By Mark Stevens Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says his players should relish the challenge of tackling Europe’s elite when they kick-off their Heineken Cup campaign at home to Cardiff Blues on today (12.45pm). Having been given an initial taste of the tournament last season against the likes of Leinster, Clermont Auvergne and Scarlets, Baxter’s men are back for a second bout of the action again this season. First up are the Blues, who will arrive in Devon with a star-studded squad that includes victorious British & Irish Lions stars Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins, Leigh Halfpenny...

Report: Exeter City 0 Hartlepool 3

Exeter City were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat, as rampant Hartlepool registered their third away win in a week.

Both sides went in on the back of two wins, but it was the visitors that left happiest on their 350-mile journey back to the north-east.

City came under a lot of pressure in the first half and Pools went into the break a goal ahead, thanks to a Jack Baldwin header.

The game was put out of sight by Pools after the interval, as Luke James and Jack Compton both finished smartly to put City to the sword....

The nation’s number one singing show moves into its spectacular live shows phase on Saturday night (8.00-10.15pm). Kicking off the series - it’s time to bring out the leg warmers and strap on the shoulder pads as The X Factor embraces the music of the 80s as the theme for the first live show.

The families and friends of not one but two Devon singers will be whooping and cheering on Saturday night, as Shelley Smith, 34, and Luke Friend, 17, will be appearing on the live show this weekend having impressed the judges enough to make it into the X Factor house. Shelley lives in...

While the City fans have been rightfully enjoying the feel-good factor that comes about with a convincing derby win, the focus of the players and management since Monday morning has been to make sure that the supporters have another three points to gloat about for the following week.

The not-insubstantial proposition that stands in Exeter City’s way is Hartlepool United, who are making their 700-mile round-trip to St James Park just as the autumnal weather is arriving.

It is the second trip to Devon that Pools have made this season, with Torquay United being the first – a...

I have always had a fascination with Mexican culture, not least Dia de los Muertos , the Mexican Day of the Dead fiesta.

This festival and the Mexicans’ attitude to death, offers a very different perspective to our culture, which has become a very grey, ‘under the carpet’ affair, as opposed to the Mexican day of the Dead which is a colourful celebration of life and death, a remembrance of those lost.

I felt that it was something we truly lacked in our culture – death seems to be something we have difficulty addressing and coming to terms with – what this festival does is it...

Last week saw the launch of Back to Hockey by Exe Hockey Club – a new nationwide programme set to attract over 15,000 women back to one of the UK’s most popular Olympic sports.

Hosted at Exe Hockey Club’s home pitch of St Peter’s High School, Exeter the informal sessions are aimed at women who are looking for a great way to stay in shape and have some fun in a team environment without needing to commit to ongoing club membership, regular training and competition schedules.

The campaign is backed by the England Hockey Board (EHB), the sport’s official National Governing Body...

A vital voluntary courier service that operates even in the worst weather conditions is asking Devon businesses and community organisations to give a helping hand during the winter months.

Devon Freewheelers, the charity that provides an emergency out-of-hours courier service delivering crucial medical supplies such as blood and tissue to Devon’s NHS hospitals, experiences a drop off in fundraising at this time of year, as many of its supporter events are held outdoors in the spring and summer.

However, this is the season when the service needs more support than ever....

Exeter Cathedral will host its second Saying Goodbye service this month, to help parents who have lost babies in pregnancy through miscarriage, still birth or other trauma, and in infancy.

The first such service was held last year in Exeter, and since then 22 services will have been held in other towns and cities.

Andy Clark-Coates established the services with his wife Zoe after the couple lost five children themselves. Andy said: "We have had amazing attendances at services with people who have lost babies last week and last month, sitting next to peoplewho lost 60 years...

Devon County Council has completed the first stage of its review of Devon’s youth services. The review, launched in August, aims to look at how the council offers its support and services to young people in Devon and in particular how to support those in the greatest need by improving how youth work is linked with early help and prevention services. The review was launched following Devon’s children’s protection services being given an inadequate rating by regulating body Ofsted. The review has sought the views of over 600 people, 130 youth workers and 140 community and voluntary...

An independent recruitment agency is toasting its on-going success after celebrating its landmark 25th anniversary.

Cathedral Appointments, based in Exeter’s Southernhay, opened in 1988 and specialise in providing permanent, temporary and interim staff across the region. Areas of expertise include Sales, Marketing, HR, IT, Engineering, Office, Manufacturing, Logistics, Accountancy, Financial Services, Legal and Executive Appointments.

The company began in a small office in Gandy Street in August 1988 after the Founder Directors, who had previously worked for a high street...