Latest news with #SamBird
South Wales Argus
18 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Sam Bird: Pulse excited for the big stage
Sam Bird believes her London Pulse side are ready to embrace the big stage ahead of their major semi-final against Loughborough Lightning. Pulse finished top of the regular season table and come into Friday's clash at the Copper Box full of confidence off the back of four straight wins. Their last defeat came at the hands of Lightning, who have proved Pulse's nemesis in recent seasons. Pulse's last three campaigns have ended at the hands of Lightning, including defeat in the 2023 Grand Final at the Copper Box. But Bird believes her young squad have matured immeasurably since then and are now relishing the big matches. 'They are so desperate to show what they can do,' said Bird. 'It has gone from being nervous on that big stage to thriving on it. There's no arrogance, there's no complacency but it's an excitement to be involved in these games now opposed to being a bit scared.' Confidence is the watchword for Bird and her Pulse side, who have turned the tears of two years ago into an unwavering determination to achieve a maiden Netball Super League title. Twelve wins from their 14 matches this season, including a 77-51 demolition of Lightning away from home in March, has certainly helped. 'It does feel like we have momentum, and the squad is still developing and improving, we are still looking at growth at this point,' added Bird. 'The fact we have won the Super Cup and then league is a good confidence boost, and confidence is really important. 'We know this game is going to be tight on Friday, nobody is going to roll over, but we have confidence to know we can win and that really important going into the game.' The season has not been without its hitches either; a seven-game unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Nottingham Forest in early May before Lightning won at the Copper Box two weeks later. The response, however, was exactly what Bird and her side needed in order to go again heading into the post-season. 'There was no finger-pointing, there was a lot of personal accountability both from the coaches and from players,' she revealed. 'We really recognised it was small things that contributed to those losses, and we were still the same strong roster.' Pulse's response on the court, four wins in a row to end the season, earned them top spot and a home major semi-final, meaning victory on Friday will send them straight through to the Grand Final at the O2 Arena. Bird is hoping home comforts can make all the difference, after reflecting that her squad may have been overwhelmed by changes to their routine ahead of last season's semi-final defeat to Lightning. 'It is really important to us to have this game at home,' said Bird. 'There is nothing better than playing at your home venue, an iconic venue like the Copper Box. It feels like we have done everything we can to put ourselves in a good position. 'Everybody is in their own bed, everyone is familiar with the venue. All our support staff are there; we have extra resource there to look after us. '[The major semi-final] is all new, so none of us as coaches have been through this process, so it is a new test for us. 'It feels less stressful to be in the major semi-final than a traditional semi-final, as that is knockout netball. It changes the mindset a little bit. We obviously want to win this game and then have a bit of recovery to peak for the final. That's the ideal route. 'It doesn't feel as edgy as when we played Loughborough last year in the semi-final, having beaten them twice in the league and then lost and it was all over. 'I genuinely feel like we couldn't have tried any harder this year, but just trying hard doesn't guarantee you anything.' To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on X, Instagram and TikTok, Netball Super League on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our newsletter. The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sam Bird: Pulse excited for the big stage
By James Reid Sam Bird believes her London Pulse side are ready to embrace the big stage ahead of their major semi-final against Loughborough Lightning. Pulse finished top of the regular season table and come into Friday's clash at the Copper Box full of confidence off the back of four straight wins. Advertisement Their last defeat came at the hands of Lightning, who have proved Pulse's nemesis in recent seasons. Pulse's last three campaigns have ended at the hands of Lightning, including defeat in the 2023 Grand Final at the Copper Box. But Bird believes her young squad have matured immeasurably since then and are now relishing the big matches. 'They are so desperate to show what they can do,' said Bird. 'It has gone from being nervous on that big stage to thriving on it. There's no arrogance, there's no complacency but it's an excitement to be involved in these games now opposed to being a bit scared.' London Pulse are coming off the back of four straight wins. (Ben Lumley) Confidence is the watchword for Bird and her Pulse side, who have turned the tears of two years ago into an unwavering determination to achieve a maiden Netball Super League title. Advertisement Twelve wins from their 14 matches this season, including a 77-51 demolition of Lightning away from home in March, has certainly helped. 'It does feel like we have momentum, and the squad is still developing and improving, we are still looking at growth at this point,' added Bird. 'The fact we have won the Super Cup and then league is a good confidence boost, and confidence is really important. 'We know this game is going to be tight on Friday, nobody is going to roll over, but we have confidence to know we can win and that really important going into the game.' The season has not been without its hitches either; a seven-game unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Nottingham Forest in early May before Lightning won at the Copper Box two weeks later. Advertisement The response, however, was exactly what Bird and her side needed in order to go again heading into the post-season. 'There was no finger-pointing, there was a lot of personal accountability both from the coaches and from players,' she revealed. 'We really recognised it was small things that contributed to those losses, and we were still the same strong roster.' Pulse's response on the court, four wins in a row to end the season, earned them top spot and a home major semi-final, meaning victory on Friday will send them straight through to the Grand Final at the O2 Arena. Bird is hoping home comforts can make all the difference, after reflecting that her squad may have been overwhelmed by changes to their routine ahead of last season's semi-final defeat to Lightning. London Pulse finished top of the regular season standings. (Ben Lumley) 'It is really important to us to have this game at home,' said Bird. 'There is nothing better than playing at your home venue, an iconic venue like the Copper Box. It feels like we have done everything we can to put ourselves in a good position. Advertisement 'Everybody is in their own bed, everyone is familiar with the venue. All our support staff are there; we have extra resource there to look after us. '[The major semi-final] is all new, so none of us as coaches have been through this process, so it is a new test for us. 'It feels less stressful to be in the major semi-final than a traditional semi-final, as that is knockout netball. It changes the mindset a little bit. We obviously want to win this game and then have a bit of recovery to peak for the final. That's the ideal route. 'It doesn't feel as edgy as when we played Loughborough last year in the semi-final, having beaten them twice in the league and then lost and it was all over. Advertisement 'I genuinely feel like we couldn't have tried any harder this year, but just trying hard doesn't guarantee you anything.' To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on X, Instagram and TikTok, Netball Super League on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our newsletter. The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!
News.com.au
a day ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
'Barnard is the best on the Formula E grid' Sam Bird lauds his McLaren teammate
"Barnard is the best on the Formula E grid" Sam Bird lauds his McLaren teammate
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Jakarta E-Prix 2025: Schedule, how to watch Round 12 Formula E race, weather prediction
Image credit: Formula E The countdown for the Jakarta E-Prix has begun. Formula E is returning to Indonesia after a gap of two seasons. The race will be held at the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit (Ancol Beach street track), which witnessed a record-breaking audience last season. The Formula E drivers have reached Indonesia along with their all-new GEN3 Evo cars and may have to deal with a rainy race. Here's all about the timing, broadcasting details, and weather forecast for the Jakarta E-Prix. Jakarta E-Prix schedule The Jakarta E-Prix will start with the first free practice race, FP1, of 55 minutes on Friday, June 21 at 4 PM local time (2:30 PM IST). It's a packed schedule on Saturday with the second free practice race, FP2, starting at 8 AM local time (6:30 AM IST). The Qualifying race will begin at 10:20 AM local time (8:50 AM IST) and will end by 11:43 AM. The final Jakarta Formula E race is scheduled on the same day at 3 PM local time (1:35 PM IST) and is expected to take around an hour to complete. Weather prediction The Formula E drivers will have to brace for a wet race once again. Light rain is very likely on Day 1 during the first free practice race on Friday, but the drivers can utilize it to practice on a wet track in order to prepare for the final race, which may also witness a shower. The temperature is expected to remain around 27 degrees Celsius on Friday. There are comparatively lower chances of rain on Saturday, but the intensity may be higher. The temperature will remain around 26–27 degrees Celsius despite the cloud cover. There is a 59 percent chance of rain in the morning during FP2 and a 70 percent chance of rain during Qualifying, which will end before noon. Rain is quite likely, with a 78 percent chance of showers during the final Jakarta race in the early evening on Saturday. One cannot take rain lightly during a car race, as it played a major spoilsport at the Tokyo double-header last month when the Qualifying race was canceled and the grid order was based on free practice results. How to watch Jakarta E-Prix Formula E fans can keep a close watch on the race through live updates on the Race Centre or on the official Formula E YouTube channel. If Indian fans wish to watch the race on TV, they can tune in to Sony Sports Network. The race will be broadcast in other countries on the following TV channels: India – Sony Sports Network Indonesia – MNC TV Japan – J Sports, BS Fuji TV USA – Roku, CBS UK – ITV, TNT Sports Australia – Stan Sport China – Huya, Sina, Bilibili Canada – TSN, TVA Sports South Africa – Brazil – Band TV, Grande Premio South America – Claro Sports Europe – Eurosport New Zealand – Sky TV Italy – Mediaset France and Monaco – L'Équipe Germany – DF1 Also Read: Jakarta E-Prix 2025: Sam Bird gets stranded in Abu Dhabi as Oliver Rowland, Jake Dennis, Robin Frijns reach Indonesia Other than the race, there will also be fan attractions at the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit in Indonesia. DJs Dipha Barus, Una, and Patricia Schuldtz will perform live at the venue. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jakarta E-Prix 2025: Sam Bird gets stranded in Abu Dhabi as Oliver Rowland, Jake Dennis and Robin Frijns reach Indonesia
Image credit: Sam Bird/Instagram The Formula E drivers have reached Indonesia for the Jakarta E-Prix. It is scheduled to begin on Friday, June 20, with the final race scheduled for Saturday, June 21. However, the status of NEOM McLaren driver Sam Bird isn't clear yet. He got stranded in Abu Dhabi for the night and hoped to get a flight to Jakarta on Wednesday. The reason why Bird's flight got stranded in Abu Dhabi isn't clear. The region is currently seeing a lot of flight route changes and delays amid the ongoing Israel-Iran attacks war. Formula E drivers head to Jakarta for Round 12 Sam Bird took to his Instagram Stories Tuesday night to share a picture of his flight after getting down at the Abu Dhabi airport. He wrote along with it, 'O dear! Stranded for the night in Abu Dhabi. Fingers crossed I can get a flight to Jakarta tomorrow.' He is yet to post an update until the publishing of this story. Meanwhile, several other Formula E drivers took to social media to share an update about their arrival in Jakarta. Jake Dennis, who had been partying hard for quite a few days in Monaco, revealed he was on time to participate at the Jakarta E-Prix. The Andretti driver celebrated his 30th birthday on a yacht along with family and friends, including his girlfriend Lexi Grace Boosey. He shared a picture of himself from the lift and captioned it on his Instagram Stories, 'Back down to business! Next stop Jakarta.' Dennis would be hoping for yet another podium this year after he won second position in both the races held at the Jakarta double-header two years ago. He had also recorded the fastest lap in Race 2. Nissan's Oliver Rowland confirmed he had reached Indonesia for the race. He shared a picture from The Langham hotel in Jakarta. Envision Racing driver Robin Frijns shared a picture of the snow-covered mountains from his flight to Jakarta. He recently participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and ended up in 18th position. Also Read: Jake Dennis shows off special birthday gift from girlfriend, says 'She knows me well' Twenty-two Formula E drivers are participating in the Round 12 Formula E race in Indonesia. The race will be held at the 2.37 km Ancol Beach street track in the new GEN3 Evo electric car, which will be racing in the country for the first time. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
