The Big Picture: Shire genius with Olympic Bronze medallist Louis Smith

The 19-year-old gymnast was only taking what we consider a modern sport back to its origins in the armies of ancient Greece and Rome, when the soldiers would practise manoeuvres on an artificial horse as part of their training.


This method of honing the legions’ skills was noted by fifth century Roman writer Vegetius. Some 1,200 years later, a military drill instructor developed Vegetius’ description into the art of equestrian acrobatics. It evolved further, particularly in 19th

century Berlin, and became the Olympic apparatus we now know as the pommel horse.

Louis had to be brave to attempt a part of his routine on Scott. This magnificent creature, from Waldburg Shires, based at the Shire Horse Society within Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre near Peterborough, stands 18.2 hands high, which is
more than six feet — some two feet higher than the 115cm stipulated for Olympic
competition.

Louis benefits from National Lottery funding thanks to Lottery players who raise £25million a week for good causes.

Chelsea defender Alex escapes FA action over stamp on Cahill

Chelsea defender Alex will not face disciplinary action over an alleged stamp on Everton's Tim Cahill in last night's Barclays Premier League game at Goodison Park.

Referee Phil Dowd was asked to review footage of the incident by the Football Association after no action was taken against the player on the field.



Alex appeared to bring his foot down on the Australian's thigh after being tackled but he will not face punishment.

A statement from the Football Association said: "Referee Phil Dowd confirmed to the FA today that he had not seen the incident at the time.

"He was subsequently requested to view footage of the incident. Having done so, Dowd informed the FA that, had he seen the incident, he would not have shown Alex a red card. On this basis, the FA will not be taking any disciplinary action."

The incident was one of a number talking points from the goalless draw. Skipper John Terry was shown a straight red card by Dowd for a wreckless lunge at Leon Osman, while Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole were all booked for dissent as the Blues were held to a goalless draw.



It was the first time that Luiz Felipe Scolari's team have failed to win away this season and leaves them a point behind leaders Liverpool at Christmas.

Scolari was so incensed by the performance of Dowd that he refused to speak at the press conference after the game but he knows he now faces a defensive crisis.

Chelsea will not appeal Terry's dismissal and he will now be banned for the next three games, starting with the home match against West Brom on Boxing Day and followed by Sunday's derby with Fulham and the FA Cup third-round clash with Southend.



With Ricardo Carvalho possibly not returning from his hamstring injury until the new year, there is a danger that Branislav Ivanovic will be the only recognised centre-half for Scolari to pick from.

To make matters worse for the Chelsea manager, goalkeeper Petr Cech picked up a thumb injury late on in the match and had difficulty taking his gloves off because of the pain.



Cech hinted that Dowd may have been influenced by the home supporters when he sent off Terry and said: 'It was hard for the ref to see exactly what happened. He had a split second.

'The crowd were behind him and there was a lot of noise. It makes it more difficult for the referee. He made a decision and we have to live with that.

'It's a pity we couldn't win. We could have been top of the league again but it's a good point.

'We have had other chances to go top but we have drawn some games. A lot of teams are dropping points this season and if we had won our games at home we could have been top with a gap.'

Arsenal's first Lady hits out at ruthless board coup

Arsenal's deposed director Lady Bracewell-Smith has talked about the 'appalling' way she has been treated by a club her family have helped run for nearly 70 years.

Lady Bracewell-Smith, who holds a 15.9 per cent shareholding, was manoeuvred off the board in a surprise, ruthless coup on Wednesday, masterminded by the most powerful director Danny Fiszman, that now leaves the club vulnerable to a takeover.

'I'm in total shock and very upset about the appalling way I have been treated,' she said.



'The board have no manners whatsoever and my views were ignored on many occasions.

'I can't understand why I have been removed in such a ruthless fashion. I had no intention of selling my shares and was no threat to the lockdown agreement between the directors. I have also had no proper explanation as to why they wanted me out so much.

'It is very difficult to accept, especially after what my family has done for Arsenal for so many years.

'I am extremely upset at what's happened and the way it has been done.'

The Arsenal board had isolated her from her main ally on the plc board, Richard Carr, by relegating him to the football club subsidiary before the unanimous vote against Lady Bracewell-Smith was taken.

She added: 'There is no way Richard would have agreed to this, he's family.

'I've never had a thought of selling my Arsenal shares, and I still don't.'

The worst an ad can get: Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry win award for most cringeworthy promo

It should have been a slick promo featuring three of the world's sporting giants - not to mention three of the most handsome ones.

But the Gilette campaign featuring three of the world's highest paid sports stars has been named the worst TV advert of the year by industry magazine Campaign.

Tennis champion Roger Federer, golfer Tiger Woods and footballer Thierry Henry all appeared in the Gillette campaign which showed them using their respective skills to persuade their male target audience to pick up the brand's razor.



With their Hollywood grins, and slick suits, the trio are seen wielding their balls - tennis, golf, and football - to urge men to use the brand's newer Fusion Power razor.

But their on-screen efforts did not match up to their sporting prowess and the cheesy razor ad was voted top turkey of 2008.

Campaign editor Claire Beale said: "The Gillette ad is an own goal, a double fault and a bunker shot rolled into one.




"To secure three of the world's most famous sports stars would have cost Gillette millions but is such a wasted opportunity as the creative lacks any charm or wit.

"We see thousands of TV ads created for a British audience each year and this one stands out as the worst."

The Specsavers advert in which lyrics promoting the optician appear in time with Edith Piaf's rendition of Je Ne Regrette Rien made it to second place in the top 10 turkeys.

Others deemed bad enough to win a place in the hall of shame include a case of poor dubbing in a Renault ad, Sex Pistols' John Lydon's performance as front man for Country Life butter and Lenny Henry's declaration of love for Premier Inns.

The ten-year-old football wizard who can perform 4,000 keepy-uppies

Football prodigy Josh Clancy looks set to follow in David Beckham's footsteps after mastering tricks including 4,000 keepy-uppies at the tender age of ten.

Talented Josh is on his way to winning a national freestyle competition headed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

He is already over 1,000 votes ahead in the online contest despite being pitted against youngsters twice his age.

The 4ft 10in wonder has wowed crowds with his ball control skills, including testing signature moves 'Round the World' and 'Enigma', as well as a series of complex ball-balancing tricks.

Josh, who only began playing football four years ago aged six, chooses a new freestyle trick then practices at least two hours a day, seven days a week until he can perform it perfectly.

The testing tricks can take the football-mad schoolboy anything between one week and one month to master depending on the level of difficulty.

Josh's latest balancing act involves flicking the ball in air, catching it on the back of his neck and balancing it there while he pulls his shirt over his head without dropping the ball.

In 'Round the World' Josh can be seen kicking up the ball with his left foot before looping the same leg over the ball in mid-air and catching it again on that foot.

On top of his non-stop practice, Josh trains and plays football six hours a week with Norwich City Academy, Hadley Rangers under-11s and Hertfordshire Brazilian soccer school.

His ambition is to become a professional free-styler and cited world-class players Christiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho as his footballing idols.

Josh, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertforshire, said: 'I got into freestyle after watching YouTube videos. It's loads cooler than normal football.

'The tricks look hard but once you get to know how to do them its pretty easy. I've learnt a lot of skills since I was at the school - it gives me a good chance to practice.'

Andrew Anastasiou, 46, Josh's coach at the Brazilian soccer school in Hatfield, said his young protégé had raw talent and was easily capable of turning professional.

Businessman Mr Anastasiou set up the Hertfordshire branch of Brazilian Soccer School three years ago and has been coaching Josh for the last 18 months.

He said Josh was easily the most talented of the 200 aspiring freestyle footballers he has coached.

The Gerrard Performance Challenge invites youngsters to post video clips of their freestyle skills and is open to entries and votes until December 31.

With a current total of 1,508 online votes Josh looks set to claim the first prize of a couple of VIP tickets to a Premiership football match.

Josh's proud parents Bill and Hayley Clancy are devoted to helping their son achieve his dream.

Mr Clancy said: 'It's great to see Josh doing so well with his hobby - although he drives us mad when he is kicking a football around indoors all the time.

'He would love to become a professional freestyler and it would be a miracle iff he could make it.

'So many other kids are trying to do the same thing but I think Josh is committed enough to achieve his dream.'