EQUESTRIAN: Jessica Kürten kicked off her Swedish campaign in style yesterday when finishing runner-up in the second speed class at the World Cup show in Gothenburg, writes Grania Willis.
The world number four brought out Galopin Du Bioley to clock 44.57 seconds, leaving the Irish duo just over a quarter of a second adrift of Dutch winner Harrie Smolders.
Cameron Hanley slotted into third in the opening class. He and Kürten are both at the Swedish fixture on the hunt for World Cup points. Hanley's tally of 24 has left him 28th in the Western European league, but only 18 riders will qualify for the Las Vegas final in April.
Wimbledon cave in
Tennis: Wimbledon tennis chiefs have denied that the fear of a possible boycott by top women players was behind their decision to agree at last to equal pay at this summer's championships.
And they object to any suggestion that pressure to change from inside and outside the sport forced them into a move they did not want to make.
The about-turn by the All England Club - a year ago they stood firm when accused again of sex discrimination and holding a position that was "morally indefensible" - will cost them around £600,000. But chairman Tim Phillips was adamant yesterday it was "good for tennis, good for women players and good for Wimbledon".
