Brighton suffering from the Budget blues?

Chancellor fo the Exchequer, George Osborne.
Credit: Mholland

Mention the 2012 Budget to most people, and it’s unlikely to conjure excitement, but at the very least you might expect it to hold a certain morbid fascination. After all, when George Osborne and his colleagues squeeze the country’s spending and tinker with taxation, it’s we who are affected. But judging by the reactions of Brighton residents, it seems that a climate of despondency fostered by a prevailing economic insecurity means most people are not even interested in reading it.

Although many were unaware of the finer (some might say confusing) details of the document, there was a general perception that it is weighted unfairly, penalising the middle-classes and the vulnerable without even delivering the support to businesses that had been promised.

From Brighton to Gambia

By Elizabeth Hughes

Young people from City College Brighton & Hove and Sussex Central YMCA jetted out on Tuesday 13th December to take part in an exciting and innovative Sports and Construction project in the Gambia.

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Out of the Ordinary Festival

By Lily Davis

Classing myself as a bit of a ‘fake hippy’, it is somewhat surprising that I haven’t made it to the Out of the Ordinary Festival before – especially as it is literally a five minute drive from my house. Fortunately, 2011 was my year. Though after pulling into Knockhatch’s incredibly long drive, it appeared that every other person with a faintly bohemian calling had also decided to venture to the three-day festival, held between Eastbourne and Brighton for the last five years.

The king is Dead! Long live the King!

nothing to see here except this kitten, please move along

Hats off to everyone involved in Brighton-lite thus far…. But there are some new lunatics in charge of the asylum and you’ll be hearing from us soon… meanwhile here is a picture of a kitten…

‘Kitten’ appears courtesy of  http://www.freeanimalswallpapers.com/

Sport: New Trophies on offer at Brighton Marathon

By Rich Hook

Brighton Lite's Tom Stewart, Jack Bradshaw & Joe Kasper show off the Corporate Challenge trophy

Brighton Marathon organisers have unveiled three special trophies for this year’s race.

The awards, specially commissioned by race director Tim Hutchings, will go to the fastest male and female runners from Brighton and the winning team for the Mayo Wynne Baxter Corporate Challenge.

Former Olympian and World Cross-Country silver medallist Hutchings said: “The trophies are really striking with a design that manages to represent the event perfectly while also capturing the spirit of Brighton.

The fine art and engineering departments at City College Brighton & Hove (CCBH) collaborated to make the trophies.

Fine art student Joanna Brown created an innovative perspex trophy for the corporate team winners that illustrates the route and allows the runners to relive their run through the silver balls, which travel the course when the trophy is tilted.

Jo said: “I wanted to come up with a trophy that represented team commitment and endeavor.

“It’s a trophy worth running 26 miles for.”

Having designed the trophy, Joanna enlisted engineering student Matt Gray to turn the perspex glass into the award that CCBH Principal, Phil Frier, will award on Sunday.

Fellow fine art student Cadi Froehlich produced two distinctive brass trophies to reward the best of Brighton in the race.

Designers Matt, Joanna and Cadi with their trophies

Joanna said the pair have been so inspired by the process that they have set up their own bespoke-trophy making company, Trophy Wives Trophies.

The trophies will be presented at the finish of the 2011 Brighton Marathon this Sunday April 10 on Madeira Drive (race starts 9am)

Sport: City College Boxer Targets National Title

By Rich Hook

A promising young middleweight from City College Brighton & Hove has won his way into the Amateur Boxing Association National Championships.

Archie Hutchins, 17, who is part of the Advanced Apprenticeship for Sporting Excellence programme, has already beaten four opponents to be crowned ABA Southern Counties Junior Middleweight Champion.

Archie training up for his next bout in City College's Olympic-sized ring

Coach Adam Haniver said: “Archie has all the natural talent needed to make it, and his dedication to his craft as a boxer has been truly outstanding. He’s a great ambassador for the Academy.”

Archie has the national title firmly in his sights and is confident he can beat anyone, with his next bout at the ABA National Quarter Finals on April 17.

Sport: City College Brighton and Hove Sports Lecturer’s Top Training Tips For Brighton Marathon Runners

By Tanya Paulo

Runners in this Sunday’s Brighton Marathon now need to take steps to allow their bodies to be as fresh and energised as possible before the race, a Sports lecturer has advised.

Lloyd Hooper, who tutors at City College Brighton and Hove, said: “At this stage all the hard work should have already been done.

“Runners will have put in miles of training and now need to allow their body to be as fresh and energised as possible to get them round the 26.2 mile course.

“A positive mindset is key, and with the support and entertainment expected – over 100,000 spectators – it should make for an excellent day.”

Mr Hooper offered this advice:

1. In the last few days, runners should taper training with a couple of light, short distance runs, ending with stretching to prevent muscle tightness.

2. Ideal marathon diet is pasta, rice or other starchy foods to increase carbohydrate intake in the days leading up to Sunday, especially Saturday night.

3. Runners choosing to eat breakfast would need to do so at least two hours before 9am, when the race starts, to avoid any discomfort during the run.

4. Energy drinks, gels or sweets will help maintain energy levels around the course: powerade and energy shots will be available at various posts.

5. Fine weather is forecast for Sunday, so runners should make use of the water stations to avoid dehydration.

6. Clothing should be comfortable – stick to what worked during training – with sports clothing, which draws sweat away from the skin, being ideal.

7. Go for a light jog and do dynamic stretching exercises to warm the body before the race.

Read how one new dad has had to juggle training with a baby

Ideal marathon diet is pasta, rice or other starchy foods to increase carbohydrate intake in the days leading up to Sunday, especially Saturday night.