Boxing Day Test, Aussie Open and SL Socials in Melbourne

Sport Lived participants have been taking time out from their sports coaching and sports to make the most of the top sporting events which have been held in Melbourne over the Christmas and New Year period.  These include the Boxing Day Test Match where Australia took on South Africa, One Day Cricket Internationals where Australia played South Africa and New Zealand and the Australian Open Tennis Championships where Rafael Nadal reigned supreme.

Below is a selection of photos of participants at these events and other Sport Lived socials.

Melbourne Golf Day and Christmas Party

Sport Lived’s cricketers, rowers, swimmers and athletes met at Albert Park, one of Melbourne’s premier golf courses in December, to celebrate Christmas and of course to find out who reserved the right to call themselves Sport Lived’s best golfer in 2008.  The weather didn’t disappoint as the guys drove, pitched and putted (with occasional hack) around the course in a thoroughly enjoyable day.  But as they say there can only be one winner, so congratulations must go to Matthew who managed to tap in a short putt on the 18th to sneak home for the win. 

Unselfishly, Matthew decided to share the spoils of his victory with his fellow competitors and friends by buying everyone a drink as the Sport Lived group made their way to the centre of Melbourne to enjoy a Christmas Party and night on the town.  See below some shots of the boys in action in a day that can only be described as the way golf was meant to be played.

Day out at the Melbourne Cup

Some of the Sport Lived crew playing sport in Melbourne recently enjoyed a day out at the races – at Australia’s premier racing event, the Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup is known in Australia as “the race that stops a nation”.  And it certainly is!  On the first Tuesday of November every year at 3pm, the nation tunes in to listen to the race call.  In the ACT and Victoria, the states even get a public holiday.  With prize money of a cool AUD$5.5 million, you can see what all the fuss is about.  Many international and local celebrities take to the track to enjoy what is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and this year Sport Lived’s very own sporting stars attended the glamorous event.  They certainly upped the glamour and prestige stakes!  They had a great day, and got to soak up the fun and vibe that embodies the famous Melbourne Cup racing carnival.

Check out the pics to see the strapping young lads and lasses that made the most of one of Australia’s favourite sporting and social days.

Someone told me…it’s all happening at the Zoo

The Melbourne crew are certainly making the most of their Gap Year Australia, with a trip to Melbourne Zoo recently.  Check out some of the pics taken by resident happy snapper Jessica Case, who is on an athletics program in Melbourne.  Who doesn’t love a kangaroo?!

Sport Lived XI 20/20 Match in Melbourne

Aussie Rules champ and mentor, Mathew Pell, recently organised a 20/20 match between a Sport Lived XI and Croydon Cricket Club in Melbourne. Here’s a recap of the hugely successful game:

SL Opening Pair Matthew Jackson and Alex Groucott

Sport Lived Captain Robin Irving from Winchester won the toss and elected to bat and put some runs on the board. Alex Groucott and Matthew Jackson opened for the Sport Lived XI and got the team off to a steady start before Jackson was caught.  This brought Scot Craig Wallace to the crease.  Craig produced a sublime innings of 97 where he dazzled the opposition with some destructive hitting which included five sixes and seven fours.   Craig was ably supported by Will Sach from Birmingham, who was clearly a crowd favourite, and Shamit Nathwani from Middlesex who helped Sport Lived reach a very respectable total of 157, a total the team were confident of defending.

Captain Irving opened the bowling with quicks David Nicholson and William Sach hoping to take early wickets and put Croydon under some pressure. However both openers were severely dealt with by the Croydon opening pair which included Alex Hales, the Croydon overseas professional, who recently represented England U19 and signed a two year contract with Nottinghamshire CCC. However the Sport Lived attack got stuck in and Nicholson rushed Hales with a quick, short delivery leading to his pull short being caught in the deep.  After their brilliant start, it looked as if the home side would cruise to their victory target, but on came off-spiner Nathwani who beautifully to take 2-24 which included a super one handed catch from Liverpudlian Jackson. With 4 overs left Croydon required 21 runs to win and completed victory shortly afterwards with their batsmen getting after Sach in his second spell.

The SL XI and Supporters

It was a terrific effort by the Sport Lived team who can surely only get stronger from here. Craig Wallace was voted Man of the Match for his excellent innings.  Thanks to all involved particularly our hosts Croydon CC who provided a very successful opening match of the Sport Lived 20/20 season!

Stay tuned for the Sport Lived team’s next game against the Aussies where they’ll be looking to avenge this defeat!

If you are looking to Play Cricket in Australia then why not check out www.sportlived.co.uk for exciting playing and coaching programmes Down Under!

Gap Year Australia Players Arrive in Melbourne

Sport Lived’s cricketers, rowers, swimmers and athletes have descended upon Melbourne to start their play sport programmes.  Introductory drinks were organised last Wednesday where the group were shown around some of Melbourne’s finest clubs and drinking establishments.

On Friday 19th September some of the players were lucky enough to get tickets to the AFL Semi Final between Collingwood and St Kilda at the MCG.  The AFL Grand Final which will be a 90,000 sell out takes place next Saturday.

A number of great social events are planned for the players over the next few months including a day out at the Melbourne Cup Horse Racing Festival in November, a golf day and fancy dressy dress Christmas party in late December and tickets to the Boxing Day Test Match at the MCG where Australia will be playing South Africa.

It should be a fantastic few months for all the players and they are sure to have plenty of fun in the sun Down Under

If you’re looking to play or cocah sport then why not look at one of our Gap Year Australia programmes at www.sportlived.co.uk

Golf Day and Fancy Dress Christmas Party

On the 17th December Sport Lived organised a Golf Day and Fancy Dress Christmas Party for the players and coaches based in Melbourne.

The Golf Day was held at the ‘13th Beach Golf Course’ which is located 90 minutes from Melbourne and is rated as one of the top ten courses in Australia.  Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive Prizes were up for grabs as well as the Sport Lived Shield for the overall winner. 

Congratulations to James Herbert who won the Nearest the Pin Competition, Michael Brown who had the Longest Drive and Robin Curtis who was the winner of the Sport Lived Shield.  Well done too to Simon Dorrington who shot the lowest round of the day (83).

The following evening the Sport Lived Fancy Dress Christmas Party was held at  Transport Lounge in the city.  The Fancy Dress Theme was ‘When I Grow Up I Want to be…’.  Everyone made a great effort and there were some outstanding costumes on display.

During the evening some amusing prizes were given to the Sport Lived players.  Harry Moores received Performance of the Year for the hundred he scored for his club in October and Rick Moore received the Ian Bell Award for ‘Always getting a start but not going on’. 

Rick Moore displaying his Ian Bell Award

Lots of fun was had by all the Sport Lived players and coaches based in Melbourne.