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CANADA
FINISHES WITH TWO MORE GOLD AT U.S. OPEN JUDO TOURNAMENT
LAS VEGAS (CSN) - Michelle Buckingham of Ottawa and Cynthia
Tan of Vancouver each won gold medals late Sunday to conclude
a very successful U.S. Open tournament for the Canadian
team.
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Michelle Buckingham comes up
big in Vegas.
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Canada
earned two gold, three silver and two bronze Sunday
to finish the weekend meet with three gold, six
silver and five bronze.
In
women’s 57 kilos, Buckingham successfully
defended her title defeating Commonwealth Games
champion Sophia Cox of Britain in a re-match of
last year’s final. Buckingham, a three-time
Olympian, scored a bout-ending Ippon at the halfway
mark of the four-minute bout.
"She
knows my tactics now so it was much tougher than
last year," said Buckingham. "I was prepared
for a good long match. But I managed to score a
large throw for the win. I really wanted a good
performance here and have a high point in this period
of the season. I was focused and determined." |
| In
women’s 52 kilos, Tan defeated Aminata Sall
of Varennes, Que., in the final.
Other
silver medallists for Canada were Brigitte
Thibault of Varennes in women’s 48 kilos
and Stéphane Chrétien of Montreal
in men’s 66 kilos. Bronze medal winners
were Fraser Will of Star City, Sask., in men’s
60 kilos and Jean-François Marceau
of Montreal in men’s 72 kilos.
Canada
ended the first night of finals with one gold,
three silver and three bronze.
In
the men’s 90 kilos, Keith Morgan
of Calgary lost the final in overtime
to Ryan Olson of the U.S., for the silver
medal. Alex Ciupe of Montreal defeated Gervais
Turcotte of Montreal for the bronze.
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Keith
Morgan impressed, but lost a close match to
pick up a silver. |
World
junior team member Stephanie Howorun of Toronto
also earned a silver medal as she lost to Commonwealth
Games champion Samantha Low of Britain in the women’s
70 kilos final. Marie-Hélène Chisholm
of Port-Cartier, Que., took the bronze. Trevor McAlpine
of Lethbridge, Alta., added a bronze for Canada
in the men’s 100 kilos and over. |
CANADA
ON TOP OF THE WORLD IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL MATCH
WISLA,
Poland - The Canadian Men’s Standing Disabled Volleyball
Team did exactly what they set out to do when they began
their 2002 season. All of the work and sacrifice has paid
off. The team has defeated Poland 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-18,
25-15) to earn the gold medal and the distinction of being
World Champions.
Since
the teams gold medal loss to Germany at the 2000 Paralympics,
they have had to sit and mull the world second place ranking,
knowing that it had just slipped away. They can put those
feeling aside as they now hold the respect of being the
#1 team in the world.
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Chris Rodway of Calgary made
his presence felt.
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The
team came together as a unit at this event and only
lost three sets as they completed the event with
a 21/3 win/loss ratio in sets. Their only losses
justifiably coming at the hands of Poland. Even
more impressive was the teams offensive and defensive
stats as they completed the event with over 238
kills, 53 service aces and 141 digs.
Head
Coach Calvin Aubin could not be happier for his
team. I am very proud of this team. We are as a
whole a very young team and we showed a great deal
of character playing against a much older and experienced
team. |
Canada
had control of the match throughout and was able to silence
the vocal polish supporters. Let once again by power hitter
Neil Johnson (Glencoe, ON) who was named the Best Hitter
and Best Server of the tournament with 21 kills, 5 service
aces and 7 digs.
Neil’s
comment after the match said it all, “We worked
very hard as a team and wanted to leave a lasting impression
at these World Championships.”
| Other
great performances for Canada were again put in
by Joey Stabner (Saskatoon, SK) with 21 kills, 5
service aces and 6 digs, Chris Rodway (Calgary,
AB) with 8 digs and Tony Quarin
(Calgary, AB) with 8 digs. Canada racked
up two additional MVP awards with Calvin Aubin receiving
the Best Coach award, and John Przybszewski (Mississauga,
ON) receiving the Best Digger award.
A
long-standing member of this team and program, John
had this to say. “I have been with this program
since 1989, and this victory is the best feeling.
This was a team effort and I have never been prouder
to be on this team.” |
Team
captain Tony Quarin of Calgary had a few digs of his
own. |
Team
Captain Tony Quarin mirrored John remarks. “I’m
ecstatic! With standing volleyballs removal from the 2004
Paralympic Games, these Worlds took on a whole new meaning.
We entered this tournament with a team full of champions
and now we are leaving together as champions. I have never
played with a better group of guys.”
Congratulations
to the members of the World Champion Canadian Team. Mikael
Bartholdy; Okotoks, AB, Jason Migchels; Alvinston,
ON, Larry Mathews; Edmonton, AB, Chris Rodway;
Calgary, AB, Tony Quarin; Calgary, AB, Neil Johnson;
Glencoe, ON, Geoff Hammond; Ft. St. John, BC, John Przybyszewski;
Mississauga, ON, Mike Cleaveley; Calgary, AB,
Joey Stabner; Saskatoon, SK, Greg Stewart; Kamloops, BC,
Head Coach; Calvin Aubin and Assistant Coach;
Rod Durrant both of Calgary and Phil Allen -
Team Coordinator, Ottawa, ON.
Team
members will enjoy their victory before departing Poland
on Saturday to return home. Information and final results
for the event can be found on the World Organization of
Volleyball for Disabled website at www.wovd.com. For more
information on national volleyball programs for the disabled,
or the Men’s National Disabled Team, contact Phil
Allen, Disabled Volleyball Program Coordinator, Volleyball
Canada pallen@volleyball.ca.
ALL
THREE CANADIANS REACH FINALS AT INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS
MEET
DEBRECEN,
Hungary (CSN) - Grant Golding of Calgary
qualified for three finals Saturday at the Hungarian International
gymnastics meet, a test competition for the world individual
apparatus championships to be held here next month.
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Grant
Golding of Calgary Qulaifies for the finals. (photo
- Grace Chiu)
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Golding,
Canada’s top all around performer at the world
championships last year with a 22nd place cracked
the top-eight on pommel horse, rings and parallel
bars on Saturday. He is also the first alternate
on floor.
"Grant
did new routines on rings and parallel bars and
looked strong," said Golding’s coach
Tony Smith of Calgary. "And his pommel horse
was the best he’s done all year. This was
good for him because he was disappointed with his
showing at the Commonwealth Games (in July)." |
| Rhett
Stinson of Saskatoon, in his first meet since undergoing
knee surgery, reached finals on rings and parallel
bars and is the first alternate on high bar. Scott
Lang of Calgary made the vault final. |
IN
THE NEWS.....
WORLD
ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP WRAP-UP
The
world road cycling championships concluded this weekend
with Colombian Santiago Botero winning the elite men's
individual time trial in a time of 48 minutes eight seconds.
Canadian national champion Eric Wohlberg of Levack, Ont.
finished well back in 19th place, 1:51 behind Botero with
Roland Green of Victoria right behind in 20th, 2:07 back
of the leader.
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Roland
Green had some tough competition in the time trials.
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Green
says he was happy with the result, even though he
finished so far back of the leader.
"I
was pleased with my effort, and felt that I had
a good ride. But as I saw the leading times start
to drop down into 49 and then 48 minutes, I realized
that I still have a lot of work to do."
Michael
Rich of Germany finished in second while Spaniard
Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano finished third. |
2002
ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS - Canadians
Jean-François Laroche - 12th espoir men road race
Martin Gilbert - 86th espoir men road race
Audrey Lemieux - 7th junior women road race
Geneviève Leblanc - 37th junior women road race
Magalie Boulay - 46th junior women road race
Eric Wohlberg - 19th elite men ITT
Roland Green - 20th elite men ITT
Geneviève Jeanson - 14th elite women ITT
Lyne Bessette - 22nd elite women ITT
Cameron Evans - 57th junior men ITT
Andrew Davidson - 60th junior men ITT
Audrey Lemieux - 22nd junior women ITT
Geneviève Leblanc - 23rd junior women ITT
Jean-Francois Laroche - 41st in the Espoir ITT
HOW
WE'RE DOING:
Medals
at Major Games: 8 Gold, 1 Silver, 9 Bronze
Medals at World Championships:
5 Gold, 3 Silver, 8 Bronze
World Records: 7
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