Week 9: Josh Spiers

ls: After a bit of a break we are back to feature our sporting superstars. This week we have Josh Spiers from the Cannons Basketball Club.

ls: What sports do you play?

js: Basketball & a little golf.

ls: What clubs do you currently play for?

js: Cannons.

ls: How many years have you been playing?

js: 12 years.
ls: What position do you play?
js: Shooting guard and small forward.

ls: How did you get involved in these sports?

js: My brother started playing when I was 2 so I had to go to training with him and I used to like bouncing the ball from a very young age. I did terriers at TBI and then started playing when I was 6
ls: What rep honours have you achieved?

js: u12- u18 Townsville heat, Northern School Basketball u12 (07, 08) Qld School Basketball (08) Northern School Sport u15 (10,11) Honary Qld Team (11) Northern Open School Basketball (12,13) Qld School Basketball (13), U16 Qld North (11) u18 Qld North (12, 13) u20 Qld Team (14), Townsville Crocodiles Sharp Start. QBL Townsville Heat.

ls: Ok you have achieved a lot in a short space of time, that is an impressive CV. How much time is involved?

js: Training every day for at least an hour or so and anywhere up to two hours. Sometimes I have multiple sessions a day.

ls: What is the best part of playing the sport?

js: The best part about basketball is just the game itself. It lets you play with friends and makes me feel good about myself. I could be having a bad day and as soon as I start playing nothing else matters.

ls: I think that is important, I know I still play sport for the same reason. What is the worst part?

js: There isn’t really a bad part about basketball, but I would have to say losing. Losing and the fatigue it puts on your body.

ls: What is your favourite event?

js: My Favourite event by far is the Australian Nationals. It allows you to play against the best in the country and allows you to play with other people from around the state that you normally wouldn't play with.

ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

js: My biggest accomplishment would be recently signing with the Loyola Marymount Division 1 University.

ls: So the upshot of this is Josh is headed to the college system in the united states. I have come across a few athletes with these ambitions, so all the best in america Josh. What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

js: Getting a lot of shots up and just working on the fundamentals.

ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?

js: My ultimate achievement would be to play basketball professionally. That’s the ultimate dream.

ls: What is the best advice you have been given?

js: Best advice I was ever given was that to be the best you have to push past your limits.

ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

js: No I don’t

ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from? 

js: My brother, as a little child even being 9 years older he would never let me win. I used this as inspiration to be better than him and still to this day I try to impress him with what I can do. 

ls: Are you sure you want him to know that? How do you set your goals?

js: I look at that is possible to achieve from the game of basketball and try and strive to reach that level.

ls: Great advise for anyone really. What do you like to do in your free time away from your sport?

js:Relax and just shoot around. I can’t really get away from the sport for too long.

ls: Do you have any pre-match routines? 

js: I try not to have any pre game routines, but I would say that I always imagine plays that I can make in the game before I do my warm ups

ls: A few quick questions for Rhonda, Josh's mum to get the parents point of view. Wondering how much time and driving is involved with travel and training?

rs: As we live not too far from the stadium it has not been too bad.  When he started to make state teams we had to travel up the coast a bit more.

ls: Are there limitations on the number of sports that Josh can play?

rs: He has played other sports at school but due to cost, basketball is his main sport and occasionally when he has time he plays golf with his dad.

ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?

rs: I think team sports are important to help the learn to work with others.

ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to the sport and in getting them to practice and train?

rs: Josh has always been quite dedicated to his sport, sometimes the early morning sessions were a bit difficult.

ls: Do you enjoy going to the game?

rs: Yes I try not to miss too many.

ls: How much impact does the cost of sport have?

rs: We have used basketball trips as our family holiday but usually only every second year.

ls: We wish Josh all the best in the future, especially with his move into the college system in the United States. There will definitely be an increase in standards, but what is obvious is Josh's passion for the game and desire to get to the top. I will say that Josh was one of the most nervous athletes that we have photographed, he will have to get used to it over there. Most Colleges have a very elaborate photographic and publicity machine driving their programs.

Week 8 - Sarah Hesp Basketball

ls: This week we have Sarah Hesp from the Cannons Basketball club.

What sports do you play?

cbh: Basketball

ls: What clubs do you currently play for?

sh: Cannons.

ls: What position do you play?

sh: Guard/ Forward.

ls: How many years have you been playing?

sh: 8 years.

ls: Who is your sporting hero?

sh: Olivia Thompson (current Townsville Fire forward)

ls: How did you get involved in these sports?

sh: My school principle/teacher at a small country town school of about 50 students was the Townsville Fire’s assistant coach. He used to bring the Fire team out and our family would take them to a cane fire. He also took me too some of the games. I wanted to play ever since. So I started playing in the Burdekin.

ls: This shows the impact that our state and national teams can have at grass roots levels of sport. It is important that we support teams like the Townsville Crocs, Townsville Fire and get behind the push to get the NQ Fury back into the A league. This has the double effect of providing local juniors a pathway into the elite sporting ranks that can be very difficult when competing in rural and country towns away from the main urban centers. Leiden studios has had a lot of experience photographing State events, watching local teams trying to compete against the city teams. It is often difficult for them to compete at the intensity that is required because they lack the competition in the local comps.

What rep honours have you achieved?

sh: Townsville Flames,U14, U16 & U18, Burdekin Wildcats U12, QLD North U16 & U18, School North QLD U12, U15, U18. Townsville Fire Academy, QLD North U15.

ls: You have to admit that it is an impressive list. How much time is involved?

sh: Each day I train for at least 2 hours. This includes fitness, games, shooting, individual and team training.

ls: What is the best part of playing the sport?

sh: Getting to play with people that you enjoy playing with and just playing the sport that I love.

ls: What is the worst part?

sh: Missing out on a lot of social events, parties, hanging out with friends etc.

ls: What is your favourite event?

sh: My favourite sport would have to be Nationals. To have the opportunity to play against the Nation’s greatest and then be able to make friendships with people who also love the sport just as much as you. And also the memories that you create.

ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

sh: Being named captain of the U16 QLD North team.

ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

sh: Being a good leader – by communicating, putting 110% into everything I do and secondly concentrating on the little things..

ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?

sh: To play for the Townsville Fire and win a WNBL championship. To play for Australia and go to college.

ls: What is the best advice you have been given?

sh: To not worry about all the rubbish that happens off the court, just do what I do best and leave it all on the court.

ls: What do you like to do in your free time away from your sport?

sh: I mostly study but I like to just relax and hang out with friends.

ls: Anything else that you would like to share?

sh: I go to boarding school in Townsville, so having to coordinate everything and organise lifts to training etc., really does show that I want to play and how dedicated I am and you have to be

ls: Thanks Sarah, I appreciate your time and you coming back to reshoot some of your photos. I did not realise that you were a boarder.

ls: A few quick questions for Sonya to get the parents point of view. Wondering how much time and driving is involved with travel and training?

soh: As I live 100kms away from Sarah, I drive at least 800-1000kms a week to come and get her  to take her to training and games. During holidays it is a lot more as she is at home then.

ls: Amazing dedication, hopefully all the time and effort will come with its own rewards in the future. Are there limitations on the number of sports that Caitlyn can play?

soh: Yes, Sarah attends a boarding school in Townsville and lives away from home. This school will only allow her to be out at certain times, it’s a real juggle to keep everyone happy.

ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?

soh: yes, vision on court, team work and different physical strengths.

ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to the sport and in getting them to practice and train?

soh: No problems with her wanting to play. Have trouble working out how to fit it all in. If I cannot take her we have to use taxis, buses and other parents. No help from school.

ls: Do you enjoy going to the game?

soh: Yes, my hobby is watching my kids paly sport/

ls: How much impact does the cost of sport have?

soh: The fuel I use and the Kms I do are extreme, big cost. Sarah attends a boarding school to try to make it easier for her to play basketball at a higher level. Sarah has a lot to cope with. She has to organise a lot of transport, then she has school requirements because she is a boarder and then make sure her school work is up to date. She has to organise her meals at the school when she trains late. I cannot do any of those little things to make it easier for her. Just drive.

ls: You can feel the pride in the answers. I must admit that I am a bit surprised by the lack of support from the school.  I also think the the second photograph is one of the best that we have produced from this series. Sarah actually came back to re shoot the image. I did not realise at the time how difficult that is for her so my thanks goes out to her.Thanks for your time.

Week 7: Caitlyn Biondi-Howarth Basketball

ls:  We have had a couple of weeks off to get images ready for the Queensland APPA’s. Images taken during this project have been submitted to the competition so we will see how it all goes. We are hoping to get a good result this year, but it will give us a guide as to how the images are shaping. We will continue to try to improve our images as the project continues.

This week we have Caitlyn Biondi-Howarth from the Cannons Basketball club. I first came across Caitlyn about 3 years ago at the Queensland State under 16 Basketball Championships that were held in Townsville. She continues to make representative sides while being in the Cannon’s A team. She is also putting back into the sport by coaching at Cannons.

What sports do you play?

cbh: Basketball

ls: What clubs do you currently play for?

cbh: Cannons.

ls: What position do you play?

cbh: Guard.

ls: How many years have you been playing?

cbh: 7 years.

ls: Who is your sporting hero?

cbh: Renae Camino (current Opals member)

Ls: How did you get involved in these sports?

cbh: Watching the WNBL inspired me to want to get involved.

ls: On that answer, there is an obvious improvement in participation when sports are shown on free to air TV. As proof look at how rugby, football and basketball have struggled in this country while only receiving coverage on pay TV. What rep honours have you achieved?

cbh: U14, U16, U18 Townsville Flames, U16 & U18 QLD North.

Ls: How much time is involved?

cbh: nearly every day.

Ls: What is the best part of playing the sport?

cbh: Being in a team playing with some of your closest friends.

ls: What is your favourite event?

cbh: U18 National Championships, winning gold for the first time in QLD North history.

ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

cbh: Representing QLD and winning the national championships.

ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

cbh: Working on my shooting technique.

ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?

cbh: Representing Australia and making the WNBL.

ls: How do you set your goals?

cbh: Physically and mentally

ls: What is the best advice you have been given?

cbh: Keep proving everyone wrong

ls: I like that. Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

cbh: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philipians 4:13

ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?  

cbh: The players I look up to, to strive to be as good as or even better than them.

ls: What do you like to do in your free time away from your sport?

cbh: Take my dog to the beach.

ls: Do you have any pre-match routines?

cbh: Eating bananas and listening to music.

ls: Thanks Caitlyn, We’ll have to do another shoot in your Aussie gear when you make the Australian Opals.

ls: A few quick questions for Jamie to get the parents point of view. Wondering how much time and driving is involved with travel and training?

jh: None now she has her licence.

ls: Are there limitations on the number of sports that Caitlyn can play?

jh: No only if time and priorities allow it.

ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?

jh: Yes to learn more skills

ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to the sport and in getting them to practice and train?

jh: Yes keeping them motivated is the challenge.

ls: Do you enjoy going to the game?

jh: Very much

ls: What costs are involved in sport?

jh: You don’t save much when you are continually paying for club, rep and state sport.

ls: Thanks for your time.

Sports Stars - Boston Mazlin (Basketball, Athletics, Touch, Oz Tag and maybe Aussie Rules.

This weeks star is Boston. Boston can do it all, and at his age he is having trouble deciding what sport he really wants to pursue. He is outstanding at Basketball, Oz Tag, Touch and Athletics. Aussie Rules is interested because of his athleticism, yet through it all he has remained very grounded. It is an interesting balancing act that his parents go through with all the sports that he is involved in. That goes for all the parents we have interviewed so far, the balancing act of allowing the kids to pursue sporting ambition while still being active on the school front.

ls: What sports do you play?
bm: Basketball, Oz Tag, AFL, Soccer.
ls: What clubs do you play for?
bm: Whirlwinds Basketball, Black Hawkes Oz Tag and AFL Hawkes
ls: What position do you play?
bm: Point Guard. 
ls: How long have you been playing?
bm: 7 years
ls: Who is your sporting hero?
bm: Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder
ls: What representative honours have you achieved?
bm: Oz Tag I've represented Townsville and Queensland and in Basketball, Townsville and North Queensland.
ls: How did you get involved in these sports?
bm: Both my parents played basketball.
ls: How much time is involved?
bm: Training 3 time a week and shoot everyday.
ls: What is the best part of playing sports?
Lauren: Team mates and the trips away.
ls: What is the worst part of playing sport?
bm: Long hours training.
ls: What was your favourite event?
bm: The Classics (Basketball), travel with the team and play for a week in tournaments.
ls: Why did you choose these sports?
bm: I chose basketball because my parents played it and AFL because my cousins play it
ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport?
bm: Winning the under 12 basketball final and scoring 45 points.
ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
bm: Shoot everyday and listen to coaches.
ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?
bm: To play for Australia and to go to college in the United States
ls: How do you set your goals?
bm: It depends on the tournament I am getting ready for.
ls: What is the best advise you were ever given?
bm: Play hard and have fun.
ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
bm: You have to want to succeed more than you want to breath.
ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
bm: My Mum & Dad, they help me so much, without them I could not do what I do.
ls: What do you do in your spare time away from the sport?
bm: Train and video games.
ls: Do you have a pre-match routine?
bm: Stretch and shoot the ball.
ls: Anything else you would like to share?
bm: Thanks to all the coaches who have put time into me.

Bostons parents are both successful in their own right. I met Justin and Megan a few years ago while doing club photos for some of the Basketball clubs in Townsville. It was obvious that Justin had a love of photography similar to mine, so we have spent a lot of time taking cameras and action photography. Every time Boston is playing a sport, there is Justin with his camera trying to capture the perfect image.

ls: Thanks for bringing Boston in for today's shoot. How much time is spent driving and attending training and game days?
jm: We live close by so not much time in travel. Boston trains about 9 hours a week.
ls: Is there a limit to the number of sports they can play?
jm: Yes, they have started to clash so a decision will have to be made to choose only a few sports soon.
ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?
jm: Getting to know a range of different people and dealing with those people. 
ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to play the sport and in getting them to practice and train?
jm: No, Boston enjoys training.
ls: Do you enjoy going to the games?
jm: Yes.
ls: How much impact does the cost of the sports have?
jm: It hasn't yet, but as he gets older I'm sure it will start.
ls: Thanks for your time Boston and Justin, good luck in the future with you goals and ambitions. I have seen how hard you train so I'm sure you will do very well into the future.

I know that the background on the last image is not the Oz tag grounds, but you have to admit it is a spectacular background. This will be the last sports star for a couple of weeks, we are of to get background images. Please email the office if you are interested in participating in the project. We will get back to you.

Sports Stars: Lauren (Rowing & Netball)

Our week 3 sports star in Lauren, a student at Saint Margaret Mary College in Townsville. Leiden Studios has been fortunate enough to have know Lauren since she was very young and have watched her develop into who she is today.

ls: What sports do you play?
Lauren: Netball & Rowing.
ls: What clubs do you play for?
Lauren: Phoenix Netball and Saint Margaret Mary College Rowing.
ls: What position do you play?
Lauren: WD, GD, GK (Wing Defense, Goal Keeper and Goal Defense) & I row in 3 seat.
ls: How long have you been playing?
Lauren: 6 years netball and this was my first year of rowing.
ls: What representative honours have you achieved?
Lauren: Div 1 Townsville Netball 2012-2013, Div 2 TCNAI 2013. I won the under 14 single sculls rowing at the Queensland State Titles  earlier this year.
ls: How did you get involved in these sports?
Lauren: With netball, my mother started watching and encouraged me to join. With rowing my brother, Tom, had started the year before and I was determined to give it a try 
ls: How much time is involved?
Lauren: When both sports are going it is about 18 hours a week, only including the official training sessions.
ls: What is the best part of playing sports?
Lauren: The feeling that you have achieved something you never thought was you could accomplish.
ls: What is the worst part of playing sport?
Lauren:The worst part is making a mistake that affects the whole team.
ls: What was your favourite event?
Lauren: I loved the State championships because of the friends going and because of the bus ride and competition.
ls: Why did you choose these sports?
Lauren:I chose netball because it is fun and always challenging. I chose rowing because all my closest friends are also doing it and it's an all round fitness sport.
ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport?
Lauren: Winning the under 14 single skulls at the QLD State Titles.
ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
Lauren: Always pushing how hard I can go, how strong I really am.
ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?
Lauren: My ultimate achievement would be to win the under 15 single scull for Queensland and maybe to go to the nationals, eventually.
ls: How do you set your goals?
Lauren: I set my goals with small distances so that I can have something to look forward too.
ls: What is the best advise you were ever given?
Lauren: YOLO (You only live once).
ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
Lauren: Life is not measured by how many breaths that you take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Lauren: My Family.
ls: What do you do in your spare time away from the sport?
Lauren: watch movies.
ls: Do you have a pre-match routine?
Lauren: I talk to myself coming up and crack my right thumb.
ls: Anything else you would like to share?
Lauren: Not at this stage.

After the first couple of interviews we were getting quite a variety of responses. We also had a range of parents asking what the requirements were to be included in this project with a couple not being able to go to representative sides due to a variety of reasons. So we though we get get a bit of feed back from the parents as well.

ls: Thanks for your time deb and for bringing Lauren in for this shoot. How much time is involved  with travel to training and to compete?
Deb: The bus takes Lauren to school, but for the rest about 2 hours a week with pick ups and drop offs.
ls: Is there a limit to the number of sports they can play?
Deb: Not really as long as there is a balance with their sport and school work.
ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?
Deb: the diversity of friends and the different muscle groups that it works. 
ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to play the sport and in getting them to practice and train?
Deb: SMMC helps with transport but netball we have tot drop off and pick up.
ls: Do you enjoy going to the games?
Deb: Always.
ls: Thanks for your time Lauren and Deb, good luck in the future with you goals and ambitions. As a rower I know how difficult and time consuming the sport can be, so good luck defending the title next year.

Our sporting Hero's 1 - Ellie

Ellie is a Queensland representative football player, having won a national championship with the Queensland Under 12 girls earlier this year. She also plays touch and Oz Tag, and is hoping to gain Queensland selection in both these sports later in the year and early next year. She comes from an incredibly talented family with other family members featuring on this blog in future editions. We sat down with Ellie and had a chat about her dreams and goals for the future.

ls: What sports do you play?
eh: Soccer, Oz Tag and Touch.
ls: What clubs do you play for?
eh: Annandale Falcons and now the North Queensland Fury.
ls: What position do you play?
eh: Midfield and full back.
ls: How long have you been playing?
eh: 8 years.
ls: Who is your sporting hero?
eh: Lionel Messe from Argentina and Barcelona.

ls: What representative honours have you achieved?
eh: Townsville Football, Townsville Primary School Football, North Queensland Schools Football, QLD Schools Football, Townsville Schools Touch, North Queensland Schools Touch & Townsville Oz Tag.
ls: How much time is involved?
eh: All of our time.
ls: What is the best part of playing sports?
eh: All of it.
ls: What is the worst part of playing sport?
eh: Not being able to play.
ls: What was your favourite event?
eh: Playing for QLD at the Football Nationals in Brisbane earlier this year.
ls: Why did you choose these sports?
eh: I try to get to as many sports as I can and these were the ones we had time for.
ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport?
eh: Making  the QLD State side in Football
ls:What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
eh: Juggling and shooting skills.
ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?
eh: Playing for Australia.
ls: How do you set your goals?
eh: I set my goals based on what I need to improve.
ls: What is the best advise you were ever given?
eh: It's not over until it is over.
ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
eh: Do your best and you can achieve your best.
ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
eh: Lionel Messe, coaches and my parents.
ls: What do you do in your spare time away from the sport?
eh: Train.
ls: Do you have a pre-match routine?
eh: No, only a warm up
ls: Anything else you would like to share?
eh: no, I love sport.
ls: Thanks for your time Ellie, good luck in the future with you goals and ambitions.

Leiden Studios would like to thank Matt and Tracey for their time and allowing us to do the shoot with Ellie. I hope she enjoyed the experience, we had a lot of fun doing the shoot and interview. We wish her all the luck in the future pursuing her dreams.

This is the first in a weekly series of sporting stars to be profiled by Leiden studios. Leiden Studios has the pleasure of working with a large number of sporting clubs and organisations both in Townsville and in Queensland and through this association we have come across a range of fantastically talented sports stars. Our aim is to profile some of these personalities and hopefully give both the athlete and the associations a bit of exposure.

We have stars lined up for the next few weeks but are always looking for more willing to do a bit of a photo shoot and give us a bit of an insight into what it takes to be a sports star. I have plans already in place for a sprinter and swimmer/ water polo. Considering we covered QLD Water Polo for 5 years I actually do not know any in Townsville.Please give us a call if you are interested in participating. There is no cost associated with the shoot.