SPORTING ROUND UP

Story of the Week

One of the most famous pair of running shoes were sold at auction last week for £220,000, that’s approx $300,000.  Were they Usain Bolt’s? Did they belong to Carl Lewis, Sally Gunnell,  Michael Johnson, Paul Radcliffe maybe or Mary Peters perhaps?

Well they actually belonged to Sir Roger Banister, the first ever athlete to run one mile in under 4 minutes. The date was 6^th May 1954 and he was 25. The stop watch that recorded this amazing event sold for £20,000. Sir Roger was knighted in 1975.  He said, “They served me great purpose, I am grateful to them, but, I think it’s the right time to part with them.

I wonder what Usain Bolts running shoes will bring in 61 years time?

Anyone care to guess?

Hot Spots

Davis Cup Tennis: for the first time in 37 years Great Britain is through to the finals of the Davis Cup.  We will watch avidly in November when they face Belgium who have waited 111 years to get their final. (Well that’s what it says on the BBC Sports web page)  Well done Andy, what price a pair of your sneakers?                                                             

Rugby World Cup: Japan beat The Springbok - enough said. I am Welsh so the red dragon had better beat Uruguay later today. (Sunday) 

Wheelchair Rugby: Great Britain v Sweden was a golden c for the British team at the European Championships. Final score, 49-48. Just as nail biting for their fans as those watching the Rugby World Cup. Up the Brits.

Rowing: Britain’s rowing 8 took the gold medal at the World Rowing Championships. Row row row your boat, not so gently down the stream,

all the way to Rio boys.

World Superbike Championships: Jonathan Rea is the 5^th British rider to be crowned World Superbike Champion. I had a bike once. Suzuki 125or thereabouts. I think the speeds Johnathan races at would literally scare the pants off me.

Snooker: Judd Trump will play Kyren Wilson today in the Shanghai Masters final.

The Count Down : The Rio Olympics

The needed progress on the buildings and infrastructure for this great event are being made. “Concerns” are being voiced however by the media about whether or not Rio will be complete, the finances going over budget,  and the conditions that will greet the athletes when they arrive. No surprises there then, media business as usual.

If you want to see the actual progress for yourself it can be seen here http://goo.gl/DZx2Iw

Web site of the Week.

As your interest in the Olympics starts to go up then this is the web site to visit: http://goo.gl/fyVQ81  On the home page look to the right and click on the blue tab for sports. Proceed and click on the sport of your choice.  You will be taken to the well laid out, easy to understand pages where the rules and regs of the chosen sport are all laid out.  From Greco-Roman wrestling to volley ball, from boxing to synchronised swimming, from athletics to Rowing and so on are all there. I have read and understood two; beach volley ball and weight lifting. That’s two down, only 40 to go!

More updates on who won what on all these sports next week

Jemima J Jones - Blog Writer