Newbury Weekly News

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Thursday, May 11, 2017
Hi-5 Roadrunners
take on Thatcham
Family Fun Day Run
THATCHAM’S Family Fun Day Fun Run will
be under new orders this year.
Hi-5 Roadrunners will be taking over the
running of the event when it returns to the
Henwick Worthy sports ground on Sunday, June
25.
Members Chris Clacy and Matt Atkins said that
the group was formed just over a year ago to create
a running group for people of all abilities.
They want to encourage social running and plan
one social event every month.
There have been successes along the way, with
Mr Atkins saying that one member had run the
London and Bournemouth marathons despite only
taking up running 18 months ago.
Another member lost his son and organised a
10km charity run in his memory.
The club meets each Thursday at 7pm at
Henwick fields car park, with new members, of
all fitness levels, welcome to turn up on the
night.
“It’s the friendship groups established from it,
most people didn’t know each other a year ago,” Mr
Clacy said.
“The future for us is to pick up the formula and
drop it into other towns.
“We want to move towards events like this.”
The traditional family day fun run, sponsored by
the Newbury Weekly News , will return on the day
and Hi-5 are also looking to add a 100m toddler
dash and a 1km dash for adults.
Hi-5 will be taking over from the Thatcham
Sports Network and Jane and Binky Wells, of the
Spring Charity Fundraisers, who have been
involved in the event since the 1980s.
Ways to register the event and information on
the group’s chosen charity will appear in future
editions of the NWN.
Drink-driver caught
on his own driveway
A THATCHAM man has been
banned from driving for 12
months after pleading guilty
to drink driving.
Police officers saw Neil
Worthy, of Medway Close, drive
his van on to the driveway at his
home address on April 4 this
year at around 11pm.
The 41-year-old had been
watching a boxing match at his
parents’ house before taking the
Ford Transit van home.
A subsequent blood test
revealed a reading of 123mg of
alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
– the legal limit is 80mg.
Prosecuting, Lesley Gilmore
told Reading Magistrates Court
on Thursday, April 13: “Officers
observed the defendant drive a
Transit van on to the driveway
of his address just before 11pm.
“They spoke to the defendant
and requested a breath sample
as they were suspicious he was
over the limit.
“He was taken into custody,
however the reads were incon-
sistent and so blood was taken.”
In mitigation, the court was
told how Mr Worthy, a self-
employed craftsman, was the
financial provider for his wife
and two young children and that
“he was extremely sorry to be
before the court”.
“He’s put both his work and
family into a difficult situation,”
Mr Worthy’s solicitor added.
“He felt fine to drive, he obvi-
ously wasn’t.
“It was a quiet time and there
was no impaired driving.
“He accepts it was wrong.
“He accepts the reality of
being punished.”
He added: “He’s willing to do
whatever it takes to show this
was a one-off mistake.”
The court heard how the
repentant father-of-two had now
sold his Transit van and had
wound down his customers
ahead of the inevitable disquali-
fication period.
Mr Worthy was disqualified
from driving for a period of 12
months and fined £200 (reduced
from £300 for the guilty plea).
He was also ordered to pay a
victim surcharge of £30 and £85
in court costs.
Sentencing magistrates told
the court: “We are aware it will
have a big impact onMr Worthy’s
work but a ban is inevitable.”
The magistrates added: “We
take into account your previous
good character and your need to
drive again to support your
family.”
Get snapping nature pictures
YOUNG photographers in
Thatcham are being asked to
snap scenes of nature in and
around the town.
Thatcham Photographic
Club, in collaboration with
Thatcham Town Council, has
launched its annual photo-
graphic competition for all
pupils living in or studying
within 10 miles of Thatcham.
The competition will form
part of this year’s Thatcham
Festival, which will run from
October 7 to 20.
The theme of the competition
is The Natural World and pupils
are asked to capture what the
natural world means to them.
There are three age groups
and prizes of up to £50.
Images can be sent by email to
festivalcomp@thatchamphoto-
The competition is now open
for submissions and these can
be made at any time until
September 22. For further infor-
mation contact Mr Roberts on
(01635) 866841.
Kennet Games triumphs
CHILDREN with physical
disabilities enjoyed another
successful Kennet Games last
weekend.
Children from local schools
joined clubs and pupils from
Reading at Kennet School for
the 37th Kennet Games for chil-
dren and young people with
physical difficulties on
Saturday.
Competitors came from Kennet
School, The Castle School post-16
unit, Speenhamland Primary,
Brookfields Reading, Lambs Lane
Reading, and PALS Berkshire, a
group that provides activities for
children with physical disabili-
ties.
After rounds of games ranging
from boccia, dodgeball, shotput
and rolla ball, trophies were
awarded by special guest and
disability campaigner Toby
Hewson of JustDifferent and the
deputy head of the Kennet School
Academies Trust, Ms Bernadette
McNally.
The cup winners were: Junior
Electric wheelchair – Ottilie
Bankes, Speenhamland; Junior
wheelchair – Jake Parsons,
Speenhamland; Junior standing
– Tegan Basden, Brookfields;
Senior wheelchair – Emma Clark,
Kennet; Senior standing – Sophie
Sanders, PALs; Fastest time in
wheelchair slalom – Craig Rolfe,
Lambs Lane; Exceptional sports-
manship – Henry Davies, Kennet.
Event organiser Jane Morland
said: “It was fantastic to see so
many children being included in
so many events in such a competi-
tive way – and with smiles on
their faces.
“A huge thank you to all the
sponsors, particularly Team
Kennet Sport whose donation
allowed the purchase of new
boccia sets.
“Thanks also to all the compa-
nies that donated raffle prizes.
“The day was thoroughly
enjoyed by all.
“Competitors, parents, friends,
carers and school staff all helped
to make the event a very success-
ful day.”
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