EQUESTRIAN: Robert Splaine, who was offered the job as chef d'equipe of the senior showjumping team almost four weeks ago, has still not agreed terms with the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI), writes Grania Willis.
A code of practice relating to international selection and the role of the chef d'equipe was approved by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland executive at a meeting in Kildare yesterday afternoon, and it is expected that a contract between Splaine and the SJAI will now be drawn up under the terms of the new structures document.
On the international circuit, Cian O'Connor drew first blood at the big Towerlands fixture in England, scoring with his new mare Zanoubia in a speed class on Thursday night, but there was no joy for Jessica Kürten in yesterday afternoon's World Cup pre-qualifier in Stuttgart.
After making a promising start at the German show when finishing fourth in Thursday's two-phase class on the mare Quibell, Kürten and Castle Forbes Libertina were a long way off the leaders in yesterday's pre-qualifier, finishing 21st after hitting a fence. n CRICKET: Openers Mike Hussey and Matthew Hayden smashed centuries yesterday to cement Australia's grip on the second Test against West Indies.
Hussey registered his maiden Test 100 with an unbeaten 116. Hayden made 110 to complete his fourth century in as many matches after almost being dropped during the Ashes series.
Captain Ricky Ponting was 17 not out at stumps on the second day with his team in complete control at 256 for one in reply to West Indies' dismal first innings total of 149. West Indies' only success came late in the day when Hayden clipped Corey Collymore off his pads to Dwayne Bravo at mid-wicket.
Hayden said: "Today was a very tough day for them, but from our point of view we were just out there to grind them down.
"They've got us at a bad time unfortunately, almost like 'beware the wounded cricketers'."
Hussey and Hayden piled on 231 for the first wicket to set a record for the opening partnership at Bellerive Oval in Hobart and the ninth highest in Australian history.
Hussey, playing in just his second Test after Justin Langer broke a rib last month, reached his hundred off 163 balls when he flicked Tino Edwards to the fine leg rope. He ended the day with 18 boundaries to his credit.
Hayden survived a run out chance in his innings and Hussey was dropped off a no-ball when he was on 91, but the pair were otherwise unthreatened by a pedestrian West Indian attack.
BOXING: Irish middleweight Darren Sutherland was stopped in the third round of his quarter final bout at the World Championships in China yesterday under the 20-point rule (15-35).
DCU student Sutherland began the fight in his familiar style, moving forward and chasing down Matvey Korobov but the Russian was able to counteract, with his left jab the most destructive punch.
Sutherland trailed 16-9 after round one and fell 33-15 behind by the end of the second.
