Latest news with #IrishNationals
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Silver medal for Luke at Leinster/Connacht Championships
Enniskillen swimmer Luke Lannon impressed at the Leinster/Connacht Regional Championships in Dublin last weekend, returning home with a silver medal and a series of personal bests that have earned his place at the Irish Youth and Senior Summer Nationals. 14-year-old Luke, a student at St Michael's College and a member of Longford Swim Club, is aged up to compete in the 15/16-year-old category, took on a demanding race schedule over three days at the National Aquatic Centre. The highlight for Luke was the 1500m freestyle, where he swam with control and determination to secure a well-deserved silver medal in one of the most gruelling events of the meet. In the 400m freestyle, Luke knocked almost two seconds off his personal best to post a time of 4:51.40, finishing second in his heat and ranking as the third-fastest 15-year-old overall, which also secured his fourth qualifying time for the Irish Summer Nationals. Luke continued his strong form with a 5th-place finish in both the 400m Individual Medley and the 200m Backstroke, and rounded out the weekend with an 8th-place finish in the 200m Individual Medley, setting another personal best of 2:39.50, a five-second improvement on his entry time. He now prepares to represent Longford Swim Club once again in mid and long-distance events at the summer national championships.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meet the 62-year-old rider at the North West 200 whose dream is to emulate Michael Dunlop
There aren't too many people competing at a major sporting event at the age of 62, especially in the high-octane world of motorcycling! Stephen Degnan is the exception to the rule however and he is showing no signs of slowing down. Degnan still harbours the dream of being the next Michael Dunlop, and while that may not happen he is determined to make the most of his time at the North West 200. READ MORE: North West 200: Two riders injured in incident on day one of practice sessions READ MORE: North West 200 road closures for 2025 event "I made my debut here aged 55," he explained. "I had done all the Irish Nationals so I thought it was time to do the North West. "I didn't think I was 55, it was only when I looked in the mirror. I always said I thought I was going to be another Michael Dunlop, I'm just a slow burner. "I'll just keep going at it, it's just going to take a bit longer. I'm 62 now so another 40 years and I will have caught up with Michael and I'll still be coming here! "This is the best in the world. I've no interest in the TT and I get slaughtered for saying that, but there's nowhere like this place. It's perfect for me and I love it. "I'm 62 but everyone talks to me like I'm one of the boys. Any other sport I wouldn't get an entry anymore they would just say I'm too old. Mervyn keeps giving me an entry and I keep coming. "I give the fans something to watch while they're waiting on the fast lads coming round and maybe also give those guys in their 50s and 60s some inspiration of what you can do." Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
The 42
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The 42
Ted Walsh hails retiring hero Any Second Now: 'He's off to The Savoy or The Ritz for horses'
TED WALSH HAS described training Any Second Now as 'a privilege' after the chasing stalwart scene brought the curtain down on his career at Fairyhouse on Monday. Owned by JP McManus, the 13-year-old was bidding to become the first teenager since Overshadow in 1953 to win the Irish Grand National, finishing runner-up for the second successive year, this time behind Rebecca Curtis' Haiti Couleurs – a typically brave effort which would ultimately be his final outing. 'He was a great horse to have and a privilege to have him,' said Walsh. 'We've had him since he was a four-year-old, he's been here for nine seasons and we've had some great days with him. Advertisement 'He was just a pleasure to be involved with and I get very attached to them. He was here for a long time and I appreciate everything he has done for me. He has always run his heart out and he was good at Fairyhouse on Monday, as he was 12 months ago – he just met a better horse on the day.' A winner of the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019, he also ran in the Grand National at Aintree three years running, finishing second in 2021 and again making the podium when third a year later. 'We went to Liverpool for the Grand National on three occasions, twice to Cheltenham, ran in three Irish Nationals and we got a Cheltenham Festival win out of him,' added Walsh. 'When he won the Moscow Flyer over hurdles, with the size of him and the scope he had, you knew he would make a nice chaser and he did that and he became a very good horse and a very sound horse. We had some terrific days. Any Second Now retires a legend at 13 His brave second today was just one of multiple times he has been placed in Nationals! Horses like him are why we love jump racing ♥️ — (@irishracing) April 21, 2025 'The only time I think he was unlucky was in his first Grand National which Rachael (Blackmore) won on Henry de Bromhead's horse (Minella Times). He got very badly baulked and lost a lot of ground and that's probably the only day when you could think if the ball had bounced right he might have won.' Any Second Now will now join fellow McManus-owned luminaries at the owner's Martinstown Stud in retirement, with Walsh delighted he will head off to what he termed a 'five-star hotel' for horses. 'I just always liked everything about Any Second Now and he had a very good owner in JP, you could do whatever you liked with him,' continued Walsh. 'He would have had a very good home here, but he is going to a five-star hotel at Martinstown. 'I wouldn't mind going down there myself in retirement and JP has a beautiful set up and he's off to The Savoy or The Ritz for horses.' Walsh also reserved praise for Mark Walsh, who partnered Any Second Now for the majority of his 41-race career.
The Herald Scotland
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Ted Walsh savours special moments, as Any Second Now heads for ‘five-star' retirement
'He was a great horse to have and a privilege to have him,' said Walsh. 'We've had him since he was a four-year-old, he's been here for nine seasons and we've had some great days with him. Derek O'Connor steered Any Second Now to victory at the Cheltenham Festival (Paul Harding/PA) 'He was just a pleasure to be involved with and I get very attached to them. He was here for a long time and I appreciate everything he has done for me. He has always run his heart out and he was good at Fairyhouse on Monday, as he was 12 months ago – he just met a better horse on the day.' A winner of the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019, he also ran in the Grand National at Aintree three years running, finishing second in 2021 and again making the podium when third a year later. 'We went to Liverpool for the Grand National on three occasions, twice to Cheltenham, ran in three Irish Nationals and we got a Cheltenham Festival win out of him,' added Walsh. 'When he won the Moscow Flyer over hurdles, with the size of him and the scope he had, you knew he would make a nice chaser and he did that and he became a very good horse and a very sound horse. We had some terrific days. Any Second Now and Mark Walsh pictured in full flight (Brian Lawless/PA) 'The only time I think he was unlucky was in his first Grand National which Rachael (Blackmore) won on Henry de Bromhead's horse (Minella Times). He got very badly baulked and lost a lot of ground and that's probably the only day when you could think if the ball had bounced right he might have won.' Any Second Now will now join fellow McManus-owned luminaries at the owner's Martinstown Stud in retirement, with Walsh delighted he will head off to what he termed a 'five-star hotel' for horses. 'I just always liked everything about Any Second Now and he had a very good owner in JP, you could do whatever you liked with him,' continued Walsh. 'He would have had a very good home here, but he is going to a five-star hotel at Martinstown. 'I wouldn't mind going down there myself in retirement and JP has a beautiful set up and he's off to The Savoy or The Ritz for horses.' Any Second Now retires a legend at 13 His brave second today was just one of multiple times he has been placed in Nationals! Horses like him are why we love jump racing ♥️ — (@irishracing) April 21, 2025 Walsh also reserved praise for Mark Walsh – McManus' retained jockey in Ireland – who partnered Any Second Now for the majority of his 41-race career. 'One of the reasons he lasted so long is that Mark rode him nearly all the time and rode him so well,' said Walsh. 'He knew when it wasn't happening for him and never abused him. He didn't give him any hard races to be third or fourth when he didn't have to, he always thought of the next day and the bigger picture and the horse thrived for that, it was a big thing.'
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Irish Grand National 2025 results in FULL as Haiti Couleurs wins for Britain to deny Willie Mullins historic treble
A field of 30 runners and riders went to post across the Irish Sea for with a £450,000 prize up for grabs British horse Haiti Couleurs won the Irish Grand National to deny Willie Mullins an historic treble at Fairyhouse. The 13/2 shot - tipped by Record Sport's Garry Owen - won for trainer Rebecca Curtis and jockey Sean Bowen. And it meant Mullins missed out on an unprecedented treble as he was aiming to become the first trainer to win the English, Scottish and Irish Nationals. Mullins won both the Grand National at Aintree and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr earlier this month and he notched up the first two winners on home soil with Last Kingdom first home at 10/1 followed by Blue Lemons who beat fellow 2/1 joint favourite Its Bilbo. However, he missed out on the big one despite having the favourite Quai De Bourbon which finished third and Sa Majeste. But punters were treated to a magnificent day on one of the biggest fixtures on the UK and Ireland racing calendar as crowds turned up at Fairyhouse in their thousands for the Irish Grand National. 14.05 Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle 1. Last Kingdom (10/1) 2. Stuntman Steve (18/1) 3. Weston (14/1) 4. Catchabird (10/1) 14.40 O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle 1. Blue Lemons (2/1 jf) 2. Its Bilbo (2/1 jf) 3. Wendrock (7/2) 4. Ephesus (11/1) 15.15 Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle 1. Glen Kiln (13/2) 2. Eagles Reign (25/1) 3. Mywayofthinkin (10/3 fav) 4. Tranquil Sea (18/1) 15.50 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle 1. Maxxum (14/1) 2. Gala Marceau (15/8 fav) 3. Feet Of A Dancer (6/1) 4. Colonel Mustard (8/1) 16.20 Jack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Chase 1. Found A Fifty (5/1) 2. Saint Sam (4/1) 3. Blood Destiny (3/1) 4. Rebel Gold (33/1) 17.00 BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase 1. Haiti Couleurs (13/2) 2. Any Second Now (17/2) 3. Quai De Bourbon (11/2 fav) 4. Dunboyne (22/1) 17.40 Envirogreen Building Services Handicap Chase 1. 2. 3. 4. 18.10 Leinster Reinforcements & Brazil Piling 1. 2. 3. 4.
