Student starts as she means to go on

A Sunderland student has found a ‘perfect match’ when it comes to a new mentoring scheme in the City.

Amy Brant, from Belview, Hartlepool is studying at the University of Sunderland and was hoping for a taste of real life working to compliment her degree course in Psychology and Counselling.

It happened that David Cliff, the MD of the Sunderland based Gedanken Ltd., and a former student at Sunderland, was looking to help mentor a student who was looking to develop a career in the helping professions, something that the company has a fine reputation for:

“It is always nice to help a student out and mentoring is, I think, a great hands-on way of doing it.” Said David “I have been very fortunate in that Amy is very interested in my line of work which can only mean both parties we gain the benefit from our three months together.”

During the three months, David will help develop Amy’s skills in persuasive presentation, professional ethics and interviewing style. “ I think these mentoring sessions will be of great benefit to me both in terms of my current studies and when I do go out into the very competitive jobs market”, said Amy.

A spokesperson for the University of Sunderland said: "With rising competition for employment in the current economic climate, today's future graduates are facing a challenging time and need to start shaping opportunities for their future as early as possible.

"Our students need to learn about the world of work from those in the know, people who have been there, done that and can help a student gain an insight into life outside higher education. 

"We are therefore delighted that Gedanken has been able to offer Amy such a work-based experience through the mentoring scheme, we are sure she will gain valuable experience and gain the necessary skills which meet the emerging needs of employers." 

For more information about Gedanken and the work they do with coaching mentoring, training and mediation please go to: http://www.gedanken.co.uk or call 0191 5018081

Gedanken was founded some 15 years ago by David Cliff offering professional expression for people who sought to offer support and change for others, a commitment to stretching human development and a vision of organisations offering a real chance for human potential to flourish for the benefit of all.

ENNIS TO KICKSTART INTERNATIONAL OUTDOOR CAMPAIGN AGAIN AT POWERADE CITYGAMES MANCHESTER

Olympic heptathlon gold medal candidate Jessica Ennis will commence her 2012 international outdoor campaign when competing at the Powerade CityGames Manchester on Sunday 20 May.

Ennis in what is becoming part of a traditional start to her summer season will race in one of her favourite events the 100 metres hurdles at the unique street event held in Deansgate, situated in the heart of the city centre.

The 26-year-old Sheffield star sees it as an ideal opportunity to prepare for her first major heptathlon competition in Gotzis the following weekend, where she will defend the title she won a year ago at the world's best non-championships meeting.

Ennis denied the chance because of a serious foot injury sustained at the Austrian venue in  2008 to compete at the Olympic Games  in Beijing three months later, is determined after that setback to add the gold medal to the the World crown she claimed three years ago in Berlin.

"The street athletics is a fantastic event, it's so different from stadium meetings, which is so refreshing for me," said Ennis who will be joined by over a dozen Olympic and World medallists at the meet. "The crowd and atmosphere have always been so welcoming and supportive in Manchester."

Ennis who if she is to be successful at the London Games will probably have to smash the UK record, emphasised "This season is such a short season makes Manchester so important for me as part of my Olympic preparations."

Her full scedule to be confirmed she added: All I can announce at this stage is that I am preparing for the Gotzis Heptathlon Meeting the weekend after Manchester, after which it will be only 11 weeks to the Olympic Heptathlon so I'll be very selective about competitions."

Now undergoing a strict training campaign under the eagle eye of coach Toni Minichiello, she insisted although surrendering her World Outdoor heptathlon and Indoor pentathlon titles in the last nine months, she remains very upbeat about a home Olympics victory.

   

"Of course coming second  is always disappointing, however we've lots of positives, both competitions have given me more focus on what to work on," said Ennis. "Any defeat is going to make you focus and work that little bit harder, but i don't dwell on it.

"I focus on myself and work at making my strengths and weaknesses better," said the reigning European heptathlon champion who missed Lewis's UK record by just eight points with that success in Barcelona two years ago. .

Ennis with some good individual indoor performances under her belt during the winter and winning the World Indoor silver medal, admitted: "Despite the the  personal bests and National record in Istanbul, we know that good work has been done in all the events as the earlier season performances show."

Having worked hard throughout the winter to improve particularly in both the javelin where she is advised by former World bronze medallist Mick Hill and long jump, she revealed: "We took a short break after the (2011) outdoor season as usual and got straight back into working with Mick Hill on the javelin.

"I'm really happy with how it's progressing and hope to see some better results this season. The long jump has already produced an indoor PB and it's all about making it more consistent."

Getting ready for the Big Ride

Durham Big Ride has teamed up with Get Active to encourage more people throughout the Durham region to enjoy cycling.

Get Active has regular cycle sessions across the Durham area for beginners and families to help then ‘get back into the saddle’ and enjoy some great countryside as well.

“The scheme is a wonderful way of less active people out and about and Durham Big Ride is a great ‘goal’ for families and individuals to aim for while enjoying the company of other like-minded people” Said Colin Wilkes, Durham Big Ride Director.

Durham Big Ride has a range of distances that are geared to all abilities, also encouraging families to ride out together in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Get Active Get Cycling offer a wide range of cycling opportunities to cyclists of all ages and abilities. Get Active are hosting a series of family cycling challenges on the following dates:

Saturday 14th April - 10.00 - 14.00 - Murton Glebe Centre, Seaham
Saturday 19th May - 10.00 - 14.00 - Pioneering Care Centre, Newton Aycliffe
Saturday 16th June - 10.00 - 14.00 - Broompark Picnic Area, Durham
Saturday 14th July - 10.00 - 14.00 - Louisa Centre, Stanley
Saturday 18th August - 10.00 - 14.00 - Riverside Sports Complex, Chester-le-Street
Saturday 15th September - 10.00 - 14.00 - Hamsterley Forest
Saturday 13th October - 10.00 - 14.00 - Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

For further information on the above rides please contact Get Active on 0191 5692847 or email steven.hart@nhs.net

Get Active currently deliver a series of weekly fun, safe and enjoyable cycle tours at various locations, using the network cycle tracks running through the district. Each tour is led by qualified cycle marshals.

For more information on Durham Big Ride go to www.durhambigride.co.uk

ALDAMA FINALLY LANDS WORLD INDOOR TRIPLE JUMP GOLD MEDAL IN TENSE FINAL - By David Martin

Here is a great article by a good mate of mine Dave Martin. Dave knows more about athletics than anyone I know and is certainly worth listening to.

"For me the main focus was to come out here and compete with pride. That's what I was able to do so I'm happy."

Cuban born Yamile Aldama finally a British citizen after problems with her first application nine years ago rewarded her adopted nation with a gold medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul on Saturday.

 Aldama after previously winning silver and bronze medals triumphed with a nailbiting triple jump victory for the Aviva GB & NI team on a triumphant day when Tiffany Porter and Dwain Chambers finished second and third in their 60 metre hurdles and 60m finals.

 There was plenty of drama as 39-year-old Aldama became the second oldest woman ever to achieve a WIC win when after jumping a superb 14.82 metres in the second round she suffered a slight hamstring journey in the next.

 That saw the veteran sit out the rest of the competition although with her left leg heavily strapped she would probably have taken another jump if any of her rivals had bettered that distance.


 But none rose to the occasion and the Londoner scored a magnificent victory in the the Atakoy Athletics Arena ahead of Kazakhstan's Olga Rypakova and Mabel Gay of Cuba who had best efforts of 14.63m and 14.29m.

"Better late than never," said Aldama whose career has been hampered particularly in the last decade when her circumstances although married to a Briton, saw her virtually stateless and unable to compete at the 2003 World Championships and the following years Olympic Games.

"I have been in the country for 11 years," she added of her pride in being a UK citizen. "What more could you ask? I do everything I have to as a British citizen, my kids are British, 60% of my friends are British. Britain is home."

 Aldama a mother of two and looking toward the summer's Olympic Games added: "This is my first world title, 12 years after winning my silver in Seville. This gold is for my mom and my children and a great motivation for London.

 "I thought there was a little more there but unfortunately I had a little problem with my hamstring and could not carry on. I was checking round by round and at the end I won so I am very happy.

 "It's very difficult to explain the feelings. I am feeling very proud, very happy and I can't wait to get home and celebrate with my family. I hope the kids have been watching, especially the oldest who is 10. Before I came to the track he told me 'Mummy you have to win'"

Porter the team captain also produced a great display when placing second although no match for runaway winner Sally Pearson the Australian winner of last summer's World Outdoor 100m hurdles title.

Pearson flew down the track in a speedy time of 7.73 seconds, with Porter who clocked 7.94sec narrowly holding off Alina Talay of Belarus as they dashed across the finish line.

American born Porter holder of a UK passport since childhood, said: “I’m very excited, my semi-final didn’t go well as I’m sure you all saw, so I really had to refocus for the final."

“When I gave my captain’s speech I talked about how important mental focus was so I took my own advice and held my focus from the start through to the line.”

"I feel really good. I'm happy I was able to come out here and execute my race and bring home a medal. I was able to follow my own advice, the advice I gave to the British team in my speech.

 "For me the main focus was to come out here and compete with pride. That's what I was able to do so I'm happy."

Chambers although losing the sprint crown he claimed two years ago in Doha was nevertheless cockahoop after taking third place behind 2003 champion Justin Gatlin of the USA and Nesta Carter from Jamaica who clocked 6.46sec and 6.54sec.
"I'm very happy," said Chambers who just edged out world leader Trell Kimmons of the USA who was given the same time of 6.60sec.

"I always knew it was going to be tough with those guys, but to get back on the podium again is a great feeling. To get up there is great and showed the old boy still has got it in the old legs.

"I felt myself go and just felt a flash of blue and yellow (Carter) drive past me and I thought just hold on, hold on and luckily experience brought me through to a bronze.

"Even at my age, at 33, I still get as nervous as the youngsters do. But this is what I enjoy and I just hope I can continue to do it for a long time."

 Chambers proud to be part of the Aviva GB & NI side added: "We all are [one team]. We've got some old, we've got some new, we've got some experienced guys in the team and I think it's great because we all sit down at dinner and talk about our experiences and how nervous we get."

He also like every other British athlete asked, rubbished the notion being driven by a one UK newspaper in particular that Porter, Aldama and other athletes now representing their country were "plastic Brits", although many other countries including the USA and France have regularly used imported competitors who have gained major championship medals.

"I think it's unfair," he said. "They've become eligible to compete for our country and they're great role models. Tiffany's our team captain and I don't consider them as 'plastic Brits'. They are human beings, they are athletes and they are here to help represent our country."


David Martin

Training for the Durham Big Ride?

Training for the Durham Big Ride?

Had a very nice meeting with a guy called Steven Hart who is the co-ordinator for Get-Active.

This is a great scheme in which people who ‘fancy riding a bike’ can go along and join other like minded people.

They are on across County Durham and aims at the first – timers and people who want to do two or three miles to get back into the groove.

Steven is looking at the following dates and places as ideal for anyone who wants to build up on their family miles before the Durham Big Ride in September.

Get Active Get Cycling offer a wide range of cycling opportunities to cyclists of all ages and abilities. Get Active are hosting a series of family cycling challenges on the following dates:

Saturday 14th April - 10.00 - 14.00 - Murton Glebe Centre, Seaham
Saturday 19th May - 10.00 - 14.00 - Pioneering Care Centre, Newton Aycliffe
Saturday 16th June - 10.00 - 14.00 - Broompark Picnic Area, Durham
Saturday 14th July - 10.00 - 14.00 - Louisa Centre, Stanley
Saturday 18th August - 10.00 - 14.00 - Riverside Sports Complex, Chester-le-Street


For further information on the above rides please contact Get Active on 0191 5692847 or email steven.hart@nhs.net

Things on the move in 2012

As with any beginning of the year things start and slot into place after the preparations in the months before.

The good one that I have been involved with is the launch of the 2012 Durham Big Ride.  This is the sixth one we have doe and it looks as if we will hit record numbers on both the Durham Big Ride and ‘The Beast’.

Once again, the Chief Constable of Durham Police came to help with the launch and he is a man who ‘practices what he preaches’.  John Stoddard has taken part in two Durham Big Rides and Two ‘Beasts’ in the past four years – no special favours – he just comes down with a couple of riding pals and gets on with it.

Along with John, we had a group of people who have been to all the DBR’s and show no signs of letting up!

Gateway Wheelers (see previous bogs about them) came to the launch as well as some of the 20 or so riders from PC Henderson Doors who have also been to all rides.  Along with the groups, Paul Clough came along too. Paul is a great champion of the Durham area and also a keen cyclist.

All in all, a very nice launch which did the trick as we had coverage in all the major papers in the region as well as some nice radio take-up.

Another local event that is worth a mention is the Limestone Linx launch that ‘my fingerprints’ will be all over. This community project in the Coxhoe area of Durham is coming to the end after some 4 years of getting all sorts of grants and money from all sorts of different places.  This one will be officially launched soon but should be a good’un.

And while I am on the subject of cycle events, the Marie Curie Etape Pennines is going great guns.  I am working with the national event organisers as the local link and they are very pleased indeed with the take up from the region – more on this at a later date.