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Sports round-up: 11 – 18 August

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Christine Ohuruogu, british women's sports results, moscowWelcome back to our weekly round-up of British women’s sports results from around the globe.

Athletics:

Women led the way for Team GB at this week’s IAAF Athletics World Championships in Moscow, winning four of Britain’s six medals.

The star of the show was team captain Christine Ohuruogu, who regained her 400m world title on August 12, before bringing home the 4x400m relay team to a bronze on August 17.

Ohuruogu claimed her gold by the tightest of margins: her new British record of 49.41 seconds was just four thousandths of a second faster than defending champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana.

Next up, Tiffany Porter, who won bronze in a very strong field in the 100m hurdles on August 17. Porter, who had set a season’s best of 12.63 in her semi-final, was beaten only by Olympic champion Sally Pearson and American Brianna Rollins, who is third in the all time list.

Just minutes after Porter’s race, Britain’s women lined up for the 4x400m relay.

Jamaica’s disqualification and a weakened USA team meant that Britain had high expectations. With Perri Shakes-Drayton already on the plane home, the team comprising Eilidh Child, Shana Cox, Margaret Adeoye and Ohuruogu took their chance to claim the bronze medal.

Britain were left one medal short of their target of six after the men’s 4x100m relay team were disqualified for a faulty changeover.

However, the women’s 4x100m team had no such bad luck. Dina Asher-Smith, Ashleigh Nelson, Annabelle Lewis and Hayley Jones had already returned to their hotel after a disappointing fourth place finish when it was announced that the third-placed French team had been disqualified, also for a faulty changeover.

Britain were therefore promoted to the bronze medal position. 17 year old Asher-Smith said: “It means so much to us. I’m over the moon, it’s such a shock.”

Swimming:

It has also been an exceptional week for British women in the pool.

At the IPC Swimming World Championships in Montreal, the women of Team GB came away with no less than eleven gold medals and three world records.

Ellie Simmonds started off the gold rush on August 12, taking the top spot in the S6 400m freestyle, 20 seconds ahead of her nearest challenger.

The same day, Jessica-Jane Applegate set a world record to claim gold in the S14 200m freestyle.

Also on the opening day, Steph Millward won the S9 100m freestyle, with Amy Marren taking silver.

Marren did not have to wait long for her own taste of victory. On August 13, the day before her 15th birthday, she won gold in the SM9 200m individual medley. Marren had been disqualified in the heats, but was reinstated after she appealed.

Simmonds was back on top of the podium on August 15, breaking her own world record to win the SM6 200m individual medley.

The same day, Marren, Millward, Susie Rodgers and Claire Cashmore triumphed in the 4x100m freestyle 34pt relay.

Marren added one more gold to her tally on August 17, winning the S9 100m butterfly with a new British record. 17 year-old Hannah Russell also took gold, in the S12 200m backstroke.

The final day of the championships brought yet more success. Simmonds took her third gold medal, in the S6 100m freestyle, while Millward triumphed in the S9 100m backstroke.

In the final race, the 4x100m 34pt medley relay, Team GB won gold in a world record time of 4.46.21 to finish the championships in style.

In total, Britain won 55 medals, including 18 golds.

Golf:

Europe have retained the Solheim Cup in an historic 18-10 victory. It is the first time Europe had retained the trophy in its 23 year history, and their first win on US soil.

On the final day on August 18, Europe needed just 3.5 points to win.

Britain’s Charley Hull set the tone for the day with a win over Paula Creamer. Ties from Anna Nordqvist and Catriona Matthews, and wins from Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Hedwall secured the win.

Sweden’s Hedwall is the first player in the tournament’s history to win all five of her matches.

17 year old Hull, who only turned professional this year, summed up the mood.

“I gave myself high hope and I just wanted to prove people wrong,” she told BBC Sport. “I’m 17 and people were wondering if I could perform under the pressure but I go out and enjoy it, which takes care of the pressure.

“Before the match I just thought ‘bring it’ because I beat her on Saturday and I’d try to do it again.”

Cricket:

England settled for a draw with Australia in the only test match of the women’s Ashes, which concluded on August 14.

England were chasing a target of 249 from 45 overs at Wormsley, and reached 93 for 2 before hands were shaken just after 5pm.

The draw earns each team two points ahead of the first of three one day internationals, which takes place at Lord’s on August 20.

Hockey:

England’s women made a strong start at the EuroHockey Nations Championships in Belgium on August 17, beating Spain 3-0 in their opening match.

Hannah Macleod, Lily Owsley and captain Kate Walsh provided the goals in an attacking performance.

However, England failed to capitalise on the win, slipping to a 2-1 loss against Germany in their second match on August 18.

England have not won a European title since 1991, but following Team GB’s bronze medal at London 2102, they are aiming for the top spot.

Meanwhile, Scotland lost both of their opening matches. An own goal from goalkeeper Amy Gibson led to a 1-0 loss against Germany on August 17. They went on to lose 2-1 to Spain on August 18.

England and Scotland, who are both playing in pool B, will now play each other on August 20.

Sailing:

Olympic silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark were unable to defend their world title at the 470 World Championships in La Rochelle this weekend. A year on from winning the world title in Barcelona, Mills and Clark failed even to make the final, finishing in twelfth position in qualifying.

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