By Alex Trickett Our man in La Manga gives you the inside track on heat three

Jimmy Adams: Lilting tones

The award for most-relaxed group on show went to heat three.

Sedated by the lilting tones of Jamaican cricketer Jimmy Adams, most competitors seemed content to watch runaway leaders Alain Baxter and Jamie Baulch sail off into the distance.

So they conspired to come up with bizarre bits of sporting mayhem in the battle for the minor places.

Trials of a Hunter

First there was snooker gazelle Paul Hunter.

Tipped by many to be the whipping boy, the cuesman showed an unexpected turn of pace to blaze past a bewildered Gavin Hastings in the 100m.

And he was also on target in football when he coolly slotted two shots past Dave Beasant.

Hunter's luck ran out on his mountain bike, however.

The picture of form and determination until just the halfway point (when, coincidentally, he passed his girlfriend), Hunter hit the wall on the final ascent.

He wobbled, got off his bike, then got back on and collapsed over the finish line and was next glimpsed lying flat on his back with a cigarette and a bottle of San Miguel - true Superstar class.

Winter (right) almost lost his cool with Hatton

Winter's war path

Derek Redmond had grounds for shock when he was almost caught by Hunter in the 800m.

But it was his friend who stole the attention during an impromptu game of head tennis on La Manga's show court.

With athletes from all heats assembled on two sides lead by footballers Dennis Wise and Stuart Pearce, all hell broke out when Redmond's mate accidentally head-butted referee Jeff Winter while contesting the ball.

Blood pouring from nose and senses scrambled by the impact, Winter inadvisably chased after Ricky "Hitman" Hatton, mistakenly thinking the welterweight champ was to blame.

Winter soon backed off when the true identity of his adversary was made known.

And word has it that Redmond's mate had his bar bill taken care of by messrs Wise, Pearce and Steve Claridge.

Swing and a miss

The biggest disappointment was reserved for Gavin Hastings, a single-digit handicap golfer, who was only too happy to share his chipping expertise with anyone that asked.