Leisure

Table tennis stars scoop major honours at Sports Awards

Chesterfield’s Liam Pitchford and Isobel Ashley have been crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year respectively at the inaugural Active Chesterfield Sports Awards. Both athletes have had a fantastic 12 months, with Pitchford winning three medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and Ashley breaking into the top 20 of the England Senior Women’s rankings for the first time.

Over 160 local athletes, mentors and school pupils attended the Winding Wheel for the much anticipated ceremony on Thursday 8th October. In association with Chesterfield Borough Council, the Chesterfield School Sport Partnership combined community sports awards with those for schools and school teams that have excelled over the past year.

In total 22 awards were presented to athletes across a wide range of sports including Inkersall Primary and Brookfield Community schools, who picked up the Primary and Secondary Team Achievement awards respectively. Inkersall had a fantastic year of sporting success as two of their under-11 football teams reached the district finals and one became the best in Derbyshire, winning at the county final, eventually losing out in the regional event. Brookfield Community School entered 12 teams into four badminton competitions and both the key stage three and four boys teams won at county level, rounding off a year of fantastic displays that are testament to coach Mr Petty.

There was similar success for Springwell Community College who were deserved winners of the Disability Team Achievement award. After entering every Competition Plus event, the school were crowned district champions in a number of events and were county winners in the Sports Hall Athletics and Mini Tennis Plus events.

Volunteers and coaches were rewarded too, with Oliver Couch winning the Volunteer of the Year award and John Jefferson the Lifetime Achievement award.  The full list of winners is detailed below.

Mark Tournier, Partnership and Development Manager at the Chesterfield School Sport Partnership, said: “The Active Chesterfield Awards provided an exciting platform to recognise and celebrate local sporting success and honour the dedication of sports leaders and volunteers.

“Everyone involved in school and community sport in Chesterfield deserves praise and thanks. The Winding Wheel provided the ideal setting to give the worthy winners and highly commended nominees to receive their awards.

“The Chesterfield School Sport Partnership were delighted to partner the Active Chesterfield Awards to recognise the work that schools play in developing opportunities to shine through Sport and Leadership and to celebrate the success of individuals and teams across Chesterfield.”

The evening was a great success and something which the Chesterfield School Sport Partnership looks to build upon for the years ahead.  Those interested in getting involved in the future should contact m.tournier@brookfield.derbyshire.sch.uk.

See more photographs from the event at https://www.flickr.com/photos/chesterfieldsspphotos/sets/72157659635443465/

Active Chesterfield Sports Awards

 

Full list of winners – 2015

 

Team Achievement Primary School

Winner: Inkersall Primary School

Highly commended: Old Hall Junior School

Team Achievement Secondary School

Winner: Brookfield Community School

Highly commended: Springwell Community College

Team Achievement Disability

Winner: Springwell Community College

Highly commended: Brookfield Community School, Netherthorpe School

Media & Arts Contribution to Sport

Winner: Katie Marshall

Highly commended: Joe Roberts

Individual Young Leader of the Year

Winner: India Hollingworth

Highly commended: Josh Ryder-Flint, Melanie Oldale

School Sport Organising Crew

Winner: Brampton Primary School

Highly commended: Hasland Junior School, Old Hall Junior School

School Sport Organising Committee

Winner: Hasland Hall Community School

Highly commended: St. Mary’s High School

School Staff Award

Winner: Angela Barnston

Highly commended: Karen Kerry, Rachael Bates

Junior Sportsman of the Year

Winner: Jack Barker-Sabido

Junior Sportswoman of the Year

Winner: Elise Collins

Highly commended: Anya Bourne

Coach of the Year

Winner: Dave Cartawick

Highly commended: Andy Petty, Paul Chapman

Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Oliver Couch

Active Workplace Award

Winner: Chesterfield Borough Council

Highly commended: Chesterfield College, Kier Asset Management

Community Award

Winner: Newbold Community Football Training

Club of the Year

Winner: Chesterfield Triathlon Club

Highly commended: Unit 1 Martial Arts

Team of the Year

Winner: Chesterfield Football Club

Highly commended: Chesterfield Cricket Club First XI

Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner: John Jefferson

Highly commended: Denise Cooper

Young Sportsman of the Year

Winner: Aaron Cobley

Highly commended: Ryan Apsley, Jake Apsley

Young Sportswoman of the Year

Winner: Alicia Barrett

Highly commended: Ella Barrett

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year

Winner: Kevin Tann

Sportsman of the Year

Winner: Liam Pitchford

Highly commended: George Woolgar

Sportswoman of the Year

Winner: Isobel Ashley

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Funding boost for Derbyshire athletes

Some of Derbyshire’s most promising sporting talent can look forward to a brighter future after being handed financial backing through the ICON bursary programme.

A total of 127 athletes from across the county will receive up to £250 of the £22,925 fund raised through county sports partnership Derbyshire Sport’s business network.  They will also receive free leisure passes in the area where they train and be given valuable PR exposure.

Those supported in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire are listed below.

ICON was set up by Derbyshire Sport as part of the work to create a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games in Derbyshire.

The bursaries have been made possible by the contributions of all 10 Derbyshire local authorities, plus a number of business members from across the county.

Each successful applicant must live in one of the county’s nine district and boroughs or compete for a Derbyshire-based club and must already compete at a high level.

All should already be representing their country or Great Britain, have won a national championship medal, are part of a recognised development squad or a development squad aligned to a professional club or have been selected for the Derbyshire Institute of Sport.

Director of Derbyshire Sport, Ilana Freestone said: “It’s only through the continued support of the ICON programme from our business members that we are able to give so many athletes a helping hand, so we’re very grateful to them.

“There is a fantastic spread of sports and ages being backed by the programme, and we wait with bated breath to see what these champion performers can achieve as they move up the levels.”

Ella and Alicia Barrett

Athletes supported in Chesterfield

Isobel Ashley (Table Tennis) from Barrow Hill.

Alicia Barrett (Athletics) Newbold (pictured above).

Ella Barrett (Athletics) from Newbold (pictured above).

Bradley Buckland (Tennis) from Brampton.

Aaron Cobley (Taekwondo) from Staveley.

Ashley Davies (Squash) from Chesterfield.

Emily Hedger (Equestrian) from Sheffield and a member of Dunston Park EC, Chesterfield.

 

 

Athletes supported in North East Derbyshire

Jade Ashmore (Boxing) from Heath.

Amy Bell (Swimming) from Killamarsh.

Imogen Clark (Swimming) from Morton.

Matthew Cooper (Fencing) from Dronfield Woodhouse.

Caitlin Emerson (Athletics) from Shirland.

Niamh Emerson (Athletics) from Shirland.

William Gascoyne (Cycling) from Wingerworth

Bess Heath (Cricket) from Holymoorside.

Lauren Hill (Athletics) from Grassmoor.

Oscar Kelly (Swimming) from Killamarsh.

Adam Morewood (Cycling) from Dronfield Woodhouse.

Tilly Simpson (Athletics) from Eckington.

Morgan Swales (Ice Skating) from Calow.

Calli Thackery (Athletics) from Killamarsh.

Jessie Westnidge (Swimming) from Marsh Lane.

Millie Wilkinson (Skiing) from Dronfield Woodhouse.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Women-only Workplace Challenge to kick start fitness push

Women in Chesterfield have the ideal chance to kick start a healthy lifestyle later this month with Active Derbyshire’s new two-week mini Workplace Challenge.

Studies have shown just 20 minutes of physical activity each day brings significant health benefits and can reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by 40 per cent.

It’s why the online, female-only challenge will run from Monday October 19 until Saturday October 31 to link in with Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Wear it Pink Day, held on Friday, October 23.

Prizes will be awarded for the best Wear it Pink Day photo, which can be any picture of participants taking part in physical activity while wearing pink.

Other spot prizes will be available to those who achieve the department of health target of 150 minutes of activity each week.

Among the prizes are a cycling goody bag (hand pump, light, spare inner tube, water bottle and bike lock), courtesy of Cycle Derby and a pass for cycle hire in the Derbyshire Dales.

“The This Girl Can campaign has been hugely successful in increasing women’s awareness of the need to say fit and active – and now we want those across the county to show they are keen to act on it,” said Andrea Stone, Sport Development Manager for Active Derbyshire.

“Taking part in a Workplace Challenge event can give you added motivation as it is something you can do alongside your colleagues, and you can push each other along. You could also do something to support a breast cancer charity at the same time.”

The October challenge comes after the successful national #SeptemberShakeUp, which saw 178 people from across Derbyshire log a range of sport and activities, 62 of them ‘newbies’.

They travelled a total of 11,978 miles during the month – the equivalent of Derbyshire to Hong Kong and back – with the University of Derby, Netcomposites (Chesterfield), Derbyshire Dales District Council and Guilford Textiles (Alfreton) among the most active workplaces.

A similar two-week male-only challenge themed on ‘Movember’ is planned to follow next month from Monday November 16 until Sunday November 29.

Find out how you can get involved at www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/derbyshire

(c) Womens only Workplace Challenge

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield retains its silver gilt award at East Midlands in Bloom awards

The judges made their visit to the town this summer and were given a guided tour of the borough and commented on the many improvements that have been made in the last year.

They were particularly impressed with the floral displays in the town centre, the parks and open spaces, including Chesterfield’s five Green Flag awarded parks, community involvement at sites including Boythorpe Allotments, as well as the amount of recycling carried out by residents and businesses in the borough.

They also noted the new Chesterfield in Bloom committee made up of local residents to organise the campaign and the number of community volunteers who have become involved.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “We are pleased to be awarded a silver gilt award in the East Midlands in Bloom competition. A lot of work has been put in by volunteers on the Chesterfield in Bloom committee and council staff working together to make our borough clean, green and inviting to visitors.

“If anyone is interested in joining the committee and becoming involved, we would like to hear from you.”

As well as the overall award for Chesterfield, the judges made two awards within the borough.

Steve and Jane Land of Moorland View Road won gold in the Frank Constable MBE award for the best residential garden in the East Midlands. Mr and Mrs Land won the best back garden (larger than 80 m2) and the best overall garden in last year’s Chesterfield in Bloom awards.

The judges commented on the immaculately-kept lawn, the brightly-coloured hanging baskets, the dense planting and the complete absence of weeds.

Ringwood Hall Hotel, the sponsors of the Chesterfield in Bloom competition, won gold in the best hotel/pub garden award.

The judges were impressed with the varied planting in the grounds which is in-keeping with a period property as well as the well-maintained lawns.

Chesterfield in Bloom is a council-led project to improve the borough’s environment and forms the borough’s entry into the regional East Midlands in Bloom competition.

To become involved in a range of volunteering opportunities, contact John Ramsey by email: john.ramsey@chesterfield.gov.uk or call 01246 345097.

East Midlands in Bloom Judging 2015

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

New website celebrates Chesterfield’s black and white buildings

Local historian Janet Murphy has launched a new website which celebrates Chesterfield’s black and white buildings to be found in the town centre.

Janet said “Few people realise that there are nearly 50 different black and white buildings in the town centre. The earliest is the building housing Peacocks coffee lounge on Low Pavement, which possibly dates back to the 16th century.”

“Most were built in the 1920s when the Tudor Revival style was popular, but the attractive Arts and Craft building of 1934, which originally housed the Electricity Board Showrooms on Holywell Street, now the Vibe and Loft night clubs, is one of the latest.”

The new website includes a step-by-step trail round the town centre to see the buildings.

To find out more visit the web site at www.blackandwhitebuildingsofchesterfield.co.uk


Chesterfield's black and white buildings

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield duo to walk 30 miles to Proact for Ashgate Hospicecare

Spireites fans Glynn Hinchcliffe and Keith Thomson-Pidd are preparing to walk 30 miles from the City Football Ground in Nottingham to the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield in support of Hospice Care Week.

The nine-and-a-half hour challenge, which takes place on Saturday 10th October, should see the pair reach Chesterfield in time for a big cheer from fans at the end of the of the Spireites’ home game against Gillingham.

Glynn says, “We’re doing this for a personal challenge but hope to raise much needed money for the hospice in the process.”

Hospice Care Week takes place between 5th and 11th October and aims to raise the profile of hospice care across the UK by encouraging businesses, schools and local communities to undertake a fun activity throughout the week.

Named recently as Chesterfield’s official charity partner this season, Ashgate Hospicecare looks after 2,000 patients every year and provides support to the people closest to them. To continue doing this, they need to raise £6 million this year alone to ensure their services are accessible to local people across North Derbyshire.

To make a donation, please visit www.justgiving.com/glynnhinchcliffe

If you would like to get involved in Hospice Care Week, visit www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk/get-involved/hospice-care-week or call 01246 567250.

 

Photo: Glynn and Keith showing their support for Hospice Care Week

Ashgate Hospicecare

 

 

 

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

Colourful addition to Chatsworth Road

A vibrant new wool shop has been welcomed to Chesterfield’s diverse range of shops and restaurants at Chatsworth Road.

Named Chameleon, the new business stocks an entire rainbow of wool, hand-dyed yarns and knitting accessories and is easily spotted with its colourful new signage – created and installed by local agency Jumble Design.

Chameleon’s Tracy Oldfield says: “Andrew has been very supportive in the preparations for the new shop, working closely with me and really understanding the nature of my business and how to promote it to its full potential. I always try to work with local businesses wherever possible and this was the perfect opportunity. I’m thrilled with the end products and have received many positive comments’.

Andrew from Jumble Design, who has also created a stylish new logo and marketing materials for the new venture adds: “‘It has been a pleasure to work with Chameleon on their new brand.  I wish them all the best for the future.”

Chameleon is now open at 420 Chatsworth Road for all your knitting needs.

Chameleon Chatsworth Road

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield College raises cash for new Macmillan cancer care centre

Staff and students at Chesterfield College took part in Macmillan’s world’s biggest coffee morning last week raising over £2000 towards Chesterfield’s planned Cancer Care Centre at the Royal Hospital.

The day started with a 5km fun run leaving from the college’s Heartspace at the Infirmary Road Campus along the canal and back to college and continued with cake and a croquembouche over 6ft tall!

Aside from the traditional cake sale, many departments across college got on board to bring in the cash for this important cause with activities like leg-waxing, a book sale and a ‘Don’t Show Your Teeth’ competition.

Elena Wynn, Director of Learning for Business and Commercial Enterprise at Chesterfield College said “It is amazing to see everyone get behind this brilliant cause. It’s really important to work together as a community to raise the funds we need for the cancer care centre. Cancer is a disease that touches so many people’s lives so it’s a cause that is close to people’s hearts. I am delighted with how much money we have raised and would like to thank everyone who has donated time, money and cakes to help us make today such a success.”

Chesterfield College Macmillan Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Proposals welcomed for redevelopment of Co-op building

Destination Chesterfield and the East Midlands Chamber have today welcomed news that redevelopment plans for the town’s landmark Co-op building On Elder Way, will be submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council’s Planning Department.

Find out more about the scheme and download details of opportunities

The Co-op closed the doors of its department store in 2012 and it has been a key target for redevelopment since. A joint venture has now been agreed between Midlands Co-operative and Jomast Developments Ltd to re-use the existing four storey building and create a new leisure development for Chesterfield. The developers propose to turn the former department store into a hotel, restaurants and a gym, retaining many of the building’s original design feature.

Planning permission is expected to be submitted for consideration on 12 October.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, the town’s inward investment campaign, said: “I’m delighted that the potential of the former Co-op building has been recognised by investors. It has a prime spot in the town and plays a key role in the town centre master plan. Chesterfield already has very low shop vacancy rates and the proposed redevelopment of the former Co-op store will further enhance the town’s offering, helping us attract further town investment as well as make us a go to destination for shoppers and tourists.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), said: “It was a huge blow to Chesterfield when the Co-op closed its doors in 2012, but it’s great to see that significant progress has been made to bring the iconic building it vacated back into use to boost the town’s leisure offering.”

The news of the proposed redevelopment plans for the Co-op building follows on the back of the announcement earlier in the year that £1billion of investment is taking place in the Borough over the next 10 years, including the £400 million Peak Resorts, £320 million Chesterfield Waterside, £88 million Markham Vale and Northern Gateway developments.

Peter Swallow added: “We want Chesterfield to be a place people stop and stay in, rather than travel through to the Peak District and Destination Chesterfield is an important part of that. We forged ahead with our marketing plans through the recession and we are now reaping the rewards of that as investors are now looking at the town.”

Chesterfield Elderway (Former Co-op store)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Visiting

Top honours for Tupton Hall footballers

Tupton Hall School Under-12s Girls Football Team had an evening to remember at last night’s (Thursday) 2015 Derbyshire Schools’ Sport Association (DSSA) Awards after winning the Secondary Team of the Year category.

They pipped Ecclesbourne School KS3 Girls Badminton Squad and Noel-Baker School Basketball Team to the prize at the ceremony held at Chesterfield FC’s Proact Stadium in front of more than 200 guests.

Tupton were nominated after being crowned National Champions at the FA Youth Futsal Festival National Finals, having progressed from district and county finals.

The team also went on to make the last four of the ESFA National Cup and the last eight of the Football League Kinder+ Sport competition, just one game away from a national final at Wembley Stadium.

The top award of the night, Sportsperson of the Year, was retained by Allestree Woodlands School golfer Bradley Moore, but the North East Derbyshire district had two individuals highly commended in that category.

Eckington School’s Tilly Simpson, 14, was nominated as the reigning English Schools Junior Girls 800m Champion and national outdoor and indoor 800m champion, while Tupton Hall School’s Lauren Hill was put forward as a gold medal winner at the English Schools Athletics Cup Final in the javelin.

The Chesterfield area had its own share of successes, too, with Josh Ryder-Flint of Hasland Hall Community School highly commended in the Young Leader / Ambassador – Secondary School category.

Adult volunteer Nia Yule and Media and Arts contributor to School Sport Katie Marshall, both of Brookfield Community School, were highly commended in their respective categories.

Also announced on the night were the winners of the Derbyshire School Games championship trophies, with Dronfield Henry Fanshawe confirmed as Secondary Champion School.

Joint Primary Schools’ Champions were North East Derbyshire School Sport Partnership, along with High Peak School Sport Partnership, while Chesterfield School Sport Partnership were both Secondary Schools’ Champions and Competition Plus Champions.

Special guest for the night was shot putter Sam Ruddock, who represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympics, while also in attendance was the Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Barry Bingham.

Image: Secondary School Team of the Year. Winners: Tupton Hall School Under-12s Girls Football Team. Back, Students are, from left – Katy Webster, Mollie Stanley, Abbie Greaves, Leah Harrison, Elizabeth Clayton, Elodie Edwards. Front – Olivia Buckley, Aidan Greenfield, Emma Wilbourne, Millie Standen, Georgia Hagues-Stirk, Maisie Glasby-Hemmings.

Tupton Hall School

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Chesterfield pottery to appear on BBC 2’s Great British Menu

The work of award-winning Chesterfield ceramicist Clare Gage will be showcased on BBC 2 next month, when it appears on The Great British Menu displaying the culinary creation of top chef Pip Lacey.

Pip Lacey, head Chef at Murano London, Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred restaurant in the Heart of Mayfair, is one of 24 talented chefs who are in competition to cater a banquet which will celebrate the centenary of the Women’s Institute at London’s historic Drapers Hall.

Pip used the plates, cups and saucers from Clare’s range to display her dessert course – ‘a play on scones’ – to Great British Menu judges – Prue Leith, restauranteur Oliver Peyton and award-winning critic Matthew Fort.

Originally from Leicestershire, Pip’s menu is appearing in the Central heat of the competition, where she will go up against two other chefs from the region who have been challenged to produce 21st-century dishes that honour the custodians of first-class home cooking.

The first part of Pip’s four course meal will go before the judges on Monday 28 September, with her dessert course being shown on BBC 2 at 7.30pm on Thursday 1 October 2015.

Clare Gage’s textile inspired ceramics celebrate the British tradition of afternoon tea, so were the perfect accompaniment to Pip Lacey’s very British dessert of scones. Clare Gage’s ceramics are designed and made by Clare herself in Chesterfield. Her work features lace, buttons, patchwork, cross stitch as well as knitted and woven fabric designs. The beautiful range includes cups and saucers, mugs, tableware, vases, jewellery and hanging decorations.

Explaining her decision to choose Clare Gage’s creations to display her menu, Pip Lacey said: “I chose to use Clare’s cups because of the link to the brief: Celebrating the Women’s institute. They are very unique, hand crafted and made by a woman. The Institute is all about learning new crafts and Clare’s style was perfect for the dessert I did – a play on scones. Scones are something that the Women’s Institute would eat at tea breaks when knitting, so the style of Clare’s cups tied in perfectly. Knitting and baking still go together now.

“I know that the crew liked the cups, but I have no idea as to anyone else’s reaction to them or even myself as I’ve not seen any of the show yet.”

Clare added: “It was an honour to have my work selected by Pip. My collection stems from a real affection for the quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea, so to have my designs used for a dish that will celebrate the Great British Institution that is the WI seems very fitting.”

The winners of each regional heat will go on to compete in the final where 4 chefs – one for each course, will be selected to cater the banquet. Finals Week and the Banquet show will be aired the week commencing Monday 5 October.

Clare Gage

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting