The jucie on Orch

Day 13 - July 31

Maitland's Simon Orchard reflects on the Kookaburras 6-0 victory against South Africa in their Olympic opener, looks ahead to game 2 v Spain on Wednesday (8.30am and 5.30pm AEST) and talks about chasing LeBron James at the opening ceremony.

Josh: How did it feel to finally be out there competing at an Olympic Games?

Simon: Obviously a few boys were full of nerves and it was actually one of the first times in my career that I've had a few butterflies in the tummy.

I think it was more a feeling of excitement and listening to the anthem actually stirred up a fair few feelings in me.

Just knowing that I was realising one of my childhood dreams and that a lot of hard work has finally paid off.

I was about to be an Olympian!

There were a lot of Aussies in the crowd, including Mum, Dad, Josh [brother] and Airz [girlfriend] and that made the experience even better.



Josh: Could you have asked for a better start to the Olympic campaign?

Simon: Solid start to the campaign. If we were told we would win 6-0 before the match we would have taken it with arms wide open.

We didn't finish very well, had a fair few corners that weren't quite slick enough and some basic skill errors let us down, especially in the first half. South Africa are a very physical, hard nosed side and there are a few bumps and bruises but very glad to get that one out of the way and now we can settle into the competition.


Josh: What happened with that yellow card?

Simon: Yeah the yellow was silly.

With three minutes to go it was just some lazy defending and too much aggression on my behalf.

They were being very physical all match and it's a fine line between over exuberance and proper tackling.

I don't think the umpires handled the match well at all, we had five cards to their one even though both sides were just trying to play hard hockey.



Josh: Looking forward, what improvements can be made for the game against Spain?

Simon: We have a training session today so we will tidy up some PC stuff, mainly our sequence and getting guys in the right spots.

We might do some goal scoring work and just clean up our skills ahead of Spain.

They have a massive setback with captain Santi Freixa breaking his arm yesterday (the tough bloke played on one handed, ridiculous) but he is ruled out now.

They have a heap of good players though and we will have to be very vigilant to keep them in check.

Josh: And finally, describe the opening ceremony experience (I heard you were chasing LeBron James around the stadium.

Simon: The opening ceremony was awesome!

Such a great experience, even though the Poms barely cheered for us.

The time and effort put into staging such a wonderful event was definitely worth it and it was an occasion I will never forget.

I got to within arms distance of my favourite sportsmen LeBron James, which was amazing and the whole night was unbelievable.

Links:

*Twitter - @joshuacallinan

*Read the London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic Games

*Tune into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from 7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney

*The Hunter's Road To London - 1233 ABC Newcastle

The blowout

Day 12 - July 30

Tough day at the Olympics office today.

I was reduced from four eyes to two and for anyone who knows me that is disastrous.

Not only does it devalue my nickname characters such as Harry Potter, McLovin and Clark Kent, but the very heart of the matter is I simply can't see very much.

The old googles are part of the anatomy these days and if I was to be any chance of watching, literally, any Olympic action with clarity then this had to be addressed.

Down to Balham on High Street and the optometrist not only fixed me up with a new pair of specs, as well as helping me out on my search for Olympic tickets, but I cam one step closer to finding Pippa, with her sister Kate next to me in the waiting room (well, sort of).

The search continues...

As for the Games (day 3):

HUNTER WATCH

*Maitland’s Simon Orchard helped the Kookaburras get off to a flyer with a 6-0 victory against South Africa in their Olympic opener.

*Lake Macquarie sailors Nathan Outteridge and Ian Jensen sit 3^rd overall in the 49er class after an eighth and a win from the first two races of competition.

*Newcastle swimmer Thomas Fraser-Holmes finished seventh in the final of the 200m freestyle.

*The Opals, featuring Newcastle pair Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen, suffered a narrow 74-70 loss to France in overtime after forcing the game into an extra period with a buzzer beater

PLAY OF THE DAY

Balance of power in the swimming pool has seemed to shift in 2012, which was highlighted by Lithuania and France both winning gold medals, and in style. 

It was 15-year-old Ruta Meilutyte in the women's 100m breaststroke and Yannick Agnel with an incredibly powerful display in the men's 200m freestyle.

BEST OF THE REST

Great Britain were announced as silver medalists in the men’s team event in front of an ecstatic home crowd before a review from Japan bumped the host nation back to bronze.

It was still the first medal for Team GB in men’s gymnastics in more than a century. 

QUOTE

"He looks like a cockroach crawling away from a Mortein spray," BBC commentator at the hockey during Kookaburras clash with South Africa. That's gold.

***

And finally, below are the boys at home in the Orchard fan club together watching game one in style.

Love your work Henry (ski boy), Baz (snow flake) and Kurt (burden).

Links:

*Twitter - @joshuacallinan

*Read the London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic Games

*Tune into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from 7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney

*The Hunter's Road To London - 1233 ABC Newcastle

Irish sports, a couple of Maitland natives and a London pub

Day 11 - July 29

It sounds like the start of a joke but this was the way Sunday panned out for me in the UK capital.

A day of Gaelic sports in the western London suburb of Rusling with hurling and football finals on the agenda.

Regardless of not knowing any of the rules a lovely old man named Tom filled in the blanks with a dash of Irish humour.

Then to Leicester Square where Sarah McCann to meet former Northern Suburbs teammate Tommy Briscoe.

Little did I know that the bloke he was bringing along was none other than former Western Suburbs speedster Andrew Kealy.

A team of Maitland-ites in a London pub - the rest they say is history...

Meanwhile, back at the Olympics (day 2):

HUNTER WATCH

Thomas Fraser-Holmes qualified for his second final of his debut Olympics after moving through the heats and semi-final of the 200m freestyle event with a time of 1.46:80.

Merewether’s Richie Campbell and the Australian men’s water polo team, better known as the Sharks, couldn’t stop the might of world champions Italy in the Olympics opener going down 8-5.

PLAY OF THE DAY

North Korean weightlifter Om Yun Chol joined an exclusive club by becoming just the third person to have lifted three times his body weight in competition. He cleared 168 kilograms in the men’s 56kg division on his way to an Olympic record.

BEST OF THE REST

A judo result was overturned after an uproar in the crowd. South Korea’s Cho Jun-Ho was originally declared the winner over Japan’s Ebinuma Masashi but the crowd disagreed and showed its displeasure by booing.  After going to a review commission victory in the 66 kilogram bout was awarded to Masashi.

Links:

*Twitter - @joshuacallinan

*Read the London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic Games

*Tune into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from 7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney

*The Hunter's Road To London - 1233 ABC Newcastle

Blink and you will miss it

Day 10 - July 28 (part II)

The men's road race was on the agenda for the Balham bed and breakfast crew so off to Putney for the festivities.

People lined the streets for kilometres and we, (Myself and super Stevie) did our best to stand out from the crowd with our Aussie kit.

There was much anticipation as the parade of cars and cops (waving as they went past the masses) went through but the biggest roar was saved for the riders.

But blink, budge or bend down to get your beer and you would have missed the rapid moving peloton go by. They are seriously moving those guys.

Apparently the winning move was made right in front of us but the pace combined with my fantastic eye sight weren't ideal for spectating such a sport.

Nevertheless, a quick dash to the closest pub to watch the riders go across the line just up the road at Lizzie's house and it was Kazakhstan claiming the honours in front of a disgruntled home town favourite Mark Cavendish. 

Around the grounds from the Olympic opener:

HUNTER WATCH

Newcastle swimmer Thomas Fraser-Holmes finished seventh in the 400m IM final, Newcastle basketballers Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen helped the Opals to a 74-58 win against Great Brtiain while Nulkaba shooter Daniel Repacholi crashed out of the men’s 10m air pistol after scoring 575 out of a possible 600 and finishing 28^th.

  

PLAY OF THE DAY 

The Australian girls winning gold in the 4x100 metre freestyle relay was the pick of the bunch. Great swim by Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlanger.

BEST OF THE REST

Irish gymnast Kieran Behan was told he would never walk again after developing a tumour in his leg aged 10, a serious head injury falling from a high bar two years later and another major knee injury recently, but despite being eliminated from the vault and floor events the 23-year-old had finally competed at an Olympics and achieved a lifelong dream.

Links:

*Twitter - @joshuacallinan

*Read the London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic Games

*Tune into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from 7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney

*The Hunter's Road To London - 1233 ABC Newcastle

Suzy set for third time lucky

Day 10 - July 28

The opening day of competition for London 2012 and the place is buzzing after last night's opening ceremony.

Bacon and eggs are sizzling in kitchen's around London (well at least at the Balham bed and breakfast), people have lined the streets for the men's road race and for those not out and about are soaking it up on the 24 available BBC channels (it is amazing and here is a link to the BBC website where you watch, track and record absolutely everything that is going on at the Games).

From a Hunter end, swimmer Thomas Fraser-Holmes has moved through to the final of the 400 metre individual medley and will be out to challenge the Phelps-Lotche showdown in tonight's decider at 7.30pm (4.30am Sunday AEST).

Also, basketballer Suzy Batkovic will be in action today alongside fellow Novocastrian Jenni Screen when the Opals tackle the hosts Great Britain on court at 10.15pm (7.15am Sunday AEST).

The Opals, buoyed by Lauren Jackson being the Australian flag bearer at last night's opening ceremony, are attempting to break their run of three silvers and grab that elusive gold medal this time around.

Suzy was kind enough to answer a few questions for the Maitland Mercury, 1233 ABC Newcastle and of course "Five rings, an Aussie and a London eye" in her final days of preparation to London 2012.

1)  Josh: After all the training, the selections and build up, what does it feel like now to be on the eve of the Olympics?

     Suzy: It is always great to play in an Olympics (this is my third), it is getting really exciting now that the first game against Great Britain is only a few days away.

2)   J: How have the final preparations been going? An almost unbeaten lead up must instil the Opals with confidence in trying to crack the gold in London.

S: We have had a good lead up, it is the longest preparation we have had together going into an Olympics to give us the best possible chance to take the next step and win gold.

3)   J: How would you describe your role in the team? 

S: Being one of the veterans on the team I am one of the leaders now so I have been working closely with some of our younger teammates.

4)   J: What are your memories of growing up in Newcastle and do regard this as home?

S: Definitely - Newcastle is always home and we have the best beaches. My childhood memories are mainly of spending most of my time at the basketball stadium.

5)   J: Have you had much support from back home and who will be in your support crew for the Games? 

        S: One of my most important supporters, my Mum, is coming to London for         the Games and it will be great to have her here. I always get lots of support from Newcastle which is great.

Thanks Suzy and good luck to you and Jenni tonight as well as Thomas in the pool.

Links:

*Twitter - @joshuacallinan

*Read the London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic Games

*Tune into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from 7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney

*The Hunter's Road To London - 1233 ABC Newcastle

The complete diary for Hunter athletes at London 2012

We all love the green and gold but thought this might come in handy for anyone trying to keep a closer eye on our Hunter athletes during the Games.

A day by day blow of the evens our competitors are involved in.

Saturday, July 28 (day 1)

Thomas Fraser-Holmes (swimming)

·      400m IM – heats 10.27am (7.27pm AEST)

·      400 IM – final 7.30pm (4.30am Sunday AEST)

Daniel Repacholi (shooting)

·      10m air pistol – qualifications 9am (6pm AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Game 1 - Australia v Great Britain 10.15pm (7.15am Sunday AEST

Sunday, July 29 (day 2)

Thomas Fraser-Holmes (swimming)

·      200m freestyle – heats 10.20am (7.20pm AEST)

·      200m freestyle – semi-finals 7.37pm (4.37am Sunday AEST)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Game 1 – Australia v Italy 2.10pm (11.10pm AEST)

Monday, July 30 (day 3)

Simon Orchard (hockey)

·      Game 1 – Australia v South Africa 10.45am (7.45pm AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Races 1 & 2 – Mens 49ers 12pm (9pm AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Game 2 – Australia v France 2.30pm (11.30pm AEST)

Thomas Fraser-Holmes (swimming)

·      200m freestyle – final 7.41pm (4.41pm)

Tuesday, July 31 (day 4)

Thomas Fraser-Holmes (swimming)

·      4x200m freestyle relay – heats 11.17am (8.17pm AEST)

·      4x200m freestyle relay – final 8.47pm (5.47pm Wednesday AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Races 3 & 4 – Mens 49ers 12pm (9pm AEST)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Game 2 – Australia v Kazakhstan 2.10pm (11.10pm AEST)

Wednesday, August 1 (day 5)

Simon Orchard (hockey)

·      Game 2 – Australia v Spain 8.30am (5.30pm AEST)

Angie Bainbridge (swimming)

·      4x200m freestyle relay – heats 11.39am (8.39pm AEST)

·      4x200m freestyle relay – final 8.57pm (5.47am Thursday AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Races 5 & 6 – Mens 49ers 12pm (9pm AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Game 3 – Australia v Brazil 2.30pm (11.30pm AEST)

Thursday, August 2 (day 6)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Game 3 – Australia v Spain 10am (9pm AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Races 7 & 8 – Mens 49ers 12pm (9pm AEST)

Lyndal Oatley (equestrian)

·      Dressage: Grand Prix individual (day 1) 11am (8pm AEST)

·      Dressage: Grand Prix team (day 1) 11am (8pm AEST)

Friday, August 3 (day7)

Simon Orchard (hockey)

·      Game 3 – Australia v Argentina 8.30am (5.30pm AEST)

Lyndal Oatley and Kristy Oatley (equestrian)

·      Dressage: Grand Prix individual (day 2) 11am (8pm AEST)

·      Dressage: Grand Prix team (day 2) 11am (8pm AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Game 4 – Australia v Russia 11.15am (8.15pm AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Races 9, 10 & 11 – Mens 49ers 12pm (9pm AEST)

Saturday, August 4 (day 8)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Game 4 – Australia v Croatia 11.20am (9.20pm AEST)

Sunday, August 5 (day 9)

Daniel Repacholi (shooting)

·      50m pistol – qualifications 9am (6pm AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Races 12 & 13 – Mens 49ers 12pm (9pm AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Game 5 – Australia v Canada 2.30pm (11.15pm AEST)

Simon Orchard (hockey)

·      Game 4 – Australia v Great Britain 7pm (4am Monday AEST)

Monday, August 6 (day 10)

Benn Harradine (athletics)

·      Discus - preliminaries 10am (9pm AEST)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Game 5 – Australia v Greece 11.20am (9.20pm AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Races 14 & 15 – Mens 49ers 12pm (9pm AEST)

Tuesday, August 7 (day 11)

Lyndal Oatley and Kristy Oatley (equestrian)

·      Dressage: Grand Prix Special individual 10am (7pm AEST)

·      Dressage: Grand Prix Special team 10am (7pm AEST)

Simon Orchard (hockey)

·      Game 5 – Australia v Pakistan 10.45am (7.45pm AEST)

Brendan Sexton (triathlon)

·      Men’s race 11.30am (8.30pm AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Quarter finals – 2pm onwards (from 11pm AEST)

Benn Harradine (athletics)

·      Discus final 7.45pm (5am Wednesday AEST)

Wednesday, August 8 (day 12)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Quarter finals – 2.30pm onwards (from 11.30pm AEST)

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (sailing)

·      Medal race – Mens 49ers 1pm (10pm AEST)

Thursday, August 9 (day 13)

Lyndal Oatley and Kristy Oatley (equestrian)

·      Dressage: Grand Prix freestyle 12.30pm (9.30pm AEST)

Simon Orchard (hockey)

·      Semi-finals – 3.30pm onwards (12.30am Friday AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Semi finals – 5pm onwards (from 2am Friday AEST)

Friday, August 10 (day 14)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Semi finals – 2.20pm onwards (from 11.20pm AEST)

Josh Ross (athletics)

·      4x100m relay heats 7.45pm (4.45am Saturday AEST)

Saturday, August 11 (day 15)

Simon Orchard (hockey)

·      Medal matches – 3.30pm onwards (12.30am Sunday AEST)

Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen (basketball)

·      Medal matches – 5pm onwards (from 2am Friday AEST)

Josh Ross (athletics)

·      4x100m relay final 9pm (6am Sunday AEST)

Sunday, August 12 (day 16)

Richie Campbell (water polo)

·      Medal matches – 10.20am onwards (from 7.20pm AEST)

*Pictures are taken from 1233 ABC Newcastle and Fairfax websites as well as social media.

Links:

*Twitter - @joshuacallinan

*Read the London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic Games

*Tune into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from 7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney

*The Hunter's Road To London - 1233 ABC Newcastle