Photographs can be of anything at all that represents England – from a historic English landmark, to a traditional English game taking place in a park, or even photographs taken live at an English sporting event. All it needs to do is encompass the spirit of England to those entering.

There are some amazing prizes on offer to win, including

• A lunch hosted by double Olympic Gold Medalist Dame Kelly Holmes

• Centre Court Wimbledon tickets

The ‘We Are England’ competition coincides with St. George’s day, and winners will also be invited to attend a champagne breakfast at the launch of the exhibition at the SW1 Gallery on Wednesday, April 21st, and will be joined by some of the top Commonwealth Games England athletes and representatives as well as members of the media. The exhibition of the winning photographs will run until Sunday, April 25th. Entrance will be free of charge to the public.

The competition will be split into three categories - a professional photographer category, an amateur photographer category for the 16 and under age group, and an amateur photographer category for the 17 and over age group. Entries are to be emailed to weareengland@threepipe.co.uk, and although there should only be one photograph per email, there is no limit to the number of entries that can be submitted.

The England team will be showcasing their new ‘We Are England’ brand logo at the Commonwealth Games in October – a rallying call for the nation to get behind the team - and the photography competition provides a great opportunity for the public to show what England means to them.

For more information please contact Lindsey Evans or Duncan Ross at Threepipe on 0207 632 4816.

Lincolnshire High Jump star Vikki Hubbard, 20, has claimed the gold medal at UK Athletics Aviva World Indoor Trials.

Vikki, a former member of Grantham Athletics Club, took the victory with a jump of 1.87m, 3cm greater than her nearest competitior and 2cm short of her personal best.

Vikki will be competing in Croatia against the likes of World Champion Blanka Vlasic in attempt to book herself a place in Team GB for the World Indoor Championships in Qatar and also has the Commonwealth Games in her sights.

Rising Badminton star Harley Towler, 17, is just one victory away from a showdown with Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson.

Harley is competing in the English National Badminton Championships with mixed doubles partner Sarah Milne of Yorkshire. The pair must win their opening match of the tournament to set up a hugely exciting tie with Robertson and his partner Jenny Wallwork.

Robertson rose to prominence representing Great Britain in 2004, when he secured Olympic silver with his then partner Gail Emms at the Athens Olympics.

Harley, a member of Lincolnshire Sports Partnership's "Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme" (LEAP), will also be competing in the men's doubles event and will face last year's runners up and second seeds, Chris Adcock and Robert Blair if he and his partner win their opening tie.

Lincolnshire Sports Partnership wishes Harley the best of luck for the coming tournament.

For more information on LEAP, contact Rachel Belcher or call 01522 585580.

The UK’s top athletes are invited to the trials if they have achieved certain qualification times, and Emily, a versatile track athlete from Spalding, ran a personal best of 2:11.61 in the Northern Indoor Senior Championships in the 800m two weeks ago. The qualifying standard for the 800m was 2:12.00.

With some of the top athletes attending, Emily will be competing against some of the country’s most experienced runners including the 2009 World Outdoor 800m bronze medallist Jenny Meadows.

Emily is eager to compete in such a high profile tournament, with such experienced athletes. She says: “This year I am looking to make a successful transition from being one of the best junior athletes in the country to being a good senior athlete. I want to keep running well and keep improving my times. Above all, I will be running for experience, as it is a big step up from any of the junior events.”

Emily currently runs in Peterborough, but lives in Spalding and is part of the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP) run by the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership.The programme supports local and talented athletes in Lincolnshire on the road to London 2012 and beyond. She will be attending the LEAP Presentation Evening on Friday 26th February 2010.

Rachel Belcher is the Assistant NGB Project Officer, and co-ordinator of the LEAP Programme at the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership. She says: “It’s great that one of the Lincolnshire Elite Athletes is representing our county at the Aviva Indoor World Trials and UK Championships. Emily has done extremely well to qualify for the trials with her PB last month, and this will be a great experience for such a promising athlete. We wish her the best of luck!”

Hartsholme Cricket Club have launched a brand new programme aimed at getting children to play cricket.

The programme will run through to the end of March 2010, with sessions every Sunday and is funded and supported by: the Police Property Act Fund, the Sport Unlimited programme, Chance2shine and Grassroots.

Hartsholme Cricket Club hope to get children from 8 years and above playing cricket for enjoyment and to help youngsters develop social skills and teamwork abilities.

Coach Ian Dovey says: "We aim to get our teams to play within the spirit of cricket at all times. But, it's not just about playing in leagues, it's about enjoying the game.”

"It's not just about finding the new Freddie Flintoff”, says club Chairman John Sorby, “but it's also to make the club a friendly place, where kids of all abilities are welcome to play what we think is a brilliant game. This programme starts the ball rolling."

For more information about Hartsholme Cricket Club email or call Ian Dovey on 01522 528 411.

To find out if Sport Unlimited could benefit your project contact Lucy Blakey by email or call 01522 585 580.

Most non-commercial organisations are eligible for the Inspire programme, for projects which have no commercial support. If you are interested in discussing a sport, education, sustainability, volunteering or business opportunity project or event, please contact Emma Burke, East Midlands Inspire Programmer for the 2012 games, by email or by phone on 01159 888 390

For more information about the Inspire programme, visit the Inspire Programme website.

Residents of North Kesteven have been feeling the benefit of an exercise referral scheme at Carres Grammar School.

The scheme, which is funded by NHS Lincolnshire, aims to improve the health and fitness of patients who suffer from medical conditions such as Type II diabetes, obesity and coronary heart disease.

The scheme is making a real difference to the lives of it's participants, click here to read a newsletter that features interviews with some of the people taking part.

If you would like more information or to get involved with the Exercise Referral Scheme please contact Nigel Stephenson, Health and Fitness Manager at Carres Grammar School Fitness Suite by email or phone 01529 308741

Grimsby born and Alford raised Glenn Kirkham has been named in the England squad for next months Hockey World Cup.

England will play in World Cup Pool B where they will face competiton from Spain, Australia, South Africa, India and Pakistan.

Glenn made his international debut in 2003 and has over 100 caps to his name.

Kirkham is currently competing at the EuroHockey Indoor Nations Championships in Poland.

Lincolnshire’s Martin “Wolfie” Adams has won his second world darts crown following his victory at the Lakeside on 10th January 2010. ncolnshire’s Martin “Wolfie” Adams has won his second world darts crown following his victory at the Lakeside on 10th January 2010.

Adams lifted the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship Trophy and became the oldest World Darts Champion at 53, after beating Dave Chisnall 7-5. Adams scooped the £100,000 winner's cheque and his second British Darts Organisation (BDO) professional title in four years.

The two and a half hour final took place at the Lakeside, proving an intense and drama-filled match for the local sportsman. Five million viewers from the BBC tuned in to see the England Captain, from Deeping St. James win the title.

In an interview with The Mirror, Adams said:“I always said I wanted to get my name on this trophy once, and now it's there again I want to do it a third time. Like a good bottle of wine, I get better with maturity.”

Dave Carter from the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership thinks that it’s great to have another World Champion in the county: “We have so many elite athletes in Lincolnshire, and it’s great to see another World Champion. Wolfie had a great tournament, and a nail-biting final. We were gripped to see if a representative of our county could hold the title again, and he has. Congratulations!”

Martin becoming World Champion adds to the great success of two other representatives of Lincolnshire. Elite shooter and Lincolnshire Sports Partnership Patron, Lesley Goddard was crowned World Champion in 2009 along with Billy Jackson who won the World Indoor Bowls Championship last year.

LSP are especially looking for people with excellent experience within the areas of Education, Marketing/Media, Legal and Sport. As a Non-Executive member of the Board, Directors will contribute to the decision and policy making process and be part of specialist sub-groups. Currently, the Board meets five times per year with various sub-groups meeting on a similar basis.

Having recently taken over the role of Lincolnshire Sports Partnership Chairman, Barrie Pierpoint says that they are looking for new Directors to enhance their current Board.

He says: “Lincolnshire Sports Partnership’s Board of Directors play a huge role in the development of sport in our county. We are looking for four new Non-Executive Directors to enhance the current Board and work hard to improve sport in Lincolnshire.”

For information about how to apply, please see the Jobs section of our website.

The Basketball Development Officer at Lincolnshire Sports Partnership has secured a grant of £8450 from Sport England to be spent on a Central Venue League project.

.
The grant will help to develop the quality of basketball provison within the county with projects such as setting up five weekly basketball competitions over the next year and increased use of qualified coaches and officials.

The projects are aiming to increase Basketball participation across Lincolnshire by targeting specific audiences from women and girls to the migrant population in the county.

As well as the weekly competitions in the county, Lincolnshire is aiming to have a team in the National League for the 2010/11 season.

Lucy Willets, Basketball Development Officer at LSP, is delighted to have secured the grant, she said: "This funding will allow many more people of all abilities to participate in competitive basketball across the county. It will also provide funding to develop volunteers who will run these competitions.”

For more information about Basketball competitions in Lincolnshire contact Lucy by email or call 01522 585580

East Lindsey District Council’s new £12 million Meridian Leisure Centre in Louth is due to open its doors to the public on the 6th February 2010.

Local clubs will be invited to come and try out the new facilities for free as a demonstration over the weekend 6-7th February.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure at East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Adam Grist, who has led the project from the outset, said: "When the leisure centre opens it will provide a much needed boost to sports and leisure provision in our area. We are working hard to help our community improve their health and quality of life and this leisure centre will support this effort.”

For more information contact East Lindsey District Council Leisure Team on:

01507 60111

Small grants of up to £10,000 are available to third sector organisations supporting children and young people.

The new scheme marks the first time Children in Need have run a UK-wide small grants programme and is aimed predominantly at organisations which have not previously considered applying.

The programme is open to any third sector organisation working with children and young people under the age of 18

.
There will be four funding rounds with deadlines on:
• 15 January.
• 15 April.
• 15 July.
• 15 October.

It is expected the total funding for both the small and large grants schemes will be in excess of £38 million in 2010 and will be administered through seven regional bases.

The director of grants and policy at Children in Need, Sheila Jane Malley, explained the programme would seek to fund well-organised projects which can demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm: “The first thing we look at is benefit for children and young people. Is the organisation clear about what improvements it wants to bring about, and is it clear about how it can do it?”

For more information please visit the Children in Need website.

There is only 1 day left to apply for UK Sport's Talent 2012 programme.

If you or someone you know has got what it takes to be part of the Paralympics GB team in 2012 get involved at www.uksport.gov.uk/talent by 11th January 2010.

33% of British Paralympic medallists in Beijing were part of an elite funded programme for less than 2 years and 15 of the British gold medals were won by first time Paralympians.

If you are aged between 15 and 35, you could be involved in the London 2012 Paralympic Games by regestering with Talent 2012 online.

Gainsborough Rowing Club is poised to dip its oars back into the water after being successfully reformed.

The club had long been dormant but members have set up a working group and have just secured re-affiliation to the British Rowing Association. The club are currently in strong talks over finding a new home.

Competitors from the area are once again racing under the Gainsborough colours and are delighted at the reformation of the club, Andy Timby said: "What used to be a small light at the end of a big tunnel is now a big light and it's looking promising, with the help from various organisations and club members, we're hoping to get the club back up and running early in the new year."

Lincolnshire Sports Partnership are supporting the reformation of the club, Dave Carter, Head of Business Support said: "This is another piece in the jigsaw that will be fitted into the Lincolnshire Waterways bid put into place last month. It's great that a dormant club can be reformed due to the high level of interest and commitment of it's members."

The Lincolnshire Waterways bid, if successful, will provide £1million to be invested in the development of the County's waterways and improvement of watersports facilities, clubs and infrastructure in Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire Sports Partnership and Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership will find out if the bid has been successful in February.

Boston Tennis Club were named the Lawn Tennis Association British Tennis Club of the Year at an awards ceremony in Roehampton on the 10th December.

The club won the award for their outstanding contribution to tennis over the past year. This includes their continued effort to improve and attract more people to the club, achieving Club Mark and satellite accreditation, providing an extensive schools programme and fantastic quality tennis for their members all year round.

Channel Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire Sports Partnership travelled to Boston to visit the club and find out exactly what makes them so successful.

To see a video feature about the club, follow this link www.channellincolnshire.co.uk

If you are interested in joining Boston Tennis Club or for futher information contact Club Secretary, Frank Cammack on 01205 355502.

Lincolnshire has achieved a 3.0% ‘significant increase’ in sports participation, making the county the second most improved county/unitary authority in England.

The results come from the latest Active People survey published on 17th December by Sport England and measure the number of adults over 16 years of age participating in sport and physical activity three times per week or more. Lincolnshire increased from 20.0% in 2005/06 to 23.0% in this latest survey.

The Lincolnshire Sports Partnership has been working closely with Lincolnshire County Council, District Councils, School Sports Partnerships and local sports clubs and coaches to increase and sustain participation in sport. The results highlight that the work undertaken by the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership and their key partners has had a huge effect on sport in the county.

The results also show a significant increase in the percentage of adults that are satisfied with the level of sports provision in Lincolnshire, rising from 61.6% to 65.1% in the last 12 months.

Lincolnshire Sports Partnership has supported several projects to help contribute to these results. New Age Kurling and New Age Bowls clubs have been set up around the county to provide accessible activities that are accessible to all of the community. Four Over 45 activators work around the county delivering sport and physical activity that aims to drive up participation amongst adults aged 45 and over. Exercise Referral schemes have been set up to increase the prescription of physical activity as a treatment for illness, disease and disability as an alternative to medicine and promote long term lifestyle change.

Other programmes that have contributed towards this success include, Fit Kids, Free Swimming and Healthy Walks Programmes.

Steve De Wint is Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, and is delighted with the results. He said :“This is a wonderful achievement for the county. As Chief Executive of the Partnership I think this is bordering on a perfect Christmas present and I need to thank all our partners, clubs and coaches for their support over the past three years.

“The key difference between us and other areas seems to be the joined up approach that all partners have taken and the linking of sports activities with more general physical activity with older adults – this just seems to get everyone doing something.”

Disabled people in Lincolnshire will now have better access to allow them to improve their fitness thanks to a new partnership between Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI), NHS Lincolnshire and local leisure providers. It is the first time that sports, health and fitness organisations have worked together to facilitate the delivery of a specific, county wide IFI project.

By the end of March 2010, 15 additional leisure and fitness facilities across the county will have been supported by the partner organisations to achieve IFI Mark Accreditation, which is the nationally recognised standard of inclusion within the fitness industry awarded to fitness facilities that are inclusive of both disabled and non-disabled people.

Ian Brown, Equality and Diversity Officer for Lincolnshire Sports Partnership said “This will be the single biggest development and commitment shown to date from any county within the UK to inclusive fitness and has been developed to ensure that disabled people, irrespective of geography or their impairment can access good quality inclusive physical activity opportunities within accessible, local community facilities.”

In conjunction with this project for the county, disabled people are also set to benefit from additional investment committed from the Short Breaks Programme which will see a Changing Places toilet installed into eight of the fifteen leisure facilities, providing further opportunities for disabled people who have more complex health needs.

Lincolnshire Throws Academy and the University of Lincoln were recognised at Sports Coach UK’s national coaching awards in a ceremony held in London on Tuesday 8th December.

Lincolnshire Throws Academy, set up by Lincolnshire Sports Partnership and former British and Commonwealth shot put champion, Geoff Capes, was nominated in the “Coaching Intervention of the Year” category for it’s work to get people started, staying and excelling in sport.

After a number of taster sessions in summer 2008, the club continued to meet on the first Sunday of every month at Boston’s Princess Royal Sports Arena, one of the venues earmarked as a possible Olympic training camp, and has gone from strength to strength with over 40 members in the Academy.

Dave Carter, Head of Business Support at LSP was delighted with the nomination, “It’s a reward for all the hard work that the coaches, athletes and Lincolnshire Sports Partnership have put into the Academy in the last year.”

“We couldn’t be more proud of the Academy and their achievements, and this recognition at the Awards ceremony is fantastic.”

The University of Lincoln was nominated in the “Coach Educator of the Year” category. At a community, county, regional and national level, the University of Lincoln has been developing its coach education and development for over ten years. As well as developing education packages for Lincolnshire coaches, they support the students of the University by interfacing with other sports agencies to ensure that all students are supplied with coaching opportunities in either a club or school environment.

The month of November saw Lincolnshire Sports Partnership celebrate it’s 5th Birthday by holding five successful events throughout the month.

The month began with a 5th Birthday dinner party hosted by LSP chief executive, Steve De Wint which brought partners together to celebrate the success we have had working with each other over the last five years to improve sport and physical activity in Lincolnshire.

The next event was the Partnership’s AGM and first ever Great Sports Debate. The debate brought together a panel of three sports professionals including LSP Chairman Barrie Pierpoint, England Volleyball representative and LSP Head of Sport, Janet Inman and Councillor Mrs. Sue Woolley of Lincolnshire County Council. The professional panel exchanged their views on the state of sport in Lincolnshire with a panel of three young sports people and volunteers from around the county, including 13 year old, national windsurfing champion Robert York.

After the success of the first debate it is hoped that it will continue to grow year on year and go on to be a prominent event in the Partnership’s calendar.

The Partnership’s next event was at the Taste of Lincolnshire Sausage Festival, where our Over 45’s activators and Community Coaches engaged adults and children in sports and activities such as Badminton, New Age Bowls, Ceilhi Dancing and Tai-Chi throughout the day.

The celebrations continued with the launch of a new Wheelchair Sports Programme. The programme will change the face of wheelchair sport in Lincolnshire by providing more opportunities for disabled and able bodied students to take part in wheelchair sports such as basketball, badminton, football and tennis. The programme will provide 170 manual sports wheelchairs, 10 performance power chairs and 18 trailers which will carry the chairs and coaches around the county encouraging people to take part in wheelchair sports.The inclusion programme is to be rolled out in to secondary schools, further education and higher education for disabled and non-disabled students and is by far the largest of its kind in the country.

The fifth and final event was the Lincolnshire Sports Awards 2009, celebrating the achievements of Lincolnshire’s athletes, coaches and volunteers. The event was attended by special guests such as former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker and now Lincoln City manager, Chris Sutton, stars of Gladiators, Jenny Pacey a.k.a Enigma and Wayne Gordon a.k.a Doom, as well as Anne Rippon of Sport England. The evening saw World Champion shooter, Lesley Goddard end a fantastic career by being named both Sportswoman of the Year and Sports Personality of the Year.

19th August 2009

It’s that time of year again- Nominations are now open for the Lincolnshire Sports Awards 2009.

Now in its sixth year, the annual Sports Awards keep getting bigger and better, but we can only grow with the help of the Lincolnshire public. Without your nominations there’s a real risk that the county’s most committed performers, clubs, and volunteers will miss out on the recognition they deserve.

In 2009 there are 13 categories open to public nomination, these are:

• Sportsman of the Year
• Sportswoman of the Year
• Young Sportsman of the Year
• Young Sportswoman of the Year
• Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
• Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Sports Club of the Year
• Sports Volunteer of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement Awards

We are also pleased to introduce 3 new Award Categories for 2009;

• Veteran Sportsperson of the Year
• Contribution to Physical Activity Award
• Active 4 Lincolnshire Award

Nominations can be made online click here closing date September 21st. Or to request a paper form please contact the Partnership on: 01522 585 580. The Awards Evening will be held at the Epic Centre – Lincolnshire Showground on the 19th November 2009.

European success in both the men's and womens Euro Hockey Nations Championships.

The men won their first major title since the Olympic 1908 and 1920 titles, with an impressive 5-3 display against Germany at the Wagner Stadium in Amstelveen.

England's women also did well, finishing the tournament with Bronze.

GB Clay Target Shooter Lesley Goddard won the World Universal Trap Championships held at Southern Counties, Dorchester on the 3rd-5th July 2009. Goddard won the Ladies Individual Championships with a shot score of 193.

Lincolnshire Sports Partnership is pleased to announce that for the first time the 'Sports Zone' will be featuring at the RAF Waddington International Air Show 4th-5th July 2009.

Located at the entrance to the show, and outside 'Hanger 5'  (Youth Hanger) the Sports Zone promises to be a popular attraction.

The Air Show will experience a different look Sports Zone to that which featured at the Lincolnshire Show with activities focused on the Over 45’s. Activities will include Salsa, Tai Chi, Boxercise, Chair Pilates, Fitness Step, Hula Hula & Zumba.

Jaguars Wheelchair Basketball Club will also be providing visitors with the opportunity to try Wheelchair Basketball. Lincoln RFC will be offering Rugby Skills Training, and England Squash's Mini Squash Factory will also be on site.

Special guests include Tanya Bailey: World top 20 – Highest Ranking World Number 4 (Former British National Champion, and 2x Commonwealth Medalist) and Matt Byrne: GB Wheelchair Basketball Team and 2 x Paralympian.

The Sports Zone will be open 8am-6pm on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July 2009.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Aquathlon is part of the Paratriathlete development programme, and will introduce children of all abilities in years 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to an exciting multi-discipline sport. Participants will take part in a 25 metre Swim, and a 400 metre run.

A double leg amputee Rayment competes at both National and International level, and has recently hand cycled from Lands End to John o’ Groats.
Rayment is also a coach at Lincsquad Triathlon Club a Paratriathlete Inclusive club and will be hoping to encourage young local children with limiting disabilities to join.

Local schools such as Lincoln’s St Christopher’s School and Lincoln’s The Priory School will be taking part in the Aquathon which runs from 9:30am to 2:30pm.

For further information please contact Julian Wills- British Paratriathlete Manager on: 01822 850454 or e-mail julianwills@britishtriathlon.org

Over the past year a lot of time has been spent developing the new Lincolnshire strategy for sport “Loving Sport, Living Life – a Strategy to 2012 and beyond”. The final edited version of this will be published before the end of July.

To accompany this document will be a new three year business plan for the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership central team. This business plan will reflect the aims and objectives of the strategy and will ensure that Lincolnshire Sports Partnership is effective in delivering the key objectives and tasks that it has promised to deliver.

To help achieve this, the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership has reorganised the staff team. This reorganisation takes account of the new aims and objectives for sport and recreation, both at national level and through the new strategy; the role to be played for the Partnership in physical activity; the current funding opportunities and the longer term economic outlook for the delivery of public services, such as health and sports development.

The main changes will be the adoption of two development teams, one Physical Activity team and one Sports team, assisted by a Business Support team. The Heads of Service from the 1 July will be:

Head of Sport: Janet Inman Job Description
Head of Physical Activity: Clive Breedon Job Description
Head of Business Support: Dave Carter Job Description

Chief Executive Officer Job Overview

Click here to view an organisational diagram for the company

Click here for details of all postholders

If you have any queries or suggestions about the new strategy, business plan or the new structure please do not hesitate to call Stephen De Wint on 01522 585580 or e-mail steve.dewint@lincolnshiresports.co.uk.

The head-to-head, which will involve local cricketing superstar, Arran Brindle, has been organised by Louth Cricket Club and is expected to attract hundreds of spectators to the newly refurbished £2m London Road Sports Ground. The match will also signal the official opening of the London Road facility, developed by East Lindsey District Council, which boasts 10 new changing rooms, viewing terrace and balcony, clubroom with bar and terrace and training room.

"The England Women's Ashes team of 2005 is hugely excited about playing as a team again”, said the Head of England Women’s Cricket, Claire Connor. “The 2005 summer was an unforgettable one for us all and it will evoke wonderful memories to be on the pitch together again. I have already been privy to the ground developments and pavilion construction at Louth CC and it is certainly a great venue for a match like this. The bigger picture is that much work needs to be done in Lincolnshire to promote the development of girls' cricket and, in my role as Head of Women's Cricket at the ECB, I really hope that by bringing this England team to Louth we can provide the catalyst for that much needed activity."

Councillor Adam Grist, the District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Leisure, who led the improvements at London Road, said cricket is a great way to bring people together: “Being able to attract and facilitate games of this magnitude is outstanding and excellent for the local area. The Council is working hard to improve leisure facilities across the District and without the investment we made at London Road this match wouldn’t have been possible. With such big names in the cricketing world coming to Louth, I hope it gives inspiration and encouragement to keen sportsmen and women in our area.”

Louth Cricket Club’s Vice Chairman, Richard Osmond, said: “This will be a fantastic day for the cricket club but also for cricket fans across Lincolnshire to see world class cricketers performing at a new high spec cricket ground.”

Many of the players in the match will have participated in this summer’s Women’s World 20/20 competition taking on some of the very best teams from across the world.

This year the Zone has been designed with participation in mind and with the help of national governing bodies and local sports clubs, there will be plenty of sporting challenges for visitors to come and try. Activities on offer include the ECB Cricket Factory, New Age Kurling, Table Tennis, Climbing, Golf, Hockey, and much much more. The University of Lincoln’s Human Performance Centre will also be on site to offer free Body Mot’s and fitness tests.

That’s not all though there’s more, for the first year, the Sports Zone will also be featuring at the RAF Waddington Air show. Come and Try it activities will be available from the RFU, wheelchair basketball and also squash.

However the main programme of activities will be focused on the Over 45’s and an exciting programme of activities is on offer, including Salsa, Tai Chi, Boxercise, Chair Pilates, Fitness Step, & Zumba. So if like me you’ve ever wondered what Zumba is, then come along to the Air Show on the 4th-5th July and find out about this exciting new craze.

British Equestrian Vaulting (BEV) has today selected Steph Hunter as one of the senior Team GBR vaulters competing in the European Vaulting Championships.

Lincolnshire based Steph (15) is one of 21 vaulters – seven senior team members, eight junior team members and six individual vaulters – who will attend the championships, which will be held at Flyinge Kungsgård in Sweden between July 29 and August 2.

Vaulting is best described as a form of gymnastics on the back of a moving
horse which is worked on a circle under the control of a lunger.

Through choreographed movements, it incorporates beauty and brilliance, power and strength, elegance and precision, all in harmony with the horse.

Steph, a pupil at Kesteven and Grantham Girls School, has been vaulting for eight years and individually has already scored a credible 3rd place at the Junior British Championships in 2008 and recently 2nd place at the first selection trial, in the junior age group (14-18) in 2009.

As a member of the English Vaulting Squad, Steph improved on this with a 1st place at the senior Team GBR 1st Selection Trial, and helped the English Senior Vaulting team to a strong 5th place finish in Saumur (France).

Steph is also a member of the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP), which is a locally funded programme that supports her training costs.

Read More

Congratulations to Spalding RFC who have become an RFU Seal of Approval club & have achieved the Sport England Club Mark Award. The club have become the 10th Lincolnshire club to receive the award.

23-year-old Crista Cullen and 26-year-old Glenn Kirkham, both born in Lincolnshire, have walked away with the Performance Player of the Year Awards at the inaugural National Hockey Awards Ceremony last night (Sunday 17 May) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nottingham.

Boston born Crista Cullen, who plays her club hockey at Leicester, was the Great Britain women’s top goal scorer at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, scoring in half of the team’s matches and taking her tally in a GB shirt to ten. After scoring Britain’s only goal in the opening match defeat to Germany, Crista netted the winner against New Zealand in game three and the heart-stopping last minute winner against Japan in game four. After her performances in Beijing, she was shortlisted by the FIH for its World Young Player of the Year award, although she ultimately lost out to the Netherlands’ Maartje Paumen. She has 61 caps for England and 43 for Great Britain.

Grimsby born Glenn was a key member of the Great Britain side that qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games after beating India 2-0 in a dramatic Olympic Qualification Tournament Final. From there he went on to play all six of Britain’s matches at the Olympics as co-vice captain, scoring in the play-off win over Korea. This helped to secure a fifth place finish – the highest placing for a men’s hockey team at an Olympic Games since the gold-medal winning team of 1988. Glenn has 83 caps for England and a further 36 for Great Britain. Domestically, he was an integral part of the East Grinstead side that finished the 2007-08 Slazenger England Hockey League season in second place, qualifying them for this season’s Euro Hockey League – hockey’s version of football’s Champions League.

When asked how she felt when her name was called out as the winner, Crista commented "I think I would describe it as surprised - I thought Beth Storry played exceptionally at the Olympics and I was pretty much convinced that she would be the nominated player so I was very surprised when my name was called out."

Glenn commented “It’s an honour to be the first Performance Player of the Year, but really, this award isn’t just for me, it’s for my team-mates as well.”

The posts have been funded by Lincolnshire NHS & Sport England East Midlands for the next 2 years to increase participation in sport and physical activity across Lincolnshire. The Activators are employed by the Lincolnshire Sports partnership but hosted at 6 local district councils East Lindsey, West Lindsey, North Kesteven, South Kesteven South Holland & Boston Borough Council.

Lauren Jackson Physical Activity Coordinator for the County said ‘This a fantastic new scheme to encourage participation in local activities at local places, the people of Lincolnshire have said they would do more sports & exercise if they knew where to go.

The Activators are your local experts, if you want to know more about what’s going on in your area contact them now on the numbers below.

The activators are identifying current providers of sports and activities for the over 45s and looking for gaps in provision and providing new activities. If you are an activity provider or a local instructor looking for more sessions call your activator now.

North & South Kesteven: Fiona Evans:   07984 461600 fiona.evans@lincolnshiresports.co.uk
West Lindsey:               Christian Wallis: 07984 434906 christian.wallis@lincolnshiresports.co.uk
East Lindsey:                Nicola Will:        07984 434100 nicola.will@lincolnshiresports.co.uk
South Holland:               Tracey Lewis:   07944 852449 tracey.lewis@lincolnshiresports.co.uk
Boston:                          Lorraine Elston: 07944 432400 lorraine.elston@lincolnshiresports.co.uk

Organised chaos once again descended on the historic City of Lincoln in the form of the Abstraction Lincoln Grand Prix.

With a brand new backer this year and the continued support from existing sponsors this years’ race promised to be bigger and better that last years. Some hundred and seventy riders lined up on the start line competing for a first prize of £800 and the prestige of winning arguably the best single day race in England.

Under the bright May sunshine the race got under way from the Yarborough leisure centre and made a gentle rolling start, while riders made last minute adjustments and the team managers and race officials keep a close eye on their charges. The racing proper started as usual on the Burton road and the riders where given the all clear for battle to commence. The pace was set early on by some of the favourites for this years title, the teams of Rapha-Condor and Candi-TV  taking the race on.

The first couple of laps saw the usual attempts by the brave or perhaps fool hardy trying their luck but the combined forces of the big teams managed to control the race. The Brian Cossavella 'King of the Castle' competition where points awarded for the first three over the line each lap, was beginning  to hot up with Tom Southam and Russell Downing gaining early points.

A good showing by some of our international competitors in particular  Arno van der Zwet who had come over with a strong Swedish team and some of the team Ireland riders, saw them getting towards the fore. By the first hour mark the riders had completed nearly  twenty eight miles making for a quick pace, which many found hard to sustain.

Read More

The Results

The 2008 race produced a thrilling finish with Rotherham’s Russell Downing just edging past previous year’s winner and brother Dean on the final 1 in 6 climb of Michaelgate. The race was held in superb conditions and turned out to be the fastest on record with an average speed of 26.5 mph for the 86 miles over 11 laps of the 8 mile circuit which includes the ascent of Michaelgate, the twists and turns through Burton Village and the gradual climb of Long Leys Road on every lap.

The 200 rider line up this year includes three foreign teams with our regular visitors from The Netherlands and a new team to the race this year from Sweden with its leader Magnus Backstedt, well known for his win of the infamous Paris-Roubaix in 2004 and a Tour de France stage back in 1998, at least the cobbles of Michaelgate may remind him a bit of Paris-Roubaix. A strong national team from Ireland is with us this year led by David McCann who was 7th last year and really wants to win the event. We also welcome riders from New Zealand, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Namibia, Australia, USA and the Channel Islands together with the very best of British road teams.

Read More