12/20/2009
12/04/2009
Water polo: Canada to get rematch with Australia after round robin loss
MONTREAL- A young Canadian squad kept it close for three quarters and finally lost 15-8 to Australia to conclude round robin play on Friday at the Canada Cup women’s water polo tournament being held this week at the Olympic Park Sports Centre
Canada ends the round robin portion of the tournament with no wins and three losses for fourth place while the Aussies finish at 3-0 for top spot. That means it will be a Canada-Australia rematch in the semifinal on Saturday.
“This is really the beginning of the 2010 season and we are experimenting with young players,” said Canadian head coach Patrick Oaten, who led his squad to a silver medal at the world championships this past summer in Rome. “This has affected the cohesion of our game but I’m happy with what I’m seeing particularly tonight in the first three quarters.”
The match was tied 4-4 after the first quarter and the Canadians led at the half 6-5. The Aussies began to take control in the third building a 9-7 lead before outscoring the Canadians 6-1 in the final quarter.
Dominique Perreault of Montreal led the Canadian attack with three goals, Rosanna Tomiuk of Beaconsfield, Que., added two and Katrina Monton of Dorval, Que., Tara Campbell of Baie-d’Urfé, Que., and Marina Radu of Pointe-Claire, Que., added one apiece. Monton was named one of the game’s three stars.
In the other match Friday, the world champion Americans defeated Italy 13-10. The U.S., finishes the round robin in second at 2-1 and the Italians end at 1-2. The same two squads will meet in the other semifinal on Saturday.
The semifinals on Saturday start at 3 p.m., with the U.S.,-Italy match followed by the Canada-Australia tilt at 4:30 p.m. The medal matches are on Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m.
Canada ends the round robin portion of the tournament with no wins and three losses for fourth place while the Aussies finish at 3-0 for top spot. That means it will be a Canada-Australia rematch in the semifinal on Saturday.
“This is really the beginning of the 2010 season and we are experimenting with young players,” said Canadian head coach Patrick Oaten, who led his squad to a silver medal at the world championships this past summer in Rome. “This has affected the cohesion of our game but I’m happy with what I’m seeing particularly tonight in the first three quarters.”
The match was tied 4-4 after the first quarter and the Canadians led at the half 6-5. The Aussies began to take control in the third building a 9-7 lead before outscoring the Canadians 6-1 in the final quarter.
Dominique Perreault of Montreal led the Canadian attack with three goals, Rosanna Tomiuk of Beaconsfield, Que., added two and Katrina Monton of Dorval, Que., Tara Campbell of Baie-d’Urfé, Que., and Marina Radu of Pointe-Claire, Que., added one apiece. Monton was named one of the game’s three stars.
In the other match Friday, the world champion Americans defeated Italy 13-10. The U.S., finishes the round robin in second at 2-1 and the Italians end at 1-2. The same two squads will meet in the other semifinal on Saturday.
The semifinals on Saturday start at 3 p.m., with the U.S.,-Italy match followed by the Canada-Australia tilt at 4:30 p.m. The medal matches are on Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m.
Squash: Canada’s Miranda Ranieri advances to final at MAA Invitational
MONTREAL – Miranda Ranieri of Waterloo, Ont., advanced to the championship final on Friday at the MAA Invitational women’s professional squash tournament with an 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 victory over Laren Kronemeyer of the Netherlands.
The tournament being held at the Club Sportif MAA is a stop on the Canadian squash circuit and the women’s professional tour.
Ranieri, seeded second and ranked 54th in the world, will be vying for her second pro tour title after winning the St. Luke’s Open in the U.S., in May as the fourth seed. She was expecting a tough semifinal from the sixth-seeded Dutchwoman.
“She has a very tricky game style and I was ready for it,” said Ranieri, 23 who was ranked a career high 47th in October. “The games were close and we had a really good match. I tried to move up on the tee and play tight lengths.”
In the other semifinal, top-seed Suzie Pierrepont of England, ranked 35th in the world, defeated Alexandra Norman of Montreal 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 to advance to her first final this year.
Pierrepont and Ranieri, who both live in Greenwich, Connecticut where they coach at different clubs, last met in January at the Greenwich Open with Pierrepont prevailing in five games.
“She is playing better than ever right now,” said Ranieri of her finals opponent. “She is a very tough player.”
The tournament being held at the Club Sportif MAA is a stop on the Canadian squash circuit and the women’s professional tour.
Ranieri, seeded second and ranked 54th in the world, will be vying for her second pro tour title after winning the St. Luke’s Open in the U.S., in May as the fourth seed. She was expecting a tough semifinal from the sixth-seeded Dutchwoman.
“She has a very tricky game style and I was ready for it,” said Ranieri, 23 who was ranked a career high 47th in October. “The games were close and we had a really good match. I tried to move up on the tee and play tight lengths.”
In the other semifinal, top-seed Suzie Pierrepont of England, ranked 35th in the world, defeated Alexandra Norman of Montreal 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 to advance to her first final this year.
Pierrepont and Ranieri, who both live in Greenwich, Connecticut where they coach at different clubs, last met in January at the Greenwich Open with Pierrepont prevailing in five games.
“She is playing better than ever right now,” said Ranieri of her finals opponent. “She is a very tough player.”
Swimming: World records for Stephanie Dixon, Brian Hill at Para-swimming world championships
RIO DE JANEIRO – Stephanie Dixon of Victoria and Brian Hill of Duncan, B.C., both broke their second world record this week on Friday at the Para-swimming world short course championships for swimmers with a disability.
In the women’s S9 100 backstroke, Dixon clocked one minute and 07.83 seconds to break her previous world mark of 1:08.82 set in Edmonton in 2005. It was her second gold medal of the competition.
“It was awesome,’’ said Dixon, 25, who won four medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games. ‘’I’m coming towards the end of my career and it’s exciting to be able to put together some of my best performances and can still develop my skills in this sport. The ky for me is being to forget everything when I race and just focus on the job at hand.’’
Jenna Skieneh of Windsor, Ont., was 10th.
Other Canadian women’s results on Friday: Camille Bérubé of Gatineau, Que., and Sarah Mailhot of Quebec City were seventh and eighth in the S8 100 freestyle; Sarah Mehain of Vernon, B.C., and Stephanie McDougall of Maple Ridge, B.C., were seventh and eighth in the S7 100 butterfly; Anne Polinario of Montreal and Jessica Hodgins of Windsor, were seventh and ninth in the S10 100 backstroke; and Catherine Mitchell of Winnipeg and Amber Thomas of Drayton Valley, Alta., were ninth and 10th respectively in the S 11-12 combined 100 backstroke.
In men`s competition, Hill collected a second world mark and gold medal clocking first in the S13 100 backstroke in 59.30 seconds shattering his previous mark of 1:01.51 set in Richmond, B.C., in 2001. Devin Gotell of Antigonish, N.S., was fourth, missing the podium by 0.01 seconds.
Other Canadian men’s results: Benoit Huot of Montreal and Alex Parent of Hamilton were fourth and ninth in the S10 100 backstroke; Danial Murphy of Sackville, N.S., sixth in the S5 50 freestyle and Ronald Tang of Toronto was eighth in the S11 100 freestyle.
Murphy clocked a Canadian record 45.85 seconds in his event.
‘’I was very happy with the race,’’ said Murphy, in his worlds debut. ‘’My turns in particular were very good. I’ve loved the experience here.’’
Canada’s medal total stands at 12 with four gold, four silver and four bronze.
Competition ends Saturday.
In the women’s S9 100 backstroke, Dixon clocked one minute and 07.83 seconds to break her previous world mark of 1:08.82 set in Edmonton in 2005. It was her second gold medal of the competition.
“It was awesome,’’ said Dixon, 25, who won four medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games. ‘’I’m coming towards the end of my career and it’s exciting to be able to put together some of my best performances and can still develop my skills in this sport. The ky for me is being to forget everything when I race and just focus on the job at hand.’’
Jenna Skieneh of Windsor, Ont., was 10th.
Other Canadian women’s results on Friday: Camille Bérubé of Gatineau, Que., and Sarah Mailhot of Quebec City were seventh and eighth in the S8 100 freestyle; Sarah Mehain of Vernon, B.C., and Stephanie McDougall of Maple Ridge, B.C., were seventh and eighth in the S7 100 butterfly; Anne Polinario of Montreal and Jessica Hodgins of Windsor, were seventh and ninth in the S10 100 backstroke; and Catherine Mitchell of Winnipeg and Amber Thomas of Drayton Valley, Alta., were ninth and 10th respectively in the S 11-12 combined 100 backstroke.
In men`s competition, Hill collected a second world mark and gold medal clocking first in the S13 100 backstroke in 59.30 seconds shattering his previous mark of 1:01.51 set in Richmond, B.C., in 2001. Devin Gotell of Antigonish, N.S., was fourth, missing the podium by 0.01 seconds.
Other Canadian men’s results: Benoit Huot of Montreal and Alex Parent of Hamilton were fourth and ninth in the S10 100 backstroke; Danial Murphy of Sackville, N.S., sixth in the S5 50 freestyle and Ronald Tang of Toronto was eighth in the S11 100 freestyle.
Murphy clocked a Canadian record 45.85 seconds in his event.
‘’I was very happy with the race,’’ said Murphy, in his worlds debut. ‘’My turns in particular were very good. I’ve loved the experience here.’’
Canada’s medal total stands at 12 with four gold, four silver and four bronze.
Competition ends Saturday.
Figure skating: Virtue and Moir win ice dance silver medal at ISU Grand Prix final
TOKYO- Ice dancers Tessa Virtue of London, Ont., and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont., posted the best score in Friday’s free dance but were just edged out for the gold medal and took the silver at the ISU Grand Prix figure skating final.
Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S., held on to first place totalling 169.44 points for Thursday’s original dance and Friday’s free dance. There is no compulsory dance at the Grand Prix final. Virtue and Moir skated a season best 104.21 points in their free dance to finish with 168.22 points.
“I’m not going to lie and say we are happy with second place,” said Moir. “We come to every competition expecting to win but we were happy with how we skated today. We have five weeks left before nationals and we have to keep our nose to the grindstone and continue building our elements.”
Virtue says the couple is well aware there are only a couple of more opportunities to perform their programs before the Olympic Games in February.
“The Olympics are in the back of our minds,” she said. “But we were relaxed and confident tonight. We just told each other to go out and enjoy it. There were some shaky moments that Scott and I could feel but we are on track.”
Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat of France were third at 147.62. Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., skating to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, took sixth at 135.99 with season best scores in both the original and free dances. The Canadians were invited to the competition after two qualifying couples withdrew.
“They had two of their best skates this season,” said Michael Slipchuk, Skate Canada’s high performance director. “This was a great opportunity for them to show the judges and the skating world they belong at this level. This can only help their confidence.”
The women’s singles competition got underway Friday with the short program. Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., is in fourth spot with 60.94 points. Miko Ando of Japan leads at 66.20, world champion Yu-Na Kim of South Korea is second at 65.64 and Alena Leonova of Russia third at 61.60.
“It was a better short program than last year at this time,” Rochette told Radio-Canada. “I was happy with how I fought hard until the finish. Still it was an average performance. I leaned too forward on my Lutz and struggled with my combination.”
In junior pairs, Kaleigh Hole of Virden, Man., and Adam Johnson of Chatham, Ont., in their first season together took fifth spot. Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China won the gold medal.
“They are a remarkable story,” said Slipchuk. “In a short period of time they have won two Grand Prix medals (earlier this season). There are some technical elements that need to be stronger and they would have needed to be almost perfect today to make the podium. Still it is a great start and they can only get better.”
Competition continues Saturday.
Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S., held on to first place totalling 169.44 points for Thursday’s original dance and Friday’s free dance. There is no compulsory dance at the Grand Prix final. Virtue and Moir skated a season best 104.21 points in their free dance to finish with 168.22 points.
“I’m not going to lie and say we are happy with second place,” said Moir. “We come to every competition expecting to win but we were happy with how we skated today. We have five weeks left before nationals and we have to keep our nose to the grindstone and continue building our elements.”
Virtue says the couple is well aware there are only a couple of more opportunities to perform their programs before the Olympic Games in February.
“The Olympics are in the back of our minds,” she said. “But we were relaxed and confident tonight. We just told each other to go out and enjoy it. There were some shaky moments that Scott and I could feel but we are on track.”
Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat of France were third at 147.62. Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., skating to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, took sixth at 135.99 with season best scores in both the original and free dances. The Canadians were invited to the competition after two qualifying couples withdrew.
“They had two of their best skates this season,” said Michael Slipchuk, Skate Canada’s high performance director. “This was a great opportunity for them to show the judges and the skating world they belong at this level. This can only help their confidence.”
The women’s singles competition got underway Friday with the short program. Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., is in fourth spot with 60.94 points. Miko Ando of Japan leads at 66.20, world champion Yu-Na Kim of South Korea is second at 65.64 and Alena Leonova of Russia third at 61.60.
“It was a better short program than last year at this time,” Rochette told Radio-Canada. “I was happy with how I fought hard until the finish. Still it was an average performance. I leaned too forward on my Lutz and struggled with my combination.”
In junior pairs, Kaleigh Hole of Virden, Man., and Adam Johnson of Chatham, Ont., in their first season together took fifth spot. Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China won the gold medal.
“They are a remarkable story,” said Slipchuk. “In a short period of time they have won two Grand Prix medals (earlier this season). There are some technical elements that need to be stronger and they would have needed to be almost perfect today to make the podium. Still it is a great start and they can only get better.”
Competition continues Saturday.
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