WELCOME x KRYSTAL FORGESSON

Hi Everyone

My name is Krystal Forgesson and I am a member of the Blacksticks Women’s team.  Since I am introducing myself I will give you a bit of info on what I have been up to and then fill you in on what the NZ girls are up to. Enjoy

Home for me is in Auckland, NZ but for the last two seasons I have played the majority of my hockey for HGC which is based in Den Haag, Netherlands.  I love playing hockey in Holland because of the high speed, intensity and skill level that you experience every week.  The club is so welcoming and my teammates are all great fun to hang out with.  The hockey is really social which makes it that much more enjoyable; whether it is eating meals together after training, meeting early before games for tea/coffee or jetting off to Barcelona for a team trip, it’s just nice to be able to really get to know your teammates and make some lifelong friends along the way.  I feel very privileged to have experienced playing overseas and meeting so many amazing people – I can’t wait for the next season which kicks off early October. Enough on me for now…..

As a team, we are currently in preparation for the World Cup in Rosario and with a little over a week before we leave NZ, it’s not long at all before the reality of being at the World Cup sets in.  The NZ team missed out on qualifying for the last WC so we are determined to make up for missing that and have a lot to prove this time around.  Since arriving home from Champions Trophy a few weeks ago, training has increased and we have focused on three main areas of our game.  CT was a good judgement of where we are compared to the top teams in the world and in that respect I think it was an extremely important tournament for us.  The team is reasonably young but I think that makes it so exciting.  Some of the younger girls are extremely talented and at times I still find it hard to believe how they manage to pull off such crazy things!  We head straight into Rosario rather than opting to train for a bit elsewhere first.  I have never been to Argentina but I have heard enough on how fanatical it can be and can’t wait to experience that side of it.

Be in touch from Rosario!

Krys

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

DISPOSABLE x FI.J

Hi….so this is my first post on G-Life…might as well make it a good one, so I’ve done a DISPOSABLE at the same time.  

A little about myself….I’m a Sydney girl who now lives in Perth.  I LOVE travelling….do it whenever I get the opportunity and yes…hockey takes me to many parts of the world…so I am very lucky.  I love encoutering different cultures and seeing the many different ways people live.   

I LOVE my family and friends….they keep me sane and grounded!  What else…..hmmm….I have recently started cycling and really enjoy that….see my sweet ride below.

Finally…..I believe that happiness is a decision….

Anyways here’s my DISPOSABLE. To view SOCS’ just here.

 

INTRODUCTION x R&R #25

Hey guys!

My first post on Gryphon-Life has been a long time coming and here it is.

Firstly, let me introduce myself. My name is Justin Reid-Ross, I am 23 years old and I am proudly South African born and bred. I made my international debut at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and since then have played 47 times for SA, including 2 World Cups; ’06 &’10. For the last two seasons I have played in the Belgian Championship for A.R.A Gantoise along with G-Team members Wade Paton and Lloyd Norris-Jones.

I am currently checking out the vibe in Perth, Australia with Lloyd N-J and newcomer to the mighty G-Team, Rhett Halkett. I’m studying while I’m here, doing a degree in English, specialising in creative writing. I’ve also managed to join up with a team in the AHG League, Old Guildfordians Mundaring HC for a run around every now and then!

I have recently committed to joining yet another SA international and G-Team player, Lloyd Madsen(the lads are getting around!) at Pinoké in the dutch Hoofdklasse next season. The opportunity to play in the best league in the world against some of the best international players on a weekly basis is pretty mind-blowing to say the least. Excitement levels are high!

In terms of international competition, after a successful outing for out team at the recent World Cup, in terms of world rankings, South Africa’s next major tournament will be the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India in October. The team is announced on July 1st, so hold thumbs!

I’m really looking forward to throwing out some updates of my stay here in Perth, the build-up to my move to Holland and Team South Africa’s preparations for the Comm Games.

Keep the vibe strong!

R&R #25

4 NATIONS POL X LUCAS SEVESTRE

Forwarding the Final of the French Championship, the 4 nations U21 in Poland was planned at Sienamowice, the town where the Euro CUp U21 will take place in July!

_{My Brother and I, trying to stop Germany}

It’s has been difficult to prepare well this tournament with the team because a lot of players were involved with their clubs for the Semi-final and the Final. So we couldn’t manage to train as well as we expected… Moreover, few players were not able to come because of injuries or exams! When you have a group made up of 19 players, if you have 4 players who couldn’t come, you can imagine that we were in trouble.  The coach decided to select 3 new players, to balance the absences. We were missing 2 very important defenders, whose one is our top pusher!

Coach Rowli managed to compensate all the absences and we were 18 at the airport, the 18^th May! The forecast journey was Paris-Frankfurt (GER) then Frankfurt-Katowice (POL), which guaranteed us a long and tiring trip! Arrived at 20h in Poland, we discovered with surprise that our stickbags didn’t follow us during the journey. The stress growth up because we were supposes to play the day after, at 5pm!
We all reached the hotel “Arsenal Palace”, high quality, but I was the only guy who hadn’t his travelbag and stickbag, whereas my team-mates had at least their travel bag… In the morning, we all discovered at the reception, a mountain of luggage… If you have seen that, you would have thought about Childs at Christmas!!  Hilarious

On Wednesday, we played against the hosting team, Poland. My first game with the team, and also my first as Captain.  Playing as a center midfielder, I have a lot of to do on the pitch. Always communicate with my  team-mates, think about the way we press/outlet, and sometimes discuss with the umpires was harder than I thought, but I liked it! This is much more tiring than just thinking about you-self and what is around you, this is a mental tiredness. To illustrate my words, I don’t have a lot of memories about the times I’ve just concentrated about me but I played well, the team to, even if we’ve made too many little mistakes. Poland leaded 3-1 at the half-time, but we manage to increase and we won 5-4, with my first goal and my performance awarded me as member of the players of the game by my coaches.

The new key sentences are “Small things can make a big differences” so “Concentration to the details”
In french it is “Les petites chose peuvent faire de grandes différences” and “Se concentrer sur les détails”

The second game was against Germany (last game, loss 8-2), this time we’ve lost 5-2… And unfortunately, I finished the game with one legs, because of two hits on the right knee. This injury, made me stay away from the pitch for the two last games. From my physio, this is not too serious; I must keep cool for one week. It allowed me to observe the way we were playing, and what were our mistakes on our press, our outlet… I get some interesting information! Against England, we’ve played very badly, and lost 5-1, then 6-4 against Poland… One more time, we finished fourth of the tournament! But there is a lot of positive things and one of the worst things we did, was not playing for each-other, not made good passes, not make a good lead to create space… We targeted few important issues, that we hope fix as soon as possible to get ready for the next U21 tournament, Celtic Cup at Belfast in Ireland, in July!  A lot of trainings are planned, and we need it to increase our level as a team!

The potential is there, I can feel it!

By the way, we are leaving in 10 days for Germany, at Monchengladbach, to play 3 games against U21 Germany with the France A team.

Readers, if you are interested, we’ll catch up in 10 days 

Kahlu!

4 NATIONS U21 X LUCAS SEVESTRE

“Ich Bin ein Berliner”,

We arrived yesterday (Monday 29^th) at Berlin to play the 4 nations Tournament against Germany, Poland and Scotland. Despite my injury, fracture of the 4^th and 5^th metacarpus 3 weeks ago during a preparation match against Santander (Spanish team), I’m part of the trip. Regarding the doctor, I must be back on the pitch in about 10-15 days!

Named Captain of the team, it’s important for me to be with the team, especially for our first tournament. Besides, being in charge of the Morning run and the Warm-up, I’m going to work on the Video and make some codes, I hope the weather will be nice with me, I don’t want spend all my time under the rain!

The team is composed of 4 different generations of players… 89 (like me), 90, 91, and 92, so this is a mixed team, every guy has his special abilities, and we’re all very motivate to perform well at the Euro Nation Champ in Poland (End of July). By the way, my brother Loïs integrated the team, so you’ll see the two Sevestre Brothers in the France U21.

The Hotel is great, good meals, located in a forest (good for the morning run), no swimming-pool but one double bed for two players, due to a problem of booking! So players have to sleep together… We trained yesterday night, and the pitch is really good, soft and new, but the lights could be better, and this could cause us some troubles because we are going to play late after 7pm, but “C’est la vie”.

So readers, I’ll try to keep up-date about this nice Tournament, and the weather under which I’ll be with my Camera and my PC!!

“Allez les Bleus!!”

All the Best

HOCKEY SEASON, SECOND PART U21 x SEVESTRE

Here is the Second round…

We have all taken back our stick, ready to live good moments together. About me, I start this second round with my new stick the Gryphon” Tour Range”, I feel very good with this new one. Lightweight, powerful, good shape… all necessary to make me better I hope.

I have some events to attend. To start, the French Championship of course with the SGHC, then the First Adidas Cup which will takes place at Nuremberg (Germany),

And as I’m still U21, we start training for the U21 European Championship in Poland at the end of June. We will play two 4 Nations tournaments against Germany, England, Scotland and Poland.

I’ll keep in touch with you about all this events, and I hope the darn will be good for everyone.

Cheers

LUCAS SEVESTRE IS IN BOTH THE UNDER 21 & SENIOR FRENCH TEAMS + A FURURE STAR, AND A GRYPHON GUN

CONGRATS x GRYPHON WORLD CHAMPS

Well they’ve had a few days to let it sink.  Those of us that were watching on the TV, reading news reports and talking about the games here at Gryphon HQ would like to formally congratulate the latest and World Champion Ambassadors for Australia and Gryphon.

Kiel Brown (WA)

Graeme Begbie (WA)

Rob Hammond (QLD)

Fergus Kavanagh (WA)

Grant Schubert (SA)

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

A PROMISE I’D LIKE TO KEEP

Well, almost all the preparation is done. We’ve touched down here in India, checked in to the Hotel and also had a couple runs on the pitch. The excitement is really starting to build as per norm when you finally arrive at these tournaments and see the mass of hype at the field. Things also seem to be magnified ten fold here in India. Major Dhyan Chand stadium is amazing and I can’t wait to step out for the first game against England. Hopefully with 16,000 Indian hockey lovers going crazy and with a couple of Aussies in between.

I remember making a promise to our old assistant coach Colin Batch after the 3rd-4th play-off final in Beijing. We will win the WC in 2010. Most of you know I couldn’t take part in that match and also the 2006 WC due to a knee injury. My memories of not being able to play those games/finals or also take part in the medal ceremony we’re some of my worst and tuff to swallow. I never like the feeling of not being able to contribute to the cause, especially when they are big tournaments, finals or when things aren’t going to plan.

So as things unfold over the next 3 weeks, I’m sure it won’t all go smoothly or to plan. I will however be doing everything in my power to help the boys win on the last day.

Later,

Shuby

PHOTOS: DANIEL CARSON | DC IMAGES

WELCOME PATO

Welcome, welcome, welcome. Mark Paterson is the latest of the Aussie crew to be wielding a new 2010 Blue Steel in their hands.

Mark is a Sydney man throughout and continues to play for NSW in the AHL. He made his Kookaburra debut in February 2009 in Canberra against Belgium. Mark’s an imposing striker with genuine potential to be a serious focal point in the Aussie attack. Expect to see a lot more of him in the green and gold in the future.

One thing his stats wont say is how much he loves getting out and enjoying himself. Pato, as he’s commonly known as, spends his days as a Physical Education teacher.

We are proud to welcome Pato to the Gryphon family.

GRYPHON REPRESENT x INDIA

With the biggest tournament in the hockey calendar right around the corner, the best players in the world will be there. They will be representing their countries in the fight for the best nation in the world, bragging rights and automatic entry into Champions Trophies for years to come. All the athletes have been tuning themselves for this for years.

What about the guys that are representing the extended Gryphon family?

Well we (Gryphon) are going to be there on the ground cheering them on (with maybe some country bias) and sitting proud as punch seeing the guys out there on the biggest stage of them all.

The G-Team in India is looking a little like this:

ARGENTINA: Mario ALAMADA, Matias REY, Ignacio BERGNER, Fernando ZYLBERBERG, Matias GONZALEZ

AUSTRALIA: Kiel BROWN, Greame BEGBIE, Fergus KAVANAGH, Robert HAMMOND, Grant SCHUBERT

CANADA: David JAMESON

ENGLAND: Robert MOORE, James TINDALL

HOLLAND: Wouter JOLIE

NEW ZEALAND: Simon CHILD, Dave GREEN

SOUTH AFRICA: Lloyd NORRIS JONES, Justin Reid ROSS, Julian HYKES, Lloyd MADSEN, Wayde PATON, Paul BLAKE

SOUTH KOREA: S I LEE, S H YOON

Last World Cup in Germany, the hosts came from behind to beat the Aussies and many are tipping the same two teams again to fight in the finals. Time will tell.

Stay with us for video, interviews, photos and more from the ground in New Delhi.

PHOTOS: DANIEL CARSON | DC IMAGES

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