Latest news with #Ipswich
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Crying eight-week-old otter found near river
A crying eight-week-old baby otter abandoned by a river was "growing stronger every day" following his rescue, a charity said. UK Wild Otter Trust said a passerby found Scratch crying by the River Fynn near Ipswich, weighing 0.5kg (1.1lb) on 26 May. When one of the rescuers scooped up the cub, he was scratched in the process, which gave the inspiration for the otter's name. Dave Webb, the charity's founder, said: "Scratch was cold, hungry, and confused, but he was also a fighter!" The cub was spotted by walkers when he was heard crying from afar and was in a distressed state. Originally, the members of the public left him there in case his mother came back, but later they returned to rescue him. He was then passed over to the UK Wild Otter Trust. Mr Webb said: "With warmth, food, and round-the-clock care, he's already growing stronger every day." The charity said Scratch has now tripled in weight with a tailored rehabilitation plan, and it was hoped he would be returned to the wild. Scratch was the eighth otter rescue the charity had made this year. Otters are protected by law, and it is illegal to hunt, trap or disturb them, according to the UK Wild Otter Trust. In recent years, new threats have emerged affecting otters, including road traffic accidents, habitat destruction, being captured in fishing nets and increased use of pesticides in farming. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'We've been rescuing and rehoming cats for 100 years' Rare otter filmed swimming in town centre park Dog rescued from underground pipe by firefighters
BBC News
2 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Crying baby otter rescued by Ipswich river
A crying eight-week-old baby otter abandoned by a river was "growing stronger every day" following his rescue, a charity said. UK Wild Otter Trust said a passerby found Scratch crying by the River Fynn near Ipswich, weighing 0.5kg (1.1lb) on 26 one of the rescuers scooped up the cub, he was scratched in the process, which gave the inspiration for the otter's name. Dave Webb, the charity's founder, said: "Scratch was cold, hungry, and confused, but he was also a fighter!" The cub was spotted by walkers when he was heard crying from afar and was in a distressed state. Originally, the members of the public left him there in case his mother came back, but later they returned to rescue him. He was then passed over to the UK Wild Otter Trust. Mr Webb said: "With warmth, food, and round-the-clock care, he's already growing stronger every day."The charity said Scratch has now tripled in weight with a tailored rehabilitation plan, and it was hoped he would be returned to the wild. Scratch was the eighth otter rescue the charity had made this year. Otters are protected by law, and it is illegal to hunt, trap or disturb them, according to the UK Wild Otter recent years, new threats have emerged affecting otters, including road traffic accidents, habitat destruction, being captured in fishing nets and increased use of pesticides in farming. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bereaved Clacton mum praises Blumenthal for bipolar film
A bereaved mother who took part in Heston Blumenthal's documentary about bipolar disorder has praised the "super brave" celebrity chef for wanting to end the stigma on mental opened up about his illness and spoke to others about their experience for the BBC film, My Life with them was Natalie McClellan, whose 24-year-old daughter Rebecca had bipolar and died in Ipswich in November 2023."If Heston can say 'I have bipolar but look at what I'm achieving, you can live a fulfilling life', it might change perspectives on mental illness," said Ms McClellan. "He is super brave to do it; he has really put himself out there to help others."I try to do the same, but none of its easy."Since Rebecca's death, Ms McClellan has campaigned for improved mental health provision that could have helped her daughter, who she said felt "abandoned". She shared her story with Blumenthal over several hours at her home in Clacton-on Sea, emotional experience helped them both, she said, particularly as Rebecca and Blumenthal had much in even transpired that he had gone into hospital for his condition when Rebecca died."They had the same sorts of visual disturbances, he's got ADHD and she was awaiting a diagnosis," she said."I showed him videos of her, photos, and one video in particular where she says 'my bipolar is popping'."He said 'that's exactly how it is', I think he found that emotional." The chef also became upset when talking about the impact of his bipolar disorder on his family - an experience that rang true for Ms McClellan."Rebecca didn't always tell us [how she felt], she would mask because she was worried about the effect it would have on us," she said."You just want your loved ones to be well and know what's going on, obviously I would rather worry every day but still have her here."Heston was quite open, he feels he has hurt his family and she [Rebecca] would be the same." The trainee paramedic was left with no GP or psychiatrist when she moved to Ipswich for work, her mother previously told the August 2023, she drove to a mental health unit and begged for help and said she was willing to drive anywhere in Norfolk and Suffolk to see someone, but staff told her to leave and threatened to call police. 'Not complacent' In the film, Blumenthal is shown Rebecca's mobile footage of the incident, which he described as "absolutely shocking"."Since we lost Bex it's been really important for me to push for changes in mental health and the support people get," added Ms McClellan."I will keep going and keep going for people who are suffering in the way she suffered, but it's not easy, it's only been 18 months [since her death] and it's still very raw."The reason Heston was speaking out was he wants to end the stigma. "It's so important to me that I'm part of that message."I was honoured and proud to be part of that process, and I hope he feels proud, too."Rebecca was under the care of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), which was in special measures for several years until January this March it completed a review into the circumstances of her death. A date for an inquest has not been chief Caroline Donovan, who joined in autumn 2023, said it had made "considerable progress" in its work to learn from deaths of patients and thanked Ms McClellan and other families for their "invaluable challenge and support"."We are not complacent and know we have much more to do to transform our services so that everyone receives safer, kinder and better services from us when they need them," she My Life with Bipolar is available on BBC iplayerIf you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via BBC Action Line. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Peter Snowden banking on gear change bringing out best from Xidaki in Eye Liner Stakes
Sydney trainer Peter Snowden hopes another gear change will do the trick for his underperforming gelding Xidaki in the $200,000 Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher -trained Warnie ($2.40) is definitely the horse to beat in the 1350m race but Xidaki poses a genuine threat if he can rediscover the form that led to his last victory, in the $300,000 Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra last July. Snowden decided to put a cross-over nose band on the gelding this campaign because the four-year-old was 'over-racing badly' but the results have been lacklustre. Xidaki finished seventh in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April, ninth in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 10 and seventh in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben two weeks later. He is rated as a $7.50 chance in the Eye Liner Stakes behind Warnie and the Tony Gollan -trained Devastate ($7). 'I've had a cross-over noseband on him this time in because he was struggling last time in and I felt it cost him a couple of races,'' Snowden said. 'But it seems he has been resenting it this preparation because he's been getting too far back in his races. 'So I've taken the noseband off for Saturday and hope he can settle closer in the run. 'Ipswich is a track where you have to stay positive and he has drawn five. I don't want him to get too far back from there. 'I'm confident he has the tactical speed to be in the first five or six in the run. 'He's going great at home and I can't believe he won't be running well on what he has been showing me in his trackwork.' Lindsay Park star War Machine emphatically won the BRC Sprint before impressively taking out the $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) three weeks later at Eagle Farm. Xidaki crossed the winning post almost five lengths behind War Machine in the BRC Sprint but on the bright side, Snowden was pleased with how his galloper hit the line. 'He got too far back last start and had a lot of work to do but he was one of those finishing hardest late,'' Snowden said. 'The horse that won it (War Machine) went on to win the Stradbroke Handicap. 'If he can hold his spot on Saturday it will go a long way to helping his chances at Ipswich.'' It will also comfort Snowden knowing that Xidaki was a narrow runner-up to Ostraka in the $1m Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick last October but finished ahead of the Ben, Will and JD Hayes -trained War Machine. It's fair to say that Snowden is due for some luck in this Queensland winter carnival. His mare Tashi has twice just missed the chocolates - in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) - while the appropriately named gelding Need Some Luck finished half a length behind winner Compelling Truth in the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) last Saturday at Eagle Farm.
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘As a party, it stands alone': Ipswich Cup meeting bounces back from grandstand fire
There were the dramatic scenes of a burning grandstand in the lead-up to last year's Ipswich Cup, but it has been far more smooth sailing this time for officials who are expecting a bumper crowd of more than 12,000 on Saturday. An electrical fire on Cup eve last year saw extraordinary scenes at the popular meeting with the main grandstand empty apart from the racecaller. 'Obviously one aspect we are looking forward to is having people back in the grandstand following the Cup eve fire last year,' Ipswich Turf Club CEO Nathan Exelby said. 'Broadcaster David Fowler cut a lonely figure as the only person in that stand last year. 'Restoration works were completed in October and we're looking forward to seeing our members and guests back in that stand for the 2025 Cup. 'The crowd last year was 12,500 and we are expecting a similar number this time around based on ticket pre-sales. 'The Ipswich Turf Club is proud of the role its TAB Cup meeting plays in the winter carnival landscape. 'It's not a Group race meeting, but as a party, it stands alone. Sean Tou played the role of fireman when he charged into a burning grandstand at Ipswich to save the club's biggest race meeting earlier this year and has pulled off recovery work of a different type in reviving the track after a recent renovation. ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) September 15, 2024 'The combination of the infield festival and the 200m-plus marquee line along the home straight, it is a sight to behold and newcomers to the Cup meeting are consistently amazed at the scope of the event. 'The Brisbane Racing Club do a super job with their carnival, having positioned it as the launching pad to future stardom. 'Ipswich doesn't attract that same level of horse, but we run three very competitive stakes races and another (the TL Cooney) that is knocking on the door of being upgraded to black type status.' While the race day is known for the $250,000 Ipswich Cup, the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic and Listed Eye Liner Stakes are also key races. It might not be the Group 1 Stradbroke day that we saw last Saturday, but Ipswich has its own iconic spot. 'The weather gods finally tipped their hat to the Brisbane Racing Club and the Stradbroke meeting was simply outstanding,' Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray said. 'Attention now turns to Ipswich Turf Club. 'Nathan Exelby hosted a Calcutta on Thursday night, the first time it has ever been held at the Turf Club itself and it was a good warm up for the Ipswich Cup meeting. 'The weather gods are smiling and the fields are looking good; I expect a great day of racing.' The Ipswich Cup is one of the most attended race meetings in Queensland every year.
