Irish Amateur boxing remains without a qualifier for the Olympic Games following three unsuccessful forays into tournaments in Eastern Europe over the past three months. The most recent trip to Istanbul saw three Irish representatives eliminated and even though Bernard Dunne from the CIE club in Dublin managed to win a bronze medal, it was not enough to give him automatic entry to the Sydney Games. Dunne managed to win his first two bouts in the 57-kilo division and was given a walk-over which put him into the semi-finals where he was beaten by a local Turkish opponent 10-1, an astonishing score which greatly annoyed the Irish camp, who described it a a "home town decision".
Earlier, John Kinsella from Crumlin, in the 91-plus category, was eliminated by an opponent from Moldova 6-3 and Liam Cunningham, from Saints in Belfast, was beaten 7-0 by a very strong German opponent in the 51-kilo division.
Three boxers are now standing by for another attempt to win Olympic places when they travel to Athens on December 6th. The three are Jim Rooney from Holy Family, Belfast at 48 kilos, Neil Gough from Waterford at 67 kilos and Stephen Reynolds from Sligo at 91 kilos.
Swimming: Only two swimmers, both from Ulster, have been named to represent Ireland in next month's prestigious European short course championships in Lisbon (December 9th-12th). The selections of Andrew Reid and Emma Robinson were confirmed yesterday.
There is no previous record of an Ireland team excluding competitors from competing at international level and a number of claims for consideration may come before the Swim Ireland executive from Cork and Dublin in the next few days.
Concern about the leg injury sustained by Robinson in the 50 metres freestyle was assuaged yesterday and she has also been included in the team for the British ASA's winter championships from December 16th-19th. The achievements of Cork's Lee Kelleher and Dubliner Muiris O'Riada at last weekend's Swansea grand prix could earn them due recognition for Lisbon. They repeatedly qualified for "A" finals and won two of them.
Kelleher figured in six "A" finals and picked up medals of varying hue in her for the butterfly events, setting up an Irish junior record (2:15.87) at 200 metres.
O'Riada was only out of the medals once in four "A" final starts and had to be pleased with his personal best (58.84) in the 100 metres butterfly.
IRELAND TEAM (for British winter championships): Niamh Cawley, Chantal Gibney, Lee Kelleher, Fiona Kinsella, Siobhan McNally, Nicola Pepper, Emma Robinson, Louise Robinson, Graham Beegan, Andrew Bree, Neil Cameron, Mark Craig, Colin Lowth, Hugh O'Connor, Muiris O'Riada, Andrew Reid, Michael Williamson.
Motor Sport: Raymond Burns overcame an engine fire - caused by a pin-hole gap in an oil filter - during yesterday's stages to take a commanding lead in the Rally of Britain. The 28-year-old Englishman won six of yesterday's eight special stages in the fog-bound forests of mid-Wales to establish an advantage of 29 seconds going into today's longest and final day.
The victory could give Oxford-based Burns second place in the world drivers' championship with Frenchman Didier Auriol.
