Britain’s Eccles Goes For Double-Gold In Vaulting, But French Stars Could Be The Show-Stealers

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™

Great Britain’s Joanne Eccles will be bidding for her second consecutive gold medal in the Female Individual Championship when Vaulting gets underway at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in the Zenith Indoor Arena in Caen, France on 2 September. However the big show-stealers may be the host nation’s Male Vaulting super-stars, World and FEI World Cup™ Vaulting Champion Nicolas Andreani, and European champion Jacques Ferarri.

When the Frenchmen performed in Bordeaux earlier this year the home crowd went wild. And with Andreani by his own admission nearing the end of his career, the Zenith Stadium may provide the ideal venue for his final curtain-call.

The USA arrives at these Games as defending Squad champions, and there is a great deal of excitement about the many “firsts” attached to the Vaulting discipline at the 2014 Games.

New Zealand sends a squad for the very first time, Lambert Leclezio (MRI), who received support from FEI Solidarity, is representing his country, Mauritius, for the first time at World Championship level, and Pas-de-Deux, so successfully introduced into the 2013/2014 season’s FEI World Cup™ Vaulting series, will make its FEI World Equestrian Games™ debut.

Increased entry

The discipline of Vaulting, which involves gymnastic exercises on horse-back and which is a huge hit with the public, has, like so many of the other FEI sports, attracted a significantly increased entry for this edition of the Games.

A total of 179 athletes from 22 countries will line out compared to the previous record number of 149 athletes from 17 countries set at the last Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, USA four years ago. There will be 17 nations represented by squads of 6 vaulters, 35 Female Individuals and 18 Male Individuals along with 12 partnerships competing in the popular new Pas-de Deux.

There will be four separate sets of medals, for the Squad (Team) competition, Female Individual, Male Individual and Pas-de-Deux. The lunger who keeps the horse cantering in a rhythmical stride that supports the artistic efforts of the athletes as they perform their floor-plans is a key player in this demanding sport and also receives a medal along with the vaulters.

Joanne Eccles wins gold in the individual vaulting competition pictured with her father John Eccles,who is her lunger

Busy week

It’s going to be a busy week, starting with the Compulsory Tests on Tuesday 2 September, Freestyle tests on Wednesday 3, Technical Tests and the first Freestyle Pas-de-Deux on Thursday 4 and the drama-filled Finals for all four events taking place on Friday 5 September.

In the battle for the Female honours, Eccles can expect a strong challenge from Italy’s Anna Cavallaro who successfully defended her FEI World Cup™ Vaulting title this year, while in the Pas-de-Deux the Austrian duo of Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha may prove hard to beat.

Eccles will join her sister, Hannah, in the Pas-de-Deux challenge, but the history-making Austrians are a polished pair having previously clinched the 2012 FEI World Vaulting Championship title in Le Mans (FRA) before storming to victory at the FEI European Vaulting Championships 2013 in Ebreichsdorf (AUT). Performing to “Heart’s a Mess” by Gotye with lunger Klaus Haidacher at Bordeaux this year, they received the maximum 10 points from German judge Jochen Schilffarth in the first round, leading to a stunning final score of 8,783 points, and if they can match that performance next week then they may well be untouchable.

Germany’s Pia Engelberty and Torben Jacobs, bronze medalists at last year’s FEI European Vaulting Championships, finished second while Stefanie Millinger and Evelyn Freund from Salzburg (AUT) completed the top three at the Bordeaux fixture, and all will be back in action and hoping to the turn the tables when the exciting Pas-de-Deux gets underway in Caen.

Andreani, with his horse Quiece d’Aunis and lunger Marina Dupon Joosten scored a massive 8,826 to win the FEI World Cup™ Male Vaulting Final at Bordeaux where his French colleague, Ferrari finished second ahead of Switzerland’s Lukas Heppler.

Andreani is something of a “rock star” in the sport, and should he prove successful in his bid for Male Individual gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™2014 Vaulting Championships then the roof of the Zenith Stadium may well go into orbit on Friday 5 September as the crowd will definitely not be holding back on their emotions for both their sport and their home hero.

Facts and Figures:

NZL are sending a Vaulting squad for the first time to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

Pas-de-deux will be included in the FEI World Equestrian Games™ programme for the first time at this edition.

Lambert Leclezio (MRI), who received support from FEI Solidarity, is representing his country, Mauritius, for the first time at World Championship level.

Bongani Mvumvu (RSA), who will be competing in his second FEI World Equestrian Games™, also benefitted from an FEI Solidarity Scholarship.

179 athletes from 22 countries – previous record was 149 athletes from 17 countries.
17 nations represented by squads of 6 vaulters.

4 competitions – Squad, Female Individual, Male Individual and Pas de Deux.

4 sets of medals, and the lunger also receives a medal along with the vaulters.

12 top teams qualify for the Freestyle Final.

35 Female Individuals.

18 Male Individuals.

Both male and female competitions begin with a Compulsory class which is followed on the next day by a Freestyle.

15 top vaulters then go into round two which consists of a Technical test which is followed on the next day by a Freestyle Final.

12 Pas-de-Deux partnerships.

Ground Jury members: Véronique Girard (FRA) President, Helma Schwarzmann (GER), Susan Detol (USA), Pavla Krauspe (SVK), Anita Flamand-Prochaska (AUT), Karolina Wickholm (FIN), Elzbieta Dolinska (POL) and Anna Kull (SUI).

Technical Delegate: Erich Breiter (AUT).

Chief Steward: Sintje Klink (GER).

Appeal Committee Vaulting member: Jean-Michel Pinel (FRA).

Great Britain’s Joanne Eccles will defend the Female Individual title she won at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010 in Kentucky (USA).

Joanne Eccles will also compete in the Pas de Deux with her sister Hannah and they are strong medal contenders.

Team USA will defend the Team title, having clinched gold on home ground in Kentucky in 2010 where Germany took silver and Austria clinched the bronze.

The Male Individual medals in 2010 went to Switzerland’s Patric Looser (gold), Germany’s Kai Voberg (silver) and Nicolas Andreani from France (bronze).

Andreani will again be contesting the Individual Male title.

By Louise Parkes

Port-Harcourt Derby! Dolphins Fail To Win Derby Game

Dolphins huffed and puffed on Saturday but lacked the cutting edge to get a win over city neighbours, Sharks at the Liberation Stadium.

It was, just like the football cliché says, a game of two halves as Dolphins were lackadaisical in the first half giving Sharks the advantage.

Jaiyeola ran the midfield in the first half and Super Eagles fringe player, Christian Pyagbara ensured the Dolphins defence stayed on their toes most of the first 45 minutes.

The triple striker formation of Ebube Okpokwu, Ifeanyi Egwim and Emem Eduok for Dolphins also did not seem to work as Sharks seemed the better side in the first half.

In the second half, especially after Stanley Eguma made some changes in the personnel and shape with Victor Alegbe replacing Ebube Okpokwu and Omo Johnson coming in for Tijani Adamu, there began to seem more purpose on the side of Dolphins.

Midway into the half, Emeka Atuloma forced a save from Danladi Isa as his dipping volley from 35 yards seemed a sure goal.

Chidiebere Okolie also found space in the box and tried to curl the ball around Isa but once again, he made a spectacular save.

Sharks also brought in former Dolphins top scorer, Obinna Amakor late in the game and his combination up front with Christian Pyagbara also put the Dolphins center backs, Victor Ezuruike and Emmanuel Olowo on red alert.

In added time, Emem Eduok actually got the ball behind the Sharks goalkeeper and while he turned around to celebrate, the ball was cleared off the line.

Stanley Eguma – Dolphins fc head coach

Dolphins head coach, Stanley Eguma said after the game that he was disappointed with the score line

“It’s a disappointment because we planned to win. It’s a derby game and it can be difficult at times but we got a draw. Our opponents know us as we know them,” Eguma said.

Eguma added that the draw will not in any way derail their title ambitions

“We will still work harder and try to get the points lost today from somewhere else. We are still in the race.”

Gbenga Ogunbote, Coach Sharks fc

Sharks coach, Gbenga Ogunbote described every point won away from home as a good one.

“I was disappointed we did not win because I thought we could use the points here to raise ourselves, but a draw on the road is always something,” Ogunbote said.

Ogunbote added that it was a bit of a tactical gamble to drop Kelly Kester and Nathaniel from the game even though they had been super regulars for Sharks this season.

NTTF Elite Junior & Cadet Training Camp Excites Players

As the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF)-organised elite junior and cadet training camp enters final week, players taking part in the exercise are still in cloud nine over the quality of coaching coupled with the superb organization of the 14-day training camp.

The two weeks camping exercise was initiated by one of Africa’s most decorated table tennis players, Segun Toriola assisted by national coach, Nosiru Bello and Friday Aba.

The 18 players taking part are made up of nine boys and nine girls and they were drawn from Lagos, Ogun, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and they are between the ages of seven and 16.

For the trio of Tosin Oribamishe, Abayomi Animashaun and Afeez Solanke, the exercise has imparted so much on them as they had acquired new skills as well as correct some of their lapses in the game.

sther Oribamishe is one of the players taking par in the ongoing NTTF elite junior and cadet training camp holding in Lagos1

Oribamishe, one of the most travelled junior players and the current national junior champion, believes that the “elite junior and cadet training camp” should be staged regularly.

“we have never had this kind of camping before and I want to appeal to the federation not to make it a one-off event especially with the presence of Toriola, who has played to the highest level in the world. His presence alone served as a motivation to us because we have seen some of things he has been able to achieve with the game and we are also hoping that we can follow in his footstep.

this camp has revealed my mistakes and I have been able to correct it while I also pick up new skills. So this exercise should be sustained especially for the young players,” Oribamishe said.

For 12 year-old Animashaun, the camping has been an eye opener especially with the presence of his role model, Toriola, whom he said has impacted so much in him during the exercise.

His words: “In the camp, I leant not to be on the defensive side when playing and that I must be on the offensive. Also, my top-spin as well as my looping is now perfect because they are now staying on table.

Also, I have been able to adjust my movement on the table which I found very difficult to correct before. All these are things I have been able to do within the first week of the camping. As we enter the final week, I am hoping that I will pick up new things.”

Solanke, winner of the maiden DAWN Games, admits that being part of the exercise has been worthwhile.

“I am so happy that I made it to the camp and for me this is an opportunity for me to perfect my skills especially as I am looking forward to making it to the national junior team.

I can say that Toriola has really impacted so much in us while the organisation of the camping has been so impressive since last week. We are also hopeful that this week will be more interesting than last week,” the southpaw player said.

According to the President, NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, the players were selected based on their performance in competitions sanctioned by the federation and with the aim of teaching them the basics of the game.

For the initiator of the camp, Toriola, the country still blessed with enormous talents in the game, while efforts should be geared towards nurturing these skills to stardom.

“It is very important for former players that had represented this country to see how they can help to improve the game through this kind of exercise which I believe if staged regularly will surely help the young players to improve and rub shoulders with the world’s best.

Most of the players are just playing without understanding the basics especially in pushing long balls and also the need for them to be on the attack because nobody plays defensive game these days.

With what I have seen so far, I think there are bright prospects in the game.

Also our former players should change their mind that until they become national team coaches before they can contribute their own quota towards the development of the game.

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth medalist said.

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 – Let The Games Begin!

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy – Opening Ceremony

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014

A parade of athletes from the 74 participating nations, an incredible musical and hi-tech lightshow extravaganza featuring over 100 horses, the Garde Républicaine and giant Mexican waves entertained a sellout crowd of 21,000 for the Opening Ceremony of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy at the D’Ornano Stadium last night.

FEI President HRH Princess Haya and Laurent Beauvais, President of the Games Organising Committee and President of the Lower Normandy Region, welcomed athletes, officials, sponsors, spectators and media to Normandy for two weeks of world class equestrian sport in the heart of horse country.

Laurent Beauvais spoke warmly of the 3,000 volunteers that will be working at the venues to optimise the Games experience, and many of them had the opportunity to parade in front of the spectators as part of tonight’s ceremony.

“We have brought together 3,000 smiles to welcome you; 3,000 sets of open arms,” Laurent Beauvais said. “The volunteers bind our organisation. We can all be so proud of them. For months now they have been our greatest ambassadors for the Games, the greatest ambassadors for Normandy and indeed the greatest ambassadors for France!”

Horseman extraordinaire Lorenzo was one of the highlights of the Opening Ceremony of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 at the Stade d’Ornano in Caen, Normandy, on 23 August in front of a sellout crowd of 21,000 spectators. (Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI)

Princess Haya, speaking in French and English, also expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in making the Games possible. “On behalf of everyone here tonight, and everyone around the world who will enjoy these seventh World Equestrian Games, I want to thank the people of Normandy for so warmly welcoming us to this beautiful region,” Princess Haya said.

“I also want to thank the World Equestrian Games Foundation, Alltech, and the many volunteers who have given so generously of their time and energy. These Games could not happen without you. And of course, I want to thank all of the athletes who have come to Normandy to pursue their dreams. You are at the pinnacle of our sport; you have earned the right to be here through your hard work and dedication.

“Whether you win or lose, these Games are sure to be a highlight of your career. I am confident that you will represent our sport well and prove yourselves to be true champions. I wish you all the best of luck.”

Princess Haya then invited French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to declare the Games open, the first time in the history of the World Equestrian Games that there has been a Prime Minister at the opening ceremony.

The top-level French Government delegation also included Bernard Cazeneuve, Minister of the Interior, Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture Affairs and government spokesman, and Thierry Braillard, Under Secretary for Sport.

French team member and former athlete representative on the FEI Bureau, Kevin Staut, and Anne Prain, President of the Ground Jury for Para-Equestrian Dressage took the FEI pledge on behalf of the athletes and judges.

On behalf of all the FEI officials, Anne Prain spoke of the spirit of fair play and integrity, while the athletes’ pledge was given by Kevin Staut: “In the name of all riders, I promise that we shall take part in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to our sport without doping, in the true spirit of welfare of the horse and of sportsmanship, for the glory of equestrian sport and the honour of our teams.”

A total of 478,000 tickets of the 500,000 on offer had already been sold before tonight’s Opening Ceremony, and with top sport across the FEI disciplines from now until 7 September, a fantastic spectator experience is guaranteed over the next 15 days!

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014