Women sport news

Captain Catherine Spencer tells of her delight at the victory over Italy in Englands first match of the Six Nations Cup 2009. The videos attached show highlights of the match including interview with Amy Garnett and Catherine Spencer.

The University of Minnesota took over the top spot on this weeks USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll, following a win and tie against then-No. 1 University of Wisconsin this past weekend. For the third time this season, the Golden Gophers grabbed the No. 1 ranking, accumulating 189 points and 18-of-19 first-place votes.

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have levelled the Rose Bowl Series 2-2 against New Zealand in a history-making afternoon for womens cricket in Hamilton.

Cheshire’s Bronte Law left the field trailing to win the Andalucia Junior European Open in Spain by an impressive eight shots.

The team of Will Shepherd, Emma Lombard, Cameron Douglas, Sophie Shepherd, Owain Matthews and Jemima Riley – all from West Kirby Youth - progressed through to the semi-final stage of the Under 21s Championship in Perth on Wednesday but were unable to overcome NZL3 who won the best of three semi-final showdown 2-0.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has published the qualification system and qualifying events for the sailing competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) made history winning her second World Championships gold Monday at the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Val dIsere. Vonn talked to journalists about her day and the accomplishment.

Sophie Collett has recently completed the Marathon des Sables 2008 (150 miles) and the Jungle Marathon 2008 (150 miles) where she finished as the second girl. The next challenge she is taking part in is the Yukon Arctic Ultra 430 miles in February 2009

Approved by the FIG Presidential Commission at its most recent meeting at the FIG Head Office in Lausanne (SUI), an additional competition has been added to the official 2009 FIG Aerobic World Series calendar.

Englands Nick Matthew and Dane Line Hansen celebrated contrasting title triumphs in the Swedish Open Squash Championships at the Sporthallen in Linköping, Sweden. photo WISPA

Natalie Grainger secured a hat-trick of WISPA World Tour squash titles in Cleveland when she beat unexpected English opponent Alison Waters in the final of the $39,000 Womens National City Burning River Classic in front of a capacity crowd at the Cleveland Racquet Club in the US state of Ohio. photo WISPA

The snowy weather again disrupted some of the EH Premiership action this weekend with Trojans (such a good first half of the season but slipping now down the league) unable to get through the snow for their game with struggling Canterbury at Polo Farm.

Australian cricket is offering cricket fans a chance to do their bit to help bushfire victims by supporting an appeal that will run throughout the Channel 9 telecast of Tuesday’s Commonwealth Bank Series match at the Adelaide Oval between Australia and New Zealand

World number one Lorena Ochoa has revealed that the gaps in her schedule this year are designed to make sure she doesnt suffer a repeat of what was, by her standards, a relative loss of form in the second half of 2008.

The second stage of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 2009 finished with victory for the renowned Britta Kamrau-Corestein (GER).l

CYPRESS MOUNTAIN, BC For the second week in a row, judges gave the edge to Canadian Jennifer Heil as she took a narrow FIS Freestyle World Cup moguls win over the U.S. Ski Teams Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) on the Olympic course in Cypress Mountain. Despite finishing second, Kearney retained the World Cup lead with her fifth podium in as many events this season.

Chemmy Alcott, Britain’s top ranked skier, finished in 15th place in the women’s Downhill event in the FIS World Ski Champiionships at Val D’Isere in France earlier today.

GBs Amy Williams is riding high after her recent Skeleton silver podium position in Whistler Vancouver last week. Read Amys Update

Spectators at the 2009 European Team Badminton Championships, which take place at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, can prepare themselves for a fantastic musical interlude during the event finals on Sunday 15th February.

USA Volleyball has announced that it will host two International Development Qualifiers (IDQs), which are tournaments to identify elite beach athletes for entry into select international events and other USAV High Performance Beach Programs.

Reigning RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam champions England kick-started this seasons campaign with an impressive 11 try, 69-13 defeat of Italy at London Welsh RFC today (Saturday).

It was announced this weekend that long time stalwart of the Dutch National Hockey team, Fatima Moreira de Melo is to retire both from the International hockey scene and also her local club. photo John Coxon

Samuels was delighted with yet another win, eventually finishing 1 minute 16 seconds clear of world number 13 May with Spence in third. photo Mike Heyon/Tri NZ. Tambien Texto en Espanol

After months of waiting, British Handball were finally told on Thursday that they will be given £1.448 million by UK Sport to prepare for the 2012 Olympics.

England A kicked-off 2009 with a resounding five try win against the full Spanish national team on Saturday at London Welsh RFC.

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour (LET), today announced a restructure of the LET tournament operations department by promoting Mark Casey and Cyprien Comoy.