the times | Monday April 4 2022 2GM 51Sport
Cricket
First Test match
South Africa v Bangladesh
Durban (fourth day of five): Bangladesh, with
seven second-innings wickets in hand, need
263 runs to beat South Africa
South Africa First Innings 367 (T Bavuma 93;
D Elgar 67; S K Ahmed 4 for 92)
Second Innings
S J Erwee lbw b Ebadot Hossain 8
*D Elgar lbw b Taskin Ahmed 64
K D Petersen c Joy b Miraz 36
T Bavuma c Ali b Ebadot Hossain 4
R D Rickelton not out 39
†K Verreynne c Anik b Miraz 6
P W A Mulder c Ali b Miraz 11
K A Maharaj lbw b Taskin Ahmed 5
S R Harmer run out 11
L B Williams run out 0
D Olivier lbw b Ebadot Hossain 0
Extras (b 12, lb 7, w 1) 20
Total (74 overs) 204
Fall of wickets 1-48, 2-116, 3-126, 4-126, 5-148,
6-168, 7-183, 8-202, 9-204.
Bowling Khaled Ahmed 13-1-33-0; Miraz 35-6-
85-3; Shanto 1-0-3-0; Ebadot Hossain 13-1-40-
3; Haque 1-1-0-0; Taskin Ahmed 11-1-24-2.
Bangladesh First Innings 298 (Mahmudul
Hasan Joy 137; S R Harmer 4 for 103)Second Innings
Mahmudul Hasan Joy b Maharaj 4
Shadman Islam c Petersen b Harmer 0
Najmul Hossain Shanto not out 5
*Mominul Haque lbw b Maharaj 2
Mushfiqur Rahim not out 0
Total (3 wkts, 6 overs) 11
Fall of wickets 1-4, 2-6, 3-8.
Bowling Maharaj 3-0-7-2; Harmer 3-1-4-1.
Umpires: A T Holdstock and M Erasmus.
Third one-day international
Lahore Australia 210 (A T Carey 56); Pakistan
214-1 (Babar Azam 105 not out, Imam-ul-Haq
89 not out). Pakistan won by nine wickets
6 Pakistan won three-match series 2-1
Second one-day international
Hamilton New Zealand 264-9 (T W M Latham
140 not out; L V van Beek 4 for 56); Holland- New Zealand won by 118 runs.
6 New Zealand lead three-match series 2-0
MCC University matches
Second day of three: Sophia Gardens
Glamorgan 320-7 dec (K Carlson 148, J Cooke
- and 26-0; Cardiff UCCE 249-6 dec (M
Bevans 108 not out, X Clarke 51; J Cooke 4 for
28). Bristol Gloucestershire 316-8 dec (J
Turner 4 for 60); Exeter University 263-9 (D
Church 96, L Maslen 56; M Taylor 5 for 49).
Weetwood Yorkshire 402-7 (W Fraine 122 not
out, H Brook 100, D Bess 85) v Leeds/Bradford
UCCE. Loughborough Lancashire 343-5 dec
(J Bohannon 108, L Wells 75, G Lavelle 68);
Loughborough UCCE 174-4 (J MacGregor 52).
The Parks Oxford UCCE 272 (J Millard 92, I
Malik 89; A Thomson 4 for 59); Derbyshire
239-1 (B Godleman 105 not out, B Guest 66 not
out). Kidderminster Worcestershire 303-4
dec (J Libby 91, E Barnard 90 not out) and 225-
6 (J Baker 58); Durham UCCE 162 (T Price 51).
Golf
US PGA Tour Valero Texas Open
San Antonio: Leaders after three rounds
(United States unless stated): 206 D Frittelli
(SA) 70, 66, 70; B Hossler 73, 66, 67; B
Snedeker 73, 66, 67; J J Spaun 67, 70, 69. 207
S Stallings 68, 72, 67. 208 M Kuchar 67, 69, 72.
209 K Chappell 71, 65, 73; C Howell III 70, 67,
72; Kim Si-woo (S Kor) 69 72, 68; D McCarthy
67, 74, 68; M McNealy 70, 72, 67; T Merritt 69,
71, 69; A Rai (Eng) 67, 74, 68; B Todd 68, 69, 72;
G Woodland 70, 67, 72.
LPGA Chevron Championship
Rancho Mirage, California: Leaders after
three rounds (United States unless stated):
200 J Kupcho 66, 70, 64. 206 P Tavatanakit
(Thai) 67, 69, 70. 207 J Korda 71, 69, 67. 209
A Park 69, 67, 73. 210 A Thompson 69, 70, 71;
H Green (Aus) 70, 72, 68; N Koerstz Madsen(Den) 71, 67, 72; B Henderson (Can) 72, 71, 67;
Kim Hyo-joo (S Kor) 70, 67, 73; G Ruffels (Aus)
68, 71, 71. Others: 211 C Hull (Eng) 71, 71, 69. 212
S Meadow (N Ire) 73, 72, 67. 213 G Hall (Eng)
68, 71, 74.
Rowing
Varsity boat race
Putney to Mortlake: Men Oxford University
16min 47sec bt Cambridge University by 2N
lengths. Women Cambridge 18:22 (record) bt
Oxford by 2Nl.
Rugby league
Betfred Super League Wakefield 30 Salford
24.
P WDL F A Pts
St Helens 76 0 1 202 50 12
Wigan 76 0 1 160 130 12
Huddersfield 7 50 2 184 100 10
Catalans D 7 50 2124 11010
Hull 7 40 3159 132 8
Wakefield 7 304 142 146 6
Warrington 7 304 148 172 6
Hull KR 7 304 126154 6
Salford 7 304 148178 6
Castleford 7 20 5 147 186 4
Leeds 7 1 0 6 90167 2
Toulouse 7 1 0 6 106 211 2Betfred Championship Barrow 18 Batley 30;
Featherstone Rovers 44 Sheffield 18; Halifax
46 Whitehaven 24; London Broncos 6
Bradford 8; Workington 18 York 44. League
One Hunslet 22 Oldham 22; Keighley 26
Doncaster 6; Midlands 16 Swinton 54; North
Wales 62 Cornwall 22; West Wales 12
Rochdale 52.
Rugby union
Gallagher Premiership Exeter 42 Bath 22;
Gloucester 21 Wasps 27; London Irish 14
Harlequins 41; Northampton 39 Bristol 22;
Worcester 10 Newcastle 45.
United Rugby Championship Benetton 17
Connacht 21; Blue Bulls 34 Ulster 16; Lions 15
Edinburgh 9; Munster 19 Leinster 34; Scarlets
35 Cardiff Rugby 20; Stormers 29 Ospreys 13.
Greene King IPA Championship Cornish
Pirates 28 Ampthill 28; Ealing Trailfinders 60
Richmond 10.
National League One Bishop’s Stortford 24
Blackheath 19; Leeds Tykes 27 Cambridge 38;
Plymouth Albion 34 Tonbridge Juddians 21;
Rams 26 Birmingham Moseley 27; Rosslyn
Park 17 Caldy 18; Sale 32 Cinderford 17; Taunton
Titans 43 Chinnor 29. League Two: North
Blaydon 19 Stourbridge 36; Bournville 14 Hull
40; Fylde 35 Luctonians 22; Harrogate 13
Huddersfield 21; Hull Ionians 21 SheffieldTigers 17; Rotherham Titans 47 Loughborough
Students 17; Sedgley Park 26 Chester 22;
Wharfedale 37 Tynedale 42. South Barnstaple
23 Barnes 14; Bury St Edmunds 61 Westcliff 0;
Canterbury 24 Clifton 38; Dings Crusaders 40
Henley 5; Guernsey 12 Esher 57; Leicester
Lions 35 Old Albanians 14; Rochford Hundred
33 Hinckley 26; Worthing 17 Redruth 22.
Guinness Women’s Six Nations France 40
Ireland 5; Italy 0 England 74; Wales 24
Scotland 19.
Snooker
Cazoo Tour Championship
Venue Cymru, Llandudno: Final: N
Robertson (Aus) beat J Higgins (Scot) 10-9
(frame scores; Robertson first): 77-78, 0-136
(136 break), 0-138 (126), 130-0 (130), 76-47,
129-0 (129), 0-127 (127), 0-80 (80), 41-60, 0-101
68), 5-82, 91-1 (91), 0-84 (84), 74-37 (54), 119-1
(108), 87-35, 91-17 (72), 93-0 (93), 72-10 (72)
Tennis
Miami Open
Men: Semi-finals C Alcaraz Garfia (Sp) bt H
Hurkacz (Pol) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2); J Ruud (Nor)
bt F Cerundolo (Arg) 6-4, 6-1. Final Alcaraz
Garfia bt Ruud 7-5, 6-4. Women I Swiatek
(Pol) bt N Osaka (Japan) 6-4, 6-0.Results
3.00 Handicap Chase (£3,322: 2m 6f) (12)
162225 LASTOFTHECOSMICS 43 (P,T) I Jardine 7-11-12C O'Farrell
2 P0165GUN MERCHANT 16 Mrs A C Hamilton 9-11-10J Hamilton
3 -6503HIDDEN COMMANDER 23 (BF) W Coltherd 7-11-10Sean Quinlan
4 P0043MAH MATE BOB 18 (B) G Bewley 10-11-8 J Bewley (3)
500465 LOUGHERMORE 18 (P) S Waugh 8-11-8 W Shanahan (7)
604602 THE ELECTRICIAN 23 R M Smith 6-11-7 R Mania
731451 IZZY'S CHAMPION 33 (P,T) L Russell 8-11-6 D R Fox
8 /PP3-MASH POTATO 542 (P) H Burns 12-11-4 C Bewley
9 3P-PPETOILE D'ECOSSE 48 N Alexander 8-11-0 D McMenamin
1002440 LASTIN' MEMORIES 16 (B,T,C) S Forster 10-10-12 E Austin
11 4P542SPUTNIK 39 Mrs J Stephen 7-10-12 B Lynn (5)
12 /PPP5ROOM AT THE TOP 62 (T) Ewan Whillans 7-10-8C Todd (3)
100-30 Hidden Commander, 11-2 The Electrician, 6-1 Izzy's Champion, 13-2 Mah
Mate Bob, 8-1 Sputnik, Lastofthecosmics, 10-1 Gun Merchant, Loughermore.
3.35 Handicap Chase (£7,407: 2m 7f) (8)
1 210-PMAROWN 49 N Richards 8-11-12 Sean Quinlan
252111 BAVINGTON BOB 42 (D) A Hamilton 7-11-10 B Hughes
3 1124PGET OUT THE GATE 30 (T) A M Thomson 9-11-9 R Mania
4 3133PAMALFI DOUG 149 K Dalgleish 12-11-8 B Garritty
522220 CASH TO ASH 37 (V,D) M Walford 9-11-3 J Hamilton
6 -6P2PCRIXUS'S ESCAPE 47 (P,T,C) G Boanas 9-10-12T Gillard (3)
746005 CHOUNGAYA 15 (T) M Sowersby 9-10-11 C Bewley
811222 BROADWAY JOE 17 (C) N Alexander 8-10-10D McMenamin
13-8 Bavington Bob, 9-2 Broadway Joe, 11-2 Marown, 7-1 Crixus's Escape,
15-2 Cash To Ash, 8-1 Get Out The Gate, 12-1 Amalfi Doug, 50-1 Choungaya.4.10 Handicap Hurdle (£4,520: 2m 2f) (12)
1 F121PBIGBADMATTIE 104 (W,T) J Ewart 8-12-7 A Doyle (7)
2 5P332SAINT ARVANS 16 (T,C) M Barnes 8-11-12 Sean Quinlan
332125 ANIMORE 139 (P,BF,CD) I Jardine 9-11-10 C O'Farrell
421515 CEDAR HILL 30 A M Thomson 8-11-9 R Mania
5 34-46BLACK PIRATE 13 (P,T,C) J Ewart 10-11-9 B Hughes
6 -3R42PADDY THE HORSE 7 G Bewley 7-11-9 J Bewley (3)713356 RED MISSILE 133 (H,P) L Russell 5-11-6 S Mulqueen
852623 RITSON 28 (P) R Menzies 7-11-4 P Coleman (10)
9 -3455BOLLINGERANDKRUG 43 (W,P,T,CD) L Russell 7-11-2 D R Fox
10 -6520MALANGEN 15 (H) Miss L Harrison 7-11-1 T Dowson
11 -462PTRAVAIL D'ORFEVRE 45 (T) N Alexander 6-11-1B Lynn (5)
12 /03P1ATLANTIC DANCER 23 N Alexander 9-10-8 J Hamilton
9-2 Atlantic Dancer, 11-2 Saint Arvans, 6-1 Ritson, 7-1 Paddy The Horse, 8-1
Animore, Cedar Hill, 10-1 Travail D'Orfevre, Bollingerandkrug.4.45 Maiden Hunters' Chase
(£3,388: 2m 7f) (5)
1 PP123ALONE NO MORE 15 (P) Miss Emma Brown 10-11-12
Miss Lucy Brown (7)
2 43/4PBEYOND GOLD 50 C Robson 12-11-12 Miss C Dun (7)
3 1/212TAKETHEPUNISHMENT 50 (BF) Mrs I Mckie 12-11-12Mr N Orpwood (5)
4 052FUNOTNOWBOB 15 (P) W Coltherd 5-11-10 Mr Jack Holliday (7)
5 122U1FRANKIES FIRE 15 J Walton 9-11-5 Mr L Hodgins (7)
6-5 Takethepunishment, 3-1 Alone No More, 4-1 Frankies Fire, 8- 1
Notnowbob, 10-1 Beyond Gold.5.15 Open NH Flat Race (£2,723: 2m) (13)
1 1-DOYEN DU BAR 372 Miss P Robson 6-11-8 Sean Quinlan
2 30 HAUT BERRY 116 (H) A Crook 5-11-1 J Kington
3 50-KILBRAINY 347 A M Thomson 6-11-1 R Mania
4 MAUGHOLD HEAD N Richards 5-11-1 D McMenamin
5 OCH ONE MORE GIN D Bourke 5-11-1 A Cawley
6 ROCKY HILL Ewan Whillans 5-11-1 Craig Nichol
7 22 SPECTACULAR GENIUS 40 (BF) D McCain 5-11-1B Hughes
8 5 FOG ON THE TYNE 45 S Forster 5-10-8 E Austin (5)
9 0 PIPERS CROSS 27 S Forster 5-10-8 Miss J Walton (5)
10 COULDNTGIVAMONKEYS R M Smith 4-10-7 R McLernon
11 DIABLO LOCH Ewan Whillans 4-10-7 C Todd (3)
12 PMOUNT SLEMISH 36 Gerald Quinn 4-10-7 F Lambert (7)
13 0 TANGIERS 76 N Alexander 4-10-0 C O'Farrell
15-8 Doyen Du Bar, 5-2 Spectacular Genius, 4-1 Maughold Head, 16-1 Tangiers,
Mount Slemish, Rocky Hill, 20-1 Fog On The Tyne, Diablo Loch.15 (9)4500-CECI WELLS 174 P Webber 5-8-13 W Carver (3)
16 (10)45-66SWINTON NOON 62 (V,D) M Appleby 4-8-12R Dawson
5-1 Carp Kid, 11-2 Ruby Red Empress, 13-2 Gert Lush, 15-2 Helian, 10-1 New
Heights, Hotspur Harry, Pledge Of Honour, Last Mission.
4.00 Novice Stakes
(3-Y-O: £3,942: 1m 2f) (11)
1 (8) 6-BALGOWAN 164 W Haggas 9-5 T Marquand
2 (2) 0 D DAY HERO 25 M Loughnane 9-5 S Cherchi (3)
3 (4) GULICK Brian O'Rourke 9-5 R Dawson
4 (5) LOCKSMITH E J-Houghton 9-5 C Bishop
5 (3) LOVING AND GIVING C Fellowes 9-5 J P Spencer
6 (1) NEWTON DANCER J Ferguson 9-5 D Muscutt
7 (9)^00 PLANXTY 19 J Gallagher 9-5 D Keenan
8 (7) 0-4SALVATOR MUNDI 19 J & T Gosden 9-5 R Havlin
9 (11) SOOGHAN (H) S & E Crisford 9-5 R Coakley
10 (6) 3 TRUE ACCOLADE 19 (H,BF) C Appleby 9-5 W Buick
11 (10) 0-0GIN AND TEA 86 (H) R Woodman 9-0 W Cox (3)
9-4 True Accolade, 100-30 Salvator Mundi, 9-2 Balgowan, 6-1 Sooghan, 13-2
Newton Dancer, 7-1 Loving And Giving, 16-1 Gulick, 33-1 Locksmith.4.30 Handicap (Div I: £3,510: 1m) (10)
1 (4)0026-CELTIC EMPRESS 117 (D) H Main 4-9-7 S De Sousa
2 (2)2604-NEWTON JACK 157 W Kittow 5-9-7 R Kingscote
3 (8)65-44KONDRATIEV WAVE 40 (P,D) A Carroll 5-9-7R Dawson
4 (9)046-5KNOWWHENTORUN 84 (P) R Teal 4-9-5 C Fallon
5 (10)-0630APEX KING 18 (D) D Loughnane 8-9-5 Rossa Ryan
6 (7)-0203ESPRESSO FREDDO 40 (V,CD) R Stephens 8-9-4
D Keenan
7 (1)/000-THE RAIN KING 145 (W,T,D) Alexandra Dunn 5-9-2
D Muscutt
8 (5)0644-MCCANN THE MAN 109 (BF) J Chapple-Hyam 4-8-13
W Buick
9 (6) 22400 VOCATUS 16 (B,T,D) M Appleby 6-8-9 L Morris
10 (3)04-0NATALIE ROSE 39 W Jarvis 5-8-4 H Doyle
100-30 Mccann The Man, 5-1 Espresso Freddo, 11-2 Newton Jack, 6-1
Kondratiev Wave, 15-2 Knowwhentorun, Vocatus, 10-1 others.Kelso
Rob Wright
1.50 Donny Boy 4.10 Ritson
2.25 Cosmic Outlaw 4.45 Takethepunishment
3.00 Gun Merchant 5.15 Spectacular Genius
3.35 Bavington Bob
Going: good to soft Racing TV
1.50 Novices' Hurdle
(£4,901: 2m 2f) (8)
1 -116BDONNY BOY 30 N Alexander 6-11-7 C O'Farrell
200021 FINGAL'S HILL 24 P Atkinson 6-11-7 T Dowson
3 P-221MASKED CRUSADER 35 D McCain 6-11-7 B Hughes
4 40 ANDRE LE NOTRE 24 Miss P Robson 5-11-0 Sean Quinlan
5 54-33BALKALIN 16 (T) M Barnes 10-11-0 S Mulqueen
6 000 BIG ARTHUR 45 H Graham & G Rutherford 5-11-0 Craig Nichol
7 S6JET LEGS 27 M Todhunter 5-11-0 C Bewley
8 000PTHE REAL RASCAL 48 Mrs J Stephen 5-11-0 B Lynn (5)
5-4 Donny Boy, 6-4 Masked Crusader, 9-2 Fingal's Hill, 14-1 Balkalin, 33-1 Jet
Legs, Andre Le Notre, 50-1 Big Arthur, 200-1 The Real Rascal.
2.25 Handicap Hurdle
(£4,520: 2m 7f) (9)
1 -P333TOUGH OUT 27 Mrs J Stephen 5-11-12 J Hamilton
2 31-34COSMIC OUTLAW 96 R Dobbin 6-11-8 Craig Nichol
300024 HALF SHOT 46 (H) I Jardine 8-11-5 C O'Farrell
4 2FUP6LANTY SLEA 39 (P) N Richards 7-11-1 D McMenamin
550231 THE JAD FACTOR 27 R M Smith 6-11-0 W Shanahan (7)
6 0-PPPOFF THE BEAT 45 A M Thomson 8-11-0 R Mania
756013 LISSEN TO THE LADY 23 (P,CD) S Forster 8-10-7
Miss J Walton (5)
865041 WEST LAWN 18 (D) J Walton 6-10-1 H Reed
953030 LIZZIE LOCH 10 Ewan Whillans 6-10-0 C Todd (3)
3-1 The Jad Factor, 4-1 Cosmic Outlaw, 11-2 West Lawn, 7-1 Tough Out, 15-2
Lissen To The Lady, 8-1 Lanty Slea, Half Shot, 14-1 Lizzie Loch, 20-1 Off The Beat.5.00 Handicap
(Div II: £3,510: 1m) (9)
1 (6)6160-STRAWBERRY JACK 163 (T,V,D) G Scott 6-9-7
Harry Davies (7)
2 (3)2323-MARK OF RESPECT 163 (D) J Portman 4-9-7 R Hornby
3 (4)24-30LOVE DREAMS 32 M Blake 8-9-6 M Ghiani
4 (2)143-5GREEN POWER 18 (D) J Gallagher 7-9-5 D Keenan
5 (7) 31534 LE REVEUR 17 (B,D) M Murphy 5-9-5 D Muscutt
6 (5)3060-AFTA PARTY 270 T Ward 4-9-4 T Marquand
7 (1) 244 MISS MESSENGER 26 (T) Brian O'Rourke 4-9-0
R Dawson
8 (9)2533-DOURADO 172 (V,D) P Chamings 8-8-13 D Probert
9 (8)-6231MABRE 26 (CD) P Evans 5-8-7 J P Spencer
100-30 Mark Of Respect, 7-2 Mabre, 6-1 Le Reveur, 13-2 Miss Messenger, 8-1
Dourado, Love Dreams, 10-1 Green Power, 12-1 Afta Party, Strawberry Jack.5.30 Handicap (3-Y-O: £3,510: 1m) (14)
1 (13)503-WARHOL 186 G Baker 9-8 P Cosgrave
2 (9)034-CABRAKAN 194 R Hannon 9-8 S M Levey
3 (14)214-4GALILEO GLASS 23 (D) Joseph Parr 9-8 C Fallon
4 (11)1600-ISLAND BANDIT 157 H Main 9-7 S De Sousa
5 (4) 022 TWO TEMPTING 33 J Portman 9-7 R Hornby
6 (5)226-5HUL AH BAH LOO 23 S Dow 9-6 J F Egan
7 (2)2203-PAVLODAR 165 (BF) C Cox 9-6 A Kirby
8 (6)010-THUNDER QUEEN 156 R Hannon 9-4 Rossa Ryan
9 (10)52-54JADE COUNTRY 60 (BF) E J-Houghton 9-4 C Bishop
10 (3)32-55DAMASCUS FINISH 31 (P) B Johnson 9-4 D Probert
11 (12)120-0MY BONNIE LASSIE 91 S Woodman 9-1 H Turner
12 (8)003-OCTOPUS 144 K P De Foy 9-0 D Muscutt
13 (7)0350-ISKAHEEN 159 D Coakley 8-13 G Bass (5)
14 (1)4-56LETTER OF THE LAW 39 G Boughey 8-12 W Buick
11-2 Two Tempting, 6-1 Letter Of The Law, Cabrakan, 13-2 Thunder Queen,
Pavlodar, 8-1 Warhol, Jade Country, 10-1 Octopus, Galileo Glass.Blinkered first time: Windsor 1.40 Profit And Loss.F
ear prevented female cyclists
from talking about a
situation they perhaps felt
posed a threat to the
integrity of their competition
at Derby on Saturday. Fear that if
they dared object to the participation
of Emily Bridges in their event on the
grounds of fairness, they would be
accused of being transphobic.
As one senior figure in the cycling
community said at the National
Omnium Championships, these young
women believe in equality and
inclusivity. Understandably, however,
they were also concerned that an
athlete who was competing as a man
only a month ago, who was a record-
breaking male member of British
Cycling’s elite academy programme,
would arrive on the start line with an
unfair advantage. That is what makes
the debate around the participation of
transgender athletes so painfully
difficult to navigate.
Before the UCI, the governing
body, intervened last week and
blocked Bridges from competing,
these athletes were part of a
discussion about how they would
respond if they had to ride against 21-
year-old Bridges. They considered
action, maybe boycotting the event.
With the issue resolved, at least
temporarily, they chose to remain
silent, explaining after their event
that they knew too little about the
subject to have an opinion.Time to end trans culture of fear
Everyone, it seems, is having to
learn fast. At Derby, senior figures at
British Cycling suggested that any
attempt to exclude Bridges from the
elite female programme, if cycling’s
rules do soon allow her to compete as
a woman, could be met with a legal
challenge under the Equality Act.
This, as members of the Fair Play
For Women campaign were keen to
stress yesterday, does not take into
account that within the 2010 act there
is an exception for sport. It states that
it’s lawful to restrict the
participation of transgender
people from competitions where
physical strength, stamina or
physique are important factors
in deciding who wins.
Listening to members of
the cycling community there
is a hope, perhaps even an
expectation, that the
global governing bodies
across sport will come
up with a resolution,
even if it seems likely
to result in
transgender athletes
facing further exclusion.
Under British Cycling
rules, Bridges meets their
criteria, having undergone
hormone therapy that
means her testosterone
level has been below the
threshold for 12
months. However,
there is a view thatthe UCI regulations specific to
transgender athletes, which were last
updated in 2020, provide a means by
which athletes such as Bridges could
yet face an indefinite ban.
The regulations identify “the
significant advantages in size, strength
and power enjoyed (on average) by
men over women from puberty
onwards, due in large part to much
higher levels of androgenic hormones,
and the impact that such advantages
can have on sporting performance, it
is necessary to have separate
competition categories for males
and females”.
Clearly, sport needs to
reach a consensus on this
and fast. Stephen Park,
the head of performance
at British Cycling,
describes it as the single
biggest issue in women’s
sport. In the meantime,
British Cycling has to do
its best to protect
everyone. It is why
safeguarding officers are in
regular contact with Bridges.
But insiders also fear how
elite British female riders may
react if Bridges suddenly
becomes part of their team,
potentially posing a threat to
their success. The Nations Cup in
Glasgow this month may come
too soon for Bridges — she has
been registered as a female for the
UCI event — but in October France
will host the UCI Track World
Championships. For someone like
Park, that could become extremely
challenging.Ealing win Championship
but need one more victory
Rugby union
Will Kelleher
Deputy Rugby Correspondent
Ealing Trailfinders will battle for
promotion to the Gallagher Premier-
ship off the field having won the RFU
Championship title on it on Saturday.
Ben Ward’s men beat Richmond
60-10 at Vallis Way to secure top spot in
the second tier for the first time in their
history — in front of the RFU chairman
Tom Ilube — but their bid to come up is
now subject to an appeal.
Last month both Ealing and Doncas-
ter Knights were told they had not met
the minimum standards criteria to be
promoted by the RFU, Premiership and
Professional Game Board. They were
informed that their grounds fell below
the required capacity of 10,001.
Both clubs appealed against the deci-
sion, but Doncaster will now withdraw
theirs because they finished second.
However, Ealing, who finished top by
three points, will fight on, with an
independent panel ready to hear their
plea in the coming weeks.
As The Times reported in March, a
key tenet of Ealing’s plan is a three-year,
graduated expansion of their Vallis
Way ground. Their proposal — which
was initially rejected — is to come up
with 7,500 capacity, then move to 9,000
in year two and build to more than
10,000 in year three.
The appeal outcome is likely to be
announced in late April or early May
after the fresh hearing. If Ealing are
successful in overturning the decision
to block their promotion, the Premier-ship will expand next season to 14
teams.
Ward said after Saturday’s ten-try
victory: “What happens in the future is
out of our hands, but we’ve given our-
selves the best chance of being in the
Premiership next year.
“I’ve been at this club for 18 years, and
the journey we’ve had, that’s what it’s all
about. There’s hope and belief we can
get to the top of the pile.
“I’m incredibly proud of this group.
It’s not been plain sailing this year, and
this year is incredibly tough. It made it
better that the pressure was on us to
perform, and the boys delivered.
“I’m so proud. Some of the support-
ers watched us playing in a terrible
ground. The owner [Sir Mike Gooley]
came in when we were in London 3
[league], so that journey up through the
leagues is all for him and these guys.”How they stand
P WD L F A Pts
Ealing (C) 20 16 0 4 890 336 80
Doncaster 20 17 0 3 524 322 77
Cornish P 20 14 2 4 521 365 73
Jersey Reds20 13 1 6 596 436 69
Bedford 20 9 0 11 536 503 50
Ampthill 20 8 2 10 420 511 46
Hartpury 20 7 1 12 524 515 46
Coventry 20 9 0 11 468 582 45
Richmond 20 7 1 12 440 546 42
Nottingham20 5 0 15 407 690 30
Ldn Scottish20 1 1 18 326 846 11Comment
Matt LawtonbThe status of
Emily Bridges
needs resolving