Latest news with #AndyHill
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Jessica Ennis-Hill: ‘I was a classic driven, selfish athlete, but my kids changed me'
Born in Sheffield in 1986, Ennis-Hill graduated from Sheffield University in 2007, a year after winning heptathlon bronze at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. She went on to win three World Championships, one European Championship and most famously Olympic gold at the London Games in 2012. An athletics pundit for the BBC and a children's fiction author she lives in Sheffield with her husband Andy Hill and their two children, 10-year-old Reggie and seven-year-old Olivia. Best parenting moment? I'm an overthinking parent but probably the lessons that I teach the kids around sport are my proudest parenting achievements because I've been through it. I know the pressures and the things that I say to them about their mentality and the importance of when things go well and things don't go so well do get absorbed. I always find a way to reassure them, give them confidence, contribute to their mental strength and view situations in a positive light. Best day of your life? Apart from the births of my children, winning the Heptathlon at the London Olympics games in 2012 was 100 per cent the best day of my life. I remember the last 50 meters of the 800 where I just felt that I'd been holding my breath for the two days. Everything I'd done since starting athletics was about trying to get on the top of the podium. As an athlete you never know if it's going to work out how you'd anticipated. The moment I crossed the line, I could not believe the adrenaline, the excitement, the disbelief, that I'd actually reached the absolute pinnacle of my career at a home Olympics with all my family and friends there. It was like a dream. Initially I felt an overwhelming relief that nothing had gone wrong, then the ecstasy followed. That high lasted for weeks and weeks. I lived in this crazy bubble where everyone wanted a piece of me… until I went back to the gruelling reality of winter training. Best thing about life after athletics? Without a doubt, my kids. I was that classic, very driven, quite selfish athlete but as soon as my kids arrived, I completely changed who I was as a person. Everything became about how I could be the best mum for them with the opportunities that they get. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill (@jessicaennishill) Best decision you ever made? When I finished my A-levels, I was deciding whether to go to America to study or to stay where I was based in Sheffield. I wanted to move away and explore but also I had this thing that was actually going really well for me, and a great setup. I remember going looking at universities in America, but the decision to stay, where I was close to my family, the facilities that I had, the coach that I had, and stick with it, was a big turning point for me. I think things would have been quite different if I would have moved to the States. Best advice you've ever received? My parents always instilled in me the importance of balancing happiness with achievement. You've got to have drive and focus, and be ambitious, but I think at the core of that, you have to be in a really happy place and that's something that I've definitely seen have an impact on the way I performed, and it's been something that I've always been very conscious about. Best moment as a TV pundit? The Paris Olympics last year was a real high. I'd covered the Tokyo Olympics, but that was during COVID time, so we were broadcasting from Salford. Paris was the first Olympics that I'd been to as a spectator. Obviously, I was working, but I still got to go and watch some of the sports. I soaked up the Olympics from a completely different perspective. and got to be trackside to commentate on all the amazing performances and be part of it from that respect. So, for me, that was a massive high, a kind of full circle moment, being on the other side, but still very much part of it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill (@jessicaennishill) Best celebrity encounter? I was lucky enough to get into the Royal Box at Wimbledon, and one person that I've wanted to meet forever was Roger Federer. He happened to come in and I was very excited. I was with Denise Lewis as well and she was very excited too. We tried to be cool. He was just such a nice guy. Obviously, he's an incredible athlete, and what he's achieved, I have so much respect for him, but he was also a very grounded, normal man. He was just chatting away to us for ages. It was really lovely, and he also said he was a big fan of what I've achieved so there was a mutual respect and appreciation which was lovely. Best you've ever felt about your body? Standing on the start line for the hurdles in London. I remember my training partner sending me a message afterwards saying, 'your six pack was on fire'. He was like, 'I knew that you're either going to win or you're going to get injured, because you're in the best shape of your life'. And he was right. That was the best shape I'd ever been in. Best personality trait? My mindset. My ability to kind of not get too carried away with the highs, but not get too down with the lows, and just maintain that level. It's been really pivotal for me, and particularly in the heptathlon, there's so many highs and lows, and you have to be able to focus, refocus, and move on from disappointments. Over the years, my ability to do that has been the thing that has set me out from the rest. Worst childhood memory? I've got two quite nasty scars on my arm from an accident I had as a teenager. I was off to friend's house for a fancy dress party and one of my friends was standing on the road where we lived. She was running in to open our front door because she could hear some boys around the corner and I shut the door to stop her from coming in, and she pushed the glass through, which ended up slashing my arm. My parents weren't there, and my neighbour had to take us to A&E and I just remember that dread of thinking 'I'm going to be in so much trouble, but I've also really hurt myself.' In the end I didn't get told off too badly and I was just grateful I scarred my arm and not my face. Worst moment of your life? The biggest career heartbreak I'd ever experienced was breaking my foot in Berlin. I just thought that I'd done a bit of damage, and I'd probably have a couple of weeks off training, but I'd actually done a lot of damage. I had to fly back home in the middle of a competition and retire from the contest, which I never did, have some scans, and I found out that it was three stress fractures, one in my navicular bone, which was, like, the worst place you could have it because of blood supply. I was basically told I'd miss the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and that it might not heal properly, and I might not go on to compete again. That was the first big blow where I was like, 'Oh, the reality of this is pretty bad, and could set my life on a completely different trajectory.' Worst personality trait? My worst trait is questioning myself a little bit and being chronically indecisive. I'm so indecisive to the point where it actually drives me a bit mad. There's a reason I became a heptathlete doing seven events instead of just one. Worst advice you've ever received? My coach once said to me, 'if you're in sport all your relationships should be in sport. All your friends should be in athletics. It should be your whole world.' And I remember at the time thinking, 'No. I actually like the fact that I'm still really close to my school friends, and not all of them do sports. My husband plays sports, but he's not an athlete.' I love the fact that I had that ability to be able to switch off and things turned out pretty well in the end. Worst thing that's ever been said about you? The one time that probably sticks out in my mind was a year before the Olympics there was an article that went out saying that the Team GB performance director had said that I won my silver medal at the World Championships and not the gold, because I was fat and I was a bit overweight, so it became this 'fatgate' thing, and the article literally came out just before I was about to compete. It was so ridiculous. It's not something that you want to read and it's not something that shouldn't really be said. Firstly, I tried to just laugh it off but then at the same time when it's in lots of articles, and you've seen it everywhere, it's pretty upsetting. Especially when I was in intense training and had a six pack. The whole thing was ridiculous. Worst decision you've ever made? I've definitely made a few bad red-carpet decisions though. I wore this really sparkly dress to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards and had my hair really curly and up to one side and it was definitely not a good look for me.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- BBC News
Police arrest 37 in major county lines crackdown
Thirty-seven people have been arrested across the West of England in a major operation targeting drug supply networks. Police from Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire seized £35,700 in cash, as well as drugs including heroin, cannabis and cocaine. Officers were carrying out a regional week of action from 23 to 29 June as part of Operation police and crime commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, said: "Criminals rely on gaps in awareness and accountability, and we are working to close those gaps across the region." The three police forces also teamed up with Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).In total across the five regions, police arrested 102 people and seized 66kg of cocaine, 14kg of cannabis and £119,000 in vehicles were also seized, including six officers shut down 29 suspected county lines – mobile phone lines used to take orders of this latest stage of Operation Scorpion, policing teams targeted those who exploit children and vulnerable people to supply and store Con Andy Hill of SWROCU said it was a "stark reality" that the average age of someone controlling a drugs line is 21, and the average age of a drug runner is just 15 to 17. In Wiltshire, 25 people were arrested including eight drug line holders, who were charged and remanded in custody. Officers disrupted and removed 14 drug lines from operation, in addition to seizing 15 offensive weapons including a firearm, a stun gun disguised as a torch, knives and force also seized 1.3kg of cannabis found in carrier bags and 107 MDMA Ch Insp Charlotte Tucker, of Wiltshire Police, said: "We will continue to work together to tackle these issues and make the South West a hostile environment for these suspected criminals to operate in." Avon and Somerset Police engaged with industries that may be unknowingly helping drug supply spoke to staff at hotels, private hire companies and postal services to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation and encourage staff to report any suspicions or also spoke to around 1,000 taxi Police, meanwhile, visited homes where concerns had been raised about potential cuckooing – where a drug dealer takes over a vulnerable person's address and uses it as a base to commit people were safeguarded as a result, and officers worked with partner agencies to put measures in place to ensure a long-term plan for their support. 'United approach' The force's police and crime commissioner, Chris Nelson, said: "Combining the resources of all of the region's forces demonstrates a united approach to policing in an attempt to reduce the serious harm and violence caused by drugs. "By recognising the signs and behaviour to look out for, we can all play our part in smashing these gangs and send a clear message that this region will not tolerate this harmful criminal activity."
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado kills 3 in North Dakota, 106 mph gust slams northern Minnesota
Tornado kills 3 in North Dakota, 106 mph gust slams northern Minnesota originally appeared on Bring Me The News. The ferocious storms that pounded North Dakota and Minnesota Friday night into Saturday morning left three people dead and a path of destruction. While the derecho that stretched across North Dakota, northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin impacted the most locations, two monster supercells that formed ahead of the line in eastern North Dakota produced multiple large, violent tornadoes. One of the tornadoes killed at least three people about three miles east of Enderlin. According to the Cass County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to a home at approximately 11:40 p.m. Once there, deputies were informed by the Enderlin Fire Department that storm chasers had found two people dead at the scene. "Shortly after learning of this, the Enderlin Fire Department was dispatched to another location, and a third deceased person was found as a result of the tornado. Deputies found extensive damage to the area and began conducting well-being checks on people with several partner agencies," the sheriff's office said Saturday morning. "Law enforcement, the Enderlin Fire Department, and other first responders continue searching the area and checking on residents now." Meteorologist Andy Hill said the Enderlin tornado is "one of the strongest tornadoes" he has covered, and the radar data make it the strongest tornado ever recorded in North Dakota. The official intensity, however, has not yet been verified by the NWS. The supercells that produced the monster tornadoes were eventually swallowed by the fast-moving complex of storms that produced 70-110 mph wind gusts across North Dakota and northern Minnesota. The highest known wind gust from the line in Minnesota was 106 mph at the Bemidji Airport at 12:45 a.m. The National Weather Service reported that emergency managers were alerting authorities to "extensive damage from falling and uprooted trees on roofs, cars, people trapped." Jorge Prince, the mayor of Bemidji, wrote on Facebook that he "cannot ever recall hearing a rushing wind like that!" Beltrami County officials said Saturday morning that there are "thousands of trees blocking roadways," but no injuries have been reported. "There are widespread power outages and numerous roadways remain impassable due to debris. Residents should plan for long-term power outages as significant infrastructure damage has occurred," the county said. The American Red Cross will be assisting in the Bemidji area with temporary housing. We'll add more information as damage reports filter in throughout the morning. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
We were thinking about downsizing - but instead decided to splash out on a £3million mansion on an abandoned private island on the Thames
A couple who briefly considered downsizing their home have made a dramatic U-turn - by splashing the cash on a River Thames private island mansion worth £3million. Andy and Sheila Hill first spotted the overgrown D'Oyly Carte Island, near Weybridge, Surrey years ago while kayaking along the Thames. They were immediately intrigued by the 'ridiculous' patch of land and its eye-catching derelict property, but the house was not for sale at the time. But their patience soon paid off, with the owner's agent getting back to them in 2021 and the couple eventually buying the island and home. Instead of downsizing their house in Richmond, southwest London, they took on the ambitious task of renovating the 13-bedroom mansion. The music entrepreneur, 67, and his wife, 66, described how they got drawn in by the colossal project to 'bring it back to life'. Andy said: 'My wife is very creative and she could see through what was essentially a derelict property. Every window was smashed and boarded up, the garden had metres of brambles in it. 'She turned to me and said, "that is so sad, we should do something about it." After they bought the property, Andy said the family felt up to the challenge of restoring the place to its former glory, with Sheila being a former student of the Royal College of Art and their two children both architects. He added that it was the 'best decision they ever made' despite the dust and construction noise. 'It would have been so sad to see it demolished as it has such a rich history and culture,' Andy said. 'When we told them that we were interested in this ridiculous house on this ridiculous island my family were very excited because it was quite a different project. 'It gave us a lot of confidence to take the plunge and give it a go. 'You just have a gut feel. It is so unique, there aren't many private islands on the Thames. 'We had no idea what to do with it. We just wanted a nice family home. We thought it would be a great place to have family reunions.' The couple have had their work cut out since they started work in the mansion, from repairing a shattered glass dome which was responsible for flooding in the hallway to converting a 'horrible' former boat house at the end of the island into a lively bar called D'Oyly's. Indeed, the private land has become something of a party destination for family events, music concerts, and even Pilates classes. The pair are now able to host their three children and three grandchildren regularly, as well as throwing grand family birthday parties. Their new home was even visited by Princess Anne in February to thank them for their efforts to restore the cultural landmark, which is named after the late 19th century owner Richard D'Oyly Carte, a London theatre impresario who Andy described as the 'Simon Cowell of the 1800s'. Mr D'Oyly Carte also built the Savoy Hotel and produced the first operettas from Gilbert And Sullivan. Andy added: 'I think the expression no pain no gain is very true. 'It is great being here and watching the place improve. We are seeing lots of progress every day. It is fun to see what was a dead island and house be brought back to life. 'It is a lovely place to live, but we do have to work around the renovations. I have no regrets whatsoever. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing.' Inspired by the island's rich music history, Andy has also decided to host summer concerts as part of the Weybridge Festival. After a successful run last year, he has planned for the three-day event to come back on July 4-6 with live music, a hog roast, a Pimm's tent, face paint, and other activities. The entrepreneur met with many representatives to discuss how to make the event safe, and said he invested around £35,000 to ensure the island passed all the necessary requirements. Elmbridge Borough Council had originally opposed plans, but has now given the green light after escape plans were put in place in case of emergency. There is a secure footbridge from the mainland to D'Oyly Carte, which is only about 50 yards away and Andy claims his island is safer than the mainland as there is no traffic and it is much harder for people to sneak in. He said: 'It is not dangerous. Nobody is going to burn to death on an island 50 yards from the mainland. 'It is an amazingly calm place to live. It really does feel like a party house and a fun house. We have the perfect balance. 'It was always going to be an expensive project and we were happy with that.' The left-field decision to move on to an island is becoming more popular with one young couple revealing how they're saving a whopping £20,000 a year on renting in London - by moving to an island only accessible by boat. Adventurous couple Sacha Pritchard, 25, and Matt King, 28, moved to their island in Hampton on the River Thames after spending seven years in 'cramped seven-person flat shares'. Three months on, they said it was the 'best decision' they had ever made, and would never have been able to afford their spacious one-bedroom bungalow in the capital's centre. Their new home boasts a front garden with beautiful riverside views, while a boat to get them to shore is included in the rental price. However, as the island doesn't have a bridge, Sacha and Matt are completely reliant on their little motorboat, and have been stranded when the engine has failed. They also have to pile all their bags onto the boat after doing a food shop, and have to make the journey to the mainland at least every other day to take the bins out. Sacha also uses the boat to commute to her 9 to 5 job four days a week. Taking to her TikTok account @LondonIslandLiving, Sacha explained that their new living situation 'isn't for everyone', but that she and Matt 'love it'. Last June, an island in the middle of the River Thames went on sale for just £75,000 - far less than the price of an average London flat. The pair are completely reliant on their little motorboat, and have been stranded when the engine has failed The property is close to the homes of celebrities including Hollywood heartthrob Orlando Bloom and rock star Liam Gallagher. Images show an island listed as 'land for sale' measuring about 2,000sq ft in the 1,099-population village of Bisham in Berkshire, near Marlow in Buckinghamshire. The seller previously used the site, which comes with a fetching stone pergola, for mooring a private vessel as well as private entertainment and fishing. Temple Weir Island was being advertised for sale by estate agent Savills. Property agent Richard Maby has told how the property which provides 250ft of river frontage would make the 'perfect spot' for rest and relaxation. He said: 'The seller has used the island for mooring a private vessel and recreational use, such as private entertainment and fishing. 'One side has a built-up mooring, the other a more natural tree-lined bank. A domed stone pergola also stands in the middle of the island, which makes for an interesting and attractive feature. 'It's a rare opportunity for someone to purchase their own off-grid sanctuary. 'For those with a spirit for adventure, who are looking for somewhere they can escape to after a busy day, it's the perfect hideaway.' A handful of intriguing small private islands on the Thames in Surrey house some of the world's most rich and famous, alongside ordinary Brits looking for an idyllic escape from the city. However, island life, while beautiful, carries an element of risk. With these small pockets of land only accessible by boat or a narrow path, there is no guarantee emergency services will be able to reach residents in time during a crisis. For Andrew Philip, who lives in one of just 23 homes on Pharaoh's Island, Surrey, this unfortunate drawback is something he is all too aware of. Mr Philip's dream riverside home he bought with his wife in 2001 was engulfed by flames in April last year and suffered severe damage as a result. With no bridge connecting the island to the mainland, fire services struggled to access his home and both he and his family have been living in rental accommodation ever since. Holding his 18-month-old baby, the island's youngest resident, he said that he felt 'lucky' to have escaped. As work on rebuilding his home gathered pace in January, he was eagerly anticipating returning to his beloved waterside residence with his young family. Mr Philip added: 'It is slightly nerve-wracking living so close to water, we've got to be really careful and keep a close eye on him (his son). 'Every few years our lawns will get flooded. But, it is a really lovely community, the other day somebody lost power on one of their boats and everyone messaged to try and help.' Many Brits searching for peace and quiet and a cheaper life have been flocking to a quaint seaside town that has become the new downsizing capital of Britain. In the lovely town of Exmouth, Devon, homes remain on the market for just 26 days on average before they are sold, MailOnline can reveal. Purplebricks analysis has revealed the town as the most desired place to downsize in, with homes being snapped up less than a month after they've been put on the market on average. That is despite homes costing a whopping £73,000 more than a typical house in the rest of the UK. The average price of an Exmouth home is £341,268, which is well above the UK average of £268,087. Exmouth: The downsizing capital of Britain Exmouth United Kingdom Average Price - £341,268 Average Price - £268,087 Detached Price - £493,538 Detached Price - £440,190 Terraced Price - £299,947 Terraced Price - £223,808 Flat Price - £242,895 Flat Price - £196,361 Yet locals speaking to MailOnline said they weren't surprised Exmouth had become the downsizing capital. They said the beautiful sea air was a draw to many people of differing ages, both those looking for somewhere to retire but also young parents looking to bring up their children somewhere peaceful. Local primary school teacher and mother-of-two Georgia Wright, 34, said: 'It is a gorgeous place to live and it's relatively safe and nice to bring up your kids in. 'We've talked about moving and we just don't want to leave the beach.'
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs Make Swift Coaching Change After Andy Reid Assistant's Sudden Retirement
Chiefs Make Swift Coaching Change After Andy Reid Assistant's Sudden Retirement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Just days before they're set to begin mandatory minicamp, the Kansas City Chiefs lost one member of their coaching staff. Advertisement During head coach Andy Reid's tenure, he's built a dynasty and turned the Chiefs into one of the NFL's powerhouses. Reid has led Kansas City to a 143-53 record in his 12 seasons, which include 11 playoff appearances, nine AFC West titles, five Super Bowl appearances, and three Super Bowl titles. But Reid's success hasn't been a solo endeavor. The 67-year-old future Hall of Famer has always had a strong support staff thanks to the top-tier-level of assistant coaches he's brought in, and one of those assistants has decided to call it a career. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and defensive line coach Joe Cullen looks on from the sideline of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Streicher-Imagn Images The Chiefs announced on Wednesday that longtime assistant special teams coach Andy Hill had retired after a five-year run with the team, which saw four trips to the Super Bowl and two Super Bowl titles. Advertisement Hill responded to the team's announcement on X Thursday morning. 'Thank you @Chiefs - Coach Andy Reid and Dave Toub and the wonderful coaches and players that I was honored to be a small part of such a class organization-Top to bottom the best in the NFL! Our family says THANK YOU! 🙏' Hill wrote. With a small hole to fill on Reid's staff, the Chiefs wasted no time finding his replacement. They also brought back a familiar face to fill another hole on the offensive staff, according to Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. 'With Andy Hill's retirement, Porter Ellett has moved to assistant special teams coach for Dave Toub,' Derrick reported. 'Mark DeLeone, former linebackers coach for the Chiefs, returns to KC and takes over Ellett's old role as assistant RB coach.' Advertisement This will mark DeLeone's third stint with the Chiefs. He previously served as a defensive quality control coach from 2013-2015 and worked his way up to assistant linebackers coach from 2016 to 2017 then inside linebackers coach in 2018. Kansas City brought him back in 2022 to serve as a defensive analyst, where he stayed until last season when he left to join the rival Baltimore Ravens as inside linebackers coach. His new role as assistant running backs coach will mark the first time in his 13-year NFL coaching career that he'll be working with an offensive unit. Related: Chiefs Could Cut Former Top Draft Pick After Patrick Mahomes Callout This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
