Bussi sets women’s hour record for third time

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Vittoria Bussi broke cycling’s hour record for women for a third time on Sunday.

The Italian rider covered a distance of 50.455km on the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The 38-year-old set the new mark after abandoning an attempt just over the halfway point on Saturday.

Bussi held the previous record having become the first woman to break the 50km barrier when she covered 50.267km on the same velodrome in October 2023.

She also held the hour record for three years from September 2018 to September 2021, when her mark of 48.007km was bettered by British rider Joss Lowden (48.405km).

Dutch rider Ellen van Dijk then covered 49.254km in May 2022, before Bussi regained the record in 2023.

“I can say with a smile that I contributed to the history of the hour record for women,” said Bussi.

“This record has always been really special to me as an athlete and as a person, and I hope I have transmitted to young generations and people that sport is not just an athletic performance but that athletes bring messages to the world.

“‘The hour’ taught me that one of the most important things in life is to understand the preciousness of time in every single instant of our life.”

The current men’s record holder is Italy’s Filippo Ganna, who covered 56.792km in October 2022.

Bussi is set to attempt another world record in Aguascalientes – the women’s 4km individual.

The record has been lowered several times since the distance for the women’s individual pursuit was increased from 3km to 4km in January, making it the same as the men’s event.

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‘Too much made of Jimmy’s winning matches’ – McGuinness

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‘Jimmy’s winning matches’ was blasting out from the Clones PA system even if the saviour himself did not appear overly enamoured with Donegal’s unofficial GAA anthem.

“That’s wrong. The players are winning the matches and that’s something that gets lost in the ether. There’s too much about that,” a suddenly almost irritated Jim McGuinness told BBC Sport NI after he had spoken of his joy at his Donegal team’s retention of the Ulster Football title with an extra-time victory over All-Ireland champions Armagh.

“See in that 10 seconds to go there and they lose possession…..the game’s gone. It’s not Jimmy doing that.”

McGuinness was talking about the frantic closing moments of extra time as Donegal attempted to hold on to the ball and their one-point lead as Armagh pressed them deep into their own territory before Dara O Baoill was able to boot the ball into the crowd when the hooter sounded.

As Donegal’s celebrations began, things turned ugly for 90 odd seconds seemingly sparked by an Armagh fist connecting with a jubilant opponent who had ventured too close to the Orchard County bench.

A melee ensued with Garda personnel involved in separating some of the warring parties after scenes which included Aidan Forker appearing to have words with McGuinness amid some vigorous finger pointing by the Armagh skipper following his side’s third successive Ulster Final defeat – all beyond regulation.

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The seven-point advantage that Donegal twice built in the first half had been founded on attacking Ethan Rafferty’s kickout.

The Armagh keeper located a team-mate on a remarkable 23 out of 24 occasions in the provincial semi-final against Tyrone.

It was a different story a fortnight on as Donegal picked off several of Rafferty’s re-starts which included one soaring catch in midfield by his opposite number Shaun Patton and a couple of steals by fit-again centre half-back Caolan McGonagle.

McGuinness insisted he was expecting Armagh’s fightback which made Donegal’s eventual triumph amid the frantic conclusion all the sweeter.

“Armagh always find a way to come back into the game and ask those questions of you.

“We should have had the game won in normal time and we let it slip, so I’m so proud of them that they found a way to get doubled down and win that game.”

Armagh seemed to have the momentum as Jarly Og Burns put them ahead for the first time three minutes into extra time after the magnificent Oisin Conaty’s sixth point from play in the final 10 seconds of normal time had ensured the 20 additional minutes of action.

After convincing Michael Murphy to return to county colours last autumn, the manager’s embrace with the Glenswilly man after full-time was replete with emotion. Tears were soon flowing as the 35-year-old hugged his father Mick.

“His leadership on the pitch and his skill level obviously, it was just fantastic to have him in our group for this game and I’m so delighted that he’s come back and he’s got an Ulster championship medal again. That’s massive for him,” added McGuinness of Murphy.

After cramping up Murphy had to be replaced midway through the first period of extra time but not before a vital contribution which included three superb scores from play and a remarkable off-balance first-half catch to win a free which skipper Patrick McBrearty pointed.

Armagh substitute Stefan Campbell attempts to hand pass the ball away as Donegal's Eoin McHugh is about to challenge himInpho

As Donegal celebrated, Armagh keeper Rafferty hinted at a degree of upset in the Orchard camp about Stefan Campbell not earning a free with four minutes to go in extra time.

Rafferty’s two-point free a minute earlier had levelled the contest after Ciaran Moore’s goal for Donegal.

“We been here three times. Three extra times, and you’re sort of banking on it being straight down the middle,” said Rafferty, whose recovery from his first-half kickout difficulties led to him being named the BBC Sport NI man of the match by pundit Philly McMahon.

“They’ll probably argue they had some as well, but it’s tough to take no matter what happened really.”

For his part, McMahon felt Campbell had been harshly done by.

“It’s hard in the moment for the referee to call that but when you see it slowed down you can make a better decision on it,” said the former Dublin defender.

“He takes four steps, cuts in, kind of lifts his feet off the ground and gets his feet taken from him, so for me it is a free in. Maurice [Deegan, former inter-county referee] had a look at it as well and said it might have been a free in as well.”

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Smerud leaves Palace after 10 weeks in charge

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Manager Leif Smerud has left relegated Crystal Palace 10 weeks after taking over the Women’s Super League team.

Smerud was appointed on 1 March and leaves Palace after they finished bottom of the WSL with two wins from their season in the top flight.

“While we didn’t get the outcome we hoped for, I’m proud of the work we’ve done together,” Smerud said.

“I’m grateful to Steve Parish and the board for their trust and for the opportunity.”

Chairman Parish added: “Leif joined us during a challenging period, and we are grateful for his contribution and the professionalism he has shown during his time at the club.

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‘We’d definitely come back’ – English rugby’s big day out in Cardiff

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The Principality Stadium was rocking on Saturday as more than 50,000 fans attended a full-throttle club rugby derby in the heart of Cardiff.

But something was different; both sides came from over the border.

It was the first time an English Premiership game had been held at Wales’ national stadium, and the fans turned up in their numbers.

With an attendance of 51,095, the occasion drew at least 20,000 more spectators than Welsh rugby’s domestic showpiece event, Judgement Day, held a few weeks earlier.

The streets and pubs surrounding the Principality Stadium were packed with Bristol and Bath fans, soaking up the sun and matchday atmosphere.

He added: “I’m very thankful to both sets of fans for coming out in their numbers for a record crowd for us.

‘It felt like a Test match’

On the pitch, the rugby was intense and frenetic, as you would expect from two of the Premiership’s highest scoring sides.

Bristol eventually won an enthralling fixture 36-14, boosting their hopes of a top-four finish.

“I’ve had the privilege to play in this stadium and so many players would love to and never get the chance,” Lam continued.

“To come with your club-mates, to put a Bristol jersey on and to come out and play in that sort of stadium, in that sort of atmosphere, is an experience they won’t forget.”

Bath will return to Cardiff on 23 May, hoping for a better result when they face Lyon in the European Challenge Cup final.

Head coach Johann van Graan said: “The occasion was magnificent, credit to Bristol for the off-field stuff they put on show.

Ellis Genge celebrates Bristol team-mate Gabriel Oghre's tryRex Features

Judgement Day attendance decline

Having secured a bonus-point win and a club-record attendance of 51,095, it is safe to say the day will be deemed a success for Bristol.

In contrast, last month’s Judgement Day double-header between the four Welsh regions attracted a crowd of just 28,328.

This was the lowest attendance of the nine Principality Stadium occasions, although it was 8,000 more than turned up when the event was switched to Cardiff City Stadium last year.

In 2016, there was a crowd of 68,000 for Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium.

Being held on the Easter weekend, the timing of the late scheduling in the season and general apathy towards Welsh rugby have been floated as reasons to explain the loss of 40,000 supporters in nine years.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones hopes it remains, if crowds of old can be coaxed back.

“The concept is the right one, where you have a day where everyone comes together and celebrates Welsh rugby with the talent we have and way we can perform,” said Jones.

“We need to work out how we get 60,000 in there like we used to, that’s the challenge.

“The selfish side of me says open it up, make tickets £1, fill the place out and get them in love with rugby.

“But I know electricity is not free and you have to pay people to staff it and make money, so I get it.”

Bristol will return for another fixture here on 28 March, 2026, a double-header with both the men’s and women’s sides taking to the field.

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Della Maddalena wins UFC welterweight championship

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Jack Della Maddalena dethroned Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision to become the UFC welterweight champion in Montreal.

Two judges gave the victory at UFC 315 to Della Maddalena by slim 48-47 margins while the third saw it 49-46 in his favour.

The 28-year-old, who came into the fight in Canada off the back of a year-long lay-off, said: “It’s exactly how I thought it would feel, it feels good.”

Muhammad hadn’t lost a fight since January 2019 going into the contest but in his first title defence was left bloodied and wobbling after the Australian landed 200 strikes.

“He brings the pressure, so I had to be smart on my feet,” Della Maddalena added.

“Coming in there against someone like him, I had to be smart. I couldn’t spend too much time on my back. When I did, I waited until I could get my energy back and made a move.

“I wanted to take him out of there. I was gunning for a late finish. But he’s tough to put away.”

Shevchenko retains via unanimous decision

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In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko retained the women’s flyweight title with a unanimous-decision win against Manon Fiorot.

It was a narrow victory for the champion against first-time UFC title challenger Fiorot, with all three judges scoring 48-47 in her favour.

“I was expecting a very hard fight. She’s a hard opponent and a good striker,” Shevchenko, 37, said.

“Everything I wanted to do getting ready for the fight, I was able to do.”

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Lions great McGeechan diagnosed with prostate cancer

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Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian McGeechan says he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The former centre and fly-half won 32 Scotland caps, captaining them nine times, and toured with the Lions in 1974, winning the series in South Africa, and in 1977.

He coached Scotland to the Five Nations Grand Slam in 1990 and led the Lions to series victories as coach in 1989 and 1997.

The 78-year-old is currently consultant director of rugby at Championship club Doncaster Knights.

McGeechan told the Telegraph he had just completed a six-week course of radiotherapy.

“I don’t want to make a big thing of it, but it is important to get the message out about urging people to go and get tested,” he said.

“I said that to our players here, to make sure they get themselves tested.

McGeechan triumphed on his first tour as Lions head coach, overseeing the side’s 2-1 series victory in Australia in 1989.

He was at the helm for the 2-1 series defeat in New Zealand four years later, before masterminding an against-the-odds series win over world champions South Africa in 1997.

That tour was later immortalised in the ‘Living with Lions’ film which included footage of stirring pre-match speeches to his players.

Appointed Scotland coach in 1988, McGeechan led his side to their most Grand Slam two years later, courtesy of an iconic 13-7 victory over England.

As a coach at club level, he won the European Cup with Wasps in 2007 and the English Premiership in 2008.

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