Liam Phillips wins a fourth Manchester BMX Supercross World Cup on the spin as taekwondo star Mahama Cho finds glory at the President's Cup. Here's our review of the last 24 hours.
Liam Phillips admits it was far from easy but believes the resilience he showed bodes well after claiming his fourth consecutive win at the BMX Supercross World Cup in Manchester.
Phillips led from the front in the final as he extended his record-breaking run at the National Cycling Centre and there was double joy for Team GB as Kyle Evans finished second.
That was the 22-year-old’s best-ever World Cup result but it was Phillips who reigned supreme once again, even if the 27-year-old insists it was far from simple.
“I can’t stress how hard that was, it was by far most challenging day of racing I’ve had in a very long time,” said Phillips.
“Some days you’ve got tough it out and try and make it to that last eight and once you do that it’s anybody’s game.
“Every year becomes more difficult. I learned a lot about myself, knowing that even when I’m not feeling the best I can still deliver when it matters.”
In the women’s event 16-year-old Bethany Shriver impressed to reach the semi-finals on her World Cup debut before narrowly missing out on a spot in the final by a single place.
Mahama Cho claims he had to fight off a virus as well as his opponents in order to win heavyweight gold at the President’s Cup in Bonn, Germany on Sunday.
Cho reached the final in the +87kg division where he squared off with Armenia’s Arman-Marshall Silla and although he trailed late on, the Brit rallied to win 5-2.
That result also secured Team GB another automatic qualification place for next month’s European Championships in Switzerland.
“I was sick before coming here,” said Cho. “But I still wanted to come out here and try to the best I could.
“I am always calm in those tough situations [trailing in the final bout]. I always try to find a solution to get round it and try not to panic.
“So, it’s nice to see what you are doing in training works in competition.”
In the women’s -62kg division Rachelle Booth reached the final before dramatically losing a golden point decision against Turkey’s Irem Yaman.
And after being forced to settle for silver, Booth conceded there were both positives and negatives to be taken.
“I am pleased to get to the final because that’s two competitions in a row I’ve made the final – so, I am showing progress,” said Booth. "But I am not happy with the result.
“I went in the final to win that was my main aim. I made a couple of mistakes and I was unfortunate to get a kyong-go [penalty] against me in sudden death. But you live and learn.
“I had some good fights along the way. And while I was gutted with the end result I enjoyed the day.”
Max Whitlock continued his stellar form to claim two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal in the Masters events at the British Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool on Sunday.
The Masters saw the top eight highest-scoring gymnasts from Saturday’s all-around event on each piece of apparatus compete for the title of British champion.
Whitlock, who won Glasgow World Cup gold last month, triumphed on the pommel horse and floor, came second on the parallel bars and high bar while clinching bronze on the rings.
On the pommel horse, the much-anticipated contest between Olympic and world medallists Whitlock and Louis Smith didn’t disappoint as Smith’s routine scored an impressive 16.100 points, only for his rival to post a 16.325 and take the title. Elsewhere, Courtney Tulloch won on the rings, Ashley Watson on the parallel bars, Nile Wilson in the high bar and Giarnni Regini-Moran in the vault, while the Downie sisters both found success in the senior women’s apparatus finals.
Ellie Downie took vault gold with Becky triumphing in the beam as the final two events saw Amy Tinkler being unbeatable on the floor and Gabby Jupp winning the uneven bars.
Ian Stannard is already aiming to climb two steps higher on the Paris-Roubaix podium after finishing third in the iconic race on Sunday.
The Team Sky rider was involved in a five-man sprint finish but was edged out by Australian veteran Mathew Hayman and four-time winner Tom Boonen.
Stannard’s display equalled the best-ever performance by a British rider at the race known as the Hell of the North – matching Barry Hoban’s effort in 1972 and Roger Hammond’s in 2004.
And he admits it was a case of mixed emotions after finishing third at a race he has dreamed of winning since childhood.
“I’m pleased to finish on the podium, but it’s so close yet so far I guess,” said Stannard.
“I’ve always had ambitions for this race ever since I first watched it on TV. It’s nice to get on the podium, but two more steps to work my way up now.”
Read our full report here
England Sevens captain Tom Mitchell insisted it took guts for his side to bounce back from disappointment and triumph in the Plate final at the Hong Kong Sevens.
England fell to a 14-5 defeat to Australia in the Cup quarter-final on Sunday, but left Hong Kong with silverware after dispatching Kenya 33-0 and USA 19-0 to win the Plate.
During the course of the weekend, Dan Norton also scored his 200th try on the Sevens World Series circuit, and Mitchell admits things could have been different if Charlie Hayter had not succumbed to illness.
"This weekend has had some ups and downs. The whole week in fact has been a journey, we’ve learned a lot from it," said Mitchell.
"There has been some real standout performances – Dan Norton has been amazing and credit to Charlie Hayter who, after only recently coming back from injury, showed glimpses of his best rugby again yesterday.
"It is a shame that he is suffering from illness and was unable come out and back it up today.
"We shouldn’t underestimate how difficult it is to play in that plate final after suffering a tough loss in the quarters of the cup competition and the way the boys not only fronted up but also managed to improve in our decision making as the tournament went on."
Meanwhile, Wales lost in the Plate semi-finals to USA and Scotland reached the Bowl final before going down 26-0 to Argentina.
Whatever happens during the remainder of Anthony Joshua’s career in the ring, Saturday night’s victory ensures the Watford-born boxer’s name will always be etched in the history books.
In seeing off IBF champion Charles Martin at London's O2 Arena last night, Joshua became just the third man to win a professional heavyweight world title while still a reigning Olympic champion.
The two boxers before him? A certain Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, who won light-heavyweight gold in 1960 before overcoming Sonny Liston in 1964 and Leon Spinks, winner of light-heavyweight gold in 1976 before dethroning Ali in 1978.
That Joshua was able to wrap a world title belt around his waist after just 16 pro fights is even more remarkable.
Read the full story on Anthony Joshua’s journey from Olympic champion to world heavyweight title holder here
Sportsbeat 2016