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Saturday 16 June 2012

Extension gives LaCaze ticket to London - ABC Online

Extension gives LaCaze ticket to London - ABC Online

Posted June 16, 2012 17:11:59

Steeplechaser Genevieve LaCaze will run for Australia at the London Olympics after Athletics Australia bowed to pressure and extended its qualification period until next Monday.

LaCaze ran a time of 9 minutes 41.15 seconds - well inside the Olympic A qualification time of 9:43 - on Wedesday in the United States, but the race was after the end of the official deadline set by AA.

Initially the athletics body ruled out giving the 22-year-old Queenslander - who has been competing on the collegiate athletics circuit for the University of Florida - special treatment.

However on Saturday Athletics Australia released a statement saying that after discussions between AA's president Rob Fildes and the AOC president John Coates, the AOC selection committee had approved an amendment to the selection criteria to extend the qualification period.

LaCaze is now set to become the 55th member of the Australian athletics team at the Olympics, after AA nominated 54 athletes to the AOC on Wednesday.

"While our initial nomination policy had AOC endorsement they have now agreed for us to extend the qualifying period," Fildes said in the statement.

"It was also acknowledged the extension could not apply to just one athlete but must apply to all athletes in fairness of opportunity.

"It was always the AOC's position that Athletics Australia's deadline could be 22 June, but 11 June was initially agreed to allow for nominations, Board ratification and appeals.

"We have made this joint decision with the AOC in the interest of the sport and to ensure that we give every opportunity to athletes to be selected in the Olympic Team.

"Following this agreement to extend the qualifying period the Athletics Australia selection committee will now reconvene to consider any further athlete performances within this new qualifying period, of which Genevieve LaCaze will be one."

Prior to the announcement, there had been public support for LaCaze, with the AOC's Coates saying on Friday that as far as he was concerned, she should be on the team for London.

Topics: sport, athletics, olympics-summer, australia, qld


Source: www.abc.net.au

Bogus traders warning to West Sussex flood victims - BBC News

People affected by severe flooding in West Sussex are being warned against falling victim to rogue traders.

West Sussex County Council said trading standards had received reports of cold callers offering to carry out repairs to damaged properties in Littlehampton.

"Whenever an emergency of this nature occurs, it seems to bring unscrupulous traders out of the woodwork," said Councillor Christine Field.

The council said it had a list of approved and reputable builders.

"If you do need emergency work done to your property, ignore the claims of bogus callers if they turn up at your door," said Ms Field.

On Saturday, only two flood alerts remained across the whole of South East England, with six flood warnings and alerts lifted by the Environment Agency (EA) in the last 24 hours.

However, it said further rain could lead to more flooding in areas already vulnerable.

Butlins blocked

The EA set up an incident command centre at Bracklesham Lane car park in Bracklesham Bay to co-ordinate its response after many hundreds of people were affected by flooding.

About 250 homes in Elmer were flooded, with residents rescued by boat and taken to rest centres and temporary accommodation.

More than 20 people, including several children, were rescued from flooded caravans at two holiday parks in Bracklesham Bay and flood waters also reached the Manorfield care home in Earnley.

Havens' Church Farm holiday camp, near Chichester, was also flooded and access roads to Butlins in Bognor Regis were closed.

Worthing Hospital's basement and lift shaft was flooded, several schools and one college were shut and many roads were impassable.

An emergency channel had to be dug through sea defences to release flood waters and firefighters used pumps to lower river levels.

Arun District Council officers are continuing to staff a flood recovery vehicle to give advice to residents.

It is stationed in Elmer's shopping area on Saturday until 21:00 BST.

It will be in South Terrace, Littlehampton on Sunday, in Barnham near the railway station on Monday, Wick on Tuesday and South Bersted on Wednesday.


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

West Sussex put on flood alert ahead of weekend - thisissussex.co.uk

The Environment Agency is preparing for more heavy rain and potential flooding problems in West Sussex.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for heavy rain for today with up to 20mm expected in the area from midday Friday.

  1. More rain is forecast in West Sussex over the weekend

Crews are using pumps to lower river water levels to provide capacity for even more rain that is expected over the next 48 hours.

A flood warning remains in force in various locations in Bersted. Eight flood alerts were in place earlier in the week and though this has been reduced, the Environment Agency said that more could be issued if there is further significant rain.

West Sussex saw major flooding problems earlier in the week, in particular at Littlehampton and Bognor and the surrounding areas. 250 homes in the village of Elmer were flooded by around six foot of water and residents had to be rescued by boat and taken to temporary accommodation.

Other areas that saw floods were Worthing Hospital, Havens' Church Farm holiday camp, near Chichester and access to Butlins in Bognor Regis was prohibited. Several schools and colleges in the area were also shut.

Peter Quarmby, South East flood and coastal risk manager, said: "We are focusing all efforts in working in areas that have been affected by flooding over the past few days to lower river levels and will continue to work alongside our emergency partners to assist flooded communities with immediate response and recovery.

"Latest forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall is again expected to cross the South East on Friday and into the weekend. We urge everyone to remain vigilant."

Frank Saunders, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: "We are working closely with colleagues in the Environment Agency and other agencies to ensure that we are all aware of the latest weather forecast."

Arun District Council is holding information days for communities in areas that have experienced the worst of the flooding. They are being held at Felpham, Elmer, Littlehampton, Barnham, Wick and South Bersted, from Friday until Wednesday, visiting one location each day.


Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk

Wimbledon 2012: Tim Henman tips Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic - The Guardian

Hey Tim; how's everything going?

TH: Yeah it's good, been a pretty full on day.

Of course, you've been giving a group of school children an introduction to tennis on behalf of the Wimbledon Championships partner HSBC. What advice have you been giving to any of them looking to get involved and follow in your footsteps?

TH: I think one of the most important aspects is enjoying it. With HSBC it is really about working with the community and we have got two primary schools down here and a lot of them have never played tennis before, so to give them the opportunity out on the court and hitting balls is one thing but as I know with my three kids, if they don't enjoy what they're doing, then they're not going to do it again. Which is why the big emphasis is on having fun and hopefully they will continue in the future.

Well, I'm sure they've all had a great day as well. What is your opinion on the standard of British tennis? Is there anything you would like to see changed?

TH: It is definitely improving. For me it is about investment in grassroots, if you want to produce top-class players, then you have got to be going into the schools and you have got to get the kids who are in first-level rugby, first-level cricket and get them playing tennis. I mean it will be the same group but they're the ones with the athletic ability and if you get them playing tennis, then you have got the raw materials to work with. If you miss out and they go to the other sports, then you haven't got the raw materials. That's the big challenge and that doesn't come cheaply but with the money the LTA has I would be targeting the grassroots.

Hopefully, we will see some more investment over the next few years then.

TH: It's definitely happening but I would prioritise it and make sure a massive amount goes into that area.

It's an incredible summer of sport with Euro 2012 underway and the Olympics coming up, sandwiching Wimbledon. What are you most looking forward to at SW19 this year?

Again it's all about watching the battle among the men's top four continuing. Obviously [Novak] Djokovic, [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer have been so dominant so it will be interesting to see if [Andy] Murray can get in on that group. It's always an exciting time but with the Euros at the same time its going to be amazing.

Do you think Murray's buildup to the tournament could hamper him? He lost his first game at Queen's and has been struggling with injury…

TH: I have seen him quoted as saying that he is looking to put the back issue behind him and he feels it is better and grass will help him with that. It's softer under foot and the ball doesn't bounce as high and the rallies aren't as long, so that's definitely in his favour. The reality is though that playing against Djokovic, Federer and Nadal when you're 100% fit is as tough as it gets, so if he's not at 100%, it makes it virtually impossible.

Speaking of Nadal, do you think he can regain the title after his impressive French Open victory?

TH: I would say Djokovic is probably my favourite. Four grand slam finals in a row and he has won three of them. But you know its "apples and oranges" with those three. I mean just because Federer hasn't won for a couple of years doesn't mean he should be ignored. I think he will be keen and with his record on grass courts and success at Wimbledon he will fancy his chances.

So what about the women's tournament? What do you think of Maria Sharapova's chances after she regained the world No1 ranking having won the French Open?

TH: Yeah that's a great story. I mean coming on to the scene so young, winning Wimbledon when she was 17 and then the last couple of years she has had shoulder trouble and she was definitely having her struggles and for her to complete her career grand slam is an unbelievable achievement. You know grass is probably an even better surface for her but I actually think Serena Williams is going to be wanting to put the record straight.

Serena would equal her sister Venus's five titles if she won, which would be some record. As a four-times semi-finalist at Wimbledon, what is your fondest memory?

TH: It's tough to narrow it down to one. My first match on Centre Court where I played [Yevgeny] Kafelnikov in 1996 was pretty special. He was the French Open champion and I think he was No3 in the world and I saved two match points and won 7-5, 7-6. I was lucky to play on the middle Sunday which has only happened three times at Wimbledon and the atmosphere was something I had never experienced before. Also getting through to the semis, beating Federer at Wimbledon... I have a few memories.

Finally, as a scratch golfer, will you be keeping an eye on the US Open this weekend?

TH: Yes definitely, I was watching some of the previews going on and checking out the pairings, you know [Rory] McIlroy, [Lee] Westwood and [Luke] Donald and the course just looks brutal.

It does, I saw some footage of it earlier but it should make for an interesting tournament. Do you think McIlroy will retain his title?

TH: I don't think he is favourite but he is such a great player despite having a bit of bad form the last couple of months. I think it might be Westwood's time.


Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Liverpool Echo celebrates a decade of the Liverpool International tennis tournament - Liverpool Echo

THE Liverpool International is 10-years-old next Thursday. The event which has counted five world number ones on court at Calderstones Park, 10 former Wimbledon singles champions and entertained tens of thousands of tennis fans every year reaches a significant milestone.

And to celebrate a decade of top class tennis in a public park, we look back at some of the names who have graced Anders Borg’s brainchild.

2002

THE Liverpool International was launched with a fanfare of publicity in 2002 – and the presence of the then world number one and former US Open champion, Marat Safin.

Local sports fans loved the idea and flocked to Calderstones Park . . . but unfortunately the LTA proved less enthusiastic!

Winner: Marat Safin bt Jan-Michael Gambill 6-7 7-6 6-4.

2003

IF the tennis authorities didn’t exactly drive the fledgling tournament underground, they certainly forced it indoors.

Under legislation by the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour, no top-50 player is allowed to appear within 100 miles of an official tournament.

And because the LTA were running a tournament in Nottingham – and the ATP ruled that Nottingham was 93-miles away from Liverpool as the crow flies (the shortest route by road is 106 miles!) – the tournament organisers were forced to schedule a mini-tournament inside at the Wavertree Tennis Centre.

Ironically, outside the skies were cloudless.

No Pimms, no strawberries and cream, no tented village or hospitality marquee – but there was still a tournament.

And it was won by the previous year’s losing finalist.

Winner: Jan-Michael Gambill bt Alex Kim 6-4 6-2.

2004

Back in the sunshine at Calderstones Park, the Liverpool International was starting to find its feet.

Established ATP stars like Ivan Ljubicic, Vince Spadea, Robert Kendrick and Irakli Labadze featured – as did a series of legends for the first time.

Former Wimbledon winner Richard Krajieck was joined by the irrepressible Ilie Nastase and Mansour Bahrami, together with Peter McNamara and Guillermo Villas.

A splendid tournament ended with Mansour Bahrami circling the court on his bicycle!

Winner: Ivan Ljubicic bt Irakli Labadze 6-2 6-7 6-4.

2005

The growing Liverpool International featured lots of extras in 2005.

Not least was the tournament’s uncanny ability to spot rising stars before they had hit the big time.

On this occasion an 18-year-old Serbian with dazzling ground strokes called Novak Djokovic made the tennis public sit up and take notice.

In addition the 2004 champion, Ivan Ljubicic, returned, the legends returned to entrance us once again, and there were added bonuses in the form of women's legend Martina Navratilova and former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.

The tournament also supported two charities - The Marina Daglish Breast Cancer Fund and the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust – raising the grand sum of £12,000 for the charities over the five days.

Winner: Ivan Ljubicic bt Mikhail Youzhny 3-6 7-6 7-6.

2006

REFUSING to rest on its laurels, the Liverpool International extended even further with the addition of a ladies ATP event – and it proved an inspired move.

A dazzlingly talented 15-year-old from Denmark called Caroline Wozniacki was the star attraction, even stealing the limelight from Belgian powerhouse Xavier Malisse who won the men’s event.

A junior match between children in three age groups from Liverpool and Oslo also attracted a lot of attention, the Liverpudlians winning 31-21 and a rising star called Chloe Murphy winning all her five singles and doubles matches.

Winners: Xavier Malisse bt Vince Spadea 3-6 7-5 (14-12)

Caroline Wozniacki bt Olga Savchuk 7-6 6-3.

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Source: www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

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