Today's other stories in brief
New sponsorship deal a boost for Green Dragon
SAILING:The seventh leg of the Volvo Ocean Race begins in Boston this evening (6pm — Irish time) when the seven-boat fleet starts a 2,550-mile leg to Galway. Ireland's Green Dragon entry received a boost yesterday with the announcement of a new sponsorship deal that secures the team until the end of the race next month, writes David Branigan.
The first finishers are officially expected to arrive in Galway this day week (Saturday 23rd) although this is weather-dependant and a more realistic time may be the following day. Winds are expected to be light for the first 24-hours leaving Boston en route to the scoring-gate off Newfoundland.
After that point, the race-organiser have inserted an exclusion-zone due to numerous ice-reports lying closest to the most direct route to Ireland. Stronger winds are also expected by early next week.
It is these conditions that Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker will be relying upon for a solid performance into Galway. While the initial 48-hours are unlikely to favour his boat with its under-weight keel, downwind ‘running’ conditions next week should see his team on a par with most of the fleet.
Yesterday’s sponsorship announcement is understood to be worth a significant six-figure sum according to team sources. The deal with BWIN and United Games will tap into the 210,000-strong virtual gaming community that already tracks the real race and has a 40 per cent non-sailing follower base.
Ferrari take legal action against FIA
MOTOR SPORT:Formula One plunged deeper into crisis yesterday with Ferrari taking legal action in France to try and prevent the governing body from pressing ahead with plans for a budget cap in 2010.
International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley, taking a hardline stance, said after a two hour meeting with the teams at a Heathrow airport hotel that there had been no compromise on the controversial regulations.
Champions Ferrari, the sports most successful and glamorous team, have said they will bring down the curtain on 60 years of involvement in Formula One if the published rules are not re-written.
Mosley doubted they would quit but said the sport would survive if they did, drawing a parallel with the 1994 death of triple champion Ayrton Senna.
The idea that they are indispensable is nonsense, said Mosley. Its a little bit like poor Senna. He was the most important driver in 1994 but when he very sadly got killed Formula One went on. Lotus were very important once, so were Brabham.
Mosley said there could be no flexibility on a May 29th deadline for entries for next years championship, warning also that there was a significant number of serious would-be competitors eager to come in.
Stage win for Norwegian
CYCLING: Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen powered away in the final straight to clinch the rainy seventh stage of the Giro dItalia yesterday.
The Team Columbia rider, second on Thursday, came in ahead of South Africa’s Robert Hunter and Russian Pavel Brutt.
LPR’s Danilo Di Luca, the 2007 champion, kept the overall leader’s pink jersey at the end of the 244-km stage from Innsbruck in Austria to the Italian town of Chiavenna.
Cork Regatta falls foul of weather
ROWING:Cork Regatta, scheduled for tomorrow at the National Rowing Centre, has been cancelled because strong winds have been forecast, writes Liam Gorman. The organisers hope to reschedule the event.
This is the third time in three years that this regatta has fallen foul of bad weather.
Two years ago the event had to be cancelled, while last year bad weather caused it to be called off on the day.
Ireland eager to get going
CRICKET:Ireland will be hoping to put a frustrating week behind them when they take on Nottinghamshire in the Friends Provident Trophy at Castle Avenue in Clontarf this morning (10.45), writes Emmet Riordan.
Thursday’s encounter against Leicestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled, while last Sunday’s game against Hampshire at Eglinton went the same way, leaving Phil Simmons’s side itching to get out in the middle as they continue their preparations for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup.
Simmons has kept the same squad for today’s game, resting both Trent Johnston and Peter Connell ahead of next week’s two away matches that wrap up what has so far been a stop-start campaign.
One man who will be keen to put in a big performance against today’s opponents is all-rounder Kevin O’Brien after Nottinghamshire yesterday confirmed that he will join the county on a long-term trial following Ireland’s final FP Trophy game against Worcestershire next Wednesday.
O’Brien will remain available to Ireland throughout his trial, while Simmons will be delighted that the big-hitting batsman will be part of the county’s Twenty20 Cup campaign and playing home matches at Trent Bridge, where Ireland’s two World Cup group games take place.
O’Brien scored an unbeaten 93 at Trent Bridge last year, an innings that certainly impressed Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell. “His batting is already at a good level, and that innings against us certainly stuck in my mind over the winter.” said Newell.
The second days play in the second test between England and the West Indies was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to torrential rain on Friday. England ended the first day on 302 for two with Alastair Cook on 126 not out and nightwatchman James Anderson on four. Rain is also forecast to disrupt the match over the weekend. England lead the two-test series 1-0.
