Sports Digest/Equestrian: Billy Twomey, who will be riding the mare Anastasia on the Irish team for tomorrow's Samsung Super League round in Aachen, steered Luidam into sixth place in the two-round Kreis Aachen Prize yesterday, reports Grania Willis.

The stallion, which delivered a double clear for Twomey to clinch the Aga Khan for Ireland in Dublin last year, returned a jump-off time of 52.43, but was some way off the pace set by the British winners, Michael Whitaker and El Capricho Atormentado.

Shane Breen, third in Sunday's Hickstead Derby, slotted into eighth in the Warsteiner Prize with World Cruise. The Brazilian's topped the pole, with honours going to Madrid Grand Prix winner Bernardo Alves, ahead of compatriot Rodrigo Pessoa, the man declared Athens Olympic champion following the disqualification of Cian O'Connor after Waterford Crystal's positive dope test.

CYCLING: Paul Healion placing a fine third on the final stage of the Surrey League Revolutions five-day in Sussex, England on Tuesday.

Michael Concannon (Team Munster) finished 15th but ended the race best of the Irish, ninth in the general classification behind winner Duncan Urquhart (Viner Bikes/Agisko).

Meanwhile Mark Scanlon lost time on the opening stage of the Tour du Poitou Charentes in France, finishing nine minutes and 59 seconds back from stage winner Christophe Agnolutto (Agritubel) in 91st place.

Bretagne-Jean Floc'h rider Noan Lelarge was outsprinted by Agnolutto at the end of the 184-mile stage to Pont L'Abbé-d'Arnoult.

Former Irish international Nicolas Roche (Cofidis) also lost time, placing 109th on the stage, two minutes and eight seconds behind Scanlon.

ROWING: The Ireland rowing team in Japan is taking the delay of the World Championships because of a typhoon warning in their stride, according to team manager Mick O'Callaghan. "Everybody is in good shape, feeling fine," the Corkman said yesterday.

The governing body of the sport, FISA, say the championships will begin two days late, on Tuesday.