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38 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com SF The Champion • Wednesday 4 September 2013FeatureSPORTGood news for thehousing marketLancashire win amatch to savourReport by Glenn WallworthHOUSE prices appear to be on the upfor the first time in five years and with thegovernment doing what they can to help firsttime buyers, the housing market seems tohave a rosy future.Local independent mortgage advisers,Freshfield Mortgages, based in Formbycelebrated their 10th birthday this monthand can advise on all aspects of the housebuying process.Freshfield Mortgages works alongsidelocal estate agents and solicitors providingindependent advice from the whole ofthe market.Paul Gardner, a self employed adviser whohas been with the companynearly four years says: “There“has never been a better timeto purchase your first homeor to look at re-mortgagingfrom your existing lenderand with so many optionsavailable, it is more importantthan ever to speak to anindependent advisor.“There continues to besome excellent rates on offer, particularlyfor fixed rate mortgages and house pricestoo seem to be up with an average priceof £170,825 across the UK, equating to anannual rise of 3.9%.”Paul added: “Here at Freshfield Mortgages,we are also receiving more enquires aboutthe government Help To Buy Scheme.“Under the first part of Help to Buy,applicable to new homes worth up to£600,000, buyers put down a five percent deposit and receive a 20 per centgovernment equity loan, which is interestfreefor five years.We need a quote togo in here only needsto be one relevantsentence etc“The second element of Help to Buy, setto launch in January, is a £130bn mortgageindemnity scheme for new and existinghomes, where the Government guaranteesup to 15 per cent of the purchase price, withthe borrower putting down a deposit ofbetween 5-15 per cent.”He added: “People may decide that it’stime to move house, could require furtherfunds for renovations that may add value(and improve quality of life) within theircurrent property.“Or quite simply, they may want toseek out a better deal than their currentborrowing arrangements.“We recognise that a lotof people probable lead abusy life and have little timefor in-depth research, andmanaging the whole processthemselves. That’s why somany borrowers continue toturn to professional advisersto help them through whatcan still be a fairly complicatedmortgage maze.”Paul is relatively new to the BNI group andis a member of the Platinum Chapter, whomeet in the Pioneer Bar in Crosby everyFriday morning.He said: “I have been in BNI sinceNovember last year and wish I had joinedsooner. “The chapter is made up of likemindedindividuals who are there to generatemore business.“Since joining, I have had several referralsfrom fellow members that have turned tobusiness that I would not otherwise have got.“I would recommend any small or mediumsized business to consider joining.”“Freshf ield MortgagesFriendly independent adviceFirst time buyers step-by-step guidance to buying your first homeRemortgage for capital-raising and cost cutting - are you paying too much?Buy-to-let mortgages why not get into the property market yourself?Commercial mortgages Buying or building or want to cut costs - we can help4 Victoria Buildings, Victoria Road, Formby, Merseyside L37 7DBTel: 01704 833200 • Fax: 833221 • Email: Paul@freshfieldmortgages.co.ukSee the BNI classified advert in the EXPERTS section112202911220561121602LANCASHIRE’S County Championship matchagainst Hampshire entertaining more than6,000 supporters over the four days fromWednesday morning to well in to Saturdayafternoon.It’s already been well documented thatLancashire won the match by 122 runs, but themanner in which the game ebbed and flowedmay have gone unnoticed on all but the mostardent of cricket followers.The opening day saw Lancashire replace theinjured Australian Simon Katich withBlackpool’s Steven Croft, whilst Ormskirk’sSimon Kerrigan returned from his unfortunatemauling at the Lion’s Den of an Ashes TestMatch at The Oval.Hampshire gave a debut championship startto 16 year old off spinner Brad Taylor whobecame the county’s youngest ever player,while on loan signing Matt Coles also made hisdebut.On the pitch Lancashire scored 296–8 off 97overs, with New Brighton’s Luke Procterscoring his fifth half–century in as manychampionship matches, whilst Ashwell Princemade 63, and Leyland’s Luis Reece hit exactly50 to clock up his fifth half–century in as manyChampionship matches.Day two saw Lancashire finally bowled out for421, with Kerrigan hitting his highest everfirst–class score with 62 not out, while skipperGlen Chapple weighed in with 63 in a lastwicket stand of 114 which broke the 10thwicket record between the two counties. Inreply Hampshire were bowled out for 210(James Vince 106) with Kyle Hogg taking his50th wicket of the season with 5–39 andKerrigan finding a bit of form with 3–48 asLancashire closed out the day 250 runs aheadon 39–0.Day three saw Lancashire progress to 284–5before declaring, with Northern’s Paul Hortoncracking his first century of the season with111 and Luis Reece continuing his incrediblerun of form with yet another half–century with65 runs, whilst Brad Taylor took his first fourChampionship wickets for 64 runs.In reply and by stumps on the final day thevisitors who needed 496 to win had stumbledto 137–7, with the only blot on Lancashire’sday being an Achilles injury which forcedChapple out of the match and maybe the rest ofthe season.Day four started with Lancashire needing justthree wickets to cement their place at the top ofthe table, a feat that the majority in the crowdthought would be done and dusted well beforeWANT TO ENHANCE YOUR CAREEROR CHANGE DIRECTION?Simon Kerrigan hits a six to complete hishalf century. Photo by Simon Pendrigh.Football Focus had started. As it turned outAdam Wheater (140) and Matt Coles (68) puton a defiant and entertaining eighth–wicketrecord stand between the counties of 191 andJames Tomlinson (30*) and Taylor (20) added53 for the last wicket.Ormskirk spinner Kerrigan finally took thelast wicket to fall midway through theafternoon as the visitors ended on 373 all outwith Kerrigan taking 4–97.The win puts Lancashire 33 points clear ofNorthamptonshire at the top of the table withthree games remaining.If you are looking to enhance your career or want a change in direction then EdgeHill University still has places available for September 2013 entry on its part-timeBSc (Hons) Business and Management degree programme which runs everyWednesday afternoon and evening.To find out more about this part-time degree we are holding an Open Evening in thefoyer of the Business School on:Wednesday 11th September 6.00pm to 8.00pmNo need to book, just turn up on the night to speak to tutors about entry requirements,course structure and format, finance and funding, and career opportunities.For more information visit our website atwww.edgehill.ac.uk/events/2013/09/11/business-school-open-event/or contact Pat Smith, Programme Leader on tel 01695 657661,email smithp@edgehill.ac.ukedgehill.ac.ukSearch for Edge Hill1122091