Latest news with #SuperTed
Leader Live
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Greenfield Valley Heritage Park announces summer programme
Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, near Holywell, has a variety of events planned, including performances, picnics, and activities. Events will cater to a range of ages and interests, with several family-friendly activities planned. The summer calendar will start with a 'vintage vehicles' event on Sunday, June 29, where visitors can take a look at cars, bikes, and industrial vehicles. At Teddy Tastic on Thursday, July 24, families are invited to enjoy a picnic alongside a variety of activities hosted by Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam. READ MORE: Mental health charity launches 'powerful' mental health movement in Wrexham Children can join Super Ted to uncover hidden superpowers and set off on a woodland walk. On Saturday, July 26, Stori Brymbo will be hosting an archaeology and geology day. Visitors will be able to learn more about geology and take a look at some specimens. There will also be some interactive activities, where people can see if they have what it takes to become an archaeologist or geologist. On Friday, August 8 and Friday, August 15, Xplore will visit Greenfield Valley to lead science sessions. This summer's programme will conclude with two performances by Folksy Theatre on Thursday, August 28. The theatre group will bring two outdoor performances to the park: a children's performance of Robin Hood at 2pm, followed by Twelfth Night at 7pm. Both shows will take place outside. For more information, visit:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
SuperTed or Superman? Hill's ‘different game' key for Bath in Premiership final
Is it a bird or a plane? No, it's probably 'SuperTed'. If Bath win this year's Premiership final the chances are their rangy, athletic flanker Ted Hill will have played a prominent role. This week his captain, Ben Spencer, called him a 'freak' and various seasoned judges have compared him with illustrious former back-rowers ranging from Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino to Pierre Spies and Tom Croft. During this year's Six Nations Maro Itoje suggested similarities between the 26-year-old and 'Captain America or Superman' and suggested he was 'a man carved out of Greek stone'. Bath's head coach, Johann van Graan, believes likewise. 'I think he's one of the best players in the league and his athletic ability is special. There's not a lot he can't do, really.' Advertisement Related: Bath's second-half revival carries them past Bristol and into Premiership final So you might have expected this standout performer – even the backs agree he is the quickest member of Bath's talented squad – to have represented England on multiple occasions since his debut off the bench against Japan in 2019. In fact he has just four caps, all as a replacement and totalling 49 minutes, and has yet to start a Test after six years of national-squad involvement. Injuries and the intense competition for back-row places have both played their part but Hill's family – and particularly his mum, Jan – have long since felt their boy deserves more of a chance. As Hill says: 'It's beyond fair to say they think I should have started for England before now. But that's parents, isn't it? They're my biggest supporters and seeing it from their point of view is sometimes difficult. They're always more emotional about it than I am.' Hill's own view, with England due to tour Argentina and the United States next month, is that he is better off focusing on things he can control. 'I've always been of the mindset that coaches have their opinions. Who they like, who they don't like. I feel like I do have a different game to a lot of the 6s in the country but I'm in a position where there is more depth than anywhere else. That's a blessing for England but it can be a curse for an individual.' Advertisement Hill could not have done much more to nudge the selectors this year. He even managed to catch the incredibly swift Adam Radwan last month and pulled off another remarkable cover tackle to stop the rampaging Kalaveti Ravouvou in Bath's semi-final win over Bristol. The startled gasps from the commentary box, though, have been prompting some wry amusement in the Hill family. 'It's something my mum and dad find funny. 'Have they only just found out that you're quick?'' Allied to his defensive work rate and lineout ability, the former Worcester captain also has a thoughtful side: the son of a police officer and an art teacher, he was a choirboy in Worcester Cathedral and is fascinated by history. Off the field he is not the world's fastest driver – 'My missus always says to me: 'Why are you in the slow lane, why can't you speed up a bit?'' – but things are very different on the field. 'I've definitely got a competitive, stubborn edge to me. I think I should be playing and involved in the England stuff. You've got to have that confidence that you're better than this or that person. But you've also got to have the realism to understand that sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. 'What will be will be. If they pick me they pick me. If they don't I'm not going to be sitting in the corner crying about it. Luckily I've got great people around me. I don't necessarily have to bank on one person's opinion to make me happy. I'm in a good spot with that.' Perhaps his time will come in the not-too-distant future given the value of versatile players who can operate as a forward or a back. As Van Graan said this week: 'I predict somebody will go 8-0, or 4-4, on the bench at some stage.' For the time being, though, the 6ft 5in Hill is having to settle for burning off his mates in training – 'I've been racing Alfie Barbeary but he's been having a 10-metre head start' – before the big showdown with Leicester. 'The biggest thing is how quickly we can find some momentum and get that feeling where we look at each other and go: 'We're here now, we're in it.' When we get on that level of togetherness we feel like we're tough to beat.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Master motivators put 90s chart-toppers Bath and Leicester back on Premiership final stage
It has been a while but the old firm of English club rugby are finally back. Between 1978 and 1997 Bath and Leicester collectively won 15 national knockout trophies and over the first 15 years of the league's existence they claimed 12 titles between them. Their reunion at Twickenham is akin to those other 90s chart-toppers, Oasis and Blur, dusting down their favourite guitars and appearing on stage together. The temptation is to dive head first into a foaming tub of nostalgia and wallow in the rekindled rivalry. If anyone had predicted in 1996 that Bath would not win another domestic title in the next 29 years they would have been laughed out of the convivial old Rec clubhouse. Leicester, similarly, thought the ABC Club and the Tigers' steely winning mentality would live for ever. Advertisement Related: Super Ted or Superman? Hill's 'different game' key for Bath in Premiership final It is the here and now, though, that really matters in a grand final week. And how interesting that it has taken a South African and an Australian, neither of whom played Test rugby, to bring the good times rolling back to two famous English institutions. At first glance the outwardly calm, process-oriented Johann van Graan and the more animated Michael Cheika might not appear to have much in common. But drill a little deeper and the renaissance of their respective teams has been built on broadly the same tenets. Both are widely travelled family men who have long since understood that coaching is ultimately about people. And, specifically, about channelling the power of the collective, not least psychologically. Both have also looked beyond rugby's normal tramlines for inspiration. Cheika, born in Sydney to Lebanese immigrants, used to run a successful fashion distribution business, which he says taught him plenty about how to manage and operate under pressure. And did you know that Bath's rise has been partly shaped by the best strategic minds in the US army? Van Graan, it emerges, has made multiple visits to the US Military Academy at West Point, just up the Hudson River from New York, to discover how real combatants prepare for battle. 'I often think about what I've learned there,' he said this week. 'We speak a lot about war in training but I go to learn from guys who are actually in a war. I remember this one platoon leader taking us into a little restaurant and giving me live examples of training and battle and how the two differ.' Advertisement Van Graan's attention to detail has also taken him to several NFL teams including the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins. The 45-year-old has also embraced the vision of continual improvement embedded in Japanese Kaizen culture and tapped into the benefits of mind-and-body yoga. At half-time in the dressing room, before a single coaching message is imparted, Bath's players collectively take a deliberate yoga-style deep breath to help bring them back in sync. 'Obviously rugby's a very emotional game and when you're in the middle of the battle it can be hard bringing yourself back to a calm state,' says Miles Reid, one of several local Bath boys yearning to bring the league title back to their rugby-centric home city. 'Before a message is delivered in our huddles we take a breath. It just gets us all on the same page. It calms us down and then you're clearer and more receptive.' Bath's second-half surge against Bristol Bears in last Friday's semi-final would suggest it is working. As with his native Springboks, for whom Van Graan worked as an assistant between 2012 and 2017, Bath also possess a 'bomb squad' bench who blow most opponents away. Van Graan will also tell you that relaying the infamously muddy pitch at the Rec – ironically after a narrow defeat by Leicester – has been even more vital to Bath's resurgence, finally suiting the all-court brand of rugby they wanted to play. The Tigers have not had the luxury of Bruce Craig's generous financial backing. Having won the title against the odds in 2022, they trailed in eighth in the table last year and Cheika's tenure will span only one year. As recently as January they contrived to concede 80 points to Toulouse, forcing their resident Australian wizard to dig into his box of motivational tricks. He has plenty of them: among his more famous ploys was handing out engraved golf clubs to each member of his Waratahs squad before their Super Rugby final against the Crusaders in 2014. He wanted to encourage them to have a swing and not have any regrets. The Waratahs duly beat a strong Crusaders side 33-32. The 58-year-old Australian has not yet been spotted in any pro shops this week but, whether it be through tone, body language or symbolic messaging, he will unquestionably have Leicester pumped up for the big one. 'He's obviously unbelievable in terms of the strategic side,' says England's Ollie Chessum, set to embark on his first Lions tour next week. 'You don't get as far as he has in rugby without having that rugby IQ. But for me he just finds a way to galvanise the group and get them to find a real meaning in what they're doing. We've probably not learned too much technically that we didn't already know but what's really changed this year is around that mental and emotional side of the game. Cheik's incredibly good at finding a way to motivate boys. He'll also say that just believing you can do it makes a huge difference.' Advertisement Leicester, even so, will require something special to stop a team who are chasing a trophy treble, having already landed the Challenge Cup and Premiership Cup. Not only do Bath have the baton-twirling Finn Russell but they have impressive power and pace across the field. Even without the injured Ollie Lawrence, Van Graan's multifaceted squad is finally well placed to reward Craig's investment. Then again the white-shirted Tigers will be feeling an emotional surge as they bid farewell to, among others, their retiring legends Ben Youngs and Dan Cole. 'It's sad seeing Coley retire,' says Joe Heyes, his front-row teammate. 'Lenny too. They've been a huge part of this club. We want to send them off in the right way.' Chessum, increasingly influential for club and country, is another believer. 'When we've needed it most in the last five, six weeks the squad has really clicked. As Cheik says, we've been playing under pressure for quite a few weeks now.' Or, to quote Cheika himself: 'When the opportunity's there you'd be mad not to take it, wouldn't you?' But Bath and Van Graan have not come this far to abandon their process now and lose a second consecutive Premiership final. If they can crack the title code it may just be the first of many.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Super Ted or Superman? Hill's ‘different game' key for Bath in Premiership final
Is it a bird or a plane? No, it's probably 'SuperTed'. If Bath win this year's Premiership final the chances are their rangy, athletic flanker Ted Hill will have played a prominent role. This week his captain, Ben Spencer, called him a 'freak' and various seasoned judges have compared him with illustrious former back-rowers ranging from Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino to Pierre Spies and Tom Croft. During this year's Six Nations Maro Itoje suggested similarities between the 26-year-old and 'Captain America or Superman' and suggested he was 'a man carved out of Greek stone'. Bath's head coach, Johann van Graan, believes likewise. 'I think he's one of the best players in the league and his athletic ability is special. There's not a lot he can't do, really.' So you might have expected this standout performer – even the backs agree he is the quickest member of Bath's talented squad – to have represented England on multiple occasions since his debut off the bench against Japan in 2019. In fact he has just four caps, all as a replacement and totalling 49 minutes, and has yet to start a Test after six years of national-squad involvement. Injuries and the intense competition for back-row places have both played their part but Hill's family – and particularly his mum, Jan – have long since felt their boy deserves more of a chance. As Hill says: 'It's beyond fair to say they think I should have started for England before now. But that's parents, isn't it? They're my biggest supporters and seeing it from their point of view is sometimes difficult. They're always more emotional about it than I am.' Hill's own view, with England due to tour Argentina and the United States next month, is that he is better off focusing on things he can control. 'I've always been of the mindset that coaches have their opinions. Who they like, who they don't like. I feel like I do have a different game to a lot of the 6s in the country but I'm in a position where there is more depth than anywhere else. That's a blessing for England but it can be a curse for an individual.' Hill could not have done much more to nudge the selectors this year. He even managed to catch the incredibly swift Adam Radwan last month and pulled off another remarkable cover tackle to stop the rampaging Kalaveti Ravouvou in Bath's semi-final win over Bristol. The startled gasps from the commentary box, though, have been prompting some wry amusement in the Hill family. 'It's something my mum and dad find funny. 'Have they only just found out that you're quick?'' Allied to his defensive work rate and lineout ability, the former Worcester captain also has a a thoughtful side: the son of a police officer and an art teacher, he was a choirboy in Worcester Cathedral and is fascinated by history. Off the field he is not the world's fastest driver – 'My missus always says to me: 'Why are you in the slow lane, why can't you speed up a bit?'' – but things are very different on the field. 'I've definitely got a competitive, stubborn edge to me. I think I should be playing and involved in the England stuff. You've got to have that confidence that you're better than this or that person. But you've also got to have the realism to understand that sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. 'What will be will be. If they pick me they pick me. If they don't I'm not going to be sitting in the corner crying about it. Luckily I've got great people around me. I don't necessarily have to bank on one person's opinion to make me happy. I'm in a good spot with that.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Perhaps his time will come in the not-too-distant future given the value of versatile players who can operate as a forward or a back. As Van Graan said this week: 'I predict somebody will go 8-0, or 4-4, on the bench at some stage.' For the time being, though, the 6ft 5in Hill is having to settle for burning off his mates in training – 'I've been racing Alfie Barbeary but he's been having a 10-metre head start' – before the big showdown with Leicester. 'The biggest thing is how quickly we can find some momentum and get that feeling where we look at each other and go: 'We're here now, we're in it.' When we get on that level of togetherness we feel like we're tough to beat.'
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Family man' charged over Liverpool crash horror pictured for first time
This is the man accused of ramming his car into crowds at the Liverpool victory parade, injuring almost 80 people. Paul Doyle, 53, of West Derby, Liverpool, is accused of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent to cause injury, and attempting to cause GBH with intent when he ploughed into football fans celebrating Liverpool FC's title win. The dad of three was finally identified today, as detectives were given more time to quiz him over the incident on Monday night. Police were stationed outside his family home this afternoon, where Doyle lives with his wife and their three sons. Loved-up pictures on social media show the family enjoying various holidays including Disneyland Florida, Dubai and at the beach. The pictures are a far cry from the dramatic scenes that unfolded on Water Street, where bloodied football fans and injured children had to be carried from the scene and rushed to hospital. Police said seven people were still recovering in hospital today after horrific clips showed a Ford Galaxy people carrier mowing down crowds just after the parade finished around 6pm. It remains unclear exactly what Doyle does for work, with a number of dissolved retail companies listed under his name on Companies House. His LinkedIn page says he is a former Royal Marine Commando and now works in IT. In an update posted on Wednesday afternoon, police said the total number injured was now at 79, but more people had been discharged from hospital. Today it was revealed the casualties' ages range between 9 and 78 years old. Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: 'I'm pleased to say that the number of people in hospital is reducing as they continue to recover from the awful incident. We continue to support those still receiving treatment and as part of our ongoing enquiries we are identifying more people who were injured. 'I want to reassure the public of Merseyside that detectives are making significant progress as we seek to establish the full circumstances that led to what happened." Hundreds of thousands of Liverpudlians had lined the streets on Monday to celebrate Arne Slot's team winning a record-tying 20th top flight title. As the open-top bus parade was nearing an end, witnesses described seeing a car enter a cordoned-off street just off the parade route and driving into fans, stopping briefly in the road before starting again. Police confirmed that same evening they had arrested a 53-year-old British man in connection with the incident. Among those injured was new dad Daniel Eveson, who thought his little family were 'going to die' when his son's buggy was dragged 15ft in the crash carnage. The traumatised dad, 36, from Telford, Shrops, added it was nothing short of a 'miracle' that his family survived and has now dubbed his five month old baby boy, 'Super Ted,' after he escaped completely unscathed. 'He's our miracle. He's 'Super Ted'. I keep crying every time I hold him. I can't believe we've still got him, he didn't even break a finger' Daniel told The Mirror. He told how his fiancee Sheree Aldridge, 36 is also 'getting better' after the car ran over her leg, leaving her with muscle and tissue damage and lacerations. He said: 'I basically held the pram but the pram got took out of my hands and my hands went on the bonnet to try and stop the car. Then Sheree went up on the bonnet and then dropped off and then went under it. "I looked to my side to see her and she just wasn't there,' he said, breaking down in tears and adding: 'Oh my God it was just horrible. I just want justice.'
