Latest news with #NXTGenLeague
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Somerset in Pictures: Swans, horse racing and Team Bath
Racing returned to Somerset this week, while the end of the Easter weekend brought some one of the oldest family-owned department stores in the country celebrated its 250th is our selection of pictures from across the county this week. Over hurdles: Brendan Powell rode American Land to victory during the Ron Hatton Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Taunton Racecourse on Wednesday. Beach day: People flocked to the beach at Weston-super-Mare over the Easter bank holiday weekend. Historic shop: Former staff at one of the oldest family-owned department stores in the country gathered for a special event to mark its 250th anniversary. Hatchers can trace its history back to a drapery shop that was first set up in 1775 and it still employs more than 40 people in Taunton. Former employee Alison Winchester was among the guests. Cows and clouds: This highland cow was captured by weather watcher Nutkin on a cloudy day this week. Easter win: Team Bath Netball began the second half of the inaugural NXT Gen League season on a winning note as they recorded a 59-44 victory over Severn rivals Cardiff Dragons on Easter Saturday. Sunny spells: We've had some mixed weather this week but the sun came out intermittently, making for beautiful photos such as this one of Glastonbury Tor. Oldest player: A former Bath Rugby player has been presented with a legacy cap 74 years after first joining the club. Stan Francis, now 100 years old and thought to be Bath Rugby's oldest living player, made his debut for the club in 1951. Spring chicks: There was great excitement at The Bishop's Palace and Gardens in Wells as this year's cygnets hatched in the nest of the Palace's much-loved swans, Grace and Gabriel. The moment of hatching was confirmed by Moira Anderson, known locally as the Palace's "Swan Whisperer." Competing nationally: Maisie Elliott of Bath University competed in the Women's 100m Butterfly heat during day five of the British Swimming Championships. Medical advancement: Stroke care and research colleagues at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust have teamed up to test a new nerve stimulation therapy, in bid to improve hand and arm weakness in stroke survivors. The new stroke treatment delivers electrical pulses to a patient's brain via a portable, pacemaker-like device.
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol in Pictures: Annie Mac, Prince William and Tony Robinson
Well, where to begin? It's all been going on in Bristol this legendary DJ Annie Mac packed them in at Prospect, then the Prince of Wales dropped in at actor and celebrity Bristol City fan Sir Tony Robinson started off a charity walk at Ashton Gate, then, at the same venue, hundreds of people turned out for the Anti Banquet event on Friday round things off, there was a typical Bristol scene on Saturday morning - hot air balloons in the sunshine over the harbour. After dark: DJ royalty visited Bristol last weekend as Annie Mac was the main act for a night of dance music at Prospect in the south east of the city. Job well done: Hundreds of people attended the Anti Banquet event at Ashton Gate on Friday evening. Some of the best chefs in the city gave up their time for the evening, which raises vital money - organisers hope £100,000 this year - for charities tackling food poverty across Bristol. A love story: Romeo and Juliet, directed by Corey Campbell, is bringing a rap, soul and R&B version of the Shakespeare play to Bristol Old Vic until 5 April. On my signal: Prince William the Prince of Wales dropped in to an event aimed at young farmers in Pensford south of Bristol, speaking to the guests and watching some physical challenges, including a tug-of-war. Look up: As soon as the clearer, warmer days arrive you can be sure to see hot air balloons over Bristol. Some passed over the city centre early on Saturday. Red letter day: The Bristol City Robins Foundation and social action group Game Changers dropped in at Everygreen Primary Academy in Easton. Pupils met the Bristol City robin and were encouraged to wear red as part of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign. Match action: Team Bath Netball's first NXT Gen League match in Bristol proved to be a thriller as they were edged out by a last-gasp goal by Manchester Thunder at Clifton College, the visitors winning 50-49. His ship came in: Retired sailor Alan Wilcock, 75, had plenty of reasons to be cheerful after winning £1m on a National Lottery scratchcard. Where better to pose for the cameras than the SS Great Britain? Not to be: Despite a great hit from Romaine Sawyers to make it 1-1, Rovers slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Mansfield at the Mem on Saturday. Lifesavers: Blackadder star Sir Tony Robinson joined a nationwide relay aimed at encouraging football fans to learn how to perform CPR. Sir Tony, a Bristol City fan, started his leg at Ashton Gate as part of the British Heart and Sky Bet campaign. New partnership: SUP Bristol, which runs paddle sports on the harbour, has now become part of the Mendip Adventure Group. David Eddins from Mendip and Tim Trew from SUP posed for the camera to celebrate the news. Read all about it: Children's author and poet Alex Wharton dropped in as more than 60 Emersons Green Primary School pupils joined staff to celebrate South Gloucestershire Council opening open a new children's area at the local library. Let the hunt begin: Bristol Zoo Project and other tourist attractions across the West and South Wales have created one of the biggest Easter egg hunts of the year. From now until 4 April, several golden eggs are being hidden at locations across the regions, one a day. Clues will be placed on the zoo's social media accounts each day and anyone who finds an egg zoo tickets and a toy. Recognition: Consultant Rachael Morris, who works at Weston General Hospital, has been awarded a medal from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine for her "outstanding" work caring for older people. Dr Rebecca Maxwell, chief medical officer for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust was "proud" of Rachael's achievement. Going green: Two of the city's business improvement districts (BIDs) have joined forces to help companies make changes as Bristol aims to become a net zero city by 2030. The City Centre and Redcliffe & Temple BIDs are offering advice and support along with the Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership.
BBC News
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Somerset in Pictures: Team Bath and romance in Frome
Valentine's Day is all about romance, and there has been plenty to love in Somerset this Bath got their netball season up and running with a win, and the public were generous with their donations so a four-legged visitor could have a permanent home in Hardington Mandeville they locals have a lot to be thankful to one family for, as they have been keeping the village shop going since the late 1800s. Winning smiles: Team Bath Netball kicked off the 2025 NXT Gen League season with a victory against Nottingham Forest in front of a sold-out home crowd. It's showtime: Toby Thompson took to the stage at The Egg Theatre in Bath to perform The Little Prince, an adaptation of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novella of the same name. Pretty stunning: Is there a rugby stadium in the country with a better backdrop than the Recreation Ground in Bath? We highly doubt it. The lamp of love: A time-honoured tradition took place in Frome on Friday night, with the annual lighting of a lamp dedicated to Valentine's Day. Reg Ling, now 93, began the event in 1993 but has handed it over this year saying he is "too old" to continue. A new home: This rescued North American Bobcat called Bode can now relax after more than £3,500 was raised by Tropiquaria Zoo, near Watchet, after the animal's former owner was convicted of animal welfare offences. The fundraiser means he can stay in Somerset permanently. Inspiring: Paralympic footballer Jack Rutter visited St Lawrence's Primary School in Westbury to lead exercises and pass on some crucial advice about overcoming adversity. A family concern: Daphne Creed MBE is the third generation of her family to run the village shop in Hardington Mandeville, near Yeovil. She took it on from her mother in 1991, who had managed it from 1936, who in turn had taken over from Ms Creed's grandmother, who had run it since the 1890s.
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Team Bath prepare for Nxt Gen League opener
Team Bath will kick-start this season's NXT Gen League against Nottingham Forest on Friday after accepting an invitation to participate in the league. The sell-out fixture at the University of Bath will be the club's first official match since they were omitted from the revamped Netball Super League (NSL) in Bath were one of four sides- alongside Strathclyde Sirens, Surrey Storm and Severn Stars- to miss out on being included in the NSL as 10 teams were reduced to just eight as part of plans to turn the league Forest, who are owned by the Premier League football team, and Birmingham Panthers were added in their NXT Gen League, which is referred to as an 'U23 feeder League' by the NSL, will feature all eight professional sides and Team Bath, who were extended an invitation to will see all nine sides play each other home and away and will run until the weekend of 14-15 June, with fixtures aligned to NSL matches where eligibility for the NXT Gen League is for athletes under 23, regulations state squads can include up to four players over the age of 23 to "support and enhance" the quality of the NXT Gen League will exist as a standalone competition but will be closely connected with the NSL. Nxt Gen League 2025 opening fixtures: Match week 1:Team Bath v Nottingham Forest - 7 February, 19:00Manchester Thunder v Cardiff Dragons - 8 February, 12:00London Pulse v Loughborough Lightning - 8 February, 14:00 Birmingham Panthers v Leeds Rhinos - 8 February, 17:15London Mavericks will begin their campaign on Match week 2 away to Manchester Thunder - 15 February, 12:30.
