Kelly Morgan, Wales’ former Commonwealth champion, made an unhappy exit from the women’s singles on the second day of the World Championships at the National Indoor Arena here yesterday. Britain’s No 1 woman, who is seeded 15 and has a world ranking of 17, lost in the first round to Kaori Mori, of Japan, 11-7, 13-12 in 49 minutes. On another eventful day – rain even stopped play on one court – the Olympic bronze and Commonwealth gold medallist, Simon Archer, and his partner, Graham Hurrell, progressed into the second round of the men’s doubles. They defeated George Patis and Theodoros Velkos, of Greece, 15-5, 15-3.However, Jill Pittard, the only part-time player in the England squad, bowed out, losing 11-5, 11-4 to the eighth seed, Kanako Yonekura of Japan.. Mike Ellis, the Bracknell Bees coach, has boosted his squad ahead of their British National League campaign by signing the Great Britain international Darren Hurley and Chris Crombie. “He plays an intense, grinding style of hockey that will fit perfectly into this program.”Chris played an important role in the team last season for the Basingstoke Bison, although he is not just a tough guy He has good vision and knowledge of the game.”. Mark Dudbridge booked his place in the second round of the World Matchplay with a dramatic 10-7 victory over “Diamond” Dave Askew yesterday, having come from behind.

Askew was stunned by his rival’s charge and could only watch as Dudbridge produced a 116 checkout to clinch victory.”I’m over the moon with that performance,” said Dudbridge “I was so hyped up for this game – too hyped up. I needed to calm myself down and I did towards the end a little bit I think it showed a lot of character for me to pull it out. How I came through I don’t know.”The 1995 world champion, Richie Burnett, eased to a 10-3 win over Cliff Lazarenko, who looked to be struggling with a shoulder injury. The Welsh player dominated from the outset and produced a superb 157 checkout – the highest of the tournament so far – on his way to the second round.Colin Lloyd found himself 4-1 down against qualifier Terry Jenkins, but the No 6 seed fought back after the interval to register a 10-8 victory..

An early move to mount a British-based challenge for the next Volvo Ocean Race was announced yesterday by the husband and wife partnership of Neal and Lisa McDonald. Lisa was skipper of the all-woman crew on Amer Sports Too, but had the satisfaction of beating both her husband and her then boss, Grant Dalton, across the finish of the last leg into Kiel, Germany.”We have been really busy these last few months and we want not just to do the next race together, but to win it,” Lisa said. But no decision has been taken on whether to go for a 50-50 split of men and women in a 10-person crew for the new 70-foot design of yacht for the 2005-06 round-the-world race – which celebrates the 30th anniversary of its Whitbread Race origins in September. The couple will share the skipper’s duties but may plump for a nine-person mixed crew with the majority being male.Neal would like to see the entry carrying the British flag, but Lisa is American and the most likely source of backing for the $15m campaign would be an international company able to take advantage of the race going to both South and North America, South Africa, Australia, Britain and Scandinavia.”We have done everything in the Volvo except win it,” added Neal. “So we have started this time by putting all our energies into assembling a management team, including a City adviser, a lawyer and an accountancy adviser. Of course, we have also had some contact from people interested in joining the crew and I think there is enough talent in Britain not only to put two crews together, but two crews which could fight all the way round for first and second.”.

Britain’s first wave of selections for next month’s World Championships in Paris yesterday swept Darren Campbell towards his target of the 100 and 200 metres double. It also left Michael East riding high as he was named as the sole representative at 1,500m, freeing him of the need to obtain the World Championship A qualifying time of 3min 34.90sec before the 11 August entry deadline. “I think I have to do what’s best for me now I have been given this opportunity,” he said. Asked why he thought the selectors, who have acted similarly with the 800m trials winner, Ricky Soos, had favoured him, East replied: “Maybe I’ve got Championship legs.”The bad news came at an awkward time for Mayock, who came fifth in Sunday’s final. His wife Lindsey is waiting to give birth to his second child, due last Friday “I had too much on my mind at the AAAs,” Mayock said “Maybe it would have been better for me if I hadn’t gone.