Women sport news

The top three seeds at the Phuket Thailand Open were undefeated as the main draw action began in the final event on the 2010 SWATCH FIVB World Tour, but three of the lower-seeded teams pulled off notable upsets. photo FIVB

While the relentless world number one reign of Nicol David moves into its 52nd successive month in the November Women's World Squash Rankings, her predecessor Vanessa Atkinson celebrates her highest ranking for more than two years in the new list published by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

In just one week from today, on Tuesday 9 November, Greece will play host to a spectacular ceremony and presentation where the female winner of the 2010 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards will be announced.

Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat of France won the Short Dance ahead of Italy's Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali and Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev of Russia. Mirai Nagasu (USA) captured the Ladies' Short Program with Japan's Akiko Suzuki and Miki Ando following in second and third.

Well what can I say, 6 hard years of living, racing and trying to be the best cross rider possible in Belgium and finally I won my first race here, oh what a race it was to win too!!! photo Bart Hazen

The LPGA Futures Tour will hold its 12th annual qualifying tournament this week in Central Florida. Held to determine playing status for the Tour's 2011 membership, the 72-hole tournament will be staged on three courses.

Two-time Olympian Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) congratulated Mackenzie Bachmeier, Danielle Brownell-Patty, Johanna Gur and Forrest Ferguson this week on winning the 2011 Stacey Cook/Sun Valley Ski Tools Scholarship (SVST)

Helen Wyman powered her way to victory to the most significant victory in her career to date with a win at the Koppenberg cross. Along with Koksijde, this race is one of the most coveted prizes in cyclo-cross and is also Helen’s first victory in a UCI cyclo-cross in Belgium. photo by Dirk Bruylant

SWATCH FIVB World Tour calendar concludes this week in Thailand as the 17-site, 14-country international Beach Volleyball circuit with $6.83-million in prize money returns to Phuket for the fifth-straight season for a women’s-only event on Karon Beach. photo FIVB

World No2 Jenny Duncalf defended her Women's Carol Weymuller Open title in some style, beating her England team-mate Laura Massaro in straight games in the final of the $42,450 WISPA World Tour squash event at Heights Casino in Brooklyn, New York.

ECB today announced the appointment of Carl Crowe as Assistant Coach to the England women’s team. The former Leicestershire spinner will take over the position from Jack Birkenshaw who has been in the role for two and a half years.

England’s Jodi Ewart has scored her first win as a professional in the USA with victory in Florida in a SunCoast Series mini-tour event.

REANNE Evans has smashed Kelly Fisher’s record of 69 consecutive matches won on the women’s snooker circuit. Two days after her 25th birthday, the six-time world champion extended her remarkable winning streak to 72 with victory in the East Anglian Championship at Cambridge Snooker Centre.

Newly-minted four-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, has taken out her 16th elite tour event today, defeating rookie sensation Carissa Moore (HAW), 18, in two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves in Porta Del Sol to claim the Rip Curl Women’s Search Pro Puerto Rico.

Ursula Grobler and Abby Broughton report from the New Zealand Rowing World Championship 2010

The world’s best short track speed skaters resumed competition this Halloween weekend for the second round of the 2010-11 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track season.

Riding Checkmate, Meredith won the nine horse jump-off, ahead of 2nd place Gerco Schroder (NED) riding Eurocommerce New Orleans and 3rd place Rene Lopez (COL) riding Noblesse des Tess. photo Rolex FEI

Gemma Howell, winner of three European Cup titles in 2010 already, had a bye in the first round but announced herself in the category by surging past Russia’s Yulia Ryzhova and Sweden’s Mia Hermansson by a waza-ari and ippon respectively. photo David Finch

Undefeated Serbia kept their momentum going against Algeria on Tuesday, notching their fourth win (25-15, 25-12, 25-21) from as many matches in the first round at Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo. photo FIVB

Brazil defeated Puerto Rico in straight sets (25-20, 25-18, 25-20) to remain unbeaten in four matches in the first round of Pool B at the 2010 FIVB Women’s World Championship at Hamamatsu Arena in Japan on Tuesday. photo FIVB

Germany overcame Croatia with a straight-sets victory (26-24, 25-18, 25-21) in Group C at the World Championship in Matsumoto on Tuesday. Germany improved to 3-1, while Croatia dropped to 1-3. photo FIVB

2004 Olympian Teresa Vaill won the 2010 USA One-Hour Race Walk title on October 3 in Waltham, Mass., and was the overall winner again Sunday in easily capturing the women’s 2010 USA 30 km crown.

Despite being the youngest player for her side, Serbia’s 20-year old middle-blocker Milena Rasic is showing all the signs of a seasoned veteran in Pool A of the 2010 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Tokyo Japan. photo FIVB

Defending champions Russia, World Grand Prix title holders USA, Olympic champions Brazil along with Italy, Japan, Serbia and Korea all confirmed their places in the second round of the FIVB Women’s World Championship Japan 2010. photo FIVB

Chen Xue and Xi Zhang of China, the top seeded team defeated Germany’s Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig to win the Sanya Open. photo FIVB

Clijsters finishes 2010 on a high after defeating top seed Caroline Wozniacki in three sets 63 57 63 in the end of season championships in Doha. Dulko/Pennetta defeated Peschke/Srebotnik to win the double title in straight sets 75 64