A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Williams claims overall in style
CYCLING: Stage two winner Pete Williams sealed his overall victory in the Tour of Ulster in style, sprinting home first at the end of the concluding circuit race near Coalisland.
The British Team Motorpoint rider beat Christian Varley (Isle of Man) to the line, with his own team-mate, Ian Bibby, claiming third.
Williams’ closest rival Andrew Roche (Isle of Man) was three seconds back in fifth place, thus enabling Williams to double his overnight lead to six seconds.
Martyn Irvine (Cycling Ulster/Slane Cycles) sealed victory in the King of the Hills competition. Team-mate Philip Lavery took overall victory in the Serious Strong Cheddar Cheese Young Rider Competition. He thus earned the Jim Traynor memorial trophy.
Ronan McLaughlin (Cycling Ulster/Slane Cycles) was best Irish rider overall, finishing three minutes and nine seconds back in fourth.
Many of the riders were using the race as preparation for the An Post Rás, which begins later this month.
Tillakaratne set to reveal all
CRICKET:Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne will provide evidence to the International Cricket Council "in the days to come" as he vowed to expose those he alleges were involved in widespread match-fixing.
Tillakaratne and former team-mate Arjuna Ranatunga claim fixing has been common in Sri Lankan cricket since 1992.
Sri Lanka Cricket were quick to demand evidence from both men but Tillakaratne says he will only go to the ICC when he is ready.
The 43-year-old said in comments reported by the BBC: “I made a statement to the provincial council, I said that I still maintain my stand on the allegations.
“After I came out with these allegations I have been getting a lot of nuisance calls, death threats, but definitely I will expose all those who are involved in a time to come.”
Simmons welcomes new series
CRICKET: Cricket Ireland have announced the details of a new Inter Regional Challenge Series, with two 50-over games taking place this summer between North and South selections ahead of an extended series next summer, writes Emmet Riordan.
It is seven years since the last inter-provincial series was held and Ireland coach Phil Simmons has welcomed the recommencement of the competition. “I am really looking forward to the Inter Regional Series as it will give myself and the national selectors a chance to see our best players compete against each other. We expect the series to be highly competitive and it is a genuine chance for all involved to stake a claim for selection in the senior squad,” said Simmons.
The first game will take place at Bready CC in Tyrone on Sunday, May 15th, the day after the first round of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, with no date or venue set for the second encounter. Played under full one-day international rules the teams will be made up of players that are eligible to play for Ireland or are within one year of eligibility.
In 2012 the competition will include three 50-over matches and a four-team Twenty 20 competition, with details to be announced later this year.
Andy Flower has renewed his contract and will remain in the role of England team director.
Frankel heads next to Royal Ascot
HORSE RACING: Frankel will next run at Royal Ascot after Henry Cecil said that the remarkable 2,000 Guineas winner would not line up in the Investec Derby. Cecil will resist the temptation to step the unbeaten colt up to a mile and a half at Epsom, instead focusing on the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile.
The Warren Place handler said: “I think the Derby would not be doing the right thing. I’d want to give him a race before Epsom over a bit further but I can’t do that. Frankel is very well, but we will take it step by step.
“You have to think of the horse and we don’t want to be experimenting with him.
“At the moment, he is telling me not to go a mile and a half and the Prince (Khalid Abdullah, owner) agrees. All being well, we’ll go to Ascot and then go from there.”
Ireland to stage world event
KICKBOXING: Kickboxing Ireland have won the bid to host the Kickboxing World Championship 2011 in Ireland.
President of Kickboxing Ireland Roy Baker will today give details of the event to be staged in the Citywest Conference Centre from November 20th to 27th this year and will confirm the participation of 40 countries and 1,000 athletes.
It will be the largest international kickboxing event ever to take place in Ireland.
Cipriani to miss Rebels clash following discipline breach
RUGBY:Danny Cipriani will miss the Melbourne Rebels' clash with the Queensland Reds this weekend after being stood down following a breach of club discipline. The former England outhalf, in his first season with the Victoria club, will sit the game out along with team-mate Richard Kingi after going on a night out following Saturday's game against the Waratahs.
The decision was made by the Players Standards Group and was accepted by Cipriani and Kingi. “We have taken this action due to a breach of team protocol,” club captain Tim Davidson said.
“We are very protective of our standards,” he added.
The 23-year-old, who was famously dropped by England ahead of his proposed debut against Scotland in 2008 for being spotted in a nightclub, has already angered Melbourne officials during his brief stay with the club.
On March 1st he was warned he would be stood down if he stepped out of line again after helping himself to alcohol in a nightclub.
