Subscribe to our hot topics!

Pickering looking to make amends

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This year has been very hit and miss for Craig Pickering. The talented sprinter has found himself in a poor run of form, finishing sixth in the European trials in Birmingham and subsequently missing out on going to Barcelona as an individual runner. However, he has still managed to make the relay team, and is expecting to finish the season with a flourish.

“Things haven’t been going as well or even nearly as well as I’d have liked them to, but sometimes that happens.

“It’s a case of something not clicking into place, when it does you run really well. It’s just about trying to find what that thing is.”

It is a huge disappointment for the 23 year-old, who has proven himself over 60 metres, namely as a silver medalist at the 2007 European Indoor Championships. Despite this he grasps at the positives of such a bad spell. “I made the individuals for the 2007 Worlds and 2008 Olympics, but I haven’t made a major championships for the last two years, which obviously isn’t a step in the right direction.

“At the same time there are still two years until London, so for this to happen now could turn out to be positive, as it allows me to take a step back, see what isn’t working and try and fix it. I’m looking at it as an opportunity to change things instead of being a disaster.”

For now the Marshall Milton Keynes runner is placing all of his focus on the relay, an event he identifies as a very strong prospect for the rest of his career. Being surrounded by a mixture of youth and experience, it offers the perfect platform for Pickering to try new things and develop as a runner.

“I want to have a good run here [in Barcelona]. I really want to get a gold medal, it would be a nice way to end the year. I’ve always tried 100 per cent in the relay, because I understand that I’m probably never going to be quick enough to get individual medals at World Championships and Olympics. I’ve always taken it seriously, but this year there’s an added impetus.

“When we’re practicing we all spot things which aren’t quite working and provide solutions on how to improve. There are experienced members who can spot things, but at the same time there are the younger runners who can spot things as well.”

With the dominance of Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay in the individual sprints, and now with the emergence of Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, Pickering understands that team events will be his best shot at success. This allows him to use his talents across 60 metres, as he tries to cement his position as a second leg runner.

“I’ve been in the final four for races already this year and in both those times I’ve been on the second leg, it’s my best leg. I’ve ran the first before and it isn’t my best and obviously I ran the last leg at the Olympics which didn’t go very well at all [Pickering went too early and Team GB were disqualified].

“Running 60 metres can help, but you’ve also got to have good endurance, you’ve got to be able to run that speed for a good 120 – 130 metres. In 2007 I ran the second leg and we won bronze at the World Championships. I ran a very good leg against Usain Bolt and it put me in good stead. I think I’ve got those attributes to run a good second leg this year.”

For now though, the most important thing is for Pickering and the rest of the team to make Sunday’s relay final and let their running do the talking.

Craig Pickering has been selected for the Aviva GB & NI Team and is at an Aviva funded pre event preparation camp in Portugal. Aviva's support, both at home and abroad, is helping the team prepare to compete at their best. For more details visit aviva.co.uk/athletics.

Simmonds has records in her sights

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Ellie Simmonds’s extraordinary gift for swimming blew the nation away when she won two gold medals at the Paralympics in Beijing, aged just 13.

As she stood on the podium, tears streaming down her face, she not only won a place in British sporting history but a place as the darling of British disability sport.

“All I was thinking was ‘Oh my God, why am I crying?’ It was so embarrassing. But then again I think it was all the emotions, we trained so hard in the run up to Beijing and there was so much focus. It was my dream, so I guess all my emotions just came out”, says the double gold medalist.

It has been a huge rise to prominence for the 15 year-old. Winning the 100 and 400 metre events in her S6 category two years ago, being voted BBC Young Sports Personality, beating the likes of Tom Daley and Laura Robson in the process and then being awarded an MBE, the youngest person to ever do so, all before her 15th birthday, takes some doing.

It’s easy to forget that she is still only a teenager. Ellie appears very mature not only in how she tackles competition, but in the way she carries herself and the message she gives out to others less fortunate.

“Hopefully I can show people what you can achieve at whatever age. I have a lot more to come out of me.”

Ever since Beijing, disability sport has received a huge boost, with London 2012 promising to offer the most exposure ever to the Paralympic Games. This is something the disabled community and Ellie see as key in raising the profile of disability sports not only in Great Britain, but throughout the world.

“It’s what I wanted to happen. Not many people knew too much about the Paralympics until Beijing. They got so much publicity [in 2008] and now with London 2012 coming up, they are starting to get more and more coverage. People with disabilities are now seeing that they can achieve something.”

As one of the success stories of 2008, Ellie has now become a great example of disability success in British sport, with her potential being compared to the great Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

“I don’t see myself as having a disability. We’re normal people, we just look different. Knowing that there are so many big names and my name in the same sentence is great for the Games.

“I’d love to be as big as her [Dame Tanni], hopefully even bigger. I want to go to more Paralympics, but you never know, I may not qualify, or get injured. Hopefully I do go to London, and repeat what I did and help raise disability awareness even more.”

With Dame Tanni’s haul of 11 gold medals firmly in her sights, Ellie Simmonds knows that time is on her side. We could well be looking at the next Queen of disability sport.

Ellie Simmonds is the Birmingham ambassador for Plusnet - the highly recommended, award winning, different broadband and home phone company. For more information go to www.plus.net.

From Liberty to Montjuic, Dai Greene-Style

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If life had taken a different turn David “Dai” Greene would be undertaking pre-season training with Championship side Swansea City right now, not making last-minute preparations for the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona where he is expected to win gold.

Indeed, even Greene admits that if he had just possessed the maturity he has now seemingly in abundance he would be plying his trade down the left wing for the Swans at the Liberty Stadium, and helping a team that come perennially close to the promotional play-offs to the Premiership each season.

“If I knew then what I know now I would definitely have made it with Swansea and be playing for them right now in pre-season friendlies,” says the 24-year-old.

Instead he is the red-hot favourite to become European champion in the 400 metres hurdles having posted the five fastest times of the year in Europe and been the only athlete on the continent to have broken the 49-second barrier.

“I played for Swansea from the age of 12 until 17 when I just stopped enjoying it,” he explains. “At the same time I was doing a bit of athletics, but not taking it too seriously. I made sure I enjoyed myself and made few sacrifices in life as a teenager, and this continued until university until I realised that the best athletes trained more than once a week.”

As soon as Greene became focussed on the job, however, the dividends began to be paid, starting with the European Junior silver medal in 2005. Last year he finished 7th in the world championships final in Berlin and this year the Welshman has progressed so much that he is quite clearly the man to beat in Europe.

Does he regret the strange path taken to this point? “Well, I regret in one sense not having the maturity to deal with football,” he admits. “I was small but I had a good footballing brain and I took some catching down the wing, but I had no knowledge about how to be a sportsman.

“That’s why I’m such a late starter and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I now possess a great work ethic because it’s made me hungry to succeed, and it makes me angry to see so many other talented but lazy athletes around because they don’t know what they are missing.”

Greene, despite sporting no senior individual medals, is more than comfortable with his tag of hot favourite in Barcelona. “I’d rather be the fastest than the slowest,” is his take. “I hope the others will be intimidated by my times this year.

“I’ll be disappointed with anything other than the gold medal and European title. That’s not putting pressure on myself. That’s what I should be thinking. To say anything else, such as I’d be pleased with any colour of medal, is a cop-out. I’ve been waiting all season for this.

“Going to Barcelona as the fastest man and the favourite doesn’t give me the gold medal, though. Winning the final does. There’s work to be done, but I’m going to make sure I’ll finish the job.”

Football’s loss does appear to be athletics’ gain.

Sharman Looking to Shine at European Championships

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Will Sharman may not yet be a household name but the sprint hurdler is quickly establishing himself as the man to watch at this years European Championships in Barcelona. Having been ranked 103rd in the world at the start of the 2009 season his impressive performances have raised expectations.

The 25-year-old who specialises in the 110m hurdles rose to prominence last year when he finished fourth in the Berlin World Championships in a result that few could have predicted. Sharman still cannot fully explain what happened to suddenly turn around his fortunes but is hopeful he can continue to improve.

“I was working hard throughout the season with my new coach and by the time Berlin came around it seemed like the perfect platform for bringing it all together,” describes the Loughborough based sprinter. “Not many people expected me to even make the final but my team knew that I could perform so for us it didn’t come as much of a surprise.”

Having tasted success, Sharman also quickly realised the demands that are put on a successful athlete. After a long season, which possibly should have ended with the World Championships, the financial draw of competing was too much to refuse.

“If I am brutally honest I just wanted to rest but it became much more lucrative to race in Europe. I shouldn’t really have continued as I started to pick up little niggles which I still haven’t fully got rid of but I am confident that they won’t bother me as it is just a case of managing the body well.”

In combination with these small injuries, Sharman has also been recovering from a broken wrist that interrupted his early season training. An operation in January may have halted his progress but many pundits still see him as being the man to beat in Spain.

Sharman is certainly approaching the competition full of confidence, which comes on the back of breaking thirteen seconds for the first time. Unfortunately his time of 12.90 was wind assisted and his personal best remains at 13.30. Yet, the man from Northamptonshire remains positive that he can run even quicker.

“I don’t think there is any doubt in my mind that I can rub sub thirteen seconds. It is just a case when rather than if it happens. I am getting some really good feedback in training and hopefully it will all come together at a major championships.

“I have the Europeans and the Commonwealth Games later in the year so I will have ample opportunities to improve on the PB. I am definitely not the favourite for these huge competitions but, without a shadow of a doubt, I know that I can beat the best.”

Sharman is certainly a driven individual. As well as his competence on the track he has a masters in finance from Loughborough University and is also a classically trained pianist. In fact it would seem that whatever he turns his mind to he will succeed.

This certainly bodes well for a sprinter who appears to be improving month after month. With Barcelona fast approaching and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi just a few months away it could be another successful year for Sharman.

Chambers Is Back In Love With Athletics.

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dwain Chambers has admitted that he has re-discovered his love for athletics and in doing so re-discovered himself after spending years in the emotional wilderness during and immediately following his drugs ban.

The 32-year-old faces a stern challenge from new French sensation Christophe Lemaitre, the first white man ever to break the ten-second barrier in the 100 metres this week at the European Championships in Barcelona, but is confident that he will win his first ever major outdoor title because of his new-found state of mind.

“I used to live life and race angry but I’m over that now,” admitted Chambers. “I’m back in love with my sport after losing myself for a while.

“I look back on the young man who took some very bad advice and I realise it wasn’t the real me. Now the real me is back again. I have three children and that’s made me both responsible and wanting them to see their father in a good light.”

It seems that the world has at last been prepared to forgive the current world indoor 60 metres champion after he was suspended from athletics between 2003 and 2005, even if he remains banned from the Olympics and Commonwealth Games permanently.

“It’s all changed this year,” Chambers explained. “The public’s been very supportive and I’ve had good responses from crowds wherever I’ve competed. I’ve also had conversations with athletes who had problems with me over what I did. We’ve dealt with it as adults and we’re all moving on. Now I can focus on Barcelona because I recognise it to be my biggest and probably last chance to win a major outdoor title.”

Lemaitre may have a say in this but Chambers remains confident. “I’ve done my homework on him and he has youth and a faster time this season on his side, so I’ll have to draw on all my experience.

“Major championships are entirely different to one-off races. You have to negotiate four races in two days. If you train for one-off races then that’s all you can do. You also need to know how to conduct yourself in a final.
“After the past few years winning gold would mean everything to me. It should be an exciting final but I feel I’m ready for it.”

If Chambers were to succeed it would be a happy ending to an otherwise sorry story.

Rooney hopes to make it a summer to remember

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Unlike his more illustrious sporting namesake, Martyn Rooney expects to return from his sport’s main highlight of the year next week with a title and a gold medal hanging around his neck.

Whilst Wayne Rooney never got going at a World Cup in which England fell dismally short of all expectations, Martyn Rooney travels to Barcelona for the European Athletics Championships confident of a more successful outcome in the men’s 400 metres

“I’m going there to win and anything less than an individual gold medal will constitute a poor championships for me,” says the 23-year-old South Londoner. “I can’t speak for Wayne Rooney as I’ve never met him, although I’m sure he’ll be disappointed with his World Cup and I’m equally sure he’ll bounce back even stronger from the experience. He had his best ever season followed by a bad World Cup. I’m having a great season which I expect to underline with a great European Championships.”

This may seem strange coming from a man who failed to make the world final last year in Berlin, but 2009 was a year hit by injury following a remarkable 6th place in the Olympic final the year before.

Both experiences have been absorbed and Rooney believes he has emerged much the better from them.

“Everyone was surprised that I made the Olympic final and then finished 6th but, if I’m honest, I was gutted with the result even though 2008 was my first real season on the international athletics’ scene.

“The truth is that when I reached the final I thought “job done.” I wasn’t even nervous as I lined up on the track. If I’d gone into that race with the same mindset I had in the semi-final then I believe I could have won an Olympic silver medal.

“You don’t get many opportunities like that in your career and I blew it. I have vowed to myself that it will never happen again.”

Rooney looks better prepared for the European Championships than he did for the World’s twelve months ago, having clocked two sub-45 second times already this season.

“It’s nice to get two 44[seconds] done and hopefully the Europeans will be run in a quicker time. I felt in Birmingham I was more than capable of running a personal best [44.6]. If you run times like that then you are likely to go on and win.”

Rooney, who is currently dating the British woman pole-vaulting champion and Barcelona-bound Kate Dennison, had an immediate chance to rectify his 6th place last year at the World Championships in Berlin, but by then his chances had been seriously diminished.

“I was absolutely flying last season, mainly because I started to learn how to run the 400 metres properly. My tactics were much better, my fitness improving, my speed and stamina were where they should be.

“But I picked up a hamstring injury in April and that knocked me out for six weeks which then affected the rest of the season. I never really recovered. I went to the Berlin world championships still with hope but I’d only raced a couple of times before and when I found myself in lane 8 in the semi, having been in lane 1 in the previous race, I ran like a spanner.”

Since then Rooney has had time to analyse his last two, rollercoaster years, and he has come to some useful conclusions.

“I was in the best shape of my life last year but I was trying so hard to make up for what I saw as a disappointing 6th at the Olympics that I pushed myself too hard and my body gave up on me.

“That’s another lesson I’ve had to learn and I have. I’ll be going to Barcelona also in the best shape of my life and very confident of winning gold in both the individual 400 metres and also in the relay.

“This time I haven’t pushed myself too hard so my body is fine. I won’t be a tactical disaster from lane 8 like I was in Berlin, and I certainly won’t see it as job done if, or when, I make the European final. My job will not be done until I’ve got that gold medal hanging around my neck.”

Despite showing an unwilling determination to prove a point to the likes of Jeremy Wariner, Rooney is not expecting an easy ride. He will have to earn that gold because in Belgium’s Jonathan Borlee, Ireland’s David Gillick and even his teammate, Michael Bingham, he faces stiff opposition.

“There are still six guys who are more than capable of winning it. They can all run quick times, so it’s going to be very interesting. I know that on my day I’ve beaten every single one of them. If I turn up and run the right race, then it will be them who will have to worry about me, rather than me worrying about them.”

The European Championships have come at the right time for the Croydon Harrier. With a new crop of talent emerging in British quarter-mile running, this would be the perfect platform to announce himself as a major contender in the field for the coming years.

“The Europeans are a great place for me to go and actually win a championship. I haven’t won a major championship yet, so to win it would set me up perfectly for the next two years.

“It’s something that guys like Roger Black and Iwan Thomas did when they were younger and it really helped with their careers.

“The top guys like Roger, Iwan and Jamie Baulch all ran British records because they were competing against each other regularly on the domestic scene. We’re coming into that now, as there’s myself, [Michael] Bingham, Chris Clarke and Conrad Williams, a really solid group of lads all pushing each other for quick times. So many people have raised their game and it can only get better.”

For now though, the boy from Croydon is hell bent to ensure that one Rooney has a successful sporting summer, and with one opportunity already blown he knows it is now down to him.

Martyn Rooney has been selected for the Aviva GB & NI Team and is at an Aviva funded pre event preparation camp in Portugal. Aviva's support, both at home and abroad, is helping the team prepare to compete at their best. For more details visit aviva.co.uk/athletics.

Gail Emms on life away from the Court

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Gail Emms enjoyed a long and distinguished career thanks largely to her supremely competitive nature. Whether simply training or going for Olympic glory she strived for perfection. This led to multiple titles including a silver medal at the Athens Olympics and a World Championship title in Berlin.

Making the incredibly tough decision to walk away from the sport was always going to be easy, especially with the lure of a home Olympics in 2012. Competing in a home Games would persuade many to give it one last shot but Emms is a strong-willed character that settles for nothing but the best.

Having announced her retirement after the Beijing Olympics, Emms has no regrets over her decision. “If I was going to go to the Olympics then I want to be the best and I want to win. When I went to Beijing I was in the best shape of my life and with my hand on my heart I could say I gave it absolutely everything. I am now going on to the next stage of my career and I am really enjoying it.”

Since her retirement Emms has tried her hand at presenting and has even written a number of articles for the Daily Mail. However, her competitive spirit has meant that she could not fully walk away from the sport that gave her so much.

With a wealth of experience Emms has become an ambassador for the sport and has even been running master-classes for young hopefuls. The 33-year-old has recently been working with a number of badminton players all looking to replicate her success.

“I am working with a number of the guys who will be heading to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. It’s an amazing opportunity for me to work in a mentor role and as I get fitter and fitter I might even get on the court with them and hit a few shots.”

You can tell from the excitement in Emms’ voice that she cannot wait to get back on the court and work directly with the youngsters. Having recently become a mum for the first time she had been stuck on the sidelines and jokes she is more used to singing ‘wheels on the bus’ than hitting the shuttle around.

Emms cannot wait to mentor the new generation of stars but they will certainly not be in for an easy ride. Having worked hard throughout her career she wants to see the same determination to succeed in today’s youngsters.

“Before I fell pregnant I was working with some of the guys and it was great fun, but also very frustrating. Sometimes I want to bash their heads together as I don’t think they have any idea how much hard work it takes to make it. If I had my way I would cut them off the programme.

“The ones that are willing to listen and go the extra mile are the ones that will succeed. If they are prepared to step out of their comfort zone I want to work with them. They have this golden carrot dangled in front of them but if they think it’s just going to happen then that are badly mistaken.”

As well as helping the young badminton stars achieve success, Emms is hopeful that former doubles partner Nathan Robertson can yet again sample Olympic glory. “He is still such a talented player so it is fitness that will be the key. Part of me thinks how can he replace me but he is a great friend and we have been through so much together. I wish him all the success in the world.”

Although Emms has retired from the game it seems we are sure to see her influence in the future. If one of her young protégées has half the determination and drive of Emms then they will be sure to succeed.

Gail Emms was speaking ahead of the Sainsbury’s UK School Games which takes place in Gateshead, Sunderland and Newcastle, September 2-5. For more information visit www.ukschoolgames.com

Ennis Going for Barcelona Gold

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In the space of a little over one year Jessica Ennis has changed. Not in the sense of her innate niceness which remains untarnished by fame and sporting success, nor in her girl-next-door, down-to-earth persona which comes from her Sheffield roots, but in her mind-set.

At the start of last summer she was an athlete full of unanswered questions and understandable doubts. Thirteen months on and she goes to the European Championships in Barcelona the week after next not only as the current world heptathlon and world indoor pentathlon champion, but as a sportswoman greedy for much more.

“I believe in myself,” she explains, as she sits in a stand at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield and gazes across the track. "I’m pretty greedy when it comes to titles and medals. I believe I can achieve it all.”

Last year Ennis made her first tentative steps towards a comeback after a promising career – a bronze in the 2006 Commonwealths, a 4th in the 2007 world championships – was halted in its tracks by three stress fractures in her right foot that ended her dream of going for a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “I cried and cried until I couldn’t physically cry any more,” she recalls.

Then, on her return to action after a 12-month lay-off, she won a multi-events competition in Italy and came to the Berlin world championships ranked number one in the world, a position she justified by taking gold.

For good measure she backed this up by becoming the world indoor champion in Doha last March, proving that the 24-year-old is far from satisfied with her lot. On reflection the terrible injury that shattered her dreams may just have been the making of her.

“I was devastated at the time but in the back of my mind I always thought there must be a reason for it. On my return last summer in Italy I was very anxious because I genuinely feared I’d never be the same athlete again.

“I’ve never really admitted this before but, deep down, I really fancied my chances in Beijing. I’d finished fourth the year before in the worlds but had made great strides since then and had enjoyed a really good indoor season. I felt as if I was flying.

“Then I had it all taken away from me. To win in Italy and to have such confidence to go to Berlin and become world champion means that I feel as if I can deal with anything now, and that, in hindsight, the injury was the best thing to have happened to me.

“It forced me to rest and to re-evaluate myself, and it made me so, so hungry to grab every opportunity I could in my sport. That’s why on the podium in Berlin, within seconds of celebrating my world title and hearing the national anthem, I was thinking about the world indoors, then the Europeans and, ultimately, the London Olympics. I now realise I won’t be happy until I’ve won them all.”

It is a far cry from the 10-year-old who came to this very stadium in 1996 for a two-week summer “Startrack” camp run by Norwich Union who now, 14 years’ on, will be organising similar camps under their new name of Aviva. “I’d never done any athletics in my life, nor wanted to,” she recalls. “I wanted to be a chef or, believe it or not, a journalist. But a coach spotted me, I started to train and, because I’m an indecisive person, I went for the heptathlon.” The rest, as they say …

Ennis has just arrived in Portugal for the British team’s holding camp in final preparations for the Europeans, and she insists that by Friday, the 30th, when day one of the heptathlon begins in the historic Montjuic Stadium, she will be more than ready despite a recent inner ear infection that affected her balance so badly she could not train or compete for a fortnight.

“I could have done without it,” she says. “But I don’t think any harm’s been done. I’ve just got to fine-tune a few things and I’ll be good and ready, especially as the heptathlon starts at the end of the week.”

Despite it being the Europeans, which are supposed to be of less importance than the worlds or Olympics, she finds herself up against all her main rivals save for America’s Hyleas Fountain. Ennis knows what this means.

“Oh, I’ll have to go better than I did at the worlds last year,” she accepts, matter-of-factly. “If I do I should score 100 points more than my best score and that would mean taking Denise Lewis’s British record of 6,831 points, which would be nice. Getting to the top was hard work, but I already know that staying there is much harder. Everyone will want to knock me off my perch.”

For a second she sounds like the Jessica of old, especially when she adds: “I still get very anxious in competition about what the others could do, and I still find it surreal that I’m world champion. A part of me believes I’m still chasing others when, in reality, I’m the one being chased.”

That’s what the likes of the Ukrainian 2008 Olympic champion, Natalia Dobrynska, and Russia’s Tatiana Chernova, who came third in Beijing, will be doing in Barcelona. They were beaten by the British athlete in Gotsis in Austria only last month, so they know Ennis remains hungry. The thought of Gotsis returns Ennis to the new-look Jessica.

“The good thing about Gotsis was that it means we all go to Barcelona with me having beaten them all,” she explains. “So we’ve had Desenzano, Berlin, Doha and now Gotsis and they haven’t beaten me in any of them. That’s good for me.
“People ask me if it is too much pressure to be the favourite these days but I always think it’s a nice position to be in. I’ve got the titles, I know what it takes now to win a major title or two, and it seems that I’m the one to beat.”

Jessica Ennis fixes you with a smile that melts most athletics observers, and then contradicts it with a statement that should worry anyone planning to stop her striking gold in Spain. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Jessica Ennis is an ambassador for Aviva, the No 1 sponsor of the GB & NI team since 1999. Find out how Aviva is helping Jessica and her fellow athletes at www.aviva.co.uk/athletics

Daley seeking redemption Down Under

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Just a few months ago Paul Daley’s career looked to be heading in the right direction. The Nottingham born fighter was widely regarded as one of the top welterweights in mixed martial arts and was rewarded with a UFC contract. One moment of madness changed everything.

Fighting Josh Koscheck in a contest that would determine the next challenger for the UFC welterweight title, Daley inexplicably lost control and threw a punch after the final bell. UFC president Dana White then declared that the British fighter would never set foot in the Ultimate Fighting Championships again.

Having been on the verge of a superfight with George St. Pierre, Daley has now had to reconsider his options and look outside of the States. The comeback starts in Australia where the 27-year-old will fight on the undercard of an IFC bill that includes a contest between Ken Shamrock and Pedro Rizzo.

Daley is hopeful that he can put the past behind him and rebuild his impressive career. “It was a thoughtless act but it is not something that I want to dwell on. I love being out in Australia and being part of the IFC as the fans are really into it. I am getting recognised loads and I am really looking forward to the fight.”

The Impact Fighting Championships may be a relatively new organization, in fact it was founded in July 2010, but Daley sees it as the perfect opportunity to get his career back on track.

The Team Rough House member will not have an easy fight on his hands in Sydney as he takes on Brazilian Jui-Jitsu expert Daniel Acacio. However, Daley has lost none of the confidence that saw him rise to one of the most feared fighters in mixed martial arts.

“I am always confident and this fight is no exception. I am going to win by KO. He may be a tough guy but I know that I have the edge. I have been working hard so I just want to keep fighting and stay busy.”

There are still plenty of MMA fans that want to see Daley fight and with the sport growing and becoming more popular around the world it seems there will be plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent.

Training in Nottingham with Team Rough House has also meant that Daley is part of one of the most talked about mixed martial art camps around. Working with the likes of Ross Pearson and Dan Hardy, both UFC fighters, means the man known as ‘Semtex’ is always improving.

“There are some fantastic fighters coming out of the UK and I am lucky to call a lot of them friends. We work well together and are always developing our styles and bringing in new coaches.

“I continually work on all parts of my game but there is so much to cover that it can be hard to improve as quick as you would like,” describes Daley. “I am just so glad that fighters are starting to get the recognition they deserve as it is a hard sport that requires more dedication than most.”

Having missed out on the fight with George St. Pierre you could have forgiven Daley for losing his focus and desire. However, he stresses that this is not the case. “I would have loved to have had the time to train and fight GSP but these things happen. All I can say is that now I am out of UFC I have the drive and ambition back.”

If Daley can keep his focus then the rest of the 170lb division had better beware.

Zane Scotland looks to resurrect career at St. Andrews

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Eleven years ago the golfing community watched on with excitement as Zane Scotland became the youngest ever player to qualify for The Open Championships. Few would have predicted this talented youngster would have to wait until 2010 for his second appearance at a major.

Scotland had first come to attention winning a national competition to find the next Tiger Woods. After his first appearance at Carnoustie, aged just 16, his amateur career heralded nothing but success. He not only climbed to number one in the world but also won the Spanish and Portuguese titles.

Having turned professional in 2003, disaster struck in the form of a car accident as Scotland suffered a whiplash injury that would unsettle him for years to come. The next four years where spent trying to recover and playing on the challenger tour.

“After the accident there were times when I thought I would never get back to full fitness,” describes the 27-year-old. “It was incredibly frustrating as I knew that I had the game and that it was just a physical problem. The thing was I couldn’t trust my body and that really affected my game.”

It was a long road to recovery for Scotland who finally seemed to be regaining his form and confidence in 2007 when he qualified for the British Masters. Free from injury he finished the tournament tied for fourth place and was rewarded with a European tour card.

“I had been playing the challenger tour and managed to prequalify for the French Open. I had a good finish there and ended up getting a few invites that led to the British Masters event. I was really proud to get my card for the tour through doing well in invitational’s as that is how Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy and even Sergio Garcia first did it.”

Unfortunately for Scotland, injury struck once again. This time it was a serious problem with his wrist that halted his progress and stopped him from establishing himself on the tour. This would prove to be another tough period as yet again he found himself back on the challenger tour.

After this second major set back many golfers would contemplate their future. The challengers are not only competitive but are far less glamorous than the full-blown European circuit. Scotland, however, saw it as an opportunity to get back to basics.

“It can be really tough as you are by yourself with no fancy hotel rooms and no real support. You are there solely to hit the ball round the course and there are no other distractions so in that way it is good fun. It is what I call real golf.”

Finally finding himself injury free, Scotland has qualified for The Open for only the second time and now hopes to use the famous tournament as stepping stone. He will also be hoping to emulate his last appearance when he finished nine strokes ahead of Sergio Garcia.

“When I was coming through I played against a lot of the guys that are now at the top. It was tough as I knew that I had the game to compete with them and even beat them.

“Now I just hope to play well and if I have a good week then I have everything to gain. The first time I came here I simply soaked up the atmosphere, now I see it as an opportunity to get myself a place on the European tour.”

If Scotland can repeat the feat of beating Garcia by nine strokes then he is sure to have had a successful Open and be well on track to getting back his tour card. If anyone deserves a bit of good fortune, it is Zane Scotland.

Zane Scotland wears PUMA golf apparel, available from www.trendygolf.com

Sergio Garcia Hopes Class is Permanent

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sergio Garcia has blamed the break-up of his relationship with Greg Norman’s daughter, plus general fatigue and badly-timed injuries as the reasons why he remains in the midst of an incredible slump in form he hopes will finally end at St Andrews the Open this week.

The 30-year-old Spanish golfing superstar is into his 20th month of poor form since he won the HSBC Champions trophy in November, 2008, the first tournament, oddly, of the 2009 season.

This victory followed on from a tied second in the US PGA and wins in the Players Championship on the PGA Tour, and at the Castello Masters in Spain on the European Tour.

The HSBC Champions title, won in Shanghai, saw Garcia not only become the highest paid golfer of the year in earnings ($6,979,960) but jump ahead of Phil Mickelsen into second in the world rankings.

It seemed that at long last the man they call “El Nino” was about to mount his strongest challenge yet on Tiger Woods’ domination in the world rankings, and on a Grand Slam title he craved so much for.

Now, however, while Woods’ career and personal life appears to be in tatters Garcia finds himself languishing at number 41 in the world rankings, finishing 74th in the PGA Tour money list last year, lying 67th so far this year, and with just one top ten finish in 11 tournaments.

The reasons for Garcia’s depressing decline are obvious to the Spaniard. “First, I’m tired,” he explains. “I’ve been playing at a high level for a long time now with next to no break in ten years and a great deal of travelling. When it’s not going well you get even more tired. I was beginning to start playing well again at the end of last year when I injured my hand and that was very bad timing for me. It stopped a momentum that was beginning to build. The break up of a relationship I was in at the time hit me hard as well. It hurt for a while and it took a good while to get over it.”

That was in March last year with Norman’s daughter, Morgan Leigh, who Garcia professes to be the first girl he “had ever really been in love with,” and it took its toil on his golf. “Well, I was pretty low after the relationship ended and when things are not right in your head, or at home, then it’s pretty hard to play good golf.”

It is why he can understand his former great rival, Woods, as the American struggles to recapture former greatness. “Tiger wouldn’t be human if everything that’s happened to him and continues to happen hasn’t affected him,” Garcia concedes. “It’s been a very difficult time for him, quite obviously, and he wasn’t close to being at his best during the US Open last month.

“It helps, as I’ve found out, if you get your personal life sorted. If you are happy in life it can only help your golf, and visa-versa. We all expect Tiger to come back at some point. We know how good he is. There’s been an opportunity to capitalise on Tiger’s loss of form. The field’s been opened up. Unfortunately I’ve not been good enough to take advantage.”

The battle with cancer his friend and compatriot Seve Ballesteros is currently undergoing has placed some perspective into Garcia’s anguish, but he is still far from content with his lot right now.

“I’m not happy about my form one bit,” he adds. “When you’ve been at the level I’ve reached the last year or so has been very disappointing. I’ve had some ups and downs before, but this is by far the biggest down.

“I haven’t been beating myself up every day about it because it is not life or death and there are more important things to worry about. When you see how Seve has been fighting his illness every day for so long and so bravely then you can put things into perspective, but I have doubted myself quite a few times over the past few months, for sure.”

Garcia hopes that his luck will change at The Open, his “favourite” tournament, despite that harrowing loss two years’ ago at Carnoustie when he entered the final day leading second placed Steve Stricker by three shots, and the rest of the field by six. Despite a poor final round he still had a four foot putt to win the Jug but lipped the hole, enabling Padraig Harrington to beat him in the resulting play-off.

“I’d worked so hard to win that tournament in 2007 and I’d been on it all week, but that’s golf. I try not to think about that putt too often because there’s little point re-living it and torturing myself. I gave it my best shot but it wasn’t meant to happen for me. At least it proves I’m good enough to win the Open and I’ll be using it as a positive when I go to St Andrews. I haven’t played there as much as I would have liked, but where better a place in the world to get back to your best than the home of golf? I’m very motivated.”

One interested observer will be European Ryder Cup team captain Colin Montgomerie, who has professed his desire to have Garcia in his side for Celtic Manor in October pretty much regardless of his form. This is down to Garcia taking over the Ballesteros role as the heart and soul of the European team, having featured in five straight Ryder Cups since his debut, aged 20, in 1999, winning three trophies and sporting an enviable record of 14-3-3.

Garcia is desperate to play again and hopes his form picks up enough to make Montgomerie’s decision easier, although he also argues that he can bring more to the European party than simply winning points.

“I’d like to reach a level of form to justify my inclusion in the team and that’s another motivating reason to start improving very quickly. I love the Ryder Cup and I’ve always enjoyed it. I’d be desperately disappointed not to make the team, but I’d have to deserve it.

“I’ll be looking to sit down with Colin Montgomerie and try and figure out the best way to go with my role at the Ryder Cup. I’m interested to know his thoughts. I think he sees extra aspects I can bring to the team over and above my own play. Certainly, within a team environment, I like to think I can bring a lot of things to the event.

“The best way forward, though, is to start playing like people know I can. I know I am very close to it and the line between top ten places and around the cut is very fine. St Andrew’s would be a fantastic place to get going again and I will go to Scotland with the words that so many people keep on telling me: form is temporary, class is permanent.”

Of that there is no doubt, but Garcia must ensure that his temporary poor form does not become permanent.

Sergio Garcia was speaking at the launch of the adidas Golf “Wear in the World” adventure. The golf challenge will take two candidates to nine countries on three continents to play some of the most extreme courses in the world for a chance to win a job at TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Follow their progress in the ultimate job interview at www.adidasgolf.com/wearintheworld

Poll thinks it's time for change

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The World Cup in South Africa is drawing to a close and two of the best sides in Europe are preparing to do battle. Spain and Holland have long been admired for their brand of attacking football and finally have the chance to put their name on the famous trophy.

Fans around the world will be hoping for a final which produces little controversy and is remembered solely for the quality of the football. Unfortunately the rest of the tournament will be remembered for a number of very different reasons.

Firstly there was the debate about the controversial Jabulani football, then as England deservedly lost to Germany the discussion about goal line technology. Frank Lampard’s dipping effort had clearly crossed the line but the officials were uncertain and allowed play to continue.

This provoked arguments around the world with many declaring that referees and assistants need more help. One man that agrees with this statement is Graham Poll. The former referee infamously issued three yellow cards to the Croatian Josip Simunic in the 2006 World Cup and was placed under immense scrutiny.

It was a simply human error and Poll feels it has come to the point where referees are granted help. “The first thing to acknowledge is that with the speed of the game and the levels of analysis the current system just isn’t good enough. The refs aren’t able to cope so whether we use extra officials, goal line technology or video reviews I don’t really mind.

“What I think annoys a lot of people is that there were 60 trained match officials sitting on their backsides when England scored ‘that goal’, if one was stood by the post they would easily have seen that it crossed the line.”

Last season saw the introduction of two extra match officials in every Europa League game, a system which would certainly help with whether a ball crossed the line. However, at this World Cup and in every football match there will be other contentious decisions. In South Africa we have seen the Carlos Tevez goal against Mexico when he was at least five yards offside and Luis Fabiano’s double handball in the build up to his goal against the Ivory Coast.

This is where the argument about technology becomes more complicated, at what stage do we use the technology? Is it for every single decision or should it just relate to moments or extreme controversy? Poll for one, believes referees must still have the confidence to give a decision without relying on video evidence.

“We know that every football fan loves debate and a lot of decisions come down to opinion anyway. What I am worried about is that if we bring in video replays referees will be afraid of making the wrong decision and will always refer to the extra official. I think the decision would only need to be reviewed if the referee already had some doubts.”

Poll, who refereed in the Premier League for 14 years, would also like to see officials become part of the debate. Ultimately the decision will have to come from Sepp Blatter, but it would certainly make sense for the upper echelons of FIFA to discuss the matter with experienced referees.

“One reason FIFA have been reluctant to bring it in is to protect the credibility of match officials as they believe it would undermine their authority. However if you ask any referee whether he would prefer the help rather than be vilified for a mistake then it is pretty obvious which he would choose.”

Another of the problems that needs to be addressed is at what level of football does technology get introduced. At a global tournament, such as the World Cup, there are video cameras highlighting every incident. One mistake could cost a country the chance of progressing and destroy a nations hopes.

So should technology therefore be introduced at every level? One of Blatter’s arguments has been that he wants to keep the game level from grass roots all the way to the International stage. With millions of pounds at stake this could well change and Poll argues that at the top level it needs to happen.

“In the conference there is only one camera and a mistake from the referee will certainly not see him lose credibility. In the Premiership and the Champions League we have hundreds of cameras checking every incident, so if the referee feels uncomfortable with a decision then he could use the evidence available. I think at major championships it is a must.”

With Howard Webb confirmed as the referee for the final, the English official will have fans around the world analyzing his performance. Poll hopes the final will be free of incident and Webb comes out with his reputation enhanced.

“Howard has done fantastic job so far and he has certainly impressed with every game. I just hope that having got the final he won’t make a mistake as it would be incredibly hard to recover from.”

With the majority of fans, footballers and officials wanting technology introduced to the game it seems only a matter of time before FIFA finally agrees.

Graham Poll is blogging for the Coral Dugout, a place where punters can go to get the most out of every World Cup game from a betting perspective. To get the most out of every World Cup game simply visit www.coraldugout.com

Medal Corner - The Most Successful Sporting Cul de Sac in Britain.

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

She is a double Olympic gold medallist who is married to a current world champion and Olympic bronze medallist and lives just a few doors away from her partner in sport who happens to be a world silver medallist and lives with her boyfriend, a current Olympic and world champion. Oh, and he trains virtually every day with the Olympic bronze medallist.

It is fair to say that a small cul de sac in between the end of Weymouth and Portland Bill, the previous site of a world war torpedo factory, is the most successful sporting cul de sac in the country. After all, between Sarah Ayton, Nick Dempsey, Saskia Clark and Nick Goodison a few yards of residential road can boast three Olympic and five sailing world titles as well as numerous other global medals.

The world of British sailing has already dubbed the street "Medal Corner." And, with the sailing at the 2012 Olympic Games to be staged on the same sea water they can all see from their own houses, all four plan to bring more gold to their street in two years' time.

It was Ayton, the twice Yngling gold medallist and original member of the three blondes in the boat, and Dempsey, the world wind-surfing champion and former Olympic bronze medallist, who first moved into the street five years ago, having lived together in Weymouth for seven previous years. Last year they were married and Ayton, who has teamed up with Clark in the 470 series, gave birth to son Thomas.

Goodison, the current Olympic and world laser champion, and Clark, the 470 world silver and bronze medallist, lived directly opposite the house that Ayton and Dempsey moved into before moving themselves to another house just to the back. "We could stare into each other's bathrooms," joked Goodison. "Yes, and the frosted glass wasn't too effective either," quipped Ayton.

Like all neighbours they are friends who occasionally infuriate each other. "Nick and Saskia are always coming round, stealing our tools and never giving them back again," explained Dempsey. "We converted our house and then, when they were about to move in opposite, they wanted to know how we'd done this and that and even measured our living room in order to order a sofa for themselves."

Goodison, a life-long Sheffield United supporter who celebrated his Olympic gold by parading his medal around Bramall Lane during half time, laughed. "Yes, and when we finally moved in and the sofa arrived it turned out to be too big for the room."

Meanwhile Clark has already warned Ayton and Dempsey of what she will do if her neighbour annoys her too much. "I'll sneak out in the middle of the night and tip rubbish over their fence.!"

Last weekend the four went on a group bike ride as part of their training. It ended with a collision between Clark and her boyfriend, Goodison, a crash and various cuts and grazes for the 470 girl. "It just goes to show how competitive he is when he cuts me up," she commented, with a wry grin, before joining forces with Ayton and accusing both men of being ultra competitive when they cycle together.

Luckily the four of them are in truth great friends who share a mutual respect for each other having experienced at first hand the enormous highs and lows of Olympic sport. Any one of them stands a healthy chance of claiming gold in 2012, but as a collective they have become a powerful force that feeds off each other.

Take Goodison, a man in bits after finishing fourth in the Laser in Athens in 2004, but who bounced back to claim gold four years' later in China. "I shared a room with Paul in Athens and while he finished fourth having been in second place I turned fourth into a bronze medal on the last day," recalled Dempsey. "I saw how distraught he was then and how he turned it round. I then finished fourth in China, which is the worst place to be in at the Olympics, but my quest for gold here in Weymouth will be buoyed by seeing what Paul achieved as well as Sarah's two gold medals, of course."

Dempsey responded to just missing out on the podium by becoming world champion last September in the same Weymouth waters where the next Olympics will be staged. "It was the perfect response to his fourth at the Olympics," Goodison said. "The experience of just losing out on a medal makes you want success even more. Both Nick and I have personal knowledge of this."

Goodison's success also spurred his girlfirend on, after Clark could only finish sixth at the Olympics in the 470 with her then partner, Christina Bassadone. "I had to go away and have a long think about whether I wanted to continue," Clark admitted. "I had a crisis of self-confidence but saw how Paul bounced back and decided to give it another shot. But I didn't want to carry on unless gold was on the cards."

This mission was boosted significantly when she called up double Olympic champion Ayton who, having become a mother and seen the Yngling class removed from Olympic competition, was unsure where her future lay.

"Never mind my medals, I'm very much the apprentice in this partnership," Ayton explained. "When Saskia called I jumped up at the chance because she is the best 470 crew there is and I needed to know whether I was any good working with her at a completely new and different discipline."

It worked both ways. "Sarah is a massive inspiration to me, her skills compliment mine on the 470 and this provides the platform for us to be the best in the world," she said. "And if we get to that point at the Olympics where we are almost there, Sarah's got over the line twice in first place and I'm sure this experience will help us both."

Dempsey can only agree. "I am very confident about my chances in 2012, especially as I know the course so well and have already won a world title on it," he said. "Just being surrounded by winners gets the best out of you. Mind you, whenever Sarah and I argue at home she just gets out her two gold medals and that's the end of it."

One argument has been resolved, however, and it is the vexed question over whose house the post-2012 party will be staged at, all being well. "We'll have it outside on the green in between our two houses," Ayton promised. It should be worth going to.

Medal Corner sailors are all supported by Volvo and form part of a group of top British athletes called 'Team Volvo for life'. This backing helps Sarah, Saskia, Nick and Paul to attain their ultimate goals, which is a gold medal in 2012.

For more information visit www.volvocars.co.uk/sailing or follow their journey to 2012 on the Volvo Cars Sailing facebook page.

Commonwealth Gold Medallist Kerwood ready for Olympic glory

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

At just 23 years of age Charlotte Kerwood already boasts an impressive resume that features three Commonwealth gold medals and an appearance at the Beijing Olympics. Now the target shooter from Sussex has her sights firmly set on achieving a first ever Olympic medal at her home games in London.

The British number one has fond memories of competing in major competitions on home soil. In 2002, aged just 15, Kerwood shocked the rest of the field by winning gold in the double trap, an event she had only been begun training for that very same year.

“I went along solely to enjoy the experience, I really didn’t think I would have any chance of winning a medal,” explains Kerwood. “There was no expectations on me so that took the pressure off, especially as I thought I was competing to simply gain experience. It was quite nerve-wracking and I couldn’t believe I actually won.”

Kerwood continued her excellent record at major championships when she returned to the Commonwealths in Melbourne and gained two gold medals. This time round she not only retained her title but also added the double trap pairs alongside Rachel Parish.

After achieving so much success in the double trap discipline, Kerwood was forced to change her focus as the event was removed from the Olympics. In its place came shotgun trap, a similar event but one in which she had very little experience.

“Going into the Olympics in Beijing I had only been competing in shotgun trap for a couple of years so I was extremely inexperienced. The angles are a bit more extreme and the targets move a little faster but I gave it a go in 2008. Now I have gained more experience I am really looking forward to London as I have a much better chance of medalling.”

After the 2008 Olympics Kerwood’s life was made tougher as shooting took the brunt of UK Sport’s funding cuts. Having failed to reach the target of two medals in China, funding was cut by a staggering 76% as 46 athletes were cut down to just five.

During this time Kerwood was forced to pay her own travel expenses as she competed in worldwide tournaments. “Last year I had to compete in Cairo which cost over £2000 for six days, so it’s certainly not a cheap sport. I was extremely lucky that my parents were able to help me out as otherwise it would have been impossible to compete without the funding.

“It was a real shock to see it taken away, but at the same time I think that it has made me more hungry as well. You can never take you place for granted so it has forced me to work even harder and luckily I have had a pretty good year.”

This impressive form over the last year has led to Kerwood regaining her funding alongside five other competitors. Safe in the knowledge that she no longer has to struggle with money issues has meant that the triple gold medallist can solely concentrate on trying to win her first Olympic title.

This year Kerwood will not be competing at her third Commonwealth Games but instead will hope to put in a good performance at the World Championships. Having narrowly missed out on the 2009 final by just one target, she hopes that her improved preparation can help secure a final place.

“I have a new coach and I have changed a lot in my technique all with London in mind. I have even started working with a psychologist to try and find different ways to calm my nerves and focus. They say that you don’t peak until your thirties so I still have a few more years to go.”

With Kerwood now completely focused on the Olympic trap and not having to worry about her funding there is no reason why she should not be celebrating in London come 2012.

Charlotte Kerwood is a brand ambassador for Musto, for more information please visit www.musto.com

Owen admits frustration at England's World Cup showing

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

After England’s disastrous World Cup campaign in which they scored just three times and struggled to make it through the group stage, every man, woman and child has had an opinion on what went wrong. Was it Capello’s fault for sticking to a rigid system, the players for simply not performing or should the Premiership clubs be blamed for the influx of foreign imports?

It was clear for all to see that England lacked a cutting edge. Wayne Rooney struggled throughout and never looked likely to replicate the fantastic form he had found at Manchester United. Jermaine Defoe worked hard and Peter Crouch was possibly underused, but the consistent use of Emile Heskey annoyed fans the most.

There is little doubt that England could have profited with the inclusion of another Manchester United forward. Michael Owen had appeared at three World Cups and two European Championships but injury forced the former Liverpool striker to miss out on South Africa.

Watching from afar, Owen concedes it was tough viewing. “It was really strange as I have been involved in every major tournament since 1998. I felt like I was watching it from the fans’ perspective and it was very frustrating. Everyone has their own opinion on what went wrong but I think we have to put it behind us and start looking to the future”

Many had suggested that Owen’s international career might be over as he was regularly overlooked by Capello. However, at 30 years of age he still believes he can force his way back into the England set up.

“I missed this tournament through injury, so whether I got selected or not is a different story. All I can say is that I have definitely not retired from international football and I will always be available should I get the call. I am certain that I still have something to offer.”

Owen has not only struggled to make an impact with England in recent times but has found his club opportunities limited as well. As the Premier League has grown an increasing number of clubs have begun to look abroad for the best players resulting in some clubs fielding few, if any English players.

Although Owen does not think this is affecting the national team he does believe that clubs should change their policy. ”We can’t really blame the number of foreign players as we have still produced fantastic players like Gerrard, Rooney and Lampard. I would just like to see managers buying more British players as I don’t like seeing squads that have 20 foreign players with many just sitting on the bench.

“If I was a manager I would like to have a core of British players supported by two or three of the best foreign imports. That is how it was when I first came through at Liverpool and I would like to see the Premiership return to those days.”

Alongside this idea, Owen also suggests that it’s high time technology was introduced. After Frank Lampard’s goal was wrongly disallowed against Germany in Bloemfontein, the debate has reopened with many quarters arguing that something has to be done.

“Does anyone disagree with introducing technology? I don’t think so. The only real argument is what do we use it for, should it be for penalties, offsides and sending’s off? That is a matter that we have to debate, but I don’t think anyone would oppose goal line technology.”

While discussing the World Cup and the controversy that surrounded the Germany game, Owen seems somewhat downbeat. Like a fan that has not enjoyed a minute of the World Cup. Yet, brighter days could be ahead for England’s fourth highest goal scorer as he excitedly describes his return from injury.

“I have been working hard all summer and I am at the stage where I can actually kick the ball and do some light running,” describes Owen. “I might miss a couple of pre-season games but I should be fit for the start of the season which I can’t wait for.”

If Owen can stay fit and form a partnership with Wayne Rooney then England could find the answer to their goal scoring problems. Having lit up the World Cup in 1998 with that famous goal against Argentina it would be fitting if he could once again inspire a deflated England side.

Michael Owen is the face of BT's new television advert, promoting the fact that BT Vision now has Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2.

Scott Redding on winning at Donington and coping with Pressure

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The ability to cope with pressure is a trademark that many top sportsmen share. What many fail to deal with is the expectation that comes with success. Scott Redding, the youngest rider in MotoGP 2 is one sport star that takes it all in his stride.

Redding may only be 17 years of age, but he certainly knows what it is like to carry a weight of expectation on his shoulders. From the moment he first started racing, aged just six, he has been winning races and claiming titles. By eight he was racing in the British Minimoto Championships and by eleven he was winning all six rounds of the Spanish Calypso Cup 80cc series.

However, it was not until 2008 that Redding began to make a serious impact in the world of Grand Prix racing. Entering the 125cc World Championships, the teenager made history by thrilling the Donington crowd and becoming the youngest rider to ever win a Grand Prix race.

The levelheaded youngster concedes that this was a momentous chapter in his career but knows it raised expectations. “Winning my home grand prix was absolutely amazing and I straight away realised that it was a big achievement. I didn’t quite realise the magnitude of the victory until after the race when people told me I had broken all sorts of long standing records.

“I certainly felt that there was a rise in expectation from a lot of the public, but this is something I just have to deal with. I do feel the pressure but you just have to clear your mind as you can’t be on the grid thinking about anything other than the race ahead.”

Redding finished 11th overall in his debut season and claimed the title of Rookie of the Year. It seemed all was going well for the racer from Gloucester, as he was rewarded with a factory bike for 2009. Racing with the Blusens Aprilia team, he suffered a year of bad luck and mechanical difficulties, with a third place at Donington the only highlight.

“Last year everything went wrong from start to finish. It was a nightmare year as we had so many problems with the bike and I just never seemed to be in the race. It was really bad but I am hoping that I can make up for it over the next twelve months.”

This year has not been easy on Redding who has been forced to make the step up to MotoGP2. At 6ft 2” he was simply too big to continue riding the 125cc bikes and now finds himself racing much more experienced and accomplished riders.

This may have been a natural progression but it has come early for a racer who is still in his teens. Competing with the Marc VDS Racing Team he is riding the 600cc Honda that is capable of exceeding 275kph. A difficult task but one that Redding admits he is already enjoying.

“It has been really hard but at the same time it is good fun. The guys are a lot more experienced and the bikes are a lot bigger so I have to learn quickly. I am the youngest rider by more than two years and I am still picking things up like learning when to brake and when to hold back. You notice a big difference in little places with these riders.”

Currently lying in 13th place in a field of 30, Redding has began the season in a confident manner and hopes to be able to achieve some top ten finishes over the course of the season.

“If we can sort out the problems with the bike then I am confident of placing amongst the top riders but it comes down to how we perform over the entire race weekend.”

Having progressed so rapidly it will come of no surprise if Scott Redding continues to break records and become’s one of the youngest ever riders to compete in MotoGP.

Wiggins and Cavendish go for Yellow and Green!

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bradley Wiggins has spoken of the “ultimate dream” of two British cyclists winning the coveted yellow and green jerseys in the same Tour de France race and suggested it has become a strong possibility - but not necessarily this year.

While the 30-year-old triple Olympic pursuit champion, who finished a remarkable fourth overall in his debut Tour last year, is confident that he can fare so much better twelve months on that he is a genuine contender to become the first British cyclist in history to finish in the top three overall, and maybe even win the Tour and the yellow jersey, he has cast doubts over Mark Cavendish’s goal to be the sprint king this year, head the final points total and claim the green jersey, which would be the first jersey claimed by any British rider since Robert Millar became the king of the mountains in 1984 and won the polka dot jersey.

“Cav’s not as fit as he’d like to be because of the problems he’s faced this season,” Wiggins explained. “Cav under par will still win a stage or two but he’d see that as a failure. You can never write the man off, but it will be difficult.”

Cavendish has had a series of problems on and off the bike this year, including a major mouth infection following dental surgery that delayed his training by weeks, the jailing of his brother for drugs offences, his withdrawal from the HTC Columbia team after celebrating a stage win in the Tour of Romandie by a two-fingered salute, and a multiple crash in the Tour of Switzerland which he not only was blamed for, but provoked a muted rider protest the following day.

The 25-year-old is still confident that he can win the green jersey and match or better his remarkable feat of winning six stages to add to the four claimed in 2009 but believes the barriers for Wiggins are too high to surmount. Wiggins’ feat in finishing fourth last year was “outstanding” but Cavendish can only see one winner this year, and it is not his fellow Briton. “I can’t see anyone beating last year’s winner, Alberto Contador, and that includes Brad,” said Cavendish. “Contador should win the Tour for the next two, three or maybe even four years.”

And so the stage is set. On Saturday the most compelling Tour de France, from a British point of view, in its 97-year history begins with a nine kilometre prologue race in the South of Rotterdam. Ahead will lie 20 stages, 3,642 kms and just two rest days until the surviving peloton hurtle down the Champs Elyssess in Paris four weeks today.

Twelve months ago Wiggins, a six-time Olympic medallist who has a penchant for Paul Weller, guitars and boxing, rocked up to the Tour and astonished everyone with a final placing of fourth with little to no preparation. Fast forward a year and the nine-man line-up that makes up the newly-created Team Sky under the watchful eye of Team Principal Dave Brailsford is all about delivering Wiggins to the podium.

“Everything points to a better performance this year,” insisted Wiggins, who has spent the past week on reconnaissance duty to familiarise himself with crucial stages of the Tour such as Bordeaux.

“Last year was a surprise to everyone but now I have much more self-belief, I know exactly what I have to do, I have the right team behind me, and I know the route blind-folded. Physically I know I can win the Tour de France. Mentally the Tour, despite the physical hardship, is a lot easier than being on the start line of an Olympic final knowing you have four minutes to win gold or muck up, with no second chances. My experiences winning Olympic titles have made me one of the mentally strongest riders on the Tour.

“I’ll need some luck along the way, and no crashes, and there are some strong other contenders including COntador who has to be the favourite, but I am ready and, despite some in the peloton believing I could be a one-Tour wonder, I think it could be a very big Tour for me.

“If I could finish on the podium, or even win the yellow jersey, and Cav wins the green jersey, it would be the ultimate dream for British cycling, but it probably won’t happen this year because we’d both need to be on top of our game, but I do believe it can and will happen in the next few years. We’re both members of the very small group of riders who can win those jerseys.”

Over in Camp Cavendish the mood is also confident, despite the testing last few months. “Physically I’m in great shape, mentally I’ve taken some knocks,” the Manxman admitted. “But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. There are nine possible sprints I could win, and eight in one Tour is the record. I’m going for the green jersey this year, for sure, and if I don’t win it I’ll see it as a failure.

“It’s been my hardest season but people have to realise I’ve sacrificed wins in order to focus completely on the Tour. I’m still the same kid who just loves to get on his bike and ride and when I’ve got myself into trouble it’s invariably been because I’ve controlled my emotions for four hours on a bike until I’ve crossed the finish line and then it’s all come out. I’m a different bloke at home, or even once I’ve calmed down and my heartbeat’s returned to a normal rate. Forget what’s happened this year to me. It’s all about the next few weeks and I’m incredibly focussed.”

Add to this the sight of Spain’s Contador going for a second, successive Tour win with his team, Astana, and a third in total, the prospect of an in-form Lance Armstrong gunning for a staggering eighth overall win in what could well be the 38-year-old’s last appearance at the Tour de France, plus the expected strong challenges from the likes of Italy’s Giro d’Italia winner last month, Ivan Basso, Luxemburg’s Andy Schleck, runner up last year, and Australia’s Cadel Evans, second in 2007 and 2008, and the Tour promises to serve up a fascinating battle of mind and body with maybe – just maybe - a jersey of some colour for a British cyclist.

Eilidh Child Reveals her Olympic Dream

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This year could prove to be a breakthrough season for Scottish athlete Eilidh Child. Having only taken up athletics because of the influence of her sister, the 400m hurdler is now on the verge of competing at her first Commonwealth Games and has the Olympics in her sight.

Over the last two years Child has continuously improved her track times and is now one of Britain’s top female hurdlers. At last years European Under-23 Championships she claimed a silver medal and was recognised as one of the favourites in the field.

Child also tasted success at the European Team Cup earlier this month in Bergen, Norway where she surpassed even her own expectations and finished second in a strong field. This was an impressive showing from the athlete who admits amongst the seniors she is a relative unknown.

“It was great going to the under-23’s with a bit of added pressure as I was expected to do well. I really enjoyed the competition but it was really strange when I stepped up to senior level,” admits Child. “I’m not really expected to do anything now, but that is what makes you work harder and chase medals.”

The 23-year-old is certainly making her mark on the European stage and is hoping that she gets the chance to impress at the Commonwealths in Delhi later this year. Child also admits it will be nice to represent Scotland at a major competition, something that she rarely gets to do.

“This season has been going really well, touch wood I won’t pick up any injuries on the run in to Delhi. I definitely want to be part of the team and it would be very special to represent my country. It’s great running for Team GB but I think it is a little more sentimental when you race for your own country.”

It would certainly be a fantastic achievement should Child make it to Delhi as she still works two days a week at a school in her home town of Perth, Scotland. You might think that working as a PE teacher would distract the hurdler from her training, but Child believes it is a welcome distraction.

“I really enjoy combining the training and the school work as it helps me relax and takes my mind of all the hard work I will be doing. It is really tough when you are training everyday so it’s nice to be able to do something different as it breaks the week up.”

Although Child can currently combine the two roles there may come a time when athletics becomes her sole focus. With the Olympics just two years away the British hurdler is already thinking ahead to London and realises that to compete with the world's best she may have give up her school role.

The Scottish record holder already faces plenty of competition close to home with both Tasha Danvers and Perri Shakes-Drayton among the top European competitors. However, Child remains confident that she can continue to improve and force her way into Team GB in 2012.

“I am really hopeful that I can be part of the London Olympics as it would be a dream come true to compete on the biggest stage. It’s not too far away and although I am focused on every race it is certainly in the back of my mind. Obviously I still have a long way to go but I am going to continue to work hard and hopefully keep improving.”

If Child can continue to steadily improve then there is no reason why she cannot claim a medal for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and fulfil her dream of competing at the Olympics.

Eilidh Child wears the PUMA Complete Velosis 2 - www.pumarunning.com

Jurgen Melzer Hopes for Wimbledon Success

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For the past decade Jurgen Melzer has been dreaming of one day winning the coveted Wimbledon title. Having claimed the title as a junior in 1999, the Austrian has struggled to replicate his success as a senior and has never made it past the third round of the illustrious grass court event.

This year Melzer hopes he can finally progress to the latter stages and prove that he has the ability to cause an upset. “If you win Wimbledon juniors then you always dream of one day winning the seniors as well. This is such a special event with so much history, I just hope I can go a long way in the tournament.”

There is a newfound confidence in Melzer, thanks in large to a fantastic season that has seen him rise to a career high ranking of 16. The left-hander is also coming into the tournament off the back of his best ever result in a Grand Slam. Although he lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in the semi final of the French Open last month, Melzer claimed victories against David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic.

“I am heading into Wimbledon with so much confidence as I have had the best year of my career,” describes Melzer. “Reaching the semis of the French was unbelievably emotional as the whole of Austria seemed to be cheering me on. It was a great experience and something that I want to try and replicate at Wimbledon.”

It will certainly not be an easy task for Melzer who has struggled to make any sort of impact at Wimbledon. His career has also coincided with one Roger Federer, arguably the greatest player of all time and a master on grass.

“I am pleased to have won two titles, but I have come up against some very tough opponents. There are some fantastic players on the tour, in fact some of the best ever, but you can’t make excuses. I am pleased that I have stayed fit all these years and I am still looking forward to winning more titles.”

Melzer is also hopeful that his success can have a positive effect back home. It is a long time since Austrian tennis fans have had something to cheer about. The last major success came courtesy of Thomas Muster who won the French Open in 1995 and became the number one tennis player in the world a year later.

“I was talking to friends back home in Vienna and they told me that everybody was starting to watch tennis again. It is nice to think that I have helped promote the game and given it value again. Everyone has been expecting a new Muster, but unfortunately players of his class don’t come around very often.”

Although Melzer may end his career without a Grand Slam title his achievements within the game should not be undervalued. As well as his two singles titles, Melzer has won seven doubles tournaments and often competes in both the singles and doubles at slams.
This year Melzer will be pairing up with Phillipp Petzschner in his pursuit of a Wimbledon title, while in the singles he will hope to improve on his best result and advance past the third round.

“I am feeling very confident coming in to the tournament as I am at my career high ranking and playing really well. During the last year I have managed to win close matches against very good players, which has certainly helped to boost my confidence.

“A lot of things have come together to contribute to this good form, I am fitter than ever before so if I can make it through the first week then we will see how far I can go.”

Having come through the first round against Dustin Brown, Melzer will be hoping that he can recreate his French Open form and shock one or two of the established seeds.

Jurgen Melzer is a brand ambassador for Dunlop. For more information please go to www.facebook.com/dunlopssport

Dominika Cibulkova on the State of Women's Tennis

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In recent years there has been a great deal of debate over the state of women’s tennis. Many have argued that the rising stars are more interested in publicity than they are in chasing titles. The likes of Maria Sharapova and Anna Ivanovic are an advertisers dream even though recently they have had little success on the tennis court.

At the same time Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin have returned and enjoyed immediate success. Clijsters won the US Open after more than two years away from the game and Henin made the final of the Australian Open.

The fact that the two Belgium stars have returned with such immediate success has led to some suggesting that the current crop of young stars are simply not good enough. One young tennis star that disagrees with this statement is Dominika Cibulkova.

The 21-year-old Slovakian reached the last eight at Flushing Meadows in 2008 and last year made the semi finals of the French Open. Having reached a career high ranking of 12, Cibulkova has since struggled with injuries but makes the case that her fellow young players have plenty of time to make an impact.

“The Williams sisters are coming to the end of their long and successful careers so I think that it is time for the younger generation to take over,” explains Cibulkova. “There is a lot of talent coming through and I think that within the next few years we will see a number of the young players winning the slams.”

Cibulkova also argues that Clijsters and Henin are the only two players capable of making such a dramatic return. ”They are both fantastic players and it is only one in a thousand that could come back and actually win a Grand Slam. It was a real shock for everybody, but both were great players before their break from the game.

“When they returned they had no pressure on them and you could see that they played with freedom and a relaxed style. They had both previously won slams and they certainly know what it takes to win a major final.”

With two Grand Slams having already taken place this year, it has yet again been the senior players making the headlines. Serena Williams won the Australian Open while 29-year-old Francesca Schiavone shocked the tennis world by winning the title at Roland Garros.

Wimbledon offers another chance for a young star to hit the headlines, much as Maria Sharapova did in 2004 when she claimed the title aged just 17. Cibulkova certainly thinks there is enough talent but admits that her own chances are slim.

“There are some really talented players in my age group so it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see one of them win Wimbledon. For me, grass is probably my worst surface and I have a tough draw in the first round. I will fight my hardest and see what happens.”

Cibulkova also suggests that the young stars getting the media attention can only help promote the game. Back home in Slovakia, she is seen as a star and often sees children dressing up like her or trying to imitate her style.

“It is really nice when I get to go home and see all the kids trying to look like me or use the same racket. It is great to be seen as a role model and I hope that I can inspire as many young children as possible to take up the game.”

Having beaten the 25th seed, Lucie Safarova it seems that if Cibulkova can steer clear of injuries then she is certainly one of the young stars that can challenge for the Wimbldedon title and take over the mantle of the Williams sisters.

Dominika Cibulkova is a brand ambassador for Dunlop. For more information please go to www.facebook.com/dunlopssport

Razor runs the rule over England

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

England’s World Cup campaign finally sparked into life during a nervy afternoon in Port Elizabeth. Following some poor performances and a reported dissolution within the camp, the team’s World Cup chances hinged on the final group game with Slovenia. At a time when England needed a spark, they duly got it with a tireless performance from captain Steven Gerrard and notable performances from James Milner and Jermain Defoe.

Embarking on a tournament with yet another captain change, the third in four months after Rio Ferdinand ruptured knee ligaments, was never going to be easy. With Liverpool’s talisman Steven Gerrard now leading the line, England turned to him in their time of need to display the same leadership qualities which lead Liverpool to two Champions’ League finals and an FA Cup final in recent years.

Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, a man who knows Gerrard well, and saw him blossom into one of the finest footballers of his generation, believes the Liverpool man is the best man for the job. “Gerrard’s got the armband and he’ll be the first to admit he hasn’t had the best of seasons. This is a great stage for him and I think he’ll thrive on it.

“Obviously JT [John Terry] is a natural leader, but Stevie is a great man. He leads the dressing room and on the pitch he runs around and gets the tackles in.”

England will need that spark if they are to make it through the knock-out stages, says the former Liverpool and West Ham defender. “Sometimes in a team a captain is wasted, especially when it’s a goalkeeper. If your captain is in the centre of the pitch, he’s got everyone around him and he can gee them up.”

One of the mysteries surrounding England though is the role Joe Cole will play in the remainder of the tournament. Cole, recently released by Chelsea, was a late call up by Fabio Capello, after spending a large part of the season recovering from a knee injury.

Ruddock believes that Joe Cole can still offer England something different in attack. “If you’ve seen Joe Cole and played with him, you will know that he is one of the most gifted footballers of his generation. He has a natural talent and enthusiasm for the game.

“He was a bit lightweight a couple of years ago, but now he’s stronger and still does his clever work in the final third [of the pitch]. He’s got a big part to play for England now.”

The squad have had to deal with criticism levied against them. Criticism at the lack of cohesion and desire within the camp, factors which have led to a deterioration in team morale. Ruddock says that a criticism of desire is unfair and that the media need to support the team rather than be on their backs.

“Representing England was the greatest moment of my life. As a player you don’t want to disappoint, and I think it’s unfair that our players get pressure from the media.

“Every one of them is a top player for their club. If they lose with their club, they still get clapped off, but if they lose with England they get absolutely hammered. No one likes to be caned by the press and that plays on their minds. They don’t go out there and play bad on purpose. We should be proud of them regardless.”

Ex England centre back, Neil Ruddock joins forces with Guitar Hero for the launch of its free National Anthem video game download for the World Cup in South Africa. Visit www.facebook.com/guitarhero for more info.

Richard Buck on his hopes for London

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

With the London Olympics just two years away you can forgive Richard Buck for having just one thing on his mind. The 4x400m relay runner was left devastated as illness forced him to miss the Beijing games. Ever since that moment little else has occupied the thoughts of the 23-year old from Grimsby.

As Buck reminisces about 2008 he is left with mixed emotions. First came the joy of being selected for the squad and travelling out to China. Then came the bitter disappointment as a virus interrupted his training and destroyed his chances of competing as a part of Team GB.

“It was a strange season as I had been performing really well and was so proud of being selected,” describes Buck. “When I picked up the illness I was gutted that I wouldn’t be able to run, but it has provided me with huge motivation to make sure I am at my best in 2012.”

Upon reflection Buck also realises that he was perhaps a little naive heading into Beijing. He had previously had a taste of international competition at the World Student Games and the World Athletics Championships but this had not prepared him for the global phenomenon that is the Olympics.

“As we headed out to Beijing I just thought that it would be like every other meet. I soon realised that it was so much more. Even though I couldn’t race you feel the support of the entire team. You become inspired by everyone’s performances and when someone performs well everyone shares in that success.

“It’s a brilliant sensation and you end up bonding with all of the athletes. It can also act as a bit of an eye opener as you get to see how the other athletes train and react to different situations.”

Having tasted such bitter disappointment many athletes would struggle to recover. Buck, however, has used it as motivation and in the last two seasons has continued to improve his times. His desire to succeed has also led to a change of coach and a move to Loughborough.

Since the move Buck has enjoyed a superb indoor season and helped his fellow 400m relay members claim a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships. He is now hoping that he can maintain this form throughout the outdoor season.

“It has all gone fantastically well for me indoors but to be honest I am more suited to competing outdoors. I am a tall runner and sometimes the bends are too tight so I am feeling confident that everything will go well throughout the summer.”

Buck hopes to maintain his good form and run well at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year. “It is always a fantastic games as it is a multi sport event that is very similar to the Olympics. It’s very awe-inspiring. I am really looking forward to it and I fully expect us to do well.

“We have a fantastic team and a great track record at these championships. I have to say that I am not even quietly confident, I fully expect us to perform well. We should hope to win and expect to win a medal.”

This confidence has coincided with Buck’s coaching change that was specifically made with London in mind. His new training partners not only help to keep him on his toes but share his ambition of appearing at the Olympics.

“Obviously we have plenty of competitions before the Olympics but I see these as stepping stones. A lot can change in just a few weeks, let alone a few years, but I think it is impossible to ignore such a major event.”

While many athletes will take the official line that it is still a long way off, Buck admits that it is definitely on people’s minds. “I think honestly, hand on heart, every athlete will already be thinking about London 2012.”

Let’s just hope that illness or injury does not stop Buck from realising a dream that was so cruelly taken away in 2008.

Richard Buck wears the PUMA Complete Vectana 2 – www.pumarunning.com

Caroline Wozniacki on Fame, Fashion, Football and Wimbledon

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Caroline Wozniacki has a major dilemma looming and the clue is in the fact that she is playing keepy-uppy with the official World Cup football in an East End back street in London on the eve of her defence of the Eastbourne grass court championships.

The 19-year-old world number three is talking about playing at Wimbledon, where she stands a decent chance of venturing well into the second week if not actually winning the title, but is concerned - very concerned - about her games clashing with Denmark playing in the World Cup.

"What should I do about it?" she asks. "Do you think they'd change my court times if I'm scheduled to play at the same time as Denmark?" She thinks about this for a second and then realises this is, after all, the All England Lawn Tennis Club. "No, they wouldn't, would they? I mean, I've heard they're not even allowing TV sets with the World Cup in the grounds during the fortnight of the tournament."

What is a football-mad tennis star to do? "I guess I'll just have to record the Denmark games and then watch them as soon as I've got off court as they are live," she decides. "I'll also tell all my friends not to tell me the score." Then she changes her mind. "Actually, if they don't tell me I'll think it's bad news. I wonder if there's a way of getting updates while I play?"

This Danish football fan - she is friends with both Arsenal striker Niklas Bendtner and Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen - seems to know everything about the World Cup and can more than hold her own with any English sports writer. "It will be tough for Denmark because they have Holland, Cameroon and Japan in their group," she argues. "I think Holland will be favourites and it may boil down to the game against Camerron to see who also qualifies. We have a chance against Holland, though, because we play them first and may catch them cold but, then again, Holland won their last warm-up game 6-1 so they seem pretty hot. I think, ultimately, the World Cup's between Spain and Argentina, although England have a chance because, in Steven Gerrard, they have one of the best players in the world and with Rio out he'll be a great captain for his country."

Now she is getting biased because her favourite football club is Liverpool ("OK, OK, I know the season was bad but we'll be back next season") and her two favourite players are Torres, who presented her with a signed Liverpool shirt, and Gerrard. "Of course England also have Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson so they should be pretty good, shouldn't they?"

The thing is, as the pretty Dane from Polish parents is quick to admit, tennis is her sport, but football is her passion. This may be because her father, Piotr, was a professional footballer in Poland, Germany and Denmark and her brother, Patrik, currently plays football for the Danish league side BK Frem. "Denmark has a good women's football team and if I'd started to play football seriously at seven years of age like I did with tennis I reckon I could have ended up playing football for a liviing. As it is I love watching men's football. When I was in Los Angeles last year I went to watch the Galaxy train and met David Beckham. He seems very nice."

She also likes steak and chip, cars, "Top Gear" and wearing track-suits when she can get away with it. "Yeah, I know, I'm a frustrated boy in a girl's body," she concedes.

Except, of course, she is most definitely female, which is why Stella McCartney chose Wozniacki to wear her tennis clothes, the latest in the McCartney line to be revealed at Wimbledon soon. And while she will never play for Liverpool at Anfield she's not doing too badly on a tennis court. "It's going OK," she says. "But it could always be better."

Let's explore that last comment. Wozniacki is not 20 until July 11th, "the day of the World Cup final," as she quickly points out." Already she has made it to the world number 3, having been number 2 in March until an ankle injury and a few disappointing displays as a result lost her a place. She won the junior Wimbledon title in 2006 and, last September, lost in the US Open final to the returning Kim Clijsters, her first Grand Slam final. She has already won well over $3 million in prize money alone and seven WTA titles.

"Yeah, I know it's been pretty good and the rankings and the Slam final came quite early, but I won't even begin to be satisfied until I reach world number one ranking or start winning Grand Slam titles. I know I can get there. I've just got to keep on doing what I'm doing. I'm only 19 so it's a fact I'll be better when I'm 20 and better still when I'm 21. My Dad always says to me: "You're world number three, how can you be upset at your age.?" He's right, of course, but I have no intention of making this my peak."

The likely pin-up girl of this year's Wimbledon is charming company. She is bright, pretty, and very bubbly, too, but beneath this sponsor's dream of an exterior is a tough cookie, for sure. Part of it must come from her family. Anna, her mother, was an international volleyball star while her retired footballer father acts as her coach. "My parents and my brother know what it's like to be a sportsperson and they understand how difficult it can be. Dad pushes me hard sometimes - although no harder than I push myself - but he's also good at getting the balance right and is also full of praise and compliments me a lot. He knows I don't like false praise in any case. To win Slams or to get to number one you can never be satisfied, so we go on looking to improve all the time. He used to be a striker and did his research on opposing centre backs. Now we analyse my opponents' strengths and weaknesses, although we focus much more on my strenghts than my opponent. The plan is, whatever my opponent's strengths may be, is to make her play the game I want her to play."

Her star has been on the rise for quite some time. From the age of ten she has been known as the "Little Princess" back in Denmark because she was already making the news with her prodigious talent with a racquet in her hand. "It means that in Denmark I can't really go anywhere without being photographed which can be frustrating sometimes because I'd like to throw on a track suit but always have to dress up so that people don't comment on why my shoes don't match with my top. That's why I like coming to England because I can walk down the street and few people know who I am."

Not yet, although it could all change this summer, starting in Eastbourne this week, before moving on to London's SW18. "Grass is my favourite surface and I just wish the grass season was longer than a few weeks every year," Wozniacki says. "Eastbourne is special to me because I've been playing there for nine years, won a few junior titles there and then won my first senior title on grass there last year. It's the best way to prepare for Wimbledon."

As for Wimbledon itself this piano-playing star, who is also taking singing lessons and can speak fluent Danish, Polish, English and Russian, could go all the way. "You'd have to say that the Williams sisters will be the favourites but, after that, it's very, very open," she insists. "Just look at the French Open to see how anyone could win. I made it to the fourth round last year but this time expect to go much further. I've won the junior title there so know the place well, and I love playing in big matches.

"I first really noticed this in the US Open final last September against Kim. There I was, playing in the biggest game of my life inside the biggest tennis stadium in the world in front of 23,000 fans and I remember midway through the game wondering why I didn't feel at all nervous. On the day Kim was better than me but I learnt a lot that day, will not be fazed the next time I'm in a Slam final and will try my hardest to take the opportunity. You need to play seven great matches to win a Grand Slam but I believe in myself and that means I believe I can win Wimbledon."

If she does it will be the start

of what she dreams of being the perfect week. "A Wimbledon title on July 3rd, then Denmark to win the World Cup on my 20th birthday, on July 11th, beating England 4-3 with Gerrard scoring a hat-trick," she announces, with a broad grin.
Caroline Wozniacki wants the world, it appears. There is every chance she may well get it.

Algeria hope to upset England in Cape Town

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

While most see Saturday’s England versus USA as the key match in Group C in the World Cup in South Africa the so-called whipping boys of the group are insisting that they are capable of springing a major surprise.

Having lost their opening game to Slovenia, Algeria now face England on Friday June 18th in Cape Town and while the rest of the world may see this as a walk in the park for England, even without injured captain Rio Ferdinand, the only Arab country in the tournament beg to differ.

“England are a fantastic team with a fantastic coach but they are still just eleven men like we are,” insisted Algeria’s captain, Yazid Mansouri, a defensive midfielder who plays for L’Orient in France, and has 65 caps to his name.

“They have a good coach and have good tactics but we can beat England with our hearts and with our heads. We will work harder, we will try and win every tackle, we will be physical and we will play with passion. If we stop England playing we can beat them, for sure.”

Is this simply bravado? Well, not quite, because Algeria, appearing in their first World Cup finals since 1986, can make a case for themselves. When they are bad, as the Republic of Ireland discovered last week when they beat the “Desert Foxes” 3-0, they are very bad.

But when they are good, as the Ivory Coast discovered when they lost 3-2 to Algeria in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations last January, and as this year’s African champions Egypt found out when they were beaten by their North African neighbours in a World Cup qualification play-off, Algeria can be very good.

“We are not consistent, this is true,” added Mansouri. “But on our day we are capable of beating any team in the world, as we have already proved in the last few months. The people back home believe we can beat England and maybe even win the group. Why not? I know we have more of a chance than people outside Algeria believe.”

Nadir Belhadj, who played for Portsmouth in their losing cup final against Chelsea last month, plans to provide his teammates as much insider information as he can on the England team.

“Although everyone knows the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney, and their strengths and weaknesses, I’ll still be giving lots of inside tips to the coach and my teammates,” said the left back who is unsure where he will be playing club football next season.

“We will be looking to exploit their weaknesses, for sure. I believe it can make a difference. We’re very, very motivated about competing in this World Cup, and especially against a big team like England. Algeria can be the best and the worst but if we’re at our best we can definitely win.”

One player he hopes to be playing against is his club teammate, goalkeeper David James. “As soon as we knew the world cup group draw we’ve been joking about the game,” Belhadj revealed. “David’s a great guy and I really hope he plays for England against us. Of course I want to beat him but I hope he has a good World Cup, too.”

Algeria’s head coach, the experienced Rabah Saadane, is in his fifth spell as national boss, having been on the backroom staff of the 1982 World Cup team, and in charge four years’ later at the 1986 World Cup.

He is realistic of his chances but far from discounts them. “A lot will depend on if we can do a great job on Slovenia,” he explained. “If we can win that game then we will be more confident for the England game.

“All the pressure will be on England. We are not expected to win so we have nothing to lose. It means we can play totally free and relaxed. Maybe it will not be the same for England, though. It could be a factor in us making history against a team who are supposed to beat us.

“I know we are capable of beating a team like England. What I don’t know is if we are capable of beating many top sides over the course of a month in a tournament.”

Saadane is happy to concede that England have the better set of players, and he is full of praise for his counterpart, Fabio Capello, too, but he believes Algeria have an advantage in another area.

“It will be tough, of course. Capello’s done a great job with England. We qualified for the World Cup not because we had the best players but because we have a great team. We have no famous players in the world but my players all play well together and the collective spirit within the squad is very good. I think this will play an important part in our campaign.

“Are we good enough to beat England? On our day, yes, for sure. I just hope it will be our day.”

Whatever the result Mansouri already has his plans involving a certain English midfielder.

“I’d like Frank Lampard’s shirt after the game,” said the man who will lead Algeria out to take on England in 12 days’ time. “I’ll try and get it sorted out at the start of the game. Then I can focus on trying to beat them.”

The Algerian football team is sponsored by Puma, for more information please click on www.pumafootball.com

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane on how qualifying for the World Cup united a nation

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

England may have good reason to want to win the World Cup but they are primarily sporting reasons. The team they face on Friday in Cape Town can argue that their motivation for success goes way beyond trifling matters such as sport.

Algeria, who opened their World Cup account against Slovenia, are gracing the tournament for the first time since 1986 and, in the intervening 24 years, they are a country that has suffered greatly, especially over the last decade that has seen Algeria almost brought to its knees through civil war, persistent al-Qaida-linked terrorism and mass unemployment.

When, last November, the national football team defeated Egypt in the World Cup play-off to decide which of the two nations would qualify for South Africa, the whole country seemed to drop its differences and unite and, according to Algeria's players, this has been the case ever since as all turn their eyes to football, their national team and to the World Cup.

"We have a very important responsibility to our people," admits Ghezzal Abdelkadar, the Siena striker in Italy's Serie A who scored the winner against Egypt. "The day we beat Egypt and qualified for the World Cup was seen as a bigger day than even Independence Day in Algeria and Independence Day has always been the biggest day of the year back home. Everyone came out on to the streets to celebrate and to party. It was an amazing scene to see because for so many years the people have been at war with each other and there has been so much unrest. But now they are all united and football has played a big part in achieving this."

To say that World Cup qualification was bigger than Independence Day is a hige statement to make considering that Algeria waged a long and bitter rule against France, its former colonial ruler, and the 1962 independence remains a seminal moment in the nation's history.

Yazid Mansouri would not be recognised if he walked down any English street save for perhaps in Coventry where the most ardent Sky Blue fan may remember his short spell there five years' ago. But it is a very different case for the Algerian captain back in Algiers, even though the midfielder plays his club football for L'Orient in France. "It is now impossible for me to go out in our capital city," he said. "There are posters of me as tall as buildings all over Algiers and if I walked the streets I would be mobbed.

"That's how seriously the people are taking us at the World Cup. It means so much to them that we have qualified again for the tournament after such a long absence. The people believe we can win the group and I don't see why we cannot. It's not more pressure on us because we have little to lose. While England will be expected to beat us and have all the pressure on them we can play with freedom and be able to express ourselves knowing that we have the whole Algerian nation behind us.

"It will give us extra passion and belief because the people have been through so much in the past few years that we are all determined to do our very best for them, not just us. Everyone knows it will not be easy, especially against England, but our motivation runs very deep and that's why the Algerian people and the players believe we can qualify from the group."

It seems that the England team are also well-known to the Algerian public. "That's because we have the Champions League and the English Premiership on TV back home all the time," Mansouri added. "Every member of the English team is immediately recognised by the Algerian public, especially Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Half of Algeria have an opinion on how we can beat England. The belief from the people has helped the players believe as well.

"What is so good is that after war and so much trouble football has made everyone happy. Qualifying for this tournament after so long away from the World Cup was a symbolic moment for the whole country. Before politics and war split us but now we are together. Independence day was the second biggest day of the year lasy year, and if we can go far in the World Cup, at least qualify from our group, then Independence day will again not be the number one day this year back home."

The fact that all the schools in Algeria are ending their school year early just so that the children can watch their beloved team today and over the next fortnight and maybe beyond is an indication of just how big a deal this is for the only Arab country in this year's World Cup.

"There are 35 million Algerians and we understand that we are representing our country," added Portsmouth left back Nadir Belhadj. "We've had our problems. The whole world knows that. But we are the new face of Algeria, the new generation. And we want everyone to see this as well."

With security, social services and housing concerns all improving in Algeria the country has re-discovered pride in itself, and now the football team has become the nation's embodiment. "We've already made Algeria proud," concluded head coach Rabah Saadane. "We intend to make them even prouder now."

The Algerian football team is sponsored by Puma, for more information please click on www.pumafootball.com