Kristian Thomas, Great Britain's Olympic bronze medallist, has been confirmed in a strong international field to contest the Glasgow World Cup on December 8, writes Susan Swarbrick. Marcel Nguyen (Germany) and Danell Lyeva (USA), who took silver and bronze in the all-around competition at London 2012, will also be at the new Emirates Arena, along with the Olympic and Japan's world team silver medallist Kazuhito Tanaka. Disappointingly for Scottish fans, neither Dan Purvis and Daniel Keatings will compete.
Rebecca Tunney, the British senior all-around champion, will lead the home challenge in the women's event with Niamh Rippin. They will face, among others, Romania's Olympic bronze medallist Larissa Iordache, the former world and European champion Vanessa Ferrari (Italy) and rising star Elizabeth Price (USA).
hockey
Dundee Wanderers and CALA Edinburgh have reacted differently to life in the second division since they dropped out of the top flight of the national league, now sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management, last season, writes Craig Madden.
Wanderers seem on course for an immediate return to the top division, having taken a maximum 24 points from their first eight games. New their coach Scott Warden, a Wanderers player in the halcyon days of the 1990s, has brought on a squad of talented youngsters who have opened an eight-point lead over Falkirk GHG. Warden has put the emphasis on scoring goals, and the Taysiders have hit 44 in their eight games so far. Bobby Ralph is the main contributor, with 21, while teenager Rory Taylor has scored six.
CALA, by contrast, languish at the foot of the second tier with only a single win and are already candidates for a further drop. The relegated sides met at the weekend and Wanderers won 6-0.
In the women's second division, Watsonians, who just missed out on promotion after losing the play-off 2-0 to Western Wildcats at the end of last season, lead by a point from Granite City Wanderers with Borders Fjordhus Reivers a further point adrift.
ICE HOCKEY
RAPID SOLICITORS ELITE LEAGUE
BELFAST GIANTS 5
FIFE FLYERS 1
Second-bottom Flyers put up a fight in the early stages but were eventually well beaten by the reigning champions, writes Nigel Duncan.
Left-wing Craig Peacock put the home side ahead after six minutes and Robby Sandrock made it 2-0 two minutes later with East Kilbride-born Mark Garside, a former Edinburgh player, involved in the build-up. Fife pulled one back through their captain Casey Haines after 25 minutes with Jason Pitton and Kris Hogg assisting, but Sandrock struck on the power play after 33 minutes and five minutes later Jeff Mason netted while Giants had a one-man advantage with Steven McAlpine in the sin bin for holding.Daymen Rycroft finished Fifers off with a fifth goal late on.
NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS 10
EDINBURGH CAPITALS 0
Capitals' desperate start to the season continued when they were swept aside by the pace-setting Panthers who were 5-0 ahead at the first break and 8-0 after the second session. Jordan Fox and Matt Francis both netted doubles while Pat Galivan secured a goal and three assists. David Ling and Bruce Graham also claimed a goal and three assists each.
n Matt Baxter, the Dundee CCS Stars defenceman, is determined to dent Sheffield Steelers' title challenge when the second-top Yorkshire side visit Tayside on Saturday (7pm), writes Nigel Duncan. His team-mates are on a high after their 5-3 victory over Braehead Clan and the Canadian, who previously played with Dayton Gems, is confident that the arrival of the Californian forward Tim Kraus, who has also iced for the Ohio-based club, will strengthen their hand still further.
"Tim has played in the Western and East Coast Leagues and completes our imports," said the Stars assistant captain. "It will be good to have him on board. The win over Clan was a great result in a great game. We were 4-0 ahead but they have quality players and came back at us; it was crucial that we held them off. We had led [in the previous outing against Cardiff Devils] but could not hold on and we did it against Clan. We'll have to stay in it for 60 minutes [against Steelers] if we want something out of it."
speedway
Edinburgh Monarchs officials meet with supporters tonight (7.30) with the future of the club still in doubt, writes Nigel Duncan. A significant sum has already been pledged to the Premier League outfit by fans, which has given the club hope they can continue in business next season. Mike Hunter, a Monarchs' director, said: "A significant sum has already been pledged to the club by supporters. But, with the club's debts at the end of the 2012 season being substantial, the club are still some way from being able to confirm participation in the 2013 season.
"We are exploring avenues to raise funds in other ways. It is realistic to say that we need a fair cushion of funds going into next season."
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