Can AFCON 2015 make the headlines for the right reasons after Ebola fears, absent big guns and a change of host?

By Steven Oldham

There has been that much event and controversy surrounding the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations it could be easy to forget the tournament has yet to begin.

Ebola, a late change of host and high profile absentees have all kept the tournament in the headlines without a ball being kicked -  it starts with Equatorial Guinea taking on Congo tomorrow.

The Ebola epidemic that's decimated parts of West Africa has in turn led original hosts Morocco to forfeit the right to hold the tournament after requests to postpone it were refused.  CAF have looked very unfavourably on this and the North African team have been banned from the next two editions of the Cup of Nations.

After several countries ruled themselves out of replacing Morocco - including Egypt and Ghana - Equatorial Guinea, co-hosts of the 2012 tournament with Gabon, was announced as the unlikely replacement venue.

Credit has to go to the country for stepping in to fill the breach, but there remain concerns about how ready they are given the short notice given to prepare themselves for the continent's biggest sporting event - there are still questions surrounding stadia, infrastructure and logistical problems like hotel space and facilities for visiting teams, media and so on.

That CAF chose Equatorial Guinea suggest there were few other countries willing to go ahead with the tournament. The country were thrown out of qualifying in the first round despite beating Mauritania 3-1 on aggregate, having fielded Thierry Fidieu, a player deemed illegal by CAF.

Equatorial Guinea were just one of a number of teams whose on the pitch results were rendered null and void by the authorities. Rwanda were also thrown out of qualifying for fielding an illegal player, despite beating Congo on penalties in the second round. The Seychelles had to forfeit their fixture against Sierra Leone after the visiting team were banned from entering the islands over fears Ebola could spread further.

The Seychelles themselves benefitted from a walkover victory in the first round after Gambia were banned from all CAF competitions for two years, having fielded overage players in qualifying for the CAF U-20s Championships. Eritrea, meanwhile, withdrew from the preliminary round without even taking to the pitch, giving South Sudan a bye in their first attempt to qualify for the Cup of Nations.

Who will win AFCON 2015? Vote on my poll on the homepage here



Estadio de Bata will host the tournament's opening game (nussli.us)

Reigning champions Nigeria failed to qualify, alongside Egypt, the most successful nation in the tournament's history, with seven victories, the last being in 2010. Whether the absence of these big names will be a detriment to the tournament remains to be seen. Even though AFCON has a reputation for being unpredictable, this could be the most open tournament in years.

The bookies' favourites are Algeria, who qualified easily and gained many admirers for their performances in Brazil last summer, when they made history by making the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time. They may be lamenting the decision by their North African neighbours to rescind their right to host however, given the vast changes in climate to the tropical temperatures they can expect in Mongomo, where they will play two group games.

Burkina Faso were the surprise package of the last tournament, finishing runners up to Nigeria. They continued this good form into World Cup qualifying and only missed out on a place in Brazil on away goals, having drawn 3-3 with Algeria. They will get the chance to avenge the defeat to Gabon that cost them the chance to win their qualifying group, as the two teams have been paired in Group A along with the hosts and Congo.

Both Ivory Coast and Ghana have flattered to deceive in this tournament despite their undoubted talent, and both have been drawn into the tougher two groups. Ivory Coast are paired with Mali, Cameroon and Guinea, while Ghana take on Algeria, South Africa and Senegal. Neither group will be easy to escape, and you have to think any nation that can make it into the knockout phase from these groups has a good chance to win the trophy.

Whether the country is ready or not, Equatorial Guinea will hope the on-pitch action will take attention away from any criticism heading their way. Little is expected of the hosts, but there are plenty of countries here who can play decent football and challenge for victory.

The quality of football at this tournament is sometimes questionable, but it is rarely boring. Players like Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) , Yacine Brahimi (Algeria) and Sadio Mané (Senegal)  all have the talent to light up a tournament like this.

Hopefully, the tournament will be a success and banish the bad headlines that have relentlessly dogged the build up. Will there be a surprise package like Burkina Faso, or Zambia one year before them? Or perhaps a breakout star who could persuade clubs to splash the cash on them in the transfer window. Who knows? There's one way to find out.

MORE FOOTBALL READING:

 

Five mid-ranking countries who need to take advantage of extra Euro 2016 places

 

UEFA Nations League: What's good? What's not?

 

World Cup power rankings - every country rated 1-16

 

Football League: Five new signings who could make big impacts in the Championship

 

Europa League needs to change...but is still a competition worth winning

 

Can Yaya Toure lead Ivory Coast to glory?

 

Can Qatar use home advantage to break Europe's domination of the World Handball Championships?

Have Qatar got the potential to upset the European sides and add to their continental successes of 2014? (QatarHandball2015.com)

By Steven Oldham

The men's World Handball Championships start this Thursday in Qatar and the host nation look the most capable outside bet to end Europe's total domination of this competition.

All 23 previous world titles have gone to European teams since the Championships began in 1938. Spain are the reigning champions having made the most of home advantage two years ago, but France - current European and Olympic champions - go into the tournament as favourites.

While much has been made of Qatar's suitability to hold the FIFA 2022 World Cup, handball is a sport in which their reputation and trophy cabinet are growing in equal measure.

Under Valero Rivera López - who coached Spain to their world title triumph two years ago - they won both the Asian Championships and Asian Games in 2014.

The hosts are ranked fifth favourites behind France, Spain, Denmark and Croatia - and will need to maintain the same sort of free-scoring form that took them to continental success last year to stand a chance of matching these lofty expectations.

For Qatar, a home tournament gives them ample opportunity to record their best ever performance at a World Championships - they've made the knockout rounds once before - and failure to qualify from the group stages this time is unthinkable.

The 24 team tournament consists of four groups of six, with the top four from each group qualifying to a straight knockout format. After being paired with Spain, Slovenia, Belarus, Brazil and Chile, the Qataris stand a good chance of securing a winnable tie in the last 16.

Home advantage is well proven to be a true phenomenon in sport and handball is no exception. Germany, Sweden, France and Spain have all won titles on their own turf, while Tunisia have only ever got anywhere near the semi finals once - when they hosted the tournament back in 2005 - eventually finishing fourth.

Realistically, Qatar will find it difficult to topple the real big boys, even in Lusail or Doha. That they are being spoken about in the same breath as these teams however is testament to their massive improvement in recent years. It will also be an interesting side note to see how Rivera López sets Qatar up to face his old team Spain, who still include many of his title winning team within their squad.

Artist's impression of the new 15,300 seater Lusail Multipurpose Hall
(QatarHandball2015.com)

The bid to host this tournament four years ago was well received by fellow International Handball Federation members and they beat other bids from the French, Poland and Norway to secure another entry in the ever-growing scrapbook of sporting events held in the Gulf state.  The purpose-built, 15,300 capacity Lusail Multipurpose Hall is the focal point for this tournament and will see the first action of the Championships' between the hosts and Brazil on Thursday.

The Championships remain frustratingly Europe-centric however, with the next edition in two years in France followed by the 2019 tournament which will be jointly held by Denmark and Germany. Both France and Germany have hosted the tournament since the turn of the century. 

In this respect, handball runs the risk of lagging behind fellow Olympic sports, which are trying to grow outside of their traditional heartlands and develop bigger fanbases worldwide - see the Judo World Championships being held in Astana, Kazakhstan later this year.

Moving back to Qatar, their marked improvement means hopes of a first Olympic qualification for Rio 2016 are rising. Momentum appears to be on their side and a creditable showing in the forthcoming competition could act as a springboard to reaching this goal.

MORE OLYMPIC SPORTS READING:

 

Olympics: How will Agenda 2020 change the future of the Games?

 

No Olympics? No problem! Championships galore in minority and developing sports in 2015 as road to Rio continues

 

"Legacy? What legacy?" ask British basketballers, weightlifters and water polo players as UK Sport funding withdrawn

 

Badminton's Olympic legacy boosted by creation of NBL

 

Rowing's struggle for sponsorship despite Golden Games is a big worry for minority sports

No Olympics? No problem! Championships galore in minority and developing sports in 2015 as road to Rio continues

By Steven Oldham

Even though there's no Olympic Games this year, there is plenty of action to follow in the sports that make up the biggest show on Earth.

Olympic sports will also benefit from the men's World Cup taking place last year - giving them more opportunity for exposure in 2015 as the months and days tick down to Rio 2016.

Throughout the year lots of sports are holding world and continental championships - here are some highlights.

Handball World Championships
Qatar
January 15-February 1

Will Spain be celebrating again in Doha on February 1?
(beforeitsnews.com)

Handball is the latest sport holding a prestigious tournament in Qatar, with the men's  world championships one of the first events of the year for Olympic sports fans.
Teams from 24 nations will contest the title, including current champions Spain, who made the most of home advantage two years ago and will be looking to seal their position as top dog with Rio 2016 now just 18 months away.
Reigning Olympic and European champions France will also surely be a force to reckoned with, having reclaimed their continental title last year in Denmark.
Having won the Asian Championship for the first time last year, the hosting Qataris should be quietly confident of achieving their best result to date.
The women's tournament takes place in Denmark in December and the majority of places are still to be determined via qualifiers.


FIFA Women's World Cup
Canada
June 6-July 5

Japan's Azusa Iwashimizu, who scored the goal
that sealed her country's first Asian Cup win
(zimbio.com)

The rise in interest in women's football should continue in 2015 with what is likely to be the most watched and talked about World Cup to date.  The tournament has grown to 24 teams for the first time, and as such will follow an awkward route to get to the neat 16/8/4/2 system that works best, with the best four third placed teams in the group stages advancing to the knockout rounds.
Host nation Canada start the proceedings against China on June 6, and all four previous winners (most recent champions Japan, Germany, USA and Norway) have qualified again. The expansion of the tournament will see one third of the teams making their World Cup debuts.
Holders Japan go into the tournament with high hopes following an inaugural Asian Cup win last year, finally winning after being the bridesmaids on four occasions.
Two-times winners Germany qualified for the tournament with ease, winning all 10 games and finishing with an impressive goal difference of +58, while fellow double champions USA will be looking to win a first title since 1999.
 

World Table Tennis Championships
China
April 26-May 3

China's Zhang Jike will be looking to retain his world title on home turf

'Odd' years see table tennis players aiming for individual and doubles titles at the world championships, as opposed to 'even' years which now play host to the team event.
This year the tournament returns to China for a fifth time, this time in the eastern city of Suzhou.  It's hard to look past a highly successful tournament for players from the host nation, and indeed from Asia. At the last edition in Paris two years ago, not one medal escaped to another continent.
Home advantage is likely to play into Chinese hands, who boast the current Olympic and World champions Zhang Jike and Li Xiaoxia in the men's and women's events respectively. Competition for the holders is likely to come from within; Jike had a poor year by his standards in 2014 and is below countrymen Xu Xin, Ma Long and Fan Zhendong in the ITTF rankings following successive early exits in big competitions.
Beaten in the final two years ago, Liu Shiwen is now higher than Xiaoxia in the world rankings and won the Asian Games last year. They both trail Ding Ning however, who took victory in both the World Cup and Asian Cup in a successful 2014.

World Weightlifting Championships
USA
November 20-29

Albania's Daniel Godelli on his way to gold in Kazakhstan last year

This year's World Weightlifting Championships - to be held in Houston - is also doubling up as a qualifier for Rio 2016. Performance in this tournament - and the 2014 event - are the most important for the various National Olympic Committees as the majority of places for the Games will be decided by lifters' performance in these tournaments. Athletes' performance will directly influence the number of places available to their NOC, and the likelihood of them being selected for Rio. There are further chances to qualify individually, but a strong showing on the world stage will surely give them an advantage. At last year's Worlds in Kazakhstan, Asian nations proved to be the teams to beat with China, North Korea and the host nation winning 11 of the 15 gold medals available between them. Russia's performance dramatically dropped off compared to the year before - winning just one gold compared to six in 2013 - it will be interesting to see which nations' lifters will build momentum heading into the final months before Rio.

IPC Swimming World Championships
Scotland
July 13-19

Will Great Britain's Ellie Simmonds repeat her London 2012 success?

Glasgow is again set to welcome swimmers from across the globe one year on from the Commonwealth Games as the biggest Paralympic swimming meet outside the Games lands in Scotland this summer.
Around 650 swimmers from over 50 countries will take part in the Championships and a good performance here could prove a launch pad for these athletes for next year's Paralympic Games.
Great Britain's golden girl Ellie Simmonds will provide the star attraction for a partisan crowd, and the seven time world and four time Paralympic champion will be keen to add to her medal haul on home turf.

There are too many world and continental championships to mention in one blog - ice hockey, judo, fencing, gymnastics and pentathlon to name but five are all searching for new world champions this year. Keep an eye on my blog nearer to the time for more features on these and other events.

MORE OLYMPICS READING

 

Olympics: How will Agenda 2020 change the future of the Games?

 

England's Helen Clitheroe not retiring after Commonwealth Games...but risks being 'strung up' if she guns for Rio 2016!

 

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Olympics: How will Agenda 2020 change the future of the Games?



Olympic athletes gather in Lausanne, Switzerland for the launch of Agenda 2020 last month (IOC)


By Steven Oldham


The International Olympic Committee's Agenda 2020 will reshape the Games as we know them by focusing on the key themes of affordability, legacy and inclusion.

Since IOC President Thomas Bach introduced the set of 40 (20+20) proposals last month, it is clear that the future of the Olympic movement is changing to reflect economic and social issues faced by the world.

Simplifying the bidding process to host future Games and reducing the costs of doing so is one of the central proposals. Being able to submit joint bids with other cities or countries is a step in the right direction, as is the reduction in presentations by bidding cities. With the IOC also covering some logistical fees for bidders, this should drive down overheads and make hosting the Games an attractive, viable option to a broader range of nations than in previous years.

This will open up the prospect of a first Middle Eastern Games, for example. After securing both the 2019 World Athletics Championships and the 2022 football World Cup, Qatar would be the obvious candidate in this part of the world. However, the sheer scale of the event might mean a joint bid with neighbouring countries could be more realistic.

Another option would be a Nordic Games - and not necessarily a Winter one, given that Sweden has previously hosted the Summer Games. Both Norway and Finland have experience in hosting Diamond League and European Championship athletics respectively.

Hopefully, these reforms will help avoid another situation like the bidding process for the 2022 Winter Olympics, which will now only be contested by Beijing and Almaty after four European cities, for various reasons, withdrew their candidacy in quick succession this year.

Wherever future editions are held, a key part of bids will be legacy plans after the Games have left town.  IOC members will be keen to point to London as a good example, which used a good mix of existing and temporary facilities. New builds are also well used - the Olympic stadium will host the 2017 World Athletics Championships and will become West Ham United's new home. The Copper Box regularly hosts professional boxing and is home to handball and badminton teams as well as community sports facilities. Next year, the Lee Valley Hockey Centre will host that sport's Euro Championships.

Sadly, this is not always the case - just ten years ago, the Games returned to Athens, the birthplace of the Olympics. However, ill-thought plans to build stadia exclusively for beach volleyball, softball, taekwondo and so on have led to them standing derelict and in ruins.  Costing an estimated €9bn, the Greeks have precious little left to show for their money.

The abandoned Olympic Aquatic centre in Athens, ten years on
(Milos Bicanski)

The IOC are looking to take a more hands-on and supportive role for prospective hosts in the sustainability of their infrastructure to avoid this in future. The use of existing facilities is to be further encouraged, and to avoid potential white elephants, temporary arenas will be preferred to costly unviable stadia.

Another aim of Agenda 2020 is for the Games to be ever more inclusive. This includes a target of 50% participation rate for female athletes and the principle of non-discrimination against athletes is to be expanded to include sexual orientation.

The commitment to gender equality follows the first Games in which every country included at least one woman in their team. Concerns about non-participation of women in the Olympics were eased by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei all including women in their teams for the first time at London 2012 but there is still work to be done to reach the desired 50/50 split.

Women's sport continues to grow in popularity and it is vital that the IOC is seen to be trying to balance the number of places to make the event as a whole fairer and representative of participation levels at the grass roots.

Another point of the gender equality recommendation was to encourage the introduction of mixed gender team sports. In recent days, FINA have announced the introduction of mixed diving and synchronised swimming competitions to their events. Whilst there is no guarantee these disciplines will be added to the Olympic programme, the IOC will no doubt look favourably on this development.

Agenda 2020's proposals will no doubt affect how we view the Olympics. Work is now needed by the NOCS to implement them. If they succeed in making the Games fairer, more cost-effective and inclusive, the movement will have changed for the better.

The IOC are due to vote on the Agenda 2020 proposals at the 127th IOC session on December 8-9. This article is not a full summary of the proposals - I have concentrated on what I feel are the most important aspects. A full list of the 40 proposals can be found on the Olympic website here



Will future Olympics feature synchronised swimming with
men competing alongside women? (Sports Tribe)

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Who should be on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist? Part 2

By Steven Oldham

If you haven't read the first part of this blog, click here for the first five sportspeople I think should be included in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist, which is due to be released on November 24th.

Gareth Bale (Football)

Bale has made a brilliant transition to La Liga

 

The Welsh wing wizard stands football's best chance of winning the top gong since countryman Ryan Giggs took the prize in 2009. The world's most expensive player's 2014 form suggests Real Madrid were right to spend such an amount on him. After an inauspicious start at the Bernabeu, struggling with injury, Bale has quickly become one of his team's most consistent and exciting players. He scored goals in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals, and was instrumental in his side's Super Cup victory in September. Since moving to Spain, he's averaging a goal in less than every two games, easily the most potent his strike rate has been at any stage in his career. He also saved his international team from embarassment in Euro 2016 qualifying, scoring both goals in a narrow 2-1 victory over minnows Andorra.

 

Fran Halsall (Swimming)

 

2014 has been a great year for Fran Halsall 

A long standing member of the British and English swimming teams despite being just 24, Halsall has had one of her best years in 2014. She was at the forefront of the British revival at the European championships in Berlin as Team GB returned to form in their biggest event since the disappointment of London 2012. She won both 50m freestyle and backstroke events, and picked up another sprint double at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she won the 50m freestyle and butterfly events. Back in Germany, she was part of the 4 x 100m mixed medley team that broke the world and European records by over two and four seconds respectively.

 

Max Whitlock (Gymnastics)

 

Max with one of his Commonwealth gold medals

 

Max Whitlock is another athlete whose success belies his young age. The 21-year-old has had another stellar year on and off the mat for Great Britain and England. He won three gold medals at Glasgow 2014 - in the team, floor and all around events - and topped these off with a silver in the pommel horse and bronze in the parallel bars. He also won European gold in Bulgaria in his favoured pommel horse event, beating the Hungarian Olympic champion Krisztian Berki, and came a close second in the all-around event at the World Championships in China. His performances are getting stronger, with 2014 being his most decorated year to date.

 

Paul Wellens (Rugby League)

 

Rugby league veteran Paul Wellens

The St Helens and former England full back captained his club to a Super League Grand Final and League Leaders' Shield double in 2014. The one club man has become a legend both in Saints and Super League history, now picking up titles in three decades. This season, he also moved past the 1,000 points scored margin, and is the player with most Super League appearances under his belt. He has joined the England coaching staff but he has not yet retired from the game he has served for so long.

Kelly Gallagher (Skiing)

 

History maker Kelly Gallagher

 

The Northern Irish skier created history back in February by becoming the first British athlete to win Winter Paralympic gold as she won the Super-G event for visually impaired athletes with the help of sight guide Charlotte Evans. Her performance in Sochi (and that of the Paralympic team in general) showed vast improvement from the Vancouver Games four years earlier when no medals were won. Gallagher was the closest on that occasion, finishing fourth in the giant slalom. Similarly to Lizzy Yarnold, Kelly's success bodes well for the future of Paralympic winter sports in the UK as funding has been increased given the team surpassing their medals target. She was made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list following her success.

 

It is always hard cutting down a list of sporting achievements to find a shortlist, and I for one don't envy the panel who are drawing up the real shortlist. How do you separate achievements in mainstream sports like football and tennis, where money is no object, and success to an extent is expected, to sports like skiing, where money is at a premium? Some athletes narrowly missed out on being profiled in my two blogs, but I feel it's right to include them as they have all had great years. 

 

Honourable mentions

JACK LAUGHER: The diver from Leeds has been the star performer in the British team this year - he won two golds at Glasgow 2014 and his synchro partnership with Chris Mears is improving year on year.

EILIDH CHILD: Hurdler Child has a brilliant chance of being shortlisted for her European Championship gold winning performance in the 400m in Zurich this year. She also captured a memorable silver medal in the same event at her home Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

GREG RUTHERFORD: The long jumper is another strong contender for the award longlist. He captured both European and Commonwealth titles for the first time this year, and holds the British record in his event.

JONNY WILKINSON: The England legend bowed out of rugby union in some style this year, playing a key role in Toulon's victories in the Heineken Cup and the Top 14 finals, in which he scored a lion's share of the points in his final games as a player.

HANNAH MILEY: The Scottish swimmer set a new Games record while winning gold in the 400m medley at the Commonwealths.

DANNY BROUGH: The Huddersfield Giants and Scotland captain topped the Super League points scored and assist tables this season and led his country to a first European title, despite being the lowest ranked nation of the four teams involved.

ROSS MURDOCH: The swimmer burst onto the international stage this by winning medals of all colours at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, but his best and most surprising moment came when he beat Glasgow 2014 poster boy and compatriot Michael Jamieson to gold in the 200m breaststroke.

 

MORE  READING:

 

Who should be on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist? Part 1

 

Five mid-ranking countries who need to take advantage of extra Euro 2016 places

 

Glasgow 2014: DAY 6: England dominate gymnastics team events, Canada rack up the medals, Kenya lock out long distance podium

 

Glasgow 2014: DAY 1: Hosts Scotland off to golden start as 20th Commonwealth Games get under way

 

Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Gymnastics



Who should be on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist? Part 1

By Steven Oldham

It's almost that time of year again. A month today, we will know who has succeeded Andy Murray as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. 

Pleasingly, there is no shortage of contenders this year, with standout performers in big sporting occasions including the Winter Olympics, Ryder Cup, Commonwealth Games and continental championships in a number of sports.

While the award is seen as old fashioned and irrelevant in some quarters, it still manages to attract A-list stars from all sports to the ceremony and remains a strong ratings winner among the general public.

The official shortlist of contenders is not due til late November, but here I look at who could and should be in the running.

Jo Pavey (Athletics)

European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey
 

The distance runner from Devon should be a certainty for this year's shortlist - and among the favourites to win. She was crowned European 10,000m champion at the age of 40 after a memorable victory in Zurich earlier this year. What's even more is impressive is she gave birth just ten months earlier. That she is still competing at such a competitive level is an inspiration to other athletes - both elite and amateur - who retire or think they are past their best. For this alone she should be included as one of the award's criteria is the impact the athlete has had beyond their achievement. As well as her European title, she also picked up a Commonwealth bronze in Glasgow in the same event just ten days later.

Rory McIlroy (Golf)

2014 has been a standout year for McIlroy
 

Rory McIlroy's stunning year is the perfect antidote to an off-par 2013.  He won the Open Championship for the first time, PGA Championship for a second time and helped Europe to a third consecutive Ryder Cup win. In addition to this he has already been named PGA Player of the Year and returned to number one in the world rankings, a position he has held since May. Rather than affecting him negatively, his romantic split from tennis star Caroline Wozniacki seems to have invigorated his form on the green.  He also settled the debate on which country he will represent at the Olympics in 2016 should he qualify. He'll play for Ireland rather than Great Britain as golf returns to the Olympic programme for the first time in over a century.

 

Claudia Fragapane (Gymnastics)

Fragapane has burst onto the international gymnastics scene in 2014

 

The teenager is eligible to win the Young Sports Personality trophy, but her achievements in 2014 are worth a nomination for the main award.  In her first year of senior competition, she has represented her country at European and international level. She was one of the stars of Glasgow 2014 - taking four gold medals in both team and individual events - all at aged 16 - she only turned 17 in October.  This made her the most successful English female competitor at the Commonwealth Games in over 80 years. She also scored European and British silver medals and if she continues her current rate of progress, could be a leading star for Team GB in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

 

 

Lewis Hamilton (Motor racing)

 

Lewis is one race away from being a double champion

 

 At the time of writing Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton is one race away from winning his second world title. Should he triumph, he will become only the fourth Brit to win more than one world title at motor racing's highest table. He now owns the record for most British victories, with 32 surpassing Nigel Mansell's previous best which has stood for over 20 years. In every race he has finished, he has stepped onto the podium. A crucial five straight victories in the latter part of the season has helped him catch and overtake Mercedes team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg. The pairing have both contribute to their dominant team racking up the most points by one constructor in a season in history with a hefty 86 points still available in the final race in Abu Dhabi, where double points are controversially awarded for the first time.

 



 

 Lizzy Yarnold (Skeleton)

 

Team GB's sole gold medallist in Sochi: Lizzy Yarnold

 



Lizzy Yarnold continued Team GB's proud record in the skeleton event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February as she won the same title as compatriot Amy Williams did four years earlier. Despite not being an atypical winter sports country, this was the fourth consecutive Games a British woman has stepped onto the podium in this event. Her triumph was the highlight of a successful Games for Britain, who enjoyed their best Games since 1924 with four medals. Largely down to her success, UK Sport funding for skeleton was almost doubled for the next Olympic cycle to the Pyeongchang Games in 2018, as part of a record level investment in winter sports following the British Olympic and Paralympic teams outperforming targets with a total of ten medals. And Yarnold? She wants to defend her title in Korea.

 

You can read part two of this blog HERE

 

MORE READING:

 

Five mid-ranking countries who need to take advantage of extra Euro 2016 places

 

Glasgow 2014: DAY 9: Gymnast Claudia Fragapane wins fourth gold, bowls success for Scotland, Sally Pearson wins hurdles gold for Australia

 

England's Helen Clitheroe not retiring after Commonwealth Games...but risks being 'strung up' if she guns for Rio 2016!

 

Who will be the next driver to win his first F1 race after Daniel Ricciardo's Montreal success?

 

"Legacy? What legacy?" ask British basketballers, weightlifters and water polo players as UK Sport funding withdrawn

 



FA Cup: Giantkillers will have to do it all again to progress past second round; Scunthorpe vs Worcester, Cheltenham vs Dover, Barnsley vs Chester, Hartlepool vs Blyth Spartans



Second round Cup draw

By Steven Oldham

FA Cup giantkillers Worcester City have been rewarded for dumping former winners Coventry City out with a trip to Scunthorpe United in the second round.

The Conference North side will be looking to claim another League One scalp as they visit Glanford Park.

Conference side Dover City will also be facing Football League opposition again in the shape of Cheltenham Town after dumping Morecambe out on Saturday.  Cheltenham produced a shock result of their own in the first round, trouncing Swindon Town from the league above 5-0.

Chester have been handed a tough away game at Barnsley in round two having shocked Southend in the firsr round. Barnsley were in clinical form on Saturday, disposing of Burton by five clear goals.

Warrington Town - the lowest ranked side left in the competition - have been drawn away to Gateshead - after they caused a big shock in knocking out Exeter City, who compete four divisions above the part timers from the Evo Stik Division One North.

Elsewhere in the draw, there is a tasty-looking North East derby between Hartlepool and Blyth Spartans on the cards. With Hartlepool bottom of the Football League, Blyth's players will be looking to claim another famous moment for their team, whose history is full of FA Cup magic.

Bradford City's reward for knocking out fellow Yorkshiremen Halifax is a home tie against Dartford, who won by the odd goal in a seven goal thriller at Bromley.

There are also competitive all League games between divisional rivals; League Two promotion contenders Bury and Luton will square up at Gigg Lane, with Oxford United and Tranmere Rovers also drawn together. League One's Milton Keynes Dons will face Chesterfield, and Colchester United must beat Peterborough United to progress.

Part timers Warrington Town knocked out League side Exeter

Ties will be played between 5-8 December.

Full FA Cup second round draw:

Oxford United vs Tranmere Rovers

Bury vs Luton

Wrexham vs Stevenage Borough/Maidstone Town

Scunthorpe United vs Worcester City

Colchester United  vs Peterborough United

Wycombe Wanderers vs York City/AFC Wimbledon

Notts County/Accrington Stanley vs Yeovil Town

Hartlepool United vs Blyth Spartans

MK Dons vs Chesterfield

Dagenham & Redbridge/Southport vs Eastleigh

Gateshead vs Warrington Town

Oldham Athletic vs Weston-super-Mare/Doncaster Rovers

Havant & Waterlooville/Preston North End vs Walsall/Shrewsbury Town

Barnsley vs Chester

Bradford City vs Dartford

Crewe Alexandra/Sheffield United vs Plymouth Argyle

Cheltenham Town vs Dover City

Cambridge United vs Mansfield Town/Concord Rangers

Bristol City vs Basingstoke Town/AFC Telford

Portsmouth/Aldershot Town vs Northampton Town/Rochdale

Worcester's first round two goal hero Sean Geddes (FA, Getty)