|
Widnes Vikings
announce exciting working partnership with Workington Town
THE Vikings on Wednesday,
14 November 2012, have announce an exciting working partnership with
Championship side, Workington Town. Following the recent news that
both the Under 20s and Under 18s competitions will be shelved for a
new Under 19s league from 2013, the club has acted accordingly to
ensure it continues to deliver the best possible systems and
processes. The new link-up will see up to five dual registered or
loan players from the Vikings set-up given the opportunity to prove
themselves further and play for Workington and aid their development
in a competitive environment. Aside of the player exchange benefits,
both clubs are also set to gain from increased brand exposure
through the extended marketing opportunity this joining of forces
has created. From both a performance and commercial point of view,
this can only be beneficial to all concerned. The partnership will
begin with immediate effect though player movement will not commence
until the 2013 season.
Founded in 1945, and playing their home games at Derwent Park since
1956, Workington Town have enjoyed a rollercoaster existence in
professional rugby league. From the highs of their early days which
included a Challenge Cup success in 1951/52, to the occasional low
over the years, the club has always retained its competitive edge
and is confident the good times will eventually return to West
Cumbria. In 1996, Workington Town were a member club of the
inaugural Super League competition. Following their promotion from
Championship 1, they will be competing in the Championship in 2013.
Commenting on the link-up, Vikings CEO James Rule said:- "We
are very excited by the potential of this partnership. In addition
to the obvious on field benefits for both clubs we also have an
opportunity to grow our respective audiences and share best practice
from our operations. We look forward to working with Workington to
develop this partnership."
Equally as enthusiastic, is Vikings' Head Coach Denis Betts, who
added:- "It is great to be involved with a team that is
growing. Workington Town are a famous old club with plenty of
history and have recently secured promotion into the Championship.
They are now building on this and working hard to ensure they become
an even stronger force in 2013. Alongside the talent already within
their ranks, I've no doubt that the inclusion of some of our players
will be just what they are looking for. Historically, Workington are
keen on producing local players and I'm really looking forward to
strengthening our links within Cumbria and helping them progress
this even further."
Delighted to join forces with the Vikings, Workington Town Chairman
David Bowden commented:- "We are thrilled to strike up an
exciting new partnership with the Widnes Vikings for our return to
the Championship. The more formal restructuring of the relationships
between Championship and Super League clubs meant it was critical we
have a practical link up that will help both clubs. Our initial
discussions couldn't really have gone any better with Denis Betts
and James Rule outlining their thoughts which were a virtual match
to the way we see things. The most obvious advantage is that the
players from Widnes' first team squad will be available to play for
Town and develop their skills in the Championship. In return there
is also a development route to ensure our local players can develop
their rugby league careers, and at the highest level of the game in
this country. But there will be many areas of best practice we can
share and we are all looking forward at Workington to working hard
to make the partnership the success I'm certain it will be."
|
 |
Proposed duties
on unhealthy foods welcomed by charity
.JPG)
THE British Dental Health
Foundation on Wednesday, 14 November 2012, has welcomed the proposal
to apply taxes to unhealthy foods that could result in oral health
improvements across the UK. According to the National Heart Forum (NHF),
new duties on foods known to be unhealthy should form part of public
health policies that can tackle growing obesity in the UK along with
a number of other diet-related illnesses, one of which is dental
decay. In the report, the NHF recommends the introduction of duties
on sugary soft drinks to reduce consumption levels and raise money
to support public health programmes or subsidise the cost of
healthier foods. Chief Executive of the British Dental Health
Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, welcomed the report and believes
change is necessary to aid the improvement of oral health in the UK.
Dr Carter said:- "The Foundation welcomes this report and the
recommendations it puts forward. "The report is particularly
pleasing as one of the Foundation's three key messages is 'cut down
on how often you have sugary foods and drinks'. By proposing the
introduction of a duty on sugary drinks there will be an inevitable
reduction in consumption and benefits for both general and dental
health. The increase in consumption of sugary drinks is one of the
key reasons for dental decay, particularly in children. Any measure
which helps reduce how often our teeth are exposed to sugary foods
and drinks is to be welcomed. As a nation we have turned from three
square meals a day to seven to ten snack attacks including
constantly sipping sugary drinks and this may be one reason why
improvements in dental health have been slowing down. The cost of
poor diet has a profound effect on our health. In the UK over 60 per
cent of adults are overweight or obese. This is contributing to a
growing social and economic burden of chronic disease including
cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, both of which have also
been linked to poor oral health. Poor oral health is of great
concern, not least due to the growing number of general health
conditions it has been linked to. Implementation of the
recommendations in the report could lead to oral health benefits for
generations to come."
Spirit of Christmas Past at
Croxteth Hall Market
THE 1st of this year's
Christmas markets at Croxteth Hall takes place on Sunday, 18
November 2012. The markets take place inside historic Croxteth Hall,
which will be decorated in traditional style for the event, meaning
visitors can enjoy the spirit of Christmas past while taking the
opportunity to find some unusual gifts. Stalls will be selling
handmade Christmas cards, gift wrapping paper, jewellery,
purses,handmade crafts, scented candles, traditional sweets, fashion
accessories, flower arrangements and much more. And for those who
appreciate a roaring fire at Christmas, hardwood logs, harvested
from the Park's woodland, will also be on sale. Councillor Peter
Mitchell, Mayoral lead on Parks said that:- "These markets are
very popular and they are a very important part of a great programme
of Christmas event at Croxteth Hall. With the Hall being decorated
in traditional style you get a real feel of a Victorian Christmas as
well as being able to pick up some bargains." The market is
open between:- 10.30am and 4pm. Admission is £2.40 for adults,
concessions 90p. Parking is free. |
