ONE GAME AT A TIME
CANBERRA’S ONLY SPORTS MAGAZINE
THE CAPS ARE BACK
CARRIE GRAF TALKS TO PLAY ABOUT SEASON 2011/12
CRICKET
BASKETBALL
ACT CRICKET SEASON PREVIEWS
NBA LOCKOUT
CYCLING
GOLF
MOTOR SPORT
ACT ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP
TIGER WOODS AVOIDES HOT DOG
BATHURST 1000
FOOTBALL
FITNESS
WOMEN IN SPORT
A-LEAGUE SEASON KICKS OFF
GET FIGHTING FIT FOR SUMMER
TORAH BRIGHT
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Issue #2 – October 2011
CONTENTS FEATURE
22
CARRIE GRAF ON SEASON 2011/12
06
12
32
02 Cricket
28 Women in Sport
04 Outlook
29 Hockey
06 Basketball
30 One Hit Wonder
08 Baseball
32 Cycling
10 NETBALL
35 Tennis
11 Top 5
35 Surfing
12 Rugby League
36 Golf
13 Aussie Rules
38 Motor Sport
14 Rugby Union
41 Fighting
16 One Minute With
42 NFL
16 On The List
43 National Hockey League
17 Your Shout
44 Fitness
18 Football
45 Weird Sport and Nutrition and Health
ACT Cricket season previews
Torah Bright
With Chris Cairns
Oceania Cup
WNBL | NBL | NBA
Snowboarding and Skiing to the extreme
Game One World Series
Road Racing
Holden Series | Canberra Darters
Murray defeats Nadal
Goal kicking routines
Kerr eliminated
NRL | Local: Under 12 Champions
PGA | LPGA
AFL | Local: Anderson a dual All-Star
Formula 1 | V8 Supercars | Moto GP
World Cup | Local: John I Dent Cup season review Andrew Kirkpatrick - Softball pitcher
Ukraine on top of the world Raiders owner Al Davis dies
Victor Purcell-Starr
Get fit for summer
Letters to the editor A-League | W-League | Host a future Socceroo
Jai Alai
26 Social Pics and Events WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORT
ONE GAME AT A TIME
www.playcanberra.com.au Issue #2 – October 2011
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1
ACT CLUB
W IE V E R P N O S A E S T E CRICK QUEANBEYAN DISTRICT CRICKET CLUB
The Queanbeyan District Cricket Club intends to continue to build the success that it has achieved over the past 2 seasons by again winning the First Grade competition but by also having a big say in the lower grades as well as the Club Championship. The QDCC dominated the First grade competition last year winning the one and two day competitions as well as having Mark Higgs voted as the Cricket ACT’s best player. It was a long time coming but Queanbeyan Bluebags all-rounder Mark Higgs took home his first DB Robin Medal as ACT Cricketer of the Year at the Cricket ACT Awards Night. Higgs’ distinguished first-class record has seen the 34-year-old represent the ACT, NSW and South Australia, but this accolade marks the first time he’s been recognised as the best player in the ACT competition. The depth and development of talent on display at the QDCC is witnessed by the fact that the club have appointed 19 year old Aaron Ayre to be the first Grade Captain for the 11/12 season. Ayre was rewarded for an outstanding year in 10/11 where he was
NORTH CANBERRA GUNGAHLIN CRICKET CLUB NCGCC is a community focused cricket club who provide an environment where cricketers of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels can enjoy their cricket and develop their skills. We participate in CricketACT Mens, Womens and Juniors competitions as well as in the Canberra City & Suburban Cricket Association competition. We have approximately 200 senior members and supporters in addition to over 27 junior
TUGGERANONG VALLEY CRICKET CLUB Season 2011/12 is the start of a new era at the Tuggeranong Valley Cricket Club. With long time coach John Logus moving overseas and 1st grade captain Sean Osborne retiring, there is a real change at 2
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first grade’s top run scorer, having compiled 1003 runs at an average of 50.15 with a top score of 154. He also equalled the first grade keeping record with 35 dismissals (28 catches, 6 stumpings and a run out). In another coup that will have the other ACT teams concerned is the news that Mark Higgs will return to play again for the Blue bags as will last year recruits Blake Dean and Sam Taylor. Last year’s captain and brilliant opening batsman Jono Dean will return to play after the broken foot he suffered at the end of the 10/11 season but his role will be that of a player and mentor to the new captain. The squad is also strengthened by recent ACT debutante Dean Solway and fellow youngsters Michael Spaseski and Vele Dukoski. And the club hopes that fast bowler Dean Southwell runs around again. The club will again be fielding two women’s teams this season. Our first grade side has made the last 3 Grand Finals but have been pipped at the post on each occasion so are looking to claim that elusive flag this season with Charlotte Anneveld again at the helm. While our exciting crop of juniors will be looking to build on the progress of last season and threaten for the flag in the Glenda Hall competition. Last season 5th grade broke through to win their first premiership in 10 years and did it in style going through the competition
undefeated. With the input of quality players into the club this year, the team will be the team to beat and are looking good to go back to back premierships. In other exciting news for the club, SportsLink International has agreed to become a Major Sponsor of the QDCC for the next three years. Established in 1998, SportsLink International has been a leading sports management company providing tours to major international sporting events, sports clinics for developing athletes, plus sports management services and support to events throughout Australia. Today, they provide a range of unique trips to a number of major international events, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games, World Cups, Cricket, Horse Racing and Golf events, plus “playing tours” and specific tours for school and sporting groups. They are now the largest independent supporters group to the Olympics from Australia, providing tours for supporters for sports including hockey, rowing, swimming, water polo, basketball, canoeing, athletics and many more. They are currently planning their London Olympic Tour for next year, the Golf & Horse Racing to Hong Kong in December, plus the 2013 trip to the UK and Europe for the Ashes Test Cricket series against England, plus the British Open Golf and Tour de France Cycling.
Managing Director Paul Kelly is a lifelong cricket fan, having played at junior and senior level and regularly attends international matches. Highlights include being at Steve Waugh’s last game at the SCG in 2004, and sitting next to the Members Stand in 2009 and seeing Graeme Smith come out to bat with a broken finger before Australia wins with just 10 balls to spare. So if you are interested in any tours, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Kelly (pk@ sportslinkinternational.com) or visit the website www.sportslinkinternational.com to see if there is a tour that may be of interest. Alternatively you can email the QDCC and we will forward your details on. The QDCC also welcomes back as supporters of the club, Ian McNamee and Partners Real Estate, J & J Interiors, Pete Jenson’s Sportsbiz, Baker Deane and Nutt Solicitors, ACTEW AGL, CIC Australia, Bendigo Bank, Construction Control, Signs We Do and the Queanbeyan Kangaroo Rugby League Football Club. Training is in full swing, the sponsors are in order and the season is right around the corner. Let’s see how the SportsLink Queanbeyan Bluebags go in the 11/12 season. Anything below a couple of premierships will be deemed as a poor year!! and we can’t have that can we??
teams and more than 100 “in2cricket” participants (aged 8 years and younger). Historically we have been based in close proximity to the centre of Canberra and over the last decade have developed a strong presence in the growth suburbs of Gungahlin. Our 2011/12 season will be the first season at our new cricketing complex at Harrison. With 2 turf pitches, 7 training nets, 4 change rooms and a new Pavilion, it is an exciting time for the club. This move gives us a physical presence in Gungahlin, one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, allowing us to be embedded in the community that we respect. We have recruited well during the off season with Andy Barnett (fast bowler) returning from England for his second
season with NCGCC, along with Chris Kent (all-rounder) from Papua New Guinea, Paras Sachdeva & Matt Fennell (top order batsmen) from interstate, Matt Wheatley (batsman) & Simon Cusden (all-rounder) from West and George McCaffrey (leg-spinner) & Richard Walker (top order batsman) from the U.K. Most notably, we are pleased to have recruited former New Zealand all-rounder, Chris Cairns. Chris’ first impression of NCGCC has been excellent - with good communication, good numbers playing the game and a keen spirit all through the club being some of the reasons he decided to play for NCGCC. Chris’ cricket skills and knowledge will not only provide a boost to our Club and First Grade side, but also for CricketACT.
The feeling and commitment shown to pre season training has been outstanding. We have had large numbers turn out and the entire squad has worked hard both as a unit and individually. Although the first grade squad has lost a number of players, the range of new players that we have recruited will ensure NCGCC remain competitive this season. We would like to thank our major sponsor, The Tradies for their ongoing support. We look forward to this relationship continuing and strengthening into the future. With the season almost upon us, we are excited about the 2011/12 competition. With depth and strength across all grades, we are looking forward to a successful season for NCGCC. For more details, please visit our website www.ncgcc.org.au.
the club. Former player Vinesh Bennett has taken over the role as club coach while all rounder Michael Wescombe will lead a very young but very talented 1st grade squad. Making the grand final in all 3 formats last season but only coming away with one trophy, the Vikings are even hungrier for more silverware this season. New recruit Kish Nadesan will lead the attack with the ball while keep an eye out for youngsters Michael Barrington, Chris Russo and Sam Thornton with the bat.
The explosive Justin Haywood will again look to tear apart bowling attacks with his clean ball striking while all rounders Steven Hammond and Shane Devoy are coming off very successful winter stints in England and Darwin respectively. Tuggeranong prides itself on strength throughout the grades and a strong women’s program and this is to continue into season 2011/12. With a good mix of experience and youth, the lower graders will again look for successful seasons.
The Tuggeranong Valley Cricket Club would like to thank the Vikings Group, the Good Guys Tuggeranong, Transact, DBC Management and Maria Slater Travel for their continued support this season.
Issue #2 – October 2011
ANU CRICKET CLUB With the ongoing support of the Greg Chappell Cricket Centre in Fyshwick and Eco Meats organic butchery at Belconnen Markets, in 2011/12 the students are looking to build on the improvements in on field performances made in 2010/11. With a stand alone Women’s Premier League team (playing under the name of “Power Education”) to be led by ACT Meteor Kris Britt, the ANU Cricket Club is aiming to take last year’s Glenda Hall Shield success
EASTLAKE CRICKET CLUB The 2011 off season has seen many changes at the Eastlake Cricket Club – all for the good. Following 1st grades improvement in 2010/11 season, the club is eyeing success and will challenge for premierships across all grades. It’s been a busy off season. To start with the club invested $50,000 into a redeveloped training facility at Kingston Oval. This facility is now arguably the best training resource available to any club in the competition and will greatly help our 80 senior and some 400 odd junior members The off season also saw closer links established with the Eastlake junior club and President Bruce Adams.
WESTERN DISTRICT CRICKET CLUB INC IN AFFILIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA CRICKET CLUB The 2011-2012 season sees the return of the exciting young Irish international and Middlesex cricketer Stuart Poynter to WDUCCC for a second summer of cricket in Canberra. Having recently represented Ireland against Canada and Namibia, Stuart will certainly be keeping the batsmen on their toes in the ACTCA competition this season. The club also welcomes several new players, in particular those from the University of Canberra and ADFA. Sam Carters also comes to WDUCCC from Radford College.
Issue #2 – October 2011
to the next level and add the Lynne O’Meara Cup to the trophy cabinet. The team will include Meteor’s representatives Asha Smith, Zoe Cooke and Sarah Hungerford and the home grown talents of Fiona White, Kerry McLaughlan and others and is expected to be a force in the Premier League Competition. The club is hoping that representative honours will be forthcoming for several players at both ACT and national levels. At the same time, the Glenda Hall Shield team will be looking to repeat last year’s achievements and go back to back to cement their place as the ANU Cricket Club’s flagship team. As far as the men are concerned, an 8 week Bruce and the junior club have been very generous with their support and the seniors look forward to sharing the wonderful new training facility at Kingston Oval with the juniors. Bruce has also been instrumental in working with us in to bring first class cricketer Kunnal Lall from India. Kunnal has played first class cricket with Delhi and will bring a solid middle order bat and opening bowler to the Eastlake senior ranks. First grade is looking strong with the addition of batters Braden Dinham from the Gold Coast and Matt Gawthorpe from Newcastle whilst the bowling will be boosted by the return of former Australian Academy holder Mick Shaw from Brisbane. In total, Eastlake will field five senior men’s teams and two female teams in 2011/12 with run making machine Adam Tett leading the club for his second season and Gary Goodman on hand as senior coach.
Sam is the brother of former WDUCCC player, and current Victorian squad member, Ryan. A wicket keeper/batsmen, Sam displays many of the same mannerisms as Ryan. These new inclusions will hopefully fill the void left in recent years by the departure of Ryan and Nathan Lyon (to SACA Redbacks). This winter has seen Nathan make his debut for the Australian Test side, on their recent tour of Sri Lanka. WDUCCC members have enjoyed following Nathan’s progress and are proud of his achievements. His mercurial rise through the CA ranks has been inspirational for, not only the club, but for aspiring ACT juniors. ACT Comets fast bowler Ben Oakley also retains the captaincy of the First Grade side for this season. Matt McGann takes on the role of coaching coordinator and like his Dad, former West’s coach great Allan MacGann is inspirational to the players and passionate about the game.
pre-season, including a comprehensive fitness program developed and implemented by local trainer Dylan Hunt, is expected to pay dividends with improved performances in the higher grades, and an expectation that the club will take another step (or two) towards higher grade success. Led by club captain Mark Bennett, the club is putting forward its youngest squad in a long time, with very few players over 25 expected to fill the top 2 grades. An even spread of batting talent throughout the top 6 or 7 will be led by Zimbabwean international player Friday Kasteni and the up and coming ACT representative player Akshay Nichkawde. Nathan Docker is also due to return from England in late September with over 1000 runs in his
suitcase and a hunger for more, while keeper-batsman Chris McClelland is an exciting prospect coming into his first full year in the top grade. The bowling will be led by work horses Nick Prell and Vikas Godara, supported by a couple of interstate imports and includes plenty of spin options available in the way of Bennett, Nichkawde and Docker. Retirement isn’t expected to slow down club veteran Randall Starr, who could not help himself at the recent Greg Chappell Cricket Centre VIP shopping night, buying new trousers and boots, for what can only be assumed to be a return to grade cricket some time sooner rather than later.
Off the field Eastlake has worked hard on a range of new developments. The club recently launched its new website - eastlakecc.com.au and has been lucky enough to have a great new clothing range developed in conjunction with CCC Canterbury. Importantly, the club has done a lot of work over the off season in attracting support from businesses around Canberra. We have been pleased to announce Universal McCann as the front of shirt sponsor for the club in 2011/12. UM as they are known as are Australia’s leading advertising agency and work closely with Government and private businesses in Canberra and around Australia The club continues its relationship with the Eastlake Club and its support of Eastlake Cricket for some ten years now has been a mutually beneficial partnership. Eastlake Cricket has also secured support from Community CPS, Artespresso, Fletcher Insulation, Ora Hair, FRM Consulting,
Capricorn Investment Partners and PRD Nationwide Real Estate as supporters for the upcoming season. Eastlake Cricket is also in the process of putting together a proposal, working with a range of stakeholders, on the redevelopment of Kingston Oval. This historic oval is the club’s home, home of cricket and Australian Football in this area and the club will be working hard with all those involved including local government The Oval has been part of the South Canberra community for some 90 years. It is a historic oval, one that needs to be preserved and one that needs to celebrate the important role cricket and AFL have played in the life of this city since its early days. The club will lobby hard to ensure this development occurs. Eastlake is once again on the rise and the 2011/12 season promises great things for this foundation club.
During the winter months WDUCCC has been working hard to find a new major sponsor. At the time of writing is happy to announce one has been found and in the final stages of signing a contract. WDUCCC thanks its minor sponsors L.J. Hooker (Belconnen), Cosgrove Soutter Chartered Accountants, the Belconnen Soccer Club, Canberra Painting Service, ACTPRO Building Services, Colquhoun Murphy Solicitors and The Wood Duck Inn for their continued and new found support. WDUCCC maintains three grounds, Jamison Oval, Kaleen enclosed oval and Aranda oval. Jamison Oval at Macquarie remains to be the Club’s number one ground and training continues to be held at Aranda Oval. Pre-season training commenced for a few committed WDUCCC members in August, many working hard and looking to put pressure on those in the grades above them. Officially, training started in earnest at the
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Kaleen Indoor Sports Centre at the beginning of September. WDUCCC also utilised the facilities at Radford College for some preseason sessions. WDUCCC appreciate the assistance and use of facilities at Radford College. WDUCCC will maintain sides in the five ACTCA grades and also in the Women’s competition. WDUCCC women have been continually improving over the last few years, and the core players in the women’s side are valuable members of the WDUCCC. Men’s training is on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons starting at 5pm at Aranda Oval. The women’s team has commenced its training program also at Aranda oval on Wednesdays, and both sections of the club are looking forward to improved weather conditions for training and the upcoming season.
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ACT CLUB
W IE V E R P N O S A E S T E CRICK WESTON CREEK CRICKET CLUB
Weston Creek approaches the 2011-12 season with confidence and optimism, and with a clear strategy to achieve success through the further development of its many talented young cricketers. To fast-track the development of its
GINNINDERRA CRICKET CLUB Season 2011-12 will be an important one for Ginninderra Cricket Club. The Club has seen a major infusion of junior talent in the off-season, with many players suiting up in the grades this year 15 years and under, which promises well for the future and provides a strong sense of enthusiasm
young players, the Creek has appointed well-known Canberra cricketer, Peter Radford, who will return to Weston Creek to coordinate coaching across the Club, with a particular emphasis on developing young talent. Peter will be joined in the coaching team by club legend, Sean Maxwell, who will have a specific coaching and skills development focus on the first and second grade teams. Peter and Sean will support a wealth of young talent in the Club, including four players in the ACT U19 squad, all-rounders Tom Rogers and Ben Scott, fast bowler, Luke Behrendorff, and wicketkeeper-
batsman, Harry Bryant. In addition the Club has two highly talented emerging young spinners, Mark Akeroyd and Michael Minns, promising young quicks, Jono Louden and Kohan Carruthers-Taylor, and talented young all-rounders, Corey Ryan and Scott Murn. All these young guns will be pushing for first grade selection this year. The Creek will be anchored by regular Comets stars, Jon Nicoll (who will lead the team) and Harry Medhurst, who will be well supported by battle-hardened warriors, vice-captain Byron Field, Matt Nason, Brentyn Wilson and Adam Rhynehart. Weston Creek is also working hard, with the
support of its major sponsor, the Weston Creek Labor Club, to stage a range of social events this season for the benefit of its members and supporters. The Club is also grateful for the support of its other sponsors, the Mirvac Group, GI AllSport, Langtree Information Management, HSBC, Anchor Web Hosting and Kingsgrove Sports, as well as for the ongoing support of Cricket ACT and the ACT Government. Key people: Coaching coordinator: Peter Radford Senior Coach: Sean Maxwell First Grade Captain: Jonathon Nicoll First Grade Vice-Captain: Byron Field Gains: nil Losses: Andrew Clifford (retired)
and regeneration in the club. The Club has appointed Josh Kentwell as Captain / Coach for the next three seasons, he brings a wealth of expertise, experience and a competitive edge from his recent playing stint in Sydney 1st grade. The close-knit senior squad has been working hard during the winter months to be well prepared for the coming season. The Club is already benefitting under Josh’s leadership and looking forward to a competitive season in the top grade. Key players to watch this year include Comets squad members Lochlan Christian,
fresh from his breakthrough season last year which saw him named in the Grade Team of the Year, and Dan Upward, who has put in a strong pre-season after injury hampered him during 2010-11. Off the field, Ginninderra has announced a joint venture with the Belconnen Magpies and ACT Government to redevelop Kippax. This development will include a complete upgrade of the playing surface on the enclosed Kippax 1 including a new wicket block, construction of brand new change room facilities and clubhouse as well as a brand new net facility. By the 2012/13
season, the Club will enjoy facilities comparable to any in Canberra, providing home and visiting players, spectators and family a top-class venue to enjoy their cricket. The Club again acknowledges the excellent support of our major sponsors Belconnen Magpies Sports Club and Langtree Information Management. It is thanks to their ongoing support that the Club continues to grow in the western Belconnen region, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in future seasons.
OUTLOOK WITH CHRIS
CAIRNS
As another season of Australian cricket prepares to play out in front of us, for the fans, how vivid is last season’s thumping at the hands of the English? Three innings defeats. Not in your wildest dreams would you have contemplated it but this shaky top layer was covering a brittle and susceptible underbelly on two fronts. The quality of player and the management of cricket policy. But looking back is only done by those with very little imagination and is looking back and writing a report on what went wrong constructive? Was it essential? In some ways yes but all it did was put in writing what was being said by many past officials and players with Australian cricket at their core. There had been warning signs prior to the series that lead people to think that Australian cricket 4
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was not in a healthy state. Conducting a witch hunt that was thinly veiled as a report, exonerated some and persecuted others. Those that stay in power through these times are often the ones who appoint the people leading the review. The subsequent tour of Sri Lanka has been fruitful and an excellent result in tough conditions. The new captain has begun well. Clarke has a more intuitive feel for the game than Ponting. Ponting, whilst being Australia’s greatest batsman after Bradman, is perhaps one of its lesser tacticians. The policy of Taylor following Border and then Waugh following Taylor meant that Ponting, by default, was next man in line because he was a batter. Worked before, so the same should be expected. Right? Unfortunately Gilchrist and Warne would have been better selections but history will show it was Ponting’s watch which was the least productive patch of a golden twenty years for Australian cricket. But back to grass roots. What some people forget is that cricket, and sport in particular is cyclical. When things are going well you tend to enjoy the moment because to get to this stage takes a lot of time and energy, oh and two particular people called McGrath and Warne. Sure there were batters, great ones at
that. But bowlers win you games and in Messers Warne and McGrath, two generational bowlers resided in one era. But the problem is not the people who are playing in the Test team currently. These players are a product of the system that brought them to wear the baggy green, still one of Australia’s top, institutional sporting badges worn with honour. I have a strong suspicion that when the Australian cricket Academy was formed in the late 80’s early 90’s and the likes of Bevan, Hayden, Warne and McGrath walked through its doors, the Academy was heralded as the purveyor of a brilliant, talent production line. But was it? All these players started at club level. Club cricket needs to play its part in the fabric of our game because here the basics are taught and the whiff of talent begins to flavour the air. Strong ethics at club level start the cycle. It is here great players start to learn the game. Editors note: Chris smashed 141 of 66 balls for North Canberra Gungahlin V ANU on the weekend, including 90 of his last 27 balls. Check out PLAY’s in-depth 2011/2012 ACT Cricket Season preview, it promises to be a massive season for cricket in Canberra so get behind your local team and get out to a few games.
Issue #2 – October 2011
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WNBL
“They (Canberra) are two games behind us and I’d rather that than have two of our main rivals only one game behind,” Bulleen coach Tom Maher told AAP.
Townsville, sparked by 19 points from new import Shanavia Dowdell, beat the Spirit 74-67 at the new Townsville RSL Stadium,
Against Bulleen, Canberra shot just 30 per cent from the field and were kept to only 29 points in the second half.
Bendigo lost despite a huge a 22 point, 10 rebound, two block game from centre Gabrielle Richards.
“The improvement in the second half defensively was enormous,” Maher said.
Logan built on their finals effort of last season with a 61-56 home win over Bendigo.
Bulleen’s offence against Canberra was spearheaded by recruit Samantha Richards, who notched 19 points and six assists, upon the Opals guard’s return from a stint in Europe. The Boomers’ reigning league MVP Liz Cambage, back from her rookie season in the WNBA, fouled out after logging ten points in just under 19 minutes.
CHAMPS WIN SEASON OPENER ◊ BY ADRIAN WARREN
WNBL champion Bulleen have shown they can thrive without several of their departed stars, but long-time competition benchmark Canberra have suffered two opening round losses. Bulleen, who have lost several players to other clubs or retirement including
Jenna O’Hea, Elyse Penaluna Hanna Zavecz and Sharin Milner, started their defence with a thumping 88-68 home win over Canberra in a rematch of last season’s grand final. The Caps backed up on Sunday, losing 66-63 to Dandenong despite 18 points and 12 from Opals centre Marianna Tolo.
“Its tough when you are big, you’re a big target, she has to learn how to handle it,” Maher said. Adelaide’s big recruiting drive paid instant dividends as they scored a whopping 9770 home win over West Coast Waves, Veteran Opals centre Suzy Batkovic piled up 29 points and 15 rebounds, Amy Lewis 18 points and Abby Bishop 14 points and ten rebounds. Bendigo, who reached the finals last season, dropped both of their games in Queensland.
Cayla Francis racked up 18 points and 14 boards for Logan, who held on after being outscored 18-7 in the last quarter. Forward Amy Denson top scored with 23 in Sydney’s 79-61 home win over AIS. Opals Belinda Snell (21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) and Alicia Poto (eight points, ten assists and five steals), each made a strong return to Sydney after stints overseas. - AAP BULLEEN BOOMERS 88 (S Richards 19 A Kunek 13 R Jarry 12) bt CANBERRA CAPITALS 68 (C Wilson 16 N Hunt 12 M Dombkins 11 J Bibby 11) at The Veneto Club. DANDENONG RANGERS 66 (Kathleen MacLeod 21, Tegan Cunningham 16, Krista Phillips 9) bt CANBERRA CAPITALS 63 (Marianna Tolo 18, Carly Wilson 12, Molly Lewis 12)
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Issue #2 – October 2011
NBL: PATTY MILLS SEASON DEBUT GOES TO PLAN got a good team without an Andrew Bogut and we showed that on Friday night,” said Sydney coach Ian Robilliard. “He (Grant) lived up to all the expectations.” The next stop for Mills is Perth, the Wildcats having started their campaign with a thumping 102-69 away win over Adelaide. “Jeepers creepers, that’s a big win in Adelaide, but they’ve been together for a long time about three years that team’s core players, so it will be a good test for us,” Gleeson said. Perth coach Rob Beveridge wasn’t happy with the way his men defended Adelaide’s new import guard Chris Warren who scored 17 points and expected them to step up against Mills. “Mills will have to work for every point he gets, he’s not going to get anything easy against Damian Martin, Brad Robbins and Kevin Lisch,” Beveridge said. One big plus for Perth was the triumphant return of forward Shawn Redhage. Canberra local Patty Mills (front centre) taking advantage of the NBA lockout to play some NBL with Melbourne Tigers. Image: Julian Smith -AAP
A flu-ridden Patty Mills made an instant impression on his NBL debut but has been warned he will have to work for every point in his next match against competition favourite Perth. Mills and fellow back-court recruit Ayinde Ubaka masterminded a stirring Tigers revival, their three-point shooting helping overturn a 14-point deficit and setting up an 82-76 home win over Sydney. This new design allows sharing between team players by preventing direct contact with the mouth
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Portland Trailblazers NBA guard Mills top scored with 28 points, hitting six of 11 three-point attempts, while former Cairns star Ubaka hit four of seven long bombs in his 22-point haul. “He (Mills) was crook all week with the flu, he only trained with us on Wednesday, we didn’t even know he was going to play til the game shootaround, so it was a great performance by him,” Tigers’ coach Trevor Gleeson said. Melbourne were outscored 50-20 in the paint by Sydney, with impressive new Kings import Jerai Grant scoring 16 points, to help ease their disappointment of missing out on NBA centre Andrew Bogut. “To be honest I’m kind of glad now it’s just behind us and we can concentrate on our squad, because we know we’ve
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Playing an NBL game for the first time since injuring a hip last January on the same court, Redhage scored a match-high 26 points, hitting six of nine three-pointers. “It was emotional for me just to step into the change rooms again, it probably really brought it back to where I was the last time I was here,” Redhage said. Beveridge wasn’t getting too excited about the favourites tag most have affixed to his team “We take it as a compliment from everybody, but that means nothing at all when the lights come on and everybody wants to kick your arse,” Beveridge said. Defending champions NZ Breakers outscored Gold Coast 34-20 in the final quarter to notch an 102-87 away win over the Blaze. New Cairns import Jamar Wilson scored 23 to help the Taipans to an 81-76 home win over Townsville in the first Reptile Rumble of the new season. - AAP
EDITOR’S NOTE Both Patty Mills and Perth coach Rob Beveridge are Canberra natives. They come head to head on 14th October at Challenge Stadium in Perth.
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NBA LOCKOUT: OWNERS, PLAYERS TO MEET FOR LAST-GASP TALKS
BREWERS OVERPOWER CARDS IN GAME ONE
Kobe Bryant (C) dunks the ball as he plays with college students during a friendly game in Manila. The forced break has had the positive effect of allowing players to travel the world promoting the game and even playing in their homelands - issuance cover permitting. Image: Jay Directo - AFP
Officials of the NBA and the players union will meet this week in an unexpected last-ditch bid to solve their contract battle and save the scheduled start of the regular season, the New York Times reported. In an article posted on its website, the newspaper cited “a person briefed on the meeting” in reporting that the league will be represented by Commissioner David Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver, while the union will be represented by president Derek Fisher and executive director, Billy Hunter. All of the NBA’s 114 pre-season games have already been wiped out by the contract dispute, over which the league locked out players on July 1. When talks again stalled last week, Stern said that if no deal was in sight by Monday the league would have no alternative but to cancel the first two weeks of the regular season, which is slated to start on November 1. Since then, the warring sides haven’t even met as the NBA reportedly continued to insist it wouldn’t move beyond the 50-50 split in league revenues that Stern proposed on Tuesday. The union rejected that, saying players wouldn’t resume talks with any preconditions.
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According to the Times, it wasn’t clear if the league had moved off of its 50-50 proposal, or whether the union has softened its insistence on receiving 53 percent of league revenues in a new deal. They received 57 percent of “basketball related income” under the old deal. Team owners and players have been haggling over how to divide $3.8 billion in annual revenues and over salary cap issues. The gaps in their positions have been so wide it could jeopardize the entire 20112012 campaign. The only prior NBA season shortened due to money issues was in 1998-99 when the campaign was cut to 50 games per club because it took so long to reach a deal. Only once in American sports history has an entire season been lost to players and team owners being unable to agree upon financial terms, that being the National Hockey League’s lost 20042005 campaign. NHL owners lost the entire season but generally were able to impose conditions they wanted in the eventual contract, which expires next September. Some owners of NHL teams that suffered through that missed season are among the NBA club owners who are involved in the latest deadlock. - AFP
The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after Game 1 of baseball’s National League championship series. Image: Jeff Roberson - AP
Ryan Braun blasted a two-run home run and Prince Fielder homered in a six-run fifth inning as Milwaukee rallied to beat St. Louis 9-6 Sunday in game one of the National League Championship Series. Yuniesky Betancourt also homered in the fifth for the Brewers, who won all three games at home in their opening round playoff series against Arizona. Braun launched a towering 463-foot home run in the first inning and added a two-run double to finish with four RBIs. Fielder’s fifth-inning homer accounted for two runs, and Betancourt finished off the rally with a two-run home run of his own for the Brewers, who were facing the Cardinals in the playoffs for the first time since the 1982 World Series. “That was a nice inning there,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “It was nice Brauny, in the first inning with the two-run homer. But to score like we did there, yeah, that’s outstanding.” Milwaukee starting pitcher Zack Greinke, who was 11-0 during the regular season,
gave up six runs on eight hits over sixplus innings. David Freese blasted a three-run home run in the fourth inning for St. Louis, who are in the Major League Baseball playoff semi-finals for the 10th time in franchise history. Jonathan Lucroy hit an RBI single off pitcher Kyle McClellan in the seventh to give Milwaukee a 9-6 lead. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless eighth and John Axford threw a perfect ninth inning to help seal the Brewer’s win. The winner of the best-of-seven series will take on the American League champions in the World Series. Game two is scheduled for Monday with St. Louis’ pitcher Edwin Jackson going up against Milwaukee’s ace Shaun Marcum. “We’ll come back out,” Cardinals star Lance Berkman said. “The same thing happened to us in the first game against Philly. We were able to regroup.”- AFP
Issue #2 – October 2011
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NETBALL
HOLDEN SERIES
SILVER FERNS READY TO STEP UP AGAINST AUSTRALIA ◊ BY CATHY WALSHE
The time for experimentation and confidence-building is over, retiring Silver Ferns netball coach Ruth Aitken says. New Zealand this week downed world No.3 England by 20-plus goal margins in Auckland and Invercargill, as Aitken gave all her 12-strong squad court time in a range of combinations. New Zealand beginning in Perth on October 23.
and is demanding rapid improvement from her more experienced players.
“In the end, it will be about narrowing down to a couple of more consistent lines against Australia,” Aitken said.
They have a new coach, Lisa Alexander replacing the redoubtable Norma Plummer, and could well be without a couple of key players in Mo’onia Gerrard with a calf injury and captain Natalie von Bertouch has a foot injury.
“We all know we need to take a step up. The England series was a good platform, but it’s going to be way harder when we go across the ditch.”
The Diamonds kick off a three-Test series against England on Sunday, followed by three more matches against
Nevertheless, Aitken is adamant a series against Australia is not the place to continue blooding her young rookies,
But with a three-Test series looming against world champions Australia later this month, Aitken says there will be limited opportunity for her rookies to get a run from now on.
Evergreen shooter Irene van Dyk, who played her 200th netball international in Invercargill, has had years of experience battling the always combative Australians and reinforced Aitken’s call
for improvement. “It was nice to get the youngies out against England to gain confidence and experience, but Aussie is a totally new ball game,” she said. “But we’ll have to step up four times as much - balls we threw last night against England would never go down against Australia.” - AAP
RODRIGO NAMED IN AUSTRALIAN 21 & UNDER TEAM ◊ DAVID PACKWOOD, MEDIA MANAGER
Canberra Darters and Tuggeranong defender Keely Rodrigo has created history by becoming the second player from the Nation’s Capital to be selected in an official Australian netball team. In 1999 Nicole McMahon from the Canberra district made the 21 & Under Australian Team. Rodrigo has been named in the Australian U21 team to take on the Australian Diamonds, New Zealand Silver Ferns, South Africa and Malawi in Perth this month. Canberra Darters coach Bronwyn Bock Jonathan said the whole of the ACT netball community was extremely proud of Rodrigo’s achievements. “Keely has had an outstanding season, she was selected in the Australian U17 development squad earlier this year and now the Australian U21 team,” Bock Jonathan said.
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“She is a tremendously athletic player, great competitor who is always willing to listen and learn.” “I think there is a tremendous message to all young ACT netballers that if you are prepared to work as hard as Keely has then the pathway to achieving your dreams in the game can come true.” With the 2013 World Youth Netball Championships on the horizon, Australian coach Carol Byers has selected a 21/U team with an average age of just over 18 years old. “This series will provide a starting point in our preparation for the 2013 World Youth Netball Championships, it’s our goal to expose our athletes to international netball who are still eligible for the tournament in two years time,” Byers said. The 21/U team will compete against the world’s top two teams along with World Netball Championship quarter-finalists South Africa and Malawi in practice matches ahead of the Holden Netball
Test Series fixture at the Burswood Dome on October 23. “We’re exposing the world youth cup athletes to the different styles of play that the African teams offer,” Byers said. “It’s a great opportunity for these young athletes that haven’t had any exposure to South Africa or Malawi, let alone the chance to play against the world champion Diamonds and the Silver Ferns.” The Australia 21/U squad for the 2013 World Youth Cup will be selected next year following the 21/U National Championships. Australian 21/U Team: Kelsey Browne (VIC), Courtney Bruce (WA), Kristina Brice (NSW), Paige Hadley (NSW), Cody Lange (SA), Laura Marslen (SA), Samantha Poolman (NSW), Kimberley Ravaillion (NSW), Keely Rodrigo (ACT), Amehlia Schmidt (SA), Kate Shimmin (SA), Gabi Simpson (NSW), Amy Sommerville (NSW) Issue #2 – October 2011
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GOAL KICKING ROUTINES Here at PLAY we have found a trend in sport that is just a little strange.
Jamie Soward
Kicking routines. It seemed to start with Rugby Union star Jonny Wilkinson, holding his body as if he was about to hit a baseball before he moved in to kick. It became his trade mark and seemed to set a trend in the football codes. Here are our top 5 strange kicking routines. Do they help the kicker to strike the ball well or is it a gimmick? You decide.
Jamie Soward has the most elaborate kicking routine, pulling faces at the ball before he starts prancing around like he is in some sort of boy band dance number, marching on the spot and then finally running up and kicking the ball. View him on you tube, to really appreciate it.
Mark Riddell
Jonny Wilkinson
‘Hail Piggy’
‘Waiting to exhale’
Mark ‘Piggy’ Riddell’s kicking routine is very simple and a crowd pleaser. Piggy sets the ball up on the tee, steps back and just before he moves in to kick he raises his left hand in a nazi-style salute.
Up first, the trend setter himself. Jonny’s style is pretty simple. He places the ball on the tee, steps back and then assumes the position, standing as if he is on home plate waiting to hit a fast ball.
Quade Cooper
‘Back streets back’
The crowd will join in like a mini rally mimicking Riddell, he insists there is no link between his style of kicking and Hitler.
Corey Parker
‘Lord of the dance’ Cooper’s unusual kicking stance, involves holding his arms at half-mast as if at the beginning of a disco routine or at the beginning of a pirouette.
‘Pracing Horse’ Blink and you will miss it.
At times Cooper even wiggles his fingers as if he is casting a spell.
Corey Parker of the Broncos has a simple kicking style. He sets the ball on the tee, steps back, composes himself and then moves in to kick the ball. Normal right? Not really, as he moves in he lifts his knees very high and prances towards the ball.
His kicking average is up so maybe it does work.
See if you can spot the ‘prancing horse’
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NRL BAD BOY CARNEY IN TITANS’ SIGHTS ◊ BY LAINE CLARK
When it comes to unlikely NRL comebacks, no one does it better than the Gold Coast Titans.
Just ask Gold Coast’s other rejuvenated stars - Chris Walker, Greg Bird and Mat Rogers.
field behavioural issues.
Yet Titans boss Michael Searle still raised eyebrows when he confirmed on Friday he had offered a three-year deal to wayward star Todd Carney.
“What we are offering is an opportunity to get his life back on track.
“I think that is one thing our club has done really “We have a great level well - dealing with of understanding.” players who have had challenges.
Especially with Carney’s Sydney Roosters drinking buddy Nate Myles set to arrive at the glitter strip.
But Searle has every faith in his club turning Carney’s NRL career around. The Titans boss was the first to admit their second tier offer of up to $70,000-a-year would be dwarfed by rivals. However, Searle said the Titans were offering more than money.
“I think that shows not that we are doing things better than anyone else, we just do it a bit differently.” Carney - the 2010 Dally M Medallist - was eventually cut loose by the Roosters after infamously being caught drinking in the early hours with Myles and Roosters teammate Frank-Paul Nu’uausala in August. Myles was also released following the same incident, capping a Roosters career chequered by off-
“We are not the Roosters and environment is something that affects a lot of things,” Searle said. “And I think that the one thing that our club has is a community that has a lot of faith. “We have a great level of understanding.” - AAP EDITOR’S NOTE Do the Titan’s really think Todd can resist the party atmostphere of the Gold Coast? He may behave for the first year but he will be back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons soon enough. Its like putting a fat kid in a cake shop, he is going to test the waters. Readers please have your say about this controversial player and the actions of the NRL via editor@playcanberra.com.au
LOCAL FOCUS
12 YEARS AND UNDER NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The ACT PSSA Rugby League team had a very successful campaign at the Australian School Sport Rugby League Championships in Melbourne last month. Considering ACT’s small population the team punched well above its weight. Many were unaware of the team’s ability and they were seen as the underdogs of the competition. The students were up against the best Rugby League players in the nation at the Under 12 level. As the week progressed the team improved and developed into a formidable outfit. Strong performances in the pool matches saw ACT gain the right to meet NSW in the playoffs. This
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game was the highlight of the tournament for the boys. The team recorded an extraordinary victory over the heavy weights of the competition. Taking into account NSW had beaten them earlier on in the competition, NSW went into the game as favourites. This game was to see who would qualify for the final and ACT didn’t want to be seen as making up the numbers. At one stage the ACT was down 12-0 but they pulled together and lifted to come away with 24-18 victory to qualify for the Gold Medal Playoff. This was the first time in the history of the Championships that NSW had been beaten by a team other than Queensland. Additionally it was the first time a team other than NSW and Queensland had qualified for the final. The team exceeded expectations to qualify for the Gold Medal Playoff.
In the final, ACT was well and truly in the game being only 10-0 down at half time. Unfortunately Queensland had some lucky breaks in the second half and ACT went down 28-0. ACT held their heads high and the boys were very proud of themselves when they were awarded the Silver Medal. The team demonstrated a lot of courage throughout the competition and the team members bonded well. There was strong camaraderie between the group and coach Dean Howell believed teamwork was a key to the success. Team members were selected from schools across the ACT and quickly gelled into a strong unit. The team trained for eight weeks before the championships allowing them time to bond. The coaching staff were extremely proud and impressed with the performance. All team members thoroughly enjoyed the experience and all believed it has made them better footballers. The majority of the games were held at Olympic Park and the team enjoyed the opportunity of playing at a first class venue. Furthermore many have gained life long friendships with their team members and opponents.
Jonathan TuckerTeam Manager/Assistant Coach The following students represented ACT at the Championships: Harley Smith-Shields, Jack Heyman, Sebastian Kris, Tristan Aurisch, Daine Spencer, Sam Burge, Jack Evenden, Michael Johnson, Liam Oakley, Khalil Waiariki-Wilson, Nick Cotric, Bayley Loughhead, Jese Smith-Shields, Thomas Robertson, Livingston Chee Kam, Kane Allan and Brodie Widdowson. Results Pool Matches Game 1: ACT 12 NSW Invitational 0 Game 2: NSW 26 ACT 0 Game 3: ACT 44 SA 6 Game 4: ACT 26 Victoria 0 Playoffs Final Qualifier: ACT 24 NSW 18 Gold Medal Match: Queensland 28 ACT 0 Final Placings 1st Queensland 2nd Australian Capital Territory 3rd New South Wales 4th New South Wales Invitational 5th Northern Territory 6th Western Australia 7th South Australia 8th Victoria Issue #2 – October 2011
TRADE WEEK KICKS OF WITH FATHER-SON BIDS
LOCAL LEGEND
Sydney coach John Longmire, happy with father-son pick. Image: Martin Philbey - AAP
Sydney, Carlton and Geelong have all recruited sons of club greats, with Tom Mitchell, Dylan Buckley and Jed Bews all picked up under the AFL’s father-son rule. The trio were the only players nominated for the bidding meeting. Swans coach John Longmire was delighted to gain Mitchell with the pick used. “We’re rapt. We’ve been looking at Tommy for a long time now and we’re thrilled to be able to add him to our new, exciting group of younger players coming through,” said Longmire. Longmire described Mitchell as a hard inside midfielder who used the ball well and had a strong work ethic. With Greater Western Sydney having most of the early national draft picks, Longmire said it was particularly valuable to be able to use the father-son rule to snare such a promising player. Mitchell was also pleased with the deal. “Obviously I’m very excited, I’m just happy to be given the chance and hopefully I can make the most of it,” he said. Having known for some time that the Swans planned to recruit him, Mitchell said it had been useful getting a taste for the club and football advice when he needed it. His father, Barry Mitchell, played 170 games for Sydney from 1984-92, as well as 51 with Collingwood and Carlton. Issue #2 – October 2011
Buckley, whose year has been heavily restricted by injury, said he had also been helped by having the assurance that the Blues wanted to select him, rather than having to wait for November’s national draft. “It’s been a huge aim to play for Carlton, I’ve pretty much grown up in the backyard there,” Buckley said. “To now finally be down there and know that I’m going to be down there with the boys, I just want to get down to preseason, earn respect from players and work hard.” Jim Buckley played 164 matches with the Blues from 1976-90, including three flags. All clubs, other than Greater Western Sydney, can bid. The nominating club must use their next available pick in November’s national draft, after the best bid offered by rival clubs, to secure the player. If no other club bids, the nominating club only needs to give up their final draft selection. The Swans needed to use their firstround national draft pick, No.21 overall, to gain Mitchell, the son of Barry, to match Fremantle’s bid of their firstround pick. The Blues and Cats will both have to use only their last pick in the draft, after no other clubs bidded for Buckley, son of three-time Carlton premiership player Jim, or Bews, son of Geelong 207-gamer Andrew. - AAP
Heather Anderson in action in Adelaide
ANDERSON A DUAL ALL-STAR ◊ SHAUN EBERT & TAMARAH KNOX
Canberra’s Heather Anderson has become the first ever NSW/ACT player to be named a dual AFL Youth Girls AllStar following her selection in the 2011 All-Stars team. At the age of 17, Anderson is leading the way in Youth Girls AFL in Canberra. Last year she was named co-captain of the inaugural NSW/ACT Team and became the first ever NSW/ACT player to be named in the Youth Girls All-Stars team, following last year’s inaugural Championships. A year later and Anderson was once again a stand out performer at the AFL Under 18’s Youth Girls National Championships, which were held on the Gold Coast from 20 – 24 September. This saw her named in the All-Stars team for the second year straight, a feat not achieved by any other player in NSW/ACT. Anderson’s performance at the carnival was so impressive it saw her rated third overall for the Championships, which also gives her the opportunity to attend the AFL Women’s High Performance Academy. The Women’s High Performance Academy is an incredible achievement in itself, as only the top 10 Youth Girls WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORT
players from around the country are invited to join. The academy will be run as a 3-day talented player camp held in Melbourne in June 2012. The camp will culminate in the Women’s All-Australian players (selected following the AFL Women’s National Championships in Adelaide in June) and Youth Girls All-Star players playing in a curtain raiser match prior to the Melbourne vs. Collingwood match at the MCG. Anderson has now achieved some of the highest accolades attainable in female football, playing years beyond her age when she also represented the ACT at this year’s AFL Women’s National Championships held in Adelaide in June. Anderson was one of two NSW/ACT players named in the All-Stars team, the other being team Captain Stephanie Power from NSW. If you would like to play AFL there is a Youth Girls Twilight Competition commencing Tuesday 25th October. New and experienced players are welcome. Contact Tamarah Knox at AFL Canberra on Tamarah.Knox@aflnswact.com.au or visit www.seeyouatthefooty.com.au CANBERRA.COM.AU
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RUGBY
WORLD CUP
Argentina’s Leonardo Senatore make a break with Richie McCaw in hot pursuit. Image: Kim Ludbrook
PUMAS HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE Argentina’s veterans are predicting a bright future for the nation’s rugby team as the Pumas join an expanded TriNations competition next year. The 2007 semi-finalists went out of the Rugby World Cup on Sunday, losing 3310 to New Zealand in the quarterfinals, but showed encouraging signs by matching the All Blacks for long periods
of the first half. While the 38-year-old hooker Mario Ledesma will never play for his country again, and 34-year-old centre Felipe Contepomi is nearing the end of his career, they are confident the next generation will surpass their achievements.
Argentina will play annually against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia when the Tri-Nations expands next year, and Contepomi says “that will be very positive”. Contepomi needs only three more points to break former flyhalf Hugo Porta’s national scoring record of 590 points, and he will be needed to help oversee the transition period with the likes of Ledesma stepping down. After 13 years of international rugby, 34-year-old prop Rodrigo Roncero is also nearing the end of his career. Although Ledesma has worn the national jersey for the last time, he says the foundations have been laid down for the next generation to take Argentina forward, having reached at least the quarterfinals in consecutive World Cups. “There were a few left from the 2007 team who are fairly old now. We’ve lasted up until now and we’re quite proud of what we’ve done,” Ledesma said. “We wanted to build this team and instill values on the field, as we think that it’s very important to properly represent the Argentine flag. “When you see the likes of (lock) Patricio
Albacete and (backrower) Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, they are much more talented players than us, and among the best in the world.” Coach Santiago Phelan expects the expanded, yet-to-be-named four team southern hemisphere competition, to be a tough one for his team, but thinks the squad will improve their physicality by coming up against the Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks on a more regular basis. “To play against teams of this calibre will be very hard for Argentinean rugby,” he said. “But the game will grow as a result of the contact.” All Blacks coach Graham Henry was impressed with the way Argentina challenged his team in the forward skirmishes at Eden Park, even opening up a 7-6 lead at one stage before trailing off midway through the second half of Sunday’s match. “I think they will get better because they will be playing against quality squads week in and week out,” Henry said. “As New Zealanders, we are looking forward to being involved in that and I think it will be great for us and great for Argentinean rugby.” - AP
AUSTRALIA SWEAT ON INJURY CONCERNS Prop Sekope Kepu has joined Australia’s worrying injury list following the torrid Rugby World Cup win over South Africa in Wellington. Coach Robbie Deans on Monday revealed Kepu will join star fullback Kurtley Beale in getting a scan in Auckland after rolling his ankle late in the Wallabies’ gritty 11-9 quarter-final triumph over the defending champions in Wellington on Sunday. “But first reports are that it’s not syndesmosis, which is a good starting point because that’s the sinister ankle injury,” Deans said. The Wallabies are also sweating on a hamstring injury that is threatening Beale’s participation in Sunday night’s blockbuster semi-final against the All Blacks at Eden Park. Beale hobbled off in the second half against South Africa. The Wallabies are hopeful he’ll be passed fit but it’s undoubtedly a concern. The 23-year-old, who once again looked Australia’s most dangerous
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attacker against the Boks, had to sit out the Wallabies’ final pool game against Russia with a hamstring strain. And having him sidelined for the biggest match of the year would be a big blow. “We don’t know the full extent, but Kurtley was tight,” said Deans. “We’re confident he hasn’t torn his hamstring, but we’ll know more obviously in 48 hours.” Deans said centre Pat McCabe had been “talking up his physical state in the shed” after hurting the same shoulder he subluxed earlier in the tournament, which also sidelined him from the Russia game. “We don’t as yet how bad it is,” Deans said. “Pat is suggesting it is only a stinger, as in temporary, but we’ll know more soon. “Beyond that, I think we’re ok.” Despite just about every statistic weighing heavily against them, the Wallabies tackled themselves to a standstill to produce one of the greatest defensive displays seen at a World Cup.
McCabe, whose midfield defence was mighty, said having to repel wave after wave of Boks’ attacks in the first half particularly, was “definitely the toughest 40 I’ve played”. But he is desperate to tackle the All Blacks as the Wallabies try to bury their 25-year Eden Park hoodoo against their fierce trans-Tasman rivals. “It’ll be right. It’s definitely not as bad as after the USA game, so fingers crossed,” McCabe said. “I will have to look after it early in the week and then hopefully from there I’ll be right to go.” Should Beale fail to recover in time, Deans would play either Adam AshleyCooper at the back and bring Anthony Faingaa into the centres, or use James O’Connor at No.15 and give Lachie Turner a shot on the wing. If McCabe can’t backup, the Wallabies would surely start with Berrick Barnes at inside centre after the playmaking midfielder’s experience and impact off the bench again proved telling against South Africa.
Meanwhile things aren’t looking all that great for the All Blacks. The All Blacks have suffered a big double blow ahead of Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against the Wallabies with fullback Mils Muliaina and five eighth Colin Slade ruled out of the tournament. Muliania fractured his shoulder while playing his 100th Test in Sunday’s quarter-final win over Argentina. Slade - the replacement for injured playmaking star Dan Carter - tore his groin and was replaced on the field by Aaron Cruden. New Zealand have called in Chiefs five eighth Stephen Donald and Hurricanes winger Hosea Gear to replace the pair. Donald had fallen behind Slade and Cruden in the first five-eighths pecking order after a less than stellar effort as a replacement in last year’s Bledisloe Cup Test loss to Australia in Hong Kong. Gear was considered unlucky to miss out on the original squad. - AAP
Issue #2 – October 2011
Tuggeranong was unlucky not to have recorded a second record, falling just short of becoming the first club since Wests in 2005 to clinch a clean sweep of all five divisions, with its Colts side going down 21-12 to Queanbeyan. The ACT’s six other Premier Division sides now have a long off-season to ponder what could have been.
EIGNS AT TUGGERANONG R T RUGBY THE HELM OF AC 2011 John I Dent Cup review ◊ BY ANTONY PERRY
The John I Dent Cup competition has come to a close for another year, but the 2011 season won’t be forgotten any time soon by the Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union Club. Tuggeranong capped off an impressive campaign in the ACT’s Premier Division by culminating its 10 game winning streak with a convincing 44-18 victory over Wests in the season decider at Viking Park on Saturday 10 September. The emphatic victory gave Tuggeranong its third John I Dent Cup title in six years, with the Vikings having won the ACT’s
pinnacle rugby competition in 2006 and 2009. Tuggeranong has now won nine Premier Division titles since it entered the competition in 1973. Tuggeranong’s 44-18 victory may go some way to easing the pain of the agonising 30-28 grand final loss to Queanbeyan in 2010. The occasion was made even sweeter as Tuggeranong entered the competition’s record book, with its 26 point victory being the highest grand final winning margin in the John I Dent Cup history. The result eclipsed the competition’s previous highest winning margin in a grand final – RMC’s 27-3 victory over RAAF in 1945.
After recording two trial wins in the pre-season, Gungahlin’s good form continued in to the regular season as the side recorded five successive wins. It was, however, unable to maintain its number one place on the ladder and narrowly finished in second place behind Tuggeranong. The Eagles were disposed of 32-13 by Wests in week two of the finals. Having finished on 69 competition points and in third place by one point, Wests recorded just one more loss than competition front runners Tuggeranong and Gungahlin during the regular season. Royals recovered from five straight losses at the beginning of the season to claim fourth spot and a semi final berth, which the side narrowly lost to Wests 2724. Impressively, Royals lost just three of its last 11 games in the regular season and were undefeated in its last three games, recording wins over Gungahlin, Queanbeyan and Wests.
Having seen the departure of numerous key players during the off-season, most notably Robbie Coleman to the Brumbies, Queanbeyan was unable to ignite the flame which helped it claim the 2010 title. Some poor performances throughout the season meant the Whites were reliant on the results of other fixtures in order to claim a top four finish. In the end, the defending premiers could only muster a fifth placed finish. Sixth-placed Uni-Norths narrowly missed claiming 2011’s wooden spoon. The Students only managed four wins from 16 games after failing to capitalise on a strong start to the season, highlighted by a 29-25 victory over defending premiers Queanbeyan in round 2. Easts’ performance in 2011 was far from its impressive campaign in 2008 when the club came close to claiming its first title since 1947, narrowly losing the season decider 22-15 to Queanbeyan. The side struggled to make its mark in 2011, with just two wins from 16 matches. 2011’s John I Dent Cup showcased ACT local rugby at its best. Its return in 2012 is sure to do the same, as the ACT’s top clubs endeavour to knock Tuggeranong off its perch.
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Issue #2 – October 2011
WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORT
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ONE MINUTE WITH... ANDREW KIRKPATRICK
Andrew Kirkpatrick is widely regarded as one of the best all round softballers in the world. A proud Canberran, Andrew has travelled the world plying his trade to unfortunate batters (and pitchers) for the last decade. His achievements include being named MVP at the 2003, ’06-’07 and 2011 Australian Championships. Along with this he has numerous pitching and batting awards at the Australian Champs as well as being a member of World, Japanese, New Zealand and ISC Champion Teams. 1. Softball has taken you all around the world, where’s some of the places you’ve played and which was/is your favourite? I have been lucky enough to play in Canada, U.S.A, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Germany, and all over Australia. My favourite place is USA as there are so many things to do over there and the softball is world class. 2. Have you got pre game superstitions or rituals? No, I don’t have any superstitions although I keep to the same pitching warm-up every time I play. 3. When its crunch time what’s the “go to” pitch, or if it’s a trade secret, what’s your favourite pitch? It depends a lot on the batter and which pitch he hits well. So I have to make sure all my pitches are working in big games. My favorite pitch is my rise ball 4. You play regularly in Japan for Daiwa Act, being 6’6” you wouldn’t have any problems fitting in over there would you? Do you get funny reactions on the streets over there? I do get a lot of funny looks in the streets of Japan and I’m often get asked to have my picture taken with them.
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Two things copped a hiding at the MCG on 1 October 2011, Collingwood and my ears. Wow!! Meatloaf? When will the AFL (and NRL for that matter) learn that digging up decomposing has-beens is not world-class entertainment. I thought last year’s debacle of Lionel Richie at the replay would never be “topped”, but just when you think the AFL has hit rock bottom, they start digging. To be honest, it would be a shame if Grand Final actually came with decent entertainment. A highlight of Grand Final day for me is watching these train wrecks perform. 16
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5. You’ve just played in the recent ISC world tournament in the US with Chicago/NY Fastpitch – how’d your team go? What’s a tournament like that like? We finished 2nd at the ISC tournament this year. The ISC tournament is the best club softball in the world because all the best players from all over the world make themselves available to play in it. 6. What’s coming up? October and November are finals in the Japan league. In December there is the top club tournament in Australia, to be held in Canberra, and that will be followed by a test series against the NZ Blacksoxs. 7. Apart from friends and family, when you’re away what do you miss most about Canberra? Having my own car, being in my own home and being able to go to wherever I feel like going in Canberra is what I miss most. If you’d like to see Andrew, and a host of the best softballers in the world in action, stay tuned to PLAY for more details on the 2011 ActewAGL Fastpitch Skins Tournament, being held at the Hawker International Softball Centre from 2-4 December 2011. Speaking from experience, its well worth the trip out – ED. For more information on softball head to www.act.softball.org.au
The only thing that comes close to the horror/disbelief I felt watching the terrible events of September 11, was watching Billy Idol cruising around Telstra stadium in a hovercraft. (I once had to Google Billy Idol hovercraft to make sure I hadn’t dreamt that scene). BUT believe it or not, Billy Idol in a hovercraft only ranks second in the “Am I really seeing this” ladder. There are few events in life that have such an impact that you recall exactly “where you were at the time”. As mentioned, September 11 is one and for many AFL fans, myself included, the 1991 pre game spectacular is another. I was at a mates house in Holder, we had BBQ ribs on the table, cold drinks in our hands and the mood was very jovial. All this changed in an instant as we sat there, in a state of silent confusion, watching a blue bat mobile roll onto the grounds of Waverley Park. We were too young to be witnessing the events before us. In a scene that even the sickest mind or strongest hallucinogenic drug would struggle to conjure up, the infamous “Angry Anderson and the Bat mobile” incident.
Image: www.zimbio.com
A quick search on YouTube using “Angry Anderson Bat mobile” should come with a warning: may create extreme confusion. There are two lines of 1991 ford Capri convertibles, containing Olympians and other dignitaries, in the middle rolls a blue AFL badged Bat mobile containing Canberra’s own Rob de Castella and Angry. Angry jumps out and begins prowling around the Bat mobile singing (shouting) “Bound for glory”. The looks on the dignitary’s faces are priceless. Some are genuinely confused, some are openly laughing and some, like the great Jim stynes, look like they are trying to channel chameleon powers and blend into the grey leather seats of the capris. Check out: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=c7J2madZVFA I lost some innocence that day - we all did in the lounge room in Holder. Disturbing - yes, funniest thing I saw in 1991 - you bet!! 20 years on and I couldn’t tell you who won that game, but every time I hear the words angry or Bat mobile it always brings a smile to my face. So despite my complaints each year, you wouldn’t want it any other way.
The idea of Grand Final 2012 already has me excited thinking about what’s in store for us next year? Ringo Starr on a Segway? Chumbawumba performing on a replica of the A-Team van? I’m passing this one on to you dear reader. Send in the pregame entertainment you’d like to see to editor@playcanberra. com.au and we’ll publish the best ideas and the very best will receive a $30 voucher at the Sportsmans Warehouse. Winners name published next issue.
r r a t S l e c r u P r Victo
Issue #2 – October 2011
YOUR SHOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
Moltzen dramas How can the Tigers take their word back and not release Tim Moltzen to the Dragons next year? Its a disgrace that they are going back on their word all because one of their players is an idiot and wont be playing next year. Now it so late in the year that the Dragons wont be able to find a replacement and will be without a quality fullback for next year. - AngryDragon. Kaleen PLAY - AngryDragon, you’re right to be annoyed if the Tigers get to keep Moltzen. What’s more alarming is that the NRL allowed a player to sign with another club without being officially released by their current club. You should be able to take someone’s word as their bond, but it looks like, in these day of professionalism, that is not the case. Either way it plays out, the only losers in this situation will be the Dragons - they either miss out on their fullback or they get a player who will be playing with them begrudgingly, and no one benefits from that.
Expensive Sports Hi PLAY, I enjoyed your first issue and I think the exposure you give to all levels of sports especially local is really valuable. It will encourage kids to get involved in many different sports.
Go karkting is a sport which requires many dollars to get and maintain a kart. Therefore, many budding V8 Supercar drivers never get a start in the sport. Maybe there is another Brocky out there but we will never know because he can’t afford to take the first steps into the sport. I would also put Motocycling, Skiing (all those lift tickets!) and Equestrian in the ‘costly-to-get into category’. Luckily pretty much all other sports are open to everyone. All you need is a ball, a bat or somewhere to run to hone your skills. Or in the case of Don Bradman a ball, a cricket stump and a water tank - Dollars. Ngunnawal PLAY - Dollars you bring up an interesting point. Unfortunetly motor sport is very expensive.
ALEX PERRY
I’m sure there are many kids out there with natural driving ability but they are not able to develop their skills because of the cost. It’s a shame because it means some kids will be missing out on a career in something they really love because it is just too expensive. Perhaps a scholarship program funded by the Government for talented kids is the answer. We will hit up our mate Andrew Barr.
Your coverage got me thinking about which sports are open to most kids and which require kids to have rich parents to enable them to get a start. For example the drivers in the Bathurst 1000 probably all started their careers in go karting.
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
Issue #2 – October 2011
GLENN STEWART www.playcanberra.com.au
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FOOTBALL
ENGLAND THROUGH, ROONEY OFF IN EURO CLIFFHANGERS ◊ BY DAVE JAMES
Star striker Wayne Rooney was sent off as England reached the Euro 2012 finals while continental heavyweights France and Portugal were left waiting anxiously on their fates. Rooney was red-carded in the 73rd minute in Podgorica as Montenegro fought back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw. A last-minute equaliser from substitute Andrija Delibasic grabbed a share of the points after England had taken the lead with goals from Ashley Young and Darren Bent. The Montenegro fightback was not enough to prevent Fabio Capello’s men from earning the point they needed to secure qualification from Group G for next year’s finals in Poland and Ukraine, however. But England’s night was so nearly ruined by Rooney’s 73rd minute moment of madness, the Manchester United striker sent off for aiming a petulant kick at Miodrag Dzudovic. Rooney’s dismissal capped a miserable week following the arrest on Thursday of his father and uncle in connection with a football betting scam. Capello hoped that Rooney will learn from his latest dismissal even though the player will miss at least the first match of the finals. “He kicked out at the opponent and the red card was OK. He lost the ball and for the next game he will be suspended,” said Capello. “He is an important player but this will be a good lesson for him and the team. He was just frustrated by what was happening on the pitch and not by anything in his private life.”
“I’m satisfied,” said France coach Laurent Blanc. “We wanted to win this match and it’s always satisfying to win.” Bosnia-Herzegovina’s 5-0 thrashing of Luxembourg prevented France from qualifying automatically, but they are now assured of at least a play-off place. Bosnia visit Paris for the final match in Group D next Tuesday, when a draw for France will be sufficient. Second-half goals from Georgios Samaras and Thoefanis Gekas sealed a 2-0 win for Greece over Croatia in Group F. The win leaves the 2004 European champions needing just a point from their last group game away to Georgia on Tuesday to clinch their place in next summer’s finals. Croatia must now beat Latvia and hope that the Greeks lose in their last match to qualify automatically for the finals.
Image: Wayne Rooney receiving a red card - AFP
Portugal crushed Iceland 5-3 in Porto with Manchester United starlet Nani hitting a brace. The Portuguese stay top of Group H on 16 points, the same as Denmark who beat Cyprus 4-1. Denmark welcome Portugal on Tuesday where a draw for the Portuguese will seal a finals spot after they defeated the Danes 3-1 in their first clash.
Montenegro secured their play-off spot when Wales beat Switzerland 2-0 in Swansea.
Reigning world and European champions Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, who had already made sure of qualification, maintained their perfect records.
France outclassed Albania 3-0 in Paris to go within a point of a place at the finals.
Spain defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 in Prague with first-half goals from Juan Mata and Xabi Alonso.
Goals from Florent Malouda and Loic Remy gave the hosts a 2-0 half-time lead, before Anthony Reveillere put the seal on a comfortable night’s work with his first international goal in the 67th minute.
Spain stay top of Group I with seven wins from seven games. The Czechs are second on 10 points, two ahead of Scotland who have two games to play but the Scots can leapfrog the Czechs
with a win at lowly Liechtenstein on Saturday. Germany earned their ninth consecutive win in Group A as Bayern Munich trio Mario Gomez, Thomas Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger all netted in the 3-1 win over Turkey in Istanbul. The win leaves Germany with 27 points from nine games with Belgium up next in Duesseldorf on Tuesday. Belgium beat Kazakhstan 4-1 to go second in the pool, a point ahead of Turkey who are at home to Azerbaijan in their last match. The Netherlands saw off Moldova 1-0 thanks to a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 39thminute goal in Rotterdam to take their Group E record to nine wins in nine matches. Sweden made sure of a play-off spot in the same pool with a 2-1 win in Finland with Sebastian Larsson, of English Premier League side Sunderland, and Blackburn’s Martin Olsson on target. Serbia’s hopes of securing a place in
the play-offs suffered a blow despite a 1-1 draw with already-qualified Italy in Group C in Belgrade. Claudio Marchisio gave the visitors a first minute lead but a goal from Branislav Ivanovic restored parity before half-time. However, with Estonia winning 2-1 in Northern Ireland, Serbia must now win their final group game in Slovenia to overtake their rivals for second place in the group. A draw would see them draw level on points with Estonia but miss out on their head-to-head record. World Cup 2018 hosts Russia virtually ensured their place at the finals after edging Slovakia 1-0 to stay top of Group B with 20 points, two ahead of the Republic of Ireland who beat Andorra 2-0.- AFP
Have your shout email us at editor@playcanberra.com.au ONE GAME AT A TIME
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Issue #2 – October 2011
of playing in the 2011-2012 A-League season. “We didn’t have Jason all of the preseason ... it is disappointing that he’s not going to be with us,” Jets homegrown captain Jobe Wheelhouse said.
“In the first 10 minutes whether the ball didn’t bounce our way or we weren’t quite switched on (and) I think it took a goal to snap us out of it and then we were OK.
“In the past we could have rolled over I guess but I think there is Jets Youth coach Craig “We didn’t have something special about these Deans was handed the Jason all of the boys.” reins of the squad, albeit pre-season ... it is Deans is not quite ready to in a caretaker role, and disappointing that relinquish the coaching reins produced the goods with he’s not going to be and has turned his attention a 3-2 win over Melbourne with us,” Heart at home with 12,467 to next Sunday’s match witnesses of his first team against Wellington Phoenix in coaching debut. Wellington.
A-LEAGUE
ntroversy ts ignore Culina co
Newcastle Je
◊ BY GREG DANVERS
Traditionally Newcastle footballers have faced adversity and last week was no different for the Jets - players and officials alike. Nathan Tinkler, owner of the Jets and NRL club the Knights, made an unprecedented move to dump his coach and marquee signing just four days before the start of the 2011-2012 A-League season.
The “We Are Football” theme of the A-League launch on Tuesday was overshadowed by the axing of coach Branko Culina and his Socceroo son Jason. Tinkler and the Hunter Sports Group have yet to disclose the reasons behind the acrimonious sackings of the pair. Jason Culina had two off season knee operations and has been ruled out
The tenure is sure to be short lived with a head coach being sourced.
“I’ll probably look at the transition from defence to attack,” Deans said.
Club officials were tight lipped on Saturday of the applicants and sackings.
“You can’t re-create that environment through a friendly match. I think things will fall into place but there are things where we still have a lot of work to do.
Pre-match energies were sapped out of the starting-11, the first 10 minutes the Jets struggled to gain momentum and were a goal down after 22-minutes. “We had a bit of a talk about it early in the week,” Wheelhouse said. “The club’s been through some adversity and so have the players for many years now so it’s nothing new to us, we just put it behind us pretty quick and it showed in the result today.
“Final decisions in the front third could have been a little better, we had some fairly decent possession both halves of the game, but we didn’t use the ball in the final third as well as we could. “The (two Heart) goals we could have defended a lot better as well.” - AAP
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Issue #2 – October 2011
12/07/11 1:45 PM WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORT
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FOOTBALL
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN SELECTED AS KLIMKOVA FINALISES SQUAD Queensland-born Australian Schoolgirl international Hayley Raso is the bolter having trained with the squad for only a week following a recommendation from her Coach, former Capital Football Technical Director Ian Shaw. Shaw notified United of the talent of the youngster who plays her club football at Palm Beach Sharks on the Gold Coast as a forward and, after an impressive display in training was capped off by a terrific cameo performance against the Koalas, Klimkova had little hesitation in offering Raso a place.
Hayley Raso in action
◊ RUSS GIBBS
Canberra United Head Coach Jitka Klimkova has finalised her Canberra United squad for Season Four of the Westfield W-League with the selection of the final seven players following a two-week trial period and the 5-0 training match victory over Sydney Koalas at the weekend.
Two players familiar to United supporters from earlier years, Snez Veljanovska and Christine Walters, return to the squad with Veljanovska having spent last season with Melbourne Victory whilst Walters has fully recovered from a calf injury that stymied her progress over the last twelve months.
WELLS AND WILSON NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Belconnen United duo Dustin Wells and Amy Wilson were named ROCK Player of the Year and Tradies Player of the Year, in association with Pele Sports, at the Capital Football annual Presentation Night this evening.
Wells took out the accolade for the second year in succession on 25 points, ten clear of the runner-up Alex Oloriegbe of Woden Valley. The midfield playmaker also took out the ROCK Premier League Golden Boot, again sponsored by Pele Sports, with his 28 league goals a superb return as his team made the Preliminary Final. Wilson meanwhile only returned to football this year after a six-year hiatus. The former Matilda won the Player of the Year vote with a huge 34 points but only finished three points clear of Weston Creek’s Sarah Crittenden as the pair dominated the voting polled during the course of the Tradies Premier League season. Both Player of the Year awards were sponsored by Pele Sports with the winners claiming $500 worth of Pele Sports vouchers. The respective Coach of the Year awards went to Dean Ugrinic of Canberra Olympic, For guiding his team of young charges to second place on the ladder and a Grand Final, whilst the women’s 20
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Joining that trio will be returning stars Grace Gill and Jennifer Bisset with local youngsters, and ACTAS members, Sally Rojahn and Georgia Yeoman-Dale, both members of the Woden Valley club, also offered a place. Both Rojahn and Yeoman-Dale saw limited game time at the tail end of the 2010/11 season in United green. With those selections Klimkova has nailed down nineteen of the twenty spots with the final place on the roster going to an overseas player from the United States of America about which an announcement will be made shortly. The United Head Coach was happy with her selections. “After the trial process I am happy now to be able to settle down with the squad and focus on the style of football we are going to play,” she said. “This week we will concentrate on the defensive principles before moving onto the
Capital Football also inducted John Logue as a Life Member for his services to football whilst Ross Yarnold, Amy Wilson and Ben Wilson were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Numerous other awards were presented to various League Champions, Grand Final winners and Golden Boot recipients by special guests Olyroos Coach Aurelio Vidmar and Matildas Assistant Coach Spencer Prior as well as FFA CEO John Boultbee. The evening was hosted by Sports Presenter Stephanie Brantz and Capital Football Media Manager Russ Gibbs.
Canberra United 2011/12 Jennifer Bisset, Leah Blayney, Ellie Brush, Aroon Clansey, Caitlin Cooper, Grace Gill, Michelle Heyman, Kahlia Hogg, Caitlin Munoz, Ellyse Perry, Hayley Raso, Sally Rojahn, Sally Shipard, Ashleigh Sykes, Nicole Sykes, Snez Veljanovska, Christine Walters, Lydia Williams, Georgia Yeoman-Dale
For the latest football news from around the Capital tune in to our friends at farpostfootball every sunday 3-5pm on community radio 2xx 98.3 FM.
HOST A FUTURE SOCCEROO! The decision to implement a Homestay Program, in partnership with FFA, has been made to ensure the AIS Football scholarship holders receive the best all round development for their football, education and personal lives.
award went to Antoni Jagarinec of Belconnen United giving the Blue Devils a clean sweep of loop Federation Cup, League Championship, Grand Final winners, Golden Boot, Player of the Year and even the annual Schnitzel Eating contest in what was a memorable year for the club. Both Coaches awards were sponsored by Pele Sports with the winners claiming $250 worth of Pele Sports vouchers. In other awards Richard Naumovski was named ROCK Premier League Referee of the Year capping off a great season after winning the FFA award whilst Pat Caggiano took out the Tradies Premier League Referee of the Year.
attacking principles next week as our tactical preparations begin to take shape ahead of the season kick-off. I am excited by this group of players and am looking forward to working with them.”
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Football Federation Australia (FFA) in partnership with the ACT Football Federation (Capital Football) are seeking ‘Expressions of Interest’ from families in Canberra to provide homestay arrangements for the AIS Football Program players in 2012 and 2013. Through the sport of football the AIS Football Program aims to teach our players teamwork, leadership, and respect while taking part in the experience of a lifetime.
‘Homestay’ involves a local Canberra family welcoming a Scholarship player into their home. The family offers a safe, supportive environment that provides stability for the player, allowing him to focus his efforts on his football and academic achievement. The family that provides this home base for the player is called the host family. If you are interested in considering being a host family to an AIS Football Scholarship player please review the attached document and contact Mr Jackson Kupke, FFA Player Development Manager, to receive the complete AIS Football Homestay Program Application Package. Jackson can be contacted on 6214 1182 or at jackson.kupke@ausport.gov.au
We recognise that for many, relocation to an AIS Football program means moving away from home for the first time, and players as young as 15, can be overwhelmed being so far away from home, especially if it is for the first time. Issue #2 – October 2011
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Issue #2 – October 2011
ARRIE AF
Appointed as the Head Coach of the Australian Womens’ Basketball team, the Opals, in December 2008, Carrie Graf is one of Canberra’s most successful and experienced coaches with over 20 years of experience at the elite level. PLAY caught up with the legendary coach to quiz her on the Canberra Capitals and the season ahead.
First of all, congratulations on the Opals getting through to London 2012, must be nice to have that ticket booked before the season kicks off? It is good, it was a relief in some ways, obviously we were favourites to win Oceania but nothing is ever guaranteed. We had a lot of our core group overseas playing so it was a credit to that particular Opals team to give us that berth, it was a must do for London. Good to get that out of the way so now I can focus on the WNBL. We can crank it up again for London 2012 post the WNBL season. Looks like former Capitals player Suzy Batkovic is in great form leading into the season, how are you going to control her now that she is playing for Adelaide? We were fortunate to have Suzy with us last season. Unfortunately for her she had a tough year personally and probably played half the games scheduled. For Suzy to be back on track lifestyle wise and injury wise is really good for her, good for the WNBL and good for the Opals. Now as an opponent with Adelaide its not good for us but we don’t play Adelaide until later into the season and we are confident we will be rolling along well by then and have a few things to throw at her by the time we come up against them. It’s going to be a great season ahead. Which teams are looking strong? Its probably one of the most evenly matched competitions the WNBL has had. I think people will find it hard to pick an early championship favourite or even the top 5. Player Issue #2 – October 2011
First home game against Townsville. Who are the danger players for the Fire? rosters are looking really even at this point. Most of the teams have had a lot of roster changes. Bendigo have been the most stable and Adelaide has certainly strengthened their roster. There has also been a few coach changes. Two former Capital’s assistant coaches, Peter Buckle who was at Townsville as head coach is now at Adelaide and Chris Lucas who was our assistant coach for the last three years is now at Townsville. I think it’s going to be one of the closest competitions we have had in a long time. In terms of trying to guess who will be dominate early, there wont be a stand out team, I think its going to be a battle from start to finish and hopefully we will be in the mix come finals time. With Suzy Batkovic not with the Capitals, a lot more responsibility rests on Marianna Tolo’s shoulders, do you think she’ll thrive on the added responsibility?
They have changed their roster a lot this year. They will be quick, up-tempo. Rachael Flanagan has been a corner-stone at point guard. They have also added a few perimeter players. They have a lot of shooters. They have Jess Foley and have added Mia Newley. They have a good back court. Nicole Romeo who was with us last year is in their team. They have a lot of guards and perimeter players, so we have to focus on our big targets. Tolo will have a big job against them, we will want to try and score on the inside and match their speed and perimeter shooting. Geelong coach Chris Scott said that winning the grand final as a coach was the best day of his life – as someone else who has done both (Carrie was part of 5 Championship teams as a player and 6 as coach), do you get more satisfaction winning championships as a player or coach?
As a player I was a bench player, I don’t think I hit the floor in any of those grand finals. I think Tolo had a great season for us last year. She was in the championships are about the team and the work that WNBL All Star 5 and she was our team MVP, I think she has gone into building that season or building to it over is poised to take on the added responsibility. As I said, the years. The enjoyment for me in championship wins Suzy missed more than half of our games last year so is enjoying it with the people you have done it with. The Tolo had to shoulder that load over the course of our entire team, the players, the support staff and the back season and so did the rest of our group. office staff. That is what winning Although we would is about in team sports, it’s the I think it’s going to be one of the closest enjoyment of the collective group have liked it to work out competitions we have had in a long time. and achieving something you have differently, we had to be conditioned to play without set your hearts and minds on. Suzy. We only had her In your sporting life winning championships is really for one season and she was injured for the bulk of it. special. I did hear Chris Scott say that and I thought Our team has been conditioned to play with a smaller wow, I’m sure I said that at 25 when I was a first time player next to Tolo and Tolo has had to take on the championship coach in my first season as a head added pressure, but I think she is primed and ready to coach. However, you then realise later that sporting take on the added responsibility. triumphs sometimes pale in comparison with other monumental things in your life. The caps have a few personnel changes, who should caps fans keep an eye on this year? In terms or your sporting life though, winning with a great group of people that have great work ethics and a As always it’s going to be our core group. Jessica single-minded focus to achieve something together is Bibby who is our Captain and is one of the best 3 point a really special feeling. shooting players in the league and is explosive off the bench - a crowd favourite and deservedly so. Do you have a favourite championship? Carly Wilson is our versatile glue piece, she is also an I have been asked this question before. It’s like asking Opals squad member and she will have a heavy load a parent if they have a favourite child out of 12 kids. I this year, in terms of playing in many positions, having think they are all special for different reason. I think the to take up some scoring responsibilities and having to first championship you win as a player or as a coach is defend the opposition’s best player. special. Championship wins with veteran players that She has a lot on her plate but she has the tools and the are retiring, championships with star players, they all talents to do it. have their different stories and different journeys. Nicole Hunt, who was a first year player for us last year, Every championship is different, the road to the will carry a lot of responsibility and I think she has the championship game, how that team evolved, who skills and the maturity at point guard. There are a lot stepped up in the final and all the bumps along the way. of Opals in that position across the league and we are They all have their unique enjoyment and unique going to see a lot from Nicole this year. stories that go with each so separating them is just way We have a lot of new players to keep an eye on this too hard. year, we have added Bridget Ardossi, Molly Lewis, Mikaela Dombkins and Alice Coddington. They will all You started coaching at an early age, which coaches bring different things to our team as they learn and inspired you? grow with us. I would have to say from a pure coaching perspective and life perspective, in a lot of ways it was Tom Maher.
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ROUND 2 Saturday 15 October Canberra V Townsville 7:00 pm at AIS Arena
ROUND 3 Friday 21 October Townsville V Canberra 7:30 pm at Townsville RSL Stadium
Sunday 23 October Logan V Canberra
2:00pm at Logan Metro
ROUND 4 Saturday 29 October Canberra V Adelaide 7:00pm at AIS Arena
Play Trivia He is Australia’s greatest coach of women’s basketball. He will be in his fifth Olympics in London and has been the head coach of national women’s basketball teams from four different nations. I was fortunate to play under Tom as a bench player over many years and coached with him with the Australian National Team and now of course I coach against him. He is certainly a master coach. He instilled in me a winning attitude and the importance of strategic play. He certainly shaped my views on coaching, winning and building cultures. Professional coaching is a stressful profession, how do you relax from the pressures – can you ever fully switch off? Coaching is like anything, there are different skills you learn to help you switch off. Putting it in perspective, I am fortunate to work in a job that I’m really passionate about and I get to work with highly motivated people. With that being said, there are a lot of things on the line. You are trying to win championships, you have sponsors that like winning teams, you have players to build and develop and we are about high performance and winning. 24
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For me it’s about finding days that are non-basketball days. As much as it’s my passion, it is my job. Working in women’s sport as a professional coach you do a lot more than just the coaching side. For me it’s tuning out, I have some property down the south coast with some good friends who are looking at building an eco tourist, glamping (glamorous camping) joint. Going bush and sitting by the river and having a glass of wine is good down time. Spending time there and spending time with my partner and cooking. I love food and wine, they are tune out things for me. I just try and do normal things and try not to talk basketball out of basketball time. Just enjoy time with friends and time away at the coast. And finally: Sorry, we’ve got to ask, what’s the odds of Lauren Jackson suiting up for the Caps this year? Lauren Jackson won’t suit up for the Capitals this year. But we have some big news coming on that. Lauren will definitely play in a Canberra Capitals uniform sometime soon. It wont be this season but we are 95% confident that she will be in Canberra for her Australian retirement in the coming years.
◊ In which year did Boxing became a legal sport? ◊ Which Aussie tennis player won the US open twice in 1997 and 1998? ◊ Who won the 2007 AFL premiership? ◊ True or False: The first place you gain fat is typically the last place you lose it? ◊ I n which year did the NSW Rugby League move the Grand Final from Saturday to Sunday?
ANSWERS: 1. 1901 2. Pat Rafter 3. Geelong 4. True 5. 1981
Hannah Bowley and Nicole Hunt IMAGE: Photgraphy by Leighton Hutchinson / Art Direction by Anthony Nankervis at Goosebumps
Issue #2 – October 2011
Artists Impression // Minimum EER 5
Boardwalk, Waterfront Living // 1 bedroom from $410,000 // 2 bedroom from $485,000 // 3 bedroom from $795,000
Issue #2 – October 2011
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Asha Smith, Hannah Wallett and Kris Britt
Sam Thornton, Luke Behrendorff, Aaron Ayre
Andrew Barr showing John Howard how its done bowling the ceremonial first ball of the ACT Cricket season
ACT CRICKET LAUNCH @ Manuka Oval Thursday the 6th October Chris Cairns, Josh Kentwell, Luke Behrendorff, Sam Thornton, Matt McGann, Aaron Ayre, Adam Tett and Mark Bennett
Antoni Frankovic, Deni Vibatic and Jayson Lustri
Uiti Baker and Monique Canellas
Chris Clarke, David Edwards and Ben Clarke
SOCCEROOS V MALAYSIA @ Canberra Stadium Friday the 7th October Leo Khoo, Sharina Faizal and Melisa Ye 26
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The Cookie Monster and Elmo Issue #2 – October 2011
UPCOMING EVENTS Southern District Motorsports Association Inc. Hill Climb Sunday, 16 October 2011 - 9am to 4pm On competition day you will see cars on track from 9am - 4pm. There is spectator seating and food available as well as washroom facilities. Spectator entry is FREE!
Ginninderra Tigers Little Athletics Carnival 2011 Event Day Sunday 30 October 2011 - 9am to 2pm Closing Date Sunday 23 October 2011 Location Charnwood Oval, Lhotsky Street
The Hill is located within the Fairbairn Park Motorsport complex with access off Sutton Road which runs off Pialligo Avenue between Queanbeyan and the Canberra Airport.
Contact Helen Hopkins (ah) 6259 5322 or 0412 594 743 (9am - 2pm)
The challenge of Hillclimbing lies in each driver’s battle against the clock as they attempt to cover the course in the shortest possible time.
For all ages between 5 and 17 years
The competitors are divided into Types and Classes. Each driver enjoys their own personal race against the clock and also competes against other drivers in cars of similar performance. The ultimate achievement at each event is to establish the Fastest Time of the Day “FTD”. FTD is for a single run, not an average of all runs completed. Skill and courage are essential to pilot one of the big horsepower racers up the Hill. Come along and check out some local motorsport! Location Venue Fairbairn Park Motorsport Complex Address Access from Sutton road, Off Pialligo Avenue
Events U6-7: 50m, 200m, Long Jump, Shotput U8-10: 70m, 100m, 400m, Long Jump, Discus U11-17: 100m, 200m, 800m, High Jump, Triple Jump, Shotput Early bird entry fee is $6 per athlete Late entry fee: $10 per athlete Register and pay online at www.ginninderra.com/athletics
Tell us about your upcoming event via editor@playcanberra.com.au
Contact Details Email administration@sdmahillclimb.com Website www.sdmahillclimb.com
Please email us up to 2 weeks prior to your event.
GOT A SOCIAL EVENT? PLAY is keen to cover the SOCIAL SIDE OF SPORT. Let us know the details 2 weeks in advance Email us at editor@playcanberra.com.au
ONE GAME AT A TIME www.playcanberra.com.au Issue #2 – October 2011
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WOMEN IN
SPORT
TORAH BRIGHT
Sport: Snowboarding Birthdate: December 27, 1986 Birthplace: Cooma, New South Wales, Australia Hometown: Cooma, New South Wales, Australia Residence: Salt Lake City, Utah Height: 5’4” Olympics: 2006, 2010 Event:
Women’s Halfpipe
Born to parents Peter and Marion Bright, Bright is the second youngest of five siblings. She grew up in Cooma, New South Wales at the base of the Snowy Mountains, and initially started out as a downhill ski racer. Older brother Ben picked up snowboarding and passed it on to Torah; as she has said, “I’ve never looked back.” Bright uses a goofy stance and is coached by brother Ben. Older sister Rowena competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Bright enjoys basketball and rollerblading. Bright is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly known as Mormons). “For me it’s just a way of life – I don’t drink, smoke, drink tea or coffee, or have sex before marriage. I’ve never drunk or smoked but I’ll go out to dance and stay up late and then drive home at the end of the night.” Bright finished 30th overall at the 2005 World Championships in Whistler, Canada and was runner up for the World Cup title during the 2003–04 season. Bright entered only two World Cup events during the 2004–05 season, both in February at the 2006 Winter Olympic venue of Bardonecchia. She placed third in both events, qualifying for the Australian Olympic team. 28
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In 2006, Bright earned a silver medal at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. She returned the following year, winning the gold medal in the women’s superpipe event. She is the first Australian snowboarder to ever win gold at the Winter X Games, beating Winter Olympic medalists Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter.
for Australia at the opening ceremonies. Qualifying in the number one spot for the final, she crashed out in her first run down and as a result had to run first in the second run. She posted a score of 45.0 which remained the high score through the second run and became the fourth Australian to win a Winter Olympics Gold medal.
In 2007, Bright took first at the Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open in the women’s halfpipe, giving her back-to-back wins in two consecutive competitions. At the 2007 World Super Pipe Championships in Park City, Utah, Bright won first place, beating 2002 Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark. In late 2007, she made the podium for both events in the Roxy Chicken Jam, the final event in the TTR (Ticket to Ride) Snowboard Tour, where she became the 2007 TTR world champion.
Recently in the largest deal for women in action sports, Torah re-signed to Roxy for an unprecedented six-year global partnership that includes sponsorship head-to-toe and expansion of her current Bright Edition collection of snowboard gear for Roxy.
In 2010, Bright suffered two concussions while in training for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. She carried the flag
“We’re incredibly proud to have sponsored Torah since she was 13 and at the start of her career,” said Danielle Beck, Vice President of Marketing, Roxy. “She’s a part of the Roxy family and it’s amazing to see all the achievements and successes she’s had. We’re excited to activate next steps with her.”
“I’m so grateful to have had the support of Roxy from the very beginning. I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” said Bright. “Roxy is home.” A globally recognized athlete, she was the first Roxy rider to launch her own signature collection, the Roxy Bright Edition during the 2008/2009 winter. She is also a two-time Winter X Games gold medalist in the snowboard halfpipe. Bright’s future plans include filming a new snowboard movie, re-entering competitive slopestyle and perfecting her backcountry riding. Bright will also be focusing on expanding her technical skills and advancing her tricks in the halfpipe in anticipation for the 2014 Olympics in Russia where the Australian native will try for her second piece of Olympic gold.
Issue #2 – October 2011
HOCKEY
KIWIS WIN OCEANIA CUP OVER HOCKEYROOS ◊ BY PATRICK CARUANA
New Zealand’s women’s hockey team beat Australia 4-2 in Hobart to claim the Oceania Cup on aggregate.
The My Community Connect website helps community groups and organisations promote their events to the public. To find out what’s happening in your region simply go to the website’s calendar and plug in your location details. You can then click on an event of interest for information about when, where and what’s on!
Australia won the first Test 2-1 on Thursday and secured a 3-3 draw in the second match, but the two-goal margin gave the Kiwis the edge. The Hockeyroos needed only to draw the final game but were unable to restrict the Kiwis in the second half, conceding two unanswered goals. Skipper Kayla Sharland led the way for the Black Sticks in midfield and helped the visitors turn the pressure on the hosts throughout the second half, after Claire Messent levelled the scores just ten seconds before the break.
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Goals to Clarissa Eshuis and Stacey Michelsen sealed the result for New Zealand to claim their third Oceania Cup in a row.
The Kookaburras needed to win by four goals or more, following a surprise 3-0 defeat in the first game of the series and a 3-3 draw in the second.
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Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens said his side showed inexperience.
The Australians played with a spark missing in the first two games, and goals to Will Ockenden, Kieran Govers and skipper Jamie Dwyer had them 3-0 up just 16 minutes in.
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“They played according to their maturity, and it’s an immature team without much experience,” he said. “We saw the more seasoned New Zealand team show their experience and their big name players stepped up, which was the difference unfortunately.” But Commens said he was impressed with the team’s youngsters, including young NSW striker Emily Smith, who nabbed her first international goal during the tournament. “There’s some really positive signs. If you have a look at our penalty corner attack, we’re scoring against one of the best defensive units in the world,” he said. “We’ve also unearthed a couple of young, talented players who are having an impact in big games.” The Hockeyroos have qualified for next year’s Olympics, but have no major tournaments beforehand, having failed to make the Champions Trophy. However, the side will play more than 30 Tests before going to London. The Australian men’s hockey team retained their number one ranking and the Oceania Cup with a commanding 6-1 win over New Zealand in Hobart.
Issue #2 – October 2011
IMAGE: AAP
Striker Glenn Turner led the way in the second half with three goals, before Black Sticks skipper Phil Burrows finally put the Kiwis on the board from a dubious penalty stroke in the 65th minute. Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth said the Kiwis were a better side than their world ranking of seventh indicated. “I think our opponents play pretty tough, hard hockey, and you have to match that,” Charles told reporters. “And maybe we were surprised, but we didn’t take our chances back.” Charlesworth said he was pleased with the improving form of four-time world player of the year Dwyer, who spent more than four months on the sidelines with a knee injury. “I think Jamie’s getting there, he’s not back to his best, but he’s fit and getting some hockey under his belt,” Charlesworth said.
All of their advertisements direct visitors to the My Community Connect website, adding online exposure to your event. My Community Connect requires a minimum of two weeks notice for any radio announcements and three weeks notice for any event to be aired on Southern Cross Ten Television. You can submit your events as far in advance as you like, and it is easy to add, edit and manage your events if you sign up for a free account through their website. More information Phone: 1300 883 464 Email: connect@sca.com.au You can also join them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
“He’s wonderful player at his best, and we had to be cautious with him.” - AAP
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ONE HIT WONDER being a Wonder Down Under event went from Three years ago the Toyota One Hit ity. real to rs Mye Tim ctor dire and twinkle in the eye of event founder
◊ IMAGES BY JOSEPH PERDUM
Three years later the 2011 event provided some of the world’s best skiers with the biggest jump in the southern hemisphere. The 95 foot kicker saw the likes of Winter X-Games gold medalist Bobby Brown and World FIS Freestyle champion, Australian, Anna Segal flying over the Snowy Mountains. With $10,000 prize money up for grabs this event drew an amazing international lineup. This year it was star studded with Elias Ambühl (SWI), Jossi Wells (NZL), Joss Christensen (USA), Bobby Brown (USA), Chris Laker (USA), Joe Schuster (CAN), Jerome Lambert (FRA), Gus Kenworthy (USA) and Australian riders Anna Segal, Dhanu Sherpa and brothers Jordan and Jesse Houghton taking on the monster jump. The Toyota One Hit Wonder boasts an event format unlike any other in the world. It gives you, the people, the power and responsibility to decide the winner. Every trick the competitors throw down over the 5 intensive days of competition is filmed. This year some tricks were even captured on a state of the art super slow motion camera. The riders then pick their best trick to be uploaded. Then on the event’s website viewers can look through all the videos and vote for who they think should take home the prize money. International Salomon Freeski rider Bobby Brown called it “Pretty much the best contest format ever.” This year voters even went into the draw to win a luxury ski holiday, Salomon ski gear and Von Zipper Goggles. Being the only jump in the southern hemisphere big enough to try triple corks on at had everybody on the edge of their seat. Nobody would have thought it would be on the first day that Chris Laker would attempt a triple. Unfortunately it landed him with an ACL injury that saw him out of the competition. The other riders carried Chris’s raw determination back up the hill with them and threw down in epic fashion. Ozzy brothers Jordan and Jesse Houghton have a few words for us. Jesse: I am 18 years old and live in Jindabyne NSW, I started skiing when I was 3 years old although I only started park skiing when I was around 12. The main cause of my desire to start park skiing was due to my brother Jordan, he had been skiing park for a few years and it really started to interest me. 30
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Jesse Houghton
After afew years of park skiing I began competing it most of the local competitions held at Perisher and Thredbo. My earlier years of successful competition results gave me a foot hold with sponsorships and the Australian ski scene. Currently my favourite trick is a switch misty 900 mute grab, for those who are not familiar with skiing terms this is hitting a jump skiing backwards and doing 2 and a half full rotations while flipping in a frontflip like motion. Although this is not my signature trick as some would call it. Others always say my frontflips and double frontflips are what they see as my signature tricks. I plan on competing as much as I can and traveling the world while i’m at it. I am just taking it day by day and trying to make the best of it. Jordan: I started skiing when I was 2 years old, Mum was a ski instructor and dad ran Smiggins ski school in Perisher so naturally I was thrown on skis. I Got into the free ride scene when it erupted in about 2000. I’m pretty useless at rails, I’ll be the first to admit that. I probably like half-pipe most of all but slope style and big air for sure, not really a ‘jibber’ kinda guy. My signature trick would be a 720 tweak nose grab. My most fun trick if I have the jump for it is a double cork 1080 with a high mute. The biggest trick so far for me is probably a double cork 1260 mute to shifty. I’m not really sure what im going to be up to next. I will hopefully be heading over to North America again and competing there, I will just have to wait and see what comps are on where and
what my sponsors are doing. Its good news about the Olympics, having free ride skiing in there is giving everyone something to push towards in the future. It’s good skiing with my brother. He is skiing so well right now and only just about to turn 19. In another couple of years it will be really cool to see what he
is doing. It’s definitely cool to be on the podium together and also hitting jumps like at One Hit Wonder. The winner is Gus Kenworthy, go to www.onehitwonderevent.com to check out Jesse, Jordan and the rest of the amazing athletes throwing down!
Jordan Houghton
Issue #2 – October 2011
CYCLING
VAN AVERMAET TOO STRONG IN PARIS – TOURS. Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet won a sprint finish to claim the Paris-Tours cycling classic. The BMC rider edged Italian Marco Marcato of Vacansoleil with Denmark’s Kasper Klostergaard-Larsen of Saxo Bank finishing third after the 230.5km race. Pre-race favourites including Britain’s recently-crowned world champion Mark Cavendish and Belgian Philippe Gilbert, winner in Paris in 2008 and 2009, lost out after becoming boxed in at the back of the peloton. The 26-year-old Van Avermaet, who won a stage of the 2008 Tour of Spain, becomes the 40th Belgian to win the race which goes back 105 years. “The race nerves were jangling from the start. The team was running smoothly so we decided to try something after the feeding station,” said Van Avermaet. “Everyone really worked hard for (Alessandro) Ballan, for (Taylor) Phinney and for me. We were the only team which wanted to control the race.
FRANCE, Tours : Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet celebrates raises his arms in victory as he crosses the finish line of the Paris-Tours cycling race in Tours, central France. Image: Alian Jocaro - AFP
career. It will give me a big confidence boost for next season.”
“I’ve come close to winning in a few classics this season but there’s only one place which counts and that’s first.
Van Avermaet added: “It’s a great year for the Belgians and we have to make the most of it. We have good riders behind Philippe (Gilbert).”
“To win a classic such as this is very special and a great step forward for my
With Gilbert - who swept this year’s three
Ardennes classics, and Thor Hushovd set to reinforce his team in 2012 Van Avermaet said: “We shall have a very strong team next year.” Van Avermaet and Marcato broke free from a group of 21 riders behind France’s Arnaud Gerard, who launched his attack 15km from the line.
The pair left FDJ rider Gerard at the base of the Epan climb with 7km to go. They took advantage of disorganisation among their challengers with Van Avermaet giving Marcato no chance as the Italian struggled with leg cramp in the final sprint. - AFP
DEAN SIGNS WITH GREENEDGE Launched this year, GreenEDGE is aiming to become the first Australian team to obtain a UCI World Tour licence, enabling it to compete in events such as the Tour Down Under, Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.
teams - US Postal, CSC-Tiscali and Credit Agricole.
GreenEDGE has signed a series of talented Australian cyclists, including veterans Stuart O’Grady, Robbie McEwen, and rising sprint star Matt Goss, who won a world championship silver medal in the recent men’s elite road race in Denmark.
Last year, he had three podium finishes in cycling’s biggest race.
“It is a hugely exciting development for cycling, especially in Australia and New Zealand,” Dean said in a statement on Tuesday. “With the quality of the team named, I’m confident we’ll get World Tour status straight away.” Julian Dean leads the peloton in the 9th stage of the 2011 Tour de France. Image: EPA-Guillaume Horajuelo
Top New Zealand road cyclist Julian Dean will join new Australian team GreenEDGE for the 2012 season. 32
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The seven-time Tour de France veteran says he’s excited about getting at least one more year at the sport’s highest level.
Dean, 36, completes a four-year contract with Garmin-Cervelo at the end of the year.
In this year’s Tour de France, he was part of the Garmin-Cervelo team that won the team time trial and finished first in the overall team classification.
He believes he is riding as well as ever and says he is looking at one year at a time in terms of his future. “I think I have something still to offer and believe, over the last two to three years especially, I’ve raced at my best,” he said. “There’re plenty of incentives next year with this new team wanting to make a mark and I would also love to compete in my fifth Olympics - that would be special.” - AAP
One of the sport’s leading sprinters, he has been with three other major cycling Issue #2 – October 2011
Jane Jones and John Warren took the medals in their divisions, and a really good ride was had by Tom Chester in the support race. The womens elite and womens masters 1 and 2 faced a gruelling three lap 51 km race. Some very good riding saw Kimberly Wells and Gracie Elvin fight for line honours in the elite category. The clock stopped in the impressive time of time of 1 hour and 26 minutes. After fighting the rain in the last kilometres, Rach Green took out the masters 1 category.
ACT ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS – 2011 Image: Mark Phelan
With rain crashing down in northern parts of Canberra, a strong field lined up for the 2011 ACT Road Cycling Championships just south of the Tharwa township. A fast pace was set in the 34 km womens masters 3 to 6 and mens masters 6 and 7 categories with the
bunch working together until the Apollo road intersection. The climb over Mt Tennant and a consistent effort by lead riders saw a gap open that was to hold for the next twenty kilometres. Lee Sheather and Lyn Vasudeva, in their respective groups, in a time of 1 hour and 4 minutes were convincing winners.
The mens masters 3 to 5, also competing over 51 kms, saw a splintering early on with three bunches forming. Those not positioned in a bunch faced a tough fight to get back on. Stephen Blackburn (1:25:32) took the win in masters 3 from Christophe Barberet. Also in the same sprint was up and coming Karl Michelin-Beard in the 51 km support race. After 1 hour and 26 minutes Chris Short took the race in the masters 4 category and, in a fine finish with the same time, Johnny Fisher took gold in masters 5. Riders in the mens elite, under 23 and masters 1 and 2 illustrated the high calibre of cyclists the ACT is known to produce. Early on in the race the main
peloton began to splinter with a lead bunch forming out of some nine or ten of the 23 riders in the field. The odd breakaway was attempted but each time reeled in by an unforgiving field. The four lap 68 kms – that’s eight times over Mt Tennant – was always going to be a thriller. A sprint finish saw Jo Lewis and Adam Phelan, in a time of 1 hour 42 minutes and 4 seconds, cross the line for the U23s. An impressive Al Sieper, with the same time, took the win in the masters 2 category. In a time of 1:42:07 Andrew Schloeffel took a convincing win in the masters 1 category. In the elite category Stu Shaw, in a time of 1:42:04, claimed gold from Daniel McConnell who took silver. Third place was fought out between five riders with Matthew Roberson prevailing on the line. Thanks to Jason Parkes with the Times7 timing, Peter Gough for making everything happen and work as intended, for the marshals – Emma Viotto, Emily Fisher and James Toole – for keeping the traffic at bay, and for the ACT commissaires for keeping a watchful eye over the race. Henry Thomson, Race Director. Article from www.act.cycling.org.au
Black Mountain Tower FOCAL POINT OF THE ACT
Issue #2 – October 2011
It also boasts Alto – Canberra’s only revolving restaurant which serves modern Australian cuisine. Opening Times 9.00am -10.00pm Daily Black Mountain Drive, Acton ACT 2601 Phone: 1800 806 718 www.blackmountaintower.com.au Managed by Raine and Horne Commercial
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R&H0003-MA
Almost 200m above the summit of Black Mountain, with a 360 degree view of the city and the Brindabella Ranges. The tower contains an exhibition area which describes the history of the tower and telecommunications in Australia as it also has a functional role of providing essential National Capital communications facilities.
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Issue #2 – October 2011
TENNIS
AWESOME MURRAY BATTLES BACK TO DENY NADAL Red-hot Andy Murray battled back from a set down against defending champion Rafael Nadal in thrilling fashion at the Japan Open to claim his second consecutive title. The British world number four, fresh from winning last week’s Thailand Open, put an end to a five-match losing streak against Nadal with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory over the top seed in Tokyo, dropping just four points in the final set. He then came back to the centre court teaming up with his brother Jamie Murray to win the doubles title beating the Czech-Slovak pair of Frantisek Cermak and Filip Polasek 6-1, 6-4. “It’s a very difficult thing to do. It’s tough, but I’m obviously happy to win both tournaments, winning with my brother makes it a perfect week,” said Murray.
Andy Murray - AFP
Murray made a slow start in his 18th contest against world number two Nadal, dropping his opening service game to give the Spaniard an early
SURFING
advantage which he held onto to claim the first set. But Murray, 24, found his serving range in the second set, raining down six aces and breaking his opponent twice before he stepped up another gear in the decider, allowing Nadal just four points as he swept to the title. “I played some great tennis, especially in the third set. There were a lot of close games towards the end of the first set and the beginning of the second. I managed to get momentum and didn’t give him many chances after that,” said Murray. “It had to be some of the best tennis I played in the third set. I’ve played some good matches against him in the past but it was just very consistent, didn’t make too many mistakes and played well at important moments,” he added. “I played well the last few months in Cincinnati and US Open.... I am going to keep on trying to win, trying to improve and trying to get there (third in the world) at the end of the year.” “Josh has been in really good form the last few events so I’m happy to get past him.” In a mixed day for Australians Bede Durbidge took out compatriot Daniel Ross, while Kai Otton eliminated fellow Aussie Adam Melling. Brazilians Gabriel Medina and Alejo Muniz both advanced to the next round, beating Hawaiians Dusty Payne and John John Florence respectively.
TOYOTA CUP
Only five round two heats were completed on Thursday before the competition was called off for the day due to onshore winds.
Warriors Upset high flying Rabbitohs
KERR ELIMINATED AT QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE Australian World No.5 Josh Kerr was a shock elimination at the Quiksilver Pro in France, knocked out by Portugal’s Tiago Pires in their second round heat. Pires navigated the tricky conditions in the shifting four-to-six foot swell scoring the day’s highest total score of 13.10 to upset Kerr in the opening heat
Issue #2 – October 2011
Meanwhile Australian two-time world champion Mick Fanning had a solid start to his title defence of the Quiksilver Pro in France, scoring the highest score of the day to win his opening heat. Josh Kerr - AFP
of the morning at La Graviere.“It’s really hard out there this morning,” Pires said. “There are some really good ones, but the water is moving so much. It’s challenging. I was fortunate to find a really good one that stayed open and I got a pretty decent barrel.
Fanning scored an impressive 9.37 out of a possible 10 to snatch victory in the dying moments of his heat, taking advantage of the ideal three-to-five foot swells at La Graviere. Fanning’s combined wave total of 18.20 marked the highest of the day, outscoring American Brett Simpson and Portugal’s Tiago Pires in their heat. “It was a wild end to that heat,” Fanning said.
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Murray, who will be the second seed at the Shanghai Masters starting on Sunday behind Nadal, is targeting Roger Federer’s number three ranking. The Scot has won 21 of his past 22 matches, taking titles in Cincinnati, Bangkok and now in Tokyo. His only loss during that period came against Nadal in the US Open semi-finals. Nadal, 25, admitted that Murray’s serving was too good at crucial moments. “His serve worked fantastic at important moments. He served very good in general today,” said Nadal. “He played unbelievable, he made no mistakes in the third set and played aggressive, a lot of winners.” Murray improved his record against Nadal to five wins against 13 defeats. It was his first victory over the Spaniard since August last year in Toronto. It was Murray’s fourth title of the season, following victories in London, Cincinnati and Bangkok. - AFP
“Brett surfed great. He pushed me really deep at the end, but I saw the wave had doubled up and had to put the rocket boots on when I stood up. It had a great line and I was stoked to make it out.” Kelly Slater, reigning 10-time world Champion, survived a difficult wavestarved heat in round one winning with a total score of just 10, the second lowest combined score of the day. “It was a nightmare out there,” the 39-year-old American said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they called it out there. The tide is really high. It was a bummer and not very competitive.” - AAP
2011 APS WORLD TOUR Mens Rip Curl Pro Peniche, Portugal October 15 - 24 2011 Rip Curl Search Nov 1 - 11 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters Banzai Pipeline, Oahu Hawaii Dec 8 - 20 2011 CANBERRA.COM.AU
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PGA Authorities did not give the man’s name, but said he appeared to be intoxicated and had been arrested. While 14-time major champion Woods has had to endure the occasional heckler since his return to competition in 2010 in the wake of a sex scandal, he had never had a spectator get through the ropes to approach him. “When I looked up, the hot dog was already in the air,” said Woods, who regretted missing his subsequent birdie putt but otherwise didn’t seem especially concerned. “He was pretty far away from me.” Woods said the man “laid on the ground and looked like he wanted to be arrested because he ... put his hands behind his back and turned his head.”
WOODS SHRUGS OFF HOT DOG-FLINGING FAN Tiger Woods’ tough 2011 season took one more odd turn when a fan flung a hot dog in his direction in the final round of the Frys.com Open. Woods was preparing to putt at the seventh green at CordeValle - his 16th
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hole of the day - when the man burst out of the crowd and tossed the hot dog in Woods’ direction. Woods backed away from his putt and the man promptly surrendered to tournament security personnel and police.
“I guess he wanted to be in the news,” Woods said. “And I’m sure he will be.” Australian Rod Pampling, playing in the same group with Woods and India’s Arjun Atwal, called the incident “bizarre”. Atwal noted that it was lucky the incident didn’t turn uglier. “They could have shot him,” Atwal said. “The cops could have thought it was something else.”
“He’s just an idiot,” Dan Diggins, the tournament’s director of security, said of the man, although by the time Woods’ round was finished Diggins could see the lighter side. “It wasn’t a chili dog -- that could have been bad,” he said. Woods, the former world number one who was making his first start since missing the cut at the PGA Championship in August, notched his third straight three-under 68. “I got better every day, and unfortunately, a couple times I didn’t get the momentum going when I had a couple of chances to make putts,” Woods said. “I could have just really got it rolling.” Woods put that down to lack of tournament play. Since injuring his left leg at the Masters in April Woods has played only 10 complete rounds. He hosts an event at Pebble Beach next week to raise money for his charitable foundation and will play a few more exhibitions before he tees it up at the Australian Open November 10-13, a week before the Presidents Cup match play showdown between the United States and an international team. - AFP
Issue #2 – October 2011
LPGA
TSENG WINS SIXTH OF SEASON IN S.KOREA
IMAGE: AFP
Yani Tseng made it six LPGA wins this season as she triumphed over two-time defending champion Na Yeon Choi to take the LPGA HanaBank Championship in Incheon, South Korea on Sunday. “It was very tough out there... Na Yeon Choi was playing so good,” Rolex Rankings No. 1 Tseng said after notching up her 11th career victory on the LPGA Tour, “I tried to focus on every shot, every hole.” Taiwan’s Tseng had started the day tied with Korea’s Choi, one shot back of second-round leader Soo-Jin Yang, also from Korea. But she shot 33 on the front-nine to take an early lead in the final round. It was a tight ending as Tseng shot a final-round, four-under 68 to finish at 14-under-par and one shot ahead of Choi. “The crowd is amazing”, Tseng said, “When Na Yeon makes birdie, it was like a huge crowd, and I think it’s the first time in my life I saw that many people on a golf course.” It was a special win for Tseng after the disappointment of two years ago, when the LPGA HanaBank Championship came down to the final hole, and Choi made a birdie to beat Tseng by a stroke and capture her second career LPGA victory. Issue #2 – October 2011
Tseng, who is good friends with Choi off the course, had to sink her par putt on the 18th hole to complete her win. “She played great and I played good”, Tseng said, reflecting back to the 2009 event. “I did my best then, and I feel like she just played better than me and she deserved to win the tournament. “Two years after, we both have got some more experience and we both got more wins. It’s very different out there.” Birdies on No. 13 and 15 helped Tseng to a two-stroke lead but after Choi made a birdie on 18 to cut the lead to one, Tseng had to sink a short par putt to secure the title. After tallying seven bogeys over her first two rounds to go along with 16 birdies, Tseng posted a bogey-free final round to earn her 11th career LPGA Tour success. Just short of the three-peat: Choi was not just chasing her first victory of the 2011 season on Sunday, she was trying to capture the tournament title for a third consecutive year. Choi, who won in her home country of South Korea in 2009 and 2010, fell just shy of accomplishing the feat. The fourtime winner on the LPGA Tour finished one shot behind Tseng after shooting a final-round 68.- AFP
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FORMULA 1 WIN WAS ‘ONE OF MY BEST’ SAYS BUTTON
Briton Jenson Button described his victory for McLaren in the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday as one of the highlights of his career. The 2009 world champion had been the form driver through practice at Suzuka on Friday and Saturday, but was edged to pole position by German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull by just 0.009secs. Button dropped to third behind teammate Lewis Hamilton in the race to the first corner in Suzuka, but took the lead from Vettel after emerging from his pit stop on lap 21. He controlled the race from there, eventually winning by 1.1secs from Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari to claim his third victory of the season. Button said winning for the first time in 10 visits to Suzuka was a special moment. “It’s probably not as emotional as winning my home Grand Prix, but it’s pretty close,” he said. “Especially around a circuit like this. This circuit is phenomenal. “From the first lap out in practice, you’ve just got the biggest smile on your face because it’s such a fast and flowing circuit and it has so much history. The crowd here are amazing, so it’s a very emotional victory.” Button felt Vettel was too robust in defending his position on the run to the first corner, complaining to his team over the pit-to-car radio that the German should be penalised for squeezing him towards the grass and forcing him to lose a position. 38
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The two drivers shared an animated but amicable discussion about the start in the post-race press conference, and while Button was reluctant to pursue the matter further after the race, he said he was surprised by Vettel’s forceful approach. “I got a very good start and Seb didn’t, and I think he realised immediately that he didn’t get a very good start and started coming across,” Button said. “He kept coming, kept coming and I thought in the end he was going to stop, as I was halfway alongside him. He didn’t stop, so I got onto the grass and had to back out, because it would have been an almighty shunt into turn one. “I was a bit surprised as he said he didn’t see me until he saw me backing out, and if that’s the truth, then that’s one of those things. I got out of there and a lost a place which was disappointing, but in a way it’s quite nice fighting your way back through.” While Vettel cemented his second consecutive title on Sunday, Button maintained second in the drivers’ championship, eight points ahead of Alonso with four races remaining. But he said winning races was his goal, rather than a coming second in the championship. An emotional Sebastian Vettel admitted to being confused about how to
feel after securing his second world championship with a third-place finish Japanese Grand Prix. The 24-year-old German, driving for Red Bull, needed just one point in Suzuka to become the youngest two-time world champion in Formula One history. “To win the championship here is pretty special, and a bit funny at the same time. It’s as confusing as the first one,” he said. “I think it will surely take a little bit of time. “Life for me, and I think all the drivers, doesn’t get much better than this. Sunny days, a lot of fans, everyone excited to see what you do. I think that is what life is about. “To wrap up the championship here, which has been the ultimate target this year, is difficult to put in words. It’s more than fantastic.” Vettel secured this year’s title with four races remaining, in contrast to 2010 where he only led the drivers’ championship after winning the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
The German all but guaranteed his second crown after winning five of the opening six races of the year, but he said a policy of not looking too far into the future served him and his team well. “I think all year we tried very, very hard to keep our feet on the ground and always tried to focus on the next step, on the next race. I think, in the end, if there was any, (that) was one of the secrets,” he said. Vettel said he would have some quiet moments in the coming days and weeks to let it sink in, adding: “It does take some time to understand.” He was the only driver to finish every Grand Prix this season Japan was his 14th podium finish in 15 starts. While 10th place in Japan would have been enough to take the championship, Vettel said he had wanted to win. “I wasn’t targeting one point. If we targeted one point, I think the race would have been a bit different, but we targeted to do our optimum, which in a way today was third place. That’s what we got.” -AFP
Issue #2 – October 2011
V8 SUPERCARS
TANDER, PERCAT WIN BATHURST HEARTSTOPPER ◊ BY GUY HAND AND ED JACKSON
In a year filled with personal and professional emotion, there was never any other way Garth Tander was going to win Bathurst. Holden driver Tander and rookie teammate Nick Percat won a heartstopping Bathurst 1000 in the most gripping finish in the race’s history, holding off a flying Craig Lowndes. Less than three-tenths of a second separated them, the 34-year-old West Australian forced to drive for his life to hold off the five-time Bathurst champion looming large in his rearvision mirror. But Tander eventually secured his third Bathurst title and gave 23-year-old South Australian Percat his first Mount Panorama win at his first attempt. In the past 12 months, Tander has become a first-time father to daughter Scarlett, his Holden Racing Team boss Tom Walkinshaw died and HRT has struggled and faced a major internal shake-up. “What this will do is give the team a lot of belief we’re headed in the right direction,” Tander said. “We want to dedicate this one to Tom. It’s the first Bathurst since his passing and he was all about this place.” The Scot, a British touring car legend, first raced at Mount Panorama in 1985 - the start of a 25-year love affair with Australia’s greatest motor race until his death in December last year. It was HRT’s 200th Australian touring car victory and seventh Bathurst win. Tander kept his nerve, then his competitive nature kicked in as Lowndes closed to within a car length with two laps remaining. “I thought ‘Stuff him, he’s not coming past’,” Tander said.
Skaife to decide future in next week ◊ BY GUY HAND
Mark Skaife will let his Bathurst heartache subside before deciding whether to abandon V8 Supercar driving to run the sport. Skaife came within three-tenths of a second of winning his seventh Bathurst 1000 on Sunday and moving a step Issue #2 – October 2011
“Then it was to make sure we were fast in the key areas of the track. “At the moment it’s the drive of my life. I was in a similar situation in 2000 when Paul Radisich was chasing me, so I’ve been there before.” Percat became the first driver in 34 years to win the Bathurst 1000 at his first attempt. Belgian Formula One ace Jacky Ickx was the last rookie winner, teaming with Allan Moffat in 1977, but he brought a muscular international pedigree to his co-driving stint. Percat drives in the second-tier V8 development series and, despite one nasty brush with the wall from which the car escaped damage, did his job well to lift his hopes of a fulltime V8 Supercar drive in 2012.
Holden smashed Ford in the traditional red versus blue battle, sweeping the podium with four-time champion New Zealander Greg Murphy and Dane Allan Simonsen finishing third. Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards were fourth in the highest placed Ford. Lowndes and Skaife were left ruing their luck as team strategy provided a recurring handicap. Three times they had to queue during pit stops behind Team Vodafone teammates Jamie Whincup and Andrew Thompson, and also had one more pit stop than Tander and Percat. Whincup’s race turned into a disaster when his Commodore lost power dramatically with 23 laps remaining while he was sitting second.
closer to the late Peter Brock’s record of nine.
about it through the week,” six-time Bathurst champion Skaife said.
Now the 44-year-old faces an agonising decision.
“I’ve enjoyed this weekend immensely and it’s been an unbelievable weekend for us.
To become chairman of the new V8 Supercar commission next year, the now part-time driver would have to give up racing altogether. Skaife says he’ll make that decision within the next week.
“It’s still a dilemma for me ... I was really disappointed (by getting so close) and when you see two of the best drivers in the country battling it out like that at the end, it’s as good as it gets.
“I’ll have a quiet beer tonight and think
Skaife and Lowndes were defending
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The three-time Bathurst champion limped around to the garage for repairs but his hopes of victory were over. His 21st-place finish dropped him 100 points behind Lowndes in the V8 championship standings with four rounds remaining. Ford driver David Besnard had a lucky escape after a spectacular crash on lap 112 left his Jim Beam Racing Falcon engulfed in flames. Besnard hit a tyre bundle hard on his first lap after a pit stop, rupturing his tank and spilling fuel all over the track. The spill ignited and eventually incinerated Besnard’s vehicle, but quickthinking marshals doused the inferno as the 34-year-old part-time driver emerged unharmed.
their Bathurst title, and had combined last month to win the Phillip Island leadup endurance race. But they were hamstrung by team strategy - having to play second fiddle in pit stops to better-placed teammates Jamie Whincup and Andrew Thompson for much of the race. The next V8 Supercars event is the Gold Coast 600 on October 22 and 23. CANBERRA.COM.AU
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MOTO
GP
Honda’s Dani Pedrosa kept his cool during an incident-packed Japanese MotoGP, easing to victory over reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo by more than seven seconds. Spain’s Pedrosa sealed his third win of the season at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in 42min 47.481sec, while championship leader Casey Stoner, who started on pole, finished third despite ending up in the gravel during the fifth lap. Pedrosa kept his calm throughout the action-packed race which saw five riders crashing out and three others handed ride-through penalties. But despite his victory, Stoner, who finished more than 18 seconds behind Pedrosa, still leads Lorenzo (Yamaha) in the championship standings by a commanding 40 points with just three races remaining -- in Australia, Malaysia and Valencia. Stoner was in command early in the race before running off the track and into the gravel on lap five, which saw him drop to seventh. He said his brakes had failed to respond after his bike began shaking but he managed to stay on his Honda and return to the track. His Italian teammate Andrea Dovizioso led the race briefly before he had to perform a ride-through penalty for jumping the start.
HONDA’S PEDROSA WINS JAPANESE MOTOGP Ducati’s Valentino Rossi crashed out on the first lap, dragging along Yamaha rider Ben Spies, who rejoined the race, and also almost taking down Lorenzo. Pedrosa, who finished second in the previous three races, seized his opportunity and powered to the front, steadily increasing the gap with Lorenzo and earned a home victory for his team. “Obviously, when you win, it’s a great feeling,” said Pedrosa, who missed three races this season after breaking his right collarbone in France in May. “The race from the start was very weird because Casey had some problems and missed the corner. And then Dovi (Dovizioso) had to stop for the penalty. And then I found myself suddenly alone in first place,” he said. Lorenzo said he was delighted with his
second-place finish but added it was an almost impossible task to deny Stoner a championship win. “The championship for us is not really important because it’s almost over,” Lorenzo said. “The race today has been tough for us because the start was terrible for me. I lost a lot of positions.
“Everything was feeling good. The bike was almost perfect,” he said. Referring to the incident on lap five, he said he nearly lost his grip when his bike shook, and tried to hit the brake but “there was nothing there.” “So I basically had no chance to make the corner,” he said.
“Then Dani was improving his lap time and becoming better. He was riding very well. I pushed to the limit throughout the race to (close) the gap but it was impossible,” he said. “Dani deserves the victory.”
Speaking about the next race at Philipp Island on October 16, Stoner said: “There are a few things I have got to improve. We have got the championship lead to protect. At the same time, I still want to win more races.
Stoner, who leads the world standings with 300 points, said he was disappointed because he felt he and his bike were performing well all weekend.
“I think that’s why I was so disappointed today.” - AFP
He said he looked to his home race in Australia to widen his points lead.
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Issue #2 – October 2011
FIGHTING
UKRAINE TOP OF THE BOXING WORLD Usyk in heavyweight all finished as top dogs, while Denys Berinchyk won a silver light welterweight medal. Beijing Olympic light flyweight champion and two-time world champion Zou Shiming of China added a third world crown to his trophy cabinet, confidently beating this year’s Asian champion Jong Hoon Shin of South Korea, 20-11. The 30-year-old veteran Shiming was in complete command in the final, winning all three rounds to pocket the gold Ukrainian star Vasyl Lomachenko Image: Alberto Pizzoli - AFP medal. Ukraine’s boxing squad finished top of European flyweight champion and top the medal table at the amateur world seed Misha Aloyan of Russia clinched championship as four of their fighters the world’s gold in a tough bout against won final bouts in Baku, Azerbaijan on Welsh European champion Andrew Saturday. Selby, winning it 13-12. Vasyl Lomachenko in the lightweight, “I already met Selby in February and won Taras Shelestyuk in welterweight, Ievgen that fight easily,” Aloyan said. Khytrov in middleweight and Oleksandr “Today, in my first ever world
France’s Teddy Riner celebrates his gold medal during the podium ceremony for the + 100kg category at the Judo World Championships. Image: Bertrand Langlois
OLYMPIC GOLD WILL MAKE RINER A LEGEND ◊ BY SABINE COLPART
Frenchman Teddy Riner may be a record five-time world judo champion but he still needs to add an Olympic crown before he can become a legend, according to Japanese great Yasuhiro Yamashita.
Issue #2 – October 2011
championship’s final, it was much, much harder. Selby is very strong and skilled opponent and performed very good boxing today.” In the bantamweight category Cuba’s cadet world champion Lazaro Alvarez Estrada outscored England’s European champion Luke Campbell for a 14-10 win. Ukraine’s living legend, Beijing Olympics winner and world champion Lomachenko overcame Pan-American champion Yasniel Toledo Lopez of Cuba 17-12 in the lightweight category. Lomachenko knocked his rival down with a right hook in the first round for a 6-3 lead and never looked back on the way to his second world title. In the light welterweight Everton Lopes, the first Brazilian to reach the final, beat Ukraine’s hard-hitter Berinchyk 26-23 for an historic victory. Kazakhstan’s two-time world champion and Asian Games winner Serik Sapiyev missed out on a third world title in suffering a 16-10 defeat to Ukraine’s Shelestyuk in the welterweight. Ukraine’s European cup winner Khytrov enjoyed a 24-22 win over Japanese middleweight Ryota Murata, who had stunned world champion Abbos Atoev in the opening bout.- AAP
Locally
Box’Tag tournament Canberra’s first Box’Tag tournament will be held on Friday 14 October from 6pm at the Erindale PCYC. Box-Tag is a safe, fun, modified version of Olympic boxing and is similar to touch sparring (strikes to shoulders and stomach) used in boxing training (no head strikes allowed). All athletes wear full protection including, headgear, mouthguards, groin protectors for male athletes as well as chest protectors for female athletes. Athletes compete in a special shirt which has sensors on the front and shoulders, when they come in contact with an opponents gloves a signal is sent back to the computer and a point is awarded. Bouts will be run over 3 x 1minute rounds or 3 x 2 minute rounds depending on level of fitness and experience. The first Box-Tag tournament will be a lot of fun, so drop in on the night and support this initiative. Cost: Gold coin donation Go to www.boxingact.org.au for more information.”
Riner completed a remarkable weekend on Sunday when we won the decisive fight to give France World Teams Championship gold just a day after he secured his record fifth individual title by winning the men’s over-100kg category.
Yamashita, who remained unbeaten in 203 fights, believes Riner’s superiority is even more marked than his own was.
“I had my idea of what judo should be and my motivation was always to achieve that,” he said.
Yamashita, who was unbeaten in international competition, says Riner is head and shoulders above the competition but cannot become a legend until he becomes Olympic champion.
“I’ve never seen an athlete demonstrate such a noticeable difference between himself and the others,” he said. “He’s better than he was before. The only way his opponents can beat him is if he’s injured or ill.
“That allowed me to never get demotivated. The objective was not the result but rather the quest for that ideal which was to always win by ippon.”
Yamashita himself won four world titles and gold at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. Asked if Riner was well respected in Japan, the home and birthplace of judo, Yamashita said he would have to become Olympic champion first, but he said that is only a matter of time. “He’s brilliant. Technically, physically and mentally he’s the best,” Yamashita exclusively told AFP. “He behaves like a true champion. Teddy Riner will be Olympic champion in London, I’m sure of that.” Here in Paris, Riner blitzed through the competition to win his fifth title, throwing five out of six opponents for the maximum ippon score and strangling the other one.
“He has so much confidence in himself that as long as he’s in form and doesn’t lose his motivation, no-one can beat him.” That in itself is a remarkable statement for a Japanese former coach as well as athlete to make. The Japanese have been by far the most successful nation in judo and almost always finish top of the medals table at major international competitions, even when they consider themselves to have failed. There is an innate sense of superiority, born out in no small part from past evidence, and the heavyweight division is the blue-ribband event that the Japanese covet the most. In the Japanese psyche it is not enough just to win, one has to win in grandiose style, as Yamashita explained from his own career.
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In the Japanese mindset, even if a fighter is winning by a half-point wazaari score with 10 seconds remaining, he should still be looking to win by ippon. And yet Yamashita, who still works closely with judo development amongst the youth in Japan, admits that his countrymen are scratching their heads when it comes to Riner. With him it is not a case of winning with style but of finding someone to challenge this giant of the sport, who stands at over two metres. “I’m sure that many fighters will improve for the Olympics but there is such a gap between Riner and the rest that it won’t suffice,” he said. “Teddy Riner is a wall. Before these worlds the Japanese didn’t realise that. “They still thought they could beat him but now they know it’s impossible. After London he will be a superstar.” - AFP If you’d like to get involved in Judo head to www.judoact.com for information on clubs and competitions. CANBERRA.COM.AU
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NFL
RAIDERS OWNER AL DAVIS DIES Al Davis, the Oakland Raiders owner whose passion and willingness to buck authority eventually made him an iconic figure in the NFL, has died at the age of 82, the Raiders said Saturday. Davis died at his home in Oakland on Saturday, while the Raiders were in Houston preparing for Sunday’s game against the Texans. An announcement on the team’s website gave no details on the cause of death, but news of Davis’s passing brought immediate tributes in the gridiron world. “Al Davis’s passion for football and his influence on the game were extraordinary,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He defined the Raiders and contributed to pro football at every level. “The respect he commanded was evident in the way that people listened carefully every time he spoke. He is a true legend of the game whose impact and legacy will forever be part of the NFL.” Davis, with his famous “Just win, Baby” philosophy, built a reputation as a rebel, his team’s pirate logo symbolizing his attitude toward authority on and off the field. During his 48-year tenure with the Raiders he won three Super Bowls and enjoyed 28 winning seasons, including a stretch of 16 from 1965 through 1980. In the 1980s, Davis went to court for the right to move his team from Oakland to Los Angeles. He moved them back to the San Francisco Bay area in 1995 -- and went to court again in a bid to establish that he still owned the rights to the Los Angeles market. Davis made Art Shell the first black head coach of the modern era. He hired the first Latino coach, Tom Flores, and the first woman chief executive in pro football, Amy Trask.
Image: Top, Al Davies Bottom, Raiders Fan - AFP
“Al Davis was a champion of diversity who maintained the courage of his convictions. His passion for the game we all love is best exemplified by his famous phrase, ‘COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE,’” the Raiders’ statement said.
He was the last commissioner of the American Football League before the merger with the NFL that made the league the sports juggernaut it is today. Davis was born in Massachusetts and brought up in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Syracuse University he became an assistant coach with the Baltimore Colts at the age of 24. After coaching in the university ranks, he joined the Los Angeles Chargers of the fledgling AFL in 1960 and three years later the Raiders made him the youngest general manager-head coach in pro football history. In his three seasons in the job he built a 23-16-3 record, then bought into the failing club. In 1966 he became commissioner of the AFL. That season the first Super Bowl was played between the NFL and AFL champions and by 1970 the leagues had merged, but Davis never got the job of NFL commissioner. He focused on the Raiders, where he was known to welcome players branded troublemakers, misfits or has-beens by other teams and where he continued to foster the renegade spirit cherished by Raiders fans. “He brought in players that everyone else was discarding, including me, and he made it work,” recalled quarterback Jim Plunkett, who won two Super Bowl titles after Davis revived his career by bringing him to Oakland. “And he let you be who you were. We had some guys who liked to have a lot of fun, me included. But when it came Sunday and game day, those guys were always ready to play. He had a knack for getting all of them to play together.” Davis was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, a year after he was honoured by the NFL Players’ Association for his work on behalf of retired players.
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Issue #2 – October 2011
TO NHL: SEASON OPENS WITH BID HEAD OFF SEVERE INJURIES A crackdown on severe hits to the head and the return of the Winnipeg Jets mark the major changes for the National Hockey League ahead of Thursday’s start of the 2011-2012 season. Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s new vice president of hockey operations, has already imposed nine suspensions for a total of 31 games based only upon preseason hits as protecting players from concussions becomes a top priority. “Change is always hard, but what we want is for the number of head injuries to come down,” said Shanahan, who played 21 NHL seasons. “We’re determined to stick with it.” For a major reason why, look no further than opening night. The Pittsburgh Penguins will play at Vancouver, where Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby scored the gold-medal goal in over-time for Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympic final against the United States. But superstar Crosby will not play for Pittsburgh, having not recovered from a concussion suffered in a game last January. Crosby is on injured reserve and has not even returned to contact drills in workouts. Not surprisingly, Crosby is a believer in the crackdown on head blows. “Whether it’s accidental or not accidental, you’ve got to be responsible out there,” Crosby said. “You can do a lot more good than what it’s going to take away from the game.” Opening night also features the Boston Bruins celebrating their first Stanley Cup title since 1972 when they entertain Philadelphia and Canada’s oldest NHL rivalry renewed when the Toronto Maple Leafs play host to Montreal. The Bruins won the best-of-seven NHL Final in a seventh game last June at Vancouver, where the outcome triggered a riot by disappointed Canucks fans, hoping to see their club take its first crown. Friday and Saturday will feature regularseason games in Europe, with the New York Rangers facing Anaheim and Los Angeles in Stockholm and the Buffalo Sabres playing Anaheim in Helsinki and Los Angeles in Berlin. Sunday will see the Winnipeg Jets play host to Montreal as fans in the hockeymad central Canadian city enjoy the return of an NHL club for the first time since the original Jets left for Phoenix in 1996. Issue #2 – October 2011
Anaheim Ducks’ Teemu Selanne (L) tries to score a penalty shot against New York Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Image: Jonathan Nackstrand
NHL owners approved the move of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg in the off-season. While the Jets will remain in the Southeast division this season, realignment for next season is on the agenda for an owners meeting in December. Two issues could have an impact on realignment -- the Phoenix Coyotes remain a ward of city officials who are funding the team on a year-toyear basis and the NHL’s bargaining agreement with players, forged after a lockout wiped out the 2004-2005 NHL campaign, expires next September 15. Pittsburgh, sparked by Russian playmaker Evgeni Malkin, and Boston, backstopped by Tim Thomas with giant Zdeno Chara on defense, will remain among the NHL’s top Eastern Conference contenders this season. Washington, ignited by Russian speedster Alex Ovechkin, and Tampa Bay, with 21-year-old scoring leader Steven Stamkos, should be playoff contenders again. Brad Richards joins Marian Gaborik to make the Rangers a threat with noise from Buffalo, featuring stingy Ryan Miller in goal, and revamped Philadelphia, hoping for a spark from 39-year-old Czech right wing Jaromir Jagr. In the Western Conference, Vancouver had the best record in the regular season but barely ousted 2010 champion Chicago in the first round. Both will be Stanley Cup threats again, the Blackhawks thanks to star frontliners Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp while Vancouver is
powered by Swedish siblings Henrik and Daniel Sedin and goaltender Roberto Luongo. Detroit, guided by veteran Swedish
backliner Nicklas Lidstrom and left wings Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, and San Jose lead the best of the rest in the West.
Caption: Yaroslavl : A Team picture taken on August 21, 2011 shows Lokomotiv ice hockey team in Yaroslavl. At least 44 people were killed September 7, 2011 when a Russian jet carrying hockey players to their first match of the season crashed on takeoff. Image: AFP
PENGUINS AND CAPITALS TEAM UP TO AID LOKOMOTIV FAMILIES NHL rivals Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals will work together to raise money for the families of Lokomotiv Yarolslavl players killed in a Russian airplane crash last month. The teams announced on Tuesday they will wear commemorative patches in a game on October 13 at Pittsburgh in tribute to the 28 players on the Russian team who died when their plane crashed on September 7. Jerseys from the game will be autographed by players and sold in an auction at the National Hockey League’s website to benefit the families. The game will also feature a ceremonial opening face-off involving the Russian WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORT
star players for each club, Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin. However, Ovechkin’s participation will depend on his returning from Russia as he had to fly there on Monday after the death of a close relative. Teams will also sell remembrance bracelets to benefit the families of those killed in the crash. Among those who died were former Slovakian NHL star Pavol Demitra, Swedish goaltender Stefan Liv, Latvian defenseman Karlis Skrastins, Belarus defenseman Ruslan Salei and Czech standouts Josef Vasicek, Jan Marek and Karel Rachunek. - AFP CANBERRA.COM.AU
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FITNESS WITH BRANI ZEC
GOBLET SQUAT
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With both hands, grab one end of a dumbbell to hold it vertically in front of your chest, and stand with your feet slightly beyond shoulder-width. Keeping your back naturally arched, push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body until the tops of your thighs are at least parallel to the floor. Pause, and push yourself up to the starting position. If that’s too hard, do a body-weight squat instead. That’s 1 rep.
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REVERSE LUNGE Stand holding a pair of dumbbells in your hands. Step back with your right leg (as shown). Stand back up. Now repeat with your left side. That’s 1 rep.
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.
6 A TIME ONE GAME AT 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
SINGLE LEG DUMBBELL STRAIGHT LEG DEADLIFT Hold a pair of dumbbells at arm’s length next to your sides. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Raise your left foot off the floor and, without changing the bend in your right knee, bend at your hips and lower your torso until it’s almost parallel to the floor. Pause, and return to the starting position.
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 thanks to toAnytime AnytimeFitness Fitnessin inDickson Dicksonfor forhosting hosting our workout!
That’s 1 rep. Do all your reps, switch legs, and repeat.
WATCH THIS SPACE! In the next issue of PLAY there will be an exciting new product line.
ONE GAME AT A TIME
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CANBERRA.COM.AU
Issue #2 – October 2011
WEIRD SPORT Well 25 years on and one of my life’s mysteries is about to be solved. What was that helmet wearing Edward Basket Hands doing? He was playing Jai alai of course.
A Jai alai player in action during a recent European tournament. - AFP
JAI ALAI My only real recollection of the original Miami Vice, apart from an over whelming feeling of despair that, no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be as awesome as Don Johnson, is a scene in the title sequence, the bit where a man is wearing a helmet and has a basket attached to his hand.
NUTRITION AND HEALTH
DAIRY CALCIUM TIED TO WEIGHT LOSS Issue #2 – October 2011
Jai alai (pronounced Hi lie) is played on a concrete court about half the length of a rugby field, marked off to let the speeding players know where they are and to determine the boundaries of a fair serve (between the fault and pass line). Three walls are concrete and the fourth is netting or glass to protect the spectators from the ball. The object of the game is to scoop the ball (either on the full or on the first bounce) as it bounds off the front wall, and, in a split second, return it so that it will be in a difficult position for the opposing player (or players) to catch. Points are scored in the same manner as tennis or handball. Winning scores vary from seven points (singles) to 25 points (doubles). The game is called Pelota vasca in Spain but the Western Hemisphere name of Jai alai, which is Basque for “merry
festival”, was given when it was introduced in Cuba.
Basque Gantchiqui Diturbide in the 19th century.
The name Jai alai relates to the fact that this game was played at festivals or fiestas in Spain’s Pyrenees Mountains for hundreds of years. The game was then played in the open air with the walls of churches being used to bounce the ball on.
The game of Jai alai is popular in countries like Spain and Mexico where, in some regions, the game is played in almost every town and city. Jai alai also spread out to such countries as mainland Brazil, the Philippines, Italy, Indonesia, China and Egypt.
Jai alai is often touted as the fastest ball game in the world. The ball (or pelota) is rock hard, made of hard rubber covered in a parchment skin. It weighs around 125g and is roughly between golf ball and baseball in size. During the game the pelota can travel faster than 290 kph. The life-span of a single pelota ball averages 20 minutes of play due to the extreme velocity at which it is blasted against the fronon wall, eventually splitting open and requiring a replacement pelota
In the United States, Jai alai is quite popular among gamblers in Florida, hence the Miami Vice connection. It is used as a basis for pari-mutuel gambling. Bets are made on teams, on separate matches and on the length of time one player will hold the court.
The ball is volleyed by players wearing a wicker basket glove approximately 63 to 70 cm long. The glove, called cesta-punta in Spanish and xistera in Basque, was invented by the French
There you have it – Jai alai, not just a fashion statement. And as far as we know there are currently no Jai alai teams in Canberra, so get in quick, create a team and you’ll be state champion in no time, earning yourself a massive trophy (which you’ll probably have to purchase yourself) and more importantly that ACT tracksuit you’ve always wanted.
◊ WWW.NUTRITIONAUSTRALIA.ORG
Here’s another reason to grab a glass of milk: a new study suggests that boosting calcium intake from milk and increasing vitamin D levels could aid weight loss. The study, published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that milk drinkers had an advantage over those who limited milk. The researchers analysed data from 322 overweight adults aged 40–65, who were participating in a two-year weight loss study. Participants with the highest dairy calcium intake six months into the study (averaging about 580mg per day — the amount in nearly two glasses of milk) lost on average 5.3kg at the end of the two years, compared to about 3.3kg for those with the lowest dairy calcium intake (averaging about 160mg, or about half of a glass). The authors suggested that dairy calcium may accelerate weight loss by decreasing the amount of fat you absorb. Dairy Australia dietitian Glenys Zucco says this study supports a growing body
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of research which links milk, cheese and yogurt to weight loss when part of a reduced kilojoule diet. “Research suggests that calcium alone can help weight loss, but the effects seem to be more dramatic when it’s taken in the form of dairy products,” she said. Australians need at least three serves of dairy foods (milk, cheese and yogurt) each day to help meet their calcium requirements. One serve is equal to a glass of milk or a 200g tub of yogurt or 40g of cheese, but most Australians fail to consume this amount of dairy foods. “By ditching dairy, slimmers are not only missing out on bone-building calcium, they’re also missing out on a potentially important fat fighter,” Ms Zucco added. Beyond calcium, the study also found that levels of vitamin D (which we get through exposure to sunlight) independently effected weight loss success. So grab a glass of milk, enjoy the spring sunshine and boost your chances at weight loss.
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Standing by the love of your life Difficulty rating: 1/10 Mountain biking 5,000km on the BNT from Cooktown to Canberra in only 3 months Difficulty rating: 10/10 Living with an acquired brain injury Difficulty rating: 15/10 In May 2010, former Brumbies Coach, Andy Friend had his world crumble around him, when his wife Kerri suffered an acquired brain injury in a mountain bike accident. This forced Andy and their sons to face extraordinary challenges they never expected. Since the accident, Andy, Kerri and their boys continue to work tirelessly for her recovery. Now they face a new challenge, a challenge you can be a part of, as Andy attempts to conquer the Bicentennial National Trail.
Visit www.andyfriend.com.au to find out more. Difficulty rating: 0/10 Your support will help Andy Friend raise funds to assist people with acquired brain injury.
Proudly supported by Ideas & Directions www.ideasanddirections.com.au 46
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Issue #2 – October 2011