Loughnane disgusted as anti-Clare feeling rises

by Diarmuid O'Flynn
GER LOUGHNANE sparked a major new GAA controversy yesterday as he targeted the Munster Council and certain sections of the media in an explosive local radio interview in Clare.
The controversial trainer of the All Ireland hurling champions made several serious claims about the provincial council on the eve of a meeting which is likely to ban one of Clare's midfielders, Colin Lynch, from Sunday's All Ireland semi final against Offaly.
The interview, with Clare FM sports editor Colm O'Connor started off innocently enough — Ger exhorting support from the faithful: "Really, the real reason I'm here is to impress on everybody the importance of going to Croke Park on Sunday, if they possibly can. I know there's huge expense involved, I know there's a lot of hassle involved in going there, but I think the big difference on Sunday could be the Clare crowd — the support from the Clare crowd, to lift the team — especially the new players, the players who will have to come on to the team on Sunday."
But really, that wasn't the real reason he was there at all. It was much more serious than that: "There's an air of anger out there among Clare supporters that I've never ever seen before — that these great men, who have brought such honour to the county are being defamed in such a way in the national media, that nobody can stand for this, that Sunday is the day when we have to make a stand, and the only way we can make a stand and put these fellas down on Sunday, is by winning on Sunday, and getting to the All-Ireland final.
"So, of all the games we've ever played — since 95, since the Munster final in 95, this is THE game that we just must win. No matter who's playing... if we've to fight on our backs on Sunday, we just have to win, to stick it down the throats of all those who have been castigating us over the last two or three weeks..."
There is anger in Clare, undoubted anger.
It stems from the replay of the Munster Final, and the first few minutes of mayhem in that replay. Though Clare seemed to win that initial war of attrition, they have since taken something of a beating in the media. But in the interview, Lough-nane ascribes much of the blame for what happened in those minutes to Waterford.
Speaking of the drawn game, he claimed: "A comment was passed to a Clare player that day that was away beyond the boundaries of acceptability, away way beyond it ... and it wasn't the player himself who reacted, but it was the other players when they heard it — it drove them absolutely crazy. So the powder keg was lit on the first day, and all week long, it was waiting for the second day. And when Clare went out the second day, we made sure that nobody was going to intimidate us, from the very start of the game."
As a result of that whirlwind start, tomorrow evening, the Munster Council will meet to decide the fate of Colin Lynch.
And it's on this issue that Ger Loughnane made these sensational claims: "At the All-Ireland quarter-final in Dublin, last Sunday week, the Chairman of the Clare County Board was sitting in the VIP section of the Stand. Seated directly behind him..." and Colm intervenes "Now we won't be mentioning any names..."; Loughnane continued: "No, no names... but like I say, seated directly behind him were three priests, right? They weren't watching the match obviously — their main discussion was on the Clare team, which went along the lines that the Clare team were tinkers, that Loughnane was a tramp, and the Clare team must be on drugs."
Loughnane went on to claim that the clergymen seemed to be speaking freely about the punishment that would be handed down to Loughnane and Lynch.
A few minutes later, Clare Chairman Robert Frost came on air, via the telephone, and supported the claims about the alleged Croke Park conversation: "Well Colm, I just heard Ger's account of the situation, and I would just like to say that as you know, our minor hurlers were playing the first match in Croke Park, and I had some tickets for the VIP section. After our minors were defeated, I was in the dressing-room after the match; and about maybe halfway into the first senior match between Offaly and Antrim, I proceeded to go to the VIP section of the Hogan Stand. I was seated I suppose about four or five rows from the front row, and directly behind me was three priests, who I didn't know, but as you know — with all due respects to everybody — the match wasn't great, and the topic of conversation of the three clergymen behind me was Clare, and how dirty they were, and what they had done, and the scandal that was in Thurles the week before. And that you know, what was going to be done to Ger Loughnane; he was going to be put up in the Stand the next day; Colin Lynch was going to be banned for three months, and they had all this information ... I put up with a lot, into maybe the second half of the third match, and eventually I challenged them — I didn't say who I was — I said it was a disgrace the carry-on of them, and that we were not a dirty team, that we had made a major contribution to the GAA, and that we'd a good team, we had a good trainer, and I wouldn't stand for it, and eventually, after a few minutes, I was so frustrated, I walked out of the VIP section, and, as our manager said, I think that we've been tried before we were even taken into the meeting last Tuesday night."
Ger Loughnane seemed to have two main gripes with the Munster Council — one, he claimed that the Colin Lynch situation was a foregone conclusion, and secondly, that he claimed that justice was being dispensed with on a selective basis. He made the following claims to support this second gripe: "We don't mind punishment being dished out, if it's dished out on an equitable basis. But for us, it seems that it is not... if you go back to the Limerick/Cork game this year, on video, live as we were there, we saw the Limerick goalkeeper drawing a kick on a Cork forward, which is a three-month suspension; we saw the Cork full-forward stamping on, or even hitting, a Limerick player in the same incident; we saw Eamonn Cregan running around the pitch — he made more incursions during that game than I've made during my entire career. Everybody saw it — now why weren't they punished the same way as we were punished? If they were punished the same way we were punished, we would have no objections... I will take my punishment, provided the person who does the same as me gets the same punishment. Punishment should be dished out on a fair and equitable basis if the Munster Council was a democratic organisation — now that is the question. Is it selective, or is it democratic? That's the question they have to answer."

Clare's manager questions
validity of sideline ban

by Diarmuid O'Flynn
GER LOUGHNANE has questioned the Munster Council's right to ban him from the sideline for Sunday's All Ireland semi final.
He claimed that a campaign is being waged against him by a Council member, accusing the unnamed individual of conducting a "witch-hunt."
"It is total hypocrisy what is going on.
"Has the Munster Council jurisdiction over Croke Park?
That is the big question here. I should not be banned from Croke Park. I should be banned for the next Munster Championship game, not for the All Ireland semi final."
Munster Council members are likely to discuss the radio interview with Loughnane when they meet tomorrow night in Limerick.
The Council's GAC will deliberate on a possible suspension for Colin Lynch, the Clare midfielder, and Gerald McCarthy, the Waterford manager, arising from the Munster finals.
Council chairman Seán Kelly said last night the Council acts impartially at all times. He would not comment further.
The meeting, as with all such sessions, is not open to the press, but they are likely to issue a statement.
The Clare manager also claimed yesterday the controversy after the Munster Final replay had been drummed up by certain section of the media.
"Some people might argue that they were out to get Clare, but I think it was more out to get the manager, more than anything else, because you know, we haven't made many friends...".
He denied there was a siege mentality in Clare. "I think the siege mentality is really really counter-productive. You don't try to get your own back on them — you just can't win against the media — they have the last say. And if you try something like putting a ban on reporters, you're going to lose out in the end. We have never ever ever put a ban on reporters.
"What I do object to though is when this happens to a player. A manager is fair game, but when it does happen to a player, who is very vulnerable, who has not a chance to reply — this is very, very serious. And what has happened to Colin Lynch, I think, is an absolute scandal.
"What has happened to me is fair play — I give it, and I take it. But what has happened to Colin Lynch... he has no contact with the media whatsoever, he has got no chance of a fair trial".
The Clare boss lauded this newspaper for its coverage.
"The Examiner did not jump on the bandwagon... well-balanced... criticised the incident, called for an investigation, and rightly so... but that is one paper we cannot have any gripe with after what happened...".
He added: "Try as they might, the people of the Munster Council, or the people of the media, will never, ever break the spirit of Clare.
"Never."

Ger stands over his
outspoken comments

by Diarmuid O'Flynn
GER LOUGHNANE, last night, stood over his outspoken comments about GAA authorities in a radio interview — and revealed that one Clareman had offered £10,000 to put forward a defence for Colin Lynch, the midfielder at the eye of the Munster final storm.
He denied in a subsequent interview with The Examiner that he was adopting a high-risk strategy, and claimed that everyone in Clare had been demanding a response to the national criticism of the All-Ireland champions.
"We'd said nothing since the Munster final, and there was an awful lot of unease, a lot of anger around the place. People had to hear an explanation from the manager as to what went on, and especially, they were most anxious that a defence be mounted in the case of Colin Lynch. As a matter of fact, one man came forward, yesterday, with an offer of a £10,000 donation to defend Colin. Incredible — there's a huge feeling out there for a man who has given everything for Clare. Right, maybe he made a mistake — but there were two involved, and he's the one who's been tried, found guilty and hung out to dry by the media. His family are in a terrible way — they're a very close family. A very close member of his family died on the day before the drawn Munster final — the family is in total turmoil, and he just had to be defended."
Asked was he taking his case to the public because he feared he wouldn't get justice behind closed doors, he responded: "That's right, that's right. You have so many people in the Munster Council, and they are there for so many years. Good people, and I would emphasise that. But when you are in a position of power for a number of years, things aren't the same. They think that they are above the law. The problem with the Munster Council is that there aren't enough fresh, intelligent, and motivated young people who go into it, to change it, to freshen it up. The same old dinosaurs are there for years and years.
"I suppose people who change the way things are done will always come in for criticism. Now if the criticism was directed solely at me, I wouldn't mind, and I've always said that. And I've got plenty of criticism. But when it's directed at players, it's a different story altogether. Now, we have changed an awful lot of things — the thing about changing the team the day of matches has angered an awful lot of people, journalists and supporters. But I think it actually adds to the drama, and I think it will come in more and more into the GAA. The thing of not allowing journalists into the dressing-room for ten minutes after the game is over — that has angered a lot. But in my opinion, players should be allowed the bit of dignity, to get their clothes on."
He said the public criticism has been tough to take — "I'll tell you — last Sunday week was the worst day of all. The Sunday after the Munster final, we were all at home sitting down, going from one paper to the next, and it was getting worse and worse. And Conor, who's just 12 years of age, he was reading through all the papers, and he said 'Dad — they really hate you.' After that, I said, hey — it's the last time we're buying a Sunday newspaper. Because you would be afraid that it would damage young lads — that would be the big danger, that it would damage young lads. It's not going to damage me, but you would have that fear — that would be the biggest fear. Personal criticism to me means nothing, because I'm used to supporters shouting all kinds of abuse at me — it actually adds to the game, I think!"
Asked did he fear legal repercussions from his outburst, yesterday, Loughnane said: "We've researched it, we've talked to a solicitor, gone through the whole lot. We're on solid ground — what we've stated are facts. I have the referee's report there in front of me, and we have witnesses to whatever was said. If anybody wants to challenge us, they have a forum in which to challenge."
If the situation were the opposite — video evidence in support of one of his players, against a referee's report — would he feel the same? "We had that, with the Clare minors, and I think they were right ... but it's when things become selective, people get their backs up, they feel there is an injustice to them, against somebody else. One crowd getting away with something another crowd doesn't — imbalance, inconsistency. And that's what leads to trouble."

Horan tips the Banner as he paints a gloomy picture of Offaly hurling

by Michael Ellard
PADRAIGH HORAN, the man who captained Offaly to their historic "first" All-Ireland senior hurling championship title in 1981, was in rather pessimistic mood, yesterday, regarding his county's prospects against Clare in next Sunday's semi-final at Croke Park.
Horan said: "Despite all their troubles and woes it is very difficult to see Clare being defeated at this stage." Horan, a superb full-forward and a wonderful captain, stated that Offaly had lost their hunger for success and that it is almost impossible to visualise them upsetting Clare's applecart.
"I felt after the appointment of new manager Michael Bond, following the internal wranglings surrounding Babs Keating and some of the players, that Offaly would play out of their skins against Antrim in the recent All-Ireland quarter-final. But, in fact, the direct opposite was the case. Offaly were a dreadful disappointment on that occasion and will find it very hard to pick up the pieces for Sunday's semi-final," said Horan. Now manager of the Laois team, Horan said that it was ironic that Offaly should be playing so much below an acceptable level of form at a time when Clare had to contend with some very serious and pressing problems entering an All-Ireland semi-final.
"If I was a Clare man I would be extremely worried about the situation surrounding wing-back Liam Doyle, who I consider to be the most consistent defender the Banner County has had since their rise to stardom. Doyle is a truly brilliant player and a model of consistency, and I honestly cannot remember one occasion when he has left his county down. I realise that Brian Lohan, an outstanding full-back, will be a big loss to the All-Ireland champions, but Clare will be able to fill the gap at the back left by Lohan. But I am not at all sure that they will be successful in finding an adequate replacement for Doyle if he is forced to miss out because of his nasty ankle injury," said Horan. He said that he believed Clare would name Colin Lynch at midfield despite the threat of suspension hanging over his head. "If Lynch is named and is suspended by the Munster Council on Friday, I have no doubt but that Clare will use this as a prime motivating factor going into the semi-final; really a case of all the world is against us syndrome," said Horan, a teacher attached to the Birr Community College.
Horan said that if Clare were to lose the services of Doyle and Lynch in addition to the suspended Lohan, it would put the champions in a very tight corner, but he added: "Make no mistake about it, Clare are rich in reserve talent and have the strongest panel of any county in the land today. Naturally, I hope Offaly win, but I must confess I am not at all confident that they will do so.
"Admittedly, apart all together from the managerial squabble, Offaly have been hit by injuries this season and the return of Joe Dooley, Darren Hanniffy and Páidí Mulhare should strengthen them. I have been very impressed by Mulhare in training, but unfortunately things are not looking too bright for centre-forward John Troy, who was called back to hospital on Tuesday night," said Horan.
Troy was involved in a car crash last week and was detained overnight in hospital. "The one hope I have is that Johnny Pilkinton will turn it on at midfield for us. Pilkinton did not go well against Antrim, but he is the one player who is capable of lifting this Offaly team."

Dunhill places provide
extra spur for Irish trio

by John Oakley
IRISH trio, Paul McGinley, Pádraig Harrington and Philip Walton, along with Scotland's Gary Orr and Sam Torrance will have a double incentive to do well at the German Open, which starts at the sporting club, Berlin, today.
As well as a first prize of £116,660 on offer this week, the final places for English, Scottish and Irish teams for the Alfred Dunhill Cup, which will be played at St Andrews in October, will be decided on Sunday evening.
Lee Westwood (England), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) and Darren Clarke (Ireland) have already qualified on their Sony World Rankings for their respective countries and the two remaining members of each Dunhill team will be selected from their places on the European money list at the end of the German Open.
The Irish race is intense, with McGinley, Harrington and Walton all having the chance to join Clarke at St Andrews.
McGinley, with £128,043·38 and Harrington, with £101,083·62, are lying second and third, but they are well aware that if Walton finishes in the top 10 he could overtake them both if they do not do well themselves.
Even John McHenry, if he finishes in the top three, or Eamonn Darcy, in the top two, could force their way into the Irish team, so the German Open should be far more interesting than usual.
The English team is virtually decided because unless Paul Broadhurst, Van Phillips or Ian Garbutt win this week, David Carter and Peter Baker, who are not competing in Berlin, will join Westwood at St Andrews.
Andrew Coltart, another Berlin absentee, looks certain to be the second member of the Scottish team, but Orr and Torrance are still competing for the coveted third place.
Orr has won £190,391·88 this year and is in third place at the moment, behind Montgomerie and Coltart, with Torrance lying fourth on £168,042·35. It means that Torrance has to finish in the top six this week to overtake Orr and may have to do even better than that if his rival makes the halfway cut.
''I would love to play in the Dunhill Cup again,'' says Torrance. ''But I know it is going to be difficult.
''Gary missed the cut in Sweden last week which helped me to close the gap on him a little, but he has been playing well this year and I know he's just as keen as I am to make the Scottish team.''
Orr is probably keener. Torrance has played eight times in the Dunhill Cup, including being a member of the winning Scottish team in 1995 but Orr has never played in the tournament.
''It would really make my year if I play for Scotland at St Andrews,'' says Orr. ''I have been playing pretty solid golf for the past few months and I will be doing my best this week.''

O'Sullivan aims to hit form in Open

by Denis O'Hara
DENIS O'SULLIVAN hopes to recapture his brilliant form of ten years ago, when he last played on the testing Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush.
Lanky O'Sullivan, who was 50 last March, hopes to make a serious charge in the £375,000 Senior British Open Golf Championship, which begins today at Royal Portrush.
"The last occasion I played there was in the Irish amateur team in 1988. It was a quadrangular event and we beat Sweden in the final," recalled O'Sullivan, who turned professional earlier this year and has made the cut in all eight tournaments he was involved in.
It's been a major gamble by the six-footer, a life member at Little Island. He was an International through the 70s to the 90s. A winner of the Irish Close at Westport in 1985, and the East of Ireland title in 1990, the big man has no regrets about taking the plunge.
Still involved with the Leasing Company of Ireland, he looks forward to his Open debut.
"But, Royal Portrush has never looked so tough, because of all the growth this season. I have never seen it so tough, but, I am driving well and I think I should manage okay," said O'Sullivan.
"It's a dream I have had of turning professional and I am loving it. It's fantastic. I have had one top-five finish. Amateur golf was never like this. Everything is laid on, perfectly arranged. The administration is brilliant. It has also offered me the chance to play alongside some of the greats in the professional game. I partnered Tony Jacklin last week at Wentworth."
O'Sullivan will not be out of his depth, because of many appearances in the past on the Dunluce course.
However, hoping to make amends for failing to pass the cut in the Open a year ago, is Kilrush born Joe McDermott. The 53-year-old, Florida-based veteran won the AIB Irish Senior Open at Woodbrook in May and says: "I'd like to recapture that form. Since Woodbrook, my golf has been spotty, a bit of a downspell. Last week, I missed the cut at Wentworth and my form would need to improve considerably to stand any chance at Portrush."
Defending the title is 62-year old Gary Player. The amazing man from South Africa is a winner of 162 tournaments, including nine majors on the regular circuit, and nine majors in the Seniors. He made history last summer, when he became the first player to win three Senior British Opens. However, he is not overly confident of keeping the title.
"I haven't been too active this season, more involved in golf design. It would be asking too much of a 62-year-old to win another major, but, you never can tell. I love this course," Player said.

Coughlan eases into next round

CORK teenager, Claire Coughlan, qualified comfortably for the match-play stages of the British Girls Open Amateur Golf Championship at Holyhead, yesterday.
Her second-round score of 80, following a 79 the previous day, gave her a 159 aggregate and put her in 20th spot among the qualifiers. This morning she faces Germany's Jessica Jessler for a place in the last 16.
"There was nothing spectacular about it, but, it was steady enough. After all, the main purpose of these two days is to qualify and that's what I have done," said the 18-year-old four handicapper.
Coughlan is one of two Irish players to make it into the knock-out phase, the other being Pamela Murphy from The Island Club in Dublin.
Murphy (17), a two handicapper, had reason to smile after returning one of the lowest rounds, a one over par 73, for a 152 total.
She produced fire-works on the back nine, covering the homeward stretch in 2 under par and carding 3 birdies in the last seven holes.
There was disappointment for Forrest Little's Finola Donnelly, who has to be content with playing in the Plate Competition for the Todd Rose Bowl, following rounds of 86 and 81; and for Beaverstown's Martina Gillen, who posted a 171 total.
Leading qualifiers; 151, T. Engstrom, Swed., 76-75; V. Zorzi, Ita., 76-75, 152, P. Murphy, The Island, 79/73; M. Nagl, Ger., 75/77. Other Irish scores; 159, C. Coughlan, Cork, 79/80; 167, F. Donnelly, Forrest Little, 86/81; 171, M. Gillen, Beaverstown, 84/87.
ends

Galway gets better and better

THE phenomenon that is Galway was emphasised yesterday when course manager, John Molony, revealed the attendance figures for last week's six-day bonanza.
"The attendance was 145,450, about 400 up on last year'', said Molony. The final tally is all the more amazing, considering that the replayed Connacht football final was a major counter-attraction on Saturday.
It certainly made a difference to Ballybrit on the final day of the Festival, with the attendance down 2,000 on the previous year.
There will be no resting on their laurels as far as the Galway management is concerned. Not by accident has Galway become the most extraordinary success story.
Next year, of course, will see a new stand to replace the old Corrib stand. "The structure will cost us £6.5 million'', admitted Molony.
"The IHA will pay £2.2 million and we will raise the rest of the money ourselves. We are going ahead with these plans because that amount of money is available through the IHA and we will never get the chance again.
"There will be four storeys at the back of the stand and there will be a seating balcony on top for 2,000. Those seats will be available to the general public to be purchased prior to coming to Galway or, subject to availability, on the day.''
Next year, Galway runs to seven days and Molony expressed himself as "very pleased with that." He said that a day at the end of the Festival is "100% better'' than any other day of the year they might race on.
There has been a call, in some quarters, for the meeting to take in the entire Bank Holiday weekend and stretch to eight days. Molony, the man on the ground, however, is not in favour of such a development.
"I am delighted with seven, but I think that is enough'', he said. "As the week goes on people are tiring and I think it is better for everybody to stop at seven. We employ about 1,000 people here for the week and they have to be considered.''
Galway always seem to come up with something new and last week it was a giant screen perched on the weigh-room. It was a major plus, helping greatly to reduce over-crowding in other parts of the track.
"I always wanted that'', said Molony. "The Bank of Ireland agreed to sponsor it and I think it eased everybody's life."
Anyway, by the end of the week news had filtered through that certain bookmakers, the bigger boys, had won fortunes.
You know how tales can be exaggerated, especially when money is involved, but there were reports of layers winning as much as £200,000. Suffice to say that that a lot of them won't have to worry about the price of bread for a while!
Some of the statistics make interesting reading. Just look at this one.
There were 44 races at Galway for the six days. Imagine, there were only seven winning favourites and one of them was a joint favourite.
Dermot Weld landed 10 races and several of his winners were at very decent prices.
But no less than 12 of his charges started market leaders for their respective events and eight of them got beaten.

THE big race this coming weekend is the Group One £84,000 plus to the winner Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Thireteen remained in the contest yesterday and there were no supplementary entries. Aidan O'Brien has five from which to choose, Bugatti Reef, Lavery, the talking horse, Stravinsky, April Starlight and Coralita.
Christy Roche will, obviously, have the pick. Said O'Brien: "Bugatti Reef and Coralita are my most likely runners. Walter Swinburn will ride one of them, as he is available, and Michael Kinane isn't.''
Kinane is to team up with Dermot Weld's Pharmacist, who beat Bugatti Reef by two and a half lengths at Leopardstown last month.
There are four English possibilities, Neville Callaghan's Black Amber, Nick Littmoden's Blue Star, Richard Hannon's Red Delirium and Peter Evans' Polly Mills.

Byrne records a double

TRAINER Michael Byrne, who is based outside Cashel, made a highly rewarding trip to Sligo last night, leaving the Northwestern venue with his first ever double, achieved by Lafontom and Katie Fairy.
Ground conditions were very testing and with plenty of rain forecast overnight the local stewards decided during racing to plan a 7.00 a.m. inspection this morning to decide whether the second leg of the two day fixture goes ahead tonight.
Lafontom, which missed two years of his career with leg trouble, got Byrne off to an ideal start in the opening Templeboy Handicap Hurdle. Left disputing the lead when clear leader Rilmount fell at the third flight, Lafontom was always up front.
Turning for home he was strongly pressed by Hamshire Gale but had shaken off that rival jumping the final flight and it was left to Spring Beau to come through to fill the runner-up berth. Garrett Cotter rode Lafontom to victory to the delight of trainer Byrne who had feared that the ground would not suit his charge.
Paul Moloney steered Katie Fairy to a convincing victory in the concluding Summer Mares Flat Race to complete the double for trainer Byrne. Bred by her owner James Boylson from Horse and Jockey took command approaching the straight and readily held Coastal Queen.
The Bomber Liston, trained by Jim Bolger, confirmed the promise of his Curragh debut effort when landing the Tattersals 2-Y-O race under a confident ride by Kevin Manning.
This colt handled the ground well, asserting himself at the furlong pole and stretching clear to triumph by four lengths.
Trainer Gerry Stack, on duty with some show horses in the RDS, missed seeing his filly Kenema, ridden by Shane Kelly, open her account in the Rosses Point Maiden.
This daughter of Petardia was in front turning for home before being headed by General Collins. She battled back well in the final furlong to lead close home and triumph by a head with the fast finishing Munasib only a length away third.

Crowd spur Macken on to victory

by Evelyn Ring
IT was jockeys versus jumpers at the opening day of the Kerrygold Horse Show at the RDS, Dublin, yesterday.
Six top jockeys donned their racing silks to compete for the first time against six of the best Irish and international showjumpers. But the welcoming roar that came from the crowd when Eddie Macken entered the arena spurred him on to win the day.
A modest Eddie never intended to beat his showjumping colleague Peter Charles. In third place was English jockey Graham Bradley. "I was surprised," said Eddie when he dismounted from a well-built dappled grey horse that took the two of them smoothly through the course. Even before Eddie jumped the first fence there was no doubt that he remains No 1 as far as his supporters at the RDS are concerned. The competition was all in a good cause. The RDS and Kerrygold, joint sponsors of the event, presented a cheque for £5,000 to Seán Barry, registrar of the National Hunt Committee and representative of the fund. Jockey Aidan Maguire was placed sixth after he rode a little chestnut gelding around the course. Asked if he would like to be a showjumper, Aidan said: "I prefer racing. That way I make more money."
All the horses were provided by Charles O'Neill, who has stables at Clane, Co Kildare. None of the riders knew their horses, as they were chosen for them before the competition. Watching the event from the grandstand was top jockey Charlie Swan, who is recovering from broken ribs which he sustained in a fall in Killarney, Co Kerry, three weeks ago.
Charlie was disappointed he could not be included in the jockey team for the event, and is hoping that he will be fit enough to ride in Wexford on Saturday.
The five-day extravaganza was officially opened by Farm Minister Joe Walsh, who said it was much more than just a horse show. It was, he said, one of the summer's most prestigious social events, with fashion and style, music and dancing, food and drink and specialist exhibitions all adding to the excitement.
Because the show was held in one of Europe's most exciting cities, the fun of the Kerrygold Horse Show did not let up when the sun went down, said Mr Walsh.

Foxall poses real threat in
La Solitaire Du Figaro

KINSALE YC member Damien Foxall sails from Cherbourg in northern France today bound for Howth on the first leg of the La Solitaire Du Figaro, the Formula One of Grand Prix single-handed yacht racing.
He is regarded as the first non-French entry in the 18-year history of the race to have a real chance of a podium finish, having surprised the French professionals by winning the Rookie prize in his first attempt on the same race in 1997.
His "Barlo Plastics" will be one of the 47 powerful 30 foot Beneteau Figaro yachts in the 1,480-mile race, having secured the vital sponsorship of the sheet plastic manufacturers just two weeks ago.
The fleet is one design, all boats identical in every way with the same potential boat speed, and the winner, the man or women who sails best and makes least mistakes. The first leg takes the yachts to a turning mark on English shores, down the Cornish coast, around Lands End and up the demanding Irish Sea to Howth.
Leg two will take them to Lorient in Brittany starting from Howth on August 11. Leg three will be from Lorient to Gijon in northern Spain starting August 18.
The final leg will start August 24 from Gijon to Concarneau near Lorient and the climax will be a final inshore regatta on August 29.
It all adds up to three weeks of tough, hard sailing with competitors rarely sleeping for more than a few ten-minute sessions during each of the four legs of three to four days duration.
Just about every famous single-handed sailor has taken the Figaro as a proving round, from Lionel Pean to Laurent Bourgnon, Phillippe Poupon and Alain Gautier. Nor is it just a stepping stone, as shown by the fact that veteran Poupon is back again this year to take on the youngsters.
An Irish team of four led by David Nixon of Howth YC will challenge in the new Cowes Inter-Nations Youth Week regatta starting Sunday and running through to August 14. Planned to grow into a Cowes Week for young people, the event has drawn entries from Hong Kong, Switzerland, Czech Republic, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Thailand, Norway, France and Holland as well as home countries.
It has been initiated by the Isle of Wight Council with the full support of both yachting and business interests.
More international developments see the Irish Disabled sailing team head off next week for the World Disabled Sailing Championships in Newport, Rhode Island, the second event in their campaign to qualify for the Paralympics in Sydney 2000.
Exciting action at home will be highlighted with the staging of the Irish National Mirror Championships at Royal Cork starting Monday and running through to August 14. Huge fleets will be taking part, building to the European Mirror Championships under the Eagle Star banner at Kinsale August 17.21. The current world champion, Chris Baldwin, and the current European champion David Gebhard, both UK, will compete at Kinsale where the entry fee has been cut by £25 after generous sponsorship from Eagle Star and the Sports Council of Ireland.
Calves Week is in full flight down in West Cork, with Cape Clear Regatta enjoying the superb weather yesterday. Today the Heineken Trophy Race will be held at Schull, with the Round Cape Clear Race tomorrow. Schull Regatta will be staged on Sunday.
All systems go too for Cobh Peoples Regatta the following week-end on August 14-16, with sailing for some of the most prestigious trophies in Irish sailing.
It was lovely to see the beautifully kept Cork Harbour One Design, Maureen, on moorings at Carrigaloe near Rushbrooke this week. But real surprise came when we spotted her sister yacht, Cygnet, in equally pristine condition on mooring at East Ferry. There is also a report that a fabulously restored sister yacht, Minx, appeared on the marina at Crosshaven. All three were built circa 1895 by one of the famous Geary family from Carrigaloe-Rushbrooke. Would it not be fabulous if they raced against each other at the Cobh Regatta.
At Kinsale YC, John Godkin's VSOP emerged as the overall winner in both Class One handicap divisions in the Quality Plastics July League with Padraig O'Donovan's Chameleon Class Two overall winner in both divisions. Vice Commodore Bob McCutcheon's Time Trapp was overall winner in Class Three channel.
Gary and Susan Horgan's Amazing Grace finished first in both Channel and Echo Class One in the final race of the Kinsale Boatyard July Mid Week League to secure the same positions in the overall standings. The McCarthy Brothers were similarly successful in Class Two Channel, with Class Captain Ultan McKibben in Buster winning Echo where John Downing's first on the final day was not enough to get him into the top three overall.
Jim McEvoy's win in Class Three secured first overall for him.