As Autumn storms herald the end of the main Sailing season, twin annual showdowns between various strands of the sport in Ireland are set to take place in Dun Laoghaire and Lough Ree over the next two weekends.

CHUNKY fly-half Callum Patterson was the hero for Ballymena Academy as they lifted the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup for the first time in 29 years at Ravenhill yesterday.

Lions manager Dónal Lenihan admitted that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK, which effectively cost Ireland three internationals, has not helped the chances of players from these shores.