Great Britain's showjumpers put in a strong showing on the opening day of the European Championships while Lord Coe reactions to his election as the President of the International Association of Athletics. Here's our review of the last 24 hours.
Joe Clee admitted is was the Great British team spirit that helped propel him and his showjumping compatriots to a strong start at the European Championships.
Clee, Ben Maher and Michael Whitaker all jumped clear rounds as the individual and team competitions got under way in Aachen, Germany.
Despite winning Olympic gold at London 2012, Britain have still to book a place for Rio next summer.
But the British quartet of Clee, Maher, Whitaker and 19-year-old Jessica Mendoza hold the bronze medal position overnight behind leaders Germany and second-placed France.
Three Olympic places are up for grabs for teams that have not already qualified, and Britain claimed an impressive early position despite being without world number one Scott Brash, whose two top horses Hello Sanctos and Hello M'Lady were both made unavailable this week.
"What we have got here, which we didn't have at the World Games, is that great team spirit. It really motivates you,” said Clee.
"Ben and Michael were brilliant to start with, which takes the pressure off you a little bit, but it's still on. Those two rounds put me a little bit more relaxed."
Lord Coe admitted his election as President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is his greatest achievement to date in the sport.
Coe, the Chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) since 2012, beat former Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka by 115 votes to 92 this morning at the 50th IAAF Congress in Beijing and replaces current President Lamine Diack.
"I am deeply honoured that our sport has placed its trust in me,” he said. Read more here.
Giles Scott pulled himself into the reckoning with three more days of racing to go after two solid scores on the fifth day of the Olympic Test Event in Rio.
The Finn class sailor has endured a difficult start to the regatta this week after an individual error early on left him down the field.
But while wind conditions once again meant for delays across the course, Scott posted a race win and a third to elevate him to fourth place overall after five races.
“I’ve had a bit of a trying start to the regatta with a bit of a monumental error on my behalf, thinking I saw a pumping flag when it wasn’t actually flying, which resulted in me being disqualified from a race,” explained Scott, who was crowned champion at this same regatta a year ago.
“It was very necessary for me to get out there and put two very good scores on the scoreboard and fortunately I was able to do that.
“We’re now halfway through the opening series so there’s still an awful lot more sailing to be done in what look to be some pretty tricky conditions, so it’s still certainly all to play for.”
Just one race was possible for the 470 men’s and women’s fleets, but both saw gains for the British crews.
Olympic silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark posted in third in their race to see them into second overall, two points from the American leaders, while Luke Patience and Elliot Willis are up to fourth in the men’s double-handed class.
In the RS:X men’s and women’s windsurfing competition, Bryony Shaw posted a seventh to book her place in the ten-boat finale but Nick Dempsey’s 19
was enough to make the cut and he finishes in 13
place.
Andy Murray continued his preparations for the US Open at the end of the month with victory over Mardy Fish at the Cincinnati Masters.
Murray beat the veteran hardcourt specialist 6-4, 7-6 to book his place in the third round.
The Scott, who beat Novak Djokovic to the Rogers Cup title last Sunday, will now face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the next round.
Home fans wait for a first British medal at the 2015 European modern pentathlon Championships goes on after both the men’s and women’s relay teams finished fourth.
Despite a strong start to the day, both teams struggled in the ride, leaving it all to do on the combined course.
In the men’s competition James Myatt and Sam Curry were unable to run themselves back into the medals after going into the final event fifth.
While Samantha Murray and Mhairi Spence both suffered in the ride – Murray with two referrals at the first fence and Spence with a pole down – with the deficit proving too much to make up on the combined course.
"Sometimes this is how it goes in modern pentathlon,” said Spence. “It was close right until the end, but I know all the girls who were competing here are fighters and that’s exactly what they did.
"Obviously disappointed but equally I have really enjoyed the day.”
© Sportsbeat 2015