CANOEING: Deaglain “Digger” O Driscoil and Tom Brennan not only paddled a smart race but had luck on their side at last weekend’s Liffey Descent. Just 800m after the start, the veteran pair managed to avoid a series of accidents at the Straffan weir – the first of ten the course.
Most unfortunately, an English boat, unfamiliar with the art of weir shooting, had crashed down on the boat of defending champion Peter Egan and Jon Simmons, with Simmons unable to free his paddle and stop the boat tipping over. Just behind, O Driscoil and Brennan quickly adjusted their line and managed to paddle past the two capsized boats. They then pushed hard all the way to the finish 18 miles down river for a memorable victory.
Behind them came the father and son pair of Malcolm and Liam Banks, with Banks senior fresh from his 2nd place in the M50 class at the World Masters.
Although Egan and Simmons had lost four minutes after the disaster at Straffan, they fought their way back to finish third.
Just one place behind was Jenny Egan and Ben Farrell, who were first mixed crew despite two spills along the way. Mikey Brennan of Thomastown was first K1.
BADMINTON: Swedish player Matthew Wigard is top seed for next week’s Irish Futures Series badminton tournament in Baldoyle. Tony Stephenson, at No 5, is the top ranked Irish player in action and will play a qualifier in his first match. Also playing in the main draw are Scott Burnside, Liam O’Leary and Lo Wai Lau, with a further 14 local players entered for Thursday’s qualifying tournament.
Among them is Jonathan Dolan of Sligo who made the third round at the Swiss Junior Badminton International in Lausanne last week and heads for the World Junior Championships later this month.
In the women’s tournament, Jennie King will play the French top seed Perrine Le Buhanic in her opening match. Sinead Chambers, the No 2 seed, faces Welsh player Aimee Moran.
King and Chambers pair up for the women’s doubles, where they are top seeds; Chambers and brother Ciaran are also top seeds for the mixed doubles.
For the men’s doubles, Sam Magee is partnered by Ben Caldwell from England. Top seeds are Scottish pair Martin Campbell and Angus Gilmore.
HOCKEY: Although the women’s Champions Challenge international at Belfield takes centre stage this weekend, the local club season is already well underway, with Pembroke Wanderers and Railway Union topping the men and women’s tables respectively. The top women’s teams are all in action today (Sat) with Railway playing UCD, Loreto facing Pembroke Wanderers and Old Alex hosting Hermes. In the men’s first division, Pembroke play Corinthians in Milltown while Glenanne, who have won only one of their four matches to date, host YMCA in Tallaght.
* Update: Ireland beat Scotland to take third at the Champions Challenge.
* Update: Ireland beat Scotland to take third at the Champions Challenge.
SNOOKER: Irish snooker stars from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s will gather in Dublin next month for a one-day charity tournament sponsored by EJ Riley. Already signed up for the Superstars of Snooker tournament is a long list of former Irish champions including Stephen Murphy, Anthony O’Connor, Stephen O’Connor, Joe Delaney, Gay Burns, Gordon Lambe, Fin Ruane and Dessie Sheehan.
The tournament, to be held at Tara Towers Hotel in Booterstown, will feature classic snooker hall games such as Killers, 6-Reds, and Doubles. Although entry is free, donations are welcome, with all funds raised on the day going to the Neurology Department of Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Information from organiser John Benton by email at john@ejriley.ie or phone at 01-8729420.
TRIATHLON: Olympic triathlete Aileen Morrison finished 14th in a blanket finish at the Yokohama World Triathlon Series in Japan. Morrison was among the top five after the swim and was part of a bunch of about 28 who finished the cycle together. Only in the sprint for the line at the end of the run did Olympic silver medal winner Lisa Norden from Sweden break from the bunch. Morrison had lost contact with the leading five, but was still only 48 seconds behind the winner.
Locally, Aidan Callaghan was a clear winner of the Mourne Triathlon at Castlewellan, with Marie Boland first woman. Boland was also first woman at the Blacksod Triathlon in Kilmore, where Kevin Thornton was overall winner.
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