AS TORRENTIAL rain continues to fall across Berkshire, local sport in the new year suffered a second consecutive washout Football on new years day was postponed due to waterlogged pitches and fixtures on Saturday suffered a similar fate including home games for Maidenhead United, Burnham and Windsor.

However, two ties in the fourth round of the East Berkshire Football League Cup did beat the weather, where Slough Heating won 5-2 at Alpha Arms Academicals and Huntercombe beat Real Saracens by the same score.

Rugby players were given an extended Christmas break after unplayable surfaces were reported at Windsor, Phoenix and Slough, who were due to host rivals Farnham Royal.

Unfortunately for Slough Jets, they cannot blame the inclement weather for defeats against Telford Tigers and Guildford Flames.

The Jets were mauled by the Tigers 8-2 at The Hangar on Saturday and then lost 4-0 at Guildford on Sunday, leaving them sixth in the English Premier Ice Hockey League.

Datchet Dashers star Alex Miller won the Cliveden Cross Country in a time of 36 minutes and 38 seconds (36.38) on Sunday.

Miller, one of 500 runners to complete the gruelling six-mile course, was going one better than last year while Samantha Amend completed a hat-trick of wins in the event. She stopped the clock at 41.02 to take the ladies prize, finishing 10th overall.

Elsewhere, Maidenhead resident Rob Williams announced his retirement from rowing on Monday to continue the challenge of a city job.

Williams is a former World Champion and won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games as a member of team GB’s lightweight men’s fours.

He said: “Ultimately I feel very fortunate to have had such an enjoyable career, making some good mates and winning a solid handful of medals, all of which culminating in fantastic summer in 2012.” **PICK up a copy of the Observer, out every Friday, for all the latest sports news and action** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter at @Observer_sports**