FEI Classics™: Paget Heads The Chasing Pack At Burghley

New Zealander Jock Paget is top of a closely bunched group of riders after the Dressage phase at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), the climax of the FEI Classics™ 2013/2014.

Paget and Clifton Promise earned the excellent score of 38.8 for a fluent, well-executed performance but only two penalties covers the top six riders, four of whom are Antipodeans, and the atmosphere is one of excited anticipation ahead of tomorrow’s Cross Country test.

“He was sensational,” said Paget appreciatively of the 16-year-old New Zealand thoroughbred Clifton Promise. “He is so professional, this horse, and he knows his job so well. He gave me everything, like he always does.”

The pair were third after Dressage at last week’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, but after they had an early run-out on the Cross Country, Paget made the swift decision to pull up and re-route to Burghley because his team had already been eliminated.

FEI Classics™ leader William Fox-Pitt, a team silver and individual bronze medallist last week, was the only other rider to break the 40-penalty barrier and is in second place on 39.5 on his Kentucky winner, Bay My Hero.

Fox-Pitt’s main worry had been how to contain the exuberant bay gelding who stood on his hind legs at the first horse inspection and is, according to his rider, “good at getting loose”.

Fox-Pitt was quick to credit the team at home – where his wife, Alice, is due to give birth to their fourth child at any moment – and also British team trainer Tracie Robinson. “He’s gone from a score of 44 in Kentucky into the 30s – it’s great to break the 40 barrier. He hasn’t met an atmosphere like this too many times, but he’s a bit of a show-off.”

Badminton winner Sam Griffiths (AUS), the first-day Dressage leader, was pleasantly surprised to be still so near the head of affairs. He is in third place with a score of 40.2 on Happy Times, a horse he has ridden since a five-year-old and one of the most consistent CCI4* horses of all time.

Griffiths’ compatriot Andrew Hoy (AUS), a former dual winner of Burghley (in 1979 and 2004), is fifth on Burghley debutant Rutherglen, just 0.3 behind the defending champions Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Avebury.

The crowd-pleasing grey, the only horse ever to win Burghley back-to-back, was awarded 40.5 from judges Angela Tucker (GBR, President), Christian Landolt (SUI) and Ernst Topp (GER). He looked in perfect balance and outline, gaining a nine from Landolt for the extended canter and only losing marks for the final flying changes.

“He is a special horse, part of the family,” said a delighted Nicholson. “He knows where he is and that he’s not just here for a look around. It’s a lovely arena here; the crowd are far away enough not to be cramped but near enough to create atmosphere.”

A field of 64 will tackle Capt. Mark Phillips’s Cross Country tomorrow, after one horse – Shane Rose’s (AUS) CP Qualified –failed the first horse inspection.

At first glance, the track appears to look very like last year’s but, says Nicholson, the changes are subtle. “There are enough new lines to make a difference. The going is superb but you will need more finesse than last year. You’ve got to ride positively, but remember that some of the lines are tighter.”

Fox-Pitt agreed that the Course Designer has been clever. “I’m very happy not to have to come off that horrible step at the Leaf Pit this time, but the middle part of the course – the Trout Hatchery, Maltings and Dairy Mound – are intense and will take some riding.”

Riders predict that the optimum time will be achievable because the footing is superb although, said Paget: “You can never respect Burghley cross-country enough. The time is tight, there are plenty of hills and the jumps are big, so there is plenty to deal with. You just have to get your head in the right place and focus on every fence as you jump it, and then hopefully you have a good day.”

Jock Paget (NZL) and Clifton Promise produce a superb test to take the lead after Dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Results after Dressage
1. Jock Paget/Clifton Promise (NZL) 38.8
2. William Fox-Pitt/Bay My Hero (GBR) 39.5
3. Sam Griffiths/Happy Times (AUS) 40.2
4. Andrew Nicholson/Avebury (NZL) 40.5
5. Andrew Hoy/Rutherglen (AUS) 40.8
6. Alison Springer/Arthur (USA) 41.2
7. Aoife Clarke/Vaguely North (IRL) 44.7
8. Piggy French/Westwood Mariner (GBR) 45.8
9. Karin Donckers/Lamicell Unique (BEL) 46.3
10. Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 47.5

Follow all the action with live scoring on http://www.burghley-horse.co.uk

FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 Leaderboard (after 5 of 6 events)
1. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 30 points
2. Oliver Townend (GBR) 20
3. Tim Price (NZL) 19
4. Sam Griffiths (AUS) 15
5. Christopher Burton (AUS) 15
6. Phillip Dutton (USA) 15
7. Maxime Livio (FRA) 12
8. Lauren Kieffer (USA) 12
9. Michael Jung (GER) 12
10. Sonja Johnson (AUS) 12

FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 calendar
1 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) – 23-27 October 2013
2 Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) – 14-17 November 2013
3 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) – 23-27 April 2014
4 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) – 8-11 May 2014
5 Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by DHL Paket (GER) – 12-15 June 2014
6 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) – 4-7 September 2014

Kate Green

Cote d’Ivoire, Benin in as players arrive for Lagos International Badminton Classics

The number of countries expected to take part in the Lagos International Badminton Classics continued to swell, as Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic are the latest teams to confirm their participation in the tournament.

Canada is the first country to arrive for the championship as at the weekend as more players are expected to arrive on Monday for the tournament, which will serve off on Wednesday June 4.

With this development, the number of participation nations improved to 17 with the likes of United States and France leading 13 other countries to Lagos for the competition scheduled to serve off on June 4 to 7 at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF)-sanctioned tournament has also been listed as an International Challenge series with prize money of $15,000.

According to Confederation of Africa Badminton, this competition is the highest category of championship ever hosted by any African country, while its attendance is also the highest for any badminton international championship in Africa.

Also as part of the efforts to woo back supporters of the game, the board members of the Lagos State Badminton Association led by its chairman, Francis Orbih paid a courtesy visit to Oba Dr. Adedapo Tejuoso, the Osile of Oke-Ona, at the weekend in recognition of the monarch’s immense contribution to the development of the game in Nigeria especially in Lagos.

At the event, the king accepted to be the father of the day during the grand finale of the competition on June 7.

Meanwhile, former national player, Oby Edoga believes the tournament would help to revive the fortunes of the sport in Nigeria.

“Generally, hosting of an international event of this magnitude, puts the particular sport in the limelight, both within and outside the country.

Nigeria’s duo of Jinkan Ifraimu Bulus and Ola Fagbemi in action against Thailand at the just concluded 2014 Li-Ning BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals held in India.

In particular, the badminton Classics will rekindle interest in the game, which is almost going into oblivion for lack of tournaments. It will also expose our players to world class standard as well as provide an opportunity for our players to garner points and improve their rankings both in Africa and in the world,” she said.

Edoga added that it would help the players to amass points towards the qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.

Other nations already confirmed are Botswana, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana, Austria, Italy, Israel, Slovakia, and Czech Republic.

The remaining countries are Canada, United States, India and New Zealand.

Five events – men’s single, women’s single, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles will be competed for at the championship.

DAWN Games 2014: Lagos dominates gymnastics, as football enters semis

Team Lagos were outstanding in the Gymnastics events of the maiden South-West Secondary Schools Championship tagged DAWN Games 2014 as they won 17 medals to top the medal table of the sport decided at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba.

The breakdown of medals won showed that the Ortega Akintola inspired Team Lagos won 8 gold, 6 silver and. 3 bronze. Team Ekiti were second with 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medal. Ogun were third with 1 gold, 5 bronze while Team Oyo could only win 3 silver and 2 bronze to claim the fourth position.

Football event which enters semi final stage on Wednesday with Team Lagos taking on Team Oyo as early as 8am at Agege Stadium, while the second semi final scheduled for the afternoon will involve Team Ogun and Osun State.

Finals of events such as Basketball, Volleyball, Swimming, Scrabble and Chess will take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Meanwhile, chairman, Technical Committee of Lagos State Football Association, Dotun Coker, has said that the football event at the DAWN Games has shown that there is positive and future in the development of football in the Western part of Nigeria.

Coker, said the tournament which was the initiative of DAWN Commission and designed for Secondary School students within the South West zone would create an enabling environment to harness young sports talents in the region.

The Chairman, LSFA Technical Committee, said he had saddled the chairman of Ikeja Football Coaches Council, Rafiu Taiwo, with the responsibility of writing a technical report and also to identify the best 18 football players for the region ahead of future tournaments.

According to him, Coach Taiwo is expected to submit his report to him for ratification and easy passage to the DAWN Commission.

He detested the lackadaisical attitude of the Lagos State Football Coaches Association for not been present at Agege Stadium where football is taking place, stressing that their presence would enable them to present the LSFA a detailed technical report based on their assessment of each participating team.

DAWN GAMES 2014 APPROVED SCHEDULE OF VENUES & DATES

DAWN GAMES 2014 APPROVED SCHEDULE OF VENUES & DATES
FRIDAY 16TH May – SATURDAY 24TH MAY, 2014

MOBOLAJI JOHNSON SPORTS CENTRE, ROWE PARK, YABA

S/N. SPORTS. EVENTS (BOYS) EVENTS (GIRLS) DURATION. EVENTS DATES. VENUES. REMARKS

1 GYMNASTICS. 6. 5. 3 Days Sun 18th May–Tues 20th May, 2014 Sports Hall

2 BADMINTON. 2. 2. 2 Days Weds 21st May– Thurs 22nd May, 2014. Sports Hall

3 BASKETBALL. 1. 1. 3 Days. Mon 19th May – Weds 21st May, 2014. Basketball Courts

4 TENNIS. 2. 2. 2 Days. Mon 19th May – Tues 20th May, 2014 Tennis Courts

TESLIM BALOGUN STADIUM, SURULERE

S/N. SPORTS. EVENTS (BOYS) EVENTS (GIRLS) DURATION. EVENTS DATES. VENUES. REMARKS
5 TABLE-TENNIS. 2. 2. 2 Days. Mon 19th May–Tues 20th May, 2014. Sports Hall

6 TAEKWONDO. 5. 3. 2 Days. Weds 21st May–Thurs 22nd May, 2014 Sports Hall

7 VOLLEYBALL. 1. 1. 3 Days. Mon 19th May–Weds 21st May, 2014 Volleyball Courts

8 SWIMMING. 16. 16 3 Days. Mon 19th May–Weds 21st May, 201 Swimming pool

9 SCRABBLE. 2 + 2 MXD. 2. 2 Days. Tues 20th May–Weds 21st May, 2014 Sports Bar

10 ATHLETICS. 13. 13. 2 Days. Tues 20th May–Weds 21st May, 2014 Main Bowl
3 3. 1 Day Fri 23rd May, 2014 Main Bowl. Additional 1 day for Finals of 100m, 4X100m relay and 4X400m relay (Boys & Girls)

11 CHESS. 8. 8. 2 Days. Tues 20th May – Weds 21st May, 2014. Media Centre

12 FOOTBALL. 1. 1. 1 Day. Thurs 22nd May, 2014 Main Bowl. 3rd Place and Final Matches (Boys & Girls)

AGEGE STADIUM

12 FOOTBALL. 1. 1. 3 Days. Sun 18th, Mon 19th & Weds 21st May, 2014. Main Bowl

DAWN Games kicks off in Lagos

The maiden edition of South-West Secondary Schools Games tagged DAWN Games begins on Friday May 16 in Lagos with over 2,000 athletes and officials in attendance.

The DAWN Games, which will be competed by athletes from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti State, is a 12 sports tournament of Nigeria School Sports Federation, NSSF. The sports are Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Scrabble, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Taekwondo and Volleyball. It will be staged in three centres across Lagos: Agege Stadium, Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, while the NYSC Camp at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos.

According to the schedule of event released to the media by the Technical Sub-Committee of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), athletes and officials are expected to check in to the Games Village on Friday with accreditations taking off in full swing, while events will begin on Sunday May 18 with Football and Gymnastics taking the centre stage at the Agege Stadium and Rowe Park Sports Centre respectively.

According to the schedules, Rowe Park will also play host to Badminton, Basketball and Tennis. At Teslim Balogun Stadium, sports such as Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Swimming, Scrabble and Athletics will be on stage, while Agege Stadium will also host Chess.

It was gathered that Team Ogun, would present 186 athletes, while no fewer than 163 athletes will represent Team Lagos.

Meanwhile, a member of basketball team for Lagos, Ololade Azeez has expressed confidence that Lagos will win gold medal in both male and female basketball event of the competition.

“I am happy to be among the players that will represent Lagos at DAWN Games. Our training so far is superb and very impressive. We are in good form now and ready to win gold medals for team Lagos in Basketball both male and female category,” he said.

Head Coach of Badminton of Team Lagos, Kayode Olatunji said there is high spirit in camp as the players are looking forward to participating at the DAWN Games, adding that the supports the players and officials received from the state government will boost their morale to excel at the Games, which will end on 24 May.

DAWN Games will foster unity among youths in South West, says Ibirogba

DAWN Games will foster unity among youths in South West, says Ibirogba • Ogun shapes up for tourney

Chairman of Media and Publicity Subcommittee of the DAWN Games, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, has said that the tournament would help foster good relationship among the youth of the south-west states of the country

The maiden edition of the DAWN Games, a competition among secondary schools in Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States, will be held in Lagos from May 16 to 24, 2014.

The chairman of the Media Subcommittee, who is also the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State said the competition would bring youth in the region together to compete in a healthy environment, adding that the DAWN Games is symbolic because the south-west states want to show the rest of the country the cordial relationship that exists within the people and governments of the region and the need to use youth and sports to preach unity among the people.

Meanwhile, as the kick off date of the Games draws nearer, Team Ogun say they can’t wait for the school sports championship to start.

Director of Sports, Ogun State Sports Council, Mr. Adesola Faleti, said the state’s athletes are ready and are in good sporting form to excel at the competition.

“The athletes have been training for a couple of months. We are going to participate in 12 sports events and in Ogun State, we specialise in more than 33 sports, thus taking 12 out of 33 won’t be a problem for us,” said Faleti during the inspection of facilities and venues for the championship which took place recently in Lagos.

Faleti noted that the Games would enable Ogun State Sports Council to assess its grassroots developmental programmes which has been well supported by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and more importantly it would assist the sports council the opportunity to replace
its ageing athletes.

”Since inception of Governor Amosun’s administration, we had been mandated to develop sports at the grassroots. I think the DAWN Games will definitely assist us to discover budding talent to replace the older athletes,” he said.

The former national pugilist said the state’s effective grassroots sports programme had earned Ogun a positive result as the National Sports Commission, NSC, invited over 22 athletes from the state to the national team, while six junior football players were also invited to the camp of the national U-13 team.

“DAWN Games can bring positive and better future for the nation as athletes we will discover in the regional championship can be selected for the country’s future international outings.

“I believe the DAWN Games is another opportunity to explain the commitment of the southwest state governments towards building Nigerian future stars who would take over from the ageing national athletes.

The DAWN Games is the needed grassroots developmental programme which we can use to aid the growth of sports and the wellbeing of our athletes,” he said.

He concluded that Ogun State Sports Council is working with the support of the Ministry of Education to place athletes that will excel in the DAWN Games on scholarship for them to continue their education.

The DAWN Games will feature 12 sports, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball with over 2000 athletes and officials expected to participate.

The events will take place at Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Agege Stadium. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Iyana-Ipaja will serve as the Games Village.

Facilities inspection, technical committee meeting for DAWN Games hold

The Joint Technical Meeting (JTM) and inspection of facilities for the DAWN Games (South West Secondary Schools Games) holding in Lagos, comes up this week from Thursday April 23 to 25, 2014.

The DAWN Games, involving all the southwest states of Nigeria – Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ondo, starts May 16 to 24, this year in Lagos.

According to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the Director of Sports/ General Manager, Sports Council and the Director in charge of sports in the Ministry of Education will represent each state at the JTM and inspection.

Others expected are representatives from DAWN Commission, National Sports Commission (NSC) South West Zonal Coordinator and LOC members.

The inspection begins on Thursday April 24 and the team is expected to inspect the venues like Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; and Agege Stadium.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, which will serve as the Games Village will also be inspected.

The Joint Technical Meeting follows the inspection on Friday April 25.

The games will feature 12 sports, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball with over 2000 athletes and officials expected to participate.

Lagos to host maiden DAWN Games

As part of efforts to encourage grassroots sports development in the region, the maiden South-West Secondary School Sports Festival tagged DAWN Games will be hosted by the Lagos State Government in May 2014.
This was revealed at the end of the three-day meeting held in Lagos and attended by stakeholders from the six South West states, National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) among others.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO, Lagos State Sports Council, Bashir Agunloye, DAWN, is an acronym for Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, brings together the government of the six states of South West Nigeria – Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Lagos, in a concerted strategic developmental process geared towards social, economic and regional integration and sports is one of the tools being deployed to actualise the agenda.

The DAWN Games are expected to create a forum for youths in the region to harness their sporting talents while also encouraging mass participation in sports at the grassroots level.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General, DAWN Commission, Dipo Famakinwa emphasised the role of sports in the DAWN agenda and assured all of the commitment of the DAWN Commission to work for the success and sustainability of the games.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi stated the commitment of the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola to hosting a very successful maiden edition of the Games.

“Governor Fashola believes that development of Sports at the grassroots is a major way of taking our youths off the streets”, Oshodi said.

The maiden edition which will hold from 16 to 24 May, 2014, and it will involve athletes in junior secondary schools, (JSS) and senior secondary schools (SSS) in the South-West states and will feature 12 sports -athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

Meanwhile the meeting also considered and ratified the rules and regulations for the games, the code of conduct for athletes and officials, the timelines and various other matters bordering on the hosting of a successful games.

The stakeholders, however, lauded the Lagos State Government and Governor Babatunde Fashola in particular, for taking up the hosting of the maiden edition of the DAWN Games.

IG Boosts National Badminton Team Ahead of Uganda Championship

The Inspector General of Police Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar visited and trained with Nigeria Badminton players who were preparing for the 9th edition of the Uganda International Badminton tournament scheduled to take
place on 20th-23rd of February in Lugogo Indoor stadium, Uganda.

The IG who is a former national badminton player as well as an ex-board member of Nigeria Football Association, NFA, promised to continue to support the players so that they can gain enough points that will qualify them for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

“If we engage the youths especially through sports, we have done one great thing, which is taking them away from the streets and is a very good factor in creating better leaders of tomorrow”

Also on Sunday, Abuja badminton club donated a set of jersey and badminton equipment to the national team ahead of the Ugandan tournament. The chairman Abuja badminton club, Abubakar Isa said it is their way of supporting the Nigeria Badminton Federation, NBF.

“We are trying to promote badminton in Nigeria and we feel we should start with the national team.” Isa added.
President of NBF, Justice Danlami Senchi who was on hand to receive the donations, thanked the donors especially the IG for helping to promote badminton in Nigeria and assured that Nigeria will qualify for 2016 Olympics.

“We want to thank the IG as well as the Abuja badminton club for their support, we hope we’ll also get the support of the sports ministry. Our aim is to gain enough points that will help our players qualify for the Olympics.” Senchi concluded.

National badminton captain Olaoluwa Fagbemi said the team hopes to win at least four gold medals in Uganda.
Organisers say 16 teams have confirmed participation in the championship, that will see 64 players taking part in different categories. Uganda(host), Nigeria, Namibia, Libya, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya and Mauritius while Austria, Malaysia, Slovakia, Israel, and Syrilanka are among the international countries to feature in competition.

Bunmi Haruna