The second European Police Championships in Basketball (Women) will take place in Dublin from the 24th of October 2011 to the 28th of October 2011.
This tournament is being hosted by Coiste Siamsa the Garda Sporting body in conjunction with the Union Sportive des Polices D’ Europe (U.S.P.E) the European police sports body.
This tournament will be run in accordance with F.I.B.A. international tournament regulations. The tournament venue will be Dublin City University sports complex with free entry to all spectators. The participating countries will be Ireland Great Britain, France, Holland and Greece.
Media are welcome to attend the event throughout the tournament championship and An Garda Síochána in conjunction with a number of local schools will be hoping to invite primary school children to the tournament games.
There will be 85 participants between players, referees and officials involved in the tournament every day for its duration and this will also include a senior police officer from each country acting in a representative capacity.
Opening Ceremony.
Teams will arrive into Dublin on Sunday 23rd. An opening ceremony is planned for the morning of Monday 24th October in the DCU Sports centre. A police woman in uniform from each of the participating countries will carry the flag of their country into the hall as part of the opening ceremony.
The flag of the Europan Police Sports Association (USPE) is also carried into the hall by 6 Police officers from the host country, as the USPE anthem is played.
Irish Team Overview.
The Irish team is represented with a cross section of players from the Southern Region compromising of players from Cork, Kerry and Limerick and players attached to the D.M.R. who all represented Ireland in the first European Police Championships in Sheffield, England in 2009, The Irish team in that competition knocked out the United Kingdom, beat France in the Semi Final and were narrowly beaten by Greece in the final. The Irish team received the silver medal in the competition.
The team is captained by Michelle Fahy who currently plays her club basketball with the University of Limerick, who are current Superleague champions. Michelle is a former Irish International, national cup winner and previous recipient of a Coiste Siamsa sports star award. Michelle since the start of the season has again proven to be the engine in the U.L. team driving them on to a number of victories.
The team also includes Alana Lowe and Caitriona White who currently play superleague club basketball with Liffey Celtics. Caitriona White is widely renowned through Irish basketball circles and has received numerous honours both at league, national cup and International level and is also a previous recipient of a Coiste Siamsa Sports Star award.
The Munster make up of the team is reflected by way of Caitriona O’Connell and Catherine Canty both St. Pauls Killarney who currently feature in the Womens National League Division 1.
Other Participating Countries.
Greece. Greece are the current European champions from 2009 where the inaugural European championship took place in Sheffield, England. Whilst most other European Police organisations have been forced into a recruitment embargo the Greek Team have still been able to boost their squad with the arrival of Antigoni Chairistanidou former under 20 Greek International. The backbone of the Greek team are two Athens based players Aspasia Beneki and Anastasia Kiourtzidou both from A.C. Paleo- Faliro.
France. The French team have been coached over the last number of years by Olivier Cappe a well frespected French coach in the premier French women league. Their team is made up of Aurelie Pilon (Le Mans), Aline Fischbach (Sig) and former underage international Romy Laguens.
United Kingdom. The U. K team are coached by Mike Burton a well name known in British police basketball circles. Their team is made up of considerable experience with long standing players such as Julie Faram (South Yorkshire) Iona Frickleton ( Scotland) and former English international Vanessa Calafat.
Netherlands. This is the first occasion that the Netherlands have entered the competition and little is known of their team make. They are considered to be the dark horse of the competition as their structure within their own league is widely respected.
The tournament has canvassed wide assistance from basketball Ireland with top table officials from the Irish Superleague and a very high standard of referring under the supervision of Mr. Tony Burke (F.I.B.A. National Co-Coordinator for Ireland).
Provisional Playing Schedule – 5 Teams
Five teams: A, B, C, D & E play a round robin. Team placed 1st play the team placed 4th, & the team placed 2nd play the team placed 3rd to give the semi-finals. The winners of these games contest the final and the losers compete for the bronze medal.
Ireland as the host country will be placed as team A in accordance with U.S.P.E. regulations. An open team draw will take place on Sunday evening the 23rd of October 2011 at the tournament hotel in order to identify teams, B, C, D and E. The format below has been prepared by U.S.P.E. officials in accordance with their regulations.
Monday 24 October 2011
12:00 Game 1: Ireland -v- B
14:00 Game 2: C -v- D
16:00 Game 3: E -v- Ireland
Tuesday 25 October 2011
10:00 Game 4: C -v- B
12:00 Game 5: D -v- E
14:00 Game 6: Ireland -v- C
16:00 Game 7: B -v- D
Wednesday 26 October 2011
10:00 Game 8: E -v- C
12:00 Game 9: D -v- Ireland
14:00 Game 10 B -v- E
Thursday 27 October 2011 – Semi-finals day
10:00 Game 11: 1st place -v- 4th place
12:30 Game 12: 2nd place -v- 3rd place
Friday 28 October 2011 – Finals day
10:00 Game 13: Loser game 11 -v- Loser game 12
12:30 Game14: Winner game 11 -v- Winner game 12
Winner Game 14 = Gold Medal
Loser Game 14 = Silver Medal
Winner Game 13 = Bronze Medal
Notes:
1. Games on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday will be 4 X 8 minute quarters.
2. Each team only plays twice on one day.
3. No teams play consecutive games – at least one game rest.
4. Each team named as "home” team twice & "away” team twice.
