SPORTS DIGEST

More sports news in brief.

Clarke leads way at Dún Laoghaire

EQUESTRIAN:Olive Clarke landed the Grand Prix with Butler's Pantry Spitfield on her way to being crowned leading rider at yesterday's traditional pre-Dublin show in Dún Laoghaire, reports Margie McLoone.

Only four of the 47 starters were up to the challenge posed by course builder Raymond Jess in the afternoon's main class, which was sponsored by Dún Laoghaire & Rathdown County Council and was a leg of the national Grand Prix series.

Victory for Clarke and John Melia's 13-year-old bay gelding came in a time of 55.96.

Second place went to Stephen Smith and the stallion Laraghlese Western Desert in 56.17.

Joe Walsh, chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, has urged the equestrian community to get behind the teams jumping at the RDS on Friday and competing in Hong Kong over the weekend. "We have a really experienced and talented Aga Khan squad and an eventing team that has prepared really well," he said.

Fifa to review age-limit regulations for Olympiads

OLYMPICS:Fifa will conduct a review of Olympic football regulations to ensure the London Games in 2012 are not hit by more club-versus-country rows.

Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Schalke have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to stop the likes of Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi from competing at the Beijing Olympics.

Fifa insist clubs must release their under-23 players for international duty based on a regulation passed by the congress in 1988. It has never before been an issue. Fifa president Sepp Blatter yesterday urged the clubs to "let the players play" - but he admitted an urgent review was required.

Blatter said: "In the future I think it is necessary we have an exact and precise ruling. It has been decided for 2012 to avoid any misunderstandings and problems that the whole item of the presence of football in the Olympic Games shall be discussed immediately after the conclusion of the 2008 Olympic Games, together with the IOC."

Maguires head up Irish challenge

GOLF:The brilliant 13-year-old twins Leona and Lisa Maguire are expected to play key roles in Ireland's drive for the Girls Home International title over the next three days at Scotland's Panmure Club, near Carnoustie.

Leona was sensational in winning the Irish Close title earlier in the year and then the pair occupied the top two places in last month's European Young Masters.

Ireland finished eighth in the recent European Girls Team Championship at Murcar, north of Aberdeen, and the Maguires again performed with distinction.

There is plenty of experience in the Irish side, Victoria Bradshaw, Sarah Cunningham and Stephanie Meadow having all played at this level before.

But they face a daunting opening day against mighty England, who also have their women's champion, Hannah Barwood, in the ranks.

Ibanez to captain Wasps

RUGBY:Frenchman Raphael Ibanez will succeed Lawrence Dallaglio as captain of Premiership champions Wasps next season.

Ibanez (35), who led France to the 1999 World Cup final, won 98 Test caps and joined Wasps in 2005.

He takes over from England World Cup winner Dallaglio, who retired in fitting style in May after Wasps beat Leicester at Twickenham to land the Premiership title.