SQUASH:Irish No 1 Madeline Perry defends her title at the Australian Squash Open in Canberra after a morale-boosting victory at the CIMB Singapore Masters.
After an early exit in the opening round of the Malaysian Open a week earlier, Perry was determined to make amends in Singapore.
Seeded at No 3, she beat English player Sarah Klippax in the opening round and then played a smart match to beat Jaclyn Hawkes from New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, she came up against France’s Camille Serme who had toppled former world No 1 Rachael Grinham in her quarter-final match. When Serme couldn’t reproduce that form Perry took advantage and booked her place in the final.
Facing her was British champion Laura Massaro, who had come back from two sets down to beat Nicol David of Malaysia, the undisputed queen of world squash for a second time this year.
A tired Massaro faced Perry in the final and quickly went two games down. She pulled one game back before Perry closed out the match in the fourth game.
Perry, the No 4 seed, plays Siti Munirah Jusoh of Malayia in the first round of the Australian Open next Thursday.
TUG OF WAR: Legendary Wexford club Boley, founded by the Kehoe family, made it four in a row when they won the national 640kg tug of war title on home territory in New Ross. In a tense final, they beat Mountain View from Co Louth. Clonmines, also from Wexford, defeated Binnian View to win the Division 2 title and also won the 600kg U23 championships.
Stapletons from Co Galway were winning their first ever national title when they beat Offaly team Killoughey in the 680kg novice final. Ballinagh from Co Cavan won the fourth round of the youth league and will host the national 600kg championships tomorrow (Sun).
CANOEING: Wildwater’s Aisling Smith produced the best result of her young career when she finished 9th in the women’s K1 classic race at the Wildwater Junior World Championships in Opava, Czech Republic. Her tiem of 17 minutes 48 .31 seconds ut her 42 seconds behind the winner Melanie Mathys of Switzerland.
Iomhar Mac Giolla Phadraig proved best in the men’s K1 classic, finishing 23rd in 16:26.78. Daniel Grimes was 43rd and Bearach O Casaide 44th. In the K1 team race, the Irish lads were 12th, while in the sprint races, Mac Giolla Phadraig finished 39th.
MODERN PENTATHLON: Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe produced the best result of his pentathlon career to qualify for the men’s final at the Modern Pentathlon European Championships in Medway, England , where the top eight booked their places for London 2012.
Lanigan O’Keefe from Kilkenny, the first Irishman to make a final, finished 20th in the final, thanks to an excellent 10th in the swim, solid riding, running and shooting and improved fencing – always the Irish weakness. It moves him up to 73rd on the world rankings.
Natalya Coyle finished a creditable 30th in the women’s finals. After the showjumping, Coyle was just over a minute off eighth position, but tiredness took over on the final combined shooting and running discipline, and although she shot well, she couldn’t improve on her 30th place.
The Irish team now take a rest before September’s World Championships in Moscow.
BADMINTON: New, old and recycled badminton players of all ages are welcome at the “Back to Badminton Tournament” taking place at the Dublin’s Whitehall Road Badminton Centre on Sunday August 14 (2pm). Children are also welcome with a “Kids’ Challenge Test” and face painting on offer. Entry €5. Info 01-4508101 or leaguesandcups@lbbui.ie
DARTS: A €350 cheque will go to the winner of the Swords Open Singles darts competition in the Manor Inn, Swords, on Saturday August 20h. A youths’ competition is also scheduled. Closing date for entries in August 18. Info Brendan Barry 086-1682811/Dave Tansey 085-7108964.
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