Motor Sport: Englishman Richard Burns is on course to become the world rally champion after finishing yesterday's seven stages of the Rally of Britain in second position behind Marcus Gronholm.

Burns saw his title chances boosted when rivals Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen crashed out of this 14th and final race of the championship.

McRae, the world championship leader, fell out of contention after spectacularly rolling his Ford on the third special stage of the day.

Four-time world champion Makinen was sidelined after the Mitsubishi driver lost a wheel on the day's first special stage.

With the two men ahead of him in the world title race removed from the race, Burns needs to finish at least fourth in the rally to assure his first ever world title.

Details in SPORTS ROUND-UP

Racism In Sport: The National Anti Racism Programme has allocated funding to a number of sporting bodies for special initiatives to fight racism in sport. Sport Against Racism in Ireland, Show Racism the Red Card and Rugby League Ireland are among a total of 134 groups, not all sports organisations, sharing £199,000.

Rowing: The five-kilometre time trial at the National Rowing Centre in Cork today is planned for entries from across the classes and for men and women.

The next two weekends also bring activities of interest, on and off the water.

The St Michael's head of the river takes place at O'Brien's Bridge this day week, and exactly a week later, on December 8th at Commercial rowing club in Dublin.

An e.g.m. of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union will be set the task of approving the incorporation of the union as Rowing Ireland.