Sailing/Patches manages small gains:After two more inshore races, Eamon Conneely's Patches made small gains at the penultimate day of the Breitling MedCup/Cope del Rey regatta yesterday, reports David Branigan. A fourth and a third for the Galway boat delivered seventh overall last night, an improvement of two places.
Yesterday's plaudits were well-deserved by the British boat Stay Calm, captained by Brendan Darrer. Two race wins deposed the King of Spain's Bribon for third overall. Going into today's final day, three races are possible though two are more likely and the event remains wide open. Spanish entry Siemens with Paul Cayard calling tactics has regained the lead from Mutua Madrilena.
Meanwhile, Crosshaven welcomed the fleet of 49 single-handers in La Solitaire du Figaro yesterday after a 415-mile first leg that was won by veteran Frederic Duthil. Ireland's Paul Rian on City Jet placed 41st.
Equestrian Sport/Support for Tattersalls application
Tattersalls Ireland has put in an application to host a qualifier for the 2008 Eventing World Cup, reports Grania Willis.
The Co Meath venue was voted number one by Eventing Ireland after its debut appearance on the international calendar last year and its bid has been supported by the national governing body. "I have every confidence that Tattersalls will produce a world-class competition if their bid is successful", Eventing Ireland chairman Neil Morris commented yesterday.
Ballindenisk in Co Cork has hosted Ireland's Eventing World Cup qualifier for the past three years, but problems with hard ground this spring resulted in a high level of withdrawals from the cross-country in April.
Morris said yesterday the Cork venue has not applied to run the 2008 qualifier, but stated Eventing Ireland would also give an application from Ballindenisk its full support.
Tennis/Coveney claims title in Cork
Irish and Italian contestants with lower seeded positions captured the top honours in the International Tennis Federation's junior series at the Rushbrook club in Cork yesterday, reports Pat Roche.
The top seed in the boys' under-18 singles and the highest ITF-ranked player at the tournament Mark Bowtell was toppled in three sets by Italian number two seed Alessandro Bega.
Bega lost the middle set to Bowtell but the Italian was stronger and reeled off the final set for no loss winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.
In the girl's event Cork's Niamh Coveney, seeded five, outgunned the English number seed two seed Emily Crack in two sets. Coveney's application off the ground resulted in varied placement deep into Crack's court and the Irish girl's return of service caused the English player many problems.
Coveney won the first set 6-1 and and went on to take the match 6-3 in one hour and 10 minutes.
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