It's described as the Super Bowl of women's fitness, a "muscles meets fashion" show in Las Vegas, and Canberra coach Alicia Gowans hopes she can shine with the world's eyes watching. Gowans will leave for the US next week to compete in her first world beauty fitness and fashion show against more than 100 competitors. Gold's Gym ambassador Gowans hopes to be an inspiration for mums around Australia as she juggles motherhood and her fitness career. Gowans won Miss Fitness Australia last year. She competed at events just four months after giving birth to her second child Calla and is ready to take the world by storm. "This competition in Las Vegas is huge, it's muscles meets fashion. It's like the Super Bowl of competitions, streamed live on pay per view on Foxtel. It's Victoria's Secret meets the gym," Gowans said. Calla has been at the gym with Gowans since she was born. "She squats, she's almost two years old and she's close to being able to do push-ups," Gowans said. "She loves it. When I fell pregnant [with Calla], I set myself the goal of competing to keep myself sane during pregnancy and five months later I competed and got a trophy. I was hooked." Gowans coaches 30 girls in Canberra. They hope to compete in shows in September. She has also been working with Christos Kyrgios, the older brother of tennis star Nick and Gold's Gym general manager, to build a coaching group in Canberra. "We're preparing aspiring fitness models in Australia, I work more so with the elite athletes who want to take their conditioning to the next level," Gowans said. Gowans will compete in Las Vegas on August 16-17.
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Raiders review kept secret
At a time when Canberra Raiders fans are demanding answers about what can be done to fix the club's on-field woes, the Raiders board says it's not prepared to disclose the findings of the review conducted by Peter Fricker. The Raiders made a public song-and-dance in December last year about commissioning the former AIS director and sports physician to review their operations. It's understood Dr Fricker presented his findings months ago to the board and administration but, despite many approaches, the Raiders are not prepared to reveal the recommendations. The Raiders held a comprehensive review of its operations after a disastrous 2011 season, making the finals in 2012. But it's been lean times since.
New Caps boss and the Veal deal
The Canberra Capitals are close to finalising their first general manager after linking with the University of Canberra. It's understood the new boss is likely to be Lachlan Searle, who has worked with Swimming Australia and the ACT Brumbies. The Capitals have moved their base to the university following Basketball ACT handing ownership to UC. Coach Carrie Graf is working to lock in her roster for the season, signing skipper Jess Bibby and veteran Kristen Veal last week. Veal played in the Capitals' first championship in 1999-2000 and still has bodysuits from the early years of the Capitals' success. Veal will reunite with former Capitals and AIS teammate Lauren Jackson. They played together for almost a decade to start their careers. "One time we thought we could drive to Ayers Rock from Canberra. We got to Gundagai and turned around," Veal said. Bibby is on track to break the WNBL games record of 377. Currently on 349, Bibby will reach 399 if she plays every game, including finals, by the end of her two-year deal, leaving her one game short of becoming the first player to reach 400.
Sneak peak at WNBL draw
Still on the Capitals, and fans won't have to wait long to watch marquee bigs Lauren Jackson and Elizabeth Cambage go head-to-head. Locker Room has had a sneak peek at the WNBL draw which is soon to be released and Jackson's Canberra hosts Cambage's Dandenong in round three. The Caps will start their season on the road against Melbourne Boomers on Friday, October 17, before hosting Sydney University at AIS Arena the following night. Each team will play 22 regular season games, two fewer than last season, after the demise of Logan Thunder. Perennial cellar dwellers West Coast is the only side the Capitals play four times, with every other side three times. Three Canberra games will be broadcast live on ABC TV over the opening five weeks on Saturdays at 3pm. The Capitals are looking to return to the finals after a three-year absence and have assembled arguably the most experienced squad in the league.
Brett can't find the White stripe
After announcing he's retiring at the end of the season, one of Brett White's individual priorities will be to break his Raiders try-scoring duck. In 65 games since his arrival from Melbourne, the prop is yet to score a ''meat pie'' for the Green Machine. The big fella could do worse than to follow around Canberra's main try-scoring weapons Anthony Milford and Jarrod Croker - if he can keep up. Raiders players took to Twitter on Friday night to show their appreciation for White's contribution to the team, and vowed to try and secure a few more wins before the season's out to send him off on a high note.
Speight seeks political power
ACT senators Kate Lundy and Zed Seselja could be Henry Speight's secret weapon as looks towards a potential Wallabies debut next month. The Brumbies have spoken informally to Lundy about Speight's hopes of having his Fijian siblings in Australia for his first Test appearance for the Wallabies. Speight is trying to convince immigration officials his brother Jerry and sister Davila won't become asylum seekers in Australia if they are allowed into the country. Immigration has rejected two previous temporary visa requests on the basis they regard the siblings as asylum seeker risks. The Fijian flyer will almost certainly make his Test debut when he becomes available to play for the Wallabies from September 11. Meanwhile, Brumbies assistant Dan McKellar will take charge of the Canberra Vikings for their National Rugby Championship campaign. The team is made up of 14 Brumbies and 17 club players from around Canberra. It means Wallabies will be rubbing shoulders with brickies and plumbers. McKellar has called in former Wallaby Dan Palmer as scrum coach while Wests great Craig Robberds and Tuggeranong mentor Brad Harris will be assistant coaches.
Rathbone busy in retirement
Former Australian Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone could still play a big part in the future of the ACT Brumbies, given he is now moving into player management following his retirement. Rathbone is linking with his own manager, ACT-based PricewaterhouseCoopers director and former first-grade cricketer Cade Brown. They are are building quite an impressive stable of Brumbies on their books, including Australian Wallabies Stephen Moore, Henry Speight, and Matt Toomua. Moore's recovery from a knee reconstruction is progressing well and he's on track to start the 2015 Super Rugby season. Moore's spirits were also boosted during the week, wife Courtney giving birth to their second child, Darcy.
