Seeker SPORT issue 02 nov/dec 2012
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Pirates’ KOi Cup successi
Quick off the
MARC
Harry’s gamei – Redknappi returns toi the dugouti
THE magazine for sports fans in Dorset seekersport.co.uk 1
2 seekersport.co.uk
picture: Steve cook
The power of two
H
istory is full of double acts, the dynamic duos that get results and make a difference. Batman & Robin, Morecombe & Wise, Lennon & McCartney, the Krankies? The spirits of the Cherries faithful (and, indeed, the whole club) were raised recently when our own dynamic duo returned to the fold. Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall are Bournemouth boys through and through, they know and love the club and the feelings that poured out of the fans when they walked onto the pitch before the Orient match were entirely mutual. Seeker Sport is published by Seeker Editor: Steve Cook – steve@seeker.uk.com
Steve Cook Editor Seeker Sport
Since then the team has started playing with the flair we expect from a Cherries side and, more importantly, the belief and results have returned. Over at Poole Stadium the Pirates have the Turbo Twins – World Writers: Steve Cook, Nick Churchill, Richard Button
Deputy editor: Nick Churchill – nick@seeker.uk.com
Photography: Steve Cook Siân Court – sian@seeker.uk.com
Associate editor: Dawn Cook – dawn@seeker.uk.com
Advertising: Tracey Parrack – tracey@seeker.uk.com
Champion Chris Holder and his partner in Antipodean mayhem Darcy Ward. Chris’ dramatic performance in the final Speedway GP of the season couldn’t have been scripted better if it was written in Hollywood. The crash and possible exclusion in the semi-final followed by the engine blow-up just one lap after the title was secured made for a tense evening for fans everywhere. 2012 has been a great year for sports nationally and locally, and hopefully with the return to the fold of Eddie and Jason we can look forward to a glorious 2013! Seeker 244 High Street North, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1EA, 01202 779604 www.seekersport.co.uk Join us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/ seekersport © 2012 Seeker. All rights reserved. seekersport.co.uk 3
SeekerCherries
Marc Hitting the
words: NIck cHURcHILL pictures: Steve cook
T
here’s an old-fashioned honesty about Marc Pugh. It’s not just in his earnest endeavours on the wing, it’s in his whole manner. On the pitch he gives his all, regardless of the score or how well the team is playing and off the pitch he’s personable and courteous, rightly proud of his achievements but never boastful. It’s not too fanciful to imagine him catching the bus home with the fans after the match - just like players did in the good old days. Then he could share his frustrations with them in person. “We had a difficult start to the season and results didn’t go our way, but this is where you have to stand as team and know that we’re good and the results will come for us,” he believes. “And for me it has been a frustrating time. I did all right at the start but then I was rested. I came back but played 80 minutes against Brentford with a thigh
4 seekersport.co.uk
SeekerCherries
“Footballers are the biggest moaners going”
7 strain which perhaps wasn’t the brightest thing I could have done!” It earned him a spell in the treatment room, time to reflect on a hectic couple of years since signing for Cherries from Hereford Town in 2010 for £100,000. He previously played at Burnley, Bury and Shrewsbury - five clubs in six years as a professional is as much a measure of his ambition as anything else. “Look, of course I want to play at the highest level I possibly can. When you’re a kid you want to play in the Premiership, it’s as simple as that, and if you met a player in League One or League Two who said that’s as far as they wanted to go I’d say they were lying.” At least as much as anyone at Dean Court, maybe more than most, Marc has been buoyed by the return of Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall from Burnley. He’s back in the side, scoring again and clearly enjoying his football. “I was chuffed when they came back, I’m buzzing off it to be honest. I always got on well with Ed and Jas, they’re big on creating that solidarity you need as a team. The first Monday they were here they took us down to the beach for a walk and a coffee and it just felt really good again.” Marc opted not to sign a new contract in the summer, but has seekersport.co.uk 5
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7 assured fans of his total commitment to the Cherries’ cause and while many worry he may leave, as long as his performances continue to match his words there is a sense of understanding around the ground. “I just want to concentrate on my football and the rest of it will take care of itself. It’s a long season and who knows where we’ll finish or what will happen - as we’ve seen close up this season, a day’s a long time in football. “I’ve been as straightforward as I can about all this and people will always put two and two together and come up with five - I love every minute I play for the club and my family love it here, but this is a short career and I’ve got to make the most of what I’ve got,” he explains. “I hope people can understand that I’ve got to do what’s right by me and my family.” And family is everything to Marc wife Laura and 18-month-old daughter Halle Louis who is the apple of her daddy’s eye. “She’s a doll - if I’ve had a bad game or a not very good day, as soon as I get home and see her it’s like a weight is lifted off me. And my beautiful wife Laura is just so supportive. We knew each other at school and we’ve been together 10 years now, married for three, so yeah, childhood sweethearts. It’s all good though, the best. “My two girls are so important to me and whatever I do with my career affects them as well. Laura’s great, she supports me in whatever decision I make with my career. When I said about moving down to Bournemouth we drove down and thought: ‘Wow, that’s a six hour drive from home’ but when we got here and saw what the area has to offer, we loved it. We love living by the sea and there’s loads to do with the little one in terms of parks and attractions.” The female influence also helps keep Marc grounded and takes the edge of his self-confessed tendency to have a bit of a moan. “Footballers are the biggest moaners going!” he smiles. “There are times I’ll have a good moan up as well, but it passes. “Coping with setbacks is part and parcel of the game so you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself down and get on with it. We lead an amazing life and I know I’ve been truly blessed with the opportunities that have come my way.”
“I’ve got to do what’s right by me and my family”
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picture: Steve cook
shaun macdonald Cherries 8 seekersport.co.uk
SeekerCherries
Bright debut
picture: MICK CUNNINGHAM
Former Cherries goalkeeper and lifelong fan Jordan Seabright returned to the Goldsands Stadium to make his debut for new club Dagenham & Redbridge in the first round of the FA Cup on November 3. The teenage keeper who was released by Cherries at the end of last season came on at half-time after first-choice keeper Chris Lewington was injured in an accidental clash with Matt Tubbs.
Into Africa
AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust is looking for new recruits to join its African adventure after an unforgettable trip to Kenya this summer.
ObituaryJohn Bond A December 17, 1932 – September 25, 2012
FC Bournemouth joined the football world in mourning the passing of former manager John Bond. Bond took charge of Bournemouth in 1970 in his first managerial role after a playing career than began in 1950 at West Ham. A member of the Hammers’ 1964 FA Cup winning side, he made 444 appearances for the Upton Park side before moving to Torquay United in 1966. Replacing manager Freddie Cox at Dean Court in May 1970 Bond is credited with renaming Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, opting for the trade name AFC Bournemouth in 1972 because it sounded more continental and adopting the red and black stripes of AC Milan. He also designed the now familiar club badge. But it was on the pitch that his presence was most felt, winning promotion from the old Fourth Division as runners up in his first season and leading the Cherries to the verge of promotion from the Third Division the following season when they finished third. The team he fashioned included the likes of Ted MacDougall, Phil Boyer, John Benson and Harry Redknapp, who in a moving tribute to his friend and mentor written for the Daily Mail described his first meeting with Bond as a ten-year-old autograph hunter at the cafe next door to Upton Park.
“I had this team photograph from the Christmas party. In it John Bond is holding a chicken leg and I wanted him to sign it. And he did. He was good as gold with me and I just remember staring up at this big man. I then watched him walk home. In the 20 years he was at the club he lived in the same house, 50 yards from Upton Park. Come out of the ground, turn right, first left, just there.” Bond left Dean Court in 1973 for Norwich City, eventually taking Benson and Boyer with him, the latter to be reunited with Ted MacDougall who Bond had saved from a short but hellish stay at West Ham. He also oversaw the professional debut of his son Kevin at Norwich. After taking the Canaries to Wembley where they lost the 1975 League Cup Final to Aston Villa, Bond took charge of Manchester City in 1980, guiding them to the 1981 FA Cup Final where they lost to Spurs after a memorable replay. Following spells with Burnley, Swansea City, Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town, he worked for Radio Five Live and took several non-league roles. His last job in football was scouting and coaching for his old mate John Benson at Wigan Athletic in 1999. John Bond is survived by his wife Janet, son Kevin and daughter Toni.
Five volunteers flew out to Nakuru in the south-west of Kenya in June and spent ten days teaching a wide range of subjects including maths and English, as well as running multi-sports activities in local schools. For more information contact Jamie Dighton on 01202 726343 or e-mail jamie.dighton@afcb.co.uk.
Wes success
Cherries striker Wes Thomas has returned to the club following a successful loan spell at Portsmouth. The former Crawley striker joined Pompey on loan in September and marked his debut with a last minute winner against Scunthorpe.
Jordan loan
Teenage winger Jordan Chiedozie has joined Dorchester Town in a month-long loan move. A product of the Cherries’ academy, 18-year-old has been a regular in the Development Squad this season and scored twice in the 6-0 Hampshire Senior Cup victory over Winchester City. He’ll be with the Blue Square Bet South club until November 24.
Arter extends
Harry Arter has capped a fine run of form by signing a new contract that will keep him at the club until summer 2015, with the option of a further 12 months in the club’s favour. Meanwhile, former Gillingham coach John Yems has joined Cherries as football operations and recruitment manager.
Royal honour
Cherries’ former England goalkeeper David James said he felt “extremely honoured” collecting his MBE for services to football and charity from HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. He told the Daily Mail: “It is not an award that one sets out to achieve, making me even more appreciative to those who put my name forward.” seekersport.co.uk 9
SeekerCherries pictures: Steve cook
Cherries 2 Orient 0
October 13, Goldsands Stadium
Lee Barnard Marc Pugh...
Lewis Grabban snatches the first ...rounds the keeper...
...for the second
10 seekersport.co.uk
Eddie Howe
SeekerCherries pictures: Steve cook
Cherries 4 Daggers 0
November 3, Goldsands Stadium Josh McQuoid
Lewis Grabban
Donal McDermott
Marc Pugh slots home the second seekersport.co.uk 11
Steve Cook
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Fletch
with Steve Fletcher The Cherries legend writes every month in Seeker Sport
T
here’s nothing like a few good results to get the place buzzing again - and that’s exactly what has happened at the Goldsands. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, we’re in a results-based business and if you’re getting results everyone’s job gets a little bit easier. The same is true in lots of businesses of course. When things are going well there’s a zip in the air and just at the moment I can’t wait to wake up and get in for training, or see what’s going on. A lot has changed since my first column for Seeker Sport and most of that is down to the return of Eddie and Jason. Everyone knows they’re good friends of mine, I’ve known them a long time, but nobody was happier than me to see them come in. It feels like being at home again. I’m not saying another manager couldn’t have come in and got results, but we’re the kind of club that works best when there’s someone in charge who really understands the club, who gets what the club means to people and knows how it fits into the community. And that’s Eddie, he loves this club and the fans love him. Let’s not forget he only became a manager in January 2009 - that’s less than four years ago. We could see how special he was back than, but the 18 months he’s been at Burnley have only made him better. Jason too. They came here and told us straight what their expectations were, how they want things done, explained the rules and regulations and I’m thrilled at how the lads have bought into it and responded. It’s just like
“The 18 months he’s been at Burnley have only made him better. Jason too”
picture: Steve cook
Howe sweet it is...
Eddie really, there’s nothing complicated, just honest hard work and a total passion for the job. Walking around the ground you can feel the love is back in the club. I’m not saying there aren’t going to be tough times it’s a long season - but I can’t underestimate what a difference those two make. What people maybe don’t know about Ed and Jason is how good they are at man management. Unlike their first spell in charge they’ve now got a big squad to keep happy and far greater expectations than we’ve ever had. But they’re great. Ed will call up in the evening just to see how you are, or to ask you something. There’s always an arm round the shoulder for those that need it, but he’s still the gaffer. For me personally I’m loving it because they’ve given me a lot of responsibility. Of course I love the minutes on the pitch, but it’s about more than that now - it’s about organising the dressing room, working with the lads and generally being the go-between. Most of all though I’m delighted to see Ed and Jason back where they belong.
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2012 Speedway Grand Prix World Champion seekersport.co.uk 15
lewis grabban Cherries 16 seekersport.co.uk
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pictures: steve cook
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SeekerPirates
Season Review I words: emma james
t was another dramatic season for the Poole Coastal Aluminium Pirates… and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Culminating with the success of retaining the Knockout Cup for a third successive year, the Pirates fought through an eventful year of injuries, match delays and team changes to defy adversity on a regular basis and beat the Coventry Bees to the esteemed title. What a ride for the fans and team alike, with a succession of 5-1 wins and the Pirates becoming renowned for their fast gating and team tactics. The stars of the season were certainly the Turbo Twins, Darcy Ward and Chris Holder. Darcy was missed during the final and Chris sustained a knee injury after a crash during Heat 4 of the final. Having guest riders is always a challenge, but Niels-Kristian
Iversen and Rory Schlein definitely proved they were worthy Pirates, whilst Poole regular Krzysztof Kasprzak was on top form all season. Alas, despite a promising start, the Elite League Grand Final eluded the Pirates, despite a well-fought battle against the Swindon Robins. The 2012 season will always be looked back upon as among the Pirates’ most dramatic with the blood, sweat and (occasional) tears eventually being rewarded with a well-filled trophy cabinet. In the words of Matt Ford: “Our team was full of determination, desire and drive.” And who would bet against 2013 being every bit as dramatic?!
pictures: Steve cook
Darcy Ward
Elite Knock Out Cup Final, 2nd Leg
POOLE 50 COVENTRY 40 (Poole won 102-78 on agg)
words: nicole lanning Fireworks rocketed into the night sky to signal Poole’s well deserved 50-40 victory to lift the Elite Knock Out Cup for the third successive season. Confident home fans turned up to see the second leg after Pirates had won by an impressive 14 points in the first leg at Brandon 72 hours earlier. And Pirates may have won the Cup for a third consecutive year, but this time they did without the Elite’s top two riders, injured duo Chris Holder and Darcy Ward. In fact, statistics show that Swede Ludvig Lindgren was the only rider in the Poole side who started the season as a Pirate. After the disappointment of missing out on the Elite League title, team manager Neil Middleditch was full of praise for his Patchwork Pirates – three guests to fill his six-man team and they still managed to take the victory and hold their heads high despite all the difficulties the club had suffered during a dramatic October of injuries. Kings Lynn rider Niels-Kristian Iversen selflessly stepped in to guest for Poole’s captain Holder and no doubt Pirate fans will welcome him back to Wimborne Road
in the future with open arms after his leadership qualities. The talented Dane racked up a decent 13 (paid 14) points on Monday to add to his 15-point maximum he scored away at Coventry a few days before in the first leg. This involved having to finish ahead of Bees’ Chris Harris on a man-to-man matchrace heat and additionally leading fellow Pirate Kyle Howarth home to a 5-1 which sealed the deal for the Cup. Australian Rory Schlein weighed in with an impressive 10 points. His highlights were a tricky two heats 10 and 12 against British champion Scott Nicholls in which he found himself just missing out on the three point win in both races. HERO: Kyle Howarth. Unsung hero usually, but this time getting a standing ovation after his 5-1 with Iversen clinched the trophy in Heat 12.
In praise of Chris
Poole team boss Neil Middleditch hailed world champ club skipper Chris Holder as he entered the Top Ten of Poole points scorers, steering Pirates to a 12 point first leg KO cup semi-final advantage over Peterborough.
VILLAIN: Injuries. Holder, Ward and Piotr Pawlicki all missed Pirates’ on-track Cup celebrations due to October injuries.
Middleditch, himself a member of the top 10, witnessed Holder reel off his 28th Poole maximum as he overtook Malcolm Simmons’ 2,148 points in the club’s records.
MAGIC MOMENT: World champion Chris Holder lifting the Elite Knock Out Cup for a third successive season. A perfect finish to the 2012 campaign for Pirates.
“We saw tonight just how much we should appreciate Chris, his presence at this club is immense,” said Middleditch. seekersport.co.uk 19
SeekerPirates
Pirates 45 (89) Swindon 44 (95)
pictures: Steve cook
Elite League Playoff Final, 2nd leg October 22, Wimborne Road
Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris Krzysztof Kasprzak
Former world champ and Sky Sports pundit Sam Ermolenko
20 seekersport.co.uk
Linus Eklof
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SeekerFootball
pictures: Steve cook
Harry’s star turn for Andy
Andy Culliford
F
ormer Cherries and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp attracted national newspaper attention when he returned to the dugout – at Wimborne Town’s Cuthbury ground. Harry managed a team of local non-league footballers against an AFC Bournemouth side to raise money for Wimborne stalwart Andy Culliford who, despite suffering from motor neurone disease, showed he still has a deft touch. Playing for the Cherries in the first half, Culliford was denied from the penalty spot by Jason Harvell. In the second, wearing All Stars’ colours, he also came close, flashing the ball just wide of the far post. The All Stars, buoyed by Harry Redknapp’s pre-match talk, took a two-goal lead as Gosport Borough’s Justin Bennett scored twice in a minute before Cherries pulled one back in the dying minutes of the first half.
22 seekersport.co.uk
Andy Culliford
Harry Redknapp In the second period Wimborne’s Tom Jeffes added a third for the All Stars, while the Cherries were unlucky enough to twice hit the woodwork. With just minutes left on the clock Andy Culliford came off to a standing ovation from the 756 fans.
Taffy Richardson
SeekerFootball
Tall Poppies
Ambitious Bournemouth Poppies boss Ken Vaughan is rebuilding his squad; not just for short term Wessex League glory, but to eventually grab a place in the non-league big time. He says: “We want to be able to take the step up to the Southern League. When you look at the Southern League players we’ve produced such as Jason Harvell, Matt Kemble and Scott Joyce we’ve already got a Southern League side out there.” The key to success, according to the 64-year-old now in his fourth season in charge at Victoria Park, is in player recruitment. “We’re always on the lookout for players,” Vaughan insists. “The door is always open. We’ve even brought in kids from the Haywood League.” Ever the realist Vaughan knows that success won’t come overnight. “The aim is for a top four finish in the league this season,” he says. “But I’ll take a place in the top six as it is always difficult when you are rebuilding.”
Pete’s partners
Coaching the coaches F
words: richard button
ootball needs good coaches to develop footballing talent, but who trains the coaches? Locally, it is the Dorset FA whose offices are based at the County Ground, the home of Wessex League outfit Hamworthy United. The Dorset FA recently held a course for level 3 and 4 (youth and adult) coaches at Wimborne Town’s Cuthbury ground. The session was led by Martin Hunter who is the under-21 coach at Southampton FC and also an FA Tutor. The course allowed coaches to watch Hunter’s expertise in coaching players from the Dorset County FA Development Centre and Wimborne Town under 18s.
The session was just one of many organised annually by the county FA. “We hold about 10 a year,” says Andy Battison, Football Development Officer (Raising Standards and Better Players). “We spread them around to give as many people as possible the chance to attend. “We run a variety of courses, such as for people coaching children between five and 11, youth and adults. There are also courses for coaching goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers.” Anyone interested in development opportunities contact Andy at andrew. battison@dorsetfa.com.
When Pete Alvis was handed the role of Wessex League First Division Ringwood Town’s first team manager it was a culmination of more than a decade and a half’s work at the Hampshire club. Over the years the 49-year-old has managed the club’s youth and reserve set ups and his elevation can be seen as a natural progression. Alvis, who replaced Rod Stacey earlier this season, is being aided by Andrew Graves and Lee Cooper. Crucially, Alvis sees it as partnership of equals. “In this job you need a group of people around you can trust,” he says. “The three of us love Ringwood Town Football Club. We all get on and enjoy working together.”
Poole-ing power
Poole Town continue to attract the biggest attendances in local nonleague football, pulling in an average of 362 to Southern League One South & West games at Tatnam. That figure was boosted by the crowd of 629 for the early season local derby with Wimborne Town, but Poole have been the most watched side in the division since their promotion at the end of 2010/11. Wimborne attract an average of 226 at Cuthbury, while Southern Premier Division Bashley’s average is 714. seekersport.co.uk 23
SeekerFootball pictures: cHARLotte SPRAke
Christchurch 3 Poppies 0 September 22, Hurn Bridge
Russell cook (christchurch)
Scott Joyce (Poppies)
James Burden & Russell cook (christchurch)
Poppies goalkeeper kenny vaughan 24 seekersport.co.uk
Ben osborne (christchurch)
SeekerFootball
Tommy’s thirst for silverware T ommy Killick is hardly a stranger to success having gained an FA Vase winners’ medal and FA representatives honours as well as Wessex League title and cup winners’ medals as a player. But the Poole Town boss insists he wasn’t as successful as he would have liked and his taking his thirst for more honours into his career as a manager. Building a strong managerial reputation at Tatnam, Killick became Dolphins’ boss in 2004 after a spell as assistant at Salisbury City. Since then it has been a glory trail as his Poole side won three consecutive Wessex League titles and found themselves as one of the top sides in Southern League Division One South & West, coming tantalisingly close to a second consecutive promotion last term. “Playing in the Conference South is a realistic ambition,” he insists, his eyes already on a grander prize. He firmly believes the Dolphins are a Conference South set-up in the making. “Getting up to that level would be difficult, but it is attainable. I know it is a massive step up for us, but it is something I would like to see us achieve.” Meanwhile, Killick opened his heart about last season’s Play-off Final
Young guns
Christchurch have made a bright to start to the season and manager Graham Kemp puts their success down to one crucial thing – youth. The Hurn Bridge outfit is engineering a youth policy designed to prepare youngsters for senior football. And that policy is already paying dividends. “We are a non-paying club, so our youth development policy is a priority for us,” says Kemp. “Towards the end of last season all our first team players were products of our youth system. We’ve produced some good young players.” Kemp admits that many of his side’s opponents are now fielding youngsters and that has improved the quality of the football. “Many clubs are following our policy. A lot of good football is being played with players being prepared to get the ball down and pass it.” Several products of the Christchurch youth policy are now involved in the professional game or being touted as ones for the future.
defeat to Gosport Borough when his men looked to have claimed a Southern Premier place at the first time of asking only to have it snatched from them in extra time. “It was a huge disappointment as I felt we had become stronger as the game progressed. We had home advantage and should have won.”
If you have a veteran player at your club it can be a good idea to use his experience. That is what has happened at Bashley where goalkeeper Stewart Kearn has been promoted to goalkeeping coach. This latest development in the 36-yearold’s career came just months after securing a return to Bash and Southern League football. “I was very flattered to be offered the chance to return to Bashley, but I was enjoying my time at Christchurch,” says Kearn. “I then asked myself what advice I would give to my son. It would be to play at the highest level possible. That’s why I decided to come back to Bashley.” Despite being part of Bashley’s four-man management team, Kearn is still registered as a player and is more than ready to don the gloves as and when required.
Mike Green moved onto Port Vale via AFC Totton, while Ben Dickenson is now with Brighton after a spell at Dorchester and great things are expected for 17-year-old Harry Cornick with a host of pro-clubs showing an interest.
Premier Potterne
Newly promoted Verwood Town are good enough to stand up to the rigours of Wessex League Premier Division football, manager Adie Arnold is claiming. The Potterne Park outfit took the step up to the higher division after winning the Wessex Division One title last season. And the Stags boss insists his men will not be left battling for survival this term. His eye is on a mid-table finish with greater things to come in future seasons. “We are more than capable of holding our own despite having a young side made up of local lads and the fact that 95 per cent of clubs in this division pay their players. We are aiming to finish mid-table.” And with an eye to the future Arnold added: “In a couple of seasons I would hope that we will have established ourselves in this division and be a top four or six side. “That will depend on us keeping the players we already have and being able to put good runs together. “We have players who are good enough to be playing at a higher level, but they are quite happy to be playing here at Verwood. This is a nice club with no egos.” seekersport.co.uk 25
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Pirates’ KO Cup success
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Harry’s game – Redknapp returns to the dugout
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SeekerSport picture: PeteR SUMMeRS
Not Lion down RUGBY D espite a run of defeats, Bournemouth Lions are adjusting to life in National League Two South and new additions to the squad have made a positive impact, says David Dunn, the club’s director of rugby. “Lions aspire to play in the same style as the top teams in the league but that remains work in progress,” he says. Luca Firetto has returned from Italy where he played professional rugby and Adam Higgins is back from Canada where he played last summer. Bryanston School teachers Tommy Booth, a former Welsh junior international and George Drake, a former England Students international both bring a wealth of experience to the club. Perhaps most telling has been the signing of Ben Stevenson
from Premiership club London Welsh. “He has been highly influential so far this season,” says Dunn. “His speed of thought and vision have given the Lions an edge in all areas of the pitch. “Everyone is enjoying the challenge. However, winning is all-important and that has to be the main focus in the next few weeks.” The hard-earned 31-15 bonus point win over Southend showed an immediate response to the coach’s assessment of the season so far and was followed by a three-point win at home to Taunton. “The immediate challenge is to continue to play with the same intensity against Launceston as that will yield points which will move us to a higher place in the League.”
Full back Dan Pollard celebrates chris Hughes’ touch down which secured the bonus point for the Lions
KURASH
Bournemouth brothers Jake and Daniel Grant each scooped a bronze medal at the World Junior and Cadet Kurash Championships, competing against athletes from 24 countries.
where kurash has been part of the cultural fabric for centuries. “We were also very proud of the 80 staff and students from Harewood and Avonbourne Colleges who volunteered over the weekend. We hosted such a successful championship that talks are now focused on holding the President of Uzbekistan tournament here next year.”
Kurash, a style of wrestling similar to judo, is the national sport of Uzbekistan and its competitors were the star performers. Jake, 15, a pupil at Harewood College, which played host to the championships, convincingly beat South Africa’s Alexander Chetty in his opening bout of the Cadet Under 60 kilo category before losing in the semi-final to eventual gold medallist Sacha Flament of France. His brother Daniel, 17, a former Harewood student who now attends Bournemouth and Poole College, took the fight to Uzbekistan’s Azim Abaydullaev in the semi-final of the Junior Under 73 kilo weight category before the greater experience and class of his opponent told. Organiser Paul Sawyer, examinations manager at Harewood, a former kurash champion and coach to the boys at Matsumachi Judo Club, Littledown,
Jake (green top) and Daniel Grant
said: “We are incredibly proud of Jake and Daniel who were both delighted with their performances. They trained incredibly hard, with the final weeks focussing particularly on kurash-specific gripping tactics. They stuck firmly to their game plan and the results showed. They were up against athletes from countries
Hundreds of spectators, including Bournemouth Mayor Cllr Philip StanleyWatts, attended the Roy Moore Sports Hall to watch athletes from as far afield as Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei and Botswana. Other local athletes included 17-yearold Tyler Charig from Ferndown who celebrated a bronze medal in the Junior Under 52 kilo class and 16-year-old Oliver Jackson who was eliminated by eventual silver medallist Saddam Axmetov of Uzbekistan in the first round. The world championships included traditional Uzbek singing and dancing and attracted dignitaries from around the world, including Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the UK HE Mr Otabek Akbarov. seekersport.co.uk 27
SeekerSport
Oche road DARTS
H
aving opened the new season in British Inter County Division One with defeat away at Derby, Dorset’s darts team had high hopes for their home debut against County Durham at Boscombe Royal British Legion. A complete redecoration to Dorset’s green and cream colours has transformed the venue with a rebuilt stage and music system, new oches for practice and competition boards. The Ladies B team opened proceedings, winning their matches 4-2, with Donna Mabbatt making her home debut return to county darts. Again, Sarah Chick was lady of the match with a 3-0 win and a 18.56 average. Dale ‘Big Stuff’ Masterman won the opening Mens B match at Boscombe and set the tone for the rest of the day with Dorset ending Saturday with a healthy 11-7 lead over the North Easterners. Among the highlights was young Tommy Morris’ fine 27.83 average, another product of Dorset’s highly-
regarded youth system; while Robbie Martin repeated his fine performance from Derby and won 3-0 over Gerry Hall with a 24.24 average. Dorset’s Ladies opened the A team matches with defeats for Jule Boggust, Trina Perry and captain Sally Old before Catheryn Campbell turned in a lady of the match performance to win 3-1 with a 23.68 average. With the overall score levelled at 1212, Dorset’s Men opened their A team matches with Wayne Ramsier seeing off Ian Adamson, but team manager John Clark failed to mark his 300th appearance with a win, going down 4-1 to Durham’s man of the match Keith Gowland. Three more defeats followed before Dorset’s man of the match, Scotty ‘Dog’ Mitchell chalked up a 4-0 victory with a 31.31 average, which also earned Scotty the highest average of the month award for the British Inter County Division One. But four more County Durham victories saw County Durham overcome Dorset who now lie second
from bottom in the table, but with just six points separating fifth place from ninth it could be a tight season. z Sarah Chick took her winning form on to Hull later in the week for the Lakeside World Championship qualifiers where she lost out in the final to England international Lisa Ashton - just one step away from the World stage. z Dorset’s next home match is against local rivals Hampshire at Boscombe on December 2 and 3
Volleyball
Olympian Zara Dampney has joined the Wessex Rocare ladies team. With playing partner Shauna Mullin, the former Parkstone Grammar School student narrowly missed out on the last 16 in the beach volleyball event. The move marks a homecoming for Dampney who was a member of the Dorset club’s junior outfit. Wessex have also signed New Zealand international Kirk Pitman, one of the top World Tour beach players. He has signed for Wessex Leaf BU men’s team until the end of the season.
From left, Christy Quinn, Nicky Gray, Laura Standley, Shirley Wiseman with Helen Glover Team GB (centre)
ROWING
Christchurch Rowing Club’s British gold medallist Matt Aldridge struck gold again at the South Coast Junior Regatta in Bideford. He was the first rower from CRC’s 14-strong squad to land a title in the J16s, winning by four lengths. Teammates Richard Quinn and Charlie Longman also won gold with a threelength victory in the J14 doubles.
z Christchurch also ran out emphatic winners of Victor Ludorum trophy at the 28 seekersport.co.uk
Itchen Junior Regatta, with a colossal 91 points tally. All but one of the 13 Hants and Dorset clubs took part.
z Team GB gold medallist Helen Glover presented the trophies as Hants and Dorset ARA won both aggregate trophies at the 56th South Coast Championships in Bideford. To get involved in rowing, either as a participant or in a supporting role, visit www.christchurchrowingclub. co.uk.
Running
Local marathon runner, double Olympian and Commonwealth medallist Liz Yelling joined 2012 Paralympic Gold medal winner Richard Whitehead to presented medals to more than 360 competitors who took part in the fourth annual Castlepoint sponsored Fun Run at Bournemouth’s Littledown Centre. Tim Fudge, from Blandford, won the adults’ 5k race with a time of 19:24.
SeekerSport
Pooled resources SWIMMING I nternational swimmer Noah Vides is a 16-year-old student at Canford School, who has big dreams of representing his country at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Noah, an appropriate name for someone with such an association with water, has represented England against the other home nations and, having been ranked consistently in the top three for his age, came second in the 2011 nationals. Noah was injured throughout last season and many pundits were disappointed with Team GB’s swimming results at London 2012. Justifiably so, according to Noah. “There was too much reliance on the likes of Becky Addlington, our dual gold medalist from Beijing,” he says.
words: HARRIet Lock pictures: JAck cHURcHILL
“The talent pool of young swimmers lacked depth despite funding from swimming’s governing body, the ASA. This was put into perspective by the 15-year-olds from China and America who struck gold in London.” Noah swims eight or nine times a week, with three or four land training sessions – on top of school six days a week, from 8am, with lessons finishing most days at 6pm. He is up at 4.30am to swim for two hours before a rushed breakfast in the car on the way to school. When academic requirements permit, he is in the gym at 3.45pm
before re-entering the pool for a further two hours’ training. It is clear winning motivates Noah and this continues to drive him. “It is frustrating that swimming lacks the profile of other sports, but the competition in my peer group is strong,” he says. Like all successful athletes, constant improvement is Noah’s goal. “I’m keeping my goals very much in the short- to medium-term with qualification for the European Junior Championships starting in July 2013 being the priority,” he says. There are many distractions for a 16-year-old, but Noah’s talent and dedication mark him out as a very special individual.
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
Poole Town goalkeeper Nick Hutchings, Sport Scientist (Psychological Support) at LeAF Elite Athlete Academy, explains why sport is all in the mind
What separates the good from the great, and the winners from the losers? Talent? Hard work? Luck? Good coaching? All are key factors in achieving success, but there is something else, something that is often mentioned but rarely explored and that is the mind.
will be better equipped to reach your potential.
Sport is not just a physical challenge, it is also a mental challenge and if you have a strong mentality, to go with the physical and technical attributes that are essential for your sport then you
As performers get older they learn to control all of these factors through experiences and the people that surround them, but what about those performers in the early stages of their career
Confidence, motivation, arousal control, managing emotions, dealing with setbacks, concentration and anxiety are just some of the things athletes have to deal with during their careers.
who haven’t experienced a big crowd, competing in a different country, moving away from home for the first time or dealing with the media? At LeAF Elite Athlete Academy the athletes are taught how to use self-talk, goal setting, mental rehearsal, relaxation techniques and pre-performance routines to deal with the many challenges sport throws at them, with the aim being they reach their sporting potential. nhutchings@leaf.bournemouth.sch.uk seekersport.co.uk 29
SeekerSport
Final Whistle
with Mick Callaghan
Co-promoter of Funnybone Comedy Club and a host of other music and entertainment events, Mick Callaghan is also a seasoned sports coach, PE teacher, actor, director, golfer and family man. Who better to grace Seeker Sports each month with a few witty quips, pithy epithets and general bon mots from his sporting life?
I
t was the American Mark Twain who said that golf was “a good walk spoiled.” I say American, because his flippant comment summed up the ignorance of a number of so-called USA golf supporters who gathered at Medinah Country Club for the 39th Ryder Cup. Now I don’t want to gloat, but... when we stuck it to the Yanks in their back yard, there was a feeling of ‘you get what you deserve’. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the Americans but I do feel that there was a sprinkling of bad sportsmanship flying around over those three days. I’m all for a crowd getting behind their team and their continual chanting of USA is, and always has been, annoying. However, it does come down on the side of acceptable behaviour. What isn’t acceptable behaviour is booing any European on the tee and cheering when a Euro ball goes in the drink.
Win a signed Cherries shirt! Seeker Sport has got a signed Cherries shirt up for grabs - and it could be yours in time for Christmas! One lucky reader will be the envy of their mates when they become the proud owner of a home shirt signed by first squad members. All you have to do to enter the free prize draw is log on to www. seekernews.co.uk/signedshirt and leave your name and contact details. The winner will be drawn at random after the closing date on December 19, 2012. 30 seekersport.co.uk
I don’t think I was the only person who enjoyed seeing a large helping of American humble pie being eaten. We can safely say that September 30, 2012, will go down as the greatest golfing moment of all time, possibly one of the greatest sporting moments of all time, but it’s over. We move on and look forward to meeting again in two years at Gleneagles when, unlike a number of overpaid footballers, we will shake your hand before entering into battle. So come on USA. Learn from this and take a bit of friendly advice from your oldest ally and chum: “Play up, play up and play the game”. And just remember... George Washington! John F Kennedy! Abraham Lincoln! Frank Sinatra! Muhammad Ali! Marilyn Monroe! Barack Obama! Davis Love III – can you hear me, Davis Love III? Your boys took one hell of a beating!
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Fundraising for Phase 1
with work starting this month to build a new hydrotherapy pool at Victoria Education Centre.
is complete
Phase 2 is now under way
to provide a ‘state of the art’ Therapy Centre.
A gift to help children and young
people with complex physical disabilities and associated neurological difficulties will really make their Christmas Sparkle. For details of events, ways to help or to make a donation (card payments welcome) please contact us on:
(01202) 758309
32 seekersport.co.uk
dnewbury@victoria.poole.sch.uk www.sparkleappealdorset.org