A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Tragic death of boxer Mason
BOXING: The boxing world paid tribute to former British heavyweight champion (1989-91) Gary Mason yesterday after he was killed in a bicycle crash.
Mason, 48, was cycling near his flat in Wallington, south London, early yesterday morning when he was in a collision with a white van. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 43-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and bailed pending further inquiries.
Ivanovic pulls out of Hopman Cup
TENNIS: Ana Ivanovic and Francesca Schiavone pulled out of the Hopman Cup with physical problems yesterday that cast doubt on their hopes of being fit for the Australian Open.
Former world number one Ivanovic was forced to withdraw from the mixed team event because of a “grade one” stomach strain but still hopes to play in the year’s first Grand Slam event, which begins on January 17th.
Italy’s French Open champion Schiavone quit after a set of her match with France’s Kristina Mladenovic because of a groin strain. British teenager Laura Robson also needed treatment for a glute muscle strain and pulled out of the subsequent mixed doubles as a precaution.
Serbia had already qualified for the final but Ivanovic’s withdrawal meant that they will be replaced by Belgium, led by another former world number one Justine Henin.
They will take on the United States, who reached the final thanks to a 2-1 victory over Britain.
Splaine to continue in his position
EQUESTRIAN: Robert Splaine, Horse Sport Ireland's show jumping team manager since the start of 2009, will remain in that position for the next two years as the Government agency confirmed it will not be activating a break option to his contract.
Commenting yesterday on the excellent job that Splaine had been doing since taking charge of the international senior squad, HSI chairman Joe Walsh said: “Our performance in the Meydan series over the past two years has been very solid and this year we finished fourth overall and won the Nations’ Cup in Aachen.
“While the World Equestrian Games were disappointing in that we did not qualify for the Olympic Games (London 2012), we still have another chance to qualify at the European Championships in Madrid this year. In the bigger picture of things, Robert Splaine has been a very good ambassador for the sport . . . .”
On the competition front, Cian O’Connor won yesterday’s Grand Prix qualifier in Dubai on his recent acquisition, Larkhill Cruiser. Previously ridden by John Floody for Michael Smith, the 10-year-old chestnut Cruising gelding, which was bred in Co Antrim by Brian McAuley, was two seconds faster in the speed event than Watch Me de Reve Bovenhoekshof, partnered by Syria’s Ahmed Hamcho.
Promising Mageean signs a six-figure sponsorship deal
ATHLETICS: Ireland's highly exciting young athletics star Ciara Mageean has signed a "highly lucrative" sponsorship agreement with an American shoe manufacturing giants New Balance, that will finance the expenses in the development of her career over the next three years.
“I feel this puts into place the final piece of the jigsaw in terms of being able to plan for the future” said Ciara’s coach, a very happy Eamonn Christie, yesterday.
Mageean is one of the most talented young athletes to come on the Irish scene in recent years. She has proved that by setting new Irish junior records for the 800 metres (2:03.07) and the 1,500 metres, where she clocked an exceptional 4:09.51 in winning the silver medal at the World Junior Championship.
The sponsorship with the Boston based company is believed to be worth a six-figure sum over the initial three-year period and it will meet all her expenses, like flights to and from venues, living expenses, warm weather training and gear.
Federer to meet Davydenko in final
TENNIS:World number two Roger Federer will meet defending champion Nikolay Davydenko in the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha after the pair won their respective semi-finals yesterday .
Federer, the number two seed, beat third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets, while Davydenko toppled world number one Rafael Nadal, also in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2 in a repeat of last year’s final.
A high-quality contest saw Federer prevail 6-3 7-6 (7/2) against the Frenchman.
“Obviously I’m very excited; it’s always nice to start off the year with a final,” said Federer.
“I think Nikolay actually has a very good record in finals, and that makes him tough to play. I feel well and I’ll definitely have a chance with all my experience and the level I’m playing at right now.”
Kearney and Odell claim victory
SAILING: Belfast's Ross Kearney and Max Odell, the reigning Mirror European champions, lifted the class World title in Albany, Australia, yesterday after a testing 15 race series. Winds blew 18-22 knots with gusts to 28 knots for yesterday's final races. Kearney and Odell took a 3, 3, 2 in the 61-boat fleet to clinch the series.
It is Ireland’s fifth win of the world dinghy title since 1999 and Kearney’s second – he won it in Sweden in 2005.
