Sports Digest/Athletics:David Gillick failed to make the starting line of the 400 metres at the IAAF Grand Prix meeting in Zagreb, Croatia, yesterday evening. The European Indoor champion found out only 24 hours previously he was guaranteed a lane so was unable to secure travel arrangements on time, reports Ian O'Riordan.
The race was won in a slow 46.29 seconds by Alleyne Francique of Grenada, with Britain's Tim Benjamin second in 46.57 - both well down on their season's bests.
Meanwhile, Athletics Ireland have announced a six-strong team for the European Under-23 championships, which take place in Debrecen, Hungary, from July 12th to 15th.
There is a strong middle-distance emphasis in the squad, with Mark Christie of Mullingar Harriers entered in the 1,500 and 5,000 metres.
Andrew Ledwith, of the Fr Murphy's Club in Meath, is entered in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, while Dundrum clubman Joe Sweeney goes in the 5,000 metres.
Linda Byrne and Rose Anne Galligan both go in the 1,500 metres, with Sharon Heveran from Westport competing in the high jump.
EUROPEAN UNDER-23 CHAMPIONSHIPS(Hungary, July 12th-15th) - Irish team: Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers) - 1,500m/5,000m; Andrew Ledwith (Fr Murphy's AC - 5,000m/10,000m; Joe Sweeney (Dundrum South Dublin) - 5,000m; Linda Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin) - 1,500m; Rose Anne Galligan (Newbridge AC) - 1,500m; Sharon Heveran (Westport AC) - high jump.
Equestrian/Kürten holds form:Jessica Kürten has maintained the form that saw her win the €100,000 Monte Carlo Grand Prix last weekend, scooping another €12,000 for a second-place finish at the German fixture in Aachen yesterday afternoon, just 24 hours after claiming third in Tuesday's opener, reports Grania Willis.
The Antrim-born rider was one of seven through to the jump-off.
Kürten produced another foot-perfect round with the 13-year-old mare Quibell, but a time of 54.78 seconds was just over a second outside the winning time set by Germany's Holger Wulschner, who earned just shy of €20,000 in prize-money.
Cycling/End-to-end record falls:Sorrento cycling club's Rose Leith broke the 52-year-old Irish "end-to-end" record on Sunday. The 45-year-old covered the 592km from Mizen Head to Fair Head in 21 hours 40 minutes and 21 seconds, averaging 27.33 km/h, reports Shane Stokes.
Leith's performance saw her cut 1:19.42 off the mark set by Isobel Woods/Clements in June 1955. The previous record holder is now 78, but she was at the finish to congratulate Leith.
Leith is trained by Aidan Ryan and supported by previous Irish record holder Paul O'Donoghue.
Leith has a background in ultra-marathons and has tackled, among other events, the seven-day Sahara Desert run. She is in training for the 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris this summer.
