Category Sports News

As Cody Bramwell balanced on the summit of the Kakhiani mountain face in Georgia, it was not just the edge of his snowboard that was teetering over the precipice – his life’s dream was too.

The 30-year-old feared this could be his last chance to make it back to the top of his chosen sport of freeriding, after a season out with injury and subsequent poor form had put the brakes on a promising career.

With plans taking shape to include the daredevil discipline in the Winter Olympics in 2030, he knew this would be the perfect time to make his mark in a sport that rewards those who take the biggest risks.

Until recently, Bramwell had been one of the rising stars of freeriding – which combines the thrills and spills of freestyle skiing and snowboarding with the freedom of off-piste riding, with competitors judged on the tricks they pull and the difficulty of the route they take down a sheer, rocky mountainside.

But for the Swedish-born snowboarder, who has an English father and has chosen to compete for Great Britain, his career now looked to be fading fast.

After being given a wildcard to compete this season on the Freeride World Tour (FWT), Bramwell crashed out of the opening three events and was facing relegation from the top-tier as he prepared to “drop in” for his fourth run in Georgia.

“I was so down and disappointed and kind of thought ‘ oh well, my career is over I guess'”, he said.

Bramwell was bottom of the overall standings with two events of the regular season remaining.

Only the top 60% of the field would retain their pro licence for the 2025-26 season and make it through to the FWT final in the Swiss resort of Verbier.

After claiming successive overall third-place finishes in 2021 and 2022, before missing the 2023 campaign with a broken ankle, he looked set to lose his place in the FWT top tier for what promises to be a transformative year for the sport.

The tour is joining forces with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), which runs the World Cup programmes in alpine skiing, as well as freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

Developments planned for 2026 include the first Freeriding World Championships, while an application will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee today (Monday, 31 March) to request inclusion in the 2030 Winter Games in France.

Bramwell faced the prospect of missing out on the wealth of opportunities about to open up to the top riders, but he still had one more chance to redeem himself – and this time his stars aligned.

Throwing caution to the wind, he aced his run in Georgia to claim just the second win of his career and first in five years. A second-placed finish in the next event in Austria saw him jump to third place in the overall standings and qualify for the tour final.

Even better was to come in the sport’s spiritual home of Verbier, where Bramwell produced a jaw-dropping run to win FWT’s blue-riband event.

“I guess I just earned so much confidence from that win in Georgia”, he explained.

“Every time I am up at the start I am asking myself ‘ what am I doing here? ‘.

” Standing at the start gate is stressful, but as soon as you drop in I am like ‘ OK, this is what I love to do’.

With the shackles off, Bramwell began his descent of Verbier’s Bec des Rosses with an audacious backflip over an exposed rocky outcrop, then navigated a breakneck passage through a narrow gully, hurtling through a cascading shower of falling snow before ending with a soaring 360-degree jump.

Judges score each competitor on the difficulty of the line they choose down the mountain, the fluidity, control and technique shown in their run and the style of their jumps, as well as the amount of time they spend in the air.

Bramwell claimed victory in Verbier with an impressive score of 92.67 out of 100, and moved from rock bottom after three events to finish the season in second place overall.

“Winning the whole tour would have been amazing, but at least now we have some more chances”, added Bramwell. “The Xtreme Verbier is the most legendary freeride competition, so to win that for the first time is the biggest dream ever”.

The Briton is now looking forward to a much brighter future, and the potential to one day step on to an Olympic podium.

That possibility is by no means assured, but FIS told BBC Sport that it was finalising documents to put forward freeride as an Olympic discipline for the 2030 Winter Games, with the International Olympic Committee due to make a decision in December.

FIS secretary general Michel Vion said: “From FIS ‘ standpoint, freeride clearly meets all the evaluation criteria, including a strong position on promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility. Freeride is ready to bring value to the Olympic movement”.

“To be an Olympian would be the craziest dream ever, that would be so cool”, added Bramwell, who switched to represent Britain in 2021 and says his father Peter and his family in Norwich love to cheer him on in GB colours.

Last season, Everton reported losses of £53 million.

The club has lost a total of £570 million in its seventh straight year, which is lower than the £89 million deficit from 2022-23.

Everton were given eight points last season for two separate Premier League profit and sustainability violations, including those involving the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, for which they were responsible.

After all clubs were determined to be financially compliant, the Premier League announced in January that it had not yet charged any clubs for violations in the years 2023-2020.

Everton was later informed that an outstanding PSR charge related to an earlier PSR charge would not lead to further action.

Clubs can lose up to £105 million over the course of three years, subject to PSR regulations, before facing sanctions.

Everton’s losses over the past three seasons total £187 million, but expenses incurred as a result of investments in infrastructure and youth and women’s teams can be taken into account when calculating PSR losses.

In time for the 2025-26 season, Everton are expected to relocate to a new 52, 888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.

Everton also provided the following:

The group refinanced the club’s debt, including the £ 350m debt on the new stadium, to more favorable terms.

Additionally, Moshiri’s interest-free shareholder loans have been converted into equity.

In January, Everton fired manager Sean Dyche and installed former manager David Moyes in his place.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the only other golfers to have earned more than $100 million (£77 million) on the PGA Tour than Rory McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman won the $338, 000 prize at last week’s Houston Open, placing him fourth overall in the standings.

Since making his first appearance on the Tour in 2010, the 35-year-old has amassed 28 victories in 262 different events.

Woods, 49, passed $100m in prize money in 2012 and currently stands on $120m, with 82 wins in 378 events.

Phil Mickelson, who earned $97 million, left the PGA Tour in 2022 to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour for a rumored $ 200 million.

The PGA Tour increased prize money at 12 events to match the breakaway tour’s in 2022 as a result of the launch of LIV.

Since June 2023, the PGA Tour and the European-based DP World Tour have been in discussions about a merger.

Only the four majors offer players from the rival tours the chance to compete against one another, the Masters, US PGA Championship, Open Championship, and US Open.

McIlroy has won three of his four majors, the 2014 Open Championship being his final one.

Randox Grand National 2025

Aintree Racecourse Location: Saturday, April 5, 2019 12:00 BST

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has forbade Mr. Incredible from competing in Saturday’s Grand National, according to his trainer Sandy Thomson.

For the 34-runner race at Aintree, the horse was an outsider.

Mr. Incredible was scheduled to realize his owner’s long-term goal of competing in the Grand National, Winter Olympian James Manclark.

He hasn’t run a race since March 2024 and has only given up or pulled up once during his previous four starts.

According to Scottish trainer Thomson, “I am utterly frustrated, irritated, and sad.”

The National Fence Review Panel, a highly skilled group of former jockeys, veterinarians, course clerks, and stewards who carefully consider each horse’s suitability for participation, must evaluate each horse before entering any race over the Grand National fences, according to a BHA statement.

Before making a decision on whether to participate, the panel carefully evaluates each horse’s ability, fitness, recent form, and overall readiness for its intended race. It also closely collaborates with any connections that may be concerned.

Even though connections had been pleased with the horse’s performance, the racing’s ruling body questioned whether Mr. Incredible had sufficient form when he started but pulled up in a recent race at Kelso.

Freddy Steele, a horse therapist, has been working with Mr. Incredible for the past seven weeks.

He claimed to be showing “progress” both at home and on the track, and that he was using “natural horsemanship” techniques effectively.

The stewards addressed Mr. Incredible’s behavior to the BHA, who claimed he was “unruly” and appeared to pull himself up after the 14th fence.

The nine-year-old has finished second in four of his 16 races.

However, he has already lost three of his previous four races and has turned down the other one.

Mr. Incredible competed alongside Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins in the Midlands Grand National last year despite his unpredictable behavior.

He was regarded as one of the top 2024 National contenders, and he faced a 10-1 penalty at the start against unseated rider Brian Hayes.

Hayes was also unseated by Mr. Incredible at the 24th fence after his saddle slipped, 12 months prior.

” It was 100% the BHA’s decision. We filed an appeal. They worried that he might disrupt the beginning, Thomson said.

He has never interfered with any start, in my opinion. I could not see why he wouldn’t have entered the Grand National without his Kelso start, and having more horses nearby would have helped.

“His recent form was another thing they said, but their criteria said they would take into account his last six runs, which included second in the Midlands National. It was a “completely unsatisfaction” situation.

In December, the horse left his stables to join Thomson.

Randox Grand National 2025

Venue: Aintree Racecourse Date: Saturday, 5 April Time: 16: 00 BST

Mr Incredible has been barred from running in Saturday’s Grand National by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The horse, trained in Scotland by Sandy Thomson, was an outsider for the 34-runner race at Aintree.

Mr Incredible was due to realise a long-term ambition of his owner, Winter Olympian James Manclark, to have a runner in the Grand National.

But he has not completed a race since March 2024 and has refused to race or pulled up in his last four runs.

“I am desperately frustrated, annoyed and sad”, said Scottish trainer Thomson.

A BHA statement said: “Each horse entered to take part in any race over the Grand National fences must undergo a review by the National Fence Review Panel, a highly experienced group including former jockeys, veterinarians, clerks of the course and stewards who carefully consider each horse’s suitability to take part.

” The panel carefully assesses each horse’s ability, fitness, recent form and overall readiness for its intended race and works closely with connections of any horse about which it has concerns before a decision on its participation is reached. “

It is understood this is not an isolated case, with six horses not running in last year’s race due to concerns raised by the panel.

Racing’s ruling body intervened in recent days, questioning whether Mr Incredible showed sufficient form during a recent race at Kelso, when he started but pulled up, even though connections had been pleased with the horse’s performance.

For the past seven weeks the horse therapist Freddy Steele had been working with Mr Incredible.

He told BBC Sport the horse was showing” progress “at home and on the racecourse, and was responding well to the use of” natural horsemanship “techniques.

Mr Incredible’s behaviour at Kelso was referred to the BHA by the stewards, who said he was” unruly “and appeared to pull himself up after the 14th fence.

The nine-year-old has won two of his 16 races and finished second four times.

But he has been pulled up in three of his past four contests and refused to race on the other occasion.

Despite his unpredictable behaviour, Mr Incredible was runner-up in the Midlands Grand National last year when based with Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins.

He was considered one of the leading contenders for the 2024 National and was sent off at odds of 10-1 but dwelt at the start and unseated rider Brian Hayes at The Chair.

Mr Incredible had also unseated Hayes in the race 12 months earlier at the 24th fence after his saddle slipped.

” It was 100% the BHA’s decision. We appealed it. Their concern was that he would disrupt the start, “said Thomson.

” My defence was that he has never disrupted any start. Having got him started at Kelso I saw no reason why he wouldn’t start in the Grand National, and having more horses around him would have helped.

“The other thing they said was about his recent form, but their criteria said they would take into account the last six runs and that included second in the Midlands National. It was a totally unsatisfactory situation”.

The horse switched stables to join Thomson in December.

Randox Grand National 2025

Venue: Aintree Racecourse Date: Saturday, 5 April Time: 16:00 BST

Mr Incredible has been barred from running in Saturday’s Grand National by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), says his trainer Sandy Thomson.

The horse was an outsider for the 34-runner race at Aintree.

Mr Incredible was due to realise a long-term ambition of his owner, Winter Olympian James Manclark, to have a runner in the Grand National.

But he has not completed a race since March 2024 and has refused to race or pulled up in his last four runs.

“I am desperately frustrated, annoyed and sad,” said Scottish trainer Thomson.

A BHA statement said: “Each horse entered to take part in any race over the Grand National fences must undergo a review by the National Fence Review Panel, a highly experienced group including former jockeys, veterinarians, clerks of the course and stewards who carefully consider each horse’s suitability to take part.

“The panel carefully assesses each horse’s ability, fitness, recent form and overall readiness for its intended race and works closely with connections of any horse about which it has concerns before a decision on its participation is reached.”

Racing’s ruling body intervened in recent days, questioning whether Mr Incredible showed sufficient form during a recent race at Kelso, when he started but pulled up, even though connections had been pleased with the horse’s performance.

For the past seven weeks the horse therapist Freddy Steele had been working with Mr Incredible.

He told BBC Sport the horse was showing “progress” at home and on the racecourse, and was responding well to the use of “natural horsemanship” techniques.

Mr Incredible’s behaviour at Kelso was referred to the BHA by the stewards, who said he was “unruly” and appeared to pull himself up after the 14th fence.

The nine-year-old has won two of his 16 races and finished second four times.

But he has been pulled up in three of his past four contests and refused to race on the other occasion.

Despite his unpredictable behaviour, Mr Incredible was runner-up in the Midlands Grand National last year when based with Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins.

He was considered one of the leading contenders for the 2024 National and was sent off at odds of 10-1 but dwelt at the start and unseated rider Brian Hayes at The Chair.

Mr Incredible had also unseated Hayes in the race 12 months earlier at the 24th fence after his saddle slipped.

“It was 100% the BHA’s decision. We appealed it. Their concern was that he would disrupt the start,” said Thomson.

“My defence was that he has never disrupted any start. Having got him started at Kelso I saw no reason why he wouldn’t start in the Grand National, and having more horses around him would have helped.

“The other thing they said was about his recent form, but their criteria said they would take into account the last six runs and that included second in the Midlands National. It was a totally unsatisfactory situation.”

The horse switched stables to join Thomson in December.