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Daniel Coyle is first Irishman in 58 years to win Longines GP of Rotterdam

Daniel Coyle and Carlyle on their victory lap after winning the Longines Grand Prix of Rotterdam. Image provided by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

Daniel Coyle has become the first Irish rider to win the five-star Grand Prix of Rotterdam since 1964, after a brilliant performance saw him claim victory aboard Carlyle.

Fourteen of the 45 starters made it into the jump-off and six of those had gone clear in the second round when Coyle entered the arena as last to go.

The Derry man is always among the favourites when it comes to beating the clock, and he was at his brilliant best as he crossed the line clear in 36.69 seconds to take victory.

Kevin Jochems (NED) with Cornetboy took second place in 37.20 seconds, while Frenchman Julien Epaillard took third place with Caracole de la Roque (37.49 seconds).Speaking after his victory, Coyle admitted:

“To be honest, we weren’t the most hopeful heading into the competition. With this horse, you don’t really know beforehand what you’re going to get. But last Thursday he did very well and so I decided to also ride him in the Grand Prix. And he did his very best for me today.”

Westover gives Colin Keane a first Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby

Westover and Colin Keane, winners of the 2022 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Credit: David Betts.

Westover (11/8jf) gave Colin Keane a first victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh on Sunday.

Arguably an unluckly third in the Cazoo Derby at Epsom three weeks ago, the Ralph Beckett-trained colt ran out a seven-length winner of Ireland’s Premier Classic.

In the colours of Juddmonte Farms, the son of Frankel was never seriously challenged inthe 1 mile 4 furlong contest.

Donnacha O’Brien’s Piz Badile (18/1) was runner-up with 16/1 chance French Claim another two lengths back in third.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly Tuesday, supplemented during the week for the race, was a disappointing fourth, a further one and a quarter lengths behind.

Murtagh and Cohen win Gain Railway Stakes

Johnny Murtagh and Ben Cohen teamed up to win the Gain Railways Stakes with Shartash (9/1) for The Aga Khan. The two-year-old son of the Irish National Stud’s Invincible Spirit held off the challenge of the Aidan O’Brien-handled favourite Blackbeard (5/6). Apache Outlaw (22/1) was a further length and a quarter back in third.

Aikhal is impressive

The Group 3 The Arm Holding International Stakes saw Aikhal run out an impressive four and a quarter length winner under Ryan Moore. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the two-year-old son of Galileo beat Dermot Weld’s Duke De Sessa, with Rumbles Of Thunder from the Paddy Toomey yard a further half a length behind in third.

In the opening Dubai Duty Free Dash Stakes (Listed Race), Teresa Mendoza (4/1) went one spot better than her runner-up position in the race last year. The Ken Condon-trained four-year-old, ridden by Billy Lee, got the better of Prisoner’s Dilemma (18/1)by half a length the same distance further back to Power Under Me (15/8f) in third.

The 5/1 shot Night Of Romance was a winner of the Dubai Duty Free Summer Fillies Handicap for Joseph O’Brien and rider Dylan Browne McMonagle, ahead of the favourite Needle Lace (9/4) and Marbling (5/1).

The Jim Bolger-Kevin Manning partnership was successful with the son of Teofilo, Wexford Native (18/5), in the Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes over a mile. Fourth last time out in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, Wexford Native challenged wide of Ryan Moore on The Acropolis (7/1), who had finished one from last on his most recent outing in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly at the beginning of June. Emphatic Answer (5/1) was third for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.

 

 

Ireland qualify for EEF Nations Cup Final

The Irish Show Jumping team have qualified for the Longines EEF Nations Cup final after a third place finish in Friday’s semi final at Deauville, France.

Taylor Vard’s team of Thomas Ryan, Jessica Burke, Kevin Gallagher and Jenny Rankin finished the two rounds of jumping with just four faults.

Tipperary’s Ryan with Springfield 21 and Sligo’s  Gallagher with Ballypatrick Flamenco (ISH) both jumped foot-perfect double clear rounds.

Galway’s Jessica Burke with Namamia and Tyrone’s Jenny Rankin with Carmela Z were also clear in the first round.A jump-off was needed to decide the winners with Belgium coming out on top ahead of Spain in second and Ireland in third.

The remaining qualifying places for the EEF Nations Cup Final went to Sweden and Portugal.

The Longines EEF Series is a Show Jumping Nations Cup circuit created by the European Equestrian Federation which replaced the FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 2.

Ireland is a Europe Division 1 nation but can field teams in selected EEF Series rounds.

Irish Life Health National Athletics Championships

The National Track and Field Championships take place this weekend. Credit: @athleticsireland.

The golden girl of Irish athletics Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) returns to Irish soil this weekend as she competed in the Irish Life Health National Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium. The Tallaght AC athlete will be competing in the 100m final at 7.00pm on Sunday, with the event live on RTÉ.

Irish Olympians who competed at the Tokyo Olympics such as Thomas Barr (400mH), Sarah Lavin (100mH), Louise Shanahan (800m), Sarah Healy (UCD AC), Michelle Finn (3000mSC), Marcus Lawler (200m & 400m), Mark English (800m), David Kenny (10,000mWalk), Phil Healy (400m), Sophie Becker (400m), Christopher O’Donnell (400m) and Fionnuala McCormack (5000m) will all compete this weekend.

From team mates to rivals

The women’s 400m will see Ireland’s fastest women take to the start line. Phil Healy (Bandon AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), and Róisín Harrison (Emerald AC) move from Irish 4x400m teammates to rivals through the heats on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s final at 7:45pm. Healy and Becker will be neck and neck after Healy clocked a season best of 51.82 seconds just 0.01 seconds faster than Becker’s recent PB.

2022 World Indoor Championship Finalist and Olympian Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) is set to produce another incredible performance in the 100m Hurdles this afternoon at 3pm, after setting a new PB of 12.93 seconds while competing in Spain this past week.

Olympian Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) is set to lead the men’s 200m competition but will have a battle on his hands with Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers) and Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) also taking to the start line at 4.10pm on Saturday.

In the middle-distance finals, Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) and Luke McCann (UCD AC) will compete in the 1500m.

Competitive Men’s 5,000 title

Darragh McElhinney (UCD AC), Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC), Hiko Haso Tonosa (DSD AC), Paul O’Donnell (DSD AC), Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers), Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC), Scott Fagan (Metro St Brigid’s AC) and Emmet Jennings (DSD AC) will all be in contention for the Men’s 5,000m final championship title.

Olympian Sarah Healy (UCD AC) in the 1500m will be an event not to miss. Having secured her first 1500m senior title last year, she has since broken Sonia O’Sullivan’s 1991 Irish U23 record this season in 4:02.86 (4th all time).

There will be a team aspect in the field events for the 150th edition of the championships, with the best performance of the top 2 club athletes being added together. The overall team winners will be presented with a special medal.

Action live on Youtube and RTÉ

Saturday’s action begins at 1.30pm, while competition starts on Sunday at 1pm.

Both days of competition will be streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube Channel.

RTÉ will be covering the Championships on Radio 1 throughout both days and RTÉ 1 Live television coverage from 6.05pm-8.30pm on Sunday.

Ireland on the podium at Longines FEI Nations Cup of The Netherlands

Credit: FEI/L. Kowalski. Image provided by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

Michael Blake’s Irish Show Jumping team of Daniel Coyle, Denis Lynch, Trevor Breen and Shane Sweetnam took third place in today’s Longines FEI Nations Cup of The Netherlands in Rotterdam.

The Dutch city was Ireland’s second of four opportunities to gain points in Europe’s top division. The result moves Ireland up to fifth place on the league table with 150 points. They are well-positioned in the race to see which teams will qualify for September’s Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona.Ireland were drawn first to jump in the opening round and Daniel Coyle with Legacy was the pathfinder. The Derry man and Legacy came home clear and well inside the time.

Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heightsstrom looked to be heading for another Irish clear when second to go. They picked up four faults, however, at the very last double.

Cashel’s Trevor Breen was third in with Highland President. They were also clear towards the end of their round but had a fence down on the troublesome last line to finish on four faults.Shane Sweetnam was last to go for Ireland in the first round with The Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz. The combination delivered a brilliant clear round to keep Ireland well in the hunt. Ireland finished the first round in equal second as one of four teams on a four fault score. The home team from The Netherlands held the lead on zero.

Round Two

Daniel Coyle produced his second brilliant clear at the start of the second round to keep the pressure on the leaders.

Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights repeated their four fault score from the first round. It looked as though Trevor Breen was going to deliver a clear second round with Highland President but the very last fence fell after a slight rub to leave them with four faults.

Shane Sweetnam and the nine-year-old James Kann Cruz (ISH) completed a hugely impressive double clear round as last to go for Ireland. This left Ireland on a final score of eight faults.The result hung in the balance until the very last horse left the arena, but it was the Dutch team that took victory. They were the only team to finish on a zero score. France finished second on the same score as Ireland but in a slightly faster time.

EEF Nations Cup

In Deauville, France, Taylor Vard’s Irish team of Thomas Ryan, Jessica Burke, Kevin Gallagher and Jenny Rankin took third place overall in the three-star Longines EEF Nations Cup semi-final.

The result means Ireland comfortably qualify for the Longines EEF Nations Cup Final in September in Warsaw.

Ireland drawn first for today’s Longines FEI Nations Cup of The Netherlands – Live on RTÉ

RTÉ will show live coverage of today's Longines FEI Nations Cup of The Netherlands. Credit: Horse Sport Ireland.

Ireland will compete in the Longines FEI Nations Cup of the Netherlands this afternoon in Rotterdam.

The event will be live on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Players as Michael Blake’s Irish team chase points in Europe’s top division.

Irish Show Jumping team manager Michael Blake has named his four team members, with Ireland drawn first too jump of the eight teams.

Derry’s Daniel Coyle with Legacy will be the pathfinders. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights will be next into the main arena for Ireland. Another Tipperary man Trevor Breen with Highland President will be the team’s third representative in the class. Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz (ISH) will be on the anchor leg.

Ireland will compete against The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden and Britain today.

Italy will also be among the starters but as a non-Division 1 team are not eligible for league points. The home Dutch team are defending champions, with Ireland’s last win in Rotterdam coming in 2000.

Ireland’s first points-scoring round in Europe Division 1 saw them collect 70 league points following a fourth place finish at Sopot in Poland.

Ireland’s remaining points scoring opportunities after today will be at Hickstead on July 29th and Ireland’s home Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show on Friday August 19th. Both of these Longines FEI Nations Cup competitions will also be broadcast live on RTÉ.

Irish Life Health National Athletics Championships at Morton Stadium this weekend

The National Track and Field Championships take place this weekend. Credit: @athleticsireland.

The 150th consecutive Irish Life Health National Athletics Championships is set to continue an illustrious history as the cream of Irish athletics talent take to Morton Stadium this weekend (Saturday June 25th and Sunday June 26th).

The first national athletics championships were organised in College Park (Trinity College Dublin) on July 7th, 1873. The Championships have been held every year since then, making the Irish national championships the longest running consecutive national senior championships in the world.

Aiming for World qualifying times

Throughout their history they have seen Ireland’s top athletics talent secure both championship title and qualifications for international success. This weekend athletes will be looking to secure world ranking points and qualifying standards ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon next month and the European Athletics Championships in Munich in August.

The action gets underway from 1.30pm on Saturday, with a second helping taking place on Sunday from 1pm.

Both days of the competition will be streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube Channel. RTÉ will be covering the Championships on Radio 1 throughout both days and RTÉ 1 Live television coverage from 6:05pm-8:30pm on Sunday.

Ruaidhrí McGee shoots opening round of -9 on Challenge Tour

Ruaidhrí McGee of Ireland plays his first shot on the 10th hole during Day One of the Blot Open de Bretagne at Golf Blue-Green Pleneuf-Val Andre on June 23, 2022 in Pleneuf-Val Andre, France. Credit: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images. Photo provided by The Challenge Tour.

Ireland’s Ruaidhrí McGee will take a three-stroke lead into day two of the Blot Open de Bretagne. He posting an impressive nine under par opening round of 61 at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André on Thursday.

The Irish golfer carded two eagles, seven birdies and two bogeys to move three shots clear of South African Bryce Easton, Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Spaniard Borja Virto and Germany’s Alexander Knappe, who share second place on six under par.

McGee decided to take a break from competitive golf after the Covid-19 pandemic and made his first appearance on the European Challenge Tour for almost two years at the Empordà Challenge earlier this month, where he recorded a top 20 finish.

Now based in Florida

The 31-year-old recently moved to Florida in the United States and although he hasn’t been playing golf competitively, he has still found the time to fine tune his skills on the course.

“I’m delighted with my round today,” he said. “I haven’t been playing competitively for a couple of years now and this is only my second Challenge Tour event of the season.

“Due to Covid I decided to take a break from the professional game and went to live out in the United States and that’s where I’ve been for the last year and a half. I wasn’t able to travel into Europe but it’s nice to be back.

“I’ve probably played more golf being in Florida than I would have back at home. I’ve been playing every day and sometimes getting in 36 holes which has helped.”

Two eagles in first eight holes

McGee was delighted to make two eagles in his first eight holes in Brittany and believes the links-style course, where accuracy off the tee is paramount, is well suited to his game.

“It was a great feeling to get two eagles,” he said. “The 11th hole was a short par five and I made the most of it. On the 17th I holed out from the fairway with a wedge which was a nice surprise.

“I like the course because you have to hit it straight and that suits my game. You need to be pretty accurate with your approach shots and then you can make birdies.”

Englishman Alfie Plant, Frenchman Alexandre Daydou and Finland’s Matias Honkala share sixth place on five under par. Five players share ninth on four under, including Germany’s Freddy Schott and Englishman Ben Evans.

Ruaidhrí McGee will tee off alongside Englishman Todd Clements and home favourite Adrien Saddier at 2:00pm today.

Scores after round one:

 61 R MCGEE (IRL),
64 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA), B VIRTO (ESP), B EASTON (RSA), A KNAPPE (GER),
65 A PLANT (ENG), A DAYDOU (FRA), M HONKALA (FIN),
66 V RIU (FRA), S PETERSEN (SWE), B EVANS (ENG), F SCHOTT (GER), J THOMPSON (AUS),
67 I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP), D YOUNG (SCO), R DAWSON (IRL), A SADDIER (FRA), F PALSON (SWE), D DIXON (ENG), Z BAI (CHN), J PRINSLOO (RSA),
68 A ZEMMER (ITA), M LINDBERG (SWE), N REGNER (AUT), J THOMSON (ENG), J QUESNE (FRA), L JERLING (RSA), M ELVIRA (ESP), J SCHAPER (RSA), D FOOS (GER), A GRENIER (FRA), R DINWIDDIE (ENG), M ORRIN (ENG), J MCDONALD (SCO),
69 M LECHNER (AUT), U MALCOR (AM) (FRA), U COUSSAUD (FRA), P MARGOLIS (FRA), S TILEY (ENG), E DI NITTO (ITA), W ENEFER (ENG), C BOUNIOL (FRA), V LOPES (POR), A BARBE (AM) (FRA), A BJORNSSON (ISL), M BULLEN (ENG), G KRISTJANSSON (ISL), J SAINZ (ESP), S GROS (FRA), G BOYD (ENG),
70 G BRIXI (CZE), K ULENAERS (BEL), J FAHRBRING (SWE), J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA), R WATTEL (FRA), D MCELROY (NIR), L ROBINSON (ENG), D BOOTE (WAL), G STAL (FRA), S MANLEY (WAL), X PONCELET (FRA), D BORDA (ESP), P BAEK (DEN), T ELISSALDE (FRA), S GANDON (FRA), D GERMISHUYS (RSA), T STRYDOM (RSA), T CLEMENTS (ENG), B RITTHAMMER (GER), J ARNOY (NOR), J RUTHERFORD (ENG), P MOOLMAN (RSA), T GANDY (IMN),
71 J KENNEGARD (SWE), C MIVIS (BEL), J GARCIA (ESP), R EVANS (ENG), M MANASSERO (ITA), F MORY (FRA), P FOULQUIE (FRA), M MOHR (ENG), P MCBRIDE (IRL), G MOYNIHAN (IRL), H ELLIS (ENG), H TISSERAND (FRA), G KING (ENG), M GRADECKI (POL), S GREGORY (ENG), D BROWN (ENG), M RADUREAU (FRA), E BERTHEUSSEN (NOR), M DANIELSSON (FRA),
72 P EDBERG (SWE), J ADARRAGA GOMEZ (ESP), G BOURDY (FRA), S FERNANDEZ (ESP), P FIGUEIREDO (POR), E CATHERINE (FRA), B NEIL (SCO), N LEGENDRE (AM) (FRA), C ROSS (SCO), T MCKIBBIN (NIR), J PARRY (ENG),
73 J LONG (ENG), C VERROUGSTRAETE (FRA), S HENRY (SCO), D PERRIER (FRA), J DICK (ENG),
74 M WIEGELE (AUT), E CUARTERO BLANCO (ESP), F BERGAMASCHI (ITA), E ESPA?A (FRA), T SLOMAN (ENG), M DECOTTIGNIES-LAFON (FRA), S DEL VAL (ESP), P ELISSALDE (FRA), R SANJUST (ITA), A ESMATGES (ESP), P BEAUVY (AM) (FRA), B BAUMGARTEN (USA), T SANTA (FRA), A ARIZABALETA (COL),
75 A DEL REY (ESP), B RUSCH (SUI), V BJ?RL?W (DEN), D RAVETTO (FRA), R VALLAEYS (FRA),
76 C SAHLSTROM (SWE), H LEGEAY-GAUCHER (FRA), M GASPAR (POR), P ROLLAND (FRA), S KRAAI (NED), A VELASCO (ESP), D DARNAUD (FRA), C POLETTI (FRA), L RUUSKA (FIN),
77 J MURPHY (IRL), J KO (FRA), L WEBER (FRA), D GUICHARD (FRA), R LESTER (IRL), K KOIVU (FIN), A BACHELIER (AM) (FRA),
78 C HEBERT (FRA), C BERARDO (FRA), B KEDOCHIM (FRA), C CANNON (ENG),
79 M WAITE (ENG), P LESCASTREYRES (FRA), J VECCHI FOSSA (ITA),
80 J PINTO BASTO (POR),
81 V JOFFRAY (FRA),
84 R FABRE (FRA),
86 R LE BOT (FRA).

DP World Tour sanctions LIV Golf event players

The DP World Tour has confirmed the sanctions to be taken against members who breached Tour regulations and participated in a LIV Golf event at Centurion Club from June 9-11 as the players had not received releases to allow them participate in the competition.

The actions of the LIV Golf players contravened the conflicting event Regulation laid down in the DP World Tour’s Members’ General Regulations Handbook. The DP World Tour has also stated that they broke the Code of Behaviour Regulation, of which the members have been reminded on a number of recent occasions.

The DP World Tour will now take the following steps:

The players in questions will be fined £100,000 and are suspended from participating in the Genesis Scottish Open and Barbasol Championship (July 7-10) and the Barracuda Championship (July 14-17).

The DP World Tour has confirmed that money raised from the fines will be shared equally in two ways:

(i) it will be added to prize funds of upcoming tournaments on the DP World Tour, to the benefit of Members of the DP World Tour who have complied with the Release rules and

(ii) it will be distributed through the Tour’s Golf for Good programme to deserving charitable causes in the communities that the DP World Tour plays.

Commenting on the announcement, Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, stated:

“Every action anyone takes in life comes with a consequence and it is no different in professional sport, especially if a person chooses to break the rules. That is what has occurred here with several of our members. Their actions are not fair to the majority of our membership and undermine the Tour, which is why we are taking the action we have announced today.”

Brooks Koepka has joined LIV Golf

LIV Golf today announced that four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka has joined LIV Golf and will compete in the LIV Golf Invitational Portland, kicking off June 30 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon.

One of the game’s most dominant players in recent years, Koepka is the first golfer in history to simultaneously hold back-to-back titles in two different majors – the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, and the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019. He was the first player in three decades to win consecutive U.S. Opens and held the world No. 1 ranking for 47 consecutive weeks, during which he continued to add to his list of career victories (15). Koepka has accumulated 72 top-10 finishes, has made four U.S. national team appearances including three Ryder Cups, and is currently ranked No. 19 in the world.

“There’s no understating the impact that Brooks Koepka has had on the game of golf in the last five years. He carries a championship pedigree and record of success as one of the most elite players in the world,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner. “The addition of Brooks is yet another example of the incredible fields LIV Golf is assembling as we build momentum in our first season and look towards the future.”

The LIV Golf Invitational Series launched June 9 to a worldwide audience showcasing its new, innovative format with 12 teams, 48-players, shotgun starts and no cut. Complete, live coverage of LIV Golf tournaments is globally available direct to consumers on LIVGolf.com, YouTube and Facebook. LIV Golf event broadcasts are also aired live on a global roster of leading premium and free-to-air broadcasters providing coverage in over 150 territories around the world. The list of global networks covering the LIV Golf Invitational Series is available on LIVGolf.com.

LIV Golf is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission are centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.

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