Sport Magazine issue 278

Issue 278 | October 19 2012

Grand slam finish Maria Sharapova eyes the perfect ending to her year

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issue 278, october 19 2012 radar 07 Quite simply, the Best In a new book that asks the opinion of former teammates Denis Law and Bobby Charlton

08 Heat up...

With Miami Heat’s Champions DVD. Brash, big-time, and better than everyone else

10 ... then cool down We go about as cool as it gets with the high-voltage new snowboarding film Further oFeatures this coming week

16 You’ve got to see her Maria Sharapova, that is – talking exclusively about her return to the top of the women’s game

23 Olivier Giroud Arsenal’s main man on settling in at the Emirates, and finding his scoring touch for the Gunners

26 Frankel: the greatest horse The world’s top-rated nag as seen through the eyes of the people who know him best

52

37 The Real McHoy The living Olympic cycling legend talks Scottish football and his Commonwealth Games ambition

extra time

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52 Gadgets We kindly fire off our verdict on the Kindle Fire HD

54 Elena Gomez The latest well-heeled newcomer to the blue side of Manchester is also something of a poet Cover image courtesy of WTA

56 Kit

37

07

We’re multilayered sorts here at Sport Towers. And now so can you be this winter

60 Entertainment Beasts of the Southern Wild and E.T. keep us company on screen | October 19 2012 | 05

Radar

p08 – Sully sleek Nike running jackets with your sweat

p08– Can’t stand the Heat?

Pick up their DVD anyway p10 – We welcome the origami kayak into the fold

Best of the Best

S

o many books about George Best focus on the booze, birds and big sideburns, rather than giving due analysis to his flabbergasting talent. This new title redresses that balance, chronicling the man’s football exploits with input from the very best authorities you could wish for.

It begins with two forewords from no lesser forwards than Best’s former Manchester United teammates Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. Charlton describes his awe at (and frustration with) Best’s

genius, while Law passionately defends his close friend’s commitment, pointing out that the Northern Irishman “could still score 26 goals in a season, which he did as late as 1971-72, while nowhere near fully fit – and while not living like a monk, to put it mildly”.

There’s further insight from Ryan Giggs, Paddy Crerand and George Cohen (on trying to stop him), but the highlight is the many wonderful photos of Best in his pomp, contorting his hips as the nearest defender stares gormlessly in the wrong direction.

George Best

by Ivan Ponting (Simon & Schuster), available from October 25, £25

| October 19 2012 | 07

Radar

The art of running F

or a sport in which the aim is to run so hard you end up red-faced in a crumpled mess on the floor, you might argue it doesn’t much matter what apparel you go running in – because you’ll still look like death come the end. But don’t tell designer Jun Takahashi that.

For the fifth season, runners are invited to improve their wardrobes with the latest from Nike x Undercover Gyakusou. Clearly, looking at two running jackets here, this Winter 2012 collection harmonises Nike innovation, function and high design by tapping into the power union of mind, body and, er, nature.

Clearly too, we’ve just lifted that straight from the press release, because we can’t claim to know much – or, indeed, anything at all – about high-grade Japanese fashion.

However, what we can say is that any jacket that makes you look like a running tree is fine by us. The whole range is almost too sleek to sully with your sweat – but we strongly suggest you do.

From £70 to £315, see mrporter.com

A wise purchase I

f there‘s one racing tipster who has the bookies running for cover, it is the legendary Pricewise of The Racing Post. His record is so good that as soon as his tips are published, the odds on his selected horses reduce – and they invariably win.

A new book, The Secrets of Pricewise, examines the service from its inception in 1987 to the present day. Author James Milton talks to the three men who have compiled it: Mark Coton, ‘the man who changed the face of tipping‘, Mel Collier, who recorded a profit every year from 1993 to 2001, and current tipster Tom ‘the Tominator‘ Segal. It explores the methods of all three and how the brand has evolved.

It will cost you £12.99, which could be the best £12.99 you‘ll ever spend.

The Secrets of Pricewise is out now (Racing Post Books)

Hot and nasty F

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

rom Don Revie’s Leeds United to the 1970s Philadelphia Flyers ‘Broad Street Bullies’ era (in which hockey players were told by their coach to “take the shortest route to the puck carrier and arrive in ill humour”), there’s something memorable about a team that combines brilliance with an all-pervading air of villainy that would embarrass even Darth Vader.

Basketball’s Miami Heat are on their way to becoming such a team. Boasting the ‘big three’ of LeBron James (left), Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, arrogance hasn’t been in short supply. It may not make them likeable, but it doesn’t make them less mesmerising to watch – as you can see in this new DVD about their 2012 NBA triumph. The Heat came from behind to win three straight playoff series, but it’s the gravity-defying skills of their players – particularly Wade and James – that make this a must-see for all sports fans.

NBA 2012 Champions: Miami Heat (Clear Vision), out now via amazon.co.uk

08 | October 19 2012 |

Radar

Carry-on kayak C

rafted almost entirely from one piece of foldable corrugated plastic, the Oru is apparently the world’s first origami kayak (certainly no others spring to our mind). It measures up to 12 feet and can carry up to 260lb in weight – yet it weighs just 25lb itself and folds neatly down to the size of a suitcase (see below) for ease of transportation.

As if a kayak you can carry on to a plane as hand luggage wasn’t impressive enough, we’re also told it takes just five minutes to construct. That’s less time than it takes us to construct a paper aeroplane. Amazing.

Discover more at orukayak.com

Coming down the mountain T

here’s something gripping about the best snowboarding films. Maybe it’s the combination of the most stunning landscapes you’ll see outside of a David Attenborough boxset with challenges that would cause even Felix ‘freefall from space’ Baumgartner to soil his astropants.

One of the most ambitious films ever was 2010’s Deeper, featuring the man who’s been voted Big Mountain Rider of the Year

by Snowboard Magazine nine times: Jeremy Jones. This year sees Jones and his fellow boarders return in a follow-up, Further, set in remote, unspoiled locations in Alaska, the Japanese Alps, Svalbard and Austria.

As heart-stopping as it is watching them take off down a near-vertical drop of sheer, open snow, it’s equally intriguing watching their progress on the way up (on foot, as no helicopters were used for filming).

Winter sports at their most intense.

10 | October 19 2012 |

Further makes its UK big screen debut at the London Freeze Festival on October 26 (relentlessfreeze.com).

The DVD is released on November 12

Selected stores and availability. Also available online.

£9.99

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE © 2011 Highbridge Production Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Radar Editor’s letter Sir Ranulph Fiennes: ‘You just must not think about getting old... you might as well go for it’ www.sport-magazine.co.uk @sportmaguk facebook.com/sportmagazine Free iPad app available on Newsstand

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Hail the superheroes We might not want to copy Felix Baumgartner and his ilk, but we‘re still inspired by them

F Editor-in-chief Simon Caney @simoncaney

elix Baumgartner has a screw loose, that much is obvious.

Throwing one’s self out of a balloon 24 miles in the air is not the action of a rational man.

I suspect he’s probably murder to live with, too. Who of us would put our families through that sort of terror? BASE jumping from the statue of Christ the Redeemer is bad enough; what he did last week is another thing altogether.

Yet I have nothing but awe for Felix and his fellow lunatics – those brave, bonkers men and women who push the human body further than it has ever been pushed.

They show the rest of us what is possible, even if we’re not exactly minded to follow suit. They are the modern-day explorers.

Briton Sir Ranulph Fiennes is another who is, frankly, a bit mad. The 68-yearold’s next wheeze, starting in March, will see him venture for six months across

Antarctica in a mission he once described as “impossible“. The reason he’s keen to do it now is that he had a whiff that another exploration party, from Norway, was considering doing it. The idea that they might set the record first was too much to bear for this particular OAP – who, make no mistake, will now put his life on the line in the name of exploration.

Sir Ranulph has already lost several fingers because of frostbite, and suffered a heart attack in 2003. He should know better by now, but it’s hard to imagine that he won’t be doing this sort of crazy escapade until the day he dies.

And he’s not alone: there are hundreds more people out there, pushing their bodies to ridiculous extremes in all kinds of conditions – that would terrify most of us – just because they can.

Hats off to them: they might be mad, but they’re utterly inspiring too.

Terrific to see Heather Watson winning a WTA event in Japan at the weekend. Along with Laura Robson, she represents a future for women’s tennis in this country – although how bright it is remains to be seen. Hopefully we will not expect too much too soon – the last Brit to win on tour was Sara Gomer, in 1988. Sadly it never got any better than that...

There’s not much to add to the depressing Lance Armstrong story.

Previously I had been critical of USADA, who I mistakenly thought were targeting Armstrong because of who he was, rather than what he had done. It turns out, in fact, that USADA – and everyone who has testified in this sorry tale – deserve every ounce of credit. We have known for a long time that cycling was previously a filthy sport, riddled with cheats, but Armstrong was still a hero to millions of people. Not any more.

Editorial Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951) Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Associate editor: Nick Harper (7897) Art editor: John Mahood (7860) Deputy art editor: William Jack (7861) Digital designer: Chris Firth (7624) Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431) Senior writers: Sarah Shephard (7958), Alex Reid (7915) Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901), Amit Katwala (7914) Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961) Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963) Contributors: Martin Barry, Martin Potter, Simon Knights Commercial Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991) Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Manager: Steve Hare (7930) New Business Sales Executive: Hayley Robertson (7904) Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852) Distribution Assistant: Makrum Dudgeon Head of Online: Matt Davis (7825) Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Adam Bullock PA to Managing Director: Sophia Koulle (7826) Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd © UTV Media plc 2012 UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine £1 where sold Hearty thanks this week to: Harry Maidment, Joe Whitbread, Katrine Pearson, Amy Grantham and HP for the very tasty bacon rolls

Cover of the Year

Ha! @simoncaney’s testicle chat in today’s @sportmaguk led to me choking this morning. NOT on a testicle I might add.

@markintime Twitter

12 | October 19 2012 |

Great interview with @Alex_OxChambo in @Sportmaguk today.

Speaks well and honestly.

Smart/sensible young bloke. Read if you can.

Despite my dislike for football I’m very happy for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on his #England goal after reading the interview in @sportmaguk

Great picture and loving the comment in @sportmaguk re: Tarragona Castells Competition in #Spain.

@mattlittlechild Twitter

@LaurenETurner1 Twitter

@NSordell Twitter

@Sportmaguk is porn for girls who like rugby.

A @DannyCipriani87 interview one week, and a picture of Vincent Clerc & Morgan Parra today.

LAUNCH OF THE YEAR

2008

Total Average Distribution: 305,676 Jan-Jun 2012 Don’t forget: Help keep public transport clean

and tidy for everyone by taking your copy of Sport away with you when you leave the bus or train.

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Reader comments of the week

Frozen in time

Jay Nemeth /Red Bull Stratos via Getty Images

What goes up When young boys dream of what their future might bring, many of them visualise scoring the winner in a World Cup final or completing a nine-dart finish at the Lakeside Country Club.

But not Felix Baumgartner. The mad Austrian dreamed of one day floating into the stratosphere in a space pod, opening the door and hurtling to earth screaming: “Aggggggghh!!� Here, we see him high above Roswell, New Mexico, avoiding the UFOs and asking himself why.

14 | October 19 2012 |

| 15

Maria Sharapova

16 |

Maria Sharapova won more than a trophy at Roland Garros this summer – she won her career back. Ahead of the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul next week, the Russian tells Sport why her fourth Grand Slam title was probably her most important yet o matter how tough it was, no matter how many people didn’t believe in me, I didn’t care and I didn’t listen.

“I could have said: ’I don’t need this.’ I have money, fame, victories. I have Grand Slams.

“But when your love for something is bigger than all those things, you continue to get up in the morning when it’s freezing outside, when you know that it can be the most difficult day.

"You can achieve great things when you don’t listen to all those things.”

N

So went Maria Sharapova’s victory speech after she lifted the French Open trophy in June, having overwhelmed the Italian Sara Errani to triumph in straight sets.

That victory gave her the illustrious career slam of having won all four Grand Slam titles – a feat only nine other women had previously achieved. Being in the final also took her back to world number one for the first time in nearly four years. But, perhaps most significantly, the Roland Garros crown came after Sharapova’s four-year struggle with injury, when many questioned whether the Russian would ever return to the top.

It was a career-threatening torn rotator cuff in 2008 that kept her out for 10 months and sent her ranking plummeting to 126th in the world. She was not to be beaten, though, returning to the sport in the summer of 2009 to begin the long climb back towards the top.

She finally reached the summit this summer – and now, with the WTA Tour Championships in Istanbul getting under way on Tuesday, Sharapova has the chance to finish the year with what would be another milestone in her comeback. You have to go all the way back to 2004 for the last time she won the prestigious end-of-season tournament – the same year she first became a Grand Slam champion, becoming the 17-year-old darling of Wimbledon with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Serena Williams. >

| October 19 2012 | 17

Maria Sharapova

“I was just grateful to be able to play tennis again”

Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images, Sindy Thomas/AFP/Getty Images

She is 25 now, and one of the biggest names in women’s tennis – and indeed women’s sport. But the joys of winning never get old – especially when you’ve had to face the possibility they might be out of reach forever.

You said winning the French Open this year was the “most unique moment of your career”. What did you mean by that?

“Winning that Grand Slam as my first one after my injury – on a surface not many people expected me to do well on – was really meaningful. You put so much work in on the practice court and in the gym, but you never quite know when that will pay off. And when you have experienced those incredible moments of winning Grand Slams before, you really want to feel that emotion – that moment of winning a matchpoint – again. I was really happy it happened in Paris. I couldn’t have asked for a better moment for it.”

Did spending all that time away from the sport change your attitude towards it?

“After the injury I felt like I was starting over again in my career. In a way, I was appreciating what I’d been given and was just grateful to have the opportunity to play tennis again on a daily basis. But I enjoyed the hard work to get back – I never looked at it as a negative, no matter how tough it was. You appreciate it so much more when something’s taken away from you a bit.”

18 | October 19 2012 |

There’s just the WTA Championships in Istanbul left this season. At the end of a long year, would you really rather be on a beach?

“When you start the year, you have the four majors and you think: ’Oh, the champs are all the way at the end of the season.’ But the goal is always to be one of those eight girls who qualify, because it means you’ve had a really consistent year. I remember qualifying for it for the first time in 2004, and it felt like a bonus because usually the season had finished so early. I still feel like this tournament is a bonus for your accomplishments during the year.”

It’s the sixth time you’ve qualified. Does your experience give you an advantage?

“I think it’s the experience that I have of not playing so many tournaments during the year.

A lot of girls usually play a few tournaments in the lead-up to a big one like that, but a lot of my success has come when I’ve had a limited schedule. It gives me a chance to let my body rest and to practise well and be healthy – so that when I go out and compete, even though I might feel rusty for a few games, in the longer stretch of the tournament I feel better.”

The tournament has been held all over the world, from Madrid to Doha and now Istanbul. Where would you like to see it?

“I would actually love to see it go to Brazil.

I was there once, and it’s somewhere we

haven’t seen too much tennis, but I know there’s so much passion for sport there.

Obviously football’s their number one thing, but as far as tennis is concerned I get so much fan mail from there, and I’m sure other players do too. It seems like the sport is really followed in Brazil, so I really hope it goes there.”

From Russia with 40-Love: Sharapova sinks to her knees after completing her career slam at Roland Garros (top); and has a quiet moment with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in the locker room

The next Olympics will be there. Are you planning to be in Rio, to upgrade the silver medal you won in London this summer?

“It’s tough to say – it’s so far down the line.

I usually don’t try to plan too much ahead.

I was so looking forward to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but just a few months >

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Maria Sharapova From Tuesday WTA Championships | British Eurosport 1 HD 2.45pm

“I was so looking forward to Beijing, but then I got my shoulder injury.

That was a real bummer”

Elsa/Getty Images, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

believe that was even being asked in question form. The Olympics was such a big part of our culture in Russia, so I grew up hoping that one day I could represent the sport of tennis – because it wasn’t very big when I was watching it in the Olympics when I was young.

But the visibility of tennis in Russia and the amount of facilities and coaches we have has grown so much - it’s a solid sport there now.

So for me to have that honour was incredible.”

before that is when I got my shoulder injury.

So that was a real bummer. I try not to look at things that far in advance, but my experience this year was so special that of course I would love to get there – and experience having that chance again.”

You became the first female Russian athlete to have the honour of carrying the flag during the opening ceremony in London.

When did you find out you’d been chosen?

“It was crazy; I received a text message from the Russian Olympic Committee in the middle of the French Open, asking me if it was something I’d be interested in doing. [Laughs] I was half asleep and just honestly I couldn’t

20 | October 19 2012 |

Were you nervous?

“It was such a long walk from the athletes’ village to the stadium, with the whole team and all the other countries, that once you got there it felt like the walk around the track was so much shorter than it actually was.

I was just trying to focus on making sure the flag was waving the right way and holding it right...”

Tennis aside, food is another passion.

“I know, it’s really pathetic. Every time I do an entry on my website or write a little blog, I always mention food. I think my fans must think I have a problem… I kind of do [laughs].

But one of the greatest things about travelling is experiencing the different flavours and cultures. And, in Russia, sitting down at the table to eat as a family was such a big part of our lives – eating your grandma’s cooking and baking with the family. I’ve missed it since I moved to the US. I’m always talking about food and I try to cook, but I don’t do it as much

as I would like to because from start to finish it’s such a big process. So on training days it’s pretty tough to cook, but on my off days I always do.”

If someone was to put together the perfect menu for you, what would be on it?

“I love the Russian soup, borscht, and then we have this salad which is originally French, called Olivier – but I think the Russians took over it and now they call it the Russian salad. And we have these little dumplings called pelmenis, which are really good – my grandmother makes them really well. Then for dessert I’d want Russian honey cake called medovnik, which is really yummy.”

Sweet success: Sharapova on her way to silver at Wimbledon in the Olympics this summer (above); and (left), launching her own Sugarpova ‘premium candy’

And now you've even gone and launched your own range of sweets...

“When I came to the US as a kid and I saw these gummy bears and gummy type candy, it was so different to anything I’d ever tried or seen in Russia. I just fell in love with it.

A couple of years ago, the name Sugarpova came about, and I put the two together.

I really wanted to start my own business, and I thought this would be fun, young and fresh. And everybody loves candy, right?”

Sarah Shephard @sarahsportmag British Eurosport HD will broadcast the WTA Championships exclusively live, October 23-28.

Coverage is also available online and on mobile via the Eurosport Player: eurosportplayer.co.uk

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

The new Arsenal striker has finally opened his Premier League account, something he tells Sport was never really in doubt...

A

ux, Champs-Elysees, la la la...”

Olivier Giroud is singing. He‘s not bad, though the lyrics lack a certain je ne sais quoi, if you will. The same could be said of the song Arsenal fans have adopted for their new striker – it‘s mostly comprised of “na na naaaas“, followed by “Giroooouuud”, to the tune of The Beatles‘ Hey Jude.

The Gooners crowd belted it out at Upton Park a fortnight ago when, after 303 minutes of league football in an Arsenal shirt, the 26-year-old scored his first Premier League goal, cancelling out Mohamed Diame‘s wondrous opening strike for West Ham. It‘s a few days later when Sport meets Giroud in Paris, where he‘s preparing for France‘s World Cup qualifying game against Spain. But the post-match high is still written all over the Frenchman‘s finely chiselled face, as he recalls his celebratory sprint over to teammate Lukas Podolski.

“I was so happy, I ran to Lukas and said: ‘Come my friend, I want to kiss you.‘” The German, perhaps unsurprisingly, held Giroud at arm‘s length. “I am too big,” >

| October 19 2012 | 23

Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

GoAl huntEr

Olivier Giroud

Olivier Giroud

Coming good: Giroud opens his Premier League account for the Gunners

he laughs. “But it was a wonderful moment – I want to live more moments like this.” By which Giroud means not sleepless nights for Podolski, but that he wants to add to his goal tally for Arsenal – which currently numbers two, being that he also scored in the Gunners‘ 6-1 mauling of Coventry in the League Cup last month. Giroud has some way to go to match his record of 21 goals in the French league last season, however – a figure that made him joint-top scorer and helped his team, Montpellier, win their first ever Ligue 1 title.

Strength of character It was against this impressive backdrop that Giroud arrived in north London in August, evidently as a replacement for wantaway striker Robin van Persie. When that allimportant first goal took its time to arrive, though, there were fears that Arsene Wenger‘s £12m outlay was misplaced.

“I kept trust and confidence about my quality and my talent,” says Giroud. “Sometimes, when you‘re a striker, you have difficulty in scoring. But you have to ignore the doubts and just concentrate on your work on the pitch.

I knew the goal would come, so I persevered.”

It perhaps takes such strength of character to leave behind a title-winning team for one with a trophy cabinet that has – in case you had forgotten – been gathering dust since the 2005 FA Cup final.

“It didn‘t worry me,” says Giroud, of the choice he made. “Since I was very young, I

24 | October 19 2012 |

dreamed of playing for Arsenal because a lot of French guys have succeeded there and it‘s a a big club. Every year they play in the Champions League, and that was important in my decision. But also, I believe in this team and this squad. And I think we have a great chance to win something this year.”

Giroud‘s dreams of playing in England date back to the days when, as an aspiring footballer, he spent every single weekend watching the likes of Eric Cantona take what the Premier League‘s latest Gallic import refers to as the “French philosophy of football“ into the top flight.

“I loved to watch him play, both for his charisma and his talent,“ says Giroud.

“Thierry Henry, too, was great to watch.”

When he wasn‘t watching football, Giroud was trying to emulate his heroes on the streets of Froges in southeast France, where he was raised. “I was born into a football family,” he explains. “My father played a little bit, but his level is bad. [Laughs] And one of my two brothers played in the young national team with Titi [Thierry] Henry. So I always had a ball at my feet, trying to score goals.”

“I think I‘m a complete striker now,” he continues, when asked to name his best qualities. “I have a good technical left foot, my heading game is good, I can keep the ball, I‘m strong and I can assist as well as score.”

Indeed, Giroud currently tops Arsenal‘s assists charts – a sign that he‘s settled well at his new club.

Sing when you’re winning It has helped that Laurent Koscielny was already a friend from Giroud‘s time on loan at Ligue 2 club Tours, and he admits the centre back was influential in his decision to join Arsenal: “He told me about the club, the structure and the staff – how everything is made so the player can focus on the game.”

Koscielny also gave his fellow Frenchman a heads-up about what awaited him as an initiation task at the Emirates. “Ah yes, I had to sing a song,” grins Giroud. “A French song...” Cue the singing: “Aux ChampsElysees... it‘s by Joe Dassin, you know?” His fellow new arrivals had to follow suit, with Podolski singing a German ditty and Santi Cazorla opting for the ever popular Macarena – dance moves included, according to Giroud.

And on that bombshell, he stands and shakes us warmly by the hand before departing to join up with his French teammates.

With Wenger‘s new goal hunter finally off the mark in the league, Arsenal fans will hope he returns hungry to continue what looks like another Gallic success story in north London.

Sarah Shephard @sarahsportmag Olivier Giroud wears the PUMA evoSPEED iFG football boot.

See puma.com

Sean McMahon/www.molecatcherart.co.uk

The Greatest Racehorse

26 | October 19 2012 |

The Greatest

Tomorrow, the world’s most famous racehorse defends his unbeaten record for the last time. As we prepare to bid farewell to Frankel, Sport looks back on a glittering career through the eyes of those who know him best

A

ll good things must come to an end, they say. And so, two years and two months after we first saw him on a racecourse, Frankel is to run his last race. Tomorrow’s QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot is the most valuable race over its 10-furlong distance in Europe, with a staggering total purse of £1.3m, but such is the legend of its most notable entrant that few will even notice the detail. For this race is all about the four-year-old bay horse with the large white star on his face and four white feet; the colt who has been trained by the iconic Sir Henry Cecil to win all 13 of his races to date; the powerhouse whose Timeform rating of 147 marks him out as the highest-rated horse in the 64-year history of that much-respected organisation. Put simply, tomorrow is all about the horse many astute judges are calling the greatest the sport has ever seen.

Not-so-humble beginnings Frankel is no rags-to-riches story. His tale begins early in 2007, when Prince Khalid Abdullah – a member of the Saudi royal family and one of the leading figures in the world of thoroughbred horse racing – sent one of his broodmares, Kind, to visit the former Derby winner Galileo. The Prince will have paid handsomely for the privilege; the website for Coolmore Stud in Ireland, where Galileo currently stands, reveals that his stud fee for 2012 is listed as ’private’ – this suggests it is over and above £100,000 per cover.

“The plan was that Galileo had developed into one of the best stallions in the world, if not the best,“ recalls Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid. “And you want your best mares to go to the best stallions.“ Quite, although Kind had proven best over the sprint distance of six furlongs while Galileo was a stoutly bred horse who had excelled over twice that distance – there was to be no certainty about what kind of racehorse their union would produce, although the early signs were encouraging.

“By about October 2009, we had him rated as our best yearling,“ continues Grimthorpe. “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, of course – we’ve had some so-called best yearlings who are still waiting to win a race. But by the time he we went into Henry’s [yard] in early January 2010, we thought he was pretty smart. We had a good idea he was going to be something interesting, but it’s only when you get them to the racecourse that you really find out how interesting.“ Out of the ordinary The man in charge of deciding when that would be was one of the most successful, charismatic and popular men in the sport: trainer Sir Henry Cecil. “He used to be very precocious, strong and free,“ Sir Henry remembers in an interview that takes place in his study, commemorative plates of some of his many classic wins littering his coffee table like ashtrays.

“It took us about a year and a half to get him to relax properly, but those horses that pull very hard are usually no good; they do all their best work at the beginning of a race and not at the end. They run themselves into the ground, you know?

“But I realised he was out of the ordinary about halfway through that year – there’s something very different about him. He has a real presence about him... he’s not a normal horse; he has this amazing stride and finds everything so easy. I don’t like the word ’freak’, but he is very out of the ordinary.“ Cecil is a trainer renowned for his instinct and patience, a man who dislikes rushing his two-yearold juveniles into action, less still waxing lyrical about them before they have even run – but in March 2010, five months before Frankel made his racecourse debut at Newmarket, he let his guard slip.

“We had taken Twice Over [another Cecil horse owned by Abdullah] to run in the Dubai World Cup,“ reveals Mick McGowan, the travelling head lad who will drive Frankel to Ascot this evening before checking on him every two hours throughout the night. >

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Frankel The Greatest Racehorse

“Frankel’s win in the 2000 Guineas was altogether freakish” “I was walking Twice Over round and I heard the boss say to Mr Grimthorpe: ’We could have a special twoyear-old here, a Kind colt.’ The boss likes to give his two-year-olds plenty of time, so for him to be saying that meant he must have been something special.“ The real sensation The boss, as most of Cecil’s employees affectionately call him, was right. Despite his refusal to settle under the tender handling of jockey Tom Queally, Frankel racked up four wins from four as a two-year-old – the last of which, in the Dewhurst Stakes, established him as the best two-year-old racehorse in Europe.

“He didn’t settle at all in the Dewhurst but still won it with authority,“ Queally says. “That’s the sign of a great horse, when things can go wrong but he still stamps his ability on the field. He was very, very fiery in a few of his races, even as a three-year-old, but pure class always got him through.“ He was pretty fiery back at his trainer’s sprawling yard at Warren Place, Newmarket, too. After that victory in the Dewhurst, Cecil tried to move Frankel from his original box near the road to a more spacious

28 | October 19 2012 |

version in a row of boxes reserved for the best horses in the yard – known as Millionaires’ Row. The trainer’s star horse, it turns out, was having none of it.

“He just didn’t like it at all," reveals Sandeep Gauravaram, who as Frankel’s groom has spent more time with him than anyone else in the yard. “It was twice as big as his old box, but he wouldn’t eat and given any chance at all would try to get out. He only stayed there a day, but then two days later we tried to move him into the Dip [another quieter part of the yard], and he stayed there for about 10 minutes. He just didn’t want to move out of his box; there is a lot happening around it, but he likes all the action. He’s a nosy kind of a guy, you know? All he wants to do is look at what the other horses are doing around him.“ Something Frankel was unable to do in what remains for many the definitive performance of his career: his staggering six-length win in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, in which he absolutely spreadeagled his field in a manner never before seen over the Rowley Mile (above). He led from soon after the start, and never saw another horse.

“The 2000 Guineas was the real sensation,“ says the veteran broadcaster and journalist Brough Scott.

“It was an altogether freakish thing to do – but once a

horse has done something extraordinary like that, you just hope he can do it again, because history relates it is very hard to do so. Even more so for an equine athlete, who doesn’t really know what’s happening.“ The special one Tell that to the team at Warren Place. “I think he does know how special he is,“ says Shane Fetherstonhaugh, the 35-year-old Dubliner who rides Frankel in his work every day, and who Cecil credits for bringing about the relaxation that has seen Frankel settle better – and, almost unbelievably, improve still more – as a four-year-old. “He knows he’s different, what with so many people coming to photograph him every day; he must know they’re there to see him.“ Everyone you meet in and around Warren Place has their own story about a horse whose personality is as winning as his talent. Head lass Dee Deacon, who arrives at the stables to feed the horses at 4.15am every morning – visiting her beloved Frankel first, naturally – reveals him to have the greatest appetite of any horse under Cecil’s care; while farrier Stephen Kielt proudly states that there is no horse in the yard with bigger feet. “He’s an intelligent horse who knows all the people around him, so he always feels comfortable,“ adds Kielt. “He’s never had a bad experience and he loves his racing – but why wouldn’t he, when he wins so easily all the time?“ >

Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Trainer Henry Cecil with Frankel’s owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah: ‘A gentle man and a great friend’

The Greatest Racehorse SATURDAY QIPCO British Champions Day Ascot | BBC One, Racing UK & At The Races 1.30pm

Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Never has that been more the case than in 2012, when Frankel has won four races by a combined distance of 29 lengths. His most recent victory, in a race sponsored by his owner at York, was his first run at the extended distance of 10 furlongs; there had been some doubt over the ability of such a fast horse to stay as far, but his jockey was never concerned.

“It’s like you’re on air, you know?“ says Queally.

“He just cruises, and does everything so easily. It’s amazing; and that run at York was the nicest ride he has ever given me. I always had the belief that he could step up in distance – and even then I couldn’t pull him up once we’d finished. He just has this will to win and gives you everything. You can’t teach that.“ History horse Frankel’s win in the Juddmonte Stakes prompted Timeform, which has been providing equine ratings since 1948, to raise Queally’s mount to a mark of 147 – the highest in its history. But where do people within the sport stand on the matter: is he, as some have suggested, the greatest racehorse we’ve seen?

“Who’s the best footballer ever?“ asks Brough Scott, identifying the inevitable problem with comparing across generations. “The question is rather how they compare against their contemporaries – and this horse gives his contemporaries more of a beating than any horse ever has before.“ Champion jockey elect Richard Hughes, who rode seven winners in a day at Windsor earlier this week, has seen the back end of Frankel in numerous races.

“I’ve ridden against some great horses in my time, but he is by far the best,“ he says without hesitation. “He’s a brilliant athlete who is just getting better; and as a jockey I don’t go out there trying to work out how to beat him, because you just can’t. If you sit behind him, you can’t catch him; but if you take him on, you die.“ But what of the man who knows him best?

“Whenever I’m asked this question, I say that I don’t even know whether he’s the best I’ve trained,“ says Cecil. “I’ve had lots of champions, all of whom have been very good to me, and they don’t deserve to be compared. But I think it would be wrong to say he isn’t

£100,000

When Frankel is retired to stud, it is likely that his stud fee will sit at around £100,000 per cover. With 120 mares expected to visit in his first year as a stallion, that adds up to £12m in earnings – dwarfing the near £3m he will have won during his three-year racing career

30 | October 19 2012 |

the best horse there’s Into the shadows: Frankel’s time in the racing limelight ever been; I think that is set to end on Saturday, would be very wrong, but his legend will live on unkind and unfair to say he’s not the best.

Because he could be...“ For those who don’t know racing, Cecil’s typically gentle and sympathetic handling of this combustible champion racehorse has coincided with his own raging battle against cancer. He was too ill to attend Frankel’s Sussex Stakes win at Goodwood in August, returning only with the help of a stick to watch him romp home at York later that month. When we meet him, a month before Champions Day, the combined effects of his illness and the aggressive chemotherapy with which he is fighting it have taken their toll; Cecil is gaunt, his voice reduced to a whisper. But, with wife Jane – the true power at Warren Place, her husband insists – never far from his side, his eyes retain the fire and spark that have so charmed the racing fraternity for the past 40 years and more. And they burn brightest when he’s talking about Frankel.

“I’ve always been a winner,“ he reflects. “I’ve had my bad times, whether they be personal, financial, no horses or bad years, but I don’t like being an also-ran.

I’m frightened of death and I love life – but I think Frankel has definitely helped keep me going. You’ve just got to be there for him, you know? I had to be there for Frankel.“ Tony Hodson @tonyhodson1

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Unbeaten streaks

UNBEATABLE As Frankel goes for a 14th win from 14 races, we look at the most astonishing undefeated runs in sporting history Athletics

Boxing

74

122

49

NFL

Cricket

Squash

Martina Navratilova had a decent 1984: from February to December, she went on a record-breaking 74-match winning streak, encompassing 13 successive tournament triumphs (including the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open), finally losing in the semi finals of the Australian Open to Helena Suková. Proving she produces more notable streaks than an Essex tanning salon, Navratilova also won 109 straight doubles matches with Pam Shriver during the same era.

21

The quarterback behind the longest unbroken NFL winning run is in London next weekend, as Tom Brady leads his New England Patriots at Wembley. However, while the Patriots 21-game streak from October 2003 to October 2004 is a record, the team later came agonisingly close to one-season perfection. The 2007-08 season saw the Patriots go 18-0: a sole triumph away from becoming the first NFL team to have a flawless 19-0 season. However, in Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants produced an aptly Brobdingnagian upset in beating the Patriots 17-14.

The great 400m hurdler Edwin Moses didn’t just fly past his rivals – he raced off with an athletics record that’s unlikely to ever be matched. For a period of nine years, nine months and nine days from 1977 to 1987, Moses won an astounding 122 consecutive races. He also claimed Olympic gold medals in 1976 and 1984, but not in 1980 (the US boycott of the Moscow Olympics meant he wasn’t able to compete).

We’re going to put it out there: he’d have won that race.

29

Aw look, fair dinkum to Australia, who won 16 Test matches in a row (twice!) under Steve Waugh’s steely leadership – but the most eye-opening run that cricket has ever seen belongs to the West Indies. King Viv Richards and co didn’t lose a Test series for a decade and a half – that’s 29 in succession – from 1980 to 1995.

The longest unbeaten run in boxing is Welsh flyweight Jimmy ’The Mighty Atom’ Wilde, with an epic 103 bouts without loss. One man stands above them all, however – Rocky Marciano made it to 49-0 between 1948 and 1955, then hung up his gloves. The American may not have fought in the toughest era – there was no Joe Frazier, George Foreman or Ivan Drago to test the real Rocky’s skills – but he’s the only heavyweight champ to have retired with an unblemished pro record.

555

Simply put, Jahangir Khan is the proud owner of the longest winning streak ever in professional sport. The squash champion from Pakistan won 555 consecutive matches from 1981 until the 1986 World Open final, when Kiwi Ross Norman finally ended his jaw-dropping run. “One day, Jahangir will be slightly off his game – and I will get him,” Norman had prophesied, although we’re not sure when he gave this quote. If it was, say, six weeks into Khan’s five-year, eight-month unbeaten run, then we’re not overly impressed, Norm. >

| October 19 2012 | 33

Keystone/Getty Images, Adrian Murrell/Allsport UK, Allsport UK /Allsport, Tony Duffy/Allsport, Andy Lyons/Getty Images, Mike Brett/Press Association Images

Tennis

Unbeaten streaks

10

The longest Formula 1 winning streak was set by Michael Schumacher in 2004, when the German speed and car-bashing specialist won seven races in succession from May to August. Impressive, but no F1 driver has ever made it to double figures. That honour goes to NASCAR driver Richard Petty, who won 10 consecutive races in 1967.

Maximum respect to the man they call ’The King’, even if NASCAR is just above drag racing and just below the Wacky Races on the list of motorsports we fully understand.

Darts

44

Charting an unbroken run of darting wins is tricky as there are so many minor ’arrers’ tournaments each year, but there’s no doubt who has the longest winning streak in World Championship matches. The answer may surprise you. Or, in fact, it won’t: yes, it’s Phil Taylor, a man who plays darts better than anyone has done anything, ever. Over eight years and 44 ties, from 1995 to 2003, ’The Power’ won 44 PDC World Championship matches in a row. We’re not shocked at that – just surprised that John Part brought the run to an end at all in the 2003 final.

Football

108

Arsenal’s run of 49 league games unbeaten – taking in their ’Invincibles’ season of 2003-04 – is some achievement, but ASEC Mimosas did better.

Despite being named after an effeminate cocktail, the Ivory Coast team went 108 league games without losing, from 1989 to 1994. Of course, even this mighty run can’t compete with Roy Race’s Melchester Rovers, who allegedly went 13 years without a loss. But our sources tell us that was wholly fictional, so we are forced to exclude them.

34 | October 19 2012 |

Rugby Union

18

The All Blacks and South Africa went 17 Test matches unbeaten in the 1960s and 1990s respectively, but they have both been usurped by an unlikely international rival: Lithuania. The Baltic nation’s 18-match unbeaten run from 2006 to 2010 came by way of beating powerhouses of rugby such as Latvia, Holland and Israel, before they were eventually halted by Ukraine.

The current New Zealand team featuring Dan Carter (below, on the far right) are, however, on a run of 16 without loss – so Lithuania’s proud record could be overtaken before the year is out.

Olympian

6

The greatest Olympic swordsman ever (no, not ladies‘ man Ryan Lochte), Aladár Gerevich pips even Sir Steve Redgrave for Olympic titles. The Hungarian won six successive gold medals in the team sabre event from 1932 to 1960.

Remarkably, it could have been up to eight if World War II hadn’t prevented Games from occurring in 1940 and 1944. It’s a record he shares with German kayaker Birgit Fischer, who won six gold medals from 1980 to 2004, and who also missed out on a chance of more (the East German boycott of Los Angeles 1984 meant she missed the Games entirely).

Snooker

90

One of two old rivals owns the longest unbeaten streak in men’s cue-stroking. It’s either Stephen Hendry, with 36 consecutive match victories in ranking tournaments, or Ronnie O’Sullivan’s run of 38, but with some of those wins coming in qualifying competitions.

It’s a tough call, so let’s instead honour Dudley’s Reanne Evans and her astonishing 90-game winning streak on the women’s snooker circuit.

Golf

11

Tiger Woods comes second [insert your own lewd gag here] in the list of PGA Tour winning streaks. His run of seven tournaments from 2006 to 2007 is mighty fine, but he’s got nothing on Byron Nelson and his natty plus fours. In 1945, Nelson claimed a total of 18 tournaments, including 11 PGA Tour wins in a row.

Some say that World War II had weakened the men’s golf field. However, golfing greats Sam Snead and Ben Hogan both played regularly back in ’45, so Nelson was beating more than just Geoffrey Boycott’s grandma teeing off with her stick of rhubarb.

Paralympian

470

Watch out, Jahangir Khan, your record of 555 successive wins is under threat. For 31-year-old Dutch wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer won her 470th consecutive match – and counting – this September. Vergeer’s amazing run began in 2003 and continues to this day, taking in 43 Grand Slam titles (singles and doubles) and seven Paralympic gold medals. If you see old Jahangir sabotaging a wheelchair when Vergeer gets up to 554 wins, you’ll know exactly what he’s up to.

Tom Shaw/Allsport, Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images, Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images, 2011 Getty Images, 2004 Getty Images, Fox Photos/Getty Images, Julian Finney/Getty Images, David Rogers/Getty Images

Motor Racing

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Sir Chris Hoy

All about the bike

Carl De Souza/AFP/GettyImages

Britain’s greatest Olympian tells Sport why the past four years were his toughest yet – and how Scottish football made him cry

| October 19 2012 | 37

Sir Chris Hoy Bikes are my obsession When I was 10, I could have told you the weight, cost and specification of every single piece of kit on my bike. That obsession doesn‘t really change over the years, as you become involved with the process of designing the bike you use on the track – you go to the wind tunnel and do testing with the team. I still go to exhibitions and bike shows to see all the new manufacturers and components out there – and that‘s when I realise that not much has changed since I was that kid with his nose pressed up against a bike shop window, wishing I could get this bit or that bit for my bike.

Football broke my heart The first time sport made me cry was in 1986.

I was a big Hearts fan, and going into the last day of the season they just needed one point to win the league. Even if they‘d lost, they still would have won, as long as Celtic didn't win their game by three or more goals. Inevitably, they lost 2-0 to Dundee and Celtic won 5-0 against St Mirren. I was inconsolable. Two weeks later, Hearts were in the Scottish Cup final [pictured below, right] against Aberdeen – a match they should have won, but they lost 3-0. And that was it – I‘d had enough of football. I was heartbroken.

We were once the underdogs

My first Olympic gold left me in shock When I stood on top of that podium in Athens in 2004 [after winning the 1km Time Trial], my overriding emotion was disbelief. I just couldn‘t believe it had worked out, because being Olympic champion is something you always associate with other people. That first time you step on the podium and hear your name followed by the words ‘Olympic champion‘, you just feel disbelief mixed with relief and sheer elation that you‘ve achieved everything you‘ve ever wanted to.

The past four years were the hardest of my life I lost count of the number of times people mentioned my age [Hoy is now 36] and said I was getting past it. As soon as you have a bad result, people start saying you‘re on a downward spiral and asking: ‘Is this the beginning of the end?‘ It‘s hard enough hearing that from other people – but when you start to think it yourself, because you have dips in form or pick up injuries that are

38 | October 19 2012 |

hard to shake off, that‘s the really hard stuff.

When it gets to the Olympics and you win, it looks like the result was never in doubt – for me, it was anything but that.

The Commonwealth Games will be my last big one I would love to be there to represent Scotland, but I don‘t want to count my chickens just yet.

There‘s a lot of training and hard work between now and then, and I wouldn‘t want to turn up just to get my tracksuit and wave to the crowd – I‘d want to be there to try and get a medal. The standard is so high at the Commonwealth Games; you‘re basically only missing the French and Germans to make it a world-class event. It would be a fantastic way to end my career – and as long as I stay injury free and have the form, then it‘s possible.

Sarah Shephard @sarahsportmag

Hoy story: celebrating becoming Olympic Time Trial champion (top); the 1986 Scottish Cup final (above, left); Queally gets things rolling in 2000 (above, right); and reflecting on Keirin gold this summer

Highland Spring, sponsor of Sir Chris Hoy, has launched a limited-edition Hoyland Spring bottle – available in UK supermarkets during October and November

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images, Allsport UK /Allsport, Mike Powell/Allsport, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

In Sydney, we were still feeling like the poor relations against the Aussies, the French and the Germans. It was Jason Queally‘s gold medal at those Games [in the Men‘s 1km Time Trial] that started the ball rolling, though, and made us realise that we could win at the highest level. That was the start of the British Cycling journey, and 12 years later we‘re the top nation in the world. You need to have the self-belief before you can win, but it‘s hard to win without it. So it‘s difficult to start off. But, if you have talented athletes, good coaching and commitment, then anything can happen.

Advertising Feature

Taking it to Australia The first Test of next summer’s British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia takes place in Brisbane. You could be at the game, before heading off to explore the wonders of the east coast he last time the British & Irish Lions toured Australia, back in 2001, they played two games in Brisbane and won them both. The second of those fixtures was the first of three Tests against the mighty Wallabies – a game in which Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Wilkinson starred as the tourists won 29-13.

Warren Gatland and his men will be looking to that result for inspiration when they kick off their own Test series down under next summer. The first match is once again scheduled to take place in Brisbane, at the city’s impressive Suncorp Stadium on Saturday June 22. And with a little bit of planning, starting right now, you can make sure you are there to support them.

T

Eastern delight Australia is known for its rich sporting heritage, and Brisbane has been as much a part of that as any other city in the land. Traditionally home to the first Test of every Australian Ashes series – played at the iconic Gabba – it can also claim to be the birthplace of modern Aussie sporting greats such as rugby league legend Darren Lockyer, Pom-bashing cricketer Ian Healy and Rugby World Cup-winning fly half Michael Lynagh.

40 | October 19 2012 |

That is some pedigree right there, but to think of Brisbane purely in sporting terms is to do an injustice to its many other attractions. The sunny and sophisticated capital of Queensland and third largest city in Australia, Brisbane lies on the glorious east coast and offers visitors a spectacular array of different experiences.

Many of those centre on the river that gave Brisbane its name – and no time spent in this pleasingly laid-back city should pass without a trip down its leisurely twists and turns. Glide down the river on a majestic paddlesteamer by day, or wait until nightfall and kayak past the city’s glittering skyline; either way gives you a view of Brisbane you won’t get from anywhere else in the city.

go for a bike ride in the City Botanic Gardens; take a stroll around the sprawling Queensland Cultural Centre or abseil the cliffs at Kangaroo Point; dine out along South Bank’s sandy lagoon or head to nearby Moreton Bay for a swim and a snorkel. There is never a shortage of things to do or see in this vibrant city of sun and culture.

That said, sun and culture couldn’t be much further from the minds of the British & Irish Lions when they step out on the Suncorp Stadium pitch in just a little over eight months from now. If you want to begin your own Australian adventure by being there to support them, now is the time to be making your plans.

Sun and culture Not that Brisbane is just about the views – indeed, you can choose to do as much or as little as you like in a city that provides equal opportunities for To find out more about the British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia, head online to action and relaxation.

Laze in the lush riverside gardens of South Bank or

www.australia.com/lions

While you’re there...

Brisbane

NexT eek! meLBoW urNe ANd SydNey

Saturday June 22 is the date you want to pencil into your diary for when the Lions line up against Australia in Brisbane. After the tourists win that one, however, you are free to enjoy everything the east coast has to offer – and, nice people that we are, we’ve put together the following list for you

CAIRNS The gateway to Queensland’s tropical north, Cairns is a stylish city known for its relaxed atmosphere and a location on the doorstep of the World Heritagelisted Great Barrier Reef. Swim, snorkel, dive or sail your way round this unique and beautiful ecosystem – and, if you have any time left afterwards, take the

scenic railway to the tranquil, butterflyfringed village of Kuranda or book yourself into an eco-lodge in the magical Daintree Rainforest.

Get there Cairns is 1,700km from Brisbane, most easily done in the air – an internal flight takes just under two and a half hours.

gold coast Sunny subtropical climate, glistening beaches, great surf – it’s little wonder that the Gold Coast (Australia’s sixth largest city, by the way) is one of the country’s major tourist destinations.

Surfers Paradise is naturally where the waveseekers will head first, but there’s plenty else to get involved with too:

whitsunday islands A collection of 74 idyllic, mostly uninhabited islands tucked inside the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea has ‘romantic trip for two’ written all over it. Clear, moonlit nights, spectacular sunsets, secluded beaches, pure air... the kind of place you could plan that

snorkelling through a shipwreck off Main Beach, exploring the waterfalls, rainforest and scenic bushwalks of the Gold Coast hinterland, or swimming with the dolphins at Sea World. Awesome.

Get there The Gold Coast is a mere 94km south of Brisbane. Heck, you could jog there. special night – or just grab some sticks and a ball and play cricket on the beach.

Get there The sugar-producing city of Mackay is the best place from which to launch your Whitsunday voyage – and it’s only an hour and a half away from Brisbane by air.

British & Irish Lions in Australia 2013

Tour match 1 Lions v Western Force, Perth, Wednesday June 5 Tour match 2 Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane, Saturday June 8 Tour match 3 Lions v Combined NSW & QLD Country, Newcastle, Tuesday June 11 Tour match 4 Lions v HSBC Waratahs, Sydney, Saturday June 15 Tour match 5 Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra, Tuesday June 18 First Test Lions v Australia, Brisbane, Saturday June 22 Tour match 6 Lions v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne, Tuesday June 25 Second Test Lions v Australia, Melbourne, Saturday June 29 Third Test Lions v Australia, Sydney, Saturday July 6

Fo r in you fro act r c i h tic m Oc on, t anc ke to un e to ts be e i w to r 2 n t in the 2 o t a Sy -26 he D trip dn . T riv to ey he et Au an pr im str d M ize e s al elb inc how ia to ou lud o se rn es n t e t e T al alk he es l tr SP Li ts. av OR on Sc el a T s or nd e!

Next summer’s Lions Tour of Australia comprises nine games, including the big three Test matches, played across six major cities. You can plan your big trip around the following schedule:

| 41

7 Days OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

ExETER CHIEFS v CLERMONT AUvERGNE | SANDy PARK | SS1 6PM

Great expectations So, one weekend of European rugby down, and Exeter have yet again proved all their doubters and naysayers wrong with a massive performance away to the defending champions. The feelings down in deepest Devon this week will be mixed ones, though, because that 9-6 defeat to Leinster – brave as it was – could have been so much better but for a few refereeing decisions.

It’s onwards and upwards for the Chiefs, however, and coach Rob Baxter knows his team can’t afford to dwell on the result at this level. “We’ve got to make sure we don’t get a bit pleased with ourselves, think we’ve performed really well and then get stung next week,” Baxter said this week – and with French giants Clermont Auvergne in town tomorrow, it’s a sensible warning.

42 | October 19 2012 |

» Premier League preview » p44 » Champions League preview » p46 » Boxing: Kell Brook v Hector Saldivia » p48 » Horse Racing: British Champions Day » p50 » Best of the Rest » p50

Clermont tore the Scarlets apart last week, running in six tries in a 49-16 win at Stade Marcel Michelin. So Exeter will be well aware of their finishing class, even if the Scarlets were reduced to 14 men for more than half of the match. With the likes of Lee Byrne, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Aurelien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana and Morgan Parra in their back line, this is not a side to be taken lightly.

Baxter, though, will be well aware that the Scarlets caused a few problems of their own before they were reduced to 14 men, and will look to emulate that dynamic attacking platform down at Sandy Park. The boot of Gareth Steenson will need to be on top form, but with Tommy Hayes, Tom Johnson and James Scaysbrook in their pack, Exeter have the nous to compete up front – while the creativity and finishing power of Luke Arscott, Ian Whitten and Matt Jess in

particular mean the Chiefs have nothing to fear. A win here, and Baxter’s men are right in the mix in pool five.

The resT of round 2 friday Castres v Northampton, SS2 (red button) 8pm Glasgow v Ulster, SS2 8pm

saTurday Scarlets v Leinster, SS1 1.35pm Treviso v Toulouse, SS1 (red button) 1.35pm Saracens v Racing Metro, SS1 4.40pm Connacht v Harlequins, SS1 (red button) 6pm Biarritz v Zebre 6pm

sunday Cardiff v Toulon, SS2 (red button) 12.45pm Munster v Edinburgh, SS2 12.45pm Leicester v Ospreys, SS2 3pm Montpellier v Sale, SS2 (red button) 3pm

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Saturday RUGBy UNION | HEINEKEN CUP:

OCT HIGHLIGHTS 19-OCT 25

TM

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7 Days

Premier League

saturday wesT brom v manchesTer ciTy The hawThorns | 3pm

AVB welcomes some old friends to north London, while Mark Hughes is fast running out of friends in the west saturday ToTTenham v chelsea | whiTe harT lane | sky sporTs 1 12.45pm

West Brom have long played a role as an unfashionable Midlands side that pull off the odd plucky win and ultimately scrape survival – but new boss Steve Clarke hasn’t read the script. In his first full season, the former Liverpool coach has put together a side that remains unbeaten at home and possesses genuine threats up top in the shape of Peter Odemwingie (pictured), Shane Long and Romelu Lukaku, who may miss out after picking up a knock on international duty. Counter-attacking football has brought them success this season, so City will need to avoid overcommitting in attack. Roberto Mancini’s men, though not at their best, are yet to lose, and will expect to take three points.

It’s also about time Mario Balotelli did something crazy.

Feeling blue

sunday qpr v everTon | lofTus road sky sporTs 1 4pm

If you were to list the Portuguese managers at Chelsea in order of success (we don’t know what you do in your spare time), it’s fair to say Andre Villas-Boas wouldn’t be top. Top two, maybe. Still, after his short spell on the King’s Road ended in ignominy, the suddenly popular Spurs boss will be excited to welcome his former side tomorrow – especially after his current team’s success in recent weeks.

The shaky start to his reign at White Hart Lane has been long forgotten after four wins on the bounce, and AVB has his side playing with incredible self-belief – as recent victory at Old Trafford proved. With Sandro protecting the back four, Tottenham’s four-pronged attacking midfield is thriving behind an in-form Jermain Defoe, and the fact their last six goals have come from six different players shows how tough this side are to stop.

At the back, Hugo Lloris and Brad Friedel battle for the number-one shirt behind a defence that has conceded only three in four home games, with Jan Vertonghen, Younes Kaboul and William Gallas rotating.

44 | October 19 2012 |

AVB might feel like he’s made a point to the Chelsea hierarchy, then, but the side he left in March have picked up two trophies since and remain unbeaten this season.

Ironically, Roberto di Matteo’s side play with a similar blueprint to AVB’s, with John Obi Mikel sitting deep to allow the likes of Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard freedom to create behind Fernando Torres.

Three of the past four league meetings between these two have ended in a draw.

While both managers would take that right now, don’t expect either side to come out to park the bus. That’s a different Portuguese manager you’re thinking of.

11

Of Chelsea’s 15 league goals so far this season, Eden Hazard or Juan Mata (or both) have been directly involved in 11

Public backing from his owner will ease the pressure on QPR boss Mark Hughes (pictured), but with two points gleaned from only seven games, that support is only going to last so long. Fourth-placed Everton are in town this weekend, but the Super Hoops will take heart from injury to Marouane Fellaini – a blow to a team that has scored the highest percentage of headed goals in the league. Injuries, meanwhile, have been the story of QPR’s season – they will be delighted if they have no fresh worries after the international break. Hughes’ mission now is to take small steps forward. Having gone 2-0 down before they kicked into action in their previous two games (against Wests Ham and Brom), a clean sheet at half time would be a good start.

saturday liverpool v Reading anfield | 3pm

If ever a game sat in the “…and now we round up the rest of the action” category on Match of the Day, this is it. Martin Jol will expect a reaction to Fulham’s draw with Southampton, while Paul Lambert’s Villans have mustered only two goals in four away games this season. Reports of a bust-up between Lambert and top scorer (albeit with only two goals) Darren Bent won’t help matters. Neither will Bent likely starting on the bench.

Diving, new stadium plans, Friday night Office-style documentaries – Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool have been busy boys this season, but they’re struggling for form on the pitch. And with Fabio Borini out, Luis Suarez is their only real goal threat. On the plus side, Nuri Sahin has settled well in the midfield, and Reading arrive having conceded 13 goals in six winless games, so the Reds remain favourites. What could go wrong?

saturday west ham v southampton | upton park | 3pm

We can’t prove Felix Baumgartner’s claim to have spotted a West Ham through ball during his descent last week, but you’d expect the Hammers will look again to the direct power of Andy Carroll (pictured) to create chaos among a defence that has conceded 20 this term. The Saints have goals in them, though – Rickie Lambert has four already – but they’ll need to survive an aerial bombardment first.

saturday norwich v arsenal carrow road | espn 5.30pm

Whisper it, but Arsenal look solid at the back this season, and have options on the bench that stretch beyond a 12-yearold French workie. With Santi Cazorla (pictured) settled and pulling the strings, the Gunners look dangerous – and winless Norwich have their work cut out to stop them scoring. Their best hope is that Grant Holt unsettles the visitors in the same vein as Andy Carroll did for West Ham a fortnight ago.

saturday manchester united v stoke | old trafford | 3pm

The big story here – at least on his own Twitter feed – is Michael Owen’s return to the all-too-familiar Old Trafford bench.

On the pitch, Manchester United dispatched Newcastle easily two weeks ago, and will look to do the same here.

Tony Pulis’ side won’t roll over easily; they are sure to get ‘picked on by the ref’ along the way, but they should beware of an in-form Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie starting to hit their stride.

sunday Sunderland v newcastle | stadium of light | SS1 1.30pm

The fact Demba Ba (pictured) has scored more league goals than Sunderland this season, and that the Black Cats have the lowest shooting average in Europe – just six shots per game – doesn’t augur well for Martin O’Neill’s men. On the flip side, Sunderland remain unbeaten at home, while Newcastle are yet to win away. But they say you should throw the form book away on derby day, so this preview is probably useless. Sorry.

saturday swansea v wigan liberty Stadium | 3pm

Having failed to register a victory in five games, Swansea are sliding down the Premier League at an alarming rate.

Add the fact that the Swans have only played two sides in the top half, and three points are a must tomorrow. The good news is Wigan have also failed to win in five. The bad news is that Wigan are also desperate for points, and they were three minutes from beating Everton last time out. A draw, then.

Premier League table

P W D L F A Pts 1 Chelsea 7 6 1 0 15 4 19 2 Man Utd 7 5 0 2 17 9 15 3 Man City 7 4 3 0 15 8 15 4 Everton 7 4 2 1 14 8 14 5 Tottenham 7 4 2 1 13 8 14 6 West Brom 7 4 2 1 11 7 14 7 Arsenal 7 3 3 1 13 5 12 8 West Ham 7 3 2 2 8 8 11 9 Fulham 7 3 1 3 15 11 10 10 Newcastle 7 2 3 2 8 11 9 11 Swansea 7 2 2 3 12 11 8 12 Stoke 7 1 5 1 6 5 8 13 Sunderland 6 1 4 1 5 7 7 14 Liverpool 7 1 3 3 9 12 6 15 Wigan 7 1 2 4 7 13 5 16 Aston Villa 7 1 2 4 6 12 5 17 Southampton 7 1 1 5 12 20 4 18 Reading 6 0 3 3 8 13 3 19 Norwich 7 0 3 4 5 17 3 20 QPR 7 0 2 5 6 16 2

16

Newcastle striker Papiss Demba Cisse has had 16 shots without finding the net in the Premier League

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All pictures Getty Images

saturday fulham v aston villa craven cottage | 3pm

7 Days Champions League Wednesday Group D: AjAx v MAnchester city | AMsterDAM ArenA | sky sports 2 7.45pM

The night of no return?

Alex Livesey/Getty Images, Daneil Sannum Lauten/AFP/Getty Images, Mark Runnacles/ EuroFootball/Getty Images, Julian Finney/Getty Images, Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

In May 2008, having presided over three consecutive Scudetto titles with Inter Milan, a record that saw him become the club’s most successful manager in three decades*, Roberto Mancini was thanked for his efforts and sacked. His crime: to have failed repeatedly in the only tournament that really matters to axe-wielding football club owners: the Champions League. Mancini’s record in the tournament was dismal. In four tournaments his side never made it past the quarter finals, and only twice made it as far the last 16.

For a man who had forged his managerial reputation on success in cup competitions – from 2004 to 2008, his teams reached a record five consecutive Coppa Italia finals, and between 2002 and 2012 he guided every club he has managed to at least a semi final of a major cup competition – Mancini has come up short at the very highest level.

In his defence, the draw has not been kind to Manchester City. Last season: Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal. This season: the champions of Spain (Real Madrid), Germany (Dortmund) and Holland (Ajax).

To be drawn in one group of death is unfortunate. To be drawn in two seems as though someone on high has a twisted sense of humour, or prefers Manchester United.

“Sometimes, when you play in the Champions League, you should be happy with the draw,” harrumphed Mancini. But then few clubs City have been drawn against have spent nearly £100m reinventing themselves as a European superpower.

Maybe it’s because they are Europe’s dominant spending force that fuels the suspicion that City don’t appear to be

46 | October 19 2012 |

progressing as far or as fast as the owners might like. Two games into this campaign and they’ve blown a 2-1 lead with five minutes left, only to lose at the Bernabeu, and required a last-gasp penalty to salvage an entirely undeserved draw at home to Dortmund: a single point from six. Any progress that seemed to have been made in grinding out that unlikely and unmerited lead at the Bernabeu was undermined by the naivety that characterised last season’s European campaign.

“I don’t need to learn,” bristled Mancini when questioned about his European record and City’s Madrid defeat. “We made some mistakes... if we want to go through, we have to improve quickly.” Worryingly, he was speaking before that Dortmund game – in which, if anything, they regressed.

To suggest Mancini’s job rests on the next European games is entirely unfair, but that’s modern-day football. Fail to win in Amsterdam against Ajax this Wednesday, and Mancini will have more difficult questions to answer. Lose and the game could be – could be – as good as up for both City and the likeable Italian. On the other hand, victory in the first of back-to-back games against the Dutch champions could see City’s stumbling campaign gather pace, which will buy Mancini time. In determining his future at the Etihad Stadium, it could all hinge on Wednesday night. *Those three Scudetti were delivered during the Calciopoli matchfixing scandal, when AC Milan and Juventus were deducted points and the Old Lady relegated to Serie B. Mancini’s CV doesn’t lie, but it might deceive.

Tuesday Group E: Shakhtar DonEtSk v ChElSEa | SS4 7.45pm

Tuesday Group G: BarCElona v CEltiC | SS2 7.45pm

ey The kes gam

The champions of Europe may be top of the table (on goal difference), but have so far been less than assured. The Ukrainians took a point at Juventus in their previous fixture and will test the Blues’ resolve in the Donbass. Four points from back-to-back games will suffice, then.

Tuesday Group h: manChEStEr unitED v BraGa | itV 7.45pm

Unconvincing but with a perfect six points so far, United face Braga looking down from on high in Group H. But the Portuguese are no mugs, having returned from Galatasaray’s Turk Telekom Arena with a 2-0 win last time out, and they won’t fear a comparatively quiet night in Manchester.

An unlikely top-of-the-table clash after Celtic’s first ever Champions League away win at Spartak last time out. The first of a doubleheader here takes them to the Camp Nou first, where their past two visits have seen a 1-0 defeat in 2008 and a 1-1 draw in 2004.

Wednesday Group B: arSEnal v SChalkE 04 | SS4 7.45pm

A customary fast start sees the Gunners top of Group B and with a relatively straightforward path to the last 16. The unbeaten Germans pose their toughest test so far, but they have never won in England – losing four of five. The exception is a draw with Wolves in 1958-59. We predict a home win, but defeat for the Gunners in Germany.

| 47

7 Days Saturday Boxing | Kell BrooK v Hector Saldivia | Motorpoint arena, SHeffield | SKy SportS 1 8pM Kell Brook (right) goes toe to toe with Carson Jones

Special K diet

Paul Thomas/Getty Images

Kell Brook’s last contest was either the best or worst fight of his career, depending on your perspective. The Sheffield welterweight bossed the first five rounds against tough American Carson Jones, but was seriously roughed up in the second half of the fight, left bloody and clinging on in the 12th round to edge a majority decision. Had the unbeaten 26-year-old proved his heart in a muchneeded gut check, or did this bout expose that ‘Special K’ is a level below elite class?

Brook claims that the stamina problems that afflicted him against Jones will be solved, thanks to a healthier diet and more sensible weight-making. The man he’s looking to prove this against on Saturday is Argentina’s Hector Saldivia, a solid but unspectacular boxer – albeit one with decent power (32 KOs in his 41 wins). Perhaps eating fewer right hands would be a great place to start his new diet if Brook wants to achieve his aims of world titles and fights against the likes of Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton in 2013.

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7 Days Saturday Horse racing | Qipco BritisH cHampions Day | ascot | BBc one, racing UK & at tHe races 1.30pm

BESt OF tHE rESt

FRIDAY

FootBaLL championship: sheffield Wednesday v Leeds, Hillsborough, sky sports 1 7.45pm triatHLon World triathlon grand Final: Women’s race, auckland, new Zealand, BBc red Button 12.10am

Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Tempting fate The sporting gods do like to offer up cruel twists of fate on occasion: witness Donald Bradman falling for a duck in his final test innings, when he needed only four runs to retire with an average of 100; see Zinedine Zidane butting his way into footballing infamy when seeing red in a World cup final, his last ever professional game of football; and what else could explain us having to sit through the tedium of adrian chiles every time itV broadcasts a match?

Advertising Feature

50 | October 19 2012 |

thus does Frankel head to ascot for his last race on saturday, with a perfect record of 13 wins from 13 races at stake against possibly the best field he has ever faced. His appearance in the champion stakes is the highlight of a top-class card on British champions Day, but trainer Henry cecil, jockey tom Queally and the watching world will be able to relax only once the four-year-old superstar has brought his career to an end with victory. “i just want to get him through this last race unbeaten,” cecil told us recently. He should be crossing his fingers the gods were listening.

BaseBaLL mLB postseason: st Louis cardinals v san Francisco giants: game 5, Busch stadium, espn america 1am

SATURDAY FootBaLL spL: st mirren v celtic, st mirren park, espn 11.45am FootBaLL La Liga: Deportivo v Barcelona, estadio riazor, ss4 9pm

motogp malaysian grand prix, sepang circuit, selangor, British eurosport 2 HD 10am motorsport British touring car championship: round 10, Brands Hatch, itV4 10.30am goLF mcgladrey classic: Day 4, sea island golf club, georgia, sky sports 2 7pm nFL new england patriots v new york Jets, gillette stadium, Foxborough, massachusetts, sky sports 3 9.15pm

MONDAY nFL Detroit Lions v chicago Bears, Ford Field, Detroit, BBc red Button 1.25am

TUESDAY

triatHLon World triathlon grand Final: men’s race, auckland, new Zealand, BBc red Button 1am

goLF pga grand slam of golf, port royal golf course, Bermuda, sky sports 3 9pm

SUNDAY

THURSDAY

tennis Wta Kremlin cup: Final, olympic stadium, moscow, British eurosport 1 HD 10am

goLF BmW masters: Day 1, Lake malaren golf club, shanghai, sky sports 1 5.30am

Rules of

Lost Causes It is forbidden at all times for a player to consider a match a lost cause, no matter how far he may be behind his opponent, no matter how seemingly impossible the situation he lies in, and no matter how many hours of premature victory chanting he has been subjected to. (See Rule 1a: Conceding - Never!). Instead a player is permitted to fix his opponent with the look of the Poulter, reach deep within his golf bag and invoke the spirit of Medinah.

How can we thank you Team Europe? How about by making Friday evenings half price for the rest of the year? Come along and join the weekly celebrations. Step into one of our state-of-the-art aboutGolf™ simulators (as used by Luke “2 and 1” Donald) and play your own miraculous, match-winning round. Book your half-price Friday evening or find out more about our other special offers by calling 020 7248 6800 or visiting www.urbangolf.co.uk. Urban Golf (and Team Europe) rules.

P60 Dr Dre’s latest prodigy, Kendrick Lamar. The good doc prescribes us his new album

Extra time Gadgets

Making the most of your time and money Kindle Fire HD

Rekindle an old flame It’s high time we got hot and flustered over Amazon’s latest tablet offering

Amazon’s seven-inch tablet is finally getting its UK outing this week, after taking the US by storm over the past year. It’s easy to see why – it’s small enough to hold in one hand and cheap enough that you feel comfortable doing so without fear of dropping it and having to eat noodles for the rest of the year.

The top-end model has an HD screen and multitouch control, with a front-facing camera for video calling. If you’ve already built up a collection of e-books but are yet to take the tablet plunge, this is not a bad place to start.

From £159 | amazon.co.uk/kindlefirehd

3. Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0 The standout feature on Samsung’s latest player has to be the FM radio, which lets you tune into local broadcasts from anywhere in the country.

Amazing stuff. There’s also apps and games if, for some bizarre reason, the annoying tones of Nick Grimshaw on Radio 1 aren’t your thing. £130 | amazon.co.uk 52 | October 19 2012 |

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Extra time Elena Gomez

Maxim.PT/Lipstick Syndication

Well heeled

54 | October 19 2012 |

kay, so the shoes are probably not what your eyes have immediately been drawn to when you take a butcher’s at Elena Gomez here.

And if you’re looking for a girl like Gomez, your high street butcher’s would probably not be the best place to start. But it’s not a million miles away, because before the WAG-turned-model found fame, she was employed in a shoe store.

That was before she met Manchester City’s £16m summer signing Javi Garcia. The pair met while the former Real Madrid defensive midfielder was in his

O

first league-winning season at Benfica, and their pairing has since propelled her into the limelight.

That’s not to, ahem, put her in a box, because she has soul to go with her soles (alright, we’re nearly finished). Her Twitter biog reveals her to be something of a poet – written in Spanish, it roughly translates to: “At the heart of every winter lives a pulsating spring, and behind every night comes a smiling dawn.”

Something to remember when you find yourself trying on a pair of brogues in Clarks on a cold Thursday night in November.

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Extra time Kit

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7

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1. Teva Men’s Chair 5

2. Barts Dakota Scarf

You know those days in London when a sprinkling of snow means the city ceases to function? Well, at least you can keep your feet warm while it melts, with these lightweight boots. Waterproof and insulated, they’ll even get you to work when your train doesn’t. £110 | snowandrock.com

Look, we all enjoy our slanket time on the sofa, but you can look a bit odd if you go out wearing one – we’ve tried it, and odd we looked.

Luckily, this chunky knit number will keep you warm without attracting those pitying looks from strangers. £55 | surfdome.com

56 | October 19 2012 |

3. Under Armour Storm Hoody Under Armour excel in keeping you warm in sporting gear – and their new hoodies are no exception. This one is designed to repel water and make it roll right off the cotton, while the soft inner traps heat.

Some combo. £50 | underarmour.com

4. Alpinestars Dude Beanie If you’re more Jean Luc Picard than James T Kirk when it comes to follical coverings, this acrylic number – which also happens to be available in platinum grey – will keep your bonce warm throughout the winter months.

Make it so. £20 | blackleaf.com

5. Analog Alder Mitt Gloves Complete with fleece lining, corduroy blocking and a stash pocket on the wrist, these look and feel great – and, crucially, are warm. Designed by snowboarding star Danny Davis, who would be disappointed if you used them to get your casserole out of the oven. £45 | ss20.com

6. Rohan Icepack Vest Whether you’re trekking the snow-kissed dales of Yorkshire, heading off on a weekend shoot or just want to pretend like you’ve made it while walking the dog, this insulated gilet will keep you warm, dry and – let’s face it – looking ruddy marvellous. £95 | rohan.co.uk

7. Weekend Offender Big Country Jacket Hopeless with public transport in Berlin? Fret not: this feather and down jacket comes with a detachable hood, check lining and the Berlin tube map on an inner panel. And it’ll earn you 190 doves on the Weekend Offender website.

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Advertising Feature

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HH Warm Freeze 1/2 Zip SRP £65 | 57

Extra time Grooming THE CLEANSER AND MOISTURISER

Precision decisions

h2o+ Shine Neutralizing Gel and Cleansing Mousse

We know the details are all-important.

We bring you the tools to get them right THE STyLISH SHAvER Philips Styleshaver Pro One for all the facial hair-styling fans out there, say Philips. Sport is not necessarily a fan of facial styling per se, but we are keen on this three-inone styler. The double-headed design means you can shave with the straight-edge dual foil shaver and style with the trimmer head on the other end, which has 12 adjustable length settings that guarantee a precise and even trim. And when you’re done, you can rinse it off under the tap. amazon.co.uk

Marks & Spencer, so practised at providing your Friday night fish supper, have extended their oceanic reach to bring you the science of marine skincare with this, the h2o+ range. The Face Oasis Neutralizing Gel – in the tub down there – is full of hydrating marine botanicals that rapidly replenish depleted skin and fill surface lines with a surge of moisture. It helps stabilise and control oil production and reduce surface shine, while a blend of seaweed extracts also helps prevent acne breakouts. The mousse, meanwhile, has a gentle oil-free formula designed to remove impurities without stripping away surface moisture, and provides a daily deep-pore cleanse to rinse away what few impurities remain. Put them together, and they are a perfect remedy for your shipwreck of a visage after the damage done between post-supper Friday and Saturday morning. marksandspencer.com

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Extra time Entertainment

Wild things

film

Beasts invade your cinema, wildlife on show at the Natural History Museum and E.T. returns to earth 30 years on mUSiC

good kid, m.A.A.d city Kendrick Lamar

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Dr Dre has already given us Eminem, Snoop Dogg and headphones that let you see hipsters coming from far away. His latest protégé is, however, his best delivery in years. Kendrick Lamar’s hit Swimming Pools is a great taster of his Monday album, the woozy beat a perfect backdrop for Lamar’s take on falling into a dangerous drunken stupor. Weighty stuff, but the Californian’s quirky wit means it’s anything but preachy.

Promises to be one of 2012’s most original hip-hop releases.

Laden with film festival awards, Beasts of the Southern Wild bobs into UK cinema screens on a sea of hype today. Set in the Bayou, this fantastical film focuses on a strong-willed girl, Hushpuppy, who lives with her fiercely protective but erratic father. When he falls ill and the waters rise, she has to fend for herself. Pretty impressive (considering our main worry at

mUSiC

exhibition

Full Colour Sound The Brights

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012 Leaping lemurs, migrating birds and lions stuck up trees: the 2012 instalment of the Natural History Museum’s annual wildlife photo exhibitions is as entertaining as it is diverse. Opening today, a hundred images are on show until March 2013.

Our pick is the above of a golden eagle and a red fox in Sinite Kamani National Park, Bulgaria. The cheeky cub is being chased off after he tried to snatch some grub from the bird, who’s definitely got the enraged look on his mush that we get when anyone tries to pinch a chip from our plate. Scary.

60 | October 19 2012 |

Infectious harmonies and a triumphant blast of horns welcome you to this second album from this aptly named janglepop band. Meshing a fine British indie tradition (think The La’s) with a warm, US surf music sound, it’s packed with gleeful melodies. Listen at thebrights.co.uk and drag yourself out of your autumnal malaise.

blU-ray E.T.

Hollywood Costume From Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones attire – complete with hat and bullwhip – to Darth Vader’s cape, this autumn blockbuster at London’s V&A features some of Hollywood’s most iconic outfits.

As well as hundreds of costumes new and old, there’s also the on-camera participation of Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep, discussing their own use of costume. If that doesn’t sell it to you, all we have to say is simply: Christopher Reeve’s Superman costume. Open from this Saturday.

Steven Spielberg’s kids classic finally lands on Blu-ray on Monday. The film’s transfer is superb, while all-new extras include a 50-minute documentary filled with behind-the-scenes footage and a Spielberg interview, as the great director gets misty-eyed about when he actually used to make good films.

Chris McKay/Getty Images for BET, Stefan Huwiler/ Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

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age six was completing our Panini sticker album) and Quvenzhane Wallis’ performance has seen her tipped to become the youngest ever Oscar nominee. Some critics have called the film an allegory for post-Katrina Louisiana, others see it as an eco-fable. But all agree that this is a wondrous visual treat – and one of the year’s best and most imaginative tales.