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Sports round-up: 22-28 April

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bryony shaw, windsurfing, olympic medalist, women's sportWelcome to our weekly round-up of British women’s sporting exploits at home and abroad.

Athletics:

Great Britain’s women claimed their first ever podium finish at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on April 27.

Christine Ohuruogu, Eilidh Child, Shana Cox and Perri Shakes-Drayton finished second behind the USA in the women’s 4x400m relay.

This year’s event, which pitted US athletes against the rest of the world, featured a 4x800m women’s relay for the first time in its history.

Tara Bird, Marilyn Okoro, Lynsey Sharp and Jemma Simpson came in fourth, behind two US teams and Kenya.

Before the event, British Athletic coach Terrence Mahon described it as a chance to gauge progress before the start of the outdoor season.

“I have no doubt that the team assembled have every chance of winning the first medal for Great at the event, but as with every year, the relays attract some strong opposition, so we’ll have to be at our very best,” he said.

Football:

Arsenal Ladies recovered quickly from last week’s Champions League loss to secure a place in their thirteenth FA Women’s Cup final.

Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-1 on April 26, with goals from Ellen White and Kim Little enough to take them through.

Arsenal will face Bristol Academy in next month’s final, after a convincing semi-final victory for Bristol over Lincoln Ladies on April 28.

Goals from Spanish strikers Natalia Sanchon and Laura Del Rio earned Bristol a spot in their second final in three years.

Sailing:

It has been a successful week for Britain’s sailors at the World Cup regatta in Hyeres, France, with a total haul of ten medals.

Windsurfer Bryony Shaw continued her excellent season by taking gold on April 27, the day before her 30th birthday.

Olympic bronze medal winner Shaw also won silver at this year’s world championships, followed by silver in the World Cup event in Palma earlier this month.

Charlotte Dobson and Mary Rook began the final day of competition in silver medal position, and their performance was enough to clinch them the medal.

Elsewhere, Sophie Weguelin and Eilidh McIntyre took bronze in the 470, with Alison Young rounding out the medal count with a bronze in the Laser Radial class.

There was British success in the Paralympic event, too, with Helena Lucas taking silver in the 2.4mR class.

Megan Pascoe was right behind her, finishing with a bronze medal to add to her gold from February’s Miami World Cup, and silver from Palma.

Taekwondo:

Sarah Stevenson, Britain’s most successful taekwondo player, announced her retirement from competition this week.

The 30 year-old, who has competed in four Olympic games and is still the reigning -67kg world champion, will take up a coaching role at Britain’s World Class Performance Centre.

After more than a decade competing at the top level, Stevenson admitted that retirement came as a relief.

“I am relieved I’ve finally been able to make the announcement. I’ve known in my heart it’s what I have wanted to do for a while,” she said.

“I am excited to finally say I am retiring but it doesn’t mean I have lost my love for the sport.

“I haven’t lost my determination to be the best and to win. So, I am delighted I have been accepted onto the coaching team so I can help put that into the athletes we have now and the next generation,” she said.

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