WORLD TEAMS ANNOUNCED x CHILD

The official listing of the world teams have been announced this week for the Men’s and Women’s fields. A long with the best players the best coaches have been included.

We’re going to single out a brilliant youngster in Simon Child, Gryphon New Zealand Ambassador for making the world team.  He played (and captained) the NZ Junior World Cup side this year and is instrumental in the team’s makeup as well as playing in Holland. For someone so young, he has achieved so much.  Hats off Mr. Child. Cue the applause.

The following players were selected for the Men’s WorldHockey All Star Team 2009

• Salman Akbar (PAK)
• Pol Amat (ESP)
• Simon Child (NZL)
• Jamie Dwyer (AUS)
• Moritz Furste (GER)
• Myung Ho Lee (KOR)
• Ashley Jackson (ENG)
• Mark Knowles (AUS)
• Barry Middleton (ENG)
• Maximilian Muller (GER)
• Teun de Nooijer (NED)
• Eddie Ockenden (AUS)
• Jong Ho Seo (KOR)
• Rob Short (CAN)
• Prabhjot Singh (IND)
• Austin Smith (RSA)
• Taeke Taekema (NED)
• Christopher Zeller (GER)
• Coaches: Ric Charlesworth (AUS) & Markus Weise (GER)

The following players were selected for the Women’s WorldHockey All Star Team 2009

• Naomi van As (NED)
• Luciana Aymar (ARG)
• Tina Bachmann (GER)
• Noel Barrionuevo (ARG)
• Madonna Blyth (AUS)
• Tony Cronk (AUS)
• Casey Eastham (AUS)
• Gemma Flynn (NZL)
• Baorong Fu (CHN)
• Surinder Kaur (IND)
• Natascha Keller (GER)
• Yibo Ma (CHN)
• Marsha Marescia (RSA)
• Miyuki Nakagawa (JPN)
• Maartje Paumen (NED)
• Helen Richardson (ENG)
• Janneke Schopman (NED)
• Belen Succi (ARG)
• Coaches: Carlos Retegui (ARG) & Frank Murray (AUS)

FHE CUP x PERTH x GRYPHON SPONSORED

The F-H-E Cup is currently going on Perth as of today. Recently we were in Japan with some Gryphon Legends running coaching clinics as well as a small tournament. Now the Cup is in Australia and bigger than ever. With an Under 16s International Event (comprising of Singapore, Japan, Malaysia as well as teams from around Australia) and an 18 team sixes tournament the FHE Cup 2009 is a melting pot of great Hockey.

So why does Gryphon have an interest here?  Well we sponsor the FHE Cup wherever it wants to go. We agree with the ethos of the FHE Cup organisers, to give the younger players the chance to play in top level tournaments with high quality hockey and even an international competition.

Currently the Australian leg of the cup is underway in Perth. Today is the first day, and will continue until Sunday the 13th of December in all forms (U16s and 6s) at the Hale Hockey Complex.

For more check out the FHE Cup website.

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

INTRODUCING THIJS MAARTENS

As the self acclaimed Nr. 1 fan of Gryphon life, anxiously waiting for new posts and reading them till late at night,  I am very happy and proud  having been invited to contribute to this already historical initiative.

A short introduction to start off my first ever blogging experience. My name is Thijs Maartens, Dutch, 23 years young and a proud inhabitant of the beautiful city of Eindhoven.

About hockey, I’ve played for MHC Oranje Zwart  all my life. I can’t recall when I started playing but have been a  regular at the club from a very young age onwards as a result of  both my parents  and my grandparents meeting each other on the hockey fields of Oranje Zwart. Playing in the junior teams and being trained by O-Z legends like Shabbazz Ahmed, Gerald Dewamme, Jay Stacy and many more I have spent most of my sportive youth around the Club, joining the first team aged 15. A dream came true,  when playing with many great guys including Aussies Mathew Smith, Troy Elder, Micheal Brennan and Jay Stacey. From this period onwards I started being selected (and dropped) for the u16 and u18 national teams. Club hockey dreams reached their top in 2005 when our team grabbed the National title. Later that year I competed in the Rotterdam junior world cup, this combined with  a handful of appearances for the Dutch national team sums up my relevant hockey history.

Currently, still playing at my team Oranje Zwart, we are facing a very challenging second half of the season (See Lucas’s contribution) and am looking forward to be reunited with the by then married Rob Hammond.

Next to my hockey I’m pretty active on quite some other fields as well. Apart from loving the snow, the surf and an occasional adventure in countries like Cuba, Morocco, NYC and the French Alps (by bike). I am also very much into my studies which can be summed up as philosophy, equality and conflict studies.

As I am not as lucky as some of the co-blogger to compete in all different super-star tournaments and am currently facing a 5 month long winter break,  I’ll be posting about random stuff that I find cool or  interesting and of which I think that you should know.

To be continued

Groeten, Thijs

CTT09 x KAVANAGH GOAL x MONTAGE

We all know by now THAT goal. The one that Gryphon Gun Fergus Kavanagh scored in the last three minutes of the 2009 Champions Trophy Final. The one that locked away the win. The win that became a Champions Trophy record. The video below is a montage of my photos that were taken of the goal and the emotions that followed.

Special thanks to Dave Anderson for the music.

Congratulations Fergus and the rest of the Kookaburras.

CTT09 x MOORE x TINDALL x VIDEO

Touring players James Tindall and Rob Moore from England finally had a chance to relax after their final game at the CTT09. Part of that process is a drink or two and a chat to Gryphon Life.

CTT09 x FINAL x AUS v GER

That’s it.

It’s done.

It’s Dusted.

Australia are the new Champions Trophy winners. As in new, they retain the Trophy after winning it in Rotterdam last year. In the process they are the first team to ever win Ten Trophies.

How do you write about a game that you were witness to in more ways than one.  You have friends on the pitch playing. You are taking photos trying to capture everything that you can. You’re twittering.  You’re doing the other stuff that your job here asks you to. More than anything, you have just witnessed an amazing game that will go down in history as one of the best finals. I know it’s one of the best, if not the best, I have personally seen. I’ll admit here that I’m not an authority on this but have seen a lot of Internationals in the past couple of years.

As for the whole tournament, Hockey was the winner. It’s a cliche’ yes. That doesn’t stop it being true.

Australia started, infront of their packed home crowd stadium in Melbourne, with vigour breaking away in the opening minutes with a great goal from Des Abbott. The tone was then set. Australia were in full attack. Germany were in the same game plan that they utilised last meeting, defense and then score from the few chances they create.

And it worked. The half consisted of an aggressive Australian press, followed by a fast moving attack. Germany played set defense and build up play which would then break away to put pressure on the Aussie defense. Before anyone could blink, the Germans had piled on three goals from barely that many entries. It was looking like a few days ago in repeat.

The half time score read Germany 3 goals, Australia 1 goal.

As with the whole tournament, if the Aussies had their backs against the wall they changed it during the break. It happened again here with quick effect.  37 minutes in DeYoung scored from a corner variation from Disco. Four minutes later they were in at a Short again and this time Doerner made no mistake.

It was a green and gold flash. The game was tied and almost a whole half was yet to be played.

The ground was heating up in temperature as the sun beat down and as the game intensified. The German defense wasn’t holding the run of the Aussies which just kept at it. Again Doerner scored from a Short and the Aussies had just played three goals straight to take the lead.

Defense v run was no longer working for Germany. They shifted to trying to play a fast counter-attack breaking at every chance. It’s not their style in a whole and didn’t execute well in the finish even though they had the Aussies beaten more than once. The game could have gone either way as the Kookas didn’t slow down in attack either.

Then Kavanagh happened.

Fergus Kavanagh, a breakout talent from Perth, Western Australia and a Gryphon Gun did the amazing. Doerner took the ball from a restart in the backline, looked up and saw what I am sure is his dream. A sprinting striker breaking away from the German defenders to be by himself in the attacking half. Doerner’s overhead was near perfect putting Fergy right in the 25 mark. Weinhold (Keeper) had no option but to try and meet the ball and Fergy. With an amazing touch of magic Kavanagh controlled the ball legally and then lobbed the ball right over the keeper’s head. It wasn’t going anywhere but in the goals and there was no one around to stop it. Fergy’s goal had just won the Champions Trophy on the 67th minute.

“It’s the kind of goal you just dream about.” Fergy couldn’t believe it when I asked him about the goal after the game. The defenders were just nowhere to be seen.

Spectacular finish to an amazing tournament.

Australia take away the gold medal and the Trophy. Germany have a silver medal around their neck, and the Koreans proud with a Bronze.

Player of the Tournament went to Grant Schubert from Australia.

Top Goal Scorer: Tied between Luke Doerner and Schubert.

Goal Keeper of the Tournament: LEE Myung Ho (Korea)

Fair-play Team: Holland.

That’s pretty much going to be it from me. The tournament is now over but not finished. I am sure the Kookas will be partying like it’s 2009 and they just won a Major.

Over and out…. DC

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR 2009

While at CTT09 in Melbourne, the FIH decided it was a good time to announce the player of the year for all categories.

The winners are:

MEN: Senior – Jamie Dwyer | Junior – Ashley Jackson

WOMEN: Senior – L. Aymar tie with N. Van As | Junior – Casey Eastham

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. Simon Child, Gryphon Ambassador in New Zealand was nominated for the Junior Men’s player of the Year award.

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CTT09 x FINALS x KOR v HOL

The medal matches. Someone once told me, to play and win a bronze medal match is better to lose and win a silver medal. Korea or Holland were about to find out what that would feel like. One will walk away with Bronze and the other a pat on the back.

Korea will go home wearing the Bronze medal for this year’s Champions Trophy.  Holland will go home with some homework to do before the World Cup next year.

After having such great games before us this week, something would have to give. And well, the first 25 minutes of ths game gave in. As in, it didn’t give much for the spectator. A lot of structure vs run (which the Dutch was able to stifle from the Koreans very effectively) become a little game of midfield ping pong. It wasn’t until the 32nd minute that the crowd was woken up with a brilliant movement of the ball by the Dutch to put Reckers in on goal and to score. Going into half time one goal up in sight a tight tussle would have to be a great position.

It didn’t take long for the second half to change the game’s complexion. Quickly after the break Korea found Player of the Year Nominee, J H Seo from a turnover by the Dutch defence. He made no mistake to level the game and put Korea on the front foot.

But it was the Dutch who have the experience to play these tight, big games and were looking the most dangerous. Shot after shot went wide not making the Korean keeper make dire saves. It was a thankful momentum for the Dutch. Funny enough (and like the way they’ve played all week), Korea create a crucial chance that results in a PC. It was converted and the Koreans went one goal up in the 58th.

Right off the restart, Korea found their way back to the ball and into the circle to win another PC. Again it finds the back of the net and all of a sudden the score is 3 goals to 1. Holland in all sorts of trouble and looking unable to stop the Korean run.

Holland in dire need of something, looked to the older more experienced players who kept firing volley after volley at the goals until TT was given the chance to pop in a PC.  With 2 minutes to go there was only one goal in it and the Dutch were keen to get to the restart. That plan backfired and in less than 30 seconds Korea took the ball, slammed it across the circle and a diving H S You made no mistake. The game was over and Korea clear winners.

Congratulations to Korea and Holland for a great tournament. We’ll see Korea later at the medal ceremony.

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CTT09 x FINALS x ENG v SPN

With the loser being relegated from next years Champions Trophy, the game for 5th and 6th is not a wash out game. England are the Euro Champs and Spain took Silver in Beijing. An unlikely matchup for this placing in the tournament.

Spain came out all guns blazing scoring within two minutes. It stunned the English who tried to create some rythmn with structured play and formation.

Spain wasnt pressing the full pitch but more waiting on the half-way line. The Brits were playing a patient style of hockey with a lot of possession but would then lack that patience and turn the ball over, usually to a shout and scream of annoyance to themselves. This allowed the Spanish to run the ball and use their main men upfront with Amat and Tubau being the main targets.

In the 27th Spain’s plan worked as younger Lleonart scored a great goal from deep in the circle off the pass and run. The Spanish looked like the game was in their control. In most ways, the game was falling into their game. Stats will show that the first half possession would be all England but they were just not able to utilise it effectively.

In the 38th England used a standard PC play and Jackson popped the goal in calmly, but close to no celebrations followed, although that brought the score 2 to 1.

Three minutes later, the Spanish plan of waiting again worked as it release Tubau forward who ran wide to the base line past a defender and knocked the ball into the right side of the boards past the keeper to notch another goal for his tournament to make it 5. Half time the score wasn’t great from an English point of view at 3 to 1.

In the second, the English patience game was still there, and Spain’s half-pitch press was also still there. This time England used it better, building up well and releasing better passes to better players. They also played a tighter brand of defence to stifle Spain’s run pushing Amat and Tubau back further than they would like to be.

All that effort didn’t work out and Amat’s drive resulted in a PC being awarded. Spain converted through Ribas and went 4 to 1 up. The game was pretty much done.

England kept to their game plan, didn’t panic and played a better brand of hockey and in the 61st minute they themselves won a corner. Jackson once again putting into the netting with not even a smile or shout came from any English player as they went back for the restart.  They could have gone up another quickly but Tindall mis-trapped a sure open goal onto his foot moments later.

Right on full-time, Pol Amat dazzled once more to create a brilliant solo effort to wrap the game up 5 goals to 2. England finish 6th for the tournament and Spain 5th.

Three Spanish players (Ribas, Tubau, Amat) finished the tournament with 5 goals each, with only Australia’s Grant Schubert above them on 6.  Jackson and Tindall both finished with 3 goals each as the best for England.

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CTT09 x FINAL DAY

We are less than 30 minutes away from FINALS of the premier tournament in the world.  The best six teams (ranked and in current form) have been slogging it out in Melbourne for the past ten days.

What has come from this tournament so far?

Goals.   Lots of them.  Australia yesterday broke two records for CT with the biggest team score of 10 in a game, also getting the largest goals in a game with 13. That is not an outlier, but throughout the game we have been treated with goals a plenty. What also has been great about this result is that the majority of the goals have come from the field, very encouraging.

The video umpire.  Do we not trust the umpires at the top level?   It is really worth over-ruling a decision that a lot of teams would have taken (although reluctantly at times) and respected the decision?  At time is has shown some great aspects of the rules of our game, but also shown up some of the shortcomings.  Another issue is the time it takes to make a decision.   It’s been used in EHL for some period now, what has been missing here?  That is something I personally do not know.

Hockey as a Spectacle is back.  Games are fast, flowing and exciting.  It’s been unpredictable and enthralling to be witness to. It really is the best six teams in the world.  The Euro Champs, England today play for their CT life in the 5th v 6th position. Shows the quality and evenness of world men’s hockey.

Anew tactics, new formations, new styles…. It’s all been here.  It’s a showcase for World Hockey.

Today is it. Will the hosts take the record of wins with them and do it infront of their family and friends?  Or will the number one team in the world show they are worth that title?

Finally, today we will also find out the player of the year awards.

So strap in.  It’s going to be a great ride.

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