Other sports news in brief
Button looking forward to working with Hamilton
MOTORSPORT:Formula One world champion Jenson Button hopes 2010 will be the year when he and Lewis Hamilton finally share a podium.
The two will meet as McLaren team-mates for the first time today after Button took the controversial decision to leave Mercedes (formerly Brawn GP) following his title win last year.
McLaren maintain that both drivers will be treated equally this season but some in the sport believe Button will end up playing second fiddle to Hamilton, who is regarded as a better prospect for the title.
Despite having one world title apiece, the British duo have never shared a podium together, something which Button hopes to change once the pair establish a good working relationship.
“Lewis and I have never finished on the podium this year so hopefully that will happen in 2010,” said Button. “I’m going to be spending quite a lot of time with Lewis over the next couple of months before the first race and I’m looking forward to working with him,” added Button, who turned 30 yesterday.
Plans for floodlit game scuppered
GAELIC GAMES:Next month's National Football opener between Mayo and Galway at McHale Park will not be played under lights, as originally scheduled.
Redevelopment work at Castlebar has run into planning issues, which means the floodlights won’t now be ready as was anticipated.
Castlebar Town Council’s decision to grant retention planning permission for the McHale Park development has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála, by Peter Sweetman and Associates, on behalf of the McHale Road Residents Association.
This appeal also concerns the use of floodlights at McHale Park, and as a result the game will now go ahead at the same venue on the Sunday afternoon, February 7th.
Death of 'voice of rugby' McLaren
RUGBY: Tributes were paid yesterday to the “voice of rugby” Bill McLaren, who has died at the age of 86.
The legendary commentator, who retired in 2002 after almost 50 years as a broadcaster, died in hospital yesterday morning.
He received an OBE, CBE and MBE for services to the sport and combined his work as a broadcaster with that of a PE teacher until 1987.
Scotland rugby legend Gavin Hastings, who worked alongside McLaren in the commentary box, led the tributes.
He said: “First and foremost, Bill was a very proud and passionate Scot but such was his professionalism that you would never really have known that.
“He always remained very unbiased in his commentary and I think that that was unquestionably one of his endearing qualities. He was just such a gentleman as well.”
He added: “He was a wonderful commentator and he just brought the world of rugby into so many people’s homes.”
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The world of sport and broadcasting has lost a true legend.”
New cyclo-cross date announced
CYCLING: The national cyclo-cross championships originally scheduled for January 10th will now take place in just over two weeks’ time.
The races were postponed due to poor weather conditions. Event organiser Greg May had originally hoped to hold the championships at the end of this month but has had to wait a further week.
“Due to many factors we have only been able to 100 per cent clarify the date for the race as of today. February 7th will be the rescheduled date so as not to clash with the DH race on the 31st of January, and the Raheny 5km road race.”
The DCU cycling club-organised races will be held in St Anne’s Park in Raheny.