Sports Digest

A round-up of the other news stories of the day in brief...

Calzaghe says no to Hopkins

BOXING: Joe Calzaghe will not come out of retirement for a rematch with Bernard Hopkins.

The Welshman admits he held tentative talks over a fight against the controversial American, and even resumed training at his Newbridge gym in preparation for a potential fight.

But the 38-year-old decided against coming out of retirement, claiming he no longer has the hunger to justify a comeback.

Caucchioli gets two-year ban for doping

CYCLING: Pietro Caucchioli has become the latest rider to be punished after being trapped by the International Cycling Union’s biological passport programme.

Last week, Italian rider Francesco De Bonis became the first cyclist banned for doping under the programme. He was handed a two-year suspension and a fine.

Caucchioli was suspended by his Lampre team last year after it was revealed he was one of five riders showing abnormal values in the system and has now been hit with a two-year ban.

A UCI statement read: “The UCI announces that following its request for proceedings against the Italian rider Pietro Caucchioli for a breach of the Anti-Doping Rules on the basis of his biological passport, the National Anti-Doping Tribunal of the Italian National Olympic Committee has decided to sanction the rider by a two-year suspension.”

Irish pony team win Nations' Cup

EQUESTRIAN: The Irish pony team won the Nations’ Cup at Wierden, the Netherlands, yesterday afternoon, doubling up on their success at Fontainebleau in April.

Ireland led at the halfway stage on a zero score and picked up just four faults in round two as Belgium finished on 13 faults for second, with the host nation third on 18.

Kate MacDonagh (Imagine Id One) from Galway was clear in round one, lowering one fence in round two, while Wexford’s Shane Kenny (More Clover) recovered from his eight-fault first round to go clear on his second tour of the track. Having been unpenalised in round one, Co Clare’s Tom Foley (Dibidoe) didn’t have to jump again thanks to a great double clear from Enniscorthy’s Bertram Allen with Acapella Z.

Also abroad this weekend, Irish senior show jumpers are competing at the Swiss five-star show in St Gallen and at four-star level in Balve (Germany) and Bourg En Bresse (France).

O'Leary's Antix takes overall victory

SAILING: The annual Scottish Series ended earlier this week with Ireland’s Anthony O’Leary on Antix from the Royal Cork Yacht Club taking overall victory in Class One, though he missed out on matching his 2004 and 2006 record as outright series winner, reports David Branigan.

Ross McDonald’s Equinox from Howth was also present on the winners’ podium with victory in the Class Four, the biggest single division at the event with a 20-boat fleet.

O’Leary’s team-mate for this Summer’s Commodore’s Cup, the Welsh/Irish Roxy 6, had a mixed series and struggled in last Sunday’s light winds, though managed to recover with two wins on the final day and place third in Class Two.

Mageean the star attraction 

ATHLETICS: The cream of emerging athletic talent will rise to the top once again tomorrow at the Irish Schools’ Track and Field championships in Tullamore – and among the richest of that talent is Ciara Mageean from Assumption, Ballynahinch, writes Ian O’Riordan.

Last year Mageean won the Lar Byrne Memorial Trophy for the athlete of the championships, and this year is targeting the 1,500 metres in preparation for next month’s World Junior Championships in Canada – with record aspirations once again on her mind.

Another young talent hoping to break a record will be Siofra Cléirigh Buttner of Coláiste Íosagáin in Dublin, in the junior girls’ 1,500 metres, having knocked 12 seconds off the Leinster Schools’ record a few weeks back.

The championships get underway at 9am.

This year sees Woodies DIY come on board as event sponsors.