UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup today raised HK$2.3million for children and youth in Hong Kong
Following the end of another scintillating UBS Hong Kong Open last week, the magnificent composite course at the Hong Kong Golf Club was held open for a final day today as the Hong Kong Golf Club played host to the inaugural UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup. The spectacular event attracted keen golfers like President of Hong Kong Chinese Lady Golfers Association and former actress Olivia Cheng Man Ngar, Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor George Lam Chi Cheung, Jockey Zac Purton and Neil Callan to attend.
Over 200 golfers donated HK$5,000 each to Friends of Asia Hong Kong, the official charity of the UBS Hong Kong Open, for the exclusive opportunity to play the legendary composite course at Fanling.
Made up of holes from the Eden and New Courses, the composite course is not usually available for the public to play, so the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup provided an unmissable opportunity for golfers to test themselves over the same 18-hole layout that UBS Hong Kong Open 2015 champion Justin Rose mastered only three days prior.
Jockey Zac Purton from Hong Kong Jockey Club was one such lucky player: “It’s a fantastic experience to play the same course as the pros, and the fact that it is all for charity makes it even better. It’s great to be given this opportunity to play on the composite course, which you can’t play quite often. I love golf and came to the UBS Hong Kong Open last week and watched Rose win on Sunday so to have the chance to play the same layout, and understand just how tough it is for these guys, was a real buzz. Also feel lucky to be involved in the charity cup.”
Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor George Lam Chi Cheung showed his support and said: “I am very delighted to come onsite to support Friends of Asia Hong Kong for the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup. We all enjoyed ourselves today. I hope that we will continue to give full support to their upcoming charity events in order to get more funds year by year. ”
As well as being a superb golf experience, the Charity Cup also proved to be a significant fund-raiser. Over HK$1 million was raised from player entry fees and this sum was matched by Friends of Asia Hong Kong, bringing the total amount generated to an impressive HK$2.3million.
Caleb Chan, Founder of Friends of Asia Hong Kong, was delighted with the outcome: “It is fantastic to see the golfing community come together to raise such a significant sum of money for our beneficiaries and I’d like to thank the Hong Kong Golf Club for opening up the composite course for this event, and all the golfers who contributed.”
Explaining how the funds will be distributed, Chan continued: “Along with UBS, we have identified three very worthy charities which will benefit from this funding: Playright Hospital Play Services, InspiringHK Sports Foundation and The Autism Partnership Foundation. All three of these organisations do an incredible amount of work in the community to improve the lives of disadvantaged and ill Hong Kong children and youth. Funds, like those raised from the Charity Cup, are the life-blood of these charities, and many others, and it’s wonderful that an event such as the UBS Hong Kong Open can serve a wider purpose in helping these organisations.”
Ms Kathryn Shih, Head of UBS Wealth Management APAC, said, “The UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup is a key element of our joint drive to make sure the UBS Hong Kong Open is Open for all Hong Kong – and leaves a lasting legacy for our community. The fun on and off the course today was made even more special by the fact that the tournament is in aid of some extremely worthy causes.
“From an initial idea to today’s amazing execution, the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup has drawn the strong support of the tournament’s organizers: the European Tour, the Hong Kong Golf Club and the Hong Kong Golf Association. But much of the hard work has been put in by Caleb Chan and Friends of Asia Hong Kong and for this we thank them sincerely,” Ms. Shih added.
(Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
香港男子七人欖球代表隊進入爭奧最後直路
[2015年10月26日，香港]: 香港男子七人欖球代表隊挺身「中央海岸七人欖球賽」銀碟決賽。
這個競爭激烈的賽事正好為港隊挑戰「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」(11月7-8日，香港大球場)作最後磨劍。
於香港勝出的男子隊伍，將自動成為2016年巴西里約熱內盧奧運會12支球隊的其中一員，獲得奧運入場劵。而七人欖球賽亦是首次被納入奧運項目，備受期待。
女子隊兩場外圍系列賽的首場比賽為香港站，而第二場外圍賽則於11月尾在日本東京舉行。
「中央海岸七人欖球賽」是「匯豐世界七人欖球系列賽」以外的大型國際賽，能好好考驗港隊。
香港無懼外國勢力，小組賽以27-10戰勝Ozboks 和美國二隊Tigers Rugby (19-12) ，唯一小組敗仗來自斐濟國家隊搖籃的 Daveta (5-26)。
姚錦成狀態大勇在首日達陣4次，隊長禾獲特(Max Woodward)梅開二度，合力將香港送入銀盃八強，對手是另一支斐濟球隊 Tabadamu。
Tabadamu實力在港隊之上，輕易以 21-12獲勝，香港亦只可角逐銀碟錦標，並在四強勇挫Rangataua 21-7， 姚錦成在今場取得個人第5個達陣，賀迪也有一球進帳。
港隊在銀碟決賽再遇上另一支斐濟隊伍Yamacia，形勢更是一面倒，上半場已落後0-33，最終以12-45稱臣。
香港此行以練兵為主，教練備加力滿意球隊整體表現：「來這裡贏得任可錦標不是重點，能夠與新西蘭和斐濟好手切磋是寶貴經驗，每場比賽都是硬仗和向令我們受壓。能夠在6場比賽中取得一些勝利而且沒有傷兵是不錯的收獲。」
他也點名稱讚禾獲特、賀迪和A.麥堅(Alex McQueen)的演出，韋馬克(Mark Wright)及T.麥堅(Tom McQueen)傷癒後的狀態也不俗。
備氏續說：「幸好我們能在這裡全身而退，韋馬克和曾慶鴻也有上陣，大家看來狀態很好迎接11月的挑戰。」「我們回來後還需要好好考慮最後名單的人選。」
香港男女子終極名單將於11月1日在京士柏運動場揭曉。香港隊澳洲之行修練成果在兩週後便會在香港大球場見真章。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup to raise at least HK$ 2.3 million at Fanling
Hong Kong, 25 October: The UBS Hong Kong Open’s Charity Cup, which will take place at the Hong Kong Golf Club on Wednesday (October 28), will raise a minimum of HK$ 2.3 million for the three local groups chosen as beneficiaries by title sponsor UBS and the tournament’s Official Charity, Friends of Asia Hong Kong. This will be the UBS Hong Kong Open’s inaugural fundraising event, which is now sold out and will see 200 people taking part in a golf day at Fanling and hoping to win some amazing prizes, including golf getaways to Vancouver and Hawaii.
The money raised from entry fees for the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup is over one million, which Friends of Asia Hong Kong will match, bringing the early totals of funds raised to a minimum of HK$ 2.3 million which will be shared equally by the three charities.
Playright Hospital Play Services provide treatment, support and comfort through play to ill children in local hospitals. The funds raised will go towards the continuing provision of Playright Hospital Play services at five of Hong Kong’s 13 public hospitals with pediatric wards.
InspiringHK Sports Foundation helps improve the social mobility of disadvantaged youth through the medium of sport and with funds raised here will start a GolfInspires program for youth in Fanling.
The Autism Partnership Foundation will use the funding to create several much-needed programs to help support children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families including creating a Parent’s training program to assist parents with ASD children and launching a vital new free Intensive one-month Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) Therapy Treatment Program for low-income families in Hong Kong. This free service offers over 60 hours of direct intervention and will include parent education to help parents know how they can continue to teach their children when the month has ended.
The program is a first of its kind in Hong Kong. Currently ABA therapy is only provided by private practices and is very expensive. With the support of the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup, APF will be able to increase the access to these services for low income families when their children most need them.
Caleb Chan, Founder of Friends of Asia HK, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce that we will raise a minimum of HK$ 2.3 million for our beneficiaries this year. The Playright Hospital Play Services, InspiringHK Sports Foundation and the Autism Partnership Foundation are three organisations which do amazing work to better the lives of Hong Kong’s youth, and to be able to help them with this vital funding is a real honour for us.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in making the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup such a success. There are so many people who have volunteered their time and services for free in order to help us reach our fundraising goals for these charities. We thank everyone at UBS, the Hong Kong Golf Club, The European Tour and most importantly, the Hong Kong golfing community for their donations and participation in the inaugural Charity Cup.”
“UBS is delighted to support the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup. The funds raised will be put to excellent use by three deserving charities that are making a real difference in the lives of Hong Kong’s youth. Our sponsorship of the Charity Cup reinforces our concerted effort to make the UBS Hong Kong Open, open for all – and to create a lasting legacy for the tournament,” said Ms Kathryn Shih, Head of UBS Wealth Management APAC.
Kenneth Lam, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club, said: “It is a great pleasure for us to be able to offer our facilities to host the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup this year. As soon as we were approached to stage the competition, we wanted to be involved in helping these three wonderful organisations. We hope that everyone who plays at Fanling on Wednesday will have an unforgettable experience and that together we can raise as much money as possible for these great causes.”
(Information Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
Rose wins epic battle for UBS Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong, 25 October: Justin Rose won the UBS Hong Kong Open by one shot after a final round battle with Lucas Bjerregaard on a tense and dramatic final day in at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The pair had been neck-and-neck for two days at Hong Kong Golf Club, coming into the final day with a share of the lead and they still could not be separated as they stood on the 12th tee on Sunday.
But a double bogey from Bjerregaard on the 14th proved crucial and Rose came home in 34 to get to 17 under and win a European Tour title for the fourth season in a row.
“Lucas played incredible golf,” said Rose. “It was the first time I had the chance to play with him. I was thoroughly impressed, not just his game but his temperament and how he is as a person.
“When you separate yourself from the field like we did, it’s probably a tough one for him to lose. But he didn’t lose it, just both of us played incredibly well and separated from the field. I’m very happy to get the job done. I had a chance to win in Napa last week, I was tied for the lead going down the tenth hole and let that one flitter away a little bit. I wanted to hang onto this one.”
Rose’s eighth European Tour win takes him above Shane Lowry into fourth in the Race to Dubai and the 2007 Order of Merit winner would love to finish top of the pile again at the DP World Tour Championship.
“Dubai, especially, is a tournament I’ve played well at in the past,” he said. “I’ve had a couple second-place finishes there. I’d love to break that duck, as well. And if you win in Dubai, you’ve got a great opportunity to wrap things up, so I’m looking forward to the next few weeks.”
There was more drama further down the leaderboard with players battling to make it into the top 110 in the Race to Dubai and maintain their playing privileges for next season.
Matt Ford, who began the week at 117th, secured his card with a tie for seventh but Ben Evans, who was one place behind Ford at 118th and finished one shot behind him, fell agonisingly short at 111th.
Prom Meesawat, who came into the week 110th in the Race to Dubai, moved up to 108th thanks to five birdies in his last six holes with Chris Paisley and Renato Paratore, despite his disqualification on Thursday, also holding on to their cards.
The leading duo came into the day at 15 under and Rose made the first move as he drained a 20-footer on the second to move ahead on his own. Bjerregaard flew his second shot over the green on the third but recovered to pitch to within six feet and join Rose at the top with the World Number Seven showing him the line after reaching the green in three.
Another birdie from Bjerregaard on the fourth moved him out in front on his own but the Dane saw a three-foot putt lip out on the eighth to slip back to 16 under. A stunning approach to the ninth then set up a birdie with Rose three-putting to drop a stroke and hand his rival a two shot lead.
Rose birdied the tenth to get back within one shot and when Bjerregaard found the trees off the 11th and made a bogey, the Englishman secured his par to get back on level terms. But a 30-footer on the 12th put Bjerregaard back in the driving seat as the pair went blow for blow for the second consecutive day.
The duo were both ragged off the tee at the 13th and had to pitch out of the rough but got up and down brilliantly for a pair of birdies to maintain the one shot gap.
A second two-shot swing of the day was then to come on the 14th when Bjerregaard found the rough with his tee shot and then caught a branch with his second. Rose saw a birdie putt agonisingly lip out but his rival’s bogey effort did the same and the lead changed hands again.
Both men made par on the 15th but Rose flew his approach on the next straight over the flag and rolled in from 15 feet to open up a two shot lead and give him the cushion to bogey the last.
“It was fun to battle with Justin these last two days,” said Bjerregaard. “It’s guys like him that I want to go out and compete against, and at least I gave him a little bit of a scare. The last time I was out in the final group on a Sunday, I shot 89. So 20 shots better today, I’ll take that.”
(Information Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
三軍會猛虎欖球會虎威大發
[2015年10月25日，香港]:三軍會猛虎欖球會(猛虎)昨日傍晚奮戰下，以27-23將彭博香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊收服。
Sabre 九龍欖球會以6-11難逃榜首法興銀行華利欖球會(華利)的魔掌，Leighton Asia 香港木球會(木球會)意外地以13-19不敵Natixis香港足球會 (港會) 。
經過4週比賽後，華利的領頭羊位置依然穩健，猛虎緊隨其後，敗北的九龍欖球會因比數關係而獲得額外積分。
猛虎與香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊的二哥之爭觸目驚心，兩軍以少於7分之差分高下，證明戰情何等激烈。猛虎今年開局如魚得水，已經差不多洗脫之前幾季病貓的形象。他們的主帥史卓表示: 「我們信心十足，並有全盤計劃壓制對手，我很滿意大家的演出。」
香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊開賽早段似乎佔了上風，由傷癒的拜迪(Diggy Bird )射入罰球領先，這些開心時光很快便被猛虎的前鋒線玻壞，造就施比斯(Tyler Spitz )大腳長傳予史東達陣。
其後雙方互有進帳和以13分平手完上半場。
易邊後仍是香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊先主動出擊，但猛虎也還以顏色，史卓表示: 「我們沒有自亂陣腳並按部署而向他們施壓並有所回報。」
香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊事實上在多方面與對手勢均力敵，可惜在很多關鍵時刻賠上罰球。該隊總經理雲拜恩(Bryan Rennie)說: 「我們差劣的判斷自毀長城並讓對手有機可乘。這令我們在壓力下上了寶貴一課，也要學會珍惜每個得分機會和應付腹背受敵的處境。」
拜迪獨取13分足見地位舉足輕重，隊長保確迪(Kane Boucaut)及積克柏飛迪(Parfitt)也為香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊取得達陣。
猛虎的派斯(Matt Price)貢獻了14分和全場賣力的諾治 (Craig Lodge) 是勝利的基石。史卓說: 「我相信其他人感受到我們的威脅，但我們只會精益求精。」
華利以一個達陣之差氣走九龍欖球會，後者憑麥艾當(Chris McAdam)的罰球在上半場取得些微優勢，下半場華利的罰球頻頻得手，教練艾積克(Jack Isaac)對表現感到火光: 「我們不似打欖球並欠缺紀律性，各方面表現全在水準之下，能夠獲勝可說是十分幸運。」
仍未打開今季勝利之門的九龍欖球會獲得第一分，統帥施基布克(James Scaysbrook)後悔球隊錯失良機 ，他道:「這很令人失望，我們沒有好好施壓和把握機會，我對大家盡力比賽而開心。」
華利雖然力保不敗金身，但今仗已敲響警號，九龍欖球會希望隨改善表現步入佳境。
木球會上半場大部份時間佔優，港會新援泰迪文(Andrew Tiedemann)表現搶鏡和港腳禾獲克(Niall Rowark)攻入母會唯一達陣，隊友希尼(Gavin Hadley)也攻入11分。港會欖球總監湯馬士(Will Thomas)說:「我們主宰大局和對每場勝利珍而重之，如能更輕鬆勝出當然更理想。」
女子超聯方面， Natixis香港足球會冰之隊被法興銀行華利黑夫人隊(Societe General Valley Black)以52-0擊潰，雞糊鷹隊也狂勝Sabre九龍欖球會63-0，SCAA銅鑼灣欖球會輕取Transact 24 大埔龍欖球隊19-7。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
Rose and Bjerregaard go toe-to-toe in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, 23 October: Lucas Bjerregaard and Justin Rose are set for a final day showdown at the UBS Hong Kong Open after the leading duo could not be separated during an enthralling third round at Hong Kong Golf Club.
Rose had held a one shot lead over the Dane coming into the weekend and the World Number Seven recorded two eagles and two birdies in a very impressive 64 that saw him move to 15 under. But Bjerregaard withstood everything his playing partner could throw at him and signed for a 63 with a bogey on the last the only blemish as he goes in search of a first European Tour title.
Anirban Lahiri was at 11 under after a 65 with countryman Jeev Milkha Singh and recently crowned British Masters champion Matthew Fitzpatrick a further shot back, but the story of the day was the toe-to-toe battle between the leaders.
Rose was handed an early test at the first as he hit his tee shot well right and had to chip out onto the fairway but he showed his class with an approach to 10 feet and made par. The Englishman then bombed a drive 356 yards down the third and when he found the green with his second shot, he rolled home the putt to get to 11 under.
Bjerregarrd made back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth and, when he made another gain at the sixth thanks to a stunning approach to two feet, he joined Rose at the top of the leaderboard.
Both leaders birdied the tenth to open up a two shot lead and that was when Bjerregaard came to life, holing from 12 feet on the 11th and then putting his tee shot to the par three 12th to 10 feet to open up a two shot lead.
Rose does not have a US Open to his name for nothing, though, and he holed a 50 foot putt for eagle on the 13th to once again share the lead before Bjerregaard followed him in to make it four birdies in a row.
Another birdie followed from Rose on the 15th but as was now to be expected, his playing partner responded instantly, picking up an eighth birdie of the day on the 16th. The Dane’s wayward tee shot on the 18th led to a dropped shot meaning the leading duo will be neck and neck when they go out in the final group again.
“Lucas played unbelievable golf today,” said Rose. “I actually didn’t know much about his game – first of all he’s a lovely guy and second, he can really play. “I hung with him and what impressed me today was the couple of par saves that I had to make, which I managed to do.
“The first hole, I didn’t play the hole particularly well but made a nice 15-foot putt for par there and then eagling the third kind of got me up and running. It was just a really fun day playing with Lucas and flip-flopping birdies and eagles and really stretching away from the field. It was a lot of fun.”
Bjerregaard had a similar assessment of the day, commenting: “It was great. I really enjoyed it out there with Justin. He’s a really good guy and we kept making birdies, especially around the turn.
“I played some good golf today and it was nice to get off to a good start, as well, to take some of the pressure off. So I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. Obviously it’s not fun to finish off any round with a bogey and especially not today. I hit a bad tee shot on 18 there, pretty much my only bad shot of the day. It wasn’t the way I wanted to finish, but still, I’m very happy with the round today.”
Ian Poulter’s bid to complete what would have been an incredible victory given his late entry to the tournament seems to be over after the Englishman dropped down the field with a three over par 73 to join his Ryder Cup team mate Graeme McDowell on four under.
American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed, meanwhile, posted a fine 65 to move to eight under going into the final round.
(Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
Global stars take UBS Hong Kong Open’s ‘Urban Golf Challenge’
Hong Kong, 23 October: Six of golf’s biggest global names gathered in central Hong Kong on Friday night to take the game to a new audience and take part in the UBS Hong Kong Open’s ‘Urban Golf Challenge’.
Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell, Patrick Reed, Victor Dubuisson and Thongchai Jaidee got together in Chater Gardens in Hong Kong’s Central district, where UBS had constructed a special nearest the pin competition for the star players to take aim and attempt to claim the ‘Urban Golf Challenge’ in front of an enthusiastic crowd amidst the backdrop of one the world’s great metropolis.
Justin Rose took the brilliant form which has helped him to the top of the halfway leaderboard at Fanling from the golf course to the inner city to win the Urban Golf Challenge.
Below is a selection of the best images from the Urban Golf Challenge.
(Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
Rose rises to the top in Hong Kong with Poulter looking ominous
Hong Kong, 23 October: Justin Rose opened up a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the UBS Hong Kong Open, but admitted he had one eye on Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter who is hot on his heels just two strokes back.
Rose followed up his opening 65 with a 66 to get to nine under par at the Hong Kong Golf Club and establish a one shot advantage over Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, with Poulter and Lu Wei-chih a further stroke behind.
All eyes have been on Poulter this week after he made a late entry to the tournament following dropping out of the top 50 in the World Ranking.
With his place in the field at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions under threat, Poulter made a late dash to the Far East in order to guarantee he played the 13 European Tour events necessary to secure his membership for 2016.
And, with the 2010 UBS Hong Kong Open champion just two shots back heading into the weekend, Rose believes his friend and rival will provide a major threat to his position at the top of the leaderboard.
“Poulter is a past champion is and he’s on the leaderboard,” he said. “He’s always good when he’s got something to prove, and he’s probably a dangerous guy now that he’s outside the top 50 in the world, and I know that he’ll be desperate to get back in it. He always plays well when he has motivation, so he’s obviously going to be tough to beat too.”
Rose is the highest-ranked player in the field at World Number Seven and, after starting on the 11th, picked up birdies on the 14th, 18th, third and eighth holes to get to eight under par before dropping his first shot of the week on the difficult ninth.
But the 2013 US Open Champion bounced straight back with a birdie on the tenth to get out in front on his own and was satisfied with his performance.
“I’m very happy with that,” he said. “I felt like I struggled with the recovery overnight. I just felt like body was sore this morning, and today was definitely more of a struggle than yesterday. Yesterday I played such a clean round, I guess it was always going to be more of a struggle. I made a few more mistakes today but salvaged par very well quite a few times.
“Finally the bogey that threatened a few times reared its head on number nine, but I guess I played 34 holes without making a mistake. It’s inevitable you’re going to make one mistake, but it’s out of the way and I don’t have to think about it now. I’ve got to try to play good golf over the weekend, make some birdies, and keep moving forward.
“I again hit a lot of good putts today, and my putts that aren’t going in are threatening the cup, so that’s good. I feel good about my game and if I stay in my process things should work out well, but you can’t afford to get ahead of yourself.”
Poulter also recorded a 66 as he made a flying start with birdies on the 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th. He dropped a shot on the first but then got it back on the third in spectacular fashion as he splashed out of the bunker and holed a 45-foot putt.
Another birdie followed on the fourth, before he dropped a shot on the ninth to sit on seven under alongside Lu.
“I don’t play to take part – obviously I play to win,” said Poulter. “Even coming in as late as I did, my mind was focused on shooting a good score yesterday, and today was really key. And I know this golf course, I’ve shot 60 around here before.
“So even though I had not played a practice round, I’ve got good memories on this golf course. I’ve had a couple of top fives in the last five years around here, as well. So I know the place and I like it. Hopefully I can have a good weekend.”
Lu had got back into a share of top spot after his first nine holes as he recorded four birdies and a bogey, but a double on the par five third saw him fall back.
European Tour Rookie of the Year contenders Matthew Fitzpatrick and Anirban Lahiri both shot second round 67s to sit at six under alongside YE Yang, who added a 66 to his opening 68.
Graeme McDowell moved to five under after a 69 which featured five birdies and four bogeys, while American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed fired a 69 to sit at three under. There was no such luck for hios fellow countryman Dustin Johnson, however, as the World Number Eight missed the cut at one over after a 72.
(Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
香港男子七人欖球代表隊「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」 香港站分組形勢塵埃落定
本地欖球為愛隊打氣入奧機會難逢
[香港，2015年10月23日]: 香港欖球總會(欖總)昨日公佈了「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」香港站男女子組賽事分組情況。七人欖球將於明年首次亮相奧運會(奧運) 。
「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」將於11月7-8日假香港大球場進行，男子冠軍將自動獲得來季奧運資格，香港被編入B組與斯里蘭卡、馬來西亞、菲律賓和伊朗同處一室。
如港隊能順利取得小組首名，便很可能要到決賽才會與宿敵日本一決高下。香港女子隊爭冠之路較為荊棘滿途，亞洲傳統勁旅中國和日本成攔路虎，而且入場劵鹿死誰手還看11月尾東京站的戰果。
昨日的分組公佈活動狻得多位本地體育界官員和運動員到場支持，包括香港特別行政局民政事務局首席助理秘書長賴俊儀女士、中國香港體育協會暨奧林匹克委員會義務秘書長王敏超太平紳士、 欖總行政總裁韋域安先生、滙豐集團環球市務推廣部總監莫嘉樂先生(Giles Morgan)、1964年奧運會香港曲棍球代表隊成員Sarinder Dillon先生、欖總青少年董事艾百樂先生 (Case Everaert)和Grevino銷售及營運總監陸潔珊女士。
韋域安說: 「我希望告訴大家11月份有一連兩日緊湊的欖球比賽即將來臨，香港男女子隊十分需要大家的支持，在爭勝之路上助一臂之力。」
出席活動的Sarinder Dillon先生是1964年東京奧運會香港曲棍球代表隊成員。七人欖球首次登奧正是香港男女隊步隨1964年香港英雄的後塵，再有香港團體運動代表亮相奧運。
Sarinder Dillon 說: 「同屬高強度運動的曲棍球和七人欖球有很多共通點。隊友場內外相處時間甚多，感情要好和互相信任，這些都是勝利的原材料。」「角逐奧運是每個運動員的夢 想，當年我只有17歲，那些絕對是畢生難忘經驗，能與世界各地頂尖運動員同場十分奇妙。」
他續說: 「公眾的支持對球隊爭取佳績十分重要，我呼籲廣大市民入場支持港隊，助他們成為另一支登上奧運舞台的香港團體運動代表。」
「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」香港站男子組分組
剛剛完成的「亞洲七人欖球系列賽」，日本和韓國分別位列第一及第三位，他們均是香港隊的勁敵。香港過去與B組對手較量也有不俗往績。
|
A組
|
B組 | |
| 第一組別 | 日本 | 香港 |
| 第二組別 | 韓國 | 斯里蘭卡 |
| 第三組別 | 中國 | 馬來西亞 |
| 第四組別 | 新加坡 | 菲律賓 |
| 第五組別 | 中華台北 | 伊朗 |
專家拆局
前香港男子七人欖球代表隊球星袁健濠表示: 「港隊形勢比較樂觀，希望能首日打出水準和信心。取得小組首名對四強形勢有利，希望決賽對手是日本、韓國或中國。」
香港女子隊主帥李安娜(Anna Richards)憂心地說: 「賽程十分艱辛，雖然之前在青島取得亞洲七人欖球系列賽首站冠軍，但其實亞洲四強日本、 中國、香港和哈薩克在伯仲之間，變數實在太多而我們只可積極面對。」李安娜是前新西蘭國腳並羸得五屆世界盃冠軍和入選國際欖球理事會名人堂。
女子隊隊長鄭家慈曾領軍今季戰勝日本、 中國和哈薩克，她說: 「我們當然希望勝利停不了，青島站冠軍令我們信心大增。」
身經百戰的陳朗詩肩膊傷患康復理想和勝預期她說: 「我已投入碰撞式訓練，希望可以在外圍賽上陣。」
場內外好戲連場
10支男子和6支亞洲欖球好手將連續兩日(11月7-8日)在香港大球場決雌雄，七人欖球賽場外娛興節目當然會缺少。
奧運大道由香港體育協會將聯結本地體育組織，設計聯合本地體育運動與參與奧運的展覽及有趣活動，讓公眾對本地其他體育項目有更多了解。
北看台將變身為現場音樂表演舞台，多支樂隊、唱片騎師和舞蹈團將輪流獻技。
大會將安排巴西舞者以Mardi Gras之火花向下年奧運主辦國致意。 大球場內多個食品供應商將攜手打造亞洲美食節。
大會也對小球迷照顧周到，於場內設立兒趣天地以各類遊戲攤位、嘉年華遊戲、面部彩繪、扭氣球及魔術表演環節帶來歡樂。香港欖球總會吉祥物「衛比」亦會親親在場人士。
賽事門票熱賣中
「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」將於11月7-8日進行，賽事門票將透過本地票商Ticketflap (www.ticketflap.com) 發售。欖總將門票訂價大眾化，冀望吸引更多球迷入場支持香港隊，在香港大球場營造懾人主場氣勢。
單日門票每張港幣200元正和兩日套票每張港幣360元正，12歲或以下兒童可免費入場，但必須預早登記方可獲得免費門票。
欖總亦向本地球會的球員和球迷提供優惠，只要透過特定優惠碼登記便可8折網上購票。
廣大球迷亦可經Ticketflap購買廂房層門票，兩日成人套票及兒童套票分別為每張港幣1,000元正和每張港幣500元正，至於單日成人門票及兒童門票分別為每張港幣550元正和每張港幣260元正 (兒童門票只限12歲或以下)。
如欲購票可點擊此連結http://www.ticketflap.com/zh/events/653/
* 附帶港幣10元手續費
Pic 1 – (後排, 左至右) 范信基、袁健濠、李安娜、鄭家慈、陳朗詩 (前排, 左至右) 陸潔珊女士、Sarinder Dillon 先生, 王敏超太平紳士、賴俊儀女士、 韋域安先生、莫嘉樂先生和艾百樂先生出席分組公佈活動。
Pic2– (左至右前香港男子七人欖球代表隊球員范信基和袁健濠、香港女子七人欖球代表隊教練李安娜以及香港女子七人欖球代表隊鄭家慈和陳朗詩出席分組公佈活動。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
香港欖球總會哀悼歌雅女士
[2015年10月23日，香港] 香港欖球總會及圈內人士對歌雅女士的突然離世深表哀悼，歌雅女士是香港欖球發展上一位舉重輕足的人物，亦是國際欖球壇最具影響力的女性之一。
歌雅女士在加入國際欖球理事會擔任七人賽賽事經理之前，於1987至2005年在香港欖球總會服務接近20年。歌雅女士在1974年來到香港，並在1987年加入香港欖球總會擔任秘書，一直擢升至香港國際七人欖球賽賽事經理。
「香港欖球界以及世界球壇今日痛失一位重要的成員，我們希望能夠從她孜孜不倦的專業態度、熱誠、投入和溫暖獲得啟發，繼續為欖球界帶來希望。」
「她對香港國際七人欖球賽的成功和香港欖球的貢獻良多，現今本地球壇的活躍程度和她深愛的七人欖球在全球迅速發展正好充份地體現她的功勞和成就。」
「香港欖球總會向她的家人致以懇切的慰問，想念他們，為他們禱告。」香港欖球總會主席石彼得先生表示。
歌雅女士深受香港欖球總會仝仁愛戴，在香港國際七人欖球賽揚威海外的成就中擔當舉足輕重的角色，她對七人欖球運動的全球性發展同樣重要。
歌雅女士離開香港欖球總會後加入國際欖球理事會，全力在世界各地推動欖球發展，特別是七人欖球賽方面不遺餘力。
國際欖球理事會對歌雅女士的成就和熱忱推崇備至，稱她為「溫暖和正能量的燈塔」，「成功讓七人欖球成為奧運項目和滙豐世界七人欖球巡迴賽不斷茁壯成長的背後推手」。
國際欖球理事會亦宣佈，在本周末上演的欖球世界盃準決賽的執法球證將會戴上黑色臂章代表全球欖球界人士向歌雅女士表示尊敬和悼念。
這位偉大的女士一生奉獻給欖球運動，其熱情為欖球界帶來不少正面的影響和啟發，這樣的安排正好向她作出最誠懇的致意。
香港欖球總會將於11月7-8日舉行的亞洲七人欖球外圍賽安排歌雅女士悼念活動，詳情將於日內公佈。這次賽事將會決定首度登上2016里約熱內盧奧運舞台的七人欖球賽，代表亞洲區參賽的男女子出線隊伍，是一個向歌雅女士致敬的最佳場合。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
Global Golf Stars in UBS Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong, 22 October: The UBS Hong Kong Open 2015 was started today and will be held from 22 Oct to 25 Oct, 2015
Global stars, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell kicked off today in the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.
Poulter’s UBS Hong Kong Open adventure continues
Hong Kong, 22 October: Ian Poulter’s late entry and arrival to the UBS Hong Kong Open had a minimal effect on the Englishman’s opening round as he carded a fine 67 to lie just three shots off the lead on day one at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The Englishman’s well publicised last-minute dash from his US base to Hong Kong to replace Rich Beem as a tournament invitation meant he could not have been any less prepared for the start of the event. But he defied the odds in typical Poulter style with a great opening round of three under par – three strokes behind joint leaders Andrea Pavan and Lu Wei-chih.
Poulter’s Ryder Cup team mate Justin Rose was also in ominous form as he opened his week with a five under 65 to join Shiv Kapur and CT Pan in a share of second spot, with another European Ryder Cup star, Graeme McDowell among the pack on four under after the Northern Irishman’s 66.
The USA’s Ryder Cup pair of Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson posted scores of 68 and 69 on their UBS Hong Kong Open debuts, as over 10,000 spectators took advantage of the tournament’s ‘Free Thursday’ initiative to flock through the gates at Fanling and create a brilliant first day atmosphere.
After his unexpected drop from the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking at the beginning of the week had put his ability to fulfil his minimum number of European Tour events required to retain his Membership for 2016 in doubt, Poulter arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday night without his regular caddie and having not had the opportunity to carry out any of his usual meticulous tournament planning.
Instead he relied on the knowledge he has of the famous Fanling venue from previous performances – none more so than when he took the UBS Hong Kong Open title in 2010 – as he compiled five birdies and two dropped shots en route to his 67.
“I guess in the circumstances, it was pretty good,” smiled the 39 year old. “Had I nudged a three-footer in on seven for birdie to get to three under that would have been the start I was looking for. I didn’t; I missed it and then I bogeyed the next two holes to kind of take away the good work I had done in the first few holes.
“It took me awhile to get back to three under, but overall, I’ve played pretty nicely on a course which I’ve had to get to know again pretty quickly. But I have to be happy with that after landing last night.
“Having won here in the past definitely helped. I like the golf course. Fanling suits my game. It’s not all about length; it’s about position in play off the tee. When you’ve shot low rounds on a golf course in the past, you know your lines, you know where you want to be putting from. So yeah, it was nice to get back out there on the course.
“I saw Rich (Beem) in the hotel this morning, so I went over and said, that’s awfully kind of you to do this. He didn’t have to but he was nice enough to do it, and yeah, I have to thank him for that.”
Rose and McDowell, the respective US Open Champions of 2013 and 2010, were also pleased with their opening efforts.
Rose said: “I’m really happy with the start, and more pleased with how I played today, how I swung the club, struck the ball and how patient I stayed. I had a good strategy out there, and got to grips with the golf course for the first time.”
McDowell added: “I’m happy enough with that. You know, I was three under through ten and had my chances on the back nine. And you know, a few putts could have gone in, but generally very happy the way I putted today, so I can’t complain. Hit a lot of decent shots and I’m looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow. I had good company today with Dustin and Justin, two of the best players in the world, which is an inspiration in itself.”
(Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
Hong Kong, 21 October: Ian Poulter completed his last-minute dash to the Hong Kong Open on Wednesday and immediately put on record his thanks to Rich Beem for handing him a place in this week’s UBS Hong Kong Open.
Poulter landed in Hong Kong after a 15-hour flight from New York at 19:00 on Wednesday evening and will tee off in the first round at the Hong Kong Golf Club at midday on Thursday.
After falling out of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday (October 19), having dropped nine spots, from 42nd to 51st, in the space of just two weeks, Poulter became ineligible for the upcoming WGC – HSBC Champions, meaning the Englishman would not have been able to play the minimum number of 13 European Tour events on the 2015 Race to Dubai to retain his Membership for next season.
When approached and apprised of the situation by Tour Officials, Beem, who had already travelled from Texas to Hong Kong, generously agreed to step aside in order to let Poulter have that invitation and therefore fulfill his Membership obligations.
“I feel very sorry for Rich to have been put in this situation. He has been very gracious and it is a lovely gesture,” said the 39 year old Ryder Cup star.
“It’s obviously really unfortunate that Rich has basically been asked to give his invite back. I didn’t want that, the Tour didn’t want that and I don’t think anyone would want to ask a guy who had flown halfway round the world to play a tournament to give his spot up.
“It’s unbelievably generous of him to say that’s fine. I am so grateful that he has given me the opportunity to get my numbers in. If he hadn’t done that then everyone would have been in a situation that no-one would have wanted.”
Poulter is an avid follower of the World Ranking, and was shocked to have fallen so many places in such a short space of time.
“To drop that far in the World Rankings was not expected,” he said. “I knew when the cut-off was and I am very good with the World Rankings and doing the calculations. Obviously this wouldn’t have happened if I had played better, but even still, dropping the way I did in the last couple of weeks was drastic. It was an incredible drop.
“It’s really bizarre. It’s put everyone in a bad position and I am just really grateful to everyone for helping me out. It’s down to bad play and poor management of my schedule and neither of things are good. I guess that’s the risk your run when you have two tour cards and you are trying to play two schedules. We got this one wrong, but I am here to try and play as good as I can.”
As if the situation was not bad enough, the saga was further complicated by the fact Poulter was not in possession of either of his two passports when he realised the predicament he was in on Monday morning.
“I didn’t realise until I woke up on Monday morning,” he said. “I woke up and saw the World Rankings and realised the situation straight away.
“It was a shock to the system to realise that I wasn’t going to make my numbers, and then you throw the passports situation into the mix. I have two passports but I had to send them both for my Chinese visas for the HSBC Champions and BMW Masters. I had originally sent my new one, but then the passport people said they needed the other one as well because that was the last one I had a Chinese visa in.
“It was so lucky that they came back that day. Because they were in the system and being processed, it was impossible to expedite them any quicker. They arrived at 7:15am on Tuesday and I took off at 9:00am. If they had arrived at midday I was done because I couldn’t have physically made the flight in time and I would have missed the start of the tournament.”
Now that he is in Hong Kong, Poulter, winner of the UBS Hong Kong Open in 2010, is hoping he can draw a line under the whole saga with a strong performance at the Hong Kong Golf Club against the odds.
“I have been practising at home and hopefully the game will be okay,” he said. “The World Ranking situation is not good. I have been throwing points away frivolously all season and it is time to turn that around.
“It’s not been great preparation – I don’t have a caddie, I don’t have a yardage book, I don’t know how the course is playing or how the greens are running or anything. I have no idea. So it will be a bit of a case of suck it and see tomorrow and see how we go.”
(Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
Giving Back: UBS Hong Kong Open launched first ever “Community Open Day”
Open Day deepens grassroots and partnerships with service organizations and charities
Hong Kong, 21 October: One day ahead of the 57th Hong Kong Open when the world’s leading golfers will compete for the City’s oldest professional sporting title, hundreds of local fans turned up at the inaugural “Community Open Day”, part of the grassroots program to introduce golf to a broader audience and make the UBS Hong Kong Open more accessible to the public than ever before.
More than 350 youngsters accompanied by their parents took advantage of the UBS Hong Kong Open Community Golf Day at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. Some youngsters are from three of this year’s tournament charity (Friends of Asia) beneficiaries Playright Hospital Play Services, InspiringHK Sports Foundation and the Autism Partnership Foundation’s Aoi Pui School.
The kids enjoyed a fun day out, with many visiting a golf course and playing golf for the first time. Part of the family-oriented community program included arts & crafts, introductory golf programs, rope-skipping and other interactive games. All registered participants of the Open Day also received two complimentary season passes for the tournament.
The Hong Kong Rope Skipping Club staged an exciting performance for the audience. Among them is the rope-skipping world recorder holder Mr Timothy Ho Chu Ting, who represented Hong Kong and set a world record of 500 skips in three minutes at the Rope Skipping World Championships in the US in 2012.
“Giving back to the communities we operate in is in the DNA of all of our sponsorships at UBS. We are excited at the wide array of community activities instituted around this year’s UBS Hong Kong Open and were delighted to see so many excited children on the course today getting their first experience of golf,” said Ms Kathryn Shih, Head of UBS Wealth Management APAC.
Star golfers Victor Dubuisson and Miguel Angel Jimenez were on hand to meet with the children and general public, providing both practical tips and inspiration to the young fans.
“It’s fun and rewarding to see so many kids taking an interest in golf,” said Miguel Angel Jimenez, four-time UBS Hong Kong Open champion. “The most important thing is that they had fun and got to experience the game a little bit. Hopefully we will see many outstanding golfers from this crowd in the near future.”
“As we welcome a new generation of fans, we are delighted to open the Club to the public on Community Day and for Free Thursday,” said Kenneth Lam, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club added. “These are part of the ongoing programs highlighting our commitment to the development of golf in Hong Kong, the main goal of which is to increase participation numbers in golf.”
Today also sees the launch the GOLF Inspires! by Inspire HK Sport Foundation. Supported by Friends of Asia, Hong Kong Golf Association and the Hong Kong Golf Club, organizers will launch the golf education program for underprivileged students that are taught by professional coaches. Participants will also join competitions for free, and practice and compete with free professional equipment.
With support from the Hong Kong Government’s Mega Events Fund (MEF) and the return of long-time supporter UBS as title sponsor in 2015, the UBS Hong Kong Open has expanded its outreach and created new partnerships with a number of service organizations and charities. Together with key partners and sponsors, the Organisers have implemented a series of new community initiatives:
- Free Thursday: a new scheme offering free admission to the tournament on the event’s opening day, giving visitors, local golf enthusiasts and new fans an opportunity to watch some of the world’s greatest golfers and experience the unique atmosphere of the beautifully traditional Hong Kong Golf Club at no cost on Thursday 22nd October.
- UBS Hong Kong Charity Cup: Working with Friends of Asia, the official charity of the Championship, Organizers has created a new post-event charity tournament to raise funds for its community initiatives. The 2015 UBS Hong Kong Charity Cup will take place at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling on 28 October.
- HK Special Olympics Golf Clinic: Children with special needs will have an hour of golf clinic with star golfers Li Hao Tong and Padraig Harrington on Thursday afternoon provides everyone with the opportunity to be a “Gift to the World.
- Blind Sport Federation Fun Day: A outreach program ensuring the underserved groups will have a chance to experience the sports and enjoy a day of fun at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
- Education Tour for Hong Kong Polytechnic University Students: 22 marketing students to have an education tour of Championship on Saturday morning covering the Club, the Village, Tournament Operations, Media Centre, Marquee and Structures. Designed and customized for the aspiring sports management students, the behind the scene tour is first of its kind in the City to give the local students one-of-a-kind experience to a major sports events.
- Students Reporters Day for Hong Kong Baptist University Students: 15 students from School of Communications will have a chance to practice their journalism skills at the City’s prestigious sporting events.
For “Free Thursday” tickets (maximum 2 per person), please register via: http://tickets.europeantour.com/event/ubs-hong-kong-open-thursday-only/hong-kong-gc/905708/
Tickets for 23-25, October now for sale: www.cityline.com
Facebook：www.facebook.com/ubshongkongopen
Website：www.ubshkopen.com
Photo 1: More than 350 youngsters accompanied by their parents took advantage of the UBS Hong Kong Open Community Golf Day at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.
Photo 2: The Hong Kong Rope Skipping Club staged an exciting performance for the audience.
Photo 3: The kids enjoyed a fun day out at the inaugural “Community Open Day” of UBS Hong Kong Open 2015.
(Source: Fast Track Agency/ UBS Hong Kong Open)
華利成功抵禦木球會保持不敗
香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊及猛虎報喜訊
[2015年10月19日，香港]: 法興銀行華利欖球會(華利)、彭博香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊和三軍會猛虎欖球會(猛虎)一同在香港欖球總會(欖總) 超級聯賽第三週賽事報捷。
週六最令人意外的賽果是華利在主場以25-0技術性撃倒陣容不整的Leighton Asia 香港木球會(木球會 ) ，觀乎兩軍近年實力相若，這賽果也是近季最懸殊的差距。
華利雖然勝出但卻見他們未能打出原本風格，下半場更有保捷頓(Tom Broughton) 、芬尼(Toby Fenn and)和高比斯( Khrist Kopetzky)先後被罰黃牌。
木球會上半場因被對手在達陣線前圍攻，情急下多次嘗試以犯規保持不失，終被判罰犯罰達陣，夏文(Reece Hamon)命中附加罰球之後再入兩個罰球，助球隊領先13-0返回更衣室。
下半場木球會隊長羅拔斯(Ben Roberts) 傷出令他們雪上加霜，可是此時對手丟掉太多控球權，讓木球會有喘息空間。
木球會的七隊港腳因要準備「中央海岸七人賽」而避戰，加上另一港腳傷兵林銘寧(Matthew Lamming) 令他們實力被大幅削弱。
華利在下半場對半力迎戰的木球會並未取得太多好處，直至他們陸續有兩人被暫罰離場才如夢初醒。
人數佔優的木球會卻未能撕破對方防線，反被敵方的後備球員高比斯兩度反擊達陣得手。
華利主帥艾積克(Jack Isaac )說: 「這場比賽大家也錯漏百出，對木球會時至少取得25分傻勢才是保險，我們取得幾個達陣和多次中路突破成功，最終獲勝當然高興。」「我們下決心將防守變得固 若金湯，今仗表現很好但控制球賽仍欠理想，我一度擔心下半場形勢逆轉，我們必須學懂如何保持領先優勢和紀律性，這麼多黃牌令人失望。」
前港腳麥克雷(Ally Maclay)從英國回來加盟華利並於下半場上陣。
木球會教頭文路(Deacon ManuO說: 「上半場我們錯失多次良機和為自己的不穩定付出代價，對方防守出色但我們攻力欠銳利也是未能得分的原因。」
香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊也大勝香港足球會(港會) 46-19，雙隊長之一的保確迪(Kane Boucaut) 和古倫(Ben Cullen)同達陣梅開二度。
巫亞胡(Mike Moeahu) 、後備力量賓泰拿(Ben Tyler)和祈拿域(Robert Cleary)各有進帳，協助球隊力保「Broony 盃」在手，張浩甯的4個附加罰球和1 個罰球錦上添花。
今仗再次證明香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊火力強大，他們之前一週在對木球會時下半場15分鐘內達陣3次。
猛虎以24-16戰勝Sabre 九龍欖球會24-16取得今季第二勝， 前者藉史東(Casey Stone)的達陣和派斯 (Matthew Price)的附加罰球和罰球在上半場領先10-6。
九龍欖球會(九龍)一度攻入兩球達陣收復失地，但對方郭柏雅的達陣和受惠一次犯罰達陣再擴大比分，派斯射入兩個附加罰球鎖定勝局。
猛虎教頭史卓(Craig Stewart)說: 「勝出當然是好但我對表現仍有微言。我們沒有好好控制戰局和作出太多差勁決定，但對手的拚勁也值得一讚。」
九龍教練施基布克(James Scaysbrook) 說: 「我們仍有太多失誤和甚少控球。」
華利暫以12分居榜首，香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊以10分排第2(兩勝一負) ，第2位的猛虎有8分，其後依次為港會(5分)、木球會(4分)和未嘗一勝的九龍。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
保誠香港網球公開賽 2015 冠軍總决賽 前世界一姐恩高域封后香江
[2015年10月18日，香港]:保誠香港網球公開賽2015單打及雙打冠軍總決賽，於今天(10月18日) 在香港維多利亞公園網球場進行。
在單打賽方面，前世界一姐塞爾維亞球手恩高域 Jelena Jankovic，迎戰四届 WTA 冠軍及世界排名最高第五的德國球手科貝爾 Angelique Keber。
比賽期間，戰況激烈! 第一局由德國的科貝爾先勝，前世界一姐恩高域被逼落後及急起直追，並終於第二局以7:6險勝扳平! 進入第三局決勝局，恩高域狀態大勇，最終更以6:1大勝科貝爾! 封后香江!
雙打賽方面，則由舒韋多娃與柯爾妮以7:5及 6:4兩盤直落勝阿魯芭蕾娜與阿里帕奇，輕鬆奪得今年保誠香港網球公開賽2015雙打冠軍。
Jankovic powers to victory in final of Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open
(18 Oct, Hong Kong) Former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia has set her sights firmly on winning her first Grand Slam title after she stormed back from a first set loss to out-power and out-muscle Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the final of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Sunday.
Fourth seed Jankovic slugged her way in a three-set thriller, coming back from the brink to defeat second-seeded Kerber 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 in front of a capacity 3,500-strong crowd at Hong Kong’s Victoria Park centre court.
The victory was Jankovic’s second WTA title this year – and 15th in her career – following her triumph in the opening leg of the Asian swing in Guangzhou last month. Jankovic, who is now ranked 24th, reigned briefly at the top of the WTA rankings in 2008.
“This victory will do my confidence a world of good. Beating Angelique and my win over Venus (Williams) in the semi-finals proves I can still play at the top level and if I work hard, maybe I can win a Grand Slam next year,” said the 30-year-old Jankovic.
A last-minute wild card entry, Jankovic held her nerve to win the second set on a tie-break and force a deciding set which she easily won breaking a dis-spirited Gerber twice.
“It was tough. It is never easy playing Angelique for every ball is being returned. She defeated me in three sets in Wuhan a few weeks ago and I thought this would go the same way. But I tried to stay focused and positive and it worked,” Jankovic said.
World number nine Kerber’s hopes of winning her fifth title this season and booking a place in the WTA Finals fell apart as her serve deserted her midway through the match.
“It was tough. I have played her many times and we both know each other’s game very well. She deserved to win today,” said a disappointed Kerber.
Four double faults at crucial stages in the second set saw the pressure pile on the left-handed Kerber. Both players traded service breaks twice to push the second set to a tiebreak.
Jankovic, who had also conquered Venus Williams in the semi-final with her attritional baseline game, won the tiebreak 7-4 to level the score at one set apiece and with the momentum firmly behind her.
Jankovic continued to rely on her powerful double-handed backhand to out-slug Kerber whose confidence had hit rock-bottom by now. An early break in the deciding set allowed Jankovic to take a 3-0 lead. Despite a medical timeout at this stage, Kerber couldn’t re-discover the spark as she tamely folded dropping her serve again in the sixth game.
“If I continue to work hard and stay injury free and healthy, I’m confident I can have a good season next year. My goals will be the majors. I’m not thinking about my rankings for if I have the confidence and self-belief, the results will come,” said Jankovic whose next tournament will be in Luxemburg starting Monday.
The 27-year-old Kerber will now have to rely on a strong showing at the final WTA tournament in Moscow, starting Monday (Oct 19), to see if she will remain among the top eight on the Road to Singapore race. Five players have now confirmed their places in the WTA Finals – Simona Halep, Maria Sharapova, Garbine Muguraza, Petra Kitova and Agnieszka Radawanska.
“I have entered to play in Moscow but I will have to see how I shape up,” said Kerber who revealed she has been struggling with a back injury.
“I don’t want to use that as an excuse for my performance today. Jelena deserved to win,” Kerber said.
In the doubles final, fourth seeds Alize Cornet of France and Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan defeated top seeds Lara Arruabarrena of Spain and Andreja Klepac of Slovakia 7-5, 6-4.
(Source: HK Tennis Open 2015)
華利欖球會第三週賽事主場迎戰香港木球
[2015年10月16日，香港]:香港欖球總會(欖總)超級聯賽第三週賽事重頭戲由上屆總決賽盟主法興銀行華利欖球會(華利)在主場嚴陣以待衛冕聯賽冠軍Leighton Asia 香港木球會(木球會)
同日其他賽事還有Sabre 九龍欖球會力圖在三軍會猛虎欖球會(猛虎)身上[下午4時30分， 京士柏運動場1號場]打開今季勝利之門，彭博香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊將在主場力拒Natixis香港足球會 (港會) 來襲 [下午4時30分，石硤尾運動場] 。
華利上年在總決賽最後一戰幾經辛苦下才以18-15險勝木球會。雙方也預料今季鬥爭依然劇烈，華利上週以23-13 擊敗猛虎，反而木球會在香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊身上滑鐵盧。
華利主帥艾積(Jack Isaac)說: 「儘管我們已有兩勝在手，但我仍不滿球隊的表現因為丟了太多分數。木球會是一支優秀隊伍，我預料他們會全力擺脫頹勢，所以我們必須先下手為強，況且過去幾季大家旗鼓相當，明天大戰可期。」
木球會統帥文路(Deacon Manu)因傷兵問題而未能以最強陣容爭勝而煩惱，他說: 「華利的主場向來難應付加上我們傷兵滿營，問題更見棘手。」「上週的個人失誤令我們落敗，明日我們要更集中做好本份。」
力爭兩連勝的港會要作客石硤尾將是艱巨任務，香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊有手持「Broony盃」最長紀錄(上季6度力保不失，只在最後的「超級星期六」將獎盃拱手杷讓予木球會) 。今季「Broony盃」爭奪戰將在全部「超級星期六」主場賽事進行。
港會欖球總監湯馬士(William Thomas)期望復製對九龍欖球會的勝果，他道: 「我們已迅速從首週失意中反彈，打法以更多控球時間和侵略性為重，也收到預期效果。」「只要我們準備充足便不會害怕任何對手。」
香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊作出些微變動，賓泰拿(Ben Tyler)將首度上陣，古倫(Ben Cullen)改任翼鋒，艾基文(John Aikman) 、積克柏飛迪(Jack Parfitt) 、勒蘭卓寶(Lachlan Chubb)和卡斯甸蘭(Jonathan Kastelan)組成全港腳前鋒線。
人腳較緊絀的九龍欖球會仍摸索勝利方程式，該會欖球總監麥苗能(Mark McMillan)相信目標不遠已，他道: 「無人可預料前兩週的失利，太多無壓力犯錯是我軍致命傷。猛虎終於打破勝利荒後士氣如虹，我們不會輕視他們，若然我們能加強施壓和減少犯錯，便有機繼季前 熱身賽後再次打敗對手。而且我們擅長行軍快速，希望天公造美助我們一把。」
上年雙料冠軍法興銀行華利黑夫人隊將與九龍欖球會交手，前者也是零失球和少打一場下暫列第四位。第五位的三軍會猛虎欖球會將遇上第六位的大埔龍女子欖球隊。雞糊鷹隊和華利黑夫人隊陣中的七人隊港腳戰罷上週未的「亞洲女子七人欖球系列賽」後悉數歸隊，令球隊如虎添翼。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
「英超足球大師邀請賽」（香港站） 2015
[2015年10月16日，香港]: 萬衆期待的「英超足球大師邀請賽」（香港站）於十月十五日在小西灣運動場舉行。 多位英超大師如史高斯、皮利斯、安達頓及科拿等等能夠近距離與本地球迷見面!
迎戰英超大師的香港傳奇就有張志德、譚兆偉、顧錦輝、王福榮及招重文等等。
上半場賽事先由皮利斯輕鬆連入兩球，隨後很快再由安達頓射成3:0! 強勢之下，再到史高斯勁射入網4:0! 但香港傳奇絕不氣餒，喜出望外由譚兆偉及王福榮各追一球成2:4! 但最後由科拿再入一球上半場領先5:2。
半場休息時，現場球迷相當投入，紛紛站在球員通道入口，勢必要索取他們偶像球星的簽名! 而各球星則相當友善，有求必應!
下半場時，香港傳奇十分主動強攻，先憑招重文一個罰球追回一球，後再由王福榮射入12碼共追回兩球成4:5，將港人粉絲希望升温，但稍後未再有進賬，最終英超大師以5:4勝香港傳奇。
是晚全場七千多名球迷看得如癡如醉! 期間，一名情緒高漲的球迷，更忍不住衝了入球場，但很快便被兩名保安制服離場!
相片簿
保誠香港網球公開賽 2015 大威 Williams 出場
(10月13日: 香港) 今年的保誠香港網球公開賽，一連九天由十月十日至十八日，在香港維多利亞公園網球場舉行。
眾多網球巨星雲集香江，包括七屆大滿貫冠軍 Venus Williams、前世界排名第一 Jelena Jankovic 、意大利的前法國公開賽冠軍 Francesca Schiavone、四届 WTA 冠軍 Angelique Keber 、法國美少女新星 Caroline Garcia 等等!
頭三天的外圍賽，更是免費開放給公眾人士參觀，藉此讓更多人士參與今年網球盛事活動，及從而推廣網球運動!
在首天賽事的亮點，網球巨星 Venus Williams 迎戰烏克蘭的 Yuliya Beygelzimer，雙方互有攻勢，期間亦有拋離各自對手及不斷出現 Deuce ! 戰況緊張! 唯最後經驗老到的大威 Williams 扳平及以總局數勝出!
香港男女子隊各以次名及第三名完成「亞洲七人欖球系列賽」
為2016奧運會「亞洲區外圍賽」增添優勢
[2015年10月12日，香港]: 香港男子隊終於在斯里蘭卡站躋身今屆「亞洲七人欖球系列賽」銀盃決賽，雖然以22-29向日本稱臣，衝擊錦標未竟全功，但仍足以一手將港隊從積分榜第5位拉高至第2名。
這場決賽可說是11月7-8日舉行的2016年巴西里約熱內盧奧運會(奧運)之「亞洲區外圍賽」熱身。屆時只有一支男子隊可脫穎而出，直接獲得奧運資格，至於女子組戰罷香港站後，還要計算之後的東京站成績才有定案。
從斯里蘭卡站可見日本和香港實力傲視同儕，韓國和斯里蘭卡也具一定戰鬥力，中國也頗具威脅，但穩定性是他們的弱項。香港在首站大熱倒灶只以第5名完成，其後兩站分別在泰國和斯里蘭卡奪銅和銀，總算挽回一些面子。
港隊狀態愈見銳利和眼前只有成為奧運50年史上首次香港團體運動代表踏足奧運的唯一目標。
香港教頭備加力(Gareth Baber)說：「我蠻滿意球隊今站和這系列賽的整體表現。」「雖然在中國站失之交臂，我們之後做到按步就班，打好每場比賽。」「我們視這賽事為練兵和備戰11月『亞洲區外圍賽』的良機，這張成績表尚令人欣慰。」
他續說：「我們與日本、韓國、斯里蘭卡和中國之間的競爭激烈，總結今屆賽事獲益良多。我們兩戰日本並只以兩記達陣之差落敗，猶幸我們還有『中央海岸七人賽』作最後催谷。」
由於韓國不敵斯里蘭卡，香港總名次由第5跳升至第2，港隊也藉此獲得下季「匯豐世界七人欖球系列賽」外圍賽資格。
備加力在這系列賽大力栽培20歲以下青年軍鄧家暉(Calvin Hunter)，備加力希望透過10月 24-25日的「中央海岸七人賽」敲定最終名單。同時也希望一眾十字兵包括T.麥堅(Tom McQueen)、韋馬克(Mark Wright)、曾慶鴻和郭嘉進能重拾比賽狀態。
另一困擾備加力多年的傷兵是基夫(Keith Robertson)，今次基夫在斯里蘭卡站重出光湖，仍顯示出昔日風采，多次單人匹馬撕破敵方防線，他夥拍賀迪(Jamie Hood)組成的中場線產生不俗效果。
備氏道：「基夫表現不錯，我們也樂見他再度披甲，他是一名與眾不同的球員，常能在場上製造驚喜，每當球隊需要達陣時，他往往是及時雨，而且他很冷靜和能慫恿面對壓力。」
但港隊仍需一班沙場老將與日本周旋，因為對方的力量和速度俱在香港之上。
他續說：「我倆實力伯仲之間，我們的落敗在於太多壓力下個人犯錯，但大家奮戰最後一刻是值得嘉許。」
港隊縱然由A.麥堅(Alex McQueen)先拔頭籌，但日本旋即還以顏色和控制上半場形勢，A.麥堅半場前再入一球，助香港取得17-12的喘氣空間。下半場美爾斯(Chris Maize)和姚錦成各有達陣，但堅韌的日本隊並沒有放棄並最終改寫戰果。
香港女子隊同樣成為日本手下敗將，在四強被氣走，最終在季軍戰以21-15力克泰國取回一些安慰，港隊連同青島站的成績總計因得失分差屈居中國之後以第3名完成今屆系列賽。
日本也首奪成為系列賽總冠軍，中國得第3及哈薩克得第4，顯示亞洲女子欖球實力版圖出現轉變。
香港的潘柏茵在季軍戰雖然達陣大三元可惜腳風欠順，鄭芷婷和岑惠心也攻入達陣，一雪小組賽5-7不敵對手的前恥，潘柏茵以41分(5達陣及8個附加罰球)成為「得分后」。日本在銀盃決賽輕勝中國33-12。
備加力最後說：「我們很滿意女子隊的成績，她們經多年努力終初嘗甜頭。雖然在斯里蘭卡站有些結果未如理想，但現在獲得總成績第3名也很好，令大家對外圍賽更有信心。」
香港男子隊名單 :
禾獲特 (隊長)、曉臣、賀迪、華路雲、姚錦成、A.麥堅、李卡度、美爾斯、鄧家暉、高凡戴爾、基夫*、卡普*
香港女子隊名單 :
鄭家慈[隊長]、高香慧(Natasha OLSON-THORNE) [副隊長]、藍嘉敏、鄭芷婷、潘柏茵、岑惠心、謝家美、顧思靈、鄺秀欣、加艾恩* 、李紫婷*、華莉絲*
*首次參加「亞洲七人欖球系列賽2015」
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
彭博香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊爆冷擊敗 Leighton Asia 香港木球會
[2015年10月12日，香港]: 彭博香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊(Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish)藉下半場排山倒海的攻勢取得連串達陣，週六在石硤尾主場意外地以34-15 戰勝 Leighton Asia 香港木球會，更一口氣將 「 Broony 盃」帶回家。法興銀行華利欖球會也以24-13力克 Borrelli Walsh 三軍會猛虎欖球會，終止對手取得聯賽連勝 ， Natixis 香港足球會亦避免連敗發生，以27-10 勇退 Sabre 九龍欖球會。
Marcus Slade 替香港木球會先開紀錄，也是他的首個母會達陣，積斯習(Jason Kjestrup)輕鬆射入附加罰球，領先7-0。
戴亞(Paul Dwyer)14分鐘時被暫罰離場窒礙了香港木球會的氣勢，幸好防守得力讓戴亞回來前一分鐘只被對方的張浩甯(Charles Cheung)射入一記罰球 ，此子今仗共取得12分(兩個罰球和四個附加罰球)，上半場末段積斯習命中罰球，助球隊領先10-3。
下半場香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊大舉反擊，15分鐘內達陣更連下三城，古倫(Ben Cullen)、 勒蘭卓寶(Lachlan Chubb)和卡力加(Lex Kaleca) 的努力助球隊反超前24-10。
積克柏飛迪( Jack Parfitt)的達陣為球隊取得勝利外更獲得額外積分，還造出令人吃驚的賽果。
勝方主帥夏文(Craig Hammond)表示：「我們賽前已預料這是一場惡戰而且我們已在這兒敗走多年。」「只要我們勇敢面對便有轉機，我樂見大家的演出。我們今日下半場並沒有 如上週般放軟手腳，加上後備上陣球員不負所託。我們現在能派上改變戰局的球員，這是我們今非昔比之處。」
「『Quaich盃』也是我們另一強大催化劑，上季我們曾六度力保獎盃在手，大家知道這場比賽可讓我們重奪主權。現在我們已將它抱入懷中並準備在下仗迎戰香港足球會，希望屆時我們打出漂亮的今季主場第一戰 。」
另一邊廂的Borrelli Walsh三軍會猛虎欖球隊被法興銀行華利欖球會以23-13擊敗，前者的連勝希望隨之而幻滅。華利欖球會翼鋒雲尼基亞(Dave Vainqueur)和安祖史密夫(Andrew Smith)均有達陣，夏文(Reece Hamon)添加了兩個附加罰球和三個罰球，猛虎欖球隊的得分來自鶴京(Samuel Hocking)的達陣和派斯(Matt Price)的兩記罰球和一次附加罰球。
華利欖球隊副舵手安祖基利(Andrew Kelly)說：「 猛虎欖球會鬥志頑強。我們須要學懂下手更重，雖然我們獲勝但亦屬勉強，希望日後的演出更佳。」
成為手下敗將的猛虎欖球會教頭史卓道(Craig Stewart)：「未能登上榜首固然失望。我對我軍的拚勁和製造機會這兩方面的表 現，對手的嚴密防守亦值得一讚。」「我們把握力不足是致命傷之一直，反之敵方能把握我們的失誤轉為分數，唯獨仍可取是我們證明具爭標力，很期待下週賽事重 振聲威。」
Natixis香港足球會在當日最後一仗對Saber
九龍欖球會當頭(27-10)棒喝。經歷開季首戰失利的香港足球會今次甫開賽便下馬威以15-0領先 ，由拿蒙迪(Matt Lamont)的達陣、禾獲克(Niall Rowark)的罰球及附加罰球和麥菲史密夫(Callum McFeat-Smith)貢獻達陣，轉瞬間已令對手處於下風。
下半場雙方一接戰香港足球會的艾克靴斯(Joel Ackhurst)再以達陣懲罰對手，之後九龍欖球會憑馬天而史密夫(Rory Martyn-Smith)回敬一記達陣和麥艾當(Chris McAdam)成功命中附加罰球及罰球，將分數改寫至22-10。香港足球會最後由溫波爾(Jacob Rumball)的達陣鎖定 27-10勝果。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
香港男女子隊參加「亞洲七人欖球系列賽」最為一站
為11月的「亞洲區外圍賽」以戰養戰
[2015年10月9日，香港]: 香港欖球總會(欖總)公佈將參加本週末(10月10-11日)在斯里蘭卡舉行的「亞洲七人欖球系列賽」最為一站之大軍名單。
這將是女子隊在11月7-8日爭取奧運會(奧運)入場劵前的最後比賽，至於男子隊將於10月24-25日造訪澳洲，參加「中央海岸七人賽」(Central Coast Sevens)，作為11月「亞洲區外圍賽」的最後演習。
香港娘子軍繼在中國站贏得首個「亞洲七人爦球系列賽」冠軍後，將以榜首姿態揮軍斯里蘭卡劍指后冠，若要如願以償，香港務必將上站連破中國和日本這兩大亞洲強手的歷史重演。
這也是女子隊首次以熱門身份爭標，主帥李安娜(Anna Richards)胸有成竹地說：「這並沒有成為我們訓練時的負累，反而球員現在對自己要求更高是好事。我們知道那裡才是勝利的水平，相信各隊較青島時會更強，我們對自己表現只有更嚴厲要求。」
她給予每位球員機會爭取成為「亞洲區外圍賽」陣容，因此對今次人腳作出三個調動，新秀莊嘉欣、愛美麗(Amelie Seure)和李念殷兩名經驗豐富者將掛免戰牌，由加艾恩(Adrienne Garvey)、華莉絲(Lindsay Varty)和李紫婷頂上 。
李安娜續說:「我們一直以系列賽來發掘新人，這趟並不例外。我們需要給予在『世界七人欖球系列賽外圍賽』演出可人的華莉絲和傷癒的加艾恩證明自 己。」「這是決定11月終極名單前的寶貴機會。雖然終極名單已有雛型但仍有異數，我希望她們在這週末後能令我費煞思量，我也樂見球員毫無保留地爭取終極名 單席位。」
香港與烏茲別克、泰國和日本同組，李氏表示：「這是很好的挑戰，泰國將好好激發我們迎接日本的硬仗。」
香港在首天對日本的結果具指標性，但香港在上站四強和上季曾降服對手的往績令球隊更有信心。
李安娜補充說：「我們鐘情與日本交手，因為日本技術、體能和閱賽能力十分強，是我們學習的榜樣。我相信她們會派遣更強陣容一吐烏氣。」
在泰國站奪銅的香港男子隊隨著哈薩克退賽後，小組形勢亦因參賽球隊數目而變得更不樂觀，雖然被列為C組頭號種籽，但同組只有中國並需對戰兩次，恰好給予港隊報卻在青島不敵對手的恥辱。
主教練備加力(Gareth Baber)道：「雖然有點奇怪但我們也要面對事實，我們當然希望與多些不同風格球隊交手如哈薩克可考驗體力化的應對力，但這並不會影響我軍本週末的部 署。」他也對出戰泰國站的陣容作出修改，施比斯(Tyler Spitz)和黎萬利(Ben Rimene)的位置將由卡普( JackCapon)和基夫(Keith Robertson)取代，這也是二人傷癒後在今季系列賽首度亮相。
備加力續道：「黎萬利在泰國受傷仍未完全康復，同時希望藉此觀察其他球員的表現，卡普和基夫的復出時間來得正好，我們對他們不會要求太高，畢竟二人久疏戰陣。」
按「亞洲七人欖球系列賽」賽制，首日賽事以小組賽掛帥，次日由八強賽起步，如果港隊一切順利，將好大可能在四強碰上二號種籽韓國。
備氏說：「我們在此前要先完成有大量工作，四強和決賽一切言之尚早。我們要有比泰國站更好表現的目標十分簡單和清晰，一步步邁向決賽。」「我們也希望將訓練成果活用於比賽之上，如能躋身決賽將對11月的『外圍賽』帶來激勵。」
「如未能進入決賽或奪冠也不是世界末日。這比賽是我們為『外圍賽』磨劍和鍛鍊新人的良機，我認為我們在這方面做得不錯。」「我們前鋒線有3名19至 20歲的小將，我們藉系列賽在11月前加快他們的成長期。」「之後的『中央海岸七人賽』也具挑戰性，正好讓傷癒的T.麥堅和韋馬克融入球隊，同時我們也可 以在『外圍賽』前作最後檢閱。」
香港男子隊名單 :
禾獲特 (隊長)、曉臣、賀迪、華路雲、姚錦成、A.麥堅、李卡度、美爾斯、鄧家暉、高凡戴爾、基夫*、卡普*
香港女子隊名單 :
鄭家慈[隊長]、高香慧(Natasha OLSON-THORNE)[副隊長]、藍嘉敏、鄭芷婷、潘柏茵、岑惠心、謝家美、顧思靈、鄺秀欣、加艾恩* 、李紫婷*、華莉絲*
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
香港欖球總會主辦奧運外圍賽惠及本地運動
[2015年10月9日，香港]: 香港欖球總會(欖總)十分榮幸能主辦史上首屆七人欖球的奧運會(奧運)亞洲區外圍賽, 這「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」將於11月7-8日在香港大球場進行, 同時也是香港首次主辦奧運會團體運動的外圍賽。
20路亞洲七人欖球好手包括12支男子隊及8支女子隊將會師東方之珠, 勁旅如中國、日本、韓國、馬來西亞、哈薩克和斯里蘭卡將悉數參賽。
男子組的冠軍之師可直接獲得明年巴西里約熱內盧奧運入場劵。至於女子組則要以兩分站決定鹿死誰手, 2020年奧運主辦城市東京將在香港站後舉辦第2站外圍賽。
七人欖球將在明夏的巴西第一次亮相奧運舞台, 香港男女子七人欖球代表隊極有可能成為繼男子曲棍球隊於1964年踏足奧運之後, 另一隊香港團體運動代表在奧運留下足印。
欖總希望藉著11月的奧運外圍賽，透過與中國香港體育協會暨奧林匹克委員會、香港精英運動員協會和不同體育總會的合作, 宣揚為奧運夢而奮鬥的香港男女子運動員。
屆時香港大球場內將設立一條「奧運大道」(Olympic Avenue)來宣傳本地體育, 讓觀眾更了解香港運動現況和新晉運動員, 也藉以鼓勵公眾更大力支持主場出擊的香港欖球隊和其他為奧運舞台這個人及職業運動里程碑而努力的運動員。
欖總主席石彼德(Pieter Schats)表示: 「能夠主辦歷史上首個『亞洲七人欖球外圍賽』讓我們引以為傲, 相信香港能舉辦載譽國際的七人欖球賽並促進該運動全球性發展, 是促成外圍賽落戶香江的主因。」
欖總行政總裁韋域安(Vern Reid)說:「國際欖球壇視奧運為欖球全球發展的轉捩點, 我們希望11月的賽事同樣能令本地體壇受惠, 讓一眾為爭取奧運和精英運動而付出極大努力的本地運動員成為焦點。」
雖然外圍賽荊棘滿途, 但現時香港男女子隊皆被視為出線熱門, 因為男子隊是應屆亞洲盟主, 而女子隊剛剛撃敗強手日本和中國首奪亞洲系列賽分站后冠, 更是她們第一次暫佔亞洲一姐之位。
作為香港體育學院精英項目之一, 香港隊多次強調在此香港運動史上重要一刻主場意義如斯鉅大。
本地球星姚錦成說: 「當年我參加廣洲亞運會及之前的全運會記憶猶新, 能夠在自己國家參與大型運動會是我運動員生涯的光輝。現在有機會在我成長地和父母面前比賽, 成為我日常訓練和爭取入選的額外動力。」
女子隊悍將兼以隊長身份帶領香港贏得首個亞洲桂冠的鄭家慈也十分認同地說: 「參加奧運是每位運動員的夢想, 能夠在家人和朋友前實現這人生夢想一直是夢寐以求。」
有關「亞洲七人欖球外圍賽」門票詳情可瀏覽www.ticketflap.com。
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)
2015/2016亞洲青少年花樣滑冰挑戰賽
香港囊括女子青年精英組總成續前三名
【2015年10月7日】 一連三日的2015/16亞洲青少年花樣滑冰挑戰賽-香港站比賽完滿結束，賽事吸引大批滑冰愛好者到場觀賞，場面熱鬧。
香港隊在是次比賽最高組別的女子青年精英組總成續囊括前六名, 冠軍為年僅十二年方歲的梁懿, 同齡的鄺曉晴以0.42分屈居亞軍, 她們兩位剛於9月在新疆舉行的取得第十三屆全國運動會入圍資格，而第三及第四名分別為馬曉晴及蘇怡. 另外在少年女子B高年齡組香港六包辦前五名, 冠軍為袁寶恩, 亞軍為陳栩悅, 季軍為李曉文。
各組冠軍名單如下:
|
組別: |
運動員 |
代表隊 |
| 女子青年精英組 |
梁 懿 |
香港 |
| 男子青年精英組 |
鍾穎彥 |
香港 |
| 女子青年B組 |
Emee Marjorie DY |
菲律賓 |
| 女子少年A組 |
楊紹宁 |
中國(深圳冰紛) |
| 男子少年B高年齡組 |
连思阳 |
中國(深圳冰紛) |
| 女子少年B高年齡組 |
袁寶恩 |
香港 |
| 男子少年B低年齡組 |
赵向黎 |
中國(深圳冰紛) |
| 女子少年B低年齡組 |
Punn TANNIRANDORN |
泰國 |
| 男子兒童A組 |
林瑋琛 |
香港 |
| 女子兒童A組 |
Pantaree SUTCHARIT |
泰國 |
| 男子兒童B組 |
陳肯 |
中國(深圳冰紛) |
| 女子兒童B組 |
袁艺慆 |
中國(上海世紀星) |
| 男子幼兒A組 |
王鑫然 |
中國(深圳冰紛) |
| 女子幼兒A組 |
袁妮可兒 |
中國(北京零度) |
| 男子幼兒B組 |
孙毅城 |
中國(南京世紀星) |
| 女子幼兒B組 |
Jasmine HUANG |
中國(深圳海岸城) |
有關比賽的詳情, 可參閱實事網頁(包括參賽者名單、比賽成績等): http://www.hksu.org/cgi-bin/display/news_display.cgi?news=126&lang=B5
(Source: HKSU)
揮桿支持「瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽慈善盃」 助青少年提升生活
「亞洲之友」成為2015瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽大會慈善機構
［2015年10月6日，香港］ 2015瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽的冠名贊助商、主辦機構及大會慈善機構今天隆重其事，正式公佈全新慈善活動「瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽慈善盃」。是次活動已 訂於10月28日假香港哥爾夫球會舉行，由2015瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽的大會慈善機構「亞洲之友」及場地贊助香港哥爾夫球會攜手合辦。
這次慈善盃充分配合瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽貢獻社會的焦點，獲得各賽事合作夥伴包括瑞銀集團、「亞洲之友」、香港哥爾夫球會、香港高爾夫球總會、歐洲巡迴賽和亞洲巡迴賽的鼎力支持。
瑞銀財富管理亞太區主管施許怡敏女士表示：「瑞銀集團很榮幸能夠支持這個極具意義的項目，這是瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽一連串已宣布的活動中最新的一個，旨在把正能量傳遞給香港的每一個角落。」
她續說：「我謹代表瑞銀集團感謝各賽事合作夥伴的支持，特別是『亞洲之友』、香港哥爾夫球會和各位會員，感謝他們為『瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽慈善盃』額外提供一天場地，讓公眾參與其中。」
延續在上屆賽事首度成功合作，「亞洲之友」再度成為2015瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽的大會慈善機構。「亞洲之友」創辦人陳悅明先生對此表示欣喜，他 說：「我們很榮幸能夠與這項歷史悠久、譽滿全球的頂級高球盛事－瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽再度結緣，第二年成為大會慈善機構。『亞洲之友』承諾與各賽事夥伴 包括瑞銀集團、香港高爾夫球總會、香港哥爾夫球會、歐洲巡迴賽及亞洲巡迴賽合力拓展這項盛事的慈善活動，進一步提升慈善盃的知名度，全力全意地為提倡施予 和助人的精神。」
瑞銀集團和「亞洲之友」與各賽事夥伴緊密合作，今年更特別推出慈善盃，進一步加強賽事慈善活動的成果。
「亞洲之友」已承諾就今年慈善盃所籌得的善款作出等額配對捐款，讓受惠機構最少可獲得港幣一百萬元的善款。
「瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽慈善盃」的善款將平均分配予三個指定的本地兒童/青少年服務項目：
- 智樂醫院遊戲服務，為入住本地醫院的兒童提供遊戲服務；
- 凝重香港體育基金，通過體育提升本地基層青少年的生活；
- 愛培學校，香港唯一為本地患有自閉候群症的兒童/青少年服務的學校。
愛培學校是去年香港高爾夫球公開賽的受惠機構，獲得「亞洲之友」和香港哥爾夫球會各捐出港幣十萬元，資助本地患有自閉候群症的青少年入讀愛培學校。
「瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽慈善盃」不單為本地社會作出貢獻，同時亦為高球愛好者呈獻一次寶貴的機會，讓他們在每年只開放九天的瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽比賽場地上揮捍，一顯身手。香港哥爾夫球會作為是次慈善盃的場地贊助，為這次別具意義的慈善高爾夫球賽事免費提供比賽場地。
香港哥爾夫球會會長林詩鍵先生說：「我們樂於支持是次慈善盃，為本地高球手帶來一次在瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽圓滿結束後幾天，便可在錦標賽球場上揮桿的珍貴機會。」
林先生補充說：「香港哥爾夫球會除了致力為香港培育青少年高爾夫球員外，我們每年還會在球會舉行不同形式的籌款活動，藉此讓香港廣大市民受惠；故此，我們參與這次饒富意義的善舉是理所當然的事，我們相信當天必定是特別的一天。」
除了慈善盃的報名費（個人報名港幣5000元，每隊4人報名港幣20000元）外，瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽舉行期間進行的一連串活動亦會為受惠機構帶來更多善款。
冠名贊助商瑞銀集團會透過瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽的「一桿入洞」比賽為慈善盃籌款；首位職業球手於四天賽事期間在全長144碼的第12洞成功一桿入洞，瑞銀集團即會自動捐款予「瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽慈善盃」。
在2015年度的歐巡賽賽季中，一共有43次一桿入洞的紀錄，其中參加今屆角逐瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽的謙蒙尼斯、達斯汀•詹森、賈弟都曾在今季造出這項偉大的壯舉，謙蒙尼斯更曾成功擊出三次一桿入洞。
此外，大會亦會在賽事舉行期間（10月22至25日）於香港哥爾夫球會的球場、全新擴大的觀眾區，以及「亞洲之友」的帳蓬內設置捐款箱收集善款。
主辦機構在較早前已宣佈瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽的首輪賽事（10月22日星期四）將會免費開放予公眾人士入場觀賽，進一步提倡本地社群到比賽現場欣賞高水平賽事。有興趣的觀眾需要預先登入大會售票網：http://tickets.europeantour.com/event/ubs-hong-kong-open-thursday-only/hong-kong-gc/905708/ 登記以獲取首輪賽事免費門票。「瑞銀香港高爾夫球公開賽慈善盃」的捐款箱亦會在賽事期間擺放於公眾入口，以募集更多善款。
後排: 香港高爾夫球總會行政總裁Tom Phillips先生; 歐洲巡迴賽錦標賽總監Vicky Jones女士; 瑞銀財富管理亞太區主管施許怡敏女士; 亞洲之友創辦人陳悅明先生; 香港哥爾夫球會總經理Ian Gardner先生
前排: 愛培學校的三位同學
後排: 智樂醫院遊戲服務代表Blondi Kwok女士; 香港高爾夫球總會行政總裁Tom Phillips先生; 愛培學校代表 Vivian Yuen女士; 歐洲巡迴賽錦標賽總監Vicky Jones女士; 瑞銀財富管理亞太區主管施許怡敏女士; 亞洲之友創辦人陳悅明先生; 凝重香港體育基金代表Judy Kong女士; 香港哥爾夫球會總經理Ian Gardner先生
前排: 愛培學校的三位同學
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ UBS)
香港女子欖球超級聯賽來季大展拳腳
[2015年10月2日，香港]: 香港欖球總會(欖總)銳意打造本地成年女子欖球聯賽新貌，承諾以「超級球季」示人。
這也是欖總聘用兩位全職人士候祖瑟芬 (Jo Hull ) 和森瑪花 (Sam Feausi) 發展本地女子欖球的新作。
這些變動是對本地女子欖球急速發展的回應，也藉此提升本土女子欖,球超級聯賽的競爭水平。
今季聯賽的3個組別(超級聯賽、十五人社區聯賽和10人制發展聯賽) 由上年的22隊增至25隊。
超級聯賽球隊由6支增至7支，新晉隊伍是Natixis 香港足球會ICE隊(Natixis Hong Kong Football Club ICE) ，其他爭標份子還有衛冕冠軍法興銀行華利黑夫人隊(Societe General Valley Black)、雞糊欖球隊、Borrelli Walsh 三軍會猛虎欖球會(Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers)、 Abacus 九龍欖球會、SCAA銅鑼灣欖球會及大埔龍欖球隊，欖總目標是在16/17 賽季有8支超聯隊伍。
超級聯賽之下的十五人社區聯賽的11隊中也有3個新面孔，她們是彭博香港蘇格蘭人欖球隊、SCAA銅鑼灣欖球會 (SCAA Causeway Bay) 3隊及革命之旅欖球隊。
10人制發展聯賽有6支球隊角逐，並繼續擔當培育新人成長至15人欖球員的角色。
新球季改革中的一大亮點是引入「代表隊內部之爭」概念 ，即「女子欖球超級系列賽」 ( Women’s Rugby Super Series)。 這是專為聯賽欖球連接15人代表隊而設的橋樑。
「女子欖球超級系列賽」將有66名超級聯賽而具有更大潛能的球員，分配至3支不同隊伍，並在3個不同週末互相對壘，因此超級聯賽球隊各有兩週空窗期作配合。
女子欖球發展經理的森瑪花說：「『女子欖球超級系列賽』將網羅本地女子聯賽的66名好手。她們將組成3支野人隊並相互切磋，藉此在聯賽環境以外滲入一些代表隊特質，目標是希望提升球員實力和轉型至代表隊角色。」
她續說：「『女子欖球超級系列賽』也好讓教練和球探們好好觀察球員表現，為日後的國際賽作好部署。這批球員將由球探在從超級聯賽和其他比賽中挑選出來，我們相信她們具有披上港隊戰衣的能耐。」「『女子欖球超級系列賽』同時也提供一個競爭更劇烈的比賽環境。」
超級聯賽的球員表現將整季被觀察，而七人代表隊也是十五人代隊的骨幹。
欖總女子欖球水平發展總監候祖瑟芬道：「我們主力將代表隊元素引入女子聯賽制度中 。超級聯賽是代表隊的泉源，所以我們希望提昇聯賽水平，目標是在世界盃外圍賽脫穎而出。」
SCAA銅鑼灣欖球會是唯一球隊三線作戰，證明女子欖球興起的強大力量。
三個不同聯賽組別各自精彩，衛冕冠軍法興銀行華利黑夫人隊(Societe Generale Valley Black) 和雞糊欖球隊將有一番龍爭虎鬥，後者有11名七人代表隊成員坐鎮，而前者則有9名。
2015球季將有新景象也是女子欖球邁向新高的重要一步，欖總對此充滿冀望，森氏表示：「 這是香港女子欖球規模最大的一季，25支爭標分子是歷來之冠，爭奪超級聯賽席位和『女子欖球超級系列賽』身份將看頭十足。另外，我們也會密切關注新手們轉 型至更激烈的15人欖球賽事的成效。」
女子欖球超級聯賽與男子賽事同於10月3 日的「超級星期六」假京士柏運動場開鑼。
六位超級聯賽組別隊長們對新球季磨拳擦掌
(Source: Elite Step Asia/ HKRU)