A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Mayo’s Doherty takes bronze in NZ
TRIATHLON:Mayo teenager Con Doherty produced a brilliant all-round performance to become the first Irish triathlete to make the podium in a World Championship Series Final event as he claimed bronze at the ITU Junior Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.
The 17-year-old from Westport was just pipped on the line for silver by France’s Simon Viain, with South Africa’s Wian Sullwald taking gold in the 16 to 19-year-old category. Doherty finished the 750m swim in the Queens Wharf Harbour mid pack in the field of 75 juniors.
His superior bike-handling skills became instantly apparent as Doherty made his way to the front of the field on the first of the four 20k laps.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, I had to remind myself where I was,” admitted Doherty.
Finnish success for Irish team
BOXING:Ireland claimed four gold and two silver medals from the 19-nation Elite Tammer Multi Nations which concluded in Tampere, Finland today.
David Oliver Joyce, who also scooped the Boxer of the Tournament award, Ken Egan, John Joe Joyce and Conrad Cummings finished on top of their respective podiums, while Ross Hickey and Con Sheehan won a brace of silver medals.
David Oliver got the gold rush underway with a top drawer win over Joe Cordina of Wales. The EU champion led 4-3 and 9-7 at the end of the first two rounds on his way to the 60kg title and to his second victory in-a-row over the Welsh lightweight.
John Joe Joyce, a cousin and St Michael’s Athy team-mate of David Oliver’s, secured Ireland’s second gold over Finland’s Antti Hietala. He was awarded a 12-10 decision.
Martin takes second in Japan
CYCLING:Dan Martin ended his season with a very strong result yesterday, the Irish pro netting second in the prestigious Japan Cup race. He decimated the bunch with a strong attack approximately 20 kilometres from the finish, causing a select group to go clear.
He continued to attack to whittle things down, and raced towards the line with just four others. An attempt to get a gap inside the final kilometre was matched by the Italian Ivan Basso (Liquigas Cannondale), who managed to get past him just before the flag.
Rafal Majka (Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank) was third.
While Martin will be frustrated by the near miss, his strong result plus his King of the Mountains title and fourth overall in the Tour of Beijing confirm he is one of the strongest young riders in the sport.
Neptune claim first win over Moycullen
BASKETBALL:In the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague, Bord Gais Neptune claimed their first win of the season over Moycullen.
Head coach for Bord Gais Neptune Mark Scannell praised his team. “We needed that win. After our performances the last three weeks where we were nearly there, that win was coming to us. We got 11 men into the game tonight so it was an all-round team effort.”
It was DCU Saints that were awarded local bragging rights when they beat Dublin rivals, UCD Marian. David Donnelly, DCU Saints’ head coach, was pleased with the outcome. “It was a very intense game but we worked hard and held UCD Marian to 2 points in the last quarter. We had some big plays down the stretch even though we were left with a small line-up when our post players had to sit out due to foul trouble.”
Van Pelt dedicates win to caddie
GOLF:American Bo Van Pelt won his first event of the year at the Perth International at Lake Karryinyup yesterday and dedicated the title to caddie Scot Steele who died in the United States on Friday after suffering a heart attack.
The 55-year-old Steele, who was caddying for Kirk Triplett, collapsed in a golf club car park in North Carolina a week ago.
Van Pelt had rounds of 70 67 67 and 68 to finish 16 under par on 272.
“I’ve had a lot of top 10s this year and it’s great to get a win,” said Van Pelt after starting the day one shot clear of world number 10 Jason Dufner, who closed with a 69 to finish second.
In the US Tommy Gainey carded a stunning final-day 60 to claim a one-shot victory over David Toms in the McGaldrey Classic and earn his first PGA Tour title.
Harrington replaces Els
GOLF:Padraig Harrington has suddenly found himself called into the four-man PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Port Royal in Bermuda on Tuesday and Wednesday, and even if he finishes last he will earn €153,642.
Harrington replaces Open champion Ernie Els, who has pulled out with a left ankle injury, and in an event meant to bring together the season’s four major winners is up against Masters champion Bubba Watson, US Open winner Webb Simpson and last year’s USPGA champion Keegan Bradley — himself a replacement for Rory McIlroy. Northern Ireland’s world number one qualified with his USPGA victory in August, but is defending the BMW Masters title in Shanghai this week, while second and third alternates Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods are also honouring commitments to play in Asia.
