JUDGEMEN T S

WINNERS

Jacques Villeneuve

A spectacular winner, - even though he finished second- after his remarkable Formula One debut in Melbourne, where he was denied victory and a place in history only by failing oil pressure.

Sanath Jayasuriya

The dashing Sri Lankan opening batsman whose astonishing early savagery has emerged as a dominant theme in the World Cup.

Mark Crossley

The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper who kept his side in the FA Cup in the penalty shoot-out at Tottenham and who was called up for the Scotland B team.

Marc Hottiger

Who was allowed to ply his trade as a professional footballer after a seven-week hiatus over arcane work permit regulations.

LOSERS

Johan Le Roux

The former Springbok rugby union player who was sent off for head-butting an opponent a mere four days after completing a 19-month ban for biting a player's ear.

Maurice Odumbe

The Kenyan cricket captain came crashing down from beating the West Indies when he put Sri Lanka in to bat in their final group game and then watched helplessly as they smashed a world-record 395 for 5 in their 50 overs.

Lawrie Smith

Whose reputation as the best sailor of this island race took a huge knock when he failed to qualify for the Olympic team.

Arwel Thomas

A victim of sport's amazing fickleness. In January he was the next Barry John. Now he is surplus to requirements to a Wales rugby union team who have lost their last eight Five Nations matches.