Team Ireland and its popular supporters leave Birmingham this morning following a very successful European Athletics Championships from an Irish viewpoint.

Four Medals

Irish athletes won four medal – two gold, one silver and one bronze.

Finn Valley AC’s Mark English got the ball rolling when he produced a tactically astute performance to win gold in the Men’s 800m Final in a time of 1:45.26. In the process, the Letterkenny man became the first Irish male athlete to win an individual European outdoor title. His 800m Final win was his sixth European medal across indoor and outdoor championships, and he is now the country’s most decorated European track championship athlete. It should not be forgotten that English also set a new Championship Record in his semi-final when clocking 1:43.49.

Kate O’Connor added another medal to an ever-increasing haul with her victory in the heptathlon. The Dundalk St Gerard’s AC athlete set a new Irish record as she achieved the highest heptathlon score of her career to date, with 6,751 points.

Rhasidat Adeleke, who only a few short weeks ago hadn’t even qualified for these championships, won a silver medal in the Women’s 200m Final. The Tallaght AC member also set a new National Record for the distance with a time of 22.28 seconds.

Andrew Coscoran’s medal was, arguably, the surprise medal of the four for Ireland. The Star of the Sea AC man’s bronze in the Men’s 1500m was his first senior major outdoor championship medal.

Close to medals

Sarah Healy was fourth in the 5000m and fifth in the 1500m.

Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) secured a career-best senior major championship finish of fifth in the hammer.

David Kenny (Farranfore-Maine Valley AC) was sixth in the half marathon race walk on his debut over the distance.

Finals and Records

The Women’s and Men’s 4 x 100m teams qualified for their respective European finals, finishing seventh.

Sophie O’Sullivan was eighth in the 1500m and Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) took the same position in the Men’s 5000m Final.

Eric Favors of Raheny Shamrock AC finished secured 10th in the shot put, as did Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers) in the 10,000m Final.

The Men’s 4 x 400m team finished 10th overall with the third-fastest performance in Irish athletics history.

The Women’s 4 x 100m team of Lucy-May Sleeman, Ciara Neville, Sarah Leahy and Lauren Roy produced a National Record of 43.13 seconds.

Team Ireland Results

CR = Championship Record; NR = National Record; SF = Semi-Final, DNF = Did Not Finish; DNS = Did Not Start

1st – Mark English – Men’s 800m Final – 1:45.26 (1:43.49 CR in semi-final) GOLD

1st – Kate O’Connor – Heptathlon – 6,751 Points NR GOLD

2nd – Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 200m Final – 22.28 NR (22.43 SB in semi-final) SILVER

3rd – Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m Final – 3:36.24 BRONZE

4th – Sarah Healy – Women’s 5000m Final – 15:40.95

5th – Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m Final – 4:10.76

5th – Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw Final – 70.33m

6th – David Kenny – Half Marathon Race Walk – 1:24:49 PB

7th – Men’s 4 x 100m – Final – 40.26 (39.13 SB in R1)

7th – Women’s 4 x 100m Final – 44.18 (43.13 NR in R1)

8th – Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m Final – 4:11.72

8th – Nick Griggs – Men’s 5000m Final – 13:21.07

10th – Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put Final – 19.59m

10th – Men’s 4 x400m Relay R1 – 3:01.76 SB

10th – Jack O’Leary – Men’s 10,000m Final – 28:24.89 SB

11th – Oisín Lane – Half Marathon Race Walk – 1:27:09 PB

12th – Lauren Roy – Women’s 200m SF – 23.16 seconds

12th – Seán Aigboboh – Men’s 200m SF – 20.46 seconds

14th – Brian Fay – Men’s 5000m Final – 13:31.15

15th – Women’s 4 x 400m R1 – 3:32.70

16th – Bori Akinola – Men’s 100m SF – 10.38 seconds

18th – Cian McPhillips – Men’s 800m R1 – 1:46.84

18th – Darragh McElhinney – Men’s 5000m Final – 13:37.62

20th – Fiona Everard – Women’s 10,000m Final – 33:08.60

20th – Israel Olatunde – Men’s 100m SF – 10.49 seconds

21st – Jack Raftery – Men’s 400m SF – 45.81 seconds

24th – Ciara Neville – Women’s 100m SF – 11.57 seconds

24th – Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m SF – 52.47 seconds (52.28 SB in R1)

24th – Marcus Lawler – Men’s 200m SF – 21.11 seconds

26th – Jodie McCann – Women’s 1500m R1 – 4:14.63

27th – Lauren Roy – Women’s 100m R1 – 11.32 seconds

27th – Sarah Lavin – 100m Hurdles R1 – 13.07 seconds SB

29th – Abbie Sheridan – Women’s 3000m SC R1 – 9:57.50

31st – Cathal Doyle – Men’s 1500m R1 – 4:36.28

43rd – Paul O’Donnell – Men’s Marathon – Final – 2:20.41

DNF – Niamh Allen – Women’s 10,000m Final

DNF – Fionnuala McCormack – Women’s Marathon – Final

DNF – David McGlynn – Men’s Marathon – Final

DNS – Ryan Creech – Men’s Marathon – Final

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after scoring in the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Atlanta Dream Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

ATLANTA — After the Indiana Fever’s fourth straight win, Caitlin Clark said coach Stephanie White “made a great point” in her postgame talk with the team by saying “This felt like a playoff game.”

If so, the Fever looked playoff-ready in their 95-91 overtime win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday.

The Fever showed impressive depth with four players scoring 18 or more points. Perhaps of more importance, Indiana responded to a major challenge from an Atlanta team that began the day one-half behind the Fever for the important fourth-place spot in the playoff standings. The top four teams receive home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

READ: WNBA: Makayla Timpson, Caitlin Clark push Fever past Dream in OT

“Coming into each night, we know how important that win is to hopefully get home-court advantage in the playoffs,” Clark said.

Atlanta led 72-64 entering the fourth quarter. Indiana held the Dream to nine points in the final period of regulation.

Despite giving the Fever an overall grade of only “B-minus” for the game, Clark had praise for her team.

Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball against Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) in the second half of an WNBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

“Just proud of our group,” Clark said. “Super resilient. … Obviously, this was a big one.”

Clark scored 26 points with nine assists. After scoring only five points in the first half, Kelsey Mitchell had an important layup late in overtime to finish with 20 points. It was Mitchell’s 19th consecutive game scoring at least 20.

“Kelsey struggled from the floor in the first half, and she found it in the second half,” White said. “I think that’s part of her growth, which is knowing to stay with it, that it’s going to come.”

READ: WNBA: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers duel in Fever win over Wings

White said Clark and Mitchell “were both terrific” and said Clark was effective in creating scoring opportunities for her teammates.

“The way that she’s getting us into offense, the way she’s using the floor to give her teammates shots … she’s allowing the game to flow, and she’s doing a great job of finding her teammates in that,” White said. “The way she does that, it opens things up for her.”

Makayla Timpson delivered Indiana’s first three field goals of overtime to score a career-high 20 points. Aliyah Boston added 18 points with 14 rebounds.

Clark said Atlanta, which had 32 points from Allisha Gray and 15 points with 14 rebounds from Angel Reese, “is a team that will be scary in the playoffs. They’re great at what they do. They have a lot of different weapons.”

The Dream also had the support of a sellout crowd of 17,044 at State Farm Arena, the home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and also the usual site of Dream games when Clark and the Fever are in town.

“For us, these are the games you get up for, that’s what’s fun about competition,” Clark said. “You know, you want to play the best. It brings out the best in you. Obviously, that’s been a challenge and we’re really good at that.”

High on confidence after holding Olympic silver medallists and world No. 4 China to a draw, India will look to strengthen their bid for a top-two finish in Pool D when they face South Africa in their second Women’s Hockey World Cup match here on Tuesday.

India, ranked ninth in the world, produced a disciplined display to secure a 2-2 draw against a fancied Chinese side in their tournament opener. The result has given them a valuable point and put them in a good position to qualify for the second round.

England currently lead Pool D following their 4-0 win over South Africa, with China and India next in the standings, while South Africa are fourth.

For the semifinal race the top two teams from each pool will be divided into two groups (E and F) of four teams each. Each team will play matches against the opponents they did not face in the first round.

A team’s result in the first round against the progressing team from its pool will be carried forward in second round. It means that India and China will not play each other if they reach the second round and their one point each from the draw will be carried forward.

For India, Tuesday’s game is, therefore, an opportunity to put themselves firmly in control of their qualification hopes. A win over 18th-ranked South Africa would not only boost their chances of finishing in the top two but also provide momentum ahead of their final pool game.

“We don’t have to worry about the other teams’ positions, but we need to maintain this momentum in the upcoming matches while avoiding complacency,” coach Sjoerd Marijne said after the China game.

India showed plenty of promise in their opening match. Drag-flicker Deepika converted a penalty corner and also earned another, while World Cup debutants Sunelita Toppo, Ishika and Shilpi Dabas displayed composure well beyond their experience. 

Navneet Kaur, who was named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup Qualifiers, has also carried her impressive form into the tournament and will be one of India’s key attacking threats.

However, Marijne knows there is room for improvement, particularly in possession and ball retention.

India controlled the opening quarter and went into half-time with a 2-1 lead, but their intensity dropped after the break. They sat deeper in the third quarter, allowing China to take control and eventually find the equaliser.

“We scored a penalty corner and a field goal, but I’m not happy with the third quarter. We need to work on ball possession and ball retention. The team must have felt relieved after the draw in the first match,” Marijne said.

South Africa’s 0-4 loss to England means they will enter the contest under pressure, but India will not be taking their lower-ranked opponents lightly.

The Indian team’s best finish at the World Cup came at the inaugural edition in 1974, when they finished fourth under captain Ajinder Kaur. Their fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics under Marijne had raised hopes of another strong showing on the global stage.

Daniel Coyle won the $35,000 USD CSI2* Canada Gold Grand Prix at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa on Sunday.

The Derry rider had the advantage of going last in the jump-off. As the final entry in the opening round, Coyle stayed at the ingate to watch the first jump-off challenger, Canada’s Gavin Moylan, execute his plan with Lordy-P.

By the time four others had jumped, Moylan still held the lead with a clear round in a time of 39.94 seconds. Only Coyle remained with Nord Face VDL, and though he looked to be behind Moylan’s pace at the beginning, Coyle turned on the speed half-way through the short course, leaving out strides to cross through the timers in 38.55 seconds and claim victory.

“I knew I had to catch up”

“I was last to go so that’s always a huge advantage,” said Coyle, who represented Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. “I knew Gavin was winning and, having watched his round, I knew what I had to do to beat it. I knew half-way around the course that I wasn’t fast enough. My horse was jumping very high at the beginning of the course, but you don’t need to be that high over the jumps; it’s not fast to do it that way. I knew I had to catch up, and he’s got to learn to go fast!”

By turning on the afterburners, the pair were able to better Moylan’s time by over one full second. Moylan finished as runner-up riding Lordy-P, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion.

Four-time Olympic medallist for the United States, Beezie Madden, was also double clear in a time of 41.30 seconds to take third riding Nairobi, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, while Canada’s Seán Jobin riding Qourtois and Blyth Marano of the United States aboard Theo Duc T&L Z were also double-clear to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

“This horse is special”

Nord Face VDL, who is new to the international show jumping scene, is quickly forming a successful partnership with Coyle, who admitted:

“From the moment we tried him, we thought, ‘this horse is special’ (but) it was just a matter of whether we could contain it. He has so much blood, so much scope, and so much power. It seems strange to say but don’t need all that; you need to be clever and handy.

“He’s so talented but he’s a dinosaur,” continued Coyle. “I don’t know if I’ve ridden a bigger horse and I don’t know if I’ve ever ridden a more talented horse. Next year will be very telling.”

Swail wins three CSI4* Classes

Coyle wasn’t the only Irish rider to have a good week at the Ottawa International. Conor Swail scored a hat-trick by winning three of the four CSI4* classes on offer, all aboard Casturano, a 13-year-old Holsteiner geldin.

Swail also won Friday’s $31,000 USD CSI2* Qualifier after topping an 11-horse jump-off riding Nadal Hero & DB, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.

$35,000 USD CSI2* Canada Gold Grand Prix

1. 1. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Nord Face VDL / 0:0 / 38.55
   2. Gavin Moylan / Canada / Lordy-P / 0:0 / 39.94
   3. Beezie Madden / United States / Nairobi / 0:0 / 41.30

11. Conor Swail / Ireland / Nadal Hero & DB / 4

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Back-to-back wins build momentum and confidence in the course of a season.

Wins can also lead to overconfidence and complacency, so stringing them together demonstrates focus and respect for the next opponent.

The table below shows the victories, losses, and win percentages for the region’s top programs as the away team favorite over the last 20 seasons.

Boise State leads the way, followed by Oregon, BYU, Utah, and USC.

Bob Peters, making one of his infrequent trips from Western Australia, watched on as Cosmic Crusader extended its flawless Melbourne racing campaign with a victory in the P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

Now trained at Pakenham by Andrea Leek, Cosmic Crusader has achieved two wins from two starts since its arrival from Perth.

The horse first won the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 25, and then added Saturday’s Group 2 race to its impressive record.

Ridden by Willie Pike and starting as the $2.40 favourite, Cosmic Crusader secured a three-quarter length win over Private Eye ($3.40), with Evaporate ($5) a similar distance back in third. Those following the best horse racing betting apps saw the favourite live up to expectations with another strong performance.

Peters mentioned that he couldn’t recall the last time he journeyed from Perth to witness one of his horses race in Melbourne.

“I made it a point never to fly when I only have one runner,” Peter said.

“I went to Morphettville once for a Group 1.

“Everything was going alright, but at six o’clock in the morning I got the call that the horse had done a tendon, so I thought ‘never again’ if I’ve only got one.

“I had another function on, so that’s why I’m here today. It was a good opportunity to come for two things.”

Peters was pleased with Cosmic Crusader’s effort, noting the horse settled further back than anticipated during the race.

The next race on the agenda is the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 29.

“I was a little bit worried in the run when he was pulling, but once Willie got him to the outside, I could see he was on the job,” Peters said.

“(The Memsie) that’s the way to go. He had to get through this one to get there, but he’s done it well.

“It’s a bit of a step up when you get up to the big boys and girls in the next fortnight.”

Leek stated that Cosmic Crusader would not require significant training between its recent win and the Memsie Stakes.

She advised that the horse would be kept in light work on the hills at their property to prepare for the upcoming event.

“He’s a lovely horse with a lot of ability and I thought he had come on from that first-up run and hopefully he can come on from this one to,” Leek said.

Explore the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites for the upcoming Memsie Stakes.

Champion trainer Chris Waller is assembling an outstanding team for the upcoming Group One Winx Stakes, with star mare Autumn Glow expected to be a leading contender. Decisions on the final number of stablemates joining her will be made later in the week.

Six of Waller’s carnival hopefuls participated in exhibition gallops at Rosehill on Saturday. Four of these horses are likely to be nominated for the 1400-metre feature race next weekend, including Autumn Glow.

“Whatever is ready to run, will run, so there will be a lot. It’s just such an important starting point,” Waller remarked from Rosehill. “Not many of them could probably beat a horse like Autumn Glow, but when you’ve got horses like Beiwacht, anything is possible. They’re all well prepared. They’ve been trialling for a number of weeks now. Today was an important stepping stone for me and the horses just to see exactly where they are seven days out from a very big race day.”

James McDonald partnered Autumn Glow during her solo gallop between races, and the jockey returned with a glowing endorsement.

“She is ready to go,” McDonald stated. “She seems to be working really well. Every bit of work she has done, she has come on, worked a bit sharper and sharper.”

Beiwacht and Lady Shenandoah also galloped individually. Waller confirmed both would be among the Winx Stakes (1400m) entries. Meanwhile, ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Campione D’Italia is expected to target the Show County Quality (1200m) on the undercard.

Buckaroo, French import Barnavara, and Autumn Boy worked together on Saturday. However, only Autumn Boy is a likely runner in the Winx Stakes.

Buckaroo is slated to resume in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a week later. Barnavara’s equipment will be adjusted by Waller following her aggressive gallop.

Aeliana, Fangirl, Lindermann, and Angel Capital are also probable Winx Stakes nominations for Waller. However, Angel Capital is anticipated to join Buckaroo in Melbourne.

Aeliana pleased Waller with her barrier trial on Friday, despite an earlier setback in her campaign, and remains a strong contender for the Winx Stakes. “She will definitely be in the ‘noms’,” he said. “She only trialled (on Friday) because of the setback, but I think over 850 (metres), she was sharp enough, which is what I wanted to see.”

Those looking to get involved in the action can find a wide range of racing betting markets with top Australian betting sites.