Baby Boom Boom
for Baby Blooming
…Launch of new shop in Ringwood

Baby Blooming has opened a shop in Market Place, Ringwood.  Mum, Katharine Cleall officially opened Baby Blooming on 4th June, selling everything from designer baby clothes to accessories and gifts.  Ringwood has recently experienced a ‘baby boom’ with an increase
in the number of babies being born in the town over the last five years.  

Baby Blooming hosted a ‘cupcakes and milkshakes’ launch party for all local parents, babies and toddlers at their new premises , and Ringwood also had an unexpected surprise visit
from TV’s Dora the Explorer and Peppa Pig.

Parents looking for beautiful designer labels such as Lelli Kelly shoes, favoured by Gwyneth Paltrow, and the latest designs from Mayoral, the popular Spanish label, can now either shop online at: www.babyblooming.co.uk or visit the new shop.
                                                                                                                                      
Shop owner Katharine started the online business after trying to shop for her own baby and realised the lack of choice in the market. The business has now expanded into a store and has been an overwhelming success. Speaking from the nearly-completed shop, Katharine commented: “We are passionate about our business and love what we do. We hope this
is reflected in both the gorgeous clothes that we choose to stock as well as the high
level of service that you will experience when shopping with us. We believe that shopping for your new arrival should be fun, and our stock will combine established
and new brands, in a variety of innovative & stylish designs.”

The store, which is located at 21 Market Place, Ringwood is now open. Those that wish
to shop online can visit the brand new website at www.babyblooming.co.uk

British Pedal Car

Grand Prix 2010 –

Sunday 11th July Celebrates

its 23rd Anniversary

What's NEW for the British Pedal Car Grand Prix 2010? Well with new RACE DIRECTOR Jim Stride holding the reins for 2010 the event has become 50% bigger with the new "extended 1.4Km Race Track" running from the Market Place, charging down the High Street and continuing up Christchurch Road taking a sharp left-hand corner at Greyfriars roundabout, powering up Mansfield Road and taking an incredible
left-hand bend into the bus lane passing the VIC down into Meeting House Lane back up to
the Market place.

Why extend the Race Track? Well we have had so many NEW Team Enquiries from local groups, retailers, charities and even emergency services that to avoid disappointing many we have increased the maximum teams from 36 to an incredible increased field of 54 teams!

The Pedal Car Committee are braced for some serious work to put this amazing and most bizarre community event in the country onto the "extended 1.4Km Race Track" transformed streets of Ringwood with expected crowds of over 10,000.

So, 54 Pedal Cars will line the starting grids, adrenaline flowing, awaiting the start of the 2 hour "Wacky Races" style British Pedal Car Grand Prix. Spectators will be excited by the mix of dog eat dog competitive racing style from the top Pedal Car racing teams such as the Great Central Racing, Team Royce, Gone Biking Mad including 2006 winners Patterson's Bangers and the "Fun Riders" with brilliant team livery to fancy dress. Riders will be pedalling as fast as their legs will take them only to hear a quick blast in their ear "ON THE RIGHT" as a top teams come screaming past, being themselves hotly pursued by their immediate competitors.

Top engineering, modern technology, team practice and discipline are ever so evident as the teams prepare for the race. On race day their fingers are firmly crossed as the race day director announces the grid positions (drawn in the style of a completely random lottery). The keen eared by-stander will hear these teams hatching their plans for gaining the most places on the first lap so that they are quickly on the heels of their rivals. Pit stop change overs are slicker than those of formula one racing. With only a 20 second lead on the final lap, sights are firmly set on the chequered flag as the crowds scream out in support and the race commentator is seen climbing out of his commentary box in excitement. The Champagne podium celebrations will take place in the Market Place where the proud winners will be presented the winner's Trophy with the added bonus for the male participants having their photographs taken with
the "pit babes".

Both BBC Television, ITV, Channel 5 and Satellite TV have filmed these "wacky races" with Radio and Media supporting the coverage of this biennially spectacle which now attract entrants from "the BBC", "Wave 105.2FM" and "The Bournemouth Echo" and many more.

Teams are made from up to four drivers per car and one pit pusher. There are classes for juniors (under 16's) and for ladies and overall Winners. The NEW 1.4 kilometre circuit is flat-out for most of the way with just a few corners of note, with overtaking at three abreast in the
fastest sections. The local opposition is absolutely first class with team joining from hundreds
of miles away.

The judging of the Concours D' Elegance is always held on the Saturday in Ringwood so that members of the public can come along and get a sneak preview of the competing cars and also witness practice sprints on the roads.

Race Day: The pedal cars assemble in the Furlong Centre from 10.00am, and are displayed there for the morning, prior to the parade laps from 1.30pm, with the race starting at 2.00pm. Spectators are able to walk around the whole course to watch the race from various different vantage points. The whole emphasis of the event is to have FUN! The pedal cars vary greatly in design with some very light and aerodynamic competitive cars, whilst others are built to amuse the crowds. The teams have their own pits and are allowed to change riders at the pit stops as many times as they like, which makes pit lane viewing very interesting for the spectators!

The chequered flag is waved at the winning car at 4.00pm and the champagne spraying trophy presentations are held on the podium rostrum at 4.15pm.

The event also raises sponsorship money that is then donated to selected charities: Tenovus Cancer Research, a charitable organisation committed to the control of cancer through quality research, prevention/education, counselling and patient care – Wave 105 Cash For Kids a charitable organisation committed to supporting local children under the age of 18, who are financially, socially, emotionally or physically disadvantaged – Help For Heroes – Local charities as selected by the Ringwood Festival.

More details about pedal car racing can be found at www.BritishPedalCarGP.co.uk or by contacting Race Director Jim Stride on 07891 336419 / email: jim@strides.me.uk.