Sports Digest/ SHOW JUMPING: Ireland remain at the head of the Nations Cup series standings, despite a disappointing sixth-place finish in yesterday's Cup in Hamina, Finland, writes Grania Willis.
With two victories already, Team Ireland were hopeful of a hat-trick in Hamina, but the prospect of pole position vanished early, only Commandant Gerry Flynn going clear in the first round.
A second-round clear from Captain Shane Carey suggested a revival, but a fence down apiece for Flynn and Ryan Crumley gave a finishing total of 17 faults, to put Ireland sixth of seven teams.
The USA won a three-way tussle for the top, with Denmark second and Italy third.
The two league points earned mean Ireland are now on 42 at the top of the Nations Cup standings, with Denmark overhauling Italy by a just half a point for second on 35.
There was better news for Jessica Kürten in Cannes, the world number five steering Castle Forbes Libertina into the runner-up spot in the Grand Prix at the opening round of the six-leg Global Champions Tour series to wind up as leading rider of the show.
In dressage, Anna Merveldt finishing an impressive second in the Grand Prix Special at Achleiten, Germany, only her third international outing with Coryolano.
Merveldt has earmarked the 11-year-old as her ride for the European championships in Turin in late August.
Vermeulen pulls out
RUGBY: Number eight Elvis Vermeulen has withdrawn from France's World Cup squad after a scan revealed a slipped disc that will require surgery, his club, Clermont Auvergne, said on Saturday.
"It was on the occasion of a scan conducted last Monday two days after the final of the French championship that a slipped disc was discovered," a statement from the club said.
"Further tests revealed that surgery could not be avoided. The decision to operate was taken on Saturday morning."
The 29-year-old Vermeulen, who has eight caps, had been named on Thursday as the first-choice number eight in France's 30-player squad for the World Cup, to be played in September and October.
Lynch back with a win
ROWING: The former world champion Sam Lynch returned to domestic rowing in some style on Saturday, writes Liam Gorman.
The Limerickman, a former world champion in the lightweight singles scull, has always been very loyal to his club, St Michael's, and he helped a senior eight of St Michael's and Shannon overcome NUIG in a two-boat final in Athlone.
NUIG had an excellent day overall, however, taking the senior coxed four and coxless pairs crowns.
St Michael's won the overall prize, and the strength of Commercials' underage structures was confirmed with wins for their women's and men's junior 18 eights.
