13 Dec 2011 at 10:45 | Published by: Hans | Views: 11441 | News search

Marco Henning playing in Stockholm  (Photo by Patric Fransson 2011)

Interview with Marco Henning (MH), Germany and Tempelhofer MV Berlin

This interview was done the 13th of December 2011. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

HB: First of all congratulations to a great season of 2011 and especially the double silvers in the World Championship Team and Stroke play. How do you rank these two titles compared with your titles from the past?

MH: Thank you. For me, all the titles and medals have the same value as each title has its own story. I would, however, without doubt change both silver medals against the team gold medal.

HB: Can you tell our readers a little bit who is Marco when you are not on the Minigolf course?

MH: I work at UPS at night sorting as a team leader. Outside the mini golf season I play also in a bowling club. I have lived together with my girlfriend, who supports me in my sport, for eight years.

HB: What expectations did you gad on your own and the German team before the competition in Stockholm?

MH: Of course we wanted to get both gold medals in team, but it did not work out. We wanted to show that we are the best nation. The team gold medal of the men would have been a nice bonus.

HB: You started as the substitute in the German team, but in the end you where the best of the German men’s in the stroke play. So I guess you performed better in the competition than in training or?

MH: In the practice rounds, I just did not have the low results as the others. I played good but not as good as the others.

HB: From round 5-9 in the stroke play you made maybe one of the best performances ever in an international championship with 21(C)-20-20-24 (C)-21. I guess you found the “flow” or how can you describe it?

MH: I realized only later what kind of performance that was. I had previously never expected to play such results.

HB: You made an astonishing 21 on concrete but you were missing on lane 18, missing the chance of equalising the world record by Anders Olsson. What were your feelings directly after finished that second stroke on 18?

MH: Directly after I was finishing the round I was really happy. But later I could kick me in the butt. The stroke of the 18 was not even close, quite far to the left. Later, back in Germany, I had to answer the questions why I'm missed both lane 11 and 18. This could have been 19.

HB: On the final lap in the stroke play you had a big fight for the gold with Swedens Filip Svensson. Can you describe how it felt playing against Filip that had so much help from the crowd?

MH: Filip was playing a great tournament and deserved to win in the end. Before the last lap I was hoping for a good last lap leading to gold, but against such a fabulous 23 round by Filip, I could not stop him. Of course it was also clear that had the advantage of the crowd support high a lot.

HB: In the match play you lost the first game against Paolo Porta, Italy. Was it hard to reload the motivation after Friday’s success?

MH: No, I was very motivated. But in match play you need to get in the game from start. If you like I get behind from start then it becomes more difficult to catch up.

HB: Looking back on the Stockholm Championships what is the strongest memories?

MH: I think the finals in the women's teams. We in the men’s team were equally nervous and had our fingers crossed.

HB: What is your opinion about the way the Stockholm championships were played with 2 days team, one day stroke play and one day match play?

MH: I think it's good that the Stoke Play champion is back, but I think it's a shame that there are only three laps for the team title. 3 rounds are just too little.

HB: How has your success been noticed by media and people around you?

MH: In my club we partied well after the competition. I then get a lot of friend requests on Facebook.

HB: You are one of the few in the German Team in later years not playing in the 1st Bundesliga with your team Berlin. Have you had offers to play in the Bundesliga and could that be an interesting option for you?

MH: That's right, you do not have in the 1st Bundesliga to sign up for the national team but I'll deal with in the near future with the possibility of change. There are enough requests from other clubs.

HB: How does your season planning look like for 2012 and onward?

MH: I'll try to do my best for the season and try to qualify for the European Championships in Portugal.

HB: What happens next for you in Minigolf?

MH: I will go and recharge my battery and then in the spring to be fit to play well again in time for the next Bundesliga Matchday.

HB: If you could recruit any men player in the world, as long as it’s not a German, to play for your club who would you pick?

MH: Manfred Lindmayr. He's a good player with a very good technique, and I think that he is a good team player as well.

HB: Again a big congratulation to the fantastic 2011 season and good luck in the future.

MH: Thank You.

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