Here are some spectacular images from Fence House, taken on the 7th of January 2010.

12►

FINDING yourself one on one in a cage with someone who wants to cause you severe pain would be most people’s worst nightmare.

But in that cage – and with that someone – is where arguably the North East’s most successful martial artist feels most at home.

Four months ago, Ross Pearson swept all before him in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s “Ultimate Fighter” event in Las Vegas, to earn a six-figure UFC contract.

Today, though, he is loosening up for a day’s training in a chilly, no-frills gym in his native Sunderland which more than lives up to its name: Spartan.

The surroundings also bear out Ross Pearson’s nickname. Never mind the glitz and gloss of Vegas, this guy really is the “Real Deal”.

At 25, Pearson is a relatively young fighter in UFC terms, but he came of age in winning the ninth series of The Ultimate Fighter in Las Vegas in June, overcoming fellow Brit Andre Winner in the final.

Having started fighting at the tender age of six when his mam took him to Taekwondo lessons, he has never looked back.

So much so that Pearson is one of the biggest names of the fastest growing martial arts sport in the world – if not the biggest physically.

For while the Fencehouses lad may pack a punch, he is officially a lightweight in the ultra-competitive, fast-growing world of UFC.

And, having cracked America, he is understandably delighted with his progress.

“To get into the UFC was a dream alone but to win The Ultimate Fighter, as prestigious as what it is, was massive for me. It was an awesome feeling to fight on a live stage in Las Vegas and a dream come true for me. Vegas is the fight capital of the world and to fight there is amazing.”

Pearson, who was an amateur boxer throughout his teens in Sunderland, became only the second Brit in the history of The Ultimate Fighter to be crowned champion and to earn the lucrative UFC deal.

The Wearside scrapper first started mixed martial arts as an 18-year-old and his dedication and desire for success has seen him reach great heights at such an early stage in his career.

After turning professional in December 2004, Pearson has claimed victory in nine of his 12 competitive fights, two of which were by knock-outs.

And Pearson currently finds himself in an intense training programme back in his home town as preparation for his next fight against American brawler Aaron Riley in Manchester on Saturday, November 14.

Riley has a wealth of experience, with 40 competitive fights under his belt, and Pearson knows he will have to be at his best to win what he describes as “the toughest fight of my career”.

“Aaron Riley is a tough competitor and is known for being able to take a beating and still come back and win. He gets in there and makes it messy and on paper it’s a very tough fight,” he added.

Pearson is putting all his efforts into November’s clash, training five hours a day, six days a week.

And although victory is his main focus, he also wants to show the fighting world exactly what he is capable of.

“I’m looking to win this fight and win this fight impressively. I’m just starting my career in UFC and I’m looking to improve and impress,” he said.

Victory would complete a fantastic year for Pearson, but he is keeping his feet on the ground, wanting to be a role model for younger kids and encouraging young fighters to stick in and follow their dreams.

“I feel like a bit of an inspiration to younger kids, and if you’ve got a dream go ahead and follow it. I just found something that I love doing and stuck at it.”

Catch Ross Pearson at UFC 105 at Manchester’s MEN Arena on 14^th November.

Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or watch it live on ESPN from 8pm.

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport

IF YOU CAN DO A FUNDRAISING EVENT TO HELP US REACH THIS TOTAL PLEASE CALL ALLAN.

THE FELLOWSHIP HAVE PLEDGED TO RAISE £3,000 TO THE CAUSE. VIEW  THEIR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ON THEIR PAGE.

PLEASE SUPPORT US BY BUYING PLANTS WE HAVE ON SALE AT THE DUN COW PUB. update £63.00 raised

CHILTON MOOR PHARMACY

DISPENSING CHEMIST

PRESCRIPTION DELIVERY SERVICE

We offer prescription collection and delivery service delivering.

your prescriptions directly to your home.

Please ring for more details: 0191 385 9934

55 Font Street, Chilton Moor, Tyne & Wear  DH4 6LP

Continue Reading

The upnorthcombine.com has provided a free service to many of its users since 2002. As time has past measures for a new and better up-to-date system was needed as the old system became rather slow and impractical. However there release of their new and improved online portal has generated a new interest along with developers working around the clock creating new and exciting features for their users, such as custom designed programs and interactive tool bars. The website is aimed at the heart of the every fanciers needs within the community, therefore there online forum is an online discussion group, in which participants with common interests (i.e. assessment) can exchange open messages. Think of a forum as a web-based listserv, where you can post an inquiry and your peers can post responses in a threadlike fashion.

Enter the Forum

Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre is situated adjacent to Rainton Bridge Industrial Estate in Houghton-le-Spring and is Durham Wildlife Trust’s headquarters.

The Visitor Centre at Rainton Meadows offers a shop, café, informative displays, a classroom, conference room and a viewing station where visitors can spend time watching birds feeding in the winter months.There is also a Wildlife Garden with spring and summer meadows and examples of what can be done to attract wildlife to your own garden.

The Nature Reserve is a haven for wildlife and has a variety of habitats including grassland, scrub, mature woodland and ponds. Mute swan, skylark, short-eared owl, brown hare, lapwing and many types of wildfowl are regularly seen at the site.

Within Rainton Meadows is a 4 hectare Site of Specific Scientific Interest known as Joe’s Pond. A haven for bird watching, the hawthorn and willow scrub surrounding the Pond provides shelter for over 140 species of birds. Fox and roe deer can also be seen around the Pond.A series of events are hosted here throughout the year, details of which can be found on our events page, or in the visitor centres.

Rainton Meadows and Joe’s Pond can be found by following the brown signs from the A690 between Durham and Sunderland. By bus, the services 222 and 220 regularly leave Park Lane in Sunderland, or the bus station in Durham and set down at the nearby Mill Inn. There’s a short walk under the A690 continuing until you reach the last roundabout of the industrial estate. The entrance to the Reserve is called Mallard Way.

Contact us on 0191 584 3112 for more details

With thanks to  Mervtheswerve’s Photos from Fliker.

Get the Fence Houses Community Toolbar – Stay connected and get so much more.

Sunday 10am 2nd August 2009

Well lads we have a friendly this Sunday 10am 2nd August 2009 at home (The Burnside field, behind South Crescent) against The Mill All stars. All are welcome. We have heard rumours that they could be a Chelsea Scout at this match so we are expecting everyone to play there hearts out. Bring a friend.

Sunday 9th August, 2009 1st game
Castle Insurance Alan Smith Memorial Trophy 1st Round

Burnside FC V Brandon Bay House Ref C Piggot
Thursday 13th August 2009
K.O 6.30pm
Premier
Houghton Glendale V Burnside FC Ref D Fitzpatrick

Sunday 16th August, 2009
League Cup
Burnside FC V Fatfield Biddick Inn Ref G Smith

Thursday 20th August 2009
KO 6.15pm
Premier
Burside FC V Hetton Lyons CC Ref G Bell

Sunday 23rd August 2009
Premier
Burnside FC V Newton Aycliff WMC Ref D Ritchie
Thursday 27th August 2009
KO 6.00pm
Premier
Burnside FC V Houghton Glendale Soc; Ref T Bulmer

Sunday 30th August 2009
Premier
Pelton RAOB V Burnside FC Ref ?

Here you can check out the burnside football teams gallery.