Good performances don’t always guarantee good results according to Cork racing ace Matt Griffin, who competes in the penultimate round of the European Le Mans Series at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium this weekend. 

The vendors of the family home Estoril, just off Cork’s Rochestown Road in Thornbury Heights, have been in situ at this Mc Inerney-built four-bed semi-d since it was first built in 1985: in fact, they were the very first people to move into either end of this Thornbury development, thirty years ago.

Cork driver Matt Griffin and his AF Corse team-mates, Briton Duncan Cameron and Italian Michele Rugolo, were out of luck in the 4 Hours of Estoril, the final round of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).

The European Tour heads to the sunny Algarve next week, but with an end of season chill now in the air, we asked four golf writers to review 2014, from McIlroy’s Majors to McGinley’s Ryder Cup — and everything else in between.

THE Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) yesterday said it was “not particularly happy” that show jumping had become involved in controversy again, but said the sport was not alone in gaining headlines for the wrong reasons.

IF YOUR holiday reading includes a Le Carré blockbuster or a Graham Greene reliable, then you will find no better backdrop than Estoril — the stylish coastal town just north of Lisbon in Portugal.

LAST weekend’s Monte Carlo Global Champions Tour (GCT) contest caused difficulties across the board and Billy Twomey feels it would be unfair to draw conclusions from the performance of any horse, including his own Tinka’s Serenade.

A potentially memorable final showdown between clay court king Rafael Nadal and in-form world number two Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open moved a step closer last night as both players progressed through to the quarter-finals without any problems.

World number one Rafael Nadal was one of a host of seeds to progress into the third round of the Madrid Open today, with a mouth-watering showdown against Juan Martin Del Potro awaiting the Spaniard tomorrow.

Team Ireland Equestrian’s Show Jumping Team Manager Robert Splaine today announced his squad for the Nations' Cup of Germany which will take place in Aachen next Thursday night, July 15.

THOMAS BJORN and Carlos Del Moral both shot rounds of 65 to share a two-shot lead at the top of the Estoril Open leaderboard at the end of the second day.

Roger Federer refused to contemplate the potential loss of his world number one status following his shock French Open quarter-final defeat to Robin Soderling.

Gregory Bourdy held off a spirited challenge from new Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy to win the UBS Hong Kong Open by two shots today.

Albert Montanes edged past third seed Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (8/6) to claim the BCR Open Romania title in Bucharest today.

Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen described today’s third round at the Ballantine’s Championship as “unplayable and unfair” despite maintaining a two-shot cushion at the top of the leaderboard with one day remaining.

Four-time defending champion Roger Federer began his bid for a first Grand Slam win of the season with a comfortable first round victory over Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center.

A LAWYER working for Jessica Kürten says the show jumper’s suspension from competition by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) could cost her dearly.

Roger Federer is adamant maintaining an “aggressive” approach will be the way to end great rival Rafael Nadal’s dominance at the French Open.

Roger Federer has turned to coach Jose Higueras in a bid to reverse his recent slump.

Paul McGinley will be leading the Irish challenge this morning at the Portugeuse Open in Estoril.

The Portuguese Open has attracted more big names than normal this week, but as David Howell admitted today: “We’re here because we’re not playing that well.”

David Ferrer closed in on a spot in the semi-finals at the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, coming from a set down to defeat world number two Rafael Nadal today.

Markus Brier strolled to victory in the Volvo China Open today by a comfortable five-shot margin from Andrew McLardy, Scott Hend and Ireland's Graeme McDowell at the Shanghai Silport GC.

Paul Broadhurst will this week try to match Tiger Woods’ achievement last Sunday by winning a European Tour event three years in a row when he defends his Portuguese Open title.

Alexandre Premat kept up France’s winning run with an A1 Grand Prix victory double at Estoril today as Nelson Piquet Jr threw away Brazil’s championship lead.

Alex Barros capped a dominant weekend with victory in a dramatic Portuguese Grand Prix at a wet Estoril.

ONE of the great links on the west coast is set to be at the centre of a major professional tournament in 2007/’08.

Dublin’s Stephen Browne leads the Irish Challenge at the Estoril Challenge Open Portugal Telecom after a battling one over par round of 72 in swirling wind at Oitavos Golf in Estoril.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, the unchallenged master of motor sport, has been named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second time.

Jelena Dokic’s US Open campaign fizzled out with a distracted and dispirited day while rain disrupted the evening session of the third day’s play.

Italian Formula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella was hospitalised this morning after a 150mph crash during final practice for tomorrow’s French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.

Four people died when a light aircraft crashed in Portugal, UK diplomatic sources said today.