Work progresses on £30m leisure hub in Leighton Buzzard
Located to the north of Clipstone Brook, the plans include an eight-lane, 25-metre pool with spectator seating and learner pool which would measure a 17x10 metres and have a depth-adjustable floor for swimming lessons.A separate shallow pool, called 2confidence water", would be available for very young children.The centre also features a 150-station gym, two squash courts, a spinning studio, and two multi-use exercise studios.Community and support spaces will include a foyer and reception area, a large cafe open to both centre users and the public, flexible community rooms, and a dedicated creche.There will also be two Changing Places facilities for disabled visitors, a serving hatch from the cafe to the outside for pitch users, and additional changing facilities for those using the adjacent outdoor sports pitches.Improved walking and cycling routes, planned as part of the Clipstone Park development, will connect the centre to other parts of town.Steve Watkins, executive member for leisure at the council, said: "It's great that work is under way."The Leighton Leisure and Community Centre will be yet another great addition to our already brilliant leisure offering across Central Bedfordshire, and I look forward to attending the opening next year."
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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He's a stayer who won't be stopping' – Templegate's big 11-2 NAP on the final day of Goodwood
TEMPLEGATE is in red-hot form and he tackles Saturday's action from Glorious Goodwood confident of smashing the bookies once more. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. SAM HAWKENS (1.55 Goodwood, nap) He is a stayer on the up as he showed when scooting in over 1m5f at Hamilton last time. There was a bit of juice in the ground at the Scottish track and he wasn't stopping at the line. This is a hotter race but there's more to come. SAYIDAH HARD SPUN (2.10 Newmarket, nb) She has won two of her past three runs and saw out this trip well when scoring at Ascot last time. The handicapper has been fair with a 3lb rise in the weights and she can take another step forward. She won this race 12 months ago and returning to this trip and track can bring out her best form. She was beaten when odds-on at Sandown last time but that was a muddling race and he was only two lengths away at the line. We know she stays and a little give in the ground is fine while William Haggas is in fine form. GOODWOOD 1.20 ARABIAN CROWN was a solid third in a Newmarket Group 2 last time and the form has been franked here this week. He goes on any ground and sees out this trip. There's more to come from this four-year-old. Al Aasy won this last year and, while he's not the greatest battler, his class will see him close again. Candleford is seven now but looked as good as ever when taking a Beverley Listed prize last month. He likes this trip and William Haggas is in decent form. Meydaan was second on his last visit here in May and has been running well at Listed level without winning. Ryan Moore taking over is a plus but he needs a bit more to score. Ambiente Friendly hasn't fired this season and has been gelded since a poor effort at Royal Ascot. 1.55 SAM HAWKENS is a stayer on the up as he showed when scooting in over 1m5f at Hamilton last time. There was a bit of juice in the ground at the Scottish track and he wasn't stopping at the line. This is a hotter race but there's more to come. Aeronautic was a good fifth in the Copper Horse handicap at Royal Ascot over this distance and is open to improvement for Joseph O'Brien. He's off the same mark and may prefer this slightly slower ground. Stressfree would have a massive chance if seeing out this longer trip. He has been going well around 1m4f and looks a big price to place. French Duke is another stepping up in distance and he won at this meeting last season. Roger Varian's hope is 10lb higher than that now but should have more to offer. Master Builder often travels well without winning but he has scored over this trip and didn't run badly on his last run here. 2.30 TERM OF ENDEARMENT won this race 12 months ago and returning to this trip and track can bring out her best form. She was beaten when odds-on at Sandown last time but that was a muddling race and he was only two lengths away at the line. We know she stays and a little give in the ground is fine while William Haggas is in fine form. Danielle is interesting on this hike in distance having shown Group quality over shorter. This may not be the day after a long break she's one to watch. Fellow Gosden runner Sueno was a solid second at Newmarket latest and ran well over this distance at York before that. She is another with solid claims. Goodie Two Shoes won a Group 3 over this distance at Fairyhouse latest and is respected with William Buick up. Waardah is a three-year-old with a bright future after a Listed win here in June. That was over 1m2f so she has to prove her staying power. I'M in the PUROSANGUE gang in the £250,000 Stewards' Cup. Top jockey William Buick teams up with Andrew Balding with this four-year-old who saves his best for this distance and likes soft ground. He should get his conditions here and run a big race at fair odds. Last year's winner Get It took the Wokingham last time and will go close again, while Completely Random also went well at Royal Ascot. Elmonjed is another one high on the shortlist. Here's my guide to the big field, where I rate them 1 (worst) to 5 (best): ALZAHIR 3 HIR we go. Went off far too quick at York last time after three good wins. Goes on any ground and may bounce back at too big a price. ANNAF 3 AF a go. Big player at best but unreliable and slow away too often. Talented if getting a clean break but has a big weight. APOLLO ONE 3 ONE show. Twice second in this and always runs his race but probably needs a personal best to finally win it. CIRCE 4 YES Cir. Strong traveller with three wins this summer. Up in class but big field suits and Moore up. Handles soft. COMMANCHE FALLS 2 COM on. Dual winner of this race in his proime. Stable back in nick but latest form underwhelming. Hard to rule out, but needs best to hit the frame. COMPLETELY RANDOM 4 RAN raid. Good run in the Wokingham latest and will love the pace of this. Just the type to pop up in a race like this. DESERT COP 1 COP out. Decent form in Bahrain but has been poor back here. Looks the yard's second string. DRAMA 2 NO Drama. Plenty of form on AW but turf record is weaker. Unlucky last time but needs more for this. ELMONJED 4 EL of a bet. Improved a bundle to win at York and likes this trip and going. More weight but a major player. GERMANIC 2 TOO Manic. Two quiet on turf efforts since a big run over this at Newcastle. Trip fine but needs a lot more. GET IT 4 IT makes sense. Won this at 40s last year and took the Wokingham last time in style. Only 4lb higher and set for bold bid from from front. No shock to see him go very close. HAMMER THE HAMMER 3 HAMMER time. Good second at Royal Ascot over 5f and likes this trip. Not tackled slow ground before but it's early days and there's more to come. JAKAJARO 3 ALRIGHT Jak. Unlucky at Ascot and ran well here Tuesday. First try at 6f but looks well treated. Off the same mark and not discounted. JORDAN ELECTRICS 1 JOR drop. Getting on a bit now and poor comeback latest. Hard to fancy despite trainer Jim Goldie being in good form. JUNGLE DRUMS 1 JUNGLE juiced. Fair 2yo but been poor for a while and this looks much too tough. Drums out of tune. KORKER 3 KOR blimey. Hold-up horse who needs luck but trip fine and likes soft. Each-way shout if getting the breaks. ORAZIO 1 ON Raz. Hit and miss last year and poor comeback at Ascot. Hard to fancy despite handling any ground. PUROSANGUE 5 URO Star. Backed for this last year on firm but best efforts on soft and dropped to a very nice mark. Can go close. RUN BOY RUN 3 ON Run. Has been reliable in top 6f races and didn't stay 7f last twice. Back to best trip and could sneak a place. SAINT LAWRENCE 1 LAW broken. Not won since the 2023 Wokingham and poor in that race this year. Tall order in current form. SEVEN QUESTIONS 1 SEVEN down. Group 3 winner last term over 5f and best at that trip. Shown little form this season. STRIKE RED 3 RED alert. Best of group behind Elmonjed at York. Nicely treated and peaking at right time. Can run a good race. THE X O 1 CROSS out X. Out of sorts for a while and tailed off on stable debut. Trip suits but not good enough for this. TOCA MADERA 2 MAD bet. Good third at York in May and holding his form but doesn't look well treated in first-time cheekpieces. TWILIGHT CALLS 1 TWILIGHT in dark. Three years without a win tells the tale. Best over this trip but likely to struggle again. TWILIGHT JET 2 JET must fly. Ran well at Epsom but was poor here on Tuesday. Prefers this trip on soft but needs a lot more. TWO TRIBES 3 TWO true. Won strong 7f race last week at Ascot and stamina may help in conditions. Could get involved late. VADREAM 2 BAD Vad. Was tailed off at Royal Ascot and on a long losing run. Slow ground suits but up against it again. 3.45 SPIRIT OF FARHH looks a big price given how well he took a Newmarket handicap over this trip 14 days ago. The ground was tacky on the July course but he went through it nicely and is open to improvement. In-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has a good record here and can go close again. Montpellier won a couple of maidens and ran well at Salisbury on handicap debut last time. There's more to come with this step up in distance a wise move. Consolidation was snookered by the draw at Royal Ascot but won over this course and distance two starts ago. It's early days and there should be a lot more to come. Mudbir is bred to be classy and scored on handicap debut at Sandown 28 days ago. He should progress from there from the Gosdens and looks a big player. Rare Change was hampered at Newcastle last time after winning at Pontefract. He likes this trip and has place claims. Yah Mo Be There ran well in the Jersey Stakes from a moderate draw and is another danger. NEWMARKET 2.10 SAYIDAH HARD SPUN has won two of her past three runs and saw out this trip well when scoring at Ascot last time. The handicapper has been fair with a 3lb rise in the weights and she can take another step forward. Awaafi was a promising second at Haydock last time. She shapes as though seven furlongs would be ideal but her stamina could be an asset here. Azleet enjoyed the all-weather when scoring over this distance at Southwell 20 three weeks ago. Her opening handicap mark of 76 looks on the lenient side and there should be more to come. Ruby's Angel is another making her handicap debut and was a place behind Awaafi last time. Despite that she carries 1lb more which seems a little strange but she's not out of this. Meelaf completes the field for in-form Karl Burke and has run well at Group 3 level so is no mug in this wide-open contest. Her mark is not the kindest and she might have less scope than a few of these now but she's quick. 3.20 MERIBELLA had some traffic problems in a Pontefract Listed race last time so did well to finish third. This trip is ideal and she will be on the premises again. Jane Temple clocked a personal best when third in a similar contest to this last time. She goes on any ground and will be right there. Silent Love steps out of maiden company where she landed a battling success at Kempton latest. This longer trip will suit and there's a fair bit more to come. Sioux Life is an Italian Group 2 winner over 1m2f so has quality but her first crack at this trip at Haydock last time was only a modest run. Karmology was second in good company at Beverley and will try to nick this off the front. She's likely to be collared by a couple in the closing stages. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man United set to host fans at Old Trafford for away game screenings in 'pub-like' venue - and this is how much it will cost
Manchester United are opening their doors to fans for away game screenings at Old Trafford this season. The new scheme, which will cost fans £25 per match, will see supporters unable to land away match tickets the chance to watch United from the international suite at Old Trafford. In what has been described by insiders as a pub-like atmosphere, the suite will be decked out with big screens showing the games, as well as a bar and hot food. The £25 admission includes one free drink as well as a portion of food in what sources feel represents a value-for-money experience. Season ticket holders now have the chance to buy tickets to stadium screenings of the first three away games of the season, at Fulham, at Manchester City, and at Brentford. United have one of the most in-demand away tickets and demand to go continues to be at an all-time high despite the disappointment of results on the pitch. Insiders hope the screenings can help ease the demand and prove popular, particularly given that more fan protests are planned against the club's ownership for the forthcoming season, as Mail Sport first revealed. There has been friction with supporters just recently after it emerged that bosses were considering bringing in a controversial personal seat licence system (PSL) should they move to a new stadium, which would see fans charged up to £4,000 simply for the right to buy a season ticket. That prospect triggered anger among large sections of the fanbase, who have already launched a series of protests against the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group. Mail Sport revealed plans are in place for further, large-scale demonstrations in a move which may come as a blow to United officials hoping to build on the optimism triggered by the arrivals of summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and some encouraging performances from Ruben Amorim's men on their US tours they seek to improve on last season's 15th-placed finish. Supporters' group The 1958 claim the introduction of PSLs – which United are adamant has only been explored hypothetically – would 'force out supporters who have followed the club for decades' and represent 'another step towards the Americanisation of our game'. While United would be the first Premier League club to utilise such a system they are commonplace in the NFL. They also say the fact that US-based CSL International raised the prospect with fans during a consultation over the stadium 'shows just how out of touch our club and owners have become'.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
WNBA commissioner opens up on Caitlin Clark... as league is rocked by protests and bullying claims
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