UTS ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM
UTS:
I S S U E 5 J U LY 2012 O LYM P I C S P E C I A L
NEWS
WHO TO LOOK OUT FOR IN LONDON... ATHLETICS TIM LEATHART KAYAKING JOANNE BRIGDEN-JONES MODERN PENTATHLON CHLOE ESPOSITO ROWING JAMES CHAPMAN ROWING ROD CHISHOLM SAILING NINA CURTIS SAILING LUCINDA WHITTY
UTS PAST AND PRESENT ARE READY TO ROAR AT THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPIC 3 Students, 4 Alumni and 3 UTS Club Members In 3 days all eyes turn to TV screens to cheer on the inspiration of our Nation. 10 of which are past and present UTS students and UTS Sports Club members. They will be among 10,500 athletes at the London Games who will compete across 26 sports.
WATER POLO JAMES CLARK
UTS Sports News: July Olympic Edition will give you the insights to the 10 green and gold athletes from the UTS Community, where they started and their road to Olympic selection.
WATER POLO GAVIN WOODS
Good luck to all our Aussie athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
TAEKWONDO HAYDER SHKARA
Picture Caption or credit
Joanne Brigden-Jones and Australian Crew on the water.
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UTS ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM
TIM LEATHART
JO BRIGDEN-JONES
ATHLETICS – 4 x 100m relay ALUMNI - B.Business 2008 – 2011 Tim, who graduated from a B.Business at UTS in 2011 was battling injury at the beginning of 2012 and tempted to hang up his boots for the season to recover. However, as it was an Olympic year he was persuaded to keep at it, and lucky that he did as his performance with the 4 x 100m relay team to clock 38.84 at the Shizuoka International Meet in Japan in May was one of the quickest Australian times recorded in years. It was good enough to earn the squad a place on the Australian Athletics team to take on London.
Career Highlights • Competing in the Australian 4x100m relay and securing Olympic qualification • Coming second in the 100m at the 2012 National Championships • Winning the 100m and 200m at the 2012 Sydney Track Classic
Jo Brigden-Jones in the Green and Gold
KAYAKING - K-4 500m ALUMNI - B.Nursing 2006 – 2010 The combination of elite sport and University education is difficult to say the least and it takes a very special kind of person to excel in both. Success in study and sport is something Jo achieved consistently during her time at UTS. As an Australian Junior Team Member in 2004, Joanne became the first ever Australian Woman to win a medal at the Bochum Regatta in Germany, in the K1 1000m; one of the most hotly contested events on the International Kayaking Calendar. In this event, Joanne was competing against 100 other athletes from over 25 different countries. Her talent was recognised by the NSW Institute of Sport and she was awarded a Full Scholarship. In 2008 following her stellar results at the Olympic Qualifying Regatta, Jo was awarded a full Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship. During the same year Jo was named as the UTS Sports Woman of the Year.
Tim Leathart on the track
CHLOE ESPOSITO MODERN PENTATHLON
UTS Fencing Club Member
20 year old Chloe comes from a long line of pentathletes, with her father and coach, Daniel Esposito competing in the 1984 Olympics, and her sister also on the international stage for the sport. Modern Pentathlon is comprised of pistol shooting, show jumping, 200m freestyle swimming, 3km cross country run and fencing, and Chloe trains at the UTS Fencing Club for this aspect of the discipline. Chloe will be one of the youngest members contesting this sport in London.
Following graduation, Jo focussed all her attention and energy on her training. She spent long periods of time in Hawaii training in tough and humid conditions. With her sights on selection for the 2012 London Olympic Games Jo and her K4 Crew dominated at the National Championships in early 2012 and secured their position in the 2012 Australian Olympic Team.
JAMES CHAPMAN ROWING – Men’s 4 ALUMNI - B.Business
(Accounting) 2001-2007
James graduated from a B.Business at UTS in 2007 and has been a member of the national rowing team for the last 6 years. He competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Men’s 8, finishing 6th in the final. James’s second Olympic campaign sees him in the Men’s 4. James has also competed in four World Championships, finally taking out a silver medal in the Men’s 4 in the 2011 Championships, and is looking to go one better in London. Chloe Esposito gearing up for the Modern Pentathlon at the 2012 London Olympics
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UTS ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM
ROD CHISHOLM
LUCINDA WHITTY
ROWING - Men’s Lightweight Double Scull
SAILING – Elliot 6m
UTS ROWING CLUB MEMBER
STUDENT - B.Business 2008 - present Lucinda, a UTS Business student, has been competing on the international sailing stage since 2006, where she represented Australia in the Youth Olympics and in numerous Open International events. Throughout 2007 and 2008 Lucinda continued to refine her sailing skills and in 2009 the commitment she had shown to her sport paid off, with Lucinda and her Australian Team winning the ISAF World Women’s Match Racing Championships.
Rod Chisholm on the water.
Rod, a UTS Rowing Club member is a member of the men’s lightweight double sculls squad for the 2012 Games. This will be his second Olympics, finishing 9th in the lightweight coxless 4 in 2008. In 2011, Rod was part of the lightweight 8 that won gold at the World Championships in Bled, Slovenia. Rod is coached by UTS Rowing Club Head Coach Steve Luker.
Lucinda’s success continued in 2010, being part of the team that represented UTS and Australia at the Australian University Match Racing Championships in Greece, winning bronze. On top of her international sailing success Lucinda was named in the Australian Sailing Development Squad in 2010, a team selected to assist athletes who have the clear potential for National and Olympic Sailing representation. This has clearly paid off, as Lucinda has been selected for the Australian Women’s Match Racing squad, heading to London for the 2012 Olympics.
NINA CURTIS SAILING – Elliot 6m ALUMNI - B.Human Movement 2006-2008 Nina, a UTS Alumni who graduated from a Human Movement degree in 2008, has been sailing since the age of 8, winning National Championships by the age of 15 and touring the world to compete in Match Racing events by the age of 17. Since then, Nina’s most notable achievements have included winning silver medals in World Championships, winning the prestigious Harken International Youth Match racing regatta in 2008 and completing two Sydney – Hobart Yacht Races. In 2009, she was selected into the Australian Development Squad, and has been training towards the London Olympic Games since then. Nina is a pivotal member of the squad and her dedicated training and perseverance have paid off, as Nina will be representing Australia in Match Racing alongside Lucinda at the 2012 Olympic Games.rud emordin pest?
Lucinda Whitty, Katie Spithill and Jessica Eastwell in Helsinki
HAYDER SHKARA TAEKWONDO – Shadow Squad STUDENT - B.Communication, B.Law Hayder, a UTS Law and Communications student, has represented Australia in Taekwondo on the world scene dozens of times since his debut in 2006. Hayder shows the amazing talent, experience and dedication that is only present in Olympic athletes, and this has him inches away from an Olympic debut in a sport where only a few high level competitors get a chance to compete internationally. Hayder’s performances in the World Championships in 2009 and 2011 were I outstanding, and he also represented UTS and Australia in the World University Games in China in 2011, coming 9th overall. He also competed at the World University Championships in May, again taking out 9th place. This, combined with his recent placings at the US and German Open have positioned him as the number 2 Australian athlete in Taekwondo for 2011 and 2012 and has won him a spot on the Australian Olympic Shadow team, where he will be touring with the squad for the London 2012 Games.
Nina Curtis on the water with team mates
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Hayder at the UTS TKD demonstration at MPSH, 2012
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UTS ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM
GAVIN WOODS
JAMES CLARK
WATERPOLO
WATERPOLO
- UTS Balmain Waterpolo Club
STUDENT - B.Business 2009 - present UTS Business student, Gavin Woods began playing water polo at a very young age and given that Gavin’s father David is a three time Olympian for the same sport, he had some big shoes to fill. Gavin first donned the green and gold Speedo’s in 1997, having secured a full scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Only one year later, when he was still eligible for the Junior Team, Gavin competed with the Australian Men’s senior team at the World Championships, where they finished in 4th place. This was the spark that fuelled an amazing sporting career for Gavin. Since then, he competed in three Olympic Games, Sydney 200, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 before deciding to hang up his togs from international competition to begin his studies at UTS, work full time as an accountant and raise his two small children with his wife Caroline (also an Olympic athlete for swimming). Continuing to compete with the UTS Water Polo Club, Balmain in the National League, slowly but surely that competitive drive came back and in 2010, Gavin made himself available for international competition with the Australian team. Last year Gavin travelled with the Aussie team to the World Championships, where they finished in 9th place and then went on to compete in the World League finishing in 5th place. To top this off, the Australian Men’s Water Polo team qualified for London 2012 and Gavin will be making his fourth Olympic appearance, a feat only a handful of Australian athletes have ever accomplished.
James Clark in goals
NSWIS scholar and member of the UTS Water Polo club, Balmain Water Polo, James will be competing in his first Olympics in London. At 21, James is the second youngest member of the team, his position being goalkeeper and will support his teammate and fellow goalkeeper Joel Dennerley James Clark heads into his first Olympic Games having played a little over 15 matches manning the goals for the Australian team. However in that time he has collected a silver medal at the 2012 Water Polo Pan Pacs in Melbourne, and was part of the Sharks squad that clean swept the USA 2-0 in their test series in Sydney.
GOOD LUCK TEAM!
Gavin Woods representing Australia
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UTS ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM
SOCCER STANDING
LEARN TO FENCE
It is more than half way through the season and UTS Soccer Club is continuing to impress in the competition. The womens division 1 team has only lost one game throughout the season and is currently sitting second on the ladder. The womens division 4 team are sitting strong in the middle of the table and are vying for a top four finish. Both UTS mens division 4 and division 7 teams are also holding strong in the middle of the table and are gearing up for a strong finish to the season. Finally the mens division 4 reserves are currently in third and are set for a semi finals appearance.
FENCING PROGRAMS: SPRING 2012
Beginner classes at UTS Sydney Boys High Gym Both Monday and Wednesday class are held at UTS Sydney Boys High Gym, Cleveland Street, Moore Park. They are opened to UTS community as well as public participation. Cost: UTS Students $30; UTS Staff & Alumni $60; Others $100 Monday class dates: 13th, 20th and 27th August
UTS TIGERS RLFC
Time: 6:15 – 8:15pm
The claws are out on the winning streak!
Time: 6:15-8:15pm
UTS Tigers RLFC has had an excellent run since the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. While the competition has been blighted somewhat by wet weather and ground closures, when the games have been on, the Tigers too have been on. The Tigers’ first grade team has won three from three in this period, including a thrilling 25-22 win against arch rivals, Norwest Polecats, and an 82-16 cricket score against Newcastle University. The second grade team has won its last two games, including a 26-22 win against ANU, which was a rematch of the 2011 grand finalists.
WILDERNESS NAVIGATION SHIELD
Wednesday class dates: 8th, 15th and 22nd August
Learn to Fence at UTS Multi-Purpose Sports Hall The fencing club will be offering intermediate and beginners’ class at MPSH, these are only to UTS students and staff only. INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED CLASSES Thursday class dates: 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th Aug, 6th, 13th, 20th Sep Time: 3:00 pm -4:30pm Cost: UTS Students $45; UTS Staff $60; BEGINNER CLASSES Thursday class dates: 16th, 23rd, 30th Aug, 6th, 13th, 20th Sep Time: 4:30pm -5:45pm
UTS OAC place 2nd at the 2012 Navshield
Cost: UTS Students $30; UTS Staff $60;
The UTS OAC came 2nd place in their category (Class 2, 2-day, Time:13h38m) in NavShield 2012. Every year on the first full weekend of July, the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad organises and runs the NSW Emergency Services Wilderness Navigation Shield. This premier navigation event, attracts entries from local, interstate and overseas organisations. This is a 29 hour contest for hard-core navigation and bushwalking lovers surviving without much sleep.
All participants should wear long tracksuit pants, T-shirt, sport shoes and bring along a towel, water bottle and a gardening/leather glove for his/her dominant hand. Fencing equipment is supplied for class usage. FOR REGISTRATION AND MORE INFORMATION: PLEASE CONTACT MS. AMY ISBERG, RECREATION AND EVENTS MANAGER, UTS UNION LTD, EMAIL: AMY.ISBERG@UTS. EDU.AU TEL: 02 9514 1889
Gavin Woods representing Australia
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UTS ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM
TAEKWONDO
I
Interclub Tournament UTS Taekwondo is hosting it’s 2nd interclub tournament of the year at the MPSH basketball courts on the 18th of August. Fighters from all clubs and universities across NSW will be entering. Everyone is welcome to come on down and watch the action. Competition starts at 10am and will be running throughout the day. For more information visit www.utstkd.com
SHAMROCKS CLIP TIGER TEETH UTS Womens AFT - The Green Rinse In a third and final encounter with the Auburn Tigers this season, the Shamrocks women completed a “Green Rinse” for the UTS side on Sunday 8 July 2012 in a match that muffled the Tigers’ roar. The season opening meeting between Auburn and UTS AFL’s newest team back in April saw an 18-point loss to an outfit eager to prove a sting in their bite. The second clash between the Shamrocks and Tigers was a fitting women’s AFL replication of the “Sydney Derby”, a classic rivalry between Sydney’s ‘East versus West’. The two teams played the Exhibition Match as a feature for the AFL’s “Multicultural Round”, before the Sydney Swans took on the Greater Western Sydney Giants on Saturday 30 June 2012 at ANZ Stadium. For Shamrocks Head Coach Dan Stanton, the final score of UTS 2.3.15 defeating Auburn 0.0.0 witnessed by a crowd of over 20,000 was a display of the class of the UTS team, where “the scoreboard really told the story of a high-intensity contest [seeing] the ball enter Auburn’s attacking 50 only twice. Due to the diverse backgrounds of the playing group who are predominantly born overseas, several of the team’s players were selected to play in last year’s International Cup with players representing both Ireland and Australia’s Indigenous/Multicultural team.
Lucinda Whitty, Katie Spithill and Jessica Eastwell in Helsinki
Despite a tough start to the season, the Shamrocks have demonstrated their ‘charm’, picking up several new recruits and mid-season transfers from rival clubs, building on their skill and flair with every game. Further emphasising the growth and development of the club, former team Best & Fairest recipient Sandra Ryan extols, “after being with the club for 4 seasons I have seen the club hit many an obstacle but it has come full circle”, now having gained a reputation for their team spirit and drive. UTS women’s AFL trains at Reg Bartley Oval, Waratah St, Rushcutters Bay on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-7.30pm. For more information on the team please contact Simone. Faulkner@uts.edu.au
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UTS Shamrocks take on Sydney Uni 2012
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