NNWN-11-18-2021-001

Thursday, November 18, 2021 63

Newbury Weekly News

SPORT

International break still has ‘big news’ for Reading THERE is literally some “big news” at the SCL Stadium this week – all 6ft 4in of Andy Car- roll arrived for a two-month stay. The former Newcastle, Liverpool, West Ham and England striker is at Reading to ease a crisis. much money and besides, which player of any value wants to join a club about to be clobbered with a nine-point deduction? Zealand and the ground there is nearly 700 metres above sea level. If he looks a bit sluggish in the 80th minute against Nottingham Forest, is that a surprise?

Sport down the years

SPORT has always been convered in the NWN down the years. We look at the unforgettable moments from 10 years ago

Derby County were hit with a further nine-point deduction this week, on top of the 12 points they were deducted for going into ad- ministration earlier in the season. That news has made Reading fans increasingly anxious about their club’s impending fate. n Spare a thought for the players on Saturday when you hear an angry fan shout from the stands some- thing along the lines of “how can he be tired, he’s had a couple of weeks off”. Liam Moore flew to El Salvador to play for Jamaica, before a home game against the USA. Now he is back in Reading. San Salvador is half way to New

Not many of us have to work and travel to that level of intensity in a week. “Luckily it is just the two games, rather than three as we have had recently, so I’ll get a bit of time to get back, rest and recover in time for the Forest game,” the Reading captain told me. “I’m someone who can sleep pret- ty much anywhere well, but noth- ing’s the same as your own bed. “This window gets us back earli- er so I can recuperate. “Sometimes you’re not back until Friday morning from these interna- tional breaks ahead of a Saturday game.”

With Lucas Joao, Yakou Meite, Femi Azeez and now Jamari Clarke all out, alternatives to the out-of- form George Puscas are non-exist- ent. The deal only lasts until mid-Jan- uary, so in that sense is low risk. If he scores a few goals and plays even half of each game between now and then, Reading will be look- ing to extend his deal in January, though by then other clubs with more financial clout will become interested. If he joins all the other strikers in the treatment room, or looks way

November 17 2011 Final haul

Tim Dellor – Royals Column off the pace, then Reading can qui- etly send him on his way.

NEWBURY’S Victory Martial Arts Club took its haul of top-three placings for the season close to the 50-mark at the final Premier Grand Slam Championship event. The Independent Martial Arts Organisation event was staged at the Eastleigh Point Centre and Newbury had 10 juniors in action. competition to claim second place in point sparring and top spot in continuous bouts. Ami-Rose Spring went one better with a double first, winning the continuous and point fights with the highest points return for the club over the season. Both are on course to take part in the Grand Champions Challenge competition for the IMAO British Championship next year. James Moxon was fifth in the point sparring for under-15s, and Hayden Ricca and James McLellan claimed fifth places in continuous and point bouts and were joint third in continuous rounds. The former was also third in open hand forms, while Matthew Salt was second in both under-14 point sparring and open hand forms. A number of newcomers to competition also enjoyed success with William Adams first in a one- round final match in his division, and Abiel Malkani-Talwar second in point sparring at his first attempt. Harry Green competed in point and continuous bouts and disposed of all of his opponents to earn first place in both, and Amber Cracknell was fourth in points sparring and second to training partner Amy Spring in the final round. The competition capped a season that saw the club gain 13 gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze awards and it’s a year they will not forget . The full team is: Jake Agar, Matthew Salt, Harry Green, Amber Cracknell, James Moxon, Ami-Rose Spring, James McLellan, William Adams and Abiel Malkani-Talwar And Jake Agar shook off a disappointing previous

Reading are hamstrung by the transfer embargo and the impend- ing points deduction. They are not permitted to spend Josh secures his Spartan place Meanwhile sister Isla was the first girl over the line

By LIAM HEADD liam.headd@newburynews.co.uk @liamh_nwn

TEAM Kennet athlete Josh Ladds has qualified for the Spartan Race Kids World Championships in Abu Dha- bi in his first year of com- petitive obstacle course rac- ing. Spartan race is an off-road running race in which com- petitors have to complete 20+ obstacles on the way to the finish line, including rope climbs, cargo net crawls, six- foot walls, heavy sandbag and bucket carries, monkey bars and more. It is one of the only events that integrates running and cross-functional strength, which tests both your mental and physical endurance. Ten-year-old Josh and his sister Isla, nine, also a Team Kennet athlete, have been doing obstacle course racing since they were four years old, travelling up and down the country with their team The OCR Juniors – a squad of promising young athletes who are hoping to take on kids around the world in one of the

Josh Ladds (left) was the second finisher

Isla Ladds in action at a kids World Championships event fastest-growing sports.

around the country race head to head over 2.5 miles. Isla, who races in the sev- en- to nine-year-old age group, was first girl over the line and second overall in both Satur- day and Sunday championship races. New Team Kennet members Henry and Elliot Bell took part in the 2021 Green Park Challenge and came third and fourth in the U10 category (28th and 31st out of 421 run- ners).

The sport is governed in the UK by UKOSF who are work- ing with FISO, the world gov- erning body, to get OCR to the Olympics. Both athletes took part in the final race of the UK and Ireland National Series at the Glanusk estate in Wales. Josh secured his place at the kids World Championship event by placing second in the competitive race which sees runners aged 10 to 14 from

Elliot and brother Henry Bell

Medal success for Darren DARREN Boulton won Division 1 of the men’s November medal at West Berkshire Golf Club with a gross two over par 75, net 68. He was followed by Gra- ham Miles gross 94, net 67, with Andrew Mcallis- ter taking third spot with gross 84, net 68. place on 110 points, while Cathy Barnard, Babs Col- lyer, Colin Bell and Phil Moss scored 104 to claim third spot. Tina Mulford won the ladies’ par/bogey competi- tion with a score of -5. G olf

D arts Heartbreak for Humphries LUKE Humphries suffered a Grand Slam exit on Tuesday, despite winning two of his three group games. cruellest of ways after the victory over de Sousa.

Going into his final match with defending champion Jose de Sou- sa, Humphries needed a victory of 5-2 or better, but let a 4-1 lead slip before eventually winning 5-3. Earlier in the competition, Humphries opened his Grand Slam account with a 5-3 defeat to Mensur Suljovic, before bouncing back and beating Matt Campbell 5-3 in his second match. But the 26-year-old was elimi- nated from the competition in the

The Newbury man will have a short amount of time to reflect be- fore the Ladbrokes Players Cham- pionship begins on November 26. Humphries will come up against fellow Newbury man Ja- son Heaver in the opening round of the competition. Heaver has enjoyed a good re- cent run of form and has also qualified for the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Pal- ace, London, next month.

Colin Price, with gross 79, net 69, was second, while Patrick Wilmore, with gross 81, net 70 was third. Mark Ridgill, having won the final of the sen- iors’ match play compe- tition the previous week, maintained his run of form to win Division 2 with gross 88, net 65.

The team comprising Simone Diamond, Renee Wheeler, Brian Joyce and Patrick Wilmore won the last midweek mixed com- petition of the year with 116 points. Ola Adams, Aileen Sum- mers, Steve Haylor and Chris Chapel took second

Jane Brackenbury was second on -6 and Sandy Miller third with -7. The seniors played two matches in the M4 Seniors Winter League, winning a bonus point with an away half at Sherfield Oaks, followed with a 4-0 win at home to Theale GC.

Luke Humphries

Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC