ON THIS DAY
1860: The first Open Championship of golf was played at Prestwick. Eight men took part over three rounds of the 12-hole course and the winner was Willie Park senior, who took a total of 174 strokes. Favourite Old Tom Morris was runner-up.
1995: A samba band and 5,000 fans turned out at the Riverside Stadium to welcome new midfield signing Juninho, the Brazilian player of the year, who cost Middlesbrough £4.75million from Sao Paulo.
2004: The Zimbabwe Cricket Union was cleared of racism by the International Cricket Council and had its Test status restored.
2007: England's footballers lost their European Championship qualifying Group E match against Russia in Moscow 2-1. Their subsequent defeat against Croatia and failure to reach the finals resulted in the end of Steve McClaren's tenure as coach.
2008: India's Sachin Tendulkar became the leading run-scorer in Test cricket after reaching 16 in the second Test against Australia in Mohali. He was eventually dismissed for 88.
2010: Crossmaglen beat Dromintee 1-11 to 1-8 in the Armagh SFC final.
2010: Andy Murray won the Shanghai Masters title, beating Roger Federer 6-3 6-2 in the final.
2013: The FA offered its full support to Roy Hodgson after newspaper claims a story about a monkey and a spaceman told by the England manager during half-time of his side's World Cup qualifier with Poland had caused offence.
2014: The West Indies Cricket Board announced the remainder of the national team's tour of India had been cancelled due to a pay dispute with players.
2015: Everton's most successful ever manager Howard Kendall died at the age of 69.
2017: Leicester sacked manager Craig Shakespeare just four months after he was installed on a permanent basis.
BIRTHDAYS
Eamonn Corcoran (GAA) – former Tipperary hurler and winner of an All-Ireland SHC medal in 2001, born 1977.
Jim Smith (soccer) - much-travelled former Newcastle, QPR, Portsmouth, Derby and Oxford manager, born 1940.
Aravinda de Silva (cricket) - former Sri Lanka batsman, who made 6,361 runs in Tests and 9,284 in one-day internationals, born 1965.
Shaun Edwards (rugby union) - Wales defence coach and former rugby league star with Wigan and Great Britain, born 1966.
Graeme Le Saux (soccer) - former Southampton, Chelsea, Blackburn and England defender, born 1968.
Ernie Els (golf) - four-time major winner from South Africa, born 1969.
Anil Kumble (cricket) - former India spinner who took 619 wickets in Tests and 337 in one-day internationals, born 1970.
Andre Villas-Boas (soccer) - former Porto, Chelsea, Tottenham and Zenit St Petersburg boss, born 1977.
Kimi Raikkonen (motor racing) - Finnish driver who won the Formula One world title with Ferrari in 2007, born 1979.
QUICK QUIZ
1. Prior to Derrygonnelly Harps’ four-in-a-row of Fermanagh Senior Football Championships, which club last won the title?
2 In what season did Blackburn claim Premier League glory?
3. How many gold medals did Michael Phelps win at the 2004 Athens Olympics?
4. What is the name of the NHL team that is based in Las Vegas?
5. In what year did Tyrone’s Brian McGuigan collect his only All-Star award?
(See quiz answers at bottom)
SPORT ON TV
Today (Wednesday, October 17)
GAA: Classic GAA, Dublin v Tyrone from 2008 – eir Sport 1 2130.
GAA: Classic GAA, Cork v Tipperary from 2000 – eir Sport 1 2300.
CRICKET: One-Day International, Sri Lanka v England - Sky Sports Main Event,
Sky Sports Cricket 0930.
GOLF: PGA Tour, The CJ Cup - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 0300.
SNOOKER: English Open - Eurosport 1 1245 & 1845.
TENNIS: WTA, Luxembourg Open - BT Sport 2 0900 & 1200; Kremlin Cup - BT Sport 1 0900.
BASEBALL: MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers v Milwaukee Brewers - BT Sport 1 2200;
Houston Astros v Boston Red Sox - BT Sport/ESPN 0130 (Thurs).
Tomorrow (Thursday, October 18)
GAA: Underdogs. The squad return to the Athlone Institute of Technology to have their fitness levels tested, to find out how far they have come. They also take on their final challenge match before playing the ultimate game against Dublin in Parnell Park. Last in the series – TG4 2130.
GAA: Classic GAA, action from Tipperary v Kilkenny in 2016 – eir Sport 1 2130.
GAA: Classic GAA, action from Dublin v Kerry in 2015 – eir Sport 1 2300.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL: NFL, Arizona Cardinals v Denver Broncos - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action 0030 (Fri).
BASEBALL: MLB, Houston v Boston- BT Sport 1 0100 (Fri).
GOLF: PGA Tour, The CJ Cup - Sky Sports Golf 0300 & Sky Sports Main Event 0500; Ladies European Tour, The Hero Women's Indian Open - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 0700; European Tour, The Andalucia Valderrama Masters - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 1100 & 1430.
MOTORCYCLING: MotoGP, Japan opening two free practice sessions - BT Sport 2 0045.
SPORT: Youth Olympics, futsal final - Eurosport 2 1700.
SNOOKER: English Open - Eurosport 1 1245 & 1845.
TENNIS: WTA, Luxembourg Open - BT Sport 2 1200 & 1700; Kremlin Cup - BT Sport 1 1000.
QUICK QUIZ answers: 1. Roslea Shamrock’s; 2. 1994-1995; 3. Six; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. 2003.
