Business Diary: April 17

For the first time the netball matches were split into A and B teams to allow the feistier gals to thrash it out in Team A while a more sedate match took place in Team B.

The event, sponsored by Charles Stanley, saw the Yorkshire Post’s city editor Ros Snowdon lead her B team to an easy 28-14 victory against the PR girls.

Both Hack and Flak B teams put on an impressive show: dazzling the crowd with acrobatic tumbles, ball grabs and toss-ups. While keen as mustard, the action on court started off on awfully polite terms with the ref having to remind the teams that netball is a contact sport. Unshackled from British propriety the girls got stuck in, with the flaks’ supporters yelling “aim for the kidneys” and heckling the ref with “isn’t she offside?!”.

The Flaks had 13 players to field across the four quarters – a blessing for those with post Saturday night hangovers – but the Hacks had only six (poaching an A team member to bolster their number). However what the Hacks lacked in player numbers, they made up for in goals.

The A netball game was as expected very competitive and the first quarter extremely close with the Hacks taking a two-goal lead. The Flaks fought back, but the Hacks prevailed to close the day with a 38-30 victory.

In the football, the Hacks were awarded a dubious route back into the game at 2-0 as the referee, AP’s Simon Haydon, awarded his fellow Hacks a penalty.

A brief refrain of “who’s the journo in the black?” from the sidelines was enough to put off the Hacks’ striker and the shot was saved.

After the match Flaks captain, James Melville-Ross said: “Having not won since 2008, our psychological warfare started some time ahead of the game – we ordered figure-hugging XS shirts and shorts for the Hacks and made them change in the ladies changing room – but the gamesmanship paid off.

“A 3-0 return is a very satisfying outcome. Even better, £18,500 raised for Teens and Toddlers, a charity which gives young people a fighting chance, so huge thanks to all of our supporters for such generosity.”

Mafia milestone

ONCE upon a time, it was terribly hard to join the mafia.

Now, our own Yorkshire Mafia has reached the landmark of attracting 10,000 members.

There is, of course, nothing remotely sinister about our version of the mafia.

It’s a networking group for ambitious business people who want to rub shoulders with kindred spirits, in a relaxed, sales-free environment.

The Yorkshire Post was the media partner for the Yorkshire Mafia’s hugely successful second conference which was held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds last month. But do all “mafia” members welcome its name?

Diary was intrigued to see the following post on the Yorkshire Mafia’s Linked-in group yesterday, which ran: “Now that we’ve reached 10,000 members and had a second successful conference, proving that the first one was not a ‘fluke’, is it time to change our name? Have we outgrown it?

“It polarises opinion, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’d love to hear your thoughts.”

Diary would be intrigued to hear the outcome of these discussions.

A cold front for charity

THE chief executive of a Knaresborough-based body armour manufacturer is no stranger to bullet-proof vests and cut-resistant clothing.

But he will be needing a different kind of protection when he takes on colder climates in Greenland this October, when the average temperature there will be around -10ºC.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group, is hoping to raise at least £5,000 for the Pilgrim Bandits, a charity dedicated to taking ex-forces amputees on challenging expeditions, by running the Polar Circle Marathon.

“It’s shameful how little has been done for those who have served and protected this country. I am running the Polar Circle Marathon to raise awareness and financially support these guys,” said Mr Kaiser.

“I really would like to appeal to everyone, local businesses and anyone who shares my passion for the support of the Armed Forces, and especially for those whose lives have been turned upside down due to serious injuries or loss of limbs.

“I also want to highlight how brave and mentally strong many of these injured service men are.”

If you would like to support Mr Kaiser, visit his fundraising page: www.bmycharity.com/robertkaiser