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Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Royal Ascot ladies day - Best pictures as stylish racegoers come out in force
Racegoers at Royal Ascot brought their fashion A-game for Ladies' Day, showcasing a parade of stylish ensembles topped off with some rather extravagant hats. The event saw an array of unique headpieces including towering constructions reminiscent of Jane Austen's era, inventive recycled hats, and even designs adorned with animated butterflies enjoyed by keen racing aficionados. The Berkshire racecourse was graced with elegantly dressed spectators ready to witness the week's highlight, the Gold Cup, under the searing heat, with royalty presenting the winning jockey and trainer with their rewards. Milliner Viv Jenner did not waste a past creation but recycled a striking circular yellow and pink design for Ladies' Day: "It's all about sustainable fashion, I wore this hat in 2022. "It's been sitting in a box in storage for years and I thought rather then make a new one I'd give it a new lease of life and rework it, after finding this lovely yellow dress. "Bringing a bit of sunshine to Royal Ascot, if we needed any more." The royal family will be out in force for a third-day of racing, with the Princess Royal and husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, joined by Anne's daughter Zara Tindall and her husband, former England rugby star Mike Tindall, in the royal box. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will also be among the royal party with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Outlandish hats were the order of the day but one racegoer was carrying a novel handbag – in the shape of a watering can. Olivia Harrell was making her first visit to Royal Ascot and was dressed head to toe in vintage finds from charity shops and said about her handbag: "This is from Paris I bought it for just 30 euros." Fashion designer Francini Keiser and two models were wearing outfits inspired by the 1960s she created and they all wore distinctive hats by her friend the milliner Odette and Elliott. Ms Keiser, whose hat featured dyed swan feathers, said: "It's my first time here it's just an extraordinary experience. All these hats are just amazing and the spirit of the people, everyone is dressed up. We're also very excited to see the racing and the King." Royal Ascot stalwart Tracy Rose wore a dress and towering hat she made inspired by Georgian fashion to mark the 250th birthday of author Jane Austen. She said: "This is a contemporary homage to the bonnet, the dress also owes something to the bonnet which could be a first and I began designing everything at the start of the year." In 2022 Mrs Rose founded the Racing For All Diversity Campaign to encourage people of all backgrounds to enjoy a day at the races. Speaking about the appeal of Royal Ascot she said: "It's so British, it's such a party atmosphere and everybody just wants to be outstanding and have fun with their fashion, which I just love. I'm loving everybody looking wonderful." A racegoer poses for a photograph on Ladies Day (Image: (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)) 1 of 13 A racegoer poses for a photograph on Ladies Day (Image: (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)) 2 of 13 A racegoer poses for a photograph on Ladies Day (Image: (Photo by)) 3 of 13 Racegoers pose for a photograph on Ladies Day (Image: (Photo by)) 4 of 13
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
England's top women's league to expand to 14 teams
The Women's Super League is to expand to 14 teams in the 2026/27 season (JUSTIN TALLIS) The English Women's Super League (WSL) is set expand to 14 teams from 12 for the start of the 2026/27 season after the proposal was voted through by clubs on Monday. The changes still require the approval of the English Football Association but are expected to pass with a promotion/relegation play-off as part of the shake up to the women's game. Advertisement Currently just one club is relegated and one promoted each season. Next season the top two from the second tier WSL2 will be automatically promoted. Additionally, third-place in the WSL2 will face the team that finishes bottom in the top tier in a play-off. From the 2026/27 campaign, the one automatic relegation and promotion place will return with a play-off between second bottom in the WSL and second top in the second tier. "Subject to the approval from the FA board, expanding the WSL to 14 teams will stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid which increases opportunities," said Nikki Doucet, chief executive of Women's Professional Leagues Limited. Advertisement "The introduction of a promotion/relegation play-off creates distinction for the women's game and introduces a high-profile, high-stakes match." Expansion is part of a 10-year plan to raise standards across the top two tiers of English women's football, focused on improved facilities, staffing and academies. According to financial experts Deloitte, collective revenues in the WSL rose 34 percent to £65 million ($88 million) in 2023/24 and are projected to reach £100 million in the upcoming season. However, Deloitte also found that average attendances across the league dipped by 10 percent last season to 6,642 as the surge in interest generated by England's Euro 2022 success faded. kca/pb
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cunha completes 'dream' Manchester United move
Matheus Cunha has completed his transfer from Wolverhampton to Manchester United (JUSTIN TALLIS) Manchester United on Thursday confirmed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves on a five-year deal with the option of a further year. The club effectively completed the deal on June 1 after activating a £62.5 million ($85 million) release clause in the 26-year old's contract. Advertisement "It is hard to put into words my feelings about becoming a Manchester United player," said the Brazil international. "Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother's house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt. "I can't wait for the start of pre-season to get to know my teammates and prepare for the season ahead. "All my focus is now on working hard to become a valuable part of the team, and helping get this club back to the top." Cunha became Ruben Amorim's first signing of the summer transfer window as the head coach sets about overhauling his squad after a miserable domestic campaign and a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. Advertisement The striker helped his country qualify for the World Cup finals on Tuesday when he set up the only goal for Vinicius Junior in a 1-0 win over Paraguay. United's director of football Jason Wilcox added: "Bringing in Matheus was one of our main priorities for this summer, so we are delighted to have completed his signing so early in the window. "He has all the qualities we are looking for as we seek to build a strong, dynamic and entertaining team capable of challenging for the biggest honours." jw/pb
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caldentey's Arsenal hoping to break Barca Champions League hegemony
Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Mariona Caldentey will face her former side Barcelona in the Champions League final (JUSTIN TALLIS) Powered by former Barcelona star Mariona Caldentey, Arsenal must upset the odds against the all-conquering Catalan giants on Saturday to prevent them winning a fourth women's Champions League title in five years. Reaching their sixth final in seven years, Barcelona aim to further tighten their grip on the women's game at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon against Renee Slegers' side. Advertisement The Dutch coach replaced Jonas Eidevall in October on an interim basis, made permanent in January as the team's form improved dramatically under her. In the Champions League Arsenal produced a stirring quarter-final second-leg comeback to eliminate Real Madrid and then thrashed record eight-time winners Lyon 4-1 in France to reach the final. While Lyon are the record holders, Barcelona have been Europe's dominant force in the last five years. The Catalans eased into their fifth consecutive final by destroying English domestic treble winners Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate. Barcelona, who won the Champions League in 2021, 2023 and 2024, also sealed a sixth-consecutive Liga F victory and are well-placed to repeat last season's quadruple. Advertisement They boast two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas as well as an array of other stars, although they have also lost some important players. One of those is winger Mariona Caldentey, a regular for Barcelona over the last decade who went looking for a new adventure. The 29-year-old joined Arsenal in July and has become the team's key player, named the Women's Super League player of the season. "She has given us that next level," said Slegers. "She's a total footballer. She's got everything." Barca winger Caroline Graham Hansen said it will be strange facing the Spaniard. Advertisement "Obviously, she's been missed because she's a very nice person inside the locker room and fantastic player on the pitch," said the Norwegian. "So it's going to be weird to see her on the other side... "(Hopefully) I won't see any goals from her on Saturday." Of course, Caldentey has other plans. "I hope I can score, but I wouldn't celebrate," she told Mundo Deportivo. "I have a lot of respect for Barca for everything they gave me, how they helped me, and I'll always show that respect." While Barcelona have three Champions League trophies in four years, Arsenal have won the competition just once, back when it was the UEFA Women's Cup in 2007. Advertisement This is their first Champions League final since then. - Back to the start - The final is Barcelona's 100th European match, 13 years after their first, also against Arsenal. Back then the Gunners were a far greater force than their opponents and romped to a 7-0 aggregate win over Barcelona in the Champions League round of 32. Kim Little scored in that tie and should feature for Arsenal in the final, along with the only other survivor from that era -- Barca's Putellas. This season it took Barcelona some time to find their best under coach Pere Romeu, after Jonatan Giraldez left at the end of last season for US women's side Washington Spirit. Advertisement The Catalans also had to adapt to a new striker, Poland's Ewa Pajor, who has scored an impressive 43 goals in 45 matches this season. "It's my dream to win this trophy with this team, but we have to be calm, not obsessive about this trophy," Pajor told UEFA. "We have to be prepared, to be focused and I hope we win this trophy like a team, because we have amazing, amazing players, amazing coaches and, yes, we can do it." Barcelona have won their last nine Champions League matches, scoring 44 goals in the process, one shy of Wolfsburg's record 45 in the 2013-14 season. Claudia Pina has stepped up to fill the gap left by Caldentey and scored 10, making her the competition's top scorer, ahead of Arsenal's Alessia Russo and Caldentey on seven. rbs/pi
RNZ News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Ethiopian Assefa pulls away to win London Marathon
Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered the women's-only world record in winning the 45th London Marathon on Sunday, while Kenyan Sebastian Sawe made a brilliant tactical decision to demolish a stacked men's field en route to victory. The 28-year-old Assefa, silver medallist in the event at last year's Paris Olympics, pulled away from Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya over the final couple of kilometres after the two had set a blistering early pace. She crossed the finish line in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds, beating the previous women's-only record of 2:16:16 set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir, and said the blazing London sun helped, with temperatures approaching 20 Celsius by race's end. "Last year, I did have some problems with the cold," said Assefa, who was second in the 2024 London race. "My hamstring tightened up towards the end of the race. This year, the weather suited me really well, and that's why I'm really pleased with the way the race went. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS "I was second here last year, and to win here this year is very special." Jepkosgei, 31, crossed second in 2:18:44. The sizzling early pace was too much for reigning Olympic marathon champion and 2024 London winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who fell back off the leaders around the halfway mark en route to finishing third in 2:19:00. The 29-year-old Sawe, who made a stunning marathon debut by winning in Valencia in December, pulled away from the lead pack when the others reached for bottles to refuel with about 10 kilometres to go, on his way to crossing in 2:02:27. "So happy, this is my first time to win a major marathon, I was well prepared for this race, and that's why it has become easy for me to win," Sawe said. "It does now give me hope that my marathoning future will be so important to me, and it will be so easy to me." Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who shattered the world half-marathon record in February, was second in his marathon debut in 2:03:37, while last year's winner Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya was third in a photo finish with Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, both crossing in 2:04:20. A world record 56,000 runners were expected to participate in the 42.195-kilometre race that started at Greenwich Park, snaked along the River Thames before finishing on The Mall. - Reuters
