawing skills to take the second 6-1 and set up a tie-break over three ends.

In this situation, the number of shots didn’t matter with just one end win required and it was Sabatini who played that little bit better to secure victory.

A total of 12 Northants players were part of the field of 64.

Buckley leads the way for Northants

Eleven young players from Northamptonshire travelled to Melton & District IBC after 
they qualified for the Regional Finals of the Schools of Excellence, organised by the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme.

The event consisted of two parts – a round robin series of matches in groups followed by four skills exercises.

Those in the Under-15 years included Jordan Dickens (Northampton & District), Jack Lee (Northampton & District), Mark Waterfield and Bruce Sibbett (both Kettering Lodge) and Conor Bryan and Ellis Whittles (both Northampton & District).

In the 15-18 years group, Northants were represented by Jack Botterill, Billie Swift (both Northampton & District), Adam Pitfield, Kyle Buckley (both Rushden Town) and Samantha Jarvis (Desborough).

In the junior section, Dickens and Bryan both had two wins and one draw in the morning matches with Lee claiming two wins and a loss. From the senior group, Buckley won all three of his matches.

The skills exercises were worth a lot of points in the afternoon and Pitfield amassed 60 with Buckley claiming 48.

Bryan (69 points) was the 
top Northants performer in 
the junior group, which was won by Jordan Ward (Rugby Thornfield).

And in the seniors, Buckley led the way for the county with 78 points, which earned him an impressive third-placed finish as Adam Smith (Avon Valley) took victory on 94.

County ladies end indoor season with a win

Northants women rounded off their indoor season with a 116-110 friendly victory over Hertfordshire CWIBA at Northampton & District.

In what was a close and competitive encounter, the county ladies finished with a flourish, despite both teams picking up three rink wins.

The rink skipped by Northants’ Brenda Bishop won by 14 shots and that proved to be crucial in the final outcome.

Rink scores (Herts skips only) Rink one: Barbara Oliver, Joy Griffin, Pat Symonds, Brenda Bishop 26 L Ratcliffe 12. Rink two: Celia Morris, Pam Sallaway, Valerie Blackwell, Jeannie Flippance 17 M Lulker 20. Rink three: Audrey Gardener, Pat Starsmore, Chris Cooper, Audrey Height 18 S Parker 13. Rink four: Julie Spreadbury, Joyce Burns, Sue Lomas, Di Brumwell 19 J Simpson 25. Rink five: Val Scott, Elaine Urquhart, Wilma Walker, Pam Lewis 16 H Oakley 25. Rink six: Linda Warren, Elsie Hatton, Eleanor Winters, Joyce Porter 20 J Carter 
15.

Bowlers prepare for County Finals

The Indoor County Finals will be held at Rushden Town IBC on the evenings of April 10 and 11 and throughout the days on April 12 and 13.

Although all the finalists are not yet confimed, the names of players taking part has been released.

The draw for the ladies matches has been attended to but no qualifiers for the finals in any discipline have been confirmed as yet.

MEN – Singles: Graham Carley (Desborough) v Mark Corbyn (Wellingborough) or Dave Flippance (Desborough). Under-25 Singles: Connor Cinato (Desborough) v Nathan Betts (Rushden Town). Pairs: Jamie Walker & partner (Wellingborough)v David Walker & partner (Kingsthorpe) or Matt Pownall & partner (Desborough). Triples: Scott Johnson’s triple (Wellingborough) v Iain Walker’s triple (Kingsthorpe). Fours: Jim McKee’s rink (Kingsthorpe) v Chris Bland’s rink (Northampton & District). Tipler Rose Bowl (Over-60s rink): Brian Sherwood’s rink (Rushden Town) v John Haines’ rink (Desborough).

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BOWLS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SCHEME – Under-15 Singles: Kyle Buckley (Rushden Town) v Adam Pitfield (Rushden Town). 15-18 Singles: Connor Cinato (Desborough) or Danny Walker (Wellingborough) v Matt Cattell (Rushden Town) or Nathan Betts (Rushden Town). Mixed Pairs: Chloe Weston, Connor Cinato (Northampton & District, Desborough) v Adam Pitfield, Chloe Wordingham (Rushden Town).

Northamptonshire Titans Under-18 took on Ipswich Basketball in the first round of the EBL Midlands Conference play-offs at a packed and noisy Weavers Leisure Centre.

With home-court advantage, the Titans, who had gone through the Midlands Conference campaign unbeaten, were slight favourites against an Ipswich side who had finished as runners-up in their East Conference group.

Titans suffered a blow before the game started with one of their key players being injured and the big crowd had to wait three minutes for the first basket, which was scored by the visitors.

Titans seemed to allow the tension of the occasion to get to them as they tallied four from 16 from the free-throw line in the first quarter.

Ipswich led 13-11 after a low-scoring first period and a mini run from the visitors towards the end of the second quarter saw them lead 30-20 at half-time.

The third quarter would prove to be the most entertaining as Ipswich went on a 7-2 run and went to open up an 18-point advantage.

With a mountain to climb, Titans responded and an 11-2 run towards the end of the period saw them trailing 52-41 going into the final quarter.

Facing elimination from the play-offs, the hosts started the period with renewed vigour and within three minutes they went on an 8-0 run to move to within three points.

Ipswich responded but another 8-0 run from the Titans saw them take the lead for the first time with just four minutes remaining, much to the delight of the crowd.

But that would be the last time they troubled the scorers as they missed chances to stretch their lead as they missed some key free-throws.

Ipswich converted their own and just edged back in front to secure a 64-59 success.

In his last appearance for the club, Luke Lewis (10) was the only player to reach double figures while support came from Mo Janneh (9) and Terrell Salmon (8).

Although the season did not end as they anticipated, it was one which saw the team complete many of the objectives they had set prior to the season.

Northants Thunder’s season is over after they lost 81-64 to Ipswich in the first round of the play-offs.

Thunder started the game in dominant form, storming into an 8-2 run.

Elliott Strausa looked very impressive close to basket against bigger defenders and scored eight points within the first five minutes extending his team’s lead to 12-9.

Ipswich were a much bigger side, and they made this advantage tell as they eased into a 20-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Ipswich were then able to extend their lead to 26-18, but Thunder’s aggressive play paid off and thanks to scores from Brendan Ross, Will Grosvenor and Ollie Thomas they were able to produce a 10-2 run to get the deficit down to a single point at 31-32.

The physical effort expended by the Northants players proved to be decisive as Ipswich closed the period with a 14-zero run to take a 46-31 half time lead.

Thunder continued to battle hard and reduced the arrears to 48-38, and that was soon down to five points at 50-45, although Ipswich responded well to lead 59-49 going into the final quarter.

Thunder needed a massive fourth quarter, and rookie guard Jacob Round inspired his team by scoring seven consecutive points, but Thunder were leaking points at the other end and Ipswich went on an 11-2 run and to all intent and purpose that was game over.

Thunder’s scoring was by Jacob Round with 21 points with good support coming from Rhys Hill and Ollie Thomas who both scored 10.

Despite not progressing to the next round of the play-offs, Thunder coach Rob Crump believes his team should reflect positively and be proud of their successful season which saw them go through the Conference fixtures undefeated.

Northants Lightning U-16s 70

Sheffield Hatters Under 18s 87

With a play-off game against Peckham Pride in the offing, Lightning Cadette coach Karen Goodrich decided to set her team up against a strong Sheffield team who fielded several under 18 players.

Goodrich gave all 12 of her players ample court time and was not too disappointed about the defeat.

For Lightning, it was the ‘usual suspects’ who played the most prominent roles with their scoring led by Sarah Round and Charlotte Berridge who scored 19 and 17 points respectively. Ruchae Walton seemed to have recovered from her recent injury contributing 11 points while Lauren Milne and Caitlin Stewart also made significant contributions and Hari Owens rebounded impressively

Northants Lightning U-15 Girls 83

Sheffield Hatters U-14 Girls 85

Lightning fought out a tremendous battle with Sheffield Hatters in this challenge match at the Basketball Centre.

Lightning were trailing 41-48 at half time with Sheffield’s Harrison contributing 34 of her team’s total.

Thanks to 14 points from Holly Winterburn, Lightning put in a tremendous effort in the third period of play which they took 25-20 to get within two points of their opponents.

The two teams exchanged scores at the start of the final quarter before an 8-zero Lightning charge gave them the lead at 78-76.

Hatters responded with a 9-zero Harrison inspired run of their own to lead 85-78, but Lightning weren’t done getting the score back to 83-85, but Hatters held on for the win.

Lucy Amena, Bahira Barakat, Precious Ogaji and Holly Winterburn all 
scored double figures for Lightning.

Northants Thunder U-13 Boys 81

Ipswich 65

With the regular season over and having not made the play-offs, a friendly match was arranged. Thunder claimed the win in an entertaining game. Ed Wallhead led the scoring for Northants with 38 points and he was well supported by Chris Amankonah who hit 18 points.

The Northants Basketball Club entered two teams in Saturday’s County Central Venue League. The Under 15 Boys won their section with a played three won three record, while the U13 Boys finished joint runners-up in their group after winning one and losing three.

WITH the Under 16 Boys and Senior Men having already been knocked out of the Play Offs, the club’s last hope of glory this season lies with the Under 14 Boys and Under 16 Girls who both play this Sunday.

The girls take on Peckham Pride who finished fourth in South Conference with a won eight lost six record, while the boys play North Conference team York Eagles who were third in their Conference having won 12 and lost six of their games.

Fixtures

Sunday, April 6

1pm: Under 14 Boys versus York Eagles (Play-offs)

3pm: Cadette Women versus Peckham Pride (Play-offs)

These games will be played at the Northants Basketball Centre which is based at Northampton School for Girls in Spinney Hill Road, Northampton. Spectators are welcome and admission is free.

Eight men have been arrested after three drugs warrants were carried out in Northamptonshire this morning.

Police officers raided two properties in Montagu Street and Dahlia Road in Kettering and one at a property in Minerva Way, Wellingborough.

As a result, eight men have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and handling stolen goods. They are currently being held in custody for questioning.

Officers from the force’s firearms team were deployed to support the warrants.

Police are currently completing searches of the three properties.