5 - 2019 | Chalmers News PR

Fuelling excitement for first outdoor karting circuit in Warwickshire

Posted on May 13, 2019May 13, 2019 by admin

THE first premier outdoor karting circuit in Warwickshire has opened to the public.

The track, which is based at the 100-acre Adventure Sports outdoor activity centre in Warwick, boasts a fleet of 14 fast and powerful twin-engine 400cc Biz Le Mans Karts, fitted with state-of-the-art electronic De Haardt safety systems and Tag Heuer timing.

There is also a fleet of 200cc Biz Junior Karts, with full safety cages and harnesses suitable for ages 10 and upwards, including adults, so ideal for family parties!

Members of The National Karting Association, the site offers three different karting packages:

Have-a-Go – Race against the clock – ideal for individuals and small groups (1 to 12 people);

Grand Prix – perfect for groups of friends or corporate events (8 to 36 people);

Endurance Racing – the ultimate team-building corporate event (12 to 72 people).

Adventure Sports was established at Wedgnock Rifle Range in 1990 by Steve Richardson from Leek Wootton who was already running Paintball and Clay Shooting on neighbouring land that he was farming. Since then the number of activities has grown to more than 50 including Mixed Activity events, Karting, Junior Karting, Clay Shooting (including 20 and 50 Shot Experiences for novices, Sportrap, Skeet and DTL for regular shooters), Quad Bike Trekking, Mud & Mayhem, Hovercraft, 4×4 Taster Sessions and Safaris, Rally Karts, Powerturn Karts, Reverse Steer Jeeps, Archery, Segways, Digger Driving, Treasure Hunts, Junior and Compact Paintball, Pistol and Rifle Target Gallery, as well as a vast selection of Team Building Activities.

It is also the only site in Warwickshire to offer the new recent addition of axe throwing as an activity!

The new karting track realises the latest ambition for Steve, who says it is already proving to be one of the more popular activities for corporate training days.

He said: “One of our clients’ major requirements over the last 30 years has been speed related – and being able to now run these twin-engined karts certainly offers that.

“We’re the only place in Warwickshire to offer twin-engine karts on an outdoor track. We operate all year round and in all weathers!”

For further details about the new karting circuit and all the activities available, visit: www.adventuresport.co.uk/karting

Bookings can be made online or by calling 01926 491948.

WIN Open Session tickets for four people at the new circuit in this week’s Rugby Advertiser, out on Thursday.

Step back to the 80s in style!

Posted on May 8, 2019May 8, 2019 by admin

Club Tropicana, drinks are free. Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone!

Never enough I say! This flamboyant homage to the electric Eighties is unashamedly celebratory of the era – from the brick mobile phones to the back combs and shoulder pads, for those of us who came of age in this decade, it’s, among other things, an unadulterated nostalgia fest.

Club Tropicana is the latest success story of the popular jukebox musical genre – a storyline weaved between the hits of the decade. If you’re a fan of this music what’s not to love?

Following an abrupt change of heart on the morning of her wedding, bride Lorraine, played by Karina Hind, and her friends decide to get away from it all by going on the (non-refundable) honeymoon together. Whilst separately Olly, actor Cellen Chugg Jones, and his laddish mates have similar intentions and the inevitable happens.

Meanwhile, amidst the ordered chaos of running a business, there’s another sort of trouble in paradise, with interfering inspectors threatening the hotel with closure. Will the budding bride and groom get back together? And will the resort survive another summer?

Plus the undercurrent of a relationship between the hotel managers is adding to a lack of focus just when it’s needed.

Running around with the proverbial sticking plaster trying to hold everything together is the irresistibly camp entertainments manager Gary – played superbly by X-Factor’s Joe McElderry.

This romantic comedy is an effervescent and delightfully uplifting production that revels in visual slapstick. And it’s carried off with absolute aplomb, particularly by my personal star of the show Kate Robbins whose hysterical portrayal of Consuela the Spanish cleaning lady, is like nothing you’ll have seen before – although there were echoes of Acorn Antiques’ Mrs Overall at times.

It had the audience rolling, as much as dancing, in the aisles.

Club Tropicana The Musical — Amelle Berrabah, Neil McDermott and ensemble

Of course the real star of the show is the ever-present soundtrack. And what a soundtrack! From Fantastic Day, Addicted To Love, She Drives Me Crazy and Take On Me to Jump, Relax, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Just Can’t Get Enough – and we couldn’t. Just as well there are more than 25 hits packed into the show – including a couple of TV themes from the era you might recognise!

Whether or not you lived through the Eighties, these are all iconic tunes that everyone will be familiar with – and want to dance to.

Club Tropicana The Musical is as outrageous as the leotards and leggings of the day – and that’s exactly why it works. Catch it if you can.

It plays at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry until Saturday. Tickets are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055 or visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are even cheaper.

New karting track fuels excitement

Posted on May 1, 2019May 1, 2019 by admin

IF, like our family, you like to live life in the fast lane – but only if the fast lane is around the corner(!) you’re now in luck.

A new premier outdoor karting track has just opened in Warwick – and it’s fuelling a lot of excitement.

My sons were quick to volunteer to be among the first to take the karts for a spin, at Adventure Sports – a 100-acre outdoor activity centre off Wedgenock Lane.

While they’re both experienced in go-kart circuits, these 400cc Biz Le Mans karts represented a different proposition when putting the pedal to the metal. These mean machines crank up the thrill factor from most of the indoor circuits they’ve already experienced.

The one-hour Have a Go package they signed up for was divided into two sessions where drivers competed against the clock and compared their times.

But you soon learn that bragging rights are not necessarily earned through the throttle alone. Handling technique and intelligent driving play a huge part in getting the most from those beefy engines – as my eldest son discovered when his hot-headed pursuit for speed resulted in some undesired results. Let’s just say he took the phrase ‘taking the kart for a spin’ quite literally!

It’s because they’re serious machines that you have to be over 14 to get behind the wheel. (The heavy karts demand a certain amount of strength to handle) But younger siblings with a need for speed don’t have to miss out as there’s also a fleet of 200c Biz Junior Karts with full safety cages and harnesses suitable for 10 plus. These are a great option for parties that include children and adults.

The compact circuit itself is riddled with sharp bends so it’s challenging in that respect -although I suspect many parents, like me, will view the lack of straights as a good excuse to keep the speeds in a certain amount of check!

But driver welfare is at the forefront and no-one’s allowed near the track until they’ve watched a safety video. It’s also reassuring to know that, while they are in control of their karts, the engines can be slowed or killed at any time by a marshal with a nice big override button! (As was the case when said son lost control on two bends.)

Alternative packages include Grand Prix – open to groups of between eight and 36 people racing against each other – and Endurance Karting – team racing for corporate groups of between 12 and 72 people.

Prices are reasonable too. You can expect to pay between £24 and £40 per kart depending on your chosen activity.

The impressive new circuit is the latest addition to the activity centre, which also includes quad trekking, hovercraft, 4×4 driving, rally karts, powerturn karts, reverse steer jeeps, archery,clay pigeon shooting, segways, paintball, pistol and target gallery and even axe throwing!

My sons had a brilliant time on their first visit to Adventure Sport’s new karting track – and are already gearing themselves up for a return.

Check out their website at: www.adventuresport.co.uk/

Dance events set to strike right chord for Molly Olly’s

Posted on May 1, 2019May 1, 2019 by admin

It’s a cry of ‘strictly come dancing’ from Molly Olly’s Wishes next weekend as they invite people to support two fundraising events in their name.

Molly Ollerenshaw pictured wearing the new ballerina outfit she received for her fourth birthday.

People will be putting their best foot forward for the Warwick-based charity and throwing some shapes on the dance floor when Coventry Zumbathon returns on Saturday, May 11^th.

For those who prefer to spectate, the following day, Viva Theatre Arts presents its popular annual dance show at Warwick School.

Hundreds of people will be united in two hours of dance for the fifth sponsored Zumbathon at Square One in Coventry, raising money for Molly Olly’s and Myton Hospice.

Organiser Matt Print said: “This time I wanted to support Molly Olly’s Wishes as I have seen the amazing work they do locally.

“A Zumbathon is a great way to unite with friends and family, it’ll feel like a night out and you will leave feeling energised, happy and empowered – albeit a bit sweaty!”

Further information and tickets are available from: www.coventryzumbathon.co.uk and sponsorship forms are available to download by visiting: www.coventryzumbathon.co.uk/sponsorship-form Tickets are also available on the day although booking is advised.

Molly Olly’s Wishes was established in 2011 following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw’s eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer. It works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing, grants wishes and donates therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK. More information on the charity is available at: www.mollyolly.co.uk

Rachel said: “The charity is hugely grateful to Matt and everyone involved with the Zumbathon for choosing Molly Olly’s alongside Myton Hospice as their charities to support at this year’s Zumbathon. It is a really fun way to raise money and will help raise awareness for children and their families that really need our support.

A raffle also takes place on the day with prizes donated by local businesses.

Seventy members of Viva Theatre Arts in Kenilworth come together for a showcase of dance on May 12^th, performing from a variety of genres including tap, ballet, jazz, modern and lyrical.

Viva Arts, Molly Olly's Wishes — Last year’s dance show Viva Fever 2018 – Rainbow of Dreams.

The young performers, from schools across the county, are aged between four and 18, including 11-year-old Grace Buttimore from Leamington who makes her swansong appearance for Viva Arts before taking up her place at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in Edgbaston from September.

Grace, who attends Warwick Preparatory School, was one of just 14 girls selected from hundreds of hopefuls after auditioning before a panel of judges.

Tickets for the Viva Arts show are available by calling the box office on 01926 776438 or emailing boxoffice@warwickschool.org or visit online at: www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk/production/viva-once-upon-a-time/

Viva Principal Claudia Temple said: “We’re proud to now have raised approximately £10,000 for Molly Olly’s Wishes. Everyone at the school was incredibly moved by Molly’s story and there’s something very natural about children helping to raise funds to help support other children less fortunate than themselves, simply by doing something which involves dedication and hard work but is also very enjoyable.

“One of our students and her family benefited from a wish granted by Molly Olly’s during her battle with cancer. Part of Molly’s legacy is to inspire young people to support their friends and their community by giving a little bit back as often as they can. I hope my students take that with them through the rest of their lives.”

Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “Claudia and her team have very kindly supported Molly Olly’s Wishes for several years now and we absolutely love going to watch the shows.

“It is a real pleasure to see all the children who are so talented and the show is so professionally done. So much work goes on to putting it all together.”