Women sport news

Britain’s Jodie Stimpson has won the inaugural Garmin Barcelona Triathlon in a winning time of 1.52.04 with her training partner Bex Milne home in fourth position. photo John Coxon

Hope Powell is currently readying the England Women’s team for their opening World Cup Qualifier, against Malta at Bloomfield Road on Sunday.

The British Gas Disability Swimming team added eleven medals to their already impressive medal tally after some strong performance on the second day of competition at the IPC Swimming European Championships.

The women’s 34 point 4x100m Medley Relay saw the British Gas team, which featured Heather Frederiksen, Claire Cashmore, Stephanie Millward and Louise Watkin, knock thirteen seconds off a nine-year-old world record.

The 7th Stage on this year’s KPWT will be at the World kitesurfing Mecca in Brazil, Cumbuco.

Winter has arrived in the Alps! And with it snow. Phat, fluffy, and deep. Bluebird skies, snow-capped mountains, steep runs and tempting outcrops are just some of the reasons why numerous people are flocking here to enjoy the white winter wonderland. photo Fatima Hochenegg

University of Bath-based rower Vicky Thornley has been named as one of the greatest success stories of recent talent identification schemes.

National trio champions Valentine Tutcher, Shaylee Moore, and Jes Kennaway, brought back a silver medal in the 11-16 age group, closely followed by Rachel Palfrey, Lauren Forsyth and Georgia Rooke who finished in fourth position. Both groups performed double somersaults in competition for the first time.

The Jamaican Sunshine Girls have leveled the Series against the Australian Diamonds with a thrilling one goal victory in Kingston this morning. The 56-55 loss was the final Test in the Diamonds 2009 international schedule. photo David Callow

The FIVB today applauded the International Olympic Committee’s decision to once again accept Volleyball and Beach Volleyball, under the authority and governance of the FIVB, as Olympic disciplines for another Olympic cycle.

World number one Nicol David successfully defended her title in the Cathay Pacific Gale Well Hong Kong Open - celebrating her fourth successive Hong Kong Open triumph.

It took France just 23 seconds to open up an early lead through Siraba Dembele, who finished as one of six on her team to score five goals, and the former World Champions never looked back. Report by David Brenchley

The competition at the Trophée Bompard in Paris, France concluded Saturday with the Men’s, Pairs, Ladies Free Skating and the Free Dance. The Trophée Bompard was the first of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

Aussie Tennis Ace Samantha Stosur won her first WTA Tour singles title at the HP Osaka Open by defeating Itays Francesca Schiavone 7-5 6-1.

Fifth seed Nadia Petrova came through her first round draw against Wild Card Yana Buchina from Russia. Alona Bondarenko also went through defeating Anna Chakvetadze of Russia 6-4 6-3

New Zealand will join England, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany and China in Nottingham next summer when England hosts the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy, Women, Nottingham 2010 - one of the world’s highest profile hockey tournaments featuring six of the top hockey playing nations on the planet. photo John Coxon

The England Women’s team will kick-off their World Cup Qualifying campaign against Malta in just over a week’s time and winger, Sue Smith, wants The Three Lions to build on their performance from this summer’s European Championship. photo FA

For Xiaoting Pan, this was her first chance to win a WPBA Tour event since 2008. For Jasmin, this was her opportunity to win her second title of this year. Both came into this match undefeated and both were shooting lights out. Xiaoting won the lag and ran out to post the first game of the match, up 1-0. photo and report Anne Craig

Australian ace Sam Shannahan has already shifted her attention to next month’s New Zealand Open following an indifferent campaign at Taren Point.

The British Gas Disability Swimming team that are competing at the IPC Swimming European Championships in Reykjavik enjoyed success on day one of competition as they won four gold, four silver and three bronze medals.

British sailors picked up two medals from three classes at the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships in Athens on Sunday – including a first ever world title for the SKUD duo of Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell.

Like they’ve been doing every Columbus Day weekend for nine years, Storm Trysail along with Larchmont Yacht Club and a multitude of sponsors have once again introduced the joys of big-boat racing to boatloads of college sailors in a two-day mini course with maxi impact.

In the womens heats Germanys Amelie Kober won, followed by Austrians Doris Guenther in second and Claudia Riegler in third. No U.S. women qualified for finals. Erica Mueller (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 25th and Michelle Gorgone (Boston, MA) was 28th.

America’s Lauren Hough and her horse Quick Study came second at the Helsinki leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup. photo Matti Hietanen/FEI

Japan took the honours in an exciting evening of top-flight international badminton at the University of Bath, beating Team England 4-1. photo Andrew Beckett

Beth has been used to having two finals to focus her attention on in recent years – bars and floor. This time the floor exercise was her only hope of securing a medal for team GB in the women’s competition.