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Swimmers and water babies, joggers and runners can make a big sporting impression during a weekend in March as Bolsover District Council is set to stage two massive sporting events.

First up is the Big Splash at Creswell Leisure Centre, on Saturday, March 24, as the centre becomes part of the nation’s biggest ever swimming campaign.

The Council has joined forces with British Swimming and the BBC to deliver the Big Splash and inspire residents to swim.

Creswell Leisure Centre will offer a number of exciting Big Splash activities including:

12.00 – 3.00pm – Fitness Zone – Drop in to the Fitness Zone, Aqua-fit, Zumba Pool , Swim Fit and Aqua -Jog.

3.00pm – 5.00pm – Teaching Zone – Everyone is welcome for those who want to learn to swim or just improve their strokes.

5.00pm – 6.30pm – Fun Zone – Aimed at children – mates, balls, play equipment, games and a finale pool disco, with lights and lasers.

The whole day is free of charge and classes and activities are based upon a first come first served basis.

In addition to this the centre has also been offering a number of exciting Big Splash activities over the past few months including: Junior Aqua Fit, Crash Course swimming lessons, Family fun and £1 to swim at weekends.

Special memberships are available to adults who enrol on the adult swimming lessons programme.

Bolsover District Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Cllr Ann Syrett, said: “Swimming is one of the best ways to keep fit and stay healthy and this is a great chance for people to enjoy the water whilst having fun with their family and friends.”

For more information please visit www.bolsover.gov.uk/creswell-leisure-centre or telephone 01909 721371.

In addition, on Sunday, March 25, we are also staging a Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile at Shirebrook.

This sets off from behind Sports Direct and passes through the former Shirebrook Pit Trails and is set to be an incredible event.

Entrants do not have to be sporty to take part but can choose to complete one, three or six miles knowing that all the money raised will help to change the lives of people living tough lives in our area and across the UK and in the world’s poorest countries.

Cllr Syrett added: “The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Shirebrook is here and it’s your time to shine.

“From teeny-tots with their mums and dads to super sprinters up against the clock there’s something for everyone on the big day.

“This is the first Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Shirebrook and it is set to be a great event. So come on, pull your Sport Relief socks up, enter the Mile and do something amazing.”

To enter the Shirebrook Sport Relief Mile please visit www.sportrelief.com and type Shirebrook into the search box or telephone (01246) 593066.

Posted at 08:45 AM ET, 02/03/2012
The Super Bowls: Celebrating lesser-known sporting events
By Maura Judkis

This year will be the 46th Super Bowl — and for nearly as many years, the cliched phrase “The Super Bowl of [something]” has been used to describe intense competition off of the gridiron. Many of the Super Bowl designations don’t even apply to actual competitions — or they’re competitions so trivial that the “Super Bowl” designation is a blustering hyperbole. It’s a writing cliche similar to calling a creative person “The Picasso of [something]” which was previously examined on this blog.

Though the Giants and the Patriots won’t take the field until Sunday, Friday we celebrate some of these lesser-known Super Bowls.

The Super Bowl of Birding has nothing to do with ravens, eagles, falcons or seahawks.
(Sam Panthaky – AFP/Getty Images)

• The Super Bowl of Birding took place on Jan. 28 in Essex County, Mass., and Rockingham County, N.H. “It’s not THE Super Bowl, but it brings out the ‘sport’ of birding for those who participate,” the Newburyport News helpfully points out. The Maine Outdoor Journal says this year’s winning team scored 202 points, with scores awarded for the rarity of birds spotted.

• The Super Bowl of Friendship is a celebration of “girlfriendology,” according to the blog of the same name. Points are awarded for kindness and being there for a friend, and all of the game time snacks are low-cal.

• The Super Bowl of Hymn Festivals is not about praying for a touchdown. According to the Milledgeville News of Georgia, it’s an event presented each year by the Macon Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. it will take place on the same day as the actual Super Bowl, Feb. 5.

• The Superbowl of Chick Fights, according to blogger spunkybean, took place on last week’s episode of “The Bachelor.” You could be on either Team Courtney or Team Emily, two women who are totally in TRUE LOVE with Ben. They both got roses at the end of the show, so presumably the Superbowl of Chick Fights resulted in a tie? Or does that mean it’s going into overtime?

• The Super Bowl of Chicken was a delicious event at Gates-Chili Middle School in upstate New York last year. Seventh grader Elijah VanEpps gave local news anchor Nikki Rudd a taste of chicken tortilla soup while Buddy the Tyson Chicken loomed over his shoulder. No word on whether or not wings were served.

• The Super Bowl of Lobbying: A battle over a moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia that’s pitting miners and businesses against environmentalists. Jeff Schapiro, political columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, gave the match-up the football moniker, noting that the battle could last as long as a year.

• The Super Bowl of Weather Conferences — the American Meteorological Society meeting — was dubbed so by the Post’s own Capital Weather Gang. CWG’s Chief Meteorologist Jason Samenow was a spectator at this year’s bowl, which took place last month in New Orleans.

• The Superbowl for Women could be any of several events: Black Friday, the Miss America pageant, the Academy Awards, the royal wedding, and, shamefully, the film “Sex and the City 2.”

By Maura Judkis
 | 
08:45 AM ET, 02/03/2012

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Oscars Remix winner: The ‘Michelle’ redux

Fancloud.comco-founders Terence Gelke, Bryan Shaw and Ben Bjurstrom are currently in the middle oftraveling 15,000 miles in a van wrapped in Fancloud logos–attending more than 100 sporting events, hosting tailgating parties and meeting with fans. 15,000 miles? 100 sporting events? Heres guessing these guys dont have girlfriends.

Sports fans can keep up-to-date on the tour events through the Fancloud.com website,which came about when the founders found themselves in the media spotlight while at a Suns-Knicks game in Phoenix in Jan. 2011. During the game, they sparked trade rumors by wearing Carmelo Anthony Knicks jerseys ahead of the actual trade taking place. (By the way, notice again there is no mention of girlfriends going to the game with them). The trade rumorsstarted them brainstorming, which eventually led to the website.

“Fancloud came about because Ben, Bryan and I have always been obsessed with sports information but could never find something organized that filled the void,” Gelke said. “We are thrilled that we have been able to step in and fill that void while providing fans with the ultimate opportunity to be part of an innovative, sports-themed, social event.”

The Fancloud trio are currently attending sporting events in the LA area, and start the second leg of their tripFeb 15 with stop inSan Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Orlando (forNBA All Star game weekend).

ALSO:

Courtney Force is making the climb in family business

Dodgers sign Clayton Kershaw to two-year, $19-million deal

Losing Joe Barry wont stop USC football, Hayes Pullard says

– Houston Mitchell

Photo: The FanCloud van. Credit: Fancloud.com

The Forum newspaper announced the presence of Sherwin Shayegan in its Fargo, ND-Moorhead, Minn. coverage area as if he were a developing funnel cloud eyeballed by the local sheriff. Headline: Watch your backs, F-M: Piggyback Bandit spotted here.

The man who nicknamed himself the “Piggyback Bandit” due to his affection for jumping on the backs of high school athletes has been spotted in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Shayegan, 28, over the last few years has gone on a multistate spree of showing up at high school sporting events, and jumping on the backs of unsuspecting players. Here is a May 2010 report from KATU in Portland, Ore., about Shayegan getting banned from events in that state for his unauthorized piggyback rides.

The Seattle native has cut a piggybacking swath across the Pacific Northwest, also getting banned from high school games in Washington and Montana. On Feb. 1, Shayegan pleaded guilty in Helena, Mont., to two counts of misdemeanor assault for piggyback two players during the a high school soccer tournament in October 2011. He received a $760 fine and a 360-day suspended jail sentence. From the Helena Independent Record:

“I made a mistake,” Shayegan told Helena Municipal Court Judge Bob Wood. “I was just trying to be funny and get a piggyback ride.” 

“It’s not funny. It could be dangerous,” Wood said. Officials have noted that Shayegan is not a svelte man and weighs about 250 pounds.

“Go back to Seattle and behave,” he added.

At the time of his arrest, Shayegan told police he was banned from sporting events in Washington and Oregon and read about the soccer tourney here, according to Helena Police Chief Troy McGee.

Like the jet stream, Shayegan flows easterly. Recently, he was spotted in Bismarck, ND, jumping on players at multiple girls and boys events. That added North Dakota to the list of states that have banned Shayegan from appearing at high school athletic competitions. His photo has been sent to athletic directors around the state. (The photo appearing here is from Shayegans Facebook page. No, not creepy at all.)

Then, on Feb. 8, Shayegan was spotted at an unusual venue, for him a college basketball game. From the Forum:

Concordia Sports Information Director Jim Cella said Shayegan was “definitely the guy” coaches noticed handing water to players at Wednesday’s men’s basketball game against St. Olaf College at Memorial Auditorium.

Cella said the man, believed to be Shayegan, dressed in a T-shirt and basketball shorts, was seated behind the St. Olaf players.

Game officials had not heard of Shayegan’s antics at the time of the game.

“He was telling people he was a fan of St. Olaf,” Cella said.

Shayegan got close to players, pouring cups of water and leaving them on the table for the athletes.

The St. Olaf coach said he was uncomfortable with Shayegan’s actions so Cella approached him and asked him to keep a safe distance.

Shayegan seemed to comply without incident, Cella said.

If you are an avid skate fan youve undoubtedly seen energy and sports drink manufacturers sponsoring events but what about other beverages? I am talking about beverages of the adult variety. You see alcohol related sponsors at other sporting events but what about at skate events? I started thinking about this subject after reading about some folks in the Irish Republic seeking to ban alcohol manufacturers from sponsoring all sporting events, skate included. It made me do a little digging to see what, if any, alcohol manufacturers were actively involved in sponsoring skate events. I was surprised at what I found.

About the Controversy

It lasted just a matter of seconds at a circus in Michigan. Stuntman, Josh Hadford, hit a guide wire and fell 25 feet straight down. It was all caught on camera. The rider broke several bones, but is expected to make a full recovery. The accident made 6 News question if the events are safe for the participants and customers.

The fear of stunts going wrong puts safety at the forefront of these extreme sporting events. The event coming to Indiana, PA in March wont have stunts, but theres still precautions they have to take.

Situations like the one that happened on Sunday in Michigan can not only be scary for the stuntmen, but also for the spectators.

I really thought iI was going to die at that point. I was flying through the air, and I just kinda closed my eyes, and said okay, and I hit the ground, and I was still breathing, Hadford said.

Hadford is lucky to be alive after free falling 25 feet in the air, but for Ed Beckley who has been racing for years, the stunt is at the discretion of the rider.

That was a show with two riders coming in going on a narrow, steel ramp and to go up in the air and do tricks. Those are professional stunt people, owner of Checkered Flag Productions Ed Beckley said.

The motocross event thats coming to the Kovalchick Center in March wont be performing high altitude stunts, but theres still precautions riders need to take.

Before anybody goes on the track, we get them to where they can go out and walk the racetrack, so, they can see if theres a little knick here or there, and if theres a little bump out of place or something like that, they want to see it, Beckley said.

A motocross track thats usually meant for a couple acre field outside will be condensed to about an acre floor inside, and keeping the spectators safe is a priority.

We dont build the track to where if a rider would get out of control, they cant land in the middle of a 4-year-old kid, Beckley said.

Beckley said the event thats coming next month is a national professional-amateur race. There will still be jumps, but there wont be any circus acts interfering.

Organizers of Westminster College’s new children’s club, Winston’s Gang, are hoping for a good turnout at the group’s first event: Senior night for the men’s and women’s basketball teams on Feb. 18.

The purpose of Winston’s Gang, according to senior Kathryn Leetch, is “to get Fulton and Westminster connected,” by inviting area children through eighth grade to attend Westminster sporting events and letting them get to know the athletes.

“We want them to feel comfortable here,” Leetch said. “We’ve always wanted the people of Fulton to come see our games, and we want to go out in town and get involved.”

Just a quick word from our sponsor, Comcast. Theyve been holding a neat contest over on their Facebook page to give away a sweet gig in social media – access to big time sporting events, spreading ideas across the country. Sounds pretty cool to me at least. But Im a big social media guy to begin with (especially Twitter), so it would make sense that I find this intriguing.

Have you ever watched one of those TV shows where from thousands of hopefuls, one star is born? Well, Rufus On Fire readers, heres your chance to play starmaker and help pick the new voice of sports in social media!

XFINITY is looking for the next renowned sports social media star through its Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest. The winning candidate will serve as the new voice of XFINITY in the sports social media space and go behind-the-scenes at some of the biggest sporting events in 2012, sharing exclusive insights and updates with fans.

From February 9-19, you can review qualified entry videos and vote for the contestant youd like to see advance to the finals of the XFINITY Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest. The five entrants with the most votes will advance to the final round of the contest where they will cover one of five premier sporting events the weekend of March 8-11. Fans can head today to Facebook.com/XFINITY and click on the Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest tab to vote for your favorite personality (once per day)!

Will you choose the brainiac with the encyclopedia of stats, the former jock who knows the game inside out, or the corporate type who gets the marketing side of the business? You decide. Vote today at Facebook.com/XFINITY!

As always, thanks for reading!

Imagine sitting at an Arizona or Arizona State football game and suddenly hearing the public-address announcer bark, Last call!

Crazy? Maybe not.

Several Arizona representatives have proposed a bill that would open the door to selling beer and wine to the general public at state university sporting events.

My gut reaction was never as I envisioned stadium students sections turning into a raucous gathering of depravity accompanied by an Otis Day and the Knights soundtrack.

And then I remembered they were like that anyway.

Anyone who has been to a football game knows how many undergraduates leave at halftime, go to their dorm room or a tailgate party to drink and then come back, said Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, one of three sponsors of House Bill 2785.

West Virginia University, which began selling beer at home games in September, is making a strong case for taking this bill seriously.

First, some background.

Like most universities, beer and wine already are available in restricted areas of suites at Arizona and Arizona State football games. Additionally, beer will be sold at Wildcats baseball games this season, an opportunity that opened with the teams move to Hi Corbett field.

Twenty major universities, twice the amount from a decade ago, sold beer to non-suite fans at their football stadiums this past season, according to a survey done by the Des Moines Register.

The Arizona bill was introduced by Ableser, Rep. Tom Chabin, D-Flagstaff, and Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, who each represent districts housing one of the states three major universities. The bill would merely create a pilot program to test the issue under the watch of the Arizona Board of Regents and in consultation with the department of liquor licenses and control. Proceeds would benefit the schools athletic departments.

Ive done a ton of work trying to better my community and specifically ASU, said Ableser, who has undergraduate and masters degrees from ASU and is working on his doctorate. The reality is we dont have the T. Boone Pickens and Phil Knights of the world. We dont have huge (fundraising) foundations.

Financier Pickens and Nike co-founder Knight are deep-pocket boosters for Oklahoma State and Oregon, respectively.

The financial struggles of public universities have left many searching for other revenue streams.

That was part of West Virginias motivation, too.

Nothing in my mind sees anything wrong with beer sales, Mountaineers Athletic Director Oliver Luck said. But each situation is unique and has to be treated that way.

The Mountaineers served beer for the first time at their seven home games in 2011. Along with the decision came a very specific set of rules

Sales would be suspended early in the third quarter. Fans no longer would be able to leave the stadium once they entered. The university found that many people who left the facility would drink while they were away.

ASU allows fans to leave and return during games with a hand stamp. Arizona does not.

Representatives from both schools say their policy is not to comment on proposed bills.

The beer sales at West Virginia had an interesting result. Incidents related to alcohol consumption decreased 25 to 35 percent, Luck said. The tighter controlled environment, beefed-up security and a new exit policy made for a healthier atmosphere.

And the athletic department netted about $750,000 from its cut of sales and additional beer sponsorships.

Make no mistake. Luck, who is the father of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, did his homework. He is a Rhodes Scholar finalist, a lawyer, a former NFL player and a well-regarded executive who was determined to consider every angle.

He has received calls from other athletic directors asking about the Mountaineers experience. His reviews are favorable, but he reminds them that each university and community is unique.

What will become of the proposed Arizona bill? Political observers say the outlook isnt good because three democrats are sponsoring it.

At the very least, it could spark conversation. In these times of economic hardship at the public-school level, its a good start.

Reach Boivin at paola.boivin@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/PaolaBoivin.

The National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group has released a report which suggests that the Irish Government should prohibit the sponsorship of any sporting event where 25% or more of the audience is likely to be comprised of under-18s, or where under-18s are taking part.

It was recommended that drinks industry sponsorship of sport and other large public events in the Republic of Ireland should be phased out through legislation by 2016.

The report states that Irish 16-21 year olds list alcohol advertisements as five of their top ten favourite advertisements, and that four in ten 16-21 year olds have an alcohol branded item of clothing, with 26% owning a rugby/football jersey that has an alcohol brand logo.

Recommendations also put forward in the report include a 9.00 pm watershed for alcohol advertising on television and radio; prohibition of all outdoor advertising of alcohol; and all alcohol advertising in the print media to be subject to stringent codes.

Dr Tony Holohan, Steering Group chairman, said: “Ireland has had a long and sometimes difficult association with alcohol. As a society we must understand, accept and deal with the negative consequences that arise from our use and misuse of alcohol.

“It is for this reason that I present these recommendations as a whole, very much in the hope that they will be adopted as Government policy. While in many areas individual measures might have been recommended that would go further, I regard the overall set of recommendations as reasonable and pragmatic, and I hope that they will help to significantly and positively alter Ireland’s relationship with alcohol.

“It is my strong belief that these recommendations, taken together, provide a practical, pragmatic means to achieve this. I am, nevertheless, very conscious that to some the recommendations will be far-reaching and radical, whereas to others they will be seen not to have gone far enough.”