Sports News

Sport Relief is calling on the people of Birmingham to step away from the stuffing, reject those spare sprouts and start the New Year as they mean to go on by signing up for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games, taking place on Friday 18th to Sunday 20th March. People all over the West Midlands, from a variety of ages and fitness levels, are encouraged to go fit themselves as they get ready to walk, run, swim or cycle themselves proud by signing up to the Sport Relief Games.

An exciting year of sport has thrown up some potentially classic head-to-head battles to win Laureus World Sports Awards. Usain Bolt v Lewis Hamilton; Serena Williams v Katie Ledecky and All Blacks v FC Barcelona are among the contests that we could possibly see when the Laureus World Sports Academy cast their votes for the most prestigious honours in sport. First, though, the leading sportsmen, sportswomen and teams of 2015 have to receive enough votes from the world’s media to reach the shortlist.

56 year old IT Business consultant Chris is walking over 1000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End (JOGLE) between April 15th and June 12th 2016 to raise funds for three charities that are very close to his heart - Cure Leukaemia, Breast Cancer UK and the Holt School Trust. For most the standard walk would be a serious challenge however father of two Chris has decided to make it ‘Big’ by adding climbs of the three highest peaks in the UK; Ben Nevis, Scafel Pike and Snowdon to his route.

The Worcester Wolves have swooped to sign one of the UK's most exciting talents as Orlan Jackman joined the Wolf Pack today. He left CAB Madeira in Portugal and is delighted to be joining the Worcester outfit and make a return to the BBL, where he last played for London Lions in 2012 as one of the League's most impressive rookies and was named in the All-British BBL team.

Current European record holder and 200 metre world champion Dafne Schippers will face Britain’s fastest ever woman, Dina Asher-Smith, over 60m at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on 20 February. Each athlete has beaten the other once over 60m with both setting their personal bests at last year’s European Indoor Championships in Prague; 7.05 for Schippers and 7.08 for Asher-Smith, the first of five British records she set during 2015.

Diabetes UK is searching for runners to join the Edinburgh Marathon Festival and run what is known as Britain’s fastest marathon course. Over 70 per cent of people entering the Edinburgh Marathon are from outside Scotland and members of Team Diabetes UK come from all corners of the UK. Over 30,000 runners are expected to take part in races during the Bank Holiday weekend on Saturday 28 May and Sunday 29 May 2016, running in the marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k and junior races.

Commonwealth boxing medallist Qais Ashfaq attended the Boxing in Mosques session, as the Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sport Awards extends its deadline for accepting nominations until 30 November. Qais Ashfaq, the Commonwealth and European Games bantamweight medallist from Yorkshire, showed his support of the local project which last year won the Sport England Community Sport Project of the Year at the inaugural BEDSAs.

Outstanding contributions by the city's sportsmen and women were recognised at a special presentation hosted by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Ian Brookfield. Wolverhampton City Sports Advisory Council's annual awards recognised the efforts of athletes, coaches, officials and administrators from clubs across Wolverhampton.

Europe's leading golf destination, the Algarve, is celebrating after hosting a feast of superb golf from some of the world's finest disabled golfers at its annual international disability golf tournament. Nearly 50 golfers from 13 countries descended upon the charming region for the second European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) Algarve Open, held at Pestana Vila Sol, which saw Manuel de Los Santos crowned champion after an exciting two-hole play-off against Frenchman Mathieu Cauneau.

The 62nd Macau Grand Prix has come to an exciting end with British drivers Alexander Sims and Sam McLeod claiming the third and fourth positions, respectively. A total of 24 drivers, including a third Briton, competed in the world-class event last weekend, which represents the climax of the Formula 3 calendar.

Britain’s Got Talent favourites Flawless are ready to light up British Basketball’s major Finals in 2016. In a series of special one-off performances, Flawless will firstly headline the entertainment for fans at the BBL Cup and WBBL Trophy Finals on Sunday 17 January at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham.

The Aegon GB Davis Cup Team will be rolling into Birmingham for the exciting Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first-round clash against Japan in March. The tie, which takes place between 4-6 March 2016 at the 9,000 capacity Barclaycard Arena, will be only the second time the sides have met in the biggest team competition in tennis.

Manager of Walsall Football Club, Dean Smith visited Walsall College’s recently launched £11m Business and Sports Hub this week and presented Supported Learning students with silver medals following their success at a regional football tournament.

Council staff are broadening their horizons and helping the local community as part of the Employee Volunteering Scheme. A scheme run by the City of Wolverhampton Council allows employees to take up to two days of paid volunteering leave providing it fits in with business requirements, is of benefit to not for profit organisations, and is within Wolverhampton.

The rugby world is in mourning following the tragic death of All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu. The former New Zealand winger, the star of the 1995 World Cup, was 40.The All Blacks team doctor said it was an unexpected death, according to a report from New Zealand television station 3News. But it has also emerged that Lomu was on the waiting list for a second kidney transplant after his first, in 2004, failed in 2011.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club have announced the appointment of Neil Snowball as Chief Executive. He will commence the role in January 2016, replacing current Chief Executive Colin Povey who is retiring from the position next month. Neil is currently Chief Operating Officer of England Rugby 2015 Ltd, the Organising Committee for Rugby World Cup 2015.