An Air Ambulance landed at Belton Lane Primary School earlier this afternoon.
A spokesperson from the school said that a child had suffered an accident in the playground, but that this was minor.
No further statement was currently available.
Readers alerted the Journal to the incident, with one tweeting a photo of the Air Ambulance taking off from the school at about 3.15pm.
More to follow.
Two-woods
Dysart Park 54
Swayfield 80
Dysart Park names first – S. Atter and B. Veasey drew with M. Pulford and H. Mumby 16-16; S. Yates and C. Dexter lost to M. Lyon and N. Davis 12-19; P. Newton, R. Smith and M. Holby lost to M. Sharp, J. Huckerby and W. Flowers 16-18; R. Tupper, L. Thompson and C. Bland lost to J. Kopp*, R. Selby* and T. Harwood* 10-27.
* = ‘Hot Shot’ (scored six on one end)
Swayfield 81
Gonerby 60
Swayfield names first – M. Fulford, R. Halsey and H. Mumby beat B. Papworth, P. Edwards and L. Turner 26-15; B. Marston, J. Bainbridge and T. Harwood beat D. Holton, L. Blankley and B. Robinson 21-15; J. Huckerby and N. Davis beat M. Halls and I. Lord 21-12; M. Lyon and B. Marston lost to M. Massingham and Keith Wilson 13-18.
Vacu-Lug B 71
Grantham 67
Vacu-Lug names first – S. Davies and R. Tilley lost to A. Curtis and P. Harby 10-21; D. Cryer and I. Kettle beat R. Barnet and A. Gostick 26-13; D. Dickinson, V. Cryer and P. Balfe beat B. Patten, D. Rainsford and B. Sowerby 20-17; S. Balfe, P. Armstrong and I. Rowbotham lost to J. Patten, R. Sumner and H. Orbell 15-16.
Three-wood
Gonerby A 39
Gonerby B 64
Gonerby A names first – F. Watson, J. Saxby and R. Childs lost to B. Papworth, P. Jones and K. Turner 8-24; L. Lord, T. Smith and Keith Wilson lost to L. Blankley, G. Edwards and P. Edwards 19-22; R. Tilley, D. Holton and J. Lord lost to M. Halls, S. Brittain and L. Turner 12-18.
Grantham 55
Swayfield 42
Grantham names first – K. Whatmore, A. Curtis and P. Harby beat M. Sharp, M. Lyon and T. Harwood 22-16; T. Sumner, T. Asher and Jay Lewis beat B. Marston, R. Selby and M. Davis 15-9; J. Asher, J. Duke and T. Oxley beat J. Kopp, I. Richardson and H. Mumby 18-17.
Lincs ASC
Grantham 88
North Scarle 25
J. Asher, B. Sowerby and T. Asher won 23-13; R. Barnes, B. Adams and T. Oxley won 31-6; J. Duke, H. Orbell and Joe Lewis won 34-6.
Grantham & District Bowls Association
Corporation Doubles
First round – A. Stafford beat R. Lewis 22-13, A. Hoole v R. Atter, N. Davis v Blackburn, G. Taylor beat M. Massingham 29-9, R. Sowerby lost to R. Jackson 9-23, P. Riches lost to L. Turner 3-35, C. Abbott lost to Jay Lewis 13-17, B. Papworth beat J. Simpson 22-21.
Hutchinson Cup
Preliminary round – W. McLean beat P. Edwards 21-19, M. Eurich beat R. Atter 21-15, M. Halls lost to P. Musson 9-21, L. Blankley AW v J. Pask CON, L. Thompson CON v G. Taylor AW, L. Turner lost to B. Papworth 8-21.
BELTON WOODS
Belton Woods lady captain Gaynor Daykin held her Charity Day last Saturday, when more than 60 players took part in the fourball betterball charity competition.
Winners on the day were club captain Ian Williams and wife Val Williams, Colin Sneesby and Fiona Illingworth with a fantastic score of 106 points.
Gaynor’s chosen charity for 2014 is Hayward House Hospice of City Hospital, Nottingham, who was represented at the prizegiving presentation by Alison Bateman.
The day raised a staggering £3,000 and Gaynor thanked all the volunteers from the golf club for their donations of food and drink, to the businesses and individuals who donated prizes and auction items, and to all who helped and took part on the day.
Pictured from left are Val Williams, Ian Williams, lady captain Gaynor Daykin, Colin Sneesby and Fiona Illingworth.
Gents
The men’s Stableford competition was held on the Lakes Course on Sunday with full handicap allowance.
Division One winner for players with handicaps of 12 and below was Nicholas Dent with 39 points.
Round of the day was that of Michael Allison who won Division Two, for handicaps of 13 and above, with 45 points. His outstanding round resulted in a three shot handicap reduction.
Michael’s nearest rival in the division scored 34 points.
Seniors
Belton Woods seniors’ captain George Forbes won the Marshall’s Medal competition for June with net 73, one stroke ahead of Colin Thornton who was secon with 74 on countback.
Others: 3 Denny Pang 74, 4 Pat Stanford 76 ocb, 5 Pete Stephenson 76 ocb, 6 Alan Lowen 76 ocb, 7 David Toule 76, 8 Tony Slipper 78, 9 Richard James 79 ocb, 10 Henry Knight 79.
Belton Woods 4½
Norwood Park 3½
George Forbes and John Bratt lost 1 down, Dave Toule and Henry Knight won 3&2, Mike Whitington and John Williams lost 7&5, Paul Stanley and Pat Stanford won 6&4, Richard James and John Browne won 4&3, Colin Thornton and Bob Blake won 7&5, Phil Turrell and Roger Hanratty halved, Ian Nisbett and Ed Kitching lost 3&2.
BELTON PARK
A Belton Park husband and wife pair won the Flowers open for an incredible third year running on Sunday.
Mixed pairs from all over the region took part in the open competition sponsored by Shah Furniture and Interiors.
The day saw some incredible scoring from many of the pairs, all of whom took advantage of the perfect playing conditions and the course that had been beautifully prepared by the green staff.
But for an unprecedented third year running, Chris and Edina Burns topped the scoring charts with a fantastic 46 stableford points.
Results: 1 Chris and Edina Burns 46, 2 Tom and Carol Doyle 44, 3 Richard and Christine Reynolds 44, 4 Steve Hodgson and Maureen Marshall 42, 5 Mike and Janet Goodall 40.
Teams
Belton Park’s second team, playing their first home league match, saw off a strong Spalding team to get their first win of the season; a win that puts them very much back in the title race.
However, things were not looking too good after nine holes when the visitors were ahead in five out of six games. Once again, a strong finish saw Belton Park triumph eventually.
Belton Park 4
Spalding 2
Terry Guest and Ed Glenn won 1 up, Tony Gleave and Nigel Gibson won 7&5, Chris Mottershead and Bob Chapple lost, Kev Sheppard and David Midgley lost, James Marshall and Mike Hallam won, Sam and Mark Sutton won.
Seniors
Belton Park visited a Torksey seniors side that had not lost a match this season last Wednesday, and they soon found out just why that was.
Torksey 7
Belton Park 1
Bill Brogan and Keith Ball lost 3&2, Trevor Collis and Dave Dobney lost 4&3, Manny Barker and Phil Shaw won 4&3, Dave Martin and Bill Hislop lost 2&1, Fred Williams and Nick Craft lost 2&1, Alan Addis and Peter Brooks lost 2&1, Ron Prothero and Willy Badraun lost 4&2, Colin Farrington and Brian Mole lost 5&4.
l Belton Park seniors played in the annual Tony Barron Trophy last Tuesday.
The competition was between those with a Lincolnshire connection (the Yellow Bellies) and the rest. A stableford competition was run to provide the points score for the two teams. Yellow Bellies beat the Rest by 442 points to 424.
Stapleford competition: 1 Trevor Collis 44, 2 Bill Brogan 37, 3 Mike Robinson 34, 4 Willy Badraum 34; front nine – Howard Lockwood, back nine – Peter Hawkins 19.
Gents
Middleman’s Cup: 1 Richard Downs 82-12=70, 2 Roy Allen 82-12=70, 3 Dave Reddish 86-16=70
The Middleman’s driver awarded for the lowest gross was also won by Richard Downs.
Ladies
The ladies’ section was split into three categories by handicap to compete amongst their peers last Tuesday.
The Lady Captain’s Salver was won by Jan Johnson (86-18=68). Runner up was Anna Clark (81-9=72) and Sheila Mason (91-19=72) was third.
The Lady Secretary’s Cup was won by Irene Gogger with 94-23=71, ahead of Anita Bartys (94-21=73). Third was Kathleen Bell with 97-23=74.
The Long Handicap Cup was won by Denise Adams (107-34=73), with Sue Addis runner-up with 103-30=73. Sue Hall (106-29=77) was third.
l Belton Park ladies were defeated 3-1 in a league match at Burghley Park last Thursday. Sheila Mason and Sue Walker-Sherriff came away with a win.
The ladies’ team had the same result (3-1) when they played away against Belton Woods in another league match on Saturday. This time it was Edina Burns and Anna Clark recording the only win for Belton Park.
STOKE ROCHFORD
Seniors
After losing 5-3 in the away game of the annual two-leg challenge for the ‘52 Match Plate’, Stoke Rochford needed to win 5½ games from the home match to regain the trophy from the holders Oundle.
Having won five of the first six games Stoke needed a half from the last two on the course and the pairing of Mick Rance and Tim Haward came up trumps. In halving the last two holes, they halved their match to reach the required total to win the Plate for Stoke by an aggregate 8½-7½
Stoke Rochford 5½
Oundle 2½
Barry Coop and Nev Marris won 3&2, Mike Nixon and Greg Ewart won 2&1, Graham Manton and Don Werner won 4&3, David Hamilton and Mike Graves lost 7&5, Stephen Major and Keith Dugmore won 7&6, Mick Rance and Tim Haward halved, John Wright and Philip Varley won 4&3, John Batty and Keith Eddy lost 4&3.
l Brian Keightley scored 38 points to win the third round of the Seniors Trophy, one point ahead of Trevor Harvey and John Helstrip.
The aggregate of the best three from six monthly rounds count and after three, 66 seniors have played in at least one, Brian Keightley and Ron Kent head the table with 106 points, with Phil Hewes hot on their tails with 104.
SUDBROOK MOOR
Sudbrook Moor’s A Team not only recorded an astounding 6-0 victory at home to South Kyme, but also nudged their opponents into second as they took over top spot in the league.
Captain Bruce Macfarlane’s team has now notched up three excellent wins, with just one loss
l The Club Gold medals were contested in the June Medal competition.
John Machin won the gents’, Yvonne Geach the ladies’ and Jack Williams the juniors’.
The EGU Gold Medal for the best score of all the field was won by Jim Gorski. His score will be submitted to the National Gold Medal Order of Merit for all winners at club level.
In the Medal itself, other prizes went to Sue Watson in the ladies’, and in the gents’ – Graham Ritchie (best gross), Bruce Macfarlane, John Chatburn, Paul McCarthy, Trevor Whatton and Colin Henfrey.
A pressure washer, electric shears and telescopic shears were taken from a garage that was left unlocked overnight between June 24 and 25.
It took place at a property on Mercia Drive in Ancaster.
Police are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact the force control room on 101 quoting incident number 294 of 25/06/2014
For its 20th anniversary Grantham’s Specsavers is holding a ‘90s themed day tomorrow, with film and music posters and staff decked out in retro finery.
Look out for stilt-walkers, new store director Colin Drucker as Mr Blobby, and current director Bijal Ladva dressed as Ali G, who said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since we opened our doors back in 1994.
“During that time, more than 65,000 people have registered with us as customers, we’ve made more than 400,000 pairs of glasses and our Grantham team have accumulated some 220 combined years of experience.
“It’s testament to our loyal customers that we have had 20 years of success in the town, and we are now looking forward to the next 20 years.”
Moreover shoppers can win a pair of designer specs by matching 1994 and current photos of staff, in a free competition running until the end of July. A glasses MOT (cleaning and adjustment) is also available in return for a small donation to the store’s charity, Grantham’s Talking Newspaper for the Blind.
Drop in to the Specsavers store in The Isaac Newton Centre to join in the fun, or to book an appointment call 01476 572111 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk/grantham
Witham Wheelers won the team prize in the Spalding CC 25-mile open time trial on Sunday morning.
The best result came from John Pilgrim who finished fourth overall in 58min 1sec.
Other results: Jon Beere 1.00.22, Rick Yates 1.01.11, Martin Hedley 1.02.54, Dave Herd 1.07.50, Tony Hardenberg 1.07.15, Martin Lister 1.08.18.
l The ninth round of Witham Wheelers’ Tuesday evening 10-mile handicap time trial league saw another warm, dry evening with an easterly wind helping the 36 riders up to the second turn, resulting in 15 personal best times.
Quickest rider again was Peter Cocker (Pedal Pushers) just breaking the 22 minute barrier by four seconds.. Four riders were within one minute of him, with junior Reece Egner improving by more than half a minute for a rapid 22.35, just beating John Pilgrim by three seconds and Alistair Golby by six. Karl Hunt dipped under 23 minutes for the first time in 22.54.
Lara Thornhill was fastest lady in 26.14, also a 15-second PB, and on handicap Vicky Saffaris knocked an impressive 92 seconds of her best. Dave Beckett was second with a 44-second reduction.
In the veterans’ competition, Rick Yates took top spot with an impressive +3.08, ahead of Gary Symons (-2.37).
For full results visit www.withamwheelers.co.uk
Wimbledon has started and the familiar longing returns: how I wish I could play tennis.
Of course I wish I could play football too (and, as they make the long flight back from Brazil, some members of the England squad may be thinking the same.)
But tennis is a game I really can imagine being good at, enjoying now in my middle age and carrying on into my dotage. The problem is I just can’t get the hang of it. God knows I’ve tried. At university I even got some one-on-one coaching – and every now and then my racket would connect with the ball in a satisfying way and a blistering shot would result. But I never knew when it would happen, or why it had happened when it did.
So, with great regret, I had to conclude that the good fairy had forgotten to include hand-eye co-ordination among the blessings she bestowed on me and I should stick to sporting activities that do not involve making contact with moving balls.
It was, therefore, with a bittersweet mixture of admiration and envy that I attended the opening of the fabulous new facilities at Grantham Tennis Club on May 31, and chatted to the players of all ages who will benefit from the extraordinary determination and generosity of Lianne Tapson and her team.
It was with equally conflicting emotions that I greeted the boys and girls of Isaac Newton school last week when they came to Westminster to play in New Palace Yard in the shadow of Big Ben. As the overall winners of the Lawn Tennis Association’s schools competition, they got to meet the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the House of Commons.
David Cameron fancies himself to be a pretty handy tennis player but my sources tell me that John Bercow is even better (please don’t tell No 10). How I wish I was like them. Is it really too late for me to discover my inner Andy Murray?
Hundreds of schoolchildren descended on the South Kesteven Sports Stadium yesterday (Thursday) to take part in the annual Inspire+ Mini Olympics.
Schools across the district travelled into Grantham to be part of the award-winning event, which gives youngsters the chance to try a variety of sports and meet professional sporting stars.
The event is organised by Young Ambassadors.
** Catch next week’s Journal for pictures and coverage of the Mini Olympics.
Grantham and District League’s top individual averages for last season saw Danny Cox top Division One.
Steve Fox finished second and Paul Smith was third.
In Division Two, Rob Smith topped the table, ahead of James Hiley in second and Steve Hall third.
Tommy Napier triumphed in Division Three, with Ken Mounser finishing as runner-up and Ken Wingad third.
The Summer League is two weeks away from completiion and Elgre Ancaster are still in top position. Cranmer are lying second, with Deltas third. Ancaster Sports are still in with a chance.
The new Winter League will start in October and the annuam meeting is at the Railway Club on August 13 at 7.30pm. Any new teams welcomed.
After receiving thousands of votes we are pleased to announce that the winner of Grantham Journal’s Salon of the Year is... UK Hair and Beauty!
The hair, beauty and health specialists based at The Old Malthouse on Commercial Road, are currently undergoing renovations which will see it double in size and provide even more services to its clients.
Formerly UK Hair and Beauty, directors Christopher Wade, Michael and Sally Todd have now launched the brand aUK specialising in four key areas - hair and beauty, cosmetics, health, and training.
As such the Grantham premises, which is planned to be the first of many for aUK across the country, includes a hair and beauty salon, cosmetic treatments, a health spa and dedicated facilities for apprentices to train and take their NVQ qualifications.
Having been named top of the crop they will be receiving a certificate in a special presentation event.
Manager Anthony Guy said: “It is fantastic to win. We are all about making our clients feel amazing on the inside and the outside.”
Director Michael Todd agreed and added: “It is great to be recognised after working very hard for the past 5 years.”
Readers can find out more about what made them the voters’ number one choice for Grantham’s Salon of the Year in next Friday’s Journal, and you can visit the winner’s website at www.ukhairbeauty.com
I would like to say thank you to Frank Northing.
I was sat in Costa on the anniversary of D-Day, when an elderly man came and sat near me. After initially saying a quick hello, we got chatting.
I soon discovered that Frank was a war veteran and he shared some of his war memories and stories with me. I felt so privileged to be able to hear his stories and I’m grateful that he took the time to speak to me, even though I’m only 18.
This made me realise and wish that there were more genuine people in the world and I would like to say thanks to Frank as he made my day and taught me loads about D-Day.
Lauren Farrow
By email
The former partner of a man who has been jailed for sharing indecent photos of children has spoken to the Journal following an attack on their house.
Sue Myciuk, 54, talked to the Journal following an incident at the house she shared with Kirk. They were together for 19 years.
Following Kirk’s imprisonment for 20 months at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, the house in Hawthorn Court was attacked and windows broken. Kirk was accused of 18 offences relating to making, possessing and sharing indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography and prohibited images.
Miss Myciuk told the Journal she was unaware of Kirk’s crimes.
She said: “The damage done to my property was the result of anger. I fully understand, but that has had no affect on Mr Kirk. I strongly expressed my wishes that Mr Kirk could not return to the property once he was bailed, but the law of the land states that he had every legal right to return to the house.”
She added: “From the outset, I never condoned his actions and did not know the full extent of his crimes until he was arrested and put on remand. My hands were tied because of his bail conditions. I would like to thank the police for their hard work.”
Kirk, 57, of Hawthorn Court, Grantham, was sentenced on Friday by Judge Heath at Lincoln Crown Court. He was charged with 18 offences relating to making, possessing and sharing indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography and prohibited images.
Dc Nicky Linn, of the Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT), said: “We hope it sends a reassuring message to the county that this man will serve a significant sentence for making and possessing indecent images. It’s also a clear message to offenders that this will not be tolerated.”
Students and staff at West Grantham Academy St Hugh’s have raised money for a cancer charity by holding their own Race for Life event at the school.
Hundreds of pupils and teachers took part in today’s event by running five times around their sports field to support Cancer Research UK. Many got into the spirit of the occasion by wearing pink.
Gillian Brady, PSHE coordinator who organised the event, said that earlier today £600 had been raised with more to come. She said: “The kids have really done well. They will all get a medal at the end of it.”
As the rain came down, Principal Louise Bennett said: “We are not daunted by the weather. It’s a really great event for a very good cause.”
Year 10 pupil Louis Doughty was first over the finish line this morning. First girl over the line was Abbie Smith. More students were ready to run this afternoon.
Hundreds of schoolchildren descended on the South Kesteven Sports Stadium yesterday (Thursday) to take part in the annual Inspire+ Mini Olympics.
Schools across the district travelled into Grantham to be part of the award-winning event, which gives youngsters the chance to try a variety of sports and meet professional sporting stars.
The event is organised by Young Ambassadors.
** Catch next week’s Journal for pictures and coverage of the Mini Olympics.
Three mums have collected more than 400 signatures for their petition calling for a safe crossing on Harrowby Road outside St Anne’s Primary School.
Parents were dismayed when a plan for a zebra crossing was recently rejected by a planning committee meeting at Lincolnshire County Council because of safety concerns.
The petition, organised by parents Nicola Fox, Louise Short and Emma Coates, who have formed the St Anne’s Action Group, has raised 432 signatures calling for the reinstatement of a safe crossing point outside the school.
Nicola said: “We are extremely pleased with the support we have got and we are looking at another petition to add to this.”
Louise said Specsavers, which raises awareness of road safety, had offered them 100 high visibilty vests.
She added: “It has been noted that we do not ‘meet the criteria’ for a lollipop person, the reason being the road is deemed too unsafe. We as a group want to change this so the road is safe and some form of safety crossing point can be made. We do not want a tragic, or worse, fatal accident to happen before anything is to be done regarding the safety of this road.”
County councillor and Grantham representative Richard Davies was on hand this week to receive the petition. He will take it back to county council in a bid to bring in safety measures and a safe crossing patrol. Coun Davies said the priority was to make the road safer for children by cutting back foliage and putting up better signage.
St Anne’s headteacher Jonathan Austin said: “The safety of the children comes first and foremost. Ideally, we are looking at a crossing patrol person.”
But St Anne’s ward councillor Charmaine Morgan, who also sits on the planning committee at the county council, said the petition only mirrored exactly what she had already asked for from county.
Coun Morgan said: “St Anne’s School lost its lollipop person two and a half years ago. It has been of great concern to the community, including parents and resdients, that the lollipop person was not replaced. We want to ensure that they are replaced as soon as possible.
Coun Morgan said the petition would further delay any progress on the issue. She said the officers would need to look at the petition which “by all accounts is asking for the same thing we were asking for in the first place.”
She said: “In two and a half years the county council has failed to progress this issue. I believe they have a corporate responsibility for ensuring the protection of children and residents in that area and a responsibility for ensuring they spend our tax payers’ money wisely. I am going to speak to the director for highways and I will be asking him to escalate this matter to ensure that the safe alternative site is found as soon as possible to allow a lollipop person to be reinstated. My aim is for September, if not before.”
Single-seater racer Louise Richardson will be competing in the remainder of the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain – having secured backing to keep her place on the grid.
The Castle Bytham 21-year-old law student will compete with her family-run Richardson Racing team in the final six events on the calendar, starting this weekend at Croft.
Louise makes the move into the series on a full-time basis after she established herself as one of the top female racers in the UK since making the move into car racing back in 2009 in the Ginetta Junior Championship.
Having gone on to win races in both the Junior Series and the Ginetta GT Supercup, she made her single-seater debut in the Formula Ford season opener at Brands Hatch back in April, and took a top 10 finish first time out.
Her entry was only confirmed the day before the race weekend, but her performance was impressive enough to attract funding for the rest of the season.
Louise said: “There have been a few false dawns in the past when we thought a deal was in place and then it didn’t happen, so this one was kept quiet from me until we knew for certain. It was a nice surprise and I’m delighted to know that I’m now sorted in a car for the rest of the season.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders as, in recent years, I’ve not known from one race weekend to the next if I would be out. It makes it hard to prepare for a race when you know there is a chance you’ll not actually be able to take part.
“I can now fully focus on the rest of the year, although Croft this weekend will be something of a test as I haven’t driven the car since Brands Hatch and will only get into it again during Friday testing. I’ve not been to Croft for a few years and also need to get used to the car again. I can then aim to come out stronger at Snetterton, and really push for some good results in the second half of the year.”
South Lincs & Border League
Premier Division
Lindum 2nd 215-7
Grantham 216-7
Grantham welcomed Lindum’s second team for a top-of-the-table battle on a glorious day at Gorse Lane on Saturday.
On winning the toss, Lindum elected to bat on a good batting track. However, the strike bowlers for Grantham made early inroads with Simon Oakes removing the in-form Bray and Joe Peck dismissing Lilley and Dunn, leaving Lindum on 28-3.
Lindum then set about rebuilding their innings with a good partnership between Sarkar and Mundy, before Adam Parker effected the run-out of Mundy with the score on 74.
Again, Lindum were able to build a good partnership between Sarkar and the hard hitting Watkins before Parker removed Sarkar (56) with the score on 151 and then quickly dispatched Alford.
However, Watkins continued to bat with aggression and passed his 50 and finished 85n0. Mark Fell removed Taylor thanks to a good catch from Joe Peck.
In reply, Grantham knew they needed a good start and this was achieved thanks to openers Stewart Mudie and Fell with their partnership passing 100 before the latter was removed by Benson for 27.
Martin Parmley was then run out for 16 and David Whapplington was unfortunate to go the same way.
At this point, the luck seemed to be going with Lindum but Mudie continued his fine form before being dismissed for 78 by Benson with the score on 156-4.
Grantham needed more than seven runs an over with eight remaining so they knew that shots needed to be played at the expense of some wickets.
With 20 runs required, Joe Peck and Matt Wing batted sensibly through punishing the bad ball and running quickly between the wickets.
Wing batted brilliantly to guide Grantham across the line with an excellent 35no and hit the winning runs with a guided four to third man with an over to spare.
Second placed Grantham are now the only side who are unbeaten and this week are at home game against Skegness.
Division One
Grantham 2nd 85 all out
Cavaliers 86-5
Grantham’s second string visited Cavaliers, batted first and got off to the worst possible start, finding themselves 14-4 in no time at all.
Contributions of 21 from Danny Ashley, 17 from Tim Mihill and a belligerent 23 from Ady Wing saw Grantham scrape together a total of 85.
This was always short of a defendable total, but Cavaliers lost five wickets in the chase, with Fergus Myles (3-19) the pick of the Grantham bowlers.
Grantham & Melton
Association
Division One
Bottesford 159-9
Belvoir 163-5
Belvoir won the toss and elected to bowl first.
They started well through the strike partnership of Danny Gibson (3-28) and Fraser Fentem (2-27) by dismissing Robinson and Jordan early on. When Darren Bicknell dismissed Bottesford captain Phil Irvine first ball from a brilliant one handed catch by Lewis Dann, Bottesford were struggling.
Silverwood (43) and Hutchinson (40) showed great resistance and began to rebuild the innings. However, both were caught out from the bowling of Bicknell (3-17).
In reply, Belvoir had a poor start when Hutchinson bowled Ross Denton out for only five. Hubbard (16) and Dyer (19) showed their experience by seeing off the new ball, however both were out to the bowling of P. Irvine (2-38), leaving Belvoir at 62-3.
This brought Dann (46) and Ryan Lewis (38) to the crease together, putting on a partnership of 92 which took the game away from Bottesford, leaving Belvoir to knock the runs off comfortably in 32 overs.
Grantham 295-3
Barkby 161-4
Grantham lost the toss and were put into bat. Grantham set the tone straight away with Stewart Mudie (106) and David Whapplington (123) scoring freely and frequently.
Both batsmen performed brilliantly with the pair of them getting centuries and putting on a monumental 256-run partnership.
Barkby got off to a solid start, putting on 79 for the first wicket.
After losing their openers, Barkby never really kicked on and finished 134 runs short of Grantham’s total.
South Notts League
Division B
Clifton 2nd 124 all out
Belvoir 125-2
Belvoir look to have a couple of young novice Truemans and Stathams in the form of Fraser Fentem (4-9) and Danny Gibson (4-21).
Both of them swung the ball prodigiously to make the Clifton batsmen play and miss on numerous occasions.
When their youth forced the Belvoir captain to replace them, Clifton were 24-4 from 14 overs.
Lewis Dann and Jack Copley chipped in before Bernard Kirk (26) and Haroon Maqsood (42) mounted a fightback. The former playing steadily and wisely whilst the latter took a more devil-may-care attitude, at one point collecting three consecutive fours.
Their stand of 70 for the seventh wicket gave respectability to the score. But back came Fentem to have Maqsood brilliantly caught one-handed at short square leg, diving to his left off the full face of the bat. The catcher? Who else, but Fentem’s bowling partner Gibson. Between them, they took the last four wickets in seven balls for two runs.
Olly Clayfield (retired hurt for 52) and Jack Copley (29) gobbled up the runs, with 87 for the first wicket in 12 overs.
Copley’s was a bag of allsorts with brutishness and sweet timing in equal abundance – his cricket is always impish and, consequently, a delight. Clayfield saw more of the bowling and, after a couple of false shots, cut, drove and pulled with aplomb.
His half-century came in 45 balls with 10 fours – he retired shortly after bringing his brother to the crease for his final innings for the club. There wasn’t much left to do but he still managed a couple of classic driven fours from his familiar crouch, before Dann hit the winning runs in the 20th over.
Popular actor and writer Warwick Davis will make an appearance at the Guildhall Arts Centre on September 18.
Author of Size Matters Not and star of many major productions including Harry Potter, Star Wars and Life’s too Short, Warwick will give a fascinating and humorous insight into his life and career.
Warwick is not only an accomplished actor but also runs his own theatre company, production company, and even has his own phone app called Pocket Warwick.
Proceeds will go to St Barnabas Grantham Hospice and Little People UK.
One of Warwick’s earliest acting roles was as an Ewok in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. He later had roles in Willow with Val Kilmer and in Leprechaun, a comedy horror series of films.
Warwick, who was born in Epsom in 1970, took on several roles in the Harry Potter movies including Filius Flitwick. He has become a familiar face on TV in comedy series including Extras, with Ricky Gervais, who also wrote the series Life’s Too Short for Warwick.
The diminutive actor, who was born with a bone growth disorder, also successfully starred in the third series of An Idiot Abroad, accompanying Karl Pilkington on the route taken by Marco Polo.
Tickets for An Audience with Warwick Davis cost £15 and are available from the box office on 01476 406158 or at www.guildhallartscentre.com.
With regard to the Journal’s coverage of the court case against the two men who broke into Grantham Cricket Club last summer, on behalf of the club we wish to make a public response.
We cannot commend enough the response we have been given by Lincolnshire Police and the constant updates we have received from the inspector overseeing the case over the last year. Yes, it has taken a long time to come to court, but the delays have been due to the CPS deciding whether a case could be brought, and whether some evidence could be admitted.
The small amount of compensation the club has been awarded in no way reflects the losses to the club in terms of re-glazing and replacing stock, not to mention the time that it has taken club members to clean up the mess that was caused and submit an insurance claim for which the insurers wanted to see a receipt for every individual item of stock that was taken.
Every single person involved in running the club, which survives on the goodwill of its members and volunteers, will be disheartened to know that the club loses out, purely because the CPS thinks it is acceptable for a case to take a year to come to court, and that the magistrate reduced the amount of compensation because the culprits had already been on curfew for a year. You may argue that they had already had their punishment, but every pound that any club loses through theft and vandalism is a pound that club members have to replace to continue to offer exactly the kind of facilities that young people can use to give themselves focus, to enjoy themselves and to really feel part of something.
Every hour we spent sorting this mess out is an hour in which other vital tasks could not be done. Thankfully Grantham Cricket Club is a thriving and growing club and has been able to soldier on despite setbacks such as these, but for smaller clubs, youth groups and community groups, a break-in or two can force them to close.
We remain very grateful to Lincolnshire Police and to all club members for their support, dedication and spirit.
Jo Green (secretary)
Alan Lockwood (pavilion manager)
Grantham Cricket Club
Grantham Town joint managers Jimmy Albans and Wayne Hallcro have admitted that losing Lee Potts just over a week before pre-season training starts was a blow – but one they can take in their stride.
The popular winger re-joined the club shortly after the managerial pair returned last season and was a big part of the success the club enjoyed in the second half of the campaign.
Hallcro said they had received a text from Potts indicating he would no longer be available: “Two weeks ago, we had agreed terms with Pottsy. He has a new job and was honest enough to tell us that he could not commit to the degree that we want for next season.
“We have tried to get him to stay, but in the end couldn’t. As far as we are aware, there is no other club involved, just the work commitment.”
Potts was originally signed for Grantham by the pair as a striker, but played mainly as wing back or winger in his 188 appearances for the club.
He weighed in with 27 goals during his career at The Meres, including netting the last goal of the 2013-14 campaign at Nantwich Town.
Hallcro said they had already stepped up their search for left sided players.
He said: “It’s a big blow to our preparations. Pottsy allowed us to play in different ways.
“As a squad, we have players we can move into those positions.
“It is a big hole to fill, but I am confident we will find the right player whether it takes one week or six.
“ We have a number of irons in the fire at the moment.”