Nine on European shortlistA squad of nine have been shortlisted for the European three-day event championships at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, in September, reports Grania Willis.
Army rider Lieutenant Geoff Curran, who finished 13th at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire on Sunday, is listed with Balladeer Alfred, along with Sally Corscadden (Millridge Kalmar), Jonty Evans (Cregwarrior), Louise Lyons (Watership Down), Joseph Murphy (Master Boy), Austin O'Connor (Hobby du Mee), Michael Ryan (Old Road), Susan Shortt (Stoneybrook) and Steven Smith (Quality VH).
The final selection for the European championships will be announced next month.
Under-18s struggle in Edinburgh
Both Irish under-18 teams suffered disappointing results at the European Youth Championships in Edinburgh yesterday, the girls drawing 2-2 with Lithuania, the boys losing their second pool game in as many days, going down 2-1 to France, reports Mary Hannigan.
The girls, who beat Belgium 5-3 in their opening game on Monday, were twice behind to Lithuania. But Chloe Watkins levelled two minutes before the break and Megan Frazer secured the draw with another equaliser 11 minutes from time.
Both Irish teams play top seeds Holland in their final pool games today.
Windies demolish the Dutch
Ireland face the Netherlands at Stormont today as the Dutch travel north following their crushing, 10-wicket defeat at the hands of West Indies in Clontarf yesterday, reports Richard Gillis.
The opening game in this quadrangular tournament was a disappointingly one-sided affair, which saw the professionals from the Caribbean outclass the Associate team. The game was over by 3pm, after the Netherlands were bowled out for 80 in the morning.
Only three Dutch batsmen reached double figures as medium-fast bowler Dwayne Smith ran amok, taking four wickets for eight runs.
Goodbody on course for China
Ireland stand poised to have a place for the Finn class at next year's Olympic regatta at Qingdao provided Dun Laoghaire sailor Tim Goodbody can maintain his form today at the ISAF World Championship at Caiscais, Portugal, reports David Branigan.
Nineteen nation places for the Olympics in this discipline will be allocated this week, and Goodbody is lying 17th by nation, 23rd place overall. Success today will confirm his favourite status for the place as Aaron O'Grady is 33rd overall.
Both Irish sailors have reached the Gold fleet in the discipline.
Season's fastest for O'Rourke
There was some compensation for Derval O'Rourke's fifth-place finish in the 100-metres hurdles B race at the IAAF Grand Prix meeting in Lausanne last night in that she ran her fastest time of the year, reports Ian O'Riordan.
On a calm but chilly evening, O'Rourke clocked 12.98, some encouragement to the European silver medallist from Gothenburg last summer, when she ran her 12.72 Irish record.
The Nigerian-born Spaniard Josephine Onyia (20) won last night's race in 12.82.
O'Rourke's previous best this year was 13 flat in the European Cup in Finland on June 24th. She clocked 13.07 when winning in Budapest last Friday night.
