The duo appointed to prepare the New Zealand sailing team for the London Olympic Games come with the highest possible credentials and an impressive track record:
Jez Fanstone has skippered a Volvo Ocean Race campaign and managed three Olympic programmes. But his most recent achievement, and the one he is best known for is as coach to British sailor Ben Ainslie, whose successes included Olympic Gold medals in three consecutive games.
Now, as Olympic Programme Manager for Yachting New Zealand, Jez will bring his immense talent for leading teams to ultimate success to New Zealand sailors competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
In this quest he will be backed up by somebody who knows exactly what is required to deliver Olympic Gold for New Zealand. Gold medalist Tom Ashley will be embarking on a campaign to represent New Zealand at the London Olympics where he aims to defend his title. Tom is one of the rare breed to achieve both World Champion and Olympic Champion status in the same year. He will use his experiences and talent to help the team in an advisory role and to help coach and mentor the up and coming stars of New Zealand Yachting.
For 2012, Yachting New Zealand has refined its program and management structure to build on the achievements of the buildup to the Beijing Olympic Games, where New Zealand secured 13 podium finishes at World Championship and Olympic events in the Olympic sailing classes.
“This team is notable for its current campaign experience and its Olympic medal tally,” says Yachting New Zealand’s Chief Executive Des Brennan. “As sailors, campaigners, coaches and managers, Tom and Jez are the best in the world. In the next four years they will be joined by a team of talented sailors, coaches and managers to lead our quest for sailing medals, particularly targeting the 2012 Olympic Games in London.”
Des Brennan says that Jez is a proven leader and a world class coach and sailor who fully understands the commitment required and the subtleties of coaching and leadership.
Jez comments: “The New Zealand sailing team has the talent to secure Olympic medals not only in London, but in future Games. I have spent many years working closely with people like Ben Ainslie and overseeing major international sailing teams, and I can see that New Zealand has world-class potential. Our challenge now is to put the final refinements on it in the build up to 2012.”
New Zealand’s sailing record in Olympic class over the last four years makes the country one of the very best performers in Olympic classes, says Des.
“However we must keep pushing to improve our position in the increasingly competitive international sporting environment,” he explains. “We have worked with Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) to set very ambitious goals for 2012, and we believe that we have a world-beating plan and team in place to succeed.”
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sailing : Anticipation builds at Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
The ten international sailing teams contesting the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series learned about the order of battle for the early rounds of the regatta at a reception in Auckland last night. The draw that split the world class fleet into two pools of five boats was revealed to the sailors. They then drew for the order in which they will match race on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour when racing starts on Friday, 30th January.
Tomorrow, 29th January, skippers from all teams will make their first joint public appearance during a press conference and reception at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), the organizing authority for the regatta.
The tone was upbeat and friendly at the SKYCITY Grand Hotel last night as the ten team representatives crowded a long table, joined by race officials led by the event’s international Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio and the Commodore of the RNZYS, Scott Colebrook.
Old rivals from more than a decade of Louis Vuitton Cup competition were there, along with impressive new talent from the Olympics and World Match Race regattas. Event organiser Bruno Troublé, representing Louis Vuitton, spoke of the wide support and enthusiasm for the compressed race format and wished all the teams success.
Competing in the two pools, crews will race one-on-one in Emirates Team New Zealand’s NZL 92 and NZL 84 and BMW Oracle Racing’s USA 87 and USA 98. The format for the opening round robin means there will be four races a day while one team from each pool enjoys a bye.
The second scheduled race of day one, between Britain’s TEAMORIGIN and Italy’s Luna Rossa is perhaps the most anticipated match. Other day one matches are Pataugas K-Challenge from France vs China Team and Emirates Team New Zealand vs Damiani Italia Challenge. For its maiden race, the fledgling Greek Challenge drew Switzerland’s juggernaut Alinghi, holder and twice winner of the America’s Cup. BMW Oracle Racing from the USA and South Africa’s Shosholoza will sit out the first day’s racing.
Following the first five days, the boats will split into gold and silver fleets. At that point, Emirates Team New Zealand, in its role as host team, will advance directly to the final race series for the special Louis Vuitton Pacific Series trophy while the top remaining challengers compete in a ladder competition to decide the other finalist.
As teams wrapped up a week of practice on the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf, workers were adding finishing touches to the Race Village at the Viaduct Basin. The village will open at 8:00 am on Friday and the public is welcome to come for breakfast and see the boats depart. Virtual Eye digital 3D coverage of the racing will be viewable all day on a big screen and the public can join the evening press conference each night.
The event web site http://www.louisvuitton-pacificseries.com went live this week in English French and Italian. Race reports, press reports, features and photographs are being updated daily. The site will also include a link to live streaming radio commentary about the racing originating from Auckland’s radio BSport Sailing 103FM.
The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series is being organised in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland City and SKYCITY Entertainment Group.
Tomorrow, 29th January, skippers from all teams will make their first joint public appearance during a press conference and reception at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), the organizing authority for the regatta.
The tone was upbeat and friendly at the SKYCITY Grand Hotel last night as the ten team representatives crowded a long table, joined by race officials led by the event’s international Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio and the Commodore of the RNZYS, Scott Colebrook.
Old rivals from more than a decade of Louis Vuitton Cup competition were there, along with impressive new talent from the Olympics and World Match Race regattas. Event organiser Bruno Troublé, representing Louis Vuitton, spoke of the wide support and enthusiasm for the compressed race format and wished all the teams success.
Competing in the two pools, crews will race one-on-one in Emirates Team New Zealand’s NZL 92 and NZL 84 and BMW Oracle Racing’s USA 87 and USA 98. The format for the opening round robin means there will be four races a day while one team from each pool enjoys a bye.
The second scheduled race of day one, between Britain’s TEAMORIGIN and Italy’s Luna Rossa is perhaps the most anticipated match. Other day one matches are Pataugas K-Challenge from France vs China Team and Emirates Team New Zealand vs Damiani Italia Challenge. For its maiden race, the fledgling Greek Challenge drew Switzerland’s juggernaut Alinghi, holder and twice winner of the America’s Cup. BMW Oracle Racing from the USA and South Africa’s Shosholoza will sit out the first day’s racing.
Following the first five days, the boats will split into gold and silver fleets. At that point, Emirates Team New Zealand, in its role as host team, will advance directly to the final race series for the special Louis Vuitton Pacific Series trophy while the top remaining challengers compete in a ladder competition to decide the other finalist.
As teams wrapped up a week of practice on the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf, workers were adding finishing touches to the Race Village at the Viaduct Basin. The village will open at 8:00 am on Friday and the public is welcome to come for breakfast and see the boats depart. Virtual Eye digital 3D coverage of the racing will be viewable all day on a big screen and the public can join the evening press conference each night.
The event web site http://www.louisvuitton-pacificseries.com went live this week in English French and Italian. Race reports, press reports, features and photographs are being updated daily. The site will also include a link to live streaming radio commentary about the racing originating from Auckland’s radio BSport Sailing 103FM.
The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series is being organised in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland City and SKYCITY Entertainment Group.
Tennis : Kiwis through to semi-finals of ITF Junior Tournament
Canterbury's Barrett Franks and Leela Beattie have made the semi-finals at the SunSmart Canterbury ITF event in Christchurch after wins today.
Franks defeated Ryota Kishi 7-5, 6-0 to gain valuableranking points as he strives to build his ranking towards the 2010 Australian Junior Open.
Fourteen-year-old Beattie who's first 10 world ranking points came almost a year ago in Wellington, will pick up a minimum of 20 points after her three-set win over tournament 3rd seed Mana Ayukawa.
Franks will face 7th seed, Japans Shoki Hachiya who defeated Jaden Grinter from Waikato today, with the other semi final being between number two seed Sean Berman and tournament surprise package New Caledonia's Maxime Chazal.
Beattie will face South African, Natasha Fourouclas after she defeated 13 year old Emily Fanning in straight sets, with the other semi seeing the unseeded Japanese player Makoto Ninomiya taking on another member of the Oceania team 7th seed Steffi Carruthers from Samoa.
The boys take the court first tomorrow at the Scenic Circle Hotels Tennis Centre at Wilding Park followed by the girls.
Franks defeated Ryota Kishi 7-5, 6-0 to gain valuableranking points as he strives to build his ranking towards the 2010 Australian Junior Open.
Fourteen-year-old Beattie who's first 10 world ranking points came almost a year ago in Wellington, will pick up a minimum of 20 points after her three-set win over tournament 3rd seed Mana Ayukawa.
Franks will face 7th seed, Japans Shoki Hachiya who defeated Jaden Grinter from Waikato today, with the other semi final being between number two seed Sean Berman and tournament surprise package New Caledonia's Maxime Chazal.
Beattie will face South African, Natasha Fourouclas after she defeated 13 year old Emily Fanning in straight sets, with the other semi seeing the unseeded Japanese player Makoto Ninomiya taking on another member of the Oceania team 7th seed Steffi Carruthers from Samoa.
The boys take the court first tomorrow at the Scenic Circle Hotels Tennis Centre at Wilding Park followed by the girls.
Football : Baggies Lodge Robinson Appeal
ALBION have lodged an appeal against Paul Robinson's sending-off in Tuesday's defeat by Manchester United.
The Baggies officially notified the Football Association this afternoon they plan to contest Rob Styles' decision to show the left-back a straight red card for a 40th-minute clash with Ji-Sung Park.
The matter will go before an FA disciplinary panel tomorrow afternoon.
Club officials are now gathering all evidence, including video footage of the incident, to compile their strongest possible defence and will ensure the documents reach Soho Square before tomorrow's deadline.
Styles punished Robinson for what he perceived as 'serious foul play' but the club believe that, having viewed various TV angles of the incident, Robinson was wrongfully dismissed.
Hawthorns legal director/secretary Darren Eales said: "From Mr Styles' viewpoint, the incident may have seemed worthy of a red card but we believe the video evidence we have compiled proves otherwise.
"We feel it was no more than a 50-50 challenge between two very committed players."
Unless Albion's appeal is upheld, Robinson will serve a three-match ban in the Barclays Premier League games against Hull and Newcastle, plus the FA Cup fourth-round replay at Burnley.
The Baggies officially notified the Football Association this afternoon they plan to contest Rob Styles' decision to show the left-back a straight red card for a 40th-minute clash with Ji-Sung Park.
The matter will go before an FA disciplinary panel tomorrow afternoon.
Club officials are now gathering all evidence, including video footage of the incident, to compile their strongest possible defence and will ensure the documents reach Soho Square before tomorrow's deadline.
Styles punished Robinson for what he perceived as 'serious foul play' but the club believe that, having viewed various TV angles of the incident, Robinson was wrongfully dismissed.
Hawthorns legal director/secretary Darren Eales said: "From Mr Styles' viewpoint, the incident may have seemed worthy of a red card but we believe the video evidence we have compiled proves otherwise.
"We feel it was no more than a 50-50 challenge between two very committed players."
Unless Albion's appeal is upheld, Robinson will serve a three-match ban in the Barclays Premier League games against Hull and Newcastle, plus the FA Cup fourth-round replay at Burnley.
Lord Coe With World Winter Games GB Ski Team
Nearly 30 years ago, Sebastian Coe was honoured to become Special Olympics Great Britain’s (SOGB’s) *** first Ambassador. Thirty years later, Lord Coe was pleased to welcome SOGB’s World Winter Games Ski Team at the offices of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
This winter, 3000 athletes from 100 countries will travel to Boise, Idaho to compete at Special Olympics World Winter Games, 7-13 February 2009. SOGB is proud to be sending a delegation of ten learning disabled athletes joined by Minister of Disabled People, Jonathan Shaw MP.
Sebastian Coe commented, “It was a pleasure to welcome these athletes to the offices and hear about their preparation for Special Olympics World Winter Games. We wish them all the best for their competitions.”
Lord Coe warmly greeted the athletes and gave the skiers a London 2012 pin badge and T-shirts. After offering some friendly advice and chatting with them about their skiing and other sporting achievements, he graciously posed for photos with the eager athletes.
In exchange, the skiers gave Lord Coe one of their World Games Tea Towels and a refrigerator magnet. Before Lord Coe left he said he would love the Team to make a return trip to see him in the summer - and to tell him all about the World Winter Games.
*** Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organisations. Special Olympics Great Britain is recognised as the third member of the Olympic family, providing year-round sports, sports training, and local, regional, national and international competitions for all learning disability levels. Paralympics provides elite-only level sports competition for multi-disabled groups including physical, blind and deaf.
The team was then escorted for a private look at the 2012 site from the huge balcony of a viewing flat by Alison Nimmo CBE (Director of Planning and Regeneration for 2012). Nimmo pointed out the various venues and the 3,200 people working on the site. The team was awed to learn that by next year there would be more than 10,000 workers on site.
The SOGB World Winter Games Ski Team is made up of representatives from 4 of the 19 different SOGB regions: West Midlands, South Eastern, Wales, Lothian. The team members qualified to race on an international stage after achieving some of the top finishes at the SOGB National Championships in Pila, Italy in the Aosta Valley Region of Italy at 1800m last year.
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