Wednesday, October 31, 2012

AGB MIA - November 4

Hi everyone.

This is just a quick note to advise you all that on Sunday I am heading off to the USA for two and a half weeks. So the blog and AGB twitter will be on hold until after the 23rd of November. Feel free to discuss gym matters in the comments of this post. But I will still check in on them, as my primary email is where all comments are cc'd. So I advise you, as always, to keep it civil. I look forward to hearing good things out of National Clubs.


If you have matters regarding competition start lists or scores for anything in the upcoming period, please contact your gymnast's club or your state associaton first before making an open query here.

Cheers.

I'll bring you back summin' nice.


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Breaking: Chetkovich Cup Videos!

Oh yes, my friends, they are starting to surface!

Olivia Vivian floor

Janine Murray ribbon

ETA 01/11: Below is an event report, courtesy of by Gymnastics WA


On the 26th of October WA’s top gymnastic athletes competed at Challenge Stadium in a competition never seen before, the inaugural Chetkovich Cup. The Chetkovich Cup pinned athlete against athlete in a mixed discipline team competition format, a new concept for a gymnastics competition in WA. Gymnastics WA together with e- Event Promotions constructed a perfect competition to display all disciplines of gymnastics to the general public.


With a crowd of 1600 strong, one by one the athletes came out and wowed the audience with their fantastic skill and co-ordination, all competing for the Chetkovich Cup. Teams were selected prior to the competition by the event sponsors, creating 6 very competitive teams. The teams all competed very strongly, with only 2.8 points separating 1st- 6th place. The winner of the inaugural Chetkovich Cup was the Proseal Panthers who were led by the 2012 Olympian for Rhythmic Gymnastics, Janine Murray. Team members who contributed to winning this prestigious cup were Zoe Tisdale (AER), Amy Quinn (RG), Stefanie Bruder, Lia McEwan and Ava Delahunty (ACRO trio), Eloise Valli (WG) and Joshua DiNucci (MG).

Team results: 
Proseal Panthers                   144.441 
Prime Trophy Patriots          144.333 
Northern District Knights     143.899 
e- Fire Flames                         142.625 
e- Event Eagles                       141.983 
Northern District Cougars    141.633

Athletes were also competing for the Allana Slater Medal, awarded to the most entertaining routine of the night. This award was judged by 5 Olympians with no background knowledge of Gymnastics. The winner of the Allana Slater Medal was Olivia Vivian (Women’s Gymnastics) with a really entertaining and crowd pleasing routine. The event could not have been possible without the fantastic assistance from event sponsors, volunteers, judges, athletes, coaches and event staff. Our sincere thanks goes to the event sponsors Proseal Constructions, Prime Trophies, e- Event Promotions, Northern Districts Gymnastics Club and e- Fire & Safety. We would also like to acknowledge the judges for giving up their valuable time. To the coaches and athletes, for your time and effort in supporting this inaugural event and the event staff & volunteers who worked tirelessly to deliver this amazing new concept to gymnastics.

Gymnastics WA would like to personally thank Rick Elkington, Director of e- Event Promotions and GWA Board Vice President. The event concept is the brainwave of Rick Elkington and his time, effort and energy he has put into the development of the event is much appreciated.
All in all, the event was an amazing way to promote gymnastics to the wider community and to showcase the talented gymnasts Western Australia has to offer. Gymnastics WA hopes you enjoyed your night and look forward to seeing you at the next Chetkovich Cup!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

AGB Whip-Around

Still here!


WA: The big buzz this past week has been the inaugural Chetkovich Cup. The unique multi-disciplinary WA event has been the talk of the gymnastics world, notably for the move to recognise a participant at the event with a medal named after local legend Allana Slater. The event would also feature a return to the Perth floor for Olympians Lauren Mitchell, Emily Little, Janine Murray and hometown Beaver believer Olivia Vivian.

Over 1,600 people turned up to Challenge Stadium last night to watch the show. When all was said and done, flips flopped and turns twisted, Olivia took home the Slater medal for (quoting Miss Slater herself!) showing "the most entertaining, flamboyant performance", notably her Pink Panther-themed floor routine.

Gymnastics WA has some photos and observations here, and I am sure videos will surface soon.

Georgia Simpson has been rocking and selling Bandana Day fash in support of youth affected by cancer.




VIC: Ashleigh Brennan was once again the toast of the Victorian Women's High Performance Centre with a Q and A held for families and fans. Ash talked about her gymnastics journey all the way up to London 2012, and though I have not seen confirmation, I am told Ashleigh announced her retirement from artistic gymnastics at the session. You can see photos of Ash taking the spotlight here.

You can catch Gymnastics Victoria's profile program on gymsports across the state, that has been airing on Channel 31, right here.


SA: We are not only farewelling QLD's Tom Pichler this year, but his MAG compatriot Sam Offord as well. Sam, pride of Adelaide now retiring with 6 World Championship team experiences under his belt, will be greatly missed.




QLD: Add a date to your calendars before Christmas, funsters! Queensland's High Performance Centre will be hosting an open day for MAG and WAG enthusiasts on December 15th. See more details here.


NSW/ACT:  Sydney has been playing host to the Indo-Pacific Trampoline Championships with Australia holding its own against the likes of Japan and Canada. See placegetters here.

Phillippe Rizzo may be retired, but his brother Antoine is still going strong in Masters gymnastics. Check him out at 3:58 of this video courtesy of Gymnastics NSW.


TAS: Speaking of the Indo-Pacs, shout out to Jack Penny, Tasmania's first gymnast to win a men's individual title at the championships. Jack bested Olympic rep Blake Gaudry in the process!


(Jack is centre)

General News:

- Australia does not have a representative attending the upcoming Stuttgart or Glasgow world cups
- An AIS/GA squads camp is slated for November 25th
- Applications closed recently for the women's artistic national coach position

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Wild Rose of Mexico

Very best wishes to Victoria's Georgia Rose Brown competing at the Mexico Open tomorrow.

Follow the event here. Georgia has a solo profile page. You can also check out the "galerias" tab to see photos from the 2011 event, at which Australia also competed. The Couch Gymnast had a quick chat to Georgia before she departed.

Update -

After day 1 and two apparatus, GRB is currently in 3rd place overall on 27.700, and sitting in second place on bars. She vaulted a yurchenko full, and VHPC reports her bars was clean for 14.150.

Gymnastics Australia are putting up photos here.

See video of Georgia's bars routine here and her vault here.


Update - beam and floor a little hesitant but stood up, according to bootleg viewers. 12.95 for her floor (incl. double tuck, double pike).

After 2 days of competition, Georgia has finished in 4th overall with a score of 54.300.

Video of her beam routine from day 2 is here, her floor is about 12 minutes in here and her (stunning!) routine from the competitor's gala can be seen from 17 minutes onwards here.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Tom Calls Time

Queensland's Thomas Pichler announced his retirement from artistic gymnastics today. His statement is linked below.

We wish Tom all the best in the future, and thank him for his inspiring contribution to the sport.

I’d like to officially announce my retirement from competitive gymnastics. For the past 20 years, I have been training at the Queensland High Performance Centre and the time has finally come to hang up my guards once and for all. As a five year old with too much energy, to my time in London recently, Gymnastics sport has taken me all over the world and I have memories that will last a life time. It has been a tough decision to make but all good things must come to an end. Getting to go to the London Olympics as first reserve, I feel as though I have reached my full potential as a gymnast and would like to leave at the top. I have, however, not been on this journey on my own and there are many people and organisations that I’d like to thank... [read the full statement]

Monday, October 1, 2012

Happy Birthday To...

Pommel horse wizard and all-around good guy Prashanth Sellathurai!




The pommel dynamo nicknamed "Proshie" turns 26 today! He unfortunately missed an Olympic qualification berth this year and experienced injury, but we look forward to the tricks he pulls off in the 2013 season, on the road to Antwerp!