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| Alfa Romeo races clear in Sydney race • Alfa Romero opens up 10-mile lead in Bass Strait• Weather expert Roger Badham warns of pitfalls ahead Conditions in the 628-mile Sydney to Hobart race have been unusually benign this year, but five retirements before the halfway stage paint a different picture. Of the 95 yachts left racing, the three leaders are halfway across Bass Strait. Neville Crichton's 100ft Alfa Romeo had a 10-mile lead from Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard, while Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI – four times the first to Hobart – is a further five miles behind.Yet Roger "Clouds" Badham, the racing sailor's meteorologist of choice, has predicted that with 250 miles to go the race is far from decided."The big guys will have some running in Bass Strait this afternoon, but there are still a lot of potholes between that and the finish," Badham said early today: "Anyone of the three could finish first." Slade, however, conceded that Alfa Romeo may have opened a winning lead in the race to be first to Hobart and rob him of the unique treble he seeks; to add honours in this race to Leopard's victories in the Fastnet and Middle Sea races. He said Alfa Romeo's crucial break was around 9am on the second day when, after hours of frustratingly light winds, the New Zealand boat found better breeze."We were all just splashing about, there was no breeze whatsoever, and it's always the case that someone will get that little extra puff," Slade said. "Alfa Romeo was in the right place to get it. We didn't get it. Wild Oats XI didn't get it, and Alfa put 10 miles on us both very quickly."Niklas Zennstrom's 72ft Ran, the early handicap leader, was still near the top of the predicted corrected-time leaders and, with the extra breeze of the second day, could easily repeat her 2009 Fastnet success.Adrian Stead, Ran's tactician, said: "We are just past Green Cape and the breeze is filling back in. We have done OK with the current but had a light morning. It's nice to still see the maxis, but we are conscious of boats behind using the sea breeze this afternoon."SailingBob Fisherguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Collingwood 'only 50-50' for third Test • Andy Flower rates batsman's chance of playing as '50-50'• Michael Carberry on stand-by for Test debutPaul Collingwood, England's injured batsman, is so keen to play in the third Test against South Africa here on Sunday that the team management will not trust him to decide on his own fitness.Collingwood dislocated his left index finger during the victory in Durban this week and only took part in light practice , batting for 10 minutes against throw-downs before going through a very gentle slip fielding drill.But England's coach, Andy Flower, who described the player's chances of making it as "probably 50-50," added: "Collingwood didn't face the quicks in the nets. He faced the medium pacers and some spinners and he also didn't do that robust day of fielding practice. So we will have to put him through his paces against the quicks and with some harder fielding tomorrow."He is desperate to play. We won't be leaving the decision to him because he would probably say anything to play. In a lot of instances you would go with players but I think on this occasion, no."The situation is similar to that at Headingley last year, when the management did not trust Andrew Flintoff to decide his fitness to play in the fourth Ashes Test. Flintoff wanted to play but was over-ruled by medical advice.The 29-year-old Hampshire opener Michael Carberry is likely to win his Test cap ahead of Luke Wright if Collingwood is not passed fit to play. "If he [Collingwood] goes out, we'll lose some of that experience," Flower added. "But you gain in another way if the debutant comes in and kicks off his international career. We're not worried. If he can't play, he can't play – we'll get on with it."Carberry is in good form. He's been scoring runs out here in South Africa, so we're quite comfortable with that situation. Michael Carberry coming in is like any debutant. He'll be excited and nervous but certainly looking forward to the opportunity. The way he batted in the nets this morning, I'd feel very confident when he strode out to the middle."Carberry, a left-hander used to playing higher up the order in county cricket than Collingwood's Test No5 slot, had a prolific 2009 season for Hampshire but would have to fly out to South Africa at short notice if Collingwood fails a fitness test tomorrow.Shaun Udal, the former Hampshire captain, said: "Michael was a very attacking opening batsmen who has matured a lot. Shane Warne encouraged him to be a lot more selective with his shots. As a result he's more compact these days, plays a lot straighter and he's also a sensational fielder."England Cricket TeamSouth Africa cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Jaguars kick of tickets sales drive for critical 2010 season The Jacksonville Jaguars are entering a critical season-ticket renewal period that may ultimately determine the fate of the team, and the sense is growing that if everything doesn’t come together for the 2010 season, it will be game over. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Georgia finally lands Todd Grantham as defensive coordinator Georgia finally landed a defensive coordinator Friday, hiring Dallas Cowboys line coach Todd Grantham. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
A's sign pitcher Ben Sheets to a 1-year deal OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics added another veteran arm to their young rotation, agreeing to terms Tuesday with free-agent righty Ben Sheets on a $10 million, one-year contract. The 31-year-old Sheets has been plagued by injuries. The four-time NL All-Star didn't pitch in the majors last season while recovering from elbow surgery but last week held a pitching session for several scouts in Louisiana.... hosted.ap.org |