Solihull Mail - 2021-10-15

95p FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 Solihull trusted news since 1870 Next stop Mars for Brum’s scientists ➤ STORY: PAGE 3 BIG MATCH PREVIEW SAVE £5 WHEN YOU SPEND £20 AT ➤ 9 PAGES OF WHAT’S ON INSIDE TOP KIDS HAUNTS FOR HALLOWEEN! After sickening spate of homophobic attacks, the city unites Stand up to P38 HATE ➤ FULL STORY: PAGES 4-5

2 BirMinGHaM Mail FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Birmingham Get your Mail delivered to your door this winter & get... 40% OFF ➤ SEE PAGE 28 Car crashes into home and bursts into flames The car burst into flames after crashing into the garage wall of a home in Rowood Drive PHOTOS: JuSTInE EDWARDS ContaCts Newsdesk: 0121 234 5528 Email: newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk Editor-in-Chief: Graeme Brown 0121 234 5316 Pictures: 0121 234 5251 Sport: 0121 234 5748 Online: www.birminghamlive.co.uk Photosales: reachphotosales.co.uk/Reach Advertising: 0121 234 5785 Subscriptions & Home Delivery 0333 2028000 Birmingham Mail, Embassy House, 60 Church St, Birmingham B3 2DJ. Price: 95p ClarifiCations & CorreCtions If we have published anything factually inaccurate, contact Editor Graeme Brown on 0121 234 5316, email graeme.brown@ reachplc.com or at Birmingham Mail, Embassy House, 60 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2DJ and, once verified, we will correct it as soon as possible. The Birmingham Mail newspaper is published by Reach Midlands Media Ltd, a subsidiary company of Reach PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code Of Practice as enforced by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at IPSO Gate House, 1 farringdon Street, London EC4M 7LG. Website www.ipso. Weather co.uk, telephone: 0300 123 2220, email advice@ipso.co.uk Saturday °C °F If you have a complaint °C °F concerning a potential breach of 13 the 55 Friday Code of cloudy Practice, we will 14 deal 57 15 with 59your complaint cloudy directly 16 or 61 Birmingham IPSO can refer your complaint Bristol 15 59 cloudy 16 61 to us. Go to www.reachplc. Cardiff 11 com/how-to-complain 52 overcast where 13 55 Carlisle 16 you 61 can view cloudy our Complaints 16 61 Exeter Policy and Procedure. A “How Gloucester 14 To 57 Complain” cloudy pack is also 16 61 Leeds 12 available 54 by cloudy writing to the 14Legal 57 Liverpool and Compliance Department, 13 55 cloudy 15 59 London Reach PLC, One Canada Square, 15 Canary 59 Wharf, cloudy London E14 165AP. 61 Manchester 13 If 55you have cloudy any issues Norwich 15 59 regarding the use of Nottingham 13 your 55personal cloudy data, email 14 57 Plymouth 12 datarequests@reachplc.com. 54 cloudy 15 59 Swansea 16 61 cloudy 15 59 Around 15 59 cloudy the World 16 61 Friday e Country Around the Country e World Amsterdam Beijing Saturday °C °F °C °F eMilY Collis News Reporter Saturday °C °F °C °F pcloudy 13 55 cloudy 14 57 cloudy 15 59 cloudy 16 61 cloudy 15 59 cloudy 16 61 sunny 11 52 overcast 13 55 cloudy 16 61 cloudy 16 61 cloudy 14 57 cloudy 16 61 sunny 12 54 cloudy 14 57 sunny 13 55 cloudy 15 59 cloudy 15 59 cloudy 16 61 sunny 13 55 cloudy 15 59 sunny 13 55 cloudy 14 57 sunny 12 54 cloudy 15 59 cloudy 16 61 cloudy 15 59 cloudy 15 59 cloudy 16 61 MORE than 150 residents in Solihull are calling for an investigation into speeding in their road after a car crashed into a couple’s home as they slept. Dramatic images show the vehicle as it burst into flames shortly after ploughing into the wall of a house in Rowood Drive in the early hours of last Saturday morning. CCTV from a neighbouring property captured the moment the driver came around the bend, lost control Today’s toDaY’s Weather WeatHer Stoke-on-Trent Derby Sunrise Sunset Sun & Moonrise Sunrise Today’s Weather Birmingham 7:33 a.m. Coventry Nottingham Burton-on-Trent Leicester and mounted the pavement, heading straight for the garage wall. Elmdon councillor Laura McCarthy said it was the fifth crash to happen on the road in the last three years. The Lib Dem group is calling on Solihull Council to step in and implement traffic calming measures on the street claiming it is a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. Cllr McCarthy said: “This has happened several times in the last couple of years. One time, a car lost control just as a pedestrian was walking Skies will be sunny to partly cloudy today. Afternoon highs will range from 12 to 14C. Stoke-on-Trent Derby Northampton Cambridge down the street and very nearly hit them – it crashed into another car. “This time, a car crashed into the garage side of a resident’s house and it started a fire. Miraculously, nobody was injured, but it must have been really terrifying for them.” Cllr McCarthy said a couple were inside the property when the crash occurred and were forced to leave their home until repairs are carried out. “The problem is it’s such a long and winding road,” she said. “People think they can get up to speed because they’re not making any Four-Day Outlook Four-Day Outlook Saturday Sun & Moon °C °F °C °F 7:33 a.m. 6:12 p.m. River Levels rain 14 57 cloudy 13 56 cloudy 21 69 sunny 12 54 call for traffic calming measure to stop speeding Moonset Birmingham Coventry Nottingham Burton-on-Trent Leicester Northampton Cambridge 5:06 p.m. 12:49 a.m. Oct. 20 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Cloudy. Cloudy. Saturday Cloudy. Sunday Saturday Sunday Monday Cloudy. 16°C/ 61°F 14°C/ 57°F Cloudy. turns, but it’s so winding that unfortunately people lose control. “It’s absolutely terrifying for the residents, particularly the ones who live on corners. They’ve told me they’re terrified a car is going to come through their living room window. The worry is that one of these days the crash will be fatal.” A petition calling for a council investigation into the problems in Rowood Drive – with a view to installing average speed cameras – has been signed by more than 150 people. West Midlands Police and Solihull Council were asked for comment. Pensioner remains in hospital two weeks after being mauled by dog A PENSIONER remains in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital two weeks after suffering life-changing injuries in a dog attack. The woman, believed to be in her late 60s or early 70s, was mauled by a Japanese Akita in Grosvenor Road, Wolverhampton, on September 30. A 40-year-old man, who was Skies will be sunny to partly cloudy today. Afternoon highs will range from 12 to 14C. arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, remains on bail. The dog was humanely destroyed at the scene. ➤ MEMORY LANE: 12-13 ➤ TIME OUT: STARTS 29 ➤ LETTERS: 39 ➤ PUZZLES: 40-41 ➤ TV LISTINGS: 42-43 ➤ SPORT: 49-56 14°C/ 57°F 11°C/ 52°F Cloudy. 14°C/ 57°F 11°C/ 52°F Cloudy. 16°C/ 61°F 11°C/ 52°F 16°C/ 61°F 11°C/ 52°F Monday 16°C/ 61°F 14°C/ 57°F Tuesday Tuesday 18°C/ 64°F 14°C/ 57°F Cloudy. 18°C/ 64°F 14°C/ 57°F Current (m) Flood Current (m) Flood River Trent River Leen Bucknall 0.12 0.39 Bulwell 0.34 1.10 The woman has undergone two operations at hospital. A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We’ve not yet been able to speak to the victim.” SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS Every day we’ll keep you bang up to date with the latest breaking Birmingham news www.birminghamlive.co.uk/signup

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 3 Prince fires rocket at space race billionaires Prince William was far less impressed than Star Trek’s William Shatner with the latest Jeff Bezos spaceflight THE Duke of Cambridge has criticised the space race and space tourism, saying the world’s greatest minds need to focus on trying to fix the Earth instead. William’s comments were made in an interview with BBC Newscast on BBC Sounds after 90-year-old Star Trek star William Shatner made history by becoming the oldest person in space. The veteran actor, known for his iconic role as Captain James T Kirk, lifted off from the Texas desert on Wednesday in a rocket built by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s space travel company Blue Origin. The duke, who was interviewed about climate change ahead of his THE University of Birmingham is launching two new major studies funded by the UK Space Agency aimed at solving the health challenges faced by astronauts during long missions. The research will use the low gravity (microgravity) environment of the International Space Station and other facilities that provide similar conditions to space. It could also benefit people who suffer from conditions such as sight inaugural Earthshot Prize awards, said: “We need some of the world’s greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live.” He also warned the Cop26 summit, when world leaders gather in Glasgow at the end of the month, against “clever speak, clever words but not enough action”. Shatner and his fellow passengers reached an altitude of loss caused by excessive brain pressure. It is well known that the effects of space travel take a toll on the bodies of astronauts – while in microgravity their weight-bearing bones lose on average one to one-and-a-half per cent of mineral density per month. To counteract this, they need to exercise for two-and-a-half hours every day, take nutrient supplements and consume high-protein diets to maintain muscle mass while in space. wILLIAM: SAVE THIS PLANET BEFORE EXPLORING OTHERS Without these interventions, astronauts could experience up to a 20 per cent loss of muscle mass on spaceflights lasting between five and 11 days. The first of the two University of Birmingham studies will be carried out in collaboration with NASA, and will focus on a condition called Space flight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS), which has severe consequences for astronaut health. The syndrome can cause visual loss roughly 350,000ft and a velocity of about 2,000mph. After a trip lasting about 10 minutes, the capsule fell back to Earth with the aid of a parachute. The actor enthused: “Everyone in the world needs to do this.” He said he was shocked by the difference in the blue sky of Earth and the vast blackness of space, adding: “It was so moving to me. This experience has been unbelievable.” Shatner appeared stunned in his conversation with Bezos, admitting he was taken aback by how quickly he reached space. “In a way it’s indescribable,” he said. He added it was “the most profound experience I can imagine. “I am so filled with emotion about what just happened, it’s extraordinary. Extraordinary. “I hope I never recover from this. I hope I can maintain what I feel now. I don’t want to lose it. It’s so much larger than me.” Shatner appeared as the indomitable Captain Kirk alongside Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock in the original hit Star Trek TV series in the 1960s and later starred in a series of films. Brum boffins link up with NASA to get mankind to Mars due to changes in the optic nerve, headaches, and acute and chronic changes to the brain. This will be followed by a clinical drug trial. Professor of Neurology Alex Sinclair, leading the research, said: “SANS is caused by microgravity and gets worse with longer duration of space flight. It is a major challenge that needs to be overcome if space exploration is to extend to Mars. “We need accurate methods to identify and monitor SANS.” News Protest over sale of home TWENTY people protested and lobbied councillors about the proposed sale of a care home in Tipton. They chanted “save our home” as Sandwell councillors arrived at a meeting in Freeth Street, Oldbury. Relatives of people living at the Walker Grange Care Home were objecting to a proposal that the care home could be sold by the council for £500,000. Clad in t-shirts and sweatshirts bearing the words “Save Our Home”, they are calling for the care home, which accommodates 22 people, to be saved and improved. Diane Anderson Smith, whose father Louis has lived there for two years, said the care home was a valuable lifeline for the community. Plans in for new Taco Bell A NEW Mexican-inspired restaurant is set to open in a former burger chain outlet in Birmingham. Taco Bell is about to launch its first restaurant in the West Midlands, with an outlet in the former Burger King unit in the Parade in Sutton Coldfield. The business has submitted a licensing application to Birmingham City Council to sell alcohol between 10am and midnight, throughout the week and has also asked for permission to sell ‘latenight refreshments’ between 11pm and 4am each day at the Gracechurch Centre site. Huge haul of illegal cigs MORE than five million illegal cigarettes have been seized from local retail outlets in the first six months of this year, Trading Standards said. The haul of illicit products included more than 1,700kg of hand-rolled tobacco and 66kg of shisha. In total, more than £2.7 million worth of illegal tobacco products have been taken off streets across England and Wales since Operation CeCe, the first joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), launched in January.

4 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Enough is enough. JORDAN COUSSINS Content Editor THE Birmingham Mail and Birmingham Live is today launching a campaign saying enough is enough – and love is love – after a series of homophobic attacks in our city. We are calling on our readers to share messages of love and support on social media by using the hashtag #HandsNotHate after a man was attacked in the city’s Gay Village for holding hands. It is the latest in a line of shameful attacks on members of our LGBT+ community – and the Birmingham Mail stands alongside others in the city to say it must stop here. John-Paul Kesseler became the latest person to be attacked in a crimewave that has seen a succession of bloodied faces. He said members of the LGBT+ community have had to become used to knowing that something as simple and natural as holding hands isn’t so simple for them. “Holding hands is just a natural thing which people do without thinking,” he said. “Most people don’t have to worry about holding hands in public – but we now do, which is shocking. “This campaign is a wonderful initiative, highlighting the issue of homophobia and doing something about it.” Our #HandsNotHate campaign is urging people to share photographs of themselves holding hands in a message of support. It comes after West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council were forced to step up safety measures in the city’s Gay Village. In three successive months, the Birmingham has reported on shock- ing cases. In August, two men in their 30s were attacked with bottles in the city centre, having earlier been subjected to homophobic abuse shouted from a passing car. Three men aged 24, 21 and 31 were later arrested and are awaiting a charging decision from the CPS. Police are also investigating other homophobic hate crimes and say they are determined to get justice for victims. Graeme Brown, editor of the Birmingham Mail and Birmingham- Live, said: “There has been a rising tide of vile crimes carried out against people not because of what they’ve said or done, but because of who they are – and we couldn’t keep reporting on it without standing up against it. “We are pleased to see the police and city council stepping up their !!!!!!! ?????? !!!!!!!! !!!!!!! ?????? !!!!!!!! !!!!!!! ?????? !!!!!!!! efforts – and we are sure there is more that can be done. But Birmingham also has a duty to stand up and say no. “The extremists cannot be allowed to drown out the views of people in this city – known around the world as a hive of inclusion – and it’s time Hundreds turned out at a rally in Birmingham’s Gay Village showing support for the city’s LGBT+ community to have our voices heard. And the Birmingham Mail and Bir- minghamLive is saying loudly and clearly this is shameful and unacceptable.” The spate of homophobic attacks have led to widespread condemnation in the city, with the likes of the West Midlands Mayor, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the city council leader among those to speak out. There has also been a ground- swell of response on social media, including from Heart Radio DJ Ed James and his agency HDY, who kicked off the campaign urging people to share photos holding hands. Ed posted an unusually angry video on social media in which he said: “I have lived and worked in Brum for 20 years now... Brum is part of me. I love the people and I love the place. “But I can’t extol the virtues of Brum without talking about the homophobic attacks. “It is unacceptable. For such an amazing city with amazing people, I think we need to stand up and call this out for what it is. “It is disgusting, it is not who we are and it has to stop.” Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood, whose constituency includes the Gay Village, said: “I am deeply concerned with the recent rise in attacks on Birmingham’s LGBT+ community. “There is no space for this type of hatred anywhere in our city. Swift action must be taken to ensure victims are supported and the perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice. “Last week I wrote to the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster demanding urgent action to support the LGBT+ community in our city.” John-Paul Kesseler was left bloodied

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 5 News Unite against hate This is an issue for the city, not just the gay community MAIL COMMENT PEOPLE are being attacked in our city because of who they are – and it’s time to stand up against it. A man battered with a bottle for holding another man’s hand. It’s the sort of story you expect to hear from someone fleeing persecution in a faraway and intolerant country. Only it’s happening in our city – and it is not an isolated incident. Today, the Birmingham Mail and BirminghamLive stands hand-in-hand with the LGBT+ community after a series of vile attacks – and we urge you to do the same. OctOber ■John-Paul Kesseler battered with a bottle on Holloway Circus after walking hand-inhand with a friend. ■A drag queen is afraid to walk alone in Birmingham’s Gay Village after being targeted in a suspected urine-throwing attack. September ■A man beaten unconscious in an unprovoked attack in Birmingham’s Gay Village was hit with such force he needed emergency surgery on a fractured eye socket. ■A serious attack on a woman in Hurst Street in the heart of the Gay Village in the early hours of Saturday, September 18. AuguSt ■Two men in their 30s were attacked with bottles in the city centre, having earlier been subjected to homophobic abuse shouted from a passing car. We want to make our message unequivocal – these attacks bring shame to our city. Our LGBT+ community needs vocal allies now – and we are happy to be just that. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” Edmund Burke famously said. In Birmingham, it is time for moderate voices to be heard. We want to start off that conversation by sharing the stories of gay people in our region – people who may have once been afraid to show their true selves, and who may now be afraid full stop. People who spent years fighting for equality and who are seeing things get worse. This is not an issue for the gay community, it is an issue for Birmingham. This blood is shed on our city streets and, like it or not, these attacks reflect the society we all live in. Maybe the policing could be better, maybe we need help from Government, but the answer is in society – this can’t be allowed. Our city is the youngest in Europe and welcomes people from all corners of the world and is stronger for it. So how can it have come to this? Love is love and enough is enough. We stand with Birmingham’s LBGT+ community – we will be sharing their stories and calling out homophobia. We call on you to as well – post a message of support via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #HandsNotHate. GRAEME BROWN, EDITOR Civic leaders announce action to combat hate crime A RAFT of new measures – including a 24-hour public transport service – could be introduced following the recent spate of horrific homophobic attacks in Birmingham’s Gay Village. A new £200,000 service to support hate crime victims is also being commissioned following the shocking series of assaults. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward and the West Midlands Crime Commissioner Simon Foster revealed the plans as they released a joint statement condemning the attacks. The latest incident saw John- Paul Kesseler, from Moseley, glassed and hit with an iron bar while holding hands with another male as he walked along Holloway Circus in the early hours of Sunday. The three city leaders released a strongly-worded statement which said: “The recent abhorrent, vicious homophobic attacks in Birmingham disgust the three of us in equal measure. “For someone to be assaulted because of who they are or who they love is simply not acceptable. “But hate will not win and our message to the homophobes is that they do not represent Birmingham and they never will. “Everyone has a right to feel safe on our streets, no matter where they are, day or night. “West Midlands Police has increased patrols in and around the Gay Village and the Police and Crime Commissioner has commissioned a new £200,000 service to support victims of hate crime. “Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council is providing free hate crime training to businesses at Southside venues as well as helping to develop a space open to anyone who may be feeling vulnerable when out and about in the gay Village and the local area. “The West Midlands Combined Authority has been working with Southside Bid and other partners to look at issues such as CCTV and 24/7 public transport to improve night-time safety in the area. “We are a diverse city. We are an inclusive city. We are a city that says no to crimes like these. “The message from us could not be clearer: we are proud of our region’s diversity. “We are proud of our difference. “We all feel an unwavering duty to stand together, to root out these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.” In August, two men in their 30s were attacked with bottles in the city centre, having earlier been subjected to homophobic abuse shouted from a passing car. Police are also investigating other homophobic hate crimes and have pledged that they are determined to get justice for victims.

6 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Domino’s hiring PIZZA giant Domino’s has said it plans to hire more than 8,000 drivers across the UK and Ireland as part of its preparations for the busy Christmas period. The company said it sold seven pizzas each minute over the last three months, with online orders peaking to 13 per second on July 3 as England took on Ukraine in the European Championship. Cop sacked after sexual relationship with abuse victim James Ankrett ANNABAL BAGDI News Reporter A ‘CORRUPT’ policeman who launched into a ‘flirtatious and sexualised’ relationship with a vulnerable domestic abuse victim has been sacked. Disgraced PC James Ankrett abused police powers and started an ‘inappropriate’ relationship with the woman for his own sexual gratification. He was on duty with West Midlands Police when he ‘deliberately’ handed over his personal mobile phone number to the victim during a call-out to her home. Ankrett, of Hallam Way, Hednesford, was dismissed following a police misconduct hearing. It came after the 40-year-old admitted a charge of corrupt or other improper exercise of police powers at Wolverhampton Crown Court last month. Ankrett – who did not appear at his misconduct hearing – is due to be sentenced next week. Herjinder Singh, solicitor at West Midlands Police, said Ankrett’s behaviour was a ‘clear breach’ of police protocols. He told the hearing: “We say that (culpability) ranked high. It was especially serious because it resulted in a criminal conviction for a serious offence. “It was the officer who made a deliberate decision to give his personal mobile phone to a member of the public. The communication very quickly became flirtatious and sexualised. “There are various aggravating fac- tors in this case. His intention was sex- ual gratification. It amounts to a serious abuse of his position as a police officer. His conduct continued for a period of time. “The victim was vulnerable. The conduct was a clear breach. He made no attempt at seeking advice from a colleague or more senior officer.” Ankrett began the inappropriate relationship with the victim in July 2017 and was charged two years later following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The ex-force response officer was restricted from duties and was working in a non-public facing role after the allegation was made. Chief Constable Sir David Thompson said Ankrett’s behaviour was ‘totally unacceptable’ and dismissed the officer without notice. He told the hearing at the force’s Birmingham headquarters: “The officer is convicted of a very serious crime concerning the corrupt and improper use of police powers. “It is unacceptable for police officers to break the law. This is an extremely serious case. “There is harm in this case. The victim has placed trust in the officer during a difficult time in her life.” Man hit by car dies 16 days after accident A PEDESTRIAN who was in collision with a car in Great Barr has lost his 16-day fight for life. The victim – who has not yet been named – was struck as he walked along Sandy Lane, close to the junction of Beeches Road, at around 3.30pm on September 28 and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a critical condition. West Midlands Police yesterday confirmed that the victim has died. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. He has been released pending further enquiries.

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 7 Businessman David Frisby was robbed of the Trek bike, below he stopped struggling after threat to stab him News Firms urged to back £1.25m town improvements scheme A PLEA has been made to businesses to back a £1.25 million scheme to boost Sutton Coldfield town centre and help make improvements to boost trade. The Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID) has been running for 10 years but now businesses are being asked to vote again to renew it until 2027. The BID area stretches from the BMet college on Lichfield Road to Thomas Coulborn & Sons antiques in Birmingham Road. The BID’s second term expires at the end of December 21 and leaders in the town are urging shops, restaurants and other the businesses to vote ‘yes’ to unlock much-needed cash – around £250,000 a year – to help regenerate Sutton’s main shopping area. Angela Henderson, chair of Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID, said: “By collaborating with Sutton Coldfield Town Council and Birmingham City Council on delivering and promoting the town’s masterplan we have a unique opportunity to survive huge changes and have a say in future changes. “This is why voters need to vote “yes” to ensure that the business people in the town have a voice and ensure that we end up with a town fit for purpose. “We have achieved a lot together over the last four years and in these challenging times local business involvement is crucial.” Canal towpath cyclist mugged by armed gang BEN PERRIN News Reporter A CYCLIST was attacked with a metal pipe on a canal towpath by thugs who threatened to stab him before stealing his mountain bike. David Frisby was targeted as he cycled home along the Grand Union Canal at Bidge 91, near the end of Armoury Road in Birmingham’s Small Heath. The 47-year-old was left shaken with multiple injuries to his arm, wrist and back following the ordeal at about 5pm on Tuesday. Three suspects, aged around 18-22 and wearing tracksuits, made off with his distinctive orange Trek ProCaliber 9.7 mountain bike, which is worth £3,500. The managing director said two men had since contacted him to say they had been targeted in unsuccessful attempts to steal their bikes in the same area just 30 minutes earlier. “It was a bit of a shock. There were three lads in tracksuits waiting at that bridge,” said Mr Frisby, from Hampton in Arden, near Solihull. “I thought they were just messing around. One grabbed my arm as I cycled by. I came down with a wallop and hit some railings. I turned around and asked them what they were doing? They then pounced and I realised they were after the bike. “I jumped on the bike, but I must have hit the railings so hard I popped both tyres. They caught up with me and pulled me off the bike. One of them had a pipe or a stick and hit me over the back. “One said if I didn’t let go of the bike, they’d stab me. I didn’t see a knife, but as soon as they said that, I let go. It was over quite quickly.” He rang police and reported the incident. The suspects were Asian men wearing grey tracksuits and black trainers. Mr Frisby added: “I’m quite shaken and upset. I’m a relatively positive guy, I just need to get back on the horse, but ultimately I need to go find a new horse. “I don’t want this to happen to anyone else – that’s why I posted it on social media. The bike can be replaced, regardless of the cost. “But those lads need to be taken off the street or someone is going to get seriously hurt.” The bike is orange colour with a unique code – WTU102XD0229R. A police spokeswoman said: “Neighbourhood officers carried out a patrol of the area later in the evening and checked along the towpath, but nothing was found. An appointment has been made to speak again with the victim.” **upto 50% off mega lingerie** Here, at Angels we carry a wide range of sex toys, fetish clothing, lingerie, costumes, wigs, Shoes, bondage, Electric stimulation, sex machines, CBT, R18 DVDs, adult novelties, games, Lubricants, massage oils, lotions and potions, room odourisers, CBD products and magazines in Our bricks and mortar store as well as our online shop. We stock the latest quality adult gadgets from all the major manufacturers with new stock constantly updated at competitive prices both in store and online. Our staff are friendly and knowledgeable and will put you at ease. They are Always happy to help, regardless of your gender or age. As we situated within half a mile from the M42 and A5 Junction and m6 links and the toll road we are easy accessible from Derby, Birmingham, Leicestershire, Coventry, Cannock, Lichfield and Solihull and surrounding areas. Our store is discreetly located and has free onsite parking. We offer a click and collect service on items in stock and all of our web orders are sent out in discreet packaging with free postage on orders £30 or more. Please see website for opening times for store. www.angelsoftamworth.co.uk 01827 265551

8 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Midland drivers top fuel panic league Queues at the pumps SEPTEMBER 24 saw the highest amount spent on fuel in a single day since Lloyds Bank records began, analysis of customers’ debit cards shows. The peak fell the day after BP and Tesco closed some filling stations due to delivery issues. Across the UK, people spent a fifth (20%) more at petrol stations in the past two weeks, compared with the two weeks before, the bank said. September 24 saw the bank’s debit card users spend 125% more on fuel than on the same day in 2019, and the highest amount since records began in April 2014. The East Midlands saw the biggest increase in fuel spending in the last two weeks compared with the two before, up 24%, followed by the West Midlands (23%) and the South East (22%). David Swaby WELCOME TO THE BACKSTAGE WHERE YOU LEARN AND ON THE JOB WORK PAYS OFF Earn from £10 /hour as Warehouse Operative near you Apply now at jobsatamazon.co.uk Body in the bath killer is jailed for life MATTHEW COOPER A MURDERER who brutally attacked his victim with three knives, a rolling pin and a dumbbell and then attempted to dismember his body in a bath has been jailed for life. David Swaby was given a minimum term of 21 years after Birmingham Crown Court was told he inflicted more than 50 sharp force injuries and 40 blunt force injuries on Hassan Ghafar during the early hours of February 7 this year. Mr Ghafar, 22, suffered significant knife wounds to the head and neck, and one of his arms was severed after he was attacked in a number of rooms at Swaby’s home in Holly Road, Handsworth. Swaby protested his innocence by video-link from HMP Birmingham to the city’s Crown Court yesterday. Passing sentence on the 34-year-old, who was convicted of murder by a jury last month, Judge Paul Farrer QC said: “Other than your account of events, which has at least in part been rejected by the jury, there is no direct evidence as to what precipitated this offence. “It is clear that you and Hassan Ghafar knew one another in the context of either buying or selling cannabis.” The court heard Swaby, who has previous convictions for possession of a knife and a robbery involving use of a machete, admitted he had made his victim “beg” before killing him. Telling Swaby the killing had been brutal, the judge added: “You suffered no identifiable injuries whatsoever. “The injuries sustained by Hassan Ghafar, together with the blood staining in the house, demonstrate that you launched a sustained and ferocious attack upon him. “It commenced in your bedroom and appears to have involved you striking him repeatedly with various weapons which were to hand, including a rolling pin, a dumbbell and a piece of plastic railing. “Mr Ghafar managed to retreat into the toilet and sought to close the door. I conclude that your actions demonstrate a clear intent to kill. “Having killed Mr Ghafar you set about trying to cover your tracks. You dragged his body into the bathroom. “Having done so, you used an implement or implements in an attempt to dismember the body, presumably with a view to disposing of it in due course. “You successfully severed the left arm at the elbow and tried to cut through the left leg, but then appear to have given up the attempt.” The court was told that when police arrived at about 9am the following day, Swaby fled out of a rear window and sought to escape down a nearby railway line. Judge Farrer described Swaby as “a dangerous individual” prone to massive overreaction if confronted, telling him: “Your admission of making Mr Ghafar beg amounts to physical and mental suffering inflicted prior to death.”

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 9 News Boy murder trial: Dad asked man to ‘dig his grave’ ADVERTISING FEATURE Cut the cost of a day ut Whether your dream day out involves thrills at a theme park, encounters with wildlife or a journey into history at one of the UK’s heritage sites, here’s your chance to save money. National Lottery players can use their Lotto ticket to get a £25 voucher* to put towards a fun day out at one of hundreds of venues, many of which have benefited from National Lottery funding. Remember, by playing The National Lottery you raise £30million for good causes every week. CARL JACKSON Court Reporter A DAD accused of murdering his six-year-old son is alleged to have asked a man to ‘dig his grave’, a court heard. Young Birmingham City fan Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was found unresponsive at a house in Solihull on June 16 last year. His dad Thomas Hughes, 29, and his girlfriend Emma Tustin, 32, both deny murdering the child. Prosecutors allege the youngster was killed after being poisoned with salt and exposed to months of ‘systematic’ abuse. Prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC told Coventry Crown Court that Tustin sent Hughes a string of messages where she complained about the six-year-old. On the evening of Sunday, June 14 - two days before Arthur collapsed from fatal injuries - internal CCTV footage inside the Solihull house is alleged to show Hughes raise his left arm and ‘appear to threaten to smack or strike’ Arthur. Out of the 12 hours and 50 minutes Arthur was awake that day, it was believed he spent 10 hours 54 minutes in the hallway of the Solihull house. The court was then played a clip which showed Arthur asleep in the Arthur Labinjo-Hughes living room at 7am on June 15. Mr Hankin described what happened during the next clip at 7.06am. He said: “Emma Tustin walks into the living room. She quickly pulls the duvet from underneath causing him to roll over unexpectedly.” Arthur was seen standing in the living room and appeared to be crying. At 8.07am Mr Hankin said Tustin messaged Catherine Milhench to make arrangements for getting her hair done. During a text exchange with the hairdresser, Tustin said: “...going to be knocking him out if he continues”. Later that day, Tustin and Arthur arrived at Ms Milhench’s address. Mr Hankin read another text exchange between Tustin and Hughes. He told the court that ‘T’ referred to Tobias Jarman, the partner of Ms Milhench. The court heard Tustin wrote to Hughes: “Had to tell Arthur off. Got all the attitude. T looked at me and went ‘f***’. Hughes was said to have replied: “Ask T to dig Arthur’s grave for me please.” Tustin continued: “He said he can’t it will cost you. I said you will pay double.” Hughes: “F*** me I’ll pay quadruple.” Tustin: “Cool. He’ll sort it. Grunted at me when I said about him spitting his lunch out. T said he will have a f***ing shock’.” Hughes: “If he even thinks about it I’ll take his neck off.” Tustin then sent a further message to Hughes complaining about Arthur leaning up the door, followed by an audio clip of him crying, Mr Hankin said. Hughes replied: “Just gag him or something. Tie some rope around his mouth with a sock in it or something.” The court previously heard how Arthur was allegedly confined to a small hallway for 26 hours in two days while his murder-accused father and girlfriend ate ice cream and sat in a hot tub. (proceeding) The Bert Williams Leisure Centre, in Bilston Nottingham Castle Following a £30million, threeyear revamp, Nottingham castle has reopened its doors. After exploring the castle, follow the tunnel to Robin Hood Adventures. Enjoy Robin’s exploits via digital storytelling screens, then train in the digital archery gaming space to see if you’re fit to join his band of outlaws. Kids will love the outdoor trails, including the Halloween Spooktacular. You can pre-book to explore the caves under the castle too. Dudley Zoo and Castle Meet 200 species of animal, and learn how Dudley’s conservationfirst approach has won it awards. Endangered species here include Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers and Bornean orang-utans, as well as the largest parentreared colony of Humboldt penguins in the UK. You can also explore the 11th-century motte and bailey castle, built by the French and later home to the Earls of Dudley. How your National Lottery ticket can unlock fun stuff STEP 1 Make sure you have a Lotto ticket purchased on or after October 1, 2021. STEP 2 Visit NationalLotteryDaysOut.com then enter your 19-digit Lotto ticket number. Note down the code that appears: this is your £25 voucher. STEP 3 Choose from the hundreds of attractions listed on NationalLotteryDaysOut.com and use the code to save £25 on your next fun day out. Broken glass forces pool to be drained again Use your Lotto ticket to redeem a £25 voucher* towards fun stuff near you. Use your smartphone to scan this QR code or visit NationalLotteryDaysOut.com to find out more. A SWIMMING pool has been drained for the second time due to broken glass. The Bert Williams Leisure Centre, in Bilston, has had to close its main pool for at least 12 days while it is drained and the shards of glass are removed. It comes after the same pool had to be closed and drained due to broken glass in 2019. In an email the leisure centre told customers a glass bottle was smashed on the poolside during a training session and it is “working with the club involved to create a solution to ensure this does not happen again.” It went on: “We are extremely disappointed to inform you that as a result the main pool is closed until further notice.” *Subject to availability. One voucher per person. 18+ only. See NationalLotteryDaysOut.com for full Ts&Cs.

10 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Dear Santa... children’s gift wishlist revealed AMAZON has revealed the 10 most desirable toys that will top Santa’s list this Christmas – including a LEGO Super Mario set, Pictionary Air Harry Potter and Polly Pocket. The shopping giant’s top picks for the festive season combine nostalgia and modern crazes, with L.O.L Surprise and Paw Patrol items also on the list. And for that nostalgic hit, there is the LEGO Luigi Starter Course – an interactive and building game – and Pictionary Air Harry Potter. Matthew Redfearn, toys category manager for Amazon, said: “It is always an exciting time of year when we release the top 10 toys and we hope this Christmas, unlike the last, that more families will reunite to celebrate with one another. As we look forward to spending more time with loved ones, we at Amazon are doing everything we can to spread a little festive cheer.” n AMAZON TOP TEN: Luigi Starter Course, Pictionary Air Harry Potter, Polly Pocket Rainbow Funland Theme Park, L.O.L Surprise! Movie Making Studio, Linkimals Dance n Grove Penguin, Spidey and his Amazing Friends – Marvel Web-Quarters Playset, Little Live Pets Gotta Go Turtle, Batman 36 inch Transforming playset, The Balloon Dino, Paw Patroller 2.0 Paw Patroller 2.0 Linkimals Dance n Groove Penguin (left) and Little Live Pets Gotta Go Turtle Rishi: Lots of toys for Christmas CHANCELLOR ALLAYS SUPPLY FEARS ALEXANDER BRITTON THERE will be a “good amount of Christmas presents available” this year despite supply chain issues, Rishi Sunak said. The Chancellor was speaking after meeting with finance ministers from the G7 group of leading world economies to talk about the problem, with the politicians agreeing to work more closely to solve the crisis. Retailers have expressed fears ongoing supply chain problems will result in higher prices and empty shelves into December, but the chief executive of the UK Major Ports Group said supply chains were “robust” and “there’s no need to panic”. A build-up of cargo in Felixstowe has led to shipping company Maersk opting to divert vessels away from the Suffolk port, while similar logjams have been seen elsewhere in the world including in the US. Speaking to the BBC in Washington DC, Mr Sunak sought to reassure Britons as people begin to think about shopping for Christmas. He said: “We’re doing absolutely everything we can to mitigate some of these challenges. They are global in nature so we can’t fix every single problem but I feel confident there will be good provision of goods for everybody. I’m confident there will be a good amount of Christmas presents available for everyone to buy.” n Shoppers can now make payments of up to £100 with a single tap of their card. The increase from today marks the fifth time that the limit has been raised, after it was initially set at £10 in 2007, but the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have warned it may take “days, weeks, or even months” for some retailers to make the necessary changes. Rishi Sunak

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 11 News vulnerable young were dropped off at wrong schools Hunt for missing man TOM DARE Local Democracy Reporter THREE vulnerable children were taken to the wrong schools at the start of term in Birmingham, it has been revealed. And there were two further ‘safeguarding issues,’ the council has confirmed, with one child nearly left at the wrong home. The report, discussed by the Education and Children’s Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, detailed how the SEND home to school transport system coped after changing providers shortly before the start of term. “Operational readiness and existing compliance checks identified the need to terminate a transport provider and commission a new provider just weeks before start of term to safeguard service users,” it said. “Mobilising a new provider at short notice led to a downturn in performance which is now stabilising.” The Healthcare and Transport Service (HATs) group took over the contract from North Birmingham Travel in August. However, the council detailed five safeguarding incidents that were reported following this, from a service that operates over 1,000 routes every day. “These issues were identified earlier in the term and were all resolved without any risk to the children and young people involved, and they were never at any danger at any point. “Safeguarding queries/ concerns that arise are overwhelmingly dealt with immediately and all but one of the incidents referred to at the time of the report to the scrutiny committee are now dealt with and closed. “Three children were transported to school where, on arrival, it was determined that they then needed to be transported to another school. “This was due to a data error where we did not have updated details for the child’s school information. “In all cases, the error was spotted during the journey and the child delivered to the correct school without further issue.” Owner Russell Strachan and Stephen Newcombe with the Joshua Reynolds painting at Compton Verney A NEWLY-discovered oil painting by renowned artist Sir Joshua Reynolds has gone on display at a Warwickshire art gallery ahead of its sale. The artwork, titled Two Young Girls With Bonnets In A Woodland Setting, is thought to have been painted between 1780 and 1785. The painting is on sale at The Cotswold Art & Antiques Dealers’ Association Fair in Compton Verney, which runs until Sunday. Owner Russell Strachan bought it from auction and restored it painstakingly. Other pieces on sale include a model Cotswold village, valued at £7,500, and a complete album of 18 watercolours of Warwickshire landmarks and views by the Coventryborn artist Herbert Edward Cox. The National Snow Show 2021 is the base for the UK’s ski & snowboard community to get together in a sociable way, gear up and plan for the 2021-22 season. FEATURES & CONTENT You can check out and buy the most up to date gear from leading brands, get the latest tips and advice from a range of experts, check out resorts and destinations, hear from top celebrities, athletes and Olympians and socialise over a drink or two. SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Sir Ranulph Fiennes Chemmy Alcott Billy Morgan Eddie the Eagle Warren Smith Darryl George Jamie Nicholls Scott Penman Jamie Burrows nationalsnowshow.com 50% off tickets with code MAIL50

12 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live OUR DAILY DELVE INTO THE PAST ON THIS DAY 70BC: Virgil, the greatest Roman poet, best-known for his epic Aeneid, which included the legend of the founding of Rome, was born. 1666: The first waistcoat was worn by King Charles II, according to Samuel Pepys. 1839: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were betrothed. She proposed to him and confided to her diary: “It was a nervous thing to do, but Albert could not propose to the Queen of England. He would never presume to take such a liberty.” 1881: Novelist PG Wodehouse – later Sir – creator of Jeeves and Wooster, was born in Guildford, Surrey. 1917: Mata Hari, legendary Dutch spy who danced in the nude, was executed by a firing squad in Paris. 1940: A 500lb bomb hit Broadcasting House, London, killing seven people. Bruce Belfrage was reading the news at the time and paused for only a second before continuing. 1976: Two men from the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) were jailed for 35 years in connection with the murders of members of the Miami Showband. 1987: The worst hurricane in Britain since records began hit during the night, devastating southern England and causing at least 17 deaths. 2021: Experts in Mexico said they had detected more than 2,000 pre-Hispanic ruins or clusters of artefacts along the proposed route of the president’s controversial “Maya Train” project on the Yucatan peninsula. BIRTHDAYS Chris de Burgh, singer, 73; Tito Jackson, musician, 68; Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York (pictured) 62; Stephen Tompkinson, actor, 56; Dominic West, actor, 52; Andy Cole, former footballer, 50; Vincent Martella, actor, 29. Radio pirates had to batten down hatches BRITISH ASIAn RAdIo IS BoomIng, BuT IT HAS WeST mIdlAnd RAdIo pIRATeS To THAnk foR pAvIng THe WAy. Husna anjum RepoRTS A DISTINCT childhood memory of mine is my grandfather playing Radio XL during our car journeys. Though I never paid attention to the music, the cheery Radio XL jingle is permanently branded into my mind. Other British Asian millennials may remember their own car journeys with Radio XL, Sangam, Sunrise Radio, Asian Sound Radio, Fever FM and, of course, BBC Asian Network. Little did I know Radio XL was the first 24-hour Asian radio station to broadcast in the West Midlands. And who did they have to thank for that? Pirates. Not the ocean roaming thieves kind. Rather pirate radio stations set up by British Asian broadcasters in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s to broadcast the best Anjum Rafiq today, a presenter at Club Asia A PIONEERINg station in terms of Asian representation, Sangam FM broadcast from Smethwick and Ladywood. Some of the biggest South Asian acts they promoted include Sahotas, Apache Indian, Malkit Singh, Silinder Pardesi and Brummie band Apna Sangeet. Imran Mahmood, 51, the founder of Sangam, started radio piracy after a friend offered him some hours on his own pirate station. It quickly became popular and soon many local Asians wanted to volunteer. He said: “We didn’t realise it was illegal because we were doing something that needed to be done. We would broadcast the Muslim call to prayer, religious festivals and even locals’ messages to relatives in Pakistan since phones weren’t available then. “We used scanners to spot when the DTI were coming and then grab everything and run! They were always after us. Sometimes we would jam of Asian voices and music. One such original pirate was Anjum Rafiq, a radio broadcaster their radio frequencies for revenge. “We broadcast from a tower block and they would seal it off, so we climbed down from the who witnessed the birth of pirate radio stations and was an early fighter for Asian representation on the airwaves. Now launching a new radio station in West Midlands – Club Asia, which formerly ran in London – Anjum wants to preserve the art of Asian Radio by appealing to audiences of all ages and showcasing veteran broadcasters listeners can truly relate to. He said: “Ever since I was a kid I wanted to work in radio. I love music, I love entertaining people and I love the arts and culture. “I used to listen to Steve Wright on BBC Radio 2, Muhammad Ayub from the BBC, who was a real inspiration, and Ray Khan. “At that time we as Asians didn’t have much representation. BBC stations gave our music and entertainment just a few hours here balconies.” According to Imran the DTI gained slight respect for the pirates, understanding they were broadcasting for the benefit of Asian communities. They urged them to start a legal radio station which they discussed over meetings. Eventually Radio XL, the first 24-hour Asian radio station, was born. Asian pirate radio stations slowly died down as more legal stations popped up. Imran continued: “We wanted to bring the community together as back then we had no global connection. South Asians worked 9-5 but had no entertainment coming home. We wanted and there. But there was still a real appetite for Asian music and culture.” And so in the late 1980s people took to illegal broadcasting to set up Asian radio stations in Birmingham. Unlicensed broadcasters used lofts, studios, roof spaces, sheds and even rooms above taxi bases. Some early stations included Asian Air, Sangeet Radio, Sangam and Sina Radio (now Sunrise Radio). Anjum got his first taste of illegal broadcasting as a teen. “In 1988 when I was 14 I was at a house where someone was illegally broadcasting,” he said, “I saw all their makeshift equipment, gadgets and transmitters. The guy looked like an astronaut walking on earth. I was fascinated. “Suddenly the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) raided the house after tracking the radio signal. They didn’t arrest anyone but took all the equipment away. I was petrified! They did this regularly. “A few days later, however, the broadcaster bought some new We wanted to bring the community together We used scanners to spot when the DTI were coming and then grab everything and run... we climbed down from balconies Imran Mahmood to bring that light into their life. “Our listeners really appreciated this and some businessmen who liked our station even offered to help us with the DTI. We didn’t give up.” Imran now works on Punjabi radio station Raaj 91.3 FM, community radio and stage and festival gigs across the UK. Anjum sums up: “As pirates we fought to get our voices heard. We want to sustain that legacy and leave something behind for our youngsters. “We believe the standard of radio has gone down. It’s supposed to be about promoting arts, culture and personality but now it’s very commercialised. “Audiences have complained about this; they just want to hear Asian music and a presenter they can relate to.”

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 13 www.memorylane.co.uk Anjum presenting an Eid show on Sangam Radio in 1992. He is holding an NEC P3 mobile phone connected to permanent cables. Inset: Anjum in Sangam Music Shop in 1992. All of the station’s music was purchased there. A recording studio was in the attic. equipment from Birmingham rag market and built it all over again.” This is when pirates started to get clever. They would set up studios in tower blocks so the DTI would struggle to find them amongst the many flats. The studios would use numerous transmitters to broadcast their frequency, so if one got taken away by the DTI another would replace it. In 1989 Sangam FM was introduced as a new pirate radio station, where Anjum worked from 1991-1994. The station played traditional Asian music, Bollywood hits, Banghara and contemporary music. Anjum’s new radio gig, Club Asia, plays popular Asian music with personality-led programming. The team includes household names including presenter Ray Khan (former BBC), head of operations Ishfaq Ahmed (former BBC and BBC Asian Network) and presenter Priya Matharu. They invite young people to work with them and learn the art of radio, also aiming to work with local universities and media students. The station offers first hand mentorship in broadcasting, producing, script writing and other skills needed for a career in broadcast. You can download the app on your smartphone or visit the website to hear the best of Bollywood, Pakistani, Punjabi, Bhangra, Brit Asian, Ghazals, Qawalis, and Sufi music. Imran Mahmood in his pirate days in 1988

OCT NOV 14 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News NHS workers at high risk of PTSD NHS workers are at a hugely increased risk of suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the horrors they have witnessed during the pandemic, according to experts who have stressed the need to ensure their mental health is protected. Bosses at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust said it was vital the welfare of staff was considered this winter as well as patients. A recent study suggested doctors and nurses who have been on the frontline during Covid are 40-50 per cent more likely to suffer with PTSD. It comes ahead of winter, traditionally the busiest and most stressful period for the NHS. This year promises to be even busier than usual with the continued threat of Covid as well as the flu. Hospitals in the Black Country are also struggling to meet waiting time targets as they attempt to tackle long treatment backlogs caused by the pandemic. Scott Johnson was injured in an attack by seven men in Solihull town centre Photos: Ashley Johnson victim suffered fractured eye socket and gash to his arm FOR FURTHER DATES SEE OUR WEBSITE Autumn Tribute Shows Fri 8th MOTOWN £28 Fri 15th TAKE THAT & BOY BANDS £28 Fri 22nd SOUL & MOTOWN £28 Fri 29th ABBA & 70’s £28 Sat 30th SOUL & MOTOWN £28 Fri 5th JERSEY BOYS £28 Fri 12th FREDDIE MERCURY £28 ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE 3 COURSE DINNER, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, DJ AND LATE BAR Fri 19th Nov ABBA & 70’s £28 Sat 20th Nov SOUL & MOTOWN £28 Fri 26th Nov RATS IN THE KITCHEN - UB40 £35 Sat 27th Nov FASCINATION PARTY NIGHT £35 Fri 3rd Dec JERSEY BOYS £40 Sat 4th Dec TAKE THAT & BOY BANDS £40 Fri 10th Dec SOUL & MOTOWN £40 Sat 11th Dec SOUNDATIONS PARTY NIGHT £40 Fri 17th Dec FASCINATION PARTY NIGHT £40 Sat 18th Dec ‘RANG A TANG’ PARTY BAND £40 Fri 31st Dec JERSEY BOYS £65 TO BOOK CALL US ON: 01675 444 890 www.thelakeatbarston.co.uk Located between Meriden & Balsall Common Marsh House Farm Lane, Barston, Solihull B92 0LB Appeal after video of attack on clubber, 26, is posted online EMILY COLLIS News Reporter AN appeal has been made for information after video footage was shared on Instagram of a man being attacked in Solihull town centre. Scott Johnson had just left Popworld nightclub and was on his way to the chip shop in the early hours of last Sunday morning when he was reportedly “jumped” by a gang of seven men. Video footage shared by an onlooker on social media showed Scott, with his hands shielding his face, being pushed and punched outside Subway in Station Road. The 26-year-old suffered a fractured eye socket, a gash to his arm Luxury dog ‘barkery’ opens at shopping centre A LUXURY dog cafe and ‘barkery’ is coming to the Merry Hill shopping centre. Frenchie Frenchie – The Barkery is opening in Merry Hill which required stitches and cuts and bruises to his face and head. His brother, Ashley Johnson, said Scott “is not the type of person to get into fights” and had his back turned to the group, heading in the direction of Kings chip shop in Station Road, when they “jumped him” from behind. “Seven lads against one is just disgusting,” he said. “When I saw the video of him with his arms up covering his face and every single one of them throwing punches, I thought it was disgusting. “There were two girls there screaming, trying to break it up. Scott had a massive gash to his elbow, his whole arm was red with blood. on Monday, creating six new jobs at the “Wacky Warehouse for dogs”. The cafe will feature a number of treats for pooches as well as “He had to have stitches. “His face is now covered in bruises, one eye is completely closed. “They fractured his eye socket.” Ashley said he received a message from Scott around 5am as he stood, bleeding from his arm and face, outside Solihull Hospital. “I went into full panic mode,” said Ashley. “He had tried calling a taxi two or three times but no one would let him in because he was bleeding so much, which is terrible.” Scott was checked over at Heartlands and was then sent to the QE for a head scan. West Midlands Police confirmed the attack and have appealed for information. on-lead and off-lead zones for the pets to play. The business has already opened cafes in Mansfield, Nottingham and Essex.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 15 ADVERTISING FEATURE Wagony News aunt Police plea after eight burglaries in 3 weeks How to deal with a protective pup EMILY COLLIS News Reporter A SPATE of burglaries within a twomile area in Birmingham has prompted a police appeal. Officers in Acocks Green have received eight reports of burglaries over the last three weeks – and at least five of them are known to have happened in broad daylight. Police have issued an appeal for witnesses following the recent rise in break-ins and have shared advice on how residents can keep their homes safe. Details of seven of the burglaries were included in a neighbourhood alert, with a time frame ranging from September 23 to October 6. One incident involved an insecure shed in Dudley Park Road, which was burgled shortly after 10am on September 23. A home in Botteville Road was broken into that same day between 10.30am and 4.30pm, after the burglar broke a lock on the back doors. Between 2pm on September 27 and 1pm on October 2, a burglar forced entry into a shared occupation property in Malvern Road. Another break-in occurred in Eastcote Road between 10.30pm and 11.43pm on September 29, when an offender gained access to the rear of a property via a side gate and smashed the conservatory window. Later that day, an address in Circular Road was burgled between 3.04pm and 3.49pm. A property in Hazelwood Road was targeted between 11am and 9.50pm on October 3. The offender smashed the glass on a patio door at the back of the house. The latest incident was in Gospel Lane between 11.30am and 1.30pm on October 6. John Ludford, PCSO for Yardley, said: “Unfortunately over the past three weeks there have been eight burglaries in the local area. “If you passed the area in these times and saw anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to email us.” Anyone with information on the burglaries can contact West Midlands Police on 101, or report it online via live chat at west-midlands.police.uk. Former guesthouse up for sale A FORMER guesthouse on the edge of Sutton Coldfield is being auctioned later this month. Highfield Farm, in Farthing Lane, Curdworth, started life as a farmhouse before it was converted into a nine-bedroom guesthouse. Now, the house, which also boasts a swimming pool, will be one of the lots at the next Bond Wolfe property auction, and it has a guide price of £635,000. Ian Tudor, at Bond Wolfe, said buyers could easily convert the property back into a family home – and he was expecting it to be popular among bidders. Highfield Farm is one of 188 lots at the auction, which starts at 9am on Wednesday, October 20, and will be livestreamed via their website. with a puppy who’s a bit too attached to his toys There are few better ingredients for a happy family life than a pet dog. But, sometimes they do things we would prefer they didn’t. Whether your dog can’t stop jumping up at visitors, chewing your slippers or growling if you try to rescue your child’s favourite teddy from the dog basket, the Dogs Trust Wagony Aunts are here to help with expert advice. How do I stop my Q puppy guarding his toys? A The best thing to do is help your dog learn to swap. Every time you need to take something, swap it for something they like just as much, or even more – a different toy, say, or some extra tasty treats. Offer this to your dog a little way away from what they already have. They should be enticed to drop what they have and come to you to get their reward. They’ll learn it’s a good idea to let go of things they are enjoying, as they’ll be replaced with something as good, or even better. Don’t tell your dog off for guarding as this might worry or confuse them. Do you Have a QuesTion foR THe Wagony aunTs? leT uS kNOW AT ASkWAGONyAuNT.cO.uk My dog Q jumps up at people. What can I do? A Most dogs jump up to get our attention. So, you need to teach him that it’s keeping all four paws on the floor that gets results. Don’t respond or react when he jumps up – even telling him to get down is a form of attention. Stay calm and quiet and wait for him to stop. Reward him when all four paws are on the floor. Don’t tell your dog off for jumping up as this might worry or confuse him. Consistency is key, so make sure family, friends and likely visitors are on board with the training too. How can I prevent my Q dog from chewing things he shouldn’t? A Mouthing and chewing are normal canine behaviours, so we need to give our dogs plenty of opportunities to do this in a safe and acceptable way. To help prevent your dog from mouthing and chewing things you don’t want them to, you need to make it clear which things they can chew. There are plenty of practical steps you can take: Make sure any prized or hazardous items are kept out of reach. Use baby gates to restrict access, but make sure your dog has something to keep them occupied. Provide a wide variety of suitable toys and chews – swap them every day to keep your dog interested. Keep a toy or chew handy so when you think your dog might be about to chew on something inappropriate, you can give them something else instead. That way you’ll be showing them how to get it right. When they are chewing the right things, praise them! Avoid rough-and-tumble games that might encourage mouthing. Remember, your dog might be more prone to mouth or chew things if they’re bored and not getting enough mental or physical exercise. If your dog’s behaviour is causing them or you distress, or if your dog is not responding to training, please contact your vet and an accredited behaviourist. For more info see dogstrust.org.uk TOP TRAINING TIPS Be consistent – your dog will struggle with mixed messages Involving family and friends will help them interact with your dog Stay calm. Telling your dog off may worry or confuse them Praise your dog when they do something right Use treats or toys to show them what pays off How has your dog coped through the pandemic? Tell us at nationaldogsurvey.org.uk or scan the QR code

16 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Health chief hails borough vax take-up JOSH SANDIFORD News Reporter SOLIHULL’s director of public health has praised the borough’s vaccine take-up rate. Ruth Tennant spoke as schools in the borough had experienced an increase in cases, with more than 20 across Solihull dealing with Covid-19 outbreaks. She said: “As we move through the autumn we continue to live with and manage Covid. “After schools went back rates increased across the borough, with the large majority of cases in 11-15 year-olds. There are now signs that, after an initial spike, this has peaked and case numbers in our schools have fallen from a high of more than 1,000 cases. We have clear plans in place to support schools with outbreaks and we continue to work with schools and head teachers to do this.” Tennant said the local rate stands at 430 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 417 across the West Midlands region and 358 across England. Ruth Tennant This means that every week about 900 people in Solihull are catching coronavirus. But she praised Solihull’s Covid vaccine take-up figures, saying the figures were better than the England average with 80.1 per cent of over-12s having received the first dose, compared to 75.8 per cent in England. To date, 74.7 per cent of over-12s are now double vaccinated in Solihull compared to 70 per cent in England. “This is fantastic progress,” Tennant said. “Vaccination is the best way to protect us from coronavirus and I urge everyone to take the vaccine as soon as you are invited.” She went on: “Testing rates in the borough also remain high – and this is key. It means people are getting tested when they need to and so can self-isolate to stop spreading the virus to friends and family. “Our local asymptomatic testing centres in Solihull town centre and Chelmsley Wood continue to be popular with those choosing to be tested by trained staff and many people are also still getting self-test kits to use at home. “So, to those of you who are regularly testing, thank you and carry on.” Car crime suspects in broom threat A MAN was threatened with a broom after he confronted a gang of suspected car crooks who were trying to steal his catalytic converter. Police say three people were involved in the incident in Minehead Road, in Wolverhampton, on Monday night. A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “A man was threatened by a group of suspected car criminals. “We understand that the man went to out to confront three people who were trying to steal a catalytic convertor from his car. “The suspects threatened him with a broom before leaving. Nothing was stolen. “We’re investigating. If you have any information that could assist our investigation in any way, we’re keen to hear from you.” Get in touch via Live Chat at ww.west-midlands. police.uk 8am to midnight or call 101 anytime.

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 17 Bobby back on the beat after being hit by ‘drunk driver’ Pc suffered bleed on brain and broken leg & ankle JORDAN REYNOLDS News Reporter A BRAVE police officer who suffered a bleed on the brain among other injuries when he was hit by a suspected drink driver is back tackling crime. PC Phil Kingsley suffered a bleed along with a broken leg and ankle after being hit in Dudley Port in 2015. The grandad was off work for more than a year following the smash but fought back to carry on his dream job as a cop. PC Kingsley was chairbound for months and suffered bouts of amnesia after being ploughed into by a suspected drink driver. Another colleague and friend was also seriously injured and the driver was jailed after failing to provide a blood sample. He said: “It was difficult time in my life. There were the physical injuries to recover from but also mentally. “I had to rebuild my confidence again but I always wanted to come back and the force were very supportive. “I started my police career as a response officer dealing with immediate calls for service but I really enjoy my role as a neighbourhood officer now. “I want to continue doing everything I can to keep people safe.” The former engineer has been at the forefront of tackling a range of community issues across his Smethwick patch ranging from drugs, prostitution and anti-social behaviour. This included the eviction of nuisance tenants which had repeatedly blighted a neighbourhood. He has also shown his investigative skills and caring nature. One example is when he managed to identify the victim and suspect of a violent attack from grainy CCTV. PC Kingsley offered the woman support so she was comfortable in giving a full account of what had happened and a man was arrested. The 53-year-old neighbourhood officer is a regular face in the Smethwick community to help residents in their time of need and assist colleagues. He PC Phil Kingsley was recognised by recently being named the force’s Police Officer of the Year. PC Kingsley said: “It was a big shock but also a huge honour. I was 35 when I became an officer and like everyone I did it because I wanted to make a difference. “It’s a great feeling when you can help someone and make a difference to the quality of their life. “I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can do something to help get some closure or satisfaction for the victims of crime.” News Flu jab push for winter THE NHS continues to push ahead with its biggest ever flu campaign amid fears that if the viral infection is left unchecked this winter then thousands of lives could be lost. More than 35 million people in England are eligible for a free vaccination. The NHS said that around 1.25m texts and 300,000 emails have already been sent to parents of two and threeyear-olds urging them to book an appointment for their children to get the flu nasal spray. And a further 1.3m letters have been sent out outlining how parents can book the vaccine. Dr Nikki Kanani, medical director of primary care at NHS England, said: “This year it is more vital than ever that all children and eligible adults take up the offer of the free vaccine, as we head into one of the most challenging winters yet for the NHS.”

18 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News 500 applications for a council house each week investigation has highlighted huge housing delays in the city CHARLOTTE PAXTON News Reporter AN alarming 500 applications are made each week to join Birmingham City Council’s housing register. Demand for council homes is soaring, and a probe by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found the authority is struggling to process applications quickly enough. During the investigation, Birmingham City Council – the biggest in Europe – explained it was receiving 500 applications a week. Of those, nearly half would be eligible to join, meaning 225 families are added to its list every week. One family claimed it took the council six months for their housing situation to be assessed. Ideally, councils should consider applications within six weeks. However, the city council currently takes an average of 22 weeks to do this. Because of the delay, the council should have backdated the family’s position on the waiting list to the day they applied, meaning they would have been higher up the priority list, but this did not happen. Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: “We understand that many council housing departments are under a lot of pressure as demand is outstripping availability of social housing, and we are aware in certain areas this unprecedented demand is creating a backlog. “Councils need to ensure they are providing the right advice at the right time to families to try to either prevent families becoming homeless, or give advice and support with other housing solutions available to them. “While we can’t say this family has been disadvantaged by the delay in dealing with applications, we are concerned potentially thousands of other families in the city might have been. “I welcome the steps the council has already taken to address these issues, and its ready agreement to our recommendations to improve its services further.” A Birmingham City Council spokesman said the report highlighted the pressure the authority was under. “We apologise to the complainant and will ensure that the ombudsman’s recommendations are carried out in full. “We have already taken steps, including additional resources, to address the time that it has been taking to assess applications to the housing register. We are pleased to say that those waiting times are reducing.” FACTFILE IN some areas of Brum, council house applicants will wait for an average of 20 years to get a property, according to a Birmingham City Council housing report. The Housing Options pack, issued in August 2021, revealed that the housing stock in the city was less than half what it was back in the 1980s. Latest figures show 18,649 households on the register and just 60,000 properties, compared to 123,000 in 1981. The report said: “The council let only 1,543 properties to customers between January 2021 and July 2021, and this is decreasing each year. “Be realistic. Large families, even in Band 1 (top priority) will wait several years. All council properties are in great demand. However, houses are in greater demand than flats – in some areas, the average applicant will wait over 20 years to secure a property.” CCTV plea in OAP robbery POLICE have issued a CCTV image of a couple they wish to speak to after an elderly woman was robbed in broad daylight. An 85-year-old woman had her purse snatched in Hillingford Avenue, Pheasey, Walsall, around 4pm on October 3 and a short time later her bank card was used in a local shop. Anyone who recognises the pair should contact the police. Spot the royal difference! FOR Royal watchers, it was a case of double-take yesterday as Her Majesty was snapped arriving simultaneously in two places hundreds of miles apart. In Cardiff, she met members of the Welsh Senedd at the opening of the parliament’s sixth session, while at the same time she was photographed on a royal parade of the seaside resort of Blackpool. The occasion was the unveiling of a new waxwork of the 95-year-old monarch which, following a tour of the town in a horse and carriage, will reside at Madame Tussauds Blackpool. Police are looking for these two people friday £1,000 BN8 5NS BN13 1PW CT11 9QP CV9 2PN DN9 1AW G2 3PT GU52 6RU HU11 4NG LA14 3BE MK44 1RB for every ticket in these winning postcodes NN15 6JG NP12 0SW RG6 4AP RH20 4QJ S73 0LX SA1 2BW SA44 5NW ST8 6LP WN4 8SH YO12 5TU

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20 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Police hail drone mission A DRONE mission launched by West Midlands Police to track a wanted suspect has been hailed a success. In a tweet on WMP Eye in the Sky – the official Twitter feed of West Midlands Police drone pilots – officers explained that the individual was wanted for failing to attend a scheduled court appearance. They managed to track him after he climbed onto a roof and refused to come down. The drone was instrumental in providing tactical support to those on the ground, officers added. The tweet said: “Tonight we were the eye in the sky for an individual who was wanted for FTA in court. He decided to climb onto a roof and refused to come down. “The drone not only provided tactical support to those on the ground but also secured the evidence of further offences.” £23,000 raised for rugby player who broke neck £3 Ashley Mooney was injured playing for Redditch Rugby Club Irresistible Mac & Cheese for cosy nights in Co-op Irresistible Macaroni Cheese 350g. £3. £8.57 per kg. Subject to availability, participating stores only. Serving suggestion. ALEXANDER BROCK News Reporter THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised to support a Redditch rugby player who broke his neck in a horror accident. Ashley Mooney was playing for Redditch Rugby Club earlier this month when he suffered life-changing injuries after damaging his spinal cord. The 29-year-old, who works as an ‘on call’ firefighter for Hereford and Worcestershire Fire Service, has lost the use of both of his hands and faces a long road to recovery. He remains in hospital on a ventilator and will soon be transferred to an injury rehabilitation centre in Wales. With Ashley’s family now having no income, hundreds of people have rallied together and donated just over £23,000 to an online GoFundMe page to support them. Describing the extent of Ashley’s injuries, the fundraiser’s organiser Emily Shotbolt said: “Ashley was seriously injured during a rugby game on October 2, where he broke his neck, damaged his spinal cord and it is apparent that his injuries are life-changing. “Ashley has currently lost use of both of his hands and remains in hospital on a ventilator and will remain in hospital for a minimum of six weeks. “Therefore, Ashley is likely to be in hospital for the foreseeable future. What the future looks like currently is very uncertain. All that is known is that there is a very long road ahead.” Ms Shotbolt said she was ‘absolutely over the moon’ with the support already shown, especially from the rugby community. “Ashley never thought we’d get £10,000, let alone £20,000,” she What the future looks like currently is very uncertain. All that is known is that there is a very long road ahead. Emily Shotbolt said. “The rugby community, near and far, have been an amazing support network, not only for the family and Ashley but for the players who have been taken back by Ashley’s accident. We would like to thank everyone so far who has donated and who continues to donate.” In a statement, Redditch Rugby Club said: “We would like to help support Ashley and his family as much as we can. Ashley is a very experienced and loved member of the club, so please help where you can.” To donate, go to the GoFundMe website and search for Ashley Mooney.

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 21 Mike Lockley THE HICK FROM THE STICKS... ONE positive came out of lockdown: the army of trick or treaters were kept from our door. In my corner of the Midlands, they’re in their mid-20s, wear hoodies and demand cash. I’ve attempted to explain smashing my greenhouse is not a “trick”, it is criminal damage. And pushing dog excrement through my letterbox is harassment. Such is the way Halloween – something of a non-event in my 1960s childhood – has been hijacked. It is an Americanism, a mere commercial orgy. Like Christmas and Easter. Parents will again splash out on over-priced brooms, witches hats and giant pumpkins. There is an inherent danger with over-sized pumpkins. I read that a New Yorker was crushed by one – or “gourd to death”, as a US tabloid put it. There’s even a skeleton-themed boardgame. Tibial Pursuit. “Why do we carve pumpkins?” lisped my young nephew. “Because they bleed a lot less than animals,” I snapped. I am not a fan. On October 31, I will open my door to trick or treaters and deliver the now traditional Simon Cowell put down: » Dozens of eggs have been stolen from a poultry farm. Poachers are suspected Time to break the spell “Guys, it’s tired, the costumes are awful and it’s all been done before. Do you honestly think you can make a career out of this? Sorry, it’s a ‘no’ from me.” I therefore read the gushing prose delivered by our digital edition, Birmingham- Live, and tutted loudly. The article states: “If your family loves getting dressed up in costumes, carving and decorating pumpkins, conjuring spooky spells and listening to scary stories, then you’ll love some of the events we’ve included in our guide. “The guide offers a snapshot of some of the spinetinglingly good adventures to have as a family across the Midlands for Halloween. “We believe that none of them are too scary for little ones.” The “good adventures” include a “pumpkin flotilla” at Sarehole Mill, the orange vegetables seemingly balanced on wooden pallets, and a Cadbury World ghostly adventure, with Freddo Frog leading the way in a choccy horror show. Freddo could be one of the living dead. He definitely croaked. There are no pubs on the list, which is a surprise. I thought spooks liked boos. A message of assurance to younger readers – there are no ghosts. Once, I thought I’d seen one – white, small and floating on air. It turned out to be a tissue. I do not believe in the Hereafter, spooks, spirits, spectres, ghouls, poltergeists, demon possession, tooth fairies or Santa. If pushed, I will begrudgingly accept that farts are the ghosts of something we’ve eaten. MORE LAUGHS WITH MIKE LOCKLEY EVERY WEEK IN THE GETS TO GRIPS WITH LIFE IN THE BIG CITY I do have a spirit guide. His name is Dave and he works at the local off-licence. In a 46-year career, I have been tasked many times with tracking down the living dead and uncovered nothing that had not an earthly explanation. I have spent nights in haunted public houses - the vast majority of spirits strangely “going public” after the businesses underwent refurbishment or introduced a new menu. The limited powers of those ghouls who allegedly occupy the premises always disappointed me. If I’d battled to bridge the chasm » Just found an old vinyl record in the loft. A side: I do like to be. B side: The seaside between this life and the after-life, I’d want to do something a little more dramatic than opening and shutting pub doors and switching lights off. The vast majority of time on this earth is spent doing that, anyway. Strangely, ghosts who want to merely fiddle with household appliances resist the temptation to repeatedly flush toilets, which would be my first port-of-call. When my own lights go off, I check the trip-switch. When the room becomes cold, I bleed radiators. Accusing ghosts is pretty low down the lists, though I did once blame mischievous spirits for ordering the adult channel. I’ve even interviewed a bricklayer who claimed he could speak to the dead through his tools. Seriously - on the level. At college, we set up a makeshift ouija board in our sixth form common room, the spirits moving an upturned probiotic yoghurt pot from one letter to another. Simon Kinchen was so traumatised by the experience he needed counselling. He paid a terrible price for dabbling with the Yakult. As a family, we once attended a seance to locate my late grandfather: I wear his wristwatch, an heirloom retrieved from his deathbed. We wanted to contact grandfather because of the sudden, tragic nature of his demise. He plunged to death while holidaying in Torremolinos. That must’ve been the mother of all blocked toilets. We eventually made contact with the ghost of an alcoholic down-andout. A methylated spirit. n Halloween guide: pages 36-37 Best buys to make your garden great Japanese Maple Acer ‘Ukigumo’ Japanese Maple Tree ‘Ukigumo’ is a luxurious Japanese Maple tree that produces unusual five-lobed white leaves with a delicate pink flush during the spring season from April through to May. 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22 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News 86 Afghan refugees are found new lives in Walsall richard guttridge News Reporter THERE are big differences in the numbers of Afghan refugees being found new homes in the Black Country. Councils across the country were asked to help provide accommodation for Afghan refugees fleeing from their homeland after the country fell to the Taliban in August. The four Black Country councils have made commitments to rehoming refugees, with numbers to be accepted varying. Some 86 Afghans have been housed in Walsall – by far the most in the Black Country – with the council pledging to support up to 120. A total of 29 Afghans have arrived to live in Wolverhampton, while another 57 evacuees Refugees arrive at Birmingham Airport from Kabul have been put up in temporary ‘bridging’ accommodation before moving elsewhere. Progress has been slower in Dudley and Sandwell. Four families have arrived in Dudley so far and two in Sandwell. Dudley Council has agreed to take in 20 families, while Sandwell Council has pledged to initially support 20-25 families. It was reported this week that thousands of refugees were being kept in hotels as they waited for housing to become available, amid concerns they were not being rehomed quickly enough. Bosses in Walsall said they were determined to do as much as they could to support Afghan families in crisis. Council leader Mike Bird said it was up to all authorities to do their bit to help. He said: “We and others in the West Midlands don’t want to be the only ones helping out when other leafy parts of the country aren’t doing anything. “We are a welcoming town but of course that comes at a cost like everything else. “We all have to (help). A lot of the problem is suitable accommodation. What we don’t want is these people coming out of a warzone and being put into a little hovel somewhere.” A Wolverhampton Council spokesman said: “Wolverhampton has welcomed 29 refugees to the city under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme and we are awaiting the arrival of further families who need our support. “We have also welcomed 57 Afghan evacuees into bridging accommodation, prior to them moving on to permanent accommodation.” A Sandwell Council spokesman said: “Sandwell Council’s offer is initially for 20 to 25 Afghan households to be accommodated and settled in our borough, but we will review this when the Government releases further details of the new resettlement scheme. “Eleven properties have already been made available and two households have already been resettled here.” Pedestrian fights for life after car horror A WOMAN pedestrian was fighting for life at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being in collision with a car. It happened at the junction of Copenhagen Street and Deansway, Worcester, at shorlty after 4pm on Thursday. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find the pedestrian, a woman, with serious injuries from the collision. “She was given advanced trauma care on scene and was conveyed by land ambulance to Birmingham’s QE on blue lights and sirens, with treatment continuing en-route.”

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 23 Items found next to the canal off Gray Street in Bordesley Bosses to consider school transport contract shake-up RICHARD GUTTRIDGE News Reporter PROPOSED changes to the way school transport contracts are awarded in Sandwell will be put before council bosses following a major controversy over how two companies were chosen for a deal worth more than £20 million. A new model for drawing up school transport contracts has been put forward in a bid to avoid similar situation from happening again in the future. Cllr Jay Anandou, an opposition Conservative who also sits on the scrutiny committee, has overseen the proposal which he says will ensure more competition and fairness. It will now be presented to the council’s cabinet for consideration, expected to be the end of this month, after getting the backing of scrutiny chiefs. Councillor Anandou said he hoped the new model would be in place as soon as possible ahead of the next procurement process early next year. Serious questions are being asked of Sandwell Council after two companies run by the same former authority employee, Azeem Hafeez, were selected for contracts to take children with special educational needs to and from school. It was allowed to get through to sign-off stage before council leader Rajbir Singh intervened to defer the matter and launch an investigation. All four lots which made up the contract, and affect around 80 schools across Sandwell, were due to be split between North Birmingham Travel and County Cars. Council officers were accused of “looking after their mates” by Conservative councillors for putting forward the two firms. The authority then suffered further embarrassment when one of the companies, North Birmingham Travel, had its contract with Birmingham City Council terminated after it emerged dozens of drivers had allegedly not passed DBS checks. Councillor Anandou said he was confident the new model would be backed by Labour council leaders. He said: “We need to make sure we have more smaller companies involved.” Police scour canal after items found next to water CONCERNED police have scoured a city canal after belongings were found next to the water. A pair of Lacoste shoes, a set of house keys and glasses were found next to the water off Gray Street, in Bordesley, by a member of the public. They reported their find to police at around 10.30am on Wednesday and officers spent the day searching the canal and surrounding roads. A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “If you recognise the items in the photo or have information that could help, please get in touch via Live Chat on our website between 8am and midnight or call 101.”

24 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live News Tails you win! SHOW WILL CROWN ANOTHER POOCH AFTER LOLA TAKES BEST EYES PRIZE Dog tails send us an amazing number of different messages – thumping on the floor for attention, tucking between their legs when their owner is feeling shy or wagging excitedly to show happiness. Today over on our sister website Team- Dogs it’s all about the waggy tails - show us your dog’s and you could win a prize. How waggy is your dog’s tail? Does it swish around in circles when he gets let off the lead at the park? Does the sight of it swinging as she runs to greet you bring a smile to your face after a long day away from home? All week, TeamDogs is holding an online dog show – with a different category to be won each day. It’s been a great week for the Dog Show so far – with hundreds of you entering your gorgeous pictures for yesterday’s category of Most Beautiful Eyes. Winner Lola, who had the most likes at 3pm yesterday, will go forward to the overall category of Best in Show, announced on Saturday. And we’ll be sending her owner Anita Mehdi a rosette and a gift box. To enter today’s Waggiest Tail award, visit the Team- Dogs Facebook page and post your video on the Dog Show post or send it on Messenger. The winner will be chosen by TeamDogs’ special Dog Show judge. Celebrating tails The eyes have it... Lola won in the Most Beautiful Eyes category at TeamDogs’ online Dog Show which runs all week

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 25 Councillor is cleared of Islamophobia over posting on Facebook GURDIP THANDI A STALWART Walsall Labour councillor who was accused of Islamophobia has been cleared following an investigation. Blakenall ward councillor Ian Robertson had a six-month administrative suspension following the allegations which centred around a social media post he made. But the suspension was lifted at the end of September after party officials concluded their inquiry and he is now fully reinstated. Cllr Robertson has always refuted the allegations but said he is now looking forward to carrying on as “normal”, which will include returning to Pakistan later this year to hold health clinics and see how projects he has been involved in are developing. The social media post on March saw Cllr Robertson – who was been an elected member for 22 years – post a photo and full address of a house suspected of breaking Covid rules. It was followed up with him saying: “Annoyed as had to not hold any funeral for my uncle who died in Covid. “This family has no right to break rules. Same for Muslims who also sometimes break the number rules.” This prompted an official complaint to the Everything in One place InYourArea is a personalised newsfeed which brings together all the latest news for your local area from news sites, blogs and social networks. You can use the website or the app on your phone to get the latest news and information for your chosen areas, including crime updates, house prices and more. It is the only service that gives you a 360 view of up to the minute updates on where you live and shows you the most relevant local services provided by businesses in your area. All you have to do is enter a postcode. party which resulted in the suspension and investigation. Cllr Robertson said: “I’m probably the least likely person to be guilty of Islamophobia. “I’m off to Pakistan in a few weeks time to do some more voluntary work and run some eye camps. I’ve done this on six or seven occasions in the past. I will also look at schools we’ve rebuilt, visit places where we’ve installed water supplies so I’ll be pleased to renew my acquaintances over there. I look forward to continuing Ian Robertson has been suspended by Labour but can carry on working as a Walsall councillor KEEP YOUR We have everything for your purr’fect pet Large Choice of Pet Foods and Accessories and working as normal.” Regional Labour said it couldn’t comment on individual cases but a spokesman said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures.” We cater for Small Animals, Wild Birds, Reptiles, Apply for our neW LoYALTY CARD in store now and SAVE £££££’s FinD uS on FACeBook Call us now to find out about our loCal delivery serviCe ask our friendly staff for advice Open Mon - Sat 9am - 5.30pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm Kings Heath Pet Centre, 43 York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7SA 0121 444 1880 | www.kingsheathpetcentre.co.uk 90 mins FRee PARkinG at Lidl, Silver Street News Rolling Stones drop ‘controversial’ song from States tour list THE Rolling Stones are refusing to play one of their biggest hits on their US tour. Brown Sugar has been axed from the set list for the tour because of the controversial lyrics about slavery and rape. It follows unease with the depictions of black women and references to slavery in the song, which reached number one in the US in 1971. Keith Richards confirmed the track had been pulled to the LA Times and said : “I don’t know. I’m trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn’t they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? “But they are trying to bury it. I don’t want to get into conflicts with all this s***. “But I’m hoping that we’ll be able to resurrect the babe in her glory somewhere along the track.” Mick Jagger added: “We’ve played Brown Sugar every night since 1970. “So sometimes you think: ‘We’ll take that one out for now and see how it goes.’ We might put it back in.” Discussing the song in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jagger said: “I never would write that song now. “I would probably censor myself. I’d think, ‘Oh God, I can’t. I’ve got to stop’. God knows what I’m on about on that song. It’s such a mishmash. All the nasty subjects in one go.” Have You Worked In Any Noisy Environment After 1963? If so, this may have affected your hearing and you could be entitled to £1000’s in COMPENSATION! It does not matter if the company you worked for no longer exists, you could still make a claim. ✔ Specialist In Industrial Deafness Claims ✔ Quick and Simple Process ✔ Free Hearing Test ✔ Maximum Compensation You are particularly at risk if you have worked in any of these industries: • Steelworks • Foundry • Engineering • Chemical Plants • Sheet Metal • Copper • Production • Fabrication • Paper • Manufacturing • Mills • Heavy Plants • Factories • Power Stations • Shipyards • Construction • Railway • National Coal Board (Ncb) • Food • Rubber • Pipe Layers • Ground Works… and many more noisy jobs. 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www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 27 News Revamp bid for precinct is shown off 8 crews tackle fire at former restaurant SIXTY firefighters tackled a blaze at a disused restaurant in Willenhall. Eight fire crews were sent to the scene (right) in Bentley Mill Way at 2.15pm on Wednesday and took water from a nearby brook. An aerial platform was also used to tackle the blaze at the former bar and restaurant. A West Midlands Fire Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived within three minutes 50 seconds assertive, effective and safe firefighting.” No-one was hurt. The cause of the fire is being investigated. EMILY COLLIS News Reporter PLANS have been revealed to regenerate a dreary village shopping centre in Solihull. Artist impressions show developers’ visions for the revamped St John’s Way, in Knowle, including a more spacious public concourse, a prominent arched entrance from the high street, sheltered seating and a water feature. Owners Mercia Real Estate also want to develop 31 new homes on the site, renamed Knowle Place, as well as Plan for St John’s Way in Knowle refurbishing the 16 apartments that are already there. St John’s Way is home to a number of stores including Tesco, a pet shop, Acorn’s charity shop and a youth cafe – several of which have been a feature of the street for many years. But the shopping precinct has remained largely unchanged since it was first built in the 1960s and owners claim it is no longer fit for purpose due to a lack of investment by the previous owners. A planning application is yet to be submitted, however a public exhibition was held at the centre on Friday and Saturday last week. PLAYERS CAN WIN 20-500 FREE SPINS ON VOODOO MAGIC & WILD WALKER EVERY QUALIFYING £20+ FUND THIS MONTH. PLAY NOW AT WWW.FREESPINSBINGO.CO.UK/MONTH T&Cs - £20 min fund, T&Cs and 65x Wagering Requirements apply, £8 max win per 10 spins, max bonus conversion equal to lifetime deposits (up to £250) Full T&Cs Apply

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TIME OUT » 13 PAGES OF COMEDY, MUSIC, FILM, DANCE, DAYS OUT, COMMENT & PUZZLES top Ventriloquist nina conti is on a mission to matchmake in Birmingham Could there be anything more contemporary than a comedy show with masks which looks to bring people together? That’s what Nina Conti is aiming to achieve with The dating Show, her new touring extravaganza featuring a gallery of latex masks, a cheeky monkey called Monkey, and willing audience members who are up for a laugh and maybe (just maybe) a little bit of romance. The idea for this new matchmaking affair came to Nina pretty much by accident during her previous show with masks, In Your Face. “When I did masks before with an audience, I often ended up with love matches. The audience members often took it there with their body language. They could be a bit friendly and a bit flirty, and I remember thinking, ‘I have to stop things going like this or people will think I’m a sex maniac! What’s the matter with me?’. ‘‘But then I thought that maybe it’s not me forcing it because it’s simply happening every time, so why resist? And why not do something called The dating Show?” Nina had performed a few trial runs of her new work at london’s Soho Theatre just before the pandemic struck, and has spent time while away from the stage considering the best way for The dating Show to progress. “To avoid it becoming this heteronormative thing, you want to get everyone involved. In the Soho I never thought that ventriloquism was a skill worth having. I would never have gone to a ventriloquism show Nina shows, I opened with Monkey interviewing a bunch of people in the audience, and whoever elicited the most warmth was the person I went with. I’m not after eccentrics, just likeability. ‘‘Then we got them on stage and put a mask on them, and had a very low-key chat about their past relationships and what they were looking for next. Hopefully those we get up could be any kind of person and not just the Cilla Black demographic.” For around 20 years now, Nina has pretty much cornered the comedy circuit market in ventriloquism. For those who haven’t seen her show, this genre might still seem a bit old-fashioned or easy fodder for nightmares thanks to spooky films such as dead of Night or Magic where, respectively, Michael Redgrave and Anthony Hopkins went on murderous rampages after being taken over by their ventriloquist dummies. When Nina was first approached by her old mentor Ken Campbell to consider ventriloquism, she was equally sceptical. “I’m lucky to have found it, because I never thought that ventriloquism was a skill worth having. I would never have gone to a ventriloquism show, and when it was suggested to me by Ken I was so uninterested in it. I thought he was mad! ‘‘I don’t know if I’ve enhanced it for nostalgia, but there was a definite lightbulb moment. I had turn to PAGE 38 pucker up, brum Nina Conti

30 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live dancE TIME OUT O Romeo, Romeo and Romeo again! Birmingham royal Ballet returned to their home theatre, the hippodrome, last week with Sir Kenneth macmillan’s classic interpretation of romeo and Juliet. But not content with performing just the one version, the company are back on stage this week with double bill Carlos Curates: r&J reimagined, which sees Shakespeare’s tale get a very different treatment. First up, the company are premiering romanian choreographer Edward Clug’s radio and Juliet, a reinvention of the classic story set to the music of radiohead, featuring tracks from Kid a, amnesiac and OK Computer. Principal dancer Tyrone Singleton plays romeo in the piece alongside soloist Yaoqian Shang as Juliet. The two also play the same roles in the classical version, which is being taken to Plymouth at the end of this month. is it hard to separate the two? “it’s surprisingly easy because they are so different,” says Tyrone. “radio and Juliet has a strong foundation in neo classical work, so it’s not quite contemporary as it’s still based on the classical side but Birmingham Royal Ballet just can’t get enough of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, as LauRen MORtOn reports it’s completely different to the classical romeo and Juliet that we usually perform. “With radio and Juliet there’s less of a story to tell, in terms of our reactions. it’s almost like the atmosphere and emotion that we create when we dance together, the audience feels that and then creates their interpretation of the story. Whereas with romeo and Juliet with the gestures and mimes, it’s quite clear the story that the characters are telling.” Yaoqian agrees: “For me it’s separate, they’re set in very different times, for macmillan’s version its set around the 15th century and with radio and Juliet it’s much more present day – it’s a very cool piece.” Joining radio and Juliet in the double bill is Birmingham-based rosie Kay Dance Company’s romeo + Juliet, which received its world premiere at Birmingham hippodrome last month, with the Birmingham mail describing it as “a ‘love letter’ to Birmingham with a stark message on knife crime”. romeo + Juliet was created collaboratively by choreographer and director rosie Kay and the original cast of nine dancerchoreographers skilled in contemporary, street and indian classical dance styles, including mayowa Ogunnaike and Subhash Viman gorania, who dance the roles of Juliet and romeo respectively. “it really has been a collaborative process,” says mayowa. “We spent a lot of time workshopping our characters; their identities, where they come from, how they feel, their aspirations, their fears.” Subhash adds: “The great thing about working with rosie was that we were given the freedom to express and bring our characters to life. i was then able to hone in and bring my personal experiences into the character, so the choreography and the character develop side by side, as opposed to ‘let’s learn the steps then create the character’.’’ romeo + Juliet sets the action in the hot Birmingham summer of rosie Kay Dance Company’s romeo + Juliet 2021. Young people’s family loyalties give way to gang allegiancess. a party in a park gets out of control, sparking rumours, rioting and revenge. in the midst of rivalries, first tastes of freedom and love ignite. mayowa expands: “The piece is set in present-day Birmingham and is based on rosie’s experiences as well as things that she’s researched such as gang violence and social issues.” Subhash adds: “rosie spent years doing research in Birmingham for the piece. She spent time with gang members, ex-gang members and the police, as well as families who have been involved, so we had a lot of material to digest and bring into our characters.” The 75-minute performance is set to Birmingham-based composer annie mahtani’s sound-track which blends Berlioz’s classical roméo et Juliette score with her original electro-acoustic composition. For this week’s performances only, Birmingham royal Ballet’s orchestra, the royal Ballet Sinfonia, will play the Berlioz score live ■ Carlos Curates: R&J Reimagined is at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday. For tickets, go to birminghamhippodrome.com cOMe up and see Me, says RebeL steve “SympHony Hall has been kind to us, but the Town Hall has a rockier vibe and will be great for the full electric band.” So says Steve Harley, who will be bringing the latest line-up of Cockney Rebel to Birmingham on Thursday of next week. Cockney Rebel burst onto the scene in 1974 with Judy Teen and followed it up with the crowdpleasing mr Soft (later used in a TV ad for chewy mints). Charismatic leader and songwriter Steve then disbanded the group only to re-emerge a year later with the chart-topping make me Smile (Come Up and See me), one of the mostplayed records in the history of British radio. other hits included mr Raffles, Love’s a prima Donna and a cover of the George Harrison song Here Comes The Sun. Cockney Rebel are known for their electric rock but Steve’s most recent work was as the Steve Harley Acoustic Band, with the album Uncovered, released just before the pandemic hit. It showcases tunes close to Steve’s heart, as well as some of his classic songs, and has been wellreceived, as he says from his Suffolk home. “The reaction to the album has been very positive. It was only released about three weeks before lockdown and now, nearly two years later, when I’m out with the acoustic band, I still treat it as a new release. ‘‘We sold out a few shows recently which was great after the restrictions that were imposed on live events. one venue had sold out two years ago and nobody asked for their money back.” And how did Steve fare during lockdowns? “Thankfully everyone is fine, it was just a bit boring not being able to get out and perform live. I did write a lot of songs but none of them are finished as I have to put words to them, and I find that difficult sometimes.” Steve, now 71, has been a working musician for over 50 years and still gets a buzz out of touring. “We play to great audiences and see the world; how good is that? I see great cities and their galleries and museums in our down-time, and beautiful landscapes from the Arctic Circle to the mediterranean coast.” And Steve always gives his all. “It’s gonna be two and a quarter hours of a rock band at work. An artist should show respect to their audience and I play every show as if it’s the last show I’ll ever do.” mARTIn HUTCHInSon

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 31 MUsIc You never get tired of playing We Are The Champions Queen drummer Roger Taylor talks to Alex Green about stepping up as a frontman, plans for the future and why endless retirement would be ‘horrendous’ “IT’S like dipping a toe in the water after not having had a bath for many years,” says Roger Taylor, in typically affable fashion, as he prepares to tour solo for the first time in two decades. “It’s going to be interesting.” Playing alongside flamboyant figures Freddie Mercury and Brian May might have distracted fans from the Queen drummer’s virtuosity. But Roger has also enjoyed a parallel music career since the late 1980s, as lead singer and guitarist in his own rock band, The Cross. “The good thing about songs is that if they are good they live forever,” he says. “There they are. It’s not like being a famous chef where you have to do it every night!” Roger lives in Puttenham, Surrey with his second wife, Sarina Potgieter, but spent lockdown at his second home in Cornwall. This is where the idea for Outsider, his first album of new solo material in nearly a decade, began to take shape. “We had space to stroll about – but not everybody did,” he recalls. “I remember seeing pictures from Milan of people stuck in their apartments singing some of our songs out the window. “It was wonderful in a way but I remember thinking, ‘God’. And it went on for months. It was pretty scary actually.” The first song he wrote during that time was called Isolation and it Roger singing with Freddie Mercury in 1976 features on the record. Soon he had an album’s worth of material ranging from direct stadium rock to meditative psychedelia and more. “It was an odd period and it also focused the mind. I just thought, ‘I’m going to make some good use of this period of enforced semiimprisonment’.” Roger is delighted by the success of the vaccine roll out, in part because it means he can get back to playing to fans. “The anti-vaxxers I don’t get,” he growls. “I don’t understand that at all. It seems to be borne of pure ignorance and an amount of arrogance and the conspiracy theories. It’s pathetic, actually.” Lockdown reinforced Roger’s desire to perform – and at 72 years old, age is no barrier. “I don’t get tired at all. I really enjoy seeing the audience enjoying itself. It is a feedback thing. It lifts you every time. Of course, we know some of those songs backwards. It sounds like we are playing them backwards sometimes! “But that’s the thing, it’s the audience interaction. “You never get tired of playing We Are The Champions. It is such a b***** great song and you can see it lifting an audience.” Roger describes the idea of “endless retirement” as “horrendous”. “Tick tock, time is rushing by, when you get to the age of Brian and myself,” he laughs. “We are just Roger on drums with singer Adam Lambert and guitarist Brian May getting older and I don’t think we will be able to do it that much longer, and while we still can do it, we intend to keep doing it. And same applies to Queen actually. We realised that this is what we do. This is what we love doing. And while we still can do it at a good level, we will. “As soon as we can’t we shall retire with some shred of dignity. “You can’t do this forever but as long as we can do it properly we will do it. And obviously as long as people want to see it.” During lockdown, Queen earned their first number one album in 25 years with Live Around The World, a compilation featuring highlights from their decade of touring with former American Idol contestant Adam Lambert on lead vocals. So far, however, there has been no new music from the group, although they have apparently been experimenting in the studio. “It’s the right material,” Roger says, adding, “It’s got to be good. It’s got to stand up to our old stuff which is very strong.” Roger is as enthusiastic about music as ever and admits this urge might just be driven by insecurity. “You don’t want to feel superfluous. I was going to say ‘useful’ but that would be a bit cruel – there are an awful lot of retired people in the country who have earned their rest, their retirement. “But life is good and it’s nice to be working.” ■ Outsider is out now and Roger plays the HMV Empire in Coventry on Wednesday. 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Entertainment Highlights TONY HADLEY Go back to the 80s with pop legend Tony Hadley Rock and Retro 80s Extravaganza Sailcation VIRGIN VOYAGES VALIANT LADY 11 Nights, 21 MARCH 2022 ONLY AVAILABLE TO BOOK WITH IMAGINE CRUISING Sing along to soul man supreme Martin Fry, lead singer of ABC SEA TERRACE from only £1,499pp 11 NIGHTS | 21 MARCH 2022 | EXCLUSIVELY FOR ADULTS toyah Party with punk princess, Toyah t'pau Reminisce to pop rock of its finest form from T’Pau ALTERED IMAGES Transport yourself back to the post-punk era with Altered Images lead singer, Clare Grogan The Ultimate 80s Experience Dig out your spandex and Lycra for this epic 80s extravaganza at sea. Sipping sangria in Spain, catching sun in the Canaries, relaxing to the max on board a brand-new luxury ship and toe tapping to the soundtrack of the 80s with an exclusive line-up of 80s icons – this brand new Sailcation is one of our best yet. Co-headlined by former Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley and soul man supreme Martin Fry, lead singer of ABC, this amazing programme of exclusive enhanced entertainment also includes performances from Toyah, T’Pau, Altered Images and celebrity DJs Bruno Brookes and Gary Davies. These unmissable performances will all take place on board Virgin Voyages brand new ship, Valiant Lady. Ultra-modern and with luxurious and unique touches at every turn, this is a ship with multiple dining venues and entertainment options that follows its sister ship, Scarlet Lady, in changing the game for seafaring. This exciting 11-night, nofly voyage departs from Portsmouth for Spain, Portugal and the sultry Canary Islands, with calls to La Coruña, Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lisbon before cruising back to Portsmouth where you’ll disembark, your 80s extravaganza complete. THIS AMAZING HOLIDAY INCLUDES: CRUISE: : 11 night full-board cruise on board the brand new Valiant Lady, exclusively for adults. ENHANCED ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME: Sing along to one of the 80s most powerful and expressive voices, Tony Hadley; ; Be serenaded by soul man supreme Martin Fry, lead singer of ABC; ; Get ready for a dose of “Girl Power” as T’Pau, Toyah and Altered Images take to the stage and party the night away as a stellar line up of 80s celebrity DJs play some of the era’s most epic anthems. ENTERTAINMENT: Immersive and modern entertainment such as festival-like lineups, never-before-seen stage productions, unexpected pop-up performances and more. OVER $600 IN VALUE IS ALWAYS INCLUDED: Wi-Fi, all food, tips, basic beverages and more 11 Night canaries Cruise Portsmouth, La Coruña, Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lisbon (overnight in port), Portsmouth TWIN OCCUPANCY SEA TERRACE fr £1,499pp CENTRAL SEA TERRACE fr £1,649pp SWEET AFT SUITE fr £2,999pp SINGLE OCCUPANCY SEA TERRACE fr £2,779 CENTRAL SEA TERRACE fr £3,089 SWEET AFT SUITE fr £5,789 Book with Confidence Fully protected | Exceptional service & expertise | Amazing value For full terms and conditions please visit www.imaginecruising.co.uk. Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a cruise cabin or suite. Imagine Cruising are fully ABTA and ATOL bonded. Prices are correct at the time of print and are subject to change. Main image is intended for illustrative purposes only. 11078 ABTA No.Y6300 To book call 01793 856 708 imaginecruising.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 9am - 8pm. Excellent

www.birminghamlive.co.uk MUsIc FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 33 TIME OUT I’ve always thought music is magic It’s showtIme! Jason Donovan tells Marion McMullen about sprInklIng a touch of musIcals magIc over hIs new tour Are you happy to be back on the road again with the Even More Good Reasons tour? I’m ecstatic the tour is finally under way. We’ve had to reschedule the dates a number of times, so to be actually making plans at last is really exciting. I literally can’t wait to get on the road again. My wife can’t wait for me to get on the road again either. Having lived through two productions, one as a producer (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), one as a performer (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), in recent months I’m really aware of how difficult it has been for the live sector. I was always positive that once things started to move towards a sense of what we knew before, that people would naturally want to share in that experience of a live show once again. It has been overwhelming and emotional to see people celebrating life. I’d like to think that live shows are a bit of therapy out of the last 18 months. What can audiences expect? Something that is both nostalgic and just a b***dy good night out. I’m also going to add songs from some of the musicals I’ve been part of in more recent years. I’ve resisted performing songs from shows until now, but it seems like it’s the time to get every gem out of the song box. I’ve always thought that music is magic. There is nothing like that emotional connection of delivering a song on stage and watching an audience respond to that moment. This is what we all need right now. Jason Donovan, as Scott and Kylie Minogue as Charlene in Neighbours In Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Co-producer Jason with Priscilla Queen of the Desert star Joe McFadden How do you keep in shape for such a big tour? It is about keeping focussed, keeping fit, having a clear mind and not going out and getting hammered on a decent red wine on week nights. I try to go to the gym a lot, try to ride and try to walk rather than take public transport. I also steam and look after my voice – it’s at the heart of what I do. It is important to treat your body as an instrument. I’m not 23 or 24 or even 33 or 34. I’m 53. I think the older you get the harder you have to work at these things. You do what you can. Your career began in the 1980s. Is there a lot of nostalgia for that decade? I think nostalgia is very current at the moment. Through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook you can look back very easily. Before had to get into the loft and dig out Just Seventeen and Smash Hits magazines and dust off the record player, which usually didn’t work, or find an old cassette player. Now you just press a button and you are there. People are interested in the era. I think the 80s was unique in popular culture. It was the birth of MTV and worlds collided a lot. Following on from the success of Neighbours, I was lucky that I had my first musical success during an I was lucky that I had my first success during an era (the 1980s )when pop music was so alive Jason Donovan is preparing to hit the road with a song in his heart era when pop music was so alive. Mullets, double denim and Jive Bunny aside, I was and am, a massive fan of the 80s. I look back at those times with such affection and sometimes have to pinch myself to think that I was able to play a massive part in forming popular culture at the time. How do you feel about your daughter Jemma appearing in Neighbours? (Smiles) She’s smashing it. She’d done a couple of other jobs prior to Neighbours, like Mr Stink for the BBC, and she had experience. Neighbours is the icing on the cake in a way. She’s always harboured a desire to act and you create your own luck. She went to Australia and did a couple of auditions and Neighbours wanted her. I think she’s learned a lot and been very brave having to move to Australia. The tour is named after your debut album 10 Good Reasons. What is it like singing those 80s songs again? If I had to sing Too Many Broken Hearts for the rest of my life every single night, then that would not be very satisfying, but once every four years or so is a different matter and I absolutely love that. Analysing them they are great pop songs. I anticipate doing more acting and producing and I appeared with Johnny Vegas in the TV movie Dial M For Middlesbrough, which I loved as well, but for the moment I’m concentrating on the tour. ■ Jason plays Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on December 2 before joining the cast of Christmas panto Goldilocks at Birmingham Hippodrome. SHOWBUZZ ■ BECKY HIll, the current voice of pop/dance, is ‘‘raring to go’’ for her gig at Birmingham’s O2 Academy on Saturday. The 27-year-old Bewdley singer is on her first tour since lockdown and is showcasing debut album Only Honest on the Weekend. ‘‘I’m certainly hungry for it,’’ she says. ‘‘It’s such a great feeling to see a few thousand people there for one purpose – to connect with my music.’’ Becky got her chance to shine on BBC’s The Voice at 17 years of age. She didn’t win but last year she was the UK’s second most listened to female artist. ■ Danny John-Jules and Nigel Harman are to star in the world premiere next year of THE DA VINCI CODE. Bestselling writer Dan Brown says: “I am thrilled that The Da Vinci Code is being adapted for the stage, and excited to see the unique potential of live theatre enhance this story. The team making the production has been faithful to the book, but will also bring something new for the audience, in what is certain to be a gripping, fast-paced stage thriller and a thoroughly entertaining show.” It’s at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, from Februar 22-26. ■ Al MuRRAY, The Pub Landlord, is planning to Gig For Victory next year. His 2022 stand-up show will see him offering people who are thirsty for common sense a full pint of the good stuff. He’s at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on March 18 and the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, on June 10. ■ RAY MEARS is thought of by many as the father of British bushcraft and he is set to embark on a 40-date nationwide theatre next year simply titled We are Nature – An Invitation To Reconnect With The Natural World. Ray’s at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on February 25 and Town Hall, Birmingham, on March 23. ■ Disney’s beloved Olivier Awardwinning stage musical BEAuTY AND THE BEAST will come to Birmingham Hippodrome in March. With spectacular new stage designs, the timeless romantic tale will be brought to life like never before, the theatre promises.

34 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live fIlMs TIME OUT An alien takeover Andy Serkis is no stranger to playing wild and wonderful creatures. The British actor has been globally acclaimed for his pioneering use of motion capture and CGI as Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings and as Caesar in the Planet Of The Apes films, as well as playing Snoke in Star Wars. But the next creatures he is tackling are as a director, not an actor, and they carry with them the weight of expectation. He steps behind the camera for the Marvel film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, a sequel to the 2018 blockbuster helmed by Ruben Fleischer. Andy, whose previous directing credits include Breathe, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, and Jungle Book re-telling Mowgli: Legend Of The Jungle, didn’t have his eye on directing a superhero blockbuster until he got a call from the film’s star, Tom Hardy. “I was working on something else, I was developing something to shoot, and out of the blue came this call from Tom and he just said ‘Andy, I want to throw your hat in the ring to direct Venom’,” he recalls. “I was like ‘OK!’ It wasn’t something that I was seeking out originally but then we started to talk and obviously I loved his performance in the original one, so very rapidly it kind of became something, and I’m so glad that he did because we had a ball making it. Andy says he has long wanted to work with Tom Hardy Venom is back directing the Marvel sequel venoM: let there Be carnage took andy serkis into uncharted territory. he tells Laura Harding it was a challenge he couldn’t resist “I’ve always wanted to work with Tom and we’d sort of talked around other projects, as director and actor and also acting together, so it was really wonderful to finally get to work together.” The film sees Tom reprise his role as journalist Eddie Brock, who is still living with the alien symbiote Venom inside him. After Brock attempts to reignite his career by interviewing the serial killer Cletus Kasady (played by Woody Harrelson), the convicted killer becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage and Eddie and Venom must race to stop him on his deadly mission. “I’ve never done anything like that before,” Andy admits, “so it was a challenge at first, but the way it was written and the way the story was crafted, and where it sat in terms of the evolution of the relationship with Eddie and Venom, and also the introduction of such a main new character Carnage, allowed for a lot You saw the meeting of the symbiote and its host and now we get to enjoy the development of that, now we get to see the kind of the odd couple relationship... Andy on what attracted him to tell the next chapter of Venom’s story Andy Serkis says he has no plans to give up on acting of exploration as if it were almost a film in its own right. “I was standing on the shoulders of Ruben Fleischer’s great first movie and Tom’s performance particularly, so there was wonderful material to work with. “But what was exciting about this were two things really – where the relationship sits – you saw the meeting of the symbiote and its host and now we get to enjoy the development of that, now we get to Andy is a master of motion capture, playing the likes of Cesar in Planet Of The Apes see the kind of the odd couple relationship, the sort of the sevenyear-itch, the playfulness between them now they have spent time with each other, so that was really exciting. “And then there was the design and finding the colour and palette and the tone of this movie, which is much more humorous in a way, but it’s also a lot darker in terms of the villain and the brilliant performance that Woody gives as Cletus and Carnage.” It was Woody’s nerve-shredding performance that gave Andy a real dream moment on set. “I was looking at Woody thinking ‘I remember watching you playing Larry Flynt’ and thinking one day I’d like to do something like that, I’d like to be involved in cinema. Then suddenly you find yourself, 30 years later, working with someone that you’ve admired all this time. “So I always have to pinch myself and think how lucky I am doing the job that I do.” But for 57-year-old Andy, time in the director’s chair means time away from acting, which has long been his first love, and he’s adamant he is not planning on retiring from his career on screen any time soon. “I’m really enjoying directing, I love it and it sort of satisfies all the variants that I’ve gone off in during my career to explore. And even before I became an actor I was very much into painting and graphics and visual storytelling, so it really suits me, and I know I’m not going to stop acting. “I love acting and I will continue doing more acting. But with this journey the great thing is you can go from one to the other. I do love helming the whole thing and having the experiences of working with the entire crew and post production and visual effects and music and so on. “But equally I really enjoy just kind of shutting all of that out and getting inside the head of a character and playing.” It was particularly thrilling for Andy to dive into the world of a Marvel film because he had grown up with Spider-Man comics as a child, but drifted away from them in later life. “It was lovely to be able to dive back into that world,” he enthuses. “The world of graphic storytelling is something I’ve been interested in and, obviously, creating characters of these kinds, working with technology which allows you to bring these kinds of characters to life, I mean I felt very at home.” And as a fan, that must surely mean he wants what scores of Marvel fans want – the chance to see Venom and Spider-Man together on the big screen? “Well, I think everyone wants that,” he says with a grin. “I mean, who knows what will happen? We hope that one day they might come across each other, I guess...” ■ Venom: Let There Be Carnage is in in UK cinemas now.

www.birminghamlive.co.uk DuEl’s golD FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 35 FILMSTIME OUT Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock/ Venom Jodie comer shines brightest in this interesting – if a little overlong – historical drama the last duel (18) HHHII reViews by damon smith BASeD on true events documented in eric Jager’s 2004 book, Ridley Scott’s historical drama unfolds in bloated chapters from the perspectives of three main characters. each lengthy testimony is penned by a different writer, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Nicole Holofcener, who offer conflicting evidence about events leading to the sexual assault of a wife while her husband is away at war. The final chapter penned by Holofcener gives a voice to the abused heroine, played with gusto by Jodie Comer, culminating in a brilliantly staged showdown on horseback and foot that will decide her fate. If God guides her husband’s sword to victory in front of a baying crowd, she will be vindicated. If her spouse falls, her version of events will be declared untrue and she will be put to death too. Ben Affleck as Count Pierre d’Alencon halloween Kills (18) HHIII Picking up the action directly after the 2018 reboot of the Halloween franchise, three generations of Strode women – Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis), daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) – flee Laurie’s burning house with bogeyman Michael Myers trapped in the basement. They head to Memorial Hospital for emergency surgery on a stab wound to Laurie’s abdomen. Meanwhile, brave firemen Co-stars Damon and Adam Driver subtly alter their portrayals of feuding noblemen when they are the heroic narrator or supposed villain of a particular chapter. Repetition is a blessing and curse, sustaining interest as we scrutinise inconsistencies in each version of events but also testing our resolve as the running time trots, unnecessarily, over two and a half hours. In the wintry final days of 1386, knight Jean de Carrouges (Damon) and squire Jacques Le Gris (Driver) fight side-by-side under the banner of King Charles VI (Alex Lawther) but it is the latter who curries favour with Count Pierre d’Alencon (Ben Affleck) and secures a captaincy destined for Jean. To rub salt into fresh wounds, Jacques’ promotion includes land belonging to Sir Robert de Thibouville (Nathaniel Parker), which had been promised to Jean as part of the wedding dowry of his daughter Marguerite (Comer). Jean bears the scars of losing a inadvertently free Michael from the inferno and the monster continues his relentless pursuit of the Strodes. Tommy Doyle (Anthony Michael Hall), one of the kids that Laurie babysat in 1978, whips up residents into a frenzied mob. “Michael Myers has haunted this town for 40 years,” barks Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Adam Driver as Jacques LeGris and Matt Damon as Jean de Carrouges wife and child to the plague and he is under pressure from his waspish mother (Harriet Walter) to produce a male heir. “I did not have this problem with my first wife,” Jean cruelly snaps at Marguerite after his efforts between the sheets fail to produce the desired results. He canters off to war and returns to tearful Marguerite, who claims Jacques forced his way into their home and sexually assaulted her. According to medieval law, rape “is not a crime against a woman. It is a property crime against her man”. Thus, Jean seeks a judicial duel to the death with Jacques. The Last Duel cries out (unheard) for editor Claire Simpson to hack and slash the running time closer to two hours. Comer outshines Damon and Driver, who meet the gruelling physical demands of the battle sequences, directed with typical brio by Scott in a throwback to the limb-hacking fury of Gladiator. ■ In cinemas now Allyson, brandishing a shotgun. “Tonight, we hunt him down!” “It’s Halloween, everyone’s entitled to one good scare,” growls Leigh Brackett (Charles Cyphers), former sheriff of Haddonfield and now a security officer at Memorial Hospital, who lost his daughter Annie to the serial killer back in 1978. Alas, that promise of bloodcurdling thrills doesn’t apply to us because Halloween Kills neither shocks nor surprises. Let us pray that Halloween Ends, due for release in October 2022, is a declaration of intent. ■ In cinemas now Jodie Comer as Marguerite Venom: let there be carnage (15) HHIII There is eye-popping carnage in this Marvel Comics sequel. However, a barrage of dizzying digital effects coupled with a shortage of originality in action sequences condemns Venom: Let There Be Carnage to the realms of the distinctly average. Investigative journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) shares his body with Venom – a carnivorous extra- We buy any house! terrestrial parasite – which gifts him incredible powers. He visits imprisoned serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) before a planned execution. The inmate bites Eddie and part of Venom courses into the killer’s body, giving birth to the symbiote Carnage. Cletus agrees to work with Carnage to break out and eliminate Venom. Eddie must team up with Detective Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham) to eliminate this new threat. ■ In cinemas now WE BUY HOUSES FOR CASH Sell in days – or in your timescale No fees & no obligation Any condition or location NAPB approved & RICS regulated GET UP TO £30,000 CASH ADVANCE Call us FREE today for a cash offer available 24/7 0800 031 9071 goodhousemove.co.uk BEST PRICE PAID

36 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live DAYS OUT TIME Looking for some spooky famiLy fun this haLLoween? here’s Zoe Chamberlain’s round-up of events Halloween trails, walks and tours Witley Court, Worcestershire, and Kenilworth Castle English Heritage has joined forces with award winning author Cressida Cowell for some wizard family days out this October half team. The author’s bestselling Wizards of Once series is the inspiration for new Halloween trails at both Witley Court in Worcestershire and Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire from October 23-31. The challenges of Xar, a wizard boy with no magic, and Wish, a warrior girl with a magical secret, have inspired the English Heritage quests, created in partnership with Cressida. Young adventurers must discover clues, solve riddles, and find all the ingredients for a magical spell to get rid of witches – and successful explorers will be rewarded with a magical prize. Both historic properties will also open up late for an after-hours experiences. Families can enjoy a spooky woodland walk around Witley Court’s beautiful grounds from October 29-31. Ghost-hunters will tell tales of spooky and strange goings-on as they guide explorers. At Kenilworth Castle things will take a turn for the terrifying with evening Ghost Tours. Over-16s can join story-tellers from October 28-31 as they explore the most haunted corners of the castle. For full ticket details visit www. english-heritage.org. spooky science nigHt Thinktank, Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham Get ready for spooky scientists, witches and wizards. Families can take part in a zombie operation board game, dance the night away at the silent Zombie Disco and enjoy a trick or treat science show, where every choice leads to a delightful or disgusting experiment! Taking place on October 30, visitors are encouraged to dress up to be entered into a prize draw. There are also Halloween-themed drop-in activities at the science museum throughout half-term. gHoulisH gamesHow Cadbury World, Linden Rd, Birmingham Roll up for Freddo’s Ghoulish Gameshow where guests will be challenged to beat the clock in Count Dracula’s Conundrum, guess the answers in Freaky Fortunes and spot the mystery characters hiding in Spook Am I? with a chance to win prizes. There will be plenty of fangtastic fun around the Bournville attraction from October 16-31, and Cadbury World That’s the spiriT! younger guests are invited to get dressed up in spooky costumes to win more prizes. Look out for spooky treats in the Cadbury shop, too. All entertainment is included in the standard ticket price. torcHlit gHost tour Aston Hall, Trinity Rd, Birmingham Aston Hall is said to be one of Britain’s most haunted buildings. You can go on a Torchlit Ghost Tour to learn all about the hall’s intriguing past from October 22-24 plus or family-friendly ghost tours on October 28 and 29. On October 30 the museum will be transformed into Aston Hall’oween – a haunted mansion complete with a witch hunter, wise woman and an executioner. This event is better suited to adults and teens than little ones. tHe spooky swamp Somers Rd, Meriden, Coventry A new Spooky Swamp attraction is promising ‘‘a gateway to another world’’ set amongst the mysterious waterways at The Stonebridge Club in Meriden. Organisers say there will be giant installations, light shows and eerie storytelling at the outdoor event, which is suitable for all ages. There will also be a Pumpkin Parlour for carving and decorating, creepy face painting, a Glow Up Shop and a Food Village with bars and food from Digbeth Dining Club. Runs from October 22-31. pumpkin Flotilla Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Rd, Birmingham Sarehole Mill’s popular Pumpkin Flotilla returns from October 29-31. Take along your own decorated pumpkin to the mill and watch as the ghostly ferryman glides it across the mill pond. Enjoy hot chocolate and spooky stories and make a lantern to guide you round the pond. Family Spooky Mill Tours are also on offer featuring lantern making and a guided tour with ghost stories. spooky spectacular West Midland Safari Park, Spring Grove, Bewdley Safari park bosses are promising ‘‘hundreds of pumpkins’’ in the Pumpkin Patch this year. The park will also be brimming with Halloween decorations and plenty of spooky fun. You can meet the new pumpkin scarecrow character ‘Patch’ and join his spook-tastic activity trail whilst also enjoying the animals on the four-mile safari, the rides, the sea lion show and the African Village. Runs from October 22-31. tHe Haunted castle Warwick Castle Search the spooky mansion, navigate the Haunted Hollows and meet the famous Witches of Warwick to find Witley Court out which secret spells they are concocting in their cauldron this Halloween at Warwick Castle. The event is packed with ghosts, ghouls, wizards and witches telling their spooky tales and sharing some family-friendly frights in specially themed shows and activities. Uncover eerie experiences around every corner and explore the gruesome truths of history in the Horrible Histories Maze. Runs from October 23-31. gHost trains Severn Valley Railway, Comberton Place, Kidderminster Are your children brave enough to board the Severn Valley Railway Ghost Train? You make your way along the dark platform to find your reserved seats then, once on board, hold on tight as the train roars away, passing through haunted stations with spooky surprises around the bends and free Halloween goodie bags for the bravest kids. Runs from October 28-31.

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 37 OUT Thinktank Hatton Adventure World Severn Valley Railway PumPkin SPooktacular Hatton Adventure World, Dark Lane, Hatton Take a Bewitching Ride on a trailer, with some fun surprises along the way, pick your own free pumpkin (one per child) from the Pumpkin Patch, brave the Haunted House and be entertained at the Magic & Mayhem Illusion show. Hatton is home to 300 farm animals, including rare breeds, plus hundreds of guinea pigs in their very own village and every day visitors can meet the new arrivals. From October 23-31. cBeeBieS monSter Ball Alton Towers, Alton Alton Towers’ Scarefest is notoriously spooky, making it ideal for teenagers and adults. But little ones can enjoy some creepy fun that’s not too terrifying in CBeebies Land. Live shows include the CBeebies Monster Ball and the Freaky Fun Zone performances. Look out for spooky sights, music and street theatre, too. Runs from October 15-31. Boo at the Zoo Twycross Zoo, Atherstone There’s a singing pumpkin display, a Witchly Come Dancing event and a Finders Creepers trail to find spooky toys around the 100-acre zoo. You can also listen to some scary tales, go for broomstick training, watch a witches show and check out the Ghosts of Madagascar. Runs from October 23-31. halloween SPooktacular National Forest Adventure Farm, Tatenhill, Burton-on-Trent You can take the pumpkin wagon tractor ride to pick your own pumpkin from the patch for free. There’s also pumpkin carving, a Scare School and Broomstick Training to try, a Tragic Magic Show and a Ludicrous Laboratory to discover, plus all the usual fun of the farm. Runs on October 16-17 and 23-31. more treat than trick Drayton Manor, Mile Oak, Tamworth For a spooky day out that’s not too scary, head Warwick Castle over to Drayton Manor. There will be hay bales and pumpkins aplenty to discover as you enjoy over 100 rides and attractions, including Thomas Land, Adventure Cove, the 15-acre zoo, live entertainment and more. Runs from October 16-31. the Phantom of the oPera Town Hall, Birmingham Whether you know the tale of the Phantom or not, you’ll no doubt recognise the impressive organ flourishes that are associated with him! Town Hall is screening the 1925 classic silent film, with a spine chilling accompaniment from Donald MacKenzie, an organist renowned for his work at London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square. October 31, 8pm. halloween family rave Nightingales nightclub, Kent St, Birmingham Big Fish Little Fish is known for its raves that the whole family can attend. The music is played at a much more reasonable volume but the party vibe is never tempered – think confetti cannons and bubble machines! As well as spooky Halloween dancing fun, there will be spooky crafts, a big colouring-in mural, a Playdough table and a play area with tents and tunnels, as well as a chillout space for babies. You can get your face painted, too. Prepare to do the Monster Mash! October 31, 2pm to 4.30pm. outdoor cinema: hocuS PocuS Moseley Cricket Club, Solihull Witchessss! Does thou wish to watch the Sanderson Sisters on the big screen? Open Air Film and Chill is screening hit ‘90s Disney film. There’ll be hot food and drinks to warm you up but you can take your own snacks. There are toilets too. There are two screenings on October 31, one at 5pm and one at 8pm. The movie is PG. truth under SPotliGht in wellS twiSt When hG Wells published his classic sci-fi novel The War Of The Worlds back in 1898, it’s doubtful he would have imagined his work being performed on stage over a century later. But 123 years on, our fascination with Wells’ story shows no sign of abating. From the historic radio play by Orson Welles to Jeff Wayne’s 1978 concept album, along with numerous movie versions, TV series’, comic books, imagined sequels, and now a surprising live stage production by theatre company Rhum and Clay. For the latest twist on Wells’ tale, Rhum and Clay have called on herbert George Wells’ Victorian adventure and hollywood auteur Orson Welles’ legendary 1938 radio production – which famously had American listeners believing there’d been a real alien invasion of new Jersey – as well as making more contemporary references. “We like to take source material and do with it what we will. We thought this wonderful sci-fi, along with the reaction to the radio broadcast, was a beautiful combination to take and use as a metaphor for fake news and to put our own spin on it,” explains Rhum and Clay’s co-artistic director, Matthew Wells. “It’s almost a show about The War of the Worlds,” says Matthew’s fellow artistic director Julian Spooner, picking up the baton. “We use the broadcast to ask why we believed in stories, including of alien invasion, and take a through line to the run-up to the 2016 Presidential election in the United States.” Following acclaimed runs at London’s new Diorama Theatre and the edinburgh Festival in 2019, Rhum and Clay’s The War of the Worlds homes in on the here and now’s climate of disinformation, reinventing the story to make it feel fresh and relevant, while retaining all the suspense and mystery of the original. “We have confusion about what’s real and not real today,” observes Matthew. “The truth feels like it’s a matter of perspective rather than fact. Our version is about that line between truth and fiction.” n Rhum and Clay’s The War Of The Worlds runs until tomorrow at Warwick Arts Centre.

38 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live cOMEdy TIME OUT Nina’s locking lips FROM PAGE 29 been practising with those awful mannequins, and it was so end-ofthe-pier and saucy. I didn’t like it. ‘‘But then I remembered this monkey puppet that I stole off a mate, and I wondered if his mouth could move. I had to take some stuffing out and put my hand into his face, and then as soon as he started to talk, I thought ‘woah – everything you’re saying is coming from a wider place than my own head’. It was a really good feeling.” From there, Nina has created critically lauded shows that audiences have flocked to, such as Talk To The Hand and Dolly Mixtures, while her sidekick Monkey has become quite the cult figure. And still she is a lone vent figure in the modern comedy world, a fact that does surprise her. “I’m delighted to be out on my own, though I have a feeling that there’s one coming. I don’t actually think the ventriloquial aspect is my show’s best selling point. It’s a side Nina Conti issue that needs to be overcome given it still has a bad rap. ‘‘I don’t think people leave my shows thinking, ‘oh that was a good ventriloquist show’. I think you can forget it’s a ventriloquist show; I know I do, to the point where later I think, ‘oh, did I do the ventriloquist bits?’. I can get a bit carried away.” While there is a lot to love about Nina’s shows, the elaborate masks (which cover the bottom half of a person’s face so that the eyes are on display while Nina adds her voice to proceedings) have added a new dimension to her work. “We’ll probably be working with about 14 masks in total, as they have to fit the shape of the face or have their skin-tone, and be male or female. I have a macabre dungeon of faces hanging off a rack. It might look a bit S&M! ‘‘I just ordered a bunch of new ones that you can change by adding a moustache or painting the lips differently. The guy I use is a ventriloquist in the Philippines, and his masks are very robust. But they really have to be. It’s awful if they stop working halfway through because if that happens then the magic breaks.” Having solid and reliable masks solves one potential concern, but the element of risk remains given that Nina is keen to keep the work fresh and to make it as different as possible each and every night. She may have a structure in mind when stepping on stage, but working from a script is a strict no-no. And just to ramp up the risk factor even more, she’s even added a musical element to The Dating Show. ‘‘I’m putting songs in. I’m really bad at singing, but it’s funny when the date breaks into song. And it turns out that a bad song is better than no song!” ■ Nina’s at The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, on November 8. SHOWBUZZ ■ Iconic rocker BryaN adamS has won countless awards and has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide. The Canadian is coming to Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on May 14 to showcase his 15th studio album, So Happy It Hurts, set to be released in March. ■ There’s a star-studded cast for Fat FrieNdS - tHe muSical at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham in March. Lee Mead (Kevin) will be joined by Sherrie Hewson (Julia), Jessica Ellis (Kelly) and Les Dennis (Fergus) in Kay Mellor’s smash hit. ■ Four-time Grammy winner KeitH urBaN is coming to Birmingham on his first world tour in nearly three years. He’ll will kick off the UK leg at the O2 Academy on April 28. ■ Acclaimed US singer, cOurtNey marie aNdreWS plays Birmingham’s Hare and Hounds on Tuesday in support of her Grammy Awardnominated album Old Flowers. Be Winter ready save £5 When you spend £20 at Well pharmacy During the cold and flu season it’s important to be prepared for common health problems by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home. Well Pharmacy is offering £5 off £20 to help you restock those winter health essentials to help you feel better when you are affected by cold and flu. They can also provide advice about bigger pack sizes and stronger medicines that are only available in Pharmacies. Remember that your local Well Pharmacist can give you advice on your overall health and wellbeing, with no appointment necessary. We’ll tell you how to best take your medication, get protection from serious illness by getting the flu and pneumonia jab this winter plus offer free blood pressure checks. Find out more at well.co.uk. SAVE £5 WHEN YOU SPEND £20 AT WELL PHARMACY this voucher entitles the holder the £5 oFF a £20 spend at Well pharmacies. please present at till. valid in store only. Coupon terms and conditions: Valid until Wednesday 27th October. Coupon redeemable in Well Pharmacy stores only. not valid online. Minimum spend of £20 applies. One coupon per transaction. Not to be used in conjunction with any other coupon or voucher, Well colleague discount or in store event. Only original coupons are valid. No photocopies. Exemptions apply. All sales at the professional discretion of the pharmacist. Cannot be used against any purchase of prescriptions, vaccinations, paid for services or baby milk. Valid for one use only. Coupon not transferable. No change given. For full terms and conditions please visit well.co.uk

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 39 OPINION Tuchel needs to send message over jabs NO ONE disputes that Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel cannot compel his players to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but he can, and should, tell his squad members that failure to get the jab will mean he will not select them to play. Tuchel, of course, is right in that “the players are adults and have a free choice whether they want to get vaccinated or not”. But those players who have taken heed of the risks coronavirus poses, and have been vaccinated, are put at risk every time they play with or against those footballers who refuse to take the jab. Is this fair? Professional football involves intense physical activity, with players inhaling and exhaling to a far greater degree when playing than your average person (and presumably with a higher viral load, and hence a higher risk of infection) than those not engaged in sports activities. Players will sometimes perspire, expectorate, and come into very close physical contact with other players, particularly when tackling or celebrating a goal or a victory. This makes it grossly unfair on those players who have protected themselves, and others, from the risk of infection and they deserve better from their employer. Chelsea Football Club, like all other clubs, have a duty of care to their staff and the general public. Thomas Tuchel should reflect on this and show greater leadership and responsibility (which is what Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, has done, where most players have been vaccinated), instead of just shrugging his shoulders and saying, he can’t do anything about the situation. Perhaps the prospect of axing some non-vaccinated star players and having to field a weakened side is a factor in his stance. In which case, all the Premier League clubs should adopt a common approach and tell all the non-vaccinated players to do the sensible and considerate thing, and get a jab or lose their place in the team, thus ensuring that no teams are disadvantaged. All those footballers who have not yet been vaccinated should stop being selfish and have the jab. A lot of young people see Premier League stars as role models and they should set an example. Peter Henrick, Northfield NotIces Find the latest information on planning proposals, traffic notices, goods vehicle operator licences, licences to sell alcohol and probate notices, from page 45 PIctURe oF tHe DAY Canals at night, Gas Street Basin, by melodysurf, Flickr www.birminghammail.co.uk/flickr Blairs show why rich keep getting richer I WAS sad, rather than angry, to discover that Tony Blair and his wife Cherie did not have to pay more than £300,000 in stamp duty after purchasing a house in London, as leaked documents that were shared with the BBC’s Panorama programme revealed. Sad? Well, we are talking about a former Labour prime minister who represented a seat in the North East, where that sort of money could have stocked a foodbank for months and months. It is a truism, however, that the rich only get richer. Unfortunately, it is only ordinary people who cannot avoid paying tax. I should think it highly unlikely that there are any readers who could afford to buy a property by purchasing the offshore company that owned it, as the Blairs did in this case, although at least Mrs Blair has pointed out the sellers had insisted the building was sold in this way, but they had brought it under “I am so filled with emotion about what just happened, it’s extraordinary. Extraordinary. I hope I never recover from this. I hope I can maintain what I feel now.” Star Trek’s William Shatner makes history by becoming the oldest person in space at the age of 90 “It’s time for the Prime Minister to get off his sun lounger, be a statesman, put away the easel and make Glasgow the success we need it to be. This summit must succeed.” Ed Miliband urges Boris Johnson to treat TIME OUT Get in touch: Email letters@birminghammail.co.uk UK control. If it is sold, at least they will be liable for capital gains tax. Name and address supplied Our leaders happy to create tax loopholes FIRST, we had the Paradise Papers where our super-rich bought out their prosecutions. Now we have the Pandora Papers where once again we see those that sit in moral judgment of us, are up to the neck in dodgy and corrupt deals, that not only rob us of money but also of climate justice. They argue they haven’t broken the law. Didn’t we hear this at Nuremberg where the lawmakers sent millions to their deaths in the name of the law? What a sad indictment of our moral compass, but to be honest we knew it for years. Our leaders are no more than a bunch of crooks, who create tax loopholes and legal get-outs so they can cheat us and the country out of money while filling their boots. S T Vaughan, Yardley Wood QUotes OF THE DAY the Cop26 climate conference with the seriousness it deserves “I think sometimes women don’t get recognised for their achievements as much as they should.” Long distance swimmer Chloe McCardel, who has made history after crossing the English Channel for a record 44th time So where are the real positives about Brexit? I CAN’T find any plus points after the EU exit. Where, for goodness sake, are the promised advantages for leaving the EU? I hear of fishing issues, Northern Ireland, export, import, lack of care workers, fruit pickers, hospitality staff, now HGV drivers, etc, etc, negatives all. The only positive I’ve heard was the vaccine rollout for Covid, and guess what, the European Union has caught up, and given away 700 million doses to needy countries outside their sector. Now I know we’re out, and never going back, but please, can anyone give me a positive, because I can’t find one? Paul B Longbridge, by email The small print: Letters will not be included unless you include your name, full postal address and daytime telephone number (we prefer to use names of letter writers but you can ask for your name not to be published if you have a good reason). The Editor reserves the right to edit all letters. William Shatner LETTERS FROM THE ARCHIVES BLAST from the past From July 7, 1989 Carers do a crucial job LAST month was designated Carers Awareness Month by Birmingham City Council. The aim was to draw the attention of the public to the work done by many thousands of families who look after a disabled relative in the home. The Lord Mayor invited carers to join him in a special “thank you” lunch. There was an exhibition in the library and discussion groups were held throughout the city. As a carer of a severely disabled daughter, I was surprised therefore to find so little mention of the various activities of the council and of carers in the local press. I hope this is not a reflection of lack of interest or concern. Looking after someone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with few breaks, is an exhausting, lonely and often frustrating task. Carers do like to feel that their work is recognised. Mrs K M Barker, Edgbaston Thank-you means a lot IT was a wonderful idea for the Mayor of Birmingham to have given words of thanks to those who care for loved ones in their own homes. It is quite a hard role, but it is great when someone in his position takes a few minutes to say a word of gratitude to carers for caring for our loved ones. Mrs G Livermore, Smethwick Use your vote or lose it GOOD for Councillor Kevin McNamara, taking a stance on behalf of those who vote (Mail, June 29). It is time someone said it and none better than Cllr McNamara because his record as a councillor is second to none. He has always been there to sense the needs of the people of Frankley and after all his efforts it’s no wonder he is taking such a stand because of the low turnout on election day. The majority of people helped by him could not be bothered to vote. Well, if you don’t vote you should not be entitled to representation and neither should you moan about either councils or Government. It’s as simple as that. M Eggington, Frankley ORDER PHOTOS ■■If you want to order photographs from today’s Birmingham Mail or any classic images from our archives, please go online to reachphotosales.co.uk/Reach

40 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live PUzzlEs & sTars TIME Cryptic crossword Quick crossword Gogen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 9 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Stuck on today’s puzzle? Call 0905 789 4220 to hear individual clues or the full solution. Calls cost 80p per minute plus network extras. Service Provider: Spoke Ltd, helpline 0333 202 3390 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS 15/10/2021 Across: 1 Orbit; 4 Tremolo; 8 Calls in; 9 Exact; 10 Also; 11 Leave off; 13 Ogre; 14 Stay; 16 On the sly; 17 Firm; 20 Agree; 21 Outflow; 22 Looks at; 23 Hotly. Down: 1 Once and for all; 2 Bills; 3 Test; 4 Tender; 5 Enervate; 6 Oratory; 7 Out of harms way; 12 Creepers; 13 Ontario; 15 Almost; 18 Islet; 19 Etch. YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Across: 3 Patch; 9 Toiled; 10 Iodine; 11 Parts; 12 Otic; 15 Ethics; 17 Laments; 19 Cat; 20 Songs; 22 Steal; 24 Ether; 25 Regal; 27 Mug; 29 Round up; 32 Amulet; 34 Dole; 35 Rural; 37 Burden; 38 To boot; 39 Tenet. Insert letters to form the listed words, moving between adjacent cells horizontally, vertically or diagonally in any direction. Insert all the remaining letters of the alphabet (except Z) in the grid so all the listed words are spelt out in this way. 1 D Y X T C J O S R B P K E V A I L G U H ACROSS 7. Take exception to being made to go again (6) 8. Seem to take father aback with fruit (6) 10. 100 being tried in competition (7) 11. She is often heard at Christmas (5) 12. Suitable gift for a telephonist? (4) 13. Put the bits back in a bit of leather (5) 17. Social gathering for politicians (5) 18. One in the forefront becomes conceited (4) 22. Conduct bighead to 12 (5) 23. Determine to do the puzzle again? (7) 24. Slice of meat about right for the bar (6) 25. Intimidates hundreds of female relations! (6) ACROSS 3. Halts (5) 8. Worker in stone (5) 10. Circular coral reef (5) 11. Was victorious (3) 12. Mediterranean island (5) 13. Greedy person (7) 15. Brings up (5) 18. Rend (3) 19. Large wasp (6) 21. In name only (7) 22. Cure (4) 23. Abominably wicked (4) 24. Tuneful (7) 26. Counting frame (6) 29. Container (3) 31. Flier (5) 32. Without end (7) 34. Spring over (5) 35. Harden (3) 36. Brimless cap (5) 37. Garden flower (5) 38. Amphibians (5) DOWN 1. In favour of remedy to obtain (7) 2. Idiotic, like 19 perhaps (7) 3. The rage of the executioner who lost his head? (5) 4. This place is made distinctive (7) 5. It beats living! (5) 6. Training exercise at the dentist’s? (5) 9. Remain round teacher as laid down by law (9) 14. Gives passage to the crew (7) 15. Figurehead, not at all well, exhibits a foible (7) 16. How a poet writes back to front? (7) 19. Sailor may employ invective (5) 20. Journal indicates raid is up to youth leader (5) 21. Not the final, polished literary production? (5) DOWN 1. Wails (5) 2. Regulate (7) 4. Mountain lake (4) 5. Guard’s round (6) 6. Guide (5) 7. Stare angrily (5) 9. Former French coin (3) 12. Abundant (7) 14. Mr Robbins, actor (3) 16. Blacksmith’s block (5) 17. Precipitous (5) 19. French bean (7) 20. Inexpensive (5) 21. Of the nose (5) 23. Girl’s name (7) 24. Change in form (6) 25. Vehicle (3) 27. Bathroom fitting (5) 28. Group of witches (5) 30. Discourage (5) 32. Level (4) 33. Animal doctor (3) Down: 1 Stool; 2 Minim; 3 Pep; 4 Adapts; 5 Cite; 6 Hostage; 7 Mimic; 8 Feast; 13 Tantrum; 14 Cedar; 16 Careful; 18 Solar; 21 Stand; 23 Leveret; 26 Locate; 27 Maybe; 28 Guard; 30 Donor; 31 Pests; 33 Tune; 36 Lot. M N Q F W CREST DOES ELM FUEL INQUEST JOKING MILKS POST POXY QUART VERB WHARVES A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y 2 Y D A K C J T V R B H E Q O X Codeword This puzzle has no clues. Instead, every number printed in the grid represents a letter, with the same number always representing the same letter. For example, if 8 turns out to be a V, you can write in V wherever a square contains 8. Using your knowledge of words, complete the puzzle. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Y 21 22 23 24 25 26 N Need a little help getting started? Then call 0901 293 6261 to hear four random extra letter clues. Or text CODE and send to 64343 to receive 4 clues. Calls and texts cost £1 plus any network extras. Service Provider: Spoke Ltd, helpline 0333 202 3390 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 C Q I M S X D Z T R W Y K 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 G N B P E F U V O L J H A Split Decision Cross out one of the two letters in each divided square to reveal a completed crossword grid. T P I Y C R D K S Y P U W N G G R E F L A M S F O L N E M I O L M N O X F I D V ARK BOX BRAVE BROW CROQUET DATE EQUINOX FLING JET MUSING SPEWING SUETY VOWS S F I A T F A T Y R A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y I L YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS S T U M P I R L Z E B R A E A N D E N S E YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS J A C K Y S P L O F X Q U V R T E B I M D H G N W W J N R B H T U Q M S I D A C K X L E V Y P O G F

www.birminghamlive.co.uk ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 41 OUT LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO In association with teamdogs.co.uk SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES Sudoku 8 1 9 2 9 7 4 7 1 5 9 4 6 5 3 8 5 8 7 9 2 9 5 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box. EASY 7 1 2 9 6 9 5 1 1 5 8 6 2 9 6 9 6 8 5 8 7 1 4 3 2 1 8 2 YESTERDAY’S SUDOKU: Easy Circlegram Niner 2 6 5 9 4 7 3 1 8 7 8 2 4 9 6 5 3 1 6 7 9 1 2 4 8 5 3 1 4 3 7 3 7 4 1 9 8 8 1 2 6 3 5 9 5 6 2 7 4 1 3 9 5 4 6 7 2 5 3 8 1 4 6 8 7 2 9 2 4 1 8 5 3 5 8 3 9 6 7 6 9 7 4 1 2 YESTERDAY’S SUDOKU: Hard 6 8 3 6 9 1 4 5 2 7 4 5 1 7 8 3 2 6 9 1 9 8 6 7 5 3 4 2 HARD 1 6 2 3 7 7 5 2 4 9 1 6 8 3 5 2 7 9 4 1 3 8 6 8 6 9 7 3 2 2 1 5 9 6 4 4 3 7 1 5 8 5 7 6 2 4 3 3 2 4 8 1 9 1 9 8 6 7 5 Replace the question mark with a letter so that the letters within the circle can be rearranged to form words with a common theme. What are the three words, and the letter represented by the question mark? D R O U O E N S ? E K C C T I S O YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS The letter represented by the question mark is S. Ben Nevis, Skiddaw, Snowdon, all British mountains. Alphamuddle Wordsquare Rearrange the letters in the top grid to make five words that read both across and down. Five letters have been placed in the bottom grid to start you off. T A N O O R S E T R O N B R E S S E N O N A R ARIES ARIES SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES RUSSELL GRANT LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO ARIES TAURUS GEMINI LEO LEO CANCER VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SCORPIO VIRGO LIBRA arIEs March 21–April 20 SAGITTARIUS SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES Fight the temptation to do everything on CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO TAURUS GEMINI CANCER ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS (80p/min PISCES + network TaUrUs April 21-May 21 GEMINI May 22-June 21 caNcEr June 22-July 23 lEo July 24-Aug 23 scorPIo Oct 24-Nov22 SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO (80p/min + network (80p/min + network LEO VIRGO LIBRA access SCORPIO charge) For more call 0905 789 4278 access charge) LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO SAGITTARIUS LIBRA CAPRICORN SCORPIO AQUARIUS PISCES LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES Scan from SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN LEO AQUARIUS VIRGO SAGITTARIUS PISCES LIBRA CAPRICORN SCORPIO AQUARIUS DINGBATS®, PISCES 2009: vector trace ARIES you, TAURUS they DINGBATS® need GEMINI 1987 to realise CANCER you have needs SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES DINGBATS® original logotype, 1987 game board ARIES N D R U I R I N S U N C L ARIES I S L A D E E M R N D A D R ARIES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER TAURUS GEMINI CANCER TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO ARIES LIBRA TAURUS SCORPIO GEMINI CANCER ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO LIBRA SCORPIO VIRGO D E E M S LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN LEO AQUARIUS VIRGO PISCES LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER see there are other options available. SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER F ind as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must use the central letter and at least 3 others, and letters may be used only once. You cannot use plurals, foreign words or proper nouns, but verb forms ending in ‘s’ are permitted. There is one 9-letter word to be found. SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN LEO AQUARIUS VIRGO PISCES LIBRA SCORPIO G T T N E R ARIES Y I I HOW YOU RATE 15 Good; 20 Very Good; 25 Excellent. YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS GROVELLED delve, dove, drove, ever, glove, gloved, glover, grove, grovel, level, lever, love, loved, lover, over, revel, rove, roved, veer, verge. Each number from 1 to 9 represents a different letter. Solve the clues and insert the letters in the appropriate squares to discover a word which uses all nine letters. 5499178 gives a Mexican dish; 562626 gives a fruit; 3838247 gives a fruit. YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION: MAVERICKS YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters. DINGBATS® iPhone logotype, 2009 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION: Telephone number THINGBATS logotype, 1999(?) SAGITTARIUS SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN CAPRICORN AQUARIUS AQUARIUS PISCES PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER lIBra Sept 24–Oct 23 LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER saGITTarIUs Nov 23-Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN LEO AQUARIUS VIRGO PISCES LIBRA SCORPIO G=0 G=0 (80p/min + network (80p/min + network For B=0more call 0905 B=0 789 4273 access charge) For more call 0905 789 4279 access charge) LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER TAURUS GEMINI CANCER SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES DINGBATS® SAGITTARIUS Red CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER ARIES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER and LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO LEOholding you VIRGO back. 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42 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 43 Love all things alien and can’t get enough of a good conspiracy theory? Spaced Out brings you the kind of mad stories that are quite literally out of this world. Visit www.dailystar.co.uk/spacedout or scan the QR code for a great big dose of intergalactic fun.

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www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 45 ESPOSITO Maria Carmela Sadly passed away on 5th October 2021 aged 90 years. Maria will be sadly missed by her son Giovanni, daughter in law Debbie, her 3 grand children Joseph, Harry and Grace, and by everybody who knew her. The Service will be taking place on Friday 22nd October 2021 at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Rednal at 10:30am followed by interment at Kings Norton Cemetery at 12:00noon Donations can be made directly to Cancer Research or Dementia UK JENNINGS Christopher Passed away on 23rd September 2021, age 48 years. Very much loved Dad to Arlo, Brother to Edward and Son to Glenis and Glenn. We will love you and miss you forever so rest in peace my lovely. Funeral to be held at Lodge Hill Crematorium on 29th October 2021 at 13:45. Flowers or donations to Macmillan Nurses. NEVIN MARGARET MAY Passed away on 26th September, aged 78 years. A loving Mother and Grandmother who will be dearly missed by all her family. Funeral Service to take place on 26th October All Saints Church, Kings Heath at 11:15. Family flowers only, Donations in memory of Margaret can be made on the day Kindly to DISC- Dementia Information and Support for Carers. Forward thinking Birmingham. Enquiries to Co op Funeral Home Stirchley 01214585151 O'CONNOR Bridget Carmel Passed away peacefully at home on 4th October 2021. Wife of the late Denis. Dearly loved Mother of Mark & Stephen. A cherished Grandmother to Leighton & Lola Rae. Beloved Sister of Mary, Nuala, Sheila, Frank, Malachy, Paddy, Charlie, & the late Michael, Thomas & Olive. She will be sadly missed by her Nieces & Nephews & all her family & friends. Reception into Holy Souls Church. Acocks Green will be on Sunday 24th October at 6pm. Requiem Mass will take place Monday 25th October at 11.30am followed by interment at Widney Manor Cemetery for 1pm. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu for The British Heart Foundation c/o C. Bastock Ltd. 67-71 Warwick Road. Olton. B92 7HP Requiescat In Pace RICHARDSON Audrey Sadly passed away on 11/09/21 at Good Hope Hospital, aged 93 years. Devoted wife of the late George Richardson and beloved Aunt and Great Aunt. Funeral service to take place at Emmanuel Church Wylde Green, on 22/10/21 at 11.45am. Donations if desired can be made direct to PDSA. All enquiries to A Hazel & Sons, Tel: 01213542145 STOTT, MBE. Eric Arthur of Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, died peacefully at the age of 99, on 29th September 2021. The cremation will be held on 19th October 2021 at Sandwell Valley Crematorium at 2.30pm followed by a funeral service at 3.30pm at Four Oaks Methodist Church, Sutton Coldfield. No flowers, donations in aid of West Bromwich YMCA can be made online at ianhazelfunerals.co.uk/ donate-in-memory/ THUNDER Ann Our dearly beloved mother/ grandmother/ great grandmother sadly passed away 30/9/21. She will be greatly missed by all. WALKER David Anthony Passed away peacefully in the QE Hospital on 2nd October 2021 aged 85 years. Much loved husband to the late Patricia Walker, he will be sadly missed by daughters Alison and Helen, sons in law Steve and Joe, grandchildren Laura, Lucy and David, Emily and Ollie, Sophie, Sean and Sam and great grandchildren Oscar and Daisy. Funeral Service at Redditch Crematorium on 26th October at 2.45pm and after at Alvechurch Cricket Club. Family flowers only but donations may be gifted on the day or directly to Cancer Research UK. We all loved him very much, a lovely gentleman to the end. funeral-notices.co.uk Announce, share and remember forever Funeral Notice Partners The following Funeral Directors have chosen funeral-notices.co.uk to provide notices on their website meaning you may view their current and past notices on their own websites. Check out your local Funeral Notice Partners below: Visit: cbastock.co.uk Visit: franklinfunerals.co.uk Visit: jacksonfunerals.co.uk Visit: jukesfuneralservices.com Visit: stephenandphilippainter.com Interested in becoming a preferred partner to funeral notices? Funeral Directors can be added free to this advert by calling 03444 060 276 McTIERNAN Carole Ann 13 years since we said goodbye. You are still missed by all those whose lives you touched. Especially by your husband Tony, your children and grandchildren. WHITE Anthony John A memorial gathering will be held for Tony White at Cambridge Road Methodist Church, Moseley on Friday 29th October at 2.30pm followed by light refreshments.

46 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live Classified LOCAL GARDENER • All Aspects of gardening work undertaken • Winter tidy ups • Regular maintenance • Pressure washing • Fencing • One off jobs • Excellent plant knowledge • Plants supplied & planted in your garden Affordable, reliable & friendly. 7 Days 07514 415 639 WANTED ALL TYPES VINTAGE TOOLS AS WELL AS MORE MODERN PIECES. TOP PRICES PAID FOR TOOLS & MACHINERY FROM PATTERNMAKERS CABINET MAKERS & CARPENTERS ENGINEERING & TOOLMAKERS, VEHICLE MECHANICS. GARAGES & WORKSHOPS CLEARED. Interested in all types of Planes, Wood Chisels, Engineers Measuring Tools, & Much More. Will buy full collections. Distance no object Genuine Collector & Restorer of Tools. Call Barry. Tel: 07943 336011 or 0121 3822535 or 07854419853 WANTED WANTED FOR CASH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MOTORCYCLES AND MOPEDS ANY CONDITION ANY AGE ANY SIZE BIG OR SMALL. RUSTY OR NEW. RUNNING OR NOT. OLD MOTOR SCOOTERS OLD MOTORCYCLE PARTS OLD RACING BIKES OLD ADVERTISING AND ROAD SIGNS SPEEDY COLLECTION AND FAIR PRICE PAID O779O168224 O7790168224 TOY POODLE PUPPY White and apricot male, 10 weeks old, fully vaccinated, micro chipped and puppy pack. 5 generation pedigree. Ready now. £950 01543 685918 WANTED old beer labels high price paid for prewar beer bottle label collections or printers sample books containing labels tel 07887 555826 or email dmacbrew@ brewinsden.com WANTED Mobility scooters All models any condition. Instant cash payments on the day daily collections. Also wheel chair access vehicles purchased all makes urgently needed will pay up to ££££££££ 07768362853 WANTED CARAVANS cash paid any age, any size, any caravan considered 07785567739 Stairlift Straight reconditioned stairlifts available from £699 fitted with a years warranty. Brand new straight stairlifts available from £1400 with 3 years warranty. Brand new curved stairlifts priced on quotation. Call now for a FREE quote. All secondhand lifts are reconditioned to a high standard and fitted with new batteries. Installed by a qualified stairlift engineer with over 15 years experience. £699 07388508148 VINYL RECORDS WANTED ROCK/INDIE/PUNK/SOUL/ REGGAE/PSYCH LP'S/7" SINGLES/EP'S FANTASTIC CASH PRICES PAID £750 07780360187 Entertainment MEASHAM CAR BOOT OPEN EVERY SUNDAY OPEN FROM 6AM Masks must be worn until 7.15am. Find us off Bosworth Road, Mesaham DE12 7HA. *********************************************** For full details see Facebook Meashamcarboot Tel Tara or Mick 07747 052878 bargains_from_yesteryear Coleshill Town Hall B46 3BG Antiques, Collectors & Vintage Market Normal Opening Times 9:30am - 4pm Saturday 16th October Enquiries 01827 895 899 FREE Parking Opposite Adult admission £1 Refreshments available Services Roofs ‘R’ Us THE PROFESSIONAL ROOFING COMPANY ROOFING SERVICES, GUTTERING SERVICES, FLAT ROOFING TILED ROOFING CHIMNEY REPOINTING NEW ROOFS RE-TILING RIDGES REPAIRS UPVC FASCIAS & SOFFITS DOWNPIPES REPLACED LEAKS REPAIRED GUTTERS CLEARED GUTTER CLEANING GUTTERING CLEANED FROM £20.00 ALL WORK GUARANTEED CALL FOR FREE QUOTES & ADVICE Office: 0121 608 0902 | Direct: 07954 585531 ROOF REPAIR SERVICE ROOF REPAIRS FROM £30 GUTTERING CLEANED FROM £20 NEW ROOFS FROM £2500 Flat Roof Specialists Small Jobs Welcome Vetted by Age Concern Birmingham 07956 228842 / 01216 042 104 Mike Clarke Re-Upholstery 1350 Stratford Road, Hall Green Give your furniture a new lease of life! From chairs to 3 piece suites * All work Guaranteed * Tel: 0121 702 2290 RUBBISH REMOVALS Garden & House Clearances CHEAPER THAN A SKIP “We load, clean up, we go” Registered Waste Carriers Reg No. CBUM3386MT Free No Obligation Quotation Freephone 0800 955 2923 Mob 07882 771120

www.birminghamlive.co.uk Services Motors FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 47 Public Notices Your TV Reception Fixed Today! Bad Reception? No Signal? Picture Freezing? Friendly local fully insured engineers in your area today - Call now! Aerial & Satellite Specialists Free Estimates - TV Wall Hanging 0121 817 2079 07868 809 796 Birmingham Aerial & Satellite Property MJ RECOVERY LTD ALL SCRAP VEHICLES WANTED WE PAY UP TO £500 Up to £25,000 paid for runners BIGGER CARS = MORE CASH! 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Please call. 07871589141 BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 (AS AMENDED) SECTION 14(2) (KENT STREET ETC, BORDESLEY & HIGHGATE) (T2122351) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC) ORDER 2021 NOTICE is hereby given that Birmingham City Council have made an Order the effect of which will be to prohibit any vehicle to proceed along Bromsgrove Street (Gooch Street North to Bristol Street) one way traffic southwest bound Bromsgrove Street (Bristol Street to Gooch Street North) one way traffic north east bound Gooch Street North (Bromsgrove Street to Kent Street) one way traffic south east bound Henstead Street, whole length Kent Street (Wrentham Street to Gooch Street North) cycle track closure The temporary Order is required to facilitate the building construction works in safety. An alternative route for vehicles affected by this Order will be signed on site. Access to frontages will be maintained as necessary. These prohibitions shall apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs prescribed by The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. The Order will come into operation on Monday 18th October 2021 and will remain in force for a period of 18 months or until the works are completed whichever is the earlier. Dated 15th day of October 2021 Phil Edwards, Assistant Director – Transport & Connectivity, Inclusive Growth Directorate, Birmingham City Council, 1 Lancaster Circus Queensway, PO Box 14439, Birmingham, B2 2JE (Sat Nav B4 7DJ) www.birmingham.gov.uk BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 (AS AMENDED) SECTION 14(2) (HIGH STREET ETC, LADYWOOD) (T2122342) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC) ORDER 2021 NOTICE is hereby given that Birmingham City Council have made an Order the effect of which will be to prohibit any vehicle to proceed along High Street (Carrs Lane to New Street), New Street (whole length), Temple Street (whole length), Bennetts Hill (New Street to Waterloo Street), Colmore Row (Bennetts Hill to Waterloo Street), Waterloo Street (Colmore Row to Bennetts Hill), Victoria Square (whole area), Lower Temple Street (whole length), Ethel Street (whole length), Hill Street (Swallow Street to Victoria Square), Chamberlain Square (whole area), Cannon Street (Fore Street to New Street), Temple Passage (whole length), Union Street (Union Passage to High Street) The temporary Order is required to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure to ensure pedestrian safety whilst a street market takes place and to facilitate the construction and removal of market infrastructure. An alternative route for vehicles affected by this Order will be signed on site. Access to frontages will be maintained as necessary. These prohibitions shall apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs prescribed by The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. The Order will come into operation on Saturday 23rd October 2021 and will remain in force for a period of 20 weeks or until the works are completed whichever is the earlier. Dated 15th day of October 2021 Phil Edwards, Assistant Director – Transport & Connectivity, Inclusive Growth Directorate, Birmingham City Council, 1 Lancaster Circus Queensway, PO Box 14439, Birmingham, B2 2JE (Sat Nav B4 7DJ) www.birmingham.gov.uk BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 (AS AMENDED) SECTION 14(2) (KRYWICKS LANE, SPARKBROOK & BALSALL HEATH EAST) (T2122355) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC) ORDER 2021 NOTICE is hereby given that Birmingham City Council have made an Order the effect of which will be to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding in either direction along KRYWICKS LANE, SPARKBROOK & BALSALL HEATH EAST from the roundabout with Oughton Road to its junction with Auckland Road. The Temporary Order is required to enable utility works to be carried out in safety. An alternative route for traffic will be signposted accordingly. These prohibitions shall apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs prescribed by The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. The Order will come into operation on 16th October 2021 and will remain in force for a period of SIX WEEKS or until the works are completed whichever is the earlier. Dated 15th day of October 2021 Phil Edwards, Assistant Director – Transportation & Connectivity, Economy Directorate, Birmingham City Council, 1 Lancaster Circus Queensway, PO Box 14439, Birmingham, B2 2JE (Sat Nav B4 7DJ) www.birmingham.gov.uk

48 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live NEw LadIES NOw avaILabLE Paris Independent British mixed race beauty! Come into my bubble and relax for a while AvAilAble every FridAy b90 till lAte. AlternAte SundAy Solihull b90 eArly evening And birminghAm b1 eArly evening. oFFering A no ruShed mASSAge Service with A Smile! Call 07733475408 www.xratedparisescort.co.uk Now opeN all weekeNd # OKBEAUTYBOX UK Events National Holidays is part of the JG Travel Group and is a leading specialist in great-value coach holidays across the UK, Ireland and Europe. THE OK! BEAUTY BOX ONLY £7.50* Free P&P WORTH MORE THAN £90, GET YOUR FIRST BOX HALF PRICE AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR JUST £7.50* HYDRATION DURHAM LUMIERE & YORK CHRISTMAS MARKET 2 DAYS BY COACH ONLY £79 Departing Sat 20 Nov ‘21 Brighten up those winter nights during our short break to Durham Lumiere. With the city’s streets and iconic landmarks illuminated with dazzling installations, this annual event is not to be missed. There’s even time to explore York Christmas Market too! What’s Included z Return coach travel from Birmingham & Solihull z Overnight stay at a selected 3-star hotel in the North East area with breakfast z Included visits to Durham Lumiere & York Christmas Market Single Supplement £15 Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd trading as National Holidays. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to National Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. Call 03332 342 515 (quoting RCH) or visit nationalholidays.com/RCH 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE TODAY AT OKBEAUTYBOX.CO.UK *£7.50 offer is only available to new customers. OK! Beauty Box subscription is £15 per month thereafter. Brought to you by

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 49 www.birminghamlive.co.uk Calscost65pperminplusyourtelephonecompany’snetworkaccesscharge.18+only. SP:Spoke.Helpline:03332023390 OFFICIALHORSERACING COMMENTARY AND RESULTS Cal09016094248 Get everything you need to know about where you live with our app or via InYourArea.co.uk Racing FAKENHAM TODAY Going: Good Italian Spirit 1.38 Italian Spirit Howdyalikemenow 2.13 Auditoria Eaglehill 2.48 Go Millie Go Midnight Jewel 3.23 Midnight Jewel Rocky’s Treasure 3.58 Minella Encore Welland 4.33 Soldier On Parade 1.38 CHAMPIONS DAY ON SKY SPORTS RACING MAIDEN HURDLE ((4) 2m 4f Winner £4,357 (6 run) SSR 1 5 Dellboy Trotter (20) Tracey Leeson 5 11-4......... T Buckley (5) — 2 06 Grenadier Guard (10) D Shaw 5 11-4............................ J Best 47 3 14- Italian Spirit (202) O Murphy 5 11-4....................... A Coleman 119 4 337 Storm Arcadio (31) L Horsfall 5 11-4..............S Twiston-Davies 113 5 232 Loved Out (18) E Williams 4 11-2 (BF)........................... A Wedge 137 6 46 City Escape S Humphrey 4 10-9.............................. N Scholfield 58 BETTING: Evens Loved Out, 11-8 Italian Spirit, 14 Storm Arcadio, Dellboy Trotter, 20 City Escape, 50 Grenadier Guard. 2020: No corresponding race. FORM GUIDE: LOVED OUT 11-8fav Led, ridden and headed 2 out, not much room before last, held flat, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Flammarion at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep. ITALIAN SPIRIT 11-2 Towards rear, headway before 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 12l behind Lord Baddesley at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar. DELLBOY TROTTER 16-1 Held up behind leaders, outpaced over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression, 5th of 8, 11l behind Hillfinch at Market Rasen 2m 1f cond NH flat (5) gd in Sep. STORM ARCADIO 5-1 Chased winner until before 2 out, soon weakened, last of 7, well behind Jakamani at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Sep. CITY ESCAPE 50-1 Held up, outpaced and ridden after 4 out, never a factor, 6th of 8, well behind Galata Bridge at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep. GRENADIER GUARD 250-1 Pushed along in last, mistake 1st, soon ridden, always behind, last of 6, well behind Argonauta at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd. 2.13 NOVICES’ HURDLE (GBB RACE) (4) 2m Winner £4,225 (4 run) SSR 1 8U6 Blue Ribbon (17) Dr R Newland 6 11-5 (D).......S Twiston-Davies 129 2 2-1 Howdyalikemenow (11) E Williams 5 11-5 (D).......... A Wedge 132 3 4P- Jack Ryan J Ryan 4 10-11...........................................T P Queally — 4 22- Auditoria (176) O Murphy 4 10-4.............................. A Coleman 149 BETTING: Evens Howdyalikemenow, 9-4 Auditoria, 4 Blue Ribbon, 12 Jack Ryan. 2020: CORMIER 4 11 4, Danny Cook Evens Fav (B Ellison), 10 ran. FORM GUIDE: HOWDYALIKEMENOW 5-4fav Raced in 2nd, took it up after the 4th, increased tempo before 3 out, clear last, easily, won at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Jay Jay Reilly by 14l, 9 ran. AUDITORIA 6-1 Held up, took closer order 3 out, ridden along before last, stayed on to go second flat, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Coolkill at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr. BLUE RIBBON 8-1 Raced on inside, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 35l behind Jamacho at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Sep. JACK RYAN 14-1 In touch, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up approaching last, in a race won by Can’t Stop Now at Fakenham 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Nov, 8 ran. 2.48 HANDICAP CHASE (GBB RACE) (3) 3m Winner £6,045 (4 run) SSR 1 -64 The Golden Rebel (32) B Case 7 11-8 (BF, D)... Mr J Andrews (5) 143 2 23- Go Millie Go (183) S Edmunds 8 11-5........................ C Gethings — 3 1P- Eaglehill (184) O Murphy 7 11-2 (D)......................... A Coleman 137 4 P44 Lord Schnapps (26) Dr R Newland 8 10-3.......S Twiston-Davies 144 BETTING: 6-4 Go Millie Go, 9-4 Eaglehill, 3 The Golden Rebel, 7 Lord Schnapps. 2020: No corresponding race. FORM GUIDE: GO MILLIE GO 7-2 Led, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Martello Sky at Cheltenham 2m 4f mares listed nov hdl (1) gd in Apr. EAGLEHILL 5-2 In rear after the 6th, not fluent 7th and 9th, pulled up after the 11th, in a race won by Jersey Bean at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 5 ran. THE GOLDEN REBEL 3-1fav Chased leaders, mistake 4th, went 2nd 5th until before 6th where not fluent, went 2nd 8th until 3 out, no impression on winner last, one pace, 4th of 5, 6l behind Jemima P at Worcester 2m 4f Novice Limited Handicap Chase (4yo+) (3) gd in Sep. LORD SCHNAPPS 11-1 Held up, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, made no impression, 4th of 5, 37l behind Away For Slates at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Sep. 3.23 NOVICES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (5) 2m 4f Winner £3,050 (6 run) SSR 1 1-P Maliboo (151) N Mulholland 8 11-12 (D)...........S Twiston-Davies 112 2 9-9 Balkardy (158) E Williams 4 11-10 (BF)........................ A Wedge 115 3 -P1 Jumping Cats (14) G L Moore 6 11-9......................Jamie Moore 111 4 411 Midnight Jewel (10) C Longsdon 5 11-0 (D).......... T Buckley (5) 111 5 0P- Tigray M Appleby 5 10-7......................................... C Hammond — 6 047 Wendreda (10) Mrs I G-Leveque 4 10-0.................... Page Fuller 87 BETTING: 5-4 Midnight Jewel, 15-8 Jumping Cats, 7 Maliboo, 8 Balkardy, 12 Tigray, 50 Wendreda. 2020: No corresponding race. 3.58 DOWNLOAD THE AT THE RACES APP HANDICAP CHASE (3) 3m Winner £7,368 (4 run) SSR 1 8-P Rocky’s Treasure (163) K Bailey 10 11-12 (CD)...............D Bass 145 2 P8- Larry (174) G L Moore 8 11-5...................................Jamie Moore 131 3 58- Minella Encore (203) Dr R Newland 9 10-12 (D)....................... ..........................................................................S Twiston-Davies 137 4 415 Canyon City (8) N King 8 10-11 (C2)..............................J Quinlan 142 BETTING: 7-4 Larry, 9-4 Rocky’s Treasure, 7-2 Canyon City, 4 Minella Encore. 2020: SIR JACK YEATS 9 10 9, James Bowen 4-1 JtFav (R Spencer), 9 ran. FORM GUIDE: LARRY 33-1 Held up towards rear, bad mistake 2nd, good headway out wide before 3 out, run flattened out and weakened soon after, 8th of 16, 17l behind Potterman at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr. ROCKY’S TREASURE 16-1 Led, not fluent 6th, pressed 13th, disputed lead 14th, headed and weakened after the 15th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Christmas In April at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May, 8 ran. CANYON CITY 5-1 Held up last, gained a place at 4th, pushed along and outpaced before 11th, struggling and no chance after next, 5th of 6, 17l behind Wigglesworth at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs. MINELLA ENCORE 13-2 Led early, in touch in mid-division, struggling 13th, well beaten 5 out, 8th of 10, 25l behind Mac Tottie at Newbury 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar. 4.33 ATTHERACES.COM/ASCOT HANDICAP HURDLE (4) 2m 4f Winner £3,867 (6 run) SSR 1 434 Voice Of Hope (17) M Young 4 11-11 (D)............................ J Best 121 2 26- Welland (290) Mrs P Sly 8 11-8 (C)......................Paul O’Brien (3) 98 3 532 Soldier On Parade (17) A Murphy 4 11-6..................J Quinlan 125 4 P73 Envol De La Cour (17) M Scudamore 7 11-4 (D).....T Scudamore 126 5 523 Cremant (55) N Mulholland 7 11-3...................S Twiston-Davies 122 6 -46 The Knot Is Tied (20) N King 6 11-0............................... D Jacob 123 BETTING: 3 Soldier On Parade, 7-2 Cremant, 4 Welland, 5 Voice Of Hope, Envol De La Cour, 7 The Knot Is Tied. 2020: CARYS’ COMMODITY 5 11 12, Jonjo O’Neill Jr 4-1 Fav (Jonjo O’Neill), 13 ran. FORM GUIDE: SOLDIER ON PARADE 14-1 Led, ridden 2 out, pressed and headed well before last, kept on, no extra, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Just Call Me Al at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Sep. CREMANT 10-3 Held up in last trio, good headway before 4 out, 3rd going well after next, 2nd before 2 out where every chance, ridden and found no extra before the last, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Shinobi at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Aug. WELLAND 9-2 Prominent, ridden and lost place bypassing 3 out, weakened before bypassed 2 out, 6th of 8, 20l behind Percy Pops at Doncaster 2m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec. CAPTAIN BECHER THE MARQUIS HAYDOCK TODAY UTTOXETER TODAY Going: Soft-good to soft in places Draw: In 5f & 6f races on soft ground high numbers have an advantage. Going: Good Suanni 1.15 Suanni Noteable (nap) 1.45 Sky Blue Pink Beyond Equal 2.20 tHaler Mythical Dancer 2.55 Ravenswing Magisterial 3.30 Magisterial Bake 4.05 Ffion Magic Warrior 4.40 Dukedom Wynford 5.10 Whitehaven Anyharminasking 1.55 Anyharminasking Lord Accord 2.30 Dog Of War Bannixtown Glory 3.05 Jarveys Plate No No Maestro 3.40 No No Maestro Orchard Grove 4.15 Orchard Grove Dooyork 4.50 Lady Excalibur 1.15 CASUMO BET 10 GET 10 NURSERY (5) (2-Y-O) 5f Winner £3,996 (11 run) RTV 1 (3) 428 He’s A Gentleman (106) T Dascombe 9-10........R Kingscote 47 2 (9) 341 Suanni (18) Darryll Holland 9-10..............................W Buick 69 3 (7) 625 Hi Meh Darling (7) I Jardine 9-7.......................... A Mullen 69 4 (4) 621 Texas Man (16) P Midgley 9-6 (D).....................P Mulrennan 69 5 (6) 354 Sherdil (27) K Burke 9-6.............................................. C Lee 70 6 (10) 418 Just A Claim (16) R Fell 9-3 (CD)....................... M Crehan (3) 66 7 (11) 465 Just Another (16) J L Eyre 8-12..................... P J McDonald 66 8 (8) 733 Honorah (16) A Keatley 8-9..................................... B Curtis 63 9 (2) 506 Edinson Kevani (71) J Gallagher 8-8 (BF)............D Keenan 90 10 (5) 747 Mystic Moonshadow (45) J O’Keeffe 8-8........P Hanagan 65 11 (1) 695 Global Flight (11) C Dwyer 8-3.............................L Morris 25 BETTING: 7-2 Suanni, 9-2 Texas Man, 13-2 Hi Meh Darling, 8 Sherdil, He’s A Gentleman, Honorah, 10 Just A Claim, 14 Mystic Moonshadow, Global Flight, Edinson Kevani, Just Another. 1.45 FILLIES’ NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE) (4) (2-Y-O) 6f Winner £5,400 (11 run) RTV 1 (9) 643 Lotus Rose (13) R Fell 9-6................................ M Crehan (3) 73 2 (6) 71 Sky Blue Pink (16) R Beckett 9-6 (D)..................... H Crouch 26 3 (7) 322 Azure Blue (28) M Dods 9-0 (BF)......................P Mulrennan 78 4 (1) 57 Backstage (18) K Burke 9-0......................................... C Lee 28 5 (5) 634 Blaast (25) A Watson 9-0.........................................H Doyle 76 6 (11) Colombidea R Fahey 9-0....................................P Hanagan — 7 (8) 836 Gabriella’s Spirit (16) E Alston 9-0......................L Morris 84 8 (4) 6 Hooked On You (18) K Burke 9-0................... P J McDonald — 9 (3) 5 Mother Shipton (33) K Ryan 9-0 (BF)............... D Tudhope 52 10 (10) 42 Noteable (34) T Dascombe 9-0.................................W Buick 70 11 (2) 03 Prayer Matt (45) T Easterby 9-0.......................D Fentiman 63 BETTING: 4 Noteable, 9-2 Azure Blue, 6 Sky Blue Pink, Blaast, 8 Mother Shipton, 10 Gabriella’s Spirit, Lotus Rose, Colombidea, Hooked On You, 20 Others. FORM GUIDE: NOTEABLE 10-3 Led, pushed along 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Scarlet Dancer at Chester 6f 2yo nov stk (4) gs in Sep. AZURE BLUE 11-8fav Keen to start, tracked leaders, ridden well over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Green Team at Ayr 7f 2yo nov stk (4) gf in Sep. BLAAST 5-1 Prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Build Me Up at Leicester 6f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep. SKY BLUE PINK 12-1 Tracked leaders, ridden and made headway at 2f, ran on well inside final furlong, just prevailed, won at Kempton 6f (4) pol in Sep beating Love Trophy Power by nk, 10 ran. MOTHER SHIPTON 5-2fav Hampered start, raced in rear, ridden over 2f out, chased over 1f out, no extra inside last, 5th of 8, 6l behind Whoputfiftyinyou at Haydock 6f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sep. 2.20 DOWNLOAD THE CASUMO APP HANDICAP (3) 6f Winner £8,100 (17 run) RTV 1 (11) 803 Air Raid (6) J O’Keeffe 6 9-10 (CD)...........................J Garritty 94 2 (1) 121 Cold Stare (8) D O’Meara 6 9-8 (CD)..................... D Tudhope 112 3 (12) 012 Raatea (35) J Camacho 4 9-6 (D)...............................D O’Neill 100 4 (6) 532 Chairmanoftheboard (21) M Channon 5 9-6 (D3).....W Buick 102 5 (7) 210 Bergerac (27) K Ryan 3 9-4 (D2)...................................... K Stott 103 6 (16) 212 Thaler (9) Sir M Stoute 3 9-4 (BF, D)..............................R L Moore 70 7 (15) 437 Beyond Equal (34) W Kittow 6 9-4 (CD)......................O Murphy 102 8 (5) 744 Paws For Thought (34) T Dascombe 3 9-2 (D)........R Kingscote 101 9 (17) 906 Lincoln Park (35) T Dascombe 5 9-2 (C, D3)..............Jane Elliott 102 10 (9) 126 Call Me Ginger (13) J Goldie 5 9-2 (D4).................P Mulrennan 101 11 (8) 200 Woven (14) M Dods 5 9-1........................................ P J McDonald 105 12 (14) 111 Russco (36) D McCain 3 9-1 (C, D2)........................ Ella McCain (5) 103 13 (10) 542 Rebel At Dawn (13) K Burke 3 9-0.................................B Curtis 102 14 (4) 275 Be Proud (13) J Goldie 5 8-13.................... Miss A Waugh (5) 101 15 (3) 451 Never Dark (4) I Jardine 4 8-13............................. A Mullen 95 16 (13) 607 Golden Apollo (20) T Easterby 7 8-11 (D5)......T Marquand 104 17 (2) 984 Manigordo (20) T Easterby 4 8-8 (D)...................P Hanagan 99 BETTING: 7-2 Thaler, 7 Chairmanoftheboard, 8 Raatea, Russco, 10 Air Raid, Cold Stare, 12 Rebel At Dawn, 14 Never Dark, 16 Others. 1.55 CAZOO BRITISH EBF ‘NATIONAL HUNT’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (4) 2m Winner £4,629 (12 run) SSR 1 -34 Geromino (139) D McCain 5 11-4 (D)............................B Hughes 132 2 57- Ashover Hills (179) Sue Smith 5 10-12....................... R Mania — 3 -76 Dragoon Springs (21) A Carroll 5 10-12............... N Slatter (5) 107 4 -47 King Ferdinand (146) T Lacey 5 10-12................... S Sheppard 116 5 22- Midnight Centurion (267) J Snowden 5 10-12...... G Sheehan — 6 R Bernard S Allwood 5 10-12........................................ A Johns — 7 -33 Turpin Gold (32) R Stephens 5 10-12........................T J O’Brien — 8 1- Anyharminasking (174) Jonjo O’Neill 4 10-11................... ........................................................................ Jonjo O’Neill Jr — 9 13 Best Pal (28) S Drinkwater 4 10-11 (BF, D)......................J Bowen — 10 -12 Heritier (148) O Greenall 4 10-11 (BF)..........................H Brooke — 11 4D- Rock Legend (190) D Skelton 4 10-11.........................H Skelton — 12 6-9 Samatian (12) K Bailey 4 10-11.............................. H Beswick (5) 93 BETTING: 9-4 Anyharminasking, 4 Geromino, 5 Midnight Centurion, 10 Rock Legend, 12 Turpin Gold, King Ferdinand, Heritier, 14 Samatian, 16 Others. 2020: THIRD TIME LUCKI 5 10 12, Harry Skelton 1-6 Fav (D Skelton), 12 ran. FORM GUIDE: ANYHARMINASKING Ld/disp, 2l 2nd 1/2way, cl 2nd 2out, 1l 2nd bef last where mstk, ld early flat & rallied best, won at Tipperary 3m ire ptp in Apr beating Constitution Hill by hd, 11 ran. GEROMINO 7-2 Chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 4th of 6, 25l behind One Fine Man at Cartmel 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May. MIDNIGHT CENTURION 6-4 Led early, 2nd until 11f out, pushed along 8f out, went 2nd again over 3f out, no impression on winner over 1f out, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Knickerbockerglory at Ludlow 1m 6f NH flat (4) hvy in Jan. ROCK LEGEND 11-1 Held up towards rear, some headway when ridden entering home straight, stayed on to chase leaders over 1f out, no extra close home (finished 3rd, placed 4th), in a race won by Kandoo Kid at Taunton 2m NH flat (5) gf in Apr, 8 ran. HERITIER 1-1fav Led, ridden 3f out, headed final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Houka D’oudairies at Vichy(FR) 1m 5f 4yo NH flat hvy in May. KING FERDINAND 17-2 Held up in last, detached down back straight, never a factor, 7th of 8, 41l behind Restandbethankful at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in May. TURPIN GOLD 9-4 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, switched right entering final furlong, stayed on, not quite able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Fifrelet at Worcester 2m NH flat (5) gd in Sep. SAMATIAN 10-1 Chased leader, ridden over 4 out, weakened tamely 2 out, 9th of 14, 26l behind Unanswered Prayers at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (4) gs. BEST PAL 6-5fav Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 3, 19l behind Bari Breeze at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (5) gd in Sep. ASHOVER HILLS 4-1 Held up in midfield on outside, headway end of back straight, ridden and weakened before home turn, 7th of 9, 25l behind Fringill Dike at Hexham 2m NH flat (5) gd in Apr. DRAGOON SPRINGS 18-1 Held up last, ridden 4 out, awkward 3 out, no impression, plugged on, 6th of 8, 24l behind Father John at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep. R BERNARD Norse Dancer gelding out of Channel Treat. 2.30 NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP CHASE (GBB RACE) (3) 2m 6f 108yds Winner £5,882 (7 run) SSR 1 49- Kiltealy Briggs (211) J Snowden 7 11-12.................A P Heskin 142 2 01- Ask A Honey Bee (197) F O’Brien 7 11-7 (C)................ P Brennan — 3 2-1 Lord Accord (153) N Mulholland 6 11-6 (C).................. R Patrick — 4 11- Aquila Sky (182) S Allwood 6 11-4.................................. A Johns — 5 2-4 Supremely Lucky (21) C Longsdon 9 11-4 (C)...............J J Burke 142 6 242 No Comment (32) P Hobbs 10 11-1.............................T J O’Brien 149 7 -21 Dog Of War (127) D Skelton 7 11-0 (C).........................H Skelton 141 BETTING: 3 Ask A Honey Bee, 7-2 Dog Of War, 5 Aquila Sky, 11-2 Lord Accord, No Comment, 8 Kiltealy Briggs, 10 Supremely Lucky. 2020: DEMACHINE 6 10 9, Richard Patrick(3) 8-1 (Kerry Lee), 18 ran. FORM GUIDE: THALER 10-11fav Tracked leaders, led and edged right over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Diocles Of Rome at Kempton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol. CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD 7-1 Held up off the pace in last pair, switched left and good headway between horses over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished fast, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind Nomadic Empire at York 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep. RAATEA 7-1 Dwelt towards rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, ridden and ran on, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Able Kane at Doncaster 6f hcp 105 (2) gd in Sep. RUSSCO 2-1fav Prominent, led 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, pushed out inside last, comfortably, won at Chepstow 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Sep beating Sir Maxi by 2 1/2l, 6 ran. AIR RAID 40-1 Led, headed over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, soon edged right, stayed on, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 21, 1 1/4l behind Volatile Analyst at York 6f hcp 105 (2) gs. COLD STARE 4-1 Held up, headway 2f out travelling strongly, ridden to challenge 1f out, took lead inside final furlong, won going away, won at Ayr 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft beating Big Les by 1 3/4l, 12 ran. REBEL AT DAWN 12-1 Led, ridden over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Boundless Power at Ascot 5f hcp 105 (2) hvy. 2.55 EBF NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE) (DIV 1) (4) (2-Y-O) 1m Winner £5,400 (9 run) RTV 1 (9) 13 Mythical Dancer (25) C Appleby 9-8 (BF)..............W Buick 66 2 (3) 67 Bazza The Barrel (20) O Greenall 9-2.................J Garritty — 3 (8) Franz K Ryan 9-2....................................................... K Stott — 4 (1) 0 Mambo Beat (27) C Cox 9-2.................................... H Crouch 2 5 (7) Mandobi W Haggas 9-2....................................T Marquand — 6 (5) 24 Paradias (28) A King 9-2...................................James Doyle 66 7 (2) 44 Puntastic (23) J O’Keeffe 9-2.......................... P J McDonald 65 8 (6) Ravenswing K Ryan 9-2........................................ A Atzeni — 9 (4) 3 The Predictor (24) R Fahey 9-2........................P Hanagan 63 BETTING: 2 Mythical Dancer, 3 Paradias, 5 Mandobi, 13-2 Ravenswing, 10 The Predictor, Franz, 12 Puntastic, 25 Mambo Beat, 100 Bazza The Barrel. 2020: KINGS PRINCE 9 2, Franny Norton 13-2 (M Johnston), drawn (4), 7 ran. 3.30 EBF NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE) (DIV 2) (4) (2-Y-O) 1m Winner £5,400 (9 run) RTV 1 (1) Boy About Town M Johnston 9-5....................R Kingscote — 2 (5) 7 Bukela (56) Stef Keniry 9-5..............................P Mulrennan — 3 (8) 75 Just Wonder (40) W Haggas 9-5 (BF)...............T Marquand 54 4 (6) Kaasirr S & E Crisford 9-5.........................................W Buick — 5 (3) 325 King Of York (27) K Ryan 9-5 (BF).......................... A Atzeni 68 6 (4) 4 Magisterial (22) J & T Gosden 9-5........................O Murphy 65 7 (9) 34 Splendent (49) P & O Cole 9-5............................ D Tudhope 61 8 (7) 58 Surac (22) C Cox 9-5................................................ H Crouch 32 9 (2) 6 Leaveitwithme (20) M Loughnane 9-0....E Whittington (5) 6 BETTING: 11-8 Magisterial, 4 King Of York, 5 Kaasirr, 6 Just Wonder, 8 Boy About Town, 10 Splendent, 25 Surac, 100 Bukela, Leaveitwithme. 2020: No corresponding race. 4.05 CASUMO MANE EVENT HANDICAP (3) 1m Winner £8,100 (14 run) RTV 1 (5) -37 Imrahor (23) H Palmer 4 9-11 (D).....................James Doyle 94 2 (10) 094 Teston (34) I Furtado 6 9-10 (D4).............................K O’Neill 78 3 (4) 154 Bowland Park (22) D & C Kubler 3 9-8 (CD).............H Doyle 94 FORM GUIDE: ASK A HONEY BEE 7-4 Chased leader, led briefly after 5 out, headed 4 out, ridden before 3 out, led last, ridden clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Beatthebullet by 3 1/2l, 4 ran. DOG OF WAR 11-8fav Held up in 3rd, disputing 2nd from 9th, mistake 14th, led before last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jun beating No No Maestro by 6l, 4 ran. AQUILA SKY 9-1 Held up in rear, stumbled 7th, headway on outside 9th, challenged 3 out, led next, stayed on well, driven out, won at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Lord Accord by 1l, 9 ran. LORD ACCORD 10-3 Chased leaders, led after 3 out, ridden next, headed briefly last, stayed on well to lead again flat, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in May beating South Terrace by hd, 7 ran. NO COMMENT 10-3 Held up in rear, headway after 9th, went 2nd 3 out, driven after 2 out, no impression on winner when not fluent last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Jemima P at Worcester 2m 4f Novice Limited Handicap Chase (4yo+) (3) gd in Sep. KILTEALY BRIGGS 40-1 Prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 10th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, 6th and weakening last, 9th of 21, 14l behind The Shunter at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar. SUPREMELY LUCKY 3-1 Tracked leader, ridden and briefly shared lead 3 out, dropped to last after not fluent 2 out, plugged on one pace, 4th of 5, 10l behind Canyon City at Worcester 2m 7f Novice Limited Handicap Chase (4yo+) (3) gd in Sep. 3.05 LOW COST ROOFING STOKE HANDICAP HURDLE (GBB RACE) (2) 2m 7f Winner £7,804 (7 run) SSR 1 -41 Jarveys Plate (132) F O’Brien 8 11-12 (D)............. L Harrison (3) 144 2 0-0 Moon Over Germany (159) R Dickin 10 11-10....L Murtagh (3) 105 3 1-1 Bannixtown Glory (135) D McCain 7 11-9 (D).... P J Kavanagh (10) 144 4 5-P Ofalltheginjoints (167) C Tizzard 7 11-5.......................B J Powell — 5 732 Litterale Ci (55) H Fry 8 11-4 (BF).....................Miss A B O’Connor (3) 145 6 3-2 Trincomalee (160) L Wadham 8 11-3........................... Bryony Frost 146 7 -12 Thunderstruck (32) E Lavelle 7 10-9.......................T Bellamy 144 BETTING: 9-4 Jarveys Plate, 4 Litterale Ci, 9-2 Bannixtown Glory, 5 Trincomalee, 13-2 Thunderstruck, 7 Ofalltheginjoints, 25 Moon Over Germany. 2020: CAPTAIN DRAKE 7 11 12, Bryan Carver(5) 5-1 (H Fry), 13 ran. FORM GUIDE: JARVEYS PLATE 3-1 Tracked leader, ridden along after 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, made strong challenge last, ran on strongly, led and in control final 110 yards, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Jun beating Big Bad Bear by 5l, 6 ran. LITTERALE CI 9-4fav Ran in snatches, held up early, headway chasing leaders after 2nd, not fluent 4th, lost place after 6th, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, went modest 3rd next, took 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Umndeni at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Aug. BANNIXTOWN GLORY 2-7fav Led, not fluent 2nd, joined before 3 out, headed 3 out, mistake last, switched right to challenge leader, ridden 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Cartmel 2m 5f nov chs (4) gd in Jun beating Getareason by 1/2l, 3 ran. TRINCOMALEE 5-1 Tracked leaders, not much room 1st, not fluent 6th, slow 8th, challenged after 3 out, led last, caught close home, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Dell’ Arca at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in May. THUNDERSTRUCK 3-1 Raced in 2nd and jumped right copying leader, challenged 2 out, led last, headed flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Push The Tempo at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sep. OFALLTHEGINJOINTS 5-1 Close up and tracked leaders, mistake when beginning to struggle 13th, soon weakened and pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Captain Tommy at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs (2) gd in May, 9 ran. MOON OVER GERMANY 50-1 Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, pushed along in 3rd after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 13th of 18, 42l behind Jesse Evans at Killarney 2m 1f hcp hdl in May. 4 (12) 408 Twisted Reality (28) R Beckett 3 9-7 (D).............O Murphy 97 5 (1) 995 Alexander James (7) M Appleby 5 9-7 (D2)............ B Curtis 77 6 (7) 188 Dinoo (14) R Varian 3 9-6 (C)..................................... A Atzeni 95 7 (13) 196 Imperial Command (141) M Loughnane 4 9-6 (CD)............ ........................................................... Elisha Whittington (5) 82 8 (3) 532 Ffion (20) D Loughnane 4 9-5 (BF).......................R Kingscote 92 9 (8) 391 Newbolt (34) K Frost 4 9-5 (C, D2)..................... M Crehan (3) 94 10 (14) 196 Uzincso (136) J Butler 5 9-4 (D6)...............................L Morris 75 11 (2) 365 Jump The Gun (27) I Jardine 4 9-3 (D)...............P Mulrennan 93 12 (11) 531 Poet’s Lady (139) T D Barron 4 9-3 (CD)....................W Buick 94 13 (6) -11 Bake (71) M Meade 3 9-3 (D)...............................T Marquand 93 14 (9) 403 Urban Violet (26) M Channon 3 9-1......................C Bishop 93 BETTING: 9-2 Bake, 5 Poet’s Lady, 13-2 Ffion, Imrahor, 10 Jump The Gun, Dinoo, Twisted Reality, 12 Newbolt, Bowland Park, 16 Others. 2020: BRENTFORD HOPE 3 9 12, Jamie Spencer 9-4 Fav (R Hughes), drawn (4), 10 ran. FORM GUIDE: BAKE 9-2 Led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, rallied gamely under pressure inside final furlong, led again post, won at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug beating Tahitian Prince by shd, 12 ran. POET’S LADY 2-1fav Close-up, pushed before 3f out, 3rd when ridden before 2f out, stayed on well to lead inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Beverley 1m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in May beating Fox Power by 1 1/4l, 9 ran. FFION 85-40fav Prominent, pushed along 2f out, headway 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Roundhay Park at Chester 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep. IMRAHOR 5-2 Raced keenly, kept out wide early, chased leaders, ridden out wide inside final 2f, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind Via Serendipity at Goodwood 1m claim hcap (2) gd in Sep. DINOO 18-1 Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 5l behind Dark Shift at Ascot 1m Classified Stakes (3yo+) (3) gs. JUMP THE GUN 9-1 Midfield, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 10, 3l behind Revich at Ayr 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep. TWISTED REALITY 9-1 Mid-division, headway 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 7l behind Makram at Newbury 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gs in Sep. BOWLAND PARK 10-3 Tracked leader, ridden well over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 4, 21l behind Living Legend at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sep. 4.40 JOIN CASUMO TODAY NURSERY (4) (2-Y-O) 7f Winner £4,752 (12 run) RTV 1 (5) 954 Amor Vincit Omnia (43) T Dascombe 9-7 (BF).............. .......................................................................R Kingscote 80 2 (6) 222 El Hibri (13) B Meehan 9-2 (BF)...............................D O’Neill 76 3 (12) 054 Superior Force (23) G Boughey 9-1 (BF).............O Murphy 74 4 (7) 242 Magic Warrior (16) R Hannon 9-0.....................R L Moore 77 5 (4) 245 Dukedom (13) J & T Gosden 9-0................................W Buick 77 6 (3) 147 Liamarty Dreams (42) K Burke 9-0 (D).................. B Curtis 73 7 (11) 024 The Dunkirk Lads (27) T Easterby 8-12...........D Fentiman 76 8 (1) 065 Raging (41) R Hannon 8-12 (C)...........................T Marquand 78 9 (9) 454 Allen Key (18) M Johnston 8-10.............................. A Atzeni 71 10 (10) 142 Hollow Steel (19) Alice Haynes 8-8 (D)..................K O’Neill 85 11 (8) 225 Round Acre (25) E Bethell 8-6 (BF).....................P Hanagan 71 12 (2) 364 May Punch (22) T Easterby 8-4.................................L Morris 86 BETTING: 4 Magic Warrior, 9-2 Dukedom, 13-2 Amor Vincit Omnia, 8 Superior Force, El Hibri, 10 The Dunkirk Lads, Round Acre, 12 Liamarty Dreams, Allen Key, 14 Others. 2020: FIRST GREYED 9 1, Connor Beasley 11-2 (M Dods), drawn (3), 5 ran. 5.10 GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY WITH CASUMO HANDICAP (4) 2m Winner £5,400 (7 run) RTV 1 (7) 022 Whitehaven (15) H Morrison 4 9-13 (BF)..............O Murphy 85 2 (2) 112 Haveyoumissedme (17) I Jardine 3 9-7 (BF)......... A Mullen 83 3 (1) 454 Reverend Hubert (10) R Hannon 3 9-3..............R L Moore 85 4 (3) 251 Wynford (11) R Menzies 8 9-1 (D2)........................... K Stott 85 5 (6) 53- Art Of Diplomacy M & D Easterby 5 8-13.......P Mulrennan — 6 (5) 543 Socially Shady (17) K Burke 4 8-11........................W Buick 86 7 (4) 766 Red Derek (19) L Williamson 5 8-9 (C).......................L Morris 74 BETTING: 15-8 Whitehaven, 4 Wynford, Haveyoumissedme, 5 Reverend Hubert, 13-2 Socially Shady, 14 Art Of Diplomacy, 33 Red Derek. 2020: TRUMPET MAN 3 9 13, Franny Norton 11-4 Fav (M Johnston), drawn (2), 7 ran. 3.40 MAY AND JACOBS HANDICAP CHASE (4) 3m Winner £3,594 (9 run) SSR 1 6-5 Dalkingstown (39) P Bowen 7 11-12 (D3).................. S Bowen — 2 PP- Carlow Farmer (240) C Longsdon 8 11-12 (D)...........C Deutsch — 3 -36 Clondaw Promise (110) Jonjo O’Neill 7 11-11... Jonjo O’Neill Jr — 4 211 No No Maestro (45) F O’Brien 6 11-9 (CD)........................ P Brennan 113 5 P-P Normandy Soldier (163) R Mitford-Slade 7 11-9.......B Godfrey (5) 113 6 -43 Diamond Brig (125) Henry Oliver 9 11-7 (C, D3)................ L Edwards 114 7 3-P Chase The Wind (16) J E Foster 12 11-5 (C, D2)......Sean Quinlan 120 8 -13 Gats And Co (140) D Brace 6 11-2 (BF, D)..........................C Brace 121 9 50- Colours Of My Life (204) D Skelton 6 10-11..............H Skelton — BETTING: 2 No No Maestro, 9-2 Colours Of My Life, 13-2 Diamond Brig, 8 Gats And Co, Clondaw Promise, 10 Dalkingstown, Normandy Soldier, 12 Carlow Farmer, 16 Chase The Wind. 2020: EASY BUCKS 5 10 1, Sean Bowen 7-4 Fav (P Bowen), 17 ran. 4.15 TOYO TIRES HANDICAP HURDLE (5) 2m Winner £2,342 (15 run) SSR 1 52- Floy Joy (195) C Tizzard 5 11-12....................................B J Powell 111 2 011 Orchard Grove (12) Kerry Lee 5 11-12 (CD)................ R Patrick 110 3 166 Phoebus Lescribaa (16) R Dickin 9 11-9 (D).......L Murtagh (3) 111 4 243 Splinter (26) A Hales 4 11-8.................................... H Bannister 116 5 -PP He’s A Goer (10) B Leavy 7 11-5 (D).........................F Gregory (3) — 6 P-P The Garrison (60) R Stephens 7 11-4 (CD).....Shane Quinlan (5) 76 7 -68 Falcon Sun (17) M Roberts 7 11-4 (D2).......................T J O’Brien 26 8 /4- Lonimoss Bareliere D Skelton 5 11-0.....................H Skelton — 9 290 Ranco (37) D Pipe 4 10-13......................................... F Gillard (3) 116 10 -45 Canford Star (18) J Flint 8 10-7.......................Charlie Price (5) 107 11 P-9 Peggyclare (143) B Lund 8 10-7............................B Godfrey (5) 78 12 68- Myburg (321) Sue Smith 5 10-5.............................T Willmott (5) — 13 634 Crane (20) N Henderson 3 10-5.............................. N De Boinville 106 14 9-2 Early Morning Dew (12) P Niven 5 10-3...................C Bewley 113 15 536 Balzac (28) Sheila Lewis 4 10-1.......................Sean Houlihan (3) 104 BETTING: 7-2 Early Morning Dew, 9-2 Orchard Grove, 5 Floy Joy, Crane, 8 Lonimoss Bareliere, 10 Splinter, 14 Phoebus Lescribaa, 16 Balzac, 20 Others. 2020: THE GARRISON 6 11 4, Shane Quinlan(5) 11-1 (G Harris), 12 ran. 4.50 MARES’ OPEN NH FLAT RACE (GBB RACE) (5) 2m Winner £1,906 (9 run) SSR 1 17- Becky The Boo (204) F O’Brien 5 11-5 (BF, D)............. P Brennan 112 2 1 Lady Excalibur (89) A Jones 4 11-4 (D).....................T J O’Brien 106 3 All In A Tizzy D J Jeffreys 5 10-12............................. M Kendrick — 4 4 Camembert Electric (164) T Lacey 5 10-12...............J J Burke 97 5 S-1 Dooyork (159) O Greenall 5 10-12................................H Brooke — 6 77 Lady Thistledown (9) W Greatrex 5 10-12............. C Quinn (7) 69 7 Cabayo Lady Deborah Cole 4 10-11........................F Gregory (3) — 8 Presenting Nelly D Skelton 4 10-11........................H Skelton — 9 Talk Of The Moon K Bailey 4 10-11..................... H Beswick (5) — BETTING: 9-4 Lady Excalibur, 4 Presenting Nelly, 9-2 Talk Of The Moon, 5 Becky The Boo, 8 Dooyork, Camembert Electric, 20 Lady Thistledown, 25 All In A Tizzy, 33 Cabayo Lady. 2020: ISHKHARA LADY 6 11 5, Sean Bowen 3-1 Fav (H Fry), 12 ran. CAPTAIN BECHER THE MARQUIS CAPTAIN BECHER THE MARQUIS REDCAR TODAY Going: Good to soft-good in places Draw: Middle to high numbers have a decided advantage on the straight course Flash Betty 1.00 Flash Betty Bell Shot 1.30 Prodigious Blue Baileys Accolade (nb) 2.05 Baileys Accolade Big Boy Bobby 2.40 Big Boy Bobby Divine Jewel 3.15 Divine Jewel Stallone 3.50 Stallone Cape Sunset 4.25 Dream A Little One To Go 4.55 Mac Ailey 1.00 JOIN RACING TV NOW CLAIMING STAKES (5) (2-Y-O) 7f Winner £3,132 (14 run) RTV 1 (4) 122 Rosie’s Return (16) K Burke 9-7 (D).....Sophie Clements (7) 68 2 (9) 702 Sport Mode (10) K Burke 9-3..........................P-L Jamin (3) 49 3 (10) 0 Sweet Melody (34) M Botti 8-12......................... D E Hogan — 4 (3) 845 Acklam Gold (24) N Tinkler 8-11.............F McManoman (3) 46 5 (12) The Copa King M Hammond 8-11....................A Brookes (7) — 6 (11) 979 Snake Pass (32) T Easterby 8-10............................ C Beasley 46 7 (6) 625 Stripzee (20) T Easterby 8-10 (CD)...........................S W Kelly 73 8 (2) 203 Flash Betty (11) M Channon 8-8....................... David Egan 73 9 (7) 677 Falafel (45) T Dascombe 8-6.................................J Fanning 36 10 (14) 46 Fulsome (37) T Dascombe 8-6............................... T Whelan 58 11 (5) 879 Gypsy Lady (18) G Kelleway 8-6.................................L Jones 60 12 (13) 698 Peace Angel (23) T Coyle 8-6.........................Mark Winn (7) 56 13 (1) 799 Madeira Wine (20) T Easterby 8-5...............................G Lee 49 14 (8) 875 Hurt You Never (14) Adrian Nicholls 8-1....... Jimmy Quinn 55 BETTING: 3 Rosie’s Return, 7-2 Flash Betty, 5 Stripzee, 7 Fulsome, 10 Sport Mode, Gypsy Lady, 12 Acklam Gold, Sweet Melody, 20 Others. 2020: RISHWORTHIAN 9 4, Silvestre De Sousa 11-2 (D O’Meara), drawn (8), 8 ran. 1.30 NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE) (DIV 1) (5) (2-Y-O) 6f Winner £3,780 (9 run) RTV 1 (5) 444 Bell Shot (38) C Hills 9-5..................................K Shoemark 62 2 (1) 202 Cotai Class (28) Phillip Makin 9-5..........................S W Kelly 70 3 (2) Fourth Time Lucky R Fahey 9-5............................D Nolan — 4 (4) 7 Hegemon (18) T Easterby 9-5........................................G Lee — 5 (3) 552 Prodigious Blue (23) N Tinkler 9-5.......F McManoman (3) 64 6 (8) Tidewell T D Barron 9-5....................................... C Beasley — 7 (7) 34 Espressoo (3) M Johnston 9-0..............................J Fanning 57 8 (6) Kittybrewster Suzzanne France 9-0...........C Murtagh (3) — 9 (9) 9 Strawberry Dream (13) M & D Easterby 9-0.... W Pyle (7) 16 BETTING: 2 Bell Shot, 3 Cotai Class, 4 Prodigious Blue, 6 Espressoo, 7 Fourth Time Lucky, 16 Tidewell, 25 Hegemon, 50 Strawberry Dream, Kittybrewster. 2020: SHARK TWO ONE 9 6, Paul Hanagan 11-4 (R Fahey), drawn (4), 14 ran. 2.05 EBF NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE) (DIV 2) (5) (2-Y-O) 6f Winner £3,780 (9 run) RTV 1 (7) 4 Dirty Leeds (48) J Camacho 9-5...................................G Lee 46 2 (6) Flashy Bear J L Eyre 9-5................................... David Egan — 3 (2) Liberated Light R Fahey 9-5........................C Murtagh (3) — 4 (1) Macchiavello K Burke 9-5............................... Rossa Ryan — 5 (9) 8 Red Astaire (13) T Easterby 9-5...............................D Nolan 35 6 (8) 50 Rum Going On (18) J J Quinn 9-5......................K Shoemark 38 7 (3) 6 Sezaam (21) M Dods 9-5......................................... C Beasley 32 8 (4) 3 Baileys Accolade (31) M Johnston 9-0...............J Fanning 33 9 (5) Lil Bit Of Magic Simon Whitaker 9-0......... B Sanderson (3) — BETTING: 2 Macchiavello, 7-2 Baileys Accolade, 5 Liberated Light, 6 Flashy Bear, 10 Dirty Leeds, Sezaam, 14 Rum Going On, 25 Lil Bit Of Magic, Red Astaire. 2.40 SAM HALL MEMORIAL HANDICAP (4) 1m 6f Winner £4,482 (6 run) RTV 1 (4) 283 Mr Curiosity (34) C Fellowes 4 10-2 (BF)........... Rossa Ryan 78 2 (6) 026 Glasses Up (14) R M Smith 6 10-0 (D)..............C Murtagh (3) 86 3 (3) 127 Liberation Point (10) M Appleby 4 9-13......... David Egan 87 4 (1) 635 Thai Terrier (21) M Johnston 5 9-13....................J Fanning 83 5 (5) 542 Arctic Fox (42) M Todhunter 5 9-6...........................D Nolan 89 6 (2) 133 Big Boy Bobby (25) R Charlton 3 9-0 (BF)............. T Whelan 92 BETTING: 11-4 Big Boy Bobby, 7-2 Arctic Fox, 4 Mr Curiosity, 5 Liberation Point, 6 Glasses Up, 7 Thai Terrier. 2020: BEN LILLY 3 9 2, Kevin Stott 4-7 Fav (D Brown), drawn (6), 6 ran. 3.15 EBF FILLIES’ NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE) (4) (2-Y-O) 1m Winner £5,400 (8 run) RTV 1 (6) 1 Ammolite (136) S & E Crisford 9-6....................... Rossa Ryan 42 2 (3) 800 Dajarus (24) I Jardine 9-0............................................G Lee 18 3 (5) 2 Divine Jewel (16) R Varian 9-0.......................... David Egan 72 4 (8) 32 Oheka (20) W Haggas 9-0 (BF)............................K Shoemark 65 5 (4) 6 Present Moment (16) M Bell 9-0....................... D E Hogan 57 6 (7) 55 Sea Time (18) R Fahey 9-0.........................................D Nolan 51 7 (1) 7 Sky Watcher (7) K Burke 9-0...........................P-L Jamin (3) — 8 (2) World Without Love M Johnston 9-0...............J Fanning — BETTING: 11-10 Oheka, 5-2 Divine Jewel, 6 Ammolite, 8 Present Moment, 14 World Without Love, 20 Sea Time, 33 Sky Watcher, 100 Dajarus. 3.50 BEST FLAT RACES LIVE ON RACING TV HANDICAP (6) 7f Winner £2,700 (20 run) RTV 1 (2) 345 King Of Tonga (17) D O’Meara 5 9-11 (C, D)....Mark Winn (7) 67 2 (5) 222 Stallone (10) M Dods 5 9-10 (D2).......................... C Beasley 72 3 (1) 587 Harvest Day (32) M & D Easterby 6 9-10 (D5)........J Fanning 67 4 (16) 212 Ginato (7) R Fell 3 9-10....................................... Rossa Ryan 69 5 (17) 369 Thowq (24) R Fell 4 9-8.............................F McManoman (3) 42 6 (11) 502 Bronze River (7) M Appleby 4 9-7....................... T Whelan 49 7 (15) 321 Absolute Dream (25) R Fahey 5 9-7 (C2)................D Nolan 69 8 (19) 540 Magical Effect (32) R Carr 9 9-6 (C, D)................ D E Hogan 66 9 (12) 24- Wrecked It Ralph (415) R M Smith 3 9-6................L Jones — 10 (8) 606 Donnelly’s Rainbow (8) H Bastiman 8 9-6 (D3)........C Murtagh (3) 66 11 (9) 980 Presidential (38) R Fell 7 9-5 (CD)......................................Doubtful 64 12 (18) 667 Redesdale Rebel (21) S Corbett 5 9-4 (D).........................C Noble (3) 75 13 (3) 657 Balqaa (29) I Furtado 3 9-4.............................................K Shoemark 42 14 (4) 424 Enderman (10) P Midgley 3 9-4 (C)............................................G Lee 68 15 (10) 692 Viva Voce (8) T D Barron 4 9-3 (BF, C).....................................Doubtful 70 16 (13) -73 Cosmic Star (37) J L Eyre 3 9-3........................... David Egan 63 17 (7) 440 Hoofs Happy Now (27) M & D Easterby 3 9-1...... W Pyle (7) 66 18 (14) -66 Otto Oyl (140) T D Barron 3 9-1 (BF)..................P-L Jamin (3) 63 19 (6) 5-5 Birdie Bowers (179) D Thompson 4 9-1...............S W Kelly 54 20 (20) 890 Celerity (11) L Williamson 7 8-13............Erika Parkinson (7) 76 BETTING: 5 Stallone, 11-2 Ginato, 6 Absolute Dream, 8 Bronze River, 10 Enderman, Otto Oyl, King Of Tonga, 12 Harvest Day, Cosmic Star, 16 Others. 4.25 EVERY RACE LIVE ON RACING TV NOVICE STAKES (5) 6f Winner £3,780 (5 run) RTV 1 (3) 0-1 Bakr (261) N Tinkler 3 9-5.................................... C Noble (3) — 2 (2) 3 Cape Sunset (137) R Guest 4 9-4............................S W Kelly 85 3 (1) 37 River Tweed (21) C Hills 3 9-3 (BF)....................K Shoemark — 4 (5) 7-3 Dream A Little (28) E Walker 3 8-12................. David Egan — 5 (4) 6 Highest Wave (21) G Oldroyd 3 8-12........F McManoman (3) — BETTING: 2 Cape Sunset, 5-2 Bakr, 3 River Tweed, 9-2 Dream A Little, 16 Highest Wave. 4.55 HANDICAP (FEMALE AMATEUR JOCKEYS) (6) 1m 2f Winner £2,566 (15 run) RTV 1 (8) 625 Licit (38) T Easterby 4 10-7.......................... Miss C R Crane (5) 49 2 (1) 527 Whitwell (46) M & D Easterby 4 10-7 (BF).......Miss S Brotherton 59 3 (10) 940 Straight Ash (3) R Menzies 6 10-5...................... Miss J Bedi (5) — 4 (2) 80- Thomas Cranmer (354) Miss T Jackson 7 10-5 (D)............... ....................................................................Miss S Bowen (3) — 5 (3) 252 Wots The Wifi Code (11) T Coyle 4 10-5.............................. ..........................................................Miss Chelsea Brooks (7) 59 6 (13) 313 Mac Ailey (9) T Easterby 5 10-4 (BF, D)................. Miss E Easterby 55 7 (12) -21 Das Kapital (70) J Berry 6 10-4 (D)....................Miss A Collier (3) 54 8 (9) 105 Card High (16) W Storey 11 10-4 (D).............. Miss Sophie Smith 56 9 (6) 072 One To Go (69) A Watson 5 10-3............................Ms B Hampson 57 10 (5) 950 Ralphy Boy Two (18) Ewan Whillans 4 10-3...Miss Becky Smith 72 11 (7) 6-7 Bad Rabbit (157) R Menzies 4 10-2.......Miss Alex Garven (7) — 12 (14) 724 Only The Brave (52) A Watson 5 10-2 (BF)............Doubtful 56 13 (11) 745 Dandy’s Angel (13) J Wainwright 4 10-2.............Ms N Irvine (7) 56 14 (4) 540 Florenza (13) C Fairhurst 8 10-1...................... Danielle Mooney 57 15 (15) 045 Lofty (74) L Morgan 5 10-1 (BF)...................Miss Violet Barton (5) 51 BETTING: 9-2 One To Go, 5 Mac Ailey, Das Kapital, 7 Wots The Wifi Code, Whitwell, 8 Lofty, 12 Dandy’s Angel, 14 Licit, 16 Others. CAPTAIN BECHER THE MARQUIS

50 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live Sport England call for the three Bears cricket By david charlesworth WARWICKSHIRE’S Dom Sibley, Rob Yates and Liam Norwell have been named in a 14-strong squad for England Lions’ tour of Australia. Bears’ opener Sibley appears to have been handed a lifeline, having missed out on a central contract last week and been omitted from the Ashes squad after being axed over the summer following a prolonged lean run of form. He is among four players in the party who have been capped at Test level – the others being leg-break bowler Mason Crane and wicketkeeper-batters Ben Foakes and James Bracey. Alex Lees is back six years after his last Lions involvement, while another opener, Yates, is among those supplementing England’s touring squad, with the 22-year-old left-hander amassing five first-class centuries this year – the most in 2021 globally excepting Joe Root. Yates, whose runs helped the Bears to the LV= Insurance County Championship and Bob Willis Trophy double this year, plus Lancashire batter Josh Bohannon, Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and seamer Norwell are set for their first Lions experience this winter. Liam Livingstone is conspicuous by his absence from the squad, who will shadow the senior side in Australia, but his Lancashire teammates Matt Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood have been included. The players will head Down Under on the same day as England’s Test specialists on November 4. All-rounder Livingstone had a prolific white-ball summer with the bat and retains Test ambitions, averaging 38.36 after 62 first-class matches, but it is understood the omission frees him up to feature in Australia’s Big Bash League. Parkinson, who has taken 102 Dom Sibley Rob Yates scored five first-class centuries for Warwickshire last season first-class wickets at 23.35, and Mahmood, who could have given England added bowling firepower in the absence of Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Warwickshire’s Olly Stone, are at least part of the second string. They could push their case to be upgraded to the main contingent in two intra-squad matches, while there will also be one four-day fixture against Australia A before returning home on December 16. Liam Norwell The England and Wales Cricket Board revealed selection is conditional on all individuals “passing Lions minimum fitness standards”. No captain has been named yet while coaching appointments will be made in due course. ENGLAND LIONS: T Abell (Somerset), J Bohannon (Lancashire), J Bracey (Gloucestershire), B Carse (Durham), M Crane (Hampshire) M Fisher (Yorkshire), B Foakes (Surrey), A Lees (Durham), S Mahmood (Lancashire), L Norwell (Warwickshire), M Parkinson (Lancashire), D Sibley (Warwickshire), J Smith (Surrey), R Yates (Warwickshire). NEWCASTLE TODAY DFE ELECTRICAL HANDICAP (4) 1m 2f Winner 5.00 £4,590 (9 run) SSR 1 (3) 218 Tilsitt (6) R M Smith 4 9-10 (CD)...................................J Hart 83 2 (4) 460 Starfighter (33) M Loughnane 5 9-7 (CD)............. J Watson 90 3 (8) 662 Noble Crusade (17) K Dalgleish 3 9-7.............. C Rodriguez — 4 (2) 475 Jaramillo (90) R Varian 3 9-7 (D).......................... J Mitchell — 5 (7) 745 Kitten’s Dream (121) R Fahey 4 9-2..................T Hamilton 89 6 (9) 232 Innse Gall (8) I Jardine 3 9-0 (BF, D)......................J Gormley 82 7 (1) 519 Prince Ali (30) Phillip Makin 3 8-13 (CD).................... R Scott 87 8 (5) 638 Italian Breeze (30) J O’Keeffe 3 8-13.............. A Breslin (5) — 9 (6) 646 Silvestris (17) M Johnston 3 8-13...............O Stammers (5) 91 BETTING: 7-2 Tilsitt, 4 Innse Gall, 9-2 Noble Crusade, 5 Jaramillo, 10 Silvestris, Kitten’s Dream, Prince Ali, 12 Italian Breeze, 14 Starfighter. FORM GUIDE: TILSITT 18-1 Disputed lead early, prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 18, 8l behind Something Enticing at York 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gs. INNSE GALL 10-3fav Raced in mid-division, ridden 3f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong but never getting to winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Dr T J Eckleburg at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) sft. NOBLE CRUSADE 4-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final 150 yards, not trouble winner, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind My Little Queens at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Sep. JARAMILLO 4-1 Held up, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 5, 8l behind Dubai Instinct at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jul. DFE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS HANDICAP (6) 1m 5.30 Winner £2,700 (14 run) SSR 8.00 1 (9) 993 Vintage Polly (14) R Menzies 4 9-7.................. C Rodriguez 60 2 (4) 321 Clotherholme (34) Mrs A Duffield 4 9-6 (D)...............S Gray — 3 (1) 639 Sweet Angel (18) Jessica Macey 4 9-4.................L Edmunds 56 4 (11) 825 Highlight Reel (24) H Bastiman 6 9-3.......O Stammers (5) 54 5 (14) 645 Retirement Beckons (8) Miss L Perratt 6 9-3 (D3)......... B Robinson — 6 (12) 558 Magic Gem (135) D Brown 3 9-2...............................C Hardie — 7 (2) 867 Lucky Violet (28) Miss L Perratt 9 9-2 (D4)................T Eaves — 8 (5) 051 Zenzero (14) D O’Meara 3 9-1 (CD).......................... J Watson 61 9 (7) 006 Loch Long (24) Mrs A Duffield 3 9-0..........Josephine Gordon 66 10 (8) 700 Toshack (8) I Jardine 3 9-0....................................J Gormley 26 11 (6) 095 Starbo (18) Simon Whitaker 4 9-0.......................... P Dennis 55 12 (3) 885 Menina Atrevida (170) I Furtado 5 9-0.............T Hamilton 48 13 (13) 889 Rock Warbler (36) M Mullineaux 8 9-0 (CD)...... JP Sullivan 57 14 (10) 698 Big Dutchie (107) Phillip Makin 3 8-11..................... R Scott — BETTING: 4 Clotherholme, 9-2 Zenzero, 6 Highlight Reel, Vintage Polly, 8 Retirement Beckons, 10 Starbo, 12 Sweet Angel, 16 Magic Gem, Menina Atrevida, Big Dutchie, Loch Long, 25 Others. CAZOO NOVICE MEDIAN AUCTION STAKES (6) 7f 6.00 Winner £2,700 (8 run) SSR 1 (1) 65 Barrister Blaster (13) A Berry 3 9-5.........Z Wheatley (7) — 2 (6) 550 Burj Malinka (95) Adrian Nicholls 3 9-5.............B McHugh — 3 (7) Great Ridley G Tuer 3 9-5.......................................S James — 4 (8) 5 Hardy (14) Jessica Macey 3 9-5.............................L Edmunds 55 5 (2) 35 Chantreys (210) I Furtado 4 9-2.........................T Hamilton 42 6 (3) 266 Biplane (24) J Wainwright 3 9-0........................ C Rodriguez 68 7 (4) 580 Desert Cat (53) E Alston 3 9-0.....................................J Hart — 8 (5) 2 Peripeteia (23) G Boughey 3 9-0......................... D Muscutt 85 BETTING: 2-5 Peripeteia, 4 Burj Malinka, 12 Biplane, 14 Chantreys, 25 Great Ridley, 33 Hardy, Desert Cat, 66 Barrister Blaster. NURSERY (6) (2-Y-O) 7f Winner £2,700 (14 run) 6.30 SSR 1 (2) 245 Intriguing Lady (37) M Johnston 9-7.......................J Hart 44 2 (7) 068 Between The Sheets (37) M Bell 9-7............... C Shepherd 55 3 (10) 550 One More Try (20) R Fahey 9-6..........................T Hamilton — 4 (3) 642 Delahoussaye (15) Brian O’Rourke 9-5............... R Dawson 58 5 (8) 478 Novak (31) I Jardine 9-5.........................................J Gormley — 6 (13) 346 Coligone Kate (20) O Pears 9-5......................... B Robinson — 7 (14) 276 Qweldryk (18) O Pears 9-4.....................................C Hardie 54 8 (5) 499 Make A Prophet (32) P Midgley 9-3...................B McHugh — 9 (6) 584 Darbucks (21) C Kellett 9-2..................................D Costello — 10 (4) 780 Muveran (56) K Burke 9-1.......................................S James — 11 (1) 025 Ailish T (32) D O’Meara 8-12................................... J Watson 54 12 (11) 647 Fast Beauty (109) E Bethell 8-11.............................. R Scott 49 13 (9) 006 Premiership (14) T Waggott 8-7.............................T Eaves 35 14 (12) 004 Nrgize (25) I Jardine 8-6..........................Shannon Watts (7) — BETTING: 11-4 Delahoussaye, 11-2 Intriguing Lady, 6 Ailish T, 8 Between The Sheets, 10 Coligone Kate, 14 Novak, Fast Beauty, Muveran, One More Try, 16 Others. DFE ELECTRICAL COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC HAND- 7.00 ICAP (DIV 1) (6) 6f Winner £2,700 (14 run) SSR 1 (2) 446 Hurstwood (20) P Niven 4 9-9 (CD)..................H Russell (3) 44 2 (13) 725 Qaaraat (7) A Brittain 6 9-8 (C, D2)..........................C Hardie 66 3 (10) 784 Peachey Carnehan (25) M Mullineaux 7 9-7 (CD)....T Eaves 65 4 (9) 426 Dylan’s Lad (17) S Bowring 4 9-6 (D2).................L Edmunds 68 5 (1) 536 Jungle Inthebungle (27) Phillip Makin 5 9-6........ R Scott 47 6 (11) 843 Stronsay (4) Liam Bailey 5 9-5 (BF, D)..............B Garritty (3) — 7 (8) 241 Muatadel (22) J Wainwright 8 9-4 (CD)...........Z Wheatley (7) 28 8 (5) 268 Favourite Niece (18) Mrs A Duffield 3 9-3.................S Gray 65 9 (7) 603 Due A Win (39) B Smart 4 9-3.................................... H Shaw 83 10 (4) 935 So Grateful (16) M & D Easterby 3 9-1..... Joanna Mason (3) 78 11 (12) 844 Sixcor (23) Miss L Perratt 3 8-13........................... JP Sullivan 51 12 (3) 867 Sleight (8) I Jardine 3 8-12....................................J Gormley 45 13 (14) 679 Your Choice (56) T Fitzgerald 6 8-12...................T Hamilton 64 14 (6) 463 Charlemaine (7) N Mechie 4 8-12.............Rhona Pindar (7) 56 BETTING: 5 Muatadel, 6 Due A Win, 13-2 Stronsay, 7 Dylan’s Lad, 8 Hurstwood, 10 Qaaraat, 12 So Grateful, Sixcor, Peachey Carnehan, 14 Others. DFE ELECTRICAL COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC HAND- 7.30 ICAP (DIV 2) (6) 6f Winner £2,700 (14 run) SSR 1 (14) 935 Foreseeable Future (25) R Carr 6 9-10 (BF, D).................. ............................................................................. JP Sullivan 71 2 (3) 060 Donizetti (18) K Dalgleish 3 9-9........................ C Rodriguez 54 3 (10) 871 One For The Ladies (18) M & D Easterby 3 9-8 (CD)............. .................................................................. Joanna Mason (3) 64 4 (13) 027 Cuppacoco (18) Mrs A Duffield 6 9-7 (CD).....................S Gray 66 5 (5) 876 Oakenshield (18) Mrs L Stubbs 4 9-7 (CD)...........T Hamilton 58 Going: Standard to slow Draw: High numbers have a slight advantage over 5f. CAPTAIN BECHER THE MARQUIS Noble Crusade 5.00 Noble Crusade Zenzero 5.30 Zenzero Peripeteia 6.00 Burj Malinka Darbucks 6.30 Between The Sheets Muatadel 7.00 Stronsay Khulu 7.30 Foreseeable Future Makeen 8.00 Makeen Rain Cap 8.30 rain Cap 6 (2) 780 Fircombe Hall (27) P Kirby 3 9-6 (CD).............B Garritty (3) 73 7 (6) 576 Lucky Beggar (10) D C Griffiths 11 9-5 (D4).......................... ..................................................................Josephine Gordon 55 8 (11) 615 She’s A Deva (23) N Tinkler 3 9-4 (D).......................... R Scott 50 9 (1) 300 Rockley Point (18) K Scott 8 9-3 (CD).................... P Dennis 68 10 (8) 269 Oh So Hot (53) Adrian Nicholls 3 9-2....... Laura Coughlan (5) 50 11 (7) 994 Khulu (21) D Thompson 5 9-0..............................A Beech (5) 61 12 (9) 579 Embla (18) A Brown 3 8-12.........................................D Swift 44 13 (4) 883 Angel Eyes (16) J Riches 6 8-12......................K Schofield (5) 51 14 (12) 050 Grandads Best Girl (113) Miss L Perratt 4 8-12.....T Eaves — BETTING: 3 One For The Ladies, 11-2 Foreseeable Future, 6 She’s A Deva, 7 Khulu, 8 Oakenshield, 10 Oh So Hot, Cuppacoco, 14 Angel Eyes, 16 Others. 2020: No corresponding race. CAZOO SEARCH DRIVE SMILE HANDICAP (5) 1m Winner £3,240 (14 run) SSR 1 (11) 422 Bringitonboris (14) K Dalgleish 4 9-13 (BF, CD2)......... C Rodriguez 74 2 (9) 795 Hajjam (8) Liam Bailey 7 9-12 (D)....................................B Garritty (3) — 3 (12) 032 Makeen (7) J Camacho 4 9-12 (BF, D)................................ H Russell (3) 79 4 (3) 732 Colleague (37) E Alston 4 9-11................................................. J Hart — 5 (7) 413 Broctune Red (13) G Boanas 6 9-10 (CD4)................O Stammers (5) 66 6 (4) 557 Emraan (28) I Williams 5 9-10 (D2).........................Josephine Gordon 61 7 (2) 212 Musahaba (18) D O’Meara 4 9-10 (BF, C)....................................S Gray 75 8 (10) 574 Confrontational (21) J Candlish 7 9-8 (CD).................. C Shepherd 76 9 (14) 365 Twisted Dreams (14) R Menzies 4 9-7 (CD)...... A Breslin (5) 74 10 (5) 422 Moonbootz (21) K Burke 4 9-6................................ H Shaw 92 11 (8) 598 Traveller (18) A Brittain 7 9-4 (CD3)......................C Hardie 70 12 (1) 204 All Things Bright (8) T Davidson 3 9-3 (BF)........ P Dennis 51 13 (13) 712 Key Look (21) G Harker 4 9-2 (D)................................S James 69 14 (6) 581 Pacino (14) R Fahey 5 9-1 (CD)..............................T Hamilton 74 BETTING: 4 Makeen, 5 Bringitonboris, 6 Musahaba, 7 Pacino, 10 Key Look, 12 Twisted Dreams, Moonbootz, Broctune Red, 14 Others. 2020: TRAVELLER 6 9 2, William Buick 5-2 Fav (A Brittain), drawn (6), 8 ran. DFE ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS HAND- 8.30 ICAP (6) 7f Winner £2,700 (14 run) SSR 1 (11) 095 Bobby Joe Leg (21) R Carr 7 9-7 (CD3).................. JP Sullivan 57 2 (9) 008 Millionaire Waltz (24) B Haslam 4 9-7 (D)........... H Shaw 45 3 (1) 509 Rocket Rod (64) G Harker 4 9-6...............................S James — 4 (3) 260 Jems Bond (18) A Brown 4 9-6...................................D Swift 66 5 (12) 631 Rain Cap (16) J Riches 4 9-6 (D2).....................K Schofield (5) — 6 (10) 509 Whipsaw Adrian Nicholls 3 9-5.............................B McHugh 54 7 (14) 725 Must Be An Angel (14) J Mackie 4 9-5 (BF)............C Hardie 63 8 (8) 092 Better By Far (61) S Bowring 3 9-4....................L Edmunds 67 9 (4) 947 Charlesishere (14) Mrs A Duffield 3 9-3...................S Gray 42 10 (13) 816 Cool Dandy (18) K Dalgleish 3 9-2 (BF, CD)......... C Rodriguez 65 11 (5) 583 Gold Ring (14) T Waggott 4 9-1.................................T Eaves 63 12 (6) 7-8 Sestriere (21) R Fell 5 8-13.................................B Harris (7) 44 13 (7) 047 Beechwood Emily (17) K Dalgleish 3 8-13 (CD)................... ..........................................................................B Garritty (3) 69 14 (2) 430 Feel The Thunder (48) S Dixon 5 8-12...............J Fisher (5) 55 BETTING: 9-2 Must Be An Angel, 5 Cool Dandy, 13-2 Rain Cap, 7 Gold Ring, 10 Better By Far, Whipsaw, 12 Bobby Joe Leg, Jems Bond, Sestriere, 14 Others. 2020: DEOLALI 6 8 12, Shane Gray 5-1 (Mrs Stella Barclay), drawn (13), 14 ran. statistics Weight watcher Horses which have dropped most from previous winning handicap marks in the last two years. FAKENHAM: None. HAYDOCK: 2.20 Woven (won off 92 down 6lb to 86); 5.10 Socially Shady (4lb). NEWCASTLE: 7.00 Hurstwood (won off 60 down 3lb to 57); Qaaraat (6lb); 7.30 Oakenshield (21lb); 8.30 Bobby Joe Leg (3lb); Jems Bond (6lb); Beechwood Emily (11lb). REDCAR: 3.50 Viva Voce (won off 59 down 3lb to 56); Donnelly’s Rainbow (6lb); Magical Effect (14lb); King Of Tonga (19lb); Presidential (26lb); 4.55 Dandy’s Angel (9lb). UTTOXETER: 3.40 Chase The Wind (won off 107 down 4lb to 103); 4.15 The Garrison (8lb). Stable movers Horses which are having their first run for a new trainer. HAYDOCK: 1.15 Edinson Kevani (Phillip Makin to J Gallagher). NEWCASTLE: 6.00 Burj Malinka (E & P Harty to Adrian Nicholls), 6.30 Fast Beauty (K Burke to E Bethell), 8.30 Whipsaw (H De Bromhead to Adrian Nicholls). REDCAR: 3.50 Birdie Bowers (J J Davies to D Thompson), 3.50 Thowq (D Loughnane to R Fell), 4.25 Bakr (J Ferguson to N Tinkler), 4.55 Lofty (T D Barron to L Morgan). FAKENHAM: None. UTTOXETER: 1.55 Anyharminasking (Donnchadh Doyle to Jonjo O’Neill), 1.55 Heritier (E Clayeux to O Greenall), 3.05 Moon Over Germany (H De Bromhead to R Dickin), 3.40 Colours Of My Life (A King to D Skelton), 4.15 Peggyclare (Miss D O’Shea to B Lund), 4.50 Dooyork (C Bowe to O Greenall). racing RESULTs REST OF Today’s racecards: page 49 BRIGHTON Going: Good to firm 2.10 (6f, £2,700): 1, BIG BARD (R Clutterbuck) 2-1; 2, Jaffathegaffa 14-1; 3, Million Reasons 12-1. Also: 7-4 Fav Big Impact. 11 ran. 6½l, 1¼l. (G L Moore). Tote: Win £3.10; Pl £1.40, £3.40, £3.20. Exacta: £30.30. Tricast: £284.80. Trifecta: £281.60. CSF: £28.57. 2.45 (6f, £3,780): 1, SAFRA (A Atzeni) 9-4; 2, Botanist 11-10 Fav; 3, Aadel 12-1. 9 ran. 4½l, hd. (S & E Crisford). Tote: Win £3.40; Pl £1.30, £1.10, £2.40. Exacta: £6.60. Trifecta: £26.90. CSF: £5.12. 3.20 (1m, £3,240): 1, RODIN (D Probert) 5-1; 2, Fieldsman 17-2; 3, Dourado 6-1. Also: 7-2 Fav Yanifer. 8 ran. hd, ¾l. (A Balding). Tote: Win £5.10; Pl £2.00, £2.70, £1.90. Exacta: £43.00. Tricast: £260.08. Trifecta: £281.10. CSF: £46.56. 3.55 (1m, £5,400): 1, BREEZY STORM (S W Kelly) 6-5 Fav; 2, Flamborough 10-1; 3, Rochebrune 28-1. 9 ran. ¾l, 5½l. (G L Moore). Tote: Win £1.90; Pl £1.10, £1.80, £6.20. Exacta: £11.10. Trifecta: £173.10. CSF: £13.91. 4.30 (1m 2f, £2,700): 1, SPANISH HUSTLE (C Bishop) 66-1; 2, Wisper 9-4 Fav; 3, Spirit Level 9-2. 14 ran. ½l, 2l. (C Gordon). Tote: Win £52.30; Pl £16.50, £1.40, £2.30. Exacta: £453.90. Tricast: £871.80. Trifecta: £1819.80. CSF: £213.41. 5.05 (7f, £2,700): 1, ALBA DEL SOLE (D Keenan) 28-1; 2, Seesawing 12-1; 3, Incorrigible 2-1 Fav. 13 ran. 1l, 1½l. (R Brisland). Tote: Win £33.80; Pl £7.60, £4.10, £1.10. Exacta: £518.40. Tricast: £1021.61. Trifecta: £4006.70. CSF: £327.47. NR: Crocus, Napping. 5.40 (5f, £3,240): 1, ATTY’S EDGE (W Cox) 11-4; 2, Andre Amar 9-1; 3, Colombe 7-4 Fav. 7 ran. ½l, 1¼l. (C Mason). Tote: Win £3.40; Pl £2.10, £4.00. Exacta: £22.50. Tricast: £52.94. Trifecta: £77.10. CSF: £26.01. NR: Glamorous Breeze. JACKPOT: Not won, pool of £142,866.66 carried over. PLACEPOT: Dividend: £50.60. CARLISLE Going: Good-good to firm in places on chase course 1.23 (2m 4f, £3,812): 1, HART OF STEEL (T Gillard) 10-1; 2, Kavanaghs Cross 9-2; 3, Iolani 11-2. Also: 11-8 Fav Bavington Bob. 7 ran. nk, 6l. (D McCain). Tote: Win £10.30; Pl £4.20, £2.50. Exacta: £49.50. Trifecta: £282.50. CSF: £51.24. 1.55 (2m, £6,862): 1, ARVICO BLEU (C Bewley) 25-1; 2, Gold Des Bois evens Fav; 3, Slanelough 4-1. 5 ran. 4l, 1¼l. (Ewan Whillans). Tote: Win £20.30; Pl £5.70, £1.10. Exacta: £31.60. Trifecta: £100.60. CSF: £54.00. NR: Fusain. 2.30 (2m 1f, £4,084): 1, MALPAS (B Hughes) 13-8 Fav; 2, Findthetime 4-1; 3, Glentruan 9-4. 8 ran. 5½l, ¾l. (D McCain). Tote: Win £2.10; Pl £1.10, £1.50, £1.20. Exacta: £9.10. Trifecta: £22.90. CSF: £8.62. 3.05 (3m 110yds, £7,080): 1, QUARTZ DU RHEU (Jonjo O’Neill Jr) 8-11 Fav; 2, Court Dreaming 7-2; 3, Amalfi Doug 5-2. 3 ran. 1¼l, nk. (Jonjo O’Neill). Tote: Win £1.60; Exacta: £2.80. Trifecta: £3.90. CSF: £3.41. NR: Speak Of The Devil. 3.40 (2m 1f, £2,505): 1, NEAR KETTERING (T Midgley) 5-2 Fav; 2, Steinkraus 9-1; 3, Grand Enterprise 11-2. 10 ran. nk, 6½l. (S England). Tote: Win £3.80; Pl £1.50, £2.70, £1.60. Exacta: £35.40. Tricast: £115.76. Trifecta: £184.50. CSF: £25.14. 4.15 (2m 1f, £2,505): 1, SET IN STONE (N Moscrop) 5-1; 2, Wor Verge 17-2; 3, Oakmont 11-2. Also: 5-2 Fav Foster’sisland. 9 ran. shd, 12l. (R Menzies). Tote: Win £6.00; Pl £2.00, £2.50, £2.20. Exacta: £53.00. Tricast: £242.61. Trifecta: £249.40. CSF: £46.61. 4.50 (2m, £5,446): 1, ARMATTIEKAN (B Hughes) 11-8 Fav; 2, Sword Of Fate 15-8; 3, Kamil 8-1. 5 ran. 10l, 6l. (D McCain). Tote: Win £2.30; Pl £1.40, £1.40. Exacta: £5.30. Trifecta: £22.30. CSF: £4.62. NR: Cool Country. 5.20 (2m 1f, £2,451): 1, FEEL LIKE DE BAUNE (Mr B Brackenbury) 17-2; 2, Stroll On By 6-5 Fav; 3, Road To Rosley 125-1. 11 ran. ns, 6l. (A Hales). Tote: Win £9.70; Pl £2.70, £1.10, £17.50. Exacta: £30.90. Trifecta: £2427.00. CSF: £18.86. PLACEPOT: Dividend: £121.20. WINCANTON Going: Good to firm 1.15 (1m 7f, £4,084): 1, MASCAT (T Scudamore) 13-8 Fav; 2, Right Destination 11-4; 3, Loup De Maulde 16-1. 5 ran. 1½l, 3¼l. (R J Smith). Tote: Win £2.30; Pl £1.20, £1.60. Exacta: £5.50. Trifecta: £25.50. CSF: £6.44. NR: Oslo. 1.45 (2m 4f, £4,084): 1, BEHOLDEN (Page Fuller) 9-2; 2, Arcade Attraction 9-4; 3, Island Nation 5-6 Fav. 5 ran. 6l, 3½l. (J Snowden). Tote: Win £4.90; Pl £2.00, £1.60. Exacta: £12.40. Trifecta: £18.80. CSF: £15.07. 2.20 (1m 7f, £9,258): 1, SEE THE SEA (P J Kavanagh) 11-10 Fav; 2, Get Back Get Back 3-1; 3, Thahab Ifraj 16-1. 7 ran. 5l, 4¼l. (D McCain). Tote: Win £1.90; Pl £1.20, £1.80. Exacta: £4.60. Tricast: £29.79. Trifecta: £30.00. CSF: £4.99. NR: Manor Park. 2.55 (3m 1f, £9,803): 1, MR MAFIA (S Bowen) 9-2; 2, Marble Moon 5-1; 3, Flying Verse 9-1. Also: 9-4 Fav Friends Don’t Ask. 6 ran. 16l, 1¼l. (M Keighley). Tote: Win £5.40; Pl £2.40, £2.70. Exacta: £25.90. Trifecta: £111.30. CSF: £25.06. 3.30 (2m 5f, £4,084): 1, MR YEATS (M Bastyan) 4-1; 2, Cry Wolf 5-1; 3, Olympic Honour 4-1. Also: 9-4 Fav Strike The Flint. 6 ran. 1¾l, 12l. (M Harris). Tote: Win £4.20; Pl £2.10, £2.20. Exacta: £21.30. Trifecta: £82.80. CSF: £22.92. 4.05 (3m 1f, £3,268): 1, O’FAOLAINS LAD (T Doggrell) 7-2; 2, Jony Max 2-1 Fav; 3, Catch The Cuban 25-1. 11 ran. 1l, 1½l. (Mrs R Ford). Tote: Win £4.30; Pl £1.60, £1.40, £3.30. Exacta: £13.70. Tricast: £150.50. Trifecta: £126.00. CSF: £10.70. PLACEPOT: Dividend: £64.50. SORRY! The results from Chelmsford were too late for publication

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 51 Fight fans prepare to be kept on the Edg of their seats! boxing By mike lockley TWO of Birmingham’s most accomplished warriors make a welcome ring return in a mouth-watering double-header. Marauding middleweight Andrew “D’Animal” Robinson and Chelmsley Wood’s Ryan Kelly both feature in a two-day fight festival at Edgbaston’s H Suite this weekend. The extravaganza, staged by Black Country Boxing promotions, also features rugged Kane Baker, a former Midlands lightweight champ and English title challenger, young gun Tommy Collins, a huge ticketseller, and ex-champ Paul Holt. Add Walsall’s Shaun Cooper to the mix and it’s plain to see BCB have rolled out the big guns for their foray into the Second City. Tomorrow and Sunday will be more than alright for fighting. Kelly, having his first fight since returning from a stint in Dubai, will be looking to climb back to British title-contender status tomorrow. Now 14-3, the light-middle has been out of the ring for close to two years. Last time out he was stopped by towering prospect Hamzah Sheeraz. The 27-year-old Kelly, now trained by John Costello, said: “It’s good to be back on home soil and I just want to get active again. I’ve made a few changes to my team, which includes being signed to BCB. “I’m back with John Costello, who was my first amateur coach when I was nine. For me, he’s the best in the business and I’m learning a lot from him again. “I’ve been out in Dubai. I took a job there as a personal trainer, teaching people how to box and keep fit. It just came at the worst possible time, with the pandemic going on. “I was living there when I had my last fight, which was a bit silly really. I didn’t really get the notice I needed and I had no punch resistance from cutting the weight too fast. “I can honestly tell you I’ve never backed down from anyone. Fighters fight. I was the same as an amateur. I beat some good kids (won 55 bouts), but I lost a few as well (12). “I’ve shown I can bounce back. I won the Midlands title at the second attempt. There is more to come and I’m too long in the game for backward steps. People might think I’m past it, so it’s down to me to prove them wrong and get the buzz back about me.” Muscled middleweight Robinson is another with a point to prove. His dream bid to net the British title ended in a nightmare, with champ Liam Williams stopping him in one round. D’Animal (24-5- 1) hasn’t fought since that mauling. Some of the ring rust will be Sport shed tomorrow night. At the veteran stage of his career at 37, Robinson said: “I’ve trained all year, in the gym every day, for fights that haven’t happened. I’ve been in camp for every one of them, so I’m desperate to get in there. “I want the British title. I’ve had Andrew Robinson wants British title I’ve shown I can bounce back. I won the Midlands title at the second attempt. I’m too long in the game for backward steps. Ryan Kelly John Costello has taken Kelly under his wing again Ryan Kelly is back and determined to silence the doubters one shot and I won’t give up until I get another. I got caught by a good body shot from a big puncher early on, so fair play, but the people who know me can appreciate I wasn’t myself that night. “It wasn’t a loss, it was a lesson. I’ve come back from defeats before and I will again. I just get back up and keep coming forward. “I’ve changed my team since then Kane Baker is after back-to-back wins and I feel like I’m better than I’ve ever been. I believe I’m still one of the top middleweights in the country.” Baker, a man who has risen from journeyman to contender, takes part in his 24th bout tomorrow. The 31-year-old from Bartley Green said: “I’m always after opportunities and, by the end of the year, I’m expecting something to come up, whether that’s for a title or against someone who is highly-ranked. “Back-to-back wins puts me in a stronger position to do that, so that’s the first thing I need to do. I want to box at my best and get the job done.” Collins, a light-welter whose ring apprenticeship has been stalled by the pandemic, bids for his fourth straight win on Sunday. The 23-year-old said: “It’s fantastic to have this fight date in Birmingham. It’s been 18 months since I’ve boxed at home and I felt like I had a bit of momentum going then. “The pandemic threw a spanner in the works, but I just want to get going again now and then stay as busy as I can. I’ve got to try and fast-track myself. “I’m not in that much of a rush because I’m still young, but I’ll be looking at some sort of title in the next couple of years. I want to test myself against the top boys.” rugby Sport Van revved up to start at Sixways By paul bolton WORCESTER’S British and Irish Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe is relishing the prospect of making his home debut in tomorrow’s Premiership clash against Leicester at Sixways. The Scotland international powerhouse made a subdued debut for Warriors in last week’s defeat at Exeter and, after the Lions’ tour of South Africa was played behind closed doors, he enjoyed the experience of playing in front of a crowd again. “I’m really looking forward to making my home debut,” said van der Merwe. “After so long playing behind closed doors it was fantastic to play in front of a crowd at Exeter and I can’t wait to play in front of a big crowd at Sixways.” Van der Merwe arrived at Sixways less than three weeks ago having been given a break after the Lions tour and, although he has settled in quickly at his new club, he is still getting used to playing in a different league and familiarising himself with the systems Warriors play. “Settling in has been pretty easy. The boys have made it really easy for me,” he said. “It’s a new system for me so it’s just a case getting used to that. Moving to the Premiership is a new challenge. I’m not saying it’s much harder than the Pro14, but there are no easy games in this competition. “That for me is a new challenge and it’s one I’m looking forward to.” Leicester come to Sixways having won all four of their Premiership games so far this season, which will produce “a tough old battle”, according to van der Merwe. “Leicester are a really good side. They’ve won four out of four, they have a big physical pack of forwards, they have some good backline players as well,” he said. “They are going to come here full of confidence and it’s going to be a tough old battle.” Warriors hope loose forward Kyle Hatherell will be cleared to play having failed a head injury assessment in the first half at Exeter. Former England wing Chris Ashton could also be in contention for a first appearance of the season after recovering from a calf injury sustained in pre-season training.

52 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live Football Bruno facing tough call on Raul for derby clash By ALex dIckeN RAUL Jimenez scored his first goal for Mexico in almost a year in the early hours of yesterday morning. The Wolves striker linked up with his country for the first time since fracturing his skull at Arsenal last November. Jimenez has featured in all three of Mexico’s World Cup qualifiers with Canada, Honduras and El Salvador during the international break. He stepped off the bench with half an hour remaining against the latter and scored a stoppagetime penalty to seal a 2-0 win. After a slow start to the season, Jimenez is beginning to come into form, with a goal and two assists in his last two appearances for Wolves. Bruno Lage believes Jimenez’s performance against Newcastle last time out was his best of the campaign to date. But the head coach has an unwanted call to make ahead of tomorrow’s derby showdown at Villa. After featuring in 184 of Mexico’s 270 minutes of action during the past week, Jimenez now faces a 5,368-mile dash back to England before reporting to Compton Park for training this morning. In his first two seasons at Wolves the 30-year-old became accustomed to the With Jimenez’s gruelling playing and travelling schedule in mind, Lage may decide to hold him in reserve at Villa Park. quick turnaround and previous boss Nuno Espirito Santo rarely opted to rest him afterwards. However, on the two previous occasions where Jimenez played in the Americas three days before starting a Wolves match, his performances suffered. In October 2018 he struggled to make an impact as Wolves were dismantled by Watford at Molineux, just three days after he had played 90 minutes for Mexico in their 1-0 defeat to Chile. And in September 2019 Jimenez produced a tired showing as Wolves were hammered 5-2 by Chelsea – again, this performance came three days after he had played 90 minutes in Mexico’s 4-0 loss to Argentina. With Jimenez’s gruelling playing and travelling schedule in mind, Lage may decide to hold him in reserve at Villa Park. He has numerous attacking options and £35 million striker Fabio Silva returns to Wolves with confidence after grabbing two goals and two assists on his debut for Portugal under-21s. Lage could also recall Adama Traore and Daniel Podence, both of whom didn’t head off on international duty, but the Wolves boss might be without Francisco Trincao after he tested positive for Covid-19. Raul Jimenez is due to report for training today after making the 5,368-mile trek from Mexico Bruno Lage OPINION Coach leaves Villa for new job at Wolves By ALex dIckeN HIGHLY-RATED coach Mike Scott has quit Villa to join Midland rivals Wolves, the Birmingham Mail can reveal. Scott has started work at Wolves’ Compton Park training base in his new role as head of coach development. He only joined Villa as under-16s boss and head of youth development last summer after leaving Championship club Derby. Prior to linking up with the Rams in 2019, he was part of Albion’s academy set-up, where he worked alongside current Villa chiefs Mark Harrison and Steve Hopcroft. Scott spent 11 years with West Brom, seven of them as professional development phase coach. During that time he worked with many players who have risen to prominence, such as Nathan Ferguson, Dara O’Shea, Kyle Edwards and Rayhaan Tulloch. Scott was under-18s boss in the latter stages of his Baggies’ career, leading them to the FA Youth Cup semi-final in April 2019, the club’s first in 41 years. A number of former Albion coaches have made their way from The Hawthorns to Villa over the last two years, but Scott has now been lured away. The Mail understands his new role is academy-based and he will report to technical director Scott Sellars, who has retained overall control of the youth teams despite stepping up to join the club’s hierarchy. weekend FIXTUReS TONIGHT (7.45 unless stated) RUGBY PREMIERSHIP: Sale v Harlequins, MIDLANDS SENIOR VASE, First Round: Belper v Burntwood. TOMORROW (3.00 unless stated) FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION 2: Birmingham U23 v Aston Villa U23 (12.00). FA CUP, Fourth Qualifying Round, Northern: Boston United v Stratford Town; Brackley Town v Guiseley; Bromsgrove Sporting v Grimsby Town (12.30); Curzon Ashton v Chesterfield; Hereford v Solihull Moors; Kettering Town v Buxton; King’s Lynn Town v Peterborough Sports; Marine v Wrexham; Marske United v Gateshead; Pontefract v FC Halifax Town; Southport v Altrincham; Stockport v Stamford; Tamworth v Notts County; York City v Morpeth Town. Southern: AFC Sudbury v Dartford; Banbury United v Bath City; Barnet v Boreham Wood; Bedfont Sports v Kidderminster Harriers; Bowers & Pitsea v Aldershot Town; Corinthian-Casuals v St Albans City; Dorking Wanderers v Hayes & Yeading United; Dover Athletic v Yate Town; Eastleigh v Folkestone Invicta; Harrow Borough v Chelmsford City; Horsham v Woking; Hungerford Town v Bromley; Maidenhead United v Hastings United; Southend United v Chetsey Town; Wealdstone v Dagenham & Redbridge, Yeovil Town v Weymouth. VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH: AFC Fylde v Gloucester City; AFC Telford United v Farsley Celtic; Chorley v Darlington. SOUTHERN LEAGUE, PREMIER CENTRAL: AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Alvechurch; Biggleswade Town v Rushall Olympic; Hednesford Town v Redditch United; Hitchin Town v Needham Market; Leiston v Barwell; Nuneaton Borough v Lowestoft Town; Royston Town v Stourbridge. NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION: Ashton United v Nantwich Town; Atherton Collieries v Mickleover; Basford United v Hyde United; FC United of Manchester v Grantham Town; Matlock Town v South Shields; Radcliffe v Lancaster City; Scarborough Athletic v Witton Albion; Stafford Rangers v Gainsborough Trinity; Stalybridge Celtic v Bamber Bridge; Warrington Town v Whitby Town. MIDLANDS: Bedworth United v Wisbech Town; Cambridge City v Shepshed Dynamo; Carlton Town v Loughborough Dynamo; Chasetown v Histon; Coleshill Town v Corby Town; Ilkeston Town v Soham Town Rangers; Spalding United v Daventry Town; Sutton Coldfield Town v Sporting Khalsa; Yaxley v Halesowen Town. MIDLAND LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION: Boldmere St Michaels v Worcester City; Haughmond v Highgate United; Lichfield City v Tividale; Racing Club Warwick v Bewdley Town; Romulus v AFC Wulfrunians; Shifnal Town v Stone Old Alleynians; Stourport Swifts v Uttoxeter Town; Walsall Wood v Hanley Town; Whitchurch Alport v Lye Town DIVISION ONE: Atherstone Town v Cradley Town; Bilston Town Community v Stapenhill; Coventry Copsewood v AFC Bridgnorth; Dudley Sports v Ashby Ivanhoe; Dudley Town v Paget Rangers; Khalsa Football Federation v Wednesfield; Nuneaton Griff v Chelmsley Town; OJM Black Country v Wolverhampton Sporting Community; Shawbury United v Darlaston Town. DIVISION TWO: Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons v Redditch Borough; Coventry Alvis v Kenilworth Sporting; Fairfield Villa v Lane Head. DIVISION THREE: AFC Coventry Rangers v Birmingham Tigers; AFC Solihull v Upton Town; Continental Star v AFC Birmingham; DSC United v Castle Vale Town. RESERVE DIVISION: Bewdley Town Res v Walsall Wood Res; Gornal Colts Res v Redditch United Res; Redditch Borough Res v Gresley Rovers Res; Solihull Sporting v Racing Club Warwick U23; Worcester City Res v Leamington Res. UNDER-21s NORTH WEST: Allscott Heath v Stafford Town (10.30); Birmingham Tigers v Stafford Rangers (10.30); Brocton v Shrewsbury Development Centre (10.30); Dream Chaser Youth v Sutton Coldfield Town (10.30); Lichfield City v Boldmere St Michaels (10.30); Rushall Olympic v Chasetown (10.30). UNDER-21s SOUTH WEST: Droitwich Spa BG v Redditch Borough (10.30); Gloucester City v Kidderminster Harriers (12.30); Halesowen Town v Stourport Swifts (10.30); Hampton v AFC Birmingham (10.30); Silhill v Gornal Youth (10.30); Stourbridge v Redditch United (10.30). WEST MIDLANDS (REGIONAL) LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE: AFC Bentley v Allscott Heath; Gornal Athletic v Droitwich Spa; Sikh Hunters v Bromyard Town; Wellington Amateurs v Team Dudley. DIVISION TWO: Edgbaston Spartans v Dudley Athletic; Kidderminster Harriers U23 v Norton Canes; Saltley Stallions v Bilbrook Santos; Warstones Wanderers v Sikh Hunters Development; Wellington Amateurs Development v Gornal Athletic Res. BIRMINGHAM VASE: AFC Somers v Barnt Green Spartak; Bartley Reds v Wrens Nest; Birmingham University Medics v Earlswood Town; BNJS v Boldmere St Michaels Res; Boldmere Sports & Social v Wake Green Ams; Bolehall Swifts v FC Darlaston; Bustleholme v Gornal Colts; CPA v Alcester Town; Central Ajax v Dunlop; Copsewood Coventry v Stratford Town Res; Coventrians v Jet Blades; Enville Athletic v Leamington Hibernian; Old Wulfrunians v Oldbury United; Silhill v Hampton; Sutton Rangers v Wednesfield Res; Tipton Town v Sutton United; Triumph Athletic v Cadbury Athletic; Village v Knowle; Willenhall Town v Christ The King; WLV Sport v Coton Green. BIRMINGHAM LEAGUE, INTERMEDIATE CUP, Second Round: Armada v Doe Bank Rangers; Cannock United v St Johns Rangers; Cresconians v Kings Heath Shooters; Desi v Henley Forest of Arden; Flamengo v University of Birmingham; Hillfields Ath v Kingstanding Phoenix; Hopwood Swifts v Bahal; Kingshurst Pavillions Sports v Nechells Athletic; Bilston Town Community v Birmingham Irish; North Solihull v Sutton Select; Northfield Town v St Georges Warriors; Oldbury United v Kingston Alliance; Solihull Moors v Sky Force; South Redditch Eagles v Warstones Wanderers; Sutton United v BRS. JEFFS CUP, First Round: Bournville v Armada B. VETS LEAGUE: Chillington v Boldmere Sports & Social; Hampton v Village. PREMIER DIVISION: Naija v Crown CR; Old Wulfrunians v Amanah; Polesworth North Warwick v Sporting Elite Birmingham. DIVISION ONE: Silhill B v Sportsco; Wake Green Ams B v Village B. DIVISION TWO: Real Aston v Lodgefield Park. DIVISION THREE: Leafield v Sutton United B; Silhill C v Birmingham Medics B; Wake Green Ams C v MOTD. DIVISION FOUR: FC Premier B v Castlecroft Rangers; Kings Heath Rangers v Village C; Wake Green Ams D v Bartley Reds. DIVISION FIVE: Bahal v Polesworth North Warwick; Sutton United C v Silhill D; Village D v Real Aston B. DIVISION SIX: Bluepool FC v Human Code Lions; Kingstanding Phoenix B v Sporting Futures; Olton Ravens v Wake Green Ams E; Red Lion United v Kings Heath Rangers B; Village E v Warstones Wanderers B. RUGBY PREMIERSHIP: Newcastle v Bristol; Wasps v Exeter; Worcester v Leicester. NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE: Bishop’s Stortford v Rams; Cambridge v Caldy; Chinnor v Darlington Mowden Park; Cinderford v Leeds Tykes; Plymouth Albion v Birmingham Moseley; Rosslyn Park v Sale FC; Tonbridge Juddians v Blackheath. NATIONAL TWO NORTH: Bournville v Blaydon; Harrogate v Stourbridge; Huddersfield v Hull; Loughborough Students v Chester (2.00); Rotherham Titans v Luctonians (2.00); Sedgley Park v Fylde (2.30); Tynedale v Sheffield Tigers; Wharfedale v Hull Ionians. MIDLANDS INTERMEDIATE CUP; First Round: Ashbourne v Crewe & Nantwich; Kidderminster v Vipers; Loughborough v Long Buckby; Northampton Casuals v Earlsdon; Northampton Old Scouts v Berkswell & Balsall; Old Laurentians v Olney; Stafford v Old Coventrians; Stamford v Southwell; Stourbridge Lions v Evesham; Walsall v Silhillians. MIDLANDS SENIOR VASE; First Round: Aldridge v Manor Park; Bromyard v Shrewsbury; Coventry Welsh v Clee Hill; Edwardians v Stoke Old Boys; Mellish v Burbage; Northampton Mens Own v Veseyans; Sileby Town v Queens; Stockwood Park v Birstall; Telford Hornets v Ledbury. MIDLANDS JUNIOR VASE; First Round: Aylestone St James v Trentham; Birmingham Exiles v Northampton BBOB; Bloxwich v South Leicester; Brackley v Birmingham & Solihull; Claverdon v Aston Old Edwardians; Deepings v Barton-Under-Needwood; Old Yardleians v Yardley & District; Rugby Welsh v St Neots; Thorney v Sleaford; Warley v Greyhound. MIDLANDS PREMIER: Oundle v Nuneaton. MIDLANDS ONE WEST: Whitchurch v Lichfield. MIDLANDS TWO WEST (NORTH): Leek v Camp Hill; Newcastle (Staffs) v Old Saltleians. MIDLANDS THREE WEST (SOUTH): Woodrush v Old Leamingtonians. MIDLANDS FOUR WEST (SOUTH): Uptonon-Severn v Kings Norton. MIDLANDS FIVE WEST (SOUTH): Bishops Castle & Onny Valley v St Leonards; Five Ways Old Edwardians v Redditch. SUNDAY (3.00 unless stated) FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION 2: Middlesbrough U23 v West Brom U23 (1.00). RUGBY PREMIERSHIP: Bath v Saracens; London Irish v Gloucester. WATERS The following waters are booked for contests TOMORROW Avon: Fladbury above & below Bridge; Pershore R/B. Canals: Staffs. / Worc. Br. 37 - 38. SUNDAY Avon: Fladbury above & below bridge; Pershore R/B. Severn: Ladyham. Canals: Staffs / Worc. Canal Br. 5 - 19, 38 - 39. DownloaD the app ★4.7/5 ★4.2/5 The InYourArea iOS and Android app lets you follow the latest local news, information, events and more in your area. You can connect with other members of your community, submit events, promote a local business and more. exclusively to our apps, we let you follow news, information, ‘things to do’ and property prices for where you are right now with our ‘near me now’ feature. Our app is the best way to enjoy InYourArea.

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 53 Maddison could be the star candidate for Villa By AsHLey pReece HE’S the kid from Cov who once said it doesn’t come much better than scoring in front of the Holte End. James Maddison’s comments were a poke at Villa knowing Coventry’s dislike of their Birmingham neighbours. However, the 24-year-old has been touted as a future target as a direct replacement for last summer’s departed captain Jack Grealish. The Leicester playmaker’s form has dropped off significantly since his impressive performances last term, which heralded eight goals and seven assists from 31 Premier League matches. Maddison also picked up an FA Cup winners’ medal. His 2020/21 stats were sublime, though, having chalked up 21 direct goal involvements (goals and assists combined) from his 41 appearances in England and Europe. No wonder Arsenal tracked him throughout the summer in a deal that was rumoured as high as £60 million. In the end, the Gunners failed in an United are happy for Tuanzebe to see out loan deal MANCHESTER United have no plans to recall Axel Tuanzebe from his loan at Villa. The 23-year-old defender joined Villa from the Red Devils for the third time in August and head coach Dean Smith has started him in five of the club’s nine games this season. Tuanzebe is in contention to face Wolves at Villa Park tomorrow and is also poised to finish the campaign at Villa Park, despite the ongoing injury problems United have in defence. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-choice pairing of Harry Maguire and Raphael attempt to sign Emi Buendia, as Villa won that one, before manager Mikel Arteta settled on Martin Odegaard. But what about this season? Maddison is just not at the races with confidence an issue at present. His last start for the Foxes came in the 2-1 defeat at Brighton last month where he was hooked at half-time having started on the right of a five-man midfield behind Jamie Vardy. It has been cameos from the bench ever since with the likes of Ademola Lookman, Harvey Barnes, Boubakary Soumare and others preferred by Foxes’ manager Brendan Rodgers. Maddison needs to rediscover his mojo, one that had him firmly within the England set-up just two years ago as he won his one and only cap. In terms of a move to Villa, he certainly fits the profile – young and British with zero adaptability required. What’s more, Maddison’s exquisite and dangerous dead-ball technique make him a star candidate for Austin MacPhee’s set-pieces. The former Norwich man, who is Given Maddison’s passing range and dead-ball ability, he would tick a lot of boxes for Villa if they wanted to test the water with a bid. Sport Varane are both injured. Maguire has been sidelined since September 25 while Varane is set to be out for ‘a few weeks’ with a groin injury sustained in France’s Nations League final win over Spain. United have the option to recall Tuanzebe in January, but sources have told the Birmingham Mail he is ‘enjoying his football’ and is expected to stay for the rest of the season. Villa are interested in making Tuanzebe’s loan permanent next summer. Meanwhile, Villa have announced the signing of teenage winger Declan Frith James Maddison fits the profile of player Villa are keen to bring on board well known to have an infectious personality, has his similarities with Grealish given their boy-band looks and creative style, but he has scored from 11 direct free-kicks in his career, the last of which came against Liverpool in a 3-1 win at the King Power Stadium in February. With dangerous, whipped-in corners and devilish deliveries from deep, Maddison is a solid alternative to Villa’s well-documented £25 million summer target, Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, a player who has two goals fewer than Maddison after a successful trial period with the club’s under-23s. The 19-year-old joins having started the summer at Chelsea before being granted permission to feature for Mark Delaney’s youngsters from September where he made his debut in the 4-2 victory over West Brom. Winger Frith, who is left-footed has featured four times for Villa, playing on the right of an attacking three behind central striker Caleb Chukwuemeka. Frith follows former West Brom man Finley Thorndike in signing terms after a successful trial spell. OPINION from direct free-kicks. Given Maddison’s passing range and dead-ball ability, he is a player who would tick a lot of boxes for Villa if they wanted to test the water with a bid. It is definitely one to keep an eye on as Villa sporting director Johan Lange tees up alternatives to Ward-Prowse and other targets in the upcoming transfer windows. Maddison, who is under contract at Leicester until 2024, certainly fits the bill, while Villa head coach Dean Smith would no doubt relish the challenge of getting him back to his brilliant best. Axel Tuanzebe is settled at Villa Football MATcH GUIDe (3.00 unless stated) Ht Ft TONIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ......West Brom v Birmingham (8.00)... LEAGUE ONE ...........Burton v Morecambe (7.45) ....... SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP ............. Hamilton v Partick (7.45).......... SCOTTISH LEAGUE 2 .......Edinburgh v Kelty Hearts (7.45).... TOMORROW PREMIER LEAGUE ......... Aston Villa v Wolverhampton ...... ............Brentford v Chelsea (5.30) ........ ..................Leicester v Man Utd .............. ...................Man City v Burnley ............... .................. Norwich v Brighton ............... ................Southampton v Leeds ............ ........... Watford v Liverpool (12.30) ........ CHAMPIONSHIP ................ Blackburn v Coventry ............. .......Bristol City v AFC Bournemouth ... ................ Fulham v QPR (12.30) ............. ...................Huddersfield v Hull ............... ....... Middlesbrough v Peterborough .... ......................Millwall v Luton................... .............Nottm Forest v Blackpool ......... ......................Preston v Derby .................. ...................Reading v Barnsley ............... .................... Sheff Utd v Stoke ................. LEAGUE ONE ..........AFC Wimbledon v Sheff Wed ...... .......................Bolton v Wigan ................... ............. Cambridge Utd v Ipswich .......... .............Cheltenham v Accrington ......... ................Doncaster v Wycombe ............ ............. Fleetwood Town v Crewe .......... ..............Gillingham v Sunderland .......... ............... Lincoln City v Charlton ............ ...............Oxford Utd v Plymouth............ .............Rotherham v Portsmouth ......... ...............Shrewsbury v MK Dons ........... LEAGUE TWO .............Bradford v Bristol Rovers ......... .................. Carlisle v Tranmere ............... ...............Colchester v Harrogate ........... ............... Crawley Town v Sutton ............ .............Exeter v Newport County ......... ...............Leyton Orient v Walsall ........... .............Northampton v Mansfield ......... ................. Oldham v Stevenage .............. ...................Port Vale v Barrow ............... ............. Salford City v Hartlepool .......... ........... Scunthorpe v Forest Green ........ ..................Swindon v Rochdale .............. SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP ........... Dundee v Aberdeen (6.00) ........ ..............Hibernian v Dundee Utd........... ...................Motherwell v Celtic ............... .................... Rangers v Hearts ................. ..............Ross County v St Mirren .......... ............St Johnstone v Livingston ........ SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP ................ Ayr v Queen of South ............. ............Dunfermline v Kilmarnock......... ............... Inverness CT v Morton ............ .....................Raith v Arbroath ................. SCOTTISH LEAGUE 1 ....................Alloa v Peterhead ................ .................... Clyde v Montrose ................. ........... Dumbarton v Queen’s Park ........ ............. East Fife v Cove Rangers .......... ................Falkirk v Airdrieonians ............ SCOTTISH LEAGUE 2 ........................Albion v Elgin .................... .......Cowdenbeath v Stenhousemuir.... ...............Forfar v Annan Athletic ........... ...................Stirling v Stranraer ............... SUNDAY PREMIER LEAGUE ........... Everton v West Ham (2.00) ........ ........ Newcastle v Tottenham (4.30) ..... CHAMPIONSHIP .............Swansea v Cardiff (12.00) ......... MONDAY PREMIER LEAGUE ....... Arsenal v Crystal Palace (8.00) ....

54 BIRMINGHAM MAIL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 @birmingham_live ALBION v BLUES Troy Deeney says head coach Lee Bowyer, inset, talks to his squad about the importance of consistency Lee is working hard to turn the Blues Titanic By BRIAN dIck TROY Deeney says Lee Bowyer is trying to change the ‘mentality’ at Blues as he works to break the club’s cycle of annual relegation battles. Blues started well under the head coach but have lapsed into old habits in the last five games, missing chances and gifting goals. Deeney says Bowyer talks to his squad about consistency, in both matches and training, in an effort to turn the Blues Titanic. He said: “We had a really good start when he first came in, we had a good start this season, the (first) international break probably killed us. “I’ve come in at the international break and then it looks from the outside like I’ve come in and messed things up. Just going through those spells in seasons you do where there’s games we should have won, we didn’t Sanchez set to play in a ‘different derby’ IVAN Sanchez has returned to firstteam training but will not be involved in tonight’s trip to Albion. The Blues winger has spent the last six weeks on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a pelvic problem. He is nearing a return to fitness but won’t play at The Hawthorns – instead he will be involved in a different derby. Blues’ Under-23s face Villa’s at St Andrew’s tomorrow and Sanchez will be thrown into the white heat of that THE HAWTHorNS, ToNIGHT, 8PM He has been great, I think he is definitely trying to build something here and that he is the right man to push us up the league. Troy Deeney and we are just on the wrong end of it at the minute. “But he (Bowyer) has been great, I think he is definitely trying to build something here and that he is the right man to push us up the league and get us to where we want to be. “You are having to change mindsets, when you are in the game you understand that, but for outside people, Birmingham have been, I think three of the last four years, or four of the last five battle. Head coach Lee Bowyer confirmed the plan and said: “Ivan started training with us on Monday. The plan is to give him 45 minutes on Saturday.” Gary Gardner is available against the Baggies, after completing his three-game suspension. Bowyer said: “He is a good option because he is someone we definitely missed. It feels like such a time go that we played Peterborough. It’s good to have him among the squad again.” towards the end of the transfer window, has a reputation as a forthright speaker, not afraid to air his views. However, the 33-year-old accepts his return of one penalty goal from six matches, including three starts, means he must be more measured. “I would say I have tweaked my approach to it a little bit. Would I have loved to come in and take a sledgehammer to the place and say ‘This is how it needs to Harlee Dean be’? Of course I would,” he years, last day stayed up. So the said. mentality is used to relegation battles. age you get a bit more respectful. We “But I am respectful, I think with “But he has come in and is changing that and trying to go ‘This is how captain, Jukey (Lukas Jutkiewicz) as have already got Harlee Dean who is you be consistent on a daily basis to well, a big, solid pro. get up the league’.” “You have got a few lads who have Deeney, who joined from Watford been around the block, they know However, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is not ready to come back into the first team, with Bowyer putting faith in incumbent Matija Sarkic. “Neil Etheridge is working hard every day and improving, he is moving in the right direction,’’ said the boss. “Mati has started the season and he is doing well, there is no decision at the moment. If things change in that department you will all be the first to know. But today Neil is not ready and Mati is doing well.” what they are doing, so you don’t have to come in and necessarily smash it to bits. “But also I have got to hit the ground running and I haven’t done that. So if I can get back to scoring and doing what I do, I think the respect then grows and you are in a position to start demanding more. “I am one of those people who unless I am doing my job to the best of my ability then I can’t then demand off somebody else. “Results haven’t been reflective [of how we’ve played] I don’t think. We have been missing a lot of chances and defending poorly, we expect to put that right on Friday.” That comes against local rivals West Brom at The Hawthorns tonight, where Blues are looking for a first win in six and to score for the first time since Deeney’s spot-kick in the 4-1 loss to Fulham. Ivan Sanchez will face Villa Sport Boss under no illusion about test LEE Bowyer believes Albion have a stronger squad now, despite relegation from the Premier League. The Blues boss pits his team against a Baggies side currently sitting second in the Championship. Blues’ neighbours have made an excellent start to the campaign, setting a club record of ten matches without defeat, before the loss at Stoke last time out. They are within striking distance of top spot and will be confident of returning to winning ways against a Blues team that lost its way before the international break. And after signing the likes of Jordan Hugill and Alex Mowatt, Bowyer has not been surprised by Albion’s start to the season. “They have just come down from the Premier League and kept their players and improved their squad, so they should be doing well. They have got a lot of good players,” the head coach said. “Their players in the attacking third stand out to me more than anybody. When they get a chance they punish you. They have got pace, strength, their strength in depth in the squad is very good. They have got a certain way of playing and it works for them. “We have to be ready to compete because if you don’t compete then they run over the top of you. “They are very good at the way they play, similar to what they did last year at Barnsley. He (Valerien Ismael) has brought that here just with a better group of players. “The way they play is quite regimented but they are good at it. We have got to find a way to break them down and keep them out at the other end.” Blues didn’t get that, or indeed any other, when the clubs played out a friendly in August, with the Baggies running out 4-0 winners. “I don’t think we had a shot,” Bowyer admitted. “I watched the game back and I can’t remember us causing them any problems. “I would like to think we learned from that. They showed what a good side they are on the day but I like to think when we played them to where we are now, we are a different team. “We have to get things right on the night. If we do that and if we compete with them we have got a good chance. This will be a good test for us.”

www.birminghamlive.co.uk FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 55 ALBION v BLUES Val: Let’s make it a fan-tastic occasion at Hawthorns By josepH cHApMAN WEST Brom boss Valerien Ismael has told his players to inspire a white-hot atmosphere in the stands when they welcome Blues to The Hawthorns tonight. Albion are second in the Championship and have lost just once in their opening 11 matches, but there have been occasions when sections of the fanbase have made their opinions very clear about the displays on show. The recipe for a lively vibe in the stands lies with the players, though. If they can ignite on the pitch from the first whistle, as they have so often done this season, then Blues will have a battle on their hands. More than 25,000 are expected to be in attendance. “I’m looking forward to having a home game again, the last two were away,” said Ismael. “It should be a great atmosphere, but to get that atmosphere we need to put the performance in on the pitch and to make sure our performance lifts the crowd with us. THE HAWTHoRnS, TonIgHT, 8pM “This is what we’re looking for – that from the first minute to the last, we have our foot on the gas. The fans are massive for us when you think that 11 games we’ve played and eight times have been night time – four times Friday night. “It’s difficult for our fans but they support us anyway in any circumstance, so we need to make sure we put in the right performance.” On that previous unrest, heard quite clearly in the draws at home to Derby and Millwall and then in the grim stalemate at Preston, Ismael understands it is par for the course when you are in charge of a club with recent Premier League status. “I can understand the expectation but this is the Championship. We are clear in the club, among the staff, we know how tough the league is,’’ said It should be a great atmosphere, but to get that atmosphere we need to make sure our performance lifts the crowd with us. Valerien Ismael the Frenchman. “It’s a long journey and the most important thing is getting the points with consistency.’’ Albion blew Blues away in a pre-season friendly at St Andrew’s but Ismael expects them to be a dif- ferent prospect altogether this evening. “The pre-season game was just pre-season, but it helped us to get on Valerien Ismael, inset, wants to get The Hawthorns rocking the right way,” he added. “Now, it’s completely another situation. “My expectation is it’s all about having the basics right in the duels, at the set-pieces. A lot of balls will come into our box and we will have to defend. “We will have the ball and we must continue to improve. The Cardiff game is our reference point to make sure we stay on that level with the ball.” Football Mowatt gets a clean bill of health ALEX Mowatt is in contention to face Blues after Albion boss Valerien Ismael confirmed he did not break his foot in the defeat to Stoke. The influential midfielder has trained this week and is likely to feature this evening. “It’s good news, relief for us that it’s not broken,” said Ismael. “He has trained these last two days with the squad. As long as something doesn’t happen and change overnight, he’ll be okay for the game.” Matt Clarke could also return to the starting XI for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in August. “He is fine, he is available, he trained well,” Ismael added. “We’re happy he’s back but we need to find the balance and to manage him now.” Meanwhile, Ismael has encouraged his squad to get vaccinated against the threat of Covid amid Callum Robinson’s public admission last week that he is yet to receive the jab. Ismael, who has been double vaccinated, confirmed the ‘majority’ of his squad have been jabbed and said: “We can’t force anyone to take the vaccine and we need to respect the position of each person and not stigmatise him or make him look bad. “When you are a public person and you work as a football team you need to protect yourself, protect your team-mates and protect your family because every day we are in contact with a lot of people and the only way we can protect ourselves is to get the vaccine.’’ LADBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKE DBROKES GET OUR LADBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKES L LADBROKES BEST EVER LADBROKES ACCALADBROKES LADBROKE DBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKES L Boost Edit Track Insure LADBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKE DBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKES LADBROKES L 18+. UK&IRE only. Online, Mobile. ACCA Insurance: Min selection odds 1/10. ACCA Odds 3/1. Pre-match straight line accas only. 1 free bet up to £/€10 per customer/day, valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Odds Boost: Up to £/€50 at boosted odds. Min 1 boost per day. T&Cs Apply. PLEASE BET RESPONSIBLY begambleaware.org – Need Help? Call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 802 0133

birminghamlive.co.uk/sport SPORT ALBION v BLUES THE HAWTHORNS, TONIGHT, 8PM troy reveals boss on mission to end annual relegation battles as blues gear up for huge hawthorns test PAGE 54 FRIDAY ON MY PAGE 53 james bid wouldn’t be madd idea for villa boss PAGE 52 MIND! val wants to fire up the fans and make it a hot night for rivals PAGE 55 derby d-day for raul Published by Reach Midlands Media Ltd, Embassy House, 60 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2DJ. Printed by Reach Printing Services Limited. Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper.