Back. A rather effortless +17 (tt:8-21, ba:21-11, sq:21-3, te:7-5) against Mats Källberg in the final. (Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
He is Back.
Date: 2005-11-09
_________________
Keith Lesser reports below, in characteristic style, from
the 2005 Gothenburg Open, a tournament that attracted 90 players
from 8 nations out of which all top 4 of the men's world ranking
were present as well as the top 2 on the women's side. Although
he has missed three tour events in a row (German, Scottish,
English) Eliasson's victory was enough to take him back to
position no.1 on the World Ranking.
In wanted position for the Vienna World Championships taking
place in just a few weeks. (Draw to be published on www.racketlon.at
on Tuesday!)
_________________
Guess who's back, back again, ELIASSON is back tell a
friend...........
Not unlike Slim Shady himself on his return to the Detroit
underground rap wars, Eliasson sliced and diced his way through a
quality field on his return at the 2005 GOTHENBURG RACKETLON
OPEN. When you think Adamsson, Källberg and Reid have shared 4
of the last 5 tour events (not including Bulgaria, which Magnus
successfully defended) the tournament looked fairly open at the
semi-final stage. However, what is critical is that it looked
open on paper only. Having watched the world champion despatch
Christian Wall in the quarter finals 21-13, 21-13, 21-5 in a very
impressive fashion, most spectators actually had little doubt
that the big fish is back in town ready to gobble up all of his
prey.
Back. A rather effortless +17 (tt:8-21, ba:21-11, sq:21-3,
te:7-5) against Mats Källberg in the final. (Photo:
www.digitalfoto.nu )
21-4! Finalist Källberg beat Calum Reid in
the semi-final +2 (tt:21-4, ba:21-17, sq:5-21, te:17-20)
(Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
Close followers of Racketlon would have read in the English Open programme that Eliasson's lookalike is Ross Kemp, the startling coincidence is that after a short break from the soap, Grant Mitchell is back which should certainly help the Eastender's ratings. Are they the same person? Are they twin brothers? Who would actually win in a fight? The only remaining question would be if Calum Reid keeps training and improving, is he capable of outlasting the Iron Man? This is forever a possibility and undoubtedly a 20 year old student surely can initiate a training programme to rival a 37 year old psychologist. Time will tell.........Horacio Greatorex the 3rd placed Veteran and probable re-instated world number one outlined his thoughts "You heard it here first, Calum Reid has all the criteria to be a champion". The moosehunter´s comments indeed should be taken seriously and the young Scot could make the world championships in Vienna much, much more than another ticket to the Elia-Elia Show!
Remarkable development. To the left, Calum Reid at the 2004
Gothenburg Open, world ranked 11. To the right, Calum Reid at the
2005 Gothenburg Open, world ranked 2. When is he ready for
take-over?
(Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
Nu börjar leken för grodor, paddor och
vattensalamandrar ute i naturen!
This is stunning news from the Universeum Science Discovery
Centre that it is now breeding season in Sweden for frogs, newts
and toads. This obviously acted as supreme inspiration for Silke
Altmann, who leaped and jumped around the courts showing
excellent agility. Silke´s 3rd tour victory after Belgium and
England, is the athletic German´s 1st win over Swedish supremo
Lilian Druve. There is a poll on the UK Racketlon discussion
group ( www.racketlon.co.uk
) about who will be Ladies world number one after Vienna? This is
indeed up in the air with the new revelation that Silke is ready
to challenge the very, very best.
The winner. Silke Altmann, Germany. (Photo:
www.digitalfoto.nu )
The eye on the ball. Lilian Druve. Still world no.1 but lost to
McFadyen in Scotland and now Altmann.
(Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
Bredberg and Engström bring more glory for Sweden!
Michael Appleton succesfully overcame David Greatorex in the
Battle of Britain in the men's vets semis. In Appleton's 2nd ever
Racketlon tournament (he also holds a victory over Richard
Whitehouse) - Mike is a name for the future! Ulf Bredberg was far
too strong in the veteran's final for Michael Appleton in the
first three sports. Particularly in table tennis and then
outlining also very strong badminton. This did not therefore
allow the ex-David Cup tennis starlet (Appleton) to play in his
strongest sport. Stefan won a very strong Class 1 Event and with
Västerås winner Johan Porsborn losing in round one to Kristofer
Ziegler alongside Keith Lesser to Andreas Carlsberg and Jukka
Salminen to Carl Johan Olsson, with Antilla defeating Niska the
list goes on and on! Carl-Johan Olsson has improved a lot in
recent months and was a worthy finalist. Carlsberg clinched 3rd
place and is one to watch as he is getting squash coaching,
playing 4 times a week making only his 3rd sport extremely
strong!
Making a statement. Stefan Engström, Gothenburg,
winner of the Men's Class 1. (Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
Very Strong Tennis Players and Everlasting Squash!
Indeed it was another shame we did not see Appleton, who also
scratched for Rickard Persson in the men's elite, take on
Christian Wall in tennis since three sports were enough to decide
the match. Wall seemed on fire, until he met Eliasson, and had
somehow managed to defeat ex-IRF president Hans Mullamaa 21-1 at
squash. The courts were very bouncy and in these conditions, it
was seemingly impossible to end the point. Johan Nordstrand
outlined the only way to finish the point quickly was to dominate
the T, line and length seemingly were not enough to be
victorious. Staffan Ericsson (an ex-world championship bronze
medalist(!)) outlined his racketlon credentials with a sublime
victory against Johan Nordstrand +16 and then an extremely close
match with Scotland´s very own Calum Reid. Calum needed 6 points
in the tennis and he achieved his goal at 14-6. Calum later
admitted he was "relieved" as he got off to a very good
start 3-3 and that Ericsson was a very dangerous player.
Congratulations to tennis specialist Henrik Axelsson on his
amateur victory.
The "Nowicki Element"
Voodoo is a derivative of the world's oldest known religions
which have been around in Africa since the beginning of human
civilization. This has absolutely nothing to do with the Nowicki
element. The Nowicki element does however affect a series of
class one/elite players who are unsure of which event to enter.
Heinz, for example, may have more fun in the class one, which he
still would not have won, but may have progressed beyond a last
16 battering from badminton specialist Mathias Fagertröm. This
affects perhaps 20-30 tour regulars. The trick is coming 3rd in a
class one event and then getting destroyed by Stefan Adamsson
upon your move up to elite. This presents a tricky problem, which
I guess can only be solved by the ranking system. If you find
yourself in the top 60 in the world, you also find yourself in
the elite draw. Otherwise, we may surely all start to be affected
by voodoo! Chris Noakes has some further information should
anyone wish to discuss further Racketlon profile possibilities.
Great and Professional Organisation
.JPG)
Gothenburg Open Teamwork. Stefan Engström, Patrik Andreasson
and general Håkan Granberg at the tournament desk.
(Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
Thanks to Håkan Granberg (General), Patrik Andreasson, Olle
Benéus, Stefan Engström, Niclas Larsson, Hans Mullamaa and
Anders Persson. You did a very professional job. I want your
ceremony tower for my presentations at next year's English Open!
Håkan, congratulations on the birth of your baby daughter.
Stuart Websdale, do not worry, I am nearly finished and will be
joining you shortly for a round of crazy golf! (let me just check
the spelling!) Keep partying, practicing and I'll see you in
Vienna,
By Keith Lesser
English Open Tournament Director and Tour Journalist
_______________
Results in Summary
(for complete results, see excel
file)
MEN'S OPEN
Quarterfinals:
Stefan Adamsson (Swe) - Mika Hasmats (Swe) +30
(tt:13-21,ba:21-11,sq:21-3,te:21-11)
Magnus Eliasson (Swe) - Christian Wall (Swe) +31
(21-13,21-14,21-5,-)
Mats Källberg (Swe) - Mathias Fagerström (Swe) +6
(21-4,10-21,11-21,21-11)
Calum Reid (Scot) - Staffan Ericsson (Swe) +8
(21-13,18-21,21-10,6-14)
Semifinals:
Magnus Eliasson (Swe) - Stefan Adamsson (Swe) +18
(19-21,21-15,21-12,9-4)
Mats Källberg (Swe) - Calum Reid (Scot) +2
(21-4,21-17,5-21,17-20)
Match for 3rd prize:
Calum Reid (Scot) - Stefan Adamsson (Swe) W.O.
Final:
Magnus Eliasson (Swe) - Mats Källberg (Swe) +17
(8-21,21-11,21-3,7-5)
Men's Open. (Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
LADIES' OPEN
Quarterfinals:
Lilian Druve (Swe) - Sarah Reeves (Eng) +43
(21-7,21-12,21-3,21-19)
Susanna Lautala-Näykki (Fin) - Irene Seifert (Ger) +15
(18-21,21-7,22-20,22-20)
Linda Jansson (Swe) - Anneli Druve (Swe) +30 (21-9,21-18,21-6,-)
Silke Altmann (Ger) - Anneli Andersson (Swe) +15
(21-8,6-21,21-2,19-21)
Semifinals:
Lilian Druve (Swe) - Susanna Lautala-Näykki (Fin) +22
(18-21,21-6,21-11,-)
Silke Altmann (Ger) - Linda Jansson (Swe) +32
(21-13,21-11,21-7,-)
Match for 3rd prize:
Linda Jansson (Swe) - Susanna Lautala-Näykki (Fin) +13
(18-21,15-21,21-15,21-5)
Final:
Silke Altmann (Ger) - Lilian Druve (Swe) +14
(21-9,9-21,21-11,12-8)
Ladies' Open. (Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
MEN'S VETERAN 45+
Quarterfinals:
David Greatorex (Eng) - Kenneth Sjökvist (Swe) W.O.
Michael Appleton (Eng) - Olle Benéus (Swe) W.O.
(15-21,14-8,injury)
Lars Blomstergren (Swe) - Chris Davison (Eng) +35
(21-18,21-17,21-11,21-3)
Ulf Bredberg (Swe) - Anders Persson (Swe) +55 (21-0,21-6,21-2,-)
Semifinals:
Michael Appleton (Eng) - David Greatorex (Eng) +19
(21-17,21-19,22-24,21-6)
Ulf Bredberg (Swe) - Lars Blomstergren (Swe) +22
(21-5,21-4,10-21,-)
Match for 3rd prize:
David Greatorex (Eng) - Lars Blomstergren (Swe) +18
(21-15,21-3,10-21,10-5)
Final:
Ulf Bredberg (Swe) - Michael Appleton (Eng) +23
(21-4,21-13,19-21,-)
Men's Veteran (over 45). (Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
Men's Class 1: 1. Stefan Engström (Swe),
2. Carl-Johan Olsson (Swe) and 3. Andreas Carlberg (Swe)
(Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
Men's Amateur: 1. Henrik Axelsson (Swe),
2. Matthias Björk (Swe) and 3. Rickard Kjellin (Swe)
(Photo: www.digitalfoto.nu )
_________________________________