Outside Edge

Competitive Eating UK, whose motto is "get it down you, son", are pleased to announce the results of their event at the prestigious Railway Club, Bognor. Pickled onions winner: Barry McPherson, 44 in three minutes. He also took the Walkers Crisps (cheese and onion flavour) title, downing 29 bags in five minutes. And superb hot dog scoffing from Kevin Willis, with 17 in three minutes, which could make him a contender for the big one, Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, first held on Brooklyn's Coney Island in 1916; the record stands at 50 in 12 minutes. More details of the Nathan's competition at majorleagueeating.com, who are proud of their contributions to hunger charities and food banks. Who says the Americans can't do irony?

5

The number of times Australia's pole-vault Olympic champion Steve Hooker cleared 6 metres on the indoor circuit, inspiring the 'Sydney Morning Herald' headline "Hooker named Indoor Athlete of the Year". His rivals have vowed not to take it lying down.

Italian stallion of the week

News from the courts: Bayern Munich's Italian star Massimo Oddo has survived a blackmail attempt after three girls were sent to lure him into a honey trap. They succeeded, and the blackmailers first showed the resultant compromising photographs to Mrs Oddo, then demanded £120,000 not to send them to the papers. But Oddo decided to call the cops and, when he handed over the money at Milan Cathedral, 40 undercover police arrested the two blackmailers – who turned out to be Italian police officers themselves. Sex, religion, corruption, extortion – welcome home, Massimo. The hunky defender was targeted after appearing in an ad for Italian designer underwear; David Beckham beware.

Good week for...

Jonny Wilkinson, England's injury-prone fly-half, set to earn £1m a year when he signs for Toulon this week... Jenson Button, went 12 points clear in F1 drivers' championship after winning Bahrain GP... Jorge Lorenzo, Spanish rider heads MotoGP standings after winning Japanese GP by a second... and John Daly colourful US golfer, shot a two-under-par 70 in latest comeback.

Bad week for...

Steve Welch, Wembley groundsman, sacked after complaints about the stadium's turf... Stockport County, League One club docked 10 points after being put in administration... Rashid Ramzi, one of six Beijing Games athletes to fail drugs tests after retesting of samples... and Lance Briggs, American football player with the Chicago Bears, badly cut his hand shaving.

Knobs of the week

Bank Holiday weekend, and how better to spend it than taking part in some traditional West Country knob action? Get yourself down to Cattistock today for the Second Dorset Knob Throwing Festival between 10am and 4pm, and besides throwing your knobs (underarm only) you will be able to enjoy Knob Painting, a Knob & Spoon Race and Guess the Weight of the Big Knob. Sorry, what was that? Oh, a knob is "a hard, dry savoury biscuit, delicious with cheese" according to Moores, the firm who have been baking them since 1860. More details at 01300 320 404 or dorsetknobthrowing.com. Take your own cheese.

a.tong@independent.co.uk