Neptunes finish KSSA season with a Big Splash
Division 1 girls medley and freestyle relays (Imogen Cowan, Ella Chouinard, Chloe Malnfant, Morgan Robertson-Weir) – gold Lachlan Bibby-Fox: Division 1 boys – 50m breaststroke (bronze)Neptune Relay Results: Division 2 boys medley relay (Locke Finley, Cameron Bibby-Fox, Lachlan Bibby-Fox, Koa Wintraub) – silver The Nelson Neptunes began the 2014 Kootenay Summer Swim Association season like a fish out of water.However, when the final horn sounded two months later, the Neptunes were a vastly different team, finishing second to powerhouse Castlegar Aquanauts at the Kootenay Regional Championships held recently in the Trail and ready to continue on a roll at this weeks Provincials in Kamloops.”We could not have asked for a better result and look forward to seeing the provincial qualifiers performing even faster in Kamloops,” said Neptune head coach Cynthia Pfeiffer.”With not having a season last year the Neptunes started out this summer with lots of hard work ahead of them but they managed to buckle down and finish the year with a bang,” Pfeiffer added.Castlegar won the Regional team title with 2756 points. Nelson was second followed by Grand Forks in third and Trail Stingrays in fourth. Morgan Robertson-Weir: Division 1 girls – 50m butterfly (bronze) Matthew Holitzki: Division 4 boys – 100m freestyle (bronze), 50m freestyle (bronze), 200m IM (gold), 100m breaststroke (gold) Sage Cowan: Division 6 girls – 100m freestyle (gold), 100m backstroke (silver), 200m IM (gold), 100m butterfly (gold) Locke Finley: Division 2 boys – 100m freestyle (bronze), 50m backstroke (silver) Hannah Malenfant: Division 4 girls – 50m butterfly (silver), 200m IM (bronze), 100m breaststroke (bronze) Ella Chouinard: Division 1 girls – 50m backstroke (silver) Cameron Bibby-Fox: Division 2 boys – 100m IM (bronze), 50m breaststroke (silver) Jaylen Rushton: Division 2 girls – 50m backstroke (silver), 100m IM (gold), 50m butterfly (gold), 50m breaststroke (gold) Creston, Colville, Wash., and Kimberley rounded out the seven-team field.Twenty-six Neptunes attended the regionals in Trail and finished with 18 medalists, three record holders, 21 provincial qualifiers and 14 swimmers planning to attend the BC Summer Swim Provincial championships beginning Friday in Kamloops.The Neptunes making the trek include, Imogen Cowan, Enna Cowan, Sage Cowan, Olivia Cowan, Ella Chouinard, Morgan Robterson-Weir, Madeline Holitzki, Matthew Holitzki, Joanna Blishen, Ohia Wintraub, Jaylen Rushton, Chloe Malenfant, Hannah Malenfant and coach Pfeiffer.”Watch out for Ohia Wintraub who is currently ranked in the top eight in the province for 50 meter butterfly and the Division 1 girls,” Pfeiffer said.”(Also) Ella Chouinard, Morgan Robertson-Weir, Imogen Cowan and Chloe Malenfant are looking for a top five finish in both their Medley and Freestyle relays,” Pfeiffer added.Neptune Individual Results: Samuel Matthew: “O” Category 2 – 100m freestyle (gold), 200m IM (gold), 100m breaststroke (gold), 100m backstroke (gold) Division 6 girls medley and freestyle relays (Sage Cowan, Jaylen Rushton, Madeline Holtzki, Enna Cowan) – gold Madeline Holitzki: Division 3 girls – 50m breaststroke (silver) Olivia Cowan: Division 5 girls – 100m freestyle (silver), 200m IM (gold), 50m butterfly (silver), 100m backstroke (bronze) Joanna Blishen: Division 5 girls – 100m butterfly (silver), 100m breaststroke (bronze) Ohia Wintraub: Division 4 girls – 100m freestyle (bronze), 50m butterfly (gold), 50m freestyle (bronze), 200m IM (bronze) Imogen Cowan: Division 1 girls – 50m butterfly (silver) Cynthia Pfeiffer: Division 8 women – 50m freestyle (bronze), 200m IM (silver), 100m backstroke (gold), 100m freestyle (silver) Chloe Malenfant: Division 1 girls – 100m freestyle (bronze) Rebecca Afford: Division 8 women – 50m butterfly (silver), 100m breaststroke (gold), 50m freestyle (silver), 200m IM (bronze) Division 5 girls medley and freestyle relays (Olivia Cowan, Hannah Malenfant, Joanna Blishen, Ohia Wintraub) – silver Division 2 boys freestyle relay (Koa Wintraub, Cameron Bibby-Fox, Locke Finley, Hunter Hedges) – silver
TRAINER QUOTES JOCKEY QUOTES CRAIG LEWIS, WARREN’S VENEDA, WINNER: “I guess when you’re the best horse, that’s what you do (go wide and win). I was a little uncomfortable with her being that wide, always. I’ve seen too many races in my life. It takes a very good horse to overcome that trip, but Tyler (Baze) knew what he had and didn’t want to get stopped, so everything worked out well . . . She’s an Amazon. She’s a pretty girl and a pretty girl that can run. She reminds me of another good filly I had, Valentine Dancer. We’ll probably come back in the Santa Margarita (Grade I, $400,000, 1 1/8 miles on March 14).” NOTES: Winning owner/breeder Benjamin Warren is from Rialto, CA. -30- TYLER BAZE, WARREN’S VENEDA, WINNER: “I was on her when she broke her maiden a couple of years ago and I knew she was a nice filly then. I was lucky enough to get back on her this fall. She’s been nothing but a blessing, she tries so hard.“Going into the first turn I thought about taking her back and dropping her in but I told myself to just have confidence and I knew she was the best in the field. I lost a little ground which I really don’t like doing but she was the best; she amazes me, she’s a great animal.” RAFAEL BEJARANO, THEGIRLINTHATSONG, THIRD: “She broke really well but I knew it wasn’t going to be the same race as last time (her win in the Grade II La Canada Jan. 17). There wasn’t too much speed in there but there was a lot of speed today. I knew a few horses were going to show speed so I put her where she was comfortable, up close and I stayed three or four lengths behind. She made a run but Warren’s Veneda was much the best today. My filly was too close to the pace. She ran great, but really, no excuses.”
FLAVIEN PRAT, CONSTELLATION, WINNER: “She is a really fine filly. She broke well, but I couldn’t take a hold of her. She just wouldn’t relax. When we got to the 3/8ths pole, she finally relaxed and she did everything to get there for the win. I was fortunate to get the call on her today. David (Flores couldn’t get here due to travel problems).”JULIEN LEPAROUX, LIGHTSTREAM, BEATEN FAVORITE: “I feel like it all came down to the turn where she got beaten. We were going okay but usually she just relaxes and makes a big run and she didn’t. She broke good and she wanted to go a bit early but she didn’t really relax for the big run.”TRAINER QUOTES BRETT CALHOUN, TRAINER FINLEY’SLUCKYCHARM, SECOND: “I thought she ran great. I thought she had a great trip. We knew the pace was going to be pretty hot and she handled it well. She handled the seven-eighths well and that was maybe a question mark. It could be that winning her last race like she did (a six furlong minor stakes at Churchill Downs by 8 ½ lengths on Nov. 25), and coming back in a short period of time . . . took its toll.” NOTES: The winning owners are Larry, Nancy and Jaime Roth (LNJ Foxwoods). JOCKEY QUOTES JERRY HOLLENDORFER, CONSTELLATION, WINNER: “That race kind of unfolded the way we thought it would. I think Flavien was a little lucky to get through between horses, and that was the key to winning the race.“We wanted to ride David Flores back because he made a trip out to Turf Paradise to ride this filly. He couldn’t get a plane out here – it got delayed – so Prat was open and he was the logical guy to go to since he’s been the leading rider at several meets. We need him to ride for us, so I’m glad we got a win with him in a Grade I.”
SANTA ANITA TO ENHANCE 2-YEAR-OLD RACING PROGRAM WITH MAIDEN RACES IN APRIL & A PAIR OF JUVENILE STAKES ON JUNE 23 AS FASIG-TIPTON PLANTS FLAG WITH INAUGURAL TWO-YEAR-OLD IN TRAINING SALE HERE ON JUNE 5 SANTA ANITA & DEL MAR WORKING TOGETHER TO BOLSTER OVERALL STRENGTH OF PROGRAM ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2019)–In an effort to expand racing opportunities for 2-year-olds and to make a larger number of top quality juveniles available to horsemen in California, Santa Anita Park has announced it will be offering maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds beginning April 18 & 19 and that it will present a pair of 2-year-old stakes on closing day, June 23. Both races will offer a purse of $75,000 and be run at 5 ½ furlongs, the Landaluce will be for 2-year-old fillies, while the Santa Anita Juvenile will be for 2-year-olds. (Both stakes were most recently run at Santa Anita in 2017).This news is in conjunction with that of America’s longest tenured equine sales company, Fasig-Tipton, conducting their first-ever sale of 2-year-olds in training here on June 5. In addition to working with Fasig-Tipton, Santa Anita is also working closely with the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, in order to present a much more comprehensive 2-year-old program that will better address horsemen’s needs throughout the calendar year.Accordingly, those juvenile maidens that race at Santa Anita prior to closing day, June 23, will be granted preference in terms of their ability to enter like races at Del Mar, beginning with their annual Summer Meet on July 17.“We are extremely happy to be able to announce these very significant developments regarding our 2-year-old program here at Santa Anita,” said P.J. Campo, Executive Vice President, Racing Division, for The Stronach Group. “In consultation with all of our stakeholders, including the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and the TOC, we realized that we need to work together to provide more opportunities to race, market and sell our juvenile horses, who truly represent our future.“Having Fasig-Tipton come here for their June 5 sale is tremendous news for our horsemen and fans as well. They are going to be offering top quality horses and we’re going to be offering more races to run in, including of course our brand new stakes on June 23. And we want to sincerely thank Tom Robbins and his team at Del Mar for recognizing the importance of granting those maidens which have started here preference in terms of their ability to run later in the summer. All told, this is a comprehensive approach that will serve all of us well.”For his part, Robbins, who serves as Del Mar’s Executive Vice President, Racing, sees the need to provide horsemen with greater continuity in an effort to maximize racing opportunities.“What we’re essentially doing is giving those two-year-olds that run in maiden special races in May or June, Cal-bred or open, preference when entering any maiden special or maiden claiming races at sprint distances on the main track here for the first 10 days of racing this summer,” said Robbins. “These horses will have automatic preference over those horses that did not race at Santa Anita.”In terms of the racing schedule, including the creation of a pair of new Santa Anita stakes for juveniles, the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has also been in consultation with all parties.“It’s great to see all of the stakeholders being creative and working together,” said Elizabeth Morey, Director of Racing with the TOC. “This has been a collaboration between horsemen, the racing associations, and Fasig-Tipton. The end result really benefits everyone.”Horses consigned to the June 5 Fasig-Tipton Sale at Santa Anita will begin arriving in May and will be stabled in temporary stalls near the seven furlong chute, which will provide ready access to the main track. The sale itself will be conducted in Santa Anita’s Paddock Gardens.“All of us at Fasig-Tipton are very excited to launch our inaugural two-year-old sale at Santa Anita on June 5,” said Boyd Browning, President and CEO, Fasig-Tipton. “Santa Anita is the perfect venue for both buyers and sellers and the sale should provide a boost for two-year-old racing in California.”Santa Anita’s Condition Book Seven will provide additional information regarding all races to be run on April 17 & 18. Additional details regarding the June 5 Santa Anita Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Old in Training Sale and closing day stakes on June 23 will be forthcoming in the near future at santaanita.com or by calling (626) 574-RACE.
LA FORCE UPSETS HEAVILY FAVORED PARADISE WOODS AS SHE RALLIES FROM LAST TO TAKE GRADE II, $200,000 SANTA MARIA STAKES BY 1 ¼ LENGTHS UNDER VAN DYKE; TRAINED BY GALLAGHER, SHE GETS 1 1/16 MILES IN 1:45.91 ARCADIA, Calif. (June 1, 2019)–German-bred La Force sprung a major surprise on Saturday at Santa Anita, as she rallied from last to upset heavily favored Paradise Woods by 1 ¼ lengths in the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes under Drayden Van Dyke. Trained by Paddy Gallagher, La Force, a 5-year-old mare, got 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.91.With Paradise Woods taking a stutter-step at the break, the complexion of the race changed significantly, but although the fractions were modest, La Force was still able to mount an impressive rally from off the pace.“The filly was in a good spot,” said Gallagher. “The favorite stumbled at the start, I have to watch the replay, but we thought she would be on the lead, but it didn’t turn out that way and La Force put it together and we’re very happy. Chuck gave instructions to (Van Dyke) when we were in the paddock and that was it.”Last but on the move three furlongs from home, La Force rallied five-wide at the top of the stretch and held off Paradise Woods, who had waited while tucked inside around the far turn.Most recently second, beaten 10 ½ lengths by Paradise Woods in the Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes on April 27, La Force was the second choice among five fillies and mares three and up at 5-1 and paid $12.80, $2.40 and $2.10.“Mike (Smith) and Paradise Woods stumbling at the start really didn’t change anything for me,” said Van Dyke. “I had a great outside post and she tends to like being in the clear…It did help her a little, (Paradise Woods) stumbling, obviously, because it made the trip more difficult for her and only helped us. She’s just an honest trying filly, she’s very, very classy.“Like I said, she really brings it every time. It’s very rewarding getting this win with her. She ran second to Unique Bella so many times, so I really believe she deserves this.”Owned by Ward and Roberta Williford and Charles Winner (who is also Chairman of the CHRB), La Force, who is multiple Grade I stakes placed, got her first ever stakes win today and improved her overall mark to 25-3-8-4. With the winner’s share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $550,800.Even though she stumbled leaving the gate and was therefore off the pace instead of on it, it appeared Smith was in the process of engineering an improbable come from behind win around the far turn aboard Paradise Woods.“I still thought I could win at the quarter pole, but by the time I got out, the winner kicked away from us and we couldn’t get ’em,” Smith said.The overwhelming 1-5 favorite, Paradise Woods finished 3 ½ lengths in front of Just a Smidge and paid $2.10 and $2.10.Ridden by Martin Garcia, Just a Smidge, who broke from the rail, carved out the early pace but was third best, finishing 3 ¾ lengths in front of Exuberance. Off at 13-1, Just a Smidge paid $2.80 to show.Fractions on the race were 24.21, 48.51, 1:13.32 and 1:39.15.
These are serious players. World Cup winners and veterans of more than 100 games each for the Hurricanes.That Boyd felt compelled to drop Savea to the bench and exclude Jane from the 23 to play at Ellis Park on Saturday (Sunday morning NZ Time), speaks volumes for how much he must rate Goosen. “Wes is fast, he’s probably the quickest guy we’ve got over short-ish periods. He’s strong, he’s got a massive workrate and he’s just been accurate, so everything we’ve asked him to do he’s done for us,” Boyd said from Johannesburg.And the coach felt Goosen deserved to be rewarded for that.Savea took the news hard and Boyd expects a response, when a chance off the bench presents itself. As for Jane, this is his last season with the franchise and he faces the prospect bowing out in a fluro vest, running water bottles and instructions from the coaches.But, as Boyd noted, there were a few blokes with strong selection claims who had to be squeezed in, once centre Vince Aso was declared fit to play.”We talked during the year that when we get to the back-end of the season, reputation counts for nothing and form will dictate selection,” said Boyd.”At the end of the day we were keen to get Vince back into the midfield in partnership with Ngani, where they’ve performed pretty well in Matt Proctor’s absence. So, with Vince going in there, there was a bit of a log-jam.”Jordie Barrett, who’d done an able job in Aso’s place, has returned to fullback. That pushed Nehe Milner-Skudder back to the right wing, where Goosen had played to such good effect in the quarterfinal win over the Brumbies.In the end Goosen swapped sides and Savea got the tap on the shoulder.The dice felt better for captain Dane Coles, who’ll make his first start since March 18 following last week’s 30-odd minutes off the bench. In doing so, the hooker will become the eleventh Hurricane – after Andrew Hore, Jane, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Rodney So’oialo, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata, Tana Umaga, Victor Vito and Savea.to make 100 appearances for the franchise.Coles grew up in Hurricanes country and dreamed of playing for the team from a young age. One game would’ve been plenty, so 100 seems hard to comprehend.”I used to go to the games and catch the train in from the [Kapiti] coast and watch them at the stadium, so it’s always been the team I supported,” Coles said of the milestone.”I think it just shows how hard I’ve worked to get to where I am today and all the persistence and the times I used to sit on the bench behind a legend [Hore] and stuff like that. I’m just stoked that I’ve been given the chance and I’ve played so many games for a club that I love and a jersey that I love.”So it means a lot to me and my family and I suppose my friends that have supported me all the time. So very humbled that I’ve been given the chance to start and play a hundred games for the club.”Beyond Coles and Ricky Riccitelli swapping places, the pack is unchanged from that which met the Brumbies. Now, more than ever, the onus is on the blokes in jerseys 1 to 8 to make sure their star-studded backline can play.Coles knows that as well as anyone.HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Mark Abbott, Jeff To’omaga-Allen, Dane Coles (c), Ben May. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves, Loni Uhila, Reed Prinsep, Callum Gibbins, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, Julian Savea Photo by: HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES (Julian Savea has been benched for the semifinal against the Lions).
The former New Zealand Warriors star – the team’s all-time leading try scorer – has not played since 2017, leaving Salford Red Devils in Super League in 2018 after rupturing his Achilles.Vatuvei moved into boxing but told reporters on Wednesday a scan before his first fight against David Letele in December, which he won by knockout, revealed the cyst.”I’ve got a cyst in my brain, so that’s been tough,” Vatuvei said. “No symptoms, no nothing.”Everyone had to do a scan before the fight and they found it then and tried to rule me out of the fight, but I went on with it and came out good.”I had some fights lined up which were cancelled because of that.”The 33-year-old subsequently entered and won New Zealand television series Dancing with the Stars this year, but he is refusing to give up hope of returning to rugby.”I haven’t really announced my retirement or anything because I’m still in denial that I can still play,” Vatuvei said.Been an awesome show to be on and enjoying every moment with this lovely crew… I’ve survived 3weeks now and thanks everyone for your support… now back to practice for this week.. lesgooooooo #textMANU3333 #OUA pic.twitter.com/OEW0jZCfO8— Manu Vatuvei© (@ManuVatuvei) April 30, 2019″It’s always been tough. I never watched a game when I came back from England, I never watched a game and I never went to a game or anything. I was missing it and getting itchy feet all the time.”That’s something I’m still trying to heal from. It was one of the hardest moments, but when I did this dancing it made it easier for me to get over it.”I had to get over it somehow – it was a tough challenge for myself and I’ve enjoyed it.”Vatuvei has been helping Tonga prepare for an international against New Zealand on Saturday and added: “There’s always a goal that I want to come back to the game.”It all depends, I’ve still got some medical things that I’ve got to look at. Right now, my mind and my heart are telling me I can still play. But my body is saying no, so it’s a constant battle at the moment.”Right now, I can’t do any boxing, but with footy they said because I must’ve had it a long time ago, I must have been all good playing.”So I’m still deciding from there. Hopefully, I hear back from that soon and decide what my future holds.”
Cook Islands started strongly threatening to score.After weathering the storm, PNG scored on the wing.Cook Islands hit back not long after to level and keep the pressure on.But a runaway try to PNG’S Mariah Alu gave PNG the lead right before the break.
Hunters replied through diminutive hooker Wartovo Puara Jnr who barged his way over in the 55th minute to slam the ball in the eastern corner. Noel Zeming potted the extras as the Hunters closed the gap by two, trailing 18-16.Both teams stepped up in defence until a brilliant solo performance from Adex Wera who stepped his way past several Tigers defenders and wrong footed the fullback to hand the home side a two points lead for the first time. Zeming split the uprights and the hosts led 22-18.But the fight was not over as the Tigers scored another try in the last 10 minutes through Shane Neumann and Nona failed to raise the flags. The scores were at 22 all as the crowd were on the edge of their seats.A mistake under the Tigers uprights saw Zeming pot the extra two points as the hosts led 24-22. Desperate raids by the Tigers were to no avail. With just 10 seconds to go and the ball with the Tigers, the visitors threatened the Hunters line until a kick from Nona saw the ball kicked out on the full.The crowd stood up as they chanted Hunter, Hunters, Hunters in unison. It was a fitting farewell for the passionate Kalabond crowd, who have followed Hunters fanatically over the last 18 months.This was the Hunters last game at Kalabond with an away game and another two more to be played in Port Moresby.
Have you ever seen yourself in that situation?I always had the idea of growing up here and I’m on the road. I have never considered going out and the club has backed that idea.Doesn’t it make you angry to have reached your sports maturity with the team quoting down for two years?At the collective level, we have to live two really bad seasons. Maybe in this one the expectations were much higher and we are having a much worse time. From these moments you also learn and much more than when everything is shot. Do you have the feeling that you have returned to the month of January 2019?As for classification it is similar, but this year we are aware of where we are and we want to get out of this negative dynamic as soon as possible.Óscar and Sisto had a fight against Eibar, Pape is looking for a way out because of his attitude. Is there a bad wardrobe?Not at all. About Pione I would not do it, but they are situations that happen very often. There is no malice in what he did. The subject is settled. Pape is from home and is training with us. In this situation everything gets a little bigger.Do you see your friend Mina especially motivated to return this day to Valencia?One of his qualities is that he trains very well every week. Since returning to Celta has always added.How do you annul Maxi?Here he was already a great player and in Valencia he has grown a lot. Take the goal in the blood. It seems that he is not doing much and with a touch in the area it is enough for him.You sponsor a second division handball team. How was the experience?My sister plays in the team and that’s where everything was conceived. It is not an obligation, but it does not hurt that football players help make other sports more visible. They strive as much or more than we do. In the locker room do you talk about both the transfer market and the environment?We are focused on preparing the games and the annoying situation we are living. Although we try to stay out of all those comments, it is very difficult to be isolated. We know that there is the possibility of partners joining to try to help.Last year they ended up admitting that the winter market dropped to some player. Is the same thing happening?What most affects is when a player is thinking about going out and still here.