Dance music disc jockey Judge Jules will be performing at a Douglas nightclub next month.

The event, on October 3 at the Tahiko nightclub at the Palace Hotel in Douglas will be open to over 18s only and take place from 11pm to 4am.

Judge Jules has hosted his own Radio 1 show, performs often at clubs and dance events, and continues to play the popular ‘Judgement Fridays’ nights in Ibiza throughout the summer season each year.

A multiple award-winning artist, Judge Jules has received accolades including Best DJ at the Muzik Awards, Best International DJ at the Dancestar Awards and Best Radio DJ at the Smirnoff Dancestars.

He is also well-known as a producer and broadcaster, as well as having mixed a number of hit DJ mix compilations for Ministry of Sound, Universal and Warner Bros, including the legendary MoS Annuals, Clubbers’ Guide, and Trance Nation, racking up over three million compilation sales.

Sefton Group marketing manager Nicola Wilkinson said: ‘We are really excited to be welcoming Judge Jules to the Isle of Man next month, and we can’t wait for what is sure to be a fantastic night. Tickets are available now for £10, so we hope that the island’s clubgoers will snap these up as early as possible to avoid disappointment and join us in giving Judge Jules a warm Tahiko welcome!’

Tickets for the event are on sale at River Island in Douglas and the Best Western Palace Hotel and Casino reception desk.

Approval has been given to plans to build a fishing complex with lakes, a cafe, four holiday cottages, an educational facility and landscaping at Ballgyr Lane in Peel.

The applicant, Sunset Lakes Limited, whose office is in Castletown, say that they aim to create ‘a tailor-made, professionally managed angling centre’ as they say there are no coarse venues on the island.

In the UK over four million people participate in coarse angling.

The site will comprise of three lakes totalling around six acres in size. Each lake will have purpose built angling platforms to allow easy access to the water.

Each lake will have a different planting scheme and stock different levels of particular fish.

There will also be a learning centre, containing a classroom, fish tanks and other wildlife learning aids, providing the opportunity to learn about wildlife and ecology. An outdoor wildlife-dipping pond will also be created to be used by school fieldtrips.

The cafe will be towards the back of the building, with panoramic windows to give views of the lakes and countryside.

Four two-bedroom holiday cabins will be created onsite, styled around a log cabin theme.

The whole site totals 15 acres and is currently used for occasional grazing of cattle, sheep and horses.

The lakes will take up approximately 40 per cent of total area of the site.

Work must start within four years of the approval being given.

Tracey Bell, Isle of Man is pleased to introduce a new dentist Dr Razvan Savu.

He has 13 years’ experience in cosmetic dentistry and root canal treatment under the microscope.

Dr Savu is an experienced restorative dentist who has a special interest in endodontic (root canal treatments), cosmetic dentistry and dental implantology.

Dr Bell said: ‘It is a great pleasure to introduce and work together with an experienced and well known face of European dentistry. 

‘With his broad vision, passion and technical skills in dentistry, he is a real asset to the clinic and patients.’

Dr Savu brings many new technologies and treatments to the island and to British Isles dentistry and starts with root canal treatments under the microscope which greatly improves their standard and quality. He will work from the Ramsey practice with weekly appointments also available in the Tracey Bell Douglas Practice for endodontic treatments.

Dr Savu said: ‘It is extremely exciting to work with such a professional team which is totally dedicated to its patients and determined to give the best care possible.

‘I look forward to putting all my dental knowledge into Tracey Bell clinics and to treating and making all the patients happy.’

The Tracey Bell group will introduce digital dentistry and specialist services within the next six months. The practices are in Douglas, Ramsey with a new site due to open in Casletown in 2015.

Digital dentistry involves the introduction of CAD /CAM ­ an acronym for computer­aided design/computer­aided manufacturing.

It has been used for decades in the manufacturing industry to produce precision tools, parts and automobiles. It has been increasingly incorporated into dentistry over the past 20 years.

As the materials and technology available for CAD/CAM dentistry have improved over the years, so too have the restorations that patients can receive from this form of dentistry. Today’s CAD/CAM restorations are better­fitting, more durable and more natural looking (multi­colored and translucent, similar to natural teeth) than previously machined restorations.

Dental CAD/CAM technology is available for dental practices and dental laboratories, enabling dentists and their staff (or a laboratory technician) to design restorations on a computer screen.

The CAD/CAM computer displays a 3­D custom image of patient’s prepared tooth or teeth obtained by digitally capturing the preparations with an optical scanner. Alternatively, the 3­D images can be obtained by scanning a traditional model obtained from conventional impressions of the preparations.

The Tracey Bell Clinic is also to install the first CT Bone Bean scanner for dental diagnostics on the Isle of Man.

PokerStars will host a combined chess and poker tournament in Douglas on October 3.

This will coincide with the overlap between the PokerStars UK and Ireland Poker Tour and the PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess in Douglas in October.

The event will require participants to play both chess and poker in the same tournament.

It will cost £200 to play (plus £20 fee), and will take place in the Villa Marina.

The combined tournament will first feature each player playing chess – five rounds of blitz chess, where each player gets seven minutes to checkmate or run the other player out of time.

The players will then take part in a turbo poker tournament to crown a winner.

Each victory in the chess rounds will earn each player 1,000 in extra tournament chips, in addition to the 8,000 chips that each player ordinarily starts with.

Already confirmed to participate include the world’s number nine chess player Maxime Vachier Lagrave; British number one chess player Mickey Adams; poker pro and chess champion Almira Skripchenko; chess grandmaster Laurent Fressinet and Supernova Elite poker players Radoslaw Jedynak and Simon Ansell

Radoslaw thinks he may be a small favourite since the format suits him perfectly.

He said: ‘I like my chances but it is close. The poker tournament is a hyper turbo style, which is exactly the formula I play every day.

‘A strong poker player can lose all five chess games, win a coin-flip and have more chips than any grandmaster.’

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the highest-ranked chess player in the PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament has also signed up for the chess/poker event.

He plays poker every couple of months with friends and thinks poker pros have the best chances.

‘Even an edge on chips doesn’t guarantee anything if you don’t follow it up with good poker. Almira (who has final tabled World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events) could be a favourite given her experience.’

Almira said she thought the format would give an advantage to the strongest chess players.

‘I am not sure they will be able to exploit it, since the stacks are rather deep at the beginning,’ she said.

She added she’d pick her husband, Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet, as the favourite.

‘He is very good in rapid chess and quite an experienced player in tournament poker,’ she said.

‘As for Maxime, he is very strong in rapid, but his poker is a bit wild, he bluffs a lot!’

Talented young singer Christian Cooper said he felt on top of the world after winning the Guild’s junior title, the Sheffield Plate, as well as Young Singer of Mann.

The 13-year-old Ballakermeen High School student is only the second youngster to win both titles in the same year.

And since then, Christian, of Westmoreland Road, Douglas, has been in high demand to perform at a number of events.

He said: ‘It feels amazing that people ask me to do these things and each event gives me more confidence. I hope to inspire other girls and boys that singing and acting is not just a girl thing but for everyone of all ages and it’s fun.’

Since then he supported Junior Achievement and Robert Owen House’s Summertime Special and took part in the Broadway Theatre Company’s Alice in Wonderland workshop and Joe Hillard’s A Night at the Musicals show.

He also sang at the biennial Children in Song concert, held at the Villa Marina in June.

Dr Jill White, who put him into the final of the Sheffield Plate, has offered to be his mentor.

His next performance will be at the I Love Culture show, at the Villa Marina on September 20. And he has been invited by Dot Tilbury to sing at a fundraising event for the island’s cyclists.

Christian wants to go to music school or musical theatre school and produce a CD with his favourite songs, including Time to Say Goodbye and Nessum Dorma.

He dreams of singing in the Sydney Opera House and meeting Andrea Bocelli.

New legislation governing private sector rentals should not be extended to public sector housing according to Douglas Corporation.

A select committee is currently examining the bill which would govern private rentals, requiring landlords to be registered and observe minimum standards in their accommodation.

The committee has also been taking evidence on whether the same legislation should be extended to cover public sector housing but the proposal has been robustly opposed in a written statement to the committee from Paul Cowin, assistant town clerk of Douglas.

In his response, Mr Cowin points out the proposed registration fees alone would cost the council £25,000 in total which could impact on rents charged to tenants.

In addition, he points out: ‘If the same minimum standards which are imposed on private sector housing are imposed on public sector housing, it may very well be that a number of units would require significant work, or indeed would have to be closed entirely, which would cause a considerable problem in individuals having to be re-housed.

‘While no doubt having all public sector housing to meet the same high standard as of the private sector would be highly desirable, it is also highly questionable as to whether it is practical or affordable.’

Councillor David Ashford, chairman of the housing committee said they were not saying council properties were sub-standard.

‘We already exceed the standards currently set down for local authoritiy housing and we don’t see the need for the Landlord and Tenant Act to be extended to local authorities because we run the risk of creating a piece of legislation that is a monolith. There is already a whole set of standards in place covering local authorities, so what additional benefit would there be?’ he said.

Ramsey has the second largest number of council houses after Douglas. Town clerk Peter Whiteway said they had given evidence to the committee this week. He described the new legislation as a ‘sledgehammer to crack a nut’ and said existing legislation was largely good enough.

Essential dredging operations in Peel harbour will be carried out as a matter of urgency, government Ministers have insisted.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and the Department of Infrastructure say they are working together to ensure the next phase of dredging works gets underway as quickly as possible.

Operations are likely to resume next week, said Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK.

The DoI and DEFA issued a joint statement following criticism that a build-up of silt in the harbour was causing problems for larger boats visiting the marina.

DEFA Minister Richard Ronan MHK said: ‘We fully appreciate the need to get the next phase of work under way as soon as possible.

‘The economic and amenity value of our marinas and harbours is significant and we are working to address the operational and environmental challenges presented by dredging the harbour and disposing of the silt.’

Peel Sailing and Cruising Club director Martin Birchenough claimed lack of proper dredging in the harbour is causing silt to build up around the marina, creating problems for larger visiting boats.

A photograph in the Manx Independent showing how ‘black sludge’ was being pumped into Peel Bay prompted outcry earlier this year.

Silt dredged from the harbour was pumped via a pipe along the top of the quay and then dispersed from the end of the breakwater.

Mr Gawne said the plan was now to gradually remove silt from the harbour each year, with smaller amounts dispersed out to sea each time.

He said: ‘Both departments are fully committed to tackling the silting problem at Peel as swiftly and responsibly as possible. I apologise to marina users for any problems they’ve experienced.

‘Everything that can be done is being done.’

The public in the west of the island will have their chance to quiz police and politicians on the recent cuts to the force.

The Police Consultative Forum (PCF) will hold a meeting at Peel’s Centenary Centre on Tuesday, September 23, at 7pm.

Attending the meeting will be Chief Constable Gary Roberts and Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson.

Walter Gilbey and Adrian Christian make up the PCF in the west. There have already been meetings in Douglas and the south regarding the cuts.

Ramsey’s PCF is in the process of arranging its meeting.

Cuts were announced last month including the closure of Lord Street and Port Erin police stations.

Policing of the south of the island will be carried out from Castletown, with proposals to move to a new base within the town’s civic centre.

The number of police officers will reduce from 236 to 210, levels last seen in the mid-1990s. In the short term it will fall further to as low as 198.

Mr Gilbey said: ‘The public should make it clear to their MHK that they will not tolerate any further cuts and the cuts which have taken place must gradually be restored.

‘Having been for 18 years in Tynwald I can assure you, you take notice of what your constituents say if you want to stay there.’

Asked if there is anything else the public could do Mr Christian said: ‘I think the police must get frustrated when people leave their door or car open.

‘I think anyone can help the police by being a bit more savvy and ensuring their windows and doors are closed.’

Talking about possible privatisation of any services Mr Gilbey was sceptical.

‘They would not be members of the uniformed force that has street discipline,’ said Mr Gilbey. ‘Do you really think you’d save money? You’re not just paying the overheads of a private firm, you’re paying for the profit of a private firm. I would have thought it was the very last thing to do. What they need is more money so they can keep up the level of officers they’re employing.’

Mr Christian said: ‘The chief constable and his inspectors have done a really good job in managing to use what they have got to give a really effective police force.

‘The problem is 90 per cent is spent on manpower and they can’t be made redundant because they work for the crown.

‘At the momemt every single reported offence here is checked out by a policeman but in the UK they’ve been suggesting that some small crime may be decriminalised because they don’t have the resources to deal with it. We don’t want that here.’

Mr Gilbey added: ‘What I hope is that everyone will rise up and say to their MHK and the decision makers, that they will not allow any further cuts.

‘It’s vital to everyone if we want more new business here, people aren’t going to come to a lawless place, they come to us because of our high level of law and order.

‘We have a lovely environment, you’re not constantly worried that you’re going to be burgled or your car is going to be stolen.’

Mr Christian added: ‘We have to appreciate the actual level of crime we have on the island. If crime was high people would be jumping up and down right now, but because crime is pretty well under control, it’s not top of people’s agendas, but any more cuts and crime will do nothing but increase.’

‘It’s really up to the public,’ said Mr Gilbey, a former MHK for Glenfaba. ‘We’ve stressed very clearly it’s only members of Tynwald who can ensure that there aren’t further cuts.

‘Gary Roberts has done a wonderful job in accepting and finding the most efficient system and working with it.

‘Law and order is the primary responsibility of governments and it’s vital for the Isle of Man economically and socially, that of all the things they cut, it should not be the police.’

Douglas lifeboat volunteers were called out last night to rescue a man in the sea.

Crew members were paged at 9.24pm and the RNLI all-weather lifeboat Sir William Hillary was launched under the command of volunteer coxswain Neal Corran who proceeded to the seaward side of the Victoria Pier where the person was successfully located.

The casualty was recovered to the lifeboat and taken immediately to the Liner Berth inside the harbour to a waiting ambulance.

A spokesman for the RNLI couldn’t say how the man got into the sea.

A message from the police dog unit on Facebook said that PC Griffiths and PC Dougherty, from the dog unit, had to jump into the harbour to save the man.

It says: ‘They were in the water with him, struggling, for a period of time. Other units and emergency services were in attendance and thankfully no one was injured or worse.’

It was a very low tide last night and some people were seen on Conister Rock earlier in the evening, although that might simply be a coincidence.

Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss need to win both rounds within Rally Isle of Man to thwart Daniel McKenna/Arthur Kierans and become MSA British Rally champions.

They set about the task in the best possible way, leading the event outright after Thursday’s first night of stages in perfect dry conditions.

Both crews are in Citroen DS3’s, but Pirelli Star Driver McKenna was fastest out of the blocks on the opening Villa Marina stage on Douglas promenade as the two went head-to-head in front of large spectator galleries, eking out a small 0.8-second advantage.

After a quick service halt, Pryce set about the task, snatching 6.9s from his rival on the five-mile run down 5 Tons Bridge, McKenna responding over the next test, SS3 Ravensdale featuring Druidale and Sartfield, to cut the defecit to 4.6s overnight. A small but crucial advantage perhaps.

For the remaining BRC crews, all in Ford Fiestas, the night was more testing. Gus Greensmith/Melanie Holmes incurred a stage maximum for going the wrong way on SS1, Dean Raftery/Aileen Kelly were unhurt when they rolled on SS2 on Tholt-y-Will and Chris Wheeler/Yan Griffiths were sidelined from the event on SS4 Sand Quarry, causing the stage to be cancelled and times scrubbed.

With the two main protagonists an impressive first and second overall, the leading National crew are Connor Corkill/Paul McCann (Subaru Impreza) in third, just 0.3s up on reigning Manx champions Arron Newby/Rob Fagg’s Subaru.

Steve Colley/Andrew Cowley suffered a startline stall on SS1 but hold fifth while Nigel and Michaela Cannell were struggling with power coming out of corners but are in the top six overnight, both crews in Mitisubishi Evo IXs.

First of the Historics are Rob Smith/Alun Cook in seventh, while Mintex British Historic Championship crew Meirion Evans/Iwan Jones are second just ahead of Guy Woodcock/Ross Weir, all in Ford Escort MkIIs.

Today, Friday, crews will tackle 13 closed roads special stages across the island on 14 hours between 9am and 11pm, headlined by the double run through Castletown in the evening, always popular with large numbers of spectators. Roads close there at 6.35pm.

There are three more matches in the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield this week, but as yet none of the big guns clash.

Holders Vagabonds B travel south to meet Emerging Nomads in the latter’s first outing of the season.

Vagas beat Western Vikings last week and while they led 31-0 at half-time, Vikings battled back and the second half was a 7-7 draw.

This suggests that Vagas could be a little complacent and they will need to watch that carefully as, on their day, Nomads are capable of causing an upset.

Western Vikings host Douglas B at QEII school and they’ll need to build on that form from the Vagas game as Douglas are unlikely to be quite as generous.

Douglas gave an under-strength Ramsey a bit of a thumping last week and will fancy their chances of another big score.

In the final game of the round, Castletown travel up to the Mooragh Park to face Ramsey B in what could be a basement battle.

Town have a new coach in the shape of the hugely experienced Jimmy Cubbon and if anyone can give them a little shape and direction it will be him.

Player numbers are an issue, but with a close game in prospect, they may just find that they have enough this week.

Fixtures Saturday, September 13

South Lancs/Cheshire Division One

Douglas v West Park (St Helens) @ Port-e-Chee ko 2.30pm

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two

Vagabonds P-P Orrell Orrell unable to travel

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three

Congleton v Ramsey @ Congleton ko 2pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

PDMS Emerging Nomads v Vagabonds B @ King William’s College

Western Vikings v Douglas B @ QEII School Peel

Ramsey B v Castletown @ Mooragh Park

l Full round-up of all Saturday’s rugby inside the Final Whistle supplement of next week’s Isle of Man Examiner - on sale Tuesday.

PwC Mixed Premier

Newly promoted Saracens Sabres face a tough introduction to life in the top-flight when they meet Canaccord Genuity Vikings A at the NSC on Saturday afternoon.

Steve Cottier’s Saracens won promotion with a game to spare last season but will find matches a much tougher prospect in the Premier Division.

Vikings’ captain Steve Crowe will be hoping his side can make a winning start as they look to challenge for the title.

PwC Mixed Division One

IoMA Group Bacchas B find themselves in PwC Mixed Division One following a league restructure and will be aiming to bounce back to the top division at the first time of asking.

Andy Kneale’s Bacchas side begin their title campaign with a tie against LJ Skye Ravens at the Grammar School on Saturday afternoon.

Although the Ravens side looks a strong line-up the experience of the Tromode outfit should shine through and see them take both points on offer.

PwC Mixed Division Two

The top two from last year’s PwC Mixed Division Two renew rivalries when Celton Manx Cushags face LJ Skye Rookies in Saturday’s lunchtime fixture at the Grammar School.

Anthony Cooke’s Cushags were crowned league champions last season but may find life in a higher division a struggle and will be keen to get early points on the board here.

Rookies will be aiming for victory themselves as they look to avoid becoming relegation favourites.

PwC Mixed Division Three

Harlequins B meet Saracens Sharks at Castle Rushen on Saturday afternoon with both sides hoping to improve on last season when they occupied the bottom two spots.

Harlequins have an impressive youth section which they will be relying on heavily. Sharks on the other hand will be hoping their experience will see them claim both points.

PwC Mixed Under-16s

Canaccord Genuity Vikings under-16s’ will be looking to continue their dominance of the under-16s’ division when they meet LJ Skye Rogues & Rascals at the NSC on Saturday afternoon.

Paul Wood’s Vikings side won both titles last season and will be looking for a repeat performance this time around.

Rogues & Rascals pushed Vikings hard for the title and will be aiming to go one better this campaign.

Fixtures Saturday, September 13

PwC Mixed Premier Division

Celton Manx Celts v IOMA Group Bacchas ACRHS 2.05pm

Nick Wallinger Laurence Watterson

LJ Skye Ramsey A v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs ARGS 2.05pm

Gary Corkhill John Harrison

Canaccord Genuity Vikings Mixed A v Saracens SabresNSC 2.05pm

Mark Kendrick Tim Leeming

PwC Mixed Division One

LJ Skye Ravens v IOMA Group Bacchas BRGS 3.35pm

Unappointed

Crowe Morgan Valkyrs C v IOMA Group Bacchas C QEII 12.35pm

Ken Carney Lindsay Riordan

Canaccord Genuity Vikings Mixed B v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs BQEII 2.05pm

Ian Duggua Unappointed

PwC Mixed Division Two

Celton Manx Cammags v IoMA Group Bacchas ColtsCHRS 11.05am

Mark Kendrick Jon Whiting

Celton Manx Cushags v LJ Skye RookiesRGS 12.35pm

Russell Miller Mike Taylor

Harlequins A v Canaccord Genuity Vikings Mixed CQEII 3.35pm

Unappointed

PwC Mixed Division Three

Celton Manx Southerners v IOMA Group Bacchas DRGS 11.05am

Rob MxKenzie Sandra Smith

Harlequins B v Saracens SharksCRHS 3.35pm

Jamie Brown Hayley Christian

Crowe Morgan Valkyrs D v LJ Skye RobinsQEII 11.05am

Andrea Littlejohns Unappointed

Canaccord Genuity Vikings Mixed D v Harlequins ColtsNSC 12.35pm

Helen Cave Mike McCarrick

PwC Mixed Under-16s

IoMA Group Bacchas A v Celton Manx CastletownCRHS 12.35pm

Unappointed

Harlequins v IOMA Group Bacchas BNSC 11.05am

Connor Duggua Unappointed

Canaccord Genuity Vikings under 16s v LJ Skye Rogues & RascalsNSC 3.35pm

Unappointed

The Isle of Man FA, in the guise of England amateurs, lost the first match of their four-day pre-UEFA Regions Cup trip to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Thursday evening.

Steve Burns’s Manx went down 2-1 to the RoI’s own Regions Cup side at Home Farm FC.

The home side started the friendly the stronger and were 2-0 up after 20 minutes.

Burns and his coaching staff made some changes to the XI and formation at half-time and this did the trick as they made life more difficult for RoI after the break, sub Josh Kelly deservedly reducing the deficit in the 55th minute.

Despite some good football and periods of dominance the islanders we were unable to find an equaliser in the remaining half an hour of the match.

After the game coach Paul Jones tweeted: ‘After a slow start the Men aka England Amateurs had an excellent second half against a good Rep of Ireland side. Lost 2-1 but lots of positives.’

The second and final match of the trip takes place on Saturday afternoon again at Home Farm FC against the same opposition.

The Manx, who are representing England at the Regions Cup, take on teams from Scotland, Germany and hosts Slovakia at the end of this month with the first game against the Scots on September 23.

This weekend’s feast of football features action in all four senior men’s divisions plus fixtures in the masters, 16-18 and women’s leagues.

Friday, September 12

Paddy Power Masters Football @ the Bowl

8.40pm Ronaldsway v Corinthians

--------------

Saturday, September 13

Canada Life Premier League

2.30pm Laxey v Union Mills

2.30pm Gymns v St Mary’s

2.30pm Ramsey v Michael

2.30pm Corinthians v Dhsob

2.30pm Ayre v St John’s

JCK Division Two

2.30pm Douglas & District v Onchan

2.30pm Douglas Athletic v Castletown

2.30pm Pulrose v Governor’s Athletic

2.30pm Foxdale v Colby

2.30pm Malew v Douglas Royal

2.30pm RYCOB v Marown

Canada Life Combination One

2.30pm Rushen v Peel

2.30pm Union Mills v Laxey

2.30pm St Mary’s v Gymns

2.30pm Michael v Ramsey

2.30pm DHSOB v Corinthians

2.30pm St John’s v Ayre Utd

JCK Combination Two

2.30pm Onchan v Douglas & District

2.30pm Castletown v Douglas Athletic

2.30pm Colby v Foxdale

2.30pm Douglas Royal v Malew

2.30pm Marown v RYCOB

--------------

Sunday, September 14

Appleby 16-18 League

10.30am Onchan v Braddan

10.30am Ramsey v Corinthians

5.15pm Colby v Laxey @ the Bowl

Warehouse Fitness Women’s Football

2.30pm Gymns v Peel

2.30pm Douglas Royal v Castletown

2.30pm DHSOB v Colby

Paddy Power Masters Football @ the Bowl

2.10pm Douglas and Douglas v Peel

3.40pm Michael v Rycob

Businesses in the island are taking advantage of a bank’s foreign exchange trading service.

Barclays Wealth and Investment Management says it is a major player in the foreign exchange (FX) sector

The banking giant recently invested in BARX Corporate and its Enterprise Data Management Solutions (EDMS), improving, it says, the accuracy, security and dealing times, allowing clients to trade in real time with streaming exchange rate information.

The service has proved to be a boost for island based Nasaleze, manufacturers of the world’s first powdered hay fever and allergy relief nasal spray, launched in 2002.

The business, which has featured previously in Business News, has a factory in Ramsey and a sales office in Douglas.

Paul Duxbury, managing director, said the company recently started using the BARX Corporate trading platform for the company’s foreign exchange trading.

He said: ‘Ninety per cent of the Nasaleze products we manufacture in the Isle of Man are shipped abroad to Russia, China, Europe, South America and the USA, so we receive payment in a number of different currencies.

‘As we buy all our raw materials in pound sterling it’s important to have access to an FX trading platform that enables us to trade these currencies quickly and conveniently to ensure we’re getting the best deal.

‘The BARX Corp platform from Barclays allows us to do just that.

‘We’ve previously used a third party for our FX trading, who actually used Barclays for their transactions, so when we were required to review our provider it was an easy decision to go with Barclays.

‘Due to the large sums of money that are often traded I prefer the security of using a well-known bank like Barclays and as all our banking is online with them it makes all our financial dealings simpler.

‘BARX Corp is really easy to use. It also has the option to trade outside UK trading hours which gives me the opportunity to exchange currencies at good rates which you might not get if you had to wait for UK trading to open.’

Locally clients can discuss their market requirements with Peter Downey, vice president, treasury and brokerage, who is responsible for helping investors access this resource through the Isle of Man operation.

Peter is supported by the 10 strong Central Treasury Team based in the Isle of Man and headed up by Peter Sutton.

‘Clients can access real time FX services provided by BARX Corporate whenever we’re open for trading globally,’ said Mr Downey.

‘We’re seeing an increase in international trading, especially offshore as clients are holding different currencies for various reasons.

‘FX planning is an important tool for risk management. Currency movements can have a substantial impact for clients with overseas investments or those who trade internationally. By working with our clients and understanding their needs we can develop tailor-made risk management strategies or simply ensure their trading needs are met in the most efficient and effective manner.’

Mr Downey believes more Isle of Man companies and clients can benefit from carrying out their FX trading with a global bank. ‘Investors and businesses in the island may not realise they can access such a sophisticated, secure and transparent FX trading platform right on their doorstep,’ said Mr Downey

‘The system will support clients’ FX needs outside of UK trading hours throughout the business week making it more convenient and giving them ownership of the trading process.

‘Whether clients are dealing foreign exchange via an e-channel or over the telephone, the investment the bank has made in these systems has had the positive impact of reduced transaction time for clients allowing them to focus on other key issues.

‘The real time system has not only made the process of foreign exchange trading more efficient for clients, it also allows for a more strategic conversation to take place.

‘We continually enhance the platform ensuring we are responding to the needs of our clients, while spending more time having deeper conversations to understand their needs and work through market developments and the potential impacts.’

Meanwhile Mr Duxbury of Nasaleze said: ‘I like the flexibility and convenience of being able to review the market and make a decision without having to ring and agree via telephone dealers, but if I do need support there is someone from Barclays available on the phone to guide me.’

More than 150 people crammed into Patrick Community Centre to voice their concerns over the potential sale of Knockaloe by the government.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture Richard Ronan MHK, Glenfaba MHK David Anderson and Patrick commissioners.

Last month iomtoday revealed that the government was considering selling the former experimental farm, which was also home to thousands of internees during the First World War.

Captain of the Parish Pat Costain opened the meeting, which was standing room only as passionate locals filled the hall.

Mr Ronan told the gathered crowd that Knockaloe would not be sold to property developers such as Dandara or used to build a sewage facility.

‘Certainly I have made no decision, and this is absolute honesty from me, I have made no decision on Knockaloe,’ said Mr Ronan.

‘Are we going to fill Knockaloe full of Dandara houses? No we’re not.

‘That’s not going to happen. Do I need to put that to bed?

‘I can assure everyone in this room there’s been no offers from property developers.

‘I would be set against that anyway. If that is a rumour, let’s just put that to bed.

‘I want to assess all the options. What I want to hear is ideas, what do we want to happen?

‘Leaving it alone, is that feasible? The old farmhouse is derelict.

‘Any decision has to be the right one for the community and the farming industry.

‘There’s nothing to stop the likes of Sir Alfred McAlpine making an offer, I can’t predict the future, but I doubt that will happen and I would be set against that.

‘I’m determined to see food production and agriculture grow in the Isle of Man.’

There were also questions about a sewage treatment area being built at Knockaloe, another rumour that was strenuously dismissed.

Mr Ronan said: ‘Let me just read out what Manx Utilities have said on this “We have not received the final feasibility study from our consultants, however the siting of a sewage treatment works at Knockaloe is not the preferred option.”. So I can publicly say tonight, that a sewage treatment plant will not be in Knockaloe.’

Earlier Patrick commissioner David Talbot had told the audience that they had been looking into the legal position regarding selling the land.

He said: ‘The land was initially donated by the Henry Bloom Noble Trust and we have been looking at whether there is any covenant. Our research wasn’t conclusive. Further investigation is needed into the Henry Bloom Noble Trust papers, legal advice would be needed and we have hesitated at that point, as obviously that costs money.’

MHK David Anderson said: ‘The rumour mill has been been rife over the last few months. Knockaloe is an asset, it was left for the nation to use and I believe the government shouldn’t offload it.’

Other ideas that were mentioned included making Knockaloe a historical attraction with a visitors’ centre.

Peel commissioner Ian Davison said that he had spoken to DEFA about moving his ice cream factory to Knockaloe and also building a visitors’ centre with a small replica of the internment camp but said he had been told he needed £4m to buy the whole site.

Mr Talbot said that there were currently tenancy agreements in place with 15 years to run and these would have to be honoured so that would restrict what could be done with the site.

One member of the public, Brian Partington, asked: ‘Why the need to sell? People want this retained for the farming industry, this should have been used for young farmers to give them a start.’

Mr Ronan replied: ‘I hope it is retained for agricultural use, however that may be, that’s what I want to see, absolutely. We’ve got options, do we leave it as it is, do we rent it out as separate lots, do we sell it lock, stock and barrel, does it stay in government to protect the land, do we split the sale between properties and land, please understand I’ve taken a step back from this, I want to listen, it’s about making the right decision.’

Afterwards Mr Ronan issued the following statement: ‘I’d like to thank Mrs Costain, Captain of the Parish, and Patrick Commissioners for organising the meeting and so many local people for attending to let us know their views and to listen to some of our considerations.

‘As promised, my department will now discuss the matter further with Mr Anderson MHK and the commissioners in the coming weeks and months.

‘There were some exciting and innovative ideas and suggestions and what is important now is that we gather information, sit down and talk and follow these up in the right way in order to allow balanced decisions to be taken.’

Following a proposal from Mr Anderson MHK, the meeting resolved: ‘This meeting wishes the department to take note that we believe Knockaloe should remain in government ownership and be retained for agricultural, educational and community use.’

Mrs Costain also proposed that the meeting should be reconvened in six months to review progress.

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood swapped the Tent of Dreams for a technical challenge of his own during a visit to the island.

The Silver Fox switched from star baker to star biker as he took a spin round the Mountain Course with TT legend John McGuinness.

Mr Hollywood left soggy bottoms and the great baked Alaska-gate scandal far behind him while filming a new BBC series in the island. Fellow Bake Off judge Mary Berry was not there to ride pillion.

Reader Peter Smith took this picture of Paul and John together at the Grandstand.

John McGuinness tweeted: ‘Fantastic day riding the world famous TT course today with @PaulHollywood I just love the place.’

The 21-time TT winner is celebrating the return of his £10,000 watch that was stolen from the glove compartment of his van in Morecambe over the weekend. Lancashire Police said the watch, engraved with the words ‘TT Senior Winner’, was handed in on Monday night.

No arrests have been made and inquiries into the theft are ongoing.

John’s wife Rebecca tweeted: ‘We have got our watch back, it is amazing that we have, somebody handed it into the police last night, the case is ongoing though. Thanks.’

Amber Bar in Douglas, in association with local acoustic troubadour Chris Gray, plays host once again to the acoustic night, Songs From The Sofa, on Saturday

This event, which is now at part five in the series and is also the series finale for this year, sees a line-up of local singer-songwriters taking to the stage.

The line-up confirmed so far for this last show of the year features Matt Creer, Joey Wylde, John Gregory, Geoff Murphy and Scott Beecroft, Adam Melvin, Jake Pinnington, Matt Kelly, Rob Millar and Lee Meier, Laura Moore and Daniel Hignett, with more due to be confirmed ahead of the event.

The doors open at 8pm and the night is free entry.

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Calling all drummers!

As the Big Beat For Hospice main event at the Villa Marina draws ever nearer, October 31 to November 2 to be precise, spaces are now available for any drummers, regardless of age, ability and time available to sign up to take part in the two day drumathon, with every single penny raised being donated to Hospice Isle of Man.

Members of the committee will be appearing at various gigs at various venues across the island in the coming weeks in order to publicise the event and to enable any willing drummers to sign up to play.

There are also spaces available for anyone who wishes to lend a hand to the drummers in a supporting role over the two and a half days.

For further information about how you can sign up and for all the Big Beat For Hospice related news, please visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheBigBeatForHospice

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Roots/reggae outfit Rusty Jam Revolution appear at Jaks in Douglas this Saturday night.

The band, fronted by Teresa McNulty, is on a current run of gigs in support of their recent ‘Live at Laxey Dub Club’ album.

The release features eight tracks of their now very popular tunes – as anyone who has attended their live show will testify – and as such this band is well worth making the effort to see.

For more information on the band please visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RustyJamRevolution

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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com

The third Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week of the season sees all bar two make their first appearance of the campaign in the hypothetical XI.

Midfield duo Robbie Ward and Ste Riding are the two familiar faces after both once again shone during Saturday’s round of Canada Life Premier League matches.

Ward produced another stellar performance as Old Boys fought back from two goals down to beat Ramsey 3-2 at Blackberry Lane.

Wing wizard Riding on the other hand was arguably Rushen’s best player as they lost 1-3 to St George’s in Port Erin.

Completing the TotW midfield three is Ramsey’s summer signing Declan Cummins.

The former Laxey man capped an energetic performance in the middle third for the northerners with a second minute goal against the Douglas side.

Up front the line-up boasts a three-pronged attack. Ryan Burns put in a solid shift as Corinthians drew 1-1 with St John’s at Mullen-e-Cloie, while Ciaran McNulty warmed up for this week’s Isle of Man FA trip to Ireland with a goal as St George’s bounced back from defeat against Peel with a 3-1 triumph at Rushen.

Liam Harrison was Michael’s two-goal hero as the westerners got off the mark with a 2-0 win against Gymns.

The former Foxdale and Peel striker netted an impressive chip before securing the points for his new side from the penalty spot as United picked up an important three points.

Harrison’s Michael team-mate Dave Reynolds joins him in the TotW ranks after a dominant performance at the back as the Balleira Road outfit kept a clean sheet against their fellow relegation candidates.

St Mary’s centre-back Dominic McGreevy also helped his side to a shut-out as they drew 0-0 with a spirited Laxey at the Bowl.

St George’s Johnny Myers slots in alongside the aforementioned duo after he helped Geordies bounce back from their first league defeat in two years with a goal and good performance against the Spaniards.

Completing the back four is St John’s Nick Leung who was Man of the Match as the Saints battled back to claim a point against Corinthians.

Claiming the TotW’s coveted number one jersey is Laxey’s summer capture Abdur Inceler.

The ex-Gymns and Michael keeper was in top form as he kept a clean sheet and helped his side to point away at St Mary’s.

The referee honours go to David Murphy who had a good game with the whistle as St George’s beat Rushen.

Team of the Week 6/09/14

Goalkeeper

Abdur Inceler (Laxey) TotW apps this season 1

Defence

Dave Reynolds (Michael) TotW apps: 1

Johnny Myers (St George’s) TotW apps: 1

Nick Leung (St John’s) TotW apps: 1

Dominic McGreevy (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 1

Midfield

Robbie Ward (DHSOB) TotW apps: 2

Declan Cummins (Ramsey) TotW apps: 1

Ste Riding (Rushen) TotW apps: 2

Attack

Ryan Burns (Corinthians) TotW apps: 1

Liam Harrison (Michael) TotW apps: 1

Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) TotW apps: 1

Referee

David Murphy (Rushen v St George’s)

RotW apps: 1

A debate hosted by Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce provided further evidence of the growing interest in the business opportunities which may be provided by crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin.

More than 200 guests attended a lunch at Mount Murray Hotel last Wednesday.

It was followed by a debate and Q&A session on crypto-currencies featuring a panel of leading experts on the subject.

The discussion was led by Russell Kelly, a director at KPMG in the Isle of Man, who is also chairman of the Chamber’s Finance Committee.

On the panel were Eric Benz, director of the UK Digital Currency Association and adviser to GoCoin, Expresscoin, XBTerminal, ChangeTip; and Paul Davis, a barrister, solicitor and entrepreneur, and founder of the Manx Digital Currency Association (MDCA).

Joining them were Peter Greenhill, director of e-Business and chief executive officer of e-Gaming Development with the Department of Economic Development; Tom Robinson, co-founder and COO of Elliptic, a provider of enterprise digital currency services and a founding member and interim board member of the UK Digital Currency Association; and Charlie Woolnough, CEO of CoinCorner.com which is an Isle of Man based front-to-back solutions provider in the Bitcoin transactional services space.

Mr Woolnough is also chairman of the Manx Digital Currency Association.

The debate began with the panel explaining how crypto-currencies work, and the advantages which currencies such as Bitcoin can provide.

For those in the audience unfamiliar with the concept, Mr Davis used the analogy of reward points offered by airlines as an example of how many of us already use a type of crypto-currency.

The panel went on to explain how the traceability of crypto-currencies made it a much more secure form of transaction than using cash or traditional currency-based digital transactions, and that while cheque or credit card transactions incurred fees, crypto-currencies meant that transactions could be made at significantly reduced costs.

Mr Benz said that ‘Bitcoin would do for currency what the internet did for information’ and argued that the growth of crypto-currencies would be driven by the eGaming industry due to the security benefits and reduced costs of transactions.

All of the panel agreed that the Isle of Man is already well-placed to become a global centre in the crypto-currency sector.

Mr Kelly said: ‘Essentially, crypto-currency can become another technology cluster on the island.

‘It’s very mobile, and the businesses in this sector want to set-up in a jurisdiction which is secure, transparent and well-regulated.

‘There is a great opportunity to build a sector here which is future-proof.’

Jane Dellar, chief executive of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce, thanked the expert panel and guests for attending, and KMPG for sponsoring the event.

She said: ‘The sheer numbers who attended are testament to the level of interest on the island in this new and exciting sector. The calibre of the expert panel ensured that we were given a well-informed and up-to-date insight into the Isle of Man’s potential as a global home for crypto-currency businesses.’

The next Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce event is on September 9 at The Sefton Hotel from midday to 2pm.

Stephen Boyle, head of group economics at RBS, will be giving his insight into the current economic outlook and global environment.

To attend this event, or for more information about Chamber, call 674941 or go to www.iomchamber.org.im