"If I could have held my own early on then I'd have stood a chance, but Phil is just incredible, " said the world number five after his crushing final defeat at the Winter Gardens.

BBC: Is Taylor the greatest sportsman ever?

After batting at number six in the final Test of England's winter tour to Sri Lanka, skipper Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher decided his elevation up the order could not be delayed any longer.

BBC: New star blooms for England

The final deadline for all claims for this winter must be in by 30 March 2004.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Winter payments deadline looms

Nessun Dorma was part of Pavarotti's final performance, at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Turin in February 2006.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Opera legend Pavarotti dies at 71

Honda have been testing over the winter in a plain black car and will complete their final sessions in Bahrain this week.

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Honda not quick enough - Button

Summer visitors see grazing reindeer and Sami camps, and in winter a special bus follows a snow plow up the final eight miles to reach the 1, 000-foot high plateau where, bracing against the winds, you get to stand beside the iconic North Cape globe for photographic proof positive that you have literally stood at the top of the world.

FORBES: Sail On The Top Of The World To The Finnish Line

Takahashi took more time out in 2011 when he had to have the bolt from that knee surgery removed, but he recovered the following year to win his first Grand Prix Final -- which was held in Sochi, the Russian resort city that will host next year's Winter Olympics.

CNN: Daisuke Takahashi: Japan star on the importance of being 'gorgeous'