Sports News

One of India's greatest athletes, Milkha Singh, has died from Covid-related complications.

Popularly known as "the Flying Sikh", Singh won four Asian gold medals and finished fourth in the 400m final at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

In 2013, his story was turned into the Bollywood film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag - Run Milkha Run.

Singh's wife, Nirmal Kaur, a former volleyball captain, also died with Covid earlier this week, aged 85.

Singh had contracted Covid-19 last month and died of complications from the disease in a hospital in the northern city of Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to the athlete, who has been described as independent India's first sporting superstar.

Singh's exploits on the track and field are legendary in India.

He won five golds in international athletic championships and was awarded the Helms World Trophy in 1959 for winning 77 of his 80 international races. He also won India's first

Commonwealth gold in 1958.

Singh grew up in a small village in what, during his childhood, was still British India. As a young boy who lived in a remote village in Multan province, he saw his parents and seven siblings murdered during the Partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

As his father fell, his last words were "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", exhorting his son to run for his life. The boy ran - first to save his life, and then to win medals.

Arriving in India as an orphan in 1947, he took to petty crime and did odd jobs for survival until he found a place in the army. It was there that he discovered his athletic abilities.

Singh won Gold at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and went on to finish fourth in the 400 metres at the Rome Olympics, missing out on a bronze medal by a whisker. In 1960, he was invited to take part in the 200m event at an International Athletic competition in Lahore, Pakistan. He hadn't been back to Pakistan since fleeing in 1947 and initially refused to go.

Singh eventually did go to Pakistan. Despite the huge support for his main rival, Pakistan's Abdul Khaliq, in the stadium, Singh went on to win that race, while Khaliq took the bronze medal. As Gen Ayub Khan, Pakistan's second president, awarded the competitors their medals, Singh received the nickname that would stick with him for the rest of his life.

He said: "Gen Ayub said to me, 'Milkha, you came to Pakistan and did not run. You actually flew in Pakistan. Pakistan bestows upon you the title of the Flying Sikh.' If Milkha Singh is known as the Flying Sikh in the whole world today, the credit goes to General Ayub and to Pakistan.”

Even though he never won an Olympic medal, his only wish was that someone else should win that medal for India. When the biographic film was released in 2013, Singh told the BBC that it would inspire the next generation.

"We had nothing in our times,” he said. “The athletes and sportsmen in those days didn't earn much money. We worked for the applause, people's appreciation inspired and motivated us, we ran for the country." He was 91.

Holly Bradshaw faces a big test on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics when she takes on the world’s leading female pole vaulters at the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead International Stadium on Tuesday July 13.

The 28-year-old, who competes for Blackburn Harriers and is coached by Scott Simpson, cleared a British outdoor best with 4.82m at a meeting in Huelva, Spain, this month, whereas earlier this year indoors she cleared 4.85m, a mark which is close to her outright British record of 4.87m, which was also set indoors. The Müller British Grand Prix next month is part of the Wanda Diamond League series and Bradshaw’s competition includes:

Katie Nageotte – the world No.1 this year after clearing 4.94m at a meeting in the United States this month where the pole vault was moved indoors due to bad weather. However, the 30-year-old American also jumped 4.93m outdoors last month in the States and she produced the best jump in the world last year too with 4.92m.

Anzhelika Sidorova – the reigning world champion has a best of 4.95m, which was set when winning that title in Doha in 2019. The 29-year-old is one of a small number of Russian athletes who have been allowed to compete as Authorised Neutral Athletes.

Katerina Stefanidi – the Greek pole vaulter is the reigning Olympic champion and her national record of 4.91m was set in the UK when she won the world title at the London Stadium in 2017.

Sandi Morris – the reigning world indoor champion also has silver medals from the 2016 Olympics and 2019 World Championships and holds the No.2 outdoor mark in history with 5.00m. The American has a good record in Britain, too, as she won her world indoor title in Birmingham and was runner-up at the 2017 World Championships in London.

Bradshaw said: “After opening my season well in Doha last month, things have gone even better since with my best-ever outdoor height of 4.82m in Spain. My event is really competitive at the moment and in Gateshead I’ll be due to face most of the top pole vaulters in what promises to be a really good competition. With the meet falling so close to the Olympics as well it will be a great final test before heading out to Tokyo.”

Such is the quality of the competition, in good conditions the athletes could get close to the world record of 5.06m set by Yelena Isinbayeva in 2009. Several women’s pole vault world records have been set at Gateshead International Stadium in the past. Daniela Bartova of the Czech Republic, for example, set a world record of 4.14m at the venue in 1995 while Isinbayeva of Russia set world marks of 4.82m in 2003 and 4.87m in 2004 at the same track.

The pole vault line-up is the latest event to be announced for the Müller British Grand Prix following the news that British star Dina Asher-Smith will be racing over 200m and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands will compete in the women’s mile. Gateshead staged the first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 in May after it was moved from Rabat in Morocco to the North East of England and now, on July 13, the same venue will host the seventh Diamond League of the season after it was moved from its original home of London.

The Müller British Grand Prix will be broadcast internationally from 7-9pm with BBC showing the action live for domestic viewers.

The Birmingham Bears have joined forces with two Midlands-based football freestylers to showcase the skill and talent of their players by taking part in a series of football-meets-cricket trick-shot challenges.

Ahead of the Bears’ first home Vitality Blast fixture of the season against Lancashire Lightning, club captain Will Rhodes, West Indies star Carlos Brathwaite, and opening batsman, Adam Hose, teamed up with two of social media’s most popular freestylers, Wolverhampton’s Ewan Baggott (@EABSkills) and Kieran Brown (@KieranDB), to test two key Twenty20 skillsets – their batting power, and fielding accuracy – in a range of challenges at Edgbaston Stadium.

Influencers Ewan and Kieran have spent the last decade creating viral clips on social media, and have racked up millions of views on Instagram and YouTube. Known for their incredible technique and tricks, the challenges they devised featured typical cricket drills with a freestyle twist.

Fielding drills became Clay Pigeon-style target practice, with Bears players aiming at footballs in mid-air; the bowling machine was fed by freestyler tricks for range-hitting, and Carlos Brathwaite practised his big-hitting from inside Edgbaston’s famous Hollies Stand. Not to be outdone, Ewan and Kieran demonstrated their own outrageous ability, showing off control and touches with cricket balls that most people could only dream of doing with a football.

The Bears return to Edgbaston for their first home game of this season’s Vitality Blast in a mouth-watering clash against Lancashire Lightning. With England stars Chris Woakes and Olly Stone available for the Bears, and Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone due to turn out for the Lightning, fans can expect fireworks and dynamic skills galore. A small number of tickets are still available for the game, and can be purchased at Edgbaston Stadium - Online ticket sales.

Will Rhodes, Birmingham Bears captain, said: “The boys always love the chance to show off our skills so we loved the challenges that Ewan and Kieran set us. We’re really excited to get back to Edgbaston after a run of away games. There’s a great atmosphere in the ground for these Blast games, and hopefully we’ll entertain the home fans with a few more skills!”

Football freestyler and influencer, Ewan Baggott, said: “A lot of people don’t realise how skilful cricketers are. I’ve been lucky to work with a number of top athletes, and the ability of the Bears players is right up there with the best I’ve seen.”

Birmingham Bears play seven home games at Edgbaston up until Sunday July 18. Under-16s go free to all games, and Vitality Blast Season Passes are still available, entitling the holder to entry to all home Bears T20 group games, and a free guest pass to use at any home game, excluding the Worcestershire Rapids fixture.

Police and council staff will be working together to keep fans safe from Covid-19 when England take on Scotland in Euro 2020 today.

Officers from Wolverhampton Police and the City of Wolverhampton Council's licensing team will be visiting pubs and bars around the city to ensure venues are operating in a Covid-secure manner.

Infection rates have risen in Wolverhampton and across the country in recent weeks, largely driven by the new, more transmissable Delta variant, with latest figures showing 112 people in the city tested positive for Covid-19 in the seven days to June 14 – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.

As a result, the Government has delayed the further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, meaning limits remain on the number of people who can mix indoors – up to six individuals, or two households – and that pubs, bars and restaurants still have to operate within capacity limits. Venues must only offer table service and customers should wear a face covering except when seated at a table to eat or drink, unless they are exempt for medical reasons.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "The vast majority of our pubs and bars are doing an excellent job in ensuring they are able to operate in a Covid-secure manner and we are happy to give them all the support they need to keep their staff and customers safe from this deadly virus.

"Our staff were out and about with police over the weekend to ensure that venues showing the opening England game were doing so safely, and were able to offer help and advice where required. And we will be doing the same for today's big match between England and Scotland to ensure that fans can enjoy the action safely.

“Our aim is simply to ensure we can protect as many citizens as possible while at the same time allowing everyone to safely support their teams in the Euros.”

Supt Simon Inglis from Wolverhampton Police said: "We appreciate that our communities have had a really difficult 15 months and there is now an opportunity to let off some steam and enjoy the night time economy and the football.

“If last weekend is anything to go by it is clear that people are happy to do that and still stick within the rules and comply with the restrictions that are still in place.

“Our officers attended many venues in partnership with the council and it was great to see that both the licensed premises as well as those attending them were able to enjoy the football and the occasion in a really positive way as well as keeping themselves safe during these really difficult times.

“All we ask is that you continue to do so this weekend and throughout the coming weeks and please see our visits to the locations as a positive step that is there to keep you all and your families safe. You being able to enjoy the football and the night time economy in a safe and organised manner is really important to us and so please help us to help you by complying with the restrictions, whilst enjoying the occasion.”

Former Gloucester centre Jack Adams has died after being diagnosed with cancer.

Adams, who also had spells with Moseley and Bristol and featured for the England Sevens team, made 35 appearances for Gloucester between 2005 and 2009, and was head coach of Hucclecote RFC.

A statement on the Gloucester website said: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to Jack's family and loved ones in this incredibly difficult time. Jack was a local lad who lived his dream of representing his hometown club.

"The outpouring of love and support from the wider rugby community over the last few days goes to show just how adored Jack was as a person." Adams, who also played for Cinderford RFC before retiring in 2017, was first diagnosed with cancer in mid-April.

The Rugby Players Association had set up a fundraising page to support Adams' family and a local charity.

He was 34.

England centre half Tyrone Mings has said that his teammates are out to educate and inform those who are not, in response to Home Secretary Priti Patel’s criticism of the young, multicultural representation of a country - that is today’s England - taking the knee. She accused the national side of participating in what she calls "gesture politics." 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on the other hand, has urging fans to cheer and defend their time - not boo them for taking a knee. This comes after the England players were again booed by some fans – this time prior to their Euro 2020 game against Croatia at Wembley.

"I don't support people participating in that type of gesture politics,” Patel said. "It's all well to support a cause and make your voices heard. Speaking now very much from what I saw in some of the protests last year and the impact on policing. It was devastating."

Despite that Mings – whilst actually being on the receiving end of racism – said: "We have our own set of beliefs. He added: "To the home secretary, I don't really have a direct message.

“Everybody's entitled to their own opinion and she is one of many people that oppose us taking the knee or refuse to defend it. We think about what we can do to help and there will be players that can be influential and can stand up for what we believe in.”

He went on: "We spoke about trying to educate or trying to inform the minority of people who refuse to acknowledge why we're taking the knee and want to do it. The English Football Association had asked fans to respect the players' wishes to highlight racial injustice.

The full event schedule for Birmingham 2022 has been released, allowing sports fans to see the detail of exactly which events will be held in each of the 286 sessions that will feature at next summer’s Games. Women’s cricket T20, basketball 3x3, wheelchair basketball 3x3 and mixed synchronised diving will all debut in Birmingham, with the schedule set to includes two ‘Super Sundays’ for spectators to look forward to, with the second set to be the ultimate showcase of women’s sport.

With limited opportunities to attend live sports events in recent months, a huge amount of interest in tickets for the Games is expected, especially as the sports programme is the biggest in Commonwealth history and from today Birmingham 2022 ticket accounts can now be set up. The event schedule was launched with the help of Team England hopefuls who visited the host city’s Alexander Stadium - an important Games venue currently undergoing a £72 million refurbishment which is on budget and on schedule to be completed in Spring 2022.

Birmingham City Council Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “The summer of 2022 is set for a spectacular Commonwealth Games, with 11 days of world-class sport in our city and wider region. The redeveloped Alexander Stadium will be at the heart of the Games, as the venue will not only host the athletics but the opening and closing ceremonies.

“The Alexander Stadium redevelopment is progressing at a lightning speed, with the roof of the new West Stand now complete. Once finished the Alexander Stadium will be truly befitting for the world’s best track and field athletes and as a bold centre piece of leisure, health and well-being activity in a regenerated Perry Barr.” 

“To see a world-class stadium developing on budget is fantastic, said Director of Sport for Birmingham 2022, Matt Kidson. “With more detail for our sports programme now revealed, the Games is really taking shape and it’s time for people to start planning which sessions they want to attend next summer, as our tickets will go on sale very soon,” he continued.

Aspiring Team GB Olympic heavyweight Delicious Orie said: "Some say I'm the new Anthony Joshua, but one day I aim to be even better and dominate." Raised in Russia, built in Wolverhampton, in Britain, the Super-Heavyweight England Boxing National Amateur Champion is targeting Birmingham 2022 and Paris 2024.

“This is a dream period in my life,” he said. “I originally played basketball and knew nothing about boxing. Away from the ring the calm and humble Delicious is appreciative of the sacrifices his family made to give him the chance of a better life away from racism in Russia.

He said: "I was born in Moscow and life was harder out there. We didn't have a lot of money and some people didn't like me purely because of the colour of my skin.

"I was seven when we moved to the UK and although it was difficult because I didn't speak the language and there were cultural differences, I could see there were more opportunities for kids to succeed." His father, Justin, left Nigeria in 1995 hoping for a better life in Russia and although he met his wife Natalie while studying, he had arrived in a country where Black people were often subjected to severe discrimination.

Orie, 23, found a love of sport as soon as he came to the UK and settled in Wolverhampton, but he had not even considered boxing before turning 18. "My first love was basketball and I looked up to Luol Deng,” he recalls.

“Born in Sudan, he was ‘killing it’ in the NBA. I knew nothing about boxing until I was introduced to the Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club. Now I aim to do the same in my sport”. Orie's ultimate target is an Olympic title for his adopted nation at Paris 2024, but first he must secure British citizenship.

“With 19 different sports and eight Para sports, we have such a rich and varied programme and there will be medal moments on every single day of competition,” says Matt Kitson. “We also have a really interesting mix of venues, with established facilities like the NEC and Arena Birmingham, beautiful parks like St Nicholas Park and West Park and exciting redevelopments like the Alexander Stadium, where the progress in the last 12 months has been phenomenal.”

As a new Alexander Stadium is coming on in leaps-and-bounds, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games just can’t come soon enough!

Christian Eriksen has been speaking to his national team-mates and remains stable in hospital, Danish football officials have said.

Eriksen collapsed shortly before half-time in Denmark's opening Euro 2020 game against Finland on Saturday. The 29-year-old Inter Milan player had emergency medical treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital.

"His condition is stable and he continues to be hospitalised for further examination," said a statement. "This morning we have spoken to Christian, who has sent his greetings to his team-mates.

"The team and staff of the national team has received crisis assistance and will continue to be there for each other after yesterday's incident. We would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt greetings."

Saturday's incident happened as a throw-in was played towards Eriksen near the end of the first half. His distressed team-mates surrounded him and the shocked supporters at Parken Stadium were visibly upset as the player was treated.

Denmark team doctor Martin Boesen said Eriksen had been unconscious when he reached the player on the pitch. "When I got to him he was on his side, he was breathing, I could feel a pulse, but suddenly that changed and we started to give him CPR," he said.

"The help came really fast from the medical team and the rest of the staff with their co-operation, and we did what we had to do and managed to get Christian back." Last month, Eriksen helped Inter clinch their first Italian title for 11 years in his first full season with the club, after joining from Spurs for £16.9m in January 2020.

The Ajax youth player spent seven years with Tottenham, scoring 69 goals in 305 appearances.

UK Athletics has made the decision that it will not be able to send a team to the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships currently scheduled for 17-22 August 2021, in Kenya.

This decision has been reached for a number of reasons including UK Government guidance not to travel to red list countries; the associated risks with Covid-19 variants; the significant cost and time required in quarantine both in Kenya and UK, but most importantly the wellbeing of our athletes, coaches and support team.

As stated in the original selection policy for the age group championships, to best support athlete development through the U20 competition pathway and to provide opportunities for more athletes to gain a British vest, UK Athletics will take all qualifiers (three per event) to the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia on 15-18 July.

Ex-England footballer, blood cancer survivor and Cure Leukaemia Patron Geoff Thomas has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list just 1 week before he rides the Tour de France for the fifth and final time.

18 years after Geoff was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and given just 3 months to live, he will lead a team of 18 amateur cyclists as they take part in The Tour 21 from Saturday June 19^th to Sunday July 11^th. By cycling all 21 stages and 3,384km of the Tour de France, the team aim to raise over £1,000,000 for national blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia, the first ever official charity partner of the Tour de France in the UK.

Cure Leukaemia recorded a £1,700,000 fundraising shortfall in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and The Tour 21 team have already raised over £753,000 towards their £1,000,000 target. All funds raised by The Tour 21 team will be invested in the national Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) which has been solely funded by Cure Leukaemia since January 2020.

TAP is a network of specialist research nurses at 12 blood cancer centres located in the UK’s biggest cities and a facilitatory hub based at the Centre for Clinical Haematology in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This network enables accelerated setup and delivery of potentially life-saving blood cancer clinical trials to run giving patients from a UK catchment area of over 20 million people access to treatments not currently available through standard care.

Ever since Geoff was declared in remission in 2005, he has dedicated his life to raising funds to give blood cancer patients hope of survival through access to clinical trials. He was instrumental in the formation of TAP in 2012 and since 2015 has raised funds for Cure Leukaemia which was co-founded by the man who saved his life Professor Charlie Craddock CBE.

Speaking of the MBE, Geoff, 56, said: “I am immensely proud and humbled to have been awarded an MBE and my thoughts immediately turned to all of the people that have helped me get here over the years. There are so many people I need to say thank you to because what we have achieved for blood cancer patients across the UK as a team is remarkable but there is so much more work that needs to be done. I hope that this news helps raise further awareness of Cure Leukaemia so that it can be established as the leading blood cancer charity in the UK.

“After so many hurdles, next week myself and the team will finally head to France to ride The Tour 21 and we are firmly focused on ensuring we raise and surpass £1,000,000 because every penny will directly benefit the 38,000 people who are diagnosed with a form of blood cancer in the UK each year.”

Cure Leukaemia Chief Executive James McLaughlin continued: “Geoff has been the driving force behind Cure Leukaemia’s growth since 2015 and he has played an instrumental role in establishing us as a national charity via our funding of the Trials Acceleration Programme.

“Geoff’s continued passion and commitment to helping blood cancer patients is inspirational and I am so thrilled that he has been awarded such a well-deserved and prestigious honour.

This fantastic news is perfect timing with Geoff due to start his fifth and final Tour de France Challenge this Saturday. And I know that he will be leading from the front in the coming weeks to ensure that he and his Tour21 teammates achieve their £1,000,000 target with those funds benefiting blood cancer patients across the UK.”

Birmingham County FA (BCFA) have just announce that its ‘Save Today, Play Tomorrow’ project has teamed up with Pledgeball for the 2021/22 season to enable all clubs, teams and supporters to sign up to the first-ever County FA Sustainable Football Pledge and make a difference. When clubs affiliate with BCFA for the forthcoming season they will be asked to sign the Sustainability Pledge, which is linked to simple and small lifestyle changes that collectively make a huge impact on the planet.

For many, climate change is a difficult and complex subject to connect with – it is hard to know what to do and whether, as individuals, we can make a difference. Pledgeball offers a mechanism by which behaviour change can be brought about in a fun and easy way, empowering individuals by demonstrating the potential impact we can have by making small lifestyle changes, particularly in association with our football clubs.

Pledgeball already offer the facility for football fans to support their professional club and have recently announced partnerships with Huddersfield Town Supporters' Association and Bristol City Football Club. Football offers an unparalleled platform to bring about this change and Pledgeball offers a means by which to do this. 

Katie Cross, Founder of Pledgeball, said: “As a member of Bristol-based Misfits WFC, I am well aware of the potential for teams and clubs to make change happen. The football community is a unique place from which to initiate transformational change, with the regular fixtures, the unity, the wide-reach and the emotion that accompanies the sport. I am delighted about the partnership with Birmingham County FA – our potential to have a real impact, both in reducing our footprints and in spreading this much further afield, is huge.”

Richard Lindsay, Business Insights Manager at Birmingham County FA and Project Lead for Save Today, Play Tomorrow, added: “We are excited to have partnered with Pledgeball for the forthcoming season. To be able to bring our clubs on this journey of change is fantastic, and through their digital platform they have developed a really engaging way for football to consider lifestyle alternatives and to be able to visualise the positive impact this has had on our environment.”

By its very nature football is competitive and for those clubs that sign up to Pledgeball they will be able to see in real-time a Birmingham County FA league table showing how their club or team is performing based on the Carbon emission saving activities they pledge to complete. Success will be celebrated and for those clubs involved Birmingham County FA has ringfenced grant funding available to help support infrastructure changes.  

Birmingham County FA will formally launch the Save Today, Play Tomorrow sustainability project this month.

The ACE Programme is officially underway in Birmingham, delivered by Warwickshire County Cricket Club and the Warwickshire Cricket Board to help reinvigorate love for cricket within the city's Black community. With seven schools in North West Birmingham signed up, local youngsters recently took part in a special ACE Programme cricket session at Handsworth Cricket Club.

Since the start of the school summer term, each for the schools has received a full day of cricket delivered by former Bears fast bowler Recordo Gordon and fellow coach Ron Barker. Local youngsters can also take advantage of further sessions, delivered for children aged nine to 18, every Monday at Handsworth CC and every Friday at Holford Drive Community Sports Hub in Perry Barr.

"Getting ACE underway in Birmingham is a huge step forward for the local cricketing community," said Eaton Gordon, Warwickshire Cricket Board Cricket Development Manager (Community) and Birmingham Lead of ACE. "Cricket in the city's African Caribbean community has dropped significantly in recent years, and we are certainly not underestimating the challenge ahead in revitalising this love for the game.

"Our initial focus is on growing the level of participation in schools, but we hope that these new cricket sessions will inspire many of these youngsters to join in each week at Handsworth CC and Holford Drive and to get involved in the local Club game."

Warwickshire Cricket Board is also using the weekly cricket sessions to inspire youngsters to take part in wider cricket programmes that are delivered by local recreational clubs, including the All Stars programme for children aged five to eight and Dynamos for children aged eight to 11.

Stuart Cain, Chief Executive of Warwickshire CCC, said: "We must represent the communities we serve and can't avoid the fact that cricket isn't what it was to the region's African Caribbean community.

"ACE has the potential to provide a spark which reignites a passion for cricket and unearths the Bears players of the future. Alongside this, we want to rebuild a vibrant club scene as this used to be the cornerstone of the city's African Caribbean community providing strong foundations for wider social cohesion.  

“Lofty aims and it will take time as we're starting this programme with a blank sheet of paper, but we can't delay." The ACE Programme is now a charity that was developed in 2020 by Surrey County Cricket Club to address a 75 per cent decline in cricket participation by members of the Black community.

In October it was awarded £540,000 funding from Sport England, delivered over a three-year period, and a grant from the ECB.

For more information on the ACE PROGRAMME<http://aceprogramme.com/>, please contact Eaton Gordon on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.<mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>.

-ends-

For further media information and photography, please contact Tom Rawlings on 0121 446 3657 / 07770 728409 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.<mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

Eilish McColgan and Marc Scott were crowned British 10,000m champions as the GB & NI women took European Cup team victory and the men silver on an eventful night at the University of Birmingham track.

It was a busy evening packed with breath-taking action as the home athletes vied for national titles, European Cup points and Olympic places. McColgan, Scott and Jessica Judd all made sure of automatic selection for Tokyo but, though he finished as second Briton, Mo Farah was outside of the qualifying standard he required.

In the Women’s A race, an amazing late charge brought overall victory for McColgan as she clocked 31:19.21 to pip Israel’s Selamawit Teferi (31:19.35 PB) right on the line, while an emotional Judd made sure of her Tokyo spot as she finished close behind with a PB of 31:20.84.

Verity Ockenden also produced a personal best to finish fourth in 31:43.57, with compatriot Amy-Eloise Markovc fifth in 32:04.19. The six-strong GB & NI team was completed by Samantha Harrison in ninth with 32:38.99 and Jenny Nesbitt 12^th in 32:48.48. Following after, Charlotte Arter clocked 32:17.40 for seventh place, a time which was inside the Wales qualifying standard for next year’s Commonwealth Games.

McColgan had come into the race as the only member of the British team to have gone under the Olympic qualifying standard of 31:25.00 and the home quartet of McColgan, Judd, Markovc and Ockenden had allowed Teferi to pull away.

The Israeli was first through the halfway mark in 15:40.06, a four-second lead over the four Britons, and she established what had looked like being an unassailable lead.  With Markovc and Ockenden having fallen back, Judd decided to up the pace entering the final kilometre, albeit still 15 seconds in arrears of Teferi.

McColgan went with her team-mate and, covering the closing 1000m in 2:51, including a final 200m of just under 31 seconds, surged through to take the win and secure an appearance at what will be her third Olympics, 30 years after her mother – and coach – Liz won the 10,000m world title in Tokyo.

After the race, Eilish admitted to having had her mother’s words ringing in her ears: “She said don’t leave it to the last lap because you don’t want to miss out and it turns into a 400m race rather than a 10,000m,” she said.

“I did have that in the back of my mind so I just kept reminding myself to keep calm over the last couple of laps because training is going better than ever and then there’s a lot of pressure coming into this because when you are training so well. You have one opportunity to try and knit it together on the day so I suppose there was a part of me that was like ‘don’t mess this up’. I’m absolutely buzzing.” GB & NI topped the team standings, with Italy taking silver and Poland bronze.

The Men’s A race marked Farah’s first track 10,000m contest since winning the 2017 World Championships title in 2017 but the reigning Olympic champion admitted to frustration after the race at an ankle injury which hampered his performance.

As France’s European champion Morhad Amdouni took victory in 27:23.29 ahead of Belgium’s Bashi Abdi (27:24.41) and Spaniard Carlos Mayo (27:25.00) – all PBs – Scott came through to take seventh in 27:49.94. His time on the night was outside the Olympic qualifying standard of 27:28.00 but, with already having run 27:10.40 in America earlier this year, finishing in the home top two made sure of his place.

“It’s a shame not to win the race overall but I just wanted to get the job done against the British guys,” he said.

Farah was one place behind Scott in 27:50.64 and said: “It is what it is. The last 10 days hasn’t been great but, no matter what I’ve achieved in my career, it was important that I come to the trials. It would have been easy not to show but I did show and I dug in deep. 

“With 15 laps to go I was hurting hard. I just had to keep fighting, keep digging in and finish in the top two.”

Third Briton was Emile Cairess, who had the race of his life in the 10^th place with a PB of 27:53.19 which is also inside the Team England Commonwealth qualifying standard. Matt Leach was 13^th in 28:22.33, while there was a PB for Kristian Jones one place back in 28:23.50. The other member of the GB & NI team, Jake Smith did not finish but Britain still finished second in the team standings behind France and ahead of Spain.

Ellis Cross was the top British finisher in the Men’s European Cup B Race as he came through to clock 29:10.64, his third-fastest performance over the distance. Nigel Martin was 13th in a personal best of 29:22.28, with Omar Ahmed also producing the fastest 10,000m of his career with 29:25.94 for 14th.

Italy’s Pietro Riva produced a dominant performance in the Men’s European Cup B Race to win in 28:25.70, with Iceland’s Hlynur Andrésson second in 28:36.64 and Estonia’s Tiidrek Nurme third in 28:37.61. The top four all clocked personal bests.

Sally Ratcliffe was the first British athlete home in the Women’s European Cup B race, as she came home in eighth place in a time of 34:39.53, while Elisha Tait clocked 35:40.54 for 14^th and Kate Drew finished 16^th in 36:36.99. Victory went to Tereza Hrochová of the Czech Republic as she won an entertaining battle with Anna Arnaudo to win in a time of exactly 33 minutes as her Italian rival came home in 33:02.70. Poland’s Angelica Mach was third in 33:26.29 as the top seven finishers all recorded personal bests.

In the first 10,000m contest of the meeting, Max Milarvie made an impressive debut over the distance on the track when winning a tight battle with Paulos Surafel. Milarvie was outside the qualifying standard for this summer’s European U23 Championships but kicked away to take victory in a time of 29:22.78, with Surafel clocking 29:25.62. Jonathan Escalante-Phillips was third in 29:32.51.

The evening’s schedule began with a men’s 1500m Para contest, which was won convincingly by Owen Miller in 3:58.68. The 2019 WPA World Championships sixth placer came home ahead of Steven Bryce, who clocked 4:07.16 and the 4:07.43 of James Hamilton.

Maria Lyle [Women’s T35 100m] and Zak Skinner [Men’s T13 Long Jump] both set Championship records as they added to their own gold medal tally to round-off a successful 2021 European Para Athletics Championships for the British team.

Lyle and Skinner were two of five gold medallists on the final day in Bydgoszcz with Aled Davies [Men’s F63 Shot Put], Libby Clegg & Chris Clarke [Women’s T11 200m] and Fabienne André [Women’s T34 800m] all winning gold on Saturday (5 June) to take GB & NI’s final gold medal tally to 14 as bronze medals for Ali Smith [Women’s T38 400m final], Harri Jenkins [Men’s T33/T34 Final] and Zac Shaw [T12 100m final] completed the team’s total medal haul of 37.

The British team did not have to wait long for gold in Saturday’s final session as the first track event of the evening saw Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie; Team East Lothian) complete the sprint double in style, clocking a Championship record as she added the T35 100m European title to her T35 200m gold from day two.

The 21-year-old got off to a brilliant start, racing away from her opponents to establish a clear advantage within the opening metres. It was an advantage that continued to grow with Lyle finishing more than a second-and-a-half ahead of her closest rival.

Lyle crossed the line in a time of 14.39 (1.1m/s), knocking over half-a-second off the European record she set at her debut Championships in 2014 at the age of just 14, rounding-off another memorable week for the Scottish athlete.

Speaking after securing her second gold and second Championship record of the week, Lyle said: “I am really happy to win another gold. My start was good, maybe I just tightened up a wee bit, but overall, I’m happy with my race and it’s nice to have the opportunity to put your training into practice.

“I am happy with where I am [in 2021] my coach and I decided to come here in preparation for Tokyo, hopefully, in a couple of months, just to get that feel of big champs, going through a call room and all the normal procedures, so I’m really lucky to be selected and be part of a great team. It’s been really nice to be part of the team.”

Zak Skinner (Aston Moore; Loughborough Students) also did the double as the 22-year-old set a new Championship record to take the win in the men’s T13 Long Jump to add to his T13 100m gold from earlier in the Championships.

It was a brilliant battle between Skinner and Spain’s Ivan Jose Cano Blanco in the long jump final as the Spaniard took the lead in round two, surpassing Skinner’s first round attempt of 6.69m (+0.2m/s) by 10cm. But the advantage was soon back with Skinner. Taking to the runway for round three, the Loughborough athlete knew he needed a response and he delivered superbly; recording a personal best and Championship record distance of 6.92m (-1.5m/s).

It has also been a Championships to remember for Fabienne André (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy) as she claimed her second gold medal of her debut European Championships to ensure it was a golden end for British squad.

Having won gold in the women’s T34 100m on Thursday, the Weir Archer Academy athlete was back on the track in the women’s T34 800m, the final event in Bydgoszcz. André took the race on from the front, ensuring she had the advantage over Russia’s Veronika Doronina as the athletes broke away from their lanes on the opening lap. Always holding an advantage, André made her move with 200m to go, finishing nearly seven seconds quicker than Doronina.

André’s time of 2:15.18 not only sealed another gold medal but also lowered her PB to 2:15.18. After the race André said: “To come away with a PB in the 800m and a gold medal is incredible. This is the last event of the Championships, so it is mad to be the last British athlete competing and I’m just really happy to finish it strongly. I’m looking forward to more opportunities, hopefully, in the future.

“I wasn’t sure how to play the race. I was just going round thinking I’ve got to go for it, I knew I had lots left in the tank, so I just had to leave it all out on the track. It has all been incredible. I haven’t been racing for that long, so this has been great for me. To come away with medals and PBs makes me so happy.”

Libby Clegg (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) and Chris Clarke won gold in a thrilling women’s T11 200m final which saw the pair need to use all their experience and teamwork to claim the title in what was only their third race together in five years.

The double Paralympic champions from Rio 2016 showed real speed, strength and synchronicity to power through in the final 50m in what was a real battle down the home straight as the three eventual medallists lined-up across the track. Clegg and Clarke crossed the line in 27.41 (+0.7m/s) to seal another major championship title.

Reflecting on her first major championships gold since the birth of her son Edward in 2019, Clegg said: “This has been a long journey for us to get to this point. It hasn’t been the easiest five years so to win a gold medal at a European Championships is amazing. Any sort of international medal you have to be happy with. I’m so pleased I get to take a medal home for Edward.

“I’ve really lacked confidence over the last few years, so for me to come here, not running the quickest of times, but just making it through and winning it makes me quite happy. It’s going to feel pretty good getting back on that podium. It’s been a rough time with mental health issues, Chris ruptured his Achilles, I had a baby, it’s been an interesting few years.”

The golden rush was started earlier in the session when Aled Davies (Ryan Spencer-Jones; Cardiff) took to the circle in the Men’s F63 Shot Put as he looked to win his seventh European title.

The 30-year-old led after round 1 with his first attempt of 13.83m but two F63 Championship records by Tom Habscheid of Luxembourg saw Davies in second at the halfway stage following fouls on his second and third attempts.

Davies responded on his fourth attempt, throwing 15.17m to reclaim the lead, a distance which would secure another gold for the double Paralympic champion and seven-time world champion.

Speaking after winning another gold, Davies said: “It was a different one from me; I wasn’t myself out there today, so many emotions. I really need to respect the rust as they say.

“It’s been a while since I’ve competed properly, I’m in great shape, this doesn’t really resemble where I am at so I’m glad to get this one out of the way. Hopefully now this is the first step towards the build-up to Tokyo, but I definitely need a few more competitions, I think.”

The medal success kept coming on the track with Ali Smith (Benke Blomkvist; Guildford & Godalming), Harri Jenkins (Nathan Stephens; DSW Para Academy) and Zac Shaw (Leon Baptiste; Cleethorpes) all claiming bronze medals in their respective events.

Smith – who finished sixth in the women’s T38 100m earlier in the week - set a personal best of 1:03.91 in a very quick 400m final, with race winner Luca Ekler of Hungary setting a new world record.

With a three-point plan of “relax”, “go” and “run my own race” written on her arm, Smith ran under 1:04 for the first time to claim European bronze while chasing down gold and silver position in the final 100m.

Another bronze on the track quickly followed in the Men’s T33/T34 Final with Jenkins stopping the clock in a time of 18.64 (+0.9m/s) to finish third ahead of teammate and Championship debutant James Freeman (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy).

With the two T34 athletes pulling away to challenge each other for gold, the battle for bronze was between Jenkins and Freeman, with Jenkins having the advantage on the line, a second ahead of Freeman, who also recorded a season’s best (19.66).

After being an integral member of the silver-medal winning 4x100m Universal Relay team on Friday evening, Zac Shaw was back 24 hours later with another medal around his neck. In the penultimate event on the track, Shaw took bronze in a high-quality men’s T12 100m final, lowering his personal best to 11.06 (+1.0m/s) to clinch the medal on the line and hold off the challenge of Germany’s Marcel Boettger.

Dan Sidbury (Christine Parsloe; Sutton & District) ended his busy week with fourth-place in the men’s T54 5000m. Already going home with silver in the Men’s 1500m T54, Sidbury kept himself in medal contention throughout the 5000m final, his fifth race of the week, positioning himself in the leading group, including a spell setting the pace at the front.

Battling for the medals down the home straight, Sidbury finished just behind the bronze medallist of Julien Casoli of France with the top-four athletes separated by only 0.45 seconds.

Polly Maton (Colin Baross; Team Devizes) rounded-off her Championships with eighth in the women’s T47 100m; a week that saw the 21-year-old claim bronze in the long jump with a PB of 5.28m.

Para Athletics Head Coach Paula Dunn reflected on the Championships, “I am so proud of this team and their performances this week. This was our first major Championships since the Worlds in 2019, and we’ve seen several fantastic performances across the board. I’ve been very impressed with our young athletes who are progressing through the Performance Pathway. So many athletes have stepped up at these Championships, so the future looks bright for the sport in this country.

“Ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, this was going to be an important marker for a number of athletes. For some, their performances will have given them a boost in confidence to push on for this summer and beyond. For others, it will have provided that motivation to come back even stronger.

“I’m so pleased with the whole team. These are a Championships like no other, and I’m proud of how the team have conducted themselves and adapted to the challenges and restrictions they have faced. We are grateful to all the organisers who have made this event possible.”

British medallists (37):

Gold (14): Fabienne André [Women’s T34 100m and 800m], Columba Blango [Men’s T20 400m], Libby Clegg and Chris Clarke [Women’s T11 200m], Aled Davies [Men’s F63 Shot Put], Kayleigh Haggo [Women’s RR3 100m], Sophie Hahn [Women’s T38 100m], Maria Lyle [Women’s T35 100m and 200m], Daniel Pembroke [Men’s F13 Javelin], Zak Skinner [Men’s T13 100m and Long Jump], Rafi Solaiman [Men’s RR3 100m], Thomas Young [Men’s T38 100m], Maria Lyle [Women’s T35 100m],

Silver (9): John Bridge [Men’s T47 400m], Jonathan Broom-Edwards [Men’s T42/44/62/64 High Jump], Shaun Burrows [Men’s T38 400m], Lydia Church [Women’s F12 Shot Put], Kyron Duke [Men’s F41 Shot Put], Dan Greaves [Men’s F64 Discus], Danny Sidbury [Men’s T54 1500m], Vanessa Wallace [Women’s F34 Shot Put], 4x100m Universal Relay

Bronze (14): Ola Abidogun [Men’s T47 100m], Olivia Breen [Women’s T38 Long Jump], Harri Jenkins [Men’s T33/T34 Final], Nathan Maguire [Men’s T54 400m and 800m], Polly Maton [T47 Long Jump], Luke Nuttall [Men’s T46 1500m], Stef Reid [Women’s T64 Long Jump], Zac Shaw [T12 100m final], Luke Sinnott [Men’s T63 Long Jump], Ali Smith [Women’s T38 400m final], Emily Stewart [Women’s F38 Discus], Alexander Thomson [Men’s T38 400m], Harrison Walsh [Men’s F64 Discus]

Since the inception of sport, one opponent remains undefeated for any athlete - regardless of ability, competitive spirit or resilience: Father Time.

It could be argued that LeBron James has put up the toughest fight yet, having been the dominant force in the NBA for the best part of two decades. But after the 36-year-old's team, the Los Angeles Lakers, were knocked out in the first round of this season's play-offs, there are those who've been left wondering: Is this the end of an era?

"He's been doing this for half of his life at the highest level - and a lot of people won't understand what it takes not only to compete but remain at that level," Myles Hesson, the Great Britain men's basketball captain, said.

"I wouldn't say it's the end of an era - more like the changing of an era. I think we've come to a point where he needs help, maybe more help than he needed before." James is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time - if not the greatest.

Many players, coaches, commentators and fans often agree it's a direct toss-up between James and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. James has won the NBA Championship four times - with three different teams - a feat many see as testament to his ability to transform the fortune of a franchise.

During his 18 seasons in the NBA, he has led his team to the play-offs on 15 occasions.

Before the recent 113-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns - who won their best-of-seven series 4-2 - he had never failed to make it past the first round.

James, originally drafted as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, has been described as one of the most durable athletes of all time - largely enjoying an injury-free career. While there may be some luck involved, he also reportedly spends significant amounts of money each year on nutrition, conditioning and recovery techniques.

But Ryan Richards, a Britain-born player drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2010, who is now with Petro de Luanda in the NBA affiliated Basketball Africa League (BAL), wonders how much longer James will be at the very top.

"Last night I was expecting vintage LeBron - but it's the age - Father Time is coming," Richards said. "I believe he went into last night's game believing he could win it, you know, and activate 'Play-off LeBron mode' but things just didn't go his way.

"You can't take away the greatness because I think he's the smartest player to ever play the game but I think he realises the game is changing." In a season shortened from 82 to 72 games because of coronavirus restrictions, James missed more than 25 matches with an ankle injury.

And before the start of the play-offs, he told reporters he didn't expect to 100% fit again before the end of the season. This season saw him record a career low points-per-game average of 22.3. At times, he has resorted to long-range shooting, with fewer of his energy-sapping bursts to the basket.

"He still looks amazing and those numbers are still insane but I think there need to be changes," Richards said. "I think the Lakers will use the summer to bring in another big name to help out. There's talk he wants to partner up with Stephen Curry or maybe they'll go for someone like Russell Westbrook.

"I think he needs another star - someone he can lean on. I personally know players who've played with LeBron and he kills your own confidence because he's so great. You have to be ready like a microwave scorer - come in hot and impact the game - play a role for six months and be part of the LeBron show."

With a whole summer to recover and recuperate, James could yet come back next season and prove the doubters wrong. It has been suggested that James - who has always said he wants to play for as long as he can - could stay in the NBA for another two years.

At that point, his son - LeBron 'Bronny' James Jr - would be eligible to join the league. James has put the Lakers' early play-off exit down to their injury problems this year: star forward Anthony Davis missed half the season and limped out after five minutes of the decisive defeat by the Suns.

"We never got an opportunity to see our full team," James said. "We could never fully get into a rhythm." The strain of Covid-19 protocols had an effect too. "From the moment we entered the bubble to today, it's been draining," James said. "Mentally, spiritually, emotionally draining.

"Every team has to deal with it, obviously, but with us and Miami going long-haul in the bubble and coming back on short notice, it's been very draining." Hesson, who plays for Elan Chalon in France's LNB Pro A, believes James will make sure he quits at the right time.

"It's a personal thing for him - he'll know when it's time to hang it up," Hesson said. "I personally still watch him play even when he's not on top form just to see how his basketball mind affects and makes others around him better players."

But if James' star is fading, Hesson says the NBA is in good shape when it comes to finding faces to continue to excite fans for years to come. "I don't think there's one face right now," he said. "I think there are a few guys leading their teams in different ways.

"You've got Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic. Kevin Durant is doing his thing. I kind of like it like this. It's more of an even playing field, where one team or player isn't dominating."

Laureus, the global sporting movement that believes sport has the power change the world, is launching a new Everyone Wins campaign to drive engagement, raise funds and ensure a greater understanding of how sport can help transform young lives.

Backed by the legends of the Laureus Academy, Everyone Wins focuses on the opponents young people face in communities around the world, and the role sport can play in helping overcome social issues such as violence, discrimination and disadvantage.

The launch of Everyone Wins follows the success of this year’s virtual Laureus World Sports Awards, which celebrated the inspirational power of sport both on and off the court, track and pitch. Athletes such as Naomi Osaka, Lewis Hamilton and Mo Salah were awarded for their achievements in 2020, but it was their actions off the court, track or field in using their platforms to fight for social change, that had the biggest impact.

Over the past two decades, Laureus has become best known for the annual Laureus World Sports Awards. At the inaugural event in 2000, first patron Nelson Mandela stated that “Sport has the power to change the world” - Laureus Sport for Good exists to bring this power to life. The Everyone Wins campaign features a film which shows that through sport, every day, young people can develop the skills, strength and discipline to tackle their own opponents in everyday life.

Former All Black captain and Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, Sean Fitzpatrick, said: “Everyone Wins marks a turning point for Laureus, a recognition that whilst the Awards are the public face of the organisation and a hugely beneficial platform for Laureus Sport for Good, our year-round work and impact has to be seen, shared and understood more regularly. I’m incredibly excited to see this dynamic campaign take Laureus Sport for Good to new audiences and look forward to seeing the response.”

Laureus is a global sporting movement, active across the world 365 days a year. In changing the popular understanding of Laureus – from a single event to a year-round campaigning sports movement – Everyone Wins will help drive engagement, fundraising and ensure a greater understanding and appreciation of how sport can help change young lives.

Laureus is calling for funding and communications partners to join it in celebrating the inspirational power of sport as a force for good by supporting programmes that directly deliver sports opportunities to young people to help them address and overcome issues facing them and their communities.

Everyone Wins celebrates participants of this work, from the inspirational community leaders, coaches and administrators, to the participants of Sport for Good programmes around the world. The campaign also promotes schools, community clubs, local councils and grassroots organisations, whose valuable contribution to society often goes unnoticed in the wider world of sport.

Four-time Overall World Cup champion and the greatest women’s Alpine skier in history, Laureus Academy Member Lindsey Vonn, said: “I think sport has a unique opportunity to change people in ways they never expected. I learned so much from winning and losing in my professional career, and I know from the work of Laureus Sport for Good and the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, that sport can transform and empower young people, helping them overcome issues in their own lives. In a ski race, there can only be one winner, but when we use sport to help young people tackle social issues, I truly believe that Everyone Wins.”

Four-time Olympic champion and Laureus Academy Member Michael Johnson said: “Through Laureus, I’ve had the opportunity to work across the world, helping disadvantaged young people change their lives for the better through sport. Our programmes help to ensure that Everyone Wins through sport when it is used to break down the social barriers that so many face. By recognising the invaluable contributions of this work, this campaign will help us continue to reach and support more communities.”

Portuguese football legend and former World and European Footballer of the Year, Laureus Academy Member Luis Figo, said: “Football has been such an influential part of my life, and taught me so much. Everyone Wins gives us a platform to celebrate the real success in sport, the young people using sport to change their lives for the better. In the professional game, there are winners and losers, but when young people use football to tackle discrimination and poverty, Everyone Wins.”

Laureus Sport for Good is a world-leader in using sport as a tool for social change, working with funding partners such as Comic Relief and Nike to support existing sports-based community programmes. Currently supporting more than 200 programmes in over 40 countries, the organisation is working to prove that sport can change the world.