Tuesday, 12 June 2012
The UK's biggest retailer, which operates 2,800 stores, said like-for-like sales fell 1.5% in the 13 weeks to May 26, which was slightly better than the 1.6% decline in the previous quarter. But the group said it gained share from its rivals in a declining grocery market, helped by the addition of 4,300 extra staff and the overhaul of 100 stores.
And it said it had enjoyed its best ever week outside of Christmas amid the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, with more than 1bn of sales, but this was not included in yesterday's figures.
Chief executive Philip Clarke said: "Our customers are seeing the evidence of the changes we're making and they're telling us they like what they see."
Tesco kept its profits outlook for the year ahead unchanged, reassuring investors after the chain's first profits warning in 20 years in January.
Shares opened nearly 2% higher following the update.
Clive Black, a leading retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: "We see this as a steady statement suggesting stabilisation is coming through in the UK."
Mr Clarke launched his turnaround plan this year after admitting Tesco needed to sharpen up its pricing and customer service and that stores had become jaded and tired.
It has already given 145,000 staff specialist training, improved the offers through its Clubcard scheme and relaunched its Value range as Everyday Value with more colourful packaging.
Mr Clarke added: "We are rapidly implementing our six-point UK plan and I'm particularly proud of the relaunch of our Everyday Value range and the fact we have now put extra staff into 700 of our stores - in 500 of them within the last three weeks alone."
He said the group's sales overseas proved resilient, despite battling slowing economic growth in China and the eurozone debt crisis.
Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Cardiff City fans must back owners says manager Malky Mackay - BBC News
Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has said supporters must trust the club's Malaysian owners after the change of colours from blue to red and the introduction of a new badge.
The club said the changes are part of a "major and significant" investment pledge from the owners.
Mackay says the club are in a better position as a result of the changes but understands some fans' objections.
"We've got to trust our backer," Mackay said.
Malky Mackay Cardiff City manager“I absolutely get the fact that the red or blue debate goes on and some of our fans will feel it's moving away from tradition”
"Everyone's trying to do their best for the football club going forward."
Cardiff will be wearing red rather than blue home shirts from next season after investors Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Dato Chan Tien Ghee pledged their commitment to the club.
Chief executive Alan Whiteley said the driving force behind the move was to put Cardiff on a firm financial footing, with the aim of gaining promotion to the Premier League.
"Obviously it's going to be different but change is constant in life. If you embrace and go with it then success can happen," Mackay told BBC Sport Wales.
"I absolutely get the fact that the red or blue debate goes on and some of our fans will feel it's moving away from tradition.
"But on the other side of that I've also been at Watford where we were two hours from administration and that being the case it's a scary place to be.
"If we don't have backing from a major financial backer then there's a good chance that could happen to football clubs.
"But at the end of the day I think we've got to be realistic that we've got Tan Sri [owner Vincent Tan] is actually backing our football club.
"He's someone who could have left the football club after the play-off final against Blackpool [and] could have walked away at that point.
"He could have walked away a year later when we didn't make it [and] could have walked away this summer."
Mackay said he was flattered to have been linked with the managerial role at former club Norwich City after Paul Lambert left the Canaries to join Aston Villa.
Norwich have since appointed Chris Hughton and Mackay insists he still has work to do at Cardiff City.
"I was flattered to be linked," said Mackay. "It's a club, that's well documented, is close to my heart. I had a long and successful period there.
"I do know the owners Delia [Smith] and Michael [Wynn Jones] well and I know that the chief executive has done a very good job at the football club.
"But I've got a project that I've started here, a project I'm working with really good people at this football club.
"I'm enjoying living in south Wales and working for Cardiff. This is a club that I want to push forward."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
No sunshine for Jason in Florida - icDerry
Quality track and field action from Watford featuring Connor Bradley, National League competition in Antrim and Jason Smyth in Clermont, Florida kept the local athletics scene busy last weekend.
And there was also the annual Buncrana 10k road race on Saturday evening which saw Greg Roberts and Marina Campbell lead home a large field at the Inishowen venue.
The Sunshine State failed to live up to its billing once again as Jason Smyth failed to crack the Olympics 100 metres “A” standard on Saturday.
With clockings of 10.34s and 10.39s the Eglinton sprinter was off target again in the short sprint and he will now be returning from his Florida winter base to continue his quest at a series of races in Europe with the European Championships in Helsinki at the end of the month, perhaps the final shot at making the time of 10.18s or better, prior to the July 8th cut-off date.
Both he and coach, Stephen Maguire remain convinced of his ability to succeed and continue to plan for a summer which hopefully will see the Eglinton Flyer at both the London Olympics and Paralympics.
He also ran his first 200m of the season but in a wet track in the aftermath of a thunderstorm and was clocked at 21.25s. This was encouraging and was just 0.31s off his 200m personal best from last year. Jason had switched from the New York Diamond League meeting in favour of his “home” track in Clermont in a bid to avoid unfavourable weather conditions but the expected sprint friendly Florida conditions, sadly refused to cooperate and the quest continues.
Connor wins in Watford
The BMC Grand Prix at Watford on Saturday produced a new 1,500m PB for Connor Bradley when he impressed by winning his graded race in an excellent 3m 45.55s, ahead of two English runners.
And in fourth place came young Letterkenny athlete, Ruari Finnegan, who made the upcoming European Junior standard with a 3m 46.27s effort.
Just about half a second separated the top four in an exciting battle which the Spartan was delighted to win. Connor continues to improve and will target hitting the low 3m 40s figures as the season develops.
The two local clubs Olympian and City of Derry meantime were in National League action in sunny Antrim on Sunday and both squads impressed.
The female Spartans convincingly topped their Women’s Division One pool and look good in advance of round two next month. With a sweeping 11 event wins they saw off all the opposition and will travel, probably to Santry on July 22nd for the second round, pretty well nailed on for a spot in the eight team final and a shot at promotion to the Women’s Premier Division. Their stand-out performers on the day were Mary Devlin who posted a 100m, Long and Triple Jump treble and double Hurdles winner Emma McCay. The smaller Olympian squad finished in 5th place.
In the Men’s Premier Division the male Spartans relied significantly on their younger squad members and in a loaded pool did well to notch a total of 94 points for a fifth pace finish.
North Down, Tallagh, St Abban’s and reigning champions Clonliffe Harriers filled the top four spots but the Spartans kept alive their chances of making the League final with a spirited all round performance. Hopefully a few more quality bodies can be added to the squad for next month to boost the challenge.
Hammer thrower, Andrew Doyle was the sole winner on the day but second spots from Padjo Hamilton 400m, Mark McGarvey 110m Hurdles, Andrew again in the Shot and the sprint relay quartet of Mark McGarvey, Ryan McParland, Daniel Reid and Jack McCloskey contributed to a decent points haul.
The Olympian men were in Division One action and did well to claim the runners-up spot behind a strong Sligo County team. They posted a healthy 117 points and will fancy their chances of making the division Final for the second year in a row. John Coyle impressed with a Long Jump and 200m double as did Lee Barlow in the Throws and Patrick O’Donnell weighed in with another win as the squad maximised their efforts across the division’s 15 scoring events.
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Zoo trip for disabled children (From Watford Observer) - Watford Observer
Rotary club to organise trip to Whipsnade Zoo
9:00am Tuesday 12th June 2012 in News 
Disabled children from schools in South Oxhey and Abbots Langley will be treated to a day out at Whipsnade Zoo, courtesy of Watford Rotary Club’s Kids Out scheme.
Tomorrow, 36 children accompanied by 24 carers from Colnbrook School, South Oxhey, and eight children with four carers from Breakspeare School, Abbots Langley, will attend the outing.
The children will be collected from their schools and travel to Whipsnade in mini-buses and cars.
They will then be taken around the zoo by their carers to see all the animals and possibly have a trip on the train.
The Rotary Club is providing seven volunteers to act as drivers and organise a picnic lunch for the children.
This annual event, organised by the Watford Rotary Club, is paid for by the club from its charity fund.
The children suffer from a range of learning difficulties including Downs Syndrome, Autism and a general delay in their development.
Kids Out is a scheme operated by many Rotary Clubs across the country to provide a day out to disabled or underprivileged children.
Source: www.watfordobserver.co.uk
Sussex football star killed in crossfire - Progress Index
SURRY - A high school football standout from Sussex County was shot and killed at a graduation party in Surry County Saturday. Tyquan Johnson, 18, had graduated from Sussex Central High School on Friday evening, the school's principal Dr. Arthur Jarrett said.
"Tyquan was an excellent young man, always smiling on the field and in the classroom," Jarrett said. "He had a big heart and he was a good person. He will be missed by both our school and our community," he said. Johnson was quarterback for the school's football team.
Police say that Johnson attended a private graduation party held in the 2100 block of Alliance Road in Surry Saturday night and was caught between two groups of people that were firing at each other after the party.
"There was some type of conflict between several young men that the victim got caught up in," Surry County Sheriff Alvin Clayton said, adding that according to witnesses, between a dozen and 50 shots were fired in the altercation.
Three people were hit, including Johnson, Clayton said. "Mr. Johnson died on the way to the hospital," he said. The other two victims, who were also from Sussex, suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Autopsy results have concluded that Johnson died from a gunshot wound. His death was ruled a homicide. Clayton asked Virginia State Police and the Sussex County Sheriff's Office for assistance in investigating the case.
"We do have suspects in the shooting and we will be charging folks soon," Clayton said.
Johnson had planned to play football at North Carolina Wesleyan, Jarrett said.
Markus Schmidt may be reached at 722-5172 or mschmidt@progress-index.com
Source: progress-index.com
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