Women sport news

Richards dominated the women’s 400m, producing seven of the year’s 10 fastest performances and finally won her first World title.

Only two weeks until the Nations Cup rolls into town for the fourth edition and Netball Singapore are busy getting prepared for the challenge that awaits them. This year, the week-long competition will feature six countries from 6-12 December at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall.

With less than a month to go until the start of the 2009 Roxy Wahine Cup, South Africas top female surfers have been racking up the surf time in preparation for South Africas premier stand-alone womens surfing contest. With over R22500 in prize money up for grabs across the six divisions - ranging from U14 to Open.

American ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto won their second gold medal in the 2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series last week at 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America and, as a result, now occupy the No. 2 spot in the icenetwork.com World Figure Skating Rankings. photo Paul Harvath US Figures Skating

This week I am feeling lots more positive and confident as I have had 2 good races to report on. So a good feeling this week! All part of the up and down roller coaster of racing!

Canada can finally exhale after ending their 11-year winless streak against France with a gritty 14-5 victory over the third place nation on Wednesday evening.

England Women have today (Wednesday) named their starting line-up for Saturdays Investec Challenge Double Header against world champions New Zealand, kick-off 4.45pm at Twickenham Stadium

Canada’s National Senior Women’s Team will look to shake the French monkey off their back today in their first of two tests against France.

England Women’s Head Coach, Hope Powell, has named her squad for the upcoming World Cup Qualifying Group fixture against Turkey. photo FA

The wait is over for Michelle Wie who recorded her first professional victory on Sunday at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex. In her 65th LPGA tournament - 18th as a member this season - the 20-year-old clinched the win with a 30-yard sand shot to one foot on the 72nd hole for birdie.

Sue Weldon had a dream, and last year she shared her ideas for fullling that dream with her friends and colleagues. Sue, a gymnastics coach and breast cancer survivor, wanted to take her dicult experiences with breast cancer and turn them into something positive to help others.

Monte-Carlo - The series of 12 individual meetings which make up the calendar of IAAF Cross Country Permit Series 2009/10 begin next weekend in Oeiras, Portugal, on Saturday 21 November 2009.

Monte-Carlo – The world-wide Athletics family will gather for yet another prestigious celebration when the 2009 World Athletics Gala is held at the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d’Eté this Sunday 22 November.

The 2009 Great Australian Run will boast the world’s best male and female marathon runners of 2009, now that German star Irina Mikitenko has been added to the stellar line up to contest the 15km event around the streets of Melbourne on November 29.

The Australian Diamonds will tour the United Kingdom early next year as part of preparations for the October Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

England Women will have to wait until Saturday November 21st to have a second chance of conquering the reigning world champions New Zealand after today (Saturday) succumbing to a 16-3 defeat at Esher RFC.

REANNE Evans put aside her disappointment at not being in India to defend her IBSF women’s world snooker title by claiming her third British Open trophy at Newmarket Snooker & Bowl (on November 14). photo Monique Limbos

The U.S. Cross Country Team wrapped up three days of pre World Cup racing Sunday with even more unexpected success as World Championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) took fourth.

It didnt take long for double World Champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) to find her way back to the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup podium as the two-time overall winner finished second to friend and reigning World Cup slalom champion Maria Riesch of Germany Saturday.

World number five Italy won the FIVB Women’s World Grand Champions Cup title at their first attempt after completing the 2009 five-day edition unbeaten with a four-set victory over hosts Japan in the final match of the tournament on Sunday. photo FIVB

Natalie Grinham, the world No3 from the Netherlands, has withdrawn from the Qatar Squash Classic 2009 which takes place this week at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Centre in Doha.

Leicester have made a spectacular return to the top of the EH Premiership following an indifferent 2008-09 season, no doubt helped by the return of Crista Cullen after a seasons break abroad and with a 2-0 home defeat today of Olton (who have now slipped to fourth in the division) with goals from Kerry Williams on 15 and Rebecca Herbert on 54 minutes both from open play. photo John Coxon

England ended their tour of the West Indies on a positive note, comfortably defeating the home side by six wickets to win the final Twenty20 game of the series.

The Finals were set as two fierce competitors entered the arena, ready to do battle for the title of the 2009 WPBA Tour Champion. Jasmin Ouschan is coming into this final poised to win her third WPBA title of the season, and Xiaoting was looking for her first win since the 2008 BCA Generationpool.com event.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1-Star PLA Pro Championships saw San Diegan Cori Schumacher (Cardiff, CA), 34, clinch her second consecutive womens ASP North America Longboard Title when she won the PLA Pro Championships presented by Gidget in the peaky two-to-three foot wind-swell on offer at South Oceanside Pier.

Following the exciting conclusion of the 29th Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup Stop in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on November 7/8, the seasons points won by the Worlds highest ranked athletes have now established the overall season winners in Slalom, Shortboard and Jump.