Latest news with #westCumbrian
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cumbria's Strongest Man and Women show promises records and remarkable feats
The most powerful men and women in the county will take the stage in west Cumbria this weekend. The fourth annual Cumbria's Strongest Man and Woman show promises to see records broken and some remarkable feats of strength. The event on Saturday at Rivendell in Workington will involve top competitors from Cumbria and some from further afield. Those behind the 2025 show say an exciting day is in prospect. 'We've got an amazing line-up of competitors,' said Dave Straughton, one of the event's main organisers. 'I honestly think it'll be the best one we've ever had.' Competitors will take part in five events to test the formidable strength of the men and women involved. 'We've got the max deadlift, and we honestly think we'll see some Cumbria records get broken in that,' added Straughton. Top competitors on Saturday include, from left to right, last year's 105kg champion Connor Smith, open champion Karl Gorman, Molly Wagstaff and Daniel McNicholas (Image: Submitted) 'We've got an overhead medley, where they've got to press four implements overhead - an axle, a log, a monster one-arm dumbbell, and a natural stone block. 'The third event is the max throw – and the fourth event's really fun, because it's a mystery event. 'Outside of the promotional team, no-one knows what it is. And that'll get announced after event three, about 20 minutes before it starts. So, that will throw a cat amongst the pigeons. I absolutely cannot wait to see the faces of the athletes and the crowd when we announce what it is. 'And then we'll finish with the Cumberland Stones at the end, like we always do.' The competition will include an open class, a 105kg class and, for the second year, a female category. A number of national-level competitors will be stepping up. They will include Workington's Karl Gorman, who has twice been named Cumbria's Strongest Man and will compete in the 105kg class, and fellow west Cumbrian Dan McNicholas, who was the first winner of the title, and who has also qualified for England's Strongest Man as well as holding the county's deadlift record. He will be among the open class competitors. Connor Smith, who also trains in Workington and recently came second in Britain's Strongest Man at u90kg, will also compete – while the remarkable Mark Tonner, from Catterick, will also wow the crowd. The military veteran, who lost the use of an arm after a blast in Afghanistan, has won World Disabled Strongman titles. 'He's twice as strong as the average man with one arm,' Straughton said. 'He's a beast. 'He's got to have some specialised kit – such as, for the log press, a specialised one-armed log. 'As amazing as all the athletes are, I think Mark will probably steal the show.' A crowd of about 500 people is expected and there will be refreshments and a bar. 'It's a brilliant family day and the atmosphere is always great,' added Straughton. The action starts at 11am and is expected to run to 5pm. Tickets are still available via the Cumbrian Strongman Promotions Instagram page HERE, or on the door.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- BBC News
Poppy Atkinson: Kendal rugby club installs barriers after death
Safety barriers have been installed at a rugby club a month after a 10-year-old girl was killed by a car that struck her on the Atkinson died from head injuries after a car crashed through metal barriers during a football training session at Kendal Rugby Club, Cumbria, on 5 barriers have now been installed along the length of the playing field, with a number of local businesses joining forces to fund the work.A 40-year-old man from Lancaster, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has been released under investigation. An inquest into Poppy's death was adjourned last month. Reg Burrow, a director at the Kendal club, said safety measures had been reviewed in light of the crash, which also injured another said the club was "indebted to the kindness of the various businesses who came together" to help fund the 30 vertical 2.5 tonne concrete barriers."The terrible loss of Poppy has had a profound effect on our club, and of course the wider community," he added. The work was funded by Sellafield's delivery partners from The Decommissioning Alliance (TDA), i3 Decommissioning Partners and ADAPT joint ventures, while west Cumbrian businesses Forth and MCS installed the Shepherd, who works for TDA, said: "The thought that perhaps many may not return to the club because they were scared did not sit well."Of course, the new barriers will not bring Poppy back, but they will prevent a repeat of this tragedy." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Family pay tribute to respected businessman and entrepreneur
THE family of a respected west Cumbrian businessman and entrepreneur have paid tribute to his life. Tom Milburn, who owned and managed the Seacote Hotel and Seacote Park at St Bees for 50 years, has passed away aged 85. Latterly, his business also included Beachcomber Caravan Park, Tarnside Caravan Park, Seven Acres Caravan Park and St Bees Beach Shop. His business will continue be owned and run by his family. Tom, who lived in St Bees, is perhaps best known for building and running his own construction firm, Thomas Milburn Limited, based in Hensingham, throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He also devoted a great deal of his free time to volunteering with a range of organisations. He was a member of Whitehaven Rotary Club for 47 years and was honoured by the club recently for his long service. Tom acted as a business mentor for the Prince's Trust for over ten years and worked as a trustee of Johnson House Care Home in Whitehaven for 25 years, where an accommodation wing was recently named in his honour. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, colleagues and employees. Tom was cared for during his illness by the 'wonderful' team at Hospice at Home West Cumbria. His family said the team's compassion, diligence and expertise were enormously comforting in his final days. Tom's funeral service will be held at St Bees Priory on Monday, March 24 at 10am. Family flowers only please. Donations in support of Hospice at Home can be made at his tribute page:
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
In the dock: Fake pregnancies, former circus clown and charity shop thief
From fake pregnancies, drink-driving for a McDonald's, stealing a charity shop hat and failing to pay a Covid fine, here are some of the cases heard at West Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Workington this month. Woman who faked pregnancies 'wore silicone baby bump' Libby Vernon (Image: Newsquest) A WOMAN who faked two pregnancies and the death of a newborn baby was found to be wearing a silicone baby bump after going to a maternity ward, a court heard. Libby Vernon, 23, claimed to be pregnant by an 'abusive ex-partner' when she started a long distance relationship with a west Cumbrian man she met online. But just days after 'giving birth' she told him the baby had died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and sent a picture of a death certificate. CNC officer twice drink-drive limit drove to Whitehaven McDonald's Mark Bennett (Image: Newsquest) A SELLAFIELD firearms officer drove to McDonald's while more than twice the drink-drive limit after waking up hungry, a court heard. Mark Bennett, 33, was witnessed driving a Volkswagen Golf on the wrong side of the road as he travelled from Workington to the fast food restaurant in Whitehaven on January 18. Prosecutor Pamela Fee said a member of the public who was following Bennett's car at Lillyhall in Workington contacted the police at 2.35am. The caller believed that the driver of the vehicle was under the influence of alcohol. At one point, the car was on the wrong side of the road and almost drove head-on into another vehicle going in the opposite direction, Ms Fee said. Thief who stole charity shop hat said 'Bilbo Baggins was a burglar' Garry Pitt (Image: Newsquest) A THIEF who stole a bucket hat from a charity shop mannequin told police after handing the item over, 'Bilbo Baggins was a trained burglar'. Garry Pitt, 66, made reference to the main character in J R. R. Tolkien's famous fantasy novel, The Hobbit, after being caught on CCTV stealing the hat from the Ani-Mel Haven charity shop in Workington. The defendant, who denied the theft, was found guilty following a trial at Workington Magistrates' Court. Workington man didn't bite police officer 'because he had no teeth' Steven Hodgson (Image: Newsquest) A MAN accused of biting a police officer during a struggle couldn't have done 'because he had no teeth', a court heard. Steven Hodgson, 34, 'panicked' and ran away from officers who could smell cannabis coming from his vehicle while outside a Workington supermarket in the early hours of January 27. An officer who believed he may have been bitten by Hodgson as he 'violently' resisted, was 'mistaken', his solicitor said - because the defendant did not have a full set of top teeth. Former circus clown Stanley Thompson jailed over car bonnet incident Stanley Thompson (Image: Cumbria Police) A FORMER circus performer who drove off with a friend on the bonnet of his car after drinking alcohol has been jailed for 12 months. Stanley Thompson, 48, got behind the wheel of an Audi A1 and 'accelerated at speed' as the victim attempted to stop him from driving. The defendant, who used to perform as a circus clown, was stopped by police but resisted the officer and refused to comply with a breath test, Workington Magistrates' Court heard. Workington mum who avoided paying £2k Covid fine warned of prison Jodie Teale ignored a £2k fine imposed in 2021 for breaking Covid rules (Image: Archive) A MUM who failed to pay a £2k fine for breaking Covid rules was warned she would face jail if she continued to 'bury her head in the sand'. Jodie Teale, 23, was fined £2,001.31 in August 2021 after attending a gathering of two or more people while Covid restrictions were in place. But three years later, only one payment of £19.67 had been made by the defendant, Workington Magistrates' Court heard. Subscribe to the News & Star today and get the latest court news delivered straight to your device.
