The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 16

THE GUARDIAN Tuesday May 31 1994 Soccer Tennis First Division play-off final: Derby County 1 Leicester City 2 Dreekman Tlhnirdl Home DycCqfoir joins elite 16 SPORTS NEWS David Lacoy David Irvine In Parli Ivanisevic, the only seed left in the lower half, who has spent more than 10 hours on court. Berasategui's game is compelling. His peculiar grip, Tather like that favoured by pe-lota players in his home Basque country, is highly effective, especially on the forehand. During a rally he always strikes the ball with the same face of the racket style used in the pre-first world war years by the Australian Wimbledon winner Norman Brookes. In a difficult swirling wind Ivanisevic managed to play the key points better than the Italian Andrea Gaudenzi, despite making far more mistakes overall, and won 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.

"It makes me a little bit scared to be the only seed left in that half," he said, "but now it's the quarters and, if you want go further, you have to play better and better. "To beat Berasategui, who's very dangerous, I have to come in a lot otherwise I'm going to die because he runs like crazy, have to serve well too." In his last two matches he has hit 35 aces. Gaudenzi gave Ivanisevic a run for his money but will mostly be remembered for climbing up in the umpire's chair at the end of the second set Zoltan Bognar had gone for a toilet break and announcing to the crowd: "Game, set and match to Gaudenzi." Ivanisevic saw the funny side of it but was evidently determined not to let the prediction come true. Bognar then gave Gaudenzi a warning for an audible obscenity after an argument over a call, but Ivanisevic, the game's most celebrated racket-thrower, was on his best behaviour. Why was that, someone asked.

"Today is Monday. I never do that on a Monday." Today sees the long-awaited first clay-court match between Pete Sampras, the world champion, and Jim Courier, his immediate predecessor. Sampras has lost three matches this year, winning seven tournaments, whereas Courier has drawn a blank at every event he has played since last August. In another men's quarterfinal the defending champion, Sergi Bruguera, meets Andrei Modvedev. The women's quarter-finals are on the programme and the expected semi-final line-up is Steffi Graf Mary Pierce and Conchita Martinez Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

JORN BORG did it. So did John McEnroe and Boris Becker and all three ended up beine multiple Grand Slam tournament winners. Now Hendrik Dreekman, the 19-year-old German, can claim membership of a small but exclusive group who managed to reach the quarter-finals of a major championship at only the second attempt. At the French Open here yesterday he beat the experienced Aaron Krickstein, of the United States, 6-4, t4, i4. "I can't believe this is happening," said Dreekman, 89th in the world rankings.

"No, no," he protested when someone suggested he might now go all the way. He felt he had simply been lucky to come through the gap left when Michael Stich, the No. 2 seed, was beaten by Krickstein. Coincidentally, when Britain's Mark Petchey defeated Stich in the South African championships at Sun City in it was Dreekman who beat Petchey and went on to reach the final. Without that performance he would probably have had to qualify even to get into the draw here.

Strictly speaking it is not Dreekman's first visit. Two years ago he played the juniors and tost in the first round to Massimo Bertolini, an Italian of whom nothing since has been heard. Yet as recently as January Dreekman was anonymous at 160th in the rankings. Krickstein, never the most electric competitor, performed like a flat battery. It all seemed a bit of a chore for the American.

Dreekman broke him once in every set but kept his own serve intact and now faces the unseeded Swede Magnus Lars-son, a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 winner over the left-hander Jaime Yzaga. Larsson, big and forthright, was the last sort of opponent Yzaga needed after his 4'i-hour battle with Michael Chang. The Peruvian is so reminiscent of Ramesh Krishnan; a beautiful stroke-maker but lacking a killer punch. A stomach upset forced Javier Frana to default to Alberto Berasategui when trailing 6-2, 6-0. The Spaniard, who has reached the last eight after playing only nine sets and for 5hr 24min, should be fresher than his next opponent, Goran FILBERT STREET will be watching Premiership football next season because at Wembley yesterday Leicester City flatly refused to be typecast in the role of three-time losers.

As to the season after that, well, maybe a play-off final, with its tensions and trepidations, is not the best place to judge the winners' chances of survival. For now, Leicester and their manager Brian Little are entitled to their jubilation, having beaten Derby County's superior passing patterns because, though fewer chances were created, fewer were scorned. Walsh, making his second start to a game in seven months of an injury-plagued season, scored twice after Johnson had given Derby the lead. If his first goal owed much to chance, his late winner followed one of the best moves of an uneven match. Having tost the previous two play-off finals to Blackburn Rovers and Swindon, Leicester appeared to be heading for another disappointment when their high passes, aimed at the tall heads of Ormondroyd, Walsh and Roberts, failed to disturb Derby's defenders.

Ultimately, however, the lanky Ormondroyd played a crucial part in Leicester'spromotion. Their victory marked the third anniversary of Little's appointment. Whether Derby's defeat signifies the end of Roy McKarland's brief reign at the Baseball Ground remains to be seen; he is optimistic. Lionel Pickering's wealth has enabled Derby to spend 12 million on players. Yet no amount of money will guarantee chances being taken, and this was where Derby failed.

With Leicester's five-man defence struggling to contain the mobility of Johnson and Gab-biadini and their midfield consistently outnumbered and outmanoeuvred, it seemed Derby needed to maintain just a modicum of composure near goal to win comfortably. Certainly that was the way it looked during the opening half-hour, which began with Willis clearing Gabbiadini's shot off the line and should have brought Derby a goal after 24 minutes when Pcmbridge and Gabbiadini set up a chance for Johnson which he sliced wide. Republic The Irish manager is remarkable victory in WIN the World Cup? "Don't he daft," says Jack Charlton, trying to rein in the Irish people's expectations which increase with every amazing result. The Republic are now unbeaten in the first four of their five warm-up matches against World Cup competition, and have not conceded a goal. The win Ln Germany was, in a way, exactly what Charlton did not want.

"I would have settled for a draw or for losing about l-o. Losing, but not being embarrassed," he if we go and stuff the Czechs the fans will expect us to win everything." But there is more to his Level head Walsh rises highest to head Leicester's equaliser while his team-mate Roberts gives Derby's keeper Taylor the elbow A goal for Derby fallowed three minutes later, Simpson's well-timed through-pass leaving Johnson to outpace Carey and Grayson before beating Ward. At that point Little's decision to play three centre-backs looked disastrous because attackers were not being picked up or tracked down. Then Leicester enjoyed a double helping of luck four minutes before half-time. The surreptitious elbow Roberts used to block out Taylor as he rose to meet Coatsworth's centre went unpunished.

In the event, Walsh got his head to the ball and Williams, although well placed on the line to stop a goal, missed it altogether. After half-tune Leicester first introduced the smaller, nippier Joachim to their attack and then reshuffled their defence, looking better balanced as a giveXharlton plenty to boast Britain spared a Nastase reminder desperately trying to play down his side's Hanover. Cynthia Bateman reports VILLAIN or genius, Hie Nastase continues to make headlines long after his serious playing days ended, writes David Irvine. Yesterday he was declared ineligible to act as Romania's captain for the Davis Cup tie with Britain at Manchester in July 17 years after being suspended, as a player, after Britain lost 4-1 to the Romanians in an acrimonious contest in Bucharest. Against South Africa in Johannesburg this March, Nastase, in his second year as Romania's captain, was ordered off court by the British referee Stephen Winyard for "audible obscenities and constant abuse and intimidation of Though allowed to return for the second and third days after caution than guarding his team from the pressure and saving a nation from disappointment.

Despite the grumpiness Charlton was secretly very proud. "Nobody beats the Germans in Germany but we did." It was the first time the World Cup holders had been defeated on German soil since Holland beat them in the semi-final of the 198B European Championship. But Charlton will not boast about it for fear the Irish use up all their luck before the World Cup tournament even starts. And he insisted afterwards that the match could have gone either -way. For instance: Alan Kelly Edberg warms up for Wimbledon PHOT0GHAPH.

TOM JENKINS more for character than quality; Derby's defeat a setback for style. It was Roger Milford's last match as a league referee. Tonsorially, he will be sorely missed. Darby County! Taylor; Cfiarlas. Shorl, Williams.

Forsyth (Kitson. B7min), Harkes, Cowans, Pembrldge, Simpson. Johnson, Gabbiadini Leicester Cllyi Ward, Coataworth (Thompson. 67), Willis, Grayson, Caroy, Whitlow, Blake, Gibson, Roberts (Joachim, 56), Walsh, Ormondroyd Retami Miltord (Bristol) Gullit walks out of the World Cup John Duncan RUUD GUXLIT will not be going to the World Cup with Holland, after walking out of the Dutch training camp yesterday and quitting international football. Recalled after a 13-month absence, Gullit, 31, played the first half of a pre-World Cup friendly match against Scotland in Utrecht on Friday.

He corn-plained that the Dutch were adopting the wrong tactics to cope with the high temperatures and humidity of the United States and to counter the likely defensive approach of their first-round opponents Belgium and Morocco. "He told me on Sunday by phone," said Dick Advocaat. 'We spoke for around 15 minutes but did not say much." Ronald Koeman, the squad captain, had to tell the players. "The moment is badly chosen," he said. "He has hurt us leaving this way because the team now has to do something different again.

An in-form Gullit is important to the team. It's a slap in the face. The players were amazed." Another disgruntled player watching the World Cup from the sofa will be Manchester Un-ited's Andrei Kanchelskis, who has not settled his differences with Russia's national coach Pavel Sadyrin and has not been named in his country's 22-man World Cup squad. Also excluded were the Karlsruhe striker Sergei Kiryakov and Foggia's Igor Kolyvanov, who like Kanchelskis have demanded Sadyrin's dismissal. There was the first sniff of fall-out from the play-offs yesterday when Stockport's coveted strike partnership Kevin Francis and Andy Preece were reported to be considering their future after the club failed to win promotion in Saturday's Second Division final.

"I'm beginning to think we just won't make it at Stockport," said Francis, who has netted 104 goals in 170 games for County. "I think Andy feels the same." Blackburn Rovers are lining up Portsmouth's Kit Symons as a replacement for David May, who signed a four-year contract with Manchester United yesterday. May's fee will be decided by tribunal. Scotland were surprisingly held to a l-l draw by Egypt last night in the Toulon under-21 tournament. Simon Donnelly's 13th-mlnuto opener was followed by near misses for Christian Dailly, Gary Locke and Neil McCann, who hit the bar, but then the Scots faded allowing Abel Rahman Iyman's 30-yard shot to go in off the post.

result. Yet Derby would probably have won had Harkes, quick to exploit a slip by Gibson, not dragged his shot wide in the 84th minute. By the 86th that miss had proved fateful. Thompson, Walsh and Joachim combined to release Grayson on the right. Ormondroyd met the defender's centre with a firm header which was saved acrobatically by Taylor, but not acrobatically show you how good they are," said Charlton.

Gary Kelly, 19, the gem-stone, who scored the second goal his first at any level in senior football: "I never even score in training at Leeds" has taken the international mantle as though born to it. "But he has a lot to learn about defending." Bolton's Jason McAteer, trying to make the leap from the First Division to world competition, ran himself into the ground to spice up the Irish midfield and laid on the cross for Cascarino's first-half goal. Charlton has high hopes for him but admits McAteer still has much to learn at this level. Whatever the manager's misgivings about its justification, the win was convincing enough for the German supporters among the 50,000 Tennis FRENCH oral (Paris). Fourth round! Hani Dnatimann (Ger) bt A Knckslem US 6-4.

E-1, 6-4; A Barasatawl (Sp) bl Frana (Arg) 6-2, 6-0 rot. a IvanlMvfc (Cro) bt A Gaudonzi (II) 6-2. 5-7. 6-3. OIP.BCT LIMB C'SHIPS (Oockonhami; FTrat roundi Mew Sapaford (GB) bt Oduor (Kon) 6-0, 6-1; BMtW (OB) Hand (GB) 6-3, 6-t; Klnnaar (US) bt ft Koenig ISA) 7-6, 6-4; Arthurs (Aus) bt WyelTi (GB) 6-7.

6-1. 6-2; Cowan (GB) bl Sal-fray (GB) fK), 7-5: Hand (GB) bt Baglin (GB 3-6. 6-2, 6-2. Oould (GB) bl A Kralz-man (Aus) 7-6, 7-6; Martin (SB) bt Warder Aus) 6-4. 7-5; Larkham (Aus) bl Williams (GB) 5-7, 6-3.

7-5. 8 Talbot (SA) bt Malhoson (GB) 6-4. 3-6, 7-6: Paarcv (US) bl Doyla (Aus) 7-5. 7-6; a Fowl (Fr bl Maclagan (GB) 7-6. 8-4; Farralm (SA) bt Zimmerman (US) 6-3, 6-2, Kratrnun (Aus) bt Davidson (GB) 8-3.

6-3; A Rtohardton (GB) bl Hunter (GB) 5-7. Barnard (SA) bt Lee (GB) 5-7, 7-5. 6-3. WnrrMM Nugant (Ire) bl Floubanove (GB) 7-6, 6-2: Serwnok (US) bl Slassen (rMh) 8-4. 6-4; Croea GB) bt Malr (GB) 6-0.

6-1: PuUbi (GB) bt Reeca (US) 6-4. 6- 3: Mawdaley (Aus) bl Mctarcn (GB) 7- 5, 4-6, 6-4. MilUa (GB) bIJ Dawson (GB) 1-6. 6-4. 6-2.

Moor (GB) bt Nortjo (Nam) 7-6, 6-3; Lake (GB) bt Banjamln (US) 8-3. 4-6, 6-3; AM (GB) bl Bond (GB) 6- 0, 6-0. Crook (GB) bt A Do Lone (US) 7- 5, 6-0: 8 Parkhonwnko (ftus) tit Tso (GB) 8-2. 6-3. Croson (GB) bl Morlon-Rodgors (Aus) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6; Taylor (GB) bl Hearn (GB) 6-1.

6-2. Joneo (Aus) bt jouMrl (SA) 6-1. 6-4. Harbart (GB) bl Warno-Holland (GB) 6-2, 6-2: aVA 8ld-dan (GB) bl Woodrolle (GB) 5-7. 6-2.

7-6. Athletics Wl INTM-COUNTIM CHAMPIONSHIPS (Corby), loomi Chrlsllo (Mlddn) 1052sec. aoomi John (Warwlcka) 21.02. 4O0mr A Malo (Middx) 46.72. SOOrm West (NorlbEaal) 1mln49 31seo.

MUw Mnrpjolta (Kent) 4.07.71. Mites (Norm East) 14.01.4a. Hufisaln (Greater Manchoslor) 29.40.30. 110m hurdleii Nicholson (Uncs) 14 33. 400m hurdloit 1, Crampton (Yorks) 40.00.

atMpia-chuai Walker (North East) 8 37.46. 20-mlra road ratal Bond (Yorka) 1.46.29.0. walk, Boll (West DM. Scol) 12.23 .50. warki Bell (Wosl Oisl.

Scol) 42,32.3. Htghumpi Rcfey (Northants) 2 25m. Pohk vaunt Buckfjeld (Sussoi) 5.00. Long lumpi Williams (Statla) 7 63. Triple Jumpi Agyepong (Mlddk) 16.50.

flhob Snalley (Borks) 17.09. Dlacuai Smllh (War-wichs) 56.52. Hamman Jones (Sussex) 68.2D. Javallni Hill (Yorks) 83.60 Turn QhampkmaMpi 1, Mlddlosox 78; 2, Yorkshire 71; 3. North East 69.

Motor Sport ACROPOLIS RALLY (Athens): PoihJona (alter 22 01 33 spoctal stages): 1, Sainz (Sp) Subaru Improza 4tir 12mln 19seC; 2, A Schvrarz (Ger) Mitsubishi Lancor 4.16 44; 3, Wilson (GB) Fdrd Escort 4.17.14. Olaqi McP-ae (GB) Subaru Improza enough to prevent Walsh scoring from the rebound. So Leicester had won at Wembley at last, having lost four FA Cup finals as well as two play-offs. They will not need reminding that a Premiership place is worth about El million simply for being there, or that four of the six teams promoted through the play-offs have come straight down again. Leicester's was a triumph about crowd to send their team off in a hail of jeers and whistles of derision.

"The Irish did not surprise us but they showed how to play a simple style successfully," said the 32-year-old captain and sweeper Lothar Matthaus. "It will give Italy problems in the US because the Irish will push up on to their midfield and also use the long ball, which will be difficult for Italy, who have some small players. Tony Cascarino will be a problem even for Franco Barest." Ironically the only crumb of comfort for the Germans came from Charlton himself. He had seen nothing, he said, to make him change his opinion that Germany would retain the World Cup. Most of the Irish people, to Charlton's continuing dismay, beg to differ.

Basketball MBA PIAV-Oprai Conference llnalai WaaUmi Utah 7B. Houston 60 (Houston load best-ot'SOlron series 3-1). Kaslanii Indiana 03, New York 77 (2-2 In series) Baseball AMbHICAN LFAOUSr Cleveland 7, Oakland 5: Toronto 5, California 0: Chicago WS 4. Baltimore 6: Kansas City 10. NY Yankees Milwaukee 9, Seattle Minnesota Detroit Toxas a.

Boston 6 Standings! Baab 1, NY Yankees (W32. L14, Pot 696. GBO); 2, Boston (29-18-6(7-314); 3. Baltimore (27-19-567-5); 4. Toronto (24.24-.500-9); 5, Detroit Cwriralt 1, Chicago WS (W29.

L18. Pet 609. GBO); 2. Cleveland (25-21- 543-3); 3. Minnesota 4, Kansas City (24.23-511-454); 5, Milwaukee (20-23 Waatl 1.

California IW23, L28. Pel 451, GBO): 2, Texas (21-26- 447-0); 3, Seattle (20-28- 417-1S); 4, Oakland (13-36-265-9), NATIONAL LIAOUb Montreal 4. Colorado NY Meta 8. Cincinnati 5: San Francisco 3. Florida Pfiiladelptiia 4, Houston 2: Atlanta 2.

Chicago Cubs 4: Loa Angeles 4, Pittsburgh San Dlogo 7, St Louis 2. Blandfrtgai Baati Atlanta (W29, LIB. Pel 817, GBO); 2, Montreal 3. NY Mots (2523- 521-4)4): 4, Florida 5, Philadelphia Cantrab Cincinnati (WZ7. L22, Pct.551.

GBO); 2. Houston 3, St Louis 4, Pltlsburgri (21-26-457-5I. 5. Chicago Cubs (21-26-457-9). Waal: 1, Loa Angeles (VV28, L22.

Pel 560. GBO); 2, San Francisco (25-25- 500-3); 3. Colorado (21-27-438-6); 4. San DiogO (16.34-.320-12). Chess CANARY ISLANDS TOURNAMIHTi Savanlh roundi Polgar (Hun) 1.

Lautier (Fra) 0. nghth coundt Lautier 1, Adams (Eng) A Karpov (Rus) 1. Polgar 0, Kamaky (US) S4, llloscae (Sp) Topa-lov (But) I Morovlc (Chile) and Fplshln (Bus) A Shlrov ILat unfinished Ninth roundi Polgar 14, Kamsky K. Standings! Kamsky SK9, Karpov, Lautier 5(8 Sailing WHITBRIAD ROUND.THB1.WORLD RACI (at 1400 GMT): Maxh 1. Mew Zealand Endeavour (G Oalton, NZ) 1,232 miles to go; 2, Merit Cup (P Fohlmann, Swill) 1,302, 3, La Posto (E Tabarly, Fr) 4, Uruguay Natural (G Uanzini.

Uru) 1.685 VniUbraad 0ai 1, Tokio (C Dickson, N2) 1,377: 2, Yamaha Field. NZ) 3. Wlnslon (B Bullorwodh, US) 1.299: 4, Reebok Humphries, QB) 1.356: 5, Inlrum Juatilla Smith. GB) 6. Gaficln '93 Poscanova (J do ia Gandara, Sp) 1,395: 7.

Brookslield IG Malslo. II) 1.404; 6, tfoinoken (D Hiley, US) 9, Helman Sahaldachny (E Plalon, Ukr) 10, Odasaa A Verba. Ukr) 1.644. Fixtures Soccer TOULON -21 TOURNAMINTi England France (6.0. Aubaono).

Here. I THE French Open's loss was Beckenham's gain yesterday: Stefan Edberg will warm up for Wimbledon at the Direct Line Insurance Championships, after his first-round exit at Roland Garros. The Swede practised hard for two hours with the British No. 1 Jeremy Bates on an Athletics apologies from Romania's president and secretary, he was banned for one match. Romania lost that match 5-fl and are expected to put out a young and inexperienced team against Britain.

One of their likely side, Razvan Sabau, won the Wimbledon junior title last year. In Bucharest in 1977 Nastase clashed with David Lloyd In the doubles, the pair almost coming to blows, and also allegedly swore and spat at officials. Though he played in another tie that year he was banned in 1978. Two years later he again played against Britain at Bristol, winning the tie 3-2 for by beating John Feaver; towards the end he played in stockinged feet. outside court and looked in sharp mood for his opening match today against the Gft Sin American Kent Kin-near, though he admitted to "feeling a bit Among the women, the American-trained, Birmingham-raised 18-year-old Joanne Moore moved smoothly into the second round.

pic champion, now moves on to his opening international race in Seville on Sunday. The time which brought him his first Inter-Counties title bore little resemblance to the impressive sprints of his American rival Andre Cason over the weekend, 10.01 in San Jose and 10.32 in Vancouver. Cason's San Jose time, in the Bruce Jenner Invitational, was the fastest In the world this year. But Christie insisted: "You know I never worry about that sort of thing. It's what happens In the major championships that counts." Christie's coach Ron Roddan said: "We've seen it before: fast tracks and perfect conditions over there.

Let's see what happens when they come over to Europe. "Linford's still enjoying it and he's still hungry for success. I've given up saying when he might retire because he always contradicts me," played magnificently in goal, winning his third cap and for the first time starting a match instead of Packie Bonner, who was denied, for the time being, a record-breaking 73rd cap. "But I told Alan he could have lost us the game," said Charlton, "He started to come out to Klins-mann, then stopped." Similarly with Coventry's Phil Babb, wbo in four inter, nationals has established himself at centre-back with an assurance beyond his experience. "There were times when he1 did some silly things.

They start to read in the papers that they are good then they start trying to Results Soccer PLAY-OFF FINAL First Division Darby (It 1 tateatm '1 2 Johnson 27 Walsh 41. B7 (Wornbley) SIMl-PROFESSIONAL INTIrUMTIOKrlU Finland U-21 2. England 0. TOULON U-af TOURMAMENTt Scolland 1. Egypi Golf VOLVO PO C'SHIP (Wtntwln): Final acoram IGBIlro stated)'- 371 Ola-zanal ISO 67, 68.

71. 65 373 Els ISA) 66, 66. 71, 69. 374 Langor (Gar) 69, 70, 87, 69. ara Haeogman (Swo) 69, 69.

70. 63: At rt Jimenez (Sp 68, E6. 72. 70. 977 Balles-laros (Sp 73, 66.

70. 68. 378 Jamos 88. 72, 71. 67.

270 A Hunlar 71. 65. 72. 71. 280 Llo 58.

71,70,71. 2111 SlablBS 71, 71, 71, 68; M. Mackenzie 73. 70, 69, 69; Hndblom (Swel 69. 69, 71.

72; NOtllo (NZ) 73, 6S. 09, 73. 282 Clark 73. 69, 70, 70, Lgmas 74, 68. 69.71; PLawria 69, 70.

71, 72; Hocca (II) 67, 70, 72. 73; llomaio (Arg) 69, 68. 73. 283 Baker 73, 67. 73, 70, Singh (Fiji) 72, 59, 70, 72, A Martin Sp) 71, 74, Clayton Aus) 70, 73, 71, 69.

Way 72. 72, 71, 69, Lane 70. 70, 73 71; FaltW 71. 70. 70, 72, Wnstwood 75, 70.

67, 72, Lanner ISwo) 70, 70, 69. 75. Ron 71. 70. 68, 75 288 P.

Davla (Aug) 70, 73, 74, 68, Cocoroa lAro) 71. 72. 72. 70; DSray11i74. 71, 70, 70: McLean 75.

70, 70, 70: A Sws) to. 70. 76, 71; fliloy AUs 68.76. 69, 72. 288 Brand Jnr 69, 74.

73, 70; Grappasoniil (111 72. 71, 69, 74 2S7 MontflDmnrle 74, 69, 75, 69; Borall 70, 74. 74. 69. Glllord 71.

74, 71, 71; Fernandez (Ara) 73, 71, 71, 72; Walton 76, 63. 71. 72. Pi GorjSDn (SA) 72. 73, 70.

72; Jonas 69, 71, 74. 71: A Blnagdl M) 72, 71, 71, 73, nioro Sp) 72. 72, 69. 74; Brand 70, 69. 70.

78. 280 fl Ralfsrty 68. 73, 70. 77. 288 Toravainon (US) 70.

69, 78, 72: Altanby (Aus) 71, 71,75, 72; Curry 70, 74, 73, 72; Bland (SA) 72, 73, 72. 72: Payno 71, 74, 70. 74; Mitchell 72. 70, 75. COLONIAL TOURNMKHT (Fart Worth).

Final scoraa IUS unlosa stalad): 288 Prion Zlm) 65. 70, 87. 64: Simpson 66. 65, 64. 71 (Prion won al llrst eilrn nolo).

287 Irwin 64, 70. 68 65. BILL SIHIOBB CLASSIC (Malvern, Pa): Final acoraa (US unlets staled): 208 Trn-vlno 71, 67, SO. 208 Hill (9, 71, 66. Cycling OIRO D'lTALMi Wlnth aurja (Cajtlgllona ttalla Poscaia to Pantedera.

153km). I. Svarada (Sto) Lampra 3hr 25mln 7sec; Leoni lit) Jolly Comp: 3, Fldanza III) Pntll, time. Cwaratli 1. Bonln tfius) Gewlas Saltan 34hr 57mln ISsec; 2, A da las Cuovaa (FrJ Caslorama at I6sdc: 3.

6 Bugno (II) Poll' 238; 4, Induraln 3.39. DAUPHIN! LtBIHb ProlrWM tima-Matl Dnardman (OB) Bmin 50aeo: 2, J-f Dojwa (Fr) al lane: 3, Maflnlen Fr) 4, A Kaspulls (U1ti) S. Ponsec Fr) Christie blows away cobwebs and inter-Counties opposition LINKORD CHRISTIE, who defends his European and Commonwealth titles and leads Britain into the European Cup and World Cup this summer, erased doubts about his fitness yesterday. He galloped to the Inter-Counties 100 metres title at Corby in hfs first race of the summer despite a niggling groin injury. A brisk start and sharp pickup carried him clear to a trouble-free win in 10.52sec run into a stiff headwind.

The 34-year-old Christie, running for Middlesex, was ahead of Surrey's Terry Williams, who ran 10.74, and the highly rated Toby Box of Greater Manchester with 10.82. Christie said: "There are always young guys out there trying to blast you away and ruin your career. And you always wonder whether you got the winter work right. But it blew away the cobwebs and there wore no twinges." Christie, the world and Olym IBM JoTtVaKJE To oN TlAcK.