Another great performance Pre World Championships Tacen SLO

Pre World Championships Tacen SLO

Mike Dawson set his sights high after an impressive result in Bratislava the week before. In Tacen qualifications he nailed the course heading into his second run in fourth place out of a field of 114 K1M a sure start for the semi finals the following day. Unfortunately the calibre of the competitors says it all when Dawson missed out on a top 20 semis spot by 100th/s going into 22nd place overall after second runs. With such a strong field the racing is tight and errors are costly. Dawson had the 2nd fastest split time on the course but slightly off line in the second half of the course caused the time lapse which took him out of the semis. Dawson while disappointed not making the semis also realised with the top 15-25 competitors within one second of each other the game is highly competitive.

Check out the full results

Dawson now heads to Seu , Spain in preparation for the World Championships

All the best for the World Championships

Mike Dawson bags a top ten finish ICF Slovak Open

What a fantastic weekend of racing for Tauranga paddler Michael Dawson in the Slovak Open, an ICF ranking race at Bratislava.
He qualified 2nd (from a field of over 100) - only 1.12 seconds behind Slovenian Peter Kauzer who has just won the World Cup Series '09.
With the field reducing to 20 for semis it was pretty cut throat but he produced a good run to make it through in 6th place. The top 10 go through to the finals, where Mike picked up a touch at the bottom pushing him into 9th overall. A great result!

Mike, 2009 Oceania Champion, World Champion Team Extreme Kayaking and NZL's top ranked international paddler says "I was stoked to put down some solid paddling... clean! "

The New Zealand team heads to Tacen in Slovenia for a pre world champs race next weekend as part of their build up to the World Champs in La Seu D'Urgell, Spain home of the 1992 , Barcelona Olympics early next month.

Slovak Open full results at http://www.mates.sk/


Thanks to Pub Charity for their donation to help purchase this boat

Mike Dawson sends a blistering challenge Slovak Open

Mike Dawson NZL's top internationally ranked athlete threw down the gauntlet to the slalom world where as the only athletes not coached , supported or funded by their nation raced into the semi finals in second place ( Mike Dawson 98.33) behind world champion and Olympic medalist Peter Kauzer SLO 97.64 and ahead of Olympic Medallist Matausze Palaczyk POL 98.50 . Mike currently ranked 21st in the world and 2009 Oceania Champion and Extreme Kayaking team World Champion was quietly pleased with his qualification result and is looking forward to the racing Sunday.

http://www.mates.sk/

NZL V Argentina Well fought

Argentina and New Zealand had a heated match that almost matched the temperature on Monday afternoon. Argentina was on the attack right away and in the 10th minute, Captain Victoria Zuloaga scored on a penalty corner. After some great saves by the New Zealand goalkeeper, Argentina got through again when Luciana Soracco scored a field goal. New Zealand retaliated four minutes later when Katie Glynn scored on a penalty corner. Before they had finished celebrating #8, Martina Cavallero had made it down the field and scored right through the goalie’s legs. In the second half both teams were back and forth, but New Zealand’s Katie Glynn scored their second goal with a beautiful tip off her stick into the net. Minutes later, Argentina’s Delfina Merino dribbled down the field and scored again. In the 53rd minute, Captain Victoria Zuloaga scored the final goal of the game off a penalty corner. It was a fast-paced match and New Zealand never made it easy for Argentina.

NZL Junior Blacksticks an awesome effort and for many their first overseas competition. Best of luck for the next round just out of medal contention

Medal Round Results

NZL Junior Blacksticks draw with Germany

On day five of the BDO Junior Women’s World Cup the junior blacksticks of New Zealand played Germany. In the opening minutes, New Zealand’s #13 Katie Glynn had a breakaway, but Germany’s keeper came through for the save. Soon after in the 5th minute, Glynn was able to get past the keeper to put New Zealand up 1-0. Germany had a series of shot opportunities be stopped by New Zealand’s keeper and defense; but New Zealand also had runs of their own into their attacking circle. The match kept up at a face-pace throughout the first half. Germany had the first penalty corner of the game around the 26th minute, but New Zealand’s defense prevented the score and maintained their lead over Germany to end the half 1-0. The second half continued to be a back and forth battle in the midfield. Germany, however, took control of the attack for a bit and executed a series of penalty corners in a short span of time. Thus, in the 51st minute, Germany tied the game 1-1 off a penalty corner goal by #8 Pia Grambusch. In the final minute, Germany was awarded a penalty corner, but failed to capitalize; with the match between New Zealand and Germany ending in a draw.

Well done to Kate and the Kiwi Junior Black sticks

NZL fight hard against China

In the second Pool C match on day four, China and New Zealand played a hard fought match. China had attacking opportunities in the beginning of the first half, including a penalty corner in the first minutes, but strong saves by the New Zealand goalie kept the match scoreless. Finally, China broke through in the 22nd minute off a field goal from #10 Yudiao Zhao. New Zealand had some great shots on goal, but could not score. China continued to control the pace of the game to end the half up 1-0 over New Zealand. The second half began where the first half left off with China fast on the attack, and New Zealand goalkeeper staving off China’s shots. Midway through the second half, Zhao broke through again to put China up 2-0 over New Zealand. New Zealand tried to get a goal in the last part of the half but China was too good on the day and went up 3-0 on a field goal by #14 Yang Sun in the 59th minute to pull away for the win.

A hard game but well fought. A fine effort

Junior Black Sticks win against Spain

New Zealand’s girls were able to take control of the first half of today’s game, keeping the ball mostly in the Spanish end. What appeared to be the first goal of the game was not counted as a point. The ball rolled off the stick of a Spanish player into their own goal, but without touching the stick of a New Zealand player first. New Zealand was able to secure a goal just minutes later when Petrea Webster (#21) scored on a corner.

Early in the second half, Spain’s Carlota Petchame (#7) was awarded a penalty stroke but missed the shot and the opportunity to tie the game. New Zealand continued to keep the ball deep in the Spanish end throughout the second half. In the 30th minute, New Zealand’s Katie Glynn scored to bring the team up 2-0. Shortly after, Glynn maintained her fire and put New Zealand up 3-0. In the final minutes, #1 Gemma Flynn for New Zealand scored off a penalty corner to end the game with her team up 4-0 over Spain.

Click here

Congratulations to Kate and Junior Blacksticks

News Junior Black Sticks

The Netherlands has been a strong competitor in past Junior Women's World Cups, but the unexpected happened today when New Zealand won the 5th match 3-1. The first half of the game was dominated by the Netherlands women as they made smooth and well paced passes down the field. In the 19th minute, #4, Kitty Van Male of the Netherlands scored the first goal.
The second goal was scored by New Zealand's #6 Cathryn Finlayson in an exciting breakaway. Netherlands came out on top with patience and control in the second half while New Zealand struggled to gain possession. The opportunity was there for the Netherlands but it was New Zealand who scored the next goal on a corner with a smooth flick into the net by #13 Katie Glynn. The frustration in the Netherlands players was apparent as they continued to dominate and make shots with no results. In yet another breakaway for New Zealand, the Netherlands' goalkeeper came forward leaving the goal open for #13 Katie Glynn to dribble in and score again.
Although the Netherlands had possession for the majority of the match, New Zealand's speed and accuracy kept them in the lead. This is only their second time competing in this tournament.

Kate Savory Junior Black Sticks Boston Update

Success for the JBS first game at the Juniors World Cup winning 3-1 vs Netherlands ( the number one woman's side in the world).

After the win an estastic Kate said "The Netherlands have been strutting around all week so feels amazing to win against them as the hot favourites at the World Cup."

The JBS played South Africa in a warm up game and won 5-1.

The JBS now challenge Spain and China (the next two match games)

With the weather a warm 30 degrees NZL winter seems a long way away

Congratulations to Kate and JBS on their first match win.

For further information Click here

Kate Savory heads to Boston

After an excellent build up in NZL Kate Savory has winged her way to Boston for the U23 World Championships. The NZL Junior Black Sticks have started well winning their warm-up matches before the competition begins in earnest later this week

All the best to Kate and her Junior Black Stick team

Follow the match schedule

Mike Dawson finishes well up ICF Slalom CZ

ICF Wave Slalom- Ceske Vrbne, CZ August 2nd 09

In a field of 90+ international paddlers top Kiwi slalom athlete Mike Dawson ranked 21st in the world finished on form with a top ten finish in 6th place and just out of medal contention. With less than 4 seconds separating the top 8 places racing was tight and technical.

Congratualtions to Mike on his top performance

ICF Wave Slalom CZ Results