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Longines FEI Nations Cup Showjumping Live on RTÉ on Sunday

Ireland will be in Longines FEI Nations Cup action in Sopot on Sunday.

Live showjumping return to RTÉ television on Sunday as the channel broadcasts coverage of the Longines FEI Nations Cup from Sopot in Poland.

The Polish leg of the competition will be Ireland’s first points-scoring round of 2022 in Europe Division 1.

Ireland will arrive in Sopot in superb form, having won four Nations Cup competitions so far this season.

Michael Blake’s side will face tough competition in Sopot, where Europe’s top teams will be competing for points on the road to qualification for the Longines FEI Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona at the end of September.

France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden will compete for points on Sunday. Poland and Denmark will also field teams but are not eligible for points as they not in Europe Division 1.

Blake has selected a strong squad that includes World No.19 Darragh Kenny and recent five-star Grand Prix of Rome winners, Denis Lynch with Brooklyn Heights.

The Irish squad for Sopot is as follows:

Trevor Breen with Highland President.
Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights.
Darragh Kenny with Volnay Du Boisdeville.
Mark McAuley and Django Ste Hermelle.
Jack Ryan with BBS McGregor (ISH).

Sunday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup of Poland in Sopot gets underway at 11am Irish time with the entire second round broadcast live on the RTÉ News Channel starting from 1pm Irish time and finishing at 3pm.

You can find the RTÉ News Channel on Sky 521, Saorview 21, Virgin 200, Eir 500 & on the RTÉ Player.

Ireland’s upcoming Longines FEI Nations Cup competitions in Rotterdam, Hickstead and Dublin will also be shown live on RTÉ.

Weekend Tickets for Horizon Irish Open Sold Out

Tickets for saturday and Sunday are now sold out. Credit: Getty Images.

This year’s Horizon Irish Open is now completely sold out for the weekend as DP World Tour events continue to experience unprecedented demand for tickets.

The Horizon Irish Open returns to Mount Juliet Estate from June 30 – July 3, where home heroes Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Séamus Power will lead a field. Ryder Cup stars Tyrrell Hatton, Thomas Pieters and Thorbjørn Olesen as well as defending champion Lucas Herbert will also participate.

Full capacity crowds will return to the historic event for the first time since 2019, and unprecedented demand means all General Admission tickets for the weekend have now been snapped up, while Premium Packages for the whole week have also sold out completely.

Fans hoping to attend for Wednesday’s Celebrity Pro-Am or the opening two days of tournament play, Thursday and Friday, are encouraged to purchase their tickets now to avoid disappointment.

“We have been blown away by the eagerness of the Irish golf fans to return to their national Open this year and this is the earliest weekend sell-out we have ever experienced,” said Simon Alliss, the DP World Tour’s Championship Director for the Horizon Irish Open.

“It is set to be an incredible week, with exciting music acts Hermitage Green and Allie Sherlock adding to the festival atmosphere for which this event is famous.

“With Shane Lowry in red-hot form and Séamus Power returning for the first time since becoming a PGA TOUR winner, it is shaping up to be a huge celebration of Irish golf. We are looking forward to a cracking week at the wonderful Mount Juliet Estate.”

Last year, the returning home fans watched Herbert triumph in wire-to-wire fashion, sealing a three-stroke victory for a second DP World Tour title. The promising 25-year-old has since won for the first time on the PGA TOUR, at October’s 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Prior to the 2021 edition, Mount Juliet had hosted the Irish Open for three consecutive years in 1993, 1994 and 1995, won by Nick Faldo of England, Bernhard Langer of Germany and Sam Torrance of Scotland respectively.

Irish Showjumping team second in Norway

Ireland's showjumpers were second in Norway on Friday.

The Irish Show Jumping team took the runner-up spot at Friday’s three-star Longines EEF Nations Cup at Drammen, Norway.

A very close competition saw Ireland among five teams sharing the lead on a zero score following the first round.

Irish Chef d’Equipe Taylor Vard saw three clear rounds from his opening three riders. Tipperary’s Thomas Ryan (Springfield 21), Cork’s Jeremy Sweetnam (Brown Star Z) and Wexford’s Harry Allen (Over Lux (ISH) all jumped clear. That meant Ireland’s last combination, Waterford’s Comdt Geoff Curran with Glengarra Wood (ISH), didn’t need to jump in the opening round.

Ryan and Sweetnam completed double clear rounds second time out. Bertram Allen came home with four faults picked up at the water. As the competition came down to the last line riders, Ireland, Brazil and Belgium were the three teams that could finish on a zero score.

Brazil were to finish on a final score of one time fault. Ireland’s Geoff Curran picked up four faults near the end of his round, and Belgium finished on the same score.

Brazil took the victory with Ireland second as the fastest of the teams that finished on four faults. Third place went to Belgium.

Ireland will be in five-star Longines FEI Nations Cup action at Sopot in Poland this weekend.

The competition will be shown live on the RTÉ News Channel from 1pm on Sunday afternoon.

Roscommon v Clare – Starting Teams, Season So Far and Five Match Facts to Know

Roscommmon v Clare – Starting Teams, Season So Far and Five Match Facts to Know

Five Match facts To Know

1) They last met in the championship in 2016 when Clare won a Round 4 qualifier by six points (2-12 to 1-9) in Pearse Stadium.

2) Roscommon last championship win in Croke Park was the 1980 All-Ireland semi-final against Armagh.

3) Clare has won 12 and lost 16 of their 28 qualifiers.

4) Roscommon have won ten, drawn one, and lost 12 of their 23 qualifiers.

5) Clare last reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2016 where they lost to Kerry, Roscommon last reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2019.

Season so far

Clare: 5th Division 2; Munster SFC: Lost to Limerick on penalties after extra-time failed to separate the sides; Qualifier: Clare 1-11 Meath 1- 9.

Roscommon: Division 2 champions; Connacht SFC: Roscommon 0-23 Sligo 0-11; Galway 2-19 Roscommon 2-16 (final)

Top Scorers (SFC 2022)
CLARE
Eoin Cleary………0-10 (0-4 frees)
David Tubridy……1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1 free) Pearse Lillis………..1-1
Aaron Griffin……..0-4

ROSCOMMON
Conor Cox ……….0-11 (0-6 frees) Enda Smith……….0-5
Ciaran Murtagh…..0-5
Diarmuid Murtagh….1=2 (0-1 free)

Team News

Roscommon Team to play Clare

Betting
Roscommon 2/5
Draw 8/1
Clare 9/4

Mayo v Kildare – Starting Teams, Season So Far and Five Match Facts to Know

Mayo v Kildare – Starting Teams, Season So Far and Five Match Facts to Know , They meet for the only the fourth time in championship history.

Facts to Know
1) Their previous clashes being in the 1935 All-Ireland semi-final, which Kildare won by 2-6 to 0-7 in Croke Park, the 2016 All-Ireland qualifiers (Round 3) when Mayo won by 2-17 to 0-14 in Castlebar and the 2018 qualifiers when Kildare won by 0-21 to 0-19 in Newbridge.

2) Mayo have won 17 and lost six of their 23 qualifier ties. They reached the 2016 and 2017 All-Ireland finals, via the qualifiers.

3) Kildare have won 28, drawn one and lost 11 of their 40 qualifier games.

4) Mayo were last in the quarter-finals in 2019 (there were no quarter- finals for the last two years); Kildare were last there in 2018.

5) They met in Round 7 of this year’s Allianz League when Mayo won by 2-20 to 0-18 in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Season so far
Mayo: Beaten Division 1 finalists; Connacht SFC: Galway 1-14 Mayo 0-16; Qualifier: Mayo 1-13 Monaghan 1-12.
Kildare: Relegated from Division 1: Leinster SFC: Kildare 2-22 Louth 0-12; Kildare 1-21 Westmeath 2-15; Dublin 5-17 Kildare 1-15 (final)

Top Scorers (SFC 2022)
MAYO
Cillian O’Connor….1-12 (0-11 frees, 1-0 pen) Ryan O’Donoghue…0-4 (0-1 mark)
KILDARE
Jimmy Hyland……2-13 (0-6 frees)
Ben McCormack…0-14 (0-2 mark)
Darragh Kirwan…..1-9 (0-2 frees)

Team news

Mayo team to play Kildare
Mayo team to play Kildare

Kildare team not announced

Donegal v Armagh – Starting Teams, Season So Far and Five Match Facts to Know

They meet for the third time this year with Donegal having won the first two. They beat Armagh by 1-14 to 1-13 in Round 7 of the Allianz League and by 1-16 to 0-12 in the Ulster quarter-final.

Match Facts to know
1)Armagh are seeking their first championship win over Donegal since 2010. Donegal have won four times since then.

2) Donegal have won 20 and lost seven of their 27 qualifiers.

30 Armagh have played 37 qualifiers, winning 24, drawing one and losing 12. They reached the 2003 All-Ireland final, via the qualifiers, where they lost to Tyrone.

4) Armagh last reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2017.

5)Donegal last reached the All-Ireland quarter-final in 2019.

Season so far
Armagh: 3rd Division 1; Ulster SFC: Donegal 1-16 Armagh 0-12; Armagh 1-16 Tyrone 1-10 (qualifier)
Donegal: Fourth in Division 1; Ulster SFC: Donegal 1-16 Armagh 0-12; Donegal 2-16 Cavan 0-16; Derry 1-16 Donegal 1-14 aet (final)

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2022: Donegal 1-16 Armagh 0-12 (Ulster quarter-final) 2020: Donegal 1-22 Armagh 0-13 (Ulster semi-final)
2015: Donegal 2-11 Armagh 0-8 (Ulster quarter-final) 2014: Donegal 1-12 Armagh 1-11 (All-Ireland quarter-final) 2010: Armagh 2-14 Donegal 0-11 (All-Ireland qualifier)

TOP SCORERS (2022 SFC) Armagh
Rory Grugan…..0-6 (0-3 frees) Rian O’Neill…….0-4 (0-3 frees) Aidan Nugent…..1-1
Stefan Campbell…0-3
Donegal
Paddy McBrearty……2-8 (0-6 frees) Michael Murphy……..0-13 (0-6 frees) Jamie Brennan…………0-4
Conor O’Donnell……….1-1
Peadar Mogan…………….0-4

Starting Teams
Teams will be announced on Friday evening.

List of players departing Munster Rugby 2021/22

List of players departing Munster Rugby Following the conclusion of 2021/22 season.

It was announced earlier this year that Chris Cloete, Damian de Allende, Jake Flannery, Matt Gallagher, Jason Jenkins, Declan Moore, Kevin O’Byrne and John Ryan will move on.

In addition to the eight players above, the province can confirm that Seán French, Alex McHenry, Rowan Osborne and Academy player Jonathan Wren have all completed their time at Munster.

Seán French and Alex McHenry will both depart for playing opportunities in England.

Rowan Osborne is to retire from professional rugby on medical grounds due to a concussion sustained earlier in the season.

Rowan has received specialist medical care since the concussion, and despite his best efforts and those of the medical team, along with lengthy discussions with those close to him, the decision to retire was made in the best interests of his long-term health.

Unfortunately for Academy back three player Jonathan Wren, the Ireland U20s Grand Slam winner is also retiring from the game on medical grounds despite battling back from a number of setbacks.

Chris Cloete scored 11 tries in 65 Munster appearances since making his debut in 2017.

Damian de Allende spent two seasons at Munster, scoring five tries in 37 appearances.

Jake Flannery came up through the ranks of Kilfeacle & District and Rockwell College before winning a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s. The Shannon RFC man is a product of the Academy and made two senior appearances, kicking three conversions.

Seán French also won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s and is a former PBC student. A Cork Constitution clubman, French is a product of the Academy and scored one try in two Munster appearances.

Matt Gallagher spent two years at Munster and scored three tries in 13 appearances.

Alex McHenry is a former Ireland U20 international who came up through the ranks at CBC. McHenry is a product of the Academy and scored one try in three Munster appearances along with featuring for Wasps on loan earlier this season.

Jason Jenkins spent one year at Munster and recovered from an injury-hit spell to make 10 appearances for the province.

Declan Moore joined Munster on a one-year contract last year and made his debut away to Wasps in the Champions Cup before moving to Ulster on a loan deal.

Kevin O’Byrne scored eight tries in 90 Munster appearances. Click here for more details on his time at the province.

Rowan Osborne joined Munster last summer and played in the opening two games of the season against Sharks and Stormers before being ruled out through injury.

John Ryan scored five tries in 197 Munster appearances. Click here for more details on his time at Munster.

Academy player Jonathan Wren came up through the ranks of Crosshaven RFC and PBC and won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2019. He made his Munster debut against Wasps in December 2021.

A big thanks to all of our departing players for their contributions to Munster Rugby and we wish them all the best for the future.

Departing Players: Chris Cloete (Bath), Damian de Allende (TBC), Jake Flannery (Ulster), Seán French (English club – TBC), Matt Gallagher (Bath), Alex McHenry (English club – TBC), Jason Jenkins (Leinster), Declan Moore (Ulster), Kevin O’Byrne (Ealing Trailfinders), Rowan Osborne (retiring), John Ryan (Wasps), Jonathan Wren (retiring).

Three of the best forwards in the NBA this season

 

As the NBA season begins to reach its conclusion, basketball fans have been treated to an intense few months, and plenty of action as normality looks to resume at the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Just a year ago we were seeing games held behind closed doors, travel being restricted and interest in the sport at the lowest it’s been in years, but with the return of fans courtside and the games flowing as usual, the entertainment has almost been amped up a notch this season, with players looking like they’re giving it their all despite so many games in quick succession.

The Championship is proving increasingly hard to pick a winner in, and while Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors went into this one as the favourites for the majority of people who bet on NBA, the Boston Celtics are looking for a first title since 2008 and won’t go down without a fight. The franchise is enjoying their best season for years and finally have a roster worthy of competing, with forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown forming a deadly attacking alliance.

Fine margins look to decide this one and while the Celtics have been on fire, some of the leagues other forwards will be looking on in envy that they aren’t in contention for the coveted trophy at this stage of the season. But where do the likes of Tatum and Brown compare to the rest of the trailing pack? Read on, as we take a look at three of the best forwards this season in the NBA.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Where else to start but the Greek freak Giannis Antetokounmpo. After almost singlehandedly carrying the Milwaukee Bucks to last year’s Championship, winning the MVP in the process, the 27-year-old has continued his fine form this season, although his team have struggled to rekindle that same cohesion that saw them beat the Phoenix Suns 12 months ago. Antetokounmpo has hinted that he would take a sabbatical at some point in the near future and another underwhelming season could well force the Greek into an early exile.

‘If I take a year off, what would I do?’ he asked. ‘I would disappear. I would go to an island in Greece, stay with my family and disappear for a year.

‘I’m being serious.’

Kevin Durant

Let’s flashback to the 2021 Allstar game — cutting to a frustrated figure of Kevin Durant as his team lost to Lebron James in an extraordinarily ordinary performance. Having jumped ship from Golden State to the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, Durant took his time to adjust to the new surroundings, and COVID certainly didn’t help. But he looks to have found his feet again now, as the 2014 MVP averaged almost 30 points per game throughout the season, a much-improved return that the Nets should be rewarded for by showing their patience. The 33-year-old has been a figure of consistency and he’ll need to replicate that in the hopes of going further in next year’s playoffs.

Zion Williamson

Despite the New Orleans Pelicans having a tough season in terms of results, Zion Williamson was a shining light in an otherwise frustrating few months, as Willie Green’s side finished eighth in the Western Conference. From an individual point of view though, 21-year-old Williamson enjoyed another breakout year as he quickly establishes himself as one of the best forwards in the league. Only Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davies outperformed him in the closing games of the season, but with so much experience at such a young age, expect big things from Zanos in the future with his best years ahead of him.

World Cup 2022: Celebrations as Wales qualify after 64 years of waiting

Wales ended a 64-year wait to qualify for the World Cup with a gritty 1-0 victory over Ukraine at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday.

While Ukraine could themselves unfortunate after dominating the play-off game, Wales showed tremendous character to get the job done.

They head to Qatar as one of the outsiders to lift the trophy, but will fancy their chances of upsetting the bookmakers’ odds during the tournament.

The latest FIFA World Cup 2022 outright market lists Wales at 350/1, highlighting the size of the task they face later this year. Betway has Wales at 125/1 to win tournament which could look huge if they win their first game. 

However, having been drawn against England, United States and Iran in the group stage, Wales will believe they can make it to the knockout phase.

Manager Rob Page insisted his team will ‘go toe-to-toe with anybody’ at the World Cup, having built belief from their performances at the last two European Championships.

“We go with the confidence we have had going into any game,” Page told the BBC.

“We have played against the USA. We know they are a really strong outfit. We played against their European-based players in my first game.

“They (and Iran) are winnable games and, when you play against a home nations team, anything can happen.

“We will go toe-to-toe with anybody – bring it on. That’s the attitude we have got in that changing room.”

Wales’ improvement in recent times has been remarkable, particularly when you consider they were ranked 117th in the world just 11 years ago.

A 2-1 home defeat against Australia left them below Haiti in the rankings – a sad state of affairs for a nation with a proud football history.

The foundations for their climb back up the rankings were undoubtedly laid by the late Gary Speed, who instilled a new sense of belief and identity in the squad.

Wales subsequently reached the 2016 European Championship semi-finals, before progressing to the knockout stage from a tough group four years later.

Page’s confidence about his team’s chances of success in Qatar is not misplaced given how they performed at Euro 2020.

The finished second behind Italy in the group stage, before exiting the tournament against a vibrant Denmark team in the round of 16.

While progressing to the knockout phase in Qatar will not be easy for Wales, it would undoubtedly be foolish to underestimate their chances.

Group B is the toughest in the opening phase based on world rankings, but Wales are perfectly capable of qualifying for the round of 16.

They are fancied to take at least a point from their first match against United States, while Iran should hold no fears for them a few days later.

A minimum four-point haul from those two games would set Wales up nicely for their final group match against England.

The Three Lions are one of the favourites to win the World Cup, although many respected pundits believe they have little chance of lifting the trophy.

Manager Gareth Southgate’s overly cautious tactics often lead to laboured performances from England and Wales could make life difficult for them.

Having waited 64 years to qualify for the World Cup, it would be no surprise to see Wales grab the opportunity with both hands and make significant progress in Qatar. 

How Electric Bikes Can Help Athletes Stay Fit

Midsection of unrecognizable businessman commuter with electric bicycle traveling from work in city. Copy space.

Today, electric bikes may be an option for athletes to stay fit. An electric bike, also known as an e-bike, operates by automatically turning on the motor while pedaling.

Maintaining peak performance throughout the year is critical for athletes. Generally, it focuses on various aspects, including strength, muscular development, and speed, but there should also be an emphasis on the cardiovascular and pulmonary aspects. The cardiovascular aspect plays an important role in improved function, and an effective way for athletes to incorporate cardio into their workout routine is by training on an electric bike.  

 

How Do Electric Bikes Work?  

An electric bike can provide various benefits, such as allowing you to travel faster, serving as an alternative for commuting, and encouraging the joy of cycling. Many people are skeptical about electric bikes because they have a motor and battery that assist pedaling. However, riding one can still help improve your fitness level.

When riding an e-bike, you can push yourself as hard as you want, and you’ll have extra assistance. Although an electric bike can make climbing easier, it’s also possible to put in a lot of effort if you want to push your body.  

In a comparison of pedal-powered and electric bikes among mountain bikers, it was revealed e-bike use still provides moderate to vigorous physical activity with less of the exertion one exhibits on conventional bikes. The studies conclude that electric bikes can be a good form of aerobic or cardiovascular exercise.

If you find the benefits of riding an electric bike appealing from a fitness perspective, you might want to click here to know more and help you make the right choice.  

Cycling has grown increasingly popular in recent years as a result of the global availability of e-bikes. Electric bikes are an excellent choice for a recreational activity or to begin your fitness journey. Athletes can also benefit from the activity in a variety of ways. Here are a few ways electric bikes might help athletes stay in shape.  

 

1. Improves The Overall Efficiency Of The Heart

Improving your heart’s condition will allow it to drive more blood into your muscles with fewer beats per minute. Because blood serves as the medium for carrying essential nutrients, including oxygen, to your muscles, an efficient heart equates to better athletic performance.  

Working out on an electric bike is an ideal cardiovascular activity as it keeps your heart pumping. Contrary to popular belief, an e-bike may provide the same heart benefits as a traditional bicycle. Although the e-bike has a convenient pedal-assist feature, you must still pedal.

If you’re riding an e-bike, it typically utilizes half of your energy compared with what’s consumed on a conventional one. With this in mind, you’ll be burning more calories but not to the point of exhaustion. As an e-bike requires less effort, the calories you’ll burn are close to what you’ll get from walking. If you want to boost your workout, consider adjusting your speed, riding on the economy setting, or donning ankle weights.  

2. Allows Better Stimulation Of The Muscles  

Cycling may be a suitable option for athletes eager to train their lower body, specifically the legs. Deciding to include training with an electric bike can help strengthen the lower body, reducing stiffness and building better overall endurance.  

Like a conventional bicycle, every pedal stroke on an electric bike may stimulate the quads and hamstrings, one of the main muscle groups in the body. Due to the heavier build of e-bikes, regular cycling will facilitate weight loss and effectively tone your calf muscles. Additionally, the activity can work out other muscles such as the triceps, biceps, glutes, and abs, to name a few.

3. Boosts The Amount Of Oxygen Your Body Uses

The VO2 max is the amount of oxygen your body uses during physical activity. It’s regarded as an important factor in determining overall athletic performance.

Generally, oxygen serves as the fuel your body burns to generate energy. The higher your VO2 max, the better your athletic performance, especially in physically demanding sports or activities.

All athletes and individuals eager to improve their fitness level can benefit from a higher level of VO2 max. One of the best ways to improve it is by training on an electric bike on a regular basis.

4. Lessens Strain On The Joints  

Most athletes tend to suffer from joint pain, especially in the knees. It can be due to engaging in excessive and constant training in most cases. Fortunately, working out on an electric bike is one of the ways for athletes to maintain their fitness level without putting too much strain on their joints and muscles.

An electric bike improves your cardio, burns calories, and moves all of your muscles without straining your joints. The pedal-assist feature allows you to move faster without pedaling too hard, reducing the strain on your knees. E-bikes can help athletes get a good workout without injuring their joints or exacerbating an existing knee problem.

Final Thoughts  

Individuals eager to improve their fitness and athletes looking to boost performance may benefit from regular training sessions with an electric bike. Consider it the ideal physical activity that can get the heart pumping and give your body a complete workout. It also allows you to adjust to a high- or low-intensity workout. Training out on an electric bike can help regular folks and athletes stay fit while also having a good time outside.