Protests galore

Sailing: Up to 11 protests - some involving the holding of a race committee vessel - surrounded the opening day's races of the Sovereign's Cup in brisk conditions off the Old Head of Kinsale, yesterday.

Dublin Bay's Azure, the new Dubois 40-footer owned by Bob and Bairbre Stewart, was announced the provisional handicap winner of race one in the IRC class one and although the biggest boat in the 125-boat fleet was a clear line honours winner yesterday afternoon, organisers were marking all results sheets as 'subject to protest'.

Yesterday afternoon, as the westerly breeze reached 25 knots, the committee vessel Gannett was stuck by competing class one boats while she was on station on a race mark on the windward-leeward course for both class one and three yachts.

Athletics: Almost 100 overseas athletes are now confirmed for tomorrow evening's Dublin International meet at the Morton Stadium in Santry. The event, which is promoted by the Athletics Association of Ireland, will be one of the rare occasions this summer where the top domestic athletes can gain some international competition on home soil, writes Ian O'Riordan.

The visiting team many not boast any Olympic champions or world record holders, but there is a depth of talent from leading nations such as Australia, South Africa, Russia, England and Japan.

The sprints events will be especially strong, an area where the Irish women in particular have made useful progress in recent seasons.

Sarah Reilly, Emily Maher and Ciara Sheehy provided some of the best results for the women's team at last weekend's European Cup in Latvia and all three are listed for the 100 and 200 metres.

South Africa's Heide Seyerling and Britain's Joice Maduaka are among the best opposition there.

The men's 400 metres is also experiencing unprecedented domestic depth and Tomas Coman, Paul Opperman and Paul McKee have been leading the way. Most likely to provide the challenge is Australia's Daniel Batman and Britain's man-in-form Iwan Thomas.

Tennis: Ireland's Davis Cup team is set a tough task away to Monaco on slow red clay next month. Peter Wright's side named yesterday is already suspect because of an injury problem that threatens Peter Clarke's preparations.

Clarke, a vital singles player returned from California with a recurrence of a nagging shoulder injury. Limerick's Conor Niland has been invited to join the squad which reads Scott, Barron, John Doran, Peter Clarke, Owen Casey and Conor Niland.

Ireland beat Monaco in Dublin three seasons ago. The surface then was pacy artificial grass.