Scott signs for Loughborough Lightning
Scotland full-back Lucia Scott has left PWR champions Gloucester-Hartpury to join Loughborough Lightning.The 21-year-old has five caps for Scotland and, after featuring in the recent Six Nations, is expected to be named in the upcoming World Cup squad.In recent years, she has made more appearances for Edinburgh in the Celtic Challenge than Gloucester-Hartpury, occasionally appearing on the wing.She joins Scotland teammates Anne Young, Elis Martin, Becky Boyd, Leia Brebner-Holden, and Helen Nelson at the club.
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Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
CALUM McCLURKIN: American Affair's Royal Ascot triumph is a Scottish sporting success story to savour
Jim Goldie is far too modest to say but American Affair's success in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot was a sensational modern-day Scottish sporting success story. We are no stranger to big-race success north of the border in horse racing. Lucinda Russell has won two Grand Nationals in the last decade with One For Arthur (2017) and Corach Rambler (2023). Russell showed her prowess for priming one for the big occasion at this year's Cheltenham Festival when Myretown blitzed the field in the Ultima Handicap Chase, landing a right gamble in the process. What Scotland craved, however, was something similar on the Flat. It seems impossible in the modern day for a small yard in Lanarkshire to win a Group One prize at Royal Ascot. But Goldie somehow managed it. Racing is one of the most established oldest sports in the planet. There have been results recorded as early as the 1720s. There has been no registered Group One success by a horse trained in Scotland in history. Until a couple of weeks ago when American Affair won the King Charles III Stakes. The Pattern formula was only introduced in 1971 and Scotland has waited since its induction for its first Group One success. Make no mistake, this is Scotland's most significant race win on the Flat since Rockavon won the 2,000 Guineas in 1961. That was only the third Scottish-trained winner at Royal Ascot. Big Timer won the Wokingham Stakes Handicap for Linda Perratt in 2008. You'd have to go back to Lanercost's Gold Cup win in 1841 for the only other known Scottish-trained success at the royal meeting. This was the first at Group One level. And in an era where deep pockets and powerhouse breeding operations rule the sport with an iron fist, for Goldie to achieve the success with a home bred is nothing short of extraordinary. This was a victory for patience and familiarity. Rated a lowly 67 at Carlisle at the beginning of his career, American Affair has risen through the ranks as a sprinter. As Goldie puts it, he's getting quicker as he's getting older. He's now rated 114 and a Group One winner. Scotland's flag bearer for the Flat. Keith Dalgleish went close a couple of times with good horses on the big stage, Glasvegas and What's The Story are two that come to mind who ran well at the royal meeting. Goldie has a long association with good horses; think the likes of Euchen Glen, Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo. The latter two were sprinters from a similar breeding line and it was the familiarity by training the family over the last two generations that helped Goldie, who turns 70 at the end of the year, to a landmark victory with American Affair. Goldie told Mail Sport: 'This is very sweet. 'He has just been fantastic. We started him off at seven furlongs but, since he got back to five, he's got better and better. 'Funnily enough, I was quite confident he would do it here. It all fell into place and, aye it's great. It means a lot.' This wasn't the strongest King Charles III Stakes in the world. The sprinting division at the top table is middling at best but the progressive five-year-old was there to take advantage and produce one of the most thrilling Scottish success stories in racing. So what next for American Affair? Surely a trip to America for the Breeders' Cup in November is in the offing. Now that really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Goodwood is an option but the downhill nature of the track may not play to his strengths and he'd have to carry a penalty. He's also raced for times already this season. A short break before a tilt at the Nunthorpe Stakes at York looks the logical next step. A trip to Ireland for The Flying Five at the Curragh would also look a suitable assignment before jetting off Stateside for the Breeders' Cup. Whether the winner of a weak Group One or not, history tells you how difficult and rare these are for horses trained in Scotland to win huge races such as the King Charles III Stakes. Enjoy it and drink it all in. American Affair is a Scottish sporting success story worth raving about it. Shout it loud and proud. ITV COVERAGE IS SOLID BUT LACKS A HARDENED PUNTER ITV Racing gets some unfair stick for its coverage of the sport. It's not for the absolute purists and attempts to cover all aspects of a day at the races, that includes the softer social side away from the live action. The royal parade, like the monarchy itself, will always divide opinion but it's importance is lifting Royal Ascot can't be underplayed. The puff pieces on champagne, hats, celebrities and fine dining are also fine. The royal meeting is a significant social event. Racing is the main focus but not the be all and end all. The light-hearted social media bits, the parade ring, the betting ring and the form analysis all serve their purpose - special mention for Jason Weaver's exceptionally well-articulated case for Noble Champion in last Saturday's Jersey Stakes who won easily at 25-1. One of the best bits of punditry I've ever heard in any sport. We also get plenty of insight from owners, trainers and jockeys alike. There's plenty to like but one thing missing is a hardened punting presence. Somebody from the outside looking in who is just trying to make a few quid. These people, folk who primarily fund the sport, aren't catered for. Plenty of people across the country work hard at trying to read the form to the best of their ability and try to make profit from festivals. Some see it as the ultimate puzzle to figure out. Take American TV coverage for the Breeders' Cup as an example. Someone is given a betting bank for the weekend and see how they fare. It would go a long way in explaining the thought process and the decisions punters make. There are 28 races over five days at Royal Ascot. Giving an individual a bank of £500 or £1,000 would be a welcome breath of fresh air to ITV's coverage of big festivals. It would offer a good, hardened edge to things as a nice trade off to the lighter subjects of the week. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK… WHIRL was mightily tough from the front to repel Kalpana in a terrific duel in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh yesterday. Second in the Oaks, Whirl was not for passing in front against a classy, older rival. SELECTIONS OF THE DAY… Punting opportunities look at a premium on Irish Derby day. Lambourn ought to win but there's nothing exciting in that and a few rivals ought to get much closer today. The main event is sidestepped in favour of the Rockingham handicap (3.30). FAIR TAXES (7-1, Coral) looks a young Irish sprinter on the upgrade for trainer Ed Lynam and can take a hand in one of the more competitive betting heats on a fairly substandard card. Sticking with the each-way theme in sprints, the top of the market look opposable in the six-furlong Listed contest (2.25, Curragh). KING CUAN 13-2, William Hill) has more potential than most and is worth a shot upped in grade for Paddy Twomey. With the Irish sprinting form generally pretty poor, Roger Varian sends over RUSSET GOLD (11-1, bet365) and this track will play to his strong-finishing strengths. He has bits and pieces of form that entitle him to huge respect. Take these two each-way against the field.
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Wales skipper Dewi Lake ignoring Welsh rugby drama as he issues warning
Wales skipper Dewi Lake ignoring Welsh rugby drama as he issues warning Dewi Lake says players' minds will be on beating Japan and nothing else Wales skipper Dewi Lake is firmly focused on the job in hand (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Tangible positives have been few and far between for Welsh rugby in the last couple of years. A 17-Test losing run ended up costing Warren Gatland his job, while off-field issues continue to dominate. By the time Wales return from Japan in a couple of weeks, there could well be movement on the number of professional teams in Wales. Like the near-two-year stretch without an international victory, the politics in Welsh rugby can be painfully all-consuming; a miserable cloak that envelops the game. Yet, for one of the few positives Welsh rugby has uncovered in recent years, that uncertainty is far from the focus. Dewi Lake has long been tipped for a bright future in the Test game. Were it not for injury, the Ospreys hooker would have double the caps and perhaps even be touring Australia this summer rather than Japan. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 'It's tough,' says Lake philosophically about his injuries. 'Things happen for a reason I guess.' Article continues below At the World Cup two years ago, Lake and fellow Osprey Jac Morgan captured the imagination as youthful co-captains in France. A year ago, in Australia, Lake again led with aplomb. One of the main positives from that tour was how Lake carried himself as Wales' creeped towards double figures. While Gatland searched for external factors, like referees, for the defeats, Lake wouldn't have dreamed of offering up an excuse Down Under. A year on, with Welsh rugby a year unhealthier, it's more of the same from the young captain. Even with his club's future up in the air, there's just one thing on Lake's mind: ending the losing run that has tormented Wales for nearly two years. "We've got a job to do,' says Lake. 'If we're thinking about all that which is going on, we're not 100 per cent focused on the rugby. 'And we've got to be 100 per cent focused on the rugby. So we're heads down and thinking about Japan." Even the search for a new head coach, still ongoing four months after Gatland's mid-Six Nations departure, doesn't concern Lake. "Not for us as players,' he says. 'We know the job we've got to do with the task at hand. 'That's not to think about what's down the line. If we go out there and don't do a job, we might not be here for the next round of coaches. There's no point in worrying or dwelling on that. 'It's not our decision to make. We've got no say in the matter. 'We can just focus on the rugby and the task at hand, which is to win a Test match. That's what we've all been speaking about.' Even without a permanent appointment, Wales head to Japan with some icons in their coaching ticket. Tighthead legend Adam Jones once again returns after helping the scrum in the Six Nations, while another legendary prop, Gethin Jenkins, is back in the national team set-up. Former full-back Leigh Halfpenny is also involved for the first time. "They can take their boots with them if they want!' jokes Lake. 'I played with Leigh and his leadership out in the World Cup was unbelievable, especially for me as a young captain doing it for the first time. 'Being able to have him by my side was class. Having him here again is amazing. 'We all know what kind of player he was. His expertise has always been kicking, so to have him in on that front is massive. 'The same with Adam and Gethin in their respective fields. The scrum in the Six Nations went very well. 'Bomb's brought that same energy to this campaign. We're excited for that prospect. 'And Gethin coming in to do defence, he's done well at Cardiff this season. Their defensive policies have been strong. 'It's been a bit different for a few of us at different clubs, but we're all melding on that now and we're very excited of the prospect of those three." Again, there's just one thing in the agenda for Lake. 'It's pointless looking ahead,' he adds. 'We know what we've got to do in the summer. It's going to be a tough test. All focus is on the here and now, really. We've got to do that in Japan. 'We're by no means underestimating the edge they're going to bring. They're a dangerous side and they've caused a lot of upsets in very recent memory. 'They're 13th for a reason and we're 12th for a reason so it's going to be a big battle once we get out there. They're playing on home soil so I'm sure they'll take a lot of confidence in that.' He adds: 'We know the style of rugby they like to play. We know they play with very quick ball. 'I think they're fourth in the top 12 for attacking speed of ball. That's no poor stat, to be fourth in the top 12. 'We know it's our job to slow it down. They'll want to play with speed. That'll stress our defence, but that's our job to slow it down, put a stop to them and make sure we can be the dominant team out there. "On the defensive front, if you're winning collisions defensively, it's tough to get speed of ball. If we can do a job at source and up front, if their lineout delivery isn't as smooth or the scrum takes a bit longer, anything we can do to slow their game down and play the games on our terms, we're going to attempt to do that. Article continues below 'Dominance is a big part of that. But we understand what they're going to bring." 'This group has a job to do on the back of a big losing run. We've got to go out there and set things right."
Spectator
3 hours ago
- Spectator
What pundits could learn from Sky cricket
A great Test match at Headingley on Tuesday, the first of five this summer against India, brought a famous victory for England's cricketers. Required to make 371 – a target they had surpassed only once in history – they got there at 6.30 p.m. on the fifth afternoon for the loss of five wickets. It was a thrilling occasion, to which the Indians contributed five centuries. No team, in any first-class match, had ever supplied five century-makers and lost. What a triumph for Ben Stokes, the captain, who asked India to bat on the first morning. No challenge, it seems, is beyond them. Casting an eye on proceedings were Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, Sky's lead commentators, who must now be considered the best television pundits in the land – not just on cricket, but all sport. Born five days apart in March 1968, the pair have been allies since their schooldays, when they were batsmen who bowled a bit of leg-spin. Atherton went to Manchester Grammar School and Cambridge, Hussain to Forest School and Durham. Later, playing for Lancashire and Essex, they graduated to the England team within six months of each other, and went on to captain their country. Hussain made the better leader, taking over a bedraggled XI in 1999 and handing over a well-drilled side four summers later to Michael Vaughan, who took the players on to glory against Australia in 2005. Vaughan, an excellent captain, had a firm hand on the tiller – but it was Hussain who righted the ship when the storms were most fierce. Atherton, who led England between 1993 and 1998, was less successful, because he had fewer good bowlers at his disposal. An unassuming man, he often showed the world a grumpy face, whereas Hussain used journalists skilfully to engage the cricketing public. As cricket correspondent of the Times, Atherton is acknowledged to be the wisest writer on the sport. Hussain's columns in the Daily Mail may be knocked into shape by a ghost, but they bear the stamp of authenticity. On the box, where they perform as commentators and analysts, they make an ideal pairing. Not for them the peacock preening of many players thrust into media roles. They do their prep and speak with an authority that is entirely natural. They do not shout to be heard, nor do they bump up performances to make producers feel happier. And the jargon! Whether it's 'hits' instead of tackles, or 'recycling' for passing, or – worst of all – the revolting 'skill-set', the language of modern sport has alienated older viewers To understand how accomplished they are, cock an ear to the half-wits in football – where illiterate show-ponies are considered desirable because they once played at a high level. Football, with its limitless cast of crooks and tarts, has always provided a lucrative second career for the intellectually challenged. It's happening in rugby, too. A Six Nations match will now be covered by a commentator flanked by summarisers from each competing country, a touchline reporter and three experts in the studio. That's seven voices – six more than are necessary for a game lasting an hour and a half. The traditional gifts of clarity and understatement, favoured by the likes of Peter Alliss and Richie Benaud, have been lost in an age which values exaggeration. Too few realise that, on the telly, pictures tell the tale more truthfully than the shrieks and whoops of excitable children. And the jargon! Whether it's 'hits' instead of tackles, or 'recycling' for passing, or – worst of all – the revolting 'skill-set', the language of modern sport has alienated older viewers. In cricket we now have horrors like 'going downtown' (a straight drive), which Alison Mitchell of the BBC has made her own. Neither Atherton nor Hussain has been drawn in. They may use clichés – which are unavoidable in a day that lasts six hours – but there is no jargon and no fluffery. Which means their judgement, based on a close reading of events, falls on receptive ears. We've come a long way from the days of the old BBC which, to be fair, did its best by cricket for four decades. The modern viewer would find it hard to follow Tom 'pretty adjacent' Graveney or the lugubrious Jim Laker for long, however fondly they were regarded by those who remembered them as great players. In their forensic approach and delightful lack of tribalism – the curse of modern sport – Atherton and Hussain are setting new standards. Others should listen, and learn.
