• Galway sports stars Ollie Canning, Sean O Domhnaill and Ja Fallon are taking part in the 148km first stage of the ‘Race The Rás’ charity cycle in aid of GOAL and The Irish Cancer Society from Dunboyne to Portumna on Sunday. The three will begin each of the stages three hours before the professional riders begin their leg of the tour, which finishes in Skerries on Sunday week. In total, almost 100 members of the public will join more than 50 current and former GAA personalities to cycle at least one stage of the tour. They are hoping to raise in excess of €100,000 for the two organisations. Other GAA stars who have confirmed their participation include Sean Og Ó hÁilpín and Brian Corcoran, ex-Kilkenny star DJ Carey, Clare’s Tony Griffin and ex-Irish rugby international, Mick Galwey.
• The Western Lakes Cycling Club, in conjunction with CEECC Letterfrack, is hosting a race to celebrate Connemara Bog Week on Sunday (May 22 ) at Tullycross, Renvyle. The 40km race is open to all club and A4 riders. Sign in at 2pm at The Marian Hall, Tullycross. Contact JJ @ 087 912 0910
• Jog for Jockeys: The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund has announced details for the inaugural ‘Jog for Jockeys 5k’ run which will take place at Galway Racecourse on August 21, and also simultaneously at Cork, Down Royal, Leopardstown, and Naas racecourses. Tracy Piggott, Michael Kinane, Ruby Walsh and Hector Ó hEochagáin are among the sporting personalities who will compete in the event. The run is open to everyone with an entry fee of €25, pre-register at www.jogforjockeys.ie and proceeds go to the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. There are prizes for the first three finishers in both the male and female category at each racecourse and all registered participants will receive an official T-shirt, goody bag and timing chip.
• A new initiative to bring top-class show jumping to the west of Ireland will be launched on Friday in Galway. The €45,000 Olympic Saddlery Connacht Grand Prix League 2011 will feature 11 events, beginning on May 29 at Claremorris Equitation Club and finishing at Duffy's Equestrian Centre in Claregalway on July 31. The prize fund for the series will be a minimum of €3,000 for each show.
•Three young Moycullen basketball players have been named in the Irish u-16 boys’ squad ahead of Ireland’s European campaign this summer. Dylan Costelloe, Patrick Lyons and Stephen O’Brien are all students of the three-times All Ireland winning St Joseph’s College team and Moycullen Basketball Club. The u-16s face a tough challenge against Sweden, Hungary, Switzerland, Armenia and Slovak Republic when they make the trip to Macedonia for their division B campaign, which commences on July 28.
• The Roundstone Bay 8k, which will support the local RNLI Lifeboat service, takes place on Saturday. The race, which is AAI sanctioned, will follow a figure of eight loop beginning and ending in Roundstone village. Start time is 2.30pm and registration is €20. Organisers are also seeking donations for the RNLI Lifeboat service. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female; 1st male and female over 40, 50, and 60; and top GAA team. In addition as this year’s race theme is ‘Retro Running’, there will be a prize for the best outfit. The apres-run party will take place in The Shamrock Bar on Saturday evening. For more information visit www.roundstonebay8k.com
