The Isle of Man women’s team were knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Umbro Cup tournament held in Keele over the weekend.
The Manx drew all of their opening three group matches 1-1 on Saturday. On Sunday, they won their remaining group match with Blackpool 3-0, thus securing a place in the final four, where they lost 1-0 to Liverpool Feds.
A full round-up will appear in this week’s Manx Independent.
Keith Gerrard took the rare opportunity to test himself over a measured mile on Saturday, running the fastest ever time by a Manxman.
Gerrard was competing at the 50th anniversary of the British Milers Club at the historic Iffley Road track in Oxford which was the scene of Sir Roger Bannister’s epic sub-four minute mile in 1954.
The Microgaming-sponsored athlete took third place in the B race, recording a time of 4min 08.23 minutes taking two seconds off the existing record.
The previous longstanding Manx record of 4m 10.6s had been set in 1985 by Isle of Man Sport’s performance co-ordinator Chris Quine, who has been a key figure in Keith Gerrard’s development.
‘Government, businesses and organisations on the island must continue to strive to be the very best in order to compete in today’s fast-moving, competitive global environment
‘We have just launched Vision 2020, an important initiative in our strategy for growing the island’s economy. It is vital that we have a clear vision of where our future economic growth will come from and how this is going to be achieved.
‘We will be working together with the business community to identify opportunities and what steps need to be taken for the island to succeed in the future. The role of the Awards for Excellence in promoting the Isle of Man in such a positive way is in complete accord with this initiative.
‘It is important to add, of course, that the Awards for Excellence are not just about the business community but also encompass charitable organisations and the public sector.
‘Last year, I was especially pleased to see that so many public sector employees entered – and won – awards.
‘The people of the Isle of Man rightly expect the highest standards from public sector employees and whilst they would normally demonstrate this through their interaction with the public and the services they provide, the Awards also give a chance to showcase achievements that the public might not otherwise have been aware of.
‘An example of this was the Award for Customer Service, won last year by the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry, which consistently demonstrates the Isle of Man’s “can do” approach to our international customers.
‘The Aircraft Registry is probably not too well known to many members of the Isle of Man public but it continues to expand, bringing business to the island, and it was voted the best aircraft registry in the world in a survey of leading aviation lawyers from around the world.
‘I hope that this year we will again see a significant number of entries from the public sector, some of them again highlighting work that normally goes on behind the scenes but is nonetheless vital.
‘As well, I want to urge as many island businesses and community groups as possible to participate, showing how they contribute to the success of the island and our quality of life.
‘The Isle of Man Government is once again sponsoring the Freedom to Flourish Award which was won last year by the Chamber of Commerce Engineering Sector Skills Group, an initiative that encourages young people to consider a career in engineering and helps them to access the training they need.
‘The Awards for Excellence Night, now in its eighth year, has become firmly fixed in the Manx calendar. It is a wonderful occasion and an ideal showcase for all that is best on this island of ours.’
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Have you entered the Awards for Excellence yet?
Entries are now being invited for this year’s Awards for Excellence.
The sixteen categories include awards for businesses, public sector and charitable organisations. Then there are the individual categories, for Business Person of the Year, Young Achiever of the Year and Volunteer of the Year – maybe you know someone whose contribution to the local community deserves to be recognised?
Every year, the standard of entries is consistently high and the prestige of winning even higher. To say nothing of the glamour of being part of such a glittering occasion, with comprehensive newspaper coverage both in the lead-up to the prize presentation and on the night itself.
This year’s Awards night takes place on November 21. The event will be compered by Hugh Dennis, star of the hit TV comedy ‘Outnumbered’, and screened live via the web to a worldwide audience.
For further details on how to enter the awards, please contact Trudi Williamson at Isle of Man Newspapers on 695695 or visit iomtoday.co.im/afe
The Cayman National Group announced the appointment of Ken Watterson as a non-executive director to the boards of both Cayman National Bank and Trust Company (Isle of Man) Limited and Cayman National Fund Services (Isle of Man) Limited.
Ken Watterson has more than 27 years experience working in the investment, banking, fiduciary, insurance, IFA and funds sectors with regulated financial companies based in the Isle of Man, UK, Jersey and Guernsey, Switzerland, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
With a background in NHS and research medical science, Ken joined Peat Marwick (later to become KPMG) in 1986.
In 1990, he moved from audit and accountancy to international private banking joining Nat West International Trust Corporation which became part of the Coutts Group.
He gained valuable experience in Coutts’ trust, banking and investment businesses and was given the task of establishing the Isle of Man office’s offshore risk and compliance function.
Following a year’s sabbatical in which he studied the island’s basking sharks and whales and travelled extensively to lecture on the subject in Japan, Australia and South Africa, he joined Close Brothers Private Bank in 2000 as director of Risk and Compliance.
Ken was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship for his work with basking sharks and co-authored a book for BBC Television.
In 2006, Ken moved to Tufton Oceanic, one of the island’s few hedge fund managers, as their chief operating officer and a director where he gained further valuable experience working with the UK FSA and the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
One of Ken’s particular areas of interest is corporate governance an area in which he specialised when studying for his Masters degree in Financial Regulation and compliance management.
He holds the Institute of Directors, Chartered Director qualification and has undertaken a number of corporate governance assignments in his current role as a compliance and corporate governance consultant.
Ken is also a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Ian Bancroft, managing director of Cayman National’s Isle of Man operations said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Ken to the boards of our Isle of Man businesses.
‘He has a significant wealth of experience in the international corporate and private sectors with a strong focus on risk and compliance.
‘This strength will prove invaluable as we continue to grow our business into new markets and channels of business.
‘We have exciting plans for further development. I anticipate that Ken will make an enormous contribution to our future corporate growth’.
Ken Watterson said: ‘I am looking forward to working with the Cayman National team. They offer a comprehensive wealth management proposition and I am keen to support their development objectives as well as ensuring there is robust oversight of their regulatory obligations.’
The island’s Drug Advice Service and Helpline is warning users of Ecstasy to be aware of the risks after a number of deaths across the UK in recent months.
Shelly Stanley, director of service, said that there is never a guarantee of the contents of what’s in an Ecstasy pill nor its strength.
She said that so far it appears the some pills have included the Class A drug Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA and PMMA) either alone or in conjunction with Ecstasy (MDMA).
Miss Stanley said: ‘PMA or PMMA is less likely to be deliberately used recreationally due to the toxicity but it has appeared in tablets sold as Ecstasy for a number of years but only recently have fatalities linked to it increased in such as short space of time.
‘PMA effects are similar to Ecstasy but take longer to cause an effect so users may take another pill in the mistaken belief that the first has not worked, resulting in a massive dose.
‘Added to this that Ecstasy patterns of use may involve users using multiple quantities of tablets in one session and thus presents a serious health risk.’
DASH’s advice for anyone who uses it is to take only half a tablet and wait an hour before taking the other half.
The organisations says: ‘Do not mix with other drugs including alcohol, caffeine and prescribed medications as this can increase the potency increasing risk. Tablets causing problems have varied from colour to colour and design, so there is no “one” identifying tablet, although we will post links and updates to what we know so far on our website.
‘The message will always be that the only way to stay safe is not to take drugs at all.
‘However, there will always be those who ignore that message.
‘Like drug services in the UK we’re saying if you intend to use Ecstasy or other tablets then be aware of the risks and what to do in an emergency, it could save your own or a friend’s life.
‘If someone becomes unwell after taking a tablet they need to get to A&E immediately, don’t try and sleep it off. For further confidential advice and information call us on 615622 or email info@drugs.org.im.’
Signs of an overdose could include:
Hyperthermia (very high body temperature or overheating)
Dehydration
Rapid heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Breathing difficulties
Seizures
Severe nausea and vomiting
It was a vibrant week at Castle Rushen, as open air dramatics, theatrical tours and musical performances made up the Unlocked weekend at one of the Isle of Man’s most historic and iconic structures.
From Wednesday to Saturday were nightly performances of the TNT Theatre and Manx National Heritage production The Ghost of Illiam Dhone, re-igniting the ‘patriot or traitor’ debate of the politician in the 350th anniversary year of his execution.
Throughout the weekend were the History in Action Group’s Labyrinth Tours of the passageways and spiral staircases of the castle keep, as actors played out the historic tales of the fortress, which has a past including spells as a prison and the seat of Manx political power.
The multi-period Living History Village in the castle grounds included starring roles from Vikings of Mann, the Isle of Man Homeguard Re-enactment Society, Play People and performances of The Buggane from Mhelliah Musical Theatre, and Unlocked all ended on Sunday night with a 10-act concert organised by Soundcheck, featuring Full Moon Fallout, Mae Challis, Azariah, The Same, Exit Left, Alice Dudley, Bring Out Your Dead, Mark McCabe, Jake Orritt and ROC Vannin.
President of Tynwald Clare Christian has congratulated the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son on behalf of Tynwald.
Mrs Christian said: ‘It was with great pleasure that we welcomed the announcement of the birth of the royal couple’s first child. We extend to their Royal Highnesses our warmest congratulations and wish them and their families every happiness at this time of great joy and cause for celebration.’
The boy is third in line to the throne and the title Lord of Mann.
The royal couple also received congratulations from Allan Bell MHK, the Chief Minister, on behalf of the government, and the Lieutenant Governor, Adam Wood, on behalf of the people of the Isle of Man.
A service and dedication of a memorial to mark the 40th anniversary of the Summerland fire disaster will be held on Friday, August 2, at the Kaye Memorial Garden, Queen’s Promenade, Douglas, at 7.45pm.
The Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Carol Malarkey, will preside over the proceedings and the service will be led by Andrew Brown, Archdeacon of Mann.
A spectator area has been set aside and the Summer Hill slip road will be closed to traffic on that date from 7pm to 9.30pm and that parking will be suspended on a section of King Edward Road opposite the Kaye Memorial Garden.
Fifty people lost their lives in the tragedy after fire broke out in the leisure complex, built at the Onchan end of Douglas Promenade.
Share your memories of that terrible day: Email newsdesk@newsiom.co.im
A number of cars were damaged in the area of York Road in Douglas on Monday evening.
The culprits scratched the vehicles, which were parked outside their home addresses overnight.
A police spokesman said: ‘A large number of cars have been targeted and the damage cause will cost the owners a considerable amount of money to rectify.’
Anyone with more information should contact any police officer or ring police headquarters on 631212.
This week, Cat Turner, secretary of the Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, looks at new legislation which aims to protect bees
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This column has had plenty to say in the past about how reliant we are on our stripy little buddies.
Without them, there’d have been precious little on our breakfast plates this morning, since (depending on your diet) foods pollinated by bees account for between 30 and 60 per cent of what we consume each day.
They’re essential for growing at least two thirds of the world’s food crops – if we had no bees tomorrow, billions would die of hunger.
And I’ve also banged on about how vulnerable the little chaps are at present; around the world, bee populations are – no exaggeration – absolutely plummeting, with damaging pesticides, herbicides, monocrop agriculture, habitat loss and (in the UK but not here in the Isle of Man) varoa mite adding to the woes of more and more weather wierding.
In the past couple of weeks alone, there have been multiple reports of mass bee die-offs some in the (I’m not kidding) millions.
In one notable case some tens of thousands of crunchy little corpses were found strewn across one of those humongous parking lots, overshaded by an array of linden trees which had just been sprayed by a chemical cocktail known to knock out bees’ nervous systems.
Neonicotinoid pesticides are the best-known of these offenders, but they’re not the only ones.
So hurrah for a spot of good news. The European Union has just announced a new ban on Fipronil, yet another bee-toxic agricultural poison.
Fipronil is produced by those lovely boys at Bayer, a huge and powerful German chemicals company.
It’s a nerve agent and has been widely used by farmers to kill off insects, but of course it’s been killing the bees too.
You might come across this charmless cocktail under the brand name ‘Regent’.
From December 31, it’ll be illegal to use Fibronil to field crops such as sunflower seeds and maize right across Europe (hurraaaay!).
It will still be allowed in greenhouses, and on the sort of legumes (leeks, onions, etc) which are harvested before they flower, posing much less of a risk to foraging bees.
This comes hard on the heels of an earlier ban in April this year of three other nasties, all of them neonicotinoids and all of them previously very heavily used (double huraaay!).
It reflects growing concerns about the collapse in honeybee populations, and the knock-on effects of this on food security in an already pressured system.
The UK has to follow suit, being as it is a part of the EU, and despite resistance from a few benighted MPs.
Here in the Isle of Man, we are, of course, not a part of the EU – so there’s no obligation for our government to follow suit; and for the time being it may not be a big deal.
Neonicotinoids at least are not known to be heavily used by our local farming community – though there’s no hard data on this, and it’s even harder to know what’s happening in private and market gardens.
But that could easily change, especially when growers are under financial pressure.
At Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, we’d welcome a ban on such pesticides where they threaten the island’s pollinator population, and thereby our already precarious food security.
We think that as well as protecting our biodiversity, we would be wise to work towards a situation where a decent proportion of the island’s food needs can be grown locally.
What do you think? Would you support a campaign for a ban?
Thanks, as ever, for reading this. Let us know if you have views – or better yet, come along to one of our monthly meetings to see how you can get involved.
It’s a measly £7.50 for annual membership, and our next gathering is at 7.30pm on Wednesday, August 14, at the Green Centre, near to Iceland supermarket in Douglas.
We’d love to see you!
The last time I had any dealings with Dr Malcolm Couch, an amiable gentleman, it was to do with me parting with a substantial sum of money, on his urging, to the Manx Treasury.
Now he is giving me money. Well, let us say that in essence he is giving me back some of the money I pay in income tax.
There has been a fundamental change in our professional relationship.
He used to be the Assessor of Income Tax at the Treasury. Now he has re-mustered to Chief Financial Officer at the Treasury and it is in this capacity that he has just sent me a refund on the jack I sent him in January this year to meet my 2012/13 tax commitment. (As a sole trader I have to come up to scratch with the scratch on an annual basis; every January when it should be a case of Happy New Year, let me say).
The refund amounts to £211.43 plus 50p, the latter for what is described in the official covering letter as a repayment supplement.
I don’t get this in the sense that I don’t understand what it means, like most of my dealings with the Treasury.
But I do get the 50p, which is what matters.
Mind you, when I got the cheque, I didn’t know it had come from the Good Doctor Couch.
I didn’t know he had changed jobs. I imagined that the cheque was signed by him but the signature defied comprehension. It was no more than a hasty wriggle of the pen.
Presumably he had written it in haste along with a whole lot of other refund cheques which were piled up on his desk that morning.
But I made some inquiries at Government Office and this revealed his identity and offered my opportunity today to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to him.
After all one does have to show good manners in such circumstances.
Of course, I don’t understand the complex exercise in doing sums that led to the refund.
I have had them before over the years and I have asked my accountant, who is also an old and valued friend, to explain them to me. But he has always refused.
He knows me all too well I’m afraid. All he would say, in a kindly voice, was: ‘You just wouldn’t understand. My advice to you is this: Carpe diem.’
This is a Latin tag I do understand. In rough – very rough – translation it means take the goddam money and run.
Meanwhile, the remorseless annual cycle of income tax payment is grinding away at the faces of rich and poor alike, and I already have my income tax demand on my 2013/14 assessment to be delivered to Dr Couch at the required time in early January next year.
The deadline is actually three days after my 83rd birthday. Can I have next year’s refund early Dr C? You know, in time for a proper celebration.
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There is a notice on the glass entry door to the Big Apple New York Deli at the bottom of Eskdale Road in Onchan, which says: ‘I swing both ways.’
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Richard Hetherington reports the following Manx crossword clue in the Daily Telegraph: Man, say, in Paisley (4) – ISLE.
Members of the Southern 100 Motorcycle Club have offered condolences to families of the three riders who lost their lives during this year’s event and have given assurances the races will continue in the future.
Clerk of the course Phil Taubman said: ‘Our thoughts are with those families who were bereaved by the tragic events this year.’
But he said the club had also received many messages of support from both competitors and spectators.
‘Thank you to everyone who has helped out in any way, we really appreciate what they have done. We especially have to thank those people who helped out at the accident scenes,’ he said.
Three men, all of whom lived in the island, died during this year’s event. On Monday David Jukes died near Ballakeighan corner. On the Thursday’s race day Mark Madsen-Mygdal lost his life in an accident near Stadium corner and sidecar passenger Paul Thomas also died in a separate accident.
One civil servant has been suspended on full pay since April 1 this year.
Alfred Cannan, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, said that no additional cost had been incurred following the suspension, other than the job holder’s pay.
He was replying to a Tynwald question from Peter Karran (Liberal Vannin, Onchan) who asked how many civil servants have been suspended on full pay and at what cost - and why ‘so many’ personnel and HR managers were employed at St Andrew’s House.
Mr Cannan said there were more than 16 full-time equivalent business partners and HR adviser roles in the Office of Human Resources, based mainly on the 2nd floor of St Andrew’s House on Finch Road, Douglas. These provided human resources services across the majority of government. He said for the year ending March 31 this year, the actual cost for salaries (including employers’ National Insurance contributions) in respect of these staff totalled £759,598.
Introduction of a centralised government procurement service has helped generate savings of more than £2 million over the past two years.
Treasury Minister Eddie Teare said that before a specialist procurement team based within Treasury was created in April 2011, there had been occasions when different government departments had been paying different prices for the same goods from the same supplier.
He said the new co-ordinated approach to buying goods and services is continuing to make an important contribution to the rebalancing of public finances.
Mr Teare said it had been expected the new approach would achieve savings of just under £1 million. However, it has also produced savings of £1.3 million and with some contracts running over three to four years, the figure was in excess of £2 million.
He said: ‘Government spends a considerable amount of money on the things it needs to provide a comprehensive range of services to the Manx public, so it made sense for departments to work together to achieve the best deal for the taxpayer.
‘I am pleased to say that the success of the central team has exceeded our initial expectations, with savings in excess of £2 million.’
He added: ‘Driving forward efficiencies and cost savings in the public sector is absolutely vital in the current financial climate. Procurement also has a wider role to play in terms of stimulating the local economy and ensuring government spends money on behalf of the taxpayer in a fair, open and transparent manner.’
The seven-strong central team is led by Neil Davidson, government’s head of procurement. In addition to securing cost savings through a more consistent and joined-up approach to purchasing, the team was also set up to ensure contracts are awarded as the result of a clear and open competition, all suppliers are given the opportunity to bid for government contracts and all suppliers are treated fairly and equally.
Mr Teare said the new approach had taken away the perception that there was a ‘magic circle’ of companies that were always successful at winning contracts. Collaborative working between Treasury and other departments has resulted in a 150 per cent increase in government tender activity, and the development of a new standard tender process which is far quicker than its UK equivalent.
Alex Downie MLC, who will chair the recently established Procurement Committee, said: ‘Procurement has a key role to play. The centralised team is making a real impact on public sector purchasing.’
Biodiversity brings benefits worth at least £40 million a year to the Manx economy, according to a recent study.
And this could be just the tip of the iceberg, believes Environment Minister Phil Gawne who has launched an ambitious plan to conserve the island’s biodiversity.
‘Managing our natural wealth to 2020’ is the Isle of Man’s first published biodiversity strategy.
Only a draft for consultation at this stage, the strategy aims, by 2020, to manage biodiversity change to minimise loss, maintain and where necessary restore or enhance native biodiversity and actively involve society in understanding, appreciating and safeguarding our biodiversity.
It has been drawn up in consultation with land and sea users, government officers and people in conservation organisations.
Mr Gawne said: ‘It is crucial that we act now before more species are lost.
‘I meet many individuals who manage the land and harvest the sea. I am confident that there is a growing appreciation of the important part these people can play in the conservation of our biodiversity. We need to influence key stakeholders, be it fishermen, farmers or land owners, the business sector or the wider public, if we are to make a significant progress in halting the decline in biodiversity, before 2020.’
Scotland recently identified that biodiversity is worth £21.5 billion a year to its economy. According to the Scottish Government, Scotland’s insects generate as much as £43 million a year for the economy (including pollination and pest control) and its peatlands are believed to store 10 times more carbon than all of the UK’s trees. The carbon stored as peat in Manx soils has been valued at £95 million.
The Manx strategy is to be reviewed in the light of the consultation responses and then laid before Tynwald. It will be followed by a delivery plan which will involve partners and the public as well as government.
Liz Charter, DEFA’s principal biodiversity officer, said: ‘Having and implementing a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan is a valuable step for us as well as a key requirement of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This will provide us with the route map to deliver and prioritise conservation of our most important habitats and species.’
The consultation runs until September 30. Copies are available to read on line on the government website www.gov.im/consultations/
Germaine Greer is to be the after-dinner guest speaker at this year’s Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Admiistrators (ICSA) annual dinner, sponsored by RBS International, at Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club, Santon, on Friday, September 20.
Australian writer, academic, journalist and scholar of early modern English literature, Germaine Greer is widely regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century and is listed in Prospect Magazine's 100 Greatest Thinkers.
Her ideas have created controversy ever since her book The Female Eunuch became an international best-seller in 1970, turning her into a household name and bringing her both adulation and opposition.
She is also the author of many other books including, Sex and Destiny: The Politics of Human Fertility (1984); The Change: Women, Ageing and the Menopause (1991) and Shakespeare's Wife (2007).
Gillian Prestwich, ICSA Isle of Man chairman, ‘We are delighted to welcome Germaine Greer and grateful to RBS International for their support, and to Appleby for sponsoring the pre-dinner Drinks Reception and to our MC Ron Berry for what promises to be a great event.’
To book individual tickets (£50 each) and corporate tables please visit http://icsa2013.eventbrite.com/ For enquiries please contact Gillian Prestwich, ICSA Isle of Man Chairman at gillianprestwich@manx.net
Germaine Greer has written for many periodicals and was a regular pundit on BBC2's The Late Review. She's also made frequent appearances on the BBC's satirical television show Have I Got News For You. Germaine Greer was one of the contestants on Celebrity Big Brother (2005). She'd previously said that the show was "as civilised as looking through the keyhole in your teenager's bedroom door" - she walked out of the show after five days inside the Big Brother house. In 2006 she appeared twice in an episode of Ricky Gervais' Extras playing herself.
ICSA President David Venus and Chief Executive Simon Osborne are to attend the dinner and David will present prizes and awards to students as part of the evening. Ron Berry has again kindly taken on the role of Master of Ceremonies.
The evening will also include a charity raffle in support of the new dedicated breast care unit at Noble’s Hospital.
Bill Shimmins, Isle of Man Director, RBS International: “After the successes of 2011 and 2012, we are delighted to again be involved with the ICSA Isle of Man Annual Dinner, a perfect occasion to highlight and celebrate the invaluable work of Chartered Secretaries in the Isle of Man’s ongoing success as an international business centre.”
net<mailto:gillianprestwich@manx.net> Booking deadline is Friday 30 August.
The company which guides businesses through complex but increasingly important ISO certification standards has been invited to join the influential Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster (IOMAC).
The invitation to ISO QA Isle of Man Ltd came from IOMAC chairman Adrian Moore and the company’s directors, Kevin Burnell and Lee McLellan, were officially welcomed during the Cluster’s latest forum at St John’s Mill, Tynwald Mills.
Mr Moore said: ‘We are delighted that a company of the calibre of ISO QA Isle of Man has accepted the invitation that sees the Cluster become a collaboration of 22 companies.’
The forum was also attended by David Bailey, executive director of North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), and Kelvin Davies, of BAE Systems, along with Cluster representatives.
Mr Burnell said: ‘We regard membership of IOMAC as important recognition of the work we do in guiding companies through the complex requirements of very diverse standards they are now expected to achieve and maintain.’
These include ISO9001 Quality, ISO14001 Environment, ISO18001 Health and Safety, ISO27001 Information Security and ISO50001 Energy.
ISO QA Isle of Man Ltd also conduct commercial energy audits, looking at how companies can best use the energy and also how to save energy costs.
The Cluster offers cost-effective, joined-up solutions for its global blue chip client base.
As part of the North West Aerospace Alliance, one of the most active aerospace clusters in Europe, the IOMAC is part of one of the most influential ‘aerospace hotspots’ in the British Isles.
Mr Moore said: ‘We are able to provide design and manufactured solutions with a reputation for one-stop shop capability and the utilisation of an international supply chain.
‘We are proud to say we are partners to virtually every major civil and military project in the world today.’
To mark the completion of the 100th running of the Tour de France yesterday we are offering readers an opportunity to win a free copy of a marvellous new publication covering this magnificent event.
Tour de France 100 is written and compiled by Richard Moore, a former GB cyclist who has previously produced the books - Heroes, Villains and Velodromes; In Search of Robert Millar; and Chris Hoy and Britain’s Track Cycling Revolution.
Each chapter of this large format, hard-backed book includes images of heroes of the Tour de France from Eugene Christophe - the first man to wear the yellow jersey – to the great Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain and more recently Bradley Wiggins.
There’s one shot from the 2012 Tour of Mark Cavendish alongside his old mate Wiggins when they were riding together for Team Sky, while there are several more of our own national hero in trademark fashion sprinting to victory in various stages of the great race over the past six years.
Notably there is one of the Manx Missile thundering across the line to claim his maiden TdF success at Chateauroux in 2008.
Looking further back there are some iconic pictures from the early days of the Tour, which was founded in 1903 (10 races were lost during the two World Wars).
Names such as Italy’s Gino Bartali (who won Tour de France’s either side of the Second World War), Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor, Tom Simpson, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, Laurent Fignon, Stephen Roche and, dare we say it, Lance Armstrong – the list is virtually endless.
Dubbed the Greatest Show on Earth, this book brings the Tour de France to life with some tremendous photographic imagery and well-researched text.
Published by Macmillan Publishers Ltd, retailing at £30, it is available from all good bookshops – visit www.macmillandistribution.co.uk
l To win a free copy of Tour de France 100, answer this question: How many times did Eddy Merckx win the Tour de France?
Answers on a postcard please to: The Sportsdesk, Isle of Man Newspapers, European House, Peel Road, Douglas – to arrive no later than August 5.
Marown A beat Douglas A at Finch Hill Bowling Green on Friday evening to win the coveted Canada Life International Rayner Shield for a third successive year, in arguably the most dramatic final in the competition’s illustrious history.
It wasn’t a bowling match it was a war, with the challengers throwing everything in their arsenal at the defending champions who fought to the death as if their lives depended on it.
The teams on paper looked evenly-matched and on the impeccable yet tricky playing surface things were even closer.
Marown took the initiative in the early stages with Colin Kelly drawing first blood for his side with a 21-10 win over Keith Rise.
The next three games came off the green in quick succession with Marown moving further ahead thanks to wins from seasoned campaigners John Gelling and Phil Kelly, but then something happened.
Stuart Garrett picked up a superb 21-18 win over June Festival winner and Marown captain Neil Withers to give his side hope and the Douglas troops responded brilliantly to this rallying cry, with Paul Skelly and Matthew Keggen notching up wins to draw the challengers level. The balance of power seemed to be swinging towards to underdogs.
Then there was another twist in the tale as Mike Cain, who had trailed by a couple of points for most of his game, edged passed Douglas captain Mark Kneen 21-19 to leave his team needing only one more win to retain their crown. With the two remaining games on the green finely balanced, the scene was set for an ending so suspenseful that it could have been scripted.
Paul Kelly moved through the gears and held his nerve brilliantly to see off the challenge of Peter Kelly 21-16 to keep his team in the running leaving everything resting on the game between Ian Moore (Douglas) and Dean Kipling (Marown).
Moore was ahead 20-17 and led out to try and bring home the trophy for his team. He headed straight for the corner, however he got a little tight with his first bowl and it just went off the green.
Last year’s Division One merit winner Kipling capitalised and played a great bowl which Moore just failed to beat with his second. Kipling then picked up a two to tie the scores at 20-20.
Kipling put up two brilliant woods to leave Moore lying game down but he held his nerve and, with everything resting on the fate of his final bowl, he struck the jack off the green, killing the end and keeping the Douglas hopes alive in the process.
However, it was not meant to be for the challengers as Kipling, who seemed to thrive in the pressure cooker atmosphere, led magnificently and picked up the final point required for a Marown win.
It is heartbreaking for Douglas who came so close to winning the shield for the first time in over 50 years, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Marown just had the edge by the smallest of margins, winning 5-4 on games with the scores ending 167-165 on points in a match that had everything.
In sport there are always winners and losers and Marown are brilliant champions but Douglas are far from losers after this performance.
The real winners on Friday night were those lucky enough to watch this epic encounter which I am sure will be stored in the memory banks for years to come.
A barbecue lunch will take place at the home of Peter and Julia Vanderpump on Sunday (July 28) to celebrate the achievements of the Lung Cancer Fund as it closes.
After 22 years of fundraising the Lung Cancer Fund is closing down as the committee members wish to retire.
However, during this time an amazing sum of more than £500,000 has been raised.
The lunch at 1 Bradda Glen Close, Port Erin, celebrates this great achievement and will acknowledge the work of committee members and supporters, both the past and present.
The Lung Cancer Fund was founded in 1990 by Professor Ray Donnelly, FRCS, a thoracic surgeon working in Liverpool, to raise awareness of the problem of lung cancer, to promote an intensive research programme into the causes, prevention and management of the disease, to provide support for patients and their families during the course of their illness and to encourage people not to smoke, especially children.
1991 saw the first support group formed in the island with Peter Vanderpump as the chairman and Lieutenant Governor Sir Laurence Jones and Lady Jones becoming patrons. Tragically Sir Laurence lost his life to lung cancer at the very end of his term of office here.
During 1993, much loved UK entertainer Roy Castle was diagnosed with lung cancer. Roy agreed to give his name to a special appeal for the Lung Cancer Fund to raise £12 million to build, equip and run the centre. Roy Castle spent much of the last year of his life helping to raise millions of pounds for the appeal.
Sadly Roy died in September 1994 and his heroic contribution was recognised by changing the name of the charity to The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
Funds raised in the island have helped to fund research, aided the discouragement of smoking, and have raised awareness of the importance of an early diagnosis.
Lots of support has also been given to those living with lung cancer.
In the UK, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men, with more than 23,000 new cases diagnosed in 2010. More than 18,500 women were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, making it the third most common cancer in women.
Research is making progress on early lung cancer detection and means of identifying at an early stage those who are at risk of developing the disease.
If anyone in the island wishes to fund raise for lung cancer call Mr Vanderpump on 832567.
