And now, for the first of a weekly Friday Sifiblog feature, looking at some of the sporting news from the week and what we can look forward to in the week ahead. And because of the blanket coverage that the nation's mainstream sports receives, the Friday Sports Desk feature will look at some of the minority sports that are enjoyed up and down the country.

After the success of the summer's world event held in, erm, France - it's time for the rigours of the new Leapfrog season. The reigning champions, the Wantage toads, have brought in some new faces this year, mainly focusing on strengthening at the rear after the dramatic retirement of their team captain, after his coccyx was left in tatters. Their main opponents will be, as always, the Stevenage Leapers, who have themselves had to regroup following the expulsion of their over-seventies side for suspected doping after huge levels of testosterone were found in random drug tests. Although the over-seventies have taken their case to the governing body, their plea being that the testosterone levels had been so high because of their natural exuberance, have been turned down on the grounds of common decency.

The ancient and revered sport of duck tickling has once again made a re-appearance, with a new national league being supported with money from a major media group said to be forthcoming. Said the Chairman of the British Duck Tickling Association "It's just want the sport needed. After years of decline, interest in the sport is starting to increase after the unpleasantness of the last few years. Those Accusations were never proven, by the way, despite an independent enquiry by the RSPCA. Our members are at one with their ducks, and the sport requires total and complete trust between each man and his duck ; anything else would be quackers". We can only hope that the league can rise above the nudge-nudge-wink-wink culture that has enveloped the sport.

And onto our main feature, an in depth look at the exciting and non-stop action of marbles. This year, we can expect a strong challenge from the under 21 Swedish ladies team, and we've been lucky enough to get some behind the scenes footage of them in action. Unfortunately, we are unable to show any of it here - due to some of their unconventional training methods. It may be available on a more specialised, pay-site later in the year, given the interest from many quarters in seeing the material - especially that of the girls eyeing one another's small boxes up and of course them getting their hands on some of the larger balls that they seem to have preference for. However, we can assure you that their technique is a strong as it has always been, and they seem to improved their grip and release techniques. British ‘flickers’ should be warned.

And finally, for those of you wishing to catch up on the latest hunting news following the introduction of the legislation earlier this year ; in a suprising twist, the normally reactionary Berkshire Hunt has asked it's MP to table an early day motion to amend the legislation to allow hunting of John Prescott by dogs, citing that nearly everyone in the country would enjoy such a spectacle. However, the RSPCA has come down hard on the proposal, saying that use of such dumb animals in sport in generally is unacceptable. They've also said it's bad for the dogs too.