Briefs
Van der Merwe retires from internationals
CRICKET:Albert van der Merwe has become the second Ireland player to retire in the past week after the 33-year-old off-spinner announced yesterday he was to end his international career after winning 21 caps.
The South African-born player cited the increased demands of playing international cricket as a part-time member of the Ireland squad as the reason behind his decision. "It has been an unbelievable privilege to pull on the Irish shirt," said Van Der Merwe, who will take over the captaincy at Leinster side YMCA next summer.
Ireland all-rounder Nigel Jones announced last week that he was retiring from international cricket after winning 34 caps.
EMMET RIORDAN
Athletics coach McDaid named top manager for December
PHILIPS SPORTS MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARDS:Teresa McDaid, manager of the recent European gold-medal-winning Irish women’s cross country team, has been named Philips Sports Manager of the Month for December 2012.
In Budapest last month, the senior squad won the gold medal for the first time in their history. Fionnuala Britton successfully defended her individual title and while her position helped greatly, it was underpinned by the performances of Linda Byrne (8th), Ava Hutchinson (20th) and Lizzie Lee (23rd).
The best position prior to the double gold result was a silver medal in 2003 with a team that included Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherine McKiernan.
McDaid, national athletics coach of the year in 2011 and 2012, was appointed to her position last November in succession to Anne Keenan-Buckley.
Elliot to move on from eventing performance manager's post
EQUESTRIAN SPORT:Ginny Elliot, Horse Sport Ireland's eventing high performance manager since early 2008, is no longer seeking to continue in the role having withdrawn from the selection process after the first round of interviews.
A multiple team and individual medal winner for Britain in world and European championships in the 1980s, Elliot made her decision public yesterday in a statement to Horse & Hound.
"I have spent four years there and feel as though I've helped a lot, but am looking for new projects," she said. "I wish eventing in Ireland all the best for the future and I congratulate everyone involved in the huge progress we have made together over the last four years."
Nine people were interviewed with seven going forward for the show jumping role held since 2006 by Cork's Robert Splaine. The successful candidates should be known before the end of the month.
MARGIE McLOONE
