WHY SPORTS STARS LOVE ICE BATHS
07 Aug 2006

Recovery has become a bit of a buzz word over the past few years.

Teams and physios are always looking for the best methods to help sport stars recover from their gruelling training sessions as quickly as possible.

Rugby teams and other sports stars use massage, stretching sessions, relaxation therapy, steam baths, yoga and swimming to help their players overcome stiffness.

Tennis player Lee Childs feels the cold pain of the ice bath

But the recovery method which has become the choice (and curse) of the players is the ice bath.

You may ask why Jonny Wilkinson bothers jumping into an ice bath after a match when all he wants to do is rest with a few cool drinks and a massage.

The reason lies behind what the cold, icy water does for a sportsman after a hard day at the office.

To understand how the ice baths work though, we first need to understand what recovery is all about.

In simple terms, it's about helping the muscles, tendons, bones, nerves and all the different tissues used in sport recover from their workout.

Just like Michael Schumacher's car needs a complete overhaul with new parts and tyres after a Formula One race, the body needs to service itself and its parts for the next day, next race or next match.

You're body is pretty battered and bruised after a heavy game - it's the best way to recover from the aches and pains

Jonah Lomu on ice baths

The body does this with the help of the blood vessels that bring oxygen to the tissues and remove the waste products of exercise, the most common being lactic acid.

Too much lactic acid build up can cause the muscles to function poorly and over a long period of time feelings of fatigue, heavy legs and general tiredness can set in.

So how do ice baths help to boost the body's recovery processes and prevent injury?

When you get into an ice bath for five to 10 minutes, the icy cold water causes your blood vessels to tighten and drains the blood out of your legs. After 10 minutes your legs feel cold and numb.

So when Wilko gets out of the bath, his legs fill up with 'new' blood that invigorates his muscles with oxygen to help the cells function better.

At the same time, the more blood coming into Jonny's legs will have to leave as well, draining away and at the same time taking with it the lactic acid that has built up from his match.

Most of the players at major tournaments will be taking ice baths regularly after training sessions to help their muscles stay fresh and avoid injury.

Coach’s Comments
20 Aug 2006

The website catches up with coach, Steve Mahoney, who gives his insight to Pre-season training.

All the players are enjoying and reacting well to all the new training methods, including the food and recovery stuff.
They are working hard, their attitude is great, injuries have been minimal. We are looking in great shape, with five or six players still to come back into the squad.
There are a few reserves that are knocking on the door of the first team, which is making a great competition for places. There is a great buzz around the club after our first win on Saturday and it seems like everyone’s hard work is paying off. Let’s hope we can carry on our winning ways this Tuesday away to New Bradwell St Peter.

Steve

CAPTAIN'S THOUGHTS-AUG 06
29 Aug 2006

CAPTAIN'S THOUGHTS

What was the feeling of the team before the Winslow game?

I think I can speak for most of the players and say that most of us were certainly nervous about the game. I think we were excited to get the season started after a busy pre-season but apprehensive about putting in a good team performance in front of the Ampthill faithful.

You came out 3-1 winners, it must be great to get off to a winning start?

A winning start was very important for us especially if we are to achieve anything this year. We must keep in touch with the early pace setters and get up the right end of the table.

It looked like our fitness level was far superior to Winslow’s, do you agree?

The game was played at a very high tempo and I was surprised at how quickly Winslow started. Some first games of the season can be quite lethargic but this was all action, huffing and puffing, blood and sweat. We are a better team playing like this and we need to get this in to all our games whether the opposition are good or poor.

What was the mood after the game?

The changing room was great after the game and all the lads were buzzing having won the game and getting those first 3 points under our belts. I was well chuffed for Stu who scored a fantastic hatrick after not having scored in pre-season. In fact we were still talking about it at 12.30am in the Indian in Stony High Street.

With a big game coming up against your old side New Bradwell St Peter on
Tuesday, how do you see the game going?

This is going to be an interesting one. I am looking forward to going back, especially as it is so close to where I live. They lost 2-1 to Harpenden at the weekend and they will not want to lose this one especially with the management and majority of the players coming back to face them. I believe they have a new squad of players, mainly made up of ex Old Bradwell players but have strengthened it with players who have stayed with the club from last year. I am sure these players will be extremely keen to get one over on us, but I am sure we can put in a performance good enough to come away with all 3 points.

Ampthill vs Bedford Match report
03 Sep 2006

Bedford came to Ampthill with a very strong record in the league having only lost to league leaders
Kentish Town. This was not only a local derby but a game with a lot to play for.

They started brightly and came at us from the start. We had a few nervy
clearances and struggled to settle. It looked like their right midfielder
was going to cause us a few problems as he was running at us and linking up
well with one of their strikers. They carved out a few opportunities but
did not manage to create a shot on target. We did escape a goal mouth
scramble that they could have scored from but for some very determined
defending from the lads at the back.

We did settle and the game became a very physical battle with some heavy
challenges being traded. Gary Hutchinson was lucky not to get booked for a
late challenge on their centre forward. Their team were strong and physical
and they could, given the opportunity, impose this on teams with less experience.
We are strong and experienced though and most of the guys seemed well up for the
game. There was a lot at stake and losing would have put us in mid table rather than
an impressive second.

They played a 3-5-2 formation with a holding midfield player who was quite
strong in the air. It did not take long for us to realise that we would
stretch them if we could get the ball out wide and avoid the height they
had in the middle. Once we started to do this we created some very good
chances and applied a lengthy spell of pressure including corners, free
kicks etc. New signing Keith ? was influencial in this and was having an
excellent debut for the club, showing his experience and calmness on the
ball.
One corner was delivered perfectly in to the six yard area only for skipper
Matt Quinn to narrowly header over the bar. Player manager Steve Goodridge also had two
opportunities to make the keeper work with his head. Another chance was
saved by their keeper when Craig Townsend broke free and hit a low shot
from just outside the area.

Half time 0-0.

Ampthill started the second half looking to keep their shape and continue
were they had left off. The game was very tight and all the midfielders and
defenders were working very hard not to give anything away.

Suddenly,we hit them with a 3-goal spurt in 10 second half minutes, which
they had no answer to!

After 55 minutes, we broke quickly from deep inside our own area. Martin Wells started and finished
the move. He collected a ball from defence and played it out to the left (to Keith I believe), he
then played a neat ball inside to Stuey who continued on into the Bedford
half and held onto it to allow Wellsy to make up ground before playing in
him with a perfectly weighted ball. The pacey striker then applied the
finish, confidently shooting across the keeper into the bottom corner.

Only a couple of minutes later, good work on the right between Goodie and
Stuart Reynolds created the chance for the latter to curl a dangerous cross into the
Bedford box which was met by Townsend who gave the keeper no chance with a
controlled diving header.

The 3rd goal followed a few minutes later, and this was again due to more
pressure down the right. Mark Tomms clipping a good ball down the right
wing for Goodie to chase and he showed impressive pace to reach the ball
before the committed Bedford keeper, who up-ended him.
The ref had little choice and it was Stuey who tucked away the penalty
squeezing the ball under the keepers body for his 12th goal of the season.

The Amps then had to soak up some Bedford pressure, successfully defending
several quick fire corners.
With 15 minutes left and the game seemingly won, the Amps defence tried to
play the offside trap, but the flag stayed down. Andy Gibb came storming out to
try and clear the danger but collided with the forward just outside the
area. The referee took the easy option and sent Gibby off for a
professional foul.
Craig Townsend, who has recently impressed as a keeper in the pre-match
kickabouts took over the gloves and had to prepare the wall for the free
kick which had been awarded. The wall stood strong and from then on, but
for a couple of decent efforts on goal that were dealt with well by
Townsend, the Amps had no real problems seeing out the game.
They were even able to introduce a couple of subs - the returning Quill
replacing Jonny Lewis, and Paul Tuffs coming on for a tiring Stuey.

AROUND THE GROUNDS BY STAN EATON
04 Sep 2006

Saturday 26th August

It was very high scoring day in the PREMIER DIVISION where 4 sides each scored Seven Goals.
In their first League game, Harefield United won 7-0 at home to Biggleswade Town, with six different names on the score
sheet. Sean Sonner scored the first 2 by the 14th minute, followed by one for Danny
Jordan before the break. In the 2nd half scorers were Danny Buckle, Adam Willis,Luke Willis, and Tom Lewis in the last minute.
Newcomers Hertford Town won 7-1 at
Tring Athletic with Robbie Syrett giving them a 2-0 lead after 9 minutes. Other goals scored by Ryan Redford (3), Matt Watton,
and Lee Roberts. Peter Martin scored for Tring in the 39th minute to make the score 1-3 at the time.
Another 7-1 victory was by London Colney who were 0-1 down after 18 minutes, Kingsley Amankwahi having scored for Royston Town. Steve Flain equalised for Colney in the 42nd minute, and 2nd half goals by Jermaine Davey (2), and in the last 8 minutes Mark Paradise, Steve Hutchins, Dave Parkinson, and Kenny Hill gave
Colney a score they could not have
envisaged a few minutes earlier.
Newcomers Chalfont St Peter beat
promoted Colney Heath 7-2 with 6
different scorers. Barry Brosnan opened the scoring in the 17th minute. There was a hat-trick for Adam Bunce and goals for Bradley
Bubb (2) and Terrell Lewis. Martin Standen scored both Colney’s goals late in the 2nd
half.
Another of the new sides, Kingsbury London Tigers, lost 2-5 at home to Langford, who opened the scoring with a penalty in the 5th minute. 6 minutes later Kingsbury equalised, also with a penalty.
After 36 minutes Wesley Byrne gave
Langford the lead for the 2nd time, with John Coley making it 3-1 just on the break.
Although Yousef Elteresi scored for Kingsbury, an og and a 90th minute strike by Langford’s Luke Pateman gave his side their 5-2 win.
A late goal by Matt Tallyn gave Holmer Green a 2-1 victory at Broxbourne Borough V & E. Luke Faulkner gave Holmer a 62nd minute lead, with Danny Ward equalising 4 minutes later.
At Ruislip Manor, a late goal by Adam Hallissey gave Leverstock Green a 2-1win.
A Ryan Upton goal had given Ruislip a first half lead, with Allan Arthur equalising just
after the break.
An og in the 74th minute gave St
Margaretsbury a 1-1 draw at Aylesbury Vale. Mark Lambert had given Aylesbury a first half lead.
Another late goal that produced a draw was by Wayne Goldsmith for Biggleswade United at home to Haringey Borough.
Robert O’Dell had given Biggleswade an early lead. Shortly after Uduma Kalu equalised, and early in the 2nd half David Patten had given Haringey a 2-1lead.

In DIVISION ONE, two teams have won all 3 matches, with Brimsdown Rovers and Bedford Valerio United the successful teams.
Brimsdown won 4-0 at home to Winslow United with four 2nd half goals, including a hat-trick in the last 20 minutes for Dwayne
Nickel (surely an early candidate for “Quickest hat-trick of the season”). Earlier a Darren Reid goal had opened the scoring.
Top score in the division was by Ampthill Town, who won 5-0 at home to Arlesey Athletic. Gary Hutchinson scored in the 2nd minute with further quick goals by
Danny Hollis and Stuart Reynolds, who then completed his hat-trick with a last minute penalty.
Another side to lose a 2-0 lead and finish losing 2-3 was Harpenden Town, who lost at Bedford Valerio United. Ben Dawes and Chris Gregory gave Harpenden a 2-0 lead by the 19th minute. Chris Huckle pulled one back in the 37th minute, Rakesh Gill
equalised, and Huckle’s second in the 90th minute gave Bedford their 3-2 win.
Two late goals for Stony Stratford Town gave them a 3-1 victory at Brache Sparta.
Darren Dykes gave Stony a first half lead, with Lee Redmond equalising for Brache early in the 2nd half. In the last 5 minutes, a Darren Dykes penalty and a goal by Dom Marsala gave Stony a 3-1 win.
Jon Moniatis scored another late goal, in the 88th minute to give Cockfosters a 1-0 win at home to New Bradwell St Peter.
Three 2nd half goals gave Sun Postal Sports a 3-1 win at Cranfield United, who had
taken the lead with a Martin O’Farrell goal after 15 minutes. The scorers for Postal were Danny Burke, Ben Cowan, and (in the
last minute) Paul Denslow.
Kentish Town won 2-0 at home to
Buckingham Athletic with early goals by Lee Scott and Daniel Young.

In DIVISION TWO, Crawley Green is
one of 4 unbeaten teams and have yet to concede a goal. They won 5-0 atMarkyate with a hat trick for James Patten and one each for Scott Ford and Jason Young.
Kent Athletic won 2-1 at home to Mursley United with goals by Danny Sutherland and Steve Mooney. Mursley reduced the arrears with a Kent og.
Top score in the Division was by
Caddington, who won 6-1 at Pitstone & Ivinghoe. Paul Quarman scored 3 in the first half, with further goals by Darren Croft, James Ponter, and Darren Edwards.
Shaun Stacey had scored for Pitstone to make the score 1-4.
Kings Langley won 2-0 at home to
Padbury United with 2nd half goals by Ben Walker Craig McMahon.
A goal in each half by Dominic Lawless gaveM.K. Scot a 2-1 win at home to Tring Corinthians, who took an early lead with a goal by Luke Byrne.
Craig Fraser scored an early goal for Risborough Rangers at home to AFC Dunstable with Mark Williams making it 2- 0. On the 45th minute Gareth Harnaman pulled one back for AFC, and with no further goals the score remained at 2-1.
A second half goal by Alex Roberts gave The 61FC a 1-0 home win against Old Bradwell United.
Another 2-1 win was by Flamstead at Totternhoe, thanks to a 90th minute goal by Gareth Devoti. Adam Page had given Flamstead the lead after 29 minutes, with Glen Sizer equalising shortly after.
One unusual aspect of the day was only 3 draws in 27 matches. In addition to the 2 in the Premier, Aston Clinton drew 1-1 at home to Loughton Orient. Liam Little had
given Aston a 27-minute lead. Gary Davis equalised for Loughton two minutes later. And finally, congratulations to Harefield
United on winning their FA Cup replay during the week. Good luck in the next round.