Top Irish canoeist Ian Wiley will defend his title as European kayak champion later this month. Wiley won the title in the European Championships in Augsburg in 1996, and will defend it in Roudnice in the Czech Republic from August 21st to the 23rd.

The 29-year-old from Chapelizod in Dublin became the biggest recipient from the grants to sports people by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr Jim McDaid, this week when he was granted £24,000. However, it has not been a particularly good year for Wiley. He competed in three of the four World Cup races this year, but his best placing was 10th last weekend in Wisconsin in the United States.