Cavendish Quick Step deal KO October 10, 2011 CYCLING: World champion Mark Cavendish has moved a step closer to joining Team Sky after Bessel Kok, part owner of the Quick Step team, denied there was a deal in place for the Brit to join them next season. “Cavendish will not ride for us,” said Kok. “There have been discussions about his future, but [...]
Whip bans for Fox and Hughes October 10, 2011 HORSE RACING: Kieren Fox and Richard Hughes were the first jockeys to fall foul of new whip guidelines yesterday. Fox was handed a 15-day ban at Salisbury after hitting Orthodox Lad 11 times, while Hughes was given five days after finishing third on Swift Blade, who was adjudged to have been hit six times inside the [...]
Ferry leap lands Tuilagi in dock October 9, 2011 ENGLAND centre Manu Tuilagi last night added to the litany of offences committed by members of Martin Johnson’s World Cup squad after the Samoan-born star was formally warned by police and fined £3,000 for disorderly behaviour having jumped from a ferry in Auckland. The 20-year-old swam to a nearby pier at the Auckland Ferry Terminal [...]
Perfection: Vettel rivals hail world champion October 9, 2011 BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton led the tributes to Sebastian Vettel’s “perfect” season after the Red Bull driver became the youngest man to successfully defend the World Championship. Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Jenson Button won yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix but 24-year-old Vettel’s third place was enough to clinch the title with four races still remaining. “It was perfection,” [...]
Johnson left to wait for RFU review verdict October 9, 2011 THE Rugby Football Union will undertake a review of England’s wretched World Cup campaign before deciding whether to preserve manager Martin Johnson in his current position. England’s campaign, tainted by a number of off-field controversies, came to an end on Saturday in Auckland at the quarter-final stage, as France exacted revenge for consecutive semi-final defeats [...]
It doesn’t get better than this, beams history maker Vettel October 9, 2011 DOUBLE world champion Sebastian Vettel insists his second title was harder to win than his first, despite sealing his record-breaking successive triumphs with four races to spare. Vettel became the ninth and youngest man to successfully defend his crown yesterday in Japan, where he finished third behind two former champions, Britain’s Jenson Button and Ferrari’s [...]
Nadal blitzed in Japan as Murray celebrates second successive title October 9, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray hailed yesterday’s victory over Rafael Nadal in the final of the Japan Open as one of his best ever displays. Murray, beaten by the Spaniard in two grand slam semi-finals this season, gained some measure of revenge with a mightily impressive 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory. Murray (right), who won the previous [...]
England to leave Rooney out of Euro2012 build-up October 9, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED striker Wayne Rooney will be left out of England manager Fabio Capello’s starting line-up in the build-up to Euro 2012 after he was sent off in Montenegro on Friday. Rooney will definitely miss at least his side’s first game, and will learn this week whether or not Uefa will exact further punishment after [...]
Chelsea give away 1,000 Euro seats to fill stadium October 9, 2011 CHELSEA, embroiled in a controversial battle with some supporters over a possible move to a new larger capacity stadium, gave away more than 1,000 tickets for their last Champions League match, City A.M. has learned, as many fans shunned the game due to a price hike on tickets. The tickets giveaway is likely to be [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS October 9, 2011 HOWLEY DARES TO DREAM WALES assistant coach Rob Howley admits he and the players are beginning to dream after arriving in Auckland with 80 minutes against France lying between themselves and the World Cup final. Speaking on the team’s arrival, Howley (inset) said: “Its a pretty special place to be. Auckland’s a pretty famous place [...]