CYCLING:Irish professional Nicolas Roche showed his strong early-season form by placing 11th on yesterday's second stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia, writes Shane Stokes.
Roche, son of the 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, was part of an 11-man group which came home just one second behind the stage winner Steven Caethoven (Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen). The main bunch finished over 17 minutes down.
Stage one winner Karl Menzies (Australia-UniSA) continues to lead overall from Martin Elmiger (AG2r Prévoyance). Roche is 27th overall, nine minutes and three seconds behind Menzies. "I attacked too much today but I finished 11th," Roche told The Irish Times yesterday.
Irishwoman Jenny Fay has been doing the UniSA Women's Criterium Series in South Australia and placed a fine ninth on Wednesday's second leg of the three-round event. She is 15th overall heading into tomorrow's final leg.
Cycling Ireland have announced the formation of a CI Academy team to operate out of the Sean Kelly Cycling Academy in Merchtem, Belgium. The team will be under the supervision of Kurt Bogaerts, who will be assisted by Frank Campbell and Tommy Evans.
FIXTURES: Tomorrow: Women's social training spin. Starts Papal Cross, Phoenix Park at 10 am. Sunday: MTB cross country winter league round 1, Castle Park, Bangor. Sign on from 9.30 am.
EQUESTRIAN: The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has scrapped the pony measuring scheme which had previously been used for all ponies competing on the international circuit, writes Grania Willis.
The system, which provided international ponies with life certificates stating their official height, has been discontinued but all ponies competing at the European pony championships face compulsory measuring.
The definition of a pony remains unchanged as not exceeding 148cms without shoes or 149cms when shod.Ponies will still require a valid national measuring certificate before an FEI pony passport will be issued by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY:A superb individual goal from Eimear Cregan two minutes from time gave Ireland the first win of their trip to South Africa yesterday , where they beat Canada 1-0. Canada had beaten Ireland 2-0 on Wednesday so tomorrow's meeting between the team will be the "series" decider.
FIXTURES: Leinster League: Tomorrow: Division One: Corinthian v Clontarf, Whitechurch, 3.30. Division Two: Diocesan v UCD II, Rathgar, 1.15. Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup: Second round: Sunday: Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, Booterstown, 2.0. Munster League: Division One: Tomorrow: Belvedere v Church of Ireland, Ballincollig, 11.30.
Irish Junior Cup: Third round: Tomorrow: Pembroke Wanderers II v Hermes II, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0; Banbridge v Pegasus II, Havelock Park, 4.0; Glenanne v Loreto II, Glenanne Park, 1.45; Bray v Lurgan II, Loreto Bray, 1.30; Cork Church of Ireland II v Old Alexandra II, Garryduff, 3.0; Cork Harlequins II v Railway Union II, Harlequin Park, 2.0; Genesis v Victorians II, Belfield, 2.30; Greenfields v Catholic Institute II, Mervue, 1.30.
