Sport – Page 8 – Gibraltar Insight

The Bassadone Motors Trophy

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Curtly Richards

The Med Golf 2019-20 Season continued with its 4th event at Alcaidesa on the Heathland Course on Sunday 9th February to contest the Bassadone Motors Trophy.

The more recent of the Alcaidesa’s two courses, the Heathland was designed by Dave Thomas and opened in 2007. At over 6000 metres off the yellow tees with wide fairways and generous, but fast, greens, the course can be a real challenge in the wind. While the wind on the day did change direction during the round, it was light enough not to have a great impact on the golf and the dry, unseasonal, warm conditions set up a very enjoyable day’s golf.

Alistair Knight was Champion of the day, winner of the Bassadone Trophy, a £150 voucher redeemable at Cohen and Massias, jewellers and agents for Tag Heuer, and a coveted Winner’s shirt that qualifies him for the Med Golf Masters at San Roque Club in July. Alistair scored a very fine 37 points off handicap 17 to beat Paul Miles (handicap 19) by virtue of a lower handicap.

As a consolation, Paul won the Category 2 prize which also earned him a Winners shirt and entry into the Med Gold Masters, as well as the Best dressed golfer chosen by Med Golf’s Judith Benezrah – “Best in Show!”. To complete his run of good fortune, Paul also won the card draw prize of a golf bag.

The best gross score of 73 was posted by Matthew Bruce-Smith, handicap 0. A serial winner, Matthew was also the Category 1 winner with 35 points beating John Hunter (5.2) on handicap. Matthew also won the best gross score on the par 3s and nearest to the pin in 3 on the par 5 10th hole.

The best senior with a score of 33 points was John Robbins and Richard Atkinson had the longest drive on Hole 17. Best pair was John Hunter and Chris Warren with a joint score of 67 points

The best guest was Brian Griffiths with 32 points which earned him a one year free membership of Med Golf.

Our handicap category prizes were won as follows:

Category 1 (handicaps 0 to 13): The winner was Matthew Bruce-Smith who won a Med Golf voucher for 40€having previously qualified for the Med Golf Masters.

Category 2 (handicaps 14 to 21): Paul Miles won with 37 points and received a Winners shirt and entry into the Med Golf Masters,

Category 3 (handicap 22 to 30): The winner was Russell Eldridge a score of 34 points. Russell also received a Winners shirt and entry into the Med Golf Masters..

Nearest the pin winners were: Matthew Robinson, Russell Eldridge, Matthew Bruce-Smith and John Robbins. Nearest to the pin in 2 on a par 4 was Richard Atkinson and Matthew Bruce Smith was nearest to the pin in 3 on a par 5.

Sponsors of the day, Bassadone Motors, not only displayed sample vehicles on the course, but also generously donated extra prizes for the winners for which they were sincerely thanked. Gareth was invited to present the prizes.

Guests are made very welcome at all events and are encouraged to join us and enjoy a great day out. While they are not eligible to win the trophy or category prizes, they can win the many mini-competition prizes and even a best guest prize if warranted by numbers.

Cheltenham Festival

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Liam Beglan

The theatre of dreams

Cheltenham national hunt festival, the greatest show on earth, where equine stars of england, wales and scotland converge on the cotswolds town in glorious but often vain attempt to repel the charge of the irish brigade, the all-conquering steeds from the emerald isle, an enchanting annual battle of such intensity and beauty that sees 70,000-plus jumping fanatics from all over the british isles pack into prestbury park for each of the four-day extravaganza, all dreaming of success for their favourite four-legged beast, all determined to have a good time, sink a few pints, win a few quid and wipe the smug smile from the bookie’s face, but above all universally united in celebrating the love of that noblest of animals, man’s best friend, the horse.

The curtain rises on the eagerly anticipated spectacle on Tuesday 10th March when at 1.30pm (GMT) the runners for the first race come under starter’s orders, a year-long expectation is about to be consummated, fevered anticipation fulfilled, the white flag is raised, the jockeys jostle for best position, an excited murmur from the crowd that gradually rises to a thunderous crescendo reverberating off Cleeve Hill as the flag of battle is lowered, the tape released and, in a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour, they’re off, the dream is reality – the start of four days and 28 races of the highest quality equestrian endeavour – heaven on earth to this gnarled old horseracing addict, indeed when the Grim Reaper gives me the curly finger and optimistically assuming that I will ascend skywards to my final destination, rather than descend to hotter climes down below – by no means a sure bet – I intend to parlay with the Almighty that my eternal reward must include a non-negotiable annual four-day entry from on high to this most revered of all racing festivals.

The four championship races of the meeting are the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Chase, the Arkle and the Gold Cup and some Insight readers may be aware that this correspondent has had a modicum of success over the past couple of years in forecasting winners of some of these Grade 1 events – yes, I know, I’ve heard it before, even a blind squirrel occasionally stumbles upon a nut – but, emboldened by this triumph I crave your indulgence while attempting to repeat the feat once more.

The Champion Hurdle is the glittering highlight of the opening day, a race that conjures up images of wonderful winners from the past – Istabraq, Night Nurse, Monksfield, Sea Pigeon to name just a few of the greats, legends now strutting their stuff in celestial pastures up there with Pegasus in Equine Heaven. This year’s race contains nothing of that calibre but I will be entrusting PENTLAND HILLS with my fiver each-way at the current odds of 7/1, while in the same day’s Arkle Challenge Trophy I have burdened BREWIN’UPASTORM with another ‘deep sea diver’ each-way at 10/1

On to Wednesday and the Queen Mother Champion Chase where ALTIOR is my confident choice to retain his crown, his current odds of 2/1 look generous for this four-time festival winner – he’s my banker bet of the meeting – get on! And then, all too soon, it’s final day Friday and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the ultimate prize, the blue riband of steeplechasing whose roll of honour is a who’s who of immortals – Arkle, the greatest of them all, Kauto Star, Denman, Desert Orchid, Best Mate, Dawn Run. Wonderful warm memories of heroes past and who knows, perhaps Al Boum Photo, last year’s winner may yet be destined to join the ranks of the great. Trained in Ireland by legendary handler Willie Mullins, AL BOUM PHOTO at current odds of 4/1, is a somewhat tentative choice in a very open-looking race to repeat last year’s success.

Domestic commitments contrived to thwart my plans of attending the festival this year, instead I’ll be wending my way to the atmospheric multi-screened Sports Arena in Ocean Heights to have a bet and watch the action. Lets hope that for once Lady Luck smiles rather than scowls and I get to raise a glass or two in celebration as my selections romp home. Drinking with bookie’s money – now that’s an intoxicating thought! Hope to see you there.

Boxing and Rugby’s Six Nations headline exciting February fare

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Liam Beglan

BOXING makes another attempt at getting it’s heavyweight house in order when the long-awaited rematch between Britain’s Tyson Fury and America’s Deontay Wilder takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 22nd, the first clash between the pair having ended in a controversial draw 15 months ago – a result that most experts believe was a travesty as Manchester’s King of the Gypsies had comfortably outboxed and spanked the Yank for ten of the 12-round contest, unfortunately hitting the deck in each of the other two, the knockdowns giving the judges the green light to deny the Brit the outright victory that was rightfully his.

The obligatory pre-fight trash talk so beloved by fight promoters in the build-up to major showdowns has this time plunged to new depths as frenzied attempts are made to stoke up the heat of expectation to volcanic level and stampede the populace into parting with thousands of pounds sterling and Uncle Sam dollars as fans from both nations throng to travel in support of their favourite pugilist son. Tyson Fury, in particular, has been wildly and embarrassingly outspoken at recent press conferences, the 31 year-old, 6ft 9ins Mancunian giant making lewd reference as to how important he considers it to keep his testosterone levels ‘pumped’ in the build-up to the fight, a feat he said he achieves by ‘masturbating seven times a day’. Oh dear, how far removed is this gross disclosure when comparison is made to the poetic Muhammad Ali, the Bard of the Ring and the greatest boxer of all time, who enchanted us all with his magical self-descriptive pre-fight preparation line of ‘Float Like A Butterfly And Sting Like A Bee’. The undefeated Fury also spoke of a recurring dream he experiences in which he puts Wilder to sleep in the second round – a forecast scoffed at by the abrasive American whose laughing response was, ‘that’s impossible, his fists are like pillows, I’ll retire immediately if that happens.’

The tough Alabaman, 34, also has yet to taste defeat, with all of his 41 victories coming by way of KO, many of the knockouts spectacular, but now is the time for the Brit to right the wrong of that first fight split decision. It’s time to call a halt to the joking, trash talk and gimmicks, the Bronze Bomber will not be put to sleep in the second round, forget that, the fight will almost certainly go the distance, so this time Gypsy King, don’t give the judges the chance to do the dirty once more, wear a tongue-tie, keep the lip buttoned and the jaw far away from Wilder’s right-hand haymakers. Oh… and it might be a good idea to conserve your energy and wear the boxing gloves to bed for at least the week before the fight! Let’s get ready to rumble!

Tickets for the fight range in price from an astonishing tad under $10k for a ringside blood-spatter seat down to $600 for a binocular-required perch in the roof.

TV Coverage – PPV: BT Sport Box Office – (Price to be announced, but expect to pay no less than 25 quid) Thanks be I live in resourceful Gibraltar!

February is dominated by the return of rugby’s Six Nations Championship when Europe’s top teams go head to head, all chastened by their collective failure to break the stranglehold of southern hemisphere domination of the World Cup, deservedly won by South Africa after a truly wonderful tournament in apan last autumn. Disappointment for beaten finalists England and failed semi-finalists Wales, catastrophic for once highly regarded Ireland, sad reality check for Scotland and, perhaps, a glimmer of encouragement for France, who are due to host the next Webb Ellis Trophy in 2023.

Come with me for a team by team glance at how this Six Nations tournament may unfold.

No-hopers SCOTLAND and ITALY have been and will continue to be inextricably joined at the bottom, success for the Scots will be once again consist of avoiding the award of the Wooden Spoon, and Italy’s role will be to ensure that the Jocks never finish bottom of the basement.

Defending Grand Slam champions WALES, narrowly defeated by the Springboks in the World Cup semis in Japan, can never be accused of suffering from an inferiority complex and will fancy their chances of retaining the championship, but talismanic coach Warren Gatland has departed, his one-time assistant and heir-apparent Rob Howley has been suspended following a betting scandal, and arduous away fixtures in Dublin and London may prove to be too tough a challenge for new coach, Kiwi Wayne Pivac.

An exciting month in prospect illuminated by the return of Six Nations rugby, plus the eagerly anticipated heavyweight boxing rematch between England’s fiery Tyson Fury and America’s Deontay Wilder – let’s take a look at how these two mega events may pan out.

IRELAND have also bade farewell to their most successful-ever mentor Joe Schmidt, handing what many commentators believe to be the poison chalice of coach to an ageing side already in decline to Englishman Andy Farrell, whose first two games are winnable home fixtures against Scotland and Wales, but later baptism of fire visits to Fortress Twickenham and Paris await – a gentle introduction for Andy but, alas, it will all end in tears.

ENGLAND produced what I and many other rugby pundits believe to be the greatest ever display by a Red Rose side in the World Cup semi-final demolition of the All Blacks, only to then not turn up against the Springboks in the final. What a disappointment, I still shudder at the memory as I had spent the preceding six months backing Eddie Jones’ Boys at big prices, from 7/1 down to 7/2 to win the Cup – my ‘winnings’ had already been counted and mentally spent – the horror will never leave me! So then, unsurprisingly, I baulk at backing the Men in White this time round at their ridiculously skinny odds-on price to win the championship, especially given the mounting injury list that has crocked stars like Henry Slade, Billy Vunipola and Jack Rowell, not to mention the relegation chaos currently reigning at top Premiership club Saracens, where seven members of the England squad are housed, including captain Owen Farrell. Instead, by a simple process of elimination, FRANCE are my selection to win the 2020 Six Nations Championship, and I have lumbered Les Bleus with my tenner at odds of 7/1.

Vive La France!
TV Coverage – All Games Shared by BBC and ITV

Saints cock-a-hoop

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Liam Beglan

BUT SYDNEY ALL SET TO RULE THE ROOST

Super League champions St Helen’s welcome NRL victors Sydney Roosters to their wonderfully named Totally Wicked Stadium for the 2020 World Club Challenge, the third time these two teams have met in the tournament, both previous games ending in triumph for the Aussies, 25-2 in the inaugural Challenge in 1976 and a bruising 38-0 pasting for the Saints in 2003. Reigning world champs Roosters, who boast a 100 percent record in the competition, will be attempting to do the double over Lancashire opposition, having walloped Wigan 20-8 in the Warriors’ own back yard at the DW Stadium last year.

Saints were awesome in Super League in 2019 going through the entire season without losing a single home game, summarily putting deadly foes Wigan Warriors to the sword in the semi-final before outclassing Salford Red Devils in the Grand Final. Now, current holders and unbeaten World Club representatives, the cocky Sydney Roosters come crowing, anxious to heap more humiliation on the best that Britain can offer – it’s an unpalatable fact and one that needs urgent redress that the Aussies have won six of the last seven WCC finals, despite all of the losses being played at gravy-slurping northern venues.

Stung by criticism from my friends up North that I never write about rugby league and that I’m obsessed solely with the union version practised south of Watford Gap, I respond immediately, ‘Rugby league, you mean the illegal variety of doubtful parentage played in Wigan, Widnes, Bradford and other such far flung arctic places? The Ringaringarosie type, the gimme the ball and chase me, catch me six times and I’ll give you the ball back and we’ll do it all over again, game? Are you unhinged, surely you are not confusing this girls’ game of tag with the noble pursuit of Rugby Union – Rugby, the public school that gave birth to the great game and Union, the athletic mix of chess-inspired strategy combined with violent but iron-disciplined hand-to-hand combat.

For pity’s sake man, just look at the respective scrums, Union – a colossal collision of such ferocity that on occasion reverberation registers on the Richter scale, two packs weighing a combined total approaching 2000kgs locking horns to go at each other, no quarter asked, not an inch conceded, deep craters gouged on the pitch, clouds of steam streaming skywards, no doubt contributing to global warming, while the powder-puff League version resembles more a Morris dance round-the-maypole routine, though possibly less energetic, than gladiators engaged in epic endeavour.

And as for handing over the ball to the opposition after six failed attempts to score… pardon? Possession is ten-tenths of the rugby union law, protect the ball at all costs, even if it means sticking it up your jersey and trundling over the line as sometimes happened in the good old decades pre-VAR days when I played, and referees tended to be a bit ancient and short-sighted!

Yes Wazza, Dazza, Andy and Martin, you’re right, I hold my hands up and admit to a slight preference for the union game, but this World Club Challenge is about much more than that, it’s about recapturing pride in your sport – Dame Edna Everage’s ‘Roos are making a habit of jetting over to the Pennines and kicking ass, with impunity it seems to me and it’s way past time the Northern boys called a halt to this ignominy. How to do it? Take a tip from this rugby union fan – once upon a time the Wallabies whipped the Home Nations sides, but no more, the worm has turned and after regular routs by the English, Welsh, Irish and even the Jocks, the wild colonial boys are often sent back to the Penal Isle, chastened, deflated and defeated.

So new coach Kristian Woolf, go the union route, banish the fear, loose the chains, unleash the dogs of war – Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Lomax are all capable of some overdue Rooster neck-wringing – it’s time to put the record straight! This is one dyed-in-the-wool rugby union fanatic who will be watching with interest!

World Club Challenge – St Helen’s vs Sydney Roosters (Sat 22nd Feb, KO 8.45pm CET)

TV Coverage – Sky Sports.

Catch up with Scott Houghton from Lynx F.C.

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Curtly Richards

This month we catch up with Scott Houghton, Head of Marketing & Social Media at Lynx F.C.

It’s safe to say that the 2019/20 season has been the most positive start to a season I have ever experienced since joining Lynx in 2016.

I first got involved in 2015, when I was messaging clubs in Gibraltar about buying football shirts, including Lynx. The guy on the Lynx fan page was so helpful and happy to sort me out, it was great to see that kind of fan engagement! It was this attention to detail and customer service that made me want to closely follow the Lynx Football Club. I later learned that it was Albert Parody and Jonathan Costa who I had been speaking to.

We kept in touch, and they could see my passion for football in Gibraltar, and in 2016, Jonathan asked me if I wanted to be more involved. How could I say no? Being located in the UK comes with its challenges, but its great that I can keep in regular contact with not only other members of the committee, but also the players. I receive on a regular basis photos and videos, which I later use across our social media platforms. It is great to be part of such a close-knit team who help one another.

I’m usually in Gibraltar in the summer for a holiday, but I will often try and find a cheap flight to come over and watch some Lynx games; not to mention some Gibraltar International matches as well. Believe it or not, I have never seen an England international match or been to Wembley, but have seen Gibraltar play many times.

It’s been a real highlight the last two years, being able to see the start of the domestic season before flying home. My two sons certainly enjoyed watching the games and every member of the team makes them feel welcome; be it posing for photos, or receiving a high-five as they walk out of the dressing room. This is what I love about the “yellows”.

On the social media side, our aim for 2020 is to further expand the brands’ identity and discover new challenges on a global stage as we make ourselves available on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @Lynxfcgib. It’s great to engage with people who may not necessarily be Lynx fans, but are neutrals. We have encountered those that are interested in collecting memorabilia from teams in different leagues across the world. We have sent shirts, scarves, pendants and badges to many different countries such as Russia, Japan, Poland, Bulgaria as well as the UK.

Whilst in the Netherlands for the UEFA Futsal Champions League Preliminary round, I took a big bag of pin badges with me, and didn’t come home with any. It was great to give them out as gifts to members of the host team who looked after us so well, and other teams from the preliminary group. The whole trip was a fantastic experience and I can’t thank Albert Parody enough for having me there. Once again, the futsal team are doing an amazing job, currently sitting at the top of the Premier Division unbeaten so if you’ve never watched futsal, I highly recommend going to Tercentenary Hall and catching a game. If you didn’t see last month’s issue of Gibraltar Insight, it’s well worth a read as Jonathan Costa spoke more in-depth about futsal.

The dream would be to represent Gibraltar in the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Europa League. We all understand it will be tough against the top 3 and their financial advantage from previous UEFA campaigns, but if we previously managed to finish 3rd in the Premier Division when there were only two slots for UEFA qualification and finished runners-up in the Rock Cup, you can never say never!

For further information, please contact the club on lynxfc@mail.com or 200 69695.

Summer Olympics & Euro 2020

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Liam Beglan

Headline Steller Sporting Year

A thrilling year in prospect as 2020 gets set to deliver a sumptuous feast of spectacular sport, dominated by the Summer Olympics from Tokyo, football’s Euro 2020 finals, cricket’s T20 World Cup, golf’s Ryder Cup and boxing’s search to discover who is the true heavyweight King of the Ring, while at local level Gibraltar, revelling in the Rock’s ever-increasing participation in world sport, hosts three international events. Let’s take a look at how this treasure-laden year may unfold.

Summer Olympics

The 2020 Summer Olympics scheduled to take place from 24th July to 9th August will be held in Tokyo, the second time the Land of the Rising Sun has hosted the Games, the first occasion being back in 1964. Fresh from staging Rugby Union’s World Cup, universally acclaimed as the most enjoyable and successful ever, despite the country being ravaged mid-tournament by Typhoon Hagibis, Japan has put up a staggering £3bn towards the cost of staging Tokyo 2020, the mammoth event that will see over 11,000 athletes from 206 nations competing in 33 sports, one of which is the newly introduced sport of skateboarding, its inclusion a stunt nothing short of sacrilege to a gnarled old traditionalist like myself.

Growing up, the Olympics generated the same excitement as football’s World Cup, legends such as Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Cassius Clay, Mark Spitz, the unforgettable duels between Seb Coe and Steve Ovett, Daley Thompson, later Michael Johnson and the phenomenon that was Usain Bolt, are all indelible treasured memories, but, alas, lately the love has waned, the magic has dissipated, state-sponsored cheating has tainted the Games, Russia has just been warned off for another four years but still the perception persists that the cheats continue to prosper.

To reclaim public affection, Tokyo 2020 needs a new hero or heroine, and, perhaps, in Dina Asher-Smith, the fastest British lady sprinter of all time, there may well be one in waiting. Dina, a charming, delightful, effervescent, unaffected girl from Orpington, could emerge as the Games saviour, and she is the main reason I will be watching the Games this summer.

Euro 2020 Finals

Spread over 12 host cities the Euro 2020 Finals take place from 12th June with the final scheduled for Wembley on 12th July. England qualified impressively for the finals and with all their group games being played at home, as well as the semi-finals and final, confidence is high that Gareth Southgate’s youthful side can finally annexe the European Nations title to display alongside the World Cup of 1966 – now a dim, distant memory of 54 years. England have been drawn with old foe Croatia and the Czech Republic with the tantalising prospect of Scotland joining the group should the Jocks win their play-off spot. England vs Scotland in the Euros, forget the disparity in world ranking between the sides, tribal warfare will once again roar to the fore and level the score, an army of kilted warriors descending on Wembley with the sound of bagpipes resonating around the stadium – yes, should it come to pass, this will be a clash to relish, a titan test for brave hearts not faint hearts. Wales under the guidance of Ryan Giggs have also qualified for the finals and will fancy their chances while either Northern Ireland or the Republic could yet join the tournament if successful in the playoffs.

Boxing

It’s way past time for the heavyweight division to sort itself out but, unfortunately, progress depends on the good will of boxing promoters, a species I rank alongside football agents and politicians, especially prime ministers and presidents of very recent vintage, as grubbing along in the relegation zone of the Integrity League, racing without control on the road to Hell. Time to stop hyping dubious overweight boxing bums and give the public what they want, a Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua eliminator, way past time to give Fury the respect shamefully denied him so far, it’s time for the King of the Gypsies to become King of the Ring.

Elsewhere in this special sports year…

In cricket England will attempt to add the T20 World Cup in Melbourne next October to last year’s One Day title, while golf will see the United States attempt to “ Make America Great Again” by avenging the humiliating defeat inflicted by Europe on Uncle Sam in the Ryder Cup in France last time. How sweet would it be to ram Trump’s moronic mantra down his throat by once again spanking the Yanks, this time in their own backyard.

The Gibraltar International Chess Festival, regarded as one of the best in the world, takes place from the 20th to 30th of this month, and the world’s top darts players, including Michael van Gerwen, are expected to take part in the Gibraltar Darts Trophy, 25th-27th September. The Gibraltar Snooker Open, scheduled for March 11-15th , will see Stuart Bingham return to defend his trophy, and now that the event is sponsored by BetVictor, will the extra prize money tempt Rocket Ronnie to turn up – after his outrageous “pigsty” comments last year, he’ll be guaranteed a hot Rock reception.

Sports diary 2020 – a look at this year’s spectacular sports schedule

Jan 1st: Darts PDC World Championship Final
Alexander Palace, London

Jan 4-12th: Darts BDO World Championship
Lakeside, Frimley Green

Jan 19-30th: Chess
Gibraltar International Chess Festival

Jan 20th-2nd Feb: Tennis
Australian Open – Melbourne

Feb 1st – Mar 14th
Rugby Union Six Nations Championship

Feb 2nd: NFL
Super Bowl Final – Miami, Florida

March 10-13th: Horse Racing
Cheltenham National Hunt Festival

March 11-15th: Snooker
Gibraltar Snooker Open, sponsored by BetVictor

March 15th: Motor Racing
Australian F1 Grand Prix

April 9-12th: Golf
US Masters Tournament – Augusta, Georgia

April 18th-4th May: Snooker
World Snooker Championship – The Crucible, Sheffield

May 10th: Motor Racing
Spanish F1 Grand Prix

May 23rd: Football
FA Cup Final

May 24th : Motor Racing
Monaco F1 Grand Prix

May 24th – June 7th: Tennis
French Open

May 27th: Football
Europa League Final – Gdansk, Poland

May 30th: Football
UEFA Champions League Final – Istanbul, Turkey

June 6th: Horse Racing
The Derby – Epsom

June 12th–12th July: Football
UEFA Euro 2020 Finals – hosted across 12 nations

June 16-20th: Horse Racing
Royal Ascot Festival

June 18-21st: Golf
US Open – New York

June 27th–19th July: CYCLING
Tour de France

June 29th-13th July: Tennis
Wimbledon Championships

July 16-19th: Golf
British Open – Sandwich, England

July 19th: Motor Racing
British F1 Grand Prix – Silverstone

July 24th-9th: August
2020 Summer Olympics, Tokyo

Aug 31st-13th Sept: Tennis
US Open – New York

Sept 25-27th: Golf
The Ryder Cup – Haven, Wisconsin

Sept 25-27th: Darts
Gibraltar Darts Trophy – Tercentenary Hall

Oct 18th-15th Nov: Cricket
ICC T20 World Cup – Australia

The Saccone & Speed Trophy

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Curtly Richards

The third event of the 2019-20 Med Golf season for the Saccone & Speed Trophy was held at the Rio Real Golf course in Marbella.

The course had recovered well from the heavy rain 2 days prior to the event and there were very few wet patches. However, buggies were not allowed onto the fairways so players found themselves on the course for longer than normal and with much more exercise than they had planned for. Nevertheless, the weather held out and all went well on the day.

Steve Munns was Champion of the day, winner of the Saccone & Speed Trophy, a £150 voucher redeemable at Cohen and Massias, jewellers and agents for Tag Heuer, and a coveted Winner’s shirt that qualifies him for the Med Golf Masters at San Roque Club in July. Steve scored a very fine 37 points off handicap 11, six points clear of his nearest rival.

Steve also won the best pair alongside Damian White with a combined score of 66 points.

The best gross score of 78 was posted by Matthew Bruce-Smith, handicap 0. Matthew was also the Category 1 winner with 31 points beating Louis Calvente (12.6) and Joe Sanchez (12.8) – also with 31 points – on handicap.

The best senior with a score of 32 points was Peter Yeoman. Peter was also the Category 3 winner as recorded below.

Richard Atkinson had the longest drive and the best gross on the Par 3s was level par scored by Mike Cowburn. Les Housley won the best dressed golfer – best in show!

Our handicap category prizes were won as follows:

Category 1 (handicaps 0 to 13): The winner was Matthew Bruce-Smith who won entry into the Med Golf Masters and the coveted Med Golf Masters shirt as well as a set of balls and tees.

Category 2 (handicaps 14 to 21): In spite of a series of handicap cuts earned for previous good scores, especially as the Champion of the day at the last event, David Murphy won Category 2 with 31 points. As he was already qualified for the Med Golf Masters, David won a set of golf balls and tees and a 40€ Med Golf voucher.

Category 3 (handicap 22 to 30): The winner was Peter Yeoman with a score of 32 points. Peter qualifies for the Masters and wins the coveted Masters Shirt as well as the golf ball and tee pack.

Nearest the pin winners were: Matthew Robinson, Louis Calvente, Matthew Warner and Mike Cowburn. Nearest to the pin in 2 on a par 4 was Andrew Brown and Chris Warren was nearest to the pin in 3 on a par 5.

The prizes were presented by Med Golf’s Judith Benezrah.

Guests are made very welcome at all events and are encouraged to join us and enjoy a great day out. While they are not eligible to win the trophy or category prizes, they can win the many mini-competition prizes and even a best guest prize if warranted by numbers.

Look back to learn, look forward to succeed

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Curtly Richards

So what have we learned as we look back on a busy 2019 for the Lynx footballing family?

Senior Team. The last half of the 2018/2019 season saw steady performances from the Senior squad, but as part of our Strategic Development Plan, we did recognise that elements of our game and our approach would benefit from some improvement in the forthcoming season. A busy pre-season during the summer saw Lynx retain a robust core of players from the previous Senior and Intermediate teams, allowing some strategic transfers to be targeted with specific new players brought in to compliment an already structured group. Pre-season activity continued at pace with a number of successful games.

This approach has provided a very strong foundation during the first half of the 2019/2020 season, and after 9 matches played, the Senior team sit in fourth place with a game-in-hand in the Gibraltar National League, very closely behind those in third. Unbeaten in 8 out of 9 matches, we look forward to continuing to build for a stronger future. This level of performance has also been recognised by the Gibraltar National team, with three Senior Lynx players chosen as part of the National squad for this season.

Futsal Premier Team. Our Futsal team has also continued to develop from another amazing season in the Premier League, having qualified for the UEFA Champions League Futsal Competition for the fifth year in a row, a record achievement for Gibraltar football. The Preliminary Round held in the Netherlands provided an opportunity for all squad members to compete with professional players at very high footballing levels.

The team is currently first in the Premier League and remains unbeaten in this year’s domestic season. We look forward to an exciting second half to the season as we daw towards next year’s UEFA Champions League.

Intermediate Team. The Intermediate squad have had an amazing season so far and currently sit in joint first-place after 9 matches played. A committed and focused group of players, pushing for penetration into the Senior squad provides us with healthy competition within the Club.

Youth Academy. Our Lynx Youth Academy continues to offer many opportunities for both boys and girls of all ages within the community; for those who wish to progress through their footballing development and for those that simply want to have fun with friends. We are so proud of all our Grassroots players, who show commitment and dedication week in and week out.

They are the building blocks of our Club and already showing signs of future Senior players, competing at the highest of levels.

The Youth Academy also had a busy summer, starting with a Lynx fun day at the Victoria Stadium, and then several pre-season matches. We are pleased to have representation at many youth levels, including U5; U6; U7; U8; U10 and U12.

Our Youth ethos is very simple – play with enjoyment; respect and empathy. “The future isn’t something that we enter, the future is something that we create together”.

For further information, please contact the club on lynxfc@mail.com or 200 69695.

Lynx FC captain, Mohamed Badr. We started by asking him, what made him tick…

4 years ago in Sport Insight by Curtly Richards

This month, the spotlight turns to Lynx FC captain, Mohamed Badr. His stats are impressive, having played 91% of first team games for Lynx, and this year achieved the milestone of making it to the Gibraltar international team, appearing in the matches against Kosovo and Georgia.

“Football is my passion and I haven’t stopped playing since I was 6 years old. I played in Egypt until I was about 21 years old. Playing in Egypt is different to Gibraltar. It’s a different kind of football in my opinion. Many Egyptian players still think of football as a pastime, unlike European players, who live and breathe football and change their whole life to adapt to their jobs as professional players. Egypt has many great talents, but that on its own is not enough. Mindset is an important part of a player’s career. I learned a lot from Egypt, but in Gibraltar I became more mature and professional. I really like Gibraltar, and am at my most comfortable here.

Six years ago my agent offered me the opportunity to play in Gibraltar or the Maldives and I chose Gibraltar. I have been at Lynx F.C. all of this time. It was great to become captain of my team and I really feel happy here. Albert Parody (owner, chairman and manager of Lynx F.C.) treats me very well and I look forward to the team’s continued success.

I love life in Gibraltar and having lived in different countries, I can tell you Gibraltar is an amazing country to live in. The peace, the education, the people. There is no racism. Everything is good here to have a good life.

In order to get to where you want to be, you will always meet some struggles and these only makes you stronger. Receiving my Gibraltar citizenship was a wonderful moment. Then the same week, I got selected for the Gibraltar national team which was the best news I received in my life. To be in the starting XI in my first game was a crazy feeling, I don’t know how to describe it. Unbelievable. Being in the stadium singing the national anthem was very emotional. I feel like it was the reward for all the hard work and sacrifice in my life. I am excited for the future with the squad and developing and getting better all of the time. Gibraltar is my country.”

Euro 2020 opens up friendly new frontiers for Gibraltar

4 years ago in Features/Sport Insight by Liam Beglan

QUALIFICATION for the finals of Euro 2020 was always going to be an impossible dream for Gibraltar, the early promise displayed in narrow defeats home and away in the opening fixtures to the Republic of Ireland failed to come to fruition and bruising defeats from group heavyweights Denmark and Switzerland followed, with Georgia piling on the punishment twice, firstly with a 3-0 win in Tbilisi, followed by a much improved performance from Julio’s boys in losing a thriller by the odd goal in five against the Georgians at a frenzied Victoria Stadium last month. That magnificent second-half recovery saw Gibraltar roar back from a two-goal halftime deficit to parity, with goals from evergreen stalwarts Lee Casciaro and Roy Chipolina – the stadium was rocking, Georgia was rocking, victory was within grasp, surely at least the first group point or, savour it, finally the first glorious victory was about to come to pass, the dream was becoming a reality, and then…. disaster, against the run of play the visitors scored, the dream was crushed and cold cruel reality was restored. Joe Chipolina’s heroic Lions of the Rock deserved better.

Played 6, lost 6, goals for 2, goals conceded 19 is the stark summary of Gibraltar’s campaign so far, unfortunately those figures can be expected to significantly worsen, as the Rock’s last two games are away to Denmark and at home to Switzerland three days later, two countries engaged in a fierce three-way battle with Ireland for the coveted two tickets to travel to the Euro 2020 finals. Goal difference could be crucial in deciding which nations prevail, so it will be time to don tin hats and strategy will, of necessity, consist of mass defence, with much demanded of ‘keeper Kyle Goldwin, ideally ensconced on the goal line inside a big red No.5 double-decker bus!

So, it is with a certain amount of trepidation we look forward to Group D’s final two games, but however welcome world headline-grabbing events like last year’s sensational double over Liechtenstein and Armenia, Gibraltar’s increasing role in international sport means far more than success on the playing field. Entry to UEFA and FIFA competitions, so long denied by a big bully neighbour, has opened up a magical wonderland of travel to and from exotic, exciting places. Gibraltar is a picture postcard destination, I doubt there is a single person on the planet who isn’t familiar with the iconic outline of The Rock, that ghostly form, like a great grey ship that has run aground, an image better known universally than any of the seven wonders of the world, a sun-kissed Shangri La, just waiting to be explored.

This year Euro 2020 qualification ties have seen fun-filled visits by football fans from Ireland, Denmark and Georgia, the Irish clash last spring especially will live long in the memory – the sight of hundreds of red and green clad rival footy fans, drinking, dancing and singing together in uninhibited harmony at a bemused Ocean Heights still evoke a warm glow in these dark days for sport, when populism, racism and xenophobia seem to be reappearing in less enlightened lands. Not a single incident, not a single discordant note, and the fun was repeated in the Europa League when Stevie Gerrard’s mighty Glasgow Rangers flew in to meet and beat St Joseph’s, no howls of protest from visiting Gers fans even when republican songs so rapturously received for the Ireland game were innocently replayed to the perplexed and very non-receptive unionist contingent. Understandable it was that local Sports Arena staff could scarcely be expected to immediately grasp the intricacies of centuries of tribal conflict and ritual, but it all ended well, no blood was spilled, the hand of friendship rather than the fist of fury triumphed.

The looming spectre of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit threatens roadblocks to current ease of travel throughout Europe and, according to the excellent government booklet worst case scenario on the vexatious issue, would see delays of up to eight hours at the frontier, new visa requirements, replacement passports and driving licences, new medical insurance required as the existing EHIC medical card would no longer be valid. Quite why anyone would consider that nightmare prospect preferable to the current seamless travel arrangements is a bit of a puzzler, and I have yet to speak to a Gibraltarian who disagrees with me. However, it is a different story among the UK expat community, some of whom vociferously champion a no-deal exit, citing the usual piffle about sovereignty and taking back control etc, etc… Name me one positive outcome, I challenge, and back came a rather hesitant response – ‘the return of full duty-free at airports’. Pardon…? Have you forgotten that we all live in Gibraltar, the Land of the Duty Free? Bizarre!

Next up on the Euro itinerary is a visit to Copenhagen for the return fixture against Denmark, long regarded as one of the happiest places on Earth to live, free medical care, free education, very generous maternity and paternity leave, fantastic social care benefits, all of which the Danes are happy to pay for with taxation rates of up to an eye-watering 60 percent. There is, however, one problem that is causing their government some angst, to the extent an initiative has been announced called “Do It For Denmark”… it’s the nation’s low birth rate! Yes, it appears that the Vikings, the scourge of the Atlantic island communities for centuries, raping and pillaging, wanton behaviour that gave rise to the cry on those stricken islands of ‘Lock up your daughters, lock up your wives, the Vikings are coming’, are now firing blanks or not firing at all in the bedroom! Odin and Thor must be spinning in their graves.

Three days later Gibraltar conclude the campaign when Switzerland, another of Europe’s top sides are welcomed to Victoria Stadium – don’t be late, the cuckoo-clock men know a thing or two about timekeeping!

Sport - page 8

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