Sports News

Tennis enthusiasts in the West Midlands were given a unique opportunity to meet and learn from one of the world’s best tennis coaches.

Louis Cayer, the undisputed ‘number one doubles coach,’ headed to Birmingham for one day only to hold intimate breakfast and evening events and deliver two special masterclass coaching sessions for juniors and adults.

Organised by specialist coaching and tour operators Ethan Mason Sports and Tennis Smart, the action-packed event took place at Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club, with places offered on a first-come, first served basis.

Budding players and tennis lovers were able to explore Louis’ coaching methods and experience of working with 10 ‘top 100’ singles players and coaching Jamie Murray, whilst the latter was making his way to become the world number one in doubles.

He is also known for his skills development and writing all of the coaching manuals for the LTA, including technical aspects around movement on the ‘3 volleys.’

“This was the first time we were able to get Louis Cayer to visit the Midlands and make the most of his knowledge and expertise through a range of different activities that suit all ages,” explained John Donnelly, Chairman of Ethan Mason Sports.

It all kicked-off with an exclusive breakfast for nine people where guests asked Louis about his career, coaching tips and tales from the hundreds of tournaments he’s been part of.

We also got an ‘Audience With’ event for the evening, with Fix Radio Show Presenter Paul Burrell conducting an interview before opening up a Q&A to the floor.” 

Juniors, adults and their coaches were also be able to take part in two coaching masterclasses, with Cayer providing on court-sessions covering technique, movement, the ‘three volleys’, match psychology and tips for playing as part of a doubles team.

Adding his support, he said: “I really enjoy these events, where you can talk tennis to people who love the sport and try to give them an insight into coaching that they perhaps would never normally get. Edgbaston has always been a great venue for tennis so I was delighted to be returning and meet lots of players and supporters.”

Also in attendance was Ethan Mason Sports Director Arnaud Benidor (a LTA and USPTA qualified coach and former hitting partner for Mark Philippoussis and the Williams sisters) and Sarah Borwell, Managing Director of Tennis Smart and a former British Number One ranked doubles player, who has played at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

John concluded: “We had lots of people sign-up, so space was at a premium. Just imagine telling the people at your tennis club that you’ve been coached by Louis Cayer and, better still, showing them what you can do after enjoying his expert coaching.”

UK motorsport could be brought to a grinding halt, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands Dan Dalton warned, unless the European Parliament agrees to changes in a planned overhaul of the EU’s motor insurance rules.

A parliamentary committee of MEPs will decide whether to back the amendment that would grant motorsport an exemption under a piece of legislation designed to better protect victims of motor accidents.

“It is simply too close to call which way the vote will go at this stage,” said Dalton. “Many MEPs on the left oppose my suggestions, but I will be fighting to convince my colleagues that this is the right thing to do.”

The European Commission published its proposal to revise the EU’s motor insurance rules after a 2014 ruling by judges in Luxembourg that off-road vehicles should have unlimited third party liability insurance, including on private land.

Conservative MEPs say the draft law from the European Commission is so vague that it could effectively shut down British motorsport, but the amendment includes the phrase “in traffic” to mitigate the impact of the EU executive’s proposal.

"I met with members of the insurance industry at a recent motorsport fair in Birmingham. They told me that most insurers would be unwilling to underwrite this sort of risk. For the grassroots, that would slam the brakes on the next Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button emerging."

If the law takes effect before Brexit, or during the planned two-year transition phase, then it will apply in the UK.

The motorsport industry is worth more than nine billion pounds to the British economy each year. Motorsport Valley, which stretches from the West Midlands to East Anglia, employs more than 40,000 people. Several teams, circuits, and other companies involved in motorsport have been contacting Dan to warn that jobs could be at stake if the Commission's proposal goes through unchanged.

Dalton added; “My father used to volunteer as a marshal at events up and down the UK, including the British Grand Prix. I know that motorsport is a way of life for many people in this country.”

All MEPs could vote on the proposals as early as February when the European Parliament next meets in Strasbourg. The vote is key, however, as the full parliament generally follows the line taken at committee stage.

Athletics is well represented in the New Year’s Honours List 2019 which recognises the outstanding achievements of people across the United Kingdom.

Para Athletics Head Coach at UK Athletics, Paula Dunn has been awarded an MBE for her services to athletics. Lorna Boothe has been awarded an MBE for her services to Sports Coaching and administration while leading International Technical Official Roger Blades has also received the honour for his services to athletics and school sport.

BEMs (British Empire Medals) - awarded for a ‘hands-on’ service to the local community - have been awarded to Paralympian Sophia Warner, John Messum, Mairi Levack and William Russell for coaching, while five-time Olympian Christopher Maddocks – also the British 50km race walk record holder – has been bestowed with the same honour.

Paula Dunn became the first female and BAME Para Athletics Head Coach in 2012 and since taking the post has led the British team to their highest ever medal tallies in the modern era at the Paralympic Games in 2016, World Para Athletics Championships in London, and the WPA European Championships.

One of six children, Dunn grew up in Manchester where she would begin her athletics career at the Trafford AC. Committing to her sprinting career alongside full-time work, Dunn became an Olympian in 1988 running the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Seoul. She is a four-time Commonwealth medallist and a European bronze medallist.

She moved into coaching as her career as an athlete came to an end, conducting this alongside her job as a sports development officer in athletics and netball in the Manchester area. Dunn would later start working at UK Athletics in 2001, carrying out roles in the talent and para athletics programmes, before her appointment as Para Athletics Head Coach in 2012.

On her MBE, Dunn said: “Initially I was really surprised and quite shocked. But as the days have gone on, I’m just proud. I am because so many people have helped me to get to this position.

“It just gets you thinking about when I started in the sport and my expectations career-wise. It was never in my wildest dreams that I was receive an MBE, so it is amazing what you can do.”

Dunn took over from Peter Eriksson as British Para Athletics Head Coach in 2012 and has embarked on a memorable six years for the programme.

“When I took over as Head Coach at the end of 2012, I wanted to make sure we kept on moving forwards. It is easy to get complacent and think you have succeeded. I jumped right in and we have built upon that success. We have such a strong structure in place. The profile of the sport has risen so much so we are attracting athletes constantly. I am incredibly proud of the team and their progression over the years.”

On becoming the first female and BAME Para Athletics Head Coach at British Athletics in 2012, she added:

“It is always a watershed moment when you become the first of something. So, I was the first female Para Athletics Head Coach, and the first BAME Head Coach, so for people looking in, they can see this is a sport that provides opportunities. If you have the ability, the capability and the drive, you can achieve anything. I don’t particularly like to be called a role model because I still feel that I am learning but if people can see what I have achieved and that can motivate them, that is absolutely brilliant and exactly what I want to do.”

Lorna Boothe receives an MBE for her services to sports coaching and administration. A Commonwealth 100m hurdles gold medallist in 1978 and two-time Olympian, Boothe currently sits on the European Athletics Coaches' Association and England Athletics regional councils and was also the lead speed coach for Team England at this year's Commonwealth Games. She has worked as a team coach and manager on a several British and English teams during her career.

Roger Blades receives an MBE for his services to athletics and school sport, the latter in the Sheffield area. Blades is currently on the 2018-2021 list of Technical Officials (TOs) and Classifiers authorised by World Para Athletics. He was also Technical delegate at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.

Among those receiving a British Empire Medal is John Messum for services to athletics in Wales. Deeside-based Messum was recently awarded the Endurance Participation Coach of the Year at recent Welsh Athletics Awards 2018.

William Russell is chief coach at the Banchory and Stonehaven Athletic Club in Scotland and has received his BEM for his services to Athletics in North East Scotland. Mairi Levack, a coach at North Uist Amateur Athletics Club receives a BEM for services to Sport and Young People on the Islands of North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist.

Paralympian Sophia Warner has been awarded an BEM for voluntary service to disability sport. Warner won world and European medals during her career and competed at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Finally, Christopher Maddocks, the retired 50km Race Walk British Record holder receives an BEM for his services to athletics. Maddocks is one of only a handful of athletes – alongside Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Ben Ainslie - to proudly call himself a five-time Olympian having competed in every Games from Los Angeles 1984 to Sydney 2000. His best placing was 16^th in both Los Angeles and Barcelona.

Shoppers, sports fans and party-goers are being encouraged to leave the car at home this Christmas and New Year and use public transport instead.

Those heading to the Boxing Day sales and the region’s top football matches will be able to take advantage of the biggest bus service outside of London.

A total of 171 services will be running on December 26 thanks in part to a financial subsidy from Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The region’s largest bus operator National Express West Midlands will be running a near-Sunday daytime schedule and Diamond Bus will also be laying on 17 key services.

People’s public transport options will be boosted further by the West Midlands Metro tram system, which will run an enhanced Sunday service on Boxing Day.

Full details of the bus and tram services were revealed today (December 13) following the release of the public transport timetables for the festive period. They can be viewed at www.networkwestmidlands.com/festive-services

Cllr Roger Lawrence, the WMCA’s lead member for transport, said: “This is the time of year when many of us are heading out to the shops to buy presents or off to parties and other festive events.

“That can add significantly to the amount of traffic on our roads, leading to extra congestion and poorer air quality.

“So I would encourage people to consider leaving the car at home and getting the bus, tram or train. That way they can avoid the hassle of finding somewhere to park and enjoy a festive tipple at the same time.”

With no trains running on Boxing Day, the extensive bus and tram timetable will not only help those heading to the sales but also shop workers as well as thousands of football fans going to the West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City and Walsall home matches.

The bus and tram schedules are:

Christmas Eve:

Bus: Normal Saturday service with most routes finishing earlier at around 10pm

Metro: Normal weekday service

Rail: Weekday service on most routes with reduced timetable from mid-afternoon and finishing earlier

Christmas Day:

No bus, rail or tram services

Boxing Day:

Bus: Revised Sunday service with some routes finishing earlier at 6pm and key routes operating until normal end of service

Metro: Bank Holiday service operating every 10 minutes during the daytime and every 15 minutes during the evening

Rail: No services

Thursday December 27 and Friday December 28

Bus: Saturday service on most routes

Metro: Bank Holiday service (as on Boxing Day)

Rail: Normal weekday service on most routes with a later start on Thursday

Saturday December 29 and Sunday December 30

Bus: Revised Saturday service on Dec 29 and normal Sunday service on Dec 30

Metro: Normal Saturday and Sunday services

Rail: Normal Saturday and Sunday services

New Year’s Eve, Monday December 31:

Bus: Saturday service

Metro: Saturday service with last tram at around midnight

Rail: Monday service for most routes with some trains finishing earlier

New Year’s Day, Tuesday January 1:

Bus: Revised Sunday service with some routes finishing earlier at 6pm and key routes operating until normal end of service. A reduced service will operate in Coventry

Metro: Bank Holiday service operating every 10 minutes during the daytime and every 15 minutes during the evening

Rail: Sunday service on most routes

As preparations begin for Birmingham to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022, Birmingham City University has launched two new undergraduate degrees – Event, Venue and Experience Management and Global Sport Management.

The Event, Venue and Experience Management course sees students immersed in live event experiences as part of their studies, as learners explore future trends in event technologies and develop an in depth knowledge of the critical elements of venue design.

Those studying Global Sport Management will learn from international sports leaders on the key contemporary areas of business and management in the global sports industry, including insights into the latest digital innovations.

Both degrees are the first courses of their kind in the UK to be accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the only chartered professional body dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence.

“The Event, Venue and Experience Management course has been a great success to date and the CMI accreditation further validates its strong links to industry and our commitment to developing work ready graduates and leaders of the future”, said Richard Oddy, Programme Director for Event, Venue and Experience Management at Birmingham City University.

“It’s a perfect time for us at Birmingham City University to launch the Global Sport Management course”, added Dr Russell Cowley, Programme Director for Global Sport Management at Birmingham City University.

“The Global Sport Management degree is unique with its accreditation to the Chartered Management Institute. Furthermore, the course is very practice focused through our extensive contacts with industry leaders and organisations.

“This course will see us deliver the next generation of global sport business and management experts.”

Dr Cowley is a former professional ice hockey player and previously played for Great Britain on the men's national ice hockey team.

Three University of Wolverhampton students are celebrating after scooping gold medals in Judo at a major national competition.

Jemima Yeats-Brown, Eric Ham and Kelly Petersen-Pollard all won their categories at the British Senior Judo Championships at the weekend.

Jemima Yeats-Brown, a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science student, was successful in the -78kg category.

BSc (Hons) Exercise and Health student Kelly Petersen-Pollard clinched gold in the -70kg category.

Meanwhile, Eric Ham, who is studying BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning, won the gold medal in the -73kg competition.

The students, who train at the British Judo Centre of Excellence at the Walsall Campus, all receive support from the University’s Sports Scholarship scheme.

James Dale, Sports Manager (General), said: “The results in the British Championships are absolutely fantastic and we are very proud of our students’ achievements. To see our students win senior British medals along with junior British medals is a credit to the effort they put in both on and off the judo mat. I must also mention the hard work that our Head Coach, Dave Elmore has put in to help our students achieve this level.

“This coupled with our strong relationship with British Judo and the fantastic facilities provided by the University, are the reason that students have the opportunity to do so well in their sport. We are very excited for the second part of the competitive season which will see the same students compete at BUCS national championships along with other high profile, senior Judo events.”

Efforts to protect the ocean have received a major boost with the announcement that Seychelles will lead a Commonwealth Blue Charter action group on marine protected areas.

Seychelles is the latest and 12th country to step forward as a Commonwealth Blue Charter Champion country.

The announcement was made at the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

Seychelles’ Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Charles Bastienne, spoke at a side-event on the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

“Seychelles wishes to lead the group because of the great progress we have made at the national and regional level in the establishment and management of marine protected areas.

“The government of Seychelles believes that in order to compliment the adoption of the Blue Charter and also to achieve sustainable development, Seychelles - being a small island developing state - must play a pivotal role in preserving and protecting our seas and oceans at all costs”.

Last week, Seychelles extended its planned protected areas to an impressive 26 per cent of the country's 1.4 million km² exclusive economic zone (EEZ), building on the 16 per cent it protected earlier this year. The new marine protected areas are based on the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan - a first in the Indian Ocean area.

The areas protected are important for biodiversity conservation, as well as for tourism and fishing. They include islands that are important breeding areas for endangered marine species, such as the remote Aldabra group of islands.

Other action group members updated delegates on their activities, including progress from the UK and Vanuatu on the Clean Ocean Alliance, from Cyprus on aquaculture, from Sri Lanka on mangrove restoration and from Kenya on the blue economy.

Nick Hardman-Mountford, Head of Oceans and Natural Resources at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said: "I strongly encourage other Commonwealth countries to follow the lead of Seychelles and their other counterparts in this vital Blue Charter initiative. Now is the time to take action to protect and sustainably manage the ocean, now is the time to join up.

“The wellbeing and livelihoods of billions of people depend on the health of the world's marine environment. We must act now to safeguard this one ocean for our children and their children".

During a panel discussion at the side event, panellists from the African Union, UN Environment, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community stressed the need for regional cooperation on ocean sustainability.

Two members of a martial arts group have won gold medals at the World Championships in Rome.

The two kick-boxing competitors from React Martial Arts in Rowley Regis – the coach Arron Walker and junior member Harvey Adlam – won their world titles earlier this month.

Arron and Harvey, who is aged 11 from Cradley Heath, competed in ring continuous, mat continuous and boxing, at 85kg and 35kg respectively.

Arron won the gold in ring continuous and bronze in the other two disciplines and Harvey got gold in mat continuous, silver in ring continuous and bronze in boxing.

“It was a highly competitive world championships on 3 and 4 November, with teams from Spain, Sweden, USA, Mongolia, Morocco and Italy, to name just a few,” said Arron.

“It is a great achievement for our small club we managed to get medals from six categories with only two fighters,” said Arron.

Arron said the club, which was set up in 2014 to encourage kick-boxing in the area, were now anxious to get some new faces in the squad to train-up for future championships.

Arron said the club we were an active member of the community activity network (CAN) co-ordinated by Matt Hill and now attend regular public health meetings with Matt.

As part of the CAN, the club received some funding from Sandwell to help promote new sessions to encourage more young people to take up the sport. Members have worked in primary and secondary schools in Sandwell.

Sandwell Council's cabinet member for leisure, Councillor Bill Gavan said: "I was very pleased to hear of these amazing achievements by members of the local club.

"I hope their efforts encourage more people to get involved in this highly successful organisation."

Cricket has the potential to unite communities and help countries towards their development goals, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has said. She was speaking at the ‘Bringing the Commonwealth to the ICC Cricket World Cup’ event – launching a landmark collaboration between the Commonwealth, International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2019, and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

High commissioners, renowned sportsmen and community project leaders were among those attending the presentation at the Commonwealth headquarters in London. The initiative aims to shift the focus beyond the playing field to the greater impacts of sport such as accelerating development, promoting peace and improving health and education.

Welcoming the new partnership, the Secretary-General said, “Sport is one of the great shared traditions across Commonwealth member countries. This collaboration will utilise our Commonwealth convening power - which is truly remarkable - to champion and promote cricket and broader sport-based initiatives being delivered by a diverse range of organisations, using the sport as a tool for development and peacebuilding.”

Secretary-General Scotland spoke about the Peace at the Crease initiative she launched earlier this year to enhance the impact of cricket as a tool for development. The programme will create a network of governments, cricketing and sporting bodies and community organisations, and includes training and capacity building to use cricket and sport more generally to advance development goals such as good health and wellbeing, peace and gender equality. Contributing to Peace at the Crease there are Commonwealth Community Cricketing Cups, with special exhibition matches and tournaments to mobilise action on specific development challenges.

The Commonwealth will also support the ICC Young Flagbearers programme, which will recruit young people from diaspora communities of each of the 10 world cup competing nations.

Commenting on the partnership with the Commonwealth, Managing Director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Steve Elworthy MBE said: “It is an honour to work alongside the Commonwealth ahead of what is a huge year for both the sport and the participating countries.

“The event provides a great opportunity for all members of the Commonwealth to be part of the World Cup and show how their communities can be part of cricket in the future,” he added.

Panel discussions at the event focused on the role cricket can play to promote social cohesion and sustainable development in local communities, as part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Social Legacy programme.

Participants also learnt about related Commonwealth initiatives such as ‘Faith in the Commonwealth’, which was created to improve global citizenship and religious literacy among young people and build stronger social cohesion through greater respect and understanding across faiths and cultures.

Jonny Clayton overcame three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 5-4 in one of the greatest games ever seen at the bwin Grand Slam of Darts, as three players qualified from the group stage on a memorable Sunday in Wolverhampton.

Despite Van Gerwen averaging 107.92, and bordering on record-breaking territory for much of the game, Clayton punished the Dutchman's three missed match darts to edge a classic contest and end the reigning champion’s 21-game winning run in the tournament.

Clayton now tops Group A, while Rob Cross, James Wade and Gary Anderson became the first players to secure qualification to the knockout stages on a day which saw ten players average over 100 at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

"I don't think I'll stop shaking for a week after that one! I'm so happy to have won that game," said Clayton, who also defeated Joe Murnan in his opening game.

"Michael is a phenomenal player but I always concentrate on playing my own game and now I can take massive confidence from that win."

Day two of the £450,000 event saw all 32 players in action, with Saturday's winners facing off and Saturday's losers playing each other.

The other match in Group A saw debutant Gary Robson produce a stunning turnaround from 4-1 down, surviving two match darts in his 5-4 win over Murnan.

A masterclass from UK Open and World Matchplay champion Anderson saw him average 112.54, the fourth highest ever seen at the Grand Slam, in his 5-1 demolition of Ian White.

Anderson opened the tie with the first two of seven 180s, and although he missed out on a nine-darter the Scot powered to a second win of the weekend.

"I was thinking 'don't hit the nine-darter' because it can all go wrong if you do that!” said Anderson, a former Wolverhampton finalist.

"Ian is a great player and a good friend of mine so I knew I had to be at my best to win against a top player."

Group D's other tie saw German BDO qualifier Michael Unterbuchner take a big step towards qualification with a 5-2 win over Steve Hine, eliminating the Coventry man in the process.

World Champion Cross became the first player through to the knock-out phase after surviving a match dart to beat World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-4 in a repeat of their World Championship quarter-final.

Cross, who missed just two darts at a double, trailed 3-2 to the young Belgian before battling back to force a last-leg decider and, after Van den Bergh missed a dart at the bullseye, the world number three found double eight with his last dart in hand for the win.

"It's a good feeling to be through after two games and I had to play really well to beat Dimitri, he's a class person both on and off the oche,” said Cross.

"I have been feeling the pressure a bit in the last couple of months but as long as I play well for the rest of the year it doesn't matter."

Elsewhere in Group H, Ryan Searle's hopes of qualification were ended as he went down 5-4 to BDO number two Mark McGeeney.

European Champion and World Series of Darts Finals winner Wade extended his winning run on TV to 12 matches with a 5-3 victory over Keegan Brown in Group C.

Wade averaged 104.7 and fired in three ton-plus finishes, including a 101 to win the tie, as he saw off Brown - who averaged 102.1 in an exceptional match.

"Of course it's pleasing to get through after two games but this is just the start of the tournament,” said Wade.

"I always take my opportunities and I think my experience carried me through that one. Now I'm want to keep the winning run going."

The other game in the group saw three-time quarter-finalist Mark Webster eliminated following his 5-3 defeat to Dutch BDO qualifier Wesley Harms.

In Group E, 2017 runner up Peter Wright also made it two wins out of two as he beat German number one Max Hopp 5-2, while Josh Payne earned a 5-2 victory over BDO number three Jim Williams.

Stephen Bunting fired in a 104.36 average as he picked up a 5-3 win over Mensur Suljovic in a high-quality Group G affair, and former Lakeside Champion Scott Mitchell recorded a 5-1 rout of German youngster Martin Schindler to keep his qualification hopes alive.

Welshman Gerwyn Price struck seven 180s as he edged past Lakeside Champion Glen Durrant 5-4 in a gripping Group F contest, while superior doubling proving to be the difference for European Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock in his 5-2 victory over Andrew Gilding.

Former champion Raymond van Barneveld survived a scare as Adam Smith-Neale missed four darts to dump him out of the tournament, with Group B's second game seeing Premier League finalist Michael Smith produced a top-class 13-dart deciding leg to edge past Krzysztof Ratajski 5-4.

The final group matches will take place on Monday and Tuesday, with the top two players from each group progressing to the last-16 knockout stage.

ESL welcomes back the best crowd in Dota 2 to create more history and break more records.

Twelve of the world’s best Dota 2 teams will return to the UK in 2019 for an all improved ESL One Birmingham powered by Intel. The event will take place from May 31 - June 2, 2019 at Arena Birmingham, for three days of intense Dota 2 action in front of one of the best crowds in esports history, battling it out for a share of the $300,000 prize pool.

The teams will be divided into two groups of six, with a round-robin best-of-two group stage that will decide which eight teams qualify.  All eight matches will be played in the incredible atmosphere of Arena Birmingham. Regional qualifiers for ESL One Birmingham will take place in March and April 2019 across Europe, North America, China, and South-East Asia. Group stage matches will be played from May 28 - May 30.

The UK community shocked the world by making ESL One Birmingham ESL’s fastest-selling Dota 2 event to date and illustrated the strength of the burgeoning UK scene.  ESL has since been busy preparing an event that is not only a world-class Dota 2 tournament but also a festival of esports. The scene’s most passionate fans are invited yet again to fill the arena.

Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, said: “I’m delighted Birmingham will once again play host to an ESL tournament. It is a testament to the brilliant fans who made this such a success last year, and we look forward to welcoming fans from across the world. ESL’s presence here is a great boost for the Midlands region and further proof that esports in the UK is going from strength to strength.”

“We witnessed unimaginable levels of support from the UK community which genuinely surprised us all earlier this year”, said James Dean, Managing Director at ESL UK. “We can’t thank everyone enough for making ESL One Birmingham an event to truly remember and ecstatic to be returning with more next year. We’re working on implementing improvements and some additional surprise features based on superb feedback from the community this year”

ESL One Birmingham, the UK’s first Major broke crowd capacity and streaming records across multiple platforms.  More than 30 million people viewed the action online across the five days of competition this year, and fans attended from more than 38 different countries and 120 different areas of the UK. ESL One Birmingham was also broadcast on BBC Three for the first time, with thousands of streams and hours of content watched across the weekend. ESL One Birmingham will deploy ESL’s best-in-class production team and equipment to deliver an incredible tournament experience for players and fans.

Team England has today revealed its new look and feel at the proposed site of the Birmingham 2022 Athlete’s Village.

Five members of Team England, who represented the nation at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, alongside Chief Executive Paul Blanchard unveiled Team England’s new logo on the proposed site that will aim to host 6,500 athletes and officials at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

While the organisational name for Commonwealth Games England remains the same, Team England is being pushed as the consumer facing name of the team, with its diverse group of athletes at the heart of it.

As part of this re-brand, Commonwealth Games England – working with award-winning creative agency Matta – consulted a number of its athletes that competed at the Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, to establish their understanding of Team England and its proposed position.

At the proposed site of the future Athletes’ Village, Commonwealth Games England Chief Executive, Paul Blanchard, was joined by Birmingham artistic gymnastics star Dom Cunningham, hockey star Lily Owsley, double Commonwealth S14 swimming champion Tom Hamer, Birmingham-born rhythmic gymnast Mimi Cesar and Commonwealth bronze medal winning basketball player Siobhan Prior.

Hamer, Cunningham and Prior also attended Commonwealth Games England’s Annual General Meeting which took place at the ICC in Birmingham and saw a number of panel discussions with Team England athletes and officials.

Prior, Hamer and Blanchard were joined by Team England’s head doctor Dr. Mike Rossiter on a panel discussing Team England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – reflecting on the nation’s successful medal haul, including 45 gold medals, as well as the achievement of taking the largest ever sporting team to leave the UK for an international Games.

With Birmingham set to host the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, gymnast Dom Cunningham, who came away from the Gold Coast with two medals, formed part of a Birmingham 2022 focused panel. He sat alongside Commonwealth Games England Chairman, Ian Metcalfe, Interim CEO for Birmingham 2022, Ian Reid, and Paul Oldfield from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Commonwealth Games England Chief Executive, Paul Blanchard, said:

“Team England is a brand that the nation can get behind – it is diverse, united and representative of England.

“With a home Games on the horizon, and after a hugely successful 2018 Games, now is the right time to refresh our brand as we begin preparations for Birmingham 2022.”

Artistic gymnastics team Commonwealth champion, Dom Cunningham, who was born in Birmingham added:

“Birmingham is my home town, and England is my nation – so to be able to represent Team England at Birmingham 2022 will be an incredible honour.

“I am very excited to be here today where hopefully I will be in less than four years’ time wearing this logo and getting the chance to compete for Team England in Birmingham, in front of my home crowd.”

University of Wolverhampton (UWR) Race Team engineering students narrowly missed out on the top place position in this year’s national MSV F3 Cup Championship title – coming third in the competition.

For the past two years, the Race Team has clinched second place in the national F3 Cup Championship title – marginally missing out on a first place spot last year by 1 point.

As the only University competing in the MSV F3 Cup competition, the Race Team has competed at Brands Hatch, home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone, and Donington Circuit.

An investment of £10 million in the University’s engineering facilities at its Telford Innovation Campus in Priorslee has recently been completed, creating world class education facilities for engineering students including industry standard design, development and testing facilities as well as Motorsport workshops.

UWR takes part in the F3 Cup, the IMechE Formula Student competition, the British Hillclimb Championship (driven by University of Wolverhampton Honorary Graduate, Graham Wynn OBE) and also work on two Morgan development cars which the team raced in this year’s AR Morgan Challenge on behalf of the Morgan Motor Company.

‌Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “"Although this has been a challenging year, we are delighted with the progress we have made in all of the championships in which we have competed, including the F3 Cup, the AR Morgan Challenge and Formula Student.

“The massive investment that has gone into our facilities provides a really attractive course offering for students who want to study engineering.

“We have committed sponsors on board, students have their own cars to work on and we’re competitively racing, providing real, hands-on engineering experience for the team.”

Shane Kelly, UWR Racing Driver, said: "After a third season in F3Cup, UWR have always been in the top 3 for the driver standings, which is a phenomenal achievement. We’ve come so far and learned so much, and this wouldn’t be possible without our Engineering students who commit so much of their time to a full season of Formula 3 racing.

"These students have raced all over the Country, in all-weather scenarios, winning and losing together.

“We are already looking forward to the 2019 season and more than 100 students from the School of Engineering have expressed an interest in being a Racing Wolf.”

Anyone interested in studying Engineering courses on offer at the Telford Innovation Campus should register for the next Open Day on Saturday 17^th November 2018. Follow the UWR Race Team’s progress on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter@UWRacing and Instagram@uwracing.

TWO-TIME bwin Grand Slam of Darts finalist James Wade has secured his place in Wolverhampton next month after winning the Unibet European Championship.

Wade, the 2010 and 2016 runner-up at the Wolves Civic, qualified for November's tournament at the Aldersley Leisure Village with a memorable triumph in Dortmund on Sunday.

Less than two weeks after becoming a father for the first time, Wade ended almost four years without a televised title as he scooped the £100,000 top prize at the European Championship.

The left-hander is now looking forward to returning to Wolverhampton for the Sky Sports-televised event from November 10-18.

"I've qualified for the Grand Slam now so it's a great feeling," said Wade, the 35-year-old from Aldershot

"It's ticked a few boxes in my head. I've gone through my troubled times but I've shown that I'm dangerous and everyone needs to watch out."

Wade dedicated his European Championship success to new-born son Arthur, and admitted: "I've won TV titles before and I've never made the most of it. It's an amazing feeling."

Australian star Simon Whitlock also secured qualification for the Grand Slam after reaching the European Championship final, where Wade denied him a second triumph in the event.

Players have a final chance to secure automatic qualification in next weekend's bwin World Series of Darts Finals in Vienna, before eight players come through the last-chance qualifier for PDC Tour Card Holders on November 5.

The bwin Grand Slam of Darts will be held from November 10-18 at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

Midlands air conditioning and heating specialist Coolair Equipment Ltd has pledged its support for grass roots football after becoming the first sponsor of a local junior team.

The company’s Midlands operation, based on Walsall Road in Cannock, teamed up with its manufacturing partner Daikin to sponsor the jerseys of Shelfield United FC's Under 11s who are beginning their third season in the Lichfield & District Recreational League.

The two-year deal, which extends to providing home and away strips branded with the sponsors' logos, will help secure the future of the team which provides an outlet for local youngsters who are keen to play competitive football in a fun environment.

The Under 11 team plays its home matches on Sundays at Shelfield United's ground at Rushall in Walsall. The club is run entirely by volunteers and has Community Charter Standard Club and Community Amateur Sports Club status.

Cil Spencer, Coach of Shelfield United Under 11s, said: “We are extremely grateful and excited to get sponsorship from Coolair and Daikin. The 14 players who have signed up for Under 11 matches this season are all good athletes and are overcoming their lack of competitive experience and training discipline fast. They give their all in training and in every game we play.

“From finishing bottom in the league in our first year, we are now competitive with all teams in the league this season while also enjoying our football. Most of our players are from Walsall and surrounding areas.”

Cill added: “As a charity accredited club, we also play a wider role in the community with our CRB-cleared and FA-qualified coaches enhancing the lads’ social skills including teamwork, communication, cooperation, fitness and confidence.”

Neil Gibbard, Regional Director of Coolair, whose nephew Theo plays for the team, said: “As a successful Midlands company that is fully committed to the training and personal development of our young people, many of whom come from the local community, we regard sponsoring Shelfield United's Under 11s as a way of giving something back.”

Shelfield United Football Club has a variety of teams from Under 7 to Under 16 and operates a football-for-all policy. It also prides itself on being a community club and raises money for many local causes. More details are available on the club's website at www.shelfieldunitedfc.com.

Coolair Equipment Ltd, which also has offices in Manchester and Kent, is a specialist provider of tailored cooling and heating services to the retail, residential, commercial, education and hotel sectors. The company is a Daikin D1+ accredited installation partner.

New South Wales and its State capital Sydney were placed firmly on the map as the world's most-loved sporting destination in the 2000 Olympic Games. Fast forward 18 years and the iconic Harbour City is getting ready to host another internationally renowned sporting event, the 2018 Invictus Games.

Launching on 20 October as an international adaptive sports event for wounded service members and veterans, athletes will compete in 11 events staged across Greater Sydney, including Sydney Olympic Park and in and around Sydney Harbour. An estimated 1,000 family and friends are expected to accompany the competitors, with the event being supported by around 1,000 volunteers.

For visitors inspired by the amazing armed forces members and veterans, there are plenty of outdoor options throughout Sydney and regional NSW in stunning locations to help you stay active during your visit.