A round-up of other Sports news in brief
Gillick back from fall with impressive performance
ATHLETICS: David Gillick has wasted little time in recovering from his fall at last month’s European Indoor championships, winning his first outdoor 400 metres of the season in California yesterday in an impressive 45.80 seconds, writes Ian O’Riordan.
Competing at the Mount San Antonio College meeting Gillick beat a quality field that including some of the leading US collegians.
Among them was Reggie White, who was over half a second behind Gillick.
It was the fastest ever season opener for the 25-year-old Dubliner, and puts him on course not to only break his Irish record of 45.12 seconds, but also crack the 45-second barrier that remains the benchmark in world 400 metre running.
Also in Mt Sac, Waterford’s David McCarthy had a stunning debut over 5,000 metres when winning the college 5,000 metres in 13:42.11.
Running for Providence College, and still only 20, McCarthy’s time has only been beaten by three Irishmen over the last three years; Alistair Cragg, Mark Carroll and Martin Fagan.
Having become the first Waterford athlete to run a sub-four mile, indoors this season, this underlines his status as Ireland’s brightest middle distance prospect.
Alistair Cragg is also enjoying a promising start to the new season and finished third in an invitational road mile in Boston yesterday, a new event to accompany the Boston Marathon, which takes place today.
McCann returns to the main bunch
CYCLING: Returning to the race one year after placing 10th overall, Irish pro David McCann finished in the main bunch on yesterday’s first stage of the Jelajah Malaysia race, writes Shane Stokes. Bridgestone Anchor’s Makoto Iijima outsprinted Amir Zargari (Azad University Continental Team) to win, while McCann finished in the same time as the third-placed rider. He will begin today’s second leg 30th overall.
Elsewhere, Philip Deignan placed 82nd in the Amstel Gold Classic, finishing six minutes and two seconds behind the winner Serguei Ivanov (Katusha). Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) punctured at a crucial moment.
On Saturday, Sean Downey finished 38th in the ZLM Tour in the Netherlands. At home, Orwell Dundrum Town Centre rider Stephen Surdival soloed to a fine win in the Joey Whyte Memorial Cup. Tim O’Regan took Saturday’s Monie Nolan Memorial in Balscadden, while Martyn Irvine (Curran Racing) won the John Beggs Memorial Race in Dromore. Gerard Heveran (Castlereagh CC) won the Bann Valley Classic.
Tight finish for victorious UCD
ROWING: UCD beat Trinity in the final of the senior eights at Trinity regatta in Islandbridge on Saturday, writes Liam Gorman. The result was a reprise of the Gannon Cup colours race on Thursday night, and the margin was again about a length.
The event was blessed with perfect weather, and the regatta programme filled out the day more completely than in recent years. The strong surge in junior rowing was reflected in the competition.
The hosts carried off the senior women’s eights, beating Commercial in the final. In a remarkably close semi-final, Trinity had only two feet to spare over a strong UCD crew. The men’s senior four went to UCD.
Ulster keep a clean sheet
WOMENS HOCKEY: For the second year running Ulster won the Under-21 interprovincial title without conceding a goal in their four games, their 1-0 defeat of hosts Leinster at Grange Road on Saturday proving to be the tournament-deciding result, writes Mary Hannigan.
The champions opened with a 6-0 win over South East on Saturday, senior internationals Michelle Harvey and Megan Frazer scoring two apiece, before Hannah McMillan’s 10th-minute goal gave them the points against Leinster.
McMillan and Harvey were on the scoresheet again in yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Munster, before Ulster wrapped up the title by beating Connacht 4-0, Harvey getting her fourth goal in as many games.
Leinster, who won their three other ties, finished second by beating Munster in the final game of the tournament. Anna O’Flanagan got the only goal in that match.
Husband and wife team on top
EQUESTRIAN: The Bandon husband and wife combination of Michael and Patricia Ryan dominated the CIC** at Ballindenisk filling three of the top four placings with Michael winning on his dressage score of 49.4 on Thomas Kibbe’s Annestown Emperor.
Ryan also filled fourth spot on Ballylynch Sky High (60.6) with wife Patricia slotting into second on Ballylynch Skyport (51.5). Luke Drea placed third on his own Avoca Feile (58.2). In the CIC* classes, section A went to David Hannigan and Red Baron while section B was won by Heidi Hamilton on her own Lassban Radovix. Shane Power won the the CNCP** on Keredern Little Heather. Alexander Butler won yesterday’s final round of the Horse Sport Ireland/Guidam spring tour on Harold McGahern’s Touchdown gelding Will Wimble; while Tholm Keane took the series on Ronan Tynan’s Warrenstown Well Aware.
