The race which was due to be held on April 26th was pushed back to October 4th. Organisers have said the event could still go ahead. It was due to be a historic milestone in the 40th year of the event. The director of the race Hugh Basher said “He hopes that the world will have found a way through coronavirus by October”. It was the first time since the event began in 1981 that it was postponed. Basher said that “Whatever decision we take will be in line with our values and with the responsibility we have,”. He also told people to “focus on your health, running and exercise”.
Many organisations rely on the marathon for much needed funding. In 2019 for instance 40,000 runners took part, raising an astonishing £66.4 million for charities. If the event doesn’t go ahead these charities will miss out on thousands of much to keep them afloat.
Earlier this week the Great North Run from Newcastle to South Shields was postponed. It was expected that nearly 60,000 people were due to run in the event on the 13th of September. Organisers though said they didn’t take the decision “lightly” and tried every possible avenue to have the run go ahead. The founder of the race, Brendan Foster said, “This year, our 40th was set to be the biggest ever, we had 60,000 entries and it would have been Britain’s biggest ever mass-participation event”.
Paul Foster, chief executive of The Great Run Company, said: “We haven’t taken the decision lightly”. He continued,” As things stand, and even as the situation improves, it’s not going to be possible to meet these goals with any certainty, and so we have concluded that the best course of action is to cancel.”
Small crowds will be allowed to attend Australian Super rugby games when action returns in July. This comes after a four month break due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
ACT Brumbies, have been given the go ahead to allow up to 1,500 spectators at their Canberra Stadium when action resumes. The Brumbies will host Melbourne Rebels on July 4th, which will be the opening weekend of the Super Rugby Australia competition. The Chief Executive Officer at Brumbies Rugby, Phil Thomson said, “We’re really happy that we will be able to have some of our members at our first game”. He said he was “hopeful” to be able have more members and fans at games throughout the season.
The Canberra Times report that if the crowd comeback is a success ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has said there will be a further easing of restrictions. This would come into place at the end of July/early August. The easing of restrictions would lead to a 6,000 attendance which is around 25% of Canberra’s Stadium capacity. Officials from the Brumbies and Canberra Raiders, who shared the stadium, met on Friday to discuss fan access, stadium configuration and how to manage attendance numbers. However, some of the details are still to be sorted through. The Canberra Times reporting that the entire western side of the stadium will be a “clean zone” for the players.
The Brumbies have opened a ballot for the 1500 tickets for the game. This will see a mix of fans and corporate backers filling the seats. The Raiders will announce their plans later next week once plans are evaluated.
Tottenham v Man United takes place on Friday evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The game kicks off at 8.15pm. Check out the preview, team news and betting information below.
Both teams come into this game chasing a place in the top four. Therefore, looking for a place in the Champions League next season. Jose Mourinho’s side are currently sitting in 8th place in the table, seven points behind Chelsea who are in fourth. Man United are in 5th place, just one point off Frank Lampard’s side.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will basically have a full squad to pick from. The only players that they will be without is Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe. Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford will return for this game.
Statistics
Manchester United are looking to record consecutive away Premier League wins against Spurs for the first time since a run of six in a row between September 2001 and February 2007.
Tottenham have lost their last two Premier League games against Manchester United, last losing three in a row back in October 2010 (four in a row).
This will be Manchester United’s first-ever Premier League visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Manchester United’s only previous competitive matches in June came in the 1965 Fairs Cup semi-final, with United losing both legs against Ferencvaros.
Betting
Spurs have lost two of their last five games, whereas Man United haven’t lost in their last 5 Premier League games. They have won three and drawn two. My prediction here is I expect both teams to score. Marcus Rashford to score anytime is a fantastic. The odds for a 1-1 draw is 12/5. That would be my selection.
Friday’s feature race at Royal Ascot is the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs. The race is off at 3.35pm and will have five Irish runners.
Sky Sports Racing will again show every race with Virgin Media One and UTV/ITV1 starting their coverage at 1.30pm.
Today is a busy day from an Irish-trained perspective with a total of 11 runners from three different stables: Aidan O’Brien, Katy Brown and Jessica Harrington.
The full day’s schedule for Friday 19th June 2020, with Irish-trained runners listed, is as follows:
1.15 The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (0-105) 3 £35,000 Five furlongs
1.50 The Albany Stakes (Group 3) 2 year-old fillies £45,000 Six furlongs
Mother Earth (Ryan Moore) for Aidan O’Brien
2.25 The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 2 £50,000 Five furlongs
Lipizzaner (Ryan Moore) for Aidan O’Brien Papal Bee (Cieren Fallon) for Katy Brown
3.00 The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 4+ £125,000 One mile, four furlongs
Anthony Van Dyck (Ryan Moore) for Aidan O’Brien
3.35 The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) 3 colts & fillies £250,000 Six furlongs
Lope Y Fernandez (Ryan Moore) for Aidan O’Brien Pistoletto (Danny Tudhope) for Aidan O’Brien Royal Lytham (Pat Cosgrave) for Aidan O’Brien Southern Hills (Silvestre De Souza) for Aidan O’Brien Millisle (Tom Marquand) for Jessica Harrington
4.10 The Queen’s Vase (Group 2) 3 £110,000 One mile, six furlongs
Nobel Prize (Frankie Dettori) for Aidan O’Brien Santiago (Ryan Moore) for Aidan O’Brien
4.40 The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (0-105) 3+ £60,000 One mile, four furlongs
The date (July 20th) comes in conjunction with the Safe Return to Gaelic Games Document and the easing of current restrictions. RTE Sport report that club venues whom will be able to cater for children who take part in the Cul Camps will be confirmed on Monday June 22nd.
However, some of the camps may work at reduced hours or some camps in the counties may be reduced. Capacity at camps may also be reduced due to the current heath and safety protocols. The President of the GAA, John Horan confirmed the news which will be sure to excite a lot of children. He said,”2020 has been a very challenging year for everyone and we have had to revisit what are the most successful underage camps run by any organisation, anywhere,”. Mr Horan continued, “We were determined to run the camps this year and while they have to be organised differently, I hope the essence of what they represent will still shine through.”
Cul Camps have been present in Ireland since 2006. With many, including yours truly participating in them over the years. Over 1.4 million children to date have took part in the camps since they were established. The camps themselves this year will also see a new programme rolled out called GAA Cul Camps TV. This will be on TG4 from June 29th to July 17th.
Tuam, Co. Galway-born jockey Rossa Ryan had a dream first winner at Royal Ascot this afternoon when the top-weight Highland Chief (20/1) claimed a decisive victory in the 10-furlong Golden Gates Handicap.
The win was also a first Royal Ascot success for a training partnership, with Paul and Oliver Cole being responsible for handling Highland Chief. Paul Cole trained 21 Royal Ascot winners when solely responsible for the training licence.
Rossa Ryan, a native of Ballinderry, who is still only 19-years-old, said of his first success at the Berkshire track:
“It has not really sunk in yet. I am a bit shocked that it has happened. I cannot thank everyone enough who has supported me to get here today. To ride a winner for the Coles and for Mrs Fitri Hay is incredible.”
Ryan, who rode more than 150 winners on the pony circuit, and who is in his third season in England, continued:
“I was a bit worried coming into today with all the rain that we had. Until I got up on him on the way to the start, he felt like he was going to go on it.”
The young jockey is based mainly with Richard Hannon but spent many summers in Ireland at Willie Mullins’ and Enda Bolger’s yards.
“I learnt more at Enda Bolger’s than anywhere else” admits Ryan, “In my last year of pony racing we decided to take a crack at the Flat if I could keep my weight right and we went from there.”
1.15pm Golden Gates Handicap
1 Highland Chief Paul & Oliver Cole 3-9-07 Rossa Ryan 20/1
2 Tritonic Alan King 3-9-01 Oisín Murphy 9/1
3 Global Strorm Charlie Appleby 3-8-12 William Buick 7/2f
12 ran
Non-Runners: 3 Laser Show (Self Certificate, temperature); 12 Dogged (Going); 14 Cemhaan (Self Certificate, heat in leg) – replaced by reserve Bronze River who takes number 14
Time: 2m 11.20s
Pro14 rugby will make an August return it has been revealed on Thursday. It will return after a five month break due to the Covid 19 pandemic. It will begin with derbies on August 22nd.
Teams from the same country will face off against each other in home and away games. The season is concluded with semi-finals and a final. BBC Sport report that the Pro14 final will take place on Saturday the 12th of September. The venue on this has yet to be decided. There was eight rounds of games remaining, however these will now not be played. This means the season will be cut by 6 games, from 21 to 15.
It is expected the remainder of the season will be played over four consecutive weekends. Leinster currently top Conference A, with Edinburgh ahead in Conference B. In terms of how teams will qualify for Europe, it will be based on finishing positions after round 13. The EPCR are also said to be in talks of increasing the number of teams in the Champions Cup from 20 to 24. This would mean an extra place for a team from the Pro14. This position would be to the Dragons of Wales. A meeting of the EPCR is to take place on June 24th where this will be discussed.
A statement released by Pro14 on Wednesday said, “The 2019-20 season will have an abbreviated finish that features the most attractive matchups and rivalries from the Guinness Pro14 with two rounds of derby games in each territory counting towards final positions”. The statement continued, “Games postponed prior to the indefinite suspension will be deemed 0-0 draws as previously stated by Pro14 Rugby on 28 February, 2020.”
It is likely that these games will be played without spectators. This will likely come down to 6 government jurisdictions. The director of the Pro14 Dave Jordan said, “Safety has been, and will continue to be, the highest priority. “We are very fortunate to be in a position where everyone involved is confident that we can conclude the season on the field of play. “The work and diligence of our leading medical personnel at our unions, our clubs, World Rugby and key stakeholders to get us to this point has been immense.”
The Coolmore partners-owned Battleground (11/4f) was the comfortable winner of the Listed Chesham Stakes, lengthening impressively in the final furlong under Ryan Moore to take the seven-furlong contest from March Law (18/1).
Sired by War Front, the two-year-old colt is the first foal of 2016 Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Found, who was also trained by Aidan O’Brien.
The winner, Moore’s 61st Royal Ascot success, had two and a half lengths to spare over Mark Johnston’s March Law, with the Sylvester Kirk-trained Seattle Rock (80/1) a further length and three-quarters back in third.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has one winner each day this week at the Berkshire venue, said of Battleground, his 73rd Royal Ascot winner:
“He had a good clear run at Naas, there was no hard luck story but he learnt a lot from it. He is out of Found so you would have hoped he would stay further really. We were worried about the ground. Battleground is by War Front, but Found handled soft ground when she won the Breeders’ Cup Turf [2015].”
Looking to the future with the two-year-old, the Master of Ballydoyle, said:
“Battleground is an exciting horse – he could be anything. He could be one for the July Meeting or the National Stakes. I would imagine he would stay well and probably a mile will be his trip. Found got a mile and a half, but he is by War Front and that is a big influence for speed. We are hoping that he could progress into a very good miler.”
Commenting on Battleground’s dam, Found, O’Brien admitted:
“Found was an unbelievable, magic mare. She was one of the very special ones and everyone remembers her. Obviously, this is her first foal and everyone wants to do well.”
3.00pm Chesham Stakes (Listed)
1 Battleground Aidan O’Brien 2-9-03 Ryan Moore 11/4f
2 March Law Mark Johnston 2-9-03 Silvestre De Sousa 18/1
3 Seattle Rock Sylvester Kirk 2-8-12 David Egan 80/1
Sir Dragonet (15/8f) could only manage second in the Listed Wolferton Stakes for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore as jockey James Doyle bagged his third winner of the week on Mountain Angel (8/1) for trainer Roger Varian.
Sir Dragonet, who ran in the Investec Derby at Epsom last season finished two and a quarter lengths behind the victor, with Regal Regality (11/2) and Jim Crowley a further half-length behind.
James Doyle, who has now ridden a total of 16 Royal Ascot winners, said of the comfortable winner of the 10 furlongs race:
“He did it, it worked out perfectly for him. Obviously, he ran a good race in it last year, finishing fifth, when he got into a bit of scrimmaging in Swinley Bottom and that put paid to his chances.
1.50pm Wolferton Stakes (Listed)
1 Mountain Angel Roger Varian 6-9-03 James Doyle 8/1
2 Sir Dragonet Aidan O’Brien 4-9-03 Ryan Moore 15/8f
3 Regal Reality Sir Michael Stoute 5-9-03 Jim Crowley 11/2
13 ran
Non-Runners: 1 Dubai Warrior (Going); 15 Aloe Vera (Vet’s Certificate, (Lame); 16 Bubble And Squeak (Going)
Time: 2m 11.9s
Distances: 2¼, ½
Monarch Of Egypt (4/1), a runner in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh last weekend, turned out again today, battled inside the final furlong with eventual winner Molatham (11/2) in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.
The win was a fifth success at this year’s meeting for jockey Jim Crowley as he brought owner Hamdan Al Maktoum more success.
Molatham won by half a length from Monarch Of Egypt, even though the runner-up had headed the Roger Varian-trained colt in the latter stages of the race, while Smybolize was another three and a quarter lengths back in third for Andrew Balding and David Probert.
The other Irish-trained runner, King Of Athens, under Seán Levey, finished back in 12th place.
2.25pm Jersey Stakes (Group 3)
1 Molatham Roger Varian 3-9-01 Jim Crowley 11/2
2 Monarch Of Egypt Aidan O’Brien 3-9-01 Ryan Moore 4/1
3 Symbolize Andrew Balding 3-9-01 David Probert 40/1
13 ran
Non-Runners: 3 Fleeting Prince (Going); 11 Repartee (Going)
9/4 Fav King Leonidas (6th)
Time: 1m 28.94s
Distances: ½, 3¼
Thursday’s flat meeting was a 7-race card at Fairyhouse where Plough Boy (9/1) claimed his 15th career win as the son of Dandy Man stayed on well under Shane Crosse to take the Sobac Soil.ie Handicap from Baby Power.
The victory was a first winner of the season for his trainer Garvan Donnelly but it was amazingly the 13th racecourse on which the nine-year-old Plough Boy has won.
Ger Lyons brilliant form continued when training a double at the Co. Meath venue. Luminesce (6/4f) had a length and a half in hand on Mahaaseel under Colin Keane in the Irish Stallion Farm EBF Fillies Maiden, while it was the yard’s second string, Shalaalaa (Gary Carroll) (11/4) that won the colts’ and geldings’ equivalent.
Séamie Heffernan won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for three-year-olds on Memorabilis (11/4), with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Galileo colt staying on well for a comfortable success.
Wayne Lordan took the route up the rail on Thomond O’Mara’s Amazing One (14/1) in Division 1 of the Sobac Soil.ie Thank You Customers Handicap before the rider made the decisive move when pacesetter Eacharn edged off the rail, allowing the filly Amazing One claim a three-parts of a length victory.
Trainer Dot Love combined with Mikey Sheehy to take the second division with The Mpex Kid (10/1), while The Thanks To All Our Frontline Workers Handicap was won by 12/1 shot Romantically for the Billy Lee/Willie McCreery combination.
The singing of Swing Low Sweet Chariot by English fans at games may become a thing of the past amid reports that many supporters are unaware that the song in fact is about American Slavery. The recent Black Lives Matter protests which has led to the toppling of a statue of a slave trader in Bristol have led organisations to examine links with slavery.
In a statement on Thursday the RFU said, “The RFU has stated we need to do more to achieve diversity and we are determined to accelerate change and grow awareness”. The spokesperson acknowledged the song has been long part of the culture of rugby but said that “”We are reviewing its historical context and our role in educating fans to make informed decisions.”
The history books tell us that the first time the song was sung was at Twickenham in 1987. BBC Sport state that it occured at the Middlesex Tournament when Martin “Chariots” played. The song itself is thought to have been written in the 19th century by Wallace Willis who was a black slave. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Rugby Union’s Weekly Podcast, Maro Itoje current England player said the background of the song was “complicated”.
RFU Chief Bill Sweeney has promised to increase diversity in the organisation. He said, “We have undertaken some very good initiatives at the grassroots level to encourage more diverse participation however, that in itself is not enough. “We need to do more to achieve diversity across all areas of the game including administration.”
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