Sports Digest: The US adventurer Steve Fossett (59) and his 12-strong crew yesterday smashed the round-the-world sailing record by almost six days. They crossed the finish line aboard Cheyenne at Le Stiff lighthouse on the French island of Ouessant at 4 p.m.
They completed their circumnavigation of the globe in 58 days, nine hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds, although this time has yet to be officially ratified.
The Cheyenne's crew included Irish sailors Damian Foxall and Justin Slattery.
CYCLING: Irish VC La Pomme riders Philip Deignan, Páidí O'Brien and Nicolas Roche all rode strongly in French events over the weekend, with a win and several strong placings between them.
Deignan finished sixth in the 1.6 La Boucle de l'Artois event, finishing just 37 seconds behind the Finnish winner Jussi Veikkanen. Roche won the second stage of the Elite Three stage race Criterium Cap Varois, near Toulon, recording the fastest time in the flat, stage-two time trial and ending the race 15th overall.
O'Brien had a very strong ride in the same event, placing second on stages one and three, placing 14th in the time trial and finishing second overall. He was just 10 seconds behind the winner, Alex Blain of the AVC Aix team, in the final general classification.
BOXING: Ricky Hatton will make the 13th defence of his WBU light-welterweight title on June 5th in Manchester, with Joe Calzaghe also set to fight Glencoffe Johnson for the IBF light-heavyweight title on the same bill. Promoter Frank Warren has moved swiftly to arrange the fight just days after Hatton blasted past Dennis Holbaek Pedersen to retain his crown at the MEN Arena on Saturday night.
CRICKET: The West Indies have dropped experienced batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the fourth and final Test against England in Antigua on Saturday.
The left-hander has been omitted from the 13-man squad after scoring just 101 runs in six innings during the series, in which England have an unassailable 3-0 lead.
He has been replaced by the 25-year-old Sylvester Joseph, who has yet to play in a Test but has featured in four one-day internationals.
