Minority Report 16 July

FLEMING JUST MISSES OUT 

CANOEING: Despite a mighty effort  from Neil Fleming of Celbridge Paddlers, world marathon champion Ben Brown of England won the Irish Open K1 Marathon title at Leixlip. Organised by the Salmon leap club as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, the 20km course took in four laps of the lake including four portages when the paddlers take up their boats and run.

Fleming, who recently won the trials for the World Sprint Championships, proved he was fully back form a career-threatening  shoulder injury when he pushed the pace from the start. The pair then worked together until the final sprint for the line, when Bown edged away to win in 87 minutes 39 seconds. Fleming was just a second behind. Winning the women’s title over a 16km course was Jenny Egan of host club Salmon Leap. She competed against juniors and masters, finishing third overall.

Egan, winner of two World Cup silvers for the non-Olympic 5000m, is still aiming to qualify for London 2012, where a limited programme of sprint races will be held.  “Although I have always been seen as better over the longer distances, I’ve been knocking seconds off my time for the 500m. So we’ll see how it goes.”

First junior was Michael Fitzsimons of Celbridge  Paddlers , while first master was twice Olympian Gary Mawer, from Salmon Leap. In the K2 race a day later, Brown and Danish partner Rene Olsen sprinted to a narrow victory over  Fleming and Peter Egan.

 ENTER DUBLIN TRI

TRIATHLON: Entry is still open for the Gatorade Dublin City Triathlon  in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Sunday August 28. As well as the standard distance event (1,500m swim, 40km cycle,10km run), a shorter  “super sprint” (600m swim, 16km cycle,  4km run) is on offer to triathlon “newbies”. Unique to the event is the traffic-free off-road run, while the cycle also takes place on traffic free roads. The swim is in the river Liffey. Details www.dublincitytriathlon.com. 

BOLEY REGAINS TITLE

TUG OF WAR: Boley, the legendary tug of war team from Co Wexford added another national title to their collection when they beat Lakehill in the senior 680kg final, held in Ballina, Co Mayo. On a good day for Wexford teams Clonmines defeated Slaneysiders for the division 2 title.

In both the women’s 405kg and 435kg leagues, Thatch Bar from Ballygar, Co Galway finished on top,  ahead of Boyneside from Co Offaly. Boyneside club went one better in the youth’s 420kg league when they finished top of the table, with Ballllinagh from Co Cavan.

Next on the agenda is the national 640kg championship in New Ross, Co Wexford on July 31. See www.irishtugofwar.com.

FOX DARTS TO QUARTERS

DARTS: Leah Fox proved best of the Irish team at the European Cup Youth Darts tournament in Aberdeen, Scotland, when she beat Elina Alponene of Finland 3-1 in her opening round. In the quarter-finals, Fox went out to eventual runner-up, Sarah Rosen of Sweden 1-3 in the quarter-finals. The Irish girls’ team of Fox and Emma Smith finished 11th. The boys team of Darragh Clancy, Kyle Ramsey, Murty Brown and Mick McNulty lost in their group matches to Belgium and Wales.

Locally, “Jacko” Barry from Stamullen won the White House Tournament, beating Limerick’s Connie Finnan. Keith Roone from Duleek and Shane O’Connor from Dublin  were the beaten semi-finalists, while Sean Dunne was first youth. Prize money of €1,000 is on offer at the Silver Tassie Singles in Loughlinstown on July 23. Info 086-1682811.

SUMMER OPEN WIN FOR SUTTON 

SNOOKER: John Sutton from the Celbridge club beat Nenagh’s Brendan O’Donoghue 3-2 in a closely-fought final at the first Ivy Rooms Summer Open in Carlow.  A quality field included ex-Irish champion and current professional player David Morris and former champion DJ Dowling.

Sutton proved the man to beat as he made it through the groups and then beat Morris 3-2. He qualified for the final after victories over local favourite Colvin O’Brien and then Andrew Yeates from Navan. A second Summer Open takes place at the Ivy Rooms next Saturday, along with a 6-Red Junior Open.

A total of 90 rugged swimmers signed up for the Beginish Island Swim – a four mile marathon off Valentia Island in Co Kerry.   Among them were eleven school swimmers from New Zealand and their coach Graham Beaumont. They were joined by English Channel veterans, local swimmers and four-person relay teams.