Sports News

On a fantastic day for cross country running in Aarhus, Denmark, the senior women’s team impressed as they placed fourth overall after a stunning set of performances by the British squad, while two juniors placed in the top 25 of their respective races.

The senior women showed great spirit on the 10km course, forming a superb team effort to place fourth overall behind Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

They were led home by a strong finishing Kate Avery who built into the contest fantastically, running conservatively in the early stages before picking off her opponents over the 10km course.

After coming through in 60^th after lap one of the 2km course, the Shildon athlete found her stride around the undulating Danish course, moving into the top 40 after the second lap. She overtook the fast-starting Jennifer Nesbitt on lap three, staying with a small group hoping to break into the top thirty. As she rounded ‘the berm’ at the bottom of the museum roof downhill section, she had to fight for her 30^th position, holding on for an encouraging result.

Avery commented post-race: “There were certain parts when I thought my legs were going to give way, but when it came to the hills, in my head I kept saying ‘jog, jog, jog’ and it seemed to work because others weren’t. I’m really happy to be the first Brit home, I had the top 30 in my head when I saw the course, so I’m really pleased I did that well.

“My only concern was pacing it right. I’m pleased with how the cross season has gone. I'm still not back up to what I was doing previously so I need to get back to that level.”

52^nd, 41^st, 37^th, 35^th and 32^nd were the positions Mhairi McLennan held after each lap in the contest, the final placing a staggering achievement for the Scottish athlete. It was the great show of strength, moving through the field expertly and working hard on the hills.

She moved passed Nesbitt in the final stages, and it was also a great World Cross debut for the latter, leading the Brits for long periods of the race, before placing as the third counter – 34^th overall - in the best European outfit on the day.

Team captain Jess Piasecki was not too far behind, finishing strongly for 36^th to confirm four Britons inside the top 40 on the world stage.

Piasecki added: “There are no other words to describe that course other than a monster. On the first lap I thought ‘I feel OK here’ even though I told myself not to go too hard. I let some people go through, but you can’t rehearse for a challenge like that.

“I’m happy I came through because normally I die a death and managed to take some positions on the final lap and stuck it out for the team. The girls had storming runs.”

Emily Hosker-Thornhill crossed the line in 48^th, while Amelia Quirk at just 19 years-old and making her senior British debut, came home in 79^th place, battling hard for the team.

As for the senior men, Patrick Dever was the standout performer as he came through the field majestically to seal 37^th place, contributing to the ninth-place finish of the team overall.

Following the Loughborough-based athlete was Mahamed Mahamed who negotiated the course very well, pacing it perfectly as he moved into 44^th place at the end, having come through the first few laps outside the top 70.

Making his first World Cross appearance for 12 years, Adam Hickey was next home in 51^st while Oliver Fox was 58^th, not too far behind the Essex athlete.

Ross Millington and Luke Traynor placed 64^th and 107^th respectively.

Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) won the race, making up for his dramatic finish in Kampala two years previously, when he missed out on a medal in the closing stages.

Trials winner Grace Brock (Cornwall) continued her excellent cross-country season by finishing as the first British finisher in 25^th place in the junior women’s contest. She built into the race fantastically, moving from 59^th on the first lap, into the top 30 after the second lap, and kept on moving up the field.

Placing as the second European behind Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, it was a step-up by Brock who placed 11^th at the European Cross country just four months ago.

An ecstatic Brock spoke afterwards: “It was amazing – and the European champion only overtook me on the last bit. To make that jump from 11th at Europeans and to be second European here is more than I could have asked for. It was an amazing atmosphere all around the course and that really spurred me on in the closing stages.

“I knew the start was going to be fast, so my plan was to hold back a bit and then when it started to stretch out, I would start to move up. That was my plan and I felt like I executed it really well. I maybe didn’t kick quite as well as I would have liked at the end, but I am really pleased. 25th place is a higher placing than I was expecting so I’m over the moon.”

Another debutant, Amelia Samuels, enjoyed her maiden appearance for Great Britain & Northern Ireland, crossing the line in 35^th and the second Brit. Samuels was 57^th after the first lap but continued to pick her rivals off, helping the team on their way to seventh position overall.

Becky Briggs and Charlotte Alexander placed 44^th and 49^th, while Eloise Walker battled well to 51^st position. Olivia Mason admitted she paid the price for a fast start but ran a solid race to place 57^th overall.

The British team finished seventh overall, the top Europeans in the field. Ethiopia took the team title overall with Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet winning the race individually.

There was an eighth-place finish for the British junior men’s team, with Matt Willis (self-coached; Wrexham) matching the 25^th position of his compatriot in the women’s race, similarly the second European finisher behind the prolific Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

It was an excellent result for the Welshman who was the top Briton at the European Cross-Country Championships in Tilburg last year. He certainly played the course to his strengths, battling hard in the downhill sections when his opponents were reeling from the hill climb. It was a demonstration of strength from the youngster, moving from 34^th on lap one to the top 25 after 7km.

Willis spoke afterward: “I’m really happy; I wasn’t expecting to run that well at all. I’m just over the moon to finish in 25th.

“The first lap was ok but then it became a lot harder on the other laps. The sand was particularly hard to run through. The hills were hard, but I adored the downhills; I used my strength wisely to make up for my weaknesses on the uphill sections.”

On finishing as second European in the field, he added: “It gives me hope for Europeans in December and gives me that extra bit of motivation.”

After admitting he didn’t “show his best” at the European last December, Rory Leonard (Morpeth) made amends in Aarhus, fighting his way through the field to claim 37^th place and in doing so, was the second counter for the GB & NI team.

Euan Brennan used his mountain running pedigree to good effect, crossing the line in 50^th, and was one of several athletes to speak about the sheer speed of the race. Debutants Josh Cowperthwaite and Zakariya Mahamed were 62^nd and 66^th respectively, while Ben West unfortunately did not finish.

The race was won overall by Milkasa Mengesha (ETH) with Ethiopia taking the team gold, with GB & NI in eighth overall.

Lewis Hamilton claimed victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix after an engine problem hit runaway leader Charles Leclerc's Ferrari late in the race.

Leclerc had dominated after retaking the lead following a poor start and was on course for a maiden victory when his hybrid system failed.

Hamilton closed an eight-second deficit within three laps and swept by for his first win of 2019 with nine laps to go.

Leclerc would have slipped down to fourth behind Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull's Max Verstappen but was saved by a late race safety car.

As victory slipped from his fingers, the despair in Leclerc's voice was clear as he asked the team what had happened, and was told he had suffered a failure of the MGU-H, the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the turbo.

It cost him 40km/h on the straights and left him helpless as first Hamilton and then Bottas closed in at five seconds a lap.

"Oh my God," he said, as he saw a fairytale victory slip from his grasp on a weekend on which he had destroyed his four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel, meanwhile, made yet another high-profile error, spinning his car while being passed by Hamilton for what at the time was second place with 20 laps to go.

Vettel already needed a pit stop for fresh tyres, but he also suffered a front wing failure as he toured around to the pits, and the German finished fifth, two places behind his team-mate.

"That was extremely unfortunate for Charles," Hamilton said over the radio on his slowing down lap. "We have work to do to keep these guys on our tails."

It was a bitter blow for Leclerc, who thoroughly deserved the win, but the Monegasque had already done enough to announce himself as a major title contender.

He had started from pole position, but a poor start meant he dropped behind Vettel and Bottas on the first lap.

But he passed Bottas at the start of the second lap and then Vettel on lap four, around the outside of Turn Four, and proceeded to underline his superiority over Vettel by cruising off into a comfortable lead.

Until the Ferrari hit trouble in the closing laps, the race was all behind Leclerc, as Vettel and Hamilton swapped positions behind him.

Hamilton jumped Vettel at the first pit stops, but Mercedes's choice of soft tyres, while the Ferraris fitted mediums, left him struggling.

Vettel closed him down and passed for second on lap 24.

Hamilton felt he was in dire trouble, but he managed to keep Vettel in sight, so when both pitted for a final stint on mediums Hamilton was able to close on Vettel.

The world champion passed Vettel around the outside of Turn Four with 20 laps to go, and the German spun on the exit of the corner.

"Aargh," he said. "New tyres. Box."

It was another mistake that raised questions about Vettel's ability to race in high-pressure situations after a series of errors last year dashed his title hopes long before they should have died.

Vettel said he believed his front wing had failed because of the vibrations from his damaged tyres. Regardless, the dynamics within the Ferrari are now fascinating.

Vettel had started the season as their leader but Leclerc has now staked his claim and proved he will be a major force this season.

Arsenal first team players Mesut Ozil, Bernd Leno, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Shkodran Mustafi were treated to a tour of Dubai, visiting the city’s latest attractions and legendary landmarks, and taking in the striking architecture and impressive skyline.  The players were picked up on a hop on hop off City Sightseeing bus, making their first stop at the Dubai Frame. The players toured the spectacular structure, which boasts panoramic views of both old and new Dubai at 150 metres high.

The players stepped onto the glass bridge in the transparent viewing deck, and even showed off their fancy footwork to the delight and amazement of the other visitors at the Dubai Frame. Dubai’s latest architectural landmark is a giant rectangular frame situated in a unique location that offers views via its 93 metre bridge observatory.  The players then continued to Burj Khalifa, and also passed the Dubai Canal during their sightseeing tour.

Arsenal is set to play a friendly match with Al Nasr Sports Club at Al Maktoum Stadium on 26 March. The players are also taking part in warm weather training sessions, to prepare for the final weeks of the 2018/19 football season. Last week, the players arrived on a specially-branded Emirates A380 Arsenal aircraft, and the airline is supporting the visit by connecting football enthusiasts in the UAE with one of the game’s most iconic clubs.

Arsenal first team players Mesut Ozil, Bernd Leno, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Shkodran Mustafi were treated to a tour of Dubai, visiting the city’s latest attractions and legendary landmarks, and taking in the striking architecture and impressive skyline.  The players were picked up on a hop on hop off City Sightseeing bus, making their first stop at the Dubai Frame. The players toured the spectacular structure, which boasts panoramic views of both old and new Dubai at 150 metres high.

The players stepped onto the glass bridge in the transparent viewing deck, and even showed off their fancy footwork to the delight and amazement of the other visitors at the Dubai Frame. Dubai’s latest architectural landmark is a giant rectangular frame situated in a unique location that offers views via its 93 metre bridge observatory.  The players then continued to Burj Khalifa, and also passed the Dubai Canal during their sightseeing tour.

Arsenal is set to play a friendly match with Al Nasr Sports Club at Al Maktoum Stadium on 26 March. The players are also taking part in warm weather training sessions, to prepare for the final weeks of the 2018/19 football season. Last week, the players arrived on a specially-branded Emirates A380 Arsenal aircraft, and the airline is supporting the visit by connecting football enthusiasts in the UAE with one of the game’s most iconic clubs.

Former BMX and track cycling World Champion Shanaze Reade has been announced as the first West Midlands Cycling and Walking Ambassador.

The British cyclist’s appointment was confirmed on the day that regional transport chiefs agreed a £17 million funding package to take spending on cycling in the West Midlands to £10 per head per year up to April 2021.

The grant, from the region’s £71 million Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) transport package, will be invested in safe cycle routes across the West Midlands.

As Ambassador Shanaze, the three time BMX World Champion and twice Team Sprint track world champion, will promote and guide development of cycling throughout the West Midlands.

She welcomed the West Midlands commitment to increasing participation in cycling and walking and the increased funding for safe cycle routes and infrastructure.

She said: “I look forward to helping people discover the amazing benefits of cycling and walking – both for pleasure and as a convenient method of transport. The benefits are endless from saving money, the sense of freedom, mental wellbeing from the exercise and keeping fit. With the infrastructure being put in place there will be no excuse to get out those trainers or on your bike.”

One of her first duties as Ambassador will see Shanaze join Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, transport bosses and cycling representatives at a summit on May 22.

Last month Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), adopted a new Walking and Cycling policy which outlined the ambition to develop a cycle route network across the region.

The WMCA Board has now approved the award of £17 million cycle funding. This follows the award of a £6 million TCF grant last October.

Combined with expected investment from councils and developers it means that spending on cycling in the West Midlands will reach the target of £10 per head.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “Shanaze will make a brilliant Ambassador for cycling and walking. She has excelled on the track, is a superb role model and will inspire many young people here to get on their bikes.

“We set out to raise investment to £10 per head and are doing just that. In the West Midlands we are serious about cycling – it is fun and great for our health and as an alternative to the car can help ease traffic congestion and improve the quality of the air we breathe.”

The £23 million Transforming Cities Fund will be spent on cycling infrastructure. Last month the WMCA Board approved a new cycling and walking policy which outlined ambitions for a network of safe cycle routes across the region.

Councillor Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for economic, said: "For decades the West Midlands has been associated the world over with motoring, but it's clear that we need to change the way people travel across the region. In addition to getting more people onto public transport, one of our key ambitions is to increase levels of cycling and walking.

"That's why, in recent years, we've launched innovative schemes to get people on their bikes. Through the Birmingham Cycle Revolution and initiatives like the award-winning Big Birmingham Bikes, we've focussed on education, training and of course promoting the many benefits of cycling.

"Now we're looking to build on that success and the creation of this new region-wide role underlines our determination to improve air quality, tackle congestion and improve the health of people across the region."

The appointment has been welcomed by the Department for Transport and British Cycling, the sport’s governing body.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: "Massive congratulations to Shanaze on her appointment as West Midlands Cycling and Walking Ambassador.

“And massive congratulations to TfWM for using our new Government grant money to build new cycling infrastructure, as part of a region-wide transport investment programme."

British Cycling chief executive, Julie Harrington, said: “Shanaze has always been a fantastic ambassador for our sport and I am sure she will be equally brilliant in her new role in the West Midlands.

“We are proud that our riders – both past and present – make such a valuable contribution to communities across Britain, and we look forward to watching Shanaze work with Mayor Andy Street to enable more local people to get around by bike in the coming years.”

The Cycling Summit, hosted by the Mayor and Shanaze, will be held in Birmingham and is open to members of the public and organisations. It will set out the mission to supercharge the development of cycling and walking across the West Midlands.

The Special Olympics World Games, the world’s largest humanitarian sporting event and a global movement which focuses on the empowerment of people of determination with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport was held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates - the first time in the Middle East North Africa since the movement’s founding over 50 years ago – with Pakistani sprinter, Syeda Kazim, one of the headline acts when she made her “dream come true” after winning bronze medal in the 200 meters division sprint race at the Dubai Police Officer’s Club.

“It was a dream come true for me,” she recalled. “I was extremely happy to be a part of the Special Olympics World Games, especially after bagging the bronze medal.

Winning a bronze medal at Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 was ‘like a dream coming true.”

Syeda, who lives in Karachi, trained for two hours each day to prepare for the World Games, travelling two hours from her home to Karachi’s National Stadium to use the running facilities.

Team GB cycling star Kiera Byland was another headline act, taking gold medal in her race – the 20-year-old athlete was first across the finish line in the women’s 15-kilometer Road Race final held at Yas Marina Circuit.

“I said to my teammates ‘I hope I do really well in my first race’ and then, obviously, I’ve done really good,” Kiera said. “I’ve done all the training and put the effort in with help from my coach and my family.

“I’d like to say thank you to everyone who supported me. I’m just so happy.”

More than 40,000 spectators at Zayed Sports City and millions of viewers worldwide celebrated the Special Olympics World Games with spectators witnessing the largest number of nations take part as every athlete showcase their sporting talent on a global stage; with a stellar line-up of world-renowned musicians  include Avril Lavigne, Paul Oakenfold And Hussain Al Jassmi amongst others.

Legendary stars; Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba and Brazillian World Cup winner, Cafu, playing alongside Special Olympics footballers at the Unified Sports Clinic.

During, and post Games, initiatives are running daily in schools and community spaces across Abu Dhabi and the UAE to create unity and understanding between the public and people of determination with intellectual disabilities.

A University of Wolverhampton web developer has his sights set on sprinting to success in an international triathlon championship competition.

Adam Jones, 29 from Stourbridge, is crowdfunding to help him take part in the age group triathlon competition at the Team GB Championship being held in Russia later this year.

The web developer, who works in the External Relations department at the University and also coaches young athletes in his spare time, competed in the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow and hopes to take part in Kasan, Russia, in July this year.

The ‘sprint’ triathlon competition is made up of three different sports – swimming (750 metres), running (5 kilometres) and cycling (20 kilometres).

He said:  “It felt amazing to represent our country in the championships last year and I’m hoping to do it all again.

“As an age group athlete you have to fund everything yourself – the kit, flights, accommodation and visas – so I thought that crowdfunding would be an ideal way of helping me achieve my goal.”

Adam will be creating a video diary so that funders can track his progress on his journey towards achieving his goal in Russia.

British Athletics have today named a team of 26 athletes with 78 major international outdoor medals between them for the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan from 11-12 May 2019. The 26-strong British team includes seven Olympic, 17 World Championship and 21 European Championship relay medallists.

Adam Gemili, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and CJ Ujah, who helped Great Britain & Northern Ireland to world 4x100m gold in 2017, are all selected and will be joined by fellow European champion from 2018 Harry Aikines-Aryeetey as well as British champion and European silver medallist over 100m Reece Prescod and two-time world indoor champion Richard Kilty.

In the women’s 4x100m, Olympic bronze medallists from 2016 and world silver medallists from 2017, Desiree Henry, Daryll Neita and Asha Philip; have been named on the British team. They’ll be joined by European champion from 2018 Bianca Williams, European champion from 2014 Ashleigh Nelson and double world junior bronze medallist Kristal Awuah.

In the women’s 4x400m, Emily Diamond, Eilidh Doyle  and Anyika Onuora all have Olympic bronze medals from 2016 and earn selection alongside Finette Agyapong, Amy Allock, Zoey Clark and Laviai Nielsen Clark and Nielsen won world silver with Diamond and Doyle in 2017 while Agyapong and Allcock won their first international relay medals with European bronze last year.

Martyn Rooney – the most decorated athlete on the team alongside Doyle with seven major outdoor relay medals – is the seventh Olympic medallist selected following his 4x400m bronze from 2008 and headlines a squad including fellow world bronze medallists from 2017 Dwayne Cowan, Rabah Yousif and Matthew Hudson-Smith–  also the reigning European champion over 400m.

European champions Dina Asher-Smith and Zharnel Hughes have been given permission by British Athletics not to compete at the IAAF World Relays in line with their individual competition plans for the 2019 season.

The 14 athletes selected across the men’s and women’s 4x400m are the athletes from which the team for the mixed 4x400m will be selected, which is being introduced to the IAAF World Championship schedule for the first time ever in Doha this year. Great Britain & Northern Ireland will not participate in the 4x200m, shuttle hurdles or 2x2x400m relays.

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “We are extremely proud of the successes of our relay teams over the past three years and our athletes take each and every opportunity to compete on the international stage incredibly seriously, as proven by the sheer strength of the team selected for Yokohama.

“We expect our athletes to continue that tradition of success in Japan and guarantee qualification for all five events for the IAAF World Championships later in the year. The introduction of the mixed 4x400m for Doha is something we are all excited about and we look forward to testing our skills in that event.

“The IAAF World Relays provides us with a great opportunity as we prepare for not only Doha but also for the Olympic Games, which we all know are also being held in Japan in 2020. The opportunity to train and compete in Japan 14 months before the Games is invaluable to all those selected.”

In his first fight at super-middleweight, former British and Commonwealth middleweight champion Tommy Langford was made to work hard for his points win against Frenchman Baptiste Castegnaro at the Walsall Town Hall on a BCB Promotions event.

Langford didn’t have it all his own way against the tough 28-year-old from southwest France with the six-round super-middleweight contest scored at 58-56 to the 29-year-old from Birmingham.

He started off on the front foot and took the fight to the Frenchman, who has previously shared the ring with Olympic bronze medalist Joshua Buatsi.

Langford, born and raised in North Devon, was dominant behind his double jab and landed a neat left to the body midway through the first round. Castegnaro did manage to have some success in the opener and when he landed cleanly, it visibly incentivised him to follow up, forcing the home fighter backwards. The French fighter did manage to ruffle Langford’s feathers a little bit, who took a tiny tumble at the end of the opener, but was ruled as a slip.

He started the second stanza behind a stiff jab, backing Castegnaro up. They were soon tangled up in the centre of the ring until Castegnaro forced Tommy back to the ropes without managing to land anything at all as Langford ducked and weaved and soon answered with a one-two to the head. It was a clean, controlled round for Langford on the scorecards, as he began to lose his nerves and find his rhythm.

Langford landed a peach of a left hook as the pair traded in the centre of the ring in the third, but Castegnaro managed to score back with one of his own seconds later. This round was contested in close quarters for the first time in the fight as Castegnaro held his feet a bit longer and there was success for both parties during the three minutes of action.

Despite Langford producing the more dominant and aggressive display, Castegnaro enjoyed spells of success and produced a late flurry seconds before the end of the fourth segment.

The fifth round was far more controlled, as Tommy stalked his opponent, who occupied all four corners of the ring for the duration of the round as he attempted to move away from danger. Langford unloaded when he trapped Castegnaro in his home corner and a left hook to the body followed by another to the head sent the Frenchman backpedaling across the ring.

Castegnaro came out swinging in the final round and the pair finished with a firefight in the middle of the ring.

The official scored it four rounds for Langford and two for the visitor.

Langford commented post-fight, “Back to winning ways! I was a little jittery to begin with, I have to admit, but I soon warmed up. To be completely honest, I was actually very nervous and a bit tentative early on, which resulted in a hesitant first few rounds.

“It was to be expected after the lay off and moving up a weight division, but I warmed into it and started to box well and by the end I was really dominating and hurting my opponent, especially with the left hook.

“It was good to get the experience at 168lbs against a fully-fledged super-middleweight who has fought two of the best light-heavyweights in the country in Olympian Joshua Buatsi and English champion Liam Conroy.

“He was a strong, durable opponent, so the experience will be invaluable as I push on to bigger fights. Many others would have had a more conventional or less dangerous opponent for their first step up to a new weight, and, if I’m going to be completely honest, I probably would have liked to have had an easier opponent, but now the job’s done and I’ve come through well, I’m very happy.

“It means the questions that I’ve had have been answered and I’m happy to push on now and look for bigger opportunities at 168lbs.”

The ‘Baggies Bomber’, named so by his huge following of West Bromwich Albion FC fans, has already declared his intentions to become a two-weight British or Commonwealth champion. Zach Parker from nearby Swadlincote is the current British super-middleweight titlist and world title challenger Rocky Fielding last held the Commonwealth strap.

“I’m fully aware that most domestic champions won’t want to give me a shot at their titles, so I’m prepared to work my way into the mandatory position.”

He concluded, “Big thank you to all the fantastic support, it always means a lot. Thanks to BCB Promotions for giving me the platform to fight. We move on to the next one!”

The BCB Promotions ‘Pride of the Midlands’ event also featured Midlands Area middleweight champion Tyler Denny (10-1-2) who earned a shutout points win over six-rounds and has plans to fight for bigger titles in 2019.

Ricky Hatton-trained welterweight Conah Walker (4-0) remained unbeaten as he scored his second KO and unbeaten lightweight Connor Lee Jones moved up to 3-0 with a points win.

Wolverhampton welterweight Kirstie Bavington (2-0-1) scored her first stoppage win in a very one-sided fight.

Hick-kicking cabaret, breath-taking ballet, sublime singing and Parisian passion will inspire cinemas audiences when The Royal Opera’s ‘Faust’ is broadcast live in UK cinemas on Tuesday 30 April 2019, with an encore screening on Sunday 5 May 2019.

Director David McVicar’s theatrical production will captivate audiences with its beautiful sets and costumes, and a stunning cast including American tenor Michael Fabiano as Faust, Uruguayan bass-baritone Erwin Schrott as the devil Méphistophélès and German soprano Diana Damrau as Faust’s beloved Marguerite. Faust is the French composer Charles-François Gounod’s greatest masterpiece and a favourite with opera audiences worldwide.

The opera tells the tale of the disillusioned philosopher Faust who loses faith in God and summons Satan to help him. The devil Méphistophélès appears and offers to make a bargain with Faust: he will give him youth and the young Marguerite’s love if Faust hands over his soul. Faust agrees, seduces Marguerite – but then abandons her, with disastrous consequences. Gounod’s superb score includes some devilish songs for Méphistophélès, Marguerite’s ecstatic ‘Jewel Song’ and a thrilling ballet in Act V. 

The Royal Opera House cinema broadcasts offer audiences the best seats in the house, and include exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and detailed close-ups of performers. Audiences are never far from a Royal Opera or Royal Ballet performance, with most UK viewers located within 30 miles of a cinema screening. In the 2017/18 Season more than one million people globally saw a world-class opera or ballet production from the Royal Opera House, at one of more than 1,500 cinemas in 51 countries. 

The cinema broadcast of ‘Faust’ starts at 6.45pm and lasts three hours and 30 minutes including one interval. There is an encore screening on Sunday 5 May at 2pm. The opera will be sung in French with English surtitles.

Antoinette “Toni” Harris is the first woman ever to attend college on a full football scholarship. She has overcome challenges brought about by her gender, build, what other people say, and even a fatal illness she was diagnosed with. In fact, she dreams of being the first woman to play in the NFL.

Harris, 22, who was born and raised in Detroit, has always been a football fan since she was 4-years old. Even though she also liked cheerleading and track-and-field, she really enjoys football the most.

She started just watching her cousins play until she herself played football during grade school. Eventually, she entered the high school football team but with teammates who “weren’t really accepting,” it wasn’t easy at first.

She said: “It took them some time to warm up to me. But once they did, they were loving, they were supportive — and eventually everybody else got on board.”

Harris, who was proclaimed the homecoming queen on her senior year, still had doubts with herself. Being younger and a lot smaller than male players didn’t stop her though. She realized she just has to learn to live with it.

“At the end of the day, I told myself, ‘I cannot allow myself to live in fear.’ You don’t really live if you live in fear,” she said.

Her bravery has been ultimately tested when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 18. She lost half of her body weight and she went through remission later that year.

She continued with her dreams despite people telling her she couldn’t move from high school football to college. While enrolled at Golden West College, she entered East Los Angeles College to be able to play free safety with the community college team.

After two years in college football, she has received dozens of scholarship offers to play. Most recently, she marked history as the first woman to sign a letter of intent for a four-year college football scholarship. She accepted the scholarship with Central Methodist University to continue her studies and play football in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Moreover, Harris has also caught the attention of giant companies. In January, a Toyota advertisement featuring her with a RAV4 Hybrid was premiered in their Super Bowl commercial.

After college, Harris dreams of playing for her favourite team, the Seattle Seahawks, or “any other team in the NFL — as long as I got my chance,” she said. Additionally, she also plans on becoming a “homicide detective with a background in forensics.”

A team captain from the University of Wolverhampton has scored a trip of a lifetime to go behind the scenes at an international football stadium.

Student Lowri Walker is one of a select group of leading footballers from women’s football clubs at UK universities who will join a programme of events, tours and training.

The programme, organised by Santander Universities, is designed to help build critical thinking and management skills for female talent, both through sporting and wider leadership activity.

The 21-year-old, who captained her team to BUCS Conference Cup glory this week, will jet off to Barcelona this month for three days of activities at the iconic Camp Nou.

In celebration of Santander’s sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League, Lowri will have the chance to watch Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and their Barcelona team mates play in the club’s vital round sixteen tie against Olympique Lyonnais.

Lowri, who has a sports scholarship from the University, will also take part in a panel event on women’s leadership, and have the opportunity to benefit from a training session with Chapi Ferrer, professional football coach and ex-player of both FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC.

The visit also includes a tour of the Camp Nou stadium and time to visit the sights of Barcelona.

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science student Lowri, from Aberystwyth, said: “I’m so grateful to Santander Universities for this amazing opportunity, and I hope I can do the University proud when I represent our team in Barcelona. I’m really looking forward to visiting the Camp Nou and making the most of this exciting trip.

“As Captain of the women’s football team, I’m a role model for my players and having that on my shoulders has helped mould me into the person I want to be, and it has massively helped me on the pitch too. The Sports Scholarship from the University has developed me as a person and has made me feel like part of a wider team, so I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received.”

Dr Richard Medcalf, Director of the Institute of Human Sciences, said: “I’m delighted that Lowri has been given this opportunity and am very grateful to Santander for their part in this.

Women’s football is a hugely important sport for us at Wolverhampton, the team is on course to gain promotion this year and Lowri is an excellent example of a sports scholar who takes a professional approach to both sport and study.”

Matt Hutnell, Director, Santander Universities, said: “We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to top female football talent from across the UK to help develop their leadership skills, both within and outside a sporting context.  We are committed to supporting higher education and we know that those selected for this programme are equally committed to their sport, investing hours into training and are an inspiration to their peers both on and off the pitch.

We hope the trip will motivate and support female talent with their career ambitions – whether in the world of sport, finance or beyond.”

Emilio Botín launched Santander Universities in Spain in 1996, as an effective vehicle for business investment into its communities.  The programme now has over 1,200 University partners across 20 countries. Santander Universities UK launched in 2007; encompassing 84 universities, and providing over £10m of funding in 2018 alone. The programme focuses on education, entrepreneurship and employability giving all students the opportunity to succeed.

The ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, has embarked on its most extensive journey around the globe yet, amid growing excitement ahead of the showpiece event in England and Wales from May 39 to July 14. And on March 15 it will be stopping off at Wolverhampton.

With more stops than ever before, The #CWCTrophyTour started its journey from the International Cricket Council headquarters in Dubai on Monday, 27 August 2018. Travelling across five continents, 21 countries and over 60 cities the “most connected Trophy Tour ever” will allow fans around the world to get up close to the coveted prize that will be lifted at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July, 14.

During the nine-month journey, the Trophy Tour will travel not only to countries taking part in the tournament, but for the first time ever will go beyond traditional cricket heartlands and connect with fans in a further 11 countries where cricket is growing including Nepal, USA and Germany.

From the United Arab Emirates, the Trophy will travel to Oman, the USA, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany before arriving in England and Wales on 19 February, 2019 for a 100-day domestic Trophy Tour.

15th March – Wolverhampton 16th March – Birmingham  17th March – Coventry 18th April – Rooftop cricket, Edgbaston day 19th April – Street Futures community session (Birmingham council) 20th April – Birmingham Super Saturday

#CWCTrophyTour

Birmingham Hippodrome and Associate Company Rosie Kay Dance Company announce an exciting opportunity to be part of a unique performance on Tuesday 21 May.

The choreographer of the Commonwealth Games Handover - broadcast from Birmingham city centre around the world last year - is once again calling for West Midlands residents to get involved in a large-scale dance performance. Produced as a collaboration between Rosie Kay Dance Company and the local community, 120 SOLDIERS will mark the premiere of 10 SOLDIERS, a key production within Birmingham Hippodrome’s 120^th anniversary year.

Choreographer Rosie Kay comments, “I’m thrilled to be able to present another opportunity for people from all backgrounds to come together and create a public performance. The West Midlands has such strong enthusiasm for dance but to keep this scene fresh and engaging, we need to continually open it up for different communities to get involved. I hope to see youth groups, students, parents, local workers getting involved, but I also want to see cadets, soldiers, ex-services and those with a connection to the Armed Forces. 10 SOLDIERS is all about building a greater understanding between the public and The Army, developing connections and trust within a diverse group, working together as a team, cementing friendships and an empathetic, supportive network. Hopefully, 120 SOLDIERS can give people the opportunity to experience how participating in dance can help us do these things.”

This opportunity is open to everyone aged 16 and over, regardless of previous dance experience. Participants will need to commit to a rehearsal on Sunday 19 May from 10am-4pm and Tuesday 21 May from 5pm-9pm at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Participants will receive a free t-shirt and ticket to see the main show of Rosie Kay Dance Company’s 10 SOLDIERS, taking place in the main auditorium on Tuesday 21 May at 7.30pm. The show comes a decade after Rosie Kay’s initial research into The Army which developed into her best known and highly regarded 5 SOLDIERS. Commissioned by Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 SOLDIERS explores what it is like to be a soldier in today’s British Army, the friendships and relationships that develop, the physical and psychological transformation that soldiers experience, and ultimately how a tightknit group is formed that are prepared to face anything.

Chris Sudworth, Associate Director (Programme & Artist Development), said: “Rosie Kay’s 5 SOLDIERS has been an international hit production, made in Birmingham. We are delighted that Rosie’s debut at this scale will be on the Main Stage of Birmingham Hippodrome, in her home city before touring nationally - and we hope internationally. We’re also delighted that Rosie will work directly with non-professional dancers to make this exciting pop-up performance on the night of the world premiere. We can’t wait to make more surprising and exciting projects with the people of our city across our 120^thanniversary year.”

Applications to participate in 120 SOLDIERS close on Friday March 29. To apply, complete the form at www.rosiekay.co.uk/120soldiers

Warm-hearted students, staff and families from across all Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) schools have been digging deep to raise more than £1100 in support of Birmingham-based housing charity, the Geoff Horsfield Foundation.

A total of 10 schools across Birmingham, North Warwickshire and Staffordshire, also received an ‘unprecedented’ number of donations of warm clothing and bedding from their communities. They will pass the items and funds on to former Birmingham City Football Club legend, Geoff Horsfield, whose foundation provides quality, safe and secure housing accommodation and other services for vulnerable adults who have fallen through the current support network.

Geoff, one of the most respected sportsmen in the West Midlands, founded the charity as a ‘debt of gratitude’ to the local community.

He said: “We’re really touched by the amount of donations schools have generously given. The community spirit is alive in our schools and it’s heartening to see such a mass of support for others. I must give huge thanks for their combined efforts – this will really make a difference.

“Our foundation’s aim is to provide vulnerable adults and to make a sustainable impact on homelessness, vulnerability and its echo effect on the local community. Winter is a hard time and if we can provide safe, warm and secure homes for people who are at risk of falling through the system, then it’s a start to tackling this growing issue.”

ATLP’s Brookvale, Curdworth, Hill West, Mere Green, Scotch Orchard, William MacGreggor, Two Gates, Slade, Arthur Terry and Coleshill schools all took part in the fundraising initiative.

Lisa Dodd, headteacher of Curdworth Primary School, said: “We’re absolutely blown away by our community and their big hearts. They have all dug deep to support his worthy cause and we’re so grateful for their warmth and generosity.

“This is an issue that affects us all. We’re raising our young people to be responsible and caring citizens, to look out for one another and to work together to support those in need. The work that Geoff and his volunteers are doing is life-changing and this is the least we can all do to play our part in this worthwhile initiative.”

Gloucester Rugby and Music Plus Sport have announce Nile Rodgers & CHIC as the next headliners in their summer season of concerts, headlining on Sunday June 9.

Announcing Olly Murs (Friday June 7) as the first headliner at the end of last year, the show soon became one of the hottest tickets in the history of Gloucester Rugby with Nile Rodgers & CHIC expecting to follow suit.

Rodgers is truly exceptional. He amplifies his legacy as a multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist by constantly traversing new musical terrain and successfully expanding the boundaries of popular music.

As the co-founder of CHIC, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like “Le Freak,” sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times,” and won CHIC 11 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations. His work in the CHIC Organization and his productions for artists like David Bowie (incl. ‘Lets Dance’), Diana Ross (incl. ‘Upside Down’, ‘I’m Coming Out’) and Madonna (incl. ‘Material Girl’, ‘Like A Virgin’) have sold over 300 million albums and 50 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Sigala, Disclosure and Sam Smith reflect the vanguard of contemporary music.

Releasing their ninth studio album ‘It’s About Time’ in 2018, the release saw the band once again work the cream of the crop of the current music stars ranging from Mura Masa and Stefflon Don to Lady Gaga.

Stephen Vaughan CEO of Gloucester Rugby said; “We are delighted to announce that Nile Rodgers and Chic will be the second act performing at Kingsholm in the summer of 2019 a couple of days after Olly Murs.

Nile Rodgers is an absolute legend in the world of music. He has written, produced and performed on albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide.

Kingsholm Stadium is a unique venue which provides a special setting & atmosphere for concerts and Nile Rodgers and CHIC will put on a superb evening’s entertainment, one that we’re all really looking forward to.”

Co-Founder of promoters Music Plus Sport Simon Halden, MD said; “We are thrilled to bring the legendary Nile Rodgers & CHIC to Kingsholm Stadium for what will no doubt be a highlight of the summer alongside Olly Murs.  Gloucestershire crowds have consistently delivered a great atmosphere for the shows we put on and we know 2019 will be no different.”

Expect to hear some of the best-known pop anthems from the last four decades. With more than 200 production credits to his name, the scope of Nile Rodgers' peerless influence is undeniable.