TRAVEL NOTES September 11, 2011 Snowy winter relaxation in the Pyrenees Classy Spanish boutique hotel specialist Hospes Hotels has launched a new winter package at its hotel in the mountains, Hospes Villa Paulita. An original 19th century art nauveau family mansion, it sits above the Pyrenees snowline on the shores of a beautiful lake, and is equipped with its own [...]
Double the wow with a Costa Rica and Nicaragua duo September 11, 2011 SEPARATED only by a narrow land border and united by a single language, the two Central American countries of Costa Rica and Nicaragua couldn’t be more different. On one side Costa Rica, with its well-developed, well-trodden tourist trail, offers unrivalled wildlife-watching opportunities and some of the most luxurious hotels in the region. On the other, [...]
Why read Ulysses when you can shoot a zombie? September 11, 2011 In a meeting last week I bonded with my colleagues over shooting a poison pod into the mouth of a necromorph leviathan in the sixth chapter of Dead Space. We laughed at how I spent nearly two hours running in frustrating circles in an anti-gravity chamber, being splattered to the wind by giant alien tentacles. [...]
Youngs enjoys the winning feeling September 11, 2011 Turning on the style not the priority, insists scrum-half as England get off to a turgid start ENGLAND saviour Ben Youngs insists winning is all that matters at this stage of the World Cup after his side laboured to a scarcely deserved victory over Argentina on Saturday. It wasn’t until Youngs’ introduction, nine minutes into [...]
Gatland tells Wales they must rise again after heroic defeat September 11, 2011 SOUTH AFRICA (17) vs WALES (16) WALES coach Warren Gatland has warned his demoralised charges they must not dwell on the pain of yesterday’s narrow defeat against South Africa if they are to resurrect their World Cup campaign. The world champions narrowly averted disaster in Wellington, recovering from a six-point deficit with 15 minutes remaining [...]
Late slip-up sours Irish relief at end of losing run September 11, 2011 IRELAND (22) vs USA (10) IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll blasted his team’s display after they began their World Cup campaign with a stuttering victory over the United States. Two tries from winger Tommy Bowe and another from hooker Rory Best ensured they emerged from their Pool C opener in New Plymouth with the minimum requirement. [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 11, 2011 MISS WON’T HAUNT HOOK Wales full-back James Hook claims he was denied a successful penalty kick which could have cost Wales an historic victory over South Africa. His 14th minute effort sailed high and apparently through the posts, but assistant referees Vinny Munro and George Clancy failed to signal that the attempt had been successful [...]
Murray: I’ve got to improve September 11, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray insists an end to his grand slam drought is in sight despite Saturday’s US Open semi-final defeat at the hands of his nemesis Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard had already ended Murray’s dreams of glory at the semi-final stage of the French Open and Wimbledon this year and inflicted more misery on [...]
GRAND SAM: STOSUR STUNS WILLIAMS September 11, 2011 AUSTRALIA’S Sam Stosur caused a major upset in the final of the US Open by beating Serena Williams in straight sets to claim the first grand slam title of her career at the age of 27. It took just 73 minutes for the underdog to record a 6-2, 6-3 win.
Vettel moves to within one race of title September 11, 2011 WORLD champion Sebastian Vettel toasted an emotional triumph after tightening his grip on the title at the scene of his first ever Formula One victory. Vettel won the Italian Grand Prix – his eighth of the season – to extend his lead in the drivers’ standings to 112 points, with six races left. Britain’s Jenson [...]
