Latest news with #AndyMurray
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
How Wimbledon hero Andy Murray could enter qualifying for The Open – but must pay £200 fee
ANDY MURRAY could qualify for golf's Open Championship next year. The two-time Wimbledon champion retired from tennis last summer after a legendary career. But since hanging up his racquet, he has dusted off his golf clubs instead. And he has enjoyed a stunning year on the course by getting his handicap down to a reported 1.9. Murray, 38, shows not signs of slowing down in his pursuit of getting to scratch. He beat Carlos Alcaraz in their three-match mini-series during the Spaniard's run to the Wimbledon final. And if he can get his handicap to 0.4 - and stump up the £200 fee - he could enter regional qualifying for next year's 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. Ex-Premier League footballers Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie both gave it a go in 2025 but did not progress. But Ryder Cup hero Ludvig Aberg threw his full support behind Murray's golf game. The Swede, 25, said: "He brings it up really nicely with the hands. "The club face is quite neutral, so it's not going to be biased whether he hits a draw or a fade. "Considering it's someone who played tennis at this level, it's pretty stinking good. "In any sport or any profession, whether it's golf or tennis or something else, you need to spend time on it. "The technique of golf is quite tricky, naturally, so you do need to spend a lot of time on it." Aberg - who shot a four-under 67 to move to -2 after round two of The Open - added to the Daily Mail: "Hey, that swing was really good! Like it was really, really good! "Man, I was impressed! "They told us to be as honest as we can but I just didn't know what to say. "I think he's going to be able to play really good golf in the future." 2
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Ultimate UK guide to everything you can do for FREE in the school summer holidays… from tennis lessons to cinema tickets
Huge McDonald's, Harry Potter and cinema freebies await to ensure you and your family have the best summer ever - for nothing! HOL YEAH! Ultimate UK guide to everything you can do for FREE in the school summer holidays… from tennis lessons to cinema tickets THE summer school holidays are nearly here but keeping the kids entertained can be a challenge - and expensive. A new study found parents spend as much as £1,000 a week on their children during the six-week break but there is a wealth of free family activities across the country that promise a brilliant summer without breaking the bank. 4 Channel your inner Andy Murray with The Lawn Tennis Association's free lessons Credit: Alamy From sport classes to screenings and festivals, there are hundreds of free opportunities to try. Here's our pick of the best... 1. Free government-funded clubs The Government's Holiday Activities Fund (HAF) provides for completely free holiday clubs across the UK, run by local authorities. The clubs are targeted at children who have ever been eligible for free school meals in their schools, but there is discretion for 15% of the places to go to other children who would benefit. Councils are expected to provide a minimum of 16 days of provision, and you may need a code or letter from your child's school to get a place. Check online or ask your child's teacher if you think you may be eligible. 2. Tennis lessons for beginners Get the kids healthy and into a new sport with free tennis sessions. Barclays is sponsoring free group tennis sessions that can be booked on the Lawn Tennis Association website while you'll find more free sessions at Tennis For Free. 3. Art and sculpture trails Track down painted rabbits in Ipswich or colourful guitars in Manchester with a Wild in Art trail. These public displays of large-scale sculptures come with apps and maps so you can spend the day finding them all. Check out the Wild in Art website to find one near you. 4. Outdoor cinema pop-ups Go to the cinema for free with pop-up screenings of popular movies. Everyman is hosting outdoor screens in Kings Cross and Watford while Screen on the Green runs a similar outdoor experience in the middle of Newcastle. There is no one website that details all free screenings so the best place to look is local Facebook and council sites. 5. Fun in the forest Forestry England runs free trails (some with paid-for activity packs), as well as summer activities in forests up and down the country. Download a Wallace & Gromit themed walking trail or find one of their free 'disc golf' courses at six forest sites including Hamsterley in County Durham or Salcey in the East Midlands. You can pay to hire special discs, buy your own set to play for free, or get started using a frisbee you've got at home and buy a proper set if you get hooked. Get a Blue Peter badge & meet Bluey... one mum's top tips for a great value summer Lavania Oluban has recently published a journal for families to record their days out, called The Amazing Adventures of Me. Here, the Birmingham-based mum and teacher shares her top tips for making the summer holidays great fun and, importantly, great value. Plan ahead Start with your diary, Lavania says. Ask the children what big days out they want to do. Put those in first, and then fit cheaper events around them. 'You know six weeks is coming up. It's a lot of time to fill, so plan ahead.' Look for deals and vouchers Whether its Merlin tickets with Sun Club, or 2 for 1 days out if you travel by National Rail, there are plenty of deals available to take down the cost of days out, Lavania says, so always search for a discount. One top tip she has is to get your children applying for a Blue Peter badge. There are lots of ways to get one of these by meeting specific criteria and each one gives free child entry at lots of different attractions. 'The badge arrives in the post and you've got time for summer if you apply now,' she says. 'I keep my son's in the glovebox in the car so we can use it at any time.' Scrutinise every noticeboard Local days out are often advertised on physical noticeboards, so make a habit of reading them whenever you walk past, Lavania says. Whether it's an animal sanctuary with an open day, or a local county show where your children can enter a baking competition, all these days out are free or very cheap. 'Take photos of interesting possibilities on your phone when you see them,' she suggests. Hit up the shopping centre The summer months are quieter for shopping malls, so they often increase footfall by offering free children's activities. 'They will have days when a mascot like Bluey is there,' she says. 'Or a free outdoor trail'. You can check the website of your local centre to see what is going on. Pick your own A trip to the strawberry picking farm can be fun and provide you with food for the week. 'Lots of them have fun activities like Maize Mazes too and they aren't expensive,' Lavania says. If you don't know of farms near you try the for a list, and always check first whether there is fruit ready to pick before visiting. 6. Library reading challenges and games Get the children reading with the free challenge run by the Reading Agency and available at most UK libraries. Librarians will issue your children with a collector folder, and they can earn stickers and rewards for reading books, while they may also run other free activities. More details available here. 7. Local museum craft days London and other national museums are often free to enter and run free or extremely cheap craft days for children in the summer holidays, many of which you can book in advance online. My dream pool was £40,000 so I DIYd my own 18ft version in February all for this summer heatwave - it's saved me £37,000 As well as the big free museums, check out smaller local galleries and follow them on Instagram to see what they're offering, for example the National Archives in Kew, which runs a Time Travellers club with bookable sessions is free to visit with a small charge for its craft activities, while the Science & Industry Museum in Manchester offers bookable exhibitions. Which Museum is the best source for free galleries, shows and exhibitions near you. 4 Send your kids off on a treasure-hunting adventure with the Geocaching app Credit: Alamy 8. Geocaching Make a walk more exciting with the free geocaching app, which encourages you to find small 'caches' containing plastic toys and other tokens and leave some for others. Just download the app from and find caches near you. 9. Festivals and open days Expensive festivals can take a huge bite out of your budget, but there are free local events in many areas of the country. Check out the Eventbrite website for free options near you. Setting the filters for free family events will let you see what's going on in your area and allow you to apply for free tickets. 10. In-store workshops Many companies offer free workshops for kids to tempt you in during the holidays. Try your local Pets at Home for free pet owner classes with a certificate or sign up for Apple Camp on the tech company's website for free movie-making classes. Other companies to check for free kids' workshops include Hobbycraft, the Lego Store and Hamleys. 4 Head down to the farm and meet the animals with free visits near you Credit: Getty 11. Farm visits Many city farms are free to visit year-round while others hold bookable open days where children can feed and pet animals and learn about their care. Check your local websites for details or for free farms near you or try animal sanctuaries such as the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary, which is also free. 12. Get girls moving Nuffield Health offers free girls fitness classes run by expert instructors. You can book at if you have a Nuffield gym near you. 'My son wants to go to Harry Potter World... apart from that it's all about free days out' Natalie Ormond, 43, plans the summer holidays carefully to ensure she can get through the six weeks with her sons with her finances intact. 'I definitely do look for a lot of freebie things because obviously it's a long time and all of the paid-for things, like bowling and days out and stuff, add up if you're doing that every day,' says the Leeds-based mum-of-two. Natalie, who runs a children's gift business called Smallkind, says most deals and discounts dry up in the summer holidays, so she searches hard for free activities for sons Jesse, 11, and Noah, 8. 'We've got into geocaching which is free and lots of fun as it takes you very random places, or we'll have a day with a theme and a trail,' she says. 'So, once it was spotting owls on buildings, and that definitely gives the boys something to concentrate on while we're out and about. 'We do things like library tours - four libraries in a day with a picnic and walk in between them, and then we rate the libraries! Or we do the same with bookshops if the kids have any book tokens to spend.' Ormond, who is married to lawyer Owen, says that she's got pickier over the days out she will spend on, because she is so often disappointed. 'I think when the boys were younger, sometimes I was so desperate for somewhere to go that I ended up spending quite a lot of money. Now, if I'm going to spend a lot of money on a day out, I want to know that it's a good place. 'So, I've got a lot more selective. We've sort said to the boys for this year, they can give us a couple of ideas each of places that they'd like to go, and we'll try and do that. So, my oldest really wants to go to Harry Potter World and the younger one to a theme park – but mostly it will be free days out.' 13. Get up high Visiting London? Taking a trip up the Shard or on the London Eye will cost you dear but there are several viewing platforms that allow you to see the city for nothing at all. Horizon 22 is the highest viewing platform you can visit for free, and you can book in advance at Horizon 22 or get walk up tickets on the day. Other options include the Sky Garden and the Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate, all of which are bookable in advance. 14. Play football with McDonald's McDonald's is offering free football coaching for 5 to 11-year-olds this summer. Look online to find a session near you and to sign up for sessions and find out about free football festivals at here. 4 Potter mad? Take part in the free trail around Edinburgh Credit: THEPOTTERTRAIL 15. Join a walking tour Visiting a new city? Check out free walking tours to make the most of it with older children. A lot of cities offer these tours with an expert guide in exchange for a donation. For example, check out this free Harry Potter tour in Edinburgh. Make sure you book in advance and – in this case – make sure your children bring a wand, or something similar to 'swish and flick'. 16. Visit a splash parks or a lido If the weather warms up, a trip to a free splashpark or lido could be just the ticket. Free lidos include Swansea's Blackpill Park, while Shoalstone in Devon has a free seawater pool. Free splashpads include Splashlands in Welwyn Garden City, while many city council website have details of local offerings.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
How Queen Camilla ended up pleased with a discarded sweatband: EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE
Prince William, keen to ditch the tradition of sprawling portfolios of royal patronages, is taking a forensic interest in a report from research body Giving Evidence. It shows when disgraced Andrew was forced to abandon his patronages, there was no financial difference recorded. A source reports William, keen to concentrate on a few causes of personal interest, believes this could be applied across the board. Those on committees value royal connections for the garden party invitations, a visit once in a blue moon and the slight chance of an MBE, but whether it makes any difference to donations is now very doubtful. Seems that William, who has long-questioned the point of hundreds of patronages, might have been right all along. There can be advantages to a front row seat in Wimbledon's royal box – other than the tennis. Ten years ago Andy Murray rashly celebrated a win by hurling his wristband in the direction of Queen Camilla. Unimpressed, she wrinkled her nose and eyed it with disgust but soon came up with a bright idea. She got Murray to sign it and then popped it on eBay to raise funds for an animal charity. It was sold for £2,100. Well-nourished Health Secretary Wes Streeting, appearing on ITV's This Morning, makes the mistake of mentioning presenter Ben Shephard's topless display, saying: 'I'm probably not going to be on the front of Men's Health magazine in quite the way you were.' Shephard declares: 'I've just had a message from the editor of Men's Health saying 'You're on! Wes Streeting, front cover'.' The visibly-embarrassed politician replies: 'Oh, God. You've stitched me right up. The office is going to love this.' Streeting, taking on the BMA, might peruse the King's 1982 speech from when he was elected president of the association. 'I received a letter from a member of the medical profession who said his fellow members were pleased I was honouring them by accepting,' Charles declared. 'He ended by reminding me the initials BMA stand for BIGOTED MORIBUND and APATHETIC! I shall watch my step as carefully as I can.' Looking back at Monty Python breaking up following lucrative reunion shows in London in 2014, Eric Idle takes aim at fellow member Sir Michael Palin, snapping: 'Michael said he was sad to see us break up? He was the first to leave! He's such a hypocrite... I can't believe Michael said he was sad. He turned down the opportunity to do it in America, in Australia, in South Africa. He turned down $30million!' Deep breaths, Eric. Live Aid performer Nik Kershaw claims Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have never forgiven Phil Collins for his 'not very clever' drum playing in Philadelphia. 'They have never released the Live Aid footage for Phil on the drums,' says Kershaw 'The 40-year grudge. It is a bit of a shame ain't it?
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Jannik Sinner roars back to beat Carlos Alcaraz for first Wimbledon final win
For most tennis players in the distinguished history of this sport, a defeat as excruciating as Jannik Sinner's loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final would have taken years to recover from. In Sinner's case, it simply made him stronger. One month on from the toughest loss of his life, Sinner entered the Spaniard's territory and turned the tables at the earliest possible opportunity, demonstrating his resilience in full flight as he recovered from a set down to win his first Wimbledon title with a spectacular performance, toppling the two-time defending champion 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 6-4. With his fourth career grand slam title, Sinner is the first Italian player to win a Wimbledon title and he breaks his overall tie with an assortment of famous names, including Arthur Ashe, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. Perhaps most important, he ends his great rival's run of five consecutive wins against him, adding a new dimension to a rivalry that seems set to decide the majority of major titles in the near future. In their own personal grand slam race, which still feels like it has only just begun, Sinner victory ensures that Alcaraz, who owns five major titles, remains within touching distance. This is also Sinner's first slam title away from hard courts, after two victories at the Australian Open and last year's US Open title. A month ago, a shell-shocked Sinner stared blankly into space from his seat on Court Philippe-Chatrier while Alcaraz celebrated his triumph in their French Open final with his family in the stands. He held three championship points, the match on his racket, before losing one of the greatest finals in history. Sinner entered Centre Court on Sunday afternoon having lost his last five matches against Alcaraz. It is a reflection of the Italian's tenacity, resilience and mental strength that he has found his path again so quickly. This final also showcased Sinner's toughness in full. Despite how he frustratingly ended the first set, conceding four games in a row, he just kept on moving forward. Sinner saved his best for the decisive moments, serving brilliantly under pressure in the essential third set and, unlike in Paris when his arm stiffened under pressure, Sinner maintained his relentless aggression until the end, smothering the Spaniard with his constant pressure. Deep in the fourth set, as he faltered, this time Sinner held on. It had not started well for Sinner. After establishing a 4-2 lead by pinning Alcaraz behind the baseline with his destructive aggression off both wings, Sinner watched his lead evaporate as Alcaraz reeled off four consecutive games to take the set, closing it off with a sickening angled backhand slice winner at the very end of his range. Minutes after demonstrating the stratospheric heights his game can reach, however, Alcaraz showed how quickly his level can drop. An unfocused start to set two immediately left him trailing 0-40 and he eventually lost his serve. While his opponent's level wavered, Sinner regained his rhythm on serve, which had faltered at the end of the first set, then he calmly continued to put Alcaraz under pressure on every point with his relentless aggression off both wings while displaying an unusual amount of emotion throughout. Just as the Spaniard ended the opening set with an exclamation mark, the Italian closed off the second at 6-4 with two outlandish running forehand winners, showing his own combination of devastating ball-striking and athleticism in full flow. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion At one set all, with everything to play for, both players held on to their serves until deep into the set, fearlessly attacking behind their deliveries. The set would be decided by their serving under pressure. While Sinner saved some of his best serving for key moments, following up a searing 117mph second serve ace at 3-4, 30-30 with another service winner to hold, Alcaraz faltered. The Spaniard paid for his missed first serve at the end of the subsequent game as Sinner fearlessly connected with two brilliant second-serve returns, snatching the decisive break of the set. The last time Sinner led two sets to one, all hell broke loose. As was the case in Paris, Sinner maintained his momentum early in the set as he established an early break lead. At 4-3 on Sinner's serve, however, the Italian finally felt the pressure of the moment as a series of unforced errors sent him down two break points on his serve. This time, he refused to let Alcaraz back in, digging himself out of a difficult hole and into the history books with the brand of bold, destructive shotmaking that marked him as the best player in the world.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Forbes
Inside Kim Murray's Approach To Calm At Cromlix Hotel
Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane cromlix Just north of Stirling, Scotland, surrounded by open greenery, sits Cromlix, an estate that Kim and Andy Murray have transformed into a five-star hotel. Full of Victorian charm, it was once a private home and still carries that warmth, something Kim, the creative force behind the project, was determined to preserve. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane cromlix Cromlix also holds personal significance and memories for the couple; they may have acquired it in 2013 and took over the full running of it in 2023, but their connection goes back much further — Andy grew up nearby, his grandparents celebrated their silver wedding anniversary there in 1982, and its where Kim and Andy tied the knot in 2015 — so the estate has been a constant backdrop to celebratory times for the family. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane Cromlix Now, it its iteration as a luxury hotel, Kim oversees every detail of the guest experience, from the fabrics and florals to the artwork and menus. At the heart of her vision is a commitment to local artisans and makers, championing the best of Scottish craft and character. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane Cromlix The hotel brings in local experts too, who host workshops, from floral design and watercolor painting, to wellbeing days, and this all comes together to offer a special escape that balances elegance with ease — a place to settle in, slow down, and feel at home. Kim Murray at Cromlix cromlix To celebrate its upcoming wellbeing days, Kim shares her guide to personal calm at Cromlix. Spend Time In Nature I'm a big believer in the restorative power of nature. It's something I've appreciated more and more as I've got older, and had a family. I see how important it is for all of us to just get outdoors in whatever form that takes – going for a walk, chasing a ball, spotting wildlife. At Cromlix we are lucky to have 34 acres of private grounds and woodland so there is lots of space to explore, reap the benefits of the beautiful Scottish countryside and just breathe. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane cromlix Take Time To Enjoy Simple Pleasures There is something luxurious about running your own bath, shutting the bathroom door and relaxing for an hour or so. Cromlix has recently introduced a whole bath time ritual which includes having your bath drawn for you, laden with heavenly essential oils, a relaxing playlist pumped into the expansive bathrooms and LED candles softly lighting the room. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane Cromlix I'll definitely be trying that out when I next visit as I rarely get the chance to have a bath at home, and when I do, I'm usually sharing it with a child or three. Other simple pleasures I enjoy at Cromlix are sitting down for a cup of loose leaf tea, listening to the birds, appreciating the art on the walls and if I'm really lucky, reading a book. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane Cromlix Bring Your Dog We have recently got a new puppy; a flatcoated retriever who is into everything and full of energy. At 10 weeks old, I'm not finding her very calming at the moment. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane Cromlix However, there is lots of research to say that holidaying with your dog is beneficial, and can help reduce stress. We have not taken her with us yet to Cromlix, but she's already excited about the doggie hamper and sleeping in our room. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane Cromlix Flower Arranging When we took over the running of the hotel ourselves, in 2023, I wanted there to be fresh flowers in every room. We are lucky to have a fantastic Kitchen Garden at the hotel and our Head Gardener, Kathy, is doing an amazing job at keeping it stocked throughout the seasons. I started flower arranging myself a few years ago and love the mindfulness it provides. I always visit the Kitchen Garden when I go to Cromlix (Kathy is very generous with her time and happy to give guests a guided tour) and if I have time will pick some blooms for the house too. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane cromlix Go Phone Free During term time with four children I become a bit of a slave to my phone, to stay on top of all of the Whatsapp groups and school updates. But when I go away on holiday I try to go screen-free. Andy and I are trying to keep our children off devices for as long as possible, so it's important they learn that behaviour from us. It's quite hard at the beginning to switch off but by day two, the absence of messages pinging into your inbox is pure bliss. Do Nothing One of our most popular packages at Cromlix is the Do-Nothing Cation, which does exactly what it says on the tin: encourages our guests to just be. For me there is huge appeal in not booking up every minute of our holiday and rushing from one activity to the next. It will allow us to be a bit more spontaneous and enjoy just spending time together. Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane cromlix Address: Cromlix, Kinbuck, Stirling FK15 9JT. Book into the Embracing Change - Yoga and Wellbeing Day on Monday 22nd of September, 2025.
