vnnc 2 Clitheroe Advertiser STimes, Thursday, April 25th,2007


INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES


S Valley Matters ....................................6,7 8 Village News ................................9,10,11 I Letters ..................................................... 4 I Weekendplus ..................................14,15 8 Family N o t ic e s ............................ .22,23 1 Readersplus...........................................16 I Motors Today..................................31-45 B S p o r t .................................................46-48


AT A GLANCE...


Olympic journey begins - page 5 Court round-up - page 8


Council ‘green scheme’ - page 19 Election special - pages 18,21


INFORMATION


Dufy fliemi.st; Lloyds Pharmacy, 5 Church Street Clithoroe: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m. Police: 01200 443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Uleciricily: 0800 1954141.


fias: 0800 111999.


Wafer: 084 5 4G2200. Councils: Rihhle Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe 425111. Clitheroe Town Council, 424722. Ilospifals: Royal Blackhurn Royal Hospital: 01254 203555. Airedale General Hospital, Steeton: 01535 052511. Clitheroe Community Hospital: 427311. Alcohol Iiifornialion Cenfre: 01282 410055. .Aidsline: 01282 831101 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Domesfic Violence Helpline: 01282 422024. Cruse liereavenienl Care: Rihhle Valley 01200 429340. Hnvironnienfal Agency: Emergencies - 0800 807000. Drugs: Local confidential fidvice and information lino: 01200 444484. National: 0800 770000. Ril)l)le Valley Talliing Newspaper: 01200 428004. .Samarilaiis: 01254 002424. Monllily Volunleer Helpline: 01200 422721. I.ancashire Rural Slre.ss Network: 01200 427771. QUEST (specialisi smoking cessalion service): 01254 358095. Rihl)le Valley Cilizens’ Advice Bureau: 01200 428900.


CONTACT US! New s: 01200 422324


Adverlksing: 01200 422323 Chi.ssified:OI282 422331


Familv Nofices and Pholn Orders: 01282 420101, exf. 410 Fax: 01200 143407 editor e-mail: vivien.ineallKgeasllancsnews.co.itk news editor e-mail: iltmcan.sniilli@e:isll;mc.snew'.s.co.tik sports editor e-nuiil: edwtird.lee@eastlitncsnews.co.uk


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WEEKEND WEATHER: There will be bright sun­ shine all weekend with temperatures reaching 20°C


SUNRISE: 5-43 a.m. SUNSET: 8-29 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 7-59 p.m.


virww.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


Children - you re in clover here!


by Duncan Smith


IF you have children and you live in Ribble Valley, then you’re in clover! At least that is the finding of a sur­


vey by the Reader’s Digest, which found the rural borough was the ninth best place in the UK to bring up a family.


i It polled 1,162 parents of children


aged under 16 across the UK to find out what they considered the most important ingredients for a family- friendly location. Key factors which emerged included good state schools, a low crime rate, good local hospitals, affordable family housing and high employment. These factors were then weighted,


based on the importance that par­ ents gave them, and measured against statistical and demographic portraits of all 408 local authority


areas in England, Scotland and Wales. Measurable and authorita­ tive data-such as Home Office crime figures, unemployment rates from the Office for National Statistics and Land Registry house price fig­ ures were used to rank each area. Top of the list was East Dunbar­


tonshire, in Scotland, as the place which, according to the survey, most closely met parents’ aspirations for the best place to bring up their fam­ ily. In fact Scotland had three entries in the top 10, but Ribble Val­ ley, ranked ninth, was the only top 10 entry from the North West of England. Craven district, just over the bor­


der in North Yorkshire, came in 16th, while Hyndburn was 18th. Pendle was further down the list at 90th and South Ribble just inside the top 100, at 99. Burnley borough was ranked 141st while Blackburn-with-Dar-


wen was lG3rd and, somewhat sur­ prisingly, Lancaster only just made the top half of the list, at 200. Overall inner city areas fared poor­


ly, with three London boroughs in the bottom 10. Very last place went to Reading, in Berkshire, ranked 408th. After analysing the survey data,


the Reader’s Digest sent an editorial team out to a town in each of the top 10 areas to hear from local parents themselves. A spokesman for the magazine commented: “We found that if a single thread runs through the fabric of all these places, large and small, it is the golden one called ‘community’ - the concerned neigh­ bours, teachers and community groups that stand behind safe streets, strong schools and thriving towns.” For the full list of the best and


worst places to bring up children, visit the Reader’s Digest website (www.readersdigest.co.uk).


Well-earned rest for runners by Natalie Cox and Julie Magee


THE first British female runner to cross the London Marathon line on Sunday has connections with Clitheroe. Mara Yamauchi completed the


26.2 mile race in two hours, 25 min­ utes and 31 seconds finishing in a fan­ tastic sixth place. Her father, Norman Myere, and his


brother, John, were both born and brought up in the Ribble Valley and attended Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. Mara, who lives in Tokyo with her


husband, Shige, finished four minutes ahead of the next British female run­ ner.


Marathon running is something of


a family trait as Mara’s father, who is recognised as one of the world’s lead­ ing ecologists, has coached some of the world’s best marathon runners and has completed 32 marathons himself. At the age of 50 he complet­ ed his first in two hours and 39 sec­ onds which placed him in the top six in the world for his age group. Mara’s sister, Malindi, who has


won a gold medal for rowing, took part in last year’s London Marathon finishing 25th out of 10,000 women runners before announcing that she was three months’ pregnant. S Veteran runner Kitty Garnett,


of Sabden, completed her 20th Lon­ don Marathon in four hours, 30 min­ utes, 41 seconds. She raised £400 in sponsorship for the Rossendale Hos­ pice. She has yet to decide whether to take part in 2008, but said: “People have been telling me I should do 21 then I will have come of age.” © For Clitheroe couple Russell and


Karen Wrigley, Sunday’s event was the first time they had attempted a full marathon, although both have run half marathons previously. The Moorland Avenue duo finished in four hours, seven minutes and five hours, 17 minutes respectively and


through their efforts will have raised around £3,000 for Muscular Dystro­ phy. Said Karen: “The atmosphere was amazing and that is the only thing th a t would make me do it again, although Russ has said he would enter again. We both found it really emotional when we crossed the finishing line, I just burst into tears.” •Johnson Matthey employees


Zara Chaplin and Hendrik Koomhof both fared well, completing the course in good times and managing to survive both the heat and “the wall”. They thoroughly enjoyed their day and together with colleague Liz Campbell, who will be competing in the Edinburgh Marathon next month, they have raised more than £2,500 for Help The Aged. ©Rock FM’s charity Help A Local


Child will be receiving £2,400 cour­ tesy of Whalley runners Alison Bury and Gail Goodrick. Said Alison: “We both finished although it was very hot race and not an easy one. Gail’s time was four hours, 50 minutes and I finished in five hours, 20 minutes. ©In his first attempt at the


marathon, Steven Stretch (34), who is head chef at Eaves Hall Country


Hotel in West Bradford, completed the race in five hours 55 minutes and raised £1,600 for the Elimination of Leukaemia Fund.


• Royal Nax^ serviceman Steven


Backhouse (26), of West Bradford Road, Waddington, finished in four hours and 17 minutes raising around £800 for Rainbow House. He w^ inspired by the daughter of


fellow villager Richard Bater, who is the landlord of the Waddington Arms. Four-year-old Erin has global


development delay and attends Rain­ bow House. 9 Mrs Heather Windle (32), of


Main Street, Gisburn, and Miss Claire Hargreaves (33), of Whalley Road, Clitheroe, also completed the race raising around £1,800 for SENSE UK Deafblind Charity and the Encephalitis Society. Heather, who described the


marathon as exhausting due to the soaring temperatures, ran the race in four hours and 17 minutes. Claire, who was running the


marathon for the first time, complet­ ed the race in five hours and 25 min­ utes. “It was a great atmosphere and a brilliant life experience,” she added.


RUN­ NERS from


.Tolinsun Madhey who look purl in


Sunday's event(s)


Latest on death crash


survivors tinned this week, although police said “excessive” speed seemed to be main cause of the crash. Officers are appeal­ ing for witnesses to come forward as there is some confusion surrounding the identity of the driver. Meanwhile, the acci­


dent has prompted fresh calls for the speed limit to be reduced in Mellor Lane.


Former Ribble Valley


Mayor and Mellor coun­ cillor Mr Charles Wark- man says he has been campaigning for 24 years for traffic-calming meas­ ures to be introduced near the scene of the crash. He explained that there had been many serious acci­ dents on Mellor Lane and that urgent action has to be taken to save the lives of young people killed in crashes. He added: “I have been


campaigning for safety measures to be intro­ duced on that road for the past 24 years. Members of Mellor Parish Council and local villagers have always voiced their con­ cerns, but to no avail. “We are concerned


about young speeding drivers killing themselves and want the speed to be dropped from 60 to 40mph.” Witnesses are urged to


call police on 0845 1253545.


Banned motorist


caught out A BANNED driver from Old Langho found himself back in court after getting caught behind the wheel. Stuart Ian Gant (49), of


Larkhill, Old Langho, was made subject to communi­ ty supervision for 12 months, banned from driving for a further six months and ordered to pay £300 in compensation by Blackburn magistrates. He pleaded guilty to


driving while disqualified, without insurance, with­ out due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident. The court heard that


Gant collided with the rear of a car waiting at a roundabout on the A59 near Barrow. The female driver said


he became aggressive when she asked for his details and she took his registration number before leaving. Mr Daniel King


(defending) said Gant had foolishly taken his son’s car to go and do some shopping.


I I


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


Advertiser and limes LATEST VALLEY


CUlheroe rr O N L I N E . . . O N L I N E . . . STORIES -wvvw.clither6ietoday;.’cdluk^H^


Michael fights his way to glory


by Adrian Capstick


HE said he was going to smash him to pieces, he said it was going to be another knock out and what the modest cage fighter from Clitheroe said was­ n’t wrong - in fact he probably played it down! There was no hype in Michael


Bisping’s pre-match prediction, just brutal honesty as the adrena­ line of fighting in front of a baying home crowd saw the fists come out flying at the Manchester Evening News Arena on Saturday night. For those th a t witnessed the


Ultimate Fighting Championship spectacle, the 28-year-old unde­ feated mixed martial arts fighter lapped up the raucous home sup­ port at the sell out 15,000 seater event and pounded Australian opponent Elvis Sinosic from the off, throwing him to the canvas and ferociously attacking his foe with both hands in a myriad of punches to the head and upper body. “’The Count” maintained this


relentless punishment throughout the first five-minute round, knock­ ing out Sinosic’s mouthpiece and drawing blood from his fellow light heavyweight. Round Two followed a similar pattern, until the hardened Sinosic


caught Bisping unawares with a blow that knocked him clean off his feet and across the cage. The 36-year-old former world


title challenger followed up, and quickly had the local fighter in a submission hold that looked like the end of the Clitheroe man's undefeated 13-0 record, but, to the joy of the Manchester crowd, he wrestled free and finished the fight just as he had started, by ground­ ing and pounding the Aussie until the referee stepped in at the one minute 40 seconds mark. The crowd had come to see Bisp­


ing, that was made clear by the cheer th a t went up around the arena at the merest sight of the fathek-of-two on the six giant screens above, even though he was­ n’t the main event at the pay-per- view 10-bout fight night. When one of the other fights


didn’t meet the action-seeking spectators’ expectations, up flashed Bisping to stoke up the crowd for his eagerly-anticipated entrance. Jean Claude Van Damme, Rio


Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo were just a few of the celebrities at the sell-out event, and Bisping gave them full-on action a t 1/8 odds, compared to his Australian opponent's 21/5. Unsurprisingly Bisping was as modest as ever at the post bout


press conference, having urged everyone before the fight to put their money on him. He said: "The crowd was unbe­


lievable to say the least. I was , expecting a good reception, but nothing like th a t , not in my wildest dreams. “It absolutely blew me away and


took over me a little bit. "I adapted to the situation. I'd


seen him take some punishment on his back before, so I was confident I wouldn't get submitted. “And after 30 seconds on top of


him, I knew this was the place I should be." But he’s not getting ahead of


himself, even though UFC presi­ dent Dana White admitted there would be a very good chance of the Clitheroe fighter contesting a title fight in the UK given the reception he got. Bisping added: "It’s one step at


a time, keep winning, do what I can, that’s what I want though. I wouldn’t say no (to fighting UFC world champion Chuck Liddell)." UFC 70: Nations Collide was


the third biggest event ever to be held at the arena (£1.31 million) after Ricky Hatton and Mike Tyson, but broke all merchandis­ ing records. Obviously this new sport is here


to stay, and Bisping aims to be at the top of it.


THERE was a night out with a difference for KATE JACKSON, of Cringle Way, Clitheroe. Kate was the winner of a pair of tickets to the fight in our web-based competition. ® For news online go to... www.clilheroetoday.co.uk


Racecourse meetings off


A SERIES of public meetings to discuss the proposed £100m. racecourse have been post­ poned. Residents’ views on the


“super racecourse”, to be built on 371-acres of land between the Ribble Valley and Hynd­ burn, were supposed to be lis­ tened to at two public meetings to be held tomorrow and Mon­ day. However, those meetings have been postponed and will now be held a t 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16th, and May 18th, at Read Primary School, Straits Lane, in Read. Please note that both meet­


ings are open to the wider com­ munities and no tickets are required. Representatives behind the massive project will also be attending the meetings.


Police slam vandals’ antics


POLICE have slammed the actions of “mindless vandals” who dam­ aged a stone sculpture in Brunger- ley Park, Clitheroe. Offenders caused £5,000 worth of


damage after knocking the head off a 4ft. high otter with salmon sculp­ ture, situated at the park’s nature trail area. PC Dave Smith, of Clitheroe


Police, has been investigating the incident, which took place some time between Thursday and Fri-


SHOPPERS at Booths supermar­ ket in Clitheroe will be encour­ aged to opt for reuseable bags for the good of the environment. A pilot scheme to reduce the


use of environmentally-harmful plastic bags has proved so suc­ cessful a t two stores th a t i t is


day. He said: “I t’s disgraceful and purely mindless vandalism. The sculpture has been placed there to give people pleasure when they are out and about in the park. “If you have any information


with regards to the offenders responsible for the attack, please call Clitheroe Police on 443344, or the


free-and-confidential


Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.” • See Letter’s Page 4


Shoppers encouraged to go green


being rolled out across all 26 of its outlets in Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire and Yorkshire. Therese Edmonds, of Booths,


said: “We are committed to cut­ ting the use of plastic bags with­ out compromising the service we offer to our customers.”


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WHY PAY Ei^ORE? U


AMONG those


watching


Michael fight were actor


Jean Claude


Van Damme - better known as the


Muscles from


Brussels - and Manchester Utd


superstars Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


WEEKEND SPORTS NEWS


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, April 26th, 2007 3


SHOULD St George’s Day be a national holiday? Take part in our online poll!


Last week’s resull: Do you agree with the police initiative to pay youngsters to “shop a crook”? 70% yes, 30% no.


l i S B S L S B H I H H i i i B H 1 ^ 78 81111 I I S i l lS I I I i l l M i l l M


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