RALLY Isle of Man will be back this year – after it was cancelled last year.

It will take place from September 20 to 22, covering the classic stages as well as introducing many new elements and variations on the traditional rally.

The event will open with a spectator-orientated stage along Douglas promenades, in which the cars and crews will be pitched in a head-to-head race along the seafront. Friday’s action will culminate with four night stages centred round Castletown.

There has already been more than 70 expressions of interest registered and the organisers expecting the maximum of 90 entrants for the rally itself. Entries have been received from around the British Isles, Europe and Japan already.

The event will be sponsored by e-gaming software company Microgaming.

John Gill, chairman of Rally Isle of Man, said: ‘To have on board a major sponsor like Microgaming will make a great difference to the rally – it shows the high level of support for this event.

‘People really enjoy Rally Isle of Man and travel from as far afield as America to see it first hand.’

MORE than 2,000 people gathered in Peel on Saturday to watch the annual World Championship Viking Longboats Races take place.

The sun shone as men and women battled on the waves to showcase their rowing skills.

A healthy entry of 70 teams took part in the event which helps bring the Viking heritage of Peel to life with bulky longboats being rowed as fast as their crews are able.

The 750 participants raced from the harbour mouth, around a buoy in the bay and back again.

Secretary of Peel Viking Longboats Jimmy Lee was delighted with how successful the day was. He said: ‘The day went very well with the sun shining in Peel, everybody seemed in good spirits.

‘I would like to thank everyone who helped out on the day, and all our sponsors – Royal London 360, Manx Radio, Heron and Brearley and Promenade T-shirts.

‘Without the help of everyone behind the scenes the day could not go ahead, including Peel police, Peel Commissioners and Peel harbour keepers and, of course, a big thank you to all those who competed in the races.’

RESULTS:

Mens 1, Farghers Lift Men (2 minutes 27.48 seconds); 2, Central Young Farmers (2:29.84); 3, Sheepskull Enduro Riders (2:30.36).

Women 1, Eastern Young Farmers (3:13.60); 2, Bettridge Motors (3:19.29); 3, Viqueen Vixens (3:28.80).

Mixed 1, Ravern Raiders (2:38.55); 2, Sheepskull Enduro Riders (2:40.99); 3, Anglo Manx (2:42.93).

The results mean Farghers Lift Men are world champions.

There were a number of other titles up for grabs on the day, including the slowest team on the day, which was picked up by Win Oar Lose – Rovers drink booze B, who received the wooden spoon for their efforts. It wasn’t all bad news for them, however, as they won the fancy dress competition.

THE Southern 100 motorcycle races will be hitting TV screens early next month.

The highly successful 2012 Steam Packet International Road Races will be broadcast on British Eurosport 2. The programmes, produced in association with Greenlight TV, will be broadcast in four parts on Saturday, August 4, and will be repeated on Sunday, August 5.

Saturday, August 4: Part 1, 7.10pm; Part 2, 8.10pm; Part 3, 10.10pm; Part 4, 11.10pm.

Sunday, August 5: Part 1, 8.15am; Part 2, 9.15am; Part 3, 5.30pm; Part 4, 6.30pm.

WHEN looking for an inspirational story in which an Isle of Man company exceeds the wildest of dreams, you’d do well to look at ManSat.

The final frontier is no barrier, only a challenge, to the space company, which holds the Isle of Man Government’s contract for orbital filing.

There’s no wonder then that ManSat’s chairman and CEO Chris Stott was recognised at the 2010 Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence ceremony with the title Business Person of the Year.

Fast forward two years and ManSat is sponsoring that very category at the seventh annual Awards, being run once again in association with RBS International.

Speaking from his Texas base, Chris said the ManSat team believes fully in the Awards and particularly this year’s aim of aligning them with the Department of Economic Development’s Where You Can initiative.

‘In the island we tend to keep our heads down and get our work done, you don’t really beat your own drum,’ said the Manxman. ‘But especially in difficult times we need to take time out to celebrate success, that’s a great example to other people.’

As someone working with a Manx company on a global scale, Chris enjoys talking about the pride he feels for his home. And that feeling of pride pervades the Awards for Excellence.

‘The island’s out there, once someone hears about the Isle of Man they never stop hearing about it because we are endemic,’ said Chris.

ManSat’s island-based finance director Ian Jarritt agreed: ‘We need to encourage people to do everything they can for the Isle of Man generally, not entirely altruistically because clearly if the Isle of Man thrives so will business.

‘It’s in everybody’s interests for it to be successful. People do react to the Awards, it’s good to recognise people who have achieved the best.’

Chris said ManSat values its association with the Awards.

‘We are honoured to do this,’ he said. ‘Like everything we do we do it for the right reasons. Supporting the Awards doesn’t help us, our customer base is in space not in the island, but it’s the right thing to do.

‘It’s an honour and a privilege.’

• This year’s Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence, in association with RBS International, will be held on November 15.

Application forms are available at {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/afe|www.iomtoday.co.im/afe}.

If you would like to find out more about what entering can do for you, contact Trudi Williamson (tjw@newsiom.co.im) or Sarah Radcliffe (sarah.radcliffe@newsiom.co.im) or 695695 for more information.

THE one Tynwald member who has refused to accept a role in the Government of National Unity says he won’t rule out taking a post in future.

But Onchan MHK Zac Hall says taking up the departmental job he was offered meant risking being sacked a second time for breaking the rules on collective responsibility.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said he had offered a post to Mr Hall but he turned it down as he had felt it would have been inappropriate to take it.

Mr Hall told the Examiner he had strong beliefs on particular issues about which he had tabled questions in the House of Keys and Tynwald and this might make it difficult to comply with collective responsibility in certain government departments.

He declined to reveal with which department he had been offered a job as political member.

‘Mr Bell offered me a department but I felt collective responsibility might be somewhat difficult to adhere to,’ he explained.

When the Chief Minister first unveiled his Government of National Unity, Mr Hall was given a post as political member in the Department of Education and Children.

He was subsequently sacked from the department for failing to support the then minister Peter Karran – leader of the Liberal Vannin party – in the department’s policy on privatising the state-run pre-schools and so breaching rules on collective responsibility.

Mr Hall was also suspended and then expelled from the Liberal Vannin party for ‘undermining the reputation of the party’.

In a hard-hitting statement issued in response to his suspension, Mr Hall had accused the party of having ‘Stalinist tendencies’ and said he was aghast at the ‘unprofessional way’ the matter had been handled, insisting it would have been almost impossible to have a fair hearing.

Mr Hall told the Examiner that when was appointed to the Department of Education and Children, he didn’t have any specific delegation or departmental responsibility.

He said: ‘I’m looking for a specific delegation in the right department.’

But he said he would not rule out accepting a post in government if the right position was offered. He said: ‘As a politician I don’t think it’s right to rule anything out in the future. I’m keeping an open mind.’

Add some extra fun to your children’s holiday entertainment this summer with the superb selection of books now available from Piccadilly Press.

An independent publisher, they have been specialising in teen fiction and non-fiction, children’s fiction, picture books and parenting books for 29 years and have a wide choice of reading for youngsters aged from two to sixteen.

Here are just a few of their top choices...

Silenced by Simon Packham

A 15-year-old grief-stricken schoolboy’s mental conversation with his dead best friend seems a harrowing subject for a young adult novel... but not when it’s in the capable hands of Simon Packham.

Silenced, the story of Chris who is struck dumb when his comedy ‘partner’ Declan dies in a car crash, is Packham’s third YA novel and it looks set to be one of this year’s best teen reads.

Darkly funny, compellingly real, remarkably wise and beautifully written, this is the kind of book that leaves adults convinced that youth fiction is wasted when it’s read only by the young.

Using an eclectic and instantly recognisable cast of characters, and a powerful and original narrative voice, Packham deals with highly sensitive and emotive themes with extraordinary warmth, understanding and humour.

Chris Hughes and Declan Norris had been best friends since nursery school. They were a comedy double-act, a promising pair of jokers who dreamt of writing their own sketch shows and taking the Edinburgh Fringe by storm.

But now Declan has been killed in a late night car crash, Chris has lost his voice with the shock and everyone is falling over themselves to be ‘nice’ to him.

Chris feels guilty, and not just because he knows that Declan will never now do the ‘stuff’ he wanted, like solving the Countdown conundrum, discovering that Angelina Jolie is ready for a new relationship and ending his tireless quest for the perfect pepperoni pizza.

As the months pass, school pals give up on the silent Chris and only eco-freak Ariel and a suspiciously friendly new boy, Will Hunt, are left in his ever decreasing circle. While Will provides a welcome distraction and encourages increasingly dangerous ways for Chris to forget Declan, Ariel realises her friend is hiding something.

But what is Chris’s terrifying secret, and will he find his voice before it’s too late?

Youth culture, peer pressure, the raw and uncompromising nature of loss and the black humour of the schoolroom meld into a gripping, moving story which delivers a huge emotional punch. As ever, Packham keeps his book to perfect length with snappy one-liners, fast-paced action and a plotline that enthrals and intrigues.

Not to be missed...

(paperback, £6.99)

Viper’s Nest by Isla Whitcroft

She’s clever, classy, courageous and ready to whisk teens on a summer adventure they’ll never forget...

Yes, sassy sleuth Cate Carlisle is back for another humdinger holiday, care of her unreliable mother who has a tendency to disappear ... leaving her resourceful daughter to face trouble, mystery and danger.

The Cate Carlisle Files are the work of British journalist Isla Whitcroft and they are bringing girls a spellbinding mix of adventure, glamour and worldwide travel.

In Viper’s Nest, we meet 16-year-old Cate on her way from her home in London to spend the holidays with her mother in Los Angeles. She’s looking forward to days of swimming pools and sunshine, but things never go to plan when her mum is involved.

Mum has a new boyfriend, Burt Tyler, an antiques dealer who is currently doing some ‘deals’ with the locals in Mexico and her rendezvous with Cate will have to be delayed.

Bur when two of Cate’s good friends go missing from an archaeological dig in Mexico, along with some priceless artefacts, she soon discovers her mother’s new boyfriend is selling Mexican treasures, leaving Cate in a terrifyingly dangerous situation . . .

Viper’s Nest is a thrilling, fast-moving story full of action and intrigue and featuring a feisty heroine whose daring exploits are sure to inspire teenage girls everywhere.

(paperback, £6.99)

Bringing Up Your Parents: A Guide for Teenagers

John Farman

John Farman knows a thing or two about teenage blues, whether it’s the parents or their frustrated kids who are pulling out their hair.

So he’s decided to help with that very important problem – setting up a successful line of communication with ‘fuddy duddy’ mums and dads!

Whether it’s that age-old question to dad ‘What time do I have to be in?’ and his typical buck-passing answer ‘You’d better ask your mother,’ or mum’s cop-out as to why teenagers have to be in early, ‘Because I say so,’ Farman has invaluable advice on handling exasperating parents.

The solution, he claims, is to develop the knack and avoid all those heated arguments...

Tackling all the usual arguments, from what teens wear to what they drink, the very enterprising and resourceful Mr Farman gives a funny and fascinating inside view of what’s really going on and how to handle the confrontations.

With the right negotiation skills and with the help of this cunning guide, teenagers are assured that their parents will soon be under control, and mums and dads will understand a little more of the modern world and their bewildering children!

(paperback, £5.99)

Letters From An Alien Schoolboy: Galactic Poodle by Ros Asquith

If it’s intergalactic madness you’re after, then look no further than the talented and imaginative Ros Asquith’s brilliant Alien Schoolboy adventures.

Brimful of mayhem, laughter and quirky illustrations, they are perfect for parents to read or for young readers to tackle alone.

The spirit of childhood is alive and well is these wonderfully entertaining stories which pack in some wise life lessons as well as baddies, goodies, aliens and all those other beings that little ones love.

Keith, King of Threggs, spinach finder general and lord of the loonyverse, is ready to attack Earth with some very nasty aliens and an evil Thing called Mandy. Can Flowkwee, in his schoolboy disguise, save Earth for a third time and what is the significance of the Galactic Poodle?

The ideal book to send young imaginations into orbit...

(paperback, £5.99)

London Murder Mysteries: Death in the Devil’s Den

Cora Harrison

If only all history lessons could be as good as Cora Harrison’s enthralling London Murder Mysteries series featuring the fearless Alfie and his gang.

Her exciting books are inspired by the London of Charles Dickens and feature ragamuffin boy Alfie, his brother Sammy, their two cousins, Jack and Tom, and a dog called Mutsy who all live in a cold, damp, miserable cellar in Bow Street.

The orphans rely on gang leader Alfie, a sharp, quick-witted 12-year-old, to keep them fed and clothed, and it usually means teaming up secretly with police contacts and embarking on dangerous missions and hair-raising adventures.

In the sixth and final book of the series, the gang has to spy on a Russian secret agent, but that means they must be quick, clever and totally invisible.

It’s a thrilling game until the Russian is found murdered, and Alfie faces the greatest threat of his life...

Death in the Devil’s Den is full of drama, intrigue and page-turning action which will keep young readers on the edge of their seats. A cracking finale to a first-class series.

(paperback, £6.99)

Princess Katie’s Kittens: Poppy and the Prince by Julie Sykes

What little girl could resist the charms of adventure stories featuring some right royal kittens?

Julie Sykes has hit the animal jackpot with her enchanting, glitter-covered books featuring a princess, a palace and lots of cute kittens.

Princess Katie has six adorable kittens and they can’t help but get caught up in some thrilling escapades with young royals and their friends.

Here we meet Poppy who is a very friendly kitten. She wants to play with Prince Edward when he pays a visit to Katie’s home at Starlight Palace. But the prince thinks cats are silly and he teases little Poppy so when the kitten and the prince disappear at the same time, Princess Katie is suspicious. Could Poppy be in trouble?

Little girls aged five to seven will be like the cats that got the cream as they lap up Sykes’ warm-hearted, illustrated stories.

(paperback, £4.99)

Who Loves Baby?

Julia Hubery and Sean Julian

When there’s a new baby in the house, it’s a tough time for toddlers who have to learn to share mum and dad with their new sibling.

But help is at hand with Julia Hubery and Sean Julian’s perfectly pitched, warm and reassuring picture book, Who Loves Baby?

Using big, bold, colourful pictures featuring cuddly creatures, little ones are introduced to the new baby in the house. Everyone loves him, especially the Gooey Gang who come to coo and cuddle and goo.

Baby’s big brother doesn’t like the Gooey Gang, and he doesn’t like babies either – he thinks they are ‘icky, pongy and pooey.’ But when Baby’s tiny fingers wrap around his, and mum and her two little boys snuggle together on the sofa for a story, his view changes. No way will he join the Gooey Gang but he and Baby are definitely going to be friends.

Who Loves Baby? is an ideal book for jealous brothers and sisters, helping them to understand and grow to love the new arrival.

A beautifully creative and clever story.

(paperback, £6.99)

MEMBERS of the Manx Co-op erative Society were given an advance preview of a huge shake-up in banking.

It came from the guest speaker at their recent annual general meeting at the Sefton Hotel, Douglas.

Paul Flowers, deputy chairman of the Co-operative Group and chairman of the Co-operative Banking Group gave an exclusive insight into moves towards a deal with Lloyds Bank.

At the meeting Mr Flowers revealed the bank was in talks with the Lloyds Banking Group regarding the acquisition of 632 of the latter’s branches but only if a deal could be ‘wholeheartedly recommended’ to its members.

Mr Flowers said that in 2012, the International Year of Co-operatives, the once-decried Co-operative trading model was ‘one for our times and one that needs to be rediscovered.’

Turnover

Established almost 150 years ago the Group now had a £13 billion turnover and a workforce of 125,000, in addition to which its ‘conservative’ banking operation had allowed it to retain ‘high liquidity levels.’

Looking to the future he said the group must look to raising capital for growth but only in a manner ‘underpinned by our values and principles’, given that the Co-operative was the only British bank with an ethical policy that was ‘renewed and refreshed’ every three years.

His words have since rung true because last week it was announced in the national and international media that the Co-operative Bank has clinched a deal to take control of 632 Lloyds Banking Group branches in a move that will triple its branch network and bring back the centuries-old TSB brand.

Some 4.8 million Lloyds customers will transfer to the Co-op along with up to 7,000 staff who currently work in the branches that are to be sold.

The deal is expected to give the Co-op some muscle in high-street banking. It will create a 974-strong branch network with a 7 per cent share of current accounts – propelling it to become a major competitor to the big four high-street lenders, Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland. The Co-op currently has just 2 per cent of accounts.

The branches changing hands, however, will not operate under the Co-op banner, but will be rebranded as TSB – the name of the Trustee Saving Bank, the one-time mutual taken over by Lloyds in the 1990s.

Meanwhile, a positive turnaround in trading performance, rising membership and a heightened focus on delivering outstanding customer service were key factors contributing to the continued success of the Manx Co-operative Society as outlined by the society’s chairman Eric Calderwood.

Speaking at the annual general meeting Mr Calderwood said that for the past three years in succession the Co-operative Society had been generating profits, brought about by store refits providing customers ‘an enhanced shopping experience, the Group’s acquisition programme, improved cost controls and the hard work of its staff.

Mr Calderwood added that the board would be ‘engaging more directly with its members’; to this end the Society had a presence this year at St John’s on Tynwald Day and at Port St Mary for the Queenie festival.

Regional operations manager Gary Macaulay expanded on the Group’s trading performance success. £2.03 million profit in 2011 was, he said, ‘a huge step change’.

A focus on creating a positive in-store first impression, freshness, availability and value, combined with investment in IT systems and a team managers’ development programme had all been contributing factors to profit growth.

He added that despite ferry cancellations caused by bad weather in December 2011 the Manx Co-operative Society enjoyed its ‘best ever’ Christmas trading with £1.2 million of sales generated over the two weeks, while improved trading during this year’s TT fortnight had resulted from working together with the local events team to manage product availability which had led to £157,000 in additional sales and ‘a smoother’ post-TT recovery.

Membership growth in the Isle of Man was a continuing ‘success story’ said Mr Macaulay.

Additionally the Manx community had benefited from Britannia International’s incorporation into the Group, one benefit of this was Britannia together with food colleagues managed to raise £20,000 for Manx Mencap, while for 2012 fundraising efforts would be concentrated on Noble Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit.

Mr Macaulay went on to say that promoting the Co-operative brand in 2012 would see a TV campaign focusing on value through a schedule of some 200 advertisements and he concluded by saying the driver for future success would be ‘putting the customer at the heart of everything we do.’

USE school grounds over the summer holidays but treat them with respect.

That’s the plea from Tim Crookall MHK, new Minister for Education and Children, as schools break up for the summer holidays.

It’s the policy of the Department of Education and Children to keep grounds open when schools are closed, providing safe recreational areas for the public to use.

However, the Minister revealed that 85 per cent of vandalism to primary schools occurs when they are closed, with incidents spiking towards the end of the summer holidays.

Most common incidents are broken windows and damage to play equipment and benches.

In the 2011-12 financial year, there were 45 incidents of vandalism at primary schools, costing the DEC nearly £5,000 to put right.

Just 12 of the 36 primary sites were unaffected.

Mr Crookall said: ‘As well as the obvious danger to users posed by shattered glass and damaged equipment, the money we spend on repairs could obviously be put to better use in education.

‘We want everyone to have a safe summer holiday. Fingers crossed we’ll finally have some sunshine and young people will use school grounds to play in, but we’d ask that they treat the premises with respect and have consideration for other users.’

In contrast to primaries, three quarters of damage that occurs at secondary schools happens during term time.

Secondary schools use their own budgets to correct some damage but 86 incidents were reported to the central Works Division in 2011-12 and these cost £8,500 to repair.

With CCTV cameras fitted in many school playgrounds, those intent on causing damage are likely to get caught.

Ramsey are the new leaders of the Standard Bank Cain League after beating Peel in a cliff-hanger finish on Saturday.

The northerners scored 152 for 8 from their 20 overs with skipper Ollie Webster hitting 60 and Tom Howard 50. There were two wickets each for Phil Littlejohns and Colin Gilbert.

Littlejohns led the Peel reply with a dashing 51 and Daniel Dickinson cracked 35.

However, with one over left the side was still 16 runs behind. In an exciting climax they scored 13, to fall just short of their target.

Brian Arnold was the pick of the bowlers with 2-14 from his four overs.

Castletown lost their first Cain match of the year when they were beaten by a good display from Cronkbourne.

Batting first the Douglas team got away to a fine start when openers Max Stokoe and Ryan Burns had 50 on the board after six overs.

Then disaster struck. Stokoe injured his back and, although he played on, fell to Gareth Morris for 23. Burns went soon afterward for 26 and at 78 for 5 Cronkbourne were clearly in trouble.

Will Wood then cracked a lively 25 to revive their fortunes and the team ended on 129 for 7.

Garreth Roome was on target with 3-23 and there were two wickets each for Morris and Seb Aycock.

Town made a steady start in reply and at 83 for 2 had the advantage.

Then Morris was run out for 38 and the bowlers tightened their grip. Ben Bennett made 22 and Mark Williams 18, but it wasn’t enough.

Sharp fielding pinned back the Castletown middle order and Sam Kebbell took two vital wickets as Town ended on 111 for 6, to give Cronkbourne victory by 18 runs.

Crosby were on top form when they met Valkyres at Tromode. They restricted the home side to 98 for 7 and then got the runs for the loss of four wickets.

Opener Paul Fleming hit 47 for Valkyres, supported by 24 from Ali Ansari. There were two wickets each for Ross Berry and Craig Hartmann. Martyn Oates made 27 not out as Crosby knocked off the runs in 15 overs.

CRICKET RESULTS

Standard Bank Cain League

Cronkbourne 129 for 7 (Ryan Burns 26, Will Wood 25: Garreth Roome 3-23. Seb Aycock 2-16); Castletown 111 for 6 (Gareth Morris 38, Ben Bennett 22: Sam Kebble 2-14, Alex Stokoe 1-18, Ally Slack 1 -18). Cronkbourne won by 18 runs.

Valkyres 98 for 7 (Paul Fleming 47, Ali Ansari 24: Craig Hartmann 2-10, Ross Berry 2-17); Crosby 99 for 4 (Martyn Oates 27no, Floris Venter 13no: Paul Fleming 1-19, Hammed Sulthan 1-23). Crosby won by six wickets.

Ramsey 152 for 8 (Ollie Webster 60, Tom Howard 50: Phil Littlejohns 2-8, Colin Gilbert 2-18); Peel 149 for 7 (Phil Littlejohns 51, Daniel Dickinson 35: Brian Arnold 2-14, Ollie Webster 1-23). Ramsey won by three runs.

Standard Bank Forrester Division Two

Valkyres B v Cronkbourne B and Valkyres B v Peel B : Games abandoned (rain) – one point to each side.

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three

Castletown C 95 for 6 (Daniel Laughlin 23, Rob Karran 14: Will Bayley 3-15, Tim Evans 1-9); St John’s B 96 for 3 (Dean Wales 24, Paul Nicholson 23: Daniel Maggs 1-12, Hadyn McLarney 1-15). St John’s won by seven wickets.

Crosby C 79 for 1 (Tudor Baker 44no, Drew Buxton 21: B. Ayres 1-12); Peel C 84 for 1 (Colin Gilbert 41no, Sam Brand 27no). Peel C won by nine wickets.

Castletown C 151 for 4 (Daniel Laughlin 41, Andrew Ronan 39, David Kenworthy 31 : (Lee Gartland 2-34, Ian Johnson 1 -27); Finch Hill B 51 for 9 (Ian Johnson 11, Louis Thornton 10: Ryan Tasker 4 -12, Hadyn McLarney 4 -13). Castletown won by 100 runs.

Finch Hill A v Crosby C : Match abandoned (rain) – one point to each side.

Isle of Man Bank Under 11 League

West (173) lost to Cronkbourne B (174)

Cronkbourne A (87) beat North (31)

CRICKET FIXTURES DIARY

Monday, July 23

Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)

Celton Manx Castletown B v Cronkbourne B

White House Peel B v Ronaldsway

Habib Bank Valkyres B v Fairbairn Crosby B

Ramsey B v Union Mills

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)

Colas Finch Hill B v Grasshoppers

(Match sponsored by Gelling Johnson Farrant)

----------

Tuesday, July 24

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)

Fairbairn Crosby C v White House Peel C

Black Grace Cowley St John’s B

v Colas Finch Hill A

----------

Wednesday, July 25

Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)

Fairbairn Crosby B v Cronkbourne B

White House Peel B v Union Mills

Ronaldsway v Ramsey B

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)

Celton Manx Castletown C v Grasshoppers

----------

Thursday, July 26

Standard Bank Forrester Division One (6.30pm)

Celton Manx Castletown A v Cronkbourne A

Habib Bank Valkyres A v Ramsey A

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)

Colas Finch Hill B

v Black Grace Cowley St John’s B

(Match sponsored by Gelling Johnson Farrant)

----------

Friday, July 27

Isle of Man Bank Under 11 League (6.30pm)

South v Cronkbourne B

North v West

----------

Saturday, July 28

Standard Bank Cain League (2pm)

Fairbairn Crosby v Cronkbourne

Habib Bank Valkyres v White House Peel

Celton Manx Castletown v Ramsey

----------

Sunday, July 29

Standard Bank Blincoe Cup final

Valkyres v Union Mills

(11am at Mullen-e-Cloie)

Standard Bank Cain League (2pm)

Celton Manx Castletown v Habib Bank Valkyres

Isle of Man Bank Under-15 League (10am)

South B v East

Cronkbourne v West

----------

Monday, July 30

Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)

Habib Bank Valkyres B v Ronaldsway

Celton Manx Castletown B v Fairbairn Crosby B

Ramsey B v White House Peel B

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)

Grasshoppers v Black Grace Cowley St John’s B

Manx Dane Jess Draskau-Petersson’s Olympic column

WELL, we are just days away from the Olympic Opening ceremony.

I will be watching this on TV like most people as my coach does not think it would do me a lot of good to be on my legs for hours, even though it’s more than a week before my race.

Last week was going to be about how - aided by sports massage and osteopathic treatment throughout June and July - my body had held together during the high-mileage weeks and was now ready to go.

Unfortunately, a new niggle has developed. Basically I have an on-going problem diagnosed in May 2012, whereby I manage to pull my pelvis out of alignment and then, as I keep running, I put too much stress through all the supporting areas.

Last time it meant I had an on-going left hip problem. On race day, the tight back meant there was a neural problem down the right leg and then once under stress it looked for the weakest link in the chain and pop . . . ripped my calf.

This time, when the back was unable to function properly and the pelvis tilted, all the stress was on the point where the left hamstring meets the glute and it is now pretty unhappy.

I tore my right hamstring just before mile nine in a 10-mile race. My next race was the Bath half-marathon in March where I had my pelvis and hip clicked back into place the day before the race and it was still really uncomfortable. I had been running on it for weeks in the wrong alignment.

Then, in the London Marathon, I tore my calf at mile eight making me so upset and frustrated. I really had to dig deep into mental reserves to simply keep going and forced myself to be positive until the finish line when finally it was over and I could ice my leg and deal with the disappointment.

It feels awful not able to put on a good race for people that have helped you, trained with you, coached you, come out to cheer for you. But it is also disappointing for the people that spend time trying to patch your body up to cope with another week that, when it mattered most, there was an injury and no opportunity to intervene. This is another part of the deal.

It means that now, shortly before my marathon when I finally thought I could relax and start to look forward to the event, I’m really worried about this new injury and certainly don’t want to tear a hamstring during the race.

I know from experience that it really hurts and there is no way I can do the pace I want dragging my leg around. Now, more than ever, I have to rely on my guys to fix my body and have faith in them that everything will be patched up best possible before the big day.

So, who are my go-to guys? For sports massage, Rich and Genair have really helped me out over the past couple of months and it has been great knowing that, after a hard session, they would patch me up.

I am amazed at the difference sport massage makes. In the past I thought it was for people who had too much time, money and a penchant for self-indulgence. Now I know I must find a way to have massages in the future, post OL. They can be a bit uncomfortable, but generally it’s great when you can finally feel your muscles relax and the next day your back and legs feel great. I am certain this has helped me go from not able to run at all at the end of May to suddenly doing 100, then 120-mile weeks shortly thereafter.

Rich has Ironman background and Genair PT, so they are both also very knowledgeable in understanding how the body works.

Torben runs an Osteopath and physio clinic, actually he runs a one-stop-shop clinic with all sorts of treatments. Both his staff and client list read like a who’s-who.

I have been seeing Torben on and off since 2008. Following all my bike accidents and moving from a Pro Ironman lifestyle to no sport and 10 hours a day in front of a PC and two hours on the train instead, coupled with knee surgery and total immobility for three months, I decided to do another masters level qualification to keep me occupied. This meant that my posture and back were in need of guru Torben. I was told by the NHS in April 2011 that I might be a candidate for ankle joint replacement as I had managed to knacker an ankle for nine months. I’d spent months doing the horrid theraband exercises to no avail. Finally, I thought, who knows maybe Torben can do something? He took the ankle I had ‘nursed’ for nine months and gave it an enormous yank. It made a noise like bark splitting from a tree. In 30 seconds Torben had given me back a functional foot. This week I met one of his colleagues who does applied kinesiology, which is really interesting.

I’m trying to change my mental attitude towards the wear and tear training takes, or the occasional injuries that happen. I used to find an injury basically an insult. ‘How dare you fail me now, stupid leg,’ or worse, ‘Oh, so you are going to whinge and try and disrupt an easy run are you? You want to hurt?, I’ll give you hurt, you are not stopping my run!’

I’ve even tried to out-run asthma. In 2001 I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma (still in denial over that though and refused to use an inhaler since 2002 - even then I only had the little round ones they give kids).

Anyway, breathing problems kicked off on a run with friends in Idaho and the crazy thought that came into my head was: instead of slowing down, if I ran faster my body would figure out a way to snap out of it and to breathe, so I set off as fast as I could. I did not get very far and ended up lying on the ground making all sorts of scary noises and not being able to breathe. My lungs hurt for the next week.

I’d like to say the lesson was learnt then. Basically injuries and niggles were an affront. How dare they come and interfere with what I was doing. I’m trying to learn to listen a little to my body and work with it rather than dictating it needs to do A, B and C on a given day and then getting angry and feeling like I’ve failed if it is not able to meet my demands.

‘In the past, if I’ve been ill people have literally had to take me away from the pool or the bike. When I broke my collarbone it was a Tuesday and, after trying to convince the doctor that it was just my shoulder that was dislocated and needed to be popped back into place as I didn’t have time to be injured, he exasperated in the end. He showed me the x-ray and said: ‘Do you see those two bones there, about an inch apart? Well they used to be joined together.’

I nagged and nagged and by Sunday someone caved-in and took me to the pool. It was a 50-metre pool and I figured I could swim if I simply used my left arm. I had tiger stripes up and down my body from the road rash and struggled to swim as I’d forgotten that I would need to turn my head to breathe.

I was dragged out of the pool, only to triumphantly return the next day with an aqua-jogging belt.

I’ve always wanted to do everything, all sorts of sports, work, study, go out with my friends, travel, etc. Ironman was great as it was constant go, go, go and rest and recovery meant do a different activity. I generally had a ‘can sleep when I’m dead attitude’. If something did not work out the way I wanted I would throw more work or effort at it. I always thought, I can function with four to five hours sleep, or on having cake and coffee as a lunch stable. I’m doing ok.

I never really thought, am I actually getting (as the American’s say) all my ducks in a row to allow ‘optimal’ conditions to perform. I still default to bad habits, off wanting to take on more than I can fit into my day, and then stressing myself out as I can’t do everything at 100 per cent. I do feel slightly let down by my body that now, just before my big race, it has a problem. But I’m trying to be sensible, get treatment and have faith in the people patching me together. I’m really glad that I’m not in a holding camp in Portugal or at altitude training. Enjoying the luxury of having the Games on my doorstep, I’m able to get treatment from my team of people I trust and know right up to the race.

I just hope it works and that I can put on a decent run. Of course, representing your national team is a big deal but I can’t really compute that. I really want to do a decent run for the people that have supported me on this journey.

It is strange thinking that it was exactly this time last year, when I stood after the local running club’s Stragglers 10k in which I’d gone the wrong way - like a plonker - and was gutted as it was my first event in years and had wanted a starting point yardstick for fitness. I stood at the crossroads chatting with Mr Parkrun Danny, telling him of my crazy idea to try get fit again and to try for the Olympics. A few weeks later he introduced me to Noel’s training group www.harambeerunning.org.uk/

What a journey it has been. I just hope I can once more get patched up and put on a good show. That is the best way I can say thank you to everyone that has supported me. I felt very disappointed that I was unable to run my best in the London Marathon, so I’m hopeful for the chance to redeem myself.

Well, I gotta go . . . . to get more treatment on the naughty niggle.

Scott Molina [World Champion Ironman] sent a turbo trainer for me to use with my bike. It effectively enables you to use your own bike as a stationary machine. I’d met Scott a week before my accident for a gorgeous bike ride round Christchurch, New Zealand (I had just relocated there). Although he had only met me a couple of times he seemed to have got the measure of me as ‘another ironman nut,’ for the message that came with the loaned turbo trainer said: ‘This is not for you, this is for everyone around you so you don’t drive them crazy!’

Best thing in the post?

More compression calf sleeves, even in hot pink.

Question of the week . . . Do you think sports massage works?

Think from the above you can see I am a converted sceptic to addict.

I am keen to learn more, including specific trigger points, acupuncture points, fascia and active release, as well as remedial for specific sports injuries.

Next week. It’ll be just before the big day, will there be butterflies?

Will the niggle have gone (beaten into submission)?

Will I finally have received any news about my race?

Will the offending hotpants have been replaced with a pair of shorts?

More updates and press links on twitter and facebook . . . otherwise, see you next week. Thanks for reading.

The police are investigating two sheep attacks in a field at Crossags in Ramsey.

The first incident took place on Wednesday, July 18, where three sheep were mauled by a dog, resulting in the death of all three animals.

On Monday morning (yesterday) three more sheep suffered injuries. There have been several sightings of the dog believed responsible over the last few days by members of the public.

The dog has been described as being black and the same size as a border collie.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed any of the incidents or have seen the dog in or around the area to contact them.

The police reminded dog owners to keep their animals under control.

Any person who may have any information regarding the incident should contact PC 279 Lizzie Stoddart, PC 296 Jenny Groves, or any other officer at Ramsey police station.

A LARGE group of Team Royal London 360 riders travelled to the UK last week to contest rounds six and seven of British Cycling’s national youth circuit race series, securing two wins and a batch of top-10 placings.

The purpose-built Palatine cycle circuit in Blackpool was the venue for the sixth round, with the flat nature of the course favouring the sprinters.

Zac Walker got RL360’s campaign off to a successful start, finishing a close third in the under-eight age group behind breakaway partners Joshua Tarling (West Wales Cycle RT) and James Higham (H. Middleton CC).

The under-10 event ended in a bunch sprint won by Matti Egglestone (Beacon Wheelers), with RL360 team-mates Charlie Gibson and Will Corkill close behind in fifth and 12th spots respectively. Charlie Moss (second girl), Jonty Bregazzi and Aaron Lund lost contact with the frontrunners in the closing stages, coming home in 15th, 16th and 18th places.

There was another bunch finish in the under-12 race. Alistair Leivers (BYCA) took the honours with recently crowned British champion Will Draper crossing the line in fifth spot. Max Walker, Tosh Teare and Emily Bridson were 20th, 21st and 27th.

Matthew Draper produced the Manx ride of the day to win the under-14 class. He broke away with five laps to go and quickly opened up a 10-second gap, but the vigilant bunch was not prepared to let him go and by the bell the group was back together.

However, Matthew was not finished and, after positioning himself in the perfect spot at the front of the bunch for the final corner, won a close sprint from Matthew Walls (Velocity RC) and Daniel Tulett (Hargroves Specialized Trant). Michael Moss was a very good 10th in the bunch sprint and Daniel Scarffe did well to complete the distance in 29th spot.

Despite suffering from a mechanical problem with his gears, Matthew Davies was an excellent 11th in the under-16 class, contesting the sprint for sixth place behind a leading group of five riders. Leon Mazzone was 21st and Jamie Dudley, who was in an early break, recovered from a shunt onto the grass to grab 26th place.

In the under-16 girls, Sophie Black was a brilliant third in the bunch gallop behind British champion Melissa Lowther (Aire Valley TR) and Emily Nelson (Halesowen CC). The hard-working Elizabeth Holden, who had made numerous attacks, was 11th followed by Victoria Kinrade and Phoebe Ferguson in 20th and 22nd positions.

The majority of the team travelled across to Scarborough for round seven of the series the following day, staged on the testing motorcycle racing circuit at Oliver’s Mount.

Zac Walker gave the team its second win of the weekend with a comfortable victory in the under-eight class, while Charlie Gibson narrowly lost out in the final sprint to finish second to Matti Egglestone in the under-10 class. Charlie Moss was second girl in 14th place overall.

In the under-12 class, Will Draper picked the wrong wheel to follow in the bunch sprint, ending up in eighth place behind winner and series leader Nathan Hawthorn (Cycle Sport Pendle). Max Walker led a group of four riders home for 18th position and Emily Bridson was the runner-up in the girls’ competition.

Continuing his recent run of good form, Matthew Draper was fifth in the under-14s. The course allowed the hill climbers to shine and Matthew did well to get over the final ascent close behind the leading quartet, spearheaded by winner Jake Dobson (Newcastle Phoenix CC). Michael Moss retired after taking an off-road excursion.

The four RL360 representatives in the under-16s were in the main bunch for the early part of the race, but dropped back when the field split on the climb. At the finish, Jamie Dudley was 29th, Leon Mazzone 30th, Nathan Draper 38th and Matthew Davies 40th.

In the under-16 girls, Elizabeth Holden was with the leading group all the way, finishing a very close third behind behind the breakaway duo of Melissa Lowther and Abby Parkinson (RST Racing Team). Sophie Black won both prime laps on her way to 14th place and the ever-improving Phoebe Ferguson produced one of her best off-island rides to date in 15th spot. Glen Vine’s Eleanor Davies recovered from the illness that caused her to pull out of the previous day’s event to finish a fine eighth in the under-14 girls.

With one round of the series remaining, the St Athan Races in South Wales, seven Royal London 360 members are holding onto top-10 places in the overall standings. Zac Walker, Charlie Gibson and Will Draper are lying second in the under-eights, u10s and u12s respectively, while Matthew Draper is third in the u14s. In the girls’ standings, Elizabeth Holden and Sophie Black are fifth and eighth in the u16s and Eleanor Davies eighth in the u14s.

l LAST week’s round of the Royal London 360 Youth Cycling League was cancelled because of wet weather.

Sky TV will be at the NSC venue tomorrow evening, Tuesday, to film this week’s round in connection with an Olympic Games feature.

The police are appealing for witnesses following a report of a dangerous overtaking procedure on the Peel to Douglas road near to Corlett’s Sand Quarry which occurred yesterday (Monday) at about 2.05pm.

It is alleged that a white vehicle overtook three vehicles on the approach to the bend heading in the direction of St John’s only to be met by an oncoming vehicle which had to flash their lights to warn the overtaking vehicle of their presence.

Although the driver of the white vehicle has been spoken to, police are eager to trace the vehicle that flashed their lights together with the vehicles that had been overtaken one of which is described as possibly being a grey Fiat. Police are requesting that anyone with information contact police headquarters on 631212 or to call into any police station.

AN RAF helicopter landed on Peel beach on Saturday evening after a severely injured fisherman was rescued by the emergency services.

The 25-year-old man had fallen on to a metal stanchion after a line broke on the deck of Belfast fishing boat Siobhan III eight miles south-west of Peel.

He was believed to have broken ribs on his right side.

A winchman was landed on the boat after the RAF Valley helicopter was called out at about 6.40pm following reports of a ‘blunt force trauma to the chest’. Due to the severity of his injuries, it was decided not to winch the fisherman on to the helicopter but to bring the boat into Peel breakwater.

It arrived in port at 9.15pm and, having been given strong pain relief, the man was helped up the steps to the awaiting ambulance which drove him to Noble’s Hospital. Having been called to prepare the helipad at Noble’s Hospital at about 7pm, the fire service and coastguard were called to Peel at 8pm to help clear the beach, where the helicopter eventually landed at 9pm, and to transfer the injured man off the boat.

Although the decision had been made to transport the man by road, the helicopter landed on the beach in case his condition suddenly worsened and also to collect its winch man along with his specialised equipment, which had also been lowered on to the boat. The helicopter returned to Anglesey, North Wales, at 9.35pm.

Following the arrival of the injured fisherman and his treatment at Noble’s Hospital, members of the Isle of Man branch of the Fishermen’s Mission arranged overnight accommodation and helped him organise flights back to Northern Ireland on Sunday morning. The Mission also arranged for the rest of the vessel’s crew to visit their colleague in hospital, prior to them sailing home to land their catch in Portavogie before the weather worsened as forecasted.

Fire station officer Nigel Fraser said: ‘This incident shows the dedication and professionalism of all the island’s emergency services and the RAF working together and providing a very high standard of care.’

The police also helped clear the area which was still crowded following the World Champion Viking Longboat Races.

• At 3pm on Sunday (July 22), the coastguard dealt with another incident. Port St Mary lifeboat was launched to help float a yacht which was trapped on rocks in Chapel Bay.

IAN Masterton, the former headteacher at Ballakermeen High School, died today.

Mr Masterton was previously deputy head at Douglas High School, before education was reorganised in the capital and St Ninian’s High School and Ballakermeen both became 11-18 schools.

He was the first head at the new 11-18 Ballakermeen High School in 1985.

A school spokesman said: ‘We were saddened to learn of the death of former headteacher Ian Masterton, who passed away in Bury on July 24. Ian established Ballakermeen as a High School and was greatly respected. Our thoughts are with his family.’

There will be a longer story in the Manx Independent with more tributes.

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FOR Maggie George, mother of Douglas teenage archery sensation Aalin George, it was a case of being spoiled for choice in deciding what category of the Flybe Pride In Mann awards to nominate her daughter.

She opted for young person of the year, because although Aalin’s sporting achievements speak for themselves, it is her youth which makes them remarkable.

Maggie said it was her daughter’s dedication and drive to succeed which has led her to be British junior outdoor and indoor archery champion. She made her international debut for Great Britain aged just 14,competing in the final of the women’s cadet compound competition at the European Archery Junior Cup at Reggio in Italy, claiming a silver medal in the final.

She has represented the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in Dheli, and was voted ‘most outstanding performer’ at the 2011 Island Games in the Isle of Wight.

On her way home from those Island Games, Aalin gained a Grand Master Bowman status – at senior level – after competing in the Junior National Outdoor Competition, and she was also named GB junior archer of the year after setting seven British records. The status put Aalin in the top one per cent of archers competing in Britain.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.

In March the St Ninian’s GCSE student celebrated her 16th birthday at the Isle of Man Sports Awards at the Villa Marina, where she was crowned sports personality of the year, sharing the honour with superstar Mark Cavendish.

This season she has been away twice with Team GB – to Croatia and Denmark – and over the weekend was away in Guernsey with a Manx squad that included her younger sister Kirsten.

Maggie said Aalin is also at the centre of a push to see compound archery included in the Olympic games, which currently only features recurve archery.

Aalin would push for an Olympic place if one existed, and the funding Olympic status would give her sport would enable her to pursue archery full time.

Are the two disciplines not similar enough that Aalin’s skills are transferable?

‘No, it’s like squash and tennis, they are too different,’ said Maggie. ‘If there was a chance to go professional she would jump at it, but as it is she’s happy to carry on with A levels at St Ninian’s. She wants to be a teacher.’

Aalin first picked up a bow aged 11. What does Maggie think her favourite memories have been since that fateful decision?

‘The sports personality of the year award’ she said. ‘Aalin was so gobsmacked, she didn’t think she was old enough to win. She was in tears!’

Nominations for this year’s Pride in Mann awards have now closed.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.

A LEADING estate agent is hoping an early sale can be secured for a number of Manx Electricity Authority showrooms.

Four of the showrooms have been put on the market with Chrystals – with a price tag ranging from £325,000 for the Ramsey outlet on Bowring Road to £595,000 for Stanley House, which was home for the MEA’s Castletown branch.

The other two showrooms, Station Road in Port Erin and Michael Street in Peel are advertised for sale with an asking price of £350,000 each, making a total for the four premises of £1.62 million.

Chrystals director David Watson said: ‘It’s been quite encouraging. We’ve had quite a lot of viewings.

‘There’s certainly been much interest in three of the showrooms. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the interest shown in the Ramsey premises from traders and businesses. I will be taking instructions from my clients and will be looking to try and negotiate a sale fairly early of some of them.’

MEA chairman Eddie Lowey MLC announced in April that the authority’s five showrooms, including the outlet in Douglas, would be closing because they were ‘haemorrhaging’ money.

The showrooms began closing their doors to the public for the final time at the end of May.

Describing it as ‘an end to an era’, Mr Lowey accepted that redundancies among the 24 retail staff members were inevitable – but added he hoped as many as possible would be redeployed within the state-owned MEA and across government.

Former chief minister Tony Brown had been opposed to the closure of the showrooms, insisting they provided an important community service in the island’s towns.

An independent review carried out in 2008 led to a number of changes including the Douglas showroom being relocated to Strand Street. But losses spiralled – from £414,00 in 2009-10 to £592,000 the following year. In 2011-12, losses were expected to higher still.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare said the proceeds from the sales would go to the MEA in the first instance – but ultimately the money would go back to Treasury. He said: ‘The MEA would be the first recipient of the funds. But the MEA has obligations to Treasury.’

The latest annual report showed loans outstanding at the end of March last year totalled £338 million, comprising a bank loan of £35 million, £118 million due to government and the £185 million due in respect of a Treasury Bond.

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The number of bikes travelling to the island for this year’s Southern 100 International Road Races soared by 37 per cent on last year’s event.

The races, which took place from July 9 to 12, should reach an even wider audience when the races are screened on British Eurosport 2 next month.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Following on from the 4.3 per cent increase in the number of motorcycles visiting this year’s TT – the highest for a decade, apart from the centenary TT in 2007 – this is more good news for road racing in the Isle of Man.’

Southern 100 Racing press liaison officer Phil Edge said: ‘The organising Southern 100 Club is delighted that the Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races are continuing to be so popular with competitors, fans and enthusiasts and that the present format of the races is bringing more people to the Isle of Man for the ‘the friendly races’.

The TV coverage of the Southern 100 International Road Races will be broadcast on British Eurosport 2 in four parts:

Saturday, August 4

Part one – 7.10pm

Part two – 8.10pm

Part three – 10.10pm

Part four – 11.10pm

Sunday, August 5

Part one – 8.15am

Part two – 9.15am

Part three – 5.30pm

Part four – 6.30pm

UPDATED 4.10pm: The A18 Mountain Road between Brandywell and Hillberry has now reopened following a two vehicle road traffic collision by the corner of Creg ny Baa.

The collision happened this morning and this section of the Mountain Road was closed until this afternoon.

Police thanked members of the public for their patience in this matter.

THE number of people flying through loss-making Ronaldsway Airport in June dropped by 2.7 per cent compared with the year before – in spite of an increased number of TT visitors.

There was a 4 per cent increase in passengers during the TT period.

Nevertheless, passenger numbers were forecast to be down by 6.6 per cent as the lack of the Southampton route, together with an initial single daily frequency for the London City service and a reduction in flights to Luton, meant that more than 5,400 fewer passengers used the three routes alone.

In total passengers passing through the airport in June reached 70,578, a fall of 1,925, or 2.7 per cent.

As a comparison, in June 2008, a few months before the banking crisis hit trade all over the world, the number of passengers at Ronaldsway was 68,558, itself 7,958 or 10.4 per cent down on the year before - which was the centenary TT. June 2005 saw 77,898 use the airport.