Cricket: Two former England captains, Alec Stewart and Mike Atherton, paid warm tributes to legendary West Indian paceman Malcom Marshall who died aged 41 late on Thursday in Bridgetown, Barbados, after a battle with colon cancer.
Stewart, who had endured a real baptism of fire when he faced Marshall on his first tour abroad, said: "He was the most fearsome of opponents on the field but off it, one of the nicest blokes you could meet." Atherton, who like Stewart is currently on tour in South Africa, said that Marshall was undoubtedly one of the greatest bowlers of all time. "I first faced Malcolm in the 1991 series in the West Indies and I think he will go down as one of the great modern fast bowlers," he said.
Marshall had been on leave from his position as West Indies coach since taking ill during the World Cup in England in May. He is survived by his wife, Connie, whom he married two months ago, and his son.
Equestrian: Eddie Macken answered both the sponsors' and the organisers' prayers when he produced a vital clear with Cruising at Millstreet last night to qualify for tonight's Kerrygold World Cup round. Although the stallion rattled three of the 11 fences and came in on a seriously deep stride to the combination, causing a mass sharp intake of breath from the spectators, he left all the furniture intact to finish 13th overall and book his slot in tonight's feature event.
Controversially, just 20 from the Friday night go through to the World Cup round and Cork rider Billy Twomey has reason to feel aggrieved. Just 21 of the 59 starters were clear and Twomey, who won the opening class at the Horse of the Year Show in Wembley just over a month ago, was slowest of all and will be left on the sidelines tonight by a mere 300ths of a second.
Frenchman Michel Hecart won the Irish Sports Council opener on Aster and then found his way back into the winner's enclosure in last night's Waterford Crystal qualifier for the World Cup. He brought one of his Wembley winners, Baeken Platiere, home one and a half seconds clear of Ireland's early leaders Robert Splaine and the stallion Coolcorran Cool Diamond.
Corkman Splaine, who broke his back in a fall at home last year, held on to take the £1,400 cheque for second place and is now drawn second last to go in tonight's World Cup qualifier.
Boxing: All eight Irish boxers who travelled to Bucharest in the hope of winning qualification for both the Olympics and the European championships have now been beaten.
Last to fall was James Rooney from the Holy Family Club in Belfast who was beaten 13-1 yesterday by his Romanian opponent.
