Cambridge have extended their dominance of the men’s Boat Race, overcoming some of the most choppy and windy conditions in recent memory to win for the fourth consecutive year.
With a team packed with internationals and Olympians that have swept all before them this year, Cambridge arrived as clear favourites to chalk up yet another win after only losing once in the past decade.
Cambridge began strongly, despite the slight disadvantage of starting from the Middlesex station, before Oxford rallied gamely during a messy middle section of the race.
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Both teams were warned by the race umpire and there were a series of close calls between the oars of the two sets of rowers.
With water frequently lapping up into the boat in virtual sea conditions, there were briefly even fears that one of the boats could become submerged.
Oxford’s unexpected resistance was brave, but there is no bluffing over the 4.3-mile Championship Course and Cambridge gradually eased to a comfortable four-length victory to win what was the 171st Boat Race. It was Cambridge’s seventh win in eight years to extend their overall lead since 1829 to 89-81.
While the Dark Blues were again defeated in the men’s race they had had something to celebrate in the earlier women’s race, ending a 10-year wait since their last victory.
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After starting from the supposedly slower Middlesex station, Oxford led from literally the first stroke to the last, prevailing over Cambridge for the first time since 2016.
Since then, the Light Blues had won eight times in a row, with the 2020 edition cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic. In front of their proud parents, sisters Lilli and Mia Freischem became the first siblings to compete against one another in the Boat Race, with Oxford’s Lilli securing family bragging rights.
The Dark Blues powered off, taking a lead of half-a-length within the first minute. Cambridge rallied but, as the crews then settled going into the first turn just after Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford had already established clear water. This was vital given that Cambridge had won the toss, and choosing the Surrey station would have given them an advantage on that bend. The Oxford lead mitigated that advantage hugely, however, as they could then move across into the water in front.
The winner of this year’s men’s FA Cup will pocket £2.1m in prize money. A decent sum, perhaps, on the surface of it. That is until you compare it to the prize money on offer for finishing one position higher in the Premier League.
According to the Premier League website, in 2024-25 each position was worth £2.7m, so finishing 17th, one place above the drop, earned £10.8m – more than five times the amount for winning the FA Cup.
Not only this, but the financial impact of relegation is enormous. Broadcast money, plus matchday and commercial revenue all take hits.
And while the actual amount will vary on a club-by-club basis, football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes dropping out of the top flight in 2025-26 will cost clubs an average of £100m.
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“The club that finished bottom of the Premier League two years ago, the last set of dates we have, got £111m,” Maguire told the Daily Mail in January.
“I think by the end of this season, we’ll be looking at somewhere in the region of £120m from the television companies alone.
“That will drop to around £45m in the Championship, so that is already about £75m [lost].”
Once you add the loss of matchday and commercial revenue, it means clubs are staring down the barrel of £100m+ losses.
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So, when it comes to rotating players, is it really any wonder that managers are increasingly choosing to use domestic cup competitions as rotatory playgrounds?
While there is seemingly a lot to gain for fans, and you could argue the players, that gain isn’t nearly as appealing for many of those charged with steering the ships.
*Astro line horoscopes are updated every Thursday. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and will last approximately five minutes. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. Service provided by Spoke. Customer service: 0333 202 3390
Scientists say even the smallest lifestyle tweaks could have a meaningful impact on how long we live and how healthy those years are.
A major new study led by researchers in Australia suggests that modest adjustments to everyday habits may be enough to extend lifespan.
Analysing data from tens of thousands of participants, the team found that adding just a few minutes of sleep, a short burst of physical activity and a slight improvement in diet could collectively make a measurable difference.
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The power of tiny daily tweaks
The findings indicate that as little as five extra minutes of sleep, roughly two additional minutes of exercise and a small increase in healthy food intake, such as half a serving of vegetables, may add a year or more to life expectancy.
While each of these changes might seem insignificant on its own, together they appear to have a much greater effect.
In fact, the research suggests that combining these small adjustments produces stronger benefits than making a larger change in just one area.
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“There seems to be a unique synergy” between sleep, movement and diet, said Emmanuel Stamatakis, senior author of the study.
The work adds to a growing body of evidence showing that realistic, manageable improvements can have an outsized impact on long-term health.
“We’re not talking about big, ambitious goals,” Stamatakis said. “We’re talking about four extra pieces of broccoli at dinner tonight, that kind of thing.”
What is SPAN and why it matters?
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The researchers focused on three core pillars of wellbeing, sleep, physical activity and nutrition, sometimes referred to collectively as SPAN.
While each has long been recognised as essential, the study aimed to understand how they interact, and what minimum changes might still deliver benefits.
To explore this, the team analysed data from nearly 60,000 adults, most in their 60s, drawn from the UK Biobank.
This large-scale dataset includes detailed records on lifestyle, including sleep patterns tracked by wearable devices, physical activity levels and dietary habits.
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Using this information, the researchers built a statistical model to estimate how different combinations of habits might influence longevity.
The model suggested that the “optimal” balance included just over seven hours of sleep per night, around 40 minutes of daily activity and a high-quality diet, a combination associated with significantly longer and healthier lives.
However, the more striking finding was how little change was needed to move the needle. Even minor improvements helped lift individuals out of the lowest health category, potentially extending both lifespan and the number of years lived without serious illness.
By contrast, trying to achieve the same benefits through a single behaviour alone required far greater effort. For example, the model suggested that substantially more exercise would be needed to match the effect of small, combined changes across all three areas.
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“We found changes could be more minimal” when combined, Stamatakis said, making them potentially easier to implement. “Putting your phone away a little earlier in the evening might be enough” to help you sleep five minutes more, he said.
“Plus taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work and using whole grain bread on a sandwich. Those small things add up.”
The results underline a simple but encouraging message: improving health may not require a complete lifestyle overhaul, just a few small, consistent steps in the right direction.
Cork & Coffee, based in Seaham, has added the new space to create a relaxed environment where guests can enjoy coffee in the morning or wine and cocktails into the evening.
Danielle Smith and Tam Ali, owners of Cork & Coffee, said: “At Cork & Coffee, we are always looking for ways to refine and enhance the experience we offer.
“With the summer months approaching, it felt like the perfect time to reimagine our outdoor space.
“We have introduced additional table seating along our seafront location, creating a more open and relaxed setting for our guests to enjoy.
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“Whether it is coffee in the morning or wine and cocktails into the evening, the new layout allows people to make the most of the surroundings.”
Cork & Coffee is also planning to launch a new tapas menu soon.
Cork & Coffee in Seaham have expanded. (Image: Cork & Coffee)
Ms Smith and Mr Ali said: “This is a natural step for us as we continue to evolve the space in line with how our customers enjoy Cork & Coffee.
Read more:
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“We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to our customers for their continued support.
“It is because of this that we are able to grow, and as we look ahead, we will be exploring opportunities to expand into new locations in the future.”
The outdoor seating area is now open for guests to enjoy.
York Cocktail Week is back for the second year and will celebrate 26 of the city’s finest venues from Friday (April 17) until Sunday (April 26).
Organised by Ma.d Agency, the event will allow people to access hundreds of exclusive deals – with each participating venue offering up its own signature cocktail.
Recommended reading:
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A wide range of £5 to £7 cocktails will be available – a fraction of their original price – through a special York Cocktail Week wristband.
Speaking about this, event organiser Alice Christison said: “Not only is it exciting to be bringing Cocktail Week back to York for the second year but to see so many top venues signing up to join in the fun is fantastic.
“I know first-hand how wonderful these cocktails and mocktails are, delivered by some of the finest mixologists, so I know visitors will have the best experience.”
A full list of participating venues is as follows:
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The Botanist
Bobos Cocktail Bar
Vudu Lounge
DumDum Tiki Bar
Kennedy’s Bar
Impossible
Pink
Manahatta
Ask Italian
Cosy Club
Social8
Brew York Tap Room
Jalou
Whippet Inn
Cicchetti Lounge
Rosa’s Thai
Revolution
Yemen Heaven
Dusk
House of Trembling Madness
Shambles Tavern
Slug & Lettuce (Riverside)
Slug & Lettuce (Swinegate)
Tomahawk Steakhouse
Moxy
Boho Mixologists
Aside from the deals, signature cocktails will be available, along with mocktail options – with a little something for everyone.
Top picks, event organisers say, include This Sh*t Is Bananas from Manahatta, the Amalfi Sunset at Ask Italian, the Katy Berry Cosmo at Brew York Taproom, The Cosy-Cabana at Cosy Club and The Lavender Lady at Kennedy’s Bar.
More on the deals and wristband purchasing options can be found here.
Scotland and parts of northern England are expected to be affected by Storm Dave in the coming hours.
Disruption could be seen on roads, as well as on rail, air and ferry services, so whether you’ve got travel plans or are interested in seeing where the storm is, here’s how you can track it.
⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️#StormDave brings strong winds across northern England, southern Scotland and northwest Wales
Brits can track Storm Dave via the Met Office website today through to tomorrow.
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The Met Office’s tracker allows you to see the movement of Storm Dave and the impact of the storm.
You can see the rainfall, wind gusts, cloud cover and temperature as the storm moves across the UK.
#StormDave has been named and is forecast to bring damaging winds across northern parts of the UK, with some disruptive snow possible in northwest Scotland later on Saturday and into Easter Day #WeatherAwarepic.twitter.com/J0NZYD2SPC
Up to 30 centimetres of snow could fall, with the Met Office issuing a yellow severe weather warning in Scotland for heavy snow and blizzards, causing some travel and power disruption.
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Meanwhile, an amber weather warning for wind has been issued for parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales tonight.
The Met Office has upgraded a severe yellow weather warning for wind to amber, meaning flying debris could lead to “injuries or danger to life”.
What different Met Office weather warnings mean
The amber warning covers parts of Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, North Wales and Scotland, and comes into effect at 7pm this evening and is due to remain in place until 3am on Sunday.
When is Storm Dave expected to hit the UK?
The warnings are in place this evening and tomorrow morning, with the storm expected to hit during this period.
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Storm Dave will hit hardest on Saturday evening, before beginning to weaken on Sunday as it moves into the North Sea.
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The Met Office has issued multiple warnings for wind covering the whole of mainland Scotland, Northern Ireland, parts of northern England and North Wales from Saturday evening into Sunday.
Greg Dewhurst, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “There is cold air across Scotland at the moment and, as the rain pushes across this afternoon, it is going to turn to snow.
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“We’ll see heavy snow forming across parts of the Highlands as we go through the rest of the afternoon into the evening time and early hours, as much as 20 to 30 centimetres could fall over the higher ground, and five to 10 centimetres over lower ground.”
Will you be tracking Storm Dave? Let us know in the comments.
Nick Woltemade only joined Newcastle United last summer (Picture: Getty)
Dietmar Hamann has described Nick Woltemade’s struggles at Newcastle United as ‘remarkable’ and says it has presented Eddie Howe with a ‘really tricky situation’.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a bright start to his St James’ Park career, however, scoring six goals before the start of November and impressing with his all-round play.
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But Woltemade’s contributions began to fall away over the winter period and the German has now scored just once in his last 22 appearances in all competitions.
The towering forward has even been used slightly deeper by an increasingly desperate Howe but Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has dismissed the notion he can play in midfield.
Hamann insists his compatriot’s drop-off is ‘very strange’ and has raised the possibility that Woltemade will now be sold after just one season.
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Woltemade enjoyed a bright start to his Newcastle career (Picture: Getty)
‘I couldn’t believe the developments in the last few weeks and months regarding Nick Woltemade,’ Hamann told BoyleSports.
‘There was a story in one of the German papers that he hasn’t settled in the North-east, which I personally think is a paradise for a footballer, because if you’ve got a bit of success, they treat you as a hero.
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‘He had a great start and was adored by the faithful, adored by the fans. It’s obviously a very strange situation because if you had told me this after six or eight weeks, where he scored a few goals, I would have said he’s going places and he’ll be one who might be there for a few years, who is loved and adored by the people.
Eddie Howe is faced with a ‘really tricky situation’ (Picture: Getty)
‘To have the turnaround now in a short space of time is really remarkable. What you hear and what you see probably makes me think that there might be a summer exit, which is obviously not a good situation for the club because they paid an awful lot of money.
‘Do you force him to stay here? Is that a good solution? And who’s going to pay the money for him now?
‘So, yeah, I think it’s a really tricky situation for both of them, for both parties, but especially for the club.’
If Newcastle do end up selling Woltemade, Hamann believes former Manchester United and Chelsea transfer target Victor Osimhen would be the ‘perfect’ replacement.
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Victor Osimhen has long been linked with a Premier League move (Picture: Getty)
Osimhen has scored an impressive 56 goals in 70 games since joining Galatasaray in 2024 and helped Napoli win the Serie A title before his move to Turkey.
‘I think Victor Osimhen is one of the top five centre forwards in Europe,’ ex-Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich midfielder Hamann added.
‘I couldn’t believe that he ended up in Turkey. Obviously, Napoli paid an awful lot of money for him, but I’m very surprised that none of the English teams signed him, because they all struggled for centre forwards in the summer.
‘They tried for players like Benjamin Sesko, and other players who have come in are only just starting to adapt now because they obviously needed some time.
‘I think he’s an outstanding player and I think he’s probably the reason why Galatasaray is doing well in the league.
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‘I love watching him and I think, if he were to play in the Premier League, there are teams he would make much better.
‘Obviously, Liverpool have got two players there now, so he won’t end up there, but he’s an outstanding player. He’s got pace, he’s got power, he can finish, a wonderful player.
‘If Newcastle do sell Nick Woltemade, he could be the perfect fit.’
Motorists are being urged to avoid the area if possible
Peter Hennessy UK & World News Editor
03:55, 05 Apr 2026
A busy road has been closed by police after a serious crash.
Police Service of Northern Ireland [PSNI] have urged drivers to avoid the area if possible after the collision on Castlecat Road, Dervock in the early hours of Sunday, April 5.
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Police say the road has been closed until further notice and drivers should use alternative routes if they are able to.
A spokesperson for PSNI said: “Road users are asked to avoid the Castlecat Road, Dervock, which is closed due to a serious one vehicle road traffic collision.
“Diversions are in place, and motorists should seek an alternative route where possible.”
A missing U.S. fighter pilot who was shot down in Iran has been rescued, Donald Trump has announced.
“WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History,” the president posted on Truth Social late Saturday night.
New VAT and Insurance Premium Tax rules will increase costs for Motability Scheme applications from 1 July 2026, with changes to mileage allowance and tyre replacement limits
The Motability Scheme is set to undergo significant changes as updated regulations drive up costs from July. The alterations stem from tax adjustments announced in the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget last year, which will have a direct impact on the scheme.
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From 1 July 2026, VAT and Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) will apply to leases on the DWP Motability Scheme. Consequently, leasing a vehicle will become considerably more expensive, and the overall cost of delivering the Scheme will rise substantially.
There are several key points to note. The changes apply to new applications submitted on or after Tuesday, July 1 2026. The organisation states: “When considering changes, priority has been given to protecting what matters most to disabled people, reducing the impact of the tax changes as far as possible and providing good value.
“Alongside Motability Operations, we remain dedicated to providing the Motability Scheme now, and for years to come, with a continued strong focus on customer service, affordability and choice.”
VAT
For those who currently hold a lease, Motability officials confirm that nothing will change for the time being, reports Birmingham Live.
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Where VAT is applied to a lease, it will not affect the lease payments deducted from your mobility allowance. Rather, VAT will be charged at the standard rate on other lease costs including your Advance Payment, excess mileage fees and early termination charges.
Mileage allowance
Regarding mileage allowance, new leases will feature:
Cars: 30,000 miles across three years
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles: 50,000 miles across five years
Officials report that roughly three-quarters of customers travel within this revised allowance, with a typical annual mileage of around 7,500 miles. Those who exceed this limit will have the option to purchase additional miles, the foundation confirms.
It added: “We recognise that some customers may need to drive more miles for a variety of reasons, and we are currently looking at ways we may be able to mitigate the impact of these changes for customers in some limited exceptional circumstances.”
Tyre replacement
On tyre replacement, from 1 July, a Scheme lease will cover:
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Up to six tyres during a three-year lease, with up to four replacements available for accidental damage
Up to 10 tyres during a five-year lease, with up to six replacements available for accidental damage
Most customers require two tyre replacements over the course of a three-year lease, and these updated limits have been set to reflect what the vast majority of drivers need through standard use, the foundation states. With regard to EU breakdown cover, drivers will still be permitted to take their vehicle abroad, but must request a VE103 form from the RAC and pay an administration fee.
EU breakdown cover
In the previous year, fewer than one per cent of customers made use of EU breakdown cover. For those already holding a lease, Motability representatives confirm that nothing will change during your current agreement at this stage.
They stress that these modifications apply solely to new applications made from 1 July 2026 onwards.
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