Friday 12 October 2012

Downham Market Sports Awards 2012

Picture by Matthew Usher
It was a huge honour for me to host the Downham Market Sports Awards 2012 ceremony last night. The event marked the end of an action-packed year of Olympic-themed sport in the town and some 200 people packed the Town Hall for the ceremony.

It was a fantastic evening and it was delighted to have been asked to host such an inspiring evening - hopefully I will be asked back next year to do it again!

I can't have done too badly as I read these tweets after the ceremony:

@DMLeisureCentre: "@DavidBlackm0re Brilliant evening; great community spirit and vibe - and the host? Fantastic at presenting an amazing evening! Great work!"

(Event organiser) @franceserayner "Thank you @DavidBlackm0re for being hostess with the mostess! Downham Market is really grateful for your support and enjoyed a fab evening"

The guest star at the awards ceremony was Olympian Paul Evans. He spoke about competing in the 10,000m events at the Barcelona and Atlanta games and winning the Chicago Marathon in 1996 and, as always, was a delight the listen to.

Here are this year's winners:
Sportsman of the Year: Matt Pyatt
Sportswoman of the Year: Marie French
Masters Sports Person of the Year: Cath Duhig
Junior Sports Person of the Year (under 12): Ben Rayner
Young Sports Person of the Year (12-18): Adam Hughes
Disabled Sports Person of the Year: Derek Dane
Coach of the Year: Rebecca Tuff
Support in Sport: Don Rowell
Sports Event of the Year: The Ryston Runners’ Shouldham Warren Grand Prix series
Team of the Year: Downham Market Village Games Team

Monday 27 August 2012

VIDEO: New chapter for village cricket club as EDP XI come to town

I was delighted to captain an EDP select XI against Boughton Cricket Club yesterday to help start a new chapter in the club's history.

The club, near Downham Market, was a force to be reckoned with on the local scene in the 1950s as it knocked teams for six and won trophies. But as the village team got older and people moved away, the club gradually died out in the 1960s.

The club rose from the ashes four years ago but had to borrow pitches from neighbouring villages for occasional friendly matches until the club was offered land to create a new pitch in the village.

But the gentle sound of leather on willow echoed round the West Norfolk village yesterday for the first time in decades as the club played its first competitive home match on its new pitch – a Twenty20 clash against an Eastern Daily Press XI. Despite my side's best efforts, we fell woefully short of Boughton's knock of 88.


I was going to give a detailed account of the clash but as I was playing, I didn't have time to make many notes (!) so I'll leave that up to Boughton's Mark Pogmore:
Boughton Cricket Club welcomed an Eastern Daily Press Eleven for our first full match on our home ground, on Sunday 26th August, in glorious sunshine.

Boughton were put into bat in this 20/20 contest, and started steadily with Hugh Jenkins and Elliott Koopowitz at the crease.  Both wickets were lost cheaply, leaving Philip Koopowitz to push the score along, and was joined by captain, Ben Wilkinson who was soon bowled, trying to score rapidly.
This left Koopwitz (snr) to carry the team forward with some big hits, before being caught for 48. 

The next four wickets fell quickly.  Steve Kornmuller had to retire injured after taking a quick single, leaving Boughton with only one wicket standing, this falling quickly after.  Sportingly, the EDP team allowed young Theo Brown to take up Kornmuller’s innings, and along with Mark Pogmore, they managed to squeeze a few more runs onto the score before running out of overs, leaving Boughton with a score of 88.

The EDP started their innings  strongly with big hitting boundaries, but their early promise was ended with Ben Wilkinson bowling both openers, Brassett and Blackmore. This slowed the EDP team, as the Boughton  bowling and fielding tightened their grip on the game, with Hugh Jenkins and  Alex Reardon taking a wicket each. 

Only Setchell was able to keep pushing the score up, but his innings was ended by Elliott Koopowitz taking another two wickets in his first over, tipping the balance firmly in Boughton’s favour.  Elliott took two further wickets finishing with an excellent 5 wickets for just 7 runs.  The EDP team had no answer to this with only a few more runs being added. The final wicket fell to Alfie Bowles in the 18th over, leaving the EDP with a total of 51 all out.

 A good first effort for the Boughton team on their new pitch.  In the excitement of the win on their home ground, nobody was awarded the man of the match, so I think I will slip in here and give a family award to Elliot and Philip Koopowitz for their excellent bowling and batting.

Many thanks to everyone at Boughton Cricket Club who have cut and prepared the field, served tea and cakes and generally made things happen.  Without you, none of this would have taken place.
After tea, the Kwik Cricket kit appeared, with many of the youngsters enjoying a fast and noisy hour or so of fun, led by Philip, Elliott and Hugh.   It was fortunate that the equipment was bright orange as the sun was setting when they finally finished.

All in all, an excellent day at Boughton, with a tremendous turn out from spectators and supporters with the “grandstand” full.

Friday 17 August 2012

A-Level results day: My memories!

Thousands of students picked up their A-level results yesterday and I was out visiting schools in King's Lynn to talk to a few students about their results and what they were going to do at university.

Here is a short video by Daniel Vipond who was shadowing me yesterday:



When I got back to the office and started writing up my stories for the next day's paper, the conversation between reporters soon turned to our memories of opening our envelopes. Here is mine:
“I can remember the walk into school to pick up my results like it was yesterday. I wasn’t particularly nervous - just excited about getting my results and starting a new chapter in my life. I also wasn’t worrying about grades or UCAS points, because there was nothing I could do about them and I wasn’t going to university, so I was more relaxed than everyone else.
“It was more a case of me wanting to get my envelope, rip it open, read my results, say goodbye to my school friends and get back to work. However,  when I opened my results and saw how well I had done, I completely changed. I was hugging friends, fellow students and teachers and didn’t want to leave. I was ringing any member of my family who would pick up the phone to me to tell them the good news. Looking back, people must’ve thought I had gone crazy.
“My advice for students opening their results today is to try and stay as calm as possible. There isn’t anything you can do about the results today - you’ve already put in countless hours of hard work and dedication to your chosen subjects.
“If you’ve not done as well as you’d hoped, take a deep breath, and think about your next steps. Try talking to one of your teachers and get their advice. If, however, you’ve done really well, I can recommend doing what I did and go to McDonalds with a few friends to enjoy a celebratory McFlurry!”

Tuesday 5 June 2012

In Pictures: Special reception for 1948 Olympic Torchbearers

I was delighted to join fellow torchbearers, their friends and family at Lynnsport this afternoon to see the end of the 1948 Olympic Torch Trail and to recieve a medal and certificate from West Norfolk mayor Geoffrey Wareham for taking part. The 170-mile relay started on Saturday morning at Lynnsport and College of West Anglia pupil Tom Scott walked over the finish line at the King's Lynn leisure centre at 4pm - much to the delight of a small crowd which gathered to cheer him on.



I had carried the iconic torch from North Wootton to Castle Rising on Saturday morning but made sure I was updated on how it was getting on as some 170 other torchbearers on foot and cycle carried it through 80 town and villages around West Norfolk over the next four days. Olympian Paul Evans and Ray Harding, chief executive of West Norfolk council, started the 1948 Torch relay after leaving Lynnsport at 9.15am on Saturday before handing over to me in North Wootton.
After I handed it over in Castle Rising, the torch made its way to Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Sedgeford and Docking before finishing the day in Burnham Market.


Picture by Matthew Usher

On Sunday the torch went through the Rudhams, the Massinghams, Marham and Boughton before finishing in Stoke Ferry. The torch was then carried through Methwold, Feltwell, Southery, Hilgay and Denver on Monday before arriving in Downham Market to lead the annual carnival parade through the town at 1pm and ended the day in Upwell.
Torchbearers left Upwell at 9.30am today and carried the torch through Elm, Terrington St John, the Walpoles, Clenchwarton and West Lynn before arriving back at Lynnsport at 4pm.
After the torch arrived at Lynnsport, there was a special reception for the 170 torchbearers at the King’s Lynn leisure centre where we received our medals and certificates before enjoying a display by Alison’s Street Dance Club, music from the Delta Pilots and a hog roast!


My shiny commemorative medal

My commemorative medal and "certificate of appreciation"

@Gary_McGuinness, who ran the penultimate leg from West to South Lynn , and me showing off our medals


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Saturday 2 June 2012

VIDEO: Me carrying the 1948 Olympic Torch during tour of West Norfolk

It was just after 9.30am when I was given the 1948 Olympic Torch by Olympian Paul Evans and Ray Harding, chief executive of West Norfolk council, to carry it between North Wootton and Castle Rising today. I carried it with West Norfolk council cabinet member Elizabeth Nockolds and it was a truly amazing experience. We ran one of the longest legs of the 170-mile relay around West Norfolk AND it was all uphill so not as easy as I thought it was going to be when I got up this morning.


Picture by Matthew Usher

When I arrived at the handover point at around 9.15am, there weren't too many people but as Paul and Ray handed over the torch to us, there were plenty of people who had come out to cheer us on. There were also plenty of people who lined the route to see us and take our pictures. After the torch left us, it was carried through Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Sedgeford and Docking before finishing the day in Burnham Market.

Overall it was incredible to take part in this event. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime event and I feel very privileged that I was asked to take part and to run the second leg. I really felt a sense a pride when the torch was in my hand and I feel like I've taken part in something very special. There is no doubt in my mind that it will bring communities together across West Norfolk in the coming days and I'm looking forward to meeting some of the other 170 torchbearers on Tuesday for a special medal ceremony at Lynnsport after the torch returns.

The below video of me carrying the torch was shot by @DanielVipond. You will need to skip to one minute and 20 seconds after watching the first 25 seconds.

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Friday 1 June 2012

West Norfolk Olympic torch relay starts tomorrow: Come out & cheer me on!

The official 2012 Olympic torch is currently making its way around the country and I may have missed out on carrying it but tomorrow I'll get my hands on an iconic Olympic torch when I take part in a four-day torch relay across West Norfolk using one of the torches used for the 1948 Olympics - the last to be held in London.


The torch, on loan from Loughborough University, will be carried into more than 80 villages ahead of the London Olympics and will start and finish at Lynnsport in King's Lynn.

Norfolk Olympian Paul Evans, who competed at the 1992 and the 1996 Olympic Games, will start the relay just after 9am tomorrow before handing over to yours truly in North Wootton. I will then run from the All Saints Drive junction with Alban Road to Black Horse Pub in Castle Rising.

Some 170 torchbearers on foot and cycle will then carry the torch over the four-day event. These people, who range in age from 14 to 98, have been nominated by their local communities.

I really think the torch relay will bring a feel-good factor to the area ahead of the Games and I am delighted to be taking part. The Olympics is only six weeks away and there won’t be too many people from here going down to London to watch the action but I think this is bringing the Olympics to West Norfolk and is really kick starting a summer of great sport

To see the Olympic torch trail route click here


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Monday 7 May 2012

Picture captions please: GEAR in pictures

So you'll be pleased to know that I completed the Grand East Anglia Run yesterday - JUST! I managed to cross the finish line in a personal best time of 46 minutes 13 seconds - knocking six minutes off my training time!

I also finished 291st out of 1,700 runners, which wasn't too shabby either, and managed to raise £300 for the Norfolk Hospice, which I hope will be doubled by my company Archant.

It was a great event and the atmosphere around the town was electric with hundreds of people lining the route but I did hit a little trouble as I entered the final stages of the 10km run around the historic town of King's Lynn as the below pictures show.

Closing in on the finish line

Crossing the finish line

About to throw up!

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