Wilson proves his pedigree with emphatic Rally Ireland triumph

Sports Digest/ MOTOR SPORT: Malcolm Wilson and Michael Orr led Eamonn Boland and Francis Regan in a Ford one-two victory on the first Rally Ireland, writes Brian Foley.

The 18-year-old winner is the son of Malcolm Wilson, former rally driver and Ford rally team manager. Having taken over the lead from Boland on the third stage he established a 53-second advantage at the the end of Saturday's tarmac stages.

Austin McHale was an early retirement when he put his Ford Focus WRC off the road, and the fancied Subaru driver, Andrew Nesbitt, was a non-starter.

Wilson further increased his lead over yesterday's forest stages to convincingly beat Boland, the latter conserving his car for the forthcoming Catalyuna Rally in Spain.

Northern Ireland champion Kevin Lynch crashed his Subaru out of third, and Glenn Allen then lost third spot when the engine of his Toyota Corolla WRC blew a cylinder head gasket. National forest champion Gareth McHale, in a similar Corolla, took over third which he comfortably held to the end ahead of Sweden's Daniel Carlsson in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, who won Group N.

Belgian Freddie Loix showed his world class with an inspired drive to finish fifth overall in the little two-wheel-drive 1600cc Suzuki Ignis.

At the finish in Sligo, Wilson was euphoric about Saturday's tarmac stages, declaring "a tarmac round of the World Championship here would be the ultimate".

Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, also gave his support for a WRC round after being driven over the forest stages by rallying legend Billy Coleman in a Subaru Impreza course car. A second Rally Ireland will be held early next year, and a World Rally Championship round could be on the cards in 2007.

CYCLING: David McCann's excellent Herald Sun Tour campaign saw the Ireland rider take a total of 52 world ranking points from the 2.1-ranked event, the Belfastman holding on to his third place overall in Saturday's seventh and final stage. McCann took his fourth top-10 placing in the race by finishing 10th in the Melbourne criterium, writes Shane Stokes.

He ended the week-long race 39 seconds behind overall winner Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance). Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) was the runner-up, 14 seconds back.

In addition to his overall podium placing, McCann also netted world ranking points for his stage win on Friday and another stage placing of fifth.

Meanwhile, Cycling Ireland president Miceal Concannon and board members Patrick Moriarty and Liam Horan were all re-elected at the federation's agm on Saturday. Newry Wheelers' Connor Sweeney pipped former treasurer Peter Thornton to take a one-year role on the board.

CI announced an improving financial situation and a projected yearly surplus of €38,440 for 2005.

Meanwhile, Philip Deignan's fifth place in the European championships and ninth in the world under-23 championships saw him named rider of the year at CI's champion night awards later on that evening.

CANOEING: Ireland's Jenny Egan won bronze at the World Canoe Marathon Championships in Perth, Western Australia, at the weekend. Egan just missed out on silver, finishing a close third behind second placed Tamara Csipes of Hungary. Stefania Cicali of Italy was a convincing winner.

SHOW JUMPING: Ireland's show jumpers notched up an impressive five victories over the weekend, including a double for Billy Twomey, but it was Jessica Kurten who collected the lion's share of the cash on offer, netting herself $66,500 at the Las Vegas $1 million Invitational, writes Grania Willis.

The German-based rider, who was a 20 to 1 outsider before the start of the inaugural Las Vegas Million, was placed in all six of the classes on the schedule, including a win in Saturday's ride and drive qualifier and second in the Casino Classic for an $18,000 return. With $750,000 in the prizepot for Saturday night's Grand Prix, Kurten was one of six of the handpicked field of 25 who won through to the timed decider. A fence down with Lady Georgina Forbes' mare Quibell left her out of contention for the winner's cheque of $250,000, but Kurten still collected $35,750 for her efforts and must now be assured of at least maintaining her sixth place in the world rankings. Twomey's double came at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham, where he scored with the mare Intermission on both Saturday and Sunday.

Conor Swail's win on Saturday came with Rivaal, a seven-year-old making its international debut, in the Prix Hyper Marche Champion stakes at the French show in Saint Lo. The fifth Irish win was recorded by Trevor Coyle, who picked off one of the speed classes with Joy's Mouche yesterday at the Belgian fixture in Welkenraedt.