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/ 1 December 2005

Close field in Nedbank challenge

Predicting the winner of this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge is about as tough as actually playing the par-72 Gary Player layout. ”The whole field is very close and all of the guys have proven themselves,” says three-time champion Ernie Els. Retief Goosen tops the bookmakers’ boards at 3-1, with Els on offer at 4-1.

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/ 1 December 2005

First-timer hopes to win golf challenge

Only four first-timers have ever won the Nedbank Golf Challenge at their first attempt and the last time that was achieved was in 1986 by Mark McNulty. There are three newcomers this year — Argentinian Angel Cabrera, American Stewart Cink and Englishman Luke Donald — and it is the latter who believes he can break the mould this year.

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/ 1 December 2005

Japan, Spain beckon for Baxter

Stuart Baxter’s blues that surrounded his resignation as Bafana Bafana coach have been eased by a R6,5-million offer to join a team in Japan — and he says this is only half the amount on tap from an oil-rich country in the Middle East. ”But at this stage,” he said on Wednesday, ”it looks as though I’ll either end up in Japan or Spain.”

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/ 1 December 2005

Lions rained out again

The Lions can call themselves the rain men after all three their games thus far in this year’s Standard Bank Series have been rained out. Their matches against the Cobras and Titans also ended up as no results due to rain. Wednesday was the second match of the series at Goodyear Park where rain had the final say.

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/ 1 December 2005

Storm clouds threaten Indian cricket again

A severe cyclonic storm building in the Bay of Bengal has threatened to curtail the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka in Chennai, India, from Friday. That will be bad news for fans in Chennai who have already seen the past three international matches here fall by the wayside due to bad weather.

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/ 1 December 2005

Tokyo’s pampered pets get five-star hotel

Japanese pet owners can now embark on their foreign travels safe in the knowledge that their pampered pooches and moggies will be living in the lap of luxury at a five-star ”pet hotel” that opens on Thursday at Tokyo’s Narita airport. The Pet Inn Royal boasts 170 well-appointed rooms — not kennels — for up to 250 animals.

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/ 1 December 2005

Old Mutual amends Skandia acceptance level

South African financial and insurance giant Old Mutual plc on Thursday announced that it is amending its minimum acceptance level for Swedish life assurer Skandia from 90% to more than 50%. The group said all other outstanding terms and conditions relating to its offer for Skandia remain unchanged and as previously announced.