There was gold for Great Britain’s trap women at the World Championships in Italy, while Holly Woodhead remains in a strong position at the European Evening Championships. Here’s our review of the last 24 hours.
British Shooting’s trap women trio of Abbey Ling, Charlotte Kerwood and Kirsty Barr are celebrating after winning team gold at the World Championships in Italy.
They couldn’t secure individual medals to accompany their team accolade, but they were absolutely delighted to become team world champions for the first time ever.
The competition was so close that after securing 69/75 in the opening rounds, Kerwood and Barr entered a six athlete shoot-off to decide which one shooter would proceed to the semi-finals.
Neither proceeded, but their scores, combined with Ling’s ensured the top team prize in women’s trap went to Team GB.
“It feels absolutely amazing,” Kerwood said. “To be stood on top of the podium and hear the national anthem playing is the best feeling in the world. It’s hard to describe it unless you’re up there.
“We were having dinner the other evening and we said to each other, ‘this year we definitely need to beat the Italians,’ and we ended up beating everyone! It’s a great end to a really great trip.”
The Great Britain team sat in second place upon conclusion of the dressage phase at the European Eventing Championships in Blair – a position also held by Holly Woodhead in the individual standings.
The first rider into the arena on the second day of dressage was Izzy Taylor on board KBIS Briarlands Matilda, producing an accurate test aboard the 15-year-old mare as the duo saw a score of 44 penalties awarded.
Next up it was Oliver Townend’s turn to kick off his European campaign and in only his fifth competition on board Fenyas Elegance he was rewarded with a score of 38.70 penalties.
Pippa Funnell and Sandman 7, finished on 41.3 penalties, Wills Oakden and Francis Whittington posted 46.4 and 37.5 penalties on their senior team debuts respectively, while William Fox-Pitt scored 43.0 on board Bay My Hero.
Tom Lancashire finished fourth in the men’s 1500m in a season’s best of 3:38.02 minutes at the final Diamond League of the season in Brussels.
In a race won by France’s Morhad Amdouni it was a gutsy run from Lancashire to finish just outside the top three at the Memorial Van Damme, with Chris O’Hare and Dale Clutterbuck tenth and 11th respectively.
After first-time clearances at 1.80m, 1.85m and 1.90m, Isobel Pooley bowed out of the high-jump competition at 1.93m to finish in fourth place.
Also in fourth place was Tiffany Porter in the 100m hurdles after clocking 12.81 seconds, with Dawn Harper-Nelson wrapping up the Diamond Race title with victory in 12.63.
Running from lane one in the 200m, Jodie Williams crossed the line in 23.34 for seventh in a race which saw world 200m champion Dafne Schippers take the scalp of Olympic 200m champion Allyson Felix in 22.12.
In the men’s 100m, it was eighth place for Chijindu Ujah with the sprinter finishing eighth in 10.19.
Mark Cavendish has been forced to pull out of the Tour of Britain after crashing early on stage six.
The details of the Manxman's injuries are not yet known but his Etixx - Quick-Step team tweeted: "Team confirms @MarkCavendish crashed and has withdrawn from #AvivaToB2015. More information will be provided after the race."
Great Britain Cycling Team coach co-ordinator Iain Dyer believes his Road World Championships squad are all set to shine despite not being able to call on the services of Chris Froome.
Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas have been selected for the men's road race, while Lizzie Armitstead, who has enjoyed another successful year on the road, will compete in the women's road race with the World Championships taking place in Richmond, Virginia from 19-27 September.
However, Tour de France winner Froome is not selected after withdrawing from the Vuelta a Espana with injury.
There is better news for Hayley Simmonds though who will represent the Great Britain Cycling Team for the first time, following a breakthrough year which saw her become the British Cycling national time trial champion, while Alex Dowsett has been selected for the men's time trial.
"We've selected a really exciting team of riders to contest this year's Road World Championships," Dyer said.
"We have high hopes for a number of riders in terms of medal prospects but it will also be a fantastic opportunity for some of the younger and less experienced members of the team to compete at an international event for the first time."
© Sportsbeat 2015