Willie John McBride on his pride at being Lions skipper: ‘They were a remarkable bunch of men'
The Ballyclare man toured with the Lions five times, including as skipper of one of the most successful sides which returned undefeated from South Africa in 1974.
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Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jonathan Edwards' triple jump world record 30 years on - 'I still pinch myself'
Thirty years ago today Jonathan Edwards jumped 18.29m, a distance that no one else has been able to match, though he insists he is at peace with Britain's only world record being beaten soon Jonathan Edwards will never tire of being called a world record holder. But 30 years on from his greatest hop, skip and jump in Gothenburg, he no longer watches the latest generation of pretenders from between his fingers. With a 'quantum leap' in shoe technology that has seen records tumble across the track and in the field, Edwards has made peace with the fact his mark will eventually be beaten. Equally he admits: "I'd be upset... It would be pretty cool to be on my deathbed and still a world record holder.' And yet heading towards another World Championships in Tokyo, there seems little chance of the only global record still in British hands being broken. 'It's an amazing thing, I still have to pinch myself,' Edwards says. 'I'll still be out walking with my wife and go 'I've jumped farther than anyone else in the world.' It's just an amazing feeling and I never get tired of it. But I'm at the stage now where, if you go back 10 years I'd have been really nervous.' Those who worked next to Edwards during his time as an analyst on TV remember entire studios falling silent when the likes of Christian Taylor were gearing up for an attempt at eclipsing his 18.29m. American Taylor came within eight centimetres a decade ago, while Spain's Jordan Diaz Fortun posted the third best distance on record, 18.18m, in Rome last summer. Except Edwards insists stepping away from being on screen helped him to be more at peace with the moniker being taken - even if the wait goes on into a fourth decade. 'When I was still working in the sport, doing the media stuff, I felt a much closer connection to it and it was almost as if everyone was looking for my reaction, a schadenfreude type thing,' he recalls. 'That was always a bit bizarre. But now I feel a sense it's been an incredible bit of time and it's not diminished if it goes now. I'd like to hold on to it for as long as possible but I'm resigned to the fact it will be broken some time soon. That's fine.' With the passing of time it can easily be forgotten that Edwards entered the 1995 Worlds as the record holder, jumping 17.98m three weeks before in Spain, and with his first jump became the first man to break 18m, with 16cm in change. Then came the second, unbeatable attempt, elevating triple jump into a new stratosphere. Between leaps Edwards remembers: "I kind of had no control over my emotional state in the sense I was still ready to jump and I had a big smile on my face." As for the celebrations, they were muted and he almost went to bed hungry. "I was in drug control for a long time did various interviews and didn't leave until midnight," he recalls. "I got out of the stadium and there was a McDonald's that looked open but people were finishing off their meals. They wouldn't let me in. There was a coach inside, Leif Alnes, who is Karsten Warholm's coach now, trying to explain who I was to let me in. But they wouldn't." Eventually he went back to his main sponsor Puma's hotel - with whom he has recently released a long-form podcast detailing his career - and tucked in to whatever food they had left. And while he harbours no real envy towards the current generation of athletes, the physics graduate would have loved to have experimented with the technology that is propelling the latest crop to performances never seen before. 'I understand the biomechanics and it would have been a really interesting challenge. It's amazing that the sport hasn't had the technological advances compared to other sports. 'It really has stayed a little bit in the dark ages. There have only been incremental changes up until recently. But these spikes and shoes have been a quantum leap,' he says, though he feels the impact is more pronounced for those on the track than in the field. 'It's much more difficult in the jumps than it is in hurdles. There isn't the same force going through the plate and cushion. 'My thing was running very fast and maintaining that speed through the jumps. My jumping ability per se wasn't outstanding but I could marry it with speed.' 'I loved a hard feeling, an immediate response off the ground. Finding the right frequency to give you something back would have been tricky. But at least I've got an out when someone breaks my record.'
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Alan Shearer's Premier League predictions for all 20 places this season including champions
Alan Shearer has laid out his predictions for the final 2025-26 Premier League table, as Liverpool aim to retain their crown and Manchester United hope for serious improvements Alan Shearer has cast his eye over the upcoming Premier League and believes the status quo could remain at the top and the bottom. Last season we didn't get much of a title race given how dominant and consistent the fast-starting Liverpool were. They have spent huge sums, which includes the British-record signing Florian Wirtz, in an effort to go back-to-back. Alexander Isak could yet move to Anfield and Shearer cannot look past the Reds as champions. Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland are back in the top flight. They'll be wanting to snap the concerning recent trend that has seen promoted teams head straight back to the Championship. However, Shearer has tipped all three to enjoy just one year in the Premier League before they go back down. That would mark the third year in succession that the three promoted teams cannot survive in what is a concerning trend, further highlighting the gulf between the top flight and the second tier. Arsenal have been tipped to finish second for the fourth year running - which will not please Mikel Arteta. He has spent big, adding Viktor Gyokeres as his No.9, but may still miss out on the prize that he is desperate to land with pressure mounting. Manchester City experienced a lull last term and begin a year without Kevin De Bruyne for the first time in a decade. Despite adding reinforcements Shearer hasn't backed Pep Guardiola and Co. to regain their crown, instead picking them in third. Their cross-city rivals, Manchester United, reached new lows last term and have signed some notable names in attack, as Ruben Amorim aims to seriously improve their fortunes. The pundit is predicting a better year but still not one where they return to the Champions League. Instead, he feels Chelsea and Newcastle - two clubs with very different experiences this summer - will both finished above the Red Devils. Newcastle's year may hinge on whether Isak stays or if they get in a top class replacement. Chelsea meanwhile have not struggled to get firepower through the door. Last year's surprise package, Nottingham Forest, will have to combine their domestic efforts with Europa League football. That will be a new challenge but Shearer still believes they will still be a top half side. Tottenham have embarked on a new era, sacking Ange Postecoglou despite his European success. Thomas Frank has a tough job on his hands but Shearer has backed them to finish in eighth, narrowly behind Aston Villa. The Midlands club have benefited from having Unai Emery at the helm but with so much competition at the top they've been tipped to fall again. Brentford now have Keith Andrews at the helm and have been backed to narrowly avoid the drop, finishing just above the bottom three in 17th. West Ham too have been tipped to have a difficult year despite Graham Potter getting a first full season in charge in London. For the likes of Everton and Crystal Palace it is another safe year of mid-table football. The Eagles will have European football, albeit not in the competition they wanted. Shearer's predicted Premier League table 1. Liverpool 2. Arsenal 3. Man City 4. Chelsea 5. Newcastle 6. Man United 7. Aston Villa 8. Tottenham 9. Nottingham Forest 10. Brighton 11. Bournemouth 12. Crystal Palace 13. Everton 14. Wolves 15. Fulham 16. West Ham 17. Brentford 18. Leeds 19. Sunderland 20. Burnley Article continues below *Predictions from Betfair.
Business News Wales
7 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Llanberis Student Aims for Team GB with School's Support
Teenager Toby Sutcliffe is making serious waves in the world of canoe slalom – and his school is behind him every stroke of the way. The 15 year-old from Llanberis, a pupil at St Gerard's School in Bangor, is currently ranked among the top five C1 slalom athletes in the UK for his age group. A dedicated year-round paddler, Toby trains on Llyn Padarn and at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham and has competed in the Junior Slalom European Cup in France and Germany as part of the Welsh Performance Team. He joined St Gerard's aged seven and is about to start Year 11. Balancing elite sport with his GCSE studies, Toby says the school has played a key role in helping him chase his goals. 'My ultimate aim is to reach the highest national division, then Team GB,' said Toby. 'I'd love to make it to the World Championships or the Olympics one day. 'The school has been so supportive — always helping me catch up or send me extra work when I've missed lessons to compete overseas. I'm really grateful.' Wales Performance Squad Toby's passion for paddling began during the pandemic, after his previous interest in ski slalom was put on hold. 'We had access to the lake and tried a few local taster sessions,' said mum Vicki. 'From his very first go in a C1 canoe, he just lit up — the smile hasn't left his face since.' Dad Will added: 'It's great to see St Gerard's backing young athletes. Their support and sponsorship for Toby have made a real difference and the sport needs new talent like him coming through.' Toby is also finding success in kayak cross, a fast, contact-heavy race discipline that debuted at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He reached the semi-finals in Augsburg, Germany, and came third in a recent open event in Nottingham. Sid Sinfield, Performance Manager at Paddle Cymru, said: 'With a strong work ethic and a passion for canoe slalom, Toby is not only competing at a high level for his age but is also on a clear trajectory toward national and international success. 'As he continues to train, travel, and compete, support and sponsorship play a vital role in helping him reach his full potential. 'Funding enables access to top-level coaching, specialised equipment, and travel to key races across the UK and Europe – essential components in the development of a world-class athlete. 'St Gerard's School's backing of Toby is an opportunity to invest in the future of British canoeing and to support a driven young athlete with the talent and determination to go far.' Headteacher Campbell Harrison added: 'We're proud of Toby and all our pupils as they chase their dreams. 'Whether in sport, academics, or the arts, St Gerard's is committed to helping young people achieve their full potential — and we're behind Toby all the way.'
