Entries open for the 22nd Coronation Double Century in Swellendam

Entries for the annual Coronation Double Century, now in its 22^nd year, open at 13h00 on Wednesday, 30 July 2014. Cyclists are encouraged to enter early to avoid disappointment as only 200 teams of up to 12 riders each will be allowed to participate.  Entries will close as soon as this limit has been reached.

The highly-anticipated team cycling event will take place on Saturday, 22 November 2014, when roughly 2,000 riders will tackle the challenging 202km route that starts and ends in the quaint town of Swellendam. 

David Bellairs, a director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust (CTCTT), says: “The Coronation Double Century is one of the most popular team cycling events on the South African cycling calendar.  Last year we celebrated its momentous 21^st birthday with the fastest win in the history of the race. We have no doubt that this year’s event will offer equally satisfying riding conditions, cycling quality and outstanding results.” The CTCTT organises the annual event on behalf of the Pedal Power Association.

Coronation Fund Managers, sponsor of the event for the past eight years, is proud to be associated with this great test of teamwork and tenacity. Senior portfolio manager Neville Chester says, “Taking part in the Coronation DC demands long-term training commitment, discipline and the resolve to go the distance on the day. This resonates with what drives us at Coronation. We have a steadfast determination to deliver the best possible investment returns over the long term.”

The demanding, but scenic route will remain unchanged in 2014, again passing through the Overberg region, including Montagu, the Tradouw Pass and the tough 7km Op De Tradouw stretch.  In order to improve cyclists’ safety along the route, there will be a significant change to the format of this year’s event.

Bellairs explains: “In our eternal quest to improve the riding quality of the Coronation Double Century, support vehicles will no longer be permitted to follow their riders from Ashton, but will instead be detoured via an alternate route to Bonnievale where a neutral feeding zone will be made available to teams.  It is hoped that the change in format not only improves the safety on the road for participants, but also contributes to a pleasant riding experience.”

Steve Hayward, chairman of the Pedal Power Association says, “To be able to partner with the CTCTT, so that we can present another exciting Coronation Double Century for both cyclists and spectators, is an absolute privilege.  We are looking forward to another successful event in 2014.”

Teams can enter at www.coronationdc.co.za. A valid credit card is required to pay the R7,000.00 entry fee per team and only the first 200 paid teams will be accepted.

Riders interested in finding team members can make use of the online notice board at http://www.coronationdc.co.za/riders/notice-board-entries/.

For event-related queries, please contact the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Events Office on 086 184 6464 during office hours.

Like the Coronation Double Century Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CoronationDC for regular event updates, or follow @TheCoronationDC on Twitter.

Birkett holds lean Berg day two lead

An icy cold, rainy and windy start greeted the paddlers as they set off from Zonquasdrift on the second day of the 2014 Berg River Canoe Marathon on Thursday and in the end, it was KwaZulu-Natal visitor Andy Birkett who crossed the line first and claimed the leader’s yellow bib while Abby Adie produced another stellar performance to retain her women’s race lead ahead of stage three’s 75km slog.

With a group of four having started the day together, Jasper Mocké (Kayak Centre) fell off the back of the group after getting stuck in a tree block in the second half of the stage and was unable to claw his way back to the lead trio.

This opened the door for Birkett, day one leader Graeme Solomon and Simon van Gysen to open up a two minute gap over the surfski ace and for Birkett to eventually outsprint his two fellow rivals in the dying meters of the clash.

Although Birkett takes a seven second lead into the third day of the Berg River Canoe Marathon, the EuroSteel star is all too aware that there is still a lot of racing ahead of the paddlers.

"It is still a very close race! I just won the end sprint today but there is still over 100km of racing to go in this year’s Berg so there will be some exciting, tough racing ahead,” he said.

Mocké claimed the bridge prize on the first day of the race but it was Birkett who took the R5000 hotspot prize on the second day and was happy with being able to win it after missing out on day one.

"I was quite disappointed that I messed up the bridge prize yesterday so I tried to prove a point today and I was stoked to get the hotspot.

I’m mainly happy about still being in contact with the guys at the end of the day too though!”

Understanding the river has already played an important role amongst the front bunch but for a Birkett, who is unfamiliar with the river, he is glad that he is with a couple of guys that understand the Berg River and have helped him over the first few days.

"This is a race where you do have to have local knowledge and if I wasn't racing with those other guys and using their knowledge I would be way further back in the field, so I am grateful that I have got some nice guys that I am racing with and are looking after me and not just pushing me into wrong channels,” he commented appreciatively.

It was another strong day for Western Cape veteran Graeme Solomon who powered his way to back-to-back podium places however after relinquishing the leader’s bib, the Bamboo Warehouse paddler explained that he was a bit disappointed by his race on the second day.

"I wanted to use a couple of my sneaks to get a bit of an advantage over the guys but they were marking me so well today and knew that I know the river quite well and they didn’t let me make any moves.

"I would have preferred to put a bit more pressure on the guys going through some of the trickier spots but they knew to watch me,” Solomon added.

An interesting race continues to unfold further down the men’s field after a strong charge by AQRate’s Louw van Riet brought him right back into the mix and once again has ignited his duel with current fifth place holder Edgar Boehm Jnr  for the final gold medal position.

The two were in a very similar position in 2013 with van Riet eventually pipping Boehm by a handful of seconds to claim his first ever Berg gold and with just two minutes separating them after two stages of the 2014 clash, Boehm has his work cut-out for him over the next two days of racing.

“I’ve never won a gold medal at the Berg before and Louw (van Riet) just beat me to it by eight or so seconds last year. He’s now about two minutes behind me and it’s definitely a little too close for my liking!” smiled Boehm afterwards.

“I got my first gold last year, Edgar wants his this year but man, so do I!” chuckled van Riet.

It was a tough day on the river for Build it’s Thulani Mbanjwa who fell off Boehm wave at Trein Bridge while two rare swims by EuroSteel/Computershare Change a Life Academy’s Sbonelo Kwela, formerly known as Sbonelo ‘Eric’ Zondi’, saw him drop from tenth overnight to seventeenth after stage two.

Overnight leader Abby Adie continued her complete domination of the women’s race during Thursday’s second stage and is now well on her way to her maiden Berg River Canoe Marathon victory bar any major mishaps on the final two days.

Setting off in elapsed time – in the same sequence she and the other first half an hour of paddlers finished in on day one - enabled Adie to ‘ride the wave’ fellow competitors should she be in a position to, an advantage all of her chasers who started in A batch, would enjoy immediately.

The Best 4 Healthcare/Kayak Centre talent endured the first 20km on her own though before finally finding some company.

“I’m just so relieved to finally be here!” said a cold and tired Adie after arriving at stage two’s finish at Bridgetown. “I haven’t had such a tough day on the river in a long, long time!”

“There was a really nasty headwind, it was pretty cold out there on the water and I was on my own for a really long way which took quite a lot out of me,” she added.

Despite her stage two struggles Adie has not only maintained her overnight lead, but extended it immensely to over twenty minutes and now enjoys a monumental buffer going into Friday’s longest stage of the four day race.

“There is still a long way to go and lots can still happen but the gap is pretty big which is really pleasing and now I’ll just look to try play things as safe as possible and stay out of trouble, especially tomorrow.”

Adie’s twin sister Alex was the second across the line on the day however a determined effort in the closing stages saw Bianca Beavitt hold onto her second place overall, albeit with a minute less of a gap than she enjoyed at the end of stage one.

“It was a bit of a day of back and forth between Bianca and I, she got ahead first and then got stuck in the trees a bit and I came through. She then got onto a good bunch shortly after Gouda Bridge and caught me and then I managed to get ahead again a little later,” explained Adie.

“I made a slight mistake in the second half of the stage which cost me a bit but I worked really hard towards the end and I’m really happy I seem to have minimized the amount of time Alex was able to take out of my lead,” added Beavitt.

2013 women’s runner-up Kirsten Penderis (AQRate) reeled in the fast-starting Lauren Felgate (MacSquad) to retain her fourth place overall while Felgate, finishing a few minutes later with Robyn Henderson, rounds out the top five once more at the end of stage two.

Stage three sees paddlers tackle the 75km from Bridgetown to Zoutkloof on Friday 18 July. More information can be found at www.berg.org.za

SUMMARY OF RESULTS – BERG RIVER CANOE MARATHON
STAGE TWO (ZONQUASDRIFT - BRIDGETOWN)
Overall
1. Andy Birkett 3:18.21 7:25.15
2. Graeme Solomon 3:18.29 7:25.22
3. Simon van Gysen 3:18.27 7:25.23
4. Jasper Mocké 3:20.30 7:27.25
5. Edgar Boehm Jnr 3:23.20 7:37.44
6. Louw Van Riet 3:22.31 7:39.44
7. Lee McGregor 3:27.30 7:41.58
8. Lance Kime (U23) 3:23.20 7:46.02
9. Thulani Mbanjwa 3:28.33 7:42.59
10. Luke Stowman (U23) 3:23.20 7:46.02
11. Lance King 3:23.08 7:46.04
12. Heinrich Schloms 3:27.36 7:50.04
13. Paul Marais 3:35.34 7:57.55
14. Clinton Cook (U23) 3:54.59 8:00.47
15. Dominic Notten (U23) 3:55.00 8:00.48
16. Craig Flanagan (U23) 3:35.09 8:00.59
17. Sbonelo Kwhela 3:44.48 8:02.49
18. Travis Wilson (U23) 3:35.09 8:06.16
19. Tyler Wilson (U23) 3:34.57 8:06.16
20. Irvin Dixon 3:36.58 8:07.42

Women
1. Abby Adie 3:37.15 8:11.35
2. Bianca Beavitt 3:49.28 8:31.37
3. Alex Adie 3:48.11 8:36.01
4. Kirsten Penderis 4:05.51 9:06.17
5. Lauren Felgate 4:09.27 9:09.54

U23 Men
1. Lance Kime 3:23.20 7:46.02
2. Luke Stowman 3:23.20 7:46.02
3. Clinton Cook 3:54.59 8:00.47
4. Dominic Notten 3:55.00 8:00.48
5. Craig Flanagan 3:35.09 8:00.59

Junior Boys
1. Siyanda Gwamanda 3:46.58 8:29.02
2. Mthobisi Cele 3:51.02 8:30.52
3. Jabulani Gwamanda 3:59.48

Reigning King stumped on Berg day one

A bright but chilly start turned into a nightmare for defending Berg River Canoe Marathon champion Lance King who laboured to fourteenth place overall following an early swim after the only short portage of the day, a day which belonged to Graeme Solomon and Abby Adie who claimed the men's and women's race leader's yellow bib respectively ahead of the grueling 48km second stage on Thursday.

The day got worse for the Duxbury Network star who battled to overcome his early setback and explained that it was a day to forget following his boat-length advantage at the start.

“The highlight of my day was starting a boat-length ahead of everyone else,” a despondent King said shortly after getting off the water. “I fell out at the first portage and the day just got worse from there. It was a long, long day.”

Following the unfortunate swim early in the race King was unable to get himself back to the main field with the cold playing havoc with his health as he attempted to work his way back to the front.

“The swim just meant that my arms were too cold and the cramps just meant that I couldn’t get back to the front.

“It was a really tough day out there for me today,” King commented.

With such a strong men’s field going into the day, the lead group was whittled down as the day laboured on and it was a group of four that finished together with Solomon leading the diamond over the finish line with triple Dusi Canoe Marathon champion Andy Birkett and SA Surfski Champ Jasper Mocké rounding out the podium with surprise package Simon van Gysen finishing a close fourth.

Having one Berg River Canoe Marathon victory under his belt already, Solomon has been in this situation before and he is all too aware that there is a lot of racing still to go.

"It is a long way to the sea from here and after the first day you just want to be in touch with the front guys. It is nice to come across the line first but it doesn't mean much and it will be a big race tomorrow to the end,” the Bamboo Warehouse paddler said.

With one of the strongest fields the Berg River Canoe Marathon has seen in its 53 year existence, Solomon is aware of the threat that the men around him pose going forward after the blistering pace set by the front-runners off the start-line on stage one.

"It was a very fast pace out there to start with but that was to be expected with the likes of Andy Birkett, Jasper Mocké and that lot, they are all world champions in their own right.

"It was a very fast start and a quick first 30 to 40km's until the front group eventually broke down to four which then saw the pace settled down a bit towards the end,” the Berg veteran said.

After throwing his name into the contenders ring at a fairly late stage, current Dusi Canoe Marathon champion and second place finisher on Wednesday, Andy Birkett was well aware of the pressure that was exerted at the front of the race but was happy that he was able to stay with the front guys the whole way through.

"It was a great race out there today. We started with quite a big bunch out there leaving Paarl, there were about six or seven boats which put everyone under bit of pressure until we could whittle it down to four boats.

"After that it was nice and relaxed and we worked as a group and paddled into the finish together and I am chuffed that I made the distance and am looking forward to tomorrow.

"I am stoked just to be on the front bunch, that was my goal going into the day and so I am really stoked that it has all gone to plan,” a happy EuroSteel star mentioned.

Great grandmaster competitor Lee McGregor - father of nine-time Berg winner Hank McGregor - claimed a staggering eighth place in 2013's race and before the starter's gun fired on Wednesday morning, he was adamant his return in 2014 would be to put in an even more remarkable and improved performance.

McGregor managed exactly that on the opening stage as he crossed the line in seventh place and the day then got even better shortly afterwards for the diesel engine of the field as he received news of his first grandchild's arrival after Hank's wife Pippa gave birth to young Thorsten McGregor at midday on Wednesday.

In the woman's race, pre-race favourite Abby Adie claimed a sizable first stage lead of nearly eight minutes, a positive start in her effort to claim one of the few titles on the South African canoeing calendar that she has yet to stake a claim for during her already illustrious career.

The Best 4 Healthcare/Kayak Centre young star made a telling break one third of the way into the opening stage after she, twin sister Alex Adie and Western Cape surfski paddler Bianca Beavitt set a steady pace up front together during the first hour and a half of the four day clash.

"I don't think I could  have asked for a better day today!" said a very happy Abby Adie afterwards.

"It was a really long day and I just looked to break it down into little bits. Early on I stuck with a couple of the other girls but then when I managed to pull ahead at about 27km, nobody came with me so for the majority of the day it was a really long and lonely paddle.

"Hopefully tomorrow I can get through the tree blocks cleanly and then it will be nice to have some of the guys' waves to work with," she added.

A newcomer to the Berg, Beavitt looked to use the little local knowledge she had to her advantage and bravely hung on to claim second place while the fast-returning to top form Alex Adie rounded out the day's women's podium.

"I was really happy with how my day went. I didn't have any swims and even though I made one or two little mistakes, being relatively new to rivers again, I was really chuffed," said Beavitt.

"I only really decided to do Berg about six weeks ago. I had initially looked to do marathon but then exams got in the way and so i chose to do Berg instead and so to finish up second after the first day, I'm really pleased with.

"It's by no means a done deal that Abby will win it either. There are still three very long days and well over hundred kilometers to go so lots can still happen!" she added determinedly.

2013 runner up, Kirsten Penderis worked closely together with Berg novice Lauren Felgate as the pair finished together in fourth and fifth place respectively but will have to work extremely well together again on day two if they are to bring themselves back into podium contention.

Stage two takes place on Thursday 17 July from Zonquasdrif to Bridgetown. More information can be found at www.berg.org.za

SUMMARY OF RESULTS – BERG RIVER CANOE MARATHON
STAGE ONE (PAARL TO ZONQUASDRIF)
Overall
1. Graeme Solomon 4:06.53
2. Andy Birkett 4:06.54
3. Jasper Mocké 4:06.55
4. Simon van Gysen 4:06.56
5. Edgar Boehm Jnr 4:14.24
6. Thulani Mbanjwa 4:14.25
7. Lee McGregor 4:14.27
8. Louw van Riet 4:17.12
9. Lance Kime 4:17.15
10. Sbonelo Kwhela 4:18.01
11. Paul Marais 4:22.21
12. Heinrich Schloms 4:22.27
13. Luke Stowman 4:22.42
14. Lance King 4:22.55
15. Clinton Cook 4:25.47
16. Dominic Notten 4:25.47
17. Craig Flanagan 4:25:49
18. Nkosi Cele 4:28.58
19. Irvin Dixon 4:30.43
20. Travis Wilson 4:31.07

Women
1. Abby Adie 4:34.20
2. Bianca Beavitt 4:42.09
3. Alex Adie 4:47.49
4. Kirsten Penderis 5:00.26
5. Lauren Felgate 5:00.27

David Beckham predicts Argentina to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™

Former England captain and footballing superstar David Beckham has predicted Argentina to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The England legend made the prediction/statement on the final episode of'The Dugout', a new initiative set up by adidas at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ designed for football fans from around the world.

Taking place ahead of Sunday's 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ final between Germany and Argentina at the Brazil Clube Regatas Flamengo, Gavea, the final episode saw Beckham giving his thoughts on this year's tournament, and recounting his personal history with the adidas Predator football boot to mark the 20th anniversary of Predator, with the new Predator boot to be launched on Wednesday 16th July.

Speaking on the show, Beckham stated: "It has been a truly fantastic tournament, with two great teams in the final. Whilst they have no superstar, Germany has a fantastic team, where they work really well together and have played some amazing football at this tournament. Argentina also has a great team, but they also have Messi, who is quite simply an unbelievable footballer and who I cannot wait to see play with my kids on this greatest of stages. This is why I am going for a 3-1 Argentina win."

Beckham also singled out Colombian superstar James Rodriguez as one of the players of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, with his goal against Uruguay a true highlight of the tournament.

Beckham added, "My advice to James would be to just continue to enjoy playing this wonderful game, and not let the added attention that will inevitably follow this tournament faze him. He has the makings of a true star, with an incredibly bright future ahead of him. He is so young with already so much experience. He can certainly go on to become one of the world's best players."

Beckham also went on emphasise his admiration for the Brazilian footballers who he had played with throughout his career, as well discussing the rise of the MLS and how the league had transformed since his arrival in the USA from Real Madrid back in 2007.

Hosted by KICKTV hosts Jimmy Conrad, Layla Anna-Lee and Hugh Wizzy, The Dugout has brought an audience of millions of football fans closer than ever before to adidas footballers and legends, providing debate, views and reactions to all the action in Brazil on and off the field. The series has been broadcast over the course of the tournament, with star appearances including Cafu, Fernando Hierro, Patrick Vieira and Kaka.

The final show also saw another episode of the adidas miCoach Smart Ball Power Challenge. The Smart Ball, which houses a sensor package and helps measure the speed, curve, trajectory and spin of the ball and the challenge, saw Kaka beat Patrick Vieira's benchmark speed of 111kph, with a winning speed of 112kph.

With adidas-sponsored sides Argentina and Germany making the Final once again, the World's leading football brand has cemented its success story at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

As well as domination on the pitch, adidas has been the most talked about brand at the World Cup 2014 across all major social media channels, with the #allin or nothing campaign represented strongly across Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr; posting a combination of planned, anticipated and reactive content for the duration of the five week event.

The Warrior company announces WarriorXtreme 24h event

The Warrior Company responsible for putting on South Africa’s largest obstacle racing series just announced a new 24 hour event called WarriorExtreme.

Less than two years in existence the Jeep Warrior Race has already become an institution in South Africa with over 32000 warriors that took part in the first four events of 2014. The event struck a chord with adventure loving South Africans presenting them with a physical and mental challenge turning everyday people into Warriors in the spirit of overcoming adversity.

The immense public interest on constant drive to push physical and emotional boundaries the Warrior Company decided to bring a new challenge to life. Three weeks after the Cape Town leg of the Jeep Warrior Race and three weeks before Nationals a brand new 24h short course obstacle race aptly named WarriorXtreme will be another first for adventure hungry South Africans.

The course will consist of 15 obstacles over 5 kilometers and will take place at the Hero Adventure Park at Heia Safari on the 1st of November. Athletes will have 24 hours to complete as many unassisted solo laps as possible. The number of participants will be limited to only 500 athletes and will start on th Saturday at 2PM and finish on the Sunday at 2PM

In addition to the 24hour event there will be an exciting 6hour format that will be limited to 1000 athletes and will start at 7AM on the Saturday and finish at 1PM. According to the organisers there will be camping facilities and entertainment to make it even more spectacular for participants and spectators alike.

Entries for both events will open 1 August.

Visit www.warrior.co.za for more info

What is the appeal of the Jeep Warrior Race?

“The Jeep Warrior Race promises to once again be an absolutely exhilarating experience, no matter what your level of experience or fitness is. Even for people who come here with their families and plan to race with their kids, there will be a race category that will be tailor-made to test their endurance, fitness and mental strength.

“You will get wet and dirty, you will be laughing and crying, but all in all, you will have a blast. But ultimately it is not only about the race it is also about sharing and celebrating your quests and victories with friends and family. We’ve gone the extra mile to ensure oodles of fun for both spectators and participants with great entertainment in the form of live music, DJ’s, beer tents, food stalls and a dedicated product expo area, just to name a few. To get spectators as close to the action as possible, there will also be designated spectator view points on the course.”

What is obstacle course racing?

“Outdoor obstacle courses present playtime for kids and adults, getting down and dirty, facing challenges, overcoming fear while having fun, giving a helping hand and sharing stories of achievements and epic fails afterwards," explains Swart.

The athletes competing will be challenged by world class obstacles that will involve jumping over burning fires, crawling through mud under a wire fence, battling up slippery slopes and running or swimming across water obstacles. There might even be a few variations of rope obstacles that need to be conquered and a few other messy surprises."

The 2014 dates will be as follows:

Race	Province	Date
#Warrior1	Gauteng	1-2 Feb.
#Warrior2	Gauteng	1-2 Mar.
#Warrior3	Gauteng	5-6 Apr.
#Warrior4	North West	10-11 May.
#Warrior5	Kwazulu Natal	26 Jul.
#Warrior6	Gauteng	6-7 Sep.
#Warrior7	Western Cape	11 Oct.
#Warrior8	Gauteng/North West	22-23 Nov.

For more information visit www.warrior.co.za

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewarriorace

Find us on Twitter: @thewarriorrace 

adidas Golden Ball Award Nominees Revealed for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™

adidas today revealed the shortlist for the adidas Golden Ball award for the 10 best players at this summer's 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The award, sponsored by adidas since its inception in 1982, goes to the tournament's best player and will be chosen by the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) with the winner set to be announced at the final during the trophy ceremony.

There have been some fantastic individual performances throughout the tournament and the players below have shone the brightest on the world's greatest stage. The nominees for the adidas Golden Ball award are:

Ángel Di Maria – Following on from his fantastic season with Real Madrid, Di Maria has become a key figure in the Argentina team. In his new midfield role, he has attacked with pace and has had 21 shots on target. He scored the decisive last minute winner against Switzerland to prevent penalties. 

Mats Hummels – Hummels has been one of the best central defenders of the FIFA World Cup, displaying strength and speed and forming a formidable partnership with Jerome Boateng. He scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 quarter-final victory over France, and has been described as a 'German Machine'.

Toni Kroos – Kroos has proved he is one of the best midfielders in the world here in Brazil. He operates the engine room for the Germans, dictating play with an 85% pass completion rate, assisting four goals as well as scoring two in their amazing semi-final victory. 

Philipp Lahm – Arguably the most consistent defender in world football, Lahm has been used in his traditional right back role as well as central midfield. He has been essential to Germany keeping three clean sheets, playing every minute of their FIFA World Cup campaign. He has been productive in attack too, providing two assists.

Javier Mascherano – Mascherano has anchored the Argentinian midfield with real class during the tournament and won his 100th cap in Brazil. He has played over 600 minutes, and completed 478 passes, the most of any player. His last ditch tackle against Arjen Robben in the semi-final demonstrated just how instrumental he has been in Argentina's passage to the final.

Leo Messi – Continuing his sparkling form, Messi has won four Man of the Match awards, scored four goals and assisted Angel Di Maria's winner against Switzerland. He has produced when the pressure has really been on, leading Argentina into the Final and affirming his status as a legend of the game.

Thomas Müller – Müller had a sensational FIFA World Cup in 2010 and has been just as good this time round with five goals and three assists. He scored a fantastic hat-trick against Portugal, as well as goals against the USA and Brazil. His versatility is vital for Germany and has given defenders nightmares.

Neymar Jr – Up to his injury, Brazil's golden-boy had a great tournament, helping Brazil out of the group and all the way to the semi-finals. Cool in front of goal with a wide range of skills, he has lived up to his reputation. 

Arjen Robben – Flying down the wings, Robben excelled as The Netherlands made it into the semi-finals and scored three important goals. He set the record for the fastest dribble speed on the pitch and has produced the most solo runs into the opposition area with 17. Robben was instrumental his team's stunning opening performance against Spain.

James Rodriguez – Arguably the revelation of the FIFA World Cup, Rodriguez dazzled defences and crowds with his skill, eye for a pass and fearsome shots. He scored six goals, including one of the goals of the tournament against Uruguay, to take Colombia through to the quarter-finals.

The shortlist was exclusively revealed by the FIFA World Cup ball's Twitter account @brazuca, marking the first time that the shortlist has been announced on social media. The @brazuca handle has entertained fans throughout the tournament reaching over 3 million followers and tweeting throughout the 2014 FIFA World Cup in both English and Portuguese. 

The adidas Golden Ball award has been presented to the most outstanding player at each FIFA World Cup since 1982. The inaugural winner was Paulo Rossi after he guided Italy to victory while famous names such as Diego Maradona, Romário, Ronaldo and Oliver Kahn have also won the coveted award. Most recently, Uruguay's Diego Forlan won the Golden Ball award in 2010, after scoring five goals in South Africa. The players who finish second and third will receive the adidas Silver Ball and Bronze Ball respectively. Recent recipients of these awards include David Villa, Fabio Cannavaro, Davor Suker and Hristo Stoichkov.

The award will be presented to the winner at the trophy ceremony after the final, provided that the winner is part of one of the participating teams (otherwise the handover ceremony will happen at a later date) 

PUMA LAUNCHES THE ARSENAL HOME, AWAY AND CUP KITS FOR 2014/15 FOOTBALL SEASON

PUMA today introduced the much-anticipated Arsenal Football Club kits for the 2014/15 football season. The Home, Away and Cup kits were revealed through a spectacular 20m high water projection on the River Thames viewed from the North Bank, transforming the EDF Energy London Eye into the iconic Clock End. Fans saw Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger tell the individual Future, Forever, Victorious inspirations behind the kit designs, which are the basis of the Stronger Together partnership message, brought to life through some dazzling action featuring The Gunners' first team players.

To view a video of this moment, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83xSyBjNYBg&feature=youtu.be

Arsenal supporters waiting to buy the shirt outside PUMA's flagship Carnaby Street store in London were stunned to see the kit being revealed in person by Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla and Mathieu Flamini in the shop window, as a curtain dropped to reveal a huge Arsenal façade. Inside the store, fans were also able to have their picture taken with the Gunners' latest silverware, the FA Cup.

To view a video of this moment, click on this link: http://youtu.be/kzicUib_VMg?list=PLQqeBCtRiHishYgwrbymJ8NaPluDV4V6g

Each of the three kits has a unique design, inspired by the values identified by PUMA as being the foundation of Arsenal Football Club that form the basis of the Future, Forever, Victorious story.

The blue and lime green Future Cup kit will be worn by Arsenal away from home in Cup competitions, including the UEFA Champions LeagueTM and FA Cup. It symbolises the desire for innovation and progression that has driven the club through its history, resulting in Arsenal becoming the first team to wear numbers on shirts and the first club to have stadium flood lights so the team could play at night. It also acknowledges the focus on youth development that has become synonymous with the club.

The home kit stays true to the traditional red and white Arsenal colours that first appeared in 1933. It represents Forever, inspired by the strong and loyal fan base Arsenal has built over the years, and the importance of this community to the Gunners. From the very beginning, Arsenal supporters have been at the heart of the club, a sentiment that stands true today as Arsenal's appeal continues to spread across every corner of the world.

Victorious is the theme of the Away shirt, designed in the iconic yellow and navy blue colours worn by Arsenal during some of the most famous Gunners victories away from home. Arsenal's players and supporters have always demonstrated a class and excellence away from home, the yellow and blue colours are inextricably linked with some of the Gunners' greatest moments including the 1971 and 1979 FA Cup Final wins, and the title winning victory at Anfield in 1989.

Arsenal star Mikel Arteta said, "The new kits have really impressed the players, especially because of the story behind them, which is something felt by everyone at this club. Arsenal is special, and the creation of these kits is a wonderful way to acknowledge that. PUMA has done an excellent job with the design. It's a great start to this new season and we are hungry to progress and bring more silverware to Arsenal and our fans."

Arteta added, "Watching the reaction of the fans as we stood in the store window was unbelievable. They were all really excited to see the new kits. It made it hard for us to stand still. It's a brilliant day, and really builds excitement for the season ahead."Björn Gulden, Chief Executive Officer at PUMA said, "This evening was a momentous occasion for PUMA, and one we have looked forward to for some time. Many people here have been working hard towards this moment and I'm sure Arsenal fans around the world will be excited by the kit designs, as well as the training and fanwear collections. It is a privilege working with Arsenal, not just because of the stature of the club but also the integrity of its people. I am absolutely sure this is the start of a long and prosperous relationship for both PUMA and Arsenal."

Arsène Wenger, Manager of Arsenal FC added, "This is a big day for Arsenal. It is the start of our new partnership with PUMA and everyone here is extremely happy with how things are developing. We like the performance innovations PUMA is creating for our playing and training kits and have real confidence in the support they will give us as our technical partner. Today is a landmark in our club's history as we look ahead to the upcoming season."

The Home and Away Replica kits and a full collection of fan wear are available for fans to purchase now online at www.puma.com and in many stores worldwide, including ArsenalDirect.com. The Cup kit will launch in-store and online on the 14 August.