Canberra Pictorial

AIS led the scoreboard during Q1, Q2, Q3, and the first 8 minutes of Q4, but it isn’t enough to secure a win against Sydney Univ Flames at the AIS Training Hall. Afeaki, Poto, and Pluimer posted a combined 55 pointed for Sydney Univ Flames (images) to take down AIS in the final minutes of the match with 62-59, yet another 3-point nail-biter, Déjà vu?!

Sydney Uni Flames 62 (Eva Afeaki 23, Alicia Poto 18, Lindsey Pluimer 14) def
AIS 59 (Rachel Jarry 13, Stephanie Cumming 11, Kate Gaze 8, Bree Farley 8 )

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November 25 is declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. White Ribbon has thus become the symbol for the day.

Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) organises White Ribbon Day events for the 2nd years. FECCA offers a different perspective to the White Ribbon Day message because it is the umbrella body for all Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Women from CALD communities due to language barriers do not seek as much assistance as they need to when it comes to almost all obstacles. Hence why FECCA needs to come in to raise awareness not to condone violence against women and children to the CALD communities.

Politicians attending the FECCA White Ribbon Day events are Parliament Secretary to Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Laurie Ferguson MP, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Andrew Metcalfe, Steve Doszpot MLA (Canberra Liberals), Shane Rattenbury MLA and Amanda Bresnan (ACT Greens).

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Adelaide Lighting went in the game with a flying start. Cayla Francis, Angela Marino and Rebecca Duke contributed to a massive lead for the Adelaide side in the 1st Quarter. But it was not all that smooth for the visitor. AIS geared up the defensive form in 2nd Quarter with Cambage coming on court to make impact in the paint both offensively and defensively, AIS took a few minutes of lead just before half-time.

AIS Head Coach Dean Kinsman (Images) rotates AIS key players in and out in the 3rd in an attempt to contain damages by Adelaide’s Jessica Foley and Angela Marino. Score were held at around 10-points to Adelaide through out 3rd Quarter. AIS were unable to continue the level of play seen in 2rd Quarter, allowing the visitor to cruise through with a 23-9 in final quarter. Final score 73-49 Adelaide.

Adelaide Lightning 73 (Jess Foley 19, Angela Marino 15, Cayla Francis 13) def
AIS 49 (Elizabeth Cambage 14, Stephanie Cumming 7, Rachel Jarry 6, Caitlin Rowe 6)

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First match after the 2-week shoulder injury, Jessica Bibby smashed the Dandenong defense line into pieces with 12 points in the 1st Quarter at tonight’s 2007/2008 semi-final rematch with Dandenong Rangers the AIS Arena. Canberra fought hard against the young Dandenong side in the 2nd half with a 72-53 victory in front of the home crowd. The fifth consecutive win placed Canberra TransACT Capitals on top of the overall WNBL ladder.

Jessica Bibby top scored the game with 24, where Tracey Beatty chipped in 11 and Abby Bishop continued her great form with another double-double.

Canberra Capitals 72 (Jessica Bibby 24, Tracey Beatty 11, Abby Bishop 10) def.
Dandenong Rangers 53 (Jennifer Benningfield 12, Caitlin Cunningham 11, Caitlin Ryan 8 )

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Canberra Schoolgirl and ACT Academy of Sports athlete Melissa Breen (Image) rocked a 100m sprint in 11.33 seconds at a local Canberra club race, making her the fastest women in the sport this year, ahead of Olympic 100m Hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan. Breen’s time of 11.33 seconds qualifies her for the World Championships in Berlin next year.

At the age of 18, Melissa Breen ranks 10th fastest Australian women of all time. However with ACT Academy of Sports scholarship finishes by this year-end, Breen will look for more support to continue her endeavor to stand strong on the world stage. At the meantime, Breen will focus on her HSC exam and complete in the Pacific School Games in Canberra in December.

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ACT Academy of Sports has got a strong Men and Women hockey squad. Many of the ACTAS Hockey players were in the Canberra representative teams of Canberra Strikers (Women) and Canberra Lakers (Men). Today’s photo shoot involved three of ACTAS Hockey players: Jason Donohoe, Anna Flanagan, and Daniel Hotchkis.

Jason Donohoe has been named in the National Junior Squads, to be competing at the Junior World Cup Qualifer in December (11-14th) and at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in January 2009. Anna Flanagan is also selected to play in the Junior World Cup Qualifier event in Brisbane from the 5-15th December and will take part in the Australian Youth Fesitval Olympic happening in January of next year.

Daniel Hotchkis, the midfielder of ACTAS Hockey Squad, won Silver Medal at Junior World Cup in Rotterdam in 2005 in the U21 Australian Team and then advanced to the Australian Institute of Sports squad as well as the Australian Development Squad in 2006.

One thing I like to mention is Dan’s message to young players “Dare to dream…Dare to believe…Dare to succeed”.

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This has been a sensational season for Canberra Capitals point guard Natalie Hurst in 2008/2009 Australian Defence Force Women’s National Basketball League. A season best performance on the evening against Bulleen Boomers proved her worthy of this honour. 25 points, 4 steals, 4 assists, 10-12 on field-goals and 60% on 3-pointers. Nat Hurst has been Canberra Capitals’ back-up point guard and she stepped up to the game to win over the starting point guard position for the Canberra Capitals, after Tully Bevilaqua’s retirement in the 2007/08 season.

Nat Hurst has been with the Canberra Capitals since her debut season in 1999/2000 season and has since won five WNBL Championship with the Capitals. Her best advice to us is “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.”

Nat Hurst’s performance in this season of WNBL:

Nominees for Round 5 Nivea Player of the Week were Cayla Francis (Adelaide Lightning), Bree Farley (AIS), Gabrielle Richards (Bendigo), Elyse Penaluna and Shelley Hammonds (Bulleen Boomers), Abby Bishop and Michelle Musselwhite (Canberra Capitals), Jennifer Benningfield (Dandenong), Biancia Abbott (Logan Thunder), Rebecca Mercer (Perth Lynx).

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