RYDER CUP VICTORY FOR USA!

IMG Media Archive's October Newsletter

RYDER CUP VICTORY FOR USA!

Golf: The USA claimed an emphatic victory over their European counterparts in the 37th Ryder Cup at Valhalla, Kentucky. Paul Azinger captained his American team to a 16 ½ - 11 ½ win in front of a partisan home crowd who were treated to three days of exhilarating matchplay golf. Jim Furyk sunk the winning putt on the 17th to seal a singles win over Miguel Angel Jimenez and give his team an unassailable lead.

Nick Faldo’s European team never recovered from an opening day which saw their rivals open up a three point advantage. Despite fighting back on day two’s foursomes and fourballs, Europe left themselves with too much to do heading into the twelve singles matches and eventually succumbed with four games still to be completed. Home favourites Kenny Perry, JB Holmes and Boo Weekley were in inspired form throughout the three days and gave the crowd plenty to cheer about. By contrast, Europe’s big guns Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington failed to find top form. Europe’s biggest threat came from Captain's pick, Ian Poulter, who claimed a superb four points to keep their challenge alive.

Having lost the previous three Ryder Cups, this was the first USA victory at the bi-annual event in nine years. They now travel to Wales in 2010, buoyed by the triumph of Paul Azinger and his team, to face a European side determined to regain their grip on the prestigious trophy.

For Ryder Cup footage including this years event, visit The PGA of America Archive

Athletics: The AF Golden League

The AF Golden League drew to a close in front of a 47,000 strong crowd in Brussels at the start of September, after an exciting season of tough competition between top athletes. The league, which has been in full force since 1998, sees contenders competing at six events in six different countries. A share of the $1 million jackpot prize is awarded to the athlete or athletes who win their event at all six meetings.

In the women’s contest, high jumper Blanka Vlasic was a keen favourite to take home part, if not all of the prize, but following an Olympics which saw her unbeaten run of 34 competitions end, Vlasic failed to win in the sixth and final AF Golden League event of the season, having won at the previous five events. The 24-year-old Croatian finished second behind Ariane Friedrich, a result which marked a disappointing end to an otherwise spectacular season.

Instead it was 18-year-old Pamela Jelimo who rose to the occasion in the 800m event to cap off a year in which she started as a relative unknown. Other than Vlasic, Jelimo was the only other jackpot contender going into the meet at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, and she didn’t fail in her quest to become the first Kenyan to win the AF Golden League jackpot, taking the full $1 million prize.

The IAAF Archive holds footage from all six AF Golden League events in Berlin, Oslo, Rome, Paris, Zurich, and Brussels. Footage includes gold medal winners from Beijing 2008 including Usain Bolt, Pamela Jelimo, Andreas Thorkildsen, Kenenisa Bekele, and Yelena Isinbayeva. For more information please visit The IAAF Archive

Rugby League: The Challenge Cup Final

St Helens sealed their third straight Challenge Cup final win with a 28-16 victory over Hull FC at Wembley. The travelling support witnessed an enthralling game which ultimately swung the way of St Helens after a brave fight back from the Black and Whites.

First half tries from Matt Gidley and Francis Meli put the Saints into a commanding 10-0 lead at half time. But the men from Hull FC sparked into life after the break and hit back with two tries of their own from Great Britain centre Kirk Yeaman. Both tries were duly converted by Danny Tickle and St Helens quickly found their first half lead wiped out.

With the game in the balance, the next score would always be crucial and it went the way of the Saints with Meli picking up his second try of the game and Sean Long adding a tricky conversion. The black and whites fought hard to get back into the game but with ten minutes remaining St Helens’ Jon Wilkin charged down a Danny Washbrook kick and won the resulting race to the line.

A late Hull try through Gareth Raynor reduced the deficit to six points and offered a glimmer of hope to the Yorkshiremen, but it would prove to be a consolation score. The door was slammed firmly shut when Leon Pryce danced through the Hull defence to score a stunning try and secure a second successful defence, to the delight of the exultant St Helens fans.

For footage from this, and previous Challenge Cup finals, visit The RFL Archive

FAST FACT

In badminton the most powerful stroke is the smash, and on June 3rd 2005, men’s doubles player Fu Haifeng of China set the official world record with a smash of 206 mph (332 km/h)!!!

For badminton footage please visit The Asia Badminton Confederation Archive

DID YOU KNOW

At The Wimbledon Championships in 1975, chairs for the players to rest on when changing ends were provided for the first time.

Visit The Wimbledon Archive at http://www.imgmediaarchive.com/home/browse/event/store127/item1571/

UPCOMING EVENTS IN OCTOBER

01	Tennis	WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. GER
02	Golf	PGAET Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. SCO
05	Horseracing	Prix De l'Arc de Triomphe. FRA
06	Tennis	WTA Kremlin Cup. RUS
09	Surfing	ASP Beachley Classic. AUS
10	Rodeo	Pro Bull Riders BFTS Event, Columbus. USA
11	Speedway	FIM Grand Prix, Gelsenkirchen. GER
12	Athletics	3rd IAAF World Road Running Championships. BRA
13	Tennis	ATP Masters Series Madrid. ESP
13	Tennis	WTA Zurich Open. SUI
16	Golf	PGAET Portugal Masters. POR
20	Tennis	WTA Generali Ladies. AUT
23	Golf	PGAET Mallorca Classic. ESP
25	Rugby League	World Cup, Start, Townsville. AUS
27	Tennis	ATP Masters Series Paris. FRA
28	Surfing	ASP Nova Schin Pro. BRA
30	Golf	PGAET Volvo Masters. ESP