Previously, Liverpool legend Emlyn Hughes had to wait for six years for his first silverware, before going on to captain the club to an unprecedented run of football trophies – including their first European Cup – but Kuyt is now only six months away from overtaking Hughes’s record. This season represents the last opportunity the player has of avoiding this, as he himself acknowledges:

“I am desperate for my first trophy as a Liverpool player, because I have been so close to winning trophies,

“There was the Champions League final (in 2007), the semi-final (of the Champions League in 2008) and coming second in the Premier League (in 2009). We have been really close, but now it is time to get some silverware”.

While the likes of Dominic Matteo were at Liverpool for longer without tangible success, they did not play as many matches as Kuyt. However the striker insists he is confident that Liverpool are on the verge of winning football trophies again, following the change of ownership and the return of Kenny Dalglish.

The player had been rumoured to be planning a move to another country, and possibly even a switch back to rugby league, where he began his career, but he has now silenced the speculators of his plans. Williams is noted for a number of features of his play, including the quality of his ball distribution while in the tackle and has been involved with other sports throughout a colourful career. He has competed as a professional boxer in four heavyweight bouts, all of which he won, a sideline which he appears set to continue in addition to playing rugby.

The news of his decision to stay has been greeted with delight within the New Zealand rugby establishment. Neil Sorensen, of the country’s Rugby Union said:

“He’s a special player who creates some real excitement and interest in the game with his style of rugby,” before adding:

“We’re looking forward to seeing him create some more excitement in a Chiefs, as well as an All-Blacks, jersey next year.”

The NZRU has stated that the details of Williams’ deal will not be disclosed, but that it does permit him to participate in a certain number of boxing bouts.

Vettel, driving for Red Bull, now joins a select group of just nine racing drivers, including Formula One legends Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, to win back to back world championships. The German was clearly overcome in the immediate aftermath of his achievement, running to join in celebrations with mechanics from his team, and the championship marks a fitting end to a season Vettel has dominated throughout with nine victories from 15 races.

The emotional driver told reporters:

“To wrap up the championship here, which has been the ultimate target this year, is difficult to put into words. It’s more than fantastic.”

The victory in the Japanese Grand Prix provided some consolation for Button, who saw his slim hopes of catching Vettel in the race for the world championship end. The Englishman came in ahead of second placed Alonso by 1.1 seconds, to secure the 12th victory of his racing career and his third of this Formula One season. However former world champion Michael Schumacher continued his disappointing comeback with a sixth placed finish – despite having led the field briefly following the final series of pit stops.

Lewis claimed five birdies in the final seven holes to finish with a final round score of 65 at Oceanico Victoria, giving him a final score of 21 below par – two shots clear of the runner up. He will now claim the first prize cheque for £416,660 in addition to what he will be hoping is the first of many golf trophies in his professional career. The victory also guarantees him a European Tour exemption period of two years.

“I’ve not thought about the money – I was thinking about winning,”

Lewis told reporters after his final round. In total, the former amateur scored a remarkable 22 birdies in the final 52 holes and stood in seventh position on the leader board with seven holes of his final round to play. The astonishing sequence of five birdies in this closing stretch sealed his victory, with Spanish player Rafael Cabrera-Bello securing second place.

Lewis will now prepare to make his first appearance in the World Championship in China in November and currently lies in third position on the points table for next year’s Ryder Cup.

In the match’s first set, Wei’s precision badminton saw him win the set by an impressive margin of 21-11 against Goh. His competitor approached the set in an aggressive fashion, but was let down by poor shot selection which left him with little chance against an expert shuttler such as Wei. This pattern continued in the second set, with Goh unable to compete with the speed set by Wei in the rallies, offering virtually no resistance to the World Number 1, who trounced his opponent 21-5.

Wei has announced his intention to abandon domestic badminton tournaments in favour of international events, making the National Grand Prix title a fitting end to his domestic career, which has seen him win numerous major badminton trophies. Following the game, Wei said:

“I have achieved my target and I hope the Badminton Association of Malaysia will understand if I skip this tournament next year.”

The next challenge for Wei will be the Open Premier Super Series held in Denmark, which he hopes will help him to earn Olympic qualifying points.

Vettel won the 61 lap Singapore race, which was held at night under floodlights, by 1.7 seconds, from Brit Jensen Button. Button’s runner-up placing means that the championship race is not yet technically over with five races to go, but Vettel is now the overwhelming favourite to add to his impressive haul of motorsport trophies. The only way he can now be supplanted is in the unlikely event of the British driver winning all of the remaining events, while his rival fails to secure a point in any of them. Following his victory, Vettel jokingly refuted claims that he had cried on the podium:

“I had something in my eye,” he said, laughing. “This is one of the toughest challenges we face all year, so it’s nice when you cross the line knowing you’ve done your best and achieved the optimum.”

Fernando Alonso, the only other rival to Vettel, is now out of contention. The Spanish driver needed to achieve a podium finish to remain in the running for the title, but came in in fourth position, just ahead of another British driver – Englishman Lewis Hamilton.

The teams for the Archery Classic feature a number of experienced Olympic competitors, with the men’s team made up of Larry Godfrey, Simon Terry and Alan Wills – the Great British team in the Beijing games. The women’s team for the tournament includes Alison Williamson, who has represented her country in five previous Olympics and, while the final team for the 2012 games in London will not be chosen before next year, the six taking part in the Archery Classic are favourites for selection. Williamson stated that she hoped to use the event to prove her readiness to represent Britain for a sixth time:

“I am really looking forward to the test event, Lord’s is a wonderful venue and it’s going to be fantastic. But obviously my goal is to be there next year, at my home Olympics, and I am totally dedicated and driven to achieving that.”

The women’s team also includes Amy Oliver, who has won a number of major archery trophies, including the British and European titles, and who is hoping to use the Classic event to further her claims for inclusion in the 2012 Great Britain team.

Prior to the match, Somerset had been optimistic of ending this run, having been boosted by their captain, Marcus Trescothick’s, recovery from an injury. However, having opted to bat he was dismissed early, which left Somerset relying on an 86 by Jos Buttler to help them make their total of 214 all out. Star bowler for Surrey was Jade Dernbach, fresh from Friday’s England match, who took four wickets from 30.

Surrey’s response was hindered by the weather as, having scored 46-2, they were forced to suspend play for rain. However, despite concerns that the match might have to be abandoned, the action was able to resume at 4.45 pm, leaving Surrey needing to score 186 runs from 30 overs working to the Duckworth-Lewis method. The Surrey captain Rory Hamilton-Brown led by example for his team – who had lost only once throughout the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40 tournament – scoring 78 runs from 62.

By comparison, Trescothick struggled at the wicket for Somerset following his return from an ankle injury, making just 15 runs from 17 balls prior to his being stumped, which set the pattern for another trophy heartbreak for Somerset.

The club have struggled to compete with rivals Manchester United and Chelsea for transfer market spending in the past few seasons and, with the billions now available to Manchester City, as well as the financial resurgence of Liverpool, it is set to be even harder for the club to compete for honours in the Premiership.

“I want to be in a club that is able to win big titles year after year and I don’t see that kind of future for Arsenal,”

Fabregas stated, adding:

“I respect that Arsenal don’t have the same financial opportunities as the others. But it was part of my decision to leave that I find it hard to see Arsenal winning the Premier League or the Champions League in the near future.”

Current Champions League holders Barcelona, who defeated Manchester United in the final, paid Arsenal an initial transfer fee of £29 million for the 24 year old Spanish international, concluding a two-year pursuit of the player.

Blair is already chairman of the ambassadors for Beyond Sport a group that includes former Olympic champions Sebastian Coe, Kelly Holmes and Michael Johnson, and during his time as Prime Minister Blair initiated London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. He has continued his interest in utilising sport as a positive social force since leaving office, by setting up a Sports Foundation designed to train adults in sports coaching as a way of getting more young people actively involved in sport.

“This global gathering in Cape Town takes Beyond Sport to the very heart of sport and development and we are absolutely delighted to have Archbishop Desmond Tutu as our patron.” Blair said, adding:

“The work Beyond Sport does in bringing together the people at the forefront of this movement not only highlights the substantial benefits of such initiatives and the transformative influence they can have but also encourages others to act.”

As part of their commitment to the organisation, the ambassadors also contribute to the judging for the Beyond Sport corporate awards, which were created to ensure business and financial support for initiatives focusing on sport as a solution to social issues.