Seven members of Team Royal London 360 went to Manchester velodrome recently to contest the first of three rounds in the northern area youth omnium track league.

The league, which is open to age categories A, B and C, is one of six area qualifying heats for next month’s national final. Points are awarded to the top 12 riders in all the age groups, with the top five overall from each group going forward to the final on July 14.

The riders were put through their paces in a scratch race, a time trial, a keirin and a devil. Glen Vine’s Eleanor Davies was the Manx star of the day, taking the top honours in the under-14 girls event after overcoming a strong challenge from runner-up Samantha Verrill (Stockton Wheelers). Both girls finished in the top three in all the races, with Eleanor winning the keirin and the devil to secure the overall victory by a slender two points.

British Cycling Talent Team member Elizabeth Holden also did well to finish an impressive fourth in the u16 girls, posting a second in the keirin, third in the time trial, fourth in the scratch and fifth in the devil.

Her team-mate Victoria Kinrade was seventh in the keirin, fifth in the TT, sixth in the scratch and ninth in the devil for a good seventh place finish overall.

In the u14 boys the ever-improving Conor Davies picked up a fine eighth overall with a ninth in the keirin, eighth in the TT, a 10th in the scratch and a seventh in the devil.

Grabbing the final points on offer in the u16 boys, the consistent Matthew Bostock was 10th in the TT and devil, 11th in the keiran and 12th in the scratch for 12th overall.

Matthew Draper and Nathan Draper were further down the field in 19th and 25th places respectively.

The final two rounds of the league take place this coming weekend (June 15-16) on the outdoor tracks at Scunthorpe and Knowsley.

There was some excellent racing throughout all the classes in round four of the Isle of Man Kart Racing Association Championship, sponsored by Ellan Vannin Fitness Studio, at the JCK Kart circuit, Jurby, on Sunday.

Conditions were superb and lap records duly tumbled.

Abbie Thompson-White led the boys around from start to finish in the Honda Cadets class claiming all three heats and also taking the chequered flag in the final.

She was followed home by Ciaran Tear and his cousins Leo Dooley and Owen Dooley.

Thompson set the fastest lap of 56.42 seconds.

There was some close racing in the combined Honda Senior and Honda Senior Heavy class.

Tanisha Beattie, in the Honda Senior class, fought well to keep strong contenders Marie Crowe and Andrew Johnson behind her and claim a full-house of wins in the heats.

The final saw some very close racing between these three drivers but it was Tanisha Beattie who shone through to take the final honours by just .28 of a second in front of Johnson and Marie Crowe in third.

Johnson set the fastest lap of 53.90s.

Stuart Hutchinson claimed a full-house of wins in the Honda Senior Heavy also setting a new lap record of 54.34s in heat two.

There was some good racing in the combined Rotax Max 125 and Senior TKM.

Rob Birnie was victorious in the two opening heats of the Rotax Max 125 class only to be denied a hat-trick by Chloe Duke in heat three.

The final saw Rob Birnie back on form to claim the chequered flag 2.77s in front of Chloe Duke and Rob Watson.

Birnie set the fastest lap of 47.59s .

Chris Moore had a full-house of wins and the fastest lap of 48.42s in the Senior TKM four-stroke.

Callum Barnett from Douglas was unbeaten in the Honda Junior class also setting a new lap record of 53.78s on lap five of heat one.

Christopher Jackson followed him home.

The Junior TKM four-stroke class was the one to watch with the driving skills between all of these drivers superb.

Rory McCann secured the opening two heats only to be denied a third win by young Adam Godby who claimed the third heat and his first podium showing some excellent driving.

The finals saw some intense racing with a lot of overtaking, but it was Rory McCann who managed to hold on to the lead to take the chequered flag setting a new lap record of 47.46s on his way to victory ahead of his brother Liam McCann and Joshua Thompson-White.

There was also some great racing from the remaining drivers Adam Godby, Kealan Beattie, Jordan Guest and Andrew Birchenough.

A special award for driver of the day was awarded to Callum Barnett in the Honda Junior class - well done.

Thanks go to the clerk of the course Martin Blackburn and all the officials, marshals and paramedics.

The next meeting is on Sunday, July 14 with racing starting around 11am. Spectators most welcome.

Results (Finals only) Honda Cadets 1, Abbie Thompson-White; 2, Ciaran Tear; 3, Leo Dooley; 4, Owen Dooley. Honda Senior 1, Tanisha Beattie; 2, Andrew Johnson; 3, Marie Crowe. Honda Senior Heavy 1, Stuart Hutchinson. Rotax Max 125 1, Rob Birnie; 2, Chloe Duke; 3, Rob Watson; 4, Steve Quine. Senior TKM four-stroke, 1, Chris Moore. Junior TKM four-stroke 1, Rory McCann; 2, Liam McCann; 3, Joshua Thompson-White; 4, Adam Godby; 5, Kealan Beattie; 6, Jordan Guest; 7, Andrew Birchenough. Honda Junior 1, Callum Barnett; 2, Christopher Jackson.

A serious accident in the Glen Mona area closed the main Laxey to Ramsey coast road this afternoon (Sunday).

Two cars, a Honda and a BMW, were involved.

There was disappointment for Ramsey resident Cal Crutchlow when he crashed out of Sunday’s Catalunya Grand Prix.

The Yamaha Tech3 rider had qualified in a superb second place for the latest MotoGP and was running in fourth place when he slid off the track at turn 10 at the Spanish circuit.

The race was won by Jorge Lorenzo.

Manxman Jamie McCanney was crowned FIM Youth Cup 125cc World Enduro Champion in Romania at the weekend.

The Husaberg-mounted 18-year-old won both days comfortably to seal the crown with two rounds of the series still to go.

The Isle of Man Sport Aid recipient’s brother Danny finished third and fifth in the Junior section of the event, while Ballaugh’s David Knight was forced to retire injured from the main class, later Tweeting: ‘Another disaster, thumb still no use to race with. Time has come to go home get 100 per cent fit and come back when I’m ready and happy.’

More in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

Mark Cavendish narrowly missed out on successfully defending his Ster ZLM Toer GP title in the Netherlands last week.

Having clinched his first general classification jersey at the event 12 months ago, the Manx Missile finished in third place overall this time around.

Leading financial services provider Abacus, with offices in the Isle of Man and Malta, has announced its Malta based fiduciary arm, Abacus Corporate Services Ltd (ACSL), has been granted a retirement scheme administrator licence by the Maltese financial regulator, the Malta Financial Services Authority.

ACSL’s first scheme, the product of a joint initiative with Carey Pensions & Benefits Limited, has already been approved in Malta and is now awaiting Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) approval by HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) in the UK.

Garry Crossan, chief executive officer of ACSL in Malta said that ‘with the addition to our Retirement Scheme Administrator licence we look forward to providing a range of retirement solutions via our partner networks’.

Tim Bush, director at Carey Group said: ‘We are delighted that in the near future we will be able to offer a QROPS solution for the expatriate community in conjunction with Abacus Malta’.

Carey Group provides a range of international and domestic pension solutions through its offices in Guernsey and the UK.

www.abacusiom.com

The announcement from Michael Gove, the UK’s Education Secretary, that he wants to introduce major reforms to GCSE examinations, poses a dilemma for the Manx Department of Education and Children.

Mr Gove wants to introduce more rigorous examinations and downgrade coursework from 2015 in a move that’s been criticised by many in the education industry.

Since devolution, Mr Gove’s policy cannot be extended outside England. Wales and Northern Ireland look as though they will stick to the current GCSE formula.

Scotland has always had a different education system.

Paul Craine, co-ordinating adviser for 11-19 education in the island, tells today’s Isle of Man Examiner that the island could follow Wales and Northern Ireland instead, which are planning to work together to introduce a joint GCSE award.

Today’s Examiner looks into the issue and hears from King William’s College principal Martin Humphreys, who thinks Mr Gove is ‘broadly on the right track’. We also hear from a student.

All those involved in the Bray Hill TT crash have now either been discharged from hospital or transferred to other off-island trauma units, the Isle of Man Examiner revealed this morning.

Eight people were admitted to hospital, four with serious leg injuries, after a bike ridden by Jonathan Howarth crashed into a crowd of spectators just seven minutes into the Senior TT race.

Among those who sustained serious injuries were New Zealand couple Luke van den Bos, 32, and Tracey Partridge, 27.

The couple had been working in London after leaving New Zealand in April last year to travel.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/kiwi-bray-hill-crash-victim-recalls-how-disaster-struck-1-5762941|Click here to read that story}

Miraculously, all the casualties are expected to make a full recovery. Noble’s medics said that if debris from the debut rider’s machine had hit the crowd at upper body height - of if it had hit any children - there would have been multiple fatalities.

The Manx government could set up a central registry on company ownership and control as part of a review agreed following talks with the UK Premier.

Leaders of the each of the Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories met David Cameron in London to discuss tax, trade and transparency ahead of this week’s G8 summit in Northern Ireland.

In a joint statement issued afterwards, the Chief Ministers of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey – Allan Bell, Senator Ian Gorst and Deputy Peter Harwood – said they had agreed three important steps to tackle the global problem of tax evasion.

Each jurisdiction will take part in a new pilot on multilateral automatic tax information exchange, publish national action plans on beneficial ownership and commit to joining a multilateral convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance on Tax Matters.

Their joint statement said: ‘Tackling tax evasion and fraud is a global responsibility in which we will continue to play our full part.’

The Manx government issued its own statement saying it strongly supports Mr Cameron’s ambition to achieve a ‘global solution on the critical issues of tax evasion and fraud’.

It said it had given a commitment to publish an action plan, at the same time as those G8 countries publishing plans in Lough Erne, which will set out the island’s position on beneficial ownership.

The statement said the Isle of Man has a strong track record in this area and has had a ‘robust regime’ in place for more than 10 years - and was ahead of most other countries.

It explained: ‘Establishing the ultimate beneficial ownership behind all account relationships conducted in the Isle of Man is a legal requirement backed by on-site supervision to ensure compliance.

‘Legislation is in place to ensure that full and accurate details are maintained on the true ownership and control of every company, trust and fund in the Isle of Man, and that this information is freely available to law enforcement agencies and tax collectors.

‘The government believes its beneficial ownership requirements are comprehensive and, to the best of its knowledge, it has always been able to provide details when requested during international investigations.’

It said it has agreed to review existing provisions and will also consider whether introduction of a centralised registry would improve transparency of the ownership and control of companies. Findings will be shared by 2014.

A third candidate has come forward for the St George’s Ward by-election in Douglas.

Kevin Oliphant-Smith, who has stood unsuccessfully in two different wards in the past, is 27 years old. The first time he stood on a Liberal Vannin ticket. The second time he stood as an independent.

He said: ‘I believe that some “young blood” is needed to take the council into the 21st Century. I’m very passionate about getting involved and have a proven track record of helping in our community. I will be committed to serving not only the residents of the St George’s ward, but all Douglas ratepayers for the good of Douglas. Looking to the future, we need a council that is fit for purpose in this modern world, but without forgetting its roots.’

Two other candidates have already announced they plan to stand. They are David ‘Butch’ Buttery, who was an unsuccessful Keys candidate in 2001 and 2006, and George Campbell, who has twice stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the council in the past.

The election takes place on July 18. The cut-off for nominations is June 25.

David Anderson MHK, the island’s Minister for Health, has denied that he has misled the House of Keys over a critical letter signed by hospital consultants.

He talks to today’s Isle of Man Examiner about the matter.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/consultant-challenges-minister-of-health-1-5761613|Click here for a reminder of our story in which a leading consultant challenged Mr Anderson’s comments to the Keys}

It’s not been a good week for Mr Anderson.

The main front-page story in the Examiner this week is about a fine imposed on a farm for polluting a river. Mr Anderson is a director of the farm.

The Examiner also reports this week on the latest situation with the bus dispute.

The union tells the paper that management are now using suspension as a new tactic against drivers.

The paper also reports on that, 16 months after its Castletown store was originally meant to be opened, Tesco is still hoping that it will set up shop in Callow’s Yard.

Our sports pages have the latest on the Isle of Man Golf Championship.

And the paper has a great story about a cat that accidentally hitched a ride from Onchan to Essex in a TT fan’s van.

The island’s favourite newspaper is in the shops now.

There has been another drop in the number of people out of work in the Isle of Man.

According to statistics released by the economic affairs division of the Treasury, the number of registered unemployed stood at 1,072, or 2.4 per cent at the end of May.

That’s a drop of 36 over the month before.

During the month 220 signed on and 256 signed off and 586 vacancies were notified to the Job Centre. At the end of the month there were 305 vacancies on file.

The number out of work in May 2012 was 956.

SMP Partners has announced the merger of the businesses of SMP Fund Services Ltd with Chamberlain Fund Services Ltd.

The transaction was completed on June 3 and the combined business will trade under the SMP Fund Services Ltd banner.

Chamberlain was set up in 2004 by its three principals, Keith Corkill, Elizabeth Tansell and Robert Eastham to provide high quality fund administration services to a global market.

Since 2004, Chamberlain has developed a globally focused client base and administers a wide range of funds investing in securities, derivatives, and private equity portfolios.

The combined businesses will administer a full range of Isle of Man fund types including experienced, specialist, exempt, regulated, AIM listed companies and overseas schemes as well as providing Isle of Man managed manager facilities.

This merger represents a joining together of two of the island’s most respected fund administration businesses and demonstrates the ambition of SMP Partners to grow the Group both organically and through a targeted merger and acquisition strategy focussed on high quality businesses and management teams.

The merger represents a significant step forward for the Group in the development of its fund administration business. The SMP Partners Group is one of the Isle of Man’s leading providers of professional services and now employs more than 160 people in its Isle of Man headquarters and offices in Hong Kong and Zurich.

Full story and picture in today’s Isle of Man Examiner

The Steve Jacobs Memorial handicap mile will take place this Wednesday in conjunction with the Manx Harriers track and field league night.

The event is a memorial to a well-known and talented local middle distance runner who passed away in tragic circumstances in the 1990s.

All runners set off on a handicap basis with the slowest runners away first and the fastest last. If the handicap works then everyone should finish at the same time.

This is one event where the handicappers hope that their work is not that accurate. It is a fun race with prizes for the first three over the line and also the fastest on the night.

Registration is from 6pm and the entry fee is £3 for the mile only. If runners wish to take part in the rest of the track league programme there will be an additional fee. The race will start between 7pm and 7.15pm to fit in with the track league timetable.

Runners need to be aware that they must have a realistic estimated time for running one mile. Organisers will have past results and details from other races to help with handicapping.

All proceeds from this event goes towards funding young athletes for a travel or equipment grant to help them fulfil their ambitions, while also remembering ‘Shaky’ in best possible way - having a run! If you require more details please contact Andy fox on 626415 or a.c.fox@snhs.sch.im

Plans have been submitted for improved facilities for engineering and construction at Isle of Man College.

Education Minister Tim Crookall hopes to seek approval for the £4.9m development at December’s Tynwald sitting.

The work (13/00663/B) involves refurbishing and extending the former water treatment plant building in Greenfield Road, Douglas, to create a new engineering department and to build a new motor vehicle workshop. There would be a car park, and improved vehicular access.

In addition, (13/00662/B) the construction craft block at the college, in Homefield Road, Douglas, would be refurbished.

Plans include building a covered shelter, a canopy and an oil tank enclosure.

The college would be able to offer new courses in mechanical engineering and electronics, such as mechatronics.

In a planning statement it says since 1980 teaching of engineering and construction crafts has taken place at three locations due to lack of space at the college: ‘The fragmented nature of the overall provision has been detrimental to the teaching, timetabling and financial efficiency of the subjects.

‘The Department of Education also recognises that continuing developments in the fields of engineering, motor engineering and construction require the teaching syllabus and facilities to at least keep pace with these advances in order that educational and employment objectives are met.’

International gaming consultant and bookie Vincent Caldwell says the island should be looking to more eGaming business with America.

Mr Caldwell, 52, is one of the island’s first original eGaming pioneers and has recently returned to live here after a number of years in the States.

The Belfast-born entrepreneur says North America is 10 years behind the Isle of Man and Europe in eGaming.

He told Business News: ‘There are clearly serious opportunities in North America.

‘It’s a market you can’t ignore.

‘I think there can’t be the fear that North America is a place you can’t do business with. It is to be embraced in fact.

‘There are groups, small and large out there who are willing to do business both in North America and out of North America, and coming to Europe, Asia and places of the world they don’t know.

‘And so the European operators and the Isle of Man operators have a tremendous opportunity to help those people in the USA.

‘USA online betting is in the creative stage, it is in its infancy, they don’t have the experience the Isle of Man and European operators have.

‘The guys here are 10 years ahead of them. So the Americans need them.’

Mr Caldwell was one of the early pioneers of online betting, starting Betinternet.com in the Isle of Man in 1998 and took it to a stock market listing on AIM in 2000 as chairman and chief executive officer.

He told Business News he had to overcome scepticism in some quarters at the time over the viability of eGaming which has since proved to be a success story for the Isle of Man with around 800 island folk employed in the industry.

Speaking from his home in St John’s, Mr Caldwell recalled initial scepticism from the betting giants. During the late 1990s he was invited to give a speech in London on the emerging online gaming business. ‘I remember Paddy Power, Hills and Ladbrokes and everybody was in the room and they all came up to the stage at the end and they were saying that it was very nice to set up this little business (Betinternet.com) but in their opinion it would never go anywhere. They did not believe at that stage that it was going to work.’

He also recalled going before the Isle of Man’s former High Bailiff Michael Moyle to seek a licence. He said that Mr Moyle noted he had studied law and had once considered a career in law.

‘He asked me how I could consider moving from such a reputable business to the depths of depravity in gambling. I told Mr Moyle that I had been on race tracks for 10 years and I’d met far nicer people there. I was granted the licence.’

Mr Caldwell, who has dual citizenship with America, said he believes things will ‘start opening up’ in America and there is untapped potential.

‘Horse racing, there’s billions of dollars bet every month, is it not worth going after some of those dollars.’

He believes that business could be developed with different states within the USA but acknowledged there are ‘struggles going on’.

During his time in America Mr Caldwell was founder and president of an online horse racing betting business called Racing 2 Day LLC, which provided wagering services on international horseracing from over 350 racetracks around the world. In 2010 Stan James PLC purchased principal shareholding in the company.

Mr Caldwell also believes the island should be looking at working with big name operators in gambling and ask them : ‘What can we in the island do for you guys to bring them here and to be pro-active with them. There is no risk with them, they have the money and they have the respect.’

Mr Caldwell has gambling in the blood. In Belfast he and his father Charles, who ran the Royal Avenue Hotel, would visit Irish racecourses.

Today he is currently working as an international consultant with UK company Sportech plc which is a global leader in pari-mutuel and online betting.

Mr Caldwell is also joint founder and director of Graham and Caldwell Ltd. This is a partnership with Sean Graham and they have pitches at racecourses including Cheltenham and Epsom.

Mr Caldwell went to school in Belfast with TV personality Eamonn Holmes and ITV star reporter Bill Neely.

He has three daughters, Ashleigh, 26, Jenny, 23, Vicky, 21 and a son Cameron, 11.

Mr Caldwell said workmen have been doing work on his roof and asked him recently for a tip.

He suggested Ruler of the World for the Epsom Derby at a handy early price.

It went on to land the esteemed prize. ‘It resulted in some very happy builders,’ he said.

The sculpture of two Kings of Mann and the Isles who had strong links to Ramsey has been relocated from Ramsey town hall to the Courthouse grounds in Parliament Street.

King Godred Crovan, also known as King Orry, and his son, the statesman King Olaf, are depicted in the sculpture, the work of local artist Amanda Barton.

The piece was commissioned by Ramsey Town Commissioners in 2000 to mark the passing into the new millennium and references the change through the images of the old warrior King Orry and the politically astute young King Olaf playing chess.

The younger man appears to be playing classical chess, the elder the ancient Viking game of Merels or mill.

Other subtle cues, such as the figures’ different clothing, weapons and accoutrements, also hint at the changing times.

Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Captain Nigel Malpass, pictured above, said: ‘Such a magnificent work of art as this has long merited a more prominent setting where as many members of the public could admire the artist’s skills and gain a sense of the epic significance of these two rulers.

‘Amanda Barton’s sculpture of these two legendary figures in Manx history representing changing times could not be a more fitting metaphor for the regeneration of Ramsey town centre.’

For more information about the sculpture visit ramsey.gov.im

This week, Tanya Highet, secretary of the Laxey and Lonan Allotments Association, writes about the benefits of growing your own

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Beautiful sunny days have meant that many of us have been outside gardening recently.

Some of us are lucky enough to have sunny and sheltered places at home to grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers but for those who need space, joining an allotment is the way to go.

There are many benefits to growing in a communal setting and the most obvious is having access to your own decent sized plot of land to grow fresh organic produce for your yourself and your family.

The Isle of Man has a relatively mild climate and there’s a lot you can grow outside. On my plot right now I’m growing asparagus, rhubarb, pak choi, spinach, runner beans, blueberries, globe artichokes, courgettes, garlic, purple sprouting broccoli, various wildlife-friendly flowers, and much more. It’s surprising what does well here and if this summer continues to be as warm as it is now then I can expect some golden cobs of sweet corn and great big pumpkins.

There’s a lot to learn to be able to grow such a variety of produce but you can start with easy crops first and then add more to your edible garden as you pick up knowledge and skills. Another great thing about growing in an allotment is that you can ask neighbouring plot holders about what they’re growing and any tips they might have for you. Gardeners are a generous sort, especially with their advice!

Having an allotment can be a wonderful way to grow your own, get out in the sun and fresh air, and teach your children about food and nature. However, there’s a lot of hard work that goes into keeping a plot productive and tidy so renting one is a commitment to taking care of the land. Tilling the soil, applying manure, weeding, and keeping on top of pests will keep you plenty busy especially if you garden organically as we do in Laxey. Still, it’s all worth it and if you put in a little bit of effort, often then the rewards will far out-weigh the work.

We’ve had quite a few people take up plots at Laxey and Lonan Allotment, who started gardening by sowing containers of beans on the patio or herbs in the kitchen window. It’s a hobby that seems to grow until you’ve got no space left to put anything else. The good news is that while allotments across the UK have waiting lists hundreds of names long, there are plots currently available in the Isle of Man.

There are allotments located across the island and some, including the Laxey and Lonan Allotments Association, currently have plots available. If you’re interested in renting out a plot or would like more information email lalaa@manx.net or ring 256474.

lalaaland.wordpress.com

iomtoday understands that Tesco plans to submit another application for an alcohol licence for a proposed Express store in Castletown.

The local authority met representatives of the store in private last Thursday (June 13) to discuss another bid by the store to get an alcohol licence for the Express store it wants to open in the town’s Callow’s Yard.

Tesco has previously said it is ‘considering resubmitting an alcohol licence’.

The authority asked if the store would like the meeting held in public or private. The store replied it would like the meeting in private. The town’s commissioners’ chairman Kevin Weir said: ‘We gave them the choice.’

After Thursday’s meeting, Mr Weir would not comment on the meeting, but he said: ‘We have agreed to say we have met with them and it is ongoing. I said if any statements are to be made, it would be down to them. The company said the only statement they would make, if asked, is it’s ongoing.’

Mr Weir added: ‘It is pretty imminent that we will hear soon.’

The store first announced it had plans to open an Express store in Callow’s Yard in November 2011, so creating 20 jobs.

However, two bids to secure an alcohol licence – in April and October 2012 – failed.

The court said it was not satisfied there was a need for another licensed premises in the town. Tesco commissioned Ashgrove Marketing to carry out a survey to assess alcohol shopping in the south and submitted its findings to the second hearing in October. However, the court said the survey was not ‘credible evidence’, due to ‘limited circulation’ and it did not ask the direct question whether there was a need for an additional licence.

The court was ‘shocked’ at the ratio of alcohol licences to residents in the area (one to 80 households in Castletown and Malew and one off licence per 519 Castletown residents).