Current Mayor pays visit to ‘former Mayor’

A pub in the middle of Durham had a visit from the latest Mayor of the City to help pull a pint or two.

Cllr. John Wilkinson, current Mayor of the City, is helping to keep alive the name of one of the most notorious of his predecessors and helping promote a local business as well.

Cllr Wilkinson’s predecessor, Cllr Les Thompson, was one of the first to pull a pint at the John Duck pub in Claypath,  and has set the ball rolling for future Mayors to do the same:

Licensee  Andy Hughes is more than happy to see the latest Mayor come in to lend a hand:
“We named the pub after the Mayor of the City from 1680 and it was a gesture from us to invite the Mayor at the time of our opening  Les Thompson to help the launch.  As the Mayor changes every year, we felt it right to invite the current holder of the office to see how we are progressing.”

Andy added that the pub is looking to help local businesses all the time:  “We are very much a traditional pub in as much as we try and get our beers and real ales from local breweries.  This works well for both us and the brewers where we have built up a great working relationship with a number of them in the area.”

John Duck, Mayor in 1680, has a dubious background.  Indeed, there is not a lot known about his upbringing or his parents.  Legend says that he was walking along the streets of Durham when a Raven dropped a gold coin at his feet.  This was the start of his wealth – although there is evidence that he was not always on the right side of the law.

What is known is that he became one of the wealthiest men in Durham and had a mansion on Silver Street (now in City Centre) and later became Lord Duck of Haswell. 

“After working hard to establish ourselves as a pub to come and relax in during the summer months, now we are gearing up to the very busy time of the year starting with the Food Festival later this week.” said Andy

More about the John Duck pub can be seen at http://www.facebook.com/john.duck.581

Great North Weekend and all that!

Isn’t it always the same?  You wait for the Great North Run weekend to come along and, before you know it, it has gone for another year!

It is always a busy weekend as far as the press / snappers are concerned but add to that the cream of the Olympic medallist and you have a ‘picture fest’ to rival any of the previous Great North Run weekends.

It was very nice to see Mo back up in Newcastle after one of the busiest times he can remember.  Talk about a career- changing week for the lad! Best of all, he’s still the same nice, quite lad who was so please to see one of his old running mates from Sunderland who came trackside to see him at Friday’s press call.  Mo and Malcolm Husain used to run together as juniors and try and keep in touch, so it was nice that they got together to chat about old times and just ‘stuff’.  

From a personal point, it was very nice to see Greg Rutherford up at Gateshead too.

Greg and I have ‘bumped’ into each other at various tracks across the UK and Europe for more than 10 years and so it was nice to have a real chat as only two gingers can do! Out of the sun!

“I have never done so much TV and stuff” he said “That’s something to do with the medal you won in London” was the obvious reply from yours truly.

It was very nice for Greg to grab Gold in London.  He has had his fair share – and someone else’s share, of injuries and bad luck during his long jump career.

I could go on but to finish with them both, they are still nice blokes who are enjoying the results of some very hard work: not just for the past couple of years but a lifetime of dedication and commitment to their particular discipline.

For the event, Gateshead riverside was awash with sunshine, colour and spectators. All three and the top athletes involved with the events made the 2012 Powerade City Games a great success once again.

Next day and the weather was a little cooler, ideal for the people running the 13.1 miles that is the Bupa Great North Run.

You can read here http://www.greatrun.org/News/NormalNews.aspx?nid=8243

about the races with both the Men’s and Women’s races going right down to the last few yards which was great for TV and the spectators who braved the wet to see the race from the roadside.

Wilson Kipsang, who I spent a week with down at London Marathon earlier this year, was up to form and looking good for what I think could be a unique treble.  London Marathon, Great North Run and New York Marathon all in the same year. Wilson is funny, very good with the media and runs very fast and I can see him being the person to watch for a few years to come.

As I said at the top, this weekend goes too quickly but is always a great weekend.

BUPA GREAT NORTH RUN TIRUNESH DIBABA CONTESTING FIRST EVER HALF MARATHON

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba after her latest 10,000 metres victory in last month's London Games will turn her attention to winning the Bupa Great North Run on September 16.

Dibaba will make her debut over the distance in the World's greatest half marathon race from Newcastle-to-South Shields where the elite elite includes reigning Olympic and World marathon champions Tikki Gelana and Edna Kiplagat.

Her appearance in the IAAF Gold Label Event is a clear indication that the 27-year-old Ethiopian after highly successful track and cross country careers now intends switching her attention to road racing inlcuding a possible marathon next spring.

Dibaba has limited experience of road racing mainly having competed over five kilometres in recent years but in a rare outing over 15 kilometres in 2009 she set a World record 15K (8 mile) 46 minutes 28 minutes in Nijmegen.

Now Dibaba is taking the first step forward to emulating the achievements of her cousin Derartu Tulu the World's greatest ever women's distance runner who after her transition proved her legendary status with wins which included the Tokyo, London and New York City Marathons.

"Tulu was also a winner a winner of the 25th Anniversary Bupa Great North Run seven years ago so just as she followed in her footsteps at Olympic and World Championships level, Dibaba has another target to aim for," said Peter Riley, the race's elite athletes man.

"I'm sure although it is the furthest Tirunesh has ever competed over she will adapt to 13 1/2 miles quite easily and after resting before returning to training following her Olympic exploits where she also claimed the 5,000m bronze medal will be fully prepared.

But it is going to be a great challenge for her to win particularly with Gelana, Kiplagat and Jerotich who are also experienced half marathoners taking part and let'sa not forget Jo Pavey who always gives everyone a race fore their money."

Pavey will be joined in the race by Freya Murray the first Briton to finish in the Olympic Marathon while Portugal's Jessica Augusto the Bupa Great North Run winner in 2009 is also returning.

Tyneside firm taking on the world with major contracts

Tyneside based sports travel and tour operator Nirvana Europe Ltd, based in North Shields are set to complete a very successful 2012 with two major contracts in the sports travel industry.

Headed by MD Ken Morris, the company has been building its reputation for over 10 years on the international triathlon scene, making sure elite athletes as well as participants get to and from the event City safely - so all they have to worry about it doing well in the event.

“For over a decade Nirvana Europe has been the Official Travel Partner to British Triathlon, taking Elite and participant level Great Britain teams to Championship events all over the world, including Canada, Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand and China.” Said Ken, “and it was a great compliment to us and the work the whole team do when the Governing Body of the sport, the International Triathlon Union announced, in July, that Nirvana Europe will be the Official Travel Partner to the World Triathlon Championships, in London next year.”

The World Triathlon Championships is a huge event with over 5,000 athletes expected to compete.

To give the company, who employ ten full time staff, a further boost in this year of sport, Nirvana Europe signed a contract with the European Triathlon Union, making them the official travel partner for the European governing body.

“It was at a very apt time to sign the contract with the ETU” said Ken, “It was less than 24 hours after the Brownlee brothers were winning Olympic Gold and Bronze medals for Great Britain.

This success has brought the sport right into the public eye - watching as well as participating which can only be good for us.”

Renato Bertrandi, ETU President said “It is the aim of ETU to develop long term relationships with premium partners and Nirvana Europe is one of those partners.”

Nirvana Europe are also the Official Travel & Accommodation Partner to the Bupa Great Run Series, including the Bupa Great North Run and specialise  in taking  sportsmen and spectators to major sporting events all over the world.

“We are very proud that our team based on Tyneside is now receiving worldwide recognition as the World’s leading multi-sport travel company.” Said Ken.

The agreement will run until the end of 2013 and will see Nirvana provide  a consistent standard of cost effectiveness and excellence in travel and  accommodation to the European Triathlon Union.  Nirvana will also provide access to information through muli-lingual web pages to assist customers with their booking.

For more information on Nirvana Europe please contact Ed Tutty Communications on 07947348058 or info@etcomm.co.uk

http://www.nirvanaeurope.com/

www.etcomm.co.uk

S A D riders up for the challenge

Three riders are ready to take on the Durham Big Ride this weekend and at the same time help out stray dogs in Durham area.

Raising money for Stray Action for Dogs ( S A D), based at Deerness kennels in the City are  Alan Cutting and Helen Pinkney who work at the kennels and Mark Tallentire.

Durham Big Ride will see around 1,000 people take to the roads this Sunday (Sept. 2) and raising thousands of pounds for various charities and worthy causes.

The Durham Big Ride features three, ten and 25 mile routes that are set up to enjoy by everyone.

Alan, who is manager at the kennels is happy that all the money raised is going to the dogs: “ We have quite a bit of money from our friends and through the justgiving site and when the two local firms said they would pay for the ‘S A D Team’ t- shirts we were very pleased indeed. It means that we will be seen by all of the people there and who we are riding for.”

Helen, Alan and Mark with Rosie from the S A D Kennels 

 “The shirts sponsors, Fat Buddha restaurant and Workwear Express, will also be helping with donations to the cause”. Added Alan.

The Durham Big Ride starts at 9.30am. Some places will be available on the day, but organisers are advising people to sign up in advance at durhambigride.co.uk

The Beast, the ride’s 50-mile route, will take place 9am on Sunday, September 9.

To sponsor the Stray Action for Dogs team, visit https://www.justgiving.com/durhambigride-carolynbudd

Big Energy Making a Big Difference to Renovations

Big Energy has made a BIG difference to the lighting on a major renovation up in Northumberland that should see the running costs of lighting up this fabulous home cut by around 50% in the years ahead.

The Sunderland –based LED lighting supplier was on hand when Charlie Holt, owner of Little Warwick was undertaking a major refurbishment on the historic property site of Milecastle 28, Hadrian’s Wall.

“With a complete renovation, I had the chance to spec new lighting. I wanted to choose LED for energy-saving. And, from a design-perspective, it was great to work with experts who could source to compliment our architectural styling – we wanted a modern look, but substantial (which you don’t get with halogen ‘dazzlers’). We ended up with something tailored in manufacturing.” Said Charlie after inspecting the lights in all of their glory.

Although Big Energy was confident in meeting their clients exacting brief, other contractors were not so sure: “My electrician was sceptical, but they were won over by the results. And, our visitors have been well and truly ‘wow’d’. Of all the praise we’ve had for the place, the lighting has really been noticed. It’s a bright light, but not a harsh light.”

Gordon Angus from Big Energy, who supply low-energy LED both locally and nationally said they were more than happy with the end result at Milecastle 28:

“We knew Charlie had an exact plan as to how he wanted the area to be when it came to the lighting.  We also knew that, not only could we supply what he wanted but that the running costs will be significantly cut using the state-of- the art fittings we have put in place.  We are confident that Charlie will save in the region of 70%  on his energy bills over the coming months”.

Big Energy is looking to expand their work this year bringing low-cost energy to work places and commercial areas across the country. “It is quite simple really” said Gordon “we supply lights and fitting at a competitive price and the customer keeps saving via their energy bills for years to come”.

Big Energy has worked hard to develop their reputation for supply good quality, state the art lighting that gives great light and great savings for commercial properties, social housing or private dwellings. 

Why am I doing the Durham Big Ride?

Just one of the many reason why people get on their bikes in Durham in September

Around 6 years ago our son Taylan was diagnosed with having severe Autism. At that time Taylan was finding it really difficult to relate to the world going on around him......he was unable to communicate his needs & what is normally an easy transition from toddler to little boy was a complete up-heaval for our little man. We never gave up hope that things would somehow improve as the years passed by. Around the end of 2009 while searching for help to make Taylan's life more tolerable we came across the Son-Rise program. This organisation has high levels of success bringing children through their state of autism. After attending a seminar in the UK, we were totally convinced by what we had seen, and like every other set of parents, we wanted our child to fulfil his potential. Without special intervention, Taylan’s future is extremely limited. The success rate of the Son-Rise program instils hope in us for his freedom from this condition. It is difficult for us to understand fully the issue of autism and reversing it in Taylan, but we are diligently trying to do so for the sake of his future.

I n October 2010 we set up a playroom in our house and we started on the son-rise program. In January 2011 I went to London for a week of start up training with Anita, Taylan's school 1:1 worker. From then until now we have worked on the principals of son-rise with Taylan and some fantastic volunteers that work with him.

We have witnessed so many changes in Taylan's life that we had only dreamed about until we started this program, all of which you can read about on his web page. www.helpingtaylan.co.uk or search on facebook for Taylan's awesome Son Rise journey.

This September Taylan, Mum and Dad  are travelling to Autism Treatment Centre of America to complete  our intensive training. this will give us and subsequently our volunteers the relevant skills to reach our end goal for Taylan.

 

To financially aid this trip we've had various fundraising events, such as a 80's/90's disco, Race Night, Coffee Mornings, Car boot sales, a sponsored bike ride, a Karaoke night and a pamper party.  We now have a team of 11 people doing the Durham Big bike ride and 3 people completing the Beast. All of these lovely, kind people will be getting sponsorship to help with our fundraising. We also have Angela Robertson running the Great North Run for us. If you are able to help in any way please go onto our website and get in touch.

Have a fantastic day at the Durham Big Ride and The Beast, thank you for reading about our very special boy.
Lucy & David Horsley