Jenson Button overtook Formula One Championship leader Sebastian Vettel on the final lap to win the Canadian Grand Prix.

Vettel spun his Red Bull under pressure from Button, who recovered from a collision with McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton and Fernando Alonso failed to finish a severely rain-affected race in which Mark Webber came third. Vettel still leads the Drivers’ Championship by 60 points from Button.

In Football, England began the European Under-21 Championship with a creditable 1-1 draw against Spain.

Danny Welbeck’s late goal cancelled out Ander Herrera’s early strike. England’s next game is versus Ukraine on Wednesday.

Alec McLeish has resigned as manager of Birmingham City, who won the League Cup this year but were relegated from the Premier League.

Former England manager Steve McClaren has been named Nottingham Forest’s new boss after they sacked Billy Davies. McClaren has been out of work since being dismissed by Wolfsburg in February.

In Cricket, James Anderson is set to return from a side strain in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl, starting on Thursday.

Anderson, who missed the drawn second Test at Lord’s due to the injury, was due to make his comeback on Sunday for Lancashire. However, all Sunday’s domestic Twenty20 games were washed out. Nottinghamshire, who beat Warwickshire on Saturday, led the North Group while holders Hampshire top the South Group.

In Rugby Union, England Saxons will play Canada in the final of the Churchill Cup on Saturday, having secured their place with a 41-14 win over Tonga.

Tonga conceded three set-piece penalty tries and there were touchdowns for Jordan Crane and Billy Twelvetrees, plus 16 kicked points by Rory Clegg.

In Rugby League, the vast majority of those involved in Friday evening’s 16-12 victory for the Exiles over England played two days later in Super League when the top two lost.

Warrington were beaten 16-18 at home to Salford and Huddersfield lost 13-10 at Wakefield. Wigan and St Helens missed the chance to go top, drawing with Castleford and Bradford respectively. Catalan Dragons beat Crusaders 31-18, Leeds thrashed Hull KR 44-14 and Hull FC thumped Harlequins 38-6.

In Tennis, Andy Murray was due to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday in the Queen’s Club final, which rain delayed from Sunday.

I could do nothing to help the stranger who wept openly on the Tube. The night was young and her dress had clearly been selected specifically. The men who sat throughout the carriage did everything they could not to look at the twenty something girl leaking mascara. She was beautiful. And it wasn’t the way she looked that struck me. It was her honesty. Staring straight ahead, she refused to mask her sorrow.

As I took a good look at the blokes around me, and quickly concluded they were measly little moths clinging hopelessly to their comfort lights, I made my decision. At the risk of appearing dodgy, I would move seats to be opposite this solemn stranger.

Everyone saw it. One morbidly obese man in a Paul Smith suit rolled his eyes at my attempts to help a fellow human. He was reading the new ‘i’ magazine for intelligent Londoners. I was tempted to beat him to death with it, but I resisted my sinful desires.

After ten seconds of holding eye contact with her, I took half a breath in and edged slightly forward. “Is everything ok?” I asked quietly. At this point my fellow passengers began to rubber neck around me, waiting to catch a glimpse of the scene they had stayed away from just moments before. “I’ll be fine” she said, whilst forming a smile of surprise.

I sat back and wished I could help. Though I knew nothing of this woman’s plight, I experienced something I hadn’t felt for a shamefully long time. I could empathise with her. Whether the source of her weeping was guilt, grief, shame, loss, fear, hopelessness, or just boredom, I knew that at some stage of my life, I had probably brushed the surface of it.

As we left the train at the same stop, she tapped me on my left shoulder. “Thank you for asking me that on the train. There will come a moment where you’ll wonder what that girl was crying about. Just to clear it up for you now, my sister has let me down tonight. That’s all. Have a lovely evening.”

As she walked towards Earl’s Court, I began to cry. I cried for the immeasurable hurt which gets flung from every human at every waking hour. I remembered the pain I had caused my family as I grew up. Stories of domestic tragedies shared by those closest to me came pouring back. And as I climbed the steps of the budget hotel, I was reminded of how Jesus empathises with every single living person because he was tempted in every way.

I took solace in this empathy.

My mind wandered to some of Charles Dickens’ finest works as the barber’s dog sat at my feet for the entirety of my haircut. All I needed was a pipe and an open fire and I would have questioned if I had actually been raptured into heaven. As the sound of Radio Two created a comforting lull in the background, I was face to face with my reflection. Maybe it was the cosiness of the event or the warm, motherly nature of my hairdresser, but I was more conscious of the fact I was looking at myself than I had been in any other barbers before.

The first thing I clocked was that my jaw is actually getting more square as I get older. I’m known for hosting a “cube head” to quote my brothers, but now its getting a bit ridiculous. Also, my eyes, though as manically blue as ever, are not symmetrical. One of them is slightly smaller than the other. I was shocked to discover this fact. Another strange addition to my ever-changing block is that I am unable to grow facial hair on a specific area of skin next to my bottom lip. Its like a rebellious DNA streak refusing to buckle to my mousy-coloured stubble.

As I sat there scanning my facial features I also realised that I am now the shameful owner of half a wrinkle. The flimsy inroad sits northeast of my left eyebrow threatening to take over my forehead. My face is changing. I’m an ageing 26-year-old heading straight to the infamous 30 benchmark.

And as I came to my self-awareness conclusion that in a few decades I will look like a battered Oxo cube, I take great comfort in one of the wonderful promises in the bible. Check this out:

2 Corinthians 5:4-5

For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Yes, I am entirely mortal, but I won’t always be.

Peace.

Birmingham and Blackpool were relegated on a nerve-shredding final day of the Premier League season in which five teams separated by one point battled to avoid going down.

Birmingham, who began the day one place above the drop-zone, were defeated 2-1 at Tottenham and Blackpool surrendered a 2-1 lead to lose 4-2 at Manchester United, who afterwards celebrated their 19th top-flight title.

Wolves lost 3-2 at home to Blackburn but, like their opponents, stayed up and Wigan’s 1-0 win at Stoke ensured their safety.

Second-placed Chelsea lost 1-0 at Everton and later sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti. Manchester City finished level on points with Chelsea thanks to a 2-0 win at Bolton.

Fourth-placed Arsenal, who drew 2-2 at Fulham, will have to pre-qualify for next season’s Champions League. Tottenham’s win clinched fifth and ensured they will play in the Europa League.

Liverpool finished sixth despite losing 1-0 at Aston Villa, West Brom came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Newcastle and West Ham, who finished bottom, lost 3-0 at home to Sunderland.

In Rugby Union, Leinster came from 22-6 down at half-time to beat Northampton 33-22 and win their second European Cup in three years. Harlequins won the Challenge Cup thanks to a last-gasp converted try, which sealed a 19-18 win over Stade Francais.

In Rugby League’s Challenge Cup, Wigan beat Bradford, Huddersfield saw off Catalan Dragons, Castleford pipped Wakefield after extra time, Leeds defeated Harlequins and Hull KR were too good for Salford in the all-Super League ties. St Helens, Hull FC and Warrington also reached the last eight.

In Cricket, Eoin Morgan will take the retired Paul Collingwood’s place in England’s team for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Cardiff, starting on Thursday, after being preferred to Ravi Bopara. Morgan made 193 in England Lions’ 38-run defeat to the tourists.

Lancashire went top of Division One of the County Championship with victory over Roses Rivals Yorkshire. Northamptonshire still lead Division Two despite not playing this week.

Surrey and Northants made it five 40-over wins from five by beating Hampshire and Scotland respectively. Also in Group B Warwickshire saw off Durham. Sussex are top of Group A after beating Kent and Yorkshire were too good for Worcestershire. In Group C Essex thrashed the Unicorns and Lancashire scraped past Nottinghamshire.

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel took his fourth Formula One win in five races despite the close attention from second-placed Lewis Hamilton in the Spanish Grand Prix.

In Golf, Ian Poulter beat fellow Englishman Luke Donald 2&1 to win the World Matchplay tournament in Spain.

Manchester’s two major Football clubs were celebrating this weekend after winning end-of-season silverware. Manchester United won their 19th top-flight title thanks to a 1-1 draw at Blackburn that was enough to clinch the Premier League crown. Rovers took a first-half lead through Brett Emerton but Wayne Rooney equalised from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute.

Later on Saturday afternoon Manchester City won the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Stoke at Wembley. Yaya Toure’s strike 16 minutes from time earned City’s first major trophy for 35 years.

West Ham were the first side to be relegated from the Premier League this season and soon parted company with manager Avram Grant. The Hammers led 2-0 at fellow relegation candidates Wigan but conceded a stoppage-time winner to Charles N’Zogbia.

Wigan remain 19th but their win gives them a chance of staying up on the final day of the season this Sunday. The Latics, 17th-placed Birmingham and 18th-placed Blackpool have 39 points while Wolves and Blackburn have 40.

Birmingham lost 2-0 to Fulham, Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3 and Wolves saw off Sunderland 3-1.

Tottenham took fifth place from Liverpool with a 2-0 win at Anfield and Manchester City, who secured top-four qualification this week, could finish above Arsenal, who lost 2-1 at home to Aston Villa. Elsewhere, Chelsea drew 2-2 with Newcastle and West Brom beat Everton 1-0.

Leicester will play Saracens in a repeat of last year’s Rugby Union Premiership play-off final after both came through pulsating semi-finals. The Tigers beat East Midlands rivals Northampton 11-3 and Saracens overcame Gloucester 12-10.

Northampton can still clinch silverware this season by beating Leinster in Saturday’s Heineken Cup final, a day after Harlequins play Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup final.

Warrington, Huddersfield and Wigan are locked on 20 points at the top of Rugby League’s Super League after victories over Castleford, St Helens and Harlequins respectively. Elsewhere, Leeds beat Catalan Dragons, Hull FC won at Salford, Hull KR overcame Bradford and bottom side Crusaders saw off Wakefield.

Somerset and Surrey maintained 100% records and top their groups in Cricket’s domestic 40-over competition with wins over Lancashire and Scotland respectively.

Sussex lead the other group thanks to victory over Derbyshire. There were also wins for Durham over Hampshire, Glamorgan over Gloucestershire, Warwickshire over Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire over the Unicorns and Kent over Yorkshire.

In Tennis Great Britain’s Andy Murray reached the semi-finals of Rome Masters, losing to man of the moment Novak Djokovic- who won his 39th consecutive match by beating Rafael Nadal in the final.

In Golf Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke won his first European Tout title since 2008 with a three-shot win in the Iberdrola Open.

It looked like it had been designed by a team of angry killer whales. When I’m at the supermarket, there are very few things that can slow me down. One of those things happens to be awfully designed table and chairs placed proudly in the foyer. A huge sign with “Just £40” stood beside the garden furniture (and even the sign was ashamed of it.) The table was shaped like a trampled Oxo cube with chairs slightly too big for a family of Borrowers. I was angry that my pace had been slowed down by such a dismal creation.

I started jabbing the table with my finger as if I’d found a new species of jackal I was sceptical of. The surface was wrought iron, probably fashioned from the gates of Mordor. I wanted to cast it out of this world and back to middle earth where it would provide a fitting addition to Saruman’s kitchen. Not to labour this point too much, but I was very tempted to pick up one of broom’s on sale, stand in the store entrance, and shout “You shall not pass!”

As I pondered on this table and chairs, two married couples came to check out the offer. I noticed they saw me looking at the furniture and naturally came to see it up close. Before I knew it, six people were eyeing up the set. I watched the strangers test the strength and weight of the product as they mumbled quiet affirmations. “Quite strong this yes. Hmmmm, look good in the garden I think.”

In a matter of 14 seconds, they all wanted one of their own and scurried off to find the supermarket staff to reserve a full set each. I was gobsmacked. The fact it was about as appealing as Homer Simpson’s hairstyle was irrelevant. They had seen someone looking at it, and were instantly drawn in. And as soon as a few people cast their gaze towards the table and chairs, the others soon fell in line.

This week I’ll be reading my bible in the presence of others. I’ll be saying grace before meals at any cafés or restaurants. I’ll be looking at Jesus in front of those who look elsewhere for meaning.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Peace.

The Premier League title-race is alive and kicking after Chelsea closed the gap on leaders Manchester United to three points ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford on Sunday, the first of three remaining league games for both.

Chelsea put pressure on United by beating Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday in a game which will be remembered for Frank Lampard’s controversial equaliser just before half-time when Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes spilled the midfielder’s shot but TV replays showed he pulled it back just before the whole ball crossed the line.

On Sunday Arsenal kept their mathematical chance of the title alive as Aaron Ramsey’s second-half strike proved the difference against United, leaving the Gunners six points behind from the same number of matches.

Manchester City took advantage of Tottenham’s defeat to all but secure fourth spot and the chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League with a 2-1 win over bottom side West Ham. Liverpool went above Spurs into fifth thanks to a 3-0 victory against Newcastle.

Blackpool remain 17th, Wigan 18th and Wolves 19th after all three drew – with Stoke, Everton and Birmingham respectively. Blackburn eased clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory over Bolton. Also West Brom beat Aston Villa 2-1 and Fulham saw off Sunderland 3-0.

Queens Park Rangers and Norwich have earned promotion to the Premier League although QPR’s success could be scuppered if they are docked points at this week’s Football Association hearing into the legality of their signing of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009.

Northampton will play Leinster in the Rugby Union’s European Cup final on May 21. The Saints beat Perpignan 23-7 and the Irish side saw off Toulouse 32-23 in the semi-finals. Harlequins face Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup final following a 20-12 defeat of Munster.

Leeds are likeliest to finish bottom of the Premiership after Newcastle went a point ahead their nearest rivals despite a 14-11 defeat to Bath, who could scrape into the play-offs in Saturday’s final round of regular season games.

In Rugby League’s Super League Warrington went top on points difference after a 58-14 demolition of Bradford and Huddesfield’s 13-12 loss to Catalan Dragons. St Helens are third following a 24-24 draw with Hull and Wigan, who have the same points as the three above them, fourth with a 48-16 thrashing of Crusaders. Leeds moved above Castleford into fifth on points difference with a 48-6 victory over the Tigers and Salford beat Harlequins 34-16.

Cricket’s 40-over domestic competition group stage continued with a several teams playing twice over the bank holiday weekend. Of those Derbyshire, Essex, Somerset, Surrey and defending champions Warwickshire won both their games.

John Higgins came from 12-9 down to beat 21-year-old Judd Trump 18-15 and win his fourth snooker World Championship crown at the Crucible.

Lee Westwood remained the world’s number one-ranked golfer with victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea by one shot from Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Finally, former heavyweight boxer Sir Henry Cooper died aged 76.

Manchester United remain on course for the Premier League title thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Everton. Javier Hernandez headed the winner in the 83rd minute.

With four games to go Chelsea are United’s nearest challengers – six points behind – after they beat West Ham, who went bottom, 3-0 and Arsenal lost 2-1 at Bolton. Fernando Torres, who cost Chelsea £50million in January, finally scored his first goal for the club to break a 903-minute drought.

Manchester City strengthened their grip on fourth spot with a 1-0 at Blackburn thanks to Edin Dzeko’s first Premier League goal. Fifth-placed Tottenham were held 1-1 by West Brom but Liverpool can still finish fourth following a 5-0 demolition of Birmingham in which Maxi Rodriguez scored a hat-trick.

Wolves are second from bottom, two points from safety, following a 1-1 draw with Fulham. Wigan are third bottom after a 4-2 defeat to Sunderland. Blackpool, who drew 1-1 with Newcastle, are level on points with Wigan but out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Aston Villa and Stoke remain in mid-table courtesy of a 1-1 draw.

Leicester and Saracens secured home Rugby Union Premiership play-off semi-finals with wins over Newcastle and Gloucester respectively. Leicester saw off the relegation-threatened Falcons 24-13 and Sarries won 35-12.

Despite their defeat, Gloucester remain on course for the semis along with Northampton, who beat London Irish 26-16. Bath have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs after a 43-10 thrashing of Wasps.

Leeds remain bottom after a 38-3 thumping by Harlequins but are level on points with Newcastle, who have a game in hand. Exeter beat Sale 30-24.

St Helens are top of Rugby League’s Super League after Jamie Foster’s touchline kick secured a 22-20 victory over Castleford. Warrington, who lost 24-10 to Hull FC, are second. Wigan are close behind thanks to a 26-0 win over Wakefield.

Elsewhere, Hull KR beat Harlequins 37-24, Leeds eased past Crusaders 34-16 and Catalan Dragons drew 8-8 with Bradford.

Cricket’s 40-over domestic competition began with defending champions Warwickshire narrowly losing their first group game to Hampshire and the Netherlands shocking Yorkshire and Derbyshire in consecutive days. There were also wins for Durham, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Middlesex and Leicestershire.

Lee Westwood regained golf’s world number one spot by winning the Indonesian Masters. Fellow Englishman Luke Donald nearly took over from Westwood but missed out on the Heritage tournament in a sudden-death play-off.

Everything I owned was positioned around me like statues peering down at an infant, though I’d never been more aware I was now a grown up. My new flat welcomed me with old stains and strange smells to remind me of the cost of downsizing my life. Helped by a couple of bottles of Miller, I starting unpacking my life in boxes. Uncontrollable laughter at bizarre gifts from Miriam’s family was often followed by a sudden outburst of tears as I read cards from loved ones no longer with us.

During my adventure into my possessions I soon realised that only the things which were affiliated to shared memories were worth keeping. I got rid of around a quarter of everything I owned (mostly scrap paper and odd socks). I dreamed up an idea for wristbands entitled What Would Jesus Scrap? but concluded it probably wouldn’t make sense to anyone not moving house or working in the scrapyard industry.

After the great purge had finally come to an end, I eyed up my belongings which were still fearing the axe. And after a few breaths I arrived at a sobering epilogue. I have nothing of my own. Despite my HD TV and the receipt to match, my Seagull guitar giving to me by Dave Magill, a bread maker and am armchair fitting for Scrooge, none of it is mine. I cannot prove this to you, but I can explain.

There is nothing in this life which I can keep my hands on for a substantial amount of time. The things that last the longest are probably relationships, everything else will need replacing and destroying at some stage. I have nothing. I didn’t even contribute to the clothes on my back, and if I had done, they still wouldn’t feel like they were mine. As life walks me down its random path I am quickly losing all sense of ownership. And the strange irony that surrounds it all, is that things which are closest to “brand new” in my apartment, feel the most alien to me.

As my musings meandered into hunger for a poached egg on toast, I pictured Jesus on the cross with nothing in his hands but nails he didn’t put there. A peace I’d not tasted for a long time proved a fitting appetiser for my healthy lunch which followed.

Luke’s account of Jesus returning to the Father reads:

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Peace.

Manchester City will play Stoke in the FA Cup final after they beat Manchester United and Bolton respectively at Wembley this weekend. It will be City’s first FA Cup final in 30 years and Stoke’s first ever.

City saw off rivals United 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Yaya Toure’s 52nd-minute winner and Stoke thrashed Bolton 5-0 on Sunday with goals from Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones in the first 30 minutes and two second-half strikes by Jon Walters.

In the Premier League Arsenal missed the chance to close the gap on United to four points as Liverpool held them to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. Following a second-half injury to Jamie Carragher, Robin van Persie put Arsenal ahead with a 98th-minute penalty but Dirk Kuyt equalised from the spot in the 102nd. Chelsea are only two points behind Arsenal after they won 3-1 at West Brom.

Blackpool replaced Wigan in the bottom three due to a 3-1 home defeat. West Ham are a point behind Blackpool following a 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa. Blackburn are only two points above the drop zone after a 2-0 defeat at Everton and both Birmingham and Sunderland five clear thanks to the Blues’ 2-0 win.

Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix, the Englishman’s first victory of the season. Hamilton overtook world champion and championship leader Sebastien Vettel, who took the first two races of the year, with four laps to go. Mark Webber denied Jenson Button third place by overtaking him on the penultimate lap.

Leicester remain top of Rugby Union’s Premiership despite being held 41-41 at home to Gloucester, who equalised with a last-minute interception try from Eliota Fuimaono-Sapulo. Saracens are just two points behind the Tigers in second and nine clear of third-placed Gloucester with their seventh straight Premiership win – 33-12 at Exeter. Northampton occupy the last play-off spot courtesy of a 22-15 win at Newcastle, who climbed off bottom thanks to a losing bonus point. They were replaced by Leeds, who were thrashed 51-18 at Wasps. Elsewhere, London Irish and Bath strengthened their grasp on European Cup qualification with wins at Sale and at home to Harlequins respectively.

Huddersfield moved top of Rugby League’s Super League with a 38-6 win at Leeds while Castleford, who led last week, drew 26-26 at Harlequins. St Helens are second thanks to a 52-6 thrashing of Wakefield. Warrington are fourth courtesy of a 64-6 demolition of Crusaders and Wigan, who won 28-16 at Hull KR, are fifth. Catalan Dragons are next after a 28-10 win at home to Hull FC and Salford thumped Bradford 56-16.

In Cricket’s County Championship Warwickshire stunned Division One title favourites Somerset by an innings and 382 runs, defending champions Nottinghamshire beat Hampshire by nine wickets and Durham saw off Yorkshire by 146 runs. In Division Two Derbyshire and Northamptonshire enjoyed innings wins over Leicestershire and Kent respectively while Glamorgan beat Gloucestershire and Middlesex defeated Kent.

Finally, Emmanuel Mutai and Mary Keitany secured a Kenyan double in the London Marathon men’s and women’s races.