Sports News

Three sports projects in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the West Midlands will receive a share of £530,554 of National Lottery funding, it has been announced today.  Using sport to improve lives, the projects will tackle social problems directly affecting young people, families, and women.

Dozens of youngsters are pulling on their trainers for a weekly run around Wednesfield Park. The new Wednesfield Junior Parkrun, which launched recently, is held every Sunday morning, giving children and young people aged from four to 14 the chance to complete a 2km circuit around the park. Those taking part are encouraged to run, jog or walk for their own enjoyment and at their own pace, and parents can also join in if they wish.

Nine members of staff from leading regional building society the West Brom are limbering up to take part in the 2015 Morrisons Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge. The group, all from the building society’s headquarters in West Bromwich, will aim to complete the 13.1 mile half marathon course on Sunday, October 18.

Cycling passions are riding high in Haringey following the borough’s first ever cycling conference. Professionals, lobbyists and enthusiasts came together for the gathering at the Bernie Grants Arts Centre on Thursday, which saw contributions from experts around the world. The 140-strong conference crowd swapped ideas and experiences about what everyone can do to ensure cycling is easy, safe and encouraged in their area.

UK Athletics has confirmed that Jason Gardener will become the next President of UK Athletics taking over from Lynn Davies at its AGM on December 4. Gardener, currently a director on the UK Athletics Board - a position he will relinquish when he becomes President - has confirmed he is honoured to accept the role and paid tribute to the outgoing President Lynn Davies for his service to the sport.

A five-a-side football team from Booth House Lifehouse, Whitechapel, lifted the Partnership Trophy cup after seeing off dozens of competitors from across the UK, defeating Centenary House, Belfast, by five goals to two. Hundreds of footballers from Salvation Army Lifehouses (residential centres) and supported housing across the United Kingdom flocked to Goals Manchester’s five-a-side pitches for the chance to be lift The Salvation Army’s Partnership Trophy.

West Indian stars: Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdi and Jason Holder will be leading a host of world-class cricketers who have signed-up to take part in next February's inaugural Pakistan Super League tournament.

British Athletics has today announced the dates and locations for the 2015/16 Cross Challenge. The series incorporates five key fixtures across the autumn and winter season as thousands of runners seek to become Britain’s best cross country athletes. With nearly £30,000 in prize money up for grabs across the course of the Challenge, there is an extra incentive to take part in the series which offers quality and competitive cross country races over the coming months.

With a film about his life being released into cinemas next year, Eddie the Eagle is offering winners the chance to ski jump with him in Courchevel in October this year and then in January 2016. The winners of a competition will receive two weeks of professional training in Courchevel and jumping alongside Eddie.

Golfers at Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort are being given an added reason to stay in shape after the resort unveiled major plans to invest £300,000 in upgrading and expanding the site's leisure facilities. Work on adding two new fitness studios to the luxury golf venue's health club began at the start of this month and the new facilities, which are set to open in January, will give guests and members an increased choice of up to 55 classes a week.

Residents and visitors to Stockland Green are invited to take part in the annual Stockland Green World Cup Cricket Day this Bank Holiday Monday at Highcroft Community Centre. Erdington district chair, Cllr Josh Jones said: “This event is one of many organised by the Stockland Green Ward Advisory Board, a group of committed local people and professionals who meet regularly to develop facilities and services which are of benefit to the area.

British Athletics has today announced the team to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the upcoming home World Mountain Running Championship in Betws-y-Coed, Wales on September 19. The 17-strong team contains trial winners Robbie Simpson and Sarah Tunstall alongside previous world medallist Emma Clayton who will be seeking medals in the mountains at the up and down Championships, to be held in the UK for the third time.

NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day is set to be bigger than ever at Edgbaston on Saturday, August 29, with record ticket sales confirmed for the biggest day in domestic cricket. For the third consecutive year, Edgbaston will set a new record NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day attendance, with 24,300 spectators expected on Saturday with the Turkish Airlines Temporary Stand - which was used at the third Investec Ashes Test Match in July - retained following huge demand.

Youngsters can take part in a new weekly fun run around Wednesfield Park. The Wednesfield Junior Parkrun is held every Sunday morning at 9am and is suitable for children and young people aged from four to 14. The Parkrun is free and takes place over a timed 2k distance. Children are encouraged to run, jog or walk for their own enjoyment and at their own pace. Parents can also join in if they wish.

Following the historic Ashes Series win, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that Test Match cricket will return to Birmingham in August next summer with England facing Pakistan in the third Test of the Investec Series. In all, Edgbaston will host seven days of Major Match cricket in 2016, starting with the second Royal London One-Day International against Sri Lanka on Friday 24 June, which is followed by England v Pakistan in the third Investec Test Match from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 August.

Greg Rutherford completed the Grand Slam of major titles after winning the long jump at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, in China. The reigning Olympic, European and Commonwealth champion added the only major title missing from his collection and becomes only the fifth British athlete in history to hold all four titles at the same time. Rutherford took the lead in the early stages with a jump of 8.29m, before the competition lost USA’s Mike Hartfield and Jeff Henderson, the latter of which qualified for the final in first place.