Feeling below par?

West Country residents are being prescribed golf as a cure for what ails them.

Under a new referral scheme being pioneered in Taunton, GPs will be able to offer their patients subsidised rounds of golf to improve their fitness.

Those who take the golfing option are offered a course of eight rounds at the council-run municipal course, Vivary Park, at a cost of �36, compared with the usual price of �80.

As part of the package, patients are also entitled to coaching sessions and supervision.

Joel Chapman, the local council's business development manager, said: "There is just as much benefit, as far as we are concerned, in walking round a golf course for an hour as there is in going to the gym."

Council chiefs believe the scheme will ultimately save money, as fitter citizens will ease the pressure on the NHS.

But whether Taunton GPs will feel the strain after being swamped with illness-faking amateur golfers who fancy some cheap tuition is another matter.

Fans flock to new event

Residents of the Australian outback who need relaxation after seeing Britain's C-list celebrities invade during a recent reality TV show should head for the town of Hay.

That's where Australia's first-ever national sheep-counting championship takes place.

The straightforward contest sees about 400 sheep dash past, 10 competitors at a time. The participants then try to count them.

The contestant whose estimate is closest to the real number of sheep is the winner.

Sheep counter Mark Jacka said he has heard all the jokes about a job that is a vital part of country life.

"It sounds pretty simple, like anyone could do it, but it's pretty tough," Jacka said.

Once the competition is over, Jacka will be back on duty next week counting up to 60,000 sheep a day into and out of auction yards.

"You end up counting 120,000 sheep. You sleep pretty well after that," he said.

"In the club" vs country

Football fans across the country are currently arguing over the rights and wrongs of selection for international friendlies.

But they can at least rest assured that their star midfielder is not going to get themselves in the family way.

The women's international team is not so lucky.

Fulham star Katie Chapman broke the news of her preganancy to her international team-mates days before their vital World Cup qualifying play-off in Iceland on Monday.

"You can't help but be disappointed," said England captain Karen Walker, in an unusual reversal of the sentiments which usually accompany such news.