Rowing: The second day of the World Championships at Lucerne yesterday was another good one for the Irish, writes Liam Gorman.
Tony O'Connor and Gear≤id Towey won their heat of the lightweight pair to qualify directly for the final and the lightweight quadruple scull of Owen and Neal Byrne, Noel Monahan and Derek Holland finished third in their heat to move directly into the semi-final.
O'Connor and Towey, two very experienced oarsmen, will now face the challenge of keeping their focus until Sunday's final: they worked with coach Thor Nilsen in Spain in the run-up to the championships and will continue to be coached by the Swede in Switzerland this week. Nilsen coaches Sam Lynch, our other real hope of gold in Lucerne.
Ireland's other crew in action yesterday, the under-23 lightweight four, got a taste of competition at the very top: in a heat with World Champions Denmark - the Olympic bronze medallists - Australia and Germany, they finished last and must now hope to negotiate their way through the repechages.
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Golf: John Kelly (The Ward) kept his nerve to survive a sudden death showdown at Royal Dublin and win the Moran Cup.
Kelly made par four at the first hole where John Dignam of Slade Valley pushed his tee shot into deep rough - and eventually suffered a bogey five. Both players returned excellent rounds of four under par 68 in the oldest surviving tournament in Irish prof essional golf.
Golf: International David Jones has agreed to delay a return to Toledo University and the 21-year-old will be available to help City of Derry's four-man team contest Sunday's rearranged Barton Shield Foursomes Ulster final against Holywood at Royal County Down.
The decider could not be completed, following rain-interrupted semi-finals. Jones partnered Lester Moore to a one-hole win from the opening semi-final match against Royal Portrush pair John Fitzsimmons and Chris Brown. Making sure of a place in the final were Michel McGeady and Sam Smallwoods, beating Mark Windebank and Ricky Elliott by four holes. There is, however, the possibility City of Derry may not have McGeady on board for the final.
Holywood, who defeated Dunmurry, will lose former Ulster Boys' champion James Clarke, who leaves for the United States on Saturday.
Tennis: Tim Henman has been seeded ninth for the US Open, which starts next Monday at New York.
The British number one is one place ahead of Pete Sampras in the seedings for the Flushing Meadowevent, while British number two Greg Rusedski is seeded 30th.
Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten is the top seed, ahead of Wimbledon semi-finalist Andre Agassi.
Switzerland's Martina Hingis is the women's top seed, ahead of American trio Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams respectively.
Boxing: Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will face Denmark's Brian Nielsen in a 10-round fight on September 8th at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, cable television carrier Showtime said yesterday.
