Archive

  • Dad killed by lethal cocktail of drugs

    A father-of-two died after taking a heroin substitute he found on a friend’s doorstep, an inquest heard. Painter and decorator Wayne O’Connor, 30, was found dead on his bed in a room of the North Oxford house he had only moved into a week before. A

  • Thongs' thousands for poorly tots

    TWO poorly tots have been given thousands of pounds for specialist equipment by Oxfordshire’s most notoriously dressed fundraisers. Didcot’s Thong Rangers, famous for performing heroic feats of strength dressed in the skimpiest of underwear

  • U's back to winning ways

    Goals from Alfie Potter, Josh Payne and Tom Craddock, from the penalty spot, brought Oxford United a 3-1 win over Northampton at the Kassam Stadium today. Full details in Match Reports

  • Oxford Utd 3, Northampton Tn 1 (23/10)

    Josh Payne struck a brilliant free-kick goal as United bounced back in style from their Macclesfield defeat. Alfie Potter gave Chris Wilder's men the perfect start with a goal in the fourth minute. It came after a flowing move, begun

  • RUGBY UNION: The numbers game

    Chinnor collected a bonus-point victory without ever hitting top form. Here is the numbers' game. See Tuesday’s paper for full report. Competition: National 3 South West Score: Chinnor 38, Cheltenham Tigers 15 Chinnor player ratings

  • Paralympian urges students to do their best

    A PARALYMPIC gold medallist has told his extraordinary story to school children to inspire them to reach their full potential. Runner Danny Crates, who lost his right arm in a car crash in 1994, visited Year Seven students at King Alfred’s School, in

  • Potter gives United dream start

    Alfie Potter gave Oxford United a dream start by firing them into a fourth-minute lead against Northampton at the Kassam Stadium today. He shot home left-footed from eight yards, from James Constable's low cross after a flowing U's move.

  • SCHOOL SPORT: Launton at the double

    Youngsters from Launton School achieved their own grand slam in the Cooper School (Bicester) Family of Primary Schools Tag Rugby Festival. More than 170 youngsters battled it out as 16 teams lined up from seven schools. But it was Launton who provided

  • SWIMMING: Isabel's bronze

    City of Oxford’s Isabel Rundle, 11, won a bronze medal in the 50 metre freestyle at High Wycombe last Sunday. She recorded a time of 37.82 secs in the Level 3 regional event.

  • ANGLING: South Africa take world title

    Team South Africa took the honours at the 12th FIPSed World Carp Champs held at Linear Fisheries, in Oxfordshire. The result was in the balance until the last 45 minutes of the match, when South Africa took overall gold after landing this 22lb mirror

  • Stone me! Masons create giant Marmite jar

    A STONE-carver who devours Marmite for breakfast every morning has created a sculpture in tribute to the yeast spread. Steve Byrne, 46, of stone masons APS, in Osney Mead, Oxford, oversaw the creation of a giant stone Marmite jar, which was unveiled

  • MOTORSPORT: Ace Wain claims crown

    Witney youngster Reece Wain is riding high after capturing the Banbury Youth Small Wheels 85cc Championship. The 12-year-old, who attends Henry Box School, claimed the title on his 85cc KTM bike. And his success was a real family affair as his grandad

  • Firefighters called to Waterstones

    Firefighters were called to deal with a fire in a light fitting in the Cornmarket Street branch of Waterstones in Oxford city centre this morning. Three fire crews from Rewley Road including the hydraulic platform were called as a precaution. However

  • Vettel seals ninth pole

    Pole-position king Sebastian Vettel clinched his ninth top spot of the season to edge out Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber in qualifying for Sunday's Korean Grand Prix. For Vettel it is the most poles in a year since Michael Schumacher in 2001

  • ICE HOCKEY: Shurmer must sit it out again

    Oxford City Stars will be without the crocked Andrew Shurmer when they host Milton Keynes Thunder in South Division 1 of the English National League at Oxpens Road tomorrow. Shurmer is still nursing a knee injury, which has kept him out of action for

  • Three steps to smooth bus trips

    BUS passengers who hold concessionary passes are being urged to learn three simple steps to ensure a smooth start to their journeys from the end of the month. The Oxford Bus Company is fitting new ticket machines to the buses used on its city and county

  • ANGLING: Return of otters is big worry

    The return of otters to our river banks could have a big impact on angling in the county and beyond, and it’s not all good news! The Environment Agency have recently announced that otters have been found in every county except Kent, and the Thames and

  • Friends step in to improve playtime

    PARISH councillors have stepped in to give children with special needs a playtime boost in Blackbird Leys, thanks to the Oxford Mail. Earlier this month, staff at Mabel Prichard School on Oxford’s largest estate appealed to the community for help to

  • Bullies make kids pay to use swings

    POLICE were called to deal with children on an Oxford estate who charged youngsters ‘£1 for a go’ on play equipment. Barton officers intervened when children – mostly under 10 – began profiteering off swings, climbing frames, and slides, in Bonny Banks

  • RAF corporal guilty of raping teenager

    AN RAF corporal has been convicted of dragging a teenage girl from a disco and raping her. Scott Atkins attacked the 17-year-old at RAF Benson on January 28 after he had been drinking at the Dolphin pub in Wallingford. The 28-year-old

  • Concerns for missing teen

    A 15-year-old is missing after leaving his home in Bicester. Elliott Harper has not been home since Monday, October 11, and police are concerned for his welfare. He is about 5ft 10ins tall, thin, with brown hair. Missing persons co-ordinator

  • Crash teen ‘lived life to the full’

    THE family of a Bicester teenager killed in a head-on car crash have paid tribute to him, saying he ‘lived life to the full’. Neil Webb, 19, was pronounced dead at the crash scene in Bucknell Road, Ardley, last Friday at 9.30pm. He was

  • COMMENT: Root out these stupid hooligans

    seriously, you would have thought by now that football hooligans would have got the message. You’re morons, nobody’s impressed, it isn’t big, it isn’t clever, and all you’re doing is driving away hundreds of dedicated fans who just want to get passionate

  • New police unit to target football hooligans

    POLICE have set up a unit to tackle recent hooliganism at Oxford United matches. Six Thames Valley Police officers are probing violence at home matches against Aldershot and Port Vale earlier this month. And more will be on standby at matches

  • Kittens found dumped in Kidlington

    TWO newborn kittens were discovered dumped in a plastic bag and left to die in Kidlington with their umbilical cords still attached. They were no more than two days old and their eyes had not yet opened when they were found in Nursery Road.

  • TABLE TENNIS: Vikings get off to a flier

    Vikings A stole a march on the rest of Division 1 as they started the Oxford & District League season with an 8-2 win over Bicester A and a 6-4 success against Vikings B. The all-Vikings battle in-volved six matches that went the distance, with the victory

  • CYCLE SPEEDWAY: Currell secures junior triumph

    Jack Currell was crowned overall champion at under 8 level at the individual finals day of the SSW Junior Grand Prix at Poole. Currell was unbeaten in the qualifiers and came second in the A final, which was enough for overall victory.

  • GYMNASTICS: Blunsden's back with a gold medal

    AFTER a year out through injury, Susan Blunsden, coach of the Bicester & District club, came back with a gold medal from the National Veterans Competition. Competing in the over 30 category alongside her sister Carrie-Anne, Susan secured gold

  • SNOOKER: Eynsham get off mark

    Newly-promoted Eynsham A recorded their first win of the Gentworks Oxford League season at the expense of New Club A in Division 1. After three successive defeats, Lawrence Parsons got Eynsham off to a flier, beating Ian Gee 57-48, 69-38. Justin Shepherd

  • COMMENT: 'Pub tax' is right

    SO pubs and clubs might have to pay for policing? Is that so bad? Just stop selling cheap beer that sends young drinkers out on to the streets plastered, and maybe you won’t need to pay this so-called ‘pub tax’. Frankly, it’s a no-brainer...

  • CRICKET: Symington is the star

    Paul Symington steered Deddington to a one-wicket win over Horley in Banbury Indoor League Division 3. Syminton made an unbeaten 24 as Deddington clinched victory at 104-5. Darren De Bruyn (30) and Dave Eaton (28) had starred in Horley’s 101 all out

  • The Azores: Having a whale of a time

    When I was at junior school we studied a stirring poem by Tennyson about an Elizabethan seaman called Sir Richard Grenville and his crew, who fought a gallant rearguard action in their ship The Revenge against 53 ships of the devilish Spanish fleet to

  • SQUASH: Young Brooke eyes top title

    Abingdon Squash and Racketball club youngster Joe Brooke has set his sights on success in the Tecnifibre British under 17 Junior Championships in Manchester later this month. Brooke, 15, recently climbed to No 3 in the England under 15 squash rankings

  • ANGLING: Chris beats frost to land victory

    Chris Ives took victory in round two of the Angling Times Winter League, fished by a healthy contingent of 50 anglers on Medley, Channel and Folly stretches of the Thames. After overnight frost and no rain for a week, it was feared that this could be

  • Residents back 'pub tax' plans

    RESIDENTS in East Oxford plagued by drunken students are backing a Government ‘pub tax’ to put police on their streets. Councillors and residents have backed planned changes to licensing laws that would let local authorities demand a ‘late

  • Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 23/10/2010)

    With so few features from outside of the United States and Europe securing a theatrical release in this country, it is vital that festivals continue to showcase pictures from Latin America, Asia and Africa. No British event is as committed to world

  • Annabel is our face in the crowd

    ANNABEL Smith, from Cowley, is all smiles after collecting £75 for being our Face in the Crowd at Monday’s rugby match between Oxford University and Wasps. The 22-year-old Oxford Brookes University student, who is working towards a real estate management

  • Wright's itching to get back

    Centre back Jake Wright admits he’s itching to get back into action as he returns to Oxford United’s side for today’s npower League Two match at home to Northampton. The former Halifax and Brighton defender has been sidelined for nearly

  • GREYHOUNDS: Mick's on the mend

    STAFF at the stadium send best wishes to Clerk of the Course Mick Partlett as he recovers from a throat operation. They are looking for a stand-in. Contact Gary Baiden on Oxford 778822. FORMER Pall Mall finalist Allen Mile, trained by Ron Bicknell

  • GREYHOUNDS: Golden day for super Poacher

    OXFORD specialist Jolly Poacher again gained top marks when landing the Blanchford Gold Cup to take his tally to nine open race wins out of ten at the Stadium. The Nick Colton-trained white and brindle hound, who won all three major local open

  • Fake cabbie jailed for sex assault on boy, 13

    THE 13-year-old victim of paedophile fake cabbie Mohammed Mehmood suffers recurring nightmares and needs counselling, his distraught parents said. Mehmood, 44, was yesterday jailed for six years after earlier admitting sexual assault and a serious sexual

  • Bowled over by surprise 100th birthday party

    BOWLING fan Beatrice Storms, front right, will crown her 100th birthday celebrations with a special family party today. But earlier in the week she returned to the green at South Oxford Bowling Club as guest of honour at a surprise bash. Mrs Storms is

  • Lord Mayor backs RAF march

    THE Lord Mayor of Oxford has urged residents to salute a team of airmen who will be marching through the city to boost this year’s Poppy Appeal, as details are released of the final route. Members of the Royal Air Force will march through the county

  • Double delight for author David

    OXFORD art historian David Boyd Haycock is cracking open the Champagne for the second time after being shortlisted for a major book award days after the birth of his second child. A Crisis of Brilliance has been named by The Writers’ Guild

  • Dogs do their bit for injured personnel

    A CHARITY which trains dogs to help injured servicemen and women has praised the crews who fly them home during a visit to RAF Brize Norton. Hounds for Heroes, launched earlier this year, is looking to raise £100,000 to supply injured soldiers with a