Popers Blog

BMCRC have released their dates for the 2011 season with most meetings happening on MSV tracks save for a date at Pembrey in April and one at Silverstone in June. The annual race school happens over February 12 and 13 at Brands Hatch while The pre-season test day is on February 19, again at Brands. There is a practice on every Friday before each race meeting.

OTTAWA- Canadian national team member Nicholas Cundy of Edmonton led all scorers with 23 points to leads AS Cannes (France) to its first victory this season in Champions League men's volleyball play in a five-set victory over CSKA Bulgaria.

The Champions League is a 24-team tournament to determine the top pro club in Europe. The top-two teams from each of the six pools after round robin play gain an automatic berth in the second round. Cannes, which had dropped its first four matches, overcame a 1-2 deficit to win 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 16-14 in a match that lasted nearly two hours.

''We didn't want to go the season without a win,'' said Cundy, a seven-year national team veteran. ''We have been on a bad skid the last two months. It was important to know that we are still good, and that we should be winning more game. Personally, I felt like I finally put a more complete game together. I passed well, spiked okay, and served really well.''

Fred Winters of Victoria was one of three players with Friedrichshafen to notch 13 points as the German club defeated Zalau (Romania) 25-23, 25-21, 25-22. It was a second victory this season for Friedrichshafen.

Meanwhile ACH Bled (Slovenia) with two Canadian national team players in the line-lost a five-set thriller to Budva (Montenegro) 25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 15-25, 15-12. Libero Dan Lewis of Oakville, Ont., and rookie Adam Simac of Ottawa are on the Bled squad.

It was the first loss this season for Bled, Champions League finalists last year, which stand first this year in the Pool C standings at 4-1.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2011 is set. Roberto Alomar as well as Bert Blyleven have both been inducted whilst Rafael Palmeiro, Jeff Bagwell as well as mark McGwire were not.

Bert Blyleven's 287 victories as well as 250 rubbish have been great enough this year. Roberto Alomar's census interpretation in addition got softened with age. the round Hall of Fame - where we consequence arising some-more or rebate from year to year though we do anything.

VICTORIA – A five-goal performance for Nicolas Bicari-Constantin of Montreal on Tuesday night helped Canada defeat Brazil 15-9 and qualify for this summer’s world championships at the UANA Cup men’s water polo tournament.

With the victory, the Canadians also complete the round robin in first place at 2-0 and earn a direct trip to Thursday’s final. The top-two at the tournament grab a ticket to the FINA World Aquatic Championships this July in Shanghai.

It’s another successful result for the Canadian men’s water polo team which has been climbing the international standings the last couple of years. In 2008, Canada qualified for its first Olympics in men’s water polo since 1984 and placed 11th. In 2009, it placed eighth at the world aquatic championships in Rome.

‘’It’s a great feeling to get that world championship berth,’’ said Canadian team captain Aaron Feltham of Lindsay, Ont. ‘’It’s going to be another valuable experience for us.’’

It was the second straight game that Bicari-Constantin led the Canadian attack. He notched four in Monday’s 13-4 victory over Argentina.

Other Canadian scorers against Brazil were Constantine Kudaba of Port Coquitlam, B.C., and Devon Diggle of Pierrefonds, Que., with three goals each, Feltham with two while Scott Robinson of Calgary and Dusko Dakic of Gatineau, Que., added singles.

‘’As we expected, Brazil played with a lot of heart,’’ said Feltham. ‘’The key for us is that we kept our cool and always had our heads in the game. Our defence was strong and we surpassed them with our swimming and fitness.’’

The Canadians led 3-2 after a quarter, 8-4 at the half and 12-7 after three.

‘’The game was much closer than what the score indicates,’’ said Canadian team manager Neil Muir of Calgary. ‘’The Brazilians were very physical and it was a style of play we were ready for.’’

Brazil, ranked 13th in the world, faces Argentina on Wednesday in the semifinal. The winner not only advances to the final against Canada but gains that second spot for the worlds.

South Korea manager Cho Kwang-rae said he is planning on exposing Sasa Ognenovski's lack of pace when they face Australia at the Asian Cup.

The Australian centre-back played in the K-League for Seongnam Ilhwa when Cho was in charge of Gyeongnam in 2009.

Cho believes the towering defender lacks a turn of foot and will play speedy attackers to outrun the 31-year-old.

'When it comes to the mobility of the players, our strikers are bit better than the Australian central defence,' Cho said.

'When it comes to Sasa's case, I was in charge of Gyeongnam (from 2007 to 2010), one of the clubs in Korea, and I intentionally put fast forwards to make it difficult for Sasa.'

'In these games I learnt that Sasa had problems with quick forwards and I could make use of it.'

Cho said he was not concerned about the form of midfielder Tim Cahill, who showed his versatility with goals via both foot and head in Australia's 4-0 win over India.

Cho said he had enough defensive talents to nullify the influence of the Everton star, despite the suspension of Kwak Tae-Hwi from their 2-1 win over Bahrain.

'We know that he (Cahill) is good in the air and even though we miss one starting defender from the previous game, we have good players who can cover the position,' Cho said.

'When it comes to individual duels in the air, we are quite sure we can cope with it.'

South Korea take on Australia on Friday at Al Gharafa Stadium.