This week I am scrambling to get my self in order for the World Championships. I depart on September 4th with my competition on September 10th.  After my Australia Cup competition on Saturday once again bringing me mixed results I will need to do a lot of training prior to my departure.  Unlike Brisbane where I started strong and finished poorly, I did exactly the opposite at this event.  I was very slow to get started but finished strong.  I managed to win but only narrowly after shooting off against my fellow World Championship team member, Laura Coles. The goal now is to perform consistently at a high standard for the whole event!

On top of wanting to increase my training prior to my departure, our business is gaining momentum with a lot of events in the next couple of weeks and an increased administration load with plenty of event enquiries coming into the warmer months. Based on the World economy at the moment this is in no means a complaint!  I am thrilled to see the business growing and hope to keep up with the demand.

I also have a few children in need of some quality time with their parents. One thing I am finding is that the busier I get the more I appreciate and value every minute I get with my lovely children.

I would however appreciate anyone that can tell me how to get more then 24 hours in a day???

Hi everyone,

I am speaking to you on my way to training at St Joseph’s College in Hunters Hill, Sydney, where we train three nights a week. The courts are free, so that is a bonus. Continue Reading

This last week I have had two competitions and things are certainly on the up!!!  I jumped 4.40m in Jockrim on Wednesday and then 4.50m today in Beckum. They were both pole vault only meets in Germany and they are kind of like exhibition vaults. They have a DJ and you can choose your own music to jump to. The spectators are very close to the runway and they sell beer, bratwursts (German sausages) and pommes (hot chips). It’s a really cool idea for a competition and the atmosphere is great. My jumping is getting better with every competition and it can only get better with 4 weeks until the World Championships.

At this stage, I am not confirmed in the London Diamond League on the 5th August.  If I do get a start, that will be great but if not I plan to have a pole vault training session. I just need more jumping so either way it is all heading in the right direction for Daegu.

Off to London tomorrow night.  Might hit the shops on Tuesday after training for some retail therapy!

Until next week……Alana

Part 1 – 30 July 2011

As expected the time since I last wrote has been a little chaotic. It seems that I am always in transit when I get the opportunity to sit down long enough to clear my thoughts and put my life on paper. I have just completed the Australia Cup in Brisbane, yet another Olympic Qualifying event. One good thing about writing straight after the events is that I can write the way I truly feel about the experience.

I shot 69 today, again one off of the qualifying score. I shot the first two rounds on target for a personal best with a 24, 25 to open. Unfortunately I then followed with a 3rd round of 20. The club offered fairly tough conditions today with lighting and wind playing a big factor to all competitors. I proved in the first two rounds with the correct mindset, I can achieve great results regardless of the conditions. I also showed my need for more competition experience to ensure that I can make it the distance.

Thankfully with almost exactly 12 months until the Olympics and plenty of National and International events to go I have the time to further evolve in my shooting and gain the strength to finish as strong as I am currently starting.

Tomorrow I am headed to the Collingwood President’s lunch where we have been fortunate to be in a position to donate one of our Corporate Shooting Stars, Corporate events in an auction that will hopefully capture a large price. The cause is for ‘Finnan’s Gift’. For those of you that are not aware that is a charity that has been created after Alisa Camplin sadly lost her baby from a rare heart condition only days after being born. The charity is trying to raise funds for a machine that will be able to assist in the future survival of babies with the same heart condition.

With this event at the front of my mind, I admit that sport does get put in perspective. I am grateful for all I have, mainly two healthy kids and a happy marriage … sport is just a great bonus.

Best wishes to Alisa, a wonderful women in sport and in nature that deserves more then anyone I know a break for genuine personal happiness…my thoughts are with you. x

Part 2 – 31 July 2011

After a very emotional event today I would like to update everyone on the wonderful success of ‘Finnan’s Gift’. Alisa Camplin attended the lunch today with here husband Oliver Warner. She spoke an emotional but strong message at the lunch telling Finnan’s story. Admittedly I cried at a Corporate function but they were just tears I could not hold back …  I have now come to realize that I admire Alisa Camplin more then ever as she stood up on that stage as any proud mother would and told of her wonderful moments with her son. She then explained that the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital ‘the best in the World’ required a heart machine to stop other families from suffering the same pain, a price of $300,000. A pretty small price for families that just wish they could have one more moment with their precious baby.

Following her speech, with the crowd still emotional and Eddie McGuire as auctioneer, they managed to auction our Corporate Shooting event for a wonderful price of $21,000. Much to my amazement 2 others matched the bid which means we were able to assist ‘Finnan’s Gift’ with an additional $42,000, a total of $63,000! With other auction items the Collingwood Football Club raised $74,000. The VIS (Victorian Institute of Sport) and VOC (Victorian Olympic Committee) athletes were also prominent on the grounds with tin cans raising further needed funds. I am confident that Alisa and Oliver are now well on their way to fundraising the much needed machine for the Royal Children’s Hospital.  One amazing and inspiring family!

http://finnansgift.com.au/