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Lady Maura shines for Murtagh at Navan

Johnny Murtagh was offered by some shrewd observers as a trainer to follow this year and he has certainly delivered on that confidence, maintaining an astonishing run of form in the last week in particular.

Lady Maura (10/3f) looks a potentially smart addition to the sprinting ranks on the evidence of her facile Kilberry Handicap triumph at Navan.

Ridden by Gary Halpin, the Muhaarar filly appeared to enjoy the stiff five furlongs and rain-eased going and the issue was settled very quickly to give Murtagh his 11th win of the campaign.

“I was worried about the ground with her” Murtagh admitted. “I’m glad we got a win into her because I was worried about the trip. We tried six, we tried seven but Niall McCullagh said she was all speed and Gary rode her work the other day and was happy with her.

“It probably wasn’t a great race but you couldn’t be more impressed with what she did today.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does. You’d love to go another three-year-old sprint to get her to learn how to sprint before she goes in against the older ones.

“Big thanks to (owners) Mark and Aisling Gittins, who sent her to me. She’d a good winter. She came back in good shape and I’m delighted they’re getting a few winners on the board now because they’ve had huge investment in racing in recent years.

“Last year we’d a great year but we’d loads of seconds. This year, all them seconds are winning. The lads are working hard at home, the horses were in great form. The races just seem to be there for them.”

It was a good day for trainers more noted for their National Hunt prowess, as Noel Meade, Gordon Elliott and Tony Mullins all scored.

Illetas (5/4f) was very gutsy and showed a likeable attitude in responding to Luke McAteer’s urgings, despite being one of the first under pressure, to prevail in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for three-year-olds for Mullins, having been second at the track 13 days before.

It was a second Flat success in as many days for Elliott, when Chris Hayes delivered Lalipour (25/1) from out with the washing to deny the unfortunate Aasleagh Fawn in the dying strides of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for three-year-olds and upwards.

Gary Carroll looked to have done everything right on Aasleagh Fawn but having appeared to see off allcomers resolutely, was nabbed in the shadow of the lollipop.

Noel Meade has made a noteworthy return to Flat competition in the past couple of seasons and Elysium (12/1) certainly caught the eye when overcoming a tardy break to bag the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden for juvenile fillies.

A winner for first-crop sire Belardo, Elysium stayed on very strongly having been brought with a smooth run by Colin Keane, with Giselles Thunder a length and three quarters back in second.

Paddy Harnett capitalised on picking up a late spare from Denis Hogan by garnering the NavanRacecourse.ie Handicap, as Boughtinthedark (5/1) made light of a 16lbs hike from a course and distance victory.

Others to enjoy the journey to Navan were Laws Of Indices for Ken Condon and Billy Lee, Hy Brasil for Joseph O’Brien and Shane Crosse and Walking On Glass for the unrelated Roche duo, Padraig and Leigh.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Bike

Bicycles can be considered as one of the greatest inventions on earth. Many years back, bicycles were necessary because people had no other means of transportation but through a bike. 

Today, the bike has evolved in terms of its features and its functions. Try walking to a bicycle shop, and you’re guaranteed to be confused with all of the available options that are right in front of you.

If you’ve long wanted to purchase a bike, it pays to be well informed about the necessary functions that you need to take into consideration. That way, you don’t end up with a bike that you’re only going to regret.

To help you out, here are some of the factors that you must consider when choosing a bike: 

  1. New Or Used?

Before going into more in-depth specifics of a bike’s features, you can immediately narrow your selection by asking yourself whether or not it’s a brand-new bike that you need. Especially when this is your first time getting into biking, you may not be sure that this is something you want to get into. 

When you’re still testing out the waters, save yourself that financial worry of buying an expensive bike by purchasing a used bike first.  

If you’re keen on buying a used bike, have in mind the following points:

  • The distance the bike has covered.
  • The frequency of repairs, if any.
  • The overall condition of the bike, if it’s still worth buying. 
  1. Location Of Use

The best BMX bikes today are equipped with features that best go along with the riding that you’ll do. It’s important to ask yourself, where do I intend to ride my bike? Are you after city driving to bring yourself to and from work? Long-distance driving on flat roads in the countryside? Rugged, mountainous terrain for mountain riding? 

Knowing what you’ll do to your bike based on the terrain can help you narrow down your options. The moment you walk into the bike shop, you can immediately tell the sales representative what you’re looking for. That way, when it’s time to step out into the world after restrictions as of writing are over, you can have a bike that’s the perfect match for your intended use. 

  1. Right Size

There’s no universal size of a bike that fits everyone. Often, this choice would be dependent on the primary user of the bike. While biking is an excellent form of exercise, if it’s not made to fit your size, you’re going to be uncomfortable. At the very least, you won’t even enjoy using your bike anymore.

When you shop for a bike, it’s imperative, therefore, that you try them out. If you need to have a custom-sized one, then be open to that possibility as well.

With the right bike size, you’re not only preventing any discomfort but also saves yourself the possibility of any injuries. So, be sure that you have the perfect size for the following:

  • Saddle
  • Handlebar height
  • Frame size
  • Pedal position 

To end up with the right fit, here are some tips to guide you:

  • Take your body measurements with your legs fully extended so that you can have a comfortable riding position.
  • To prevent neck and shoulder pain, work on the seat angle adjustment.
  • Ensure that the handlebar is of the same height as your seat so that you can develop a good riding position.
  1. Bike Anatomy

The bike is composed of many parts, and each one of these has many options for you to choose from. Because this is a very technical choice, you need to have the assistance of sales personnel to make the right choice.

  • The bike frame is the heart of the bike. Here, you can choose from either metal frames or carbon fiber. The latter option is generally the most expensive one.
  • The bike suspension is of particular importance when you know you’re going for a rough trail. 
  • The wheels of the bike are fixed at rubber, but you can make customizations about the rims.
  • The bike’s contact points include the seat or the saddle, the pedals of which you can choose between flat, toe-clips or clipless, and the handlebar and stem.
  • The brakes usually come in three types – coaster hub, rim, and disk brakes. The choice here will depend on the manner you intend to use your bike for.

 Conclusion

With these tips to guide you, the process of buying a bike will no longer have to be that difficult. Plus, you also have that higher assurance of walking home with the bike that you know you’re going to love. 

All these factors considered, keep in mind that the choice of a bicycle is entirely personal. You have to feel that the bike is the one you genuinely know to be yours for years to come.

back view of a cyclist on top of a mountains winding road, riding a black bicycle down a hill, wearing bike helmet and blue cycling jersey, with grey clouds sunset sky and forest ,banner

Cricket on Return-to-Play pathway date

Cricket Ireland has today welcomed the recent Irish Government announcement on the accelerated return of sport, outlined the pathway for Return-to-Play, and released the first update to its COVID-19 Safe Return to Training Protocols that expand training ratios at club cricket and elite level.

Elaine Nolan, Participation Director for Cricket Ireland, said:

“We are delighted to see the Irish Government’s accelerated timetable for the resumption of competitive sport in the Republic and hope to see a matching statement in Northern Ireland soon. We’re working collaboratively and at-pace with the Provincial Unions and other stakeholder groups within the sport to enable clubs to move positively towards competitive action. However, the Government announcement last Friday was just a pre-cursor to the actual resumption of play, as there are a number of steps to take before competitive matches begin.”

“Consultation has continued this week with Sport Ireland, Unions, umpires, players and other stakeholder groups on the Return-to-Play protocols. This should be completed by the end of the week and we will then have an update on the implementation of safe return-to-play protocols for all stakeholders. The health and safety of players, officials, volunteers and the wider community will remain at the forefront of our decision-making.”

“Return-to-play will not mean a return to normal, and we will address changes and required risk mitigation activities in the protocols. This will involve continuing with a number of the measures outlined in the return-to-training protocols, but a number of playing-specific protocols will be introduced to complement playing regulations. Shining of the ball with saliva or sweat is still prohibited in accordance with ICC directives, and the implications of social distancing with respect to umpires, wicketkeepers, the non-access to changerooms and how we deal with spectators are just a few aspects that the new protocols will be required to cover. Even how to handle rain delays with social distancing given restricted access to indoor spaces and how this can be managed within clubhouses will need to be considered.”

“In addition, we have to acknowledge that many umpires, match officials and volunteers around clubs are in vulnerable age categories, so we all need to be mindful of the health risks to those within the cricket family who may need to continue to shield from the virus.”

“In the meantime, we have today released [attached] an updated advisory that expands training ratios immediately, and can advise that full return-to-training can commence from 29 June in the Republic, contingent upon the Government announcing a community-wide move to Phase 3. There is a divergence between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland at this point and we are awaiting government advice on Northern Ireland’s move to Step 3. However, with the work currently ongoing by Cricket Ireland, Unions and clubs, we are in a position to act immediately once the NI Executive provide a date for the commencement of Step 3.”

“We continue to be grateful to the whole cricket family for their cooperation and understanding, and rest assured we are all working as quickly as possible in order to get cricket action back underway.”

Expanded training ratios

The return-to-training protocols released a fortnight ago, which include detailed guides and checklists for preparing a cricket club for restarting activity, are under constant review by cricket’s national and provincial governing bodies given the rapidly evolving emergence from lockdown. With the first update, clubs in the Republic and Northern Ireland can now increase the ratio of people within given training scenarios, with social distancing and sanitisation requirements still in place.

These changes can take effect immediately, however, will change once more in the ROI and NI as the respective communities move into Phase 3 / Step 3.

The detailed COVID-19 documents are available at: www.cricketireland.ie/covid-19 and any enquiries or issues that arise should be directed to Provincial Unions via the nominated COVID-19 Safety Support Officer.

Video – Munster Rugby return to training after Covid-19 break

The Munster senior squad returned to the High Performance Centre in Limerick on Monday for their first training session at the HPC since March.

Last week saw the first phase of PCR testing for senior players and high performance staff produce zero positive results.

Daily temperature checks are one of the mandatory protocols that all players and staff must undergo to access the High Performance Centre. A DAMOC Thermo Check has been installed, a contactless and accurate method of temperature measurement.

The device will provide a body temperature reading within 2 seconds and will immediately flag high readings.

On the player front, Chris Cloete and CJ Stander returned to Ireland from South Africa at the weekend and both players are currently self-isolating for the required 14-day period.

The majority of the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy squad have not returned to training to limit the number of people working in the HPC.

However, Academy quartet Thomas Ahern (lock), Jake Flannery (out-half/full-back), James French (prop) and Ben Healy (out-half) are training with the senior players during this initial phase.

On the injury front, the folllowing update was issued on the return to the HPC:

John Ryan has undergone a minor operation on his shoulder and has already begun his rehab period.

Tadhg Beirne (ankle) is continuing to rehab well while new signing Damian de Allende, Keith Earls and Calvin Nash have short-term injuries. All four players are expected to recover ahead of the proposed August fixtures.

Joey Carbery (wrist/ankle) is also continuing to rehab well and the out-half is expected to make a return to action in September.

Longines FEI Endurance World Championships 2020 postponed to 2021

The Longines FEI Endurance World Championships 2020 have been postponed until May 2021 due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on equestrian sport. The decision to postpone comes following agreement between the FEI, the Italian National Federation and the Organisers in Pisa.

 

The Championships were due to be held at San Rossore, Pisa in September this year, but the pandemic and the restrictions on both travel and training of horses has meant that is was simply not possible to maintain the original date.

 

The FEI Executive Board and the Endurance Temporary Committee were in favour of postponement and, following consultation with the Endurance Calendar Task Force and meetings with the Italian National Federation and the Pisa Organisers, the move to May 2021 was agreed. Final approval of the postponement was given by the FEI Board at an extraordinary Board meeting held by videoconference on 19 June.

 

Qualification for the Championships will be under Article 836 of the FEI Endurance Rules (11th Edition), which come into effect on 1 July 2020.

 

The FEI Board also agreed to prolong the qualification period for these Championships in order to allow more time for horses and athletes to qualify following the disruption to this year’s FEI Calendar caused by the pandemic. Details will be defined by the Endurance Temporary Committee and FEI Headquarters and communicated later.

 

Two Continental Championships are already scheduled to run next year – the FEI Endurance Pan American Championships for Seniors & Young Riders in Campinas (BRA) from 28-29 July and the FEI Endurance European Championships in Ermelo (NED) from 6-ll September. The FEI last week proactively reached out to all 51 National Federations that compete in Endurance in order to understand their views on the proposed postponement of the World Championships and its potential impact on next year’s Calendar.

 

National Federations were asked whether they were in favour of postponing the Longines FEI Endurance World Championships to May 2021 and if they would also participate in their region’s Continental Championships if the Worlds were moved to next year.

 

A total of 34 National Federations responded to the questionnaire, of which 33 were positive, both to the postponement and their participation, where relevant, in one of the Continental Championships next year.

 

“Our Endurance community made it very clear to the FEI that they want a World Championships, particularly after losing the last edition at Tryon in 2018, but horse welfare and a level playing field could not have been guaranteed if the Championships had run in September, so it was the best solution to move the Championships to May of next year”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

 

“Having consulted with the National Federations that compete in Endurance, we now feel that we have reached a compromise that works for everyone, but especially for our horses, as there will now be time for them to do the necessary preparation work and achieve their qualification for this major event.”

 

The Secretary General is in charge of the FEI Calendar and, throughout the Covid-19 crisis, has chaired the eight discipline-specific Calendar Task Forces that have been working to minimise the impact of the pandemic on the sport and the fixture list. More than 800 events have already been cancelled and numerous events have been rescheduled.

 

The FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Horses and the FEI Endurance European Championships for Young Riders & Juniors, which are due to be held in Vic (ESP) from 25-27 September 2020, will be discussed by the FEI Board during this week’s three-day meeting via videoconference (23-25 June).

 

Grant Thornton’s 5K will run across the island of Ireland on the 14th, 15th and 16th of August

Grant Thornton has launched a virtual nationwide 5K challenge race series (GT5K) with races set to take place on the 14th, 15th and 16th of August.

The GT 5K race series, which is the country’s largest and longest running corporate event has seen over 44,700 runners in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast take part for the past eight years, is going virtual this year to continue to raise charitable funds in a time of need. The race series encourages social running amongst Ireland’s business community and welcomes all abilities, from beginners to experienced runners.

New features being introduced this year include the use of a live leader board and a new online registration system, and this year we invite teams and individuals to enter.

This year Grant Thornton is opening the competition to corporate teams, individuals, families, sports clubs and anybody else who would like to enter a team. Runners will be able to register online, complete their run over the weekend of the 14th, 15th & 16th August, and upload their best time to a live leader board by midnight on Sunday 16th August.

Earlier this year The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland was announced as the 2020 GT5K Charity Partner and runners are encouraged to #doitfordementia as many charities are struggling to raise funds as a result of Covid-19.

Commenting on the GT5K virtual launch, Managing Partner, Michael McAteer said “Due to the current guidelines and restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organising committee have taken the decision to host a virtual GT5K this year. At Grant Thornton we embrace tomorrow’s challenges as opportunities and live the ethos of doing things differently and living the ‘Status Go’ mentality so we’ve decided to launch a nationwide virtual GT5K to ensure our charity partners do not lose out on much needed funds. There was much deliberation about the decision, our only options were a virtual run or nothing so this year’s race is, not only virtual but open to all, individuals and teams, and will hopefully capture the imagination locally and nationally”.

Commenting on his involvement in the GT5K, Greg O’Shea Rugby 7’s Player and  Love Island winner said “I am delighted to be involved with GT5K as it goes virtual this year. I think it is incredibly important for workplaces to promote a healthy, active lifestyle, especially with more people working from home in recent months. The GT5K is a great opportunity to encourage each other to get out there and stay active in our communities and workplaces for a good cause.”

Organised by the national governing body for running, Athletics Ireland, the GT5K also supports the top emerging young athletes in Ireland through the Athletics Ireland Junior high-performance programme, which develops athletes in Ireland of all ages, disciplines and abilities.

Hamish Adams, CEO of Athletics Ireland, said “While the physical events in Cork, Galway, Belfast, and Dublin are not taking place this summer, we are delighted to be working with Grant Thornton in bringing the Virtual GT5K to an even wider audience in 2020. Everyone can take part in this year’s event irrespective of location, and in doing so you will be supporting a wonderful cause in the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, as well as close to 100 of our emerging young athletes fulfil their potential.”

To enter the race, register at www.grantthornton.ie/gt5k . This year the registration fee €10 will be split between Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland and Athletics Ireland’s Junior high-performance programme. All participants will receive a virtual goodie bag with the option to purchase a GT5K run technical jersey.

Record you best 5k time and submit by midnight on the 16th of August to make the leader board.

Mullins banned from racing for three months

Trainer Emmet Mullins has been banned  from racing for three months. Mullins has been fined 5,000 euro as well as been banned from any racecourse after a breach in health screening protocols at Leopardstown last week.

RTE Sport state that Mullins was refused entry to the course last week due to not having the right barcode. However, he was later spotted in the parade ring at the course. Obviously during the restrictions that entry to racecourses has been limited to essential staff. with this having to be approved by racecourse staff.

Mullins who is a nephew of Co Carlow trainer, Willie, has accepted the punishment. Racing Post report that he will not be appealing the decision. Mullins also asked for his 5,000 euro fine to go towards to frontline workers who are battling the Covid 19 pandemic. Speaking to Racing Post, Emmet said, “I accept the findings of today’s hearing. I apologise for my actions, it was done without thought and in the heat of the moment. I won’t be appealing, however, I have made a request to the IHRB that I donate the funds to our frontline workers.”

The three person referral committee of Leonie Reynolds, Mary O’Connor and Jack Rearden believed the breach of protocol to be “extremely serious”. They issued Mullins with a 5,000 euro fine and banned him from racecourses for a period of three months. However, this won’t affect his horses who will still be allowed to run.

The Irish Horse Racing Board, Communication Manager, Niall Cronin said, “A lot of work has gone into getting racing back and it is absolutely imperative that we all work together to keep racing safe by completing the health-screening process. This is necessary to continue racing. Complacency in this regard simply cannot be tolerated”. Mr Cronin continued, “We would agree that this was a very serious breach of protocol and such a breach cannot be tolerated in the current climate. We look forward to the cooperation of all stakeholders with regard to the protocols which are in place going forward.”

How casino games have embraced our love of sports

Every second of every day, someone somewhere is participating in some form of sport. Whether it’s hitting top speed around an athletics track, charging towards the try line with a rugby ball, or taking aim at goal with a football, it’s fair to say that sports provide us with more entertainment than anything else.

Interestingly, the digital age has brought us new and exciting ways to enjoy our favourite sports. That’s why the FIFA series of football games have been popular for so long, although practically every sport we can think of has had a video game version too. From rugby to hockey, tennis to athletics, swimming to cycling, basketball to boxing and all kinds of martial arts, there’s guaranteed to be a video game representation out there.

What’s more, playing video games has even become a professional activity itself, commonly known as eSports, all with national and international tournaments which can be entered. Some of the top gamers are now even as famous (and wealthy!) as their traditional sporting counterparts. Likewise, online casinos have taken a strong interest in sports beyond sponsorship deals with teams and clubs, even merging sports into the games they offer.

Of course, there’s no shortage of online casinos, all vying for our business. That’s why reading through plenty of reviews and opinions is always advised, before making a deposit. As a review site dedicated to providing a wealth of information, Irishluck are aware of the fact that knowing precisely what an online casino has to offer is important when we’re getting ready to choose where we’ll play our favourite games.

For example, some casino sites may have a broader selection of slots themed around sports, compared to others. If those are our favourites, it’s handy to know which sites offer the best selections. Indeed, some providers will also offer promotions and bonus offers that focus on the games we love the most, which can make them more appealing to our own particular gaming tastes. That said, we should always read through the details of any offers carefully, there is a free signup bonus no deposit mobile casino nz which is very good.

As for casino games which are inspired by sports, there’s an impressive selection these days. Likewise, developers delving into key elements we enjoy the most about our preferred sports, then incorporating them into their games. This can be done by simply using imagery and sounds from sporting events, although experts suggest that players enjoy elements of choice and interactivity most of all.

One such example is the Football Champions Cup slot by NetEnt, who built a slot game around such key elements of choice. While most of us may already know that winning at slots is entirely random, this game incorporates player decisions. This ranges from choosing your favourite international team, to participating in a penalty shoot-out. In that bonus round, the player can choose which area of the goal to aim their shot. It’s a novel addition to the genre.

Sports have arguably made a great contribution to both the present and the future of online casino gaming. Incorporating the action and excitement that sports have already provided fans for years, matched with the creativity of developers and the latest technology innovations, we could even see future casino games featuring sporting themes becoming the most popular on offer.

As gaming and entertainment genres increasingly merge, it’s not hard to imagine that at some point in the not too distant future, we could combine the virtual reality participation in our favourite sport, with the possibility to wager on our very own performance or bonus options to increase our chances of winning.

These are all possibilities actually being researched by developers right now, which is certainly exciting for those of us who enjoy our sports gaming.

Strachan replaces Duff at Celtic

Glasgow giants Celtic have replaced former Ireland international Damien Duff with Gavin Strachan, son of Gordon, as their new first team coach.

Strachan, who is 41, replaces Duff, who left to take up a role with Stephen Kenny and the Republic of Ireland. Gavin has experience of working in management having been assistant at Peterborough to Darren Ferguson. He was also assistant manager at Doncaster Rovers.  Celtic had to pay compensation to secure his release. Strachan will now work alongside Neil Lennon and John Kennedy. He said, “It is a huge honour to be appointed to this position with Celtic, such a giant of a club and a real iconic footballing institution – this really is an opportunity I could simply not turn down”. Strachan said he is extremely excited to starting the new role and said:

“I am hugely excited about getting started with Neil, John and the players as we get ready for the challenges ahead.

Neil Lennon who played under Gavin’s father, Gordon Strachan, said “We are delighted to bring Gavin to Celtic”. “We had a number of options for the role but Gavin was the outstanding candidate. Lennon said that Strachan is “really talented” and “experienced” and he knows he has the right qualities to make a great contribution to the club.

Strachan played professional football himself. He played at Coventry from 1997 to 2003. Incidentally his dad was coach. He went on to have loan spells at Motherwell, Dundee, Hartlepool and Notts County to name but a few. He also played for the Scotland U21 side making 8 appearances.

 

Munster and Leinster return to training

Leinster and Munster both made a return to contact training on Monday for the first time since Covid 19 put a stop to all sport and shut down the majority of the country.

Munsterrugby.ie report that 140 tests were conducted last week, with all 140 coming back negative. Munster began their training at the High performance centre in Limerick. However, it won’t be normal training as there will be a lot of restrictions. Munster say that training will be done in small groups of seven. It is expected that each set of 7 players will work with one coach without any interaction with the other groups. In addition, strict measures are in place in terms of the use of gym equipment.

Players will have to arrive, train and then go home. No use of showers, changing rooms or kitchen areas/video analysis rooms will be permitted. Players and staff will have to undergo mandatory daily temperature checks. This is in order to gain access to the High performance centre. As I reported earlier last week, automatic temperature checks can be conducted using DAMOC Thermo Check which was installed by the IRFU at the 6 High Performance Centres last week.

In terms of the team itself, CJ Stander and Chris Cloete have just returned to Ireland and both of these players will have to self isolate for two weeks. Joey Carbery is continuing with recovery, but he should play in the knockout stages of the Pro14. Munster Rugby state that Tadhg Beirne, Damian De Allende, Calvin Nash will return in August. Keith Earls is also expected to be back in August.

Leinster have also returned to training. Of course, these under the exact same restrictions as Munster. Leo Cullen was excited to be back. Cullen said, “It’s great seeing some of the faces coming in today, the guys are out there testing away which is great to see and the guys seem to have turned up in very good condition from the naked eye, so we’ll see what the numbers tell us”. Squad news wasn’t available on Monday, but it is expected on Tuesday.

Leinster and Munster will in both sides first game back on August 22nd. Leinster will top conference A, while Ulster, Munster and Edinburgh are expected to remain in the other three positions.