Sports Digest/ SHOW JUMPING: Sally Corscadden has kept the Olympic dream alive with a competitive test that has put her in the top 20 after the first day of dressage at the European eventing championships in Italy, writes Grania Willis.
The 44-year-old, who was a member of Ireland's bronze medal team at the 1993 Europeans in Achselschwang, Germany, scored a mark of 54.8 penalties for her test with Gerry Leahy's talented grey Millbridge Kalmar to slot into 18th at the close of play yesterday.
Britain has taken a stranglehold of the two-star class at Necarne Castle in Co Fermanagh. The British are currently holding 12 of the top 15 places, but Jayne Doherty has broken through to claim seventh place for Ireland with The Only One.
Petacchi wins again
CYCLING: Italian Alessandro Petacchi became the Tour of Spain's second most prolific stage winner with victory yesterday. The Milram rider, who also won on Wednesday, outsprinted compatriot Daniele Bennati and Alexander Usov of Belarus to take stage 12 for his 19th Tour of Spain win.
Petacchi is waiting for a verdict from the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) over his positive test for salbutamol during this year's Giro d'Italia, where he won five stages.
He was cleared of doping violations by the Italian Cycling Federation (ICF), but the Italian Olympic Committee asked CAS to overturn the decision and give the rider a one-year ban. The Italian argued he used the banned substance in his asthma inhaler, for which he had a medical certificate.
Patches goes second
SAILING: A win in yesterday's race six in the final Breitling MedCup series regatta moved Eamon Conneely's Patches into second overall in this event and further secured third place in the series standings with just two days remaining, writes David Branigan.
The win is a first for the Galway yacht under British double Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker since the latest generation TP52-footer was launched in Valencia three months ago.
Kiwi legend Russell Coutts continues to lead both this event and the overall series and now appears unstoppable.
However, for all the top boats competing, today will be crucial for the outcome of both the event and series as the single coastal race counts for double scoring points.
