Latest news with #IsleOfMan
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Parish Walk veterans dub epic 85-mile event 'addictive'
A man who has completed the Isle of Man's Parish Walk 22 times has said it was "definitely a bug now", ahead of this year's event. Andrew Titley first took on the challenge in 2001 and was motivated to keep doing them after experiencing people's annual 85 mile (136km) walking challenge, sees more than a thousand competitors tackle the island's 17 parishes within 24 Titley said after his first finish "people who I've never met were patting me on the back saying congratulations and shaking your hand". 'Fantastic atmosphere' Despite the physical and mental toll the race can take, Mr Titley said the "euphoria of actually managing to complete it" overrides "all the pain". He said: "The community just gets together for the whole event, everybody's involved... it's just a fantastic atmosphere."It's definitely a bug now."The Ronaldsway Met Office has forecast temperatures of up to 21C (70F) on Saturday, which may add to the physical challenge of the event on walkers. 'The cheering, the crowds' Another veteran is race director Ray Cox, who completed it in 1994 and has been organising the event for the past 30 said: "The cheering, the crowds, the ambience, there's a certain spirit that pervades on Parish Walk day that I do believe is unique."It becomes addictive and that's why we have so many people that come back year after year." The walk as we know it today was reincarnated in in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century there were walks through the parishes but "they were informal affairs and frequently challenges between neighbours with wagering involved, organised in public houses late at night", Mr Cox said since then it had become a "national institution" and an "incredible physical feat". It was the "one day of the year that pedestrians can take back the roads" and those that took part were "phenomenal athletes" who also faced a "huge mental challenge", he Gleave has won the women's race for the last two years and said she never expected to be topping the leaderboard. She said: "The first time I did it and I went to Peel I thought 'gosh I don't know how people finish it'.""Fast-forward years later to have my name on the trophy twice, it's really surreal.""It's something I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to achieve."More than 1,100 walkers are due to set off from the National Sports Centre race track in Douglas at 08:00 BST on Saturday. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Litter at school campus branded 'utter shambles' by Beach Buddies
The volume of litter at a secondary school campus has been branded an "utter shambles" by a volunteer group after its members cleared up rubbish including 415 plastic 50 members of Beach Buddies took part in the clear-up around St Ninian's Lower School at Bemahague, in Onchan, collecting about 331lbs (150kg) of litter. Founder Bill Dale said it was "disappointing" to see the area in an "absolute mess" and the situation highlighted the continued need to educate children about the danger littering posed to the school and the education department have been contacted for response. Following the group's efforts on Sunday, Mr Dale said there was a "psychology" that once a place is clean, people would be less likely to "drop the next piece of litter", because it would stand he said if there were "already piles of rubbish around", there was a perception that discarding a "few more bits doesn't seem to matter". He said the items retrieved included plastic bottles, sweet, chocolate and crisp wrappers, tin cans and fast food packaging, which indicated the rubbish was likely dropped by said the charity regularly visits schools across the island to promote the "responsible disposal" of litter through its education programme, but had not visited St Ninian's Lower School "in a few years".Although the education programme had been "massively successful", particularly with primary schools, the situation at the Bemahague site had been reported to Beach Buddies by a member of Friends of the Earth Isle of Man, Mr Dale said. It was was "an utter shambles and heart-breaking" to find one school in "such a mess", he continued.A meeting with the school had been organised for next week to find a way to "make sure this does not happen again".It was important to speak out now to prevent the island going "seriously backwards" in its mindset towards littering, he he said it did not mean the island was "not still regarded as a fantastic example to the rest of the world as to how a community can get together and make a difference", he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gary Barlow suddenly halts Scarborough concert after spotting something in the crowd
Gary Barlow drew his concert to a sudden halt on Wednesday evening after spotting something in the crowd. The singer, 54, brought his Songbook Tour to TK Maxx presents at Scarborough Open Air Theatre and was just about to sing Take That classic, A Million Love Songs, when someone in the audience surprised him. Gary exclaimed: 'Hang on, stop, stop stop. Stop everyone. What's going on down here at the front? Is that what we think it is?' In the audience attendee Chris Calpin pulled out an engagement ring and popped the question to his partner Kirsty Peake. The sweet moment didn't go unnoticed by Gary who confirmed: 'There we go. He's got the ring there everyone. 'Oh my goodness. I take it it's a yes, right? It's a yes. It's a yes!' he said with the venue erupting into applause. He joked: 'Now listen. It's all about timing. I'd started the bl**** song. This number is dedicated to you both.' Gary kicked off his 41-date run on April 17 with a show in Isle of Man and will conclude the run in Suffolk on June 21. His tour comes following the news that a probe into a raid at his £6 million mansion has been dropped by police. The Take That star's home was targeted by a gang of thieves in April 2024, while he performed with the band on Ant and Dec 's Saturday Night Takeaway. Thames Valley Police have said the case had been filed pending further information and renewed an appeal for witnesses. A source told The Sun that the gang involved in the raid may have fled abroad, saying: 'There's always the fear that the gangs flee the UK after raids, which makes the cops' job even harder.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Gary Barlow and Thames Valley Police for comment. Gary lives in the property with his wife Dawn, 35, and children Daniel, Emily, and Daisy, however it's unclear if they were at home at the time of the raid. According to The Sun, the thieves waited for nightfall before forcing the mansion's front gate to gain access, while it's still unconfirmed if anything was stolen in the raid. Gary is said to have been unaware of the break in until the following day when the police were informed, with investigators spotted by neighbours photographing the property in the days following. One onlooker told the publication: 'When I drove past I saw officers taking photos of the gates, which had been damaged. 'They were left half open. A few days later the gates had been fixed.' While a second said: 'The police have been round to ask me about what happened, but I wasn't aware of anything. I noticed the gates were flapping open. It's a rather secluded place. It's a warning to us all'.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
A Pilates instructor shares her three ‘go-to' exercises for strength, spinal mobility and easing stiffness
Joseph Pilates concocted his world-conquering fitness methodology while imprisoned in a First World War internment camp on the Isle of Man. Now, more than 100 years on, the practice has enjoyed a renewed surge in popularity. 'If you've ever wondered why Pilates has such a loyal following, the answer lies in how it makes you feel – strong, connected and grounded in your body,' Pilates instructor and Reform Wellness Studio founder Kasey Lach tells me. It has wide appeal too, with instructors able to adapt exercises to suit people of varying fitness, experience and mobility levels. However, some movements have a more universal application than others, and below Lach has shared three of her favourites which hold plenty of benefits for pretty much anyone. 'These Pilates-based exercises are simple, effective and can be done almost anywhere,' she says. 'While these movements are generally safe and beneficial, please note that attending a class with a trained practitioner will provide more thorough guidance, personalised cueing and proper technique tailored to your individual needs.' How to do Pilates instructor Kasey Lach's three go-to moves Prone back extension How to do it Lie prone – or face down – with your forehead on the mat and your arms by your sides, palms up. Keep your legs together with your feet gently pointed throughout. Inhale: prepare. Exhale: set your core muscles then lift your head and chest slightly off the mat. Think about sliding your shoulders away from your ears. Inhale: slowly lower your trunk and head to return to the start position. Modifications 'If you experience neck or disc-related pain, avoid lifting your head and trunk. Instead, focus on core engagement and activating the deep neck flexors using a technique called the 'chin nod',' Lach advises. This technique involves gently tucking your chin towards your chest, providing a stretch across the back of your neck and the muscles around the cervical (uppermost) region of your spine. Top tip 'Keep your head aligned with your spine throughout the exercise. Maintain abdominal engagement, potentially with a light posterior tilt of the pelvis [the front of the pelvis is higher than the back], to protect the lower back.' Benefits of the prone back extension This exercise targets the spinal extensors (the group of muscles responsible for straightening the spine), with support from the abdominals for spinal protection, Lach explains. By moving and strengthening these areas, it can 'improve coordination of the core muscles, enhance scapular stability and train the body to lift against gravity using controlled, skilled activation,' she adds. Side bend How to do it Lie on your side then bend your knees to a right angle while keeping your feet in line with your torso. Place your top foot on the mat in front of your bottom foot for stability. Press the hand of your lower arm into the mat, underneath your shoulder, and extend it so your torso is almost upright. Inhale: straighten both legs and lift your pelvis towards the ceiling until your legs and torso form a straight line. As you do this, raise your top arm so it extends vertically upwards from your shoulder. Exhale: lift the pelvis slightly higher into a laterally flexed position and reach your top arm overhead. Inhale: lower your pelvis until your legs and torso form a straight line. As you do this, return your top arm to vertical. Exhale: lower back down to the starting position. Modifications 'For a more gentle version of this movement, perform it on your elbow with both knees bent, keeping them in contact with the ground throughout for added support,' Lach recommends. Top tip 'Initiate the movement from the oblique abdominal muscles [which run along either side of your trunk]. Use the gluteus medius [on either side of the buttocks] to lift the lower side of the pelvis up and draw the shoulder blades down and back throughout the exercise.' Benefits of the side bend This exercise strengthens the obliques, scapular (shoulder blade) stabilisers, lumbar-stabilising quadratus lumborum and gluteus medius muscles, says Lach. This will not only help you develop healthier shoulders and greater control of your core muscles, but also increase mobility in your spine for bending motions. Pelvic curl How to do it Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the mat, hip-width apart. Keep your neck and shoulders relaxed. Inhale: prepare. Exhale: engage your core and begin to curl your pelvis then spine off the mat, one vertebra at a time. Inhale: hold the top position. Your pelvis should be in maximum posterior tilt, with your thighs and torso forming a straight line, and you should feel a stretch in the hip flexors – the muscles on the front of the hips and upper thighs. Exhale: slowly lower your spine one vertebra at a time until the tailbone touches the mat. Modifications ' If you have disc-related conditions, avoid deep lumbar flexion [curling of the lower spine],' Lach says. 'Instead, maintain a neutral spine and pelvis as you lift, and work within a pain-free range.' Top tip 'Tilt the pelvis by pulling the pubic bone towards the chin to create deep lumbar flexion. Deliberately place one vertebra at a time as this will help you achieve maximum articulation and spinal mobility.' Benefits of the pelvic curl Lach says this movement will recruit the spinal flexor muscles, responsible for forward bending of the vertebral column. It also strengthens the spine-stabilising transversus abdominis and pelvic floor muscles of the core, as well as the large gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles. It is an excellent exercise for mobilising the spine and pelvic region to ease general stiffness, she adds, making it a worthy antidote to hours spent sitting at a desk. It can also improve core control and relieve tightness in both the back extensors and hip flexors.' What is Pilates? There is often confusion over what defines Pilates. We see controlled, repeated movements in everything from yoga to strength training, so what distinguishes this practice from other exercise modalities? 'At its core – literally and figuratively – Pilates brings together breath, focus, core engagement, control, precision and flow,' Lach explains. These are otherwise known as the six principles of Pilates. 'These principles work in harmony to help improve flexibility, mobility and overall strength, especially through bodyweight movements that don't require fancy equipment,' she continues. 'Each class is a full-body experience. Think of it as a symphony of muscles working together, moving with intention and control. When your core – the body's powerhouse – is strong and stable, everything else begins to move with more ease and coordination. You'll start to notice better posture, smoother movement and even more confidence in how you carry yourself day to day.' Lach says you're likely to see plenty of physical benefits from committing to regular Pilates session – a famous Joseph Pilates quote claims: 'in 10 sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 you will see the difference, and in 30 you'll have a whole new body.' But she also believes the practice supports other sporting interests you might have. Whether you're into running, weight training, cycling or high-intensity workouts, Pilates helps 'improve movement efficiency, prevent injury and enhance performance by reinforcing core stability, muscular balance and body awareness,' Lach explains. 'If you're brand new to movement or looking to level up your existing routine, Pilates is a beautiful way to come home to your body – one intentional breath and movement at a time,' she adds. One final point to make is that Pilates is an incredibly pliable practice, with modifications available to suit people of different fitness levels, as well as those with specific conditions or injuries. Herein lies the added value of having an experienced in-person instructor and listening to your body, Lach explains. 'Listening to your body doesn't mean avoiding movement altogether – it means moving intentionally, staying connected to how you feel and adapting as needed,' she says. 'This is especially true when working with or around pathologies – health conditions or injuries – where the wrong type of movement can do more harm than good.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Christopher McBurnie: Inquest into death of stabbed teenager opened
An inquest into the death of a 14-year-old schoolboy who was stabbed to death on the Isle of Man has been opened and McBurnie, of Bromet Road in Castletown, died in Ramsey on 29 May and another boy, also 14, was later charged with his brief hearing at Douglas Courthouse was told he had been "stabbed several times" and the cause of his death was a wound to the accused teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, will next appear in court on 2 July. Coroner James Brooks said the inquest had to be adjourned while the criminal proceedings were under passed on his "profound condolences" to Mr McBurnie's family, adding: "I can't express what you must be feeling." Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
