Ireland increase medal haul

SPECIALOLYMPICS

TEAM IRELAND secured two gold medals, plus a silver and bronze, at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria yesterday.

In the intermediate slalom, Wicklow’s Lorraine Whelan (36) and Down’s Sean McCartan (16) took gold in their respective divisions, while Antrim’s Caolan McConville (13) took bronze.

Cyril Walker from Armagh was presented with her novice slalom silver medal by the Special Olympics ambassador Arnold Schwarzenegger.

RUGBY

SCOTLAND full-back Stuart Hogg has been voted Six Nations Player of the Championship for the second year running.

The 24-year-old Glasgow Warriors star received the backing of 29,734 fans, almost 25pc of the public vote.

Ireland flanker CJ Stander came second, with France number eight Louis Picamoles third and Conor Murray sixth.

Brian O’Driscoll is the only other player to land the accolade twice – in 2006 and 2007.

CYCLING

FRENCHMAN Nacer Bouhanni of Cofidis won a weather-shortened fourth stage of the Tour of Catalonia yesterday as American Tejay van Garderen retained the overall lead.

Snow meant the stage from Llivia to Igualada was reduced by 50km and after several failed attacks towards the end of the day it came down to a bunch sprint which Bouhanni took comfortably.

The Cofidis rider finished ahead of Davide Cimolai and Daryl Impey, with Daniel Martin in 13th place.

BMC rider Van Garderen finished safely in the pack to retain his 41-second advantage ahead of today’s fifth stage which features a 1,000-metre climb towards the finish in Lo Port.

Team-mate Samuel Sanchez is his closest challenger with Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas a further three seconds back. Spain’s Alberto Contador is seventh, one minute 13 seconds in arrears.

Tour de France champion Chris Froome, Alejandro Valverde and his Movistar team-mate Marco Soler attacked near the summit of the second-category Tudo del Puig and managed to open a small gap before being caught with five kilometres left.