Motor Sport: THEY turned up in their thousands at Mondello Park yesterday to enjoy the sound and spectacle of a current Grand Prix winning car in action, and they were given a rare treat by Dublin driver and racing commentator David Kennedy, who put a Jordan-Mugen Honda 199 through its paces at the Co Kildare circuit, reports Brian Foley.
Although not used to the colossal power of a Formula One car, Kennedy did a fantastic job, never fluffing a gear change or putting a wheel wrong as he powered the yellow Jordan around the track to commemorate the 21st anniversary of Eddie Jordan's Leinster Trophy victory.
The Esat Digifone Leinster Trophy was won by 18-year-old South African Thomas Scheckter. The win virtually ensured Scheckter of winning the Euroseries Championship. The drive of the race, however, was by 19-year-old Michael Keohane of Clonakilty who drove forcefully to finish a respectable 4th. This is likely to be the last Leinster Trophy Opel/Formula Europa cars, as a new class will be run for the Euroseries in 2000.
Alan Ring won the Formula Ford Zetac race, beating Paul Dagg and Ray Wallace. Brian Hearty continued his winning ways in Formula Vee, while Arnie Black beat P J Fallon in the race for Crossle 9S sports cars.
Morgan Dempsey Jnr took the flag in front of David Donegan in the RT2000 saloon race.
Sailing: In a single day, six race series at Killaloe yesterday, Nicholas O'Leary of the Royal Cork Yacht Club won the annual Halidon ISA Junior `Champion of Champions' in a tight contest between 12 young sailors, reports David Branigan.
At 13, Nicholas O'Leary is the youngest ever winner of the event and rounds off an exciting year that included participation in the world championship in Martinique earlier this summer.
Cycling: Eugene Moriarty, Paddy Moriarty and Michael McNena are the leading Irish riders in the Tour of Hokkaido. They occupy fifth, sixth and seventh in the standings respectively and also are the team leaders in that classification.
