Matthew Kingston-Lee set the fastest time over the marathon distance this century by a Grantham club athlete in Holland on Sunday.

Matthew’s 2hr 46min 38sec for the Rotterdam Marathon also set a new Grantham Running Club record and improved his three-year-old personal best by nearly four minutes.

On a sunny but windy day, Matthew shrugged off recent injury concerns and set about running an even paced race, clocking the second half just 34 seconds slower than the opening 13.1 miles. His hopes of a sub 2.45 time were tempered by some injury niggles and the troublesome wind, which was in the runners faces for much of the second half of the race.

He finished 180th overall in a race with more than 14,000 entrants and climbed to 11th for his age category in the UK rankings. The race was won by Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge in 2.05.00.

l GRC hosted the Grantham Cup 10km Trail Race in conjunction with Belton Horse Trials last Sunday.

The race covered a tough, off-road route through the grounds of Belton Park, and is one of the most challenging 10km routes in the county, involving two stiff climbs to Belmout Tower over terrain that is more usually found in a traditional fell race.

In keeping with the equine theme, runners were led from the start and through the park by a lead horse ridden by Abi Denny. Profits from the event will be donated to the Nottingham Hospital Charity.

Grantham results: Tom Fowler 49min 7sec, Tommy Williamson 51.35, Stuart Sinclair 53.06, Ben Harness.

SATURDAY (April 19)

Football

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – AFC Fylde v Grantham Town (3pm).

United Counties League

Division One – Lutterworth Athletic v Harrowby United (3pm).

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – Cranmer Arms v Barrowby Reserves, Ancaster Rovers v Bottesford Reserves, White Horse Sleaford v CK Dons Reserves.

Rugby

Notts Pennant League

Group Two – Newark 3rd v Kesteven 2nd (3pm).

Cricket

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division – Belton Park v Woodhall Spa 2nd, Grantham v Welby.

Division One – Long Sutton 2nd v Grantham 2nd.

Friendly

Trent College v Belvoir (12.30pm).

SUNDAY

Football

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division – Lions FC v Helpringham Rovers.

Lincolnshire Intermediate League

Premier – St Helens JFC v Grantham Town (2.15pm).

EASTER MONDAY

Football

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Grantham Town v Barwell (3pm).

United Counties League

Division One – Bourne Town v Harrowby United (1pm).

TUESDAY

Football

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – Bottesford v Greyhounders, Barrowby Reserves v Caythorpe, Croxton AFC v AFC Three Gables.

Lincolnshire Intermediate League

Premier – Lincoln Moorlands Railway v Grantham Town (7.30pm).

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – FC United 3 Grantham Town 0, Grantham Town 3 Rushall Olympic 0.

United Counties League

Division One – Oadby Town 1 Harrowby United 1.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – Croxton AFC 3 Bottesford 2, White Horse Sleaford v Newark Flowserve FC HW, Bottesford Reserves 3 Ancaster Rovers 1, Barrowby Reserves 1 Ancaster Rams 1.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Charity Shield Final – FC Osbournby Rangers 1 Lions FC 1 aet (Lions won on penalties).

Premier Division – AFC Harrowby 1 Springfield AFC 6.

Division One – Caythorpe Sports & Social FC 0 Nobody Inn Athletic 2.

Lincolnshire Intermediate League

Premier – Sleaford Town 3 Grantham Town 5.

A second earthquake to hit Rutland this morning has been felt by people living in the Grantham area.

Scores of people took to Twitter and social media to say they had felt the quake when it struck at 7.50am. This was the second quake in two days to hit Rutland. Today’s quake measured 3.5 on the Richter scale.

Chris Lewis said he felt this morning’s quake at the Alma Park estate, but hadn’t noticed yesterday’s tremors and Phil Teale said on Twitter: “Yeah, I did! The building shook as if someone had bumped into it really hard.”

Andy Maddison took to Twitter to say: “We felt it here in Manthorpe - makes you realise how scary a bigger/longer quake would be!”

Emma Glover said: “Yes I did! At about 5 to 8! Woken up by it! Weird!” and Gary Gorman said: “Yes. Like a small explosion but without the bang.”

David Standard said he felt it in Orston and Steve Cattell noticed it in Hougham.

Huntingtower School Tweeted: “Certainly did! Interesting noise which sounds like a plane.”

Vikki said: “We felt it today not yesterday’s though,” and Jack Dilloway said he felt it strike at 7.50am.

James Reichelt Tweeted: “Yes, thought it was next door’s van starting up. I was going to ‘have a word’.”

Are you in the Grantham area? Did you feel either or both of the quakes? Tweet us at @granthamjournal or email graham.newton@granthamjournal.co.uk

Runners from the Grantham area are recovering from the London Marathon and raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Julie Stewart and Trudy Hanson, both members of Grantham Athletic Club, decided to run the marathon to celebrate their 50th birthdays. Julie ran for the Alzheimer’s Society in memory of her stepfather Terry Bailey. So far she has raised £1,650 and says she is overwhelmed by the generosity of all her friends, family and patients at the Dental Health Centre in Avenue Road where she works. She is pleased with her time of 3:59:28 because she tore her calf muscle seven weeks prior to the marathon and wasn’t sure if she would actually run.

You can still donate at Julie’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/Julie-Stewart8.

Trudy ran for Bowel Cancer due to a family member and two close friends suffering from the disease but all have survived and have sponsored her. She is very pleased with a time of 4:53:32.

Trudy has so far raised £1,400 and you can still make a donation by visiting www.justgiving.com/Trudy-Hanson.

She thanked her sponsors and expecially husband Jerry who got her out of bed in the mornings for training.

Penny Hedley Lewis ran a time of 4:20. Penny, of Corby Glen, who hopes to raise £3,000 was a little disappointed not to get close to her best time of 4:03:59 in 2012. The president of the Lincolnshire branch of the Red Cross was running in her ninth London marathon.

Penny said: “I had hoped to get under 4:15 but you have to be thankful you are there and you are not injured. It was a great day and great weather for everyone. It was a brilliant atmosphere. It was fantastic with 200m to go up the Mall.” Penny’s donations page is at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PennyHedleyLewis-1

David Smith, 40, from Grantham, ran a time of 4.09. It was his second London marathon.

He said: “Using the experience from my debut in 2013 I had a really good race and was able to finish strongly. Training has been hard, however the family have been really supportive.” David ran on behalf of MacMillan cancer support.

Jenny Mattison, of Cliffe Road, Grantham, completed her first London Marathon in a time of 4hrs 53mins. She only started running six months ago. She said: “I would like to thank my family for their support during all my training, as this would not have been possible without them. A big thank you to ASDA for letting me hold a tombola which I raised £155 from and to everyone who has given me huge support and so very kindly sponsored me. I’ve raised just over £2500 for The Guide Dogs, but the total is rising as people keep giving me money!” His donations page is at www.just

giving.com/Jenny-Mattison

Julie McKie ran her third London Marathon and knocked a massive 50 minutes off her previous personal best time, crossing the finish in 4:34:27. She is raising money for Against Breast Cancer and so far has raised £1,900 which brings her total raised for charity through running events to over £8,000 in the past four years. She said: “I would like to thank everyone who sponsored me and supported my bag packing events at Morrisons and Asda over the past few months.”

Simon Minnican, whose wife Tammy (nee Shaw) is from Grantham, ran for SCOPE which helped them when they found out that their son Ollie had cerebral palsy.

Simon said: “Collecting my medal was one of the proudest moments of my life”. He completed the 26.2-mile course in 6:16:46. So far he has raised over £1,200 but donations can continue until mid-May at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/minnican

Grantham Town go into the Easter weekend knowing they are safe from relegation after they added another three points to their tally at The Meres on Saturday.

The Gingerbreads took play-off hopefuls Rushall Olympic apart with a confident 3-0 win.

They lost by the same score at FC United of Manchester on Tuesday and face third-placed AFC Fylde away tomorrow, before their final home game of the season on Easter Monday afternoon.

Tuesday night’s game was played at Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold ground and saw Grantham unlucky not to go in front in the first half, having enjoyed the better chances.

Rhys Lewis went close in the second minute and he had the ball in the net 10 minutes later but Town were denied by an offside flag.

Jack McGovern had his shot tipped wide by United keeper David Carnell, and Gingerbreads striker Jordan Hempenstall headed just wide from the resulting corner kick.

In the second half, Grantham had a penalty call turned down by referee Mr Street after Paul Grimes was seemingly fouled in the area.

United began to turn the screw and a stroke of good fortune put them in front 20 minutes in when the ball fell kindly for Matthew Woolfenden and he poked in past Town keeper Dan Haystead.

The home side doubled their lead three minutes later when Tom Greaves headed home.

Grantham had a chance to pull a goal back five minutes from time. Adie Hawes got his head to a Michael Jacklin free kick. The ball dropped back to Hawes who forced a good save from Carnell.

The Manchester side made sure with a third goal on 87 minutes when Woolfenden was left with only Haystead to beat.

Grantham’s joint manager Wayne Hallcro said his side lost its “zap” after they conceded the first goal: “We created the most open chances of the first half. The score looks like a bit of a one-sided game, but we deserved to be level after an hour. A goal for us would have given a completely different game. We have got to learn to concede goals better.”

+ See page 86 of this week’s Journal for ticket offers to Grantham’s last home game on Easter Monday.

The five prospective UKIP MEPs for the East Midlands at the European elections on May 22 visited Grantham this afternoon to meet voters.

They included the standing UKIP MEP for the region Roger Helmer and Grantham-born Margot Parker.

The five candidates arrived in their “battle bus”, a van covered in UKIP colours as well as pictures of the candidates themselves and their leader Nigel Farage, in Market Place.

The other candidates are Jonathan Bullock, Nigel Wickens and Barry Mahoney.

Mr Helmer said they had had a good response from people in Grantham. He said: “It’s very encouraging. This is my fourth European campaign and I have never known such genuine support for our cause.”

Mr Helmer said people were fed up with the other parties and blamed the European Union for many issues including unemployment and immigration in the UK. He said: “We are sending £55 million a day to Brussels while at the same time we are short of beds in the NHS. People are asking what are we doing that for?”

Margot Parker was a pupil at KGGS and remains a regular visitor to Grantham from her home in Northamptonshire.

She said she still has many friends in the town and likes to come back and support small businesses.

She said: “I see a lot of friends in Grantham. I think a lot of people in the town will vote UKIP. They want to be able to vote for real people and not career politicians.”

Grantham Tennis Club ladies’ first team finished the season undefeated to claim the Nottinghamshire Winter League Division Three title.

In their final match on Saturday, they beat second-placed Woodthorpe A 71-39. The Grantham side comprised Lianne Tapson and Mel Bloodworth (25-11), Wendy Stewart and Mell Milner (26-10), and Pam Aust and Veronica Stephens (20-16)

The other winning scores for the season were over Keyworth 69-39, The Park 80-28, Southwell 90-18, Musters A 96-12 and Burton Joyce 85-23.

Following their exceptional season, Grantham’s ladies can now look forward to tennis in Division Two next winter.

l The men’s fourth team played their last winter league match at the weekend but unfortunately could not end the season on a high as they lost 91-17 to a very strong David Lloyd side. The team consisted of Joe Patton and Tom White, John Legard and Tom Horton, and Harry Larkin and David Hall.

l The Summer League kicked off at the weekend with the under-16s winning 12-0 away to a Deeping side. The strong Grantham team comprised Dom Newcombe, Michael Cragg, Tom White and Joe Patton.

It was a great win for the boys who are now looking forward to their second match of the season in a fortnight’s time when they face Eastgate with home advantage.

Lincs Schools League

Lincs Schools

Under-17

King’s School 5

Spalding Grammar 1

Going into their final match of the season one point behind league leaders Carre’s Grammar, King’s needed a win to become champions.

Missing their highly influential captain Daniel Ross and Daniel Wilson, King’s started the match slowly. They took the lead through an incisive counter attack, though Spalding responded quickly to leave the game evenly poised at 1-1. King’s showed their class as they settled into the game, scoring two more before half time to ease their nerves.

A dominant second half performance ensured King’s ran out 5-1 winners with the goals coming from Luke Kightley, Sam Allen and Jonathan Blanchard.

When Mandy George contracted the most deadly strain of malaria, the doctors did not expect her to survive.

The 34-year-old from Newton was helping with the earthquake relief effort in Haiti, when she was suddenley struck down and found herself in intensive care.

After battling jaundice, pneumonia and multi-organ failure, Mandy has lived to tell the tale, and furthermore is now raising awareness and funds for Malaria No More UK.

From March 31-April 4, Mandy lived on £1 a day to reflect the daily reality of those who live below the poverty line, ahead of the national Live Below the Line Week on April 28-May 2.

Mandy spoke to the Journal about her experiences.

How did you find the challenge of living on £1 a day?

It was definitely a challenge but it was totally doable. I was surprised at how you can make £1 go a very long way. It made me very aware of many things I take for granted normally, not only in terms of the types of food I buy but also choices around the type of social life I have. I definitely had no budget for eating or drinking out!

How did you get involved with the earthquake recovery effort in Haiti?

I was working for the British Red Cross in the UK when the earthquake happened and decided that I wanted to go out to Haiti and get involved in the relief and recovery effort. A job came up that looked up my street so I applied and before I knew it, I was living in Port-au-Prince for over two years until I got malaria and had to leave.

What do you remember about contracting malaria?

It was a unique and terrifying experience. I got an intense fever, like I’ve never in my life experienced before. It was all downhill from there, until I ended up in a coma in intensive care.
I’m so lucky to be alive thanks to having excellent medical care and being able to have access to that care, that so many people don’t. This is why I’m fund-raising for Malaria No More UK, who are saving lives every day from this terrible disease.
I want to give a little something back, out of gratitude for still being here to tell this story.

What would you say to anyone considering doing the Live Below the Line week?

I would say don’t even think twice; just sign up and take the challenge! It’s a great thing to experience living below the line and putting yourself in the shoes of those who have to live on £1 or less for absolutely everything. It really makes you think and appreciate your life and what you have. And it’s a great way to raise money and save lives. Any amount can help, for example every £1 I am raising for Malaria No More UK will go towards saving lives in Africa. It costs less than a cup of tea to save a life... Surely that’s worth a challenge?

You can still sponsor Mandy by visiting www.livebelowtheline.com/me/mandyjgeorge, or to sign up to do the Live Below the Line challenge yourself and raise money for Malaria No More , Global Poverty Project or one of 30 other participating charities, go to www.livebelowtheline.com/uk

Huge congratulations to Ellis Brown at Genes gentlemen’s barbershop for his win as Young Entrepreneur. It was thoroughly deserved for his hard work and fantastic ideas.

Also a huge thank you to all those who have supported him and his loyal customers.

Finally, I would just like to say congratulations to all of the businesses who both participated and won on the night.

Rebecca Parker

By email

I was very interested to see a Memory Lane picture of 1955 girls from my old school KGGS, which Mr Matsell had split into three. Margaret Thatcher was head girl the year I started at the school and I have a similar photograph taken in 1946 which has me in the back row and various friends I have kept in touch with but sadly only two are still alive.

Miss Gillies was headmistress and all the teachers (I can name them) were spinsters and it was a very strictly-run school. My uncle made a long frame for the photograph so it is in very good condition.

Today a headline in my Dail Mail is ‘On the anniversary of her death why is there still no monument to Maggie in her own home town?’ There has been a lot of controversy as to where it should be placed and I have always thought it should be in the school grounds where it should be a safe place from vandalism!

So many stories can be told of life during the war at our school, having days off to pick blackberries to combine with apples from the school orchard in cooking lessons to make jam to be eaten on school dinners milk puddings. We also picked rosehips to make the syrup to provide extra vitamins for children.

I’ve still got a prize I received for gardening at school. It’s a wonderful gadget produced by the expert C. H. Middleton who encouraged people to ‘dig for victory’.

Brenda Blades (nee Kelley)

Waddington, Lincoln

Plans to demolish the village hall in Great Gonerby and build six bungalows were refused by South Kesteven District Council on Tuesday.

As part of the application concerning Memorial Hall in Marratts Lane the developers submitted a Section 106 agreement that they will provide a commuted sum for the construction of a new village hall and sports pavillion on the playing fields at Belton Lane.

This agreement also outlines that demolition cannot take place until the new hall and facilities are certified as complete and available for use by the community.

Conditional approval had previously been granted to build four bungalows on Marratts Lane, but the new plans for six have been submitted as extra funds are required to build the new village hall.

However planning committee members and the public raised concerns about overcrowding and the design of the bungalows, particularly the lack of light.

Geoff Turner, a resident of the existing bungalows on Covill Close which back on to the site of Memorial Hall said: “The close grouping of housing would be oppressive.

Chairman of the committee Coun Martin Wilkins said: “Six properties are needed to raise the finance for the village hall but six is too much.”

“We are all sympathetic to the cause,” he added.

The reasons stated for refusal were the ‘overbearing development’ and ‘poor design’, with 14 voting for the refusal and one against, although members encouraged the applicant to come back with a different design.

I’ve just been for a week’s stay in Grantham; ‘That’s not far’ I can hear you all say,

But when you feel proper poorly, six miles is a very long way.

The hotel I stayed at was super, my bedroom was on the first floor,

It was a men only bedroom, especially made for four.

My companions made excellent room-mates, conversations were very mature,

Some I recall, but through weakness, not all, after all we were there for a cure.

The hotel staff were perfect, no matter from whence they came,

The cleaners, the nurses, caterers and doctors, the aim of all staff was the same.

The achievement was perfection, sprinkled with loving care,

So from us all to HDU and Ward 2, thank you for all you do there.

Peter Fox

Mill Lane, Marston

We would like to thank the staff and customers of Morrisons supermarket for helping us raise £474.23 at our bag pack.

The money raised will help towards hut maintenance and scouting activities.

9th Grantham (St Anne’s) Scout Group

Allegations of bribery and fierce defences of the countryside were made as a proposal to install a 28MW solar farm was rejected by SKDC.

The plan to build on 52.3 hectares at Copley Farm situated in the middle of Claypole, Dry Doddington and Stubton was opposed by several public speakers, including Elaine Kirby who claimed: “All the parish councils are interested in is money they receive for not objecting.”

The applicant, James Jamieson of TGC Renewables, refuted this and said: “With every stage of the planning design process the Bribery Act 2010 has been complied with by TGC.”

He explained TGC offers a community benefit scheme of £1,000 per installed MW for 10 years, in this case totalling £280,000, which would be shared proportionally between Claypole and Westborough and Dry Doddington parish councils, irrespective of whether they supported the proposals or not.

Other questions raised included the solar farm’s impact on the setting of Grade 1 listed St Peter’s Church at Claypole, and over the chosen land’s grade of 3b, which defines it as moderate quality agricultural land.

Coun Reginald Howard’s statement: “This would be tantamount to rape of the countryside”, was supported by Coun Rosemary Kaberry-Brown, who after seeing designs of the fencing that would surround the solar farm, said: “It looks like a prisoner of war camp.”

The application was refused by 12 against one on the reasons that development of agricultural land had not been demonstrated to be necessary, and on the recommendation of refusal by SKDC’s conservation officer.

Northern Premier League

Premier Division

AFC Fylde 1

Grantham Town 2

Two Jordan Hempenstall goals were enough to defeat Grantham Town’s third-placed opposition, ending the Lancashire side’s 23-game unbeaten run.

Following a goalless first half, Hempenstall put the Gingerbreads in front shortly after the break.

The Grantham number 10 doubled the advantage shortly afterwards.

AFC Fylde pulled a goal back through Richie Allen on 64 minutes, but Town saw the game out to claim victory.

The win lifted the Gingerbreads to 14th in the league with 60 points.

Grantham Town: Haystead, Purcicoe, Jacklin, Hawes, Lister, Lewis, McGovern, Towey, Grimes, Hempenstall, Potts. Subs: King, Motson, Walker, Meikle, Ridley. Att: 348.

+ Meanwhile, Grantham’s opposition at The Meres on Easter Monday – Barwell – were defeated 2-0 at home by Witton Albion.

Mid Lincs League

Under-16B

Wragby 1

Great Ponton 2

League champions Great Ponton finished off a great season with a good away win.

Ponton played a quick passing game but had an early setback when Wragby were awarded a surprise penalty for a nudge in the box.

Ponton strikers Macauley Hughes and Charlie Copley both went close before the latter stormed through the home defence to score his 25th goal of the season – the league’s top scorer.

In the second half, Ponton poured forward. Copley’s pace was too hot for the Wragby defence as twice he broke away and narrowly missed adding to his side’s tally. Hughes and Brendan Dixon also went close.

Winger Matthew Rawding also just missed with a header before Hughes scored the winner and his 18th of the season to give Ponton all three points and complete a fantastic season.

Ponton manager Dave Rawding awarded the whole team the man of the match award.

Ponton lost only two games out of 20 all season, winning 15 and drawing three.

Under-12A

Nettleham 2

Barrowby 2

The top two went toe-to-toe with each other in a cracking match which ebbed and flowed right till the end in a pulsating affair .

Barrowby took an early lead with their top scorer Foister lobbing over the onrushing keeper.

Nettleham equalised almost straight away through the league’s top scorer Stead. They then took the lead after a ball over the top of the defence was finished expertly by Carter.

Chances were created and missed by both sides in the second half.

It was from a free kick that Barrowby equalised, man-of-the-match smashing in from 30 yards.

Wright went close at the death for Barrowby as did Stead at the other end for Nettleham, but a draw was probably a fair result in the end, and both sides now look forward to their respective cup finals .

Barrowby: Read, Down, Fedorson, Cooper, Johnson, French, Evans, Edwards, Cullen, Wright, Hands, Foister.

On behalf of Kesteven Rideability I would like to thank Sainsbury’s for allowing us to have a bag pack at the Grantham store.

Due to the generosity of Sainsbury’s customers on Sunday, April 13, we have raised £475.10 for the charity. Such a fantastic result!

This money will go such a long way in helping fund the group’s activities.

Sharon Watson

Secretary and Trustee

Kesteven Rideability

Since 1984, like many locals, I regularly appreciated the food, drink and atmosphere at the Ropsley Fox with friends, family and colleagues.

Unfortunately, it deteriorated and closed; but I was delighted when it re-opened in 2010 and we thoroughly enjoyed the excellent food, drink and occasional live music there for a while until circumstances forced another closure.

I was, however, rather surprised by the language used in the latest Journal report about the possible future of the Ropsley Fox: “Fury” (over a planning application). “Fury” actually means “violent or uncontrolled anger”: and to be “outraged” is “to express profound anger caused by a wantonly vicious or cruel act”. I cannot believe that Ropsley residents would actually give vent to violent or uncontrolled anger upon the owner or, indeed, that the owner, Dave Smith, who tried, sadly, unsuccessfully, to resurrect the pub, would deliberately inflict a wantonly vicious or cruel act upon Ropsley residents.

If Ropsley residents really wanted to keep the Ropsley Fox as a viable pub, perhaps more appropriate language would be: “Use it or lose it”.

Brian Bruce

Colsterworth

St John’s Learning Disability Group would like to kindly thank Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Grantham Meres for the donation they provided for our coffee morning.

It was a great success.

Mandy Cole

Grantham Learning Disability Service