Twenty nations won European Championship medals and seven crews set new European Best Times over the three-day, 2015 European Rowing Championship regatta in Poznan, Poland.
In fast rowing conditions, Great Britain finished at the top of the medals table for a second year with medal wins in ten of the 17 European Championship boat classes; six being gold medals. Helen Glover and Heather Stanning continued to dominate the women’s pair and their win also saw them set a new European Best Time. The new lightweight women’s double sculls line up of Katherine Copeland and Charlotte Taylor won their race and gold medals also came in the men’s four, lightweight men’s pair, lightweight women’s single sculls and men’s pair.
Second on the medals table, Germany took gold in the women’s quadruple sculls, men’s double sculls and the men’s eight. The win in the men’s double of former single sculler Marcel Hacker and Stephan Krueger proved to be popular as it showed continued success of the experienced Hacker. The men’s eight finished first in a new European Best Time and pushed World Champions Great Britain into second place.
The gold medal for French lightweight men’s double sculls of Jeremie Azou and Stany Delayre helped France finish third on the medals table. Azou and Delayre also set a new European Best Time.
After setting a European Best Time in the semi-final yesterday, Croatia’s Damir Martin went on to not only win the men’s single sculls ahead of World Champion Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic, but also break his own European Best Time. Martin reduced the time by a huge five seconds.
The women’s single sculls title was successfully defended by 2012 Olympic Champion Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic. Knapkova came through from the back of the field to finish ahead of Switzerland in second and Belarus in third.
Fourth on the medals table, Russia, took an impressive gold medal in the women’s eight when they broke an eight-year winning streak by Romania. Romania had to settle for third behind the Netherlands.
The European Rowing Championships, first staged in 1893, is in its ninth year since its re-launch in 2007. This is the third year it has been raced at the early season time slot of May and this has seen a steady growth in standards and participation. A total of 36 European nations took part this year.
In 2016 the European Rowing Championships will take place in Brandenburg, Germany.
Results from the 2015 BNP Paribas World Team Cup wheelchair tennis event at the Club Ali Bey Manavgat in Antalya, Turkey on 25-31 May. A total of 52 teams from 28 countries are competing in four categories: men, women, quad and junior.
Great Britain won their first title in the Men’s World Group beating France in the two singles matches, while Australia beat Japan to get the third place.
USA won the play-off against South Africa to retain the position in the men’s world group.
The BNP Paribas World Team Cup, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2015, is the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis event, often referred to as the Davis and Fed Cups of wheelchair tennis. The initial event took place in California in 1985 involving six men’s teams. The women’s competition began the following year, with quad and junior events introduced in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Due to the increased number of teams wanting to take part, the ITF introduced regional qualifying for the men’s and women’s events in 2012.
GREAT BRITAIN (1) defeated FRANCE (2) 2-0
Alfie Hewett (GBR) d. Michael Jeremiasz (FRA) 75 61
Gordon Reid (GBR) d. Nicolas Peifer (FRA) 76(5) 64
Alfie Hewett/Gordon Reid (GBR) v Michael Jeremiasz/Nicolas Peifer (FRA) not played
Men’s World Group – Position 3-4
AUSTRALIA (3) defeated JAPAN (4) 2-0
Ben Weekes (AUS) d. Satoshi Saida (JPN) 62 63
Adam Kellerman (AUS) d. Takashi Sanada (JPN) 46 76(1) 63
Adam Kellerman/Ben Weeks (AUS) v Satoshi Saida/Takashi Sanada (JPN) not played
Men’s World Group – Promotion Play-off
USA defeated SOUTH AFRICA 2-1
Steve Baldwin (USA) d. Marshall Marsh (RSA) 61 76(2)
Evans Maripa (RSA) d. Jon Rydberg (USA) 63 26 60
Hunter Groce/Jon Rydberg (USA) d. Leon Els/Evans Maripa (RSA) 63 75
The Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship, now in its 17th year, will climax with the Finals which will begin tomorrow, Monday and end on Saturday, June 6. Over 10,000 schools from across the country took part in the preliminaries which will now culminate in the finals at the indoor sports complex of the National Stadium, Lagos.
The schools that will feature in the finals of the boys category include, Government Secondary School Barnawa, Kaduna state, Augustine Seminary School Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State, Saint Peter College Idah, Kogi State and Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos State.
General Murtala College Yola, Adamawa State and St Joseph College Makurdi Benue State qualified as best losers from the Conference play offs.
Nestle presents the 17th Milo Basketball Championship
In the Girls category are Yejide Grammar School Ibadan Oyo State, Government Secondary School Bida, Niger State, Idia College Benin Edo State and Government Girls Secondary school Yola Adamawa State.
St Jude College Amarata Balyesa State and Government Secondary School Jogana Kano State also made the finals as best losers from the Conference play offs.
This year, outstanding players selected from all the participating schools would form an all-star team that would represent Nigeria at the world college basketball championship and other international competition to be decided by Nigeria Schools Sport Federation (NSSF). The best 50 players will also be invited to camp in August and will receive tutelage from a team of NBA coaches led by Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors.
Nestle PLC’s Category Manager, Beverages, Femi Akintola told reporters in Lagos that there will be lots of excitement for the players and spectators at this year’s finals where top class musician, Olamide and the Explicit Dance Group will perform live at intervals.
The 2015 edition also promises exciting innovations like online activation and more engagement with the kids on social media platforms. Already prizes are being won in stores across the country in the Slam To Win Promo as the brand tries to spread the ‘basketball fever’ to all consumers.
Coach of the The Ogun State addressing his wards during The Semi-final Of The 17Th Milo Basketball Championships Zonal Qualifiers
Two schools from Benue State won the 2014 Championships. Jesus College, Otukpo were the Boys Champions while Government Secondary School, Gboko won in the Girls category Femi Akintola says Nestle Milo tries to communicate, to the students, the great values of sport as a teacher through Determination, Discipline, Honesty, and Confidence.
According to him, “sports is a great teacher and children’s participation in sports helps set the foundation for a solid future. They learn determination to succeed, discipline to persevere and many more life values by participating in sport. We will continue to provide them this platform”
The Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) is set to kick-off its annual taekwondo training workshop tagged the 5th CCSF Training Workshop for Under-20 athletes, from 4th – 6th June, 2015, at FCT Abuja.
Forty participants across Nigeria are expected to converge from Wednesday, 3rd June, for the 5th edition of this workshop series which began in 2010 and has since become a watering ground for upcoming taekwondo champions. The intensive 3-day workshop includes physical fitness training, tactical and technical sessions, where participants will be taught current training methods, techniques using the latest equipment.
Furthermore, special inspirational sessions will be conducted during the program that allows interactions between the young participants and two iconic taekwondo figures in Nigeria – 2014 Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Ms. Josephine Esuku and 3-time NUGA Gold Medallist, Alhaji Sani Lawal.
Chika Chukwumerije camp
In another academic-like session, Technical Coordinator of the program, Chika Chukwumerije, who holds an MSc. In Operations and Supply Chain Management, and successfully organizes well-planned Taekwondo events, will hold an Event Management Course to expand the knowledge base and soft skills of the participants.
According to the Chief Program Host of the event, Mr Tony Anafulu, who is a Board Member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation representing the North Central Zone, and joint-partner in this CCSF-driven project, “the program is specifically designed to complement the fantastic work being done by coaches all across the country in raising young athletes, by increasing the technical and tactical knowledge of participants.”
For the co-program Host, Mr Ado Umar, also a board member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation representing North East and a part-time lecturer with University of Education Kano, the importance of the intellectual tilt of this event cannot be over-emphasized.
He noted that “with most of the participants to come from school and university settings, a critical objective of the program will be “to ingrain in young upcoming taekwondo athletes the importance of combining sports and education.”
5TH Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation Training Workshop,
Speaking about the objectives of the event, Programme Coordinator, Mr Abdul-Malik Mohammed, who is also Head Taekwondo Coach at the Korean Cultural Centre and a member of the National Coaching Crew said, “the objective is to physically, mentally and psychologically prepare young upcoming taekwondo athletes for a career in the Olympic sport of Taekwondo.”
Going further, Mr Mohammed reiterated that during the course of the event, the adolescent participants are expected to be inspired and encouraged through the real-time interaction with national champions and mentors via a lecture series.”
Past participants of this event include 2014 Commonwealth Gold Medallists, 18-year old Isah Abubakar Adamu and 17-year old Shola Olowookere, and a few others that are gaining ground at senior national competitions.
For CEO of CCSF, Chika Chukumerije, “the most important thing is to keep engaging these young ones, and exposing them so as to develop the wonderful talents they have, and most importantly starting to treat them now like the champions we know they are.”
All four Associate nations, which recently impressed at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, will be in action from Tuesday in their opening round matches of the four-day first-class Intercontinental Cup 2015-17, which is a pathway for Test cricket.
Ireland will face the UAE at Malahide and Scotland will welcome Afghanistan to Stirling.
ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-17, photo credit ICC:Noel DeSouza
The side that wins the eight-team round-robin competition will play the 10th-ranked side on the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings (as at 31 December 2017) in the four-match ICC Test Challenge during 2018. If the Associate Member wins the series, to be played on a home and away basis, then it will become the 11th Test nation.
This is reigning champion Ireland’s seventh appearance in the competition, which also features former winner Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Namibia, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), 2004 champion Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ireland has participated in all six ICC Intercontinental Cup since its inception in 2004, winning it four times – 2005, 2006-7, 2007-8 and 2011-13. In all, it has played 32 matches; winning 20, losing just two and drawing 10. In contrast, Tuesday’s game will be the UAE’s sixth appearance in the competition which it has yet to win. To date, it has played 27 matches, winning seven, losing ten and drawing 10.
Tuesday’s encounter will also mark John Bracewell’s first competitive match in charge of the Ireland side. Looking ahead to the match, the former New Zealand Test off-spinner said: “It’s a hugely important game for us as we take the first step on our ambition to become a Test playing nation. That opportunity was one of the primary reasons I took on the job of Ireland Head Coach. It’s incredibly exciting for the team and the country as we look to write new chapters in our cricketing history.
“The team has a fantastic record in the competition having won it four times and we’d like nothing better than to make it five wins. We’ve selected a very strong squad for the game and are at full strength. We’ve got a lot of experienced players in our ranks who’ve played a lot of multi-day cricket.
ICC Intercontinental Cup 2015-17, photo credit ICC:Noel DeSouza
“It’s nice that my first game in charge will be at home and hopefully the crowd at Malahide will come out and support us this week. It’s obviously a huge boost for us to be playing UAE in home conditions and hopefully we’ll get our campaign off to a winning start against a dangerous UAE side.”
UAE coach Aqib Javed, who won the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 with Pakistan and then masterminded his side’s qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, said: “Our team are really excited to start the first round of the Intercontinental Cup in Ireland.
“The prospect for the eventual winner of playing Test cricket ensures the pathway for Associate teams to take a seat at the ‘top table’ of cricket is now well and truly established. That long term goal is in everyone’s mind, our job will be to focus on winning session by session, game by game, it goes without saying the team that does that best will win.
“In its conditions, Ireland will, of course, provide a stern test for us. I’m sure they will be feeling confident, we’ll certainly need to be at the top of our game in all three disciplines to beat them.”
Nikolaas Scholtz Photo credit ICC/Noel DeSouza
Talking about the composition of his side, Aqib said: “We’ve made a few changes to the side that played in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. We welcome back experienced batsman Saqib Ali, and spin bowlers Ahmed Raza and Fayaaz Ahmed, each of them has experienced success in the longer form of the game. Chirag Suri is a young batter whose domestic performances this year have been very strong while Asif Iqbal has been selected due to his strong performances in domestic cricket. Mohammad Tauqir has been retained as captain and he’ll be supported by a nucleus of highly experience players around him.”
Scotland and Afghanistan, meanwhile, have met three times in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, with Afghanistan winning all three matches. This is Scotland’s seventh appearance in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, which they won in 2004 and were runner up in 2009-10. In all, the Scots have played 27 matches; winning 11, losing six and drawing 10.
For Afghanistan, this will be their third appearance in a competition they won back in 2009-10 and was runner-up to Ireland last time out in 2011-13. Afghanistan has played 15 matches, winning 11, losing just one and drawing three.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen, who is expected to lead his side in Stirling, said: “We are really looking forward to the challenge of facing Afghanistan in our backyard, at the start of what is a hugely important competition. We will, for the first time, have the chance to push our case for Test match cricket. We expect decent support at Stirling, and we’ll be looking to put in a big performance in our own conditions to get us off to a good start against a talented Afghan team.”
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Asghar Stanikzai added: “The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 was a very good experience for our team, playing under those tough conditions in Australia and New Zealand. We learned a lot playing with Full members, which skills to be improved (batting, bowling and fielding) and how to prepare for top quality matches. Our team has already started to prepare for tougher opposition as onwards we hope to be playing more matches against Full Members. This Intercontinental Cup is an excellent opportunity for Associate teams to qualify for Test cricket and we know that Scotland is a good side, especially at home having played each other several times both in the UAE and Scotland.”
Hong v Namibia photo credit ICC/Noel DeSouza
Squads:
IRELAND (from): William Porterfield (captain), John Anderson, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young
UAE (from): Mohamed Tauqir (captain), Fayyaz Ahmed, Amjad Ali, Saqib Ali, Shaiman Anwar, Manjula Guruge, Asif Iqbal, Amjad Javed, Khurram Khan, Muhammad Naveed, Swapnil Patil, Ahmed Raza, Chirag Suri, Muhammad Shahzad
Match Referee: Dev Govindjee (South Africa)
Umpires: Chettithody Shamshuddin and Mark Hawthorne
SCOTLAND (from): Preston Mommsen (captain), Richie Berrington, Matthew Cross, Freddie Coleman, Con de Lange, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, Gavin Main, Safyaan Sharif, Andrew Umeed, Mark Watt
AFGHANISTAN (from): Mohammad Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Mohammad Javed Ahmadi, Mohammad Yamin Ahmadzai, Mirwais Ashraf, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Nasir Jamal, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, Shabir Noori, Mohammad Shahzad, Hashmatullah Shaidi, Sami Ullah Shinwari, Sayed Ahmad Shirzad, Rahmat Shah Zurmati
The quest by First Bank Football Club of Lagos to gain promotion to the elite division has continued to yield positive results with yet another victory at the weekend after the team grinded out a 2-1 win over visiting Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City.
This is coming on the heels of last week 2-2 draw with arch-rivals- Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) FC which added to the victory on the Match Day 1 of the Nigeria National League (NNL) has seen First Bank rake in 7 points in the three-week league.
Also, newly promoted NNL campaigners; Julius Atete Football Club at the weekend beat their more illustrious MFM 2-1 in the Match Day 3 of the on-going national league season while in Lokoja, Kogi United FC thrashed visiting Yobe Desert Warriors 3-0, the same margin Jigawa Stars walloped Adamawa United in Dutshe.
In deed, it was a sweet victories for most host teams as Gateway FC in Abeokuta beat Akwa Starlets 2-1 just as Prime defeated Abia Comets 2-0 and Nembe beat Atiba United 2-0 too.
The Buhari Volunteers Network recently held a one day Symposium tagged ” Maximising the potentials of the Nigerian Youth as Economic Drivers for a secured Nation in the next dispensation”.
The one day symposium held at the Conference Hall of the APC Presidential Campaign Office, Central Area, Abuja was attended by the President of the Federal Republic and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces who was represented by Professor Muhammed Garba and other eminent Nigerians including Mr. Bolaji Yusuf and Chaired by Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
In his address at the occasion, Prof. Sambo implored the Nigerian Youth to constantly evolve alternative strategies towards job creation and stop waiting for white collar jobs that are not available anymore.
In his speech the President, thanked the Youth for their exemplary support during the electioneering process that produced him as President.
He also advised the Youth to stay focused on the vision of making Nigeria better, while reiterating his commitment to ensuring Nigeria’s growth and development through cooperation and collaboration.
The Buhari Volunteers Network recently held a one day Symposium tagged ” Maximising the potentials of the Nigerian Youth as Economic Drivers for a secured Nation in the next dispensation”.
Mr. Bolaji Yusuf in his goodwill message thanked Nigerians for their unprecedented conduct during the Election process and gave kudos to the Nigerian Youth who freely committed their resources to the emergence of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari.
He also advised that the Youth must remain committed to the virtues that endeared them to the President in the first case and foster a school of thought pivoted on the President’s vocal virtues, especially his incorruptibility.
The Lecturer, Professor Idris Abdullahi in his paper pointed out that the Youth must develop further and beyond the roles they played during the last Election. He said, the Youth must deploy the same energy deployed during the campaign towards ensuring support for the Government without shirking the responsibility of ensuring that the new Government performed to the expectations of the Electorates who freely gave their mandate without financial inducements.
He advised the Organisers, Buhari Volunteers to foster stronger ties with other similar organisations and the people to ensure the success of the government, while he said the President must perform to sustain Nigeria’s democracy as the expectations are so high that the failure to assuage it to a substantial level may signal a violent revolution.
The Buhari Volunteers Network recently held a one day Symposium tagged ” Maximising the potentials of the Nigerian Youth as Economic Drivers for a secured Nation in the next dispensation”.
Mr. Yemi Success, the National Coordinator reiterated the Organisation’s sustained commitment to working with the President to ensure Nigeria’s development through a well articulated enlightenment programme aimed at creating a sustainable support base for the Government of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari.
The Buhari Volunteers Network is one of the front line independent campaign organisations that ensured the Presidents victory at the 2015 Presidential Electionns and remains commuted to the succes of the government of Mr. Muhammad Buhari.
The Basketball Without Borders/ Nigeria Basketball Federation Under16 Prospect Camp moved its search for the best talents that will represent Nigeria at the 12th Basketball Without Borders Africa annual camp in Johannesburg, South Africa come July 29th to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State over the weekend.
National Div-1 league club side T Joba Talents in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Basketball Association played host to the 2 day(May 29-30th) event that took place at the New Federal University of Uyo Campus. With over 60 kids under the ages of 16 coming out to display their basketball talent and skills with a chance to tutored Top NBA coaches and Players and perhaps earning college scholarship which ultimately is the dream of every basketball player who wants to go professional.
The Scouting programme which is designed to catch the budding talents in the South-South/South-East region also for the National Under 16 programme had coaches Mike Akuboh and Emmauel Odah who work with the Basketball Without Borders programme and the Masai Ujuri’s Top 50 Camp coordinate the exercise alongside NBBF Technical Commissioner from Rivers State, Mr Harry Wilson and Coach Shekinah David of T-Joba Talents all whom expressed joy by the level of talent the kids put in display.
Christian Wisdom receives Ball from Akwa Ibom State Director of Sports Aniedi Dickson
Star attraction, 17 years Old Christian Wisdom was named most valuable player of the All Star Game at the camp and surely one to watch out for in the near future. As echoed by all Director of Sports, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aniedi Dickson who was special guest at the Prospect Camp All Star Game commended the Nigeria Basketball Federation and the Akwa Ibom Basketball Association for beaming the search light of talent discovery and improvement of the sports in the region from the grassroots.
Mr Dickson further pledged maximum support for Division one side TJoba Talents, in their quest to gain promotion into the DStv Premier Basketball league next season having failed to qualify this season.
Following the successful NBBF/BWB Camp in Akwa Ibom and earlier in the year in Abuja, plans are underway to set camp in another part of the country to give ample opportunity to as many kids as possible to exhibit there talent and stand a chance of being selected not just for the Basketball Without Borders Africa Programme but also for the National U-16 team.
Please find below Saturday’s results from the 2015 BNP Paribas World Team Cup wheelchair tennis event at the Club Ali Bey Manavgat in Antalya, Turkey on 25-31 May. A total of 52 teams from 28 countries are competing in four categories: men, women, quad and junior.
USA won their ninth quad title after beating Japan in the quad’s world group, while Spain won the title in the men’s world group II by beating South Africa.
Tomorrow France and Great Britain will compete in the final for the men’s world group.
The BNP Paribas World Team Cup, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2015, is the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis event, often referred to as the Davis and Fed Cups of wheelchair tennis. The initial event took place in California in 1985 involving six men’s teams. The women’s competition began the following year, with quad and junior events introduced in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Due to the increased number of teams wanting to take part, the ITF introduced regional qualifying for the men’s and women’s events in 2012.
USA (1) defeated JAPAN 2-1
Shota Kawano (JPN) d. Nick Taylor (USA) 64 60
David Wagner (USA) d. Mitsuteru Moroishi (JPN) 60 61
Nick Taylor/David Wagner (USA) d. Shota Kawano/Mitsutery Moroishi (JPN) 62 64
Quad’s World Group – Position 3-4
ISRAEL defeated ITALY 3-0
Itay Erenlib (ISR) d. Marco Innocenti (ITA) 64 60
Shraga Weinberg (ISR) d. Alberto Corradi (ITA) 63 16 63
Itay Erenlib/Haim Lev (ISR) d. Alberto Corradi/Marco Innocenti (ITA) 61 62
Men’s World Group II – Final
SPAIN (3) defeated SOUTH AFRICA (2) 2-1
Martin de la Puente (ESP) d. Leon Els (RSA) 62 76(4)
Evans Maripa (RSA) d. Daniel Caverzaschi (ESP) 63 62
Daniel Caverzaschi/Roberto Chamizo (ESP) d. Evans Maripa/Marshall Marsh (RSA) 64 60
Men’s World Group II – Position 3-4
MALAYSIA (4) defeated THAILAND 2-0
Ariffahmi Zaquan (MAS) d. Wittaya Peem-Mee (THA) 75 26 76(8)
Abu Samah Borhan (MAS) d. Suthi Klongrhau (THA) 63 62
Ariffahmi Zaquan Ariffin/Abu Samah Borhan (MAS) v Suthi Klongrhau/Wittaya Peem-Mee (THA) not played
Men’s World Group – Position 5-6
SWEDEN defeated BELGIUM 2-1
Peter Vikstrom (SWE) d. Gert Vos (BEL) 63 60
Joachim Gerard (BEL) d. Stefan Olsson (SWE) 67(5) 75 61
Stefan Olsson/Peter Vikstrom (SWE) d. Joachim Gerard/Gert Vos (BEL) 62 26 [10-2]
Men’s World Group – Position 7-8
NETHERLANDS defeated AUSTRIA 3-0
Ricky Molier (NED) d. Josef Riegler (AUT) 63 62
Maikel Scheffers (NED) d. Martin Legner (AUT) 60 61
Ricky Molier/Maikel Scheffers (NED) d. Martin Legner/Josef Riegler (AUT) 64 61
Men’s World Group – Position 9-10
KOREA defeated ARGENTINA 2-1
Ho-Won Im (KOR) d. Gustavo Ibanez (ARG) 61 60
Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) d. Sang-Ho Oh (KOR) 61 61
Ho-Won Im/Ha-Gel Lee (KOR) d. Ezequiel Casco/Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) 63 62
Men’s World Group – Position 11-12
USA defeated POLAND 2-0
Steve Baldwin (USA) d. Piotr Jaroszewski (POL) 61 62
Jon Rydberg (USA) d. Kamil Fabisiak (POL) 63 63
Hunter Groce/Jon Rydberg (USA) v Kamil Fabisiak/Piotr Jaroszewski (POL) not played
Women’s World Group – Position 5-6
THAILAND defeated USA 2-1
Kaitlyn Verfuerth (USA) d. Wanitha Inthanin (THA) 63 60
Sakhon Khanthasit (THA) d. Emmy Kaiser (USA) 26 76(5) 62
WanithaInthanin/Sakhon Khanthasit (THA) d. Dana Mathewson/Kaitlyn Verfuerth (USA) 63 63
Women’s World Group – Position 7-8
FRANCE defeated SOUTH AFRICA 2-1
Mariska Venter (RSA) d. Emilie Chene (FRA) 26 75 62
Charlotte Famin (FRA) d. Kgothatso Montjane (RSA) 63 75
Charlotte Famin/Emmanuelle Morch (FRA) d. Thondalwethu Hlatshwayo/Mariska Venter (RSA) 62 61
Women’s World Group – Position 9-10
CHILE defeated AUSTRALIA 2-0
Macarena Cabrillana (CHI) d. Luba Josevski (AUS) 60 61
Francisca Mardones (CHI) d. Sarah Calati (AUS) 62 57 61
Macarena Cabrillana/Francisca Mardones (CHI) v Sarah Calati/Luba Josevski (AUS) not played
Women’s World Group – Position 11-12
COLOMBIA defeated TURKEY 2-1
Angelica Bernal (COL) d. Julide Yildiz (TUR) 60 60
Bursa Un (TUR) d. Johana Martinez Vega (COL) 57 75 63
Angelica Bernal/Johana Martinez (COL) d. Busra Un/Julide Yildiz (TUR) 62 63
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, hosted the AIBA Pro Boxing Lightweight Cycle I Round 1 on 30 May with the following results:
LIGHT 60 KG – SATURDAY, 30 MAY (20:00 GMT+5)
Location: Tashkent – Venue: O‘zbekiston Sport Majmuasi
Cycle I Round 1 of AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) opened on Saturday night in Tashkent, Uzbekistan with four excellent Lightweight (60 kg) contests, headlined by an absorbing main event between home favourite Hurshid Tojibaev, and Ireland’s David Oliver Joyce.
Backed by fantastic support from the packed arena, Tojibaev opened the contest utilising a defensive style, while Joyce lacked accuracy early despite throwing a multitude of punches.
After losing the first round, the Irish star found his range in the second frame, and evened up the scoring after hitting his Uzbek opponent with a number of eye-catching power shots.
Tojibaev was undeterred by the come-forward style of Joyce however, and grew in confidence as the bout progressed as he took the next three rounds on every scorecard.
Although Joyce continued to advance and attack with flurries, Tojibaev picked his punches with superb timing which frustrated his Irish rival.
There was success to be found towards the end of the contest for Joyce when he won two of the last three rounds, but the earlier dominance of Tojibaev resulted in a 77-75 unanimous decision victory.
The crowd in Uzbekistan was delighted with the result, and they were also able to view Tojibaev’s next opponent in APB, when Dmitry Polyanskiy defeated Brazil’s Robson Conceicao.
Polyanskiy is a rugged Russian fighter, and he recovered well from losing the first round to Conceicao by taking control of the middle portion of the fight, which enabled him to eventually outpoint his decorated South American opponent.
Tojibaev and Polyanskiy will next meet in Cycle I Round 2, where the winner of that eagerly anticipated clash will go on to face Lightweight Champion Berik Abdrakhmanov for the APB title.
Two other matches took place in Tashkent, beginning with a second successive victory for five-time AIBA World Championships medalist Domenico Valentino over Germany’s Artur Bril.
Elsewhere, APB newcomer Magomedrashid Dzhabrailov won the first two rounds of his debut match against Charly Suarez, but was stopped early in round five after being unable to fully recover from an earlier body shot.
Captivating Hurshid Tojibaev kick-starts Cycle I Round 1 with victory over David Oliver Joyce
Match results:
20:00: Artur BRIL (GER) vs Domenico VALENTINO (ITA) W.P. (72:79/74:78/72:79)
20:30: Charly SUAREZ (PHI) TKO R5 vs Magomedrashid DZHABRAILOV (RUS)
21:00: Robson CONCENCAIO (BRA) vs Dmitry POLYANSKIY (RUS) W.P. (75:77/74:78/75:77)
21:30: Hurshid TOJIBAEV (UZB) W.P. (77:75/77:75/77:75) vs David JOYCE (IRL)
Head coach of the Nigerian Rugby Team, Fabian Juries has expressed his gratitude to The NRFF for re appointing him to take charge of the team. Juries expressed belief that the Black Stallions can book their place at the fast approaching All Africa Games in Congo Brazaville.
Speaking after their second training session on Saturday at the main bowl of the National Stadium in Lagos, the South African rugby legend says it’s good to be back in Nigeria and working with the players as they prepare for the one day tournament in Togo which is also the 2016 pre-Olympics qualifiers.
The players were made to go through a fitness routine to evaluate their level of fitness.
Black Stallions 7s prop Hafis Ayinla breaks away for a try against Zimbabwe #CAR7s
“We did a bit of fitness, just to evaluate their level of fitness, some were ok while some are lagging, so we still need to work on that.”
Reacting to his return to coaching the Black Stallions, Juries said knowing few of the players has given him an insight into their mentality and that will help him in bringing out the best in the team.
The no-nonsense tactician hinted that some of the players in the camp may be dropped for replacement as some of the players have not performed to his expectation. However, he expresses optimism that players can still up their game since they have a week to work together and lay claim to a national team jersey.
The German team made their first appearance in FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2015 a winning one when they arrived on British soil and captured the third leg in the beautiful and historic surroundings of Houghton Hall (GBR) this weekend.
The home side, Great Britain, finished second out of the six teams and now heads the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing leaderboard by just one point from France, who came third at Houghton Hall. Both nations have competed in all legs this season so far. The Netherlands took fourth place, ahead of Spain, fifth, and a three-man Australian team placed sixth.
Although Germany has enjoyed great success in the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing, winning two out of three series, this is the first time they have managed to triumph at the British leg.
“We are very happy to win here in England,” said team manager Hans Melzer. “The three boys were all clear inside the time, which meant that Sandra [Auffarth, the team anchor], on a younger horse, could afford not to rush and let the horse find a rhythm.”
He added: “The facilities here are super and the Cross Country was really fun and encouraged forward riding. The ground was perfect after the rain.”
Andreas Ostholt was pathfinder for the German team on his lovely horse So Is It and eventually finished second behind French team member Luc Chateau (Propriano de l’Ebat), who led throughout the competition, only adding 1.6 Cross Country time penalties to his excellent Dressage mark of 35.3.
“I’m really happy with the little guy,” Ostholt said of his horse. “I always enjoy coming to Houghton; it’s one of the best events in England.”
His team mates, 20-year-old Niklas Bischorer (Tom Tom Go 3), who is currently based in Britain, and the very experienced Dirk Schrade (Hop And Skip), were fourth and fifth. World champion Sandra Auffarth on Ispo added 9.6 Cross Country time faults to her Dressage score of 50.2 to finish 20th.
Former dual European champion Pippa Funnell (GBR), called into service for the British team, finished third on Billy the Biz, one of the young competition horses produced by the Funnells’ Billy Stud.
“We are all really excited to have finished second to such a strong German team with an inexperienced team of horses,” said Funnell.
Sarah Bullimore (GBR) was 10th on Conpierre and Francis Whittington (GBR) was 12th on West Side. Young rider Georgie Strang (GBR), who made her FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing debut at Ballindenisk (IRL) last month, was 16th on Ascot H.
The French were second after Dressage, but lost ground when their best-placed rider, Alexis Gomez (Rien Qu’un Crack), had a run-out when lying in fifth place.
Tim Lips (NED) was the best-placed of the Netherlands team, in sixth on Bayro, but Merel Blom incurred 20 penalties on Chiccolino and Jan van Beek was eliminated on Diamond Lancer.
Alberto Hermoso Farras finished best of the Spanish team, in 29th place on Mirla. Kevin McNab, ninth on Casperelli, was best of the Australian team but they only started with three riders and their chances went when Andrew Hoy and The Blue Frontier were eliminated on the Cross Country.
Next month the action moves to Strzegom in Poland, scene of the 2017 FEI European Championships, where it’s anticipated that the mighty Germans will strengthen their position on the leaderboard.
Germany wins leg three of FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2015 (centre), with Great Britain (left) placing second and France third at the beautiful and historic Houghton Hall (GBR). (Trevor Holt/FEI)
Results at Houghton Hall (GBR)
1 Germany 131.3
Andreas Ostholt/So Is It, 41.0; Niklas Bischorer/Tom Tom Go 3, 45.0; Dirk Schrade/Hop And Skip, 45.3; (Sandra Auffarth/Ispo, 59.8)
2 Great Britain, 146.1
Pippa Funnell/Billy the Biz, 42.0; Sarah Bullimore/Conpierre, 50.6;
Francis Whittington/West Side, 53.5; (Georgie Strang/Ascot H, 55.1)
3 France, 157.7
Luc Chateau/Propriano de l’Ebat, 36.9; Regis Prud’hon/Debiut, 59.0; Camille Lejeune/R’ du Temps Bliniere, 61.8; (Alexis Gomez/Rien Qu’un Crack, 71.4)
4 The Netherlands, 246.3
Tim Lips/Bayro, 45.8; Iris Pemen/Weerings Junior, 90.5; Merel Blom/Chiccolino, 110.0; (Jan van Beek/Diamond Lancer, 1,000)
5 Spain, 251.5
Albert Hermosa Farras/Mirla, 69.9; Manuel Senra Chover/Cruising By, 88.9; Eduardo Via-Dufresne Mestres/Eclipse del Trebol, 92.7; (David Roldan Menacho/Ingrato, 1,000)
6 Australia, 1114.8
Kevin McNab/Casperelli, 48.2; Christopher Burton/Monarchs Exclusive, 66.6; Andrew Hoy/The Blue Frontier, 1,000
FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2015 Leaderboard after 3 out 8 events
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