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Monmore Green, Wolverhampton
by BeekiesDottie
Hi, first of all I like greyhound racing, own a few shares of dogs (including my username), and I always find homes for them when they retire!
Now, thats out the way, Monmore Green Greyhound track - evening meetings on Thursdays and Saturdays (£6 entry - children free) or Monday and Friday afternoons (free entry) - of course ... on an evening of you book in advance you can take advantage of a meal with family / friends or a deal that includes entry, Burger and chips (or other), pint, tote bet etc. Now... if you know an owner of a greyhound, then he or she can take in a "Friend" for free !!!
The place is clean, the toilets are always of a good standard, the bar prices are not too bad and they usually are well staffed - the snack bar has decent food and decent prices too. You can bet small amounts from 50p on the tote (a good number of staff that know what they are doing) - if you want to bet with a bookie - the minimum stake is £2.
The viewing is good and proving the weather allows you to stand outside, there is plenty of space to watch the dogs. You can see them parading before the race and come back to the kennels for their well earned drink and rub down afterwards!
The carpark is of a good size, and I have never had any problems parking, getting there by bus / metro is good - Priestfield Metro / Tram station is 10 minutes walk whilst the 79 and 39 buses (Wolves to West Brom and Wolves to Walsall) buses stop 5 minutes walk away.
I have been to a number of tracks in my my time but I can honestly say that this one is my favourite - I do like Coventry and Notts tracks too!
It can get a little busy on Saturday nights - if you have smaller children it might be easier taking them on a Thursday night (maybe in the school hols) - they also have 11am to 2pm meetings on Bank Holiday's - on these days they have face painting and other child friendly activities
I have yet to see any unsavory behaviou and there are security guards on hand to deal with any that might occur.
A good night out, and if your sensible (and perhaps lucky!) can be an inexpensive night with friends or family.
Remember, if you see my username running, be sure to cheer her on :-)
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Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)
by Beanie8844
In 2006 Arsenal left their beloved home at Highbury where they had much success, including the dramatic 'unbeatable season' and moved the short distance to their new home of the Emirates Stadium. It was a shame that they had to leave, but financially it was the for the best. With a capacity of around 40,000 Highbury was far too small for ... them and with space for 60,361 supporters The Emirates over doubled their size. This change made their home the third largest stadium in England behind Wembley and Old Trafford.
Unfortunately for Arsenal and Mr Wenger the form of the team has dipped since they moved and many of their superstars including, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure, Robin Van Persie, Gael Clichy and Alex Song have all moved on. Many of the suporters have grown increasingly frustrated with this. They've been at the new ground for a number of years now and you would think that there would now be money to spend, however, so far little has been spent on improving the first team squad and the current best players seem to be the young and upcoming English talent which they possess and have purchased for little or no money - Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain examples.
I've visited the Emirates on a few occassions as I have friends who are Arsenal fans. There is no doubt that the stadium is top class. The views of the playing surface wherever you are sitting are quite superb and the leg room which you have is unbelievable. You almost wonder why they opted for so much because they could have made better financial use of the space and added more seating; but saying this the extra comfort is a lovely touch. Aswell as great views and a cracking seat, the stadium is very modern indeed and has a quite unique look.
For all of its grandure though, The Emirates is one of the most expensive stadiums in the world to attend for a matchday. Many season ticket supporters have felt that recently the price of a season ticket does not match the clubs ambition and even though they have one of the best stadia in the league, the tickets are not value for money. Season tickets start at £985 and rise all the way up to £1955 and individual match tickets are up there with the most expensive in the league. I recently remember that Manchester City did not purchase their full allocation of away tickets due to the prices being so high.
To keep you fed and watered on matchdays there is a good variety of food and drinks available incluidng the usual pies, hot dogs, burgers and a few other bits and pieces. All at prices which you would expect for Premier League football grounds.
Although parking in the area is quite difficult, the public transport to and from the ground is quite superb. There are four tube stations which service the ground - Highbury and Islington, Holloway Road and Finsbury Park and Arsenal. I have found that clearing the ground and leaving the area is far easier than when attending Wembley up the road. Thought has clearly gone into the planning and the resulst speak for themselves.
Overall, The Emirates is a ground which I'm glad to have visited. I would imagine that it is a pleasure to visit if you're an away fan, but it would be a tad expensive to visit week in and week out if you were a gunner.
Thanks for reading - feel free to comment
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Northampton Canoe & Kayak Club
by thedevilinme
In times of plenty you should fix the roof. But for Northampton, yet again we wasted money on things like the 'Northampton Canoe and Kayak Center' just after the 1990s recession.
It's a bespoke artificial white water course down by the local River Nene that sneaks through the town unloved and hardly an Olympic quality facility, ... like everything in this town a somewhat half-assed affair. When I walked home from work at the nearby Brackmills Industrial Estate when I worked up there I would pass it everyday and never once saw a canoe on it but the pump still roaring away to move the water back up the top of the run 24.7. It's like seeing a nice car with the engine running and the door open but no one in it. The club that run it also have a brand new club house by the river and although you do see kids out on the river doing courses sometimes they don't seem to be allowed much access to the actual course, no doubt poxy health & safety laws and timid teachers keeping them off it.
Canoes & Kayaks!
Canoe - a lightweight narrow boat pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers.
Kayak - Type of canoe covered by a deck except for a cockpit in which the paddler sits. It has a pointed bow and stern and no keel; the paddler faces forward, grasping a double-bladed paddle and dipping the blades alternately on either side.
The rapids generated by the pump could be described as 'gentle' and the water speed that of the torrent that regularly races through Billing Aquadrome down the river in flood. I can't really see how this starter course could prepare young canoeist for progression in the sport, especially as its quite narrow so hard not to be able to pass through the hanging gates you get in this sport. Its not that long either and from top to bottom would take you about two minutes or less, getting slightly wet in the process, like you would in a summer rain shower. It's not that deep either and merely up to your kneecaps in some places. It really is a feeble challenge. But there are no natural rapids within 100 miles of Northampton so budding canoeist have to go there - even though they don't. I suspect the serious people cut out the middle man and practice at the Olympic course in Hertfordshire that produced three home medals in London 2012. I would, Northampton very much the Netto of courses.
To use the white water you could simply rock up with your canoe and have ago as there is no one around to stop you. Maybe Someone at the club house just across the river could spot you and be shocked enough that someone is actually using it to come over and tell you off but I doubt it. What they do is run courses on it and you use it that way.
The courses for beginner (£6 per session for non members and £4 for members) start at the local Mounts swimming baths to see how stable you are and so taste the chlorine and then moves to Sunday afternoons through April til October (2-5pm) on the River Nene itself and then eventually the white water when you are qualified and a full member.
The beginner courses in the winter to get your first canoe star are strictly indoor pool sessions on Friday nights at the Mounts pool from 8-10pm until May 18th, again £5 a session and all welcome, then all outdoors through summer. The 2 Star paddlers (they don't tip over) are on the river Tuesday night from 6-30pm to 9pm in the summer although a qualified coach is not required to attend so take note mums and dads. Friday is whitewater night for the more experienced paddlers and open to club members only.
Annual membership is £75 for the family ticket, which includes kit hire for all, or £50 for a trail 6 month summer membership. Adult alone is £60 for the year or £40 for the summer 6 months and its £25 for students and £20 down for kid's age groups. There are affiliated memberships of £120 plus for groups and temporary ones for on the day for a fiver. Obviously if you have your own canoe and kit there is no real need to join. They do have nice bar and eatery in the clubhouse though.
My canoeing experience is no more or less than anyone else that's sporty and I can just about stay up. I did the starter course when it first opened back in 1999 and had fun, then all allowed a go on the rapids. Canoes and kayaks are not the most stable things, as you all know, and when you take your fast Canoe Star (the official proficiency grading) you have to learn to right the thing, which involves deliberately flipping it with you in it, which isn't pleasant. If you don't want to do that then don't do canoeing and kayaking. You are going to eat water and you don't want to be doing that in the River Nene. You only need look at the catchers that collect all the crap on the weir by the clubhouse to see just what's in the water. British rivers are a murky brown for a reason. You will be pleased to know most of it ends up in Carlsberg Lager as the local brewery sucks up the same water.
Nene Whitewater Centre
Bedford Road
Northampton
NN4 7AA
===Website===
http://www.nckc.org.uk/Areyounew.php
General Info E-mail : info@nckc.org.uk
For course information & to book contact:
Coaching Info E-mail : coaching@nckc.org.uk
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