Category: Sports News

THAME United continued their preparations for the new season with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Buckingham Town last Saturday.
Thame dominated the match from start to finish taking the lead through Simon Rodgers. Rodgers, making his first appearance for Thame since breaking his leg last Autumn, scored with a well taken goal from 20 yards.
The second goal for Thame was a tap-in scored by Matt Leach following an impressive run from Stuart Braun. Apart from one shot in the first half, which was well saved by keeper Paul Searl, Buckingham rarely threatened the solid Thame United defence.
Thame continue their preparations this weekend (4th and 5th August) with a four-team tournament at Witney United. Thame will face their higher league hosts on Saturday afternoon (4pm kick off), with the winners facing either Abingdon United or Tadley Calleva on Sunday.

Thame United hold their AGM at 7pm on Thursday, August, 9, at The Oxfordshire Golf Club. The meeting is open to all members of the public and amongst other items, will include an update on the progress being made in returning Thame United to Thame through the work of the Thame Football Partnership.

TEAMS from Thame Tennis Club are currently playing their final summer league fixtures.
In the Aylesbury League, the ladies first team, in Division 2, lost 3 sets to 5 at home to Tring, but finished their season with a resounding win of 7 sets to 1 against Chesham Bois II.
Team: F Pidgeon (c), J Kelly, A Gornall, M Howkins, and R Suter.

Meanwhile, the ladies second team had a close match at home to Aston Park, losing by a single set. However, in their final match of the season, the team, including new member Ann Terry, overwhelmed Naphill with an 8 sets to 0 victory.
Team: R Knight (c), A Green, L Broadway, P Barfield.

The Mixed team, in Division 4, edged a win at home to Oving by 4.5 ? 3.5 sets.
Team: F Pidgeon, M Wilkins, R Wilkins, A Green.

Finally, the Men?s C 2 pair concluded their season with a defeat to overall league winners David Lloyd Leisure B.
First pair, Mark Horrocks and Kevin Bowers, lost 6-1, 6-1 to the visitors first pair, and 6-2, 6-3 to the second pair.

Father and son team John and Mark Ansell were also beaten 6-1, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-2.

Meanwhile, in the Oxford League, the Mixed 3 pair had an excellent win against Abingdon by 7.5 sets to 1.5 sets Team: F Pidgeon, R Bradley, T Merry, I Catchpole, M Wilkins, and J McLeod.

Finally the Ladies 2 pair secured a draw away to Faringdon B.

ROAD cycling enthusiasts from Thame were accompanied by the current ‘King of the mountains’ on Tuesday, when he joined High Wycombe Cycling Club’s time trial as a warm up for the Tour de France, which left London on Saturday.
Malcolm Freeman, Alasdair MacVarish and John Francis, were among the Thame contingent who rode with David Millar, who started his cycling career at HWCC, when his mum took him along as a 15 year-old boy. At the start of stage 3 of the race today, Millar was in third place overall, as well as setting out in the polka dot, King of the Mountains jersey.
The fortunes of David Millar and the other British contenders can be followed on ITV 4, every evening at 7pm, when the station shows highlights of the day’s racing.

Photo: David Millar copyright Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

DESPITE the recent atrocious weather, teams from Thame Tennis Club have managed to play some of their matches.
In the Aylesbury midweek league, the Ladies 1st team, playing in Division two, recently secured a draw against Cublington. Team: F Pidgeon (c), J Kelly, D Munro and A Gornall. Elsewhere in the same league, the Ladies 2nd team, captained by Rosie Knight enjoyed a good victory against Haddenham of 6.5 sets to 1.5 sets.
Unfortunately, fortunes were reversed last week at home to Chesham Bois with a loss of 2 sets to 6. Team: P Barfield, L Broadway, A Green, M Izatt Brown, S Marsh.

Meanwhile, in the Oxford League, the Men?s C 2 pair team have been in action. Away to Blewbury, first pair Bob Fieldsend and Doug Still, lost two sets to the hosts? first pair, but beat the second pair convincingly 6-1, 6-2.
Second pair, John Ansell (c) and Peter Bosier, halved their match against Blewbury?s first pair, eventually losing on a tie break in the second set after being set point up.
A week later the team played an epic match against Banbury which, due to numerous rain delays, lasted from 1.30pm until after 7pm! Bob Fieldsend and Mark Horrocks beat the Banbury second pair 6-3, 6-1 but were then beaten 2-6, 3-6 by the first pair. Team captain John Ansell was partnered by his son Pascal. In a close match they lost to the hosts? first pair 5-7, 4-6 and lost a tiebreak in their second match, making Thame?s final tally 2 sets to Banbury?s 6 sets.

THAME United will face Wessex Premier Division side Downton FC in the extra-preliminary qualifying round of the FA Cup at home on 18th August. The game will be the first FA Cup match for manager Mark West since his return to Thame United.
In his first spell as manager, West had considerable success in the competition, taking Thame one game from the First Round proper in two successive seasons, before they lost out on both occasions to Conference opposition in the form of Farnborough Town and Forest Green Rovers.
If Thame beat Downton they will have another home draw in the preliminary qualifying round against local rivals Abingdon United on 1st September.

In the FA Vase, Thame will play an away tie in the second qualifying round against either Melksham Town or Alton Town, with the tie due to be played on 22nd September. Again United have pedigree in the competition having reached the semi-final in the 1998/99 season, only to have the hopes of a Wembley appearance dashed by Northumbrian side Bedlington Terriers.

GET into sport – be a part of the Oxfordshire Youth Games: Athletics, cricket, hockey, tennis, high 5 netball, badminton, squash, basketball, tag rugby, football. Radley College, Radley, 9.15am to 4.00pm, July 8.
Visit Link
to find out more, or contact your local sports development team at South Oxfordshire District Council: allen.souch@southoxon.gov.uk, tel 07801 203 539.

DAMP, cold conditions revailed at this year’s CPM Thame 10K Road Race on Sunday, which attracted a record 905 entrants. The weather however did not effect the performances of the runners in this increasingly popular annual race in Thame.
First man home was Julien LHomme of HR Wallingford, running for his company which went on to secure the Corporate mens team prize. Shone Crombie-Hicks was first lady home in a time only eight seconds away from the course record. In the team prizes, Witney Road Runners come first in the mens category, while Headington Road Runners took the ladies team prize.

The full, category results were as follows:-
Senior men
1. Julien LHomme 33.05
2. Gary Harris 33.24
3. Nathan Holmes 33.36

Veteran Men
1. Vasili Zverev 33.58

Supervet men
1. Bryan Vaughan 35.46

Ultravet men
1. Tony Molesworth 48.29

Junior men
1. Matthew Bennett 34.23

Senior Ladies
1. Shona Crombie-Hicks 37.08 (veteran lady)
2. Jude Craft 37.14
3. Sophie Dawson 38.39

Veteran Ladies
1. Tracy Galbraith 37.18

Supervet Ladies
1. Lesley Whiley 38.43

Ultravet Ladies
1. Margaret Moody 45.34

Junior Ladies
1. Polly Wright 46.39

Mens team
Witney Road Runners

Ladies team
Headington Road Runners

Corporate team
HR Wallingford

Full results and times soon to be published on Thame Runners’ website

Photo by Mikaela Morgan: First man home, Julien LHomme of HR Wallingford

THE twenty third CPM, Thame 10km road race takes place this Sunday, June 24, starting at 9.30am from Thame Leisure Centre.
The charity run, organised by Thame Runners, has grown steadily in popularity with an estimated 800 entries expected. As in previous years, profits from the event are distributed to local charities.

The installation of the new dry play area next to the Sports Centre has entailed significant soil mounds which will not be cleared and re-landscaped until September. Without a suitable and safe children?s course around the perimeter of the playing fields, the organisers regrettably have had to cancel the children?s fun run even for 2007 only.

Another change for 2007 will be the temporary road closure of the ring road between the Risborough and Chinnor Road roundabouts for one hour from 9.30 am to 10.30 am on the Sunday. The behaviour of a few drivers who were not prepared to wait a few moments led to the organisers paying for the closure to ensure the safety of the runners.

Entry forms for the Thame 10Km can be downloaded from the website www.thamerunners.co.uk

SOLL Leisure is calling on all smokers to use the impending smoking ban on July 1 as an impetus to quit smoking, by running a ?Quit and Get Fit? campaign.
The campaign aims to publicise how exercise can help in the cessation of smoking and to provide members of the community with additional support and advice to help them kick the habit for good.

At SOLL Leisure?s nine SOLLutions gyms a ?cigarette amnesty? will be set up, where people can exchange any unfinished packets of cigarettes for a free day pass. Personal trainers will be on hand to put together exercise programmes for members of the community who are keen to kick the habit and staff from the gyms will be hitting the streets on Saturday 30th June with specially designed fliers containing top tips on how to quit.

Smoking is the greatest single cause of illness and premature death in the UK and according to the group ?Action on Smoking and Health? (ASH) 300 people die in the UK every day as a result of smoking. Giving up is the biggest single thing someone can do to improve their health.

Smoking is not only one of the main causes of heart and lung disease, but also increases the risk of other health-related problems such as high-blood pressure, numerous types of cancer, type-2 diabetes, reduced fertility, erectile-dysfunction and early menopause.

Victoria Branch, Group Marketing Manager for SOLL Leisure says: “Research has shown that exercise while trying to quit smoking increases a person?s chance of success. Not only will it directly combat any weight gain that could result from nicotine withdrawal, it will also help to overcome cravings and improve your mood, while giving your overall health a boost!”

Soll Leisure will be running ?Quit and Get Fit? in all of its gyms, including Thame Leisure Centre, throughout July.

The benefits of giving up smoking include:

THAME United manager, Mark West and his assistant, Steve Meredith, are to be joined by Frank Thompson to complete United?s management team for the forthcoming season in the Hellenic Division One East.
Frank was previously manager of the Thame United Youth side and prior to that was chairman of Thame Boys and Girls FC for a number of years. Along with his considerable footballing experience, Frank will bring with him additional local contacts to complement the work of Mark and Steve.

The management team are already working towards next season with pre-season training for Thame United, beginning on Thursday, June 28 at Lord Williams Upper School. The session is an open invitation for any one who wishes to be considered for the first team, reserves or youth team to come along, meet the management and be put through their paces. The use of an open training session at the start of pre-season is an approach that manager Mark West has used on various occasions in the past to great success, with a number of new faces going on to play in the first team. The session will commence at 6:45pm, meeting at the Thame Leisure Centre.

Thame United are pleased to announce that the following pre-season friendlies have been arranged:

14th July Launton Sports
21st July Aylesbury Vale
28th July Buckingham Town
4/5th August Witney United (four team tournament including Abingdon United and Tadley Calleva)

All games will be played away from home and provide an opportunity to get match practice ahead of the opening games in the Hellenic League Division 1 East on 11th August.