Youth Olympics
Local champion 800m runner Keely Small has won gold at the World Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Small, who is also Australian Flag Bearer at the games, won both her stages. She clocked 2:05.68 in her first race, and 2:04.76 in the second, for a total time of 4:10.44 which was almost three seconds faster than the next competitor.
Small said she was ecstatic with the result. “It’s an awesome feeling getting gold today,” she said.
“The race didn’t play out as I expected; the first lap was a lot slower but I was happy when I got to sit out the front and got to slow it down – as that’s the way I like to race it.”
Cameron Hill
The Canberra Porsche driver scored his maiden Porsche Carrera Cup podium finish at the biggest event of the year, finishing third overall in Round 6 of the series at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
The 21-year-old finished fourth in all three races, earning enough points to take home a top-three result from the season’s most prestigious race meeting.
Hill was, as expected, delighted with the result.
“To be able to keep up with the front-runners was very satisfying, and to score my first Porsche podium in my rookie season is just an amazing feeling,” he said.
Rowing
Olympic gold medallist Kim Brennan AM has been announced as Rowing ACT’s new patron.
Brennan won Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games, winning the women’s single sculls and being given the honour of carrying the Australian flag at the closing ceremony.
Brennan first moved to Canberra over 10 years ago and said she was honored to take on the role.
“This is a very special offer from Rowing ACT and one that I’m very happy to take up,” she said.
Canberra United
The local W-League franchise has announced the signing of Scotland international captain Rachel Corsie for the upcoming 2018-19 season in a coup for the side.
The uncompromising defender will take on the reigns of captaincy at her new side when their season kicks off later this month.
“This is a league I have wanted to play in for a long time and I am extremely happy to be coming to Canberra to experience it,” Corsie said.
National Rugby Championship
The Canberra Vikings have booked a finals showdown with Fiji Drua after beating Brisbane 13-10 away on Sunday 14 October.
The match was played in as treacherous conditions as you’ll see for rugby, with heavy rain bucketing down throughout the physically intense clash that was understandably riddled with handling errors.
Canberra played expansive football from the off and, 10 minutes into the game, the Vikings opened their account in stunning fashion.
A beautiful inside ball from Jordan Jackson-Hope put Tom Banks into space, who popped off a pass to Len Ikitau who had the easy task of trotting over and sliding into a large puddle formed in the Brisbane goal-line.
The Vikings held their slim 13-10 lead late in the match when prop Tom Ross was sin-binned. The side lifted with a big defensive effort to hold out for a famous win.
Brumbies
The Canberra Super Rugby team has announced the signing of young prop Vunipola Fifita for the 2019 season to complete their 39-man roster.
The dynamic front-rower earned the opportunity as a result of his stellar NRC campaign with the Canberra Vikings.
Junior Cricket
The 2018 Canberra Southern Cross Club Kookaburra Cup took place earlier this month, with the largest turnout seen in its 13-year history.
This year’s Twenty20 tournament attracted a 45% increase in team registrations compared to last year with 74 teams taking part, resulting in more than 750 participants playing more than 250 games of cricket across the three-days.
Field Hockey
There were mixed results at Lyneham Hockey Centre on Sunday 14 October as the Canberra Lakers thumped the Queensland Blades 5-2 in their men’s AHL match.
The women were less successful, as the Canberra Strikers lost to the Queensland Scorchers 5-1.
Correction
Last week’s My Favourite Things profile featuring Olympic champion swimmer Felicity Lemke (CW 11 October 2018, p194) incorrectly stated that she competed at her first Olympics in Sydney. Felicity trialled for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, but did not qualify to compete at the Games.
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