Stevens retires from England duty August 9, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Saracens prop Matt Stevens has retired from international duty after winning 44 England caps. “This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make. Playing for England has been the ultimate honour,” he said. “I have been very privileged and proud to wear the white shirt and play with some [...]
Golden boy Farah set for glorious Olympic double August 9, 2012 AFTER Mo Farah’s career defining effort sealed 10,000m gold last weekend, the Briton stands on the verge of becoming a double Olympic champion when he competes in the 5,000m final tomorrow night. Farah, the reigning world and European title holder at that distance, is 13/8 favourite with Coral and as short as 3/10 to secure [...]
Certify to enhance Godolphin’s fine recent record in the Sweet Solera Stakes August 9, 2012 TOMORROW’S Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes (3.35pm) is often used by trainers to find out where their two-year-old fillies stand in the pecking order and this year’s renewal looks well up to scratch, with four unexposed contenders putting their unbeaten records on the line in a field of eight. CERTIFY represents the Godolphin operation that [...]
Agony for Brits as medal streak finally runs aground August 8, 2012 GREAT Britain’s new-found sense of Olympic invincibility was pricked yesterday, when a series of near misses meant Team GB failed to win a medal for the first time since the first day of the London 2012 Games. Rookie 110m hurdler Lawrence Clarke, who only took up athletics four years ago, was among the closest to [...]
Reade is ready after watching from sidelines August 8, 2012 GREAT Britain’s Shanaze Reade admitted she was relieved to have finally started her Olympics campaign after qualifying for tomorrow’s BMX semi-final races. Reade, 23, has been given starting gate three in Friday’s first semi-final after her lap of 39.368 seconds made her the fifth fastest – Australia’s time trial world champion Caroline Buchanan was the [...]
It’s tough to back a European at the US PGA August 8, 2012 THE US PGA Championship may not be the most popular of the four Majors from the fans’ perspective, but there’s no doubt that the players involved will regardless want to win this as much as any other event. The Ocean course at Kiawah Island – where this will begin today – is fantastic, a great [...]
Stalker appeals against boxing quarter-final points controversy August 8, 2012 TEAM GB boxing captain Tom Stalker last night lodged an immediate appeal against his quarter-final defeat to Mongolian light-welterweight Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg. The score finished 23-22 in the Mongolian’s favour despite a particularly impressive third round from the British counter puncher after which the fighter’s coach revealed his significant suffering. “He’s devastated because he wanted to [...]
Bolt and Blake ease ahead to set up explosive 200m rematch August 8, 2012 JAMAICAN Usain Bolt and his apprentice Yohan Blake are poised for another explosive clash tonight in the London 2012 men’s 200m final after both Jamaicans strolled through yesterday’s semi-finals. Blake, 22, set the pace by winning his heat in 20.01 seconds, despite slowing to a saunter in the final 50m. But Bolt, who beat his [...]
TODAY AT THE GAMES August 8, 2012 Athletics ■ Jamaica’s Usain Bolt looks to defend his 200m title at 20:55 but will faces stiff competition from compatriot Yohan Blake. Great Britain’s Andrew Osagie also runs in the men’s 800m final at 20:00. Boxing ■ Nicola Adams goes for an historic gold in the final of the women’s flyweight final against three-time world [...]
Ferguson frustrated over RVP August 8, 2012 FOOTBALL: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted the club’s bid to sign Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has stalled. He said: “We’ve made a bid, they [Arsenal] have been trying to negotiate with other clubs.”