A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
McDowell on BBC shortlist
GOLF: Ryder Cup heroes Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood lead the nominations for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2010. McDowell, who became Europe’s first US Open champion for 40 years and Westwood have been included in the strong shortlist for the annual award. The pair were also part of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor.
The winner will be announced at Birmingham’s LG Arena on Sunday, December 19th.
Mooney, Kearney make final stage
GOLF: Damian Mooney and Niall Kearney booked their places in the final qualifying stage of the European Tour School after coming through at Costa Ballena Ocean Club yesterday.
Mooney shot a final-round 72 in difficult conditions to finish in a tie for third place on seven under par, three shots behind Norway’s Eirik Tage Johansen.
Kearney, who finished tied for 11th on four under, will join Mooney at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona, Spain, on Thursday for the six-round Final Stage, where the top 30 and ties will earn promotion to the 2011 European Tour.
Meanwhile, the Irish struggled on day one of the Ladies European Tour Pre-Qualifying School at La Manga Club in Murcia yesterday.
Danielle McVeigh signed for a six-over-par 79 on the South Course, while on the North Course, Tara Delaney carded a 78.
Top-flight snooker returns to Dublin next March
SNOOKER: Top-flight snooker will return to Ireland after a six-year gap after it was confirmed yesterday the €236,000 Players Tour Championship Grand Finals will take place at the Helix Theatre, Dublin, from March 16th to 20th next year. The event, which has a first prize of €71,000, will feature 24 of the world’s best players and will carry world ranking points.
World Snooker’s last event in Dublin was the 2005 Irish Masters. A spokesman said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring top snooker back to Ireland, where the popularity of the sport is very strong and we know we will be well supported.
“The Helix is a fantastic arena. The Players Tour Championship is a cornerstone of the exciting new era for snooker which we are building, and Dublin will provide a fitting stage for its conclusion.”
Masters champion Mark Selby said: “It’s been quite a few years since we’ve had an event in Dublin but I know how much the fans love snooker in Ireland and all the players will really be looking forward to it.
The championship is a new series of 12 short events, with an Order of Merit ranking players according to how much money they have won, with the top 24 to qualify for the grand finals.
PLAYERS QUALIFIED: Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, Barry Pinches, Marcus Campbell, Judd Trump, Mark Williams, Dominic Dale, Stephen Lee, Tom Ford, Stephen Maguire, Michael Holt, Liang Wenbo, Martin Gould, Marco Fu, Ricky Walden, Anthony Hamilton, Stuart Bingham, Jack Lisowski, Jamie Jones, Andrew Higginson, Mark Davis, Matthew Stevens, Gerard Greene, Joe Jogia.
Woods to resign as IRUPA chief
RUGBY: Niall Woods is to step down as chief executive of the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) in January after eight years in the position. During his time at the helm, he has overseen IRUPA’s growth in becoming a 130-plus players’ union, writes Gerry Thornley.
The annual IRUPA awards, highlighted by the prestigious players’ player of the year award, has grown into one of the stand-out events on the rugby calendar, and he also launched the players service programme in 2008 which helps players to develop interests outside rugby and assist them in making the often difficult transition from being a player to having a new career.
He also negotiated a standard contract for all members of IRUPA and a one-year extension for medical insurance on all players beyond retirement. It is understood Woods is to set up a sports marketing company focusing on player management but also sponsorship, events and hospitality.
Forget and Leconte have no fears
TENNIS: French Davis Cup team captain Guy Forget and former winner Henri Leconte said France are ready to upset Serbia and their patriotic home crowd in the December 3rd-5th final in Belgrade.
The Serbians reached the world group for the first time only in 2008. Nine-time winners France are looking for their first title since 2001. “We are not afraid of anything, we know how good Novak (Djokovic) and the other (Serbian) boys are,” Forget said yesterday. “We also know when you play away the atmosphere is sometimes hard and you have to be ready.”
Leconte, who led France to the title in 1991 when they beat the US, said: “The French team have been very well prepared in the last 10 days, they are very keen to go out there and do their best to win.”
France are still without the injured Jo-Wilfried Tsonga but he will be lending support from the sidelines to Gael Monfils and Michael Llodra.
