Sport magazine issue 272

Issue 272 | September 7 2012

29-carat gold Sport speaks

to team gB’s olympicchampions

Free Super Saver Delivery and Unlimited Free One-Day Delivery with Amazon Prime are available. Terms and Conditions apply. See Amazon.co.uk for details.

pre-order now

issue 272, september 7 2012

radar

08 Cliff Diving World Series Red Bull’s infatuation with the extreme brings its cliff divers to Wales this weekend

10 F1: Down to Business Mark Webber counts down to the end of the season, picking out his career highlights along the way

12 Tee-off at Pebble Beach In Smithfield, Soho or perhaps Kensington. And Urban Golf could send you to California

o this coming weekFeatures

18 Going for Gold And we got them. All of them. Interviewed in this very issue, starting with the Mobot himself... 39 Queen Vic ... and also featuring Victoria Pendleton, reflecting on an up-and-down sort of Games. It was always going to be... 41 Big Ben ... but not for Ben Ainslie, who nailed his colour (gold) to the mast again. He tells us how

extra time

68 Gadgets How to slam down your mobile without shattering it 70 Tanit Phoenix Has absolutely nothing to do with cricket – but that hasn’t stopped us trying to find a connection

72 Kit All the gear you’ll ever need to enjoy a late dash for the sun

74 Grooming The best shaving creams, gels and balms for your visage 76 Entertainment Including the new Dredd 3D film. Which we have not, unlike its predecessor, judged dreadful

18

39

41

76

08

Co

ve

r im

ag

e: S

ara

h K

ing

/sa

rah

ak

ing

.co

m

| September 7 2012 | 03

lthough in this week’s issue we’re very

much focused on Team GB, it’s worth

remembering the exploits of some of

the other 78 nations who won medals at the

Games. Because it’s not all about us – of the 302

Olympic medal events, we didn’t even get on the

podium in 242 of them. In fact, even though we

were the hosts, we couldn’t even be bothered

to enter 52 of them. A seriously poor effort.

Still, we put on a pretty good show, and we

can’t think of a better way to commemorate it as

the summer of sport draws to a close than with

this selection of Olympic posters by designer

James Townsend. Each one cleverly depicts one

of the 26 Olympic sports, along with the number

of medals won by each country in that sport –

sorry Kyrgyzstan, maybe next time.

£40 each (framed), tinyurl.com/8pvzvvp

Radar

| September 7 2012 | 07

p10 – F1 heats up; Mark Webber counts down

p08 – Have your say on this very magazine

p12 – Bike! The world’s greatest velo designers

AGlobal icons

ust like the wicked, we get very little

rest here at Sport. Not just because

we stay up every night watching

Family Guy repeats, either, but because we

are always striving to improve the magazine.

For you, dear reader, for you.

So, on the back of a glorious summer of

sport, we thought it about time we launched

a brand new readership panel, giving you –

that’s right, you – the chance to have your say

and drive the direction in which we take the

magazine as we approach our sixth birthday.

Over the coming months, we will email

you with the opportunity to take part in

various surveys.

Crucially, there is no

obligation to take part

– you decide when and

what surveys you

would like to be part of. Every time you do take

part, though, you’ll be entered into a draw to

win Amazon gift vouchers, plus other sporting

prizes. That’s the kind of bunch we are.

So there you go. This is your opportunity

to give us your views about the magazine,

and just for joining the panel you will be

entered into a prize draw to win a football

shirt of your choice. So, if you want to get

involved, all you have to do is follow the

link below. Don’t delay now, will you?

o post-dive hot tub here, although

Tom Daley’s former diving partner

Blake Aldridge will lend some

Olympic pedigree to the sixth round of the

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, which

takes place in Pembrokeshire’s Blue Lagoon

this weekend. Pictured here are Aldridge,

and defending cliff diving world champ

Gary Hunt, presumably up to their eyeballs

on taurine, throwing themselves off the

Thames Estuary’s Maunsell Forts – and

not, as we first thought, some sort of

oil rig. Kids/oil rig workers – don’t try

this at home/work.

The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series makes

its UK debut in Pembrokeshire, September

7-8. Go to redbullcliffdiving.com

08 | September 7 2012 |

Radarredbullcliffdiving.com

N

Geronimo!

Have your say J

Issue 271 | August 31 2012

Danny Cipriani is back

Prodigal son

www.sport-magazine.co.uk/panel

8 races to go – what’s your

favourite of the ones

remaining?

“I love Monza, it’s a classic circuit.

I am looking forward to America –

new tracks are always great for drivers to

get their teeth into. Obviously Brazil, I’ve won

there twice. I like the track layout in Korea,

the atmosphere is not sensational but the

layout is good. And Suzuka is also a cracker.

There are still lots of my favourite tracks

to look forward to.”

7 years at red bull, for you, next

year – Do you Have a highlight

from your time there?

“I’ve been very lucky to have a few

really special moments that I will

remember for the rest of my life. Winning a

few Grands Prix with the team (all my wins

have been with Red Bull Racing), the double

victory in Monaco, double victory at the

British Grand Prix for the home team.

And also the races in which we’ve had our

back against the wall and weren’t as strong

as we could have been. Even though I finished

second [to Sebastien Vettel] in Spa last year,

as a one-two that was very special, unique

day for us as a team. So we’ve had some

rewarding results, even if it’s not a win.”

10 | September 7 2012 |

Radar

Cli

ve

Ma

so

n/G

ett

y I

ma

ge

s

Race by numbers

£4

6 former world champions –

is this the best F1 grid ever?

“It’s a very, very strong field – no

question about it. The cars are

as close as they’ve ever been –

reliability has tidied right up. In the 1970s

and 1980s there were a lot more reliability

problems. Even great drivers were getting

results that were... not inherited, but getting

results because of reliability issues [with

competitors’ cars]. That’s unusual these days,

so you have had to earn your results now and

in recent years. You don’t win by accident

and you don’t get podiums by accident. It’s a

tough bunch of guys, but that’s exactly what

you want it to be – the pinnacle.”

5 place grid penalty for Michael

Schumacher that helped you

win in Monaco – was that the

best win of your career?

“It was probably the most stressful

victory, just because we had a lot of rain at

the end of the Grand Prix and we had to try

to make the one-stop strategy work – which

wasn’t particularly straightforward for all

the competitors. We knew with a two-stop

race, it would’ve been very difficult for us

to win. We had a few other things going on

– with tyres, for example – that had to be

managed. It probably was my best win, but

the British Grand Prix this year was also one

of my best. And my first race victory, I had

a drive-through penalty and I still managed

to win . I think I would have won the race with

quite a big margin that day.”

| 11

sWe’re beginning to approach the business end of a remarkable season in Formula 1, so we asked Red Bull’s Mark Webber to crunch the numbers for us ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza

The Red Bull Racing Spy will be following

Mark Webber around all weekend at Monza. Keep up

to date with all the gossip from inside the paddock

and download it free from the App store

4 fourth-place finishes in

the opening four races –

was that frustrating?

“It would be if you’ve never tasted

champagne before, but I’ve been

in a position to have that experience before.

By the third or fourth, I was ready to get the

bubbly at the end.”

3 You changed to a three-stop

strategy in Hungary – did that

cost you points?

“I think what cost us points there

were a couple of car issues

we had. We also couldn’t get the car home

on those tyres. It was hard for me to keep

the pace losing 0.6 seconds a lap. I would

have liked to have stayed out, to have the

cars come around to try and pass me on

track, but we made the decision as a team.

Everything’s easy with hindsight.”

2 you had a two-point lead over

your teammate after the summer

break – did you feel you had a

point to prove this season?

“Not so much against Sebastian, but

for myself. My overall performance last year,

particularly at the start of the season, was not

very strong. I think I drove some good races in

the back part of the championship last year:

Spa, Korea and also Suzuka wasn’t too bad,

considering the strong competition. Obviously

I put in a strong performance in Brazil, and

Abu Dhabi was a good race too. Overall I had

some strong weekends, but not enough to

win consistently. This year I’ve been much

stronger and proved to myself that I’ve come

back a more complete competitor – and that’s

what is important to me.”

1 are you confident you can be on

top of the standings at the end

of the season?

“We can be pretty confident as a unit.

I am confident that I can do a good job in

the cockpit and keep doing my best. We have

eight races coming up, that’s a lot of different

opportunities for us. Lots of twists and turns,

lots of different weather, lots of different

strategies, lots of different driver stresses.

So we need to be at the very top of our game,

and need to start chipping away at Fernando’s

points lead.”

Turn to p65 for our Italian Grand Prix preview

f you fancy yourself as the next

Tiger Woods, it’s probably worth

being more discrete about your

shenanigans than the man himself. Also –

put your skills (no, not at that) to the test

and make your case at one of Urban Golf’s

simulators. The company, which has three

venues across London, are searching for

the city’s best golfer, and will give the

winner of their competition the chance to

play at the real Pebble Beach golf course in

California (left). All you have to do to enter

is play 18 holes on the virtual Pebble Beach

in the state-of-the-art simulator at any

Urban Golf venue. Scores will be posted

online, and if you hang on to a spot in the

top 24 you’ll make it through to the grand

final on October 24. Best of luck, what?

For more information on The Search for

London’s Best Golfer with Pebble Beach,

visit urbangolf.co.uk/compete

couple of years ago, the Tour de France – that paragon of

sporting fair play – was embroiled in a scandal surrounding

the alleged use of tiny motors hidden in the frames.

Accusations were made and bikes were X-rayed, but nothing untoward

was found. Hi-tec equipment (without the motors) undoubtedly has

an important role in cycling success, however, as Chris Boardman

proved by smashing the individual pursuit world record at the

Barcelona Olympics on his so-called ‘Super Bike,’ the Lotus 108 (right).

That bike and others are showcased in loving detail in Bike!, an

A to Z of high-end manufacturers including the machines that carried

Boardman, Eddie Merckx and Mark Cavendish to famous victories.

Bike! A tribute to the world’s greatest cycling designers, by Richard

Moore and Daniel Benson, (Aurum Sport), out now, £25

12 | September 7 2012 |

Radar

A

I

Wicked wheels

Diamond in the rough

Wheely good: the pages will turn almost as swiftly as the wheels on Boardman’s Lotus 108

14 | September 7 2012 |

Radar Editor’s letter

Editor-in-chief

Simon Caney

@simoncaney

Sport magazine

Part of UTV Media plc 18 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJTelephone: 020 7959 7800 Fax: 020 7959 7942 Email: [email protected]

Editorial

Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951)Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Associate editor: Nick Harper (7897)Art editor: John Mahood (7860)Deputy art editor: William Jack (7861)Digital designer: Chris Firth (7624)Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431)Senior writers: Sarah Shephard (7958), Alex Reid (7915)Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901), Amit Katwala (7914)Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961)Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963) Contributors: David Lawrenson, Douglas Rankine Commercial

Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991)Business Director (Magazine and iPad): Paul Brett (7918)Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Manager: Steve Hare (7930)New Business Sales Executive: Hayley Robertson (7904)Brand Creative Director: Adam Harris (7426)Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852)Distribution Assistant: Makrum DudgeonHead of Online: Matt Davis (7825)Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Adam BullockPA to Managing Director: Sophia Koulle (7826)

Colour reproduction: Rival Colour LtdPrinted by: Wyndeham Group Ltd

© UTV Media plc 2012UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine

£1 where sold Hearty thanks this week to: Charlie Reid, Emma Wade, Chris Evans-Pollard, Gab Stone, Philippa Morrow, Lee Murgatroyd, Maria O’Connor, Carla McAlpine, Claire Shand, Maria Clayton

Don’t forget: Help keep public transport clean and tidy for everyone by taking your copy of Sport away with you when you leave the bus or train.

LAUNCH OFTHE YEAR

2008

Total Average Distribution: 305,676 Jan-Jun 2012

www.sport-magazine.co.uk

@sportmaguk

facebook.com/sportmagazine

T he moment Oscar Pistorius opened his mouth, he was on dangerous ground. It’s not the done thing to bad-mouth an opponent straight after a race,

after all. Yet I have no problem with it.At last, it seems, everyone can see that

Paralympic sport means just as much

as any other sport to the competitors.

Pistorius is a brilliant champion, who

already has done more for disabled sport

than anyone in history – and his outburst

last weekend has taken it on another level.

The whole world could see that, like all

great champions, Pistorius is a terrible

loser. He hated it. He was furious.

For some reason, there is a notion that

the Paralympics should be conducted in

a friendlier manner than your average

sporting championship: that somehow it

doesn’t matter quite as much. I think we

are now straight on that question.

The brilliant Jody Cundy showed just

how much it matters when he stunned

the velodrome with an expletive-laden

outburst at cycling officials (see overleaf)

just days before Pistorius piped up.

These are supreme athletes who have

trained hard for four years. Emotions are

bound to run high. Yet for too long we have

expected Paralympians to grin and bear

it when things don’t go their way.

Able-bodied sport is one thing: at the

end of the day, it’s only sport – as much as

we all love it. It’s grown men and women

playing. Paralympic sport is different – for

so many of its competitors it has offered

a light at the end of the tunnel, a way of life

and, above all, hope. It really matters.

So when I read that Pistorius ‘damaged

the brand’ of the Paralympics, I have to

argue quite the opposite. He showed that

this is sport like any other, and for that he

should be applauded.

Interesting times already in the Premier League, where two high-profile managers are already feeling the heat. Andre Villas-Boas and Brendan Rodgers have had tough baptisms at their new clubs (the phrase ‘Rodgers out’ was trending on Twitter after one game), but supporters ought to show a bit more patience than we usually see from chairmen. Management is not a stable job – but the sack after three weeks?

The US are warm favourites to win the

Ryder Cup, which probably has a lot to

do with home advantage and not much

else. I fully expect Europe to do the

business at Medinah at the end of the

month, led by that wonderful Ryder Cup

warrior José Maria Olazabal, who was

able to make two great wildcard picks

in Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts.

Europe have the better players, the

more inspirational skipper, and will win.

Paralympics grow upFinally, the world is seeing that this is proper sport – and that it really, really matters

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Le

on

Ne

al/

AF

P/G

ett

y I

ma

ge

s

True colours: Pistorius showed just how much missing

out on gold meant to him

Reader comments of the week

Great article with Simon

Jordan in today’s

@sportmaguk, shame

I had to get off the tube

half-way through. Roll on

5pm!!

@Warneswinners

Twitter

Excellent and enlightening

piece in @Sportmaguk about

Simon Jordan. Not inspiring

me to own a football club.

@aldosrendos

Twitter

@Sportmaguk cheers for

dedicating a good amount

of space to the rugby

season. great rundown.

interesting season ahead

#comeonthetigers

@londonrutlander

Twitter

@Sportmaguk: Simon

Jordan on how to run a

football club. Rule 1. Avoid

having a Chairman called

‘Simon Jordan’

@1Dev

Twitter

@simoncaney Great

interview with Simon

Jordan. Only in football can

someone who achieved so

little remain so arrogant and

self-righteous.

@NickLovering1

Twitter

Free iPad app available on Newsstand

Cover of the Year

16 | September 7 2012 |

Anger managementInside the Olympic velodrome it’s hard to hear

yourself think, let alone hear what the person

next to you is saying. And yet, as cyclist Jody

Cundy discovered, the sound of one man

screaming “F**k!” at the top of his voice can

be heard clearly throughout the auditorium.

Here, Cundy sits after being disqualified in the

C4/C5 1km time trial for a false start, just

before he started lobbing water bottles and

F-bombs at the officials. When the red mist

lifted, he apologised for his mucky mouth. Jo

ha

nn

es

Sim

on

/Ge

tty

Ima

ge

s

Gly

n K

irk

/AF

P/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

Frozen in time

London 2012: The Gold-Medallists

18 | September 7 2012 |

His first gold came in the 10,000m on Super Saturday, when the volume in the Olympic Stadium was turned up to the max. That was a mere warm-

up though, for one week later the volume knob was blown clean off by 80,000 people screaming “GO MO!” as he won the 5,000m to clinch an historic golden double.

“On the night of my 10,000m I saw that Jess [Ennis] had won gold,

and I knew that Greg [Rutherford] had done well because I saw

him carrying the flag when we came out on to the track for the

race – but I didn’t know where he had finished. I could hear the

noise, though, every time he jumped. Then, when I came out, they

were roaring for me as well.

If I could pick one moment from the whole Games to live over, it

would just be to hear that crowd again. If I could run one more lap

hearing that noise, it would be awesome.

The Beijing Olympics was four years ago, and I knew I’d moved

on since then. I knew I could beat the African athletes. I’ve trained

with the Kenyan guys – I based myself in Iten in the Rift Valley for

long periods, with athletes who have won medals. I thought: ‘If I

can keep up with them in training, why shouldn’t I beat them when

it comes to the Games?’

Moving to the States to work with Alberto [Salazar] has also

helped me a lot. It wasn’t an easy choice to make, to move that

far away. But, as an athlete, sometimes you have to make choices

– and I’m glad I made that one because otherwise I wouldn’t have

become a double Olympic champion. It’s just that one or two per

cent that has changed, but that’s what has been the difference

between a medal and finishing sixth.

I treated myself to a pizza before the closing ceremony.

Actually, you know what happened? When we were waiting outside

the stadium to go in, there was a pizza place there and I was

so hungry. I asked the guy if I could have one and he said: ‘Can

I have a picture?’ I said: ‘Yeah, as long as you give me a pizza.’

If I can find out where the guy normally works, I might not have

to pay for pizza ever again.” >

ATHLETICS: 5,000M And 10,000M

MO fArAH

HErOES On PArAdEThe stars of Britain’s greatest ever summer of sport will parade through London on Monday afternoon, allowing us to say our collective thank yous for sending the nation into a feel-good, flag-waving frenzy. Winning 29 gold medals got us so frenzied, in fact, that we tracked down those responsible for that golden tally. And over the next 40 pages, you can read their memories of an Olympics that will take some beating – starting with the man who electrified the Olympic Stadium two times over

wOrdS: SArAH SHEPHArd, nICk HArPEr, AMIT kATwALA, MArk COuGHLAn, ALEx rEId, GrAHAM wILLGOSS, TOny HOdSOn

“If I could pick one moment from the whole Games to live over, it would just be to hear that crowd again. If I could run one more lap hearing that noise, it would be awesome”

Str

ee

ter

Le

ck

a/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

| 19

Cre

dit


“ It surpassed any dreams I ever had. I could never imagine I’d feel the way I did when I crossed the finish line”

Britain’s golden girl got her bid for heptathlon gold off to a flying start in the hurdles and didn’t look back, finishing

the job in style on a golden Saturday night in the Olympic Stadium.

“I was really calm before I came out for the hurdles, but

honestly – when I walked into the stadium – I couldn’t

believe the numbers of people that were there. It gave

me goosebumps, and I was just really ready to run fast.

It was a brilliant start to run 12.54s. I was so shocked,

I couldn’t believe I started with that time. It set me up

for the whole day, really.

The long jump was what I was really worried about,

because it had been up and down all year and I just

didn’t know if I was going to come out and do three

fouls or something dreadful like that. The runway was

very fast and the wind was swirling too, so it was quite

hard to judge the run-up. My first-round jump (5.95m)

was dreadful. So, psychologically, my second jump

(6.40m) was a big moment. I’d seen what [Tatyana]

Chernova and the other girls were jumping, and I knew

then that I was well on my way.

I had a lot of time to kill before the final event on

Saturday night, but it was so hard to switch off. I kept

thinking about crossing the finish line of the 800m and

how I would feel, but then I’d stop myself and think: ‘No!

I’ve got to concentrate on how I’m gonna run the race.’

I was just trying to stay in the moment and not get

carried away. It was a long few hours waiting for that

800m to start.

It surpassed any dreams I ever had. I could never

imagine I’d feel the way I did when I crossed the finish

line. I’m normally quite reserved with my performances;

I do get excited, but I probably just do a little clap or

something – and that’s about it. This time, I was so

overwhelmed and just really emotional. I’ve never,

ever felt like that in my life. It was incredible.” >

ATHLETICS: HEpTATHLOn

JESS EnnIS

20 | September 7 2012 |

Ian

Wa

lto

n/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

Take a deep breath on... www.spor t-emotions.com

This spor ts bag is yours with the purchase of any

Issey Miyake men’s f ragance 50 ml

or larger, whi le stocks last.

YOUR GIFT


22 | September 7 2012 |

Rutherford kept his red head ice-cool on a night when the temperature in the Olympic

Stadium just kept on rising. He took the lead with a second-round leap of 8.21m, and extended that by 10cm with his fourth-round jump to secure an unexpected gold.

“On the night of the final Jess [Ennis] was in

a great position to win the heptathlon, so

the crowd were quite excitable. I remember

one moment when Jess’ face was shown

on the screen quickly and they just erupted

– went insane. That gave me huge butterflies.

Every time me or Chris [Tomlinson, also a

GB long-jumper] got on to the runway, the

crowd just got louder and louder.

In the first round I let it get to me a bit.

But then I saw Mitch [Watt, the Australian

who won silver] did the same and a few

others fouled. I thought: ‘Okay, go back to

the process.’ I really focused myself back

in and jumped 8.21m in the second round.

That was massive for me. It showed a new

chapter in my jumping performances, where

I can ignore what’s going on around me and

bring it back to what I need to do.

I got a bit excited at that point and got

the crowd involved, but I went over to Dan

[Pfaff, Rutherford’s coach] and he said:

“Stop, now. Relax and calm yourself,

because that’s not going to be good enough

to win.” I then jumped 8.14m followed by

GREG RUTHERFORDATHLETICS: LOnG jUMp

“I went to bed that night and my heart was still beating at 100bpm. I could not control my body, couldn’t calm it down. It was just such a momentous experience”

8.31m, but the whole time I was thinking:

‘Someone’s gonna catch one now, because

if I was able to jump 8.30m in those

conditions, they should be able to as well.’

Mitch has jumped 28ft before – that’s

8.54m – but he couldn’t get it right on

the night. And the guy who came eighth

was a medallist in Beijing. But it just wasn’t

happening for them.

I went to bed that night and my heart

was still beating at 100bpm. I could not

control my body; couldn’t calm it down.

It was just such a momentous experience.

But I was lying there thinking: ‘You didn’t

jump that well, really. Technically the

jumps weren’t that great and you still

managed to win.’ That was hard to

comprehend, because coming into the

Games I thought to win this I was going

to have to jump further than I’d ever

jumped before... possibly jump something

incredibly special.

I jumped the third longest jump of my life,

so it wasn’t bad. But I do think: ‘Flipping

heck, if I’d got it right I could have had this

momentous jump on the greatest stage of

my life – one that will never come about

again.’ To be totally honest, I was ever so

slightly disappointed that I didn’t jump

further. Although disappointment is probably

the wrong word, because I was elated to

win Olympic gold. It’s what I’ve always

dreamed of, but I strive to jump further.” >

Greg Rutherford is powered by Maximuscle,

the UK’s leading sports nutrition brand.

To find out more about their partnership,

visit maximuscle.com

Stu

Fo

rste

r/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

Fra

nc

isc

o L

eo

ng

/AF

P/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


24 | September 7 2012 |

The history-making pair won Team GB’s long-awaited first gold medal of the Games, which also happened to be the first Olympic gold ever won by Britain’s

female rowers. Not bad for a duo who, two years ago, were in the reserves.

GlovEr (left): “All week we were trying to make it feel very

normal, to make ourselves feel as relaxed as we could without

reminding ourselves it was the biggest day of our lives. I don’t think

we needed much reminding when we saw the crowds. There was

one moment the morning of our final, though – when I was brushing

my teeth. I looked in the mirror and thought for a fleeting moment:

‘I could win an Olympic gold today.’ Then I really told myself off for

thinking that. That we could be the first members of Team GB to win

gold was the elephant in the room for the entire week. Neither of us

mentioned it, and neither did our coach. It just seemed like too

much pressure – it remained the unspoken thing between us.”

Stanning: “We had the same race plan in the final as we had for the

whole World Cup series, when we’d led from the front in each race.

We knew the field we were racing in was incredibly strong, so we

were never going to lighten up. But we weren’t worried. It was more

about racing our race; we did what we know we can do really well

– and having the belief that, if we did, it would bring the right result.”

HELEN GLOVER & HEATHER STANNINGROWING: WOMEN’S PAIR

Glover: “I first met Heather in 2010, when we were introduced

by our coach Paul Stannard. I remember thinking what a relaxed,

easygoing person she was. She’d come back from the army every

weekend to train with the group, and just fit in very easily to any

social situation.”

Stanning: “My first impression of Helen was that she was a

determined girl. She was a lot smaller than the other girls, so

I definitely thought she was punching above her weight. We had

a lot of ground to make up, but in a short period of time she was

a lot stronger and going a lot quicker. So I just thought she was

an incredibly determined person.”

Glover: “I’d say our podium performance was the very definition

of our differing personalities. I was in tears – I’m very emotional.

Heather’s emotions are in there, deep down, but she’s pretty

much a rock.”

Stanning: “You could see it in the room we shared at the Games,

too. There was definitely two halves to it. I’m a little bit more tidy.

It comes from being in the army and the fact my parents were

in the military. I had it instilled in me from an early age – get up,

make the bed and always fold your clothes. That’s not quite

Helen, though.” >

Ez

ra S

ha

w/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


26 | September 7 2012 |

Fewer athletes have come so close, so often at the Olympics than three-time silver-medallist Katherine Grainger. But alongside partner Anna Watkins,

the 36-year-old finally got what she wanted in London, overpowering the Australians to be a bridesmaid no more.

“You’re always wary if you’re leading in a race, In Beijing I was

rowed down at the end, so I’m very aware that can happen. I never

felt anyone would be able to beat us if we got ahead, but you still

have to race detached from emotions. Although it was the Olympic

final – the time I might finally get my gold – and although Anna and

I felt we had the nation’s support behind us and didn’t want to let

anyone down, for the 2,000 metres of the race it was purely about

technique: how we were racing, how we were rowing, what the

tactics were. You don’t relate that result to the big picture until

you’re through the finish line.

I try not to think of myself as having been desperate for gold.

But it was the obvious question before the Games: will this finally

be the time you get it right? If you don’t get the gold, will you

always feel it’s missing? I was very aware there was a medal

missing from the collection, and I would have felt incomplete

without it, if I’m honest.

I’d have loved to have won gold in Beijing, but not doing so gave

me something still to aim for – something I was passionate about.

But I was probably more relaxed at this Games than at any other.

I’d never been in better shape, and with Anna had this phenomenal

partnership that worked on every level – not just technically, not

just physically, but emotionally and supportively. That gave me a lot

of reassurance.

It was no surprise to us that the women in GB rowing were

so successful. We race each other a lot throughout the

year. Especially with the three women’s boats that got

gold, you had to be absolutely top of your game to come

top of that group. When we saw Helen [Glover] and

Heather [Stanning] winning on the first day of the

finals, it was great for us – because we knew if they

were doing well, we were in the right place to

perform too. All we had to focus on was: ‘Can

we row as well as we absolutely can on

that day, in front of that crowd, with

that pressure?’ If we got that

right, we deserved to win.“ >

KATHERINE GRAINGERROWING: WOMEN’S DOUBLE SCULLS

“I was very aware there was a medal missing from the collection, and I would have felt incomplete without it”

THE LIMITS OF POSSIBILITY HAVE BEEN REDEFINED | LIMITED EDITION OAKLEY RADAR®

OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF TEAM GB

UK.OAKLEY.COM©2012 Oakley, Inc. | 01727 795791

Bry

n L

en

no

n/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


28 | September 7 2012 |

After clocking in at the first checkpoint five seconds off the lead pace set by Germany’s Tony Martin, Wiggins stepped on the gas and rocketed to the

finish line in a winning time of 50 minutes 39 seconds. He was first to the bar, too – naturally.

‘‘To win an Olympic gold in your home city, I cannot put it into words.

It was really incredible. When you win in the velodrome, there are

three or four thousand people cheering. Around the streets of

London, the noise was just amazing. I don’t think anything will top

that. Coming round the roundabout in Kingston, the noise was

incredible. I’m never going to experience anything like that again in

my career. I’d just won the Tour de France, and then that. It’s just

been phenomenal.’’ >

BrAdLey WiGGinsCyCLinG: TiMe TriAL

“ i’m never going to experience anything like that again in my career”

Ja

mie

Sq

uir

e/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


30 | September 7 2012 |

Chosen ahead of defending champion Chris Hoy in the individual sprint, Kenny beat

his great rival, Gregory Bauge of France, for gold. That came just days after victory in the team sprint, a win that came despite Philip Hindes’ dramatic start gate crash in the heat.

“The annoying thing about that crash is me

and Chris got away really well, and then the

next thing you know Philip’s disappeared

and he’s on the floor somewhere. But we

nailed the restart. After the first round,

I didn’t really feel we had a lot more time

in us. I felt like we’d had a pretty good

ride, and then we saw the French go and

break the world record – so I thought it

was going to be a bit of a battle.

Once we’d done such a good time

in the team sprint, the individual was

simply a case of making it to the final

and just kind of putting it to bed, really. It

turned the tables a little bit – in the past

few years, Bauge has always been that bit

stronger, that bit faster. It was nice to go

into the final having been the underdog for

the past three years and turn it around

at the last minute.

The press conference afterwards

[where Bauge quizzed Kenny on Team GB’s

success] was mental. There was a point

at which I thought it might get unfriendly,

but it never did. He kind of cracked...

The next night I went to the bar and

basically had a skinful. That’s all I’ve been

doing ever since the Games – just eating

McDonald’s and drinking beer, although now

I’m getting to the stage where I’m getting a

bit sick of that and just want to go training

again and make myself feel better!

Laura [Trott, Kenny’s girlfriend] was

racing the day after I finished. I thought:

‘I’d better make it over or I’ll be in trouble

here.’ So I watched the race and then

jumped on my bike and sprinted over to the

track and watched her medal ceremony.

Then, unfortunately, I went back to my

apartment and fell asleep and completely

missed Chris’ gold in the keirin. When Chris

came back and started talking about it, I

had to kind of pretend that I’d watched it...

I was like: “Oh yeah – really good race,

really good.” >

Jason KennyCyCLinG: TeaM sPrinT and individuaL sPrinT

“it was nice to go into the final having been the underdog for the past three years and turn it around at the last minute”

Ca

rl D

e S

ou

za

/AF

P/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


32 | September 7 2012 |

After having won gold alongside Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes in the team sprint five days earlier, Hoy showed exactly why he’s the most successful British

Olympian of all time in the keirin, fighting off Germany’s Maximilian Levy to win his sixth Olympic gold medal.

“If I had to pick just one moment from the Games to relive, it

would be the last 100 metres of the keirin final, when I started

to come back against Max Levy and realised I was going to win it.

That feeling as I crossed the finish line... well, I would love to be

able to live that again.

When I stepped on to the podium after I’d won gold in the

keirin on the final night at the velodrome, it was a mixture of

relief, disbelief, elation, pride, excitement... and an overwhelming

realisation that everything I’d worked so hard for, and everything

my family and the team have lived through with me, had all

been worthwhile. It was an incredible feeling.” >

CHRIS HOYCYCLING: TeAM SPRINT ANd KeIRIN

“That feeling as I crossed the finish line... well, I would love to be able to live that again”

MANY ROADS LEADTO THE MEDAL,BUT ALL BEGIN WITHA GREAT START.

SIR CHRIS HOY, 6X OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST

©©©©22220

0001

111

2222

TTTT

hhhh

eeee

GGGG

iiii

llll

llll

eeee

tttt

tttt

eeee

CCCC

oomm

ppaannyy..

facebook.com/GilletteUK

NOTHING BEATS

A GREAT START.

Le

on

Ne

al/

AF

P/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


34 | September 7 2012 |

Three days after winning team pursuit gold, Trott was in silver- medal position going into the

omnium’s sixth and final event, needing to beat her nearest rival by three places in the 500m time trial to win gold.

“I was always dreaming that I’d do the

double of the team pursuit and omnium

because I did it at the World Championships.

But, I mean, I still surprised myself a bit.

I am a really competitive person though,

so I wouldn’t have been happy unless I’d won.

When I was going into the last race and I

was in second place, I was like: ‘I’m not going

to let her [silver-medallist Sarah Hammer]

beat me, I want this title for myself.’

I hadn’t expected her to beat me in the

fifth event – the scratch race – before that,

so I was a bit like: ‘Woah, where did that

come from?’ But I know my timed events are

good and the last event, the 500m, is my

best. It’s the strongest, most predictable

one for me, so I thought I could do it. I just

needed a bit of luck to go with it.

Before the Games, I thought we’d win the

team pursuit because we hadn’t lost a race

all year. And I thought I might come away

with a medal in the omnium. But winning it?

I wasn’t sure. The only time I’d ever beaten

all them girls was at the worlds. I didn’t know

if it was a fluke or if I’d be able to repeat it.

Life’s gone pretty nuts since the closing

ceremony. The first two weeks after, the

press attention was crazy – especially with

the whole me and my boyfriend Jason

[Kenny, sprint gold-medallist] thing. I never

thought it would be as bad as that. I see

Victoria Pendleton in the newspapers now

and again, but I was on the front pages!

It’s a pretty big deal, isn’t it?” >

LAURA TROTTcycLinG: TeAM pURsUiT And OMniUM

“i am a really competitive person, so i wouldn’t have been happy unless i had won”

Bry

n L

en

no

n/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


36 | September 7 2012 |

“We knew from our times in training that we’d probably break the world record at the Olympics”

With Laura Trott and Dani King, Rowsell formed a team that smashed all opposition in the velodrome, breaking the world record every time they raced.

“We knew from our times in training that we’d probably break the

world record at the Olympics, but we didn’t think we’d do it in the first

qualification round.

Then we broke it again in the next round. But we didn’t think we’d

go any faster in the last round because there was only an hour in

between races. Still, we went quicker again. It’s weird, because

usually at the end of a pursuit I’m so exhausted I need carrying off

my bike. But at the end of that final, it didn’t hurt at all. I think the

noise of the crowd and knowing we’d won gold made it a one-off

time when I could actually enjoy the moment a bit more.

Off the track, the three of us are really good friends. People

talk about the sacrifices you have to make as an athlete and all the

hard training, but I enjoy it – and I think that helps us train harder

as a group. Also, this event is so technical that we need 100 per

cent trust in each other – it’s essential, and that’s what we have.

When you’re going that fast and you’re that close to the wheel

in front, you can’t be doubting the person in front of you.

Dani and Laura are both louder personalities than me, but they’ve

rubbed off because I used to be quite shy and I’m much chattier now.

They’re different too, in that nothing really fazes Laura. She doesn’t

get that nervous, whereas Dani is the opposite – she’ll need more

support. We just come together really well, that’s why it works.”

JOanna ROWseLLCyCLinG: TeaM PuRsuiT

The thunder-thighed captain of the men’s team pursuit quartet led Geraint Thomas, steven Burke and Peter Kennaugh to obliterate the australians – and indeed

the world record – in the velodrome.

“Without wishing to sound arrogant, we knew we’d take gold

and break the world record the minute that final started. I was

absolutely convinced in qualifying that the Aussies were holding

something back. We went out fourth or fifth from the end in

qualifying and went flat out and broke the world record, because

we wanted to make a statement. Then the Aussies went off and, by

their standards, they did a pretty average ride and were three and

a half seconds down on us. I saw that and was convinced they were

playing games, trying to lull us in a little bit by holding something back.

So I had a bit of a sleepless night wondering what they were up to.

Then they turned up the next day for their semi and did another

average time and only just squeezed past New Zealand. At that

point, we looked at each other and said: “Maybe they’re not faking it

– maybe they’re just not quick enough.” So going into the final, we

were confident we could smash round, go for another world record

and take gold pretty easily. We knew the Aussies wouldn’t have

anything to show, which is obviously how it turned out.

Winning this was better than gold in Beijing because it was on

home soil and there was more pressure on us than there had been

in 2008. The fact we had to work harder for it made it more rewarding.

Am I expecting the MBE I got after Beijing to be upgraded to

an OBE? If it happens, great. But we can’t expect it, and if it

doesn’t happen I won’t hold any grudges against the Queen.” >

eD CLanCyCyCLinG: TeaM PuRsuiT

“Going into the final, we were confident we could smash round, go for another world record and take gold pretty easily”

www.continental-tyres.co.uk

...we’re staying firmly on track.

When braking counts.

While he drifts off...

0800 358 4317Switch to Three today, call

Visit a 3Store or go online

Prices start at just £13 a month on plans with all you can eat data and will vary according to phone/plan package chosen · Upfront cost may apply to some phones on some tariffs · Sign up for 24 months · Sorry we do not accept Visa Electron or Solo cards

All you can eat

.Stream, Skype, tweet and download yourself silly on

the network built for the internet, from just £13 a month.

£13a month

From only

Ca

rl D

e S

ou

za

/AF

P/G

ett

yIm

ag

es


| September 7 2012 | 39

Queen Vic started her final competitive meet with team sprint relegation alongside Jess Varnish, but recovered to take keirin gold before failing

to defend her individual sprint title after a controversial relegation in the final against long-time rival Anna Meares.

“Obviously it would be nice to have more than one gold medal, but

sometimes things don’t go your way. I knew I was in good shape for

the team sprint – the times of my split were really good, and Jess

was going well. It was frustrating knowing that you have the form,

and then not having the opportunity to make it happen.

The biggest thing for me in the past in the keirin has been

indecision. It was mine to lose almost, and I was just really

determined. I thought: ‘I don’t care what they’re doing – I’m just

going to take the race on when it’s time for me.’ And that’s what I did.

I was so delighted. The day couldn’t have gone better for me

after the day before [when she and Varnish were relegated in the

team sprint after making an illegal change-over in their semi final],

so I was overwhelmed, so happy and relieved all at the same time.

It was probably one of the most enjoyable moments of my entire

career, stepping on the podium for that keirin gold.

I would have liked to have won the individual sprint – I don’t care

who it was against. The whole rivalry thing between Anna and

myself is created solely by the media. During the Olympics, a

member of the Australian media asked me: “Is Anna Meares a

cow?” Would a member of the media ask Sir Chris Hoy that about

Jason Kenny? I don’t think so. I think because I’m female they expect

some kind of bitchy element behind it all, and they think they can

ask me a question like that. But I’m a professional sportsperson

and I find it a little bit insulting.

At the time [of her relegation in the first leg of the individual

sprint final] I didn’t see any footage, but I was a little bit annoyed

because I didn’t think I’d done anything intentional, and then when I

did see it I did think it was a little bit unfair. It’s sad when it comes

down to that – if it was a straight line race and I crossed the line

second, it would have been a lot easier to handle.

The overall feeling for me is relief. I feel relieved that it was a

positive result to a very difficult four years, and not just for me but

the whole of the team. I think it was pretty much on par with what I

was imagining, but I was imagining the worst! Going in as Olympic

champion and competing on home turf is the hardest thing I will

ever have to do in my life. I’m glad I don’t ever have to do it again –

that’s the honest truth. I would have been gutted if I had made the

decision not to go to London because it was an amazing experience.

But if you asked me if I want to do it again, I’d say no thank you.” >

VicToriA PendLeToncycLinG: Keirin

“ i’m glad i don’t ever have to do it again – that’s the honest truth”

Rules of

Card one of the 24 lowest scores at Pebble Beach on one of Urban Golf’s revolutionary, state-of-the-art aboutGolf™

simulators (the ones that World Number One, Luke Donald, practices on) and you will be in with a shot for the

title of “London’s Best Golfer 2012”. And the chance to prove it on three of the greatest courses on earth. Everyone

who enters will also be entered for the free prize draw so even if you don’t win you could still win. To enter, and

for competition rules, go to www.urbangolf.com/londonsbestgolfer or speak to the club secretary next time

you play at one of our three clubs - the Kensington National, Royal Smithfield, or the Soho Golf & Country Club.

Rule a. Strokeplay

Rule b. Stroke of Luck

The player who takes

the least number of strokes

shall be crowned “London’s Best

Golfer 2012”. In addition to rejoicing

in this title, the player will be awarded

rounds at Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay and

Spyglass Hill, flights and accommodation

included, for them and a playing partner.

The player who is randomly chosen in

the free prize draw (see Rule 83: Rub

of Green) shall be crowned “London’s

Luckiest Golfer 2012”. In addition to

rejoicing in this title, the player will

be awarded rounds at Pebble Beach,

Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill, flights

and accommodation included, for them

and a playing partner.

Cliv

e M

as

on

/Ge

tty

Ima

ge

s


| September 7 2012 | 41

“I won by the narrowest of margins. But it doesn’t matter how much I win by – as long as I’m first”

Having lost six consecutive races to Jonas Hogh-Christensen, Ainslie fought back to set up a winner-takes-all final race – then finished ninth, one place

ahead of the Dane, to win a fourth straight Olympic gold

“The home Olympics was an amazing thing to be involved in, and I

was lucky enough to be there at the start and the end. Being the

first to carry the torch on British soil really highlighted how special

it was going to be, because we got down to Land’s End at about

6am and there were already thousands of people so excited by

seeing this torch. I suddenly realised just how much the Games

was going to capture people’s imagination.

I knew the racing was going to be tough because there are some

great sailors out there. Weymouth is a tough course and I’d been

managing my back injury through the past six months and was only

at about 90 per cent. Sometimes it all just clicks, but this time it

didn’t – and I had to fight for it because I was struggling after six

or so races.

That’s when I was penalised after Hogh-Christensen and

Pieter-Jan Postma teamed up against me, and that really

annoyed me. Luckily, I used it to fire myself up. I was really

struggling to get into the regatta and I needed something to grab

hold of, and that was it. The moment they did that it gave me

a psychological edge, thankfully.

The last race was all about finishing ahead of Hogh-Christensen

to win the gold. I didn’t plan to not be competitive at the front, but

once it became clear that I wasn’t going to be up there, it was just

about beating him. I had to scrap throughout the regatta, and I won

by the narrowest of margins. But it doesn’t matter how much I win

by – as long as I’m first.

This is my best gold by a long way, because it’s the home

Olympics – and of course it’s the fourth gold for me, which makes

it a really big deal anyway. I know other Olympians were aiming for

different things. But, for me, not winning gold would have been

a major disappointment.

I also got to be the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony, which

was really emotional. It was a bit lonely because the rest of the

team were together celebrating, but it was nice to get a bit of

time to reflect on everything and take it all in. And that was pretty

much it. I’d love to say I partied the night away, but it wasn’t a

late one. Everyone else went partying, but I was just exhausted

and went to bed after the ceremony because I ran out of steam.” >

Ben AInsLIesAILInG: Men’s FInn CLAss


42 | September 7 2012 |

Britain’s number one took gold in the men’s singles, dispatching Novak Djokovic in the semi finals before dismantling Roger Federer in straight sets. He added

a silver in the mixed doubles, with Laura Robson, shortly after.

“When I look back on the Olympics now, I just remember it being an

absolutely amazing 17 days and with a huge amount of pride. Just

being a part of Team GB and the success we had was so motivating

for me. I remember watching Mo Farah on the Saturday night

before my final, and it was so inspirational watching him run that

final 53-second lap. I was absolutely pumped up just watching it on

TV. But it was the same for every single medal we got – they were

all awe-inspiring, and I was desperate to be part of that and

desperate to win a gold.

Beating Roger in the final was the biggest win of my career. I’ve

had a lot of tough losses, and I’ve been to four Grand Slam finals,

but that was the best possible way to come back from those lows.

I learned from the Wimbledon loss [against Federer a month

previously] and used the experience to become a better player.

Was I nervous going into the final? Sure, but that’s only natural

ahead of a game that important. But as soon as the match started,

I felt calm and relaxed because I’d been playing well all week and

it was just a case of having to keep that momentum going. Even

though I’ve lost in those previous finals, I’ve been able to use those

experiences and move forwards, so I was nervous but confident.

The crowd helped me no end because the noise they made was

absolutely unbelievable. I’d like to think it added a few miles per

hour on my serves and made a big difference, so they played

their part. I’m just glad I managed to put in the performance

I have been waiting for – for me and for them.

Would I swap the Olympic final result with the Wimbledon final

result, if I could? That’s a tough question, but I wouldn’t. Winning

a gold medal at Wimbledon for Team GB is something that is hard

to put into words. I’m actually smiling now just thinking about it,

because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That’s not to take

anything away from the Wimbledon final. I’ll be back there next year

and I’ll be as determined as ever to do well, but just winning a gold

medal for Team GB in front of your home fans – it doesn’t get much

better than that. I was so proud to represent Great Britain, and am

so proud of what I achieved.

My only regret is that I didn’t get to stick around afterwards and

experience more of the Games as a fan. I left Wimbledon on Sunday

night after playing both finals, went straight to Stratford to do all

the media stuff and then finally got to bed around 3.30am. I then

had to be up at 6am to get to the National Tennis Centre, to do more

media before leaving for Canada to play in the Masters Series.

So I had to follow it from afar rather than in person, which is

a shame. But I watched pretty much everything I could on TV and

online in between playing, and it made me very proud to be British.

Everyone you speak to now is so positive about the whole event,

and it’s shown how brilliant

London is as a city.

Where are my medals now?

They’re back at home [in Surrey].

I only had a few hours at home to

pack the day after the final, so I

didn’t quite get a chance to put

them up anywhere. But they’ll

be in pride of place when I get

back from the US Open. As long

as my dogs aren’t still

wearing them!” >

ANDY MURRAYTENNIS: MEN’S SINGLES

Cliv

e B

run

sk

ill/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

28 | August 3 2012 |

“Would I swap Olympic gold with the result of the Wimbledon final? That’s a tough question, but no – I wouldn’t”

| 43

La

rs B

aro

n/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


44 | September 7 2012 |

Leading by three shots going into the final, the 25-year-old – the youngest finalist by 13 years – survived a brief wobble to finish two shots clear and seal Britain’s first

shooting gold since Sydney.

“It was weird shooting in front of so many people. If we’re shooting

in front of anyone normally, it’s because they’ve taken a wrong

turn and they’re looking for the loos. To suddenly have thousands

cheering us on was incredible, but I shot the qualifying rounds

pretty well and found myself three shots clear going into the final.

With five of the 25 pegs to go, I was still clear. I allowed myself

a wry smile and started thinking: ‘Wow, this is it, I’m going to win

gold in London.’ That punished me pretty hard and I missed the

next pair. That was my defining moment – I was either going to go

on and miss more and slip away, or hit the rest and bounce back

to win gold. That was probably the moment I’ll remember for the

rest of my life.

I shot the next eight targets, and stood on peg five knowing

one target would win it. It was a funny moment, and for a brief

split second I thought about just double-barrelling the first target

PeTer WiLSonShooTinG: Men’S DouBLe TraP

to ensure I won. I’m so big headed and obnoxious, though, that all

the British stiff upper lip stuff went out the window and I decided

I wanted to win by two.

I’ve never been so focused on one pair in my life. I pulled the

trigger and just stared at that first target, waiting for the dust.

Finally, I saw it, moved across and shot the second target. I had

hoped to turn around, finger raised in the standard British way

of saying thank you very much everyone with a big smile. Instead,

I dropped to my knees and cried like a baby – which is the most

embarrassing thing I’ve ever done.

Having said that, it probably only settled in about three days ago

that I won gold. I was in the shower, looked out and saw myself on

the front cover of a shooting magazine and it just hit me that I’d

actually won the Olympics. I’m still pretty blasé about the medal,

though. I let everyone touch it and try it on. A young guy actually

dropped it the other day, and that was probably the first time my

heart sank for a second because you can’t get a replacement.

I’m really happy for everyone to grab it and hold it, but I just

thought: ‘Maybe you should be a bit more careful Wilson, this is

a pretty big deal!’” >

“i dropped to my knees and cried like a baby, which is the most embarrassing thing i’ve ever done”


46 | September 7 2012 |

The narrowest of victories for Team GB at Greenwich Park, as Skelton led a four-man team also featuring Ben

Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles to a dramatic jump-off win over the Netherlands. A first team jumping medal since the LA Games of 1984, and it was gold.

“I had always thought that the equestrian events

should have gone to an equestrian venue, such as

Hickstead, so as to ensure some kind of legacy

there afterwards. But having been there and

experienced it, I’m glad they held it where it was

[at Greenwich Park]. It brought our sport to the

people, and allowed us to compete in front of the

best crowd I have ever seen.

You always go in to a competition wanting to

do your best, and we had some good horses. So

I thought that if we went well, we could get a medal

– but I never thought it would be gold. Things

progressed well during the competition, though,

and Ben was unlucky not to jump clear – had he

done so, we’d have won without the jump-off.

But it went right down to the wire, which made it as

exciting for the spectators as it was nerve-racking

for us. On the way out, though, I said to the lads:

‘Let’s just go and get stuck in now – we’re gonna

win this.’

I’m 55 this year, but I want to carry on, go to Rio

and win an individual medal. I was gutted not to do

so this year, but I’m lucky to have an outstanding

horse in Big Star and he’s young enough that he

can definitely do another Games. We’ve been

offered huge amounts for him – millions – but he’s

a unique horse and without him I’d probably have to

retire. To try and find another one like him would

be impossible.”

NiCk SkeLToNequeSTriAN: TeAM juMPiNG

“i’m glad they held it where it was. it brought our sport to the people, and allowed us to compete in front of the best crowd i have ever seen”

Jo

hn

Ma

cd

ou

ga

ll/A

FP

/Ge

tty

Ima

ge

s, A

lex

Liv

es

ey

/Ge

tty

Ima

ge

s

W ith Laura Bechtolsheimer and mentor Carl Hester, Dujardin won team dressage gold with an Olympic record of 83.286 per cent. The 27-year-old then

put in her second record-breaking performance of the Games with 90.089 per cent, thus becoming the first British Olympic individual dressage gold-medallist.

“We had such high expectations to win the team gold, we were all

so focused on it. But in the individual, I just thought any medal would

be amazing. I thought: ‘God, I just want to enjoy it.’ It was my last

chance to perform there. Carl [Hester] was riding too, so he

couldn’t help me warm up. But I just thought, do you know what, I

have every faith in [my horse] Valegro, I know what I’m doing...

and if I can’t just do this little bit by myself, I’m a bit silly.

I guess it’s always a challenge for me to beat Carl [who finished

fifth]. He’s been my inspiration and someone I’ve idolised for so long.

I beat him a few times last year, and it did feel good – he doesn’t like

it very much. Not having Carl there was a bit daunting at first, but

then I thought: ‘Come on, pull yourself together.’

Going in there, I just felt so calm and relaxed, and ready to show

everybody Valegro’s little party piece. Every rider looks for something

in a horse. Valegro has so much power, and yet he is the kindest

horse – and so trainable. He really wants to understand and learn

with you, and he is so clever. You can teach him something and the

next day he’s like: ‘Yep, I’ve got it.’ It takes years to build that bond

and that relationship. They’ve got to be able to trust you when they

go into an atmosphere like that. He’s become like my best friend.

It’s unbelievable how many people – even non-sporty people –

have said to me: ‘Oh my god, you’re the girl off the dancing horse.

You made me cry.’ And that’s men, even. So to do that for our sport

– now so many more people now know what dressage is – is great.” >

CHarLOTTe DujarDinequesTrian: inDiviDuaL anD Team DressaGe

CarL HesTerequesTrian: Team DressaGe

Winning a first team medal in a century of Olympic dressage wasn’t enough for four-time Olympian Carl Hester and his teammates Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin.

They made it the best of the lot: gold.

“On the first day of competition, we were all quite stressed out by everyone

saying we should win gold. So I just said to the girls: ‘Look, we have never

won a medal before, so let’s not go round stressing. At the end of the day,

one of our horses would have to have an injury for us not to get on the

podium. It’s just a question of what colour.

So I said we should just focus on getting on the podium. After the first day,

we were in the lead. It was only by a very small margin, but by that time gold

medals were flooding in for Team GB. I told the girls that if we didn’t win gold,

nobody was going to know who or what we were. Forget that bloody silver or

bronze, I said, we’ve got to win gold or nobody’s ever going to have heard of us!

I could never have imagined British dressage would reach the level of

success it did at the Games. I think the fact we’d never even had any medal of

any sort at any Games has just made it the most historic moment. Equestrian

has been a part of the Olympics for years, so it just seems a bit shocking that

dressage has never been able to bring home a medal of any colour before.

I’ve been to four Games now, but I’m glad I managed to deliver in London

because it’s meant more to our country than sport – particularly equestrian

sport – could ever have imagined.”

| 47

Ale

xa

nd

er

Ha

ss

en

ste

in/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

, Fra

nc

isc

o L

eo

ng

/IO

PP

Po

ol/

Ge

tty

Ima

ge

s


48 | September 7 2012 |

“Hopefully I can go on and inspire future generations”

The 29-year old from Wiltshire powered to victory in the 200m K1 sprint, which was making its Games debut at Eton Dorney.

“I didn’t actually go to the village until the night after my event.

I was on training camp in Barcelona before the Games, and for the

first week. It was good in some ways, not to get frustrated hanging

around waiting for your event. But it was quite inspirational, what

little we did catch of the events that were on Spanish TV.

Before the start, when the announcements were going, I got the

loudest cheer, which made all the hairs on my arms stand on end.

Before the race I was concentrating on the first three strokes

– just getting away as cleanly and as fast as possible. I did that a lot

better than anyone else, and that made the platform for the rest of

the race. The rest of it is sort of a blur. I got across the finish line

and had to look both ways – because you want to make sure, don’t you?

I went to see my postbox yesterday. That was quite a surreal

experience because they’d closed the town off, and there were

several thousand people to greet me – something I wasn’t quite

expecting. Tim Brabants got a gold medal last time – he was

an inspiration to me, and hopefully I can go on and inspire

future generations.”

ED McKEEvErcanoE sprInT: K1 200M

Having just scraped into the final with the sixth-best time in the semis, stott and teammate Tim Baillie had the first run in the final and posted an impressive

time of 106.41 seconds. as things turned out, none of the other teams could match them.

“We knew we were pretty lucky to get in the final, so we just

wanted to have a good, hard run at the course while we had the

chance to be there. We knew straight away it was a good run –

it was two seconds faster than the fastest semi final run, for one

thing – but it was an Olympic final, so we knew the others would try

to raise their game.

We had to stand and watch everyone try to beat us, which was

torture. But we started to realise our time was better and better

as each run went by. Once we knew we had a medal, we started to

go crazy because it was so unexpected. Then the last run finished,

and we realised we’d won gold – I just turned to my coach and I

think I kissed him on the lips. It was just a whirlwind and we were all

going mad. I jumped in the river because I just didn’t know what else

to do, and a few other people did the same.

It was surreal being on the podium – that’s the only way I can

describe it. I could have got my head around it easier if I’d have

been watching someone else do it. I remember the sun beating

on the side of my face, just breathing in that atmosphere and

wanting it to last forever.” >

ETIEnnE sToTTcanoE sLaLoM: c2

“ I jumped in the river because I just didn’t know what else to do, and a few other people did the same”


50 | September 7 2012 |

Beijing gold-medallist Reed and his fellow rowing beasts – Andy Triggs Hodge, Alex Gregory and Tom James – took on the might of an Aussie crew widely

fancied to win gold, and sent them home with silver.

“It was so different to the Beijing Games, where I think they got

people in to fill seats and no one cared about the rowing, so they

were all gone by the time the medal ceremony came around.

Contrast that with this time – it’s poles apart. It went bonkers

right from the start, before the regatta had even started. When we

were training at Eton Dorney at 7am, it was drizzling and cold and

people were there screaming our names and shouting for Team GB.

That carried on and crescendoed for our final. And we got it right

– we nailed it.

In the meeting before the final race, we were in the boathouse

and I said: “If we do our job properly, we will win.’ The Australians

are amazing and we had to be at our best to beat them, but what

PETE REEDROWING: MEN’S FOURS

“I knew what my crew had done in training and how strong we were. I knew we could deliver our best race”

gave me confidence was how much they were talking to the press

before the racing. They had all the chat and were saying we were

scared and that sort of stuff. I took it with the biggest pinch of salt.

No one chats like that unless they’re scared. I knew what my crew

had done in training and how strong we were. I knew we could

deliver our best race.

And then life changed. Before the race I couldn’t think of anything

beyond it. I couldn’t plan for what I was doing that evening. I didn’t

want to think about tickets or where my family were going to be or

anything – just the race. So as soon as we finished, I had no idea

where I had to go or what I needed to do. I’m used to knowing every

training session in advance – when I need to sleep, eat, where I

need to be, who I need to be with. But now it’s a different world.

A world that has suddenly opened up again. I think I’ll be ready

to get back into training in about six months, but nothing will ever

be like this again. The attention, and maybe even the success, will

never happen like this again.”Ale

x G

rim

m/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

fo

r a

did

as

Ha

rry

Ho

w/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

The fastest qualifiers for the final, Hosking and her teammate Katherine Copeland carried their fine form into the main event. Trailing at 500m, the British duo

fought back to take gold in 7:09.30, more than two and a half seconds clear of second place.

“We were really happy with our qualifying run on the water and

went into the final quietly confident. I’ve seen the race back since,

so I know we were trailing at the halfway mark. But we always

expected that, so I didn’t pay much attention to it. I sit at the front

and I like to not be too aware of what’s going on around me anyway.

Obviously it’s impossible not to have some kind of awareness of

where you are, but I never get too concerned by that. So we just

carried on what we had practised and we managed to pull clear.

I knew we’d won a few strokes short of the line, but I couldn’t

allow myself to think about it. It’s very hard to describe how it felt

crossing the line, though. I want to say shock, but that’s not the

SopHie HoSKingRowing: women’S ligHTweigHT douBle SCullS

| 51

word because I had no doubt we would win. I think

it was just realisation of what winning the race

meant and how big the Olympics was – and that’s

the shock that showed on our faces in the pictures

everyone has seen. We just hugged each other and

started laughing, then we started to tell each other that we

had to enjoy every moment of the celebrations ahead.

We had a really nice celebration with the rest of the rowing

crowd that evening, but the fact that we’d won a gold medal didn’t

sink in until about a week later. I’m enjoying every minute now, though,

and we even got to meet William and Kate, which was pretty cool.

It was great to be part of the most successful women’s

rowing team in history, and what we’ve achieved will hopefully be

a big boost for the sport. If nothing else, I have my gold medal to

keep, and I also have a huge stack of stamps with me on them.

My mum’s bought lots, so we’ll be using them for the next couple

of years!” >

“if nothing else, i have my gold medal to keep. And a huge sack of stamps with me on them”

Ad

am

Pre

tty

/Ge

tty

Ima

ge

s


52 | September 7 2012 |

The elder Brownlee brother saw off competition from former world champion Javier Gomez

and younger sibling Jonny to win gold in Hyde Park, a matter of months after a torn Achilles had threatened to derail his Olympic dream.

“There were long periods after I tore my

Achilles in February when I really wasn’t

sure if I was going to be able to race at the

Olympics – I didn’t know at all. During my

first six weeks back training properly

though, I really surprised myself. Still, to

get to the point where I was actually fitter

than I’ve ever been going into the Games

surprised me a bit.

Just to stand on the start line fit was a

great feeling for me. I was nervous on the

morning of the race, but not ridiculously

so. I was talking to Jonny and we both

recognised it was going to be a brilliant

experience. I remember putting the TV on

before we left for Hyde Park, and it was on

the news that all these thousands of people

were there waiting for the race – I couldn’t

wait to get out there.

I knew that Jonny, Javier Gomez and me

were the fastest athletes in the field, so

I knew the challenge for gold was likely to

come from either of those two. I was

probably halfway through the bike when

I found out Jonny had been given a time

penalty, but I still thought he had a good

chance of getting a medal. I just needed to

make sure the pack behind didn’t catch us

up on the run, because there were were

a few athletes in there who could have

beaten him to a medal.

Since the Games, we’ve been sent all

sorts of things – a lot of cakes, especially,

and some Lego figures of ourselves.

The most random thing, though, was

a karaoke machine. Jonny’s been on it

more than I have.” >

Alistair Brownlee is an @GatoradeUK triathlete.

To learn how he and British Cycling were

fuelled to success this year, visit

Gatorade.co.uk/brownlee

ALISTAIR BROWNLEETRIATHLON

“I was actually fitter than I’ve ever been going into the Games”

Ha

nn

ah

Jo

hn

sto

n/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


54 | September 7 2012 |

The ninteen-year-old ‘Headhunter’ took Great Britain’s first ever taekwondo gold medal in the -57kg weight class – then lobbed her headguard in the air.

“I think you start to realise the enormity of what you’ve achieved

when people back home talk about renaming the leisure centre and

the pavilion after you. I mean, it’s nice – but it’s mad. They’ve

already started selling a Jade Jones sandwich and there’s a Jade

Jones Olympic sausage you can buy. So yeah, I guess you could say

I’ve made it!

It’s all gone a bit crazy, to be honest with you. I’ve spent this

afternoon at a photoshoot, stretched out on a cooker. I’m not

entirely sure why I needed to be on the cooker, but it was fun –

if a little weird. It’s all been such a whirlwind that I’ve not really

had time for it to sink in.

Did I honestly think I’d win gold? Of course I did. I knew I could

beat anyone, but obviously there were a lot of nerves involved

because it was London 2012. All you can do is think positive and

think you can go out there and do it. So, as I went out for the final

I was thinking to myself: ‘I’m not going to let her [Yuzhuo Hou] beat

me in front of my home crowd.’

JADE JONESTAEkwONDO: wOMEN’S -57kG

“Did I honestly think I’d win gold? Of course I did”

I built up a good lead in the final, but I never thought I’d got it won

because in taekwondo you can get a kick to the head in the last two

seconds and lose the fight. I remember being ahead, seeing there

were two minutes left and thinking: ‘Oh my god, I’m two minutes

away from the Olympic gold!’ I just had to stay focused and finish it.

When it was over, I was so happy I just pulled off my head gear

and threw it into the sky. I didn’t think about where it might land.

Luckily it didn’t hit anyone. Actually, it was only after I’d thrown it

that I remembered you need to have it on to bow at the end of the

fight – so I had to wait for it to come down and put it back on.

After that it was an emotional blur. There were a lot of tears, but

no wild celebrations because there wasn’t time. I didn’t get out of

the arena till late, so I just got a McDonald’s and went to bed. I kept

the medal on the side, so I could see it when I woke up and see it

wasn’t just a crazy dream. Then the next day it started – the TV

requests, interviews, photoshoots and the leisure centre and

all that. Like I say, it’s all gone a bit mad.” >

Jade Jones was a 2010 Jaguar Academy of Sport Rising Star and has been

announced as an Elite Member of the academy, allowing her to support the

next generation of British sporting talent

SMILER RIZ MC ASTROID BOYS SNATCH THE WAX

WOLFMUSIC PBR STREETGANG THE BEAT MEDICS & BENNY

PLANAS & NIGHT OWL SEAN BROSNON SLOTHBOOGIE

DOM CHUNG RATTUS RATTUS MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED


56 | September 7 2012 |

The 24-year-old’s four bouts at the ExCeL Centre culminated in a win over Ireland’s John Joe

Nevin, who he knocked down en route to a 14-11 victory in the final.

“Before my first two fights, I was training in

the gym – and I don’t know what it was, but I

didn’t feel good in myself. Maybe it was the

nerves and the wait. When you’ve been

training for something your whole life and

you’re finally there, no one wants to lose

that first fight. Also, the size of the crowd

was new to deal with. Even though they

were there cheering for you, for some

fighters, the pressure can make them fold.

I had to dig deepest in my second fight.

I had a good first round, but I came back

down on points. The second round was even

better, but I was still down. At this point, my

arms were heavy, my legs felt heavy, I felt

quite tired – maybe because of the extra

nerves. I had to go out there in the last

round and just punch, punch, punch

non-stop. I had to chase him – hunt him

down and give it to him. And I did that.

I thought they were going to take it away

from me, but my coaches kept me calm and

my punches told on him. After I got through

that, I started to relax and that showed in

my last two performances.

People underestimate me – because

I’m very tall for the weight, they’re not

expecting that I can punch. But I can. In the

final, I caught him [Nevin] with a really good

shot in the first, I saw his back leg wobble

and I thought: ‘I’ve got him there – I’ve hurt

him.’ He was a little bit wary after that. By

that stage, I was flowing – and once I get

into my flow, I’m very hard to get out

of it. I wasn’t looking for a knockdown in

the last round – I was just throwing my

punches. One connected and he went down.

When the referee raised my hand I just

thought: ‘Is this happening? Is it true? Have

I really won this?’ It’s crazy to try and

describe it. You try for something your

whole life, and then you do it... I was very

emotional. I still don’t think it’s sunk in now,

to be honest. I need to get away with the

family, relax, then think about what’s next.

Maybe while I’m away, I’ll wake up one day

and it’ll finally start sinking in.”

LukE CaMpbELLboxING: baNTaMwEIGhT

“Maybe while I’m away, I’ll wake up one day and it’ll finally start sinking in”

| 57

Sc

ott

He

av

ey

/Ge

tty

Ima

ge

s

The smiling assassin defeated five-time world champion Mary Kom in the semi finals before

facing three-time world champ Ren Cancan in the final. With an Ali shuffle and a thunderous one-two combo that put the Chinese great on her backside, Adams won an historic gold.

“I’ve had normal jobs in the past; I even

tried working in insurance for a bit, but it

wasn’t for me. Boxing was always it. When it

was announced that women’s boxing was

coming into the Games, I was so happy.

But at the time I’d been stuck in bed with a

back injury for three months, so I thought:

‘How am I gonna get back up to fighting

speed in time to get to the GB selections?’

I made it for the very last trials. They

phoned me and said: ‘It’s now or never.’

I don’t know how I did it, because I was on

so many painkillers. But I willed myself and

just got through it. It was such a tough

weekend of bag work, pads and sparring –

I had to rest for a week after that. But then

[GB performance director] Rob McCracken

said even though I hadn’t trained for a while,

he could see there was something there.

They called me a few weeks later and

said I’d made the team. And a few months

after that I had my first bout back. I was

panicking because I hadn’t boxed for about

a year, but no one big was supposed to be

at this particular tournament. Then the day

before it started, the Russian team turned

up with all their champions. I was like:

‘Oh god, I’ve had it now. But I ended up

winning the whole thing. I was amazed,

I couldn’t believe what I’d done.

For a long time leading up to

the Games, I’d been thinking

I was going to win a medal – so

on the morning of the final I

was focused and determined,

thinking: ‘I’m gonna get this gold,

she’s not gonna win this time.’

Ren Cancan has beaten

me in two world finals, but

this was my final. We’d been

working on the tactics and

training really hard since we

got back from the worlds in May.

I was the fittest I’ve ever been.

I thought the final was going to be

a lot closer than it was, though. I was

quite shocked that I was finding it so easy.

When I knocked her down in the second

round, I was just as surprised as the

crowd was. I couldn’t believe it. I even got

an Ali shuffle in – it always comes out when

I get excited.” >

NICOLA ADAMSWOMeN’S bOxINg: fLyWeIghT

“I was quite shocked that I was finding it so easy”

Ja

ck

Gu

ez

/AF

P/G

ett

y Im

ag

es


58 | September 7 2012 |

After a tricky first round against a seasoned Cuban boxer, Anthony Joshua battled through to the final where he beat the defending Olympic champion

Roberto Cammarelle. In doing so, he won Team GB its 29th and final gold medal of the London 2012 Games.

“At first I was a bit overwhelmed by the noise of the crowd.

I tried to shut it out, but you can’t – you have to embrace it. That’s

what I learned from my first bout at the Games. These are great

people here, I thought – why block that out? When I get in the ring

and the bell goes, that’s the time to focus.

I knocked the Chinese guy down in my second fight, and I wish I

could have done that to all of them – it’s what I feel I should be doing

in every bout, but it’ll come. Both the Chinese guy and the Kazakh,

Ivan Dychko, who I fought in the semi final, were taller than me. But

boxing’s not about height. If a 4ft guy was to meet a 6ft guy and the

6ft guy don’t want to win, then the 4ft guy will. It’s about who wants

it more – and I really wanted to win. That was the first time I was

happy, when I beat Dychko. I smiled because I knew I was into the final.

I knew I’d win it, but I tried to cut out the ‘Olympic champion’

part. I just saw it as me wanting to go undefeated throughout this

tournament. I’d beaten Roberto Cammarelle before, so I knew it

was possible. But everyone steps their game up for the Olympics –

he was a different fighter in London.

I went three points down in the second round and thought: ‘Hang

on, this is running away from me.’ I shook my head and said: ‘No, I’m

not giving up.‘ I wasn’t surprised when they contested the decision

at the end – it’s the Olympic final. Everyone’s passionate, everyone

wants to win. But I wasn’t worried, I knew I’d won.

People ask me about going professional, but I’m contracted to

GB Boxing until later next year, after the World Championships.

I want to do the honours and finish my contract before I make any

decisions, so I’ll still be an amateur going into 2013.

The Olympics was about more than a gold medal for me – it was

a life experience. It’s about the whole journey from the start – from

the ABAs and Europeans, through people doubting me and all the

ups and downs along the way.”

Anthony Joshua was representing Betfair, proud sponsors of the British

Amateur Boxing Association in 2012

ANTHONY JOSHUABOXING: SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHT

“I knew I’d win it, but I tried to cut out the ‘Olympic champion’ part”

Bry

n L

en

no

n/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

7 DaysSEP 7-SEP 13

HIGHLIGHTS

» Football: World Cup Qualifiers » p62

»Formula 1: Italian Grand Prix » p65

» Athletics: Diamond League – Brussels » p66

» Rugby League: Wigan v St Helens » p66

» Boxing: Bellew v Miranda » p67OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

60 | September 7 2012 |

SUNDAY > CyCLING | TOUR OF BRITAIN | IPSWICH TO NORFOLK SHOWGROUND | HIGHLIGHTS ITV4 8PM

Tour de France winner and Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins has ticked off

every major aim he had for 2012. And yet he’s

back in the saddle this weekend, competing in

the eight-stage Tour of Britain for Team Sky

– who have presumably promised him a large

San Miguel and celebratory cigar at the end

of the week-long ride.

Team Sky are sending a six-strong squad

to challenge for honours in a race that begins

with a largely flat sprinters’ stage from

Ipswich to Norfolk. It could be the perfect

opener, then, for world champion Mark

Cavendish. He won two stages in last year’s

Tour of Britain, and will be keen to prove he’s

lost none of his sprinting prowess after a

relatively disappointing few months.

The Manxman may have 12 stage wins to

his name this season, but he missed out on

retaining the Green Jersey at the Tour de

France and then failed to win what would

have been his first Olympic medal, leaving

him empty-handed from the two biggest

races of his season.

Already strong rumours are circulating

that this could be Cavendish’s first and

last season at Team Sky, with even Wiggins

admitting the British team’s focus on overall

race wins rather than stage victories leaves

Cavendish with little choice other than to

move on.

Still, he’s likely to be in better racing shape

than Wiggins. The Olympic time trial winner

has spent the past few weeks lording it up

with lookalike Paul Weller, enjoying a well-

earned good feed (and a few glasses of the

local brew) in Majorca, and trying to come

to terms with his newfound stardom.

“I left home on June 22 and nobody knew

who I was,” he reflected recently. “And then

I came back to this overwhelming adulation

everywhere I go. I went to Tesco the other

night, and that wasn’t like it used to be.”

The British crowds will no doubt be out in

force to cheer Wiggins and company on their

tour around the country. And, while it’s bound

to be a celebration of sorts for one Team Sky

man, it could well be the beginning of the

end for another.

Wiggo is go

62 | September 7 2012 |

7 Days

World in motionIn less than two years from now, 32 of the world’s finest football nations will convene for Copa do Mundo da Fifa Brasil 2014 – the World Cup. First, though, there’s the small matter of qualifying, which begins this weekend. We break it down for you...

Rules & RegsFrom nine groups and 53 teams, the 2014 World Cup will take only Europe’s 13 best teams. The nations who top their group qualify automatically, with the best eight runners-up fighting for four final slots via two-legged playoffs.

Group AHere, most notably, Scotland will face Wales in

a battle of the home nations, although it will be only

to determine who finishes fourth at best. The big

guns as top seeds here are Croatia. Serbia add

Baltic spice, but both should be usurped at the top

by the best Belgium team in 30 years – blessed

with the likes of Eden Hazard (above), Vincent

Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen and Marouane

Fellaini – and saddled with the ‘New Golden

Generation’ tag. In the spirit of inclusiveness,

FYR Macedonia make up the group/numbers.

Group BA group of six teams, but there really is only one.

“We’re Italy (above) and naturally, with the

greatest respect to the other sides in the group,

we’re aiming to finish in first place,” explained

coach Cesare Prandelli. And he won’t find any

arguments here. Teams aiming for second place:

Denmark, Czech Republic. Team likely to end up in

fourth place: Bulgaria. And, finally, teams just

along for the ride: Armenia, Malta.

Group GThis group contains Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia-

Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia and Liechtenstein.

If you’re left wanting any more information

than we’re giving you here, you’ll need to fire

up The Internet, for life is too short.

Group HHere, finally, we find Roy Hodgson’s England, freed

from the tyranny of Don Fabio and able to express

themselves. The Euros taught us only that Ashley

Young isn’t an England international, so the next

10 games will provide a more accurate reflection

of Hodgson’s New England and the Grand Plan. The

friendly win over Italy was encouraging – and, while

they are patently not the third best team in world

football, as Fifa’s rankings have them, they have

enough to top a group containing Montenegro,

Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino.

Group FPortugal and Russia loom large over Group F, but

who are favourites? Portugal, probably. “We’re not

the favourites,” claims coach Paulo Bento. “Russia

have a lot of talented individuals.” So it must be

Russia. “No, I think Portugal are the favourites,”

sniffs Russia coach Dick Advocaat, batting the ball

back from whence it came. While those two play

silly buggers, we’ll plump for Israel instead, edging

Northern Ireland into second and the playoffs.

Azerbaijan will finish third, Luxembourg fourth, with

the other two disqualified for acts of false modesty.

| 63

All

pic

ture

s G

ett

y I

ma

ge

s


Group C“Germany are undoubtedly the hot favourites,”

says Austria coach Dietmar Constantini, as

Sweden coach Erik Hamren unfurls his own white

flag and declares: “They are the undoubted

favourites.” At this, über-suave German coach

Jogi Low (above) leans back, sparks up a fat Cuban

and chortles: “It’s certainly doable for us.” All of

which means Sweden and Republic of Ireland are

most likely playing for second place, while Faroe

Islands and Kazakhstan are almost certainly not.

Group DProving the more things change, the more they

stay the same, erstwhile Holland coach Bert van

Marwijk sat through the draw for Group D and

declared: “Our principal opponent will be ourselves.”

When pushed to be a little less psycho-analytical,

he admitted “our top opponents are Turkey”,

but suggested things would be tough in a group

containing “four genuine football nations”. By this

we guess he’s referring to once-proud footballing

nations Hungary and Romania, rather than

Estonia and Andorra – but who are we to judge?

Group EOf the nine groups in the Euro Zone, this is

perhaps the toughest of them all to call, on account

of them all appearing to be as woefully bad as

each other. Ponder for a moment, if you will, which

of Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland is best

equipped to steal top spot and book a direct flight

to Brazil. But then ask yourself, could Albania,

Cyprus or Iceland be capable of springing that

type of surprise. Then ask yourself, have you

really got nothing better to be asking yourself?

Hey, look over there – it’s Group F!

England’s fixturesSeptember 7 Moldova v England

September 11 England v Ukraine

October 12 England v San Marino

October 16 Poland v England

2013

March 22 San Marino v England

March 26 Montenegro v England

September 6 England v Moldova

September 10 Ukraine v England

October 11 England v Montenegro

October 15 England v Poland

Group ITwo of Europe’s biggest guns are rolled out in the

final group, where Spain and France sit cursing

their ill fortune to have been drawn together. In

truth, the reigning world and European champions

won’t be cursing too loudly, aware that if they pass

the ball around between themselves for long

enough, the French will inevitably implode in a

cloud of seething pomposity. They will still finish

second and head for the playoffs, however,

because Belarus, Georgia and Finland make up

the numbers here.

FRIDAY Russia v Northern Ireland (Sky Sports 1, 4pm)

Wales v Belgium (Sky Sports 1, 7.45pm)

Moldova v England (ITV1, 7.45pm)

Kazakhstan v Republic of Ireland (5pm)

SATURDAY Scotland v Serbia (Sky Sports 2, 3pm)

TUESDAY Northern Ireland v Luxembourg (SS3, 7.45pm),

Scotland v FYR Macedonia (Sky Sports 1, 8pm)

England v Ukraine (ITV1, 8pm)

Serbia v Wales (Sky Sports 2, 7.30pm)

This week’s key fixtures

BRINGTICKETS

FROM £35*

IT ON!a 2014 FIFa World Cup™ QualIFIer

v Ukraine

a family ticket £60 (two adults, two children)* Tickets available at TheFa.com/tickets – *subject to availability

Tickets still available from just £35*

Tuesday 11 September 2012, Ko 8pm, Wembley

Ma

rk T

ho

mp

so

n/G

ett

y I

ma

ge

s, G

are

th C

op

ley

/Ge

tty

Im

ag

es

| September 7 2012 | 65

7 Days

Sunday Formula 1 | ItalIan Grand PrIx | monza | Sky SPortS F1 1Pm

Romain Grosjean was clearly concerned that

this Formula 1

season was

in danger of

becoming a bit dull, what with no new winner

for three whole races – so he decided to take

matters into his own hands at Spa, instigating

a multicar pile-up (above) Michael Bay would

have been proud of. Grosjean will get to

survey the results of that first-lap incident

(his seventh in 12 races, incidentally) on

television after being dealt a one-race ban.

Partly thanks to his own indiscretions,

he’ll get to watch a championship with a

Red riot markedly changed complexion. Fernando

Alonso’s lead at the top of the drivers’

championship has been closed to 24 points,

defending champion Sebastian Vettel

moving ominously up to second ahead

of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber –

a leapfrogging that evokes memories

of his maiden world title win, when he

didn’t actually top the standings until

the final race.

Vettel’s chase for the top spot can begin

at Monza, the fastest circuit on the F1

calendar – and one of the best, according

to Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft.

“You’ve got chicanes you have to attack,” he

explains. “It’s how far you dare to attack

these chicanes, and how much the car

can attack, that is the difference between

success and failure.” Former driver

Anthony Davidson agrees: “It’s a great

circuit to drive; it’s low downforce, the

lowest we run all season, and the cars are

at their fastest on the run down to the first

chicane. They feel slightly vulnerable and

edgy with that little downforce on board,

and you really feel that in the car.”

Monza is Tifosi territory, of course,

and Alonso will profit from the incredible

support Ferrari always enjoy in their home

country. He still has a lead and will be

confident of keeping it – if he can make

it round the first corner this time.

Saturday CrICket | enGland v South aFrICa: 1St t20 | rIverSIde Ground, CheSter-le-Street | Sky SPortS 1 2.30Pm

Stuart Broad returns from being rested for the one-day series with

plenty to think about as England go into a final trio of T20 internationals

before departing for Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC World Twenty20. His

own summer form is cause for concern, given his lack of zip with the

ball and low batting scores. South Africa won’t feel they require any

helpful texts on how to bowl to this England captain.

However, Broad has a habit of coming out all guns blazing after

spells of poor form, and even the departure of Kevin Pietersen’s

muscular batting could have its minor benefits. Broad may see it as

a chance to bond his team into an even tighter unit and, in Eoin

Morgan, he can count on an in-form big-hitter with IPL experience.

Throw in 23-year-old Alex Hales – who wowed with his 99 against

the West Indies in June – plus a diverse bowling attack, and Broad

will know he has the ingredients to fashion a strong team.

He will also be aware that the same is true of the opposition.

Jacques Kallis, who excelled in the 2012 IPL, returns from his own

one-day rest to beef up South African batting and bowling options.

Twenty20 specialist Albie Morkel and batsman Richard Levi, who

gave glimpses of his six-launching prowess for Somerset this year,

also come into the reckoning. It promises to be a tight, exciting

series – though how much it will tell us about what these teams

can do on the subcontinent pitches on which the World Twenty20

will be staged is quite another matter altogether.

Broad thoughts

Ga

reth

Co

ple

y/G

ett

y I

ma

ge

s, F

ab

ric

e C

off

rin

i/A

FP

/Ge

tty

Im

ag

es

66 | September 7 2012 |

7 Days

Friday Rugby League | StobaRt SupeR League: Wigan WaRRioRS v St HeLenS | DW StaDium | Sky SpoRtS 3 8pm

Fourth time luckyThe Stobart Super League reaches its final round of the

regular season this weekend,

with the final placing for the

majority of the clubs still up

in the air. There are no such

problems for Wigan Warriors,

however; Shaun Wane’s men are

certain to finish top of the table

and will be presented with the

League Leaders’ Shield before

their game against St Helens

at the DW Stadium tonight.

The visitors must win to

secure third place heading into

the playoffs, but that may prove

a tall order – interim coach Mike

Rush has already seen his team

lose three times to their great

rivals this season, the gifted Sam

Tomkins (left) scoring on each

occasion. Saints will need to

improve if they’re to make it fourth

time lucky at the DW Stadium,

where they lost in the Challenge

Cup quarters back in May.

Elsewhere, the main issue

to be decided before the

playoffs is which team grabs

the eighth and final spot in

them. Bradford Bulls, fresh

from a chastening 70-6 home

defeat to Hull last weekend, can

still snatch it – but they would

need to claim an unlikely win

against the Catalan Dragons in

Perpignan on Saturday, and

then hope Wakefield Wildcats

slip up away to the 11th-placed

Salford City Reds later that

evening (Sky Sports 1, 6.15pm).

All that leaves to determine is

who has the honour of propping

up the rest for 2012. Currently

inhabiting bottom spot are the

Widnes Vikings, whose points

difference means they will need

something from their Sunday

hosting of Challenge Cup winners

Warrington if they’re to have any

chance of avoiding the wooden

spoon. Should the London

Broncos and Castleford Tigers

both secure two points from

respective fixtures at home

to Hull KR and away at Hull

tomorrow, however, the Vikings

will go into that game aboard a

sunken ship. Good job there’s no

automatic relegation, isn’t it?

Usain Bolt’s world tour is all but over for 2012. For tonight’s

final Diamond

League meeting

of the season in

Brussels looks

set to be his last outing of a year that was

slow to get out of the blocks, but ended up

paved with yet more gold.

Trusty sidekick Yohan Blake will be in

attendance as well – though the pair

continue their merry dance around each

other, with Bolt contesting the 100m here

and Blake the 200m. Last week’s Diamond

League in Zurich saw them in the reverse

roles, though soggy conditions weren’t

conducive to anything mind-blowing –

Blake ran only 9.76s, Bolt 19.66s.

Brussels is the second of two Diamond

League finals, with last week’s Zurich

meeting counting as the first. There,

British high jumper and Olympic bronze-

medallist Robbie Grabarz was among

those to secure the Diamond trophy – and

the $40,000 sweetener that comes with it.

No Brits lead the standings in any of

tonight’s events, but if Olympic long jump

champion Greg Rutherford (currently

third) is fit to compete, he stands a

chance. And with the bonus of a wildcard

entry for next year’s World Championships

in Moscow on offer to the Diamond League

winners, Rutherford might consider it

worthy of one last leap.

For Bolt and Blake, Moscow might as well

be in another century – all they’re thinking

of is finishing 2012 on a high and heading

to Jamaica for some proper Olympic

celebrations. And possibly some handball.

Diamond deadline

Friday atHLeticS | DiamonD League: bRuSSeLS | king bauDouin StaDium, bRuSSeLS | bbc tWo 7pm

According to the old boxing adage, the last thing to go

on an ageing fighter is their punch, which is what

makes explosive Edison Miranda a threat to British

light-heavyweight champ Tony Bellew (pictured,

right) this weekend.

Miranda is, at 31, only two years older than Bellew;

but he’s had 42 tough fights, is probably five years

past his peak and competing above his prime

weight. Those 42 fights do contain 35 wins and 30

knockouts, however – so Bellew, despite being the

naturally larger and fresher man, will need to be

wary. The Scouser showed in his controversial

points defeat to Nathan Cleverly (his only loss in 18

bouts) that he has the skills to win this – so long as

he keeps his head away from Miranda’s bombs.

Sky’s excellent double-header sees the best

boxer in the world whose name doesn’t rhyme with

Lloyd Fairweather – super-middleweight Andre

Ward – take on talented if sometimes lazy light-

heavyweight Chad Dawson in California. The two

Americans are probably number one in their

respective weight classes – and, though some fear

two supremely slick boxers may combine for a dull

fight (Dawson is stepping down for this one), this

is a chance to watch two pound-for-pound-level

talents battle it out in their prime. Not to be missed.

| 67

Bellew beware

Helly Hansen

catwalk

Helly Hansen beauty

and tHe beast

a 26.2 mulit-lap trail maratHon

cHallenge for induviduals and teams

22nd september 2012, stonor park,

Henley-on-tHames. sign up and join us

on tHe Helly Hansen catwalk at www.

HellyHansenbeautyandtHebeast.co.uk

Friday

London 2012

Paralympics day 9:

7-a-side Football,

Wheelchair Rugby, Table Tennis,

Channel 4 1pm

CyCLing Vuelta a Espana:

Stage 19, Penafiel-La Lastrilla,

British Eurosport 2 3pm

London 2012 Paralympics day 9:

Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball,

Channel 4 7.30pm

Saturday

RugBy union

Rugby Championship:

Australia v South Africa, Subiaco oval,

Perth, Sky Sports 3 11.35am

RugBy union Aviva Premiership:

Bath v London Wasps, The Rec,

ESPn 2.15pm

HoRSE RACing Betfred Sprint Cup,

Haydock, More 4/Racing uK 3.25pm

TEnniS uS open day 13: Men’s Semi

Finals, Flushing Meadows, new york,

Sky Sports 2 5pm

London 2012 Paralympics day 10:

Swimming, Athletics, Wheelchair

Basketball, Table Tennis, Channel 4 7pm

TEnniS uS open day 13: Women’s Final,

Flushing Meadows, new york,

Sky Sports 1 1am

Sunday

MoToRSPoRT World Superbikes:

Round 12, nurburgring, germany,

British Eurosport 2 11am

FooTBALL

League one: Coventry v Stevenage,

Ricoh Arena, Sky Sports 1 1.15pm

RugBy union Aviva Premiership:

northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs,

Franklin’s gardens, Sky Sports 2 3pm

CyCLing Vuelta a Espana: Stage 21,

Cercedilla-Madrid, Brit Eurosport 3pm

goLF BMW Championship: day 4,

Crooked Stick golf Club, indiana,

Sky Sports 2 5pm

London 2012

Paralympics day 11: Closing

Ceremony, olympic Stadium,

Channel 4 8pm

TEnniS

uS open day 14: Men’s Final, Flushing

Meadows, new york, Sky Sports 1 9pm

BASEBALL MLB: LA dodgers @

San Francisco giants, AT&T Park,

ESPn America 1am

tueSday

CRiCKET

india v new Zealand: 2nd T20,

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk,

Chennai, Sky Sports 2 3.30pm

thurSday

goLF Ricoh Women’s British open:

day 1, Royal Liverpool at Hoylake,

BBC Two 1pm

BEST OF THE REST


SaTuRday Boxing | Tony BELLEW v EdiSon MiRAndA | ALExAndRA PALACE, London | SKy SPoRTS 1 8.30PM

De

an

Mo

uh

taro

po

ulo

s/G

ett

y Im

ag

es

Extra time Gadgets

68 | September 7 2012 |

Making the most of your time and money

Golden gear

Feast your eyes on this week’s shiny

selection of gadgets, including a phone

that will make you feel very important

Making the most of your time and money

P76

Olivia Thirlby plays judge, jury

and executioner in Dredd 3D.

Well, if you’ve got to go...

1. Sony Xperia Tablet S A ‘family friendly’ tablet, this has

a splashproof screen designed to

be used by every member of your

household – so no more jealously

protecting your tablet from your

sticky-fingered children. Although they

might mess up your innings on Stick

Cricket, so it’s probably best to keep

them off it anyway, just to be safe.

From £329 | sony.co.uk

2. Swissvoice Bluetooth BH01i It’s quite hard, we’ve found, to really

slam an iPhone down in disgust. We

tried, but it led to an expensive trip to

the Apple Store, and the forceful point

we were trying to make was rather lost.

If only we’d had this Bluetooth dock and

handset, replete with speaker phone,

we could have ended that call with the

vitriol unwanted sales pitches deserve.

£150 | epure.swissvoice.net

3. Ion Air Pro WiFi Let’s face it – extreme sport, or even

going outside for that matter, is

pointless if you can’t tweet about it

afterwards. This waterproof action cam

is Wi-Fi enabled – the accompanying

iPhone app acts a viewfinder, and can

control recording while you’re mountain

biking down Niagara Falls, or whatever.

Think of all the RTs you’ll get.

£299 | iontheaction.co.uk

4. Phiaton PS 20 BTThanks to OmniPair technology (not,

sadly, a futuristic dating algorithm)

these sleek half in-ear headphones,

which provide the perfect balance

between the bass response of in-ears

and the clarity of open-ears, can store

the Bluetooth spec of up to eight devices.

So it’s easy to switch between phone and

tablet listening without fiddly pairing.

£130 | iheadphones.co.uk

1

23

4

Fire bird

Extra time Tanit Phoenix

Tanit Phoenix is not a cricketer. Neither is she dating one. But she is South African. And, with

her country’s cricketers here for only a few

more days before departing for the ICC World

Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, now is as good an opportunity

as any to shoehorn her into these pages.

We were going to feature the supermodel and

actress wearing her country’s cricket jersey, but we

changed our minds. Phoenix’s cricketing links are

tenuous at best. At a stretch, she shares her surname

with a mythical fire bird reborn out of its own ashes.

On a slightly firmer wicket, her sporting credentials

extend to frequent modelling assignments for Sports

Illustrated’s swimsuit issue and skydiving topless

for an Fa shower gel ad – YouTube it, we’ll wait. And,

if you’re keen for an extended peak at Miss Phoenix’s

acting credentials beyond that, we suggest you pick

up a copy of Spud – in which she stars alongside John

Cleese as a drama teacher to the film’s protagonist,

a boy in his first term at boarding school nicknamed

‘Spud’ by his dormmates because he’s yet to go

through puberty. Cleese, also a teacher at the school,

attempts to teach Spud to play cricket.

The boy doesn’t do so well with a bat. But he does

excel at drama. Probably because Phoenix didn’t wear

a cricket jersey for that role either.

Tanit Phoenix is the stunning star of Spud, out now

on DVD and Blu-ray Ch

eri

e R

ob

ert

s

| September 7 2012 | 71

Extra time Kit

72 | September 7 2012 |

Beach bum?With the kids back at school,

it’s time to snap up a cheap

deal to sunnier shores –

so you may need this lot

1

2

3

4

5 6

1. Kangol PatternPlayer TrilbyNormally the item of

choice for festival-

goers on their 72-hour

sessions, trilby hats

are fast becoming

a beach necessity –

and this neat Kangol

number does the job

nicely. Stylish and

light, it will help

keep the sun off that

increasingly thinning

(your secret’s safe

with us) head of hair.

£34 | kangol.com

2. Energie Sabik TeeWant to catch people’s

eye on the beach

without showing off

your body? Well,

nothing says “I’m on

holiday” better than

a dog with an Elvis

haircut. Just put it

on, and we guarantee

you’ll raise a few

chuckles. If they

continue when you

take it off, that’s when

you’re in trouble

£40 | energie.it

3. Timex Adventure Series Tide Temp Compass WatchShould you decide to

actually move from

the beach in favour

of some water-based

tomfoolery, do so

safe in the knowledge

that this tidy piece

from Timex is water-

resistant to 100

metres. What’s more,

its electronic compass

will help you get home

when you inevitably

swim out too far.

£139.99 | John Lewis

4. Patagonia Wavefarer Board ShortsWe’re very big fans of

these board shorts

here at the mag. Made

of Supplex nylon with a

water-repellent finish

(as you’d expect and

indeed hope), the hem

fits at the knee and the

durability means you’ll

be wearing them long

after you come home.

Don’t like the colour?

Fear not, for there

are a bunch of other

options. Perfect.

£52 | patagonia.com

5. Cushe Manuka Feet FlopsCushe are starting

to make a pretty big

name for themselves

in the footwear world,

and these feet flops

show exactly why.

Combining a sturdy

build with a comfy soft

rubber feel, they’re

ideal for a walk on the

beach or a day on the

boat. Oh, and don’t

worry – they also come

in other colours, too.

£30 | cushe.com

6. Eden Park Namibie SwimsuitDepending on your

body shape, these

lightweight swimming

shorts are either

heaven or hell for you.

Available in a variety

of colours, they come

with a rear and front

pocket, interior netting

and the trademark

Eden Park bow tie

logo embroidering.

£61 |

uk.eden-park.com

Competition

| 7 3

Win a Sub and a drink! Yes, a

REAL Sub…!

To celebrate the launch of the SUBWAY LUNCH™ at just £3, the guys at SUBWAY®

stores are giving

adventurous Sport readers the chance

to win a Personal Submarine like the one

in the picture (worth over £9.5k) and

a drink, of course!

That’s right, we’re giving away a fully

operational Personal Submarine, a real

Sub and a drink! Win our prize draw and

the fully operational mini-submarine will

be delivered straight to your door, ready

for you to cruise the seas. We all love

good value, so we’re very proud that our

customers can now choose from a range of

9 freshly made 6-inch Subs and ANY regular

drink for just £3. We still can’t believe it

ourselves. THE SUBWAY LUNCH™. Genius.

The £3 deal

includes a range of nine

6-inch Subs including Veggie

Delite®, Chicken Tikka, Ham, Italian B.M.T.®,

Meatball Marinara, Spicy Italian, Tuna,

Turkey Breast & Ham and Turkey Breast,

plus a regular 16oz dispensed drink, hot

drink or bottle of water.

To geT in on The SUBWAY LUnCh™ ACTion And Be in WiTh

A ChAnCe of Winning, ALL YoU need To do iS TexT US

The AnSWer To ThiS SimpLe qUeSTion:

Cricketer Freddie Flintoff got himself into a spot of aquatic-

based trouble back in 2007, but what craft was he piloting?

A Submarine B Pedalo C Hovercraft

For your chance to win, text SUBWAY, your name and your

answer, A, B or C to 81089, now!*

*Texts cost 50p + standard network charge. Competition closes at midnight on Thursday September 13.

By texting in you agree to the full terms and conditions at blog.sport-magazine.co.uk/tagged/subway

1. NGT Shaving Cream and After Shave Balm Natural ingredients mean

NGT’s shave cream forms a

rich lather that replenishes

skin, while the balm – from

NGT’s Shaving Essentials

Mini Set – helps protect it.

nougatlondon.co.uk

2. I Coloniali Shave Creams I Coloniali’s Delicate Soap-Free

Shaving Cream includes white

willow bark among its calming

and anti-irritation properties.

Its Softening Shaving Cream

with Mango Oil, on the other

hand, soothes as you shave.

marksandspencer.com

3. Nivea For Men Shave Gel and Post-Shave Balm The shave gel formula contains

the skin’s own coenzyme Q10

to give instant revitalisation to

tired, stressed skin. And the

alcohol-free balm is made for a

sensitive face lacking moisture.

niveaformen.co.uk

4. Gillette Pro Glide Gel and Intense Cooling Balm Gillette’s shave gel provides a

layer of hydrating emollients

that soften hair and protect

your skin. Combine with the

cooling balm for a refreshing,

soothing sensation.

boots.com

5. Bulldog Shave Gel and After Shave Balm The gel has eight essential oils,

aloe vera, jojoba and konjac

mannan for a smooth shave.

The balm includes those same

oils, as well as green tea and

vitamin E to nourish and soothe.

meetthebulldog.com

£10 (part of shave set)

£15 for 150ml

£12 for 100ml

£15 for 100ml

£5.29 for 100ml

£4.54 for 200ml

You’ve only got one, so look after

it when shaving with one of these

gels or creams – and use a post-

shave balm, too

Extra time Grooming

Save some face

74 | September 7 2012 |

Ja

me

s L

inc

oln

, ja

me

sli

nc

oln

.co

.uk

£5.79 for 75ml

£3.99 for 175ml

£6.99 for 100ml£3.99 for 200ml

Coexist The xx

Follow-up to The xx’s beloved 2009 debut arrives

on Monday, with a whisper rather than a roar. The

gossamer vocals and minimalist arrangement of

opener Angels shows they haven’t lost their spine-

tingling touch. Indeed, critics’

niggles centre on the fact that

the London band have stuck too

close to their original formula

– but there is a subtle increase

in pace. Awash with class again.

Dredd 3DIf Batman was too much of an

old softy for you, meet the law

enforcer who won’t just shoot

criminals: he’ll melt their head on

meeting. Hollywood’s second try at

authoritarian 2000 AD icon Judge

Dredd is a vast improvement; a

spectacular slice of unapologetic

uber-violence featuring Dredd and

a foxy young rookie trapped Die

Hard-style in a futuristic slum

towerblock run by drug queenpin

Ma-Ma. It’s short on subtlety,

but it’s a gory, guilty pleasure.

Plus, the grimacing, sometimes

amusingly deadpan Karl Urban

gives the best display of all-chin

acting since Robocop. Out today.

Zoo TimeHoward Jacobson

Booker Prize-winning wit

Jacobson’s new novel is

about a writer distracted

by his vivacious wife, not

to mention her equally

alluring mother: a man

led more by his sword

than his pen. Let’s hope

for Howard’s sake this

isn’t autobiographical,

or he could be in trouble.

Homeland Season One

A fudged finale can’t

spoil this superb US TV

thriller about a marine

who returns from eight

years in Iraq and may or

may not have come back

as an unlikely ginger

jihadist, set to carry out

a sinister al-Qaeda plot.

Get the DVD on Monday

before a second season

arrives later this year.

Tales from the Thames Delta The Milk

One of the liveliest live bands in the country, these

Essex-based northern soul rivalists have brought

their energy, swagger and infectious tunes to their

first album. From the Motown vibe of Danger to ska-

infused Mr Motivator (a tribute

to the 1990s fitness guru, we

assume), the hooks and rasped

vocals keep your toes tapping.

Very retro, but The Milk have

delivered us a tasty debut.

Lawrence of Arabia

Epic is such an overused cinematic term, but this is

the real deal. An epic epic, if you like – and it finally

arrives on Blu-ray, having undergone a resoration

as crystal clear as Peter O’Toole’s cut-glass accent.

The sweeping tale of a British army officer who led

an Arab revolt against the Turkish

Empire during World War I, this

1962 classic comes with extras

such as an O’Toole interview, plus

Steven Spielberg offering high

praise. This really deserves a place

next to Crank on your sideboard.

Ale

xa

nd

ra W

ae

sp

i

76 | September 7 2012 |

music

Total helmet

Judge Dredd keeps his hat on this

time, while old blue eyes Peter O’Toole

is back in perfectly restored majesty

FiLm

BLu-RAY

music BOOKdvd

Extra time Entertainment

LIVE

PRE-ORDER NOW

Star of Sky 1’s ‘A League of Their Own’ in a brand new DVD for 2012

Released 12th November on DVD and Blu-ray

Free Super Saver Delivery and Unlimited Free One-Day Delivery with Amazon Prime

are available. Terms and Conditions apply. See Amazon.co.uk for details.

www.jOhnbiShOPOnline.COm

Sport magazine issue 272

Documents

Transcript of Sport magazine issue 272