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July
2003 - Newsletter
Australian Athletes with a Disability The Board of Australian Athletes with a Disability continues to meet on a monthly basis and has been busy setting up a solid foundation for the organisation. The next meeting will be held in Sydney on Sunday 3 August 2003.
The Australian Sport Commission has released a schedule of Year of the Official - Administrator Education Workshops to be held during August and September 2003. The Australian Sports Commission believes attendance at one of these workshops will be, in many instances, an important step towards addressing the dramatic decline in the number of officials participating in sport. The workshop dates are:
Surfer Layne Beachley has introduced an "Aim for the Stars Foundation" which provides grants to support the goals and dreams of females across Australia. For further information visit www.aimforthestars.com.au Wheelchair Sports Australia has announced its Team Staff selections for the World Wheelchair Games:
Athletics Wheelchair Track and Road - At a successful meet in Atlanta, Georgia both Kurt Fearnley and Paul Nunnari broke National records on their way to achieving A qualifiers for the Athens Paralympics. Kurt Fearnley won the 800m event in a new Australian record time of 1:35.99 edging out Kelly Smith (Canada) and Ernst Van Dyke (South Africa) in a sprint finish. While Paul Nunnari placed 6th in breaking the 1500m National Record with a time of 3:02.01. Both of these times were A qualifiers for next years Athens Paralympics. At the same meet
Eliza Stankovic won the 200m and produced A qualifiers in the 100m,
200m and 400m events. Christie Dawes produced a season best placing
6th in the 1500m and recorded B qualifiers for Athens in the 1500m and
5000m events. IAAF World Athletics Championships - There will be six events for athletes with a disability at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in France in August. Australian athletes competing include Darren Thrupp in the 400m, Louise Savauge in the 800m and Neil Fuller in the 200m. These athletes will be part of the Australian team, accessing training camps and competitions in Ostia, Italy before entering Paris for the World Championships. Basketball NWBL - Noel Rowsell reports last weekend was another disappointing weekend for Sydney-based teams in the National Wheelchair Basketball League competition, beginning with the Wentworthville Leagues Wheelkings being trounced 95-65 by the Wollongong Roller Hawks in Albion Park on Saturday night. The West Sydney Razorbacks hosted the Perth Wheelcats and split their two games one apiece with the reigning premiers, winning 89-74 at the Condell Park Basketball Stadium on Saturday night then falling 93-79 at the Wenden Centre, Miller on Sunday afternoon. Currently the Wollongong Roller Hawks are on top of the ladder, followed by the Perth Wheelcats and the Brisbane Spinning Bullets. For further information visit http://nwbl.sports.org.au/
Under 20 Squad to New Zealand - nominations are now being called for the positions of Mechanic/Assistant Coach and Manager of the Wheelchair Sports Australia Under 20 Basketball Squad to attend the New Zealand Basketball Nationals in Taupo, 18-20 September 2003. These two positions are honorary positions reporting to the Head Coach of the Squad. For further information email Contact Us Cycling Handcycling Head Coach - Wheelchair Sports Australia in conjunction with Cycling Australia is calling for nominations for the position of National Handcycling Coach. The National Handcycling Coach will be responsible to the Head Coach Cycling Australia Paralympic Preparation Programme (CA PPP) and will be responsible for assisting the Head Coach CA PPP. For further information Contact Us
At its recent meeting held in Melbourne, the WSA Junior Committee voted to retain the Under 20 age group permanently. The Junior Committee had been trialling the under 20 age group.
Terry Vinyard reports the most explosive round in the AstraTech National Wheelchair Rugby was held in Brisbane July 12-14, 2003. Both the host Queensland and South Australia came in undefeated and went home bruised with two losses each. Although New South Wales only won one game out of six against QLD and SA the one they did take was a big win - the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby State of Origin game hosted by Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association who promoted the event in conjunction with League Round. The finals of the Astra Tech National League will be held in Sydney 28-31 August. For further information visit http://www.quadrugbyaustralia.com/ Swimming The Excell Committee conducted a camp in early July, funded by Australian Athletes with a Disability, for seventeen of its members. Swimmers flew into the camp held in Melbourne from four different states. John Ornsby and Bruce Power conducted the camp, which focused on strength and conditioning and team building. The Excell Committee is now finalising its team to attend the Pan Am Championships to held in Argentina in December. Tennis Tennis Australia
- Tennis Australia has allocated funds to its Player Assistance Program
for players with a disability. Further information including the criteria
can be obtained by emailing Contact Us
European Hat Trick for Australian Champ - victory at the Belgian Open has given Australia's David Hall his hat trick of European titles in as many weeks. Finishing as a Semi Finalist at the Tournament for the past three years, the 2003 victory is Hall's first Belgian Open Men's Singles title in his illustrious career. Adding the Belgian Open title to victories at the French Open and the Dutch Open, sees Hall's 2003 undefeated record increase to 7 titles, his match record to 28-0 and retention of his World No. 1 ranking.
Preparations are under away for the World Cup for Standing Volleyball. Australia will compete against the following countries at the Cup:
Correct at time of print. |
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