Peel Mothers’ Union will hold a pasty, pickle and pancake lunch on Shrove Tuesday, February 9.
The event will take place at the Deanery in Albany Road between 12 and 1.30pm.
The following day lent lunches will start in the same location.
These will start at 12.30pm and will be held every Wednesday until March 16.
Council tenants in Willaston have been reassured any porches or other additions removed as part of the current refurbishment will be put back again provided they are serviceable.
Housing committee chairman Councillor David Ashford said the council now had the benefit of a proper policy relating to building alterations and any that were approved by the council would be preserved if possible during the renovations.
Councillor Ashford said: ‘We are not aware of any that are a problem, but we felt there should be some policy in place to pre-empt any problems. Permission is needed: people should not just be doing alterations willy-nilly.’
Now, any disagreement about whether or not to reinstate a building such as a porch is to be referred to the Housing Committee for a final decision.
Speaking at a recent council meeting, Councillor Ritchie McNicholl said many alterations had previously been agreed ‘on the nod’ with no formal process in place. But he said some sort of process was needed given some of the alterations being done.
‘Some people are replacing PVC conservatory roofs with a proper roof, or fitting patio doors, and what about internal alterations like loft conversions?
‘What about the materials being used? Are they fire proof? Is regulation glass being used?’
Council leader David Christian said he felt standards had slipped somewhat in recent years.
‘I saw a porch attached to one property that was built out of pallets,’ he said.
‘But quite a few have PVC porches that will have cost money and I can see some real challenges and battles if some of these are judged not good enough to put back, assuming they had permission to put them up in the first place.’
Renovation work, which includes rebuilding outer walls, removing chimney stacks and re-roofing the houses, which were built in the 1940s and 50s, is costing around £30,000 to £35,000 per property. Over the next five years the plan is to complete work on 380 properties.
Cains Advocates, the legal arm of professional service group Cains, has welcomed Scott Harding on board as a corporate paralegal within the firm’s London office.
The appointment is part of ongoing expansion at Cains, with the London office recently relocating to larger premises in the City of London to allow for growth.
Scott, who was educated at Ramsey Grammar School, will assist with a wide range of general corporate and corporate finance matters.
He said: “I am excited to be joining Cains in their new London office.
‘Working in London while maintaining links with the Isle of Man is a fantastic opportunity.’
Scott’s previous professional experience in London includes working as a legal trainee within corporate and investment banking and as a paralegal with a focus on investment, asset management and real estate management.
Mike Edwards, head of Cains London said: ‘I am pleased to be welcoming Scott into the London team. I am confident he will make a valuable contribution to Cains and look forward to working with him.’
Scott graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2011 with a master’s degree in business and law, following which he completed an LLB law degree at the University of Law, London.
Burns Night revellers enjoyed a traditional Scottish celebration at Noa Bakehouse on Saturday evening.
The Douglas cafe hosted a Burns Night ceilidh where they served haggis burgers and danced to folk music to mark the annual Scottish celebration commemorating poet Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns.
Local folk ‘n’ roll band The Fecktones took to the stage to perform a set and Noa Bakehouse cake baker and ceilidh caller Grianne Joughin led the traditional ceilidh celebrations on the night.
The Fecktones are pictured performing at the Burns Night knees up in Douglas.
Keeping the horse trams would have meant increasing rates by seven pence, Douglas Councillor David Christian has said.
Mr Christian told Manx Radio: ‘You were looking at a seven pence rate increase with a minimum of a four pence rate increase the following year.
‘That’s just in relation to the trams and the building. That doesn’t allow for any other new pressures that may come during the course of the financial year.’
It was announced by Douglas Council last month that the historic trams were to be axed with immediate effect because of the financial burden on ratepayers.
A working party comprising officers from government, the council, Manx National Heritage and Culture Vannin has been established to consider the future of the trams.
Mr Christian added: ‘More devolved services from government, more inflation next year, there are considerable costs out there during the life of this council.
‘For a four year term we’ve reduced expenditure in the council by £1.3million, that’s a hell of a lot of savings but we’ve had £942,000 worth of increased costs for the incinerator put our way as well from central government.’
Mr Christian said that the ratepayers have enough to contend with without the extra cost of the horse trams.
But fellow councillor Stephen Pitts feels the increase would be worthwhile and said: ‘I’d like them to explain the cost on people’s rates bill then say do you want it or not?
‘On an average rates bill of £400 it was calculated as a one and a half per cent increase, which was £6.
‘Everything makes a loss. Summerhill Glen, the gardens on the promenade, the football pitches, golf clubs, the library. We fought for 10 years to keep the Villa Marina when it was making a loss.
‘The library move saved £100,000 in rent but it’s costing £650,000 a year to run it.
‘It’s gone from three levels to two so there will be a reduction in staff shortly making more savings.
‘I don’t mind all this but why couldn’t we have kept the trams for another year while we ask people what they want.’
A GCSE physics class at an secondary school in the Isle of Man has no fewer than 56 students because of a shortage in qualified science teachers.
Castle Rushen High School has been forced to combine two Year 11 classes of 28 students since the beginning of the spring term.
It highlights a wider problem of Manx schools finding it difficult to recruit specialist teaching staff.
The Department of Education and Children accepted the situation is not ideal but said it would be unacceptable to deny the pupils the right to sit their physics GCSEs exams this summer.
It said CRHS has recently recruited two trainee science teachers.
In a statement, the DEC told iomtoday: ‘Castle Rushen High School has advertised for a physics teacher but it is a subject in which there is a British Isles-wide shortage of qualified teachers.
‘Two science teachers have recently departed for new posts and another science teacher is on maternity leave.
‘Therefore, as suitable science teaching resources are scarce, two Year 11 GCSE physics classes of 28 have been combined since the start on the spring term 2016.
‘As the students chose physics as a GCSE option and have undertaken more than a year of study, it was not acceptable to deny them the right to sit their exam this summer.
‘While the class has in it more students than would usually be desirable, and therefore is delivered ‘lecture style’, it is led by the subject leader for science, the school’s most senior/experienced science teacher, and he is supported in class by another staff member.
‘While students may not benefit from as much one to one time as might be ideal, the class is academically able and learning is available outside the classroom, too, in the form of a weekly lunchtime session, one to ones where requested and online resources.’
The DEC said a letter had been sent to parents explaining the situation and that ‘good dialogue’ has taken place.
It added: ‘As outlined only this week by Tony Draper, the president of the National Association of Headteachers, the island’s education system has much to commend it.
‘The DEC and its schools are capitalising on the strong points of the Manx system in developing initiatives to attract existing teachers to the island and trainee teachers into education.
‘Through these initiatives, Castle Rushen has recently recruited two very able trainee science teachers. The DEC and schools will continue to develop innovative ideas to ensure the island is an attractive option for teachers in order to deliver the best education to students.’
A report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2014 found that the UK state sector had an average of 26, which was much higher than most countries in Europe.
The National Union of Teachers recommends a maximum class size of 18 in practical groups, including GCSE and other classes which involve teacher assessment of pupils.
A Ramsey politician is proposing an amendment to legislation currently before Tynwald that would allow opposite sex couples to engage in a civil partnership.
Currently male and female couples can marry and same sex couples can have a civil partnership, giving them most of the rights of a married couple.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, based on legislation in England and Wales received its first reading in Keys on Tuesday. If passed, it will allow same sex couples to marry.
However, in its current form, the bill does not extend the right of civil partnership to opposite sex couples, so Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer has suggested an amendment.
‘It would only be a very minor amendment to extend the right of civil partnership to heterosexual couples,’ he said.
But first, he wants to hear people’s views and is inviting anyone with an opinion to write to him care of Government Offices on Bucks Road or email him at Leonard.Singer@gov.im by Friday, February 19, before the bill has its second reading on Tuesday February 23. Civil partnerships were introduced only for same sex couples in the Isle of Man in 2011.
To kick things off this week dear reader, a round up of a few of the shows taking place this weekend!
Tomorrow night (Friday) sees hugely popular Two-Tone, Ska band Buncha Skankers appearing at The Creek in Peel.
For those that have not yet seen the band that has been entertaining the Manx gig-goers for a number of years now, they specialise in genre defining classics from the likes of The Specials, Desmond Dekker and The Aces, Bad Manners, Prince Buster, The Selecter and Madness and that’s just merely scratching the surface.
The night kicks off around 9.30pm.
Further information can be found at www.facebook.com/events/176439476055268
Head to The Outback in Douglas between 7 and 9pm tomorrow night and you can catch acoustic four-piece The Bird and The Beards in action.
The band line-up that includes Steph Tomlinson on vocals, Nell Kneale and Mike Giles on guitars and Neil Bashaw on cajon pull out a set of acoustic covers that includes the likes of Sting, The Stereophonics, Kenny Loggins, Eric Carmen and Donna Summer amongst many, many others!
Certainly an eclectic mix!
This Saturday night if you pop along to The Rovers Return in Douglas you’ll be able catch rock, metal and punk covers band, Fugue State in action in their first gig of 2016.
The band that features Phillip Cleary on bass, Brian Duffy on drums, Kriss Lane on guitar and Paul Nicholson on vocals and guitar play a set that features songs from the likes of Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy and The Buzzcocks thrown into the mix.
For more information on the band, visit www.facebook.com/iomfuguestate
Now, some recent news from the offices of Small Bear Records.
The Douglas based label has announced a new release from Wigan band Vukovar.
The three-track single entitled ‘The Blood Garden’ is available as with all Small Bear releases on a name your price basis from https://vukovarsmallbear.bandcamp.com/album/the-blood-garden-single.
This is the first new material since their acclaimed debut album ‘Emperor’ released last year.
‘The Blood Garden’ is a taster of both the soon to be released second album ‘Voyeurism’ and also showcases the new line-up of the band that features founding members Rick Clarke and Dan Shea plus new drummer Buddy Miller.
What’s the link to the island music scene I hear you cry?
Well, the lead track features cameo appearances from Postcode members Mikie Daugherty and Marie Reynolds.
Watch the video for The Blood Garden’ at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alf6t0Su_AY
Thanks for reading, see you next week!
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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
With all eyes turning to the Six Nations in the rugby world, there’s some pretty important stuff going on domestically with the Manx Cup’s two semi-finals on Saturday.
The three north west league clubs, Douglas, Ramsey and Vagabonds are all seeded to the semi-finals stage while the three Manx Shield clubs scrap it out for the remaining spot.
PDMS Southern Nomads beat Western Vikings to cement their place in the draw with the remaining club Castletown electing not to enter this year.
In the not too distant past the semis were seeded and the finalists from the preceding year were kept apart. That system, however, was discontinued in 2008 and there is now a free draw. This year it’s thrown out the two closest possible combinations.
The first of the two semi-finals throws together the draw’s two so-called ‘minnows’ with Ramsey hosting Southern Nomads at Mooragh Park.
Ramsey, who won the cup in 2001, are playing in the same league as Vagabonds and Southern Nomads, while non-league, are multiple county champions in the Cheshire Plate and Bowl.
Ramsey’s form has not been good. Until last Saturday they’d won just one from their last eight outings. Last week though they fielded one of the strongest line-ups this season and beat a determined Dukinfield who at the time were second in the table.
The Ramsey selectors had shuffled the deck too with Scott Kneale moving from 10 to nine, Fintan Cummins from 12 to 10 and skipper Dan Bonwick from nine to 12. The switch worked well and gave the Ramsey backline some flexibility.
Nomads bounced back last week too after a surprise defeat to Ramsey’s second team. The men in green have a solid pack with some big runners in broken play. Steve McHugh and Harry Catlow on the hoof are both formidable runners. Outside the pack Conor Stephens has all the tricks up his sleeve in the centre and his pairing with Gerard Landels could be important.
Don’t forget Alex Lewthwaite either. His pace from either wing of fullback makes him a danger.
On the form book, this should be Ramsey’s, but Nomads have something to prove after their Cheshire defeat earlier this season and may just have a little extra spring in their step for this game.
The other semi needs no introduction - Douglas v Vagabonds. This is potentially the biggest game in Manx rugby. Both sides are multiple cup winners and both are enjoying good league form.
In South Lancs/Cheshire Division One, Douglas currently occupy fifth place. They do however have three losing bonus points where they finished within seven points and of course they’re carrying a five-point deduction too.
This paints a very different picture and with three wins plus those five points, they could easily be challenging for one of the places at the top.
Wing Ben Webb has scored in his last three outings and playmaker Bryn Snellgrove should return from holiday this week too.
Vagas are sitting nicely in fourth place in Cheshire (South) and, with some of the teams above them yet to come to the island, they could well improve yet. Their last defeat was back in November so confidence will be high when they make the short trip to Port-e-Chee. Stand-off Aidan O’Shea has been in excellent form behind a solid pack and his battle with Snellgrove should be an epic.
While Douglas have Webb, Vagas also have their own proven finisher in Tom Gascoyne. This game is too tight to call, but I reckon the smart money will be on Douglas.
Fixtures
Friday, February 5
RDO Casuals
@ Mooragh Park ko 6.30pm
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Saturday, February 6
Shimmin Wilson Manx Cup Semi finals - both ko @ 2.15pm
Ramsey v PDMS Southern Nomads @ Mooragh Park
Douglas v Vagabonds
@ Port-e-Chee
Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield also @ 2.15pm
Castletown v Western Vikings @ Poulsom Park
Peter Kennaugh continued his impressive start to the cycling season with a fine third place on stage two of the Herald Sun Tour.
Having raced into to leader’s jersey following a superb Team Sky one-two with Tour de France champion Chris Froome on Thursday, the 26-year-old Manxman followed it up with another determined ride during the 144-kilometre stage from Yarra Glen to Moe.
An early two-man breakaway and another late attack were both swallowed up by the peloton as the stage ended with an expected bunch sprint.
In the final few kilometres Team Sky pushed the pace so hard in the crosswinds that the peloton split and a small group of six riders - including Kennaugh and Froome - broke clear off the front.
The group were able to stay clear of the chasing peloton and, although Australia’s Caleb Ewan sprinted to victory, Kennaugh crossed the line in third ahead of Froome to extend his lead at the top of the general classification to 13 seconds from his Sky team-mate.
The Sun Tour continues until Sunday.
While the Isle of Man’s FA Inter-League Cup quarter-final showdown with Teeside takes centre-stage on Saturday, there’s still plenty of ‘domestic’ action taking place on Sunday as well.
Weather permitting, there are several intriguing ties set to take place in the first round proper of the Paddy Power FA Cup, with JCK Division Two sides hoping to spring a shock or two.
Leading the second division charge is Douglas Athletic who face a tough trip to Glen Road where they face Canada Life Premier League heavyweights Laxey.
The Miners will be expected to come out on top against their lower league opponents but the Pinks will be brimming with confidence having opened up a 12-point gap at the top of the table and within touching distance of promotion.
This will be a good test of Athletic’s level ahead of their expected first foray into the top flight, but expect Laxey to just edge this clash.
Castletown will be hoping to pull off a shock of their own when the second tier side travel to Garey Mooar to take on a Union Mills side threatened by relegation from the Premier League.
Mills lie 12th on the back of a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of St George’s last weekend so the cup should present a welcome distraction and a decent chance to get back to winning ways.
However, in-form Castletown - who lie second in Division Two - will certainly be no pushovers and a close game should be in store.
Another second division side aiming to produce a cupset is Colby who make the long journey north to take on Ayre United.
Like Mills, Ayre are perilously close to the drop zone in the top flight and out of form but they will fancy their chances this weekend despite Colby going into the match on the back of three wins in their last four games.
The other first round game sees Douglas Royal travel to Foxdale, but the clash between RYCOB v Michael Utd has been postponed.
The two Canada Life Premier League games on Sunday see Rushen United travel to Corinthians and DHSOB host St Mary’s, while St John’s versus Ramsey at Mullen-e-Cloie has been postponed.
In JCK Division Two, Pulrose United travel to Douglas and District.
Two people were taken to hospital last night (Thursday) after the car in which they were travelling crashed at Greeba Castle.
Police, fire and ambulance crews were sent to the scene shortly after 10pm following a report of a single vehicle incident.
A pump and emergency rescue vehicle from Douglas fire station attended the incident and, on arrival, crews stabilised the car and worked with paramedics to help remove the driver.
A passenger had been removed before emergency services arrived.
Both were treated at the scene before being taken to Noble’s Hospital for treatment.
Their condition is not known at this time.
Fire crews remained in attendance for around an hour to provide lighting while accident investigation took place, and the road was reopened just after midnight.
Malew Parish joins many other authorities in the island and will keep its rate at the same level, which is 175 pence in the pound.
The authority said the transfer of services - such as road sweeping and weed spraying - from the Department of Infrastructure to them has been a ‘very positive step’ and ‘has resulted in a programme of sweeping and spraying that hasn’t been seen for some time’.
A major project to introduce street lighting in the Balthane Estate has been completed.
This has been welcomed by the businesses and visitors of the estate.
Plans to erect a phone mast near Birch Hill Park, off Hillberry Road, in Onchan have sparked controversy.
The site is located at Hillberry Water Reservoir, adjacent to a residential area at the northern edge of Douglas with the closest residential property around 60 metres away to the south of the site.
The proposal involves the installation of a 12-metre high slimline lattice mast at the site which was identified by Manx Telecom as the most suitable site option.
Manx Telecom say there is a lack of 2G, 3G and 4G coverage available in the Birch Hill and Governors Hill areas which results in their customers having difficulties accessing the mobile network.
A drop-in session in Onchan was held on Monday with residents of Birch Hill and Governors Hill invited to view and comment on the plans.
A spokesman for Manx Telecom said: ‘We mailshotted the area and around 50 to 60 people attended. We let MHKs know earlier, back in December, and wrote to Onchan and Douglas North commissioners.
‘There was good cross-section of feedback, from people for and against the plan with some sitting on the fence.’
Onchan commissioner Rob Callister has spoken out against the plan. He said: ‘I fully agree the area needs improvement with regards to the telecom signal but this location is not the right place. We have been in advanced discussions with the Woodland Trust about setting up a picnic and family area there for over 12 months.
‘I’m also disappointed that all three Onchan MHKs voted in favour of the Town and Planning Order 2013 in January 2014. Because of that order, this is not subject to a full planning application.’
Mr Callister said that he would be meeting with some ratepayers who had expressed their concerns.
There is a 21 day consultation period, starting from February 1, during which time people may submit their views to the planning department on the proposal.
Other sites considered for the mast were, the Cat with no Tail pub and Elder Grange Nursing Home in Hailwood Avenue, Heywood Court Sheltered Housing, the Manx Blind Welfare Society and streetworks adjacent to Heywood Court.
Onchan MHK David Quirk is also against the site proposed. He said: ‘My main concern is a Council of Ministers report in 2009 which reviewed the impact of mobile phone masts on the Isle of Man.’
The report said, in it’s conclusions, that ‘no research demonstrated any biological or health effects from mobile phones or masts’.
However, in its research recommendations it also said that ‘cancer symptoms are rarely detectable until 10 to 15 years after the cancer-producing event and, since few people had used their phones for that long, it is too early to say for certain whether mobile phones could lead to cancer, or indeed other diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, which have not been studied at all.’
Mr Quirk said he has written to the Communications Commission, who license and regulate telecommunications in the island, expressing his concerns.
He added: ‘There is an obligation to cluster aerials together to minimise the number of towers or masts in and around the island. People are naturally worried about the consequences now and in the future of having a 49-foot tower with three aerials in their back garden. Manx Telecom needs to examine other areas which are more suitable to the needs of the community of the island.’
View the application at www.gov.im/categories/planning-and-building-control under reference 16/00068/TEL
Victims of child sex abuse have presented a petition calling for tougher sentences for convicted paedophiles.
A public campaign launched last year by Lisa Taylor and supported by Sadie Sanders collected more than 5,600 signatures.
Both women courageously waived their right to anonymity to speak out on the issue following a high-profile court case.
Paedophile Andrew Mark Byrne, from Douglas, was jailed five years and five months in August last year after admitting four charges of historic sex abuse dating back 20 years. He had kept graphic diaries of his offending.
Sadie was abused by Byrne from the age of eight until she was 12. For 23 years she never told a soul about the ordeal she had suffered.
But she took the brave step of waiving her right to anonymity after reading Lisa’s account in the Examiner of the continuing impact of the abuse she had endured from the age of just four in a separate case.
Lisa and Sadie held meetings with Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK and senior officers to discuss the possibility of strengthening sentencing powers to deal with convicted paedophiles.
Lisa said: ‘The response to the online petition has been overwhelming, which shows the depth of feeling in the Isle of Man. I wanted to raise public awareness, to give victims a voice and to play a part in helping future generations of children to be safe. Since the petition was launched, more than a dozen women have been in touch to share their stories.’
Sadie added: ‘The support we have received from Mr Watterson and the Department of Home Affairs has been encouraging. We hope to see some meaningful progress in the time ahead and to achieve something positive from a very negative situation.’
Mr Watterson has voiced his support for the principle of the petition and is working with officers to progress a number of initiatives aimed at addressing the issue.
He said: ‘I recognise Lisa and Sadie’s concerns and commend them for having the courage to share their personal experiences and highlight such a difficult topic. The department is working up legislation to ensure sentences for sexual offences in general, and sexual offences involving children in particular, reflect the gravity of the offence.’
He added: ‘We recognise that the law in this area is outdated and has not kept pace with modern society. This is a comprehensive and ongoing piece of work that will be delivered after the House of Keys general election.’
The Isle of Man FA’s representative side take on the Teesside League in the quarter-finals of the Inter-League Cup on Saturday.
The Manx host the last-eight tie at Peel’s Douglas Road ground with the Bowl still out of action after December’s floods.
Two convincing wins in the competition’s previous two rounds has manager Nick Hurt and his squad in confident mood ahead of the weekend’s game.
Speaking this week Hurt said: ‘The squad is in good spirits and looking forward to the match. I’m really confident we can get a result.
‘We’ve continued to work hard at the defensive side of our game as we know we’ll face stronger sides at some point.
‘I’ve been pleased how the players have responded to this in training as we aim to cut out the errors that could cost us in games.
‘I’m always confident we can score goals - this squad has some of the best finishers I’ve seen at this level.’
Teesside haven’t reached this stage of the competition before but are also in bouyant mood ahead of the match.
Team manager Lee Chaplin revealed to the Teesside Gazette that his side fancy their chances after getting plaudits as well as goals in their latest victory in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Chaplin said: ‘Staffordshire have played the Isle of Man before and they said we were the best team they had played.’
The recent wet weather has played havoc with the island’s football programme, but Hurt says that his preparations for Saturday afternoon’s tie haven’t been too badly effected.
‘We’ve been training at Ramsey Grammar School’s Astroturf for the past month with the Bowl out of action.
‘I was concerned we’d be lacking a bit of match sharpness but thankfully both Peel and St George’s have both had games over the last couple of the weeks.’
Indeed the Canada Life Premier League’s top two provide all bar one of Hurty’s matchday 16.
The exception is Rushen midfielder come full-back Liam Cowin who made the switch from reigning top-flight champions St George’s to Rushen in the summer.
Hurt has a full-strength squad to choose from with defender Dominic McGreevy coming back into the fold after missing the last tie in Cheshire through work committments.
The Peel centre-back has overcome a neck injury to vie with St George’s duo Johnny Myers and Sean Quaye for a spot in the heart of the side’s defence.
Max Thomas remains the squad’s sole specialist goalkeeper, with Myers or McVey likely to don the gloves if a injury befalls the Peel stopper during the tie.
The rest of the selection remains as you were with wingers Chris Bass Jr and Lee Gale likely to provide the ammunition for in-form front men Ciaran McNulty, Calum Morrissey and Ashley Webster.
Webster’s Peel club-mate Daniel Bell returns to the cup holder’s squad after an arm injury ruled him out of the previous round.
Hurt also revealed that plans are in the pipeline to bring over and Everton under-21 side to the island on May 7 for a friendly fixture similar to last April’s visit of Leeds United’s under-21s.
‘Joe Royle is hopefully going to bring a side over from Everton in May. He’s also kindly agreed to bring some memorablia for auction and do a question and answer session after the match.’
However, the Umbro Quadrangular Tournament, which was scheduled to take place in Scotland later in the year has been postponed until next spring with the competing associations unable to agreed on a date.
Island squad Max Thomas (Peel), Marc Kelly (Peel), Liam Cowin (Rushen), Johnny Myers (St George’s), Sean Quaye (St George’s), Dominic McGreevy (Peel), Frank Jones (St George’s), Conor Doyle (St George’s), Lee Gale (Peel), Chris Bass Jr (St George’s), Daniel Bell (Peel), Jack McVey (St George’s), Ashley Webster (Peel), Calum Morrissey (St George’s), Ciaran McNulty (St George’s), Sam Caine (St George’s).
For the fourth consecutive year, the International Gaming Awards has awarded the ‘Poker Operator of the Year’ title to PokerStars.
Eric Hollreiser, vice president, said: ‘We are grateful to have earned the award, and dedicate this to the millions of players and thousands of staff who have contributed to PokerStars’ ongoing success.’
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that the online gaming giant’s Canadian parent company Amaya may be bought by its chairman and chief executive David Baazov.
Amaya has received a ‘non-binding indication’ from Mr Baazov that he intends to make an all-cash proposal to acquire Amaya at a price currently estimated by Mr Baazov to be 21 Canadian dollars per common share.
The board of Amaya has established a special committee of independent directors to review any proposal that may be forthcoming, as well as other alternatives that may become available to Amaya.
Eric Hollreiser told Business News this news has ‘no immediate impact on the company’s operations, which contiue as normal.’
PokerStars is based at Douglas Bay Complex, King Edward Road. We recently reported a new brand has been added to operations called BetStars which has opened up betting on various sports.
Mr Hollreiser told the Manx Independent: ‘We have approximately 320 employees in our Isle of Man office and are continuously recruiting for roles. We’re very excited about BetStars and investing in our future and in offering online gaming beyond poker to our 100 million registered customers.’
Meanwhile Amaya have said: ‘As of the time of this release, the special committee has neither received nor solicited a formal bid or offer related to a potential transaction and there can be no assurance that Mr Baazov’s intention will result in a formal bid or offer or that any such bid or offer will ultimately result in a completed transaction.’
For the first time in what seems like an eternity there’s a Canada Life Premier League Team of the Week to marvel at.
The seemingly never-ending wet weather has torpedoed numerous fixtures in the last couple of months meaning there hasn’t been a top-flight TotW since the end of November.
Thankfully four Premier League games went ahead on Saturday giving us the fodder for the latest incarnation of the island’s favourite hypothetical XI.
This week’s line-up contains five players making their seasonal TotW bow, starting with goalkeeper Andy Asbridge.
The St Mary’s man was in top form at the weekend as he kept Rushen at bay during the Saints’ 2-0 victory at Croit Lowey.
Other first-timers include the side’s two full-backs. St George’s James McStay helped his side to a six-point lead at the top of the standings and a seventh clean sheet of the season in the weekend’s 7-0 win over Union Mills.
On the other flank Robbie Collister also helped his side Ramsey to a shut-out in their 2-0 derby win over Ayre.
The result moves the Ballacloan outfit out of the division’s relegation spots on goal difference.
Slotting in alongside the debutants in the heart of the TotW’s defence are Nick Hurt and Johnny Shields.
Isle of Man FA manager Hurt geared up for this weekend’s Inter-League Cup tie with Teesside with a starring role as St Mary’s kept their first clean sheet of the season at Rushen.
Laxey defender Shields earns his third TotW stripes of the season after the Miners came from behind to beat Marown 5-2 in Crosby.
The five-man midfield features two more making their 2015-16 TotW debut in the shape of Ayre’s Christian Penswick and Ramsey’s Matty Montgomery.
In their 2-0 defeat, Penswick was the best performer in an Ayre side playing their first game since November.
Former Ayre team-mate and now Ramsey midfielder Montgomery also impressed during his side’s fourth win of the season.
Laxey’s Fraser Vaughan makes his second TotW outing of the term after he shone against Marown.
Completing the side’s midfield ranks are St George’s duo Frank Jones and Joey Morling.
The latter continued his good recent form against former club Mills, while Geordies skipper Jones netted twice during the 7-0 rout at Glencrutchery Road.
Up top St Mary’s Stephen Glover claims the XI’s sole striking berth after he struck a match-winning brace against Rushen.
The refereeing honours also go to another first-timer, Matty Shaw landing the ref of the week honours after a good performance in the middle during St George’s triumph over Mills.
l Round-up of all the weekend’s football in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.
Lottery betting company Annexio hosted more than 110 guests at the inaugural eClub event of 2016 and there were some big prizes on offer.
No doubt part of the attraction for guests, along with catching up with their industry peers, was the fact that each attendee was gifted with a free Euromillions line for that weekend.
Sadly, it would appear that no one won the big prize, but three other prizes were won on the evening.
Chris Till, chief executive of Standard Bank went home with a new Apple Watch.
Annexio Limited is a lottery services business that gives customers the chance to play in some of the biggest jackpots worldwide.
As reported in last week’s Business News the company has been trading for more than four years and in this short time it has seen the team grow rapidly. In 2013 they were the fastest growing online gaming company in the Isle of Man and they now operate as one of the world’s leading secondary lottery operators.
The company is proud to offer the largest jackpots in the lottery world with players picking their favourite numbers or taking advantage of syndicate style games as well as offering their services through B2B facing websites and consumer websites. Annexio is headed up by managing director, Jennifer Houghton who said: ‘We are delighted so many of our industry colleagues were able to turn up to the 2016 launch event.
‘The eClub provides a great environment to network and catch up with colleagues.’
Jennifer greeted guests saying: ‘To help you celebrate the first eClub meeting of 2016, Annexio is giving you the chance to become a millionaire – I did say we think big!
‘Each of you will receive a free Euromillions line and while you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if you’ve hit that jackpot, your ticket may be a winner tonight as we have three fantastic prizes to give away – an Apple Watch, a Lego Millennium Falcon and a GHD Gift Set.’
The eClub is a social meeting place for anyone involved in eGaming on the Isle of Man or those with an interest in the sector. The initiative was started by KPMG and Continent 8 Technologies to bring the growing number of people working in the sector together in one place and start building lasting relationships.
As well as providing a social venue, the eClub party also gives colleagues and friends the opportunity to chat informally about ideas and issues related to eGaming in the island.
Reducing the drink drive limit could criminalise responsible citizens who enjoy the odd pint or glass of wine with their meal.
That’s the view of Glenfaba MHK Geoffrey Boot who quizzed the Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson in the House of Keys over the numbers of road accidents involving drink-driving.
A consultation has been launched on plans to modernise road traffic laws – including a proposal to reduce the drink-drive limit.
The present drink-drive limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, which is the same as in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. But there are proposals for the island to follow Scotland by lowering the maximum blood alcohol content for drivers to 50mg per 100 millilitres of blood.
In the Keys this week, Mr Watterson said there were 900-plus road collisions in each of the past three years and the number of drivers who gave a positive breath test was 20 in 2013, 10 in 2014 and 12 in 2015. Of these 13 were subsequently charged with drink driving in 2013, five in 2014 and 10 last year.
He said the constabulary didn’t have figures for accidents caused by drivers between the proposed new limit of 50mg and the current 80mg.
Mr Boot said he in no way supported irresponsible drinking, but given the very low accident rates involving alcohol, he questioned what the driver was behind the proposal to reduce the limit to 50mg. He pointed out many drink-drivers were well over the limit.
He said: ‘We are liable to criminalise the vast majority of our citizens who have the odd pint or glass of wine with a meal and drive home safely.’
Mr Watterson said there was significant academic research showing alcohol impairs judgement.
Leonard Singer (Ramsey) said any alcohol can reduce the ability of a driver to respond. Bill Malarkey (Douglas South) said he hoped the benefits would not be outweighed by the costs to many island businesses. The Minister accepted there were economic arguments but there are road safety issues as well.