TENNIS:Top seeds Alex Bull of Britain and Bulgarian-born Mariyana Levova, who is soon to be registered as an Irish player, are on course to clinch the Boys' and Girls' International Tennis Federation's junior singles series following yesterday's semi-finals at the Donnybrook club in Dublin, writes Pat Roche.

There were major scares for both players with Bull brought to three sets for the first time this week and Levova having to win a second set tie-break against Britain's Laura Gilbert, seeded six. Levova unexpectedly got involved in a nip-and-tuck struggle which lasted well over 90 minutes. Gilbert forced the first set into a 12th game before Levova got the crucial break to close the set down 7-5. Games went to service in the second set and in the next tie-break Levova coasted to a 7-2 win.

Levova, who still awaits an Irish passport which will coincide with her selection on the Irish Fed Cup team, will take on unseeded Liza Whybourn from Britain in today's final.

Bull got it tough over two hours from Alessandra Bega. The Italian, with a varied array of shots, was convincing when winning the first set for the loss of three games. Bull raced to victory 6-3 in the second and 6-4 in the final set. Bull now meets Christopher Nott of Britain, a winner over his compatriot Christopher Harrison 6-1, 6-3.

Niamh Coveney from Cork and Levova will contest the women's doubles final.

Kyle finishes second in Hickstead event

SHOW JUMPING:Mark Kyle was denied the chance of recording a third successive Irish victory in the Ford Ranger Eventing Grand Prix when he finished a close second at the Royal International Horse Show in Hickstead yesterday, writes Grania Willis.

The 34-year-old Wicklow-born event rider won the class at the British fixture two years ago and, as the only one of 20 starters to get home inside 200 seconds, was by far the fastest on his tour of yesterday's combined show jumping and cross-country track, crossing the line in 195.26 seconds. But the 17-year-old Drunken Disorderly appeared to be living up to his name rather than his age and five fences down added 25 seconds on the clock for a total time of 220.26 seconds, leaving the Irish pair four seconds adrift of British winner Emilie Chandler, who lowered only one fence.

Tipperary man Shane Breen, who won for Ireland last year, was seventh with Royal Concorde after hitting three fences. Also finishing seventh, but in the earlier Irish Horse Board International Chase, was Marie Burke. The Clare rider was clear all the way in the two-phase speed to clock 45.11 seconds with the stallion Chippison but wound up three and a half seconds off the pace set by American winner Molly Ashe.

Team Ireland is not eligible for this afternoon's Nations Cup after its demotion out of the Samsung Super League last season.