Thursday, September 20, 2007

UK Sport Newsletter - Next Step Conference Underway In Namibia

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UK Sport Newsletter
20 September 2007
LATEST NEWS

Next Step Conference underwayNEXT STEP CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN NAMIBIA
The 'Next Step' Conference, hosted by UK Sport and the Namibian Government, got underway this week. It will mark "a major step forward for raising international awareness for the case for sport in young people's lives," said Sue Campbell, Chair of UK Sport.

Ben RhodesBEIJING NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED BEFORE MAJOR REGATTA
The Royal Yachting Association announced the first phase of Skandia Team GBR sailors which it has nominated for Beijing, ahead of the Sail for Gold Regatta, which is supported via UK Sport's World Class Events Programme.


Luol DengGB DELIVER BASKETBALL GOAL
Great Britain's men's Basketball team took a crucial step towards securing a place in the London Olympics in 2012 on Saturday as victory in their promotion play-off encounter with Switzerland saw them clinch a place in EuroBasket Division A.


Euan BurtonWORLD MEDALS FOR BRITISH JUDO
The World Judo Championships concluded in Brazil at the weekend, with Britain claiming two podium places and three Beijing quota places. Peter Cousins and Euan Burton were the medal winners, with silver and bronze respectively.


Mary KingSEVENTH SUCCESSIVE TEAM GOLD FOR BRITAIN
Great Britain secured their seventh team event title in a row at the European Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy, over the weekend. Mary King also claimed an individual medal, finishing second overall, although Zara Phillips was unable to defend the title.

 
IN BRIEF

BOXING… England this week announced the squad for the forthcoming World Championships in Chicago. Darren Langley, Khalid Yafai and Stephen Smith are amongst those heading for the USA and aiming for Olympic Qualification. "I am delighted with the selection of these 10 boxers," said Head Coach Terry Edwards. "The Championships look set to be the biggest tournament in the history of amateur boxing and the added spice of Olympic qualification will ensure the highest of standards.  The team selected is one of the most experienced and best prepared I have worked with. I am confident that, with a reasonable draw, all of the boxers have a realistic chance of qualifying," he added. More@ The Amateur Boxing Association of England

BADMINTON… Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg fell at the quarter-final stage of the Japan Open in Tokyo, after defeat to Zheng Bo and Gao Ling of China. The national Champions lost 21-12 21-17 to the duo who also beat them at the All England Championships earlier in the year. More@ Badminton England

CANOEING… The World Slalom Championships take place in Foz do Iguassu, Brazil this week. Campbell Walsh races in the K1 along with Richard Hounslow and Huw Swetnam, whilst Fiona Pennie, Laura Blakeman and Lizzie Neave represent Britain in the women's equivalent. David Florence, Stuart McIntosh and Colin Radmore race in the C1, with Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie, Dan Goddard and Nick Smith, and brothers Adam and Andrew Marshall, the pairs racing in the C2. The Championships is also an opportunity for each class to qualify one boat for the Beijing Olympics. "Our Team is full of confidence after a good training period here on the World Championship Course, and all the athletes are 100% ready to perform at these Championships," said Performance Director John Anderson. More@ GB Canoeing

CYCLING… Britain's Nicole Cooke missed out on a third World Cup after finishing 34th in the final sprint in Germany, with main rival Marianne Vos coming home first to claim the double points that were on offer and take the title. Cooke was struggling with a knee injury and will now miss the Road Cycling World Championships later this moth following an operation. Elsewhere, Mark Cavendish won the sprints competition and Green Jersey in the Tour of Britain, whilst Ben Swift won the king of the mountains prize. Romain Feillu of France secured overall victory. More@ British Cycling

DISABILITY SPORT… Britain claimed several podium places at the IWAS World Games in Chinese Taipei. In athletics, John McFall won double gold in the T42 100m and 200m, whilst Danny Greaves (F46 discus), Sophie Hancock (F40 discus) and Kim Minett (F40 shot) also claimed their respective titles, and in powerlifting, Natalie Blake won gold in the women's 40-55.7kg category. More@ The British Paralympic Association       

FOOTBALL… England face the USA in the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup in China on Saturday. A 0-0 draw with group winners Germany preceded a 6-1 thrashing of Argentina which saw England finish second in the pool and set up the last eight clash. More@ The Football Association

HANG GLIDING… At the FAI World Championships in Texas, USA, the UK team of Richard Lovelace, Bruce Kavanagh, Robin Hamilton, Carl Wallbank, Dave Matthews and Gary Wirdnam led from the start to take the title – an achievement that comes in the same year that Bruce Goldsmith became World Champion in paragliding. More@ The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

HOCKEY… Scotland's men won bronze at the European Nations Trophy in Lisbon, but it was not enough to secure promotion. A golden goal by Olympian Niall Stott gave Scotland a 4-3 victory over Switzerland but there was still an air of disappointment within the squad. "We played five and won four, and along with Poland we were the most successful team in the tournament. However we came third and lost out on promotion, so it's not good enough," said manager Eugene Connolly. More@ Scottish Hockey

MODERN PENTATHLON… Britain's Mhairi Spence finished sixth at the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final in Beijing at the weekend, with fellow Brits Katy Livingston and Georgina Harland coming 12th and 13th respectively. Spence finished with 5472 points, Livingston with 5400 and Harland 5388. With only the winner of this Olympic test event achieving qualification, it means Katy Livingston and Heather Fell remain the only British athletes to have achieved that standard so far, but Performance Director Jan Bartu is confident that the end of season break can help others striving to reach Beijing. "It's the end of the season now so the athletes can go away and have a break, then come back for the winter preparation period with renewed optimism and motivation," he said. More@ The Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain

NETBALL… England beat Jamaica for the second time in a week to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three test series in Kingston. Following a comfortable 52-32 victory in the first game, the hosts came back strongly at England in last night's game. The lead changed hands constantly before the visitors hung on to win 46-45. The final match takes place this evening and England will be looking for a series whitewash in the last competitive meeting between the two teams ahead of November's World Netball Championships. More@ England Netball

SAILING… Britain's Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson added European bronze to their World bronze at the 2007 Star European Championships last week. The duo went into Friday's final race with a slender two point lead, but were unable to fend off their main rivals and finished fifth in the final race to clinch third place overall. Flavio Marazzi and Enrico de Maria of Switzerland won gold, with Sweden's Frederik Loof and Anders Ekstrom finishing second. Elsewhere, John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas finished sixth overall in the Sonar class at the IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships in the USA, whilst Megan Pascoe came sixth in the 2.4 mR and Helena Lucas ninth. In the new two-person SKUD-18 class, Allan Smith and Jackie Gay finished eighth overall. More@ Skandia Team GBR

SQUASH… The 2007 Dunlop British Open qualifying rounds got underway in Manchester on Tuesday. England's Nick Matthew will be hoping to defend the crown he won 12 months ago but will face stiff competition from World Number One Amr Shabana at the event which is supported via UK Sport's World Class Events Programme. Meanwhile, today also saw the unveiling of the official website for the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008, an event also supported via the Programme. More @ World Squash Championships 2008  

TABLE TENNIS… British players won several medals at the German Open Championships, which took place in Wuppertal, Germany. Will Bayley won individual gold in the class six singles, as well as silver in the doubles along with David Wetherill, whilst there were bronze medals for Neil Robinson and Cathy Mitton in the class three and class two categories respectively, and for James Rawson and Arnie Chan in the class three team event. Meanwhile, England have moved to their highest ever position in the World Junior Team rankings. Paul Drinkhall, Darius Knight and Daniel Reed currently occupy fourth position in the latest ITTF listings. More@ The British Paralympic Association & English Table Tennis

TRIATHLON… Britain's Tim Don has broken an elbow after a crash at the Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup last Sunday. Having exited the swim in close contention, Don came off his bike after Syrian athlete Omar Tayara crashed in front of him. Compatriot Will Clarke was Britain's highest finisher at the Olympic test event, coming home in seventh.  More@ British Triathlon

VOLLEYBALL… The Great Britain's men's squad, who will play the season in the Dutch Pro A league, was announced this week. The squad, which features several British players who have played professionally across Europe, fly out next week to join Club Martinus for the 2007-08 season. "We are looking forward to the challenges ahead of us in Holland," said Head Coach Harry Brokking. "It will provide the ideal opportunity to further develop the squad over the coming season". Meanwhile, British Beach players Denise Johns and Lucy Boulton will fly out to Brazil next week to compete in the Fortaleza Open on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour, and elsewhere British Volleyball also announced the appointment of two assistant coaches. Joel Banks will be Assistant Coach and Trainer for the Men's Volleyball squad in Holland and Audrey Cooper will be Assistant Coach and Athlete Services Manager for the Women's squad. More@ Volleyball England

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS… Britain's Peter Norfolk and Lucy Shuker both produced winning performances in their respective Quad Main Draw Singles and Women's Singles matches yesterday at the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in San Diego, the fourth and final event of the 2007 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour to have Super Series status, the equivalent of a Grand Slam. Norfolk beat fellow Briton Jamie Burdekin 6-4 6-2 and will now meet Nick Taylor of the host nation in the semi-finals, whilst Shuker faces Maaike Smit of the Netherlands in the last 16 following a 6-3 7-5 win over Karin Korb, also of the USA. Meanwhile, Norfolk and Burdekin teamed up to beat the Dutch pair of Bas Van Erp and Monique de Beer 6-4, 6-1 in the Quad Main Draw Doubles. More@ The British Tennis Foundation

 
JOBS IN SPORT

Visit the UK Sport Jobs Page for full details of vacancies being advertised in British sport, including:

  • British Olympic Association - Accounts Assistant
  • Sport Northern Ireland - Chair & Vice-chair
  • UK Athletics - Anti Doping Policy & Support Team Appointment
  • UK Sport - Coaching Consultant
  • Welsh Gymnastics - Chief Executive Officer
 

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