A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Formula One tyres to be colour-coded
MOTOR SPORT: Formula One tyres will be colour coded from next week’s season-opener in Australia to help fans tell which of six kinds are being used by drivers, new supplier Pirelli (who have replaced Bridgestone) said yesterday.
The Italian company said in a statement that prominent logos on the sidewall of each tyre would carry distinct colouring depending on the type.
Only two of four possible compounds of slick tyre will be available in each race, plus intermediate and wet tyres in the event of rain.
Pirelli said the wets used in heavy rain conditions would be coded orange while intermediates suited to a damp and drying track would be light blue.
Supersoft compounds, providing speed at the expense of durability, will be coded red. Soft tyres that last slightly longer will be yellow, medium tyres white and hards – the most durable of all – silver.
In-form Garcia shoots a 66 to move into contention
GOLF:Spain's Sergio Garcia, playing his first USPGA Tour event of the year, fired a 66 yesterday to move one shot behind leader Garrett Willis midway through the second round of the Transitions Championship.
Garcia birdied three of his first four holes after starting his round at the 10th and added two more birdies on his second nine in a bogey-free card that put him at eight-under-par 134.
Unheralded American Willis, ranked 277th, overcame a bogey on the first hole with an eagle at the par-five fifth and added three birdies to follow his opening 66 with a four-under 67 to set the pace at nine-under-par 133.
Overnight leader Paul Casey, who shot a flawless 64 to lead by two strokes after the opening round, and Nick Watney, the winner of last week’s WGC-Cadillac event who had 66 on Thursday, were among the later starters.
Justin Rose blazed through the Copperhead course at Innisbrook with a 65 to join Brendon de Jonge of Zimbabwe (66) and Marc Turnesa (67) and Roland Thatcher (67) on 135. Defending champion Jim Furyk posted 70 for five-under-par 137, one behind Martin Laird (70), Australian Stuart Appleby (69), Peter Hanson (67), Matteo Manassero, Mark Wilson (66) and Brandt Snedeke (64).
TRM to sponsor premier league
EQUESTRIAN:THIS YEAR's show jumping premier series will offer over €150,000 in prize-money making it the richest national Grand Prix league in Europe writes Margie McLoone.
TRM, the Curragh-based equine nutrition supplement manufacturer, has made a three-year commitment to the premier series and the lower level national Grand Prix league, with both series to run under the banner of TRM and ShowjumpingIreland. The 10-leg premier series will start at Louth County on April 24th while the 16 round national Grand Prix league commences the following weekend at Thomastown.
The Horse Sport Ireland/Chippison spring tour continues tomorrow at Kernans Equestrian Centre in Crossmaglen and 33 horses have been declared for this seventh round of the series including the leaders, young rider Daniel Coyle and Uptown Girl.
This weekend the Irish Universities Riding Clubs Association (IURCA) hosts its round of the student Nations’ Cup series at Knockagh View Equestrian Centre, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. Fourteen nations will be represented.
Williams still on injured list
TENNIS:Venus Williams has withdrawn from next week's Sony Ericsson Open in Miami after failing to recover from an abdominal injury. The three-time champion is still struggling with the problem that forced her to retire in the second game of her Australian Open clash with Andrea Petkovic in January.
Williams said: “I am very sorry to not be playing in the Sony Ericsson Open this year. It is one of my favourite tournaments on the circuit.” Williams’s sister Serena is also missing as she recovers from a foot injury and a blood clot while defending champion Kim Clijsters is a doubt with a shoulder problem.
