Commonwealth Championships, Melbourne 2010 - Individual bronze medal

Hello from Melbourne! Fortunately, unlike our English counterparts in Delhi, we have not yet come across any collapsing bridges or snakes in the bed. In fact, Melbourne has been lovely so far. It has rained quite a bit since we arrived but that was to be expected at this time of year and it did make me feel at home! Today however, the sun is shining, the day after my individual event at the Commonwealth Games. I got a bronze medal. I was extremely disappointed not to make the final as that was my goal, but I achieved some important goals along the way to the semis which I know will set me in good stead for the season ahead.

First, I was pleased with my performance and fenced strongly and confidently throughout the day. Second, for me, personally, my final was my quarter-final fight against Wang (SIN). This was my best fight of the day in terms of mental strength. We were hitting each other point for point until the last 30 seconds when she got 2 hits up on me. I managed to level the score in the last 20 seconds or so by applying pressure and either finishing or provoking my opponent to attack and picking up the counter-parry reposte. Wang was given priority in the final deciding hit, and so I had a minute to make sure the last hit was mine, and on target. Usually, when it is down to the last hit, I try to visualise which action I am going to make before I take up my en-guarde position. This time, all I could think about, quite simply, was making it mine. I didn’t allow for doubt to creep in and finished it with a patient parry reposte as she attacked from long-distance. It was a big personal victory for me, and mentally, I was pleased I was able to handle the pressure.

My L16 fight was against Ruth Ng (SIN) who I know and respect from the senior world cup circuit. I beat her 15-9. My semi-final fight was against Lisa Mckenzie (SCO). She beat me 15-11 and I thought she fenced very well. There were a few tough calls to make to which I reacted strongly against, but I learnt my lesson, and I am determined to make up for it in the team event.

As captain of the England team at the Commonwealth Games this year, it means a lot to me that we perform to the best of our ability and make the most of the opportunity. It will take a big effort but I believe we can do it. It will be about whether we can hold our nerve on the day. A couple of weeks ago, the England team and I arranged for us to have a squad training day at the Lansdowne Club. After training, we spoke about the team, what order we prefer to fence in, our likes and dislikes and generally used the time to bond as a team. I believe in creating a ‘synergy’ and sense of unit around the team, we will be able to bring the best out of ourselves on the day. I have really enjoyed bonding with the girls and they are a pleasure to work with. I am excited, and very much looking forward to Sunday. You can follow the team’s progress on: www.cfc10.org & my twitter page cbennettGBR@twitter.com – wish us luck!

Vince Lombardi - Best Speech

“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”

At the moment I am reading ‘The Essential Vince Lombardi’ edited and put together by Vince Lombardi’s son. It is essentially a collection of Lombardi’s most memorable and inspirational quotes extracted throughout his coaching career. Vince Lombardi was arguably the best American Football coach of all time. He led the most part of his coaching career as head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960’s. Lombardi’s record in the post-season was 9-1, the loss coming in the first of those games, the 1960 NFL Championship Game. In other words: “Vince Lombardi lived each day with urgency, passion, and conviction. His uncanny ability to inspire greatness, and to motivate his followers to test the limits of their endurance, made him the standard by which leaders in all walks of life have come to be measured.”

I personally, am not someone who can function without motivation and inspiration. If ever I need added encouragement or impetus, I often turn to a book or a passage that might spur me on. In this case; ‘The Essential Vince Lombardi’ is alphabetically arranged in subject headings such as commitment, desire, integrity, leadership, losing, patience, punctuality and repetition etc. – each providing instant access into Lombardi’s thoughts, attitudes, and opinions.
I wanted to share with you, some of Lombardi’s most famous, and perhaps not-so-famous quotes that still ring true across all sports and corporate boardrooms alike.

Success

“Success in life is a matter not so much of talent or opportunity as it is concentration and perseverance.”

“Success is not a sometime thing; it is an all time thing. You don’t do what is right once in a while, but all of the time. Success is a habit, winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.”

Defeat

Lombardi quoting Wendel Phillips: “What is defeat? Nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.”

Defeat is inevitable, we can’t always win. Lombardi did not want his players to be afraid of defeat. He wanted them to be hard losers.

He later stated: “Second place is meaningless. You can’t always be first, but you have to believe that you should have been – that you are never beaten, time just ran out on you.”
Discipline

“It is easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you’re a winner, when you’re number one. What you’ve got to have is faith and discipline when you’re not yet a winner.”

“It matters not how many times you fail – what matters is the successful attempt, which should be remembered, reinforced, and dwelt upon.”

Far too often we dwell upon our failures. Once mistakes have served their purpose, they should be forgotten.

Victory

“Any man’s finest hour - his greatest fulfilment to all he holds dear – is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – VICTORIOUS.”

Nothing can beat the sweet taste of victory when you know that you have given it your all.

Fatigue

“Fatigue makes a coward of us all. When you’re tired, you rationalise. You make excuses in your mind...The good Lord gave you a body that can stand almost anything. It’s your mind you have to convince. Men in condition do not tire.”

This is a good one to read before a tough session! No-one likes a coward!

Fun

“We don’t encourage comedians. I don’t want comic relief. The only way to keep football fun is to win. There is no laughter in losing.”

Inspiration

“Let us the leaders exert ourselves to fashion an image that none can criticise – that we ourselves are proud to view that shall serve s a stunning example to our descendants.”

Perfectionism

“It’s much easier to let things slide, to take the path of least resistance. Perfectionism rocks the boat. It upsets some people. It will lead to some conflicts on a team, and it translates into hard work for everyone. If a leader slacks off, looks the other way, and allows excuses, it’s a lot easier. Easier perhaps, but you will lose.”

Perfectionism doesn’t allow for short-cuts.

Pride

“When two teams meet that are equal in ability and execution, it’s the team that has pride that wins.”

Pride is a powerful thing, fierce at times. It is that determination – to never do less than your best.

Regrets

“Leave no regrets on the field.”

Team

“A characteristic of a mature person is what is called a sense of responsibility. We must place the demands of duty above our own comfort. We are part of a team – in the family, at school, in games, in work – and we must contribute our share to the team effort.”

There is a higher sense of duty and responsibility in a team. Team is about self-sacrifice and consistently striving to be better for yourself and for those around you.

That rounds up some of my favourite Lombardi quotes... if you have any motivating and inspiring quotes/passages then send them my way & post them up! I love a good quote! :-)

South Africa 2010

I wouldn’t normally consider posting up my holiday exploits onto my blog, mostly because my holidays generally have no relevance or link to my fencing. But this was a particularly special trip. This was a trip to South Africa.

My dad wanted to take my mum and my brother and I to visit South Africa to celebrate his 60th birthday. As soon as we arrived in the Kruger National Park, we came within metres of elephant, giraffe, buffalo, baboon, warthog, hippo and zebra on our first game drive. It was, however, to be our walking safari that would excite us the most. The highlight was watching a lioness run away from her kill (and thankfully us!) at just 20 metres. A brave hyena then came to steal the meat while the lioness was away. With a reputation as the scavenger of the bush, the hyena certainly wasn’t scared of me coming within 5 metres of him to take a picture! Untroubled by my presence, he was more concerned about the possible return of the lioness who was watching him (and us!) from the long grass not far away. I took a moment to take in my surroundings and listen to the extraordinary sound of his teeth crunching through the bones of a kudu. Our second unforgettable moment in the bush whilst on foot, was coming within 10 metres of a male rhino and his family. There was a nail-biting moment when, having assured himself that his wife and baby were safe, he looked at us and contemplated his next move...fight or flight? Sensibly, or rather luckily for us, with a toss of his head he decided to walk on. Phew! It was a magical experience. I felt privileged to be amongst these amazing animals, and realised how awesome the bush really is.

Next stop was Cape Town. My highlights were climbing Table Mountain and visiting some community projects in a Township run by ‘Uthando’ South Africa. Our guide and founder of ‘Uthando,’ James, explained to us that South Africa’s transition to a free and democratic society was nothing short of a miracle. He believes that the political apartheid of the past has been replaced by the economic apartheid of today. Poverty is rife amongst the black population, and indeed amongst surprisingly many dispossessed whites. Today, Cape Town’s population of 3.6 million includes a population of 1.6 million still living in poverty in the Townships. Racial inequality still persists in South Africa but progress is being made, and projects like Uthando provide a platform to raise funds for marginalised communities where unemployment is high. After spending the morning with various people from the Township who were running community projects, I felt humbled by their courage and resourcefulness in the face of their problems. I came away feeling inspired by the Townships and their people. Many of us do not realise how fortunate we are.

We finished our trip with two days’ walking in the wilderness of the Cedarberg mountains north of Cape Town, viewing cave paintings done up to 3,000 years ago by the San Bushmen, and learning about the local wildlife and flora and fauna from our guides.

South Africans are some of the most upbeat, welcoming and friendly people I have ever met. Everywhere we went we were greeted with a smile. Also, the food out there is second to none – the proof is in my newly tight pair of jeans! Ha! But seriously, I had a wonderful time, and I was left in no doubt that their recent hosting of the football World Cup helped unify the nation. They put on a great show. The trip also allowed me the time to reflect on my fencing, and the opportunities it gives me, before the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the new season. Many people I met in South Africa will never have the same opportunities. And as my sports psychologist would say when I am feeling down, “it is not as if there is a lion standing in the room, so there’s nothing to be scared of!” No need to worry anymore. Been there, done that!

Click on the link below to sponsor Keith Cook for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, Melbourne

Commonwealth Fencing Championships, Melbourne

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