EQUESTRIAN: The Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, yesterday announced the establishment of Horse Sport Ireland, an umbrella governing body for the Irish sport horse industry, reports Grania Willis.

The new agency will be responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and international promotion of the breeding, sport and leisure aspects of the Irish sport horse.

Joe Walsh TD has been named as chairman of the new body.

No date has yet been set for the inaugural meeting of the board of directors, but such a meeting is expected imminently.

GOLF: Torrential rain in the south of Spain has forced officials at the European Tour qualifying school to declare the Old Course at San Roque unplayable for the first two rounds and to extend the event an extra two days.

The first two rounds will now be played over the New Course and run from today until Sunday. Both courses will be used for the third and fourth rounds next Monday and Tuesday. Ireland's Philip Walton and 17-year-old Oliver Fisher (England), who last year became the youngest Walker Cup cap, are among those taking part.

GOLF: Des Smyth has called up an old friend as he plots a defence of the $500,000 Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship in Bahrain, the final event of the European Seniors Tour season.

Dublin businessman John Gleeson has flown to Bahrain to caddie for Smyth at Riffa Views today. The pair teamed up at Riffa Views last November when Smyth birdied the closing two holes for a two-stroke win over Scotland's John Chillas. That was Smyth's third title of 2005 but after a winless spell this year, the Ryder Cup vice-captain is hoping by reuniting with Gleeson it will inspire him back into the winner's enclosure.