Women sport news

The Under-17 Female National Championship starts on Thursday (8 January) in Canberra, and concludes on 15 January.

The V for victory sign flashed by the little girl on a driving range is such an international gesture that a casual observer could conclude that they understand the future of Chinese golf. Report by Ed Leech.

Great Britain recorded their first-ever World Championship win as they edged Montenegro in a tense four-set match (26-24, 26-24, 21-25, 25-20) to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the next round from Group B at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. photo FIVB

With an unprecedented lead over her nearest rival, Nicol David tops the January 2009 Womens World Squash Rankings, published today (Wednesday) by the Womens International Squash Players Association (WISPA) – thus moving into her 30th successive month as the world’s number one player.

The Wessex Leopards defeated Denmark in the Final of the WASA Cup Denmark 7-3.

Paced by a six-point outing by Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.), the U.S. Womens National Under-18 Team opened 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Womens U18 Championship play with a 17-0 victory over Russia here tonight at the Fussen Rink.

The Australian public has dug deep to support the McGrath Foundation as 3 Mobile and Cricket Cares have turned the SCG pink at the 3 Mobile Test.

2008 has been an exciting and never to be forgotten year for Eleanor and her family. The first quarter was spent working hard in anticipation of swimming at least one qualifying time to make the GB Paralympic swimming team.

Britains medal-winning performances and dominance of the marathon swimming events at the Beijing Games has kick-started a wave of interest in the newest sport to be included in the Olympic programme.

Vote for your favourite female Funsportsperson of the year.

Britain’s history-making sailors have had their astonishing feats in 2008 recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.

Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Lac-Etchemin, QC) led a Canadian sweep of the podium at the opening Northwest Funds Coupe Nor-Am Cup giant slalom race at the Georgian Peaks Club near Thornbury, ON.

In just over one week, the world’s top riders will come together in LAAX, Switzerland to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Burton European Open from January 9-16, 2009.

Following the signing of young Welsh rider Katie Curtis, Vision 1 Racing are happy to announce the signing of another young British rider, Dani King, to its roster for 2009.

The 2009 Kuwait and Qatar Open will have new record prize money of US$ 300,000. The winner of the Women’s Singles event will receive 30,000 respectively; the runner-ups earn 15,000.

19 year old Steph Twell followed in the hallowed footsteps of British legends Paula Radcliffe and Liz McColgan by triumphing in the IAAF International Cross Country in Northern Ireland on Saturday afternoon. The meeting, which moved from Belfast to Antrim this year, is one of the most prestigious annual cross country meetings in the UK.

Glasgow Wildcats have gone down to Northern Thunder in Glasgow 38-58. Team Northumbria continued on their ‘merry’ pathway towards the top half of The Co-operative Netball Superleague ladder as they hurdled over the Celtic Dragons, 51-21 in Newcastle.

Malaysian squash star Nicol David has completed her most successful year to date – retaining her Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open title for the third successive year in November to bring her 2008 WISPA World Tour title total to ten, and extend her unbeaten Tour record since October 2007 to 53 matches!

The two Grand Prix events on the European Squash Federation Junior Circuit in November produced first time U19 titles for all four winners.

Three highly-rated players were upset on Day 2 of the Brisbane International, including No.4 Daniela Hantuchova. But top seed Ana Ivanovic and fifth seed Amelie Mauresmo prevailed.

American Jill Craybas downed Japan\'s Kimiko Date Krumm in a battle of thirty-somethings in Auckland on Monday. Other winners included Aleksandra Wozniak and Shahar Peer. Nicole Vaidisova defeats Alla Kudryavtseva to move onto the second day.

Action continued today at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach as the girls hit the two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf on offer for the opening three rounds of the women’s division at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

British Diving will appoint the Head Coach of the Russian Diving team to the role of National Performance Director tasked with leading Britain to the 2012 Olympics.

The snow is continuing to fall, the temperatures are continuing to drop and we need your help. Saturday, January 17, help better the Elgin community with a donation to Elgin Food Pantry and meet the 2008 World Champion Chicago Bandits while doing so.

‘Girls go for Gold’ as the British Women Racing Drivers’ Club (BWRDC) announce the launch of a new initiative – the BWRDC Gold Stars and first nominees.

The first ladies’ slalom of the 2009 calendar year saw Germany’s Maria Riesch take her third victory of the season in the discipline.