20 METROSPORT Monday, December 14, 2009 D Irelands team failed in their goal of winning a medal but there were nonetheless a number of positive displays to take away from yesterdays european Cross Country Championships in santry. In the womens senior race, the Irish team led by Fionnuala Britton (11th) and Mary Cullen (12th) narrowly missed out on a medal with a fourth-place finish in a race won by Britains Hayley Yelling. The 35-year-old, who quit after last years event in Brussels, raced to an amazing victory just a month after coming out of retirement, leading from gun to tape to beat spains rosa Morato by seven seconds and add another gold to the success she enjoyed five years ago. Portugal claimed team gold. Meanwhile, Mark Kenneally put in the performance of his life to take eighth in the mens senior race. Kenneally came home in a time of 31minutes 42seconds, behind winner aleyamehu Bezabeh of spain and Britains Mo Farah, who collapsed after crossing the finish line and was taken away on a stretcher, in second. spain also won in the mens team race. earlier, Ciara Mageean took ninth place in the womens junior race. Irish miss the medals in Santry Picture:Sportsfile I knew nothing about affairs, claims caddie TIGER WOODS long-time caddie Steve Williams insists he was totally unaware of the players extra-marital relationships. And the New Zealander, who has carried the world No.1s bag for the last decade, stressed he played no part in covering up the stars infidelities. I had no knowledge of what Tigers indiscretion was, Williams said. I am an honest person. I had no knowledge of what was going on. If I did, I would say I did. And he added: What people fail to realise is I [just] work for Tiger Woods. I live in New Zealand, I travel to and from New Zealand to caddie for Tiger Woods. I am not with him 24/7. While I am a very good friend of his... I dont know what he does off the course. Some nights we go to dinner. His indiscretions have probably been [when he wasnt playing]. When he is not competing, I am back in New Zealand. I have no knowledge of what he is doing. Yes, I talk to him on the phone, ask him how his practice is going, how he is hitting the ball, how his family is, [but] I dont know what he is doing, just like he doesnt know what I am doing. Woods has announced he will take an indefinite break from golf after admitting his infidelity for the first time. The 33-year-old, married to former Swedish model Elin Nordegren, has been swamped by a series of affair allegations since crashing his car in mysterious circumstances last month. Williams backed Woods decision to focus his attention on saving his marriage and remains committed to the troubled star when he said: Tiger just said he needs a break and I dont want to put any pressure on the guy. He will know in his mind, and his family will know in their mind, when it is the right time for him to return to playing golf. I will be there for him when he wishes to return to play. Alliss fears Tiger may never play golf again Peter Alliss believes if tiger Woods does not play golf for the next six months he could quit the sport for good. Alliss, a former ryder Cup player who is one of televisions best-known golf commentators, said: its all very horrid and very public. it must be remembered this is the time of the year when he has, in the past, taken time off. the 78-year-old said Woods season does not often begin until mid-March but added: if he doesnt play for the first six months of next year then he might have decided hes come to the end of the road. And Alliss warned: Hes going to have to put up with a lot of nonsense and ridicule for the next 20 to 30 years. Hes in a very nasty, awkward position of his own making, im afraid. if we learn hes not going to play in the Masters at Augusta in April and maybe not in the Open Championship in July then its getting very serious. it will be a tremendous loss to the game because its a proven fact that hes put people on the gate. Waiting game: Tiger Woods golf athletics european cross country championships Gold for effort: Britains Mo Farah collapses after giving his all and winning silver in the mens race SpANIARD pablo Martin created European Tour history by winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa. Two years after becoming the first amateur to win on the course, the 23- year-old, ranked 488th in the world at the start of the tournament, did it again as a professional. It was only on the final day of last season Martin made sure of keeping his tour card, but he is now exempt until the end of 2012 and 158,500 richer. With a closing three-under-par 69, Martin (pictured) held off home hope Charl Schwartzel to win by a shot on 17-under. Its unbelievable, he said. I am so happy, Gareth Maybin was best of the Irish in a tie for fourth after taking a seven on the par-five 18th. BY GreG HoBBs GolF alFred dunHIll CHaMPIonsHIP (Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa) Final rnd (GB and Irl) unless stated, par 72): 271 Pablo Martin (Spa) 68 63 71 69 272 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 67 69 68 68 274 Anders Hansen (Den) 68 70 68 68 276 Robert Rock 69 68 70 69, Gareth Maybin 68 70 67 71, Dale Whitnell 70 68 72 66, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 72 66 72 66 277 Damien McGrane 67 70 68 72, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 71 69 66 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71 68 70 278 Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 72 71 65 70 279 Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 64 72 71 72, Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 68 73 72 66, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 67 70 72 70 others: 281 Shane Lowry 67 71 74 69, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 67 69 77 287 Michael Hoey 73 69 71 74 ausTralIan PGa CHaMPIonsHIP (Hyatt Regency Coolum Resort GC, Queensland) Final rnd (Aus unless stated, par 71): 270 Robert Allenby 70 68 66 66. 274 John Senden 73 67 67 67, Scott Strange 67 70 68 69. 275 Marc Leishman 70 71 66 68. 276 Michael Sim 71 70 65 70, Nick OHern 70 70 69 67. 277 Rodney Pampling 73 69 70 65, Geoff Ogilvy 70 66 70 71, Josh Geary (Nzl) 70 73 66 68, Stuart Appleby 67 69 73 68. 278 Mathew Goggin 70 72 68 68. 279 Adam Scott 68 70 68 73, Shin-Ching Chan (Tpe) 68 70 71 70, Matthew Griffin 67 68 73 71. ruGBY unIon HeIneKen CuP Pool 1 Munster ................24 Perpignan............... 23 Northampton ........30 Treviso.................... 18 P W d l F a Pts Munster 3 2 0 1 92 64 10 Northampton 3 2 0 1 74 74 9 Perpignan 3 1 0 2 60 46 6 Treviso 3 1 0 2 37 79 4 Pool 2 Glasgow ...............33 Gloucester.............. 11 Biarritz ..................49 Newport-G D.......... 13 P W d l F a Pts Biarritz 3 3 0 0 113 46 14 Newport-G D 3 1 0 2 52 82 5 Glasgow 3 1 0 2 65 55 5 Gloucester 3 1 0 2 45 92 4 Pool 3 Viadana...................7 Ospreys.................. 62 Clermont A ...........40 Leicester................. 30 P W d l F a Pts Ospreys 3 2 1 0 119 63 11 Clermont A 3 2 0 1 100 73 11 Leicester 3 1 1 1 108 83 8 Viadana 3 0 0 3 36 144 0 Pool 4 Ulster....................23 S Francais .............. 13 Bath......................16 Edinburgh................. 9 P W d l F a Pts Ulster 3 2 0 1 62 42 9 Stade Francais 3 2 0 1 73 57 9 Bath 3 1 0 2 55 64 5 Edinburgh 3 1 0 2 33 60 5 Pool 5 Cardiff Blues.........15 Toulouse................... 9 Harlequins ............19 Sale ........................ 29 P W d l F a Pts Toulouse 3 2 0 1 68 51 10 Sale 3 2 0 1 73 81 9 Cardiff Blues 3 2 0 1 61 42 9 Harlequins 3 0 0 3 44 72 1 Pool 6 Brive .......................3 London Irish ........... 36 Scarlets...................7 Leinster .................. 32 P W d l F a Pts London Irish 3 2 0 1 73 39 10 Leinster 3 2 0 1 77 32 10 Scarlets 3 2 0 1 58 69 8 Brive 3 0 0 3 28 96 0 euroPean CHallenGe CuP Pool 2 Worcester .............21 Connacht ............... 26 P W d l F a Pts Connacht 3 3 0 0 94 46 13 Montpellier 3 2 0 1 98 63 10 Worcester 3 1 0 2 76 53 7 Olympus M 3 0 0 3 35 141 0 results Victory earns Pablo Tour first golf He will face ridicule for the next 20 or 30 years index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html