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by Department of Economic Development

ENTRIES have now opened for one of the great atmospheric endurance sporting events in the British Isles. Its the Isle of Man Ramsey Bakery End to End Race Walk which covers a distance of 39.22 miles and hugs the west coast of the Island from the Point of Ayre in the North to the Sound in the South. The event takes place on September 23rd with entries closing two weeks in advance. Last year saw around 400 starters with 184 finishers and this time the organisers are hoping the entry list may get nearer the 500 mark. A number of competitors travel from the UK every year to take part and the event committee is encouraging more to make the journey. Said race record holder Jock Waddington, also a four-time Parish Walk winner: It really is a scenic race which passes through some of the Islands well-known beauty spots and narrow country lanes. This is one of the Islands two big race walks the Parish Walk being the other but the End to End has a charm all of its own. There is no night walking involved as the race starts and finishes in daylight, and the first half is relatively flat. Event Secretary Angela Southern, a race finisher herself, takes up the story: The race is just under 40 miles which is an achievable distance. A lot of people enter the Parish Walk with no great hopes of finishing the 85 miles but simply to see how far they can get. Many stop at Peel, which is 32 miles from the start, whereas if they keep going for another eight miles in the End to End they will have achieved a finish. Serious race walkers can test themselves against Jocks record of 6 hours 37 minutes 29 seconds, set in 2010, but for many competitors the joy is simply to take part and see some of the Islands beautiful west coast with stunning views out to sea. Buses are arranged from all parts of the Island for those with no transport of their own and we look forward to welcoming many visiting competitors. This years race represents the 11th anniversary of the new course although the event itself dates back to 1961 when, appropriately enough, there were just 61 starters. The event continued on the much busier and more built-up East Coast course for around 40 years but as traffic increased safety considerations forced the organisers to switch to the quieter West Coast route. Sponsorship from Ramsey Bakery, with further support from Royal London 360 and the Tourism Division of the Islands Department of Economic Development, enables trophies to be available in many categories. Political member for Tourism, Geoff Corkish MBE, MHK said he felt the End to End had potential for further development. He added: The Isle of Man is an island of sport and in particular the Parish and End to End Walks are bringing an increasing number of visiting competitors to our shores. The entry numbers are an indication of how popular endurance race walks are and the level of participation and enthusiasm that they generate each year is a wonderful example of the Islands community spirit. I would like to thank everyone involved who put a lot of their time and effort into the event. Whether you are going for a top finishing position or just aiming to complete the distance, it is a perfect way of spending a Sunday and experiencing the beautiful scenery the Island has to offer. Entry is on-line at http://www.endtoendwalk.org where further information is available, and the entry fee is 20 if paid before September 1st - 25 after that date. -Ends-

It really is a scenic race which passes through some of the Islands well-known beauty spots and narrow country lanes

Jock Waddington, Four-time Parish Walk winner

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Manx Telecom Ltd 2012

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Link:
Entries Open for Isle of Man’s ‘Atmospheric’ End to End Race Walk

by Tina Carter

Challenging the big teams in their first year at the Isle of Man TT

AFC Motorsport is a new Isle of Man based road racing team which has been set up by Leslie and Tina Carter. The story actually began four years ago when Leslie was able to begin racing following a generous offer of sponsorship from The Premier Group (Isle of Man) Limited, the Chairman of which is also Vice President of League 2 football team AFC Wimbledon.

Leslie and Tina came up with the idea of starting their own team last September after

Leslie finally fulfilled his ambition of racing around the famous TT course in the Manx

Grand Prix. Leslie, having experienced all the difficulties of getting a competitive bike

and learning the skills needed to tackle the most challenging road race in the world,

realised that many talented riders struggle to get very far in the turbulent world of

motor racing. He believed that bringing together the support of a team for such riders

would be of huge benefit to them.

See the rest here:
AFC Motorsport – New Isle of Man Based Road Race Team

THE family of missing Jamaican nurse Kerran Baker has been experiencing a whirlwind of emotions since last Tuesday when The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service classified her disappearance last year a homicide.

The Cayman Compass last week reported the updated status of the missing Jamaican nurse, quoting a statement issued by the police there.

According to the Cayman Compass, the police came to the conclusion that Baker was murdered based on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance last July and evidence unearthed by investigators.

Reacting to the news, Baker's stepfather Wilmot Anthony told the Observer, with despair in his voice, that on the one hand the family feels that the status would lead to the arrest of the main suspect. But on the other hand, he said that the declaration confirmed the family's worst nightmare: That their loved one will not

be returning.

"The whole family is in confusion," Anthony said, summing up the mood of his household.

Anthony said he still cannot accept that 25-year-old Baker

is dead.

"I haven't seen any proof that she is dead," he said.

Last month, the family told the Observer in an interview that they were holding out hope that Baker would have been found alive.

Go here to read the rest:
Family distraught after J'can nurse's disappearance ruled homicide

Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer has indicated there will be a High Court challenge against the carbon tax because he has advice the legislation is unconstitutional.

The legislation has passed both houses of Parliament and is due to come into effect in the middle of the year.

The Coalition has promised to repeal the legislation if it wins the next election.

Mr Palmer, who is a financial backer of the Coalition, first threatened to challenge the legislation last year and now says he is going to act on it.

"Our advice is that the carbon tax in its current form is unconstitutional, and that's recognised in the legislation itself when it says if it's found to be unconstitutional," he told the ABC's 7.30.

"Now, I think the constitution of Australia's much more important than having a number of lawyers or Parliament trying to slip around it.

"The constitution sets out how it should be changed, how the states should vote - the majority of Australians have a democratic right to vote." When asked on precisely what grounds the tax is unconstitutional, Mr Palmer said: "I can only go on the advice that I'm given, and so we'll be looking forward to the challenge." Mr Palmer says the legal action will be brought on by the companies he owns.

"The companies I own - who are large corporations - have got the rights to go to the High Court, that's what it's set up to do," he said.

"That's the country we live in - freedom of speech.

"We've all got the right to say what we think.

Read this article:
Palmer to challenge carbon tax in High Court

Eleven posts at Hammersmith and Fulham Council, in west London, were filled in this way, including Nick Johnson, the chief executive of its housing arm, whose company was paid more than 900,000 over a four-year period.

The council was so concerned about Mr Johnsons payment arrangement that it commissioned a report by the accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers on whether it risked facing a bill for unpaid tax.

The report said: Normally the position of chief executive is considered to be an office holder.

"On that basis there would be a medium-to-high risk that there was a PAYE obligation on Hammersmith and Fulham Homes Ltd."

Craven District Council, North Yorks, paid eight staff through limited companies, while St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk, and Ashfield District Council, Notts, each had five.

Several councils admitted paying staff through external companies but were unable to provide figures, while others were unsure.

Some officials may be paying PAYE through their limited companies but the arrangements mean they have the option to pay themselves via dividends, which are taxed at a lower rate.

They also potentially allow them to pay less in national insurance contributions.

Mrs Hodge said her committee would pursue the issue, adding: This is a tax avoidance scheme which is totally wrong.

"When you are a public servant it's not right you should be paid in a way that avoids tax.

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Dozens of council staff paid through limited companies to 'avoid tax'