A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Martin earns Germany second gold
CYCLING: Having beaten 2010 world champion Fabian Cancellara in time trials at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, Tony Martin completed the hat-trick yesterday in the most important place of them all, the 2011 road worlds in Copenhagen, writes Shane Stokes.
The 26-year-old German rider dominated the 46.4 kilometre test, leading at all the checkpoints and beating Britain’s Bradley Wiggins by one minute 16 seconds.
Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) was running closest to 2007 FBD Rás winner Martin throughout and looked set for second, but almost crashed on a corner near the end and lost at least 10 seconds. He finished five seconds behind Wiggins and had to be content with bronze.
Ireland’s David McCann was 27th, four minutes 53.65 seconds behind Martin. National champion Matt Brammeier had a difficult day due to a sore throat and pulled out during the event. Today is a rest day in the championships, which recommence tomorrow with the first of the road races.
Grant falters in quest for card
GOLF: Stephen Grant slipped down the leaderboard on day two of the European Tour Qualifying School at Fleesensee near Berlin and has considerable work to do to keep alive his hopes of making progress in his quest for a card.
The former Shamrock Rovers striker from Birr posted a 72 to add to his opening day 70 for a 142 aggregate to drop from joint 15th place to 22nd. That is seven strokes behind leader Christoffer Lange from Denmark who is one stroke ahead of Englishman James Ruth. Cian Curley from Newlands is struggling far more in 52nd place on 147 and Shane Franklin is a stroke behind.
HOCKEY: Newpark school in Blackrock has qualified for the All Ireland Schools' competition following a Round Robin competition played yesterday. The Blackrock School played off with Kilkenny for the coveted place, and won out 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Radcliffe brands changes in records criteria as 'unfair'
ATHLETICS: Paula Radcliffe has branded changes which would mean her marathon world record of 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds will no longer be classed as a world record as "unfair".
The 37-year-old runner set the world-beating time in the 2003 London marathon, but a change in criteria by the sports governing body, the IAAF, during the World Championships in South Korea specifies that now only times achieved in all-women competitions will be acknowledged for world record purposes.
Performances achieved in mixed conditions will now be referred to only as “world best”.
The Englishwoman’s London marathon time of 2:17:42 from 2005 is now classed as the world record.
Radcliffe questioned the change in criteria and the way it has been retrospectively applied.
“I think it is a decision that is going to be hard to fully enforce,” she said.
“Look at how many national and area records are set in mixed races.
“I also think it is a little unfair. If they were going to make that rule, it should have been so from the beginning when world records came in on the roads.
“I fully believe that I would have run pretty much the same time that day alone. However, rules are rules and I can’t stress about things that are out of my control.”
Leinster claim schools' interpro title
RUGBY: Leinster clinched their third interprovincial schools' title in a row when they completed a grand slam at the Sportsground yesterday beating Connacht 53-0.
Wins over Munster and Ulster set up the title decider in Galway, but Ray McIlreavy’s side cruised to victory with a superb display running in eight tries which included a hat-trick from centre Rory O’Loughlin.
Leinster led by 17-0 at half-time thanks to tries from Ian Fitzpatrick, O’Loughlin and Dan Leavy and further tries from Peadar Timmins, Billy Dardis (2) and the accuracy of Stephen O’Neill sealed the win for Leinster.
Waddell having cancer treatment
DARTS:Broadcaster Sid Waddell has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, his manager has confirmed.
Waddell, 71, is known for his colourful and excitable commentary style.
A statement from his manager Dick Allix read: “Following recent tests, Sid has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. He is now undergoing treatment and during this period will be focusing on his health.”
NFL threaten to sanction injury fakers
AMERICAN FOOTBALL:The NFL has urged teams to stamp out any faking of injuries and threatened sanctions against those that do not comply, according to a memo sent to club officials yesterday.
The memo surfaced after a pair of New York Giants players went down without contact during Monday’s game against the St Louis Rams and TV commentators accused each of faking injuries in order to slow down the Rams no-huddle offence.
Safety Deon Grant and linebacker Jacquian Williams flopped to the ground at the same time with neither appearing to have been hurt on the previous play and the incident prompted widespread debate in the media.
The NFL said in the memo, also sent to NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, that they would take all necessary steps to make sure faking injuries does not become an issue.
