AN hour-long hailstorm from space may have changed the climate of the Earth in 11,000 BC, leading to a freeze lasting more than 1,000 years.

TINO HAAKMAN, runner-up in 2008 and 11th overall last year, will return to Kerry to lead the West Frisia Combilift team from Holland in the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan 4-Day International Cycle Race over the Easter weekend.

The red-hot run of trainer Jean-Claude Rouget and jockey Christophe Lemaire continued as Stacelita absolutely bolted up in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly today.

Big Zeb bids to further enhance his claims for the Cheltenham Festival when he lines-up in Sunday’s Amazing Thailand Chase at Punchestown.

DARIAK, absent since finishing fourth behind Indian Pace in the Galway Hurdle, stormed away with the Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Tralee yesterday.

Pubs and brewing group Marston’s today boosted its premium ale offering after buying Hampshire brewer Ringwood for £19.2m (€28.3m).

Disaster crews with dogs went from one pile of debris to another in a search of bodies after powerful storms swept through Florida.

AT least 14 people were killed yesterday as thunderstorms and at least one tornado struck central Florida, flattening homes and a church, causing power outages and lifting an articulated truck into the air.

Seamus Qualter’s Westmeath side made history in weather-hit Portlaoise as they ended Dublin’s Leinster championship campaign with a 0-13 to 0-11 victory.

Mister Hight, ante-post favourite alongside Afsoun for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, faces seven rivals in the Grade Two Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Accordion Etoile is unlikely to be given a prep run ahead of his engagement in the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on November 13, despite being entered at Fairyhouse on Saturday.