Weekend in pictures: Belgium down Irish, Murray reigns at Queen’s and Royal Ascot final day
Lee Gormley | June 20th, 2016
Weekend in pictures
The past weekend brought with it plenty of sporting drama, including from Euro 2016 in France, the European Grand Prix, tennis at Queen’s and horse racing from Royal Ascot.
So enjoy the best images from those exciting events in Coral’s latest weekend in pictures…
Football
Euro 2016 continued to thrills fans in France and beyond, with Italy, the Republic of Ireland and Portugal starring among the weekend fixtures…
Eder helps Italy edge past Sweden
Italy secured their progression to the knockout stages by winning Euro 2016 Group E, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Sweden, with substitute Eder having dispatched a superb solo strike in the dying minutes to cement three points.
Irish suffer Belgian bruising
Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland endured a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of a rejuvenated Belgium side, with Romelu Lukaku starring as he dispatched a double and Axel Witsel heading in another to secure three points in Group E. The Irish were unlucky not be awarded a penalty for a ridiculous double high foot on Shane Long before the Belgian netted their first goal.
Further frustration for Ronaldo and Portugal
After their 1-1 draw with Iceland, Portugal were again held to a stalemate, as skipper Cristiano Ronaldo missed a second-half penalty in an eventual scoreless sharing of the spoils. Elsewhere in their standings, Hungary and Iceland played out a 1-1 draw.
Albania clinch historic Romania win
Armando Sadiku headed in Albania’s first ever goal at a major international tournament to hand his nation a historic victory over Romania, with the latter exiting Euro 2016 and the winners boosting their chances of progressing in third position.
France finish atop Group A
France secured top spot in Group A thanks to a 0-0 draw with second-placed Switzerland, with Dimitri Payet hitting the crossbar late on and Paul Pogba having done the same earlier on during proceedings for Didier Deschamps’ men.
Horse racing
In the world of horse racing, Royal Ascot proved to be as dramatic as ever with the final day producing many memorable moments…
Dartmouth delivers for The Queen in Hardwicke Stakes
The final day of a fantastic Royal Ascot produced a Royal winner as Dartmouth landed the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes by a head in the colours of The Queen.
Dartmouth came slightly across the track and close to the runner-up, Highland Reel, but the stewards concluded that the jockey Olivier Peslier was not at fault and the result stood, producing the biggest cheer of the afternoon.
The victory gave Sir Michael Stoute his 75th Royal Ascot winner, which equals the late Sir Henry Cecil’s record at the meeting, and was Her Majesty’s 23rd winner at flat racing’s five-day spectacular.
Twilight eclipses Diamond Jubilee rivals
Twilight Son gave trainer Henry Candy his third Royal Ascot winner, his first since Pipedreamer won the Royal Hunt Cup in 1979, when he ran out the gutsy winner of the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes run over 6f.
The son of Kyllachy was one of a host of horses in with a chance as the field thundered past the furlong pole but stuck his neck out bravely as the line approached to deny runner-up Gold-Fun by a neck.
Churchill enters 2,000 Guineas picture after Chesham success
Churchill gave trainer Aidan O’Brien his sixth Royal Ascot winner of the week, which equalled his personal record at the meeting set in 2008, when running out the narrow 1/2 length winner of the Listed Chesham Stakes over 7f. The colt is now 10/1 second favourite with Coral for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.
Double secures Moore leading jockey award
Ryan Moore secured the leading jockey title with a double on the final day courtesy of Churchill and Twilight Son, ending the five-day meeting with six winners overall. He finished two in front of Frankie Dettori.
Formula 1
The Formula 1 season reached a new venue for the European GP, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg again doing battle…
Rosberg dominates in Baku
It was Mercedes driver Rosberg that dominated in Azerbaijan, with the German extending his lead in the Driver’s Championship, while Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez finished on the podium and Hamilton had to settle for fifth place.
Tennis
Before the awaited start of Wimbledon, there was success for Andy Murray at Queen’s…
Murray reigns supreme at Queen’s
Andy Murray made history on Sunday afternoon after beating Milos Raonic to become the first man to ever win five Queen’s Club Championship titles. Can the Scot now go onto claim a second Wimbledon crown?
Golf
The US Open gave fans plenty of thrilling moments and shocks at the famous Oakmont Country Club…
Johnson claims maiden major
America’s Dustin Johnson clinched his first ever major trophy by winning the US Open, as he capitalised on a late collapse from Ireland Shane Lowry and shrugged off a controversial ruling from the officials to triumph.
Basketball
Game 7 of the NBA Championship Finals took place over the weekend and there was heartbreak for Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors…
Cavs overcome Golden State in Finals
LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers won their first ever NBA Championship against record-breaking Golden State Warriors. Cavs did it by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit, a feat never before done in the NBA Finals.
James was named the Finals MVP and sealed his place among the greatest ever, with jaw-dropping performances against a side that broke the regular season win record.
Related
You’ll find previous editions of weekend in pictures in Coral’s extensive archive.
