Grassmarket

British sprint canoeist Liam Heath hangs up his paddles. https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2022/liam-heath-mbe-retires-from-competitive-racing

We got live athletics this week. US, US based & Caribbean athletes participating in a meet in Bermuda - at the Flora Duffy Stadium, no less.

beat 6-0 with every point a steal - Czechs had the hammer for 10 ends.

Cracking excuse here. Milwaukee catcher Pedro Severino was suspended for 80 games on Tuesday following a positive drug test for Clomiphene - a female fertility drug that has been banned by Major League Baseball as a performance enhancer. Since late 2020, my wife and I had been trying to start a family unsuccessfully,' Severino said in a statement issued by the players' association. 'When we returned to the Dominican Republic after the 2021 season, we sought medical assistance to determine why we had not succeeded. 'One of the doctors I consulted with prescribed me with a medication to treat infertility issues. Unfortunately, I now know that the medication contained Clomiphene. I accept responsibility for this mistake and have decided not to challenge my suspension.' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10688641/Brewers-catcher-Severino-suspended-positive-drug-test.html

Hungary has voted the wrong way & will now be knouted by their overlords. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/04/05/watch-live-ukraine-likely-to-overshadow-vdl-s-address-to-meps-on-bloc-s-political-prioriti

Once the positive test is in it usually takes a few months, but the train will surely get to the station.

Unfortunately Russian sporting authorities have done nothing over the last decade to earn the benefit of any doubts, so I have no objection to a four-year Olympic cycle of prayer & reflection.

Pogačar, you absolute moron!

Now the ski jumping season is done, Pogačar takes over the task of sporting domination.

Is he going to be able to get insurance though?

More here. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/60968522

New videos up on the Russian Biathlon website for the Russian Championships which are on this weekend. As usual, ю хаве ту рид сыррилик.

GP Miguel Indurain had to be re-routed today because of snow in the hills. Worries for the Pays Basque next week, always a big climbers’ race.

There are two big holes in the global sporting calendar every year. Late March, when the Winter season ends, to mid-May, when the mainstream summer sports again. Then late September to mid-November, when the opposite happens. So what I’ve got now is: Cycling season at full steam North & South hemisphere Rugby League season ditto. NCAA softball & volleyball Curling World Champs Don’t watch soccer anymore - used to like it up till the early 90s, but now it’s just a global money laundering front. Currently watching UK Open indoor lawn bowls - it’s like Curling for overweight middle-aged people!

ES has the Paris Marathon on Sunday morning, starting very early because Paris is noted for its extreme, energy-sapping heat in early April.

Thing with National Anthems is that none of them ever sound remotely like the music of whatever country they represent, but they all sound like like Regimental marching music of the pickelhaube era. Well, apart from the National Anthem of which is Dancing Queen, if course,

It’s The Boat Race on Sunday. So called because it is the only sporting event in the World where humans race each other in boats. Anyway, Oxford v Cambridge Men’s Race & Women’s Race, always with a good chance of both sinkings & collisions. Back in its rightful place for the first time since 2019. If you’re a fan of of any other Universities you’ll have to wait for the NCAAs or the Henley Regatta.

The good news is that the UCI have clearly told British Cycling they’re pushing it too far & the TG cyclist won’t compete as a woman for the time being. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/60934099

They've been told by British Cycling they'll be subject to disciplinary procedures if they do.

British Cycling about to destroy itself. A cyclist is dropped from the men’s Junior programme decides to change sex a month later & will now ride as a woman in the British Nationals as a woman at the weekend. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10665565/Top-women-cyclists-scared-speak-trans-rival-prepare-race-against-her.html

Vasaloppet next year?

Seems a bit strange. Obvs the Norwegians treat their nationals as a weekend to emphasise the Club scene, whereas the Swedes see them as a National Team event.

College softball already well underway for some time now, watched a couple of games last weekend. In case you don’t know, the PAC-12 Conference - ie the big West Coast schools - has a great live stream on YT. Basically the whole week’s sport is a single stream, so you can rewind at any time & watch whatever you like from the last week.

OK, I can see why that is.

ISL Swimming has to miss a year - it is financed by a businessman who has other things on his mind. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/60894997