A Wolverhampton Wanderers footballer has visited a school to support a project by the club to help children with speech and language needs.

Joao Gomes, who has a stammer, is supporting Wolf Words, which is offering more than 30 school children in Wolverhampton mentoring and activities to build confidence, club charity Wolves Foundation said.

The midfielder, who has spoken about challenges he has faced due to his stammer, met several pupils at Warstones Primary School who are part of the project.

"This is so special and you can really see the impact the project is having," he said.

"I want to give back to Wolverhampton for everything that the city has given to me, and this is something that I really believe in."

The scheme is funded by the Premier League and PFA Players' Fund and currently supports nine students at Warstones and 32 children across five schools in total, the Foundation said.

"Wolf Words is a targeted programme which uses mentoring and carefully planned activities to help children grow in confidence, feel listened to and build positive relationships," says Tom Varty, schools officer with the Foundation who heads up Wolf Words.

"Sessions take place in schools and are delivered either one-to-one or in small groups.

"They are designed to be inclusive, supportive and engaging, with activities shaped around the individual needs of each child."

Gomes, who has opened the Joao Gomes Institute, a charity supporting people with similar speech issues in his home country of Brazil, visited pupils at the school's dedicated Deaf Resource Base and also took part in activities in the school hall.

"The impact of the visit was clear with children who often find communication challenging visibly more engaged and confident, asking questions and interacting positively with João," Varty said.

"We were delighted to welcome Joao to Warstones and it was such an amazing session with Tom and the Foundation," Emma Bayliss, assistant head teacher, said.

"Tom's work with our pupils over the last term has made a real difference and had a positive impact on their self-esteem, supporting them to build confidence in their communication.

"For the pupils to then get the chance to meet Joao - who was so brilliant in the way he communicated with them - was such a memorable experience and genuinely brought a tear to my eye."

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A failed racehorse who was retrained in dressage has won a national award.

Daisy Adamson, from Essex, bought Sugar Rush in 2015, after Newmarket trainer Michael Bell decided racing was not for him.

But Sugar Rush, also known by his stable name Marley, was crowned with the 2026 horse of the year award by the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) charity.

Adamson, who is an equine physiotherapist, said: "I've always known how special Marley was. He is, and always has been, my superstar - but now the world can see it too."

Adamson told BBC Essex Sport Extra presenter Ian Puckey that she was trying to fight back the tears when Marley was awarded.

"I didn't expect it, so it was a really nice surprise," said the 31-year-old, who is from Little Hallingbury, which is near Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire.

"His favourite is competing, he really knows when it's a big occasion and he pulls it out for you."

The awards were held on Saturday at Cheltenham Racecourse and Zara Tindall, RoR Patron, opened the ceremony.

Tindall said the finalists and winners this year were outstanding but added: "It is always amazing to see the special bond between horse and rider, and the love, commitment and expertise that goes into helping former racehorses thrive in their second careers."

Sugar Rush has also dabbled in polocrosse, jumping and dancing.

The 14-year-old horse has won various accolades with the RoR over the last three years, which included winning national dressage championships.

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A Sheffield charity says their inclusive walking rugby sessions are helping participants stay active, make new friends and feel more connected to their community.

The Eagles Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the Sheffield Eagles professional rugby league team, established the programme in 2023 to help combat social isolation.

The group, who play at the Sheffield Hallam University City Athletics Stadium, is open to both men and women and people of all ages.

Richard King, 55, a long term Eagles fan said he joined not for fitness reasons but for the "massive mental health benefits".

He said: "For me it was the social side. With my job I work from home so this really helps get me out of the house."

The heritage consultant said the charity had created an "inclusive" environment.

"Many like me have never played rugby before," he said.

"We have seven-year-olds down here playing with seventy-seven-year-olds. It really is for everyone. Most of the time here we spend laughing".

The rules of walking rugby are not radically different to "running rugby" as King explains.

"It's just like normal running ruby, but at walking pace. We're still trying to score a try but instead of tackling you just tag someone."

Walking rugby is also considered lower impact and less physically strenuous than the regular game, making it accessible to older players and those with health conditions.

King admits one aspect of the game does provoke a few arguments.

"There's always a constant debate about the fine line between what's running and what's walking," he chuckles.

The Eagles Foundation originally started the programme with help from the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park's legacy fund and have received £1,000 of top up funding in the last year.

Claire Fretwell, Operations Manager at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, said: "We are thrilled to have supported the launch and growth of this fantastic walking rugby project. People are travelling from across South Yorkshire to take part, with sessions open to all abilities and backgrounds."

Andrea Dobson, Development Manager for the Eagles Foundation helped run the early sessions of walking rugby.

"It all started because we wanted to put something on for the older Eagles fans as well," she said.

"It's less intense than other sessions and it's not about having huge numbers, but it's really helped with social inclusion."

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As Britain's speed skaters prepare to go for gold at the Winter Olympic Games in Italy, Bradford Ice Arena is celebrating its 60th birthday.

The city centre rink opened in 1966 and is home to ice hockey teams, figure skating academies and Bradford Speed Skating Club.

The arena is one of two rinks in north of England that has the facilities for speed skating, and members come from far and wide to train in Bradford.

The club reformed 10 years ago after a 24-hour hiatus since a group that was set up in the rink's opening year folded in 1992.

Club leader Malcolm Harrison, 68, says the club is home to ex-Olympic athletes as well as talent for the future.

"We have people who come down here just to get fit, just to enjoy it, some people come down to actually race, there's no pressure if people want to come down and try it. It's great fun," he says.

"It's such an accessible sport that you can actually get to the top fairly quickly. It's a lot of hard work but there's no hidden pathway with it and it's an exhilarating sport. And not many people do it, so there's kudos there."

But the sport can be expensive – and at times dangerous.

"It's a fast sport, it has its dangers, we have cut-proof suits, gloves, helmets, neck guards because the skates are very sharp.

"Handmade boots to your foot can cost £2,500. We have skates that people can borrow so you can start for next to nothing."

Harrison helped train Team GB's medal hopeful Niall Treacy who is based at Nottingham's National Ice Centre and won silver in the men's 1,000m at the 2024 European Short Track Championships.

But he is also hopeful that some of the Bradford club members might one day win medals of their own.

Jacob, nine, recently came fifth in the British Championships after skating for less than a year.

"He's relatively new to the sport but the world is his oyster, it's how far he wants to go through with it," says Harrison.

Jacob says he most enjoys "going really, really fast".

"I've been skating since April and I started speed skating in November. I went on the British and I got fifth place. It made me feel proud of myself."

Paul Worth, 40, skates at the club with his two children. He is a retired ex-Team GB speed skater having competed in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010.

In the 2008 European Championships he won a silver medal as a member of the British relay and a bronze medal at the World Championships.

He has been skating since he was nine months old.

"My mum and dad both used to be skaters before me. Both of them were international skaters.

"My mum went to the Olympics in Lake Placid (New York, 1980) and as soon as I could walk they decided to put me on the ice.

"They put me in the middle and just left me there and let me just figure it out on my own."

He joined Team GB aged 13 and began winning medals shortly after.

Next generation

After retiring he worked for Team GB as a coach for seven years before moving to Yorkshire for a career change.

Now he coaches at Bradford Speed Skating Club where his children also compete.

"My son loves it, he's really enthusiastic. He competed in the British Championships and got a medal and wants to skate every time he can.

"My daughter, she does it more for fun, she comes and goes. But knowing that myself and my wife are skaters she wants to make sure she can stay part of the family," he says.

But the sport is not just for those who want to win medals, he says.

"It is a really good physical fitness workout. There's an element of power, there's an element of strength, it involves co-ordination.

"It's a sport that hits a lot of zones so it's a good place to start if you want to work hard and have fun at the same time."

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