GRANTHAM Referees’ Association donned their black and whites to play cricket for the first time in four years in a highly entertaining and competitive Twenty20 match against Davipart CC, of Newcastle, last Sunday.

GDRA captain Lee Turner put Davipart in to bat first. The Geordies set a challenging target of 126 for the loss of only three wickets with Y. Rawley (28), Shree (25) and P, Ewart (24) doing the most damage.

With each outfield player bowling two overs apiece, 15-year-old Liam Geeson and John Aspland were the pick of the bowlers.

GDRA managed a highly respectful 120-8 in reply and were only just thwarted by a late maiden over by Shree, to give Davipart a deserved victory.

Pick of the GDRA sloggers were Luke Oakes (25 ret), Craig Turner (26 ret), Robin Dungworth (14) and Jonny Searle (15no).

At the end of the match, GDRA team manager Bill Hannigan thanked Barrowby CC for the loan of their facilities and presented Alison and “Nan” Turner with flowers for providing teas.

Bill also thanked players for donations for Cancer Research which totalled £130.

A WOMAN was taken to hospital today after a nasty crash in St Catherine’s Road, Grantham.

A red Kia collided with a white Seat van this morning near the junction with Harrowby Road.

A police spokesman said the driver of the Kia, a 57-year-old woman from Grantham, suffered minor chest injuries and was taken to hospital while the driver of the van, a 49-year-old Grantham man, was uninjured.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were called to the scene as smoke was coming from one of the vehicles.

FOUR Grantham premises must pay £80 each after serving alcohol to under-18s.

The fines followed a joint operation by Lincolnshire Police and Trading Standards on Friday (Aug 3) where 16-year-old volunteers attempted to get served alcohol at Grantham bars, pubs and clubs.

Six establishments refused to serve the teens or asked them for ID but four licensed premises sold to the under-age teens and were given fixed penalty notices.

The King’s Arms and Barcode in Westgate, Gravity in the Market Place and EBL newsagents in Dudley Road all failed the spot checks by serving alcohol to a 16-year-old. EBL newsagents also served the 16-year-old cigarettes.

Insp Rod Rose of Lincolnshire Police said: “Licence holders have a responsibility to ensure that children under 18 are not able to purchase or consume alcohol in their premises.

“There are very real dangers when these youngsters drink alcohol as they often become victims of crime. They are also more likely to commit criminal offences themselves as they do not have the maturity that adults do.

“I urge these licence holders to adopt a more responsible approach to selling alcohol and also ask that parents act responsibly to ensure their children do not buy or consume alcohol.”

The police and Trading Standards will test the businesses again in the future. Should they fail again they will be summonsed to court and could face losing their licences.

A DRIVER who refused to give a breath test after being stopped by police was banned for a year and fined £250.

James Evans, of New Beacon Road, Grantham, admitted a charge of failing to provide a specimen for analysis after being stopped in Dudley Road on July 15.

Evans, 46, was brought to the attention of police by a concerned passer-by who spotted him leaving the Blue Bull pub on unsteady legs before getting into his car and driving off.

Evans was followed by officers who observed him driving erratically and travelling at speed before pulling him over. He failed a roadside breath test before being taken to Grantham police station.

At the station he was required to give two further breath tests but would only give one.

Bill Fraser, defending, said: “He can’t really explain why he did not blow into the Intoxilyzer machine. It may be due to the fact he had admitted to police he had had a drink.”

Evans was banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay a fine of £250. He must also pay a £15 surcharge and £85 in costs.

Friendly - Basford United 1 Grantham Town 2

GRANTHAM Town recorded a slender win in a game they controlled for long periods. Basford gave the Gingerbreads the sort of workout Wayne Hallcro and Jimmy albans wanted before the start of competitive football at Gainsborough on Saturday.

The Gingerbreads were on top from the start of the game. Basford were pinned back in their own half for long spells and it was no surprise when Gio Carchedi put the Gingerbreads in front.

A couple of chances had whistled past the post before Carchedi was played through on 23 minutes. He executed a calm finish, putting the ball past Curtis MacDonald in the Basford goal with ease.

Lee Potts was causing problems for Basford on the Grantham left as the Gingerbreads looked like stretching their lead. Potts and Tony Battersby combined to set up Jamie McGhee, but good work from MacDonald kept him out.

Damien Magee, Sam Purcicoe and McGhee then tried their luck on the opposite side. McGhee’s deep cross came to Potts who made space to shoot, but missed the target. Emeka Nwadike had a shot cleared off the line by Martin Lench as Grantham seemed set to cruise to half time.

Jimmy Lindley had made a good double save from Craig Westcarr, but could not keep Grantham in front at the break. A disputed goal right on the stroke of half time sent the sides in level. Courtney Hastings ran on unchallenged from a Basford free kick with Grantham looking for an offside flag. Hastings gave Lindley no chance and equalised.

After the break, Westcarr and Tommy Kemp found some space behind the Grantham defence and made the Gingerbreads work hard to stay level. As the half wore on, Grantham restricted the opposition to long balls and began to create chances themselves. Battersby played a neat ball on for Carchedi, but MacDonald did well to deny both Carchedi and Battersby on the follow-up.

Phil Watt rescued the situation on 65 minutes when a long ball over the top nearly caught Grantham napping. Moore chased the ball deep into the Grantham half and found Westcarr. He took the ball round Lindley, but the Gingerbreads goalkeeper had held him up long enough for Watt to get back and clear his lines.

The introduction of Karl Demidh and Connor Higginson turned the screw on Basford. Inspired goalkeeping from MacDonald kept the home side level after he needed help to keep Higginson out on 71 minutes. Higginson played a delightful pass to Demidh who showed quick feet to create an opening. MacDonald did well to deny him.

The Basford keeper could do nothing about the Gingerbreads’ winning goal on 77 minutes. It started from a poor goal kick by MacDonald. Higginson picked up the ball quickly but MacDonald seemed to reprieve himself with another good save. Demidh, however, was in the right place to gather the ball and lash it into the back of the net.

The home side should have equalised for the second time in the 79th minute. Basford were awarded a penalty when Willis Francis went tumbling inside the box. Westcarr stepped up but skied his kick over the crossbar. Higginson almost rubbed salt in the wound when he got space in the Basford penalty area but curled his shot off the crossbar.

Grantham Town: Lindley, Purcicoe (Briers, 83), Potts (Robinson, 66), Jacklin, S. Saunders, Watt, Magee, Nwadike, McGhee (Higginson, 66), Battersby (Lewis, 66), Carchedi (Demidh, 66).

NOTTINGHAM Forest Supporters’ Club (Grantham branch) – Bookings are being taken for away games at Fleetwood (League Cup) on Monday, August 13, kick-off 7.45pm, Huddersfield on Tuesday, August 21, 7.45pm, and Bolton on Friday, August 24, 7.45pm.

For bookings contact Bob Taylor on 01476 550242.

l Grantham Town Supporters’ Club lotto (sponsored by Galaxy Fish Bar), winners: £200 – 320 S. Gilbert; £10 – 532 K. Hardy; £5 – 975 B. Stubley, 420 D. Wright, 146 P. Christian, 98 N. Marriott, 257 Mrs Childs, 513 Mrs S. Bird.

THURSDAY DOUBLES

Results (week 20): Old Codgers 3 Spare Parts 7, Jetsetters 10 New Venture 0, Revrite 9 Cool Runnings 1, Kanada St 5 Lavender Hill Mob 5, Last Resort 0 Giraffes 10, Smokey Mountain Duo 7 Cobblers 3.

Highs: Female - HGS 177 Natalie Tagg, HGH 218 Natalie Tagg, HSS 479 Natalie Tagg, HSH 602 Natalie Tagg; male - HGS 212 Graham Kettle, HGH 241 Graham Kettle, HSS 523 Graham Kettle, HSH 613 David Brooks; team - HGS 378 Giraffes, HGH 428 Giraffes, HSS 1021 Giraffes, HSH 1171 Giraffes.

Positions: 1 Revrite 135, 2 Last Resort 125, 3 Jetsetters 112, 4 Cobblers 107, 5 Cool Runnings 101, 6 Giraffes 101, 7 Lavender Hill Mob 99, 8 Kanada St 92, 9 Spare Parts 89, 10 Smokey Mountain Duo 88, 11 Old Codgers 88, 12 New Venture 63.

A MAN, who stole a rare oil engine worth £7,000, sold it as scrap for just £170, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Andrew Poulson, of Dudley Road, Grantham, took the 1950s Ruston engine and a trailer from a farm near to Sibsey Trader Mill, where it was being stored.

Sam Skinner, prosecuting, said Poulson stole the engine out of revenge against the farmer.

Poulson, 45, then cut it into pieces and sold it to a scrap dealer in Grantham. The dealer was suspicious and alerted police.

Mr Skinner said the trustees of the mill spent 10 years raising money to buy the engine, which was not insured. Poulson admitted stealing the engine on December 6, 2011. He was given a 12 month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £500 compensation to the trustees.

Judge Peter Clark told him: “This was a very mean offence.”

James MacDonald, defending, said Poulson had fallen out with the farmer over a business deal which had not worked out how he had expected.

He added: “He considered this to be a worthless piece of metal and decided to sell it for scrap.”

WITH the nation glued to their television screens watching Team GB’s success at the London 2012 Olympics unfold, Grantham Athletic Club is on a mission to ensure that the next generation of young athletes are ready to do themselves, and their country, proud in the future.

Formed in 1974, but with origins dating backat least 20 years earlier, the club has been supporting and encouraging athletes both young and old ever since. And some of its original members are still regularly in attendance on trai.

Despite being dedicated to serving the local community, with primary school leagues a regular feature in the club activities, previous and current members have seen great success further afield.

In his youth, police officer and regular club attendee Steve Ablitt competed at a national level alongside the now 10,000m Olympic champion Mo Farah.

And Vikki Hubbard, who trained with the club for several years before university, is currently ranked as Britain’s number two high jumper after Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.

The club looks set for great things in the near future.

It is currently standing at the top of the table in the Northern League with several prominently placed bright young athletes across various competitions.

But club president Joyce Bundy is keen to point out that the club, which has around 200 members, is open to everyone with with a real emphasis on fun, getting people involved in sport and keeping fit.

She said: “Come along, have a go, and see if you enjoy it.”

For more information on the club, including how you could get involved, go to www.granthamac.com

Or simply head along to the weekly training, which takes place on Wednesday nights from 6pm at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium, in Trent Road, Grantham.

THE wooden stocks in Bottesford were destroyed on Saturday night when a car collided with them.

The historic feature, which has stood in Grantham Road for years, was taken away days later.

A resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “It’s a shame, it’s part of the history of the village and somebody’s taken the whole thing away because it’s been smashed to pieces.”

A JOINER, who bit off a man’s ear in an unprovoked attack, was jailed for 21 months at Lincoln Crown Court.

Adam Maher, 25, stood in the middle of Dexter Avenue, Grantham, in the early hours of the morning on March 4 shouting abuse.

He then turned on the occupants of a taxi, which arrived to drop off passengers returning home from a birthday party.

Christopher Lowe, prosecuting, said the taxi passengers approached Maher as one of them knew him.

Maher reacted by punching out at Thomas Aistrop, who tried to restrain him.

He continued to shout abuse and punched out at another passenger, Natalie Short.

Mr Lowe told the court that a struggle took place between Maher and Mr Aistrop which resulted in Maher straddling his victim before biting off a large part of his ear.

Mr Lowe said: “The defendant bit down on to Mr Aistrop’s ear clamping his teeth on to it.

“The injury caused Thomas Aistrop to bleed heavily and he was in pain.”

Mr Aistrop managed to struggle free and emergency services were called to the scene.

He was taken to hospital, but despite the efforts of medical staff, it was not possible to reattach the missing part of the ear and he is now permanently disfigured.

Maher, who at the time lived nearby, was arrested and interviewed but suggested he was simply defending himself.

Maher, of Manor Drive, Long Bennington, admitted unlawfully wounding Thomas Aistrop and common assault to Natalie Short as a result of the incident on March 4.

Judge Peter Clark told him: “You instigated this. You obviously had far too much to drink. This was a pretty horrible injury.”

Stuart Lody, defending, said Maher was full of remorse and contrition for what happened.

He said: “He drank a large amount of alcohol on an empty stomach. He consumed five pints of lager. He had four or five tequilas and also some vodka.

“That was beyond his normal tolerance. Since this offence he has abstained from alcohol.

“What occurred was bizarre. He simply cannot understand what happened and how he ended up behaving like that.

“He is very sorry. He feels ashamed.”

Mr Lody said Maher, who lives with a partner and young child, had a strong work ethic and has always been employed since leaving school.

A MAGICIAN who has entertained all over the world wants to make Grantham more magical.

Tony Strange, of Earlesfield Lane, Grantham, performs close-up magic, which involves card tricks, sleight of hand and even mind reading.

He said: “I do the same sort of things as Dynamo.

“My job is to amaze and amuse.”

Tony offered Journal reporter Suzie Pike and photographer Toby Roberts the chance to experience some of the magic he has to offer first hand and they both left mystified.

Suzie said: “I wasn’t sure what to expect when Tony rang up and said he could do magic like Dynamo. Being a little sceptical about camera angles and the likes on TV shows I was looking forward to seeing if I could be fooled face-to-face.

“Let’s just say he managed it with every single trick.”

Tony made a card go through a metal block, an elastic band ‘melt’ through a ring and he even read Suzie’s mind.

She said: “I was sitting right in front of him and I didn’t see how any of it was done.

“The entire time I was next to a pack of cards, at the end he told me think of a card, then he went through the pack and the card I chose was the wrong way up.

“I’ve even studied the video to see if I can tell how he does it but I’ve got no idea. I’m starting to think he may have special powers!”

In an attempt to make Grantham more magical Tony, who also invents magic effects, is hoping to start up a magician’s club, which would welcome everyone interested in magic from professionals to beginners.

But if you are hoping to find out the secrets of how amazing tricks are done be warned, even though he knows the answers he won’t tell.

He said: “It will just be a gathering of magicians where we can discuss and further the art of magic.”

The club is open to over 14s and Tony will even give beginners tuition in sleight of hand.

As well as this Tony, who has 25 years’ experience, is offering a restaurant the chance to win his services for the evening. Find out how you can be in with a chance of claiming the prize in next week’s Grantham Journal.

If you are interested in joining the magic club e-mail strangemagick@hotmail.com

l Check out the magical video now by visiting www.granthamjournal.co.uk

FIREFIGHTERS were called to reports of smoke above a phone shop in Grantham High Street just before 8am this morning.

It is not yet known what caused the smoke in the flat and roof space above Phones 4u.

Four fire crews are currently in attendance.

Police are controlling traffic on the High Street at the junction with Avenue Road and St Peter’s Hill.

More information will follow.

THREE juniors from Witham Wheelers formed part of the winning team at this year’s Heckington Show grasstrack racing last Saturday.

The Wheelers combined with riders from Lincsquad to come out on top against teams from Spalding and Sleaford.

Reece Egner, Adam Egner and Kerrigan Robb are pictured with the winners’ shield and medals.

JOINT manager Jimmy Albans says mental agility will be key to another successful season for Grantham Town.

The Gingerbreads go into tomorrow’s Lincolnshire County Shield semi-final on the back of a generally successful pre-season campaign. A 5-3 win at Kettering Town on Saturday was followed up by a 2-1 win at Basford United in midweek. Other highlights of friendlies have been a 3-0 victory over Lincoln City and holding York City to a 1-1 draw.

Despite Grantham’s seemingly good early form, Albans remained stoic. He said: “Match-wise, the pre-season tests haven’t all turned out as we hoped they would. Every game has been a challenge in its own way, and has helped us to gel as a team.”

Albans lauded his and joint boss Wayne Hallcro’s summer signings who he said had already shown of what they were capable.

Albans said: “Karl Demidh, Connor Higginson and Ash Robinson are all doing very well. We like what we are seeing. Jimmy Lindley is showing he is a calming influence at the back, while Macca [Emeka Nwadike] is showing the same in midfield.”

With pre-season out of the way, the Gingerbreads now turn their attention to the season proper. County Shield holders Grantham visit Blue Square North side Gainsborough Trinity tomorrow and Albans said they were keen to retain the trophy.

Albans said: “Every game from now on matters, starting with Saturday. We are the holders and don’t want to give it up without a fight.”

Higginson and Robinson are suspended tomorrow, Joe Briers will be at Boston United’s youth set-up, and Grant Brindley has neck trouble, leaving Albans and Hallcro with 16 players from which to choose.

Pretty much guaranteed to be starting will be midfielder Rhys Lewis, to whom Albans lavished particular praise.

Albans said: “Gainsborough are a very good football side and will pass the ball around well. We need to be involved in the game in the middle of the park, where the energy of a player like Rhys Lewis can make such a difference. We saw that when we brought him on at Basford and in the Kettering game.

“Rhys scored 14 from the centre of midfield last season, that makes a huge difference to any side to get that sort of contribution.”

Albans pointed out that pre-season performances are no real gauge of how things might pan out when “the real stuff starts”.

He said that they had to be wary of not burning players out too early and added that others might not come to fruition until the season is in full swing.

Albans said: “Mental sharpness is one of the things we are aiming to come out of pre-season with. We demonstrated it against York for the whole 90 minutes. We haven’t don’t that in some other games.

“We need to be 100 per cent focused from the first whistle on Saturday, until the last one next April.”

Albans said he understood the frustrations of players who might find themselves on the substitutes’ bench at the season’s start. He said the bench would hopefully always be populated by three forwards, one midfielder and one defender throughout the season.

Albans said: “Whatever starting line-up we go with on Saturday or through the season, you want to have substitute options that can go out and change the game. We feel this gives us that, no matter who or how we start the game.

“We’re going out there this season looking to give a good account of ourselves, no matter who we face.”

TOMORROW

Football

Lincolnshire Senior Shield

Semi-final - Gainsborough Trinity v Grantham Town (3pm).

Ted Drury Trophy

Harrowby United v Stamford (3pm).

Cricket

South Notts League

Division A - Belvoir v Clifton Village 2nd.

Division D - Bramcore v Bottesford.

Division F - Ravenshead v Whatton & Aslockton, Newark R & M 2nd v Belvoir 2nd.

Division H - Bottesford 2nd v Bramcote 2nd.

Division J - Plumtree 3rd v Bingham.

Division L - Gedling Colliery 3rd v Belvoir 3rd.

Division P - Whatton & Aslockton 2nd v Attenborough 4th.

Division R - Bingham 2nd v Newark R & M 5th, Young Lions 2nd v Belvoir 4th.

South Lincs & Border League

Division One - Belton Park v Market Deeping 2nd, Moulton Harrox v Billingborough, Skegness 2nd v Grantham.

Division Two - Blankney v Welby, Ropsley v Cavaliers.

Division Three - Claypole v Friskney, Grantham 2nd v Welby 2nd.

SUNDAY

Cricket

South Lincs & Border League

Division Two - Billingborough 2nd v Moulton Harrox Sunday.

Grantham & Melton Association

Division One - Barkby v Woolsthorpe, Sileby v Whissendine, Pickwell v Barrowby, Ashby Carington v Buckminster.

Division Two - Sproxton v Belton Park, Grantham v Rothley, Harlaxton v Ashby Carington 2nd, Welby v Sholay.

Division Three - Croxton Kerrial v Barkston, Syston Town v Belvoir Colts, Houghton on the Hill v Foston, Queniborough v Colsterworth.

Newark Alliance

Division Four - Belvoir v Colston Bassett.

RESIDENTS in Cranwell are being urged to lock their doors and windows after a burglary in the village.

An offender got into a house in Sleaford Road through an unlocked ground floor window at some time between August 3 and 7.

They stole a 42 inch TV with surround sound system and a Nikon camera beofre going to the garage and taking a lawnmower and tools.

Police are urging residents to lock their doors and windows when they are away from their properties and to ensure that ground floor doors and windows are locked at night.

Anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area, or anyone who has any information on the crime can contact officers via the 101 non-emergency number, quoting incident number 305 of August 9.

Car enthusiasts in the area will be heading for one of the largest events of its kind in Europe.

The Normous Newark Classic Car and Bike Autojumble takes place on Sunday, August 26, at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground.

Stallholders from all over the UK will be selling classic car and motorcycle parts and accessories, as well as tools, motoring literature, brochures, mascots, automobilia and workshop manuals – in fact, just about anything concerned with motoring.

A unique feature of Newark autojumble is that customers arriving with their classic vehicles are allocated a separate parking area within the showground.

They will be entitled to a reduced admission charge, in return for contributing to an ever-changing display of up to 1,000 classic vehicles.

The event is open from 10am and admission is £6, with accompanied children under 12 going in for free.

Stewarded parking is also free and there is a display-to-sell area for classic vehicles.

There will also be children’s attractions and club displays.

THE sky above Belvoir Castle will light up with hundreds of spectacular fireworks when it plays host to a national fireworks championship next weekend.

Fireworks worth up to £50,000 will explode into the sky at the event, with some hitting the same 125-decibel level created at a loud rock concert.

The event, now in its third year at Belvoir Castle, will see three of the UK’s best professional firework companies compete against each other with a 10-minute display choreographed to music, followed by a finale display from organisers MLE Pyrotechnics.

The companies, Blitz Fireworks of Crewe, Spitfire Pyrotechnics from Coventry and Celebration Displays from Bury in Lancashire, have a combined experience of more than100 years and will use shell fireworks for their displays rather than rockets. The shells are favoured as they can explode at a height of 200 metres and can cover an area of 150 metres.

The event is the only one of its type in the UK where the audience gets the chance to vote for their winner on the night. Votes are cast using a mobile phone and texts are charged at the normal rate.

The fireworks championships will run over four rounds, all held at stately homes in the country. The overall winner will be announced after the final event at Eastnor Castle, in Herefordshire, on September 1.

Mat Lawrence, director of MLE Pyrotechnics, said: “The companies will be pulling out all the stops for a great night.

“There will also be plenty of pre-show attractions and entertainment and families are welcome to bring a picnic.”

Tickets for the event, on Saturday, August 18, from 5pm, cost £15 for adults, £6 for children. For tickets, go to www.belvoirfireworks.co.uk

A hard-working theatre company is to give an open air performance in Grantham.

The Pantaloons are a young, vibrant company whose style draws from a wide variety of popular theatre traditions from clowning to silent movies.

The actors will perform their latest show, Grimm Fairy Tales, at Belton House, on Friday, August 31, at 7pm.

The show is described as a deliciously dark and thrillingly inventive show for adults and children alike, combining music, magic, and some of the best-loved stories ever to have graced the stage.