Christian Horner 'shocked' by OBE award
The boss of Milton-Keynes based Red Bull has received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours
Essex bowled out for just 20
Dramatic Essex collapse ends in just 20 off the innings
Farewell to Sir Henry Cecil
Sir Henry Cecil, who's died at the age of 70, was one of the most popular and greatest racehorse trainers of this, or any other, era.
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National Brazilian Gymnastics team in Ipswich
The National Brazilian Gymnastics team are in Ipswich as part of a 2012 legacy project being run by the town's gymnastics centre.
Teams from Britain and Brazil have agreed to hold two competitions a year, one in Ipswich and one in Brazil, to help both countries prepare their junior athletes for the next Olympics in Rio in 2016
Anglian Dragon Boat Festival
Hundreds of people are expected to take to the water in Lowestoft today as the Anglian Dragon Boat Festival returns to Oulton Broad in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice.
The races take place between 10am and 4pm. Twenty-seven crews will race the thirty foot brightly painted Chinese dragon boats three at a time over a 200m course alongside Nicholas Everitt Park.
Organisers say they expect thousands of spectators to attend.
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Charity bike ride in Norwich
Nearly 4000 cyclists completed a hundred mile course around Norfolk today - raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
Read the full storyDettori cleared to return
Jockey Frankie Dettori has been cleared to return to action by France Galop.
The French authority banned Dettori, for six months after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September.
The Italian had last week been due to make his comeback but was thwarted in his efforts after a test carried out by France Galop produced, according to the BHA, an "irregularity".
Dettori met with France Galop's medical committee on Tuesday to discuss a "private matter", the resolution of which means Dettori can now return to the saddle.
Saints release trio
Northampton Saints have released centre Tom May, wing Scott Armstrong and back-rower Rhys Oakley.
May, 34, who has two England caps to his name, has been with Saints for two seasons since joining from Toulon, while Oakley, has agreed to take up a player-coach role with Plymouth.
Former Leeds wing Armstrong, moved to Franklin's Gardens in 2010, but leaves the beaten Premiership finalists after making just one appearance over the course of last season.
The trio are among nine summer departures. Moves for Paul Doran Jones (Harlequins), Ryan Lamb (Leicester), Brian Mujati (Racing Metro), Martin Roberts (Bath), Mark Sorenson (Bristol), Soane Tonga'uiha (Racing Metro) had already been confirmed.
Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder said:
– Jim Mallinder, Northampton Saints, Director of Rugby"If a team is to succeed every player in the squad has to contribute.
"Everyone in the squad has done this during the season, whether playing for the first or second teams, in training or in analysis and team meetings.
"On behalf of the rest of the coaching team I'd like to thank the players who are leaving for what they've done in their time at the Saints and wish them the best for the future."
Lamb back at Northants
Former England batsman Allan Lamb has rejoined Northamptonshire as a director.
Lamb, won 79 Test caps and captained the county during his 18-year playing career.
He said:
– Allan Lamb"I'm delighted to be joining the board of directors. Northants cricket has played a big part in my life for many years and I feel I can help the club move forward over the coming years."
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Bedford Blues lose out in Championship final play off
The Bedford Blues lost out to the Newcastle Falcons last night in the Championship play-off final. Bedford lost the second leg to the Falcons 24 - 31 giving Newcastle a 49-33 win on aggregate.
Newcastle has now secured promotion to the Aviva Premiership.
Lions issue statement over Hartley ban
– The British and Irish LionsWarren Gatland and his fellow coaches will now consider all their options before making any further announcement."
Dylan Hartley's troubled disciplinary record
This is not the first time Northampton captain Dylan Hartley has been suspended.
Hartley's disciplinary record is long and includes incidents of eye-gouging, biting and punching, as detailed here:
- April 2007 - Banned for 26 weeks for eye-gouging Wasps forwards James Haskell and Jonny O'Connor.
- March 2012 - Banned for eight weeks for biting Ireland forward Stephen Ferris in a Six Nations match.
- December 2012 - Banned for two weeks for punching Ulster hooker Rory Best in a Heineken Cup match.
- May 2013 - Sent off in the Aviva Premiership final and banned for 11 weeks after being found guilty of verbally abusing a match official.
Rugby bosses take tough action over Hartley's cheat jibe at ref
The Rugby Football Union has issued a statement about the 11 week suspension of Northampton Saints captain Dylan Hartley.
His plea of not guilty to swearing at ref Wayne Barnes was overruled by the panel. His suspension of 12 weeks was reduced by one to reflect his good conduct at the hearing.
– Judge Jeff BlackettWe cannot get around the fact that Wayne Barnes was certain that Mr. Hartley’s comments were directed at him. Wayne Barnes said that if he had had any doubt in his mind, then he would have given the player the benefit of the doubt. In terms of sanction, calling a referee a cheat is an attack on his integrity and contrary to the core values of rugby and therefore we have taken a serious view and provided a serious sanction.”
