Ontario Team contingent ( representing Canada) at the Glasgow City Hall reception for the Commonwealt Youth Championships participants.
News Page
Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association 8/9/06
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Ontario Team contingent ( representing Canada) at the Glasgow City Hall reception for the Commonwealt Youth Championships participants. |
The inagural Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships was recently held in Scotland for male and female wrestlers ( 16-18 years of age) on July 15 -16, 2006 at the famous Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena in the city of Glasgow. Teams that competed were from Canada, England, Malta, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. The Commonwealth Youth Wrestling event was sanctioned by FILA (world wrestling governing body) , Commonwealth Games Federation and the Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association.
A number of representatives of the International and National sports governing bodies were present at the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships. Representing FILA was FILA delegate, Mr. John Dawson of Canada, representing Commonwealth Games Federation was it's Secretary - Ms. Louise Martin. Representing the Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association was Josip Mrkoci - Chairman, of the Executive Committee and Mr. Sandy McNeil - member of the Executive Committee & a member of British Amateur Wrestling Association. Representing British Wrestling Association was it's president Mr. Malcom Morley and representing Scottish Wrestling Association was Mr. Michael Cavanagh.
The Scottish Wrestling Association hosting this event chose Kelvin Hall Sports Arena for this competition as it is the premier location for sporting events in Glasgow. Kelvin Hall is located right across from the equally famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and is walking distance to Glasgow University. In addition to the Scottish Wrestling Association and the Organizing Committee, the Commonwealth Youth Wrestling event's major supporters were Glasgow city Council (Candidate city for 2014 Commonwealth Games) and The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland.
It was unfortunate that the British High Commission did not issue Visas to a number of African teams which would have had 11 nations competing at the the inagural Commonwealth Youth Championships. Nigeria, with a strong tradition in wrestling (national sport) and a highly competative wrestling team (female - African champions) within the Commonwealth was also refused visas for the Commonwealth competition. India, a Commonwealth power in Wrestling did not show, although they did send an e-mail to the Organizing Committee stating that they would take part.
The Wrestling competition for the team trophy was a contest between the two top teams, a team from South Africa and a team from Canada ( majority from Ontario). In the hunt for the girls Commonwealth Youth Wrestling team trophy, the Canadian team won the Team title with 5 - GOLD and 4 - Silver medals. South African girls placed second with 4 - GOLD and 2 - Silver medals. The home team, Scotland placed third with 1 - Bronze medal at 52kg ( Vicky Kirk ).
The Canadian Gold medalists were - 46kg. - Jade Parsons (Ont.), 49kg. - Tessa Gallinger (Ont.), 52kg. - Diana Ford (Ont.), 60kg. - Heide Erdle (N.B.) and 70kg. - Emmalee English (Ont.). Of the Ontario girls team, the dominant competitor was Jade Parsons. She also won a gold medal at the second wrestling competition, the Scottish International Tournament called " Braveheart Youth Wrestling Championships" on July 21 at the Univeristy of Strathclyde Sports Center in Glasgow.
best female wrestler of the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Championships, South African wrestler - ZUMICKE GERINGEL ( 56kg) with Bailie - Margaret McCafferty JP - member of Glasgow City Council |
The South African girls Gold medalists were - 40kg. - Bramilda Leeaw, 43kg. - Michelle Hoogkgk, 56kg. - Zumicke Geringel, 65kg. - Desire Smith. Among the South African girls team two athletes showed exceptional wrestling tactics and technique, Zumicke Geringel (56kg) and Desire Smith (65kg). Both of these wrestlers also won their weight at the " Bravehert Youth Wrestling Championships" on July 21.
The majority of the Canadian wrestling team members were from the province of Ontario. Also a number of wrestlers competing for Canada were from the province of New Brunswick. Heide Erdle (60gk) of New Brunswick also won both competitions and had an outstanding performance. Although, the Canadian girls won the the Team title, the title for the best female wrestler of the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Championships went to South African wrestler - ZUMICKE GERINGEL ( 56kg).
In the men's Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships, the South African team dominated the competition. Without a doubt it was a great surprise to the Canadian and other Commonwealth teams that the South African wrestlers won 8 out of 10 weight classes and the Team title.
Canada placed second as a team and England placed third. Canada's sole gold medalist was Vince Cormier (N.B.) at 58kg. The other gold medal was won by England's 100kg wrestler - Buster Clayden. Vince Cormier was one of the outstanding wrestlers at the Commonwealth Championships and he also won the Braveheart Youth Tournament. For his open and total wrestling style in each match, VINCE CORMIER (58kg) was selected as the best male wrestler of the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships.
Louise Martin, the President of The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland & Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation was present at the Commonwealth Youth wrestling finals and gave out the medals to the winners.
Following the Commonwealth Youth Championships a Commonwealth wrestling training camp was held from July 17-20 with clinician - GIA SISSAOURI , 2001 World Champion and Pan-Am Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist. The wrestling camp was attended by all of the Commonwealth wrestling teams as a preparation for the " Braveheart Youth Wrestling Championships" on July 21-22.
The city of Glasgow played host to all of the wrestlers, coaches, officials, team leaders and organizing committee at a formal banquet held at the Glasgow City Hall. Bailie - Margaret McCafferty, JP was the host representing the Glasgow City Council. The interior of the city hall is completely made out of marlbe, and it is one the grandest buildings in Glasgow. On the occassion of the formal banquet by the city of Glasgow the Commonwealth team trophies were given and the best wrestler awards for male and female categories were announced.
The first Commonwealth Youth Championships did not have as many teams as expected , but what it lacked in numbers it made up in quality of wrestling on the mat. Many officials were suprised how good the South African wrestling team was. It is believed that at this age bracket the wrestling teams from the Commonwealth are more competitive.
The next Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships in two years will indeed be interesting to watch with the added participation of India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Will South Africa and Canada be able to defend their Team titles ?
Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association - WEB SITE .....
http://groups.msn.com/CommonwealthWrestling
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Rivers wrestlers arrive Abakaliki for Egwu Open
• Friday, Aug 11, 2006
Rivers State Wrestling contingent is among wrestlers participating in the second Edition of the on-going Dr. Sam O. Egwu National Open Wrestling Championship in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The state wrestling Coach, Ezekiel Ordu, disclosed this to The Tidesports, Tueday, during a chat at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt.
According to him, the wrestlers left for the tournament, Tuesday, as to catch-up with the opening ceremony which was held on Wednesday,. The open championship will last till 15th August, this year.
The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Dr. Sam. O. Egwu, is the chief host of the programme.
While, Chief Austin Edeze, president of Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation and Mr. Yemi Usikaye, secretary-general, Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation, are special guests of honour.
Venue of the Championship is the Women Development Centre, Abakiliki, from 9.00 am through 6 pm daily.
The championship is open for male and female wreslters.
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Police recruits realize dreams
Couple sworn-in as officers at ceremony
Janani Gopal, The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, August 11, 2006
When Viola Akin stood along with her colleagues in their black and red-striped uniforms and hats, it hit her -- she had fi nally achieved her long-held dream of becoming a police offi cer.
At that moment, she thought to herself, "Wow.
We did it." On Thursday afternoon, Akin, 24, and her husband, Const. Tolga Yanik, 33, were both sworn-in as offi cers in the Saskatoon Police Service in a ceremony at the HMCS Unicorn.
For many people, being separated from family is diffi cult during the rigorous four months of training at the Saskatchewan police college, said Akin.
"We're very fortunate," she said, glancing at her husband. "We don't have to be so far away from each other." Akin said she has always been an active, restless person. As an athlete, she even travelled to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, placing fi fth in female wrestling.
Her parents felt their athletic daughter needed something more than a desk job to keep her occupied.
When she was 16, they urged her to go on a police ride-along, believing policing would be a good fi t for her.
They were right.
"Since that day, I decided this was the job for me," said Akin.
After Akin and her husband fi nished their studies at the University of Saskatchewan, they decided to enter the highly competitive fi eld of applicants to the Saskatoon Police Service.
"It really makes you feel good about yourself if you're the winner at the end of the competition," Yanik said, smiling. Now, he is looking forward to serving the city that welcomed him to Canada from his home country of Turkey.
Akin's father, Hikmet, was feeling proud of his daughter, whom he thought looked fashionable in her new uniform.
"She always wanted to become a police offi cer since she was a little girl and she made it," he said.
He may always worry about his daughter, but he said she can handle any critical situations that may come her way.
Hikmet Akin joined the crush of other family and friends, who were beaming and snapping pictures of the 30 sworn-in offi cers after the ceremony.
Among the people being congratulated was the force's only female First Nations offi cer.
Const. Kerishia Bird, 25, has had a life-long wish to be a police offi cer, and said she never doubted she would achieve her goal. To get there, she became involved in the legal system, volunteering as an assistant court worker and taking a police preparation course. She also worked out fi ve days a week, training hard to meet the service's physical requirements and fi tness tests.
About two years ago, she applied to the police service. Going through the application process while raising a son was not diffi cult with her family's support, she said.
"I have good parents," she said.
But in the midst of her excitement about entering training, Bird feels a little nervous about being apart from her son.
"I don't want to leave him for four months for the training," she said.
Still, she knows why she's leaving and what she's working towards. As a police offi cer, Bird wants to serve the community and be a model to all Native people, particularly Native girls.
"They'll know they can achieve all their dreams also," she said.
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Junior Women: 102 pound champion Nicole Woody (Maryland) Intermat wrestling WMV
Junior Women: 110 pound champion Caitlyn Chase (Illinois) Intermat wrestlingWMV
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TheMat.com International Wrestling Rankings released for August 2006
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
08/10/2006
TheMat.com has published its International Wrestling Rankings for the month of August 2006. These is the only international rankings published anywhere in the world which rates athletes and teams in the three Olympic wrestling styles: men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle wrestling.
TheMat.com International Wrestling Rankings list the top 15 wrestlers in the world in each weight class, as well as the top 15 nations in each of the wrestling styles.
A panel of five international wrestling journalists created the rankings.
These will be the final TheMat.com International Wrestling Rankings published prior to the World Wrestling Championships in Guangzhou, China, Sept. 26-Oct. 1.
The top teams in TheMat.com International Wrestling Rankings for August 2006 are:
• Men’s Freestyle – Russia
• Men’s Greco-Roman – Russia
• Women’s Freestyle – Japan
There were no changes in the No. 1 ranked wrestlers in the new rankings. There were numerous changes in the rest of the rankings, as many international championships have been held since the last ranking, including the FILA Golden Grand Prix finals held in Azerbaijan.
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg – Dilshod Mansurov (Uzbekistan); 60 kg – Mavlet Batirov (Russia); 66 kg – Makhach Murtazaliev (Russia); 74 kg – Bouvaisa Saitiev (Russia); 84 kg – Adam Saitiev (Russia); 96 kg – Khadjimurat Gatsalov (Russia); 120 kg – Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan)
Men’s Greco-Roman
55 kg – Armen Amoyan (Armenia); 60 kg – Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria); 66 kg –Alan Milan (Cuba); 74 kg – Varteras Samourgachev (Russia); 84 kg –Artur Michalkiewicz; 96 kg – Hamza Yerlikaya (Turkey); 120 kg – Mijial Lopez (Cuba)
Women’s Freestyle
48 kg – Xueveng Ren (China); 51 kg – Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan); 55 kg – Saori Yoshida (Japan); 59 kg – Ayako Shoda (Japan); 63 kg – Kaori Icho (Japan); 67 kg – Meng Lili (China); 72 kg – Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan)
Rankings will be published during the following months this season
• December 2005
• February 2006
• April 2006
• June 2006
• August 2006
In order to provide accurate and timely rankings, as well as to stimulate interest and fan support of international wrestling, TheMat.com asks all wrestling journalists and fans to submit results from international competitions across the world. These results will be posted immediately in the International results section on TheMat.com.
Please send any and all international wrestling tournament results to Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at gabbott@usawrestling.org
TheMat.com International Women’s Rankings – August 2006