Connolly claims national road title

SPORTS DIGEST:ATHLETICS: Seán Connolly (26), of Tallaght Athletic Club yesterday won his first national road title when he led home a big entry in the Woodie's DIY National 10km Road Championship in Navan, Co Meath.

Connolly and Vnny Mulvey of Raheny Shamrock AC dictated the pace for the first half of the race before the Tallaght runner went clear and raced to victory in 30 minutes 22 seconds, 14 seconds clear of Mulvey who led Raheny to team victory. Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) placed third.

There was a first national road title too for Kerry Harty of Newcastle AC in Co Down who won the women’s race in 34.38.

Harty, who finished 52nd overall, was a clear winner from Caitriona Jennings of Rathfarnam/WSAF AC.

Ericsson 4 to be first into Boston

SAILING: Overall race leader Torben Grael on Ericsson 4 last night was preparing to lift the leg six trophy for the Volvo Ocean Race in Boston, writes David Branigan.

Only the fickle conditions on the final approach could alter the outcome and that left the Brazilian’s team-mate rival Magnus Olsen on Ericsson 3 ready to pounce from second place.

The seven-boat fleet split into two packs over the weekend as they sailed across the Gulf Stream and northabout a special whale protection exclusion zone that added 300 miles to the 4,900-mile leg from Brazil.

That split left the home team on Puma Ocean Racing led by Kenny Read fighting for a podium result with Bouwe Bekking on Telefonica Blue chasing hard from fourth place just one mile behind.

The second pack had Ireland’s Green Dragon tailing in last place.

Nadal wins in Catalonia

TENNIS: Rafael Nadal powered to his fifth consecutive Barcelona Open title with a 6-2 7-5 win over Spanish compatriot David Ferrer yesterday.

The pair exchanged early breaks on the clay before Nadal raced into a 5-2 lead and took the set with an ace.

Ferrer put up more of a fight in the second set as they broke each other twice, but lost his serve again in the 11th game and Nadal sealed victory on his second match point.

Wanjiru sets London record

ATHLETICS: Olympic gold medallist Sammy Wanjiru overcame a spirited late challenge after a savage early pace to win the London marathon yesterday in a course record two hours five minutes 10 seconds.

Wanjiru (22), broke the mark set by Kenyan team-mate Martin Lel last year by five seconds after repulsing a determined victory bid from Ethiopia’s Beijing bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede.

Defending champion Irina Mikitenko retained the women’s title with an assured victory over Briton Mara Yamauchi in 2:22:11.

Yamauchi recorded a personal best 2:23:12 to delight the large home crowds.

Wanjiru seized his moment to break the leading pack at 29 km and the race then resolved into a battle between the three Olympic medallists.

Kebede trailed Wanjiru over the final kilometres with silver medallist and twice world champion Jaouad Gharib a place further back.

Bousquet smashes freestyle sprint record

SWIMMING: Frenchman Frederick Bousquet smashed the 50 metres freestyle world record at the French championships yesterday.

Bousquet’s 20.94 seconds bettered by 0.34 seconds the record held by Australian Eamon Sullivan since March 2008.

Bousquet, who also won the 100 metres freestyle final on Friday, beat Alain Bernard, who also swam under Sullivan’s mark in 21.23 seconds.

Bernard, the 100 metres world record holder, will not swim the 50 metres freestyle at this year’s world championships in Rome as Bousquet took the only remaining spot.

“I had this race in the back of my mind since the beginning of the season,” said Bousquet, who wore a bodysuit fully covered with polyurethane.

The use of such suits, which boost buoyancy, has triggered a heated controversy at the French championships and throughout the sport since introduced.

Irish event rider dies in England

EQUESTRIAN SPORT: Ian Olding, an England-based member of Eventing Ireland, was killed yesterday while competing in Nottinghamshire, writes Margie Mcloone.

The 47-year-old from Co Antrim was contesting an advanced section at Belton Park horse trials on his 12-year-old gelding Gran-Kiki when suffering a fatal fall at fence 12/13 on the cross-country course.

Eventing Ireland chairman John Wright said from Dublin last evening: “We are shocked at this sad fatality.

“ And on behalf of Eventing Ireland I would like to express our deepest sympathy to Ian’s family, friends and colleagues and also to our colleagues in British Eventing.

“Ian was well known and well liked on the international circuit, where he rode for many years.

“He moved to Cheshire 10 years ago to live and work. Everyone here is very saddened by this tragic event.”