Sports digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Magee loses out in Russia

BADMINTON:Despite a bright start, Irish number one Chloe Magee lost in the final of the women’s singles at the Russia White Nights Pre-Olympic tournament in Gatchina, Russia, yesterday.

Playing Polish number one Kamila Augustyn, Magee won the first set 21-19 as Augustyn struggled to stay in the longer rallies.

In the second set, the experience of the Polish player began to tell when Magee struggled with her length. Gaining confidence all the time, she led 11-7 at the mid game interval and then saw out the set 21-14.

Magee looked in control of the third set at 10-6 when Augustyn again came out on top in a series of rallies. She went on to win the set 21-14 and with it the White Night title.

Pedrosa wins after Stoner slip up

MOTO GP:Dani Pedrosa won the German MotoGP in dramatic circumstances yesterday after his Honda team-mate Casey Stoner, who started in pole position, crashed out of the race on the last lap of the Sachsenring.

The Spaniard claimed his first victory of the season, with compatriot Jorge Lorenzo second and Italian Andrea Dovizioso third.

Stoner and Pedrosa, swapping the lead throughout the race, had both turned up the pressure during the final few laps, with the Australian in determined mood and hoping to open up a lead in the championship.

However, the defending champion slid off the track while attempting to overtake Pedrosa, allowing championship challenger Lorenzo to claim second place and some vital points in the title race. Lorenzo now enjoys a four-point lead on top of the table and, talking to the BBC afterwards, cheerfully admitted luck had played its part. “Things can change completely in two races,” Lorenzo said.

“At Assen we have zero points and were very disappointed but then we have luck from Casey’s crash today.”

Murphy breaks Irish 50-metre butterfly record in Canada

SWIMMING:At the Canada Cup in Montreal Barry Murphy broke the Irish senior 50-metre butterfly record. Murphy was just .01 of a second off the record of 24.49 in the morning heats but went into the final and clocked 24.42 finishing in fifth place.

Also at the European Junior Championships in Antwerp. there were more records for Ireland’s junior swimmers on the final day of competition. Brendan Hyland, who has already set seven junior and senior records this week, added another two junior records to his repertoire yesterday. A time of 4:31.48 in the 400m Individual Medley bettered the 2007 record of Tommy Bergin (4:33.22).

Kilkenny’s Jane Roberts had another personal best, this time in the 50m butterfly (28.62).