Sue Davies from 'Heart Start' held a free emergency life saving course for Ross people at the Library on Monday morning, at which she demonstrated and taught various first aid techniques. Pictured below, Caroline Camping, Jeremy Bevan, Sue Matthews, Gisela Hunting and Julie McDougall went along to improve their first aid skills.

Sue is always pleased to provide 'Heart Start' emergency life saving courses in various locations around Herefordshire, which are free of charge. If you are interested in holding or attending a course locally, she can be contacted on 01432 880998.

Is the cardboard recycling skip in the Red Meadow Car Park constantly full, or is it that people simply cannot be bothered to use it properly? Either way, dumping it on the ground is not a good idea in a 'pretty' tourist market town.

Values Based Leadership Ltd (VBL) announces the appointment of Emma Kann. Emma joins the team at their new premises located in Sterling House, Church Street, Ross-on-Wye.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Emma’s background is in sales and marketing, having most recently worked for Virgin Life Care as Sales and Marketing Director.

At VBL, Emma will be responsible for raising the Company’s profile with prospective customer companies and for developing new sales opportunities for the company. Upon taking up her new role, Emma says: 'It’s great to have a new challenge. In fact, I have three challenges rolled into one! Not only have I got a new job, but I’m also working in a new environment (the UK) and in an industry that is new to me. I’m really looking forward to it!'

Emma may be contacted via e-mail at: emma@valuesbasedleadership.co.uk or by telephoning 0870 609 1129.

Further information about VBL may be obtained by visiting the website: www.valuesbasedleadership.co.uk.

Local Taxi man Daz Jenkins had been in touch with me quite a lot over the weekend but the reason had been nothing to do with fishing. He telephoned me on Sunday morning about his taxi business and coincidentally, just a few moments later, I saw him. He was fishing by the river at Wilton. Had we known we were so close, we could have just spoken that bit louder and we would not have needed the telephones.

After a quick chat, I left Daz and just moments later he caught this massive 21lb pike. Fishing in the Wye seems to be quite good at the moment, with Daz's pike and John Catton's record mirror carp a few weeks ago. I am not a fisherman myself but I did catch a huge salmon on film, leaping out of the water at Wilton a few weeks back. I had thought the splashing might have been an otter at the time, so set the camera up and was quite surprised when I saw the culprit.

Well done, Daz!

Goodrich School were celebrating on Friday after being awarded a brand new football kit by the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity. The new Nike kit, worth £400 was awarded to the team as part of the Foundation's Junior Kit Scheme. This provides new strips and equipment to teams across the country and is fronted by England and Tottenham star goalkeeper, Paul Robinson.

Over 10,000 kits have already been provided by the Foundation to junior clubs and schools, ensuring young players of all abilities have the best possible start in the game.

Head Teacher, Tony Griffiths thanked the Foundation, Saying, 'The new strip is a huge boost and the team looks great. By kitting out young players across the country, the Football Foundation's junior kit scheme is another great way of encouraging boys and girls to get into football and stay healthy.

England keeper, Paul Robinson said, 'I know how important it is for young players to run out onto the pitch wearing the right kit. It helps them feel more prepared for the game. On behalf of the Football Foundation, I wish Goodrich School the very best of luck in 2007 and would encourage teams to log on to the Foundation's website and apply for a voucher. It's too good an opportunity to miss out on.'

Ross took a break from league action last Saturday, travelling to Cheltenham Civil Service for an EDF Cup match. After a promising start, Ross were undone by some basic errors which resulted in a 22-17 defeat.

Ross had started brightly, with their forward pack dominating territory and possession. They were able to take an early lead from the boot of Chris Gage and when TC Leech burst through three tackles to score under the posts, Ross found themselves 10-0 up and in total control. However, they were unable to add further scores that would have probably killed the game. This was compounded with the last play of the first half, as Cheltenham scored a converted try. After dominating the majority of the half, Ross went in just 10-7 to the good.

The late first half try buoyed Cheltenham. They started the second half the stronger and Ross found themselves camped in their own half. Valiant defending by Ross kept out Cheltenham in the third quarter. However, the pressure finally told in a chaotic 5 minutes midway through the half as Cheltenham scored two quick tries and a penalty to take them 22-10 clear with only 15 minutes to go.

Ross regrouped and worked their way into the Cheltenham twenty two and, as he had done in the first half, TC Leech crashed through some weak tackling to score. Chris Gage converted, making the score 22-17 with 3 minutes remaining. Ross secured the kick off and again drove hard into the Cheltenham half. However, they were unable to conjure the winning score and the refs whistle brought to an end any hopes Ross had of a cup run.

Next Saturday Ross are back in league action at Brockworth. Kick off is at 3 pm.

After a 46-3 victory the previous week against Droitwich 2nd XV, Ross were looking to carry on their winning ways at home against Ledbury 3rd XV.

From the kick off, the Ross pack put Ledbury under pressure, forcing the knock on. From the resulting scrum, the ball was moved out to DP. He crashed through the defensive line before off loading to M. Pollock, who drew the full back before sending over to Wessels to score. In reply, Ledbury had their best spell of the half forcing three penalties but only managing to convert one.

The second Ross score came from good defensive play as they pushed Ledbury back in to there own twenty two and forced a knock on. The referee played advantage and Wessels picked up well and went over to score. Near the end of the first half, Ross prop, P. Pat came off to be replaced by T. Benett. Winning the next scrum against the head, Ross moved the ball wide. B. Parker beat his man and passed inside to P. Smith, who just put his foot into touch as the chance went begging. At the end of the first half Ross led 10-3.

After the break the game opened up with both teams moving the ball in between forwards and backs with J. Christopher, A. Nelms and C. Godwin all looking to break the line. A. Bevan and G. Holsworth both added considerable yards via their boots as Ross slowly took control of the second half.

Having forced solid territory, the Ross pack started to take control. Good lineout play by A. Lovering and R. Russell gave Ross a distinct advantage, as well as Ross' continued, solid scrummaging. Ross made only one change in the second half, with S. Harness coming on for J. Christopher.

The final score came from turning the Ledbury scrum 90. Ross captain, P. Haywood, broke away from the back of the scrum and smashed the Ledbury defensive line before being hauled down. The ball was quickly recycled and given to M. Davies who ran through two men to score. A. Bevan converted the try to give Ross a creditable win of 17-3.

Ross would like to thank match sponsors Audrey's Fish bar, who named M. Pollock man of the match.

Ross-on-Wye Weather Station is located by the tennis courts and bowling green at 'Crossfields' and is one of the important stations around the country which regularly sends data to the Meteorological Office. This is why Ross-on-Wye is sometimes mentioned on the BBC weather reports. It is currently still a manually monitored station and readings are taken twice per day by husband and wife team, June and Rex Swallow.

The absolute deadline for Wyenot News stories and other items is 12:00, midday on Tuesday, for inclusion in the following day's edition.

PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER: This is an absolute deadline and not the time I am asking for articles to be sent in. Mondays and Tuesdays here at 'Wyenot News' are Hell with by far, the most events I cover occurring at the weekend. The photography that the public sees happening is only one tiny part of the whole picture (please excuse the pun) of running this weekly news publication and the bits of prep that people do not see, are actually the most time consuming part of getting the story out.

If at all possible, please send your story in as early as you can, rather than wait until the very last minute, so that I can have at least a fighting chance of getting to bed before 3:00 am every Tuesday and Wednesday morning after what has lately become two 18 hour working days on the trot.

Thank you very much for your understanding and help.

Alan

DO YOU HAVE A STORY FOR WYENOT NEWS?

If you have a local news item or story you can submit it here
or call Alan or Tina on 01989 763217

There is no charge for publishing either news items or What's On Events
This is a Free Service for the local community!

Wyenot News, 1, Hillview Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. HR9 7EY

If you would like to order prints from Wyenot News photographs, please click here.

Prints are only available for photographs taken by Wyenot News (Not of those which have been sent in by readers).

Prints of 'people' photographs are only available to those directly involved in the news event covered. i.e. I do not sell prints of people to the general public.