BRISTOL SPORT IN PICTURES

UPDATED - Tue 27-Jul-2010 11:04 AM

The William Hunt Trilby Tour, the UK's leading amateur golf tournament, visits the S.W. on July 22nd for Championship rounds at The Park Resort nr Bath.

The brainchild of golf aficionado and Savile Row designer William Hunt, the annual Trilby Tour has proved a phenomenal success with golfers worldwide since first held in 2007.

Filmed by SkySports, the extraordinary ‘Winner-Takes-All’ format gives players from all walks of life the chance of hitting the big time in a televised national tournament.

At spectacular courses spread throughout the UK, players battle it out in a series of regional competitions culminating in Grand Finals at the world renowned Buckinghamshire Golf Club in August.

SEE FURTHER DETAILS HERE

Previous 2010 Trilby Tour rounds - Druids Glen & the London Club

photo © Andrew Tobin / UNiCOM

06JAN2010

RFU CHARGE BRENDAN VENTER

The Saracens Director of Rugby Brendan Venter has been charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game of Rugby Union, and been summoned to appear before an RFU Disciplinary Panel on January 19.

The alleged offence is that on January 2, 2010 Brendan Venter, whilst taking part in a BBC interview, criticised or implied criticism by publicly questioning the integrity of the match referee David Rose by stating he believed the official was influenced at half-time in Saracens' recent 22-15 defeat to Leicester.

Saracens, however, believe their man has been falsely accused. "The club will mount a vigorous defence," chief executive Edward Griffiths said.

"Brendan offered an impassioned, rational and widely supported analysis of problems currently facing the game. "He did not question the integrity of the referee at any stage and, in fact, on the contrary, stressed on several occasions that he does not believe any of the officials are dishonest.

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01JAN2010

Top Man Tom leads the way for Bristol Rugby

BRISTOL RUGBY 31 - CORNISH PIRATES 15

After leapfrogging Exeter to the top of the RFU Championship table last weekend at Sandy Park, Bristol Rugby consolidated their position with an emphatic 31-15 home win over the Cornish Pirates on New Year's Day.

Despite the freezing weather the five try victory was seen by a Championship record crowd of 7,714.

Two first half tries from Dan Norton, and one apiece from Tom Arscott , Lee Robinson and James Philips gave the squad their eighth consecutive win in the competition.

In addition to actually leading the Championship and drawing the biggest crowd, Bristol Rugby can also boast of having two top try scorers amongst their squad in the form of Tom Arscott and Dan Norton.

[left] Tom Arscott en-route to yet another Championship try ...

photo © Gary Bray / UNiCOM

Bristol's Tom Arscott celebrates his try

27DEC09

ALL SMILES AS BRISTOL GO TOP AT SANDY PARK

Bristol Rugby ended 2009 on a high after defeating former Championship leaders Exeter Chiefs 25-16 at Sandy Park in Devon.

David Blaney, Tom Arscott, Roy Winters, James Phillips and Adrian Jarvis all made the scoresheet in a display that surely bodes well for a return to Premiership rugby for Bristol in 2010/11.

The bonus point win leaves coach Hull's squad 4 points clear at the top of the table ahead of Friday's home fixture against the Cornish Pirates.

photos © Gary Bray / UNiCOM

Image - Public Domain

16DEC09

BRISTOL ONE STEP NEARER WORLD CUP GLORY

Bristol's proposed Ashton Vale Stadium is on the list of venues to be submitted by England's World Cup bid team as part their campaign to stage the tournament in 2018 ... Brian Mawhinney announced the successful candidates at a press conference in Westminster this afternoon.

PM Gordon Brown later heralded the City saying "It's a great tribute to the investment Bristol's about to make in the new football ground at Ashton Vale"... "I think the whole country will be congratulating Bristol on its achievement."

2018 HOST CITIES

Birmingham – Villa Park; Bristol – New Ashton Vale Stadium; Leeds – Elland Road; Liverpool – Anfield or New Anfield; London – Wembley, Emirates Stadium, New White Hart Lane or Olympic Stadium; Manchester – City of Manchester Stadium, Old Trafford; Milton Keynes – Stadium MK; Newcastle – St James' Park; Nottingham – New stadium; Plymouth – New Home Park; Sheffield – Hillsborough; Sunderland – Stadium of Light

14DEC08

DALEY DOES IT AGAIN ...

2009 BBC Young Personality of the Year

Plymouth's Tom Daley has been named the 2009 BBC Young Personality of the Year ... for the second time!

The 15-year-old World Champion diver pipped tennis prospect Heather Watson and rookie sprinter Jodie Williams to the coveted title.

Daley, who earlier this summer picked up gold at the world championships in Rome, is Britian's youngest ever word champion in any sport.

photo © Gary Bray / UNiCOM

Manchester United star Ryan Giggs was crowned 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Sunday's award ceremony in Sheffield.

At 36, Giggs is the most decorated player in English football with 11 Premier League winners' medals to his credit.

The Welshman was clearly shocked to have won. "I grew up watching this programme. To see the people that have won it and to be here is unbelievable" he stated.

His name will now join those of Beckham, Owen, Gascoine and '66 World Cup hero Bobby More on the prestigious trophy.

04DEC09

BANNED CROCKETT SIGNS FOR BRISTOL

Bristol Rugby have signed Alex Crockett, the former Bath captain and centre, who is currently serving a nine-month ban after refusing to take a drugs test last May, saying they had no concerns about the 28-year-old's professionalism.

Crockett, along with Michael Lipman and Joe Maddock, was sacked by Bath for refusing to take the test after a club inquiry into alleged goings-on at an end-of-season party in London.

The trio were subsequently charged by the Rugby Football Union and banned, a decision that was upheld after Crockett and Lipman appealed. Crockett will join Bristol full-time next month and is available to play from 1 March 2010. [Guardian]

photo © Gary Bray / UNiCOM

Champion trainer Paul Nickolls picked up the Coach of the Year trophy at the star studded BBC West Sport Awards ceremony held recently in Bath.MORE

BBC West Sport Awards 2009

ZAPCAT RACING

photo © UNiCOM

WANT TO SEE CHAMPIONSHIP RACING AT BRISTOL DOCKS?

UK Championship Zapcat Racing is the worlds largest one-design powerboat class.
Zapcats, designed originally as high performance rescue craft, are fast, adreniline pumping, featherweight inflatable catamarans capable of pulling in excess of 2 'G' on the turn.
Zapcat Racing is a unique, extreme action sport in which men and women compete on equal terms.
Zapcat Racing is every bit as exciting to watch on flat water as it is in the surf.
Rounds of the 2009 UK Championship were hosted at Bournemouth, Newquay, Plymouth, Barry, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Past days have seen crowds estimated at 250k+ watch powerboat racing at Bristol Docks ...

HAVE YOUR SAY - WANT TO SEE IT BACK? -

WHICH WAY BASSO

Contract rebel 'keeper Adriano Basso, currently on Bristol City's transfer list, is set for showdown talks with the club after being told to stay away from last weekend's game against Sheffield.

The Brazilian's contract is up next summer but has thus far failed to agree terms at Ashton Gate and reportedly upset manager Gary Johnson by anouncing elsewhere that he wants to leave the club in January.

As recently as last week Johnson claimed fresh terms were still on the table and is adamant he has received no interest in the 34-year-old keeper to date.

photo © UNiCOM

ALL CHANGE AT BRISTOL SONICS

Bristol Sonics have received a boost ahead of their debut in the Ace Insurance BARLA National Cup - a record breaking sponsorship deal with local network solutions specialists IP Performance.

The deal, which exceeds any previous sponsorships agreed by the Sonics, will see IP Performance become the rugby league club's title sponsor next season.

21NOV09 - ENGLAND WOMEN 10 - NEW ZEALAND WOMEN 3

Bristol Gals Triumph at Twickenham

England Women, including Bristol Rugby's Catherine Spencer and Sophie Hemming, recorded their first victory over world champions New Zealand in eight years on Saturday with an impressive 10-3 win in the Investec Challenge.

A record crowd of 12,500 saw the only try of the match scored by skipper Catherine Spencer.

The Bristol No.8, on her 50th cap, also went on to win the Investec Woman of the Match award with a performance described as "one of the greatest seen at Twickenham" by England Head Coach Gary Street.

Lewis Moody on England's defeat at Twickernham ...

"Our goal was to throw everything at them and I think we did that ... I'm proud of the guys because we came out hard ... They didn't know what had hit them in the first 20 minutes"

21NOV09 - ENGLAND 6 - NEW ZEALAND 19

England's brave yet fruitless display against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday may not have been the disaster many had predicted ... but with the 6 Nations Championship now looming, serious questions are being asked about manager Martin Johnson's choice of squad.

It was England's 17th defeat in 36 internationals played at Twickenham since winning the World Cup in 2003 and their eighth in 14 matches since Johnson took over 16 months ago.

Ladbrokes are currently quoting Evens for Jonny Wilkinson not to start England's opening Six Nations game against Wales ... and 5/1 for him not to play any part in the tournament at all.

England's biggest positive from Saturday's defeat, and possibly the entire autumn series, is the inspiring form of Leicester Tigers flanker Lewis Moody. Finally free of injury his workrate and commitment throughout the entire game was awesome.

10NOV09

Bristol's Paul Hull has stepped down as England Saxons assistant coach.

Hull took up the post in January of this year and played a significant role in guiding the Saxons squad to the 2009 Churchill Cup final.

However, having subsequently succeeded Richard Hill as Bristol Rugby head coach he now feels his time would be "spread too thinly" to fulfil both roles effectively.

"The job [at Bristol] is significantly more demanding and I want to give it my full attention. I'm dedicated to Bristol Rugby and our campaign to achieve promotion." Hull told reporters.

KONA CHEDDAR BIKEFEST '09

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BATHTIME AGAIN FOR STEVENS

Bath Rugby have confirmed they would be keen to welcome the disgraced prop Matt Stevens back to the Recreation Ground at the end of his two-year suspension for cocaine abuse.

Stevens, who has reportedly already been contacted by London Wasps, will be available from January 2011.

Nick Blofeld, the Bath chief executive, said: "It is clear that Matt's presence has been missed, both on and off the pitch. He is a big character with strong leadership skills and a lot of charm."

F1 CHAMP AT THE MALL

Hundreds gathered for a glimse of F1 superstar Jenson Button at The Mall today as the Frome born World Champion signed copies of his book 'My Championship Year' at Waterstone's.

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