Revisiting Snooker History: The 1977 World Championship Final

There has been some memorable matches in the history of snooker, none more so than the final of the World Championships in 1977 between John Spencer and Cliff Thorburn. This was the first final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, where it is still held to this day. Snooker became increasingly popular around the 1977 tournament as the BBC televised the event for the first time, which attracted large viewing figures.
The final was won by John Spencer who beat his opponent Cliff Thorburn 25-21 to claim his hat-trick of World Championship wins, previously winning in 1969 and 1971. Strangely, Spencer’s snooker cue was damaged in a car crash, so he used a two-piece cue and became the first ever player to win with a cue of this sort. The general consensus at the time was no cue could match the accuracy of a one-piece cue, but Spencer’s victory with a two-piece cue changed the view of many and influenced modern cue technology.
The 1977 World Championship tournament is not only famous because it was the first World Championship at the now legendary Crucible Theatre, but it was also the first World Championship since the introduction of world rankings. John Spencer was seeded 8th which was the last seeding position, but he put in some great performances and deservedly won the tournament. Also the prize fund has changed significantly, in 1977 Spencer received £6,000 for winning, a huge contrast to the £250,000 Ronnie O’Sullivan scooped for winning the same tournament this year.
This was the first of many great World Championship finals at the Crucible Theatre, but was it your favourite? Let us know what you think has been the greatest final over the years!

Cricket: It is never too late to get started

Cricket is a game that involves 22 players at a time but that should not discourage you to start playing the game. I still remember those late evening cricket games in my childhood when I  stayed in a compound with 6 houses in them. There were three others of my same age and every evening we would plan the game for the next day .Nevertheless like any typical Indian kid, our popular choice was cricket.
At international level, cricket is very much a male dominated game but it was not so in our schooldays. We were two boys and two girls. The concept of two teams playing against each other was not practical and each one of us used to play as individuals. The winner was the one who scored the maximum runs. When one of us is batting, the rest of us form the bowling side. It was fun because we used to make bats out of any wooden planks lying in the backyard or from the wider edge of the coconut leaf . The wicket used to be old tyres , branches of trees  or stack of bricks. I still remember the gradual migration from a rubber ball to a tennis ball. It ate up a huge portion of or pocket money. Our parents were really not bothered if we played cricket or not. But things are different today.
There are more parents attracted to this game due to the popularity and money that the Twenty20 format has brought to the game. Therefore there are more kids playing the game now, out of their  interest or demand from their parents. But one good thing is that they don't have to hunt around the backyard to get their cricket bats and the rest of the kit. The beginner's cricket kits are very affordable and widely available. There are even indoor kits available so that kids can start playing at very early age. The most important factor is that the parents need not waste time going to the store to buy the cricket gears for the kids as they are widely available on online stores.
It is never too late to play cricket for fun. It can be played in a big ground with a lot of people or in the indoors but the backyards and gardens can be a good venue as well. Therefore it could be a completely energy draining game or just a few minutes of pure fun. Also, there are stuff available for people of all ages, choose the right stuff and get started. Wait a minute, there are a few pieces of cricket equipment that you can’t do without – Cricket bats, cricket balls and the stumps. Go cricketing guys.

Fashion - Is it worth trying to keep up with celebrity trends?

Every month there are new outfits in the magazines, tempting people to buy into the latest fashion. What we want to know is, is it really worth trying to keep up when fashion changes so much, or is it better to be your very own trendsetter? Here are a few reasons why sometimes it is better to be yourself than copy what the celebs are wearing.

Celebrities have a lot more disposable income than most! They are often sponsored to wear the clothes  and even though this would be REALLY nice, it is highly unlikely that brands would sponsor people like us to wear their clothes and instead would expect us to pay serious amounts for the pleasure! The fact that they cost so much in itself is a reason as to why it is not always a good idea to follow the trends, as you might find yourself disappointed when your expensive purchase becomes outdated only a month down the line. Clothes that are fashionable one minute, are “so last season” the next. It is hard work to be constantly on trend, especially when there are so many different opinions on what those trends are.
When it comes to dresses, there are so many different types that as soon as you finally figure out which ones suit you best, there are a new range which have replaced them! Styles of dresses and t-shirts change so frequently that unless you keep a constant eye on what the celebs have on, it’s possible to end up spending a lot of money on things which you might not necessarily get your wear out of.

Another important point is that fashion often comes full circle. So chances are, that old pair of jeans that your mum has had in the wardrobe for ages will become cool again! Even tweed made a comeback recently, and that’s saying something. Also, if you are lucky, that once old, now retro pair of jeans might even be the perfect fit for you! Why not wait until the items are in the sale and store them away for when they make their comeback. Chances are, next year there will be a similar item of clothing to the one you have bought in the sale, but for FIVE times the price!

Sometimes, what is ‘fashionable’ isn’t actually very nice! Just because it is popular on the catwalk it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is what the everyday person would wear out and about. It also doesn’t mean that you HAVE to like it.  It can be hard to get the celebrity look right, and this is assuming that you are following the trends of the ‘right’ celebrity. We have all seen the magazines which target celebs who get it ‘wrong’, and if celebrities themselves get it wrong then what chance do we have!

Here are a few reasons as to why it is better to create your own style.

You get to choose what you want to wear, and not what you think you should wear. This has major perks! There are times when you are shopping that you are talked into buying items that are ‘in’ by the assistants that you know in your heart you wouldn’t normally buy and then don’t have the confidence to wear!

Chances are, less people will be wearing the same outfit as you when you go out, and we all know how it feels to go out somewhere and find someone is wearing the identical dress... making sure you aren’t buying the same outfit as everyone else drastically reduces the chances of this happening!
You should also find that by not following celeb trends that you spend less money and may even become a trend setter yourself. You might find for instance that your friends really love your unusual jacket that you dug out the wardrobe, and they may be green with envy when you tell them that there is no way they can buy one as it is no longer on sale anywhere!

A final thing, there are items of clothing which  NEVER go out of fashion. Ladies hoodies and sweatshirts can be worn year in year out, as their styles don’t tend to vary that much. This is also true for jeans, and items like the standard little black dress that every woman is required to buy!  Okay, so you might not feel like the coolest cat on the street knowing that your clothes are not the newest style out there, but at least you wont be wasting your money on new fads that will die out as quickly as they get started! You never know, you might find that you become the inspiration required for others to change their ways and become their own trendsetters too!
Do you follow celebrity fashion or do you think it is a waste of time? How much do you spend a year on clothes? We would love to know so get in touch!

A Rugby Stereotype

Big, 6ft 8, ugly, dumb, fat man chasing an egg? The old stereotype of rugby players isn’t the most glamorous and most certainly isn’t accurate.
Let me run down the list, big – ok most rugby players are muscly, but there are different somatotypes (body sizes) generally with different positions within a team. Therefore the traditionally bigger guys are within the forwards and the faster players in the backs, with the scrum half ironically being one of the smallest players.  This was until recently when Welsh and Irish scrumhalves, Mike Phillips and Connor Murray have broken the mould both being over six foot.
Next on the list is ugly, people will always have their own views on appearances and generally think of a smashed up face and cauliflower ears, which in some cases is correct. However a lot of rugby players now a days have a huge female fan base, not because of their fantastic skill set that has taken hours of pain and tears but because they are “hot”.
One too many hits on the head? He must be dumb! This in fact is far from correct, a great example is recent British and Irish Lions and Wales star Jamie Roberts who has just graduated with an 8 year medical degree. This means he joins Dr Jack Matthews, Dr Gwyn Jones and JPR Williams who have all completed a medical career with top flight rugby.
Chasing an egg…yes, fat… no. Rugby players go through a strict diet and training programme personally meeting their needs to ensure they are as fit as can be. So much innovation and technology has gone into this that top clubs and international clubs own equipment that searches through a individuals body sending back information to the physiotherapist about ‘slight knocks’ they may have received in training or a game. After weight training they enter a ice chamber or ice baths drawing lactic acid out of the muscles to recover quicker.
All in all the general stereotype of a rugby player couldn't be more inaccurate, as these are the modern day athletes in an ever demanding, money driven game, who will do anything to win.
Sports Direct have a huge range of rugby kit and rugby boots, if you feel like you’re ready to join with this revolution check it out!

How to play squash

Squash is a fast-moving game that requires skill and speed. The ball can reach speeds of 170mph and it’s possible for players burn off around 1,000 calories per hour.
It was founded in the 19th century, by Harrow School, it was originally called squash racquets. They came up with the idea when young school pupils couldn't compete with the older boys for space on the racquets courts. So they invented their own version of the game using a rubber ball instead of a hard one.
RULES
• The basic principle is to keep hitting the ball against the front wall until your opponent cannot get it back any more.
• You must keep one foot in the service box when you serve.
• You need to hit the front wall between the service line and the out line, and make the ball land in the area behind the short line, but on the opposite side of the court.
• You must hit the wall above the board and below the out line.
• The ball is only allowed to hit the floor once before each shot,
• It can hit as many walls as the player wants.
• If you fail to hit the ball before it bounces twice, or fail to hit the ball into the floor before it hits the front wall, or hits it outside the out line, then you lose the rally.
• You will  lose a rally if the ball hits you or your clothing before you strike the ball.

SCORING

• you can only score points when you are serving.
• When the player receiving serve wins a rally they become the server.
• If you are facing serve, you need to win two rallies to register a point.
• A match consists of five games, to win a game you must reach nine points.
• During points, a player can be impeded or unsighted as they try to play their next shot, and can ask for a let.
• If the referee decides this is deserved, he or she can order the point to be replayed, or award the rally to the player who has been affected.
TACTICS
The best way to win a game of squash is to make the opponent do the running.
Keeping the ball low makes it less likely your opponent will reach it before it bounces twice.

EQUIPMENT
Players use a different ball depending on their standard.
Double Yellow - extra super slow; competition standard
Yellow - super slow
Green or white - slow
Red - medium
Blue - fast
Modern racquets are usually made of composite materials such as kevlar and graphite, you can choose from a range of brands such as Dunlop Squash and Head.
They are 70 cm (27 inches) long, with a maximum strung area of 500 square centimetres (approximately 80 square inches) and a weight between 110 and 200 grams (4-7 ounces).

GETTING INVOLVED
There are thousands of clubs across the country and equipment is relatively cheap. Mini Squash also teaches youngsters how to play the game.
All you need - indoor trainers,  racquet and a ball.
REMEMBER!
Book a court - Courts can be booked easily, whether they are at specialist squash venues, gyms or sports centres.

Get Kitted out for Football Training

Over the weekend we waved goodbye to British Summer Time and said hello to Greenwich Mean Time, signifying darker nights and colder days and instead of taking your football indoors, SportsDirect.com take a look at how to cope with football training outside, during the Winter months.
It is important, during any sport, to keep your temperature regulated and ensure that you don’t overheat or get too cold. It is also believed that the cold weather has a strong link with achy joints, so keeping warm whilst exercising is crucial.
One of the best ways to ensure a regulated temperature and avoid overheating is by layering up. Firstly, start with a base layer. Sondico base layers are perfect for football training, featuring a compression fit to keep the heat in, as well as ventilation panels and moisture wicking fabric for when your temperature rises. The base layer tops are also available in both short sleeves and long sleeves with some also having high-necks for when the weather is really bad.
Secondly, during training don’t be afraid to wrap up to start off with. If it’s raining or particularly cold then a track jacket or a specific rain jacket for training are a must. Most feature a mesh lining for breathability as well as elasticated cuffs and waistband to ensure that the wind and rain doesn’t seep through.
A pair of gloves and a hat are also handy for keeping in your training bag. If the wind is bitter then you could get earache and wearing a hat could prevent that, remember they can always be removed later on in training when your body temperature has increased.
The most important thing to remember is that although everyone’s temperature does increase during exercise, but it is still essential to wrap up at the start of training.
Keep up-to-date with their latest offers and news on www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk or www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk .

The Golf Tee Guide

Only within the last decade has the number and variety of golf tees erupted. Prior to this, golf tees were primarily available in two styles, wooden and plastic with little variation (other than colour and size) between tees. Recently, however, the golfing world has seen the birth of a number of specialist golf tees including graduated, off-set, zero-friction and lift tees, each bringing a completely different ball game to the market.
Wooden Vs. Plastic
The plastic versus wooden golf tee debate has been argued for many years now and although opinions differ on which is better, the general consensus is that plastic tees last longer than wooden tees. Other than this, it is purely a matter of personal taste and whether you require the longevity that plastic golf tees deliver.
Does Tee length make a difference?
Although the size of a golf tee is important to the golfing connoisseur, to a beginner it might appear less important. Most tees appear in one of four common lengths: 2 1/8”, 2 ¾”, 3 ¼”, 4”, each length is indicative of the distance the ball is above the ground and consequently what club is best to use.
Tee Size Recommended Club
2 1/8” Good for the use  with irons
2 ¾” Good for use with irons or hybrids
3 ¼” Good for use with smaller drivers
4” Goof for use with drivers

By a relatively large margin the 2 ¾” tees are the most commonly used golf tee amongst golfers. This is primarily due to the versatility that this tee length offers, as it can be used in 90% of situations purely by being pushed into the ground a little further.
What Tee Type Should I Choose?
Much like the choice of wooden or plastic golf tees, the type of tee you use is again primarily dependant on personal taste and what additional benefit/advantage you require:

‘Standard’ Golf Tees are available in both wooden and plastic varieties in all sizes. Considered to be the classic and most popular golf tee type.
Graduated Golf Tees (referred to as castle tees) are also available in both wooden and plastic varieties in different sizes/colours. These tees create a more consistent tee height due to their design of preventing over-insertion into the ground.
Zero-Friction Golf Tees (also referred to as LoFriction tees) are plastic golf tees that benefit from a head design that is engineered to reduce friction between the tee and golf ball, thus increasing the distance and accuracy of the shot.
Offset Golf Tees feature a 30 degree offset angle that holds the ball at the optimum position for club contact. The benefit of this is seen in increased distance and accuracy.
Lift Golf tees, much like the zero-friction tees can supposedly can add up to 10 yards to a drive by reducing the overall contact with a ball.
Rubber Golf Tees are generally used when the ground is too hard to use the conventional wooden and plastic  tees. The perfect tee for use in winter.

5 games to play with a flying disc

If you look in a families garden games selection, you can guarantee you will find a flying disc, it could be traditionally shaped or have a hole in the middle to help it glide better. We’ve all thrown one through the air, but how many different games can you actually play? We list our top 5:
5) Catch
Catch is probably the most basic game but allows us to have lots of fun just by passing the disc to each other, whether in the garden or park. Dogs go mad for anything that flies, so is great exercise for them (although the edges may certainly be chewed).
4) Freestyle
As the name suggests you can do anything you wish with the disc, often performed individually or in groups. Routines can be created to music or performed on the spot.
3) Disc Golf
There are a number of public disc golf courses across the UK, but there is nothing stopping you from creating your own course using trees and buildings as obstacles. Amateur and professional players often have different discs  for different types of shots, very similar to a golfers set of clubs.
2) Sticks
This can be played with as little as 2 players. Place two garden canes into the ground at both sides of the court/garden with overturned plastic cups on. The object of the game is for the opposing player(s) to knock the cups off and score points, players can also catch the disc to deduct points from the other team.
1) Ultimate
As you may have already guessed the game originated in the states, although its interest is growing across the UK due to its simplicity. To play you need 2 teams of 7 players, a rectangular court and a flying disc. The object of the game is to score by having a player catch the disc in the end zone. Once in possession of the disc, players have to keep their landing foot on the ground and have 10 seconds to pass the disc.
So how many more games can you think of?

Think Workwear Think SportsDirect.com

You don't think of industrial workwear and come running straight to SportsDirect.com.
Most people believe the 'clue is in the name' and I strongly believe that the 'proof is in the pudding'. You will be filled with awe when you browse the range of different products we offer at SportsDirect.com. One of them is 'workwear'. Yes, workwear. We offer high quality workwear from high quality brands such as Dunlop, Karrimor and Lee Cooper to name a few.
Do you require safety clothing? We offer safety boots, work boots, high viz jackets, work socks, and work trousers. Our workwear makes you feel comfortable, looks smart and can handle all the rigours of a working environment.
Over  the years, we have grown from the boring fluorescent yellow high viz jackets to different colours and styles. The evolvement from ordinary reflective vests to fleeces, bomber and parka jackets has been in touch with the needs and safety compliance of workplaces.
We offer a selection of work and safety boots. Our safety boots are durable and comfortable with a  steel toe cap that offers protection against injury. The work boots without the ‘steel toe cap’ are comfortable too and come in a variety of styles that will make you look stylish while you work.
You can also find the all important socks from our work socks section. They come in different colours and textures to suit your needs. You can choose from industrial work socks to dress socks. You can also try the 7 Pack Men's socks which means you can match everyday to a new pair.
Your work outfit will be not be complete without a pair of work trousers. Fitted with plenty of pockets to carry your essentials with you on the go, they are perfect for building sites or any hands on work. These trousers are extremely tough and benefit from a durable fabric construction to withstand the rigours of work. They also come with knee pockets for extra storage of those much needed essentials.
Just as I said earlier, the 'proof is in the pudding'. We offer affordable workwear and it’s high quality too. "Think Workwear, Think SportsDirect.com".

Base Layers, know your clothes!

Many people often associate a base layer  as an undergarment to keep you warm on a winters day, but they would be wrong. Base layers are a lot more than just an additional item of clothing to create a vacuum of heat close to your body, they are now scientifically designed to help athletes to increase overall performance to push their bodies to their peak levels.
Base layers should have the characteristics in which to be able to ‘wick’ moisture (sweat) away from the skin, but as well as the wicking ability, they also need to ensure that they can dry quickly to ensure that the user has a comfortable feel to the wearer.
We can categorise base layers into 2 areas – Compression Clothing and Thermal Clothing.
Compression Clothing
Compression clothing is of the tight fitting variety of the base layer family, and usually will be made of stronger material than the usual running clothing material. The idea of this is so that the clothes will ‘hug’ the body in order to offer and provide support to the muscles and joints, whilst also helping to improve the flow of blood back to the heart during exercise, or even after exercise.
Compression socks and stockings have been used for numerous years in the medicine profession to help to prevent and treat the legs from aches, swelling and vein disorders. Numerous sporting manufacturers are producing compression clothing now in order to benefit athletes with such benefits as enhancing the circulation of blood and oxygen delivery throughout exercise, whilst they also help to improve the removal of lactic acids that can build up post exercise.
Thermal Clothing
Thermals are the base layer that many people tend to categorise base layers as. These thermals are normally either made up of synthetic wool or merino wool, which comes from the breed of sheep, Merino. The difference between the two are that synthetics are cheaper, but they do tend to smell quickly as you sweat etc. Merino thermals however cost more money than the synthetics, but you will not be emptying rooms with your aroma. The quality is a lot nicer in merino wool thermals than synthetics.
The main agenda of a thermal item of clothing is that to keep you warm, not to act as anything else such as a muscle support etc like the compression clothing can give to the wearer.

All in all, we can see that base layers can be used all year round. They are not just a thermal winter layer, they can be used as a sole layer to help performance in sporting activities all year round, trying to push bodies to there limits and getting the most of the muscles capacity.

SportsDirect.com Take a Look at the Best Approach to Christmas

Last year Sainsbury’s Bank conducted a poll which found that a third of Britons had left their Christmas shopping until the 23rd December, don’t be one of those people this year. Follow SportsDirect.com’s guide to a more pleasant Christmas experience.
The number one rule is not to lull yourself into a false sense of security. Phrases such as ‘It’s only October’, ‘They’ll be plenty of offers on closer to Christmas’ or ‘I won’t feel Christmassy if I do all my Christmas shopping now’ should be banned, planning is essential and is they key to ensure a calm Christmas experience.
Gift guides are everywhere so stock up on them, get the highlighters and sticky note pads out and make a note of suitable ideas for each person on your list, five ideas per person is the ideal number just in case you can’t find them in store or online. As soon as this task is complete then get yourself to the shops as soon as you can and hunt them down.
One of the main bonuses to starting your Christmas shopping early is that the items you’re looking for are less likely to be out of stock, and if they are then you haven’t left yourself short of time meaning you can wait until the next batch are in stock. This also includes Christmas cards, it is no secret that all the good ones are gone by November, so make sure that you get these in advance too.
Shopping online is the perfect way to skip the massive queues in store coupled with people running around and snapping the gift you wanted off the shelf! Also, websites have made it easier than ever with gifts organised by gender, price range, specific items and gift finder tools. However, this still needs to be completed in advance to ensure that your gifts are delivered in time, are what you ordered and that all the pieces are intact.
Once all of your Christmas shopping, including gift wrap and cards, has been completed then it is time to enjoy the festive season. Leave the wrapping and Christmas baking until mid December as it is these activities that inject that festive feeling – not the panic buying.
Shop online where you find the perfect gifts for her, him and kids, as well as gifts for the fashionista and sports enthusiast. Visit www.facebook.com/SportsDirectUK or www.Twitter.com/SportsDirectUK for the latest Christmas ideas!

Comparisons of horse riding boots

There are choices when it comes to finding the right and perfect riding boot. They come in different shapes, sizes, materials and style.
Rubber riding boots
Looking for riding  boots on a budget? Then this is an option for you. Rubber riding boots are known to be waterproof which shouldn't be a surprise because it’s made with rubber. The rubber elements made it waterproof, durable, elastic, flexible and strong. All of these features prevent the boot from cracking, leaking and rooting.
However, there are negative aspect to its affordability. Firstly, it lacks the ability to breathe compared to other riding boots made with leather and synthetic materials. Incorporating the means of ventilation will affect its waterproof ability. They can also make the wearer uncomfortable when worn in hot weather resulting in blistered and sore feet. Finally, rubber riding boots are not as attractive as leather boots and they can easily scuff or fade overtime.
Leather riding boots
Leather has been the traditional material for riding boots for years because it is known to be a prestigious material. Its natural qualities allows it to conform with the feet’s position in the boot and the style of riding after a long period of time.  Leather horse riding boots are naturally hardwearing and waterproof but unlike rubber boots, leather boots need to be cared for with treatments such as leather balsam. A well  treated pair of leather boots can last for many years. In addition, keeping the appearance of leather boots to a high standard requires regular polishing with a good-quality boot polish, which will prevent scuffing and keep the boots shiny and attractive.
Jodhpur boots
Jodhpur boots are short and ankle length, also known as paddock boots because they are suitable for day to day use in the yard and for riding. Taking into account the regular use of jodhpur riding boots, they are manufactured with innovative cushioning technology in their sole and footbed for optimum comfort. Jodhpur riding boots are also made to accommodate  gaiters or chaps turning it to a perfect material for hacking and schooling. They are not as expensive as leather riding boots.
Hunting boots
Hunting boot is a  particular design of field boots which are traditional in fox hunting. The boot is made primarily with black leather. Its defining feature is the cuff at the top which is usually tan/brown. They are suitable for riders with ankle problems or those that suffer from swollen legs after riding because of the full zip to the rear.
Field boots
Field riding boots are commonly used at jumping events such as show jumping and cross country. They are high boots like the hunt boots  but laced up to ankle level for preferred adjustment by the wearer. The ankle is highly flexed to allow riders to work with shorter stirrup.
Dress boots
Dress boots do not have lacing like the other field and hunt long riding boots. They are mostly used by dressage riders. The main feature of dress boot is the high styling on the outside which help keep the leg in place as well as giving it an artistic look.
These riding boots have their own advantages and disadvantages, whether it’s the rubber or leather riding  boot;  the long or the short riding boots. Choosing the best riding boot depends on each individual’s needs, wants and desires. At Sportsdirect.com, we are here to satisfy and meet your demands.

Pool Games for Groups of People

When you’re playing pool with a group of mates, and you’re a bit impatient like me waiting for your turn to play, why not try out some games everyone can play! If you have a folding pool table at home these games are perfect for when your mates come over!
Killer
Killer is a great game that is perfect for a group of people playing pool. Now, depending on who you ask you’ll probably get a different set of rules off different people for this game. But I think there are two main ways you can play this game, one is for fun and the other is for money!
The Rules are fairly straightforward;
• Everybody has three lives, if you miss a pot or foul then you lose a life and if you pot the black you get an extra life.
• It doesn’t really matter in which order you go in, so the first person breaks and they get two shots in which they must pot.
• Then going round the group everyone gets one shot to pot a ball or they lose a life.
• In the event of all the balls being potted and players still have lives left, you can just re-rack the balls and carry on.
• The winner is the last player with a remaining life.

If you want to play for money, the rules are exactly the same, just decide the amount you want to play for (usually a coin 20p, 50p etc) and throw your coins into a glass or saucepan (literally anything). Then place the glass or saucepan in the middle of the table, follow the same rules as before but this time you can’t hit the glass or saucepan otherwise you lose a life!
Cutthroat
A game of cutthroat works best with three or five people, you will also need American pool balls which are numbered. If you are playing with three people then For three people, the balls are split into three groups 1-5, 6-10 and 11-15 and for five people they are split into 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15. The aim of the game is to be the last player with your allocated balls on the table, so if you have balls 1-5 you would want all balls from 6-15 potted whilst keeping your 1-5 balls on the table.
• The balls are racked and broken normally, with the person who breaks deciding which set of numbers they want after breaking, the next player then decides which numbers they want, until the last player takes the remaining set.
• A player’s go is over when they fail to pot a ball or a foul is made, in the event of a foul each player make take one of their pocketed balls an return it to the table.
• When a player has all of their balls pocketed, they are out of the game unless someone else fouls then they can return one of their balls to the table.
• The winner is the player who has only their balls remaining on the table.


Three Ball
This game is good with any amount of players, only one person plays at a time but it’s quite a fast game so you don’t have to wait too long for your go!
• First decide the order the players will play, this can be done however you like, drawn at random, youngest first etc.
• Three balls are racked in a triangle, the aim is to pot them in the least amount of shots possible, with the break counting as one shot.
• Each time a foul is made an extra shot is added to the score.
• Each player plays until all three balls are potted, the winner is the player with the lowest score after everyone has had their turn.
• In the event of a tie you can either play a play-off between the tied players or consider the whole round as a tie and play again!

These games are perfect to play with a group of mates, and you’re guaranteed to have a good laugh! You can also play these games over and over so by investing in a folding pool table you’ll end up saving money, rather then spending a load of money on a pub pool table.
Do you enjoy playing these pool games with your mates? Or do you have any other games you like to play? Let us know your favourite pool games!

Has the European Championship given a clue to who will be victorious at the World Matchplay?

Highlights of the European Championships, 4th-7th July 2013

Simon Whitlock pulls off one of the great comebacks in recent darts memory.
Simon Whitlock, using his unique ‘Wizard of Oz’ darts, brought the crowd emphatically to life by coming from 9-3 down to win 10-9 in his quarter-final against the Englishman  Jamie Caven in one of the greatest comebacks in PDC darts memory.

Phil Taylor, James Wade and Raymond Van Barneveld exit in the second round.
The PDC ranked 1, 4 and 8 all went out in the second round at the 2013 European Championship, the most shocking of which was the 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor losing 10-5 to the European qualified Ronny Huybrechts of Belgium who, in the process, pulled off the greatest win of his career to date.

Adrian Lewis wins his first European Championship.
It was third time lucky for Adrian Lewis in the European Championship final; having previously lost in the final in 2008 (11-5) as well as the 2011 final (11-8) to Phil Taylor, Lewis turned the tables to beat the 2012 European champion Simon Whitlock 11-6 in Germany and claim the £50,000 jackpot.

...will such form continue to the BetVictor World Matchplay 2013?

The players confirmed for the BetVictor World Matchplay 2013 are:

PDC Top 16
1.     Phil Taylor
2.     Michael van Gerwen
3.     Adrian Lewis
4.     James Wade
5.     Simon Whitlock
6.     Andy Hamilton
7.     Wes Newton
8.     Raymond van Barneveld
9.    Dave Chisnall
10.  Justin Pipe
11.  Kevin Painter
12.  Robert Thornton
13.  Mervyn King
14.  Kim Huybrechts
15.  Brendan Dolan
16.  Terry Jenkins

PDC ProTour qualifiers
•         Jamie Caven
•         Peter Wright
•          John Part
•          Stuart Kellett
•          Paul Nicholson
•          Gary Anderson
•          Ronnie Baxter
•          Colin Lloyd
•          Steve Beaton
•          Andy Smith
•          Ian White
•         Jelle Klaasen
•          Jamie Lewis
•          Ronny Huybrechts
•          Mensur Suljovic
•          Mark Webster

The Most Common Reasons Airlines Lose Luggage

According to research, over 26 million bags go missing every year through airlines. This begs the question, why and how do so many bags gets lost or misplaced? With baggage prices on the rise the least we expect is for our luggage to arrive safely at the same destination as ourselves, not to find out our treasured possessions are half way around the world on the wrong flight. So, just what excuses have the airlines reported to be the cause of lost luggage?

Damaged Labels
If the label on your bag gets damaged, whether its ripped, torn off or effected by wet conditions outside, it may become unreadable or easily mistaken for a different destination . If your luggage happens to have a damaged label you’re suddenly left to trust the employees in charge of baggage to take the time to find the correct destination for the items. With 26 million bags going awol each year, it suggests many are sent off with little attention to their labels.

Mistaken Labels
We all have those days where our minds wonder or we’re too tired to give our full attention, but in the airline industry can people really afford to have an off day? Common reasons for luggage going missing is due to attendants typing in the wrong destination when printing luggage tags. You may be off on a skiing trip to Austria and hours later find out your luggage is on its way to Australia. The best way to avoid this hiccup is to personally check the labels once they’re attached to your bags and before they are sent for loading. This way you can rest assured that your bags will be on the correct flight.

Weather
As well as weather conditions potentially damaging labels and causing bags to be loaded onto the wrong flights, the weather can also cause problems on a much larger scale. Heavy snow or thunder storms could potentially cause hundreds of delayed flights depending on the severity. If this was to happen it would cause a back log of passengers and bags to collect. Problems could then come from passengers taking luggage from the wrong carousels, people may not collect their luggage as it has been bought out earlier than passengers who have been waiting longer and they  may not realise it is their flight, or there may be so much luggage to look through it is impossible for everyone to spot theirs, and in the process items become classed as unclaimed luggage.

In Direct Routes
If you’re travelling on an in direct flight, the risk of losing your luggage increases. Your bags need to be transferred from one flight to another and it is up to the airline to ensure this is done successfully. Again, problems such as damaged tags, and baggage being loaded on to the wrong flight are potential reasons your luggage could go missing.


How To Avoid Lost Luggage
So, now we know why our luggage gets lost, but how can we protect our belongings against this? Taking the following precautions will help avoid losing your baggage in the first place, but if it does get misplaced you’ll also have a better chance of getting it back.
• Make sure your bag stands out, personalise it with recognisable colours or patterns
• Fix an identification tag to the outside of each bag with your name and contact details
• Label everything inside you bag, this way if for some reason you luggage is also damaged and items fall out, you can still retrieve them
• Value you valuables, if there’s something you can’t bare the thought of losing and is irreplaceable, keep it on you in your hand luggage
• Make a list of everything in your bag, if your luggage does get lost and you get it back, you can check nothings gone missing from inside your cases
• Take a photo of your suitcase, this way you can show the airline what bag they need to find, which is much easier than trying to describe it
Many people will never experience misplaced luggage and those who do will likely get it back. Being prepared in the event of lost luggage gives you a higher chance of retrieving it. Before you travel read up on the airlines policy for missing luggage and compensation for items that never get returned. High value or irreplaceable products should always be carried in your hand luggage, just in case.

Student Cases

Now that you’ve settled into uni life and spent your first few weeks away from your family, it’s probably about time to make a visit back home. Instead of packing several odd bags and straining the handles on your favourite bag, investing in a small to medium sized suitcase is the perfect solution to overflowing bags and regular checks to see if you've dropped anything.
There’s plenty of room for your clothes, accessories, books and maybe some extra washing! Typically there’ll be a separate compartment for your laptop to keep it secure. This means you can keep everything in one safe place and not have any belongings on show.
A wheeled suitcase is easy to both carry and pull, which is handy if you’re on a busy platform or in a rush. It will fit nicely in the baggage section on buses and trains, but if its too busy you can slide it in the space in front of your seat.
You can also attach your address and contact details to your case, so in the unlikely event you leave it on the platform, you’ll have a better chance of getting it back than if something dropped out of a hand held bag. For extra safety you could also attach a small padlock.
If you need to retrieve tickets or money from your bag it can be a bit of a hassle if you have several bags to hold or keep an eye on. With a suitcase you can stand it up right and keep an eye on it whilst getting something out of a pocket or bag, so there is less risk of you loosing or dropping anything whilst rummaging through your belongings.
Being organised and keeping your belongings safe will ensure a stress free journey home, although we can’t guarantee there won't be fighting for seats, at least you can get all of your belongings back safely!

SportsDirect.com Take a Look at the State of Play in English Football

With recent news that English footballers account for less than a third of all the minutes played in the Premier League and the World Cup 2014 Qualifiers drawing to an end, SportsDirect.com take a deeper look into English Football.
Football is one of, if not the, most popular sport in England with people up and down the country spending their Saturday’s at the stands of their beloved football team and their Sunday’s playing 5-a-side for their work or pub team. England also has more than 40,000 association football clubs, which is more than any other country.
There is no doubt about the passion and devotion that football brings to England, however with the World Cup in 2014, the lack of English footballers in the Premier league has caused concern. Rio Ferdinand recently spoke to The Mail on Sunday with regards to this matter and said: "If you look at a lot of teams, there are England players who aren't playing for their clubs - yet we're hoping to go to a World Cup and do well!"
England don’t have a good track record when it comes to winning tournaments and this could be down to the fact that English players aren’t playing for English teams. The State of the Game Study by the BBC showed that, after England, French and Spanish players play the most minutes in the Premier League and Argentina and Belgium also have a fair amount of players in the Premier League.
This is down to many factors, one of them bring money. Foreign players are a lot cheaper than British players and Alan Shearer for one has stated that this among with managers not having much time are the main difficulties for England.
However, a recent article in the Guardian stated that the performance quality from English players is on the rise;  recalling that seven of them had made the top 20 this season and were training for the World Cup 2014 Qualifier games. So maybe it isn’t all doom and gloom after all.
Join in with football and sports discussions at Facebook and Twittter.

Your Guide to the A/W Collections

One of the greatest things about the cold weather is that it becomes acceptable to cover up, layer up and hide any insecurities that you may have, however this doesn’t mean that any old jumper will do. SportsDirect.com take a look at the upcoming trends for the new season, in styles that will flatter all shapes and sizes.
As the Autumn/Winter season sets in it’s time to start accumulating staple pieces for you’re A/W wardrobe. One of the main patterns this season is tartan which means the grunge/punk look is back. Although it is quite a busy print don’t be scared to wear it. If you aren’t so confident about your bottom half then don’t try to wear the trends with tartan trousers or skirt, opt for a loose tartan shirt teamed with black leggings, or jeggings and long boots to create a slim silhouette.
Oversized is also a key trend this season and not only is it practical for keeping you warm but it also means that you can say goodbye to the figure-hugging midi dresses that were all the rage during the Summer. Be careful though not to drown yourself in clothes though, it is best to choose either an oversized jacket, wide leg baggy trousers, an oversized knit or a flowing skirt. Combining two or more of the above will not accentuate any part of your figure and you risk making yourself look bigger than you are in reality.
As the Christmas season creeps ever closer so does the opulence trend. The main themes to keep in mind to rock this trend are heavy embellishment, embroidery and adding a bit of glitz to any outfit. Making an outfit look luxurious however does not mean that both your jewellery and outfit need to be as embellished as each other. Again, the most important thing here is decide where you want the trend to show, if you’re top heavy opt for wearing the trend on your bottom half or keep it to just your accessories.
Scarfs are always a hit in the Autumn/Winter so if you’re even in doubt invest in a couple of on-trend scarfs that will show of the styles without being too bold, they are also perfect for masking any lumps or bumps around your middle.
Check out our fashionable plus size range at www.sportsdirect.com/pages/plussize. Alternatively visit www.Facebook.com/SportsDirectUK or  www.twitter.com/SportsDirectUK for their latest collections and offers.

Keep Fit This Autumn With a Kick Around

During the dull Autumn months it can be hard to find the motivation to keep fit, with many people thinking the best workouts include doing an hour at the gym or going for a lengthy run. However, going for a kick about doesn’t seem so bad does it? SportsDirect.com take a look at how the football compares to one of the most popular workouts – running.
Football may not be on the top 10 workout list or known for being a tough sport but studies have shown that it is great for building and strengthening muscles, mainly in the abdomen and legs, as well as burning fat.
Studies by Swiss researchers have collated information that football is an all-over workout that can reduce the risk of heart disease as well as reducing blood pressure.
One of the researchers, Professor Krustop from Copenhagen University, said that the sport is better than lifting weights and as good as, if not better than, running because of the benefits of the heart. Further studies conducted at the University of Copenhagen have concluded that football also increased bone density twice as much as running and their cholesterol levels fell too.
Five-a-side football, in particular, carries numerous health benefits, even more than a full size game, as each player receives a vigorous workout due to their constant need in the game, and even though running is undoubtedly good for improving fitness as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, football offers more control over each movement as well as a wider variety of transitions and twists.
Another benefit of football is that it is a team sport, giving people the opportunity to socialise as well as keeping fit and with this comes motivation which is key when keeping to a fitness regime in the colder months.
Visit www.sportsdirect.com/football for all the latest football equipment and training wear, and keep up-to-date with their latest competitions and new releases on their official Facebook and Twitter pages.
For all media inquiries please contact Stacey.Topley@sportsdirect.com or telephone 0870 333 9400.