Hillwalking, climbing and mountaineering have long been favourite pastimes in this country. Dan MacCarthy says Paddy O’Leary’s new history captures the intense rivalry of these sports’ participants

In Kerry, a county with so many All-Ireland medals, what kind of person would be agreeable to the general populace as a radio sports host?

The nominees for the 2012 Horse Racing Ireland awards were announced yesterday and includes a new category – Racecourse of the Year.

WE had our topic nicely selected for this corner well ahead of time: The GAA County by County, a typically handsome production by Con Collins and his colleagues at the Collins Press.

ADOPTED Irishwoman, the aviatrix Daphne Pochin Mould wrote the first book about Irish mountains in 1955.

HOLIDAY funds dried up or washed out?

ONE Thousand Guineas double winner, Finsceal Beo, is among an elite group of six horses nominated for the horse of the year award from Horse Racing Ireland.

Curragh-based handler Con Collins, successful with Princess Pati in the Irish Oaks of 1984, died on Tuesday morning at the age of 82.

TOM HOGAN'S Kalderon has promised to deliver a decent pot for a while and he did it at the conclusion of the Tralee Festival yesterday when putting up a game display in the Listed Ruby Stakes.

REALLY looking forward to Dandy Man attempting to establish himself as the champion sprinter in this afternoon’s Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Bryan Smart’s Hellvelyn flies the flag for Britain in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

DENIS O’REGAN, hero of Ansar’s Galway Plate victory, continued to avail of Paul Carberry’s enforced absence when sharing a double with trainer Noel Meade at Down Royal yesterday, partnering Naples and Irish Blade to victory.

DANDY MAN, a costly failure on his debut at Leopardstown, proved the most impressive winner on yesterday’s card at Naas, romping to an easy three lengths win in the Tattersals Ireland 2-y-o Auction Race.

RACING at Tipperary last night was abandoned after six races when a cloudburst turned the ground into a virtual skating rink for the Ramada Ballykisteen Handicap Chase.

Vinnie Roe was named Racehorse of the Year at the Irish Horse Racing Awards in Dublin today.

Latino Magic gave Robbie Osborne his first Group victory when taking the Meld Stakes at Leopardstown tonight.

VETERAN handler, Con Collins, may not have enjoyed the best of campaigns, but his Ocean Bounty looks well worth supporting in the opening Brandon Hotel Auction Maiden at Listowel today.

ANOTHER extraordinary contest in the chequered history of Tralee races.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN’S Hehasalife left a series of frustrating efforts behind with a clear-cut success in the Live 95FM Maiden Hurdle at Limerick last night.

POPULAR Wexford handler Paul Nolan enjoyed far and away his biggest success to date when Say Again produced a smooth performance to take the Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit yesterday, before an all-time record crowd of 38,882.

CURRAGH trainer Con Collins can make a profitable raid on Cork this evening by taking the opening two races.