Latest news with #GreatBritain
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Hildenborough cyclist says she does not feel safe riding in Kent
A cyclist from Kent says she does not feel safe riding on the county's roads as a charity says a record number of people are reporting to police being overtaken too safety charity IAM RoadSmart says the numbers of cyclists who submitted video footage of poor driving to police also doubled from 7,249 in 2021 to 15,779 in 2024More than half of motorists admit they do not know how much space to leave when overtaking, the charity Alice Thomas, from Hildenborough, said: "I don't feel safe cycling in Kent, I lived in London for 10 years and I felt safer cycling there than I do here - drivers get so annoyed and overtake very closely." IAM RoadSmart says data shows the number of reports leading to the serving of a notice of intended prosecution rose from 38% in 2021 to 54% in a third of people say they do not cycle because they think it is too dangerous, the charity to the Department for Transport, 87 pedal cyclists were killed in Great Britain in 2023, while 3,942 were reported to be seriously injured and 10,970 slightly injured. Ms Thomas told BBC Radio Kent: "I always see arguments between cyclists and drivers online, comment sections, radio phone-ins, but other countries aren't like that, they all work together, it feels like a real conflict here." 'Cyclists are human beings' The Highway Code, which was updated in 2022, recommends that drivers gave cyclists at least 1.5m (5ft) of space - about the width of a compact car - when overtaking at speeds of up to 30mph (48kmh).Ms Thomas says: "There's a big narrative between cyclists and drivers hating each other, which is crazy because the majority of cyclists are drivers as well."So it's not one or the other, cyclists are human beings. "I'm a mother of two young boys and I always just think, I want to be able to go home safely to my sons."
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Reaction as Alcaraz survives scare to beat Munar at Queen's
Update: Date: 19:35 BST Title: Goodbye! Content: Carlos Alcaraz just has a knack at winning epically long tennis matches, doesn't he? Somehow he always manages to find a way. That's 15 wins in a row for the world number two, his longest career winning streak. Tomorrow he'll take on one of Arthur Rinderknech or Reilly Opelka for a spot in Saturday's semi-finals. Be sure to join us then, with Great Britain's Jack Draper and Jacob Fearnley are also in action. I'm off to buy those strawberries I was talking about at the start. Update: Date: 19:32 BST Title: 'I was out mentally' Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 Munar Carlos Alcaraz on court after his win: "It was a really tough battle that we had today. He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him. I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's my second match on grass this year. There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-final. "I don't know. I just kept fighting. I guess I didn't give up. Honestly I was out mentally, but I stayed there and tried to play the points and play my best points from the first set. But I still don't know." Update: Date: 19:27 BST Title: Game, set and match Alacaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 Munar What a way to finish. Jaume Munar comes to the net, and Carlos Alcaraz reaches the quarter-finals by lobbing him. Update: Date: 19:26 BST Title: Match point Alcaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Jaume Munar slams a forehand into the net. Alcaraz has a third match point after three hours and 22 minutes. Update: Date: 19:25 BST Title: Munar serving to stay in match Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Double fault, at a time like this! 30-30. Update: Date: 19:25 BST Title: Munar serving to stay in match Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* From 0-15 down Munar recovers, forcing Alcaraz to net and then the world number two flicks a backhand return wide. 30-15. Update: Date: 19:22 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Well, if Carlos Alcaraz is to lose this game, he'll be doing so in a tie-break. He holds to love, finish things with a 128mph ace. Update: Date: 19:20 BST Title: Munar holds Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-5 Munar Holds with an ace. We rattle on. Update: Date: 19:18 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-4 Munar* No nerves from Jaume Munar. He's already up 40-0. Update: Date: 19:16 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-4 Munar* Munar nets. Another game won! Alcaraz recovers from 0-30 just like the last game but manages to somehow find a way to hold. Update: Date: 19:14 BST Title: Post Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar Better. Unreturnable serve from Alcaraz takes us to 30-30. Update: Date: 19:13 BST Title: Post Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar Alcaraz is wobbling again. He guesses wrong as Munar hits a forehand into the opposite corner and then hits a forehand of his own wide. 0-30. Update: Date: 19:11 BST Title: Alcaraz breaks back Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar The pickle juice has worked! Munar nets and suddenly we're back on serve. Update: Date: 19:10 BST Title: Break point Alcaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* From 30-0 to a break point down. Munar hits a forehand on the move between the tram lines. Update: Date: 19:10 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* The epic rallies haven't gone away. We get treated to another one as Alcaraz lobs Munar and the Spaniard reaches it, but then slides the ball wide. 30-30. Update: Date: 19:08 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* Alcaraz stays into the middle-distance, drinking some pickle juice at the change of ends. Update: Date: 19:06 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* Alcaraz gets away with one as Munar reads another drop shot but can't quite chip over a winner. A far from convincing hold to 30. Update: Date: 19:04 BST Title: Post Content: Into the third hour. The match before went to a decider too. What an effort on the hottest day of the year. Update: Date: 19:02 BST Title: Munar holds Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 2-4 Munar Alcaraz isn't getting a sniff on Munar's serve. The latter holds to 15 as another chance goes begging. Update: Date: 18:59 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 2-3 Munar* They're moving around the BBC Two schedule. Tennis and summer is properly here.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
I worked late shifts at a Land Rover factory but hated it so much it inspired my Olympic dream, says Galal Yafai
GALAL YAFAI would be so tired from training that he would nod off during his factory shifts - but he never slept on his Olympic dream. The pint-sized flyweight had to watch older brothers Kal and Gamal win titles in the professional ranks while he worked overnight for Land Rover. And juggling the exhausting shifts with training almost caused him to throw in the towel on his boxing career - before he got on the Team GB squad. Yafai, 32, told SunSport: "It was a Land Rover factory in Solihull, they've got a big factory there that build the Land Rovers Discoveries and Defenders. "So I was working there, delivering the parts and whatnot for like three years in the factory. So it's full time it's proper work, it weren't part time. "So I kind of had to juggle boxing and work at the same time for three/four years and I actually got to a point where I was going to quit boxing. "I just thought, you know what, I'm 22, 23, now, I'm enjoying life. I'm going out and getting paid. I got my apartment with my brother and I was just enjoying life. "But just the stress of work too, it was getting hard to juggle boxing so luckily I got onto the Great Britain team, just before I decided to leave." Yafai would train from 5pm, clock in for work at 8pm and finish sometimes at 7am - before doing it all again. He hated it so much that the boxer was inspired to go to the Olympics - just so he could finally hand in his P45 after sleeping on the job. Yafai said: "It was just a nightmare. I'd have to train and go straight to work and do an eight-nine hour shift. I used to dread going into work. "I remember I used to see my brothers boxing, as pros and think, 'Oh, they're so lucky to get to just box for a living. I have to go to work and I have to train as well.' Anthony Joshua given hero's welcome on boxing trip to Ghana as Brit shows off his motorbike skills "It was hard training too so I'd have to to box and go straight to work, which was a nightmare, and do an eight hour shift. "I remember I'd fall asleep on my little buggy, I used to drive a buggy around and I used to fall asleep on there sometimes and some of the gaffers would go mad at me. "But yeah, I just thought, 'You know what, I need to stick at this because I could do something.' And thank God it worked out." Yafai packed up his job and became a full-time amateur boxer for Team GB - earning a spot on the 2020 Tokyo team. And after winning gold, Yafai turned pro a year later with Eddie Hearn and the hopes of replicating older brother Kal - the ex-WBA world champion. And Yafai made a super-quick start in the paid ranks - boxing in a ten-rounder for the WBC International title in his very first bout. He said: "Me and my coach thought I was good enough to start off in ten rounders. I used to drive a buggy around and I used to fall asleep on there sometimes and some of the gaffers would go mad at me. Galal Yafai "And Eddie said, 'Well, why not go for an international title?' We were like, 'Brilliant.' "But I want to get to a world title, so any minor title in between is, yeah, not too bad, I won't put it up on my mantelpiece, but it's nice to have. "It just so happened to be WBC International and hopefully I'll be fighting for the WBC full title soon." Yafai returns on Saturday in his home of Birmingham against Francisco Rodriguez Jr, Mexico's former WBO champ. Awaiting the winner is a shot at unified WBA and WBC champion Kenshiro Teraji. Yafai said: "I'd expect it, but you never know in boxing. Rodriguez is a top five competitor. "He's a former champion, he fought the best of the best, so it's not an easy fight. People don't really know him too well but I can't look past him. "He's a really good fighter and that's the thing nowadays, if people don't know who you're fighting, they don't think they're that good, which is the biggest mistake someone can make because he's a really good fighter but he's just not hugely well known here. "I'm not looking past him. He's a great fighter and hopefully I can get rid of him Saturday." 2
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Team GB gold medallist turned superstar DJ reveals he's engaged to girlfriend of six years after romantic proposal
A TEAM GB star has revealed he is engaged to his glamorous girlfriend after six years together. Chris Mears, 32, rose to fame thanks to his impressive diving ability and representing Team GB at the Olympic Games. 7 The sporting hunk took home a gold medal at the 2016 games in the synchronised diving category alongside Jack Laugher. It meant the pair were the first to ever win a gold medal for Great Britain in diving. Now, away from the pool, Chris has shared the happy news that he and partner Katie Robson are engaged. The couple got engaged in Puglia, Italy and shared a slew of loved-up snaps from the heartwarming moment. The Olympic hunk has been romancing Katie for six years and have often shared a glimpse into their romance online with their Instagram followers. Chris later remarked of their romance getaway where he popped the question: "What a trip!" During his career, Chris also won a number of other gold and silver medals at competitions including the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships. In 2019, Chris announced that he was retiring from competing and was launching a career as a music producer and DJ. Since launching a music career, Chris has worked with Popstars including Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs and the late Tom Parker from boyband The Wanted. He is currently one half of electronic music duo Hot Lap. Olympic diving champ Chris Mears loses his cool while looking for trousers The group have released multiple tracks and have been championed by Radio 1. He first began DJing and music production as a hobby in 2012 and 2013 whilst recovering from a diving injury. He continued to loosely pursue music alongside his sporting career before retiring from diving entirely six years ago to concentrate solely on music and DJing. Chris has always embraced the spotlight from sports to music as well as regularly stripping off in his 20s for a series of racy photoshoots. 7 7 7 7
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-parachute regiment officer Mike Ellicock sets rowing record
A former Parachute Regiment officer has set a new record for rowing solo around Great Ellicock, 50 and from Lewes, East Sussex, departed from his home town on 30 April and returned to the same spot, the John Harvey Tavern, on Wednesday evening, after completing the 1,820 mile (2,929km) journey in 49 Ellicock was aiming to raise £30,000 and awareness for the charity Support Our said he was "incredibly grateful to have been able to get around safely and so fast". He is also the first person to complete the journey via the Great said: "As a 25-year-old platoon commander, I was wounded in action during a hostage rescue in Sierra Leone but made a full recovery and subsequently had the privilege of commanding paratroopers on operations again before making a successful and rewarding transition into civilian life."Not all my former brothers in arms were so fortunate - and that's why I chose this challenge as a way to honour them and raise money for Support Our Paras." Mr Ellicock had previously completed the 125 mile (201km) Devizes to Westminster canoe 2013 he set a world record for running the London Marathon while carrying a 40lb (18kg) pack in just under three and a half hours.
