SPORTS DIGEST:ROWING: Rowing clubs failed to pass two of the three motions put before them at the extraordinary general meeting of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union in Dublin yesterday, writes Liam Gorman.
The board of the IARU argued for leeway to introduce trial rules without the express approval of the clubs. The motion proposing this was defeated by 12 votes to nine. A majority of the 21 delegates were in favour of a motion to limit composite crews at the National Championships to two clubs, but the 13-7 vote did not meet the requirement of a two-thirds majority, so the motion fell.
Meanwhile, UCC’s senior men’s eight were the fastest crew home at the Cork Head of the River at the Marina in Cork on Saturday, with just over a second to spare from a masters eight from the Netherlands, De Maas. UCD’s women’s senior eight were pipped by Cork Boat Club’s junior 18 eight. The event also included coastal rowing crews, with Kilmacsimon’s novice double scull the fastest crew.
Bahrain Crown Prince to make Grand Prix decision
MOTOR SPORT: Bahrain's Crown Prince will decide whether the country's season-opening Formula One Grand Prix can take place next month, the sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said yesterday.
Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who is also deputy supreme commander of Bahrain’s armed forces, is leading a national dialogue after days of unrest in the Gulf kingdom left six dead.
“He will decide whether it’s safe for us to be there,” Ecclestone said. “Ive no idea. I’m not there, so I don’t know.
“We won’t advise people to go unless it’s safe,” added the 80-year-old Briton.
Ecclestone said a decision on the March 13th race was likely to be made tomorrow. The grand prix could also be moved to a later date rather than being cancelled outright. The 12 teams are due to take part in four days of testing in Bahrain from March 3rd, which makes an early decision essential.
Wozniacki sweeps to victory
TENNIS:Caroline Wozniacki took just 75 minutes to defeat 16th seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1 6-3 in the final of the Dubai championships yesterday.
The top-seeded Dane had never advanced beyond the third round of the tournament before, but she swept through the draw without the loss of a set to win her 13th career title.
By defeating Shahar Peer in the quarter-finals she re-captured the number one world ranking she had surrendered to Kim Clijsters just a week ago and she is expected to hold on to that for at least the next four weeks.
“I felt really good out there today,” Wozniacki told reporters. “I felt like I was hitting the ball well, clean, and I could really stay aggressive today.”
Soderling fights back in Marseille
TENNIS:Top seed Robin Soderling continued his stunning start to the year by clinching the Marseille Open yesterday after battling back to beat Marin Cilic 6-7 6-3 6-3. The Swedish world number four was furious with himself for much of the first set as unseeded Cilic won a topsy-turvy tiebreak 10-8.
Soderling settled into his rhythm and broke the giant Croatian twice to seal the second set. A superb backhand down the line followed by Cilic netting an easy shot gifted Soderling the break in the third.
Munster looking to advance
RUGBY:Munster's second string will be hoping to take a significant step towards the British and Irish Cup knockout stage with a victory over Bristol in their rescheduled match at the Memorial Grounds tomorrow night (7.45). The game was originally fixed for December but heavy snow caused the fixture to be cancelled. A victory in Bristol will guarantee the Irish side's progress irrespective of other results, writes John O'Sullivan.
Munster are five points ahead of their hosts – Bristol have a game in hand – and two clear of Llanelli. Coach Anthony Foley has been able to name a strong squad bolstered by the likes of Billy Holland, Darragh Hurley, Peter Borlase, Scott Deasy and Tom Gleeson, all of whom have enjoyed Magners League game time recently.
MUNSTER(squad v Bristol): G Quinn-McDonagh, R O'Mahony, S Zebo, D Barnes, I Dineen, T Gleeson, T Smith, S Deasy, D Cusack, C Sheridan, C Murray, D Kilcoyne, D Ryan, P Borlase, D Hurley, D Casey, J Reale, G Slattery, D Foley, B Holland, David O'Callaghan, C O'Flaherty, K Essex, B O'Hara, P Butler, J Quill.
Egan and Ward to meet in final
BOXING:Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan and current AIBA World Youth champion Joe Ward will meet in next Friday's Elite Championships light-heavyweight final after both boxers claimed semi-final wins at the National Stadium in Dublin at the weekend.
Ward, a gold medallist at the 2009 AIBA World Junior Championships, set up the light-heavyweight final with the Dublin-born southpaw and three-time European Union champion following an 8-2 victory over Davey Joe Joyce at the Stadium on Saturday night. Egan won with a second-round stoppage of Thomas Roohan on Friday and is just three-three minute rounds away from an unprecedented 11 in a row, a feat never achieved in the 100 year history of the IABA.
