This June, Dorset paramedic George Bell-Starr will attempt a never-before-completed endurance challenge – and he’s doing it in support of life-saving charities.
George Bell-Starr Photo credit: Sam Carden / Climb South West
George, from Weymouth, is taking on the Tri-Lake Swim, a gruelling test of physical and mental resilience that will see him swim 1,000 metres in the highest lakes of England, Scotland, and Wales. But that’s only part of the journey – each lake requires a demanding hike to reach, with the full challenge covering nearly 26 miles on foot and over 3,000 metres of elevation gain. He aims to complete the entire effort in under 30 hours.
George is raising funds for three causes close to his heart: Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA), The Duckling Pre-School, and Cancer Research UK.
A paramedic and keen adventurer, George has seen first-hand the critical role the air ambulance plays in emergency care across the region.
“I’ve always enjoyed challenging myself physically,” he said. “In the past, I’ve swum 500km in 365 days and cycled from Aberdeen to Weymouth on a stationary bike while working on a ship. I love swimming, and after seeing friends take on the Three Peaks Challenge, I started wondering if I could blend the two. A quick evening of Googling showed no one had ever done this, and so the challenge was born.”
While the swim itself is headline-grabbing, George says the real test lies in the long, punishing hikes to reach each remote lake – and in contending with extreme conditions.
“I anticipate that the lakes will be much colder than the sea, possibly as low as 6 or 7 degrees! The other challenge will be the dark, I expect that the English lake swim will take place in the dark, so my support crew will have to keep an eye on my small, reflective safety buoy to keep me safe.”
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance crew tasked to an incident
George’s chosen charities will spur him on through the long hours and cold water.
“The fact that DSAA is totally funded by charity donations makes it even more important that I raise as much as I can. It’s incredibly rewarding to know the money is going to an amazing cause and directly impacting lives in Dorset and Somerset.”
He also hopes his efforts might inspire others to take on their own challenge – no matter how big or small.
“Go for it! Just do it. Try not to over think it, as sometimes you can get in your head and start doubting yourself. I truly believe that anyone can achieve anything.”
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance receives no direct government funding and relies entirely on public support. Each mission costs around £3,500 to fly.
From Chateau Rimmer to soggy Chard, it’s been quite a month for Jess Rimmer, with laughs, qualifiers and falling in love with a little Ippo
Jess Rimmer and Jimmy at Cirencester
April has been a really busy, fun month for Team Rimmer. We’ve been out every weekend and have been driving all over the place, which I absolutely love – helped by the fact I don’t yet have my HGV licence so I am able to catch up on some extra ‘admin’ cough sleep! As I’m writing this I think we’re somewhere on the M1, on our way to Osberton International (sorry mum, I’m being terrible company!). I quite enjoy the Passenger Princess lifestyle, but at the start of the month I had to dust off my driving boots and take the little 3.5T lorry up to Norfolk to compete at Burnham Market International horse trials. Mum was coaching in a South West U18 camp that weekend, but Basil needed to run in the 3*S to pick up another qualification for our summer plans. So Adela and I rammed just about enough kit to last us through an apocalypse into our little silver box, and off we set! We ended up having the most hilarious week. Chateau Rimmer, as we called it, was quite a sight to behold – possibly only beaten by the sight of us trying to put it all together! Whose idea was it to send two girls in their early 20s to Norfolk without adult supervision? Lots of laughs aside, we worked really hard and Basil performed superbly, adding another double clear to the cards.
Luxury eventing in Chateau RimmerLuxury eventing in Chateau Rimmer
In addition to Burnham Market, we’ve also been to Larkhill, Chard and Cirencester Park. At Larkhill Jimmy picked up 7th place in the Novice – as enthusiastic as ever – and Max (Mr. Mister) absolutely flew round Cirencester Park: he’s improving all the time.
Jess and Max (Mr Mister) at Cirencester
Lovely Ippo And then there was Chard. I was looking forward to it, being one of our most local events where they put in a huge amount of effort to host us all. POOR Chard – it’s barely rained all month, and the one day we are at their BE event the conditions were absolutely awful. I mean, dripping-wet-underwear-within-half-an-hour awful. Yuck! At Chard, I had a new ride – Ippon, known to his friends as Ippo (yes, like Hippo without the H!). And he is just the happiest, perkiest little horse who always has a smile on his face. Ippo, would you like to go out in the horizontal rain to do a dressage test at Chard? “Ooh! Yes please!”… Ippo, would you like to jump in it too? “Ooh! Yes, yes I would please!”… and how about some Cross Country? “THAT’S THE BEST PART!”. His enthusiasm is totally endearing, and he is such a pleasure to work with – the only thing I have to do is remind him to stop trying quite so hard, and to just take a breath (I don’t know if I should say this, but if he was a human I’d tell him to sit down and have a cigarette…). Considering it was our first competition together, he listened to me beautifully and finished in 3rd place following a 28 dressage, double clear. I’m only temporarily in the saddle while his owner, Emily, focuses on her A-Levels, but I’m so enjoying him and looking forward to getting stuck in over the next couple of months (sorry, Emily, you’re gonna have to fight to get this one back!).
Jess always goes hacking before each training session – it’s not only a physically important warm up but also gives the horse time to mentally relax into their ride, as well as providing some variety in their daily routine Image: Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Give me a happy worker While getting to know a new horse, whether with the short or the long term in mind, it’s so important to take time to understand them as an individual, their attitude to work and to really figure out what makes them tick. Talking from a dressage perspective, all the horses have a slightly different outlook on their work and it’s our responsibility to learn what works best for them. Our horses always go hacking before each training session, which is not only physically important to loosen up their muscles but also gives them a mental break, time to relax into their ride and gives them some variety in their daily routine. Once we’ve been hacking, we are so lucky to have a choice as to where we ride next: the outdoor school – brilliant to really get stuck into exercises or for when the ground is too soft/firm on the grass – or the indoor, which is brilliant for arena work and also has mirrors to check our position/how the horse looks. And we also have the top field, which is fantastic as it allows the horse to gain confidence on grass, simulating a competition environment without the added excitement!
Jess and Ippo – riding the centre line is vital to practice, says Jess, because it is the first and last impression of each and every test Images: Courtenay Hitchcock The BVImages: Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Ippo, being the happy horse that he is, absolutely loves schooling, regardless of location. I chose to take him in the field this week, to run through a few basic test movements. Emily rides him exceptionally well on the flat and produces a lovely test, so I need to practice with him to learn all the buttons she has so excellently taught him. His eager attitude makes this easy to do, too, since I can repeat the same exercises a few times and all he does is improve. Some horses can start to predict the exercises and overthink, and some go the other way, getting bored and adding their own moves, freestyle. It’s so nice to ride a “worker” like Ippo, who just concentrates and tries hard! The trouble (or the beauty?!) with dressage is that it will never be perfect, and there will always be room for improvement. While I’m on my warm-up hack I like to think through where each horse is at with their training, and set a few adaptable goals for the session ahead. Ippo achieved all of his goals during this ride, and I think both he and I enjoyed it! Next stop for Ippo is Aston, where he runs in the Novice alongside Basil in the Intermediate. Max and Jimmy are competing at Tweseldown next Sunday, and Max hopefully makes his International debut at the end of the month! Fingers crossed this sunshine keeps up – although the ground could do with a bit of rain, and my shoulders maybe need a bit more sun cream…
The 2024/25 Jumps season draws to a close at the end of April, and we’ll look back on it as a successful and hugely enjoyable one. With 68 winners and an 18 per cent strike rate, it marks a personal best for Joe since taking over the licence in 2022. We managed to finish the season with a bang – our last three runners, at Taunton and Warwick, all won. A notable performance among these came from an exciting four-year-old called Bob Bishop who, on only his second career start, ran out an impressive winner of the bumper at Taunton. He is a close relative of one of the yard’s old superstars, Cue Card, and is named after the late Bob Bishop, who was married to Cue Card’s owner Jean Bishop.
image Courtenay Hitchcock The BB
Champion Freddie Joe’s nephew Freddie Gingell was crowned the Champion Conditional Jockey this season: what a fantastic achievement at the age of 18. Only his boss, Paul Nicholls, has given Freddie more winners than us this season: we are proud to have played our part in his victory.
The nutrients from the spring grass play an important role in their growth and development, particularly the younger horses. image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Holiday horses The beginning of May is the time when the majority of our horses are turned out in the field for a well-earned summer break. A few go back to their owners, but most stay on site and they will come back in to training in the second week of July. After a long season, it’s vital for the horses to relax out in the fields – to go back to simply ‘being horses’ and part of a herd. The nutrients from the spring grass play an important role in their growth and development, particularly the younger horses. However, this does not mean that there is a shortage of human work to do around the place! There will be around ten horses staying in training for summer jump racing, and we may have the odd runner on the flat as well. On top of this we have the next batch of Colin’s homebreds to break in – this year four two-year-olds – and whatever store horses (three-year-olds) Joe buys at the sales, which we also break in at the yard. Besides the young horses, there is also the annual spring clean to be getting on with: more than 100 stables need pressure washing and painting in preparation for the horses coming back in in July. Staff also take their holiday during May and June – we operate on a skeleton staff basis for two months. It is a nice time of year without the intensity of mid-season, but busy nonetheless!
Bob Bishop, on only his second career start, ran out an impressive winner of the bumper at Taunton. He is a close relative of one of the yard’s old superstars, Cue Card, and is named after the late Bob Bishop, who was married to Cue Card’s owner Jean Bishop – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
image Courtenay Hitchcock The BVimage Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Blandford Forum, Dorset – 25th April 2025 – Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School has once again proved it’s a school where children thrive, as confirmed by a glowing Ofsted inspection published this month.
Inspectors visited the school on 25th and 26th March and found that the high standards recognised in the previous inspection have not only been maintained but strengthened. The school was commended for its warm, inclusive atmosphere and its unwavering focus on what matters most: the needs and interests of its pupils.
Children at Blandford St Mary are happy, feel safe, and are proud of their school. They attend regularly and approach learning with enthusiasm – something that stood out clearly to inspectors.
Headteacher Rosaleen Beaver said: “We are delighted with the inspection outcome. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, pupils, and the entire school community. Our focus on creating a nurturing and inclusive environment ensures that every child feels valued and supported.”
The report praised the school’s ambitious curriculum, which has recently been refined to better identify essential knowledge and vocabulary across all subjects. Pupils are building strong foundations, developing a broad and secure understanding as they move through the school. A particular strength remains the school’s early focus on reading, writing and maths – giving every child the core knowledge they need from day one.
Parents were equally enthusiastic. Many praised the school’s nurturing ethos, with one saying: “The school goes above and beyond in supporting and protecting our children. We couldn’t be happier with the education and care our children receive.”
Mark Lacey, CEO of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust (DSAT), added his praise: “Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School exemplifies the values and standards we strive for across all our schools. The dedication of the Headteacher and her team is truly commendable, and we are proud to support their ongoing efforts to provide an excellent education for all pupils.”
Inspectors also noted the school’s continued efforts to embed its newly updated curriculum across all subjects, ensuring every child benefits from a consistent and well-planned learning experience. The school’s proactive approach to personal development was another highlight – from rich classroom experiences to a wide range of extracurricular activities, children are offered plenty of opportunities to grow in confidence and character.
Blandford St Mary remains a school where ambition, care, and community come together – and the latest Ofsted report shows it’s a place where children are not only educated but truly nurtured.
Palace Winter, the electro-indie, Australian/Danish duo of Carl Coleman and Caspar Hesselager, have bubbled under the radar since they released their excellent (but largely ignored) debut LP Waiting for the World to Turn almost ten years ago. But they’re still yet to break through in a scene crammed full of synth-heavy, mid-tempo guitar pop. While that is unlikely to change with the release of their fourth LP Confessions of Mr. Nowhere, there’s still plenty here to love. On first listen there is little evidence of real deviation from the band’s signature sound. The album is, like its predecessors, awash with keyboards, guitar arpeggios and lush harmonies. But on closer listening, there are signs of subtle evolution to be found. On the single Does That Include Television? the synths give way to a distorted Rhodes piano for a surprisingly groovy breakdown. Inget Val features a spoken word/rap backing vocal which, while not exactly ground-breaking, does serve as a welcome counterpoint to Coleman’s mid-range vocals.
Telepathic turns a riff which could easily have come from a 1980’s video game into an essential anchor for an otherwise-listless musing (“If you could only ease my mind, ‘cause we’re only wasting time, we can leave it all behind”) Overall, the arrangements and production feel denser, tighter and less riff-driven than on previous efforts. And while this is most evident on chugging opening track Mr. Nowhere (a bouncy, Ian-Brown-meets-late-period-Supergrass foot tapper), this album confirms that Palace Winter are consistently at their best when they slow things down. Just Slide, perfectly positioned in the middle of the tracklist (and reminiscent of two of the band’s previous high water marks, 2015’s Woke in the Night, The Phone Was Ringing and 2016’s What Happened) brings the heart which is absent elsewhere on the record (“Always running to a negative space…. If you break, you buy”). Another rock-solid effort from an under-appreciated gem of a band. 3.5/5 stars.
Matthew Ambrose presents Under The Radar on Tuesday evening at 7pm on Abbey104. Broadcasting on 104.7FM and online at abbey104.com.
In an edge-of-the-seat final that went to the wire, Blandford & Sturminster Ladies faced Southampton University Ladies 3s in the Hampshire Senior Ladies Vase.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
Nerves were evident on both sides, culminating in a tense, evenly-matched first half. Blandford earned four short corners, each denied by a commanding performance from Southampton’s keeper. The opposition responded with two of their own, both confidently saved by Zena Parry.
But the momentum shifted in the second half. Southampton failed to register a single shot on goal, while Blandford found their rhythm. Southampton’s growing frustration culminated in a green card for a foul on Justine Turnbull – though Justine herself, eager to maintain momentum, also received a green card shortly after.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
Blandford continued to press. Jenny Smith had a goal disallowed when a whistle blew for a stick tackle just milliseconds before the ball crossed the line. Soon after, Justine took a free hit from the edge of the D, drove left and passed to Susan Bovensizer, who executed the signature “Bovensizer Classic” – a sweeping reverse hit that thudded into the backboard. But again, the goal was disallowed: the umpire ruled Justine hadn’t travelled the required five metres before passing into the D – a decision hotly contested by the crowd.
In the final minutes, Blandford dominated. Shots flew at the Southampton goal – Maddie Cowley’s sweep went agonisingly wide, Laura Robinson’s effort skimmed past the post, and Jenny struck the post itself.
Full time: 0-0. Penalty shuffles loomed.
In this format – a player runs from the 22-line and must score within eight seconds – the pressure is immense. Susan Bovensizer stepped up first, but the imposing presence of the Southampton keeper forced her shot wide. Southampton converted their opening attempt. 1-0.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
But Jenny Smith responded with her trademark composure and a confident reverse hit to bring it level. Zena Parry then delivered a sensational save, sprawling across the goal to deny Southampton’s second. Caroline Smith followed her sister, beating the keeper for pace and slotting home. 2-1 to Blandford.
Zena was unstoppable. She forced the next Southampton player wide, holding her off just long enough – the ball went in, but outside the eight-second limit. Georgia Turnbull was next, dragging the keeper wide before rifling the ball into the goal. 3-1.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
Southampton had to score – and did, just clinging to hope. But Laura Robinson stepped up with the chance to seal it. The satisfying thud of the ball striking the backboard ended it all.
Cheers, screams and tears of joy followed as the Blandford Ladies sprinted to embrace Laura and Zena – a fitting end to a dream season. A Vase, a league title, and promotion: the ultimate treble.
Two days of epic action await visitors to the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show this summer, as the main ring welcomes two new acts blending medieval and modern horsepower. Appearing in Dorset for the first time, The Knights of Albion will bring an unforgettable live-action jousting tournament to Turnpike Showground on 13th and 14th August. Renowned as one of the UK’s top theatrical equestrian displays, the team brings amazing jousting displays, original storylines and movie-quality armour paired with vibrant costumes. Tom Armstrong-Frost who runs the spectacular in between working in TV and film as a stunt rider said, ‘Our performances feature professional stunt riders, jousters, acrobats, musicians and performers, all accompanied by our stunning trick-trained horses. ‘There’s lots of opportunities for the public to get involved, cheer on their favourite knight and even meet the heroes and villains of the plot with their trusty steeds afterwards.’
Tigers at the G&S show
Headline Tigers Sharing the main arena spotlight will be the Tigers Motorcycle Display Team – an inspiring group of young riders aged just five to sixteen. From formation riding and high-speed chicanes to fire jumps, their fearless display of balance, bravery and skill is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Show organiser Cat Harris says: ‘We’re thrilled to be bringing these two incredible acts to the main ring this year. Their energy and skill are sure to be highlights for all ages.’ The show raises funds for the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, supporting the local farming community. While the livestock, pristine rows of tractors and huge farm machinery signal it is very much still an agricultural show, there’s something for everyone at the G&S Show – even those who have never set a wellied foot in a farmyard. Livestock parades, agricultural exhibits, vintage cars, steam engines, equestrian events, live music, a funfair and countryside displays.
Early bird one day tickets: Adults £19 | Kids £3 | Family £43 Under 5s FREE Two-day tickets also available gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk
With rainfall low and food security a priority, Dorset farmers push back on proposals to reduce farmland in favour of trees and stewardship
Rawston Farm in the Tarrent Valley
It has been a busy couple of months at Rawston Farm with all the spring barley and beans now drilled, with only the forage maize still to be sown (this should be completed by the time you read this!). All this is very different to last year, where crops had to be sown far later due to the wet weather. In March and April this year we have had less than 2 inches (50 mm) of rainfall: last year we had received almot 8 inches (200mm) by now. Of course, if we don’t get further rainfall soon the crop yields will be reduced … Our grassland is only just keeping up with the demand from our dairy cows, who are now grazing night and day. Grass silaging is just around the corner – again, yields will be reduced for next winter without some decent rainfall soon. But there is still a long way to go!
An idealistic future I recently attended a meeting organised by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) – a group of Farmers and Landowners met to discuss the Land Use Consultation Document (LUCD) put out by the government. The aim of it, I think, was to look forward as to the possible use of land in this country. From a farmer’s perspective, I obviously firmly believe our primary aim should be to feed the nation. In a world facing increasing uncertainty, food security has never been more important.We should not be relying on imports to keep the population fed. I appreciate that we cannot produce some fruit and vegetables, but we should not be completely reliant on those. The proposal in the LUCD was that ten per cent of productive farmland should be planted with trees, and a further ten per cent converted into land managed under environmental stewardship. Our group felt this would have a considerable impact on the country’s food production, and that this conversion would make many farms unviable. There was also a suggestion in the LUCD that farmers should produce ‘more food from less inputs and become more efficient’: this is difficult for producers to take on board when we are already embracing technology, and we certainly have no influence on the weather that we receive! There was a valuable debate, followed by a draft response outlining that many of the proposals simply aren’t achievable. And all of this came before we even reached the question of how many houses Dorset should build – a county that already seems to be expanding rapidly on the edges of every town.
Rawston hedgerows We have recently been engaging the Great Big Dorset Hedge: this involves volunteers coming out to survey our hedges. Under the guidance of John Calder, the volunteers are mapping the condition of our hedges and determining what future management practices are needed. This could be filling gaps with more hedging, cutting more (or less) frequently or maybe allowing the hedge to grow by incremental trimming each year. We are awaiting the results and are ready to carry out any recommendations. Well done to John for getting this underway – though with Dorset’s famous hedges, I am not sure how long it will take to complete the county! At the time of writing we are undergoing another TB test – fingers’ crossed we can have a clear test.
The Royal Bath & West Show returns from 29th to 31st May 2025, promising three days of countryside celebration, family fun, and live entertainment at the iconic Shepton Mallet showground. This year’s main ring entertainment features the thrilling Paul Hannam Quad Bike Stunt Show, delivering high-speed stunts and precision riding. Foodies can explore the Regional Food & Drink Pavilion, showcasing the best producers from across the South West, while live demos in The Great British Kitchen will feature guest chefs including George Egg – Snack Hacker, Big Nath’s BBQ, Andy Clarke and James Strawbridge. On Friday 30th May, Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper will be on site, meeting visitors, joining the Somerset Young Farmers and holding a Q&A session. The Pilton Tent, sponsored by Glastonbury Festival, brings evening entertainment to the show on Thursday and Friday, with live music and local cider on tap. Elsewhere, visitors can enjoy top-level livestock and equine competitions, the British Cider Championships, floral art, bees & honey and sheep shearing contests. The much-loved Bark & West returns for dog lovers, along with growing displays in the Horticultural Village. Families will find plenty of free hands-on activities too – from wood carving to STEM fun in the Discover the Future zone, plus farming education in Lakeside Farm.
