Williams on course for skeleton gold
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:42GMT

Britains Amy Williams set the pace in the first two rounds of the womens skeleton event at Whistler.The 27-year-old is on course to claim Britains first medal of the Vancouver Olympics after setting a new track record of 53.83 seconds on her first run.Her combined time of 1:47.96 after two runs gives her a substantial lead of 0.30 seconds and, if she can maintain her form in Fridays final two runs, could win a shock gold medal.Team-mate Shelley Rudman, who won...

Williams claims gold for GB
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:40GMT

Amy Williams has won Great Britians first individual gold medal in 30 years after claiming victory in the womens skeleton.She held an overnight lead and followed it up with two fine runs, including a course record, to grab the gong at Whistler.At the end of her four runs, she finished with a combined time of 3:35.64, 0.56seconds ahead of her closest rival, Kerstin Szymkowiak of Germany.The 27-year-old from Bath was joined on the podium by another German, Anja Huber, who claimed...

Johnson reaches landmark figure
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:01:14GMT

Richard Johnson has become only the second jump jockey to ride 2,000 winners in his career.The 32-year-old reached the landmark figure when he rode Fighting Chance to victory in the Powersolve Electronics Greatwood Charity Handicap Chase at Newbury on Wednesday.After beating 14-time champion jockey Tony McCoy in the race, Johnson said: "Its just lovely to get to this mark and Im just very lucky really."I think AP (McCoy) was just being nice to me not coming by me up the straight...

Oxx remains tight lipped
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:50:37GMT

John Oxx is refusing to announce who will replace Mick Kinane as his stable jockey.Kinane, who ended a glittering 34-year career in the saddle by announcing his retirement earlier in the week, decided to finish at the top after his mount Sea The Stars was retired after a hat-trick of 2000 Guineas, Derby and Prix de lArc de Triomphe successes this year.Fran Berry was Kinanes understudy at the Currabeg stables and is expected to take up the vacant position and, although...

Kinane retires at the top
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:02:17GMT

Mick Kinane has decided to quit at the top after announcing his retirement after 34 years as a jockey.The 50-year-old has called it a day after guiding Sea The Stars to six Group One wins in 2009, including an unprecedented 2000 Guineas-Derby-Arc treble.In a statement, Kinane said: "I have decided this is the right time to retire from race-riding."At 50 I still feel fit and sharp enough to do any horse justice but, after the season I have just had in...

Sports stars Mark Foster Giles Long Owais Shah help young disabled athletes Reach for the Stars
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:36:44GMT

The Variety Club, one of the UKrsquo;s longest running charities dedicated to sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people, hosted the inaugural Reach for the Stars fundraising dinner on Thursday 26th November 2009 at The Plaisterersrsquo; Hall, London EC2. The event was organised by The Variety Club Disability Sports Committee in partnership with SportsAid and was attended by a glitterati of Paralympics sporting stars, who converged to applaud the potential future winners of Great Britain. The official 1948 Olympic Torch from...

Master Minded to miss out
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:36:05GMT

Paul Nicholls-trained Master Minded will miss his next intended race at Sandowns Tingle Creek Chase on 5 December as tests continue to be carried out into his well-being.The six-year-old Group One horse has won ten races from 18 starts with two second-place finishes and a third so far in his career and Nicholls will be hoping to find out the problem with the stylish jumper.Master Minded was beaten into third behind Well Chief at Cheltenham on November 15 and, after he...

London Freeze highlights bright future for extreme winter sports
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:36:03GMT

When it comes to naming iconic British landmarks Battersea Power Station is certainly worthy of any Londonerrsquo;s list. A striking edifice which sits imposingly on the banks of the Thames its architectural significance has been bolstered by noteworthy associations with the world of music, appearing as it does in both the Beatlesrsquo; movie Help and on the front cover of Pink Floydrsquo;s 1977 album Animals. This month it added another string to its bow while renewing its musical ties by hosting, for...

Sport England announce £10m funding boost for Active Women campaign
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:10:07GMT

Sport England announced this morning that pound;10m worth of National Lottery funding would be made available to actively encourage women from disadvantaged communities and women caring for children to engage in sporting activities. Launched by Jennie Price, chief executive of Sport England, and Gerry Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport, the lsquo;Active Womenrsquo; campaign aims to push funds towards covering the costs of childcare, travel and coaching thus freeing women of some of the burdens which hinder their access to sporting pursuits. At...

Interview: Team GB Snowboarder Dom Harington
Sports story by sports.co.uk, Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:57:43GMT

When it comes to winter sports, we Brits have traditionally taken a more social attitude to life on the slopes, while leaving it to our continental brethren to sweep up the medals at the top competitions. That however, could be about to change. With a new era of snowboarders and skiers hitting the pistes backed by both Olympic and private sponsorship and with ambitions to secure gold at the highest level it appears that the future is bright for the next...