Tyson allowed fight in Scotland

Boxing: The British Home Secretary Jack Straw yesterday gave the go-ahead for controversial American boxer Mike Tyson to be allowed into Scotland for a proposed fight on June 24th.

The decision came despite mounting opposition from Scottish women's groups and politicians, who say the convicted rapist should not be allowed into the country.

"I am fully aware of the strong opinions which have been expressed on Mr Tyson's application, especially in Scotland - as I was when this matter last came before me in January," Straw said in a statement.

The former world heavyweight champion is set to fight American Lou Savarese in a non-title bout next month at either Celtic Park or Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and served three years in jail. His opponents have said the Brooklyn-born fighter should be barred from Britain on the grounds of being an undesirable.

Explaining his decision in response to a parliamentary question, Straw added: "I have today informed Mr Tyson that he will be granted entry clearance for a single visit of three weeks duration strictly for the purpose of a boxing match in Scotland on June 24th, 2000."

Rowing: Sinead Jennings, entered in last weekend's Duisburg regatta under the flag of the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association, has been ratified as part of the Irish team for the World Cup regatta in Munich in two weeks. The 24-year-old Donegal woman, who only took up rowing in April last year and sculling last September, won the finals of the lightweight women sculls on both the Saturday and Sunday in Duisburg.

Jennings will join the men's lightweight double and lightweight four and the lightweight single scull of Sam Lynch as ratified crews for Munich. The Commercial club may also put together a women's lightweight quadruple, double and single.

Meanwhile, there will be trials next weekend for lightweight men's scullers, probably at Blessington. According to men's convenor Sebastian Peeters the trials will "give us more background on all of the candidates for the remainder of the rowing season," and there will probably be an Irish quad formed with the eventual aim of competing at the World Championships.

Portora hold their regatta tomorrow at Killyhevlin, near Enniskillen (11.30 start), while Bantry have theirs at Reendonegan Lake, with a 2.30 start. With Neptune, RBAI, Colaiste Iognaid, Portadown and CAI involved in their junior men's eights it looks an attractive competition, while Bantry's all-sculling regatta features a mixed quad (preferably two women, two men) as the closing event!