The Cooish: Swift bows out, Ellis takes a podium and D&D's dream debut rolls on

It has been a busy weekend for Manx sport on and off the island, with a retirement, a podium and a run of football results. Here is what has been catching the eye.

Swift calls it a day. Ben Swift has retired from professional cycling after nearly 20 years in the sport, Energy FM reports. The 38-year-old’s last race was the 120th Paris-Tours on Sunday, 11 October.

According to Energy FM, he had already been given an enthusiastic farewell at the Tour of Britain last month, a race he rode 13 times. This summer, riding for the Isle of Man at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, he was central to teammate Matt Bostock’s historic gold in the 40km Points Race.

Ellis ends on a high in Portugal. Nickolas Ellis finished his debut Ligier European Series season with second place at the final round in Portimão, according to Energy FM.

Ellis shares the Trajectus Motorsport Ligier JS P4 with Gabriel Doyle-Parfait. He took the wheel at the pit stops in the opening one-hour race and brought the car home fourth. Penalties handed out after the race lifted the pair to second, their best result of the year. They were sixth in race two.

Six goals for the newcomers. Douglas & District’s first season in the Canada Life Women’s League continues to go well. Energy FM reports they beat Rushen United 6-2 at Noble’s Park on Sunday, fighting back after Rushen went two goals up.

That was their third win of the campaign. It takes them to nine points, level with Corinthians and three behind leaders Douglas Royal. Energy FM said the team was a young one: eight players were aged 20 or under, and several had come through the club’s age-group sides. Isle of Man Today also reported wins for both D&D and Royal in the league.

Manx Radio, meanwhile, reported a fifth straight win for Douglas Royal and another impressive showing from Douglas & District.

Frustration for the Ravens. Isle of Man Today reports that the Ravens were beaten by South Liverpool in a match it described as wasteful for the Manx side. South Liverpool goalkeeper Dominic Garner’s outstanding display was key to the Merseysiders’ win, according to the paper.