Budding poets have received a national award for the quality of their verse. Youngsters from Millbrook School, Grove, near Wantage, are celebrating after being given a Millennium Award for Creativity from the National Primary Centre. A group of nine-year-old
Minor Counties and Home Counties MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP Western Division Oxfordshire 232-2 (C Haupt 121, R Williams 30) & 26-1, Dorset 247-5 (D Cowley 103 no, K Arnold 3-71). HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Basingstoke & North Hants 199-9 (R
Banbury lost the leadership of the Home Counties League when the weather denied them a probable victory away to Reading on Saturday. It enabled High Wycombe to take over at the top of the table as they defeated Bicester & North Oxford to open up a
Oxfordshire Formula 1 star Jenson Button finished a career-best fourth at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. Despite starting from the back of the grid after his car failed to start for the formation lap, the Bicester-based ace fought his way through
Oxfordshire CA Cup round-up A brilliant century by Matthew Busby sent Hanborough cruising into the Airey Cup final with a 45-run victory over Freeland yesterday (Sunday). Busby scored 113 not out as the 1998 champions rattled up 202, while Division 2
Craig Haupt hit an unbeaten century on the first day of Oxfordshire's crunch Minor Counties Championship clash with Dorset at Dean Park yesterday, writes Richard Tilley. The Banbury left-hander smashed 17 fours and three sixes in his 121 not out his second
Classic Press Cherwell League - 2nd XI section Division 6A Horspath 150-5 (A Eason 50, T Parsons 49, P North 4-49), Tiddington 17-0 rsp. Wallingford 113 (R Perry 53, D Teal 4-26), Leighton Buzzard 55 (D Buxton 4-21, S Rahulan 4-28). Cropredy 126 (D Pucknall
Chelsea took full advantage of some appalling Oxford defending at the Manor Ground on Friday to run out comfortable winners of their pre-season friendly. And, although the Premier League side fielded a strong starting line-up, the manner of the goals
A library has received a 500 boost as a thank-you gesture from a neighbouring supermarket. The Waitrose store in Wantage handed over the cash gift after the town's library helped the supermarket with its recent refurbishment. The library allowed building
Market day shoppers were treated to the spectacle of a German youth marching band. The young musicians played flutes, drums and glocken- spiels from Witney's Welch Way car park, through the town centre to Church Green. The Jugen Spielmannszug band comes
A campaign to persuade youngsters to wear cycle helmets has been launched. More than 200 cyclists are killed in the UK every year and 4,500 seriously injured. The campaign is being run by Buckinghamshire County Council, which covers 20 villages around
The chairman of a council planning committee accused fellow councillors of Monty Python decision-making. The Thame town council committee was looking at plans for a new car park submitted by the town's cricket club. The first one had been rejected because
MP Dr Evan Harris today attacked the Government and Opposition for delays over the controversial issue of cloning. The Oxford West and Abingdon MP has won the right to hold a Commons debate on a Bill to allow new forms of research on embryos. He said
Didcot Tn 0, Newport IoW 2 Didcot fell to the first defeat of their pre-season programme against Dr Martens League Eastern Division side Newport. Andy Graham and debutant Matt Bianchini had both gone close for Didcot before the visitors struck just past
A heavy downpour denied Oxford the chance of victory over bottom-of-the-table Amersham in the Western Feeder league clash at Jesus College on Saturday. The visitors had made 151-9 from 48 overs but Oxford never got the chance to chase the target as the
Bicester & North Oxford skipper Darryl Woods led from the front but could not stop High Wycombe taking over at the top of the Home Counties League Premier Division. Woods battled his way to a top score of 70, but Wycombe made short work of the 151
Former Oxford favourite Martin Dugard blasted his way to a shock victory in a breath-taking British Grand Prix at Coventry on Saturday. The 16-1 shot with William Hill was only a wild card entry, but he took the cream of the world's top riders by the
Oxford C 0, Slough Tn 1 Oxford City gave some of their younger players some experience against Ryman Premier League Slough who won Saturday's friendly by the only goal of the game. City made a bright start and Honey saved from Carl Henry after good work
Club matches Wayfarers 187-5 (R Beresford 91, N Jeacock 3-41), Kidlington 188-9 (J Constable 32, J Whitley 4-48, M Whitley 3-69). Blenheim Park 162-9 (L Keyes 32, P Humphries 31, Isis 91-8 (A Kelly 3-28). Warborough & Shillingford Finings 175-3 (40
Celebrity gardeners such as Charlie Dimmock and Alan Titchmarsh may have prompted a surge in green-fingered pursuits, but the popularity of gardening has also brought out the light-fingered brigade, writes Zahra Akkerhuys. We now spend an average of 32
Riders from 16 countries will take part in international horse trials at Blenheim. The competition will be the final three-day event of the season and will take place from September 7 to 10. Dressage at the Blenheim Petplan International Horse Trials
People of all ages will have the chance to work alongside professional artists to put on a spectacular performance in the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall. Children and adults are being urged to join workshops in dance, music, story-telling and shadow-puppetry
Building materials group Hanson blamed poor weather in April and May for a disappointing performance in its European operations so far this year. The company, whose quarry operation employs several hundred people in Oxfordshire, said the wet weather and
WEB PIONEERS: Former Oxford University students James, left, and Joseph Matthews have set up the Assertion Group at Begbroke Science ParkPicture: Damian Halliwell BROTHERS James and Joseph Matthews believe they have the winning formula that will end Web
The future of the Chinnor cement works is in the balance again. Since original owners Rugby Cement were taken over by London-based Ready Mix Concrete, plans for its future have been ditched. County, district and parish councils are now left wondering
Plans for new hi-tech police call centres have been given the go-ahead. At a special meeting, members of Thames Valley Police Authority agreed that two new 24-hour centres for all non-emergency calls, will be created at Spires Business Park, Kidlington
Brainy members of Mensa proved they can be as silly as the rest of us. For they came to Oxford, seat of learning, and ended up playing games like who can spit a cherry pip the furthest. They also got down to a bit of appreciative eye-goggling with an
A traditional town centre market has been branded a "muddled eyesore". Wantage Conservative town councillors claim the historic market has turned into a cluttered vehicle park, because of untidily parked traders' vans. Concerned town councillor John Coates
Managers at Oxford's crisis-ridden John Radcliffe Hospital are ploughing 500,000 into measures to encourage nurses to stay in their stressful jobs. Budget money has been earmarked to relieve the pressures, through improvements to the casualty department
Fish died and an angling competition was called off after chlorine spilled into the River Thames. The murky green water at Abingdon suddenly turned blue and hundreds of dead fish floated to the surface. The pollution drifted downstream from Abingdon and
Paramedic Eddie Webb administered his own first aid after the Medibike he was riding was involved in an accident with a car. He came off the high-powered machine as he sped from the bike's base in Oxford to an emergency call and was involved in a collision
The North Oxfordshire Consortium, which runs the former American air base at Upper Heyford, has received an Investors in People award. On average, it takes firms 18 months to comply with the necessary standards for the award, but the NOC, which has 14
They may be a long way from the sea, but youngsters in Carterton are nevertheless having fun in the sand. Carterton Educational Trust gave St John's Church a grant to buy a sand tray. The church hosts a group for pre-school children and their parents
The Government has been criticised for giving pay rises to top academics as part of its policy to keep and recruit university staff. Tom Green, secretary and acting chairman of the Oxford Brookes University branch of the Association of University Teachers
Classic Press Cherwell League - Divisions 3A, 3B, 3C Division 3A Swindon GWR 84 (C Rogers 46, R Newman 5-28, D Hartley 3-19), Abingdon Vale 88-1 (B Humpage 40 no). Rover Cowley 2nd 105 (I Younis 35, A Cummings 5-28, G Hamilton 3-36), Horspath 57-1 rsp
It took 105 years to achieve - but Oxfordshire finally have a team among the British tennis elite. The promotion of the women from Group 2 at County Week is one of the biggest and best things to ever happen to the county. They can, for a year at least
Oxfordshire CA league results Division 1 Garsington 78 (N Hogston 7-37), Great Horwood 82-6. Long Hanborough 178-3 (R Lovick 72, D Simpson 33) v Cowley rsp. Division 2 Witney Swifts 229-3 (A Fisher 61no, J Seacole 49, P Senior 49, D Woodward 40 no), Twyford
Green-fingered Launa Slatter's Chadlington garden is through to the top six in a national newspaper gardening competition. Mrs Slatter will learn whether she has won the Daily Mail National Garden Competition in August. On Sunday she opened the garden
Two people had to be rescued from a block of flats in Banbury early on Saturday when an unattended chip pan caught fire. Two fire crews from Banbury and Deddington were called to tackle the blaze, which broke out in a first-floor flat in Greenhill Court
Two patches of land which have been eyesores for more than 30 years could soon be developed. At the moment, the areas around Jubilee Villa at The Moorlands, Benson, are overgrown and have several derelict caravans on them. South Oxfordshire District Council
A major study to develop a comprehensive transport strategy for Headington and Marston is to go ahead following a meeting by the Oxford Transport Strategy Working Party. The study is to take place following developments at the Radcliffe Infirmary and
Young rider Karina de Gonville Morrison's new pony Golden Dream lived up to its name when the pair qualified for an international dressage competition. Karina, 13, is the only child and Golden Dream the only pony among 15 horses from the UK to qualify
United boss Denis Smith is, on the whole, pleased with how United's pre-season campaign is going. "The first three matches went well and, as everybody knows, I wasn't particularly happy with the first half at Chelsea. But we had a good second half and
Classic Press Cherwell League - Division 2 Bourton Vale 223-4 (R Howell 76, T Richardson 49 no, A Fatch 33), Bicester & NO 2nd 65-2 rsp. Great & Little Tew 168-6 (K Taylor 46 no), Bletchley 2nd 165 (S Gordon 73, R Sissing 33). Banbury 2nd 214-
July 29-30 THAME UNITED TOURNAMENT 2000 Cirencester Tn 0, Oxford Utd Youth 0 (Cirencester won 5-4 on pens); Thame Utd 4, Met Police 0. 3rd place play-off: Met Police 1, Oxford Utd Youth 0. Final: Thame Utd 3, Cirencester Tn 0. FRIENDLIES Crawley Tn 0,
Classic Press Cherwell League - Division 1 Division 1 Banbury Twenty 219-8 (T Pearce 70, D Clark 50, C Owen 3-62), Oxford Nondescripts 163-7 (M Cox 50, I Mead 31no). Leighton Buzzard 102 (D Pope 35, J Neilson 3-17, A Cool 3-33, S Slade 3-37), Cumnor 105
United were held to a goalless draw by non-league Crawley Town on Saturday, but the United boss Denis Smith was pleased that his side came through the game unscathed. Chris Hackett went close for United, but they felt aggrieved that they were denied penalties
Thame United triumphed in their own four-team tournament at Windmill Stadium - but victory came at a cost as goalkeeper Ian Moores ended up on crutches. Moores was on the receiving end of a high and over-zealous challenge from Cirencester Town's Shaun
Our guide to great family days out in August and September AUG: Take a trip to the JMW Turner exhibition, at the Ashmolean Museum, in Beaumont Street, Oxford. As well as the normal opening times, the museum is open until 8pm during July and August ---
Work on decommissioning an 'active handling' building on the Harwell Business Centre site is being restarted after four workers inhaled dust-like radioactive particles. The incident happened in April as contractors were dismantling a shield facility -
New recruit joins diabetes chairty Diabetes charity gets new recruit A cartoonist has created a character to help raise funds for a diabetes charity. Rosalie Cox decided to use her pen to help the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation because she
Newly-weds Lewis Ricket and Stacey Rivers returned to the place where they first met for a marriage blessing. The couple met at Wallingford's Riverside Park as children when they were camping with their parents. Their friendship later blossomed into love
Drunk wheelchair user Dennis Caston threw himself out of his chair into the path of traffic on a busy road. The 48-year-old, who was paralysed in a road accident 18 years ago, wheeled himself into Didcot Road, Long Wittenham, after a drinking session.
Oxford United manager Denis Smith is hoping that the ongoing Mark Watson will-he, won't-he saga will be finally sorted out today. The Canadian defender has been stalling on a new contract and was originally given a deadline of last Friday to make up his
