S I T TI BI

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Registered at the Post Office as a Newspaper Est. 1893

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THURSDAY, 25th FEBRUARY, 2010.

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Railing against MP

Secret's out for Dawn Readers' Views Pages 21-25 Page 9

Page 28

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 18-20

Jackpot for gaming plan

Page 27

Protest now or pay forever was the message sent out by hundreds of marchers who took to the streets of Congleton on Saturday to rail against the newly-introduced car park charges. United in defiance, shopkeepers, residents and workers stepped out together holding aloft poignant placards stating “Democracy RIP” and “Parking will kill this town”. For the full story, turn to the back page. (“Chronicle” photo. 811a/10).

Former champion Mark steers sledger to gold

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As athlete Amy Williams lifted aloft Britain’s first individual Winter Olympics gold medal for 30 years, no one was prouder than Congletonian Mark Wood.

For he was her secret sledging weapon as she hurtled headfirst down the deadly mile-long track — the fastest in the world — at breakneck speeds in the bob skeleton event.

Proud Mr Wood, (46), coached the ice maiden to victory and also steered her team to notch up two top-six finishes.

Speaking to the “Chronicle” from the Olympics in Whistler, he said things had been “crazy” since Miss Williams, (27), struck gold, adding: “To assist team Great Britain in winning a gold medal is a great honour.”

Fearless competitors in the bob skeleton reach speeds of up to 100mph and experience forces up to 5g, putting real pressure on their body, as they hurtle down a frozen track. The sled is also known as the “tea tray” as it comprises little more than a plastic sheet with two handles.

Mr Wood was a former skeleton athlete who held the British championship three times. He was the first Brit to rank top 10 in a world cup but stopped competing in 1994/95 due to a skiing accident that hospitalised him for four months. ●— Turn to page 28.

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