ISSUE THREE JUNE 2014

Horse’s arse Sports Liberated’s editor enjoys her first foray into polo... once she stops crying Rule Britannia Nostalgic crowds plus a nattily dressed dog flock to London for the World Series triathlon Daddy’s girl A dad’s eye view of the inaugural women’s Tour of Britain NEW EPISODE... How important is a dad’s influence on girls taking up sport? Charlotte and Jo interview their own dads FRONT ROW STORY IN QUOTES to find out, which didn’t 4 26 Poet’s corner, creative volunteering, top Sacrifices were made from a young age feel strange at all five sporting moments, and the best for the tennis prodigy, including barely quotes from Be A Game Changer seeing her mum in her formative years 8 PICTURE GALLERY 28 FEATURED BLOG Stunning global imagery featuring Professional cyclist Chloe Hosking asks mountain biking in , surfing in Pa Hosking to write a dad’s eye view of Brasil and windsurfing in Cape Town 14 the women’s Tour of Britain 14 SPORTS LIBERATED GOES TO... 18 30 ’S BEST CYCLING CITIES ... London’s World Cup triathlon event From Amsterdam to Paris to Berlin to and found a nostalgic crowd, pain- London, Sports Liberated explores the racked faces and a nattily dressed dog best (we mean flattest) cycling cities Sports do not 18 SPORTS LIBERATED TRIES... 32 EVENTS... BEST OF THE MONTH build character... EPISODE 1: FEMININITY IN SPORT ... polo. Once editor Jo had overcome Featured event is the Hockey World Cup, they reveal it The one where climber Mina her fear of horses and stopped crying plus rowing, sailing, , climbing, John Wooden Leslie-Wujastyk talks about femininity she quite enjoyed the hour-long lesson equestrian, football and tennis in sport and cricketers tell us the importance of training with boys 20 OVA TO YOU 36 ENTERTAINMENT In an era dominated by Eastern bloc The Peak District gears up for the Tour EPISODE 2: TO BE CHICKED tennis stars, we look at the main de France with a cycle-to-the-cinema The one where the ladies discuss characters on the women’s tour initiative and SportBeat festival arrives why it’s not unknown for female WORK LIFE BALANCE QUOTES OF THE MONTH endurance athletes to beat the men 22 37 Is work as an adventure sports The best, worst, funniest, humbling, in the 20-hour plus races photographer all it’s cracked up to be? surprising and moving quotes in the We talk to Jody MacDonald to find out 22 world of women’s sport EPISODE 3: TOUGH AS NAILS The one where a basketball coach who trains both sexes tells us, “Women are definitely harder on themselves”, and we discuss the confidence gained from taking up sport later in life FROM THE EDITOR

EPISODE 4: For the love of sport WINTER SPORTS SPECIAL The only ‘money’ that ever changed hands when I competed at Editor The one where wintersports newbie elite-level gymnastics many moons ago was my team-mate winning a Jo Gunston Charlotte ends the show enthused £10 Debenhams voucher. We were secretly pleased it wasn’t a sports [email protected] about the snowy events after shop voucher where she’d feel obliged to put it towards some Designer Jason Keens co-presenter Jo chews her ear equipment. No, siree, she could buy a cassette tape with music that off for an hour about it Writer wasn’t instrumental; she could buy a duvet-sized T-shirt exclaiming Warren Shore ‘Choose Life’ instead of the slim-fitting numbers we had to wear in EPISODE 5: GENERATION GAME training. Or, the holy grail, put it towards a, gasp, ra-ra skirt to make us @sportsliberated The one with an interview with six- all green with envy at the next gym club fund-raising BBQ. This wasn’t www.sportsliberated.com some amateur-hour competitive level, the team-mate in question and nine-year-old girls, how to balance Front cover image a medical degree with training, and competed at the Seoul Olympics for Great Britain, fitting her training Jody MacDonald the ladies are baffled by Charlotte’s around part-time work as a secretary. Twenty years later and I’m attending the Women’s Sport Trust ‘Be a Olympic sport trial Game Changer’ event where four England women captains are being interviewed. Two of the four are full-time pros, cricketer Charlotte Edwards and footballer Steph Houghton, but netballer Pamela Cookey

and rugby player Katy McLean, still have to work training around their Nothing in the magazine can be reproduced in whole or jobs. And Steph’s pay? She earns in one year what Chelsea player, in part without the written permission John Terry, earns in a day. Nevertheless, in our wildest imagination it of the publisher, Jo Gunston. Although Sports Liberated has endeavoured to wouldn’t have occurred to our teenage selves that you’d ever get paid ensure that all information in the magazine is correct, prices and details www.sportsliberated.com for doing your sport. It’s dreamworld. may be subject to change. THE COOLEST WOMEN IN SPORT ON THE PLANET www.SportsLiberated.com 03 FRONT ROW FRONT ROW

VOLUNTEERING A photo taken by Sports Liberated at a Football Unites, Racism Divides Creative types needed too event in Sheffield, UK THREE GOOD THINGS Sport volunteering isn’t all about handing The Malory Eagles Volleyball Club are COME TO THOSE out sandwiches or encouraging red-faced looking for a journalist to help the club My Little Scrapper WHO WAIT youngsters round an obstacle course. If generate content by writing match by Judy Muldowney In the past few months you’re a more creative type and sports reports. They also need a sport women’s sport has seen photography or journalism is your thing, photographer. Or how about getting some dramatic advances. why not help out at local events? You’ll be experience as a production assistant? Thinking back through all the years The Friends Life getting the practise in and building your Redstone Community Broadcasting are How swiftly they’ve passed by Women’s Tour was a portfolio and contacts at the same time. looking for volunteers to work on the I close my eyes and bite my lip spectacular success with At www.do-it.org.uk there are a plethora Drive Time show providing sighted Try so hard not to cry the fab British public of sports teams advertising for volunteer assistance to the presenter, compile and You were always such a scrapper coming out in all sports photographers, journalists and read news, sports stories and travel weathers to support the A raging thunderstorm even production assistants. London-based bulletins, amongst many other things. cyclists as they zipped examples include the Bangladesh Football Don’t bail out if no one’s advertising in The day you shed your diaper through the hills and dales of southeast England. Not Association who are looking for your area, though – if you’ve got the time You donned a uniform. only that, did you notice something about the name of volunteers to take and edit photos of their and inclination, just offer your services the tour? Did you? Go on, take another look, that’s right, events for newsletters and press releases. wherever you are. Fear - never a factor it was even, gasp, sponsored. Good work Friends Life. With the toughest, there you stood See, you even get mentioned. Twice. You have the will, the soul, Next, did you see the news about the Frauen- Bundesliga? Oh, you did? Okay, well let’s leave that... the heart... Get out of here, you didn’t. The German women’s AN UNTIMELY RIP ALL THAT GLITTERS... But, I always knew you would football league has only gone and got its first ever American swimmer Dara Torres was TOP 5 Judy Guinness reached the individual foil I watch you while you’re sleeping sponsor, a five-year deal with Allianz seeing each of the warming up for the 50m freestyle fencing final at the 1932 Olympics in Los So still, so calm, serene 12 participating teams receiving £82,000. Barely two semi-final at the 2008 Beijing Angeles and was poised to win Britain’s first Once you step upon days work for some Premier League players but Olympics when she noticed her SPORTING ever gold medal in the event. The judges That football field invaluable for the women’s game. rival, Sweden’s Therese Alshammar, awarded her the win, and then something And finally, England women cricketers have been You’re one powerful machine. was having problems with her MOMENTS remarkable happened. The 21-year-old told the given professional contracts for the first time with 18 swimsuit. Torres tried to help the judges that they had missed two hits by her happy ladies selected in the first batch. Smashing times. Swede fix a tear but when that Austrian opponent, Ellen Preis, in the closely I marvel at your talents didn’t work, Dara asked officials to fought match. Guinness picked up silver You’re intense and dedicated delay the race so Alshammar could after one of the Games’ finest shows of So keen, devoted, daring get changed. “In the pool we’re sportswomanship. “We were more friendly – Just as I anticipated competitors, out of the pool we’re more like gentlewomen – in those days,” the by Your qualities are endless friends,” Torres said later. Torres then Mueller-Preis told a Times reporter in 1984. qualified and won silver in the final. You’re faithful, kind and true FOOTBALL Alshammar came away just happy ABOVE AND BEYOND Righteous and respected “You really are a most disgusting human being,” says to have preserved her modesty. We’re used to seeing athletes whipping up a A leader, Josh, that’s you! Will, the priggish schoolboy character in teen gross-out crowd to try to inspire themselves. But doing comedy The Inbetweeners. His comment was directed IT’S NOT THE WINNING... it to help an opponent? That’s what Katrin Watching you play any sport at his friend Jay whose comic role is to crudely shock. The first London Marathon, 33 years Green did at a 2011 Paralympic World Cup Has always been a pleasure The term that prompted Will to express such disdain? ago, ended in a dead heat when meeting in Manchester. The German long Describing women as ‘gash’. In the context of such a You’re masterful and focused Norway’s Inge Simonsen and jumper already had a medal in the bag but show, it’s mouth-agape-did-he-say-that funny with Will America’s Dick Beardsley sportingly decided to get the crowd rocking to support My pride – I can not measure and friends providing the foil to their friend’s language. crossed the finishing line hand in China’s Juan Wang in her bid for gold. Wang And now my little scrapper Yet it’s not quite so funny when it’s the honcho hand in 2hr 11min 48sec. It was Dontcha just love duly produced the winning jump of 4.78m and You’ve become a strapping man of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, who it has Dick’s first visit to the UK and he it when character Green went away with the bronze and, we been revealed, was happily forwarding jokes containing reveals itself? So stay steadfast … follow the sun remembers two things about the hope, a nice warm glow. And be the best you can! the phrase, among other misogynistic references, round event. First, the crowds and support, his mates, using his work email address. even then, were “unbelievable”. AN UNEXPECTED TWIST The difference between the television characters and Second? The weather, obviously. Such was Sara Tucholsky’s excitement when she hit her first ever home run in a 2008 college Source: Family Friend Poems Mr Scudamore’s real-life role is that one is a bunch of “It was a cold and rainy day,” softball game that she missed first base. When she turned to rectify her error, she collapsed www.familyfriendpoems.com teenage boys exploring their boundaries during their Competitor.com quotes Dick as in a heap with a knee ligament injury. As she crawled back to the base and lay there hugging formative years. Mr Scudamore, meanwhile, is the man saying. Meanwhile, trailing in five the stop, her Western Oregon University team-mates looked on helplessly – the umpire had charged with increasing participation in women’s and PHOTOGRAPHY: hours later, the final finishers, confirmed that if they helped her round the other bases, the home run wouldn’t stand. Up girl’s sport and who once suggested football is “at the Frenchwoman Marie Dominique de stepped opposing team player Mallory Holtan, the athlete with more home runs than anyone leading edge” of the “whole equality agenda”. Groot and UK runner David Gaiman, else in conference history. After checking with the umpire the legality of what she was about We’re currently inbetween ensuring the promotion WOMENS TOUR also held hands as they crossed the to do, Mallory, along with Central Washington University team-mate Liz Wallace picked up and enjoyment of women’s sport and fighting against line. Presumably there were some Sara, and carried her round the bases, touching her uninjured leg down on each one until the boorish and quite frankly boring old-school sexist thoroughly soaked spectators there they delivered her onto the home plate. ‘You hit the ball over the fence,’ they told Sara, ‘You behaviour. How is that going to change when the

PHOTOGRAPHY: JO GUNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY: to cheer them home. deserved it.’ person in the position of power here is one of the latter?

04 @SportsLiberated www.SportsLiberated.com 05 FRONT ROW FRONT ROW

Women’s sport advocate and all round loveable sport Be a Game Changer – the best quotes presenter Clare Balding inspires the invited throng The world of athletes, media and business collided and colluded on May 28 2014 in the Women’s Sport Trust event, creating a hub and hum of enthusiasm, opportunity and bringing together a group of like-minded people willing to make a change

“Sport has the power to change they want to – not just in sport.” example of exactly that change... the way women see themselves.” Sophie Christiansen, three-time gold BT was very much involved in the Anna Watkins, Olympic gold medal medal winner at London 2012 Olympics and felt that feeling rower and founding member of the Paralympics that came from embracing that Women’s Sport Trust feeling of nationhood and “The Commonwealths and success, and so on, and it just “The status quo is not the world champs are what’s started to permeate into how acceptable. This is about helping important for us. But on the we wanted to build into what people and businesses realise media side the Commonwealths we were launching. We certainly their full potential. 70% of is where it’s at but Sky have been launched off the back of some consumer spending is impacted awesome showing our league strong men’s sport rights – by women. 50% of wealth is held games. Every week there’s a live football – but I don’t believe the by women.” game and our semi finals and long-term success of BT Sport is Michel van der Bel, UK vice president final so that’s made a huge just on men’s sport, I think it’s of Microsoft, sponsors of the event impact for our sport as it’s women’s as well as men’s.” now visible to more people.” Simon Green, BT Sport “It’s time to break the cycle that Pamela Cookey, holds women’s sport back. The captain “Time management is key. I don’t media blaming business for lack think I could manage if I didn’t of sponsorship. Businesses “We’ve had so many games on have my life planned. I’m a blaming media for lack of TV now. Most of our international business manager of a sports coverage. We can intervene games, especially our Twenty20 trust so whether it’s getting up at and I hold my hand up to be games are live on TV, which has five in the morning to go training a captain of that change.” been fantastic. Obviously, we to then go off to work to then Fiona O’Hara, managing director, want every game shown on TV come back again to train with the BE A GAME CHANGER EVENT, MAY 28 2014 Accenture and that hasn’t happened but to squad, you have to have that be fair, in the last three years the discipline to do it. But I get to do Make a little trouble, encourages Clare Balding “Whatever you choose, however difference that has made and something that I love every day many roads you travel, I hope having them before men’s games so I don’t mind doing it... but at A big groan emanated around the that you choose not to be a lady. as well, has made a huge the same time it would be nice to Shoreditch warehouse in London, playing I hope you will find some way to difference. So there can’t be have a bit more time!” host to 350-odd movers and shakers (and break the rules and make a little too many more complaints from Pamela Cookey, England netball Sports Liberated) in the women’s sport trouble out there. And I also me other than having every captain sector. From Olympic athletes to business hope you will choose to make game televised but it makes types to media bods, the great and the some of that trouble on behalf a huge difference to the knock- “It’s not only time but it’s the good collectively frowned when co- of women.” on effect.” little stuff when you need to get founder and co-host Tammy Parlour Broadcaster Clare Balding who Charlotte Edwards, England cricket off work to get to training revealed that female athletes receive quoted journalist and writer, captain because you’ve got a running only 7% of newspaper coverage and Nora Ephron session or a gym session to do or 0.4% of all sport sponsorship money. “It’s not just about [the game they know that I’ve come in later Queen Balding was having none of “I’m a sore loser so when it comes being on TV] it’s the because I’ve gone to the gym so this and stepped in and raised the roof, to losing as captain you’ve got to commentators as well. We have I am lucky in that respect. I’ve quoting Nora Ephron’s 1996 speech channel your emotions and be the same commentators as the got a reception class so they’ve encouraging us all to ‘find some way to there for the team and be ready men, they comment on the game no idea what’s going on anyway.” break the rules and make a little trouble for the next game. When you like it’s a men’s game and they Katy McLean, England rugby’s out there’. win, it makes it even better when know the players inside out – I unfunded captain on balancing work Jo Bostock, co-founder of the WST you are leader of that team.” think that has a real impact on as a school teacher with sporting life continued: “We believe that change is Steph Houghton, England women’s the audience that are watching,

intensely personal. It comes from enough PHOTOGRAPHY: JO GUNSTON football captain not just the game itself.” “For me personally, I couldn’t determined people deciding that they Charlotte Edwards, England cricket imagine what it’s like being a want things to be different. Those people “I come from a sport where we captain runner or something where were in the room tonight and they are compete against men and it isn’t you’re on your own repeating going to start a revolution in women’s about strength or size – I’ve said “I absolutely sense there is a something, because the banter sport.” Cripes, this thing is really it before but I think we really change in the way the nation around team sports is fantastic.” happening – fasten your seatbelts. need to prove to young girls that feels about women in sport and England women’s football captain they can achieve anything that Women’s Sport Trust is an Steph Houghton

06 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 07 GALLERY GALLERY

YOU LOOKING AT ME

Young Tanja Zakelj, the reigning world SVEN MARTIN/RED BULL CONTENT POOL champion, isn’t looking altogether thrilled at cresting the hill at the mountain biking world cup in Cairns, Australia. If you could just help us out a bit here Tanja, we’re trying to get more women and girls to take up sport and you looking in absolute pieces having slogged your way round the course looking like you wish you’d never seen a bike in your life isn’t helping. Thanks.

08 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 09 GALLERY GALLERY

NO FEELING LIKE IT

Ah now, this is more like it. Pure exulted joy at having won her first major victory of the RYAN MILLER/RED BULL CONTENT POOL 2014 surfing world tour, Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons is carried shoulder high across the Rio sands, arms raised skyward in celebration. For all the selfie-obsessed celebs out there, we presume you get this same feeling from taking the perfect selfie? Raise your arms aloft because you’ve got a gap between your thighs? Oh... you don’t?

10 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 11 GALLERY GALLERY

LATE NIGHT TONIC

We’re lucky if we manage to rustle up a BBQ of an evening let alone exercising into the last rays of the sun – talk about making the most of every moment. Olya Raskina’s dream is to take part in the Red Bull Storm Chase, an event that sees windsurfers tackle storm-force wind conditions. “Being a Russian, I can handle not only vodka but strong winds, big waves and challenging conditions.” Good grief. KIRILL UMRIKHIN/RED BULL CONTENT POOL KIRILL UMRIKHIN/RED BULL CONTENT

12 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 13 SPORTS LIBERATED GOES TO... WHY ARE THE BRITS SO GOOD AT TRIATHLON? WORLD CUP TRIATHLON With four British women finishing in the top 15 of the 2014 Cape Town event, Sports Liberated spoke to last year’s series winner Non Stanford about GB’s secret weapon TRIATHLON TWEETS In stitches but not the funny kind for GB’s Jody Stimpson Midway through the World Triathlon series the roadshow headed to London’s Hyde Park with two Brits vying for the series title in the women’s race. Sports Liberated headed to the 2012 Olympic venue and found a nostalgic crowd, pain-racked faces and a dog dressed up in rather natty clobber

ootballers. No. I’m not having this rolling around the floor nonsense during the World Cup just because another player has lightly tugged the waistband of your shorts. Not when the likes of British triathlete “It’s the fact that Alistair and Johnny I’ve been up in Leeds [from Wales] for Jodie Stimpson finishes the previous [Brownlee, Olympic gold and bronze two-and-a-half years training with them Yokohama triathlon despite her bike medallist, respectively] have set this in that squad. Moving to Leeds was a pedal pronging itself between her toes standard and the rest of the team have massive turning point in my career, that’s mid-race leaving a gash big enough to to live up to it. There’s an expectation for sure. And I think being with the boys require six stitches. Not immediate now that British athletes win races and and seeing how they train and how they stitches, oh no, post race stitches. nobody wants to be the person who cope with different pressures and seeing Then, with no training and having had drops the ball and I think there’s a great how much they enjoy what they do... the stitches removed just five days prior atmosphere at British Triathlon. Going out on the bike for them is to this race in London, Jodie races to Everybody enjoys what we do, there’s playtime, they love it, that’s what they an incredible 11th place, which, though a real passion for what we’re doing and love doing and I really buy into that. gallant, sadly drops her to second in I think that’s great. Everyone has this I love that enthusiasm for what they’re the eight race series after a spectacular ethos that we all feel really fortunate that doing and I’ve really adopted it and it’s winning finish by American Gwen we can do something that we love and definitely, definitely been a massive part GB’s Jodie Stimpson (above, right) has the Jorgensen. Having won the first two honour of leading the athletes onto the also there’s an ethos of hard work. You of my career and they’ve been incredibly races of the series and still coming ninth pontoon as leader of the World Series but know it’s expected, nobody really slacks helpful and incredibly welcoming when despite a valiant effort with an injured foot in Japan, Stimpson is still in contention from the previous race, Jodie comes in 11th. off and it’s a great atmosphere to be in I first moved to Leeds. They’ve definitely to win the World Series crown, won last America’s Gwen Jorgensen wins the race and and great to be involved with. been a help.” takes the overall World Series lead, leaving year by GB compatriot Non Stanford. Jodie consoled by a hug from team-mate That’s the same Non who broke her Vicky Holland arm midway through the 2013 series The next races in World Triathlon series... WHERE TO WATCH AND then still went on to become champion. and Katie Hewison 13th. After over a Jun 27-29 ITU World Triathlon Chicago, US HOW TO GET SOCIAL Sadly, injury this season has put paid to year out from the sport Helen Jenkins’ Jul 12-13 ITU World Triathlon Hamburg, the Welsh woman’s hopes of defending two podium finishes have put a smile Germany Watch live at https://triathlonlive.tv her title with her focus now on the back on her face and leaves her third in Aug 23-24 World Triathlon Stockholm, Facebook but with so the overall standings behind Gwen and Sweden www.facebook.com/worldtriathlon many Brits fabulously jostling to be the Jodie. The 30-year-old told the BBC that Aug 26 World Triathlon Edmonton, Twitter best in the world, there’s always it had been a tough year for her and her - Sept 1 Canada www.twitter.com/worldtriathlon And a special mention to Daniela at the someone for us flag-waving spectators husband, who also doubles as her coach, Boulder Tri Series to cheer. (Turns out, Sports Liberated and that she’s trying to give herself a now knows, when you’re an official year off from the pressure of targets yet photographer you’re not supposed to that doesn’t stop her from going on to Have a go at triathlon Started in

scream for your athletes when they pass suggest she’d love either herself or PHOTOGRAPHY: JO GUNSTON Australia, Triathlon Pink is a unique you on the course. #soprofessional). fellow Welsh team-mate Stanford to win women’s-only triathlon series In this year’s series, injury permitting, gold come the Commonwealth Games, in aid of breast cancer research. there’s five British competitors in the 50 one of the first medal events in Glasgow. Women of all backgrounds and racers with the Cape Town event at the So, footballers. When you think about fitness abilities are encouraged to end of April 2014 seeing four Brits in the flailing helplessly on the floor like participate in a swim, bike and run. top 15 finishers – Jodie Stimpson 1st, wounded salmon, have a think about it www.triathlonpink.co.uk Helen Jenkins 2nd, Vicky Holland 8th, first, eh?

14 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 15 SPORTS LIBERATED SHOWS UP TO... WORLD CUP TRIATHLON SNAPSHOT Juniors, seniors, whatever – the focus remains the same World Series Triathlon whatever the level in London’s Hyde Park The crowds swarmed back to the 2012 Olympic venue, nostalgic for the flag-waving, Brit-supporting days of yore and watched as elite athletes sweated their way round the sprint course before the amateurs, juniors and para athletes had their day in the sun

Up close and personal Painful stuff this with the spectators for triathlon malarkey, Germany’s Lisa Sieburger right Line Thams?

Knowing that one day you too could grow up to be a professional triathlete. Priceless

The English weather played ball and stayed sunny all day – not so good for the Oh so stylish, puppy athletes, though...

Photographers are always looking for that unique angle... PHOTOGRAPHY: JO GUNSTON

Post triathlon hair America’s Gwen issues... just stepped Jorgensen takes the Italy’s Alice Betto messes out, just stepped win and the lead in about in the river... out of a sal-on the World Series

16 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 17 SPORTS LIBERATED TRIES... Recruiting now WATCH THE VIDEO AT www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl3YFmB-kqs&feature=youtu.be Global Health and We’re looking for Wellbeing Company people to start working Investors In PeoPle (IIP) aCCredIted 5 this month

Retailers £300-£400 p/m

POLO Team leaders Jo enjoyed polo... once she’d stopped crying £800-£2,000 p/m

My videographer, Julie, wasn’t entirely Already unnerved after autocorrect Event Business developers sympathetic regarding my concern turned ‘fear’ into ‘dead’ as I made notes Chestertons Polo in the Park £3,000 p/m, 6 figure incomes, plus about getting on a horse many years on my tablet prior to the event it was Friday June 6: Chukka Friday – Car Plan, free 5-Star international after being dumped off one of the when I was filling out the this-activity- London’s Summer Office Party heavy-breathing critters when it is-extremely-dangerous-and-you-can’t- Saturday June 7: Ladies Day – The travel and annual bonus decided to head for a tree. ‘You may be sue-anyone-if-anything-happens- Social Event of the Summer heading into that tree, young Brandy,’ alright form that the aforementioned Sunday June 8: Finals Day – A Fun thought I, ‘but I’m out of here,’ as I slid Julie giggled when I asked her the date. Action-Packed Day for Everyone elegantly off the galloping beast and “It’s the 13th,” she grinned. @ChestertonHumb @PolointhePark into a heap on the grass. So it didn’t entirely go according to www.polointheparklondon.com Once we’d both calmed down a plan as you’ll see for yourself in the You must be a team player, bit I immediately got back on the video above. Despite the gentle Have a go with your mates syrupy-coloured demon and trotted introduction to the sport, nowhere near Gather up to 10 friends and spend have great people skills, uneventfully back to whence we’d a horse, even I was surprised by my an hour working on riding skills and and be eager to learn! come. I’d not been on one since. reaction on even sitting on the thing hitting the ball on the polo ponies. So when an email came through giving coaches Martin Roman and Packages for group bookings on a claiming the members at Ham Polo Charlie Wood the unexpected first task Sunday can be arranged to include

Club, a mere six miles from Richmond of stopping me crying... lunch in the club house or a gourmet VIDEOGRAPHY: JULIE MOORCROFT station in London, could teach anyone picnic. The price is less of a picnic at how to play polo within an hour I £95 per person Tuesday-Friday and thought, ‘Well alrighty then, I’ll give you £115 Saturday and Sunday but it’s a challenge. It’s about time I got back certainly a memorable way to spend on the horse’, as it were, well, no your time, I can vouch for that. Please call Paola on actually, as it was. www.hampoloclub.com 0118 907 6357

18 www.SportsLiberated.com FEATURE TENNIS

The first and most famous ‘ova’ of all

THE SISTERS Ova KAROLINA AND KRISTYNA PLISKOVA Age 22 (they’re twins) Country Czech Republic Doubles ranking 63 and 71 On court First twins to win a WTA doubles achievers title together, at Linz in October 2013. They beat Gabriela Dabrowski and Alicja In an era dominated by Eastern bloc tennis stars in the Rosolska in the final women’s game, Warren Shore looks at the characters Off court They live in the town of Louny, northwest of Prague behind the seemingly robotic conveyor belt of talent Website www.pliskova.net

ou all know Sharapova — recalled in 2010: “I was the first post- one heck of a grunter, great Soviet era player to leave Russia, practise backhand, candy range with its in better circumstances, in a better own Facebook page. But Maria is just environment. Once kids and parents saw one of 17 players in the Women’s Tennis what I did, they realised that there is that Association’s top 100 singles rankings opportunity,” she told The Independent. whose surnames end in ‘-ova’. It can all In a number of countries, ‘-ova’ is said get very confusing, so in a month that to reflect the notion of women as in some sees two tournaments – the way the property of their fathers or current and the upcoming husbands (whose names often end in Wimbledon championships Sports ‘-ov’), which is nice. For our purposes THE WINTER SPORTS FAN Liberated is here to guide you through though, we’re simply here to help you BARBORA ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA the melee. when you are faced with a barrage of Age 28 On a linguistic and sociological level, similarly-named players. Country Czech Republic the prevalence of the ‘ova’ tag is no So we bring you the Gladiator fan, the Ranking 63 PHOTOGRAPHY: OLGA BOGATYRENKO. VOJTA HEROUT. LEV RADIN. MAI TECHAPHAN. TONY BOWLER. FEATUREFLASH. EMRAN surprise: it’s a common name in eastern football tragic, and the player with the On court Winner of numerous doubles Europe and other places from which lucky toy; the plant lover and we also titles, with partners including Renata bright young tennis players have been reveal the player whose spare time is Voracova and Iveta Melzer springing in recent years. They’ve followed spent listening to Rhianna, presumably Off court A rare double ‘ova’, who enjoys the lead of a certain Anna Kournikova who she’s got ‘Russian Roulette’ on repeat. snowboarding Facebook 1,831 likes

THE CHELSEA FAN THE WATERFOWL FAN THE SANDAL FAN THE TRAVELLER THE MUSIC FAN THE FLOWER FAN PETRA KVITOVA MAGDALENA RYBARIKOVA DANIELA HANTUCHOVA LUCIE SAFAROVA Age 24 Age 25 Age 30 Age 27 Age 26 Age 26 Country Czech Republic Country Slovakia Country Slovakia Country Czech Republic Country Russia Country Bulgaria Ranking 6 Ranking 34 Ranking 31 Ranking 24 Ranking 23 Ranking 42 On court Wimbledon champion in 2011, On court Won the Aegon Classic at On court Has six WTA singles titles to her On court Mainstay of her country’s Fed Cup On court Got 2014 off to a good start On court Fell outside the top 100 last beating Sharapova 6-3 6-4 in the final. Birmingham in 2009, defeating , name and is a talented mixed-doubles player, team alongside Petra Kvitova. Won WTA title by lifting the WTA trophy in Pattaya year but bounced back with excellent Key member of the Czech Fed Cup team and also plays doubles. Learnt her tennis winning both the US Open (with Mahesh in Quebec last year City, Thailand (Karolina Pliskova was the win at Sydney International in January, that won the trophy in 2011 and 2012 in Bratislava Bhupathi) and French Open (with Fabrice Off court Some of Lucie’s favourite holiday beaten finalist) when she defeated Kvitova, Off court She likes football and supports Off court Her lucky charm is a toy duck, Santoro) in 2005 destinations include Venice, Dubai and Off court Listens to Rihanna and Michael and Chelsea obviously Off court Favourite film isGladiator Mauritius Jackson Off court She likes orchids Twitter @Petra_Kvitova Facebook 2,589 likes Website www.danielahantuchova.com Twitter @luciesafarova Twitter @katemakarova1 Website www.tsvetanapironkova.com

20 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 21 WORK LIFE BALANCE

How to be an adventure sports photographer

Turns out even an adventure sport photographer, whose office commute is to the most remote places on earth, has a work life balance to get right. Jody MacDonald talks to Sports Liberated about her nomadic life, an ironic daily challenge and not finding Nemo

Did you just hear that sentence you just said?” I say, interrupting adventure sport photographer Jody MacDonald mid-flow while she’s responding to a question. A pause in Skype space suggests she’s not sure where I’m going with this. “I just asked you what your next job is and you said, ‘I’m going to Fiji to work as an assistant to a National Geographic photographer’. Imagine yourself as a school kid planning your career and this is what you end up doing. How cool is that?” Jody’s response is surprisingly hesitant. “A friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in a long time said the other day, ‘Wow, your photography career is really skyrocketing’, and I Jody MacDonald takes a breather in the office although it’s not all sand-between-the-toes relaxing she tells us said, ‘Is it?’ because you just progress and your life is what it is photographers so I think that was mind following a decade at sea and you just progress with it. But one of the first times I thought, running a charter business with her when I was invited to the National ‘Yeah, I am doing okay’.” then-boyfriend Gavin McClurg. For Geographic week-long seminar this I suggest that by saying she’s the first five years they ran a yacht year, that was a huge milestone for doing ‘okay’ she sounds like the charter for surfers, freedivers and me because my whole life I wanted famously self-deprecating Brits. The kiteboarders but ended up “hating to be a National Geographic Canadian-born Jody laughs. “I’m that type of business”, so they sold photographer, like so many other very critical of my work and I think that boat and came up with the idea photographers, and that was the first when you’re a perfectionist, like a lot of the Odyssey, a boat which takes time I thought, ‘Wow, I guess I am of artists, your work is never quite on world kiteboarding expeditions. making gains because I’m here, I’m as you want it to be. You’re always The business venture turned out to sitting next to Steve McCurry and striving to make it better and to be the germination of Jody’s David Doubilet and these crazy improve, which is great because I photography career as she spent think it helps you produce good and much of her time in some of the better work but it’s also kind of most exotic locations in the world “I’m very critical of my work and tortuous. I think it’s quite sad that along with the world’s best I’m always striving to improve – you can never be content with your watersports athletes. efforts, so there’s two sides to it.” Ten years on the boat meant Jody I think it’s quite sad that you can A search for balance is clearly could hone her craft and, as an never be content with your efforts” uppermost in Jody’s current frame of accomplished participant of her

22 www.SportsLiberated.com WORK LIFE BALANCE WORK LIFE BALANCE

Kristin Boese kitesurfs over bewildered local fishermen near Anakao, Madagascar in this over/under shot captured from the water speciality sports – paragliding, scarier than pretty much anything kiteboarding, surfing and stand-up that I do.” paddling – she can not only And what about other female THE BUSINESS SIDE anticipate moves but she’ll often be adventure sports photographers airbound while taking photos, – are you the exception rather than snapping away while paragliding, or the rule? “I think the only other one Passion versus progress in more extreme weathers, tandem that I know of is Krystle Wright. I “Some days it feels like a lot of work. It’s one flying to enable her to concentrate know Krystle personally and we’re thing to do your passion but an even bigger on the photography. really the only ones I know of that side of being a photographer these days is the As you’d expect the highlights of a are doing the more expeditionary business side and most of us don’t have any decade at sea are spectacular. “Any stuff where we can immerse idea how to run a business. So it’s a lot of time you get to swim with whales is ourselves in these adventures – I hours in front of computers and in the office, a completely magical experience,” think some of the other ones just go and not being outside, and trying to market Jody says. “Just being able to to events.” yourself and I think that is probably one of kiteboard in some of these remote And this insatiable desire to travel the biggest obstacles to adventure sport locations, areas where there’s no – where does that come from? “I photographers or even maybe photographers other people and kiteboarding and grew up in Saudi Arabia and they in general these days.” surfing and having the whole place give you a lot of benefits for living to yourself with really good friends in the Middle East and one of them How to store a gazillion images or people you like to spend time was they paid our family to go on “You definitely need a system that is the most with is always really incredible vacation so my parents took a lot of efficient for you – that’s something you don’t because you feel like you have these advantage of that – they had never really want to spend time on.” playgrounds to yourself and they’re been anywhere up until that point. just really incredible experiences to So as a child I ended up travelling Utilising your images share and participate in. Being in the world – I lived in Saudi for 13 “There are so many ways to utilise your images places that hardly anyone gets to years, I moved there when I was 2, and it’s trying to figure out the best ones for see or get to are always incredible.” I was born in Canada – and I think the type of photography you do. It’s trying to the more you travel the more there figure out the industry and what works best for NOT ALL FUN AND GAMES is to see and I think that was really yourself – it’s very hard. You definitely don’t So that’s the good stuff but, as with bred into me when I was younger. feel like you’re maximising the potential of it.” all things, there are challenges too. “I still very much have that feeling Jody’s blogs tells of a potentially in me but as I get older I get more Branching out life-threatening incident in which a tired of always living out of my bags, “I have done some video because I kind of had dinghy got blown offshore while the surprising ongoing issue which did “The illnesses were hard – I’ve “Being able to kiteboard so this past year having a crew run to, but I’m primarily a photographer. I love paragliders were in the air and with for her constantly-onboard life. gotten more illnesses than anybody the sailing business is really nice stills and I will always prefer photography over no way for the yacht-based crew to “I’ve been sailing for 10 years and could imagine, including typhoid in these remote because I’ve been able to spend video and I’m very much a proponent about reach them, the group spent the for those 10 years I’ve been seasick fever, I’ve had all of it.” So how do locations and having more time at home between trips so, following what you’re most passionate about. I night in near hypothermic pretty much,” she reveals. A plethora you work if you’re so sick? “You just the whole place to yeah, I think as I’m getting older I’m care less about the money side of it so because temperatures sleeping under the thin of tropical illnesses picked up from try to get better as fast as you can feeling more of that need to have a of that I feel a bit like doing video is selling my canvas of the glider. But the drama some of the world’s most remote and keep doing it!” yourselves with really home base. It’s like everything in life, soul and I don’t want to make these sacrifices wasn’t limited to one off incidents locations also puts a dent into what, Any small business has admin good friends is it’s about balance, right? Too much in order to make a buck. So if it’s a project that for Jody – in the end it was a for many, would seem a dream job. duties to take on, not usually a always incredible” of one thing and you’re just trying I think will work well for video and I’d like to do creative type’s natural affinity, as to seek that balance in everything, it then I’ll do it but just for the money’s sake I Jody explains in the column on the when you’re satisfying both sides.” don’t. I prefer just to focus on photography.” next page. But worst of all is seeing Jody’s former partner is still on HOW TO BE AN ADVENTURE SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER first hand the damage being done to lot of repair work to be done. And board, but for the 38-year-old, Opportunity knocks the environment. “Seeing the plastic then I always tell people, try being in shorter trips of between two and six “I never planned it this way but my expedition in the ocean and the degradation of your living room and sharing it with weeks on the Odyssey is the new business and adventure sport photography “You have to have “Be critical of your “I am constantly the reefs has been horrific. You know five to seven people for 300 days of plan, alongside freelance jobs such complement each other well. My kiteboarding- a huge passion for own work. I used to looking at other how people envision these pristine the year and the room moves and as the National Geographic gig. The sailing business became the most incredible photography but be a photography people’s work reefs full of life and fish like you can’t leave – it’s seriously really last trip she tells me, was called ‘500 platform for me to start my photography also for the sports that editor and people would trying to understand what something out of Finding Nemo? tough, you have to share your home Miles to Nowhere’ a “paragliding career. It gave me all these opportunities to you’re photographing.” send me hundreds of makes a good photograph They don’t really exist any more. I all year long with people in a small expedition we attempted, flying photograph in these exotic locations as I was pictures and I thought, and why I like or dislike a mean they do but in very, very few space… I’m not sure many people from Utah to Jackson Hole”. living on the boat full time for so long it.” “Start submitting ‘Why are you sending me photograph. So trying to places. To come upon a place that is would stick with it.” I hover over asking her about the and keep all these crazy pictures, understand those elements really intact and pristine I could So why did you? “I just have this word ‘attempted’ but I’ve heard Website www.jodymacdonaldphotography.com submitting why don’t you just send and analysing an image count maybe a handful of times in 10 incredible desire to explore and see enough about the hard parts of and submitting and me your best ones?’ I think makes you a much better years. And then to see the plastics new places and have adventures in the job; I’m back to daydreaming Facebook jodymacdonaldphotography submitting your photos, that goes a long way to photographer in terms of on the beaches and in the oceans is really interesting places and I always about the romantic nomadic notion Twitter @jodyphoto and hopefully people working towards a body how your eye flows through unbelievable, so seeing that is tough. thought that if I quit and came home of the life of an adventure sport start publishing and of work and how people an image and what works “And when you get into bad I would totally regret it, so that’s photographer living a life with sand Vimeo offshoreodysseys recognising your work.” perceive your work.” and what doesn’t.” weather situations, that’s always what kept me going. That desire was between my toes and hoping that Instagram jodymacdonaldphoto really hard. You end up with a fair bit more powerful than the alternative there still exists a place in the world of damage to the boat and there’s a – for me, having a 9 to 5 job is way where Nemo can be found.

24 www.SportsLiberated.com www.SportsLiberated.com 25 A SPORTING LIFE IN QUOTES

Maria Sharapova SHARAPOVA SLAM Sacrifices were made from a young age by the Russian-born tennis prodigy The eight-year slam won the Wimbledon singles title at AGE 4 7 9 17 the age of 17 and completed a full house of Grand Slams by the time she was 25. CHILD PRODIGY BEYOND DETERMINED LETTER FROM AMERICA TEEN QUEEN “What amazed me straight “When I arrived in America I “In those days I barely talked to “It’s unreal. My father and ➤ 2004 Wimbledon final away was that at four-and-a- was young but I knew what I her on the phone. You didn’t I have been through this Beat 6-1 6-4 half years of age she was wanted. I think that when you really have good communication together and it’s just ➤ 2006 US Open final extremely intelligent. Maria start from nothing, when you back then. But I always amazing. I know how tough Beat Justine Henin 6-4 6-4 absorbed everything come from nothing, it makes remember writing her letters.” it is to watch and playing is ➤ 2008 Australian Open final I explained and showed to you hungry. I am proud of Maria on the two years she had to a lot easier, so I owe Beat 7-5 6-3 her. She grasped everything where I came from and I know wait for her mother, Yelena, to him so much.” ➤ 2012 French Open final in a single flash.” what I want. I want to win.” join her in the United States Sharapova beats Serena Beat Sara Errani 6-3 6-2 Yuri Yudkin, who helped Maria moves from Williams in straight sets to win Sharapova learn to play Russia to Florida ‘’I remember the day I saw her the 2004 Wimbledon title tennis as a child after those two years. She just “I learnt English in one looked at me, she’s like, ‘Oh, my, month. I told myself I should you’ve changed so much.’’’ listen. In the next month Mother and daughter I could talk to everyone.” are reunited

17 18 19 20 21 23 25 26

REMEMBER THE NAME PRESS RELEASED “I’m done growing. HONEST APPRAISAL BUTTERFINGERS NUCLEAR POWER FOR THE LIFE AFTER FIERY SIDE “I’m not the new anyone and “I know you are reporters and “I was moving like a cow “My friends sometimes think “Tennis is only a game, but “I decided to create the type “If she wants to talk about I’m certainly not the new I know this is your job, but, I only grow when on ice out there.” I’m a bit dorky. If I drop it is my platform, my of candy that girls like me something personal, maybe Kournikova. I’m the new Maria you know, take your note I put my high heels The clay of Roland Garros something it’s like, ‘Yup, opportunity to help people. crave. I wanted something she should talk about her Sharapova. People seem to pads, take your pencils down, presents problems during a very typical of me’. I can have dresses, cars, my that could bring the fun and relationship and her forget that Anna isn’t in the take your grunt-o-meters on now.” second-round French Open At times, I’m clumsy.” own fashion label, but it passion of gummy candies boyfriend that was married picture any more. It’s Maria down, the fashion police, Sharapova reaches win against the American, Maria cheers up doesn’t necessarily make to life, and be my own little and is getting a divorce and time now.” put everything away and Jill Craybas dorks everywhere me happy.” project from start to finish. has kids. Talk about other Anna who? just watch the match, you the 6ft 2in mark Maria on a charity visit to her It has been so fun developing things, but [don’t] draw know, from just the “You’d think I would have the parents’ Chernobyl-affected my dream candy line.” attention to other things. She “Reading the newspapers, fans’ perspective.” momentum but I just didn’t hometown of Gomel in Belarus Promoting her Sugarpova has so much in her life, many PHOTOGRAPHY: ANATOLIY LUKICH. EVERETT COLLECTION. FEATUREFLASH. VASILY SMIRNOV there’s nothing I’m going to Addressing the media after really feel that way inside of range of sweets positives, and I think that’s learn new about myself, being beaten by Justine Henin me for some reason. I could what it should be about.” because I know what I said, at the 2006 Australian Open sit here and blame the wind SMASHING IT UP “It’s been a long journey. The always professional Maria and you know, I don’t need to and blame my opponent. But “I think he’s great I started from such a young surprisingly loses her cool read what I said, ’cause I “It’s nice to be one of the there are no excuses. I’m not entertainment and we love age, but I’m not done yet, in regards to a comment know what I said. I like to most beautiful people.” going to throw myself a pity to listen to what he has to far from it. I have a lot made by fellow professional look at the pictures.” People magazine puts party here.” say… I think he was joking, more to achieve.” Serena Williams, which may her in the world’s top Despite winning eight games but he’s playing the sport, Sharapova wins the or may not have been about 50 beautiful people in a row and going 2-0 up in so how bad can it be? If he French Open after a testing Maria’s relationship with the final set of the third-round felt so bad about it, and comeback from a shoulder outstanding Bulgarian “I definitely feel Russian tie of the 2007 US Open Maria even if he’s a male, I don’t injury. She beat Sara Errani player inside, even when I’m in crumbles and is put off her 27 think he’d be playing it.” 6-3 6-2 in the final America I feel Russian.” stride by a teenage Agnieszka Maria responds to Ernest Maria prepares to play Radwanska. The 50th seed Gulbris’ comment that: “A “I’m sure there are a few professionally in Moscow was aware Maria didn’t like woman needs to enjoy life a more people that watch for the first time people moving on her serve, little bit more. Needs to think my matches than his.” so guess what she did about family, needs to think Sharapova fires a volley about kids. What kids you at Frenchman A 17-year-old Maria An 18-year-old Maria towering over 18-time can think about until age in a row over equal looking unsure at an Grand Slam champion of 27 if you’re playing prize money early press conference and 5ft 7in professional tennis.”

26 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 27 Sheryn and I had the opportunity www.chloehosking.wordpress.com to not just watch the women’s Tour of Britain but we were able to spend time before the race with Chloe and, thanks to tour organiser Guy Elliot and his team, we were able to stay in the same hotels as Chloe throughout the race. We’ve done that before but this time it was a bit different. This time there was a TV highlights package every night but we weren’t A dad’s eye view of staying in the Ritz Carlton and not to denigrate our hotel at all but ITV4 simply wasn’t available on the television in our rooms. There was, the Women’s Tour however, a critical mass of cycling fans in the hotel and so we were able The inaugural women’s Tour of Britain was huge for the cyclists but what was it like for to get the football off the TV in the bar their parents? Chloe Hosking’s mum and dad made the trip from Australia for the one for that crucial hour from 9 to 10pm. PHOTOGRAPHY: FRIENDS LIFE WOMEN’S TOUR. CHLOE HOSKING Chloe, in her blog ‘The Grand week event and Chloe asked Pa Hosking to add his own experience to her blog Depart’ has given a good account of the general enthusiasm surrounding It’s a law of physics that conversation any cyclist or staff managed to strike up a conversation the race in the general community. whenever there’s a big member who hesitates for the with Marianne. We saw this repeated every day on women’s cycling event, slightest moment in front of them. When I eventually managed to each stage with massive crowds with a lot of energy and After the London Olympics, I took tear mum away from Marianne – who coming out to support the race. hype, my parents manifest my mum to the famous Oakley was more than happy to engage Many of these people were cycling themselves. So naturally they made Safehouse – throughout the Games mum and pose for a photo with her tragics but others we spoke to in the the somewhat insane journey from major sponsors set up ‘houses’ gold medal – I asked her what she small villages along the route just Australia to the UK for one week to around the city welcoming athletes was talking to her about, ‘Oh I was wanted to show support for women’s watch me in the inaugural Friends and their families. We bumped into just telling Marianne how you got sport and a major event coming Life Women’s Tour. It was a the Dutch women’s road team, into cycling and things’. Ever since to their local area. The enthusiasm sensational week for women’s including gold medallist Marianne then, any race that mum has been at was infectious. cycling with Marianne Vos taking out Vos, who were also taking in the (and there have been a few!) she’s The ITV4 hour in the bar added the overall classification and my phenomenal Safehouse, which had always said hello to Marianne, and another dimension for us. Let’s be parents followed it all. taken over the London Design Marianne has said hello back. honest, road cycling is possibly the wonder of bike racing and the was superb, the competition was They’ve developed a bit of a Museum on the south bank of the Most of the women in the peloton worst live spectator sport ever. Pick unpredictable things that happen. intense and the people in the room reputation at the bike races around Thames river. While I was busy now recognise my parents and often a spot on the side of the road, wait The organisation was superb, the were hugely excited to be a part of Europe. More often than not they deliberating over whether I wanted tell me they hear them cheering on for the vanguard to approach, count competition was intense and the the whole event. seem to pop up and try to engage in pink or blue Oakley sunglasses mum the side of the road. At the recent the motorbikes at the head of the people in the room were excited to Now we are back in Australia and Friends Life Women’s Tour, fellow race – by my count 50 police and be a part of it. I blame bike racing for impeding Australian Shara Gillow showed me tour motorcycles – then the cyclists For example, on the run in to my recovery from jet lag. I’ve been a photo of her and her Orica-AIS flash by. Clacton-on-Sea when Australia’s watching Michael ‘Bling’ Matthews, teammates on the presentation And I mean flash, these girls were Tiffany Cromwell had a slight gap a product, who has had podium at the race start in Oundle, seriously flying and I think only on the charging peloton, did anyone an incredible run in pink at the Giro Northampton. Shara was waving to about half of the time were Sheryn notice the person on the mobility and won an individual someone in the crowd: “I was waving and I able to satisfy ourselves that scooter nip across the road in the stage. It’s hard to to your mum,” she told me. Chloe and her teammates were gap between Tiff and the peloton? change time zones When I asked my dad, Steven safely present in the peloton. There’s Judging by the gasps in the room with these sorts Hosking, to write a blog about his no time to analyse this though, as it’s most of the competitors definitely of temptations. experience at the Women’s Tour you back to the car and on to the finish, hadn’t seen it. That’s a cue for won’t be surprised to know, he was or do we take the risk and try to people to pull out their phones and more than happy to oblige. glimpse the peloton one more time? show other incidents that never Chloe’s blog Never a simple choice and one we quite made the highlights package. “This website/blog is designed to let you into my world DAD’S STORY have a long history of getting wrong. Like the Tour support car that had a and the women’s cycling peloton. More than a shameless The Friends Life Women’s Tour has Back to the ITV4 hour this is where coming together with road furniture platform for me to promote myself, my intention is for been run, and won, and my wife we got to learn the real story of the in the neutral zone and caused some this to become a one-stop-shop for anything to do with Sheryn and I are now back home in race. Many of the competitors and chaos in the peloton. women’s cycling. Canberra, slowly recovering from jet the team staff gathered in the bar to But what was really shared in the So if you’re new to cycling, or more specifically women’s lag. Bicycle racing is never far from watch the race. The comments in the highlights hour for me was the sense cycling and don’t really know where to start my hope my mind but the past couple of room put some meat on the bones that the Friends Life Women’s Tour is that I can help you learn and grow to love the sport weeks has seen it elevated right back of the race. The coverage shed new was not only an important race for that I call my career.” into the top position it used to light on what actually occurred and women’s cycling, it was a good race Go to www.chloehosking.wordpress.com Chloe’s parents chow down in a traditional English cafe after making the trip from Australia to watch daughter Chloe in the Women’s Tour occupy amongst my interests. everyone there was able to share the in its own right. The organisation

28 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 29 TRAVEL

EUROPE’S TOP CYCLING CITIES

Nice, France Berlin, Germany

Whether it’s a city by the sea or a thrumbing metropolis some of the best places to BERLIN, Germany momondo tip Follow bus route 14 cycle – by that we mean flattest – can be found around iconic European city streets. National scheme Call-A-Bike offers for a challenging ride to the top of over 100 rental locations, and Mount Boron in the Parc Municipal From coastal Nice to canal-side Amsterdam, award-winning travel site momondo reveal Berlin’s tubes and trains even offer du Mt Boron for the best city views. their top five European cities to discover by pedal power, with local tips to boot special tickets permitting bikes to be taken aboard. LONDON, England Make like a pro cyclist and pedal PARIS, France Visitors should take note however, The famous blue ‘Boris Bikes’ are furiously down picturesque towns France’s capital has long been loved that only over 18s can buy access to now one of London’s most iconic and lanes, emulating the women of by bike-lovers, and boasts The Salon the scheme, although anyone over sights, and Barclays Cycle Hire offers the inaugural Friends Life Women’s du Cycle – a national event bringing 14 can ride one of the public bikes. a massive 8,000 bikes and 570 Tour. Alternatively, make like a sloth together both amateurs and momondo tip Cycle behind public docking stations dotted around the and mozy your way around stunning professionals. [Although finding buses 100 or 200 for the best scenic capital. Never more than 400 metres city scapes, stopping in cafes, and information for the 2014 event views of the city, as these routes apart, they form what has become even pubs along the way – in one proved tricky at time of press]. pass most tourist spots. a reliable mode of transport for Paris, France city you can even rent a very stable Perfect for cyclists, the Paris commuters and tourists alike. Above: London, ‘beerbike’ and legally ride about Respire scheme also closes off parts NICE, France With so much to see in the city, England having had a few. Believe it or not, of the city, such as roads by the river Nice’s biking scheme Vélo bleu offers embarking on a cycle trip gives you it’s not London! Over to momondo... Seine, the Marais and Montmatre, 175 docking stations around the city, more time to see as much as you every Sunday and over bank holidays and rental from just €1 an hour. can. Or you can just sit in the pub... AMSTERDAM, The between 9am-5pm so you can cycle Visitors should definitely momondo tip Meet local cyclists on Arguably the most recognisable around the most iconic places in the experience biking down the flat your city break, in special bike repair biking capital of the world, city in peace and without inhaling Promenade des Anglais – a five-mile cafés ‘Look Mum No Hands’, ‘Foffa’ Amsterdam claims top spot for its traffic fumes at every turn. beach-front walkway connecting bikes and ‘Lock7’. easy access to bicycles through Paris benefits from public scheme Chateau Hill with Nice Airport. Stop public scheme OV-Fiets, which has Vélib Bike Hire, which boasts more for your first coffee of the day en For more information go to: 240 hire locations offering bikes by than 1,200 docking stations and route in one of the many cafes. www.momondo.co.uk/content/bike/ the hour, day or week. 18,000 bikes around Paris. A debit Renting is reasonable and for or credit card is required online or those who’d like a more relaxing at all of the docking stations to grab European bike app maps via www.bikeradar.com ride, electric bikes can also be a bike and go. Wahoo Fitness www.wahoofitness.com/ leased for just €7.50 a day. momondo tip Gain an extra 15 Cyclemeter http://abvio.com/cyclemeter/ momondo tip Rent the ‘Beerbike’, minutes free, if the docking station Google Maps https://maps.google.com/ Amsterdam, The Netherlands which at 1.5m wide allows you to is fully occupied, in order to return Map My Ride www.mapmyride.com legally drink and ride round the city. your bike to another station. Strava www.strava.com

30 www.SportsLiberated.com @SportsLiberated 31 FEATURED EVENT PREVIEW

THE COACHES THE TOURNAMENT Hockey World Cup 2014 Is hockey a man’s game when it comes to coaching the teams, asks Sarah Juggins What is it Hockey World Cup When May 31 – June 15 2014 A model, a Maradona-alike and a pain-resistant Brit are some of the participants in the Where The Hague, Netherlands Rabobank Hockey World Cup taking place in the Hague this month. The best 12 men’s The Rabobank Hockey World Cup sees the down to the fact that there has been a lack of Facebook Fihockey and women’s teams will battle for the trophy in the 76-match tournament best men’s and women’s teams from across development and coaching of women’s YouTube Fihockey the globe compete for the title of World Cup coaches. The focus has been on participation.” Twitter champions, but with 24 teams in action, there Karen Brown, who is assistant coach to the @FIH_Hockey NEW ZEALAND is one group of people that is wildly under- England and Great Britain team and was the @RHWC2014 EMILY NAYLOR represented – female coaches. only female coach at London 2012 had a “Fun afternoon filming a @skysportnz ad Of all the coaches who will be working at stronger viewpoint: “The reason behind a lack COMPETITION SCHEDULE for the Hockey World Cup” the World Cup, only two will be women – of women is often down to the level of @emznaylor 1,019 followers former Dutch international Janneke acceptance by the remainder of the coaching Women’s group matches Schopmann and GB and England’s Karen staff. At a tournament, I often find it a difficult Sat May 31 - Tues June 10 2014 Emily Naylor made her debut for the Brown. Both work in assistant coaching roles, environment, particularly when there are new Black Sticks – the New Zealand women’s meaning there are no female head coaches. people who do not know me. I find they often Pool A Pool B hockey team – more than 10 years ago South Africa women were the last team to gravitate towards the male members of the Netherlands Argentina and recently celebrated winning her have a female head coach in Jenny King. coaching team.” Australia England 239th cap. While not a recognised Speaking in 2012, she said: “The lack of Here we speak to the two women about New Zealand Germany milestone in the traditional sense, this females at the top level of hockey can be put coaching and the lure of the World Cup. South Korea China made the 28-year-old the most capped Belgium United States player in Black Sticks history. Emily South Africa estimates she has visited more than 30 JANNEKE SCHOPMANN KAREN BROWN England matches countries as a result of her hockey career. Janneke Schopmann was a pivotal part of the Karen Brown is England and GB’s most June 1 England v USA Netherlands team that won gold in the 2006 experienced player, with 355 caps to her June 3 England v China ARGENTINA World Cup and silver in 2002 and 2010. She name and a raft of medals in her trophy June 6 S Africa v England LUCIANA AYMAR also won Olympic gold in 2008 and a clutch cabinet. However, the one medal that has June 8 England v Argentina “Do not expect things to come or you fall, of Champions Trophy gold medals. She is eluded her both as a player and now as a June 10 Germany v England but go and get what you dream of” now assistant coach to the USA women’s coach to the women’s team, is a World Cup @aymarlucha 214,093 followers team and will be hoping her winning ways medal of any colour. Karen still has a lot of 5th to 12th place classification rub off on the up and coming team. love for the World Cup: “The World Cup Thurs June 12- Sat 14 As the only player in the history of the “I played my first World Cup in Perth and represents the best teams with the best 1st to 4th place classification sport to win the world player of the year only then did I realise how special the World players, all with one aim – of winning that Thurs June 12 eight times, you just know that Luciana Cup is. My favourite memories are of scoring trophy. It is an intense fortnight of hockey.” Semi finals Thurs June 12 Aymar is a bit special. Known as the a goal in the opening game and the Karen’s playing career has given her hero Third place Sat June 14 Maradona of Hockey, Luciana’s great skill atmosphere in the stadium in Perth. status to the players she coaches, but how Final Sat June 14 and agility means that she leaves “My last World Cup in Argentina was also difficult has it been for Brown the player to opponents floundering in her wake. The special. We were 1-0 down in the semi-final transform into Karen the coach? “I try to see On TV FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH 37-year-old has a host of medals from and everyone thought we were out, but we things from both perspectives. The physical In England and Northern Ireland her long international career but the one came back and won the match on penalty transition has been more difficult. As a player all of England’s games as well as SOUTH AFRICA HOLLAND gap in her collection is an Olympic gold. strokes – that was intense.” you have to be selfish, but as a coach you the finals will be shown on Sky MARSHA COX ELLEN HOOG Janneke is just one of two women involved have to become selfless. Also, when I first got Sports. For all the action, updates “Losing inspires winners!!! Today we get “Goodmorning! Wedstrijd tegen ENGLAND in coaching at the highest level at the World into coaching I thought I had to have all the and live streaming visit www.FIH. to prove our winning ways in 3/4th Cartouche heren 1 vanavond, wie is er KATE RICHARDSON-WALSH Cup. She joined USA coach Craig Parnham in answers but over time I have realised that will ch/rabobankhockeyworldcup2014 playoff! New day, new possibilities!” bij? ” @EllenHoog 23,266 followers “Warrior Wednesday got a little bit crazy January 2013 after a spell coaching in the only work to a certain point. If you want @MarshaM8 4,379 followers in the gym this morning.” Dutch league – roundly recognised as the long-term development in your squad, you Ellen Hoog combines her international @katewalsh11 10,682 followers best domestic league in the world. must help your players work it out themselves.” Playing in a sport that historically was hockey career with work as a model. An “I am able to use my playing experience to Karen’s coaching career began in 2000 dominated by white, wealthy South appearance on the cover of Sports When England and GB player Kate help the players now,” explains Janneke. “As when she took charge of National League Africans, Marsha epitomises the new Illustrated along with team-mate Eva de Richardson-Walsh suffered a broken jaw a player, the most important thing is being side Chelmsford. She then began working on South Africa. She is captain of her Goede led to a stratospheric increase in in the second game at the London able to play your best hockey when it counts. the England coaching programme, with many national team and a role model for her twitter followers. The 28-year-old Olympics everyone thought she was out That means players must feel comfortable in of the England junior sides. In 2005 she young, black South African women. The Dutch midfielder has medals galore, of the tournament. Except Kate. Playing their surroundings. joined the senior squad as assistant coach 31-year-old has played in three Olympic including gold from the Beijing and with a plate in her jaw, a mask and a “It is important to recognise what players and has remained with the team in that Games and two World Cups. London Olympics and a World Cup gold. handful of painkillers, she was back on like, dislike and what it takes for them to be capacity ever since. Was she tempted to go Hockey is in Marsha’s genes. Her She made her hockey debut for the the pitch in time for the penultimate ready for each game. I hope I can help the for the top job? “No,” she says emphatically. mother, the coach and former player Netherlands in 2004 with a brief hiatus group game going on to lead her team team prepare in the best way they can.” “I do not think I am the right person for that Marian Marescia, is known as the best when her father died of cancer in 2005. to bronze. Bittersweet in this tournament job. I like being the person who is in the back player never to have played for South Ellen picked herself up and has been a Kate’s injured team-mate and wife, room, working with the players and

PHOTOGRAPHY: MOOINBLACK PHOTOGRAPHY: Africa, due to apartheid. fixture in the squad ever since. Helen Richardson, hasn’t made the team. developing them.”

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WIMBLEDON EVEN MORE What is it Really? When is it Mon June 23-Sun July 6 2014 May 30-June European Rowing Where is it Wimbledon, UK Championships, Belgrade, Serbia Where to buy tickets It’s complicated this summer? www.wimbledon.com May 30-June 1 Netball Europe Official website www.wimbledon.com Championships, Wales Twitter @Wimbledon Hashtag #Wimbledon May 31-June 1 Climbing World Cup, Where to watch BBC Toronto, Canada Who’s in the pic? The battling French June 3 European Beach Volleyball star with the unorthodox style, Marion Championships, Italy Promoting WomenSport to and Bartoli, finally wins Wimbledon in 2013 six years after being runner up, beating June 3-8 Sailing: ISAF Women’s around, the Commonwealth - in the final. Match Racing World Championships, with 50 international partners: Cork, Ireland EUROPEAN ATHLETICS June 5 Athletics: Diamond League, • Every match/race result TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Rome What is it Does what it says on the tin. • Pictures/twitterUprisingUprising handles When is it June 22-23 June 6-7 Climbing World Cup Vail, of your stars Where is it Braunschweig, Germany Colorado Where to buy tickets • TV schedules - LIVEStream & TV www.ticketmaster.de June 7 Athletics: Diamond League, Official website www.european- Eugene • Women’s Sports News - athletics.org June 7-14 European Fencing interviews - PLUS Twitter @Euro_team Championships, France Hashtag #Braunschweig2014 • YOUR local WomenSport R/T Where to watch BBC Sport June 9-14 Tennis: Queen’s throughout the Commonwealth Who’s in the pic? Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson who’s in for a great June 11 Athletics: Diamond League, summer according to Jess Ennnis-Hill. Oslo

June 14 Athletics: Diamond League, New York 2014 EUROPEAN ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 14 Women’s Football: World What is it Set to go ahead despite the Cup qualifiers: Belarus v England recent floods in Serbia. June 16-21 Tennis: Eastbourne When is it Fri May 30- Sun June 1 Where is it Belgrade, Serbia June 19 Women’s Football: World Official website www.worldrowing.com Cup qualifiers: Ukraine v England Twitter @worldrowing Where to watch BBC Sport June 19-22 Women’s US Open golf Who’s in the pic? GB’s Olympic and championship, world champion Helen Glover rows with June 20-22 Women’s Henley Polly Swann as usual partner Heather Stanning only recently back from army. Regatta Womenʼs SportsNet June 20-22 Rowing World Cup, WOMEN’S MATCH RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Aiguebelette, France What is it An annual sailing event to June 21-22 Athletics: European Team Twing_IT crown the world champions. Championships, Germany When is it Tues June 3-Sun June 8 This summer WSNet invites you to join the UPRISING - Official website www.matchracing.ie June 23-July 6 Tennis: Wimbledon more info here: www.wsnet.co.uk/WSNTVi/UPRISING Twitter @royalcork @wimseries Hashtag #wimseries June 26-29 Equestrian: Hickstead www.wsnet.co.uk Where to watch www.sailing.org/ June 27-29 Athletics: British matchdaytv Championships, Birmingham Who’s in the pic? It’s not just lolling Supporting WomenSport & SportsWomen @WSNet about on deck, you know? Things can get hairy. @Twing_IT and the TwingX logos are used under licence PHOTOGRAPHY: WIM SERIES. MATTHIAS HANGST/AELTC. AELTC HANGST/AELTC. WIM SERIES. MATTHIAS PHOTOGRAPHY: @UPRISING soundtrack courtesy of MUSE & You Tube - worldwide rights acknowledged 34 www.SportsLiberated.com DOWNTIME

CYCLE TO THE CINEMA BEST, WORST, FUNNY, SELECTED FILMS LUDICROUS SPORTS QUOTES OF THE MONTH MaidenTrip (82 mins) Available on iTunes The rules of the sea the then 14- “Men are the ones who have train sets in the year-old sailor could handle as she 1983-2014 loft. They have stamp collections to die for. took off to sail single-handed round Right? These are stupid things to do with your the world – it’s living by the rules of “I don’t have the words to say life. As is trying to practise eight hours a day the land that cause her problems. what an incredible person Bally to get to world championship level. So, Half the Road (112 mins) was, how loved she was or what therefore, I think we are also the idiots of the Sign up to find a screening near you an inspiration she will continue species as well. The male of the species has Using humour and incredulity, and to be to everyone who met her. got a single-minded, obsessional type of brain interviews that leave you gawping, This is an awful loss for tennis... that I don’t think so many females have.” professional women’s cyclists take she was one in a million and an Six-time world snooker champ Steve Davis explains you on a journey into the absurdity absolute gem.” why male players have an advantage over women of lack of support for women’s sport. Judy Murray pays tribute to Elena Project Wild Thing (96 mins) Baltacha, who died from cancer at “It’s very good for all the women in sports, 14-year-old Laura Dekker studies the charts below www.ProjectWildThing.com the age of 30 especially in football, of course. It could have deck on her two-year solo ‘This film will change yourlife,’ been someone else. And I hope this is only the round-the-world sail

STILLS FROM MAIDENTRIP BY JILLIAN SCHLESINGER FROM MAIDENTRIP BY STILLS promises The Guardian. One man’s “Impossibly sad. first step. I opened a door today and more mission to get his kids outside and Forever a team-mate. women will walk through on my back. That’s YORKSHIRE FESTIVAL’S TOUR DE CINEMA away from the telly is at turns Sweet dreams Bally.” what I hope” Helena Costa, the first woman to coach shocking and inspiring. Elena’s team-mate a men’s professional football team in France Inspirational adventure films are Where and when The Armstrong Lie (128 mins) being screened across idyllic Peak Tues June 3 Maiden Trip Ecclesall Woods Available on Netflix “We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, District locations ahead of the Tour June 12 Six cycling films Amphitheatre A documentary maker starts by talented and determined Bally. ” “It’s frustrating because de France cyclists piling through the June 14-15 Three mountain bike films Hope Valley filming his hero and ends up being Elena’s long-time coach and husband of just a few months, Nino Serverino it’s Golf Digest; it’s not area on Sunday July 6. Locals and June 21-22 Various short films Cliffhanger Outdoors embroiled in the story that saw Sports Illustrated’s visitors alike are encouraged to Festival Lance Armstrong revealed as a fraud. “Saddened to hear about Elena Baltacha’s passing. My fondest swimsuit issue. I think cycle to cinema locations with June 26 The Armstrong Lie Hathersage Pantani – The Accidental Death memory with Bally was sharing a wonderful chat when we met they should maybe settings including a wooded glade July 15 Pantani – The Accidental Death of a Cyclist of a Cyclist (96 mins) the Queen at Wimbledon.” recognise some of the and National Trust venues. Can’t Hathersage Available on LoveFilm Six-times Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King great women golfers make the events? No worries – stick #TourDeCinema #CycleToTheCinema Arms held aloft winning the Tour de that we have. It’s like, your static bike in the living room, www.CycleToTheCinema.co.uk France to dying alone in a squalid ‘What do you have download the films at the links to www.Facebook.com/CycleToTheCinema flat six years later, this film “Every night, I’m haunted by that last run. I replay to do to get a little the right and pedal furiously. @HeasonEvents documents one man’s descent. the skids so vividly in my head. So how does it feel respect?’ I’m to feel like you choked in front of the whole world? guaranteeing you right now, it was not How does it feel to have your lifelong dream slip a woman editor who chose that cover.” EVENT away literally from your fingertips? It sucks.” Reaction from seven-time major winner Juli Inkster Elana Meyers, who with USA team-mate Lauryn Williams after Golf Digest magazine put model and non-golfer SPORTBEAT FESTIVAL won a silver bobsleigh medal at the Sochi Olympics Paulina Gretzky on its cover

June 7-8 Gloucester, UK www.sportbeatfest.com “This whole tournament has been “The first lap it was like the worst lap, it was really based around being mentally strong terrible. I thought, ‘God, I hope my legs improve’ Where else can you be screaming at and being gritty when it counts, and – fortunately, they did.” your team-mates to give it one last that’s what I’m most proud of. People Great Britain’s Jodie Stimpson wins the opening push for glory in a two-day netball, actually have to beat me, they are race of the 2014 World Triathlon Series in Auckland, rugby sevens or volleyball tourney never given the game.” New Zealand and the next lolling about in a field Laura Massaro after winning in Malaysia listening to the likes of Razorlight, to become England’s first female squash “Mark has made a lot of changes, he treats us Soul II Soul and the Hoosiers? At the world champion since 1999 like adults.” Sportbeat Festival, that’s where. “People go, ‘Your Striker Natasha Dowie on the new England football PHOTOGRAPHY: The award-winning weekend event “I actually had a vision when I was on technique isn’t typical of manager Mark Sampson combines music and sport, and also the bus. I thought, ‘Imagine if I get a a discus thrower’, but hosts a vintage fayre, zorbing, laser massive shot or that’s what it comes what is the saying, there’s “We were completely outplayed. We weren’t

tag, craft stalls and a street arts © down to’ — but in the moment you a hundred different ways good enough – 105 was never going to be exhibition. Men’s, women’s and JODY MACDONALD don’t think about it and I just went to get to Rome?’ good enough in a World Cup final.” mixed teams need to register before for it and it went in.” Teenager Helen If that’s the saying, it’s a new An honest appraisal from England skipper Charlotte the event, so get in there quick and Housby relives her last-minute goal that one on us, courtesy of Edwards of the Twenty20 cricket final, won by enjoy a novel way to meet like- won netball’s Superleague Grand Final for Australian athlete Dani Samuels Australia. Since then England women’s cricket minded souls. Manchester Thunder against has turned professional for the first time ever

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