18 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009 Largest-ever tournament will include Russians By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Gymnast surprises with national all-around silver By Herb Garbutt earning the all-around silver and following it up with a bronze medal on floor and fifth-place finish on Nobody was ready for the per- bars Sunday in the event finals. formance Bianca Jordaan delivered And she did it in her biggest on Saturday -- including the competition, in front of a home judges. crowd at the Oakville Gymnastics Jordaan, participating in just her Club, all while overcoming a second national competition -- and bizarre incident that could have her first at the junior derailed her breaklevel -- earned the "She's a beautiful through before it all-around silver gymnast. She just even got started. medal at last week- doesn't know it yet." The first competiend's Elite Canada tor of the day on bars, gymnastics meet at Oakville Gymnastics Jordaan was eager to the Oakville Club coach Lorne get started because Gymnastics Club. Bobkin, talking about she had a good feeling While Jordaan's sec- Bianca Jordaan about competing in ond-place finish may her own gym. When have been somewhat of a surprise, she saw the judge raise the green it was not totally unexpected. flag that signals competitors to "She's a beautiful gymnast," said begin, she saluted the judges and coach Lorne Bobkin. "She just began her routine. doesn't know it yet." Jordaan was thrilled with her There was little doubt an performance until she received Oakville gymnast would be on the some bad news. The judges were podium, though most expected it not ready. A judge had raised the would be Sabrina Gill and Mikaela flag to tell the person operating the Gerber -- both of whom have rep- video camera that records all the resented Canada internationally -- routines to begin recording. vying for top spot. Jordaan was presented two But with Gill hampered by a bro- options. She could perform her ken toe and Gerber forced out of the routine again, or she could have it competition with an ankle injury judged from the recording. suffered Friday while practicing a "There was no way I was doing it vault, the chances of the host club again," she said. winning an all-around medal sufJudges reviewed the video and fered a major setback. obviously liked what they saw. She Enter Jordaan. The 14-year-old received a mark of 12.100, good for came through with what her coach- fourth. See Broken page 20 es called her best performance yet, OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Russians are coming, and so are many others. This year's Richard Bell Memorial International Hockey Tournament will feature a record-high 138 teams, including -- for the first time ever -- a Russian squad. "I think it brings a lot more excitement, the novelty of it," said Ron Millichamp, director of the Minor Oaks Hockey Association's annual Christmas holiday tournament. "No question it will bring interest." It may even interest Hockey Night in Canada. Millichamp said CBC has expressed interest in covering part of the tournament for a segment of its weekly hockey broadcast, potentially hosted by local resident Ron MacLean and national hockey icon Don Cherry. "It's in the early stages. We don't know what games they'll pick," said Millichamp, suggesting Hockey Night will likely choose to cover contests at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Millichamp said he doesn't know what to expect from the Russian minor bantam team, but expects it will at least be competitive. "I don't think they'd make the MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER See England page 19 AIR JORDAAN: Bianca Jordaan performs her floor routine at last weekend's Elite Canada Women's Artistic Gymnastics championships, held at Oakville Gymnastics Club. Jordaan won bronze on floor on the way to an allaround silver in the junior division.