New Team Manager for GB Men

FORMER Army Sergeant Ross Hall (pictured) has been appointed as the new Team Manager for the Great Britain men’s handball team.

As well as his military experience Hall, who is currently principal lecturer and award leader at Glamorgan University, brings a wealth of experience in elite sport.

He has previously worked as both team manager and sports psychologist in a number of different sports - professional football, golf, GB wheelchair basketball and GB wheelchair rugby where he attended the Beijing 2008 Paralympics as Bench staff and more recently taking on the role as team manager at a number of camps and competitions.

Lorraine Brown, British Handball Performance Director, said: “Ross will bring logistical and man management skills to the role of team manager that will enhance and complement the current men’s squad staff team, whilst providing the crucial team manager support to the players.”

Euro 2010: France v GB Ticket News

TICKETS for the France v Great Britain Euro 2010 match in Lille are available from the French Federation - but you must apply in advance and in writing.

The application form is available to download here. If the link does not work, please copy and paste this link - http://www.amiando.com/britishhandball.html?page=398266

Euro 2012: Training Steps up for GB Men

AS preparations for their Euro 2012 campaign in June continue, the GB Men’s handball team were boosted this week with the news that every member of the squad at their training camp in London had passed a tough set of fitness tests.

With just two months to go until Crystal Palace plays host to six Euro 2012 matches, the GB squad are at the venue this week under the guidance of head coach Dragan Djukic (pictured), assistant Bill Baillie and strength and conditioning coach Jure Sterbucl.

Most of Monday was spent putting the players through body fat and metabolism tests, as well as gruelling endurance and strength tests.

And the results have shown that all players at Crystal Palace have improved significantly since the tests were last done late last year.

“Prior to the World Championship qualifiers in Finland in January we were a bit disappointed with the condition of some of the players,” said Baillie. “So there was a clear message that any player who was out of shape coming into this camp who failed the tests would be sent home immediately.

“The good news is that all the players here have responded well, and overall the team has improved significantly which is great.

“But their fitness level is just one element of many that we need to bring together before 2012.”
It has been around three years since the GB team played a match on home shores, and being drawn as the hosts for their Euro 2012 group has given the players a real boost.

"The players have all seen the GB women’s matches and they can’t wait to play in front of a home crowd,” added Baillie. “It’s been all the talk over dinner during the camp.

“The squad is a lot more focused now, and realise that it’s not just a pipe dream; in a matter of weeks they will be playing against some of the best players in the world.

“They’re really excited and their motivation is good as it is in the whole team, but there’s always room to improve - as coaches we’re never satisfied anyway!”

GB Men Ease to Victory over Great Dane

GREAT Britain Men ran out 25-18 winners over British Champions Great Dane in a training match at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London on Tuesday evening.

The national side are on a week-long training camp in London as they prepare for the start of their 2012 European Championships at the same venue from June 10-12, and looked sharp against Great Dane, despite resting several of their key players.

The two sides played for three periods of 30 minutes, and GB won 25-18 after 60 minutes, while they were 38-29 ahead after 90 minutes.

With Jesper Parker not on the camp and fellow goalkeeper Bobby White rested as he recovers from a knee injury sustained a few weeks ago, Nicholas Satchwell (pictured) played in goal for long periods and did well, finishing with a 40 per cent save ratio.

Several of the GB Under-21 squad played in the match, and Chris Mohr top-scored with six goals, while Gawain Vincent and Alex Girvan scored five each, and Mark Hawkins four.

“It was a good session for us,” said assistant coach Bill Baillie. “We were without our first choice left wing and playmaker in John Pearce and Ciaran Williams, while out two best goalkeepers also didn’t play, so it was a good chance for the other players to show what they can do.”

Following the Great Dane clash, GB will now prepare for another training match against a combined Olympia and Cambridge team on Thursday evening.

London To Host Euro 2012 Qualification Tournament

GREAT Britain men take on Cyprus, Estonia and Bulgaria at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre from June 10-12, giving the British public the first chance to see the team in action on home soil.

GB were drawn to host the 1st round qualification tournament for group A of the 2012 European Championship, and will be eager to show how much they have improved under head coach Dragan Djukic.

“I am happy that we have the chance to play at home,” he said after the draw in Vienna last year. “Because it gives us chance for the British people to see us, and to find out what a beautiful game handball is.”

Find out for yourself just how beautiful handball is - book your tickets early at www.amiando.com/euro2012


Match programme (exact timings TBC):


June 10: Estonia v Bulgaria, Cyprus v Great Britain.

June 11: Great Britain v Estonia, Bulgaria v Cyprus.

June 12: Bulgaria v Great Britain, Estonia v Cyprus

Students Wanted to Trial for Dutch Tournament

TALENTED student handball players are being invited to a training session in the East Midlands later this month, and could end up playing in a tournament in Holland.

The team is being brought together by Lincoln University’s Rickie Bailey, although can include students from any university.

The Talent ID session will be at Nottingham University’s Sutton Bonington campus on Sunday, April 25 from 1-5pm, and will be split into three sessions.

The first will be a physiological session, with a basic skills session afterwards and finally a number of games at the end.

For more details about the training or the tournament, please contact Rickie on 07946 258569.

Iceland Prove Too Strong for GB Women

GREAT Britain women went down fighting 40-20 in their 2010 European Championship clash against Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday.

The British side struggled to score against a strong and tall Icelandic side who were clinical in attack and scored almost at will during their best periods.

“It was a very disappointing first half,” said Head Coach Jesper Holmris. “Our normal strength of spirit was not 100 there, and it affected our performance. But we stepped up at the end of the first half, but it was only acceptable, still not great.

“We’re actually quite happy to have scored 20 goals as that was our aim in the match at Crystal Palace, but we let 40 goals in which isn’t great, as the goalkeepers had an off day and the defence was not good.

“But we’re not too sad - this is a tough tournament, and Iceland are much stronger than we are - but they aren’t 20 goals better when we’re 100 per cent focussed.”

Top-scorer for GB was newcomer Marie Gerbron who netted five on only her second match, while Kathryn Fudge and captain Lynn McCafferty both added three.

GB Prepare for Second Iceland Clash

GREAT Britain take on Iceland in Reykjavik this afternoon, and will be out for revenge following the defeat they suffered at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The Euro 2010 clash is the fourth of GB’s six group matches, and they will be looking to improve on the 16-27 defeat on Wednesday night where they defended well but struggled in attack.

With Ewa Pallies and Jeanett Andersen both out through injury, GB will need to find another way to improve their goal-scoring.

Head Coach Jesper Holmris said: “We have to improve our attack. We have proved that we can compete against Iceland and Austria 6 against 6, and we were OK against France who were one of the top teams. The defence is on the right track, but we need to improve our attack.

“I think with good preparation and analysing Wednesday’s game we can improve for Saturday’s match. I also know however that it is a big advantage to play at home, so I will be happy with the same score in Iceland as tonight.

“I think we will play a bit smarter and a bit better in Iceland, I hope we will get a bit of help from the crowd and the referees a bit!”

Reports will be available on the British Handball website, while live streaming of the match should be available via Icelandic TV, who are broadcasting live. Click here for the live streaming - http://dagskra.ruv.is/sjonvarpid/2010/04/03/

GB v Iceland: Pictures now online.

Photographs from the GB v Iceland clash at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London are now online.

Log on to www.picasaweb.google.com/britishhandball

Many more will be added over the coming days. Please keep checking back!