European Championships are Blair Castle-bound in 2015

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, was among those who gave strong backing to Scotland's bid. "The 2015 European Eventing Championships is one of the most prestigious international sports events to be staged by the United Kingdom as part of the 2012 major events sports legacy," he said.

bowls

Only Lanarkshire West, Renfrewshire West, and Lanarkshire South remain unbeaten as the Scottish Cities & Counties Championship qualifiers enter the home straight with three rounds of qualifying matches still to play, writes Anne Dunwoodie.

Only 25 shots separate Lanark and Renfrew in the West section, while Ayrshire North are still in contention, two points behinid. Renfrew and Ayrshire meet at Blacklandmill today. In the South section, Lanark have a two point lead over Glasgow East and are four clear of Ayrshire South, Dumbarton East and Stewartry.

A margin of 53 shots covers three teams in the North section (Aberdeen & Kincardine on 103, Northern Counties 74 and Bon Accord 50) and just 23 shots cover four teams (Midlothian, West Fife, Edinburgh & Leith and West Lothian) in the East. Match of the day will be at Kirkliston where Midlothian (78 shots) tackle fourth placed West Lothian (55 shots).

n Kirkliston have a record-extending fourth win in the Co-operative Funeralcare Top Ten Championship at Colinton as their target tomorrow.

golf

Daan Huizing was a flying Dutchman yesterday as he took charge of the St Andrews Links Trophy during the opening round over the New course, writes Bruce Langholm. The 21-year-old stood firm in boisterous conditions and shot a fine six-under 65 to earn a four-shot shot lead over South Africa's Brandon Stone, Northern Ireland's Reeve Whitson and English duo Paul Kinnear and Ben Stow.

Huizing, runner-up to Tom Lewis in last year's event, has already made his mark in the UK this season by romping to a remarkable 11-shot victory in the Lytham Trophy last month. He showed his fondness for the links again with a neatly-crafted round that included an eagle at the eighth. Glenbervie's Graeme Robertson, the winner of the Craigmillar Park Open in April, heads the home challenge on 70 with SGU order of merit leader Fraser McKenna of Balmore one shot back on 71.

motor racing

n Fife's Gordon Shedden fears he may have his hands tied by the rule-book this weekend because Touring Car organisers are rewarding mediocrity, writes Kenneth Stephen. He is the form driver in the series, having recorded a remarkable four wins from five races to move within four points of leader, Jason Plato, but officials have tweaked the rules once again and have given all cars, including Plato's, more boost for this weekend, with the exception of Honda.

Shedden believes his team is being punished for pushing the boundaries. "Historically, we have run well at Oulton Park but this is all a bit bizarre," he said. "It feels like the goal-posts have been moved again. The rule changes were to bring engines in line, which was fair enough. Now they are trying to equalise cars, drivers and teams. Why should a seven-year-old Vectra be made comparable to our car? Where is the incentive to improve and develop?"

shinty

Lovat have been tagged surprise package of the season so far but their opponents today, Newtonmore, are not surprised to be fighting with them at the top, writes Kenneth Stephen. Champions Newtonmore are one point ahead of Lovat at the summit of the Orion Group Premiership and, while no one quoted the Kiltarlity outfit as title contenders, Allan MacRae's players have enthralled, taking down some big names already.

Norman MacArthur, the manager of Newtonmore, knows today will be tough as his side warm-up for next weekend's MacTavish Cup final. "I said two seasons ago that Lovat were a really good side. I felt they needed to stay in the Premier League to be able to go to the next level and that is what has happened."

Of Lovat's free-scoring forward Greg Matheson, MacArthur added: "He is just a boy yet but he has made a huge difference. If any side has a player that can score goals, it sets them apart in this division."

SNOOKER

Hamilton's Jamie Burnett is off to China for this month's Wuxi Classic after beating Marco Fu, of Hong Kong, 5-2 in yesterday's final qualifying round in Sheffield, writes Lorin McDougall. The 36-year-old had had to come from 4-2 down to pip the Belgian teenager Luca Brecel on Thursday.

tennis

Play at the Aegon Trophy was moved indoors yesterday by more bad weather in Nottingham and the switch did not do Elena Baltacha much good as her title defence ended with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat by Urszula Radwanska of Poland in the quarter-finals.

The Scot, who will lose her British No.1 ranking to Anne Keothavong on Monday, could not find her best form and will head to Birmingham for the Aegon Classic in the hope of better form. "Urszula played a great match," said Baltacha. "I had chances in both sets but she came up with some amazing tennis under pressure."

Keothavong fared better, beating the former Wimbledon junior champion Kristyna Pliskova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals. Out of luck, though, were Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins in the doubles as they lost 7-6, 7-6 to the American Eric Butorac and Rik de Voest of South Africa. In only his second match back after six weeks out through injury, Fleming looked sharper but he and Hutchins were outmanoeuvred in two tiebreaks.