The Leader Newspaper 04 March 24 – Edition 1013

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PP.I.O.C. IN ELECTIONS .I.O.C. IN ELECTIONS TO DISTRICT BOARD X TO DISTRICT BOARD X

Not a single government supporter (PP/VOX) was elected to the Board in District X at the elections to the District Board, held last Thursday across the Orihuela Municipality, with senior members from the Party for the Independence of Orihuela Costa (PIOC), taking 5 of the 6 available seats, the sixth going to a former advisor of Ciudadanos.

In total, 13 polling stations were opened across the municipality, functioning in 7 of the 11 municipal districts, with one in Orihuela Costa at Alameda del Mar for Districts X and Xl. In four others, however, the number of residents and associations seeking election did not reach the required number of candidates.

But, according to the spokesperson for the opposition PSOE party, Carolina Garcia, you might have been forgiven if it all passed you by, as she launched a scathing attack on the Orihuela council about the lack of publicity provided by them for the elections to these important political-administrative bodies.

On the council website it states, “The District Boards are the highest body of citizen participation,” and yet, other than an article written on 11 December last year, calling for nominations, there seems to be little further information.

In a statement, Maria Garcia said, “"We do not understand how the Council has not informed the residents of where and how they should vote, and neither have they been encouraged to attend the voting centres or told how do so.”

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“This lack of knowledge by the general public,” she contin-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 DISTRICT ELECTIONS

“This lack of knowledge by the general public,” she continued, “means that "once again, many of those who are seeking election are advisors to the current government groups or people who have previously been included on electoral lists. Ethically, these individuals should not be standing, the positions should be taken by members of the general public, normal citizens who selflessly want to participate, to improve the area in which they live, and not occupy a position for clearly partisan interests."

“This process is very important” according to Garcia since, “the people representing each district will emerge from these votes and will then be able to promote the interests of the residents who have elected them democratically, however, unless people have been watching carefully, or have participated on other occasions, they would not have been aware, because the council has not provided any information to citizens, informing them about this election," the councillor said.

In Orihuela Costa, however, the publicity was plentiful, provided through social media by residents associations and local political parties, however it was distinctly lacking elsewhere.

The turnout of individuals wishing to vote in the Orihuela Costa Districts X and XI was said to be encouraging, with a steady stream arriving at the Alameda del Mar throughout the day.

With many expats unaware of voting procedures, PIOC started the day by handing out explanatory leaflets in English, however, their efforts were soon brought to a halt by the Policia Local following a complaint, but despite this one incongruity, with local representatives and candidates on hand at the door, the mood was said to be jovial.

The polling centre staff were also to be praised for being particularly helpful, and with the vote closing at 5pm the counting of ballots was underway very shortly thereafter with the results published just an hour later.

The top six candidates were elected to their respective board from each Orihuela Costa

Monday 4th - Sunday 10th March 2024

District with votes cast as follows:

DISTRICT X

PriscillaSamanthaCromie116

PeterDanielHoughton107

LukeAnthonyHoughton101

JolantaHoughton95

RománJimenezGil81

FerminGonzálezRodríguez67

Rosa Elena Carcamo Collatti57

M.ª Pilar Gomez Magán47

Santiago Perez Lázaro42

Miguel Angel Cordoba Vega39

DISTRICT XI

LuisManuelCarcedoMoya101

EdnaRuizSoliño83

NuriaLopezGómez83

HubertoCanovasMartínez79

ElisioSoaresSilva79

OscarDiazAngulo71

Matias Enrique Moreno Schmidt70

Silvia Esteve Franco38

Juan Carlos Diez Requena32

Jose Manuel Gonzalez Bautista23

Juan Ignacio Gomez Ene21

Benedicto Jose Moratalla Parra20

Seven years ago each District Board was given an allocation of 70,000 euros to manage their own projects but in her criticism of the election Councillor Garcia said that the new boards are already "born empty of content,” because we already know that, according to the councillor for Participation, Mari Carmen Portugal, this year the budget will not include any items for Participatory Budgets, a situation that has discouraged many people from taking part.

But, while District Boards have not been a great success in the Orihuela Municipality in recent years, with neither District seeing very little to benefit their representation, they are a first step for those elected to represent the coast, who must now use wisely, and to good effect, the additional influence that their new status will bring.

"SUITCASE? NUT CASE! (Actually based on a true event)

A carousel of luggage

Although mine was never there

On A flight I took to Amsterdam I was stuck on what to wear

The clothes that I stood up in

Were a little travel weary

So I made the best of what I had

That's my survival theory

I thought of putting on my shirt

A leg thrust in each arm

But I looked quite pornographic

And a sight to cause alarm

I then perused my underpants

But I could only make a hat

And I couldn't go to breakfast

If I was only wearing that

I thought I'd wear a air of socks

To cover my confusion

But they were bent on slipping off

I was under no delusion

So my brainwave was my toilet bag

It fitted like a glove

Once I'd shifted soap and aftershave

It only took a shove

And all my precious artefacts

Were packaged out of sight

Though luckily my suitcase

Soon arrived to my delight

By David Whitney, Torrevieja c1997

UNBOWED

He fought with words, not a gun faced arrest yet did not run and though poisoned, did return to continue what he had begun.

Though his future was unclear from chosen path would not veer he knew dictators far and near always kill the ones they fear.

A man in his prime cruelly slain after enduring years of pain his death cannot be in vain let it signal freedom’s gain.

Alexei Navalny (Died 16th February 2024)

John McGilvray (February 2024)

And one from the Editor

What happens when you retire?

You really don't have to enquire You just sit in the sun Enjoying sand, sea and fun Until it’s your time to expire!

Flood Funding Fallout in Torrevieja

Aconsiderable political argument exploded in Torrevieja this week,over funding to solve the historic problem of flooding in the municipality.

The PSOE accused the PP of Torrevieja of not having used the subsidies received for a value of 1,030,000 euro, within the framework of the Vega Baja Renhace Plan,out of pure political sectarianism.

Bárbara Soler,the head of the local PSOE,said that for two years the council has had at its disposal a first aid package worth 580,000 euro for works that prevent flooding,but it has not used it because the funding was offered by the previous coalition government,led by the PSOE.

The PP responded from their party headquarters,rather than as the ruling Government,denying the accusation as,according to the PP,the regional secretary of the PSOE,who first raised the matter in the regional congress this week,is completely unaware of the actions that the Torrevieja Council has planned within the Renhace Plan,which is only euro 600,000,an amount for the cost of drafting seven projects in the city of Torrevieja,which are already in process.

Soler responded by stating that it is a matter of official record that the decree that regulates the granting of the first phase of subsidies was published in August 2021 and set a period of 22 months to carry out the works.

Torrevieja was granted more than 580,000 euro to subsidise a project to build sustainable urban drainage systems and thus stop the flooding that the municipality suffers every time it rains.The subsidy would be completed up to a total of 1,030,000 euro in a second phase,the requirement of which was to have completed the purpose of the first phase.

According to Soler,“the Torrevieja City Council,despite having received an extension of eight more months,has let all the deadlines pass without progressing on the projects with the risk of losing the subsidies for the sole reason that they were a authorised by Ximo Puig to regenerate our region and prepare it for future episodes of storms.”

However,the current PP and VOX government in the Generalitat has decided to extend the deadline for another 24 months,changing the name to “aid for Vega Baja”, and it seems that this time the Torrevieja Council is going to make use of subsidies,“which demonstrates its sectarianism and how little it cares about the well-being of its people.”

The response of the PP Torrevieja took a while until it finally issued a press release “whose content is false from beginning to end,”says Soler.

Although there are many hotspots around Torrevieja,in January a new report highlighted 23 such areas in Torrevieja,and one area prone to flooding in around Jardin Del Mar and Doña Ines,near to Carrefour,in particular along calle Francisco Diez Martinez.It was only a short time ago that it was reported that the new flood pool was nearing completion,at a cost of more than half a million euro,able to hold 14,000 cubic metres of water, increasing from the 2,000 cubic metre capacity the zone already had.

Another hotspot in the same area is the CV-905 road which runs from Torrevieja to Quesada and passes the Jardin Del Mar and Doña Ines urbanisations and the new Lagoons Village development,being built on an area known for flooding, and now with the added complication that part of the 35,000 square metre flood pools here have been filled in.

You can read a more indepth version of this article, and more about historic flooding in Torrevieja in the vicinity of the new Lagoons Village,on the website, www.theleader.info

ANTIC AUTO, A GREAT SHOWCASE OF JEWELS ON WHEELS.

The International Antique and Classic Automobile, Motorcycle and Spare Parts, Show, ANTIC AUTO, will be held on 9 and 10 March in Pavilion I of IFAFIRALACANT where visitors will be able to enjoy more than 400 antique, classic and super sports cars from the 1900s to the present day.

The nineteenth edition of ANTIC AUTO will have around 80 exhibitors and there will be more than 400 vehicles on display.

At this fair, which is held in partnership with the Diputación de Alicante, you will be able to find, thanks to the cooperation of different clubs and private collectors, antique and classic vehicles and motorbikes of incalculable value, from prestigious brands suchas Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes, Jaguar, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Cadillac... to more recent popular brands such as Seat, Citroën and Renault. Private collections of scale models, car and motorbike parts, restoration, upholstery, auctions, miniatures and collectors' items will also be exhibited at the show.

Visitors will be able to see cars such as the 1907 Chenard Walcker, the brand that won the first Le Mans race in 1923, the 1919 FIAT 501, the 1926 Moon, a 1928 Graham Paige, a 1928 Dodge, a 1933 Chrysler and a 1931 Ford A, among many others. Motorbikes will also be present and we will have among others, private collections from Clubs such as EMAT-Escudería Motos Antiguas de Torrellano and Abuelaclub Almoradí. For the first time we will also have a representation of the famous movie Fast & Furious, European, American and Japanese supercars.

FERRARI exhibition by Jhorda Sport Classics, specialist in Porsche and Ferrari.

ANTIC AUTO, A MEETING POINT FOR CLUBS

A very important aspect of ANTIC AUTO is made up of the

numerous clubs from all over Spain that come to the show.

A large number will be present at the show with collections provided by their members. Among them are Automóviles Clásicos Alicante, La Galga Club, Vehículos Historicos La Marina, Museo Del Motor, Classic Car Alfaz Del Pi, Geriatrico Porsche Alicante, Escuderia Motos Antiguas Torrellano, La Abuela Club, Club Renault 4/4, Club Vehiculos Clásicos Santa Rosalia, Club Fiat 500, JEC Costablanca Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, Club CB Cruisers, Club Nacional 124, Club Alfa Romeo, VW Retromania, Club 7, Club La Magneto, Club 2CV Mediterraneo, Mehari Club Campello, and many more.

In addition, this year, we will once again have the Alicante Motorcyclist Union League (LUMA) which will be holding the 2nd LUMA Motorcycle Meeting at ANTIC AUTO, with a full programme of activities throughout the weekend, so that motor cycle lovers can also share experiences around their hobby.

Open Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March

The next edition of the fair will be rounded off with car and motorbike rallies featuring brands such as Porsche, VW and Harley.

VISIT THE FAIR WITH YOUR CLASSIC CAR

All visitors who have a classic car will be able to come to the fair with it and park it in the designated area in front of the entrance to the event. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in an outdoor exhibition and enjoy Antic Auto Alicante with a reduced entrance fee and free parking.

OPENING TIMES AND TICKETS

The opening hours of Antic Auto Alicante are Saturday 9 March from 10:00 to 20:30 and Sunday 10 March from 10:00 to 19:00. Tickets can be purchased at the IFA virtual ticket office for 8 euros, at the physical ticket office for 12 euros or with a discount voucher for 10 euros.

DEATH IS INEVITABLE

Last year 61 million people died worldwide but 134 million babies were born so the population of the earth increased by 73 million people. Although every life is precious, if one person you love dies, it will weigh much heavier on your heart than the 61 million others who have died. Natural disasters claim many lives every year but there is very little that we can do to prevent them. Famine is also a big killer. Climate change is often blamed for these types of disasters. Pandemics are also responsible for huge loss of life but less-so now than in times past. So war, which is responsible for millions of deaths annually, is usually seen as the most avoidable cause of mass deaths.

The war that took most lives ever was World War II. This was clearly the deadliest conflict in the history of the world claiming 70 to 85 million military and civilian deaths including wounded and missing in action. WWII lasted less than six years but claimed over 12 million lives per year on average, or one million military and civilians each month. Some events during World War II like the bombing of Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki had a huge death toll. War is horrible, cruel, unfair, devastating, and avoidable. The motives for war include some unacceptable motives like greed, pride, envy, retribution, and anger. Acceptable motives include self-defence, protecting the innocent, defending our right to freedom, defending family, friends, freedom, and way of life or correcting a grievous wrong. Countries and their leaders must endeavour to avoid starting wars because the blood of thousands, maybe millions could be on their hands.

It is interesting to compare numbers of dead in various conflicts around the world in the last few decades. The number of dead in Afghanistan in the last conflict was estimated at 176,000, unfortunately, that conflict didn’t come to a successful

conclusion and now basic human rights are denied to over half of the Afghan population. Sometimes withdrawing from a conflict creates more problems than it solves.

The war in Ukraine between February 2022 and December 2023 has claimed 383,000 killed and wounded on the Ukrainian side and 315,000 on the Russian side a total of over 700,000 or 35,000 per month of this conflict, much lower than in WWII but in a more contained area.

In Syria and Yemen one million people, mainly civilians have died in war and famine. 377,000 in Yemen up to June 2022 and 615,000 in Syria up to March 2023. In Gaza, Hamas claims that 27,000 people have died, Israel believes that this unverified number includes 12,000 Hamas terrorists that they have killed. If the Hamas figures are accurate, and all indications are that they are greatly inflated, the conflict in Gaza, started by Hamas atrocities in October, pales in significance to the one million dead in nearby Syria and Yemen.

One must wonder why the smaller Gaza war gets so much more media attention than the unbelievable situation in neighbouring Syria and Yemen. Likewise, there have been massive violent pro-Palestinian protests in cities around the world, with similar characteristics to the BLM protests that began in 2020. There appears to be a serious lack of balance in the media and in the minds of the public who take to the streets. The conclusion drawn could be that it is ok for Arabs to kill one million other Arabs or indeed for Arabs to kill Jews and Christians year after year, but it is not ok for Jews to kill 27,000 Arabs to protect themselves from sworn promised genocide against them. Of all the wars in recent decades the Hamas-Israel war has far fewer civilian deaths than any other war but far greater criticism and negative media coverage of the original victim.

LOS BALCONES SCRAP METAL YARD DESTROYED BY FIRE

Athick black column of smoke could be seen across southern Torrevieja on Friday afternoon as a fire destroyed over a dozen cars and a scrap metal business in Los Balcones close to the lagoon.

The smoke could be seen from many parts of the region,in addition to the intense smell given off by the material

that was burned in the incident.

The fire broke out on Calle Germanías in Lago Sol and spread from an area of vegetation onto the plot,however, thanks to the quick and effective arrival of the Alicante Provincial Firefighters Consortium,the fire was contained in time,avoiding further damage.

Three fire tenders attended the scene along with a sergeant,a corporal and

six firefighters from the Torrevieja park. The teams quickly brought the outbreak under control and were able to save a nearby home from being caught up in the fire.

The fire was brought under control at 4:10 p.m.and,at 6:52 p.m.it was declared as extinguished.No injuries were reported at the incident.

Following the fire,the Torrevieja Green Party,Los Verdes,revealed that,for many year,residents had been denouncing the "illegal" activity of storing damaged vehicles on the protected land in the natural park without "the Council taking any action."

According to the former mayor of Torrevieja,José Manuel Dolón,“The Greens and many local residents have repeatedly denounced this situation of irregularity without the municipal government having lifted a finger.These are constructions and activities that do not have a municipal license nor can they obtain one because the Governing Plan for the Use and Management of the Lagunas de la Mata and Torrevieja Natural Park of 2010,the Generalitat Valencian,prohibits any activity or major work that could have any type of impact on the park.”

Firefighters were able to save a nearby house

COUNT ME OUT THIS TIME

Strange as it may seem, I voted in Canada before I voted in Ireland. My first time to cast a ballot was for my brother in the Thompson City Hall elections, where he was successful at his first attempt. (Unlike me with Westmeath County Council elections!)

Since 1973, I don’t think I have missed voting in any of our local or national elections. I have come home from abroad just to vote, because I believe so strongly that every citizen should exercise that right; and thank God that we live in a country where the democratic vote is sacrosanct.

I have voted in every referendum during my

lifetime – even when I wasn’t too pushed either way. It is therefore with very mixed emotions that I have come to the decision that I shall not bother to vote in the referendum on the ‘family’, or ‘care’ on 8th March. In a nutshell, I just don’t care – and I care so little about this useless exercise, that I won’t even attempt to tax my brain whether a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is the right choice. The real right choice lay with the government, when instead of spending up to 25 Million Euro playing with words; would it not have been better to distribute the money to under-funded children’s services?

Children are children – no matter what genre

of family they come from.

The two questions we are being asked are; if we approve a change to the constitution to define the new ‘family’ in Ireland. These are just words: Words that are more to do with making the government look more modern, more caring and more progressive.

The family does not require this referendum or this legislation. The family unit and the role of adults within that family changes and evolves. Let me give you a small example. My father never made a cup of tea for himself, except in an emergency. I improved a little on that by taking tea and toast to my wife in bed every morning – but that’s all the ‘cooking’ I do. Moving onto the next generation, and my son does nearly all the cooking in his house, for his wife and three children. No referendum needed!

The ‘Irish Mammy’ will be no more. ‘Mammy’ was the mainstay of the family for hundreds of years. The matriarch was the strong one, even when she was the only one who knew it.

Granted, some were oppressed, but most ruled the roost and reared the children. As far as I can see the word ‘mother’ is nowhere to be seen in the proposed amendments … not even mentioned once.

Down through the years, children often moved to live with the granny and were reared with great love in this home. Will such an arrangement constitute a ‘family’ in our bright, progressive future? When the children grew up, they in turn cared for their parents or grandparents. That is the natural order of how a family works. I don’t see it in the wording I glanced over.

Will a single parent be known as a ‘family’?

Or do I find any reference to a family consisting of a husband, wife and children? Perhaps such a union may require a dispensation?

You see, dear readers, I’m told the family of

the future has to be ‘gender neutral’. The words ‘durable relationship’ are in there –and quite possibly there are real people jumping up and down with joy over this.

It makes no difference, because each family, irrespective of its makeup, will devise its own role and rules.

I would also imagine that there are old laws or parts of our constitution, where the outdated wording needs changing ahead pf this one. Looking back – and before everything had to be ‘worded’, the conventional marriage was never the only ‘durable relationship’ in town. Marriages broke up (rare as it was) and second relationship were formed - sometimes on the QT, but everybody knew and accepted this arrangement.

The people made do and got on with their private lives. When homosexuality was a crime, the good people of Ireland were far ahead of the legislators. The locals knew the few lads who were ‘different’ and no wording was required as long as nobody interfered with anybody else.

And thus shall life carry on. The mother might not have gotten a word in the new wording, but she will still continue to be the number one carer in the country and the glue that holds the family together. Home will still mostly be wherever the mammy is.

I don’t ever remember when I couldn’t care less about the result of a ballot. I won’t be staying up late for the count on this one; and no more than reducing the speed limit without enforcing the existing speeds on the open road, it won’t make a blind bit of difference to the way things are.

And one more thing; a government should not instruct the people how to vote in any referendum.

DON’T FORGET

Family trees seem to produce a variety of nuts.

Gifts of flowers on Mothering Sunday at Torrevieja churches

The two churches where Father Richard A.Seabrook SSC is Priest,the Chaplaincy of Ss Peter and Paul,Torrevieja,will be celebrating Mothering Sunday during the weekend of 9th and 10th March with the Blessing and Giving of Flowers during celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

At La Siesta Church and Lago Jardín Church we´ll be honouring the gift of motherhood with two special Masses, on Saturday 9th at La Siesta at 5 p.m. and Sunday 10th at Lago Jardín at 11.30 a.m.said Father Seabrook on a day when the Church gives thanks for mothers on a day we call Mothering

Sunday.

Father Seabrook continued: At the end of the Mass,the Priest blesses small posies of flowers which children collect and give to their mums and the other ladies in church also come forward to receive flowers.It is a lovely tradition.

The two churches at La Siesta and Lago Jardín celebrate the Eucharist in English every weekend.On Mothering Sunday,said Father Seabrook,we not only remember and give thanks for our own mothers but we also celebrate motherhood in all its wonderful manifestations including Our Holy Mother Mary,the Mother of Jesus; and Holy

Mother Church guiding and nurturing her children on the path of faith. Everyone is welcome to join us! There will be refreshments after Mass outside the churches.

La Siesta Church is on Calle Granados,Urbanización La Siesta, Torrevieja and Lago Jardín Church is on Urbanización Lago Jardín opposite the Dña Monse Hotel,on the CV95 as you leave Torrevieja towards San Miguel de Salinas.

Father Richard A.Seabrook SSC Ss Peter and Paul,Torrevieja Instagram: @sspandptorrevieja

Facebook: @anglicantorrevieja

Telephone: 693 932 438 / 966 840 136

BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES ON ORIHUELA COSTA

BNI has launched on Orihuela Costa. Currently with 25 regular members,who all have business interests in the local area,the group meets every Friday at Las Ramblas Golf Clubhouse,starting at 12.30.

BNI's philosophy is "Givers Gain™, where it offers members the opportunity to share ideas,contacts,networks and, most importantly,business referrals. Being a member of BNI is like having a team of salespeople working for you promoting your product or service so,if referrals are important to your business,BNI may interest you.

The BNI mission is to help members grow their business through a structured, positive and professional referral marketing program thereby developing deep and lasting relationships with like-minded professionals.

If you would like more information about BNI,which has more than 292.000 members in almost 11.000 groups,you should contact the local group leader,Gonzalo on 639 461 654.

You will,however,need to speak and understand Spanish in which meetings are generally held.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TORREVIEJA!

A road closure notice has been issued for the road named Jose Carreras in Torrevieja, which you are more likely to know as the road behind Jardin Del Mar that goes from the CV-905 at the Hiperber roundabout towards the auditorium and schools.

This is a very busy road for traffic, including buses, to the schools, the adult college, Sports City, and market.

The closure will mean diversions and significant disruption to traffic, so allow extra time for your journey.

The road closure notice is active from 4 March to 2 June, so 3 months, and is in connection with the Lagoon Village development.

Access to their sales office will be maintained from the auditorium end of the road.

ORIHUELA COSTA RESIDENTS MEETING

A meeting of concerned residents is to take place on Sunday 24 March at the Beach House Bar and Grill, Cala Capitan,starting at 10am.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the best methods by which residents can put more pressure on the Orihuela Council to ensure a fair deal for the coast. This is a nonpolitical meeting which all concerned residents are encouraged to attend.

Local Group Leader, Gonzalo Gilabert Escudero with Area Director, Sergio Pastor Sanchez

IVA returns to 21% on Electricity

As the price of energy at source is now less than 45 euro/MWh, the ceiling set in the Royal Decree of urgent measures to ease the cost of living has been removed.

IVA has now been restored at 21%. This will mean an increase of 62 euro per year on the bills of an average user.

Snowploughs ready for action

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has 686 snowploughs and a storage capacity of 129,005 tons of salt means to deal with snowfall that may occur in the Communities of Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León and Catalonia during the snowstorm expected between now and Wednesday.

MEPs to Vote on Standardised European Driving Licence

MEPs are set to vote on the review of EU driving licence rules. They are seeking to improve road safety by streamlining requirements for drivers, introducing medical fitness checks, and increasing awareness about the vulnerability of road users, like pedestrians and cyclists.

150,000 bank workers strike out

Bank staff held a two-hour strike last Monday as a pressure measure to request an improvement in their salary conditions. In all 152,000 employees chose to start work at 10am rather than 8am although, such is the service they currently provide I doubt that many people noticed.

Number of flight seats increase by 13% in March

The total number of seats planned on international flights to Spain for the month of March 2024 reaches 8.5 million, according to data released by Turespaña. Compared to the same month in 2023, when 7.5 million were sold, the year-on-year increase is 13.6%.

NEW FLIGHTS FOR CORVERA

Corvera airport will open the summer season on the last weekend of March with flights to around twenty cities in six countries. The Porto line, which will operate between July and September, is the main addition to the new season, in which, for the first time, there will also be connections with seven Spanish cities.

In addition to the connections with Gran Canaria and the new routes to Madrid and Barcelona inaugurated at the beginning of December, Volotea airlines will also add connections with Bilbao, Oviedo, Santander and Menorca.

The tour operator Soltour will launch the new Porto route with a weekly charter flight, which will depart from the airport on Thursdays.

The United Kingdom, which has nine air routes from Corvera, continues to be the main destination country for the international airport, which turned five years old on January 15.

Ryanair will fly to Manchester, East Midlands,

Appeal for Thomas Anthony Gill

Thomas Anthony Gill, also known as Tony Gill, passed away earlier this year and is believed to have been a resident of Torrevieja, perhaps in the La Siesta area.

Tony, who was 84 years old, was formerly of Kenilworth Road, Coventry, was married to Chris, now deceased. Members of his family outside of Spain are trying to ascertain details of Tony, and respective funeral or repatriation arrangements.

If you know any information regarding Thomas Anthony Gill, also known as Tony Gill, can you please contact us at: office@theleader.info so we can forward information to his family.

London-Luton, London-Stansted, Birmingham and Glasgow. It will also maintain the route with Dublin, the capital of Ireland.

Easyjet will connect the Region with LondonGatwick, London-Luton and Bristol. The airport will also regain flights to Bruges and Antwerp by TUI Fly

Laipni ludzam Alikante (Welcome to Alicante)

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport welcomed passengers from Riga in Latvia last week, with the first flight on a new route operated by the airline Air Baltic. The service will operate twice a week, using an Airbus A220-300 with capacity for 148 passengers, and so not only can the people of Latvia visit the Costa Blanca, those in Spain can also enjoy some of the delights of Riga, Latvia’s capital, set on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava.

The airline's first flight arrived at Alicante on Tuesday at 3:55 p.m. and left an hour later to return to Riga. Air Baltic will offer flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays until March 31 and from this moment, which coincides with the start of the summer season, it will change its operations to Mondays and Fridays until the end of October.

TAYLOR SWIFT IN MADRID

Taylor Swift will perform a 2nd concert at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid on May 29 in addition to the one already scheduled for the following day. The announcement was made on the North American singer's website on Wednesday.

At the moment they are the only Spanish stops on the European part of 'The Eras Tour', with Paramore as the opening act. Swift has only performed once before in Spain, also in Madrid, in 2011. She had planned to aappear in Mad Cool 2020, which was suspended due to the pandemic.

The European stage of her tour will begin with two concerts in Paris, on May 9 and 10, ending with dates, in London, on August 16 and 17.

There will also be concerts in Stockholm, Lisbon, Lyon, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Munich, Warsaw and Vienna, before the tour ends in the British capital, where there will be four concerts in total.

As a result of the Swift tour Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid have filed a request to move their final game of the season so that she can have more time setting up for her Eras Tour at their iconic Bernabeu stadium.

Madrid are set to play Real Betis at home on Sunday, May 24 and the popstar is due to perform at the Bernabeu on Thursday, May 30 as part of the European leg of her shows.

But, according to The Athletic, Real have requested the game be moved forward a day to Saturday, May 23 to give them more time to prepare for the concert.

next summer.

In Morocco, the connection with Casablanca, which disappeared last year, will be added to the schedules and Oujda, a city located in the northeast of the country, near the border with Algeria, will continue.

The Ministry of Tourism had also announced a new route to Marrakech starting in April, although it is yet to appear in the schedule for next season.

Within Spain, for the first time, the Region will have connections with seven Spanish cities. Adding to the flights with Gran Canaria, operated by Binter throughout the year, and those to Madrid and Barcelona, which Volotea launched in December after being awarded the 2.4 million contract from the Community to promote regional tourism, there are new connections with Menorca, Bilbao, Oviedo and Santander.

Thus, the number of national destinations is now close to those of the United Kingdom for the first time. However, most of these domestic routes will have just two weekly connections, while the flight schedule to Manchester or London includes daily departures from Monday to Saturday.

In the winter season that will end at the end of next March, Corvera was left with only six international routes to Morocco, the United Kingdom and Ireland, in addition to the three national lines of Binter and Volotea.

How Is Your Mobility and Flexibility?

Have you noticed a tendency to use the car for short distances, walk less and avoid stairs. If this is the point that you or a loved one are at then watch out for the next big mobility warning sign, shuffling and continually look down to check where you are going.

Fear of falling is probably the biggest worry we have, and this dread is genuine because a fall leading to broken bones and total immobility is real. The tendency is often to become over-careful and watching every step.

As we get older our bodies become less flexible, mobile and agile. We develop pains in places we never felt pain before.

Children play, young people train, middle aged people work long hours and then retire but our bodies need a certain amount of exercise. “If we don’t use it, we’ll lose it”,

sadly this is a true saying as far as our muscles are concerned and just walking about our homes or the supermarket is not enough, we need EASY exercise regularly.

EASY Exercise at the Sophia Wellness Centre in La Regia is done on comfortable beds and seats equipped with motors and gearboxes; they can move you without you having to make any effort.

Muscle tone will naturally improve because muscles are being exercised with or without any effort from you.

Muscles benefit from being exercised regardless of how it happens.

At EASY Exercise we have seen many miracles. People walk better, breath better, climb and descend stairs normally, have more energy and a more positive outlook on life. Regular exercise, twice or three times a week, at the Sophia

Social Welfare launches a project to curb disruptive behaviour.

The councillor for Social Welfare, Agustina Rodríguez, has announced details of a socioeducational project aimed at mothers and fathers to prevent disruptive behaviour amongst their children.

The initiative is called "Hablamos de tú a tú" and will take place during the months of March and April at the Centro Cívico Alameda del Mar in Orihuela Costa.

"The Department of Social Welfare has organised ten group sessions, divided into different age groups, from 3 to 6 years, from 7 to 11 years and from 12 to 17 years," said the Orihuela Costa councillor. The aim of the project is "to provide parents with the tools

"We want to prevent problems associated with poorly adjusted educational styles and trends and thereby improve the lives of our children and adolescent," said the councillor, who also indicated that the sessions will be taught by municipal staff from the Social Services of the coast. Those interested in participating in these sessions can do so by registering in advance at bescuderom@orihuela.es and lquiles@orihuela.es, where they can also request more information about the schedule of the sessions and the subjects to be taught.

Wellness EASY Exercise centre will improve your quality of life enormously. Within one month you will be enjoying life in the same way you would have 15 years ago.

EASY Exercise has many benefits, the most important and most immediately noticeable are reduced muscle and back pain, greater mobility to be able to walk, to climb or descend stairs and overall increased flexibility of movement.

KING FELIPE ATTENDS SERVICE FOR CONSTANTINE IN LONDON

King Felipe VI and Juan Carlos I met again this morning in London at a service held in memory of Constantine of Greece that his family organised for him in Windsor. As the pair left the chapel the King gave his father his arm to help him get into the car that took him to the reception hosted by Queen Camilla in the Great Hall of the castle. Constantine was the brother of Queen Sofia and died on January 10, 2023 at the age of 82.

The emeritus and current kings, Felipe and Letizia, were accompanied by a good representation of European royalty, although only Camila attended on behalf of the UK Monarchy after Prince Willam was absent "for personal reasons.

King Charles III is resting at his residence in Sandringham while receiving treatment for an unspecified cancer.

The King and Queen in Windsor

The councillor for Social Welfare, Agustina Rodríguez

WELCOME TO TORREVIEJA

This week, we caught up once again with Torrevieja´s Councillor for International Residents, Gitte Lund Thomsen, who was holding one of the drop-in sessions in the La Siesta urbanisation.

Gitte and her team hold regular sessions in the outlying urbanisations like La Siesta, and La Mata, and also in the town hall itself. That said, they much prefer it if you book an appointment or make contact, as they are also more than happy to visit you, which often helps them understand the situation better, as was the case where Gitte herself was set to visit a resident that afternoon so they could explain, in detail, the problems they are experiencing.

The La Siesta, El Chapparal office is inside the building that looks like a Local Police station, which it is, and is also shared, through a generous donation from the town hall, with Age Concern.

One of the functions that can be carried out at the office, incidentally, is the application for a Vado, a licence which prohibits vehicles from parking in front of your driveway, or building (including your own vehicle incidentally), to allow egress and access to your property by a vehicle. This prohibition can only be done with the official vado and is assessed on an individual basis. Again though, the police officers who work from the La

DRIVER CAUGHTAT200

KM/H ON THE AP-7 NEAR ORIHUELACOSTA

The Civil Guard has hunted down a driver who was traveling on the AP-7 at 200 kilometres per hour. The man, 48 years old and from Belgium, exceeded the speed limit by more than 80 km/h, and now faces penalties that could include three to six months in prison.

According to BenemÈrita in a statement, the man was stopped on February 18, near Orihuela Costa, at point 767.2 of the motorway, in the direction of Alicante, at a speed control checkpoint installed by the Torrevieja Traffic Detachment.

Siesta office are happy to advise you.

In terms of the International Residents Department, run by Gitte, they are on hand to assist you in many different languages, and can guide you through a whole range of administrative processes, often believed daunting, especially to foreigners, such as registration and deregistration on the padrón, residencia, obtaining medical cover and a SIP card, digital signatures, and your right to vote, amongst others. They also have a handy leaflet, entitled Welcome to Torrevieja, which you can take away to read that gives brief details of each of those functions, and, importantly, what you need for each.

Anyone living or hoping to live in Torrevieja is welcome to contact the department, which you can do by email to eu@torrevieja.es, you can also telephone them on 600 34 14 31, or 965 71 02 50, and you can book an appointment via the torrevieja.es website, looking for Cita Previa, and Residentes Internacionales, where you can choose the location as well as time.

Finally, if you are on Facebook, you can follow both the International Residents Department, and Gitte direct, on these pages:

www.facebook.com/TorreviejaResidentesInternacionales www.facebook.com/gittelt

car that was traveling at high speed and that greatly exceeded the limits authorised for this road. After stopping the driver, the man was charged with alleged crime against road safety.

While carrying out these checks, the agents recorded a

The agents have now handed the matter over to the Court of Instruction number 1 of Orihuela with the driver facing penalties, ranging from prison of 3 to 6 months, a very hefty fine or community service of 31 to 90 days. In either case, he will be banned from driving for a period between one and four years. The Civil Guard reminds us that inappropriate or excessive speed, along with distractions and alcohol consumption, represents one of the main causes of traffic accidents. "This behaviour significantly increases the probability of making human errors behind the wheel, putting the road safety of all road users at risk," they said.

SCRAPYARD FIRE FILLS VEGA BAJA HOSPITAL WITH SMOKE

Afire raised alarms last Tuesday morning in the surrounds of the Vega Baja hospital in Orihuela. The fire broke out at the Desguaces Mora facilities, a scrapyard located just 400 metres from the main hospital with firefighters receiving the notification at 9:47 a.m.

The scrapyard is located next to the CV-91, the road that connects Orihuela with Almoradí. During the hours in which the fire took place, the strong gusts of wind led to fears that the fire could get out of control and jump across to adjacent plots including the local ITV centre. However, the firefighters were quick to respond with everything under control within two hours of their arrival at the scene.

Although the fire was eventually contained, the column of smoke raised by the fire was visible from many different parts of the region.

The Emergency Coordination Center also sent a Basic Life Support unit had to be transported to the scene. The ambulance had to assist a 41-year-old man for smoke inhalation, who had fainted and had to be quickly transferred to the nearby Vega Baja hospital.

In the operation, the bomberas teams deployed five firefighting units which were manned by a sergeant, two corporals and seven firefighters from the Orihuela, Almoradí and Torrevieja parks worked the fire on the ground.

QUICKIE CROSSWORD

ACROSS ACROSS

1.Deceased (4)

3.Wary (8)

9.Warrior (7)

10.Speak (5)

11.Expectancy (12)

13.Nook (6)

15.Jail (6)

17.Exorbitant (12)

20.Smell (5)

21.Disagree (7)

22.Overcame (8)

23.Remain (4)

CAN YOU MASTER THE SUDOKU CHALLENGE?

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Solution on Page 19

DOWN DOWN

1.Remoteness (8)

2.Distribute (5)

4.Sudden (6)

5.Equilibrium (12)

6.Foolish (7)

7.Entice (4)

8.Dejected (12)

12.Lineage (8)

14.Worried (7)

16.Heavy food (6)

18.Vigilant (5)

19.Serene (4)

ANSWERS

Week 1012

QUICK QUICK

ACROSS: ACROSS: 6 Acquire; 7 Churn; 9 Brave; 10 Quarter; 12 Brotherhood; 14 Countenance; 18 Askance; 19 Virus; 21 Ankle; 22 Expunge.

DOWN: DOWN: 1 Scorn; 2 Quiver; 3 Ire; 4 Church; 5 Freedom; 8 Funeral; 11 Stretch; 13 Consent; 15 Nearly; 16 Clique; 17 Lungs; 20 Axe.

CRYPTIC YPTIC

ACROSS: 6 Ignored; 7 Ambit; 9 Index; 10 Sheared; 12 Mystery tour; 14 Minute waltz; 18 Autopsy; 19 Fence; 21 Keith; 22 Residue.

DOWN: DOWN: 1 Agent; 2 Comedy; 3 Ken; 4 Impact; 5 Hideous; 8 Thermal; 11 Atheist; 13 Minutes; 15 U-boats; 16 Thesis; 17 Scout; 20 Set.

ACROSS ACROSS

1.No fiction in the start of the first act (4)

3.Boasts about small tails? (8)

9.Artist giving six oil works for food (7)

10.Beginning to alter notes (5)

11.He maintains a small opening behind the stumps (12)

13.Part of a river quiet during incursions (6)

15.Girl meeting another girl over in Austrian city (6)

17.Book of EEC policy and translation (12)

20.Oddly-numbered pages in the phone directory? (5)

21.Most are upset by distinguished musician (7)

22.Possibly lack bite as formal dress (5,3)

23.Need a change? This is paradise! (4)

DOWN DOWN

1.Arocket for investigating arson? (8)

2.About four in charge of the citizens (5)

4.Drink like an egg-beater? (6)

5.They can be hair-raising! (5,7)

6.Terribly earnest Oriental (7)

7.Location for a spectacle, say? (4)

8.OK ad somebody created for a land survey (8,4)

12.Biscuit showing a vehicle in a far-off place (8)

14.Acanape prepared as a cure-all (7)

16.Graduates of London University in the main, perhaps? (6)

18.Taken out, being old-fashioned (5)

19.Insect larva as food (4)

LEADER TRIVIA QUIZ (Answers on page 19)

1. Pink is the central character in which animated surrealistic musical drama from the year 1982?

2. With a population of 400,000, Iquitos is the largest city in the world not connected to the outside world by road. In which country is it located?

3. Which of the following was the bloodiest day in American military history? a. Pearl Harbour Attack, b. D Day, c. Battle of New Orleans, d. Battle of Antietam

4. Gaw, Ika, Hourk, Faum and Gammla are a few of the many characters in which 1981 prehistoric adventure film that won an Academy Award for Makeup?

5. The name of which famous Spanish fortress translated means "the red one"?

6. Time Magazine's 1993 Man of the Year award was given to "The Peacemakers". Can you name the four peacemakers?

7. The movie poster tag line for which 1997 horror sequel was "Things are about to get a little hairy"?

8. Which two countries joined to form the short lived United Arab Republic between the years 19581961?

9. What is Mr. Darcy's first name in Pride and Prejudice?

10. The tragus is located on which part of the human body?

11. A popular board game and the name of US President Richard Nixon's pet cocker spaniel.

12. What is the only US state that borders three Canadian provinces?

13. Which historical figure is mentioned in The Beatles song 'I'm So Tired'?

14. Which epic historical 2005 film ends with the following words? "And I am the King of England." "I am the blacksmith."

15. Each of the following are the second largest cities in which European countries? a. Espoo. b. Debrecen. c. Eschsur-Alzette

16. Andrew is the name of the family dog in which very popular Disney film?

17. Who are the only three men to have won more than 10 majors in golf?

18. A meat salad named 'Larb' is regarded as the national dish in which Asian country? a. Nepal, b. Vietnam, c. Mongolia, d. Laos

19. The human pancreas looks like which one of the following fruits? a. banana, b. strawberry, c. avocado, d. mandarin

20. Who are the only father and daughter collaboration to have had a number one hit single in the US music charts?

Facelift for Plaza de la Constitucion

Council states that it will not rush into the project. It wants to be "to the liking of all Torrevieja residents, more accessible, while retain its appealing identity.

The project to remodel the Plaza de la Constitución is going slowly with the council saying that it does not want to rush the preparation of the project.

In the last Plenary Session, the Councilor for Parks and Gardens, Concha Sala, was asked about the scheme by the spokesperson for Sueña Torrevieja, Pablo Samper. She said that "it is an electoral commitment that we will fulfil without a doubt" but for her "it is a pride and a challenge to undertake such a special work."

Although she failed to give any special details about the design, she said that she hopes that the final solution "will be to the liking of all Torrevieja residents."

The councillor stated that it is a file that requires being "more careful if possible." She said that it is an "emblematic" square, around which the entire urban fabric was connected, after the city was devastated by the earthquake of 1829. "Many Torrevieja residents remember the times when this was the only square there was," she recalled.

The objective of the refurbishment is to make what is also popularly known as La Glorieta "more accessible."

Currently, it is located high up and can only be accessed by stairs and ramps. The intention would be to eliminate architectural barriers, leaving the square more accessible, particularly for people with reduced mobility.

She promised that "for as long as this government is in place, the Plaza de la Constitución will not lose its identity. With this work, nothing is intended to blur the original and traditional image.”

NO GUARANTEE OF BEACH BARS FOR EASTER ON ORIHUELA COSTA

The presence of beach bars this Easter on the beaches of Orihuela is by no means guaranteed. The promise made by the PP-Vox council is still to be fulfilled after more than a year has passed since they last operated on the coastal landscape, when the previous councillor of the beaches, Antonio Sánchez (Cs) chose not to extend the contract.

The contract has been back in the bidding arena since last November, with the Contracting Committee still in the offer evaluation phase, as they have not yet finished opening all the envelopes. This is now an even more complex contract, since the new council has chosen to divide the beach bars into three lots, with the addition of water sports as a fourth.

Municipal spokespersons, however, indicate that, for the moment, they can guarantee that, at least, there will be walkways and toilets, for which they will choose to make an independent and urgent contract, since their installation has previously been the responsibility of the beach bar concessionaire.

They have also confirmed that there will be a lifeguard service as the contract is still in force. Meanwhile, the Cabo Roig Neighbourhood Association has already requested that the public toilets be repaired or renovated due to the high deterioration they have suffered in recent years making many of them unfit for use.

The Church of JESUS CHRISTof Latter-Day Saints in Torrevieja meet at 10.00 each Sunday in their chapel at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia, 104. All Welcome. Phone or whatsapp the missionaries on 659 016 733

Join us at the SALT CHURCH Sundays at 10.30 am. We are a friendly church, bible centred in our teaching and informal in our worship. Meets at Calle Daya Nueva 12, PolÌgono Ind. Levante 11, 03187 Los Montesinos. We look forward to meeting you. www.Saltchurchspain.

Facebook SaltChurchSpain

International Christian Assembly, Calle Beniajan 14, Torrevieja -Evangelical Church. Sunday Service 11 a.m.; - Contact 966 799 273 / 660 127 276. Evangelical non-denominational church. www.icatorrevieja.org

The Car of the Month at AUTOMOVILES CRESPO is a very attractive 2019

Ford Focus ST-Line Hybrid at just 21,900 euro. Come along to our large showroom in Elche and see our vast range of new and

used cars or call 96 666 22 60 for all our latest offers. See page 7. We can assure you of the biggest and best choice of new and used cars in the area for price, choice and quality.

ENGLISH SPOKEN

AGE CONCERN BEREAVEMENTGROUP.

Have you lost somebody close to you? Are you finding life difficult after a bereavement? Come along and chat to other people in the same situation. Starting on October 10th, then every Tuesday from 2-4pm at the Age Concern Centre, Calle Paganini, La Siesta, Torrevieja. 96 678 6887. Everyone is welcome.

Los Alc·zares Digital Camera Club. Interested in photography? We invite you to come and join us at our twice monthly meetings. Please contact coordinatorladcc@ gmail.com or see http://www.los-alcazarescamera.club/ for details.

COMMUNITYCARE ASSOCIATION (CCA) Open to residents of Orihuela Costa over 60 years of age. Located at the Centro Civico Alameda del Mar. Open 3 times a week for a pro-

gramme of English speaking activities, support, information and advice with the support of Orihuela Council. Anyone wanting to join CCAsocial activities can pop along. Open 2pm -6pm Mondays and Thursdays, Wednesday 2pm - 5pm. You can register between 1pm & 2pm on those days, in the Cafe area where you will find Eva or Norah. email: oc.communitycare@gmail.com

Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur is here to help you with problem solving and well being for the over 50ís. We need volunteer Drivers and people to join our Home Visiting Team to visit a Residential Home, and take them out for a coffee. Call into our centre at C/Paganini s/n, Urb. La Siesta 03184 Torrevieja or ring 966 786 887. Or email: costablanca@ageconcern.org.es Royal Naval Association, Torrevieja Branch now meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Lakeview bar/restaurant, Quesada. For more info contact Chairman Tony Jenkins on +44 7576 117 222, Secretary Steve Hemingfield 0n Mob/Whats 711 011 373

LOOKING FOR Silent Business Partner for small Private Care Home. Invest 10K and get 20K back in 14 months. Call 747 438 225

CONSTRUCTION AND GENERALBUILDING. For all building works large or small, phone 604 152 124 for quotes. We also specialise in pool leaks and repairs. (1012)

Law Services: PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, Solicitor, Debt Collections, Bad Tenants. 747 438 225

Used Keter plastic garden shed in green. Top opening and dismantled for collection with original manual. Approx sizes L142cm x W75cm x H 110cm. Cost new 239 Euro now 50 Euro Torre de la Horadada Tel 966 183717

Apartment wanted to let long term. 1 or 2 bedroom, fully furnished. My budget is 450 to 500 euro per month. Call Brendan on mob: 087 2586240 or email: brendanmurphy609@gmail.com

DOCUMENT CHECK

One question which consistently remains confusing for some is, “what documents do I have to carry in the car?”

When you drive a vehicle on Spain´s roads, it is compulsory for you to carry certain documents with you in the vehicle. These documents must be the originals, not photocopies, although a notarised copy is accepted (a version which has been copied by a notary and contains their official stamp).

Similarly, we are in the midst of a transition to digital versions of some documents, which will be collated in the MiDGT app, where your driving licence is currently available, but for the moment, the original or notarized copies must be carried.

YOU MUST CARRY:

PERMISO DE CIRCULACION

The Permiso de Circulacion is similar to what we might refer to as the logbook for a vehicle, which contains information such as the registration number, the vehicle owner and other details.

THE ITV CARD

An official document which relates to the technical inspection of the vehicle, the Inspección Técnica de Vehículos, or ITV. Some very new cars may not have this card

as it is gradually being replaced by a centralised computer system, but if your car has one, it must be carried.

ITV REPORT

Once your vehicle is 4 years old it will have to undergo the mandatory ITV test. The ITV report details what happened during that inspection.

It should be noted that the vehicle inspection can only be done in the country where the vehicle is registered.

There are also some documents which are not compulsory, but it is advisable that you carry them with you too.

INSURANCE POLICY

Carrying the insurance policy is NOT compulsory as the information is contained on a central computer, however, if you are involved in an incident you will need to know your policy details for the Accident Agreement, to exchange details with others involved. For tourists, or vehicles which are not registered in Spain, this document should also be carried.

EUROPEAN ACCIDENT FORM

Again, it is not compulsory to carry the European Accident form, but it is advisable as it will help you ensure data is recorded cor-

rectly in the event of an incident. The forms are available in multiple languages and a laid out the same, so it also makes it easier for bridging language gaps.

It is also not compulsory to carry the information relating to the annual tax paid to municipal town halls.

You, as the driver, must also carry your driving licence. It is a criminal offence in Spain to drive without a licence and the burden of

proof is on you. If you are caught without your licence, you may well find yourself arrested.

Remember, it is mandatory that the documents you carry are the originals, not photocopies. The only copy that is allowed is one that has been stamped and certified by a Notary. Notarised copies of documents are allowed, and when implemented, within the MiDGT app, but they are the only exceptions.

WE ARE ALL CLIMATE HYPOCRITES

If there’s one thing I hate it’s hypocrisy, and this week I am going to expose an abundance of it. And when it comes to the environment and climate change, hypocrisy goes into overdrive.

The vast majority of us think global warming is very serious and much more needs to be done to prevent a disaster for our children and grand children. But when we’re told measures need to be taken which will hit our pockets, it’s another story.

BBC’s Panorama has discovered that a UK power company is burning wood from some of the world’s most precious forests. Papers obtained by Panorama show that the company Drax, based in Yorkshire, took timber from rare forests in Canada it had claimed were "no go areas".

Drax says its wood pellets are "sustainable and legally harvested". Oh – that’s all right then? I don’t think!

Can you imagine the cost and the environmental damage cutting down all the trees, and damage caused by bringing all the pellets, or whatever, across the Atlantic and then transporting it to the power station?

But to make all this far worse – and here comes the hypocrisy, the government is to decide whether to give this company billions more in environmental subsidies, funded by UK energy bill payers! Drax has already received £6bn in UK green subsidies. Jobs for the boys no doubt!

I wonder how many of the company’s directors are Tories and how many are Tory party paid up members!

If the Tories really want to make big inroads into making the country environmentally friendly and carbon

Tony Mayes Rant

neutral then it would put that money into financing far more wind farms, not in the sea, where sea water quickly causes corrosion, but on the windiest land areas in Britain, hidden from view by planting quickgrowing forests. A win, win in all directions.

And if the government really wants to help “ordinary” people, how about legislation requiring all house builders to install solar panels on all new builds and far more subsidies to get panels provided on existing homes.

Far better this than politicians expecting farmers to commit 10% of agricultural land for trees and 10% for wildlife habitat. Barmy or what –when Britain needs to grow as much as possible to cut down on imports.

LANDLORDS GROW RICH IN THEIR SLEEP

Anyone who watches the TV series highlighting appalling tenants and scum landlords know what a minefield the rental sector is in the UK. But one practice which is appalling in the extreme is when a landlord decides to evict a tenant who has done absolutely nothing wrong and who then is placed in a dreadful situation of trying to find alternative accommodation in a sector which is desperately short of available homes.

Under extreme pressure the government has been forced to introduce legislation which aims to ban landlords from evicting tenants without a reason.

The Renters (Reform) Bill was first introduced last May. It would mean that landlords could only evict tenants in England under certain circumstances, including when they wish to sell the property or when they or a close family member want to move in.

But here comes the hypocrisy. A group of around 50 Tory backbench MPs - many of whom are landlords – are trying to water down the Bill. They fear that the bill would cause landlords to sell up, reducing the number of rental properties available.

That just smacks of a huge red herring – landlords wanting to continue to have their cake and eat it.

And now the danger is the government will come up with more delaying tactics, pushing the issue into the long grass until after the general election.

No-one wants to protect tenants who don’t pay their rent or abuse the properties they are living in, but no-one should lose the roof over their head just on the whim of a landlord.

ESCAPE CLAUSE

Want more hypocrisy? How about this? The government introduced emergency legislation allowing some prisoners to be released early because of an acute shortage of prison space and too few staff manning prisons.

But low and behold unbeknown to the public until papers were leaked to the press, the early release

scheme has been extended apparently indefinitely which means that the public is now being put at increased risk of criminals who should be locked up for a specified time now walking the streets. Judges are under increasing pressure to avoid sending criminals to prison and we also hear that the level of unpaid fines in the UK has reached an all time high. The punishment for not paying a fine is jail – but wait a minute, prison is a no no. So is there any point in fining anyone in the UK any more?

PRAYER IS A DOUBLE EDGED BLESSING

The rather foolish attack by right wing Tory Lee Anderson on London mayor Sadiq Kahn and the fall out from it has exposed the most astonishing volume of hypocrisy. Of course Mr Anderson's remarks were racistand if any member of another

political party said it, Tories would have fallen over themselves to condemn it.

Mr Anderson, the former deputy party chair of the Conservative Party, refused to apologise for claiming "Islamists" had achieved "control" over London and that Mr Khan had "given our capital city away to his mates".

You can achieve racism by omission and there have been years of closed eyes over a growing problem caused by immigrants moving into cities changing the very face of huge areas. You can have racism by officialdom closing their eyes over such cases of Asians preying on young teenage girls in Rochdale turning them into prostitutes for the gratification of other Muslims. Lack of action over a growing problem is hypocrisy in the extreme.

And now for the most appalling hypocrisy I’ve read about this week – revealed by the widow of Alexei Navalny who was reportedly murdered under Putin’s orders in a Russian jail.

She drew attention to the fact that priests in the Russian Orthodox Church have been blessing weapons being used in war.

Her blast was focused on Putin, who, she claimed, hid behind the Church claiming his strong Christian belief before ordering the most appalling atrocities against people in Ukraine and against anyone who opposed him.

Yes, many so called religious people have been guilty of the most serious hypocrisy – priests carrying out appalling sexual acts on children, covered up by those further up the food chain comes readily to mind.

But tell me this – how can the Orthodox Church in Ukraine claim God is on the side of Ukrainian fighters and the Russian Orthodox Church claim God is on the side of Russian fighters.

Surely God can’t be supporting both sides! Give me strength against hypocrites.

NOT FAR FROM Sperone golf course, on the southern tip of Corsica, lies the little town of Bonifacio, with it's winding streets and spectacular views. If Sperone Golf Course had existed back in 1769 when Napoleon was born, he would probably never have left Corsica but taken up golf instead.

The Robert Trent Jones course is said to resemble Pebble Beach but with heady aromas of rosemary and thyme from the maquis. (scrub)

The tee shot heading over the turquoise sea on the par-five 16th is terrifying, and on a windy day you will be buffeted from all directions on the back nine. A relatively short 6680 yards and par 72 off the tiger tees Sperone provides a challenging experience.

Afterwards you could take a boat trip from Bonifacio to Santa Teresa in Sardinia, passing through the dreaded “Straights of Bonifacio,” which, like the 16th at Sperone, is not for the faint-hearted.

Corsica has no intention of becoming another Ibiza, it is expensive and unless you bring sacks of doubloons the natives are not much friendlier than Napoleon. But it does have amazing little towns, great beaches, and one gorgeous 18-hole golf course.

THE WASTE MANAGEMENT Phoenix

Open has a rival. The Puerto Rico Open (Grand Reserve Country Club, 7-10th March) is heralded as “The most fun-filled golf tournament on the PGA Tour!” Not quite sure why it has earned this title, but if it means people falling off stands, slanging matches between fans and players and punch-ups all

The

over the course then the Tour could probably do without another fun-filled tournament.

TIGER AND RORY are both using the Taylor Made Qi10 LS driver. We don't know Tigers's opinion as he had to dash for the loo mid-round at Riviera and Rory probably chucked his in the lake, but testers have given the driver the thumbs up. Qi stands for ‘quest for inertia,' the quest to produce the

least twisting head for off centre shots. The less a club twists the better, your bad shots will go further and stay closer to the fairway, giving consistency off the tee. The Qi10 LS driver features an Infinity Crown, characterised by a continuous carbon construction from the rear of the head to the face, which reduces weight and enables redistribution to better strategic positions for optimising launch and spin. The driver retains the twist face

WINTER TROPHY LA SIESTA GOLF SOCIETY

This month saw the inaugural running of the "Winter Trophy” for La Siesta Golf Society. How apt it was that this was the first time this year that winter had come to Campoamor Golf Course as we set off. The gusting wind made things tricky from the off and those big hitters who normally landed halfway down the fairway had to be content to be mere mortals and take a few extra shots to get to the greens. For the first time in a long time players were wrapped up against the cold which made free flowing golf difficult. A good turnout struggled with the conditions and at the halfway turnaround it was all to play for on the more difficult back nine. Not surprisingly some of the higher handicappers were in the running for prizes.

As expected the final nine holes proved to be equally as challenging with many feeling the effects of the cold wind and looking forward to getting back to the clubhouse. Not deterred though, the competition remained fierce in the quest to be the first name on the roll of honour for this trophy and despite the condi-

tions, many saw their chance for fame. The only question was would the better players master the conditions or was this the chance for an outsider to win the day ?

Back on the terrace the Captain checked the scorecards, warm coffee (and the odd beer) was consumed to compensate for disappointments. The prize winners were a good mix of members which is always a great thing. Winning the sweep was

In fifth

Ken Harvey beat Dave Steward - also on handicap. Fourth was the evergreen Mike Hughes and it was great to see Pam Brown in third place. Just failing to get to the top of the leaderboard was Terry Bright and the overall winner - back after absence (and presumably some secret practice) - was Adrian Moule. Well played to all, next up is the St. Patrick’s Day competition

technology and incorporates a sliding weight providing additional options for fine-tuning and customisation. Testers conclusion: The Qi 10 LS driver will give the better players an advantage, provided they don't have flu or a putting meltdown.

HICKORY GOLF is enjoying a renaissance as players restore old clubs and wear golf outfits of the period. Gt. Britain and Ireland will take on Europe in a three-day hickory golf tournament at the Royal Blackheath Golf Club in July. Why play with hickory clubs?

Why play with a driver with a sweetspot the size of a pinhead? Why carry only six clubs in a pencil bag when you could have 14 on a remote-controlled trolley? A passionate convert explains: “People play hickory because of the overall experience. it makes you appreciate just how good these guys were in the past. Hickory has life, steel doesn't. You learn to manufacture shots; you can't just bash at the ball. Hickories twist more than steel shafts, you need to swing slower. It's actually very good for your swing, you have to have a lighter grip. I never touch a modern club now; hickory is just so much more fun.” Even so, I can't see the attraction out here of plus fours in August.

I'm back working after my hernia op. In Torrevieja hospital the lady surgeon said to me “Don't worry you'll be playing golf in four weeks, and I replied, “Well that's great, I couldn't play before.”

Until next time: Happy Golfing.

Contact Mick for regripping and repairs. Tel. 638 859 475. or visit https://mickthegrip.blogspot.com

TORREVIEJA DARTS LADIES ORGANISATION

TDLO LEAGUE F ORMAT WEEK 10 TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY

Primadonnas8 - 14Gap Girlz

Friendly Chicas6 - 14Tipsy Tigers

Dolly Mixtures2 - 18Ladybirds

Wacky Allsorts6 - 15Friendly Temps

LEAGUE TABLE PFA

Gap Girlz1012572

Friendly's Temps1012292

Ladybirds1012194

Primadonnas10113106

Tipsy Tigers10111112

Macklin's Dolly Mixtures1094120

Friendly's Chicas1082125

Whacky Allsorts1082129

HOT DARTS:

Ann Wharton (FC) 140, Helen Bushell (FC) 139, Angie Mullen (LB) 138, 100, Dons

QUIZ FROM P 14:

Ralph (LB) 132, 121, 117, 100x2, Sharon O´Rourke (LB) 134, Sharon Crane (TT) 123, 100x2, Bliss Wright (GG) 123, 100x2, Chelsea Campbell (GG) 121, 100, Sandra Crabbe (LB) 120, Di Dane (PD) 115, Sue Casey (WA) 114, Sue Wade (FC) 112, Sue Snook (FC) 111, Kirsty Green (LB) 109, 100 x2, Joyce Wilkinson (PD) 109, Shirley Stephenson (WA) 104, Nina Mander James (TT) 103, Simone de Lacy (TT) 102, Claire Lumb (GG) 101, Sharon Marshall (GG) 100

HIGH CHECK-OUTS OVER 75

Sharon O´Rourke (LB) 86, Julie Hallett (FC) 85

Corsican town of Bonifacio

Steve Mott, pipping Gail Mosley on handicap.

place,

Captain Alan Ward and Adrian Moule.

CLUB FINALS UNDERWAY AT SAN LUIS

It has been good to have some blue skies and sunshine back this week, although the strong winds are still causing problems for our bowls matches.

South Alicante League: Monday 26th SL Klingons had a bad day at the office, away v GL Maples, 4 points-8, shots 81-87.

Winners: Mike Veale, Caroline & John Smyth 28-10, Dee Hoey, Sandra Burrows, Dave Webb 18-13.

Winter League: Wednesday 28th San Luis had a close fought match, home v Country Bowls, finishing with 4 points-6, shots 5857! Winners: Neil Burrows, Kath Reid, Sandra Burrows, Scott Malden 19-8.

Southern League: Friday 1st, SL Lions had an excellent result at home v SM Apaches, points12-0, 106 shots -55. Well done to everyone: Margaret & Neil Morrison, Ian Kenyon 24-7, Dee Hoey, Pat Reilly, Scott Malden 19-10, Kath Reid, June & Keith Jones 25-14, Neil & Sandra Burrows, Dave Webb 16-13, Mike Veale, Caroline & John Smyth 22-11.

SL Tigers: we travelled down to Country Bowls in the hope of a better result this week v CB Panthers, but with the strong, gusty winds, that seemed unlikely.

However somehow we battled through taking 8 points- 4, shots 89-79. Winners: Mary & Phil Lockley, Bob Bromley 23-18, Mike Edwards, Bill Webb, Jim Gracie 2113, Sheila Cammack, Brian Gardiner, Stewart Hamill 25-8.

SL Leopards were at home to San Miguel Comanches and had a good result; 8

points-4, 103 shots- 68. Winners: Ngaio Baldwin, Les Shannon, Peter Ayres 19-11, Catherine & Noel Morrisroe, Barbara Louis 35-5, Judy Carroll, Gordon Paton, Dave Blackie 21-10.

SL Pumas had a close fought game at home v SM Cherokees, points 6-6, shots 80-86. Winners: Jill Wyatt, Tony Ferreira, Steve Gray 21-11, Brenda Reid, Wayne Howlett, David Whitworth 17-16, Maggie Gray, Neil Cox, Mike Wyatt 15-14.

On Tuesday morning we held the first of our club Championship Finals: the Mixed

Rinks.

The teams were: Dee Hoey, Mike Veale, Caroline & John Smyth v Neil Burrows, Kath Reid, Sandra Burrows & Scott Malden. After a close fought match, John’s team were the winners.

If you want to find out more about bowling; come & watch the matches or try out our OPEN roll ups on Saturday (9:30/10:00) & the Chicken/egg comp on Wednesday (1:30/2:00). Make new friends and have Fun!!

BY SHEILA CAMMACK

EL RANCHO BOWLS

Monday the Raiders had a bye.

On Tuesday afternoon they played last week’s postponed match at Emerald Ile against their Neptunes,as you would have expected,the strong cold wind came into effect.But all persevered and had a good match with several rinks playing close all the way to the end.

However,in the end both teams shared the rinks at two and a half each,with the home team taking the overall shots,a good away result for the Raiders.Bill Johnston,Sheila Cox and Diane Yates 25-14.Ann Abbott,Tony Abbott and Marion Haynes 14-13.Keith Longshaw,Ann Taylor and Bob Taylor 14-18.Jean Giddings,Ron Greenstreet and Dave Giddings 9-

35.Rose Passmore,Derek Barker and Mike Cox 16-16.

Wednesday morning found the Rowdies playing host to Greenlands in the winter league and had a good match against a strong team.The Rowdies ended with a good result in sharing the rinks two all though losing the overall shots, with the Rowdies being a bowler short.

On Friday morning,again a chilly windy one,where the bowls could drift either side of the desired line.But we were in the good company of Vistabella Picadores at home and enjoyed the match.Alas although the play and score was close to the end on most rinks,we took just the one rink,but as we know the score isn’t the most important aspect of the game.Bowlers of all levels are welcome at El Rancho,for further info from Sheila Cox at micksheilacox@gmail.com.

SAN MIGUELBOWLS With Barry Jones

With the Voyager division having been completed just 2 teams were in action on Monday. San Mig Orcas won 10 - 2 at home to Greenlands Chestnuts, 99 shots to 70. The best result came from Sharon Louise, Dave Young & Bob Donnelly - 25 - 10. This means that they will at least be in 2nd place in the Discovery League with a game in hand when the table is published later.

San Miguel Dolphins have finished their campaign with a disappointing 2:10 loss to Emerald Isle Titans, 71 shots to 102. The win came from Jan Farmer, Derek Farmer & Steve Parr who won 18 - 12.

On Wednesday, San Miguel were away to Quesada where they lost 10 - 0, Less said the better.

On Friday the Navajos were home to Country Bowls Geckos, losing 4 - 8, 74 shots to 82. Best winning triple were Bob Hanton, Jack Jackson and Frank Scotthern 20 - 11.

The Cherokees were away to San Luis Pumas where they shared the points 6 - 6, 86 shots to 80. Best winning triple were Dave Ottway, Mark Westmoreland & Dave Homer 24 - 9.

The Apaches were away to San Luis Lions where they had “a bad day at the office” losing 12 - 0.

A reminder that the Wasps sessions take place Wednesdays 1.30pm for 2.00pm - ¤5 for an afternoon’s bowling with

EMERALD ISLE BOWLS CLUB

Titans started the week at home playing against San Miguel Dolphins and they got a fine 10-2 aggregate of 10271, D Jones MEllis M Hartley 30-9, N Davis S Marks R Marks 20-9, P Heaney S Elvin M Dyer 21-18, N Prior I Grimshaw B Kavanagh 19-17

Neptunes were at home against Vistabella Drivers, and they got a good win by 9-3 Aggregate of 88-76 G Dyer G Inwood B Fenty 23-16, P Moore B Eldred J Taylor 18-11, M Riley I Laverick R White 18-15 S Ellis C Wilson J Fenty drew 15-15 All.

Neptunes played a rearranged game against El Rancho Raiders at home, and they got a win by 7-5 Aggregate of 96-78, J Sayer S Johnson K Jolliffe 35-9, G Dyer G Inwood B Fenty 18-14 I Laverick P Moore R White drew 16-16 all. Emperors played at Vistabella in Winter League and had a good win 6-4 Aggregate of 62-58, S Verity N Prior M Ellis

C Lindgren 24-10 M Oakley S Elvin J McCormack M Dyer 18-13

Claymores played at Quesada Swifts, and they got a good 6-4 Aggregate of 80–86-win, G Inwood K Barber J Taylor 19-11 P Moore B Eldred T Upham 21-16, G Dyer I Laverick J Mc Cormack 21-18

Outlaws played at home against Country Bowls Club and they were beaten 1-9, an Aggregate of 78-99 M Nash J Ball

C Wren drew 15-15 all

SAPS on Sat afternoon at 13-15

ELWYN MORRIS

Monte Mar Bowls & Social Club

Sponsored by The Pub, Gran Alacant Insurances, Dialprix, The Belfry, Skippers, La Piedra, Santara Resort, The Reiki Room.

Winter SABA League

Monte Mar Matadors V Quesada Rubies

Monday 26th February

Away to Quesada Rubies we got off to a slow start but we won on three rinks and the shots. Well done: Des Freeman, Chris Harding skip Barry Watson 19 – 14, Gina Hindle, Steve Hindle skip Keith Young 23 – 7, Colin Bedford, Cindy Bedford skip Neil Crawford 17 – 2.

Shots matadors 86 – 68 Rubies.

Southern League

Monte Mar Matadors V San Luis Leopards

Friday 1st March

At home to San Luis Leopards who unfortunately only had four teams. It was a very windy morning which didn’t help the bowling but we won on three rinks. Well done to Gina Hindle, Steve Hindle skip Keith Young 32 – 18, Lynne Armitage, Les Bounds skip Phil Goble 24 – 9, Julia Hamilton, Ian Hamilton skip Neil Crawford 25 – 2.

Shots Matadors 101 – 50 Leopards.

Points Matadors 10 – 2 Leopards.

For further information about Monte Mar Bowls and Social Club check out our website

www.montmarbowls.com. We are also on Facebook.

shoes and bowls available to borrow. Due to the popularity of the Wasps, first time bowlers are asked to attend an initial coaching session on Tuesday afternoons, starting at 1.45pm, by appointment ONLY. To book, please call Dave or Lynn Greenland on +34 667 207 508.

We welcome all bowlers who would like to join San Miguel B.C. as we are a unique clubwe only pay owner fees and a club fee and NO LEAGUE RINK FEES.

For further information on San Miguel B.C please contact club secretary Barry Jones on 602 504 905 or club president Alan Campbell on 606 676 118

Winners Dee Hoey, Mike Veale, Caroline & John Smyth with the Runners-up: Neil Burrows, Kath Reid, Sandra Burrows, Scott Malden.

STRONG WINDS MAKE FOR DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AT VISTABELLA

South Alicante Enterprise Division

Vistabella Albatrosses v Country Bowls Flamingos

Good wins for Brian Gilham, Stuart Allman & Del Stevenson 14-13 plus Hilary James, Freddie Willey & Paul Durham 18-10. Overall shots 90pts to 66pts going Emerald Isle's way, good win for them 8-4.

South Alicante Discovery Division

Emerald Isle Neptunes v Vistabella Drivers

One good win for Frank Barclay, Tony Grimes & Sue Wilson 19-14 plus a close draw for Clive Smith, Steve Wilson & John Ridley 15-15. Overall shots Emerald Isle 88pts to Vistabella 76pts (close game).

Winter League - Vistabella v Emerald Isle

Two good wins for Graham Doel, Derek Howe, Don Conlon & Del Stevenson 15-12 plus Hilary James, Tony Grimes, Sue Wilson & Alan Bannister 20-8.This was a very close battle for points, Emerald Isle just pipping Vistabella 62pts to 58pts winning 6-4.in very windy conditions.

LLB Southern league Division B

El Rancho Mustangs v Vistabella Picadors

La Marina Bowls Club

By Dave Hadaway

Monday and it’s another afternoon game this time at Quesada,not necessary our favourite time of the day but we are pleased this Monday.The morning was damp and miserable,and the afternoon was beautiful.The game was of mixed fortunes with Quesada winning 8-4.Our winning trips were Barbara Foreshaw,

Greenlands Bowls

by Pearl Houghton

The CHESTNUTS had a disaster day at San Miquel in a cold and wet morning managing to only get 2 pts through for to 12 for San Miguel.

The Maples were up against San Luis this week and played well and got 8 to 4 victory so well done the squad.

The Elms opponents this week were Vistabella and did an amazing job winning 8 to 4 on a very windy day so CONGRATULATIONs you have

Away match with heavy winds swirling around the green, which made it very difficult to bowl. But Vistabella pulled through to grab a very convincing win.

Good wins for Keith Black, Freddie Willey & Maggie Furness 21-8, Denise Howell, Derek Howe & Del Stevenson 25-16, Alice Howe, Alan Bannister & Arthur Brown 16-14 plus John Goddard, Don Conlon & Paul Durham 21 - 10. Overall score Vistabella 95pts to El Ranchos 61pts Vistabella winning 10-2.

LLB Southern league Division C

Vistabella Conquistadors v Greenlands Elms

A close fought game in very windy conditions resulting in Vistabella winning two rinks.

Well done Rosemarie Savage, Mathew Matthewman & Ken Savage 18-13 plus Frank Barclay, Tony Grimes & Sue Wilson 16-13.

Overall scores very close 88pts to Greenlands 74pts to Vistabella.

Good win for Greenlands 8-4.

Well done to all bowlers this week playing in very awkward windy conditions.

Contact details: richardwilley321@gmail.com

Tel: 698925932

Margaret MacLaughlin,& Peter Parsons 17-12 and Janet Parsons,Mike Stone & Barry Robert’s 19-11,overall shots 99-70 in their favour.

With one game to go a league table has been published we are 7th from 9 not a winning position but comfortably safe,we have 71 points the 2 teams below have 59 & 49 respectively the team above us have 73 so with one game to go we could improve our position but will avoid the bottom.

done very well this season. This being your last game of this league.

The Gladiators were at El Rancho this week and found it quite a testing game with their opponents putting up a strong resistance but managed to dig deep and get a 6 to 4 win so well done for a good fight.

The Oaks travelled to Quesada Bowls this week and played extremely well getting a 10 to 2 victory CONGRATULATIONs on a fine win. No game for the Cedars this week.

BY FREDDIE WILLEY

FINLAND BEA FINLAND BEA T SCOTLAND ON T SCOTLAND ON PENAL PENAL TIES IN PINA TIES IN PINA T T AR FINAL AR FINAL

Festive atmosphere for Torrevieja Half Marathon

Hichan Fuini and Marta Belmonte take gold in Torrevieja

The 37th edition of the Torrevieja Half Marathon and the parallel 5K race, was held on Sunday morning in the salt town, and was yet another great success in terms of participation and organization.

Organised by the Torrevieja Athletics Club, in collaboration with the Department of Sports and with the advice of former international walker Luis Corchete, the event has continued to grow in recent years with ever increasing participant numbers from improving best times.

In Sunday’s race there was an increase of 30% compared to last year with around 1,500 registered competitors.

Of the participants, 629 crossed the finish line in the 21 kilometre and 97 metre race and 593 in the 5K race.

The first athlete to cross the finish line was José María Carvana Ortuño, who took part in the wheelchair category, but the winner of the general classification of the half marathon was the

Alicante fails to attract table tennis veterans world cup

Alicante has missed out on its attempt to bring the 2026 Veterans World Cup to the city (the ITTF World Masters) scheduled for May 2026), with South Korea chosen to host the event following the last phase of the selection

process held during the ITTF General Assembly on Monday and Tuesday in Busan (Korea). Korea's proposal attracted 26 votes compared to the 18 that were obtained by the Alicante candidacy.

The decision has frustrated the Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation (RFETM) expectations that Alicante would once again host the competition that it previously organised in 2016 at the

CARP-R-US REPORT

Carp-R-Us fished the penultimate round of their Winter Series on the El Bosquet complex on a pleasantly warm but breezy day. The complex has been very moody recently and it proved so again with normally good pegs failing to produce good weights, although everyone caught fish.

In the end, Willy Moons ran out a clear winner with 15.38kg from peg 5 caught using feeder and maggot tactics. Second from peg 39 was Russell Davidson with 7.90kg

The Finland women's national team won the Costa Cálida Pinatar Cup 2024 after beating Scotland in a penalty shootout on Tuesday. The final ended in a 1-1 draw with the luck that inevitably goes with success in a penalty shootout on the side of the Finnish team.

Oona Sevenius put the Finns ahead in the first half with a clever header against the run of play after Scotland switched off in midfield as players and management debated tactics.

Pedro Martinez Losa's side dominated possession and were relentless in their press as they sought an equaliser - although their opponents had several opportunities to increase their lead.

But Scotland's persistence was rewarded when Martha Thomas struck for the third time in two games, cushioning in from close range after Erin Cuthbert's free-kick was parried. Cuthbert then had the opportunity to clinch victory from the spot in the shootout after

Moroccan Hichan seguirni, with a great time of one hour, five minutes and 19 seconds.

In second position was Pablo Bautista Rovira, with 1.05.43; and the third was another Moroccan Elmissouf Abdermayd, in 1.05.59.

In the women's category, the winner of the 21-kilometre event was Marta Belmonte Molina, with a time of 1.20.30, but she had to battle through the entire race with the second and third finishers, Neus Mas Manchón, with 1.20.41; and Alexandra Tondeur, with 1.20.52.

The first local runners in the half marathon were Stuart Spencer, with 1.09.14; and Estefanía Carbonell Fernández, with 1.31.21.

In the 5 kilometre race, Alejandro Juan Torres, from Club Atletisme Crevillent, won with a time of 14 minutes and 51 seconds. In second position was Jorge Mateu, with 15.02; and the third Álvaro Martínez, with 15.23.

In the Ladies race, Camila Paracchina won the 5K, in a time of 18.59; while the second and third places went to Sandra Hervás, with 19.14; and Etel Joves, in 19.34.

All participants who reached the finish line received a medal and a commemorative Joma t-shirt, as well as a gymsack with energy drinks and supplements. (Photos courtesy Torrevieja Athletics Club)

Fira Alacant facilities (the old IFA), when more than 4,608 athletes from 80 countries took part, the largest number of participants ever achieved, with the consequent impact on tourist accommodation.

For now, however, Alicante can still look forward to hosting the Spanish School Age Table Tennis Championship, with more than 200 participants from 28 to 31 March 28 at Fitur.

using pole and caster. Third was Tony Flett who managed 7.22kg from peg 2 using method feeder and corn and fourth was Alan Smith on peg 3 who had 6.98kg mainly on pole and maggot.

The final match of the series is on Edens 2 and 3 and there are two anglers vying for top spot, Russell Davidson and Jeremy Fardoe. Good luck to them both.

Further information about the club can be found on its website www.carp-r-us.weebly.com or on the Facebook page Carp-RUs Fishing Costa Blanca

Sandy MacIver saved Heidi Kollanen's effort, but the Chelsea midfielder's effort was palmed away.

Rangers' Nicola Docherty then had her penalty saved as Finland won 5-4 to deny the Scots the trophy.

Slovenia beat the Philippines 1-0 to finish 3rd.

In the Pinatar Cup Youth Group, played at the same venue, the Czech Republic beat Portugal in the final, again on penalties after the match finished in a 1-1 draw while Morrocco got a deserved third place in the consolation final after beating Sweden (2-1). With the consolidation of the Costa Cálida Pinatar Cup as one of the most important women's tournaments in the world, Pinatar Arena continues to position the Region of Murcia as one of the best international football destinations.

MORE SUCCESS FOR TORREVIEJA JUNIOR TENNIS

Torrevieja Tennis Club Juniors finished as runner-up in the Valencian community championship while the cadet team got to the final.

The junior team fell 4-3 in the very last set of doubles, against CT Valencia, in a final in which both teams of boys were evenly matched, with little to choose between the two squads of players.

Later in the day, the cadet team won the semi-final of their category, beating Tennis centre Valencia 5-0, thus qualifying for the final against CT Valencia, and for the Spanish championship in Tarrasa next summer.

These two junior finals, together with the men's Infantile final that was held in January, have got junior tennis in Torrevieja off to an excellent start to the season with 3 out of 3finals.

Finally, the Benjamin team could lost 3-2 to CT Elche in the last mixed doubles. Next week they will play the qualification for the quarter finals against CA Montemar.

Players involved in the finals were: Charo Esquiva, Juliana Giaccio, Fernando Martínez, Sergi López, Oscar Pantoja, Ángel Minguez, Mario Lozano, Pablo Álvarez, Sandro Tortosa, Tomking Deng, Joan Pérez, Anaelle Calderon and Katia Savicheva.

LEAGUE RESULTS 29 FEBRUARY

DIVISION 1

CC's Bees8-4Ck1 Lads

El Capitan4-8Mind The Gap

Tipsy Toad Toppers5-7Domino's Doms

Leeson St Trotters1-11Hub Hyenas

Milo's9-3Freakie Taverners

DIVISION 2

Domino's Desp’dos7-5Illy's Oldies

Ck1 Ladybirds8-4Pint Depot Queens

Danny's Bar6-6Fallen Angels

Tasty Taverners0-12Fire Station

Hub Hellraisers4-8Tipsy Toad Tiaras

LEAGUE TABLES

DIVISION 1PPtslegs

Domino's Domignomes1528123

Mind The Gap1525128

Tipsy Toad Toppers1523129

Hub Hyenas1520117

El Capitan1519110

CC's Bees151692

Milo's15751

Leeson Street Trotters15661

Ck1 Lads15658

Freakie Taverners15132

DIVISION 2

Fire Station1528141

Danny's Bar1526117

Illy's Oldies1521113

Domino's Desperados152097

Fallen Angels1518100

Ck1 Ladybirds151391

Tipsy Toad Tiaras151177

Hub Hellraisers15962

Tasty Taverners15665

Pint Depot Queens15038

MOST 180’S: Mark Ellis x6, James Brown x5, Andres Liamazares x5

180's THIS WEEK: Sam Salt, Nigel Justice, Dave Askew x2, Antonio Sedeno Lara

HIGH FINISH THIS WEEK: Raul Rocamora 152 James Brown 120, Fabian Alcaraz 105, Andy Rutter 93, HIGHEST FINISH TO DATE: Dave Askew 160

MATCH REPORTS DIVISION

1

C.C.BEES V C.K 1 LADS

Some decent performances from both sides in this encounter, Bees just edging out the Lads on the big trebles.The visitors landed just the one 1st half leg through Steve Mullen and Kevin Wood, Ivan Jones 100,140, Reg Christopher 2x100, Paul Christopher 123,140,5x80+ and Jeff Saunders notching up a tidy 91 out, ensuring a 5-1 lead at the break.

Paul Tollafield enjoyed a 65 out to guarantee the draw for Bees in the 7th, Lads countering with 3 straight singles via Wood, Darren Hurcombe 2x100,121 and POTM Steve Dalton 3X100,125, and a 74 out for a 6-4 scoreline.Saunders 2x100,140 got Bees over the line with a POTM performance versus John Crabbe, Paul C.increased the score to 8-4 with 3x100 and 5x83+.

LEESON ST.TROTTERS V HUB HYENAS

Pretty evenly matched in 3 figure scores but the Trotters couldn't buy a double.Fair to say the Hyenas edged the triples but each of the 3 pairs went to 3 legs, the best of which Sharon Marshall and Kain Hickman's effort versus Dario Sierra and Dougie Adkins, Hickman contributing 4x100+, the Hub duo 5x100+, 5x80+,Sierra getting both outs.

Yvonne Rouffignac's excellent endeavour of an overall 5x100+ and 4x80+, didn't however win her a POTM, that going to Alex Nikolov in his 12th leg victory over Matt Dawson also earning a POTM.Their tussle produced 6x100 and 7x80+.

TIPSY TOAD TOPPERS V DOMINOS DOMIGNOMES

Toppers drop to 3rd place after this "sizzler" against top of the table Gnomes.Some formidable statistics doesn't quite tell the tale, but does give an indication of these two teams ability.

Three maximums, 2 from Dave Askew, the other from Nigel Justice, 63 tons or more from both sides, a 93 out from Andy Rutter, an 86 finish on the Bull from John Rodford and a 62 out from Ricky Perez. Both teams had 2 prolific "ton machines" Askew 5x100,140,2x180, Pete Spence 5x100,125,2x140, for Gnomes Mark Farmer 5x100,126,5x140 and POTM Perez, 2x100,125,137,5x140.

Gnomes led 2-4 at half way, Askew making it 3-4, Perez restoring Gnomes 2 leg advantage, POTM Rodford keeping the hosts in the match, beating Farmer, the score now 4-5.Chelsea Campbell got the much needed point in the 10th, Justice getting the league leaders over the line on D8.Great match.

MIND THE GAP V EL CAPITAN

Gap rebounded from last weeks Toppers defeat to thump the very capable Caps, both sides at the top of their game.Ben Kernahan D20 opened for Caps, Gordon Cowan D20 and Sam Salt D10, responding for Gap, 12 tons between both teams in the 3 triples.

Cowan D10 and James Brown 2x100,140, 55 out made it 3-1, prior to Liam Lumb and Andres Liamazares 2x140 and a 74 out got Caps to 3-2. Paul Moody and Salt D8,D2, increased Gap's lead to 4-2, despite Kernahan's 100,140 & Chris Logan's 123.

"Liama" 2x100,2x123,140 got the better of Gordon Cowan 2x100,2x123,140 for a POTM award, before Gap reeled off the next 4 to take the match and points.Darren Sanderson 100,2x140, Salt 4x100,180 for the draw and Brown POTM with 2x100,140 and a 120 out.Moody beat a lively Lumb in 3 legs, Kernahan 140 and a 79 out taking the 12th over Che Liam.

MILOS V FREAKIE TAVERNERS

Freakies came away from this one with just 3 legs courtesy of Sharon Frain 110, D2 and Mitch Halliday 121,133,D8 in the pairs and 2 singles from Marco Satoca 100,117 and Ernie Willis in his 0-2 defeat of 180 scorer Antonio Lara.

Milos were quite impressive, 1st half efforts from Raul Rocamora 3x100, 2 outs, Sam James 100, 3x80+, 72 out and Antonio Lara 140, 83 out on the Bull, gave the hosts a 5-1 lead at the break.

Rocamora got Milos 6th leg and point with 2x100 and a magnificent T20,T20,D16 out, Javi de Gea 128,140 overcoming Halliday for victory.Fabian Alcaraz made it 9-3 in the 12th with a 105 finish. POTM -Lara - Bryan Livsey.

DIVISION 2

DOMINOS DESPERADOS V ILLIES OLDIES

Oldies out gunned Despos in the scoring department but somehow lost their advantage despite leading 45 with 3 to go.

Despos won the remaining 3 singles via Damien Lambert, POTM, on the Bull, Dave Oates 121,D17 and match winner Angela Chick on D16.Colin Kernahan returning 3x100,140,95.

Des Field earned his sides POTM with 2x100,140, 3x80+, Oldies managing 20+ scores of note.

C.K.1 LADYBIRDS V PINT DEPOT QUEENS

Birds virtually put this match out of the Queens

reach by the conclusion of the 1st half, by winning 5 of the 6 legs up for grabs.Their sole winner a Debbie Wright D4.Angie Philpott and Dons Ralph sharing 4 1st half outs.Sue Cam increased Birds advantage, Marie Cummins POTM got Queens 2nd adding a ton to an earlier 134.Ralph added a 3rd out to her evenings tally for POTM.

DANNYS BAR V FALLEN ANGELS

Dannys keep up their challenge for Division 2 success, despite the half time score of 2-4 looking decidedly bleak.Tony Spiers an 86 out on the Bull, Graham White 125,100,D2, James Mackay D4 and Andy Forrest D4 (his 2nd out), gave the visitors their lead at break time.Steve Lumb D7 and Rob Norbury keeping the hosts in the match.

In a reversal of the 1st half, Dannys found the 1st four game winning outs courtesy of Bob Smith, John Giggs, Lumb and better half Lesley.The score 6-4, Angels now on the back foot needed both legs for shared spoils, duly accomplished by Spiers and Steve Godwyn.POTM - Giggs - Godwyn.

TASTY TAVERNERS V FIRE STATION

Station were far too strong for Tasties, powerful scoring from the visitors left little opportunity for the hosts to convert any scores.Sharon Williams however did find the T20 on many occasions earning her POTM. The visitors nailed 10 tons or more and 15 scores of 80+, pretty reasonable for one leg in each category. Tim Clarke's effort earned him a POTM with 3x100,140 and 2x95.

HUB HELLRAISERS V TIPSY TOAD TIARAS

Super Sue Spiers speared 5 x 83 this week and a 7D17 out to earn herself yet another POTM accolade for the Raisers.Teammates Linda (D3) and Ann Taylor (87, 3-D20) and Ali Scammell´s D19 contributing to their tally of 4.

The Tiaras top spot went to Eileen Askew, with a 75% win rate in her 4 showings, the most notable of which came in the pairs (92, 116, 8-4-D2) and her singles (121, 99, D20).Workhorse Wendy Hayward won a pair pf legs (17-D1.D1) as did secretary Sim (114, D10;8-14-D4), the former having had a knee replacement, the latter awaiting one.Little Lesley Eagles (85, 100, 109, D1) won her leg in the triples. Highest score of the night courtesy of Tiara Sharon Crane - 132, left arm in sling.The walking wounded visitors limped back el Galan in victory.

Fred &Carol

Matt &Alex

Bryan &Antonio