Chez Philip talk show launches at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014
The FEI has launched its daily talk show, Chez Philip, direct from the planet’s most international equestrian event, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, France.
Phil Ghazala, the show’s presenter, award-winning commentator and face of the FEI’s official digital video platform FEI TV, is interviewing athletes, celebrities, coaches, course designers and medal winners in the Chez Philip studio for the next two weeks in Normandy, taking viewers behind the fascinating scenes of the Games.
The show’s roving reporter Sienna Myson-Davies, team and individual gold medallist at the FEI European Junior Eventing Championships 2008, will front the show’s daily social media news update, and be capturing all the excitement in Normandy from each of the six official competition venues, interviewing riders and fans.
Tune in to the Chez Philip daily talk show with presenter Phil Ghazala and roving reporter Sienna Myson-Davies for all the latest news from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. (FEI)
The Chez Philip talk show, which will also treat viewers to Normandy competition previews and reviews, and flashbacks to golden moments of past Games, will be available free on FEI TV, on FEI YouTube, and by video on demand on 40 media sites in over 20 countries, including:
Germany claimed the Dressage team title in convincing style at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, France today. Already out in front after their first two riders completed their tests yesterday, they nailed it with two more superb performances to finish well clear of Great Britain in silver medal spot, while the defending champions from The Netherlands took bronze.
The morning began with a superb performance from the third to go for Germany, Isabell Werth and Bella Rose whose score of 81.529 signalled the definitive return of Team Germany to the top of the pecking order in this sport in which they have always played such a dominant role. They never looked in any danger after that, and Helen Langehanenberg’s 81.357 with Damon Hill NRW was just the icing on the cake because, even without her brilliant effort, her country would be victorious.
This was the 11th German Dressage gold medal success since the team competition was introduced into the world championship programme in 1966 and German Chef d’Equipe, Klaus Roeser, said this evening: “it’s been very interesting, both yesterday and today, with brilliant and fantastic sport on a very high level. I want to say thanks to four young, nice and charming ladies who worked as a team together making us really strong!”
And there was even more to celebrate as there were three qualification spots for the 2016 Olympic Games on offer to the podium-placed teams today, so Germany, Great Britain and The Netherlands are already on the road to Rio de Janeiro (BRA) in two years’ time.
Team Germany clinched the Dressage team title at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, France today. L to R: Chef d’Equipe Klaus Roeser, Kristina Sprehe, Helen Langehanenberg, Isabell Werth and Fabienne Lutkemeier. (Dirk Caremans/FEI)
Impossible to predict
The destiny of the gold never looked in any great doubt, but it was impossible to predict the fate of the silver and bronze medals as fortunes fluctuated throughout the competition.
And until British stars Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro posted the highest individual score in the closing stages, it was Team USA who were lying in bronze medal spot behind the Dutch.
The Spanish also challenged in the early stages today when Morgan Barbancon steered Painted Black, the former ride of Dutch superstar Anky van Grunsven, to a score of 75.143, but they were overtaken by the Americans when Steffen Peters and Legolas finished eighth individually, and Laura Graves and Verdades slotted into 10th.
Graves has very definitely announced her presence at the top end of the sport.
The 27-year-old from Florida only competed in her first Grand Prix in February of this year with the horse she bought as a yearling from a Dutch sales video 12 years ago. She travelled to Kentucky for the last US National Championship qualifier this summer and there earned the chance of a place on the team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy.
And she showed such quality under fire in both Fritzens (AUT) and Aachen (GER) in recent months that she was awarded the spot on the team and today confirmed that she truly deserved it.
Battled bravely
The Dutch, meanwhile, battled bravely in their attempt to compensate for the loss of two of their best horses in the lead-up to this event, and it paid off. “We are really happy with the bronze” said Chef d’Equipe Wim Ernes. “We had to substitute, but we showed real team spirit and managed to get it together.”
Edward Gal’s replacement ride, Glock’s Voice, produced a score of 72.414. The 44-year-old rider who claimed double-gold at the last Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, USA four years ago said his 12-year-old stallion was “a bit stressed and inconsistent, so I tried to stay relaxed”.
The horse struggled with piaffe and had a mistake in the one-time changes, but delivered some other spectacular work including fabulous extended trot.
And even though Adelinde Cornelissen and the 17-year-old Jerich Parzival would line up fourth individually at the end of the day after scoring 79.629, the Dutch total of 227.400 would only be good enough for third place on the final leaderboard.
The British had a fight on their hands too when Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Delphi posted 71.886.
The 27-year-old rider said “quite a few mistakes crept in; we’ve had some really good recent form, so the test today was a little below par. I’m a bit gutted because I wanted to get a good score for the team, but that’s the way it goes”.
He said his grey mare “warmed up really well. That can be a negative because she felt too good! Even around the outside of the arena she was really good, but on the first diagonal she was just a bit “looky” at the camera, and it made her hide just a bit. The piaffe came off well today I thought, and I collected a few marks there as the test went on.”
Most exciting partnerships
However the British had one of the most exciting partnerships in the history of the sport to fall back on in the multi-medalled Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. And this pair more than lived up to expectations when sealing silver with the top score of the day. The 29-year-old rider admits that what was, by her standards and that of her extraordinarily talented horse, a poor performance at the premier fixture in Aachen, Germany last month acted as “a wake-up call”. Today she showed that all the hard work she has put in over the interim period was worth every minute.
The crowd went wild with delight when they entered the Stade D’Ornano and Valegro and his rider responded with a delightful performance that ensured the Dutch were pinned back into bronze medal spot. Apart from a hesitation coming down the centre line for the final time, the 12-year-old gelding and his rider were in perfect harmony.
“To go out there and get the welcome I got was fantastic. It’s such a great feeling to have that many people behind you” Dujardin said. “I had such fun! I went out there to do my very best and wanted to try to get us into a medal position. He did his best and I’m so lucky as he has just felt fantastic all week. He did try to stop on the centre line but apart from that I was really, really happy!”
The talking horse
For all the excitement over the return of the daring British duo however, it is Isabell Werth’s lovely mare, Bella Rose, who is the talking horse of these championships.
The inexperienced 10-year-old is very clearly still a horse in the making, but her lightness of movement, her grace and her relationship with her rider is a joy to see. Bella Rose works in a lovely frame and her natural self-carriage and athleticism makes little of difficult movements.
Talking about her horse this evening, Werth said “I got her when she was three and from the first moment I saw her I could sense her talent and her charisma.
She is special in her whole behaviour, in her attitude and her mind, and I hope we can grow together from here. It is a great pleasure to ride her” said the 45-year-old German veteran who has now added another world championship team gold to her already massive haul of medals.
Langehanenberg simply underlined the pure strength of one of the strongest sides Germany has ever fielded in the sport of Dressage.
Her test with Damon Hill NRW was smooth and confident, and earned her third place in the final individual line-up behind team-mate Werth and ahead of The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen with Dujardin at the top of the order.
However there was disappointing news later tonight when the German National Federation issued a press release announcing that Bella Rose will not compete for the remainder of the week due to a bruised sole.
That brings Frenchman, Marc Boblet, and his lovely mare Noble Dream Concept Sol into the top-30 who go through to tomorrow’s Grand Prix Special which starts at 09.30.
Germany claimed Team gold in Dressage at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, France today.
Great Britain took silver and the defending champions from The Netherlands earned bronze.
This was the 11th German victory in the history of the Dressage Team World Championships which were first staged in 1966.
A total of 24 teams competed.
The highest score of the competition – 85.271 – was produced by Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, last to go for Great Britain.
Team USA finished fourth ahead of Spain in fifth place.
The three medal-winning nations – Germany, Great Britain and The Netherlands – have now qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Quotes:
Will Connell, Chef de Mission for Team Great Britain, talking about Olympic qualification after today’s silver medal result: “As a team they only have two occasions to qualify for the Rio Olympics. This is absolutely what we wanted and means that they have a two year run in to the Olympics, during which time they can bring on young horses and don’t have to worry about qualification. What Charlotte did today was truly outstanding, and along with her team mates, they have made the paving stones for the road to Rio.”
Carl Hester GBR: “As a team we’re really delighted, no one feels left out, we’re so lucky to have Charlotte who can take the pressure to get the scores to win medals”.
Victoria Max-Theurer AUT: “I’m really happy with my horse today. He was very concentrated despite the noise in the stadium. We have reached our goal, the piaffe/passage were good and so were the pirouettes and the two-time changes. All this in conditions that were quite difficult for the horse”.
Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI: “My horse was impressed by the arena but I’ve been riding him for three years so he trusted me and gave his best. His walk was good and the passage and piaffe are also strong points”.
Valentina Truppa ITA: “It was a nice ride, with no mistakes. We could have given more but I wanted to quietly save him for tomorrow. The stadium is very nice but very loud too so he (Fixdesign Eremo del Castelgno) got a bit agitated at the beginning. We trained a lot at home and went to Aachen and other competitions where we could already see the same judges and train for the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. Not for the Kur though. I’ll be just happy and lucky enough if I get to the Kur”.
Carlos Pinto POR: “I’m pretty happy with my test because the arena is very impressive for my horse. I made a few mistakes because of the stress, but it’s going to be better and better! My wife rides my horse four times a week and I do the work when I’m here. We tried to keep him mentally and physically ready for the competition”.
Jessica Michel FRA: “I have a really good feeling. It’s difficult when there are 100 competitors and the piaffe has a coefficient of two now so the cards are dealt differently this year. We are the World Equestrian Games and the judges are more demanding, that’s normal. But Rivera gave everything she had. We worked a lot on passage and piaffe but she still lacks regularity. Despite all of this, I’m really proud of the control and harmony I could achieve”.
Joao Oliva BRA whose horse bolted after his final halt: I’m fine! Just a bit nervous! This is my first big competition and my horse made some mistakes but I’m happy with him. We have a lot of improvement to make and there will be better to come. This event is like a warm-up for me”.
Megan Lane CAN: “It’s my first time in the senior team, before I was in the Junior one. I bought my horse five years ago to hunt and I finished up training all alone for the competitions. I’m satisfied with my result!”
– Softball world title staged in Europe for first time showcases growth of women’s sport in new markets
Japan defeated the United States, 4-1, to win the first ever Women’s Softball World Championship held in Europe, highlighting softball’s continued expansion beyond traditional geographic boundaries as one of the world’s most commercially successful, and popular spectator and participation sports for women, young girls and families.
Australia earned the bronze to spread the medal distribution of the women’s championship among the Americas, Asia and Oceania.
“We are developing the sports of softball and baseball in many areas such as the Muslim world, in Africa, and in Europe where interest, awareness, and club numbers and players are continuing to grow on this historic, sports loving continent, the cradle of modern sport,”said World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President, Riccardo Fraccari.
Japan, the 2008 Olympic softball champions, finished softball’s pinnacle global event with a perfect tournament record of 10-0, fueling further national speculation, interest and excitement in Japan about the possible inclusion of softball and baseball, the two most popular sports in the 2020 Olympic host nation, at the Tokyo Games.
With the Olympic sports selection process up for discussion at the IOC Session in Monaco in December, leadership of the WBSC, the recently merged international baseball and softball confederation, remains committed to working with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organisers to earn the honour of having the sports included at the Olympic Games.
“Japan, like many other countries around the world, is a baseball and softball nation, and we are doing all we can to maximize the added-value that our bat-and-ball sports would deliver to the Olympic Games,” President Fraccari said.
“We believe that the deep national history, pride and passion for baseball and softball in Japan, at all levels of Japanese society, would enable these sports to bring great value and enhance the Olympic experience at the Tokyo Games and for the 2020 Olympic host nation of Japan.”
“The ten-day spectacle of women’s sport highlighted softball’s growing global popularity as one of the world’s premier sports for women,” said Dale McMann, WBSC Executive Vice President.
Japan defeated the United States, 4-1, to win the first ever Women’s Softball World Championship
The XIV Women’s Softball Championship featured sixteen national teams — the maximum allowed — from five world regions, and included Australia, Botswana, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia and United States.
“This was a premium event, with teams from three different continents in the top three,” said Low Beng Choo, WBSC Secretary General.
“The medal distribution from the Americas to Asia and Oceania highlights the global spread and excellence of the sport and the athletes, and increases opportunities and awareness of women’s sport,” Low said.
The attention will now shift to Miyazaki, Japan for the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014, which begins September 1.
Japan defeated the United States, 4-1, to win the first ever Women’s Softball World Championship..
* 14th Women’s Softball World Championship
Final Standings
1. Japan
2. United States
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Chinese Taipei
6. Netherlands
7. China
8. New Zealand
9. Cuba
Italy
11. Czech Republic
12. Dominican Republic
13. Russia
14. Botswana
15. Puerto Rico
16. Great Britain
The stallion depot Ksiaz in Poland hosted the third FEI European Youth Driving Championships which took place over the weekend. A record number of 62 drivers from 10 nations competed in six categories. The new European champions are Lisa-Maria Tischer (GER) in the children’s category; Marie Theres Höllmüller (AUT) juniors singles; Valentine Lenormand (FRA) juniors pairs; Emma Gustavsson (SWE) young drivers single ponies; Marcin Kilanczyk (POL) young drivers single horses; and Zsófia Kovács (HUN), young drivers pony pairs. Germany won the nations competition.
Photo caption: Germany won the team title in the FEI European Youth Driving Championships held last week in Poland. Photo: Claudia Spitz/FEI.
Children
The 13-year-old Lisa-Marie Tischer, daughter of former international four-in-hand driver and current trainer of the German pony turnouts Peter Tischer, finished second in the dressage and fifth in the marathon, which put her in silver medal position before the cones. She drove a double clear round in the final competition with her six-year-old pony Kansas 23 and won gold. It was Tischer’s second European championships; she had finished seventh individually and won team silver in 2013.
Zsófia Szaller (HUN) was in bronze medal position after placing fourth after dressage and finishing eighth in the marathon. Thanks to a double clear round in the cones, she moved up to silver in the final standings.
Local hero Weronika Bogacz lost her gold medal after an unfortunate knock down in the cones and dropped to bronze. The differences between the top drivers after dressage and marathon were all within one ball. A total of 14 children started in this class.
Juniors
Some 24 competitors took part in the juniors class open to drivers aged between 14 and 18. Marie Theres Hollmüller was the only participant who had to drive dressage in the pouring rain, but the 15-year-old talented athlete was unfazed and finished second in this first part of the championship. She took over the lead after a good marathon performance, which she was able to maintain thanks to a clear round in the cones, which she won as well. It was her third European championship start with the 14-year-old Campari 9, but it was her first participation in the juniors category given that her 15th birthday is in December.
Pia-Chantal Nolte (GER) won the silver medal thanks to her third place in the dressage and a good marathon. She finished less than one penalty point ahead of Tara Wilkinson (GBR) who caught up amazingly after placing 11th in the dressage by winning the marathon and scoring a single knockdown in the cones.
Linnea Kristiansen (SWE) was less fortunate as she had three balls down and dropped from the second to the sixth place in the final standings. For the first time, a pony pairs class was added to the European championships. Only starter and therefore gold medal winner was the French driver Valentine Lenormand.
Young drivers
Three sets of medals were up for grabs in the young drivers class. Emma Gustavsson won the pony singles class. She made continuous progress in each phase of the competition. She was third after dressage, second after the marathon and her victory in the cones brought her the gold medal. Her pony Windy Boy Rocket, who used to compete internationally with world championship driver Susanne Ankermark, is 21-years-old, the same age as Gustavsson.
Silver went to Timo Eitzmann (GER), one knockdown in the cones costing the dressage winner the gold medal. Great Britain’s individual driver Michael Hodgson put on solid performances and took home a surprising bronze.
Zsófia Kovács (19) from Hungary was the only pair driver and therefore the winner of the gold in her class.
The single horse class resulted in a very tight battle. Marcin Kilanczyk (POL) won gold only 0.09 points ahead of Germany’s Katharina Weber, who was in the lead after dressage and the marathon. Both drivers remained clear in the cones, but Weber had a few more time penalties, which dropped her to silver.
The 20-year-old Polish gold medallist drove the six-year-old Polish bred Prymus. Jovanca Marie Kessler (GER) won bronze thanks to her solid performances throughout the event.
Nations competition
Germany took the lead in the team standings after dressage and never looked back. The German team won with 13 penalty points ahead of Hungary and host nation Poland.
The event took place under ideal weather conditions for horses and athletes. In the marathon, the children drove though four obstacles with four gates. The juniors and the young drivers had to make their way through six obstacles with five gates, designed by Polish O-course designer and the event’s main organiser Marek Zaleski. The addition of a class for single horses to the European championships for young drivers allowed competitors, who do not have a pony, to compete against athletes their own age.
The spectators, officials and organisers enjoyed four days of first class driving sport.
Quotes: Lisa-Maria Tischer: “I can still not believe that I have won. I just wanted to drive well in the cones and I was a little nervous.”
Marie Theres Hollmüller: “I am very happy and I would like to thank my pony, my mother, and my trainer.”
Emma Gustavsson: “It was my first European Championships and I am very surprised I have won.”
Marcin Kilanczyk: “I did not expect this amazing result. I had my final school exams this year and I did not have much time to train my horse.”
Final Results:
Children
1. Lisa Maria Tischer (GER) 76.51
2. Zsófia Szaller (HUN) 77.74
3. Weronika Bogacz (POL) 78.63
Di Maria to Man Utd, Eto’o to Everton are just some of the Done Deals today, but trust our man Paul to bring you all the other Deals and Speculations.
you can follow Paul on twitter: @El_Pauleta on twitter and also follow @NewFanzone and we will follow you right back, lets keep the discussion going.
Roberto Martinez and Samuel Etoo. photo credit Evertonfc
Done Deals:
– Manchester United have announced the signing of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for a British record fee of £59.7million
– AS Roma have completed the signing of defender Kostas Manolas from Olympiakos for €13million
– Everton have announced the signing of free agent Samuel Eto’o on a two-year contract
– Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has signed a new four-year contract at the club
– Bayern Munich have completed the signing of defender Mehdi Benatia from AS Roma on a five-year contract
– Parma have completed the signing of midfielder Francesco Lodi from Catania on a season-long loan deal
– Eibar have announced the loan signing of AC Milan defender Didac Vila
– Palermo have completed the signing of Ivory Coast international defender Souleymane Bamba
– Inter Milan have loaned out Ruben Botta and Ezequiel Schelotto to Chievo Verona
– Palermo have completed the signing of Costa Rican international defender Giancarlo Gonzalez from Columbus Crew.
– Hull City have completed the signing of defender Michael Dawson from Tottenham on a three-year contract for £3million
Angel Di Maria, photo credit Mufc
Today’s Reports And Rumours:
– Leicester city and Burnley are locked in battle to sign Wigan midfielder James McArthur
– According to reports in France, Monaco owner Dimitri Rybolovlev will only sell Radamel Falcao if he receives an offer in excess of £47.8million
– Lazio are reportedly interested in signing Stoke City’s Geoff Cameron
– Daley Blind’s agent says Manchester United are yet to launch a bid to sign his client
– Napoli are reportedly close to signing Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva
– QPR have stepped-up their interest in Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy
– Swansea City are close to signing Ostersunds FK striker Modou Barrow
– Arsenal fear Olivier Giroud could be out for over three months and may try to bring in a striker before the transfer window closes
– Tim Sherwood have been lined up to replace Harry Redknapp as QPR manager if the West London side continues to struggle.
– According to reports, AC Milan are closing in on Chelsea striker Fernando Torres
– Bournemouth are looking to sign Carlton Cole from West ham for £1million
– Blackburn Rovers forward Jordan Rhodes is set to put in a transfer request in a bid to force through a move to Hull City
– Sunderland are close to signing defender Sebastian Coates from Liverpool on a season-long loan
– According to reports, Sporting Lisbon are willing to accept a reduced fee from Arsenal for midfielder William Carvalho if they can get a player like Serge Gnabry or Francis Coquelin on loan
– Juventus are interested in signing Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez
– Napoli are reportedly in talks with Espanyol for midfielder David Lopez
– Arsenal boss Arsene has dismissed speculation over Poldoski departure by announcing”Lukas Poldoski will stay with us”
– According to reports, Paris Saint-Germain are in talks with PSV to sign midfielder Georgino Wijnaldum
– According to reports, Roma have contacted Lorient over the possibility of signing defender Bruno Ecuele Manga
– Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzari has approved the club’s move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi
– Andros Townsend is facing the prospect of becoming a fringe player at Tottenham
– Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Torino forward Alessio Cerci
-West ham have enquired about Bayer Leverkusen defender Phillip Wollscheid
– Juventus have warned Spanish side Sevilla that defender Angelo Ogbonna will not be sold for less than €15million
Frank Lampard. photo credit thefa.com
Football Tit Bits:
– Frank Lampard has announced his retirement from international football after making 106 appearances for England
– UEFA President Michel Platini is set to announce on Thursday in Monaco if he will challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA Presidency
– Atletico Madrid are to plead their case at the Lige de Futbol Profesional appeals committee in an attempt to reduce the ban handed to Diego Simeone.
– The Italian Football Association(FIGC) is no longer planning to investigate its President Carlo Tavecchio’s racist remark during his election campaign
– Samuel Eto’o has been dropped as Cameroon’s national team captain and permanently replaced by midfielder Stephane Mbia
SHARKS football club of port harcourt has joined the league of clubs in the domestic scene that do not owe its playing staff match bonuses.
This follows management’s provision of a back log of match bonuses including the team’s last match against City rivals Dolphins Football club of Port Harcourt, a development which is happening for the first time in a long while.
General Manager of the club Okey Kpaluku who stated this in chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt described the development as cheering which will go a long way to motivate the lads to go the extra mile in the remaining matches this season beginning with this weekend cracker against Gombe united.
“This is a welcome development in the team as you know it’s been a while that players and officials got their match bonus up to date in a particular season”.Kpaluku said
“Not only do we have a clean bill before the players in terms of match bonuses and salaries as agreed with the players at the moment I expect that the payment of the outstanding match bonus will motivate the players to tackle our next opponents with all seriousness, starting with this weekend game against Gombe united “.
On the sign on fees for last season still owed the players, Kpaluku said the players will get their contract fees in full before the end of the season stressing that all necessary paper work has been done and approval will soon be made by the Rivers state government.
“you know we don’t pay sign on fees anymore, what we now have is enhanced salary as directed by the league management company and the sign on fees for last season is the last contract fee we have to pay the players so be rest assured that before the end of the current season what is due the players will get to them”.
“All the necessary paper work for the funds have been done, we are just waiting for approval from the government and moreover you know that it is a bulky sum since we pay one hundred percent and not in piece meal in Port Harcourt”. Kpaluku stressed
“The latest development is also our way of assuring the league management company that we are on the same page with them in their transformation agenda for the Nigeria professional football league”. He echoed
Hawster Athletics, Racing RFC and Gosar RFC booked a place at the fast approaching Independence 7’s tournament alongside last year’s champion Police Machine of Lagos and runner up, Cowrie Rugby Football club who were handed an automatic ticket for the rugby fiesta scheduled for 10th and 11th of October 2014 which promises to be bigger and better with eleven local team and five international teams expected to battle for the trophy, at the Onikan stadium.
Independence 7’s: Hawster Athletics, Racing RFC And Gosar RFC Grab Playoffs Spot
Hawster Athletics and Racing RFC were the first to qualify from the playoffs but still had to battle for supremacy in the final of the playoffs with Hawster crowned the play-off king after a very entertaining and mind blowing match characterized by unprecedented display of pure adrenaline
The aged but experienced Racing RFC could not withstand the youthfulness of Hawster Athletic who tore into them several times with their lightening and blazing speed with the final scores at 14 -10 making it the first time Hawster Athletic recorded a win over Racing RFC.
After a round robin game by six teams divided into 2 groups decided on Sunday 24th 2014 at the Main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Royal Stallions of Ilorin lost their slot in this year’s tournament losing 17-12 to Gosar RFC in the third place match of the playoffs with Gosar RFC which is the most improved club in southwest league giving a good account of themselves.
Speaking after their qualification, the head Coach of Gosar RFC, Gbenga Hammed said
, it was a great honor and achivement to book a place in the most prestigeous sevens tournament in West Africa.
Independence 7’s: Hawster Athletics, Racing RFC And Gosar RFC Grab Playoffs Spot
The former Nigerian international and Captain of the Black Stallions emphasized that his team will immediately hit the gym in their preparation for the 2 day rugby fest as they are determined to win a silverware at this year’s tournament.
Meanwhile, Northern clubs will also battle to claim three slots allocated to the region while South South, South East region and the Capital territory clubs will play for a slot each in the event.
Speaking with journalists after the play-offs, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Fasimoye Olatunji commended all participating teams for their high level of discipline and expressed satisfaction over the standard and performance of the southwest teams while predicting that the trophy is likely to be retained in the zone considering the standard of the matches he witnessed during the playoffs
Zurich will host the first of two finals for the 2014 IAAF Diamond League series as 16 Diamond Race winners will be crowned.
The Diamond Race champions in some events have already been decided, but athletes must compete in the IAAF Diamond League final for their discipline to secure the USD$40,000 bonus and the Diamond Race trophy.
A first-place finish at an IAAF Diamond League meeting is worth four points, with two points going to the second-place finisher and one to the third-place finisher. But at the IAAF Diamond League finals, those points are doubled.
If, at the end of the series, athletes are tied on points, then the Diamond Race goes to the athlete with most victories. If athletes are still tied, then the title will go to whichever athlete performed better at their event’s Diamond Race final.
In Zurich, two athletes – discus thrower Sandra Perkovic and 400m runner LaShawn Merritt – need only to line up for their events to secure their Diamond Race victories.
But the Diamond Race for 14 other disciplines in Zurich is still undecided, so a victory in the Swiss city will take on extra significance.
Team test kicks off Para-Equestrian Dressage in Normandy
The Para-Equestrian Dressage team competition kicked off at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA) today with athletes from as far afield as Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel and the USA at La Prairie racecourse in Caen (FRA).
Hannelore Brenner (GER), defending world champion and double gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, earned the top Grade III score of 72.474% on Women Of The World, despite heavy rain. European champion Sanne Voets (NED) on Vedet PB N.O.P. was next in line on 72.053% ahead of Denmark’s Annika Lykke Risum with Aros A Fenris in third on a mark of 69.868%.
Close competition
“I’m really happy to be here with my horse,” Brenner said. “It’s our eighth championship and every year she is so wonderful. “She is nearly 19 years old and she was really fantastic. There are some things we can do better but I am happy with the ride. I want to ride the best I can with my horse but I know there are some really good horses, so we will see how we can do.”
With less than one percentage point separating Brenner and Voets, it is clear that the competition for the individual title in Grade III will be close.
Voets said of her first competition of the Games: “I think we had a very nice test today with a lot of control. I started a little safe because this is a very important test for our team result. Our main goal here is to medal so we’re on track for Rio 2016. During the test he was there with me, so I started to take a few more risks. I think every step was a little bit better and that was the goal for today.”
Today’s competition saw a return to the arena for Risum, just seven months after giving birth to a baby boy. The three-time World silver and Paralympic bronze medallist said: “It was okay but a little bit weak. I think the horse was a little bit tired and maybe I was as well. We had no big mistakes, so that was overall a good test but I could have pushed him a little bit more forward. It’s really good to be back, but it’s a big challenge as well as I’ve only been preparing for this event for four months, so with that in mind I am really pleased.”
The morning’s Grade III competition also saw some younger athletes take to the international stage to represent their countries for the first time, including Canada’s Roberta Sheffield and Australia’s Elizabeth Sobecki and Chelsea Higgins.
Great Britain’s Lee Pearson riding Zion took today’s Grade Ib in Round 1 of the Team competition with an impressive 77.960% at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. (Dirk Caremans/FEI)
London 2012 stars at Normandy 2014
A field of 25 riders took to the arena for Grade Ib, including all three London 2012 medallists, competing against each other for the first time since the Games in Greenwich Park.
The competition marked a clear return to form for Great Britain’s Lee Pearson riding Zion, who took the win with an impressive 77.960% ahead of Austria’s individual freestyle London 2012 gold medallist Pepo Puch on Fine Feeling S with 76.520%. Italy’s Silvia Veratti on Woikoski Double U were third on 72.000%. London’s other gold medallist, Australia’s Joann Formosa, winner of the FEI’s Against All Odds 2013 award, finished in seventh place on Worldwide PB with 71.200%.
Today’s victory for Pearson, his first major international competition since London, was sweet: “He (Zion) went into the arena and he was a bit tense, but I was still really pleased with him and the trot work was phenomenal. He’s a brilliant horse to train. He’s so laid back and he learns very quickly, I’m very excited about his future career.
“It’s an honour to be on the selected squad and put back on the team. I’m still looking forward to the individual test as it has more trot work and from what friends and family have told me his trot today was keeping me above Pepo (Puch). I’m really pleased for the team as well. Days like today you wish it was a medal day.”
Puch was equally happy about his performance, particularly given the wet conditions.”I am really happy, especially as my horse doesn’t like rain”, he said. “Normally when it rains she goes back in the stable. It is very nice of her to do this, especially in this rain and with the water on the floor it is not easy to hold the horse in line.”
Third placed Veratti was thrilled with her result: “I didn’t expect that. I expected a worse position, and I’m staying positive,” she said.
This afternoon also saw the début of the youngest competitor in the Para-Equestrian Dressage competition, the USA’s Sydney Collier, who is just 16 years old. “It was an incredible experience to be riding with such amazing riders and for my first time my horse was super well behaved,” she said.
Day two at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 will see athletes in Grades Ia, II and IV take to the arena for Round 1 of the team competition, before Team Round 2 and individual competitions on Wednesday (28 August) to decide the team medals in Normandy.
Road to Rio
The Games in Normandy are also the first opportunity for nations to qualify for Rio, and with three spots up for grabs on Wednesday the competition will be fierce.
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