Sussex skies light up as the Jubilee beacons blaze
10:06am Wednesday 6th June 2012 in News By Bill Gardner
Night skies glowed as dozens of Jubilee beacons were set ablaze across Sussex.
Thousands of people flocked to watch the fires on Monday night which formed part of a ‘chain of light’ to celebrate 60 years of the Queen’s reign.
In Brighton and Hove, a trio of fiery beacons were lit in Rottingdean, on Hove promenade and on Brighton seafront.
The fires were lit by the mayor of Brighton and Hove, Bill Randall, council leader Jason Kitcat and the Royal British Legion.
Near the Palace Pier, crowds danced to music from brass band Fanfara and steel band Euphoria.
Dozens of other fires were lit across the county.
In East Hoathly, a 30ft wooden sculpture of Britannia complete with trident, shield and helmet was set ablaze. Sculptor Keith Pettit took three weeks and three lorry loads of scrap wood to make the female warrior before it was burned to the ground.
The beacon at Shoreham Fort took a while to get going despite the efforts of East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton.
After the event, Mr Loughton joked on social networking website Twitter: “We got the beacon alight eventually – aided by a Calor Gas blowtorch – but it was worth it.”
In Bognor, a Royal British Legion brass band played as a beacon was lit on the Place St Maur. Sky lanterns were released into the sky along with 60 helium dove balloons.
Scouts and Guides led the celebrations in Littlehampton with a colourful procession along the seafront led by a marching band.
Afterwards the mayor of Littlehampton, Coun Emma Neno, lit the flame, helped by the winner of a children’s fancy dress contest held in Mewsbrook Park.
Revellers in Seaford were treated to a hi-tech laser show at Seaford Head before the traditional beacon was lit by laser from the ancient Martello Tower above Seaford Museum.
Source: www.theargus.co.uk
Sharapova to Play Wimbledon Champ Kvitova in French Open Semis - Bloomberg
Maria Sharapova moved one step closer to her first French Open title by advancing to a semifinal against Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Sharapova beat No. 23 seed Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-3 to reach her third semifinal in Paris. The second-seeded Russian has won the other three majors -- Australian Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open -- but has never lifted the trophy at Roland Garros.
“I’m quite happy to be back in the semifinal,” Sharapova, who’s lost just one set in five matches, said in a televised interview. “Happy with the way I’ve improved this tournament, but it only gets tougher from here.”
Kvitova came from behind to beat qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. The fourth-seeded Czech has reached the last four in Paris for the first time.
Tomorrow’s other semifinal will have U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur, the sixth seed from Australia, playing No. 21 Sara Errani of Italy.
Sharapova led 2-1 after neither player held serve in the opening three games. She broke again for a 5-2 lead and won the set in the next game after fighting off a break point.
Estonia’s Kanepi had an early break in the second set before Sharapova scored three straight breaks for 5-2 lead. After Kanepi prolonged the match with a break of her own, Sharapova broke right back to clinch her spot in the final four.
Improved Accuracy
“It was tough to get my rhythm today because balls were flying so hard from her side,” Kanepi said in a news conference. “It’s unfortunate that I didn’t stay that long on the court, I enjoyed being there.”
Kvitova’s victory prevented Shvedova from becoming the first qualifier to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros since tennis went professional in 1968. The 24-year-old from Kazakhstan won three matches in qualifying just to make the main draw.
Shvedova won the first set as Kvitova made 10 unforced errors. The Wimbledon champ then took the second set after she broke serve in the opening game and improved her accuracy.
“After the first set, I knew I had to change my game,” Kvitova said in a televised interview. “It wasn’t easy.”
Shvedova scored an early break in the third set and fought off two break points for a 4-2 lead. Kvitova then took the next four games, breaking twice, and clinched the match when Shvedova sent a backhand wide on her second match point.
In today’s men’s quarterfinals, six-time champion Rafael Nadal meets fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro and Britain’s Andy Murray plays David Ferrer of Spain.
To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Bensch in London at bbensch@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net.
Russia's Maria Sharapova
Kenzo TribouillardD/AFP/GettyImages
Russia's Maria Sharapova hits a return to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi their Women's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris.
Russia's Maria Sharapova hits a return to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi their Women's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Photographer: Kenzo TribouillardD/AFP/GettyImages
Source: www.bloomberg.com
Sussex on top early on - wscountytimes.co.uk
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Source: www.wscountytimes.co.uk
Sussex Police introduces measures to curb crime during Euros - littlehamptongazette.co.uk
INCREASED patrols and dispersal orders are among the measures Sussex Police will be introducing to curb crime during the European Football Championships.
As well as increased patrols and dispersal orders, which give police powers to ban groups of people from areas for 24 hours, Sussex Police has been working with local authorities and licensees to “deter trouble before it starts”.
This includes licensed premises selling drinks in plastic cups and bringing trouble makers to the attention of the police.
“Our main aim is to make this a safe and trouble-free tournament,” said Superintendent Grenville Wilson.
“Our approach will be friendly, fair but firm. The vast majority of supporters are law-abiding and peaceful, but there are a few who use events like the championships as an excuse to cause trouble. We don’t want it and we won’t put up with it.
“In addition to extra police patrols, we have a wide variety of legal powers which can and will be used if necessary.
“We also have powers to stop individuals drinking in public, and powers to require people to disperse from specific areas, if we think they are likely to cause or are causing trouble. Arrest can follow if they fail to comply. Think of the dispersal order as the yellow and red card scheme. A yellow card means you must leave the area. If you don’t you get the red card – arrest.”
Those who are planning to watch matches in pubs, clubs or other venues in Sussex, are being told to be drink aware and watch their purses, wallets and phones and plan ahead.
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