Sports Ladder (14th-20th April)

UP - Gareth Bale - How do you prove to an unconvinced fan base that you are good enough for your team? Well scoring an outstanding winner in a cup final will certainly go some way towards proving it. That is precisely what the Welsh wizard did this week, as he slaughtered Marc Bartra for pace, running from the half-way line to the goal in seven seconds before tucking underneath the Barcelona keeper to secure the Copa Del Rey for Real Madrid. Success for the Brit abroad.

UP - Jazz Carlin - An excellent week for Welsh swimmer Jazz Carlin who smashed her welsh record with a time of eight minutes 18.36 seconds in the 800 meters freestyle. As well as setting a new national record, Carlin also set the fastest time in the World this year in her discipline as she heads towards the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. With two medals already under her belt, the youngster will be looking to make it three this year.
 
UP - Crystal Palace - Go on then. Who honestly predicted that Palace would avoid relegation this year? Who thought they would be thirteen points clear of relegation with three games to go? Oh you did did you? Well then you're a liar. What an incredible job Tony Pulis has done since arriving at Selhurst Park. Not only has he steadied the ship but he has created a team that can get the ball down and play. With five victories on the bounce can they finish in the top half?
 
UP - Charlotte Dujardin - What a fantastic weekend the double Olympic champion has had. The equestrian star opened up with a record breaking Grand Prix victory on Saturday, beating her own previous record of 85.942% with a 87.129% riding on her horse Valegro. The Brit then followed this up with another victory in the World Cup freestyle with an exceptional 92.179% to claim her second gold medal of the weekend. Now that's a productive bank holiday.

UP - Liam Phillips - Another marvellous double victory but this time on a BMX instead of a horse, with Britain Liam Phillips sweeping up both the Supercross and the time trial at the season's first BMX World Series. Phillips continued from where he left off last year when he was crowned World Champion in New Zealand. It was a strong week for British riders in general as both Kyle Evans and Charlotte Green finished inside the top five as well.

DOWN - Pablo Larrazabal - I've seen some bizarre stories in my short lifetime but this really is up there. Poor Pablo Larrazabal had to leap into a lake in the second round of this weeks Malaysian Open after being attacked by a storm of hornets. The Spaniard described it as "the scariest moment of his career" and was only able to continue after injections and medical examinations which said he was in a fit state to carry on. Never has a golfer been so happy to be in the water hazard.

DOWN - Chelsea - Is that Mourinho's title challenge done? Not for definite, but this week could prove to be a major blow over the next few weeks. A 2-1 loss to Sunderland could be the final nail in the coffin for Chelsea's title challenge as Liverpool's eleven game winning run shows no signs of ending. And with an important mid week Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, could the season get even worse for the Special One?

DOWN - Daniel Ricciardo - A mixed week for Daniel Ricciardo. Disappointingly for him the appeal against his second place disqualification in Australia was declined so he will lose his maiden podium at his home Grand Prix. However, he did once again out-qualify his team mate Sebastien Vettel and also beat him in this weekends Chinese GP. This left the current world champion notably rattled. Has Ricciardo made a foolish enemy of his team mate?

DOWN - David Moyes - Is the Chosen One about to become the Fired One? Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Moyes' former club Everton at the weekend may well be the final straw as strong rumours circulated on Monday that the end is nigh for the Scotsman. With suggestions that dressing room confidence is low after reports of Danny Welbeck wanting out it looks like there is no way back now. Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement wish looks to be falling flat.

DOWN - Rafael Nadal - It was last year we began to talk about Roger Federer's possible retirement. Andy Murray decline has set in since his Wimbledon victory and now Rafael Nadal looks to be struggling. The dominance of the top four is well and truly splintered. Nadal failed to reach the Monte Carlo Masters final for the first time since 2004 and alongside his Australian Open final loss and also his Indian Wells defeat this year, could it be that another is about to fall in this tennis shake-up?