Author Archives: Aaron McAllorum

This afternoon.

Irishwoman Rachel Blackmore makes history as the first female Champion Hurdle-winning Jockey, riding Honeysuckle to victory at Cheltenham.

Meanwhile…

Gulp.

Free tomorrow night?

Spend St Patrick’s evening with All-Ireland medal-winner and renowned Gaelic football pundit Joe Brolly as he talks to Stockholm Gaels chairman Philip O’Connor in a special St Patrick’s Day fundraiser for Nordic GAA at 9pm.

Philip writes:

Over the years, Joe has collected almost as many stories as he has medals, and he will be sharing some of them on this unique evening, with a particular focus on the whistle-blowers who – for better or worse – often end up in the spotlight.

Gaelic games in the Nordic region are expanding rapidly, and one of the big challenges is getting qualified referees to travel to the various tournaments and paying their expenses.

A referee officiating at a Nordic tournament usually faces a two-day round-trip of at least 1000km, often reffing a dozen or more games in a day and featuring clubs all over the region.

The funds raised will go towards their travel costs for the upcoming season and the general development of the games among the Vikings here.

Whether you’re a player or a coach in Scandinavia or just a fan anywhere in the world, it’s a perfect way to spend your St. Patrick’s Day!

Tickets here

Tonight.

Earlier…

Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has apologised after this photo of himself sitting on a dead horse circulated on social media

“The photo in question was taken some time ago and occurred after a horse had died of an apparent heart attack on the gallops. I appreciate that an initial viewing of this photo suggests it is a callous and staged photo but nothing could be further from the truth.

“At what was a sad time, which it is when any horse under my care passes away, my initial reaction was to get the body removed from where it was positioned.

“I was standing over the horse waiting to help with the removal of the body, in the course of which, to my memory I received a call and, without thinking, I sat down to take it. Hearing a shout from one of my team, I gestured to wait until I was finished.”

Grand National and Gold Cup-winning trainer Gordon Elliot.

Seems legit.

Gordon Elliott admits ‘shocking’ photo is real and apologises (Racing Post)

Meanwhile…

Ryanair Boss Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown horse racing operation expressed their support for Elliott after what it describes as a ‘a grievous but momentary lapse of judgement’.

Fight!


Last night.

‘Off The Ball’ on Newstalk.

Former Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll addressed the conviction of his former coaching mentor John McClean (top), who admitted to sexually abusing 23 boys in the 1970s and 1980s at Terenure College before taking up a role with UCD rugby academy.

He was unaware, he said, of any allegations against McClean until 2018, when victims came forward to tell their stories in Village magazine.

Mr O’Driscoll told ‘Off the Ball’ host Nathan Murphy:

“If I had suspected anything, I would never have spoken in a positive manner, like that time at Blackrock College (on BT Sport in 2017), or any other time,” he said.

“I was completely shocked by this when it came to light a few years ago. Other people say that the dog in the street knew about it. I can honestly say that anyone in the rugby circles I was involved in never knew anything about it.

“I went for a walk in the park on Sunday and bumped into some ex-teammates from UCD and Leinster schools – we were all discussing it and everyone was equally shocked by the findings of it.

“There is no way that you wouldn’t speak as teenagers about those kinds of rumours, there is no way you would go on summer tours if you had any concerns whatsoever.

“ It was just an absolute shock. I had him as a quiet, reclusive sort of person but then I suppose you don’t always know the person behind the mask.”

Brian O’Driscoll brands his former mentor, paedophile rugby coach John McClean, a ‘total and utter fraud’ (Newstalk)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

…The IRFU, the Leinster branch and UCD rugby club all say they have not received any complaints of abuse against McClean. In a statement issued they said: “The crimes committed by John McClean are abhorrent and the devastation that his actions caused to so many people is unforgiveable.”

But is that good enough for a university ranked within the top 1 per cent of higher education institutions worldwide? Is it good enough from one of the top rugby clubs in Europe or good enough from Irish rugby’s governing body?

“The dogs in the street knew,” said the survivor. “The dogs in the street.” Do we choose not to believe him? Again. Do we choose to re-victimise him by denying what he says is true?

Johnny Watterson: I do not buy the apology around paedophile John McClean (Irish Times)

This morning.

Golf legend Tiger Woods is “awake and responsive” following surgery on serious leg injuries suffered in a car crash in Los Angeles, California, USA yesterday.

Via BBC:

The 15-time golf major champion, 45, had to be “extricated from the wreck” by firefighters and paramedics.

The American suffered “open fractures affecting the tibia and fibula bones” in his lower right leg “stabilised by inserting a rod into the tibia”.

Injuries to his foot and ankle have been stabilised with screws and pins.

Tiger Woods car crash: Golfing great ‘awake and responsive’ following surgery (BBC)

This morning.

In fairness.

Meanwhile…

Ireland’s Rhys Ruddock (left) and France’s Charles Ollivon contest the line-out during a Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday

This afternoon.

Suite aux tests PCR réalisés hier soir à Marcoussis auprès du XV de France, tous les joueurs ont été testés négatifs, un membre de l’encadrement technique a été testé positif, ainsi qu’un cas suspicieux et non avéré concernant Fabien Galthié qui sera testé à nouveau ce matin.

Huh?

Tournoi des 6 Nations : Protocole sanitaire (FFR)

Rapscallion writes:

French rugby team go into quarantine as a staff member gets positive result.

Eau.

The beautiful game.

Stoke winger James McClean shares Instagram death threat just months after claiming he was the most abused star in England (MailOnline)

Previously: James McClean on Broadsheet