Latest news with #AlexHammond
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'I lost eight stone playing football and can see my kids grow up'
A man who lost 8st 7lb (55kg) by playing football said he was happy to have the chance to watch his children grow Hammond, 45, from Ipswich in Suffolk, weighed 21st 6lb (137kg) and was "addicted to food" prior to to change his life, in May last year he joined MAN v FAT Football, a league where men with a body mass index (BMI) of 27.50 or over can play while earning points for losing said he was welcomed with "open arms" and had a "bright future" ahead of him. While Mr Hammond could lose weight easily, he struggled to keep it had heard of MAN v FAT before, but felt he could not take part as he believed he was not good enough at football until a friend convinced him to join."I'm a tryer as they say, but once I went and did the tester I realised it's not about the football, it's about the journey and the weight loss. That's the most important thing," he said."It was nerve-racking going because I thought everyone was going to judge me. "I was a big lad and I couldn't play football, but I was welcomed with open arms."Everyone was really friendly. They took me in as part of the team straight away. They made me so comfortable, it was unbelievable, and it made me want to come back week after week." Mr Hammond added MAN v FAT was not only a place where men could meet friends, but where they could also discuss their struggles openly without being judged. Following his weight loss he said he felt like a "different person", which meant he could be more active with his children as well as the youth football teams he coaches at Ipswich Exiles. "I know it's very much a cliche, but when I was bigger I didn't see living past 50 because I was going down a road that, unless I made changes, I wasn't going to be able to turn around from," he said."Now I see a bright future. Hopefully, I'll be able to see my kids grow up, them have kids, and watch their kids grow up and maybe watch them play football."I'm trying to be a better role model to my children and anyone else I can help." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
‘This is wild' – Race dramatically STOPPED after horses and jockeys pelted with ‘painful' hailstones
The crazy weather was captured on national TV Hail horror 'This is wild' – Race dramatically STOPPED after horses and jockeys pelted with 'painful' hailstones RACING in France was dramatically stopped as horses and jockeys were pelted by "painful" hailstones. Bad weather hit the centre of the country's jump racing in Auteuil, Paris, during the 3.07pm contest on Saturday. 1 Hail was seen falling on top of horses and jockeys during a race in Auteuil Credit: The track was hit by a flurry of hail mid-race as wind swept in a storm as competitors crossed the obstacles in the A. Veil-picard Hurdle. Runners were well spaced out when a warning siren indicated for jockeys to duck for cover, including British rider James Reveley. Many clocked on to the danger they were in and immediately pulled up to get under cover as huge balls of ice began raining down. The biblical pictures were captured live in Sky Sports TV cameras, with commentator Alex Hammond speaking about the remarkable situation. She said: "This is wild. "The hailstones are absolutely enormous, that will be really painful. They look the size of golf balls." Leaves could be seen bombarding the race track as the jockeys ran on. Pundit Laurent Barbarin added: "I have never seen anything like it. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "They are trying to hide under trees, it is so dangerous." Local weather forecasters issued thunderstorm warnings while videos shared on social media showed water running down the streets of Paris.
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
‘This is wild' – Race dramatically STOPPED after horses and jockeys pelted with ‘painful' hailstones
RACING in France was dramatically stopped as horses and jockeys were pelted by "painful" hailstones. Bad weather hit the centre of the country's jump racing in Auteuil, Paris, during the 3.07pm contest on Saturday. Advertisement 1 Hail was seen falling on top of horses and jockeys during a race in Auteuil Credit: The track was hit by a flurry of hail mid-race as wind swept in a storm as competitors crossed the obstacles in the A. Veil-picard Hurdle. Runners were well spaced out when a warning siren indicated for jockeys to duck for cover, including British rider James Reveley. Many clocked on to the danger they were in and immediately pulled up to get under cover as huge balls of ice began raining down. The biblical pictures were captured live in Sky Sports TV cameras, with commentator Alex Hammond speaking about the remarkable situation. Advertisement READ MORE IN HORSE RACING She said: "This is wild. "The hailstones are absolutely enormous, that will be really painful. They look the size of golf balls." Leaves could be seen bombarding the race track as the jockeys ran on. Pundit Laurent Barbarin added: "I have never seen anything like it. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "They are trying to hide under trees, it is so dangerous." Local weather forecasters issued thunderstorm warnings while videos shared on social media showed water running down the streets of Paris. Shocking moment jockey is hit in the head after horse crashes into railings in chaotic race at Punchestown Festival
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
‘This is wild' – Race dramatically STOPPED after horses and jockeys pelted with ‘painful' hailstones
RACING in France was dramatically stopped as horses and jockeys were pelted by "painful" hailstones. Bad weather hit the centre of the country's jump racing in Auteuil, Paris, during the 3.07pm contest on Saturday. 1 The track was hit by a flurry of hail mid-race as wind swept in a storm as competitors crossed the obstacles in the A. Veil-picard Hurdle. Runners were well spaced out when a warning siren indicated for jockeys to duck for cover, including British rider James Reveley. Many clocked on to the danger they were in and immediately pulled up to get under cover as huge balls of ice began raining down. The biblical pictures were captured live in Sky Sports TV cameras, with commentator Alex Hammond speaking about the remarkable situation. She said: "This is wild. "The hailstones are absolutely enormous, that will be really painful. They look the size of golf balls." Leaves could be seen bombarding the race track as the jockeys ran on. Pundit Laurent Barbarin added: "I have never seen anything like it. "They are trying to hide under trees, it is so dangerous." Local weather forecasters issued thunderstorm warnings while videos shared on social media showed water running down the streets of Paris.
Irish Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Horse racing chaos as race abandoned mid-contest with jockeys taking cover
Racing at Auteuil was abruptly called off on Saturday afternoon due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions. Weather warnings had been issued in the area before the card started, with the forecast progressively worsening. As the final race on the card was about to start at 15:07, the winds intensified and a hail storm broke out. Despite this, the race went ahead, with jockeys clearly distracted by the harsh conditions. Videos revealed golf ball-sized hailstones pelting the track, leading to most of the field being withdrawn as jockeys realised the conditions were becoming dangerous. The klaxon was then sounded on the course, with officials deciding that the race should be halted due to the severe weather. Leaves and sticks continued to fall in the area, with some marshals on the course also moving to avoid the worst of the conditions. As it was the last race of the day, the extreme weather brought an unexpected early end to the card. Sky Sports presenter Alex Hammond was on hand to comment on the dangerous conditions, the Express reports. She said: "This is wild. The hailstones are absolutely enormous, that will be really painful. They look the size of golf balls." Pundit Laurent Barbarin was also stunned when bearing witness to the powerful storm as he commented: "I have never seen anything like it. They are trying to hide under trees, it is so dangerous." Despite the conditions, action soon got underway earlier at 10:53am and it was Prince of Paris - priced at 14/1 - who defeated favourite Lord Brett in the opening La Veine Chase. Regardless of the early upset, fans who backed favourites throughout the day came out on top with Miss Wood (9/4), Pistache Dore (6/4) and Woods (15/8) all earned victories before Mickael Seror's Ventura Highway (9/1) triumphed at the Andrea Chase. The French trainer enjoyed a glorious day as he claimed yet another victory just an hour later with Kel Story (4/1), which came prior to Maree Verte (3-1) winning the Burgrave II Claiming Hurdle. The action in England was equally thrilling with jockey William Buick leading Ruling Court to a win in the 2000 Guineas under jockey William Buick.
