SPORTS NEWS
Brought to you by Chris Wright
World superbike championship Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) has continued his perfect start to the 2019 World Superbike championship by taking a second consecutive hat-trick of race wins with a flawless performance in Thailand. Britain’s Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) and Alex Lowes (Yamaha) are in second and third place in the overall championship table. The motorcycles that race in the championship are tuned versions of motorcycles available for sale to the public, by contrast with MotoGP where purpose-built machines are used. MotoGP is the motorcycle world’s equivalent of Formula One, whereas Superbike racing is similar to touring car racing. Future rounds of the championship are being held in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, USA and Great Britain before arriving at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão on the weekend of 6-8 September. Tickets for this prestigious event start at ¤12 and are now on sale at worldsbk.com/ Riding the waves Praia do Amado, the southernmost beach in Aljezur located near the village of Carrapateira, is one of the Algarve’s most popular spots for surfers. The venue will host the fourth stage of Liga MEO Surf, Portugal’s biggest surfing competition, from the 21-23 June. Aljezur mayor José Gonçalves has also said it will be “an honour” to host the event in the borough which, according to a study about the sport, generates around ¤4m for the local economy. Some 80,000 surfers visit the area every year. Easter golf festival Golf Santo Antonio at Parque da Floresta near the fishing village of Salema, Sagres, is staging an Easter Festival comprising of four competitions. 19 April: Texas Scramble Shotgun (teams of four); 20 April: The Stock Pot/Pairs Better Ball Stableford (teams of two); 21 April: Dubai Stable ford (teams of four) and 22 April: Am Shotgun (teams of four). The event is open to all, with a special green fee
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rate of ¤25 per competition, plus the entry fee where applicable. For more information, contact Santo Antonio Golf Reception at 282 690 054 or email golf.reservations@ saresorts.com Big win for Portimonense After going six games without a win in the Primeira Liga, SC Portimonense thumped Madeira outfit CD Nacional 5-1 to record the team’s largest win for 31 years. Lucas Fernandes, on-loan from São Paulo FC (Brazil), scored his first goal for the club. The following week a point secured at Belenenses (Lisbon) has moved Portimonense to mid-table. Early April sees an important away trip to relegation threatened Tondela before the much-anticipated home game against reigning champions FC Porto on the weekend of 13-14 April. Farense in the relegation battle Just one win in their last 11 games has left SC Farense just a point above the drop zone in the Segunda Liga. The one ray of sunshine was the 3-0 victory over fellow relegation candidates Varzim, thanks to goals from Lynel Kitambala (9’), Mayambela (25’) and former Benfica and Portugal International Ribeiro (86’). On the weekend 13-14 April, fourth place Estoril Praia will provide stiff opposition at the Sao Lúis Stadium (behind Faro Hospital) and a week later, on Easter Saturday, Penafiel will be the visitors. Walking football marches on The EuroCopa International Walking Football Cup in Albufeira on 1-2 April attracted an entry of 29 teams. The teams from this region – East Algarve Walking Football, Browns WF and Lagos Strollers – will now be gearing up for the Browns Algarve Walking Football Cup in Vilamoura 3-5 May. The sport continues to attract increasing numbers as the health benefits far outweigh a few aching muscles and the odd strain. Visit walkingfootballalgarve.com
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