Latest news with #champion
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Aunt Sally world champion targets back-to-back world titles
The reigning Aunt Sally world champion has said it would be "amazing" to retain his title, and win it for a record fourth Goodall, from Kidlington, is hoping to win back-to-back world championships during the competition at the Charlbury Beer Festival on 55-year-old told the BBC that he would need "a lot of luck" and "a few beers on the day" to extend his record of three Sally is a pub game, played almost exclusively in Oxfordshire, which involves throwing sticks to knock a small wooden block, called a dolly, off a short metal pole. Explaining the game, Mr Goodall said it was "completely different" to the often compared fair ground game coconut said he had "brilliant memories" of being introduced to it by his Dad when he was aged "about 12 or 13"."I was instantly hooked," he added. The Aunt Sally World Championship began at the Charlbury Beer Festival in 2011, with Mr Goodall winning it three times since then - in 2015, 2017 and his chances this year, he said: "There's a lot of good players there so you just need a bit of luck on the day, a bit of luck in the drawer and how players play against you on the day.""It would be amazing [to win it], it was amazing winning it last year for the third time, and Saturday would be just as good," he asked if he had any tips for budding Aunt Sally players, he said it was "difficult to explain how to hold a stick, or how to throw it - because everybody's got a different action, different throwing technique". The game sees players take part in three legs, with each having six attempts each leg to knock the dolly from a metal pole, called the iron, from 30ft (9.1m) origins are somewhat debated, with some theories suggesting it dates back to the 17th century or even earlier. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WATCH: Greasy pole contestant nabs the flag in Friday's competition
Gloucester's greasy pole competition returned Friday as part of St. Peter's Fiesta. After the flag was accidentally knocked into the water, it was replaced on the pole and, eventually, nabbed by the night's champion.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
I feel overwhelming sadness for Oisin Murphy – and there's only one person who can truly help him
OISIN MURPHY is up in court next week. Some of you won't be surprised, some of you won't care and some of you will think he deserves everything he gets. 2 However some of you, like me, will just be saddened it's come to this for an outstanding champion. It was on Thursday when news broke Murphy must appear at Reading Magistrates' Court charged with one count of driving a car while over the prescribed limit of alcohol, and one count of failing to co-operate with a test at the roadside. Shortly afterwards, many on my social media demanded I should speak out against Murphy, someone whose ability I have always respected. Unlike those on social media, I never feel I'm in a position to hammer those who struggle in life. I'm just not that perfect myself, and it always surprises me how many appear to live such perfect lives that they can annihilate others so easily. Of course, there is a difference between right and wrong, and, at the time of his car accident, Murphy had a female passenger in his vehicle. The Thames Valley Police appeal for witnesses after the crash said the girl suffered 'serious injuries' but I know no more details and nothing about her recovery, or if she was seriously injured at all. I also don't know how Murphy will plead next Thursday. Some say he could even be looking at a prison sentence. Personally, I don't see how that would help him or society at all, but that's just my opinion and others will differ. What I do know is — as I have said — I feel an overwhelming sadness for Murphy. I felt the same after the death of Pat Eddery. His passing had a real effect on me, as I knew Pat well. Pat had drink issues but, in many ways, it appeared to me some encouraged Pat to turn to booze rather than try to stop him. I will always believe more could have been done but, ultimately, Pat himself needed to change. It's the same with Murphy. On a racehorse he's magical and makes a difference. He is on another level to most riders. But off a racehorse, Murphy has clearly struggled over many years. The people who know him, both personally and professionally, have to look at each other and wonder what more we can do to help. Yes… help. Murphy needs more of it. Some would counter that he's had many chances already, and there is no doubting he has. But demons are demons. I have mine, you have yours. More can always be done to help another human being rid themselves of theirs. OK, now onto Saturday's racing. The Northumberland Plate takes some sorting out — and Willie Mullins' unexposed runner Pappano adds to the intrigue. Andrew Balding's Who's Glen has been backed and will go well. James Owen has the terrier East India Dock as well as Charging Thunder and interesting roughies Lavender Hill Mob and Shajack. Yet the one who interests me is ZANNDABAD (3.15, Newcastle) for Tony Martin. My fancy doesn't have a great draw but will surely be dropped out for a late run under Jim Crowley. On the Flat he was sixth in the 2024 Ascot Stakes — where he didn't get the 2m4f — off 94. He was also sixth in the Irish Cesarewitch later that season off the same mark, where he was never placed to challenge but kept on nicely. A mark of 93 for this race is more than workable. Elsewhere at Newcastle all eyes will be on Group 1 victor Kind Of Blue in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over 6f. Kind Of Blue is the class act but he also makes the market interesting for an each-way poke. I'll give ALYANAABI another chance as I think he's been crying out for this trip and it's the first time he has gone the distance since his racecourse debut, which he won well. He returned this term over 7f at Haydock and made most of the running to win, but he then flopped at the same track last time. Hard to predict but a place chance for Crowley again but this time for Owen Burrows. Like Zannadabd, Alyanaabi has never run on artificial before. Good luck all… and Yeeehaaa! Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'All I thought of was raising the belt' - O'Doherty
Unbeaten Louie O'Doherty is hoping to move into the British title picture after becoming English lightweight champion in stamina-sapping conditions at York Hall in Bethnal 24-year-old from Braintree improved his professional record to 10-0 with a unanimous points win over the more experienced Youssef Khoumari last weekend."I don't know exactly [what the temperature was] but we had referees coming into the changing room after each fight to get a bit of the aircon and complaining about how hot it was in there," O'Doherty told BBC Essex's Sports Extra show. "That was after six rounds and I thought 'I've got to double that'. I knew I was in for it. We knew at that point that the hydration and nutrition side of it was key. It was extremely hot but I am used to training in hot temperatures in the gym."The fight was his first over 12 rounds, just over two years on from his pro debut and he was a clear winner against an opponent who was in his 21st contest."He's fought on bigger stages than me and has had double the amount of experience I've had and also fought some top-level fighters," said O'Doherty, who divides his time between training and working as a gymnastics coach. "It was just a brilliant fight for me to have to get my name up there. All I had in my head was the thought of raising that belt and it's brilliant, the hard work's paying off and I'm going to keep working because I want more." He added: "I've done four, six, eight, 10 and that was my first 12-rounder. It suits me, I like the extra volume (of rounds), it becomes more of a mental battle then. Rounds nine and 10 on, you can train as hard as you want but that's when the mind comes into play. I'm very strong minded and it plays into my hands."O'Doherty took up boxing after earlier dalliances with football and gymnastics, although the latter remains an important part of his life."My dad always loved boxing, we always had gloves on at home, me and my older brother and my dad, and one day he took me down to Chelmsford boxing club and I loved it and kept going. "I wasn't very good at the start, my brother was better than me which was quite annoying, but I stuck to it."Sam Noakes is the current British lightweight champion and someone who could be on O'Doherty's future is, though, content to progress in stages and is waiting to see what his management come up with next. O'Doherty added: "Hopefully, if there's a British title eliminator, great. Or for me to defend the English [instead], that's a decision for them to make. Whatever they tell me to do, I'm going to do it as well as I can."
CBC
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Montréal-Nord residents thrilled as hometown hero Luguentz Dort wins NBA championship
Luguentz Dort is the second NBA champion from Montréal-Nord. He played against his good friend, Bennedict Mathurin, who's also from the borough.
