HOCKEY: The Irish women face Germany in their opening match at the European Championships in Moenchengladbach Germany this afternoon (Sat), where places at the London Olympics are at stake.
Germany is currently ranked No 3 in the world, with the Irish ranked 16th. Tomorrow the Irish women face Belgium, a team they are capable of beating before their final pool match against England on Tuesday.
The Irish, captained by Alex Speers, sharpened up for the tournament with two matches at UCD against world no 1 team Argentina last week.
The Irish men, world ranked 18th, start their campaign against England tomorrow (Sun) and then play England and France.
WEIGHTLIFTING: Weightlifter Kevin D’Arcy from Galway and Meath archer John Smith both broke Irish records at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
Competing in the 85kg class, D’Arcy smashed the current snatch record of 121kgs three times before setting a new Irish best of 130kg. After picking up a technical mark, he was credited with 153kg in the clean and jerk, giving him an overall score of 283kg – another Irish record.
Compound archer John Smith from the Summerhill club finished 17th, improving his own Irish record of 142 from 50 arrows to 144.
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| Cormac Breslin |
BADMINTON: Although all the Irish were all out in round two at the World Badminton Championships at Wembley, a trial event for London 2012, Irish umpire Cormac Breslin went all the way to the men’s final.
Breslin, a veteran of the Beijing Olympics, had a busy time at Wembley. He sat in the high chair for the mixed doubles semi-finals when local heroes Imogen Bankier and Chris Adcock ousted the World No 2 pairing of Tantowi Ahmad and Liliyan Natsir from Indonesia.
He was then picked to umpire a thrilling men’s singles final in which Olympic and three times world champion Lin Dan from China beat the Malaysian top seed Lee Chong Wei in an epic three-setter.
“I had the best seat in the house – the play around the net was just incredible to watch,” says Breslin, who is hoping to get the call for London 2012 next year.
SQUASH: A fortnight after winning the Malaysian Open, Irish No 1 Madeline Perry lost to world No 2 Jenny Duncalf of England in the semi-finals of the Australian Squash Open – a tournament she won last year. It was a fourth semi-final for Perry this season, and means she maintains her world No 3 ranking. Perry will be back in Ireland for the European Squash Club Championships in Belfast starting on September 8.
ORIENTEERING: Aislinn Austin of Cork Orienteering Club was the only member of the Irish squad to qualify for a final at the World Orienteering Championships held in the forests around Chambery, France. With the top 15 in three heats going through, Austin just made it when she finished 15th in the women’s middle distance qualifiers. Earlier in the week, Dublin-based Canadian Carol Ross qualified for the long distance final, finishing 34th overall. Best of the men were Darren Burke of Cork O, 25th in his long distance heat and Seamus O’Boyle of CNOC, 25th in the sprint qualifiers.
CANOEING: With the Liffey Descent postponed until October 8 due to low water levels in Blessington reservoir, a marathon canoe race on the lower Liffey will now take place on Saturday September 10 – the original Liffey Descent date. Organised by the Wildwater club, the race starting at Salmon Leap canoe club on Leixlip Lake (12 noon) and finishing at the Garda Rowing Club, Islandbridge is the last qualifying race for the Liffey Descent.
SNOOKER: Monkstown player Robert Murphy will lead the senior men’s team at snooker’s annual home international in Wales starting on September 10. Jason Devaney, Keith Sheldrick, Clinton Franey, John Torpey and TJ Dowling make up the squad. Also competing are masters, U-19 and U-16 teams.
OLYMPIC HANDBALL: Ireland’s Olympic handballers take on teams from England, Georgia and the Faroe Ireland at the European Challenge Trophy in the UL Arena, Limerick from November 4-6.
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