RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer, who is leaving his role at the end of the year, was investigated after a complaint was made over comments he made about the Fiji national team at the Championship and League One awards dinner on September 26
Last Updated: 07/10/22 6:32pm
Ralph Rimmer was investigated for comments made at a recent awards dinner
RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer has avoided any sanctions for using “unacceptable” language at an official function.
The governing body launched an investigation into Rimmer’s actions after receiving a complaint over comments he made about the Fiji national team at the Championship and League One awards dinner on September 26.
The RFL says it followed procedures under the Directors’ Code of Conduct, led by the RFL chair Simon Johnson, who submitted a 21-page report to the RFL Board and to Rimmer, who announced last month his intention to step down from his role at the end of the year.
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It said the procedures involved gathering of information from three independent experts, in addition to a number of attendees at the dinner, and a statement from Rimmer – who apologised for his comments.
Views from the Fiji Rugby League and their World Cup travelling party were also sought.
“The report concluded that the language fell within the wide definition of unacceptable language as defined in the RFL’s Operational Rules and therefore could be considered to breach the Code of Conduct,” A statement from the governing body said.
“However, it noted that the comment was taken within the context of a wider discussion of the World Cup; that any insult of the Fiji national team or of people from Fiji or of Fijian origin or heritage was unintended; and that the Fiji national team, the Federation and the Confederation have accepted Ralph Rimmer’s apology for the comments.
“Noting the agreement of all consulted that there was no intent in the use of the unacceptable language; that a fulsome apology was issued and accepted; and taking into account relevant and applicable precedent, from other sports and previous RFL compliance investigations, the decision of the chair is that no formal disciplinary action is appropriate.
“The matter will be dealt with through education, to be conducted during the three months before Ralph Rimmer’s previously-announced departure from the RFL at the end of the year.”
The statement was issued two hours before Fiji were due to play England in a Rugby League World Cup warm-up game at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium.
Maggie Alphonsi believes England are the team to beat as they aim for World Cup glory; the tournament gets under way on Saturday in New Zealand as South Africa face France, England come up against Fiji and Australia and New Zealand clash
By Megan Wellens
Last Updated: 03/10/22 5:13pm
England hope to be celebrating World Cup success in New Zealand next month
When it comes to Rugby World Cup glory, no one knows the highs and lows as well as Maggie Alphonsi, and for the England legend there is only one team to beat this year: the Red Roses.
As a leader in the team that ended a 20-year drought and won the 2014 Rugby World Cup, Alphonsi knows the euphoria of claiming the biggest prize and believes the current Red Roses side have the capabilities to go all the way.
However, with England considered as firm favourites heading into the tournament – a record 25-match unbeaten run and No 1 world ranking cementing them as the ones to beat – many teams will be out to show they are the ones who can topple this side.
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“They are very much expected to win,” said Alphonsi.
“The odds are in their favour, they are number one in the world, they are the reigning Six Nations champions, they are full of confidence and have the resources, the investments and the players.
“I just think these players are prepared for it and many will be saying if they don’t win it would be a failure.”
‘They don’t know how to lose’
The World Cup will certainly present some challenging clashes for the Red Roses and they will be pushed to their limit as sides look to put them in a situation they do not encounter very often: A match in which they are losing.
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England Women head coach Simon Middleton says despite his side’s No 1 ranking and record unbeaten run they cannot guarantee victory at the World Cup
England Women head coach Simon Middleton says despite his side’s No 1 ranking and record unbeaten run they cannot guarantee victory at the World Cup
Some see this as the best way to get under England’s skin, but Alphonsi believes they are well prepared for all scenarios, even ones they do not often have to face.
“They have a ‘we don’t know how to lose’ mindset because to go that many games unbeaten, they will naturally have that,” she added.
“Some will see that as a negative because they have not lost or been tested it is hard to know what to do when put in that scenario.
“But knowing (coach) Simon Middleton and the quality of players, they will have covered all bases, including those scenarios and how to deal with it.
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“They were tested a few times in the Six Nations, especially first half against Wales in the set-piece.
“However, you can’t count out New Zealand, Canada and France because they are also feeling like it is their time.
“I think England will get to the final – crazy to say they won’t.
“If New Zealand get to the final as a home nation it would be great for the crowd and interest.
“But I am also excited by the fact that an outsider could do it, like France who always finish third.
“They might do something completely different, who knows. There are some dark horses.”
A record-breaking Rugby World Cup
Women’s sport is in a constant state of growth as more coverage and visibility drives its viewership and this year’s World Cup is expected to continue to boost those numbers.
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England captain Sarah Hunter says tournament experience could be a big factor going into the World Cup
England captain Sarah Hunter says tournament experience could be a big factor going into the World Cup
With record attendances and media interest, Alphonsi thinks, if they can claim World Cup victory, we could see the Red Roses reach the heights of the Lionesses in this summer’s Euros when the tournament takes place in England in 2025.
She said: “My expectations are incredibly high.
Maggie Alphonsi believes an England vs New Zealand World Cup final on November 12 would be brilliant for rugby as it rides a wave of momentum
“This World Cup will break many records. There are over 30,000 tickets sold for the opening game so for that many people to come and watch in New Zealand is huge, that in itself Is amazing.
“It will be the most-covered World Cup in terms of television, print and radio and I think it is going to be a tournament that will captivate the world.
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“It will add to the momentum of women’s sport especially over here and we get to put women’s sport back in the spotlight. We saw that in the summer with the Lionesses and that still blows my mind.
“The FA and the Lionesses set the bar high with an amazing tournament across the country and the amount of people that attended was brilliant.
“In 2010 we got to the final and we had a crowd of just under 14,000 which was significant back then.
“2025 is not that far away and women’s sport is on the crest of a wave and hopefully we can emulate what women’s football has done, making sure we can take it around the country and put out a statement.
“Then we can see the final at Twickenham with a sell-out capacity and good build-up.”
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Nathan Aspinall secured a shock win over Michael Smith; Martin Lukeman came through with a surprise upset against James Wade; Gerwyn Price secured a dominant victory as Joe Cullen overcame Damon Heta in a tight contest
Last Updated: 05/10/22 12:47am
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Check out the best action from Day 2 of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Check out the best action from Day 2 of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Michael Smith suffered a shock first-round exit at the hands of Nathan Aspinall in a night full of upsets at the World Grand Prix in Leicester.
The Stockport man came away with a 2-1 win over Smith as the world No 4 struggled to find his rhythm on the doubles.
Martin Lukeman provided the performance of the night in a shock victory over James Wade, while Gerwyn Price put in a professional performance against Martin Schindler and Joe Cullen overcame Damon Heta.
The final match of the evening was touted as a big encounter and it did not disappoint as Smith and Aspinall faced off in a fast-paced clash.
Aspinall started the encounter with much more promise, breaking Smith early with a 116 finish to go two legs ahead.
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Nathan Aspinall started his match against Michael Smith with a 116 checkout in the first round of the World Grand Prix
Nathan Aspinall started his match against Michael Smith with a 116 checkout in the first round of the World Grand Prix
‘Bully Boy’ fought back to claim a leg of his own but it was not enough as the world No 16 took advantage of some inaccuracy on the doubles to claim the first set.
The second set continued in the same vein as the first as Aspinall raced into a two-leg lead but Smith was not ready to go down without a fight and checked out on 95 to keep himself in the tie before backing it up with a 101 finish to bring the set level.
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Smith took out this finish to level the second set against Aspinall
Smith took out this finish to level the second set against Aspinall
A crucial leg followed and a lovely 171 put Aspinall close to victory with three match darts, but he failed to take his chance and Smith checked out on D10 to bring it to a set apiece.
A nervous third set ensued but Aspinall managed to find his form to secure a 3-0 whitewash, checking out on D16 to take the match.
Tuesday, October 4 – Results
First Round
Madars Razma
2-1
Ryan Searle
Ross Smith
2-1
Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert
2-0
Gabriel Clemens
Joe Cullen
2-1
Damon Heta
(8) Rob Cross
1-2
Daryl Gurney
(5) James Wade
1-2
Martin Lukeman
(1) Gerwyn Price
2-0
Martin Schindler
(4) Michael Smith
1-2
Nathan Aspinall
Price cut an ultra-confident figure as he stepped out for his clash with Schindler and he got off to a flying start, breaking the throw in the first leg and holding his own to power ahead.
With both players unable to find the doubles to checkout, Schindler battled his way back with a D5 in the third leg of the set but it was to no avail as ‘The Iceman’ discovered his accuracy once again to take out D2 for the first set.
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Gerwyn Price enjoyed this 101 finish on his way to victory over Martin Schindler
Gerwyn Price enjoyed this 101 finish on his way to victory over Martin Schindler
The Welshman’s dominance continued into the second set as Schindler was unable to get comfortable, a sublime 101 finish to break the throw spurring him on to victory and into the second round.
Lukeman came through with the biggest upset of the night against Wade, taking the first set in three straight legs and stunning the world No 5 to secure his first televised victory.
Lukeman, who sits outside the world top 50, was easily finding some big maximums while Wade struggled to get going on the doubles, Wade at one point needing seven darts to get his leg going on the doubles.
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Martin Lukeman caused a huge upset, beating James Wade in the first round
Martin Lukeman caused a huge upset, beating James Wade in the first round
The second set produced a partial fightback from Wade as he brought his average back up, a crucial D2 keeping him in the tie but the third leg saw Lukeman battle well and hold his throw with a D10 to take the lead.
Out of nowhere, Wade found a vital 121 finish to bring it to a deciding leg but it was Lukeman who ended with three match darts and used them well, hitting the D8 to secure the biggest win of his career so far.
It was touted to be a tight and exciting match-up and Cullen and Heta did not disappoint in their opening set, trading breaks of throw and ton-plus finishes before a D16 saw Cullen take the opener.
Heta take complete control in the second set, breaking Cullen twice, including a brilliant 115 finish, to take a 3-0 whitewash and bring the tie all square but Cullen took the final set and the match on D8 to conclude a gritty and enthralling match.
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Joe Cullen struck an early break in his first-round match against Damon Heta
Joe Cullen struck an early break in his first-round match against Damon Heta
The tight contests continued as former world champion Rob Cross and former World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney faced off, both players holding their throw before Cross’ inability to find the crucial double to start, missing nine times, gifted Gurney a chance to break and take the first set.
After Cross fought back in the second set, hitting two maximums and breaking Gurney to make things even, ‘Superchin’ held it together and broke Cross early in the final leg to take the big win.
Last year’s semi-finalist Danny Noppert was back to show his form on the doubles again as he took on Gabriel Clemens. An astonishing second leg saw the Dutchman take 13 darts to get going on the double but he rallied to leave himself on a ton-plus finish of 101 to seal the leg before going on to take the set.
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Danny Noppert missed 12 darts at double to get started in the second leg of his game against Gabriel Clemens but still managed to win the leg after a remarkable turnaround
Danny Noppert missed 12 darts at double to get started in the second leg of his game against Gabriel Clemens but still managed to win the leg after a remarkable turnaround
Clemens fought back for a couple of legs but Noppert raised his game and grinded out a 2-0 win as he looks to go one step further than 2021.
With three debutants on show as the opening round came to a close, there were some upsets to be had and Madars Razma had a strong showing as he won 2-1 against Ryan Searle, taking the first set after breaking the throw twice before taking out a lovely 108 finish to win the match and progress to the second round.
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Andrew Gilding hit this 102 checkout on his way to winning the first set of his first-round match against Ross Smith
Andrew Gilding hit this 102 checkout on his way to winning the first set of his first-round match against Ross Smith
An all-British tie between Ross Smith and Andrew Gilding saw Smith come away with the spoils in a closely-fought 2-1 victory.
Wednesday, October 5- Fixtures (1900 BST)
Second Round
Adrian Lewis
vs
Chris Dobey
Peter Wright
vs
Krzyztof Ratajski
Michael van Gerwen
vs
Stephen Bunting
Jonny Clayton
vs
Dimitri Van den Burgh
Wednesday sees the players from night one back in action as Adrian Lewis faces Chris Dobey, Peter Wright is up against Krzysztof Ratajski, Michael van Gerwen plays Stephen Bunting and Jonny Clayton faces off against Dimitri Van den Bergh as the second round gets under way.
Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 5, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double in, Double out’ set format on Sky Sports all the way through to the final on October 9 in Leicester.
Five-time winner Michael Van Gerwen beat rival Gary Anderson, while defending champion Jonny Clayton scraped into the second round by coming from a set down to defeat 2020 finalist Dirk Van Duijvenbode; Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis also won through at the World Grand Prix
Last Updated: 04/10/22 1:49am
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Watch the best checkouts from a thrilling opening night of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Watch the best checkouts from a thrilling opening night of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Michael van Gerwen won the battle between two darting giants as he set aside a nervy start to ease past Gary Anderson on opening night of the World Grand Prix.
Van Gerwen – chasing a sixth World Grand Prix success – ran out a resounding 2-0 winner against two-time World Champion Anderson in a repeat of the 2016 final.
Jonny Clayton survived a scare as he began his title defence with a comeback victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis also progressed in Leicester.
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Check out the best of the action from the opening night of the World Grand Prix
Check out the best of the action from the opening night of the World Grand Prix
Monday, October 3 – Results
First Round
Callan Rydz
0-2
Krzysztof Ratajski
Brendan Dolan
0-2
Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey
2-0
Luke Humphries
Dimitri Van den Bergh
2-1
Dave Chisnall
Jonny Clayton
2-1
Dirk van Duijvenbode
Peter Wright
2-0
Kim Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen
2-0
Gary Anderson
Jose de Sousa
0-2
Adrian Lewis
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Anderson could help but smile after he scored just nine in his emphatic defeat to Van Gerwen
Anderson could help but smile after he scored just nine in his emphatic defeat to Van Gerwen
Van Gerwen reeled off a scrappy first set without reply, despite Anderson missing darts to win every leg – squandering 11 darts at double in total.
The Scot responded with a clinical 84 to seize control of the second set, but after firing back with a 15-dart riposte, ‘The Green Machine’ followed up his third 180 with a 106 finish to seal victory in 12 darts.
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Van Gerwen booked his spot in the second round spot with this incredible 12-dart leg…
Van Gerwen booked his spot in the second round spot with this incredible 12-dart leg…
“The first round at the World Grand Prix against Gary Anderson is never going to be easy,” admitted Van Gerwen, who averaged 101 in a superb second set display.
“You never know with Gary. He still has a lot of talent and is a brilliant player, so you have to perform well.
“We both missed so many doubles in the first set, but the second set is something to build on for the next round.”
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MVG is targeting more success having already claimed victory in this year’s Premier League and World Matchplay
MVG is targeting more success having already claimed victory in this year’s Premier League and World Matchplay
Clayton was handed a tough assignment against 2020 runner-up Van Duijvenbode in the unique double-start event, but recovered from a shaky start to book a showdown with Dimitri Van den Bergh at the Morningside Arena.
Van Duijvenbode dominated the opening exchanges, punishing a lacklustre start from the reigning champion to draw first blood with a sublime 156 checkout.
Clayton’s terrific 130 finish midway through set two shifted the pendulum, and as an increasingly frustrated Dutchman faltered late on with ‘The Ferret’ capitalising to move through to a meeting against Van den Bergh.
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Jonny Clayton admitted he was fortunate to progress through after a late rally saw him defeat Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jonny Clayton admitted he was fortunate to progress through after a late rally saw him defeat Dirk van Duijvenbode
“I’m glad to get through obviously, but Dirk should have won that game,” conceded Clayton, who crushed fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in last year’s showpiece.
“I just couldn’t get going tonight, but thankfully I managed to scrape through.
“Dimitri is a brilliant player, just like Dirk. Hopefully my game will improve on Wednesday. I’m going to come out of the blocks better than I did tonight.”
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Van den Bergh nailed this brilliant 81 checkout on the bullseye in his win over Dave Chisnall
Van den Bergh nailed this brilliant 81 checkout on the bullseye in his win over Dave Chisnall
Van den Bergh secured only his second victory on the World Grand Prix stage with a deciding-leg win over two-time finalist Dave Chisnall.
World Champion Peter Wright defied a spirited fightback from Kim Huybrechts to begin his bid for a maiden World Grand Prix crown with a 2-0 win in a high-quality affair.
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Adrian Lewis rolled back the years by hitting the Jackpot with this majestic 152 finish
Adrian Lewis rolled back the years by hitting the Jackpot with this majestic 152 finish
And 2010 finalist Adrian Lewis made a winning return in his first World Grand Prix appearance since 2019, converting three ton-plus checkouts to close out an impressive 2-0 win over Jose De Sousa, who becomes the first seed to exit this year’s tournament.
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Chris Dobey sunk two huge ton-plus checkouts as he swept past Luke Humphries
Chris Dobey sunk two huge ton-plus checkouts as he swept past Luke Humphries
‘Jackpot’ will now play ‘Hollywood’ Chris Dobey, who produced a spectacular display of finishing to stun Luke Humphries and secure his first win at this event since reaching the 2019 semi-finals on debut.
Krzysztof Ratajski and Stephen Bunting also progressed with 2-0 victories, beating Callan Rydz and Brendan Dolan respectively.
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Dobey won the opening set with Luke Humphries with this Hollywood ending
Dobey won the opening set with Luke Humphries with this Hollywood ending
Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 4, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
Tuesday, October 4 – Fixtures (1900 BST)
First Round
Madars Razma
vs
Ryan Searle
Ross Smith
vs
Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert
vs
Gabriel Clemens
Joe Cullen
vs
Damon Heta
Rob Cross
vs
Daryl Gurney
James Wade
vs
Martin Lukeman
Gerwyn Price
vs
Martin Schindler
Michael Smith
vs
Nathan Aspinall
The first round action draws to a close on Tuesday night, as world No 1 Gerwyn Price begins his bid for a second World Grand Prix crown against German debutant Martin Schindler.
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Two-time winner James Wade faces another newcomer in Martin Lukeman, 2017 champion Daryl Gurney plays eighth seed Rob Cross, while Michael Smith takes on Nathan Aspinall in another tasty tie.
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double in, Double out’ set format on Sky Sports all the way through to the final on October 9 in Leicester.
(from left to right) Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Mick Schumacher and Nyck de Vries
Pierre Gasly’s expected move from AlphaTauri to Alpine looks set to trigger a final frenzy of activity in Formula 1’s driver market, with the remaining 2023 seats made all the more appealing for the established, and emerging, stars in the running.
As a competitive market continues to take shape deep into the 2022 season, we’ve rounded up the runners and riders for each of the seats as we edge closer to a full confirmed grid…
F1 contracts: Who’s driving where in 2023?
Red Bull
Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc
Carlos Sainz
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
George Russell
Alpine
Esteban Ocon
TBC
McLaren
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
Alfa Romeo
Valtteri Bottas
Zhou Guanyu
Haas
Kevin Magnussen
TBC
Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso
Lance Stroll
AlphaTauri
Pierre Gasly (future in doubt)
Yuki Tsunoda
Williams
Alex Albon
TBC
Alpine
The favourite: Pierre Gasly (Extreme) outsiders: Jack Doohan, Antonio Giovinazzi, Mick Schumacher, Daniel Ricciardo, Nyck de Vries
After being shocked by Fernando Alonso and snubbed by Oscar Piastri, Alpine said they had a shortlist of “14 drivers” for what is the best available seat in 2023. But in truth, their eyes have always been fixed on Pierre Gasly.
Gasly makes sense for a lot of reasons. He’s French, still young (26) but with five seasons, and a race win, under his belt, and would likely hit the ground running to form a very handy line-up with Esteban Ocon.
The one problem is, he is contracted to Red Bull and is a key part of their sister team AlphaTauri.
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Highlights of the Singapore Grand Prix from the Marina Bay Street Circuit
Highlights of the Singapore Grand Prix from the Marina Bay Street Circuit
Red Bull are open to parting ways with Gasly – for a fee – but would want an adequate replacement first (which we will come on to in the next section).
The word from the paddock in Singapore was that a deal is all but confirmed, and is expected to be announced sooner rather than later.
In the event of a last-minute hitch, Alpine do have some alternatives.
Perhaps nervous of another driver market sucker punch by missing out on Gasly, they tested three drivers in a 2021 Alpine car last week at the Hungaroring, Nyck de Vries, Jack Doohan and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Jack Doohan could provide a back-up option for Alpine if Gasly’s expected move was to fall through
De Vries is one of the hot commodities of this year’s driver market, while Giovinazzi would more likely stay within the Ferrari family to get back into F1, but it would not be a surprise if Doohan is very high up on Alpine’s list.
Alpine have been keen to promote from their driver academy for some time (with Piastri always the favourite), but Australian driver Doohan is currently fourth in his first full season in Formula 2 and is highly rated internally.
Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher are even more extreme outsiders for this seat.
Ricciardo has not been really mentioned by Alpine since early August, with Renault bosses thought to be uneasy about bringing back the 33-year-old, while Schumacher probably has not done enough at Haas to earn a promotion up the grid.
AlphaTauri (if Gasly leaves)
The favourite: Nyck de Vries
AlphaTauri would ideally want Gasly, who only signed a new contract for 2023 in June, to stay. But with Gasly unlikely to get a step up back to Red Bull anytime soon – he did not impress the team in his brief spell in 2019 and Sergio Perez is locked in for multiple years – the senior team may try and get compensation for the Frenchman while they can.
This has always been dependent on finding a replacement, and with no junior drivers making their case to be F1’s next star to come through the Red Bull programme, they have been looking further afield.
Nyck de Vries (right) celebrates with Williams boss Jost Capito after the Italian GP
IndyCar star Colton Herta was their number one target, although – despite winning seven races in the top US single-seater championship – he does not have enough superlicense points.
That collapse appeared to point towards Gasly staying put, but a new front-runner has emerged… that man De Vries.
De Vries, while never having raced in F1, would fit Red Bull and AlphaTauri’s desire for a proven driver to come in for Gasly, and the Dutchman has admitted he has held talks with the team’s transfer advisor Helmut Marko.
He seems to be their only fallback right now; if he does not sign, it is likely Gasly stays.
Haas
The favourites: Mick Schumacher, Nico Hulkenberg, Outsiders:, Antonio Giovinazzi, Robert Schwartzman, Daniel Ricciardo
Haas are the wildcard in this driver market and it has been hard to predict which direction they are heading in.
What does seem certain is that the US team are seriously considering moving on from Schumacher for 2023, with the German driver having been out-performed by Kevin Magnussen this season. Schumacher is also set to leave the Ferrari driver programme, and his links to the Scuderia were one of the reasons he joined Haas in the first place.
Nico Hulkenberg has emerged as a contender to join Haas
Giovinazzi, the Ferrari reserve and man who was in truth unlucky to lose his Alfa Romeo seat this year, has been heavily linked with the team, as has another former F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg, who has served as a reserve with Aston Martin this season.
More of a like-for-like replacement for Schumacher would be fellow Ferrari driver programme product Robert Schwartzman, who has served as a reserve driver for the Italian team this season. Schwartzman, who holds dual Israeli and Russian nationality, is said to have impressed Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and, at the age of 23, would provide another forward-looking option for Haas.
Ricciardo, who has also been linked with the seat, would be the headline signing Haas have been waiting for since their F1 debut six years ago, and would be a big hit Stateside. However, it remains to be seen whether they would have the budget or pedigree to attract Ricciardo, who has made it clear he is open to a test-driver role with a stronger outfit in 2023 if the right drive does not present itself.
During the Singapore GP, chatter suggested it is Hulkenberg who has emerged as the most likely driver to replace Schumacher, with the pair now in a shoot-out for the position
Williams
The favourite: Logan Sargeant Outsiders: Nyck de Vries, Mick Schumacher, Antonio Giovinazzi
Nicholas Latifi’s impending exit leaves an opening at Williams, whose movements could depend on how the dominoes fall in the driver market.
Given his pedigree, and more importantly, how well he performed in Alex Albon’s absence in Italy, De Vries would surely be Williams’ preferred choice, but they appear set to miss out on him to AlphaTauri.
Other than De Vries, Logan Sargeant is the name that has cropped up most in links with Williams.
Williams may give junior driver Logan Sargeant a chance
American driver Sargeant is a Williams junior and is third in the F2 standings. He is well thought of at Williams, who have American owners, and will make his practice debut for the team at the United States GP next month.
Schumacher could be a driver of interest should he leave Haas – he has done enough in his two years in F1 to prove he belongs – while Giovinazzi fits that bill of a solid driver alongside Albon, too.
The reality is the 2023 grid is still incredibly difficult to predict, even at this late stage of the season. There are, however, expected to be significant developments in the coming weeks.
Emma Paton returns ahead of the World Grand Prix Darts to make her predictions for the iconic double-in, double-out tournament; who is she picking to win this year’s event in Leicester? And will Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson be her must-watch first-round tie?
Last Updated: 02/10/22 3:31pm
It’s prediction time for Emma Paton with the World Grand Prix on her mind
Our very own Emma Paton is back for her latest predictions ahead of this year’s World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
Find out who Emma is backing to win the unique event, which is best known for its double-in, double-out format.
The 25th staging of the prestigious tournament will feature seven sessions of action from October 3-9 – live on Sky Sports!
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Enjoy the best moments from the World Grand Prix, from the first nine-darter, Andy Callaby beating Phil Taylor and MVG’s first TV title win
Enjoy the best moments from the World Grand Prix, from the first nine-darter, Andy Callaby beating Phil Taylor and MVG’s first TV title win
Tournament favourite?
Well this isn’t a huge surprise, he is the bookies’ favourite too, but I’ve gone for…
…Gerwyn Price!
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Gerwyn Price hit two nine-dart finishes in one night in the Premier League in Belfast…
Gerwyn Price hit two nine-dart finishes in one night in the Premier League in Belfast…
‘The Iceman’ knows what it takes to win, he won this event two years ago, and then followed that up with a runner-up finish last year, ultimately losing out to fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton.
He’s coming into form nicely having, by his own admission, struggled with the schedule earlier on in the year. The world No 1 arrives in Leicester off the back of winning The World Series of Darts Finals, plus he missed last weekend’s event in Belgium so should be feeling fresh!
Compared to the other members of the ‘Big Three’ including Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen, I think his section of the draw is slightly more favourable.
He faces a debutant in Martin Schindler in the first round, and he knows what to expect there after their first-round tie in Blackpool!
A tricky last-16 tie looms with either Masters champion Joe Cullen or Australia’s No 1 Damon Heta but I expect him to get past either of those, with Rob Cross the highest seed in his quarter.
Michael Smith and James Wade are in his half – we all know how dangerous Wade can be in this event having won it twice, but in five of his last seven appearances he’s not made it past the opening round – so I’m backing Price to at least reach the final.
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Price raised the roof with a nine-darter during his semi-final against Danny Noppert at the World Matchplay
Price raised the roof with a nine-darter during his semi-final against Danny Noppert at the World Matchplay
One to watch?
…Danny Noppert!
Will Danny Noppert be the one to watch in Leicester?
Now this might sound counter-intuitive because he’s in the same half as Price!! But I think he can certainly make it out of his quarter.
He did just that last year, in the end losing to Clayton in the semis and he could find himself with a similar scenario this time around with a different Welshman ending his chances.
He looks more and more confident every time I see him on the stage and certainly since winning the UK Open earlier this year. He has such a calmness and steel about him, I’m a big fan of the way he goes about his business.
We don’t seem to talk him up too much ahead of majors, despite him picking one up this year! He’s still flying under the radar with the bookies too at 25/1 but ‘The Freeze’ is one to keep your eye on!
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Danny Noppert showcased some serious darthousery with a no-look 180 before taking out 86 on the bullseye at the World Matchplay
Danny Noppert showcased some serious darthousery with a no-look 180 before taking out 86 on the bullseye at the World Matchplay
Double-in, double-out…
…adds to the excitement!! Well it does for us anyway!
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Watch every nine-darter hit at the World Grand Prix…
Watch every nine-darter hit at the World Grand Prix…
For the players, the first round is a nerve shredder! The fact we start with best of three sets as well adds to the drama. There’s no room for a slow start, last year showed exactly that with the likes of Peter Wright and MVG falling at the first hurdle.
There’s drama of the other kind too – we’ve seen players in the past step up on the stage and forget it’s double-in and go straight for the treble 20!
The fact we only see this format once a year adds a sprinkling of something special, it’s unique, and a great leveller for the players.
Must-watch first-round tie?
…Jonny Clayton vs Dirk van Duijvenbode!
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Clayton struck with five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Clayton struck with five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Is there any other answer?!
To be fair there are some cracking opening ties but this is the standout for me.
They’ve met a couple of times recently – at the World Series Finals which went the Dutchman’s way, and then what a belter at the Belgian Darts Open over the weekend, both players averaged 105 but it was ‘The Ferret’ who came out on top then.
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Jonny Clayton triumphed at the World Grand Prix after thrashing Gerwyn Price 5-1
Jonny Clayton triumphed at the World Grand Prix after thrashing Gerwyn Price 5-1
Clayton is the defending champion of course and is coming into form. He finished the Premier League top of the table but has admitted defeat to Joe Cullen in the play-offs knocked his confidence which took some time to recover from but he’s certainly getting back to his best.
Van Duijvenbode might not have won this event, but he came close a couple of years ago getting to the final and he’s getting closer to winning something on the big stage.
Oh it should be good, shouldn’t it?
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Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 3, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
2022 World Grand Prix Schedule of Play Monday October 3 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches Callan Rydz vs Krzysztof Ratajski Brendan Dolan vs Stephen Bunting Chris Dobey vs Luke Humphries Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Dave Chisnall (7) Jonny Clayton vs Dirk van Duijvenbode (2) Peter Wright vs Kim Huybrechts (3) Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson (6) Jose de Sousa vs Adrian Lewis
Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 4, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
Tuesday October 4 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches Madars Razma vs Ryan Searle Ross Smith vs Andrew Gilding Danny Noppert vs Gabriel Clemens Joe Cullen vs Damon Heta (8) Rob Cross vs Daryl Gurney (5) James Wade vs Martin Lukeman (1) Gerwyn Price vs Martin Schindler (4) Michael Smith vs Nathan Aspinall
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double-in, Double-out’ set format on Sky Sports from October 3-9 in Leicester.
Jonny Clayton will be out to retain his World Grand Prix title at Leicester’s Morningside Arena from October 3-9; watch the unique double-start event live on Sky Sports Arena this week
Last Updated: 02/10/22 12:07pm
Jonny Clayton beat fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price to win his maiden World Grand Prix
Jonny Clayton will be bidding to retain his World Grand Prix title in the unique double-start event, while Peter Wright has vowed to raise his game to “another level”.
Clayton will begin the defence of his title defence against high-flying Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, while world champion Wright begins his bid for a maiden World Grand Prix crown against Kim Huybrechts.
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Clayton clinched his first televised ranking crown in last year’s showpiece with a 5-1 demolition of fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price.
The reigning champion will look to repeat those heroics in this year’s 32-player tournament, which takes place at Leicester’s Morningside Arena from October 3-9, with a record-breaking £600,000 prize fund on offer.
Clayton is hoping to follow in the footsteps of 11-time winner Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen – who is chasing a sixth crown this year – by becoming only the third player in World Grand Prix history to retain their title.
“The double-in double-out format is challenging, but it separates the men from the boys,” said Clayton.
“I’m going to turn up and play to the best level I can. If I play my best game, I’ve got a good chance of defending my title so that’s what I will try and do.
“There are not many people that have defended the World Grand Prix and I’d love to join that list, so fingers crossed it’s going to happen again.”
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Clayton sunk five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Gerwyn Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Clayton sunk five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Gerwyn Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Van Duijvenbode defeated Clayton at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam a fortnight ago, but ‘The Ferret’ gained revenge with a thrilling 6-4 victory at last weekend’s Belgian Darts Open.
Meanwhile, Wright will be featuring in his first televised ranking event since undergoing gallstones surgery in August, having returned to winning ways at last month’s International Darts Open in Jena.
“I was really happy with the win in Jena,” said ‘Snakebite’ Wright. “I won it quite easily, beating some top players on the way through, so after the surgery it’s all good.
“I feel confident about where my game is. I think I’m in the top four on the averages over the past few months, so if I can hit my double to start, I should be pretty dangerous.”
Peter Wright will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive first round exit at the World Grand Prix
Wright, a runner-up to Michael van Gerwen in 2018, will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive first round exit in the double-start event when he takes on Belgian star Kim Huybrechts.
The world No 2 is without a televised ranking title since scooping his second World Championship crown in January, and he is determined to add to his haul in Leicester.
“The World Grand Prix is definitely on my list,” insisted Wright. “I was practising for this tournament straight after the surgery. I said to myself that I’ve got to start on tops because it gives you the chance to get the highest start, so fingers crossed it works.
“Kim is playing well. He’s in a good place and he’s beaten me quite a few times recently, but this is double-start so it’s a different playing field. If I hit my doubles, I’ll win.”
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World No 1 Gerwyn Price takes on German debutant Martin Schindler in his opening round tie, while Michael van Gerwen begins his bid for a sixth World Grand Prix success against his old adversary Gary Anderson, in a repeat of the 2016 final.
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Dan Dawson and Colin Lloyd make their predictions ahead of the World Grand Prix in Leicester on the latest edition of Love The Darts
Dan Dawson and Colin Lloyd make their predictions ahead of the World Grand Prix in Leicester on the latest edition of Love The Darts
World Grand Prix Schedule of Play Monday October 3 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches (best of three sets) Callan Rydz vs Krzysztof Ratajski Brendan Dolan vs Stephen Bunting Chris Dobey vs Luke Humphries Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Dave Chisnall (7) Jonny Clayton vs Dirk van Duijvenbode (2) Peter Wright vs Kim Huybrechts (3) Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson (6) Jose de Sousa vs Adrian Lewis
Tuesday October 4 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches (best of three sets) Madars Razma vs Ryan Searle Ross Smith vs Andrew Gilding Danny Noppert vs Gabriel Clemens Joe Cullen vs Damon Heta (8) Rob Cross vs Daryl Gurney (5) James Wade vs Martin Lukeman (1) Gerwyn Price vs Martin Schindler (4) Michael Smith vs Nathan Aspinall
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double in, Double out’ set format on Sky Sports from October 2-8 in Leicester.
Halifax Panthers beat Leeds Rhinos in the Wheelchair Super League Grand Final on Saturday, live on Sky Sports; Rob Hawkins scored five tries for Halifax in victory; Nathan Collins also scored five tries, for Leeds in a losing effort
Last Updated: 01/10/22 6:44pm
Halifax Panthers’ Rob Hawkins scored five tries as his side beat Leeds Rhinos to the Super League Grand Final title
Halifax Panthers claimed Wheelchair Grand Final glory on Saturday, winning their first Super League title since 2019 after a thrilling 52-48 success against Leeds Rhinos.
A packed house in Manchester saw Leeds make the stronger start, and despite the concession of the first score to Halifax’s Nathan Holmes, they hit back with tries from James Simpson and Nathan Collins – the latter finishing after a superb Tom Halliwell pass – to lead 10-6 15 minutes into the final.
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Halifax replied with some inspired play, however, and proved dominant in the second quarter, scoring five tries without response.
Rob Hawkins and Jeremy Bourson were among the try scorers, and five minutes from the half-time break, the Panthers had turned things around to lead 36-10.
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In the final play of the first half, Leeds got themselves back into the contest, though, as Collins registered his second try close to the posts.
The Rhinos, much like the first period, re-emerged to start the stronger, as Jodie Boyd-Ward and Collins scored quick-fire tires to narrow the deficit, before Halifax hit back through a Seb Bechara try.
Collins would soon notch his fourth and fifth tries of the final for Leeds, however, cutting the Halifax lead to just two points at 42-40 with 12 minutes left.
Two minutes later, the Rhinos were level as Collins punished a Halifax push with a penalty goal, after the Leeds man himself had been fouled.
The final wasn’t level for long, however, as Hawkins grabbed his fourth try – with a salute to the fans en route – before scoring his fifth to seemingly seal victory for Halifax.
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Leeds had one final say and push, though, as England international Josh Butler finished off a flowing move, and once Collins added the conversion, the gap was narrowed to four points with a minute to go.
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A penalty against Halifax for a double tag gave Leeds one final set, and though they pushed hard, they just fell short in the Grand Final.
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The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup begins on Thursday November 3, with England competing in a group against Australia, Spain and Ireland on home soil.
The final is being held at Manchester Central on Friday November 18.
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Matt Lucas and Elis James challenge Darren Bent to recreate his famous beachball goal against Liverpool in 2009. Watch Fantasy Football League on Sky Max on Thursdays at 10pm.
Daniel Ricciardo has been linked with vacant 2023 seats at Alpine, Haas and Williams, along with reserve roles at Red Bull and Mercedes; watch the Singapore GP live on Sky Sports F1, starting with Friday’s practice at 10.30am; Sunday’s race at 1pm
Last Updated: 29/09/22 3:21pm
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Following the news that Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season, take a look at his greatest race victories for Red Bull.
Following the news that Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season, take a look at his greatest race victories for Red Bull.
Daniel Ricciardo says taking a Formula 1 reserve role in 2023 has become a “realistic” possibility for him as he continues to weigh up his options for next season.
After McLaren announced in August the early termination of Ricciardo’s contract at the end of the season, the Australian has been linked with vacant seats at Alpine, Williams and Haas, along with reserve roles for front-runners Red Bull and Mercedes.
Ricciardo has had a three-week break since the Italian GP to consider his future, and speaking ahead of this weekend’s Singapore GP, he admitted he is wary of taking a drive with a team at the back of field.
“Let’s say my headspace is in the same space,” Ricciardo said on Thursday. “I’m still keen to be part of F1 and of course, ‘Plan A’ would be to be on the grid.
“So nothing’s changed but I don’t want to just jump at the first kind of seat available. I know the landscape probably changes as well at the end of next year, with contracts and whatever, so I don’t want to say remaining patient, but remaining open.”
Asked specifically about the likelihood of taking a reserve role over a drive, he added: “It’s certainly something that’s realistic, yeah.
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“That’s the two realistic options. It’s not to be anywhere else.
“I love other disciplines of motorsport but I don’t see myself there. I feel as well if I jump into something like that, and then it closes the door on F1. It kind of feels like I’ve checked out, and I haven’t. So I’m solely focused on F1.
“My team is talking with, I want to say, pretty much everyone, or they’re having conversations, so we’re just trying to put it all together and figure out what makes the most sense.
“So it’s not that they’re not calling or they’re not interested, I know that sounds… I’m not coming from a place of overconfidence, but we’re just doing our due diligence and figuring out what’s best.
“I’m trying to kind of see beyond next year, for me of course I want to be racing but I also don’t want to just look at the next 12 months and not look at the next 24.”
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Nico Rosberg and Paul Di Resta discuss what’s gone wrong for Daniel Ricciardo and his options for 2023.
Nico Rosberg and Paul Di Resta discuss what’s gone wrong for Daniel Ricciardo and his options for 2023.
The 33-year-old’s two seasons with McLaren peaked with victory at last year’s Italian GP, but for the most part he has been clearly outperformed by team-mate Lando Norris, while the team have rarely been able to compete for podiums.
Ricciardo secured seven wins with Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 before leaving to join Renault, with whom he spent two disappointing seasons before joining McLaren, and admits the contrast between the level of competitiveness during those stops is impacting his latest decision.
“Having been through it the last few years, I know there is something that you fight for,” he said. “Monza last year was the best-case scenario in fighting for a win, but what fighting at the front does, when you’ve had that taste, it’s real and that’s ultimately where I want to be.
“So I guess I don’t want to just race to race, I want to race with a true belief or understanding that I could be back on the podium ultimately.”
Steiner: Haas not waiting on Ricciardo
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, who has previously expressed his interest in acquiring Ricciardo’s services for the 2023 season, insisted he wasn’t waiting on the Australian’s decision but also refused to rule out hiring him.
“I don’t want to speak for Daniel. I think he’s weighing up what he wants to do,” Steiner said.
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Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner says he is saddened by the announcement that McLaren are to replace Ricciardo for the 2023 season, adding that he is ‘one of the best guys’ in the sport.
Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner says he is saddened by the announcement that McLaren are to replace Ricciardo for the 2023 season, adding that he is ‘one of the best guys’ in the sport.
“That is my biggest thing, he needs to weigh up what he wants to do, if he decides to join a team at the back of the grid, that doesn’t mean he cannot move on up the grid, and I’m sure he didn’t mean what he said in a negative way.
“He needs to find out what he wants to do in life, and that will take him time, because this is a big decision for his career, and I’m sure he takes it very carefully what he wants to do.
“I’m not waiting for him to answer what he wants to do, just to clarify that.
“Once he decides what he wants to do, he will let everybody know, but I don’t know and I think he doesn’t know at the moment.”
As the second installment in a short series of letters meant to inform you of APA!’s relationship with the City of Austin, we wanted to bring you up to speed on the Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC) property and how it impacts the renegotiation of our license agreement to operate APA!.
Built in the 1950s, the TLAC facility was a huge improvement over what existed before, which was a structure somewhere in Austin that held all the animals in a massive concrete pen without adequate food and water until they were all shot, in front of an audience, when their time was up. The beginning of sheltering in Austin, as in the entire United States, was rooted in the fear of a nationwide pandemic of Rabies.
Austin American Statesman, 1951Austin American Statesman, 1956, laying the pad for the original Ringworm facility and the original Building C
As such, from 1950 all the way until 2008, the intention of housing the animals was never to save them all or any percent close to that. The original purpose of this facility, in fact, was to continue ridding Austin of dogs and cats who didn’t have owners with the means to reclaim them. TLAC and the structures that still stand today serve as an important reminder for all of us of a past that we never want to go back to.
Austin American Statesman, 1977, when TLAC was occupied by the Humane Society
In 2007, the city made the decision to vacate TLAC and embarked on hiring an architect to build a new shelter in East Austin. There was a lot of controversy over the planned move because it would involve removing lost and homeless animals from downtown Austin. The concerns were threefold:
A lack of visibility would lead to more deaths (now substantiated by the commercial market). Then mayor, Lee Leffingwell, compromised, promising the citizens of Austin there would always be an adoption center at TLAC, even after the move.
The new shelter had fewer kennels than TLAC. Staff asserted that more animals could be co-housed at the new shelter so it actually served the same number of pets. Unfortunately, at the time, almost all big dogs were being killed so co-housing was only intended for little dogs.
The addition at the new site of a huge incinerator so the pets who were killed would no longer have to be sent to the city dump in large truck fulls. Luckily, this was struck from the final plans because it was a big expense for a practice that was going to stop.
In the end, the new shelter was approved and slated to open in mid 2011 with the understanding that the old TLAC facility, already in disrepair, would be demolished.
By 2008, APA! started rescue work and began pulling animals from the TLAC euthanasia list so that we could make a measurable impact on the live release rate in the City of Austin. Our goal was to make Austin a No Kill City as fast as humanly possible. At this time, the city was at only a 45% live release rate with 10,000 to 14,000 animals dying every year. APA! volunteers showed up every day to see the animals listed to be killed by 11:30am the following morning, and pull as many as we could into foster homes.
By 2010, when Austin had a 72% live release rate (largely up because of APA!), the city council, championed by Mike Martinez and Laura Morrison and at the recommendation of the Animal Advisory Commission, voted to formally make Austin a No Kill City with a goal of a 90% live release. In the No Kill Implementation Plan that was passed with this vote, a section included keeping open an adoption center at TLAC, specifically by using the Davenport Building (TLAC’s main admin building), after the city shelter moved to its new location. Of course, we already had our eye on using TLAC as our future facility though we heard from Council offices we had a 0% chance of getting it.
By 2011, the year of the city shelter move, APA! helped the city achieve an 89% live release rate. And now we were openly advocating for taking over the old shelter (TLAC) so that we could continue to help Austin and have a building for our organization.
Surprisingly, APA! had to overcome massive obstacles to be able to occupy TLAC, even though it was empty and even though we were the driver of No Kill. The city had plans to tear it down, due to the dilapidated conditions that existed well before we started rescue. The city couldn’t sell it or use it to build anything other than a park or animal shelter since it is dedicated park land with a grandfather clause for animals. At the time, we had a rocky relationship with the city shelter staff due to the nature of how we supported them, by pulling animals off the euthanasia list rather than taking animals they wanted us to take who may or may not ever have been in danger of euthanasia. Although we were awarded the temporary use of TLAC, that relationship made it very hard to keep Lamar Beach for animals, even after we moved in.
In 2017, city council voted, this time championed by council members Kathie Tovo, Leslie Pool, Alison Alter, Steve Adler, Greg Casar to allow APA! to rebuild at TLAC and stay for 75 years, basing future plans on a document called the Lamar Beach Master Plan, that showed the general space we would occupy and what our buildings might look like.
Essentially, in Phase II of the master plan, with an unknown timeline, Cesar Chavez would be moved away from the lake and cross right through our current footprint. To accommodate that, APA! needed to move back towards the YMCA and the railroad track. In that vote, the council directed city staff to “negotiate and execute” the 75 year agreement over the next four years.
You might be thinking, who would want to build when we are sandwiched between Cesar Chavez and the railroad tracks? We would! We had looked for other property throughout Austin but faced neighborhood overlays that have a blanket clause requiring kennels to be voted on by the neighborhood. That was a painful and exhausting process and it was clear the only neighborhood in Austin that wanted us was the one right around TLAC. With the neighborhood restrictions throughout the City of Austin, we faced finding a property outside the city limits which would eliminate visibility of our important work. At the time, we abandoned the idea of an alternate location.
We began these negotiations, sure about our ability to rebuild based on the Master Plan, and expected to get to the 75 year contract signing quickly. However, as soon as the surveyors and architects got busy, it was made clear to us that land issues would halt immediate plans to fundraise and improve the shelter facilities at TLAC. These issues are detailed below:
The power lines over us are the heaviest duty type of transmission power line there is, meaning they cannot be buried. We worked hard with Austin Energy and there is no way around them. Nothing can be built on 30 feet of either side of them. We have TWO sets that run from one side to the other, eliminating over 120 feet of buildable space in a longitudinal section.
We have broached the subject of heavy renovations under the power lines since the power lines were raised after our buildings were built, but Austin Energy has assured us that any site plan request that comes through for renovation will be denied because they believe it is in our best interest to get out from under the lines.
There is a 72” water main that runs from the railroad tracks down to Cesar Chavez that cannot be built over and cannot be moved.
The railroad hill is partially owned by the railroad company and would cost $1M to purchase each of two small chunks that would be technically on our property.
The floodplain is outside the land we would be building on but it prevents us from moving our footprint anywhere else on the land and going through the process of demanding that the master plan be reviewed again.
The property known to us as the “Y Field” in the northeast corner behind us, is where we would be pushed to and it is currently owned by YMCA. In order for us to gain formal access to it, the Y and the city have to finish the agreement that requires the city to build a parking garage on Y property, closer to Cesar Chavez. The status of this is unclear, holding up our ability to formally attain the Y field that would be needed for us to build on.
There are many heritage trees on the property that we do not want to harm and that would be quite expensive to move.
After years of discussion with many city departments that control the entities above, it is clear that whatever space we have left at TLAC will likely be a fourth to a third of the size of the footprint we use today.
As a result, we believe we have no choice but to purchase another property, hopefully for use in addition to TLAC, in order to serve our full mission. This will prove difficult because of the neighborhood restrictions that exist in seemingly every neighborhood within the city limits. We are currently pursuing all leads on land within 30 minutes of downtown Austin for what we hope is ultimately a satellite facility.
So what does that have to do with the negotiation of our license agreement? It means that after years of discussion with many city departments, we have come to learn whatever space we have left at TLAC will likely be just a quarter to third of the footprint we use today. We are bitterly disappointed with this outcome and believe we have no choice but to add a second site because the city cannot fulfill all of our land needs as we once thought. The bottom line is the millions of dollars our non-profit organization provides in lifesaving services to the City of Austin annually, and will spend building at the site, far exceeds the value of having free land to build upon.
I want to be clear, we still want to rebuild whatever we can at TLAC because we believe the extra cost to us is worth it for our mission and for Austin. We know it is necessary for pets to be front and center in our city and if we leave, TLAC will never be used to help animals again. We know our city believes in No Kill as one of its core community principles. Our vision for the future of this land is to use it to show the world that No Kill is a crown jewel of Austin. It should serve as a Phoenix, rising from the ashes of the 500,000 pets that needlessly lost their lives at this site over the last 70 years, and be a sign that history will never repeat itself on Austin’s watch again.
We will continue to keep you updated on these matters and hope you, as one of our valued supporters, will help advocate for keeping the TLAC property for the animals after this short letter series ends. We will continue to look for new property regardless of what happens at TLAC and appreciate the leads our supporters send us. If you think you might have a land lead to send our way, you can find details of what we are looking for here.
As always, we are grateful for the support you have shown to APA! staff and to the pets that are counting on us. If our history has taught us anything, it’s that Austin believes in the value that animals bring to all of our lives and expects us to do everything we can to save them. Thank you for joining us and committing so much to this mission.
Thank you,
Ellen Jefferson, DVM President and CEO Austin Pets Alive!/American Pets Alive!
PHILADELPHIA, October 30, 2020 (Newswire.com)
– Human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world, with over 800,000 people trafficked against their will across international borders each year. For those who escape, many are left with the scarring aftermath of trauma and addiction from being treated like a commodity. Worthwhile Wear is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to reaching lives affected by human trafficking and restoring these survivors with a sense of belonging and worth.
Worthwhile Wear serves survivors of human trafficking in the greater Philadelphia area by providing them with comprehensive care which includes housing, employment, counseling, and various other services. This holistic care approach presents the women in their program(s) with the best opportunity to heal from the significant trauma that they experienced. This amazing organization offers the most comprehensive services to survivors of trafficking in Pennsylvania due to the tremendous response from the larger community.
In an effort to raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking, and much-needed funds for Worthwhile Wear’s housing and restorative services, they are choosing to do something different to gain a larger audience. Fueled by nostalgia and creativity, Worthwhile Wear is hosting a nationwide Telethon on Friday, November 13, that individuals and viewing parties can live stream safely from their home. Without the confines of an event space and no tickets to sell, this event allows even more businesses, individuals and sponsors to get involved and learn more about what is being done to end human trafficking.
Join hosts singer, Justin Guarini and TV Designer, Monica Mangin along with Worthwhile Wear’s executive director, Dan Emr, as they take us through an evening of live music, special guests, interviews, program updates, a silent auction, and giving challenges.
Special guests include Ricky Staub of Neighborhood Film Co., Erik Kratz from the New York Yankees, Marti MacGibbon, and Steve Tybor of Eight Days of Hope along with interviews with graduates from Worthwhile Wear’s housing program, The Well.
Be a part of the solution to END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN by joining Worthwhile Wear for this nationwide telethon fundraiser on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13.
Ways to Join this WORTHWHILE TELETHON:
Register for A Worthwhile Telethon at WorthwhileWear.org. Everyone who completes a free registration will gain early access to the online silent auction and a direct link to watch the live stream telethon.
Host a Watch Party. Gather with friends and family for this live event. We’ve even got special Watch Party Boxes just for hosts, complete with instructions and information about Worthwhile Wear along with specialty snacks and treats for guests plus a couple props for some photo ops.
For more details about A Worthwhile Telethon visit www.WorthwhileWear.org
NEW YORK, May 13, 2020 (Newswire.com)
– Effective today, Soccer Stars has launched Soccer Stars for All, making available up to 5,000 open spots in its online classes free to front-line medical workers, families negatively impacted by school closures and families who can benefit from financial assistance.
“We recognize that families around the world are facing financial and workplace hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic and we want to help,” said Adam Geisler, Chief Executive Officer of Super Soccer Stars. “So we are thrilled to announce that we have launched our Soccer Stars for All initiative, which will make online classes more accessible to families whose caregivers are front line workers or are otherwise struggling to keep their children happy, healthy, active and engaged.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting “social distancing” efforts that have closed schools and recreation programs across the United States, Soccer Stars has stepped up their offerings of athletic coaching and activities for children by developing a digital curriculum, which keeps children’s bodies and minds active while at the same time incorporating socialization with coaches, classmates and teammates to encourage safe, social interaction.
“During the past two months when students remained home without being provided the physical education portion of their school’s mandate, Soccer Stars has actively invested in online video, live streaming coaching sessions and other digital activities in order to continue serving families, as we have done for the last 20 years,” said Geisler. “Like most small businesses, we have had to make many difficult decisions, but moving soccer classes online has allowed us to keep our coaches engaged and employed, and more than anything, they continue to make kids smile every day.”
The Soccer Stars for All initiative is providing up to 5,000 spots in virtual classes for children ages 1-12 and is taking place between May 20, 2020 and June 28, 2020. Enrollment in current virtual classes with available capacity will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to one class per week per child throughout the duration of the program.
Families of front-line medical workers and those who are experiencing hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic who would like to apply for these classes can fill out the application online at https://bit.ly/3bhDBGW.
New York-based Super Soccer Stars was founded in 2000 and is the largest corporately run youth soccer program in the country. Super Soccer Stars’ goal is to use the soccer ball as a vehicle to help children improve their soccer skills while at the same time building self-confidence, enhancing gross motor skills, honing socialization skills, and developing physical literacy. Dynamic local and international coaches work with small groups of boys and girls to develop these skills and teamwork in a fun, non-competitive, educational environment. Super Soccer Stars operates in 25+ major markets reaching over 110,000 children each year. Additional information is available athttp://www.soccerstars.com.
