Sports Digest/EQUESTRIAN: The decision to name Cian O'Connor as the international rider of the year at a ball in Co Kildare on Sunday night has caused a considerable degree of unrest among some of his fellow riders, which was effectively acknowledged by the national Show Jumpers Club last night.
The club issued a statement explaining the choice of O'Connor for the award "for all his success during the year, excluding his achievements at the Olympics in Athens".
Despite this disclaimer, the award has reignited the controversy surrounding the Athens gold medallist, whose Olympic horse Waterford Crystal tested positive for two prohibited substances. O'Connor's top speed horse, ABC Landliebe, also failed a dope test in Rome last May.
Olympic team-mate Kevin Babington, who finished fifth individually in Athens and won three Grand Prix classes during 2004, is particularly aggrieved about the award.
"There are other riders who I feel achieved a lot more and are more deserving of the award", Babington said from his base in America last night. "It has to be taken into consideration what happened in Rome, even if you forget about the Olympics."
Billy Twomey, who missed out on the Olympics when his horse went lame, supported Babington. "In the light of Cian's situation, they shouldn't give it to him, he shouldn't receive it and Kevin should get it."
CYCLING: The new Irish cyclo-cross champion, Roger Aiken, topped the podium again on Sunday when he won the fourth round of the Northern Ireland league in Bangor, writes Shane Stokes.
Starting back in the scratch group, Aiken carved his way through the field to overtake all the other riders and finish well clear of Lewis Ferguson (Team Fergie), Robert Lamont (XMTB), Francis Blake-Dillon (Cycleways) and Newry's Drew McKinley.
Post-championship blues meant just 20 riders took part in the senior event, but despite the poor turnout the seven-lap contest brought some good racing. The field was divided into four groups, each separated by two minutes 30 seconds. Aiken quickly set about overtaking those ahead and had moved up to 14th place by lap two. Christy Brown and Bob Patterson led early on before Blake-Dillon moved into pole position, staying at the front until Aiken overtook him on lap four.
The Banbridge CC rider continued his charge to move further and further ahead, lapping all bar those in the top eight by the end of the race.
ATHLETICS: The organisers of next April's London Marathon have attracted an elite field for the landmark 25th race.
"We could not wish for a more exclusive field to celebrate the 25th running of the race," said race director David Bedford.
Reigning world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, world record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and Olympic champion Stefano Baldini were the latest additions to the field. The last five London champions have also accepted invitations.
