Wakeboarder Luca Kidd and water ski jump athlete Robert Hazelwood secured spots in their respective finals on the first official day of competition at the 2019 World Beach Games in Doha yesterday.
Following a small mistake in his qualification run, Kidd found himself in the last chance qualifications. With only the top rider making it through from each last chance qualification heat, Kidd kept his nerves at bay and executed all of his tricks to qualify for today's final.
“I’m pretty stoked to make it through to finals tomorrow,” said Kidd. “It was a tough heat as I was competing against my boy Patricio (Gonzalez) but I was pumped to keep my head and body composed, land my trick mix and make it through to finals."
Unfortunately, due to weather conditions at the Leqtaifiya Lagoon the men’s water ski jump competition was cancelled for Hazelwood and a decision was made that all nine athletes would compete in a straight final later today.
Whilst too much wind was an issue for the water skiers, the Bridge family had the opposite problem down at Katara beach. Lack of wind meant that competition was reduced to one race for both the men and women.
The men took to the water first in a light six knot fickle wind. Guy Bridge led the race until the final mark where he allowed Frenchman de Ramecourt into the bottom mark, stealing the victory from him. Brother Olly struggled to find clean air in the dropping late afternoon wind and finished 16th.
Conditions in the women’s competition were equally as challenging and unfortunately tactics cost Steph Bridge (Exmouth) a higher place in the field and she finished in 7th.
Meanwhile at Katara beach, Team GB’s women’s beach soccer team made it two wins from two with a 5-2 victory over the USA.
Early in the first period Captain Sarah Kempson netted the only score of the period with a free kick that sailed past the American keeper and into the bottom corner.
With confidence building Team GB applied some pressure on their American opponents and it resulted in Wendy Martin adding her first, and shortly after her second goal of the tournament with some headers from long-range throws courtesy of keeper Hannah Haughton.
Gemma Hillier also added her name to the score sheet putting one away in the top corner, before the USA managed to pull a goal back and the period finished 4-1.
In the third and final period both teams added another goal each to the score sheet and the match finished 5-2.
The win guaranteed Team GB a spot in the semi-final, along with Russia who also beat Paraguay.
“Everything went to plan today, we didn’t get to play the pretty game we like to play but we knew that it was going to be like that. But it is job done, three points and we are guaranteed our spot in the semi-final with a game in hand,” said Katie James.
Team GB face Russia tomorrow to determine who tops the standings in their group.
“We have proved we can battle with some of the fittest players on the sand so it is important we take that into tomorrow’s match, but we are expecting a more tactical game from Russia,” added James.
The final action of the day for Team GB saw their youngest team member Emily Phillips in the women’s bouldering competition.
Phillips managed to get to the top of her first bloc but unfortunately, she struggled with the next three blocs, unable to get past the last move on all three walls. Phillips placed 13th and will not progress to tomorrow’s final.
Speaking after her event Philips said: “The blocs today didn’t suit me very well but that is how climbing goes. I need to learn to be better at everything, I have some work to do.
“I have really enjoyed being part of a multi-sport event. It has been great to meet lots of other athletes from different sports and see how they prepare and train differently to us. I also saw the beach soccer the other day which was super fun to watch. It was really nice to be able to get behind the team. I would love to go to Tokyo or Paris, it is a goal of mine.”
In the men’s competition, bouldering specialist Nathan Phillips progressed to tomorrow night’s final after he finished joint fifth, whilst teammate Billy Ridal placed 9th missing out on joining him in the finals by a few spots.
Speaking after the event Riddal said; “I really enjoyed the competition this evening, the organisers put on a really good show. I’m a bit frustrated as it was almost a really good performance for me. One of the climbs got in my head a bit and it went a little bit wrong for me but overall I am pleased with how I performed.
“I’ve taken so much from being around other sports and being part of Team GB. Along with being able to show climbing off to a ton of people who haven’t seen it before has been really cool.”