Newsletter

China rules at the Cup of Flanders
As expected, the Chinese team astonished everyone with a spectacular number at the trampoline. The female as well as the male team grabbed all the medals. With the women, Zhong Yingping was outstanding with a total of 39.00 pts. Bieke Decavel (Lenig en Vlug Beveren-Leie) took hold of the seventh place at the finals with 31.10. With the men, Lu Chunlong put down a truly impressive performance, as well as his fellow countryman Tu Xiao. They both ended with a total of 41.10 pts. Exceptional.
At the double mini trampoline the victory with the men was for the Spaniard Alejandro Ruiz with a score of 72.00 pts. With the women the Australian Hayley Tagell took the victory with a total of 66.20 pts. Aurélie Mortier (Sterk en Lenig Drongen) ended sixth with 62.50 pts. Hilde Van Grieken (Trampoline team Antwerp) ended seventh with a total of 53.90 pts.
The tumbling event was an exclusive Belgian show. Tim Busschots (Aktiva Berendrecht) was triumphant with 63.00 pts with the men and Mieke De Vriendt (Sportac Deinze) with the women. In the category youth there the Belgian victories were for Lowie Henderick (TK Oostakker) in the tumbling, Nathan Baeckeland (Iduna Gent) at the trampoline, Daisy Raemaekers (Turnkring Bilzen) in the tumbling, Annabel Sanders (Rust Roest Brugge) at the double mini trampoline and Maxon De Meyer (Sterk en Lenig Drongen) at the double mini trampoline.
Afterwards, the organising club Sterk en Lenig Drongen put the cherry on the pie by ending second at the double op mini trampoline. Only the Spanish national team did better than the top talent from Drongen, Belgium. Source: www.glssport.be

Donna-Donny Truyens takes bronze at the World Cup in Maribor
At the World Cup competition artistic gymnastics in Maribor, Donna-Donny Truyens ended 6th with a score of 14.500 pts and made it to the finals. Saturday at the finals he won the bronze medal at the vaulting horse with 15.000 pts. Only the Chinese Zangh Hongtao (15.925 pts) and Robert Seligman (15.300) of Croatia did better. The past two years, the 18-year old Donna-Donny won five World Cup finals. He put down his best performance in September 2007 at the World Cup in Ostrava, where he won silver.
Military Top athlete Koen Van Damme competed at the vaulting horse and the rings. However he did not make it to the finals in Maribor, which he needed to obtain the BOIC standard for participation at the Olympic Games. His last chance at a ticket to China is the last series of world cup competitions (May: Tianjin and Moscow, June: Barcelona) and the EC that takes place from 8 to 11 May in Lausanne. Source: www.glssport.be

Donna-Donny 5th in the finals World Cup in Cottbus
Saturday April 12, Donna-Donny Truyens (Blauwput Omnisport) did the finals at the vaulting horse at the World Cup competition Artistic Gymnastics Men in Cottbus. He ended, in the presence of the world top at this apparatus, fifth with 15.175 pts!
He fell when doing the extremely complex 'Moguilni' move and that cost him 0.800 pts and a medal. Vice world champion Krisztian Berki (Hungary) won the contest with 16.225 pts. Louis Smith (GBR) took the silver with 15.875 pts, the bronze medal was for Robert Seligman (Croatia) with 15.650 pts. Donna-Donny is given another chance within two weeks at the World Cup in Maribor (Slovenia). Koen Van Damme (Jeroen Sint-Niklaas) and Gaelle Mys (OTV Nazareth) will also take part in this competition. They will try to make it to a final and in doing so make it to BOIC-standard for participation in the Olympic Games this summer. Source: www.gymfed.be

6th edition Cup of Flanders Ghent
April 25 and 26, Gymnastics club Sterk en Lenig Drongen organises with the support of the Gymnastics Federation, the 6th edition of the Cup of Flanders. The Cup of Flanders is an international tournament where gymnasts compete in the sports disciplines trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling. The contests are scheduled according to age category by the international federation FIG. In the beginning, the biannual Cup of Flanders was a small international competition. In ten years time, it has become a tournament of world level. 450 gymnasts from 14 countries will be present!
Many European teams and gymnasts consider the Cup of Flanders the ultimate test before the European championships in Odense, Denmark (1-4 May 2008). The best Chinese competitors come to Ghent to prepare for the Olympic Games. Find out more about the Flanders Cup. Source: www.cupofflanders.be

Belgian student records online
After 3 well succeeded editions of the Belgian championships indoor athletics for students, in cooperation with the BUSF, the lists of Belgian student records can now be found on this website. Source: www.topsporthal.be

(Jan) Van Den Broeck sets 28th Winter Indoor Record
The final meeting of STAX last Sunday in Ghant was the last competitive indoor activity of the season 2007-2008. Junior Jan Van Den Broeck broke the 28th national record of this Winter. Jan Van Den Broeck was drawn to the 1000m record by three tempo makers. De LAT-junior already clocked 2'27"43 on March 18 last year and did even better this year: 2'26"88. The 28th Belgian record to be smashed this Winter. Twenty individual athletes signed up for these records in 18 disciplines: the pupils men added the 4x200m record to this curriculum. The relation between both sexes is not in balance however. Twenty female records, against eight male records. With the women, records were broken in all categories. No less than 10 with the Cadet girls! Together, speedster Imke Vervaet and jumper Stefie Mievis smashed 7 records. In the boys categories, no new records were put down at all. Of the eight boys records, exactly half of them were put down on the account of the cadet boys, as was the case with the girls' cadets. Val-website: Michel Jordens

9 New Student records at BC/NC Students
550 participants = 10% more than last year at the 3d Athletics Indoor Students Championships. 9 Belgian student records were broken: Cedric Nolf smashed the long jump record and brought it to 7m19. In the high jump, Sébastien Hoffelt broke his own record by jumping 10cm higher and Corentin Debailleul jumped more than one meter further in the triple jump and set a performance of 14m74. With the ladies, Jolien Van Brempt jumped 12m35 at the triple jump, Marijke Lequesne ran 25"52 over 200m, Marieken Verhaeghe ran 4"40'90 over 1500m, Alison Roquet set a new high jump student record with 1m70 and Anne Zagre a 60m hurdles record with 8"51 as well as a long jump record with 5m84. All the results can be found at www.toastit-live.be

More than 100 countries and 7000 participants at the World Urban Battle
Up to now, already more than 800 competitors from over 100 countries enrolled for the first World Urban Battle and the Belgian Championship Salsa.
On November 21 and 22, the Flanders Sports Arena will be the scene of a marvellous show in the frame of a 2 days final competition. All info at www.worldurbanbattle.be

Constant (Stan) De Clercq deceased
The Board of Directors of the Flanders Sports Arena non-profit making organisation and the personnel of the Bloso Centre Ghent are very sad to inform that the president of the non-profit making organisation and the representative of the Flemish Government has passed away. The funeral took place on 21 March at 11am at the Saint-Rombouts Cathedral at Mechelen.

Aagje Vanwalleghem fourth in Doha
Aagje Vanwalleghem ended fourth at the uneven bars at the World Cup Gymnastics in Qatarese Doha. 20-year old Aagje scored 13.650 for her exercise. Her jump was well-succeeded too. With a 13.875 score she ended sixth. Gaëlle Mys also made it to two apparatus finals. She did an exercise at the balance beam and on the floor. Mys is doing her finals today. Source: www.glssport.be

Youth championships with three national records
The actual... of young athletes made a strong impression at the Belgian indoor Championship: 3 new national records were set and no less than 21 new top 10 performances ever were put down. Bram Ghuys gave the good example.
The athlete from Vlaams- Brabant, who also put the 60m hurdles record to his name, improved the best performance in the high jump to 1m94. Ella De Maitre brought the 60m hurdles record to 8"74 and did even better than the pupil's champion Hanne Claes (8"78). Stefie Mievis sharpened her record triple jump from 11m79 to 12m15 at her last attempt and is the first Belgian Cadet athlete to jump further than 12 meters. Val-website: Hans Vanbesien

Energy Worldtour 2008 : een new direction
There is this American here in Malaysia who wants to break the same record as me and he goes for 18 triathlons... I will not let my and my sponsors' efforts be blast away by an American (with all due respect for his initiative of course), but in 2008 it will be a Belgian who will put the number at 20...
In the meantime, we are desperately seeking for 5 extra long distance competitions...
I know what you are thinking right now…. Never mind, don't even bother!
Sportive greetings, Stefaan. All info and Stefaan's diary, you find at www.worldtour2008.org

KBC Indoor: 1 national record, 1 Norwegian record and a lot of ambiance
Tia Hellebaut and Hanna Mariën excelled in the Flanders Sports Arena by winning the game before a home audience. Tia Hellebaut made her victory extra special by exceeding 1.98 meters, an absolute world class performance. Hanna Mariën set a new Belgian record with 23"39. Other performances of international level were among others the new Norwegian indoor record of 6"55 of Jaysuma Saidy Ndure. Beside that, nobody succeeded in qualifying for the WC in Valencia.

2 triathlons done, 13 still to go
Stefaan Engels did his 2nd triathlon of the Energy World Tour today in Langkawi, Malaysia. He did it at a slow pace in 12u45 but the circumstances were killing: water of 28°C, constant climbing on the bike, wind, extremely high temperature, humid climate and stinking cars... without exaggerating, irresponsible. It is Stefaan's aim to do 15 triathlons in one year. The next triathlon is planned on 1 March.!!! If he succeeds in his purpose, he will have swum 57 kilometers, cycled 2700 kilometers and run 632.925 kilometers. You can read all about his adventures at the world tour website www.worldtour2008.org

BC Indoor: Berings smoothly over the hurdles
Eline Berings put down a strong performance at the BC Indoor in Ghent at the 60 meters hurdles. Berings kept her title by putting down an 8"10, only 3 hundreds above her Belgian record (8"07) and good for a best season's performance. She won from the Turkish nevin Yanit (8"13) and Elisabeth Davin (8"24). Tia Hellebaut ended fourth in 8"44. Berings, already certain of her participation at the WC indoor of next month in Valencia, Spain, 7 - 9 March, remained under the limits for that WC twice (8"20 for athletes younger than 26). In the series she already put down 8"19. At the 800 meters for men, Hans Omey ended at 7 hundreds from the WC minimum (1:48.50). He grabbed the gold in 1:48.57, before Matthias Rosseeuw (1:48.75) and Joeri Jansen (1:49.41).

Jolien Van Brempt improves record and equals 2 existing records
No less than 7 days after bringing her national record triple jump Juniors at 12m57, Jolien Van Brempt sharpened it twice at the Belgian Championship Indoor in Ghent. First, Jolien landed at 12m66, but that was not enough to grab the title, because the surprising Anne Claes jumped 12m68. At the last attempt the ACBR athlete reached 12m81, further than her outdoor PR (12m67) and the second best indoor performance all times, after Sandra Swennen's 13m66. At the same competition Stefie Mievis equalled her own triple jump cadets record with 11m79 and Wendy Labaye (HF) the 400 meters pupils record with 56"87. Source: www.val.be/, Remi Van Ophem

Dutch Championships Indoor Athletics
Rutger Smith sharpened in Ghent his indoor record to 20.89m. In doing so, he achieved the title of national champion for the ninth time in a row. Smith put down an amazing series with 20.68m being his "worst" distance. 'These constant series gave me the feeling that the 21 meters were within reach today, but it was a near miss.' Smith wanted to start his indoor season already at the end of January, but small injuries kept him aside up to now. Both Dutch records were run in the first two running events, the finals of the 800 meters. Marja Mulder took the lead right away. Jeanine van Overveld almost caught up with her, but just in time, Mulder speeded up and grabbed the title with a 5 meters lead in 2.28"67. She sharpened her record of last month with 1"33 seconds.
At the 800 meters M55-plus the M55ers lived up to the expectations. The first 200 meters went too slow. Hans Smeets (M60) took the lead and forced the pace. Some 5 men sticked together for a long time. 60 meters before the finish, Wim Threels came from behind at a pace no-one could respond to. Gold in 2.16"70 and an improvement of the record of Ton Peeters (2.19"88) with 3"18 seconds.

Belgian/Dutch Championships Indoor Athletics for Students
After the successful edition of last year, the Belgian-Dutch Championships Indoor Athletics for students will also be held this year. This event will take place 15 march 2008 at the Flanders Sports Arena Ghent and is a co-production of the BUSF and the UROS, in co-operation with the athletics club Racing Club Ghent. During the competition, Dutch and Belgian students will compete for the highly desired title in the 13 disciplines. Athletics are at the centre of the event of course, but entertainment is also very important. After the official competition, there is a ludic estafette and some extra tension is created by a mutual competition between The Netherlands and Belgium. Top of the bill of this unique event is a Bootcamp party. Participants can stay at the sports hotel nearby.
More information: www.nbskindoor2008.nl/ or www.busf.be/

VAL Championships Good for 2 New National Youth Records
Last Sunday, Jolien Van Brempt (ACBR) improved her own national record triple jump in the category Women Juniors of 2007 with 28 cm. The new record is now set at 12m58. At the same meeting, Stefie Mievis (ACA) improved her own two weeks old record triple jump in the category Women Cadets with 9cm and brought it to 11m79.

World Cup Gymnastics Canceled
The organisation of the yearly World Cup Artistic Gymnastic, planned 18 and 19 April 2008 at the Flanders Sports Arena in Ghent, has been canceled. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) does not allow World Cup competitions to be held in Belgium until the new WADA conformal decree regarding the fight against doping (13 July 2007) has become effective. Despite all efforts, FIG keeps a stiff upperlip and will not grant any World Cup competitions to the Belgian Gymnastics League and the Gymnastics Federation Flanders.
Leen Foré, Marketing and Events Gymnastics Federation Flanders

Best World Performance of the Year for Tia Hellebaut
Tia Hellebaut (AT84) won the belgian Championship Pentathlon in Ghent. In doing so, she put down a best world performance of the year. The Belgian athlete, who is celebrating her 30th anniversary soon, scored with 4.745 11 points better than the Russian Anna Bogdanova. The Belgian record of Hellebaut is set at 4.877. In order to participate in the World Championship in Valencia in March 2008, Hellebaut has to be fourth at the World Ranking List. Her performance of last Sunday seems sufficient to reach that goal. The Silver at the BC was for Isabel Poelmans (ACHL/3.524), the bronze for Evi De Jaegher (ACHL/3.198).
Source: GLS-sport

Two New National Youth Records at the BC Multiple Events
Arne Broeders (DCLA) put right with 2'59"94 at the 1000 meters a dissappointing 1m73 at the high jump and ended with 3,877 points exactly 11 points higher than the cadets record, that was set in 2006 by Dries Peeters (DAC).
Wendy Labeye (HF) sharpened the pupils record of Els De Wael (3.656 points in 2007) and brought it to 3.664 points.

New national Cadets Record on the First Day of the BC Multiple Events
Sietske Lenchant (ROBA), student of the elite sports school, opened with 5m62. "a safety jump" she called it. After that, she jumped 5m73 and at her last and final attempt she jumped 5m88. The former record was set by Ilse Denruyter with 5m75 in 1990. Sietske put down the fourth best Belgian cadett performance ever with 3.400p.
Source: www.val.be/, Hans Vanbesien

Eline Berings Succeeds in Running the WC Minimum at the Guglindoor in Linz, Austria
Eline, who is now running for ACW, ended fourth in her series in 18"7, 3 hundreds better than the norm for athletes U26. The victory was for Candice Davis (USA) in 8"02. She ended before her fellow-countrywoman Danielle Carruthers, who ended in 8"04. The third place was for the Cuban athlete Anay Tejeda with 8"05. The performance of Eline brings her to a 27th place in the World Ranking list and 13th at the European Ranking List.
Source: www.val.be/, Frankie De Feyter

Omnisport Apeldoorn almost under Roof
The official opening of the cycling and athletics rink is foreseen for 1 September 2008. The smaller ball sports hall is already put into use.
www.omnisportapeldoorn.nl

Four national records at the Flemish Championships
Two weeks after he the Belgian record Cadets high jump at 1.92, Bram Ghuys improved his own record with 1cm. The OEH athlete started his competition only at 1m78, when all his opponents were already disqualified. He succeeded every jump in the first attempt over respectively 1m82, 1m86, 1m90 and the record height of 1m93. He came very near jumping over 1m96 at the third attempt.
The girls cadets did not stay behind, the record lists had to be adjusted up to three times. Ella De Maître equalled with 8.85 the record of Eline Berings at the hurdles (Elodie Ouedraogo had already run 8.78). After that, Imke Vervaet spurted to a Flemish title in 7.85 at the 60m and passed with 24.89 her own 25.01 at the 200m into the oblivion. Finally Stefie Mievis added 10 cm to the 11m62 of Geraldine Lambert in the triple jump, which brings the new record at 11m72.
Source: www.val.be/, Remi Van Ophem

Video images of the arrivals of the 400 and 800 meters
From today onwards, video images of the arrivals of the 400 and 800 meters can be seen and downloaded from the toast-it server.
Once more a step ahead in the digital era of the Flanders Sports Arena, under the impulse of Time Tronics.

New Belgian Record High Jump Cadets
At the Provincial Championship Flemish Brabant and Antwerp, Bram Ghuys improved the record high jump with the cadets, that belonged to Vincent De Baets since 1984 with 1.90m, with 2cm. In doing so, Bram jumped as high as pupil Denis Hanjoul.
As usual, you can find the results of the provincial championships at toast-it.
Source: www.val.be/, Remi Van Ophem

Two national youth records ath the Provincial Championships East and West Flanders
At the first day of the provincial indoor championship, two new national youth records were established. Pupil Anouk Vercauteren and cadet Imke Vervaet lifted the East-Flemish Provincial Championships to a top level. Anouk Vercauteren braught the pupils' record pole vault of Gaelle Leterme of 3m71 to 3m72. This record came as no surprise: last year the elite sports student from Zele already set a national indoor record of 3m55 with the cadets and improved the outdoor result 8 times, with 3m75 as best result. It looks like she is starting at a new series of records in the pole vault competition as a pupil.
Imke vervaet improved the two year old best cadets result at the 200m, set by Kristel Bertels at 25"22. Imke Vervaet improved this time with 21/100.
Elodie Ouedraogo, at that time not yet recognised as having the Belgian nationality, remains at the top of the cadets list with her 24"87, which she ran in 1996.
You can find back all the results at toast-it.
Source: www.val.be/, Hans Vanbesien

Man from Ghent wants to finish fifteen triathlons in one year
Stefaan Engels, living in Ghent and a regular customer of the Flanders Sports Arena, is 46 years old but has the body of a 30 year old. "All thanks to sports and movement," he says. "That is why I want to urge the young to practice more sports." To do so, he wants to participate in 15 triathlons in one year. That would be an absolute record. In the meantime, Engels already finished the first of the fifteen triathlons in Australia on December 2 in 10hours and 34 minutes. The next triathlon is in Malaysia.
Stefaan Engels was born with asthma and the doctor forbade him to do sports. However, he secretdly practised sports and this only made him healthier. “I have been running marathons since I was 20 and because of the success of Luc Van Lierde I started to do triathlons. Sports has become a way of life. I practice sports 20 to 25 hours a week. However, establishing a record is not my main purpose, it is urging others to do sports. I want others to think that if I can do this, they can run 5 kilometers.”
Stefaan has also set up a fund, the Energy World Foundation, in order to achieve its ultimate challenge: to test in 2009 50,000 scholars between 16 and 24, to put them in a movement programme and to evaluate their progress after 6 months. All information and Stefaan’s diary can be found at www.worldtour2008.org