■ ATHLETICS
101-year-old to run marathon
Already Britain's oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin now aims to become the world's oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette. Sprightly and bearded, he completed a half marathon last weekend in 5 hours, 13 minutes. The former Army physical training instructor works three days a week for a London plumbing company. "I've said I'll attempt it," he said. "I haven't said I'll complete it. If I do make it, all the better." His sponsorship money will go to the Rhys Daniels Trust, which provides temporary accommodation for the families of patients in specialist children's hospitals. "If I finish, I'll do what I always do and have a pint and a fag," he said. "People ask what is my secret but I haven't got one. They say fags and booze are bad for you -- but I'm still here, aren't I?"
■ SOCCER
Sheffield hero Dooley dies
Derek Dooley, a hero to fans of both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, has died at the age of 78, it was announced on Wednesday. Dooley, born in Sheffield, had the unusual distinction of being a popular figure with supporters of both the northern English city's two major clubs, having starred for Wednesday as a striker before his playing career was ended prematurely by a broken leg, which later had to be amputated. After a couple of appearances for Lincoln City, Dooley joined Wednesday in 1947 and became a prolific scorer for the Owls. But in 1953 he broke his leg in a collision during a game and his career was over. He returned to Hillsborough as manager between 1971 and 1973 before being controversially sacked on Christmas Eve 1973. Dooley then joined Sheffield United, initially as commercial manager and carried out a number of backroom roles at Bramall Lane, including that of chairman, before retiring in 2006.
■ ROWING
Oldest rower set for race
Former US rowing champion Michael Wherley will become the oldest rower to take part in the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race when he competes for Oxford later this month. A triple world champion in the Men's Eight, Wherley will be 36 when Britain's oldest universities meet for the 154th time on the Thames on March 29. Wherley told reporters on Wednesday he was not quite at his physical peak. However, he put this down to a lack of sleep and a three-year break from competing rather than to his age. "Sometimes it's just harder to recover from the training, but it's not necessarily harder to do it," he said.
■ SKIING
Bauer takes World Cup title
Czech cross country skier Lukas Bauer has won the overall nordic skiing World Cup title this season despite missing Wednesday's sprint in Drammen, Norway. Olympic 15km classic silver medalist Bauer cannot be caught by his leading rival Rene Sommerfeldt after the German also withdrew.
■ SAILING
Bad weather hits race
Pelting rain and gusting winds forced the cancelation of Wednesday's racing at the 81st Bacardi Cup Star Class Regatta on Biscayne Bay. With three of six races completed, Iain Percy, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the Finn class, and Andrew Simpson of Britain remain in first place overall. "We just got caught in a nasty storm and by the time it cleared up a bit, the fleet had scattered over a 16km radius," Percy said.
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