12-year-old-boy smashes donation goal after running 90 miles in April
A 12-year-old schoolboy has raised more than ten-times his goal amount for charity after running 90 miles in one month.
Riley Frost decided to raise money for the hospital charity because he was treated for bacterial meningitis at the hospital when he was 10 days old.
Riley opened the donation page saying: "I will be running 90 miles throughout April to raise money for a charity that is very close to my heart. I will be using a tracking app and lots of photographs to track my progress and posting regular updates. I’m really excited to start this and would mean the world to me to get as much support as possible."
The initial goal was to raise £150 for the Sheffield's Children's Hospital Charity and so far he has made £1,940.
Riley ran an average of three miles each day, and on some days running six miles after football training. With the help of his mum, Caroline, and dad, Dale, Riley documented the journey by posting a picture of himself and the route he took after each run.
Mrs Frost also kept the public updated with Riley's progress by posting status, photo, and video updates on Facebook and posted videos of Riley running on TikTok.
Riley had help and support from friends and family, and on 30 April crossed the home-made 'finish' line to receive a large celebration and a certificate, with the donation total at £1,658.
Riley posted on the fundraiser page after his final run and said: "A fantastic way to end my fundraiser, thank you all for coming to cheer me on and thank you for all the donations and support. My just giving link will be open for a further two weeks. 💙"
Freya Kingswood, Senior Events Fundraising Assistant at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Riley for his fantastic fundraiser over the course of April.
“Thanks to his hard work, he ran an incredible distance and raised an amazing amount for Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Every penny raised will support our charity appeal for a new Cancer and Leukaemia ward.”
Riley's fundraiser is open for another two weeks and can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/caroline05?fbclid=IwAR1p-PE9_clCVqObVA71PJewz5R1M-OrP1YLimYZsv-gucjetmiGRk4jC8I
‘Super-Granite’ Selby edges Murphy to win 4th World Championship Title
The four-time World Champion triumphed with an 18-15 victory at a packed Crucible It was a final befitting of the occasion as a capacity crowd returned for the first time in the UK since March 2020 to watch a magnificent contest between the 2005 World Champion Shaun Murphy, and World number two Mark Selby. https://twitter.com/janverhaas/status/1389192235128958977 As the finalists were welcomed to the table, the 980 fans lucky enough to be inside the Crucible let out a deafening roar to greet them, in what was a poignant moment both in snooker and wider terms as it represented a step towards normality. Going into the final session, Selby led by 14 frames to 11 and continued where he left off by taking the 26th frame with an improbable final red shot but for the next four frames it was a case of tit-for-tat as Murphy would shave off the Leicester man's four-frame advantage before the latter reinstated it. With Selby on the verge of an emphatic victory at 17-13, Shaun Murphy produced a stunning couple of centuries to claw back the deficit and whip up a lively crowd. Just as it seemed The Magician was on the verge of pulling a rabbit out of the hat after he edged towards an improbable comeback to replicate Peter Ebdon's 2002 18-17 win over Stephen Hendry, Murphy gifted Selby a golden opportunity to take the tie as he missed a well-placed red. Selby took full advantage of Murphy's glaring error as he potted the black to take the decisive frame with a scintillating 120 and seal his fourth World title, as well as his 20th major. Speaking to BBC Sport, Mark Selby said: "To win it once against Ronnie O'Sullivan for the first time was a dream come true - to win it four times is something I could only have dreamed of" Meanwhile, Shaun Murphy conceded on BBC Two: "Mark is super-granite, unfortunately for me." "I started well but he went into super-hard mode, he broke me last night with that three-frame lead which is a significant lead in a match like this." Its been a magical 17 days of snooker in Sheffield and it has arguably proven that the time is right to re-introduce the people that make sport so special: the fans.
Who are Sheffield Wire taking to Euro 2020?
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has been a long wait for football fans to take in the brilliance of Euro 2020. With a week to go until Gareth Southgate reveals his three lions squad for this year's competition, Sheffield Wire's sports team give their picks for the tournament. Our reporters pounced on the chance to deliver their say on who deserves those all important seats on the plane, and as per usual, there are a few surprises in the mix. UEFA today confirmed each nation could take 26 players, which relieved a few painful selection headaches. However, there are still plenty of huge decisions to be made.
Adam Stanworth
Goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley), Dean Henderson (Manchester United)
Defenders – Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Michael Keane (Everton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), John Stones (Manchester City), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Reece James (Chelsea), Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
Midfielders – Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), James Maddison (Leicester), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund).
Forwards – Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Dominic Calvert Lewin (Everton), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Jesse Lingard (West Ham United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Adam says: “Phil Foden simply has to start. He is one of the most talented footballers in Europe at the moment and he has been a focal point of Manchester City’s success this season. He will provide explosive pace and positive play to England’s attack and can unlock defences.”
Phil Foden gliding past PSG's Ander Herrera.
Amos Wynn
Goalkeepers - Goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Nick Pope (Burnley).
Defenders - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Reece James (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Michael Keane (Everton), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea).
Midfielders - Declan Rice (West Ham United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jesse Lingard (West Ham United), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa).
Forwards - Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Ings (Southampton), Dominic Calvert Lewin (Everton) Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
Amos says: (on Jordan Henderson) "If he can regain fitness before the end of the season, he should be a starter. Although Harry Kane will be wearing the arm band, Henderson will be the true leader of the team". (On Grealish) "For most people he'd be a certainty; for me he just creeps in ahead of James Maddison. There is no doubt he is a talented player but I'm not sure if he as at the same level as some of the players ahead of him."
Jack Grealish has linked up well with Ollie Watkins this term.
Michael Jones
Goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Nick Pope (Burnley).
Defenders – Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Michael Keane (Everton), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea).
Midfielders – Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
Forwards – Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Dominic Calvert Lewin (Everton), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
Michael says: (On the Right-Back position) “We have real depth here and this is definitely one of the benefits of having a 26-man squad, it provides a balance of offensive and defensive full backs and I think Walker deserves the starting role for the season he has had.”
Kyle Walker's versatility could prove useful for Gareth Southgate.
Omar Garrick
Goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley).
Defenders – Kyle Walker (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United).
Midfielders – Phil Foden (Manchester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Jesse Lingard (West Ham United), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).
Forwards – Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Mason Greenwood (Manchester United).
Omar says: (On his selection of forwards) “All here have had a very good season. Ollie Watkins goes for me because if you give him more chances, he’ll score goals. He also offers something different to Harry Kane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Greenwood goes for me because he’s been on fire in recent weeks. It looks as though he has overcome some difficult periods and seems back to his best.”
19 year-old Mason Greenwood.
Sam Gilder
Goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley), Dean Henderson (Manchester United).
Defenders – Kyle Walker (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Midfielders – Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jesse Lingard (West Ham United).
Forwards – Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Sam says: “I really like the look of this young England team, including Bellingham and Phillips. Both have been instrumental for their clubs this season and I am excited to see how they link up with our attack. Ollie Watkins has been great up top for Aston Villa this year and I think he deserves a spot.”
Ollie Watkins in action for Aston Villa.
Tom Hardwick
Goalkeepers – Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Nick Pope (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton).
Defenders – John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Godfrey (Everton).
Midfielders – Declan Rice (West Ham United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea).
Forwards – Harry Kane (Tottenham), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Danny Ings (Southampton).
Tom says: “There’s no place for Patrick Bamford or Ollie Watkins among the attacking options in this squad. Danny Ings has shown his class again this campaign, with a respectable return of 10 goals for a stuttering Southampton side. The high-pressure environment of international football calls for big-game players, and with Ings boasting more top-flight experience than both Watkins and Bamford combined, he deserves the final place among England’s forward players.”
Danny Ings has three England caps to his name.
Improvement needed for Sheffield Sharks ahead of playoff clash tonight
Sheffield Sharks will look to bounce back from defeat as they take on Newcastle Eagles in the BBL playoffs this evening (tip-off 5pm). The Yorkshire side finished the regular season with a 68-80 defeat to London Lions at Ponds Forge Arena on Friday. Both teams entered the game already knowing their league positions, and places in the final eight were confirmed, leaving the meeting as an opportunity to prepare for the knockout stages of the competition. Heading into the evening, London sat 12 points ahead of Sharks in the table, with that gap clear to see at points during the night, with the visitors in control of proceedings during the early stages. Sharks did show glimpses of promise, as they grew into the opening quarter. They would have gone into the first stoppage level, but for a London three-pointer on the buzzer to make it 23-26. Tempers were also high, with Sheffield head coach, Atiba Lyons, being warned for his conduct on the side lines. Frustrations continued to grow at the start of the second, as London came back out on court looking bright. A time-out was soon prompted, as the difference between the sides was extended to eight points. It wasn’t long before there was another stoppage in play, this time, because of issues with the stop clock. After that problem was resolved, play resumed, with Lions strengthening their advantage.
Sharks will be looking to bounce back this evening.
Sheffield will be hoping for an improved display in tonight’s quarter-final, after finishing the regular season with back-to-back defeat. Mistakes will have to be removed and some of the more positive moments from Friday will need to be replicated.Playoffs have arrived. It's GameDay, #SharkNation!!
🆚 @NewcastleEagle 🕧 5pm Tip-off 🇬🇧⠀ 🏀 BBL Playoff QF Round 1 💻 BBLPlayer & https://t.co/6cUxBkC4nH#MayMadness #FearTheFin #BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/5Rbwdk3gGv — The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (@SheffieldSharks) May 4, 2021
Tramlines 2021 line-up released with The Streets, Royal Blood, and Richard Ashcroft to headline
Tramlines have finally revealed the line-up for this year’s festival at Hillsborough Park. Sheffield’s most iconic festival will return on 23-25 July, after it was cancelled last summer due to coronavirus restrictions. The Streets will kick-off the headline performances on the Sarah Nulty Main Stage on the Friday night.
The Streets' Mike Skinner has performed exclusive DJ sets for Tramlines in the past but performs live for the first time as the Friday night headliner.
Tramlines will take place at Hillsborough Park from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th July.
Tramlines festival features five stages of music, comedy, performance, art, and handpicked food and craft ales.
Tramlines 2021 line-up
The Streets, Royal Blood, Richard Ashcroft
The Kooks, DMA's, Blossoms, Dizzee Rascal, Tom Walker, Pale Waves, The Pigeon Detectives, Little Simz, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Mahalia, Everything Everything, Jack Bugg, The Sherlocks, The Fratellis, Sundara Karma, Alfie Templemen, The Blinders, The Hara, The Lathums, Georgia, Lucy Spraggan, The Magic Gang, Vistas, Lauran Hibberd, Deco, Abbie Ozard, Everly Pregnant Brothers, The Big Moon, Holly Humberstone, The Snuts, Fickle Friends, The Reytons, Baby Queen, Biig Piig, Before Breakfast, Bloxx, Lottery Winners, Shelley Byron & The Poison Sheep.
“We were sold a lie”: Meet the student rent strikers occupying Sheffield’s Arts Tower
(Credit: Joe W.)
Dan
Joe
Charlie
“We understand this has been an incredibly difficult year for students and throughout the pandemic we have been working hard to support them in the best possible way.
"While the University cannot control the decisions of private landlords, we are continuing to work closely with the Students’ Union to ensure we are providing students with the most effective and appropriate support."
Anger over ‘insensitive’ forestry action at site of historical Prisoner of War Camp
Forestry thinning at Redmires Plantation has been brought into question over the weekend, as relics from Britain’s wartime past have been damaged in the process. Jessica Ghost, 39, was shocked to find her favourite heritage spot, the historical Redmires Prisoner of War (POW) camp located at Lodge Moor, had suffered as a result of the forestry action. https://twitter.com/_jessghost/status/1386351508707491844 The site was originally a training camp for soldiers in the Sheffield City Battalion during World War One. In World War Two, the site was used as the largest British POW camp and at its peak in 1944, it contained nearly 200 huts and homed up to 11,000 enemy soldiers. In 1958, the Redmires Camp Plantation was established, with forestry thinning operations occurring roughly every decade. Recently, those who hold sentiment for the site are concerned over recent forestry action, and how Sheffield City Council has left the area.
A birds eye view of the site during the Second World War
Revolutionary zinc oxide development could have a global environmental impact
Engineers have developed a sustainable way of making zinc oxide, a key ingredient in many products like sunscreen, batteries, tyres, and sensors.
The new technique, developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield and Imperial College London, is cost effective and much better for the environment as it requires 95% less energy than the current method.
The team was led by Dr Kyra Sedransk Campbell from the University’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. She and Jason Hallett, a professor in Sustainable Chemical Technology at Imperial College, co-supervised Ph.D student Francisco Malaret for this project.
Dr Campbell explained that her focus in her research is how to make the world a better place.
She said: “I can see how much of a global environmental impact we can make, which matters.
“If I spend my whole career on that, then I will feel that I have done something good, which is something that drives me to do scientific research.”
The new process of making zinc oxide uses a “one-pot” method, compared to the traditional method which uses a 900C furnace.
Dr Campbell explained: “You add in the ingredients and change the environment and conditions around it. We use a lower temperature, water-based process.
“It doesn't have the same energy input requirement, so it’s better for the environment.”
She said: “It’s not complicated or expensive either, meaning we can produce it in large quantities, which is a hugely important factor when it comes to costs.
“We have to make a better quality product at a lower price point, and that's where our technology shows to be significantly better than it’s competition.”
In personal care products, such as sunscreens, it is essential to make a cost effective ingredient for products. Zinc-based sunscreens are currently very expensive, and cheaper sunscreens contain chemicals that are harming marine life. The aim to make a higher quality zinc oxide crystal at a lower price point is beneficial, as most people are unable to afford high-end products.
The three scientists have now launched a spin-out company Nanomax to commercialise the technique. The company is currently patent-pending but has already had discussions with many reputable companies, such as Tata and Liberty.
Dr Campbell explained: “We want to work with companies to deliver this new method, but similarly we can work with them to help produce high quality products. We’ve started on this with sunscreen manufacturing; had some interest with new zinc-based batteries, and we are engaging with Dunlop for their tyres.”
She said: “We’re now part of the Imperial Venture Mentor Scheme. We have two mentors who are helping us navigate this next phase of the company, which is to scale-up in delivery and find partners.
“It’s all well and good developing a method but if you don’t take it to a commercial place then it won’t actually make a global impact.”
The company is focused on manufacturing the active zinc oxide ingredient, as well as reducing the impact manufacturing has on the environment by replacing outdated technologies.
She said: “We actually formed the company so we could do a Climate-KIC, which is a competition for clean energy companies. We came in second place in England.
Dr Campbell explained that her team of researchers are using the process on recycled zinc, meaning no significant environmental footprint. Nanomax will be working alongside companies like British Steel by separating the zinc out of their waste stream.
She said: “Any process requiring a new material has an impact on your entire environmental footprint. So, we’re trying to change it. We’re not mining anything new for our process.
“Everyone is talking about the manufacturing of new sunscreen, which is so important. But the bigger picture is that the process itself has the potential to deliver this circular economy, and the process can be used for other materials too.”
Rugby Sevens Olympic dream reignited by Lottery funding lifeline
After months of uncertainty, England Rugby Sevens have been handed a short-term lifeline thanks to National Lottery Funding, which will enable them to compete as part of the Great Britain squad at the Tokyo Olympics. The 2016 Rio Olympics provided plenty of highlights, but one of them could arguably be the debut of Rugby Sevens at the event. The fast-paced matches and end to end action was something that caught the eye and made for an excellent watch. With only seven players per team, and each game lasting 14 minutes, it is unique to any other format of rugby. England won the first ever seven-a-side tournament to feature national teams in 1973, as well as winning the inaugural World Cup twenty years later. The nation has also produced record holders in the sport, with Ben Gollings scoring the most points ever on the Sevens Series, whilst Dan Norton has scored the most tries. Even though the stars of the sport may not be household names, they have achieved success on the international stage. In the last five years, the men’s GB side have won an Olympic Silver medal in Rio, as well as a third-place finish for England at the 2018 Commonwealth games, whilst the women’s also brought home a bronze medal from the Gold Coast competition. They have also competed in the HSBC World Series since 1999, coming head-to-head with some of the best sides in the world. Despite this, the future of the sport was plunged into danger last year after the RFU decided to stop funding the program, following the Covid-19 pandemic and the postponement of the Olympics. In the months that followed, the lives of the players were turned upside down, both professionally and personally. Fortunately, with the help of National Lottery funding, a Great Britain team will compete at this summer’s Tokyo games.
Dan Bibby, who was part of the team that won silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, feels the team deserved more, after being told the program was being cut over video call. He said: “After playing for nine years and giving so much, it was weird to hear the news over Zoom. From the business side of things, I understand, but I feel we could’ve been treated a lot better. There’s always a place to be kind, and I think they failed with that." “It made me sad that it could’ve been over, and that’s how my career would’ve ended. For some of the lads, it is the end of their journey, and they won’t get another shot at the Olympics.”View this post on Instagram
Dan Bibby in training for Team GB.
During his time off from rugby, Bibby stepped up as a full time stay at home dad, which he jokes at times was tougher than pre-season training. “It has been good and bad,” he laughed. “It definitely tested my patience and mentally prepared me for this. My four-year-old is really into sword fighting, so I’ve got some scars on my fingers.” The extra time at home has prompted Bibby to think about his future beyond the Tokyo games. “I think it will be my last Olympics, travelling has taken its toll, I’ve been selfish for a long time. I have a young family, so I don’t want to be missing out and it’s hard to leave them." “The pandemic has taught me I need something after rugby, and to have that drive will make me a better parent. I can now be in the moment a lot more and enjoy this time to focus.” Whilst Bibby’s professional rugby career could come to a close at the end of the summer, the Olympics are only the start for another player who hopes to be competing in Tokyo. Women’s bronze medallist, Holly Aitchison says she is excited for the tournament and is prepared for anything that comes her way.Amazing to be a part of @TeamGB highest medal winning team! It's an experience I will never forget! #teamgb #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/zqeHG8kUtj
— Daniel Bibby (@dbibby15) August 22, 2016
Holly Aitchison in action for England (credit: England Rugby)
The 23-year-old is confident about Britain’s chances in this summer’s competition and delighted that the ‘family’ they have built has not been torn apart. “As England we were the top ranked team in 2019 so why shouldn’t we shoot for gold. I know it sounds cliched, but if you don’t aim for something, how can you hope to achieve it?" Whilst England have been successful on the world stage, coming together as a British squad will provide a new challenge. “One strength is, no one has ever seen this group play before, so won’t know what to expect. We have grown to be sisters, who were torn apart, but are now reunited. The Olympics will be the icing on the cake after a difficult but rewarding year.”View this post on Instagram
Aitchison has also set her sights on 15s rugby and competing at the Women’s Rugby Union World Cup, after a partial switch to union through her move to Saracens last year. “It’d be the pinnacle of any athletes career to go to an Olympics and a World Cup in the space of a year. Saracens have been really accommodating, and amazing when I need to go to training camps. It is the best move I could’ve made, I love it.” Rugby Sevens still remains part of her long-term plans, with the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth games also round the corner. “To be at a home games would be amazing. Whilst I’d be excited to go to a World Cup, there are other focusses on the horizon.” Aitchison believes it is “massively important” that women’s rugby sevens has been given this lifeline, due to the positive impact it can have on young girls and society as a whole. “It can highlight what future generations can do in rugby, because when I was 14 or 15 my teacher laughed at me for wanting to be a professional player." “One of my teammates says, ‘if you can’t see something then you can’t be it,’ so if rugby can echo what women's sport is achieving in football, then it would have a massive effect.”View this post on Instagram
Bolehills BMX is a track for everyone: “It’s not about the bike, it’s about the rider”
The popularity of Bolehills BMX track skyrocketed after BBC coverage last week, with bikers and residents eager to see its new renovations. The recent buzz around the track helped the volunteers who take care of it with their campaign to raise money to improve the site. Ben, a 16-year-old BMXer and frequent visitor to the track, said: "I think they could extend it a bit more. Just to over that bit, but it’s good for all ages, it is really good capability for people. "It’s just fun, you just get like exhilaration out of doing the jumps and it’s just something to do to get out of the house, rather than being stuck in and just get some exercise. "All my friends do it and they got me into it. It’s quite near my house and I’ve been coming for quite a few years, but since lockdown it is getting really busy. It’s quite special, because it used to be completely different. It used to be a BMX racing track. It has all changed". On their website, the Sheffield Dirt Society, responsible for the improvements, said they are planning on building a pumptrack extension on the unused space. They also plan to use dirt to provide "a safe and smooth ride and easier and cheaper maintenance". However, not only riders use the space, and for Sheffield residents who prefer more relaxed activities there is more that could be done. Cindy, a 26-year-old resident, said: "I think it is good for people to come here and use the site for the bicycles and everything but it is not good if you want to walk your dog, for example. There has been a couple of occasions where…my dog didn’t do it, but another dog just ran towards the area because it’s quite open, there’s no barrier or anything. "I think if they have some sort of barrier here, where, for example, pedestrians or dogs wouldn’t go easily to the other side. That would be the biggest improvement". Seb, 47, visits frequently with his children and is very happy with how the site is managed, but said he has had a few concerns about the trees. "I walk the dog here everyday and the BMX track is important because my kids go there and I sometimes ride there as well, not so much these days, but it’s brilliant, a really important space," he said. "It looks to me like they are doing a great job on keeping it in good shape. I was a little worried about the trees that they planted here, only because when my children were younger, they would both play on the track and I would worry about not being able to hang back here with the dog and keep an eye on the kids, so if you have a lot of trees there, that it kind of makes a barrier. That’s the only thing." Bolehills track carries many memories, which its visitors hope the redevelopment will retain, even if some are less than pleasant. "One time I came down here quite fast and I went up to this ramp and I went over it. I was trying to do a transition from the sides and I went straight over and just slid right over. That was quite a bad experience here", said Ben. With different parts for all kinds of riders, the track is divided into sections, some easier, some a bit more advanced. The pumptrack in the middle is most suited to novice riders, because it offers a place for people to develop their pumping skills before attempting the bigger jumps. Ben urges everyone to try the course: "Definitely try it! One hundred percent. It doesn’t matter what bike you got it is always going to be good. If your bike is bad, if it is good, you can still do the same thing. It’s not about the bike, it’s about the rider". If you would like to contribute to the renovations go their website and make a donation.
The World Championships: Snooker’s Cathedral Welcomes Back its Congregation
After two years without its devoted congregation, The Crucible, snooker's cathedral, has been able to welcome them back, albeit, at a reduced capacity for this year's Snooker World Championships. For something that was largely the norm since time immemorial, it is remarkable that in just twelve COVID-ravaged months the idea that a crowd might attend a sporting event in the UK has become something of a fantastical concept. However, the unfathomable has become a reality, as fans have slowly but joyously returned to a smattering of sports venues to take in the action they have been absent from since last March. With the commencing of this year's World Championships in mid-April, World Snooker was permitted to allow fans into the Crucible as one of a number of pilot schemes to re-integrate fans back into sport and due to its success so far, the initial 33% capacity limit was this week raised to half. For the quarter and semi-finals, the capacity will be raised to 75% and then there is the tantalising prospect that the final will be able to operate with a full capacity crowd. The restrictions and regulations in place at this year's tournament mean it will be rather different from World Championships gone by, nevertheless, those in and around The Crucible still exude an infectious enthusiasm for the sport they so obviously adore.
"I'm over the moon to be here."
Heather Hills has been attending the World Championships for over thirty-five years and after the disappointment of missing out on last year's tournament, she is thrilled to be back at The Crucible. "I'm extremely excited, I'm over the moon to be here, I can't wait to get in there and take in the atmosphere, I've been coming here since 1985 and the minute I walk in I feel excited, you never know what's going to happen, every shot is a thrill." The Sheffield theatre has provided Heather with some of her most treasured memories and she cites the 1991 World Championship final as one that she particularly cherishes. "I queued outside for hours and hours to see John Parrot as I was a massive fan and I eventually managed to get a ticket to see him lift the World Championship, it was amazing. "I even managed to fight my way through the bodyguards to shake his hand." Of course, with The Crucible being among the first venues in the country to host a crowd, question marks have naturally been raised over the safety of those in and around the theatre and such fears were heightened by Ronnie O'Sullivan's complaint that he was 'harassed' by a 'boozed-up' fan. However, despite such concerns, Heather is confident in the safety measures in place. "I wasn't at all concerned, I've been in contact with friends who have already been and they say its very organised and very safe.""It's an event we cherish"
Andy, a steward at The Crucible, shares Heather's confidence in the safety measures in place and is simply grateful that this year's tournament has a resemblance of normality. "I wasn't really apprehensive, when I got the call. "All the staff are tested every three days, the players are tested, everyone who has purchased tickets have to show a negative test so I think its as safe as it can be." His role as a steward has been rendered obsolete amid the pandemic due to the lack of fans, and this has meant he has spent much of the last year wishing to be back amongst a crowd. "It's really good to see fans return. We work all events like the football at both Wednesday and United so I've essentially been out of work since March when everything shut down, so it is nice to see a return to some normality." Like many other Sheffielders, Andy takes pride in the fact that his city plays host to the snooker every year and relishes the spring-time when the world of snooker descends on South Yorkshire. "It's a great event to have here, there's been talk of taking it away and I would be really gutted if they ever did because it's an event we cherish.""I've got the best job in the world."
Jim Cemlyn-Jones, a freelance cameraman, has been covering the snooker at Sheffield for various television channels since 2005 and over the years he has accrued a wealth of memories that would be the envy of any snooker fan. "I do love a Ronnie match, he's absolutely brilliant but one of my favourite matches was the [Judd] Trump v [John] Higgins final back in 2011, it was an amazing atmosphere that day." That year, John Higgins triumphed over Judd Trump after an enthralling final that was neck-and-neck until the former ultimately pull away in the final frames. Jim also highlighted last year's semi-final as another stand-out memory that matched the 2011 final for drama. "The [Kyren] Wilson and [Anthony] McGill semi-final last year was a stunning match and McGill's someone who I think will do well this year." "Its just a great tournament, I'm very lucky, I've got the best job in the world." COVID has meant Jim has been filming various competitions in empty venues and fortunately the prospect of being among a crowd is not one that is of concern to him. "I wasn't really nervous, I'm probably fortunate because I've had my first jab and that's given me confidence." "It's also been very well run, credit to World Snooker."
Northern Gritstone: Top Northern universities come together to launch £500 million investment fund
A group of the country’s "technological powerhouse" universities have launched a new investment company to support start-ups in the north of England.
The Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester have said they aim to raise up to £500 million to fund companies in the areas of manufacturing, health and life sciences, artificial intelligence, and data sciences.
Start-ups eligible for funding will either be businesses that were formed as spinouts from the university or companies with historical links to one of the three institutions.“The company aims to be a key part of the government’s ‘Build Back Better’ levelling up agenda and ‘Plan for Growth’ in the North,” a statement from the University of Sheffield said.
Money will be raised through investment from “strategic corporate partners institutional investors and qualifying individuals”
Professor Dave Petley, Vice President for Innovation at the University of Sheffield said: “Northern Gritstone is the culmination of a great deal of hard work and collaboration between three of the country’s leading research universities, but we are just at the beginning of a project that has immense potential for everyone, from investors to researchers.”
If successful in raising its £500 million target, Northern Gritstone will be one of the largest dedicated investors into the commercialisation of university science and technology related Intellectual Property in the UK.
Jane Madeley, the University of Leeds’ Chief Financial Officer, who will represent the University as a non-executive director on Northern Gritstone’s board, said: “Leeds and our fellow founding universities are technological powerhouses, pursuing research and innovation that has the potential to help tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the world.
"But a lack of capital investment has sometimes limited that capability – Northern Gritstone will go a long way to help release this pent-up potential.”