18 year old Chesterfield Porsche Carrera Cup GB star Seb Perez grabbed a well earned podium place in his Amigos Team Parker Racing Porsche 911 GT3 at Donington Park last weekend.

The up and coming Derbyshire racer took a second ProAm contender place this was the  highlight after a tough weekend at the Leicestershire circuit for him and his Nottinghamshire Team mate George Gamble.

Perez knew coming to his local circuit he needed to get some points after an eventful weekend at Brand Hatch three weeks ago that saw him shunted off in first competitive race in the Porsche and a 10th in race two.

Perez’s qualifying session on Saturday was hampered by bad weather, it rained all session and there was no chance of the track drying, needless to say Perez in his usual style gave it all he had got and took the Amigos Porsche to finish second in the ProAm running and seventh on the grid seeing Team mate Gamble back of the grid after a technical issue with his car.

Race one saw Perez from 4th row of the grid struggle in the conditions and decide to gain points rather than a category win.

From the first lap the race many position changes took place, this was not without excitement and a spin coming out of Redgate sent Perez down the pack of the 23 starters and after an exhausting 23 laps was happy to see the chequered flag in 11th position and take fourth in ProAm.

A Sunday afternoon second race saw the 1.97 mile Donington track dry but very cold with 40 minutes and 33 laps ahead of  the 23 cars and Perez starting from 6th on the grid.

As the lights went out he made a great start but on lap seven an infield spin could well have seen his race over but the Amigos Team Parker Racing race ace took a charge back into the pack for the next 26 laps and aided by a few safety car laps saw him take 8th place and despite the spin could well have seen a race podium or top five place.

Perez was still happy taking second and a maiden podium in the ProAm category in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB after 4 rounds.

An elated Perez after coming off the podium said

“It’s been a really good weekend overall and to take my first ever Carrera Cup podium at my home circuit is really the icing on the cake”.

“Race one was difficult yesterday (Saturday) so the focus was really on today and I had a really good pace from the off. The contact at the beginning was really unfortunate, not sure if Dan (Harper) had a well car to be honest and I went for a move which didn’t really work and went right to back of pack. When the safety car came out it helped us tremendously.

The weekend we had at Brands was a nightmare so to get the result here is fantastic”.

Perez leaves Donington 4th in the ProAm and 5th in the Rookie category of the Championship, Amigo Team Parker Racing are currently fourth in the Team Championship.

The next round of the season will see Perez travel to the iconic Italian circuit of Monza as a support race to the European Le Mans Series on the 12^th/13th May and back on home soil again at Oulton Park on 9th / 10th June where all the action will be on ITV4.

Editorial and images by Paul Horton and Paul Horton Motorsport Photography

Chesterfield Theatres is pleased to announce its Summer 2018 season.

Between Tuesday 8 May and Saturday 12 May at the Pomegranate Chesterfield Theatres have Turn of the Screw starring Carli Norris (Eastenders, Doctors, Hollyoaks, Holby City) and Maggie McCarthy (Dancing on the Edge, Doctors, Call the Midwife, Coronation Street). This dynamic, thrilling adaptation of Henry James’s much loved and genre-defining ghost story Turn of the Screw is thought-provoking, moving and above all terrifying.

For the family, Oscar Wilde’s classic tale The Selfish Giant is reimagined for the stage when Wrongsemble brings the show to the Pomegranate Theatre on Sunday 27 May. On Thursday 2 August Bing Live! provides the perfect first theatre trip for pre-schoolers and their families at the Pomegranate Theatre.

Join a tiny snail on her trip round the world in Tall Stories’ magical, musical production inspired by the fantastic bestselling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler as The Snail and the Whale comes to the Pomegranate on Saturday 8 September and Sunday 9 September.

Cirque Berserk ensures fun for all the family when it comes to the Pomegranate Theatre from Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 May. Straight from the West End, this circus combines contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, including the legendary motorcycle ‘Globe of Death!

Looking further ahead to autumn, Chesterfield Theatres are planning a series of events to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One. Direct from London’s West End on Friday 19 & Saturday 20 October, is a stage adaptation of Michael Morpugo’s Private Peaceful. From Tuesday 6 November to Saturday 10 November Rumpus Theatre Company present The Eleventh Hour. This new play written by John Goodrum and goes from the striking reality of the trenches to the exuberant celebrations on the home front.

Pantomime returns to Chesterfield with everybody’s favourite Christmas tale, the timeless, Cinderella. This classic ‘rags to riches’ tale, will enchant both young and old with magical effects and lavish sets and costumes. Cinderella which will be at the Pomegranate Theatre from 1 December – 6 January. A full star cast will be announced soon.

At the Winding Wheel, highlights include concerts from The Drifters – who will perform their hits from the last six decades on Saturday 9 June.  On Friday 29 June, Jane McDonald will celebrate twenty years in the business with a national concert tour. UK’s No.1 classical vocal harmony quartet G4!  Bring their exhilarating tour on Saturday 8 September.

Direct from China, the legendary Shaolin Warriors will arrive on Sunday 30 September, punching, kicking and tumbling in a spectacular, dynamic production suitable for all the family.  Britain’s Got Talent and Amanda Holden’s golden buzzer act Daliso Chapanda brings his debut stand up tour ‘What the African said…’ to Chesterfield on Friday 8 June.

Looking further ahead Chesterfield Theatres are excited to welcome the return of Willy Russell’s hit musical Blood Brothers from Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 November. Presented by Bill Kenwright, this legendary and multi-award winning musical “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval.”

Jason Donovan will be bringing his Amazing Midlife Crisis tour to the Winding Wheel on Friday 28 September. This intimate tour will be a unique opportunity to see him like you’ve never seen him before.

Two students who set up the University of Derby’s Nursing Society have scooped a top prize at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2018.

Kelly-Hellen Hitchcock and Laura MacPherson, both third-year Mental Health students, set up the society to unite student nurses from across all cohorts and disciplines at Derby. The society, which has around 100 members, aims to provide peer support, as well as organise social events and career-focused trips.

The Chesterfield Campus has enabled the University to build on its experience and success to offer an outstanding learning environment and some of the best facilities available in the UK for our Adult Nursing degrees and Health and Social Care courses. Combined with the strong relationships with local healthcare providers and other employers, it ensures some of the highest employability rates for their students in the UK, with 100% of their nursing students in a professional or managerial job six months after finishing their course.

Following a record-breaking year of award entries, the winners of the Student Nursing Times Awards were announced at a ceremony held at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Student nurses, universities and organisations from across the student nursing community were honoured in 19 categories dedicated to celebrating exceptional achievement.

After excelling during the rigorous judging process, Kelly-Hellen and Laura were announced winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs category.

Kelly-Hellen said:-

“It is so amazing to win this award and be able to showcase all of the work we have put in and the fantastic things we have achieved with the Nursing Society over the last 18 months.

“Most of all, it’s a great chance for us to thank all of the people who have been a part of our journey. While it’s our names on the award, so many people have helped us get here, and we accept it on their behalf too. It’s such a surprise and an absolute joy to end our time as student nurses on such an incredible high.”

Laura added:-

“I hope we’ve made a difference to the student nursing experience at the University of Derby, which will continue long after we have left. This is an amazing way to recognise and celebrate nearly finishing our training.”

As part of the Nursing Society, Kelly-Hellen and Laura, who are both Academic Representatives for their course at Derby, arranged trips to the Royal College of Nursing Congress and Nursing Times Careers Fair, organised a Nursing Society Christmas lecture with academics from across the university and guest speakers, as well as raising more than £800 funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The pair have also actively encouraged students to take part in the national Scrap the Cap Campaign – urging the government to ditch the 1% cap on public sector pay – completing postcards, attending an organised rally in London, and inviting local MP Chris Williamson to speak to student nurses.

Dr Paula Holt, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Health and Social Care at the University of Derby, said:-

“This is an exceptional achievement and we are extremely proud of our engaged, committed and talented students, who are so passionate about their studies and supporting others.

“The Nursing Society has been fundamental in helping students to communicate with one another and share their experiences of studying at Derby and we hope it continues in the future, helping the next generation of trainee nurses.”

Jenni Middleton, Nursing Times Editor and host of the Student Nursing Times Award, added:-

“Every year, our judges are stunned by the standard of our entrants, and this year in particular they commented to me just how much better the quality of applicants was. We are delighted to be handing out these trophies to the very best students, and the organisations that are supporting them and helping them to become nurses.”

Going into their eighth year, the Student Nursing Times Awards will return in 2019 and are the only awards recognising student nurses and nurse education.

Representatives from the Air Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance attended Chesterfield’s game at the Proact against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday to receive the proceeds of a collection.

A total of £3,700 was raised at Chesterfield’s game against Notts County in March, meaning that each organisation received £1,850.

The collection was organised by the Chesterfield FC Community Trust in recognition of the life-saving efforts of both organisations during the game against Lincoln City.

Season ticket holder Alec Freeman received CPR from St John Ambulance first-aider Carol Crompton after collapsing in the East Stand before being taken by Air Ambulance to a hospital in Derby.

Club officials were delighted to welcome Alec as a guest on Saturday and he enjoyed an emotional reunion with Carol in the Brampton Brewery 1866 Lounge before the game.

“Meeting Carol was very emotional,” said Alec. “It’s hard to say how thankful I am to Carol for what she did for me. Saying ‘thank you’ just doesn’t seem enough.”

Carol’s life-saving contribution saw her presented with an Award of Merit by the club, handed over by Alec.

Photographer Tina Jenner

Derbyshire County Cricket Club has reinforced the Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby coaching and support team, as the Club increases it focus on developing home grown talent.

In his extended role as Head of Development, Mal Loye will lead a strengthened management, coaching and support group.

Stephen Stubbings, who has been promoted to First XI Coach, and Player/Coach Tony Palladino will liaise with Loye on emerging players, offering opportunities to train with the first team and talent-spot players to progress from the Academy into the professional setup.

The Club has also appointed a new Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, Matt Mayer, and Assistant Physiotherapist, Marc Barr, who will focus on the Second XI and Academy teams, whilst providing additional support to Lead Physio, Fran Clarkson and Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach, Jonty Norris.

The Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby is the highest level of the Cricket Derbyshire development pathway.

The pathway allows talented youngsters to progress through club, district, County Age Group and Emerging Players Programme (EPP) Mini-Academy levels before moving into the Academy and then ultimately into the professional setup.

In total, 11 graduates from the Academy featured for the first-team in 2017, whilst Hamidullah Qadri, Callum Brodrick, James Taylor and Alfie Gleadall all earned their first professional deals.

The Derbyshire Cricket Board will continue to be fully responsible for the delivery of the development pathway below Academy level.

Loye said:-

“It’s important for the future of Derbyshire and England that we are developing our own players. There has to be a clear goal and route to progress into the professional game for those who are good enough.

“Our enhanced set-up, working closely with Steve [Stubbings] as First XI Coach, will identify talent and give young players the best possible opportunity to break into the first team.”

Chesterfield’s up and coming motor racing star Seb Perez makes his way to local race circuit Donington Park this weekend (28-29 April) for the next two rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship.

The 18 year old will line-up alongside his Amigos Team Parker Racing teammate Nottinghamshire’s 21 year old George Gamble in their Amigos livered and sponsored second generation Porsche Type 991 911 GT3  cars that look absolutely stunning,

Perez aims to pull out all the stops this weekend after both cars performed exceptionally well just over two weeks ago, that saw both Porsche rookie drivers take on the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in the first two rounds of the race series.

Perez went to the Kent Circuit with a new car never raced before apart from the few test sessions where he had been topping speeds of over 135 mph and taking some top 5 spots.

The weekend panned out well for both drivers and their Team Parker Racing outfit at the end, Gamble coming away with a second race win and Perez on it all weekend that saw him knocked  back in the season opening race, ending it in the gravel but impressed in race two, making ten places from the back of the grid to take 10^th and finish just outside of the ProAm category podium.

Free practice saw Seb finishing and maintaining a 7th place throughout the day, Qualifying was a different story, a difficult qualifying session dashed any hopes of a top spot on the grid for the weekends first race. The tight narrow circuit didn’t help as did a track full of cars out for most of the time restricted getting any decent times in and saw Perez take ninth fastest.

Weather conditions changed for race one and Perez  9th place on the grid. A wet track awaited to challenge any driver after qualifying set up had been in the dry. Perez knew that a different set up in the wet meant more to learn about the car, as well as racing on wet tyres for the first time.

As the lights went out Perez had a good start but tried his hardest for 5 laps fighting like cat and mouse with those in front before moving into 8th place on lap six and taking another place on lap seven to put him in 7th place.

Maintaining this position, putting in some great times lap 13 was to be unlucky for Perez, he was shunted from behind that saw him taking an excursion into the gravel where he stayed for the rest of race one.

Race two was a different affair, with similar ace conditions and live on ITV4, from the back of the grid but Perez was off the line like lightening. He had made up five places by Graham Hill Bend, by lap 10 he was in tenth place picking off a place every lap.

Lap 16 saw the safety car make an appearance that halted any more progress for Perez and finish in 10th place.

Perez was happy with his performance over the weekend and commented “It could have been a much different story had I not got taken out in race one but I feel really positive about the weekend as a whole”

He added “The car feels great and we are making real progress with every lap. It just feels very comfortable in the Porsche and Amigo Team Parker Racing have done a great job to get the car back out for race two. I really need to continue the pace into the next round at Donington”.

Perez goes to Donington 6th in the ProAm and Rookie category of the championship, Amigo Team Parker are second in the Team Championship

This year’s 16 race Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship series is one of the most highly regarded championships in Europe and follows the British Touring Car package, with a trip to Monza in Italy for the European Le Mans Series support thrown in for good measure.

The next round of the season heads for Donington Park on the 28^th/29th April where local support for the Chesterfield racer will be strong, you can follow Seb and the Championship live on ITV4.

Editorial and images by Paul Horton and Paul Horton Motorsport Photography