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Archives for September 2009

Weymouth set fair for 2012 Olympics

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Rob Hodgetts | 23:28 UK time, Saturday, 19 September 2009

Weymouth gave the sailing world its first taste of what the Olympics will be like in 2012 and for most it will be something to savour.

Barring a , the Sail for Gold regatta produced a general thumbs-up at the first new Olympic venue to be ready.

The only worry on the horizon for some of the international competitors will be that Britain, the most successful Olympic sailing nation for the last three Games, continues to dominate.

The hosts were the only country out of the 38 competing with sailors in all 10 of the final medal races. The yield was two golds, four silvers and a bronze, plus two Paralympic silvers, on home waters. On that evidence, the legacy looks in safe hands. And that's without .

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Hopes high for British gold rush

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Rob Hodgetts | 23:48 UK time, Friday, 18 September 2009

Britain's sailors can give Weymouth a taste of the medal fever they hope will sweep the Olympic venue in 2012 when they take to the water on the final day of the Sail for Gold regatta.

The host nation has a realistic chance of a medal in eight of 10 Olympic classes, to add to the two silver medals and two World Cup series victories achieved in the Paralympic classes on Friday.

The top 10 sailors in each Olympic class after the qualifying series will contest Saturday's medal races, with points counting double. So a 10th place costs 20 points to add to the overall tally, and the ones with the lowest amount of points wins.

Beijing Olympic champions Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson lead the Star class by 13 points after another consistent week, though fellow Britons John Gimson and Ed Greig just missed out on the medal race, finishing 11th.

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Weymouth's 2012 dress rehearsal

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Rob Hodgetts | 06:22 UK time, Friday, 18 September 2009

Britain's Olympic sailing hopefuls are battling it out on home waters in Weymouth this week, trying to lay down a marker for 2012.

showcases the first of the new Olympic venues to be operational and has attracted more than 700 sailors from 38 countries across the 10 Olympic and three Paralympic sailing classes. It also serves as the final leg of sailing's inaugural World Cup series.

Great Britain has been at the past three Games, and though qualification for the one spot in each Olympic class doesn't begin for another two years, it is the first chance for Britain's sailors to really strut their stuff on Olympic waters.

Three-time Olympic champion is sitting this one out, but Beijing gold medallists Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, Paul Goodison and Pippa Wilson are flying the flag at the new nestled behind Chesil Beach in Portland.

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Kristian Baker Q&A

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Rob Hodgetts | 13:57 UK time, Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Before going to see Kristian Baker, coach to and head of instruction at , I asked you to send in your questions for him.

After a quick and a chat about swing theory, I quizzed the man who has coached Fisher to two European Tour titles and a current world ranking of 26 after topping the scoring average for the year's four majors.

Here's his answers to the best of them:

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Ross Fisher's coach reveals his secrets

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Rob Hodgetts | 11:05 UK time, Tuesday, 15 September 2009

"I don't want a normal lesson, I want the one you give ."

As Fisher's coach, Kristian Baker has heard this line more than once.

In fact, I was tempted to say it myself but he regaled me with the oft-muttered request first.

Baker is the head of instruction at the club in Surrey and, as well as , has been Fisher's swing guru for eight years, taking him from a scratch amateur, to a handicap of plus four, to a two-time winner on the European Tour and currently world number 26.

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On the range with Ross Fisher's coach

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Rob Hodgetts | 14:42 UK time, Sunday, 6 September 2009

Ever wanted to know what a top pro does when he goes to meet his coach? Me too.

So I fixed up a meeting with swing guru , the head of instruction at .

This is the man who has coached Fisher from a raw, big-hitting amateur to fifth at this year's , topping the greens in regulation stats for the week.

Fisher also led the by three shots early in the final round at Turnberry, only to slip away, but he has won twice on the European Tour in only five years as a pro.

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