Subject: Let the Championships Begin! Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 10:20:26 +1100 From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au>
Media Advisory 26 December 2005 Over the next four months (January April), Australias top softball players will be taking part in the annual Fastpitch Championships to demonstrate some of the best softball skills, right here in our backyard! The 2006 Championships will showcase several of the worlds best softballers including Olympic Medallists and world record holders who will be battling it out on the diamond for Australias ultimate Shields. The Championships pitch off on 1 January with the Open Womens in Melbourne and concludes on 8 April with the Under 23 Mens and Womens in Brisbane and Canberra respectively. The schedule and locations of the Australian Fastpitch Championships for 2006 are: 1-7 January Open Womens Gilleys Shield Altona, Vic 8-14 January Under 16 Girls Esther Deason Shield Canberra, ACT 8-14 January Under 19 Womens Elinor McKenzie Shield Brisbane, Qld 15-21 January Under 19 Mens Nox Bailey Shield Launceston, Tas 15-21 January Under 16 Boys Arthur Allsopp Shield Perth, WA 5-11 March Open Mens John Reid Shield Blacktown, NSW 4-8 April Under 23 Mens Laing Harrow Shield Brisbane, Qld 4-8 April Under 23 Womens Joyce Lester Shield Canberra, ACT These are the first phase, for many, in the selection process to make the national squad for the World Championship teams, this year for the Open Womens. This is an Olympic qualifying event which will be held in Beijing in August 2006. Australia is currently the top softball nation in the world with all four of its teams ranked in the top three. Australias Open Womens team, Aussie Spirit, is currently ranked second, the Under 19 Mens team, Aussie Colts, ranked number one and the Open Mens, Aussie Steelers, and the Under 19 Womens, Aussie Pride, ranked number three. AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW Ms Susan Crow, Chief Executive, Softball Australia FOR FURTHER INFORMATION DiAnne Lilburn National Communications Coordinator Softball Australia Telephone: 03 9890 8200 Mobile: 0405 509 674 ____________________________________ DiAnne Lilburn National Communications Coordinator Softball Australia Suite 4, Ground Floor 38-40 Prospect Street Box Hill, Victoria 3128 T: +61 3 9890 8200 F: +61 3 9890 8295 M: +61 (0) 405 509 674 For more information visit <http://www.softball.org.au/>www.softball.org.au _____________________________________________________________________________ Did you know that Australia is the world's number one softball nation? World number two - Open Women's team (Aussie Spirit), Silver Medallist (Athens, 2004), Bronze Medallists (Sydney 2000 and Atlanta 1996). World number one - Under 19 Men's team (Aussie Colts), three consecutive World Championship titles. World number three - Open Men's team (Aussie Steelers) and Under 19 Women's team (Aussie Pride). Als Fastball List *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball eScribe is down, but may be back soon escribe.com Holiday Greetings from Al's Fastball: http://ecard.e-axis.com/get_card.php?id=223 Our New Condo: http://www.rpt.ca/hunt/ for Sale or Rent _______________________________________________ Alsfastball mailing list Alsfastball@fastpitchwest.com http://fastpitchwest.com/mailman/listinfo/alsfastball_fastpitchwest.com
