West takes on lead role for 2012 Games
Olympic Games Neil West was yesterday appointed as the first chief operating officer of the British Olympic Association, a role linked to the 2012 London Games. West, 45, competed for Britain in canoe flatwater at world and European level and for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. He worked for 12 years in the oil industry and has recently been coaching Britain’s lightweight rowers.
“Neil’s appointment will allow us to function more effectively and to serve the governing bodies and their athletes whom we represent,” Simon Clegg, the BOA chief executive, said.
Philip makes history
Athletics Asha Philip became the first British woman to win the 100 metres at the IAAF World Youth Championships when she took victory by a thousandth of a second in Ostrava yesterday. After two false starts and five minutes of deliberating, officials declared Philip, 16, the winner in a time of 11.46sec. Rosangela Santos, of Brazil, was second, with Ashlee Nelson, of Britain, third.
Britain in command
Rowing Britain enter the final World Cup round in Lucerne this weekend as leaders of the 32-nation medal league with 102 points after the first two regattas in Linz, Austria, and Amsterdam. China are second with 96 points, but after their ten-medal haul in Amsterdam have only one entry, a sculler, in Lucerne and the threat to Britain’s title hopes will come from Germany, who are third with 79 points.
Danson ruled out
Hockey Alex Danson, the England striker, has been ruled out of the two training matches against Germany at Belle Vue, Manchester, this weekend after injuring her neck in a collision with Crista Cullen, her teammate. Jennie Bimson, Anne Panter, Helen Grant and Lucilla Wright, the four injured players who missed the Champions Challenge, are included in the 23-strong squad.
Advertisement
Higgins passes test
Snooker John Higgins captained a Europe side that included Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty to a 5-3 victory in the Euro-Asia Challenge at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Hong Kong. Higgins’s mind was not fully focused on snooker after he lost his passport earlier in the day. The competition includes an individual event, with £25,000 going to the winner.
Bowlers under scrutiny
Bowls England’s lawn bowlers will be under scrutiny in Ayr today, when they take on Israel and South Africa in the men’s pairs and triples, and the US and Scotland in the women’s events in the Atlantic Championship. “Performances here will influence selection for the world outdoor championships in Christchurch [New Zealand] in January,” John Bell, the England team manager, said.