ATHLETICS: Ireland has another London Olympic qualifier and a first ever in the women's pole vault after American-born Tori Pena cleared 4.50 metres at the Beach Track and Field Classic at Cerritos College in California over the weekend – bang on the necessary A-standard, and improving her own Irish record in the process, writes Ian O'Riordan.
It brings to 14 the number of Irish athletes with the A-standard for London and there is strong hope that Irish 400m record holder Joanne Cuddihy will soon add her name to that list.
She was also in action at the weekend winning the Melbourne Track Classic with a time of 52.37; her sister Catriona, who is targeting a place on the 4x400m team, finished fourth in the b-race with a time of 55.83 setting a new personal best.
Ciarán Ó Lionáird finished second in the 800m at the Wilson Notre Dame Invitation in a personal best of 1.48.40.
Ireland take second spot in opener
EQUESTRIAN:Ireland finished second in the first Nations' Cup competition of the season in Wellington, Florida on Friday night, writes Margie McLoone.
Meath-based Cian O’Connor recorded a double clear with his new ride Blue Loyd and, in the first round, Shane Sweetnam was also clear on Amaretto Darco, picking up four faults next time out.
Richie Moloney riding the Irish-bred Slievenorra (by Voltaire) lowered a rail first time around but was faultless in round two, while Darragh Kerins and the OBOS Quality 004 mare Lisona recorded four faults in both rounds for a team total of eight.
The winners were the Germans on four faults with Canada placing third on nine and the USA and Britain tying for fourth with 22 faults apiece. Ten teams took part in the competition over a course built by American Anthony D’Ambrosio.
Larsson holds off Wiggins in Paris
CYCLING: Swede Gustav Larsson benefited from good road conditions to win yesterday's first stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, a 9.4-km individual time trial in Dampierre en Yvelines.
Vacansoleil rider Larsson, the Beijing Olympics time trial silver medallist, clocked 11 minutes 19 seconds to beat Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins by one second.
Federer beats Murray in Dubai
TENNIS: Roger Federer swatted aside Andy Murray 7-5 6-4 to win the Dubai Championships on Saturday, the Swiss maestro's 72nd tour title, as he abandoned the baseline to dominate from the net.
The 16-times Grand Slam winner may no longer be favourite for the top prizes but few can match his longevity or dedication on the gruelling men’s tour and the 30-year-old claimed his fifth Dubai title without dropping a set all week.
“Against Andy I knew I had to stay aggressive but not overly – you don’t want to overhit,” Federer told reporters. “I think I found the right balance out there tonight.”
The Swiss has now won five of his past seven tournaments.
O'Leary's Perpignan move looks set to fall through
RUGBY: The knee injury sustained by Conor Murray may yet have an influence on Tomás O'Learys future but it appears the Munster scrumhalf will not be joining Perpignan.
That deal appears to have collapsed with confirmation that the Australian Josh Valentine will move from Narbonne this summer.
“He has won us three games by himself this season,” said Narbonne director of rugby Matt Williams. “He was released by the Brumbies and missed the window to get another Super Rugby contract so we got him on the cheap.
O'Leary can accept to re-sign with Munster, a non-centralised contract is on the table, or seek another club. Either way, it seems like the Perpignan deal is no more.
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