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Dogs the stars at annual village festival
FUN was had by all at the Fyfield Festival, with everything from dogs to bric-a-brac on show.
The annual event, which raises funds for St Nicholas Church, was filled with stalls and events and there was a bit of something for everyone.
"It was a really good day and a great success," said organiser Carol Cox.
"The dog show was very successful and we had nearly 50 entrants.
"In the end, Best in Show was awarded to Emily Hepel with her lovely cavalier King Charles spaniel called Bonny.
"The best puppy went to Bobbie and Oliver Bailey and their shih-tzu called Buddy."
The member of the parochial council added: "It was a really good family day out.
"We are still counting, but so far we have raised £2,600.
"This event is a key part of the Church event calendar as it brings in vital funds."
The festival featured stalls for everyone and the bric-a-brac stand drew in many eager bargain hunters.
A highlight of the day was the children's concert, which, following the festival's theme of hats, featured a number of headpiece based tunes.
A colourful sight, which helped to brighten the day, was the flower competition, featuring over 20 entrants.
The Fyfield Festival has run for three years and the flower festival, which was restricted to just garden displays, was a regular feature for more than 20 years.
Mrs Cox, a resident of 33 years, said: "I wouldn't have been able to do it without a wonderful team of helpers who brought it all together."
'It felt like the end of the world.' Golf club takings to go to charity
A FATHER whose child was born with a cleft palate will be donating a cut of the takings from his golf centre this week.
Annabel Humphries, now eight, was born at Queens Hospital to parents Stuart and Lorna with a gap in the roof of her mouth and underwent the first of three operations at the age of six months to correct the condition.
Mr Humphries, who runs the UK Golf Academy at Brentwood Leisure Park in Warley Gap, said: "When my daughter was born it was hard. In some ways it felt like the end of the world."
One child in every 700 is born with a cleft lip and/ or palate and many families such as the Humphries find reassuring advice from The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA).
Mr Humphries has now pledged ten per cent of takings from all golf ball sales, grip sales and all coaching lessons booked before next Wednesday will be donated directly to the association.
"They are a fantastic charity and they really helped our family," said Mrs Humphries.
"On the day Annabel was born a specialist advisor flew down to the hospital.
"We didn't know until she was born that she had the condition so we were completely unprepared."
CLAPA stayed in contact with the family and offered advice before the birth of youngest daughter Veronica, three, who was born without a cleft.
Although Annabel's condition was not visible by the time she joined Gidea Park Primary School her parents are aware that some children can face difficulties at school.
Mr Humphries added: "Children can be cruel.
"If you could see my daughter now you wouldn't know any different but it is important to remember some children aren't so fortunate."
Youngblood's joy as his Leopards stars bag title
ROBERT YOUNGBLOOD and the Leopards' three youngest players were celebrating this week after Harris Academy were crowned National School champions at U19 level.
Coach Youngblood led the team to the national title with victories against Barking Abbey and South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy at the final fours in Stoke.
Forward Rowell Graham, had a 16-point, 12 rebound double-double in the semi-final as Barking Abbey were beaten 83-73.
Dwayne Camille added ten points and six rebounds while Legend Robertin (who was part of the 2011-12 Leopards treble-winning squad), finished with six points and eight rebounds.
Former Leopards Josh Steele and Joe Lockwood were in the Barking Abbey side who went on to claim third place with an 85-75 win against Coplestone High School.
In the final against Bristol-based SGSA, Graham finished with a massive 24 points and 14 rebounds as Harris strolled to an 80-56 victory to take the national title.
Camille finished with 12 points and five rebounds with Robertin adding four points and as many rebounds.
Leopards general manager Dave Ryan was delighted to see the club's young players finishing the season on a high: "It's great to have six players who've played for us over the last two years involved in a national semi-final.
"It shows that not only have we been the most successful side in Division One over the last couple of years, but we've helped develop some young players."
Hundred not enough for Hutton as run chase is short
TEENAGE wicket-keeper Jack Potticary hit a wonderful century, but it was in vain as Leigh-on-Sea took the victory.
When Leigh won the toss and chose to bat on a good surface they were not expecting to be reduced to 50-3 and then 104-4 by Hutton's bowlers.
What Leigh-on-Sea needed was a partnership to rebuild their innings and allow them to post a competitive total in their 50-over fixture. What Leigh-on-Sea got was an onslaught from Dean Waller, who smashed 191 from 112 balls, 18 of which were hit for six.
Waller was joined by Billy King (76no) and put on 227 for the fifth wicket with Waller, Leigh-on-Sea eventually finished on 355-6 at the end of their 50 overs.
Hutton started their innings with a solid opening partnership of 44 between O'Dell and Withanage before O'Dell's dismissal for 19 with the score on 72-2 prompted a collapse to 130-8, and a large and emphatic defeat for Hutton was looming on the horizon.
But a brilliant innings of 112 from the 16-year-old wicket-keeper Potticary, together with 60 from David Carpenter meant Hutton were dismissed for 283. Potticary said after the game that he was "pleased to have made the opposition work for their win" and that he was motivated to "keep the bowlers and fielders out in the field for as long as possible and have fun playing some shots".
The result leaves Hutton fourth in Division Two, with Leigh-on-Sea top of the table.
Shenfield left in a spin after defeat to Chelmsford
CHELMSFORD'S spinners prevailed in a nervy match between two teams that lost their opening fixture.
Shenfield's dangerous opener Arshad Ali smashed 18 from his first eight balls but his ninth was his last as Mark Drain struck twice in an over. Aaron Beard followed that up with his first wicket at this level to make it 37-3.
Sarwar (38) steadied things but was one of two wickets to fall to James Clifford with the score on 96.
Kliber (23no) ensured some contribution from the lower order but Clifford made sure it was not too many with a splendid return of 5-22 from his ten overs.
A brilliant catch in the second over of the reply gave Shenfield a boost and although Jack Sterland looked good, a couple more wickets fell to make it 53-3. Sterland and Nisarg Patel had a useful partnership but a brainstorm ended Sterland's innings for 43.
Patel played in his usual style contributing an unbeaten 60, the best score from a Chelmsford player all weekend. Paul Jones gave him solid support to see matters to a conclusion with plenty of time to spare.
Brentwood's Anthony Giles plays through the pain barrier
BRENTWOOD chairman Paul Webb revealed that bowling maestro Anthony Giles was told not to play by his physiotherapist in Saturday's big win over Wanstead & Snaresbrook.
After recording 226-9, the hosts knocked the stuffing out of Wanstead, who were bowled out for 103.
Giles put in a top performance to take three wickets alongside Max Osborne's five to confirm victory, and Webb hopes he'll be able to play again this Saturday against Upminster in the league and possibly Buckhurst Hill on Sunday in cup competition.
"That was Anthony's first game back after a back injury," Webb said.
"He was only out for a couple of weeks but his physio was telling him he really shouldn't be playing and doing anything apart from lying down flat.
"Anthony will probably play again this Saturday assuming he has no bad reaction, and we've still got Tom Moore to come back as one of our opening bowlers.
"Max Osborne also bowled very well at the weekend and was pretty hostile."
After losing their first game of the season to South Woodford the weekend before, Brentwood hit back in fine fashion, with opening batsman Aaron West hitting 68 runs and James Redwood scoring another 89 soon after Jon Walford and Dave Hammond had been dismissed.
And Redwood also played his part in the field with two successive catches to dismiss Ryan Hamill and Petrus Hattingh.
"It was a massive win as they won the league last year, so they would have been our biggest rivals in terms of us looking to win it this year," said Webb.
"We would have expected a tough game as we're both decent teams, but to beat them in such convincing fashion was a huge result.
"With the bat, Aaron opened it up and made a good start, while James [Redwood] batted very well with him soon after.
"I think we laid down a marker, and even though we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, the way we beat them and the margin of victory, we hope it sent out a message to the rest of the league and that it wasn't a tight game – we steamrollered them."
Will new gazebos smarten up Brentwood market?
BRENTWOOD'S "shabby" market will be "improved" by the introduction of navy blue gazebos, costing around £10,000.
Brentwood has been a market town ever since it was granted a royal charter by King Henry III in 1227.
What do you think? Take part in our discussion here.Yet despite its history, some shoppers feel the current Saturday market is "not Brentwood".
Market boss Mike Allen has now invested more than £10,000 in new gazebos to improve the stalls' aesthetics after winning a new one-year licence from Brentwood Borough Council.
He plans further improvements but he warned: "Rome wasn't built in a day.
"I do get some people who say 'this isn't Brentwood, it isn't us'.
"You'll always get people who don't like the market no matter how good it looks.
"But this isn't Romford market and I don't want it to be anything like Romford market.
"I want to make it more of a food market rather than clothing.
"I don't want to put any more fashion on there because that's already taken."
In the coming weeks Mr Allen said he will be courting feedback from shoppers about what improvements could be made.
The news comes in the wake of the discovery of a copy of Brentwood's market charter, which dates from 1227, at the National Archives in Kew earlier this month.
The chairman of the council's town centre management panel, Councillor Mark Reed, said the number of visitors to Brentwood was on the rise and, as a result, he is optimistic about the future for traders and shoppers.
Mr Reed said: "With the increase in shoppers coming to the town it's really quite exciting, it's brought in young families walking around and spending lots of money.
"Mike has promised to make this new investment and he's now got the opportunity to develop the market.
"He wants to get it right.
"I understand there are concerns about the condition of the market and we want it sorted."
"I think some of the criticism is a little bit harsh but that's why Mike is investing in new uniform gazebos."
One trader who refused to use the new navy blue coverings left the market this weekend.
Nicky Bedworth, 37, from Romford enjoyed success earlier this year meeting the high demand for onesie outfits, but left because he thinks the new gazebos are too dark.
He said: "I can't use the new gazebos because they make everything so dark and no one would be able to see my stock."
Brentwood Borough Council is supporting the national 'Love Your Local Market' campaign which runs until May 29 to highlight the unique roles markets play in their community.
Further details and times of activities can be found at www.brentwood.gov.uk
Barleylands visitors have chance to name new chicks
EXPLORING their new accommodation, the Barleylands chicks are now almost two months old, and are growing fast.
When we last visited the brood they were tiny week-old cheeping chicks and since then they have made lots of progress. The chickens, who live at the farm park in Billericay, are developing their colour and plumage and Barleylands is pleased to announce the start of their competition to name three hens from the group.
Talking to go!, David Finkle, manager of Barleylands Farm Park, said: "They are doing really well. They have moved into their new accommodation having left the hatchery and the nursery.
"They have taken up residence in a purpose-made poultry run where they are enjoying scratching around in the fluffy fresh straw. They are in their teenage period now and are making themselves busy looking around.
"They are roughly the size of a large guinea pig and are now on their adult diet of grower's pellets and mixed corn. At the moment because they are so active they need lots of water and environment stimulation – it's good to hang toys or CDs for them to explore."
Mr Finkle went on to explain about the chicken's breed, the Legbar, and their unusual appearance.
He explained: "Their mohicans are starting to develop and they are starting to colour up with their orangey yellows and browns coming through.
"They are cheeping but haven't quite developed clucking just yet. At this stage it's all about exploration," he added.
The farm park is inviting the public to name three of their hens. They will pick out the best three names from all the entries and the winner will receive a family day pass to Barleylands.
In the coming months the farm park will also be giving away these hens so keep an eye out for future reports of this competition in go!
To take part in the naming challenge you can either enter via the farm's Facebook page which can be found at www.facebook.com/barleylands or in person by visiting the farm and handing in a form at the reception.
The naming competition will run from Monday, May 27 to Friday, May 31 in conjunction with the farm's Half Term Tractor Week.
Entrance to Barleylands Farm Park costs £10 for adults and £9 for children and concessions.
'She was like a child to me'. Owner finds cat mauled to death
PET owners are being warned to be on their guard after a cat was mauled to death by a dog in High Ongar.
Heather Gilligan, 45, is distraught following the death of her three-and-a-half-year-old tabby Lizzie in a field near her home in The Street.
Mrs Gilligan, who lives with her husband John, told the Gazette: "She was dead when we found her – she was like a child to me and someone's dog has taken her away.
"My husband brought her inside and it was devastating.
"There is a dangerous dog out there and something needs to be done.
"I named Lizzie after my mum and she was such a lovely cat."
The cat's body was found by Mr Gilligan at around 7.30pm on Wednesday while he was out walking the couple's springer spaniel Harley.
"I was walking Harley and had just gone out into the field behind the house," recalled Mr Gilligan, who owns a demolition company.
"Then Harley picked up a scent and was running around.
"He suddenly stopped and was whining so I went over and there was Lizzie – lying dead on the ground."
Mrs Gilligan, an emergency medical co-ordinator with the London Ambulance Service, said: "When John brought her inside it was horrific. It has been incredibly upsetting.
"We just laid her down and cleaned her up but she was already dead."
She added: "Harley is eight months old and he and Lizzie had started to become good friends – she would sometimes follow us on his walks.
"Harley has been crying since it happened, whining and looking around – it has been very distressing for us."
The couple had two cats, Ernie and Lizzie, who were brother and sister.
Mrs Gilligan said: "Ernie was named after my father and Lizzie my mum.
"Ernie has been completely out of sorts since the incident.
"We just want to know if anyone saw anything – there is obviously a dangerous dog in the area and many people own cats around here, as well as the primary school being nearby.
"We wouldn't wish this on anyone and hopefully someone coming forward could prevent something even worse happening."
She added: "People should be able to control their dogs.
"We don't blame the dog, we blame the careless owner that should have been able to keep it under control."
After Mr Gilligan brought the cat inside they rang their vet.
He said: "The vet offered to try and work out how she had died and told us it was most likely a dog."
Jane Jackson, of House and Jackson Vets, Blackmore, said: "It is highly likely that it was a dog that broke the cat's neck.
"The cat was too large for a fox to attack it and badger attacks are far more vicious and messy. We do not see many attacks as fortunately it isn't very common."
An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "We have looked into this and there's no evidence of how the cat died and unfortunately we are unable to investigate further.
"If any more evidence came to light that suggested a crime was committed then we would investigate further."
Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa share football memories
Ossie is a former midfielder who won the 1978 World Cup with Argentina. He became a cult hero in England, along with compatriot Villa, as a player for Tottenham Hotspur. Arrivals start from 6.30pm for 7.30pm start, and tickets are priced at £30 per person for a three-course dinner followed by an auction.