Home Blog Page 492

Nicole Drought to make Porsche Britcar Debut at Croft

Tipperary’s Nicole Drought will start her 2020 race campaign this weekend at the high speed Croft Circuit in Yorkshire when she competes in the Britcar Endurance Championship at the wheel of a 425bhp Porsche 718 GT4.

Nicole signed to the CJJ Motorsport team earlier this year and was due to start her campaign in April but the series was put on hold due to Covid 19.

Having moved back home to Roscrea in Tipperary during the subsequent lockdown, Nicole took the opportunity to increase her fitness training and also continued to learn the UK circuits on her Digital Motorsports.com supplied Simulator.

Having travelled to the UK to test the Porsche and meet her Valluga team recently, Nicole is looking forward to going back racing once again. She will drive for the Silverstone based team at Croft, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Silverstone and Snetterton, with two one hour races at each race meeting. Nicole will be partnered in the team by Wicklow’s Sean Doyle, an experienced UK based racer and driving coach.

“In any sport, you train to be ready, in case an opportunity comes along. I’m fully aware that I am lucky enough to have been given the opportunity of a lifetime through my CJJ Motorsport association. It is a massive step up for me and I have plenty to learn, so the plan this weekend is to take on board as much as I can before getting more testing under my belt ahead of the next round. The car is incredibly quick and has far more grip than anything I have raced before but I’m very happy with the progress I have already made. It’s good to have Sean on board because not only is he an experienced race driver, he is a well known driver coach.”

Race one will run at 4:55pm on Saturday with race two starting at 2:45pm on Sunday. Both races run for 60 minutes and include a pitstop and driver change.

 

Nicole Drought, 25, from Roscrea in Tipperary, is Ireland’s top female racing driver. In 2016, she became the first woman to win in the Irish Touring Car Championship, taking victory in the Production Class in her Honda Integra. She has subsequently raced in Global GT Lights, Stryker Sportscars and  Nicole is the only Irish Ambassador for the International Sean Edwards Foundation, with whom she tested a Porsche GT3 Supercup in Le Castellet in 2016. In 2018 and 2019, Nicole raced in the Irish Stryker Championship, running at the front all year with a number of podium finishes. She is also the reigning Class 1A Endurance Trial Champion, having taken the title in 2018 and sucessfully defending it in 2019, with six wins from six starts. In May 2019, Nicole became the first woman to win in the UK C1 Endurance series, when she partnered Colin Lewis to victory in a 4 hour race at Anglesey in Wales.

In August 2019, Nicole drove a Formula 1 car at the Mondello Park Historic Festival, when she demonstrated the ex Derek Daly March 811 for CJJ Motorsports and in February 2020 she travelled to Palm Beach in Florida to drive the team’s Jordan 192 F1 car.
For 2020, Nicole has joined the CJJ Motorsport team. The initiative, set up by Irish expat John Campion, will support Nicole as she competes in the UK Based Britcar series.
She is also an Ambassador for Formula Female, the initiative set up by Irish Hockey Star Nicci Daly to attract more females into Motorsport, WISP, and the International Sean Edwards Foundation.
Image from Michael Chester

Premier League race for Europe – Current Standings

There are six teams with ten points in the race for European places, Liverpool place is guaranteed but the Man City ban leaves them in doubt. 

Leicester remains in 3rd on 58, Chelsea 4th on 57, Man Utd 5th on 55, Wolves 6th on 52, then there is gap back to Arsenal and Tottenham on 49 and 48 points respectively.

Everton missed the chance to leapfrog Tottenham so remain in 11th place, while Spurs’ win edged them back above Burnley and Sheffield United into eighth. The Blades are below Spurs on goal difference.

Betting wise at the moment it looks like Chelsea and Man Utd will get the Champions league places as Leicester are not playing very well since the break.

That leaves Leicester hoping that the ban on Man City is upheld.

RELEGATION 

Six teams scrambling to avoid finishing in the bottom three with five games to go – the race to stay in the Premier League is reaching a tense finale.

While Norwich look doomed after being cut adrift at the bottom, 15th-placed Brighton – nine points above the relegation zone – appear safe.

But with 15 points still to play for – including some key games between teams fighting for survival – Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Watford and West Ham will all believe they can turn their season around.

BBC Sport has assessed the teams in trouble at the bottom of the table. Read our conclusions and predict who you think will go down by heading over here.

 

 

Patrick Mahomes 10 year deal worth $503m

Superbowl MVP Patrick Mahomes has signed an astonishing 10-year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs worth a record $503m.

It will keep the 24-year-old quarterback in Kansas until 2031 and is the richest contract in the history of North American team sports.

Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP for his performance in guiding the Chiefs to their first championship in 50 years in February, producing a stunning fourth-quarter display in a 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

“Chiefs kingdom, you’ve been with me since the beginning – from rookie year,” Mahomes wrote on Twitter.

“You helped us overcome adversity to become Super Bowl champs and we’re staying together for a long time. We’re chasing a dynasty.”

Mahomes was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2018, in his first full season in the league.

Super Bowl 2020: Mahomes provides perfect finish
“He’s an extraordinary leader and a credit to the Kansas City community, and I’m delighted that he will be a member of the Chiefs for many years to come,” said Chiefs chairman and chief executive Clark Hunt.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid added: “I’ve had the privilege of coaching a lot of incredible athletes and special people in my career, and Patrick is without question on that list of players.”

Mahomes, the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, averages 302.4 passing yards per game, including play-offs, which is the most in NFL history.

He completed 319 of 484 passes for 4,031 yards and 26 touchdowns in the last regular season after throwing a league-high 50 touchdowns in 2018. He has also thrown 13 touchdowns in five career post-season games.

Irish raiders to be affected by Australian calendar switch

Irish raiders have had plenty of success in Melbourne during the famous Spring Carnival in recent years, but this year’s crop of runners will have a disrupted calendar to contend with after changes made to the Australian programme.

Aidan O’Brien’s Adelaide won the 2014 Cox Plate, while son Joseph saddled Rekindling to win the 2018 Melbourne Cup. The pair went agonisingly close in last year’s Race That Stops A Nation too, with Il Paradiso 3rd for Aidan O’Brien and Master Of Reality 4th for Joseph after being demoted.

There will undoubtedly be an influx of Irish-trained runners once again as they chase some of the biggest prizes on the planet, but things will be a little bit different in 2020 after a rejig of the Spring Carnival calendar.

While Australian racing has continued largely unaffected during the coronavirus outbreak, the knock on effect of the sporting calendar being halted will result in the Caulfield Cup moving six weeks from its traditional spot.

Normally, the strict quarantine periods would perfectly lead into the three-and-a-half weeks span of the big three races on Australia’s horse racing calendar. But under the new proposals there would be a five-week period between the Cox Plate on October 24 and the rescheduled Caulfield Cup on November 28.

That would leave a conundrum for the likes of the O’Briens, with the traditional lead of Caulfield Cup, which was due to be staged on October 17, into the Melbourne Cup not the same option as it has been in previous years.

And for any runners who would be targeted at both Group 1s, a run in between the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup might well now need to come into consideration given the 25-day gap between the two races.

Race planning, travel timings and training while in Melbourne will all need to be thought out for any runners being considered for a tilt at the Australian prizes.

The Caulfield Cup is set to be delayed six weeks and run on November 28 due to the AFL Australian Rules season running into October having been halted during the coronavirus outbreak. Caulfield Guineas Day, which should have taken place a week earlier on October 10, will also move.

The Cox Plate at Moonee Valley will remain in its place and form part of a huge day, with the AFL Grand Final held in the evening for the first time. 

The Melbourne Cup will also not move from its public holiday slot on the first Tuesday in November, with the Race That Stops A Nation assured of being run as expected on November 3. 

Celtic start 10 in a row bid with home game against Hamilton

Neil Lennon’s Celtic will start their 10 in a row bid with a home game against Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League. The Glasgow side based side will begin their quest for 10 league titles in a row on August 2nd.

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers will travel to Aberdeen on August 1st, with BBC Sport stating that “fixtures across the league will initially be played behind closed doors”. Dundee United who were promoted from the Scottish Championship will play their first top flight game in 4 years against St Johnstone. The first Old Firm game of the season is to take place on the 17th of October. Celtic having home advantage. They should be a short price and anyone looking to use free bets uk should be putting their money on Celtic.

According to SPFL the season will start on time, of course subject to approval by the Scottish Government. The fixtures have also been planned to help the Scottish national side who will be going into a European play-off. Two full Premiership fixture cards will take place on Friday nights across October and November according to BBC Sport. This is to allow extra preparation for the national side.

There will also be no break in January. Teams will play each other throughout the month, with Celtic travelling to Rangers, Motherwell playing Hamilton on January 2nd. The SPFL have said that the Premiership will be the only league to start in August due to the Covid 19 pandemic. League 1, League 2 will begin in October. Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPFL said, “The pre-season fixture announcement is always a key event in every football supporters calendar, but it feels particularly important this year, given the challenges caused by Covid-19,”

He continued, “Football plays a unique role in the social, cultural and economic life of Scotland, and I’m sure the millions of passionate fans who follow our game will welcome this significant step towards the resumption of matches.”

Opening Weekend Fixtures

Saturday 1 August

Aberdeen v Rangers (17:30 BST)

Dundee United v St Johnstone

Hibernian v Kilmarnock

St Mirren v Livingston

Sunday 2 August

Celtic v Hamilton Academical (16:30 BST)

Monday 3 August

Ross County v Motherwell (19:45 BST)

 

England and Ireland to face off in one day internationals

Ireland and England will face off in three one day internationals after the English Cricket Board gave the green lights for the games to be played.

England, who are the cricket World Champions, after beating New Zealand in 2019, will play Andy Balbirinie’s side in their first match on July 30th, this will be followed by two 50 over games. These will be played on Saturday August 1st and Tuesday August 4th. The games will be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton according to RTE. 

It is likely the three games will be played behind closed doors, but will be shown on television. Incidentally, England’s first test against Pakistan is also due to be played at Lord’s at the same time as ODI’s against Ireland. This will of course mean England will have two squads in action. Ireland haven’t played a game since March when they played three one day international against Afghanistan in India. They have yet to win any of their summer games. However, games against Bangladesh, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Pakistan were all cancelled due to the virus.

The T20 World Cup is looking likely that it will be postponed now till 2021. With Earls Eddings of Cricket Australia stating that holding a World Cup in the middle of a pandemic is unrealistic. The Ireland’s women cricket side are also suffering from a lack of games. The side coached by Ed Joyce are looking to the 50 over World Cup in New Zealand, providing they come through qualifiers.

Cricket Ireland today confirmed that a three-match men’s One Day International series against England will be held between 30 July and 4 August 2020 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The matches represent Ireland’s first fixtures as part of the new World Cup Super League – the qualification process for the 2023 ICC World Cup.

Ireland Men’s cricket team last played internationally when it beat Afghanistan in a dramatic T20I Super Over finish on 10 March. The fixtures against England were originally planned for September, however, at the request of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Ireland agreed to bring the games forward.

To comply with public health directives in England and satisfy requirements of public health authorities in the Republic and Northern Ireland, the three fixtures will be held within a bio-secure venue, with the squad leaving on 18 July from Dublin airport on a special charter flight. The team will be transferred to a hotel that is within the grounds of the Ageas Bowl and stay until their departure on 5 August. The players and support staff will be tested a week before departure, on arrival and regularly during their stay. This testing complements the current regime already in place since the squad resumed training three weeks ago.

The Irish players, support staff and Irish Cricketers Association received a briefing from the ECB last week on the bio-secure protocols, and all players and coaches have subsequently confirmed that they will make themselves available, if selected.

The tour schedule

  • 18 July: Squad departs from Dublin for ODI Training Camp
  • 22 July: Practice match
  • 26 July: Ireland v England Lions (warm-up match)
  • 30 July: 1st ODI v England (day/night, starts 2pm)
  • 1 August: 2nd ODI v England (day/night, starts 2pm)
  • 4 August: 3rd ODI v England (day/night, starts 2pm)
  • 5 August: Squads returns to Dublin

Broadcast details

  • All three ODIs will be available to watch live on Sky Sports Cricket in Ireland/UK. Please check local guides for countries outside of this.
  • BBC Sport will be providing Test Match Special commentary, BBC2 will provide TV highlights and BBC social media will feature video clips during play.

World Cup Super League

 

Matches played as part of the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League (2020-2022) are essentially World Cup Qualifier matches, as the League will serve as part of the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualification process. It will feature thirteen teams, the twelve Full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Netherlands (who won the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship to qualify for this competition).

Each team will play an ODI series against eight of the twelve opponents, four series at home and four away. Each series will consist of three ODIs. For the World Cup, the hosts (India in 2023), and the top seven-ranked sides thereafter, will qualify automatically. The remaining five teams will play in a qualifying event along with five Associate sides, from which two sides will go through to the final tournament.

Andrew Balbirnie, Captain of Ireland Men’s cricket team, said:

“It’s a great relief to the squad and coaching staff that the games are able to proceed, and despite the challenges over the last four months, the lads are in good shape and good spirits. Returning to training was a great first step in the return to cricket, and we have all enjoyed getting back into the nets to brush out the cobwebs.”

“However, playing international cricket is a huge honour – and not only do we have that to look forward to now, but we’ll be taking on the World Champions in their own backyard. That is the ultimate challenge – and we’ll be ready.”

“On behalf of the squad, I would like to thank officials at the ECB for creating a safe, bio-secure environment to play and stay in, and to Cricket Ireland for being flexible and consultative throughout the process. Also, we would like to acknowledge the health professionals and frontline workers in Ireland and the UK whose tireless work has allowed us to be able to return to play.”

 

 

Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, said:

“Go back a few months and we were staring down the potential loss of the entire season – we certainly didn’t expect to be preparing to take on the world champions in July. But here we are and the prospect has certainly given a lift to the Irish cricket community, and I believe will indeed give a lift to the wider Irish public when they see one of their national sides back out on the field of play.”

“It has been a while in the planning, but we are delighted to finally confirm the series and – as always – relish the chance to take on England. While playing our near neighbours will be motivation enough for our players, with these being World Cup Super League matches, there is more than just pride on the line – there is a possible World Cup qualification at stake.”

 

“Our thanks to Tom Harrison and the whole ECB team who have pulled out all the stops to make this happen. Their collegiate approach has always been appreciated, and fans will soon be able to enjoy international cricket at its best and most competitive. And we hope the spirit of Day One of last year’s Test at Lord’s may inspire similar on-field heroics!”

 

 

My Féile Memories video win €1,000 for four GAA clubs

Sharing Féile memories has meant a funding boost for four GAA clubs, despite the John West Féile na nÓg and Féile na nGael competitions not taking place this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Boys and girls under-14 teams from all over Ireland who were gearing up for this year’s John West Féile competitions were asked to create a My Féile Memories video to win €1,000 for their club, courtesy of John West.

Although the competitions cannot take place in 2020, sponsors John West are committed to honouring their commitment to the competition to enable teams to prepare for the 2021 events.

The winning clubs are:  Kiltale Hurling and Camogie Club, Co Meath (hurling), Westport Camogie Club, Co Mayo (camogie), Brickey Rangers, Co Waterford (boys gaelic football), Blessington LGFA, Co Wicklow (girls football).

The 2020 John West Féile na nGael hurling and camogie finals were due to take place across Dublin, Kildare and Meath in June, with the John West Féile na nÓg football finals scheduled for Donegal, Derry and Tyrone.

“The cancellation of the 2020 John West Féile came as big disappointment to hundreds of young footballers, hurlers and camogie players all over Ireland, but safety must always come first,” said Lucy Gratton of natural protein experts John West.

“The John West Féile will be back stronger than ever next year, promoting the philosophy that every player should participate at a level fitting with their age, skills and strengths as well as allowing clubs to play against and foster links with teams in other counties and provinces.

“Creating and sharing special memories is a very important part of the John West Féile experience and we are grateful to all the clubs which used the Teamer app to share videos which highlighted this.”

Throughout its sponsorship of the John West Féile competitions, John West has focused on encouraging children to participate in Gaelic Games while emphasising the importance natural protein plays in fuelling a young athlete.

To keep underage players sharp without competition, inter-county stars and John West Féile Ambassadors, Dan Morrissey, Limerick (hurling); Sarah Dervan, Galway (camogie); Michael Murphy, Donegal (gaelic football) and Niamh Collins, Dublin (ladies football) have each recorded coaching videos for the John West Ireland Facebook page.

“As a young 13-year-old club, John West Féile na nGael has been one of the most important factors in our development,” said Sinead Muldoon of Westport Camogie Club.

“This is brilliant news for us and our John West Féile na nGael memories of the fun, friendship, competition and success we have shared will always be a special part of our club.”

According to GAA Sponsorship and Commercial Manager, Diarmaid Murphy, “John West’s continued support of the Féile competitions shows how its relationship with the competition is very much a partnership as opposed to just a sponsorship.”

Susan Fitzpatrick takes opening win in Underwriting Exchange Grand Prix

The Underwriting National Grand Prix league got off to a great start, with Kilkenny’s Susan Fitzpatrick claiming victory in the opening round at Galway Equestrian today (Sunday 5th of July). Riding her own Verdict de Kezeg, she set the winning time of clear in 35.42. The 11-year-old gelding is by Diamant de Semilly and out of the Vas Y Donc Longane sired dam, Hazelle de Rhuys.  
Delighted with the result, Fitzpatrick said; “Verdict de Kezeg has been rearing to go all through lockdown so it’s brilliant to get one on the board early in the National Grand Prix league. I took over the ride from a Swiss friend of mine Ines De Melo and I’m incredibly grateful to the family for trusting me with this very talented horse. A special thanks to my good friend Mikey Pender, who rode the horse for me when I was out of action. The O’ Brien family put on a great show today and really stuck to having everything on time, while staying within the protocol, she added”.
There was a good turnout for the opening round, with 56 taking on the Tom Holden designed course. Of the initial starters, 18 delivered clear rounds to contest the jump-off round. With riders looking to put their first points on the board, nine of those delivered double clears.
Taking the runner-up spot was Captain Geoff Curran riding the Minister for Defence owned HHS Clinstown, when he was fractions behind in a time of 37.98. A nine-year-old by OBOS Quality 004 and out of MHS Kilkenny Lady.
Accounting for third place in the line-up was local rider Raphael Jnr Lee, who was just over a second behind Curran on John Lee’s 10-year-old Captain Marko, when stopping the clock in 39.06. 
Fourth place belonged to Brendan Murphy when he proved to be the next fastest with the Alan Robertson owned Immun Ocean Ogara, stopping the clock in a time of 39.07. 
Resident rider Thomas O’Brien had his eye on the ball as he took it on with Montreal Van De Kleinheide, but despite his best efforts, his clear round in 39.43, saw him claim fifth place. 
Completing the top six line-up was former Hickstead Derby winner, Paul Beecher. Riding Ikona V’T Recht Eind, he stopped the clock in 40.13.

Results

Full results available on https://www.sjilive.ie/results/11792351

World Matchplay Darts behind closed doors on July 18-26

The Professional Darts Corporation can confirm that the 2020 Betfred World Matchplay will not take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, and will instead be played behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes from July 18-26.

The PDC held extensive talks with the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), the venue, host broadcaster Sky Sports and other stakeholders in an attempt to find a safe solution for the World Matchplay to be staged at the Winter Gardens.

However, with this not being possible the tournament will now – for the first time since being introduced in 1994 – be played behind closed doors, with the Marshall Arena being able to provide a protected environment to ensure the safe staging of the event.

“This is an unprecedented step for us to take and this tough decision has been made only after exhausting all possible options in a bid to stage the Betfred World Matchplay with a limited crowd in Blackpool,” said PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter.

“We thank the DCMS for their co-operation throughout the process and also the Winter Gardens and Blackpool Council, who remained committed to hosting the event throughout the process.

“Whilst this will be disappointing for the thousands of fans who had planned to watch the 2020 Betfred World Matchplay live in Blackpool, we will be offering those fans the chance to defer their tickets to 2021, when the tournament will return to its spiritual home.”

Existing ticket bookings for the 2020 Betfred World Matchplay will be transferred to the equivalent session of the 2021 event, which is planned to be held from July 17-25. Alternatively, fans can request a refund of their ticket base price from their point of purchase.

The 2020 World Matchplay will take place on its originally scheduled dates of July 18-26 and will be the first fully televised PDC tournament to take place following the suspension of events due to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.

The PDC Summer Series will see the sport’s stars return to action from July 8-12 in Milton Keynes for a series of five one-day Players Championship events, with coverage being streamed through PDCTV from 1200 BST on each day.

Irish team playing in EuroHockey League 2021

The 2019/2020 EYHL season was declared null and void by the Hockey Ireland Board due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. It was also decided that the European representatives for the EuroHockey Club competitions were to remain the same for the next season, and in the same order. 

This decision has since been appealed by Lisnagarvey Hockey Club under the rules of Hockey Ireland. The appeal panel met on Monday the 29th June with the relevant parties and concluded that the appeal should be upheld. 

The Panel determined that Lisnagarvey Hockey Club shall be given the first place in the nominations for European Club Competitions for the 2020/2021 season, which means the club will be the representative for Ireland for the EuroHockey League. 

With the order changed by this decision the Irish representatives for Europe are as follows: 

– Pegasus Hockey Club Women will retain their position as the representative in the Euro Hockey League Final

– Lisnagarvey Hockey Club’s Men are now the representative for the Euro Hockey League

– Loreto Hockey Club Women retain their position as the representative for the EuroHockey Club Trophy

– Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club Men are now the representative for the EuroHockey 

Club Trophy II 

1...491492493...584Page 492 of 584

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

SportsNewsIreland is an Irish website launched in 2009 to offer sports fans in Ireland an alternative and independent source to keep them up to date with all the news from around the country. Every week we bring you live score updates from all levels of GAA, rugby, soccer, racing and athletics. Contact

Contact us: Email: info@sportsnewsireland.com

FOLLOW US

Design by SportsMediaIreland.ie