sports international magazine issue12

November 2014 1

The Pro SportsMagazine

November 2014

New Zealand Rugby 7’s

SIM Unsung Hero, 2014 FAWSL, 5 Surprising Food Facts! Recipe, top tips and more...

Sunshine Ladies Tour, Extreme Sailing, Sophie Radcliffe, Ashleigh Simon, Dame Sarah StoreyExclusive Interviews & Articles

2 November 2014

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I am also very pleased to announce that from this issue forward the Solheim Cup will be covered in conjunction with the Ladies European Tour until the tournament in September next. This is a unique approach to a tournament and we are looking forward to providing behind the scenes images and articles in the build-up.

January will see another big announcement and I look forward to bringing that to you, in the meantime please read, share and enjoy this issue!

Myak-Paul Homberger - Editor

The first issue of the magazine came out two years ago, published as my response to all the amazing stories I heard of and from athletes around the word whom I had taken photos of as a photographer. I felt that these stories needed to be told and celebrated the world over but I had no idea if and how it would work. Now thousands of people around the world read the magazine and blogs, with new readers finding the magazine daily. All of this has been done by word of mouth and for that I am amazed. Hearing of schools in Africa using the magazines for education or being contacted by people wanting to tell me of an athlete they know who has a good story, is great. It’s a real privilege doing this job and I want to thank all the readers and supporters for making this what it is.

SPORTS International

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November 2014 IssueNo 012

I am at present in the process of developing the website into something unique and look forward to being able to tell you more about that next time..

Our cover stars are Kayla Mc McAllister and Sarah Goss, not only IRB Player of the year nominees, but part of the remarkable New Zealand Rugby 7’s team that I have been fortunate enough to spend a lot of unrestricted time with over the last few years. As well that, this issue features an athlete with seventy two world records and still going strong, a review of the FAWSL season, Golf, Football, a post World Cup Rugby alternative review and the extraordinary achievement of Sophie Radcliffe. This issue introduces a new sport as well: Extreme Sailing - what a rush that is!

WELCOME

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w w w . p a p a y a p h o t o g r a p h y . c o . u k

S P O RT S ● S P E C I A L I S T E V E N T S ● C O R P O R AT E E V E N T S

PapayaP h o t o g r a p h y

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Contents

The secret of their success, Sista’s are doing it! 8

Sista’s success 14

Sista’s Stats 16

Sunshine Ladies Tour 20

Sports International Magazine’s Outstanding Athlete 34

2014 FASWL Season review 42

Coast to Coast: Sophie Radcliffe 52

5 Surprising food facts 68

Foreign Players positive contributions 71

2014 Womens Rugby 15’s World Cup 76

Inspiring Women 86

Cup Captains Confer at Gleneagles 88

Ashleigh Simon & David Buhai 99

Sports International Magazine’s Unsung Hero 106

Extreme Sailing 110

Recipes and Tips 118

Thankyou’s 120

Contact 121

November 2014 IssueNo 012


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Contributors

Myak-Paul HombergerAside from being a huge sports nut and champion of

women’s sport, has numerous qualifications including being a BAWLA qualified weight training coach, two martial arts black belts alongside his instructor level in Urban Krav Maga. He is also an NLP practitioner and sociologist with an HND in RAB.

Photography is his main passion and he has been published internationally. Myak has worked with men’s and women’s national teams, as well as with premiership teams and individual players.

Adam BarlowAdam Barlow’s passion for football began

in 1994 watching Lincoln City in the lower leagues of the English football league system. In 2008 he took up blogging and started watching more semi professional football in order to gain an insight into the game at grass roots as he was keen to develop his understanding of the game at all levels. Watching the England Women’s team play and beat Serbia in a European Championship qualifier at Doncaster in 2011, he was very impressed by the skill of the players and quickly made the decision to learn and write more about women’s football.

In 2012 he attended his first FAWSL game at Lincoln Ladies and started writing as the official fans’ blogger on the website. As time went on he became more engrossed in both writing and the women’s game, writing articles for the website and helping to compose the player profiles for the website. He now regularly reports for Sports International Magazine and would like to help give women’s sport the platform it deserves.

Away from football his other sporting passion is Taekwondo, having trained in the sport since 1989 and achieving the rank of third Dan Black Belt and helping in the running of classes.

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Catherine Spencer Catherine Spencer is a former England Rugby Captain

and so brings a vast experience of sport and being a woman in sport. She recognised the potential for organisations that could benefit greatly from the stories of inspiring women, their determination, belief, focus, trust, leadership, communication, hard work, team work and sacrifice. Catherine set about sourcing Inspiring Women speakers and coaches from sport and business who she believed could communicate their stories and lessons effectively.

Bethan Cutler Media manager LET tour

Bethan has previously featured as our Unsung Hero as well as contributing to the magazine. She works across the globe for the LET Golf tour, and with events from England to Dubai and Australia she is one the busiest media managers around. As well as this, she has organized six Solheim Cup Events.

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The Secret Sista’s are doing it!

Photo: Papaya Photography

of their success

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The Secret Sista’s are doing it!

New Zealand Rugby 7’sby Myak Homberger

The New Zealand Rugby 7’s team has delivered more points, tries and has more players in the top stats than any other country. Not just for one game or one season but since 7’s began. World cup winners and Women’s Sevens World Series winners two years in a row, as well as two players nominated for player of the year this year (our front cover), this is a team that has earned the right boast and yet they are amongst the most down to earth and humble you will meet.

I have been privileged to spend time with and around the team from its inception and have observed how they are and how they operate, so this article isn’t written from a casual one tournament point of view but as a result of significant time with them. If pictures tell a thousand words then looking through all my photos from the last two seasons ahead of this article tells a story without the need for words. Every photo from ‘behind the scenes,’ no matter what is happening, has at least two players interacting with each other: one getting a massage while another is talking to them, them braiding each other’s hair, one injured then another helping them and ensuring they are included, plus many other such moments. This is not just a team; it’s a group of players who follow the same code. As Sean Horan, the team coach says, “...we call it our family values”.

This is a set of values and plans that they have all bought into and are fully committed to. Not only the players but all of the management team share these values. Listening to any of them talk and it’s the same across the board: they are a family, they share the values and goals and support and allow each other to do their jobs. It’s about the privilege and about giving back to this generation, as Hannah Porter (team manager) said. Rather than being on a winning team, it’s about being part of a team that matters.

Even when talking to the two IRB player of the year nominations and cover stars, this issue’s Kayla Mcallister and Sara Goss, the message is the same. “It’s about the team, there’s no competition amongst us, it’s teamwork”. “From day one we have said it’s about family, it’s a team sport and you can’t get over the line without them, so that’s everyone from the office to management through to the team,” adds Portia Woodman. “That’s just how we roll!” she adds.


of their success


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This may be how the team rolls but how do you get there? When recruiting players, top of the list is character. Sean Horan is very clear on this: “it’s the first box we tick. We have amazing athletes in New Zealand but if they don’t fit the character, then no thanks.”

Some may think it’s a bold move in sport, where one so often sees skill being put ahead of character - but it pays off for them. The reason this team works is because they all support and buy into the values and vision. There is no doubt when they are on the field that they are all giving their best because (as they call themselves) they are ‘sistas’ and they understand their individual as well as their combined roles and there is no competition between them.

By far the most remarkable thing about the team is Sean’s mantra and how the team operates. “It’s not about performance, it’s about a plan. It’s about life and rugby. If we believe in the plan, have the right characters, the right environment and the right infrastructure, then we need to just focus on those things.”

Sean isn’t putting the players under pressure to win; in fact it’s not even mentioned. It’s all about the right foundation and ensuring that


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Photo: Papaya PhotographyPhoto: Papaya Photography

12 November 2014

it is correct. In so doing the paradigm shift for many is that actually you end up with a team that wins - and yet they do it with such humility. Why? Because they did it together, they laid a foundation and it paid off - BUT that is balanced by life off the field and who they are as well. This does come from the right base - but if you watch Sean, he spends huge amounts of time 1 on 1 with players. As he says, it’s his philosophy: “...you need to talk to people and not at them.”

Having said all of the above, that in no way diminishes the fact that they desire to win or their enjoyment of it - and the expectation from fans back home is clear: they put on the black jersey and they are expected to win and win by a lot and in style.

This is a team and management that all hold the same values, focus on each other and have emotionally invested into the team. This makes for something very powerful and very valuable and allows them to have perspective, which keeps them grounded despite who they are and what they have achieved. What motivates them, according to Sean is “...it’s the look in their eyes, we are a family and you do it for them.” You can’t say more than that. A remarkable team and ethos, I feel honoured to have spent time and built the relationship that I have with them.


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Sista’s Success10 key points be a NZ 7’s player

• Character

• High standards

• High morals

• Respectful

• Humble

• It’s not just about Rugby, it’s about life

• It’s not about performance, its about a plan

• Players need to make an emotional investment

• Believe in what you are doing

• Individual accountability

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Sista’s Success10 key points be a NZ 7’s player


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• Most points scored by a team both years of the WSWS• Most players in the all-time points list of any country WSWS• More tries scored by players on the all time list than any

other country WSWS• Only list that players don’t feature on, most points scored

Sista’s STATS


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Sista’s STATS by an individual in one game WSWS• Won Rugby 7’s world cup 2013• Won back to back world series titles• Highest for/against ratio of any team ever 120/0 (2009

world cup)• Highest for/against ratio of any team for both world cups

95/5 (2013 world cup)• Player with most tries 2009 and 2013 world cups• Player with most points scored 2009 and 2013 world cups• More player of the year nominations than any other country

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SunshineLadies Tour

Womens Golf in Southern Africa is hotting up! The oldest womens professional tournament in Africa, dating back to 1988, is The South African Women’s Open. New and improved, The Cell C South African Women’s Open is rapidly growing since its return to the international schedule with an increased field, playing for more prize money on an upgraded golf course. As well as this, for the third year now the Ladies European Tour (LET) will be co-sanctioning the SA Women’s Open which will be televised at San Lameer Golf Estate from 16-19 October 2014. This is great news for the country’s leading professionals competing alongside a strong international contingent as well as ten South African amateurs. As Margie Whitehouse, Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA) Chairman explains, “Women’s professional golf in South Africa was in a wasteland since 2009, but the return of the South African Women’s Open as a Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned event in April 2012, sparked a revival in the sport.”

Added to this, the televising of the tournament will be providing the sponsors of the event with a payback in their belief in the tournament and also for the vision of the WPGA to “...excite and encourage our young golfers and cultivate a whole new focus for

by Myak Homberger

November 2014 21

SunshineLadies Tour


Photo courtesy Sunshine Ladies Tour

22 November 2014

women’s golf in South Africa”. This is a real standout part of what the WPGA are doing, encouraging and wanting to see growth in ground level womens golf in Southern Africa - and that’s really exciting to see, not only because it gives children an outlet but also because it empowers the next generation. Let’s not forget

that South Africa has provided a good heritage of female golfers, just look at the LET tour currently.

The international field has been increased from 108 to 126 players this year and will feature such stars as South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, Ashleigh Simon and Stacy Bregman; English professional

“...excite and encourage our young golfers and cultivate a whole new focus for women’s golf in South Africa”


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and 23-time Ladies European Tour winner Trish Johnson; American Cheyenne Woods; and defending champion Marianne Skarpnord from Norway. We have covered many of the Ladies European Tour players and events in the magazine and it’s great to see a great deal of support for the tour not only from South African based players on the LET tour but also from many others. The golfers will be playing for a total purse of R4.5 million, an increase of nearly half a million rand on the 2013 tournament’s prize money. The winner will take home R675,000, and the golfers will compete on a San Lameer Country Club course which has recently been upgraded.


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The other interesting thing about the SA Women’s Open is the strong support from the corporate sector - the WPGA have really connected with them and it shows the huge growth in the series during last couple of years. Importantly, the corporate sector can see the vision and are supporting it all the way - but most interestingly, they can see the potential in womens sport. As Heather Casey from Investec said, “...women’s sport is an uncluttered market commercially, and we look forward to showcasing some of South Africa’s top female golfers as athletes and individuals.”

As if this wasn’t enough, in February 2014 The Womens PGA of South Africa (WPGA) entered a new era in women’s professional golf in South Africa by kicking off with the new Sunshine Ladies Tour. The Sunshine Ladies Tour has six qualifying tournaments, with sponsorship coming from big name business including Investec, Sun International, SuperSport and Dimension Data. These six events culminate in the inaugural Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies. WPGA chairman Margie Whitehouse has been the driving force behind the Sunshine Ladies Tour and it is a testament to her and the team for what has been achieved such a short amount of time. Prior to this players had to seek a competitive platform

“...women’s sport is an uncluttered market commercially, and we look forward to showcasing some of South Africa’s top female golfers as athletes and individuals.”

November 2014 25Photo: Papaya PhotographyPhoto courtesy Sunshine Ladies Tour

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Photos courtesy Sunshine Ladies Tour

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Photos courtesy Sunshine Ladies Tour

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abroad on other tours. The first thing the WPGA did was to create a local competitive platform for the South African players and amateurs.

South African number one Lee-Anne Pace claimed the inaugural Investec Cup for Ladies this March, just weeks before she was named the WPGA Player of the Year and the Golfer of Year at the Compleat Golfer Annual Awards. The eight-time Ladies European Tour champion will be playing alongside defending champion Marianne Skarpnord of Norway and American Cheyenne Wood.

The overriding thing of all the events for me is that the WPGA wants to create events that will stand on their own as annual celebrations of success amongst women and golf, not just another tournament - and that is an exciting prospect for sport and womens golf. I look forward with great interest to see how these events will grow and all the new talent that will emerge as a result.


November 2014 31Photo: Papaya Photography


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OUTSTANDINGA T H L E T E

Our Outstanding athlete for this issue is the amazing Dame Sarah Storey. The question is: where to start, given her twenty three years as an international athlete?

Dame Sarah Storey has won 11 Gold, 8 Silver and 3 Bronze medals across a mind boggling 6 Paralympic Games; she has World and Paralympic Gold medals in two sports [swimming and cycling] - and just to add spice, they are in 11 different events [6 in the pool and 5 on a bike]. In total she has:

• 11 Paralympic Gold Medals [5 swimming, 6 cycling]• 8 Silver Medals [swimming]• 3 Bronze Medals [swimming]• 20 World Championship titles [6 swimming, 14 cycling]• 7 World Cup titles [5 Paracycling, 2 able-bodied cycling]• 21 European titles [18 swimming, 3 cycling]• More than 140 National titles [3 able-bodied National titles on

the track]• 72 World Records

Having spent a small amount of time with Sarah, the stand-out thing about her is how incredibly down to earth and humble she is. This doesn’t belie her grit and determination - which is clear in her results - but there is a sense of a world class athlete about her. Sarah talked about cycling, the crowds, winning and all the things athletes talk about - but when you listen to her everything comes back to a love for what she is doing and the fact that she doesn’t take it for granted. “I’m very privileged to be doing what I’m doing - there are so many opportunities with this sport,” she said.


Dame Sarah Storey By Myak Homberger

36 November 2014

Photo: Papaya PhotographyPhoto: Papaya Photography

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This is something you would expect from a fresh young athlete at the start of her career and yet, twenty three international years later Sarah still has this view and focus. Medals and winning are what

athletes are there for, but an outstanding athlete is about more than that and Sarah’s perspective shows a depth of character and humility that makes her stand out. To still have that freshness and excitement for sport and the gratitude for what it provides is lovely to observe. This theme continued through all the other things we talked about,

“I’m very privileged to be doing what I’m doing - there are so many opportunities with this sport,”


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from representing her country and the privilege she felt wearing the GB jersey, through to what it means to be a team captain and the role she seeks to play in the team. Sarah is a passionate, straight

talking athlete who is a consummate professional in all she does, but with this incredible ability to be completely grounded and overflowing with a

love for what she does. It was a privilege to spend a small amount of time with her.

Having observed first-hand the Olympics, Paralympics, Commonwealth games and Pearl Izumi Tour and seen the level of passion, blood sweat and tears the female cyclists demonstrate, I know they will appreciate Dame Sarah Storey’s final quote on women’s cycling. “It’s not a bunch of girls with baskets on their bikes riding around,” she says. She certainly isn’t and nor are any of the others!

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2014FASWL Season Review Photo: Papaya Photography

November 2014 43

By Adam Barlow

The race for the FAWSL title was one of the most exciting on record. If anybody was in doubt about how the game is growing here

in England then this season showed how far standards have risen with the league being ultra competitive right to the end. With 45 minutes of the season to go three sides could have won the title. In the end Liverpool defended their title pipping Chelsea to the championship by virtue of having a better goal difference.

Birmingham City defied all expectations this season and off the back of a fantastic Champions League campaign which saw them reach the semi finals, they led the table for the first two thirds of the season only suffering their first league defeat at Chelsea in early August. After a busy off season and some great player signings like striker Rachel Williams, Chelsea were also serious contenders throughout. Last season’s champions Liverpool had a slow start to the season with injuries to key players hitting them hard. Although as the season went on they started to show the qualities that made them champions in 2013. On the penultimate weekend of the season Chelsea were 10 minutes away from the championship. However late goals for Liverpool and Birmingham meant that all 3 could have won the league with one game to play. So on the last game of the season, Chelsea knew that if they won at Manchester City they would become Champions.

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Chelsea were certainly in the driving seat going into the final round of games but found themselves 2-0 down at HT as it looked like the occasion was starting to get to them.

The pressure was also telling on second placed Birmingham who trailed Notts County 2-1 at HT and also had a penalty saved by Notts Keeper Carly Telford. Liverpool meanwhile were drawing 0-0 with Bristol. In the second half Liverpool stepped up and rode to a comfortable 3-0 win which with both Birmingham and Chelsea failing to win sent them top of the table.

Elsewhere Chelsea got a goal back and Birmingham drew level but neither could find the elusive goal that would have seen them win

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the championship. In the end Liverpool held their nerve to collect their second championship in a row. A feat that had looked so improbable when they were 3-1 down at Arsenal with 20 minutes to play a week before. Chelsea claimed the second champions league spot for the first time in their history but it will be of little consolation to the Blues.

Apart from the title race the big story of the season was Arsenal. For so long the dominant force in Women’s football, the club found itself rock bottom of the league at the midseason break without a league win to its name; a position that would be almost unthinkable in times gone by. This led to manager Shelly Kerr leaving the club, but not before she guided them to a second successive FA Cup final win. John Bayer was appointed interim head coach and got off to a great start with a 1-0 win at Liverpool. Slowly but surely the club moved towards mid-table. With safety assured and a place in the Continental cup final achieved the club named Pedro Martinez


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Losa as permanent first team manager. It was a happy end to one of the strangest seasons in the club’s history.

After coming so close to winning the title in 2013 Bristol had a much quieter time of it in 2014; never really being in the relegation fight but not involved in the scrap for honours either. Given that the club appointed a new manager so close to the start of the season this transition has to be viewed as some kind of success and a good platform on which to build on going forward.

During the pre-season two newcomers were making waves. Manchester City really signalled their intent by signing England internationals such as Jill Scott, Steph Houghton, Karen Bardsley and Toni Duggan. Despite all this the club got off to a slow start and sat bottom of the table early on in the season. However a great 1-0 win at Arsenal kick started their season and they finished comfortably safe of the relegation scrap. Add in the fact the club reached the Continental



48 November 2014

Cup final and some of the great work going off behind the scenes, it all adds up for a successful first season at this level; definitely a club to watch going into 2015.

This was also Notts County’s first season in the FAWSL since their rebrand from Lincoln at the end of 2013. Like Manchester City they too made major moves in the transfer market with striker Ellen White being the most eye-catching. However, White suffered an injury in pre-season which kept her out for the entire season. Notts were defensively one of the best in the league, but goals were hard to come by and the club hovered just above the relegation zone all year. The Magpies saved themselves in September though when they defeated Chelsea 1-0 and fellow strugglers Everton 2-0 as they finished the season strongly. There is a lot of great work going at Meadow Lane and the club enjoyed some healthy attendances. If they had had better luck with injuries their league position would have been much better.

2014 also saw the introduction of relegation and it was one of the longest serving top flight clubs that ended up in that dreaded bottom spot. Everton have a proud history in women’s football but 2014 was one of the worst in the club’s history as they failed to win a league game and gaining only four points all season. The club has lost a series of quality players to sides like Liverpool and Manchester City in recent times and relied on bringing through young players from the academy. Reaching the FA Cup final was a highpoint but a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal was a damaging experience for this young team and they never really recovered from it and were relegated with two matches still to play.

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Photo courtesy Sophie Radcliffe

The Alpine Coast to Coast adventure is Sophie Radcliffe’s latest adventure. In rare company, Sophie is only the second person ever to be featured more than once in the magazine. The first time we talked about her and all of her various adventures, this time it is to showcase her extraordinary achievement with the Coast to Coast challenge.

The Alpine Coast to Coast challenge involved cycling the eight alpine countries and climbing their highest mountains over the course of four weeks. From Trieste in Italy through Slovenia, Austria, Lichtenstein, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France, finishing in Monaco. This includes over 1600 kms of cycling through the Alps with

Sophie RadcliffeInterview and article by Myak Homberger

CoastCoast

to

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stunning scenery and lots of hills! As well as 141km of climbing, 45,000m of assent and a lot of food. This became the longest and toughest ride of Sophie’s career to date. Not only is this remarkable for the sheer feat that it is, but that it has never been done before. Sophie has gone into the record books as the first and only person in history, male or female, to cycle the eight Alpine countries and climb their highest mountains in one push. That deserves huge amounts of respect for all she has achieved.

For Sophie her motivation wasn’t about setting a world record or becoming the first to do something that just happens to be the icing on the cake. This was about Sophie pushing herself, about her adventure and yet another learning curve for her on her journey through life. Sophie was very clear through the whole conversation that this was about more than an adventure; it was about growing as a person, being open to changing as a person. This is a holistic approach to adventuring (if I could coin the phrase?) if ever there was one. This is where there is both an adventure and an achievement at the end, but this is only part of what the person is wanting from the experience, it

“….it showed me that we can achieve anything, like water. It always finds a way through obstacles and so I ask: how can I

get through this obstacle?”



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November 2014 57Photo courtesy Sophie Radcliffe

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Photos courtesy Sophie Radcliffe

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“….we all have a toolbox that we carry through life that we use to get through challenges, by using

our skills.”

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is also about wanting to learn about themselves and grow. This was paramount for Sophie and in so doing, she not only achieved her goal but has learned a great deal about herself and has propelled herself onto her next stage in her journey.

“Can I do it?” was the question Sophie asked each day, propelling herself through thirty-one days of physical and emotional limits and in doing so she was empowered by the feeling of being able to achieve each step along the way.

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There may have been a huge impact on her body, but she surprised herself even with the ability to push through to the point where her body adapted to the rigours. Each day was not only about getting from A to B but all that lay in between, from elements to emotions to hills but also about her continual growth as a person in all the challenges she faced. Sophie said “….it showed me that we can achieve anything, like water. It always finds a way through obstacles and so I ask: how can I get through this obstacle?” She continued by saying that “….we all have a toolbox that we carry through life that we use to get through challenges, by using our skills.” For Sophie the toolbox grows and the ability to use the tools in it grows and makes her more adept at dealing with new situations - and her tool box has definitely been upgraded on this adventure!

There are always two schools of thought for most things in life and planning is most definitely one of those. Sophie falls into the ‘don’t like to plan’ school of thought that believes that taking each day and planning on that day and focusing on that day has huge benefits. This is how she operated on the Coast to Coast challenge. “Let’s get on with it,” she says of her planning. The upsides for her were that everyday brought new surprises and adventure, it also allowed her to focus on that day rather that on the whole plan and in many ways meant she enjoyed that day more because of it.

The interest thing is that prior to attempting to climb Mont Blanc for the second time and only a few days short of completing the whole


62 November 2014

adventure, she started to look to the finish and wonder if by pushing herself to do this assent (she had by this stage contracted a bad cold) she would compromise the balance of the trip. This thought and the cold pulled her down. However, this is what separates the good from the great and at this point she did two key things: firstly she allowed herself the emotion. “You need to let yourself feel, you are pushing yourself and body so much,” Sophie said. This allowed for her to not use extra energy fighting the feeling or emotions but to go with it, to understand why she was feeling like that and then deal with it. The result…she learned more about herself and in so doing could do the second key thing: to remember what she was doing and focus her mind back to the challenge of the day, not on tomorrow, and to go on with the challenge. Having asked herself, “can I do this today?” and having answered yes, she could leave concerns about tomorrow behind. The thing that stood out for me, following Sophie as she was on her coast to coast adventure, was the openness and honesty

with which she conducted herself. Sharing her ups and downs, triumphs and emotions with all, never allowing herself to hide behind an ‘adventurer’ title. “I think it’s really

“You need to let yourself feel, you are pushing yourself and body so much,”

November 2014 63


64 November 2014


November 2014 65

important to share your ups and downs. I want people to take something from it. If they see I’m totally normal maybe they will think they can do something extraordinary,” she says of her desire to be grounded and to be transparent with her emotions and the challenges she faces.

I love this about her and this for me sums Sophie up best. She is an adventurer who is doing it in order to grow and learn more about herself, rather than for the fame or glory. But more importantly than even that, she wants to engage with people. She wants to encourage others to get involved and to achieve things they thought were not achievable for them. This was only a small nuance within the conversation and almost missed, yet these words confirm her true desire: “If people see I’m normal they can do something extraordinary.”

She is ‘normal’ and wants to see others encouraged to be extraordinary, she is wanting to put them ahead and above her. Surely this selflessness and desire to improve those around you is what makes people stand out from the crowd and become an inspiration to others.

“If they see I’m totally normal maybe they will think they can do something extraordinary,”

66 November 2014


TM


TM

Photo courtesy: rugbymatters.co.uk

November 2014 67

Congratulations to the England Women’s Rugby team on winning the World Cup 2014!

68 November 2014

1 Prunes rate much higher than blueberries in terms of anti-oxidants

Although much publicity has been given to the

anti-oxidant capacity of blueberries, a lesser

known fact is that prunes have more than twice

that of blueberries, raisins or raspberries and

rate second only to Goji berries and black

raspberries.

The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency

Capacity) scale rates the anti-oxidant capacity

of foods in units. On this scale prunes measure

5,770 units, whereas blueberries measure 2,400

and red raspberries 2,400.

Apart from their anti-oxidant capacity, prunes

also are very healthy: they are a good source

of dietary fibre, protect against

osteoporosis and osteopenia

and may help support bone

health; they have a low GI

rating and are a good source

of Vitamins A and K as well as

potassium, copper, boron and

magnesium.

2 Just one Brazil nut a day can provide your recommended daily intake of Selenium

Brazil nuts are the richest dietary source of

selenium and just one or two Brazil nuts a

day can provide the recommended daily

requirement.

Selenium is a powerful anti-oxidant that can

improve cardiovascular health and fight cancer.

It protects against toxic chemicals by combining

with them and aiding their removal from the

body.

Selenium can also

increase muscle

strength: in a study

published in the

American Journal

of Clinical Nutrition

researchers tested the

hip flexion, leg extension

and grip strength of 891 subjects and found

that those with high selenium levels were

stronger than those with lower selenium

levels.

Brazil nuts are also a good source of

Vitamin E. (However, don’t regularly eat

more than two nuts a day as selenium

can accumulate in the body and have a

negative effect on health.)

5Surprising Food Facts

Image: nutfruit.org

November 2014 69

3 There’s more to lemon skins than the flavour

It may seem that the main use of

lemon peel is the flavour imparted by the zest -

not so!

Lemon skins contain phenolic compounds which

are found mainly in the peel; many of these

compounds are antioxidants which promote

health and help prevent degenerative diseases.

Some of the antioxidants found in lemon

pigments are even more effective than Vitamin

C.

The highest concentration of the flavanoids

found in lemons are in the peel and pith.

Many of these flavanoids

are antioxidants and

some of these

(PMFs) are called

‘super flavanoids’.

A lemon’s peel is

twenty times richer in

PMFs than its juice.

Flavanoids have many health benefits,

including improving the absorption of Vitamin

C, reducing LDL cholesterol by up to 40%,

reducing the risk of heart disease, strengthening

the walls of capillaries and encouraging

good blood flow, fighting against cancer and

enhancing DNA repair.

Rutin, one of the flavanoids found in lemon

peel, has been found to bind to harmful

heavy metals and aid their expulsion from

the body. Coumarins, phenolic compounds

found in a lemon’s peel (mainly in its oil), are

up to a hundred times higher than in its pulp.

Coumarins are antioxidants and can benefit

our health by helping to prevent degenerative

diseases and cancer.

A lemon’s pigments (which gives lemons their

lovely yellow colour) are found mainly in its

peel and include carotenoids, which reduce the

risk of heart disease, keep arteries healthy and

prevent the oxidation of ‘bad’ cholesterol; and

beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A

in the body, promoting eye health and guarding

against infection.

4 Healthy Onions: so much more than a tasty ingredient!

Onions contain flavanoids such as

quercetin, a more powerful antioxidant than

Vitamin E.

Quercetin has natural anti-inflammatory, anti-

cholesterol, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antihistamine

and antioxidant properties.

Quercetin can help fight a variety of

illnesses; it is an effective bronchodilator and

can help treat coughs and colds, asthma and

bronchitis; it may also help hayfever sufferers.

It may also help reduce symptoms like fatigue,

depression and anxiety.

Quercetin has powerful anti-inflammatory

properties; it reduces the production and release

of histamine and allergic and inflammatory

chemicals in the body.

The allicin in onions helps reduce cholesterol;

it has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal

activities; helps reduce blood pressure,

70 November 2014

decreases risk of cardiovascular disease and

stroke, and promotes heart health. It also helps

protect against cancer and lowers blood sugar

levels in diabetics.

Onions are a rich source of chromium, which

helps to control blood sugar levels (especially

important for diabetics) and maintain positive

hormone levels (also for PMT symptoms); and

lowers cholesterol.

Onions contain Vitamin C and Manganese; and

are a good source of B vitamins, especially B6

(for healthy cognitive and nerve function) and

Folic acid.

Onions contain natural prebiotics which

stimulates the growth of ‘good’ bacteria

(probiotics) in the gut. Prebiotics can improve

common complaints such as Irritable Bowel

Syndrome (IBS), acne, food allergies and

depression.

Onions can help protect against osteoporosis

through the peptide GPCS which inhibits loss of

calcium and bone minerals.

Although onions are about 89% water, they are

also rich in soluble fibre. Some nutritionists say

that as little as two or three onions per week can

have a positive impact on health.

5 Potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin C

Potatoes are an excellent source of

Vitamin C - one medium potato (an average

serving of 175g/60z) provides more than

45% of the recommended daily amount

(RDA) of Vitamin C. That means that

one medium jacket potato can provide

almost half of your daily amount of

Vitamin C!

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant

stabilizing free radicals, it aids collagen

production, helps prevent cellular

damage, helps wound healing and supports the

body’s immune system. Potatoes contain more

Vitamin C than tomatoes or sweet potatoes.

Potatoes have many other nutrients as well: of

RDA, a medium portion (175g) of new potatoes

boiled in their skins provide 9% of RDA for

Folic acid, up to 22% of Potassium, up to 30%

of Vitamin 6, 11% Vitamin B1. It also contains

Manganese and Iron.

Per serving, potatoes contain more Potassium

than bananas (620mg in a medium sized potato).

Potassium is essential for regulating fluid and

mineral balance in the body, vital for transmitting

nerve impulses and helping muscles contract.

Potatoes are a very good source of Vitamin B6

which is essential for a healthy nervous system,

cardiovascular health, and important for athletic

performance and endurance.

A medium potato with skin provides soluble

fibre, which helps with weight loss (as it leaves

you feeling full for longer) and helps lower

cholesterol. A baked potato provides more than

3g of fibre, mostly in the skin.

Potatoes’ reputation for being high in calories

(and weight gain!) is undeserved, as it is not due

to the potatoes themselves but the way they are

prepared or eaten. Fried, roasted or mashed

with butter all add to the calorie content - but

it is the added fat that makes the difference.

Without added fat, potatoes are a low calorie

food.

Article by Isa du Toit

November 2014 71

By Myak Homberger

Sport in general and football in particular, has seen

a huge increase in ‘foreign’ players with 36.1% of

all players now being foreign and with 6 major

nations having in excess of 50% of their players

classed as foreign (sports intelligence Jan2013).

So it is not surprising that questions are now being

raised and murmurs are being heard in corners

about the increase in the number of ‘foreigners’

playing in the various women’s leagues around

the world. The question is whether there should

there be a cap on foreign players - though some

national team managers blame their team’s

performance on a lack of home grown talent, thus

necessitating the recruitment of foreign players.

The definition of a ‘foreign’ player is “one born

outside that football association’s territory”. This

is not a racist comment or derogatory word - it is

an explanation. With that clear, let’s focus on the

situation at hand. The Women’s Football leagues

around the world are growing and so we are

starting to see more and more players contracted

from abroad to play for clubs. Historically players

from the UK have gone to Australia to play for

their off season and the odd player has gone to

America to play (but mainly for college/football)

as well as Japan recruiting players (within their

cap allowances). What we are seeing now, is a

significant shift to encourage moves around the

world by players as the contracting of foreign

The question of

‘Foreign Players’: positive contributions


72 November 2014

players is becoming a global market. When we

spoke with Seattle Reign owner Bill Predmore

for instance, he was very clear that he would

look to get the best players, irrespective of their

nationality - and this is now a view being shared

by more and more clubs around the world.

Rather than talk about them we thought it would

be better to talk to ‘foreign’ players. Chelsea

LFC have for some time championed ‘foreign’

players and have been building something very

interesting out of their base in Cobham. Chelsea

were very gracious to us and allowed us not only

access to their training ground to watch them

train, but also gave us access to their ‘foreign’

players to talk about the ‘where’s and why for’s’

of playing abroad. This is not something they

normally do and we are grateful for the access

they gave us.

Photos: Papaya Photography

November 2014 73

In talking to the various players there seemed to

be a number of common themes that came out.

Yes, football is a priority for them all, but actually it

was about the whole experience, not just football.

As world cup winner Yuki Ogami said, “I want to

learn from countries, their culture and football”.

Regarded as one of the best players in the world

at the moment you may not have thought she

would say that, and that it was just about football.

However, in all the time with her and the others it

was very clear that for all of these women this is

about experiencing the whole package.

One of the comments that has been made is that

‘foreign’ players are outsiders, ‘hired guns’ here to

do a job - yet the attitude of the players I spoke to

challenges that view full on. The ‘foreign players’

realise that to be better, to learn and grow, is

about immersing themselves in that world. The

benefit of this to the team and the fans is you then

have a skilled ‘foreign’ player who is absorbing

Photo courtesy: Chelsea women’s football club


74 November 2014

all the country has to offer, whilst learning more

about football - and I would argue being a better

footballer because of it. Why? Because they want

to be there, because they are soaking it all up,

because they are enjoying it and not because

they are merely on a payroll.

Self-development and growth are key to all of

the players as well. For the younger ones it is

about being away from home and the challenges

this brings on a practical level - from washing to

cooking, etc., through to friends and family and

the improvement of their skills and understanding

of football for all of them.

It seems like it is a virtuous circle, the best want

to get better and so they challenge themselves

by going to new countries and growing, yet the

reason they are growing is because they have a

drive to be better and push themselves. This leads

to opportunities that make them better people

and because they are better people doing what

they love, they are better footballers. Show me

one athlete in the world who is at their best when

they are unhappy….

Commitment is another common theme amongst

the players; all players are there because they are

good and because they are committed

Listen for example to Yuki who has learned three

languages on her quest or Jackie Groenen who

drove two hours each way each day for four years

to train: they are meeting and tackling all these

other things that athletes in that country take

for granted, and are still growing. This rubs off

on the team, of course it does. Players push a

little harder, maybe learn some words in another

language and want to succeed a little more

in the company of people like this.

The final observation is that not one of

the players said they were here to show

everyone else what to do, despite being

very good at what they do. Through our

conversations it emerged that they thought

they had things they could show the others

and that there were things they felt they

brought to the benefit of the team - but this took

time to come out. These aren’t prima-donnas,

these are humble, but excellent athletes, here to

learn and not to force their way on others.

“….it’s important for athletes to learn new things, get away from what you know, it gets you out of habits and makes you better.”


November 2014 75


It does mean that maybe a few Japanese,

Swedish, South Korean or Dutch phrase books

will be purchased, but there is growth again! So

bring on the global transfer market in women’s

football and as long as the above remains the

ethos for ‘foreign’ players, everyone benefits.

Emma Wilhelmsen sums it up best: “....they

(Chelsea) have eyes on players outside England

all the time. You must have this for each team; it

makes a higher level of Football.”

Editors note: a huge thanks to the team at

Chelsea for their hospitality and for allowing us

such access.

In so doing, others want to learn and benefit from

their knowledge. There are Olympians, World

Cup winners, league winners, and they bring

experience from the best leagues in the world. Of

course there is much to learn and impart and yet

their desire is to learn from others. This is what

makes the good great and benefits everyone.

So, it can be argued that many ‘foreign’ players

bring a wealth of experience and knowledge both

to and from teams and clubs around the world.

They aim to embed themselves in the culture

and football of the country. They grow and the

players around them grow, they are striving to be

the best and play the best and this rubs off on

everyone around them. As Jackie Groenen said

“….it’s important for athletes to learn new things,

get away from what you know, it gets you out of

habits and makes you better.” Who wouldn’t want

to play alongside such remarkable world-class

players - and one thing is for sure, it’s impossible

not to learn from people like that.

76 November 2014

2014 Women’s Rugby 15s World Cup An alternative review

November 2014 77

2014 Women’s Rugby 15s World Cup An alternative review Photo courtesy IRB

78 November 2014

By Myak Homberger

The Women’s Rugby 15s World Cup 2014 was the

seventh edition of the tournament and no one

could have predicted a short twenty three years

ago that 20,000 people would watch a women’s

Rugby World Cup final in Paris that riveted

the fans not only there, but also the record TV

audiences around the world.

The blow by blow accounts of all the games have

been given very well by the media around the

world and so we wanted instead to comment

on the highlights and some of the things that

stood out for us as a team. To the champions the

spoils and so England finally raised the trophy

and became World Champions of the Rugby 15’s

format after four attempts.

One of the interesting things that made this World

Cup stand out was the amount of social media as

well as regular media talking about rugby and the

exciting games etc. with little or no mention of it

being ‘Women’s Rugby’. It was, first and foremost

about sport and the story. Seeing front pages and

sports pages of publications all around the world

was a great thing to observe.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) did such a

great job in mobilising unions and fans around

the world with 2010 records blown away on day

one as more than a million viewers tuned in on

France TV alone to watch the hosts beat Wales.

Three million French fans then watched the semi-

final against Canada, and 138 territories with a

potential 289 million homes were broadcast

to. What a TV audience for a sport and very

importantly for advertisers as well. This is what

Photo courtesy IRB

November 2014 79

we need to grow the game, it’s a circle. The semis

were all played to sold-out crowds as well - they

couldn’t have delivered more if they tried.

All this media coverage was very apparent when

Ireland beat the Black Ferns for the first time in

their history, an incredible event and something

that will stay with me for a long time. Everywhere

you turned from social media to online to print

featured the story, confirming that great stories

can capture any nation’s imagination irrespective

of gender.

The personal side to the biggest shock of the

Photo courtesy IRB

80 November 2014Photo courtesy IRB

November 2014 81

tournament (Ireland beating the Black Ferns) was on the one hand

the incredible joy for the Irish team and all our friends in it that

day. We are so proud of them and what they have achieved. By

contrast, however, there was heartfelt emotion for the Black Ferns

and the women we know on the team who as a result of this defeat

did not get past the pool stages for the first time ever. No player

or team can be faulted for their work or passion. It was very clear

that this World Cup showed that every team played with pride,

passion, preparation and desire. There were unsung heroes of

this tournament too as teams, even when beaten, kept working,

never giving up, which added to the success of this tournament. A

sentiment agreed across the board in the media.

This year’s IRB Women’s Player of the Year was Magali Harvey,

who was deservedly named after the final, having from the start

electrified every game whenever she touched the ball, as well as

producing the try of the tournament.

For those who love stats, the overall scores rose this World Cup

compared to 2010. New Zealand topped the table again with most

points scored, followed by England,

despite not getting to the final. They also

increased their lead by 24%. Canada

have in the last two tournaments had

the top scorer with England and New

Zealand swapping respectively. To follow

the increase, Emily Scarratt (England),

as top scorer this World Cup, saw an

increase over the 2010 top scorer of

45%. New Zealand increased their

dominance of the try, almost doubling

that of their nearest rival England, as

well as seeing an increase of 50% over

their previous WC top position.

As another World Cup came to an end

so too did the glittering careers of many

players, notably Maggie Alphonsi of England who played out of her

socks, Sandrine Agricole stretchered off in her final ever game for

France, prop Jamie Burke who played her 50th game for USA and

Amiria Rule after 14 seasons as a Black Fern. This was a watershed

era and it will be interesting to see the current generation grow and

Photo courtesy IRB

82 November 2014

Photo courtesy IRB

Photo courtesy IRB

November 2014 83

the young generation that is emerging stand on the shoulders of

those who delivered this amazing World Cup.

All those wondering if the 15’s format is old or dead given the

money being put into the 7’s format or the Olympic status of 7’s

and the lack of game play in between World Cups need not worry.

The 15’s format is alive and well, played with passion and pride and

watched by more and more people around the world than ever.

Players love the format and so do the fans, so let’s see how the next

four years unfold and wait with eager anticipation as to what is in

store for the next World Cup.

Photos courtesy IRB

84 November 2014

November 2014 85

86 November 2014

By Catherine Spencer

I am a former England International Rugby

player and captain having won 63 caps for my

country. I played in two World Cup finals, eight

6 Nations championships, as well as a number

of Nations Cup competitions and European Cup

tournaments. I won England player of the year

in 2006 and picked up the Rugby Union Writers

Club Award in 2010 recognising outstanding

achievements within the sport both on and off

the pitch; in 2011 I won the Linda Utley Award

marking outstanding contribution to sport away

from the pitch. I have enjoyed a tough but

enjoyable time on the sports pitch but I have now

commenced a new but challenging journey away

from the pitch.

During my playing career and time as England

captain, I got to meet some of the most

determined women in England, both in my own

Advertising feature

November 2014 87

sport and in other elite disciplines. As well as

sharing stories of women that had inspired or

mentored us, it was clear to me that we were

also role models and an inspiration to others.

I have since become determined to provide a

platform for this Inspiration to be shared and

transferred, for these stories from Inspiring

Women, not necessarily famous names, to be

used within organisations to Inspire, Believe and

Achieve.

Every one of us can remember a time in our life

when we have been inspired by the words or

actions of another person - this moment may

have provided us with the strength to believe in

ourselves or the determination and motivation to

achieve something we never thought possible.

There are some incredibly strong male role

models in my life but I have also been fortunate

enough to know some exceptionally Inspiring

Women who have shaped and driven my life

too.

Since international retirement in 2011 I have

developed my working career using the skills and

experience gained as an International athlete

and captain. After three and a half years working

for the RFU as a Rugby Development Officer

supporting participation increase in Women and

Girls rugby and spurred on by my determination

outlined above I have now founded my own

company called Inspiring Women. Inspiring

Women is a Speaker Bureau and Leadership and

Teamwork Development Specialist which uses

female speakers from the sports and adventure

world to provide insight and share valuable

lessons learnt with the business world.

Advertising feature

88 November 2014

Our motto is ‘Inspire, Believe, Achieve’; it is this

that we use to shape our work with business.

We use our incredible speakers to Inspire a

workforce, we then use executive coaches to turn

that Inspiration in to Belief and then, through

bespoke structured delivery dependent upon

and bespoke to client need, our aim is to help to

drive Achievement.

Although our Inspiring Women can resonate

with a mixed gender audience, and already

do so, at one off key note speech events, our

business leadership and teamwork development

model does have a focus to increase the number

of females taking on higher level positions in

business. We also understand that different

areas of work have different gender balancing

issues. For example we know that within the

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a different need to retain females. In other areas

such as within industry the need may be to recruit

more females at entry level before moving on to

addressing retention levels in higher positions.

Alongside the need and desire to increase

female leaders within the business world we also

recognise that there is a wealth of very successful

sports women and sports teams within the UK

and, in fact, globally. We also know that there

are valuable insights, lessons and skills that can

be transferred successfully to add value to the

business world. I am certain that this transfer of

knowledge from the sport and adventure world

‘Inspire, Believe, Achieve’

Are you looking to develop leadership or teamwork skills

within your workforce

Do you need a keynote speaker

Do you have a need to recruit more females in to your

industry

Speaker Agency, Leadership & Teamwork development Consultancy.

Would your company benefit from

increasing the number of or developing existing or potential female leaders

We can help using our resource of Inspiring female speakersand Inspiring and expert associates.

[email protected]

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to the business world can have a massive impact,

and its impact will be greater given the Inspiring

Women who are delivering the message.

Leaving a secure, permanent career at the RFU

and launching Inspiring Women is probably the

most daunting thing I have done since being

asked to captain my country but I know that

Inspiring Women has huge potential. My vision is

for Inspiring Women to become the first choice for

any company requiring a female speaker and to

become the number one option for any company

requiring change to encourage the development

of more female leaders.

If you are a leader in an organisation who

believes that women can inspire your workforce

to have faith in themselves and motivate them

to achieve their goals, then I know a few women

worth talking too. I very much look forward to

experiencing what lies ahead in the next chapter

of my life as well as inspiring others to make the

most of their potential too.

[email protected]

November 2014 89

‘Inspire, Believe, Achieve’

Are you looking to develop leadership or teamwork skills

within your workforce

Do you need a keynote speaker

Do you have a need to recruit more females in to your

industry

Speaker Agency, Leadership & Teamwork development Consultancy.

Would your company benefit from

increasing the number of or developing existing or potential female leaders

We can help using our resource of Inspiring female speakersand Inspiring and expert associates.

[email protected]

90 November 2014

Photo courtesy Ladies European Tour

November 2014 91

By Bethan Cutler

A decade ago, the media labelled The Solheim Cup ‘The Ryder Cup with lipstick,’ a succinct reminder of its status as ‘the female equivalent.’

These days, the event stands proudly in its own right and no such comparison is necessary, but as European Captain Carin Koch discovered when she met Captain Paul McGinley at Gleneagles, there are numerous similarities and shared experiences at these two mega sporting events.

Carin, you’ve just been to the Ryder Cup. Tell us about your visit. It was my first Ryder Cup and I had a great time! I did a few interviews for TV and radio, visited team rooms, the hotel and had a nice chat with Paul McGinley.

What were the most noticeable similarities to The Solheim Cup?The atmosphere, the crowds and the decorations in the team rooms in blue and yellow!

Cup Captains Confer at Gleneagles


92 November 2014

What were the main differences?The Ryder cup is a bit bigger, but really the same. We have more songs on the first tee, they have more cheering.

Did you know Captain Paul McGinley before?I had met him before, at The 2011 Solheim Cup in Ireland. I know his wife Allison (maiden name Shapcott) who used to play on the Ladies European Tour.

What did you discuss with Paul McGinley?Some of his preparations and things he had done in the team room. I will talk to him again about his experience.

Which caddies did you recognise?“Fooch” caddies for Justin Rose, Craig Connelly for Martin Kaymer and Terry Mundy is with Ian Poulter. I think two of them have caddied at seven Solheim cups and four Ryder Cups!

What were your thoughts on his pairings and strategy?He seems to know his players well, and made sure they were comfortable and felt part of the team. They played for each other.

What were his best pairings in your opinion?Justin Rose and Hendrik Stenson worked well.

What are you doing to prepare at the moment?I have visited the course, decided the on-course clothing, and I have a lot of other things in my head at the moment.

How will this change next year?Next year I will focus more on the players.

Which tournaments are you planning to play in over the next 12 months?I’m not sure yet. Dubai is my next one, then I will see about

“The Ryder cup is a bit bigger, but really the same. We have more songs on the first tee, they have more cheering...”


November 2014 93


94 November 2014


November 2014 95

next year. I will visit some tournaments in the US and play some LET events.

Who are your helpers and what are their roles?I am undecided who they are but they are very important for the tournament week. They are part of creating a great atmosphere around the team. They get the players and caddies what they need and also report in from the course to the captain about various things.

What role does Annika Sorenstam have?She is one of my vice Captains. She will help me study the stats of the players next year, and have a say in the pics. Then she will have an important role during the tournament week.

What is the role of Fanny Sunesson?She is my strategic advisor. I am very happy to have her on the team.

Are there any players you are watching closely and what do they need to do to impress you?There are many girls who could be on the team. They need to make lots of birdies and eagles and be good teammates.


96 November 2014

World class athletes don’t just happen and so many stop short due amongst other things to the lack of role models, support and poor messages.

Girls are being put off from getting involved in sport because “they are girls” and so on.

We want to inspire the next generation as well as aspiring athletes with messages from world class athletes in a new feature called “INSPIRING A GENERATION” enjoy, share and lets change the message to the next generation.

Who better than to start the feature with than Sophie Christansen OBE:

VIEW ON YOUTUBEhttp://youtu.be/fj9wpCmoAIU

INSPIRING A GENERATION

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INSPIRING A GENERATION

http://youtu.be/fj9wpCmoAIU

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Jess Fishlock

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Ashleigh Simon & David Buhai: Partners on and off the course


Jess FishlockInterview and article by Myak Homberger

Would you want to work with your partner? Many people in business do, but in sport there are very few who work together and even less who actually make a good team and get on.Golf is a sport where you can get upset with your own shadow if it’s not going well - so imagine your partner being on the course day in and day out with you. The first player in 101 years to win the Ladies South African Open title three times, 6 times tour winner Ashleigh Simon and her partner David Buhai, her caddie, spent time with me chatting about how things work for them on tour.

It was quite clear in the conversation that as with all athletes and sportswomen there are good days and bad days - and in the same way, so with relationships. I appreciated the openness and honesty with which they spoke. The thing that was interesting for me was that first, they recognised the potential challenges inherent in working together but more importantly, they worked with the ups and downs, as well as with each other’s character

Photos courtesy Ladies European Tour

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“...often we go play pool, watch sport and do our own thing. It’s not something we talk about a lot, it just works, we know.”


traits. At no point in the conversation was there talk about wanting to change the other person, to the contrary: they both wanted the best for each other and accepted the way the other is and work with it to bring out the best in each other. As Ashleigh commented about Dave, “...no one knows me better.” She realises this and recognises that part of what Dave does is help her to be the best she can be, as she is.

Away from the course they have found a rhythm of time together and time apart, as well as seeing friends, family etc. and they both agreed that this is part of what has been good for them. As Dave says, “….often we go play pool, watch sport and do our own thing. It’s not something we talk about a lot,


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“ I know her emotions and where she is at. I find ways to take her mind off it with random things or humour, it breaks the ice...”

it just works, we know.” This has created balance and has ensured that they aren’t in each others’ pockets all the time - and more importantly, both of them are happy to let the other person to be an individual and have their own space. This seems to mean that when they are back together on the road for two to three months at a time, then the partnership works.

Another stand-out thing in the conversation was that Ashleigh values and respects Dave’s input as well as the support he gives her around the course. He isn’t just her caddie, he is there to judge where she is at and

give her the support that she needs best in that moment. As Dave comments, “I know her emotions and where she is at. I find ways to take her mind off it with random things or humour, it breaks the ice.” Ashleigh readily admits that on the course she sometimes realises it and sometimes doesn’t, but it is of great benefit to her and she notices the impact when, on the odd occasion, Dave is unable to be with her.

But the fascinating part of this is that they both know their roles and place on the course and it’s this definition and boundary that seems to be a large part of why their professional relationship works. Dave explained the perspective needed in a professional relationship and why it often doesn’t work. “If you are going to do it, you need to dedicate yourself to it. A lot (sic) think it’s easy, but you need to take a step back. She is the player at the end of the day.”


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By the same token Ashleigh recognises and agrees with this, but doesn’t use it in a ‘one up way’. Instead, she says “….this is our 5th year together as player/caddie and no one knows me better. On the course I need to play.” This surely is the key? Both Ashleigh and Dave are able to separate business and relationship

and there are no ego’s - and as a result there is balance in their partnership.

Once off the course there is seldom, if ever, talk of golf and they are once again simply a

couple. It is this ability to switch between a work role for both of them, where neither takes things personally, while at the same time being partners off the course, that seems to be their success.

Ashleigh and Dave seem to have found the balance between work and home life by acknowledging each others’ roles and being able to leave the work on the course and not making things personal, but supporting each other for who they are. It was great to spend time with them, listening to how they make their partnership work so successfully and gain such a personal insight into their lives.

“….this is our 5th year together as player/caddie and no one knows me better. On the course I need to play.”

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“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a

champion.” - Muhammad Ali


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Photo courtesy Andrew Pindar

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UNSUNGH E R O

Women’s sport has many stories of financial sacrifices made by athletes, about the struggle to get funding and the lack of sponsorship etc. But as always there are people out there making a difference, our ‘unsung heroes’.

Andrew Pindar is a man with a vision and a belief in sport and in particular women’s sport, having sponsored and supported female athletes for thirty years. He is an incredibly humble man when we talk about the athletes he has supported over the years - but as he lists them you realise that these aren’t just local athletes but world-class athletes, medal winners, record breakers and gold medal winning Olympians. Anna Hemmings, marathon canoeist and x6 World Champion, 2x silver world championships; Hannah Mills, x4 World and 1x European champion, 1x world and 2x European silver, and 2012 Olympic silver; Hilary Lister, record-breaking quadriplegic sailor; Jo Royle, trans-ocean sailing skipper; Anna Tunnicliffe, Olympic Gold, twice World champion, two-times ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, ODU Sports Hall of Fame; Helena Darvelid, with 16 world sailing records; Michela Von Kessel……. What an incredible set of women to have supported in their sporting journeys! And not only did he support them, but he saw something in them that made him sponsor them - and this is part of the remarkable story that Andrew has.

The interesting thing about Andrew is that despite his humility about what he has done over the years and the magnitude thereof he is very, very clear on the business side of sponsorship. So many people I talk to down play sponsorship, saying that they do it with a charitable view and some even say it’s to reduce tax liabilities. It’s refreshing to hear someone talk so

Andrew Pindar OBEBy Myak Homberger


108 November 2014

frankly and openly about why they sponsor athletes. “It’s not a selfless act, sponsorship isn’t philanthropic,” he says and continues to expand on this, explaining that yes, it’s about athletes achieving their goals, but it’s also about the sponsor achieving theirs. “There should be symbiosis, it should be a transparent relationship where both parties balance the needs of the relationship,” Andrew explained.

This may not be a unique view but it certainly is a rare one to hear of in women’s sport where large amounts are spent on sponsorship but where an outcome is required. In Andrew’s view sponsorship should be for the benefit of both parties. This being a business relationship was for me one of the key areas Andrew spoke of: he isn’t interested in simply throwing money at the athletes, he wants to work with them and bring out the best of them whilst getting the athletes to see that he needs something back as well, with the sponsor and the athletes working together to ensure that this happens in a ‘transparent way,’ as he put it. This isn’t about both sides potentially falling out due to lack of communication; everything is in the open and up front.

Andrew Pindar is a businessman with a vision and strategy for sponsoring women that should be replicated across other businesses and sports to allow both business and sport to benefit together in a productive and supportive relationship. He has put his money where his mouth is (as the saying goes) and as a result has had a significant impact on the world of female sailing. A true unsung hero.


November 2014 109

Photos courtesy Andrew Pindar

110 November 2014

Sailing with the best:

Extreme Sailing

Photo courtesy Extreme sailing

November 2014 111

By Myak Homberger

I have the privilege of one of the best jobs in the world where I get to meet incredible individuals, athletes and teams, spend time with them and tell their stories. Occasionally I get invited to spend time behind the scenes, training camps etc. and see things most people don’t get to see or experience and I feel honoured to be a small part of this growing world of woman’s sport.

Extreme Sailing is an 8 stage world series that races sail boats in stadium style settings in front of crowds around the world. The very best in sailing race are there including Sir Ben Ainsley, Morgan Larson, Anna Tunnicliffe, Dean Barker

112 November 2014

“...Extreme Sailing is an 8 stage world series that races sail boats in stadium style settings in front of crowds around the world..”


November 2014 113

and Sarah Ayton. These are Gold medal winning Olympians, World champions and Americas Cup heroes, so when I was asked by Extreme Sailing if I would like to join them for a day there was no hesitation.

What I didn’t realise until the day before was that it wouldn’t be a casual sail in the harbour, but that I would be on the boat with the team as they raced for the 5th leg of the World series! I don’t know of any sport anywhere in the world where they let someone like me on to be “part of the team” in a race that counts for points….needless to say my heart was in my mouth. Kind words from Anna Tunnicliffe, double gold Olympian, to “watch you don’t get your noggin smashed” did little to make me feel that all would be ok, these guys were out to win and I wanted to be sure I wasn’t going to do anything to get in their way or jeopardise this!

The starter sounded and for the next fifteen minutes of my life I clung on, dove, rolled and did all I was told to aid the weight and position of

Photos courtesy Extreme sailing

114 November 2014


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the boat as the five of them ran around pushing, pulling and communicating via the smallest amount of words possible. They pushed the boat, performing things I didn’t think were possible of a boat, turning almost instantly, stopping as if gifted with the best brakes in the world and avoiding more than one crash as boats jockeyed for position around the bay.

The team work and communication was astounding. There is zero time for debate: each person said their bit and was taken at face value - from wind direction to boat movements to tactics, it was something incredible to observe from on-board. A glimpse is available on our YouTube channel of some of it but unfortunately most of the footage was lost due to memory card malfunction and so the experience of a lifetime can’t be shared in full, apologies.

November 2014 117

This was an incredible experience and one I will never forget, not only because of the unique access but to have seen a team work in the way they did and to know that I was on board with Olympians and Americas Cup winners is a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

The Alinghi team were all very good to me on shore as well as off and I am truly grateful to them and the Extreme guys for the opportunity. This is a sport I would encourage all of you to watch and get into - it’s truly amazing what they do with these boats and that is spoken as someone who has never been on any kind of racing boat!

More about Extreme Sailing in the next issue

This was an incredible experience and one I will never forget,


118 November 2014

“This dhal is easy and quick to prepare; it is also delicious, nutritious and costs very little to make. ”

Recipes and Tips sponsored by

The haricot bread companyHand-crafted Artisan Bread

quick & delicious Dhal

Photo: Zac Peatling

November 2014 119

Ingredients500g Red lentils

2 Onions, finely chopped

2 t turmeric

4 t paprika

2 ½ pints vegetable or chicken stock

2 T Olive oil

Method• Add stock cubes to boiling water and leave

to dissolve• Fry the onions gently in the olive oil until

translucent • Add the spices and stir to mix with the

onions• Gently fry the mixture on a low heat for a

minute• Add the lentils and stir to mix with the

onions and spices• Add the warm stock liquid, stir well and

bring to the boil • Turn the heat down to a low heat/simmer• Cover and simmer until the lentils are

cooked and breaking up • Stir occasionally during cooking and keep an

eye on it to make sure it has enough liquid and is not ‘catching’

The dhal can easily ‘catch’ or burn if it doesn’t have enough liquid or isn’t stirred occasionally.Add a bit more liquid if necessary - just be careful not to add too much in one go as it will

water the dhal down and turn it into soup!

HintsServe the dhal with Basmati rice or on crisp jacket potatoes; with fresh crusty bread, naan or warm pitta breads. Whatever you choose to eat with the dhal, it makes for a delicious, inexpensive and nutritious meal!

Good-for-you ingredientsLentils The low GI of lentils keeps blood sugar levels steady and provides a slow release of energy.

Lentils are rich in protein (for building muscle and repairing damaged tissue), soluble fibre (for gut health, helping to reduce cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease). Lentils also contain iron (for healthy blood and transporting oxygen around the body), zinc (for healthy immune system and wound healing), magnesium (for the transmission of nerve impulses, also bone and heart health) potassium (for regulating body fluids) and B Vitamins (essential for a healthy nervous system and releasing energy from food).

TurmericTurmeric contains the supernutrient curcumin, which has a powerful anti-inflammatory action; it suppresses the release of inflammatory agents in the body and indirectly helps tissue heal by the release of cortisone.

Turmeric also fights cancer by preventing cancer cells from dividing and multiplying; it lowers blood cholesterol and prevents blood from clotting, thus helping to fight heart disease.

Clinical trials are currently evaluating the use of turmeric for preventing or treating arthritis, kidney and vascular disease, diabetes and Alzheimers disease. Indian villagers with a high intake of turmeric have the lowest incidence of the disease in the world.

By Isa du Toit

Recipes and Tips quick & delicious Dhal

120 November 2014

Thank you’sI sat down two years ago to write my first thank you section for what I thought was a trial magazine - and here I am writing my 12th one, thanks to all of you the readers!

Thanks for reading it, for sharing it and all the positive feedback. It’s been such an amazing journey and it has been great to be a part of and see and hear the growing amount of stories from around the world.

I would like to thank the core team who make this all possible - Roger with his amazing design work, Isa for her passion, commitment and brains, Rachael, Myroslava and Adam for their knowledge, all their work and selflessness - real stars!

To all the athletes this issue who have given us their time and shared of themselves - Dame Sarah Storey, Andrew Pindar, Sophie, Ashleigh and Dave, Carin Koch and to the New Zealand 7’s team for your friendship, time and access - you guys rock!

To all our sponsors and supporters; Spur UK, Haricot Bread, Biltongman, Rugby Spy, Sporttape and Mouthwear technology. Your commitment and generosity to women in sport is amazing, thank you!

So thank you again for reading and supporting, I hope you enjoy this issue and RT, share and enjoy!Myak

The views and opinions expressed by the writers in this magazine are their own and not necessarily those of

Sports International Magazine. © Copyright 2014 Sports International Magazine. All Rights Reserved

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October 2012

Carly TelfordInterview England and Chelsea Goalkeeper

Lerato Malekutu, Kate Jones, Megan FletcherTop Tips on sports nutrtion and more...

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Lynne Cantwell Ireland’s most capped female player - EXCLUSIVE Interview


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April 2013

Kate WalshCaptain Team GB Hockey

Non Evans, New Zealand Rugby, Serita Stone, Crossfit...Top Tips on sports nutrtion and more...

Holly CalvinAt 15yres old - The youngest ever Test Cricketer in England


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Photo courtesy of Team GB


June 2013

Lucy ShukerParalympic tennis player

Jenny Tinmouth, Anita North , Esther Tang, Nigel Francis...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

Women in SportThe current state of affairs - By Katie Halliday


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Photo Papaya Photography


August 2013

Pathway to GoldAustralian Rugby 7s

Jenny Tinmouth, Anita North , Esther Tang, Nigel Francis...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

Women in SportThe current state of affairs - By Katie Halliday


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October 2013

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Irish Rugby 7s, The Ashes, Isha Johansen, The Solheim Cup...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

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Anniversary Issue1st


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2014 FASWL Review Transfers, Women’s Surfing Roots...Sports nutrtion, top tips and more...

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Anniversary party photos

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Kelly Holmes

SIM Unsung Hero, Dragons 7’s, Womens Football, Cricket: Twenty20, Sports explained, top tips and more...

Bianca Walkden; Lara Prior-Palmer, Salley Conway, Marcelle Manson, Anna Turney, Lydia Hall, Méabh De BúrcaExclusive Interviews & Articles

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SIM Unsung Hero, Brazil Rugby, Australian Rugby 7’sRecipe, top tips and more...

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New Zealand Rugby 7’s

SIM Unsung Hero, 2014 FAWSL, 5 Surprising Food Facts! Recipe, top tips and more...

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sports international magazine issue12

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