O’Brien’s Rip Van is the man at last at Goodwood July 29, 2009 RIP VAN WINKLE finally earned an elusive Group One success after landing the BGC Sussex Stakes on the second day of Glorious Goodwood. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt has suffered near misses in both the 2000 Guineas and Derby to Sea The Stars this season, but eventually earned his place in the limelight after recovering from [...]
BMW pull out of F1 for 2010 July 29, 2009 FORMULA ONE: BMW confirmed yesterday it will withdraw from the sport at the end of the current season. The German manufacturer has had a disappointing year so far and becomes the second major name, after Honda, to quit F1 in the space of eight months. But teams’ alliance Fota has pledged to help keep the [...]
Boa Morte crocked in China July 29, 2009 FOOTBALL: West Ham forward Luis Boa Morte’s season is in doubt before it has even started after he suffered a suspected cruciate ligament injury. Boa Morte faces at least six months out after being carried off during yesterday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Tottenham at the Asia Trophy in China. Ex-Hammer Jermain Defoe scored the winner [...]
Twenty20 ties hit by weather July 29, 2009 CRICKET: The two remaining Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals will take place today after being washed out yesterday. Lancashire v Somerset was postponed for a second time and is scheduled to begin at Old Trafford at 11am today. Northamptonshire’s clash with Hampshire was also rained off and will take place this evening.
Strauss: We are not scared of the Aussies July 29, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss has started the mind games ahead of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston this morning by insisting Australia have lost their “aura” from recent dominant teams. Strauss told a packed press conference that the Aussies are no longer the intimidating force they were since the retirement of a number of key [...]
On-form Anderson is a matchwinner July 29, 2009 ENGLAND have a golden opportunity to take a huge step towards reclaiming the Ashes in the third Test at Edgbaston, starting today. Victory would put Andrew Strauss’s men 2-0 up overall, and they would then be confident of batting out for a series-clinching draw at either Headingley or The Oval. This ground usually produces a [...]
Gunners cash in with 16m Toure switch July 28, 2009 ARSENAL defender Kolo Toure was last night on the brink of completing his £16m move to Manchester City after jetting back from the Gunners’ Austrian training camp. Toure is thought to have flown back to England to undergo a medical, after cash-strapped Arsenal accepted a bid from mega-rich City, their rivals for a top-four place. [...]
Ferrari refuse to rule out Schumacher comeback July 28, 2009 FERRARI last night left the door open for seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher to make a sensational return to F1 as a replacement for Felipe Massa. The Italian team responded to suggestions the 40-year-old could step in for Massa on a short-term basis following a day of mixed messages from Schumacher’s camp. Brazilian Massa, who [...]
Flintoff looks to science to fulfil dream July 28, 2009 ALL-ROUNDER Andrew Flintoff believes he is ready to resume battle with the Australians at Edgbaston tomorrow – thanks to revolutionary treatment on his injured knee. Flintoff, 31, has been sleeping with a special compression machine on his troublesome joint to help ease the discomfort he experienced after the historic second Test victory at Lord’s. The [...]
PM hails a golden era after England get World Cup nod July 28, 2009 PRIME Minister Gordon Brown yesterday hailed the prospect of Britain’s “decade of sport” after England was named hosts of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The boost – worth an estimated £2.1bn to the economy, according to Deloitte – came on the same day Britain was awarded the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. London already has [...]