Gary Lemke looks back at a jam-packed sporting weekend as Lando Norris raced to a first F1 Grand Prix victory in Miami, with the Premier League title race heading to a nail-biting finale.
NORRIS TAKES VICE GRIP ON MIAMI GP
The nearly man became the now man. After 14 podium visits, England’s Lando Norris finally climbed onto the top step when he won the Miami F1 Grand Prix, his McLaren coming home seven seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. Norris has been long touted as a future star, and the Netflix series “Drive To Survive” only added to his appeal.
He’s still only 24 (Verstappen is 26) and you have to believe that if he was in a more competitive car – Red Bull obviously springs to mind – he might just be as untouchable as the current world champion is. But, as they say, after such a long wait, one brings two. Roll on the Emilia Romagna GP in Italy in a fortnight, when he gets a chance to further stake his claim as the new kid on the grid.
GUNNERS AND CITY KEEP FIRING
Both Arsenal and Manchester City won their English Premier League matches, which means the Gunners lead by one point with only Man United (away) and Everton (home) to play. Should they win both games, City would need to beat Fulham and Tottenham (away), and West Ham (home). The betting has City at 7/20 favourites to take the title, with Arsenal at 9/4.
Elsewhere, Ipswich confirmed their promotion to the EPL next season where they will join Leicester and one other club. Going down are Sheffield United and in all likelihood Burnley and Luton. So, all three promoted clubs from last year would have gone straight back down.
SA MEN 6TH, WOMEN 9TH IN SINGAPORE
The Blitzboks did what their 15’s counterparts had done, and that’s beat France by one point on their way to topping their pool at the Singapore Sevens. They then came up against Australia in the Cup quarter-finals, and that’s where the winning run ended as they came up short in a dramatic golden try finale, 29-24.
They then lost again, this time 14-10, to Argentina, to finish sixth. The women beat higher-ranked USA twice and ended in ninth position in what was their best performance of the season. With one round remaining, the South African men are seventh on the table and the women 11th.
Heartbreak for the #Blitzboks after a golden point defeat against Australia in the Singapore quarter-final 💔#PoweredByUnity #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/dy4ox60sVG
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) May 4, 2024
BURMESTER BEST OF SA LIV GOLF QUARTET
Brooks Koepka scooped the big $4-million individual jackpot at the latest LIV golf stop in Singapore, while Dean Burmester was highest—placed of the South African quartet, finishing tied 14th. The $287,000 he collected for his efforts took his season total to over the $7m mark. Louis Oosthuizen (tied 22nd) added another $203,000 to his bank account, Branden Grace (R32nd) took home $155,000 and Charl Schwartzel banked $146,500 or his tied 35th. Burmester is the second-highest money-earner this season, behind Joaquin Niemann.
My winning Crew
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) May 5, 2024
Happy to be heading home with some extra hardware, thank you Singapore pic.twitter.com/Pg7EhlXeiO
HORSE RACING FACING TURBULENT TIME
The KwaZulu-Natal racing season opened with chaotic scenes at Hollywoodbets Greyville when the crack three-year-old, Main Defender, was scratched due to carbon dioxide levels in its blood being higher than the accepted levels. The meeting, which was abandoned halfway through after protests by Main Defender’s connections, has been rescheduled for Wednesday.
However, the fuse has been lit and we’re in for an explosive showdown between those in the camp of trainer Tony Peter and the National Horse Racing Authority of SA. On Sunday, trainer Justin Snaith suffered the same fate with two of his horses. If ever there was a case of “watch this space”, this is it.
Video of the scenes at Greyville to abandon the meeting...
— SAHorseracing (@SAHorseracing) May 4, 2024
GREYVILLE ABANDONED DUE TO PROTESTS
The disheartening scenes that went on at Greyville this afternoon at the city course, has left the South African
industry
https://t.co/LEub72UO7T pic.twitter.com/258tOFYZUx
UFC, BOXING CHAMPS RETAIN TITLES
Alexandre Pantoja retained his flyweight title at UFC 301 when he beat Steve Erceg in a competitive fight in Rio, while in boxing Canelo Alvarez beat fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia by a unanimous points decision to retain his WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF super-middleweight titles in Las Vegas. There’s plenty of respect across the codes from the octagon to the square ring.
Former UFC supremo Jon Jones watched the boxing and commented, “Good for him (Alvarez), what a legend. I always find it hilarious when he starts cursing people out in English.” Which the Mexican boxer does tend to enjoy doing.
The moment everything changed 🥊👀@Canelo landed a devastating blow to knock @jaimemunguia15 to the canvas for the first time ever.#CaneloMunguia pic.twitter.com/5DFOuOU9Be
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 5, 2024
AROUND THE WATER COOLER…
Apart from the Blitzboks, there was yet another one-point result between South Africa and a French club when the Sharks bounced back to beat Clermont 32-31 and reach the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup final … in the Champions Cup itself, Toulouse won through to a final clash with Leinster … Sundowns and Pirates set up a juicy Nedbank Cup final when both won their semis … the Kolkata Knight Riders have climbed over the Rajasthan Royals on NRR in the Indian Premier League with match 55 of 74 starting off the week on Monday.
