Sport

Local charity Age UK Milton Keynes says a huge thank you to ten fantastic runners whose efforts on a scorching Bank Holiday Monday have raised a magnificent £3,671.38.  And for the fifth year running 38 enthusiastic Age UK Milton Keynes volunteers turned out on Monday 7th May to man the three-mile water station, providing a vital service to thousands of runners taking part on the hottest day of the year at the time. An extra loud cheer was raised for Ana Chaplin and her team of “Runner Beans” who fielded six runners. Ana and her brother Alex were running in memory of their mother Gloria Chaplin who collapsed and died after helping at the water station at the 2017 MK Marathon. Gloria had been a tireless fundraiser and volunteer for Age UK Milton Keynes for over 25 years and her family felt the most fitting way to honour her memory..

On Sunday 18th February, after three days of intense play, Lisa Curtin walked away with a silver medal after representing England in the U15 European Badminton Championships. When asked about her achievement, Lisa enthused: “I was on the podium receiving my medal and the National Anthem started to play, it was in that moment that I realised what I’d accomplished and felt overcome with emotion. I’d trained so hard in the lead up to the tournament and gave it my all in the eight matches across the three days. I’m so happy that I’ve won a silver medal, and my parents are really proud too. I feel lucky to have such supportive parents, great coaches and a school that combines badminton with education.” Lisa’s Head Coach, Sara Sankey, ex England International, commented: “In the lead up to the European Championships Lisa has shown great mental strength, rising to every challenge,..

Three junior football teams in Newport Pagnell will be starting the season in brand new kits thanks to a donation from Bellway. Newport Pagnell Town FC’s three under 7 teams are in training for the new season and will officially kick off with their first matches in September. The club is based at The Pavilion in Willen Road, Newport Pagnell. Bellway sponsored the kits as part of its community programme linked to its Tickford Mews development in North Crawley Road. Julie Ford, a volunteer who oversees the club’s 29 youth teams, said: “We’re delighted that the children can start their first games all wearing their new kit. The under 7s have just left our Newport Kickers section which caters for four to six-year-olds. They played their first friendly matches against each other at a tournament last month and are looking forward to playing against other teams for the first time...

Earlier this summer local McDonald’s franchise Kaizen Restaurants announced the first annual “Kaizen Football Tournament” in aid of Ronald McDonald House Oxford. Now, with just days to go, local teams are invited to take advantage of the last remaining spaces in a bid to win the inaugural Kaizen Trophy and raise vital funds for the charity. The tournament will take place on Tuesday 25 July at the well known Powerleague facility in Walnut Tree, kicking off at 10am and running through the day.  Refreshments will be available during the day and a charity auction will also take place in the afternoon. The event will raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Oxford, which acts as a home away from home for local families with children in the Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital.  Ronald McDonald Houses around the country give families the chance to stay just a stones’ throw away from the Children's..

The 2017 rugby sevens event at Olney turned out to be an absolute classic of a day in terms of both the quality of the rugby and the off field socialising. Helped by dry, but cooler weather than earlier in the week, the conditions were conducive to a display of excellent 7s rugby. Throughout the day first rate rugby was on display. The Brakspear Men's Open was won by Coventry Rugby Club who had had a close encounter with the Racing Club Academy on their way to the final. Coventry tore apart Ilkley, the 2016 winners, in the first half with three quick tries in succession. The Yorkshire side made a valiant come back in the second half to bring the score back to 26-38. Ilkley had previously seen off the Milton Keynes 7s winners, Apache Braves, in the semi-final. The Ladies Open final was won by Old Northamptonians who..

This Saturday, 24th June, is a must if you enjoy a good rugby day out.  The annual 7s tournament, now in its 11th year, includes both Men’s and Ladies events coupled with the celebrated off pitch social occasion. Why not arrive early and watch the Lions 1st Test match live in the clubhouse at 8.35? It will also be repeated again later in the day. From the first 7s games at 10.30 in the morning to the finals at 6.30 pm there will be nonstop rugby on all pitches.   Don’t plan to go home. The post 7s party with a marquee, Hog Roast and live band, GrooveStar, will continue late into the night. Look forward to some quality 7s in the Brakspear Men’s Open. Last year’s finalists Ilkley RFC and Coventry Rugby are back again along with previous winners Sherrards Assassins.   Providing further competition are a number of sides,..

Football Whispers, the world’s first transfer predictor that puts science behind the rumour, last week was awarded with Outstanding Start-Up at the prestigious Sports Technology Awards. Based in Milton Keynes, the 28-strong Football Whispers team have developed the website and app from concept to two million users per month in less than two years. Launched to assess the validity of transfer rumours using a unique algorithm, Football Whispers not only ranks transfer rumours with its FW Index, but also powers content for media giants Sky Sports, ESPN and The Sun. The Sports Technology Awards attract entries from over 30 countries, representing around 70 sports and over 100 brands across 19 award categories. The event was hosted by Mark Chapman, one of the country’s best-known broadcasters and presenter of the BBC’s Match of the Day 2. Against stiff competition across the sports technology sector, Football Whispers was presented with its award..

Move over Rooney, there’s a new England squad in town!  On Saturday 13 May, England take on Wales at Stadium:MK (over 60s). The sprints up the left flank may be a little slower and an effort like Liverpool’s Emre would certainly put a player in hospital but the game promises to be just as fun.  Kick off is at 2.15pm and is FREE for all to attend just turn up on the day. Entry to the stadium is through gate 7. Although free to watch, énergie would be delighted if you would donate to their nominated charity. Supporters can do this by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/energie-international-football  Playing for England is Peter Croney, Head of Franchise recruitment at Milton Keynes based énergie Group, he said: “This is a competitive game and most of the players have played professionally and have continued to play football all of their lives so the crowd can expect..

David Boakye, a Year 11 pupil at St Paul’s Catholic School, has been selected for the Great Britain athletics squad taking part in the International Catholic Student Games (FISEC) near Venice in July.  The G.B. squad will be competing against teams from Austria, Brazil, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Malta, Hungary and Italy. A talented sprinter and 100m specialist, David hopes to compete at this distance and in the 200m too. David said:  “I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to compete, especially after failing to make the team for the past 2 years. It just goes to show that perseverance is so important in sports and life. It is also fantastic that my first international championship will be right next to my hometown, which will make the whole experience so much better.” Ross Knapper, Head of PE at St Paul’s, said:  “This is a fantastic achievement for David,..

A new community 7aside football league is starting in Milton Keynes on a Sunday Evening between 3:00pm and 5:00pm at Sir Herbert Leon Academy and is sure to be popular with local residents. Soccersixes are the UK’s leading provider of small sided FA affiliated football leagues so the popularity of this new football league will be very high.  The league is FA affiliated and each game is officiated by qualified officials. Soccersixes also provide all the equipment so teams only need to worry about who’s going to play in their team each week. A flexiable squad system is also used so teams can use as many players as they wish in their squad. Most squads will be made up of players that are friends, family and work colleagues.  Everyone is welcome, whatever standard, whatever age as long as they are over 16 they qualify to play in the Soccersixes. Soccersixes do however..

1 v Vipers WON 36-23 2 v Bletchley WON 37-0 3 v MK WON 19-0 Colts v Rushden WON 22-7 Ladies v Moseley WON 29-7: Six try haul gives Olney victory over Vipers  Olney took to the M1 North for the first of their return fixtures to take on Leicester Vipers who are sitting at the bottom of their league table. Vipers kicked off and were awarded a penalty from the first play of the game.  Their kicker Robbie Carr gave them the earliest of leads, 3 - 0 after one minute. From the restart the home side counter attacked and Olney got their first touch of the ball, from a line out on their 22. Olney won the ball and scrum half Rich Cowan made a break, taking play to Vipers 5 m. line. Vipers were awarded a scrum but Olney took the ball against the head. Cowan picked..

After a thorough and structured search for a new MK Dons manager, chairman Pete Winkelman finally has his man in the form of 36-year-old Robbie Neilson. Winkelman and his board spent just under six weeks whittling through the hundreds of applications, searching for the man to take the reins at Stadium MK and then, last Friday, it was Heart of Midlothian boss Neilson that was unveiled as the man take the Club forward, alongside his assistant Stevie Crawford. The chairman couldn’t be happier. “We aren’t just any old Football Club and I’m pleased we did it the way we did - the Milton Keynes way." Winkelman told MK Dons PlayerHD. "It has been a roller coaster time and we have taken our time at a very difficult time in the season but we made sure we’ve got the right person for the job. “We really thought about it and looked..

Cawleys, a local Luton-based waste management company, has recently become a sponsor of Olney RFC, through providing a waste management service for the club. Olney RFC is one of the leading community rugby clubs in Buckinghamshire, and one of the oldest; fielding teams since 1877. The club runs three senior sides plus ladies, colts, vets, girls, mini and junior rugby. With over 1,000 members, including over 450 mini and junior players, the club’s site generates waste from its popular bar area and weekly post-match lunches, and is keen to have the best environmental credentials. With Cawleys help it will be able to achieve this. Occasionally, the club holds hugely popular special events, including a biannual ball with 500-600 attendees, and in these instances, Cawleys will provide a skip to deal with the greater amounts of waste generated. Paul James, Chairman of Olney RFC, commented:  “We really value the support Cawleys..