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The Guardian
25-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Why one extra day could be secret to England getting revenge on Spain
What do the past three Women's World Cups, the past three men's World Cups and the past four men's European Championships have in common with this summer's men's Club World Cup? The answer may give England fans an extra glimmer of hope for Sunday's Women's Euro 2025 final because all of those competitions were won by the team who contested the first semi-final, 24 hours earlier than their opponents in the final. Most women's football tournaments used to schedule the semi-finals for the same day but, since that began to change about 20 years ago, it has been a trend in international tournaments for the winners to have come from the first semi-final. As the Lionesses prepare to meet Spain, who came through their semi-final against Germany a day later than England's comeback win over Italy, it begs the question: how much of an advantage could it offer to Sarina Wiegman's team? Darren Robinson, a performance specialist and accredited sports psychologist who holds the Uefa pro licence coaching qualification, told the Guardian: 'Having that extra time, from a physiology point of view, helps with muscle recovery; you'll have a reduction in soreness with an extra 24 hours. Particularly in a multi-sprint sport like football, you do generally have a lot of muscle soreness; it's multi-sprint, multi-turn, jumping, landing and all of these things create extension forces that cause muscle soreness, so that extra 24 hours helps a team be a bit fresher. 'I would suggest one of the benefits England have is resources, with the expertise that comes out of St George's Park and supports the national teams: specialists in recovery, hydration and nutrition, meaning the players should benefit from some of those marginal gains, so the governing body has played its part when they've won games in the dying stages.' England overcame Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals and Chloe Kelly's 119th-minute goal enabled them to edge past Italy in the semi-finals, setting up a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final in Australia. But in Sydney they were beaten by a Spain side who had played the first semi-final. Excluding the 2017 Women's Euros, when the semi-finals were on the same day, all the past 12 men's or women's Euros or World Cup finals were won by the first semi-finalists. Starting from Women's Euro 2005, 18 of the 20 tournaments have had semi-finals on different days and of those 80% of men's Euros or World Cups and 87.5% of the women's Euros or World Cups were won by the first semi-finalist. Nile Robbins, women's high performance coach at the University of Stirling, told the Guardian: 'How you schedule your sessions and your recovery looks completely different, based on whether you've got three or four days before you play your next game. But sometimes the main impact is not just physical, it's mental. Take Spain v Germany, for example; Germany's quarter-final game will have been far more emotionally and mentally draining than Spain's.' It appears it takes a great team to defy the disadvantage of playing in the second semi-final. Germany's formidable women's team managed it when cruising past England in Euro 2009's final, and the all-conquering Spain men's side managed to win Euro 2008 and 2010's World Cup after playing second, exemplifying their rare excellence, but no other side have managed it in the past 20 years. Many will feel this talented Spain side, full of Barcelona stars, could be another such team capable of defying their shorter turnaround. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Robinson, who has also held various head of performance roles, mostly in the men's Championship, including at Hull and Birmingham, said: 'The other aspect which will be really important is they're going to play the Spanish, who have controlled and dominated matches. Against a Spanish team capable of dominating possession, you need to be at full capacity.' How teams recover from late-night matches varies, naturally, depending on the coaches and the regime but Robinson says: 'Having protein shakes, hydration and carbohydrate replenishment, within the dressing room, that would start instantly after a game and the first 20 minutes are crucial, replenishing that lost energy. 'The challenge of course is after sport your appetite is suppressed, and particularly after a big game you're celebrating and having something to eat or drink is the last thing that you want. And you can't treat the whole group the same. While you're piling food into the starting XI, you don't want the players who didn't play overeating. That's why the culture and the discipline is so important. On the day after a game, we would definitely promote active recovery, so it could be things like going in the pool or jogging, exercise bikes or go for a walk together as a team.' As some England players walked near their hotel on a hillside in Zurich on Thursday, perhaps their confidence grew, knowing that Spain also played 120 minutes in their semi-final. But Robbins, who has also worked at the University of Glasgow, says: 'All of these things don't automatically mean England will win but it does mean that they have those little advantages, and when the differences at the top level are so small, as little as 1% can make a huge difference.'
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Kananaskis golf course getting ready for G7, possible Trump visit
Darren Robinson, general manager of the Kananaskis Country Golf Course, has his hands full preparing the facility for the upcoming G7 Leaders meeting in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, June 2, CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh KANANASKIS — Darren Robinson had some very important news to tell U.S. president George Bush and José María Aznar, the prime minister of Spain. The pro shop was open. Aznar had told Robinson, general manager of the Kananaskis Country Golf Club in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, that he wanted to visit the shop. True to his word, Robinson walked over to the two world leaders on a patio and interrupted their conversation. 'What was probably only 10 seconds felt like 10 minutes,' Robinson recalled of the G8 leaders' summit in 2002 in Kananaskis. He said the pair paused their discussion, and Bush waved over British prime minister Tony Blair. The four then talked about golf, running, the mountains, as the other leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, chatted ahead of a dinner at the golf club. 'I'm like, somebody pinch me. It's really happening,' Robinson said. Twenty-three years later, Robinson is again teeing up to possibly host some of the world's most powerful people for the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis set for June 15-17. The golf club is included in the tightly controlled perimeter that will be closed to public access during the summit and is one of two primary locations the leaders could use. The summit is being hosted by the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, a short drive from the course. There's speculation U.S. President Donald Trump, with his known affection for golf, could tee off on the scenic course that sits at the foot of Mount Kidd. Trump even owns Kananaskis Country Golf Club merchandise. Prime Minister Mark Carney gifted the president a hat and gear from the club during his first White House visit in early May. Requests for comment to the White House and the Prime Minister's Office about whether Trump or Carney would get in a golf game at the summit were not returned. The summit's itinerary hasn't been shared publicly. And if history informs Robinson's expectations, any activities involving leaders at the course would be spontaneous. Robinson remembers one afternoon in 2002, when he mentioned to Jean Chrétien, touring the club before an upcoming dinner, that it was a shame the prime minister didn't have time to play. '(Chrétien) says, 'Who says I don't have time?' And he starts taking off his tie and jacket,' said Robinson, mimicking Chrétien's French accent. Chrétien hit two clean shots on his way to the putting green, said Robinson. But on the third shot, a short chip to get on the green, the prime minister accidentally nicked a divot out of the grass before making contact with the ball. 'Before the ball even stops rolling, he reaches into his pocket, drops another one, hits that nicely onto the green,' Robinson said. 'And then he looks at me and says, 'I call that a Clinton.'' Chrétien, after dropping the reference to former U.S. president Bill Clinton, played three more holes before getting back to work, said Robinson. He added that several interactions he had with Bush were personal highlights of the summit. It was a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. U.S. staffers asked Robinson to draw up a five-kilometre loop the president could run the next morning. When Bush arrived early the next day in his sneakers, he asked if a woman at the club dressed in athletic gear would jog with him, said Robinson. 'Now I'm filming the two of them walking up. And president Bush says to me, 'You set me up with an Olympic runner.'' Months later, Robinson received a manila envelope in the mail from the White House with a letter signed by Bush thanking him for the stay and a photo of the two of them talking on the club patio. This year, Robinson said he'll be on the course waiting to help, but isn't expecting a 2002 repeat. 'You hope that there's any opportunity to have some similar and memorable experiences,' he said while standing at a tee box overlooking the 16th hole on the course. 'If they happen, great. That would be wonderful. And if they don't, they don't.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press
CBC
31-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
'Bear birdie': Golfers tee off with wildlife in Kananaskis
Bears don't need a tee time to get on the green. When she went to the Kananaskis Country Golf Course to hit the links earlier this month, Calgary golfer Jess Lawson didn't imagine she would be sharing the back nine with a black bear. "We were very grateful for our partner to be the bear on the last hole," she said. "It was like a nice little homage to golfing in the mountains." As a 600-acre open space within the heavily-forested Kananaskis Valley, it's no surprise that animals like bears are drawn to the course. "One of the things that people sometimes forget about is what an incredible environment these golf courses are for all sorts of wildlife," said Darren Robinson, the course's longtime general manager. In his nearly three decades of living and working at the course, Robinson has seen everything from elk and moose to cougars and coyotes on the green. Plus more than his fair share of bears. "There's been days last summer where I literally saw, from in the clubhouse, five different bears," he said. "Some black, some grizzlies, some young, some parents. It's beautiful." 'Automatic bear par' Golfing in a wildlife hotspot requires special considerations. "Keeping a safe distance is first and foremost the thing that we encourage the most," said Robinson. The goal is to minimize and prevent human-wildlife interactions as much as possible. With that in mind, golfers are welcome to bend the rules a bit in the name of safety. "If somebody needs to pick up on a hole where there's a bear nearby, and just give themselves a par, that's great," said Robinson. "Pick up your ball and move on to the next hole." It's called an "automatic bear par" or "bear birdie," said Robinson. "We're happy to give people the opportunity to take whatever they want on that particular hole just to maintain that safe proximity," he said. "And who doesn't like getting a par?" Spotting a bear on the green could be a golfer's lucky day, but Lawson wasn't looking to take any shortcuts. "It can really up your score if you're kind of a new golfer," she said. "But for us, we had a lot of time, so we were able to just kind of enjoy the bear, soaking in the afternoon and then we could finish on with the course." What brings bears to the fairway? Alberta Parks has issued a bear warning for Kananaskis Country Golf Course, effective May 8, due to "multiple grizzly and black bears frequenting the area." With food scarce at this time of year, spring brings bears closer to developed areas. At places like the course, they're looking for vegetation like grass and dandelions, said Nick de Ruyter, program director of the BioSphere Institute's WildSmart. "Golf courses are very nice and green. There's lots of green grass and there's not that much other food available," he said. Bear steals golf clubs from B.C. man's cart 2 years ago Duration 1:05 That increase in springtime bear activity goes beyond the golf course and is applicable on other popular destinations like hiking trails and urban centres. "This time of year, during the springtime, we're all sharing the valley bottoms together," said de Ruyter, a Canmore resident. "There's snow up high, all the available food is down low, and all our recreation is down low in the valley." Come summer, bears likely won't frequent the course as much. "July, August is berry season, and that normally takes their focus," de Ruyter said. "And so they will probably move away from golf courses in places like that." Buffaloberries, a staple of the typical bear diet, grow in human-disturbed areas where more sunlight reaches them due to trees having been cleared. "That can be around golf courses, around campgrounds, trails, day use areas, picnic areas, playgrounds, parks," said de Ruyter. "And so we do still see them near those areas, but for a different reason." Those berries grow around the green rather than in it, so bears will likely stay off the fairway and remain on the outskirts of the course in search of food. "We might not see them in the middle of the golf course as much as we do see them now, but there is a chance you'll still see them," said de Ruyter. Being bear aware Seeing a bear anywhere can be a magical moment, but it's important to always exercise caution, said de Ruyter. "Every group and ideally every person should be carrying bear spray," said de Ruyter, who releases weekly bear reports for the Bow Valley area. The Kananaskis Country Golf Course doesn't require golfers to bring bear spray, but staffers make sure to provide safety tips and information on bear activity in the area as well as contact information for Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services. Seated in a golf cart a significant distance from the bear, Lawson said she felt at ease sharing the field with the animal, even without bear spray. "It's a long walk on the 18 holes, so if you're pushing, maybe bring bear spray. But ultimately, if you're in a golf cart, you're pretty safe if you're 100 yards away," she said. There have yet to be any harmful interactions with bears at the Kananaskis course in recent history, and golfers have a role to play in keeping it that way. "What isn't fair is to start scaring bears away with your bear spray because you're playing golf," said de Ruyter. The course's "bear par" policy helps avoid scenarios like that, but according to de Ruyter, the more likely problem to arise when it comes to bears is food. "Chips, hot dogs and burgers … that's a lot more calories than some grass for them," said de Ruyter. "They will choose human food over natural foods all the time." Bears that become conditioned to human food are likely to see humans as a food source, which can create serious problems for both sides. "They will intentionally start hanging around golf courses hoping that golf carts come by with open food," said de Ruyter. "They'll try and grab the food, and then if they continue that, they'll become even more bold and then potentially start taking food out of people's hands." "Those bears will get trapped and they'll get most likely killed or relocated," said de Ruyter. As the saying goes, "a fed bear is a dead bear." Avoiding human-wildlife conflict is top of mind for Lawson the next time she tees off in K-Country. "The mountains are so beautiful, but this is technically their home," said Lawson. "So all we can do is really stay safe and make sure that we're prepared before we go out."
National Geographic
24-05-2025
- National Geographic
6 of the best rail adventures in British Columbia
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, is well known for its spectacular landscapes, offering endless views of serrated peaks, opaline glacier lakes and feather-tipped pines. And what better way to take it all in than on a train, with those big-picture vistas slowly rolling by beyond the windowpanes — here are some of the best rail routes to try. 1. Rocky Mountaineer: First Passage to the West Vancouver to Banff; 2 days This double-decker train is surely one of the world's most scenic rail journeys, offering bubble-domed vistas of mountains, lakes, forests, gorges, rivers and glaciers and the chance to spot wildlife along the way. The classic First Passage to the West route follows part of the line from the historic Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada's first transcontinental train journey, which travelled from Montreal to Vancouver. It starts in Vancouver before passing the Fraser River for an overnight in Kamloops then continuing into the Rockies via the sheer-sided valley of Kicking Horse Pass, the glacial-blue expanse of Lake Louise and the pretty mountain town of Banff. On board, waistcoated hosts serve cocktails to your seat, with three-course meals on offer in the dining car, including a section of sommelier-picked Canadian wines. From £1,389 per person. The classic First Passage to the West route follows part of the line from the historic Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada's first transcontinental train journey, which travelled from Montreal to Vancouver. Photograph by Rocky Mountaineer 2. The Skeena Prince Rupert to Jasper; 2 days Inaugurated in 1914, the Skeena offers an epic, 1,160-mile journey that carries you all the way from the Pacific coast into the Rocky Mountains. Also known as the 'Rupert Rocket', it runs three times a week between Prince Rupert and Jasper, with an overnight stop in Prince George en route. Along the way, it travels through some spectacularly wild scenery — from pristine forest to steep canyons and glacial lakes — and is one of the few railways in North America that offers a 'flag' service, allowing passengers to flag it down between scheduled stations. As such, it's a favourite for hikers, adventurers and others keen on exploring BC's backcountry — and it runs year-round, no matter the weather. From C$163 (£91) per person. (Related: Try the Skeena, a budget alternative to Canada's famous Rocky Mountaineer.) The Kettle Valley Steam Railway route continued to carry freight until its closure in 1989, but it's now been resurrected as a heritage steam railway. Photograph by Darren Robinson 3. Kettle Valley Steam Railway Faulder to Trout Creek; 90 minutes This historic route was originally built between 1910 and 1916 to link the mainline between Montreal and Vancouver with southern BC — an area rich in resources, from fruit, grain and lumber to precious metals and minerals. It continued to carry freight until its closure in 1989, but it's now been resurrected as a heritage steam railway. The vintage steam locomotive dates from 1912, with open-sided carriages offering uninhibited views of the scenery. The route follows 16 miles of restored track through the vineyards and farms of the Okanagan Valley, an area renowned for producing some of Canada's best wines. From C$33 (£18) per person; 4. Rocky Mountaineer: Rainforest to Gold Rush Vancouver to Jasper; 3 days You won't need to choose between the mountains and the coast on this alternative Rocky Mountaineer route, which runs up the Pacific seaboard from Vancouver via the ski slopes of Whistler and the old logging town of Quesnel, before heading inland across the gold fields of the Cariboo Plateau. It finishes up in Jasper, across the border in Alberta, and there are two overnight stops en route, allowing plenty of time to stretch your legs and explore. From CA$4,929 (£2,776) per person. 5. Amtrak Cascades Vancouver to Seattle; 4½ hours The Amtrak line offers the chance to shuttle between the big cities on either side of the US-Canada border, including Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. The trains that ply this route are simple but spacious, with large, comfy seats, a bistro car and a viewing lounge dedicated to taking in the scenery. And what a view it is: expect to see endless feather-tipped pines, glacier-blue bays and alpine meadows mixed in with classic mountain towns. From US$44 (£34) per person. Port Alberni's waterfront remains an important hub for the town, and is where you'll find this steam railway and its vintage carriages, pulled by a #7 Baldwin locomotive dating from 1929. Photograph by Curvy Roads Photography 6. Alberni Pacific Railway Port Alberni; 25 minutes Vancouver Island's booming lumber industry once required the services of many a chugging steam train, but all have vanished now save for this one in Port Alberni, the small city that stands at the head of Alberni Inlet, the waterway that runs inland for 34 miles from the island's south coast. Once a centre for logging and paper making, Port Alberni isn't the prettiest city in BC, but the waterfront remains an important hub for the town. It's also where you'll find this steam railway and its vintage carriages, pulled by a #7 Baldwin locomotive dating from 1929. An atmospheric relic of the island's industrial past, it's now run by enthusiasts entirely for love, not profit, and offers views of the Alberni waterfront and the hills beyond. C$8 per person. Published in the May 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
