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Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli says the European Super League (ESL) project cannot proceed as AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid joined the six Premier League clubs in withdrawing.

Agnelli was one of the chief architects of the breakaway plans, which involved 12 clubs from England, Spain and Italy.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are yet to comment.

"To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case," said Agnelli, on whether the ESL could still happen. "I remain convinced of the beauty of that project, of the value that it would have developed to the pyramid, of the creation of the best competition in the world, but evidently no. I don't think that project is now still up and running."

Agnelli has been replaced as chairman of the European Club Association by Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari who resisted repeated attempts to persuade the French club to become founder members of the breakaway league. Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan announced their withdrawal on Wednesday morning, followed by statements from AC Milan and Juventus.

Agnelli was described as a "snake and a liar" by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin after the announcement of the breakaway plans. The Juventus chairman resigned his position as chairman of the European Clubs' Association and refused to take calls from Ceferin.

In a statement, Juventus said there were "limited chances that the project be completed in the form originally conceived" but that the club "remains convinced of the soundness of the project's sport, commercial and legal premises".

The six Premier League clubs involved all withdrew within hours of each othe following a furious backlash against the plans. Manchester City were the first club to pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw. The other four English sides - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - then followed suit later.

In announcing their withdrawal on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid said "harmony is essential" between the club and the fans, and added that the first-team squad and coach Diego Simeone had backed their decision because "sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria".

In their statement, Serie A side Inter Milan said they were "committed to giving fans the best football experience", adding: "Our engagement with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change.

"AC Milan said "the voices and the concerns of fans around the world have clearly been expressed" about the plans and the club "must be sensitive to the voice of those who love this wonderful sport".The 12-team Super League was announced to widespread condemnation.

"Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations," the ESL said earlier on Wednesday, adding it was "convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change".

"Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is insisting on the idea of keeping the group together to push for change," says Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

"Barcelona say they agreed to the ESL, but only if the season ticket holders' assembly approve it, which could be their way out." Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City chiefs apologised to their supporters.

Ceferin welcomed the reversal by the clubs, saying: "I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake.

"But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game. The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together."

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, PM Boris Johnson said the withdrawals were "the right result for football fans, for clubs and for communities across the country". He also promised a "root-and-branch investigation" into football governance and what the government could do to "promote the role of fans in that governance".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer added the proposals "would have destroyed football" and that "we now need to get on with the other changes that are necessary". The League Managers' Association (LMA) welcomed the decision of the clubs to withdraw, saying: "There is no place in our game for clandestine collusion, driven by opportunism, with such a blatant disregard for the history and integrity of our game."

The LMA also called for a club licensing system that sets out a "clear and unified governance structure, with consistent game-wide checks and balances".

"The future of football should be one that upholds the values of integrity and transparency.

“Owners, and those responsible for the direction of the game, must be more connected to, and significantly more accountable to the game itself," it added.

The Football Supporters' Association said "the cabal of billionaire owners overplayed their hand" and all efforts needed to be poured into the review of football governance in order to "rebalance the power structure of the domestic game".

In a statement, the Professional Footballers' Association praised players "who stood up for the game they love" and former players who "used their platforms effectively and often devastatingly" to "passionately articulate why the preservation of the domestic game is so important".

The English Football League said it hoped events over the past few days would lead to "much needed change to the distribution of wealth" in domestic leagues to ensure all clubs can have a "sustainable future".

Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Vestel Visual Solutions, a leading manufacturer of professional display solutions for schools and colleges, have launched the new Six4Schools community programme, which is designed to make Birmingham Bears Vitality Blast games even more accessible for families and to give back to local schools.

Now open for registrations from across Birmingham and Warwickshire, every school that registers for theSix4Schools programme will receive a unique discount code that allows the parents of pupils to secure adult tickets for a Vitality Blast T20 fixture at Edgbaston Stadium for just £12; a saving of £13 on the match day price. Alongside this, parents can secure free tickets for all children aged under 16.

What’s more, each school will receive £6 cashback on every ticket sold through its unique code and the school that sells the most tickets will receive an interactive screen from Vestel, designed to help deliver more engaging and collaborative lessons.

Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We recognised how tough the pandemic has been for families and schools and in response Six4Schools is a brand-new initiative that we’ve launched with Vestel and the Warwickshire Cricket Board, which is working closely with more than 250 primary and secondary schools across the region. However, any school can register online, obtain a unique code for parents and gain the benefits of our cashback programme; selling 200 tickets would bring a £1,200 reward.

“There’s just over nine weeks until the first game at Edgbaston and, in the build-up, we’re planning a programme of special coaching sessions at schools and competitions across the county with our Bears squad. We can’t wait to get underway.”

Launched at Kingsland Primary School in Kingstanding, Bears players George Furrer and Marie Kelly joined Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street to deliver a special T20 coaching session for the pupils and gave an insight of what it takes to make it as a Bear.

“We‘re proud to partner with Warwickshire CCC to launch the Six4Schools initiative, supporting efforts to give back to local schools while at the same time making cricket more accessible,” said David Flintoft, Sales and Marketing Director, Vestel.

“We know through our work with schools across the country just how difficult the past year has been, for staff and pupils alike. The relationship between sport and education has always been closely aligned, so it’s great to be involved in supporting the return of both to UK life, while also putting money back into the pockets of schools, which can then be reinvested into the learning experience.”

Launched at Kingsland Primary School in Kingstanding, Bears players George Furrer and Marie Kelly joined Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street to deliver a special T20 coaching session for the pupils and gave an insight of what it takes to make it as a Bear.

UEFA, the Premier League and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have condemned 12 major European clubs, including the 'big six' from England, signing up to a breakaway ESL (European Super League).

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham are part of the group. La Liga's Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid and Serie A's AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are involved.

UEFA said it will use all measures possible to stop the cynical project. Senior figures at European football's governing body are furious about the proposals. In a seismic move for European football, the Premier League clubs will join AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid.

The ESL said the founding clubs had agreed to establish a "new midweek competition" and that the inaugural season is intended to commence as soon as practicable. It also anticipated that a further three clubs will join the breakaway.

Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer will be a vice-chairman of the hew Super League. He said: "By bringing together the world's greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid."

Prime Minister Johnson said the plans would be very damaging for football and that the UK government supports football authorities in taking action. He added: "The clubs involved must answer to their fans and the wider footballing community before taking any further steps."

UEFA had hoped to head off plans with a new-look 36-team Champions League set to be confirmed today. The European governing body released a joint statement together with the English Football Association, Premier League, Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), La Liga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as well as Serie A.

They said they will "remain united" in trying to stop the breakaway, using both judicial and sporting measures if required. They also reiterated Fifa's stance that players taking part in the Super League would be banned from all other competitions at domestic, European or world level and could be prevented from representing their national teams.

In a separate statement, the Premier League said it condemned the proposal as it "attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit which are at the heart" of domestic and European football. Details on how the breakaway league would work are scarce, but there were talks in October over a new £4.6bn competition that would involve replacing the Champions League.

It would likely be a 'members only' concept, where many of Europe's richest clubs would have guaranteed entry, without the threat of relegation or the possibility of failing to qualify.

The threat of forming a European Super League could also be a handy tool for big clubs to use in their negotiations with UEFA for a better deal.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a statement the government is "concerned this plan could create a closed shop at the very top of our national game". He added: "We have a football pyramid where funds from the globally successful Premier League flow down the leagues and into local communities.

"I would be bitterly disappointed to see any action that destroys that." Labour leader Keir Starmer said the clubs involved should rethink immediately or face the consequences of their actions. "This proposal risks shutting the door on fans for good, reducing them to mere spectators and consumers," he said.

Juventus owner Andrea Agnelli, Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and AC Milan chief executive Ivan Gazidis would all have had a significant input into the Champions League discussions. However, those clubs are among those to have broken ranks, to the fury of Uefa, whose president Aleksander Ceferin wanted to stave off a Super League threat.

The Premier League said a European Super League would destroy the dream of fans that their team may climb to the top and play against the best. It added such a league would undermine the appeal of the whole game and that they would work with the FA, the English Football League, Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), League Managers Association (LMA) and fans to "defend the integrity and future prospects of English football.

The FA said it will not provide permission to any competition that would be damaging to English football and will take any legal and/or regulatory action necessary. Bundesliga sides are opposed to the plans because the German model means commercial investors cannot have more than a 49% stake in clubs, so fans hold a majority of their own voting rights.

It is understood French Ligue 1 side Paris St-Germain are not part of the group. UEFA said it thanked those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up" to the breakaway league.

"We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced," they added. "This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough."

Quite when the European Super League would start is unclear. However, world governing body Fifa has already said it would not recognise such a competition and any players involved in it would be denied the chance to play at a World Cup.

Serie A has called an emergency board meeting to discuss the matter. The Football Supporters' Association said it is "totally opposed" to the plans, which it said were "motivated by nothing but cynical greed".

They added: "This competition is being created behind our backs by billionaire club owners who have zero regard for the game's traditions and continue to treat football as their personal fiefdom." The PFA said it had substantial concerns about the proposal, adding it would detract from the strength and joy of domestic football and diminish the game for the vast majority of fans across the continent.

France's President Emmanuel Macron said he welcomes the position of French clubs to refuse to participate in a European Super League that threatens the principle of solidarity and sporting merit.

A statement from the French presidency added: "The French state will support all the steps taken by the LFP (France's professional leagues governing body), FFF (France's football association), UEFA and FIFA to protect the integrity of federal competitions, whether national or European." It has been agreed the new-look Champions League will involve an initial phase where every club plays 10 matches each rather than the current group phase.

In addition there would be play-offs, followed by a knockout phase. The most controversial aspect of the proposals surround the allocation of the four additional places, with two being reserved for the clubs ranked highest in UEFA's co-efficient table who fail to qualify for the Champions League through their domestic competition, but do secure some kind of European football.

At the moment, Liverpool and Chelsea would be the clubs who benefited from that system if it was in place this season. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville said he was disgusted by the plans.

"I'm a Manchester United fan and have been for 40 years," Neville, who also co-owns League Two club Salford City, said. "It's an absolute disgrace.

"Honestly, we have to wrestle back the power in this country from the clubs at the top of this league and that includes my club." The former England defender said the six English clubs involved should be docked points and fined.

"It's pure greed," Neville said. "The club's owners imposters. They're nothing to do with football in this country. There's 100-odd years of history in this country of fans who have lived and loved these clubs.

"We're in the middle of a pandemic and an economic crisis. Football clubs in the [semi-professional] National League are going bust, furloughing players and these lot are having Zoom calls about breaking away.

"Dock them all points tomorrow. Put them at the bottom of the league and take the money off them. Seriously. You have to stamp on this."

Seven-time Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton has urged F1 chiefs to add an African race to its calendar for the first time since 1993.

With the current F1 calendar featuring more than 20 races per season, which means travelling to countries such as Australia, China, Russia, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, this season’s current leading driver has called for a return to the Kyalami circuit in Johannesburg, in South Africa – which has been the one continent that has been missing from the F1 calendar for the past 27 years. The circuit there would reportedly need some upgrades while there have also been recent talks about a race in another African circuit in Marrakech, in Morocco.

In Q&A video from Petronas, Mercedes driver, Hamilton, said: "I would love for a Grand Prix to be in South Africa. They are great sporting fans and are just petrol-heads who love cars.

"I would love to go there, it would be absolutely insane. There is a huge following there and it is one of the most important Grand Prix we need to get on the calendar."

He went on to say: "It's such an important place to go back to. At the moment, Formula One goes to countries and doesn't really leave much behind if anything.

"Formula One has to shift into being a sport that does go to places and leaves behind something that can really help the communities. Bringing the attention back to Africa and really highlighting the beautiful place that it is.

"I think that's the most important place that we have to go to. It needs to be held where it's not all about money, it's about the people.

"In business, that's not always the case so that's something I'm really pushing for."

F1 global director of race promotion Chloe Targett-Adams, who deals with event organisers, says the continent is key to the sport’s development.

The South African GP featured 23 times on the F1 calendar following its debut in 1962 but was last staged in 1993. There have been a number of plans to return Formula One to the country but there are currently no race circuits in South Africa which would be approved by the FIA to host an F1 event.

"It's such an important place to go back. At the moment, Formula One goes to countries and doesn't really leave much behind if anything. Formula One has to shift into being a sport that does go to places and leaves behind something that can really help the communities.

"Bringing the attention back to Africa and really highlighting the beautiful place that it is. I think that's the most important place that we have to go to. It needs to be held where it's not all about money, it's about the people. In business, that's not always the case so that's something I'm really pushing for."

Australia, Singapore and Japan were among the countries said to not be rescheduled for the 2020 campaign for a much smaller season with an eight race in European, which also includes back-to-back races at Silverstone at the start of August.

The 2020 Formula One season finally gets underway next week when the drivers descend on Austria for the first of two races to be held in the European country.

British Athletics has announced the athletes selected for the men’s, women’s and mixed 4x400m relay at the 2021 World Athletics Relays which are due to be held in Silesia, Poland on 1-2 May 2021.

Prior to selection, it was agreed that there will be no men’s or women’s 4x100m relay teams entered due to several factors caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Following consultation between the respective athletes and the British Athletics Performance team, all parties agreed on this approach to the event.

Olympic relay bronze medallist Emily Diamond will be joined by multiple global relay medallist Zoey Clark and 2017 world silver medallist Laviai Nielsen in the squad.

Clark will also be reunited with Jessie Knight and Ama Pipi who were part of the silver medal-winning quartet at the European Indoor Championships in February. World Indoor and European relay bronze medallist Amy Allcock will join the squad alongside Yasmin Liverpool and Jess Turner.

The men’s team includes Olympic, world and European medallist, Martyn Rooney, and fellow London 2017 bronze medallists, Dwayne Cowan and Rabah Yousif Bkheit.

Joe Brier, Lee Thompson and James Williams - all part of the bronze-medal winning team at the 2021 European indoors - earn their second British team call-ups of the season.

Finally, Charlie Dobson, who will be making his senior GB debut, and Efe Okoro complete the line-up.

The mixed relay teams will be selected from the athletes within the women’s and men’s 4x400m relay squads.

Performance Director, Sara Symington, said: “We are really pleased to be selecting strong teams for the respective relay events. Maintaining the health and safety of all athletes, coaches and team personnel is of paramount importance to us, as is recognising athletes wishes in their preparation for Tokyo, so all athletes were given the option to opt-in or opt-out of the event for this year.

“In terms of the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays, it was a joint decision between the British Athletics Performance team and the respective 4x100m squads to not enter teams for those events to the World Athletics Relays.

“The 4x400m athletes and staff have opted to take the opportunity to compete and we will support them in this approach. It is vital that we recognise these are challenging times and that we fully consult with the athletes and staff on the best way to prepare for Tokyo, recognising that one approach will not necessarily fit both squads.”

Head of Long Sprints and Relays, Tim Benjamin, said: “I am delighted to be selecting these very strong 4x400m athletes for the World Athletics Relays, the first event in my new role. We have several really experienced relay athletes as part of these teams, as well as some exciting up and coming talent who have demonstrated their potential during a challenging last year or so. This is a key preparation event for the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer, so I am really looking forward to seeing how these teams perform in Poland.”

The British team for the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Silesia, Poland, 1-2 May:

Women: Amy Allcock, Zoey Clark, Emily Diamond, Yasmin Liverpool, Jessie Knight, Laviai Nielsen, Ama Pipi and Jessica Turner.

Men: Joe Brier, Dwayne Cowan, Charlie Dobson, Efe Okoro, Martyn Rooney, Lee Thompson, James Williams and Rabah Yousif Bkheit.

Marissa Callaghan and Nadene Caldwell scored to give Kenny Shiels' side a 2-0 win on the night and a 4-1 victory on aggregate in the two-legged play-off.

Captain Callaghan tucked home on 55 minutes and Caldwell netted in injury time to secure the win against Ukraine, who had Natiya Pantsulaya sent off. The Euro 2022 finals will be Northern Ireland's first major tournament. It caps a remarkable 17-year journey for Northern Ireland, whose women's national team only reformed in 2004.

After a goalless first-half, Callaghan broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second-half when she beat Ukraine goalkeeper Kateryna Samson to the ball and slotted into the empty net. It was a goal which perfectly summed up Northern Ireland's persistence as Callaghan won the initial header from Julie Nelson's free-kick before showing awareness to get to the second ball ahead of the sleeping Ukraine defence to give the home side the cushion they craved.

Caldwell secured the victory after Pantsulaya was sent-off late on. Simone Magill won the ball on the edge of the area and Caldwell, who had just come on the pitch as a substitute, beat the stranded Samson to spark wild celebrations. The celebrations at full-time marked an unbelievable journey for a team who were written off before a ball was kicked in qualifying.

Moments such as Ashley Hutton's last-minute goal against Wales or a superb 1-0 victory away to Belarus with 10 players demonstrate where the unwavering belief stems from. From arriving in May 2019, Shiels and his coaching team, which includes son Dean, have done a remarkable job changing the mentality and tactics of this side.

For players like Nelson, who has been through thick and thin since making her debut 17 years ago, it has been a life-long dream. For younger players like Rebecca McKenna or Chloe McCarron, this will a high point in their fledgling careers that they hope will be the first of many.

It's impossible to name every player but it has been a real team effort to get to this point - and every player in a green shirt played their part. It was an occasion and performance which deserved a packed house at Seaview, but this history-making team can expect the Green and White Army to follow their every move for years to come.

This team dared to dream, and now they will enjoy every moment of the reward they have worked so hard to achieve. Northern Ireland, ranked 25 places below their opponents, looked relaxed from the first whistle as they went about finishing the job they began by securing a lead in Ukraine.

Just as in Kovalivka, Northern Ireland came flying at their opponents right from the first whistle, with Kirsty McGuinness and Magill harrying Ukraine's defence. The positive approach settled any lingering nerves, and while manager Shiels is renowned for his enterprising style of football, it was a direct approach from set plays which gave his side half openings.

Laura Rafferty, one of two changes from the first leg, was inches away from opening the scoring when she poked wide after the ball dropped to the defender from an early corner.

Again, in a similar pattern to the first leg, Ukraine grew into the match and began to dominate the midfield as the half wore on.

Despite Ukraine's growing possession on the artificial pitch, Northern Ireland looked comfortable in defence and Magill, who had a shot comfortably saved by Kateryna Samson, and Callaghan provided an outlet for Shiels' side. McKenna, on her 20th birthday, continued where she left off from the first leg and Rebecca Holloway had the best performance of her short NI career to date as both players were tasked with providing width in both attack and defence.

However, it was the experienced head of Nelson who made the most-important intervention of the first half when she superbly denied Olha Ovdiychuk with some last-ditch defending following a rare lapse of concentration for NI just before the half-time whistle. Cheered on in the stands by the vocal Rachel Furness, who missed the match after sustaining a broken ankle in the first leg, NI came out for the second-half like and looked like a team with the weight off their shoulders.

That soon turned to pandemonium when Callaghan showed tremendous persistence to beat Samson to the ball and score - a goal that meant Ukraine had to net three times to overcome their opponents. It was akin to when men's captain Steven Davis scored twice against Greece in 2015 to fire Northern Ireland to the Euro 2016 finals in France as Callaghan led from the front.

Northern Ireland dropped deep but still looked in command as the visitors ran out of ideas as the clock ticked down. They put plenty of crosses into the danger area but goalkeeper Jackie Burns and the defensive trio of Rafferty, Nelson and Ashley Hutton stood strong as NI began to pick Ukraine off on the counter.

McCarron's cross was just out of reach of Magill and Ukraine were reduced to 10 players when Pantsulaya was dismissed for cutting across the outstanding Sarah McFadden as she raced through on goal. Caldwell then struck in the final seconds to spark jubilant scenes and cap off a superb display as Shiels' team continue to outshine their underdog status.

Progress on the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium is on the brink of another significant milestone – the completion of the steelworks. Early next week the framework for the eye-catching new West Stand at the venue in Perry Barr will be fully in place, and work to add fixtures, fittings and all of the features required by a world-class sporting arena is now starting.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This is an exciting milestone and it's testament to the hard work and efforts of all involved that we have made such progress despite the challenges of delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We can now clearly see what the new stadium will look like when complete – congratulations to everyone who is working on the redevelopment.” The project is on budget and scheduled for completion in spring 2022.

Operations Director for lead contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, Martin Keys, added: “This is a really important milestone for the Alexander Stadium Redevelopment project.

“Considering the challenges of COVID-19, the complex roof design, and erecting the steel over the winter months; we have been able to complete the steel on programme. It is a really exciting moment for the project and demonstrates that when we work collaboratively together as a team we can overcome difficult obstacles.”

Funding for the Alexander Stadium Redevelopment comes from three sources: Birmingham City Council (£27.4million), the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (£20million) and West Midlands Combined Authority (£25million). Arup are designers for the Alexander Stadium redevelopment, covering all engineering services and architectural design, with Mace acting as project and programme managers, both appointed by Birmingham City Council.

James Watts, Associate Director at Arup, said: “Reaching this milestone is a fantastic achievement for all involved. It has been a true demonstration of proactive and collaborative working.

“Within Arup alone, our team of architects, engineers, planners and specialists have contributed more than 37 years of effort so far to help deliver what will be a wonderful sporting facility for Birmingham. With the steel frame now virtually completed, the curvature of the new stand that will become the stadium’s signature is visible for all.

“The 1,400 tonnes of steelwork has been designed, detailed and fabricated in the UK, with police escorts required for the longest components of the roof structure, which are 35 metres in length. If laid end-to-end, the steelwork would very nearly complete 50 laps of the new track. There is still a long way to go, but all involved should be proud of what has been achieved to date.”

Associate Director at Mace, Paul Robertson, said: “Celebrating the final piece of steel being installed is exciting for a project which has not been without its challenges.

“This time last year we were facing the prospect of starting construction in the middle of a pandemic yet works continue on time and on budget as we move towards the 12-month on-site milestone in May this year. The team partnership and approach has been exceptional, and everyone is pulling together as we move into this next critical phase of the project.”

Rachael Blackmore made sporting history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National with victory on Minella Times at Aintree. The Irish rider scored a thrilling triumph aboard the 11-1 chance, trained by Henry de Bromhead who also saddled runner-up Balko Des Flos.

The thrilled record-breaker said: "I don't feel male or female right now. I don't even feel human."  The 173rd running of the world's most famous steeplechase provided a story for the ages as Blackmore won in the colours of owner JP McManus.

The 31-year-old – who claimed six victories in all, including the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle, and was a narrow runner-up in the Gold Cup with A Plus Tard - had already achieved a landmark success at last month's Cheltenham Festival when becoming the first woman to be the meeting's leading jockey. She demonstrated perfect poise and timing to guide Minella Times expertly round the 30 fences over more than four and a quarter miles for victory by six and a half lengths.

The closest a female jockey had previously come to winning the race was Katie Walsh on Seabass in 2012 when she finished third. "I cannot believe it," Blackmore - the daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher from Killenaule, County Tipperary - said. "He was a sensational spin. It is unbelievable." Starting out riding ponies as a child, she went on to gain a degree in equine science and combined her studies with competing as an amateur jockey.

There were no spectators at the Merseyside track because of Covid-19 protocols, but the historic moment was not lost on the jockeys, trainers and owners in attendance who cheered the pair back into the winner's enclosure. The 1-2 for De Bromhead sealed his own remarkable story, having won the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

One of the 40 runners, The Long Mile, was euthanised after suffering an injury while running on the flat between fences. It was the second equine fatality in eight editions of the race since safety changes were introduced in 2013. Jockey Bryony Frost was taken to hospital after being unseated from her mount Yala Enki. Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, who has won six times in other races over the National fences, led the way with an enterprising ride on outsider Jett.

The favourite, Cloth Cap, followed on the inside and travelled well for a long way before fading as McManus runners Any Second Now and Minella Times entered the picture. Mark Walsh did well to stay on Any Second Now after nearly being brought down at the third-last and the challenges of Burrows Saint and Discorama waned as Balko Des Flos and Minella Times pushed ahead.

As Blackmore and Minella Times safely jumped the last, it became clear a piece of racing folklore was being created and the pair passed the winning line clear of their rivals. Forty-four years after Charlotte Brew was the first woman to ride in the race on 200-1 outsider Barony Fort, who refused at the 27th fence, Blackmore had bettered Walsh's third-placed finish with an historic victory.

"It is huge. It's the first woman to win the National. It's history, but I suppose this has been coming over time," said Walsh. "There's been more women riding in the National over the last couple of years."

Plymouth Raiders went unbeaten in the BBL Championship during March and came up just short in the BBL Trophy Final, leading to recognition for Head Coach Paul James and emerging star guard Rickey McGill.

James wins the Kevin Cadle Molten BBL Coach of the Month award for the second time this season after March saw him lead Plymouth to three league wins, which extends to eight straight going back to February and including the first two games of April, as that good run has seen them climb the table to second place.

Most impressively, Raiders scored a big road win at Newcastle Eagles which initially helped them close the gap on their title-chasing rivals - who had been in second for some time - before over-taking them early in April. It was a strong performance from Raiders, winning 85-72 while scoring 58 points in the paint, led by 16 from former Eagle Mike Morsell, and holding Eagles to their third fewest points of the season, including just 31 in the second half.

Aside from that, there were two other double-digit league wins over the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks and Manchester Giants - the first of those live on Sky Sports - where Raiders showed character to emerge from half time team talks with big second half performances to overturn early deficits - something that they have continued to do since. They beat Sheffield 50-32 in the second half, and Manchester by an even better 52-27.

James' team has a clear identity and style, as the league's leading defence conceding just 75 points per game at only 41% from the field, also giving up the fewest points in the paint (30.5) of any team. They are also aggressive offensively, as by far the league's leaders in free-throw attempts at 24 per game - five higher than the next team - and offensive rebounds with 12 per game.

Raiders have also come through adversity in the month, winning games despite injuries to key players such as Prince Ibeh, Michael Ochereobia and Chris Porter-Bunton, with captain Ashley Hamilton also returning to the team from an injury lay-off.

Even in their only defeat in March, to London Lions in the BBL Trophy Final, Raiders characteristically showed great fight to almost come back from a big early deficit, falling just short of a first piece of BBL silverware since 2007.

The catalyst for Raiders on numerous occasions has been American guard Rickey McGill, who has averaged an amazing 25.5 points per game in March to pick up the Molten BBL Player of the Month award.

That points haul has come on amazing shooting splits of 62% from the field - on 99 attempts, or 16.5 per game as Plymouth's go-to man - as well as 47% from the three-point line and 82% at the free-throw line. He has also added five assists, four rebounds and two steals per game. Overall, he is sixth in the league in assists and seventh in steals.

He was outstanding in March's BBL Trophy run, which saw him score over 30 points in both legs of the semi-final and the final itself. He was unlucky to be on the losing team in the final, scoring 31 points on 68% shooting, including nine early in a three minute third quarter spell to bring Raiders back to within one point from a 16 point deficit.

To get to the final, he scored 63 points over two legs in just three days against Surrey Scorchers, going 24-35 (69%) from the field in a pair of comprehensive wins.

In BBL Championship play, McGill scored comfortably in double-figures in all three games, and had perhaps one of his best all-round performances to round out the month on the road at Manchester Giants, with his first double-double of 23 points and 12 assists, along with four rebounds and four steals.

On Sky Sports, he was MVP of the Sheffield game after hitting 15 of his 21 points in the second half, including a big 'and-one' play for the go-ahead basket that changed the momentum in a previously tight affair.

A busy and important April is already underway for Raiders, with wins in consecutive nights over the Easter weekend, while they also face two South West derbies with Bristol Flyers and a clash with league-leading Leicester Riders as they chase the title in this last month of the regular campaign.

Birmingham City has insisted that they are committed to their women’s team after the players raised a series of complaints with the board.

The Football Association has opened an investigation after City’s squad sent a letter to the Women’s Super League club’s hierarchy highlighting a lack of support for them compared to that given to the men’s team. The complaints were reported to include players earning less than the minimum wage, delays over treatment for injured players, a lack of access to the training-ground gym and changing rooms and travel arrangements for away fixtures.

In response, the club said in a statement: “We are keen to emphasise that the club remains committed to providing support for our women’s team.

“We will further the conversation internally in a bid to address players’ concerns, the details of which, will remain private.”

Head coach Carla Ward said: “This week we have held positive discussions with the board relating to the concerns raised by the players. It was never the intention of the players for the letter to be made public and many of the points were misrepresented.

“We are working together to move forward and will remain in communication with the board to resolve matters internally. We are now approaching a vital stage of the season and will focus all our efforts on winning as many games as possible to keep the club in the BFAWSL.” The issue was raised at England’s press conference ahead of the Lionesses’ friendly against France.

Former Birmingham player Ellen White said: “Well, it’s not OK, is it? For a club of Birmingham’s stature, to be playing in the WSL, it’s not OK for players to be experiencing what they are.

“I was at Birmingham for a couple of years, and I’ve got friends there. I think it’s important that it’s been brought to attention, and something needs to be done, especially with them having been in the WSL from pretty much the start. It’s not OK to be happening.”

Birmingham’s statement also said that their women’s side will be playing home fixtures at St Andrew’s next season if they retain their place in the WSL. The team, who currently play home matches at the SportNation.Bet Stadium, which is also used by Solihull Moors of the men’s National League, are ninth in the WSL table, three points above the relegation spot with four games left.

As the first female referee to take charge of an English Football League game Rebecca Welch was praised for her performance by the managers of both sides she was charged with.

Rebecca, 37, oversaw Port Vale's 2-0 win at Harrogate Town in League Two on Monday. In the elite category of referees and on FIFA's international list, Ms Welch, from Washington, County Durham, previously officiated seven National League games this season. She was the first to be given a game from the off and had a day without any major controversy, barring a contentious decision to wave away Harrogate's appeals for a first-half penalty.

On his assessment of her performance, Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke said: "I thought she was focused and didn't get much wrong. I was moaning about one or two decisions, but generally it was quite consistent. We need to see more women referees and lineswomen moving forward. They should be judged like anyone else and she's had a good start."

Harrogate manager Simon Weaver said: "I think she was very good indeed. Important calls were made throughout and they were the right calls. Hopefully it's just par for the course that we see female referees and officials in the EFL. It's about time."

Speaking after her appointment was announced last week, Welch told the EFL's official website: "Initially I wasn't really aware of being appointed as the first female referee.

"I was just given the appointment and I was over the moon but, when you kind of reflect on it, you think you're the first woman ever to do this, so I'm extremely proud and my family is extremely proud too."

Amy Fearn was the first woman to referee an EFL game as she came on as an injury replacement in the 2010 Championship game between Coventry and Nottingham Forest.

Sport 4 Life UK, the Birmingham-based charity which delivers sports-themed personal development programmes to young people across the West Midlands, is staging a series of free Easter holiday sports camps for 11 to 17-year-olds.

The first sports camp will take place at Aston Powerleague at Birmingham’s Salford Stadium and run from Monday, April 5 to Friday, April 9 between noon and 3pm. In addition to sports sessions and refreshments in the form of water and healthy snacks, participants will also have an opportunity to gain a free, CV-enhancing sports leaders’ qualification.

Alongside this, on Friday, April 9 attendees will be able to get involved with a voluntary Easter social action project aimed at improving their local neighbourhoods and solving problems affecting communities. This event will offer free pizza and Easter eggs, courtesy of Sport 4 Life UK corporate partner Tickd.

During the second week of the Easter holidays, the sports camps will continue at Hodge Hill College in Bromford Road, Birmingham, from today, Monday, April 12 to Friday, April 16, again between noon and 3pm. Participants will also be able to join sports sessions and gain a free sports leaders’ qualification.

Tom Clarke-Forrest, founder and CEO Sport 4 Life UK, said: “I can’t tell you how delighted we are that we’re able to reconnect with young people in person and start providing personal development programmes again, after a long hard winter under lockdown. By combining physical activity with qualifications that help young people build leadership skills and friendships, we are making a meaningful difference to their life chances. This is particularly important right now, because all the data shows young people have been the most adversely affected economically by the pandemic and downturn. With that in mind, we very much look forward to welcoming youngsters back to our activities and supporting their life goals.”

Sports leaders is an enjoyable qualification that is easy to achieve by leading sports sessions and completing a short workbook. It is a recognised qualification and will enhance any CV or college or university application. The qualification involves lots of practical sport, discussion on leadership and designing and leading mini-coaching sessions.

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week, has been admitted to hospital. Tendulkar tweeted that he decided to go to a hospital in Mumbai as a matter of abundant precaution under medical advice.

The former captain, who is loved by millions, added that he was hoping to be back home in a few days. Several Indian cities, including Mumbai, have seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in the past few weeks. Tendulkar, 47, shared the news at a time when India is staring at what experts have called a "deadlier second wave".

India reported 81,466 news cases and 469 deaths on Thursday - the highest daily spike since December. The country's Covid caseload had dropped sharply in January when it was reporting less than 15,000 cases daily. But cases began to spike again in March, largely driven by poor test-and-trace and lax safety protocols.

Many of the new cases were reported in the western state of Maharashtra, where Tendulkar lives in the city of Mumbai. Since the pandemic began, India has confirmed more than 12.2 million cases and over 163,000 deaths. It has the third-highest number of infections in the world after the United States and Brazil - however, its number of deaths per capita is far lower.

India has registered 118 deaths per million, compared to 1,487 in Brazil and 1,668 in the US.

India launched its vaccination drive in January and so far more than 65 million doses have been administered. But experts say the pace needs to further pick up to halt the spread.

Some have also attributed the uptick in numbers to a highly contagious variants of the coronavirus, but the government has denied this. The surge in cases comes during what some experts have called a "delicate phase" of the pandemic for India.

States are now reintroducing restrictions to stem the spread of the virus.

In his tweet, Tendulkar thanked his fans for their wishes and prayers. His fans and many of his former teammates have responded with prayers for his recovery.

He retired from cricket in 2013 but continues to be one of the most popular public figures in India. He recently took part in the Road Safety World Series Challenge, a veterans' tournament in the central Indian city of Raipur.

He made his international debut aged 16 in November 1989, setting off an illustrious 24-year career that earned him global recognition. In that time, he amassed a record 15,921 Test-match runs, the highest number by any batsman in cricket history.

In 2012, Tendulkar became the only batsman ever to reach 100 international centuries. One of his most memorable Test centuries was an unbeaten 103 that inspired India's victory over England in December 2008, and came shortly after terror attacks hit his home city of Mumbai.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and insidethegames.biz have launched an exciting new partnership to tell inspiring Commonwealth Sport stories in the lead-up to Birmingham 2022.

A new section dedicated to Commonwealth Sport has gone live on the world leading and award winning Olympic news website, which features an in-depth overview of the movement. It includes the history of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, round-ups of major Commonwealth Games moments, biographies of star athletes and details of the CGF's drive to use sport for social change.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: "I am delighted to announce this exciting new partnership with our friends at insidethegames.biz.

"The CGF and insidethegames.biz have worked closely together for many years, across numerous editions of the Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games and other key events on our calendar. They have unparalleled connections in global sport and are as passionate as we are about providing a voice and a platform for our diverse, committed Commonwealth sporting family.

"We are delighted to be moving this strong relationship a step further, with insidethegames.biz hosting a new section that will shine a light on the inspiring stories that are at the heart of the Commonwealth Sport. This will be particularly beneficial for some of our small states and island states, who will have a truly global platform to share their stories.

"My thanks go to editor Duncan Mackay, managing director Sarah Bowron and the entire team at insidethegames.biz for their support in working to promote our movement." insidethegames will produce multiple news articles on Commonwealth Sport each week, covering the 72 Commonwealth Games Associations which are preparing to compete in Birmingham next year.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation," said Bowron. "Our experienced team have long enthused with infectious excitement about the Commonwealth Games. I caught the bug at Glasgow in 2014 alongside the younger members of our team. Our affection has continued to grow with memorable visits to Samoa, Edmonton, The Bahamas, the Gold Coast and Rwanda among others. 

"Everybody at the CGF and in the CGAs are like a big Commonwealth Family and we are delighted to feel a part of this fantastic global movement. Everybody in our team is looking forward to help tell the story of Commonwealth Sport to the insidethegames.biz influential readership of more than 20 million in over 200 countries and we hope that this will be a partnership for many years to come.

"I would like to thank Dame Louise and the entire team at the CGF for working with us to create this ground-breaking partnership. I am sure it will be a huge success." 

Making football history, when she stepped out to take charge of the Juventus vs. Dynamo Kyiv Champion’s League game, the name ‘Stephan Frappart’ was talked about all over the world's media.

Having inspiring young girls everywhere, the 37-year-old became the first woman to take charge of a men's match in a major UEFA competition when Liverpool and Chelsea met in the 2019 Super Cup. That year, she also refereed the Women's World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands, and has refereed French Ligue 1 games since 2019.

Unmoved, though, by the worldwide attention she is receiving, a stoic Stephan said: "I never read newspapers about me. I make my bubble. I know that in football everybody speaks about referees and performance.

"I still ignore everything. I prefer it like this."

Having played football from the aged 10, she took charge of her first Europa League game in October when Leicester City hosted Zorya Luhansk. Since then, she said that refereeing at the men's World Cup in 2022 would be a bonus for her. A presence in those types of high-profile games would be a bound and would inspire young girls watching to follow in her foot-steps.

She said: “This would be a great pleasure. I know that I am a role model.

"Young women are watching TV, so I know that if I am here on the field they can see that it's possible.”

Having been in the pool of referees for top flight men's football in France for the 2019/20 season, Stephan Frappart has proved, over a number of years, that she is one of the best referees, not just in Europe but across the world.

Yesterday marked 20 years since David Rocastle passed away.

The Arsenal legend – who also playing for Leeds United and Chelsea, shocked everyone in the footballing world when his death - from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma – was announced. The life of the former England international was cut short, at 33-years-old, by a disease that couldn't be beaten, even by a man of seemingly endless courage.

Few Arsenal players of the modern era ever had the connection with supporters that David "Rocky" Rocastle had. The Lewisham-born star who joined Arsenal's academy in 1982, was always an inspirational fans’ favourite, as he balanced his unique blend of trickery and pace on the wing with a spirit that was way and above so many of his peers – at the time and since.

Two decades on since his passing and Rocastle's legacy is one of outright praise. A player loved by both fans and players alike, ‘Rocky’ was by all accounts the nicest man in English football, and the greatest tributes paid are from his peers – then and till today.

"Remember who you are, what you are, and who you represent," was his poignant mantra as he rose above and beyond those around him with supreme skill, grace and dignity.

Remembering the Gooner legend, another Arsenal great, Ian Wright reminisced about his former friend and teammate when saying that he was involved in the favourite game of his career – when the two played together at Highbury in the 1991-1992 season before Rocastle moved on to Leeds, and they helped the Gunners finish fourth in the old First Division.

Rocky, who also play for Manchester City and Sabah, in Malaysia, tragically passed away at the age of just 33 after suffering with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Always willing to share his invaluable experience and tips to others – regardless of who he spoke to,

20-years on since his passing, and David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle's legacy remains as one of outright praise.