Chesterfield have been boosted by the news that experienced central defender Ian Evatt has signed a one-year contract extension.

Evatt, who began his second spell with Chesterfield two years ago, is now tied to the club until the summer of 2017.

After penning his new deal, Evatt said: “I’m delighted to stay. There were a few rumours about clubs being interested in me, but I feel that I’m one of Chesterfield’s own. I love the area and I’m settled here so hopefully I can finish my career here. It’s a club that is very close to my heart and hopefully we can have some more success in the future.

“The manager is such an enthusiastic character and his enthusiasm rubs off on everyone else. We’re not a million miles away, as the gaffer knows, so that’s why I wanted to stay.”

Spireites manager Dean Saunders added: “It’s great news for everyone that Ian has agreed an extended deal. He’s an experienced player who has a key role to play for the club. I will use him to help bring the young players on because you learn from experienced pros.”

Saunders has revealed that he is also in negotiations with other players who are in the last year of their contract.

Destination Chesterfield, organiser of the town’s annual Food and Drink Awards, is looking for two foodie families with children aged under 12 to judge short-listed family-friendly establishments in the annual awards.

As well as having an all-expenses-paid meal for four, the lucky winners will also receive two tickets to attend the glittering awards ceremony in October, which is being hosted by celebrity chef Theo Randall.

The Family-Friendly Award aims to find the town’s ultimate eatery that offers great food, excellent facilities for young children, special menus and goes that extra step to make sure families can enjoy their dining experience. As well as enjoying a meal, the winning families will be required to mark the establishments on food, ease of access, cleanliness and the quality and variety of children’s food. Last year the popular award, which is sponsored by Jumble Design, was won by The Manor at Brampton.

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens commented: “The family friendly category is one of the most popular in the awards and we get many nominations reflecting the wealth of family friendly restaurants that we have here in Chesterfield.

“This competition is a great chance for families in the area to voice their opinion and get to enjoy a meal out too.”

If you want to get involved then simply enter online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/family-judge-competition.

The closing date for entries is midnight on Wednesday 15th July. The winning families will receive a meal for two adults and two children in up to three short-listed establishments. The adults will also receive two tickets to attend the awards ceremony.

The awards ceremony, which will be held in autumn, promises to be a glittering affair. If any businesses would be interested in becoming a sponsor of the new awards contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.

Chesterfield-based Brampton Brewery has thrown its support behind next week’s Autoworld Volvo XC90 Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council.

The Brewery, which is sponsoring the Derbyshire friendly against a Chesterfield Invitational XI at Queen’s Park on Wednesday 1 July (6pm start), will have two outlets at the ground throughout the six-day long festival.

Brampton Brewery will have prominent branding at the ground and will also be sponsoring opening batsman Ben Slater for the 2015 season.

The festival commences on Sunday 5 July when Northamptonshire Steelbacks visit the picturesque outground in a NatWest T20 Blast clash.

The attention turns to the longest format the following day when Derbyshire welcome Glamorgan for four days of first-class cricket, before the festival concludes on Sunday 12 July with a NatWest T20 Blast fixture versus neighbours Yorkshire Vikings.

A wide range of local Real Ales will be available for supporters to enjoy from Brampton, in addition to a number of other food and drink outlets around the ground.

Cricket Derbyshire Commercial Director, Ryan Duckett said: “We are delighted to have a local company in Brampton Brewery supporting this year’s festival.

“Supporters will be able to taste the brewery’s famous real ale throughout the entire festival, which is a real highlight of the local sporting calendar. We’re looking forward to six great days of cricket in the park.”

(Image courtesy of David Griffin)

Around 1,000 children across Derbyshire, including a number from schools in Chesterfield are on their marks for the Derbyshire School Games Event – an exciting and fully-inclusive national competition designed to motivate and enthuse young people to take part in more competitive school sport.

The Derbyshire event, which takes place at Trent College, in Long Eaton will see London 2012 Olympic athlete Eilish McColgan in attendance to give inspiration to youngsters, who have qualified for this stage through excellent performances in District or School Sport Partnership Level Two competitions.

Her appearance has been made possible by Sporting Champions, a Sport England initiative that brings world-class athletes face-to-face with young people and young adults.

“I was lucky enough to represent Great Britain in my sport of athletics through lots of hard work and dedication,” said McColgan.

“At the Sainsbury’s Derbyshire School Games I will be hoping to see the Olympic and Paralympic stars of the future with so many talented youngsters in action, but, most importantly, it will be great to see young competitors having fun, making friends and giving their best.”

At a local level, the Sainsbury’s School Games are delivered by schools, School Games organisers, clubs, the ten School Sport Partnerships across Derbyshire, Derbyshire Sport and other local partners.

James Gregory, Director of Operations at hosts Trent College, said: “We have a proud history of sports participation at the school and are delighted to be able to welcome youngsters from across the county back to our facilities, after first hosting the event in 2013.

“Whatever their age or ability, it will be great to see young people getting enjoyment out of physical activity, which will hopefully become a positive habit in their lives as they grow into adulthood.”

The event will be compered by Jim Fearn from Derbyshire Dales District Council and you can Tweet your pictures and updates to #DSGE2015.

Schools in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire which have qualified to date (some schools are still involved in qualifying competitions):

• Netherthorpe School (Staveley);
• Springwell Community College (Staveley);
• Old Hall Junior School (Chesterfield);
• Newbold CofE VA Primary School (Chesterfield);
• Mary Swanwick Community Primary School (Old Whittington);
• Newbold Community School (Chesterfield);
• Eckington School, Tupton Hall School, Deer Park Primary School (Wingerworth).

The Chesterfield Artisan Market will return for a second month this Sunday 28 June with more stalls and even more fun for the whole family.

Last month the popular event attracted thousands of visitors to the town who all enjoyed quality artisan foods, quirky, bespoke, original craft items and delicious aromas in the street food court.

Taking place at New Square at Chesterfield Market, the market will once again feature musical entertainment and creative workshops for children by StraightCurves.

Organisers say the range of artisan producers will be even more diverse this time with traders offering local meat, cider, cheese, raw milk, award-winning pies, cheesecakes, old-school cornflake tarts, cookies and Eccles cakes.

There will also be plenty of non-food items including soaps, doodle art, photography, artwork and doggy paraphernalia, watercolours, hand-crafted fabric bags, leather satchels and cards – all in addition to the vast array of talented traders at the last event.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, said:-

“We had lots of really positive feedback from traders, visitors and local business owners after the first artisan market in May.

“People really enjoyed the quality and value of the artisan food and gifts on offer and I am sure this one, with the extended opening time, will be bigger and better than before.”

Denise Valente, director of The Market Co, said:-

“The welcome we received from Chesterfield visitors was overwhelming. Everyone was thrilled with the diverse range of goods on offer – quite different to anything that has been brought to Chesterfield before, as well as the incredible atmosphere created in the street food arena.

“Each month we will add new artisans to the market hopefully making it one of the very best destinations in Derbyshire.”

Chesterfield Artisan Market is run by Chesterfield Borough Council in association with The Market Co and will take place next on Sunday 28 June in New Square. In response to feedback the event will start earlier at 10.30am and run through to 4pm.