Derbyshire has appointed David Houghton as the Club’s new Head of Cricket.

Houghton, who is currently Batting Coach at Middlesex, will join the Club at the end of the 2018 season and have overall responsibility for all cricket management.

The former Zimbabwe Test batsman will be supported by John Wright, who recently served as Twenty20 Specialist Coach, and he will assist the Club in a new advisory role supporting recruitment, talent identification and cricket strategy.

Houghton will return to Derbyshire after two previous coaching spells at the Club. He has since gone on to enjoy success as Batting Coach at Somerset and was part of the coaching team at Lord’s when Middlesex won the County Championship in 2016.

The 61-year-old, who is highly regarded as one of the world’s best batting coaches, played 22 Tests for Zimbabwe from 1992 to 1997, scoring 1,464 runs at an average of 43.05, with a top score of 266 – his country’s highest ever Test score.

Houghton will compete the current season at Middlesex before joining Derbyshire in October.

Cricket Advisory Director, Colin Tunnicliffe, who led the recruitment panel which also included Chairman, Ian Morgan, and Chief Executive, Simon Storey, said: “David is highly-respected within the game and brings a wealth of experience to the role.

“During the recruitment process, David impressed us with his vision for the Club and made it clear that he wants to continue and build on the progress shown over the last couple of years.

“As a Club, we want to put a strong emphasis on developing young and home-grown cricketers, and David is also passionate about this as we build for the future.

“We are equally pleased that John has agreed to remain with the Club as an advisor. Under John’s leadership, we have seen great progress in the Vitality Blast and having access to his experience and global network will support David in his role.”

Houghton added: “I have really enjoyed my time at Middlesex and I’m grateful for their understanding. It has been a difficult decision, but the opportunity to take up the Head of Cricket role at Derbyshire was not one I wanted to miss.

“There is an excellent group at Derbyshire, led by Club Captain Billy Godleman, who are committed to improving and I am looking forward to working with them.

“On a day-to-day basis, we want to make sure we provide greater support to the players and we will put a strong emphasis on development to reinforce the group of experienced and talented guys in the dressing room.

“It’s clear that the Club has made great progress over the last few years and we want to continue this improvement, develop the squad and ultimately be competing for trophies.”

Wright said: “David is an experienced coach and I look forward to working with him.

“I will always be a phone call away, while during the summer I will be around the Club providing support in any way I can as we look to build a successful future for Derbyshire.”

Paula Shaw, Academic Manager at the University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL), has received a National Teaching Fellowship – the most prestigious individual award in higher education – in recognition of her outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.

The Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship scheme has been running since 2000. On gaining the award, fellows play an ongoing role in enhancing teaching and learning within their institution, the higher education sector and further afield.

Paula is the first female at the University of Derby to be awarded the title, joining three other academics who already hold National Teaching Fellowships:

• Professor Malcolm Todd, Provost (Academic) – awarded in 2014
• Dr Ian Turner, Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching – awarded in 2014
• Professor Dennis Hayes, Professor of Education – awarded in 2010

Passionate about distance and online learning, Paula was one of the founding members of UDOL in 2011 and has driven the University’s approach to online learning, providing inspirational academic leadership. She is part of the senior management team that has seen online learning at the University grow to over 3,600 students across a range of programmes in 2017/18.

Paula’s methodology ensures that UDOL students receive a full university experience, based on a social approach to learning. She worked with key departments across the University to develop an online careers, wellbeing and library offer, which resulted in her receiving the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Individual Impact in 2014.

She also ensured that all of the University’s online learning materials are designed to achieve the maximum possible inclusivity for students, whatever their needs.

As a result, UDOL has achieved sector-leading retention rates for online learning, with 93% of students being retained year on year.

Paula said: “I am honoured to receive this award, which reflects my passion for achieving the highest standards in online learning. More importantly, I hope it will inspire others to share my commitment to providing the very best learning experience and support for those students who are unable to physically attend university.”

Julie Stone, Director of UDOL, said: “Paula has been a key contributor to the success of online learning at Derby. She is an inspirational academic, passionate about learning and the student experience, and I am delighted that her work has been recognised in this way.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell added: “The award of a National Teaching Fellowship is an outstanding achievement, which reflects the impact that Paula has made in ensuring our online students receive the highest standards of learning and teaching.”

A by election will take place in Chesterfield’s Moor ward on Thursday 4 October.

This follows the death of Labour Councillor Keith Brown who died in July after a short illness.

Huw Bowen, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Chief Executive and returning officer, said: “Following the death of Councillor Keith Brown, residents in Moor ward will have the opportunity to elect a councillor who will represent them until next May’s borough council elections.

“Details of the candidates standing for election will be made available when the nominations have been received.”

Nomination papers for candidates wishing to stand in the election must be returned to the returning officer at Chesterfield Town Hall by 4pm on Friday 7 September.

Labour councillor Kate Caulfield continues to represent Moor ward.

For more information click here.

Derbyshire has signed opening batsman Tom Lace on loan from Middlesex for the remainder of the 2018 season.

The 20-year-old will be available for the rest of the summer and joins up with the Derbyshire squad ahead of the Specsavers County Championship match versus Kent at The 3aaa County Ground, starting on Wednesday.

A product of the Middlesex Academy, the opening batsman made his Second XI debut in 2015 and scored his maiden century against Worcestershire Second XI the following summer, aged just 17.

This summer, the right-hander has played six Second XI Championship matches and scored 322 runs at an average of 32.20 and with a top score of 94.

Derbyshire Captain, Billy Godleman said: “We wanted to bring in an out-and-out top-order batsman as short-term cover whilst Luis Reece continues his recovery.

“Tom is a good young batsman who is keen to progress and he comes highly recommended by Angus Fraser at Middlesex.

“It’s a good opportunity for Tom to gain some first-class experience and continue his development, while providing us with a talented option at the top of the order for our final games of the summer.”

Lace added: “I would like to thank Middlesex for giving me the opportunity to join Derbyshire on loan until the end of the season and I am very much looking forward to playing some first-class cricket.

“My thanks also go to Derbyshire for this opportunity and I hope to be able to contribute towards a successful end to the Championship campaign.”

The news comes after last week’s announcement that Godleman has signed a three-year contract extension to keep him at the Club until the end of the 2021 season.

Images by Middlesex Cricket

Chesterfield’s Amigos Team Parker racing driver Seb Perez stormed to victory last weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship at Knockhill Race Circuit in Dunfermline Scotland (25/26 August) for rounds 11 and 12.

The 18 year old racer took to a double Porsche ProAm podium success, winning both races over the weekend putting him in top spot in the Championship.

He overcame a race one impact and inclement weather throughout the weekend, to secure his second “double win” of the season, replicating his Monza victories earlier in the year. His sensational form sees him pull two points clear of his nearest rival with five wins to his name as the season heads towards the final two races of the series.

His weekends racing has been described as “one of his best drives of his racing career to date”

Four weeks ago he travelled to Snetterton circuit in Norfolk leaving with two podium slots and most certainly meant to carry on where he had left off.

Perez struggled for the start of the weekend’s Scottish round having only managed third quickest of the ProAm contenders in a dry qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, lining up on the grid in ninth spot.

Both Carrera Cup GB races would take place on Sunday and as the weather drew in overnight, the following day double-header would serve up an altogether different track for the 911 GT3 driver.

He was greeted on Sunday morning by persistently heavy rain and foggy conditions and a different approach was needed for round 11 of the season. Wet tyres and setups were the order of the day and Perez knew he would need to battle through heavy spray to make any improvement on his start position.

As the lights went out on race one Perez made a great start but contact early on in the race saw him drop back into fourth place ProAm driver as a battle commenced on the Scottish circuits narrow undulating and twisty track that gave the drivers very little chance to overtake.

By lap 15 the safety car made an appearance to Perez’s delight bunching the whole field together giving him the opportunity needed to fight his way through the pack with precision.

With the five minute board showing from the pit wall Perez made his way into third place despite off-centre steering problems caused by the earlier impact. It wasn’t long before another fantastic move saw him second.

With just two minutes remaining on the clock the Amigos Team Parker driver lunged down the inside across the start- finish straight to take the ProAm lead, a place he held onto until the flag.

Weather conditions worsened some four hours later for race two that saw a safety car start due to the weather and Perez starting as the lead ProAm driver. The conditions didn’t get any better but he saw a trouble free affair taking the chequered flag 32 laps later and taking his second win of the weekend.

After a fantastic race weekend in very wet windy and treacherous conditions an elated Perez said,

“To win both of these races here at Knockhill by such a considerable margin in weather like this is just fantastic”

“It’s been useful to come here with a bit of prior knowledge of the track thanks to my Ginetta days but essentially I’m really pleased with the way I drove today and I’d say it was one of the best weekends of my racing career so far. The car felt great and the set-up was just right thanks to the team who worked hard this weekend. Setting fastest lap time in both races is a testament to that. It’s a real confidence boost to take the lead of the ProAm category too, it’s taken long enough really but to finally be in that position with four races left is a great sign for my championship hopes.”

Perez leaves Knockhill leading the ProAm category, and second in the Rookie standings. Amigos Team Parker Racing are second in the Entrant Championship going into the penultimate meeting at Silverstone in September (15-16 September).

Editorial and Images by Paul Horton Motorsport Media and Photography