The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 35

SUNDAY 7 AUGUST 1983 CTRSIT.llirEVR fiPADT At TPTCnrTD'C -215 IniS 0 ial Li Wi? WIK OW mm BOB FISHER suiveys the world's toughest yacht race A GUIDE to who does OCEAN racing sailors-all over the world find a fascination in the 605-mile Fasfnet" Race. Today 239 yachts, among them 45 competing in the Qipropagne Mumm Admiral's Cup, are at sea on the second of this biennial classic which' starts from Cowes and, after rounding the Fastnet Rock, "finishes at Plymouth. Close 2,000 sailors are involved-r-aU would like to win, but be content just to be stole" to say they have completed the course. The Fastnet was first held in 1925 and it caused controversy at the timerjClaude Worth, a founder ejber of the Ocean Cruising CiuKposed the question in The Eield, Are our latitudes suitable, jor a public ocean race race might very Weirihclude some owners whose Keenness is greater than their Fifty-four years passed- before -fts? 11 i i rsssmr. rm3t Heptathlote Judy Llvermora, sprinter Alllan Wells and Steve Ovett, favourtte for the 1500m.

6.45pm Men's 4 100m relay TV coverage BBC1 10.55am to 6.15mn; ITV to for gold In Helsinki TV coverage: BBC1 2.15pm to 6.10pm; ITV 2.30pm to 4.35pm, 5.20pm to 6.15pm; BBC1 Highlights 6.50pm to 7.45pm, 9.25pm to 9.40pm; Channel 4 Highlights 9.00pm to 9.30pm. FINALS 3.20pm Men's 400m hurdles. 4.10pm Women's 800m. 4.20pm Men's 800m. 4.40pm Women's high jump.

5.35pm Men's 6.30pm Hammer. 6.45pm: Women's heptathlon (final event). World record-holder Ed Moses (US) defends a six-year-old unbeaten record in the 400m hurdles. East German Harald Schmid, who beat him then, will he flimnff hie rivals tru4atr VPatfh out for Portugal's Carlos Lopez to oreaK tne world record, held by Kenyan Henry Rono. HEATS steeplechase 3000m Graeme 6.

10pm BBC1 Highlights 10.25pm to 11.55pm. FINALS 4.00pm Men's high jump 5.00pm Women's javelin 5.10pm: Women's 100m hurdles 5.20nm Men'a 11(hn hnnHaa 5.40pm Men's decathlon (final event) HEATS Men's 110m hurdles (semifinal); 200m (semi-final); 1500m (semi-final) 4 400m relay discus. Women's 100m hurdles (semi-final); 200m (semifinal) 1500m (semi-final) 4 400m relay long jump. TV coverage: (Schedules not available at this stage) rBr-rar ir-1 rn mn)FuDry flaime what, and when, In the first world athletics championships. TELE-VIEWERS who don't care tor athletics will need to take a firm stand this wm1t nil (our channels are dipping liber- aiiy into tne world championships in Helsinki.

This erode is designed for three who want to find what they warn to see ana tor those who want to know what it is thev may nna tnemseives watching TV coverage: BBC2 Sunday uranastana 1.33pm to 7.05pm; iiv z.zupm to 4pm; BBC1 nignugnrs 1 1 to 1 1 FINALS l.OSpm: Women's marathon leaders expected 3.30nm1 4.0Spm: Men's 20km walk (leaders expected 5.30pm). 5. 00pm Men's shot Tovce Smith. 46 in Ortnhor leads the British challenge in die women maratnon ana stands a good medal chance if she can regain ner nest iorm atter injury. FaVOUrite must he Nntnn'i former world record-holder Grete Waitz.

With Steve Rarrv. the Cnm. monwealth champion, out through injury, UK walkers will be overshadowed in the 20 kilometres walk. European and Olympic champions Jose Marin (Spain) and Maurizio Damilano Viraiy; are among leading conten ders. HEATS Men's IMhn Olwmnir cham.

pion Allan Wells and UK cnampion uuster watson bead the British challenge Americans Carl Lewis and Calvin Smith should dominate. 800m Rotherham's Peter Elliott has his chance to shine in the absence of glandular troubled Seb Coe. Triple jump: European and Commonwealth champion Keith Connor starts on his quest for world championship gold. Gris-hchenkov (USSR) leads the challenge. Other heats Women's 100m, 400m, 800m, high jump.

Men's baran a distance ahead 40 SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT, OF THE MONTH DAVID HUNN meets a girl who has conquered the loneliness of marathon running. SARAH ROWELL arrived at college as a talented hockey player and will leave it as one of the fastest marathon runners in Britain. That may be surprising to the rest of us, but no more than it is to her. The first marathon she ever ran was last year's London, attempted with more hope than confidence. She finished in an astonishingly good time for a novice.

This year she did it again and found herself ninth of all the women, and third among Britons. By then, this wraith of a girl, slight enough to slip through a large letter box, was overwhelmed by the urgent appeal of marathon running. Chosen for the British team for the World Student Games in Edmonton, she outran the rest of the scant field by more than five minutes, finishing only one minute behind the last of the men. This extraordinary performance, from a 20-year-old unknown even to the athletic fraternity outside the south of England, wins Sarah the award for the Observer Mumm sporting achievement of the month. Breaking this news is always a happy task, and to do so to a recipient as modest and as stunned as Sarah Rowell made the moment particularly memorable.

She was always the sort of waif to whom sports participation came with natural enrhusiasm and ease, but her hockey prowess was outstanding. An England L'nder-18 reserve, she went on to play for Kent and it was as a hockey specialist that she was the prophetic effect of his words was felt. In 1979, when the numbers had grown from the original seven to 303 starters, 15; lives were lost when two gales ripped the fleet apart. Subsequent investigation of the "disaster pointed the fingef-' St; inexperience. Now there are considerable qualifications required both by the boats and the majority of their- crews to take part in the can demand the greatest of seamanship skills.

Gales have become part of the Fastnet legend. In 1931 Colonel Hudson, the co-owner of the 50ft cutter Maitenes Llj was washed overboard aiid'ldst in a gale shortly after had rounded the Rock and been forced to heave-to hours. Colonel Hudsoh was lost while the yacht was. over the Labadie Bank, the area where most damage occurred4n-1979. The Fastnet of -the past decade have been mote notable for their calms than' their Flashback to the year of tragedy storms.

It was perhaps the lulling into false security.which these conditions caused that led to some of the tragedy of 1979. Last time the race was held, the calms returned. The parking lot at the Scillies on the way home, as the tidal gate was closed, was a gregarious area. Painted ships at anchor, were mirrored on a painted sea. 'You never know what to expect, the Fastnet tan throw the lot at you in three or four said one veteran of a dozen Fastnets in Cowes last week.

You have to take it as it comes I've been exhausted and bored in the same The heavy pounding that yachts can take going to windward can be extra tiring-to the crew, because it's -virtually impossible to sleep -today's ocean racing craft when they are bucking around violentlyvit can be wet and cold 5." further debilitating effects. The thought of hardship didn't deter those this year's Fastnet on Sfaturday morning. They went, and many were left behind without a berth, to try to win the race no matter what the weather. They came from all over the world to compete in what Ted Turner, who won the '79 race, once described as the mostcomplete ocean race in the After the '79 race he 'It was the roughest race in theJiistory of ocean That's the way of the Fastnet hard to describe without superlatives. Mumm Champagne will make an award this week to the best British skipper iri Class the Fastnet Race.

The crews of the small boats of Class are the unsung heroes of the race. They are out there longer, in greater discomfort, than all the- other competitors This year there are 36 boats in Class and -22 are British. Some degree of their hardship can be judged from the eight days, one hour and 58 minutes that one Class boat took in 1977. Two years later only William Ker's Assent finished of the 58 competitors in Class V. Assent took five days and 12 hours as Condor of Bermuda smashed the course record to come home in 35 minutes under three days; even then Assent was not last to finish.

IN THE ongoing Observer Honeywell award scheme, the bowler with the best striking rate in the county championship so far this season, in spite of an operation to remove a stomach abscess, is John Lever of Essex. Thanks to Gordon Green-idge's return to form, Hampshire were the county who scored their Tuns fastest in the championship in July. BOWLER'S Bowler J. K. Lever (Essex) W.

W. Daniel (Middx) P. H. Edmonds (Middx) A. Walker (N'hants) G.

G. Ferris (Leics) R. G. Williams (N'hants) D. R.

Pringfe (Essex) E. A. Baptiste (Kent) M. D. Marshall (Hants) R.

Finney (Derby) N. A. Foster (Essex) COUNTY STRIKE RATE (balls per wicket) Middlesex 42.48 Essex 48.23 Warwicks 55.25 Leics 57.18 Northants 57.89 Britons who are going 400m, 400m hurdles, shot. n.v,i.i:j:myj i TV coverage BBC1 2.25pm to 6.10pm; ITV 2.30pm to 4pm, 4.50pm to 6. 15pm BBC1 Highlights 6.50pm to 7.20pm, 9.25pm to 9.40pm; Channel 4 Highlights 8.00pm to 8.30pm.

FINALS 4.00pm Triple jump 5.50pm Women's 100m 6.00pm Men's 100m The 100m clash between Evelyn Ashford (US) and the East German woman from whom she snatched the nmrlH re-mrA year, Marlies Gohr, promises to be a highlight of these championships. HEATS Men's Iflfhn uilfh1V 400m (2nd round'): U)Om hnrH1r (semi-final); 800m (semi finals); hammer. Women's 400m (2nd round'): 800m 400m hurdles heptathlon 100m Sarah Rowell and her accepted by the Chelsea College of Physical Education at Eastbourne (now an arm of the Brighton Polytechnic) for a sports science degree. Her serious involvement in hockey had always restricted the cross-country running to which she would probably have otherwise naturally gravitated. Those days are over: the hockey stick is never again likely to be wielded with fierce intent, but the toes will dance with determination over many miles of winter countryside.

Long distance running has consumed her life. In Helsinki this afternoon the three British women who are positively faster than Sarah carry the flag in the world championships Joyce Smith (old enough to be Sarah's mother), Kath Binns and Glynis Penny. They have behind them a lifetime of running and the advantage of having excelled over much shorter distances than the marathon. Thus they have strength and they have speed, and what Sarah mostly has is KAjtONN MeCABI FINALS 11.30 a.m.: Pole vasdt 12.00: Marathon (eada 2.10 p.m.) 12.00: Women's long jump 12.20 p.m.: Women's 200m 12.45 p.m.: Men's 200m 1.15 p.m.: Women's 1500m 1.40 p.m.: Men's 1500m 1.50 p.m.: Men's discus 2.40 p.m.: Men's 5000m 3.10 p.m.: Women's 4 400m relay 3.30 p.m.: Men's 4 400m relay 4.10 p.m.: Closing ceremony The men's 1500m promises to be the outstanding track final of these champkmihips on a last day not to miss. Britain's Steve Ovett, Steve Cram and Graham Williamson should all get through and the bis Question must be whether Cram can beat Overt.

Their battle may well sweep them both past American Steve Scott and Morocco's Said Aouita, who" neaas the 1983 rankings. Tom Pollak Honeywell STRIKE RATE Balis 1419 758 1925 468 1297 748 1205 1544 1682 965 2070 Witts 49 25 56 13 35 20 32 39 42 24 50 Rate 28.95 30.32 34.37 36.00 37.05 37.40 37.65 39.58 40.04 40.20 41.40 COUNTY RUN RATE (runs per 100 balls) Kent 57.09 Glos 53.86 Hants 53.18 Essex 53.13 Warwicks 52.02 worth as manager. Even if both move on thereafter, who is there to start afresh? Neil Hartley, after being made temporary captain over the heads of more senior players, might be resented again. Richard Lumb? An England opening batsman in Bob Willis's opinion, if he had been with another county, and a player who should be at his peak at 33. But Lumb is more likely to leave than his opening partner.

Richard Hutton's name has been whispered. Colin Johnson, Second XI skipper, would be more in touch, yet not tarred with the brush of dressing-room controversy. But as he did not assert himself as a first-class batsman, it is debatable whether he could as captain. This season Yorkshire may yet win the John Player League, their first trophy since 1969, and that would at least buy time without providing any long-term solution. Meanwhile the generators in the factories outside Bramall Lane will continue to hum until the real answer is found.

Scyld Berry CZJ Fell could break the British record even if he doesn't live with the likely winners, Henry Marsh (US) and Kip Rono (Kenya). Other heats: Men's 400m (semi-final); 4 100m relay; long jump. Women's 400m (semi-final); 3000m (semi-final); 400m hurdles (semi-final); 4 100m discus. TV coverage BBC1 2.45pm to 5.40pm; ITV 3.30pm to 6.55pm; BBC1 Highlights 6.50pm to 7.45pm, 9.25pm to 9.40pm; Channel 4 Highlights 8.30pm to 9.00pm. FINALS 3.00pm: Women's 400m hurdles 3.

10pm Women's discus 3.50pm Women's 400m 4. 10pm Men's 400m 4. 50pm Men's long jnmp 5.05pm Women's 3000m 6.30pm Women's 4 100m relay fact, behind her. There were times on that run when she wondered if life would not be altogether more pleasant somewhere else. In the end, everything was worthwhile the enthusiasm of her coach, Cliff Temple; the vigour with which Running magazine decided to provide the 350 necessary to get her there; and the interminable hours of pounding that had brought her to such a peak.

Her time in Canada was not statistically impressive (2 hrs 47 min), but her second London Marathon had been completed in 2hrs 39 min. They say that for every mile you run, it takes you a day fully to recover. Last weekend, some way short of being fully restored, Sarah ran the Dartford half-marathon. She finished second to Glynis Penny, but it was (she says) the worst race she has ever run. She felt terrible.

There will probably be only one more marathon this year for Sarah Rowell. Perhaps the BBC1 Highlights 9.40pm Channel 9.25pm to 4 Highlights 8.30pm to 9vm. FINALS 2.00pm 50km walk starts (leaders expected 5.40pm) 3.00pm Women's shot 4.30pm Men's javelin 4.40pm 3000m steeplechase HEATS Decathlon Assuming he decides his groin injury permits, Olympic, European and Commonwealth decathlon champion Daley Thompson goes for the grand slam. 1500m: World record-holder Steve Ovett is likely to dominate the 1500m heats. Don't forget Steve Cram.

Women's javelin: Commonwealth record-holder Tessa Sanderson will be out to lead the preliminaries. Other heats: Men's 200m, (semi-finals), 110m hurdles, high jump, pole vault. Women's 200m, 1500m, 100m hurdles TEN YEARS ago this very day spectators ran on to the field at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, and cut up its turf. Those who knew Bramall Lane as the most stimulating ampitheatre in which the game has been played, will, realise it is no coincidence that the steel went out of Yorkshire cricket around the time that Yorkshire left its famous ground in the steel city At least those who remember the Lane have had the slight satisfaction of seeing that the act of official vandalism, in building a football stand across the cricket pitch, has been duly rewarded Sheffield United have sunk from Division One out of the city has been almost wiped off the cricket and football maps, and Yorkshire have not won anything since. Bramall Lane was, in itself, a stimulus to good cricket.

There weren't any distractions like half-clad women, or pretty scenery the Gleadless flats on a distant hill saw to that. And the generators in the factories outside the ground made a constant low key hum, which aided concentration on the cricket. Another stimulating feature was that the Lane's colours, against a background of concrete terracing, were primary bright white railings, lush turf, the football barriers, freshly painted red. Not that the facilities were anything but Victorian, for right up to the end you could ask, as Neville Cardus did, ask for a teaspoon at a refreshment counter, to be referred to a metal object tied to the premises with a piece of string. It was cricket in the raw at Bramall Lane, without any southern frills, the opposite extreme of a game on the village green in June.

On a Monday morning when clouds squatted on top of the football stands and the generators hummed, Yorkshire were out there fighting in a game that was a surrogate for war. Since Bramall Lane's closure 10 years ago, Yorkshire have continued to fight, but not always against their opponents. The steel is still sharpened, but sometimes for backs not far from home, and thus the county has sapped its own strength. Overseas players used to be given as one reason why the scales have tipped against Yorkshire in recent years, but that does not explain why modern Yorkshire sides are not the equal of their championship-winning predecessors. Nor have the county! nurseries CRICKET Looks like a lean day for Britain.

Two world record-holders, Anna Amrozene (USSR) and Galina Savinkova (USSR), should take the women's 400m hurdles and discus tides. Carl Lewis (US), who may have won the 100m on Monday, could be on his way to a hat-trick if he wins the long jump. He heads the world list this season. HEATS Men's 5000m; 3000m steeplechase (semi-final) javelin 4 100m relay (semi-final). Women's shot; 4 100m relay (semi-final).

REST DAY TV coverage: BBC1 12.15 to 12.30pm, 1.45 to 5.20pm, 6.00pm to 7.35pm ITV 2.00pm 150to 3.35pm, 4.30pm to 5.30pm, 6.05pm to 7.30pm; TONY PRIME Adidas race later this month, perhaps the New York in October. Then a winter of hard work, before a summer of even harder work. All of it (outside her degree studies) will be running, and that's the way it will go on for years to come. There is enough money in the game now (paid into her trust fund) to keep her ticking over, with family support. The Rowell family home is in the hamlet of Ryarsh, not far from Maidstone.

An early eighteenth-century house straggles engagingly along a delightful English summer garden, the peace of which is broken only when the wind carries the roar of the M20 over the wall, or when the rasp of the Tannoy in the Ryarsh brick works rattles the windows In the lanes of rural Kent Sarah Rowell does her training between 20 and 100 mUes a week, running once or twice a day. She is running towards the Los Angeles Olympics, no mistake about that. By then, she could be more than exceptional. She could be the finest long, long distance female ever raised in Britain. BEST SHARE OF INNINGS 65.65 K.

S. McEwan (Essex) 151 out of 230 in the second innings against Leicestershire, who won the match with five balls to spare dog Jill in their delightful English summer garden. stamina. She also has a body perfectly suited to the business 5ft 4in, 7 stone 5 lb. Sarah has done something that no woman could have done five years ago, and few men have ever been foolish enough to do: she has dropped herself in at the deep end.

I just don't have all those miles under my belt and it's going to take a long time to get them there. I don't have their racing experience, and most of all I don't have speed. I mean, look at Joyce she was a great half-miler before I was born. I've got to get the 8 peed, and that's what I'm going to be working In Edmonton, she managed well enough without it. That was a lonely run.

By the time they had completed their two circuits of the stadium track, the men were out of touch. Out on the road, there were climbs from the river bed so hard Sarah could not believe she was ever going to make it and there were straights so long there was not a human in sight ahead of her nor, in suddenly run dry: plenty of young players keep coming through, even if many keep on going to another county. Rather, it can now be seen that the transition from the team of the late Sixties to that of the Seventies was far too sudden, and that in the process two great traditions were lost. One was that everybody pulled together on the field, however bitter the divisions in the dressing-room. The second tradition was that every player developed a cricket brain, whatever the state of his general education.

Only two players span the generations who could have passed on that fund of cricket knowledge Geoff Boycott who, as one former player remarked last week, kept it to and John Hampshire, who was too busy looking over his Surely, the ability is there as it has always been: Bill Athey, Jim Love and. Kevin Sharp to name but three youthful batsmen. Boycott has another year's contract as a player, Ray Tlling-.