Sporting Highlights *New to 2009*

Mariners Asia Cup wrap-up
The Central Coast Mariners' inaugural Asian adventure might not have produced the results members and supporters of the yellow and navy were hoping for, but lifetime memories and timeless experiences were in abundance. Over the course of three post-season months, the Mariners were truly introduced to the reality of football in Asia and the AFC Champions League, where clubs of considerable stature, history and resources are very much commonplace.

Compared to the five-year-old Mariners, the likes of Kawasaki Frontale, Pohang Steelers and Tianjin Teda are virtual veterans of the Asian football landscape and duly introduced the Mariners to how the world game is operated on the continent.

Firstly, the Mariners travelled to China's east in mid-March to take on Tianjin Teda - a heavyweight club belonging to the Chinese Super League that represents a region which is home to over 11 million people. A near capacity crowd at the impressive Tianjin Teda Stadium awaited the Mariners, who were unlucky not to take all three points with them back to Australia - a transit time that lasted close to 24 hours.

Next up was Kawasaki Frontale, a relative lightweight by Japanese standards in terms of silverware but a serious contender for Asian glory in 2009. Kawasaki lies fractionally south of Tokyo - Asia's mega city and iconic cultural centre that wowed the Mariners' travelling party throughout their five day stay, not least on the pitch where Kawasaki's quality secured a 2-1 win for the home side.

Lastly, the Mariners visited Korea's east and the small city - by Korean standards - of Pohang. Pohang is home to the Pohang Steelers, who are two-time AFC Champions League winners with a domestic history that dates back to the early 70s.
Beyond their on-field prowess, the Steelers boast one of Asia's most envied training and match day facilities, which includes a state-of-the-art multi-field training and hotel complex on top of their entirely owned and operated 20,000-seater Steelyard Stadium.

The Mariners perhaps deserved more than their 3-2 loss in Pohang - a result that ended their hopes of progression to Round 16 and closed the chapter on an unforgettable Asian journey that had showcased the Mariners and the Central Coast to a cumulative audience numbering well into the millions across Asia.

Asia Cup opens up business opportunities
A key strategy of the Central Coast Mariners' participation in the 2009 Asian Football Confederation Champions League was to explore opportunities for new and expanded business, investment and tourism with competing nations. Business Central Coast General Manager, Kerry Ruffels used the visit from Chinese super league team Tianjin Teda to harness interest from the Chinese community.

State Member for Wyong, David Harris joined Mr Ruffels and Henry Tsang OAM MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier on Trade and Investment and Chairman of the NSW-Asia Business Advisory Council, in discussions with Chinese-Australian business leaders concerning potential business and investment opportunities on the Central Coast.

Entries flowing in for 36th Gosford-Lord Howe Island Yacht Race
Yachts with canting keels will be accepted as entries in this year’s 36th annual Gosford–Lord Howe Island Yacht Race, the popular 414 nautical mile race across the northern Tasman Sea.

Gosford Sailing Club’s race director, Mark Greenwood reports that the club has received more than sixteen expressions of interest from yacht owners keen to compete in the late October event. These include last year’s IRC winner, Ian Kiernan with his classic yawl Maris, and Andrew Short with his line honours-winning maxi Shockwave 5.

The Gosford–Lord Howe Race is the only annual Category 1 ocean race in Australian waters other than the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race, and is a qualifying race for the Hobart Race. It has often been described as ‘the most exclusive ocean race in Australia’ because of the limit of 20 yachts that can moor at the World Heritage-listed Island with its unique coral lagoon.

Mr Greenwood expects several yachts with canting keels to compete in the 2009 race, which starts from Broken Bay on 31 October. “Yachts with canting keels will be eligible for line honours and also to compete for IRC and PHS handicap honours,” he said. “Given good sailing conditions, one of these super maxis could well break the race record.”


Mars Inspirational Athletes for May named
The Central Coast Academy of Sport (CCAS)'s Basketball scholarship athlete, Gerard Goldsmith, and Golf scholarship athlete, Adam Barnes, have been named as Mars Inspirational Athletes for May.

Fifteen-year-old Gerard was a member of the CCAS boys basketball squad, who returned from the recent ClubsNSW Academy Games as undefeated champions. In addition to his Academy commitments, Gerard has represented NSW at the Australasian Country Junior Basketball Cup for the past three years, and in January 2009 his NSW Waratahs team won the under-16 men's division of the Cup, held in Albury. In an amazing achievement, Gerard's team were unbeaten throughout the tournament - a highly regarded premier event on the basketball calendar.

A St Peters Catholic School student, Gerard competed in the NSW Basketball Jamboree at Port Macquarie and the Great Murray River Jamboree at Albury, both in 2005, and the Powerade Pacific Coast Slam at Port Macquarie in 2008.
Gerard has represented his school in basketball, competing in the 2008/09 Broken Bay Basketball competition, and has received the College's Sporting Achievement Award.

Adam Barnes was a promising young Rugby League player but in 2007 the fifteen-year-old discovered golf, and now plays off a handicap of 8. He excelled in Rugby League and played for Central Wyong in the local junior competition and was thought of very highly by his coaches - winning many 'Best and Fairest' and other similar awards.

In 2007, he was asked to 'have a hit' with his grandfather on the local golf course and immediately became hooked on this new game. Showing outstanding natural ability at his new sport, he was invited to join the Harrington club as a rookie junior, and a month later he was asked to play in the club's Junior Stroke Competition which he won. Deciding that golf was now his main sport he transferred to his local club at Wyong, and in 2008 was named the club's Junior Player of the Year. He was selected in the Wyong Club Junior Pennants team and later the District Pennants team.

Late in 2008, Adam was invited to join the CCAS Golf program and after a few months of group training and various local competitions, he represented the Academy at the ClubsNSW Regional Academy Games in Armidale in April this year. Competing against players from all over NSW with much more experience than him, and some with far lower handicaps, Adam had net scores of 68, 73 and 72 and finished sixth overall out of a field of thirty four. His 68 was beaten by only three golfers over three rounds in three days.

Great things expected from rookie race car driver
Terrigal's Steel Guiliana has kick started his racing car career finishing in the top ten in the opening event of the Formula BMW Pacific championship, which was held in conjunction with the PETRONAS Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in early April.

Steel faced a steep learning curve on his debut, having arrived at the opening round with virtually no time in the car. Despite this, he came away with a point. Impressed by his performance commentators said much more can be expected from this dedicated youngster as he familiarizes himself with the BMW FBO2 car. Steel will drive in the next round of the season which will again be held at Sepang in conjunction with the Asian Festival of Speed in late May.

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry level open-wheel Formula racing category. The Formula BMW FB02 weighs 465kg excluding driver. It is powered by a 1.2 litre four cylinder engine which accelerates to 100kph in less than four seconds and will hit a top speed of 230kph. All cars are identical and innovations such as the FORS (Formula Rescue Seat) were developed by BMW Motorsport specifically for Formula BMW.

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