Blinkers ruled out for Denman
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:17:13GMT

Denman trainer Paul Nicholls has insisted his champion gelding will not wear blinkers at the Cheltenham Festival following his mistakes at the Aon Chase at Newbury on February 13.The 2008 Gold Cup winner is expected to line up against stable-mate and 2009 winner Kauto Star, who Nicholls also trains and they are expected to battle it out for the crown. He made an error at the fourth-last before a further mishap unseated jockey Tony McCoy at the next fence and part-owner...

Minichiello seeks improvement
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:17:11GMT

Great Britain womens two-man bobsleigh teams have so far disappointed in their quest to win a Winter Olympics medal at the halfway stage at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Canada.World champions Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke languish in tenth place after the opening two runs and are one place ahead of team-mates Paula Walker and Kelly Thomas.Despite being a full second behind leaders Canada 1, a defiant Minichiello is not giving up home on a podium finish.Speaking to BBC Sport, she...

Minichiello devastated over crash
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:17:09GMT

Great Britain bobsleigh hopes Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke have crashed out of Winter Olympics medal contention at Whistler near Vancouver.The pair had it all to do after sitting in tenth place overnight following their opening two runs but it was to all end in disaster during their third attempt.Minichiello lost control of the sled and, after it flipped over and skidded down the track, the pair emerged shaken but avoided injury.She said: "Were devastated. Its everything weve been training for...

Wade wants Taylor victory
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:17:07GMT

James Wade is looking to get his Whyte Mackay Premier League Darts campaign up and running against Phil Taylor on Thursday night following back-to-back defeats.The left-handers title defence has so far started in disaster and, with a clash against the greatest player ever to grace the oche, he has a tough task to make it third time lucky in Belfast.Wade won the competition last year after Taylor had surprisingly lost at the semi-final stage to Mervyn King. However, Taylor has...

Bad Boys of Sport
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:17:06GMT

Sports fans love a bad boy. The likes of Vinnie Jones, Alex ldquo;Hurricanerdquo; Higgins, John McEnroe; all have enjoyed cult like status due to their reluctance to play by the rules. Then there are the real bad boys of sport who make the former look like Mary Poppins. Wersquo;ve chosen five sportsmen that we wouldnrsquo;t want to get stuck in a lift with, but Sport.co.uk would like to hear from you on who are the true bad boys of sport. nbsp; 1.)nbsp;Mike Tyson Hersquo;s...

Rudman handed flag honour
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:51GMT

Shelley Rudman has been handed the honour of carrying the British flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver on Friday.Rudman collected a silver medal in the skeleton event four years ago in Turin and is expected to go close again at Whistler.To add to her flag-bearing duties, she has been handed a team captaincy role alongside curling skip David Murdoch in a move to give younger athletes leadership and support.The 29-year-old will captain the athletes based in...

Tragedy mars Vancouver opening
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:49GMT

The Winter Olympics have got underway in Vancouver amid tragedy after Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed during practice.The 21-year-old suffered an horrendous crash at the Whistler Sliding Centre and despite receiving prompt medical attention, died later in hospital.The opening ceremony in Canada therefore became a sombre event, with the remainder of the Georgia team given a huge ovation as they entered the stadium.An emotional IOC President Jacques Rogge told reporters: "This is a very sad day, the IOC is in...

Trio head National weights
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:48GMT

Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere will head the weights with 11st 10lb placed on them for Aprils Grand National.Argento Chase victor Taranis is next in the list on 11st 9lb and is trained by Paul Nicholls with David Pipes Our Vic set to carry 11st 8lb if he figures at Aintree.Champion trainer Nicholls other top candidates include Tricky Trickster, the antepost favourite, handed a weight of 11st 4lb, and Big Fella Thanks (10st 12lb) as he seeks his...

Tragedy as jockey dies
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:46GMT

Irish jockey Ronan Lawlor has tragically died following an incident on the gallops in County Carlow on Tuesday morning.The 21-year-old was riding a Pat Fahy trained horse when he fell and sustained serious injuries.Paramedics who arrived at the scene at Leighlinbridge were unable to revive him.Lawlor had ridden in 18 races on the Flat and worked with Tipperary-based trainer David Wachman.Speaking after the incident, Wachman said: "First and foremost, our sympathies go to his family after such a tragic accident."He was...

Vonn on song with gold gong
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:44GMT

American skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn has shrugged off her injury concerns and grabbed gold in the womens downhill at Whistler.The big favourite ahead of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Vonn suffered a knock to her shin, which put her participation in jeopardy.However, she made enough progress and after the event was delayed, she waltzed down the course in a time of one minute, 44.19 seconds.Team-mate Julia Mancuso took silver with a time of 1min 44.75secs, while Austrian Elisabeth Georgl claimed bronze...