Valerie Adams won gold in the women's shot put this morning in Glasgow - and it's NZ's 600th Commonwealth Games medal.

Lauren Boyle finally ended New Zealand's 20-year wait for a gold medal in women's able-bodied swimming. After winning silver in her previous event she thought her chances of winning gold were all but gone. Boyle finished strong to take top spot on the podium.

Adams joined a group of All Blacks and their strength and conditioning trainer, Nic Gill, in Auckland today to share his wisdom with 10 promising young athletes. Adams along with All Blacks Liam Messam, Aaron Smith, Julian Savea and Tawera Kerr-Barlow will run through a day-long programme of intensive physical training and classroom sessions include goal setting, training techniques and nutrition.

One last lift was the difference between the top of the podium and the depths of despair for Richie Patterson. The Kiwi weightlifter, ranked No 1 in the Commonwealth and winner of silver four years ago, nearly came away with nothing from this morning's (NZT) 85kg competition in Glasgow. Two no-lifts in the clean-and-jerk saw him on the precipice of disaster, threatening to squander a top performance in the snatch and the type of form that left him supremely confident of victory. As is turned out, that confidence was justified. Eventually.

New Zealand made it double silver at Hampden Park this morning, with shot putter Tom Walsh and hammer thrower Julia Ratcliffe each finishing second. But the emotions were starkly different. Where Princeton University-based Ratcliffe was delighted with her performance, Walsh was doing it tough under the main stand after being shaded by Jamaican O'Dayne Richards.

The 31-strong squad, which will again be captained by the All Blacks indomitable, regular skipper Richie McCaw, features the return of the world's leading test points scorer Daniel Carter, who is back in the national side after his extended break; and the return of Blues and Auckland outside back Charles Piutau and Chiefs and Bay of Plenty loose forward Sam Cane.

The Crusaders' juggernaut rolls on for another week, after the Sharks were dismantled piece by piece in Christchurch last night by a team who look in clinical, and ominous, form.

The Loch Lomond suite in Glasgow's media centre had never experienced anything quite like a Usain Bolt press conference before these Games. Bolt, most probably, had never experienced a press conference quite like the one he faced in the Loch Lomond suite.

NZ weightlifters Stanislav Chalaev and Richie Patterson are both aiming to go one better in Glasgow, after claiming Silver in Delhi.

Head of New Zealand swimming Luis Villanueva is happy with preparations. 'Training has gone well, everyone is in good shape & good spirits'. Lauren Boyle, Glenn Snyders and Matt Stanely have worked hard to get to this point and look forward to racing.

Valerie Adams has been spending some extra time at the gym in preparation for her role as New Zealand's flag bearer for the Commonwealth Games' opening ceremony. Adams was this morning (NZT) awarded the honour at a team function inside the majestic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, following in the recent footsteps of the likes of Sarah Ulmer (2002), Hamish Carter (2006) and Irene van Dyk (2010).

New Zealand's men's hockey team captain Dean Couzins knows the team is well placed heading into the games, with previous games & tournaments having prepared them for whats ahead.

Kevin Skinner, the All Black prop and heavyweight boxer, has died. He was 86. Skinner made his name for Otago and was selected for the 1949 All Black tour of South Africa as a 21-year-old. It has long been told that Skinner was selected to "sort out" the South African props, though some believe the amount of rough play he was involved in have been greatly exaggerated. Skinner was New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion in 1947.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says his team will aim to put on a show in memory of two fans killed in the Malaysia Airlines crash.The English club will wear black armbands in tomorrow night’s game against Sydney FC in Dunedin in memory of John Alder and Liam Sweeney.The pair were heading to New Zealand for the Football United tour, which starts at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.“I think it’s important we represent ourselves in the right manner, especially in light of losing John and Liam,” Pardew said today.“We need to conduct ourselves well on the pitch and off the pitch, and get some strong results. That’s what they would have wanted, and thats what we want.“In memory of those guys, in particular, we want this tour to be as successful as we can possibly make it.”

Milan Gajic, of Young Boys, put St Gallen 2-1 ahead with this incredible half-volley from outside his own area.

Two time Open Champion Padraig Harrington takes on the impossible with the help of his long standing caddie, Ronan Flood.135 yards to the hole, right behind two trees and aiming at nothing but a 9ft target - oh and he's blindfolded! Also watch Harrington trying a Happy Gilmore style #Blindingshot: courtesy HSBC/YouYube

From bicycle kicks to spectacular saves, the FIFA #WorldCup had it all. Relive the most exciting moments. courtesy Twitter/YouTube

Aspiring runners have the chance to pit their skills against Commonwealth Games gold medallists in a virtual duel of speed. In anticipation of the Glasgow Games, a converted container on Auckland's Halsey Wharf has been turned into a state-of-the-art virtual running track where wannabe John Walkers or Allison Roes can try to beat international running legends. Contestants test their speed on the track where each performance is captured using a series of motion sensors and digital cameras.

Watch the tool-making New Caledonian crow play "crowball" and make some predictions for the World Cup. Courtesy: Alex Taylor

Kevin Hart, Steve Gordon and Nigel Yalden commentate as three streakers invade the turf at Waikato Stadium during the Chiefs and Hurricanes Super Rugby match. courtesy Red Fooliet/Sky Sports

Joseph Parker's power and speed was too much for Brian Minto, the American quitting on his stool after the seventh round for an impressive TKO victory for the South Aucklander. Minto was felled in that seventh round by Parker, the second time legitimately with 25 seconds remaining when he caught him with a right hand to the head.

Joseph Parker's power and speed was too much for Brian Minto, the American quitting on his stool after the seventh round for an impressive TKO victory for the South Aucklander. The victory improved the 22-year-old's record to nine victories with eight knockouts, but it was the manner in which it was achieved which will impress his camp and promoters Duco. His dream of a world title fight remains alive.

Lou Vincent talks to Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch about his dealings with investigators over match fixing, whether his cricketing hero should go to jail and what the future holds for him and his partner Suzie.

Lou Vincent talks to Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch about how he couldn't say no to his cricketing hero...

At 93 years of age harness racing trainer Bill Darrah is still producing winners on his homemade track near Thames.

Dylan Cleaver and Andrew Alderson give their opinion and analysis of the admission by former Black Cap Lou Vincent that he has match-fixed cricket games he played in.

Lou Vincent in 2014 became the first professional sportsman in New Zealand to be banned for life. "I have shamed my country. I have shamed my sport. I have shamed those close to me. For that I am not proud."

Herald rugby writers Gregor Paul & Wynne Gray give their expert opinion & analysis after the Blues surprised many with a convincing win away from home against the Force in Perth, but can they back it up with another victory this weekend in Christchurch against the Crusaders.

NZ Heavyweight Joseph Parker is back from Las Vegas in preparation for his biggest challenge yet. Brian Minto is well known as a tough opponent, having beaten Shane Cameron in a previous match up, Parker is looking forward to the challenge and is fit and ready to fight.

A video of Brazilian football fan Rafael Gambarim has gone viral after he was caught becoming so overcome with emotion while watching the host nation’s penalty shootout against Chile that he smashed his TV set. Courtesy: YouTube.com/TOP Vídeos