Adrian Murray bagged himself another big juvenile prize as Bucanero Fuerte battled back to edge out Unquestionable in the GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.
Murray sprang an almighty surprise at Royal Ascot when Valiant Force won the Norfolk Stakes at 150-1.
Bucanero Fuerte (100-30) had also run at Royal Ascot, and with real credit when third in the Coventry Stakes, but that was only 12 days ago and there was a worry this Group Two was coming too soon.
He looked set to come off second best when pulling clear with Aidan O’Brien’s Unquestionable.
To his immense credit, though, the Wootton Bassett colt would not accept defeat and got himself in front right on the line to win by a short head.
The victory was a second in three years for Rossa Ryan, who also took the prize on David Loughnane’s Go Bears Go in 2021.
Murray said: “He’s a tough horse. We took a chance running him today quick after Ascot and he didn’t let us down.
“Robson (Aguiar, assistant trainer) said he was on fire during the week and we had no other option only to go for it.
“He’s entered in the Phoenix Stakes and he could go to France, we are not sure yet.
“We’ll give him a bit of a break now. He’s a big backward horse and we are not going to rush him. He’s had two quick runs.
“We’ll definitely step him up in trip as that’s what won it for him today. We made plenty of use of him as we knew he would see it out.
“He likes a bit of dig in the ground and if anything it was a bit quick for him today.”
Aguiar added: “We train in Mullingar and I joined Adrian about five years ago. This horse has plenty of pace and ran well in Ascot. He won over six today and can go further.
“We paid €165,000 for him (as a yearling at Arqana) which I think is cheap as he’s by Wootton Bassett, who is a great sire, and the mare has produced black type (Group One winner Wooded).”
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin are used to dining at the top table and by their lofty standards, the first part of the season has not been an easy one.
Though Godolphin took a Classic when Mawj landed the 1000 Guineas for Saeed bin Suroor, the royal blue silks have not been seen with regularity in many of the top races.
Though Appleby’s 28 per cent strike-rate is among the best, with 52 winners from 185 runners this year, his yard had an unusually disappointing Royal Ascot with no winners from 18 runners.
However, he remains confident the tide will turn and with some smart juveniles already unveiled, has high hopes Sheikh Mohammed’s operation will thrive in the coming months.
“At the end of the day, you play the cards your are dealt with,” said Appleby.
“As we know, at the back end of last year, we didn’t have a champion two-year-old.
“That will always show in terms of three-year-olds, needless to say. If you are not in the first three in the Dewhurst, National Stakes, Futurity Trophy or Fillies’ Mile, you are not, realistically, going to be bang there in the Classic picture the following year, and that’s where we were.”
He went on: “It is nothing to worry about 100 per cent. Ascot was one bad week.
“At the end of the day, we have a team who have a system in place and we know it works. The most important thing is to keep a good, steady hand on the tiller.
“I’m happy with the way the two-year-olds are progressing and we knew we would have to place the three-year-olds in the races we knew where, hopefully, they would be the most competitive. The Classics were not realistically our target.”
On Saturday at Newmarket, he unleashed Dance Sequence, who looked a filly of immense promise. The strapping daughter of Dubawi could develop into a Classic contender next season, following her eyecatching success in a fillies’ maiden.
Appleby is also looking forward to running Ancient Wisdom, a Dubawi colt who won by five lengths on debut at Haydock and then followed up under James Doyle in a seven-furlong novice race at Newmarket last week.
Appleby said: “I’m very pleased with him. He is two from two. I brought him up here (Newmarket) with a mindset obviously towards the Superlative Stakes, just to gain course experience.
“The ground was quick enough that day, James felt. He has a bit of a knee action on him and he has a pedigree, as you know.
“He is going to be a next-year horse. I am not going to be forcing him to come here again.
“But if conditions and himself are right, we’ll be here for the Superlative. If not, we will look towards Sandown for the Solario.
“A race I have in my mind for him, which is a race we have used many times for our nice two-year-olds, is the National Stakes. That is what I am working back from.”
Imperial Emperor won a maiden on his debut on the Rowley Mile course last October and made a winning return to action in a mile novice on the July Course last week.
A late developer, he also appears a promising type with plenty to look forward to as a four-year-old next year.
“I was delighted with him off a long lay-off,” said Appleby. “He is a horse who has had to be managed well by the team there.
“We toyed whether he was a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter horse.
“On what we’ve seen so far, we’re happy to stick to the mile and therefore we will aim towards the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes before we start stepping him up.
“He has a page, a pedigree that would suggest going further. He will be a nice horse and is definitely one for next year, we hope.”
Dazzling Star was another recent winner for the Moulton Paddocks handler.
She stepped up on her Kempton debut to score in style in a six-furlong fillies’ maiden at Newmarket on Friday evening.
“We were very happy with her and was pleased with her performance,” said Appleby.
“She has been a filly at home who has pleased us one morning and disappointed us the next. She is a bit like that. We got back on track with her on Friday.”
Meanwhile, Great Truth, another son of Dubawi who took apart a Leicester novice field by five and a half lengths and more on debut, looks another colt full of potential.
“Very pleased with that first run,” added the trainer. “A first foal out of Beyond Reason, a filly we know.
“He has come out of the race well, but we haven’t got a go-to race at the moment.
“Whether we go down a novice route or step him up into something a little bit punchier, we’ll see.
“We have a nice bunch of two-year-olds and there is plenty to look forward to. There’s certainly nothing to worry about.”
George Loffhagen was left pinching himself after going from pulling pints in a pub to preparing to take on highly-fancied Holger Rune on his Wimbledon debut.
The 22-year-old Londoner was a highly-rated junior but struggled with the difficult transition to senior tennis and hung up his racket in the summer of 2021.
Academically as well as athletically gifted, Loffhagen returned to his studies and, to earn some cash, worked at the Marlborough Head in Marble Arch behind the bar and collecting glasses.
View this post on Instagram
“It was a bit of both because I hadn’t worked in a pub before,” he said. “I needed to learn on the job. It wasn’t too bad. There were a few (troublemakers) but it wasn’t too rowdy, it was OK.”
A more different environment to Wimbledon would be difficult to find, and the idea that he might be playing at the All England Club less than two years later would have appeared fanciful.
But Loffhagen began to feel the pull of the yellow ball again and he returned to the tour last August.
“I struggled with expectations and stuff and I think the time out allowed me to mature a bit,” he said. “I feel like I’m able to put things into perspective a bit better and that allows me to enjoy my time on court a bit more.
“I feel like I always loved playing tennis but outside factors prevented me from just enjoying my tennis as much. I’m just happy to be playing and that’s the main thing at the moment. I wanted to play again and not have any regrets.”
The break certainly appears to have done Loffhagen good. In less than a year he has gone from having no ranking to a place in the world’s top 400, winning two titles and doing enough to earn a wild card from the All England Club.
The draw threw up an exciting clash with sixth seed Rune, and Loffhagen added: “I’m just really happy to be in the position where I’m able to play a match at Wimbledon because I definitely didn’t think that was something that was going to happen. I just want to enjoy the experience and hopefully play well.”
Loffhagen is one of three home debutants in the main singles draws this year alongside 20-year-old Arthur Fery and German-turned-Brit Jan Choinski.
Fery, who has two French parents but grew up in Wimbledon, will also get the chance to take on one of the title favourites having been paired with third seed Daniil Medvedev in the draw.
He said of his reaction: “It was excitement mostly. Any draw I would have taken and I would have been happy with but playing one of the top seeds is always exciting. Hopefully I can rise to the challenge.
“Playing the top seeds it’s always best to play them in the first few rounds when they haven’t played on the grass. Daniil didn’t play here last year so I’m confident, I back myself.
“It’s a great position, I love being the underdog. I’m going to go out, swing freely and play loose. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
Fery also opted not to throw himself into professional tennis life after finishing juniors but took a different path to Loffhagen, heading off on a scholarship to Stanford University.
He has excelled in the college tennis system, which is becoming an ever more popular route to the pro game, and has played enough tournaments to also earn a ranking in the top 400.
Fery, who remembers watching Medvedev win the US Open in 2021 on the Tube on his way back from the Wireless music festival, hopes his college experiences will stand him in good stead on Tuesday.
“The big matches are fun,” he said. “Crowds come out and the whole team feels like it’s important. It’s definitely not a Wimbledon crowd, it’s pretty rowdy and people aren’t always too nice to you but it’s good, it builds character and being able to deal with all that stuff is beneficial for the future.”
View this post on Instagram
Fery, whose father Loic is the owner of both a hedge fund and French top division football team Lorient, will decide in January whether to complete his final year at Stanford or commit fully to tennis.
Choinski will be an unfamiliar name to most British fans but, having pushed his ranking up to 167, the tall 27-year-old has been awarded a wild card for the first time.
He represented his native Germany until 2018 when he opted to switch to Britain courtesy of his British mother Dominque.
A professional ballet dancer, she grew up in Southampton before studying at the Royal Ballet School and then moving to Germany, where she met Polish dancer Andrzej Choinski.
The couple own a ballet school but, for their son, dancing was a passion only as preparation for tennis.
Choinski is grateful for the support he has received from British tennis, and said: “I really enjoy being here and I really have enjoyed playing the whole grass-court season. It’s a totally new experience because I haven’t played a lot on grass. I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities I got.”
Owner John Deer has revealed his desire to try to win the Prix de l’Abbaye for a third time following Saint Lawrence’s Royal Ascot triumph.
Although a regular in some of the best sprinting contests over the past few seasons, the son of Al Kazeem was scoring for the first time since landing the Denford Stakes during his two-year-old days when storming to Wokingham glory – the last leg of a treble for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle at the big meeting.
It was also Saint Lawrence’s first run for Lambourn-based Watson and having credited former handler Roger Varian for his input regarding the five-year-old’s switch from Newmarket, Deer – who enjoyed Prince of Wales’s Stakes glory with Al Kazeem – is keen to leave future plans to Watson.
“To have won twice there is quite fantastic really,” said Deer of his latest trip to the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure.
“Roger Varian was very good and without any prompting suggested that perhaps a change of scenery might benefit the horse. Who knows, but there was a hell of an improvement. That improvement may have come with Roger in Newmarket, no one will ever know, but from my point of view it was sensational really.
“There has been such a change now in his performance that I’m just going to leave it (running plans) to his trainer and hope for the best!”
It was somewhat appropriate that Saint Lawrence should win the Wokingham for Deer, with the owner-breeder having seen his Averti withdrawn at the start when fancied for the race in 1996 and like the William Muir-trained sprinter, Deer hopes Saint Lawrence will one-day carry his colours at ParisLongchamp on Arc day.
He explained: “Many many years ago I had a very good horse called Averti with William Muir and he was supposed to be favourite for the Wokingham.
“He had been in the stalls for a long time and the horse that came in next to him played up and Averti got frightened or something and he was pulled out and didn’t run. That was a pity because he was a lovely horse and deserved a big race like that.
“He went on to be second in the Abbaye (in 1998) and then subsequently Patavellian (2003) and Avonbridge (2005) went on to win that race, so I think I have got close to breeding three of them.
“I would love to win the Abbaye again and he would be a candidate. Whether he goes this year I don’t know, but if he didn’t I would want him to go next year.”
Jamaica's legendary swimmer, Alia Atkinson, made a splash at the Aquatic Centre in Kingston on Saturday as she launched her first book, "Day 1 Not One Day: An Athlete's Seven-Step Guide to Success." The five-time Olympian and world record holder, whose illustrious career spanned an impressive 19 years, revealed the inspiration behind her book.
"The idea for this book came about after I retired. I received a lot of messages on social media from people asking for guidance and advice on how to achieve their goals and maintain a winning mindset. It wasn't just young athletes; it was people from all walks of life, including seasoned athletes," Atkinson explained.
The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on people's confidence, creating doubts and uncertainties and Atkinson saw this as an opportunity to help and inspire others. "I wanted to answer their questions and offer some guidance. Even if the book could help just one person improve their life or find their inner strength, I considered it a success," she said.
"I wanted to provide answers and support to those who reached out to me. If I could offer something that could make a positive difference, even if it's just one takeaway."
Atkinson's book, "Day 1 Not One Day," outlines seven key principles that she believes can transform lives, both in and out of the pool. Although it primarily caters to swimmers due to her swimming background, she emphasizes that the athletic mindset can be applied to anyone's life.
"I made sure a wide range of people read the book, not just athletes. It resonated with sports enthusiasts and individuals outside the sporting realm as well. Everyone found something valuable and applicable to their own lives. While the book draws heavily on my swimming background, the athletic mindset can benefit anyone."
During the book writing process, Atkinson found it surprisingly smooth. "The hardest part was anything related to formatting and figuring out the technical aspects. But when it came to the content itself, it felt like I was talking to the athletes and readers. Each chapter was like having a personal conversation with someone, guiding them towards their goals," Atkinson shared.
"Day 1 Not One Day" holds a special place in Atkinson's heart, as she poured her experiences and insights into its pages. The Jamaican darling has left an indelible mark on the sport, becoming the first black woman to win a world title in swimming in 2014. Her world record time in the short course 100-metre breaststroke showcased her prowess in the pool.
As Alia Atkinson embarks on her new journey as an author, she hopes that her book will serve as a guiding light for athletes and non-athletes alike, helping them achieve their dreams and become the best version of themselves. The aquatic icon's legacy continues to inspire generations, both in Jamaica and across the globe, leaving a lasting impact on the world of sports and beyond.
Nick Kyrgios declared himself fit for Wimbledon after his long injury lay-off but said he was “almost dreading” his return to tennis.
The 28-year-old pulled out of the Australian Open on the eve of the tournament, announcing he needed surgery on his knee, and he has played only one match since, last month in Stuttgart.
Kyrgios enjoyed by far the best season of his career last year, reaching the Wimbledon final and achieving the sort of consistent results that for a long time appeared beyond him.
View this post on InstagramHe has made no secret of his wavering love for the sport and the lifestyle it requires and, while he described the first five months of the year as “brutal”, he was brutally honest about his feelings regarding his comeback.
“I don’t miss the sport at all,” he said. “I was almost dreading coming back a little bit. But it’s my job.”
It was clear in his defeat by China’s Wu Yibing in Stuttgart that Kyrgios’ knee was far from fully recovered and he pulled out of subsequent tournaments in Halle and Majorca.
The Australian has been practising at the All England Club over the last few days, though, and said: “I still think there’s some question marks, for sure.
“Obviously five-set tennis is a completely different base altogether. I look at my preparations last year coming in, I probably had the most ideal preparation possible. It couldn’t be any different this year.
“I’m not going to discredit the work I’ve put in for the last six months just trying to maintain my fitness, get back on court.
“I’ve been hitting with some really good players this week and my body is feeling OK. I’m going to take it one day at a time. I’m not going to look forward and put unfair expectations on myself.
“I’m just going to try to do everything I can, prepare, go out there and play some good tennis. I feel probably as good as I could feel at the moment.”
At his best, Kyrgios would be high up a list of possible challengers to defending champion Novak Djokovic, who he took a set off in the final 12 months ago.
The Australian has been handed a potentially tricky opener against Belgian David Goffin, who reached the quarter-finals last year, and in a 10-minute press conference veered between playing down expectations and insisting he can defy his limited preparations.
“I’m extremely confident,” he said. “I’ve never been a player that needs a lot of matches before playing a grand slam. I’ve always been kind of on the side of not playing too much.
“What I’ve achieved in my career never leaves. Last year, it wasn’t that long ago really. I feel like I’m still serving as good as ever. I’m still able to beat a lot of people on the court.
View this post on Instagram“The thing about tennis is the tour is so vigorous, there’s tournaments week in and week out, you kind of don’t have time to reflect on anything you’ve done. I’ve had so much time to sit back and be forced to look at everything I did last year. I wanted to do more.
“Pulling out of the Australian Open was one of the hardest things I had to do because I generally feel like, with the tennis I was playing and with my grand slam experience, just the way I was feeling, I felt like I could win that tournament.
“It’s been hard. I’m trying to expect the same sort of tennis that I was playing last year, and I don’t think that’s fair at the moment.”
The Austrian Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar until at least 2030 after a new long-term deal at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring was confirmed ahead of Sunday’s race.
The circuit, which was bought and re-branded by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz returned to the F1 schedule in 2014 and has been a permanent fixture since.
Mateschitz died last year, aged 78, after battling a long-term illness.
“The vision and passion of Dietrich Mateschitz, a man who loved this sport, made this all possible and it is a very special moment and a tribute to him that we can confirm we will be racing at this incredible venue until 2030,” said F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali.
The race in Austria is a big favourite for the drivers and all our fans and we are looking forward to many years of excitement and action that are ahead of us.”
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will start on pole position for Sunday’s 71-lap Grand Prix as he bids to extend his 70-point championship lead.
Derby-winning jockey Martin Dwyer has announced his retirement from the saddle having failed to recover from a serious knee injury.
Dwyer has been on the sidelines since March 2022 due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
The Liverpudlian has undergone several surgeries on his knee but they have failed to offer enough improvement to enable him to return to the saddle.
Dwyer rode over 1,500 winners and partnered Sir Percy to Derby glory for Marcus Tregoning in 2006.
“It’s tough saying it out loud, I’ve got my head around it, I’ve known for quite a while now I’ve been struggling with the injury,” Dwyer told Racing TV.
“I’ve thrown the kitchen sink at the rehab. I went to see the surgeon again when I had another operation two months ago and he said it’s not going to be stable enough or strong enough to ride professionally.
“It is what it is and I’ve just got to get on with it.
“It’s been tough, obviously. I’ve been in pain for a long time, it just throbs constantly but I’ve been in good hands and the team at Oaksey House have been brilliant.”
Looking ahead to the future, he said: “I’m getting back to some normality but I’ve just got to accept my career is over and I’ve just got to get on with things. It’s tough because I’m not finishing on my terms.
“I’d like to go out like Frankie (Dettori) and do a world tour, but I’d probably be at Wolverhampton and Southwell!
“It’s been a tough year or so, but it’s time to move on to the next chapter. It’s been a journey that has been unbelievable.”
As well as winning the Derby, Dwyer also won the Oaks in 2003 on Andrew Balding’s Casual Look and took the King Edward VII Stakes, Great Voltigeur and Coronation Cup on Pyledriver, trained by his father-in-law, William Muir.
Isa Guha has backed “ultimate professional” Clare Balding to excel as she succeeds Sue Barker to become the BBC’s face of Wimbledon.
Barker called time on 30 years presenting national coverage from the All England Club in emotional scenes last summer, with past and present greats of tennis paying tribute to her.
In March it was confirmed that Balding, who has been part of the BBC’s coverage since 1995, would step into Barker’s shoes, with former England cricketer Guha sharing presenting duties for a second year.
View this post on Instagram
Guha praised her co-host, telling the PA news agency: “Clare is the ultimate professional. She’s got so much energy about her and that’s what she brings to the screen. You very much feel you’re in there with her when she’s talking to you.
“I think she wants to do it in a way that’s true to her and that’s bringing that energy. I think as people who haven’t played tennis to a professional standard, it’s asking those questions the general audience wants to hear. You get that different take.”
Guha relished learning off Barker last year, saying: “She’s got an incredible warmth. When you watch her on television she feels like a friend.
“She was someone I certainly watched when I was younger, never imagined that I’d even be in her company so to be sat there with her and see how she goes about her business, her offering me advice and so forth, it was a little bit surreal but at the same time we’re just watching her in awe because she’s been the face of the BBC for such a long time and we absolutely respect and admire everything she’s done for sports broadcasting as a female.
“It was just an incredible time last year. The ability to be there with Sue, see how she operates, the doyenne of sports broadcasting, and to be in Clare Balding’s company and all these legends. It was a pretty amazing experience.”
With Wimbledon being one of the jewels in the BBC’s crown, it is no surprise to hear that Barker’s departure will not mean any radical departures from previous coverage of the grand slam, although Balding and Guha are keen to put their own stamp on it.
“No one can ever be Sue Barker,” said Guha. “She was who she was because she was true to herself as an individual, and that’s what made her so special. I just do the best I can to bring the best out of my guests.
“The role as a presenter is really managing the traffic and giving the audience what they want but also trying to make it fun as well as informative.
“I love the dynamism of broadcast and being able to throw it around a bit. I don’t think we’ll be moving too far away from what’s made it successful but we’d love to get out and about. I think that dynamism is really important.”
With Barker and Balding at the helm, tennis has been at the forefront of female-led sports broadcasting, and Guha has played a key role in the move to gender equality in cricket.
“It’s a huge honour and we absolutely understand what that signifies,” she said.
“We just see ourselves as broadcasters and I think what we’re striving to achieve is that normalisation across the board, whether that’s commentary, presenting or reporting or punditry.
View this post on Instagram
“That’s what’s excited me about cricket in recent times is that it doesn’t feel normal to not have a female on a broadcast now.”
Guha will be in the host’s chair when live coverage begins at 11am on Monday and there will be comprehensive coverage across the BBC’s platforms, including iPlayer and BBC Radio 5 Live, where John McEnroe and Tim Henman will present the 6-Love-6 phone-in.
Newcomer Qasa Alom, meanwhile, will host daily highlights show Today at Wimbledon daily on BBC Two.
In the week the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s report shone a sobering light on racism, sexism, elitism and classism within that sport, Guha shared her own more positive experiences of broadcasting.
“I think sport is a reflection of society, it’s a reflection of every environment you go into, but, if we’re all trying to create progress and create environments that are truly inclusive, (then we can’t shy away from it),” said the 38-year-old.
“Certainly when I first started broadcasting in cricket it was male dominated and there was a sense of feeling the need to fit it, not speaking out too much. I’ve been very lucky to have support from many of my male colleagues and I’m genuinely thankful for that.”
Guha is still building those relationships within tennis but, a long-time fan of the sport, she treasures the experiences she had last summer.
“One of my favourite things was just walking into work every day,” she said. “I was going in at 6.30am and it was so peaceful and calm before the chaos. It was goosebumps every time I walked into the grounds.
“It was a bit like how I feel when I walk into Lord’s when it’s empty, just that sense of history and being a part of something really special.
“Also, I was there a couple of days before it started and I was being shown all the different camera zones where we would do our broadcasts.
“I walked with my director to Centre Court and I saw (Matteo) Berrettini practising with (Rafael) Nadal so it was just me and my director, those two playing on court and maybe one other person. That felt very surreal and just to be able to see Nadal at close quarters like that was a real privilege.”
Opportunities for women in sport continue to improve, but breaking down barriers of discrimination on or off the court was never going to be easy, according to London Lions women’s team general manager Vanja Cernivec.
Last summer, Slovenian-born Cernivec was appointed the first female general manager at a Women’s British Basketball League side.
Having previously been an international scout for the Chicago Bulls, the first woman in the NBA’s history to fulfil the position, Cernivec is no stranger to overcoming boundaries.
Emily Clarke was announced as the new general manager of the Women’s British Basketball League at the end of June.
Nevertheless, recent research commissioned by the Lions showed 25 per cent of women felt progressing in a sport, either at player or management level, was not viable as there were no role models to relate to.
Part of the study, which was conducted across a nationally representative cohort of 2,090 respondents, also revealed 20 per cent of females said they had experienced some kind of discrimination or exclusion which deterred them from participating in a sport.
Cernivec, though, feels appointments such as her own and that of Clarke – who previously held management roles at Basketball England – demonstrate there is a genuine drive to embrace change alongside having difficult conversations on delivering equality throughout the sport.
“Generally the reception (to my role) has been very positive,” Cernivec told the PA news agency.
“(London Lions owners) 777 have done an incredible step assigning that position. It didn’t matter who stepped in – in this case, it was me.
“By opening this position, they have kind of set a milestone and said how important this role is, setting the same standard for the women’s game as for the men’s.
“The hire of Emily as the GM (general manager) for the Women’s British Basketball League is a great step forward, but changes are never easy for people to accept.”
View this post on Instagram
Cernivec added: “Things are changing for the better, the fact we are talking about this right now says that.
“If you look at women’s sport globally, it is on the rise. It is not the next upcoming thing, it is the thing right now, so anyone who tries to ignore it is on the wrong path.
“But the fact that women still feel discriminated against in the grassroots and participation level is something which needs to be changed immediately – not only from a professional (sports) aspect, but also for the mental and physical health of our youth.”
Cernivec’s role also saw her become global director of London Lions Academy.
During June, the Lions took part in the inaugural junior NBA European finals in Valencia, sending both an under-15s boys and girls team to the elite youth tournament.
Cernivec hopes such projects can help further develop the talent pool of home-grown players and potential future professionals.
“If you look at the pathway for young British male or female players, it kind of ends in the last year of high school and if they want to continue playing (at an elite level), then they have to go abroad,” she said.
“That is something the Lions are trying to change and help create a professional pathway – with coaches around, nutritionists, mental health support, strength and conditioning, all that comes along with building the athletes to what they aspire to be.
“With the junior NBA platform, it was a great event which has exposed us to where the British talent is right now and where our coaching pool stands, so it was a great experience for everyone.
“We have a great pool of talent in Britain. It is just a matter of how fast we can build up the coaching staff and the facilities, everything which is needed to give them the right development they deserve.”
PA SPORT BIRTHDAYS
Sir Richard Hadlee (cricket) – New Zealand’s record-breaking all-rounder who was the first man to take 400 Test wickets, born 1951.
Henry Olonga (cricket) – former Zimbabwe Test bowler, best known for his protest against Robert Mugabe, born 1976.
Bobby Skinstad (rugby union) – former South Africa captain, born 1976.
Harbhajan Singh (cricket) – former India off-spinner, born 1980.
Tim Jonkers (rugby league) – former St Helens, Salford, Wigan and Leigh utility player, born 1981.
Sebastian Vettel (motor racing) – Four-time Formula One world champion, born 1987.
Winston Reid (soccer) – New Zealand and former West Ham defender, born 1988.
Ruesha Littlejohn (soccer) – Republic of Ireland midfielder, born 1990.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (tennis) – 2021 French Open finalist from Russia, born 1991.
Shannon Courtenay (boxing) – former WBA female bantamweight champion, born 1993.
ON THIS DAY IN SPORT
1902: Bramall Lane in Sheffield became England’s seventh Test cricket ground when it staged the third match between England and Australia. The tourists’ Clem Hill scored the only century on the ground, which was not used again for a Test.
1977: Britain’s Barry Sheene won the Belgian Grand Prix 500cc race at an average speed of 135.07mph, the fastest ever recorded at a world championship motorcycle race.
1997: Celtic appointed former Netherlands international Wim Jansen as head coach. He went on to lead the club to their first Scottish title in 10 years in his only season in charge.
2001: Arsenal signed Sol Campbell from north London neighbours Tottenham on a free transfer.
2005: Number one seed Roger Federer won his third Wimbledon title by beating Andy Roddick 6-2 7-6 (2) 6-4 in the men’s singles final.
2007: Relegated Sheffield United’s appeal against the Premier League punishment imposed on West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair was dismissed by an arbitration panel.
2008: Red Bull Racing’s David Coulthard confirmed he was to retire from competing in Formula One at the end of the season.
2010: Serena Williams won her fourth Wimbledon title by beating Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3 6-2 in the final.
2011: Novak Djokovic beat Spanish top seed Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title for the first time.
2012: Dwain Chambers was selected to represent Great Britain at the London Olympics. The controversial sprinter had previously been banned for life from the Games under a British Olympic Association bylaw which was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier in 2012. Chambers missed out on a place in the 100 metres final after finishing fourth in his semi-final.
2017: Former England captain John Terry joined Championship club Aston Villa on a one-year deal.
2018: England reached the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties in Moscow. The teams were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time.
2019: Belgian duo Greet Minnen and Alison Van Uytvanck become the first same-sex couple to play together in a match at Wimbledon, beating British pair Katie Swan and Freya Christie in the first round of the women’s doubles.
2021: England thrashed Ukraine 4-0 in Rome to set up a Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark.
PA SPORT SELECTIVE TV LISTINGS:
Today (Monday, July 3)
TENNIS: Wimbledon – BBC Two England 1030, BBC One 1345 and 1900.
CYCLING: Tour de France, stage three – Eurosport 1 1130, S4C and ITV4 1400.
CRICKET: ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, Netherlands v Oman – Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket 0730.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, July 4)
TENNIS: Wimbledon – BBC Two England 1100, BBC One 1345 and 1900.
CYCLING: Tour de France, stage four – Eurosport 1 1130, ITV4 1400.
CRICKET: ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, Zimbabwe v Scotland – Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket 0730; Women’s International T20, West Indies v Ireland – BT Sport 2 2145.
PA SPORT QUIZ
1. England wicketkeeper Amy Jones plays for which Hundred franchise?
2. Who did Savannah Marshall beat to become the undisputed super-middleweight champion?
3. How many Wimbledon singles titles did Roger Federer win?
4. Which NFL team play their home games at Soldier Field?
5. Who is captain of England Women’s rugby league team?
6. Who won the 2022 Tour de France?
7. Where will the 2026 Winter Olympics be held?
8. At which club did Cesc Fabregas begin his senior career?
9. Scotland will kick off their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against which team?
10. Jin Young Ko is a leading name in which sport?
ANSWERS: 1. Birmingham Phoenix; 2. Franchon Crews-Dezurn; 3. Eight; 4. Chicago Bears; 5. Jodie Cunningham; 6. Jonas Vingegaard; 7. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo; 8. Arsenal; 9. South Africa; 10. Golf.
Domantas Sabonis and the Sacramento Kings have agreed to five-year contract extension worth $217 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal includes $195 million in new money, Sabonis’ agents said Saturday night.
The Kings are using the salary cap to deliver an additional $8.6 million to raise Sabonis’ earnings for 2023-24 to $30.6 million and will add a four-year extension that will give him nearly $200 million more over the life of the contract.
Sabonis’ first full season with the Kings in 2023-24 was an excellent one. He averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 61.5 percent from the field as he made third-team All-NBA.
Led by Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, the Kings won the Pacific Division title and ended a 16-year playoff drought in 2022-23 with a 48-34 record.
Sabonis was acquired from Indiana in February 2022 in the deal that sent All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers.
David Haye came up short in his attempt to unify the heavyweight division as he was beaten on points by Wladimir Klitschko in Germany on this day in 2011.
Bidding to take the IBF and WBO belts from Klitschko to add to his own WBA title, Haye failed to make much of an impression in what was a much-hyped fight in Hamburg and claimed he had broken a toe after the match.
The judges scored the bout 117-109, 118-108 and 116-110 all in favour of ‘Dr Steelhammer’, handing Klitschko an easy victory after 12 rounds on a rainy night at the Imtech Arena.
In the pre-match build-up, Haye called Klitschko a “fraud” and “not tough enough” and claimed the Ukrainian looked “beaten and broken” before he even stepped into the ring for “the biggest fight in boxing”.
The then 30-year-old had predicted a straightforward win inside the distance but the outcome was far from it as German-based Klitschko outboxed his opponent in a highly-professional performance.
Haye previously spoke of retiring in glory before he turned 31 but defeat ended those dreams and was a disappointment to the 10,000 Britons in the 45,000 crowd.
Haye said after the match: “I broke my toe on my right foot.
“I couldn’t push off the right foot to throw the right hand.
“I thought adrenaline would get me through it but it was tough. It’s incredibly frustrating.”
The Atlanta Braves struck early again with six first-inning runs and rolled to their seventh consecutive win, 7-0 over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies hit back-to-back homers to ignite the six-run first and Charlie Morton struck out five in 5 2/3 innings to keep the Braves surging into July.
Atlanta (55-27) has won 23 of its last 27 games and has taken over baseball’s best record from the Tampa Bay Rays, who held the honour since opening the season 13-0.
After Acuna and Albies took rookie Eury Perez deep, Austin Riley and Matt Olson singled before Sean Murphy doubled home a run. Marcell Ozuna’s two-run double made it 5-0 and one out later another double by Orlando Arcia capped the early outburst.
The six runs gave the Braves 87 in the opening inning in their last 82 games, including 11 in the first two games of this series.
Perez entered the game with an MLB-best 21-inning scoreless streak and a 1.34 ERA but lasted just a third of an inning, allowing six runs and seven hits.
Atlanta has won eight of nine meetings this season against Miami by a combined 77-26 margin.
Bohm powers Phillies to rout
Alec Bohm hit two homers and drove in a career high-tying six runs to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 19-4 drubbing of the Washington Nationals.
Kyle Schwarber had a grand slam, and Nick Castellanos fell a triple shy of the cycle with three RBIs as part of Philadelphia’s 18-hit attack.
The 19 runs were the most scored by Philadelphia since a 20-1 win over the Miami Marlins on April 7, 2018.
Rangers’ Eovaldi shuts down Astros for 10th win
Nathan Eovaldi continued his stellar season with seven scoreless innings and the AL West-leading Texas Rangers defeated the second-place Houston Astros, 5-2.
Eovaldi struck out five and limited the Astros to two singles while working around a season-high four walks to join Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan as the only 10-game winners in the AL.
All-Stars Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Josh Jung each drove in a run and Jonah Heim – also an All-Star – had three hits with a run scored.
Rickie Fowler came home with a wet sail at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Saturday, birdieing six of his last eight holes to take the lead in Detroit.
The American picked up three shots on the front nine but a bogey after the turn threatened to derail his round.
He righted the ship quickly however, his late flurry propelling him to 20 under par and a one stroke lead ahead of Adam Hadwin.
Speaking after his round, Fowler said: “Whether it happens (Sunday) or not, it’s going to happen here soon.
“I’ve been playing a lot of really good golf and been putting myself in good positions.
“This definitely won’t be the last.”
The Canadian carded a stellar third round 63 to gain seven spots on the leaderboard and keep in close range of Fowler, who has not won an event on the PGA Tour in four years.
England’s Aaron Rai is tied for fourth on 17 under following a Saturday score of 66.
The Charlotte Hornets and All-Star guard LaMelo Ball have agreed on a designated rookie maximum extension, multiple media outlets reported Saturday. The five-year deal is reportedly worth up to $260million.
Ball’s new deal comes a day after his draftmates – Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Memphis’ Desmond Bane – also agreed to max rookie extensions.
Ball was the third overall pick in the 2020 draft and was named the 2021 Rookie of the Year. In his second season, Ball was selected as an All-Star.
A 6-foot-7 playmaker, Ball averaged career highs last year of 23.3 points and 8.4 assists but was limited to 36 games due to injury.
Ball missed the start of last season due to a slow-healing sprained left ankle, and his campaign ended abruptly in February when he fractured his right ankle.
Bucks keep Lopez
The Milwaukee Bucks are bringing back veteran center Brook Lopez after agreeing to a two-year, $48million contract, according to multiple media reports.
The agreement comes a day after the Bucks and swingman Khris Middleton reportedly agreed to a new three-year contract.
Lopez, 35, has been a pillar in the frontcourt next to Giannis Antetokounmpo since joining the Bucks in 2018 and helped Milwaukee win an NBA title in 2021.
Lopez finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year last season and averaged a career-high 2.5 blocks. He added 15.9 points per game last season while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from 3-point range.
Lakers retain Reaves, Russell
The Los Angeles Lakers have reached agreements to keep starting guards Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, according to media reports.
Reaves, who was a restricted free agent, will reportedly receive a four-year, $56million deal, while Russell’s deal is worth $37million over two seasons.
After going 43-39 last season, the Lakers are hoping to build on a run to the Western Conference finals.
Behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Reaves was the Lakers’ third-leading scorer in the playoffs at 16.9 points per game, while Russell was fourth at 13.3 points per game.
DiVincenzo joins Knicks
Donte DiVincenzo agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal to join the Knicks and former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
DiVincenzo spent last season with the Warriors and won an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, though he played in just three playoff games before tearing a ligament in his ankle.
He played a career-high 72 games last season for Golden State and averaged 9.4 points.
Cavs land Strus in 3-team swap, Heat shed salary
Max Strus is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team trade and will receive a four-year, $63million contract, according to media reports.
The San Antonio Spurs landed Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens and a future second-round pick in the deal.
The Miami Heat only received a future second-round pick in the deal but created some salary cap flexibility that could aid in acquiring a high-priced player like Damian Lillard or James Harden.
Strus scored a career-high 11.5 points per game last season for the Heat and was a key contributor in Miami’s run to the NBA Finals.
Brooks leaves Grizzlies for Rockets
Dillon Brooks is moving to the Rockets on a four-year deal worth nearly $80 million.
ESPN is reporting the deal may become a sign-and-trade, one that would create a massive trade exception for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 73 games last season for Memphis.
He became a key player for a Grizzlies team that made the playoffs each of the past three seasons, earning a reputation as one of the league’s premier wing defenders.
Brooks was fined by the NBA for not talking to the media after some playoff losses last season and was ejected in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Lakers for striking LeBron James in the groin. That was after he called James “old” and led the NBA with 18 technical fouls last season, earning a pair of one-game suspensions in the process.
Westbrook stays with Clippers
Russell Westbrook will continue his run with the Los Angeles Clippers, agreeing to a two-year deal with the team he ended last season with.
The deal is worth $7.8 million, with the second year a player option, according to sources.
Westbrook began last season with the Los Angeles Lakers but was traded to the Utah Jazz at the deadline. He never played for the Jazz and was signed by the Clippers on February 22.
The 9-time All-Star averaged 15.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.9 assists in 21 regular-season games with the Clippers.
Jason DaCosta's Mamma Mia, the 1000 Guineas winner, and Richard Azan's 2000 Guineas conqueror Mojito, were both hunting what would have been the second jewel in the Triple Crown series, but Thalita, also conditioned by DaCosta, spoiled the party, as she copped the 97th running of the Jamaica St Leger in commanding fashion on Saturday.
By virtue of this victory in the native-bred three-year-old Futurity contest over 10 furlongs (2,000m), Thalita prolonged punters wait to witness another Triple Crown triumph at Caymanas Park, since Supreme Soul's feat in 2019, and it was a joy for DaCosta.
Sent off at 9-1 in a 12-horse field, Thalita, partnered with leading rider Reyan Lewis came from behind competitors in an exciting stretch run to win by a comfortable six-length margin.
DaCosta will now have to decide on whether to run the Carlton Watson-owned filly in the Jamaica Oaks at the same distance or the blue riband Jamaica Derby over 12 furlongs (2,400m).
"My two fillies are pretty close in ability and both horses couldn't win so we had to come up with a plan where one goes to the lead and take the pressure and the other came off the pace. So, it worked out well and this one is ranked high in my achievements because nobody gave us a chance, everybody was talking about one horse Mojito and rightly so, so it's a good feeling to beat the odds-on favourite in a race like this," DaCosta said in a post-race interview.
At the off, it was Mamma Mia (Phillip Parchment) that expectedly dictated terms with Princess Sharon (Youville Pinnock), Thalita and Sensational Move (Shamaree Muir), all in a tight bunch heading into the clubhouse turn.
On the back stretch Mamma Mia and Princess Sharon continued their duel up front, with Huntsman (Raddesh Roman) and Mojito (Dane Dawkins), moving into striking positions, however, the latter who broke from the number one draw was bogged down on the inside rail and, as such, had no space for a run as the tempo increased.
When Mamma Mia and Princess Sharon made their moves and opened up a gap leaving the half mile, Thalita came knocking at the door and by the time they turned for home, the Soul Warrior-Luminous Trieste charger briskly swept by Princess Sharon and from there it was a matter of how far she would win, as the big favourite Mojito was nowhere to be seen.
Money Miser (Tevin Foster) closed well to snatch second from Princess Sharon, with Rhythm Buzz (Anthony Thomas) in fourth. Mamma Mia and Mojito placed fifth and eighth, respectively.
Thalita covered the distance in 2:11.0, behind splits of 24.1, 51.1, 1:15.4 and 1:41.4.
It was the second winner on the card for Lewis, who earlier won aboard Zabratone in the ninth race for trainer Nicholas Smith.
Dane Dawkins was the pick among the riders as the champion jockey tallied three winners on the 10-race card, following the abandonment of the second race.
Dawkins partnered Secret Traveller for trainer Robert Ffrench in the fifth race; Atomica for trainer Gary Subratie in the supporting feature Clovis Metcalfe Trophy; and God of Love for trainer Rowan Mathie in the Midnight Angel Trophy.
Meanwhile, trainer Lawrence Freemantle topped his peers on the day with two winners. He saddled the Love of God (Javaniel Patterson) in the first race and Shadowfax (Raddesh Roman) in the third race.
Briton Savannah Marshall scored a majority decision points win over Franchon Crews-Dezurn to become the undisputed super-middleweight champion in Manchester.
The judges scored the fight 95-95, 99-92 and 97-93 as the 32-year-old fighter recovered from a slow start to win out after a fast-paced encounter.
A 13th professional win for Marshall means she is now a two-weight champion.
“I just want to thank everyone who came out and bought a ticket,” she told Sky Sports. “As if you didn’t buy tickets I wouldn’t be in this position.
“She (Crews-Dezurn) is a tough, tough woman. I thought she came on stronger, some of the rounds were close but I felt landed the better shots.”
On the undercard, Natasha Jonas beat Kandi Wyatt to win the IBF welterweight title after the referee halted the bout in the eighth round.
Canadian fighter Wyatt offered little in response against Jones, who is also now a two-weight world champion and has won 14 of her 17 professional fights.
She is also the reigning WBC, WBO and IBF light-middleweight champion.
Dan Evans admits his comments on the state of British tennis have met with a mixed reaction but he will not stop expressing his opinions.
Over the past couple of months the outspoken 33-year-old has criticised other British players for not playing enough tournaments, hit out at the elitist nature of the sport and claimed Emma Raducanu’s US Open win papered over the domestic cracks.
Results on grass for home players have been broadly encouraging but Evans remains one of only three British singles players to earn entry to Wimbledon on their own rankings, with all the women needing wild cards.
“I was asked a few questions and I answered them honestly,” said Evans. “I think that’s what the players are supposed to do. I think we owe it back to you guys. I’ve had plenty of messages of support and plenty of messages of whatever the other word is.
“I’ve never made it personal towards anybody in particular. I’ve stated groups at certain rankings. I’m not singling people out. And I think we’d all agree it would be better if we had more players inside certain ranking brackets.”
The response from other British players has been largely to focus on the positive aspects, and Evans added: “We’re in a world now where we’ve got to be positive.”
Asked if more realism was needed, he said: “That would be my take on it but what do I know?”
Evans was more positive, though, about the future if the current crop of leading players are prepared to give back to tennis.
“After the current players stop I think British tennis will be in a decent spot five years after that if everybody gives a bit back to the game,” he said.
“I think people will do and I think it’s important. We’re very good at taking things but when it’s to give a bit of your own time back it’s not so easy.
“I practised with Andy (Murray) on Centre yesterday and he’s helping me there. I’m sure plenty of other people would want to hit with him. Today I played my hour with (20-year-old) Arthur Fery, which is also a good thing I think.”
Evans is the 27th seed for Wimbledon but it has been a difficult season and, after losing to Sebastian Korda in the first round at Queen’s Club, he branded his efforts embarrassing and said he was not looking forward to his home grand slam.
His attitude has softened a week on, with the Birmingham player, who takes on France’s Quentin Halys on Monday, saying: “When you come in (to speak to the media) after a loss, it’s difficult.
“I’m obviously looking forward to it. It’s Wimbledon, it’s an amazing experience to play here and win matches here so that’s my goal is to get through the first round.
“I’m a realist. I didn’t play very well and it’s important to know that. There’s no point kidding yourself. I’ve done some good work, I’ve played pretty well in practice and my game’s in a decent space now.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
