Place to win in marathon competition

A popular sports shop has a much coveted place available for a runner to take part in the Brighton Marathon.

Entries to the seaside town’s 2014 marathon have long closed but Podplus, based at the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford, still has one place up for grabs for someone to run in the event on Sunday, April 6, and raise cash for the charity of their choice.

Podplus has been involved with the marathon since 2012, offering podiatry and chiropody services on the day.

Podplus’s Tom Austen said: “We are honoured to have a role in this fantastic sports event. We treat and offer advice to runners of all levels, who take place in races worldwide, and the feedback we get shows the Brighton Marathon is a firm favourite.”

The 2013 event saw a 20% increase on entries to 18,000, putting it in the top 12 running events in the UK.

The winner of the Podplus marathon entry competition will also receive specialist advice and treatments from Tom and his team, including sports massages from trained experts.

For more information on how to enter, visit the website www. podplus.co.uk or contact the shop on 01233 660851. A four-year-old is the poster girl for the Rare Breeds Centre.

The smiling face of Graciemay Linn beams out from the cover of new leaflets promoting the charity-run Woodchurch tourist attraction.

More than 110,000 copies of the leaflet have been printed for 2014 to show what the centre does and to encourage visitors.

Graciemay, who will be five in March, is in the reception class of Ashford Oaks Primary School.

Her mother Jo said: “We were on a regular visit to the centre and playing in the children’s barn when one of the staff asked if they could photograph Graciemay as they were looking for publicity photos.

“I never thought she would end up as the star of the main 2014 leaflet. I am so proud as she looks so lovely in the photograph.”

Gill Gibb, chief executive of Canterbury Oast Trust, which owns and runs the Rare Breeds Centre, said: “It is lovely for us to be able to use a local child on the front of our leaflet.

“We really thought Graciemay summed up a great visit – she really looks like she is having a great time.”

Entry to the Rare Breeds Centre is reduced to £6 until the end of March. There are three undercover barns to play in and the Granary Restaurant serving snacks and lunches.

For more information, call 01233 861493 or go to www. rarebreeds.org.uk