News

09/11/10

Rafaela Sliskovic, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 quarterfinalist, won "Kup lavića 2010" - an important under 12 tournament and this is her first under 12 victory

I just received the news from Rafa’s mother Antonela that Rafa won her first under 12 tournament named “Kup lavića 2010”.

“Kup lavića” could be translated in swahili language also as Simba Cup and both Croatian tennis stars Mario Ancic and Petra Martic, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2011 winner, won this prestigious tournament.

Rafaela Sliskovic played the quarterfinals against Jovana Vukovic – Joka on this year Smrikva Bowl and showed her great potential.

Luca Appino, who is credited for signing contract with four players that reached the World ranking #1 (Rafa, Roddick, Safina and Clijster), noted the Dalmatian Rafa in the match before quarterfinals and told me that he liked that girl :).

In the picture below you can see Rafa and her mother before that quarterfinals match. Mother’s advise was to Rafa every day the same… “just keep smiling :)”… for me it is a parents’ attitude to take as example :)

Rafa still plays in the group and her love for tennis might help her to realize good part of the potential she has.

Please visit www.smrikve.com to learn more about Smrikve, Istria from Smrikve, Smrikva Bowl, one of the most important under 10 tennis tournaments in the World, and Villa Smrikve, for your accommodation with swimming pool in Stinjan (Pula – Pola) if you decide to spent your holiday in Istria, Croatia.

07/11/10

Istria - Istra was indicated by prestigious travel information guide Lonely Planet as #2 Region in the World recommended to be visited in 2011 :)

I am very pleased to share with Smrikve community and Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors that started to be also cultural Ambassadors of Smrikva and Istria since we started to create the Smrikva Bowl Library and since Istria from Smirkve cultural book was put on line… the news that Lonely Planet just included these days Istria on her preferred recommended list of Regions to be visited in 2011 :)

Istra was indicated as # 2 destination in absolute ranking after Peninsula Sinai in Egypt. A part of sharing this top ranking both peninsulas have a form of a heart :)...

I am pleased to let you know that we are honoured to have in Discover Istria from Smrikve Group on Linked in the girl, also known as Everthenomad, who with her writing and work have contributed to that result…

Thanks Anja for giving voice to this Region and spreading the word :)... thanks also to the Smrikve community spread via our little Champions in 49 countries and all the continents for doing the same… ;)

To learn more about ISTRIA – the region where Smrikva Bowl is played please visit:

...CULTURAL E-BOOK “Istria from Smrikve“ aims to provide Smrikva Bowl players and their families with useful information about the places that should be visited in the Istria region. Here you will find information about: architecture, history, people, music, museums, major cultural events, cuisine, top restaurants and the best olive oil and wine producers.

02/11/10

Kristijan Mesaros defeated in the finals Dino Marcan, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 runner up, at USD 30.000 worth tournament played in Dubrovnik

Dino Marcan, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 runner up, reached this week the finals of USD 30.000 ITF worth tournament played in Dubrovnik and he played in the finals against Kristijan Mesaros – Kiki, who trained several years ago with Miro Hrvatin in Smrikve and is currently ranked #430 on ATP list.

Dino is currently ranked #1088 on ATP list, his road towards the finals of USD 30.000 Dubrovnik 2010 was the following:

1st round: Dino Marcan – Tim NEKIC (GER) 6:1, 6:4
2nd round: Dino Marcan – Toni ANDROIC (CRO) 6:1, 6:2
Quarterfinals: Dino Marcan – Ivan BJELICA (SRB) 6:4, 6:1
Semifinals: Dino Marcan – Mirza BASIC (BIH) 6:3, 1:6, 6:3
Finals: Dino Marcan – Kristijan Mesaros (CRO) 2:6, 4:6

The ranking of the players that Dino played in Dubrovnik is the following:

Tim NEKIC (GER) – # not ranked
Toni ANDROIC (CRO) – # 832 ATP list
Ivan BJELICA (SRB) – # 500 ATP list
Mirza BASIC (BIH) – # 541 ATP list
Kristijan Mesaros (CRO) – #430 ATP list

There were several other Smrikva Bowl names that I recognized in the Main Draw:

Javier Marti, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 winner, currently ranked #346 lost in the second round against Ivan Bjelica. Antonio Lupieri who also played Smrikva Bowl in 2002 lost in the first round. Matej Sabanov who also played Smrikva Bowl in 2002 lost in the first round.

Congratulations Kiki and Dino!

28/10/10

Letter from Carol Weyman - Executive Vice-President of Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation - related with the 4th "Little Mo" International Open 2010

In 2002, the Smrikve Tennis Club joined forces with the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and created the first-ever international competition between the United States and Europe for boys and girls under 10 and named it the “Little Mo”/ Smrikva Bowl. This event was a unique and traditional meeting of the youngest and most talented players in the World.

Since 2002 Smrikva Bowl and “Little Mo” tournaments has both grown into Global Tournaments and this year we played 9th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl thus from the next year for the first time the best “Little Mo” Nationals players will have the opportunity to play directly in the Smrikva Bowl.

Sveral years ago MCB Tennis Foundation created the Little Mo International Open that is a global tournament open to the players in age groups under 8 – 12 and I am pleased to share with the Smrikva Bowl community the information I just received from the Executive Vice President of the MCB Tennis Foundation – Mrs Carol Weyman.

ENJOY CAROL’S INVITATION LETTER ADRESSED TO ALL THE TALENTED PLAYERS AROUND THE GLOBE TO JOIN THE MCB EVENT 4th “Little MO” International THIS DECEMBER IN FLORIDA AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY TENNIS WITH OTHER TALENTED KIDS, VISIT FLORIDA AND ALSO VISIT DISNEYLAND :)

Dear Players and Parents,

Greetings from the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. We hope you have been well and have had a great year. Just wanted to let you know about our upcoming “Little Mo” Internationals which will be held at the prestigious IMG Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida in December and we hope you will plan to join us. (Boys and Girls 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 years of age worldwide are eligible.)

The Qualifying Round will be held on Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12 (32 draw) and the Main Draw (32) will begin on Monday, December 13-17, 2010. The Fact Sheet is on our website which gives all of the tournament details/age divisions, etc: www.mcbtennis.org. Matches will be played on full court with yellow Regular Prince balls.

We are excited to announce Nick Bollettieri will be leading all “Little Mo” players in a free afternoon clinic on Sunday, Dec.12.
Following the clinic will be the “Parade of Nations” whereby all players will parade on court carrying their country’s flag and the opening ceremony. The Internationals will be a great opportunity to meet players who are your same age and gauge your skills against players from around the world.

For the first time, the “Little Mo” Internationals will have a 12’s division for boys and girls. (If you live in Florida, this division has been sanctioned by the USTA and will count for ranking points.) We are also offering doubles and mixed doubles, in addition to the singles, so you are guaranteed at least 4 matches (two singles, one doubles and one mixed.) You can either sign up with a partner or you will be paired with someone on at the player sign-in on Friday, December 10.

Registration for the Internationals is now online on the MCB website: www.mcbtennis.org. Please click on Tournaments. If you have any questions, please email Rick Workman (Tournament Director): [email protected]. Deadline for entries: Nov. 12.

Disney World is a short drive away in Orlando, as well as the beautiful white sand beaches of Florida. So, we hope you will plan to escape the cold winter and join us at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy for some great junior tennis and all of the festivities.

Thanks for helping us spread the word—especially if you have any connections with players or teaching pro’s in other countries. We appreciate it. Attached is the Andy Roddick ad and press release for easy forwarding. Thanks very much and we wish you all the best.

Warmest regards,

Carol Weyman

Executive Vice-President
Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation

24/10/10

Zvonimir Babic, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 player, played the finals of Indoors Ogulin Open 2010 under 16 Tournament against Filip Kraljevic, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 runner up who was the winner

Zvonimir Babic played twice Smrikva Bowl in 2004 and 2005 and usually visit Smrikve with his parents during the summer. Last year it was the first time that Zvonimir visited Smrikve without rackets because of an arm injury.

This year he was back on the courts with racket and he trained with Miro.

Zvonimir’s father Vlado called me yesterday to tell me Zvonimir was playing in Ogulin and visiting the Tennis Club Ogulin webiste it is very interesting to see that they adopted a system to follow the scores on line :). Very nice!

Zvonimir road to the finals was the following:

1st round: Zvonimir Babic – bye
2nd round: Zvonimir Babic – Timon KORDIC 6:0, 2:6, 6:1
Quarterfinals: Zvonimir Babic – Marin Domagoj CUKON 6:4, 6:4
Semifinals: Zvonimir Babic – Karlo LOZIC 6:4, 7:5
Finals: Zvonimir Babic – Filip KRALJEVIC 6:0, 0:6, 6:7

Filip Kraljevic played Smrikva Bowl finals in 2006 against Gianluigi Quinzi.

Congratulations to Filip and Zvonimir!

20/10/10

Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, qualified for USD 220.000 worth tournament in Luxembourg - BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open and withdrew in the first round

Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, won two USD 25.000 worth tournaments during the last month and this week she qualified for the USD 220.000 worth tournament in Luxembourg – BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open.

Ivana is currently ranked #266 on WTA list and is the second best fomer Smrikva Bowl player on WTA ranking list with her best ranking ever #95 reached on June 12th, 2006.

Ivana Lisjak Qualification road towards the Main Draw was the following:

1st round: Ivana Lisjak – Alize CORNET (FRA) 6:4, 6:3
2nd round: Ivana Lisjak – Liana UNGUR (ROU) 6:2, 6:3
3rd round: Ivana Lisjak – Eleni DANIILIDOU (GRE) 6:1, 6:4

The ranking of the players that Ivana played in the qualifications of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open is the following:

Alize CORNET (FRA) – # 81 WTA list
Liana UNGUR (ROU) – # 163 WTA list
Eleni DANIILIDOU (GRE) – # 166 WTA list

In the Main Draw she played against Polona Hercog from Slovenia, currently ranked #47 on WTA ranking list and after loosing in the first set 6:2 in the second set she withdrew on 1:1 score.

18/10/10

Nicola Khun, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, won the "I Torneo Internacional de Tenis Juvenil CAJA DE BURGOS & DIARIO DE BURGOS"

I just received the news that Nicola Khun, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, won the “I Torneo Internacional de Tenis Juvenil CAJA DE BURGOS & DIARIO DE BURGOS”

Nicola defeated in the finals a player from Madrid who also played this year Smrikva Bowl named – Jorge Garcia Sanz while the girls runner up of this year edition, Paola Arias, reached the quarterfinals.

There was another top Spanish boy that applied for the next year Smrikva Bowl – Nicolas Alvarez Varona who reached the semifinals.

Congratulations Smrikva boys and girls!... and for those who understand Spanish I am pleased to post part of the Press Release in Spanish of the event:

Nicola Khun y Maria José Luque vencedores del I Torneo Internacional de Tenis Juvenil CAJA DE BURGOS & DIARIO DE BURGOS

Gran éxito del I Torneo Internacional de Tenis Juvenil CAJA DE BURGOS & DIARIO DE BURGOS que se ha celebrado este fin de semana en las Pistas del Club de Tenis Burgos.

Partidos de enorme calidad y vistosidad los que se han visto con buena parte de los mejores jugadores de España y Portugal en liza.

En Benjamín Masculino dónde a efectos se ha celebrado un Campeonato de España oficioso de la categoría, ha resultado vencedor de una forma incontestable el valenciano Nicola Khun y en la categoría Infantil Femenino la andaluza María José Luque ha impuesto su enorme regularidad.

La primera final de la mañana entre el valenciano Nicola Khun y el madrileño Jorge García Sanz ha comenzado con sorpresa dado que Jorge se ha adelantado en el marcador 3 a 1, debido a sus potentes golpes y su decisión sobre la pista. A partir de ese momento Nicola Khun ha reaccionado de una manera total debido a sus grandes golpes y sobre todo a su gran energía mental, y ha hecho siete juegos seguidos que le han dado la victoria en el partido.

En la segunda final, María José Luque ha empezado con mucha fuerza y no ha dado ninguna opción en el primer set a Mercedes López a la que ha ganado por 6-0. Gran reacción de Mercedes en el segundo set, dónde ha peleado de tú a tú con María José, llegandose al empate a 3 juegos. A partir de ahí se ha impuesto la andaluza debido a su gran regularidad.

CUADRO DE HONOR DEL I TORNEO INTERNACIONAL DE TENIS JUVENIL CAJA DE BURGOS & DIARIO DE BURGOS

Categoría BENJAMÍN MASCULINO:

Vencedor – Nicola Khun (Comunidad Valenciana)
Finalista – Jorge García (Madrid)

Semifinalista – Luis Fernández Labarta (Galicia) – Tercer puesto
Semifinalista – Nicolás Álvarez Varona (Castilla y León) – Cuarto puesto

Cuartofinalista – Raúl Vázquez Roldán (Castilla y León) – Quinto puesto
Cuartofinalista – Álvaro Bueno (Cataluña) – Quinto puesto
Cuartofinalista-Gonçalo Carvalho (Portugal)-Sexto puesto
Cuartofinalista-Fernando Ortiz (Extremadura) – Sexto puesto

Categoría INFANTIL FEMENINO

Vencedora – María José Luque (Andalucía)
Finalista – Mercedes López (Madrid)

Semifinalista-Ariadna Martí (Cataluña) – Tercer puesto
Semifinalista – Claudia Cianci (Portugal) – Cuarto puesto

Cuartofinalista – Rosario Cañero (Andalucía) Quinto puesto
Cuartofinalista – Leire Martín (Castilla y León) – Quinto puesto
Cuartofinalista – Paula Arias (Castilla y León) – Sexto puesto
Cuartofinalista – Paula Tormos (Madrid) – Sexto puesto

17/10/10

These days in Smrikve we started to collect olives that will end up in bottles with Smrikva Bowl olive oil that will be given to the 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 Ambassadors - Istrian olive oil is considered among the best in the World

These days we started to collect olives, the 2011 Smrikva Bowl olive oil production. It is considered 2011 production because the next year every new Smrikva Bowl Ambassador will receive a bottle of it.

In Smrikve we produce Istrian olive oil that has over 2000 years old tradition in olive oil making and was considered among the best one in the Roman Empire and today is still considered among the best one in the World.

During the Smrikva Bowl we use to give to every Smrikva Bowl Ambasador a bottle of oil as a memory to their Smrikva Bowl. We started the collection process that will end with transforming the olives into oil for the 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 players and Ambassadors.

One day we will be able to produce special and limited collections of the Smrikva Bowl olive oil from the Smrikva Bowl centuries old olive trees planted by some of the future tennis Champions…

This year olive oil will be quite rare because of the strong winter we had. On 18th of December 2009 we woke up under the snow in Smrikve that is not usual and according to statistics since 1930 we did not have such a snow in Pula.

The Smrikve tennis courts looked very elegant that morning. The sunshine was light and for many kids in Pula it was the day to enjoy in this unusual snow for our town on the Adriatic sea but for the olive trees was a painfull experience when the temperature went to -7 to -8°C when the olive tree can get frozen and die.

Many of our olive trees suffered the winter but in end they survived and the next year olive oil will be special also for the complicated weather we had :)

A SHORT INTRODUCTION OF THE LONG STORY OF THE ISTRIAN OLIVE OIL…

The tradition of the olive oil production started to develop in Istria during the time of the Emperor Augustus. Thanks to the olive oil Pula was for few centuries one of the richest towns in the Roman Empire and this is one of the main reasons why Pula got its magnificent Arena.

Arena was completed at the same time as the famous Colosseum in Rome. It is one of the six largest Roman amphitheatres in the World and is today the Roman amphitheatre with best preserved external mantel in the World.

It is important to say that at the time olive oil was not used only as the salad dressing as we use it today but it was used also for lighting thus it was important as todays are important the sources of energy we use. It was the gold of its period. This explain the status and importance Pula had during the Roman Empire time.

Istrian olive oil was considered among the best in the Empire but also the amphorae production was very important. In the village located nearby Pula named Fazana one of the most prestigous amphorae production facilities were located owned by a Roman Consul.

SMRIKVA BOWL AMBASSADORS OLIVE TREES…

In 2005, for the 10th Smrikva Bowl anniversary, we started the tradition of planting an old Olive tree. The Olive tree selected needs to be older than the oldest man living on the earth today.

The people that planted Smrikva Bowl Olive trees for the first time are no longer among us and the message this Olive tree transmits to the Ambassadors is that intergenerational responsibility alone will allow future generations to enjoy the beauty of life, the sunsets and the seasons of the earth.

The Lion King cartoon is an artwork and many life messages one can find in it and most of them are in line with the Smrikva Bowl.

They are in line with the message of the Ambassadors’ Olive Tree; they are in line with the values of friendship and love; they are in line with empathy. Love, friendship and empathy are all Cosmopolitan values per excellence, as far as people and humanity are concerned thus in line with Smrikva Bowl mission.

WHAT REMAINED IN ISTRIA FROM THE ROMAN OLIVE OIL TRADITION…

The olive tree can live for millenniums and thanks to this long life of the olive tree we do know one of the sorts that was cultivated during the Roman Empire time.

Today in Istria there are other sorts of olive trees but the olive oil is outstanding thanks to the geographic position of Istria.

It is hard to understand how Romans without sophisticated analysis instruments that we do have today were able to determine in which part of the Empire they were able to get the best food, olive oil and wine. Istria was considered the area of the best olive oil and wine.

Romans had deep knowledge of olive oil making and we do know that they had five different olive oils quality ranking:

1. Oleum ex albis ulivis: first quality olive oil made by green and white olives

2. Viride: olive oil made by the olives that started to become black

3. Maturum: olive oil made by mature olives

4. Caducum: olive oil made by olives collected from the ground

5. Cibarium: olive oil made by rotten olives

Most of the old knowledge returned to Istria in the last decades thanks to the many Istrian families that dedicated with passion in rediscovering this old agricultural art.

THE OLDEST ISTRIAN OLIVE TREE…

On Brioni island there is an olive tree from the beginning of the 4th century that is one of the oldest olive trees in Europe. For its years could be also a symbol of wise.

To give you an idea of his age just imagine that this olive tree was planted during the time of Emperor Costantine the Great.

In general, wise and talented people usually create things after hard personal experiences. Men mostly learn trough experiences and that knowledge usually have value for future generations.

It would be nice to think that the oldest Istrian olive tree from Brioni could lend a part of its wise to every visitor of Istria.

Marcus Valerius Martialis, native from Cordoba, who lived in the 1st century AD, during the Roman Empire times, celebrated Istrian olive oil with the following verses: “Uncto Corduba Laetior Venafro Histra Nec Minus Absolute Testa”. The translation in English would be: “Cordoba, you being more fertile than the olive oil region of Venafro and so perfect as the oil (amphora) from Istria”.

To learn more about ISTRIAN OLIVE OIL and the region where Smrikva Bowl is played please visit:

…CULTURAL E-BOOK “Istria from Smrikve” aims to provide Smrikva Bowl players and their families with useful information about the places that should be visited in the Istria region. Here you will find information about: architecture, history, people, music, museums, major cultural events, cuisine, top restaurants and the best olive oil and wine producers.

15/10/10

Kristina Novak - 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 semifinalist - spent a week this summer in Switzerland, in Italy with Luca Appino following the Tennis Talents program, and than she won the under 11 Master in her country :)

I just received this morning a letter from Kristina Novak and her family describing Kristina’s experiences over the last months after the Smrikva Bowl completion… it is a nice letter that I am pleased to share and I am pleased to congratulate them that they wrote it in Croatian although their native language is little bit different :)

Kristina Novak reached the semifinals on this year Smrikva Bowl and was the winner of the Lemon Bowl in Rome at the beginning of the year. She played twice Smrikva Bowl and this year she brought in Smrikve with her a particular surprise.

Every player to register for the tournament bring a book of the town or country he or she is from thus contribute to the creation of the Smrikva Bowl Library. The books received are beautiful but Kristina with her book brought also a bread made at home with tennis racket, the roses, and some other lovely creations.... :)

Before putting Krisitna’s family letter in Croatian I am pleased to start this article with Kristina’photo after this year Smrikva Bowl finals when it was allowed to jump into the swimming pool with suits and as you can see Kristina was in the finals staff wearing Sergio Tacchini t-shirt and shorts and this is the picture made just after the finals :))... it is one of my favourits pictures… ;)

Given the fact the letter is in Croatian I would be pleased to give just o short summery of it that split as follows…
1. Joka visit to Kristina in Slovenia
2. Kristina visit to the Smrikva Bowl Swiss team in Frenkendorf
3. Kristina visit to Luca Appino in Aosta with Joka than on return home visit to Gardaland :)
4. in end she won the under 11 Master in her country ;)

As stated above, this year winner Joka visited this summer Kristina on Blad and on the picture below you can see Joka and Kristina after their squash game :)...

Later on Kristina visited her new Smrikva Bowl friends in Switzerland and trained at TIF tennis academy in Frenkendorf near Basel. Kristina went there thanks to the friendship created this year Swiss trainer Nicol Zuger and the players Vesna Savic, Joanne and Zina... it was another tennis and friendship experience to her…

Once she returned from Frenkendorf she was contacted by Luca Appino informing her about the opportunity to work with Joka in Aosta at the end of September for a week and this was another valuable experience for her human and tennis development :)

Luca Appino dedicated important part of his time to the talents scouting. He took under contracts various young and unknown players from 11 to 15 years old and later on four of them reached the #1 position in the ATP and WTA: Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters and Dinara Safina. Among other selected, many of them entered the world tennis elite.

After Aosta she went to Gardaland and back home she won the under 11 Master!

For those who understand Croatian I am pleased to share Kristina’s family letter.

Poštovani g. Miodrag,

Dani lete poput svijetlosti a uspomene na Smrikvu 2010 ostaju u prijatnom siječanju. Mnogo lijepih stvari se dogodilo Kristini na Smrikvi i poslije Smrikve. Upoznali smo Lucu Appina , pa porodicu Zuger,pa porodicu Vuković. U povratku iz Pule porodica Vuković je došla na Bled, gdje su se Joka,Vuk i Kristina upoznali mnogo bolje i van terena.

U početku kolovoza Kristina je bila tijedan dana gost u TIF tennis academy, Frenkendorf kraj Basela. Kristina je tu provela odličan tijedan u radu u tenis centru, gdje je bila gost porodice Zuger i porodice Savić.

Bilo je to za Kristinu veliko iskustvo, jer je Kristina naučila puno novih stvari i doživjela različit pristup tenisu nego u njenom klubu. Kristina se sprijateljila sa Joanne, Zinom, Vesnom (svi Smrikwa bowl igrači) i ga. Nicole i g. Rodolfom Handschin-om .

Tek smo se vratili iz Frenkendorfa, a iznenadio nas je mail koji nas je jako obradovao. G. Luca Appino je javio, da bi u ovoj godini *želio vidjeti Kristinu u programu Tennis Talents*.

Odluka je brzo pala, pa smo se dogovorili, da se vidimo u početku septembra u Aosti. Jako nas je obradovala informacija, da če u povratku iz Pariza doči i porodica Vuković. Kristina se tome jako obradovala i provela 5 prekrasnih dana u radu sa Lucom i tri dana zajedničkog treninga i druženja sa Jovanom Vuković.

Trening po programu TT je ukazao na određene nedostatke u Kristininoj igri, koje smo odmah počeli popravljati. Luca se pokazao kao izvrstan stručnjak i super čovijek sa velikom dozom osiječaja za rad sa dijecom i osiječajem šta je dobro i na čemu treba raditi danas, da bi bilo bolje za budučnost Kristinine igre. Nadamo se, da čemo sa g. Lucom ostati na vezi i u budučnosti.

Tijedan je jako brzo prošao i u povratku smo stali kraj Gardskog jezera i pogledali Safari park i normalno – Gardaland.

g. Miodrag – još jedna vijest :

Kristina je na Mastersu koji se odvijao od 09. i 10.10.2010 do 10 godina osvojila 2. mijesto, a na mastersu do 11 godina 1. mijesto. U tom tijednu bila je najbolja igračica mastersa. Još jednom je pokazala svoj talenat.

Na tom mijestu zahvalili bi Lucu Appinu, porodici Zuger i Savić te naravno TK Triglav Kranj i njegovom trenerskom timu, Feniks studiu – Squash klubu Bled i svima koji su do sada radili sa Kristinom.

g. Miodrag na kraju ide zahvala i vama jer malo ljudi čini toliko dobroga za dijecu kao vi. Da nismo bili učesnici vašeg turnira danas bi na tom mijestu papir ostao prazan.

Pozdrav,

Kristina, Alenka i Vili Novak

12/10/10

Top Smrikva Bowl and "Little Mo"/Smrikva Bowl players on ATP, WTA, ITF, USTA and European under 14 and 16 ranking lists (update October 2010)

Only top Smrikva Bowl players that reached certain results on the professional ranking list are mentioned below and the top Smrikva Bowl players that are still competing in the junior tennis.

IN 1996 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM ISTRIA AND KVARNER (1st Smrikva Bowl)

BOYS
Vilim Visak, 1st Smrikva Bowl 1996 winner, from Croatia. Vilim’s best ranking was #612 in March 2006.

IN 1997 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM CROATIA (1997 – 2nd Smrikva Bowl)

GIRLS
Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, from Croatia, is ranked #312 on WTA list. Ivana’s best ranking was #95 on WTA list in June 2006.

IN 1998 SMRIKVA BOWL STARTED TO BE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT (3rd Smrikva Bowl)

1999 – 4th Smrikva Bowl

GIRLS
Astrid Besser, 4th Smrikva Bowl 1999 winner, from Italy, is ranked #975 on WTA list. Astrid’s best ranking was #356 on WTA list in March 2009.

2000 – 5th Smrikva Bowl

GIRLS
Tereza MRDEZA, 5th Smrikva Bowl 2000 winner, from Croatia, is currently ranked #644 on WTA list. Tereza’s best ranking was #279 on WTA list in February 2010.

2001 – 6th Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Marin Draganja, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 winner, from Croatia, is ranked #1149 on ATP ranking list.
Dino Marcan, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #900 on ATP ranking list.

GIRLS
Petra MARTIC, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 winner, from Croatia, is ranked #140 on WTA list. Petra’s best raning was #63 on WTA list in April 2010.
Indire Akiki, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #696 on WTA list.

IN 2002 SMRIKVA BOWL STARTED TO BE A EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

2002 – 7th Smrikva Bowl and 1st”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Javier MARTI, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 winner, from Spain, is currently ranked #386 on ATP list.
Giacomo Miccini, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 runner up, from Italy, was ranked #1785 on ATP list in May 2009.

GIRLS
Martina Caregaro, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 winner, from Italy, is ranked #370 on WTA ranking list.
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC, 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #157 on WTA list.
Ema BURGIC, ranked 3rd on 7th Smrikva Bowl 2002, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is ranked #554 on WTA list.

2003 – 8th Smrikva Bowl and 2nd”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Dominic THIEM, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 winner, from Austria, is ranked #915 on ATP ranking list.
George MORGAN, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 runner up, from Great Britain, is ranked #921 on ATP ranking list.
Ciprian PORUMB, ranked 3rd on 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003, from Romenia, is ranked #319 on ITF ranking list.

GIRLS
Jennifer Ren, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 winner, from Great Britain, was ranked #970 on WTA list.
Silvia NJIRIC, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #826 on WTA list.
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC, ranked 3rd on 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003, from Croatia, is ranked #157 on WTA list.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Emmett EGGER, played 2nd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #167 on ITF ranking list.

2004 – 9th Smrikva Bowl and 3rd”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Ivan Levar, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 winner, from Croatia, is ranked #1505 on ITF ranking list.
Miki JANKOVIC, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 runner up, from Serbia, is ranked #99 on ITF ranking list.

GIRLS
Saska GAVRILOVSKA, 9th Smrikva Bowl 2004 winner, from Serbia, is ranked #76 on ITF ranking list.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Mitchel POLNET, played 3rd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #427 on ITF ranking list.

Blair SHANKLE, played 3rd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #326 on ITF ranking list.
Anna MAMALAT, played 3rd “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #643 on ITF ranking list.

IN 2005 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM 3 CONTINENTS

2005 – 10th Smrikva Bowl and 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Matteo DONATI, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 winner, from Italy, is ranked #415 on ITF ranking list.
Laslo DJERE, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 runner up, from Serbia, is ranked #524 on ITF ranking list.
Gianluigi QUINZI, ranked 3rd on 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005, from Italy, is ranked #298 on ITF ranking list.
Nikola MILOJEVIC, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 Consolation tournament winner, from Serbia, is ranked #81 on ITF ranking list.

GIRLS
Saska GAVRILOVSKA, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 winner, from Serbia, is ranked #76 on ITF ranking list.
Olga IANCHUK, 10th Smrikva Bowl 2005 runner up, from Ukraine, is ranked #849 on WTA list.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Jeffrey Schorsch, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.
Jose GRACIA, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.
Yale GOLDBERG, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.

Dorothy Tang, played 4th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is not ranked on ITF ranking list.

2006 – 11th Smrikva Bowl and 5th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Gianluigi QUINZI, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 winner, from Italy, is ranked #298 on ITF ranking list.
Filip Kraljevic, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #200 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.

GIRLS
Eleanor DEAN, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 winner, from Great Britain, is ranked #320 on ITF ranking list.
Dina PAOCIC, 11th Smrikva Bowl 2006 runner up, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is ranked #249 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Daniel Maese, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #331 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.
Aries Wong, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #25 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.

Christina MAKAROVA, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #2 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.
Gabriella Umoquit, played 5th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #68 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.

2007 – 12th Smrikva Bowl and 6th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Sacha Merzetti, 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007 winner, from Italy, is ranked #117 in Europe in under 14 cathegory*.
Bogdan BORZA, 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007 runner up, from Romania, is ranked #37 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Gonzalo Morell, ranked 3rd on 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007, from Spain, is ranked #188 in Europe in under 14 cathegory*.
Sergiu Bucur, ranked 4th on 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007, from Romania, is ranked #78 in Europe in under 14 cathegory*.

GIRLS
Ana KONJUH, 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007 runner up, from Croatia, is ranked #24 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Nina POTOCNIK, ranked 3rd on 12th Smrikva Bowl 2007, from Slovenia, is ranked #64 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Eduardo NAVA, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #13 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.
Tommy PAUL, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #46 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.

Ndindi NDUNDA, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #31 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.
Domonique Garley, played 6th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #305 in the USA in under 14 cathegory.

IN 2008 SMRIKVA BOWL GATHERED TOP PLAYERS FROM 5 CONTINENTS AND TURNED INTO A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2008 – 13th Smrikva Bowl and 7th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Luka Panic, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 winner, from Switzerland, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Mihnea Turcu, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 runner up, from Romania, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Grega Kokalj, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Slovenia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Andrea Guerrieri, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Italy, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

GIRLS
Katarina Jokic, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 winner, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is ranked #90 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Maia Lumsden, 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008 runner up, from Scotland, is ranked #181 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Viktoria Kuzmova, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Slovakia, is ranked #275 in Europe in under 14 cathegory.
Estela Perez Somarriba, ranked 3rd on 13th Smrikva Bowl 2008, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Justin LEE, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #23 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.
William BLUMBERG, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #2 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

Ingrid NEEL, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #33 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.
Paulina Ferrari, played 7th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #45 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

IN 2009 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 6 NEW COUNTRIES AND 1 NEW CONTINENT THUS REACHED THE TOTAL OF 40 COUNTRIES AND 6 CONTINENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION

2009 – 14th Smrikva Bowl and 8th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Alvaro Regalado Pedrol, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 winner, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Samuele Ramazzotti, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 runner up, from Italy, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Karlo Suevich, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Slovenia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Alejandro Davidovich, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

GIRLS
Katie Swan, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 winner, from United Kingdom, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Jovana Vukovic, 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009 runner up, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Inci Ogut, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Turkey, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Arianna Capogrosso, ranked 3rd on 14th Smrikva Bowl 2009, from Italy, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Noah SCHACHTER, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #3 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.
Alex Gee, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #106 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

Michaela GORDON, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #156 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.
Ashley LAHEY, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked *#121 in the USA in under 12 cathegory*.

IN 2010 SMRIKVA BOWL HAD 9 NEW COUNTRIES AND REACHED THE TOTAL OF 49 COUNTRIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDATION

2010 – 15th Smrikva Bowl and 9th”Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl

BOYS
Nicola KUHN, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Karlo Suevich, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 runner up, from Croatia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Yshai OLIEL, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Israel, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Andrei Taica Radu, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Romania, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

GIRLS
Jovana VUKOVIC, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, from Serbia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Paula Arias Manjon, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 runner up, from Spain, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Neli Sunjic, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Croatia, is too young for under 14 european ranking.
Kristina Novak, ranked 3rd on 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010, from Italy, is too young for under 14 european ranking.

“Little Mo” TEAM
Max Motlagh, played 9th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #899 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.

Claire LIU, played 9th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked #106 in the USA in under 12 cathegory.
Alexa Butera, played 8th “Little Mo”/Smrikva Bowl, from the USA, is ranked *#644 in the USA in under 12 cathegory*.

10/10/10

Sivlia Njiric, 8th Smrikva Bowl runner up, won the finals of USD 10.000 worth tournament played in Algiers while Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, won the finals of USD 25000 worth tournamanet played in France

Silvia Njiric, 8th Smrikva Bowl 2003 runner up, won the finals of USD 10.000 Algiers 2010 tournament. Silvia is currently ranked #935 on WTA list and just started to play professional tournaments. Her road towards the victory was the following:

1st round: Silvia Njiric – Imane TOUBAL (ALG) 6:2, 6:1
2nd round: Silvia Njiric – Alina PETRAS (BUL) 6:2, 6:2
Quarterfinals: Silvia Njiric – Marcella KOEK (NED) 6:4, 7:6
Semifinals: Silvia Njiric – Silvia ALBANO (ITA) 6:0, 1:0 ret.
Finals: Silvia Njiric – Fatima EL ALLAMI (MAR) 3:6, 6:3, 6:1

The ranking of the players that Petra played in Athens is the following:

Imane TOUBAL (ALG) – not ranked
Alina PETRAS (BUL) – not ranked
Marcella KOEK (NED) – # 429 WTA list
Silvia ALBANO (ITA) – # 1062 WTA list
Fatima EL ALLAMI (MAR) – #494 WTA list

Another top former Smrikva Bowl player: Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, won another final in few weeks. This time was the USD 25.000 Limoges 2010 tournament.

Ivana is currently ranked #375 on WTA list and is the second best fomer Smrikva Bowl player on WTA ranking list with her best ranking ever #95 reached on June 12th, 2006.

Ivana Lisjak road towards the victory was the following:

1st round: Ivana Lisjak – Amandine HESSE (FRA) 6:1, 6:3
2nd round: Ivana Lisjak – Valeria SAVINYKH (RUS) 6:1, 6:2
Quarterfinals: Ivana Lisjak – Audrey BERGOT (FRA) 6:0, 6:4
Semifinals: Ivana Lisjak – Julia MAYR (ITA) 6:3, 6:2
Finals: Ivana Lisjak – Yuliya BEYGELZIMER (UKR) 6:0, 6:3

The ranking of the players that Ivana played in Clermont-Ferrand is the following:

Amandine HESSE (FRA) – # 803 WTA list
Valeria SAVINYKH (RUS) – # 232 WTA list
Audrey BERGOT (FRA) – # 278 WTA list
Julia MAYR (ITA) – # 218 WTA list
Yuliya BEYGELZIMER (UKR) – # 237 WTA list

Congratulations girls!

09/10/10

Marco Perelli Rocco - Smrikva Bowl Honorary Member - and his brother Pietro Perelli Rocco will compete tomorrow on Barcolana in "Tutto per AISM" team lead by Analia Pierini

Barcolana is one of the biggest sailing races in the World held traditionally in the bay of the city of Trieste (Italy).

Marco Perelli Rocco is a historical Honorary Smrikva Bowl Member and few days ago he informed about this year Barcolana race.

I was twice with him and his brother on their boath racing this beautiful sailing race but this year he and his brother are involved in a very particular race…

I published this morning an article on Smrikve c Code and I am pleased to share this information with the Smrikva Bowl community for these boys and girls that although in other sport are acting with the same attitude of what I described today…

Marco and Pietro brothers will race with Analia Pierini that is affected by Multiple Sclerosis… The boath is named “Tutti per AISM”... “Everything for the Italian Association of Multiple Sclerosis”... They will have a phone number on the sail for donations and the collected funds will be donated to the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association…

The team is made of World, Olympic, Italian… and Life Champions…:

Analia Pierini – Life Champion…
Alessandra Cantu – the wife of Marco’s brother Pietro and the director of the initiative together with Pietro…
Pietro Perelli Rocco – World Champion Quarter Ton and the Golden Metal for the Athletic Values…
Marco Perelli Rocco – part of the Italian National sailing team since he was a child…
Edo Bianchi, Paolo Reggio and Alessandro Seattone – all participants to the Olympic games in Peking 2008…
Paolo Micucci – Italian Champion…

Congratulations for the Initiative and may you have the understanding of the wind on your side tomorrow!

Here below is one of the articles about the Initiative published on the website www.sailbiz.it for those who understand Italian

Alla Barcolana la solidarietà dell’AISM

Anche l’AISM, Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla sarà in regata alla 42^ edizione della Barcolana, a bordo di una barca di dieci metri, a sostegno dei giovani e delle persone affette da SM.

AISM e gli atleti che saliranno a bordo durante la competizione lanciano un grande messaggio di solidarietà ed impegno a sostegno dei giovani e delle persone con Sclerosi Multipla (SM).

Analia Pierini, persona con SM, reduce dal suo viaggio di cinquanta giorni intorno al mondo, capitanerà la barca battezzata proprio “Tutti per AISM”. “La sclerosi multipla – afferma Analia – non è un ostacolo alla vita, alla passione e ai sogni. Le cose belle e importanti della nostra vita, vanno vissute, invece sino in fondo. A spingermi e darmi coraggio nei miei viaggi, nella mia passione per il mare e l’avventura sono le storie d’amore dei malati che ho incontrato… E’ anche per loro che faccio tutto questo, non solo per me stessa. Sono la prova che la vita può essere più forte di tutto”.

Ecco perché tra le quasi duemila imbarcazioni che quest’anno parteciperanno alla regata, anche l’Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, unica realtà italiana a occuparsi a 360 gradi della malattia (una delle più gravi del sistema nervoso centrale che colpisce per lo più i giovani, di cui oggi non si conosce causa né cura risolutive), partecipa con una propria barca a vela e uno skipper d’eccezione, affiancato da un equipaggio altrettanto straordinario.

A bordo ci sarà un pool di velisti nazionali e internazionali di livello olimpionico, tra cui Edo Bianchi, olimpionico nella classe tornado a Pechino 2008, Paolo Reggio, sparring partner nella classe tornado per Pechino 2008, Alessandro Saettone, sparring partner nella classe 470 per Pechino 2008, Pietro Perelli-Rocco, campione mondiale Quarter Ton e medaglia d’oro al valor atletico. Con loro regateranno in equipaggio anche Marco Perelli-Rocco, in nazionale di vela fin da bambino, Paolo Micucci, velista di livello nazionale e internazionale, Campione italiano di Farr30 e
Alessandra Cantù, organizzatrice dell’iniziativa assieme al marito Pietro Perelli-Rocco. “L’idea di partecipare alla Barcolana con persone affette da SM – dichiara Alessandra – nasce con lo scopo di dare coraggio a tutte le persone con questa patologia e dare visibilità all’AISM per raccogliere fondi per la ricerca. La cosa bella di questa avventura, è stata l’entusiasmo di tutte, ma proprio tutte le persone che appena sentito il progetto lo hanno subito accolto e sostenuto in modo incondizionato e gioioso!”

Il numero velico della barca “Tutti per AISM”, ben visibile sulla randa, altro non è che il numero dell’SMS solidale 45593, destinato alla raccolta di fondi per sostenere la ricerca scientifica sulla Sclerosi Multipla. Fino al 13 ottobre, infatti, sarà possibile inviare un sms al 45593 da cellulare personale Tim, Vodafone, Wind, 3 e Coopvoce e donare 1 euro, oppure chiamare lo stesso numero da telefono fisso Telecom Italia e contribuire con 2 euro

L’iniziativa è stata realizzata grazie al contributo di Colombo Costruzioni, Pacorini Group, S.C.I. – arredo urbano e affissioni, Waveon – sports & events, TOD – The one design, SVBG – Società Velica Barcola Grignano, Agenzia Leonardo – Marketing Barcolana, Numa Italia, Max Ranchi – Yacht Racing Photographer, Marina Yachting, Abba Ricami. Grazie anche allo straordinario impegno di Franco Buzzi, Alberto Cantù, Nicolò Sebastiani, Elena Sebastiani, Vincenzo Spina, Federico Prandi, Nicola Davanzo, Marco Talluri, Max Ranchi, Paolo Ciocca, Sergio Cesa, Gabriele Aiello.

La partecipazione alla 42^ Barcolana è parte di una delle iniziative a sostegno di “Una Mela per la Vita”, manifestazione di solidarietà che permetterà di raccogliere fondi per la ricerca scientifica e incrementare i servizi sanitari e sociali volti a garantire una maggiore qualità di vita alle persone con SM.

La Sezione AISM di Trieste sarà presente alla Barcolana, dal 6 al 10 ottobre, con uno stand nei pressi di Piazza Unità d’Italia, una delle 3.000 piazze italiane, in cui avverrà la manifestazione: saranno distribuiti 700 sacchetti di mele a fronte di un’offerta di 8 euro ciascuno.

AISM – Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla – è l’unica organizzazione italiana capace di intervenire a 360 gradi sulla sclerosi multipla: promuovere ed erogare servizi a livello nazionale e locale, rappresentare e affermare i diritti delle persone con SM, sostenere, indirizzare e promuovere la ricerca scientifica.

09/10/10

Smrikve c Code

Smrikve c Code is a new section in the Smrikva Bowl Tournament section… it is inspired by both the Smrikva Bowl players ability to use rackets and The Star Wars knights to use lightsabers… it is the kids’ story of the ligthsabers and rackets management :)…

Smrikve, October 2010

The Star Wars “Return of the Jedi” is the first film I remember seeing with my dad at the cinema… it was 1983 and I was 10… the cinema was named “Istra”… I was the same age as the Smrikva Bowl players we host every year in Smrikve :)…

In the introduction of this article I would just underline that I like the way Jedi use the lightsabers and I like the way Smrikva Bowl kids use their rackets :)… Smrikve c Code is a story about virtue created by training and wish to learn…

My dad was pilot and for me watching The Star Wars with him at the cinema was a particular experience … I had many questions and he, as usual, with smile and pleasure answered to each of my questions…

Dad used to take me with him on the airport when I was little… and I remember him entering the cockpit of the plane with pilot helmet watching towards me and giving me the sign that he was ready to fly… than he turned on the engine of the plane and watched towards me again with smile in his eyes…

I stayed about 100 meters from the airplane with his colleagues and watched him taking his plane towards runway…

From the place where I stayed only part of the runway was visible because of the wood and he took the plane in the area that was invisible to me to prepare for the takeoff… I was able to hear the force of the engine… and when the sound of the force started to increase I knew that my dad will be visible soon… his colleagues were telling me “be ready soon your dad will come”… and when he started to be visible on the back of the plane there was the fire… almost half length of the airplane had the fire extension formed by his engine and I just noticed his helmet in the cockpit and followed by my kids eyes his airplane reaching the sky…

The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe bound to a code of morality and justice and are trained in the use of the light side of the force. They learn to use the Force, and weapons, known as lightsabers, which emits a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, to serve and protect their Republic and the galaxy from conflicts or government instability…

Since long time ago I started to note the ability of Smrikva Bowl kids using the racket and thinking at the same time on Jedi’s ability to use the lightsaber :)…

Some of my students use Wilson’s ying & young damper… known as Tao sign… they like the symbol but are still too young to have an idea about it ;)… I will try to use this symbol to help me explain how little the difference could be in forming a balance in anything we do… every action has a reaction in our World… in the first classes of physics we learn Newton’s third law…

Tao is an abstract concept found in Taoism, Confucianism, and more generally in ancient Chinese philosophy and East Asian cultures.

While the word itself translates as “way”, “path”, or “route”… it is often used philosophically to signify the fundamental nature of the World we are used to living on Earth… it is often referred to as “the nameless”, because neither it nor its principles can ever be adequately expressed in words.

While the Tao cannot be expressed, Taoism holds that it can be known, and its principles can be followed. Much of Taoist writing focuses on the value of following the Tao – called Te (virtue) – and of the ultimate uselessness of trying to understand or control Tao outright. This is often expressed through yin and yang arguments, where every action creates a counter-action as a natural, unavoidable movement within manifestations of the Tao.

I used the above short explenation to introduce the Codes used in the Star Wars universe…

As in the Tao symbol there were knights trained to use the dark side of the force and the light side… this is the way how mankind functioned since the human written memory goes back…

For new ideas people have to go beyond… out of the known patterns by using their imagination… the kids are many times Master in this…

DARK SIDE (The Sith Code)

• Peace is a lie. There is only passion.
• Through passion, I gain strength.
• Through strength, I gain power.
• Through power, I gain victory.
• Through victory, my chains are broken.
• The Force shall free me.

LIGHT SIDE (The Jedi Code)

• There is no emotion, there is peace.
• There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
• There is no passion, there is serenity.
• There is no death, there is the Force.

The Jedi Code was rewritten by Grand Master Luke Skywalker upon reestablishing the Jedi Order:

• Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy.
• Jedi use their powers to defend and to protect.
• Jedi respect all life, in any form.
• Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of the galaxy.
• Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training.

Smrikve c code is the code…

I am pleased to close this article with Dire Straits and their Brothers in Arms song… starting with the sound of the thunder… The concert was made in 1988 to honour Nelson Mandela…

*BROTHERS IN ARMS *

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you’ll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you’ll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I’ve whittnessed your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There’s so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the sun’s gone to hell
And the moon’s riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it’s written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We’re fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Miodrag Bozovic

04/10/10

Deni Zmak and Tomo are the winners of the 4th Smrikva Rekreacija 2010 Tournament

In 2009 we established the Spring and Autumn Smrikve Tennis Club Tournament for the recreational players and this weekend the Autumn edition was played. It was scheduled for 18th of September but because of the rain it was played this week end.

26 Smrikve Tennis Club members participated in the 4th Smrikva Rekreacija 2010 and over two days, starting Saturday morning, there were many nice and competitive matches in a lovely club atmosphere.

On Saturday we had grill day and the master of the fireplace was Miro… Miro was out of competition this time but next time if he starts to play with left hand we should challenge also Miro ;)

The key assistants to Miro were: Dario and my mother… while on Sunday we had nice “marenda with bakalar” for launch and other staff because my sister’s birthday cakes were tasted very late in the evening…

The Swedish table for the dinner for the people that gathered to cheer in the finals…

GATHERING STARTED ON SUNDAY MORNING WHEN THE DRAWS WERE MADE…

Igor Dobranovic was the 1st seeded player while Deni Zmak was 2nd seeded player and this was the final in end :)...

I could state also that this was the strongest Smrikva Rekreacija we ever had because of Deni Zmak – although he is just starting to learn to play tennis with left hand.

In end the winner of the Main Draw was Deni Zmak, 3rd Smrikva Bowl 1998 and 4th Smrikva Bowl 1999 runner up, former #1 in Europe in under 16 age group category and with his best ranking on ATP list #961 ATP that a motorbike interupted just when he started to enter the professional word…

Deni defeated in the finals Igor Dobranovic, 2nd Smrikva Rekreacija 2009 winner, with the result 6:3, 6:2. Igor is by far our Club strongest recreational player.

The winner of the Consolation draw was Tomo who defeated in the finals Sole 9:4… Sole is a great fighter and he never give up but my dad is a great fighter too ;)…

It was the second time my father and Sole met in the Smrikva Rekreacija final. The first time they played in the Main Draw this time it was “Consolation” that Sole do not like because sound “sad” to him :) thus we may think to change the name of this draw for the next time ;)... something like Group 1 and Group 2…

WHY DENI WAS A SURPRISE?...

IT WAS HIS FIRST TOURNAMENT AFTER A YEAR ALTHOUGH RECREATIONAL…

A week before the tournament Sinisa asked me if Deni could play the tournament too. I knew very well the injury Deni suffered and I was happy to hear that he is holding again the racket in his hands…

Deni is right handed but after the injury he is starting to learn to play tennis with his left hand…

Sinisa is the best physical trainer that I know and he trains and trained several professionals, among which also Deni is… Sinisa also work in team with Miro with top former Smrikva Bowl players when they come to practice during the summer and kids enjoy him the way they enjoy Miro…

A year ago Deni suffered a hard motorbike accident and he broke both hands… his right wrist was broken in 28 parts and two surgeries were made to fix the wrist but he is aware that he should search also some new solutions to preserve the heritage of 16 years he already invested in the game he loves thus he started to use his left hand…

and Sinisa told to my father “he plays with left hand but is good you know”… I was happy to hear that and I know how Sinisa likes his work and likes to work with Deni… I also thought about Andre Agassi coach Gill words when he accepted to coach Andre when he said:

“I’m not one of those people who expresses or articulates feelings very well, but from now on, just know this: It’s on, man. It is on.

You know what I’m saying? We’are in a fight, and you can count on me until the last man is standing. Somewhere up there is a star with your name on it. I might not be able to help you find it, but I’ve got pretty strong shoulders, and you can stand on my shoulders while you’re looking for that star. You hear? For as long as you want. Stand on my shoulders and reach, man. Reach.”

This few days Deni was our star of the tournament thanks to Sinisa… as Deni said “it is his fault that I am here :)” and I was pleased for Sinisa’s fault ;) and looking at Deni’s face he enjoyed being in Smrikve too…

I remember Deni when he was 5 years old and started to play tennis in Smrikve…

It was year ago when this accident happened… it was the time when also my dad was in the hospital because of the injuries Pumba provoked to his legs… and when I went to visit my father Deni was on the bad close to him…

On Saturday morning Deni played his first match right with my father :)

What everyone enjoyed from Deni during the tournament is his attitude… and I recalled before giving him the trophy another moment of his career…

It was 2005 when he participated on the 7th Olimic Youth Festival in Lignano Sabbiadoro in Italy when he received the Prize for the Sport and Fair Play.

During the match several times he corrected the judge’s decisions in his disadvantage. In end he lost that game but he won in my eyes.

Deni’s attitude should be an example. He showed several times the kind of boy he is. It is nice that young people can be taken as examples and Deni showed that various times.

Thanks to each member who played over the weekend for the nice tournament and congratulations to the winners and finalist of this Autumn edition!

And special thanks to Alen for providing the “BUKALETA” trophies!

03/10/10

Petra Martic, 6th Smrikva Bowl winner, reached the semifinals of USD 50.000 worth tournament played in Greece while Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, won the finals of USD 25000 worth tournamanet played in France

Petra Martic, 6th Smrikva Bowl 2001 winner, reached this week the semifinals of USD 50.000 Athens 2010 tournament without playing the semifinal mach because of the injury she suffered in the quarterfinals match.

Petra is currently ranked #146 on WTA list and is the fomer Smrikva Bowl player who reached the best ranking ever on WTA ranking list – #63 on April 12th, 2010.

Petra Martic road to the semifinals of USD 50.000 Athens 2010 was the following:

1st round: Petra Martic – Eirini GEORGATOU (GRE) 6:3, 6:1
2nd round: Petra Martic – Cagla BUYUKAKCAY (TUR) 6:2, 6:2
Quarterfinals: Petra Martic – Kristina BARROIS (GER) 6:3,6:7,6:0
Semifinals: Petra Martic – Laura POUS-TIO (ESP) wo

The ranking of the players that Petra played in Athens is the following:

Eirini GEORGATOU (GRE) – # 229 WTA list
Cagla BUYUKAKCAY (TUR) – # 199 WTA list
Kristina BARROIS (GER) – # 81 WTA list
Laura POUS-TIO (ESP) – # 132 WTA list

Congratulations Petra!

Another top former Smrikva Bowl player: Ivana Lisjak, 2nd Smrikva Bowl 1997 winner, won the finals of USD 25.000 Clermont-Ferrand 2010 tournament.

Ivana is currently ranked #370 on WTA list and is the second best fomer Smrikva Bowl player on WTA ranking list with her best ranking ever #95 reached on June 12th, 2006.

Ivana Lisjak road to the semifinals of USD 25.000 Clermont-Ferrand 2010 was the following:

1st round: Ivana Lisjak – Annalisa BONA (ITA) 6:2, 6:3
2nd round: Ivana Lisjak – Elixane LECHEMIA (FRA) 6:2, 6:1
Quarterfinals: Ivana Lisjak – Natalia ORLOVA (RUS) 7:5, 6:2
Semifinals: Ivana Lisjak – Audrey BERGOT (FRA) 6:4, 6:4
Finals: Ivana Lisjak – Iryna KURYANOVICH (BLR) 6:4, 6:1

The ranking of the players that Ivana played in Clermont-Ferrand is the following:

Annalisa BONA (ITA) – # 369 WTA list
Elixane LECHEMIA (FRA) – # 507 WTA list
Natalia ORLOVA (RUS) – # 378 WTA list
Audrey BERGOT (FRA) – # 272 WTA list
Iryna KURYANOVICH (BLR) – # 216 WTA list

Congratulations Ivana!!!

28/09/10

Jovana Vukovic JOKA - 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner - trained for a week at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy

I just received a letter from Jovana Vukovic family, from the mother of JOKA, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, that thanks to the Smrikva Bowl victory had the opportunity to train for a week at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy (MTA) in Paris.

Joka, her trainer Deki and Joka’s parents spent a week living as tennis professionals at MTA.

One of the very prestigious Smrikva Bowl prizes for the winners is the training week at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. MTA is considered one of the top tennis academies in the World and Jovana Vukovic – JOKA just returned to Serbia from France and Italy and sent me some photos that I am pleased to share with Smrikva Bowl community.

After spending a week at Mouratoglou Academy Joka went to Aosta to meet Luca Appino – Golden Smirkva Bowl Honorary Member. Also Krisitna Novak, 15th Smrikva Bowl semifinalist, was in Aosta. Joka and Kristina are becoming good friends and I am sure they enjoyed staying together.

Joka’s family sent me a short overview of the experience they lived and I am pleased to post part of their letter in Serbian where she congratulate the professionality of the trainers and the way Joka and they were treated in the Academy.

Dragi nas Mimi,

Znamo da sa nestrpljenjem ocekujes nas email, ali dani prosto kao da lete. Vikend smo proveli u Arandjelovcu, kod nasih baka, a tamo nemamo internet, pa se sve malo oduzilo. Nemoj nam zameriti.

Zato da neduzim previse, nego cu odmah preci na kratak size Jokinog putovanja.

Kao sto smo i rekli jos u Puli, Joka je u Mouratoglou Akademiji bila sa svojim trenerom. Deki je veoma mlad i njemu je takodje veoma znacilo iskustvo boravka u akademiji. Rasko i ja smo bili smesteni kod nasih prijatelja, ali smo svaki dan dolazili i pratili Jokin rad.

Ljubazno osoblje nam je priredilo topao docek, gde je Joka na poklon dobila i knjigu Patricka Mouratogloua “EDUCATE TO WIN”. Smestaj je u kucicama za tenisere koje su prikladne i udobne. Pogled na terene je predivan, a u cilju fokusa na mesto.

Joka je radila sa trenerom po imenu Clemon. Prva dva dana, program koji su pripremili za Joku, nije bas ispunio njena ocekivanja. Zelela je da im stavi do znanja da ona zna i moze vise nego vecina desetogodisnjaka. Mislim da je to i uspela, tako da su joj organizovali sparing maceve sa starijim igracima (15-19 god.), koje je i dobila, sto je privuklo paznju i glavnog Head coach-a, a i samog Patricka..

Joka je bila odusevljena fitnes treninzima i trenerom Sebastien Durand. Ona jos uvek neradi na kondicionim i fitnes treninzima, pa su joj kao nesto novo bili veoma zanimljivi. Pokazala je odlicne rezultate, sto je uz igru koju je pokazala, bila pravo malo cudo ili kako su oni rekli “bist”.

Od budjenja u 7 i 30h, dorucka u 8h, zagrevanja i prepodnevnog treninga, pa rucka u 12h i fitnesa u 14h, do poslepodnevnog treninga od 15-16 i 30h, vecere u 19 h, Joka je vec uveliko spavala u 20 i 30h. Jedan dan mi je rekla:”Znas mama,sinoc sam legla u pola devet, a jutros u pola osam mi je falilo jos jedno sat vremena da spavam.”

Sve u svemu, jedno sjajno iskustvo. Osetiti ambijent i biti sa drugim igracima (narocito starijim), podeliti misljenja, su u osnovi bili nas a i Jokin cilj ove posete.

Pariz, kao predivan grad, je takodje bio Jokin cilj. Ajfelova kula, Trijumfalna kapija i naravno Rolan Garos. Na samom Philipe Chatrier stadionu, Joka je rekla:”Pa ovaj teren i nije tako veliki”.

Put ka Italiji nas je proveo pored najviseg vrha Evrope, Mont Blana. Predeo je predivan i ostavlja jak utisak.

Sledeca dogovorena destinacija je bila Aosta i susret sa Lucom Appinom. Utisak iz Smrikve koji smo stekli o njemu, posle pohadjanja Tennis talents, se samo potvrdio. Luca je izuzetno prijatan, dobronameran covek i sto je najvaznije iskusan u davanju saveta. Rad sa njim je Joku izuzetno radovao. Tu su bili i Kristina Novak sa roditeljima. Nama je veoma vazno bilo da Luka upozna Dekija, i da da savet za dalji rad sa Jokom.

Sve je brzo proslo, ali iskustvo koje smo stekli ce biti od velike koristi za dalji Jokin rad….

P.S.Ovo je samo deo slika koje ti saljemo,ali se nadamo da ces i iz ovoga videti koliko nam je bilo lepo.

Nadamo se da poplave ,koje cujemo da su oko Fazane,vas nisu ugrozile.

Iskreni pozdravi od Joke i porodice VUKOVIC

27/09/10

Neli Sunjic, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 semifinalist, and Duje Ajdukovic, also Smrikva Bowl player born in 2001, won the Croatian National Master under 10

Today I received an e-mail from Neli’s father Misel who informed me that Neli won the under 10 Croatian National Master. I was pleased to see on the pictures received few other Smrikva Bowl faces such as: Duje Ajdukovic and Karla Kilic.

I am glad to read about Smrikva Bowl players progress and I am also glad for Neli that will play several tournaments in the US in the following months. Currently, she is preparing for: “Little Mo” International under 10, Orange Bowl under 12 and Eddie Herr under 12 that will all be played in Florida in the following months.

Neli’s brother Max is still very young but is also playing tennis and hopefully one day he will also play his Smrikva Bowl as his sisters Neli and Marghita did.

Best wishes Neli and I hope Wilson rackets will further bust your game ;)!

This morning I received an e-mail from Duje’s mother and she confirmed to me that Duje won the boys draw. Duje is 9 years old, born in 2001, and is eligible to play also next year Smrikva Bowl.

Duje won the National Master without loosing a set.

My memories when I think of Duje goes to the doubles night on this year Smrikva Bowl when Duje played just for fun with Mihaela from Romenia against Neli Sunjic and Andja Claudia Karanusic. It was realy a lovely double.

Duje has a Dalmatian accent when he speaks and he was giving all of him self to play well this match and every time Mihaela was hitting a good ball he was saying…”bravo mala...”. It was a fantastic, funny and relaxing tennis doubles evening…

In the following picture you can see young Duje in action in his match with Nicola Kuhn – this year Smrikva Bowl winner…

Congratulations Duje and best wishes till the next year Smrikva Bowl!

23/09/10

Paula Arias, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 runner up, recently won TTK MASTER NACIONAL and classified for TTK WARRIOR INTERNACIONAL that will be held in Barcelona

Just few days ago, after the announcement of the Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors Day, I received several e-mails from the Smrikva Bowl families spread around the World and, among others, also the news that Puala Arias, this year Smrikva Bowl finalist, classified for the TTK INTERNATIONAL that will be played in Barcelona.

Felicitaciones Paula!

Jovana Vukovic – JOKA, 15th Smrikva Bowl 2010 winner, completed her trainig program at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris (Smrikva Bowl prize) and she also spent some days, together with Kristina Novak, this year Smrikva Bowl semifinalists, with Luca Appino in Aosta following a tailored Tennis Talents programme.

21/09/10

Smrikva Bowl Ambassador's Day 21st of September - dedicated to civilisation, intergenerational responsibility and tennis

Today is the day that UN declared The International Day of Peace…

I was thinking for some time that Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors should have their day and it could have been any day out of 365/6 days… any day would have been a good day but in end I decided to take the 21st of September – the World Peace Day… From this year this day will also be the Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors day…

To be in line with the Smrikva Bowl cosmopolite idea it will be dedicated to the Civilisation and Intergenerational Responsibility because in my mind these two elements helps to create a friendly environment that can allow kids talents development that all living beings can benefit in most different ways…

Smrikve, September 2010

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on September 21st and this day has been elected to be also the Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors’ Day.

It is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many people. For the first time this holiday was celebrated in 1981.

The Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors Day, although celebrated on the same day as the World Peace Day, is dedicated to civilisation, intergenerational responsibility and tennis. Without civil society in a modern world there is no guarantee for peace.

In 1981 the United Nations General Assembly declared, in a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica, the third Tuesday of September (the opening day of regular sessions of the General Assembly) as the International Day of Peace devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace and civilisation values.

In 2001, the day was changed from the third Tuesday to specifically the twenty-first day of September. A new resolution was passed by the General Assembly, sponsored by the United Kingdom (giving credit to Peace One Day) and Costa Rica (the sponsors of the original day) to give the Day of Peace a fixed date and declare it as a global ceasefire day.

In 1991, on September 21st, I left Smrikve for Milan, it was the war time in my country, 5 years before, on the same day, in 1986, I sailed with a boat to Dubrovnik with school friends living a nice life time memory experience.

Having our calendar year 365 days if we live for some time and create our own experience we learn that the same day can remind us something nice and something not nice… it is a circle…

Not nice could be compared to a mistake in tennis… we learn from the mistakes. They help us understand what is not good or what we do not do properly…

I am pleased to repeat Shimon Peres note to end this comment. Shimon Peres, the Nobel Prize for Peace, was a guest speaker to one of Ambrosetti’s Young Leader Group meetings. It is a tradition that every guest speaker dedicate few words to the Group and he wrote down the following:

“The future is always in a minority. Yet the history of the future is more important than the history of the past. It is for the old to remember the past. It is for the young to build the world of tomorrow.

Do it! You can build a world without wars. You can build a new humanity.”

Everything around us lives in a delicated equilibrium and with intelligence we should try to understand it and respect it. The knowledge, human curiosity and will to learn are important. They are all parts of the civilisation path.

Shimon Peres used in his note the statement: “Do it!” thus reminded me Yoda’s wisdom words when he shares his knowledge with young Jedi: “Try no. Do or do not ” :)

If people beleive in the future there is future. If people do not beleive in the future there is no future.

Miodrag Bozovic

15/09/10

Today we collected grapes and started the 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 Malvazija collection wine production

Today we collected grapes and started 2011 Smrikve wine production. It was a long day and several people helped us during the collection process. The grapes were yellow colored and of very sweet taste but the strong winter and rainy spring reduced the quantity of grapes. We will do our best to make good wine as it was in the past years.

Smrikve Malvazija is thanks to the Smrikva Bowl Ambassadors spread in 49 countries and all the continents. Every year we create a limited collection of 200 bottles that represent the gift of our family to the Smrikva Bowl families and to our friends.

Wine and gastronomy are part of a culture and wine bottle that we give to every Smrikva Bowl family is part of our cultural gift that every year we are pleased to make to our guests coming from all around the World.

The wine making is the tradition in Smrikve since 1957…

The wine production is a passion for many Istrian families and my grandfather Mate was a great lower of wine and wine making. The first thing he made in 1957 when he settled in Smrikve was planting the vineyard.

Probably not many Smrikva Bowl readers do know the story how my grandfather agreed to take out a row of vineyard to create the space for the court where today the Smrikva Bowl finals are played.

My father, me and my Uncle continue the wine making tradition in Smrikve…

Several years ago I bought a vineyard close to the vineyard planted by my grandfather and today my father and me are doing our best to get the best from what Malvasia grapes can give.

The first phase of the processing the grapes started today…

We collected the grapes but also separated the juice of the rest to obtain the golden color that usually our Istrian Malvazija (Malmsey) wine has. Now for two days the fermentation will be blocked to allow the wine to start its transformation process cleaner than it is today after the collection.

In Smrikve we produce Istrian Malvazija (Malmsey) and during the Smrikva Bowl we use to give a bottle of wine to every family as a memory to their Smrikva Bowl. Probably one day this bottles might be something special if our kids continue to love tennis game and continue to write the Smrikva Bowl story with their results.

Wine as part of the culture…

In the regions where the wine is produced the wine was always part of the culture of the particular site. Also the wine we produce is part of the Smrikve tradition and this is the reason why we are pleased to give a bottle to every family that come to visit us for the Smrikva Bowl.

There is an old Istrian saying: ”Vino od loze i mliko od koze” and “Kruh je za tilo a vino je za dušu”. The translation from Croatian is difficult because you loose the feel of the language. Goat is the symbol of Istria and the meaning of the first saying would be: ”Wine from the grapevine and milk from the goat” and the meaning of the second would be: “Bread is for the body, wine is for the soul”.

With todays collection as I said we started the process of transforming the grapes into wine for the 16th Smrikva Bowl 2011 edition of Malvazija.

The main Istrian wines are: Malvazija, Terran, Refosc and Muscatel.

The glory of the Istrian wine dates back to over 2000 years ago…

For those who are not familiar with Istrian wine I am pleased to remined the reader that Istrian wine was considered one of the best in the Roman Empire, around 20 centuries ago, and was preferred by Livia Drusilla, also known as Iulia Augusta, the wife of the first Roman Emperor Augustus.

Livia Drusilla’s preferred wine was the Istrian wine Pucinum. Livia is considered one of the most influent women in the beginning of the Roman Empire era. It is not know what wine it was because todays wines were brought in Istria mostly by Venitians.

Todays Istrian Malvazija’s story is related with Serenissima… the Venetian Republic

The story of Istrian Malvazija, cultivated in Istria since the end of the 16th century, is fascinating and it relates to the Venetians.

At the beginning of the 15th century the Venetians occupied Peloponnesus in Greece. In the Peloponnesus region there is a town Monemvassia, also named Malvasia. From this town the Venetians started to import the wine into Venice and the other areas controlled by the Venetian Republic.

This wine was so successful and became so famous all over Europe that Venetians decided to plant huge vineyards on the biggest Greek island, Crete.

Between the 16th and 18th century Malvasia become the most important wine in Europe. In 1570 the Turks conquered Crete and Venetians decided to plant Malvasia vineyards in other areas that had friendly relations with Venice which, at that time, also included Istria.

In end Malvasia is in Istria since the above mentioned period while it is not known the sort of the wine that was preferred by the wife of the Emperor Augustus, Livia Drusilla – Julia Augusta.

Giacomo Casanova in his diary talks about another Istrian sort and another great wine…

Giacomo Casanova visited Vrsar several times and in his diary he describes a good wine Refosc and nice women. Today Refosc is mostly cultivated in the Slovenian part of Istria while in other areas the dominant sort is Malvasia.

Another excellent wine can be found around Momjan area made of Muscatel sort.

On Istria from Smrikve you can learn much more…

To learn more about Istrian gastronomy and wine please visit the E-book about Istrian cultural heritage on www.smrikve.com/istria/ named “Istria from Smrikve” or join Discover Istria from Smrikve group on Linked In.

We try to do our best to get excellent Malvazija…

Sergio Bile is one of the person I do respect a lot because for years he was advising Istrian wine makers how to increase the quality of the Istrian wine.

For years Sergio is giving periodical advises to my father how to continue to improve the wine making transformation process and the words of people from all around the World that tasted our wine are increasing my respect for Sergio Bile knowledge.

I was pleased when Gianni Nunziante, an important Italian wine maker and also the owner of Vignamaggio used three nice words to describe our Malvazija. His wines used to get three glasses mark from Gambero Rosso that is one of the most important authorities for the Italian wines rating. Gianni used the following three words:

• “semplice” – simple,
• “profumato” – sweet – smelling,
• “gradevole” – pleasant.

Vignamaggio is a property located in Tuscany. In 2004, the property celebrated six hundred years of winemaking tradition. The property is also famous for the the daughter of Anton Maria Gherardini. The famous Mona Lisa – “La Gioconda”, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, was born at Vignamaggio in 1479.