Olympic24: Phillips is hometown hero at BMX World Cup

Liam Phillips has that winning feeling again while Great Britain take second place at ice hockey World Championships. Here's a review of the last 24 hours:

Liam Phillips dominated his rivals to win the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Manchester for a third consecutive year.

The former world champion denied current world champion Sam Willoughby to complete a time trial and supercross racing double at the National Cycling Centre.

"It’s just mind-blowing," told British Cycling.

"There was so much talk coming into this weekend, of a three peat, I don’t think that has ever been done before."

Tre Whyte joined Phillips in the final but saw his podium hopes dashed when he crashed on the second corner. The world bronze medallist finished seventh.

Proud but shattered was head coach Pete Russell's assessment after Great Britain's ice hockey side narrowly failed in their promotion bid at the World Championships in Eindhoven.

Russell's side needed a point to secure promotion but a goal seven minutes from time meant Lithuania won the final game 3-2, meaning Korea took gold and Great Britain silver.

"I am so proud of them right now. This is hurting so much but we should hold our heads up high," Russell told icehockeyuk.co.uk

"They were shattered out there but they gave it their all and they played with pride and passion all week.

"We just came up a little short but they deserve so much credit for the week they had. I guess it just wasn't meant to be, it was one of those things."

Alex Gregory and Mohamed Sbihi came out top for the second year running in a star-studded men’s pair final at the GB Rowing Team Trials at Caversham.

Olympic lightweight women’s double champion Kat Copeland was eased out of the honours in a sizzling lightweight single scull final.

It took a video replay to give the verdict to her 2014 crew-mate Imogen Walsh from Charlotte Taylor while Copeland, having led throughout, was caught in the final 100m by the momentum of the battling duo behind her.

And Katherine Grainger’s return to the sport after two years out didn’t end with victory as Vicky Thornley beat her in the open women’s single scull final.

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Britain’s gymnasts capped off the 2015 European Championships with three silver medals on the final day to complete a record-breaking haul at a major championship.

Silver for Becky Downie on beam, Sam Oldham on high bar and Claudia Fragapane on floor – added to Downie's silver in the bars, all-around bronze for her sister Ellie and Dan Purvis, pommel gold for Louis Smith and floor gold for Kristian Thomas – brought the medal tally to eight.

“It's been an incredible European’s for the whole GBR team. We're all so proud of what we've achieved, I’m so happy for everyone," said Becky Downie.

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And don't forget - the World Championships are later this year in Glasgow, so get your tickets.

Simon Middleton's England recorded their best result in this year's World Rugby women's sevens series, reaching the semi-finals in Langford.

They surprised hosts Canada to win their quarter-final 12-5 but went down 24-12 to eventual winners New Zealand in the final four.

The next round of the series takes place in London next month.

Julia King and Abi Robinson scored as Surbiton completed their season undefeated with a 2-1 victory over Canterbury in the Investec Women's Hockey Championship final.

"We’ve got the cup final next weekend, and we always look to build on our last performance, so this was all about the culmination of a whole season undefeated," said captain Sara Haycroft.

"We’ll enjoy the celebration now and plan for next year - hopefully to do the treble."

Reading claimed the third place playoff with a 3-1 win over Clifton, who had taken the lead through Liz Sinton’s penalty corner.

But goals from Emma Thomas, Ellie Cockburn and Olympic bronze medallist Helen Richardson-Walsh turned the tide.

© Sportsbeat 2015