Tasmanian hockey stars drive Kookaburras to semis
Tasmanians have once again steered the Kookaburras to victory at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. DAY SEVEN WRAP >>
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TASMANIA’S Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz have once again steered the Kookaburras to victory at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The unbeaten Kookaburras continued their strong run of form with a 7-0 defeat of Pakistan to finish the group stage of the tournament as the undeniable favorites for gold.
The Kookaburras will now face England in the semi-final on Saturday while India and South Africa will play in the second semi-final clash.
With the Kookaburras claiming gold at every Commonwealth Games since hockey was introduced in 1998, another gold medal looks set to be added to what’s been one of Australia’s most successful Games.
The gold medal match is scheduled for Monday.
Despite her fifth-place finish, Hobart diver Emily Meaney says being able to compete for her country at the Commonwealth Games was a dream come true.
In her maiden Games, the 25-year-old survived a high-pressure final dive in qualification to reach the 10m individual platform final where she rose to the occasion, recording her best dives to finish as the highest of three Aussies in front of a packed crowd at Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
“I think if you’d told a nine-year-old Em that I was competing in a Commonwealth Games I wouldn’t have believed you,” Meaney said.
“It’s been a massive goal of mine since I was really young so to be here is awesome.”
Meaney began her diving career in Tasmania before moving to Brisbane at age 12 following the state’s diving program being shut down.
“I was about seven or eight when I picked it up at the local aquatic centre and was hooked from then,” Meaney said.
“I was put in the elite program when I was about 10 and when I was 12 unfortunately due to low numbers in Tassie the diving program was shut down.”
After getting a taste of her first Commonwealth Games, the former Fahan School student has her eyes now firmly set on the Olympics.
“I would love to go to Paris in 2024. I have not been to an Olympics so that would be my goal,” Meaney said.
Launceston’s Rebecca Van Asch has had her Birmingham medal hopes shattered with the women’s triples lawn bowls team eliminated in the quarter-final while Georgia Baker has also missed out on the opportunity at another gold, with the cyclist finishing fourth in the women’s road time trial.
The 27-year-old has produced a stellar campaign in Birmingham, winning gold in the team pursuit and the points race but couldn’t make ground on the competition after clocking in as the seventh fastest rider at the race’s first time check.
Friday will see our remaining Tasmanian athletes take a well-earned rest day before Jack Hale and Jacob Despard (4x100m heats), Nicola Carey (T20 semi-finals) and Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz (hockey semi-finals) compete on Saturday.
Launceston’s finest on show at day six of Comm Games - Day Seven
TASMANIA’S golden girl of the pool has done it again, with Launceston’s Ariarne Titmus finishing her Commonwealth Games campaign with a gold medal in the 400m freestyle in Birmingham.
The win sees Titmus become the first female swimmer in 70-years to complete the 200m, 400m and 800m treble at a Commonwealth Games.
Along with her individual golds, Titmus was also a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay that won gold – taking her Commonwealth Games medal tally to four in Birmingham.
“I came here with the goal to win all four,” Titmus said.
“I believed that I had the capacity to do that and I’m happy I did that. I definitely got pushed more than I did on the Gold Coast in 2018 but that’s great, it means the sport’s moving and that keeps me motivated and on my toes.”
Birmingham has been nothing but a success story for Titmus, with the 21-year-old claiming the 800m freestyle Games record with her win while also improving her own 400m freestyle Games record – 3:58.06.
With her events now completed, Titmus reflected on her time in Birmingham with nothing but positivity.
“This has been great, the whole village experience and being with the broader Australian team,” Titmus said.
Fellow Tasmanian Sam Fox has been left hungry to take the next step up in mountain biking following a sixth-place finish in his debut.
The Launceston native had a rollercoaster ride in Cannock Chase Forest, establishing himself in the lead five before a first-lap puncture dashed his Games campaign despite an impressive start.
“I had a flat on the first lap which meant I was chasing from behind after what was really a good start,” Fox said.
“It’s actually the first flat I’ve had in a race for over two years.
“Considering the luck we had today, sixth is really good. It’s just really cool to be here to be honest,” Fox said.
Lawn Bowler Rebecca Van Asch had a busy schedule in the women’s triples bowls.
Van Asch, alongside teammates Lynsey Clarke and Natasha van Eldik, faced a double header – finishing the first game on top against The Falkland Islands 21-11 before going down in their first loss to South Africa 17-12.
Hobart’s own Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz helped the Kookaburras continue their unbeaten run with a victory over South Africa while Tasmanian Tigers player Nicola Carey again remained absent from Australia’s line up in the Twenty20 win over Pakistan.
Tassie’s golden girl breaks another record – Day five
TASMANIA’s queen of the pool continued her dominance in Birmingham on Wednesday morning with Ariarne Titmus claiming another gold with her pet event still to come.
The 21-year-old form Launceston claimed her third gold medal of the Games in the 800m freestyle, clocking a personal best time of 8:13.59 to smash the Games record set by Jazmin Carlin, of Wales, in Glasgow eight years ago.
Titmus led from start to finish to smash the previous Games record by almost five seconds while finishing over four seconds ahead of Australian teammates Kiah Melverton and Lani Pallister who rounded out an all-Australian podium.
Titmus said she was thrilled to take out the event and share the podium with her two teammates.
“I haven’t done an 800 really competitively since the Olympics so I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said.
“I’m happy with the PB and happy that all three of us were on the podium, that’s the best.
“I don’t know how good it is for them because my singing is horrendous but Commonwealth Games is really the only meet where you can have three on the podium because usually it’s just two, so for us to have that opportunity it’s really once in a lifetime.
“I remember it on the Gold Coast standing on the podium with three of us was my highlight, so to do it again here has been really great.”
The Brisbane-based former Riverside and Launceston Aquatic Club member said she loved having parents Steve and Robyn, and sister Mia, watch her major meets.
“It’s the best having them here. My family love coming away to my events, they have a hoot of a time. I think they come away to party more than anything. Last year not having them in the stands was difficult but being able to wave and knowing they are here to support me is really special.”
With gold from the 800m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and the women’s 4x 200m relay, Titmus will look to make it four gold in Birmingham in her pet event 400m freestyle in which she is the world record holder.
Finals for the 400m freestyle will take place at 5.48am Thursday morning (EAST).
Meanwhile Launceston lawn bowler Rebecca Van Asch bounced back from a disappointing four’s campaign with a solid first round performance in the triples on Wednesday morning.
After falling short of the quarterfinals in the fours, Van Asch, along with teammates Lynsey Clarke and Natasha van Eldik, defeated Singapore 22-11 in the opening round of the triples in blustery conditions at Victoria Park.
Tassie guns strong as Kookaburras laugh their way to the top – Day 4
TASMANIA’S Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz have helped catapult the Kookaburras to the top of their Commonwealth Games pool overnight in Birmingham.
The Kookaburras defeated their trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand – 7-2 – with the result leaving Australia as the only side with a 100 per cent record as well as a healthy +17 goal difference.
Beltz, playing in his first Commonwealth Games, said the side was still finding its stride despite their strong start.
“New Zealand are always tough, and we’ve played them a lot of over the last 18 months,” Beltz said.
“We’re scoring field goals and PCs and we want to continue that because we know we’ve got some tough games up ahead.
“There are still things we can improve on and stuff we need to sharpen up before finals, but we’re on the way.”
The Hobart native played a pivotal role through the middle of the ground, frequently breaking up opposition moves and starting the counter-attack.
“My role is to defend and tackle and hopefully have some impact going forward as well,” Beltz said.
After making his Olympic debut in Tokyo, the 28-year-old said his first Commonwealth Games as a Kookaburra was just as special with his closest supporters able to attend this time.
“It’s different from Tokyo. Having family and friends over here is really special. I love that aspect of it,” Beltz said.
The Kookaburras next face South Africa on Wednesday at 9pm (AEST) followed by Pakistan on Thursday.
In other day four action, Launceston’s Ariarne Titmus cruised into the final of the 800m freestyle.
Having already claimed a 200m and 4x200m freestyle relay gold in Birmingham, the 21-year-old clocked 8:36.17 in her winning heat from relay teammate Kiah Melverton.
Titmus will compete in the 800m final on Tuesday at 9:15pm (AEST).
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