YP Sportsline: Breaking local and national sports news - Knights relegated, Hoy retires

12pm: CYCLING - Six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy has announced his retirement from competitive cycling.

The 37-year-old Scot had been contemplating continuing until the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but has decided enough is enough and confirmed he was quitting the sport at a lunchtime press conference in Edinburgh today.

Hoy is Britain’s most decorated Olympian after his haul of two gold medals at London 2012 saw him surpass rower Sir Steve Redgrave’s record of five.

Hoy said: “It was not a decision I took easily or lightly but I know it’s the right time.”

11AM: CRICKET - Yorkshire have begun the third and final day of their first-class friendly with Roses rivals Lancashire at Headingley. Yorkshire have declared their innings and put Lancashire in. Yorkshire are 112 runs ahead.

9.30am: GOLF - The Yorkshire trio of Simon Dyson, Richard Finch and John Parry tee off this morning at the Spanish open, each seeking an upturn in fortunes.

8.30am: CRICKET - Yorkshire and England cricketer Joe Root tells Yorkshire Post cricket writer Chris Waters how his friendly rivalry with Jonny Bairstow has spurred the duo on as they make great strides in the international arena.

8am: RUGBY UNION - Doncaster Knights’ relegation from the Championship was confirmed on Wednesday night when they lost 38-26 at promotion-chasing Bedford Blues. The defeat signals the end of the Castle Park club’s eight-year stay in English rugby’s second tier.