County scene - February 22

General

CLUBS IN COUNTY URGED TO BID FOR OLYMPIC MONEY:

The Cornwall Sports Partnership is urging Cornish communities to bid for £10 million of Olympic legacy investment to upgrade their sports facilities with funding available from Sport England.

Last year Sport England launched their Inspired Facilities funding programme which will invest in up to a thousand local community sports clubs across the country.

The aim of the funding is to make it easier for local community and volunteer groups to improve and refurbish sports clubs or transform non-sporting venues into modern grassroots sport facilities.

During the first round of funding, it was announced that Cornwall had five successful projects, all receiving between £45,000 and £60,000 towards improvements of their facilities, including: Wadebridge Tennis Club, Wadebridge Camels Rugby Football Club, Camelford Town Council, Helford River Sailing Club and Flushing & Mylor Pilot Gig Club.

Following this announcement, Sport England has emphasised that it is now actively looking to invest in further projects in Cornwall. And, last week more than 130 representatives from Cornish sports clubs and community organisations discovered how to best apply for these vital funds from Sport England during a dedicated workshop, organised by the Cornwall Sports Partnership, at the Heron Tennis Centre in Newquay.

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, said: "The Inspired Facilities programme is helping to improve and upgrade grassroots sports facilities up and down the country as a result of the government's lottery reform and London 2012.

"I encourage any local community sports clubs that want to improve to apply for funding. These grants can make a big difference in modernising sports provision and giving facilities a new lease of life."

The second round of Inspired Facilities is open until April 2. If you were unable to attend the recent workshop but would like further information about applying for the Inspired Facilities funding, please contact Natasha Howard at the Cornwall Sports Partnership on 01872 323347 / nhoward@cornwall.gov.uk

If you are interested in other funding opportunities for sport and physical activity in Cornwall, the Sports Partnership is hosting a funding fair at Truro College on April 16 with details on what is available and tips to help increase the success of your application.

Visit their website for further details on how to book your place: www.cornwallsportspartnership.co.uk

Running

ST AUSTELL RUNNING CLUB ANNOUNCES NEW EVENT:

St Austell Running Club's new event for 2012, the Imerys Clay Country Marathon and Half Marathon, takes place on Sunday May 20.

The Half Marathon is part of the new Multi-Terrain GP Series in Cornwall, and there is a two lap marathon option. It will be 90 per cent off road, using footpaths and quiet roads around St Austell, but is predominately run on Imerys Sand Roads and Trails.

Imerys are the main employers in the area and have kindly agreed for the club to use their clay trail network, most of which is normally unaccessible to the public.

The race venue will be at Cornwall College, St Austell, with the college firmly supporting this unique venture. Cornwall College is the main sponsor of St Austell Running Club, and a one-mile fun run will precede the main races, run around the college grounds.

The course will be challenging, rugged and very scenic, skirting disued and currently operational clay pits, and will reach Hensbarrow Downs, which is the highest point in Mid-Cornwall.

The views will be stunning, as the races progress through the Clay Trails, on to private Imerys sand roads to Hensbarrow and around the working Littlejohns Pit, following the newly opened Imerys Clay Trail from Whitemoor to Old Pound.

It will then join the existing Blackpool Trail and skirt the redundant Blackpool Pit, to Greensplat. Then follows a two-mile descent through footpaths and farm lanes (thanks to the owners of Boskell Farm) to Wheal Martyn and joining the Clay Trails back up to Scredda.

The half marathon runners will then follow a footpath back to Cornwall College for their finish, while the marathoners start a second lap.

It is intended to make the event a community feature, with local businesses already showing support.

St Austell Running Club hope to make this a firm feature in the South West running calendar, and would like to thank Chris Varcoe (Imerys) and Russell Lawrance (Cornwall College) for their support in making this happen.

Darts

EXHIBITION NIGHTS:

Kevin 'The Artist' Painter will be staging an exhibition on Saturday March 3 at the Mount Charles Social Club, St Austell, the same weekend when Cornwall will be at home to Devon in the British Inter Counties Darts Championships.

The event promises to be an exciting evening with Kevin challenging 16 local league players to a game.

Admission is £6 and the evening starts at 7.30pm. Further details can be obtained from Simon McClary, on 01208 269589 or 07979 752971.

All entrance tickets will automatically be included in a draw and one lucky ticket holder will be invited to play Kevin.

Three times BDO Lakeside World champion Martin 'Wolfie' Adams will be playing at the Ship Inn, Polperro on Saturday March 31.

A qualifying night will take place this Saturday, February 25, which is open to all comers and on March 3, open to ladies and locals only.

Entry fees are just £3 and all proceeds will go to the Cornwall Air Ambulance. Please sign in at 7.30pm for an 8.00pm start.

For further details contact Dan Courts on 01503-272453 or 07807919028.

RILEY'S BRITISH INTER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Cornwall have now gone 12 points clear at the top of division one after beating Derbyshire at Mount Charles Social Club, St Austell, writes Steve Chapman.

The Ladies B team took a share of the spoils when they came from behind to force a 3-3 draw with wins from Sandra Allen (14.31), Tracey Hancock (15.70) and Carla Ruberry (18.53).

Derbyshire began the Men's B match in style when taking the first three sets, only for the hosts to make a great comeback which began with a 3-1 win for Simon McClary (19.81).

Kevin Bray (18.33) recorded a victory in straight legs followed by a gutsy performance from Brian Jones (23.22) who was pushed the full distance before taking the fifth and deciding leg with 101 checkout.

Neil Meneer (20.88) kept Cornwall on track when winning 3-0 before another straight legs victory from Shaun Burden (22.77) edged the Duchy 5-3 in front.

Derbyshire won the ninth and 11th set but in between Danny May (23.95) won 3-1 before the last point was claimed by Terry Webber (24.64) to ensure Cornwall of a 10-8 overnight lead.

The Ladies' A team gave the squad a much needed fillip on the Sunday when they defeated their counterparts 5-1.

Nikke Furse (20.31) and Anna Johnson (17.48) both won without dropping a leg while Sarah Gill (18.49), Mandy Prout (17.26) and Teresa Brookshaw (17.48) all came out on the right side of five leg encounters.

Now with a 15-9 lead, John Mann (23.70) made it 16-9 at the start of the Men's A match with a 4-1 victory before Adrian Lamerton (25.37) impressed in straight legs.

Simon Knowles (27.75) kept the bandwagon rolling with a 4-2 success before Geoff Jenkin (25.37) and Andy Dunstan (20.27) won 4-0 and 4-3 respectively.

Derbyshire halted the hosts' progress when taking the sixth set only for Sean Johns (27.36) to win by the odd leg in seven, aided by a checkout of 100.

The visitors then took two on the bounce before Darryl Baker (22.41) hit a 125 outshot in a 4-2 victory followed by Paul Cook (23.90) who also won 4-2. Despite losing the last, Cornwall triumphed 23-13 to keep their promotion hopes on track.

Girls' Rugby

COACHING DAY:

St Austell RFC came up trumps again for Cornwall WAG Rugby when 28 U15s girls met at Tregorrick Park to take part in the inaugural 'Day of Girls' Rugby' in the county.

Girls from 12 -15 years of age met for four hours of coaching by Cornwall County and club rugby coaches, led by Andy Demaine.

Girls came from all over the Duchy – Redruth, Hayle, Helston, St Ives, Newquay, Leopards, St Austell and Launceston – to develop their rugby skills.

There was a huge range of girls, from new to Divisional players, but all had a great time developing their skills at a variety of stations.

St Austell RFC generously gave the girls use of their facilities including an opportunity to play on the hallowed turf of the first team pitch. Even the coaches had their own development with Phil Morris, RFU Community Coach providing coach feedback.

Thanks must go to Zeta Bailey, Liam Bellamy, Andy Demaine, Phil Jones, Martin Rodea, Dave Roberts, Sarah Kneale, Natalie Bridge and Ann Demaine for organising the day and all the parents who brought their daughters.

There will be a further 'Day of Girls Rugby' in the Easter holidays. Keep an eye on the CRFU website.

If you or your daughters would like to play rugby, please get in touch with Ann Demaine, chair WAG group, CRFU on leopardsrugby@btinternet.com or 07969 519890.

Tennis

TASTER SESSIONS:

Newquay's Heron Tennis Centre and Cornwall College, based in St Austell, have teamed up in a bid to get more college students playing tennis.

Heron Tennis Centre is offering 'taster' sessions for groups of students, many of whom have never tried tennis before or received any professional coaching.

Cardio Tennis and Mini Tennis are two completely different forms of the game that can be played by Further Education students, even if they are new to the sport, and Heron is using the high tempo, fitness based Cardio practices, plus Mini Tennis drills, matches and fun games in its sessions.

In the Mini Tennis exercises, smaller rackets, shortened courts and softer balls are used while the lower compression balls are also used for Cardio Tennis.

By using Cardio and Mini Tennis for beginner level students and adults, they will be able to achieve success in hitting and rallying from the start, enjoy the game more, and improve their fitness levels.

For the first time British Tennis now has an offer in place to support the delivery of college tennis. The Guide to Further Education Tennis provides an overview of all the resources and support available to the college sector, from the Tennis Foundation and the Lawn Tennis Association.

Curriculum and enrichment support is available along with advice on how to get more college students competing regularly and highlighting pathways towards a career in the tennis industry.

"The new partnership between Cornwall College and Heron Tennis Centre is a fantastic way of helping more students begin playing tennis and is a great example of what we're trying to develop at colleges across the country," said the Tennis Foundation's Further Education Manager Christine Sprowell.

Students from Cornwall College, which has seven campuses dotted around Cornwall, will be accessing sessions as part of their college NVQ, diploma and degree courses, many of which have components that focus on coaching and teaching PE, plus team players will have the opportunity to receive a high level of coaching expertise with the aim of improving their successes in college competitions.

For more information about tennis sessions at the Heron Tennis Centre or if you are a Cornwall College student who is keen to get involved, please contact Heron's Steven Askey on 01637 877555.

Motor sport

ST KEW TRIAL:

With a dry, but chilly day forecast, it was a pleasant surprise to be greeted with just that, writes Richard Parkyn.

And so at 11 o'clock the good entry of 70 riders went off to ride three laps of nine double sub sections, in and around the trees of Lanow Farm, St Kew.

Using a combination of climbs, drops, cambers, tight turns and numerous slippery roots the course plotters had done a good job of marking out sections that while taking marks were still cleanable with a good ride.

An eased Blue course proved a little on the easy side for overall winner George Edyvean, never the less he still had to work a little to keep his feet on the pegs.

Once again as the week before, Young Matt Tabb and Robin Martin were locked in battle for the win in the C/man Exp route, with Matt coming out on top once again.David Richards had a fine clear win on the White course from Phil Atkins and Dave Kemp.

On the Yellow course thing were a little closer with several single figure scores posted, and on this occasion it was Chris Anstee who took the win from Ian Yeates and Ross Fraser.

Also in single figures was Martin Gilbert who had a fine ride to take the T/shock award from Adrian Bray and Simon Ferris.

It is always nice to see new riders come along, and six of them rode on the Red course with Nicholas Nethercot taking the adult award and Peter Higman the Youth.

Results: Blue course: Exp Prem, G Edyvean 15. C/man Exp Prem, M Tabb 35. Youth A, A Ferris 95. White course: Prem, D Richards 9, P Atkins 17. Youth A Prem, T Hendra 49. Yellow course: Mono Prem, C Anstee 4, I Yeates 6, R Fraser 8, A Eddy 8, P Pollard 9. T/shock, M Gilbert 6. Youth A, C Young 8. Youth B, M Luscombe 24. Trailbike, A Skelton 29. Red course: Adult, N Nethercot 34. Youth, P Higman 24.

Cricket

MATTHEW'S AWARD:

Fred Peel-Yates, who wrote on sport for the Cornish Guardian for more than a third of a century, believed fielding was a vital facet of cricket, writes Michael Williams.

The Cornish Crusaders perpetuate Fred's name with his cup for excellence in the field, and for the second successive year it goes to Matthew Manuell of Grampound Road.

Crusader awards will be made at the club's annual lunch at the Hotel Bristol, Newquay, on Sunday March 4, by former Somerset and England bowler Andrew Caddick.

Also among the trophy winners is Jacob Rowe, who last season played for Wadebridge. He is best young cricketer award winner.