A 51-year-old pedestrian was injured during a collision with a car in Kettering last night (Wednesday).

The collision in Montague Road happened at about 7.10pm, near the junction with Bath Road, when a blue Volvo XC90, driven by a 65-year-old man from Rothwell, was in collision with a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, a 51-year-old woman from Kettering, was taken to University Hospital Coventry where she is being treated for head and pelvic injuries.

A 65-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Witnesses to this incident, or anyone who has any information, is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 or call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.

Electronic hip-hop duo Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip return to Northampton on Monday to headline the Roadmender.

The pair have been on tour across the country following the release of their third album, Repent Replenish Repeat, which came out last year.

The LP combines Pip’s sharp hip-hop vocals and spoken word with Le Sac’s hard beats and dark layered melodic reverb.

Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip burst into the mainstream in 2007 with the single, Thou Shalt Always Kill.

Their debut album, Angles, followed in 2008 which featured singles including The Beat That My Heart Skipped, Look For The Woman and A Letter From God To Man.

Following 2010’s The Logic Of Chance, the pair both embarked on further solo work and tours before reuniting for their latest record.

Tickets costs for the gig on May 5 are £12.50 in advance. Doors open at 7pm.

For more information, visit www.lesacvspip.co.uk

Advance tickets are available from www.theroadmender.com

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra return to Royal & Derngate on Sunday, May 4, for an evening of classical masterpieces.

Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony and Elgar’s Enigma Variations will be performed either side of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto, with featured soloist Chloë Hanslip.

Although Schubert intended further movements, his ‘unfinished’ two-movement symphony was first performed 37 years after his death. Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor was his first large-scale work for orchestra, and remains one of the most popular of all violin concertos.

Chloë Hanslip will give a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm hosted by BBC Radio Northampton’s John Griff ahead of the show at 7.30pm.

Tickets costs from £14.50 with concessions available.

There will also be workshops for children aged between two and 13 during the day. Call the venue for session details. To book call 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Corn Market Blues marks its first gig in Kettering on Saturday, May 3, with a headline show by King King.

Run by promoters Dave Morse and Richard Boyles, the pair plan on bringing the best blues and rock acts from across the world, while also promoting new talent.

The pair have more than 40 years of performing and promoting experience.

Blues rock band King King is fronted by Glasgow luminary, Alan Nimmo.

They won the Best Band Award at the 2013 British Blues Awards for the second year running and released their latest album, Standing In The Shadows, last year.

Morse said: “It’s important we book the right bands and King King are one of the best live bands on the circuit.”

Support is by Devlin Blue.

The 200-capacity Corn Market Hall is in London Road, Kettering.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets costs £12 in advance.

Parking is free after 6pm and all day on Sunday.

Visit www.cornmarketblues.co.uk for more details and tickets.

Brixworth All Saints had a comfortable 3-1 win over Corby S&L Khalsa to move them seven points clear at the top of the table.

Stephen Roe (2) and Adam Knight were the men on target.

Corby DGL Locos found Roade too strong for them and were beaten 3-1 to keep themselves out of the drop zone.

Ringstead Rangers put everything they had into their game with second-placed James King Blisworth and were victorious 3-2. The win earned Ringstead this week’s Duston Star Award.

Stanion United hosted Harpole, a team who lie close to them in the league. Neither team could be separated, ending up in a 2-2 draw.

Division One

Heyford Athletic kept a clean sheet and moved three places up the table after beating Wollaston Victoria 5-0.

Medbourne held Burton United to a 2-2 draw.

Walgrave Amber played Stanwick Rovers in a bottom table clash, both teams desperate for points to escape relegation. Stanwick Rovers came out on top 4-2.

Division Two

Daventry Drayton Grange have a game in hand on leaders Weedon and kept up their quest for top spot with another win 5-0 over Finedon Volta. Daventry goals from Sam Dengel (3), Rob Oliver and Leigh Roberts.

Ferrers hosted league leaders Weedon and put up a spirited performance going down 4-2. Weedon netted through Ian Waldock (2), Ben Drinkwater and James Feasey.

Higham Town took on SPA in a mid-table clash and lost out by the odd goal 3-2.

Another mid-table clash with West Haddon in a local derby with Spratton saw the visitors West Haddon taking the spoils by 5-1 scoreline.

Division Three

Corby Shamrock did their title chances no harm with a 7-0 win over Northampton Obelisk.

Wellingborough Aztecs came up against one of the form teams in the division Kislingbury and suffered a 2-0 defeat.

Reserve Premier Division

Harpole a good 2-1 home win over fifth-placed Roade.

James King Blisworth Res and Ringstead Rangers put on a goalfest with Blisworth winning 8-4.

Reserve Division One

Weldon United A have secured the title with games to spare after a 6-2 win over hosts Wilby Res.

Reserve Division Two

Bugbrooke B had a comfortable win over bottom markers Corby Hellenic, winning 5-2.

O’Riordan Bond is local and different! Since handing over the reins to our high-profile office in the Weston Favell Shopping Centre at the beginning of the year to Joe Luckman, I have had more time to travel around O’Riordan Bond’s 16 branches in Northampton and Milton Keynes

They range in size from smaller offices selling 100 or so houses a year to our ‘super’ branches which will be agreeing sales on approaching 500 properties over the course of 2014.

In Northampton we have 10 branches working in the heart of local communities. This means each branch can look after a much smaller part of Northampton than an estate agent who has fewer branches in the town.

I believe it also means that each O’Riordan Bond branch – and each O’Riordan Bond member of staff – is able to offer a much more bespoke and knowledgeable service to people looking to move in the area.

For example, I am writing this piece in the O’Riordan Bond Brixworth office. A lovely latte in hand from the ever popular On The Bread Line next door – I can highly recommend it – since arriving in the office an hour ago we have had four different clients walk in to speak to our staff about property sales proceedings, to book a valuation and to talk about the housing market in general in the Brixworth area.

This face-to-face service we passionately feel is key when you are thinking of moving home in the current economic climate.

There is no doubt that the housing market has enjoyed a strong start to 2014 after five-six years of recession, but I believe Adele Taylor and her team here at Brixworth know more about the Brixworth market than other non-local agents and it is this specialist local knowledge that means your first point of contact, if you want to move to this area, should be O’Riordan Bond Brixworth.

This applies to other O’Riordan Bond offices in areas such as Duston, Kingsthorpe, Hunsbury, Grange Park, Far Cotton, Abington, Abington East and Weston Favell.

Our newly-opened office in York Road, in Northampton, has also quickly become a specialist in selling property in the town centre, the Mounts and Semilong.

I reckon it is the only estate agency branch that focuses purely on these areas and it is this focus that allows our staff to lead the way in advising people selling property in the area.

The minute you instruct an O’Riordan Bond local office to sell your home it is instantly marketed across all 16 O’Riordan Bond branches in Northampton and Milton Keynes, so you really get the best of both worlds – marketing impact and professional service – which is essential in this fast-paced housing market.

If you are thinking of moving home in 2014 then please call or pop into your local O’Riordan Bond branch now for a free market appraisal.

I must go, there’s another walk-in client to look after!

Market Thoughts by Simon Bond, director, O’Riordan Bond

Yusen Logistics hit some good form as they coasted to a 6-2 victory over third-placed Yardley United.

Luke Jeffries netted twice to go with one a-piece from Neil Leggatt, Lukas Hadec, Jason Lister and Istuan Palmai which left Marc Robinson and Matthew Warwick to net the villagers’ reply.

Second-placed Spartak were held to a 3-3 draw by Hardingstone.

The Stones’ goals were shared between Craig Fowkes, Pierre Coleman and Leon Cosford while a Jonathan Byrne double strike and a solo effort from Ashley Morteon accounted for Spartak’s tally.

Sporting Bat & Wickets beat JLB 5-2 courtesy of two goals each from Jamie Hall and Aaron Linnell plus a solitary strike from Robert Hill leaving JLB’s ace marksman Daniel Jennings to net both of JLB’s goals.

Liberty Stars eased to a 4-0 triumph over Duston Dynamos.

On Wednesday, Spartak got the better of Liberty Stars by the odd goal in three. Aaron Crampton and Liam Norton were Spartaks marksmen while Lynval de Costa converted the Stars’ goal.

George North misses Saints’ trip to Bath on Friday night due to the calf injury he sustained against Harlequins last week.

The Wales wing is added to an injury list that includes Lee Dickson (groin), Dylan Hartley (shoulder), Alex Corbisiero (knee), Christian Day (calf) and Ethan Waller (hand).

But there is some good news for Saints, with Samoan wing Ken Pisi recovering from a shoulder injury to start at the Recreation Ground.

Jim Mallinder makes five changes to the team that beat Quins in last Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final, with Ben Foden, Luther Burrell, Tom Wood, Courtney Lawes and Pisi back in the fray.

James Wilson, Tom Stephenson, Phil Dowson, James Craig and North are the men to drop out of the starting 15.

Bath are boosted by the return of England lock Dave Attwood, while Anthony Watson and George Ford are named in a backline full of pace.

Centre Kyle Eastmond misses out, with Ollie Devoto taking his place, while international props Paul James and David Wilson return to the starting 15.

Carl Fearns comes into the back row in place of the injured Matt Garvey while captain Stuart Hooper makes his 200th Premiership appearance in the game.

Teams

Bath: Abendanon; Watson, Joseph, Devoto, Banahan; Ford, Young; James, Webber, Wilson; Hooper, Attwood; Fearns, Mercer, Houston.

Replacements: Batty, Catt, Perenise, Day, Fa’osiliva, Stringer, Henson, Agulla.

Saints: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, Fotuali’i; A Waller, McMillan, Ma’afu; Manoa, Lawes; Clark, Wood, Dickinson.

Replacements: Haywood, Denman, Mercey, Craig, Dowson, A Day, Wilson, Collins.

Lord Byron progressed to the final of the Senior Plate with a 2-0 victory over Abington Park Hotel.

Stuart Schofield and Matty Thornber got the goals to secure victory over the newly-crowned division one champions.

Park Royal will face Pitsford Rangers in the final of the Junior Plate after both sides won their semi-final clashes last weekend.

Park won 7-3 at Bat & Wickets Reserves, while Pitsford Rangers secured a 3-0 win over their own reserve side.

In the premier division, top dogs Cotton Hill made it 17 wins from 18 league games after thrashing AFC Trinity 7-0. Rossi Arundell led the way with a brace, with the others coming from Jim Freeman, Jay Viera, Andy Seaton, Kerrith Belfon and Lance Allen.

Denton were the division’s other big winners as they hammered Real Roochers 6-1.

In division one, Kislingbury moved above Trinity Old Boys thanks to a 2-0 win over their rivals.

Bat & Wickets were the big winners in division two as they hit five past AFC Hackleton in a 5-1 win.

Jamie Hall hit a hat-trick alongside singles from Mark Cann and Matt Brown.

Albany Athletic beat West Haddon Albion 2-1, while FC County Reserves and Nomads of Barratts shared the points in a 2-2 draw.

In division three, Eastern United Reserves hammered Grendon Sapphires 13-0.

Dallington Heath were another side to notch a big win, winning 11-0 at Northampton Alexandra in division four.

Dallington netted through Nathan Stewart (3), Luke Holden, Liam Savill (2), Jake Savill, Ryan Merry, Sean Holden-Dawson, James Sterling and an own goal.

Head Quarters proved too strong for Spring Park and recorded a 7-2 win.

Brampton Heath’s best players produced a dominant performance in their first outing of the season as they helped inflict a 5½-2½ away defeat on Kingsthorpe in division two.

After the opening tie between Brampton’s Ricky Stockwell and Gary Hardy was halved, the two sides traded narrow wins in the next four games.

Kingsthorpe’s Steve Jackson won the 18th hole to beat Guy Loveland and Jason McGuinness triumphed 2&1 for the hosts, while Andy Sewell and David Gottsch both picked up away points down the last.

The visitors last three players then took complete control as Matt Hodgkiss (5&4), Ben Jones (7&6) and Nick Herridge (6&5) secured a big win for last year’s third division champions.

Rushden’s familiarity with their new closing stretch of holes proved decisive in their home match with Overstone Park as they battled back to triumph 5½-2½.

With Daniel Smith winning game two with three holes to spare, the visitors looked set for a second victory of the campaign as they held the advantage at the turn in many of the other matches.

But once Jeremy Smith secured a half in the opening tie and Chris Adams grabbed a one hole victory in the third game, Rushden took control of the match.

Steve Alexander beat Andrew MacDonald 2&1, Chris Ward defeated Billy Beard 4&3, before Ian Dickerson wrapped up the home victory by taking the 18th hole against Steve Warren.

Richard Dalton held off a stirring fightback from Lewis Miller to grab another away point, but James Barker was powerless to stop Simon Cox taking the final point for Rushden on the 17th hole.

Division Three

Whittlebury Park were too strong for Kettering on their own track as they recorded a convincing 7-1 home victory.

Brian Aitken (3&2), Marcus McGrady and Jack Henfrey (both 2&1) got the hosts off to the perfect start, before Mark Dunkley made the most of a wayward final tee shot from Nick Keech to make it 4-0.

Although Rob Stevenson got Kettering on the scoreboard with a 3&2 success, it only delayed the inevitable as Martin Conley and Paul Booth both secured win on the 15th hole, before Jon Newman completed the scoring with a 2&1 victory in the closing game.

Farthingstone were in excellent form in their home match with Oundle as they clinched a collection of impressive individual wins in a 6½-1½ team victory.

Richard Marsh got the hosts off to the ideal with a 4&3 in game one, Edward Smith added a second point with five holes to spare, before John Whitaker beat Gary Rice 3&2.

Farthingstone sealed victory thanks to a half for George Briar against David Young and a narrow win for Bradley Wardell over Sean Turner.

With home duo Sam Bird (6&4) and Paul Hodgkiss (7&5) always in control of their matches at the back end of the order, Oundle’s Joel Tadman completed the scoring with a 4&3 win against Ian Donald.

Northampton GC chairman Malcolm Dunn was part of the winning team in the Charity Day Competition as he combined successfully with Barry Hulka, Roger Scanlan and Bernard Harrison.

The quartet bagged 96 points in the seventh year of the annual event to nudge one ahead of runners-up Tony Kingston, Dave Goldman, Dave Griffiths and Glynn Jones.

On a day when Maureen Connor was ‘lucky’ enough to bag a hole-in-one at the 13th hole, the ladies team prize went to Jo Plank, Alison Harrison, Aileen Armitage and captain Jean McKenzie with 85.

In the first round of the Ladies Bailey Trophy, back-to-back birdies on the par five holes at 14 and 15 helped lift Alison Irvine ahead of Sue Avison and Mary Morris on countback with a net 71.

Collingtree

Consistency was the key factor in Dan Messom’s victory in the April Midweek Medal as the five-handicapper carded one gross birdie and 16 pars to finish three shots ahead of Ben Jones (net 70).

Four points was the difference between the first and second positions in round two of the Seniors Roll Up Series as Arthur Johnson (42) got the better of Keith Faulkner.

Countback was needed in the NAGS April Stableford as Ray Campbell edged out Steve Hadley with 34 points.

Northants County

Just a quarter of a stroke separated the leading two mixed teams in the Bank Holiday Texas Scramble.

Tom Duck, Angela Duck, Kevin Wetherly and Mary Wetherly (net 57.75) edged out Malcolm Watkins, Di Murkin, Richard Jackson and Ruth Corby.

Brian Lawson, John Brierley, Peter McNally and John Bennett (54) were convincing winners of the men’s comp. Steve Smith, Steve Reynolds, Ken Stroud and Simon Richmond finished a distant second on 56.5.

Whittlebury

Alistair Heslop produced a stunning burst of three gross birdies and six pars on the back nine during the 9 O’Clock Club April Medal as he won by one from Victor Sheppard with a net 67.

Christian Williams was also in great form in the main monthly medal as he completed the 18 holes in gross one-under-par.

The four-handicapper’s tally of 41 points was two more than Craig Carrington could shoot. Tracey Heavey was the leading lady with 34.

Overstone Park

High-handicapper Jon Dean collected the Kimberley Trophy after shooting a total of 41 points. Nick Arpino was runner-up on countback from Kenneth Curley with 39.

Baylie Pyke was successful in the Junior April Medal after posting a score of net 71 as Luke Barney won the gross prize. Glynis Wingell won the Ladies Red Tee April Stableford with 32 points.

Brampton Heath

Consecutive birdies on the fifth and sixth holes and another on the 11th hole were the catalyst for Nigel Packer to lift the McAllister and Halliday Trophy.

The 12-handicapper grabbed 42 points in the second order of merit event of the season to finish three clear of Michael Cope and Adrian Milward.

Fiona Crook won the Ladies Classic Stableford by a couple of points from Rosemary Hardie and Ruth Ireland (both 34).

Cherwell Edge

Gary Ayres was the only player to pass the 40-point barrier in the April Stableford as the high-handicapper bagged the leading score of 42 points.

Michael Phillips was next on 39, while Stephen King bagged the top division honours with 38.

Three points was the margin of victory in the April Seniors Stableford as John Emmett (40) finished ahead of Robert Cubitt, Philip Lee and Dave Wetherall.

Kingsthorpe

Lee Hitchcock and Lewis Humphrey lifted the Harry Northfield Greensomes title after beating two pairings on countback with 39 points.

A net eagle on the closing hole helped Sandra Ball clinch the Ladies MacMillan Stableford on 37 points. Barbara Hulka finished two points adrift in the runners-up spot, while Enid Blewitt won the nine-hole competition with 17.

Silverstone

Brian Bentley drove away with the top prize in the Greensomes Competition as he bagged a stylish score of 43 points alongside Adrian Clarke.

Second place went to Matt Thomas and Les Woodgate (36) on countback from Mel Toms and Matt Sherrill.

Countback was also needed in the April Medalford Competition as Mike Wood edged out Kris Turvey on 13. Third place went to Nigel Siggs (18).

Farthingstone

Martyn Smith bagged the top score of 42 points in the Easter Monday Comp as he finished one ahead of Sam Bird. Smith’s son Adam carded the joint-third best mark of 39 with Chris Franklin.

Lawrence Smith, who is unrelated to Martyn or Adam, carried away the first prize in the Easter Sunday Comp as his tally of 41 points was two more than Liam Saunders could manage.

Staverton

Four successive gross pars around the turn helped high-handicapper Alan Thiel clinch the Vets Merritt Cup as he fired an excellent score of 43 points.

Chris Conway matched that total but had to settle for second place on countback. Mike Milam and Sydney Gooden were next on 41 points apiece.

Delapre

Alan Picketts beat Gavin Davies on countback to lift the Orchard Trophy after both carded excellent rounds of net 65.

Countback was also needed in the Easter Sunday Stableford as Paul Farmer (36 points) edged out Simon Knight, Philip Rix and Nigel Hunter.

Daventry

Nick Banham maintained his excellent form as he won the Easter Stableford by two from Alf Chessum after posting 40 points.

Banham also finished runner-up to Tom Sheppard on countback in the US Masters Sunday Comp as he bagged 21 points over nine holes. Helen Primett won the ladies prize with 18.

Hellidon Lakes

Andrew McDonald is in pole position to win the Jarratt Salver as he leads the Order of Merit after six rounds with a total of 21 points. Tony Shortt sits second on 20, with Shaun Start a further point back in third.

Cold Ashby

Fraser Carnihan and Adam Smith set up a meeting with Graham Bott and Mark Conway in the Winter League final after beating Glenn Bass and Adrian Todd on the first extra hole in their last four tie.

Rugby & Northampton Athletics Club made a strong start to the new Youth Development League season by finishing second in 2014’s opening meeting.

R&N’s under-20 and under-17 athletes kicked proceedings off at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium by leading the event until the halfway point before host club Birchfield Harriers took over and eventually won with a 40-point margin.

Taking second spot was one of the ingredients that made up an excellent day for R&N with club records and personal bests tumbling.

The men’s sprints were particularly fruitful events with Caleb Downes, in his first year in the under 20 age category, breaking a pair of club bests with 10.84 in the 100m and 21.87 in the 200m.

Rico Ewer and Tom Cheyne, competing in the under 17 men age group, carried their brilliant indoor form to the outdoor events to bring in almost a maximum points haul over 100m and 200m. Ewer won both A races in times of 11.09 and 22.5 respectively, while Cheyne came first in the 100m B race in 11.34 and was narrowly beaten over 200m.

R&N’s athletes put in some strong performances against some formidable opponents in the A races with Brett Mason winning the 400m hurdles in 57.9 and Adam Wright standing out with a personal best of 1:56.25 in the 800m.

Heather Paton posted 14.85 in the under 20 women’s 100m hurdles with the good results continuing thanks to Lily Carmichael, a front-running winner in the under 17 women’s 800m with a time of 2:23.62. Carmichael then closed the day with an excellent lap of the 4x300m relay and her effort was followed up by team-mates Flora Courtney, Hannah Shepherd and Libby Lea to allow R&N to earn a tremendous second in 3:04.03,

Shepherd was R&N’s only female competitor in the under 17 women’s field events but she won the triple jump with a leap of 9.93m to further strengthen her claims as the female athlete of the day after her relay leg and second place in the 300m hurdles A race.

Megan Moran picked up the only A string win in the under 20 women’s events with an excellent throw of 36.77m in the javelin, despite difficult conditions, while Megan Exley made it a clean sweep by winning the B event.

R&N’s male hammer throwers were definitely the team of the day by taking 23 of the 25 points on offer. Nick Scales came second in the under 20 men’s A competition with Jonjo Fanning, throwing in an older age group than usual, winning the B contest. Paddy Price won the under 17 men’s event with a good season-opening throw of 43.7m.

Fanning then completed an excellent day by finishing second in the under 20 men’s javelin competition, again at the higher age group, with a solid 38.94m.

R&N had athletes competing across many disciplines to keep the scoreboard ticking over with everyone contributing to the team’s final total of 625 points on the day.

Freddie Taylor, new to the Youth Development League, showed his potential in the long and short hurdles events to finish second in both under 17 men’s A races, while Kiona McLennon achieved a personal best of 27.97m when taking second spot in the under 17 women’s discus having also placed third in what was a very high standard in the shot put.

Laura Simpson posted a promising personal best in the under 17 women’s 300m before the highlight and grand finale of the afternoon came in the under 20 men’s 4x400m relay.

The R&N team of Brett Mason, Ciaran Wardle, Hizam Sheekh and Adam Wright broke the club record, which was set in last year’s UK Finals, with a time of 3:25.39 having finished first after fending off the challenge of a strong Birchfield unit.

The final team standings saw Birchfield Harriers win with 667 points, R&N come second on 625 and Notts AC finish third on 568. Team Avon (541), Team Oxford (515) and Swansea Harriers (401) made up the top six.

R&N made an excellent start to the new season but they know that there is room for improvement ahead of the second round in Oxford on June 1.

The under 15 and under 13 teams begin their league season on Saturday at Swansea with the incentive of improving on their magnificent third place in the 2013 National Final.

A wide spread of county junior talent will represent Northamptonshire at three different venues across the country during the forthcoming Bank Holiday weekend.

Players which slot into the Northants 9U, 10U, 12U and 14U bracket are set to contest tournaments as far afield as Malvern, Roehampton and Queenswood School in Hertfordshire.

Leading the way will be the county’s 14U squad which is preparing for its national championships over three days, hugely uplifted by a generous new sponsorship package from international law firm Dentons.

The 14U boys will be competing at Malvern under coach Steve Biss while the girls will be at the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton, under the guidance of James Haley.

Yet last weekend brought the teams together for county training at the King’s Park Centre when both teams sported tops provided by the fresh backers.

Northants LTA spokesman Richard Johns has helped to negotiate the deal and said: “Dentons are now the eighth largest law firm in the world although they have a local office at Milton Keynes.”

He added: “The sponsorship is specifically geared to the 14U age group and we are very grateful to Dentons for helping us out.”

While the county boys will tackle Warwickshire in their opener, followed by Leicestershire, Middlesex, North Wales and Hereford & Worcestershire; the girls will start against Sussex before tackling Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Devon.

The boys travel with a squad comprising Alex Ballinger, Harry Collins, Harry Priestley, Piers Bodily and Max Graham while the girls line-up consists of Imogen Allen, Alex Lewis and Tinkerbell Miller, along with sisters Laura and Katie Heathfield.

The Lionel Cox Trophy is taking place at Queenswood School on Saturday and Sunday and embraces the 9U, 10U and 12U categories.

A total of ten counties are involved, namely: Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Oxon and Suffolk.

The Northants 9U line-up consists of Guy Wilkinson, Ryan Stinton, George Priestley, Lilli Trimble, Sophie Lloyd and Alicia Dyche and is being captained by Justin Chacksfield. Coach Stephen Comber is taking charge of the 10U and 12U boys, the former comprising Henry Grayson, Joseph White and Max Pollard, while the 12U team is made up by Max Dyche, Archie Reid and Jovan Kangrga.

In the 10U girl department, Anraj Mahil, Isabella Lloyd and Lottie Heaver 
will be sporting Northants colours in a team coached by James Buswell who also oversees the 12U line-up of Abigail Pearce, Elita Silins and Emily York.

Resurgent Nether Heyford TC is currently adding further fuel to the belief village clubs are prospering as its mixed A line-up is currently among the early pace setters in Division Three.

Coming off the back of a Ladies Division Three Winter League title, Heyford A have begun by securing back-to-back 7-1 victories at the expense of Northampton D and Rushmere C respectively although Duston United currently top the section.

The latest Heyford win saw visitors Rushmere despatched thanks to the pairs of Dave Rayfield and Katie Nightingale who won all four sets, while Tony Wharton and Josie Vass picked up three. The general Heyford renaissance providing tennis at its village courts for 12 months a year is reflected by the presence of year two men’s and two mixed league teams, as well as one contesting Ladies Division Three. Prospective members to the club can contact secretary Jo Dickson at jf.dickson@tiscali.co.uk

Ladies Division Three front runners are Rushmere C who have secured 13 points from their first two matches. The latest success came at the expense of Abington C who were beaten 6-2. There were three sets apiece for the pairs of Caroline Bilbie/Jane Cooper and Gill Hood/Sylvia Manson.

Latest Results

Men’s Division Two: Duston United B 8 Rushmere A 0, Northampton E 4 Roade 4, Northampton E 5 County E 3, Wollaston 3 County E 5.

Division Three: Dallington E 3 Abington B 5, Duston United D 1 Duston United C 7, King’s Park A 6 Harpole 2.

Division Four: Duston United F 8 Duston United G 0, Heyford B 1 Dallington G 7.

Ladies Division One: Wollaston 0 Brackley A 8.

Ladies Division Two: Brackley B 8 Harpole 0, Dallington C 8 County E 0.

Ladies Division Three: Brackley C 8 Heyford 0, Rushmere B 6 Abington C 2.

Mixed Division One: Dallington B 1 Northampton A 7, Duston United A 6 Harpole 2.

Mixed Division Two: Dallington D 0 Harpole B 8, Rushmere A 4 Towcestrians A 4.

Mixed Division Three: Heyford A 7 Rushmere C 1.

Kingsthorpe IBC was chosen by the English Indoor Bowling Association for the staging of the National Finals of the Generation Pairs competition last weekend.

The competition is for a combination of players from different generations within the family of grandparents, parents and children, and is open to both genders, and any age. Among those players that had qualified for these finals were several father and son/father and daughter combinations, including top England international players John Rednall and his daughter Katherine, of Ipswich, and Sam and father Mervyn King, of Gallow.

The county also had qualifiers in son and father Nick and Andrew Manton, Kingsthorpe IBC, and they were drawn against probably the strongest pair in the field, the King father and son duo.

What followed was a fantastic match of high quality bowls, with all players on top of their game. The Mantons went very close to progressing before losing by one shot.

Northants Ladies name team to face Berkshire

The women’s section of bowls Northamptonshire make a visit to Wokingham BC for the first of the outdoor season’s matches, a friendly against Berkshire, on Friday, May 9.

The following players have been selected to represent the county.

Rink one: Alison Dring (Swanspool BC), Joyce George (Wellingborough BC), Yvonne McKee, Brenda Bishop (Kingsthorpe BC). Rink two: Pat Starsmore (Kettering Lodge BC), Ann Lissack, Emma Gray (Burton Latimer Town BC), Val Betts (Higham Ferrers Town BC). Rink three: Chris Cooper (Burton Latimer Town BC), Debbie Cox, Barbara Haseldine (Finedon Town BC), Rebecca Wigfield (Desborough Town BC). Rink four: Trish Basford (Geddington & Newton BC), Margaret Cave, Pam Lewis (Rushden Town BC), Jill Welch (Heyford BC). Rink five: Celia Morris, Hilary Sharpe (Kingsthorpe BC), Julie Spreadbury (Heyford BC), Pat Bodily (Northampton Whyte Melville BC). Rink six: Rachel Pedley (Irchester BC), Sandra Mawson (Northampton Whyte Melville BC), Sue Graham-Hole (St Crispin BC), Anita Petrucci (Abington BC).

Clubs set for another Triples League season

Last year’s Northampton Area Triples League winners Kingsthorpe A will be aiming to notch their 21st league success this summer.

Division two’s winners last year were Northampton Whyte Melville A team, winning this division three times now, and they will play in division one this year.

Division three’s winners were Daventry Town A, having won this division twice now, their players have won promotion as a result to division two.

Division four winners Kislingbury BC A will also be testing themselves in a higher division.

Matches in the league begin on May 12.

Northamptonshire have registered five players for their fixture against Durham MCCU next week.

The County have got a week off from Championship action but with a lengthy queue for the treatment room and a three-day fixture to fulfil, the need has arisen to boost their ranks.

So to that end, the quintet of Gary Knight, Chad Barrett, Matthew Taylor, Saif Zahib and Jack Goode, have been registered and in all likelihood will make the trip north.

With a hectic schedule coming up, a number of the club’s senior players will miss the game and head coach David Ripley says this is borne out of necessity.

“I think this should be like a second team game where players don’t need to be registered but that’s not what you have to do.

“So we’ve got a few lads who will come with us and it will be a good chance for them.

“We’ll probably take all five but that depends on whether Rob Keogh is fit which is a bit up in the air at the minute.”

LATE afternoon, early evening or twilight could all be accurate ways of describing this week’s Towcester card as action gets underway at the Northants track at 4.45pm on Thursday.

The month of May is a busy time for Towcester, with four meetings hemmed into a 22-day slot, three of them being evening fixtures allowing race goers and optimistic punters alike to sample a burst of profitable sunshine as well as a unique and vibrant atmosphere.

Following Thursday’s card, which kicks off with the Haygain Hay Steamers Clean Healthy Forage Handicap Hurdle, there are meetings on successive Mondays on May 12 and 19. The latter is an afternoon card which arrives four days before the Ladies Night card (May 23) after which National Hunt racing at Towcester takes a break until October.

County focus could be sharpest on Thursday in the 2m handicap hurdle at 7.05pm when the Anna Brooks-trained Drombeg West has the type of encouraging form likely to make her a key player following a success at Towcester on February 23 and then at Huntingdon 17 days later.

However, the handicapper has taken a dim view of those exploits which have seen the Westerner mare rise from a mark of 73 to 95 which will undoubtedly mean a career-best performance is required to score again under Andrew Tinkler.

Another plausible alternative with recent course form could be the Michael Chapman-trained Epee Celeste. Although it has been a long time since Chapman, a director at Grimsby Town, has operated in Northamptonshire (he once trained at Clipston), his owners are Hinwick-based Susan and Stephen Richards.

Epee Celeste was a winner at Towcester as recently as Easter Sunday when the eight year-old French bred chestnut mare scored a four and a half length win from Fine Moment under jockey Joe Cornwall.

Northants interest in the handicap hurdle does not end there as Ginger Fizz could go to post under Kielan Woods, the mare having recently scored at Chepstow and been an honorable second at Wetherby. However, the Case team might have an even likelier sort in the concluding 2m Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at 8.10pm in the form of Warwick winner Midnight Jazz.

The 3m handicap chase on the card is a conditional jockeys’ event and it might pay to have close look at the credentials of west country raider Tara Tavey if the mare goes to post as her trainer Kevin Bishop has enjoyed success here in the past.

A smartcard specialist based in Northampton has announced that it will grow its workforce by 30 per cent in 2014.

Novacroft, the company behind London’s Oyster card, has announced that it will create a wide range of new job opportunities across its two Northamptonshire sites in Brixworth and Moulton Park this year as it embarks on the next phase of its development.

After the unveiling in January of four new companies - Novacroft, DeploySmart, LoadMore and UCan-Do-It - the Novacroft Group is now looking to recruit people in fields ranging from software development to contact centre management.

Combining its 2014 recruitment plans with last year’s 57 per cebt rise in employee numbers means that Novacroft will double in size within 24 months, a period in which it has developed innovative solutions for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOGOC), West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and the Greater London Authority.

Novacroft accredited Investor in People and its commitment to employee engagement and development was cited as a key factor when it was recently named Northamptonshire Business of the Year.

Debra Charles, Novacroft founder and chief executive, said: “As a business we are committed to helping our public sector clients get more for less and I am convinced that providing a stimulating, supportive and fun place to work helps our people work together to give their best and get the best for our clients.”

Demand for properties on a new housing development has been so high that just three homes remain on the newly released third phase.

Marina Gardens, being built by Persimmon Homes at Duston in Northampton, has proved an unprecedented success, attracting buyers to its superb layout, wide variety of house types and proximity to superb facilities and transport links

Sales manager for Persimmon Homes Midlands, Debbie Box, said: “We recently released a new phase at this very popular development of three and four bedroom properties, but eager house hunters snapped them up very, very quickly.

“The development has proved hugely successful and although we are thrilled I can’t say we are surprised – the location of Marina Gardens makes this the perfect place to set up home, close to excellent schools, a wide variety of shops and leisure facilities and with superb transport links that make it commutable to London.”

A further 15 properties are due to be released very soon, and anyone interest is urged to register their interest in order not to miss out.

Prices at Marina Gardens start at £239,950 for a three bedroom detached family home, but also available are a four bed semi and a four bed detached property, both priced at £259,950.

Part exchange is available on a number of properties, as well as the government supported shared equity scheme, Help to Buy.

Marina Gardens is set between Upton and St Crispins Marina Gardens offers great facilities and transport links of nearby Northampton. The nearby village of Duston has three primary schools, a chemist, a medical centre, a dentist, a post office, a library, hair salons, public houses and three churches.

Debbie added: “Our sales office has seen a steady stream of interested customers, predominantly from the local area, and many customers have already registered for the next release. With 68 properties already sold, I’m sure the next 15 will be snapped up in no time.”

For more information, visit the website at www.persimmonhomes.com

Saints and Bath are set to receive a small ticket boost for the Amlin Challenge Cup final after the ERC announced it would be increasing the capacity of Cardiff Arms Park by up to 400 seats.

The two finalists were initially allocated close to 1,000 tickets, with Saints selling all of theirs inside the first 24 hours of opening them up to season ticket holders who attended the semi-final.

A petition has since been set up online, with more than 1,000 people signing up to show their discontent about the meagre allocation.

On Wednesday, Cardiff Blues chief executive Richard Holland stated he was open to the idea of adding an extra stand to the 12,125 capacity Cardiff Arms Park to accommodate more fans.

And it now appears the ERC has taken the decision to so, with an article on their website stating more tickets would be made available.

The statement read: “ERC is in contact with Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints, and is aware of the demand for tickets from supporters of both clubs for the match on Friday, May 23.

“We had created the facility to increase capacity to over 12,500 based on demand and we are now putting up to 400 additional seats into the Arms Park which will be made available to fans of the participating clubs.

“Details will be communicated to Bath Rugby and to Northampton Saints shortly.”

However, that is unlikely to quell the frustration felt by fans who are missing out on the occasion, for which the ERC has been selling tickets since September.

Some supporters have taken to ticketing websites in a bid to secure their place at the final, with prices much higher than face value.

Don’t smile, but Renault’s fastest road car – ever – comes laden with devices to save you fuel and, perhaps, your driving licence.

Pull up at the lights in your fighting-fit Megane and the engine stops itself, until you slot into gear ready for the green light and a probable Silverstone-style take off.

Then, dig down into the applications that come as an option and the car will tell you how economically you’ve been driving. It even offers tips to keep visits to the pumps a little further apart.

Or you could simply enjoy what you bought the car for in the first place; as one of the finest ways for petrol-headed people to travel from A to B (via X, W and Z).

Here is a car that not only looks fast, and a little sharper suited thanks to a 2014 facelift, but has a potential for thrills that goes deeper than any competitor at anything like this coupe’s price.

For make no mistake, this is a serious piece of kit. The engineers at Renaultsport have left nothing to chance in their bid to deliver a car that, for its admittedly modest audience, is the best in the business.

It’s actually not that hard to make a car go quickly. Simply pump up the engine; an easy job on anything with a turbocharger fitted, like the four-cylinder unit lurking behind this car’s newly-enlarged Renault logo. The trick – and it’s not easy to pull off – is to make the resulting powerhouse fun to drive. For that, you need generous applications of skill. A sprinkle of fairy dust doesn’t hurt, either.

The clever people at Renaultsport have breathed on everything, from brakes to seats, suspension to gearbox, taking in looks along the way.

The result is a deliciously civilised way to have fun.

Sinking into the enthusiastically-bolstered Recaro sport seats (£1,300 extra) you’re very aware this is a car to be taken seriously.

Starting up does nothing to dispel that thought and neither does the stiffness of the suspension as you move away.

The test car had £1,350 worth of Cup chassis fitted. This brings firmer springing, tyres with a performance edge and a limited slip differential.

The latter helps put all that power through the hard working front wheels and will come into its own if, like lots of owners, you head for a track day at a circuit near you.

Such is the thoroughness of the sporting makeover that the car, despite its stiffer springing, never reaches the stage where you fear for your lower spine. Firm yes, but forgiving too, even on our awful road surfaces.

Renault has spent cash on developing the front suspension to cope with power that might otherwise corrupt if left alone and it works; the car setting off like a well-controlled dervish at the prod of the throttle, when without all the cleverness in the wheel arches it might head for the nearest ditch.

Well-weighted steering, which lets you read the road under those fat and sticky Michelins, adds to the race- track refugee feel of a car that is nevertheless equipped with those niceties that make a stationary M25 more bearable.

So the car comes with a decent sound system, satellite navigation, remote central locking as well as an alarm and immobiliser that will boost confidence if parked up overnight in the open.

Oh, and a little rocker switch in the cockpit makes the accelerator pedal hard to push past a speed you choose.

Could be the most sensible bit of kit on this very impressive car.