Latest from Western Telegraph
Western Telegraph
40 minutes ago
- Climate
- Western Telegraph
Heatwave to serve hottest start to Wimbledon with temperatures to hit 35C
Sunday may reach 31C in parts of southern England, but Monday will be even hotter, with highs of 34C in central and eastern England, forecasters say. Since 1960, UK temperatures in June have surpassed 34C in only three years, with the hottest being 35.6C, recorded on June 28 1976. Parts of south-east England could then hit 35C on Tuesday, forecaster Matthew Lenhert said, which would be hotter than Barbados. Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day on record on Monday and could even see the highest temperature ever recorded during the tournament. The hottest ever Wimbledon day was on July 1 2015, when temperatures reached 35.7C. The warmest opening day on record was on June 25 2001, when temperatures hit 29.3C. Heatwave conditions will affect much of Continental Europe through the next week, but with the focus of the most anomalous heat moving southeast with time Temperatures are expected to be 5-10°C above normal fairly widely, with some locations continuing to exceed 40°C 🌡️ — Met Office (@metoffice) June 29, 2025 The hottest day of 2025 so far was recorded on June 21 in Charlwood, Surrey, when temperatures hit 33.2C. Tropical nights are also in store for many, with temperatures overnight not dropping below 20C, Mr Lenhert said. Fresher air is then expected to move in from the west in the middle of the week, bringing an end to the heatwave. It comes as a second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force on Friday. The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, will last until 6pm on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services. Coco Gauff on the practice courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon (John Walton/PA) An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on June 19, the first time it had been used since September 2023. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall said: 'London is already facing its second heatwave of the year and we know that people will be looking forward to getting outside to enjoy the wonderful weather. 'But the high temperatures and low rainfall in recent months means the current risk of wildfires is severe. 'So far this year, firefighters have responded to around 14 wildfires in the capital. 'There have also been countless call outs to smaller fires involving grass, trees and in other outdoor spaces, as well as in people's gardens. 'During this latest heatwave, it is important everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring. 'As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly. 'In London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties.' There will be a 'marked difference' in north-western parts of the UK however, with cloud and heavy rain in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, where temperatures will stay in the mid to high teens, Mr Lenhert said. The hottest ever July 1 on record was in 2015, when the temperature hit 36.7C.
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Sport
- Western Telegraph
Vespertilio pips My Mate Alfie in Dash thriller
One of Willie McCreery's stable stars, Verspertilio was not beaten far in the Greenlands Stakes over this course and distance last time out but was given a more patient ride this time around by Dylan Browne McMonagle. As Ger Lyons' My Mate Alfie produced his customary honest challenge from up near the pace, Browne McMonagle found himself towards the rear of the field as the race began to develop, but he had a willing partner as the daughter of Night Of Thunder quickly weaved her way to within striking distance. It was soon left to the the 2-1 favourite to fight out the conclusion with her main market rival My Mate Alfie, with just a short head separating them at the finish, as Vespertilio tasted success for the first time since claiming the Debutante Stakes as a two-year-old. McCreery said: 'She needs cover and lots of speed. Dylan was very patient and said when she hit the front she thought she had everything done and pulled herself up. 'I'm delighted to get her back in the winner's enclosure. She won a Group Two here as a two-year-old and was third in a French Guineas. 'It was hard to persuade the owners to bring her back to six furlongs as she had such good form over a mile, but it has paid off – Night Of Thunder puts loads of speed into them, the important thing is to switch her off early. 'We might go for the Maurice De Gheest. She has a French breeder premium so she gets another bonus on top if she does well over there.'
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Sport
- Western Telegraph
Darryll Holland ‘owes everything' to Barry Hills
Hills, who died at the age of 88 and saddled over 3,000 winners during a long and decorated career in the training ranks, had a huge influence on Holland's early career and is also credited with setting many on the path to success within the racing industry. Holland enjoyed many big-race wins around the world in the saddle before setting up as a trainer himself. However, he will always remember fondly the early days of his racing life which were shaped by Hills and his wife Penny, becoming champion apprentice under Hills' stewardship in 1991. Darryll Holland began his career with Barry Hills (Mike Egerton/PA) 'I owe everything to Barry and Penny, they engineered my career and guided me to where I am today,' said Holland. 'He made me champion apprentice and then first jockey and he was a tough man but very fair and a genius of a trainer. It's an end of an era really. 'I was a raw 15-year old from Manchester and he guided me through, I owe him an awful lot. 'It was a steep learning curve at times and I had the pleasure of bumping into him at the Lockinge meeting (Newbury) and introducing my kids to him and he was still as scary then as he was 30 years ago, but he was an amazing fellow and I always had nothing but respect for him. 'He was a father figure and him and Penny were like my second mum and dad and it was a very sad day yesterday when I got told the news from Michael (Hills).' Nicky Henderson has paid tribute to his great friend Barry Hills (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA) There were also words of sorrow from the world of jumps racing, as Nicky Henderson reminisced about the times he enjoyed with his great Lambourn neighbour. Henderson said: 'We were good friends but he certainly taught me a few things. I was a bit younger and it was a bit of a strange duet really but we would do an awful lot of things together on and off the racecourse. We had some wonderful times. 'He always said whatever he thought and we could have had an argument, but there was no point as he was always going to win it. If he said something you disagreed with, you just went with it as he was always going to prove he was right in the end! 'He made himself but he also made a lot of people who got on the bus with him and we have to be very grateful to have been a part of it.' Barry Hills was head of a great racing dynasty (PA) Speaking to Racing TV's Luck On Sunday, he added: 'It was one of those incredible innings and you get the feeling the last few weeks haven't been easy. 'He'd had a few adversities over the year but kept coming back and back, mainly through Penny, who has just been unbelievable throughout. 'He would always call it 'God's waiting room' and he visited it a few times but kept coming back and these last few weeks he just didn't want to leave the party and that's what he was all about, as he had such a will to live and love it all. 'That family has just been remarkable and Penny has pulled him through so many battles, he would keep coming back for more and what a lot of fun we have had over some fantastic years. 'He was just a man of huge integrity and friendship and the family he brought up, he would just be so proud of them all. I know he will look on it as a fantastic era, as we all do.'
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Sport
- Western Telegraph
Britain's teenage trio ready to show a glimpse of the future at Wimbledon
Sixteen-year-olds Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic and 17-year-old Mimi Xu will all make their senior Wimbledon debuts on Monday. There is a great deal of excitement within British tennis about the youngsters, with Stojsavljevic winning the 2024 US Open junior title and Klugman reaching the French Open girls' final this year, while Xu has already beaten two top-100 players on grass this summer. She's done it!!!!!! What a start to the grass season 💚 In her first ever match against a top 100 player, Mimi Xu has beaten top seed & world No.52 Alycia Parks in Birmingham 🤯 — LTA (@the_LTA) June 2, 2025 Xu will immediately be thrust into the spotlight having drawn British number one Emma Raducanu in a clash that will be played in prime-time on Court One, while Klugman will face the player Raducanu beat in the US Open final in 2021, Leylah Fernandez, and Stojsavljevic takes on 31st seed Ashlyn Krueger. They are sure to compare notes afterwards, with Xu saying: 'We've grown up together. I've known them all since we were seven, eight. 'I think we've got a really good friendship, good environment around us, because we all train together now. So we can push each other every day. And seeing them do so well makes you want to do well as well.' Like Raducanu at the same age, academic studies remain important to all of them, with Xu, who comes from Swansea, sitting three biology A level exams alongside her matches over the last few weeks. She completed her maths A level last summer, two years early, and will take economics next summer. Stojsavljevic, meanwhile, chose not to play French Open juniors while she took her GCSEs, with Klugman opting to defer her exams until the autumn. 'It was very difficult,' said Londoner Stojsavljevic. 'I don't really think I slept for a month and a half, but I'm so glad it's over and I can just focus on playing. Once I think I had an exam in the morning and played a match in the afternoon.' The trio are enjoying rubbing shoulders with the big stars, although Stojsavljevic has so far been too shy to speak to her big idol Novak Djokovic. 'He's just got too much aura,' she said with a smile. Hannah Klugman is the third youngest British player at Wimbledon in the open era (Bradley Collyer/PA) Klugman arrives in the senior game with the most hype having stood out from a very young age, winning the prestigious under-18 Orange Bowl championships in Florida aged only 14. She grew up in Wimbledon and lives only a five-minute walk from the All England Club. 'It's a dream for me,' she said. 'I live down the road so it's something I've wanted to do my whole life. But I don't think anything changes after this experience, it's just a little stepping stone.' Klugman will still play in the junior event and one of her best friends from Wimbledon High School is a ball girl this year. 'I said, 'I don't want you on my court', she'd put me off for sure,' said the teenager, who is the third youngest British player to appear in the women's singles in the open era after Laura Robson and Annabel Croft. I don't think they're going to be intimidated. Katie O'Brien LTA national women's coach Katie O'Brien has watched the three players come through the ranks and, asked what qualities they share, she said: 'Unbelievable work ethic, and I think they're happy to be a bit different. 'I think you need a lot of resilience. Tennis is such a tough sport, there's so many knockbacks. You've got to be incredibly determined and open to learning.' There will be no expectations this year beyond giving it their best shot, but O'Brien believes all three are capable of winning matches at this level. 'For sure it will be the biggest stage they've performed on but, even though they're young, I think they've already performed under pressure, they've already been in the spotlight,' said the former British number one. 'I don't think they're going to be intimidated.'
Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Western Telegraph
Austrian Grand Prix delayed after Carlos Sainz's car catches fire
Sainz, due to start from a lowly 19th on the grid at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, stalled ahead of the formation lap. The Spaniard eventually got going, following assistance from the marshals, but when he stopped at the end of the pits the rear of his Williams was momentarily on fire. Williams mechanics arrived on the scene and promptly put out the blaze with Sainz still in his cockpit. Things have gone from bad to worse for Carlos 😩 He won't start the race ❌#F1 #AustrianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) June 29, 2025 The former Ferrari driver was wheeled back to his garage and retired from the race before it had even begun. 'Game over, Carlos, jump out,' came from the message from his race engineer, Gaetan Jego. Williams team principal James Vowles had his head in his hands on the team's pit-wall. A delay followed with pole-sitter Lando Norris bidding to convert his third pole position of the season into a victory which would kickstart his stuttering world championship charge.
