ATHLETICS: Another busy weekend on the indoor circuit produced three standout results for Irish athletes in their countdown to next month's European championships in Birmingham, writes Ian O'Riordan. James Nolan is now the second-fastest European over 1,500 metres this season thanks to his fifth place in Stuttgart on Saturday night, his 3:41.03 coming off a very tight finish.
Nolan led through the 1,200-metre mark, with victory going to Algeria's Antar Zerguelaine in a world-leading 3:39.49. Portugal's Rui Silva was fourth in 3:40.71 and leads the European list, with he and Nolan eclipsing the 3:42.55 run by the Russian Vyacheslav Shabunin in Moscow last weekend.
That meeting produced an astonishing world record for Ethiopia's Meseret Defar, who ran 8:23.72 for 3,000 metres, more than four seconds under Russia's Liliya Shobukhova's time.
In New York, Gareth Turnbull had his first indoor race and was rewarded with a sub-four mile clocking of 3:58.88, good enough for second place on the night. Victory there went to Berhanu Alemu of Ethiopia in 3:57.76.
But perhaps the best run of the weekend was reserved for Dubliner Thomas Chamney, who tore up his home track at Notre Dame to record a brilliant 800m victory in 1:47.82, an indoor best.
There was no Irish interest in the famed Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, but the result touched on Irish history as America's Bernard Lagat won his fifth title after a duel with Australia's Craig Mottram - winning in 3:54.26 to Mottram's 3:54.85. Lagat is now just two wins away from equalling the record of Eamonn Coghlan.
Back at home, Séamus Power proved a popular winner of the 37th Rás na hÉireann cross country in Louth yesterday, just edging out Poland's Mariusz Gizynski by three seconds, and leading Ireland to the team title. Rosemary Ryan did likewise in the women's race.
CYCLING:Paul Griffin yesterday finished a fine 13th on the first mountain stage of the Tour de Langkawi, moving up to 19th place overall. The tough, 133.2km third leg to the Cameron Highlands was marked by an early breakaway, which gave Credit Agricole's Anthony Charteau the perfect springboard to race to a strong stage victory.
EQUESTRIAN: Irish riders recorded a brace of wins on the Florida circuit over the weekend, but there was little joy at the World Cup fixture in Bordeaux, writes Grania Willis.
Shane Sweetnam and the aptly named grey Victor III headed the line-up in the Acorn Hill Farm speed class on the opening weekend of the 10-week Florida tour, while Conor Swail claimed victory in one of the young horse classes with Chloe.
But the European circuit was less forgiving, with Jessica Kürten and Cameron Hanley finding the gate to the winner's enclosure firmly closed.
The two Irish contenders finished equal seventh in Friday night's six-bar, and then Hanley slotted SIEC Hippica Kerman into fourth in Saturday's jump-off class. But Irish fortunes faded in the World Cup qualifier, with the Mayo man in 20th and Kürten 22nd.
Kurten regrouped to claim sixth in yesterday's accumulator.
ROWING:UCD provided the bulk of the winning men's crew and won the women's pennant in style at the Dublin Head of the River on the Liffey on Saturday, writes Liam Gorman.
On a superb day of sunshine and calm waters, the winning combination wore mostly the St Patrick's blue and saffron, but the addition of Andy Coleman of Lady Elizabeth, Paul O'Brien of Neptune and stroke Ger Ward of Commercial were surely crucial factors in their win.
Commercial were the most successful club overall, with their intermediate eight the fourth-fastest men's crew. Their women's and men's juniors were also the best in their classes.
