December is a time when Combat Sports, in particular, come to life. Activities such as Airsoft and Paintball thrive in such wintery conditions, with the beautiful blanket of powdery snow providing the perfect camouflage for you and your troops to strategically make your way through the war-like battlefield.

Want to see just how fun it is? Watch this sniper as he tactically picks off his targets one-by-one, showing off his expert precision in the process!

If you’d like to take part in an authentic military experience like the one you’ve seen above, there’s a variety of different companies out there that can accommodate your need for all-out war. To help you out, we’ve found the UK and Ireland’s largest paintball and laser combat providers, Go-Ballistic and AirsoftCombat, and they’re guaranteed to find a battlefield near you.

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Is paintball a safe sport? Well, judging by the above video it is safer than water melon throwing. Ouch! A study by the US National Safety Office of over 1,000 sports participants puts paintball ahead of bowling in terms of safety with the majority of injuries due to people not wearing eye protection.

In the UK the Royal Society of Prevention for Accidents (RoSPA) reports that out of approximately one million paintball participants in the UK around only 400 people suffered leg, knee and ankle sprains. If you want to try paintball, click here.

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Research by the country’s foremost activity provider, The Activity People, reveals a combination of tougher economic times and Government spending cuts are steering employees and companies away from traditional office Christmas parties towards more action-based activities.

The Activity People monitored corporate bookings for Christmas parties over a five-year period. The figures reveal a dramatic increase in the last two years in the number of companies booking activities such as paintball, go karting or clay pigeon shooting.

Research by YouGov in 2009 revealed that only about 40 per cent of office workers were guaranteed a Christmas party, with one in six employees contributing to the budget themselves.  Rebecca Rudkin, Corporate Manager at The Activity People, believes this pressure on the Christmas party budget is forcing employees and companies to rethink their party plans.

‘More than ever before companies want value for money for their Christmas party and they want to be sure that employees enjoy it. Therefore, they are being more creative in what they are doing,’ says Rudkin.

Although the latest Government economic statistics revealed higher growth figures than expected, the planned Government spending cuts mean 2010 is likely to be another Christmas where budgets will be tight for parties.

Mark, who runs a small engineering firm in the West Midlands, is taking his team of 25 for a corporate shooting day. ‘We just wanted to do something different. We had a vote amongst our team and shooting come out top,’ says Mark

Angela, who runs a hairdressing salon in London, said: ‘We are all going karting, and having some food and drink afterwards. We are a young team and didn’t want to sit around with paper hats on. The guys are really looking forward to it.’

Rudkin says: ‘Our research shows many companies like to do something active because it relaxes people and it is simply more fun.’

The Activity People are giving every participant a £10 voucher to spend on an activity of your choice after Christmas, with Christmas and New Year bookings of 20 people or more. Just quote ref: adrenamagfreevoucher, when you book your group into any activity, and the vouchers are yours.

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1. Motor sport star Alice Powell. In January Alice Powell was named the British Woman Racing Drivers Club Elite Gold Star Winner for her success and achievement in 2010. It is the second year in succession she has won the award.

Presenting the award to the former karting star was the BBC1 Formula One TV presenter Jake Humphrey. Jake said: ‘I really do think it’s about time that women who are making waves in motor racing are recognised at the very top. So good luck in 2011.’

This year Alice hopes to compete in the Formula Renault UK Championship, which receives LIVE ITV coverage and crowds at the track that match figures of attendance at an average Premier League Football game. If you are a woman who is interested in karting and would like to know where Alice started click here.

2. Italian women clay pigeon shooters. Italy is home to some of the world’s top women clay pigeon shooters. Katiuscia Spada won the Skeet Women ISSF World Cup Final in Izmir, Turkey, in 2010. It’s not the first time the Italian police officer has been seen on the medal winners’ podium in the last three years; she won the Olympic silver medal in Beijing behind fellow Italian Chiara Cainero. Skeet is a clay pigeon discipline where clays are thrown by two machines for the shooter to kill. If you want to try clay pigeon shooting, click here.

3. Water sports super star, Kristin Boese. German Kristin Boese is a legend in women’s water sports. Twice women’s world kitesurfing champion, she has been nominated for world sailor of the year. The author of several books, she has also recently launched a modelling career. If you want to try water sports, click here.

4. Archery hot shot. Twenty-six year-old Nicky Hunt is targeting more medals in 2011. Finishing 2010 in number one position in the FITA world rankings, she helped the English team win the women’s compound team event then added the individual gold medal a day later. If you want to try archery click here.

5. Women skydivers. It’s known as the world’s biggest pink cloud with 181 women skydivers filling the Californian sky in 2009. Led by Kate Cooper-Jensen, one of the foremost skydivers in the world, Jump for the Cause was co-founded with Mallory Lewis, after her mother, legendary puppeteer Shari Lewis, lost her battle with cancer in 1998. Events in 1999, 2002 and 2005 raised a combined total of over $1 million and broke the previous world records with 119 women in 1999, 131 women in 2002,151 in 2005 and 181 women in 2009. If you want to try a sky dive or another extreme sport, click here.

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So what will the famous or infamous EastEnders’ hardman be doing for his stag weekend? Here’s a few stag party ideas for BBC scriptwriters to ponder over:

1. Clay Pigeon shooting. Phil is no stranger to firearms. ‘Who shot Phil’ was one of the show’s biggest storylines. Phil may need reminding, of course, that he is firing the gun, not being the target.

2. Rally Driving. Phil, who was involved in a high-speed car chase with his on-screen brother Grant (Ross Kemp) that was watched by over 19 million viewers, may like to remember his brother with a rally driving experience. This time without a splash in the Thames.

3. Zorbing. With armed robbery, a cocaine habit, adultery and attempted murder, to name but a few plot lines, Phil’s life is a proverbial roller coaster, so bouncing around in a zorb would be a sea of tranquillity for Phil and his friends. Or should we say friend?

4. Tank Driving. Phil’s screen brother Grant, actor Ross Kemp, left EastEnders to make real-life award-winning documentaries in Afghanistan, so Phil could display his military credentials by driving tanks – just in case he comes to a sticky end on the show and needs a second career.

5. Airsoft. Phil’s brother Grant is reportedly in Brazil. He is sure to return one day and no doubt he will be gunning for Phil, so a little training in tactics and team work on an airsoft course may come in handy. Just be sure not to invite Grant.

6. Ballooning. It is possible to see London’s skyline in a balloon. The ideal opportunity for Phil to reveal to his friends where he’s buried all the bodies of those friends who would have otherwise been at his stag party.

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Paintball UK takes its lead from the US, just as the movie industry looks to Hollywood. Therefore, when you’re talking paintball games on the big screen, there’s only one place to start and end – the US.

Paintballers are divided on what is the best paintball movie ever made. For most paintballers it has to be Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story. Starring Rob Corddry, Paul Scheer, Dannah Feinglass and directed and co-written by Brant Sersen, Blackballed is an improvised comedy that tells the tale of a disgraced US paintball star who attempts to return to competition. Andrew Leech network manager at Go Ballistic says: ‘If you’re a fan of comedies such as The Office or the US’s The Daily Show, this is the kind of film you’ll enjoy.’

Splat: In Your Face is another film beloved of paintballers. A teenage paintball romp, it is more of a hardcore paintball film. ‘It has some good film sequences and teenagers love it,’ says Leech.

Out now on DVD is Paintball: The Movie. It is the story of eight paintballers who innocently set off to a paintball tournament. Unknown to the paintballers, they have been chosen by a group called the ‘Organisation’ to take part in a 21^st century version of a Roman festival. Like the slaves being fed to the lions, the paintballers are up against a killer with real ammunition. Reviews of the movie are mixed and that is being polite. ‘If I had a spare hour I’d rather play paintball,’ says Leech.

If you want to try the real thing, click here.

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One in three UK workers is too shy to get sweaty in front of colleagues according to a British Heart Foundation (BHF) survey. The BHF study, which looked at UK workplace exercise trends, revealed that over half of UK workers are desk-bound for most of the day with nearly 50 per cent eating lunch at their desks. According to the findings 81 per cent of UK workers fail to get the recommended amount of exercise a week.

With the UK government predicting that 36 per cent of men and 28 per cent of woman will be obese in five years, what’s the answer? The BHF survey suggests the workplace is the perfect location for keeping fit and active, with half of UK workers admitting they won’t travel more than 10 minutes from work or home to exercise.

Lisa Purcell, project manager for the BHF’s Health at Work Programme says: ‘Embarrassment shouldn’t prevent people from being healthy at work. You don’t have to don a lycra leotard to get fit and healthy, the payoffs from even simple changes like taking a walk at lunchtime are too great to ignore. Getting healthy during the working day means you are less stressed and better motivated.

‘Bosses need to understand there’s a massive return on investment here. Simple measures to improve the health of your workforce – like swapping tea-break biscuits for fruit, or getting the team together for a lunchtime kickaround in the car park – can improve productivity, reduce staff turnover, and mean fewer sick days.

‘We are calling on businesses to take their employee’s health and wellbeing seriously, and start reaping the rewards,’ she said.

The BHF Health at Work programme, sponsored by Legal & General, has already signed up more than 800 organisations. Employees from bin men to bank tellers are finding there’s no need for blushes when they’re all in it together.

Apprentice star

Claire Young has lost four stone since appearing on the BBC’s Apprentice. She says: ‘All companies need a fit workforce – a healthy mind is a productive mind. The more employers look after their staff, the better they will perform. It’s a great way to ensure a happier and healthier workplace.’

Five corporate sporting events for shy employees

1. Paintball. No need to worry about getting sweaty in front of work colleagues when playing paintball: the protective clothing will hide your blushes and save your face. If you want to fire your work colleagues into action, click here.

2. Karting. Karting is another sport where the more retiring office worker can hide behind the crash helmet and the overalls. Put your foot down and get your colleagues away from the desk for some exercise. It may be sitting down, but the blood is pumping. More and more offices have having their Christmas parties on the track. Check it out here

3. Clay pigeon shooting. Here’s a sport that’s more swanky than sweaty. Green wellies, tweeds, picnics, oh and there’s also the shooting. Clay pigeon shooting is the perfect mix of social and sporting for lots of work colleagues. Take a shot at it, click here.

4. Segway. Segway racing is a popular corporate event that doesn’t have to embarrass anyone. With the average British office worker spending so much time chained to their desks, a whirl in the countryside maybe just be what the doctor ordered. To take a ride, click here.

5. High Ropes. Tree walking is a corporate sporting event that is rising in popularity. And just like Tarzan and Jane, it is possible to still look cool, although the loin cloth is optional. To book, click here.

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2. Indoor Laser. Not old enough to play paintball? Play the game that has all the excitement and is played outdoors – just like paintball – Laser Combat. You can play from the age of 8years.  click here

3. Extra protection. Because it’s winter, there’s the chance to wear another layer of protection, and blame the weather. And when you tell friends how brave you are playing paintball in the cold, they will be even more impressed. Hero or what?

4. Slip sliding away. People can just occasionally make fools of themselves playing paintball, so here’s a ready made excuse: ‘Sorry I shot my teammate in the butt. I just lost my footing in the snow.’

5. Don’t make yourself even more miserable. The nights are getting darker and the weather is coming over all grey and cold. Why add to the misery by stopping something you enjoy? Get out there. If you want to try paintball, click here.

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Claire Tyler, CEO of Relate, commented on the report’s findings: ‘It’s when life gets really hard – you’re starting a family, pressure at work can be immense and increasingly money worries can be crippling. We cannot afford to sit back and watch this happen.’

Lisa is a professional woman in her early 40s with two children, is she happy? ‘Yes. I believe it is important to have time for yourself. Of course my priority is the family, but I make time for exercise because it makes me feel good, and renews my energy.’
Tristia Clarke of TalkTalk, who were partners in the survey, said: ‘People in their late 30s and early 40s are a time-poor generation. Long hours at work means they have less time to spend face-to-face with friends and family.’

Robert, a 49-year-old engineer, agrees: ‘I think you need to retain a balance, after a bad day at work I like to do something different. Then I can come back refreshed.’ Robert’s colleague Peter, 48, who works in IT, thinks friends are an important part of happiness. ‘I enjoy active sports with friends, the banter, the competition, are all part of the fun.’

Relate’s report says that 27 per cent of people feel lonely a lot of the time. Robert believes this is an easy trap to fall into. ‘I know for me it is an effort sometimes to join friends but I think it’s worth it.’  Ben, who together with a group of friends, has recently cycled the length of the country to raise money for charity, said: ‘I feel a bit of a fraud because although we have raised a good sum for charity, I have personally got a lot out of it. It was great fun and really boosted my self esteem.’

So what’s the secret of midlife happiness? ‘Balance,’ says Lisa. ‘Health, fun and challenge,’ believes Robert. ‘For me it’s having something that recharges my batteries. That can be friends or exercise. Whatever turns you on, really,’ says Ben.

If you want to try a range of adrenalin activities with friends, which may or may not tackle a pending midlife crisis click here.

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Paratrooper Ben Parkinson is the most seriously injured British soldier to survive his wounds in Afghanistan. Yet on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks the lance bombardier, who lost both legs and suffered brain injures during active service, jumped 15,000ft in a charity parachute jump.

Inspired by the paratrooper’s bravery, in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday on November 14, Activity People will be making a £1 donation to Help For Heroes for every group booking activity.

Rebecca Rudkin, business development manager at Activity People, said: ‘The real-life heroism of our troops in Afghanistan is inspiring to many of us. Parachute jumps, bungee jumps and the other extreme activities we offer are nothing compared to the day-to-day heroism of our troops on the frontline.

‘We hope to do our bit by raising some money for our brave troops,’ added Rebecca. ‘We will make a donation of £1 on every group booking an activity before Remembrance Sunday; they don’t necessarily have to do the activity before that date, just book it before then.

‘We are also hoping that many of the groups will take the opportunity to raise money for Help For Heroes by getting their activity sponsored  activity or collecting money on the day. We have every possible activity for them to choose from, and each member of the group can book onto the charity event as individuals making organisation less of a headache. So, how about a parachute jump, paintballing, karting, rally or off-road driving, quad biking, dirt buggy racing –  you name it we have the activity,’ said Rebecca.

If you want to book an activity, click here and quote H4H1.

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