The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 24

24 I SPORTS NEWS The Guardian Thursday November 7 1996 Athletics Tromans gets to the heart of the matter Duncan Mackay on the cardiac operation that gave a long-distance runner his breath back and brought him a first GB vest The reward came yesterday when he was named for his Great Britain debut in the 26.2-mile Ekiden road relay in Chiba, Japan on November 23 together with Paul Taylor, Darrius Burrows, Ian Gillespie and Martin Jones. "It means a tremendous amount to me because it justifies everything I went through," said Tromans. The first indication that something was seriously wrong came at the UK cross-country championships. While holding a qualifying position for Britain's world championships team he suffered a sudden attack and was forced to drop out. As the attacks became more frequent he was treated for asthma and for allergies to house dust mites and pollen, to no effect.

An entry in his training diary, after one attack had forced him to abandon a track session, illustrated the symptoms. "Suddenly my heart is pounding like a drum, I get tightness in my chest, fatigue, and I am forced to stop," he wrote. "It is very sudden and I can do nothing about it. It is completely unpredictable." Tromans persevered even though the attacks happened more regularly and became more painful. Serious runners, though, come to think of chronic fatigue IN MARCH 1995, Glynn Tromans was working on qualifying for the world championships in Gothenburg later that year.

Within months, however, he was unable to complete even a light workout without stopping to catch his breath. He could no longer deny what had been hinted at: the body which he believed could put him among Britain's top distance runners was letting him down and he did not know why. After almost a year of visiting doctors and hospitals and getting nowhere he was diagnosed as having tachycardia, a condition in which an extra electrical conduction pathway in the heart causes palpitations and prevents it from functioning normally. "It was a serious constraint on my athletics ambitions," said Tromans. Fortunately that was the beginning rather than the end of his remarkable story.

Two heart operations within a fortnight last spring the second a real test of courage have helped correct the problem and the 27-year-old Coventry college lecturer has now re-emerged dramatically by setting personal-best times over five miles, 10 miles and 10 kilometres in three of his four comeback races. is no longer inclined to be a pain for Glynn Tromans now that surgery has got his heart ticking over properly again On the up and up training in much the same way that city residents treat a car alarm: they know it is supposed to signify that something bad is going on but have experienced so much to the contrary that they tend to ignore it and wait for the annoyance to stop. "The whole episode was very frustrating because PHOTOGRAPH: JOHN ROBERTSON Denmark. If this operation was going to help I was going to have it. "I think far more nails were bitten among my family and friends than by me.

Even now I still don't think it was that big a deal; it was just something I had to do to be successful, like going out for a training session." Soccer Scotiahd seekG Collymore faces boot for no-show Patrick Glenn says Craig Brown's battlers are in the unfamiliar role of favourites as they prepare to meet Sweden on Sunday decide it was the right thing to do. It's taken me a long time to get to this level; I didn't want something to stop me making the next step up. "I've always believed my place is to be part of the Great Britain team at world championships, alongside people like Rob Brown's squad yesterday. The Rangers goalkeeper has been unable to train because of a damaged hip, so Jim Leighton of Hibernian will win his 75th cap and qualify for a specially struck gold medal. Mother- wells keeper Scott Howie has been drafted in to join Leigh ton and Aberdeen's Nicky Walker.

If Fifa decides that Estonia are guilty of failing to appear without an extraordinary ex cuse, the punishments laid down are automatic. They should be thrown out of the competition and not allowed to compete in the next World Cup, with Scotland being awarded a 3-0 win. However, Fifa could eject Estonia, annul the two games they have already played a 1-0 win and a 1-0 defeat, both against Belarus and give the other five group members two victories each of 3-0. Snooker Bond broken by Australian welder Cllve Everton in Bangkok ENGLAND'S juggernaut of three players from the world's top eight, Peter Eb-don, Nigel Bond and Ronnie O'Sullivan, took a lengthy diversion late in the journey to the semi-finals of the World Cup here before clinching a 10-5 win over Australia. From 2-9 the motley Australian trio still contrived to give England some anxiety.

Stan Gorski, whose 50 hours a week as a boiler-makerwelder ordinarily restricts his snooker to weekends, won two of the next three frames, making a 68 break to beat Bond and a 50 clearance to the pink to pip O'Sullivan. Between these two successes Australia's talented, if wayward, 18-year-old prospect Quentin Hann made a break of 77 against Ebdon to score his third win of the day. Bond, the shakiest of the Englishmen, then added the clinching frame, though not before Australia's shaven-headed former world billiards champion Robby Foldvari had replied with 41 to Bond's 51 to set up a close finish. Thus Bond recorded only his seventh win in 17 frames in this competition. O'Sullivan has won 15 and Ebdon 13.

The Republic of Ireland's three young Dubliners, Ken Doherty, Fergal O'Brien and Stephen Murphy, led Canada 5-0, 6-1 and 8-2 but the experienced Canadian team of Cliff Thorburn, Jim Wych and Alain Robidoux all con tributed frames in a recovery to 6-9 before Murphy saw the Republic home with a tense black-ball win over Robidoux. Their next opponents will be England. dure was repeated even though the risk was huge. "If the surgeon had burnt too far it could have affected the rest of my heart and led to me having to have a pacemaker fitted," said Tromans. "But when I was told that it was what I needed it took me two or three seconds to our camp that this group can be won.

We're also motivated by the set-up this time. Only the best runners-up from all the European groups will qualify automatically, with the others going into playoffs. I think our group looks the kind where a relatively low points total will win it and the runners-up are certain to be in a play-off. "We would want to win the section to avoid that. You look at some of the other groups and see who you could meet.

For example it could be England or Italy, who are both in the same section." With the double header against Estonia and Austria at home on March 29 and April 2 coming next for Scotland, a string of victories starting on Sunday would make them almost uncatchable. Andy Goram, as expected, was the only withdrawal from overtime the play-off stages is now back in the balance. "We have the Hungarians and Turks away," said Lewis after the game. "If we could just win at home we'd be fine." Towers led 28-27 at half-time but thereafter received a lesson in why the three-point shot is the major weapon in the European game. Roberto Bullara hit four for the Italians, three in the second half.

Boulale (Can) bt Garrison Jackson 6-4, 6-7, 6-4; I Splrlea (Rom) bt Habsudova (Slovak) 6-4. 6-2; Shrlver bt Stubbs (Aus) 6-2. 6-7, 6-8; Suarez (Arg) bt Basuki (India) 6-1. 1-6. 6-2: Hlngle (Switz) bt A Miller 6-4, 6-4.

Ice Hockey SUPERLEAOUBi Shellleld 4, Cardiff 4 lot); Nottingham 3, Newcastle 2 lot). NHLi Toronto 6, St Louis 3. Cricket TOUR MATCHESi Adelaldei Australia 203- 7 (D Lohmann 61 no). England A 204- 4 (M A Butcher 76). England A won by six wickets.

Perth! Indians 127-8. Australia 128-1 (R Campbell 64no). Australia won by nine wickets. TITAN CUP FINALi Bombayi India 220-7. Africa 185.

India won by 35 runs. SHEFFIELD SHIELD! Brlebane (tlrst day): Tasmania first innings 14-1 Queensland (rain stopped play). Boxing COMMONWEALTH CRUISERWEIOHT CHAMPIONSHIP (Hull)l Chile Okoh (Croydon, hldr) bl Tosca Petrldls (Aus) pis. Motor Sport TOUR OF CATALUNVA (Spain). Final leading etandlnaat 1, McRao (GB) Subaru Impreza 4hr 14mln 20sec; 2, Liattl (It) Impreza at 7sec; 3, Thlry (Bel) Ford Escort Cosworlh 1.18; 4, Lolx (Bel) Toyota Cellca GT4 1.35; 5.

Makinen (Fin) Mitsubishi Lancer 1.52. World o'ehlp final landings 1, Makinen 123pts: 2, McRao (GB) 92; 3, Salnz (Sp) 89. Snooker WORLD CUP (Bangkok): OuarteMlnalei England bt Australia 10-5: RepuWIo of Ireland bt Canada 10-6. Fixtures Soccer AVON INSURANCE COMBINATION Flret Dlvlsloni Arsenal Chelsea (2.0). Basketball T-UP TROPHVi Shellleld Leicester (7.45); Loopards Thames Valley (7.0); Worcester KlddermlnBfer (7.30).

through the arteries into his heart, and an attack induced. Once the precise location of the extra pathway was discovered, it was disconnected. At least that was the plan. Unfortunately, 13 days later he had another attack and was rushed back into hospital. The proce squad assembled yesterday.

"Although we start every qualifying series hoping to win the group, we are realistic enough to suspect that whatever giant is in with you is going to win it and that the runners-up spot might be your best bet. "I believe Sweden should be favourites this time because they finished third in the last World Cup. But they failed to qualify for Euro 96 and they were not very good when I saw them scrape past Latvia. "But the Swedes were never going to be head and shoulders above the rest of us; they don't cast the same shadow as others you can think of. So there is a real feeling among everybody in the Towers in would have won the game in regulation time.

Verona showed the greater poise in the extra period and a three-pointer by their American forward Randolph Keys gave them a five-point lead that Towers barely reduced before the same player hit a two that all but secured the win. The defeat leaves London with four defeats in six games, and qualification for ITALIAN CUPi Third roundi Juventus 2. Nocerina Inter Milan 2. Cagliari VI-cenza 1. Genoa 0.

SPANISH CUPi Second round, flret leal Merlda 1. Extromadura Mallorca 1, Depor-tivo 0: Ecila 1, Real Betls 2: Aviles 1. Ovlodo Salamanca 0, Real Madrid Real Union 0, Zaragoza 4: Zalla 0. Ath Bilbao 3: Alaves 1, Logrones Ferrol 1. Cella Vigo Elbar 1.

Racing Santander V. Albacete 0, Rayo Vallecano 0: Malaga 0, Sevilla Leganes 1, Compostola Levante 1. Hercules 0. Rugby Union CLUB MATCH! Cambridge) Univ 41. French Barbarians 76.

ANOLO-WELSH CUPi Pool 1 Al Nealh 19, Leicester 36; Pontypridd 19. Wasps 29. Pool 2Al Dunvant 47, Ldn Irish 27. Pool 1Bl Harlequins 78, Llanelli 10. Basketball 7-UP TROPHVi Palace 88.

Birmingham 84 (01); Newcastle 65, Manchester 77. EUROPEAN CUPi London 64, Verona 71 (ol). NBA! Toronto 100, Dallas 96; Cleveland 68 San Antonio 74; Philadelphia 81, De-troll 83; New York 92, LA Lakers 98; Chicago 96, Vancouver 73; Denver 78, LA Clippers 82; Phoenix 95. Minnesota 98; Seattle 95, Atlanta 117; Golden State 93. Portland 111; Sacramonto 80.

Houston 102. Tennis STOCKHOLM OPENl Flret rdl Dewulf (Bel) bt Ondruska (SA) 6-1, 6-1. Second rdl Martin (US) bt Stoltenberg (Aus) 6- 3, 5-7. 6-3; Reneberfl (US) bt A Boetsch (Fr) 6-3. 6-3; Spade (US) bt Slomorlnk (Neth) 6-4, 6-7, 6-3; Rueedekl (GB) bl Stolle (Aus) 6-4.

6-3; Enqvlet (Swo) bt Fromberg (Aus) 6-3. 6-1. KREMLIN CUP (Moscow): Second roundi A O'Brien (US) bt Forget (Fr) 7- 6, 7-6; Ivanleevlo (Cro) bt Vacek (Cz) 6-4, 7-6; Block (Zlm) bt Rosset Switz) 7-6. 5-7, 6-2; Prlnoell (Gor) bt Kucerla (Slovak) 7-5. 6-4; Korde (Cz) bt Sinner (Ger) 7-5, 6-4; Kafelnikov (Rus) bt A Chesnokov (Rus) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

HELLM ANN'S CUP (Santiago, Chile): Flret roundi Blanco (Sp) bt Etlis (Arg) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4: Mantilla (Sp) bl A Portas (Sp) 6-4, 4-6, 6-0: Rloe (Chile) bt A Lopez-Moron (Sp) 6-2, 6-3. WOMEN'S CLASSIC (Oakland. Colli): Flret round (US unless stated): Iruba-kova (Slovak) bl Pourl 2-6. 7-6. 6-2; A Frailer bt Touzlat (Fr) 7-6.

6-2; Hy there didn't seem to be any end to it," he said. Eventually in February this year Frank Newton, the doctor to the English Cross-Country Association, diagnosed tachycardia and Tromans had his first operation on April 30. Three incisions were made into his groin, tubes were fed the record and the match replayed, it is unlikely to turn Brown into an insomniac. He is entitled to be more focused on the Swedes, as Sunday's match provides Scotland with an opportunity to impose themselves on Group Four, in which there are no giants to be slain. The Scots are not accustomed to being favourites but they have replaced Sweden as front runners in the past few weeks.

Sweden's unimpressive 2-1 victory in Latvia was followed by the 1-0 home defeat against Austria. "There is no doubt that not having, say, an Italy or a Germany to overcome has had a positive effect on all of us," said Brown when his Basketball Verona topple Rob Dugdale THE London Towers held the group leaders Riello Verona close in their European Cup game last night before being toppled 71-64 in overtime. Two free-throws from Danny Lewis had levelled the scores at 55-55 with seconds left before Karl Brown missed a shot on the buzzer that Results Soccer FA VASEi Firet-round replayai Wealdstono 1, Spalding Feltham 5. Slottold 1. OM VAUXHALL CONFERENCE! Altrinc-ham 1, Southport 0.

UNIBOND LEAOUEi Premleri Knowsloy 5 Bambor Bridge Wlnsford Uld 3, Col-w'yn Bay 0. Flrti Droylsden 2. Conglelon Lincoln Uld 0, Farsley Celtic 4. ICIS CUPi Second round! Harrow Bor 3. Enliold 2: Walton Horsham 0.

Grays Chosham 3, Thamo Utd 2 (aot). DR MARTENS COPi First round, ucond legi Faroham 3. Weymouth 3 (agg: 4-7); Havant 3. Newport low 4 (5-7); St Leonards 3. Hastings 0 (5-1).

NW COUNTIES LEAOUEi Flrat Division! Chadderton 0, Clltheroo Newcastle Tn 3, Tratlord SI Helens Tn 3, Oarwen 2. Trophy! Flrat round, second legi Rossen- dale Utd 3, Castleton 1 (agg: 4-1). FEDERATION BREWERY NORTHERN LEAOUEi Flrat Dlvlilom Consett 7. Chester Le Street 0. NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAOUEi Premier Dlvleloni Qlasshoughton Wei-tare 1, Ferrlby Utd 0.

Preeldent'e Cupi Seoond roundi Maltby Mw 2. Parkgate 0. SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAOUEi Premier. Brldport 0, Mangotsfleld Utd 2. Lee Phll-llpe Cupi Barnstaple 2, Taunton 1.

PONTINS LEAOUEi Premier Dlvlsloni Bollon 1, Stoke Loods 0, Nottm Forest Tronmere 3. Liverpool 1. PIreti Aston Villa 7 Middlesbrough Nolls Co 2, Blackpool Port Vale 1, West Brom Preston 1. Coventry 0. Seeondi Hull 1.

Burnley Stockport 2. Wrexham York 1, Rother-ham 0. Thlrdi Chester 0, Rochdale Lincoln 1, Scarborough 1. AVON INSURANCE COMBINATION! Flret! Bournemouth 5. Norwich Brighton 3, Mlllwall Bristol 1, Wimbledon Cardiff 1.

QPR Luton 2, Tottenham 1: Oxlord 3. Swindon 3: Southampton 2. Watlord 1: Swansea 2. Portsmouth 0. LOE OF WALESi Caernarlon 1.

Rhyl Carmarthen 1. Inter Cablo-T 1: Cwmbran 3, Ton Pentro Ebbw Vale 0, Nowtown Flint 1. Cemaes Bay Holywell 1, Conwy Porthmadog 2. Aberystwyth 2. FRENCH LEAOUEi Auxerre 2.

Melz Bastla 3. Lyon Bordeaux 1, Cannes Caon 0, Nantes Nancy 2. Gulngamp Nice 0, Paris SQ Llllo 2, Lens Rennes 1. Le Havre 1: Strasbourg 2, Montpelller 1. DUTCH LEAOUEi Utrocht 1.

Volendam 0. Merson has to fall out PAUL MERSON suffered a setback to his England rehabilitation yesterday when he was forced to withdraw from the squad that flew to Georgia for Saturday's World Cup qualifier. The Arsenal midfielder, who has rebuilt his career after his drugs, drink and gambling problems, has failed to recover from a groin injury. The England coach Glenn Hoddle, who had already lost the Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo, decided not to send for replacements and left with a squad of 21. Merson had been due to have a fitness test yesterday morning but the problem had shown no sign of responding to treatment and he left the England hotel for home late on Tuesday night.

It was a bitter blow for the-28-year-old, whose comeback to his old form had been rewarded by Hoddle with a recall to the international squad last month. Merson was in line to play a part in Tbilisi, especially in view of the controversy hanging over Paul Gascoigne. Now, however, Merson's withdrawal and Hoddle's probable tactic of packing the midfield look likely to reprieve Gascoigne. Within seconds of stepping off the plane when it arrived in the Black Sea state, Gascoigne was engulfed by photographers, for whom he posed before being guided through the throng by Terry Wise, head of a security firm that has been hired to look after the player and the England squad. Hoddle.

who has Paul Ince, Steve McManaman, David Piatt and David Beckham in his midfield pack, has a minor worry about the goalkeeper David Seaman's dead leg. The stand-in Ian Walker has played only twice for England 25 minutes against Hungary and the following game in China last spring and the third-choice David James is uncapped. But Seaman insisted: "I expect to be back in training tomorrow." Hoddle has reassured Mat teo, who has not managed even to train with the squad since last month's promotion before the Poland game. He has a terrific future," said the coach. The Bolton captain Gudni Bergsson is struggling with a thigh strain and looks certain to miss Iceland's match with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.

The West Ham full-back Keith Rowland has pulled out of Northern Ireland's qualifier against Germany in Nuremberg on Saturday with a septic throat. Millwall's top scorer Anton Rogan, who last played for his country four years ago, has been called up in Rowland place by the manager Bryan Hamilton. WHATEVER the result of Fifa's deliberations today on Scotland's abortive trip to Estonia last month, it is unlikely to have a telling influence on the prospect of Craig Brown's team reaching the World Cup finals. Sweden, who visit Ibrox on Sunday, and Austria, with whom the Scots have already drawn in Vienna and who themselves won in Stockholm four weeks ago, are surely more formidable obstacles than the Baltic republic. Even if the governing body's organising committee decides that the events in Tallinn, where the home side did not show up at the appointed hour, should be struck from Ice Hockey Noble finale puts Devils on the level Vic Batchelder TEN minutes of sudden-death overtime failed to separate the Superleague's top two clubs last night at Sheffield where the Steelers and Cardiff finished 4-4.

It means the Devils stay one point clear of Sheffield, who have a game in hand. Steelers led after only 41 seconds when Ken Priestlay netted from a pass by Ron Shudra, who himself made it 2-0 on a powerplay six minutes into the second period. Despite a 37th-minute shot by Tim Cranston striking a Cardiff goalpost, Devils were level by the end of the session after two goals from the former NHL player Ken Hodge at 31.09 and 38.57. The visitors took the lead for the first time three minutes into the third period, via Neil Francis, but home replies by David Longstaff on a powerplay and Priestlay with his side a man short on a penalty put the Steelers 4-3 up with 10 minutes of regulation time left. But a goal seven minutes later by Kip Noble again restored parity, sending the sides into the extra session.

The financially ailing Peterborough Pirates, who had expected to be wound up after last Sunday's home game with Telford, appear to have been saved after a group of local businessmen stepped in yesterday with a last-minute offer to run the club. The Hull-based Premier League club Kingston Hawks have signed the Great Britain netminder Bill Morrison from Basingstoke Bison. Hawks' former GB and Durham Wasps forward Damian Smith is leaving. his wife has been unable to settle in the area. Emerson was quoted as saying, prior to boarding a flight to Brazil: "The bottom line is that my wife Andrea has found it impossible to settle in England.

We both knew this within three weeks of her arriving in September. Bryan Robson knows of the problem but both he and the club believe Andrea and I will overcome them and report back next Tuesday. But I have told Boro quite clearly that I want to be released and sold as quickly as possible. They do not believe I am quite as serious as I am." Robson is in Tenerife on holiday but Middlesbrough's chief executive Keith Lamb issued a swift rebuttal to the report. "Emerson is in Rio de Janeiro on a short holiday arranged by the club because Middlesbrough do not have a game this weekend," he said.

"He is scheduled to return to Teesside next Wednesday to be ready to resume training." Emerson's agent, the England-based Gianni Paladini, said: "As far as I know I've got to pick him up on Tuesday at Heathrow." If true, though, the Emerson affair could have serious implications for Middlesbrough's ability to attract and then retain internationals of quality. At least one Brazilian, Branco, is on his way back to the Riverside Stadium, however. After playing only one Premiership match this season the 32-year-old former Brazil captain was given a free transfer last month and went home with his pregnant wife. But he is returning and, though he had his contract paid in full, intends to stay and train at Boro until another club comes in for him. eye on Zola Aston Villa's manager Brian Little has refused to let his striker Savo Milosevic join Perugia on loan.

He insisted yesterday that the deal must go ahead as agreed, with the striker moving for 4.5 million. The Italians are believed to be trying to put off a permanent move until they have sold their striker Marco Negri. Kevin MacDonald has been appointed Villa's first-team coach in succession to John Gregory, who became manager of Wycombe last week. MacDonald, previously reserve-team coach, worked under Little in the youth set-up at Leicester. The Southampton midfielder Neil Maddison has rejected a move to Southend.

Ian Ross STAN COLLYMORE moved a step closer to Anfield's exit door last night when he failed to turn up for a reserve team fixture. The former England international was scheduled to play in Liverpool's Pontins League game against Tran-mere at Prenton Park. Although his name was included on the team sheet handed to the match referee, he did not appear in a line-up which boasted two other full England internationals, Neil Ruddock and John Scales. The game, which Liverpool lost 3-1, was attended by the manager Roy Evans, who paid Nottingham Forest 8.5 million for Collymore 16 months ago. A series of embarrassing disputes, coupled with a complete loss of form, has left Collymore facing an uncertain future on Merseyside.

He recently promised to relocate in the North-west after missing several senior training sessions because of problems travelling from his home in Cannock. But Liverpool's interest in Nick Barmby, who moved from Middlesbrough to Everton last week, suggested that Evans was ready to off-load Collymore. Last night's non-appearance will be discussed by the club this morning. Michael Walker writes: Eight days after Middlesbrough parted company with Nick Barmby they may be about to lose another of their big-name buys. It has been reported that Emerson, the Brazilian signed from Porto for 4 million less than six months ago, intends to leave the Teesside club, claiming Chelsea keep an THE quicksilver Italian striker Gianfranco Zola may join Chelsea in a 5 million move.

Zola has fallen out with his new coach at Parma, Carlo An-celotti, and is interesting English clubs also including Newcastle, Manchester United and Tottenham. Chelsea have strong links to SerieA through their player-manager Ruud Gul-lit, who has already taken Gianluca Vialli and Roberto di Matteo to Stamford Bridge. Gullit is rumoured to have tabled a bid, although his club are not commenting. But Parma's sporting director Riccardo Sogliano, who handles transfers for them, is understood to be in London for talks..