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Issue #20 February 2013
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THE CENTENARY OF CANBERRA 2013
ONE VERy bIg YEAR in SPORT HERE’S A GLIMPSE OF THINGS TO COME
FEBRUARY COMMONWEALTH BANK SERIES - ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL CRICKET MATCH AUSTRALIA VS WEST INDIES WED 6 History will be created when UT australia clash with archDO SOL rivals the West Indies, in Canberra’s first day- night match
ISPS HANDA WOMEN’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN THURS 14 - SUN 17 The 2013 Australian Women’s Open will bring the world’s best golfers and the global LGPA golf tour to Canberra for the first time
NATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS TUES 19 – SUN 24 Australia’s hottest mountain bikers will be in action at Stromlo Forest Park for the 2013 National Mountain Bike Championships
July KANGA CUP SUN 7 – FRI 12 The 2013 Kanga Cup is a celebration of culture, football, fun and friendship. The Kanga Cup is the largest International Youth Football Tournament in the Southern Hemisphere with teams from across Australia and overseas participating in the event
August & SEPTEMBER CENTENARY NETBALL MATCH Canberra Darters V (TBA)
FESTIVAL OF SQUASH
MARCH
AUG 1 – OCT 31 The festival of Squash celebrates 100 years of Australian Squash, bringing all levels of squash players from junior, masters and the worlds’ best professional men and women
BOOMANULLA UNITED COMMUNITY MIXED TOUCH COMPETITION
october & NOVEMBER
SAT 2 Boomanulla touch football competition fuses sport, music and Indigenous culture into one amazing event
THE AUSTRALIAN FEMALE SKATEBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS
CENTENARY RUGBY MATCH Brumbies V Waratahs
SAT 19 The inaugural Australian Female Skateboarding Championships will show the very best in Australian skateboarding
SAT 9 What better way to kick of Canberra’s Centenary Birthday weekend than watching the Brumbies take on the visiting Waratahs
APRIL & MAY CENTENARY AFL MATCH GWS GIANTS V ST KILDA SAT 13 Not only will this match be the first Giant’s Premiership game to be played in Canberra in 2013, it will also be kicking off at a special twilight timeslot
RUGBY LEAGUE TEST AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND FRI 19 The only currently scheduled international rugby league match in Australia 2013
June CENTENARY RUGBY LEAGUE MATCH Canberra Raiders V Brisbane Broncos
INTERNATIONAL NETBALL TEST AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND SUN 13 This will be the first time Canberra has hosted a Trans -Tasman netball test match
CENTENARY BASEBALL MATCH Canberra Calvary V (TBA)
CENTENARY FOOTBALL MATCH Canberra United V (TBA)
DECEMBER THE BURLEY GRIFFIN REGATTA SAT 8 The Burley Griffin Regatta takes place on the picturesque banks of the Parliamentary Triangle, with events which include kayaking, rowing and dragon boating this is surely a day not to miss
MON 10 Help cheer on the local green machine when they take on the Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium
BRUMBIES V BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS SAT 22 Come watch our Brumbies take on one of the world’s most iconic teams
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IN ADDITION TO THESE HUGE SPORTING EVENTS, THERE WILL BE OVER 100 COMMUNITY SPORTING EVENTS SHOWCASING THE DIVERSITY OF SPORT AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT CANBERRA, FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CANBERRA100.COM.AU
Issue #20 February 2013
Cover: Black opal stakes.
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ConTents 5. CENTENARY - Sportenary Events 6. Tennis - Junior Aus Open Champ Nick Kyrgious 7. AFL - AFL Canberra season launch 8. Raiders - Preparation the key 10. Brumbies - Nic White Talks to PLAY 12. Feature -BLack Opal Stakes 14. Basketball - AIS scholarships announced 16. Canberra stadium - Join the Club 19. ACTEWAGL - Calendar of Events 20. Crickets - Future shining for ACT Cricket 22. kick boxing - Edwards look to even score 24. Baseball - Buschini signs MLB deal 26. Softball - Mens international series 27. football - United awards night 28. Fitness - Exercises for the new year 29. fooball - Catholic Primary Carnival 30. Crossword - PLAY’s sport crossword 28. At the end of the day - Looks at danger in sport 31. In case you missed it - wrap up of the month. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & COLLABORATORS: Antony Perry Todd Davey Brett McKay Peta Guy Shaun Ebert Joshua Mercer Adam Phelan Lyndall Parker Brendan Parnell Chris Cairns Russ Gibbs Jessica Munoz Josh Matic Alexis Cooper PHOTOGRAPHERS: Joseph Purdam: www.jpphotographic.com.au Andrew Finch: www.edgelightphotography.com.au Ben Southall: www.bensouthall.com.au
Michael Phelan: B&M photography WEB PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU
CONTACT EDITORIAL Nathan Minerds - editor@playcanberra.com.au 0452 220 100 ADVERTISING Ad Guys - advertise@playcanberra.com.au 0407 078 893 DISCLAIMER PLAY Canberra is a monthly magazine distributed to over 500 locations in Canberra on the first Thursday of the month. The opinions, view and comments expressed in PLAY do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publisher. PLAY Canberra is not responsible for the information submitted in the ads by the advertisers. Issue #20 February 2013
Image: Andrew Finch
Gift of Life’s DonateLife Walk 2013 Join thousands of Canberrans for the Gift of Life’s annual DonateLife Walk on Wednesday 27 February 2013 and show your support for raising awareness of organ and tissue donation. Organised by Gift of Life, the walk 2013 is a key community event in Canberra during national DonateLife Week, which runs from Sunday 24 February to Sunday 3 March 2013. During this week, all Australians are being asked to “Discover, Decide, Discuss” organ and tissue donation to “Make their organ and tissue donation wish count”. One Canberran that will definitely be there is former Canberra Raiders captain now DonateLife champion and One Community Ambassador Alan Tongue. We caught up with Alan and asked about his involvement in the DonateLife Walk and life after football. “I’m excited about getting behind the Gift of Life DonateLife Walk—it’s about raising awareness and getting fit at the same time. I’m really passionate about organ and tissue donation because just one donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people, it’s just amazing” Alan said. Alan signed up as donor a number of years ago, but only learned the importance of letting your family know your donation wishes after a DonateLife event last year. Like most people Alan assumed registering as a donor was enough. “It wasn’t until after an event last year when the NRL partnered up with DonateLife’s campaign to raise awareness of the importance of having that conversation with your family about your wishes that I came straight home and chatted to my wife and we both thought that just registering was enough but this isn’t the case”. And what does Alan want Canberran’s to walk away with from this years event? “The message this year is to make your wish count—discover, decide, discuss organ and tissue donation. Once you’ve
signed up to the register, tell your loved ones, because your donation won’t proceed without their consent”. Always busy on the field PLAY was interested to see if Alan’s retirement from footy has slowed him down, but as you would imagine this isn’t the case “Work for me hasn’t stopped—as well as being a DonateLife community ambassador and ambassador for Rugby League’s One Community, I’m working out at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre with my Dream Believe Achieve program which is all about confidence and teamwork, I still commentate matches for the ABC and I run personal training sessions in my spare time. What can I say I love keeping busy!” Gift of Life president David O’Leary supports Alan sentiments. “2013’s message is: “make your wish count” - discover, decide, discuss organ and tissue donation. It’s important because 44 per cent of Australians don’t know or aren’t sure of the donation wishes of their loved ones and we’re hoping to increase family consent rates to enable many more Australian’s lives to be saved.” “Come on Canberra, join the cause and register to participate in the walk on 27 February. Get your workplace, friends or family involved and register as a team. Just go to www.giftoflife.asn.au”. Gift of Life’s DonateLife Walk 2013 Wednesday 27 February, 6.45am (7am sharp start) Regatta Point, Canberra. It’s the 7th annual DonateLife Walk as part of DonateLife Week and is one of Canberra’s biggest community events with more than 2,500 Canberrans taking part. For details: www.giftoflife.asn.au playcanberra.com.au
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Issue #20 February 2013
Questacon’s achievements The Canberra Tae Kwan Do Club will be demonstrating their board-breaking moves from 11 am–1 pm. The Japan Theatre will feature regular talks and presentations, including local experts highlighting the important role science and technology plays in training today’s top athletes.
1.
Over 6.8 million visitors to Questacon in Canberra since opening in 1988.
2.
Over 14.9 million visitors to travelling exhibitions and outreach programs.
3.
Annually, over two million visitors to Questacon multi award winning, interactive website.
12.
Winner of the Special Award—Longevity in the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships for the Shell Questacon Science Circus— the most extensive and longest running touring science centre outreach programme in the world.
13.
Winner of two 2006 International Council of Museums Australia Awards for International Relations in recognition of outstanding cooperative initiatives with science centres in the Asia-Pacific region.
Get moving at Questacon’s Science Sport Spectacular
4. Annual average increase total visitors to programs Sport, science andintechnology come together at Questacon for the and exhibitions of over 10%, since 2002-03. Science Sport Spectacular on Saturday,14.23 Host February. 5. Annually, nearly 15% of Australian school children for the Asia Pacific launch of Project IGLO encounter Questacon, either through a school visit to
This family fun day features a range of energetic Canberra or through a Questacon outreach program in their community. activities, shows, displays and demonstrations where 6. Fully get accredited member thelives Association of Science visitors can a glimpse intoofthe of Canberraand Technology Centers (ASTC) headquartered in based elite athletes. The Science Sport Spectacular Washington, DC. is presented as part of the Centenary of Canberra 7. Host to the 2002 third Science Centre World Congress, Sportenary program. attended by 440 delegates from 39 countries.
(International Action on GlobalWarming), a worldwide
rowing, sprinting and vertical and communities compare their science centre project toleaping, engage local on climate results against thechange. current world record holders. Can you beat Usain Bolt’s time over 15 metres?
The frominthe Academy of Sport will be running 8. team Leader theACT Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Science Project. activitiesCentre usedImpact in their talent identification program from of the 2003 Financial Corporate 99.am–2 Winner pm. Visitors will be able toReview test their prowess in 10.
Winner of Australian and international awards for design, software and educational excellence for the online exhibition Burarra Gathering.
Media enquiries:
Four-time winner of Canberra and Capital Region Tourism Awards.
Facsimile 02 6273 4346
Ms Michelle Canning 100 SPORTING EVENTS, 100 DAYS, 1 CENTENARY YEAR Telephone 02 6270 2804 11.
The Questacon Excited Particles will also present the lively and interactive Move It science show, where kids will have a chance to out-muscle their parents in a tug-of-war, with a little help from simple machines and engineering concepts. Questacon’s Science Sport Spectacular is guaranteed to get the whole family moving!
For more information contact:
Questacon’s Q Lab will become a hub for the latest in PO Box 5322 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Canberra, Australia high-tech sporting equipment. Visitors can check out Telephone 02 6270 2800 the latest innovations in road bikes from Trek, see the Facsimile 02 6126 2260 controversial ‘fast suit’ swimsuits from the Australian Email sciencecircus@questacon.edu.au Institute of Sport (AIS), or get a close-up view of the Website www.questacon.edu.au Canberra Archery equipment. King Edward Terrace,Club’s Canberra ACT
Partnership Award for the Shell Questacon Science Circus.
Dr Gordon Waddington, Associate Professor and Head of Physiotherapy at UC will present ‘The Science of Dance’, featuring high-speed video and ultrasound images of muscles and joints in motion during dance and athletic activity. Dr Waddington will call on volunteers from the audience to demonstrate the biomechanics of performance and how injury may be prevented. (Presentations at 11 am and 1.30 pm)
SPORTENARY Email mcanning@questacon.edu.au
Current February 2008
Questacon The National Science and Technology Centre King Edward Terrace, Canberra Open 9am-5pm every day except 25 December. Admission fees apply. www.questacon.edu.au
Over 50 weeks of the Centenary year, there will be 100 community events showcasing a diversity of sport and recreation activities, facilities and local attractions throughout the ACT that get Canberrans off the bench and participating in Sportenary! Further information can be found at www.canberra100.com.au/sportenary
Event Name
YMCA Canberra Community Sailing Day
Event Name
Stromlo Running Festival
Organisation
YMCA
Organisation
Stromlo Running Festival
Date
Saturday 9 February 2013
Date
Sat 16 Feb 2013 10.15am–11.30am – Cross Country Race – 7.5km
Time
8am – 5pm
DATE
Sun 17 Feb 2013 8am–10am – Altra Lightning Strike Run – 10kM
Location
YMCA Canberra Centre, Alexandrina Dr, Yarralumla
Location
Stromlo Forest Park
Event Details
www.canberra100.com.au/sportenary
Event Details
www.canberra100.com.au/sportenary
Event Name
Weetbix Kids TRYathlon
Event Name
Science Sport Spectacular @ Questacon
Organisation
Weetbix Kids TRYathlon
Organisation
Questacon – The Nat Science and Technology Centre
Date
Sunday 10 February 2013
Date
Saturday 23 February 2013
Time
7am – 12pm
Time
9am – 4pm
Location
Australian Institute of Sport, Battye St, Bruce
Location
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Event Details
www.canberra100.com.au/sportenary
Event Details
www.canberra100.com.au/sportenary
Event Name
ACT Veterans Badminton Celebration
Event Name
Petanque
Organisation
ACT Veterans Badminton
Organisation
Capital Petanque
Date
Saturday 16 February 2013
Date
Sunday 24 February 2013
Time
3.30pm – 5.30pm
Time
TBA
Location
Lake Ginninderra College Gym, Emu Bank, Belconnen
Location
Parkes Pl, Parkes
Event Details
www.canberra100.com.au/sportenary
Event Details
www.canberra100.com.au/sportenary
Issue #20 February 2013
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Kyrgios, who began playing tennis when he was seven with coach Andrew Bulley, is a product of the ACT Athlete Development Program. When he was 10 he joined the ACT High Performance Academy under the guidance of former professional Todd Larkham. Last year Des Tyson took control after he earned an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship. The former Daramalan College student believes he benefited from having a promising group of juniors in Canberra (Jarred Wynan, Jake Wynan, Andrew Zedde, Todd Volmari and James Frawley) to practise with. “We were always really pushing each other, motivating each other to do better,” he says. While Kyrgios has always been the No.1 Australian junior in his birth year, Larkham says a tennis career “wasn’t always a certainty”. “When he was 10 he was very talented and had great hand-eye [coordination],” Larkham says, “but there were many areas in his game that needed improving. The biggest one being his general fitness and his movement around the court. “His biggest strength has always been his competitiveness - he has consistently found a way to win the big matches. Image: GETTY
Canberra’s World Number 1 a smash hit If by chance Nick Kyrgios doesn’t wield a racquet again in the Australian Open finals, then he may just wield a microphone. According to locker room gossip, the world junior No.1 can sing quite well. Not one to be shy, Kyrgios rates his locker room performance which his mates recorded for prosperity as “pretty good”. By Lyndall Parker “I was just singing the National Anthem in the shower and everyone heard,” he laughs. “Earlier in the week I was doing a Hot Shots promotion [with Blake Mott] and the loser of the point had to sing the Australian Anthem, so I was sort of practising.”
“I like to give everyone who’s watching something enjoyable to watch,” he says, “I like bringing a lot of energy to the court.”
The newly crowned Australian Open junior singles champion is a brash, confident young man – most of the time.
“We’ve been working on finding that balance,” he says. “Staying composed, not having so many outbursts, keeping positive energy in tough times, trying not to waste too much energy. I think I sort of found the balance the past two weeks.”
After his victory at Melbourne Park he was talking to Rod Laver and didn’t realise the man standing next to the Australian great was four-time champion Andre Agassi. “I didn’t really recognise him [Agassi] because I was so into Rod,” he says. “I was speechless. He’s such a great player and has done so much … just his presence was enough.” Like Agassi, Kyrgios, the youngest son of George and Norlaila, admits he has always been a bit of a showman. 6
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It is something that he and his coach Des Tyson have been addressing.
In the final against doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, he blasted eight aces – including two to save set points in the first set – and 36 winners to claim his maiden Grand Slam singles title 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. He became the fourth Australian to win the boys’ singles title in seven years, behind Brydan Klein (2007), Bernard Tomic (2008) and Luke Saville last year; and the second Canberran after Ben Ellwood in 1994.
“He’s courageous under pressure; he never takes the safe option. Because his movement was always lacking, he has had to play very aggressively and that’s why his attacking skills are so good now.” Kyrgios says he learnt a valuable lesson after turning up to the 2012 Australian Open juniors unfit and overweight. A frank discussion after a disappointing tournament with Larkham helped shape a successful year – which included two Grand Slam junior doubles titles – and motivate him to shed five kilos. “I haven’t really forgotten that day,” he says, “because that’s when I really started to take every training session as serious as I could and give everything every time I stepped out on the court.” Professionalism is one of the areas he says he has “made a massive improvement” and was one the biggest lessons he took away from watching Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray at close quarters this year. “They do everything at 100 per cent. Not just on the court, but off the court. They stretch, hydrate, eat, they are so professional all the time.” While he may have room to improve in terms of professionalism, the Watson teenager is right up there with the best in the fire power department: in the junior final his first serve averaged 194km/h (men’s champion Djokovic’s was 188km/h against Murray). With endorsement deals with Yonex and Nike already, Kyrgios, ranked 840 in the men’s rankings, recently signed with sports management company Global Tennis Connections to capitalise on off-court opportunities. Whether that’s because of the racquet or microphone, time will tell. Issue #20 February 2013
their NAB Cup fixture against Essendon at Manuka Oval. The brand new Kippax oval has been a project that has been over 5 years in the making with a combine effort between the ACT Government, Belconnen Magpies Sports Club and Belconnen Magpies Football Club investing over 3 million dollars to upgrade the ground to become one of the premier ovals in the ACT region. This day will also mark the start of the AFL Canberra season with clubs based in the ACT region showing their commitment to growing the strength of local AFL competitions.
ACT’s best to shine on an important day For the third consecutive year the ACT’s best under 23’s players will have the opportunity to take on some of the GIANTS newest AFL talent but this time it will be at the official opening of the redeveloped Kippax Facility on the 9th of March. The Match that is becoming a regular fixture on the AFL Canberra Representative calendar has seen many players who participated in these match achieving extremely strong results for themselves at the representative level as well in their club football. Last year, we saw 11 players from the ACT Under 23s squad play state league representative football, several also went on to play games for the UWS Giants and
many continued on to have very successful years with their own club. This match gives players the ilk of Kaine Stevens a chance to show off their talents in front of Giants coaches and other club recruiters, who have previously made the trip to the Nationals Capital for this special game. What makes this day even more special is the events that will be happening throughout the day. It will mark the official opening by the government of the redeveloped Kippax facility, the AFL Canberra Season Launch and the GIANTS first Fan Day following
o t e v o L Do you
? E C DAN
To add an AFL flair to the whole day, the GWS GIANTS will be holding their first Fan Day in Canberra for 2013. Following their NAB Cup match the night before against Essendon, all the players and coaches will be sticking around to a attend the day with the majority of activities happening between 10:00am to 12:00pm. The day will also have all the GIANTS Fan Zone activities available for all people that attend. All in all, this day promises to be a great day for all involved and a great chance for people to see the ACT’s best young guns take on some of the AFL’s newest talent. Where: Kippax Enclosed Oval, Hardwick Cresent Holt GIANTS Fan Day: 10:00am-12:00pm AFL Canberra Season Launch: 10:00am Main Game: 11:30am
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He described the team’s boot camp, which took place in December last year as physically the hardest thing he’d ever done.
Image: GETTY
Furner sent the team to the boot camp to improve team bonding and communication under fatigue. The players were put through a 20km trail run over rugged terrain, with steep inclines, water hazards and 18 to 25 military-style obstacles, plus they were made to carry heavy logs across rivers, amongst other tasks. In the 20km run there were also three metre-high walls, pits of mud, ice baths and fields of live wires- shocking participants with 10,000 volts of electricity. Shillington said now the team is seeing the benefits of it, and that there have been subtle improvements with team bonding. “I think looking at how we were working together as a team under fatigue in this opposed session, especially in 30 degree heat…hopefully that’s the result of the army camp,” he said.
Preparation – the key to success
Canberra Raiders Coach David Furner has taken a highly proactive approach to the 2013 NRL season so far this preseason, and has reiterated that preparation will be the key to guiding his men to success this year. By Joshua Matic @MaticJm After a sixth place finish in the 2012 season which came off the back of a six game winning streak, plus the stardom that some of his players showed on the field, Furner has been licking his lips, and is putting in an enormous effort to ensure the Raiders play in back-toback finals series for the first time since 2004. So far he has had 307-game veteran and legendary half back Brett Kimmorley signed as one of the club’s new assistant coaches, sent the entire first grade squad on a two day boot camp in the Illawarra for team bonding, organised NRL referees Chris James and Adam Gee to come to Canberra to officiate an opposed training session, and visited the Sydney Swans AFL club to get an idea of what premiership-winning club culture is like. “I think preparation is the key, and obviously not just for the players but the coaching staff as well,” Furner told PLAY. “There are a lot of areas to make sure that every box has been ticked.” Furner said he looked at every advantage in getting Kimmorley to the club, and was always confident he would fit in after a 12 month stint in the coaching ranks of Canterbury-Bankstown last season. But he also praised recently promoted assistant coach Andrew Dunemann for his outstanding work in leading the U20’s team to the decider last season, and said there are also benefits in having him in his new position. 8
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“Andrew Dunemann has done a tremendous job with the under 20’s, so he’s going to add to our coaching staff,” he said. “Obviously Noddy [Kimmorley] who’s had a full 12 months with the Bulldogs…it’s about picking what they’ve [Kimmorley and Dunemann] done well, and us doing that, and you’ve just got to look at any way there to try and get an advantage.” “Speaking with Noddy; we had a couple of really strong meetings. I needed to be sure that he was the right person for not only the coaching staff but for the players.” “It’s one thing that he’s got good knowledge, but he also has enthusiasm.” Raiders Captain David Shillington, who also spoke with PLAY, said the team has a lifted confidence in Furner as coach after what he has done for them so far after coming under criticism for a horror 2011 season and a poor start to last season. “Furnsey’s [Furner] always put in a lot of work- he’s there from five in the morning till dinner time, and I’m sure when he gets home he goes into his office there and keeps working,” he said. “This year he’s probably put in a few different things.” “There’s a lot of good things in place at the moment, it’s great and All the team has bought into it.”
“Some of our goal setting came out of the camp too which was a big thing. We discussed a lot of goals, team standards, while under serious fatigue.” “It was a good bonding experience and hopefully it’ll carry us through this year.” Furner was always enthusiastic about visiting the Sydney Swans, he said he wanted just to “have a look” and was interested in finding out how they recover after hefty travel schedules - a major similarity between the Raiders and the Swans, being in one-team cities. He was also interested in that club’s premiership-winning culture, such as their famous “no dickheads” policy. “They’re a team that travel, they’re based in Sydney, they’re the only AFL side in Sydney [apart for GWS], so there’s a lot of similarities there I can find,” he said. The idea of arranging for NRL referees to officiate an opposed training session, which featured both first grade and U20’s players plus some from feeder club Mounties, was for Furner and his players to get clarification on rulings. Slowing of the ruck seemed to be the biggest issue coming out of the session, with players ruthlessly penalised for having a hand on the ball coming out of tackles. Furner is hoping this interpretation from referees will nullify 50/50 calls on players in the ruck either knockingon or raking. What makes a shoulder charge, which is now banned, was also a key area for Furner to identify, and Furner said having the two referees talk with the players about this was handy. Shillington said players must “attempt a standard tackle” and cannot lead with their shoulders. If winning really is a by-product of the effort that goes in planning, preparing and practise, few would dispute that David Furner has set the Green Machine up for a successful season in 2013. Now its up to players to prove this adage correct and turn this preparation into results. Issue #20 February 2013
represent the playing group for the upcoming season.
Image: Andrew finch
Campese said the CPR was in place to give the playing group a voice and provide leadership for the club as a whole and it was great to have some younger voices in this year’s group. “It’s very similar to last year’s structure, but we have Shaun Fensom in there which is well deserved and he’s on the road to be one of the leaders of the club so it’s great to see him in there,” Campese said. “We had a vote before Christmas among the playing group and this is the eight chosen and I think it’s great to see that your peers have chosen you to lead the squad. “Being in the CPR is about how you conduct yourself on and off the field and you need to lead by example.”
Raiders Player Representatives for 2013 The Canberra Raiders officially announced their Club Player Representatives (CPR) for the 2013 season. Terry Campese will remain Captain with David Shillington and Brett White serving as Vice Captains.
The 2013 CPR features eight players with a mix of experience and youth, with Shaun Berrigan, Dane Tilse, Josh McCrone, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Shaun Fensom also selected by their peers to
Campese and Vice-Captain White spent the majority of the 2012 season on the sideline with knee injuries and Campese said the positive to come from the situation was David Shillington’s rise to become a huge part of the clubs leadership. “Shillo did a great job in leading the team to the semifinals last year and I’m more than happy for him to take the role on while I’m unavailable,” he said. “I’ve only got one thing on my mind at the moment and that’s to get my knee right and get back on the field. A humble Shillington said he would be more than happy to commence the season as Captain if Campese was not ready for round one.
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ability, but were you surprised how well you went last year? NW: I think I was probably lucky in that there were a lot of guys in the team also making that transition from club rugby in Canberra, or Sydney, or in Brisbane into Super Rugby, so I wasn’t alone. I think if I was the only one - and most teams have one or two making that transition - it would’ve been harder. But I knew there were other blokes with me, so that made it a lot easier. For example, with Matty [Toomua] at five-eighth, he’s my age, we’ve come through the age ranks, so it made it a lot easier that way. I guess though, yeah, I was a bit surprised at the team’s success early on, to an extent. But I probably wasn’t alone there. BM: You definitely weren’t alone there...
Image: GETTY
Nic White: a promising 2012 the motivation for a big 2013 Recognised by many as the clear understudy Will Genia for the Wallaby no.9 last season, Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White could only watch on in the latter half of the season, after shoulder surgery ruled him out of what would most certainly have a been Wallaby debut. By Brett McKay @BMcSport White spoke recently with PLAY’s Brett McKay, and revealed how he’s using the frustrating end to an otherwise superb 2012 season to push his game in 2013.
done I was pretty relieved that I’d had my shoulder fixed and that I knew 2013 was going to be an injury-free and problem-free year for me.
Brett McKay: Your Super Rugby form was outstanding, you sat on the bench for three Tests without getting a Cap, went back to club rugby, scheduled your surgery, and then Will Genia went down. I’m not sure what the opposite of ‘bittersweet’ is, but how would you describe your 2012 season?
BM: Touch wood?
Nic White: I don’t know; I thought about this a while ago, and what I’d say if this question came up. I really enjoyed the start of the year, it obviously didn’t end in a fairy tale, or the way I’d have liked it to, but I was really happy with the progress I made in 2012, and then I always knew I had to go in get the shoulder done, so that made [missing out on a Wallaby Cap] a bit easier. BM: The timing couldn’t have been much worse? NW: I guess I missed a little bit of an opportunity there, but in saying that, I’ve got my shoulder done and that will give me a good opportunity to hopefully play some good footy this year, and hopefully get another opportunity. BM: Were there ever times where you were watching Rugby Championship matches, and Spring Tour matches, and thinking, “that should’ve been me”? NW: Oh, obviously I thought there was an opportunity there that I might have missed, but as soon as I had it 10
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NW: (Laughs) Touch Wood! At the same time, I knew I had to get [the shoulder reconstruction] done, and if anything, I kind of smiled because if I knew that Will [Genia] had gone down, it would’ve been a decision much harder to make, whereas at the time I decided to get it done, he was sweet. BM: Regardless of everything that could’ve happened for you, 2012 would have to be seen as a ‘breakthrough’ year for you? NW: Definitely. Coming into 2012, I’d never started a Super Rugby game, and I got that opportunity. I’d had a full pre-season and now with a full season under my belt, I now know what kind of preparation to put in front of me to make sure I’m right for this season. Those experiences you can’t train for, you’ve just got to ‘do’, so yeah, it’s kind of... I know what training we need to push ourselves, the whole team, and we know what we’ve got to do to go ok in the comp, but in saying that, if we don’t push ahead and go further [in the Super Rugby competition], and train harder, we’re not even going to finish seventh, we’re going to come a lot further down the ladder. BM: You obviously knew what you could do with your
Jake [White] told me last season that any time you went for extra passing practice, or extra goal-kicking practice, that Ian Prior went with you. Is that as much about driving each other, as it is keeping your competitors close? NW: Yeah, definitely, and it’s even broader now that we’ve got Mark Swanepoel here. He brings a whole new dynamic to halfback, he’s a bit bigger and more physical, so I guess you don’t want to see the other blokes doing something you can’t. So if I’m going from some other goal-kicking, the others will come along; if ‘Swanie’ is doing extra gym, and he’s pretty good in the gym, the rest of us aren’t too far behind. So it’s pushing each other, but it’s keeping us all on our toes. BM: What’s the personal goals and expectations for 2013, or is it all about the team and what success for the team will bring to the individuals? NW: Yeah, it’s all about the team. If the team has success, then that’s when blokes get selected from. If the team’s not doing well, you can’t expect many blokes to be picked for further honours. So that’s where it really comes down to, we’re pushing for Round 1, all our energy’s going toward Round 1 [against the Queensland Reds on February 16]. We didn’t beat the Reds in two outings last year - well, three actually, we didn’t beat them in the trial either - and we’ve got to get away to a good start. It’s at home, we want to beat the Reds, the Champions from two years ago, and they’ve got the most Wallabies in their team. BM: Does how close you came to a Wallaby Cap in 2012 drive you individually, though? NW: Yeah, definitely. I left that June Test [the Third Test v Wales] knowing how close I was but I didn’t quite get that Cap. So I definitely want to play good footy this year, and get another opportunity, or hopefully get another opportunity to step over that line [onto the field]. But again, all energies are going into that first game. I’ll just worry about playing a good game, and we’ll go from there. Issue #20 February 2013
Image: GETTY
Ben Mowen to lead Brumbies in 2013
ability. And Christian Lealiifano, in a lot of ways, is rewarded for his efforts last year,” White explained.
Jake White has retained Ben Mowen as Captain of the Brumbies for the 2013 Super Rugby season. Mowen was preferred over former Western Force skipper and 2012 Wallabies captain, David Pocock, who joined has the club for the 2013 season. By Brett McKay @BMcSport Pocock will be one of three deputies to Mowen, along with 2012 Vice-Captain Stephen Moore, and the promoted Christian Lealiifano. Dan Palmer and Pat McCabe, also Vice-Captains in 2012, won’t continue in that role in 2013, but will both play vital roles on the field as senior players. White has confirmed that Palmer will remain the scrum leader, while McCabe will be heavily involved in calling backline plays.
responsibility following in the footsteps of George Gregan, and Stirling Mortlock, and Brett Robinson, guys who have been very successful Captains here,” White said
White described the choice of Mowen to lead the club again in 2013 as a simple one.
“Ben knows that, and part of his brief last year was to create the culture and develop the culture for the next couple of years, so I think it would be [bigger] news if I was changing my captain and announcing why I was changing my captain, as opposed to understanding that the guy I had in the first place is the guy I believe in.”
“Ben has the respect of the team, I think the lessons he learned last year will bode well for him this year, and it’s a big thing, Captaincy in Australia. He has massive
What was more difficult for White, was the decision to bring in two new Vice-Captains, particularly since he was quite happy with the guys he had in 2012. “David Pocock’s been a national Captain, and a franchise Captain, so it made logical sense to get him on board and get him to contribute [to the team] his leadership
GAMES IN ]
FEbRUARY www.brumbies.com.au
Issue #20 February 2013
“There’s no reason in thinking Pat McCabe and Dan Palmer have been dropped as Vice-Captain, but I think to make four or five or six [players as Vice-Captains] would be diluting things, and I wanted to make sure those boys felt they were deserving of it. “One thing we mustn’t underplay is that Christian is a Polynesian boy and I have a massive amount of Polynesian kids in this team. To have his ear with the Polynesian kids, and to have him as a role model and a mentor for the young Polynesian boys is massive for us as a group,’’ White said. Mowen was typically modest about retaining the Captaincy, and is relishing the thought of leading out a Brumbies side with the likes of Pocock close behind. “To be honest, I wasn’t too concerned whether I was going to have the Captaincy or not, it was more about the end result, and whoever Jake thought was going to be the bloke to get us that result, I was going to be more than happy with that,” Mowen said. “The beauty of having a guy like ‘Poey’ [Pocock] coming into your squad is not only what he brings in terms of his talent on the field, but the type of guy he is off the field, and his natural leadership. He’s going to have a huge role in this team, and I don’t think whether he had the ‘C’ next to his name or not was going to change what he brings to us.”
V QLD REDS Sat 16/02: 7.40pm Canberra Stadium
V REbELS
Fri 22/02: 7.40pm AAMI Park Melbourne
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Highlight of the calendar
Its that time of the year again when racing fever hits the Capital – on the second Sunday of March Thoroughbred Park will host the highlight of the Canberra race calendar. The Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes is not only an event for race lovers, the day is also one of the highlights in the Canberra fashion scene presenting a mixture of racing thrills and glamour you won’t find anywhere else. Racing action Racing in Canberra has a strong tradition officially dating back to 1925 on a track that now lays about 6 meters beneath the surface of Lake Burley Griffin. Since moving to it’s current location of Thoroughbred Park the Canberra Racing Club has gone from strength to strength and since its inception in 1973 (won by Rich Reward incidentally) the Black Opal has been the jewel in the crown of the Canberra racing scene.
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“It’s a great way to celebrate Canberra’s 100th birthday, and it is only fitting that ACTTAB have the naming rights to the race having supported the local community since 1964” Chief Executive of the Canberra Racing Club Peter Stubbs said. The 2012 Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes broke crowd attendance records and the benchmark has been raised to present an exciting race day in 2013 as a major event on the centenary calendar. ACTTAB Chief Executive Tony Curtis said “ACTTAB are pleased to be a part of the Centenary celebrations and we hope that everyone will join and celebrate with us for the historic event”.
Fashion But not all the action takes place on the track. If fashion is more your thing you can enter the ever popular Myer Fashions on the Field competition for the chance to walk away with the best prizes in the region. Categories are Classic Ladies Racewear, Classic Mens Racewear, Classic Couples Racewear and the Millinery Award. Again, a high prize pool totaling over $20,000.
In the year of the centenary, Thoroughbred Park will celebrate Canberra’s rich racing history by presenting the Black Opal Stakes Day and to celebrate the centenary, the ACTTAB Canberra Centenary Cup. A race with national exposure and attracting the high caliber of trainers, the Black Opal Stakes Day is one of the more important Autumn race days on the national calendar. The eight‑race program now includes four listed races: the $250,000 Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes; the $200,000 ACTTAB Canberra Centenary Cup; $100,000 Mercedes- Benz Canberra National Sprint; and the $100,000 Affinity Construction Management Canberra Guineas. A line up that sees the likes of Bart Cummings and Gaye Waterhouse make the trip down the Hume for the day. The total prize money is the highest on offer in the history of Canberra racing at $766,000.
In a move that will boost the already stellar premier race day, the ACTTAB Canberra Centenary Cup will be one of the premier features on the race card and promoted Australia wide as a gift to the Canberra community.
The day will also see the first official outing of the 2013 Myer Face of Canberra Racing who will receive More than $10,000 worth of prizes and will receive the VIP treatment with styling, modelling and public relations opportunities, access to VIP events and an experience of a lifetime. Local betting agency ACTTAB have increased their support of the Canberra Racing Club by securing the naming rights of the $200,000 Canberra Centenary Cup to be run as part of the Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes Day in 2013.
“This is the only model search of its kind in Canberra and each year the entrants increase due to the popularity of the competition. It’s definitely an ideal launch pad for someone who is interested in modeling or media.” Sales and Marketing Manager Briony Young Issue #20 February 2013
activities and hospitality options on offer to make sure your day at the races is an enjoyable one.
said. “And with it being the Centenary year for Canberra we hope that the winner will be exposed to greater opportunities throughout her reign. This title will give her the chance to grow her confidence, experience working with the media, extend their portfolio, and gain invaluable knowledge of the fashion industry. She will also be required to make appearances at various cocktail parties and functions hosted by Thoroughbred Park.” The current Myer Face of Canberra Racing, 21 year old Brittney McGlone (on the cover of this issue of PLAY) has gained plenty of experience over the last
12 months. “I’ve had some fantastic opportunities and it has been so much fun” she said. “I hosted Thoroughbred Park Fashion TV, there was plenty of photo shoots throughout the year, the experience was invaluable”. Brittney’s title included speaking engagements and the hosting of several functions. “I have met so many people and it’s been a definite boost to my confidence”.
Enertainment Racing is a social day out that can be enjoyed by families, friends and corporates with plenty of
There will also be a number of additional attractions this year including the popular NZ exports Evermore (Presented by MIX 106.3) and returning for another year the XXXX Angels and XXXX Gold Retreat. The awesome Girls Girls Girls Trick Rider and Stunt Show will also make a return this year in a spectacle that needs to be seen to be believed.
Partner tickets This Centenary year Canberrans are spoiled for choice when it come to outings and Canberra Racing is partnering with events running concurrently with the weekend of the Black Opal. Partnership ticketing packages include the Toulouse-Lautrec Paris & The Moulin Rouge and Black Opal ticket package for $30 and the Brumbies and Black Opal package from $30. Or if you really want to celebrate the day in style, enter the Centenary Marquee for $220 per person that includes a food and beverage package.
best ways to enjoy the race day The HOME STRAIGHT CORPORATE MARQUEES Entertain your guests, network with clients or enjoy the Black Opal Stakes with friends in our corporate marquees, located on Home Straight with track views at the 300 metre mark. A short walk to the Myer Fashions on the field. This package includes Complimentary admission into the racecourse, your own private marquee with Marquee fence signage and Delicious hot buffet menu. You will also receive racebooks, a 5 hour beverage package including a selection from the Kamberra Wine Company range of red, white and sparkling wine, heavy, mid and light beers, RTD Spirits, soft drink and orange juice from your private bar with ACTTAB, bookmaker and amenities close by. Bookings close 25 February 2013. CATBIRD LANE Purchase your all inclusive ticket into Catbird Lane and let Throughbred Park Staff do all the work for you! DJ Rush will entertain inside the Catbird Lane area. Exclusive individual marquees for corporate or social groups. Book for a marquee of minimum 20 guests up to 200. Smaller groups are available in a shared marquee. Package includes complimentary admission, access to Catbird Lane, private marquee, shared bar with a 5 hour standard beverage package and RTD spirits. Spit roast meal, race books, televisions, ACTTAB, bookmakers and amenities close by, security and a fantastic lively atmosphere! Catbird Lane is a short walk to track views. Patrons are urged to decorate their private marquees. Balloons and other flyaway material are not permitted. Bookings Close 25 February 2013 Issue #20 February 2013
The CENTENARY MARQUEE Celebrate Canberra’s 100th birthday in a marquee that will provide you with a day at the races to remember! The Centenary Marquee includes Complimentary admission into the racecourse and admission into the exclusive marquee located just past the winning post with track views. You will also receive racebooks, a delicious hot buffet luncheon, a 4 hour beverage package from 1pm to 5pm and a cash bar outside these hours until 6pm including a selection from the Kamberra Wine Company range of red, white and sparkling wine, heavy, mid and light beers, RTD Spirits, soft drink and orange juice. The Marquee has a private bar and company table signage for tables of 10. You will enjoy the live music from the band stage into the early evening. The PICNIC PLACE This popular feature race day location provides a great race day vibe and is perfect for those seeking a secure position, close to the track and Fashions on the Field stage. Use it as your base whilst still enjoying the freedom to mingle around the racecourse. View the races from your table in the reserved area with views of the trackside superscreen. Bring your own picnic hamper and enjoy a prime position at a fraction of the cost. Please note - alcohol is not to be brought inside the racecourse. Bags will be searched at the gate. This package includes Complimentary admission into the racecourse, Admission into Picnic Place containing your reserved picnic table, chairs and an umbrella. Seating for 6 guests only. playcanberra.com.au
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“We wish them all the very best of luck for the year ahead and are excited what talents we will uncover.” AIS Director Matt Favier is confident that the program will continue to achieve excellent results in high performance development.
Image: GETTY
“When we announced Australia’s Winning Edge late last year we set some ambitious but achievable targets for Australia’s international performance in world championships, Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games,” Mr Favier said.
AIS introduces the 2013 scholarship
Basketball Australia has awarded 22 outstanding young players Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarships to its National Centre of Excellence for 2013. The Centre of Excellence basketball program is a key part of the Basketball Australia National Player pathway, with the primary objective of developing potential international athletes to represent the Boomers and Opals. Starting this month and housed at the AIS, 10 females and 12 males aged between 15-20 years will tip-off their journey to follow in the footsteps of many notable Australian basketballers who have represented Australia on the world stage. Famous names including four-time Olympian Lauren Jackson, Australia’s first ever No.1 NBA draft pick Andrew Bogut, three-time NBA Champion Luc Longley, Australian Boomers Patrick Mills (pictured above) and Nathan Jawai, and WNBA star Penny Taylor have all progressed from the AIS basketball program to be standouts world-wide. Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Kristina Keneally said the National Centre of
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Excellence Program continued to grow from strength to strength, with the current class of players having earned their place among some rigid competition. “The AIS basketball program – established in 1981 – is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading development programs,” Ms Keneally said. “On behalf of the basketball community, I’d like to congratulate the 22 young men and women selected for this year’s program, who undertook a long process of observation and evaluation. “All of these 22 players were identified with having the potential to one day proudly represent Australia at the senior national and international level. “I have no doubt this is the start of an amazing year for them to live and breathe the game they love and prepare them for the rigours of competition mentally, physically and emotionally.
“I have no doubt that, in partnership with Basketball Australia, we can continue to produce young basketabllers capable of succeeding on the world stage.” The Australian Government contributes more than $5.7 million in annual funding to support the development of basketball at both the elite and grassroots level. This includes $5 million per year in high performance funding. The Basketball Australia AIS 2013 National Centre of Excellence scholarship recipients are: WOMEN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Louise Brown Stephanie Collins Alicia Froling Keely Froling Darcee Garbin Tiana Mangakahia Maddison Penn Stephanie Talbot Abigail Wehrung Alex Wilson
Victoria Victoria Queensland Queensland Western Australia Queensland New South Wales South Australia Victoria South Australia
MEN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Abiola Akintola Madol Chol Mirko Djeric Adrija Dumovic Nicholas Duncan Dante Exum Felix von Hofe Jack McVeigh Gerard Martin Emmett Naar Jock Perry Dane Pineau
Victoria New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales Victoria Victoria Queensland New South Wales New South Wales Victoria Victoria
Issue #20 February 2013
Caps to finish out season without Ardossi The Tradies Canberra Capitals have taken a hard line against “unsportsman� like conduct and suspended the star forward for the remainder of the season. As a result of an incident that occurred in the WNBL Round 17 game The Tradies Canberra Capitals vs. Townsville Fire at the AIS Arena, Capitals Forward Image: Ben Southhall
Brigitte Ardossi has been suspended by Basketball ACT for the remainder of the season. During the 4th Quarter of the game, after contact was made between Rachel Flanagan of the Townsville Fire and Brigitte Ardossi in the mid court, Ardossi fell to the ground and attempted to trip Rachel Flanagan. The Capitals management and coaching staff have reviewed in detail the contact and the circumstances leading up to and around the incident and have taken the action of suspending Brigitte from further play with the Tradies Canberra Capitals until the end of the season. Basketball ACT has not taken this action lightly and after
Issue #20 February 2013
lengthy discussion and consultation with the coaching staff, leadership group and the player concerned, believe that internal disciplinary action is necessary and appropriate by the club. The Canberra Capitals do not condone this type of behaviour and have a long standing position of player conduct and true sportsmanship behaviour as being the pillars in which the club is built on. The Capitals have always been a club that installs a strong culture of quality of people, competitiveness and professionalism and the action and re-action by Ardossi goes against all of those ethoses. Brigitte Ardossi has expressed remorse and regret for her actions and has taken the approach of writing to Rachael Flanagan to apologise.
Last Home Game The Caps and PLAY magazine are encouraging as many people to come along to the final home game of the season. Its been a tough year for the Caps with injuries derailing the season before it got a chance to start. Hopefully a big crowd can make it out to the game and send off the Caps 2012/13 with some great support..
Canberra Capitals V West Coast Waves 15 February Tip off 7.00pm AIS Arena
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Join the Club
The value of corporate entertaining cannot be underestimated, it can be the difference between getting that client or deal and it is a nice reward for your valued clients and colleagues. Canberra Stadium has tailored some great packages for their “Club” lounges that allow you the opportunity to entertain at the highest levels without the oftenprohibitive costs.
Footy is back With the Footy seasons almost upon us, footy fever is rising in the capital and now is the perfect time to engage with clients (current and future) and let them know about your corporate entertainment plans for season 2013.
Raiders or Brumbies WHY NOT BOTH?? A major advantage of the Club memberships is they are for BOTH the Raiders and Brumbies games, no more office votes or working out which code better suits your corporate goals. This also means double the corporate entertaining opportunities (20 NRL and Super Rugby matches plus 2 major international matches) and the chance to appeal to a wider range of clients. With both clubs showing promising form leading into 2013 tickets to these games will become premium by the time finals footy fever hits the capital.
2013 Centenary events covered The Centenary of Canberra has giving Canberra sports fans access to the biggest names in world sport and 2 of
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the most sort after events in Canberra’s sporting history. On April 19 Canberra Stadium will host the 2013 Rugby League Test between Four Nations champions, Australia, and the World Champions, New Zealand. These two nations have forged a fierce rivalry in Rugby League since their historic first Tests in 1908 but they have never done battle in Canberra. This is a great opportunity to entertain in front of the star-studded Kangaroos, boasting some of the greatest players to wear the green and gold, including Captain Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Jonathan Thurston, line up against Benji Marshall’s men from across the Tasman. This WILL BE the biggest Rugby League match ever staged in the national capital and it will capture the imagination of Rugby League fans around the world. Then on June 18 Canberra and the Brumbies will host the British Irish Lions. This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Nothing gets the blood pumping on a cool Canberra evening like a good old-fashioned sporting rivalry and our rivalry with the Mother Country is second to none. Fans will be hoping for a home ground advantage as one of the world’s most iconic rugby teams, the British and Irish Lions, take on our own Brumbies.
Made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, the British and Irish Lions tour Australia only once every 12 years. This is corporate entertaining on an international level!! These games can be included in your Club membership packages.
Packages to suit your budget Club packages come in 2 forms Club Stadium and Club Select. Both include fantastic catering, match day programs, branded balcony seating, VIP parking, entry to all Raiders and Brumbies games (with options for other special games in the year) and access to a private lounge & bar to entertain in an air-conditioned/heated relaxed atmosphere. For a more comprehensive list of inclusions please see the facing page.
Canberra Stadium memberships Expand your brand by becoming a Canberra Stadium member or signage sponsor. What better way to increase the impact of your corporate entertaining than clients looking out and seeing your brand on the stadium signage. With some great sites available these options will make your business stand out.. Other benefits include discounted function room hire and links on the Canberra Stadium website, putting you in great company and aligning your brand with the big hitters in Canberra, National and International business. For more details contact Joanest To on (02) 6256 6711 or email j.to@canberrastadium.com www.canberrastadium.com.au
Issue #20 February 2013
Club Stadium is an exclusive social club lounge for business and pleasure. Situated at the Northern End of the Gregan-Larkham Stand, Club Stadium offers excellent service in a comfortable and relaxed private lounge with a maximum capacity of 150 members.
Club Select is a private, superior and all-inclusive event experience. Located at the Northern End of the Meninga Stand with an capacity of only 40 people. Club Select membership benefits include: ♦
Entry into the exclusive lounge for all scheduled Canberra Raiders and Brumbies home matches; VIP Parking; Complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee; Premium catering service including buffet or sit down dinners, and half-time food; Guest speakers and lucky door prizes at selected matches; Branded balcony seating; Match day programs; Season corporate gift.
Club Stadium membership benefits include: ♦ Entry into the lounge for all scheduled Canberra Raiders and Brumbies home matches; ♦ VIP parking; ♦ Buffet meal on arrival and half-time snacks; ♦ Happy hour bar prices prior to the main game kick off; ♦ Branded balcony seating; ♦ Match day programs; ♦ Season corporate gift.
♦ ♦
From $3,140 per person (incl. GST)
From $4,802 per person (incl. GST)
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
For more information please contact Joanest To on (02) 6256 6711 or email j.to@canberrastadium.com
www.canberrastadium.com.au
Issue #20 February 2013
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For more information please contact Joanest To on
Summer Down Under Track Series Athlete Welcome Function Australian Institute of Sport www.ausport.gov.au/ais Images Andrew Finch
Mick Morris, Neil Boden and Gerard Ryan Andrew Dawes and Roslyn Skelton
Michael King, Luke Bailey and Kim Hinsh
elwood
Louise Sauvage OAM and Angela Ballard
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Jim O Brien, Michelle Stilwell, Keira-Lyn Frie and Matt Kayrooz
Kazumi Nakayama and Richard Colman
Issue #20 February 2013
Week 1: 4-10 February Thursday 7/02
Baseball ACTAS V Indians 7.00pm Narrabundah 2
Friday 8/02
CANBERRA CAVALRY V Perth Heat 7.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park Brumbies v ACT XV 7.00pm Venue TBA
Saturday 9/02
CANBERRA CAVALRY V Perth Heat 7.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park Cricket Ginninderra V Queanbeyan 11.00am Kippax 2
Sunday 10/02
CANBERRA CAVALRY V Perth Heat 7.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park Baseball Indians V Bandits 3.00pm North Curtin
ACTEWAGL February EVENTS CALENDAR Sunday 24/02 continued
Week 2: 11-17 February Thursday 14/02 Friday 15/02 Saturday 16/02 Sunday 17/02
Baseball ACTAS V Rebels 7.00pm Narrabundah 2
Mountain Bike Australian Championships Stromlo Forrest Park Mens International Series of softball Hawker Ball Park
Week 4: 25-3 February/March Thursday 28/02
Baseball ACTAS V Bears 7.00pm Narradundah 2
Canberra capitals V West Coast 7.00pm AIS Areana
Friday 1/03
Cricket Eastlake V ANU (continued 23/02) 11.00am Kingston
Saturday 2/03
Baseball Bandits V Bears 3.00pm Majura
Cricket Tuggeranong V Nth Canberra Gungahlin 11.00am Chisholm (continued 9/3)
Sunday 3/03
Baseball Vikings V Rebels 3.00pm North Curtin
Week 3: 18-24 February Wednesday 20/02
Mountain Bike Australian Championships Stromlo Forrest Park
Thursday 21/02
Baseball Bandits V ACTAS 7.00pm Narrabundah 2 Mountain Bike Australian Championships Stromlo Forrest Park
Friday 22/02
Mountain Bike Australian Championships Stromlo Forrest Park
Saturday 23/02
Cricket Eastlake V ANU (continued from 16/02) 11.00am Kingston Mountain Bike Australian Championships Stromlo Forrest Park Mens International Series of softball Hawker Ball Park
Sunday 24/02
BRUMBIES V FORCE 7.40PM Canberra Stadium Baseball Indians V Eagles 3.00pm North Curtin
ActewAGL Athletes on the rise
Jame Bacueti. 17 year old James Bacueti from the Woden Valley Gymnastics Club represented Australia at the Austrian Future Cup that was conducted in Linz, Austria on Saturday, 1st December 2012. The Future Cup is the premier event in the world for emerging junior gymnasts from all around the world, with over 20 teams competing. James won the Gold Medal in the senior division on Vault. James is the first Australian junior gymnast to win a gold medal at this event. The fact that he receives no outside support, other than a very welcome grant for travel from the ACT Government, is a credit to his personal dedication, his parents and to the Club. THE ActewAGL Athlete on the Rise recognises and rewards the achievements of our rising sporting talent. The award caters for athletes at all levels of competition. It is not only results that count, but good sportsmanship as well. Do you know someone that qualifies as an ActewAGL Athlete on the Rise? Send all nominations to athlete@playcanberra.com.au
ActewAGL Retail ABN 46 221 314 841.
More reasons to follow us.
Issue #20 February 2013
As Principal Partner of the Centenary of Canberra, we will be able to offer access to upcoming major events. Keep up with what’s happening locally, win tickets and access exclusive events on our Facebook page.
facebook.com/actewagl
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up to Wollongong, and an affiliation with Newcastle, the ACT’s population and playing base almost doubles that of Tasmania’s. The resurgence of ACT cricket has been happening for a number of years already though, with anywhere up to twenty ex-ACT players currently plying their trade in all six First Class states. The talent is here, and is desperate to play a higher level. McNamee describes the Canberra and Queanbeyan area as “the commercial Capital of southern NSW,” and it’s a difficult point to argue. The number of ex-NSW players doing well in other states, as well as all the relocated ACT talent around, gives credence to the need for second First Class team in southern NSW. Image: GETTY
ACT cricket future shines bright under lights at Manuka
“We’re very, very happy,” Cricket ACT CEO Mark Vergano told me during the course of the first ever evening of cricket at Manuka Oval, as the West Indies did their very best to chase down an imposing total set by the Prime Minister’s XI earlier in the afternoon. By Brett McKay @BMcSport “The lights look great, the ground looks great, and it’s a wonderful crowd out there enjoying themselves,” Vergano added. “It’s gone better than we could possibly have anticipated,” Chairman Ian McNamee said to me at the conclusion of the game, where despite some lateinnings fireworks, the Windies would ultimately fall 23 runs short of their 334-run target. “I mean just look out there, they’ve all had a great day’s cricket, and the ground looks fantastic,” McNamee added proudly. And of course they had, and he was rightly proud. Just under ten thousand people had witnessed a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and evening of cricket, where 643 runs were scored for the loss of 15 wickets across 99 overs. There were some very well-compiled fifties, there was big-hitting, and there was a local lad showing that the best of the ACT is not out of place in this company. There was brilliant fielding, some ordinary fielding, and bowling both generous and near unplayable. There were crowd catches as good as any seen around the country this summer. For the average cricket lover, the game had everything.
cricket in general, the timing could not be better. If you go back not quite fifteen years ago, the same thing would’ve been said back then, too. ACT cricket had been granted a spot in the national one-day competition - what’s now known as the Ryobi Cup - and the Canberra Comets played at state level for three seasons before being suddenly and unexpectedly voted out by the other states. “The words at the time were that we had awoken a sleeping giant, and the states felt threatened with what we had to offer here in Canberra,” McNamee tells of the blow dealt to ACT cricket at the end of the 1999/2000 season. And it was a move that had a major effect on local cricket, too. Despite having performed quite well on the national stage, and with the likes of Brad Haddin and current ACT coach, Mark Higgs, gaining state contracts with NSW, ACT cricket suffered a major drain of talent as players previously drawn to Canberra sort opportunity in other states.
Canberra’s first night on the national cricket stage was an unbridled success, and the future from here can only - if you’ll pardon the obvious pun - be bright.
“We actually lost, through a whole range of reasons after that decision, 33 First Grade players,” Vergano explains of the impact on local cricket at the time, just as he became CEO. The rebuilding process began soon after with a regional expansion of the Konica-Minolta Cup, and the governing body were justifiably wrapped for Albury-Wodonga when they took out this season’s Final over Weston Creek last month.
For their part, Vergano and McNamee make no bones of the fact that cricket in the Territory & surrounding regions is on the cusp of what should be some very enjoyable times ahead, and that from the perspective of Australian
There’s no question that Cricket ACT is best placed to meet the demands of a regional representation on the Australian cricket landscape. With a reach stretching west well into the Riverina, east to the coast all the way
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“Why not get us up at the top level and send the excess players down the road to a mob [NSW] have been affiliated with for 100 years?” McNamee suggests, validly. “[NSW have] a third of the national population, but they haven’t got a third of the places at First Class level,” Vergano adds. He also points to figures indicating 48% of male and female state cricketers originate from regional areas, despite accounting for only 30% of the Australian population. “Australian cricket is not just the six capital cities on the coast,” Vergano says, underlining the obvious need for better regional recognition and representation on the national scene. And it seems that recognition mightn’t be far away. With the new lights at Manuka Oval comes the obvious hope of a Canberra team in an expanded Big Bash League. PLAY understands Cricket ACT are working in conjunction with a bid team from Geelong, putting together a proposal for two new teams. The new broadcast media deal for Australian cricket currently under negotiation will determine whether the BBL content is expanded via more teams or more games, and the ACT is comfortably placed for either option. At any rate, it’s expected that Manuka will host at least one BBL game in 2013/2014. Beyond that, it becomes rather more speculative. The Australian side won’t play ODIs at Manuka every season, as they will this month for the first time, but more Ryobi Cup games, “other” tri-series Internationals, and 2015 World Cup preliminary matches are highly likely. And then there’s the really big fish: Test cricket. During the Hobart Test, Canberra was regularly thrown up as an alternative option while underwhelming crowds watched on at Bellerive Oval. McNamee and Vergano go to pains to explain that “we’re not outwardly competing with Tasmania” for Tests, but there should be no doubt that Manuka is ready to play host should the opportunity arise. The Manuka Oval lights complete the wonderful cricket theatre our great city has, and it’s now just a matter of time before the big shows come to town. Issue #20 February 2013
Olympians and World Champions to light up Canberra in February. Australia’s best mountain bikers will head to Canberra later this month to compete in the 2013 Subaru Mountain Bike Australian Championships to claim the nation’s coveted green and gold jersey. By Lucy Hinchey
ones I seriously compete in. In many ways I am writing the final chapter in my professional cycling career,” the 33 year old stated. The event will also feature Australia’s top downhill riders including recent discipline convert, Caroline Buchanan, world champion Sam Hill, Chris Kovarik (QLD) and Lisa Mathison. Buchanan has taken up downhill racing again after four years away from the sport to focus on her BMX career. The Canberran, who won the Fourcross world championships at Stromlo in 2009, says claiming the national title in her home city is her number one goal early in the season.
Olympian’s Daniel McConnell (VIC), Rebecca Henderson (ACT) and Caroline Buchanan (ACT - pictured right) will take part alongside three-time downhill world champion Sam Hill (WA), five time national Cross Country champion Chris Jongewaard (SA) and 2004 Cross Country Olympian Lisa Mathison (QLD).
“I want to do really well in Canberra at the Nationals, especially because it is my home town,” Buchanan explained. “Hopefully I can then qualify for the world championships.
Image: Jason Stevens
Cross Country (XCO), Olympic Trials (OT), Downhill (DHI) and the Cross Country Eliminator (XCE) format will all be on offer at Stromlo Forrest Park from February 20 – 24, bringing a host of athletes to the Capital.
Reigning cross country national champions Jenni King (VIC) and McConnell will look to defend their titles while in form Peta Mullins (VIC) and Jongewaard bring their recent National MTB series round wins to the fore.
bike racing and I am looking forward to a challenge,” Jongewaard explained.
Jongewaard, the five time national cross country champion, says he is excited by McConnell’s presence in the series.
“I have been using the MTB National Series to get some solid results and as an opportunity to test the legs leading into the National Champs.
“I think it would be important to Dan’s season to have some strong competition in Australian mountain
“The National Championships are particularly significant to me this year as they will likely be the last
“The world championships for 2013 are in South Africa which is a long pedally track and is more my style with the jumps so I think it would be a reasonable aim for me to have a good crack at that.” The Mountain Bike Australian Championships will be held at Stromlo Forrest Park, Canberra from February 20 – 24. Entries close midnight February 13. Visit the official website for more event details. Follow the conversation on Twitter at @cyclingausMTB and ‘Like’ CyclingAusMTB’s Facebook page.
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Issue #20 February 2013
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Edwards looks to even score
Local fighter and 2010 K-1 Oceania Grand Prix champion Ben Edwards will headline Capital Punishment 7 taking on a fighter he knows very well in Paul Slowinski. By Joshua Mercer @TheFightWriter This match will mark the fourth time that Edwards and Slowinski will be in a kickboxing ring together and it may not be the last “Who knows mate, him and I have been number one and two for the last eight years and if I win this one that means we are two all so you know there is always going to be an argument to have a fifth one if I win so who knows mate that remains to be seen”.
Since their last meeting, Edwards has gone on to fight some of the world’s best fighters including Former K-1 Grand Prix Champions like Mighty Mo Siliga and Alistair Overeem and believes that the experience has made him a better fighter “With the Overeem fight in particular I was like a lamb to the slaughter, but I’m a fighter. Just the experience of going through that, fighting the guy that 99 times out of 100 is going to kick your arse, it’s better for you mentally”. With these two heavyweights you will be guaranteed some big time action and Edwards says that the fight won’t go to a decision and will end in someone getting knocked out “Mate I don’t go to a decision either does Paul, we’re knockout fighters he will knock me out or chop my legs up or I will knock him we don’t try to win points off each other”.
After losing twice to Slowinski Edwards turned the tables in their third meeting beating Slowinski by technical knockout in the first round. Edwards was able to hurt Slowinski early and kept the pressure on to finish him off but he was keen to be patient in the fight and not gas out “My whole game plan was just to be patient and not give him any free shots, I made that mistake early in my career, throwing silly power shots all the time so now I just try and pick my moment and no free shots from my opponent, always make him pay every time he hits me”. Leading up to the fight Edwards said that he is in the best shape fans have seen him in “I’ve finished up my job so I’m actually training fulltime and have been training straight through since November, so my general fitness is the best it has ever been and I’m the strongest I have ever been”.
is arguably the best in the world. If he is going forwards and you let him chop your leg he is going to have a good night but he can’t fight going backwards. I did that in my third fight with him I got him backing up and I won the fight. If I can get him going back and stop his momentum then it’s going to be a good night for me”.
To get where is in his career Edwards had a few people to thank for getting him there “I would like to thank Nick Boutzos my manager he has been with me for eight years, my major sponsor Peter Nicholas from Rapid Detox he has been with me from day one as well, my coach Jamie McGuaig, my boxing training Alexy Nuchin and also Billy Giam Paolo from Elite Physique”. Edwards knows there will be no surprises on March 23rd “No mate, Paul fights the same every fight, he is a one dimensional fighter, but at that one dimension he
Be sure to get tickets from Ticketek to see two of the best heavyweight kickboxer’s in Australia throwdown on Saturday March 23rd.
Black Pumped for title
On Saturday the 23rd of March Canberra fighter Spiro Black will be fighting for the ISKA South Pacific title when he steps in the ring at Capital Punishment 7 to face New Zealand’s Eden McGrath. By Joshua Mercer @TheFightWriter When asked about fighting for the title in front of his home crowd, Black said that he was pumped for the fight “Mate I’m pumped as, I can’t wait to get in there and have a crack against this guy. He’s a pretty tough guy, I have seen him fight before but I reckon I have the goods”. In what should be an entertaining bout between both men, Black said his training has been going well for the bout “It’s going really well mate, so far so good any way no injuries nothing like that, in my last fight I had to pull out because I got pretty crook, so I’m pretty happy with my prep for this fight. Everything has changed this year I have changed my whole training routine I’m training better and Smarter”. While Black is confident he still sees McGrath as a tough opponent and is quick to point out McGrath’s knockout power “The fights I have seen haven’t lasted very long, he has quite a heavy punch on him but in saying that all my sparring partners hit hard so I’ve got no worries there” and Black believes that his boxing will help him 22
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against the heavy handed New Zealander “I want to beat him from the outside, pick him apart from the outside and I’m also a pretty sharp counter fighter so I will be looking for some good counter punching. I think my boxing will be the biggest advantage in the fight”. If you are yet to see Spiro Black fight what can you expect when you see him fight for the first time? “They should expect a pretty good show and a pretty tough fight; I will give them a really exciting show I know that much. Every crowd that I have fought in front have always been pretty happy, I’ve had a lot compliments from a lot of people about my fighting style”. As for how he sees the fight going Black says he would like to stop McGrath in the third round “I feel that I will overwhelm him with my boxing and stop him in the third round with my body punching”. While it’s seen mainly as an individual sport, it takes many people to help the fighter get ready and prepare.
Along with the support of family and friends Black said he had a few people to thank for getting him ready including his trainers Henry Peters, Dean Tucson and his whole team. To see Black and other top fighters like Ben Edwards, Paul Slowinski and Steve McKinnon be sure to catch Capital Punishment 7 at the National Convention Centre on the 23rd of March, Tickets are available through Ticketek. Issue #20 February 2013
Issue #20 February 2013
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now head coach Michael Collins lead the league with a .360 average, and last year Brian Burgamy finished with an impressive .409. “We couldn’t be prouder of Adam, he has had an amazing season for us and we are confident that he will do wonderful things for the padres organization,” said General Manager Thom Carter. “We are excited to be able to watch him a few more times at the Fort and know that he will help bring a championship to the greatest baseball fans in the Australia.”
“We couldn’t be prouder of Adam, he has had an amazing season for us and we are confident that he will do wonderful things for the padres organization,” Buschini will join Cavalry head coach Michael Collins in the Padres organization. Collins was a coach for the Padres in the Dominican Summer League in 2012, and will return to coach in the Arizona League. “It is a great opportunity for the league and future players,” said Collins. “It is nice to see him achieve his goal, and we are very excited for him.” Image: SMP/Ben Southall
Buschini wins triple crown and signs with San Diego Padres Cavalry standout second baseman Adam Buschini has been offered and accepted a contract to play in the San Diego Padres organization. Buschini was awarded the Triple Crown* for his outstanding 2012/13 ABL regular season, batting a .363 average with a league tying 15 homeruns, and a league leading 50 RBIs in just 45 games. Buschini has been the offensive spark for the Cavalry in the late part of the season and led them to their first ever playoff berth. He is a two time Delta Airlines Player of the Week, and there is not a series that goes
by without his name being part of the Cavalry charge. Buschini was a major part in the team’s success this year and helped the team to a league leading 481 hits and .295 batting average. Buschini is now the third representative from the Cavalry to finish the regular season with the best batting average in the league. In the inaugural year,
FINAL SERIES IN ]
FEbRuARy
Narrabundah Ball Park www.canberracavalry.com.au 24
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This will be the second time Buschini will be play affiliated baseball. In 2009 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round out of college at California Polytechnic State University, but was released in 2010 after an injury. Buschini and the Cavalry will play host to the Australian Baseball League Championship Series on 8-10 February at the Fort at Narrabundah as they look to bring the first ever Claxton Shield to the Nation’s Capital.
*What is the Triple Crown? The Triple Crown is awarded to a player when he leads the league in three specific statistical categories (batting average, homeruns, and runs batted in.) It emphasizes three separate attributes of a good hitter: hitting for average, hitting for power, and producing runs.
V PERTH HEAT
Friday February 8 7.00pm
V PERTH HEAT
Saturday February 9 7.00pm
V PERTH HEAT
Sunday February 10 7.00pm
Issue #20 February 2013
Bateman said he was thrilled with the success of last year’s carnival and immediately began working on ways to grow the event each year. This years event is part of Canberra’s 100 year celebrations and will feature a number of local and national Aborigianl artists including Brothablack, Johnny Huckle, Dale Huddleston, Lexine Solomon and Hung Parliament providing entertainment during the day. As well as live entertainment there will be a number of stalls set up on the day. The United Community Touch Knockout Carnival will also see the launch of the South East Tigers who are Canberra and Queanbeyan’s newest touch football club. The Tigers will compete in the upcoming Touch Football ACT Premier League and Superleague competitions.
Touch Gets United Saturday 2 March will see Boomanulla Oval in Narrabundah host the second annual United Community Touch Knockout Carnival.
Following the success of last years mixed tournament, this years competition will see both mixed and mens teams compete on the day.
The inaugural carnival saw 16 mixed teams compete with a number of teams having travelled from across NSW to play on the day.
The carnival is open to teams of all levels with prize money awarded to the winners from each division.
Issue #20 February 2013
United Community Knockout Carnival organiser Ian
Luke Cookson from the South East Tigers stated that the club were really excited about playing their first games at the carnival after having overseen the Boomanulla junior competition during summer. “It’s a great opportunity for many of the juniors who were playing at Boomanulla to see the launch of the Tigers, and to be able to play our first games at Boomanulla Oval adds to that excitement”. The carnival will also be the last hit out for many of the ACT’s best players before they travel to Coffs Harbour for the National Touch League to be held in mid March. The ACT will be represented in the Mixed Open, Mens 30’s, Women’s 35’s, Mens 40’s, Women’s 40’s Mens 50’s as well as the new T-League featuring the best up and coming junior talent from across Australia.
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the times the pitch has risen at the last second, giving them little chance to adjust their swing to make contact. And what hope do they have? Sport scientists have found that softball batters have only 200 milliseconds to decide whether to swing, and approximately the same amount of time to complete the swing. Those calculations are based on the distance between the pitchers plate and the home plate, and don’t factor in the giant leaps softball pitchers take when releasing, bringing them another eight to nine feet closer to the batter. Hitters lose sight of a 140km/h pitch anywhere between 9- 17 feet from the plate – so they’re swinging at where they think the ball will go.
Men’s Softball – anything but soft
The Cavalry might be battling it out for the national title, but just across the plate, eight Canberra players are preparing to take on the world. The Australian Open Men’s Softball team is playing host to an international tri-series in Hawker this month, in preparation for the impending World Championship. Alexis Cooper questions whether the men will be wearing skirts. Men’s Softball is often given a bad rap. The players are constantly queried on why they play a ‘girls sport’ and many lie about their passion, instead referring to themselves as baseball players, or using different names like ‘fastball’, when they’re on tour. Anything but the S word. But softball is serious business. Not to be confused with the loopy slowpitch version of the sport, fastpitch players launch the ball across the plate at speeds up to 140km/h. To put it in perspective, top baseball pitcher for the Canberra Cavalry John Holdzkom pitches 152km/h from 60.5 feet away from the batter. Adam Folkard, one of Australia’s (and the world’s) best softball pitchers, throws 140km/h from only 46 feet away, giving the batter 17% less time to react than most major
leaguers. (For the stat geeks: Folkard’s pitch takes 0.36s, Holdzkom takes 0.43s to cross the plate.) That the ball is thrown underarm also gives softball pitchers a weapon not seen on the diamonds of major league baseball teams – the rise ball. The low release point of the softball windmill action means the pitch trajectory is already going from low to high, with bottom to top back spin. With the right wrist flick, speed, seam placement and rotation, the ball overcomes the pull of gravity and pops upwards, only a metre or so in front of the plate. Some physicists still debate whether the softball ‘jumps’ or whether it is a trick of the eye, but ask any elite player (especially those who have faced Folkard or other Australian starters), and all of them will tell you about
And that very skill is something that our Australian players excel in. As well as the pitching dominance of Folkard and Andrew Kirkpatrick (both from ACT), the Australian team also sports some of the best hitters in the world. This combination led to the gold medal at the 2009 World Championships, and the team hopes to continue their dominance under the bright lights at Hawker International Softball Centre this month. In the lead up to the world championships in March, Canberra is playing host to an international tri-series between Australia, Japan, Great Britain and an unofficial Australia B. The series will showcase the highest quality worldclass ball on offer, with Japan and Great Britain both ranked in the top eight from 2009 and serious medal contenders for 2013 following strong youth development programs. The second Australian team is comprised of players from NSW and WA who won a previous national tournament in December last year and are looking for an upset. Teams will play each other twice over the weekend, and for the local fans, there will be a lot of familiar faces. Canberra has been a hub of softball excellence for the last 15 years, with the Open Men’s team winning a total of 12 national titles, making them the most successful Canberra sporting team in history. It makes sense then, that Canberra players should make up almost half of the 17 athletes in the Australian team with eight players from the ACT team chosen to don the Aussie cap. The action begins on Feb 23 with a draw yet to be announced. Feel free to ask the men about their skirts, but be wary of wild pitches – you won’t have time to get out of the way.
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Issue #20 February 2013
Sykes (pictured left with coach Jitka Klimkova) was rewarded for a season of excellence in defence where her pace and power were instrumental in shoring up the left hand side of the field. She even ventured forward to grab her first Canberra United goal this season, the match-winner in the narrow 1-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets at Deakin Stadium. Sykes was ever-present throughout the season playing every minute of every match for United and currently sits on 49 Westfield W-League appearances for the club. Meanwhile, young tyro Hayley Raso also scooped a double landing the prestigious Rising Star award, presented to the best under-20 player at the club for the season, and the 2XX Supporters’ Player of the Year award, voted on by the Canberra United supporters and staff of 2XX radio station who broadcast live every home match in 2012/13.
Double delight for Nicole Sykes
Defender Nicole Sykes has scooped a brace of awards at the Canberra United Presentation Night after being named Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at the annual awards ceremony held at the Tradies in Dickson last night. By Russ Gibbs
Issue #20 February 2013
Each player was presented with a memento of the season and the sponsors were recognised by Canberra United CEO Heather Reid as the club wrapped up Season Five of the Westfield W-League.
AWARD WINNERS Player of the Year: NICOLE SYKES Players’ Player of the Year: NICOLE SYKES Rising Star: HAYLEY RASO 2XX Supporters’ Player of the Year: HAYLEY RASO
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Issue #20 February 2013
Canberra Catholic Primary School Soccer Carnival
Socceroo Carl Valeri has been named as ambassador for the 14th Canberra Catholic Primary School Soccer Carnival on March 24, 2013. The former Canberran said he was delighted to accept the offer from carnival organisers to play a part in one of the biggest junior football events in the country. About 1400 children playing in 120 teams representing the majority of the 45 eligible Catholic primary schools in the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese will descend on the University of Canberra playing fields on March 24. “This is a big football event for my home town and it’s the sort of thing I would have loved to have been a part of if it was around when I was at primary school in Canberra,” said Valeri, who attended both St Francis of Assisi at Calwell and St Clare of Assisi in Conder in the 1990s. “There’s not a lot I can do from Europe to help but I’m delighted to be able let the boys and girls know I’m supporting them and hope they really enjoy themselves and continue to play the game for as long as possible.”
Valeri, who was signed by Italian giants Inter Milan as a teenager and currently plays in Italy with Serie B club Sassuolo, has represented Australia at every level since his playing days in the nation’s capital with Tuggeranong United and Gungahlin Juventus. The 28-year-old made his senior Australian debut in March 2007 against China and in November 2012 played for the Socceroos against South Korea. In October 2011 he played for the Socceroos against Malaysia in front of a home crowd at Canberra Stadium. “Playing in my home town for my country in front of so many family and friends was something I will remember for the rest of my life,” he said. “I hope I’m not the last Canberran to know what that feeling is like. Maybe in the next decade or so someone playing in this carnival might experience the same thing.
youngsters to keep playing the game and achieve all they can.”
“I have not forgotten where I come from and really think it is important to encourage and support
The carnival is being hosted by Holy Trinity primary school at Curtin.
COERVER Coaching Master Class Series. Topic: Step Over
1. Keep the ball close to you, not far out in front of you.. 2. Keep your step around foot close to the ball. as if striking it low to the ground for a quick action. 3. When you step around the ball, turn your hips and upper body to trick your opponent into moving in that direction. This will also help you accelerate powerfully out of the move in the opposite direction. 4. You should use this move in front of goal and when your opponent is in front of you.
Image: GETTY
Jason Lancsar COERVER® Coaching Asia Pacific Director
We hope you enjoy our Coerver Coaching Play Magazine homework designed to improve your game but above all have fun while practicing. Coerver Coaching has been a global leader in 1v1, this month we look at the Scissors.
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Approach the ball as if you are going to pass or strike it.
Step over the ball instead, so your foot lands on the other side of the ball.
With the outside of the step over foot Accelerate past your opponent. push the ball in the opposition direction.
Step 4:
See next issue for more tips from Coerver Coaching or for further information please visit our website www.coerver.com.au
Issue #20 February 2013
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crossword 2
3
4
Down
3 Tennis racket brand (4)
1 Italian soccer team, sometimes in Serie A, sometimes Serie B (7)
5 1980s rugby league-playing brothers Peter and Graeme (4)
Number 15 1
Across
5
6
3 Ball tracking system (4-3)
8 Aquatic team sport (5,4)
4 Other occupation of former England wicketkeeper Jack Russell (6)
9 See 12 Across
7 8 9 10
10 Matt Burke’s club rugby team (8)
5 Fall off a wave (4,3)
12 and 9 Ac Former Wallabies skipper who led the team to a 1984 Grand Slam (6,5)
6 In soccer, zero (3) 11 Gambling cube (3)
15 Poor chess player (6)
13 and 17 Dn Host country of the 1974 Commonwealth Games (3,7)
20 Birmingham soccer club (4,4)
11
21 Rugby cup inspiration William Webb ___ (5) 22 Former captain of the Pakistan cricket side (5,4) 24 ___ tube, bicycle part (5)
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
25 Predator on the England soccer shirt (4) 26 Penalty ___ (4)
21 22
23 24 26
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I R R A S H E S C R D J A M A I C A U E A R T C L A R K I D F O L A U N I H G S K E E T I I N R A I D E R S N O Y
16 Home country of chess player Garry Kasparov (7) 17 See 13 Dn 19 Mickey ___, who became coach of the Australian cricket team in 2011 (6) 23 He was the greatest (3)
Crossword #14 solutions
C A B P O U L T E R C T D E M O N Y T O S T U A O K I S R A E L B R A B O W L I N R O D K N O T T E T
14 Nationality of tennis player Maria Sharapova (7)
18 Those who increase the bet (7)
19 20
2 Egyptian tomb (7)
7 Retired US soccer player Claudio ___ (5)
“It’s not the will to win that matters— everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” - Paul “Bear” Bryant. Former head coach of the University of Alabama football team
ice to assist, reaching Malarchuk within 12 seconds to help stop the bleeding, it would take about 1 minute to bleed out. This wound took over 300 stitches to stop the bleeding and as a result, neck guards and now extended neck protects become compulsory.
Image: GETTY
Now I know we don’t play a lot of Ice Hockey in Australia but we take some pretty extreme risks in some of our national sports.
At the end of the day Are we risking our necks? By Shaun Ebert After being forced inside due to a fierce thunderstorm on Australia Day I was lucky enough to be surfing the television when I came across one of my favourite programs in sports science. For people who haven’t seen this show it is well worth a look. It investigates all sorts of sports with all different types of hypothesis, such as “does sex the night before game day effect an athletes performance?”… Good news, if anything it makes your performance better!!! I’ve got off point a bit already, what this particular 30
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@Shaun_Ebert episode featured was a hockey incident where they investigated how close a player was to death. The back story here is that NHL Goal Keeper Clint Malarchuk (pictured above) was involved in an incident where two skaters crashed into his goal, both losing their footing with one players skate slashing through the helpless keepers jugular. Now this is a pretty graphic injury so viewer discretion is advised if you intend to search for this on YouTube. Thankfully the team’s onlooking medic rushed onto the
In AFL, we highlight and cheer when athletes take a great “hanger” over another player. The “Specky” as it’s commonly known, is something we as amateurs love to have a crack at whenever we get the opportunity. However, if you jump on someone’s shoulders you would get you to a height of roughly three metres off the ground… If you feel incorrectly from this height you could do some real damage. In Rugby Union we have the scrum. With pack weights over 900kgs, it is an incredible amount of force to split between the neck and shoulders of the three front players. With a combined weight of almost 2 tons I’m surprised there aren’t more serious injuries. And don’t even get me started on cricket… At the end of the day the message I am trying to get across is maybe we need to think about some of the things we do in pursuit of “recreation”. No one would every consider dropping a 500kg weight on their head from a metre off the ground but they will let someone try to punch them with a similar force as long as you are inside a ring… Seems a bit silly if you ask me! Issue #20 February 2013
Image: SMP Ben Southall
In case you missed it
The moments that made up the month that was. By Antony Perry Group honours – team of the month In what has been an impressive turnaround after a disappointing first two seasons, the Canberra Cavalry claimed its maiden Australian Baseball League (ABL) minor premiership late last month. The Cavalry finished at the bottom of the ABL’s pecking order in the competition’s first and second instalments, but the substandard performances of 2010-11 and 201112 are now a distant memory after the side secured its first minor premiership. Canberra finished the regular season with a record of 27 wins and 19 losses to finish on top, which means the Cavalry advance directly to the ABL championship series. That achievement hands Canberra the home field advantage for the threegame series. The Cavalry will have to overcome perennial ABL champions Perth Heat if it is to replace the two-time championship winning Heat at the ABL summit.
Individual brilliance – athlete of the month Grade cricket in Canberra generally flies under the radar, but Queanbeyan’s Jono Dean afforded it some much needed publicity following his incredible feat of pummelling 300 runs in a single day. Dean reached the triple-century milestone on Saturday February 2nd during a first grade encounter between Queanbeyan and Ginninderra at Kippax Oval 2. 102 of Dean’s 300 runs came via the aerial route, with the Queanbeyan man dispatching 17 sixes as well as 21 boundaries. Issue #20 February 2013
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It will not be known for some time whether or not the change will aid her in realising her gold medal dream, but one thing is certain; Caroline Buchanan can ride a bike, no matter what bike it is, and she can ride it well.
Life’s tough at the top It was a fitting end to a successful week for Dean, who scored an impressive 51 runs for the Prime Minister’s XI side in its victory over the West Indies at Manuka Oval earlier in the week.
Life at the top is anything but straightforward and Canberra United discovered that when its quest to defend the W-League title it had claimed at the start of 2012 came to an end last month.
The 28-year-old joins Queanbeyan great Peter Solway in the exclusive 300 club, who hit a glittering 339 against ANU in the 1989-90 season. While Solway’s score remains the benchmark, there will always be an element of ‘what could have been’ surrounding the Dean’s feat as he was still undefeated at the crease when Queanbeyan declared at 7-457 after 88 overs.
Having affirmed itself at the summit of the league after completing an undefeated, title-winning campaign in the 2011-12 edition of the competition, Jitka Klimkova’s women were unable to recapture the magic that propelled Canberra to the top. Consequently, United failed to qualify for the finals for the first time since the competition’s inception in 2008, ultimately bowing out of the finals race after suffering a 5-1 defeat in its mustwin final round encounter with nemesis Brisbane Roar.
Takes the cake – what impressed us the most Canberra girl Caroline Buchanan made a successful return to the discipline she abandoned four years ago by winning the elite women’s downhill event in the opening round of the mountain bike national series at Victoria’s Mount Buller last month. Buchanan entered the final as the third seed and went on to slash 10 seconds off her qualifying time to claim top spot. She finished 0.72 seconds ahead of second place. The win came as a surprise to the 22-year-old, who has traded her BMX for a mountain bike after a turbulent last 12 months. She finished the year as the world No.1 female BMX racer and time trial world champion, but Buchanan’s world caved in when she missed out on a medal at the London Olympics in August. Buchanan has made the change in a bid to refocus before she gets her shot at Olympic redemption in 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
What they said – our favourite quotes “He gave us chances early, but all credit to him, he made us pay a few times. I’ve never seen anyone hit a ball like that before,” Ginninderra captain Josh Kentwell said of Jono Dean’s magnificent unbeaten triple century. Brumbies captain Ben Mowen is on a quest for Super Rugby supremacy: “I’ve given up alcohol for the entire year, I want to make sure I give absolutely everything to it.” Despite the Canberra boy’s meteoric rise to football superstardom, it’s nice to see Tom Rogic still has his priorities in order following his move to Scottish football giants Celtic: “I’d always make myself available to play for Australia. Representing Australia at a World Cup is a dream of mine - that’s the ultimate footballing stage.” playcanberra.com.au
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playcanberra.com.au
Issue #20 February 2013