Local sailor Brett Wright has earned fourth place overall in the Laser Masters World Championships, sailing off Bitez in south eastern Turkey.

Competing in the 45 to 54 age group in a fleet of 32 from 16 countries, Wright picked up a fourth and a first on the opening day in winds of between five and 10 knots, and then placed fourth twice when the breeze picked up to 20-25 knots the following day.

A sixth and an eighth followed in similar heavy conditions and in winds up to as high as 30 knots on Friday, the Bermudian placed fifth and 16th.

Going into the final day and in contention for a top three finish, Wright capsized and finished 14th, a placing which ultimately cost him third overall.

?Overall my speed was awesome until about 20 knots and then the taller sailors were going better upwind but I was always faster downwind,? said Wright.

The top three positions went to Colin Dibbs of Australia, Jack Schlakter of Australia and Tracy Usher of the USA.

Couper blazes to

Ottawa victory

Veteran runner Peggy Couper is showing no signs of slowing down.

In fact, the mother of Olympic track hopeful Ashley Couper, continues to burn up the roads.

Having used the recent Marathon Derby as a warm-up ? completing 10 miles of that race ? Couper travelled to Canada at the weekend where she snared age group honours at the Ottawa Half Marathon.

Running in a field of more than 6,000, Couper not only won the 60 and over age group with her time of one hour, 41 minutes and 32 seconds, but also beat every female competitor in the over-50 division.

?Conditions were just perfect,? said Couper. ?It was a flat course and the weather cool and dry. I had a great run.?

Couper won her age group by a massive 16 minutes over the 13.1 mile course.

The half-marathon was run in conjunction with the Ottawa Marathon and 10K, the three races together attracting some 23,000 runners.

Semi-final fireworks

Men?s ?A? doubles action in the ongoing Island Construction Open at Pomander Gate is expected to provide some semi-final fireworks as the top seeds Andy Bray and James Collieson face third seeds David Jenkins and Roger Marshall, and the second seeds Jenson Bascome and Gavin Manders meet the Leader brothers, Earl and Denton.

The Leaders beat fourth seeds Sam Maybury and Romar Douglas 6-4, 6-4 to earn their semi final spot.

In mixed doubles, Sarah Cook and Earl Leader put up a strong fight but finally succumbed to their younger opponents, Tara Lambert and Romar Douglas, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.