Watford Round Table wants to hear your stag party tales
11:00am Wednesday 30th May 2012 in News By Frazer Ansell
Watford Round Table is compiling a definitive guide to organising the ultimate stag do and is looking for examples of good and bad practice from people living locally.
The stag do is often considered the "last stand" for the groom-to-be, so for the best man, the one typically tasked to arrange this rite of passage, it’s understandable that along with a sense of pride, comes a degree of trepidation at having to deliver a stag do that lives up to expectations.
Following the success of last year’s guide to the perfect best man’s speech, Round Table is looking to continue its support of men up and down the country with their best man duties.
Stephen Saunders, 29, from Watford Round Table, said: "Our best man’s speech guide proved to be a huge success and now we want people in Watford to send us their favourite stag do stories, advice and pictures. We’re hoping to receive some great examples of where to go, what to do and perhaps, what not to do.
"Our aim is to use the responses we receive from people in WatfordAREA and those from Round Table’s network of more than 500 clubs, to produce a simple, but authoritative guide to delivering the ultimate stag do, created by those who know best – the men who’ve been there and done it."
People who think they have tips, examples, photographs or footage that should (or should not) be shared, or will help the Watford Round Table create its guide should email bestman@roundtable.org.uk.
Round Table provides a network of advice and camaraderie for men aged 18-45.
The organisation offers a wide range of social and sporting activities in the local community, as well as personal development skills including event organisation, public speaking, and of course knowing how to have fun.
To find out more about Watford Round Table, visit www.roundtable.co.uk/findoutmore
Source: www.watfordobserver.co.uk
Graham Taylor quits as Watford chairman - BBC News
Graham Taylor has stepped down as Watford chairman, a position he held in a non-executive capacity.
The former England boss, who had two successful spells as Hornets manager, will retain his title of life president at the club.
He had been non-executive chairman since November 2009, when he took up the role on an interim basis.
Graham Taylor“I always made it clear I never felt this to be something for the long-term”
Owner Laurence Bassini will take up the chairmanship on a temporary basis until a replacement is appointed.
Taylor led Watford from the fourth tier to the top flight during his first stint as boss in the late 1970s.
He returned in 1996 and brought Premier League football to Vicarage Road for one season.
"Having accepted the position of non-executive chairman after being interim chairman, I always made it clear I never felt this to be something for the long-term," said the 67-year-old.
"As everyone knows, when I joined the board the club was going through very difficult times and, at one point, the solvency and future of the club was in real doubt.
"With a new owner and manager in place for 12 months and a very solid performance in the Championship this last season, I feel now is the time to step down."
Taylor was engaged in a public spat with Bassini in November, after Taylor had criticised the club's owner for not attending a fans' forum.
Bassini threatened to quit the board but eventually decided to remain.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Finn stakes England claim on duty for Middlesex - ESPN.co.uk
Ben Brown and Ed Joyce led a spirited Sussex fightback after Middlesex had threatened to bowl them out cheaply at Lord's in Division One of the County Championship.
Tim Murtagh took three early wickets with the new ball after Sussex skipper Mike Yardy had won the toss and elected to bat, and finished with figures of four for 41.
Steven Finn also picked up two wickets as Sussex slumped to 33 for four and 66 for five before Joyce and Brown began the recovery. Finn, by the close, had three for 65.
Joyce made 77 in a partnership of 81 with Brown, who went on to add 63 with Naveed Arif Gondal before falling for 70 as Sussex reached 242 for eight by the end of play. Gondal made 38.
Luke Procter's first five-wicket haul of his career gave Lancashire the edge over Durham on day one of the clash between the Division One strugglers at Chester-le-Street.
Procter's five for 17 along with Hogg's three scalps in six balls ensured Durham crumpled to 102 all out after they were put in to bat. Both also made runs to help opener Paul Horton, who top-scored with 31 not out as Lancashire closed on 141 for eight.
Meanwhile in Division Two, fast bowlers Steve Patterson and Mitchell Starc were quick to make their mark on the first day of Yorkshire's match against Northamptonshire at Headingley. Patterson, who received his first team cap before the start of the game, responded by firing out both openers.
Left-arm paceman Starc, on his Championship debut, also picked up two early wickets as the visitors slumped to 45 for five in this Division Two contest after winning the toss. However, captain Andrew Hall, led a spirited rearguard action with a rugged 79 which boosted his side's score to 253. In five overs before the close, Yorkshire reached 27 without loss.
The main event at New Road was delayed for at least 24 hours as Daryl Mitchell and Phil Hughes held off Somerset with Worcestershire's first century start for more than a year in the LV= County Championship.
By batting all day to score 270 for three, the home side frustrated Nick Compton and the West Country fans who had travelled to see whether he can become the first batsman for 24 years to reach 1,000 first-class runs by the end of May.
Runaway Division Two leaders Derbyshire were put firmly in their place by lowly Gloucestershire on the opening day of the match at Bristol. Yet to lose a four-day game this season and well clear of their nearest rivals going into this game, the surprise early-season front-runners were all out for just 95 inside 33 overs - their lowest score of the summer - after winning the toss, with Will Gidman taking four for 29 in eight overs.
Gloucestershire then made good their advantage on a true pitch, overseas batsman Kane Williamson and skipper Alex Gidman posting half centuries to help the home side reach the close on 182 for five, already 87 runs ahead.
Marcus North's first century for Glamorgan helped the Welsh county take control on the second day of their clash with Leicestershire at Cardiff. The Australian batsman, who scored a century in the Ashes Test at the same ground in 2009, was in sparkling form and struck 116 as Glamorgan reached 302 for five to claim a 31-run lead after Leicestershire were all out for 271.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd
Source: www.espn.co.uk
Sussex fight back after nightmare start at Lord's - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex fight back after nightmare start at Lord's
6:59pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis
Sussex fought back after making a nightmare start to their County Championship match with Middlesex at Lord's.
Skipper Mike Yardy saw his side collapse to 33-4 and 66-5 after winning the toss and electing to bat.
But battling innings from Ed Joyce and Ben Brown saw Sussex recover to 242-8 at the close of day one in the division one encounter.
The day got off to the worst possible start for Sussex on what looked a decent batting wicket and favourable conditions.
Opener Chris Nash fell off the second ball when he edged a lifting delivery from Murtagh to the wicketkeeper.
Murtagh then struck twice in the space of four balls to dismiss Joe Gatting and Mike Goodwin, both caught in the slips, and when Yardy followed Sussex were reeling on 33-4.
Luke Wright and Joyce put a temporary halt to the carnage with a partnership of 33 before Wright played a loose shot to a delivery from Stephen Finn and was caught behind.
Joyce survived when Ollie Rayner was unable to hold on to a sharp chance at second slip to complete his half century.
He put on 81 with Brown before gloving a catch down the leg-side to the wicketkeeper having made 77 to give Finn his second wicket.
Brown and Naved Arif then added 63 for the seventh wicket before Finn ended Brown's inning with the new ball.
The players had just returned after a short rain delay and Brown's concentration seemed to be affected as he took a swipe at a wide ball and edged to Rayner at second slip for 70.
Arif followed for 38 when he tried to cut a ball from Murtagh (4-41) which was too close to him and picked out Gareth Berg at backward point.
Jimmy Anyon and Steve Magoffin were both on 11 when play was brought to a close after 92 overs.
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
Taylor stands down at Hornets (From This Is Local London) - This is london Calling
Graham Taylor stands down as Watford's non-executive chairman
1:15pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Latest Sport By Anthony Matthews
Graham Taylor has stood down as Watford's non-executive chairman.
The Hornets' most successful manager will remain as the club's life-president, with owner Laurence Bassini taking over as his interim successor until the Watford board decide on a longer-term solution.
Taylor told Watford's official website: "Having accepted the position of non-executive chairman after being interim chairman, I always made it clear I never felt this to be something for the long-term.
"There's never a right or wrong time to make these decisions, but I wanted to provide as long as possible during the close-season to consider a replacement or perhaps give a new focus to the role."
Bassini said: "I fully understand Graham's wish to concentrate on his other commitments, but let me make it clear that I'm very disappointed to be losing him as chairman off this club.
"I wish him all the very best for the future and will no doubt continue to seek his advice from time to time.
"It is obvious how much he has done for Watford over the years, and he will of course be welcome here any time."
Taylor added: "It would have been wrong of me to have stepped down just before the start of the season, and to have left an unsettling vacuum at that time.
"I'm about to head off to the Euros as part of the BBC commentary team, and then away on private holidays.
"This not only highlights the lack of time I have to devote to the Watford chairmanship but also provides a natural break for the club to plan ahead."
Source: www.thisislocallondon.co.uk
Sussex Stakes News: Frankel heads 36 entries - Betfair
Superstar Frankel has failed to intimidate the opposition for the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on August 1 with 36 horses making up the initial entry...
Sir Henry Cecil's four-year-old, the world's best racehorse with a Timeform rating of 143, won the Sussex Stakes last year when comprehensively beating the 133-rated Canford Cliffs in a match-up that was known as 'The Duel on the Downs'.
The fourth-best horse in Timeform's 64-year history, Frankel made a sparkling return to action when taking the Lockinge at Newbury earlier this month by five lengths from Excelebration and is now undefeated in 10 starts.
Canford Cliffs' handler Richard Hannon is clearly determined to be the one to topple Frankel, however, as the champion trainer has entered four for the Sussex, namely the 123-rated Dubawi Gold, Newmarket 2000 Guineas fourth Trumpet Major, unbeaten Richmond Stakes-winning juvenile Harbour Watch and Strong Suit, last year's Jersey, Lennox and Challenge Stakes hero who was a late defector from the Lockinge.
David Redvers, racing manager to Strong Suit's owners Qatar Racing Limited (also part-owners of Harbour Watch) has stated today that the first-named colt is definitely being aimed at the Sussex Stakes as he enjoys the track and the belief is that the race will be perfect for him.
Redvers went on to explain that Strong Suit is pencilled in to make his eagerly anticipated return to action in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, while Harbour Watch may also reappear at the meeting (presumable in the St James's Palace) if he is ready in time or alternatively could head straight to Goodwood.
Harbour Watch also has the option of the Lennox Stakes if heading to Goodwood without a run.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for a staggering 14 of the 37 entries, including English Guineas winners Camelot and Homecoming Queen, as well as Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Power.
The master of Ballydoyle also has Excelebration entered, along with multiple top-level winner So You Think, though that horse, who has a stallion career in the Southern Hemisphere beckoning, is more likely to take in either the Queen Anne or Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot before ending his racing career in the Eclipse at Sandown.
Jim Bolger's Parish Hall and the John Oxx-trained Born To Sea are the other two Irish-trained entries, while Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Foxtrot Romeo and the Roger Charlton-trained Top Offer are just some others involved, along with Godolphin's Australian import Helmet.
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Full betting on the Sussex Stakes can be found HERE.
Source: betting.betfair.com
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