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Picks of the Week: 23rd April 2001

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Association
Saint George's day has come around again, bringing to mind cherished images of warm beer, emotional inadequacy, and football hooligans. At Picks Central, we prefer to dwell on the great British traditions of fair play and sportsmanship, as personified by rugby lads across the land. Wheelchair rugby was invented in Canada in the 1970s (when it was called murderball!), and is a recognised Paralympic sport. The site includes details of the British local and national teams, rules of play, and plenty of action pics. There's more information at the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation site.
King's Cross Partnership
From the British Library to the Almeida Theatre, and from Oasis' discovery at the Water Rats to the site of one of Boadicea's rumbles with the Romans, London's N1 and NW1 are chock full of historical, cultural, and entertainment attractions, as this nicely put-together site illustrates. There are sections for visitors, locals, and businesses, as well as a handy map, and plenty of links to other local sites. We especially liked the 'Did you know?' boxes, crammed with fascinating factoids.
Ludlow Castle Festival of Crafts
From the 26th to the 28th of May, you can see everything from welded sculpture to humorous animal jewelry at the 900 year old Welsh Marches castle (thus far unaffected by foot-and-mouth, but check out the news section for updates). The site features exhibitor information, a background of the festival, and information about schools participation. If you're after more medieval history and fewer contemporary willow baskets, you could do worse than the knight-tastic Warwick Castle.
Terence Chapman V Garry Kasparov
Knights of an entirely different kind could be seen last weekend at London's Simpsons-in-the-Strand, as the world champion took on stock market guru and UK chess bigwig Terence Chapman. To even things up, Chapman had a two pawn advantage, and paid for his shot at the champ with a generous donation to Kasparov's Chess Academy, devoted to helping kids participate in the game worldwide. If you don't want to see the result, don't look at the rest of the sentence - Kasparov won 2.5 to 1.5. Webcasts and match commentary are available at the London Chess Centre.
The Black Presence in Britain
Examining and celebrating the history and current presence of black people in the British Isles, this site includes sections on blacks in Britain's history (beginning with soldiers in the Roman army), including Mary Seacole, a nursing pioneer whose contribution in the Crimea has been overshadowed until recently by Florence Nightingale, and Queen Charlotte (the wife of George III), whose features and background suggest a black heritage. There's also news about race issues in the UK, plus Cuss of the Month, the editor's pop at people in the public eye.

Sites Featured in Picks of the Week:

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Association - riding into battle.
King's Cross Partnership - George Cross.
Ludlow Castle Festival of Crafts - patron saint.
Terence Chapman V Garry Kasparov - knight attack.
The Black Presence in Britain - British identity.

Seen something that slays you? Then tell us, by George!

Previous Weeks' Picks:

[ 16th April 01 | 9th April 01 | 2nd April 01 | 26th March 01 ]