logo
Josh Kerr spells out ambitious target for London Diamond League's huge Battle of the Brits

Josh Kerr spells out ambitious target for London Diamond League's huge Battle of the Brits

Daily Mirror5 days ago
World champion Josh Kerr has asked for British record pace in this afternoon's 1500m in Stratford with series of top Brits expected to push him hard in showpiece event
Josh Kerr is aiming to obliterate the British 1500m record at Saturday's Novuna London Diamond League with the world champion claiming: 'I'm not here for a slow race.'

And while the event's showpiece race was designed to be his latest duel with great rival Jakob Ingrebrigtsen, absent through injury, it has morphed into a tasty Battle of the Brits.

Kerr may be talking up his chances of lowering his national record of 3:27.79 but there are four other domestic competitors with eyes on first place and one in particular could push the Scot to his limits.

George Mills is in a purple patch having clocked 3:28.36 in Paris last week, putting himself between Kerr and Sir Mo Farah on the all-time list. That followed a 5000m time of 12:46.59 that, briefly, made him the second fastest European ever.
But Kerr remains the alpha figure and is requesting a pace of 1:51 through 800m - and if he can maintain that he will blow his current mark out of the water.
'I'm here to win but I think I can run pretty fast,' Kerr said. 'I would say go out be aggressive and see what we can come out with.

'That's the idea, a British record would be great. But when you have a race like this, so packed with great athletes, the number one priority is to win and you'll get a good enough time from that.'
Fellow Flying Scotsmen Jake Wightman, the 2022 world champion who has overcome a host of injuries in the past two years, and Neil Gourley, a silver medallist at the world indoors in March, appear in good shape two weeks out from the national championships.

Elliot Giles should not be discounted either.
'It'll be an awesome race,' Kerr added. 'I'm looking to put something on the leaderboard that will make me proud going into the world championships.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South Wales to Host Latter Stages of Lloyds Tour of Britain Men 2025
South Wales to Host Latter Stages of Lloyds Tour of Britain Men 2025

Business News Wales

time2 hours ago

  • Business News Wales

South Wales to Host Latter Stages of Lloyds Tour of Britain Men 2025

This September, Torfaen will play host to the latter stages of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men – Britain's biggest professional cycle race. On Saturday September 6 and Sunday September 7, the UK's largest free-to-spectate live sporting event will see the world's top cyclists racing two arduous stages across South Wales. Pontypool Park will host the start of Stage Five on Saturday September 6, as the British national tour visits the borough for the first time. The route will continue through Monmouthshire – culminating in a double ascent of The Tumble, near Abergavenny, which averages 8.2 per cent gradient for five kilometres, and will loop back through Torfaen later that day. Torfaen Council Leader Cllr Anthony Hunt said: 'It's exciting to have a stage of the Tour of Britain starting here in Pontypool, travelling through Torfaen and Monmouthshire. What a great opportunity to show off beautiful Pontypool Park and Blaenavon too. 'It will also give local people a great chance to come and see the race, and pay tribute to Welsh legend, Tour de France winner and Olympic champion Geraint Thomas in his last professional race.' To mark Geraint Thomas' last competitive race, the final stage on Sunday September 7, will start from the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales, in Newport, and pass Maindy Velodrome – home of Geriant's former club, the Maindy Flyers Cycling Club. As part of Wales' weekend of racing, amateur cyclists can also tackle the final stage of the race on Saturday 6 September, starting and finishing at Newport's Geraint Thomas Velodrome – one day before the professional competitors. Further details and the exact routes of both Welsh stages of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men will be published later this month. Jonathan Day, Managing Director of British Cycling Events, said: 'The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men never fails to draw a crowd in South Wales, and with the four fantastic locations and two stages falling across a weekend, we are confident that this will make for a really special atmosphere and a fantastic way to round out the race, and crown our 2025 champion.' The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men begins in East Suffolk on Tuesday September 2, with legs between Woodbridge and Southwold, Suffolk at Stowmarket, Milton Keynes and Central Bedfordshire, and Warwickshire before the race arrives in Wales. Welsh Government Minister with responsibility for Sport, Jack Sargeant, said: 'We're excited to welcome the Men's Tour of Britain back to Wales once again, an event we have proudly supported over a number of years.' 'The Tour has found a successful home in Wales, and each time it returns it showcases our cities, towns, communities and landscapes to an international audience, as well as attracting athletes from all over the world.'

Why hopes are high of Scottish success in Senior Open at Sunningdale
Why hopes are high of Scottish success in Senior Open at Sunningdale

Scotsman

time3 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Why hopes are high of Scottish success in Senior Open at Sunningdale

Seven-strong Caledonian contingent includes two rookies who have made promising starts in over-50s' ranks Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Whisper it but could this week be Scotland's best chance of producing a winner of the ISPS Handa Senior Open for close to 30 years? Not since Brian Barnes recorded back-to-back victories in 1995 and 1996 has a player flying the Saltire picked up the over-50s' Claret Jug. Barnes, in fact, is the only Scot to have won the event, which was first held in 1987, but the 'Class of 2025' definitely has potential. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Colin Montgomerie is making his 12th appearance in the ISPS HANDA Senior Open this week |By his own admission, Colin Montgomerie is finding it more and more difficult to stay competitive in the senior ranks and landing the title at the 12th attempt and having turned 63 last month would be one of his greatest achievements. The eight-time European No 1 and Ryder Cup legend is still as competitive as ever, though, and a home gig at Sunningdale is making him excited about this week's assignment. 'It's very rare that it comes around that you're playing at home but it's just a lovely place to be,' said Montgomerie, who has his son Cameron, a scratch player, caddying for him at the Berkshire venue. 'I think it's a course that suits me more than some. It's not the longest course, par 70 is quite strict, mind you. It's a tough 70 with only two par 5s, but at the same time, got to hit the fairways. And that's what I do; the best I've done in my career is hit fairways. So if I can do that, we can score. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You never know. If a couple of putts go in we can get into some sort of contention, not just competing in the tournament but actually into contention. So we look forward to it.' Seven years younger than his compatriot, Paul Lawrie could also easily be a contender, having shown what he's still capable of when carding a 62 in a Legends Tour event in Greece earlier in the year. The Aberdonian would have been bitterly disappointed that he was unable to convert that winning opportunity, but he'll be driven in this event, of course, by a chance to join a select group of players to have won both The Open and Senior Open. For both Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale, this week marks Senior Open debuts for both and don't be surprised if either of them - even both - get in the major mix. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This week's Senior Open has ISPS HANDA as the title sponsor for the first time |Former Ryder Cup player Gallacher has already produced two promising performances in big events, having tied for 28th in the Senior PGA Championship then finishing joint-18th in the US Senior Open. Drysdale, meanwhile, has hit the ground running on the Legends Tour since turning 50 in March, finishing second and third in his first few events. 'Yeah, it's been good,' said the Cockburnspath man of how he's started the new chapter in his career. I lost my card in Europe at the end of 2022 and always wanted to have a couple of years out here and Asia was my option to try and keep my game going for a couple of years. 'That was my plan and it worked out well. I enjoyed Asia and hoping to get in a couple of events out there later in the year, but I am looking forward to this one. Sunningdale - what a great spot for my first Senior Open. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've got through Open Final Qualifying here and also lost in a play-off in Open Qualifying here. I played in that six years in a row, I'd imagine. My game has been decent this season, so looking for more of the same.' Also flying the Saltire at Sunningdale, where Korea's K.J. Choi defends the title after his impressive victory at Carnoustie 12 months ago, are former BMW PGA Championship winner Scott Drummond, Greig Hutcheon and Euan McIntosh. Hucheon will be aiming to reproduce the level of golf that enabled him to get into contention heading into the final round at Royal Porthcawl two years ago.

Boxing legend Ricky Hatton to be honoured with the freedom of London
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton to be honoured with the freedom of London

Metro

time7 hours ago

  • Metro

Boxing legend Ricky Hatton to be honoured with the freedom of London

Boxing legend Ricky Hatton has been awarded the freedom of London – and the occasion will be marked with a special boxing match. It's not long since the boxer announced his surprise comeback 13 years since his last professional bout, as he returns to the ring to face Eisa Aldah in Dubai on December 2. But before he returns to the ring, Ricky will be given a major boost as he is granted the freedom of the city of London – despite being from Manchester and spending most of his career in the north west. The event, on October 8, will be marked by the Lord Mayor's Charity Boxing Match, where firefighters from both the London and New York fire brigades will duke it out at the Guildhall. Ricky isn't the only boxer being honoured: former British and Commonwealth champion Michael Watson, and boxing promoter Barry Hearn, are also being awarded the freedom of the city. And they'll even see The Lord Mayor, Alderman Alastair King step into the ring for a special bout against a surprise opponent from New York. Ricky said: 'I'm absolutely chuffed to bits to be given the Freedom of the City of London – it's a real honour and something I never imagined happening to me. 'London's always held a special place in my heart and been the location for many of my fights, most memorably when I won the WBU light welterweight world title at Wembley conference centre against Tony Pep, so to be recognised like this means a lot. 'I'm really looking forward to the Lord Mayor's boxing night at the Guildhall – it'll be a great night for a great cause, and I can't wait to be part of it.' The black-tie charity event will raise money to support firefighters and members of the UK fire services. Ricky Hatton has an enviable record, having won 45 of his 48 professional matches during his 15-year career. He won world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight, with two of his three losses coming against fellow greats Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao. He hasn't fought since losing a comeback bout with Vyacheslav Senchenko in November 2012, the year he retired. Since his retirement, Ricky has been busy training other fighters in his gym in Manchester. More Trending And it seems boxing runs in the family as hiss 24-year-old son Campbell has also entered professional boxing, winning 14 of his 16 fights so far. But he will return to the ring later this year, two months after turning 47, in a thrilling comeback for boxing fans. Speaking earlier this month, Ricky said: I can't wait, I'm really looking forward to it.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: London's US Embassy owes £15,600,000 in congestion charges MORE: The 'best' restaurant in the US is officially coming to London MORE: Trump's three word reaction to newly-resurfaced photos of him and Epstein

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store