Sports Letter: Genuine jubilation

Sir: Mr Dudley Wood, the Rugby Football Union secretary, who apparently believes that the British public is dismissive of black sportsmen and women, ought perhaps to have visited the Plough and Harrow Public House in Surbiton on Sunday evening. An exclusively white audience was riveted by the eight (black) contenders for the 100 metres final in the World Championships. The jubilation at Linford Christie's victory was entirely genuine and was shared, I suspect, by sports fans throughout this country.

Yours faithfully,

DAVID THORNICROFT

London E5

16 August