ONE GAME AT A TIME
BRAD HADDIN
CANBERRA’S ONLY SPORTS MAGAZINE
CANBERRA’S FESTIVAL OF CRICKET
SOFTBALL ACT DIAMONDS SEASON LAUNCH
CYCLING LOCAL NATHAN HAAS
BASEBALL CAVALRY DOMINATES AT HOME
FOOTBALL LOCAL MATHEW KOCIC HEADING FOR EUROPE
MASTERS OVER 60S AND OLD BOYS
WOMEN IN SPORT PRO SURFER STEPHANIE GILMORE
ISSUE # 4 NOV 2011 ISSN: 1839-3756 CFL PUBLISHING PTY LTD
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Issue #4 – November 2011
CONTENTS FEATURE
22
BRAD HADDIN
Canberra’s Festival of Cricket
02 Cricket
26 Social Pics and Events
03 Outlook
28 Women in Sport
04 Baseball
29 Softball
06 Basketball
30 Cycling
08 Swimming
32 Tennis
10 Netball
32 Surfing
11 Top 5
34 Golf
12 Rugby League
36 Motor Sport
13 Aussie Rules
39 Fighting
14 Rugby Union
40 Ice Hockey
15 Masters
41 American Football
16 Your Shout
42 Aeron Hockey
17 One Minute With
44 Fitness
18 Football
45 Sports Crossword Nutrition and Health
Warner scores a ton
Special Olympics ACT Fundraiser
With Chris Cairns
Stephanie Gilmore
Canberra Cavalry dominate | MLB
ACT Diamonds Launch
WNBL | NBL | NBA
Road Racing | Cyclo-cross
Thorpe to succeed | Cameron McEvoy
Djokovic’s dream season over?
Youth Key for Australia
Kelly Slater exposes title blunder
Mo-tastic
PGA | PGA Pro Daniel Dosen | LPGA
Four Nations
Formula 1 | V8 Supercars | Moto GP
International Rules | Eastlakes season review Cipriani at Rebels | Player focus: Ruaidhri Murphy Canberra Old Boys | ACT over 60s
Manteen maple Leafs crowned
Cricket Legend Jeff Thomson
Get fit for summer
EPL | A-League | Local: Mathew Kocic | Locals Shine at AIS | W-League
DETAILS
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ONE GAME AT A TIME
www.playcanberra.com.au Issue #4 – November 2011
AHL
Linebacker conquers cancer
Letters to the editor
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Joe Frazier fighting liver cancer
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It was the left-hander’s third first-class century since making 114 against Western Australia in March. Following his 185-ball innings he said talk of a baggy green wasn’t premature.
“I’ve definitely learnt a lot and I think the way I’ve played today shows I’ve become more mature.”
“Obviously it’s my first Shield game of the season and to get a 100 is fantastic ... I feel I’m ready for the next level,” he said.
Warner’s knock came alongside a 92 by youngster Nic Maddinson as the pair shared a 233-run first-wicket stand, the highest for NSW since 2002-03.
“The top order there is set and I wish them all the best, they’re batting fantastic at the moment and I just want Australia to win.
Maddinson, dropped three times in his knock, finally fell edging one-Test quick Peter George to first slip after a rain delay, just missing out on his third firstclass ton.
“I had to wait for that opportunity (to play Shield cricket) and now that I’ve got it in front of me I’ve really got to take it.
Warner clips the ball of his hip during day four of the 2010/11 Sheffield Shield final cricket match in Hobart. Image: Dale Cumming -AAP
WARNER MAKES STATEMENT WITH SHIELD TON ◊ BY ED JACKSON
David Warner says his century on day one of the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Bankstown Oval is further proof of his growing maturity and patience.
The 25-year-old did his Test prospects no harm with a Shield-best 148 as NSW reached 3-283 when bad light ended play on Sunday, 6 November, with Simon Katich (13no) and Steven Smith (19no) at the crease.
is going to come whereas two years ago I was trying to force the runs.
“I’ve got some good players in front of me and they’re playing Test cricket at the moment, hopefully I can continue in their footsteps and continue to score runs.” Long seen as a Twenty20 specialist, Warner said Sunday’s innings, which included 22 fours and two sixes, should once again show he’s more than just a smash-and-bash slogger.
George was the pick of the Redback quicks, going on to remove Warner and Tim Cruickshank (5) to finish with 3-78 off 21 overs. The 202cm right-armer said despite the Blues’ strong start, SA were happy to have fought their way somewhat back into the contest. “Could be worse I guess,” George said.
“At the moment I’m just loving batting and loving batting time,” he said.
“Their two openers batted extremely well and made it tough for us out there. Having said that we put down a few chances so it could’ve been a different story.
“It’s one of those things where I’m hitting the ball well at the moment but I’m being patient because I know that the bad ball
“We’ll learn from that and obviously know now how important it is not to drop catches.” - AAP
WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE BOILOVER Power Education (ANU) batted first on a typical early season Reid Oval pitch which made timing the ball a dicey prospect. As many local players know, Reid is a beautiful oval for its view but the pitch takes time to recover from the Winter sports. Asha Smith and Kate O’Sullivan (29) put on a first class 127 for the first wicket within the Kris Britt in action with the meteors Image: DiMAGE Photography first hour. Asha and Kris Saturday 5 November might otherwise Britt, captain of the ACT be known for attempts to blow up the Meteors Women’s National Cricket League English Parliament but for a long time (WNCL) team, then took the score to 305 to come it will be known at ANU as the in the next hour, Asha making an amazing day the women created a record or 163 off 90 balls. Wickets tumbled fast two. On a beautiful Spring day at the after that. It was definitely a pitch where picturesque Reid Oval right opposite you needed to settle in to make runs. Kris ANZAC Parade and with a perfect view proceeded to an unlucky 99 (caught by a of the War Memorial, Power Education substitute fielder from the students!). By played Bluestar in the ACT Women’s that time the score was 421! The students Premier League round four. A game with made 421 from 46 overs. four players who have represented their Bluestar (Eastlake) went in to bat with a country is always going to be of a high challenge that was made harder by standard and this one was exceptional.
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injury to their keeper and their English international player Lynsey Askew having to leave half way for another commitment. There were three run outs as Bluestar tried to push for every run. Kerry McLachlan took three wickets all bowled middle stump for 12 runs in a great display of speed and control. Meteor Sally Moylan (Bluestar) hit a steady and occasionally spectacular 86 not out, carrying her bat. Bluestar all out for 184 and losing by an astounding 237 runs with 22 overs bowled. Some very unusual score book facts from this game: • 163 is the highest Premier League 50 over score and with a run rate of “only”181 (per 100 balls) this is less than the run rate Asha has this year in first class cricket (a bit over 220)she was having trouble timing the ball at Reid! • 421 is NOT the highest score in ACT women’s cricket in a 50 over game. The record is 440 something and Kris Britt was involved again - that time scoring 344 on her own back in 2003 before making the Australian team. Asha has a bit to go to catch that
• particular record (quite possibly a World Record too). • Power Education had only three players who reached double figures with four ducks - two of them golden • One Bluestar bowler took 5 wickets for 40 and another took 4 wickets for 67 - both were spinners. • There were 10 dismissals bowled in the match. • Two catches were taken in by Bluestar and both were caught by a Power Education player who was substituting for the opposition. The only other catch in the match was taken by Zoe Cooke off her own bowling and she was the one who took the catches as a sub for the opposition! This game continues a series of impressive performances in Women’s cricket in the ACT Women’s Premier League which augers well for the Meteors in the WNCL. Last weekend ACT clean swept two t20 games and one 50 over game against Tasmania. ACT Meteors are as yet undefeated in three 50 over rounds this season with the next big test against Queensland next weekend.
Issue #4 – November 2011
CHRIS CAIRNS
OUTLOOK
As we move forward in the summer sun, the T20 Big Bash is about to hit town. For those that don’t like T20, don’t hate it for what it’s not. Love it for what it is.
landscape. We know it generates revenue and this has been to the fore of planning and procuring the embodiment of why we play T20.
The evolution of the game is about the values that accompany us on a more modern daily basis. Instant gratification. T20 has moved beyond a fad and is now firmly entrenched in the psyche of supporters and players alike.
The International T20’s have no context except for the T20 World Cup which was recently won by the English in the West Indies. By having a focus on T20 domestically, people can become attached to a team or franchise. The difficulty I have with all the leagues at the moment is the player transfer between all the teams and different leagues. The great thing about supporting a team is the attachment to the personnel who play for your team. It takes time to build brand loyalty, and here’s hoping The Big Bash is capable of competing with NRL, AFL or the A-League.
Before I get in to the playing side of things, I have always believed that T20 should be a domestic entity except for an International World Cup held once every four years. With the myriad of domestic T20’s covering the World and then with International tours beginning or ending with a T20 match or series, we have yet to really carve out what T20 is ultimately for within the cricketing
Issue #4 – November 2011
So what does it take to make a great T20 player? I only played a few games of T20 at the back end of my career, and it was more hit and giggle then. Now however, there are experts and the likes of McCullum, Warner, Pollard, Malinga and Morgan dominate. These are impact players. They do not operate in the middle ground. They are all risk takers when it comes to performance. Whilst it’s important to have these players in your team, you still need to have solid players to provide the platform to have your match winners dominate. The thing with T20 is how short the match is, and the explosiveness of one individual can rip a game apart. Again because of how short the match is, you are never out of the game and this is the part I enjoy most about T20. Two wickets in quick succession or
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two big overs whilst batting can swing momentum massively. Whilst T20 is here to stay, I hope we can say the same for the longer version – both 50 over and Test cricket. Shorter formats will create different batting styles and bowling styles. But there are fundamentals you require to play the game and these must be taught religiously. A defence is the first shot any youngster should learn to play. A good length ball is what a youngster must secure in his bowling armoury. Heaven forbid if we lose sight of this.
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CAVALRY DOMINATE IN SOLD-OUT SEASON OPENER
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Cardinals claim World Series the hard way ◊ GREG HEAKES
St Louis used home-field advantage to rally past Texas and clinch the World Series in seven games, completing one of the most improbable championship runs in baseball history. The Cardinals captured their 11th World Series title with a 6-2 victory over the Rangers to take the series four games to three.
The Cavalry celebrate John Tolisano’s walk off homerun. - SMP Images
◊ WWW. WEB.THEABL.COM.AU
After U.S. Ambassador Jeffery Bleich threw out the first pitch, The Canberra “UberGlobal” Cavalry initiated the Australian Baseball League 2011-2012 season with a home victory against the Brisbane Bandits. Before a sold-out crowd at “The Fort” at Narrabundah Ballpark, the Cavalry scored 6 runs, shutting out their opponent. With a strong roster comprised of local talent, as well as U.S. and Japanese import players, the Cavalry’s performance gave Canberra a reason to celebrate baseball’s return to the ACT. Cavalry ace Mark McGuire was named winning pitcher, striking out 5 in 5 innings. McGuire is a former Phillies prospect who came to Canberra on the recommendation of Cavalry head coach Steve Schrenk. “Pitching was great,” comments Schrenk. “Obviously when the game ends in a shut-out, it means that we witnessed great pitching. The guys played great defence and everyone executed when they needed to”. The action started early when Cavalry catcher Travis Scott knocked in a 3-run triple in the bottom of the first inning to put the Cavalry on the scoreboard first. The Cavalry increased their lead when shortstop Masashi Nohara, blasted a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 4th. In the 5th inning, second baseman John Tolisano rounded out the evening with a 1-run home run, giving the Cavalry a healthy lead. Tolisano says, “It’s always nice to come out and do well in front of the home crowd. We have a great team and to start of the season with a shut-out is a great thing. To be able to do it at home is awesome.” After a tough-luck loss in game one John Talisano hit a towering walk off homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning of the night.
The first game of the afternoon remained scoreless until the top of the fourth when Bandits first baseman David Sutherland delivered an RBI single to right field, projecting the Bandits into an early lead. Canberra didn’t remain scoreless for long, thanks to two errors committed by Brisbane third baseman Jay Nilsso in the bottom of the fifth. Cavalry left fielder Todd Glaesmann helped the cause by offering a triple in the sixth, scoring Tolisano. The Bandits unleased in the top of the seventh putting four runs on the board. The Cavalry made one final rally in the bottom of the ninth scoring two runs but, ultimately, left two men on. The Cavalry rebounded in game two, with local pitcher Hayden Beard on the mound. Play intensified early with each team posting runs in the second. Canberra led at the end of two due in part to outfielder Ty Morrison’s 2-RBI double. In the third, Brisbane answered with two runs of their own, squeaking out a marginal lead. Brian Burgamy, cavalry first baseman reignited Canberra’s bats in the sixth with a homerun to deep centerfield. Hits followed off the bats of Tolisano and catcher Travis Scott but the Cavalry only managed to produce one run from this offensive output. Pitcher Steven Kent, another local talent, silenced the Bandits bats in the eighth and ninth; Tolisano capped the evening with a walk-off home-run on the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning. “It was a high change up just over the plate,” Tolisano said after being named player of the game for the second straight night. “It’s a great feeling off the bat. It’s a great way to win.”
And they did it one day after an epic 10-9 11th-inning victory over Texas in game six behind a walk-off home run from World Series MVP and hometown hero David Freese. “This is what we play for, to be world champions,” said Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. “This year through the injuries we had, to be able to accomplish this makes it even sweeter. It is just an unbelievable feeling.” Baseball experts are calling game six, with its clutch home runs, multiple lead changes and dramatic extra-inning finish, one of the greatest World Series games ever played. The Cardinals knew they had to forget about it the moment they arrived at the ballpark to get ready for game seven. “We told ourselves that we were going to put game six in a box and put it away,” said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. “Because you just can’t come to game seven feeling great vibes about last night, Texas is too tough and we’ve got to make sure we are ready to compete. Now that we’ve won the world series, game six becomes even greater.” The Cardinals now have 11 World Series titles, second-most behind the storied New York Yankees’ 27.
Many baseball experts wrote the Cardinals off in February when their 20-game winning pitcher Adam Wainwright underwent reconstructive elbow surgery. They also looked out of it on August 25 when they trailed the Atlanta Braves by 10 1/2 games for the National League wild card. In the championship series, St Louis had to win both final games at home after dropping two of three games in Dallas and falling behind 3-2 in the series. “I can’t believe we did this,” said Freese, who was raised in the St Louis area and grew up a Cardinals fan. “I keep thinking about mid-August and the mood of this team, the disappointment that was going down then. “This team deserves this. This organisation is top notch. I am so glad to be part of this.” The Cardinals picked up right where they left off with a strong start to game seven. They scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to Freese’s double off Rangers starter Matt Harrison. Freese’s hit tied the game 2-2 after the Rangers had scored twice in their half of the first. St Louis ace Chris Carpenter didn’t have great command of his pitches in the first inning but he settled in nicely later on and finished with five strikeouts over six innings to earn the victory. Catcher Yadier Molina batted two-forthree and drove in two runs and Rafael Furcal went two-for-three at the plate with one RBI in game seven. The Cardinals are just the fifth wildcard team to win the World Series and the first since the Boston Red Sox did it seven years ago. - AAP
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St. Louis Cardinals players react after the final out of game seven of the World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. Image: Larry W. Smith
Issue #4 – November 2011
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In Sydney, Belinda Snell paced the Flames with 23 points, as they conceded just 19 in the second half after leaking 42 in the first. Townsville coach Chris Lucas viewed Saturday’s home battle with Sydney as a gauge of his side’s development. “We’ve got six out of six which is fantastic for the club, but it’s more about rebuilding the culture of the club and making sure that were on track,” Lucas told AAP.
FIRE AND FLAMES SET WNBL ALIGHT ◊ BY ADRIAN WARREN
WNBL pacesetters Townsville and Sydney remain unbeaten heading into Saturday night’s showdown, but perennial powerhouse Canberra are falling dangerously off the pace. Townsville and Sydney (both 6-0) each recorded weekend victories over the two winless teams in the competition. The Fire won 98-74 at West Coast (0-6) while Sydney scored a 84-61 home win over AIS (0-7). Bulleen (4-1) moved into third above Adelaide (5-2) with a 77-61 home win over the Lightning on Sunday.
Adelaide split their trip, having previously notched a 81-72 victory over Bendigo (2-4). Dandenong (4-2) consolidated fifth and added to the growing misery of eightplaced Canberra (1-6) with a 86-74 away victory over the Caps. Canberra have lost all three of their home games but are entering a slightly softer part of their draw; their next four matches are against the three other teams with a less than a 50 per cent record. In Perth, Jess Foley sparked Townsville with a 25-point, 11-rebound performance.
“They (Sydney) are a very talented team and they’ve got a lot of Olympic and European experience and it’s a good test for us to see where were at.” His Sydney counterpart Karen Dalton was impressed with the Fire’s teamwork. “They’ve got two quality Americans in their program and they’ve got a good quality point guard, so I think overall they’ve got some depth,” Dalton said. “They’ve got some size and athletes and they run the floor. “We need to play good defence and we need to rebound the basketball.” Dalton was hoping to have sharpshooter Lauren King available for her Sydney WNBL debut following a foot problem suffered in the week leading up to the Flames’ first game.
Caps down to Dandenong The Canberra TransACT Capitals were defeated by the Dandenong Rangers 74 to 86 at the AIS Arena in Canberra. Despite a stand out performance from Caps Centre Marianna Tolo (21 points, 17 rebounds) with back up from Caps Captain Jess Bibby (15 points, 1 rebound) the Caps gave up too many seemingly easy opportunities and weren’t able to capitalize on some solid momentum swings throughout the match. Kathleen Macleod (25 points, 5 rebounds), Krista Phillips (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Stephanie Cumming (20 points, 3 rebounds) were solid performers for the Rangers and lead the team in their second consecutive win against the Caps. Next weekend brings little respite for the Capitals with a double outing - away against Bendigo on Friday night then returning home for a Sunday afternoon clash with West Coast. The Caps match against West Coast, 1pm, Sunday 13 November at the AIS Arena is a fun, family day with free entry for one child when accompanied by a paying adult. All kids will also receive a limited edition Caps drink bottle upon arrival at the match.
In the other match in the latest round, Logan (3-3) snapped their three-match losing run with a 87-57 away flogging of AIS. - AAP
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Issue #4 – November 2011
TOP THREE MAKE A BREAK IN NBL be teams hovering around that top four mark for sure.”
the media in the lead-up that our guys probably didn’t like,” Gleeson said.
The Breakers celebrated the raising of their 2010-11 championship banner with a 99-90 home win over Adelaide (1-4).
Mills had no idea what had been said about him, but acknowledged there was an existing rivalry between the two teams.
“The ceremony was fantastic, of course, and brought a little extra emotion to the occasion,” coach Andrej Lemanis said. Import Gary Wilkinson scored 29 points as the Breakers set up their win with a mighty 63-point first half. “Those 63 points were probably as good a half as this team has played,” Lemanis said. Sparked by 20 points and eight assists from guard Patty Mills, Melbourne got as far as 28 ahead of Sydney on their way to a 94-76 away win over the Kings (2-4).
Rob Beveridge rallying the troops during a time-out. Pic www.nbl.com.au
◊ BY ADRIAN WARREN
The cream is rising to the top early in the NBL season, with the top three teams already threatening to break away from the pack. Defending champions New Zealand (5-1) and Perth (4-1) added another win to their records as Melbourne also moved to 5-1 after Sunday night’s 80 to 63 victory over Cairns Taipans.
Townsville (2-2) are next and Perth coach Rob Beveridge acknowledged the top three had started to open up a gap. “It seems that way at the moment, but you cannot take any team lightly at all,” Beveridge said.
“I was very happy with the way we played, defensively there was some really good patches and offensively the most assists we’ve had this season,” Melbourne coach Trevor Gleeson said.
“I think when everybody gets their (full) team on deck, teams can go on a roll.
He revealed the Tigers had been spurred by comments from Sydney personnel about Mills and the Tigers first-round win over the Kings.
“Right now, OK, there’s three teams with only one loss, but there’s still going to
“The guys came in really motivated, there was some things that were said in
“There’s definitely a grudge there between us both,” Mills said. Sydney import Jerai Grant suffered an AC joint injury in the game but team officials are hopeful he will be fit for their next game in Adelaide. Perth rebounded from from their shock loss to Adelaide with an 87-71 home win over Wollongong (2-5). The Wildcats will be without guard Damian Martin for six weeks following toe surgery and play their next four games on the road in the space of ten days. “We’re down a little bit of sorts at the moment, but if we can get through this patch while Damo is out, we’ll be pretty happy,” Beveridge said. - AAP
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JORDAN TAKES STRONG STAND to the main bargaining session. Jordan’s group is expected to lobby hard against making any more major concessions in the next round of talks, The New York Times reported.
With disgruntled NBA players pondering decertification of their union, Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is heading a group of a dozen owners opposing any big concessions in labour talks. The NBA owners and players union representatives plan to resume collective bargaining talks soon and the owners have scheduled a meeting prior
Issue #4 – November 2011
Jordan, who paid $275 million to buy the Charlotte franchise, is reportedly upset that the league offered the players a 50-50 split of basketball revenues. Jordan’s group of between 10-14 owners includes clubs who are trying to recoup previous losses and ensure long-term profitability for their teams. Charlotte has struggled to make money and Jordan took on a sizable amount
of debt when he purchased the team last year. Another group of 50 players, including all-stars Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard, are gearing up to push for decertification of the union next week, the US media has been reporting. The executive committee of the NBA Players Association met on its own recently and the players said after the session that negotiations would be re-started. Talks between the players and owners had broken down the previous week. Team owners and players have been unable to agree upon how to divide about $4 billion in annual revenues, with owners saying they need salary cuts from players in order to improve the fortunes of 22 clubs that are losing money. NBA commissioner David Stern has wiped out 221 games that were to have been played in November and he says it will take a month from the time a deal is made to tip-off a season opener, meaning December games are already at risk.
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Stern had said that after talks broke off had there was no way to stage a full 82-game season, ensuring losses for teams and players but well shy of the $2 billion each side stands to lose for an entire season on the scrap heap. Players and team owners remain $100 million a year apart on how to split the income. Players, who made 57 percent of basketball-related income under the old deal that expired July 1, have offered to take only 52.5 percent in a new deal. Owners say that is not enough, demanding a 50-50 split of revenues. Jordan’s group is reportedly looking for an even bigger piece of the pie for the owners. Salary cap and luxury tax issues, with clubs in smaller cities hoping to limit the spending edge of such big-city clubs as New York, Miami, Chicago, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers, is also an issue. The only prior shutdown in NBA history led to a truncated season of 50 games per club in the 1998-99 season, with a deal coming in early January and the season starting in February. - AFP CANBERRA.COM.AU
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SWIMMING
COACHES BACK THORPE TO SUCCEED in his race against time before Olympic trials in Adelaide in March. However colourful Russian coach Touretski is adamant it’s a battle Thorpe is capable of winning. “Of course, it’s enough time. Even shorter time, it would be enough,” Touretski said. “... It is very important to have this starting point.
Ian Thorpe in action in the Men’s 100M Butterfly heats during the FINA Arena Swimming World Cup at the Singapore. Image: Stephen Morrison - AAP
◊ BY LIAM FITZGIBBON
Ian Thorpe has little more than four months to polish the raw performances from his comeback meet in Singapore into ones the Olympic legend is more renowned for. But the champion swimmer’s coach Gennadi Touretski and Australian head coach Leigh Nugent both believe he has enough time and ability to be successful in his bid to qualify for the London Games.
Thorpe, 29, was left with mixed emotions after the FINA World Cup meet, his first competition since the 2006 Commonwealth Games trials. While he was delighted to reach the final of the 100m individual medley on the opening day, he was left disappointed after failing to replicate the feat in the 100m butterfly. Thorpe insists he took plenty of positives from the meet but was surely left pondering the almighty task ahead
“In sport, it’s never result - it’s always the process and we started this process and we started from the lowest point, from the bottom.
Thorpe, though, feels he’s heading in the right direction - a view shared by Nugent, who said the swimmer had proved his full commitment to succeeding, both towards London and beyond. “In his training when he first started, I thought ‘this is going to be a pretty hard job’,” Nugent said. “Now when I see him swim, it just proves to you that great athletes can return to what they’re good at relatively quickly. “For him it was never just about 2012, it was beyond 2012 ... obviously 2012 is a pretty big stepping stone along the way and that’s got to be the primary goal. “... You couldn’t gauge anything from this. It was more about opening up the competitive part of his preparation and probably swimming something immeasurable.”
“I am really happy with what we have seen with his racing attitude and the way he managed the days.”
Thorpe will swim in the same two events at the Beijing World Cup leg and Touretski said he was still likely to add the 100m freestyle to his program in Tokyo, in what should provide the clearest indication yet of where he’s at.
While Thorpe, Australia’s most successful Olympian, insists he is prepared for failure in his comeback, he admitted he did not enjoy swimming in his competitors’ backwash at the short course meet.
Nugent was unsure of Thorpe’s plans beyond the World Cup series but thought he would need at least four long-course meets to prepare for trials, one of which will likely be the Victorian championships in January.- AFP
“It’s important for me that this bottom is quite high.
TEENAGER MCEVOY CATCHES EYE IN SINGAPORE ◊ BY LIAM FITZGIBBON
Cameron McEvoy is usually watching on in awe over the internet when the likes of James Magnussen and Ian Thorpe are lighting up the pool for Australia. But the teenage swimmer believes he could soon be mixing it with them in the race for a London Olympic berth after an eye-catching performance at the FINA World Cup in Singapore. McEvoy, 17, scored an upset win in the 100m freestyle final on Friday 4 November, slashing more than a second off his personal best to beat home a field including fellow Australians Matt Abood, Kyle Richardson and Andrew Lauterstein. The Gold Coast swimmer claimed the junior world 50m and 100m freestyle titles earlier this year and made headlines by breaking Thorpe’s longstanding 100m freestyle record at April’s Australian Age Championships in Adelaide. 8
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And after such a sharp drop in his short course times in Singapore, McEvoy is hoping for a similar improvement in his long-course results to push for inclusion in Australia’s squad for London.
“This brings good confidence for what’s coming up later on. It makes me want to go home and train a lot more,” he said.
“I’m going to go on looking to do the best time I possibly can and if that gets me on the team that would be a really good bonus.” - AAP
McEvoy said he took huge inspiration from watching Magnussen, Abood, Matt Targett and Eamon Sullivan score a stunning relay win at July world titles in Shanghai. “I stayed up and streamed it live on the computer and I got the whole family around and we all watched it and cheered and it was really motivating,” he said. “I went to training the next day and everyone was talking about it.” McEvoy was too young to remember Thorpe helping Australia to a famous relay win at the 2000 Olympics but has “seen it countless times on YouTube.” And after his first camp alongside the returning Olympic great, McEvoy’s motivation levels are peaking.
South Africa’s Chad Le Clos, center, the gold winner of the men’s 200 meter freestyle, is flanked by silver medallist Cameron McEvoy, left, and Kosuke Hagino of Japan at the Swimming World Cup. Image: Bryan van der Beek - AP
Issue #4 – November 2011
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NETBALL YOUTH THE KEY FOR AUSTRALIAN NETBALLERS ◊ BY MELISSA WOODS
Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander says her team’s youth and ruthless attitude have given them the edge over arch-rivals New Zealand. And she predicts they’re only going to get better. The Diamonds added the Constellation Cup to their trophy cabinet with another come-from-behind win over the Silver Ferns in their series-deciding Test match in Melbourne. Just as she did at the world championship in Singapore in July, 23-year-old goal-shooter Caitlin Bassett starred for the Australians as she came on for the second half and helped consign the Kiwis to further misery. The Aussies trailed New Zealand by six at halftime, but Alexander said she had full confidence they would bring it home. “They are a very special group of girls,” said Alexander, who took over the position from long-time Test coach Norma Plummer after the world titles.
Australia celebrate their win in the Australia Diamonds verses New Zealand Silver Ferns netball game for Constellation Cup. Image: David Crosling -AAP
“They’re very ruthless in their execution ... we have a very strong self belief.” She said she reminded the players at halftime of their physical advantage over many of the ageing Silver Ferns. “I just garnered the moment and helped them to understand that they have an advantage, we are a young team and I just made sure their youth and their freshness and their ability to run hard could get them over the line, and did in fact.” The slim-line Bassett, who stands 192cm, said she planned to increase
her workload in the gym to be able to withstand the physicality of defenders like Silver Ferns Casey Williams, Leana de Bruin and Anna Scarlett for an entire match. “I’m trying to work on my upper body strength to take the knocks,” the West Australian said. “I’ve got to keep working on having different facets of my game because I know there are tall defenders I will come up against and there are strong defenders so I need to make sure that I’m not just a holding shooter and am not predictable.”
New Zealand coach Waimarama Taumaunu, who also came into the job after Singapore, said her line-up needed more depth. “I think there are some good players in New Zealand either recovering from injury or some good youngsters we haven’t tested,” she said. “We don’t have the numbers Australia has but I think there’s probably four to six we can add to the mix over the next four years and that will give us greater depth.” - AAP
VAN DYK LEADS NZ IN FASTNET BID Evergreen shooter Irene van Dyk will captain New Zealand as they target their third successive world FastNet netball title in Liverpool later this month. The FastNet Ferns have dominated the abbreviated version of the game since its 2009 introduction. This year’s squad blends experience with youth, and features new coach Waimarama Taumaunu at the helm, with former Silver Ferns’ captain Julie Seymour as assistant coach. The team has a strong shooting circle - van Dyk is joined by Maria Tutaia and Cathrine Latu
- and a solid looking defence led by Katrina Grant, who was sidelined for the later part of this year with a foot injury.
Australia and New Zealand will compete in the World Netball Series at the Echo Arena Liverpool from November 25-27.
Silver Ferns’ teammates Anna Scarlett, Kayla Cullen and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick join Grant at the defensive end, while Liana Leota will steer the midcourt along with Anna Thompson.
FastNet is a shortened version of the game which features rolling substitutions, two-point goals from shooting from outside the goal circle, doublepoint power play and six-minute quarters.
Taumaunu says she’s looking forward to seeing what her less experienced players can show in short-form netball. Australian coach Lisa Alexander named her squad three weeks ago, choosing a selection of experienced and younger players.
FastNet Ferns: Irene van Dyk, Kayla Cullen, Shannon Francois, Katrina Grant, Cathrine Latu, Camilla Lees, Liana Leota, Anna Scarlett, Anna Thompson, Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, Jess Tuki, Maria Tutaia. -AAP
New Zealand goal shooter Irene Van Dyk in action during the International Netball Test Series. Image: Jeff Crow - AAP
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Issue #4 – November 2011
5
MO-TASTIC
Gary Belcher Raiders and Rugby League great Gary Belcher sported a fashionable mo in the 80s and 90s.
Movember is here to stay and we at PLAY think its a great cause. Loyal PLAY readers support it!
Unfortunately he has shaved his stache, we can only assume for his career commentating on fox sports.
We decided to look into the wide world of sport for some mo-tastic moustaches.
Bring it back Gaz the ladies love your hairy lip!
Here are some of the greats staches of our sporting world!
David Boon David ‘Boony’ Boon is remembered for two outstanding achievements. Firstly, his memorable moustache and secondly for consuming 52 cans of beer on a flight from Sydney to London before the victorious 1989 Ashes. He also played cricket for Australia!
Merv Hughes Cricket legend Merv Hughes’ moustache is simply unique. While playing for Australia Merv took out an estimated $370,000 policy on his trademark walrus stache which, combined with his 6’4” physique and outstanding playing ability, made him one of the most recognised cricketers in the world.
Mark Spitz American swimmer Mark Spitz won seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic games. He was nicknamed Mark the Shark. Not very often do you see a shark with a ‘stache.
Hulk Hogan Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan’s moustache is impressive! As much as the little Hulkamaniacs wanted to become like their hero, very few of them were able to grow a platinum gold handlebar moustache.
Michael Phelps who beat Spitz’s record at the 2008 Bejing Olympics is sporting Spitz inspired stache, we think he may just idolise him... Movember isn’t just for the boys. Check out page 21 for Canberra United’s Sally Shipard’s stache. She is a true mo sista!
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SLATER GOES UNDER THE KNIFE IN UK ◊ BY IAN MCCULLOUGH
Billy Slater underwent surgery on Saturday 5 November to repair the broken collarbone he sustained in Australia’s 36-20 Four Nations victory over England at Wembley Stadium. Slater, who was voted international player of the year recently, was helped off the pitch after 11 minutes after he cracked his right clavicle trying to prevent England winger Ryan Hall from giving the hosts the lead. Australia physio Tony Ayoub confirmed the injury would sideline the Melbourne fullback for up to two months but coach Tim Sheens said he would allow Slater to remain with the rest of the squad in the UK if he wanted to. “I’ll leave it up to him and his wife to decide what he wants to do,” Sheens said. “It is a bit of a blow for us losing him as he is a great player, but Darius Boyd is a more than adequate replacement.”
England’s Ben Westwood, right, is tackled by Australia’s Billy Slater during their four nations rugby league match at Wembley Stadium. Image: Dominic Lipinski - AP
Ayoub said Slater knew straight away he had damaged his collarbone.
“It is a bad injury, you could see it (the collarbone) sticking from the skin,” Ayoub said. “But he is a tough kid. It’s a painful injury, but he never moaned or complained. “He just came off calmly, and knew exactly what was wrong. “He’ll go under the knife later today but I would anticipate he would be back for the start of the NRL season next year.” Tries from Luke Lewis, Tony Williams, Greg Inglis, Paul Gallen, Boyd and Chris Lawrence sealed the win in front of a crowd of 42,344. England competed well for most of the game, but were made to pay for making simple errors, despite two tries to Hall and four-pointers for Chris Heighington and Jack Reed. Johnathan Thurston was superb for the Kangaroos, kicking six goals and producing a dominant display from halfback. However, Williams faces a nervous wait to see if he will be charged by the match review committee after being put on report for a high shot on Ben Westwood.
England coach Steve McNamara slammed the decision not to send off Williams and was upset after Tom Briscoe’s try was disallowed in the second half for a double-movement. TV replays showed Briscoe’s elbow didn’t touch the ground and the try should have counted, much to McNamara’s dismay. “It was a wrong decision, poor decision as simple as that,” McNamara said. “As I believe was the decision not to send off Tony Williams. That was a dead-set red card.” Sheens admitted there were some controversial rulings, but said the decision to rule out the try was correct, as there had been a forward pass in the build-up. He also claimed it was right to keep Williams on the field. “At the end of the day I think the players decided the game,” Sheens said. “I don’t think it was a send-off, but of course I am the Australia coach. “It was a very tough match for us, but the players deserve credit for doing so well with our main fullback off the pitch.” - AAP
SHEENS ACCUSED OF INTIMIDATING RL REF
Head coach of Australia Tim Sheens stands with his players for the National Anthems before kick off. Image: Ian Kington - AFP
◊ BY IAN MCCULLOUGH
England coach Steve McNamara has accused Tim Sheens of intimidating referee Henry Perenara following his side’s 36-20 Four Nations defeat by Australia at Wembley Stadium. McNamara was furious that Kangaroos backrower Tony Williams was not sent off following a high shot on Ben Westwood midway through the second half. 12
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Williams was placed on report for the incident, and will learn his fate when the international match review committee meets.
“We would never ever use the officials as a reason why we never won that match this week.
McNamara was also incensed at Perenara’s decision not to award a try to Tom Briscoe, or consult the video referee, when the score was 18-8.
“For me it is a straight send-off as he has hit him right across the top of the head and it is a sending-off offence.
The Kiwi official called a double movement against the winger, but TV replays showed his elbow had not touched the ground as he lurched for the line to score. “It was a wrong decision, poor decision, as simple as that,” McNamara said. “As I believe was the decision not to send off Tony Williams. That was a deadset red card. No two ways about that.
“But the unfair influence at the start of the week by Tim Sheens and the rest of his staff - the pressure that that referee must have been put under - I think is wrong.
“We had Adrian Morley sent off a few years ago about 16 seconds in, there are a lot of examples. Shaun Edwards quite a few years back on this same ground.” Sheens denied McNamara’s claims, and said his comments earlier in the week were only outlining his disappointment at the way English referee Phil Bentham refereed his side’s win over New Zealand last week. “I didn’t talk about the referee at all. I spoke after last week’s game that I was disappointed in that particular game,” Sheens said. “I have said nothing in that respect about this week’s game.”
“I don’t think it was a send-off, but of course I am the Australia coach.” Williams, who scored one of his side’s six tries, denied the challenge was intentional and said he and Westwood had spoken after the game and there were no hard feelings. “To be honest, I hit his shoulder and I slipped. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Williams said. “It was accidental and that is all it was, their players didn’t say anything to me at the time, me and Westwood swapped shorts at the end of the game, and it’s all good.” Luke Lewis, Paul Gallen, Chris Lawrence, Darius Boyd and Greg Inglis also scored tries as the Kangaroos booked their place in the final. However, their hopes of winning the tournament for the first time since 2009 received a huge blow when Billy Slater broke his collarbone in the 11th minute. Slater will now miss the rest of the competition. - AAP
Issue #4 – November 2011
INTERNATIONAL RULES MAY NEED LUCK OF IRISH TO SURVIVE want to put their hand up in a couple of years’ time.”
Critics of the series again sharpened their knives after only two All-Australians made themselves available this year, ensuring a national squad featuring 16 debutants. Plenty more ammunition was provided when low crowds witnessed the Irish amateurs thrash Australia 2-0 and with a superior 65-point aggregate, capped by Friday night’s 21-point victory on the Gold Coast.
Australia’s Mitch Robinson tackles Tadhg Kennelly during the First International Rules Series match at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Image: Martin Philbey - AAP
◊ BY LAINE CLARK
A throwaway line from Geelong’s James Kelly may have provided the best indication yet of how seriously AFL players take International Rules. And just how worried organisers should be about the hybrid game’s future. Asked if Australia could convince AFL stars to represent their country after a no-name national team was swept 2-0 by Ireland, Kelly at least gave an honest answer. Instead of pushing the merits of the series, the triple premiership player
reckoned more would get on board once the series returned to Ireland in 2013 because they could visit notorious Dublin nightclub Copper Face Jacks. “It would probably make it a bit easier if it’s in Ireland - the boys get a bit of a trip over there and get to go to Copper Face Jacks,” he said. But Kelly added: “I think maybe it’s just the way it worked out this year with a few guys with operations and injuries. “But hopefully some of the guys see that we didn’t perform that well (this year) and
Australia didn’t help the cause with aggressive tactics in game two that threatened to erupt into an all-in brawl in the third term - all in front of a clearly unimpressed AFL boss Andrew Demetriou and Irish dignitaries. Kelly - who received the Jim Stynes Medal as Australia’s best player of the series then raised eyebrows after the match. The large Irish media contingent sniggered when Kelly name-checked the nightclub, and asked him how he knew about it. “Around the traps, mate,” Kelly laughed. Australian coach Rodney Eade interjected: “Is that (Copper Face Jacks) a good thing? “Probably not,” Kelly answered.
But Irish coach Anthony Tohill was deadly serious when asked about the spiteful third term in which a total of five yellow cards were handed out. “For a while I thought it was going to boil over,” he said. “I am relieved to get all my players off the pitch with no injuries. “There was a time when I was concerned with how that game was going - I was glad it settled down.” But Eade played down the heated exchanges. “Other than pushing and shoving I don’t think there was much in it,” he said. “There was no going over the top.” Eade was more forthcoming when asked about the Irish amateurs. “Professional to me is not measured in money,” he said. “It’s the way they went about it and the application and I thought they were outstanding. “It was probably one of the best squads they’ve picked and we need to come up to that level next time.” - AAP Whats your thoughts on the International Rules series, should it be scraped or better promoted? Let us know at editor@playcanberra.com.au
BRUCE AND THE DEMONS HUNGRIER FOR SUCCESS to play forward and back with the occasional run on the ball.
◊ PETER MCGRATH
You could be forgiven thinking Eastlake Demons Aaron Bruce is older than he is. At just 21, Bruce has achieved some significant individual accolades. He spent a year on the Sydney Swans list, has represented the ACT on several occasions, played for the GWS and just last week was awarded Eastlake’s 2011 Best and Fairest. Bruce’s outstanding season was a combination of talent and hard work. Opposition sides found it difficult to match up on him due to his versatility on gameday, with the youngster able Issue #4 – November 2011
in a premiership year. Special mention should go to gun on-baller Leigh McMahon who finished in the top 5 for the fifth consecutive year.
Other award winners on the night included Dean Roulstone and Aaron Wiles who both tied for runner up in the Best and Fairest count. Roulstone, one of the league’s most exciting players, had his most consistent year for the Demons yet, while Wiles proved to be one of the finds of the year, earning a place in the NEAFL team of the year and impressing all at Eastlake with his maturity and work ethic.
The past five seasons has seen Eastlake play finals football including a grand final appearance in 2010, however this is clearly not good enough for anyone involved in the club. The club is building toward something special with quality youngsters like Bruce, Wiles, Armstrong, Ryall and Smith complimented by the more seasoned players Roulstone, Gibson and Mesman. However the club cannot rely on talent alone, and must continue to develop on and off the track. After Ainslie outmuscled the Demons in their semi-final clash in September, there will need to be a strong emphasis on building bigger bodies.
Anthony Watt won the Reserve Grade Best and Fairest after winning the third grade gong the year before. Daniel Owen took out the U18 Best and Fairest and will certainly look to play Senior Football in 2012, while Rohana Prince had the rare honour of winning the Womens Best and Fairest
It is clear that Eastlake must improve to be successful in 2012 and newly reappointed coach Daniel Archer will know that a productive pre-season is essential for its campaign. The Demons will return to the training track in late November and will no doubt be working hard to achieve greater success. WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORT
Senior Awards Best and Fairest - Aaron Bruce Runner Up Best and Fairest Aaron Wiles and Dean Roulstone Neil Conlan Most Improved Dave Cummins TRIDENT Award - Sam Smith Greg Pini Memorial Award for Best First Year Player - Hayden Armstrong Coaches Award - Mitch Frail
Reserve Grade Awards Best and Fairest - Anthony Watt Runner Up Best and Fairest Dane Keenes
U18 Awards
Best and Fairest - Daniel Owen Runner Up Best and Fairest Alex Godfrey and Max Bayly
Women’s Awards
Best and Fairest - Rohana Prince Best and Fairest Runner Up Rach Crittenden and Lou Castle
Ron Gowan Club Person of the Year Karen Breaden - Women’s Team Manager CANBERRA.COM.AU
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RUGBY UNION
CIPRIANI HAPPY WITH REBELS’ RECRUITS to share the spotlight this coming season with Wallabies fullback Beale and winger O’Connor. The trio have already become firm friends and Cipriani is excited about his second year in Australia.
Danny Cipriani hoping the arrival of two star Wallabies will help shift the spotlight. Image: Julian Smith - AAP
◊ BY MELISSA WOODS
Danny Cipriani is happy to see James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale at the Melbourne Rebels, and not just because they’re two of the world’s best rugby players. In the Rebels’ inaugural Super Rugby season, English import Cipriani was the
talking point of the club and not usually because of his prodigious playing talents. The former Test player fell foul of club officials and his teammates for his offfield antics and was banned for playing for five weeks. But the 24-year-old five-eighth is hoping
suffered at the Rugby World Cup. Cipriani said he loved playing on the big stage, and still harboured ambitions of a recall to the international scene. “I played with the Barbarians last year and played well.
“I was really looking forward to coming back and having my good mates Kurtley and James here,” he said.
“This year against Australia at Twickenham, it’s exciting times and I’m very much looking forward to it.
“We spoke about playing together before they’d even signed so it’s something I’m really looking forward to; they’re two of the best players in the world.
“It’s a great opportunity for me.”
“Having them here raises the bar for everyone and I think it will make everyone realise the full potential that we have.” Before they hit the field in Rebels colours in February, Cipriani will line up against O’Connor when he plays for the Barbarians, who face the Wallabies on November 26 at Twickenham. Melbourne skipper Stirling Mortlock is also in the Barbarians line-up while Beale will miss the two-game Australian tour because of a hamstring injury
There has been a large turnover of players at the Rebels, with a number of senior players such as prop Greg Somerville, halfback Sam Cordingley and lock Kevin O’Neill retiring, while head coach Rod Macqueen has handed over the reins to Damien Hill. After a three-day camp at Lorne last week, Cipriani said there was a fresh feel to the side, who finished with the wooden spoon last season. “There are still a few experienced guys who are going to benefit us but there’s a real buzz and a brightness to the side which hopefully will put us in good stead.” - AAP
PLAYER FOCUS – RUAIDHRI MURPHY JOINS BAND OF BRUMBIES
Ruaidhri Murphy (Left). Image: zimbio
◊ BY ANTONY PERRY
Ruaidhri Murphy is one of five additions to the ACT Brumbies’ 2012 Super Rugby playing squad. The 24 year old Irishman joins the Brumbies after claiming one of five places in the club’s Extended Playing Squad (EPS). Speaking of his selection, Murphy says it came as a relief. “It was actually relief for me I think was the first thing I felt. There was potential for me to come down and get a spot and it took its time but I was lucky enough that the Brumbies came in and showed me that they were intent on having me.”
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While Murphy was born in Ireland, the prop forward spent a stint of his childhood years living in Australia. It was not until he returned to his homeland that he began playing rugby at age 14. Since then, he has “never really looked back.”
long stint this year with Queensland Premier Rugby side Easts Tigers before the Brumbies expressed interest and secured his signature.
“When I moved back to Ireland from Australia my family were a bit rugby mad. When I got back to Ireland there was a big boom in rugby and I just picked it up,” he said.
His selection as a member of the EPS, however, means he is only available for selection in the match-day 22 if the Core Playing Squad (CPS) is depleted by injury. While not getting ahead of himself, Murphy believes he and the squad will be ready if the opportunity arises.
Murphy, who, despite his heritage, is a Wallabies supporter, has enjoyed an impressive rugby career thus far. He was a member of the Ireland team at the Under 19 World Cup in 2006 before moving to professional Irish club Leinster. He was also a part of the Irish Under 20 Six Nations Grand Slam winning side of 2007. Before his move to Australia in May this year, and subsequent linking with the Brumbies, Murphy was playing in England’s Aviva Premiership for the Exeter Chiefs. The 24 year old’s move to Australia was prompted by a telephone call he received suggesting it may be worth his while to return. He had a season-
Murphy has described joining the club as an “honour.”
“I think the last years have shown how important the size of a squad is, and eligibility is, and I think you just have to be patient, your chance is going to come. “There’s going to be times in the season where the EPS has to be used and I think we’ll be ready to go,” he said. While no team goals have been set for the 2012 season yet, Murphy’s ambitions are clear. “If I get the opportunity I just want to smash it and make people stand up and recognise I’m not here to just fill a number.”
As for his future, the Irishman says “the sky’s the limit” and hopes to be able to tick off having competed in a World Cup. “It would be the ultimate,” he said.
New system to achieve greater spread of playing talent 2012 will see an Extended Playing Squad (EPS) system introduced for the first time in Super Rugby. Each Australian Super Rugby team’s EPS will consist of five players who will train full time with the team’s 30-man Core Playing Squad (CPS). Members of the EPS will only be available for selection in the match-day 22 in the event that the CPS is depleted by injury. Making up the final pieces of the Brumbies’ 2012 Super Rugby playing squad, in the form of the EPS, are; Dylan Sigg (lock/No 8), Jesse Mogg (wing/ fullback), Scott Sio (prop/hooker), Scott Fardy (flanker) and Ruaidhri Murphy (prop). Each fortnight, PLAY will profile a member of the Brumbies’ 2012 EPS.
Issue #4 – November 2011
MASTERS
ACT OVER 60’S CRICKET
GOLD! GOLD! FOR CANBERRA OLD BOYS
Canberra Old Boys, Australian Masters Games, Adelaide 2011 Back (L-R): Momo Radulovich, Woody Elliott, Ian Ippoliti, Alan Greenslade, Tony Santolin, Wally Hoefel, Rudi Aiono, Alan Froud, Bob Kostic, Bill Hardie, Les Herbert. Front (L-R): Norm Holcroft, Milan Novakovic, Joe Kaczor, Stewart Leenards, Ken Menser, Pat Sergi, Wally Conlon.
At the 2011 Australian Masters Games in Adelaide (7 – 16 October) the Canberra Old Boys Masters football team won TWO gold medals. They won gold for the Over 55 Division as they were the only team entered. They were then placed in the Over 50 Division, recruited two over 50 players, then put the younger teams to the sword to win their second gold medal. An impressive performance when you consider the team’s average age was 58, and included 7 players aged over 60.
2003 Australian Masters Canberra (Over 45) GOLD
Over 6 days, the Old Boys played 8 x 60 minute games. After losing the first game (being severely jet-lagged from the arduous flight from Canberra), the Old Boys won the rest, scoring 17 goals with 5 against.
2009 World Masters Sydney (Over 50)
The Canberra Old Boys are a ‘touring side’, affiliated with the Tuggeranong United Football Club, whose motto is ‘degenerating disgracefully’. The Old Boys draw its core from older players of the TUFC masters teams, and are complemented by other players from around Australia who have links with the team. They have participated in masters tournaments every year since 1994, around Australia and overseas, always playing in the oldest age division, and on the way accumulating an impressive medal tally, highlighted by winning the World Masters Over 45 division in Melbourne in 2002: 2000 ASPAC Masters Gold Coast (Over 45) SEMI-FINAL 2001 Australian Masters Newcastle (Over 45) SILVER 2002 World Masters Melbourne (Over 45) GOLD Issue #4 – November 2011
2004 Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 45) SILVER 2005 World Masters Edmonton Canada (Over 45) 2006 Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 45) GOLD 2007 Australian Masters Adelaide (Over 50) GOLD 2008 Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 50) GOLD
2010 Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 55) SILVER 2011 Australian Masters Adelaide (Over 50) GOLD 2011 Australian Masters Adelaide (Over 55) GOLD The team has four players from 1994 still playing: Bill Hardie (64), Alan Froud (64), Wally Conlon (62), and Alan Greenslade (62). What’s next for the Old Boys? The Gold Coast in November 2012, then the World Masters in Torino, Italy in August 2013. Some older Old Boys also join the Oklahoma City Over 60 team in July each year to take part in the US Veterans Nationals. Masters football blossoms in Canberra In 2011, there were: • over 500 masters players • 26 teams in three Over 35 divisions • 9 teams in the Over 45 division
PLAY recently caught up with the ACT Over 60’s Cricket team during their final preparations before heading off to the Australian Over 60’s Championships. We spoke to Ron Axelby, team captain. Hi Ron, can you give us a bit of background on the Over 60’s Championships? The Australian Over 60’s cricket championships have been going for about five years and this year it’s in Armidale between the 19th and 24th of November. The ACT is sending two teams up. One is in Division One, the top side and Division Three, the second side. The standard of cricket is really top quality, particularly the batting. We’ll be coming up against a lot of ex-shield players. QLD for example have got at least three ex-shield players in their team and some state second eleven players as well as representative players at country level, so it’s good competition. Obviously the bowling is not as good as the younger guys but the batting is very very good. The ACT has got a good side this year, we finished second in the championships last year to QLD, in fact we beat QLD but they actually won the tournament so we’re reasonably confident that we’ll put up a good showing. We’ve got a number of former ACT representative players in the side – Mick Gallagher, Neil Bulger and former first graders including Dennis Axelby. It’s just a great concept, so hopefully it’ll go from strength to strength. Cricket Australia are right behind us and they want more people to be playing cricket in our age group. The difficulty we have in Australia in particular is when you retire from grade cricket, there’s no avenue to play older age cricket until you get into the Over 60’s so we lose a lot of players to golf or bowls.
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And obviously there’s a good social side to it as well? Yeah, we all like to talk each other up – how good we are and we get better as we get older, but it’s a great social activity. We have a few beers afterwards and because it’s a fairly small fraternity of sportsmen you tend to meet each other every year and we have a really good time. In fact in August this year the Australian Over 60’s went to England and played the English Over 60’s in a series of test matches. I was lucky enough to captain the side and my brother Dennis, from the ACT, was also a member of the side. But it was a very tough tour against top quality opposition because the English play Over 40’s, Over 50’s, Over 60’s and in much kinder weather. We played against some very good players including Graham Swan’s father – he scored a 99 against us in the first international. He hit the ball very very well. The Pom’s, they had so many guys to pick from – they chose guys who could run fast and field. In Canberra is this the only time you play? Yes, this is the only time we get together as a team to play, we have practice matches and we train every Sunday prior to going away. But there are four of us in the side who are still playing grade cricket. Those four are myself, my brother Dennis, Peter Neilson and Tony Patterson. We’re playing with the Norths in the fifth grade so that helps, but the others really come together once a year. PLAY had a great morning out with the guys, they’re a really friendly bunch that love a laugh. If you’d like to get involved in the Over 60’s team please get in touch with Ron Axelby on rjaxelby@grapevine.com.au. Best of luck to the guys in Armidale, hopefully they can go one better than last year, but from what we saw at training, they’ll have a great time no matter what.
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YOUR SHOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
Dear Ed Hi PLAY Hey guys, I play many sports here in the ACT including Rugby Union for Royals Rugby club. I thoroughly enjoy reading your magazine, and I get very excited when I get a new one in my gym ( I also work for Club Lime in Woden). I love the fact that it is 50/50 when it comes to male/female articles. And the fact that you cover all sports including dragon boating and snowboarding. I was also wondering if you have any information about the current women’s Gridiron teams that I have heard about here in the ACT. I would love to play, and I know a hundred girls that would love to try it out too. Hope we can help each other out. Thanks for a great read. Amy Hi Amy, Thank you for your kind words. Here at PLAY we like to cover as many sports as possible and keep it even between the sexes. We do have information about the women’s Gridiron team, you can find these details on page 27.
I picked up your last issue in my local cafe and saw that you had a bit on look a likes. Just so you know I can never look at Glenn Stuart the same now that you have shown us that he is obviously related to Alex Perry and not his alleged brother Brett. Have you ever noticed the similaries between Nathan Hindmarsh and Joel Reddy (Parramatta eels). It’s uncanny and something that need’s to be investigated... Mick, Wanniassa We were shocked when we saw Glenn Stuart on Australia’s Next Top Model and thought that the public had to know what Glenn has been up to in the off season. Mick your wish is our comand check out to your right. The Eels games are hard enough to watch at the best of times, with the Hayne Plane and all. Throw in the confusion of thinking: A) How fast has Nathan Hindmarsh got. Or B) How fat has Joel Reddy got, and its almost impossible. Editor
Love PLAY I have been following your magazine and just love your local coverage. Canberra Sport is finally getting the coverage it needs!
We are very happy to hear you have an army of girls interested in playing.
Keep up the good work
Once you and your mates have helped Gridiron ACT start up a league we will be sure to do a feature story on you and your new side.
Thanks for your support Maggie.
Good Luck Amy!
Editor
Editor
Maggie We will continue to work hard to uncover the great sporting talent here in the ACT!
Have your shout and let us know what you think about any of our stories or if you just want to share your wisdom. email us at editor@playcanberra.com.au
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JOEL REDDY - FOOTBALLER
NATHAN HINDMARSH - FOOTBALLER www.playcanberra.com.au Issue #4 – November 2011
ONE MINUTE WITH... JEFF THOMSON
Would you have liked to play 20/20? Would I what!! Four overs each. Four overs!! Hit and giggle. And Pat Cummings, what’s your thoughts on his rise? Yeah, to be honest I haven’t really seen him bowl much, so I can’t really comment. He’s obviously sharpish but he’s already had a bad back so … Do you think they’ve maybe rushed him in too early? I don’t think you rush people in too early. I’ve played cricket all my life since I was 10 years old and I’ve never had a bad back in my life. So I don’t believe you can rush them in too early. I believe it’s probably lack of work, not a large work load that buggers them up rather than the other way around. One way, playing a lot of cricket, you become conditioned to it, the other way around it’s shock treatment. My mate reckons you once bowled a ball that bounced over the keeper’s head and went for six, is that true? Yeah, I bowled several. It’s not only a one off – it happened heaps of times – Sydney, Perth, Brisbane I think I did it, but Perth several times, and in grade games as well. Hits the pitch then hits the sight screen.
Jeff Thomson (Left) with former partner in crime Dennis Lillee being admitted to the Hall of Fame at Coolangatta beach - AAP.
Jeff Thomson is a former Australian cricketer. Known as “Thommo”, he was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket and was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history. Who was the best batter that you bowled to? Best batters in my time would be, and I never played against Pollock or Sobers, they would have been Greg Chapel, Viv Richards and Barry Richards. Which batters were you glad you didn’t have to bowl to? Well I didn’t have to bowl to Greg, we played against each other once or twice before we got together, in QLD, and neither of us wanted to play against each other again so other than those first two times we played together the rest of the time. Did you have any trouble finding batters for the nets sessions? Well what I used to do for the nets was go easy, I didn’t want to scare the sh*t out of my own players so I just went easy and bowled them half volleys. But you never spent too much time in the nets unless you were out of form, so you’re just tuning yourself, then I’d get them out of the nets and just bowl one or two overs flat out and that was it, but I’d never do it to my own blokes. Modern day batters – who do you wish you had the chance to bowl at? Kevin Peterson (laughs) – not for friendly reasons. Nah, modern batters, a guy I thought was an absolute gun batter was Brian Lara, obviously Tendulkar’s a good player and Ricky Ponting. Issue #4 – November 2011
Who’s been your favourite bowler over the years? Anyone that bowls really quick. I don’t really have favourites but blokes like Alan Donald, Curtly Ambrose, guys that just bowl extra quick. I don’t mean fast bowlers, I just mean blokes that actually scared people and were a handful.
So how far is that? I don’t know but go and have a look at the SCG. I’ve been there since and thought “God, how did I ever do that?” but that shows you what the pace really was. Now days the speed is measured out of the hand, when you guys were bowling it was measured where the batsman stands, after the bounce. Yeah it’s a bullsh*t scale today. Compared to what you guys were doing back then? They only do it to make them look like they are a similar speed to us, for the kids watching on TV, if they put on TV that we were 160(km’s) and they are 130, which is what they really are, the kids are gonna say “well these guys aren’t too good are they.”
Would you put Shaun Tate in that category? I don’t think he ever bowled straight enough to scare anybody. Yes and no, but he never bowled quick for long anyway. Shoaib was the same, he was alright when he had a good spell. The trouble is they only had spells So for today’s bowlers, if you take a 150km ball, if it was these blokes, they never bowled quick consistently and measured on our scale (after the bounce) you have to that was the disappointing part about them. They don’t take 10% off, and that’s probably being get much of a rating from me for that reason. Best batters in my time would generous, so its really 135km on our be, and I never played against scale, so that’s why they don’t show it. As far as cricket formats what’s Pollock or Sobers, they would I heard Imran Khan, got a shock your thoughts on Twenty20? have been Greg Chapel, Viv Well 20/20 is obviously a game Richards and Barry Richards. when he came out to bat and he saw that creates money for cricket how far back the wicket keeper was but it also creates problems. It standing. makes cricketers lazy but I don’t blame them, why Well they used to stand back a long way, I remember would you bother playing test cricket if you could just bowling one day and the boys measured it and the play Twenty20 and few one dayers and you’d be a keeper was standing 30 meters and slips were 35 back millionaire. It makes sense. And you wear yourself out from the stump. Go and step that out. playing test cricket. You’ve gotta be a purist to play test Big thanks to Jeff for his time, an absolute legend. cricket and that doesn’t happen much anymore. There are people out there that are obviously purists, but it’s quite easy to take the easy option and you’ll earn more money and last longer, so it makes sense.
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FOOTBALL
LIVERPOOL QUESTION INTERNATIONAL EPL TV DEAL Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has called for top Premier League clubs to be allowed to sell overseas television rights individually, it was reported. The world’s richest football league currently sells its international television rights as a joint package worth £3.2 billion ($5bn) for the period 2010-13, with the proceeds shared equally across all 20 clubs. However, Ayre said Liverpool were willing to challenge the structure of the deal, arguing that higher profile teams should be given a bigger slice of the proceeds as they generate more interest in regions such as Asia. Ayre believes clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal should be free to sell rights to their matches individually, following the model used in Spain by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Liverpool’s midfielder Steven Gerrard reacts during the English Premier League football match. Image: Andrew Yates - AFP
“Personally I think the gamechanger is going out and recognising our brand globally.
Maybe the path will be individual TV rights like they do in Spain,” Ayre told The Guardian newspaper. “If you’re a Bolton fan in Bolton, then you subscribe to Sky because you want to watch Bolton. But if you’re in Kuala Lumpur, there isn’t anyone subscribing to Astro or ESPN to watch Bolton, or if they are it’s a very small number. “The large majority are subscribing to watch Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal. “What we are actually doing is disadvantaging ourselves against other big European clubs. If Real Madrid or Barcelona or other big European clubs have the opportunity to realise their international media value potential, where does that leave Liverpool and Manchester United? “We’ll just share ours because we’ll all be nice to each other? The whole phenomenon of the Premier League could be threatened. “If they just get bigger and bigger and they generate more and more,
Harry Kewell trains at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Image: Julian Smith - AAP
◊ BY SAM LIENERT AND WAYNE HEMING
Melbourne Victory star Harry Kewell says the intense spotlight he faces in Australia has made playing in the A-League the toughest challenge of his career. Kewell’s testy mood at a press conference recently suggests the 18
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attention is already getting to the 33-year-old, who is yet to score a goal or find top form with the Victory. He bristled at questions over whether his early A-League form warranted Socceroos selection. While Kewell has been named in a 23-man Australian squad for upcoming
“The worst thing for English football is for teams like Liverpool - the top four let’s say - who want to get rid of virtually half the Premier League,” Whelan told goal.com “We will finish up like the Spanish league with just two teams in it, no competition, no anything, no heart and soul in the league. “What we have is the finest league in the whole world and what Liverpool are calling for would absolutely wreck it. The likes of Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, Wolves, Sunderland and Newcastle couldn’t compete.” - AFP
Asked his opinion on whether he deserved a Socceroos starting spot, Kewell told journalists to ask Osieck.
“For all intents and purposes Harry is like a foreigner, he’s never played our competition, he’s never played in Australia,” Postecoglou said.
“It’s probably my hardest task really,” Kewell said.
ue his toughest task
Ayre’s comments drew an angry response from Wigan chairman Dave Whelan however, with the Latics chief branding them “diabolical.”
But Roar coach Ange Postecoglou remained a firm believer in Kewell’s ability to take the A-League by storm, once he was given more time to adjust.
Kewell, who has played in the English Premier League with Leeds and Liverpool and more recently with Turkish club Galatasaray, later dropped his guard enough to talk about the pressure he felt in Australia.
Kewell says A-Leag
“It’s a real debate that has to happen.”
World Cup qualifiers, he was warned by coach Holger Osieck that he had to produce a “lot more” than he had shown so far.
Again asked for his own assessment, he bluntly replied: “What do you think?”
A-LEAGUE
then all the players will start drifting that way and will the Premier League bubble burst because we are sticking to this equal-sharing model?
“I knew when I was coming over here what everyone was expecting and I knew in myself that I had to be in my top form week in, week out.
“Regardless of the quality of player, it’s going to take him some time. “You look at all the high quality foreigners who have come through our game and they’ve all struggled to adapt early on. “What the good ones have done, as time goes on, they’ve become better. “I’m convinced that Harry and (Sydney FC’s Brett) Emerton will do the same in the second half of the year. “Once they find their feet, they’re going to be a real force in this league.
“Playing at the top level you can have an average game, but you have other players that are taking (the focus).
“I think people assume because Harry is Australian he’s just going to come in and dominate.
“Now obviously the focus is on me.”
“I never expected that.
Kewell, who will be looking to break his goal-scoring drought in Victory’s next game against table-topping Brisbane Roar at Etihad Stadium, acknowledged he needed to lift in some areas.
“Harry is a quality player and he will make his mark this year and so will Brett Emerton.”.- AAP
Issue #4 – November 2011
LOCAL
KOCIC TO TRY HIS LUCK IN EUROPE ◊ PETER MCGRATH
Mathew Kocic, 19, is a young man on a mission. In early December, he will travel to Europe in search of a start with a professional soccer club. Despite having no official offers, he will draw on some of his contacts and intends to persevere until he reaches his goal. Kocic played his junior football at Woden Valley and then at St Edmunds College. It was at the latter where his talent began to shine through. At the age of 15 Kocic was fast-tracked into the school’s 1st XI and not long after into a First Grade line up. Kocic now plays as a centre-back with Woden Valley in the men’s premier league and credits his rapid rise in the ranks to his schoolboy coach Tony Olivera. The path to professional soccer in Europe can seem quite daunting and at times unattainable, however Kocic is determined to prove to other Canberra youngsters it is a dream worth pursuing. “Some players in Canberra don’t take it as seriously because they think the standard isn’t as good as other competitions, like Sydney, so they are unwilling to go overseas and give it a try.”
Special thanks to Urban Foods for hosting our interview
Kocic has identified the German Bundesliga as a possible pathway into professional soccer, however given the choice, he would love to be a part of either Manchester United or Paris St Germain. Both clubs have an enormous following and no
doubt an abundance of talent just waiting for the same opportunity. Kocic recognises the massive challenge ahead of him and is determined to achieve what, at this stage, seems a monumental goal. “ I’ve always had determination to continually push myself that extra distance… for all those people who say I can’t make it, I just want to prove them all wrong.” Despite still being a teenager, Kocic shows a level of maturity well beyond his years and knows that even at such a young age, he is able to give something back to his local club. In July this year, Kocic received a Pele award recognising his commitment to Football in Canberra. On the weekends he was often seen refereeing junior matches, setting up fields and assisting with the canteen. His current first grade commitments have limited his capacity to assist, yet he ensures he regularly attends junior matches, providing youngsters with a role model. Kocic’s official departure date is the 5th of December. Play magazine will track Kocic’s progress and provide updates of his progress. We wish him all the best and look forward to seeing what this young Canberran is capable of. Mathew would like to thank the continued support of The Sportsman warehouse.
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LOCAL
LOCALS GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SHINE AT AIS opportunity for locals to see top flight, national level men’s football here in the capital”.
“The opportunity that host families have to host a potential, future Socceroo will further enhance the strong ties between the AIS, Capital Football and the football community generally,” Pepper commented. Jakob Williams
Six Canberra locals are being given the chance to train with the AIS during the National Youth League season as part of a new partnership between the National Institute and local football governing body Capital Football. The agreement could see the AIS participate in the ROCK Premier League with the reciprocal arrangement seeing some of the most promising young talent given the chance to shine at a local level. The AIS has produced a plethora of players who have gone on to a career in the Hyundai A-League as well as overseas and with the Socceroos. The first in-take includes Daniel Barac, James Field and Jakob Williams, all of whom starred for Canberra Olympic in their march to the ROCK Premier League Grand Final, as well as Michael Taurasi, Steven Domenic and Jack Green, all fellow graduates of the ACTAS program. “It’s great to see strong support from the local football community, particularly with six young Canberra lads being included in the squad for this coming Youth League season,” Mark Pepper, Football Operations Manager at the AIS said. “I think the showcase opportunity these players are getting has the potential to help further motivate young footballers in Canberra as well as provide an
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Heather Reid, CEO of Capital Football, said: “This is a great opportunity for our male youth players to be in the National Youth League in the absence of our own Canberra team and provides a vital link between our Premier League and National league competitions.” Capital Football extends its congratulations to the locals selected to train with the AIS and wish them all the best for the future. AIS Football Squad: Jordan Thurtell (Queensland), Ben Warland (SA), Mitchell Oxborrow (WA), Riley Woodcock (WA), Ben Garrucio (SA), Stefan Mauk (SA), Matt Davies (WA), Jacob Melling (SA), Paul Izzo (SA), Yianni Perkatis (NSW), Kobbie Boahene (VIC), Connor Chapman (NSW), Anthony Proia (NSW), Daniel Barac (ACT), James Field (ACT), Jakob Williams (ACT), Jack Green (ACT), Michael Taurasi (ACT), Steve Domenici (ACT) If you are interested in considering being a host family to an AIS Football Scholarship player please contact Mr Jackson Kupke, FFA Player Development Manager, to receive the complete AIS Football Homestay Program Application Package.
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The AIS overhaul of its football program includes their new ‘Homestay’ initiative as they seek ‘Expressions of Interest’ from families in Canberra to provide homestay arrangements for the AIS Football Program players in 2012 and 2013. ‘Homestay’ involves a local Canberra family welcoming a Scholarship player into their home. The family would provide a safe, supportive environment that gives stability for the player, allowing him to focus his efforts on his football and academic achievement.
Issue #4 – November 2011
W-LEAGUE
MO-SISTA SALLY SHIPARD SUPPORTING MOVEMBER Canberra United’s Sally Shipard is sporting a everchanging mustashe this month in support for Movember. Movember is a great cause which raises vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. Sally’s stache may be drawn on with eye pencil but she wears it with pride and is doing a great job raising money and the profile of movember and being a mo sista! To donate go to sallys mo sista page via http://mosista.co/salship and follow the prompts. To follow Sal’s progress follower her on twitter via @salship Come on Canberra get on board and help Sal! For more information or to sign up go to www,au.movember.com
BRUSH HELPS TIMOR-LESTE SPORTING EVENT Students from Charles Sturt University (CSU), including Canberra United Captain Ellie Brush, took part in a trip of a lifetime to service a fast growing sporting event held in one of the world’s youngest and poorest nations. The CSU students were on hand to provide prevention as well as cure for competitors in the 2011 Tour de Timor bicycle race, held in the mountains of Timor-Leste. Six third year physiotherapy students provided screening, treatment and advice on preventing injuries to the 58 Timorese competitors in the week leading up to the race, which this year ran over seven days and 600 kilometres of mountains and rough roads in September. Developed as part of students’ required practical experience for their profession and the CSU course, the students provided physiotherapy services each day in hot, dusty conditions
to competitors and volunteers, with demand peaking at 130 patients in one day. “The students were fantastic. They remained energetic and enthusiastic throughout the two weeks, often working with limited sleep,” said Mr Tim Retchford, placement coordinator and academic with CSU’s School of Community Health, based in Albury-Wodonga. “Competitors, race organisers and doctors and nurses from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in Australia gave glowing praise for the quality of our students’ work. They were even formally recognised when they received an award from Timor-Leste’s President Jose Ramos-Horta.”
Unforgettable experience Ellie Brush fell in love with the Timorese people and culture, climate, the relaxed
pace of ‘Timor time’, the riders, the race, the villages, and the scenery. “TimorLeste for me was everything I hoped it would be and more,” said Brush. “In the end, we didn’t mind the early starts, funky smells, lack of showers, copious mosquito repellent, and the sweaty, hard work of being physios to 450 riders grinding out 600 mountainous kilometres over seven days.” Brush felt humble at taking part in this celebration of peace after the country’s recent tumultuous history. She said there were many emotional moments in the Tour but one struck a cord with her. “It was at the final presentation and award ceremony at the Presidential Palace in the capital Dili, when President Ramos Horta brought Julio de Costa to the front. Julio was a Timorese rider who’d suffered from polio but managed to complete every stage of the race virtually on one leg when many, many others hadn’t finished. The President
presented Julio with a new bike, US$1 000 and a job at the Presidential Palace. This moment summed up the principles of peace, comradeship and strength through adversity that the Tour de Timor is all about.”
Students praised Clinical supervisor for the CSU physiotherapy course Mr Shane Robertson said the success of the trip to Timor-Leste was the ability of the CSU students to produce a high quality and efficient physiotherapy service in trying and demanding conditions without complaint or compromise to the patients’ care. “And they were able to provide the service over seven gruelling days, keeping just ahead of the competitors to provide the service, without diminishing the quality. It was a real credit to them,” Mr Robertson said.
COACHING FEMALE ATHLETES FORUM A special forum with a focus on Coaching Female Athletes, to be presented by FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion and USA Olympic Gold Medal Coach April Heinrichs and Canberra United Coach and former Czech Republic national player Jitka Klimkova will take place at the AIS on Thursday 24th November 2011 from 6.00 to 9.00pm. If you want to learn more about getting the best out of your female players and coaching female teams, then go along an informative and educational forum when two outstanding international coaches and former players share their experience and knowledge about coaching female footballers. This is an event for all coaches at any level of the game and coaches from other sports are encouraged to attend as well. The forum will feature a presentation by Heinrichs (who is currently the Technical Director of the US soccer’s women’s national teams program) and a practical demonstration on the pitch with Klimkova and her Canberra United squad. Mark your diaries now for this unique opportunity and spread the word. The cost for attending this exclusive event is only $25 per person with details on the venue and registration are on www.capitalfootball.com.au
Issue #4 – November 2011
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Issue #4 – November 2011
BRAD HADDIN Brad Haddin, a proud Queanbeyan boy was one of the shining lights of the last international season. He topped the runs list for Australia in the World Cup, finished second in most dismissals and came in third behind Mike Hussey and Shane Watson for most runs in the Vodafone Ashes. Haddin has remained a key member in the national team over all formats. In combination with Mike Hussey, Haddin blazed a sublime century in the Vodafone Ashes Test in Brisbane, keeping the tourists at bay before they stamped their dominance. He also served one of the longest apprenticeships in the game with more than 5000 first-class runs and 250 dismissals before Adam Gilchrist’s retirement forced a change behind the stumps for the first time in nine years. Brad is currently in Cape Town preparing for the First Test against South Africa, which begins on Wednesday. He was kind enough to give PLAY Canberra some of his time to answer some questions about growing up in the region and the upcoming Festival of Cricket in the ACT. PLAY: You grew up playing in the Canberra Region, who did you play your junior cricket for and what was your favourite ground to play at? It was a great place to grow up...we had a lot of fun. The very good parks and facilities meant that we spent many hours playing outdoors and being active in a friendly and safe environment. I played my junior cricket in Queanbeyan before joining ANU to play grade cricket. I guess the opportunity even as kids to play on Manuka Oval was always good fun. It’s a great ground. PLAY: What is your favourite memory on Manuka Oval? I have several memories of Manuka, from playing junior rep cricket there, watching some great cricketers in the PM XI’s games over the early years, playing for the Comets there, and of course the time I played for the PM’s XI in 1995 against the West Indies. PLAY: You grew up playing alongside current Comets captain/coach Mark Higgs, do you follow the fortunes of the Comets? Issue #4 – November 2011
PLAY: Also Canberra is lucky enough to host India on the 15-16 December and 19-21 December (verses the chairman’s XI). Being so close to the Boxing Day test, are we likely to see a full strength Indian team including, maybe for the last time in Australia, Sachin Tendulkar?
What a great thing for Canberra to have the Indian cricket team, with the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Dhoni, Harbejhan and Gambhier in the city Yes when I can I keep up to date through scores on for a week during mid December. I would imagine that line. It’s always good to see what the younger guys are they will field full strength sides for these games in up to. There are some good young cricketers coming preparation for the 1st Test on Boxing Day. When you through the ranks at ACT progressing into the first tour to another country it always good to get a few class domestic cricket competition here in Australia. games under your belt before the Recently the likes of Ryan In all societies there are those who first test to get used to the local Carters, Jason Floros, Will are inflicted with hardship and if conditions and I would think that Sheridan and of course Nath in some way I can help the local these games will be very important Lyon have all progressed. It’s for India. community I grew up then I am exciting for Cricket ACT. Higgsie privileged to be involved with such It’s going to be a very big summer of is doing a good an important cause. job there. cricket with 4 Tests v India followed by T20’s and ODI’s. And it may be the I have also been watching the last time Australian cricket fans get the opportunity progression of young Dean Solway with interest. His to see some of these great Indian cricketers here in father Pete was a mentor to me as a young cricketer Australia and none more so than the “Little Master” at the time when I was also going through this cricket Sachin. What a phenomenal cricketer and what a pathway. record. We are hoping he doesn’t add too many more PLAY: Former Comets player Nathan Lyon, recently impressive stats this summer! had a great debut for Australia (5/34 including a I reckon the Australian Team is in a good space and we wicket of his first ball), what was it like to be a part of will certainly be hard to beat this summer. that? That was an exciting day not only for Nathan but for the Australian cricket team. It lifted the team enormously to have a young guy take 5 wickets on debut. Not to mention taking a wicket with his first ball in test cricket too. What a day! He handled the whole occasion very well. He is very grounded and works hard. He has a great future. PLAY: We’ve got the festival of Cricket in Canberra this summer, including a one dayer and a replay of the 2010/11 Sheffield Shield Final between the NSW Blues and Tassie Tigers. Can the Blues go one better this season? (and why?) The Festival of Cricket is an exciting initiative for Cricket ACT. To have the NSW SpeedBlitz Blues play at Manuka this summer is a very good opportunity. The Blues look strong again this year. Many of their younger cricketers are a little more experienced now and are starting to make their own mark in the side, understanding the demands and challenges of playing 1st class cricket. They have some seriously good young cricketers also coming through. The Blues are a seriously good squad also when you consider there is nearly the equivalent of another side from the squad that play for Australia at various stages.
PLAY: You are an ambassador for the ACT- Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group, what does that role involve? Yes. The ACT Eden-Monaro Cancer Support Group is based in Queanbeyan. As part of Cricket Australia’s Community Cares Program I see this as a great opportunity to raise important awareness and funds for the group. It is a local charity that helps the local community. I am in a privileged situation to be able to travel the world seeing many cultures, playing the sport I love. In all societies there are those who are inflicted with hardship and if in some way I can help the local community I grew up in, then I am privileged to be involved with such an important cause. PLAY: Being Number 1 ticket holder for the Raiders, you’d be hoping for a better season in 2012? Yes of course. That’s the nature of sport. In 2010 the Raiders were very close to making it through to the Grand Final. They played great footie that year but a few key injuries (Campo etc) affected them this year. Sport is fickle. And in a sport like Rugby League, and its high impact/contact, there are always variables as injuries that affect performance and success.
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The key is whether it be an individual, a team, an organisation or corporate entity you have to trust your structures to get you through tough times. I have no doubt Dave Furner, and his support staff, will ensure the boys will come back hard in 2012. They have some very talented young and experienced footballers in their squad. Go the Raiders! PLAY: What do you miss most about Queanbeyan/Canberra? My parents and one of my brothers live in Queanbeyan. It’s always nice to come home, when I get the chance from a full cricket schedule, to relax and spend time with the family. Traveling playing cricket is hectic and to be able to come back to Queanbeyan /Canberra gives me a chance to refocus on other important matters in my life. Looks like a massive summer of cricket ahead! For more information on the Festival of Cricket go to www.cricketact.com.au Tickets for the ACT Festival of Cricket are now on sale through Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, left, successfully removes the bails to dismiss Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene, right. Image: Gemunu Amarasinghe - AP
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Play Trivia ◊ In what year did the NSW Rugby League introduce mandatory grand finals at season’s end to determine the premiership? ◊ When was the first year that women participated in the Olympics? ◊ Who was the first non-Australian to win the rugby league golden boot? ◊ When did beach Volleyball make it’s Olympic debut? ◊ What’s the longest recorded duration for a bare-knuckle
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◊ Who is the only Australian to win an Olympic medal in the Marathon? ◊ In 1902, The first Corn Flake was created by who?
ANSWERS: 1. 1954 2. 1900 3. Hugh McGahan 4. 1996 Atlanta, USA 5. 6 hours, 15 minutes 1856, Melbourne 6. Lisa Ondieki, Silver 1988 7. Dr. Harvey Kellogg
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Issue #4 – November 2011
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Issue #4 – November 2011
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SPECIAL OLYMPICS ACT FUNDRAISER @ Canberra Labour Club Friday the 28th October
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Issue #4 – November 2011
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ACT FUNDRAISER On Friday 28 October PLAY joined about 200 members of Canberra’s sporting fraternity at the Special Olympics ACT fundraiser in support of the first ACT athletes to compete at the Trans-Tasman Games held in Wellington NZ from 2-6 November. These athletes were amongst almost 5,000 in over 350 sports clubs across metropolitan and rural Australia training and competing within the Special Olympics organisation. The night was supported by several sponsors including a big effort from Westpac. The athletes were presented to a strongly supportive crowd and enjoyed the spotlight. PLAY hopes to report on their progress during the competition. The benefits of Special Olympics to the participants includes a reduction in calls on the health system by 30%; improved coordination and fitness and improved social skills.
UPCOMING EVENTS Girdiron ACT Capital Bowl XIX Saturday, 12 November Greenway Enclosed Oval, Soward Way, Tuggeranong ACT Gridiron is the peak body for the organization of American Football or “Gridiron” in the Australian Capital Territory. The League was founded in 1993, and currently continues to run a Junior and Senior competition. There are currently six clubs who make up ACT Gridiron. These clubs are the Astros Gridiron Football Club, Centurions Gridiron Club, Tuggeranong Tornadoes, University of Canberra Firebirds, the WVAFC Gladiators and the Gungahlin Wildcats Gridiron Club. Come along to watch this spectacluar game. For more details go to www.actgridiron.asn.au
Issue #4 – November 2011
These players epitomise the Special Olympics aim to encourage every athlete to achieve their personal best, no matter what their level of ability. This attitude is summed up in the athletes’ oath: ‘Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.’
that reach. Special Olympics Australia transforms the lives of children and adults with an intellectual disability through year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of team and individual sports.
The movement was pioneered by the late Mrs Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of US President John F Kennedy, whose sister Rosemary Kennedy had an intellectual disability. In 1962 she invited 75 children with an intellectual disability into her backyard offering them a chance to explore their abilities through sport. Since then Special Olympics has grown into a global movement that has been transforming the lives of people with an intellectual disability.
All people with an intellectual disability, from beginners right up to experienced athletes, are welcome to participate. It doesn’t matter whether they want to have fun in their local community or aspire to compete in international competition. Special Olympics cater for all needs and offers competition opportunities to all athletes.
Special Olympics began in Australia in 1976 and currently offers 14 sports across more than 250 local sports clubs, and are working hard to extend
Through their quality sports program, athletes train and compete with people of similar ability and are supported by accredited coaches familiar with their needs.
Gridiron ACT Women’s Team A call to all girls! Gridiron isn’t just for the boys and Gridiron ACT is looking to start up a brand new women’s league in the ACT. Gridiron ACT want us to establish four teams before August next year. Once they have four established teams Gridiron ACT can register as a league! If you are interested in having fun, getting fit and making great friends, why not join up and be a part of the newest league in the ACT! Contact womensgridironact@gmail.com or via facebook on http://www.facebook.com/WomensGridiron?sk=wall for more information and to register your interest!
Tell us about your upcoming event via editor@playcanberra.com.au Please email us up to 2 weeks prior to your event.
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WOMEN IN
SPOANRIETGILMORE STEPH Pro Surfer D.O.B.: January 29, 1988 Born: Murwillumbah, NSW Australia Resides: Tweed Heads, NSW Australia Stephanie Gilmore has absolutely dominated the ASP Women’s World Tour since her inception in 2007, clinching four consecutive ASP World Titles in four attempts with 17 event victories in addition to three Vans Triple Crown titles. Having already matched Floridian icon Lisa Anderson with her list of ASP World Titles and currently sitting three behind seven-time World Champ Layne Beachley at only 22 years of age, Gilmore is well on her way to establishing herself as the most dominant female surfer of all time. Effortless style combined with a ferociously competitive nature and world-class skill have seen the Gold Coast beauty receive international acclaim and her ability to control events in all conditions could see her as the leader of the women’s surfing world for some time. With a flawless record under her belt entering 2011, Gilmore will return as the one to beat on the Top 17. She was touted as a surfing prodigy very early in her career, but it’s her dominance since 2007 that has confirmed Steph is going to be one of the all-time greats. Steph’s first memories of surfing were learning to stand on a bodyboard at age 10, which quickly turned into an enfactuation for the freedom of the ocean. Keeping a watchful eye on father Jeff and the other surfers around her in the water, Steph developed her skills rapidly in the warm water waves of southern Queensland. Competing for waves along the male-dominated Gold Coast beaches helped shape a strong competitive edge in Steph’s focus from an early age. She’s always smiling and deserves the “Happy” tag, but good luck trying to out-smart or out-muscle her in a contest heat. With heroes like Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson giving her a first-hand lesson every time she surfed Snapper Rocks or Duranbah, Steph was always at an advantage in the water. She tried to emulate their style and flow, while keeping her own feminine touch with technique. In 2005, at age 17, Steph finally had the chance to show the world how good she could surf. After winning the Trials of the Roxy Gold Coast Pro – the first event of the year – and earning a Wildcard entry into the main event, Steph charged into the final and eventually won the event – making her the 2nd youngest woman to win an ASP World Tour event in over 30 years of pro surfing. In 2006, Steph charged through the World Qualifying Series to easily qualifying for the 2007 World Tour.
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She was also given a Wildcard entry into the Beachley Classic World Tour event which she went on to win – making her the only surfer ever to win two top tier events as a non-ASP World Tour surfer.
Sally Pearson, who won the hurdles at the world athletics championships in South Korea in September, and US Open tennis champion Samantha Stosur were among those beaten to the award by Gilmore.
However after a incredible start to her surfing career, tradgedy struck in December 2010 when Steph was viciously assulted with an iron bar outside her home. She says she has mentally recovered from the violent attack that left her with a broken arm and unable to surf.
The 23-year-old from Tweed Heads in northern NSW had a slow start to the world surfing circuit following an attack late last year outside her Gold Coast unit, which resulted in a broken wrist.
After the assault, Gilmore was forced out of the water for almost two months and experienced her worst season on tour, leaving the world title to be battled out between good friend Sally Fitzgibbons and eventual champion Hawaiian Carissa Moore.
The awards were judged on performances over the past two years.
With the women’s season over and two months to focus on herself, Gilmore said she will have some new tricks up her sleeve come the Roxy Pro in February. Recently Stephanie won the inaugural Women’s Health sportswoman of the year award.
After winning the past four world titles, she finished third in this year’s race.
Women’s Health magazine editor Felicity Harley said Gilmore embodied the spirit of the “I Support Women In Sport Awards” in its entirety. “Steph’s dedication and commitment to sport - and her amazing achievements in the surfing world coupled with her positive attitude validates why she won the title of sportswoman of the year,” Harley said.
Voted on by more than 40,000 members of the public, Gilmore pipped a star field, with the award presented at a gala event at the MCG. Issue #4 – November 2011
SOFTBALL
Clare Warwick, Brit Tully, Bridget Corver, Caitlin Bunker, Coach Richard McCreedy, Dr Chris Bourke MLA, Kath Tye, Emily Campbell, Clare Currie and Kate Judd
ACT DIAMONDS LAUNCH THE 2011/12 CAMPAIGN The ACT Diamonds were presented with their playing tops by Dr Chris Bourke MLA at the Hawker International Softball Centre on Wednesday 26 October. The Diamonds headed to Melbourne on November 3 to commence their assault on the 2011-2012 Gillies Shield (Women’s Softball National League). The Diamonds led by 2008 Australian Olympic Assistant Coach Richard McCreedy ably supported by dual Olympic medalists Sally McCreedy
(1996 Bronze, 2000 Bronze) and Kelly Hardie (2000 Bronze, 2008 Bronze). McCreedy will be looking to improve on the Diamonds fourth placing in last year’s National League. Equipped with a team that consists of 14 players with National team experience, McCreedy is quietly confident that the Diamonds can improve. “Last year the girls showed that they can beat each and every team in the League, with a little more consistency and with the addition of Kate Judd, Ashleigh Eldridge, Natasha
Bradley-Cross and Emily Campbell who is making her debut, the Diamonds will be a much stronger side this year.” McCreedy said. The Diamonds have also been boosted by the return of Aimee Murch, Clare Warwick and Brenda DeBlaes who have recently returned from Italy where they have been playing in the semi professional League.
Too often women’s teams don’t get the funding they so desperately need, whether it be from the government or private companies, to continue playing the sports they love. The Royals recently hosted a sausage sizzle and a garage sale at their home ground, Phillip Oval, to raise money so they can top off their winning season with an end of season trip.
The Canberra Royals Women’s team is looking for shirt and short sponsorship for their 2012 season. Issue #4 – November 2011
If you want to back a winner the Royals are a great team. They are the reigning premiers downing Uni-Norths in the
The League has a break in December while the Australian Under 19 side contests the World Junior Championships in South Africa. Three ACT players, Kath Tye, Ella Ross and Bridget Corver will travel to South Africa as part of the Aussie Pride team.
The second leg of the series will be played at Downey Park in Brisbane from
Grand Final and are a group of dedicated hard working girls who truly love their club.
CANBERRA ROYALS WOMEN WANT SPONSORSHIP
25-27 November, followed by Canberra 3-7 January with the finals in Sydney 16-18 February.
They also are raising money to pay for their registration fees which are going up next season along with the ongoing costs of keeping their beloved team going. Club Lime kindly supported the girls fundraiser by donating a $50 dollar day spa voucher and a 3 month platinum membership to their great gyms.
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After speaking with the girls you get a real sense of what the girls are about. They are a very tight knit group who love playing rugby. They all really enjoy hosting fundraisers whether it be a sausage sizzle or selling chocolates through out the season. These girls work hard on and off the field and it would be a real shame if they were unable to continue due to funding. The girls will be hosting trivia nights in the future at the Southern Cross Club in Woden to continue to raise money. Keep an eye out in PLAY in our ‘upcoming events’ section for details. Make sure you go down and join us in a fun filled night and support women in sport. The girls also expressed their keen interest in joining up with ACT Gridiron in the off season. ACT Gridiron is starting a women’s Gridiron team here in Canberra. They are after girls to fill four teams to create a new women’s Gridiron league. So if you are up for the challenge and want to help start a new team please contact us here at PLAY or contact ACT Gridiron via womensgridironact@gmail.com. A website will be launched soon.
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CYCLING
GARMIN SIGN NATHAN HAAS. considered as part of such an incredible outfit is humbling in itself, and I look forward to the next two years working under some of cycling’ greats with a huge sense of enthusiasm and optimism,” said Haas. “Simply put, to leave my development in GarminCervélo’s hands, I could not be happier.”
American based pro team GarminCervelo have signed Canberra rider Nathan Haas to their 2012 roster following his recent wins in the Japan Cup and the Jayco Herald Sun Tour. In a media release Garmin-Cervélo said: Garmin-Cervélo bolsters 2012 roster with Nathan Haas. Team Garmin-Cervélo today announced it has added Nathan Haas, recent winner of the Japan Cup and the Jayco Herald Sun Tour (where he came away with four jerseys – Yellow, Green, White and Blue), to its 2012 roster. Team Garmin-
Cervélo, dedicated to ethical sport, continues its tradition of developing the next generation of cycling champions with the addition of 22-year-old Haas, and this marks the young rider’s entry into the World Tour ranks. Haas will meet his teammates at their first 2012 training camp in Boulder in November, where he will attend the team’s official presentation to fans at the Boulder Theater on 17 November, www.slipstreamsports.com/gala. “For me, signing with Garmin-Cervélo is a dream come true. To even be
A student at Sydney University studying Socio-Legal studies with a dream of turning pro, Haas rode only part-time for a Tasmanian team prior to joining Garmin-Cervélo, and has been pulling great results for the past few years. The young Australian was second in the 2010 Australian U23 Road Race National Championships and captured fourth in the time trial in the same year. Haas and his coach, Andrew Christie-Johnson, chose Garmin-Cervélo because they firmly believe in the team’s philosophy. “Garmin-Cervélo is a perfect team for Nathan,” said Christie-Johnson. “They develop riders extremely well and I am sure that under the guidance of Jonathan Vaughters and Allan Pieper we will see Nathan flourish over the next few years. It is a perfect match.”
At such a young age, he is already one of those unique riders who figures out a way to win, no matter what style or level of race he is competing in. We think this is just the beginning for him, and we’re excited to see how he continues to develop as a rider.” Vaughters also credits newly-appointed Director of Competition, Allan Peiper, with bringing Haas to the team. “Signing Haas is really a credit to Allan, he’s been a great addition in our rider recruitment process.” Peiper added: “I have been following Nathan for the last couple of months and have been in contact with his coach, Andrew Christie-Johnston. At 22 years old, Nathan won the Sun Tour against seasoned European pros and backed it up with a win in the Japan Cup. Needless to say we are thrilled he’s made the choice to begin his World Tour career with Garmin-Cervélo and we look forward to helping him continue to develop his great talent.” Congratulations and best of luck!!
Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports and Director Sportif, team Garmin-Cervélo said: “Nathan has exceptional talent.
AUSTRALIA WIN SPRINT GOLD AT CYCLING WORLD CUP (20-22 January) with the fourth and final round being staged at the London Olympic Games velodrome from 17 to 19 February.
effort was made to help the athletes limit fatigue in their journey to the Kazakhstan capital Astana for the November 4-6 event.
Australia collected two silver medals in men’s events.
“It is clearly the longest trip we’ve ever had to do to ensure we got athletes and equipment into Astana,” Tabotta said from Adelaide on Thursday.
In the three-lap men’s team sprint the Jayco-AIS trio of Shane Perkins, Scott Sunderland and Matthew Glaetzer set an Australian record time of 43.589 in qualifying.
Australian duo Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch at the start of the team. Image: Vincent Jannink - AFP
Three-time world champion duo Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch have won gold in the team sprint event at the first round of the track cycling World Cup series in Astana, Kazakhstan.
world title in Copenhagen.
The pair posted a time of 32.938 seconds for the two lap event and were the only team to ride under 33 seconds.
“We were so close to a world record, it’s really exciting at this point in the season.”
Their time was a mere 0.015 off the world record they rode to win the 2010
The World Cup series includes rounds in Colombia (1-3 December) and China
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“This is the first World Cup of the season and this has come out of the really hard pre-season race training we’ve done,” Meares said.
In the gold medal ride they crossed the line in a time of 43.661 to finish behind Germany’s Team Erdgas.2012 (Robert Forstemann, Max Levy and Joachim Eilers) who won the race in 43.474. Untested quartet Glenn O’Shea, Mitchell Mulhern, Edward Bissaker and Alex Edmondson claimed a silver medal in the team pursuit with a time of 4:01.417. The good results came despite the team having to endure an epic 40 hour trip from Adelaide to Astana. Cycling Australia’s national performance director Kevin Tabotta says every
“It’s something we really had to prepare for mentally in terms of briefing so they knew what they were in for on the trip. “We also ensured we made it as comfortable as we could at various airports and equipment check-ins. “We did a few extras through lounges and hotels to ensure the athletes are getting in as rested as they can, even though it’s up to around 40 hours of movement between here (Adelaide) and Astana. “They arrived with only one personal bag missing which is pretty good compared to a couple of other countries, even on the same flight, were missing up to six bikes. - AAP Issue #4 – November 2011
who finished fifth in Tabor. Nys and Stybar share second place in the standings at 15 points from Pauwels. The race in the Women’s category was wide open, five women dominated the opening half of the race and in the final laps the group was reduced to three leaders, Dutch riders Daphny van den Brand (AA Drink/Leontien.nl Cyling Team) and Sanne van Paassen (Brainwash Wielerploeg) and Katerina Nash. In the last lap Nash climbed better than her Dutch rivals and she stormed to her second ever win in a round of the World Cup. Van Paassen slowed in the final metres and Van den Brand captured second place at 6s from Nash. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (France) was best of the rest at 42s. Nash is the new leader
2011-2012 PATRICK UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CUP Belgian Niels Albert (R) competes in the World Cup cyclocross. Image: Anp Roy Lazet
Belgian rider Kevin Pauwels (SunwebRevor) and Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) won the second round of the 2011-2012 Patrick UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Tabor, Czech Republic. In the Men’s event, the fast course in Tabor saw a large group of thirteen riders complete the first laps in the lead together. An acceleration from home rider and World Champion Zdenek Stybar (Quickstep Cycling Team) was enough to get Stybar into the front together with Pauwels and his team-
in the World Cup with a lead of 15 points on Van Paassen.
mate Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor). The latter dropped back and performed stoppage work for Pauwels in the chase group. A little later Stybar was delayed by a flat tyre, opening an opportunity for Pauwels who proved to be much faster than his other rivals, building up a lead of nearly one minute. In the final laps Stybar and Vantorn out-distanced the other chasers and eventually Stybar pleased the home crowd by winning the sprint, at 32s from winner Pauwels. The latter takes over the lead in the World Cup from Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet)
Lars van der Haar (Netherlands) excelled during the first round in the Men Under 23 category. Elia Silvestri (Italy) managed to stay with the Dutch rider but halfway into the race Van der Haar powered away. Mike Teunissen (Netherlands) was best of the rest and flanked his compatriot on the podium in Tabor. In the Junior Men’s category Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) easily held off his older opponents in Tabor. Quentin Jauregui (France) was best of the rest at 20s, just ahead of Daan Hoeyberghs (Belgium). - UCI Communication Services
What is Cyclo-cross? Races typically take place in the autumn and winter (the international or “World Cup” season is September–January), and consists of many laps of a short (2.5–3.5 km or 1.5–2 mile) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike whilst navigating the obstruction and remount. Races for senior categories are generally between 30 minutes and an hour long, with the distance varying depending on the ground conditions. There are many stories about the origins of cyclo-cross. One is that European road racers in the early 1900s would race each other to the next town over from them and that they were allowed to cut through farmer’s fields, over fences or take any other shortcuts in order to make it to the next town first.
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TENNIS
DJOKOVIC’S DREAM SEASON COULD BE OVER ◊ BY SCOTT WILLIAMS
Novak Djokovic’s dream season could be at risk of ending on a low note after he revealed injury played a big part in his fourth loss of the year. The world No.1 went down 2-6 7-6 (74) 6-0 to Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoors. Djokovic said he had been playing all week with a sore shoulder similar to the injury which forced him to quit the Cincinnati final in August against Andy Murray before the US Open. “I could barely serve for much of the match, I was in pain,” said the Serb, who has won ten titles in 2011 but only returned this week after six weeks out with a back injury. “My shoulder is very bad, we won’t even talk about the third set. Novak Djokovic gets a medical treatment during his semifinal match against Japan’s Kei Nishikori at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament. Image: Georgios Kefalas
“I have a lot of pain in my body from the competition this week. I hope I can be ready for Paris.”
SURFING
HONEST SLATER EXPOSES WORLD TITLE BLUNDER Kelly Slater celebrating his 11th ASP world title after defeating Daniel Ross of Australia during their round three heat at the Rip Curl Pro Search event at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Image: Kirstin Scholtz - AFP
◊ ANGELA HABASHY
A triumphant Kelly Slater stood in front of thousands of cheering fans, holding aloft his trophy and being sprayed with champagne. He’d just been crowned world champion for a history-making 11th time - or so he thought. In what will go down as one of sport’s biggest blunders, Slater was prematurely awarded the world title due to an error in the rankings calculation.
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And had it not been for the surfer himself uncovering the mistake, no one might have known. The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) had calculated the 39-year-old’s third round victory over Australia’s Daniel Ross at the penultimate world tour event, the Rip Curl Search in San Francisco, was enough to clinch the title and give him an unassailable lead over Australian world No.2 Owen Wright. The day following the mass celebrations
That Masters event starts on Monday 7 November, with Djokovic now in serious doubt of fronting up. He said he is likely to travel to the city and hope for the best. “I don’t think I’ll be able to train for the next few days.” Djokovic said that his gruelling firstround win over Xavier Malisse on Tuesday could have set the tone for the rest of the week. “It was a shock to the body,” he said of the opening struggle. “Competition is different to practise. “I may have forced things too much I was feeling afraid of the shoulder and what might happen to it.” Nishikori, ranked 32nd and a semi-finalist last month at the Shanghai Masters, will play fourtime champion Roger Federer or Stanislas Wawrinka for his second career title. Djokovic received treatment twice during the match on his shoulder
Slater was reading online news of his victory when he came across a reader comment suggesting there had been a mistake and Wright was still in the running. “Can you read this comment from Mark? The calculator at @aspworldtour must be broken. I’m not the world champ yet!,” Slater wrote on website Twitter. The ASP looked into the matter and it turned out Mark was right. Twitter was abuzz with fans trying to get confirmation of the news so Slater made sure there was no confusion, tweeting: “I’m not joking. I have not won the world title yet. I still have to win another heat! “@aspworldtour isn’t gonna be happy with me or this but realized last night and confirmed just now with them. Only honest thing to do. “We all make errors. Maybe I made one going public but on the bright side it will create bigger interest,” Slater tweeted. The ASP on Friday offered an explanation and an apology for the embarrassing error. “Our rankings system is designed to split tie-breaks based off seed points,” said Renato Hickel, ASP World Tour manager. “Kelly and Owen tied at best nine of 11 results, so we went to best eight of 11 results and the system gave it to Kelly based off his higher seed position. We
and was barely present in the third set, which Nishikori swept through. Nishikori, 21, has exploded into form in the past few months in Asia and Europe. The Djokovic match was his third semi-final in four tournaments and he now has beaten four top 10 players in his career. Nishikori won the 71-minute marathon second set with seven unforced errors while Djokovic’s errors mounted to a massive 18 in the set. It was all Nishikori in the third. “I played well from the second set,” said the Japanese winner. “I got my rhythm and hit some unbelievable shots. “After Shanghai (where he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) I’ve felt different with my game. I’m playing differently, more solid from the baseline and not making any stupid errors.” - AAP
were operating under that assumption and created the ASP world title scenarios based off that. This was a mistake. “In the end, we’re responsible for this and should be held accountable. We apologise to our fans, the surfers and to Owen and Kelly.” The contest at Ocean Beach was called off for a second successive day on Friday 4th November due to conditions, but when it resumes Slater needs only to win one more heat at either the current event or the following one, Pipeline in Hawaii, to officially clinch the world title. Failing this Wright will remain in the hunt, but must win both events. It may seem inevitable Slater will be crowed world champion yet again, but his agent Terry Hardy said there was no way he would not have come clean. “Kelly immediately began contacting people about this thing,” Hardy said on Friday. “He wasn’t going to be able to live with himself if he won the title unfairly. He’s going, `We got to call the ASP and let them know’. “At first, they weren’t ready to believe Kelly, they were certain they had it right. But eventually they realised they’d made the biggest mistake of their lives.” - AAP
Issue #4 – November 2011
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ONE GAME AT A TIME
Issue #4 – November 2011
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33
PGA
KAYMER STORMS TO HSBC CHAMPIONS
Martin Kaymer of Germany poses with the trophy after winning the WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International course in Shanghai. Image: Philippe Lopez - AFP
Germany’s Martin Kaymer carded a sensational seven birdies on the back nine on Sunday 6 November to take the HSBC Champions title in Shanghai by three strokes over in-form Swede Fredrik Jacobson. The world number six Kaymer finished 20-under overall and pockets
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$1.2-million thanks to his remarkable final round of nine-under-par 63, capping off his day with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th to seal the crown. Jacobson had commanded the summit of the leaderboard since round two but the 54th ranked player fired three bogeys as Kaymer went three strokes clear with clinical green finishes -- including a blistering 30-footer on the 16th. Kaymer, who had nine birdies in all on the day, finished Asia’s $7-million flagship tournament on 268 at the Sheshan International course having been a daunting five shots behind Jacobson going into the decisive day. “It was an ok year, now it is a good one,” said the understated 26-year-old German. “I think that the winning putt was on the 17th today. I made a great birdie and I think that put me in a position where I felt that if I birdied again on the 18th, it’s all done, and even par would be enough,” said Kaymer, who executed his plan clinically by birdying the last two holes. Kaymer began the year with his triumph at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship but then saw his form dip until Sunday, when his game came together in spectacular fashion to
snatch the win from Jacobson. The Swede, who finished third at last week’s $6.1-million CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia after leading at one stage, was not too downbeat about falling away once more at the last. “I was happy with the chances I gave myself,” he said. “I wish I could have made a couple of more putts along the way to really get a little bit of a cushion and put a little bit more pressure on Martin coming down the stretch. But it is what it is. I gave it my everything.” Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell redeemed himself in part after his recent nightmare weekend at the Andalucia Masters. He carded five birdies in his five-under 67 to finish in third. “Four very solid rounds of golf and much more the kind of golf I expect from myself,” he said. “It’s great to bounce back from probably one of the worst weekends of my career. I’ve been very happy with the way I’ve played. I putted horrifically last week and putted much, much more solid.” England’s injury-recovering Paul Casey
finished tied fourth alongside South African Charl Schwartzel, the Masters winner, and world number three and US Open champion Rory McIlroy. Northern Irish star McIlroy, who was shadowed inside the ropes by tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki throughout the tournament, saw his front nine rally to gain the lead peter out with two bogeys. “Not really what I was looking for today but finished off quite well,” said McIlroy, winner of last week’s cash-rich Shanghai Masters in a play-off. “I would have had to do something very special to keep up with Martin today. A little disappointed but looking forward to my two weeks off.” He later said on Twitter: “4th wasn’t what I was looking for but still a solid week overall. On the upside I will move to No2 in the world rankings tomorrow!” England’s Lee Westwood, the current number two, endured a miserable day at the office with bogeys galore and a spell looking for a wayward ball in a fir tree to finish tied 13th. Australian Adam Scott, whose caddy Steve Williams is at the centre of a race storm after comments about Tiger Woods, saw his challenge slip badly, carding four bogeys. - AFP
Issue #4 – November 2011
LPGA
PERFORMANCE INTO PERSPECTIVE
TSENG GIFTS CASH FOR TAIWAN’S NEXT GENERATION
make you think of open fields and rainbows when you hit it out of bounds – it will forever be frustrating. So for you to enjoy this great game for better or worse, as those seemingly rare players are able to, you must make a conscious choice to take a deep breath and accept your skill errors for exactly what they are – errors in skill.
PGA Pro Daniel Dosen Daniel Dosen is an AAA PGA Teaching Professional at Mollymook Golf Club in Ulladulla New South Wales. For lesson bookings please phone (02) 4455 2055 or email ddosen@pgamember.org.au After a bad score, how often do you arrive home and decide to leave your dirty clubs and shoes in the car boot to teach them a lesson? Golf is very rewarding when you play well, but how bad is it when things start getting ugly? Your handicap blows out and you start despising the new handicapping system that, according to you, was very fair only a month ago. Four hours treading water in a Monthly Medal has proven to cause incredibly explosive language, club repair bills and the dismantling of once huge egos. It is brilliant entertainment when we can watch it happening to a playing partner we loathe, but how painfully embarrassing is it when it is you asking to borrow a ball scoop? Golfers, in general, are very good at tiptoeing around reality. I recently had one of my students request to meet me for a lesson at a nearby driving range for fear of being seen and ruining their reputation of never having lessons. There is no magical quote, mantra or sports psychologist that will suddenly Issue #4 – November 2011
Hitting a poor shot is rarely a reflection of your concentration, intelligence or sporting ability. If you want to make less skill errors, then you need to practice your skills more, and practice them correctly. It doesn’t matter how much practice you intend on doing, how many golf books you read or if you are wearing your lucky socks – unless your muscles are consistently trained to automatically know what to do, you will make mistakes. The less you practice, the more mistakes you will make and the bigger they will be. Try listening to the answers social golfers give to a simple question often asked of them: How did you go today? You will hear condensed life stories, hole-by-hole recollections, what they should have had, criticism of the course, annoying playing partners and a bad back. The next time someone asks you how you went, try revealing your score without having to justify it. Just as your swing technique needs constant attention, so too does your mental approach towards actively enjoying golf. My tip is to play a social nine holes with friends this summer without calling yourself an idiot or throwing the helicopter towards the next tee. My bet is that you will not last more than three holes at first attempt. But be patient with yourself and maybe, just maybe, one day you might develop a productive and realistic attitude towards golf that others envy. You may even find you can actually enjoy your less-thanperfect golf, or find the motivation to do something about it.
World number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan, watches her tee shot. Image: Mark Ralston - AFP
World number one Yani Tseng celebrated an emphatic win on home soil by handing over US$100,000 - a third of her prize money - to help develop a new generation of Taiwanese golfers. Tseng, whose victory in the US LPGA’s inaugural Sunrise Taiwan Championship was splashed across front pages in Taipei, said she hoped to boost the sport in her homeland, which traditionally prefers baseball and basketball. “It is a long road to develop and groom a golfer. Young golfers need as much support as possible to help them compete with the best from the rest of the world,” the 22-year-old said . “I hope I can set an example so more people will follow suit to help chip in and contribute to this cause in an attempt to bring out more young talents.” Tseng, who has now won seven times on this year’s tour, will donate the money through the Golf Association Republic of China, a programme that helps train and develop young golfing talent in Taiwan.
“Golf is not as popular as baseball, or basketball here but now it seems like we’re growing it a lot and I’m really happy to see this. I wish in the future there will be more people and more people playing,” she told reporters. Tseng shot a final-round six-under-par 66 Sunday to finish at 16-under and record a five-stroke victory over Spain’s Azahara Munoz and Amy Yang of South Korea at Sunrise Golf and Country Club in Yangmei. Tseng was playing Sunday in front of a crowd of flag-waving fans, including her own grandmother, in a sign that golf is gradually gaining recognition, largely because of her achievements. “I played very, very good. Even today I was bogey-free... it’s incredible. I wish this year would never end. I wish I could win more tournaments,” said Tseng, who was awarded a winner’s cheque of US$300,000. - AFP
LPGA season-ender moves courses for 2012 The LPGA’s season-ending Titleholders event, which makes its debut next month, will move to the TwinEagles course in Naples, Florida, for 2012, LPGA commissioner Michael Whan said.
The area already hosts a spot on the 50-and-over Champions Tour and the Franklin Templeton Shootout, a December event hosted by Australian golf legend Greg Norman.
The tournament, to be staged this year at Grand Cypress in Orlando, has three qualifiers from each event all season meet in a $1.5 million showdown for a $500,000 top prize at the Eagle course originally designed by Gary Player.
“We are confident that the Naples community will embrace this unique event,” Whan said.
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The inaugural Titleholders will be staged November 17-20 after the LPGA completes an Asian swing and a stop in Mexico. -AFP CANBERRA.COM.AU
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FORMULA 1 INDIAN F1 HOPES TO BREAK EVEN IN 4 YEARS
Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo powers his Formula One car down a road at the India Gate monument at Rajpath in New Delhi. Image: Manan Vatsyayana - AFP
◊ BY TALEK HARRIS
Indian Grand Prix organisers said they hoped to break even within four years and were talking to MotoGP and other race series to try to make up for their limited profits from Formula One. The private Jaypee infrastructure group revealed the plans as other grand prix organisers struggle, including South Korea which is trying to renegotiate its Formula One contract just a year after its debut. Jaypee spent $US200 million ($A190 million) building Buddh International Circuit and another $200 million on their Formula One licence fee, spokesman Askari Zaidi said. He said the Formula One profits were confined largely to ticket sales as revenues from sponsorship and broadcast rights were controlled by the sport. But the company will also profit from building and selling houses and commercial space on a large new development around the track, known as Jaypee Greens Sports City. “In Formula One, there’s not much scope to make money barring the sale of 36
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tickets but there are other races which we’re planning to hold, like MotoGP, and some other race organisations have contacted us,” Zaidi said. “So whatever we spend, we hope to recover in four years.”
a cheaper contract, saying there were “lots of things in life you can’t afford, and you don’t have to have them”. But Vicky Chandhok, president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India, said Jaypee would not have the same problem.
Zaidi said Jaypee’s agreement with the government was to fill 35 per cent of the “The organisers and promoters have taken it as an investment. They’re using 1000-hectare site near New Delhi with it as their ground to globalise their sports facilities including a 100,000seat cricket stadium, “The rest we can develop and image,” Chandhok a golf course and a sell as commercial space or said. shooting range. houses. That’s how we intend “They’re a very
“The rest we can to recover the money,” he said. large infrastructure develop and sell as company, they build commercial space or houses. That’s how apartments, they build hydropower, they we intend to recover the money,” he said. build golf courses. Several grand prix organisers have wrestled with the dilemma of Formula One, which is known to boost prestige but at a high cost. China and Australia are among those who have baulked at the outlay while Singapore is yet to sign a new contract, and France and Turkey have both dropped off the Formula One calendar.
“They will now, on the back of this, be able to sell their apartments and golf club memberships better. They’re using it as a marketing tool. So the event loss is of no consequence. “It’s a very good business model. They’re not looking at the event to make money, because everyone knows no Formula One event makes money.”
Chandhok, who was a key figure behind the project, said other grands prix had run into trouble because they were publicly funded. “Those are government-run. The ups and downs of the governments and the changes of political scene will not affect us. This is private,” Chandhok said. “There, it’s the South Korean government - they feel they can’t afford it any more. So this is the advantage of having a private company running it. We will not suffer the consequences or vagaries of political will.” Organisers were forced to slash ticket prices to attract visitors to the purposebuilt circuit, which is about 40 kilometres from New Delhi. The 120,000-capacity venue was less than half full for Qualifiers and 95,000 fans - 79 per cent of the maximum attended on race day. Zaidi said Jaypee would open talks with MotoGP, which has 18 stops on its 2012 calendar, and was “quite hopeful that this thing will come through”. - AAP
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone flatly rejected South Korea’s request for Issue #4 – November 2011
V8 SUPERCARS
WHINCUP THE BIG WINNER AT GOLD COAST V8S “It was always going to be a hard battle but we weren’t going to let it go, this win’s important.” While that pair were battling at the front of the pack, it was the middle of the field where controversy reigned as a system designed to prevent drivers from cutting corners was turned off and several cars then took liberties on the two chicanes at the course. It left Lowndes’ British co-driver Andy Priaulx fuming as he tried to avoid a penalty while those around him skirted with the rules. TeamVodafone principal Roland Dane blasted the scenario, saying it had been embarrassing for the championship. “I thought it was a shame really that what started off as a very good motor race where everyone knew the racetrack they were driving on suddenly without our knowledge got changed into another race-track,” Dane said.
Jamie Whincup (right) and Sebastien Bourdais of France pictured at the Armor All Gold Coast 600, Image: Edge Photographics, Mark Horsburgh - AAP
◊ BY ED JACKSON
Ford’s Mark Winterbottom won V8 Supercar race at the Gold Coast but it was Holden’s Jamie Whincup who could have sealed his third driver’s championship with a brilliant weekend’s racing. Whincup, dominant race winner with French co-driver Sebastien Bourdais, finished second behind Winterbottom in the 300km event on the streets of Surfers Paradise. And while Winterbottom was delighted to pick up his first win of the season, Whincup was just as jubilant as he
finished the weekend 143 points ahead of team-mate Craig Lowndes in the championship standings with six races remaining. Lowndes, who failed to finish the race, had another day to forget as he limped home in 20th position to end a weekend which may have cost him his chance at a fourth title. “It’s unbelievable how things can turn around in just a couple of weeks,” Whincup said. “I was fairly down in the dumps after Bathurst. This weekend was about coming here and having fun on the
streets of the Gold Coast.
“To be honest I’m ashamed of the way we handled it as a sport.”
“We had a great weekend.” Winterbottom denied it becoming a perfect weekend when he passed Whincup for the lead on the 94th of 102 laps and went on to claim what he hoped was a turning point in his Ford Performance Racing outfit’s performance.
Despite his team-mate’s struggles however, Whincup was refusing to discount the 37-year-old from bouncing back at the next round in Tasmania from November 11-13.
“That’s how I have to race the rest of the year,” Winterbottom said. “It’s about trying to win races and they’re (Whincup) at the front of the championship but he always races hard.
“It’s not a commanding lead, without doubt,” Whincup said. “We’ve still got three rounds to go and we’re going to have to keep our head down because you know what Lowndesy’s like, he fights back hard.” - AAP
KELLY HAPPY ADELAIDE BACK AS V8 OPENER ◊ BY ED JACKSON
Holden driver Rick Kelly says V8 Supercars have made the right call by reinstating the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide as their season opener from next year. For the past two years, the V8 Supercar season has opened in the Middle East at the lavish Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. But in 2012, the street race in Adelaide will once more be the opening round of the championship, a position it held before the decision to launch in Abu Dhabi. And Kelly, a winner at Adelaide in 2007, says the move is a win for both the teams and fans. “I’m excited to have Clipsal back on the calendar as the opening event,” Kelly said at the launch of next year’s event in Adelaide on Friday. Ladies Day at the Clipsal 500 round one of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series in Adelaide, T. Image: Mark Horsburgh- AAP
Issue #4 – November 2011
“It’s always interesting to head to the first event and see where everyone’s placed and see how they perform at their first race. “That being in Australia is a great opportunity for the local crowd to get to Adelaide and check it out. “It’s the biggest solo (driver) race that we do. “A Clipsal win is probably second to only Bathurst, to be honest. I don’t know of any other event throughout the calendar apart from Bathurst that I would want to win more than the Clipsal 500.” Next year’s event will be held from March 1-4 with the Abu Dhabi round moved back to November when it will be a support category for the Formula One grand prix at Yas Marina. - AAP
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37
MOTO
GP
Yamaha Factory Racing’s US Ben Spies (L) and Repsol Honda Team’s Australian Casey Stoner (R) cross the finish line of the MotoGP race during Valencia’s Grand Prix. Image: Javier Soriano - AFP
STONER EDGES SPIES IN THRILLING SEASON FINALE Australian world champion Casey Stoner won the last race of the season the Valencia MotoGp here on Sunday 6 November edging Ben Spies on the line. Stoner - winning his 10th race of the season - had led for most of the 30-lap race before Spies took the lead with three laps remaining. However, Stoner showed his battling qualities and regained the lead on the line to deny the American his second win of the campaign in the first race since the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli in Malaysia a fortnight ago. “We made a huge charge at the end,” said Spies, who won at Assen earlier in the season. “But once we got ahead the track was really slick and we took it more carefully so as to avoid making mistakes. “Casey took a couple of risks towards the end and they paid off.” Italian Andrea Dovizioso took third spot and ensured he finished third in the overall standings on his farewell from
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the Honda team. “I could have taken some risks towards the end of the race, but third in the championships was too important for me,” said Dovizioso, who joins Yamaha next season. “I am really pleased to have finished third in the championship and it was thanks to my strategy here that we beat Dani (Pedrosa) because without one we could not have beaten him.” Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo of Spain, the 2010 champion who missed the race as he recovers from finger surgery afer crashing in the Australian GP warm-up at Phillip Island, finished second overall. The whole complexion of the race was turned on its head right at the start with four riders going out. Valentino Rossi - who was wearing a special helmet in tribute to Simoncelli his Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden and Randy de Puniet went out after Alvaro Bautista clipped the back of Dovizioso’s Honda.
Bautista then slid along the track and took the other three riders out.
trio shadowed each other throughout proceedings.
“Bautista told me that Dovizioso came over on him and he couldn’t do anything about it,” said Hayden.
Spies, who has had a mixed season with several non-finishes, split the Honda team-mates up with seven laps to go to give Dovizioso some breathing space and then ate huge chunks out of Stoner’s lead as the rain came pouring down.
“It is a sad way to end the season as we all really wanted to race and we thought we could put up a good fight today. “I am pretty frustrated at same time, big let down for not just me but everyone. “It’s been a tough season and it ended sourly.” Bautista for his part confirmed that Dovizioso had given him no room to manouevre. “It was a shame that happened but I had no option, no space to adjust my position. Thankfully nobody was harmed,” he said. Dovizioso had to keep Pedrosa in his sights as they battled for the thirdplaced overall finish.
Incredibly, Stoner went wide on a corner with three laps to go and that allowed Spies to ease through on the inside but the Australian refused to let the rain ruin his day and he produced the stunning finish to give himself the perfect finish to the season. Behind the leaders veteran Italian Loris Capirossi rode a steady race in what was his final appearance on the circuit as the three-time world champion - twice in the 125cc category in 1990/91 and the 250cc in 1998 - cantered along to finish in mid-division.” - AAP
The Honda duo and Spies enagaged in a terrific battle for the podium placings, as Stoner established a clear lead, and the
Issue #4 – November 2011
FIGHTING
INSPIRED PACQUIAO READY FOR MARQUEZ
Manny Pacquiao works out at a media day training session at Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood. Image: Robyn Beck - AFP
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has never looked so motivated to trainer Freddie Roach as he has in training to fight Juan Manuel Marquez next week and silence the Mexican fighter’s taunts. Pacquiao defends his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Marquez on November 12 at Las Vegas, the third fight in a trilogy that began with a 2004 draw and continued when “PacMan” won a 2008 split decision. With one point on one judge’s scorecard all that has separated the fighters through 24 rounds, Marquez
has long argued he beat Pacquiao twice, even wearing a shirt that said, “I beat Pacquiao twice” to a pre-fight appearance in Manila. “He’s claiming he was robbed in the last two fights. This third fight will be the answer to all of that,” Pacquiao said. “I’m not saying I’m going to knock him out but I have trained very hard for this fight. Whatever comes will come now. I have put in the hard work. I’m ready for this fight.” A photograph of Marquez adorns a wall behind the punching bag at the
Los Angeles-area gymnasium where Pacquiao works out, a constant reminder and motivating force for the Philippines Congressman. “I’ve never seen him as motivated as I have for this fight,” Roach said. “Marquez went to the Philippines and embarrassed him, said a few things. That has pushed him to work harder in training camp. “Manny Pacquiao is on fire right now. He’s training very well. He has a little spark.” Pacquiao, 53-3 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, has won 14 successive fights and seven in a row since his narrow decision over Marquez, the closest fight of his current run that has seen victories over Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley. And the southpaw star expects this fight with Marquez to be more intense than the previous thrillers. “I believe this fight will be a much more exciting fight,” Pacquiao said. “His style and mine are very similar. There is going to be a lot of boxing in the ring. I use my power better. He is improving. So it’s going to be better.” “I never underestimate Marquez. I train hard for this fight. I feel strong. In the last four years I’ve changed a lot.”
Marquez, 53-5 with one drawn and 39 knockouts, is 5-1 since losing to Pacquiao, the only loss coming by unanimous decision to unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather in 2009 in Marquez’s only prior welterweight outing before Pacquiao. “He looks like he’s working hard. He’s bigger and stronger,” Roach said. “He has changed his style a little bit. He needs to because we’re working hard to beat him. Manny is ready. If he wants to come at him, we’ll be ready.” Pacquiao has juggled his lawmaker responsibilities with singing, boxing and promotional appearances, but swears he has not been distracted from his goal of proving once and for all he is superior to Marquez. “It’s a good example to boxers. I can balance it,” Pacquiao said. “I feel I can focus and concentrate hard for this fight. I have to sit outside all of the distractions.” Roach has seen “Pac-Man” flip the switch when he straps on his gloves. “Once he comes in the gym door, it’s nothing but work, work, work,” Roach said. “If he wants to go sing after that, I have no problem with that at all. That’s Manny Pacquiao.” - AFP
EX-BOXING CHAMP FRAZIER HAS LIVER CANCER ◊ BY JUSTIN CHADWICK
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier has liver cancer and is under hospice care. The 67-year-old was diagnosed four or five weeks ago, Frazier’s personal and business manager Leslie Wolff said. Doctors have not yet told Frazier how long he has to live. “We have medical experts looking into all the options that are out there,” Wolff said. “There are very few. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop looking.” Wolff, who has been Frazier’s manager for seven years, said the boxer had been in and out of the hospital since early October and receiving hospice treatment for the last week. Former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier is introduced to the crowd at a New York Knicks NBA. Frazier is seriously ill with liver cancer. Image: Bill Kostroun - AAP
Issue #4 – November 2011
“We appreciate every prayer we can get,” Wolff said.
“I’ve got everybody praying for him. We”ll just keep our fingers crossed and hope for a miracle.” Frazier was the first man to beat Muhammad Ali, knocking him down and taking a decision in the so-called Fight of the Century in 1971. He would go on to lose two more fights to Ali, including the epic `Thrilla in Manila’. Frazier was bitter for many years about the way Ali treated him then. More recently, he said he had forgiven Ali for repeatedly taunting him. Smokin’ Joe was a small yet ferocious fighter who smothered his opponents with punches, including a devastating left hook he used to end many of his fights early. It was the left hook that dropped Ali in the 15th round of their `Fight of the Century’ at Madison Square Garden in 1971 to seal a win in a bout where each fighter earned an unheard of
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$US2.5 million ($A2.41 million). While that fight is celebrated in boxing lore, Ali and Frazier put on an even better show in their third fight, held in a sweltering arena in Manila as part of Ali’s world tour of fights in 1975. Nearly blinded by Ali’s punches, Frazier still wanted to go out for the 15th round of the fight but was held back by trainer Eddie Futch in a bout Ali would later say was the closest thing to death he could imagine. Frazier won the heavyweight title in 1970 by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round of their fight at Madison Square Garden. He defended it successfully four times before George Foreman knocked him down six times in the first two rounds to take the title from him in 1973. Frazier would never be heavyweight champion again.- AAP
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ICE HOCKEY
OVECHKIN SAYS HE’S OK WITH LATE-GAME BENCHING Russian playmaker Alex Ovechkin was upset at being benched at a key stage of a tight game but the Washington Capitals superstar said he understands why it happened and why it might happen again. Ovechkin, the Capitals’ captain, was kept on the bench by coach Bruce Boudreau in the closing seconds of regulation time on 1 November when Washington scored on Anaheim to force over-time in what became a 5-4 Capitals’ victory.
But Ovechkin, a two-time National Hockey League Most Valuable Player, was captured on video yelling at Boudreau on the bench as his teammates tied the score and forced overtime.
Boudreau said he felt he had a better chance of equalizing by playing Swedish standout Nicklas Backstrom and thirdliners Brooks Laich, Jason Chimera and Joel Ward, who had been involved in earlier scoring plays.
“I was (ticked) off,” Ovechkin said. “Of course I want to be in that situation on the ice. It doesn’t matter who I said it (at) and what I said.
“Ninety-nine percent of the time, Alex is the first guy I’m looking at, but these guys were going pretty good,” Boudreau said.
“It’s just a little bit frustrating, because I’m a leader on the team and I want to take on that kind of responsibility.”
The controversy made it clear that Boudreau will bench whoever he must to spark the Captials after two consecutive years of disappointing early ousters from the NHL play-offs.
Not since childhood had Ovechkin been forced to watch from the bench with the game on the line in the closing moments. “When I was a little kid, so I’m right now back to young age again. So thanks, Bruce,” Ovechkin said. For his part, Boudreau said he could not hear what Ovechkin might have said to him, but he was glad that the playmaker wanted to be on the ice so badly. “All our players are competitive,” Boudreau said. “I don’t want them to be complacent.”
“It’s the theme for the whole year,” Boudreau said. “I hope the message has gotten clear from July till now. I’m hoping we don’t change that message. I think that’s the only way that we’re going to be successful.” Ovechkin, who has five goals in 10 games, does not disagree, saying it is important the Capitals work together. “Yeah, it’s one team,” Ovechkin said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are or who you are. If we want to win, we have to be on the same page.” - AFP
Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin and Germany’s Nicolai Goc vie during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship semi-final. Image: Joe Klamar -AFP
OUTRAGE, APOLOGY FOLLOWS NHL BANANA TOSS National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman said that the tossing of a banana at a black player during a preseason exhibition game in Canada was “stupid and ignorant”. The incident came during a gameending shootout at London, Ontario, when Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds, who is black, was skating toward Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jordan Pearce. Simmonds, who had scored in the final minute of regulation time to level the game at 3-3, scored in the shootout as well but the Red Wings won the shootout to take the game 4-3. “We have millions of great fans who show tremendous respect for our players and for the game,” Bettman said. “The obviously stupid and ignorant action by one individual is in no way representative of our fans or the people of London, Ontario.” After the match, Simmonds, a Canadian, said he was stunned to see the banana sail over the protective glass and onto the ice with only himself and the opposing goalie on the ice. 40
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“It shocked me and I knew I had to keep going and get a shot off,” Simmonds said. “It was certainly unusual.
banana thrown at him in Montreal during the 2002 playoffs while playing for the Carolina Hurricanes.
“I don’t know if it had anything to do with the fact I’m black. I certainly hope not. When you’re black, you kind of expect (racist) things. You learn to deal with it.”
“I’m not surprised,” Weekes said. “We have some people that still have their heads in the sand and some people that don’t necessarily want to evolve and aren’t necessarily all that comfortable with the fact that the game is evolving.”
Joe Fontana, the mayor of London, apologized to Simmonds and the Flyers on behalf of the Canadian city. “It was a stupid and mindless act by a single individual,” Fontana said. “However, it reflects badly on our entire community. London is a diverse and welcoming city and we like it that way.” There were 7,427 spectators at the 9,100seat home rink of a Canadian juniorleague team. The facility is operated by a subsidiary of the Flyers owners, Comcast-Spectacor, whose president, Peter Luukko, was outraged as well. “We certainly don’t condone such a foolish act,” Luukko said. “A player could potentially be seriously injured.” Former NHL goaltender Kevin Weekes, a Canadian television hockey commentator who is black, had a
There are traditions of tossing items onto the ice in the NHL. Detroit fans are known for hurling octopi on the ice during big games. One fan tossed a crab on the ice in a pre-season NHL game this week at Baltimore. Florida Panthers fans hurled plastic rats on the ice in celebration years ago. Some fans toss caps on the ice when a player scores his third goal to complete a ‘hat trick.’ Football (soccer) has suffered notable banana-tossing incidents earlier this year. Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos having had a fan offer him a banana at one match and having had another banana tossed at him in Russian matches for Anzhi Makhachkala.
Philadelphia Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds vie for puck control H. Rumph Jr - AP
Brazilian teen star Neymar had a banana thrown at him during his team’s 2-0 friendly victory over Scotland in London last March. Neymar said this past Monday he would stay with Santos of Brazil, snubbing interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. - AFP
Issue #4 – November 2011
“I’m a special teams warrior. I’m trying to make plays and help the team on special teams as much as I can, and I’m really having fun with it,” Herzlich said. “It’s something that’s challenging every snap. Every snap is challenging. You have to run down full-speed and make a play. I’m always looking to get more opportunities on defense and make plays when I get the chance.’’
UERS LINEBACKER CONQ E DREAM CANCER TO REALIZ Mark Herzlich of the New York Giants, wouldn’t let cancer prevent him from playing football. He also wouldn’t let the titanium rod in his left leg prevent him from making it in the NFL. But he’s still not satisfied. He wants more. And given how much he’s had to overcome already, it’s hard not to have faith that he’ll be playing with the defense full-time before too long. “I definitely think I can achieve my goals. I think I’ve shown that in practices,
I don’t think you should ever feel satisfied. If you’re satisfied with where you’re at, you’re not reaching to be better. That’s something that’s come into my brain and been in my body ever since I was young. I’m not satisfied where I am. I would like to be better.’’ But for now, he’s going to work hard at being the best special teams player on coach Tom Coughlin’s roster. That’s where he’s at in terms of his football career.
The best news for Herzlich, who has overcome Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that sidelined him the entire 2009 season for Boston College, is that he feels as good now as he ever did pre-cancer. Herzlich’s stock dropped because of poor 40-yard dash times at the NFL combine, and he went undrafted. It’s taken some time for him to regain maneuverability and flexibility. “I’m feeling that quick explosion back. The speed’s coming back,’’ Herzlich said. ‘’I don’t feel inhibited at all when I’m on the field.” Herzlich’s inspirational story was the subject of a piece that aired on “60 Minutes” . Of course, everywhere he goes, he talks about his survival and his choices along the way.
choice to have a titanium rod inserted into his femur instead of a cadaver bone, because it was the only way to give himself a chance to play football again. Herzlich doesn’t view being an inspiration as a burden, and he never tires of being the bearer of hope. “It’s not a burden in terms of being a physical or mental burden,’’ he said. “It’s time-consuming sometimes, which is not a problem. It’s just tough to balance everything, because you want to help everybody. There’s lots of people reaching out. You feel like, ‘Gosh, I’d love to sit down with this person and talk to them and help them.’ But you can’t do that with everyone. That’s when you start to feel bad. That’s when you have to realize, you can only do so much. You try to do as much as you can.’’ Herzlich also has gotten to know more about Belichick through Larry Izzo, who is the assistant special teams coach with the Giants. Izzo, of course, is considered by Belichick one of the best special teams players ever.
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“Coach Izzo is the best. He is awesome,’’ Herzlich said. “He knows all the tricks. He’s exciting. He’s fun. He’s really helped me a lot with different techniques.’’ - AFP
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As one of Saucony’s headliners for its “Find Your Strong” campaign, Herzlich relived his cancer battle, including the
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Issue #4 – November 2011
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AERON HOCKEY MANTEENA MAPLE LEAFS CROWNED 1ST HERMAN MILLER PAN ASIAN AERON HOCKEY CHAMPIONS Representing Australia, the Manteena Maple Leafs are the 2011 1st Herman Miller Pan Asia Aeron Hockey champions after defeating a determined and skilful India team, 2-0, in the final played at the Hong Kong Design Institute. The team from Canberra led by Peter Jamieson included Kevin Tanchevski, Malik Helweh, Luka Manenica and Danny Agnello. The Maple Leafs won through to the tournament final in Hong Kong by first claiming the Australian Herman Miller Aeron Hockey title held last month at Designcraft in Hume. Winning two lead-up games on track to the final, the Maple Leafs defeated Japan 4-0 and overcame Indonesia 1-0 in a hard fought semi-final encounter. Peter Jamieson slotted home the only goal of the game with just seconds remaining on the clock. In comparison 80 matches were held across India to bring their winning team to Hong Kong; who then defeated New Zealand, Singapore and local home town favourite Hong Kong in the other semi-final. The final played in oppressive 36 degree heat, 90% humidity and under massive spot lights reflecting off the polished concrete surface the conditions perhaps better suited India. The Manteena boys, keen to drum up support, handed out hundreds of inflatable clangers to the fans before the game. The conditions therefore nullified as the Maple Leafs enjoyed the majority support from the 1000+ crowd on hand to watch the final at the HK Design Institute. “After India knocked out Hong Kong, we really got a sense that everyone was behind us,” Mal Helweh explains. “I remember when we went out for the final; the noise was really loud and we knew we had the full support of the crowd. “Hong Kong was definitely cheering for us”. In a tense and tightly contested match befitting of a final, The Maple Leafs came out firing in the first half with Peter Jamieson finding the back of the
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net for an early 1-nil lead. After the break Mal Helweh put one through the India keeper to seal the 2-nil victory. Incredibly the Maples Leafs did not let in a single goal during the Hong Kong tournament. Team captain, Peter Jamieson, said the tournament in Hong Kong was beyond anyone’s expectations. “To represent Australia at an International event was an incredible experience,” Peter said. “The tournament itself was very professionally run and each game was played in friendly spirit. “The boys were up for the challenge and it was good to come away with the title.” Highlighting Herman Miller and the Aeron chair’s popularity in Hong Kong was the live broadcast on a local sports channel. Danny Agnello was tasked with the post-game interview, having earlier learnt how to say ‘I love Hong Kong’ in Cantonese. The team made the very most of the victory by parading the winner’s trophy for the remainder of the trip. Still dressed in yellow ‘Team Australia’ tracksuits and aboard a boat to Macau, the team was swamped by locals wanting to pose for photos with the team and the cup.
WHAT IS AERON HOCKEY? Herman Miller’s Aeron Office Hockey is 5-a-side game played sitting on the iconic Aeron chair using indoor hockey sticks and a soft ice hockey puck with “stress ball” like qualities. The smooth court enables the players to easily glide around the playing arena, whilst a 40cm high perimeter barrier does its best to keep errant pucks from flying into the crowd. The Aeron chair was introduced by Herman Miller in 1994 and transformed the world of office seating. Crowned Design of the Decade by the Industrial Designer’s Society of America it is the most famous task chair in the world and the only one to have its own sport dedicated to it.
“We played up to it a bit at first, I think they thought we were rock stars or something,” Kevin Tanchevski said. “By the end of the trip we had four boat security officers standing next to us to keep the people back,” Luka Manenica added. The team, who work for Manteena at the University of Canberra, are keeping a lid on things but already starting to plan for a title defence and look forward to news of the next tournament. “We have a few moves up our sleeve for next year so we’ll see how things go,” Peter said. Special thanks to Herman Miller and Desgincraft.
Issue #4 – November 2011
Issue #4 – November 2011
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FITNESS WITH BRANI ZEC
10 T-PUSHUP Grab a pair of dumbbells and assume a pushup position, your arms straight. Bend your elbows and lower your body until your chest nearly touches the floor.
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Brani will take you through a great muscle building and toning workout so you can be fighting fit for summer.
KEY: Weight, reps and sets 8 reps = 1 set Try to do 3 sets per exercise Your weights should suit your fitness level. DO NOT start too heavy! Special Thanks to Anytime Fitness in Dickson for hosting our workout!
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DUMBBELL PUSH PRESS Stand holding a pair of dumbbells just outside your shoulders, with your arms bent. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Drop into a squat and then explosively push up with your legs as you press the weights straight over your shoulders.
Improve your conditioning and give all your muscles a full on workout with current State Kick Boxing Champion (East Coast) Brani Zec. Brani has been involved in Martial Arts for 25 years and has learned a thing or two about getting fighting fit.
As you push yourself back up, lift your left hand and rotate the left side of your body as you raise the dumbbell straight up over your shoulder until your body forms a T. Reverse the move and repeat, this time
Lower the dumbbells back to the starting position. That’s 1 rep.
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DUMBBELL ROW Grab a pair of dumbbells, bend at your hips (don’t round your lower back), and lower your torso until it’s nearly parallel to the floor. Let the dumbbells hang at arm’s length. Without moving your torso, row the weights upward by raising your upper arms, bending your elbows, and squeezing your shoulder blades together. Pause, lower the dumbbells. That’s 1 rep.
Issue #4 – November 2011
SPORTS CROSSWORD 1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
Across
Down
3 __ Higgins, winner of the snooker World Championship in 1972 and 1982, who died in 2010 (4)
1
5 Adelaide AFL player? (4) 7
9
5 American tennis great Jimmy ___ (7)
9 Australian cricketer who died tragically, ___ Hookes (5)
6 Batsmen who face the new ball (7) 12 Concerning a moral viewpoint (7)
10 Bet with level odds (4,5) 11
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13
14
15
17
13 What the ‘A’ stands for in AB de Villiers (7)
11 Baton races (6) 14 Lowest, most vile (6) 19 Medal awarded to the MOTM in the NRL Grand Final (9)
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20 Surname of the supposed inventor of rugby (5)
19 20
21 Sport played by Wayne Gretzky (3,6) 22 Of the nose (5)
21 22 23
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3 Sports training institute (7) 4 Number of players in a hockey team (6)
Short poem or song (5)
8 Aussie tennis great and now MP, John ___ (9)
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Soccer ball’s inner inflatable (7)
2 Win, triumph (7)
15 Cricketer Mark ___, named MCC Head Coach in February 2009 (7) 16 Nationality of F1 racing driver Jenson Button (7) 17 Weed found at the end of Partick and Inverness Caledonian soccer clubs (7) 18 Nickname of retired cricket umpire Harold Dennis Bird, MBE (6)
23 A major golfing or tennis tournament (4) 24 Brazilian soccer great (4)
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Results in next weeks edition
NUTRITION AND HEALTH
◊ WWW.NUTRITIONAUSTRALIA.ORG
With so many margarines in supermarkets it’s becoming harder to identify which products are right for you and your health. Nutrition Australia has created this fact sheet to help take the confusion out of shopping for margarines.
Margarine vs Butter People become confused when faced with the choice of whether to purchase butter or margarine. Butter is high in saturated fats and when consumed in excess amounts it can increase LDL (BAD) cholesterol levels, thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Margarines are made up of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats which help to increase HDL (GOOD) cholesterol and potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Plant Sterols
MARGARINE VS BUTTER Issue #4 – November 2011
Plant sterols have been shown to lower cholesterol by 10%, through a mechanism in which they block the bodies’ ability to absorb cholesterol. In order to maximise the benefit obtained from plant sterols, 2-3g should be consumed daily.
This corresponds to 1-1.5 tablespoons of plant based sterol margarine. Consuming more than this amount will confer no additional benefit with regard to an effect on lowering cholesterol. So too, if less than this amount is consumed, no benefit will result. For best results, plants sterols should be consumed in conjunction with a healthy diet that is balanced with physical activity.
What to look for Choose margarines that are low in saturated fats and high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
What to avoid Avoid trans fats – always look for margarines with the lowest levels of trans fats. Trans fats are ‘bad fats’ that raise LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. They can be created during the manufacturing of some table margarines. Check the labels of all margarines you buy, to make sure they contain less than 1% trans fat.
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Issue #4 – November 2011