SHOW JUMPING: Cian O'Connor narrowly missed out on claiming first blood for Ireland at the Swiss Super League fixture in St Gallen yesterday, being pipped by the slimmest of margins in the opening speed class, writes Grania Willis.
O'Connor, part of an Irish quartet competing only in the individual classes in St Gallen now Ireland are out of the Super League, brought out Markopoulo for yesterday's one-rounder, but a time of 58.46 seconds wasn't quite quick enough for the winner's enclosure and O'Connor had to settle for second behind Switzerland's Jane Richard.
Over at the Tattersalls international three-day event, Elizabeth Power is the best of the Irish after the two-star dressage at the Co Meath venue.
Twenty-two-year-old Power, whose brother Robert rode the Gordon Elliott-trained Silver Birch to win the Aintree Grand National, is just two points adrift of the leaders after scoring a mark of 46.4 penalties with Kilpatrick River.
New Zealand visitor Andrew Nicholson holds the advantage on a score of 44.4, but the world and European champion is 14 points in arrears, back in 14th place with Glenbuck, the horse previously ridden by Zara Phillips' friend Sherelle Duke, who was killed in a cross-country fall a week before the British girl claimed her world title.
Tipperary-based Briton Fraser Duffy heads the one-star field on 40.2 penalties, with Jim Newsam best of the home side in sixth.
HOCKEY: Ireland continue their build-up for next month's Setanta Cup in Dublin and August's European Championships in Manchester with three games against Scotland at Belfield over the weekend, starting this evening, writes Mary Hannigan.
"The team is more experienced than the one that played against the Netherlands Antilles, although we will be without Linda Caulfield (ankle injury)," said coach Gene Muller. "Scotland will be a good test for us because they have a similar ranking and will be at a similar preparation phase."
Caulfield is one of three players in Muller's panel to have been nominated for the Irish Hockey Association "Player of the Year" award, which will be announced in Dublin next month.
INTERNATIONALS (at Belfield) - Today: Ireland v Scotland, 7pm. Tomorrow: Ireland v Scotland, 3pm. Sunday: Ireland v Scotland, 2pm.
IRISH SENIOR SQUAD: E Stewart, H Bowe (both Armagh), B McKeever (Ballymoney), J McDonough (Belfast Harlequins), C O'Brien, E Harte (both Chelmsford), E Cregan (Cork Harlequins), A Connery (UCC), N Symmons (Eintracht Braunschweig), C McKean, L Healy (both Loreto), A Speers, J Orbinson (both Pegasus), M Goode (Pembroke Wanderers), E Clarke, S McKay (both Randalstown), R Flinn (UCD).
ATHLETICS:Derval O'Rourke has cancelled plans to open her outdoor season at tomorrow's Papaflessia IAAF permit meeting in Greece. The European silver medallist over 100 metre hurdles had entered the 100 metres flat with the intention of sharpening her speed for the weeks ahead, but after sustaining a minor muscle strain at training on Wednesday evening, decided yesterday not to make the trip.
