A round-up of today's other stories in brief
OCI agrees to Appeals Tribunal over relay selection
The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) has now agreed an Appeals Tribunal to adjudicate on the selection controversy surrounding the women’s 4x400 metres relay team for London, although the outcome may not be known until next Monday – five days before the Games begin.
In the meantime they have entered the names of both Joanna Mills and Catriona Cuddihy, although only one of the can be fully accredited to compete – and which follows the decision of Athletics Ireland to first name Cuddihy among the six-woman team, only then to replace her with Mills, who successfully appealed this original selection last week.
The OCI must now decide whether or not Athletics Ireland must stand by their original decision to select Cuddihy, or can stand by the decision to overturn that based on the Mills appeal.
The hearing will be held on Thursday, July 19th with a final decision being delivered no later than Monday, July 23rd.
One entry will be withdrawn following the OCIs Appeals Tribunal decision.- IAN O'RIORDAN
Bangladesh secure warm-up victories
Bangladesh gave all 14 of their Twenty20 touring squad some game time as they completed two victories over invitational sides at Comber yesterday in warm-ups ahead of the RSA series against Ireland, which starts at Stormont tomorrow.
The visitors played a stronger side in the opening seven-wicket win over an Ireland XI, with Mashrafe Mortaza taking three for 14 in restricting Andrew White’s side to 103 for six off their 20 overs. Nigel Jones, who was left out of the senior squad, top scored with an unbeaten 41 off 26 balls. Stuart Thompson took out both Bangladesh openers, but 40 from wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim and an unbeaten 37 from Shakib Al Hasan got them home with over five overs to spare.
Batting first in the second game against an NCU President's XI, Bangladesh made 164 for four, with Mohammad Ashraful carrying his bat for 52 and Mahmudallah making 43. They went on to win by 48 runs on Duckworth Lewis after rain stopped play with the NCU XI on 61 for five. - EMMET RIORDAN
'Car not to blame' for De Villota's crash
An internal investigation of the crash that seriously injured Spanish test driver Maria De Villota at Duxford airfield in eastern England has found the car was not to blame, Marussia Formula One team principal John Booth said on Monday.
De Villota, who is now out of sedation and talking to her family, had just completed a straight-line aerodynamic test and was returning to mechanics when her car accelerated abruptly and slammed into a team truck at helmet level on July 3rd.
As a result of the accident the 32-year-old lost her right eye after undergoing emergency surgery. A two-week investigation followed, including an external forensic investigation, and the findings satisfied Marussia team officials that a fault with the car was not the cause of the accident.
Details of the findings have now been passed on to Britain’s Health and Safety Executive who act on behalf of the public for work-related accidents. “We are satisfied that the findings of our internal investigation exclude the car as a factor in the accident,” Marussia Team Principal John Booth said in a statement.
Lexi's Boy installed as favourite for Galway Hurdle
Donald McCain successfully raided Ballybrit in 2010 when Overturn memorably landed the Guinness Galway Hurdle and his Lexi’s Boy has been installed an 8 to 1 favourite to land the €260,000 festival feature in just over two weeks time.
Unplaced in the Newton Cup on his last start on the flat, Lexi’s Boy won his previous four starts over flights and Paddy Power rate him favourite in Galway.
The Real Article tops the weights among the 74 entries left in the Galway Hurdle at yesterday’s weights announcement for the two big festival pots.
A total of 47 remain in the €200,000 Tote Galway Plate and Willie Mullins's Blackstairmountain is rated the ante-post favourite. – BRIAN O'CONNOR
