Mahe Drysdale's return to international competition may be brief, if his margin behind current single sculler Robbie Manson is anything to go by. Just two weeks out from his first World Cup in more than two years, the two-time Olympic champion remains about 8-12 seconds behind Manson - the man he needs to beat if he wants to compete at the world rowing championships in September. "I don’t want to give anyone else a chance at my seat," says Drysdale, a five-time world champion. "I still class it as my seat, it’s been my seat since 2005." But Manson, who claimed the world record off Drysdale in Ponzan last year, believes the seat is now his. "I feel like every day I'm just getting better and better," he says. "I'm very confident I'll be in the single at world champs." Manson's confidence stems from the fact he's tracking much faster than Drysdale just a month out from 'D-Day', when the pair go head to head at the third World Cup in Lucerne. That race will decide who … [Read more...] about Rowing: Mahe Drysdale chasing Robbie Manson for sculling honours
World rowing champs
The big interview: Skibbereen stars counting the cost of rowing faster
By Larry RyanThe first World Cup event of the rowing season began yesterday in Belgrade. Having wintered together in Australia and New Zealand, two Skibbereen double-acts now face very different challenges. Gary and Paul O’Donovan are on top of the world to be shot down, while Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan must summon the appetite to survive the biggest test of their careers.Summer yawns in front of the four Skibbereen lads who have Ireland circled on every rowing map. Their second summer of 2018 holds great promise but also much to weigh and calculate.Paul and Gary O’Donovan must count the cost of celebrity and make sure they pay no price in speed. They must count the cost of everything and make sure they have the price of it.Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll have already calculated the steep price of an Olympic dream. Now they must make sure they don’t pay too heavily with their bodies.The four friends spent the first three months of … [Read more...] about The big interview: Skibbereen stars counting the cost of rowing faster
Counting the cost of rowing faster
The first World Cup event of the rowing season began yesterday in Belgrade. Having wintered together in Australia and New Zealand, two Skibbereen double-acts now face very different challenges. Gary and Paul O’Donovan are on top of the world to be shot down, while Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan must summon the appetite to survive the biggest test of their careers. Summer yawns in front of the four Skibbereen lads who have Ireland circled on every rowing map. Their second summer of 2018 holds great promise but also much to weigh and calculate. Paul and Gary O’Donovan must count the cost of celebrity and make sure they pay no price in speed. They must count the cost of everything and make sure they have the price of it. Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll have already calculated the steep price of an Olympic dream. Now they must make sure they don’t pay too heavily with their bodies. The four friends spent the first three months of the year … [Read more...] about Counting the cost of rowing faster
Have a ball with world snooker champ Dennis Taylor at The Grand, Clitheroe
Dennis Taylor chuckles down the telephone and with that gentle Northern Irish lilt he recalls an ungodly hour in an airport car park somewhere, when a shadowy figure confronts him a few rows away. “It was 5am, and suddenly there’s this chap doing a mime of putting a snooker cue above his head,” said Taylor. “And then he put his glasses the wrong way up and shouted, ‘Alright Dennis. “I’ve been in supermarkets, queues at the bank, waiting for a train or on the golf course and people still waggle their finger at me and do that. “It’s lovely, you know, after all this time.” That distinctive cameo was Taylor’s DIY celebration at the conclusion of the greatest snooker match ever played, dubbed the Black Ball Final, and the memories remained undimmed for the man and his specially designed oversized snooker spectacles. Taylor’s recovery from eight frames down to beat Steve Davis on the last black at the 1985 World … [Read more...] about Have a ball with world snooker champ Dennis Taylor at The Grand, Clitheroe
Prestatyn battle ground welcomes WWE Champ for 30 man all out war
A WWE champion will enter the ring with 29 other combatants to help kick of a very special celebration in Prestatyn this weekend. In keeping with true wrastlin’ tradition Britannia Wrestling Promotions’ 2018 schedule and 10th anniversary celebrations kick off with a 30 man battle royale, featuring WWE UK champ Pete “The Bruiserweight” Dunne in Royally Rumbled at Ffrith Beach Arena on Saturday, January 27. For the uninitiated, expect absolute chaos as allies and mortal enemies will enter the squared circle in timed intervals, with just one man left standing at the end of pandemonium. Expect a truly awe inspiring display of athleticism and in ring storytelling in a barrage of epic clashes full of betrayals and shocking twists. As if that were not enough, Noah and Henry T Grodd of Wonderland will defend the PWI:BWP World Tag Team Championship against The Babyfaced Pitbull and Dylan Roberts for added suspense and high flying thrills. To find out who will … [Read more...] about Prestatyn battle ground welcomes WWE Champ for 30 man all out war