Latest news with #Northamptonshire
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Brackley man's 38-hour triathlon confirmed as world record
A dad's triathlon where he ran, swam and cycled the equivalent distance of 516km (321 miles) in just over 38 hours has been confirmed as a Guinness World Hopkin, from Brackley in Northamptonshire, ran 100 one-kilometre laps (62 miles) of the town's St James Lake, swam nearly 16km (10 miles) at Pitsford Reservoir and cycled just over 400km (249 miles).His effort has raised more than £6,100 for a local education charity that has helped his autistic son."The triathlon was going OK until 50km into the run – then my feet became one very large blister. I don't know how I carried on. I think I blocked it out," he said. Mr Hopkin was tracked by GPS watches and bike computers, and filmed at every point while timekeepers logged his activities and "independent witnesses" observed the whole to the official world record listing his distance for "longest single-event triathlon (male)" was 515.91km, breaking the previous record of 407.4km. He is still receiving donations for his effort which will go to Northampton-based New Leaf Learning, which supports one of his children."They help children with special educational needs who have experienced trauma to engage in education," he Hopkin said the charity helped his son, who is autistic and had struggled with mainstream education."His school has a relationship with New Leaf Learning, and he was fortunate enough to go there for six weeks where he learnt nature-based coping mechanisms to build teamwork and help him cope with stress," said Mr record holder said he may attempt another triathlon of a similar distance, but he "wouldn't do that one again; I might do a different route though". Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
Biggleswade doctor jailed after fatal motorcycle crash
A doctor whose dangerous driving caused the death of a father-of-two has been jailed for three Hammanjulde Hammawa, from Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, was overtaking an HGV when he crashed his black Mercedes car into 40-year-old Maciej Stepien, who was riding a silver Yamaha crash happened on the morning of 29 November 2022 on the B645 Chelveston Road near the Northamptonshire village of initially denied causing death by dangerous driving, 65-year-old Hammawa changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court to three years in prison. The court heard that the consultant was late for a clinic at the Irthlingborough Nene Clinic when he crossed double white lines on the B645 to overtake and collided with the Stepien, who lived in Northampton and worked for an IT firm in Cambridgeshire, died at the scene.A victim impact statement was read out by Joanna, Mr Stepien's wife and mother of his two children, at the sentencing hearing."Maciej wasn't just a statistic, or just another senseless casualty of dangerous and irresponsible driving," she said."Maciej was a very rare and extraordinary man of many talents, skills and passions, and a great personality."She described her husband as "a wonderful father and a great role model to our children who were only four and six when he passed away"."It is heartbreaking to know that their father will not teach them how to ride a bike or build a bookcase, or fend for themselves. There will be no more memories." 'Reckless actions' Hammawa was also disqualified from driving for six years and six Con Lee Norton, from Northamptonshire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Team, was the lead investigator following the said: "Maciej died because of one person's decision to make a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre and I truly hope Mr Hammawa understands the pain he has caused as a result of his reckless actions that day."This case is a lesson to all road users to ensure you allow yourself enough time for any journey you wish to make."On this day, Mr Hammawa did not do this, instead making a split-second decision in his rush not to be late that cost Maciej his life."No sentence can ever make up for the loss of Maciej." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Northamptonshire Fire Service buys wildfire kit
A fire service has invested in new equipment and training amid concerns climate change could cause more Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said weather patterns are leading to conditions that make the spread of wildfires more the last week alone - as temperatures have topped 32C (89.6F) - firefighters in Northamptonshire have fought field fires in Corby and Spokes, from the police and fire joint operations team, described it as "a challenge". On Tuesday, the National Drought Group - made up of the Environment Agency (EA), government, Met Office, water companies and others - announced Northamptonshire had entered a status of prolonged dry weather - the category below IPCC has said extreme, long-lasting heat draws more moisture out of soils and dry conditions provide fuel for fires, which can spread at an incredible speed, particularly if winds are Met Office has warned the UK is breaking heat and rainfall records increasingly frequently as its climate continues to warm. Mr Spokes, a risk intelligence officer for the joint operations team, said: "We are dealing with more and more wildfire incidents due to the climate emergency."He told BBC Radio Northampton it had led to investment "in a lot more training for those type of incidents".He said the new gear included a response vehicle specifically for wildfires and equipment for Spokes said if firefighters were dealing with wildfires it diverted from them other incidents - and neighbouring fire services may have to step into added the service was "investing heavily to meet those challenges". Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In Pictures: Crick Scarecrow Festival
A village's scarecrow festival has returned with displays inspired by The Beatles, Paddington, Star Wars, Spongebob Squarepants, Harry Potter and more. The Crick Scarecrow Festival in Northamptonshire, now in its 16th year, raises money for local community and charity groups. More than 50 registered scarecrows featured in the weekend event, which typically attracts around 5,000 visitors. Jessica Sheppard, from the Crick Scarecrow Festival committee, said: "We always get a really good turnout… it was really, really busy. "My favourite [display this year] was the Beatlemania one in Marsh Close. The cul-de-sac had all come together to create different scarecrows that represented different Beatles songs." In recent years, the festival has raised £20,000 annually, with this year's total still to be confirmed. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Scarecrow festival raises £4,630 for air ambulance Famous faces turned into scarecrows for town event Crick Scarecrow Festival
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
In Pictures: Crick Scarecrow Festival 2025
A village's scarecrow festival has returned with displays inspired by The Beatles, Paddington, Star Wars, Spongebob Squarepants, Harry Potter and Crick Scarecrow Festival in Northamptonshire, now in its 16th year, raises money for local community and charity groups. More than 50 registered scarecrows featured in the weekend event, which typically attracts around 5,000 Sheppard, from the Crick Scarecrow Festival committee, said: "We always get a really good turnout… it was really, really busy. "My favourite [display this year] was the Beatlemania one in Marsh Close. The cul-de-sac had all come together to create different scarecrows that represented different Beatles songs." In recent years, the festival has raised £20,000 annually, with this year's total still to be confirmed. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
