We’ve not under-performed insist British Olympic chiefs February 25, 2010 BRITISH Olympic Association officials have defended the performance of their team in Vancouver after admitting they would miss the three medal target set by UK Sport. Chief executive Andy Hunt was keen to accentuate the positive, underlining his point with statistics. While skeleton gold for Amy Williams represents an improvement on Shelley Rudman’s solitary silver [...]
Robocop Nwume does battle again February 24, 2010 HE has seen active service in Afghanistan, lifted the Heineken Cup with London Wasps and is also a former Oxford Blue – but tomorrow Henry Nwume is embarking on his greatest challenge yet. A gruelling selection process in 2009 saw brakeman Nwume earn his place in a four-man Great Britain bobsleigh team for Vancouver. Zambian-born [...]
Catlin is gloomy on outlook in spite of trouncing forecasts February 11, 2010 Lloyd’s of London insurer Catlin yesterday posted a better-than-expected 2009 pre-tax profit on healthy investment returns and a benign hurricane season, and was upbeat despite a challenging outlook. The Bermuda-based property and casualty insurer said its international focus will help offset the effects of weaker rates in 2010, while underwriting contributions are forecast to grow [...]
Curling hopes hit by defeat February 21, 2010 BRITISH curling skip Eve Muirhead’s hopes of progressing to the play-offs are hanging by a thread after suffering a third straight defeat last night. Muirhead looked downcast and dejected after the 10-6 loss to two-time Olympic silver medallist Mirjam Ott, of Switzerland. Muirhead’s rink have now played seven and lost four, meaning they must win [...]
CITY VIEWS: SHOULD ERIC DANIELS HAVE WAIVED HIS BONUS? February 22, 2010 RICHARD BAILEY | CMC MARKETS “These guys operate in a world where they are used to bonuses. It’s not sustainable anymore because the banks aren’t doing a great job. The bankers are bringing down the economy and not making it work.” BEN TOMKINSON | NICOLL CURTIN “I don’t think these people need more money and [...]
Bob girls eye a gold rush February 22, 2010 ANYONE can be a hit on YouTube – a talking dog, a cackling but cute baby and even Susan Boyle. But long jumper and pole vaulte-turned-Olympic bobsleigh hopeful Gillian Cooke is determined to move on from her brush with internet fame. Over six million have watched her high-profile wardrobe malfunction at a recent World Cup [...]
Lindsay sets sights on a medal as gamble pays off February 14, 2010 SARAH Lindsay admits her big medal gamble has been giving her sleepless nights in the build-up to her third Olympics. The 29-year old short track speed skater made the decision to focus solely on the 500m in Vancouver as opposed to the longer distances. But the move looked to have paid off after she progressed [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 7, 2010 THE SUNDAYS The Sunday Telegraph NORTHERN ROCK £400M LOSS Northern Rock made multi-million pound losses for a third year running in 2009, the nationalised lender will reveal this week. The bank will report pre-tax losses of about £400m, analysts believe, a marked improvement on the £1.36bn of losses in 2008. Since the Government bailed it [...]
Canada end British curling hopes February 23, 2010 BRITISH curling skip Eve Muirhead showed glimpses of her undoubted potential but admitted it was too little, too late after she crashed out in Vancouver. The three-time world junior champion may need a few days before she can see the positives from a debut Olympics, although the 19-year-old is clearly a name for the future. [...]
Lloyd’s insurer Amlin enjoys bumper year March 1, 2010 LLOYD’S of London insurer Amlin saw profits jump fourfold last year as it benefited from a recovery in investment markets and avoided major natural disasters. Amlin reported a pre-tax profit for 2009 of £509.1m, compared with £121.6m in 2008. The results were almost a fifth higher than most analysts predicted. Bullish Amlin chief executive Charles [...]