Blogs
The junior golfers of The Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey have forged new links with the famous Princes Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent.
The junior sections of both clubs have agreed to play each other annually on a home and away basis. The winner over the two legs will receive the Friendship Bowl.
Princes Golf Club is steeped in rich golfing history, having hosted the British Open in 1932, when it was won by the great American Gene Sarazen.
More recently, it has hosted the final qualifying rounds for the British Open which was held at neighbouring Royal St Georges.
The legends of the game, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, have graced the links at Princes, while some notable honorary members include Gary Player and Phil Mickleson.
Richard Brice, Junior Organiser at The Ashburnham Championship Links club, said: We have worked extremely hard to develop junior golf at The Ash and this fixture rewards the efforts of our lower handicap golfers with a fantastic opportunity to compete on some of the most demanding and renowned links courses in the British Isles.
We also hope the contest will spur on juniors with higher handicaps to work on their game in order to increase competition for team places.
Ashburnham Golf Club manager Huw Morgan said he was delighted to see the new links established.
We know The Ash is a great links golf course and it is wonderful to see the relationship building with the Princes Golf Club in Kent.
The competition format will see both teams consisting of eight players up to a maximum handicap of 18. Teams will be selected in strict handicap order, while the format will be fourball better-ball matchplay.
The first leg of the fixture took place during the Easter break, when the Ashburnham juniors travelled to Kent and played Princes.
Despite losing 2.5 1.5, a young Ashburnham side put in a brave performance against an exceptionally talented Kent team which included no fewer than four single-figure handicappers.
During their visit to Sandwich, the Ashburnham team members were also invited to play a junior match against the neighbouring and equally esteemed Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club.
The team from The Ash bounced back in style to record a superb win 2.5 1.5.
Welsh international Nia Greville, junior vice-captain of The Ash, paid tribute to the performance of the Ashburnham side and thanked both Princes and Royal Cinque Ports for their wonderful and welcoming hospitality.
The Ashburnham will host the return fixture later this year, with the match delicately balanced.
Photo: Junior golfers from The Ashburnham and Princes Golf Club.
For further information about The Ashburnham Golf Club, contact -
The Clubhouse, Cliffe Terrace, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0HN
Tel:01554 832269
Fax:01554 836974
Email:admin@ashgolf.co.uk
Website - http://www.ashburnhamgolfclub.co.uk
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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog
Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church
For details of how to sponsor see this post
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I looked at the Intelligent Running site after seeing it mentioned in a comment on yesterdays blog. It looks like it might be useful but for two things:-
1. I like to set my own goals and schedules, and
2. It seems like it's geared to preparing you to put in a competitive performance in a full marathon.
This would be overkill for me. My sole objective is to finish the 13 miles in a fairly average time for a novice runner. Fortunately I haven't committed myself to anything more than that. If I had I might be sending away for the c.d's.
The idea that you needn't run every day is a sound one though not necessarily new. I will certainly NOT be running the day before July 4th and I am only running every other day now. Two short and one long runs a week is the well balanced way. The short runs are simply to maintain your general level of fitness and preparedness. The 'long' runs are when you push for extra distance and endurance. It seems to me that this was what I was doing back in the 80's. Worked then....lets hope it works again at age 55.
Here is the Intelligent Running video from YouTube in case anyone wants to give it a try:-
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Reproduced with kind permission from David Western's Portland Lovespoon Blog
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I'm very excited to announce that a date and place has been decided for this years West Coast Eisteddfod!! It will be held at the Multnomah Arts Center in Portland, Oregon on Saturday October 13th and once again Laura Jenkins Gorun and I are teaming up to produce the Eisteddfod Lovespoon.
As in previous years, the lovespoon will be raffled off to a lucky winner who will be announced at the Eisteddfod event in October. The money raised from your generous donations to the Left Coast Eisteddfod will go directly to supporting the event. Each dollar you donate will equal one chance to win the spoon. Naturally, I would like to encourage you to donate many dollars so that your chances of winning improve, but even if you can only afford one or two, please join in as every single dollar is important! After all, it only takes one ticket to win...there's no reason why that ticket shouldn't be yours!!
We are also thrilled to announce that brilliant Celtic artist Jen Delyth has contributed to this year's lovespoon design!! Jen has kindly donated one of her lovely 'Tree of Life' designs and I am chomping at the bit to get to work carving it!! Building on the tree of life theme, we have decided that 'Celebrate Your Roots' will be the motto for this years lovespoon; a motto which is also perfectly apt for the entire Left Coast Eisteddfod!
Celebrating our Welshness AND one of our endearing and enduring Welsh traditions (three cheers for lovespoons!) is what the Eisteddfod Spoon is all about and we very much hope you will support us in our endeavour!
Please join Laura, Jen and myself in supporting the Left Coast Eisteddfod 2012 and earn yourself a chance to win our spoon while you are at it!!
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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog
Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church
For details of how to sponsor see this post
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Well it's Day 16 already and this blog is still going strong. I must admit though that it is sometimes difficult to think of a fresh topic for each days post so I decided to take a look at other running blogs to see what is out there.
There is certainly no shortage. One of the first sites that caught my eye was this one:- Top 50 Running Blogs It is, as you might have deduced from the title, a list of the Top 50 Running Blogs as ranked by Google, Alexa etc. I don't think I will be submitting my own feeble effort for inclusion in this list BUT it is certainly an interesting and voluminous repository of information and ideas for anyone with an interest in running and/or writing about running.
After a brief perusal of one or two of the blogs on the list I was fascinated ( and relieved ) to learn that there is much more to write about running than one might first have thought. Certainly I have come across a few medical conditions that are new to me, for example:- Iliotibial Band Syndrome which features in this post from Runblogger - Running Shoes and Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS): One Runners Story
But I guess if you're going to run the main thing is to enjoy it, a sentiment which I'm sure would be endorsed by the Fishtown Beer Runners whose mission statement ( see linked blog ) is to :-
"....combine responsible running with responsible drinking in the interest of science. We gather once a week to run three to five miles, and conclude each run at a pub for a beer or two."
And lest anyone thinks that running is strictly the preserve of grim faced fanatical 'fittists' here is a whole blog devoted to the notion that Running is Funny
I'll be back with a full report on my own painful and glacial progress tomorrow but meanwhile check out the links at Running is Funny....I'm sure you'll find something to chuckle at
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WARNER MUSICS DUO LILYGREEN AND MAGUIRE ANNOUNCE DEBUT WELSH OPEN-AIR TOUR - THE BIG WELSH BUSK
FREE GIGS ON A BEACH, A STATELY HOME, A CASTLE AND AN AMPHITHEATRE
AINT LOVE CRAZY EP RELEASED 11 TH JUNE 2012
Welsh singer-songwriters Lilygreen and Maguire will bring their melodic, acoustic sound to communities across Wales from 16 th April - 20 th April in a series of free, open-air gigs at some of the countrys most famous locations and landmarks, including a beach, a stately home a castle and an amphitheatre.
Friends Jon Lilygreen and Jon Maguire, both from Newport, south Wales, who have just released their debut single Come On Get Higher, on the Warner Music label, will begin their Big Welsh Busk tour in Wrexham city centre on Monday 16 th April 2012 and will play their final gig at their hometown of Newport. They will also play at 8 other venues across the length and breadth of the country including:
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THE BIG WELSH BUSK:
- Monday 16 th April : WREXHAM AND BANGOR
- Tuesday 17 th April: ABERYSTWYTH AND CARMARTHEN
- Wednesday 18 th April: SWANSEA AND BARRY
- Thursday 19 th April: CAERPHILLY AND CHEPSTOW
- Friday 20 th April: CAERLEON / NEWPORT AND CARDIFF
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The pair who are both in their early twenties have already built up a solid fan-base after supporting X-Factor runner-up Olly Murs in his recent arena tour of the UK and Ireland. They are also well known within south Wales music scene: Lilygreen as a covers performer and Maguire as a local music producer and member of a rock band. They came together in 2009 when their talent was spotted by Warner Bros. Music who soon secured the duo with a lucrative record deal. Their debut album will be released later this year.
Further information about the Big Welsh Busk tour visit www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire An acoustic version of their debut single Come On Get Higher can be found here http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire
Jon Lilygreen said: These gigs are going to be great fun for us and our fans. I cant wait to grab my guitar, pitch up at some fantastic locations and play free acoustic music in the open-air. Its going to be quite a challenge visiting so many venues across Wales, including a beach, a prom, a castle, a mountain and our hometown, Newport, hopefully our fans will come and support us and cheer us on.
Jon Maguire added: We love writing and performing our songs and thought wed like to give our fans a special preview of some of the songs that will be on our album. Weve played in front of thousands of people in big arenas but this Big Welsh Buskwill be quite different well be up close and personal with our audiences and that will be an intimate experience.
A duo that will make their mark in a very big way in 2012. The Mahogany Blog
www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire
http://twitter.com/lilygandmaguire
http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire
SCHEDULE IN BRIEF times are approximate guide only
Monday 16 th April Wrexham and Bangor
WREXHAM
Photo op: Erddig House, Wrexham 10am
Busk: Glyndwr University Student Guild, Wrexham 11.30am
BANGOR
Photo op: Llanfairpwllgwyngychgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Road sign, James Pringle Weavers 3pm
Busk: Bangor city centre town clock, high street 4.30pm
Tuesday 17 th April Aberystwyth and Carmarthen
ABERYSTWYTH
Photo op: Aberystwyth Promenade 10am
Busk: Aberystwyth Promenade 11am
CARMARTHEN
Photo op: Exterior Llansteffan Castle 2.30pm
Busk: St Catherines Walk Shopping Centre, Carmarthen 4pm
Wednesday 18 th April Swansea/Mumbles and Barry
SWANSEA/MUMBLES
Photo op: Mumbles pierside/seafront 10am
Busk: Oxford Street, Swansea city centre 11.15am
BARRY
Photo op: Barry Island Amusement Park 2.30pm
Busk: Barry Island Beach 3.30pm
Thursday 19 th April Caerphilly and Chepstow
CAERPHILLY
Photo op: Exterior Caerphilly Castle 10am
Busk: Caerphilly town centre bandstand 11am
CHEPSTOW
Photo op: Exterior Chepstow race course 2pm
Busk: Chepstow town centre town arch 4pm
Friday 20 th April Newport and Cardiff
NEWPORT
Photo op: Tredegar House Newport 10am
Busk: Caerleon Amphitheatre 11.30am
CARDIFF
Photo op: Exterior Gate 3 Millennium Stadium 3pm
Busk: Exterior Millennium Centre Cardiff 4pm
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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog
Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church
For details of how to sponsor see this post
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Didn't get a chance to run today. Pressures of employment amongst other things prevented me from training. I suppose I am lucky however, in so far as my current job involves being on my feet all day and walking around a lot. I guess that almost counts as training.
Certainly since I have started training again and curtailed a lot of my old bad habits, I no longer feel fatigued at the end of the day and I am quite happy to carry on working on the site and WCE arrangements till midnight most nights. I still have to get past the 15 minute barrier though. I haven't succeeded in running for longer than that yet.
I thought I might throw a few leg strengthening exercises into the mix. I am not sure how beneficial these are but there are some that can be practiced in spare moments at home and with minimal equipment ( see examples in the video below ). Cant do any harm but I suspect that only running will make you a better runner
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Click on link below to read article about brand new single:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/merthyr/2012/04/12/songwriter-darren-releases-new-single-91466-30739931/
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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog
Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church
For details of how to sponsor see this post
.
OK..... I'm going to cheat a bit tonight because I worked late and I'm 'plum tuckered'. So a short link blog in which I will treat you , dear reader, to an account of The Great Welsh Marathon which was held in blazing sunshine at Llanelli last year on April 10th. This was, apparently, only the second Llanelli Star Great Welsh Marathon and by all accounts it was a raging success. This year's event will be held on April 15th at 9 a.m. at the Millennium Coastal Park
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Keep tuned for more WCE announcements. Hoping to have some major news by early next week.
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Llanelli Star Great Welsh Marathon
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WARNER MUSIC’S DUO LILYGREEN AND MAGUIRE ANNOUNCE DEBUT WELSH OPEN-AIR TOUR - “THE BIG WELSH BUSK”
By Ceri Shaw, 2012-04-12
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WARNER MUSICS DUO LILYGREEN AND MAGUIRE ANNOUNCE DEBUT WELSH OPEN-AIR TOUR - THE BIG WELSH BUSK
FREE GIGS ON A BEACH, A STATELY HOME, A CASTLE AND AN AMPHITHEATRE
AINT LOVE CRAZY EP RELEASED 11 TH JUNE 2012
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Welsh singer-songwriters Lilygreen and Maguire will bring their melodic, acoustic sound to communities across Wales from 16 th April - 20 th April in a series of free, open-air gigs at some of the countrys most famous locations and landmarks, including a beach, a stately home a castle and an amphitheatre.
Friends Jon Lilygreen and Jon Maguire, both from Newport, south Wales, who have just released their debut single Come On Get Higher, on the Warner Music label, will begin their Big Welsh Busk tour in Wrexham city centre on Monday 16 th April 2012 and will play their final gig at their hometown of Newport. They will also play at 8 other venues across the length and breadth of the country including:
THE BIG WELSH BUSK:
- Monday 16 th April : WREXHAM AND BANGOR
- Tuesday 17 th April: ABERYSTWYTH AND CARMARTHEN
- Wednesday 18 th April: SWANSEA AND BARRY
- Thursday 19 th April: CAERPHILLY AND CHEPSTOW
- Friday 20 th April: CAERLEON / NEWPORT AND CARDIFF
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The pair who are both in their early twenties have already built up a solid fan-base after supporting X-Factor runner-up Olly Murs in his recent arena tour of the UK and Ireland. They are also well known within south Wales music scene: Lilygreen as a covers performer and Maguire as a local music producer and member of a rock band. They came together in 2009 when their talent was spotted by Warner Bros. Music who soon secured the duo with a lucrative record deal. Their debut album will be released later this year.
Further information about the Big Welsh Busk tour visit www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire An acoustic version of their debut single Come On Get Higher can be found here http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire
Jon Lilygreen said: These gigs are going to be great fun for us and our fans. I cant wait to grab my guitar, pitch up at some fantastic locations and play free acoustic music in the open-air. Its going to be quite a challenge visiting so many venues across Wales, including a beach, a prom, a castle, a mountain and our hometown, Newport, hopefully our fans will come and support us and cheer us on.
Jon Maguire added: We love writing and performing our songs and thought wed like to give our fans a special preview of some of the songs that will be on our album. Weve played in front of thousands of people in big arenas but this Big Welsh Busk will be quite different well be up close and personal with our audiences and that will be an intimate experience.
Interviews available on request
For further information contact stifyn@mrproducer.co.uk 02920 916667
A duo that will make their mark in a very big way in 2012. The Mahogany Blog
www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire
http://twitter.com/lilygandmaguire
http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire
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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog
Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church
For details of how to sponsor see this post
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There have been occasions in the past when, faced with hours of blogging/coding and other webby stuff, I have resorted to a 5 or 6 hour energy shot. I know the debate rages as to whether these products will do any more than a strong cup of coffee in terms of promoting alertness but they seem to work for me. In fact some times too well. I darent take them later in the evening for fear of not being able to sleep.
I'm wondering if these drinks would be useful for training purposes. Of course the idea is to build one's natural stamina and endurance rather than relying on a 'shot in the arm' from the local 7-11. On the other hand runners occasionally hit a plateau in training and maybe one of these things would help to further progress. At the moment I seem to be comfortable running for about 15 mins but I'm not having much luck persuading my weary old carcass to persevere for any longer than that.
I suppose I am going to be told that there is no healthy potion or magical elixir that will help in the long term but still, it probably does no harm to dabble with temporary expedients once in a while. I'll put it to the test one of these days and report the result in a future post.
Meanwhile here is a list of the active ingredients ( together with links ) from the Wikipedia :-
The ingredients of the drink are, in order of listing, taurine , glucuronolactone , malic acid , N-Acetyl L -tyrosine , L -phenylalanine , caffeine , and citicoline . [ 5 ] The maker claims the product "contains caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee."
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Certainly doesnt seem like there is anything particularly or potentially harmful in that lot. Or am I missing something?
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