Sport

Saunders gets to the fore

CYCLING: Isle of Wight rider Simon Saunders proved best on yesterday's opening stage of the Credit Union Rás Mumhan four-day…

Sat Mar 26 2005 - 00:00

CYCLING: Isle of Wight rider Simon Saunders proved best on yesterday's opening stage of the Credit Union Rás Mumhan four-day in Kerry.

Saunders, representing the Surrey League team, beat Leinster's Brian Keane and John Dempsey, of the Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers, in a fierce three-man sprint to the line.

The trio were part of a 20-man group which went clear six miles into the 52-mile stage.

Dempsey attacked outside Milltown and built a lead of nine seconds with three miles remaining. However, he was joined by Saunders and Keane before the finish and had to be satisfied with third place.

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Meanwhile, tendonitis of the ankle meant that Ciarán Power did not start yesterday's stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi-Bartali, won by Fassa Bortolo's Kim Kirchen.

Power's Navigators Insurance team-mate David O'Loughlin pulled out during the mountain stage. Liquigas Bianchi-rider Franco Pellizotti leads going into today's final stage.

RÁS MUMHAN: Stage one (Killorglin): 1 Simon Saunders (Surrey League) 52 miles in 1 hour 55 mins 38 secs; 2 B Keane (Leinster Cycling Federation) at 2 secs; 3 J Dempsey (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers A) at 4 secs; 4 M Fitzgerald (Cycleways.com) at 16 secs; 5 F. Kelly (Bray Wheelers) at 19 secs; 6 R. Cahill (Killorglin Credit Union).

King of the Hills: Sliabh Mish, 1 Eugene Moriarty (Cycleways.com); 2 P Griffin (Earl Of Desmond A); 3 J Mason (Cycleways.com B)

Under-23: 1 Andrew McQuaid (Leinster Cycling Federation); 2 M Concannon (Killorglin Credit Union); 3 H Keetman (BRC Kemmerland).

Team: 1 Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers

Points: 1, Saunders, 15 points; 2, Keane, 14; 3, Dempsey, 13.

ROWING: UCD have suffered a grave blow to their chances of winning today's Gannon Cup with the defection of stroke man Dermot O'Sullivan, who is ill. Eoin Garvey will now stroke the boat (from bow side), but coach John Holland was still finalising the crew last night.

ATHLETICS: Paula Radcliffe tests out her fitness for next month's London Marathon with a tough 10-kilometre race in New Orleans today.

Radcliffe has not raced seriously since winning the New York Marathon at the beginning of November, a victory which greatly restored a damaged reputation after her Olympic Games failure. She will race against Olympic 5,000 metres silver medallist Isabella Ochichi.