A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Moloney leads Ireland to Nations Cup win at Hickstead

EQUESTRIAN:Irish show jumping received a significant, and much-needed, boost yesterday with a win in the FEI Nations Cup at Hickstead.

Richie Moloney fronted the Irish challenge with a double clear on Ahorn van de Zuithoeve while there were clears rounds also from fellow US-based rider Darragh Kerins on Lisona and Hickstead-based Shane Breen on Cos I Can.

Clones rider Clem McMahon had to retire Pacino in the first round but returned as the team’s final rider in round two to post a zero score, the squad winning on an excellent two-round total of four faults.

France finished second on eight points with Germany third on 12. The British team filled fourth place with 20 faults.

The superleague finishes at the Dublin Horse Show next month.

Ireland’s victory meant they lifted the gold Prince of Wales Cup for a first time since 2001 and also climbed a place, relegating Belgium to bottom spot. And it also gave them a degree of consolation for their London failure as all four riders jumped at least one clear round.

“It means a lot to win here,” said Ireland team manager Robert Splaine, after his team avoided a jump-off when final French rider Penelope Leprevost had a fence down.

“We needed a big result today, and we got it. Everyone jumped at least one clear round, and Richie produced a double clear, which was fantastic on his Nations Cup debut.

“I am hoping now for a good result in Dublin next month, which we also need. I knew I had four fantastic riders today.

MARGIE McLOONE

Late wickets leave Ireland agonisingly short in Belfast

CRICKET:Ireland fell to an agonising one-run defeat at Stormont last night as Bangladesh claimed the RSA Twenty20 series with a second win in the three-match series. Chasing 147 for victory after again letting the tourists score too many off the final five overs, Ireland needed 10 runs off their final over to level the series going into tomorrow's final match.

Two singles and a dot left the ask at eight off three, but Andrew Poynter and top-scorer Ed Joyce (41) would both hole out to long-on off consecutive deliveries from Mahmudullah before Trent Johnston hit the final ball of the game for a six.

A third-wicket stand of 55 between Joyce and Gary Wilson (37) had left Ireland needing 43 off the last five overs, but the loss of the big-hitting Kevin O’Brien for five proved a big blow.

Bangladesh had earlier made hay in their last five overs, taking 57 runs off the Irish bowling attack. It ruined a much more disciplined display in the field from the 71-run defeat on Wednesday, with Nasir Hossain’s unbeaten 50 off 33 balls proving the difference between the sides.

EMMET RIORDAN

Button heads Hamilton as McLaren dominate practice

MOTOR SPORT:Jenson Button was fastest and team-mate Lewis Hamilton second as McLaren dominated practice at a wet German Grand Prix yesterday while Michael Schumacher emerged unscathed from an embarrassing crash.

Button and Hamilton both set their times in the morning practice as heavy rain played havoc with the afternoon practice which ended with Schumacher bringing out the red flags.

Pastor Maldonado was fastest for Williams in the second session although the Venezuelan was more than 10 seconds behind Button’s time in the first.

Seven-times world champion Schumacher lost control of his car on turn 12 and the vehicle spun out of control across the grass into the barriers in front of the Mercedes stand. Schumacher emerged unscathed but looking decidedly uncomfortable. He then watched the marshals as they lifted his Mercedes onto a crane.The session ended at that point. “I was not fully concentrated,” Schumacher said. “I was on the radio and I was doing some other changes to the car and touched the white line.”