Another impressive display in Sunday’s fifth race of the season at Welton maintained the gap between Striders and City of Hull AC.
The consistent trio of Alison Crellin (42mins.39secs), Sian Morgan (43.10) and Emma Williams (43.44) gained fourth, sixth and seventh places respectively to bring home the points.
Good news too for Striders men’s team, who retained third place in the league.
Welton also witnessed a return to top form by Neil Ridsdale, who came in ninth in 37.02, with Adam Anderson only two seconds behind.
The Welton race was won by Nev Watson (Scarborough AC) in 34.10, with Keri Pearson (City of Hull) first woman and 15th overall in 37.56.
The final race is at Sewerby on Sunday, March 6: followed by the presentation of team and individual prizes at the Ship Inn.
Other Striders times: Jazz Edeson (38.41), Jon Rodger (39.48), Sean McDermott (39.53), John Harrison (41.08), Andrew Boyes (43.32), David Parkin (43.52), Martin Stack (45.25), Simon Starrett (45.56), Zoe Parkin (46.52), Mark Brant (50.45), Benita Boyes (52.54).
Womens League table (after 5 races): 1 Driffield Striders 64 points, 2 City of Hull 74, 3 Bridlington 134.
Men: 1 Hull 264, 2 Beverley 432, 3 Driffield 509.

The Shires are the latest act to be annoucned for the Cottingham Folk Festival which takes place across the August Bank Holiday Weekend – August 26 to August 28.

They join the previously announced Wilko Johnson and Chas and Dave as headliners, we are very pleased to announce the return of The Shires.

The country duo headlined the inaugural event last year. Since then the act, made up of Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes, have had an amazing 12 months completing a fourth sell out UK tour, becoming the first ever UK act to play the legendary Grand Ole Orpy in Nashville, going Gold with their debut album Brave, and most recently joining The Corrs on their huge

arena comeback shows.

Festival organiser, Martyn Rudd, said he was “delighted” to welcome the band back to the village for a very intimate concert at The Civic Hall.

More used to playing to crowds of thousands these days, The Shires wil perform to just a few hundred fans on Sunday August 28, with tickets for the gig going on sale at 10am on Friday February 12

via the festival website.

I write regarding the article on the Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Grove, claiming he has been gagged.

It is no wonder East Riding of Yorkshire Council might want to gag him.

When he was interviewed live on television a few weeks ago about complaints from East Riding of Yorkshire Council about a lack of policing in the East Riding and the soaring crime rates, especially in the Beverley area where we hardly see the police in our communities anymore, he said that the council wants to concentrate on emptying dustbins instead of interfering in his job!

This remark even took the interviewer aback and, quite frankly, I think Mr Grove would be better employed emptying bins in view of the Humberside police massive cutbacks implemented as a puppet of this government.

Humberside police has been rated as the poorest out of the 43 police forces in England by HM Inspector of Constabularies and this has nothing to do with our chief constable and her hard-working officers but is down to the lack of funding.

Mr Grove has never spoken out on behalf of the residents of the Humberside police area against the cuts to the police service and now we hear he is going to oversee the fire service in Humberside.

Hopefully when he comes up for re-election in the near future there will be a better turnout of voters and he might be replaced.

On a lighter note ... I now hear that the government is appointing the fish fryers association to oversee the lifeboat service!

George Webster

Churchfields, Beverley

Michelin has today announced a partnership with the Oliver’s Mount road race circuit.

The tyre manufacturer has teamed up with Oliver’s Mount Race Circuit, England’s only natural race circuit of its kind, to reach out to even more bikers in 2016.

With four events in 2016, the Michelin logo will be lining the 2.5 mile circuit as riders race at speeds up to 180mph trying to win the trophies and championships that will be awarded at the circuit.

Oliver’s Mount has been likened to a ‘miniature TT by the seaside’ and is hoping for record crowd numbers in 2016 at events in April, June, July and September.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the iconic race circuit, and past Oliver’s Mount winners read like a ‘who’s who’ of motorcycle racing history – featuring legends such as Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Carl Fogarty, Guy Martin and John McGuinness.

Oliver’s Mount marketing director, Scott Beaumont said: “2015 was an amazing year for Oliver’s Mount with huge crowds and fantastic TV and media coverage. With the support of Michelin, we feel that our anniversary year in 2016 will be even better.

It really is fantastic news and we hope that this partnership will now grow over the coming years.”

Michelin’s marketing manager James Dimmock said: “We are all huge fans of road racing at Michelin and Oliver’s Mount is one of our favourites. Adding Michelin to the circuit partners further adds to our commitment to Road Racing and our support for the riders and events. Expect to see a great Michelin presence at the events in 2016 and feel free to stop by our stand to find out more about our tyres.”

Johnston Press, which owns this title, has today confirmed its intention to buy award-winning national newspaper i.

The deal - with Independent Print Limited - will position Johnston Press as the UK’s fourth largest print publisher, selling more than 600,000 copies of its titles a day.

Johnston Press - which owns more than 200 local and regional newspapers and websites - plans to launch a website and app for i once the deal, worth £24m, is finalised in around eight weeks.

“i is a highly regarded, award-winning national title which has established a unique market position by combining high-quality journalism with a concise, popular format,” said Johnston Press Chief Executive Office Ashley Highfield.

“Having i – the industry’s Newspaper of the Year 2015 - in our family of titles will enable us to offer advertisers national advertising opportunities across the whole country.”

The proposed acquisition was announced to the London Stock Exchange this morning and welcomed by i Editor Oliver Duff, who will stay on in his role following completion of the deal.

“Since launching five years ago, i has been an insurgent force in the national quality newspaper market, defying sceptics and overtaking established rivals through innovation and bold, independent journalism.

“Ownership by Johnston Press will propel i into the next exciting chapter in its short history. JP’s heritage, national network of journalists, retail clout and commitment to digital development mean the group is ideally placed to continue i’s circulation and revenue growth.

“i is already a punchy, trusted digest that cuts through the noise of daily life. Our readers around the UK subscribe to its ethos of brevity, quality and impartiality. Yet many more people are short on time and hungry for knowledge. With JP’s help, we can reach this untapped audience – and build on a British media success story.”

Neither retailers nor subscribers will be affected by the proposed acquisition.

Last week we featured this photograph of pupils at Sledmere C of E Primary School in the Wolds during the run-up to Christmas back in December 1998. We asked whether you recognised yourself in the picture, and reader Heather Harrison has been in touch.

Heather, pictured centre, was the caretaker of Sledmere Primary School. The picture from our archives shows her being presented with gifts to mark 25 years’ service. She went on to work at the school for for a total of 29 years.

Pictured with Heather, from left, are Zoe Speck, Darryl Hodgson, James Clark, Elizabeth Sygrobes, Martin Speck, Louise Sygrobes, Laura Clark, Daniel Thompson.

We love to receive pictures from readers of landscapes and life in the Wolds, past and present. Share your pictures and memories by emailing editorial@driffieldtoday.co.uk along with your name and a brief description. You can also post pictures to the address below left.

A funeral service was held at the East Riding Crematorium, Octon on Friday, February 5, for Mr Gordon Siddle of Driffield who died peacefully in Scarborough Hospital. He was aged 85 years.

The service was conducted by the Rev Jacki Tonkin and the organist was Mr Steven Westaway.

Gordon was born in Hull on March 21, 1930. He attended school in Hull. In 1944 at the age of 14 he started work as an apprentice joiner at Purdens Joiners in Williamson Street in Hull. Part of his apprenticeship was spent at Annison’s Funeral Directors making coffins.

He spent his National Service first training at RAF Kirkham near Blackpool and he was based in Goxhill in North Lincolnshire during 1951 and 1952.

He met his wife to be Audrey at a dance and they married at St Martin’s Church on Anlaby Road on March 12, 1955 and they had been married for over 60 happy years.

They went on to have two sons Martin and Duncan and lived in Lake Drive and Lake View in Hull and the friends they made there remained friends for life.

Martin and Duncan were very involved in the Portabello Scouts and both Audrey and Gordon were on the parents committee, giving valuable support at scouting events and helping with the maintenance of the Scout Headquarters in the Broadway.

Gordon spent 35 years of his working life as a joiner and then a joiner/setter out at Hollis Brothers, Timber Importers on Hedon Road, Hull. After the closure of Hollis Brothers he moved to East Yorkshire Glazing and finally to the Hull City Council Works Department.

After 21 happy years in Lake View, the family moved to Barra Close on the outskirts of Sutton. In 2000 Gordon and Audrey moved to live in Driffield.

Caravanning was a great love and a major part of Gordon and Audrey’s lives, they travelled all over including Spain, driving through France and in more recent times favourite sites closer to home were Brixham, Latham and Slingsby with close friends.

He enjoyed walking with walking groups and was a member of the Hutton Cranswick Bowls Club, winning many trophies. He had always owned motorbikes and only gave up riding one at the age of 78.

He also enjoyed DIY, making garden benches, bird tables, cabinets, fitted wardrobes to name but a few.

Gordon was a member of the Hull Operatic Society, Hull Savoyards and the Driffield Male Voice Choir where he sang as a tenor and the Barbers Shop Singers.

He was very family orientated and loved his family, especially his grandchildren Thomas, Amy, James and Alice and his great grandson Albie Gordon and he will be greatly missed.

Family mourners: Mrs Audrey Siddle, Duncan and Angela Siddle, Martin and Diane Siddle, Thomas and Grace Siddle, James Siddle, Alice Siddle, Gareth Jones. Amy and Tom Jagger (unable to attend due to imminent birth of baby.

Others present: Frank Pickering, Eric and Rene Weston, Steve Poole, Richard Pollard, David Warnes, Michael Withield, Stuart and Catherine Carlisle, David and Jane Hyde rep Driffield Barbers Shop Singers, Dan and Joan Lehain, Dave Thacker.

John Henderson, Maurice Barber, Patrick Grimes, Tony and Joan Straker rep Geoff and Barbara Hughes and Ann and Jim Sanderson (Barber Shop), Geoff Simpson rep Linda, Fez and Gill Ullyott, Rex Brunsden, Mike Hotham, Mr and Mrs D Kent, David Buck, Stuart Clark rep Janet Farnsworth, (All Male Voice Choir), Mrs Joan Tice rep Hutton Cranswick Bowls Club, Mr and Mrs M S Lonsdale rep Hutton Cranswick Bowls Club, Karen and Chris Beaton, Jan and Tony Gowforth, Ann Knaggs.

Jill Ainsworth rep Driffield Disabled Swimming, Marion and George Harris, Janet Lewis rep John Lewis (MVC), Bruce and Judy Allison, Ted Hutchinson rep Anne, Beverley and Frank Pickering, Christine Pollard, Dorothy and Peter Dix, Mary Charlesworth rep H C Bowls Club, Shirley Duffin rep H C Bowls Club, Val Barker rep HC Bowls Club, Patricia Bryson rep H CBowls Club, Pauline Barber, Ray and Rosemary Sygrove, Brian and Jackie Freeman, Eric and Pam Gibson.

Joyce Wright rep Judy Wilson, Joan Hall rep Mr and Mrs K Benfell, Colin Black, Barbara Jenkin, Mildred Galtry rep June Bennett, Audrey Oxtoby, Don Oxtoby, Liz Wiles, Leon Hardman, Trevor and Christine Stirk (cousins), Doug and Tina Stirk (cousins), Michael Adamson, Stuart Nelson, Clive Hill, Chris and Fenella Pindar, Susan and Graham Pindar, Don and Margaret Macer, Carol and George Buxton.

Mr P Bowman, Joe Bowman, Graham andMildred Winship, Elaine Hampton, Stuart and Pat Tomlinson, Marion Shaw, Ron and Ann Wilson, Ann and John Dunnington rep Angela and Charles Wiles, Chris Gosley rep Teresa, Georgina Dean, Tony Fouracre rep Joan Hardy, Paul Richardson, Norman Ellis, Sally Hobson, Pat Hornby, Doreen and Wendy rep The Limes, Mr E Woodford, Maureen Herschell, Carol and Brian Waton, Mark Holtby, Lionel and Josephine Baron, Billy Waites rep Sue Waites, John Walster, David and Margaret Trow, Urwin Danby rep H C Bowls Club, Beryl Porter, Richard Hughes, Bill and Muriel Duffill, Stuart Bell, Roger Kirby, June Garnett, Holly Duffin rep The Limes.

I’d like to re-assure your readers that Friends of the Earth is focused on fighting fracking because of its environmental risks. It would be perfectly legitimate for Friends of the Earth Trust, the charitable part of Friends of the Earth, to campaign on fracking because of the harm it would do to the environment, and we exist to protect the environment.

However, right now, the Trust is focused on other environmental threats, for example, protecting bees from pesticides.

Friends of the Earth Limited is a much smaller company working with local communities to clearly communicate the risks of fracking to people’s health, the local environment, the economy and the global climate.

We are openly and transparently challenging the fracking industry and the politicians planning to unleash thousands of fracking wells in Yorkshire.

While our opponents may try to silence us we will continue to talk about the risks of fracking, and the Government’s disregard for what the public want; and they don’t want fracking in Yorkshire – or anywhere else.

Mike Childs

Head of science, policy and Research, Friends of the Earth

Members of a thriving East Yorkshire Young Farmers Club have been kitted out in new rugby shirts thanks to the generosity of a Bewholme family business.

Elliott Eggs has a long association with Brandesburton Young Farmers Club that goes back over half a century and includes two generations of the Elliott family.

Tom Elliott, who founded Elliott Eggs with his parents and brothers, Mark and Phil, was delighted to support to Brandesburton Young Farmers Club.

He said: “I attended Young Farmers from 13 and, when I was too old to be a member, I became a club leader, so we’re happy to support this thriving club that contributes a great deal to the local community.”

Brandesburton YFC secretary Lucinda Maltas expressed thanks on behalf of the club’s current members.

“We are very grateful to Elliott Eggs who have supported us for many years by hosting events and sponsoring clothing,” she said.

Elliott Eggs was launched in 2007 after the Elliott family spotted a gap in the market to supply farm fresh free range eggs to businesses throughout East and North Yorkshire.

Having researched their idea, they commissioned a packing station to grade and pack the free range eggs that are produced on the family farm.

Today, they supply eggs both locally and nationwide.

Brandesburton YFC meets on Wednesdays at Brandesburton Parish Hall.

For more information, please contact East Riding YFC on 01377 256637.

l The Elliotts Eggs official charity for 2016 is Dove House Hospice.

A spokesman for Elliotts said: We are proud to sponsor their Annual Easter Egg Appeal so look out for chocolate eggs with our name on throughout Yorkshire!

“Dove House Hospice offers outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and is very close to our hearts.

“A number of us in the Elliott team have first-hand experience of Dove House caring for our loved ones at very difficult times so we’re thrilled to team up with them!”

According to Action on Sugar, sugar content is “dangerously” high in some flavoured coffees and other hot drinks.

Analysis on 131 hot flavoured drinks by the charity found that 98% of the drinks tested would receive a red nutritional value label for high sugar content, while a third of the hot drinks tested contain at least as much as the nine teaspoons of sugar found in a can of Coca Cola.

Research has also found that teenagers and young adults were most likely to want coffee flavoured with syrups because it makes the brew more palatable.

Action on Sugar’s Kawther Hashem said chains should do more by drastically reduce the amount of sugar in the drinks by reformulating flavoured syrups and only sell the drinks in small sizes.

She said: "I think teenagers and students really like caramelised syrup coffee, the reason is generally coffee is quite bitter and young people are not accustomed to that.

"If they get a caffeine hit and a sweet hit, these drinks will appeal to them. That is storing up trouble for future generations.”

The drink found to have the highest sugar content was Starbucks’ venti Grape with Chai, Orange and Cinnamon Hot Mulled Fruit, with a total of 25 teaspoons of sugar per serving.

Costa’s massimo eat-in Chai Latte was found to contain 20 teaspoons of sugar while Starbucks’ venti White Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream was found to have 18, a a campaign group spokesman added.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said: “Earlier this year we committed to reduce added sugar in our indulgent drinks by 25% by the end of 2020. We also offer a wide variety of lighter options, sugar-free syrups and sugar-free natural sweetener and we display all nutritional information in-store and online.”

Kerry Parkin, head of communications at Costa, added: “Costa takes the nutritional balance of our food and drink very seriously and we have already taken significant steps to reduce the sugar content of our ranges. We intend to continue improving the balance of our product offerings while maintaining the high quality and great taste our customers expect. This April we will be setting salt and sugar reduction targets for 2020.”

Racing pundit Tony McCormick from.irishbigracetrends.com presents his weekly column.

This week Tony chats to Ben Aitken from narrowingthefield.com to review last weekend’s races.

I’ve known Ben for six years now. Originally from Scotland, Ben moved to West Yorkshire around two years ago to continue his highly successful narrowingthefield.com website. Ben always attends my Raceday at Beverley for the irishbigracetrends.com handicap and a good catch up.

I asked Ben about the weekend’s racing and what effect if any for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.

He said: “Newbury is becoming a bit of a bogey track for Willie Mullins and despite throwing the kitchen sink at Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle, he still couldn’t find a winner. Indeed, he couldn’t even find a placed runner.

“Since 2008 he is now 0/20 at Newbury, with none of the 20 even managing to place. OK, that’s not a huge amount to go on but then again this is Willie Mullins we are talking about. The guy that is absolutely dominating this fantastic game of ours.

“On Saturday, he had the red-hot favourite for the Betfair Hurdle in the shape of Blazer. He strolled home a 22-length ninth.

“This isn’t a recent struggle for Mullins though at Newbury. In fact if we take this back to 1997, we get one winner from 32 runners. That winner? Be My Royal in the 2002 Hennessy Gold Cup.

“But he didn’t officially win, did he? He was later disqualified because of a banned substance found in his blood sample. So officially he’s 0/32 at the track.

“Newbury, for whatever reason, doesn’t seem to agree with the Mullins team. Remember the Mullins/Newbury stats the next time you fancy backing one of his at 3/1 in a 22-runner handicap.”

I asked Ben for a horse to follow in the coming weeks.

“Philip Hobbs has an extremely exciting bumper horse on his hands and that horse’s name is Westend Story. He’s been sneaking away at the lesser tracks to date, building his confidence and learning his trade, both times under the watchful eye of Richard Johnson.

On Sunday the five-year-old romped away with the closing bumper at Exeter, winning by a comfortable 18 lengths under his penalty. That made it two from two for the Westerner gelding, who won on debut at Huntingdon by six lengths on Boxing Day.

“The horse caught my eye that day at Huntingdon as he was Philip Hobbs’ only runner at the track that day and it was notable that Richard Johnson had also chosen to ride at the track as well, away from higher profile meetings taking place elsewhere.

“The four-year-old is a beautifully bred individual who looks to have a serious future ahead of him and he should make into a well above average hurdler, and potentially chaser, in the coming years.”

MOVE over WhatsApp, Viber, Twitter and even Facebook Messenger - new made in Sheffield chat app Tengi is out to take the world by storm giving away weekly cash prizes and creating dozens of new jobs.

Tengi - download it on your mobile phone here at tengi.com/star - is more than just another free chat app, to send messages, photos and videos. It does all that.

But what makes it unique is how it rewards its users with weekly cash prizes in a free draw every Friday night at 7pm (GMT). In its first 20 weeks it has already given away over £100,000.

The top weekly prize is £1,000, with hundreds of other £25 and £5 prizes, but the goal is give away £10,000 every week, hence the name Tengi - pronounced 'Ten-G'.

VIDEO: Press the play button to watch Digital Editor Graham Walker's special Tengi video report chat with its CEO Neil Laycock.

To try out the amazing free app - available for Apple and Android phones - and for your chance to win remember to visit tengi.com/star - click here.

Lucky South Yorkshire folk Olesia Tartakovski, of Sheffield and Rotherham's Mark Carew already know what it's like to win. They have each scooped the £1,000 first prize using Tengi. Read about Olesia's win - click here.

Thousands of others have won and are already enjoying the free chat app benefits of Tengi, which can also be used to set up group messaging.

Now bosses are planning to take it to the next level and take on the big boys.

The chat app that gives back, as they like to keep reminding people, is about to be promoted heavily, everywhere, in print, online, radio and TV.

After it conquers the UK...tomorrow the world.

Tengi aims to go global and it could become the next household name, on the lips of millions of smartphone chat app users everywhere. In Sheffield it could result in dozens of new jobs. At least that's the plan.

Blunt talking Yorkshireman Neil Laycock is certainly the right man for the job.

The CEO helped to launch Sheffield based internet service provider Plusnet with just a handful of staff and it has gone on to employ over 1,000 people.

He is now hoping to make a success story of Tengi, which has started life in the University of Sheffield's Bio-incubator, a new business start-ups building, in Leavygreave Road.

App experts from all over the world have been working on aspects of it but the steel city, now a thriving digital innovations centre, is very much its birthplace and home.

Tengi, free to download and use, offers all the usual messenger app function to send texts, emoticons, photos, videos and audio messages. It tells users when their message has been delivered and read.

It's easy to set up group chats with friends, family and anyone with shared interests, like a club or organisation.

The app can be also used by anyone with a mobile phone and a SIM card, with messages sent via the internet, including WiFi.

But what makes it special, unlike any other chat app, is the free weekly draw on Fridays at 7pm, explained Neil, who also managed online health site patient.co.uk.

The more you chat, or when your phone contacts sign up, the more virtual tickets you get that week, so the more chances of winning.

Users get eight tickets when a contact downloads Tengi, two if a friend wins, a ticket for each day they use the app, another for each time they spend 15 minutes chatting on it and there's even a ticket to be had each week just for keeping the app installed on your mobile.

To qualify for the £1,000 and £25 prizes you must also have at least one friend on Tengi.

Neil said: "There are lots of other messaging apps out there but we are different because of the free weekly prize draw. We will give away half of our revenues - forever. That is a really significant. Nobody has done that before.

"We earn this revenue from adverts in the app and we have given away around £100,000 in just our first 20 weeks of prize draws.

"I was approached with the concept of Tengi about 18 months ago. Since then we have opened the office, got staff there and utilised experts all over the world. But fundamentally the concept was created here in Sheffield. We are really proud of that.

"When I worked at Plusnet we started with only a few of us but now Plusnet employs over 1,000 people. At Tengi we are on much the same trajectory, with a big idea.

"I'd like to think we will grow with more people here and follow the same story as Plusnet, to make Tengi a global brand.

He promised: "We don't sell personal data and we don't give it to advertisers. We don't use message content to help target adverts and we don't charge users for anything - there are no in-app purchases.

"When anyone sees an ad within the app, we generate revenue and we give at least 50 per cent of that money back to our users. So as more people use Tengi, the more money we have to give away and who knows how big the prize pot will grow? One day it could £10,000 or even millions!

"Over the next couple of months we want people to help us spread the word far and wide.

"In a survey last year users let us know it was difficult to get friends and family to switch their chat to Tengi because there was a lack of awareness, and therefore trust in the app.

"To help overcome this we are building awareness through a number of campaigns, both nationally and regionally.

"As an alternative to claiming a cash prize via bank transfer, or as an amazon.co.uk gift code, winners can donate their prize to one of our partner charities. We're kicking this off with the Heart of England Forest, where every £5 prize donated will result in the planting of a new broadleaf tree.

"So there has never been a better time to download it and get your friends to do the same. We want users to invite as many people as they can and give us feedback."

The Star, supporting made in Sheffield businesses, is making it easy for readers to download Tengi. Whether you are an Apple or Android mobile user, to get the app from the Apple Store or Google Play, on your mobile simply visit tengi.com/star
* Tengi is currently only available to UK residents over 16 years. As with other chat apps, sending messages and media when not on WiFi will use your data allowance.

Find out more at www.tengi.com
Follow Tengi for updates, news, support and more on Facebook at facebook.com/tengiapp and Twitter @tengiapp

The 22-year-old hard-hitting left-hander, who will play all formats for Yorkshire, will join the White Rose County on July 18 once Kane Williamson returns to international duty with New Zealand.

Head, who starred in the Australian T20 squad last month, came to prominence in the 2015-16 Australian Big Bash League under the guidance of Yorkshire first team coach Jason Gillespie at the Adelaide Strikers.

He showed his qualities with the bat accumulating 299 runs from nine innings with an average of 42.71.

His highlight of the Australian summer came on New Year’s Eve when he smashed 101 not out for the Strikers against the Sydney Sixers at the Adelaide Oval.

With the Strikers requiring 51 off the last three overs, Head scored every oneof those runs himself, including a six to reach his century.

“I can’t wait to get over to England and play for Yorkshire, the best side in the English game,” said Head, who currently captains South Australia Redbacks in the Sheffield Shield – Australia’s equivalent of the County Championship.

“To work alongside Dizzy (Jason Gillespie) is also an added attraction. He was brilliant for the Strikers and I have heard so many positive things about what he is doing with the team at Yorkshire.

“To play across all formats is important to me and playing in English conditions will be a good challenge. I can’t wait to get over and make an impact.”

“Travis is a great signing for us,” added Gillespie.

“He has had a terrific season in Australia and is eager to develop his skills in England.

“The fact that he can adapt to all formats is beneficial to us. He will add something different to the squad with his aggressive batting style and his ability with the ball as a genuine spinner.

“He has a lot of maturity for a young man and his cricket intelligence is improving with every match. He will fit in nicely to our system.”

Head will continue his development with a spell in the Indian Premier League in April after he signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore. He will play alongside Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and former Yorkshire seamer Mitchell Starc.

A NEW survey has revealed that Yorkshire folk are less likely to put up and shut up when it comes to shoddy goods and services than any other region in the UK.

According to the Ombudsman Services, people in the Yorkshire and Humberside region made more than 7.9m ‘official’ complaints last year, almost two per person.

The South East (7.8m), London (7.6m) and the North West (5.3m) were the other regions with the greatest readiness to seek redress after being dissatisfied in their dealings with companies and shops.

Research in the third annual Consumer Action Monitor shows that 23 per cent of complaints related to issues with retailers, with faulty products the most common cause of dissatisfaction amongst consumers. The next most problematic sectors were telecommunications (16 per cent), energy (13 per cent) and public transport (seven per cent).

Worryingly, the Ombudsman Service found that 66 million problems were not acted upon by the companies who had failed to meet their customers’ expectations in 2015.

When it comes to redress, consumers just want the service they paid for, with three-quarters saying when they complain they want the problem to be put right.

Contrition on the part of the company can also go a long way, with 48 per cent of people saying they would be happy with an apology. Less than a third of people said they expect financial compensation.

Consumers are increasingly likely to use social media to get a complaint or problem addressed - of those that escalated a complaint, more than a third (18 million complaints) used social media to do so.

However, the perceived effort of making a complaint puts consumers off getting an issue solved. Of those who did not take their complaint to the supplier or a third party, 45 per cent said it was too much hassle and (8 per cent said they could not be bothered.

Chief Ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said: “We’re still seeing consumers ignore millions of problems each year because they’d rather suffer in silence than go through the perceived hassle of complaining – but it’s not as complex and time-consuming as they might think.

“At a time when it is becoming more expensive to take court action, alternative dispute resolution, including ombudsmen, is an important and growing part of the civil justice system as a whole.

“Improving access to justice for consumers has been high on the public agenda this year, with the introduction of a new EU directive and the Consumer Rights Act, but there’s still more that can be done.

“Forward-thinking companies are starting to sign up to alternative dispute resolution services, which are free for their customers – with the continued increase of social media, a poorly handled complaint could significantly damage both their brand and reputation.”

A Cheltenham Festival preview evening will be held at Beverley Racecourse next month.

A panel of racing experts, including jockey Megan Carberry, will be trying to point punters in the direction of potential winners.

The event, on Wednesday, March 9, is in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, and in particular, the Jack Berry House at Malton.

Tickets are priced £10, which includes a pie and peas supper.

A raffle will be held on the night, along with an auction, with prizes including tickets to the festival.

For details or tickets, call organiser Ken Brooke on 01482 868308. The event begins at 7.30pm.

Racing pundit Tony McCormick from.irishbigracetrends.com presents his weekly column, this week Tony looks at the latest news and views on Victoria Pendleton.

I have to say, from the outset, I have no problem in Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton pursuing her dream to ride in the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival in March. What bemuses me is the fact that some of our wonderful racing media, have failed to tell the casual racing fan that this is a carefully planned, finely tuned publicity stunt.

Trainers Alan and Lawney Hill, with Paul Nicholls and equine jumping expert Yogi Breisner, along with Pendleton, are all on the Betfair pay-roll.

As far back as last March, Betfair were sounding out a number of possible ‘celebrities’ who would be interested in training to be an amateur jockey, eventually riding at the festival.

Step forward Victoria Pendleton, who for Betfair was the ideal candidate. Discussing the stunt with Racing FM boss Dean Ryan, I said Pendleton wouldn’t make it to Cheltenham, with Dean stating that Betfair would make sure it happened. A wager between us was immediately struck.

As recently as Friday afternoon, Pendleton, riding in her first official race under national hunt rules, on the Paul Nicholls-trained Pacha Du Polder, ended in disaster as she was catapulted out of the saddle at the seventh fence in Fakenham’s Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters Chase.

This followed a couple of Point-To-Point races in which Pendleton was forced to pull-up one of her mounts.

Pendleton had raced on the flat in the summer, finishing a gallant second on debut in the Betfair Amateur Riders Handicap. She even appeared at Beverley in September in the Betfair Supports Amateur Riders Handicap and told the eager plethora of reporters that she loved riding horses and thought Beverley was lovely, though later that night, to Peter Levy’s horror, told Look North: “It’s a lovely course, right in the middle of nowhere.”

In October, despite being sent off the 4/1 favourite, the Olympic champion’s chance had gone with a furlong to go as her mount, Satanic Beat, weakened and was coming home in his own time when Pendleton became unbalanced and fell off.

I was due to write a column about Pendleton in the weeks leading up to Cheltenham, but following her fall on Friday, I perceived a change in the tide in her challenge to ride at the festival.

The hacks outside of the weighing room on Friday were asking questions that Pendleton was visibly ill at ease with.

Following Fridays hiccup, big names have started to question wether this is a good idea after all. Steve Smith-Eccles, who rode more than 900 winners in the 70s and 80s, suggested her participation at the Cheltenham Festival should be deferred stating she was ‘too loose’ in the saddle.

Comments that the Betfair team didn’t want to hear came from jumping legend John Francome, who, as usual, didn’t pull any punches. Seven times champion jockey Francome said: “She wants saving from herself. I have never met her, she seems a lovely girl but she can’t ride and she’s an accident waiting to happen.”

From a personal point of view, what is clear to me, Pendleton has no grasp of placing a horse correctly in a race. In the race at Beverley, she missed the break, then allowed her mount to race to the front of the 16 runners, before tiring to finish 13th.

On Friday her mount was always playing catch-up five lengths behind the rest of the field. Pendleton said on Sunday: “Whatever happens I’ll continue to ride as I really enjoy it, I even started designing my own silks the other day.”

I rest my case.

Driffield RUFC ace Will Burns has enjoyed a fantastic start to 2016, earning himself a pair of notable call-ups.

The 18-year-old was selected for the under-18 Independent Schools National Lambs earlier this month, before being handed a debut for the Woldsmen’s 1st XV on Saturday.

The Lambs side is a team made up of the best players from independent schools around the country.

Number eight Burns, impressed while playing for Pocklington School where he is joint vice-captain, and represented the Lambs at Ealing in a 21-20 success over Crawshay’s Welsh.

Burns and his Lambs teammates also have games versus the Irish Exiles, the Midlands under-18s and a number of academy sides coming up before a tough tour of South America at Easter.

Burns’ selection for Driffield’s senior side came following a number of stellar performances in the 2nd XV.

He was named as a replacement for the North One East clash with Wheatley Hills at Kelleythorpe and entered the fray as a first-half substitute.

“We like the look of Will and obviously picked him to come on and play in the back row, but due to us suffering a bit of an inury nightmare he ended up having to do a job out on the wing,” said Driffield’s director of rugby Patrick Burdass.

“I feel sorry for the lad because he wasn’t able to show us what he’s capable of in his natural position as a forward, but to be fair to him, he still did really well.

“Will got stuck in and did everything that was asked of him, he’s naturally just a very good rugby player, so he adapted to playing on the wing without too much trouble.”

Burdass was full of praise for Burns’ character and expects him to develop into a top player.

“Will is a very modest young man, with a fantastic attitude and I’m sure that he will go on to do really well for us,” he added.

“Hopefully it won’t be too long before he gets another opportunity in the 1st XV.

“It’s a testament to his ability that he’s been picked for the Lambs , and the good standard of schoolboy rugby he’s playing at Pocklington has meant he has made the transition to the men’s game with ease.”

Driffield Town CC have pulled off a major coup in signing star batsman Casey Rudd from York Senior League outfit Bridlington.

The opener won the club’s top batsman award again in 2015, and his average of 44.40 put him in the top 10 in Division One.

Rudd racked up 666 runs during last year’s league campaign, with two centuries and four 50s from his 15 innings and a highest score of 129.

He also chipped in with 15 wickets at an average of 32.53.

Rudd is the second batsman to leave Bridlington this winter, after Steve Janney left for neighbours Sewerby, but leg-spinner Grant Hutton has arrived from Driffield.

A funeral service was held at the East Riding Crematorium on Wednesday 17 February, 2016 for Mrs Marian Blanche Scruton (formerly of Foxholes)who died at The Limes in Driffield on Saturday 6 February.

The service was conducted by the Rev Jacki Tonkin.

Marian was born on 17 April, 1920, the second of four daughters of William and Mary Harrison of Holme Farm, East Lutton with sisters Irene, Kitty and Marjorie.

She went to school in West Lutton leaving at 15 to work on the farm.

She met and married Kenneth Scruton on12 November, 1941 in a joint ceremony with sister Irene who wed John Burton on the same day.

After their marriage they set up home at Hilbrow, Smythy Lane, Foxholes. They went on to have one son, Peter.

The family later moved to the Foundry House at the agricultural works.

Marian enjoyed being a housewife and mother. She was a good cook and enjoyed knitting.

Peter married Gill and Marian became grandma to Sally and Anna. She loved looking after the girls and in time the joy of being great grandma to Olivia and Ben

Marian and Kenneth lived most of their married life at Foundry House until Ken’s retirement. They enjoyed travel both to holidays abroad and in the UK, with Scotland and the Lakes being particular favourites.

Retirement brought a move to Driffield and she enjoyed meeting friends at the chapel.

After losing Ken in 1993 Marian found delight in going on trips with her good friend Myra Poessl, who was a great help in her later years.

She loved to read and enjoyed doing crosswords. She was also involved with charity events at the Chapel too. Unfortunately losing her sight was a source of real frustration to her and she had to move into the Limes where she was very well looked after.

Family mourners: Peter & Gill Scruton (son & daughter in law), Sally Scruton (granddaughter), Anna Robinson & Mark Stocks (granddaughter & partner), Ben Robinson (great grandson) representing Olivia Robinson (great granddaughter).

Others present: Guy & Gill Scruton, Ian & Susan Scruton, Mr & Mrs Neil Scruton, Jenny Callister (nee Scruton) rep Pearl Gough (nee Scruton), Alistair Scruton rep Joanne, Mr C Welford, Fay & Andrew Grace, John & Ruth Ezard rep Henry & Jennifer Watson, Eileen & Peter Conner, Mrs Rosemary Croft, Mrs Barbara Hinds, Nick Thurlow rep Mrs H Thurlow & Miss K Walker, Richard & Angela Theakston rep the family, Linda & Les Moore, Mrs C Braviner rep Mrs B Barningham, Dorothy Rowland, Mr & Mrs W Lamb rep Mr & Mrs John Fletcher, Emma, Amy, Victoria & Anna (in Canada), Pauline Ward, Steve & Myra Poessl, Geoff & Ian Parr, Caroline Elliott rep Rachael Wallace & Lavender Court, Chris Hara rep Gill Hara & family, Eileen Scrivener, Olga Ewbank, Ann Downs rep Gordon Downs, Christine & Roy Barton (niece & husband), Brian Howland rep Fia Simpson, Mr & Mrs Steve Bannister, Lorna Moore rep Arthur Moore & Tony Scruton, Sandra Lee rep Pamela Taylor, Maureen Rolph, Geoff Warters & Heather, Derek Lamplough, Adrian & Pat Robson, Steve Stubbings, Julie Scruton.

A funeral service was held at the East Riding Crematorium on Monday, 15 February, 2016 for Mrs Hilda Hotham who died peacefully on 5 February, 2016. She was aged 91 years.

The service was conducted by the Rev Malcolm Exley and the organist was Mr Steven Westaway.

Hilda was born on 28 May, 1924 at Highfield Farm, Wold Newton to Charles and Edith Shipley.

She attended school in Wold Newton and then on to Devenshire House School in Bridlington.

She left school as the war started so she worked on the farm with her father and brother. She met her husband Bob at a dance and they married in 1947.

After their marriage they lived in Helperthorpe and went on to have one daughter.

They then moved to Ruston Parva to live before moving to Driffield to settle.

Hilda worked for many families helping out. She also worked in a bakery/sweet shop in Driffield for a while. Her last job was at East Yorkshire Printers.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Hilda liked whist drives, holidays, visiting family and friends. She enjoyed having parties at Christmas and helping out in the garden, cooking, icing cakes, knitting, watching TV and listening to music.

She will be sadly missed by all her family.

Family mourners: Audrey & Stewart Grainger (daughter & son in law), Jennifer Grainger, Deborah Grainger (granddaughters), Stephen & Charlotte Grainger (grandson & wife).

Others present: Wendy Hewitson, Nora Dash (cousin), Grace Savoury (niece), Anne Neal rep the family (niece), Denise & John Pickering rep the family (nephew & wife),Ann & Brent Halder (niece & husband), Den Smyers, Mrs Gill Scruton, Mr & Mrs N Heap, Louise Halder, Paul Halder, Wendy Harrison, Jeanette Savoury, David Shipley, Mr Will Hall, Mr & Mrs D Sissons, Stephanie Kell rep Trevor Kell, Chris Hara rep Gill Hara & family, Mary Ayre, Brian & Ann Grainger, Jim & Peggy Holmes, Brent & Ann Halder, Edith & Richard Robson, Ian & Paula Halder, Philippa Hall, Philip Hall, Alan Hall, Mr A J Creaser, Phil & Wendy Addy, Denise O’Brian, Amy O’Brian rep Linda Randall,Lynn Grainger.