Munster Express Online » General Sports

Casey claims third Thyestes Chase

The Munster Express — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:40:32 +0000

Waterford jockey David Casey won the €80,000 Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase aboard the Willie Mullins trained On His Own at Gowran Park on Thursday last.

Greyhound racing

The Munster Express — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:18:49 +0000

The Mary Buggy owned and trained Kilgraney Sport won the most valuable race on an 11 race card at Kilcohan Park on Saturday night, the Ohio Syndicate A2 Stakes Final.
The son of Westmead Hawk and Derwent Pride left it until the fourth bend to take the lead but stayed impressively up the home stretch to win by two and a half lengths from Bandicoot Molly in 28.55. Memories Control finished a further five lengths back in third.
The Richard Walsh Track Bookmaker Open 525 was the night’s other final and was won by the Peter Cronin trained Bombolini who broke smartly from trap one and took the lead at the first bend before staying on all the way to post a one length win over the fast finishing Whitefort Lough in 28.66. Archaton Legend finished just a short head further back in third.
Elsewhere on the card there were eight semi-finals down for decision,
Ardera Fonze was a hugely impressive winner of the first semi-final of the Charisma Blinds Novice Unraced 525 Stake with eight and a half lengths to spare over Munster Hayes in 28.83. Jim Scully’s charge looks certain to go off a warm favourite for Wednesday night’s final
Belvedere Jane won the second semi-final by three lengths from Munster Winger in 29.25
The Happy Christmas to all out Patrons 525 semi-finals were won by Tintern Lass in 29.02 and Panda Bear in 29.17
Toker Island won the first semi-final of the www.igb.ie A3 525 stakes in 28.98 while the second semi-final went to Killotteran Rory in 28.87
The Nick Turner trained Coco Dash had a length to spare over Boldthadyquill in the first semi-final of the Richard Walsh Track Bookmaker 550 Stakes in 30.31 while On The Wheel had just half a length to spare over Ohio Captain in 30.48 in the second semi-final.

Friday’s Winners:
A2 Telex Storm 3/1, A8/A9 525 Hilldun Hawk 2/1, A4 525 Ardera Bridie 4/5, S5/S6 325 Hasppy Hustler 6/4, A5/A6 525 Newline Nora 6/4, A5 525 A Hot Drop 6/4 A6 525 Ballybawn Glory 3/1, A3 525 Peanut 5/2.

Saturday’s Winner’s:
AO/A1 525 Cougar Ping 6/4, Happy Christmas to all out Patrons 525 semi-final Tintern Lass 5/2, second semi-final Panda Bear 4/1, www.igb.ie A3 525 Stakes semi-final Toker Island 2/1, second semi-final Killotteran Rory 2/1, Charisma Blinds Novice Unraced 525 Stake Ardera Fonze 4/6, second semi-final Belvedere Jane 4/6, Ohio Syndicate A2 525 Stakes Final Kilgraney Sport 4/1, Richard Walsh Track Bookmaker A2 550 Stakes semi-final Coco Dash 3/1, second semi-final On The Wheel 6/4, Richard Walsh Track Bookmaker Open 525 Final Bombolini 2/1.

Wednesday Night Racing:
The last greyhound racing meeting before Christmas goes ahead tonight (Wednesday).
There are four finals down for decision on a nine race card which gets under way at 8pm.
The final race meeting of the year at Kilcohan Park takes places on Friday, December 30th with a 8pm start.

Frank Ryan a man for all seasons and sports

Matt Keane — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:55:16 +0000

He’s the best of company at GAA games, soccer games, cricket matches – any sort of sport that’s played with either a large or small ball for that matter.

Frank Ryan at home with his daughter Abbie and wife Brenda. | Photo: Noel Browne

It doesn’t matter whether it is at senior or junior level he will be there often battered by the winter winds at Walsh Park, Ozier Park or the more luxurious surrounds of the RSC, you’ll find him there.
Engagingly encyclopaedic, Frank Ryan has been involved in the Waterford sporting scene since his youth.

Such is his vast knowledge of Deise sport, one would get the impression that he has followed the fortunes of the chief participants literally from cradle (or even the gleam in the players’ eye!) to the grave.

Sean O’Neill wins Irish IKF title

The Munster Express — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:39:32 +0000

Sean O'Neill, the current IKF Middleweight Irish Champion.

Waterford kickboxer Sean O’Neill has been selected for the Irish team for the upcoming WAKO World Championships which will be held in Ireland for the first time.

The news of Sean’s selection for the Irish team was announced after he defeated Galway kickboxing legend Ken Horan to win the IKF middleweight title in Belfast at the end of October.

Craig Breen Crowned FIA WRC Academy World Champion

Trevor McGrath — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:10:46 +0000

Craig exits his Ford Fiesta R2 in service as FIA WRC Champion

In an unbelievable climax to the FIA WRC Academy Championship Irish rally driver Craig Breen was crowned World Rally Championship Academy Champion and claimed a prize of €500,000 amidst jubilant scenes on Saturday evening in Wales at the end of Wales Rally Great Britain.

As the title went all the way to a cliff hanging final stage the 21-year-old from Waterford withstood the pressure to bring off the biggest win recent Irish rallying history.

There were nail-biting scenes at the end of the final stage as Craig crossed the finish line but then was required to wait until his nearest championship rival Egon Kaur came through in a slower time.

Breen in with fighting chance

Trevor McGrath — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:15:42 +0000

After a long tough season in the WRC Academy it’s now down to the final event.

World Rally Great Britain starts next Thursday and Irish driver Craig is still in with a fighting chance of taking the title.

Egon Kaur (Estonia) is currently on 92 points with Craig Breen (Ireland) on 72 points. The scene is set for the two top drivers in series go head to head in the final Showdown for a prize of €500,000.

After a season long battle it now comes down to the 17 stages that make up World Rally Great Britain. Being 20 points in arrears, Craig faces an uphill task if he is to grasp the 2011 Academy crown.

Craig Breen to represent Ireland

Trevor McGrath — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:09:57 +0000

The FIA (Governing body of World Motorsport) released the list of drivers that have made the cut to take part in the FIA Institute Shoot-out and Ireland’s Craig Breen is one of 30 young hopefuls to battle for a place in the FIA Institute, 2012 Young Driver Excellence Academy.

In only its second year, the Academy has expanded its intake to ensure that more drivers from around the world have access to this important safety-focused initiative. The shortlist is made up of young drivers from 26 different countries covering every continent, including competitors from Australia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Denmark, India, Ireland, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, South Africa, UAE, UK and USA.

Bennett signs on at An Post

The Munster Express — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:04:15 +0000

An Post team manager Kurt Bogaerts today announced key team member Sam Bennett has signed on for another year with the Sean Kelly outfit.

“I am delighted that Sam has signed for another season with us. He had a difficult start coming back from an injury from the previous year, which took time to sort out. During the second half of the season everything came together for him and he produced some great results, the highlight of which was his win at the GP van de Stad Geel (1.2).

Breen excels in tartan thriller to claim fourth

The Munster Express — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:46:41 +0000

Irish Rally driver Craig Breen clenched fourth overall on IRC Rally of Scotland last weekend. Breen only on his second IRC event was on the pace for the start on Friday night and over the three day’s showed he can mix it with the big boys on the IRC scene. Being consistent was the name of the game as the weather and surface conditions dictated a cautious approach and Breen delivered in fine style to bring home his Kel-Tech Engineering Ford Fiesta 2000 inside the top five.

The rally got underway in darkness with a double run over the Carron Valley (8.36km) and Breen made an impressive start by slotting in at 7th overall over the first stage just four seconds away from Guy Wilks, who set the pace.

Ireland miss Olympic qualification

Brian Hennessy — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:16:47 +0000

The Irish Show Jumping Team failed to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in London, after they finished a disappointing ninth place overall at the European Championships at Madrid in Spain at the weekend.

Lying in seventh place heading into last Friday’s team final, the quartet of Shane Sweetnam, Nicola FitzGibbon, Denis Lynch and Billy Twomey never looked comfortable in their bid to take one of the three places on offer for London 2012 and faded badly in the final team competition.