Gillick lines up beside big guns ATHLETICS:David Gillick faces his most daunting test of the season so far when he lines up in the 400 metres at this evening's Golden Gala meeting in Rome, the third stop in the IAAF Golden League series, writes Ian O'Riordan.
The field is loaded with sub-45 second men, including Americans Angelo Taylor and Darold Williamson, who have posted 44.05 and 44.68 respectively in recent weeks.
Also lining up is World Indoor champion Alleyne Francique of Granada, and one of the newer faces this season, Gary Kikaya of the Congo, who has run 44.60.
Gillick will be looking to improve on his Irish record of 45.23, clocked in Geneva last month, but more importantly will get a fair idea of how he currently rates against the best in the world.
The only other Irish interest tonight is Alistair Cragg, who runs over 5,000 metres in confident mood following his impressive fifth-place finish over 3,000 metres at the Paris Golden League meeting a week ago.
Cragg dropped out of his only other 5,000 metres this season back at the start of June, but his 7:40.31 over 3,000 metres last week was his fastest in three years, and before that he posted bests over 10,000 metres and 1,500 metres.
The Paris meeting significantly reduced the number of athletes chasing the $1-million Golden League jackpot, with only four still in contention: javelin thrower Tero Pitkämäki of Finland, Americans Sanya Richards (400 metres) and Michelle Perry (100 metre hurdles) and Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.
Among those eliminated was world 100-metre record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica, who missed Paris through injury but will run in Rome tonight.
Varian resigns for Canadian post
HOCKEY:Irish hockey suffered a significant blow yesterday with the news of Paul Varian's resignation as chief executive of the sport's governing body after two-and-a-half years in the job, writes Mary Hannigan.
The Dubliner is returning to Canada, where he worked before taking up his position with the Irish Hockey Association (IHA), having been appointed president and CEO of Sport BC, the provincial federation for sport in British Columbia.
In his time in charge of the IHA the association's revenue doubled, their team of full-time staff grew from two to 10, and Varian clinched a sponsorship deal with the ESB as well as a television package with Setanta that resulted in extensive coverage of schools and international hockey.
Varian departs before the full implementation of the IHA's four-year strategic plan (2003-07) and the inaugural season of the All-Ireland League.
His chief target now is to ensure British Columbia benefits from the staging of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver in three years' time.
"I am very excited to be taking up this opportunity at Sport BC," he said. "With the Winter Olympics approaching it is a wonderful opportunity to join a vibrant, multi-sport organisation at an exciting time for British Columbian sport and one that I really couldn't pass over.
"That said, I am sad to be leaving Irish hockey. The sport has accomplished much in recent years and the future is very bright for the IHA and the sport as a whole."
