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One Word Book Review - Race Against Me: My Story (Dwain Chambers)

2011-04-05T11:22:00.000+01:00

Race Against Me: My Story (Paperback)

Author Dwain Chambers

Publisher Libros International

(As recommended by Hadley Pressley - Mears Future Champion)

Buy on Amazon - Race Against Me

CEO of mashsport makes Financial Times

2011-04-05T11:18:00.000+01:00

Mears Future Champion - Hadley Pressley

2011-04-05T10:41:00.003+01:00

It is, what I can only describe to you as my honour to be able to introduce you to an amazing young sportsman by the name of Hadley Pressley. Hadley is currently taking advice from Linford Christie (amongst other superb trainers!) at Brunel University, where he is working hard for his degree in Sport Science and Coaching.

Hadley is a Sprinter and already at the tender age of 19 a rather promising, almost ‘natural born’, Coach.

Check out Hadley’s Coaching Qualifications to-date:
• UKA Level One Athletics Coach (Studying for level two!)
• Sports Leader Certificate Level 2 Community Sports Leader
• Sports Coach UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children
• FA Online Learning Fitness in Football Level 1
• FA Online Learning Coaching Children
• FA Online Learning Planning, Preparing and Evaluating Coaching Sessions
• FA Online Learning Player and Match Analysis
• FA Online Learning Child Protection
• FA Online Learning Futsal Laws of the Game
• FA Online Learning Laws of the Game
• FA Online Learning Soccer Camp Coaches

I’m not sure if you’ll remember, but I did briefly mention in a previous article that Hadley and Stephanie Gaynor (another of the Mears Group’s protégées) ran a Coaching day at St.George’s School in Broadstairs. Stephanie kindly attended to help Hadley train the youngsters and to present some workshops of her own. The training day explored sprinting and coaching but also gave the children the opportunity to ask the Mears Future Champions questions about just what it’s like to be a real athlete. The day was a huge success and Hadley told me that Stephanie truly inspired some of the girls to start running on a more serious level.

We are fortunate that Hadley has kindly shared with us the coaching plan that he implemented with Stephanie – Take a look!

When I asked Hadley what impact the Mears Group had had upon his running career so far he responded with the following:

‘If I didn’t have Mears’ support then I can honestly say that I wouldn’t still be running…’

Whilst this is wonderful in so many ways, the sad truth is that many of our potential great athletes are forced to give up their hopes and dreams due to the lack of financial support available to them. Whilst the Mears Group are undoubtedly doing sterling work they simply cannot provide for every promising young athlete in the UK!

Anyway… Moving swiftly on (before I leap onto the soapbox I keep tucked under my desk for just this kind of occasion!)

Several times during my interview with Hadley he returned to the subject of Dwain Chambers.

Hadley on Dwain:

‘Dwain Chambers inspires me because he was a drug cheat and was banned, but after he completed his ban he carried on training and running. Dwain has made sure that he’s the best in England and one of the best in the world and hits to try and get his place back in the GB squad all the time. I feel this is the determination that every athlete needs to make it to the top of a sport, a will power to be the best through pure training and hard work, since coming back from his ban this is what Dwain has done…’

Hadley’s Results from 2010 and 2011:

2010
Kent Indoor Championships 2010 - 200m - 3rd - Bronze Medal
18th April 2010 - National Junior League Cambridge Harriers - 100m, 200m and 4x100m
8th May 2010 - Kent Championships - Under 20`s 200m
9th May 2010 - Kent Championships - Under 20`s 100m - 8th
23rd May 2010 - National Junior League Medway - 100m, 200, and 4x100m
27th June 2010 - National Junior League Dartford - 100m, Long Jump and 4x100m
4th July 2010 - East Kent Street Athletics Finals - 1st Under 20`s

2011
5th Feb 11 Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC Winter Series Open Meet - 60m 5th
9th Feb 11 Inter Varsity Match Birmingham - 60m - 5th

Hadley’s Personal Info and Stats

Club - Invicta East Kent
Events - 60m, 100m and 200m
Personal Bests - 60m - 7.55 sec
100m - 11.50 sec
200m - 23.90 sec

2010 saw Hadley win the Thanet Schools Sports Sporting Achievement award and he was also nominated for sports personality of year award for Thanet!
Hadley won the Street Athletics East Kent finals for the third year running and made it to the national finals making that achievement three in a row. He made the semi finals of that competition for the second time and only missed out on a final spot by a whisker. Hadley came 8th in the 100m under 20`s Kent Championships final in May and took the bronze in the 200m Indoor Kent Championships in Feb. In 2011 he made the University squad at the Inter Varsity match at Birmingham arena.

Hadley currently trains with Harry King who is an Ex GB coach at Brunel. He uses the fantastic facilities at the University’s High Performance Indoor Centre and recent performances have seen him steadily improve his times.

Aaaaaand… this is how he does it!

Training
Hadley trains 6 days a week for around 3 hours a day.
Monday - Sand pit Training; circuits or weights
Tuesday - Track session; circuits and or weights
Wednesday - Track session; Technical running; Plyometrics; circuits and or weights
Thursday - Track session; circuits and or weights
Friday - Circuits
Saturday – Rest Day…Phew!!!
Sunday - Hill session; Track session; Plyometrics; weights and or circuits
(Gulp)

An Example of Hadley’s training week:

Monday - sandpit (high knee forwards and backwards, shuttle runs, jumps, on spot running, burpees, tuck jumps) and Circuits 3 sets 20 sec each exercise (press ups, sit ups, squats, burpees, high knees, push press, med ball drills.

Tuesday - 6x 200m and 5x 40m and circuits 3 set 20 reps each exercise (press ups, Squats, hamstring lifts, tuck jumps, triceps’ dips)

Wednesday - Hurdle drills, technical runs, plyo`s with med ball, driving out runs, circuits 2x press ups, med ball sit ups, rope jumps, split jumps, bicep curls, burpees, hamstring bridge, high knees, tuck jumps.

Thurday - 4 x 150m and same circuit session as Tuesday

Friday - 3x2 Cleans 65kg, 3x4 squats 90kg, med ball sit ups, hurdle drills, plyo jump box, 2x 60m stride runs

Saturday - REST

Sunday - Hill runs, Plyo jumps, deadlifts 3x4 80kg, cleans 3x4 60kg, bench press 4x8 60kg, hanging leg lifts 1x 6

Ouchy!

Dedication? I think so.

Hadley’s planned races for this year:

Kent Championships
14th and 15th May 2011
South of England Championships
June 18th and 19th 2011
Senior Men League Races
May 7th Wimbledon
June 4th Brighton
July 9th Horsham
July 30th Awaiting Details
August 13th Canterbury
Invicta East Kent Open Meets
June 21st 2011
May 17th 2011
April 19th 2011
July 16th 2011
August 16th 2011
Sept 20th 2011

We’d like to thank Hadley for taking the time out from his VERY hectic schedule to talk to us and for his generosity in sharing one of his coaching plans with us. We at mashsport HQ are hoping that he’ll join us in a coaching capacity on one of our Skills Camps in the very near future!

In addition to being a blindin’ sportsman, Hadley is in fact a very nice bloke. We like him, Mears like him and one day he’ll have the whole of Great Britain cheering him on to Gold.

Mears Thanet Branch
Louise Bennett - Mears Mentor

Spring Along - A True Champion

2011-03-29T10:30:00.001+01:00

Our heartfelt condolences to Daisy Berkeley and Christine Dick at the devastating loss of 'Spring Along'

Right to Play – Hot off the Press!

2011-03-28T14:13:00.001+01:00

Right To Play's Ride to the Tour
London to Nantes, France!
29th June - 2nd July 2011
Four days – 350 grueling miles

Have you heard of the amazing ‘Right to Play’ organisation? No? Well you should have! RTP share so very many of the same principles as mashsport that we’ve simply got to love ‘em! (And so will you…)

Check out a brief overview of Right to Play’s philosophy:

RTP Mission
To improve the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.

RTP Vision
To create a healthier and safer world through the power of sport and play.

RTP Values
Right To Play’s values reflect the best practices of sport and play.

(Courtesy of Right to Play)

Respect.
(Courtesy of Sacha Baron Cohen aka Ali G)

Ok, now the main purpose of this little article is to draw your attention to one of RTP’s forthcoming events. Our Gomars (Andy Gomarsall MBE) is currently training like a demon in order to successfully cycle his way from London to Nantes to raise shed loads of money for RTP. (Good job Gomars has been keeping himself in great shape coaching the mashsport rugby Skills Camps!) As you may be aware however, he’ll be punishing a whole different set of muscle groups during this awesome fundraising venture. If you should happen to see Andy out and about training on his bike then please do give him a wave and encourage him along!

The big ride will be setting off from the home of Harlequins R.F.C. (The Stoop) and is going to be led out by our very own Gomars who will be one of the two hundred riders expected to participate.

Good and very good.

PS Gomars will also be taking part in this year’s London Marathon!
(I’ll try and prise out of him the details of his training schedule for your general perusal).

PPS If you would like to be one of those two hundred London to Nantes Superstars then hop over the RTP website and get yourself signed up now!

Friday Night Lights 7's Rugby Schoolboy Elite Tournament Report

2011-03-24T16:25:00.000Z

Results of the inaugural mashsport Friday Night Lights 7's Rugby Schoolboy Elite Tournament:

Colston's School (Bristol) took the Cup title defeating Sedbergh School 34-5....

Whitgift School (Croydon) hoisted the Plate competition beating Brighton College 31-14.

In the Vase final St Edward's (Oxford) beat Bromsgrove School 34-15.

Colston's Alex Haynes was awarded the Player of the Tournament after scoring a hattrick of tries in the final. What a star!

Congratulations not only to all of the above but to every team who took part on Friday, as far as we are concerned at mashsport HQ you are all WINNERS!

To read the full tournament report click on the brightly coloured rugby ball below why dontcha? You can't miss it! Look!

Some things aren't about the 2012 Olympics!

2011-03-24T11:32:00.003Z

Laughed our noses off!

You can still donate here

Rugby - England’s Six Nations Victory and Defeat

2011-03-21T11:05:00.000Z

Sooo… Congrats to the England rugby squad I suppose should be in order. However given that their ‘Grand Slam’ dreams were shredded by an über-impressive young Irish side on Saturday, and given that once again their total failure to adapt left them helpless at the hands of Ireland’s youngsters, I find myself wholly unable to get excited about the victory.

And…Poleeeeze stop using Ben Youngs as the fall guy here. Yes, he was a bit of an ‘eejit’ but (let’s be brutally honest here shall we?) With or without Youngs England had ‘nowt’ in them to respond to that Irish onslaught.

I can only applaud replacement Steve Thompson (back from retirement!) for his great try and maybe, had Jonny Wilkinson converted same, things might have been different?

Nah… Not a hope.

Last week, I rather boldly suggested that the England side really needed to up the ante for the game against Ireland – Obviously Martin Johnson et al are not reading my missives!

Why ever not? Hrmmmph.

Mears Future Champion - Hannah Golton

2011-03-16T12:03:00.003Z

Do you remember our fresh faced, happy-go-lucky sailing champion Ross Blackledge? Well now… Ross has very recently teamed up with another of Mears’ Future Champs sixteen year old, sixth form student Hannah Golton. Wow. Two future champions in one boat! (A 29’er to be precise.) An unbeatable double-handed combo surely??

Hannah (who is a member of the same sailing club as Ross at Herne Bay) made the decision to try out the two-man skiff with Ross when her age went against her with regards to the size of sail that she was expected to use. At this point in time Hannah is simply too tiny and light to manage the required larger sail in her one-man dinghy (the Laser radial) So in many ways it made perfect sense for Hannah to team up with club mate Ross.

A very bubbly Hannah told me recently that she keeps herself fit for sailing by jogging as often as possible and by popping into the gym twice a week in order to maintain her strength and stamina on the cardio resistance and rowing machines. How she is managing to maintain all of this hyper-activity, plus winter training sessions on lakes such as Draycote Water at the weekends, in addition to attending to her studies we’ll never know…
As with all of our previous Mears Future Champions, Hannah clearly displays massive amounts of dedication and is intensely passionate about the sport that she loves so much.

Hannah we take our mashsport hats off to you!

Hannah’s escapades thus far!
In May of 2010, Hannah was invited to join the Mears Future Champions Scheme.
Hannah had started competing only three years previously and had already attended national events around the country in a Topper and Laser 4.7. In one national series event she was placed 37th out of 200 in her topper. In 2009 she was a member of a national junior development squad. Hannah took part in her first competition since her GCSEs at Stone in her Laser 4.7. (This was mainly to get some practice before the Europeans!) She got a 10th, 7th, 11th and 4th. Overall she came seventh which she was happy with as she hadn’t competed since April although she had been aiming for a top five place.

Hannah later competed in another 4.7 national ladder and came in a very, very respectable 4th! Hannah also took part in the laser 4.7 Europeans in 2009/2010 in Finland and France against some extremely tough competition. All good stuff huh? Anyway… To the future!

Hannah’s 2011 Plans
In July, Hannah will be competing in the Europeans once again as well as competing in the 29’er with racing companion Ross Blackledge. Their first combined competition will be the Youth Nationals on the 9th April.

Hannah’s new ‘partner in crime’ Ross told me:

‘…sailing with Hannah this season will be great fun. She’s really very competitive which is good for me and her knowledge of sailing is incredible! I think that we compliment each other really well and I’m looking forward to taking part in competitions with her…’

Best of British luck to both Hannah and Ross in their first sailing season together!

Mears Canterbury Branch

Mears Mentor – Adam Rohan

One Word Book Review - Bounce - How Champions are Made

2011-03-15T15:31:00.002Z

Bounce - How Champions are Made ( Paperback)
Author - Matthew Syed
Publishers - Fourth Estate

Buy now from Amazon - Bounce : How Champions are Made

FNL7's plus six nations

2011-03-14T14:46:00.003Z

Rugby stuff – Hmmm… so much to tell you. Now where to begin?

Here seems to be a reasonable starting point:

In addition to the forthcoming spring and summer mashsport rugby Skills Camps (April’s camps are almost upon us – Book now if you haven’t already done so!) our own inaugural Friday Night Lights schoolboy 7’s rugby tournament is happening this week!

Our goal with mashsport FNL7’s is first and foremost to showcase and celebrate schoolboy rugby. We are delighted to be in a position to enable young rugby players with the opportunity of playing in a highly professional environment (Henley RFC no less!!) against other school teams.

Some of the most prestigious rugby schools in the country - Brighton College, Bromsgrove School, Colston’s School, Hampton School, Marlborough College, Millfield School, Portsmouth Grammar School, Sedbergh School, St Edward’s (Oxford), The Oratory School, Warwick School and Whitgift School - are attending the tournament which promises to be highly competitive and enormous fun.

Get along there on Friday and meet Andy Gomarsall, enjoy some fantastic rugby from the stars of the future and soak up the awesome atmosphere!

Usually, as you know, we tend to concentrate on amateur ‘goings on’ here at mashsport HQ but I must briefly tell you of my total relief (rather than triumph) following yesterday’s Calcutta Cup. What a palaver! A scrappy performance by England that had me on the edge of my seat for all of the wrong reasons from start to finish. Still, we got the result I guess… (The lads will need to up the ante against Ireland next week that’s for sure!)

Also, for me, the reporting by the British media on Saturday’s Italy/France six nations game was pretty dreadful. Almost every match report focussed heavily on French Coach Marc Lievremont and not enough on Italy’s determined performance. The Italian boys always give everything of themselves in every match right up to the very last minute. Finally, a great and deserved result for devoted Italy coach Nick Mallett.

(Do the pundits forget that for Italy, rugby is still a relatively unknown sport in a nation of football, cycling and basketball fanatics? I, for one, hope that the win in Rome for the stalwart Italian squad can only serve to increase interest in the game and encourage more youngsters to take up rugby there.)

6ft 7in Wladimir Klitschko to fight our 'Haymaker' - finally!

2011-03-09T13:21:00.003Z

Delicious quotes from David Haye - I laughed like ummm... a hyena?

Mears Future Champion - Richard White

2011-03-07T15:18:00.000Z

Mears Archery Future Champion, twenty year old Richard White, keeps his upper body super-strong. Not only by regularly working out with weights in the gym but also by lugging around huge bags of compost, decorative stone and enormous terracotta pots at the local garden centre (where he works part time around his demanding training schedule).

In January of 2009 the Mears Group stepped in to offer their support, both financially and with huge personal encouragement from his dedicated Mears mentor Stephanie Burgess. Mears happily provided Richard with much of his costly equipment and the freedom to finally be able to attend competitions (with his fellow archers) around the country worry free!

Richard White - 2010

May saw Richard in Cambridge shooting in a small but good quality competition. (There were some big national names there!) On the first day he ended up in the top ten but his fingers were really suffering. He was due to shoot both rounds but decided not to shoot in the morning session in order to give his fingers a chance to recover. This plan worked well as Richard ended up coming 2nd in the final session to a competitor on the Commonwealth team! Naturally he was very pleased with that particular result!

Richard’s Plans for 2011

Richard is currently the Adult Surrey Champion and all his training is now geared towards competing and achieving good positions in the big summer competitions this year.

A very upbeat (positively chirpy!) Richard explained to me the massive amounts of training necessary to maintain his current standard and take his achievements to the next level - Twice a week to the gym for weights and cardio (strength and stamina) work during the winter season. He then adds in three hours a day four days per week training indoors with his chief mentor ‘Great Uncle Ted’ (Ted Bradford) who has, incidentally, been Richard’s constant supporter since he took up Archery. Summer time though brings with it a gruelling three to four hours training session per day SIX days a week! Good grief…

Paul Day, Richard’s training partner expounded:

Richard is totally dedicated, self motivated and 100% focussed on his sport. I personally believe him to be destined for great things in the not too distant future. The promise he is showing for an archer of his age is really quite extraordinary and every day sees his confidence and self-belief grow. A lovely lad with truly amazing potential!

Thanks Paul!

Already Surrey’s adult Champion, this year Richard has his eye not only firmly fixed on holding on to his title in this July’s Surrey Championships but also on bringing home some medals in August’s British Championships.

At the weekend Richard took part in the Southern regional Championships in Crawley at the K2 Centre and came in a very respectable 4th despite shooting his worst score of the season! Although disappointed with the weekend’s results Richard remains very positive and is absolutely determined to one day qualify for the GB Olympic team.

Good on you young man! All power to your (gulp) incredibly powerful elbow!

PS. As a matter of interest, and maybe as an inspiration to other young budding sports men and women, when I asked Richard how he became involved in Archery in the first place he replied rather nonchalantly ‘ Oh – Just because I wanted to do something different…’

Mears Kingston Branch - Mentor Stephanie Burgess

Richard White -
Under 16 British Champion in 2007
Regional Champion in 2007 and 2009

April 2011 Rugby Skills Camps with Andy Gomarsall

2011-03-04T15:18:00.001Z

During this April, rugby World Cup Winner Andy Gomarsall plus a team of highly qualified mashsport coaches will be bringing you our fabulous rugby Skills Camps. Andy (by popular demand!) will again be hosting and coaching what is truly becoming the ultimate in rugby Skills Training Camps.

All children will be encouraged to learn rugby position specific skills such as scrum half passing, lineout throwing, goal kicking and scrummaging; as well as the general ball handling, tackling, decision making, rucking and mauling skills plus loads of brilliant complementary activities such as Margot Wells speed and agility training.

For location info/prices and indeed for all the exciting latest news take a look here > April Rugby Skills Camps 2011

Experience does tell us that places on Andy’s Rugby Skills Camps sell out very quickly. In order to avoid disappointment get your rugby-mad youngsters signed up asap!

Quick Quick Quick!

You can book places for these great April venues…

Eton Manor and Marlow

…instantly on the mashsport website and gain immediate access to your chosen camp’s hub where Andy Gomarsall will soon be posting all the latest news plus his inspiring warm up and camp preparation tips!

School of Hard Knocks - Tonight on Sky Sports 1 HD - 10.00pm

2011-03-01T16:19:00.003Z

As you know we’re connected with the best in the sporting industry. Partly because we like to work with the coolest and most knowledgeable bods in the business and so we have more to offer our users, but our primary goal has always been to provide amateur sportsmen, women and children with access to the professionals, be this directly as with our Skills Camps, Business Enterprise days or online with mentoring and tutorials etc.

For these very reasons we were happy to support Rugby Performance. Now, the chances are, you’ll already know these guys as they deliver the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ TV programme for Sky Sports so they’re ‘kinda’ famous what with being on the telly and everything…

Which one is ‘School of Hard Knocks’?

Well, I’ll tell you.

(Though it surprises me that you claim never to have heard of it!)

It’s that ‘reality tv’ programme which focuses on a bunch of unemployed guys who are struggling to find their way in life for one reason or another. Aaah… so you remember it now! Rugby Performance help to break the cycle of inactivity (that almost inevitably seems to go hand in hand with joblessness) for these fellas. By introducing the group to a new sport like rugby (which in itself has character enhancing elements!) the group are able to pursue a new interest, meet new people and are given great instruction as to just how they can make the absolute best of the talents they have. Once the group are full of newly found confidence they are introduced to potential employers and offered training courses. A massively effective sport driven scheme and it does of course make for fine tv!

Cool huh? A great example of how sport can be used to quite literally change lives.

To see our very own Gomars in the gym with ‘The Haymaker’ and the lads put your feet up in front of the tv tonight!

Sky Sports 1 HD 10pm

'Money Money Money' Qatar and BOA sign MOU...

2011-02-24T14:10:00.004Z

BOA and Qatar Sign Memorandum of Understanding | News Alert - BOA

In the presence of British Prime Minister David Cameron and HRH Prince Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani a Memorandum of Understanding between the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) was signed today at the Amiri Diwan (Royal Court).

BOA Chairman Lord Colin Moynihan and QOC President HRH Prince Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani signed the Memorandum, which builds on the effective relationship between the two National Olympic Committees and takes forward a wide range of mutually beneficial areas of agreement, including:

- Co-operation in the development of high performance sport and the promotion of the Olympic Movement.

- Strengthening the amicable relationship between sportsmen and sportswomen in both countries to promote understanding between the people of both countries, to develop sporting links and to work to maintain peace, development and understanding through sport.

- Agreement to keep each other informed, and to support and co-operate with each other, in areas of mutual interest related to the Olympic and international sports movement.

- Co-operation in the consistent application of the principles of fair play at all levels of sports activities and condemnation of cheating and illegal gambling in sport. In acknowledgement of the international fight against doping, both National Olympic Committee leaders pledged to support all efforts towards the elimination of doping abuse in the international sports arena.

- In co-operation with their National Sports Federations, the BOA and QOC agreed to share information relating to best practice in sports administration and discuss opportunities for relevant exchanges schemes.

The Agreement remains in effect until December 31st 2012 with the option of an additional four years.

BOA Chairman Colin Moynihan said:

“We welcome this opportunity for joint collaboration with the Qatar Olympic Committee. Following our meetings today, details of specific areas of cooperation will be discussed between both National Olympic Committees over the coming months.

“Given his strong interest in sport, we appreciate the backing given to this initiative by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP who attended the signing ceremony here today.

“With the London 2012 Olympic Games fast approaching we are entering the most exciting period in our history as a National Olympic Committee. I welcomed the opportunity to share some of our experiences with our colleagues in Qatar, who have themselves embarked upon their own journey to prepare to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.”

So this struck me as odd. Qatar?

Just saying…

Mears Future Champion - Jake Exton

2011-01-26T13:02:00.000Z

Mears Future Javelin Champion, plus great all round sportsman, Jake Exton has sadly been hit by every athlete's worst nightmare – A devastating back injury.

A rugby tackle (of all things!) resulting in an awkward fall has already seen Jake out of training for three months. He’s been in and out of hospital for numerous MRI scans and is undergoing tentative treatment from baffled doctors and physios. Jake's injury to date remains somewhat of an unknown quantity. The medical professionals have acknowledged that three of Jake's spinal discs are compressed and this condition is being helped by regular physiotherapy sessions, but as to the other complications brought on by the fall, doctors are mystified and are yet to offer a definitive diagnosis. Trapped nerves have been suggested as a possibility several times but this seems unlikely given the areas of the back which remain affected.

Sixteen year old Jake, a rising star in the javelin community, is naturally pretty depressed right now and certainly frustrated by his recent injury problems. Jake told me:

“I'm desperate to recommence with my training schedule. Currently I'm only allowed to swim and do the light exercises recommended by my physio. I was hoping to take part in the Olympics next year and the Commonwealth Games but at this moment in time I don't even know when I'll be able to compete again and it's driving me mad! My Mears mentor has been very supportive during this difficult period and prior to my injury Mears were making it possible for me train and take part in competitions both home and abroad. They've been absolutely great...”

I found myself warming to this courageous young man who, despite his pain and discomfort, was obviously trying to keep up his spirits up and maintain a positive outlook on his sporting future.

Jake’s Achievements of 2010

In April Jake threw in his first competition of the season and achieved a new personal best of 47.38m which ranked him at 12th in the UK. Unfortunately, Jake then suffered the back injury which has prevented him from continuing with his training. Currently he is 49th in the UK.

Future Plans

Jake is looking forward to getting back to training and competing!

Everybody at mashsport and the Mears group have fingers, toes (and noses!) crossed that Jake will make a full recovery very soon and return to competitive sport. Regaining and hopefully exceeding his former position and his indisputable prowess!

A Few Funny Sporting Bloopers

2011-01-25T15:37:00.002Z

Not a big fan of American baseball but it's worth sitting through those bits to get to the one tiny clip of the paraglider on the beach and of course the American Football clips (All HUGE fans of American footie here at mashsport HQ!)

Sport Bloopers - Funny bloopers are a click away

Mears Future Champion - Helen Scott

2011-01-18T16:27:00.003Z

Mears future champion Helen Scott is beautiful, bubbly, intelligent, super-fit, knows her way not only around a racing bike but a tandem too! Helen turned down a place at University to concentrate all of her considerable energies on her sport. Helen explained:

‘ I’m young and fit at the moment so this has to be my time to go for Gold, the Mears Group have made it financially possible for me to continue towards achieving my goals. I really cannot fully express my gratitude for their amazing support’

Helen recently decided to change direction slightly in order to become a pilot! (Is there no end to this girl’s talent?) I am, of course, referring in this particular instance, to taking up the role as the pilot (for British Cycling) of a tandem racing bike. Helen is currently attending a training camp in Majorca with her stoker (ie the rider on the back) putting in what Helen describes as ‘some great miles!’ The whole team (based at the Manchester Velodrome) are working hard for forthcoming competitions and probably most importantly for the Paralympic Games in 2012.

Check out the fantastic accompanying photos of Helen and her stoker, one of them shows them breaking the flying 200m World Record! Awesome…

Helen’s Achievements during 2010

Helen started the year by competing in Revolution 27 at the Manchester Velodrome. She did incredibly well and took the Women's Keirin whilst having already qualified for the Women's Sprint Final. Following this, she competed in the National Tandem Sprint Championships which she said was a great experience although her team faced hard opposition in the form of the top three in the world. Helen and her partner came seventh overall and they took a lot of positives from the day. Helen's bronze medal in the keirin final of the British National Track Championships in September 2010, 5th place in the scratch race, 6th place in the 500m time trial, and an unofficial flying 200m world record of 11.60 seconds on the tandem, all at the same event. She then competed in the National Women’s Omnium Series at her home track at Halesowen and even though she found it tough, she won the day.

The Future!

"Training is going really well" Helen commented “My strength and conditioning training in the Velodrome’s own gym has never been better, and I’m adapting well to my slightly different programme that has been set in order to compliment my new position on the GB team!”

I asked Helen if she had made any New Year’s resolutions, she responded enthusiastically: ‘My team mates and I have all decided that we want to treat each training session as if it's an Olympic/Paralympic final!’

Well… The best of mashsport and Mears luck to Helen and the rest of the GB team with their training. We are firmly convinced that this delightful and determined young lady will indeed achieve each and every one of her sporting dreams. What a shining star!

Mears Branch Midland Heart – Fiona Norris Mears Mentor

2010 National Track Championships - Women's Keirin from British Cycling on Vimeo.

One Word Book Review - Heroes,Villains and Velodromes - Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution

2011-01-18T15:02:00.001Z

Author - Richard Moore

Publisher - HarperSport
(As recommended by Mears Future Champion - Helen Scott)

Buy on Amazon: Heroes, Villains & Velodromes: Chris Hoy & Britain's Track Cycling Revolution

Physical Education Teachers - Divine or Diabolical?

2011-01-13T16:47:00.002Z

During November of last year the BBC website ran a great article called PE Heaven or Hell? (A must read incidentally) I tucked it away for a rainy day amongst my – Errrk - million plus bookmarks! (Is it too late to make a New Year’s resolution?)

‘Lo the heavens have just opened…

Anyway, although the article brought back some great school day memories for me, I knew that it would make my oldest school pal (you know who you are…) shiver in total horror! In fact I recall that I sent the link immediately over to him via facebook and via mashsport’s private messaging service (just to be absolutely sure it caught his attention you understand) - Wicked? Me? Never! Ahem.

At the end of the BBC piece there’s a small collection of reader’s own stories (really worth a look!) and as my aforementioned school pal wrote me a tearjerker of an email after having read the article himself, I’m going to mimic the BBC (Aaaaargh shock horror etc etc) by including, with his kind permission of course, an excerpt of that communication with you.

Get your hankies out now!

Now, please don’t feel too sorry for the author of that particular email as he now weighs in at around a very fit 12 stone, plays squash three times a week, helps to run his son’s athletic club and I STILL cannot beat him at chess!

My own experiences bearing in mind that both I, and the author of the email above were in the same class and same year, couldn’t be more different! The only school sports team I wasn’t in was the swim team and that was only because practice clashed with something else I was ‘big on’ at the time. I cannot think of anything hateful about my own PE lessons other than the time I left my kit at home and was forced to borrow another kid’s gear (who was at least two sizes smaller than me) I had blisters for weeks and sore bits in unmentionable places! I wasn’t allowed to sit out or pick up litter as we had a big schools competition coming up you see…

The reality is, I suspect, that if you are athletic as a youngster then you’ll see your Sports teachers as ‘demi gods’. If, however, you don’t excel in your PE lessons then those same teachers indeed become barbaric denizens of Hell to be feared and avoided at all costs.

The worrying thing for us here at mashsport is that, given the recent sports budget cuts imposed on schools, Games teachers will have even less resources and time to encourage those less obviously athletic.

Dance classes? Why the heck not eh? Exercise is exercise after all and unless we want the next generation of children to be ‘floppy’ and unfit (potentially for life!) then this situation has to be resolved.

Mears Future Champion - Ross Blackledge

2011-01-10T16:32:00.001Z

Fresh faced, friendly and brimming over with enthusiasm, fifteen year old Ross Blackledge is quite obviously a sailing champion in the making. After chatting to him for only the shortest while, via telephone, I had to almost physically stop myself from dashing to the nearest marina, purloining a dinghy and trying out this boating malarky for myself; such was the intensity of the Herne Bay lad's passion for his sport!

Formerly London based, the Blackledges relocated to Herne Bay five years ago. They joined the local sailing club, first and foremost, Ross explained, as a way for the whole family to meet people and integrate socially into their new area. Ross, however took to the club's basic sailing courses literally as a duck to water and before very long he was displaying the kind of skills, determination and natural ability that set him in a wholly different class to his peers. Ross has now been sailing in competitions under the close eye of his race coaches for the last two years and is clearly benefiting tremendously both from their support and the additional gym sessions which he undertakes in order to improve his strength and stamina.

So I asked young Ross 'Why sailing?'

' I cannot fully describe the incredible sense of freedom that one gets when out on the water. I love the friendly but hugely competitive spirit of the people involved in the sport – I've made the most amazing friends and to be honest, between school, training and sailing I have little time to devote to anything else!'

Ross' Achievements thus far in 2010

Mears welcomed fifteen year old Ross to their 'Future Champions' Scheme in May. He has been sailing his ‘Laser 4.7’ for just two years and is already well on the way to representing GB at one of the nation’s most successful Olympic sports. Ross is a dedicated member of Herne Bay Sailing Club and as well as sailing around the East Kent coast on a weekly basis, Ross also competes in waters across the UK and abroad. On top of his sail-training, he completes several sessions in the gym and quite a few lengths of the local swimming pool every week. Ross took part in the ‘RS Tera’ competition which is a world-wide event held in Sweden; he ranked an impressive 27th!

Ross was also selected to compete in the French ‘Laser European Championships’ in July of this year where he held his own admirably against some very tough competition.

Ross' Future Goals

Ross intends to keep training hard (both in the gym and in his dinghy) entering competitions both home and abroad, the latter made possible solely due to the financial support of the Mears Group!

His ultimate goal? The Olympics of course! Though Ross confided to me that he expects that particular ambition is a good few years off yet!

At only fifteen years of age Ross Blackledge is already a fine athlete who is 100% dedicated to his chosen sport (although in his case it seems rather that the sport of sailing chose him!) We'll be keeping a close eye on Ross' progress and must applaud the Mears Group's support of outstanding sporting youngsters such as Herne Bay's young sailing hero...

Mears Canterbury Branch - Mentor Adam Rohan

Quidditch for Muggles? Oh dearie me...

2011-01-05T11:10:00.008Z

Madness!

Turkey - The pros and cons...

2011-01-04T15:29:00.001Z

I’m sooooooooo sick of turkey.

I simply refuse to consume another mouthful of turkey for at least six months. Nope, I don’t care how it comes disguised (Yes Mother that does include your famous/infamous February ‘Oh look there’s still some turkey left over from Christmas curry'!)

Not another bite I tell you.

Having said the above I am fully aware of the nutritional benefits of the aforementioned large bird and of it’s importance in the diets of most sportsmen, women and children.

Here are a few ‘juicy’ turkey tidbits that you may or may not be aware of:

The health benefits of turkey include reducing your LDL cholesterol! Cool.

Turkey meat has mood-enhancing properties!!! (Oooooh now that’s interesting, it was the turkey that had Grandma bopping around the coffee table to Slade after the Queen’s Speech and not the pint and a half of sherry she’d consumed pre eleven am Christmas morning as we’d previously imagined.)

Turkey can help prevent cancer whilst boosting the immune system. Big pluses there.

And… Get this lads – Eating organic turkey boosts your testosterone levels!!! Wahoooo.

Turkey is a damned fine source of protein, selenium, niacin, vitamin B6 and the amino acid tryptothan. It’s also a good way of taking onboard zinc and vitamin B12. The white meat (minus the skin of course!) is an excellent protein rich low-fat food.

The Smarty Pants Bit

The amino acid tryptophan (found in our dear friend the turkey) can play a vital role in allowing us to get a good night’s sleep and is effective in promoting sleep even for those who suffer from chronic insomnia. Wow… Bet you didn’t know that eh?

No conspiracy theory here! This author denies being an employee of Mr B. Matthews or Butterball and is not a turkey farmer, but HAS been to Norfolk…

(Still not eating the stuff again until June - Earliest!)

Queen's sporty speech

2010-12-24T14:49:00.001Z

So… Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth is going to be advocating ‘sport’ when she makes her traditional Christmas Day speech to the Commonwealth on the morrow! Huzzah!

With the eyes of the world upon the UK as the venue for the 2012 Olympics I suppose that it was inevitable that the writer of the Queen’s speech would place the emphasis on sport to some extent eh?

The Queen will be focusing strongly (rumour has it!) on the importance of sport in building communities and creating harmony. Well… Good! (Her Majesty is clearly an avid reader of the mashsport blog!) This year’s Christmas message will include footage of Prince William and Prince Harry playing football with orphans in Lesotho! Which is touching. I guess though, in fairness, the Royals have always been a bit of sporty bunch haven’t they?

Catch the Queen’s Speech tomorrow at 3pm on the telly, radio and Youtube’s Royal Channel.

Merry Christmas!

God Bless us everyone.