Sports International Magazine issue15

May 2015 1

The Pro SportsMagazine

May 2015

Canada Women’s Soccer Team – Host team World Cup 2015

Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, Team Matrix,SIM Outstanding Athelete. Recipes, Top tips and more...

The United States Women’s National Team, Karen Darke, Team USA – the Solheim Cup, Corinne Evans - surfer Exclusive interviews with the World Cup Coaches

Photo: Papaya Photography

EXCLUSIVE

2 May 2015

May 2015 3

doing incredible things and living their dreams. I consider it an incredible privilege to be able to showcase and tell the stories, to meet some of the athletes and the ‘supporting cast’. Thank you.

Thank you for reading this and every issue, for telling others and for your supporting the journey. It is exciting and with each issue I write I always wonder what lies in store for the next as I am constantly surprised!

So read, enjoy and share the stories in this issue!

All the very best.

Myak-Paul Homberger - Editor

This is a landmark issue as we start to focus on major events as the theme for the issue. The Women’s World Cup will be taking place in Canada and it will be the most watched and have more support and coverage than ever before and so we thought it fitting for that to be our starting point. In this issue you will find stats, stories and schedules for the World Cup along with exclusive interviews, photos and stories jammed into one issue.

Football aside, I am constantly amazed and encouraged by the incredible people I meet around the world giving their time to support women’s

SPORTS International

TM


TM

May 2015 Issue No 015

sport - from photographers to volunteers who archive match reports and fans that have supported teams since forever. These people believe in women’s sport and want to promote it at any given opportunity and without them so little would have been achieved or will be achieved.

Equally to all the parents the world over, whose countless early mornings and weekends given to taking kids around the country to follow their dreams, thank you. It is because of these people that women’s sport is where it is today and because thousands of women the world over are

WELCOME

4 May 2015

w w w . p a p a y a p h o t o g r a p h y . c o . u k

S P O RT S ● S P E C I A L I S T E V E N T S ● C O R P O R AT E E V E N T S

PapayaP h o t o g r a p h y

May 2015 5

ContentsRallye Aicha des Gazelles 8Karen Darke 14Corinne Evans 20The Barnes Sisters - Keeping it in the family 26Matrix Cycling 32YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix 36Team USA - The Solheim Cup 56The United States Womens National Team 62FIFA Womens World Cup Guide 70The Beauty of the Game: FIFA Women’s World Cup 76Betting in Womens Sport 80Interviews with World Cup Coaches 88Sports International Magazine’s Outstanding Athlete 90Canada Womens Soccer Team 96Recipe - The Good for you Apple & Almond Crumble 106 Thankyou’s 111Contact 112


TM


TM

May 2015 Issue No 015

6 May 2015

ContributorsMyak-Paul Homberger

Aside from being a huge

sports nut and champion of women’s sport, has numerous qualifications including being a BAWLA qualified weight training coach, two martial arts black belts alongside his instructor level in Urban Krav Maga. He is also an NLP practitioner and sociologist with an HND in RAB.

Photography is his main passion and he has been published internationally. Myak has worked with men’s and women’s national teams, as well as with premiership teams and individual players.

Steffan Wyman

Starting out in Women’s cycling

team management in 2004, it was never Steffan’s initial goal to work in the sport full time. However as time passed and he became more involved it was clear that’s what he wanted and he began to work full time in the sport from 2008. Previously working in financial services, he’s used his previous management experience to try to bring in a level of professionalism and organization to the teams he runs.

In 2010 he took a step back from professional teams to work on a project with Matrix Fitness to try to develop the UK racing scene and create a new stable team, giving domestic riders the opportunity they needed. After 5 years, the time has come for the Matrix Fitness team to return to the professional peloton and in 2015 they are lining up against the worlds biggest teams in the worlds biggest races.

Catherine Spencer

Catherine Spencer is a former England Rugby Captain and so brings a vast experience of sport and being a woman in sport. She recognised the potential for organisations that could benefit greatly from the stories of inspiring women, their determination, belief, focus, trust, leadership, communication, hard work, team work and sacrifice. Catherine set about sourcing Inspiring Women speakers and coaches from sport and business who she believed could communicate their stories and lessons effectively.

May 2015 7

Benedicte Clarkson

Benedicte Clarkson is

a French woman who has enjoyed living in London for the last 28 years. Three years ago she teamed with friend Jamila to compete in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles. She occasionally writes for publications about the Rallye both from a general perspective and from a personal point of view, having participated three times in what some have described is the hardest rally in the world. She is also a trustee of the British Moroccan Society, a member based charity, organising events and raising money for small children’s charities in Morocco, including schools for young children and women.

UK coordinator

www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com

Kirsty Hill

Kirsty is a web editor and copywriter

whose passion for surfing knows no bounds. A contributor to the Surfing Sumo, and the Slideshow magazine, she also writes a blog on her own surfing adventures. Despite currently being landlocked, Kirsty refuses to let geography stand in the way of a sport and lifestyle that she is so passionate about.

Richard Stoodley

‘Rapid’ Rich Stoodley

appeared on the cycling scene late in 2012 “just to get fit”. Within just a few weeks this hobby turned into an obsession and long rides became the norm with him covering 200 miles in just one day. Even aged at over 50 Rapid’s competitive streak saw him Hill Climbing and Racing with some success. His skills of organisation, sales, promotion and sheer enthusiasm were key in obtaining financial support to make the YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix one of the biggest events on the UK in just its second year.

8 May 2015

By Benedicte Clarkson

The Rallye Aicha des Gazelles Morocco is the biggest women-only off road motor competition in the world, taking place every year at the end of March in the Moroccan desert. For the last 25 years, women of about 23 different nationalities, all walks of life, all ages (the oldest competitor is 71 and has participated 16 times) compete in 4x4s, quads, buggies and moto cross. GPS or phones are not allowed, the Gazelles (as the competitors are known) navigate the old fashioned way, with black and white maps from the 60s, a compass, a ruler and a plotter. The winning team is the team which has done the least amount of kilometers.

This is not a ballad in the desert. The Gazelles’ endurance, determination and solidarity is tested every day. The terrain is usually difficult, made of rocky desert, dunes, ravines, tough vegetation, dried out river beds and mountains. To keep their heading as closely as possible, the gazelles must constantly make decisions. It’s a team effort: the navigator looks both at her compass and in the distance to keep the heading, the driver looks

Rallye Aicha des Gazelles - Women-Only Off Road Rally

May 2015 9

straight ahead of the car to avoid or take slowly big rocks, ditches, soft sand where it is so easy to sink the car.

A typical day : The rallye follows the same pattern every year with small variations but basically, while at the bivouac or camp, the competitors are woken up by “the Boss” Dominique Serra (a French entrepreneur who created the concept 25 years ago in response to the traditionally male-dominated world of motorsports) at 4am, we stumble up, briefly wash our faces and apply heavy suncream, the driver walks to the car park to pick up her car while the navigator either packs up the tent or simply tidy it and prepares her navigation bag.

At 4.15am, you’ll find the driver breathing a sigh of relief that the car is starting, that the tyres are not flat and that the oil level is fine. She will then drive the car either towards the tents if they have to pack up because it’s marathon time or they’re simply changing bivouac or towards the departure line that they are given.

At 5am, it’s briefing time and it’s also the time all the navigators are given the latitude and longitude of the first point of the day and have to plot it on the map as well as having breakfast. Between 6 and 6.45am, they’re off.

Photos courtesy Rallye Aicha des Gazelles

10 May 2015

Every day they are given a certain amount of checkpoints (about 7) to find over a distance averaging 190kms per day if the team goes straight from point to point.. A checkpoint is a red flag more or less hidden in the desert. If everything goes well, the gazelles can be back at camp by 6.30 pm, in time for a shower, a drink at the bar and an excellent dinner from 8pm. From time to time, things do not go so well and they might have to find the camp in the dark. Some might end up sleeping outside the camp.

To ensure the safety of all the competitors, all the vehicles are fitted with a tracking device linked to satellite. The organisers know at all times where the gazelles are (even if sometimes the gazelles themselves do not know where they are!).

The competition :In 2015, there were several categories: the expert category (all in 4x4s), the general 4x4/truck category, the quads/bike/buggies category and the SUV category. They are given different parcours and checkpoints.

“... the two most dangerous factors are fatigue and poor communication.”

May 2015 11

With a typical 10- to 14-hour day starting at 6 a.m., and with a last checkpoint closing at 7:30 p.m., the two most dangerous factors are fatigue and poor communication. Teammates have to learn how to communicate in a way that’s constructive. The only way they can do well is to support and respect each other. They want to be a strong teammate, to have a great attitude, and look for solutions. The “rockstar” is the navigator. If a mistake is going to be made, it is usually the navigator making it. The driver can of course break a car but that is unusual. So the teammates must have resilience and must be able to have a good laugh.


12 May 2015

The charity Coeur de Gazelles:The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles is acknowledged for its non-profit organization, Heart of Gazelles. The charity offers medical aid, support to orphanages and schools, sustainable development for villages, and job development for women in the region. The rally is the only global motorsport event with ISO 14001 Certification, with strict environmental and citizen-friendly directives. During the rallye, a caravan of voluntary doctors, dentists, nurses visit the villages around the Rallye.

The winners:Winner of the general category in 2014, British Jeanette James came 2nd in the expert category in 2015. A Moroccan team was the winner of the general category in 2015: team 221 Karima Laaroussi-Mouhyi and Florence Deramond. Anglo-Moroccan team 219 (the Smiley gazelles) came 23rd out of 120.

May 2015 13


14 May 2015

Karen Darke

Inspiring Women SpeakerBy Catherine Spencer

Inspiring Women’s tag line is “Inspire, Believe, Achieve” and Karen Darke (Inspiring Women Speaker) is perhaps more closely aligned to all three words than most. She is one of the most inspirational people I have ever come across; she has huge belief in her own abilities and has achieved some quite remarkable feats.

May 2015 15

Karen was a keen runner and mountaineer before becoming paralysed in a rock-climbing accident aged 21 and has since pursued alternative ways to access the outdoors – canoeing, sit-skiing and hand-cycling. She has hand-cycled in various corners of the world, including Central Asia and the Himalaya, the Karakoram and the length of the Japanese archipelago. Karen has co-organised Sea kayaking expeditions along the coastlines of British Columbia and Alaska, skied across the Greenland icecap, climbed the kilometre-high vertical rock-face of El Capitan and kayaked through the fjords of Patagonia. More recently Karen has cycled the Tibetan Plateau otherwise known as ‘The Roof of the World’. Prior to her Tibetan challenge Karen also competed in the London 2012 Paralympics coming away with a Silver Medal for British

Photos courtesy Karen Darke

16 May 2015


May 2015 17

Cycling. The mental and physical challenges that Karen has had to endure have been immense but this wonder woman continues to prove that even the biggest challenges and seemingly impossible tasks can be overcome.

In September of last year Karen embarked on yet another challenge that initially seemed impossible to her, competing in the Mallorca Iron Man. This would involve swimming 2.4 miles, handbiking 112 miles and using a racing wheelchair to run the 26.2 mile marathon. Whilst the distances in Iron Man are highly challenging for all, the fact that Karen could only use the power of her arms in all three disciplines means that completion would be a phenomenal achievement. A film has been made to document this challenge, the premiere of which is being screened at the Sheffield Adventure Film festival in March as part of their Women in Adventure programme. The film is aptly named ‘Impossible’ and will I am sure inspire us all and instil in us the belief that nothing is really impossible, everything is possible. (http://www.shaff.co.uk/whats-on/films-a-to-z-list-2015/impossible/ ).


18 May 2015

Many would rest here but not Karen. Her next big focus is Rio and the 2016 Olympics where she will hope to compete as part of the Great British Cycling team; once more entering the ‘pressure cooker’ of British team racing as Karen describes it. Like London 2012, Rio 2016 will be an entirely different adventure to cycling the ‘Roof of the World’ with friends or traversing the length of Greenland or climbing the El Capitan but the mental toughness and determination that Karen has used in the past to turn impossible to possible will surely spur her on in Rio. As Karen reflected in Tibet: “... cycling up the last ‘double-dipper’ passes (two in one with a drop down between them), especially the final stretch to 5250m and a massive view of the Himalaya and Nepal, the scenery tugged out our emotion. I felt to be riding into the future, a future full of excitement and beauty to match the mountains around us. I knew why I’d had to wait twenty years for the journey. Twenty years ago it wouldn’t have had the same impact”

Following her Rio 2016 challenge Karen will, I am sure, continue to live life seeing the possibility in everything. Her life, since her accident in 21, is not centred on what she now can’t do but is focussed entirely on her ability and what she can do. Karen makes the impossible possible. She Inspires those that know her and those that don’t, she encourages Belief in others and she has and will continue to Achieve greatness.

In Karen’s own words: “What is life if it isn’t an adventure? I’m constantly amazed by what can be achieved if we set our heart and mind to it. It’s

all about finding belief, confidence, motivation and commitment. There are no limits.”

I felt to be riding into the future, a future full of excitement and beauty to match the mountains around us.


May 2015 19

‘Inspire, Believe, Achieve’

Are you looking to develop leadership or teamwork skills

within your workforce

Do you need a keynote speaker

Do you have a need to recruit more females in to your

industry

Speaker Agency, Leadership & Teamwork development Consultancy.

Would your company benefit from

increasing the number of or developing existing or potential female leaders

We can help using our resource of Inspiring female speakersand Inspiring and expert associates.

[email protected]

20 May 2015

By Kirsty Hill

Spending her early years in a landlocked city hasn’t stopped Corinne Evans from pursuing her dream of being a professional surfer. After moving to Cornwall at the age of 13, Corinne knew she wanted to work in the surf industry and took a course based on surf media and business, which also incorporated surfing. She took lessons with the local grom (young surfer)

Corinne Evans

“It was amazing... just the best feeling. I will never forget it.”

Photo Credit: Matthew Hawkey

May 2015 21

club and recalls the moment when she caught her first proper wave: “It was amazing... just the best feeling. I will never forget it.”

When she was 18, Corinne began modelling, travelling and surfing even more. Realising that she could combine modelling and surfing to make a living from doing what she loves, she contacted FOX about doing competitions, surf trips and getting coverage. In 2013, Corinne joined surf brand Animal as a team rider and describes getting sponsored by the company as being the best thing that has happened in her surf career so far.

“Considering that I grew up in a city, it took me a while to get into surfing and the fact that I’m paid to surf and model is pretty crazy!”

surfer


Photo Credit: Beach Spirit

Photo Credit: Corinne’s Surf Tour

22 May 2015

Corinne is proof that you are never too old or live too far from the beach to take up surfing and encourages women of all ages and backgrounds to give it a go. Her annual surf tour and festival were created with this in mind.

“I wanted to give women a taste of the surfer girl lifestyle in a fun, friendly environment that isn’t intimidating. When I learnt to surf, there was only one female coach around who I was naturally drawn to. There was me and one other girl in our group, the rest were boys and they told us girls that we would never be any good, which was really off putting.”

The events attract girls, older women, those who live in cities, new surfers and anyone who wants to take their surfing to the next level. They are for women who want to get fit, tick something off the bucket list, make new friends and above all, have fun!

“Last year, a 60-year old lady came along who had decided to try lots of different things - surfing being one of them. Seeing how much fun these women have and the friendships they form through the events is fantastic.”

There has never been a better time for women to get into surfing. The number of female surfers is on the increase and Corinne believes that social media has contributed to this.

“Thanks to Instagram for example, people can see what the pro girls are up to - their lifestyle is so appealing and very empowering. Mainstream media sees surfing as a cool way to promote their products which opens further opportunities for those who live inland.”


May 2015 23

24 May 2015

“... surfing can be hard and disheartening if you are not standing up straight away but when it does fall into place, it’s the best feeling in the world!”

Photos Credit: Beach Spirit

May 2015 25

“There are more and more girls competing - the level is off the scale. Up and coming female surfers are really pushing themselves and the prize money for competitions has increased - it will only get better.”

And with two wave parks opening in the UK this year, surfing will become even more accessible, especially for those who don’t live near a beach.

For anyone wanting to learn to surf, Corinne has the following advice:

“Get some lessons. You will learn how to pop-up properly and gain essential knowledge about the sea and ocean safety. Surf as often as you can and keep up your fitness levels. Above all, have fun and stick at it - surfing can be hard and disheartening if you are not standing up straight away but when it does fall into place, it’s the best feeling in the world!”

If you’ve been inspired by Corinne to try surfing, join her surf tour taking place in Cornwall, Devon and Wales. For more information, including dates and booking, visit Corinne’s Surf Tour.

If you can’t make it to one of Corinne’s events, you can find your nearest surf school and book a surf lesson at The Surfing Sumo the UK’s no.1 place to learn to surf. The site has tips to you get started and beach guides for the best place to try it out. And with reviews for the surf schools, it’s easy to find one that suits your ability.

Photo Credit: Corinne’s Surf Tour

26 May 2015

May 2015 27

Photos: Papaya Photography

Interview and article by Myak Homberger

Most families would be pleased to have one daughter represent their country in a sport, so when two sisters represent their country in the same sport though in different disciplines, then it makes for a very interesting and unique story. “Dad always wanted us to do something sporty rather than sit on the road,” Alice said, explaining how it all started for them - although they have ended up in similar but different places.

Hannah is a road racer racing for UHC pro-cycling. This sees her compete in races that vary in terrain, last around three hours and cover 120-130 km. But this is a team race and a team sport where strategy and the support of your teammates is crucial.

Alice is a mountain biker with a very different discipline to contend with. A mass start of individual riders sees them race a course of 4-7 laps with each lap being roughly 5-6km and lasting around 1.15-1.45 hours; this is a flat-out race over terrain.

Cycling is in their blood for sure - both Hannah and Alice have been on bikes from an early age. As Hannah commented, “...my first memory was probably on a bike.” They both have very good and fond memories of their first racing club every Wednesday

Keeping it in the family

The Barnes Sisters

28 May 2015


May 2015 29

night with Team Keyne. Very quickly it becomes obvious that the glue and the momentum is family and in particular their parents. I spent the day with Hannah and Alice doing a location photo shoot as well as the interview and just listening to them talk about their lives and upbringing and where they are at now, it was so clear that the support and love was/is crucial.

So often family and supportive parents are overlooked but the Barnes sisters both together and individually are very aware and grateful for what their parents have done for them. They spoke of the long journeys to get to events only to turn around and drive back straight afterwards without complaint. The significant amount of money spent on kit for them, the overnight stays, weekends given up and then straight back to work on Monday with no time for themselves. As Hannah said, “...they have been so supportive, we couldn’t do it without them”. Although now that both girls are away competing and no longer need their parents to ferry them around and pay for everything they both agree that their parents


30 May 2015


May 2015 31

aren’t sure what to do with all this spare time. As Alice said, “...they have so much time for themselves now they are bored!” and both sisters laugh.

There is genuine affection for their parents as they talk. They may not need lifts but Hannah and Alice keep in contact every day thanks to technology, chatting on the phone if possible. Likewise both Hannah and Alice keep in contact with each other as they

travel the world competing. “We chat loads,” says Alice. However the interesting thing when I ask about sisterly rivalry is that they both agree it’s good that they do different things. As Alice explained, “...we have always been close but I think it’s a good thing that we don’t race against each other.” So in the same way that there is a bond and appreciation of their parents you feel they have the same appreciation of each other. They are close, they are sisters, they are athletes, but they are also friends.

Quiet, unassuming and very humble: Alice and Hannah are a pair of sisters who have their feet firmly on the ground - well, on pedals - and will continue to grow in stature and success because of it.

It’s the sacrifice of parents around the world like this that enable girls around the world to pursue their dreams and to be enabled to achieve greatness. So to Mr and Mrs Barnes and all the parents around the world, thank you for being our unsung hero’s this issue!

“...we have always been close but I think it’s a good thing that we don’t race against each other.”

32 May 2015

Photo credit: Bart Raeymaekers

May 2015 33

Article by Stefan Wyman

With all of the preparation done and no opportunity to jump into a DeLorean and travel back in time and change things, you have to be confident you’ve done all you can to be competitive in races.

Matrix CyclingThe rubber hits the road, season start

34 May 2015

We know it’s a big step up, but without confidence the hard work has been done, it’s going to be an uphill struggle. Racing with doubts leads to poor performance.

Our first few races were a case of dipping our toes in the water. We had no real expectations but we certainly had high hopes. You can’t go into professional races happy to just participate, you have to have some kind of goal, but we didn’t enter the races with a firm result in mind and just hoped our riders would be capable of having an impact on the race.

They certainly did, and early season races saw Christina Siggaard take the first team win of the season, plus an excellent podium finish in the Dwaars door Vlaanderen. Molly Weaver

Racing with doubts leads to

poor performance.

May 2015 35

seamlessly made the step to professional level with her most significant early season result coming in the French classic race in Cholet, with 8th place against some of the worlds leading riders and teams.

But the big test was still to come. We gained entry to two of the worlds biggest races, the Tour of Flanders and the Fleche Wallonee. Both are ranked as World Cup events run alongside the men’s equivalent event. These events are the real step up. Long, fast, tough and relentless racing against only leading riders. They leave any weakness exposed; no place to hide. Tour of Flanders is one of the most iconic events in the world, and it was also going to be the team debut for Laura Trott. A star of London 2012 where she took double gold for Team GB, Laura

These events are the real step up. Long, fast,

tough and relentless racing against only

leading riders.

Photos credit: Bart Raeymaekers

36 May 2015


May 2015 37

opted for the toughest start of all, making the jump from post track season training to the biggest of all events.

It’s not only the results that come under the microscope, but the media attention at these events is huge. Spectator numbers are a massive jump from most events, so everything you do, and how you do it, gets noticed. That attention even moves through to sponsors and we hosted two of our major sponsors that weekend with

It’s exhausting, exhilarating and

inspiring.

Yellow Jersey and Trek Bicycles joining the team in the Belgian sunshine to see how their investment is doing.

We performed well, a steady start, calm and stress free, followed by a crash for Mel Lowther, then the rapid approach to the seemingly endless run of hills, cobbles, cobbled hills, more hills. It’s exhausting, exhilarating and inspiring. Our little team is part of the top of the sport. Molly was our top performer in the finish with 37th. Our goal was top 30, but we did well and were proud of the ride in general. To see Molly getting such a good and significant result was a great moment, but seeing her want to have got more out of the event was even better one. Our riders aren’t satisfied to be riders, they want to be winners:

“As the peloton wound it’s way to the bottom

38 May 2015

of the Oude Kwaremont, I wasn’t in as good a position as I would have liked. Instead of being at the front of the race where the attacking was kicking off once again, I had let myself slip back to the middle of the group. This meant I spent the whole climb fighting to make up places; not an easy task by this point as my legs had decided they’d had enough. With my hands raw and blistered, shredded legs, and about as much positivity repeated in my head as I could manage, I slipped into a second group as we finished climbing and began the lead up to the Patterberg. I put my head down and tried to bridge back to the group, but as I flicked my arm for the next rider to come through, I saw that everyone behind me had a teammate up the road.”

So when you’ve touched the top, what do you need to do next? Well we need to firstly ensure we are there next year. Stability has always been a major goal for our team. We want to continue to grow, and continue to have bigger impacts on events. But to do that we first need to secure our future and at this point of the year, one eye is defiantly already on 2016. It’s a big year being the Olympic year and hopefully our riders can be there winning medals and inspiring another generation of stars.

We’ve managed to put ourselves in the biggest events and on the biggest stage. Now we have to hope the doors to board rooms open and interest from those in control of marketing budgets is diverted towards us. Women’s cycling


May 2015 39

is a rapidly growing sport that still provides a hugely cost effective marketing tool for business around the world. I really hope we can continue to provide the opportunity for our riders to grow and success under our banner for the coming years.

What else do you do once you’ve touched the top? Well you use the inspiration and motivation to keep moving up the result sheet. Bite size targets, week on week, will help our challenge for the top of the sport become a reality. Lot of trainings, lots of learning, and lots of near misses will all be key ingredients if we want more big steps over the coming months and years.

Women’s cycling is a rapidly growing sport

that still provides a hugely cost effective

marketing tool for business around the

world.

40 May 2015

May 2015 41


TM


TM

“It is not how big you are, it’s how big you

play.”- Author unknown

42 May 2015

Netball World Cup 2015 new format

The 14th edition of the Netball World Cup (formerly World Netball Championships) will be held on 7-16 August 2015 in Sydney.

2015 sees a new competition format which will see the top-ranked teams play each other more than once, offering fans the opportunity to see teams such as New Zealand, England, Australia and Jamaica go head-to-head in blockbuster matches before the final stages of the competition.

% Australia has won

WC

% New Zealand has won

WC

% Trinadad &

Tobago has won

WC

28.57% 28.57%

7.14%

92.86%

1

2

4

1

24

6

3

Highest position Lowest position

Australia England Jamaica New Zealand

71.43% 71.43%

Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with a mild winter, and has more than 340 sunny days a year. August is the last month of winter technically.

South Africa is the only nation other than Australia and New Zealand to have played in a World Cup final. Finals were introduced in 1991 in Sydney, Australia and South Africa’s appearance in that final against Australia remains the only time any other nation has been part of the 6 previous Netball World Cup finals.

Sports International Magazine's

Netball World Cup 2015 in

numbers:

Other teams

Other teamsOther teams

Only 4 teams have competed in every World cup, how have they faired?

18C/64F32% chance of rain

Average of 9 hours sunshine per day

SOURCE: Bureau of Meteorology

Data anomaly due to Trinidad & Tobago being joint winners with Australia and New Zealand in 1979 in Port of Spain, Trinidad.Data:NWC2015

May 2015 43

nwc2015.com.au/TICKETS

7-16 AUG 2015

NWCS0029 NSW Program A4 297x210.indd 1 3/03/2015 4:50 pm

Netball World Cup 2015 new format

The 14th edition of the Netball World Cup (formerly World Netball Championships) will be held on 7-16 August 2015 in Sydney.

2015 sees a new competition format which will see the top-ranked teams play each other more than once, offering fans the opportunity to see teams such as New Zealand, England, Australia and Jamaica go head-to-head in blockbuster matches before the final stages of the competition.

% Australia has won

WC

% New Zealand has won

WC

% Trinadad &

Tobago has won

WC

28.57% 28.57%

7.14%

92.86%

1

2

4

1

24

6

3

Highest position Lowest position

Australia England Jamaica New Zealand

71.43% 71.43%

Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with a mild winter, and has more than 340 sunny days a year. August is the last month of winter technically.

South Africa is the only nation other than Australia and New Zealand to have played in a World Cup final. Finals were introduced in 1991 in Sydney, Australia and South Africa’s appearance in that final against Australia remains the only time any other nation has been part of the 6 previous Netball World Cup finals.

Sports International Magazine's

Netball World Cup 2015 in

numbers:

Other teams

Other teamsOther teams

Only 4 teams have competed in every World cup, how have they faired?

18C/64F32% chance of rain

Average of 9 hours sunshine per day

SOURCE: Bureau of Meteorology

Data anomaly due to Trinidad & Tobago being joint winners with Australia and New Zealand in 1979 in Port of Spain, Trinidad.Data:NWC2015

44 May 2015

YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Huw Williams

May 2015 45

embark on their their own specific task of they day.

Race day has come and within less than 3 hours the roads are converted into an amazing Racing arena, lined with 900 barriers, advertising flags

Article by Richard Stoodley

At 6.30 am on 20th September 2015, the residents of the beautiful village of Tickhill, South Yorkshire will still be sleeping soundly as the lorries, transporters and equipment start to arrive at their destination along with hundreds of contractors and volunteers each ready to

46 May 2015

...The Race itself offers the public free admission to watch 8 Races over the day

ranging from Youth Under 12 Boys and Girls right up to the professional ‘Elite’ Men’s and Women’s Races which boast

the UK’s biggest Prize Fund.Photo Credit: John Ennis

May 2015 47

48 May 2015

and hoardings, speakers systems, 2 huge 13m2 LED video screens, a Cycle Kitchen of Street Food vendors ready to feed the 5000 spectators who are due to witness a fantastic day of exciting, action paced Cycle Racing as the YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix moves into its third year.

It’s funny, because by 9.00 pm at night the village will be morphed back into its original sleepy state and other than a few folk finishing off with a street brush, and the noise of the celebrations still ringing out from the Scarborough Arms public house from the day’s talented winning teams, you wouldn’t even know anything had happened.

But it is this level of dedication and organisation that has made the Tickhill Grand Prix what it is, which is quite simply an overnight success story, one of the best Cycling Criterium Races in the UK, that has come from nothing but a simple idea,

then hard, hard graft and boundless enthusiasm.

The Race itself offers the public free admission to watch 8 Races over the day ranging from Youth Under 12 Boys and Girls right up to the professional ‘Elite’ Men’s and Women’s Races which boast the UK’s biggest Prize Fund.

The organisation of the actual Races is one thing, attracting about 500 Riders, and running under British Cycling rules, with a back up team numbering about 100 of Marshals, Judges, Scrutineers, Medics, Commissars, Commentators, Car Park attendants, Signing on staff, litter pickers, helpers etc, but running an event such as the YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix requires dedication to get the event infrastructure in place.

As spectators, you see what is in front of you, but have you ever considered, who turns on the


May 2015 49Photo Credit: Huw Williams

50 May 2015Photo Credit: John Ennis

May 2015 51

lights at the temporary traffic lights which works in conjunction with a major diversion of the main A roads ? Who draws out the diagram of exactly where the 900 + metal pedestrian barriers will be placed ? Who contacts the Care companies to ensure that the bedridden lady at No 39 will still be able to get her Meals on Wheels ? Who decided on the colours of the ribbon for the Winners bouquet ? Who charges the 45 radios to ensure great communication ? Who do you originally speak and apply to at the Police and the Council to organise a Temporary Road Traffic Order? How many Ty-Wraps do you need to secure almost 1000 metres of advertising bannering from about 75 different companies ? And has anyone ever considered that someone had the job of calling door to door to each and

every resident in the village directly effected by putting on the Race and giving them opportunity to voice their concerns ?

Well those are just a tiny fraction of the thousands of different jobs that have been ongoing since the day after the last event finished in August last year.

So why does an event need to be so diligent ? Race organiser ‘Rapid Rich’ Stoodley explained;

“ When you decide to put on an event like the YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix, you soon realise the costs are going to be huge and to cover these you need to fund them by offering the event as a vehicle that companies want to use to promote themselves, you have to give them

Photo Credit: Richard Stoodley

52 May 2015

Photo Credit: John Ennis

May 2015 53

something with value, exposure and prestige, and that is when it becomes serious.”

“Everything needs to look right, sound right, read right and be right. A sponsor may be giving you tens of thousands or just a few hundred pounds but each equally need their adverts to be right, each wants to revel in the atmosphere of the day which is only achieved if both the Spectators and the Riders are enjoying themselves, so it it crucial that every element is planned and controlled from the 900 + Barriers to the freshness on the Cream in the VIP’s scones, from the Pantone colour of the YESSS ELECTRICAL logo to the toilet signs, from the fair pricing and quality of the coffee to the 1000th second photo finish timing ..... ALL and EVERY task is as important as the next.”

It is hard to believe that on the 20th September this will only be the 3rd time the Tickhill Grand Prix has run, such is the slickness of the operation, but equally as impressive is its standing as a British Cycling event.

It was the recognition and belief that Women’s Cycling needed to be given equal status that put Tickhill firmly on the map. The organisers gave the Women Racers what they wanted and included equal prize money, and overnight, on its inaugural running of inclusion of Women’s Races it was hailed as the biggest and best Women’s Crit Race in the UK.

No bad for the first one you have put on, and even better when you find out the organiser doesn’t really have a clue about Cycling and only climbed on board the saddle himself aged 53 in October 2012 !

We will be previewing the YESSS TICHILL GRAND PRIX in more detail in out JULY /AUGUST (?) issue, but be sure to open your diary to visit this beautiful historic village on 20th September, and as you enjoy a Paella or Pizza in the Cycle Kitchen or are supping a pint of their own Grand Prix Ale whilst flicking through the comprehensive and informative full colour programme, just bear a thought .... how did this all come together !

“Everything needs to look right, sound right, read right and be right.

54 May 2015

6875s Spur UK Kids Ad.indd 1 2015/02/19 12:34 PM

WHERE: Tickhill, Nr Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN11 9PY

WHEN: Sunday 20th September 2015 - Racing starts at 11.30 am

WEBSITE: www.tickhillgp.com

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsnPFj5slSc

Twitter: @T_VeloGrandPrix

RACES:

Youth B Mixed - Under 12 Boys / Girls

YOUTH B BOYS - Under 14 Boys only

YOUTH A / B GIRLS - Under 16 / Under 14 Girls only

YOUTH A BOYS - Under 16 Boys only

WOMEN Cat. 3 & 4 - Women Only

MEN Cat. 3 & 4 - Men Only

WOMEN ELITE , 1 , 2 - Top Teams & professional Women

MEN ELITE, 1, 2 - Top Teams & professional Men.

YESSS Tickhill Grand PrixEVENT DETAILS

http://www.tickhillgp.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsnPFj5slSc

May 2015 55

6875s Spur UK Kids Ad.indd 1 2015/02/19 12:34 PM


56 May 2015

By Myak Homberger

Solheim Cup is an extraordinary moment in the Golfing calendar where athletes in this individual sport come together to represent Team Europe or Team USA every two years. This year the Cup returns to Europe and will be played at the St Leon-Rot Golf Club in Germany.

EXCL

USIVE

Photos courtesy Ladies European Tour

We have written about the Solheim Cup from many angles over time but as of yet we haven’t learnt more about the Team USA players to understand what it’s like to be on the team and to play in a Solheim Cup. Speaking with four previous Team USA players we wanted

the Solheim Cup and what it means

USA –Team

May 2015 57

the Solheim Cup and what it means

to understand what it is like to be part of the Solheim Cup event.

The one thing that all of the players instantly said was that it was about the honour of representing your country and that the format of a team event is something they loved. As Brittany Linicome said, “...there is nothing better”. Playing for your country is not something that normally happens in Golf and it is very obvious in listening to the players how much this means to them. “It’s a dream come true and a huge honour,” said Gerina Pillar of being selected to play for Team USA. Or as Lizette Salas put it, “...everyone wants to on the team.”

The stand out thing for me in everything that they all said was the emotion of it, starting with the selection. From the time selections are being decided players start to talk on the course and

at events - as Brittany Lang described it, “...you want to be on it (the team) but you need to focus on the golf tournaments you are in (prior to selection).” This seems to be a very nerve racking time for all of those in contention and when you finally get told you are in it’s all just too much for some. As Gerina Pillar explained, “I broke down in tears, the pressure. It still gives me chill bumps, Meg saying ‘you’re going to Colorado with us’.” And then she stopped for a moment and added “I still get teary-eyed about it, it’s the best feeling in golf”.

It seems that a lot of it has to do with validation of the player, in part that they are good enough to make the team, but more importantly I think, that it validates what they are doing and all the hours and sacrifice they have put in over the years. As Lizette Salas said, “...finding out alongside my dad is a special moment, knowing


58 May 2015


May 2015 59

all your work has paid off, I started to cry”. This is an incredibly powerful moment for these players, as it seems from what they say that it somehow connects them and that it’s an experience.

For others the impact is more on the course once you are there and the fans are supporting you and the moment you have always waited for is finally here. As Lizette Salas explained, “I was crying before I got to the first tee, I didn’t know why, such an indescribable feeling”. Or as Brittany Linicome described it “...you feel like you are going to be sick on the 1st tee no matter how many times you have done it”.

If you look at the photos you will see the stands and crowd watching as the first tee shot is taken, that is pressure enough. If you then you then add the fact you are representing your country, the event status, the validation it gives players, there is no wonder they feel like this.

If this is what it is like beforehand and at the start of the competition, how on earth do they keep it together? Brittany Linicome summed it up when she described how “it’s special because

you are helping each other, encouraging each other”. They are in this as a team and that’s what gets them through, along with professionalism that kicks in and they focus on playing to their


“...you get very little sleep and you run on adrenaline”

60 May 2015

strengths, all powered by the knowledge that they are playing for their country as a team and that this is an opportunity not to be missed. It still doesn’t take away from the intensity of the competition though, and I think Brittany Lang covers it well when she said “...it’s exhausting, you get very little sleep and you run on adrenaline knowing that the next week you can sleep”.

What I really enjoyed was the openness of the golfers talking, they answered my questions so honestly without pretending to be cool about it and that in itself shows what the Solheim Cup means to them and brings out in people. It may not be for the faint hearted but for those who have done it and for those who are on the edges it is a life changing experience.


May 2015 61

62 May 2015

By Myak Homberger

They say ‘it’s tough at the top’ but wow, the USWNT (United States Women’s National Team) have had a tough time with an almost endless list of issues and challenges on and off the field with players, media and even fans not liking the kit that Nike have made specifically for the World Cup. It’s like they can’t catch a break.

Football: The United States Women’s National Team

May 2015 63

64 May 2015

Photo credit: Papaya Photography

May 2015 65

66 May 2015

Until recently they were ranked number one in the world (Germany are currently number one). World Cup winners in 1991 and 1999, the team has a unique stat in that they have participated in every Olympics, winning a medal in each; winning in 1996, 2000; being Runners-up 2004 and then winning in 2008 and 2012. The sheer weight of expectation, pressure and demand has been significantly more than for other countries.

As far as experience goes they have it in spadefuls: defender Christie Rampone will be attending her fifth World Cup, Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach will be playing in their fourth World Cups, while Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo and Heather O’Reilly enter their third. They will be leading a group of eight into their first World Cup: Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher, Whitney Engen, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Morgan Brian, Sydney Leroux and Christen Press.

Given this and the expectation of lifting the cup again we thought it would be good to spend time getting to know the team behind the news and hype, to see what lies behind the stories.

The first thing I would say is that we found that there were no airs and graces from any of the players or the staff, no diva’s and no corporate lines given to us. We considered it a privilege to have been invited to a closed training session to watch the team train, spend time chatting with the players and then to interview the players after their game against England. Of course there were things we were asked not to film etc., but nothing more than you would expect from any national team. For me this is a huge plus and shows their openness to talk and allow us to see them as they are.

Talking with the players it was clear that they love playing for their country and as Nicole Barnhart

“I don’t take it for granted, each caps is amazing.”

Photo credit: Myroslava Terlycky

May 2015 67



68 May 2015

put it, “I don’t take it for granted, each caps is amazing.” They want to play for USWNT and for sure the World Cup is a huge draw for them. Both Ali Krieger and Carli Lloyd said almost the same words when talking to them about the World Cup: “...it’s the journey, the journey to the World Cup.” For them so much has gone before but there is so much to come, for the players each of their journeys and training are their stories and listening to them you can sense their desire and focus.

Anticipation is high amongst the players as they head into the World Cup and as they look to focus on the World Cup, be a team and what it means to win. In our conversation with her after the England game, Alex Morgan said that the team was “focused on being selfless” and this was the key to their winning ways. This is great to hear for a number of reasons, most importantly for the sake of Abby Wambach, their ‘go to’ lynchpin in a tough situation. The 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, holder of the world record for international goals for both female and male soccer players with 178 goals is a colossus on the field. She has ‘thrown the team on her back’ and willed it to victory when that looked almost impossible, as Mia Hamm put it. With more focus on team the pressure is off her to pull the team through and do what she does best and also to give room to other team mates to flourish. This focus can be the glue that pulls them together and can show the world that they are back on top and how things can be done. This is a team with desire and destiny.

There are wrinkles that they are working on and hopefully they will have straightened by the World Cup, I hope so for their sake because they have accomplished much both as a team and as individuals and they have a lot more potential and a lot more to give. If you look at the team on

“...it’s the journey, the journey to the World Cup.”


May 2015 69

paper, there are a number of players who would be on anyone’s list of a world 11 team. There are great players and good people that make up the team and I look forward to seeing that connection and the burning desire that I saw in players as we spoke as well as that determination and pride of representing the USA to bring this team to new found glory.

70 May 2015

OTTAWA

EDMONTON

MONTREAL

MONCTON

VANCOUVER

WINNIPEG

6 JUNE – 5 JULY

@FIFAWWC

facebook.com/fifawomensworldcup

Canada has hosted one edition of the Summer Olympics (Montreal 1976) and two Winter Olympics (Calgary 1988 and Vancouver 2010).

The Canadian women’s team has participated in five out of six editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, their best ranking being fourth in 2003.

One year before the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015™, Canada will also play host to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014. Canada will be the first country to host this tournament twice after staging the first edition in 2002 when they finished as runners-up. Toronto is the only FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup stadium that will not host the senior event in 2015.

The Canadian Soccer Association celebrated its centenary in 2012.

Christine Sinclair scored ten goals in one edition of the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in 2002, the tournament that is now called the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Former FIFA referee Sonia Denoncourt from Canada has refereed the second highest number of matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ with a total of nine.

The number of teams participating in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ will increase from 16 to 24 in 2015. In 1991 and 1995, there were just 12.

In Mexico in 2010, Canada won the CONCACAF Women’s Championship for the second time.

Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), known around the world as The Mounties, is a federal police force for Canada. Even though the RCMP is a modern policing body, the scarlet tunic and the black horse remain an important part of the force’s traditions and form part of Canada’s national identity, as seen in the popular Musical Ride ceremony.

Inuksuit are stone landmarks or cairns built primarily by the Inuit in the Arctic region of Canada. They vary greatly in shape, colour, size and how they are constructed and each one has some form of meaning. They have also been used in the past by Inuit in the Arctic region to divert caribou to a wider part of a river or lake for hunting purposes. The word inukshuk means “in the likeness of a human”. Inuit Heritage Trust

Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by indigenous peoples of the Pacific coast of North America. The word totem means “kinship group”.

Tidal Bores are natural phenomena caused here by the surging Bay of Fundy tides which are the highest in the world. The higher waters in the bay cause the water in the placid Petitcodiac River to roll back upstream in one wave. Tidal bore activity occurs twice daily and waves range in height from 3cm to 60cm.

Trees have a commercial, environmental and aesthetic importance to Canadians. Maples sustain the maple sugar industry, help to beautify the landscape and contribute valuable wood products. The maple tree was officially recognised as Canada’s arboreal emblem in 1996.

On 15 February, 1965, the red maple leaf flag was inaugurated as the national flag of Canada making it one of the most prominent Canadian symbols.

Live Your Goals is FIFA’s long-term commitment to support women’s football worldwide and encourage more young women and girls to participate in the sport.

Editorial deadline: March 2014

© FIFA 2014

Images © Getty Images

May 2015 71

OTTAWA

EDMONTON

MONTREAL

MONCTON

VANCOUVER

WINNIPEG

6 JUNE – 5 JULY

@FIFAWWC

facebook.com/fifawomensworldcup

Canada has hosted one edition of the Summer Olympics (Montreal 1976) and two Winter Olympics (Calgary 1988 and Vancouver 2010).

The Canadian women’s team has participated in five out of six editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, their best ranking being fourth in 2003.

One year before the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015™, Canada will also play host to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014. Canada will be the first country to host this tournament twice after staging the first edition in 2002 when they finished as runners-up. Toronto is the only FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup stadium that will not host the senior event in 2015.

The Canadian Soccer Association celebrated its centenary in 2012.

Christine Sinclair scored ten goals in one edition of the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in 2002, the tournament that is now called the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Former FIFA referee Sonia Denoncourt from Canada has refereed the second highest number of matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ with a total of nine.

The number of teams participating in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ will increase from 16 to 24 in 2015. In 1991 and 1995, there were just 12.

In Mexico in 2010, Canada won the CONCACAF Women’s Championship for the second time.

Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), known around the world as The Mounties, is a federal police force for Canada. Even though the RCMP is a modern policing body, the scarlet tunic and the black horse remain an important part of the force’s traditions and form part of Canada’s national identity, as seen in the popular Musical Ride ceremony.

Inuksuit are stone landmarks or cairns built primarily by the Inuit in the Arctic region of Canada. They vary greatly in shape, colour, size and how they are constructed and each one has some form of meaning. They have also been used in the past by Inuit in the Arctic region to divert caribou to a wider part of a river or lake for hunting purposes. The word inukshuk means “in the likeness of a human”. Inuit Heritage Trust

Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by indigenous peoples of the Pacific coast of North America. The word totem means “kinship group”.

Tidal Bores are natural phenomena caused here by the surging Bay of Fundy tides which are the highest in the world. The higher waters in the bay cause the water in the placid Petitcodiac River to roll back upstream in one wave. Tidal bore activity occurs twice daily and waves range in height from 3cm to 60cm.

Trees have a commercial, environmental and aesthetic importance to Canadians. Maples sustain the maple sugar industry, help to beautify the landscape and contribute valuable wood products. The maple tree was officially recognised as Canada’s arboreal emblem in 1996.

On 15 February, 1965, the red maple leaf flag was inaugurated as the national flag of Canada making it one of the most prominent Canadian symbols.

Live Your Goals is FIFA’s long-term commitment to support women’s football worldwide and encourage more young women and girls to participate in the sport.

Editorial deadline: March 2014

© FIFA 2014

Images © Getty Images

72 May 2015

Sund

ayJu

ne 7

Tues

day

June

9

Thur

sday

June

11

Satu

rday

June

13

Mon

day

June

15

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ne 1

7

Frid

ayJu

ne 1

9

Sund

ayJu

ne 2

1

Tues

day

June

23

Satu

rday

June

6

Mon

day

June

8

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ne 1

0

Sund

ay

June

14

Satu

rday

June

27

Sund

ay

June

28

Tues

day

June

16

Thur

sday

June

18

Satu

rday

June

20

Mon

day

June

22

Thur

sday

June

25

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ne 2

4

Frid

ayJu

ne 2

6

Tues

day

June

30

Satu

rday

July

4

Sund

ay

July

5

Mon

day

June

29

Thur

sday

July

2

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ly 1

Frid

ayJu

ly 3

Frid

ayJu

ne 1

2

3/4 Placeand Final

Semi Finals

Quarter FinalsGroup Matches Round of 16

WinnipegWinnipeg Stadium* EDT -1

EdmontonCommonwealthStadium* EDT -2

MonctonMoncton Stadium* EDT +1

VancouverBC Place Stadium* EDT -3

MontrealOlympic Stadium* EDT

OttawaLansdowne Stadium* EDT

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ay

Re

st d

ay

Group DGroup BGroup A Group C Group E Group F

Subj

ect t

o C

hang

e. W

= W

inne

r, L

= Lo

ser

* Note: Local kick-off times are listed. Eastern Daylight Times (EDT) is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) -4 hours.

USA (USA)

Australia (AUS)

Sweden (SWE)

Nigeria (NGA)

Germany (GER)

Côte d’Ivoire (CIV)

Norway (NOR)

Thailand (THA)

Japan (JPN)

Switzerland (SUI)

Cameroon (CMR)

Ecuador (ECU)

Brazil (BRA)

Korea Republic (KOR)

Spain (ESP)

Costa Rica (CRC)

France (FRA)

England (ENG)

Colombia (COL)

Mexico (MEX)

Canada (CAN)

China PR (CHN)

New Zealand (NZL)

Netherlands (NED)

09

.12

.20

14

© F

IFA

28 17:00

CIVv.

NOR

01 16:00

CANv.

CHN

02 19:00

NZLv.

NED

03 16:00

GERv.

CIV

06 16:00

CMRv.

ECU

05 19:00

JPNv.

SUI

07 18:30

USAv.

AUS

08 15:00

SWEv.

NGA

09 19:00

BRAv.

KOR

10 16:00

ESPv.

CRC

11 14:00

FRAv.

ENG

12 17:00

COLv.

MEX

13 19:00

CANv.

NZL

14 16:00

CHNv.

NED

15 16:00

GERv.

NOR

16 19:00

CIVv.

THA

04 13.00

NORv.

THA

18 16:00

SUIv.

ECU

17 19:00

JPNv.

CMR

19 19:00

USAv.

SWE

20 16:00

AUSv.

NGA

21 16:00

BRAv.

ESP

22 19:00

KORv.

CRC

23 14:00

FRAv.

COL

24 17:00

ENGv.

MEX

26 18:30

CHNv.

NZL

25 19:30

NEDv.

CAN

44 16:30

1st Av.

3rd C/D/E

43 17:00

2nd Bv.

2nd F

47 14:00

W41v.

W42

51 14:00

L49v.

L50

52 16:00

W49v.

W50

39 16:00

1st Bv.

3rd A/C/D

42 19:00

1st Cv.

3rd A/B/F

41 14:00

1st Ev.

2nd D

40 16:00

1st Fv.

2nd E

45 19:30

W37v.

W38

46 16:00

W39v.

W40

50 17:00

W47v.

W48

49 19:00

W45v.

W46

38 18:00

1st Dv.

3rd B/E/F

48 16:30

W43v.

W44

37 17:30

2nd Av.

2nd C

27 15:00

THAv.

GER

30 15:00

SUIv.

CMR

29 16:00

ECUv.

JPN

32 18:00

AUSv.

SWE

31 17:00

NGAv.

USA

34 19:00

KORv.

ESP

33 20:00

CRCv.

BRA

36 16:00

ENGv.

COL

35 16:00

MEXv.

FRA

MATCH SCHEDULE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™

May 2015 73

Sund

ayJu

ne 7

Tues

day

June

9

Thur

sday

June

11

Satu

rday

June

13

Mon

day

June

15

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ne 1

7

Frid

ayJu

ne 1

9

Sund

ayJu

ne 2

1

Tues

day

June

23

Satu

rday

June

6

Mon

day

June

8

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ne 1

0

Sund

ay

June

14

Satu

rday

June

27

Sund

ay

June

28

Tues

day

June

16

Thur

sday

June

18

Satu

rday

June

20

Mon

day

June

22

Thur

sday

June

25

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ne 2

4

Frid

ayJu

ne 2

6

Tues

day

June

30

Satu

rday

July

4

Sund

ay

July

5

Mon

day

June

29

Thur

sday

July

2

Wed

nesd

ayJu

ly 1

Frid

ayJu

ly 3

Frid

ayJu

ne 1

2

3/4 Placeand Final

Semi Finals

Quarter FinalsGroup Matches Round of 16

WinnipegWinnipeg Stadium* EDT -1

EdmontonCommonwealthStadium* EDT -2

MonctonMoncton Stadium* EDT +1

VancouverBC Place Stadium* EDT -3

MontrealOlympic Stadium* EDT

OttawaLansdowne Stadium* EDT

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ays

Re

st d

ay

Re

st d

ay

Group DGroup BGroup A Group C Group E Group F

Subj

ect t

o C

hang

e. W

= W

inne

r, L

= Lo

ser

* Note: Local kick-off times are listed. Eastern Daylight Times (EDT) is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) -4 hours.

USA (USA)

Australia (AUS)

Sweden (SWE)

Nigeria (NGA)

Germany (GER)

Côte d’Ivoire (CIV)

Norway (NOR)

Thailand (THA)

Japan (JPN)

Switzerland (SUI)

Cameroon (CMR)

Ecuador (ECU)

Brazil (BRA)

Korea Republic (KOR)

Spain (ESP)

Costa Rica (CRC)

France (FRA)

England (ENG)

Colombia (COL)

Mexico (MEX)

Canada (CAN)

China PR (CHN)

New Zealand (NZL)

Netherlands (NED)

09

.12

.20

14

© F

IFA

28 17:00

CIVv.

NOR

01 16:00

CANv.

CHN

02 19:00

NZLv.

NED

03 16:00

GERv.

CIV

06 16:00

CMRv.

ECU

05 19:00

JPNv.

SUI

07 18:30

USAv.

AUS

08 15:00

SWEv.

NGA

09 19:00

BRAv.

KOR

10 16:00

ESPv.

CRC

11 14:00

FRAv.

ENG

12 17:00

COLv.

MEX

13 19:00

CANv.

NZL

14 16:00

CHNv.

NED

15 16:00

GERv.

NOR

16 19:00

CIVv.

THA

04 13.00

NORv.

THA

18 16:00

SUIv.

ECU

17 19:00

JPNv.

CMR

19 19:00

USAv.

SWE

20 16:00

AUSv.

NGA

21 16:00

BRAv.

ESP

22 19:00

KORv.

CRC

23 14:00

FRAv.

COL

24 17:00

ENGv.

MEX

26 18:30

CHNv.

NZL

25 19:30

NEDv.

CAN

44 16:30

1st Av.

3rd C/D/E

43 17:00

2nd Bv.

2nd F

47 14:00

W41v.

W42

51 14:00

L49v.

L50

52 16:00

W49v.

W50

39 16:00

1st Bv.

3rd A/C/D

42 19:00

1st Cv.

3rd A/B/F

41 14:00

1st Ev.

2nd D

40 16:00

1st Fv.

2nd E

45 19:30

W37v.

W38

46 16:00

W39v.

W40

50 17:00

W47v.

W48

49 19:00

W45v.

W46

38 18:00

1st Dv.

3rd B/E/F

48 16:30

W43v.

W44

37 17:30

2nd Av.

2nd C

27 15:00

THAv.

GER

30 15:00

SUIv.

CMR

29 16:00

ECUv.

JPN

32 18:00

AUSv.

SWE

31 17:00

NGAv.

USA

34 19:00

KORv.

ESP

33 20:00

CRCv.

BRA

36 16:00

ENGv.

COL

35 16:00

MEXv.

FRA

MATCH SCHEDULE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™

74 May 2015

FIFA.com/Canada2015 | 25FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™24 |

GROUP A

EDMONTON · EDMONTON · MONTRÉAL

A1 CANADA

EDMONTON · EDMONTON · WINNIPEG

A2


A3


A4

GROUP C

VANCOUVER · VANCOUVER · WINNIPEG

C1

VANCOUVER · VANCOUVER · EDMONTON

C2


C3


C4

GROUP E

MONTRÉAL · MONTRÉAL · MONCTON

E1

MONTRÉAL · MONTRÉAL · OTTAWA

E2


E3


E4

GROUP B

OTTAWA · OTTAWA · WINNIPEG

B1

OTTAWA · OTTAWA · MONCTON

B2


B3


B4

GROUP D

WINNIPEG · WINNIPEG · VANCOUVER

D1

WINNIPEG · WINNIPEG · EDMONTON

D2


D3


D4

GROUP F

MONCTON · MONCTON · OTTAWA

F1

MONCTON · MONCTON · MONTRÉAL

F2


F3


F4

24 FINALISTSAFC

JAPAN2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup winners

Qualified on 18 May 2014

AUSTRALIA2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup runners up


CHINA PR2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup third placeQualified on 19 May 2014

KOREA REPUBLIC2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup fourth placeQualified on 19 May 2014

THAILAND2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup fifth placeQualified on 21 May 2014

CONCACAFCANADAFIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™

Qualified as hosts of the final competition

USA2014 CONCACAF Championship winners

Qualified on 24 October 2014

COSTA RICA2014 CONCACAF Championship runners up


MEXICO2014 CONCACAF Championship third placeQualified on 26 October 2014

CONMEBOLBRAZIL2014 Copa América Femenina winnersQualified on 26 September 2014

COLOMBIA2014 Copa América Femenina runners upQualified on 28 September 2014

ECUADORCONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff winnersQualified on 2 December 2014

CAFNIGERIA2014 African Championship winnersQualified on 22 October 2014

CAMEROON2014 African Championship runners upQualified on 22 October 2014

CÔTE D’IVOIRE2014 African Championship third placeQualified on 25 October 2014

OFCNEW ZEALAND2014 OFC Women’s Nations Cup winners


UEFAGERMANY2013-14 UEFA Group 1 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

SPAIN2013-14 UEFA Group 2 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

SWITZERLAND2013-14 UEFA Group 3 winnersQualified on 16 June 2014

SWEDEN2013-14 UEFA Group 4 winnersQualified on 17 September 2014

NORWAY2013-14 UEFA Group 5 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

ENGLAND2013-14 UEFA Group 6 winnersQualified on 21 August 2014

FRANCE2013-14 UEFA Group 7 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

NETHERLANDS2014 UEFA Playoff winners

Qualified on 27 November 2014

May 2015 75

FIFA.com/Canada2015 | 25FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™24 |

GROUP A


A1 CANADA


A2


A3


A4

GROUP C


C1


C2


C3


C4

GROUP E


E1


E2


E3


E4

GROUP B


B1


B2


B3


B4

GROUP D


D1


D2


D3


D4

GROUP F


F1


F2


F3


F4

24 FINALISTSAFC

JAPAN2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup winners


AUSTRALIA2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup runners up


CHINA PR2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup third placeQualified on 19 May 2014

KOREA REPUBLIC2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup fourth placeQualified on 19 May 2014

THAILAND2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup fifth placeQualified on 21 May 2014

CONCACAFCANADAFIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™

Qualified as hosts of the final competition

USA2014 CONCACAF Championship winners


COSTA RICA2014 CONCACAF Championship runners up


MEXICO2014 CONCACAF Championship third placeQualified on 26 October 2014

CONMEBOLBRAZIL2014 Copa América Femenina winnersQualified on 26 September 2014

COLOMBIA2014 Copa América Femenina runners upQualified on 28 September 2014

ECUADORCONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff winnersQualified on 2 December 2014

CAFNIGERIA2014 African Championship winnersQualified on 22 October 2014

CAMEROON2014 African Championship runners upQualified on 22 October 2014

CÔTE D’IVOIRE2014 African Championship third placeQualified on 25 October 2014

OFCNEW ZEALAND2014 OFC Women’s Nations Cup winners


UEFAGERMANY2013-14 UEFA Group 1 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

SPAIN2013-14 UEFA Group 2 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

SWITZERLAND2013-14 UEFA Group 3 winnersQualified on 16 June 2014

SWEDEN2013-14 UEFA Group 4 winnersQualified on 17 September 2014

NORWAY2013-14 UEFA Group 5 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

ENGLAND2013-14 UEFA Group 6 winnersQualified on 21 August 2014

FRANCE2013-14 UEFA Group 7 winnersQualified on 13 September 2014

NETHERLANDS2014 UEFA Playoff winners

Qualified on 27 November 2014

76 May 2015

The beauty of the GAMEThe beauty of the GAME

FIFA Women’s World CupFIFA Women’s World Cup

Photo Credit: Papaya Photography

May 2015 77

By Myak Homberger

Football is so often referred to as the ‘beautiful game’ and if you read through all the stats, information and history of the Women’s World Cup it is so easy to see why the FIFA Women’s World Cup is a beautiful thing indeed. It is impossible not to get excited by every aspect of it!

For those converted, come along and enjoy the ride and for those who don’t know much about Football let me try and convert you.

Things have changed over the years as the competition has developed alongside the women’s game around the world. For starters there was no specifically designed football until the 1999 World Cup - isn’t that amazing? As well as this, regulation time for matches at the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 was 80 minutes but changed in 1995 to 90 minutes. Of the 24

teams competing this time, only seven teams have participated in all six previous World Cup tournaments. These teams are Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden and the USA.

What is also great to see is the growth of the game with the number of participants in the World Cup qualifiers going from 45 teams in 1991 to 128 in 2015. This shows the appetite for the game around the world and the desire for countries to compete for the pinnacle in Football.

It’s so exciting to see so many countries participating as you read through the list of countries that took part in the qualifiers for this World Cup. Credit as well to FIFA for the mammoth task it must have been to organise the qualification matches for this World Cup. In 1991 there were a 110 matches around the


78 May 2015

So it will all boil down to the 24 teams competing in 6 pools and a total of 52 matches across 6 host cities to see who will raise the World Cup in Canada. These are exciting times for women’s football globally, especially given the current level of issues around mens football at the moment. By contrast, the female footballers are renewing the beauty of the game for many.

world and this has now risen to 398 for this edition! Played in 79 countries and 179 cities with a total of 1,643 goals scored, the FIFA team have delivered something truly remarkable for this edition.

The 2011 World Cup saw new records in broadcasting and audience participation around the world as a total of 5,931 hours were broadcast across 181 territories reaching an in-home audience of a staggering 248.5 million people who watched games. This number jumps hugely if you add people who watched some of a game to 407.8 million, incredible figures for women’s sport! It’s no surprise that the highest viewed game was the final, JPN v USA where 62.8 million sat glued to their seats.

To measure the record for all-time attendance you would need to go back to the World Cup USA 1999, when a total of 1,194,221 fans flocked to the stadiums, an average of more than 37,300 per game. The 1999 World Cup also set an attendance record for a single match, when a total of 90,185 spectators watched the USA beat China PR in the final at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.

So can the 2015 World Cup beat these figures? Well, it certainly seems it from all the media talk and excitement as well as the ticket sales at the time of writing this. It seems that we are on course for some records to tumble.

Most telling as to how the women’s game has improved is that the goal average has dropped from over three goals for the first six tournaments (with a record of 3.84 in 1999) to 2.69 in the last edition, which reflects the steady development and increasing professionalism of the women’s game.


May 2015 79

DISCLAIMERThe instructions we provide here are on our website are for illustrative purposes only. They are not meant to replace professional medical advice. If you are su�ering from a medical problem you should immediately contact your physician. Muscular and skeletal problems are often indicative of serious health issues and you should seek treatment from your doctor or therapist. Cancer paitents should not use SPORTTAPE and do not use on the abdomen if pregnant. Warranties and remedies are limited to replacement cost.

FOR MORE TAPING GUIDES VISIT WWW.SPORTTAPE.CO.UK

The Basic FLEX TAPE Techniques

End-To-End Taping Technique Centre Taping TechniqueThis is the most common application technique. Tear and remove the backing tape 2-3cm from one end and apply the tape to the skin with 0% stretch to create an anchor. Then lay the tape with the desired stretch, finishing with 0% tension at the end.

This technique is used to apply SPORTTAPE over a point of pain or around a joint. Tear the centre of the backing paper and peel back either side leaving 2-3cm at each end. Apply the exposed tape to the skin with the recommended stretch leaving 0% tension at both ends.

2.1. 3.2.1. 3.

Top Tips

Tight Hamstring

Round the cornersof the tape beforeapplying to skin.

Never apply tobroken or frail skin.

Start with clean dryskin, and preferably

trimmed or shaved hair.

Apply 30 minutesbefore activity.

Handle the backingpaper, not the glue.

Check out ourapplication videos atwww.sporttape.co.uk

FOOTBALL TAPING GUIDE

Requires: 2x Short <I-Strip>Position: Lying Down and Foot Flexed

THE 4 MOST COMMON FLEX TAPE APPLICATIONS FOR FOOTBALL

Dead Leg

Lay the long <Y-Strip> with 0% tension to the top of the thigh. Run the tails with 0% stretch around the swelling.

1. Using the centre technique apply a short <I-Strip> with 50% stretch over the point of pain.

2.

Repeat techniquein the opposite direction to form an ‘x’. This will create a lifting e�ect and eliviate pressure.

3.

Requires: 1x Long <Y-Strip> 2x Short <I-Strip> Position: Seated or Standing

Anchor the <I-Strip> to the lower hamstring.

Whilst bent over, apply the strip with 0% tension

over the point of pain and anchor at the top.

1.

Apply a short <I-Strip> overthe point of pain with 50%

stretch and anchor either end.

2.

Groin Strain Requires: 1x Long <Y-Strip> 1x Short <I-Strip>Position: Seated or Lying Down

Put the groin on stretch and anchor the <Y-Strip> with

0% tension.

1.

Lay the two tailsof the <Y-Strip> with

0% stretch around the point of pain.

2.Using the centre

technique, apply 50% stretch over the point of

pain and anchor both ends.

3.

Calf Pain

Anchor the baseof a long <I-Strip> to

the lower calf just above the Achillies Tendon. Stretch the calf and apply tape

with 0% tension.

1.

Repeat with the

other long <I-Strip> but on the otherside

of the calf.

2.

Using the centre technique, Apply the

short <I-Strip> across the point of

pain with 50% stretch and anchor

both ends.

3.

Requires: 2x Long <I-Strip> 1x Short <I-Strip>Position: Standing and Calf Stretched

80 May 2015

By Myak Homberger

Betting is a huge industry around the world - where you can bet from the obvious sport related results to the truly ridiculous including how many times a politician will say certain words in a speech or the name of a celebrity’s unborn baby. Huge amounts of money are handled around the world in betting shops and thanks to the internet, and all the many online bookmakers.

With the Women’s Football World Cup just about to come to life in Canada I decided to do some research into gambling in women’s sport around the world. I contacted bookmakers’ press departments as part of our online research to understand more about it. The one thing that everyone agrees on is that Football is the most popular women’s sport to bet on by a long way - and the World Cup is the biggest and most bet on of all the women’s sports worldwide.

This is fantastic news until you look at it in more detail. At the time of writing this article there were only 4% of all betting companies offering any odds on the World Cup with the figure only rising to 9% for any women’s sport. What is strange is if you look at the companies that do offer betting on women’s sport only 14% of them offer betting on the World Cup, supposedly the largest women’s competition in the world?

This seems to make no sense, but what further adds to the picture is that although you can get odds for U19 internationals, getting odds at club level for all the major leagues in the world is impossible: there is not a single company

offering any bets. This is further compounded when reading through the various articles and links on betting sites - the information is so out of date, including having old league names still displayed. When I spoke with the Director of Media relations for one of the largest bookmakers he said that they don’t update any of the website information anymore and do blogs if necessary, a very haphazard approach.

It’s a sad situation when it’s easier to get odds on who the next ‘sexiest woman on earth’ is or the potential of an alien existence than it is for many women’s sporting events. The 6 Nations, heralded as ‘the greatest championship’ and the largest international competition outside of the Rugby World Cup, saw only one company offer odds on the matches despite the mens version that runs in tandem having every regional bookmaker offering odds, not only on the game but on who will score etc.

I am not seeking to comment on the morality of betting or encouraging people to bet, but merely highlighting that within the worldwide betting community women’s sport is hardly on the radar and where it is, it is scant to say the least. Could there be a world where a large bookmaker backs a sport or tournament and encourages people to bet? Maybe. If they did, imagine the revenue that they could bring into that sport? It would change the face of any sport.

Betting in Women’s Sport

May 2015 81

5/6/7th June 2015

www.facebook.com/RugbySpy twitter.com/RugbySpywww.rugbyspy.com

Official Kit Supplier

Log on to www.rugbyspy.com and buy your tickets or contact us for group bookings or team entry at [email protected].

Early BIrD TEaM

ENTry aVaIlaBlE NOW

NEWWEBSITE

Everyone’s

idea of Ibiza is the

clubs, the raves,

the money, the bars

and restaturants,

the glamour and the

boats. Well that’s

all there if you want

it but now there’s

the best of festival

rugby too.

Ibiza 10s are a blast! The sun,

sea and sambuca made it much

easier. From wild dogs to

Samoan side steps this trip will

not disappoint.

Every detail is there.

From the match commentator,

huge instant play screen,

DJ stand, market stalls,

food stands and of course

liquid refreshments.

Summer rugby at its best!

82 May 2015

“If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction

or passion..”- Mia Hamm


TM


TM

May 2015 83

BE part of thE

World rugBy WomEn’s sEvEns sEriEs

worldrugby.org

2014/2015

@Worldrugby7s

1

5

4

2

6

3dubai, uaEdecember 4-5, 2014

Langford, Canadaapril 18-19, 2015

atLanta, uSamarch 14-15, 2015

SÃo PauLo, braZiLfebruary 7-8, 2015

amStErdammay 22-23 2015

Londonmay 15-16 2015

84 May 2015

May 2015 85

86 May 2015

EXCL

USIVE

By Myak Homberger

There is always so much focus on the teams and the players as World Cups come and go but so often little is mentioned about the coach unless there is an inspired decision or sadly a bizarre one that leads to a loss.

In the lead up to the World Cup I have been very fortunate to spend time with a number of the coaches during the Cyprus Cup and chat about all sorts from formations, to highs and lows and training regimes. But just to give you some stats first.

The first World Cup saw five female coaches lead their national teams, this figure has risen slightly to seven in the latest tournament. Of these women only Silvia Neid of Germany (who we interviewed last issue) will be making her third appearance. Pia Sundhage of Sweden will be making her second appearance with the balance of the female coaches all making their first appearance, what a cauldron to enter!

Streets ahead of all the other male coaches is Even Pellerud of Norway who will lead his side to his 5th World Cup, a remarkable feat for any coach. With thirteen of the male coaches making their debuts this will be a very interesting World Cup from a coaching point of view.

Each coach I spoke to has had very different things to contend with as they approach the World Cup. The Matildas, along with the Football Ferns have the biggest geographical challenges as well as getting game time. As Matilda’s coach Alen Stajcic said to me,”...the balancing act for us is geography and getting games

Interviews with the World Cup Coaches

May 2015 87

Photos Papaya Photography

88 May 2015

and protecting the players from injury with too many games”.

With youth on their side and a squad of 30 to choose from as well as a lot of games and quality periods of time together leading to the World Cup, Alen is confident that they are a team to be reckoned with. “It’s a tough group but we are growing with each game we play. We are definitely in the mix to lift the Cup, there is a group of nine or so who could possibly win and we are in it, so that’s good.”

For Korea and coach Yoon Dukyeo it’s been all about getting the right combinations of players, holding training camps and keeping with a clearly defined plan that has been laid out. Dukyeo explained his training regime and said of the World cup plans, “...preparation is going well, but we must keep with the plans.”

Hosts Canada may have the home advantage but that can also be a home pressure and coach John Herdman is all to aware of these pitfalls and so has ensured that this issue was addressed head-on early in the program. As he explained, “I needed to put them



May 2015 89

in situations they were uncomfortable with, so playing big teams at home and losing in front of 25,000, has taught everyone a lot but also dealt with the pressure”. However, Herdman feels that it’s about training for every eventuality on the field and preparing the team mentally. It’s about empowering them on the pitch, in the cauldron of the World Cup to change and be flexible but not rattled.

Leonardo Cuéllar will be leading the Mexican national team on this his third outing to a World Cup. Having spent 15 years building a national women’s development program, Cuéllar is in an enviable position with too many players to choose from and a couple of key players who are about to come off the sick bench. He sees that consistency is key for them and that there is still room for improvement - and hopes that the two training camps and four friendlies between now and the World Cup will provide that. Cuéllar said of his team to me, “...we are in a difficult group but we have everything to gain and nothing to loose. We are eager to have a good World Cup for our country”. This is a great view to have as well as a good position to be in with less than two months till kick off.

So for me it has been interesting to chat with all these coaches and hear what they have to say and observe their varying focus - and that is what makes this sport such a great one to watch and be involved in. Culture, training, previous match experience and even the number of times the country has attended the World Cup all have a huge influence on their build-up to the event. It is this fact that makes these 24 coaches, both male and female, so remarkable - but also adds such a burden and pressure with a record audience around the world predicted watching every decision they make and questioning every bit of training and planning they made leading to this point.

All the coaches have two things in common: a passion for women’s football and a desire to lift the World Cup. And as Alen Stajcic said, “that’s the great thing about this World Cup - there are a few teams in the mix that can do it this time and that can only be good for the game”. He is right, what better advertisement can there be than there being no definite winner ahead of the World Cup - with all the favourites having been beaten at some point recently, wonderful!

90 May 2015


TM


TM

OUTSTANDINGA T H L E T EPortia Modise is a remarkable player by any measure - the first African player to reach the elusive 100-goal barrier in international football and only 14th player ever to score a milestone 100 goals for her country. If you read the list of the other women who have achieved this it’s a who’s who of women’s football heros. She is indeed in rare company.

Portia is also one of only two African footballers, alongside Perpetua Nkwocha, to be nominated for the Women’s FIFA World Player of the Year (2005). Her 100 goals in 117 games puts her third in terms of her goals-per-game ratio of players who have netted over 100 goals for their country: her 0.85 goals/game only puts her behind the retired duo of Julie Fleeting and Elisabetta Vignotto, who have an impressive 0.97 goal/game average. The amazing thing is, she is still going strong and some would say stronger than before!

Watching her pace and command of the ball, an ever present danger for the goalkeeper, she is

Portia “Bhashin” Modise By Myak Homberger

definitely a player to watch - which, considering she walked away from international football in 2008 is something. What makes the story even better is that she was ‘re-discovered’ by current coach Vera Pauw playing for a men’s regional team! Her ascent has been swift and she hasn’t looked back since 2014.

Talking with her, she is very modest about what she has achieved and very, very humble. She makes it clear from the start “...this is for (sic) the contribution of my team mates because I wasn’t going to do it on my own so it was team work,” she says of her achievement. This only serves to endear her to the team more and make her a more likeable person. She knows what she has achieved and is as pleased as anyone to be in such rare company - but for Portia it’s about the team and this keeps her grounded. If you didn’t know her achievements and you met her you would never know - she isn’t going to talk about them and she doesn’t wear them on her sleeve as some can.

Having said that, she is equally blasé about scoring goals. “If the opportunity comes to take

May 2015 91Photos Papaya Photography

92 May 2015


May 2015 93

94 May 2015

A fun and wonderful person to have met.

Visit a Spur Restaurant and try our mouth-wateringsteaks,perfectly basted ribs, crisp salads,

delicious burgers and flame-grilled chicken!

Congratulations to ... Portia Modiseour outstanding sportswoman! We’re proud supporters of women’s sport around the world!

Check out our awesome weekday specials and our store locator at:

PORTIA

MODISE

it I do,” she says of opportunities and scoring goals. But she goes on to explain that she isn’t chasing goals and if it means setting up a goal for a team mate then of course, because for her it’s not about scoring goals, it’s about a desire to win.

When I ask her what is she going to set her sights on next, she doesn’t hesitate and says, “...for the love of God to score another 100!” She laughs and then says “150, this is my goal, to get to 150 goals scored for South Africa”. Under the laughter and smiles there is a determination that I think will see her get those goals.

I look forward with interest to seeing how Portia’s next phase unfolds because she has all the ingredients to be a record breaking footballer who is humble, grounded and talks of team first.

May 2015 95#LiveYourGoals /fi fawomensworldcup@FIFAWWC FIFA.com/lyg

The Live Your Goals campaign is part of FIFA’s long-term commitment to

support women’s football worldwide and encourage more young women

and girls to participate in the sport.

SUPPORTING THE FUTURE OF

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

96 May 2015

By Myak Homberger

Every footballer wants to play for their country and as Sophie Schmidt said, “it’s a footballers dream to play a World Cup in your own country. It’s a rarity, it adds pride behind the jersey.” It’s this very sentiment that Sophie shared with me when I spent time with her and team mates Kadeisha Buchanan, Erin McLeod as well as Coach John Herdman that made you instantly warm to the team, the country and all they have planned for this amazing event.

FIFA and Canada have done an incredible job of promoting and creating such a welcoming environment for this event with what is projected to be the largest audience ever and it seems that the approach is the same across the board. Excellence in what they are doing, but at the same time a desire and ability to revel in the moment and enjoy it. There isn’t a sense of intensity and stress, but a relaxed one that is focused on delivery and a good event for all. As coach John said, “55,000 Canadian fans in Edmonton will be fantastic!”

Everyone is excited and wants to have a good World Cup, but for it to be enjoyed

EXCL

USIVE

Canada Women’s Soccer Team Host team World Cup 2015

May 2015 97


98 May 2015

by all, yes, the Canadians are focused on winning, of course they are. But it is this balance between excellence, wanting to win the Cup and enjoying the moment that they seem to have, no matter who you speak to or what is put out in the media. It’s the same message and that is quite a feat.

People speak about ‘home advantage’ and how crowds have pushed some teams further than they would normally have gone - and this is something the team are aware of and rather than it

being the elephant in the room, they have embraced it in a very interesting way. First, from coach John’s point of view, he knew from the get-go that this would be an issue that would need addressing and so as he says, he “put them in situations they were uncomfortable with”, getting big teams to play them at home and beat them.

This may seem an odd way to go about things but it has provided him and the team with huge learning that they can put into practise during the tournament now. Losing at home, losing in general and losing in front of friends and family and learning how to deal with that have all been worked through, so that they can now focus on what they need to do and play the football they are all comfortable with. They have turned these games into a huge amount of learning. For the team it’s all about preparation, various scenarios and what to do. As John said, “...when you get to a tournament, anything happens and we want to be ready for any situation”. This doesn’t mean the team isn’t aware of the pressure either - as goalkeeper Erin McLeod explained, “...the momentum of the country behind you is great, but with that comes pressure and we are aware of that”.

“...when you get to a tournament, anything happens and we want to be ready for any situation”

May 2015 99


100 May 2015

May 2015 101


“...the momentum of the country behind you is great, but with that comes pressure and we are aware of that”.

102 May 2015

John is wanting to have a team that walks onto the pitch for the first game completely prepared for anything that happens, as well as having dealt with the obvious challenges. He doesn’t want to be dealing with things on the pitch in a World Cup as a surprise. He doesn’t want the team to focus on surprises, he wants them to focus on football and winning. Winning is something that is increasingly a part of their make up: straight wins since December last year and only losing in the final to England in the Cyprus Cup in March by 0-1, has set them up to be perfectly positioned.

Talking with the team, it’s very obvious the approach has been well instilled. They are better for the losses, they are better for the knowledge and tools they have been given to deal with


every eventuality and they are feeling that things are in a good place. As Sophie explained, “...our mindset is great, we are heading in the right direction and we will peak at the World Cup.” (This to a cheer from her team mates!) It’s about a connection between the various units and the small details and there is a quiet confidence in what they are doing that you can sense when talking with them.

As Kadeisha Buchanan explained, the home crowd is something new and something they are looking to use positively. “Fans support will be huge, in those games where it goes quiet and tough and you need a little pick-me-up, we are looking for the fans to provide that”. They are looking to embrace the support rather than looking at it as a pressure to perform and this is

May 2015 103

why it is genius what John did, getting the tough games at home in the build up to this.

Having said all of that there is tangible excitement from all of them at the prospect of playing in a World Cup, but more so that they are playing at home in front of family and friends. For so many of them their loved ones have previously been unable to travel and see them play so to do so in a World Cup on home soil, perfect.

The team spirit and the vibe I get from them is best summed up by Erin when she says “we are a team that plays a lot with our heart”. This is a group of focused, prepared and connected footballers who are going to welcome and revel in everything that being a host nation brings - but importantly with eyes wide open, having dealt with a lot of the challenges they may face and still come out smiling the other side.

This is a team that is going to use the fans’ support and the pull on the heart strings of the friends and family watching in the stand to make Canada proud of them as well as the World Cup family, whilst playing the best football they can and enjoying living their dreams.

Editors note: from staff to coaches to players the

team was so welcoming and a pleasure to be

around, a really nice vibe and great to spend time

with, all so smiley!

“Fans support will be huge, in those games where it goes quiet and tough and you need a little pick-me-up, we are looking for the fans to provide that”.

104 May 2015

www.paninigroup.com

Made in Italy

www.paninigroup.com

Made in Italy

STICKER ALBUM AND PACKETS

ON SALE AT A STORE NEAR YOU!

INCLUDES 29 SPECIAL STICKERS

© FI

FA, F

IFA’

s Offi

cial

Lice

nsed

Pro

duct

Log

os, a

nd th

e Em

blem

s, M

asco

ts, P

oste

rsan

d Tr

ophi

es o

f the

FIF

A W

orld

Cup

™ to

urna

men

ts a

re co

pyrig

hts a

nd/o

r tra

dem

arks

of F

IFA

.

002949_WWC_adpage_A4.indd 1 06/05/2015 11:14

May 2015 105

“Champions keep playing until they

get it right.”

Billie Jean King


TM


TM

106 May 2015

Recipes and Tips sponsored by

The haricot bread companyHand-crafted Artisan Bread

Crumble

Apple & Almond

Photo: Zac Peatling

May 2015 107

Crumble Ingredients

40g sultanas

Juice of one orange

3oz/85g cold butter

3oz/85g golden granulated

sugar

3oz/85g plain white flour

2oz/60g oats

1oz/30g selfraising or plain

brown flour

1oz/30g flaked almonds

4 crisp eating apples

(Braeburn or Coxes are very

good)

• Peel and slice the apples, then arrange them in a layer in the dish.

• Spoon the sultanas and orange juice evenly over the apples.

• Lightly and evenly sprinkle the crumble over the top of the apples.

• Scatter the almonds over the crumble.

• Bake for 30-40 minutes until the top is golden and the apples cooked.

Recipes and Tips

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F

• Squeeze the juice out of the orange.

• Place the sultanas in a small bowl. Add the orange juice, stir to mix, then leave to soak while preparing the rest of the crumble.

• Lightly grease the base of an ovenproof dish.

• Put all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Slice the butter into the dry ingredients, then rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Photo: Zac Peatling

108 May 2015

diarrhoea. Apples contain high levels of quercetin that helps protect against damage and a build up in the arteries from cholesterol; it may also help protect the lungs from pollution.The malic acid in apples cleanses the liver, relieves indigestion and breaks down fats. It also plays a role in the production of energy.

Apples contain Vitamin C, are easily digestible and hydrating (they are about 85% water).

Almonds

Almonds are a rich source of vitamin E, protecting against heart disease. Almonds are a good source of calcium (one of the richest non-animal sources), essential for healthy bones and teeth. Almonds can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease; they contain fibre and minerals such as zinc and magnesium.

By Isa du Toit

Sources and further reading: Wonderfoods: Natalie Savona, The Complete Superfoods Cookbook: Michael van Straten, Healing Foods: Miriam Polunin

Hints

There’s no need to cook or blanch the apples beforehand - the oven cooking time is sufficient.

Add more almonds or apples (or crumble!) as you’d like - the ratio of crumble to apple can easily be changed depending what you prefer.

Leaving the sultanas to soak for longer makes them even more plump and delicious.

Good-for-you ingredients

Apples

Apples are full of goodness and nutrients.Apples contain pectin, a form of soluble fibre which helps lower cholesterol and keep blood sugar levels stable. Pectin cleanses the intestines, binding with waste products and eliminating them from the body. (Apples are traditionally known as the body’s broom!) It also aids the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Pectin helps to eliminate toxins and heavy metals from the body; it also helps to eliminate excess fluids.

Apples are good for skin problems, arthritis, rheumatism and gout; it is a traditional aid for joint problems. Grated apple can stop

May 2015 109


TM


TM

“A good hockey player plays

where the puck is. A great hockey

player plays where the puck is

going to be.”- Wayne Gretzky

110 May 2015

May 2015 111

To Alice and Hannah for their patience in allowing me to drag them around parks and back streets to get all the photos and interviewing we wanted and for showing me an amazing deli! The Surfing Sumo guys and their love of all things surfing, Karen and Catherine for sharing such a story and for all you are doing.

Lastly and by no means least, FIFA, FIFAWWC, Netball World Cup Sydney and our amazing supporters SpurUK, Biltongman, Advanced Mouthwear, Yellow Jersey, Ibiza 10’s - it is because of you and all the access and support you give that this is possible, thank you.

Thank you’sI would like to thank the following people in particular for making this issue possible: the whole Canadian Football team and support staff for the openness and friendliness, Jannine and Portia, you girls rock! To all the coaches who gave me their time and insights at such an important time in their schedules.

Thanks to the USWNT media manager, you know who you are and you are a true gent, and to the team for allowing us their time. Richard and the Tickhill GP team, such a great bunch of people and as passionate about women’s sport as any. Thanks to the legend that is Huw for all his imagery and cycling knowledge. Stef and the Matrix crew, showing us what a year in the life of a cycling team is like and taking the time to fit it in!

The views and opinions expressed by the writers in this magazine are their own and not necessarily those of Sports International Magazine. © Copyright 2015 Sports International Magazine. All Rights Reserved

112 May 2015


TM


TM

ContactSubscribe free on line: www.issuu.com/sportsinternationalmagazineKeep up to date on our blog: www.sportsinternationalmagazine.com/blogor on twitter: @sportsinternationalmagazine

Advertising contact: [email protected] contact: [email protected]

www.sportsinternationalmagazine.com


TM


TM


November 2012

Carly TelfordInterview England and Chelsea Goalkeeper

Lerato Malekutu, Kate Jones, Megan FletcherTop Tips on sports nutrtion and more...

TESSA VELDHUIS Hollands Rugby 7’s Queen - EXCLUSIVE Interview


February 2013

Nikki McSweeneyTeam GB Olympic Bobsleigh Team

Keeping your identity when the game’s up, Moody Cows, Philippa Tuttiett, Mignon du PreezTop Tips on sports nutrtion and more...

Lynne Cantwell Ireland’s most capped female player - EXCLUSIVE Interview


TM


TM


April 2013 1


April 2013

Kate WalshCaptain Team GB Hockey

Non Evans, New Zealand Rugby, Serita Stone, Crossfit...Top Tips on sports nutrtion and more...

Holly ColvinAt 15 years old - The youngest ever Test Cricketer in England


TM


TM

Photo courtesy of Team GB

June 2013 1


June 2013

Lucy ShukerParalympic tennis player

Jenny Tinmouth, Anita North , Esther Tang, Nigel Francis...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

Women in SportThe current state of affairs - By Katie Halliday


TM


TM

Photo Papaya Photography

August 2013 1


August 2013

Pathway to GoldAustralian Rugby 7s

Posy Musgrove, Dragons 7s , Matildas, Jordan Taylor...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

Sue SmithEngland International Football Player


TM


TM


October 2013 1


October 2013

The South African Hockey Teama calling - not a job...

Irish Rugby 7s, The Ashes, Isha Johansen, The Solheim Cup...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

German Women of the Modern PentathlonExclusive Interviews


December 2013 1


December 2013

Australian Womens Cricket Team

Ibiza Rugby 10s, What’s the real problem with doping?, SA Netball...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

Easkey Britton, Claire Bennett, Jane Claxton, Laura Davies CBE, Exclusive Interviews


Anniversary Issue1st

February 2014 1


February 2014

Nikki Symmons

2014 FASWL Review Transfers, Women’s Surfing Roots...Sports nutrition, top tips and more...

Beverly Goebel, Lydia Hall, Sindy Huyer, Sarah Outen, Buchanan Next Gen – BMX teamExclusive Interviews & Articles


Anniversary party photos

1st

April 2014 1


April 2014

Amanda Davies

SIM Unsung Hero, The Cyprus Cup, Canadian Rugby 5’sSports nutrition, top tips and more...

Bill Predmore; Seattle Reign FC, Chloe Wilcox, Maggie Alphonsi, Shona Thomson, Jess Fishlock, Sophie RadcliffeExclusive Interviews & Articles


June 2014 1


June 2014

Kelly Holmes

SIM Unsung Hero, Dragons 7’s, Womens Football, Cricket: Twenty20Sports explained, top tips and more...

Bianca Walkden; Lara Prior-Palmer, Sally Conway, Marcelle Manson, Anna Turney, Lydia Hall, Méabh De BúrcaExclusive Interviews & Articles


August 2014 1


August 2014

Sophie Christensen

SIM Unsung Hero, Brazil Rugby, Australian Rugby 7’sRecipe, top tips and more...

Ladies European Tour, Alex Scott, Charlotte Edwards, Carla Hohepa, Liz McTernan, Man City Womens FootballExclusive Interviews & Articles


November 2014 1


November 2014

New Zealand Rugby 7’s

SIM Unsung Hero, 2014 FAWSL, 5 Surprising Food Facts! Recipe, top tips and more...

Sunshine Ladies Tour, Extreme Sailing, Sophie Radcliffe, Ashleigh Simon, Dame Sarah StoreyExclusive Interviews & Articles

January 2015 1


January 2015

Matrix Fitness Pro Cycling Team 2015

SIM Unsung Hero, The Captains Pick , Outstanding AtheleteRecipe, top tips and more...

Molly Rhone, Oakland Raiderettes , Jenny Duncalf, Extreme Sailing, Springboks on the Rise,Exclusive Interviews & Articles


March 2015 1


March 2015

Alexis DeJoria – Drag racer

SIM Unsung Hero, GN4LW, Outstanding AtheleteTop tips and more...

Late Princess Lalla Aicha, Invicta Fighting Championships, Thailand Women’s Cricket Team, Shannon Knapp, Exclusive Interviews & Articles

May 2015 1


May 2015

Canada Women’s Soccer Team – Host team World Cup 2015

Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, Team Matrix,SIM Outstanding Athelete. Unsung Hero.Recipes, Top tips and more...

The United States Women’s National Team, Karen Darke, Team USA – the Solheim Cup, Corinne Evans - surfer Exclusive interviews with the World Cup Coaches


EXCLUSIVE

Sports International Magazine issue15

Documents