Hollyoaks Round Up

Carmel thinks her luck is in this week as Myra organises a party to celebrate Carmel finally becoming a PCSO. When Calvin drops to his knee to give Carmel an engraved police whistle, she thinks he is proposing - and accepts! Nana returns to Hollyoaks, determined to find out who grassed on Myra. Mercedes, still hurting after Rhys jilted her the day before, blames Carmel for everything. Rhys is jealous as Gilly and Beth plan their wedding, and confesses that he stood Mercedes up. Calvin wonders how to win Carmel back as she arrives to get her things. Later, a drunken Nana stumbles home, unaware she is being followed by a vengeful Niall. Mercedes insists Carmel find out who attacked Nana while still blaming her for grassing on Myra.

When Ste is caught trying to steal Carmel’s purse he lies that Leah has leukaemia. Ste is desperate to stop his lie from spreading round the village, but Kris broadcasts his thoughts about leukaemia, and his support for the Barnes family, on the radio. Ste begs Amy not to reveal the truth about Leah, so when Mike turns up desperate to see his granddaughter, Amy tells him that she is very sick in hospital.

Elsewhere, Frankie worries about Newt’s developing relationship with Lauren and encourages Jack to have a man-to-man chat about sex. The couple are already discussing the subject, however, each thinking that the other wants to have sex. Kris laughs off John Paul’s attempts to set up a Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Society as an attempt to recruit fresh totty, and challenges him to a contest.

Amir Khan - His Story So Far

In a period where British sport has rarely been able to climb to the top of the pile, young Bolton based boxer Amir Khan has come as a breath of fresh air. Brash, confident, skilful, opinionated and above all a winner, the UK population have taken Khan to their hearts. But what is the real story about the young boxer from Bolton?

This intriguing insight into Amir Khan’s life shows the highs and lows of his sporting life, his personal life and his standing with both the local and UK wide population. The program charts his rise up the rankings, from his silver medal in the 2004 Olympic games, to his first professional title - the Commonwealth Lightweight belt, taken from Willie Limond - and his search for that shot at a world title.

One of the interesting things about Khan is his ability and willingness to bring together the UK Muslim and non-Muslim population, something which he feels very strongly about. He is already well known for his willingness to help and assist other young fighters who look up to him, even though he is still only 20 years old himself. Khan is from a very strong and close family background, with a number of his cousins well known in the sporting world.

While best known for his boxing abilities, Amir Khan has also become involved in a number of children’s campaigns in and around the Bolton region, where he is able to use his new found status to highlight child safety and behavioural issues. He has put himself forward as a role model and many younger children have taken notice of what he has done with his life.

Amir Khan is a young man who has the boxing skills to go to the very top, but a humility which is rarely seen in sportsmen these days. Ever willing to assist his local community, its seems that the boxer from Bolton has a glittering career ahead of him.

Live International Cricket: England vs. India

After traditionally being aired firstly on BBC One and then Channel 4, the coverage of Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs) are now shown on Sky Sports and are well worth the subscription.

The Sky presenting team consists of David Gower, Sir Ian Botham, David Lloyd, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain plus sundry other guests. So that’s four England captains and one England coach. The current guest is Indian spin legend Ravi Shastri and a regular each summer is also Michael Holding, one of the greatest of West Indian fast bowlers.

The combination of presenters is interesting and as two are paired together for commentary for each half-hour segment we get to understand their relationships with each other as well. Gower and Botham were England team-mates from the Seventies but whilst Gower plays the urbane, smooth lead presenter, Botham takes on the role of grumpy old pro.

Lloyd was an England player with these two but was also coach of the team when Atherton and Hussain were playing. He is also known as “Bumble” and he bumbles along with daft references, an obsession with the weather in Reading and crowd observations. He is the butt of much of the humour but this is tempered by an immense respect for a test player and coach who has also umpired and has a great depth of knowledge of the game. He also has a great Accrington accent and supposedly once played for the legendary Accrington Stanley Football Club.

Atherton and Hussain are the children, often bickering amongst themselves but are great friends (they keep telling us). Nasser is the latest addition and was initially stilted in his delivery but has settled down to a comfortable pundit. Michael Atherton is the dourest, like his batting, but has a dry wit, which bounces off all of his colleagues. He is also the presenter of the match awards at the end of each game, no one knows why but it seems to work. Shastri just appears lost but carries on like a trooper; Holding is a very cool dude.

The addition of technological wizardry helps with difficult decisions. The use of Hawk-eye, which predicts the flight of the ball, is invaluable for Leg Before Wicket (LBW) to determine if the ball would have hit the stumps if the batsman hadn’t shoved his legs in the way. Hawk-eye was used in the latest match when the umpire adjudged the England captain Paul Collingwood ‘Not Out’. Actually, even a second showing at full speed showed that Collingwood should have been back in the pavilion but Hawk-eye showed us beyond doubt that he would have lost two stumps, if not for his pads. Other technology includes the aging ‘Snickometer’, which listens out for the sound of leather on willow, for edged catches. This is now being superseded by ‘Hot Spot’, which is where infra-red cameras show any contact. All of these are invaluable tools in making the umpire look a complete chump.

The third match in the series between England and India was held at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham. This is always a good batting pitch. India won the toss and captain Rahul Dravid made England bat first. Last time he did this at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire, England won by over a hundred runs. This time it was closer but the conclusion the same. Man of the Match Ian Bell held the England innings together for most of the fifty overs, with 79 runs, after a good start by the openers, with a nice cameo at the end by bowler Chris Tremlett. In reply, the India team was doing well with long-term greats Dravid and Ganguly both getting fifties, but once they went the rest of the team fell apart.

Sky Sports does an excellent job with its coverage of cricket.

Match Of The Day Live

England The German football team are sure to receive a warm welcome at the new Wembley, as the old foes go head to head in only the second match since the opening of the revamped stadium. After a last minute equaliser robbed Steve McClaren’s team of what would have been a well received win against the mighty Brazil, the home crowd will be looking to get one over the “old enemy”.

Tonight’s live match is hosted by Gary Lineker, with Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Alan Hansen in support, offering their views and advice on what promises to be an interesting affair. The England manager has been under some pressure of late after a disappointing last couple of games has seen them drop vital points in the pursuit of qualification for Euro 2008. While tonight’s game is only a friendly with little at stake, it offers a useful opportunity to rebuild the team spirit and give the home fans something to shout about.

The England team will be without the services of Rooney and Gerard who are both injured, although there are high hopes that Gerard will be back for next months vital double header of qualifiers. Else where it looks as though McClaren will use tonight’s game to “blood” a few of the younger players with Shaun Wright-Phillips hoping to use his improved club form so far this season to push his England claims.

The German team also have their fair share of injuries although there is no doubt that those selected will be up for the challenge. While England fans will be hoping for a repeat of their famous 5 - 1 victory away to Germany in 2001, it seems unlikely that they will be “rolled over” again. While both teams are not at full strength, expect fireworks from the first whistle.

The Barclays Scottish Open Golf Championship

As we get ready for the British Open golf championships in a couple of weeks time, many of the world’s best golfers have met in Scotland for a great warm up tournament. Set on the banks of beautiful Loch Lomond, there are few sporting events around the world which can compete with the scenery, the views and the passion of the Scottish people.

As you would expect, Scot’s favourites Colin Montgomerie makes the journey back to his homeland in pursuit of his 10th top 10 finish in an event which has proved very fruitful for him. While the tournament may be missing the likes of Tiger Woods, the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Ian Woosnam are expected to take part, along with reigning champion Johan Edfors of Sweden.

While Montgomerie himself has enjoyed some great success in Scotland, he has still to win that elusive first “major” golf title. There are rumours that the crowd favourite is pumped up for this years event, with a real chance of bringing home that elusive title. Few golfers in the world have performed at the highest level for so long without “bagging” that first “major”, but there are real hopes that this could be his year.

However, “Monty” will need to overcome the world’s best golfers in the British Open, including the ever impressive Tiger Woods who seems to be able to turn on the style at will. On his day there are few in the world of golf who can even stay on his coat tails, although if a little pressure is exerted early on who knows what could happen?

Barclays are this year’s proud sponsor of the Scottish Open, an event which is growing in popularity on a yearly basis. They have taken advantage of a beautiful area of the Scottish countryside, to host what promises to be a useful warm up to the “big one”.

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