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Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork
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Natalie Broadbent 25 January 2012
Athletics: Pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale smashed her own British indoor record and moved to second on the all-time world list with a clearance of 4.87m in Lyon.
The 20-year-old cleared 4.87m at the third attempt to win the event and top the world rankings.
Only world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva (5.01m) has gone higher indoors in the history of the sport.
UK Athletics
Badminton: Britain's Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork won the mixed doubles title at the Swedish International in Stockholm. The pair beat Denmark's Mads Pieler Kolding and Julie Houmann 21-17 21-17.
Robertson and Wallwork are chasing British rivals Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier, who lost in the semi-finals, for a guaranteed place at London 2012.
Badminton England
Bob Skeleton: Girls4Gold’s Lizzie Yarnold and Shelly Rudman made history in St Moritz this weekend by taking a first-ever British one-two at a World Cup.
23-year-old Yarnold took gold in only her second race in the event. She said: “I am obviously really pleased and happy with the result today and it’s difficult to explain but I feel a sense of relief that everything I’ve done so far has been worthwhile. I set out today to be consistent and replicate everything that I have done in training (where she had the fastest two times in the last two training sessions) and I achieved that despite the weather”.
British Skeleton
Hockey: Great Britain's women finished second in the Four Nations in Argentina only losing their final match against Korea 3-2.
Speaking after the game, Great Britain’s head coach, Danny Kerry was disappointed with the result but upbeat about his team’s performance, saying: “This was a really strong team performance and I feel for the girls because they played so well and gave everything. Korea took their limited opportunities very well and at this level it is the smallest things that make a difference.”
Great Britain will now travel to Rosario for the FIH 2012 Champions Trophy, which begins next week.
Great Britain Hockey
Judo: A seven-strong British team will compete at the 2012 Paris Grand Slam, one of last major events before the Olympic Games, on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February at Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy.
The Paris Grand Slam, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest spectacles in the sport, is the highest points scoring event before the Olympic Games and this year has attracted over 700 judoka.
Sophie Cox, the reigning European bronze medallist, will compete in the -52kg category while Sarah Clark takes to the tatami at -57kg. Karina Bryant returns to tackle the +78kg category alongside fellow heavyweight Sarah Adlington. Ashley McKenzie will look for a place on the medal rostrum in the -60kg category. Colin Oates, the reigning European bronze medallist, competes at -66kg while Masters bronze medallist and fellow British Closed Champion Euan Burton returns to the -81kg category.
British Judo’s Performance Operations Manager Karen Roberts said: “The team have had a fantastic preparation, with three domestic randori camps, international randori at the Olympic Training Camp in Mittersill, Austria as well as competing at the British Closed Championships.
The Paris Grand Slam marks the start of the 'home straight' for the Games, it’s a very exciting time for the players themselves but also every member of the BJA who have supported them every step of the way.”
British Judo
Sailing: The Miami World Cup Regatta is taking place this week. Britain’s sailors have continued their confident start with Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark, Paul Goodison, and Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell all leading their respective fleets.
Mills said: “It’s definitely an outcome regatta for us – we want to do as well as possible to start the year on a high and get the momentum going for the rest of the year,” said Mills. “We think that’s pretty important, so we’re definitely looking to do well here, but we’ve also got a few equipment goals that we’re testing out as well.
Skandia Team GBR
