ANZA Sports

Learn 5 skills for life at ANZA Nippers

Get sand in between your toes, salt in your hair, and gain life skills that are best taught by the ocean.

Singapore ANZA Nippers has been part of Sentosa for many years now. Although the ocean at Palawan beach appears calm and easy going, the weekly sessions provide the kids with far more than just a paddle about. Nippers members range from five to 13 and each age group builds on different skill sets as they grow. While we’re lucky that the water is peaceful here, it can be far more dangerous in Australia and beyond, therefore it’s important to help prepare our Nippers for larger waves and aquatic challenges that they may encounter in the future. Read on for the skills that being by-the-sea brings.

1SEAWATER CONFIDENCE Understanding the ocean is a big part of what we instil in our members. Before entering the water, we learn about sea creatures - which ones are dangerous and which ones are our friends. We look at the waves and learn about rips and water patterns. We also teach lifesaving skills such as spotting a person in distress or waving for help when needed.

2SWIMMING & WATER SAFETY Fun competitions and sea games encourage children to be stronger and more assured swimmers. They learn how to navigate in salty water while staying within a safe eyesight distance.

3TOP TECHNIQUES The most enjoyed activity at Nippers is board time. We introduce surfing, standing, and paddling on boards at a young age so children feel comfortable and familiar with the equipment. This way kids learn core strength and balancing skills, along with the proper board technique. Boards also allow members to explore deeper waters safely with an Age Manager supervising the scene at all times.

4HEALTHY COMPETITION Beach sprinting, relays and other sand games are not only a way to stay active and fit; participating in games on the sand teaches children healthy competition and sportsmanship. Sand games are also designed to strengthen coordination and speed.

5LIFE, UNPLUGGED What's one thing that’s difficult to do while you’re on Sentosa with ANZA Nippers? Look at your phone! No-one of any age wants sandy devices or to struggle looking at a screen. Being by the ocean is one place where children can totally disconnect from tech and fully immerse themselves in nature and freedom. Indeed, adults may well learn a lot from joining up themselves …

Turning up at Sentosa every Sunday brings joy to both me and my kids. They look forward to meeting their friends. The community we have is amazing as parents pitch in to help out behind the scenes to make this work. It truly is a labour of love from everyone

AGE MANAGER ‘JAQ’ WHO VOLUNTEERS FOR THE UNDER 8’S

It’s been a long time coming, but ANZA Netball finally got the chance to join a 4v4 league organised by Singapore Netball Academy (SGNA) in two divisions, Under 16 and Under 14. The SGNA League, which took place in early February, originally formed part of the ActiveSG pilot. Ten people were permitted per court, including umpires. However, towards the end of the league season, as sporting restrictions were eased in Singapore, more players were granted. The SGNA League was played as a round-robin tournament lasting seven weeks and was held each Sunday afternoon at Kallang Netball Centre.

The rules

The competition was played in a similar format to that of street netball, using just over half a netball court, but the positions were more clearly defined. Each team fielded a Centre, Goal Attack, Wing Attack, and Goal Shooter, with the Goal Shooter and the Goal Attack being the only ones allowed in the circle to both shoot and defend. After each turnover of possession, the players had to pass the ball back over halfway before going on the offensive. Each quarter played was 10 minutes in length, with limited breaks in between.

The play

Playing outdoors in Singapore always provides unexpected challenges, be it stormy torrential rain or blinding relentless heat, but the girls didn’t falter in their enthusiasm to get back in action. Fitness was tested among all the clubs as the players hadn't been physically challenged in such a format for a significant period and there were no

HOLDING COURT

Finally! Competitions are back and our ANZA Netball players were ecstatic to join the Singapore Netball Academy (SGNA) League 2022.

ANZA Flash (left) with ANZA Lightning (right)

substitutions allowed during the game. Win or lose, the exhausted players were all smiling at the end of the matches, happy to be rebuilding the team spirit and camaraderie that has eluded them over the past few years.

The teams ANZA entered three teams in the Under16 division: ANZA Storm, ANZA Power and ANZA Thunder. The opposition were primarily SGNA teams plus Tanjong Katong Secondary School (TKSS). All ANZA teams progressed through the rounds with some tight matches and close scores. Approaching the end of the season, all three ANZA teams were placed in the top half of the table, with ANZA Storm sitting at first with two matches left to play. “It's been great to play a competition again in the SGNA League, and since it’s half court, everyone gets a shot. It’s awesome to be with my teammates - the best part of netball!” said Millie from ANZA Storm. Two ANZA teams competed in the U14s: ANZA Flash and ANZA Lightning. The competition consisted of several SGNA Teams as well as the Lions Netball Academy and TKSS. The ANZA Flash and Lightning teams had only played one or two seasons of competition prior to Covid causing interruption, so they were particularly keen to get out again. Both teams had some wins during the tournament with

Under 16 ANZA Lightning sitting top of the table with a few weeks remaining. Said Rosie from ANZA Lightning, “It’s so good to be playing competitive games. I missed it very much. Playing as a team again has been a lot of fun.”

ANZA Netball was thrilled to field teams in the SGNA League, and it was fantastic to see everyone performing so

Under 14

ANZA Lightning v ANZA FLash

ANZA Power (left) v ANZA Storm

ANZA Storm v ANZA Thunder

ANZA Lightning

well and with such enthusiasm and skill. Recent news that vaccinated players aged nine and above can now play as 'normal' was most welcomed and we're hopeful that further opportunities will arise for all age groups, particularly the younger players who've missed out on some key netball developmental opportunities. Everyone at ANZA Netball looks forward to a brighter future!

FUN, FRIENDS, FOOTBALL & SPONSORS!

ANZA Soccer’s highly respected programme is legendary, and its success is much down to the advocacy and kindness of our valued sponsors. Here they tell CARA D’AVANZO who they are and why they partner with us.

ANZA Soccer’s commitment to providing “Fun, Friends, and Football” to a diverse community of families is made possible by our generous and communityminded corporate sponsors. Our Saturday league and Sunday competition teams rely on our sponsors to help defray our costs and keep our programmes affordable for expat and local families alike. In the current economic environment, we understand that companies must carefully consider whether to make monetary commitments to nonprofit organisations like ANZA, and we are very grateful that these companies support our Fair Play philosophy and see our mission as worthy of backing. This month - and every month - ANZA Soccer extends a heartfelt thank you to our new and returning sponsors.

Our Sponsors Speak Out

Interactive Brokers, sponsoring green and gold competition teams

What they say: “Interactive Brokers recognise ANZA Soccer partner for 3 years the positive impact that competitive sports can have on shaping a child’s life and supports ANZA’s objective of offering affordable youth soccer programmes to the community. Many of our clients are involved with ANZA soccer, which brings our organisation together with clients and members of the community. We enjoy the camaraderie and competitive spirit of the games and hope to see more of it this year! In the meantime, we cheer on our ANZA Soccer teams and support the organisation as a whole.” What they do: Interactive Brokers is an automated global electronic broker that serves clients from over 200 countries and territories and conducts its broker business in over 135 market destinations worldwide. IBKR provides direct access (“on line”) trade execution and clearing services to institutional and active traders for a variety of electronically traded products including stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, gold and funds worldwide. David Friedland, Managing Director, and Kevin Tan, CEO interactivebrokers.com

MUFG, sponsoring our youngest five age groups in multiple colours and the G7 to U18 Gunners in grey

What they say: “I’ve seen first-hand the effort put in by ANZA parents, coaches and club reps on a weekly basis – it is grassroots and community focused, a true NGO. We want to give back to the community that supports us by giving organisations like ANZA the peace of mind that cash-flow challenges won’t affect their ability to positively impact kids’ lives. Perhaps the next Messi or Marta is playing on a Saturday morning in Turf City and our sponsorship has helped them a little bit!” What they do: MUFG provides outsourcing, administration and financing to asset managers and sovereign wealth funds. We build long-term strategic partnerships with clients, often building bespoke solutions to cater for their specific needs. MUFG values community and believe large institutions like ours have an obligation to support organisations like ANZA that are focused on bringing people together, child welfare, and family. Paddy Kirwan, Managing Director mufg-investorservices.com ANZA Soccer partner for 3 years

Canadian International School, sponsoring the Gordons in red

What they say: “Enrolling a child in a recreational sport can help develop life-long skills, introduce healthy living at a young age, and hone communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Getting involved in activities can introduce a whole new environment that will make their learning more engaging, help boost their skills and talents, and encourage them to challenge themselves and push boundaries. On a personal note, my son has been part of the ANZA Soccer family for five years and has benefited enormously, not only from the fitness aspect but also from being part of a team and meeting new friends from other schools.” What they do: My team organises the Canadian International School’s extracurricular activities and holiday camps. We offer a wide range of activities available including sports, STEAM, arts, enrichment and global languages - children are spoilt for choice these days! Wendy Nussey, CIS Head of Activities and Camps For an early bird special offer of 10% off on all CIS summer camps, sign up by 31 May. Learn more at cis.edu.sg ANZA Soccer partner for 4 years ANZA Soccer partner for 5 years

Expat Dental, sponsoring the Matildas girls programme in turquoise

What they say: “We applaud ANZA Soccer and its focus on healthy outdoor fun and sports for people of all ages, nationalities and ability levels. We are very happy to be sponsors of youth sports at ANZA, especially the Matildas soccer teams. We want to be proactive in encouraging girls to keep active which we know is so beneficial socially, physically and mentally.” What they do: Expat Dental has been providing holistic dental care to expats and Singaporeans since 2013. We have a full range of services for the family, including orthodontics, which I take care of. On a soccer note, I always try to encourage my patients who play soccer to wear a mouthguard for safety, especially if they have braces. Players of any sports where there is contact are good candidates for a proper, customfitted mouthguard. Dr Clara Gibson, Dentist expatdental.com

ANZA Soccer partner for 2 years

Edge Healthcare, sponsoring the Sailors in white

What they do: Edge Healthcare has built a reputation as the leading Physiotherapy and Osteopathy group in Singapore and was founded on the vision to change the way Physio and Osteo is delivered in Singapore. We have clinics in Orchard at Forum Mall and in the CBD on Cecil Street, with private treatment rooms and an extensive rehabilitation gym. Our therapists treat all age groups with acute and chronic pain; sports injuries; vertigo and dizziness; post-surgery; pre and post-natal matters; and cardiac, neurological and development issues. edgehealthcare.com.sg

Carey Olsen, sponsoring our coaches in red and blue

ANZA Soccer partner for 5 years

What they say: “The first thing we did upon arrival in Singapore in 2016 was enrol our kids in the ANZA Soccer Saturday Club League. We liked that it was fun, social, and run by volunteer parents. We also appreciated the opportunities for children to develop competitive skills. The kids have thoroughly enjoyed playing in both ANZA Soccer leagues and we’ve made some long-lasting friendships with the coaches, team managers, and AGCs, who work hard to make the ANZA Soccer programme so successful.” What they do: It is one of our priorities at Carey Olsen to give back to the communities in which we are based, and so we are delighted to offer steady support to ANZA Soccer over the years. ANZA has established a fantastic social community and coaching programme that has become hugely popular with both youth players and their parents in Singapore. We look forward to seeing the ANZA programmes go from strength to strength.” Anthony McKenzie, Managing Partner careyolsen.com

ANZA Soccer partner for almost a decade

James Cook University, sponsoring the Flyers in blue

What they say: “Our community-minded values align with ANZA Soccer and we at James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore look forward to further strengthening our long-standing relationship together. Sponsoring ANZA Soccer U8s to U17s is a great way to promote teamwork, resilience, and mutual respect amongst our youth - key attributes to prepare them for a bright future ahead.” What they do: The Singapore campus of JCU is owned by James Cook University Australia. We offer programmess in business, information technology, psychology, education, science, accounting, arts, aquaculture, environmental science, games design, tourism and hospitality. The university also offers Higher Degree by Research programmes. The Tropical Futures Institute was launched in 2018 to enhance the university’s research capability in Singapore. In 2021, the university established James Cook Academy which in turn acquired Eagle Infotech for Continuing Professional Development in Singapore and the region. Mr Andrew Chew, Chief Commercial Officer jcu.edu.sg

The King’s School, sponsoring the Warriors in green

What they say: “Our partnership with ANZA Soccer has been very positive, as it extends our involvement within our own community in Singapore and supports them in a very practical way. Singapore’s Australian and New Zealand families often reach out to get to know us, and we are always happy to help those families to consider their educational choices. When visiting our King’s community in Singapore, we’ve seen over the years how important ANZA is to Singapore’s expat community.” What they do: The King’s School is Australia’s oldest independent school and enjoys a peaceful setting in the heart of Sydney. We offer education to boys from pre-kindergarten through to Year 12. A Christian community, King’s is also proudly one of the largest boarding schools in Australia with unique links to the rural sector, along with a significant enrolment from the city as day boys and weekly boarders. Michelle Petrovic, Marketing Manager kings.edu.au ANZA Soccer partner for 4 years

ANZA Soccer partner for 1 year

Dallas Bar and Restaurant, sponsoring the Vikings in yellow

We thank new sponsor Dallas Bar and Restaurant for joining the team this season. With restaurants at Boat Quay and Marina Bay Sands, Dallas is a contemporary bar-bistro concept and a popular hangout for Singaporeans, expats and tourists. “Come have a mouthwatering lunch, a delectable dinner, or casual drinks with us. We offer an irresistible variety of culinary delights, a full bar, and a great selection of fine wines.” Jason Pope, Director dallas.sg

EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS

Opportunities opening up outside of another ‘Round the Island’ have allowed ANZA Cycling to expand their routes and locations. Megan Kinder reports.

As travel options have become more viable and restrictions have started to show signs of easing, we’ve been delighted to be able to take our cycling routes slightly further than Changi and back recently. Several of our members took part in the Metasprint Series Aquathlon and Duathlon and the OCBC Criterium events as well as the Jungle Cross Offroad Duathlon, both in Singapore, which produced terrific results.

Away from the island, members headed down to Australia to meet with some ANZA ‘ex-islanders’ now based back in Oz to take on road and triathlon events. Haythem el-Ansary showed excellent form and came away with a 20 minute PB to finish Melbourne Ironman 70.3 in an incredibly fast 4h24m. Peter Williamson met up with Jason DuBois and Jesse Bridge who are now based in Victoria to tackle the gruelling ‘Peaks Challenge’, and Megan Kinder and Martin Phelan took on the ‘Bay’s Wish’ (Make a Wish) Charity Ride, cycling 600km and 4000m elevation over five days, also in Victoria.

Plans are afoot for club trips to Thailand and Malaysia, hopefully with more to follow as the year continues and restrictions change. Check the club’s Facebook page to discover more about these travel opportunities.

Pete Williamson with Jason DuBois and Jesse Bridge for The Peaks

Starting young

At just age six, Elise Fontaine Tubb, took on her first ever race at the Singapore Criterium National Champs in February. We didn’t get a photo of Elise in racing action, but we do have a photo (left) of her with her mum, Christina Tubb, who also performed very strongly at the event. Speaking afterwards, Elise said, “The race was fun even if I didn’t win. I went over some bumps that felt funny. My partners fell but they were okay. After the race we had two ice creams and pizza. I would like to race again.” We look forward to seeing Elise and many other future cycling stars taking part in more events over the coming months.

the Bukit Timah and Chestnut trails. The pace ranges from steady to fast depending on who attends, but it’s a no drop ride making sure that everyone returns safely for coffee or beers afterwards.

If you’re looking to race, look no further than the Cycosports Jungle Cross series, held at the Centaurs rugby ground in the ‘jungle pit’. The trails have been developed and crafted over many years to offer excellent smooth runs, drop offs and small jumps. The races include MTB, cyclocross and BMX, and range from elite to weekend warrior categories. Recently, two of our ANZA members placed first and second in the MTB category, which was a great achievement. If you want to get in some practice on the trails throughout the year, purchase a bike pass from Cycosports, which allows access at designated times every week.

For a change of scenery from the usual trails and a step back in time, head over to Pulau Ubin in the north west of Singapore. ANZA off-road groups often head there to ride the Ketam MTB trail which comprises blue, red and black diamond trails. There’s also a myriad of great gravel routes on Ubin, perfect for all abilities and families. You can take your own bike on the bum boats or hire one on the island. A great way to finish a ride is with a prata and kopi in the local restaurants or a beer at Little Island Brewery in Changi Village. The ANZA crew can often be found at one or both of these establishments post ride!

If you’re interested in trying off-road riding with ANZA Cycling, join one of the off-road introduction rides which run every few months throughout the year. They’re advertised on the ANZA Cycling Facebook page and usually last 2-3 hours in Bukit Timah or on Pulau Ubin. No matter what your ability, there is a ride for you. We hope to see you out there on the trails soon!

Chris Rawlings, our Off-Road Director, shares what’s been happening on the dark side.

ANZA Off-Road cycling involves not only mountain biking but also gravel riding and cyclocross, all of which are going strong in Singapore. These disciplines have seen an explosion of participation in the last two years, since the start of the pandemic. I reminisce about the MTB rides I used to do around the Bukit Timah trails 18 years ago, when you may see one or two other riders! These days, the early bird certainly catches the worm for quiet trails, especially on the weekends.

The regular ANZA MTB rides on Thursdays at 5.45pm and Sundays at 7am meet at the corner of Bukit Timah and Rifle Range Road for a few laps of