3 Cryptic Clues - Sports Related

[crosswordfan]

1...Style on the waterfront(4)...?R?E
2...First for the man who sounds like he could be Robin Hood's trainer(6)...O?I??R
3...A declaration, but we promise it's not in cricket(4)...A??W

[MargoTester]

Free
Opener
Avow

[crosswordfan]

Sorry, I don't understand OPENER or AVOW

[MargoTester]

I may well be wrong about opener but I was thinking opening batsman.
A vow(promise)
Someone will come along and correct me probably. Sorry if I'm wrong.:-)

[scorpiojo]

Are you sure of the letters?

[fiction-factory]

I think avow is probably right- I was thrown at first by the reference to cricket but it's simply pointing out that this declaration is not a cricket declaration

[crosswordfan]

Thanks I'm sure of the letters

[fiction-factory]

If avow is right though, the answer is not sports related- the only link is the use of the word cricket in the clue

[fiction-factory]

I can only think of Oliver- first being the first name- but can't see how it links to Robin Hood's trainer

[Baldric]

Avow can mean declare, don't cricketers declare?

[fiction-factory]

Yes they do Baldric- as in my post at 17:04 when I said the answer probably is declare.
Avow can mean declare, yes, but I think it's a different use of the word declare than that used in cricket

[crosswordfan]

Just got one answer...OLIVER SHERWOOD ...Horse trainer