What's
new
Stuff
we've added recently
Features
A
good read
My story
The
people you meet
Employment
Get
a job
New products
Gadgets
and gear
Archives &
downloads
Try our library
Coming
events
Get out there!
Links
Clubs & contacts
The
trade
Where to buy stuff
Fitness
& health
Editorial
About us
Weather
Streetmap
Our
other mags
Main
index
|
News -- July, 2007
Webb leads 90-player field 30 July
Golf: The LPGA opens its 2007 European leg in Evian-les-Bains, France, this week for the Evian Masters. Competition will be fierce among the 90-player field, which draws the best players in the world vying for the US$450,000 paycheck.
Leading the charge is Australian and defending champion Karrie Webb, who collected five tour wins in 2006. A win this week would mark Webb's first of the year, and would make her the second player to successfully defend her title in 2007.
Chasing Webb this week is Rolex Rankings number one Lorena Ochoa who, despite winning 12 LPGA events in her five-year professional career, has yet to win a tournament in Europe. Ochoa has had a sizzling start in her 2007 season, recording three wins in 15 starts, four runner-up finishes and five additional top 10s.
Full story at the LPGA
World champ wraps up local motocross title
 Women's world number one and Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) pilot, Katherine Prumm (pictured), wrapped up the Australian Women's Motocross Championship at Horsham in Victoria recently, with fellow Kawasaki rider Ashley Bates coming home in second place.
From the moment Prumm made her 2007 debut at Round One of the Championship back in March, she has continued to gain momentum and dominate proceedings onboard her KRT prepared KX250F.
Hitting the track with confidence in practice over the weekend, Prumm posted the fastest lap time of the event, a 1:51.693, which was over three seconds faster than her nearest rival Emma Davis.
Winning the hole shot in the opening race, Prumm led Race One from start to finish, not giving into the pressures of Davis who challenged the world number one in the opening laps. Prumm rallied hard and pulled away to a substantial lead, finishing Moto One 38 seconds ahead of the field.
Jumping second from the line in Race Two, Prumm was vigilant in getting back out in front by turn two. Prumm continued to display her world champion racing style, carving up the opposition. Prumm came home 49 seconds in front of second place.
"I had a lot of fun out there this weekend," said Prumm. "I landed in Australia nursing a heavy head cold, but come race day I was feeling a lot better and ready to hit the Horsham Track. The track was great and my bike didn't miss a beat all weekend."
"I got away to a great start in Moto One, but I suffered badly with arm pump mid way through the race. I managed to ride through it and still come home with a good lead over second."
"Race Two I was placed in second heading into the first turn, but I managed to break clear by the second corner and get out in front. I rode comfortably and in control and I was really happy with my racing performance."
"Brett, Charlie and Marty have done a great job in preparing my race bike for each round of the Championship. I can't thank the whole team at Kawasaki enough for their support and efforts in helping me win the 2007 Australian Title."
"I also owe a big thanks to my personal Sponsors who make it possible for me to challenge both the Australian and World Championships. Without everyone's support, I would not have the opportunity to get to, compete in and win races."
KRT Team Manager Brett Whale believes Katherine’s professional approach to her racing is the key to her World Championship winning success.
Jana races to victory in Monaco 26 July
Monaco is renowned for being the playground of the rich and famous, however it was our Australian athletes who took centre stage overnight in the glamorous municipality, led by supermum Jana Rawlinson who recorded her fourth-fastest time ever in the 400m hurdles to claim her sixth victory from seven starts.
In her final race prior to Osaka, Rawlinson owned the 400m hurdles race from the gun, racing to victory in 53.46 to easily account for Jamaica’s Melanie Walker (54.32) and Poland’s Jesien Anna (54.58). The winning time is the third fastest in the world this year – behind US duo Tiffany Ross-Williams (53.28) and Sheena Johnson (53.29) set at the US titles in June.
The 24-year-old's time was only 0.24 seconds off her personal best (53.22) which she produced in Paris to secure the world title in 2003, and only 0.29 seconds behind Debbie Flintoff King’s national record of 53.17 set at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
It was Rawlinson’s sixth victory from seven starts – an amazing achievement considering she only returned to the international scene in late May after giving birth to her son Cornelis eight months ago.
“It was my best run for the year and the fastest time I’ve run leading into a World Championships. Not bad for a mummy!” Rawlinson said after the race.
“The big difference tonight was my speed endurance which I’ve been working on in training. For the first time I wasn’t tired coming into the final 100m.
“Chris (coach and husband) and I couldn’t have asked for a better last race before Osaka. It’s my best form leading into the World Championships.”
Despite the fast time, she remains firm on her goal of a top five finish in Osaka.
“My goal at the start of the European season was to go low 54’s and now I’ve run a mid 53 which gives me great confidence leading up to Osaka.”
“It also means I’ve got a chance of running a PB at the World Champs because the track there is really fast.”
Rawlinson will finalise her preparations in the Japanese city of Kochi from August 6, and will continue to fine-tune her technique and work on her speed endurance in the lead up to the heats of the 400m hurdles which are scheduled for the morning of August 27.
In other overnight results, Tamsyn Lewis broke the two-minute mark for the third time this year in Liege, taking the win in 1.59.70.
Source: Athletics Australia
Australia downs NZ for trans-Tasman test 25 July
 A well-drilled Australia has secured the Holden Netball Test series by beating New Zealand in the final match by seven goals at the Distinctive Homes Dome on Tuesday.
The Aussies led all match, by as much as 15 goals in the third quarter, and showed composure in holding off a dogged Silver Ferns in a tough final stanza, eventually winning 54-47.
Catherine Cox enjoyed her four-quarter court time and finished with 36 from 45 attempts, while Natalie von Bertouch was a creative performer in the midcourt.
Von Bertouch was awarded player of the match honours and was also named joint winner of player of the series with team-mate Sharelle McMahon.
Irene Van Dyk almost dragged the Kiwis back into the contest with some heavy scoring during the side’s second-half surge but the head start they gave the opposition was just too much.
As they’ve done all series, the Australians made a flying start to the contest. They created several turnovers in the mid-court and Cox was in excellent form with 14 first quarter goals.
New Zealand was competitive but struggled to string together goals and went into the first break six goals down.
It was a tighter second term with New Zealand`s defence clogging up the opposition’s goal circle. But a patient midcourt, led by von Bertouch, cleverly threw the ball around to open up some opportunities as the Aussies set up a 30-22 half-time lead.
Australia took control of the contest after the long break with McMahon and Cox combining well in attack. The home side were running away with the game as they pushed the buffer out to 15 goals.
But the Silver Ferns called time with six minutes left in the term, stopping the opposition’s momentum.
They came storming home - Van Dyk scoring the last five goals of the term to make the difference 10 with 15 minutes remaining.
New Zealand kept coming in the fourth quarter but some steady play by the Aussies ensured they wouldn`t be over-run again.
Scoreboard
Australia 54 (Catherine Cox 36/45 at 80%, Sharelle McMahon 16/21 at 76%, Natalie Medhurst 2/2 at 100%)
New Zealand 47 (Irene Van Dyk 35/36 at 97%, Jodie Te Huna 7/11 at 63%, Maria Tutaia 5/7 at 83%)
Source: Netball Australia
Stars & Ferns slug it out 23 July
Cricket: The Southern Stars and the White Ferns are slugging it out in the Northern Territory at the moment, with neither side gaining a major advantage. Each has won a match in a series that has several days to run.
See the Southern Stars match reports
Howe & Lewis score in Madrid
 Athletics: Kym Howe’s World Championships preparations received a confidence boost with her victory in the pole vault on Saturday.
Howe opened her competition at 4.30m and cleared every height, including her winning leap of 4.62m, on her first attempt.
The win included some major scalps including 2003 world champion and Athens Olympic silver medallist Svetlana Feofanova of Russia, who also cleared 4.62m but missed an earlier attempt at 4.57m.
"It’s great to win and I’ll certainly savour it, but is doesn’t change too much. The girls have all beaten me a few times this season, so I’ll just return to Perth, train up and get ready for the next fight which will be in Osaka," Howe said.
The trip to Europe has delivered impressive results for Howe, led by her Madrid victory and her best ever height outdoors of 4.65m in Saulheim, Germany in June.
Runner Tamsyn Lewis (pictured) celebrated her 29th birthday on Friday with an impressive third placing to once again dip under the two-minute barrier for 800m. In perhaps her best international result, Lewis ran 1:59.80 with the indomitable Maria Mutola of Mozambique the winner in 1:58.80 while Morocco’s world and Olympic silver medallist Hasna Benhassi finished second in 1:59.47
Athletics Australia (Pic: Athletics Australia)
Korean rookie beats big field
Golf: Two members of the 2006 rookie class outlasted the field of 64 at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, but it was reigning Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Seon Hwa Lee (22nd seed) who completed the weekend with a 6-0 record. Lee, of South Korea, posted a 2 and 1 victory over 12th-seed Ai Miyazato, of Japan.
“My putter was working really well this week, all week. I think in match play, putting is really important,” said Lee, whose $500,000 paycheck comes with a spot in the 32-player field at the ADT Championship via the second half of the LPGA Playoffs 2007. “I know that Ai is a really good player and that she has a lot of supporters in Japan. I know she's a really good putter and she's going to be tough.”
Full story at the LPGA
Szavay wins first title
 Tennis: One of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's fastest-rising young stars joined the impressive champions roster in Palermo this past week, capturing her first title at the Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo.
Eighteen-year-old Agnes Szavay announced her arrival among the world's elite on the red clay of the Italian city, capping off her title run with a 60 61 defeat of the tournament's No.2 seed, Martina Müller. No.8 seed Szavay stormed through the first seven games of the championship match with little resistance before a tenacious Müller finally got on the board to even it up, 1-1, in the second set. She pushed Szavay to three deuces in the next game as the momentum seemed to be shifting, but the teenager wasn't derailed and reeled off the last five games.
"I played really well the whole week except my second round match against Bychkova - I played terrible there," said Szavay, who beat the Russian, 64 46 62. "But I played better and better after that. Today, I tried to attack but be patient at the right times and it worked. Now I'm feeling very good as you can imagine."
Full story at Sony-Ericsson WTA
Plus…
The Italians will face the Russians in Russia for the final of the Fed Cup.
See this link
Jackson unofficial most valuable
Basketball: Australian Lauren Jackson has been nominated an unofficial Most Valuable award by WNBA commentator Adam Hirshfield.
See this WNBA link
Australia takes trans-Tasman
In an inspiring performance of pressure shooting, determination and sheer class, Australia claimed victory in the Fisher & Paykel Cup against world champions, New Zealand by 7 goals, 53-46 in front of a capacity 9,000 strong crowd here at the Vector Arena in Auckland.
Australia achieved their ultimate goal of the short tour – to test their world championship preparation against the world benchmark, the Silver Ferns – and to inflict any psychological edge ahead of the titles in November.
Australian coach, Norma Plummer looked to revitalised shooter, Cath Cox and Sharelle McMahon to post a winning score, the speedy von Bertouch sisters, Natalie (Centre) and Laura (WA) to control the midcourt with Selina Gilsenan, promoted emerging star defender, Julie Prendergast into the GD role with captain and GK specialist, Liz Ellis holding down the backline.
More from Netball Australia
Money sends Hawks south
Basketball: The Hawthorn Rangers are to be paid $12 million by the Tasmanian government to play premiership games in that state over the next five years.
See the full report at the WNBL
Smith crowned longboard champ
Jennifer Smith (USA) has been crowned the 2007 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion, following her victory in the Roxy ASP WWLC in Biarritz, France this afternoon.
“I feel so blessed to be in the situation I’m in right now,” Smith said. “I made the final last year and lost, so to come back and make the final again and take the title is just an incredible feeling.”
Smith attributed her board selection as a big part in both her semifinal and final victories.
“I rode my heavier board in these offshore conditions,” Smith said. “It allowed me to get into the waves way earlier than my lighter board. It glides so well and longboarding is all about the glide.”
Full story at Surfing Australia
Rome victory for Rawlinson 14 July
Athletics Australia: Jana Rawlinson has claimed he first IAAF Golden League victory since returning to competition after giving birth seven months ago.
The Golden Gala meeting in Rome set the scene, with Rawlinson crossing the line in 54.91 ahead of Jamaican Melanie Walker (55.18) and American Sandra Glover (55.38).
The 2003 world champion led from outset, but faulted on the eighth hurdle and Glover passed her. The two were even at the ninth, however the American tired and Rawlinson powered home to post her fourth 400m hurdles victory of the year.
With world record holder Yuliya Pechonkina, 2004 Olympic champion Fani Halkia and world leader Tiffany Ross-Williams all absent, it was the perfect opportunity for the 24-year-old to work on her rhythm and stride pattern which she struggled with in Athens and Paris.
“I’m happy that I won but I felt fatigued and I wasn’t feeling refreshed tonight,” a tired yet content Rawlinson told Athletics Australia Media after the race.
“I didn’t make as many technical errors as I did in Athens and Paris but the race was a lot slower.
“A lot of my main competitors didn’t race tonight; they are as tired as I am. I think I need to take a leaf out of their book and get back into some solid training.”
Rawlinson will race at the British Grand Prix in Sheffield on Sunday before taking four weeks off for a solid training stint ahead of next month’s World Championships in Osaka.
It was a tight sprint to the finish line in the women’s 800 metres, with less than a second separating the top eight finishers. Eleven-time national champion Tamsyn Lewis was unable to crack the two-minute barrier, finishing eighth in 2.00.31. Jamaician Kenia Sinclair recorded 1:59.45 to secure the win.
In the women’s pole vault, world record holder and reigning world and Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) posted her 13th consecutive victory with a new meet record height of 4.90 metres. West Australian Kym Howe finished sixth, with a clearance of 4.50m.
Fed Cup today
Tennis: The Australian leg of the Fed Cup starts today. See above for the draw.
Fed Cup website
Podcast for Howe 13 July
 Athletics Australia: Commonwealth Games champion and Australian record holder Kym Howe is a special guest on this week’s edition of Higher Faster Longer.
Fresh from some very promising recent efforts which included a 4.65m leap in Saulheim, Kym speaks to host Tony Schibeci about her road to August's World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Howe’s pole vault counterpart, world No. 1 Steve Hooker, also speaks about the start to his European campaign and some of the results of his Australian team-mates in Europe.
Lindsay Burgoyne, coach of javelin duo Luke Bissett and Bianca Maurer who are currently competing at the World Youth Championships in Ostrava, kicks off a jam-packed show.
Higher Faster Longer is athletics.com.au’s free weekly podcast.
See this link
Pan American games open
From Rio: The Pan American cauldron has been finally lit at the Maracanã Stadium. The Flame, which was carried by the U-21 athlete Naiana Freire da Purificação, got to the Stadium’s gate 13 at approximately 2.00pm where a crowd of people awaited for it.
Web site
Defender to miss NZ match
Australian defender, Mo’onia Gerrard will miss the Fisher and Paykel Cup match against world champions, New Zealand in Auckland on July 18 because of a minor calf tear.
Gerrard was forced off the court in the second quarter of Australia’s battle against Jamaica last Sunday in Sydney and has since undergone medical tests to determine the extent of the injury.
National coach, Norma Plummer said she’s not prepared to risk further injury to the star defender with the 2007 World Championships less than five months away.
“We hope she only misses the one match, but with a calf tear you need to be careful to make sure she doesn’t overdo it,” Plummer said.
More at Netball Australia
China beats Singapore in cricket opener
From Cricinfo: Much was expected of China's women before their first ever full international match. Much was delivered. Playing Singapore in the ACC Women's Tournament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, China played a well-drilled game to win by 38 runs.
Full story
Vic basketball side signs Tas deal
From the ABC: The women's National Basketball League side, the Dandenong Rangers, has signed a three-year, $60,000 deal to play five matches in Tasmania.
The Rangers will play three matches in Launceston, one in Hobart and one in Devonport.
Full story
Williams in top 20 10 July
From The Age newspaper: Venus Williams moved back into the top 20 in the rankings for the first time in a year on Monday, rising to No 17 thanks to her fourth Wimbledon singles title.
Runner-up Marion Bartoli moved from No 19 to a career-high No 11, while Amelie Mauresmo, whose title defense ended in the fourth round, dropped from No 4 to No 6.
Full story
WTA rankings
Australian strikers nominated 9 July
Football: Matildas striking duo Kate Gill and Sarah Walsh are among a list of five players announced recently by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as contenders for the 2007 AFC Women’s Player of the Year award to be announced in November.
The pair have been a mainstay of the Matildas strike-force throughout this year’s Beijing Olympic qualifiers scoring a combined tally of 22 goals in seven matches. Novocastrian Gill scored a remarkable 13 goals in three consecutive matches as Australia swept past Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, while Sydney-based Walsh has been in equally impressive form bagging nine goals during the qualifying tournament.
Full story
Randall for Bulleen
Basketball: The Nature’s Blend Bulleen Melbourne Boomers has signed World Champion defencejobs Opal Emma Randall for the 2007/08 defencejobs Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season.
Full story
Australia sweeps netball test 8 July
Australia has powered home to beat a gallant Jamaica 72-53 and sweep their Holden Netball Test Series at the Sydney Olympic Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The world-ranked No.3 Jamaicans held the Australians early before the home side showed its class to steamroll its opponents in the second half and secure a decisive 19-goal victory and clinch the Test series 2-0 after Thursday night’s narrow 66-62 win in Melbourne.
Full story
So much for the long shot 7 July
From the WTA: Despite her three previous titles at the event, she was largely unheralded coming into the Wimbledon fortnight this year. But she never counted herself out; on Saturday afternoon, Venus Williams beat tournament darling Marion Bartoli to add her name to the appropriately-named Venus Rosewater Dish once again.
Having sat out the better part of eight months between last July and this February with a left wrist injury and put together somewhat up-and-down results since her return, the former No.1 briefly dropped out of the Top 50 and came into the tournament ranked No.31. Though raised in the seedings by the All-England Club, her No.23 seed hardly gave her a favorable draw. For the first time in years, Williams definitely looked like a long shot.
Full story
Williams now favourite 6 July
From Wimbledon: Venus Williams, who will now be the favourite to win the Wimbledon title, would not have expected to face Marion Bartoli in the final. But she is thrilled to be there regardless of who she plays.
She said: "It's so exciting. I've had so many great times here. It's really an amazing stat. I guess I'm feeling proud of myself for that stat but I don't want to take anything for granted going into the final.
Williams admitted that at the start of The Championships she was uncertain about how far she could progress. "I wasn't thinking about the final at the beginning of the tournament, I was just thinking about the first round which was pretty tough.
Full story
Tough win for Henin 5 July
Wimbledon: The match everyone had been waiting for produced a tussle worth seeing and a win for Justine Henin on Centre Court last night. Her much-anticipated quarter-final against Serena Williams was a finely balanced affair for two sets, but in the third the Belgian eased away to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. She will play Marion Bartoli in the semi-finals.
This match followed directly on from Venus Williams’ shock triumph over Maria Sharapova. When it began, many were wondering if Wimbledon might once again be heading for an all-Williams final, as in the old times. Certainly many people had forecasted that the winner of the Henin-Williams quarter-final would be the player to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.
After all, these players had shared the year’s two previous Slam tournaments between them, and they were the only two women left in the draw to have won more than one tournament this year.
Full story
Young Hawaiins liven up surf contest
LA Times: For opposing coaches, it was a familiar story. All Lisa Andersen had to do was show up to beat Layne Beachley.
But a resumption of that once-fierce rivalry among surfing's greatest female champions was far overshadowed by the performances of today's brightest stars in treacherous surf at Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
Full story
New face for silver ferns 4 July
Midcourter Maree Bowden is the new face in the New Zealand Silver Ferns line-up to take on Australia in the Holden Netball Test Series.
Coach Ruth Aitken promoted 28-year-old Bowden into the squad to replace vice-captain Temepara George, who withdrew because of personal reasons on the eve of their selection trials.
Former Silver Ferns defender Sheryl Scanlan has also earned a recall into the side.
Aitken said the selectors opted to take a balanced team of four shooters, four mid-courters and four defenders on the Australian tour,
“Maree offers strong options at wing attack and centre and provides the attacking mid-court cover we believe is so important in a World Netball Championships year,” Aitken said.
“Sheryl’s form in England as a training partner and her performances in both the National Bank Cup and Silver Ferns trials warranted her inclusion into the team again.
“She is an experienced and versatile defender and provides the team with the necessary cover both in circle defence and for the wing defence role.” (Source: Netball Australia)
Full line-up
Rotten day for Mauresmo 3 July
 Wimbledon: “Everything went wrong today,” said Amelie Mauresmo as she reflected on the loss of her Wimbledon crown after her 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 defeat to Nicole Vaidisova.
It was another disappointing result to add her collection as she tries to get back to full fitness after being felled by appendicitis in March. Mauresmo took two months to get over the appendectomy operation and, since her return to the tour in May, she has struggled with her serve, with her confidence and with her form.
Against Vaidisova, her serve was in tatters – she may have hit 13 aces but she countered them with 14 doubles faults – but the rest of her game was in bits, as well.
Full story
Plus…
Ana Ivanovic, the 19-year-old Serb with a growing fan base, overcame Nadia Petrova in an intriguing three-set contest to reach the quarter-finals, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Her opponent will be another fast-rising teenager, Nicole Vaidisova, 18, who defeated defending champion Amelie Mauresmo.
Sixth seed Ivanovic was a losing finalist at the French Open last month. She appeared to be well in command in today’s match, only to have her concentration broken by an untimely, albeit short, rain break, a familiar feature of these Championships.
Aided by some scrappy play from Petrova, the 11th seeded Russian, Ivanovic reeled off a series of winners to collect the opening five games in 19 minutes. Oozing confidence, she dominated her more experienced opponent who was not happy with her game. It seemed that everything Petrova attempted either just missed the line or was wildly off the mark.
Full story
Big day out for Rawlinson
Athletics: In her most serious encounter since returning to competition after giving birth to son Cornelus last December, Jana Rawlinson (nee Pittman) has defeated a star-studded line up which included four of the six fastest women in the world this year, to take victory at the IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting in Athens overnight.
Rawlinson (54.25) and pole vaulter Steve Hooker (5.85m) both scored stunning victories against high quality international fields.
800m runner Tamsyn Lewis also broke two minutes for the first time this year, to put her hand up for selection in the Osaka World Championships team.
Despite a significant pause at the final barrier, Rawlinson’s victorious time of 54.25 is the fifth fastest in the world this year. Tiffany Ross-Williams (USA), the fastest women in the world in 2007, finished second (54.38), with 2006 European Cup champion Yevgeniya Isakova from Russia third (54.58). Olympic champion Fania Halkia of Greece was a late withdrawal after injuring her back during the warm-up – denying Rawlinson a rematch of the Olympic final at the same venue three years ago.
“I was more pleased with the way the race was won than my time,” explained the 24-year-old after her race.
“The last hurdle was a mess. I stopped which cost me half a second. Elite hurdlers shouldn’t do that and it was a bad decision. I’ve got to iron it out to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Having not raced at an elite international competition since the Commonwealth Games last year, Rawlinson was slightly nervous prior to the race.
“I actually looked down at the start list and got a little bit nervous. I thought oh my god, my season’s best has never been last on the list before.”
“Tonight was a step in the right direction but it’s not time to have a party yet.”
“Over the next few weeks I’ll continue to work on my speed and rhythm, however the key is to get to Osaka injury free. I need to make it to the start line.”
Rawlinson will next grace the track this Friday night at the lucrative Paris Golden League meet where she will once again greet a high-class field – including world champion and world record holder Yulia Nosova of Russia.
Source: Athletics Australia
Plus…
 One of the biggest stories in Australian athletics is the form of steeple-chasing supermum Donna MacFarlane and now her coach joins the chorus.
This week Higher Faster Longer, athletics.com.au’s free weekly podcast (radio show) talks to MacFarlane’s coach - the highly-respected Max Cherry - about her recent successes.
Full story
Things look brighter for gymnasts 2 July
After a disappointing night of competition on Sunday, the Australians stepped up to the challenge tonight with a plethora of personal best performances against Japan at the Sleeman Centre in Brisbane.
Dasha Joura (60.050) claimed her third successive All-Around victory on the trot with two personal best performances on the vault and floor, from Japan’s Koko Tsurumi (58.525) and West Australian Lauren Mitchell, who shone with a personal best total of 57.950.
The Australian women arrived at this competition just having completed a demanding week-long world championships training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport under the guidance of national head coach Peggy Liddick.
Fatigue was evident on the uneven bars, with Joura and Queenslanders Chloe Sims and Naomi Russell all missing the bar and face-planting the floor with an almighty thud during their routines.
However Joura, ever the champion, regrouped to post the highest scores of the evening and her career best on vault (15.325), and floor, her dramatic routine securing 15.475.
“I get pretty bad when I make a mistake like I did on bars tonight. I get pretty down but it doesn’t take long for my coach (Martine George) to snap me out of it,” explained the young West Australian gymnast.
“She knows exactly what to say to me. She reminded me not to write myself off just because I made a mistake because you don’t know what’s going to happen, you can only control what you do.”
The 17-year-old added a new dimension to her floor routine tonight – the extra tumbling line resulted in her start value rising by 0.1 to 6.10.
“It was something that had to be done and it was something I was working towards. Now I can be confidence that I can do it at worlds in September,” continued Joura.
Although frustrated, head coach Peggy Liddick was happy with some aspects of her team’s performance tonight.
“I knew we weren’t peaked for this comp and I knew it was going to be a good test for us.”
“I was really happy with our vault and floor tonight, which has traditionally been our weak point in the last couple of years.”
After a disappointing competition, West Australian Lauren Mitchell bounced back to nail her beam routine, impressing Coach Liddick.
“Lauren Mitchell impressed me tonight. She made a mistake on bars but she had a really high difficulty beam routine and she handled it tonight when I put even more pressure on her. It’s good to know she’ll respond like that.”
The Japanese women’s squad contained five members of their 2007 world championships team. 18-year-old Mayu Kuroda, proved why she finished fourth on the uneven bars at last year’s world titles, her captivating high-flying routine exciting the vocal Queensland crowd with a 15.375. Rising star Koko Tsurumi, 14, recorded a 15.275 on the beam.
Source: Gymnastics Australia
Davis for Karate champs
Victorian Taela Davis has been selected to represent Australia at the Junior World Karate Championships to be held in Istanbul, Turkey in mid October 2007. Taela trained extensively for the Australian Open Championships which were the basis of her selection.
She made the Australian Team for the first time last year and competed at the Oceania Karate Championships in Noumea, New Calendonia bringing home a silver medal in her individual event and gold in the Cadet Girls Team event.
Funding drop hurts Vic
From Womensport and Recreation Victoria: Due to a number of financial issues, including insufficient funding and increased operating expenses, Womensport and Recreation Victoria will be functioning in a reduced capacity from the 20 June 2007. A number of options are being discussed at a board level and a special general meeting will be called to decide the future of the organisation.
If you would like to discuss this issue or have any comments, question or concerns please contact
Assunta Morrone, Chair.
Email: mailto:assuntam@ceh.org.au
Aussies claim bronze 1 July
(Softball) The Australian Under 19 Women’s team, Aussie Pride, won the bronze medal at the VIII ISF Junior Women’s World Championship last night, after going down to Japan 10-1.
Japan’s strong hitting line-up proved too powerful for the Aussie Pride from the beginning of the game scoring in the top of the first innings.
Alison Bourne, who has been one of the most dominant pitchers of the championship, was unable to shut the Japanese batters down. Bourne pitched six innings, facing 31 batters, giving up eight hits with three strike-outs.
Verity Long-Droppert was the only player to cross the home plate for Australia in the bottom of the sixth innings.
With the Japanese confidence at an all time high, they went on to play the USA in the gold medal match. The USA won after a close game defeating Japan 3-1.
Brooke Spence, Aussie Pride captain, was named the best short stop player of the championship for her outstanding effort in the field.
Chelsea Forkin was placed 14th in the overall batting averages, with her 24 turns at bat, scoring 11 runs with 10 runners batted in (RBIs) and a batting average of .458.
Source: Softball Australia
Hockey duo celebrate birth
Sunday Age: First they played against each other, then they fell in love. Now two of the world's greatest women hockey players have had a baby together.
That's the story of Australian Olympian Alyson Annan and her partner, former Olympic rival Carole Thate.
Annan is widely regarded as the greatest female hockey player of all time, but the latest chapter of her remarkable career is giving birth to a baby son, an event that seals her relationship with the former Dutch captain.
Full story
Kerr wins US Open
 Golf: It's something Cristie Kerr has dreamed about since she was a little girl. In fact it was something Kerr knew she was going to do when she was at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club for the 2001 US Women's Open. In a week where the buzz around Southern Pines was if Lorena Ochoa could win her first major championship, Kerr knew something no one else predicted. She knew that she would be the one to win her first major championship title.
Kerr did just that as she raised her first major championship trophy in her 263rd LPGA Tour start and won the 2007 U.S. Women's Open by two shots over Ochoa and LPGA rookie Angela Park on Sunday at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club.
“This area is just a very special place to come to play golf,” said Kerr of the Pinehurst and Southern Pines area. “I knew since the last time I came here that the next time I came here it was going to be my week. When I stepped on the grounds this week it was just like magic.” (Source: LPGA)
Full story
Keightly made national coach
Cricket Australia has appointed former Australia opener Lisa Keightley as the new AIS/National Women's Head Coach.
Keightley becomes the first woman appointed to coach the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, replacing Mark Sorell who is the new head coach of the South Australia men's team.
She has been the coach of the NSW Wolf Blass Breakers for the past two seasons and has led the team to a pair of Commonwealth Bank Women's National Cricket League titles playing aggressive, attacking cricket.
"I'm very excited and proud to be appointed coach of the Australian women's team. I'm grateful that Cricket NSW has provided a pathway for my coaching development and given me the opportunity, experience and support I needed to reach this stage of my career," Keightley said.
"We have a young side coming through at the moment on the international level and it will be important to give these new players an opportunity. Australian women's cricket has experienced a dominant era but we are now faced with the challenge of coming up with new ways to change the game and remain successful.
"It's great that the position is a full-time role at the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. It will be a good environment to work in with high-class facilities and expertise across all aspects of the game," Keightley said.
Cricket Australia CEO, James Sutherland, welcomed Keightley's appointment.
"Cricket Australia is delighted that Lisa will be the AIS/National Women's Head Coach. She has had a high level of success coaching at interstate level and this experience coupled with her impeccable playing credentials has her well-placed to lead the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars into a new era," he said.
Source: Cricket Australia
See
our news archive for
earlier stories
 Return
to top
Use this tool to search our
site or the web.
|
Job
watch
See our jobs
page
Got
news, an event or product?
Let us know about it & we'll give it a
run on this site. It's a free service. Email us via this link.
|
