Paul to mullet over

Northampton Town winger Paul McGregor is coming under pressure to have his 'mullet' cut off.

Cobblers fans writing in a chat room suggested the 27-year-old's barnet should come a cropper in order to raise money for the Third Division club's appeal.

But McGregor, who used to sing with indie band Merc while at Nottingham Forest in the nineties, is unlikely to give up his locks without a fight.

Whistle while you work

Champion jockey Kieren Fallon has worked out how to make his horses go faster - whistle at them.

Fallon, currently serving a 13-day ban, said he uses the technique before resorting to the whip.

"I like to encourage them," he told The Sun, but don't ask me what sort of whistle I use - that's a secret."

Rival jockey Richard Hughes admitted: "That ghastly whistle is the last thing you want to hear when you are driving for the winning post, because it means Fallon is stalking you.

"I'm hoping that with him suspended, I can call the tune."

It's not clear which horse Fallon will ride first when he returns to the saddle, but don't bet against The Whistling Teal.

Ewe must be joking

Australia has crowned a new champion - the country's greatest sheep counter.