A round-up of other sports stories in brief...
Rogan to bring success story home to Belfast
BOXING: Belfast heavyweight Martin Rogan is set to take his success story back to his home city’s famous King’s Hall after claiming the Commonwealth title in a mighty brawl with Matt Skelton.
Less than a year ago the 37-year-old was winning the one-night “Prizefighter” knockout tournament in Newcastle and dreaming of one chance to make an impression on the biggest stage.
In Birmingham on Saturday night he played his part in what promoter Frank Warren called “the best heavyweight fight in 15 years” as he smashed champion Skelton to the first stoppage loss of his career in the 11th round.
Now Warren will aim to line Rogan up for a shot at the European title which was automatically stripped of Skelton because of his defeat – and is targeting another sold-out night for Belfast boxing.
“I can’t think of a heavyweight fight over the last 15 years to match that on any level – commitment, bravery, respect, the whole thing,” said Warren.
Venus cruises to yet another title
TENNIS: Venus Williams cruised to victory in the final of the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL by downing Flavia Pennetta 6-1 6-2 in Acapulco.
The top seed has back-to-back titles on her resume, having won her 40th WTA championship last weekend in Dubai and a 10-match winning streak.
She made short work of the second-seeded Pennetta, topping her Italian foe in one hour, two minutes to capture the €29,294 top prize.
Sprint is on for first scoring gate
SAILING: After two weeks of steady progress southwards through the Pacific Ocean, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet finally committed to the sprint towards the first scoring-gate of the mammoth Leg 5 from China to Brazil over the weekend, writes David Branigan.
The islands of Fiji proved to be the break-point for the five boats, but predictions of a split in the fleet proved unfounded and only a compression in the distances was the outcome. As before, Torben Grael on Ericsson 4 wrested the lead back from Kenny Read on Puma Ocean Racing, after briefly relinquishing first place on the official leader-board. Just 500 miles remain until the first boat crosses the line of latitude at 36 degrees south where half-points will be scored.
Light to moderate northerly winds are forecast and with less than 60 miles from Grael in the lead to Ireland’s Green Dragon in fifth place, the race remains wide open.
Joint-second for Ireland in Florida
EQUESTRIAN: Ireland finished joint second with Britain in Friday night’s Nations’ Cup won by Canada in Wellington, Florida, writes Margie McLoone.
Eight countries lined out and, following round one, Ireland and Britain shared first place on four faults, with Canada next on six. Only three combinations from each team took on the second round and a double clear from 62-year-old Ian Millar with In Style sealed victory for the Canadians.
At the four-star show in Bremen, Germany, Thurles-born Thomas Ryan recorded Ireland’s best result when taking fifth place in yesterday’s Grand Prix on Urleven van de Helle.
Newgrange-based John Floody and Tony Noble’s Slighty Bonkers came out best in a three-horse jump-off to the HSI/Guidam spring tour yesterday at the Cavan Equestrian Centre.
Jaidee enjoys European Tour win
GOLF: Thongchai Jaidee shot a three-under-par 69 to claim his first win on the European Tour in four years at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open yesterday.
The Thai ace began the final round of the tournament with a one stroke advantage and went ahead by as many as four with birdies on four of the first seven holes at New Kuta Golf Club.
Ireland’s Gary Murphy and Michael Howe (NIrl) finished on 284 with final rounds of 71 and 67 respectively.
American Mike Cunning fired a closing 70 to win on his European Senior Tour debut in the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters just two shots clear of Northern Ireland’s Jimmy Heggarty.
“Winning is always great, but to do it on my debut on the Senior Tour is something special,” said the 50-year-old.
