By Emily GoddardMarch 6 - American Evan Strong and the Netherlands' Bibian Mentel put on a gold medal winning display at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic snowboard test event in the Russian city today setting the bar for next year's Games, which get underway in exactly one year and a day.

Shea was followed to the finish line by Carl Murphy of New Zealand, who took bronze in a time of 1:28.71

2013: Future of Para-snowboard looks promising as WSF and IPC meet to discuss sportMay 2012: New

Zealand Para-snowboarding star hails Sochi 2014 announcementMay 2012: Para-snowboarding to make

We've got development plans in place for pre and post Sochi 2014 and are welcoming new members to help

"I was out recently at the Pacific Championships in New Zealand and seven countries were competing.

about the next Winter Games beyond Sochi, in Pyeongchang in 2018, where they are hoping to introduce a new

have to have dedicated facilities and this last year Norway and the USA have built facilities, and New

Zealand are currently building a facility."

By James CrookFebruary 28 - The draw for the 2013 IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow threw up some interesting ties today, including defending Champions Wales against two-time winners Fiji in Pool E of the 2013 tournament in Russia this June, along with Uruguay and Tonga.

whilst the United States will face fellow North Americans Canada in Pool D, along with the All-Blacks of New

Zealand and Georgia.Both beaten 2009 semi-finalists Kenya and Samoa will clash in Pool C, which also

South Africa in Pool B, along with China, and Ireland, who have qualified for the first time.Finalists New

Zealand are drawn in Pool A against Tunisia, the Netherlands and Canada, with the host nation Russia

The IRB is determined to take rugby to new frontiers."

By James CrookFebruary 28 - FIFA has announced it is searching for a new host for its Women's Under-17

World football's governing body will now search for a new home for the tournament, and recommendations

 The inaugural Women's Under-17 World Cup, which is held every two years, was hosted in New Zealand

By Tom DegunFebruary 25 - Paralympics New Zealand have staged a cycling talent identification camp at

the Taranaki Cycle Park in New Plymouth as part of a search to find new athletes to join the programme

Cycling proved one of New Zealand's most successful sports at London 2012 as they won four medals which

bronze medal at the Games.The country's other bronze medal was won by Fiona Southorn and Paralympic New

Zealand is looking to build on their success in London 2012 by recruiting more talent ahead of Rio 2016

Zealand bike programme director Brendon Cameron."

Zealand cycling programme.The camp was supported by ParaFed Taranaki and Halberg Disability Sport Foundation

By Tom DegunFebruary 24 - France's Marie Bochet maintained her sensational form on the third day of competition at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in La Molina, Spain, by claiming her third gold medal in as many events, this time in the slalom.

with Switzerland's Thomas Pfyl the silver and reigning Paralympic champion Adam Hall in third place of New

Zealand the bronze.The final race of the day, the men's sitting class, saw Austria's Philip Bonadimann

charge at World ChampionshipsNovember 2012: IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships set to break new

CrookFebruary 15 - Paralympic swimmer Sophie Pascoe has been named the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year at New

year at the Halberg Awards, which recognise the highest achievers and most influential contributors in New

Zealand sport and are named after Sir Murray Halberg, the 1960 Olympic 5,000 metres champion, as well

when she was 13.She then rose to prominence in 2008, winning four medals in Beijing and being named as New

Zealand team at London 2012 ParalympicsDecember 2011: Pascoe wins Sports Performer of the Year

trophy at the Attitude AwardsJune 2011: New Zealand swimmer signs meaty new sponsorship dealMarch

By Tom DegunFebruary 14 - Britain's London 2012 Paralympic hero Dave Weir looks set to miss the London Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium this July due to the fact that the competition has a scheduling clash with the 2013 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Athletics Championships in Lyon.

5,000m T54 and was set to go for his fourth gold in the marathon on the last day of the Championships in New

Zealand but was pulled out of the marathon by UK Athletics minutes before the race after organisers

By Emily GoddardFebruary 14 - The World Snowboard Federation (WSF) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have met to discuss the future of Para-snowboard following the inclusion of the sport on the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games programme.

city.Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] storiesMay 2012: New

Zealand Para-snowboarding star hails Sochi 2014 announcementMay 2012: Para-snowboarding to make

Africa produced a stunning performance in the final of the 2013 USA Sevens in Las Vegas as they crushed New

Zealand 40-21 in round five of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Preez put in a sparkling performance to help his team score six tries and build up a huge 40-7 lead.New Zealand

have climbed to second in the Series standings on 73 points although they still remain someway behind New

Zealand who lead on 96 points.Meanwhile Samoa stands in third on 71 points after they beat Fiji 36-31

By Tom DegunFebruary 10 - UK Sport chair Baroness Sue Campbell has become the latest high profile figure to back a bid from London to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

infrastructure, although the international bidding process will not officially begin until 2014.Canada, New

Zealand, South Africa, Singapore and Sri Lanka are other countries currently considering bids, but it

CGF PresidentNovember 2011: Exclusive - I want lots of bidders for 2022 Commonwealth Games says new

be the most important Olympic year in decades.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will elect a new

question of  all is which sports will make up the Olympic landscape in the third decade of the new

;This particular contest happens every four years, and what makes it so intriguing, is that for any new

The great New Zealand All Black Jonah Lomu even pitched up at the IOC Session in Copenhagen to help seal

It was the first time in over 20 years that new sports had not been added.

By Emily GoddardFebruary 9 - New Zealand has named its new high performance eventing squad as it starts

in three years' time, and number four ranked Jonathan Paget have three each.The remaining members of New

Zealand high performance director, explained that only those athletes who have the potential to produce

Zealand funding round late last year after its bronze medal performance at the London 2012.It will receive

This is an exciting time for New Zealand equestrian."

Zealand rider hopes to make it lucky seven in 2012August 2008: Equestrian legend to move to England

By Duncan MackayFebruary 5 - There will be four candidates seeking to represent women's football on FIFA's ruling Executive, it has been announced. 

Oceania region, Asian Football Confederation vice-president Moya Dodd of Australia and New

Zealand Football audit chairwoman Paula Kearns.Dodd is a former vice-captain of the Matildas

portfolio supporting the work of not for profit groups.She also worked as an interim chief executive of New

Zealand Football in 2008.Blatter had pledged, after being elected for a fourth and final term in

By Tom DegunFebruary 3 - England put on their best performance of the season as they won round four of HSBC Sevens World Series in Wellington after holding off  Kenya in a final that saw them claim a 24-19 sudden death victory in extra time.

England saw off and the tournament's form side Samoa 21-19 in the semi-final while Kenya shocked hosts New

Zealand 19-14 in the last four to reach only their second ever International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens

final, Kenya have risen to second in the HSBC Sevens World Series standings, 21 points behind leaders New

Zealand, while England's maximum haul from Wellington takes them up to eighth.Elsewhere in the Hertz

Sevens tournament, New Zeeland took third as the hosts claimed a 17-7 win over Samoa.Australia won the