Undefeated since her debut in the Multisports league, Line Bellerose was ousted in Laval by Marie-Hélène Bédard whose squash improved a lot since she started playing in a league and taking part in a few clinics each week. Another example of time well invested. She strives towards giving a better challenge to Marr and Brix, arguably the best two female players in Canada.
Invaincue au Québec depuis ses débuts il y a deux ans, Line Bellerose a dû s’avouer vaincue lors du circuit de racketlon du mois de février à Laval.
Il est évident que Marie-Hélène, qui s’entraîne maintenant au squash 3x/semaine, est sur la pente ascendante. Le squash qui fut toujours remporté par Line, s’est terminé 21-7 en faveur de Marie, toute une différence au total des points. Une belle démonstration que lorsqu’on y met le temps, les résultats finissent par nous récompenser.
Qui sera le prochain joueur à faire ainsi éclosion?
A maximum of 24 entries will be accepted for this one day tournament in Laval at the Carrefour Multisports. A Racketlon Canada sanctionned event.
C’est confirmé, il y aura un tournoi le 21 février au Carrefour Multisports de Laval. La formule en vigueur permettra un maximum de 24 joueurs. Le tournoi international de Granby approchant, ce sera une bonne occasion de tester son niveau actuel.
‘The dream is over’ is what I said when I shook hand with my opponent Vlastimil Kolar (CZE). If I had played better and reversed the score in badminton, I would have made it to the semi-finals of that category. And maybe my next opponent could have injured himself or simply dropped dead during our match. We never know with those guys above 45 years old.
What a great tournament it was! Even before the event, I could feel so much excitement. We received our Team Canada tracksuits just on time and they looked great. I was receiving best wishes from family, friends and colleagues. I had some concerns. For more than one week before the world championships, I was surrounded what appeared to be the H1N1 and anyone catching it would have had to withdraw from the tournament.
Racketlon Team Canada
About our team, it was a great team composed of Marie-Hélène Bédard, Jeremy Easterbrook, Horatio Pintea and me Dany Lessard. The spirit was excellent. We were coaching and encouraging each other and were all proud of representing Canada and be part of that first ever Canadian Team in Racketlon. We tried hard to get a first win for Canada. It was a great experience and other players should have the chance of living it in the upcoming years.
We should have stopped the clock for a while and written on the first page of LaPresse or the Gazette ‘Canada takes the lead against Sweden at the Racketlon World Championships, with a strong performance in Table Tennis’. But they were strong in all other sports and had no more concerns after the squash. But we had a much better chance of winning against Switzerland. We were much into these matches and knew it would be close. It ended up with 5 points difference in their favour. Each of us could think of a few points that would have made a difference, but we had tried our best and could only be proud. It was really enjoyable to be involved in a close team match.
Canada's men team
This year I was team captain selected by the players. It was an honour and an easy job. Being only four, the selection of the players for each match was automatic. And the order of the players was also automatic based on individual world rankings.
The dream is not over. To reach a podium sounds to me like an excellent dream. Staying healthy and practicing a sport that we love is a modest goal. Getting better can be fun. Becoming the best is a challenge. Pick up your rackets; I will see you on the courts.
Dany Lessard
Team Canada Captain
Nov. 26, 2009
Nos deux représentants se sont rendus en 1/4 du 21 ans et du 45 ans, dans un tournoi de 450 participants, ce n’est pas rien. Easterbrook a perdu après avoir livré une chaude lutte à Toomjoe l’éventuel gagnant de L’Estonie. Plus de détails et des photos dès leur retour en sol canadien. Voici le lien pour des résultats complets:
http://www.resultreporter.com/node/11103/draws/list
Eaterbrook from Laval and Dany Lessard from Montreal ( and part time Iran) lost in the quarter finals of their category U-21 for Eaterbrook and 0-45 for Lessard. Jeremy lost a close battle against the Estonian who eventually finished first in the U-21. 450 players entered the event making it the largest International Racketlon tournament so far. See results http://www.resultreporter.com/node/11103/draws/list
Who wants to go next year?
A Canadian Racketlon team sponsored by Hydro Expertise, will be representing Canada in Germany later this month. Canada’s no. 1 and 2 Horatio Pintea and Jeremy Eaterbrook will be accompanied by top veteran player Danny Lessard and Canada’s no. 2 woman Marie-Hélène Bédard. For the team matches the no.1 player of each country play each other, same applies for the second and third players and the female players. For team matches games are up to 15. Fifteen countries have entered the team events so far.
Good luck Canada!
Une belle surprise nous attendait lors de la 2e étape du circuit Multisports de Racketlon. En effet, Jeremy Eaterbrook et Horatio Pintea, les # 2 et 1 au classement national étaient de la partie. Tel que prévu et sans difficulté, les 2 atteignirent la finale. Le ping fut à sens unique , tout comme le badminton donc après 2 sports Eaterbrook menait par 1 point (7-21, 21-6). Le squash fut plus excitant avec de longs échanges et deux joueurs épuisés, La jeunesse a eu le dessus pour un 21-16. Jeremy devait donc marquer 16 points au tennis pour l’emporter, ce qu’il fit non sans difficulté car le score était 16-16. Bravo Jeremy pour la victoire. Bonne chance au championnat du monde en Allemagne.
Dans le”B” Frank Lee D’Ottawa a remporté ses trois matchs par +1, +2 et +1 en finale pour se sauver avec le titre. Le 45 ans et plus fut dominé par Walter Beljaars de Granby.
Au plaisir de vous rencontrer le 6 décembre pour la prochaine étape.
No. 1 and 2 ranked players in Canada were both entered for the second stage of the Multisports Racketlon Circuit in Laval. Both of them met the expectations by reaching the final. Easterbrook was happy with his 7-21 lost in table tennis , and Horatio not so happy about his 6-21 lost in badminton. The rest was surely going to be closer…. and it was, the squash was gruelling with both players grasping for air, score 21-16 Easterbrook. He then only needed to reach 16 in tennis to win the overall score. Horatio’s tennis is known to be consistent but Jeremy has some new weapons that makes him dangerous sometimes. Jeremy was able to stay with Horatio all the way to 16-16 so he escaped with the victory.
Good luck in Germany for the World Champs.
“B” winner was Frank Lee from Ottawa and over 45 winner Walter Beljaars from Granby.
Next stop is December 6.
