Oz in Spain

Poland? Ukraine? Mexico? Rio de Janeiro? Rome? Spain!

An appeal has been lodged in the Northern Territory Supreme Court against a coroner’s ruling that a dingo was responsible for Azaria Chamberlain’s death 32 years ago. […]

Splendid pageantry… or obsolete pomp? Two differing views of the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee – and (at least in Australia’s case) the more pressing and pertinent issue of republicanism.

Michael McGuire: No crowning glory in right royal farce (The Punch)

Jeremy Paxman: We’re all monarchists now – even me (The Telegraph)

Leading restaurateurs and hotel managers on the Costa del Sol were invited to a special presentation at La Cónsula of the latest 2009 vintage of crafted wines from the Abadía Retuerta bodega. Representatives of the local distributor Juan Lara and Abadía Retuerta general manager Enrique Valero then hosted an exquisite “maridaje” lunch, marrying the Castilla León bodega’s featured 2009 wines with dishes prepared and served by the celebrated hotel and restaurant school’s students. […]

When Pamplona-born Carlota Ciganda won the Spanish Women’s Professional Championship in April at Talayuela (Extremadura) she put the finishing touch to an unprecedented run of national amateur titles in every age group from 2000 to 2008, including the open category in 2006, 2007 and 2008. […]

Mark Webber back-flipped into his team’s harbour-side pool after holding off a high-powered tail of five top rivals over the final laps of the Monaco Grand Prix. The 35-year-old Red Bull driver started from pole and controlled the race brilliantly to become the first Australian to win twice in Monte Carlo, following his 2010 victory.

[…]

Seve Ballesteros champion in 1991 (Photo by Stephen Munday Getty Images)

One year after his death, the memory of Seve Ballesteros is being kept alive at an event he won five times. For many of the players competing in the Volvo World Golf Championship at Finca Cortesín – especially the three Spaniards, Sergio García, Álvaro Quirós and Rafael Cabrera-Bello – Seve’s record when the tournament was held at Wentworth remains an inspiration. […]

Volvo World Match Play Championship 2012

Graeme McDowell squeezed past Spanish home favourite Rafael Cabrera-Bello with a last-hole victory in the semi-finals.

Nicolas Colsaerts, the “Belgian bomber” (biggest hitter on the European Tour), followed up a maiden European Tour title at the 2011 Volvo China Open, and a 19th hole loss in the semi-finals of the 2011 Volvo World Match Play, against eventual champion Ian Poulter, with a final hole victory against the ever-dogged Graeme McDowell in the 2012 edition.

Columbian Camilo Villegas lost 3&2 in his match against American Brandt Snedeker in their duel for a place in the final eight.

Thunderous rain forced a temporary suspension of play in the Sunday morning semi-finals but the weather remained more benign – albeit windy – for most of the afternoon.

Finca Cortesín (2009, 2011 and 2012) is the only course apart from Wentworth to host the World Match Play Championship, which dates to 1964.

Competing at the same venue where his father Seve made his professional debut, 21-year-old Javier Ballesteros finished a creditable 14th in his first appearance in a pro event. […]

…in Fuengirola

Mine host BigM and the cheerleaders

Australia makes a long-awaited return to the Fuengirola fairground as the popular Feria Internacional de los Pueblos opens on Saturday 28 April (continuing until Tuesday 1 May). […]