Ever wondered what it would be like to enjoy the thrill of playing in a Pro-Am tournament but never quite had the courage to put your golf game to the test? Well here's your chance. During the coming season over 35 Pro-Am tournaments will be organised
DEFENDING champions Hampshire, hit by the loss of three top players, suffered their first South-East League defeat for three years when they lost to Kent at Royal St George's. There was just a point in it at the end as Hampshire, without Martin Young,
WINCHESTER City received the Hampshire League championship trophy after beating Vosper 3-0 at Abbots Barton yesterday. Two goals from ace marksman Andy Forbes helped Wessex League-bound City open up a 14-point advantage over second-placed Vosper. Danny
GARY Funnell punished his old club Bashley with a dramatic late equaliser to keep Salisbury City in the Dr Martens Eastern Division promotion hunt - but only by the skin of their teeth. The 20-year-old son of former Southampton striker Tony let fly with
Both Blackfield & Langley and Whitchurch United head into their final games of the season on Saturday knowing that one of them will be relegated back to County football at the end of the day. At least Blackfield have their destiny in their own hands
On Saturday 41-year-old striker Dave Leworthy grabbed the headlines for Havant & Waterlooville with a quickfire double that sank Tiverton. But in yesterday's 0-0 draw at Dover the spotlight switched to a young man 24 years his junior. With first-choice
Paul Terry praised Hampshire's Easter bunnies after Ed Giddins and Alan Mullally helped clinch a draw in the championship opener at Worcestershire yesterday. Giddins and Mullally faced the last eight balls of the match, with Mullally seeing out the whole
ARCHAEOLOGISTS may have found the site of an ancient Roman villa, near North Waltham, which they hope the crew from the TV series Time Team will excavate. The site was last excavated in 1849 by Greville J Chester, who reported several archaeological finds
A SHOE shop owner in Whitchurch has called for a review of current parking restrictions in the town. Brian Dowling, owner of independent shoe shop G Dowling and Son, has voiced concern over the borough council-enforced 20-minute parking limit outside
A BASINGSTOKE secondary school has become the first in Hampshire to be designated a specialist training school. Brighton Hill Community College beat off fierce competition to be awarded the status. It will now receive £220,000 over four years to carry
HOSPITAL bosses in Basingstoke are having to save £5.7million this year despite receiving the biggest boost in NHS cash for years. Altogether, £14million has to be saved in the next three years - even though the Government's NHS plan demands doctors and
KEMPSHOTT Kestrels won the first-ever Peter Houseman under-10 League Cup recently with a 2-0 win over Basingstoke Town at Down Grange. The winners scored a goal in each half, with midfielder David Parry netting first and man-of-the-match Craig Fraser
Wellington Social 2 Bramley United 2 SATURDAY'S result at Winklebury leaves the Basingstoke and District League title race wide open after New Inn could only draw 1-1 with Oakley Athletic on Wednesday evening. Bramley threw away a two-goal lead against
Basingstoke Town 3 Maidenhead 2 KEVIN Gibbens capped a man-of-the-match performance with the winning goal in a five-goal thriller at the Camrose yesterday afternoon as Town came from two goals down to beat Maidenhead 3-2. The midfielder sealed the great
IT'S 1575, Queen Elizabeth I is on the throne and the fastest way to get from Hythe to the burgeoning city of Southampton is by ferry. Wind the clock forward half a millennia or so and Queen Elizabeth II wears the crown, and Hythe ferry is still shuttling
EXCITEMENT seems to follow Saints wherever they go these days - unfortunately on this occasion they were on the receiving end of an entertaining turnaround. It's hard to believe this is the same Saints team that a few months found it difficult to score
Strong winds cut the speeds of time trialists over the Easter holiday after the opening event on Good Friday escaped the unwelcome change in the weather. No fewer than 30 riders - exactly a quarter of the entry - beat their qualifying times in the Bournemouth
A disappointing turnout of Hants and Dorset crews couldn't take the edge off Itchen Imperial's first Senior Pennant win in the Southampton 'Head of the River Race' on the River Itchen. Starting back in nineth position in a field of only 39, following
NO CONTEST - that is the story of the local elections in the New Forest, as new candidates have failed to come forward and offer their time and skills to the community. In 26 out of 37 town and parish councils in the district, election day will be a shoo-in
A journalist who has broken some of the biggest business stories in the south will formally open the region's most comprehensive business library this week. The Southern Daily Echo's business editor Mike Ford, who retires this year, will officially launch
Watermark Group is a prime example of the kind of qualities a company needs to be in the running for Hampshire's top business awards. As entrants in this year's Daily Echo Hampshire Business Awards are under the microscope we take a look at last year's
ARSONISTS are suspected of starting a blaze that ripped through a Hampshire Animal Rescue Centre, killing 20 rescued animals. Four South American chinchillas, three rabbits, two kittens, a cat, one rat, a budgie, and various hamsters and guinea pigs all
MURDER squad detectives were today hoping to speak to a suspect under police guard in hospital, following the discovery of a man's body outside a Southampton home. Officers have so far been prevented by doctors from speaking to the 50-year-old man, who
AN elderly couple has spoken of their heartache at losing a lifetime's possessions when fire ripped through their Southampton home. Around 40 firefighters tackled the huge blaze at two neighbouring terraced properties in Sedbergh Road, Millbrook, on Saturday
HUNDREDS of people flocked to the common in Southampton to enjoy one of the region's biggest fun fair attractions. Visitors to William Cole's fairground enjoyed sunny weather with a gentle breeze to keep children cool as they ran excitedly round the many
WHEN Saints fans Tanya Parrick and Richard Lynch booked their wedding in the Caribbean, little did they dream the problem they would face when their team reached the FA Cup Final. Miss Parrick, of Stoneham Lane, Southampton, made sure their honeymoon
If I could rise up From the ground on angel-wings, As the almighty eagle, Soar high among the wispy clouds, I'd whistle into the gale, Laugh at the growling thunder, And out of the driving storm Believe I'd see Beyond the rainbow's arch Into the panorama
A NATIVE American Indian will kick off Winchester's Tower Arts Centre summer season next month. Cheyenne tribe member Jimmy Carl Black, former drummer and singer with the late Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, will be interviewed by centre administrator
ASYLUM seekers from eastern Europe will today go on hunger strike in protest against conditions in the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre. Their action comes a fortnight after the chief inspector of prisons ranked the Gosport centre the worst in the country
WITH three nights sold out, Ferneham Hall running out of beer and hotels reporting brisk business, this year's Easter Festival has proved another big success. Organiser Peter Chegwyn estimates the four-day folk extravaganza - now in its 12th year - generated
A HAMPSHIRE MP has added his voice to the chorus of criticism over the decision to close Southwick Surgery. As reported in the Daily Echo last week the Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust supported the application to close the rural surgery in three months
HUNDREDS of works of art will be on view at Titchfield this month when the village stages its annual art and craft show. The two-day show in the community centre on April 26-27 is one of the largest events of its kind in the area. Around 400-500 works
INSTEAD of praying for pennies from heaven an Eastleigh congregation is hoping that a galaxy of stars might help to fill the church coffers. Soccer ace David Beckham and his Spice Girl wife Victoria are among celebrities who have been asked to give the
A CHANDLER'S FORD recreation ground on the verge of major makeover has been hit with another alcohol-fuelled wrecking spree. After an Easter weekend of mindless vandalism a scorched car was discovered on its roof after attempts had been made to torch
A LANDMARK Chandler's Ford store is set to disappear from the local scene. F H Dean, the popular hardware and agricultural merchants store, will be swept away to make way for 59 flats in Hursley Road. Councillors have given the green light for Banner
Hampshire PGA thoroughbreds filled the first three places in the Glenmuir British Club Championship qualifying round at Camberley Heath. Rob Edwards and Steven Green from Gillingham finished joint top with a four-under-par 68, with Dibden left hander
STUNNING views across Salisbury Plain will be the sight that will greet players in the south-west area final of the inaugural Health Perception Ladies' Golf Championship at High Post in August. The championship gets underway this month with qualifying
Dummer trio David Chivers, Roger Corkhill and Keith Kimber won the Hampshire Alliance's Hunt Challenge Bowl at Petersfield. The Bowl was first presented over 70 years ago and its three-team stableford format saw the Dummer men accumulate 106 points -
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp set his side a target of picking up four points from their remaining two matches to win the First Division title following their 3-0 victory over Reading. French striker Vincent Pericard led the way with two goals in
"There's only one team in this town," was the cry from BAT manager Andy Leader after they completed the double over near neighbours Totton. The defeat almost certainly ends Totton's chances of securing the runners-up spot as the Tobaccomen came from 2
Newport IoW finished the Easter holiday empty-handed after a tame 2-0 defeat at Burnham. Unlike in Saturday's 3-2 home loss against Tonbridge Angels, the Islanders got exactly what they deserved this time - absolutely nothing. Defender Jon Holmes presented
ALDERSHOT Town are heading for the Conference after securing the Ryman Premier Division title at the fifth time of asking. Yesterday's 1-1 draw against Sutton United at Gander Green Lane was enough to send the former Football League club back towards
John Crawley will open the batting when Hampshire take on Glamorgan in Cardiff in their second championship game tomorrow. Jimmy Adams is playing for Loughborough UCCE against Surrey so drops out. But seamer Chris Tremlett is fit and may come in for Ed
Hampshire clung on for a tense draw in their championsip opener at Worcestershire despite a 122-run stand between John Crawley and Robin Smith at New Road yesterday. Four days of championship cricket came down to a Bank Holiday run chase after Worcestershire
NORTH East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot has voiced fears that new Government rules stopping people from collecting benefits in cash from post offices will lead to the disintegration of village communities. The MP undertook a tour of local villages, including
CHILDREN from a junior school in Basingstoke have written to The Gazette to voice their disgust at county council plans that could hit The Willis Museum. The Gazette has reported how Hampshire recreation and heritage department chiefs are thinking of
A BASINGSTOKE scooter fanatic got married in style on Saturday thanks to his friends from Basingstoke Scooter Club. The limousine carrying bride Annabelle Smith to join her husband-to-be Steve Keane, 35, from Old Kempshott Lane, at Basingstoke Register
BADMINTON: BH PEGASUS women completed a division 4B double over Loddon in the Castlegate Investments-sponsored Basingstoke and District League. In a 5-1 win at North Foreland Lodge, Wendy Heywood and Lynn White were the only home pair to win a rubber
OAKLEY A have won their way back to division two of the Basingstoke and District Table Tennis League after a season's break. They will go up as division three champions after a 10-0 win over Coaching Lions. But it was not all easy going as Sue Tompsett
Emerald Colour 2 Basingstoke & NH Cricket Club 1 EMERALD Colour won a cup final for the second Sunday running when they collected the Kelvin Cup at the Camrose Ground. But the favourites, who won the Andover President's Cup seven days before, were
Eastleigh's Wayne Perrett continues to head the overall leader table in the Isac Open pegged series after the latest round held at Cogden which left many of the 115-strong field struggling for a bite. The HGV driver, who has recently been celebrating
PLANNING officers have given reassurances that a controversial £1m facelift of a historic Hampshire town centre will be carried out using "quality materials". Six months of work is scheduled to begin next January on phase one to turn Latimer Street and
It was a definite case of 'serendipity' when Hampshire couple Paul and Cecilia Taylor met financial growth expert Colin Moore of Armada Finance. Serendipity Leisure, the firm behind Serendipity Sam's, the highly popular children's indoor party and play
Tenon Corporate Finance's Southampton-based team has successfully put together a deal to fund a management buy-in (MBI) at specialist scientific instrument manufacturers, Applied Kilovolts. Tenon director Clive Hatchard put investors in touch with directors
SOUTHAMPTON-based Ruscrete opened its new landscaping showroom in style with BBC gardening expert Bob Flowerdew on hand to perform the ceremony and host a question time session for visitors. The new 800 sq m purpose-built facility, part of a £2m investment
SAINTS boss Gordon Strachan is suing Coventry City Football Club for £300,000 worth of loyalty bonuses, the Daily Echo can reveal. The flamboyant manager, who has steered Saints to an FA Cup final place for the first time since 1976, is suing his former
AN ARSON probe was under way this morning after a huge blaze severely damaged a Southampton school overnight. Around 40 firefighters tackled flames at the main building of Redbridge Community School in Cuckmere Lane. Nearby residents raised the alarm
A SOUTHAMPTON photography club is the latest in a line of groups for the disabled forced to close because of a lack of community involvement. Solent Camera Club for the disabled, based in Jessamine Road, Shirley, formally shut down at the annual general
CULTURE vultures are invited to Southampton's first ever art deco fair. The event, bringing together dealers from around the country, will take place at the Southampton University Highfield Campus refectory building from 9am until 4pm on April 27. For
A 23-YEAR-OLD woman was killed on the night of Easter Sunday after her car was in a head on collision with another vehicle on the Isle of Wight. Laura Fisher-Lathwell, of Ryde, was driving a green Vauxhall Tigra on the B3401 Calbourne Road near the New
POLICE believe arsonists could be to blame for a potentially catastrophic fire only yards from underground fuel tanks at a Hampshire motorway service station. Firefighters fought the blaze at Winchester Services on the M3 for some 30 minutes before bringing
GORDON STRACHAN praised the world class performance of Christophe Dugarry - but also insisted referee Steve Bennett had allowed the Birmingham striker to run yesterday's game. World Cup winner Dugarry turned in a top class performance to score two goals
