Gymnast Grace Harrison has put her university degree on hold to pursue her dream of competing at next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Also a member of the Isle of Man Sporting Excellence Programme, she is leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of her dream to be part of the first women’s team to represent the Isle of Man at the Games.

She started gymnastics aged five at the Manx Gymnastics Centre of Excellence, following her brother along to classes. By seven, Grace was competing and remembers her first experience of stepping on the podium.

‘I went to stand on the wrong part of the podium when I finished third at my first competition,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know the difference between second and third, that really sticks out in my mind.

‘I have always loved gymnastics, I had the chance to do swimming more competitively, but gymnastics was much more fun.’

Grace, 19, competed at the Northern European Gymnastics Championships last month as part of the 10-strong island team. It was the ultimate test in terms of dealing with setbacks and finding the mental toughness to come through.

‘I had a training session on the Friday, the day before the competition,’ she said. ‘I was on the bars and one of my hand guards ripped, so I had a scary fall which really shook me up.

‘It took a lot for me to get back up and compete the next day. I really tried to put everything I had learned on the Sporting Excellence Programme into practice. We talked a lot about preparing for big competition and staying positive.

‘I started on the vault, but unfortunately fell on my first vault. So that was definitely not the best start. I then had the bars, where I had to block out my fall from the day before. That went OK, thankfully, then on the beam I was given a PB score so I was really happy.

‘I kept the momentum going into my floor routine and I couldn’t believe I managed a Commonwealth Games consideration score and 11th overall. This qualified me for both the beam and floor finals the following day, coming sixth in each. Having felt so down at the start of the competition, it was more than I thought possible.

‘After my A-levels last summer, I decided to take a year out and defer my place to study at Loughborough University. My training has almost doubled as I now spend six days each week in the gym. I am very grateful to all of the support from my coach Amanda and everyone at Manx Gymnastics.

‘I have taken huge inspiration from my friend Olivia Curran, who was the only female gymnast to represent the Isle of Man at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. I know the hard work she put in for years; we trained together from a young age.’

As she gets ever-closer to achieving her dream, Grace said: ‘Listening to Kelly Holmes at the launch of the second year of the Sporting Excellence Programme was so inspiring. I was so pleased to be invited onto the programme; it has given me a real boost to keep working hard.’

The Isle of Man Sporting Excellence Programme was created to inspire and prepare a new generation of sporting champions and is delivered by Kelly Holmes Education, leaders in Sport Education. The programme is supported by Creechurch Capital, Microgaming and SMP Partners, and brings together Isle of Man Sport, Isle of Man Coaches Association and Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association.

In the final week of the season in PWC Mixed Division One, Harlequins started the day a single point below Vikings C at the foot of the table.

It has been a most unfortunate season for Harlequins in which they haven’t lost by more than a couple of goals in a high-scoring league since the opening week of the contest.

With fixtures at Castle Rushen called off because of the strong winds, Harlequins had an opportunity to raise themselves one point above Vikings C and leave the relegation fight in the hands of the latter.

A pre-match discussion about the windy conditions between both captains and the umpires led to a decision to attempt to play the fixture, the line of trees on the southern side of the QEII pitch offering a small amount of protection from the wind at one end of the pitch.

In a game strongly affected by the conditions, Harlequins started with the wind advantage. In a very even first half, ‘Quins were able to take advantage with a Sam Hassell goal after 20 minutes, set up by a superb Tim Sowerby pass.

Harlequins maintained the advantage at half-time, desperate to hold onto their position in the higher league and not to see the game postponed as a result of a couple of occasions where the goal posts were blown from the line.

The second half saw plenty of chances at both ends. Initially, it was Valkyrs who took the advantage - the wind effectively providing them with a 12fth man, and enabling Vic Ferns to use his trademark aerials from 16s to catapult the ball immediately into an attacking position.

Around 12 minutes into the second half, Valkyrs found their equaliser with a penalty corner, a cleanly struck Ashley Hall ball finding the back of the net. Valkyrs maintained their pressure. Ten minutes later, their efforts were rewarded after a defensive error led to Mark Moyer getting loose with the ball and finding the backboard once again.

Shortly later, Simon Sheath found a deflected ball from the ‘keeper lying in front of him, allowing him to scoop the ball over him. It rebounded from the post at such an angle that it crossed the back line, hitting the sideboard at the far end of the goal.

At that point, the game could have been over, but a feisty Harlequins never gave up the fight. Peter Foxton was instrumental in midfield, keeping the pace of the game fast, taking free hits at the first possible opportunity.

Their efforts were rewarded five minutes from time. A controversial free hit decision led to a crossing over incident, resulting in a yellow card for Valkyrs, providing Foxton with a free hit just outside the ‘D’. He passed, the ball was crossed in and swept into the goal at the back post by perennial scorer Nick Hamer.

Harlequins had two further goal attempts, either of which could have changed the fate of their season. Within the last two minutes, Quins were unlucky in hitting the back post, and the very last shot of the game was a well saved Harlequins shot.

Valkyrs’ captain Vic Ferns shared the thoughts of many, stating in post-match correspondence that Harlequins were once again unlucky, and their drop into the lower division will be noted as unfortunate by many in Manx hockey.

Saturday’s results

PwC Mixed Division One

Paragon Valkyrs C 3-2 HQ Harlequins A

LJ Skye Ravens 5-0 IOMA Group Bacchas C Walkover

Vikings C P-P Fearless Sabres

Castletown Cammags P-P Bacchas Colts

PwC Mixed Division Two

IOMA Group Bacchas D 3-3 HQ Harlequins B

Vikings D 2-2 Paragon Valkyrs D

Celton Manx Cushags P-P LJ Skye Rookies

Celton Manx S’ners 5-0 LJ Skye Robins Walkover

PwC Mixed Under-16s

HQ Harlequins 2-0 IOMA Group Bacchas B

Paragon Valkyrs 4-0 LJ Skye Rogues & Rascals

Bridgewaters Plate Final

Bacchas C 4-3 Saracens Sabres

Two members of England’s 1966 World Cup winning squad will travel to the Isle of Man in two months’ time.

Nobby Stiles and Martin Peters will appear at The Gaiety Theatre on February 13.

The Isle of Man Sporting and Dining Club has organised the event.

‘Early bird’ tickets (until December 24) cost £12.75 per person, available by contacting the Villa Gaiety Box office online {http://villagaiety.ticketsolve.com/shows/873506158/events|here} or on 600555. Tickets are £15.30 each after December 24.

Today, Tuesday

CATERICK CHOICE: 12.10 Tweedo Paradiso 12.40 Diocles 1.10 Lord Of Drums 1.40 Forthefunofit 2.10 Pudsey House 2.40 Corrin Wood (NB) 3.10 Herecomestrouble

SOUTHWELL TIPS: 12.30 Orwellian 1.0 Ivor’s Princess 1.30 Sweet Angelica 2.0 La Estrella 2.30 Majestic Manannan (NAP) 3.0 Jillywinks 3.30 Lexi’s Hero

FAKENHAM SELECTIONS: 12.50 Houseparty 1.20 Persian Herald 1.50 The Thirsty Bricky 2.20 Wither Yenot 2.50 Carobello 3.20 Great Oak

There are more than 750,000 people diagnosed with dementia in the UK meaning potentially 1,000 dementia sufferers in the island.

The majority of dementia sufferers (60 to 70 per cent) have Alzheimer’s disease, so any industry dealing with the care of the elderly needs appropriate knowledge of how to deal with the particular demands of the disease.

Recently-established Home Instead Senior Care, based in Castletown, has begun a new training course for its carers to specifically cope with Alzheimer’s.

The island-based care provider is a franchise of the global Home Instead group, of which there are 1,000 worldwide.

The nine-hour City and Guilds course was written for Home Instead by a number of experts in the UK and is delivered in the training suite in Castletown by Phil Wiseman, an accredited trainer of the course, who runs the company with his wife Emer.

‘This comprehensive training provides the caregiver with strategies and techniques,’ said Mr Wiseman.

‘Each person who has Alzheimer’s, or another form of dementia, is different and the signs and symptoms of dementia can vary greatly. How each person is cared for needs to be focused on their specific needs and needs to be person centred.We are also able to provide free of charge specially designed dementia training for family carers to empower them to face the journey they are on with their loved ones, rather than fear it.’

On the course, caregivers are taught about the various forms of dementia, the symptoms and behavioural issues that face family and carers alike.

‘Each dementia sufferer is different and the way in which the disease affects them varies. Not everyone displays all of the symptoms or behavioural issues, but in time, these will only get worse. Some of the behaviours can be harmless, such as perhaps sorting the cutlery drawer every few minutes, but others can be dangerous, such as wandering outside in bedclothes on a cold night,’ he said.

The caregivers are trained on techniques to manage any behaviours which have the potential to be dangerous to the dementia sufferer, or others, either physically or emotionally. These techniques include: redirection to an activity the dementia sufferer enjoys, perhaps the family photo album or a favourite film giving simple choices which assume that the dementia sufferer will do something, for instance whether to have pink or blue bubbles in the bath.

Caregivers are taught techniques to encourage engagement such as starting an activity, like folding the washing and encouraging the dementia sufferer to join in, asking for help, perhaps putting photos into an album and giving instructions, perhaps baking some favourite cakes.

Caregivers are also introduced to the ‘life journal’, a structured scrapbook which is used to record the stories, hold the pictures and note the dementia sufferer’s favourite activities and food, etc. All of this information can be used to tailor activities which the dementia sufferer enjoys the most.

Jackie Easton was one of the first of the island Home Instead carers to do the course and said: ‘It was really good, really helpful and gives you some coping techniques and different ways of doing things. It helps you understand more of how they think. It does work. It’s easy for them to become confused and important for you to stay calm and that does help.’

• For information, phone 822545.

Castletown Commissioners held their first paperless meeting on December 2 thanks to the recent acquisition of computer tablets for authority members.

Several months ago, all authority members were each given a mini iPad for use while a commissioner and only in relation to local authority work.

It was felt the cost of the iPads would soon be recouped through savings in reduced paper usage and administration time – photocopying agendas and accompanying correspondence, often involving lengthy reports.

There are other advantages in having the iPad: if members are unable to physically attend meetings, they can still take part through using an electronic link such as Facetime using the iPad.

Commissioners’ chairman Kevin Weir said: ‘We reduced the amount of paper we are using since we got the iPads, slowly but surely, so now we are paperless.

‘There will be certain things we have to still use paper for, and printed agendas will be available for any members of the public who attend meetings, but the board will be paperless.

‘This was the intention to cut down on cost. We will recoup the cost [of the iPads] in a very short time. It’s surprising how much paper you generate’

Recently Ramsey Town Commissioners decided to trial using tablet computers, such as iPads, to reduce paper usage and facilitate communication.

Mr Weir said: ‘It’s nice that Ramsey wants to catch up with Castletown.

‘I do know one or two [local authorities] who are talking about this technology.

‘To be honest, one or two commissioners were a bit slow to get to grips with it, but over all we have found it to be advantageous.

‘We have got to try and embrace technology, if it makes you more effective, that’s the way to go.’

Businesses and organisations can learn how they can save energy by attending the next ‘energy champions’ training course, which is being held on January 28 and 29.

There are currently 66 trained ‘energy champions’ in the private sector and 60 ‘energy champions’ within the public sector.

The Department of Economic Development says there are examples of organisations that have cut their bills by 30 per cent after a member of staff has learned about energy-saving ideas on the course.

The course is designed to give an ‘energy champion’ an understanding of energy efficiency, energy management and energy auditing as well as monitoring and reporting.

The second day of the course also includes a site visit to a business to implement the lessons learned.

The cost of the course is £100 ex VAT and is delivered by Kevin Burnell from ISO QA Isle of Man Ltd.

Further details can be obtained from Richard Cuthbert by telephoning 682367 or by email at richard.cuthbert@gov.im

Police are investigating a road accident in which a pedestrian was hurt.

It happened at about 5.15pm on Friday, November 29 and involved a silver BMW and a woman near the entrance to Balthane Industrial Estate, Ballasalla.

The pedestrian received an injury to her foot.

Police would like to speak to the drivers of a white Nissan Vanette and white Volkswagen Transporter believed to have been in the vicinity at the time.

Port Erin police are investigating.

Police have only just released information about this incident to the media.

UPDATED STORY: The Steam Packet is warning passengers there will be more disruption to its services because of the forecast stormy weather.

Tomorrow’s scheduled 2.15pm sailing from Heysham to Douglas will leave early.

It is to set sail at 1.30pm.

Vehicle drivers should check in no later than 1pm and foot passengers should check in no later than 1.15pm.

Tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) 7.45pm sailing from Douglas to Heysham is also subject to disruption or cancellation. The master will make a final decision by 4pm tomorrow.

The scheduled return 2.15am sailing on Thursday will also obviously be affected if the master decides to cancel or alter the sailing.

For the latest from the Steam Packet, visit {http://www.steam-packet.com/LatestSailings|this site.}

A motorist who drove erratically is being hunted by the police.

At about 4.45pm yesterday (Monday) a silver or grey Mercedes vehicle overtook a tractor on the main A3 Sulby to Ballaugh Road at the section known as the Ballacrye hump.

The vehicle was driving toward the direction of Ballaugh from Sulby at the time of the incident.

A police spokesman said: ‘There are concerns regarding the manner of driving of the vehicle and the police wish to speak to anyone who witnessed the overtaking manoeuvre or saw the vehicle in the area.’

The island’s ambulance service has once again achieved the ISO 9001 Quality Award following an external validation process.

This is the fifth consecutive year that it has been successful in retaining the internationally recognised standard.

ISO 9001 is an International Quality Management Standard which demonstrates an organisation’s ability to meet their customers’ needs through quality and consistency of the service provided.

Russell Thornhill, chief ambulance officer, said: ‘The Isle of Man Ambulance Service is very proud to be recognised once again for our commitment to continual improvement. Everyone has a part to play in achieving the quality standard award and the external validation gives us real confidence that we are delivering the quality service our patients deserve.’

The validation process was undertaken by external auditors from The British Assessment Bureau, which has historic links with the British Standards Institute. The auditors looked at all areas of activity within the ambulance service including patient requirements, resources and bu, processes and procedures.

Cath Quilliam, Head of community health services, said: ‘Congratulations to all the staff for continuing to achieve this internationally recognised standard. Their commitment in all aspects of their work translates to the delivery of an excellent, patient focussed service in all emergency and urgent care situations.’

Hospice is offering to give people a helping hand this Christmas – as well as protecting the environment and raising valuable funds.

They will pick up your real Christmas tree once the twelfth night has passed during the week of Monday, January 6, through to Sunday, January 12, for a minimum donation of £5 a tree. The trees will then go to Ballaneven Compost, Peel to be turned into compost. As this is the first year, the service is only being offered to post codes IM1, 2, 3, 4 and 8.

To take advantage, register with www.charityxmastreecollection.com

If you feel you could volunteer by helping collect trees, contact the fundraising team on 647434.

This week, Cat Turner, secretary of Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, looks at further evidence of a warming planet, as a new report links the increasing number of extreme weather incidents with the melting of the Arctic sea

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A recent report shows that while this year’s melting of Arctic sea ice didn’t reach the record levels of 2012, the ice is still thin – and at its sixth-lowest level since observations began in 1979.

And why would this matter? Well, rising sea levels are the usual risk pointed out – and they’re a real, and frightening, danger.

But on Thursday of last week, a coalition of leading scientists warned of the growing body of evidence linking the melting Arctic sea ice with worsening summer heat waves, and other extreme weather the world over.

Two quotes jumped out at me, from members of the group, which produces the Arctic Report Card for the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The first was this, from Howard Epstein, an environmental scientist at the university of Virginia: ‘The Arctic is not like Vegas. What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic.’

He’s right – the tally of abnormal, sometimes catastrophic, weather events is on an exponential rise – and whilst there are many potential reasons to be pointed to, the warming ocean and disruption to deep ocean currents and wind patterns are likely to be one of the biggest contributors: our oceans store and transport a massive proportion of the planet’s heat, and our prevailing winds carry with them climate events both great and subtle.

The other was this: ‘We cannot expect to be smashing records every year; there are going to be ups and downs. But those ups and downs are going to be superimposed on the trend of a warming Arctic.’

This was from Martin Jeffries, a University of Alaska professor who advises the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.

This undeniable and decades-long shrinkage in Arctic sea ice is among the most visible signs of global warming. NOAA’s Arctic Report Card came days after a study in the journal Nature Climate Change linked the sea-ice melt to extreme summer weather in North America and Europe. Climate experts from America and China agreed that rising temperatures over the melting Arctic are changing the habits and character of the Northern Hemisphere jet stream, the fast-flowing air current that circles the globe.

Alaska itself is feeling these extremes; it went through a record-breaking heatwave this summer, after a cold spring in which the first green buds didn’t appear in the Alaskan Interior until May 26 – the latest since observations began.

But the effects are to be found much further afield, as those recovering from, or trying to prepare for, wild weather events will know. Whether it’s the ice-storms battering the US, the heatwaves and wildfires materialising in Europe, Australia and America in the summers, or flooding, hurricanes and tsunamis, these events are becoming more common, harder to insure against and more impactful on the poor, both in developing countries (where entire communities are being devastated) and closer to home, where food price inflation is hitting everone hard.

How can we help?

By doing our bit to promote sustainable activity, both here in the island and in places where we as a nation have an impact. Let’s make 2014 the year that we – as individuals and as a country – really make progress.

What is known as the run-up to Christmas by journalists like me who can’t think of another word for it is always made more bearable by our seasonal gift from a kindly Douglas Corporation and Department of Infrastructure: the free parking on the walkway of Loch Promenade.

We’ve had it since the beginning of December and I’ve been first driver on to it five times so far which is more than I scored last Christmas.

There are often other cars loitering near the way in for the opening time of 9.30am.

I like to beat them to it.

It’s not that I’m desperate to go Christmas shopping in Strand Street.

I’m more likely to be desperate to avoid doing that.

What I enjoy, when I am in first, is having the walkway all to myself, an open uncluttered highway to whisk me without stopping to my workplace at Manx Radio.

There’s something here that appeals to the child in me, doing something you’re not usually allowed to. I don’t drive fast, of course. I like to relish the experience.

This year all the usual features are in evidence – apart from my favourite, the sign which used to say: ‘BEWARE PEDESTRIANS’.

This always signalled to me that gangs of pedestrians, outraged at having their walkway desecrated by motorists, would be out to get us, hauling us out of our vehicles in the cause of a little assault and battery.

This has never actually happened. But you never know with pedestrians, do you?

This year there have been plenty of them on the walkway, apparently at peace.

They often include some of the dedicated Young Mothers of Man, with their offspring in pushchairs, enjoying the sea air.

They are a delight to the eye, especially the callipygian ones. But I prefer to keep my eyes on the road ahead.

I might be in enough trouble already with the authorities for not using the facility for the intended purpose of parking up and heading for the shops.

There are now eight more walkway driving days to Christmas.

Next year I suggest that the traffic wardens who man the walkway should be dressed as Father Christmas.

Then, when they nick somebody who has parked there for more than the allotted three hours, there will be merry cries of: ‘Ho Ho Ho!’

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A petition has been launched to try and prevent the old red telephone boxes in the Isle of Man being removed, now that the mobile phone has made them redundant. Well, they are good-looking historical monuments. Why not?

But then what will we do with them? Give me a ring if you have any ideas.

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On Manx Radio John Houghton MHK spoke of converting an old building in Greenfield Road, Douglas, into a centre for teaching Isle of Man College students the ‘chrushibles’ of a working life in engineering.

That’s a pretty good neologism. Alert the OED.

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Manx crossword clues are still coming in, including this from Richard Hetherington and the Daily Telegraph: Dwarf of isle, one with special role in film (8) – Stuntman.

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This week’s extract from letters to local authorities: ‘Will you please send someone to mend the garden path. My wife tripped and fell on it yesterday and now she is pregnant.’

Motorists are ‘cash cows for government’, an MLC claimed as Tynwald approved yet another hike in car tax.

Vehicle duty is set to rise by another 5 per cent from April. The £5 per vehicle surcharge for road safety initiatives, introduced in 2005, continues to be included in the overall duty but is being increased to £6 for all vehicles.

In Tynwald, the move was criticised by some in the Legislative Council.

Juan Turner said: ‘Motorists are complete cash cows for government. They are going to be hit again and they are already under severe pressure.

‘It’s another huge increase. The public are being hammered again.’

The increase will see duty for cars with engines below 1,000cc increase from £44 to £47. The rate of cars up to 1,200cc goes up from £81 to £86, those up to 1,800cc from £144 to £152, and vehicles up to 2,500cc from £203 to £214. For engines up to 3,500cc, the increase is from £319 to £336, up to 5,000cc it’s up from £377 to £397 and for engines over 5,000cc, the tax increases from £405 to £426.

Vehicles first registered after April 2010, will have car tax based on engine emissions rather than engine size.

The duty raises around £12 million per year and goes on road maintenance and improvement. Highways chiefs say the 5 per cent increase is necessary to offset a reduction in money from the Treasury.

In the UK, Chancellor George Osborne announced in his autumn statement that car tax discs will be scrapped.

A WEALTH of data on the island’s job market is expected to be generated by a newly launched website, designed to be a one-stop shop for careers and employment on the Isle of Man.

‘Employed.im will in time provide real-time statistics on the labour market - information which will be of great value to policy makers, educators and employers,’ said Chris Gledhill, managing director of PDMS, the software company which developed the website.

Employed.im provides guidance on career related issues for anybody seeking advice, from students and school leavers through to people considering a mid-career change or a return to work.

Members can also use the website to manage their CVs, application forms and connect to potential employers.

official launch

Speaking at the official launch of the website, Mr Gledhill explained that at the moment it is difficult to accurately quantify the degree of any skills shortfall on the island or the exact requirements of employers.

One of the reasons is fragmentation; employed.im would overcome this by bringing together all the key stakeholders in the labour market.

He stressed that employed.im had been designed as a ‘long-term strategic facility that uses database technology and the internet to make the Isle of Man job market as joined up as possible and to address problems . . . which can change completely with different economic cycles’.

It was a point echoed by Laurence Skelly, MHK, political member for the Department of Economic Development, who shared the stage with Mr Gledhill at the launch.

‘This website is the start of something that will be long serving for employment and skills on the Isle of Man,’ he said.

Employed.im is an evolution of PDMS’ Manx Graduates website, which went live in 2009 with the primary goal of encouraging graduates to return to the Isle of Man. While a great success that site attracted as many experienced professionals as it did newly qualified university students.

‘The wide profile of its users rendered the site’s name something of a misnomer,’ said Mr Gledhill.

‘So, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Education and Children, we decided earlier this year to redesign the site to considerably broaden its scope.’

The easy-to-navigate employed.im site now serves as a networking portal for students, job seekers and employers.

‘Employed.im meets the combined needs and interests of everyone in the labour market: employers, graduates, jobseekers, government agencies and anyone interested in improving their employability skills,’ said Mr Gledhill. ‘Built on a secure platform, it covers all facets of the process of employment, right the way through a person’s career as well as right the way through economic cycles.’

huge opportunities

He added: ‘We have huge opportunities on the Isle of Man to be more joined up, be more efficient, be less bureaucratic than is perhaps the case in places that the island competes with - that is the vision for the site.’

Employed.im members can post their CV and receive notifications on jobs that match their profile.

Application or other related forms can easily and quickly be added to the site – key information from a member’s profile will automatically be added to the form, saving valuable time and effort.

Members can also save and store their own personal copy of these forms.

The site carries job adverts from local employers.

‘It will be the first port of call for people looking to make a career change, get back into the workplace after a career break or get on the first rung of the career ladder,’ said Mr Gledhill.

‘School leavers will be able to find out about the world of work, get tips on job hunting and will soon, also be able to source the best places in the island to get work experience.’

Employed.im has also been developed in close consultation with the Employability Group, a government and cross-sector industry group, set up to help prepare young people for the world of work.

Annette Baker, chairman of the group, said: ‘Feedback from last year's Employability Conference confirmed that there was an urgent need for easily accessible, up to date information on careers, jobs and work experience opportunities on the Isle of Man.

delighted

‘We are delighted at the launch of employed.im in this new format, which we feel has the potential to provide excellent support for students, teachers, employers and indeed anyone who is looking at developing their own career or the career of others.’

The Department of Economic Development was closely involved to ensure that employed.im supports the important work of the Job Centre, Careers Advisors and Training Services.

‘This is an excellent opportunity for joined-up working between Government and the private sector in order to support job seekers and those wanting careers advice or training opportunities.

‘We look forward to continuing to work with PDMS as this important initiative develops,’ said Mr Skelly at the official launch.

Further enhancements are planned in the coming months, including video profiles for members and the ability for employers to carry out video interviews; a feature developed in collaboration with another local company – the Needle Online.

All options will be considered as part of a major review of the island’s benefits system – but the results won’t be published until next summer.

Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran (Onchan) quizzed Treasury Minister Eddie Teare in Tynwald over possible reform of the state pension and National Insurance.

He asked Mr Teare what his policy is on developing an old age pension based on the number of years worked instead of age, waiving the upper limit of NI contributions for employees and continuing NI contributions by those working full-time who are over pension age.

The Minister replied: ‘As the member will be aware, the Department of Social Care and the Treasury are currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the Social Security Benefits and National Insurance Scheme operated in the island.

‘This review will examine all aspects of the current Scheme, including how entitlement to benefits will rise and what level of National Insurance contributions will be required to maintain the long-term affordability of benefits funded from the Manx National Insurance Fund.

‘This report will be published in the summer of 2014 and members will be given the opportunity to debate its recommendations at that time. I therefore feel that it would not be appropriate at this stage to pre-empt what the recommendations might be.’

But he added: ‘However, what I would say is that all options are being considered, and should any member have any questions concerning the review, they are welcome to speak to either myself or the officers concerned from Treasury, and my colleagues in the Department of Social Care.’

Mr Karran said: ‘The present 30 years’ contributions system in the UK just does not stack up as a responsible policy as far as the future provisions as far as pensions are concerned. Will that be part of any equation?’

Mr Teare replied: ‘There are what we regard as inconsistencies with the Scheme as currently framed, and we will take the opportunity to have a look at everything going forward.’

Economic Development chiefs are seeking private sector investment to develop a TT attraction.

Minister John Shimmin said it would ‘provide a year-round appeal for TT and motorsport fans’.

In written trply to a Tynwald tabled by Douglas North MHK Bill Henderson, the Minister said he hoped to make a more detailed announcement at TT 2014.

Laurence Skelly MHK, who has responsibility for tourism and motorsport, has met potential investors and interested parties, including Manx National Heritage. And he’s been considering government owned sites that might be suitable.

‘There are several potential sites that have been identified, as has interest from private sector investors,’ Mr Shimmin said.

‘The DED is conscious of the need to progress this initiative in an affordable and sustainable way and our strategy is to seek private sector investment in the development of the attraction.’

Tom Bielich swam the second fastest time by a Manx swimmer over 100 metres in Sheffield last week.

Competing at the British Universities Short Course Swimming Championships, his time of 52.73 seconds in the 100m freestyle not only achieved the Bath University student his first Glasgow Commonwealth Games consideration time, but moved him to within less than one 10th of a second of the island record (52.64s) set by Alan Jones in 1997.

Fellow Manx swimmer Charlotte Atkinson took four gold medals at the South West Short Course Championships and achieved a further 10 Commonwealth Games consideration times. She also set five new senior island records in the 100m fly, 200m fly, 200 individual medley and 400 IM, giving her a top-three national ranking in each of these events.

Atkinson, who is now based in Plymouth, achieved almost a five-second personal best in the 200m butterfly with a time of 2m 11.95s which places her at the top of the national age-group rankings.

Ben Kebbell competed at the South East Winter Championships, setting a new junior short course island record in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:31.71.

That record was held by Guy Davies who was also in record-breaking form in Manchester. He lowered his own senior island record over the weekend to a new best time of 1.08.1 for the 100m breaststroke at the North West Winter Championships.

This was enough to take bronze in that event, adding it to the silver he took in the 200m breaststroke in a race he finished behind Team GB athlete Russell Smith form Stockport Metro.

Davies was joined in Manchester by both Laura Kinley and Luke Guthrie.

Kinley, returning from a back injury, confirmed her Commonwealth standard in 50m breaststroke and Guthrie set new personal bests in four events including 200m freestyle where he was top Manx swimmer in the long-course pool in 2m 2.3s.

Isle of Man Swimming Club head coach Lee Holland was delighted with the performances and said: ‘After the success of our national championships, to see the records continue to tumble is a real encouraging sign, especially at this time of year when they are training so hard.

‘It really is exciting in a Commonwealth year to see such fast times and more athletes achieving the Games consideration standards.’

A new swimming club has been set up in the west of the island.

Based in the Western Swimming Pool, five of Peel ATS’s (Advanced Training Squad) members went in ‘at the deep end’ making their debuts in the recent Isle of Man Swimming Championships at the NSC. Three of the team of Josiah Hogg, Rhiann Massey, Olivia Wrigley, Jacob Leece and Freya Melvin qualified for the finals of their given events. Hogg placed fourth in the 50m breaststroke for 12-13 year olds, while Melvin was sixth in the under-11s 100m breaststroke final. Leece made finals in four events including his favoured butterfly and freestyle events.

The new club’s head coach, Heather Melvin, said: ‘Putting a competitive swimming structure in place for Peel has been a long time coming, but the performances at the championships prove that the west of the island has talent hiding in our swimming lessons programme.’

Manager of Western Pool, Kath Andrews, was equally thrilled to see the scheme take off so quickly: ‘With Heather at the helm of the programme and the assistance of national coach Lee Holland we now have the facility to take swimmers from armbands in our baby pool through to island level and beyond.

‘The support from the people of Peel has been excellent and this is something every member of my teaching staff is proud to be involved with.’

Peel ATS is having open trials for swimmers aged six to 15 that feel they may be interested in competitive swimming on Saturday, December 21 at 1pm and Saturday, January 11 at the same time.

Please contact Western Pool on 842525 for more information or to book a place on a trial session.