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ONE GAME AT A TIMEISSUE #12 JUNE 2012

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PLUS: JAKE WHITE TALKS COACHING I FORMER RAIDER’S SUPER LEAGUE HEART SCAREELLYSE PERRY ULTIMATUM I NEAFL MID SEASON REPORT I IS CHRIS CAIRNS WARMING TO THE BRUMBIES?

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PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AUII Issue #12 JUNE 2012

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PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU 1Issue #12 JUNE 2012

02 ACT Blind Cricketers Representing Australia in the Ashes

03 Chris Cairns Brumbies Expectations

04 Baseball Where in the Worls are our Cavs?

05 Focus on Coaching First in Our New Series - Jake White

06 Basketball Mikaela Dombkins - Strenght from Within

08 Rugby League Former Raider Suffers Heart Attack

09 Softball Canberra Honors its Stars

14Caroline Buchanan LON

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CONTRIBUTORSWriters: Chris Cairns, Antony Perry, Lucy Hinchey, Brett McKay, Peter McGrath, Shaun Ebert AAP, AFP.

Photographs: Joseph Purdam - JP Photographic Andrew Finch - Edge Light Photography Kris Arnold - Kris Arnold Photography Ben Southall - Ben Southall Photography Adam McGrath - Hcreations

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10 NEAFL Mid Season Report

12 Tennis Junior Development

14 Feature Caroline Buchanan

17 ActewAGL Calendar of Events

18 Socials Pink footy Day

20 Super Rugby Contenders step up

21 Rugby Test Series Preview

21 Football ANUFC 50 years

22 Football Ellyse Perry

22 Marathon Indigenous Marathon Project

23 Cycling ANU Track Team

24 Cycling Chloe Hoskings

27 Power Lifting Battle of the Gyms

29 Crossword + Top 5 Weird Injuries

PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU2 Issue #12 JUNE 2012

and so I’m obviously very proud to have been selected,” Rolls said.

“For any cricketer, touring England is a dream come true...going on an Ashes tour is the ultimate, so it’s the trip of a lifetime for me.”

Haydar added: “The amount of time and effort you’ve got to spend away from your family, doing a lot of training...if you do put all the time and effort into it you’re going to be rewarded and I feel like I’ve been rewarded.”

Rolls and Haydar are familiar figures on the international stage, having regularly represented Australia on home soil and overseas.

Rolls has toured New Zealand once and played in the 2008 Ashes series, while Haydar competed in the first Ashes series in 2004 and played alongside

Rolls in the 2008 series.

While both men have played Ashes cricket before, they are yet to taste success, with England triumphing in

2004 and 2008.

Rolls and Haydar are optimistic about Australia’s chances in 2012 though, and are determined to end England’s eight-year Ashes dominance.

“The Ashes, that’s all we want,” Rolls said.

“My one and only goal is to win [the Ashes]...there’s so much desire and so much

want that I’m not really focusing on anything but trying to bury the English,” Haydar added.

The 2012 Ashes series is comprised of three Ashes matches, while Australia and England will also compete in four twenty20 games.

Test cricket may now sit behind its flamboyant siblings one-day and twenty20 cricket in the sport’s pecking order, but the traditional form of the game still yields the one contest every Australian and English cricketer dreams of taking part in; the Ashes.

It’s one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket, if not in sport in general, and the opportunity to compete in an Ashes series is not secured easily, especially if you’re blind or partially sighted.

But Canberrans Cameron Rolls and Nick Haydar, who are blind and partially sighted respectively, have overcome the adversities of their condition and are currently living out the dream of touring England and helping Australia in its bid to win the blind cricket Ashes title.

For both Rolls and Haydar, being selected to compete for Australia in this year’s Ashes series is a just reward for the time and effort they have put in throughout their cricket careers.

“When you get to the international level it’s a lot of hard work, a lot of training

◊ ANTONY PERRYLOCAL BLIND CRICKETERS CHASING ASHES GLORY

It’s one of the most celebrated rivalries

in international cricket, if not in sport in general,

and the opportunity to compete in an

Ashes series is not secured easily

◊ LUCY HINCHEY

Australia will be looking to make its claim for top-of-the-table medal honours at the 2012 London Olympics with our swimmers expected to be at the forefront of the campaign.

Swimming Australia put together a series of specialized camps for the Olympic team in the lead-up to the games, which saw the likes of Bronte Barratt, Stephanie Rice, Leisel Jones and Libby Trickett make their way to Canberra to train at the AIS.

The women’s relay team is yet to be determined, with the team often announced as late as the night before depending on how the swimmers have performed or are feeling come race day.

The whole squad was present at the three day camp which saw the women’s 4X200m and 4X100m freestyle relay teams work together to perfect their techniques in swimming’s only ‘team’ event.

“At some point we have to compete against each other to try and get on the team and then come together as a team to swim for Australia. It’s a fine balancing act but I think we’re doing it pretty well at the moment,” Trickett said.

With the relay the only event on the Olympic program for Trickett, she explained although swimming is a solo sport, having the chance to share that with a team is an experience like none-other.

“There’s nothing quite like sharing that moment on the Dias … It’s such a rewarding experience because it’s not just about you it’s about coming together as a team,” she said.

This year the women’s swimming team is a balanced mix of young and ‘old’. Jones (26) and Trickett (27) joked at a press conference that they were the veterans of the team, being a decade older than Yolane Kukla and Brittany Elmslie who have both made their first Olympic teams at 16 and 17 years of age respectively.

OLYMPIC RELAY CAMP

“I think they see me as a bit of an old chook actually, I sort of feel it sometimes,” Jones said.

Jokes aside, Jones says she is comfortable with her mentoring role in the team and has imparted a few words of wisdom on the younger girls before the games.

“You can put a lot of pressure on yourself and that’s not the way to get results. It’s all about soaking it up and enjoy the people your hanging out with … when you get to the village you don’t have to experience everything on the first day… there’s a whole second week for that. That’s the number one rule,” she explained.


CHRIS CAIRNS

OUTLOOKQuite unashamedly I admit to having Red and Black veins running through my body from a rugby perspective (that’s the Crusaders for the uninitiated) but I am also very happy to see the Brumbies scaling the heights they are in Super Rugby this year.

Just prior to Xmas last year I was fortunate to have attended a private gathering of local businessmen where Jake White outlined his ideas, concepts and way forwards for the Brumbies. Off the back of a horror 2011 campaign there were some rather attentive, keen supporter ears in the room, interested to hear what Jake had to say.

Now Jake White to me comes across as a no nonsense coach. Someone who has the conviction to believe in what he is doing is right. He has pedigree. World Cup winner amongst his haul, but for me it’s his pitch, the way he delivers his message when he’s talking that sets him apart, that makes you believe in what he is saying.

I have a special place in my heart for South Africa. I have two boys who live in South Africa aged 9 and 10

and sport is a huge way of life not only for them, but for most young South African’s. The acres of playing fields, the weather, the hardnosed attitude to winning, creates a culture where talent shines and pushes and strives for excellence.

That excellence focus seems from afar to be what the Brumbies are exhibiting in the early rounds of the competition. The training regimes, the ability for the reserve players to step in and step up, displays a culture that on the outside seems happy with how it’s playing and what it’s delivering. A group of men committed to what they have no doubt set as their goals.

What the Brumbies will now have to deal with however as the season starts to get in to finals focus,

is expectation. At the outset of the competition this was not a word that was used to describe the Brumbies. The young team will have to muster all its concentration to not get distracted from deviating from its game plan. I always found that when it came to pressure games around finals time it was the individual or team that didn’t make mistakes that invariably came out on top. The inexperienced feel they have to do more during finals when in fact what is required is simplicity and doing no more than what you have done to get you there in the first place. Too often people strive for more brilliance than is necessary and by doing this make mistakes and thus lose their grip on the match. The resulting outcome from here is that they try even harder and things go from bad to worse.

Jake White will know this is probably the only thing that can halt his charges. Experience teaches you to be patient but failure is the greatest teacher of all. Hopefully the Reds loss will be a lesson well learnt.

The Brumbies will now have to deal with expectation


FOCUS ON COACHING

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE THE CANBERRA CAVALRY?It has already been a cold winter in Canberra, but the Cavalry have spread out to warmer climates to continue chasing their dreams of playing Major League Baseball. Checking in on some of our favourites should help warm you up as the thoughts of summer nights at The Fort are only six months away.

Hayden Beard: Hayden “Fear The” Beard is pitching for the San Antonio Missions, AA Affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Beard spent his entire affiliated career as a relief pitcher but after a stand out season as a starter for the Cavalry he has been a part of the Mission’s struggling starting staff. His best outing came on 5 May against the Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston Astros). Beard threw seven shutout innings, struck out five, while scattering five hits and only allowing one walk. “The jump from A to AA is one of the hardest in minor league baseball,” Assistant General Manager Thom Carter said. “Hayden has made some big changes to his game, and while there have been some struggles, we are glad to see that he is progressing.”

Steven Kent (pictured above): Kent recently signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association and their season started in the middle of May. While the left handed pitcher was one of the most dominate closers in the ABL, he is being used as a strong arm out of the bullpen. In his

three appearances this year he has struck out seven batters, while only walking one.

Two Cavalry All Stars in New Jersey: The Sam Bat ABL Offensive Player of the Year and Cavalry MVP Brian Burgamy returned to the Camden (New Jersey) Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League. Burgamy picked up in Camden where he left off in Canberra. He currently leads his team in batting average (.320), doubles (8), home runs (4), runs batted in (23), and walks (20). His Cavalry and ABL All Star teammate, Mike McGuire joined him in Camden and he is a solid starter for the River Sharks. In nine starts he has a 2-2 record and he leads the team with 24 strike outs.

The Tampa Bay Rays Boys: The Rays sent four players to the Cavalry last season and all four are having different levels of success this season. Todd Glaesmann was an All Star for the Cavalry and has done well with his assignment to the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Class A Midwest League. He leads the team in runs batted in (25) and triples (4), and is second on his team in home runs (4). Another Cavalry All Star, Ty Morrison started the season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs (Class High A), but after 32 games with them he was called up to the AA Montgomery Biscuits. In his 15 games with the Biscuits he has 15 hits, with two triples, one double, and one home run. He has stolen 13 bases all season

for both teams. When Morrison got called up he joined another Cavalry stand out, catcher Mark Thomas on the Biscuits. Thomas has been splitting time in the catchers spot for the Biscuits and is considered the top catching prospect in the Rays organisation. His defence and the way he works with the pitching staff has helped keep the Biscuits in second place with a 26-24 record. Kevin Kiermaier has spent much of this season on the disabled list after getting hurt in the second week of the season. The Cavalry hope that he has a quick and full recovery.

The Toronto Blue Jays Guys: While the Cavalry only saw Johnny Tolisano for three weeks before he injured his arm, he returned to the States, rehabbed for months and has been playing well for the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Tolisano has made the move from secondbase to outfield and is making a strong impact in the Eastern League. Tolisano is in the top six on his team in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, and runs batted in. Kenny “The Jet” Wilson has been lighting up the basepaths for the Lansing Lugnuts of the Class A Midwest League. He already has 14 stolen bases and has only been caught once this season. He is also third on the team in home runs and walks; looking to pull from some of his dramatic plays for the Cavalry last summer.

Our Reds Boys from 10-11: After mashing bombs for the Cavalry in the first season at the Fort Donald Lutz continues to grow as a player in the Reds organisation. He is playing for the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class A California League. Lutz is hitting .306. He is leading the team with 13 home runs, 39 runs batted in, and 16 doubles. His 13 home runs leads the entire California League. He was just placed on the disabled list, but it is expected that he will continue to put up monster numbers for the Blaze. Didi Gregorious has found a home with the AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos. While he has solid offensive numbers, including leading the team with three triples, what Didi brings to the team is the top defensive infielder in the Reds organisation. He is a human vacuum at short stop and provides protection for all his pitchers.

Cavalry All Over The World: Fan favourite Kody Hightower has been playing in the Netherlands for Mr. Cocker HCAW of the Dutch Major Leagues It is hard to find statistics for the Dutch Major League we are confident that he continues playing well there. His Cavalry teammate Kyle Putna is pitching for his side in the Netherlands. Joining Kent on the Kansas City T-Bones is pitcher Brian Grenning. In the T-Bones short season Grenning has picked up one win, in one start, striking out seven. Utility man Kellen Kmiecik is playing in the Czech Republic after a solid year with the Cavalry.

With so many great alumni playing baseball all over the world, the Cavalry look forward to Friday 2 November when they open the 2012-13 season against the rival Sydney Blue Sox at the Fort. Existing members can renew their memberships now while new memberships will go on sale in late June.


FOCUS ON COACHING

◊ ANTONY PERRY

Having led South Africa to a Rugby World Cup (RWC) triumph in 2007, current ACT Brumbies coach and IRB Hall-of-Famer Jake White knows what it takes to achieve success as a coach in today’s cutthroat world of professional sport.

While winning rugby’s ultimate prize is a remarkable success, what’s even more extraordinary is how White became the sixth international coach to achieve the feat.

When handed the reins of the Springboks in early 2004, South African rugby was in a state of turmoil. Its failed campaign at the 2003 World Cup, the Kamp Stalldraad scandal and numerous internal conflicts marked a turbulent beginning to his tenure.

But having been involved within South Africa’s mainframe since 1997, most notably as the Under 21 side’s coach, White was aware of the pitfalls that existed in the Springbok’s setup prior to his securing of the top job.

White had guided the South African Under 21 side to an IRB Under 21 Rugby World Cup triumph in 2002 and believes it was those players who were the catalyst for the senior side’s emergence from the mire and its success at the 2007 RWC.

“[I won the Under 21 World Cup] with players who I knew would then become the senior players in the next couple of seasons and they were able to help me in getting them to understand what we wanted to achieve as a group together,” White said.

“Because I had the best team in the world in 2002 as Under 21s there was no reason why four years later as Under 25s they couldn’t be the best team in the world again.”

His Springbok side of 2007 was indeed the best side in world rugby, clinching the Webb Ellis Cup with a 15-6 win over England in the RWC final.

According to White, he possessed three key characteristics during his tenure at South Africa’s helm.• Consistency: he was consistent in the messages he

was giving to the players• Honesty: when communicating with players he was

up front and honest with them• Enjoyment: he placed an emphasis on having fun

and results followed

Ultimately, those characteristics allowed him to extract the most from his players.

“Maybe coaches feel a bit awkward telling their players things, but you’ve just got to be honest with them and let them know consistently where they stand.”

“Common things that everyone tries to get is motivation, goal setting, standards and values...all teams can do that by drawing on the board, but it just comes down to the honesty and the consistency you give the players.”

A MASTER OF HIS TRADE: JAKE WHITE

Having secured the most coveted prize in international rugby in 2007, White was lured to Canberra in 2012 to ply his trade with Australia’s most successful Super Rugby side, the ACT Brumbies.

The beginning of his tenure in the capital was almost a case of déjà vu for the 49-year-old, with the Brumbies’ 2011 Super Rugby campaign being one of the worst in the club’s proud history and as a result, the franchise was in disarray.

“There were a lot of similarities between the [beginning of my time with the Springboks and the Brumbies], but there was also a lot of positives in that [the Brumbies] have massive expectations, a great fan base and they have a great record and history,” he said.

Armed with the three traits he carried while with the Springboks, White has restored the ACT club’s prowess and has been at the head of the charge that looks likely to carry the Brumbies to their first finals berth since 2004.

White believes hard work and a strong focus on the little things have enabled the Brumbies to defy their critics and restore pride in the ACT jersey this year.

“A method we’ve tried to sell to all our supporters is that we’re not going to talk up about how good we can be, what we’re going to do and where we want to come [on the ladder]...what we’re saying to the fans in Canberra is that when you watch your team play you will see them give 100 per cent and you’ll see they’ll work harder and harder all the time to get better,” he said.

“That’s why we’ve become better...we’re focused on the things we can control.”


“I couldn’t believe it was happening to me because I was always one of those people who was up early shooting and really religious with my work-outs…”

“Everyone’s only one injury away from their career ending, that scared me and I started taking more time for interests in off court activities,” Dombkins said.

Today Dombkins still has no feeling in the toes on her left foot, but you would never know it once she hits the court.

“It felt really weird to start with, not being able to feel your toes when you’re running or pushing off. I’ve gotten used to it now and I’ve found ways around dealing with that. There are things I can’t do but also things I do now that I didn’t do before,” Dombkins said.

Canberra Caps Academy coach, Sandy Tomley, said that although the guard did not play “major minutes” in the last WNBL season, she is using the SEABL to work on her strength and defence to regain her spot in the elite level of basketball.

“Mikaela’s strength is obviously her shooting and her outside penetration … She’s working on developing her defensive game … she’s now feeling like she can trust her back to withstand that

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contact that she receives when she plays defensive.”

“It’s all or nothing for her, it’s not half paced,” Tomley said.

Her self-confessed competitive nature is what allowed Dombkins to regain a position in the WNBL, choosing the Canberra Capitals to be her saviours.

“My only goal was to play basketball again … after the WNBL season … playing basketball at the highest level in Australia after what I’d done, regardless on my court time or anything to do with basketball, just personally to mentally stay with it to get back up to the top, I think I achieved a lot during the year,” Domkins said.

It is the Canberra Caps Academy’s inaugural year in the South East Australian Basketball League and it is there Domkins has regained her muscle, strength and game time whilst working on her mindset and confidence.

“It’s about having a pathway for players in that league to come back and get more minutes and having a pathway for our ACT juniors to come and play … and be exposed to a higher level of competition,” Tomley said of the SEABL as an extra tier of competition for local female basketballers.

Ask Mikaela Dombkins what her aspirations are for her career and she will clarify “was that in basketball?”

The Canberra Capitals (Women’s National Basketball League) and Caps Academy (South East Australian Basketball League) player could be forgiven for focusing solely on her sporting career, however the model, fashion design and journalism

student wants to make sure she has something to fall back on- should she suffer another crippling injury like the one she suffered two years ago.

In the 2010 WNBL season, Dombkins was playing for Sydney Uni Flames when she suffered a slipped disk in her back. Doctors told her the disk would eventually fall back into place but after spending three months bed ridden in agony, she knew something was not right.

The disk had ruptured and damaged her sciatic nerve. Specialists then told Dombkins if she did not have surgery immediately, she risked losing the ability to walk.

Intense rehab allowed her to regain feeling in the entire left side of her body which had deteriorating dramatically prior to surgery.

Missing almost two seasons of WNBL basketball forced Dombkins to re-evaluate her priorities and the 25-year-old admits prior to the surgery, she had given her parents “a lot of grief” saying nothing would make her happy.

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PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU8 Issue #11 MAY 2012

◊ SHAUN EBERT @SHAUN_EBERT

As an introduction, I must tell you that sport is my life. I work in sport, I play and watch as much sport as possible and with the little free time I have left, I am usually playing sport games on PS3 or thinking about what I will be watching next.

Being a sports fanatic, I love nothing more than hearing about amazing feats, incredible statistics and records that can only boggle the mind, as an example of this I find it amazing that one of the most popular franchises in the world, the Chicago Cubs, have not won a World Series Championship since 1908, 103 years without a title would have to be among the longest streak in the world.

Being a follower of all sports, I often notice little idiosyncrasy that some codes have that others don’t and as you may gather from the title, the first one I have choose to highlight is to do with State of Origin.

Being a NSW supporter in the mist of the worst losing streak in Origin history, to draw my attention away from the results, I have started searching for distractions to ease my pain and noticed an ever increasing trend. This trend has nothing to do with the players or the game; it is in fact to do with the supporters.

What I am talking about is fans that were born in one state that follow the other. The notion of a New South Welshman supporting Queensland in the ultimate battle of the states is something I find confusing, and I’m sure this happens the other way.

This is not like supporting the Eels when your whole family goes for the Raiders, it’s not like cheering for Ford in the V8 Supercars even though you own a Holden. It’s not even like supporting Collingwood when you come from Carlton!

With State of Origin you have no choice!

IT’S YOUR STATE OF ORIGIN

I was born in NSW, played my first game of junior rugby league in NSW and have now followed the correct path to become a NSW supporter, I would expect exactly the same from anyone born in Queensland.

I understand the confusion that our youth face today. We have commentators that in the past were NSW greats, that now continually remind us how good our opposition is and that they deserve to win.

In what is probably one of the greatest sporting rivalries Australian’s have, you would never hear Mark Taylor tell the Australian audience that we have no chance of winning the Ashes before the first ball was bowled and you would most certainly be an outcast if you openly cheers for the poms.

But I digress; State of Origin is about one thing and one thing only, supporting the state where you first set foot. It doesn’t matter if your favourite player plays for the other team, if you like their colours slightly more or even if you are facing what seems like a never ending losing streak. Your team is where you come from, it’s stated in the name.

Former Raider Adrian Purtell suffered a heart attack following Bradford’s Super League clash with Leeds on Sunday, the club has confirmed.

Purtell, 27, who played several years in the NRL with Canberra and Penrith, was taken to hospital after complaining of feeling unwell and is expected to remain at the Leeds General Infirmary for the remainder of the week.

“Adrian had an immediate primary angioplasty to remove the blockage in his artery but both the club and the player wish to point out that at no time did he suffer a cardiac arrest,” Bradford manager Stuart Duffy said.

“His heart did not stop beating and he was conscious throughout the journey to hospital. Adrian is feeling much better today but will remain in hospital for the next few days for further tests.”

Purtell’s mother, Fran, earlier told Australian media her son was “okay” after the heart scare.

“Adrian had a heart attack,” she told the Albury Border Mail before boarding a flight to Britain.

“He had a blockage to one of the main arteries to the heart but he’s okay. He’s in Leeds hospital and is in good care.”

Asked if her son would play again, she said: “I don’t know,” adding that he had been feeling unwell ahead of the game.

Purtell, who is in his first season in Super League, issued a statement through the club thanking everyone for their best wishes.

“I have read all the messages and would like to thank everyone for their concern,” he said.

“The response from the rugby league community has been overwhelming and I appreciate everyone’s kind thoughts.”

Purtell’s health scare comes just two months after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during a match at Tottenham.

Purtell, who started his professional career at Canberra in 2006, missed a large chunk of the following season due to deep vein thrombosis after a blood clot was found in his lungs and his mother said he had been feeling unwell

for some time in the lead up to his latest health drama.

He missed four games earlier this season with a torn pectoral muscle and sat out two more matches with a hamstring injury before returning to make his 10th appearance for the club in the 37-22 defeat by the Rhinos.

Coach Mick Potter, who visited Purtell in hospital, told the Bradford Telegraph & Argus:

“He’s looking as well as he’s ever looked. His colour is back, he’s sitting up and his sense of humour was there. He was perky but he’s got to stay in hospital for the next few days while they run some tests. We hope they’re all going to be clear and that he gets back to playing rugby league.” AFP

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FORMER RAIDER SUFFERS HEART ATTACK

PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU 9Issue #11 MAY 2012

[email protected] | www.voodoocreative.com.au

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We have.Annual report design, typesetting, engaging diagrams & graphs, print management, interactive & accessible PDFs, online HTML conversion, indexing, version control & more.

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Softball ACT wrapped up a big and successful year at the Ainslie Football Club recognizing their top players.

“It has been an outstanding year for Softball ACT with our state teams playing in 4 of the 6 National title deciders, not a bad effort for a small state” said Kim McGovern President of Softball ACT.

The ACT reached finals of the Open Men, Open Women, Under 19 women and under

TOP SOFTBALLERS RECOGNISED

17 boys, winning just the Open Men’s title. The Open men winning for a record equaling 11th time. Later this year they will have the opportunity to take the record outright when the Nationals are played here in the ACT in December.

The State Awards Dinner is the night when Softball ACT acknowledge their outstanding players in each team, along with those volunteers who have

given enormous time and effort to the Association over the years.

Deciding on who to give his best pitcher award to was a difficult task for Open Men’s Head Coach Darrin Hebditch. “When you have the world’s two best pitchers (Adam Folkard and Andrew Kirkpatrick) in your team deciding who you give the award to is a nice problem to have”, said Hebditch. Folkard dominated the Nationals this year leading off the pitching in the final against WA and also performed well with the bat scoring home runs. With a team full of Australian representatives Hebditch has a few headaches when it comes to deciding team awards, headaches which are the envy of the Softball community.

It will also be a special night for the Hebditch’s with mother Brenda celebrating 50 years of scoring for Softball ACT at National Championships.

Another highlight of the evening was acknowledging the large number of Australian representatives. This year ACT has contributed 28 players and 3 coaches to national teams and squads.

Award Winners

Under 17 Girls Batting Award - Brianna McGovern Most Valuable Player - Holly Bartholomew Coach Award - Casey Johnson

Under 17 Boys Mvp David MaCaskie Batter Award Matt Wickham

Under 19 Women Most Valuable Player – Britt Tully Batting Award – Laura Pardoe Pitching Award - Lauren Cuthbert

Under 19 Men Most Valuable Player – Jesse Taws Coach Award – Mitchell Scott Batting Award – Jesse Taws

Open Women Pitching Award - Aimee Murch Batting Award - Brenda DeBlaes Most Valuable Player - Clare Warwick

Open Men Most Valuable Player - Jeff Goolagong Pitching Award - Adam Folkard Batting Award - Zenon Winters

Presidents Awards for outstanding service Kylie White Geoff Hardwicke and Michael Worsnop.


NEAFL As the Eastern Conference reaches the mid-way point of the 2012 season, we get a better indication of which teams are in contention and which teams are out of the question.

The premiership race is wide open with at least six teams still vying for the title. Let’s take a look at the teams fighting it out for a spot in the five.

QUEANBEYANThe Tigers are the big surprise packet of season 2012. The much publicised appointment of rookie Coach Kade Klemke has paid off handsomely with the 21 year old revitalising the older players whilst giving the younger guys the experience that comes with a year in the AFL system.

The Tigers sit atop the Eastern Conference alone with a game in hand, and Klemke will be hoping they can continue on their winning ways.

THE BIG QUESTION: Can the Tigers sustain their great form? They have a tough run coming up meeting reigning premiers Ainslie twice, the Sydney Swans and Northern Conference powerhouse Southport in the next month. This will go a long way to showing where the Tigers are at.

VERDICT: There’s no reason to suspect Queanbeyan’s form will decline, expect to see them at the top of the ladder at season’s end. PREDICTED FINISH 1-2

SYDNEY SWANS The message coming out of the Swans from Coach Jared Crouch was development. It is all about teaching and guiding his young chargers on their path to AFL football.

The Swans started the season sluggishly, losing to fellow AFL affiliates the Gold Coast Suns, and the NT Thunder, but since then have sprung to life, thrashing teams and taking all before them.

THE BIG QUESTION: Are the Swans too reliant on AFL listed players? The Swans form turnaround can be attributed in part to the wonderful form of Mitch Morton who has kicked 24 goals in his past three matches to sky-rocketed to the top of the Eastern Conference goal kickers. However, his great form may see him get a senior berth, which means the Swans will have to find another forward target. The perils of being an AFL affiliate!

VERDICT: The Swans have looked to get over their early season indifference, and will be a major player come the end of the season. PREDICTED FINISH 1-2

EASTLAKEEastlake started the season in scintillating form, sitting unbeaten after three rounds before Queanbeyan got the better of them in their top of the table clash. Since then the Demons have seen their momentum fluctuate, with fantastic wins against the GIANTS at Manuka, whilst falling badly to the Swans at the SCG.

The Demons have a soft draw coming into the back half of the season, but that still does not guarantee them a

double chance come September.

THE BIG QUESTION: Is it a case of No Bruce = No Dees? The Demons’ spearhead has been in magnificent form so far this season, but in the games where he has had little to no impact, Eastlake simply do not win. The Dees need to find a way to grind out wins when Bruce isn’t at his best.

VERDICT: An easy draw rolling into September should hand Eastlake a top three finish, but whether they can match the likes of the Swans and Tigers in the finals remains to be seen. PREDICTED FINISH 2-4

SYDNEY HILLS EAGLESSydney Hills were the enigmas of the Eastern Conference prior to the season, and they have not disappointed so far, sitting comfortably inside the five.

The Hills Eagles have had great service from stars Ross Tungatalum and Ryan Houlihan, but have proven they can win without them, chalking up a win against Tuggeranong at Greenway without the ex-Carlton gun.

THE BIG QUESTION: Can the Hills Eagles match it with the best? While Sydney Hills have put away the teams they should have, they have been found wanting against teams at the top of the ladder.

VERDICT: The Hills Eagles have been magnificent so far this season, but their form does not seem sustainable, especially when looking at the run they have home. Don’t be surprised to see them slip out of the five come season’s end. PREDICTED FINISH 5-6

AINSLIEAinslie have had a strange start to the season, winning wonderfully against the Swans in the Grand Final re-

FINALS CHANCES – A MID-SEASON REPORT match, but failing badly against the Hills Eagles in a game they would have expected to win.

The Tri-colours have the star power to be relevant in September, but right now the form of the guns has been spasmodic. If they can all click at the same time, anything is possible.

THE BIG QUESTION: Does the fire to win still burn within Ainslie? The reigning premiers have been sloppy in the first half of the season. Are they building to a genuine flag defence, or do the Tri-colours just not want it bad enough?

VERDICT: With names like Crook (pic), McGregor and Paine you cannot count the Tri-colours out, but they need to find top gear and fast, or the Queabeyan’s and Eastlake’s will fly right past them. PRECDICTED FINISH 3-5

UWS GIANTSThe UWS GIANTS have been one of the hardest teams to read in the Eastern Conference. The GIANTS are the only team to beat Queanbeyan this year, but with such a young affiliated AFL side, the team can be left with gaping holes whenever Kevin Sheedy feels the need to swing the axe, as evidenced in round 9 when the GIANTS were smacked by the Lions.

THE BIG QUESTION: Will the GIANTS have enough team continuity to be a flag threat? It would be surprising if GIANTS coach Brett Hand had the same team play in consecutive weeks. Those kinds of disruptions are not what winning teams have to endure.

VERDICT: The GIANTS have the list to make the five, but whether they can make any kind of impact is an entirely different question. Their best is very good, but finding that elusive top-gear is the challenge facing Brett Hand. GIANTS will be fighting it out with the Hills Eagles for that final spot in the five. PREDICTED FINISH 5-6

AND THE RESTUnfortunately nine does not go into five, which means four teams have to miss out. With six teams still slugging it out for the final spots, let’s have a look at the teams who will not be a factor come September.

BELCONNENThe Magpies are very unlucky not to be in finals contention, with several losses by less than a goal. Coach Matthew Lokan will be rueing the missed opportunities to make his mark in his debut NEAFL season.

SYDNEY UNIThe Students have battled manfully throughout their maiden season in the Eastern Conference, but length of the season may trouble them at the back end. Unfortunately they haven’t won enough games to be in Finals contention.

TUGGERANONGWinless thus far in season 2012, the Hawks have been close to the win on several occasions. They may upset a few teams late in the year but their slow start has basically ruled them out of finals.

Image: Ben Southall

◊ TODD DAVEY


NEAFL

Freakishly talented Geelong AFL forward Steve Johnson says he gets no licence to thrill from coach Chris Scott and has to answer for it if his flair comes unstuck.

While he produced some dazzling moments, such as a reflex look-away handball which found its mark, Johnson said they were not the sort of acts Scott encouraged.

“He doesn’t give me a licence. He doesn’t come up to me and say ‘Stevie, you’re allowed to play on instinct totally,’” Johnson told One HD’s AFL Game Plan

“But I probably give it to myself at times.

“Sometimes it comes off and I look great.

“Other times I’m up in the review meeting on a Tuesday being asked ‘Stevie, what the hell have you done here?’

“Early on in the season, I probably wasn’t at my best, I’m starting to find a bit of form and the game’s coming to me a little bit more at the moment.”

Johnson was also confident the reigning premiers were returning to their best, despite sitting on an average record and having consistently lost the contested ball this year, an area they have excelled at in the past.

“We haven’t been playing our best football,” Johnson said.

“The question marks are raised for a reason, we take some things on board.

STEVIE J’s FLAIR QUESTIONED ◊ Sam Lienert

“But we think we’re going some way to fixing those things and we think another couple of wins and our confidence will grow and we’ll be back to the form we showed last year.” AAP

AAP image/David Crosling


ATHLETES GIVEN MAXIM CHANCEA Canberra company gets behind our talented tennis youngsters with stars in their eyes, Lyndall Parker reports

Watching this group of youngsters, you would be forgiven for thinking they have been playing tennis for years.

However, thanks to Tennis ACT’s Talent Stars Red Ball Program and Maxim Chartered Accountants, tennis has become a lot easier to learn and play at a young age.

The program follows the MLC Tennis Hot Shots Red Ball guidelines for training and competition. It uses modified equipment for children, appropriate to their developmental needs, allowing them to play like the professionals - complete with serves, rallies and net play.

These Maxim Talent Stars, aged between five and eight, have been identified by their club coach as having the potential to one day play at an elite level.

Maxim Chartered Accountants Mark Peatey said his company was delighted to be supporting an internationally recognised program – and, possibly, Australia’s stars of the future.

“Maxim Chartered Accountants is proud to be associated with the Talent Stars program, Talent Stars is a great initiative by Tennis ACT helping build tennis stars of the future by creating the right environment for young tennis players to develop and we look forward to

our ongoing commitment long into the future”, Peatey said.

The Maxim scholarship allows qualified MLC Tennis Hot Shots coaches from Canberra tennis clubs to offer scholarships to six children providing free squad coaching for one hour per week for five weeks each term.

Certified coaches include former professional Alun Jones (National Sports Club Lyneham), Owen Peemoeller (Melba Tennis Club), Brett Lennard (Old Parliament House), Frank Calabria (Forrest Tennis Club) and David Fisher (Mpowerdome).

At the end of each term these scholarship holders

will be assessed by National Academy coach Todd Larkham in a bid to accelerate their tennis development.

Larkham will provide feedback about the children’s progression to both coaches and parents.

“These children are just starting out in tennis. The modified court makes it a lot of fun for them as they are able to compete and do all the things the pros do at a very young age,” he said.

“I give them a few tips, but the main objective is to instil a passion for tennis in them early. Tennis is a great sport you can play your whole life and teaches the kids competitiveness, self-discipline, sportsmanship and improves self-confidence.”

The Talent Stars program has three developmental stages: red, orange and green. The aim of the program is to teach the children the basic technical and tactical fundamentals of tennis.

Larkham said in tennis it was necessary to identify talent early.

“Tennis is a sport that needs to be taken up at a young age if you are going to be an elite level player,” he said.

“You need a very high level of technical skills but also a high level of tactical and competitive skills to be successful. The Maxim Talent Stars Program is designed to accelerate the development of these skills.”

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LEVEL 2, 59 WENTWORTH AVE KINGSTON ACT 2604 PHONE: (02) 6295 8744

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INSIGHT STRATEGY RESULTS


CAROLINE GEARS UP FOR LONDON Caroline Buchanan. If you don’t know this name by now then you had better make sure you have the Olympics on pre-record. Canberra born and bred, Buchanan is Australia’s

best female medal hopeful for the 2012 London Olympics in the sport of BMX. Text: Lucy Hinchey. Images: Adam McGrath


Buchanan won her first BMX world title at the World Championships held in Birmingham, UK last month and the win cemented her spot as Australia’s number one female BMX rider.

Australia is ranked number one in the world in BMX and as a result can send the maximum three male and two female riders to the Olympics. Although the official team is yet to be announced, Buchanan says she has ticked all the boxes to be selected.

The 21-year-old is riding high with her sights set on conquering the world’s best again come July.

“It would be a dream come true. Ever since I was a little girl, before BMX was even in the Olympics, that was always a goal. I’ve always looked up to all the athletes and thought ‘that’s the pinnacle of sport, I’d love to be able to reach that’,” Buchanan said.

“I’m just excited for London and 100% ready to go and race and show the world what I can do,” she added.

Since returning to Australia after spending three months overseas riding in the World Cup series before the World Championships, Buchanan has been blown away with the support she has received from Australia.

“I had a nice warm welcome home into Australia from the Qantas captain who came on the loud speaker and said he’d like to welcome home Caroline Buchanan and said my seat number and the whole Qantas plane clapped as we landed in Brisbane.”

“I’ve had so much support from Australia it’s been really humbling,” Buchanan said.

BMX made its debut as an Olympic sport in Beijing, however Buchanan was too young to compete, despite being the national champion for six years running leading up to 2008.

She decided to turn her focus to mountain biking instead, where she won two world titles before switching back to BMX in time to focus on this year’s Olympics.

“There was no pressure on me, no stress, I was just having a lot of fun riding my bike … so I kind of rose to the top pretty quickly in mountain biking.”

“When I came back to BMX, I came back being the mountain bike world champion but was lucky if I’d make the top 15 in BMX in the world cup. So it was definitely a challenge.”

“I knew coming back that I wanted to be the best and I wanted to be world champion and I wanted to go to London.”

“I knew it was going to be a long process and a hard road to get back to the top, but I’m glad I’ve put mountain biking aside,” Buchanan explained.

The profile of BMX has risen rapidly to the world’s attention since its inception into the Olympics in 2008. Buchanan comments that the quality of riders has grown with the sport over the last four years, which is a credit to the commitment and love the competitors have for the sport.

“It’s not a sport like tennis or golf where you can make a great living out of. You’ve got to have a lot of passion

for it and that’s something that I do have for BMX, I love riding a bike.”

“The level of the sport has gone from really being a kind of backyard, grassroots sport into … its own Olympic discipline. It has so much more respect now as well, we’re not just street BMX bandits we’re Olympic athletes, Buchanan said.

Riding since she was five years old, it is now widely accepted that this Canberra girl has single-handedly raised the profile of the sport for women within Australia. That she says is a “pat on the back because that has been my goal.”

Not content with striving to achieve individual greatness, Buchanan regularly gives back to the sport, with a special focus on helping young female athletes whenever she can.

“When I first started, I didn’t have too many girls to look up to so I raced against the boys, rode with the boys and looked up to the male pros as well … I’ve had a struggle getting sponsorship and getting that recognition being a female,” she said.

Buchanan has run coaching clinics with ACT BMX for the last four years and says the female riders appreciate the individual attention.

ACT currently has a state team which is something Buchanan did not have when she was coming through the ranks.

“It is amazing, all the coaches are helping young ACT riders coming through. The ACT kids are really lucky to have that pathway,” Buchanan said.

Mentor and former world champion marathon runner Robert de Castella, said he had no doubt Buchanan would continue to be a positive role model for young sportspeople.

“I know that she will conduct herself in a very dignified and professional way and still have a love and a passion for the sport she’s doing so well in.”

“She’s a wonderful role model for young kids and a great role model for cycling. I’m really proud of the way she’s developing and I think she’s not only making a great contribution on the track, but to the broader community and to sport in general,” de Castella said.


The pair first met when Buchanan was just nine years old. The youngster was about to head to her first world cup in Paris when her dad arranged for her to meet with the former champion.

De Castella said he saw a lot in her at such a young age.

“I was very impressed by her focus and determination. She seemed to have a very mature approach to her sport. I think for someone that young she seemed to have all the makings of a champion,” he said.

A few years later Buchanan received a Sports Australia Hall of Fame scholarship which paired her with de Castella again, this time in a formal mentoring role.

De Castella went on to say he had seen Buchanan mature throughout her career and was pleased to see she has kept her love for the sport top priority.

“I still see some of the wonderful attributes that she had the first time I met her. I think she’s really just blossomed in terms of her professionalism and the way she handles and conducts herself as a high profile celebrity and professional athlete.”

“I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know her and to have a very small input into what she’s been doing,” de Castella said.

Buchanan also received a scholarship as part of Layne Beachley’s ‘Aim for the stars’ program which aims to support females in their chosen careers.

Buchanan said the 7-time world surfing champion helped motivate her to want to carve a way for future female athletes in BMX.

“Whilst being a female in BMX has been tough, I have had a lot of help from people like Layne Beachley and Rob De Castella so I want to help the younger generation and give them the support that I had.”

“[Layne Beachley] in her career has gone through a lot of adversity and she wanted to make sure that girls didn’t have the same struggles and could have a mentor just to talk to whenever needed and that’s been amazing for me,” Buchanan said.

Both Beachley and de Castella will be in London come July and Buchanan said knowing they will be there is “a huge boost of confidence.”

“The last couple of years I’ve grown up with [Beachley] and had her support, she knows me as an athlete. Having her by my side in London, I can’t wait we’re both pretty excited about that,”

While the Australian BMX team was competing in Birmingham, they were invited to ride on the Olympic track to get familiar with the changes made since 2008.

Buchanan said the experience brought home the possibility of competing in London and that her time to feel nervous was over.

“I think I’ve been more nervous in the past three months in the World Cup season because we had three amazing girls all of us ranked in the top five in the world and only two of us could go … Now I know I’ve done everything I can, all the stress has been lifted off my shoulders,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan says she anticipates her biggest competitor in London to be British rider Shanaze Reade. Reade placed second behind Buchanan in the world championships and so far is relatively unknown.

“We haven’t seen too much of her in the international world cup circuit, she’s been keeping to herself and training … She’s a really strong competitor,” Buchanan commented.

With the world championships so late in the year, the Australian BMX team is one of the last teams to be officially announced. Buchanan says this is a huge advantage because it allows her to retain the strong form going in to London.

“I feel like everything’s coming together and on track, I am in the best form I have ever been in and I’m peaking right now,” she said.

The official Australian team will be announced later this month before the riders head to a pre-Olympic camp in Salt Lake city, USA.

ACTEWAGL ATHLETE ON THE RISEYoung Canberra cyclist Mitchell Lovelock-Fay, from the Vikings Cycling Club recently won the 5 stage UCI 2.2 Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon’s Cup Tour of Thailand 2012 riding for the Australian National TeamMitchell’s team mates helped his victory in the later stages of the race, keeping an eye on his closest competition and covering anything dangerous, ensuring Mitchell had a safe ride to the finish. Mitchell was recently named in the National team

to race the Heydar Aliyev Anniversary Tour of Azerbaijan 2012, in Iran.

Do you know someone that qualifies as an ActewAGL Athlete on the Rise? Send all nominations to [email protected]

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.

ACTEWAGL JUNE EVENTS CALENDAR

Week 1: 4-10 JUNE

Saturday 9/6 NEAFL Match of the Round Eastlakes V Aspley 11.45am Manuka Oval

John I Dent Match of the Round Wests V Gungahlin 3.15pm Jamison Oval

2012 Australian MTB Marathon Championships & Junior Marathon Stromlo Forrest Park

Sunday 10/6 Tradies Womens Premier League Match of the Round Tugg United V Canb Olympic 2pm O’ConnorLoop Mens Premier League Match of the Round Canb Olympic V Monaro 3pm O’Connor

Week 2: 11-17 JUNE

Saturday 16/6 NEAFL Match of the Round QBN Tigers V Southport 11.45am Dairy Farmers Oval

Canberra Raiders Cup Match of the Round Gungahlin Bulls V QBN Kangaroos 3pm WBLC

John I Dent Match of the Round Tuggeranong V Easts 3.05pm Viking Park

Loop Mens Premier League Match of the Round Tugg United V Canb City 3pm Kambah 2-1

Canberra Knights V Syd Ice Dogs 5.30pm Phillip Ice Rink

Can Caps Academy V Dandenong 5.30pm Belconnen Stad

Can Gunners V Dandenong 7.30pm Belconnen StadiumSunday 17/6 Tradies Womens Premier League Match of the Round

Belco United V Weston Creek 2pm McKellar Park

Week 3: 18-24 JUNE

Saturday 23/6 NEAFL Match of the Round Tugg Hawks V UWS Giants 2pm Greenway Oval

Canberra Raiders Cup Match of the Round Woden Valley Rams V WB Warriors 3pm Phillip

John I Dent Match of the Round Easts V Uni-Norths 3.05pm Griffith Oval

Canberra Knights V Melbourne Ice 5.30pm Phillip Ice Rink

Can Caps Academy V Nunawading 5.30pm Belconnen Stadium

Can Gunners V Nunawading 7.30pm Belconnen StadiumSunday 24/5 Loop Mens Premier League Match of the Round

Cooma SC V Woden Valley 3pm Nijong OvalTradies Womens Premier League Match of the Round Woden Valley V ANU WFC 2pm Woden Park

Week 4: 25-2 JUNE/JULY

Saturday 30/5 NEAFL Match of the Round Eastlakes V Sydney Uni 2.00pm Manuka Oval

Loop Mens Premier League Match of the Round Belco United V Canb Olympic 3pm McKellar Park

Love your sport? So do we.We support the teams you love, which gives us access to exclusive benefits to pass onto you and your family. Keep up with what’s happening locally, win tickets and access event information on facebook and twitter.

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twitter.com/actewagl

Week 4: 25-2 JUNE/JULY cont...

Saturday 30/5 John I Dent Match of the Round Royals V Wests 3.05pm Phillip Oval

Canberra Knights V Newcastle Nth Stars 5.30pm Phillip IceSunday 1/7 Tradies Womens Premier League Match of the Round

Gungahlin United V Weston Creek 2pm Harrison

Monday 2/7 RAIDERS V Dragons 7pm CANBERRA STADIUM

*All details corrected at time of printing.

PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU18 Issue #12 JUNE 2012PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU18 Issue #11 MAY 2012

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PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU20 Issue #11 MAY 2012

◊ BRETT MCKAY @BMCSPORT

As Super Rugby breaks for the June International rugby window, we’ve finally seen that decisive break between the wannabes and will-be’s for the 2012 title.

The most open tournament in recent memory had seen anywhere up to eleven of the fifteen teams remain in the hunt, but around mid-May, initial cracks became an open chasm within a few weeks.

At the time of writing, nine teams still had a mathematical chance of making the six-team playoff series, but I would expect that by the time you read this, that number will have been lowered further. And realistically, once your team is relying on maths to get through, it proves that something was missing on the field for the previous few months.

South AfricaThe South African conference battle really hotted up over the last few weeks of May, with the Bulls and Stormers losing crucial games, and the Sharks winning to rocket them back into a tight race.

The Sharks’ win over the Stormers in Durban made plenty of pundits take notice, and it certainly showed that the Sharks aren’t going to be the mid-table annoyances that they once appeared. Indeed, that win in the same week the Bulls lost to the Chiefs meant that only five points separated the three South African sides still in the hunt.

If you’ll pardon an obvious pun, the Sharks really are circling again. Aided by a run home that sees them playing the very endangered Lions before the June break, followed by a final three weeks consisting of the bye and home games against the Bulls and Cheetahs, the Sharks are a big chance of unseating the Bulls as a second participant from the Republic in the post-season action.

The Bulls, on the other hand, face the Stormers before the break, the Cheetahs straight back after it, the Sharks away and Lions at home to finish. The Sharks game in Durban is the danger game for them too, and while they’ll be thankful to be playing the Stormers and Cheetahs at

their Loftus Versfeld fortress in Pretoria, they won’t be taking either team lightly.

If the Stormers can account for the Bulls before the break, their run home of the Lions at home, Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, and the Rebels back home in Cape Town should see them topping the South African conference. Depending on how things play out in New Zealand, the Stormers could even be looking at holding the Newlands home ground advantage should they make the Final.

New ZealandFour teams over the ditch are theoretically still in contention, but I expect that the Hurricanes’ season will be done by the time PLAY is being perused by the rugby-loving coffee sippers of the ACT.

Even if they get past the Waratahs before the June break, the Hurricanes will face a massive task of taking on the Crusaders in Christchurch immediately after the resumption. A bye, followed by the ladder-leading Chiefs will round out a tough run home.

The Highlanders aren’t that much better off, either. Their run home includes three games against teams above them in both the local conference and the overall standings, and a bye in the final round. Like the Hurricanes, I suspect the Highlanders will find taking on the Crusaders and Chiefs either side of the Test window to be a double peak too

high in what’s been an up-and-down season.

This will leave the Crusaders and the Chiefs as the likely New Zealand qualifiers, and it would be a risky tip to say that neither can lift Super Rugby’s three-legged spaceship cup. While the Chiefs’ best chance does perhaps rest in securing home finals, the Crusaders have shown on numerous times in the history of the tournament that they will be a threat wherever they play.

The Crusaders have a relatively good run home, and I think they’ll have ended the Highlanders and Hurricanes seasons by the time they get an early finals warm-up against the Chiefs. The Force should pose little trouble for them in the final round, and may even present the chance to snare a final, crucial bonus point.

The Chiefs hold a nice little gap at the top of the overall standings, and away games against the Blues and Highlanders either side of the Tests shouldn’t change that much at all. If they can overcome the Crusaders at home, they’ll be buoyed for their championship hopes, and the Hurricanes will provide them the perfect chance to complete their preparations for a first finals appearance since 2009.

AustraliaDepending on your perspective, having the Brumbies and Reds as the only finals hopefuls is either a sad reflection on the depth of Australian rugby at this

level, or the ultimate raspberry blown in the direction of the Waratahs.

Though the Brumbies maintain a lead atop the Australian conference, the loss to the Reds at Canberra Stadium a few weeks back has to be their point of realisation that wins will only get harder at this time of year.

The Brumbies do at least have a reasonable run home, with a return clash against the ‘Tahs in the competition’s penultimate week the only real danger. Should the reciprocal derbies against the Rebels and Force also produce wins, a first finals berth since 2005 will be secured.

Brumbies fans could really enjoy an afternoon in the sun if the team’s final game, a 3:30 kickoff against the Blues on July 14, crowns the Australian conference for 2012.

The Reds can still claim a finals spot in their own right, but it will almost certainly require bonus point wins against the Rebels, Highlanders, and Waratahs, after having the bye prior to the June Test window. Some results going their way, especially when teams above them take points off each other, can only help too.

The Reds showed in their one point win in Canberra that they can grind out wins of importance, and their championship and ‘big game’ experience from 2011 is already starting to come to the fore.

Whatever the outcome, a thrilling Super Rugby finale is all but guaranteed in 2012.

SUPER RUGBY CONTENDERS AND PRETENDERS GO SEPARATE WAYS

AAP Image/Dave Hunt


Having lived and breathed rugby union for much of his adult life so far, life outside of rugby’s professional realm has only just begun for former ACT Brumby and Australian Wallaby Owen Finegan.

Finegan, 40, is the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Snowy Hydro SouthCare, an organisation which provides aero-medical and rescue helicopter services

to the Australian Capital Territory and south-eastern New South Wales.

Finegan commenced work with Snowy Hydro in July, 2011, after having been involved in professional rugby, in both a playing and coaching capacity, from 1996 to 2010. And while his tenure with the organisation has only just begun, he is revelling in his new and different surroundings.

“I’m really enjoying the role...there’s a lot of different responsibilities and it’s a good team we’ve got here,” he said.

“It’s been rewarding to be involved in such a worthwhile organisation. Snowy Hydro SouthCare is a revered organisation in Canberra, valued by many who show their appreciation for the service.”

While he mainly oversees the administrational aspects of the company, such as raising safety awareness, generating community support and obtaining sponsorship, Finegan says it is a role he is well suited to.

“I thought it was a great fit for me,” he said.

“The ability to use my personal profile to help raise the profile of the helicopter and be involved in a really good community service has been a fantastic opportunity.”

It’s apparent that Finegan’s newly chosen professional career path is in stark contrast to how he has spent the vast majority of his adulthood up until now.

He claimed 90 provincial caps in his 10 seasons with the Brumbies and secured 56 Test caps for Australia. Once he finished with the Brumbies in 2005, Finegan travelled abroad and plied his trade in the United Kingdom for three seasons before bringing the curtain down on his playing career in 2007.

In 2008, Finegan returned to the Brumbies and assumed the role of the club’s forwards coach until the end of 2010. It was during this time that he decided a change was required.

“One thing that had become evident to me during the time I was coaching with the Brumbies was that there isn’t a lot of stability around professional support,” he said.

“It’s the same as when you’re among the playing ranks, lots of chopping and changing.”

Finegan’s affection for the game though, has remained strong despite his exit from its professional tier. He is currently coaching local John I Dent Cup club the Gungahlin Eagles, commentating rugby on ABC radio and, through his responsibilities with Snowy Hydro, is heavily involved in a corporate capacity with the Brumbies.

While he is committed to his role with Snowy Hydro SouthCare for the foreseeable future, Finegan has not ruled out a possible return to professional rugby circles at some point down the track.

“With a young family my priorities have changed, but it’s not something that I’d say I wouldn’t do again,” he said.

LIFE AFTER SPORT: OWEN FINEGAN

◊ BRETT MCKAY @BMCSPORT

The all-conquering Grand Slam champions of northern hemisphere rugby have arrived in Australia, and they’re very keen to square some ledgers.

The reigning Six Nations winners, Wales, will take on the Tri Nations-holding Wallabies in three Tests for the James Bevan Trophy, to be played in Brisbane on June 9, Melbourne on June 16, and concluding in Sydney on June 23.

By the end of this series, the young Australian and Welsh sides will have met five times, going back to

A BUDDING RIVALRY BRINGS A CLASH OF CHAMPIONS IN JUNE

the third place playoff at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Australia clinched the RWC bronze and hold the Bevan Trophy too, after winning in Cardiff last November.

This will be the first time to the two sides have met since Wales claimed a Grand Slam on the way to lifting the Six Nations crown, however. Indeed, it will be the first time the two countries have met while concurrently holding their respective hemisphere titles.

The big plus for the Welsh is that their inspirational skipper and openside flanker, Sam Warburton, has declared himself fit and ready to return to rugby. Warburton hasn’t played since injuring his shoulder in the final Six Nations match against France back in March, and was reported to have been in some doubt to make the tour. He’ll slot back into what was already an daunting forward pack.

To say that Wales will bring a strong scrum is to quote directly from the rugby diaries of Captain Obvious himself. While the fortunes of the Welsh side have varied over the years, a physically powerful scrum has been a constant.

The Championship front row of Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, and Adam Jones remain, and the already imposing backrow of Toby Faletau, Warburton,

and Six Nations Player of the Tournament, blindside flanker Dan Lydiate, will be keen to test themselves against their Australian counterparts.

Out wide, giant inside centre Jamie Roberts is the only major name missing the tour due to injury, but plenty of strike power remains in the form of daunting wingers Alex Cuthbert and George North, and fullback Leigh Halfpenny.

This is far from an easy series for the Wallabies. Despite naming a large training squad featuring nearly every Super Rugby player in Australia minus the long-term injured and Brumbies Captain Ben Mowen initially, the Wallabies are far from settled currently. How the midfield backs will line-up is still anyone’s guess.

What’s more, with James Horwill missing the June Tests after picking up a hamstring tear in the Reds’ win over the Brumbies last month, the Wallabies will also be playing under a new captain in David Pocock.

The Wallabies’ ability to handle the quick turnaround between the one-off Test against Scotland and the first Test against Wales will go a long to determining how this series plays out.

In a treat for International rugby fans in the ACT, Wales will also play a tour match against the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday 12 June, kicking off at 7:30pm.

Other series during June include New Zealand hosting Ireland, South Africa hosting England, Scotland touring Fiji and Samoa, and Argentina will host Italy and France.

FRANCK FIFE / AFP

◊ Antony Perry


ANUFC 50 YEARS

COERVER Coaching Master Class Series.

Topic: Step Over Move:

Jason LancsarCOERVER® Coaching Asia Pacific DirectorWe hope you enjoy our Coerver Coaching Play Magazine homework designed to improve your game but above all have fun while practicing. This month we look at one of Coerver Coaching’s 1v1 moves the step over, used by many top players around the world. The step over move is used in front of goal when your opponent is in front of you in a 1v1 situation.

Tips for players:1. Keep the ball close, not far out in front of you.

2. Keep your step around foot close to the ball, as if you are 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.

Step 1:Start with knees bent to provide good balance approach the ball as if you are going to strike it.

Step 2:Step over the ball instead so you foot lands on the other side of it.

Step 3:With outside of step over foot push the ball in the opposite direction. Accelerate past your opponent.

Step 4:For a double step over repeat the process going back the other way.

Coerver Coaching Homework

See next issue for more tips from Coerver Coaching or for further information please visit our website www.coerver.com.au

Canberra is a relatively young city: in 2013, it celebrates its centenary. So it is quite an achievement for any local organisation, let alone an amateur sporting club, to have been around for fifty of those hundred years. Founded in 1962, this year the Australian National

University Football Club celebrates its golden anniversary. On and off the sporting field, one of Canberra’s oldest and proudest sporting clubs, which now boasts over 200 registered senior players, has big things planned.

In the early 1960s, soccer in Canberra was a scaled-down version of the League of Nations. When you consider that there were teams called Croatia, Hungary, Roma, Balkans, Bohemia, Hollandia, Olympic and Austria, you get a real sense of the influence of migrants in the development of both the local game and region. With the ANU as the city’s only university, it made sense that a soccer club emerge that represented Canberra’s tertiary students. Save for the change from ANU Men’s Soccer Club to ANU Football Club in 2002, the ANU FC is one of the few surviving clubs from the post-war era that continues to retain its original name.

ANU FC has managed to unearth several footballing gems in its first fifty years. In 2009, the club’s Premier League captain Luke Pilkington won the Foxtel reality show Football Superstar and was given a contract to play with Melbourne Victory in the A League. More recently, Tom Rogic secured a contract with the Nike Football Academy in the UK and now plays for the Central

Coast Mariners and Olyroos. Several notable women’s footballers have also played for the ANU FC in men’s competitions including W League representatives Tal Karp and Kristyn Swaffer. Former ANU FC players of yesteryear have also included Socceroos representatives Steve Hogg and Danny Moulis. And because of the club’s base in Canberra, it comes as no surprise that politicians

◊ PETER PAPATHANASIOU

have also laced on the boots for the ANU FC including (in the 1980s) Senator Stephen Conroy, the current federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, and Shane Rattenbury, current Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Today, the club is a powerhouse at the State League level; rarely a season goes by without it picking up a trophy in September, a tradition of winning that has carried the club through the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. In 2011, ANU FC claimed (not for the first time) the Capital Football State League Club Championship, capping another successful season.

The ANU FC’s senior members sometimes shake their heads when asked about the club’s longevity. ‘It’s hard to pin down,’ says current president Ed Huddy. ‘Our club has always been known for its fighting strength and indomitable club spirit. We offer an atmosphere of football that is friendly, competitive and fair, but also fun. Winning’s not everything - we play for each other and the crest, and it just seems to pay off. But what I am most proud of is the number of strong and long-lasting friendships I see among players and all the long-serving members who still turn out after a decade or two of playing.’

The ANU FC hosts a Gala Night celebrating its 50th Anniversary at the Ainslie Football Club on Saturday 9 June at 7.00pm. For tickets, please email [email protected].

ANUFC 50 YEARS


ELLYSE PERRY DECISION PENDINGCanberra United and Ellyse Perry wish to clarify the situation regarding negotiations between the club and the player about her prospective re-signing ahead of Westfield W-League Season 5.

The circumstances with Ellyse and her availability for the club have been evident since December 2011 when Ellyse indicated that she was unavailable to complete the 2011/12 season with Canberra United in which the full-back started in six of the twelve matches.

Canberra United CEO Heather Reid clarified the club’s position in this regard.

“The club is simply asking for a commitment from Ellyse that is equal to the rest of the squad. This means she needs to be available to train in Canberra four times a week and be part of the total club environment,” Reid commented. “This is no different to our other interstate players such as Hayley Raso, Caitlin Cooper and Michelle Heyman who make Canberra their home for the duration of the Westfield W-League season. This is crucial for the development, morale and strategy implemented by the club.

“Canberra United has total admiration for Ellyse Perry and what she has achieved and we’d like nothing more than to see her re-sign for the club for Westfield W-League Season 5 in 2012/13 but it now seems that is unlikely.”

Perry, who joined the club for the 2009 season after being released by the Central Coast Mariners and has played 25 times for Canberra in three seasons scoring two goals, echoed Reid’s comments.

‘’I’ve been very fortunate to be involved with Canberra United for the last three W-League seasons and I am truly grateful for the opportunity the club has provided to play and be involved in a game that I love. The changes that the club have taken and the new direction and philosophy the coach, Jitka Klimkova, has about how the team needs to be run is one that I totally respect and understand. However, I still want to pursue my goals of playing both cricket and football at the highest possible level and as such I feel it is important for me to explore avenues which enable me to do so.

“I thank Canberra United and its wonderful community for all their great support over the last three seasons and I wish everyone involved at the club the very best for the future and in defending the W-League title next season.”

And whilst it appears that Perry will no longer be seen in green, Heather Reid was supportive of the talented athlete.

“Ellyse has the full support of Canberra United and there is no animosity or ill-feeling from either party. We will actively help Ellyse in her pursuit of another club,” Reid said.AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Everyone knows how hard running a marathon is, but doing one with only nine months training, from some of the most remote places on the planet, takes the challenge to another level.

When 21 year old Grace Eather (pictured) stepped off a plane in Canberra last month, the sub-zero temperatures of winter in the nation’s capital seemed a world away from her home of Maningrida in the heart of Arnhem Land.

Grace is one of 11 members of the 2012 Indigenous Marathon Project New York Marathon squad, arriving in Canberra for the first of four training camps being held to prepare the amateur runners for their first ever marathon experience.

Eather, a trainee teacher, was inspired to try-out for the Project after following the journey of fellow Maningrida resident Juan Darwin, who finished the 2010 New York Marathon as part of the inaugural IMP squad.

“I want people to see that we are able to make changes in our communities and have the same opportunities as young people in big cities,” Eather said.

“Knowing the kind of pressure and adversity that is apparent in remote community life, I think it’s our responsibility as youth to promote health and wellbeing to the younger generation.”

IMP was the brainchild of marathon World Champion, and Australian of the Year, Rob de Castella, and annually

unearths talented Indigenous distance runners from across the country, preparing them to run in the world’s most famous marathon – New York.

“Not only do the guys and girls have an amazing running experience, but hopefully they will also come out of it with a qualification in Indigenous and community health by completing a Certificate III in Community Recreation,” De Castella said.

“Most of them have done very little running before and don’t come from a running background, but there is no doubt that the satisfaction you feel is directly proportional to the challenge you take on.”

De Castella and IMP running coach Tim Rowe’s focus when selecting this year’s squad was drawn to remote Australia, due to the high uptake of running in Indigenous communities. As a result, the team is made up of athletes from communities such as Ramingining and Maningrida in Arnhem Land, Milikapiti on the Tiwi Island and Aurukun in remote far north Queensland.

“These 11 young Indigenous runners are following in the footsteps of the 15 IMP runners before them that have been mentored through the New York Marathon over the past two years,” he said.

“They are sending a powerful message to Indigenous Australia and reinforcing our slogan; if you can run a marathon, you can do anything.”

The team will next come together at the Gold Coast Running Festival later this month to take on the half marathon, before tackling the Sydney City to Surf, and a 30-kilometre test event in Alice Springs. They depart for New York in late October.

For more information on the Indigenous Marathon Project, visit our website at www.imp.org.au, or email [email protected]. To help support our athletes on their journey to New York, visit our fundraising page at http://footprints.gofundraise.com.au/.

INDIGENOUS MARATHON PROJECT


placed 2nd in the team sprint at the Australian Track Championships in 2010 and third in the keirin at the junior world track championships in 2008.

Both riders have joined the ANU club from the Canberra Cycling Club and say the support and gym use was what encouraged them to move.

“I have access to a good gym membership with some good clothing and good mates again … I’ve come from a football background and now I’m in a club where everyone’s working together and it’s more of a team environment and I like that atmosphere,” Fellows said.

Former Brumbies Colt, Dom Lenarduzzi, found his passion for sport again in Track Cycling, after a career ending knee injury.

“I had a professional rugby contract to play in Italy … I was about to go over but I had a bad knee injury … They basically said you can play rugby but you’ll have a knee replacement by the time you’re 26, So I had no option

They say if you can ride on this velodrome, you can ride on any in the world.

This outdoor track inspires the most passionate riders who dodge snakes in the summer and wait hours in winter for the sun to defrost the concrete.

The Australian National University is the latest team to join the relatively small track cycling community within Canberra. With 11 senior track riders, the team has a mix of seasoned track cycling athletes and novices to the sport.

Team Coach, Gerard Elias said one of the main attractions for the riders to the ANU cycling club is the university atmosphere, where the team can create its own culture.

“University life is a bit different to other organisations out there … we do have riders that aren’t apart of the ANU campus but the atmosphere is very university club orientated. We’re more of a community, we want to try and get everybody involved as much as we can,” Elias said.

Catherine Culvenor, an ANU statistics student, recently medaled at the 2012 Track World Championships in Melbourne. The 20-year-old claimed a silver medal in the 500 metre time trial and bronze in the keirin behind Anna Meares.

Paul Fellows, a UC exercise and sports coaching student brings his experience to the team, having

but to quit,” Lenarduzzi said.

The 20-year-old says the low-impact sport of cycling is helping to strengthen his knee and that the change has given him some purpose again.

“I was pretty lost to be honest because I had worked so hard to get where I wanted to be and it got taken away. This is a really good second opportunity for me.”

“We’ve got a really good team here at ANU and all the guys are really supportive of me. It’s just good to be in that culture and that environment again, because that’s what I missed more than anything,” Lenarduzzi said.

ANU TRACK CYCLING TEAM

Call the Institute’s ACT Campus @ Phillip today on 02 6282 5459

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◊ CRYSTAL JA

Sprint cyclist Chloe Hosking (above) admits having lengthened her odds of making the Olympic road race team after a disappointing late-season slump in the last of the key selection races.

But she’s hopeful selectors will take more positives out of her early form to send her to London for her first Olympic Games starting in July.

The rising star of Australian women’s cycling is one of six main contenders vying for three spots on the squad which will be decided by June 30.

With the window for selection races having officially closed at the end of May, Hosking knows there’s nothing more she can do.

She’s quietly optimistic, but for some poor results in China.

Earlier in May, Hosking returned to ride in the Tour of Chongming, which she won in 2009, but just missed out on a podium finish.

“I was feeling pretty confident up until then,” she said.

“But I’m hoping my results that I had over in Europe earlier in the season will speak for themselves.

“I beat the world champion, I beat the No.1 ranked rider and then I had another win on a course similar to, if not harder than London.

“So I hope all these things just work in my favour.”

Hosking’s biggest threats are time trial specialist Shara Gillow, Rochelle Gilmore

and Melissa Hoskins, who recently made the track team, while Amanda Spratt and Tiffany Cromwell are also in contention.

But Hosking potentially has another ace up her sleeve, hoping her sprint skills hold her in good stead for the London course.

The 140km race heads through south-west London into Surrey, with two laps of the ominous Box Hill circuit in the middle, and critics are mixed about what type of rider it will advantage.

“If you judge by the past world championships in Copenhagen, all the big teams wanted to sprint because they all thought they had the best hope in a sprint,” Hosking said.

“Maybe I’m biased because it’s what I want, but I think they’ll be looking for sprints again, so I like to think that’s good for me.”

Hosking also has the benefit of having ridden parts of the course last year on a subterfuge mission for the Australian Institute of Sport, which then digitally mapped the information.

The 21-year-old was the first to test out the virtual course last week.

The Bendigo-born Canberran insists she’ll look ahead if London doesn’t work out.

“I don’t want the world to end if I don’t get selected,” she said.

“I was looking today for the future countries for other Olympics and I think Doha is in the running for 2020.

“That’s dead flat - right up my alley - so I’m going to have a long career.” AAP

This guide is designed to help you and your suppliers when printing stationery, considering new signs, advertising and other promotional items.

Public relations is all about identity: creating one, improving one and sustaining one. The best way to establish a company’s identity is through repetition and consistency of its key messages.

A consistent visual image will reinforce the achievements of Promo Concepts as an established company which has a progressive and dynamic outlook.

Version 1.00 | January 2012

CORPORATE STYLE GUIDE

C M Y K % cyan % magenta % yellow % black

0 0 0 25

C M Y K % cyan % magenta % yellow % black

63 0 97 0

Corporate CMYK Colours

R G B red# green# blue#

200 199 199

PMS 368 R G B red# green# blue#

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Colour Specifications

TypographyThe Dekar font familie is the ‘Support Type’ for body and headlines for advertisements and brochures.

Do not substitute any other type face in place of these and do not modify or distort letter forms. Use is mandatory for corporate stationery, signage, vehicle liveries, displays, etc. but it need not be used in marketing collateral, catalogues or brand advertising unless desired.

Dekar RegularABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890 !@ () +

Dekar LightABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890 !@ () +

.COM.AU

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CHLOE HOSKING HOPING LONDON BERTH ISN’T LOST


Pegasus’ programs are dependent upon community donations to provide quality therapeutic, recreational and sporting programs for people with a disability. If you are interested in supporting the work of Pegasus, the organisation offers the possibility for supporters to adopt a Pony. Some Canberra businesses and individuals who have already jumped on board to support this great program include Canberra Capital Chemist who sponsor Tully and Gary Rake who currently sponsors Jacko.

Currently Pegasus has a herd of 18 ponies and horses. Through community sponsorship, the cost of maintaining these horses will be significantly reduced allowing Pegasus to delegate more money towards increasing the number of places for children to participate in Pegasus riding programs.

Simone Doherty, Executive Officer of Pegasus said, “The strong bond that develops between a rider and their horse is truly amazing to see. Apart from being fun, horse riding boosts personal confidence, self-esteem,

communication skills, leadership and trust. It also helps to improve co-ordination, balance, muscle development and fitness.”

The cost for the upkeep of a Pegasus pony is approximately $250 per month/$3,000 per year and includes feed, chiropractic and physiotherapy services, vet and dental care and shoeing.

Sponsors will have the opportunity to meet their adopted pony, receive a certificate of ‘adoption’ and acknowledgement of their contribution in the quarterly Pegasus newsletter ‘Hoofprint’ and the possibility of getting a saddle blanket made with the adoptee’s logo. By participating in this great cause, adoptees will also have the pleasure of knowing their generosity has supported the important work Pegasus performs for people with a disability.

If you or your business would like to support the children at Pegasus by adopting a pony please contact (02)6254 9190 or send an email to [email protected].

Mandy, is a highly valued and cherished member of the Pegasus Riding for the Disabled ACT fleet, offering many years of support for young disabled riders in Canberra. Due to Mandy’s long experience with riders who have a broad range of disabilities, she is

very agreeable and calm in nature; bringing an abundance of joy to those children she helps every day.

To ensure the continuation of riding programs for children with a disability, horses like Mandy need Canberra businesses and the community to financially support their maintenance. Through the kind and generous support of Crystal Approach, Canberra’s premier boutique ICT services and consulting company, Mandy was recently “adopted” through

the Pegasus Adopt-a-Pony program. The financial support of Crystal Approach makes a significant contribution to Mandy’s supply of hay and other feed, nutritional supplements, equine professional care and shoeing.

As a not-for-profit organisation,

SADDLING UP; ACT BUSINESSES REIN IN HOPE FOR

DISABLED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

The Canberra boys did us proud at the 2012 Australian Baseball Little League Championships.

Canberra has been sending a team to the annual event for the past 4 years. This year’s team has delivered the best results for any Canberra Little League team, winning 4 of the 6 games played. The boys were in every game they played, only losing by narrow margins to North Brisbane 1- 5 and 3-0 to reigning champions Adelaide. The Adelaide game was a particularly high quality hit out by both teams.

Canberra started the tournament with a solid win over the Gold Coast (9-2) and followed that up with a shut out 14 to 0 win over the Far North Coast on day 2. The highlight of that game was the quality pitching by the Canberra team. The team finished the tournament on a high with an epic 10 innings match

2012 AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

that lasted for 3 hrs 30 minutes with Canberra coming out on top of Perth East 19 to 18. The match up was one of the highlights of the tournament with both teams evenly matched. Both squads fought back from the jaws of defeat, putting on a display of power hitting under pressure, again great pitching and high quality defensive plays highlight this game leading to critical outs.

The future of junior baseball in Canberra looks bright with this result. This year’s squad has set the bar high for future Canberra Little League teams. Let us hope our next generation of Little Leaguers enjoy the same successes these boys were able to achieve and continue to build our reputation for producing great little baseball players.

For more information head to http://littleleague.baseball.com.au/

POWER LIFTING


are welcome and encouraged. A large vocal crowd often helps lifters to their new personal best or maybe even an event record.

Any and all information about lifting in the event or results/records from previous events is on the website www.battleofthegyms.com.au.

It started as a small in-house lifting challenge for members of Elite Physique in 2007 and has grown over the last five years to one of the biggest events on the Australian power lifting calendar.

Not unlike a triathlon of strength events, competitors have to Squat, Benchpress and Deadlift as much weight as possible, given three attempts at each discipline.

People of all lifting abilities are encouraged to enter and challenge themselves, maybe set a new personal best or go for one of the event records, which have been kept from its inception and date back to 2007.

“we should have 6 or so lifters going over 300 with their deads this years” says Billy Giampaolo (pictured), the inspiration behind most of the new lifters taking up the sport. In 2010 Billy broke a World Record by deadlifting 343kg just weighing 109kg. His record was subsequently broken 2011. “ that’s just the nature of the sport…..it just means I have to train harder and set a higher record next time.”

The competition is a ‘Raw’ event, which means only a lifting belt and wrist/knee wraps are allowed to be worn while lifting. Raw lifting has taken off in Australia in the last 5 years with the opening of new Raw division records in most of the lifting federations in Australia. Like days of the gold rush in Ballart this has led to a resurgence in the power lifting sport throughout Australia and Canberra is no exception.

“this event has attracted interstate lifters from Albury, Lithgow, Frankston and

Wollongong in the past and we expect this year to be no exception.” says Billy.

The event is run to build awareness of the sport of power lifting in Canberra and has done very well in that regard. It also raises some much appreciated funds for a charity with spectators being asked for a gold coin donation at the door that this year will be going to the Make a Wish Foundation.

The event is run at Elite Physique in Phillip on Saturday 9th June. Spectators

THE BATTLE OF THE GYMS.

Also competeing at battle of the Gyms will be Canberra’s Katie Foster who recently competed in the GPC and CAPO State Titles and took out the overall female lifter at both comps.

During the cousre of the competeions Katie also took out several Australian

records in the under 67.5kg weight class and is looking very likely to be selected for the Worlds in November.

PLAY will be running a full feature on Katie, whose recent haul included Deadlift, Single Bench and Squat national records, in the next issue.

POWER LIFTING


5Canberra Raiders rookie sensation Jack Wighton’s season ending backyard trampoline injury might seem a little odd, but the world of professional sport is no stranger to injuries that come from way out in the left field.

PLAY Canberra has compiled their Top 5 weird injuries.

Major League Baseball pitcher Joel Zumaya was sidelined during the 2006 American League Championship Series by a sore wrist, which was later attributed to playing too much Guitar Hero. W

EIRD IN

JURIE

S

Robbie Kearns Broke Collarbone Mountain

Plaxico Burress Shooting from the Hip

Levi Greenwood Trackie Dak Attack

Joel Zumaya Guitar Zero

John Smoltz Ironing Man

thrown off the back of horses, with Kearns injuring his collarbone. The bizarre injury put Kearns out for the rest of the season, and he missed out on Melbourne’s 1999 grand final triumph.

It was rumoured that former Major League Baseball pitcher John Smoltz burned himself ironing a shirt while still wearing it. He has since denied it, but it’s one of those legends that will go on for all time.

Jack is a favorite here at PLAY and we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

SPORTS CROSSWORD

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17 18 19

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Last issue’s solution - apologies for last issues blank solutions

B K H C F L

R E E B O K K A R A T E

I N G D L B E

S A N T A F E G R I N D

T E N S A O S

O D D S S H A R K

L Y C A Y J G

M A R S H H U L L

S R P L H S E

C H O K E E V E R T O N

O Y L R N I E

T A C K L E L I O N E L

T E O N E G

In one of the most bizarre cases of unintended self-injury, American football star Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg while partying at a New York nightclub. He was charged and jailed for two years over the accidental firing.

Getting injured while taking a tumble is not that unusual for an AFL player, except when it includes falling down the stairs & breaking a toe while struggling to put on a pair of tracksuit pants like North Melbourne player Levi Greenwood.

In a strange incident at a NSW Blues bonding session, Robbie Kearns and Brad Clyde were

Across

1 ___ Thomson, Aussie golfer who won the Open Championship five times (5)

4 ___ Harmon, American golf instructor (5)

7 Throw out of a club (5)

9 First name shared by English racing car driver Mansell and pro snooker player Bond (5)

10 Ronan _____, Irish rugby player (5)

11 Home ground of Glasgow Rangers (5)

12 Peak first scaled by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (7)

13 Tony ___, England cricketer turned commentator (5)

15 First name shared by Aussie cricketers Warne and Watson (5)

17 English soccer team which plays out of Vicarage Road (7)

18 Major English jump race, the ___ National (5)

20 Shape of a rugby ball (5)

22 Sport which arose out of the skills needed for cattle herding (5)

23 Tennis player ___ Pavlovic (5)

24 Start a point in tennis or squash (5)

25 Barbadian cricketer with a caring disposition, Seymour ___? (5)

Down

1 Australian Test cricket captain pre-Michael Clarke (7)

2 and 17 Down Great – but disgraced – golfer (5,5)

3 Take it easy (5)

4 Nickname of Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld (7)

5 Break in a game of cricket (3)

6 ___ of Midlothian FC (5)

8 Australian Test bowler (5,6)

14 One of the Toon Army? (7)

16 Scoring area in gridiron (3,4)

17 See 2 Down

18 Tennis champ ___ Ivanisevic (5)

19 Alnus tree, or type of fly larvae used in fly fishing (5)

21 Rowing blade (3)


2012 KICK OFFSCHEDULE

WWW.CANBERRASTADIUM.COM.AU [email protected] or call 02 6256 6700

Fri 24th Feb - Brumbies vs. Force

Sat 3rd Mar - Raiders vs. Storm

Sat 10th Mar - Brumbies vs. Cheetahs

Sat 24th Mar - Brumbies vs. Highlanders

Sat 31st Mar - Brumbies vs. Sharks

Mon 2nd Apr - Raiders vs. Cowboys

Fri 6th - Mon 9th Apr - Raiders vs. Warriors

Sat 14th Apr - Brumbies vs. Rebels

Wed 25th - Mon 30th Apr - Raiders vs. Sharks

Sat 5th May - Brumbies vs. Waratahs

Fri 11th - Mon 14th May - Raiders vs. Eels

Sat 26th May - Brumbies vs. Reds

Fri 1st - Mon 4th Jun - Raiders vs. Wests Tigers

Fri 29th Jun - Mon 2nd Jul - Raiders vs. Dragons

Fri 13th - Mon 16th Jul - Raiders vs. Titans

Sat 14th Jul - Brumbies vs. Blues

Fri 27th - Mon 30th Jul - Raiders vs. Knights

Fri 3rd - Mon 6th Aug - Raiders vs. Broncos

Fri 17th - Mon 20th Aug - Raiders vs. Roosters

Fri 24th - Mon 27th Aug - Raiders vs. Bulldogs

2012 KICK OFFSCHEDULE

WWW.CANBERRASTADIUM.COM.AU [email protected] or call 02 6256 6700

Fri 24th Feb - Brumbies vs. Force

Sat 3rd Mar - Raiders vs. Storm

Sat 10th Mar - Brumbies vs. Cheetahs

Sat 24th Mar - Brumbies vs. Highlanders

Sat 31st Mar - Brumbies vs. Sharks

Mon 2nd Apr - Raiders vs. Cowboys

Fri 6th - Mon 9th Apr - Raiders vs. Warriors

Sat 14th Apr - Brumbies vs. Rebels

Wed 25th - Mon 30th Apr - Raiders vs. Sharks

Sat 5th May - Brumbies vs. Waratahs

Fri 11th - Mon 14th May - Raiders vs. Eels

Sat 26th May - Brumbies vs. Reds

Fri 1st - Mon 4th Jun - Raiders vs. Wests Tigers

Fri 29th Jun - Mon 2nd Jul - Raiders vs. Dragons

Fri 13th - Mon 16th Jul - Raiders vs. Titans

Sat 14th Jul - Brumbies vs. Blues

Fri 27th - Mon 30th Jul - Raiders vs. Knights

Fri 3rd - Mon 6th Aug - Raiders vs. Broncos

Fri 17th - Mon 20th Aug - Raiders vs. Roosters

Fri 24th - Mon 27th Aug - Raiders vs. Bulldogs

play magazine issue #12

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