Ryder Cup 2012

Monday October 1^st 2012 I awoke around 8.30 still enthused by the spectacular win by the European Team in the Ryder Cup in Chicago before a vociferous and unsporting American crowd, who booed and uttered other taunt at the visitor this win was even that more stupendous. The visitors had been inspired throughout by their Spanish Captain Jose (Ollie) Maria Olazabal who had been a great friend of his Spanish team made Seve Ballesteros who died from cancer and Ollie in turn inspired the rest of the team so that against all odds I reckon the Americans caved because for once they knew that God was not on their side. Between them the two Spanish players have won 12 Ryder cup points out of 15 matches played but only lost two as the other two games were halved. The next European pairing to do well was Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnan with 6 points.

There was sympathy for the USA team who must have believed that after taking at 10 4 lead as the second progressed and that even with the final match win to the Europeans on Saturday the 10 6 lead was more than sufficient to take the tie by 14 and half point. The visitors needed 14 point to draw the match and retain the cup as the holders of the trophy. While the game was played in the USA on a ground which was prepared to suit the American team with razor sharp greens all but three of the European Team play on the USA circuit so have some familiarity with the conditions including crowd behaviour.

The USA had been in the ascendancy from the start and a mentioned were leading 10 4 when in foursomes on the Saturday before Europe gained the next through Garcia and Donald before Ian Poulter with Rory McIlroy gained the last, as Poulter birdied the last five holes to reverse the lead of their opponents. While in 1999 also in thee USA the home side had reversed a European score of 10 6 to gain the Cup this was an exceptionally well balanced USA team desperate to win after losing the previous competitions, My understanding is that the order of play was agreed between the players rather than laid down by the captain with the call to go out fighting and try and claw back the lead in the early games. Luke Donald beat Bubba Watson 2 and 1 to take the match 10 to 7 Ian Poulter the hero of bat Webb Simpson by 2 to take the tie 10 8 Saturday evening beat Rory McIlory beat Keegan Bradley 2 and 1 to move 10 10.9 while Justin Rose beat Phil Mickleson on the last hole having come from behind 10 10 and then magically the older Phil Lawrie of Scotland 5 and 3 so that Europe went ahead 11.10 Zach Johnson of the USA then levelled 11 11 when he beat Nicholas Colesearts while his brother Zach Johnson also won beating Graham McDowell 2 and 11 12 11 to the USA. Sergio Garcia of Spain then beat Jim Furyk at the last hole 12 12 with four matches to go. Jason Dufner beat Europe’s Peter Hanson by 2 holes 13.12 but Lee Westwood was strong taking his game 3 and 2 against Matt Kutchar 13.13. It was the German Martin Kaymer who beat Steve Stricker who had holed a magnificent long putt on the 18^th to require Martin to hole another medium size putt to ensure the trophy stayed this side of the Atlantic. With ecstasy and disbelief rebounding around the greens and club house it was left to Tiger Woods to take the final tie hole or share the hole as he was 1 up. He failed to make a very short putt so his game was a half and Europe won the event 14 and half to 13 and half points. Wondrous, amazing the words failed as emotion gripped everyone who had played or managed the team, was present there, in the studio or at home watching as the midnight hour approached Europe has retained the cup since losing in 1999 with the 2001 competition cancelled because of 9/11 and Europe then won in 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10 and now in 2012. I watched the BBC highlights between 8 and 9 pm and they were just as good as those of Sky.

Paralympic weekend and Closing Ceremony

This is a retrospective memory of a fabulous weekend visiting the Paralympic Games to watch Ellie Simmonds swim and the closing ceremony. It is written on September 25^th 21012, two weeks after the weekend of 7^th-10^th September.

I now regret not planning to visit the games when tickets were readily available as the decision to go arose after winning £200 from a long shot bet that Chelsea would become European Champions. With the benefit of hindsight I should have made the Paralympics my main trip of the Olympic period or at least given similar consideration although in fairness I was governed by the escalation in accommodation costs and finding myself allocated two football tickets over a period of four days.

In the event I had to pay more than usual for accommodation and travel for my weekend visit back to Croydon but not significantly. I also booked a later train than usual which then arrived late because of signally problems and where the time was not made up because of further delays waiting for platforms which could take a twelve carriage train.

I was able to gain a seat where I could use my lap top and was able to test out the recently acquired internet on the move USB device. However I was yet to work out that in order to override the dominant source such as the British Rail service or that at the Travel Lodge you have to disconnect on the soft ware. It was not until the return train journey that I was able to listen for long periods without interruption to Five Live overcoming the electrical interference which prevented listening to the pocket radio.

I was able to reflect on what had been an amazing week until then. There had been some reaction to the Channel Four coverage of the opening ceremony when advertisements were included although inserted at points which did not affect the overall enjoyment of the impressive show. The problem for many is that they had been spoilt by the BBC with its dedicated channels for each sport and with the main channel bringing the highlight events without advertising.

Channel Four is a commercial station dependent on advertising and which in fact became a significant aspect in terms of promoting individual athletes and treating them as the professionals they are no different in this respect from those who are able bodied. The sponsorship of key individual also mean they will begin to achieve the financial lifestyles of the able bodied and play a part in t eh cultural life of the country alongside Dame Grey Thompson who has made it all the way to the House of Lords and to the sub committee which vets sports men and women for national honours

The main feature of the excellent Channel Four coverage was the use of disabled people as presenters, a feature which I would like to see continued. They had only three dedicated channels which meant it was not possible to view many of the sports live although given the return to school of children; it was unlikely there would have viewers to have merited the expenditure involved.

I did not watch the after show hosted by disabled people for disabled people and others which took an irreverent view with a nightly challenge asking questions you dare not ask setting new boundaries of what is and is not acceptable. I watched the show towards the end of Paralympics, the last I believe, and admit it was good and regretted not viewing before. Several Olympic teams stayed up after their bedtime curfew to watch, according to one report.

I spent a good twenty minutes trying to find a recording of the Opening ceremony to refresh my memory but without success and unfortunately I appear to have unintentionally deleted the recording made on the Sky box. Later I discover there is one on You Tube but by then I have written and moved on. I have only few visual memories with the opening sequence which had the great paraplegic philosopher and scientist Stephen Hawkings introduce the event with a powerful overview of human development and endeavour and an aerial moment where a number of former leading athletes including Lady Grey Thompson highlighted some of the key sports. The emphasis was on the role of science in promoting human development, on exploration of our world and of ourselves including overcoming barriers and challenges seen through the eyes of one young girl.

A full house was expected fort he opening event and it was quickly evident that those attending were going to show the same level of support for the British Team as happened during the Olympics a month earlier. To the credit of those submitting the bid and designing the Olympic Park, the stadiums and the accommodation had been designed for use by Paralympians so that only limited changes were needed to some stadiums to increase the space for those with disability and a feature of my visit was the huge special parking areas for wheel chairs and for baby and child carriages at each of the venues. It is possible these were also provided for use by spectators.

There was an early start on the Saturday morning with tickets for swimming and seeing Ellie Simmonds in her heat for the 50 meter freestyle event. She functions better in the long events free style and medley where she is able to make effective use of her powerful freestyle which more than compensates for the lack of starting drive because of her lack of reach due to lack of height and short turn arounds.

The day before had been exceptionally hot and two more days were forecast so I went only in shirt and trousers but taking my new GB Team bag with me. The journey into London via St Pancras and then on the Javelin train the Olympic Park was without incident although I forgot to get a photo of Javelin on my new touch screen photo phone and then decided to leave taking other photos until after the swimming event. Although the Aqua centre is the closest building to the main entrance getting to the entrance involves quite a walk and over a bridge as the stadium is raised on an island in part because there will be a public swim baths on the lower level or for use my the professional swimmers ass well as the main pools above. I thought the lower pool was where the Athletes warmed up but in fact many also used the main pool perhaps because of the overall numbers involved.

My seat was to one side away from the start and finish line where one bonus was that lights. one for first and three for third, come up with the touch of the competitors something which is not evident on the TV where the camera concentrated on the pool below. The downside from my location about midway up the top tier but at an aisle was the inability to see the large screen at the end of the pool on which there is information on participants of the race itself. We had a much smaller screen where it was difficult to read the result as well as into and one had to be guided by the British Flag and the flags of other participants alongside the names. The other draw back was the absence of information about contestants when because of number of the heats, two or three for each race category there was no time for individual introductions. Fortunately the British swimmers all wore red skull caps which enabled their immediate identification.

Ellie was already one of the undoubted stars of the Games as she had been in run up and with a large portrait of her on the side of a building at the shopping centre and visible from the Park. Unlike the able bodied she and the other swimmers lived up to expectations.

Ellie won the most extraordinary of races in her opening event the 400 meter freestyle where she was behind the young American woman who had won her appeal against being reclassified. Disabled athletes are not graded according to their disability but according to measured performance and then grouped so that in theory all participants in a particular category have a chance of winning. In this instance the young woman in question had recovered from a coma and was regaining strength and movement which led to reclassification. The reversal of the decision resulted in one of the most memorable swimming races of all time because the girl was well ahead in the opening length of the eight lap event. Fortunately Ellie was able to take back the gains made on the turn arounds so that as the final 100 metres of the four was reached she was within striking distance but it was not until last twenty or so meters that it looked she would be able to win which she did but only with her last strides towards the touching the pool end. Only the 80000 cheering on Mo Farah and the noise in the cycling arena equalled that on this occasion.

Ellie broke down in tear of relief and joy and signalled that unlike the able bodied this girl was here at the top for the duration. A few days later she repeated this triumph in 200 metre medley where from being way behind she took a commanding lead which she maintained. It was therefore not surprising that she could only achieve silver in her third event and then bronze in to 50 metre event final. Although she was able to win her heat by a long distance breaking her own world record so did the next two athletes in the second heat thus signalling how the final might end.

Camera men were located on terraced area across from my seating while the athletes then made their way to where journalists from different media stations were waiting to interview including channel Four and BBC Five Live Radio. I have mixed feeling about this aspect which is OK if an Athlete wins or achieves best performance however it must be difficult for those who lose or fail to do well.

The most moving and impressive moment of the morning was not the performance of Ms Simmons but a young man without legs from above the knee who made his way up on to dais without assistance for the dive into the pool. The pool at the winning end side away from me is flush with the water to enable athletes to get out without assistance if they wish. In his instance I had missed that he had arrived on his artificial legs which he had placed by the pool exit and which he now refitted before striding off to increasing applause as he made his way to be interviewed. Although I watched with amazement on TV as I have in previous years seeing the athletes close up and live was a very moving experience. Those who are visually disabled had assistants holding stick with flat material at he end to tap the swimmers to alert they were reaching the pool end. It was the visually disabled athletes who throw themselves in the air to long jump and hop skip and jump who impressed most of all for the courage mixed with professional ability. Final word of praise goes to Ellie has to be for Ellie who is only 17 years and still at school and already as Rio in mind.

I enjoyed a portion of fish and chips for lunch albeit expensive at £8.50 with a cool drink and visited the mega store where I acquired a hat for £2 which looked awful but stopped the sun frying my head. I then found somewhere in the shade before visiting the Orbit again where entertainment was provided because the queues in part made worse because of the number of people who were able to make a visit via the gate and able to go straight to lifts for a viewing.

The act on arrival was a young man singer song writer with a guitar with Tyler part of his name and a Facebook page although a quick search failed it did lead to discovering full You Tube recording of the Closing ceremony after repeated problems on the Channel Four Player. The young man finished his set and was replaced by an aging Mexican Band complete with Sombreros which they loaned to those who wanted to be photographed, I was unaware at the time that the group are well known from their participation in a video for Doritos usually associated with sporting and other entertainment programmes. Even later I found that they appeared in the film One Day. When making my way down from the top viewing platform to the second I discovered the group had come up in lift and were playing to a crowd and obviously enjoying their outing and determined to take the view.

It was such a clear day that I was able to some great photos compared to the rain and cloud of my previous visit. After the early start and with the heat I decided against staying for Live showing of the evening finals having checked that there were no last minute tickets on offer and made my way back to Croydon at leisure and had to lay down to recover after enjoying an ice cold drink and a ice cream. Later still refreshed and having watched Ellie get her bronze medal I enjoyed a starter of chicken wings and a pizza in the Travel Lodge restaurant and having had difficulties logging on in the room used the free service to check on emails and plan the following day.

The following morning I enjoyed a full English breakfast with Orange Juice, a cereal and the large helping of sausages, eggs scrambled, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms. This was followed with by two rounds of toast with blackberry jam and lashings of coffee. I was set up for the day.

The closing ceremony ticket was scheduled 7.30 so on the basis of other events where the stadiums were opened one hour before this I aimed to travel to the Olympic Park to arrive no later than 6.30 prepared to be early and avoid the rush than late. It remained a gloriously hot day but with and end expected to be close to 11pm, the opening had gone on later, and a problem with everyone leaving at he same time I was prepared for the cold and for the possibility of a shower. I had checked that my key ticket worked as I anticipated arriving back between one and two am.

I cannot remember when I set off although it was close 5 than 5.30 pm and I was able to get a good seat as well as on the Javelin which was full but nothing like as crowded as on the previous day. I was struck by the crowds queuing at the restaurants between the shopping centre and the main entrance to the Park. This suggested people eating after shopping or my likely that I was indeed early or as it transpired the show did not in fact begin until 8.30. There nevertheless a large crowd making their way or so it seemed to me and therefore I concluded I had not left too late.

According to plan my entrance was on the far side of the stadium opposite to the Orbit which meant going past the bridges closest to main thoroughfare, however although people were progressing past entrance C when I and other went further a one of games Makers advised we could not go no further and an to use C It was only after reaching area below my seating did I appreciate there was direct access to the bridge for vehicular traffic for the Olympic Committee, the VIP’s and the entertainers. There was also a bridge with direct access to the Olympic village for the Athletes. As I approached the particular numbered entrance for my ticket I reached the VIP and Media entrances which contrasted with the rest of the stadium with attractive doorways with attendants. I was directed to an outside stairway which took up to the upper tier which I anticipated but only to find that I had also been allocated a free standing chair against a long media desk with electrical and internet points beneath but with room for ten people in an area where in the rest of the stadium there would have been twenty, moreover in addition to the depth of the desk there was plenty of room behind for passage and There was also uninterrupted view into and across the stadium because of the banking so one had to bend over the desk to see those sitting immediately below and behind there was separate boarding at the top of which was a band of lights whereas in the rest of the stadium these were place between the seats. There were perhaps a bank of half a dozen more levels between me and the roof space and other side were media/stadium control boxes fitted into the roof space. The area of the desks space extended on either with a length of at least 50 meters if not more.

When I arrived close to seven there were only a few thousands inside and Jon Snow in the TV programme which reviewed highlights of the games before ceremony said there were about 12000 in place by 7.30. There was entertainment via an exceptionally loud audio system and films on two screens below the roof level across from where I sat with no doubt two above me at either end of the arena from where I was sitting.

There was also opportunity for the Athletes to make their way into the stadium from two entrances and then to four large areas of seating within the athletics field with the former running track outside them covered for use by large vehicles and to hide the electrical connections for the lighting attached to their searing. They therefore had a good view of the ceremony reminding of the way members of the public were part of the opening event for the Olympic Games. Given that the last event in the stadium occurred the evening before there was work during the night and some rehearsing in the afternoon and during the pelimins with use made of vehicles made into fantastical contraptions as well as created stage areas with one for the main music band Coldplay who were an intrinsic part of the event coming on some 40 minutes after commencement and continuing to perform during the next two hours. I am not a fan of the band that are loud and without the kind of well known and enjoyable numbers which a host of other artists could have provided. What those from a number of other nations made of it I can but speculate?

In the build up I was joined by two and then three ladies to my right and by a single girl to my left whose photo I took for her on her camera. As the evening progressed it was evident that some of my neighbours had not come through my route but from other ticketing sources I was provided with a double sided programme of the event passed on by one of the neighbours from stewards and among the last in his possession so that others at our level and higher up and some below went without.

The programme is in the form of letter from Kevin Gavin the Artistic Director, He explains that throughout our history fire is seen as symbol of beginnings and ends and the Festival of the Flame celebrates the extraordinary journey that commenced seven years before when it was announced that London was to be the host city for both games in 2012 and comes to a joyous spectacular end on the night.

The nation that is the British nation is associated with Festivals from harvest to music, comedy and film festivals. I like the concept of festivals and regret not participating when I was younger. Now the concept remains a good one but I would to have the funds to be able to participate in relative comfort and I am not sure I could cope with prolonged intensity.

Mr Gavin said that the Festival of the Flame played tribute to gatherings which infuse the spirit of the nation drawing on the ever changing seasons that define us (although given the weather over past 24 months our seasons appear to be merging or in the case of summer non existent). The event is intended to celebrate some of the ancient and modern traditions that have gathered down the ages. He gives a special mention to the participation of Coldplay as part of a cast of nearly 2000. There would be tributes to the 70000 volunteers with some 1300 in the stadium on the night. The last sentence asks that the last person in stadium turn out the lights.

Situated across from the Orbit it was great to see it lit up at as the night and I felt a great sense of once only occasion never to be repeated and pleased that I had managed to visit both key stadiums before they are changed. The wings of the swimming stadium are to be removed while the future of the main stadium remains uncertain with a number of bids including from West Ham United. It would be a pity if London was not to retain a major Athletics stadium in the capital as that at Crystal Palace is OK but not World Class. The problem is that with Wembley stadium for football and associated big sporting events and Twickenham for Rugby Union there is no need for another huge stadium although Spurs with ambitions to join Arsenal and Chelsea made a bid. The obvious candidate is West Ham a club with a good local crowd but in small playing area stadium with spectator’s right to the field with a feeling of being close to the action. This is difficult to achieve with an athletics track and a large field for Athletic events plus long jumps, water jumps and such like. It has also been stated that the stadium and Park site is also being considered for a London based Grand Prix event. There is already talk of a London street race taking in some of the main sights of the Capital.

The opening section of the ceremony is headed Windstorm with machine blowers and vehicles fantastical designs entered the stadium. The youngest son of the Queen as patron of Paralympics was joined by the Chairman of the governing committee in a vehicle with an attached platform for the singing of the national Anthem by someone who is blind, Lisa Hermans, and who also suffered from Autism. Two former soldiers wounded and disabled also participated in the section Raising the Flag and is designed to honour servicemen and support Help for Heroes. This is not as incongruous a section as might be first thought given that the Paralympic were started in the UK in 1948 alongside the Olympics games in London the hospital for spinal and other serious injuries to soldiers in the Second World War.

The Heart of Many Nations

was led Rory Mackensie on a raised platform some 40 feet above the stadium ground, a former army medic, was recruited for audition after he had undertaken several daring adventures since losing a leg in a roadside bomb at which an 18 year old colleague died. He has leaned to Ski and participated in a crossing of the Atlantic, rowing, and in race conditions. The Flags of the 164 Nations entered the stadium and later left. There was much endeavour in the centre of the arena while this was taking place so that before the section Truck Invasion what is described as crop circle took fire and the smell of firework powder filled the air. It was then a large number of fantastical trucks entered the stadium and which I will see close up when I view the whole of the ceremony on You Tube.

In Spirit of the Games Dr Whang Youn Dai, a champion of the Paralympic Movement presented award to two Paralympians, then five Paralympians gave presents to five games making volunteers and the six new members of IPC Athletics Council were introduced. It was then time for Coldplay to arrive for Autumn with a four number set which included Us against the World and Up in Flames. They played three further numbers to mark Winter with movement and dancing elsewhere in the arena.

The British Paralympics Orchestra and Rihanna elevated on a wire participated with Coldplay for Summer which included their most well known piece to me Viva la Vida. It was then time for the handover ceremony of the Olympic Flag by Boris Johnson the London Mayor to the Mayor of Rio with a great cheer for him. With the raising of the Brazilian Flag and the playing of their national Anthem, As in Beijing, it is then the host city for 2016 which gives a taster called Joy. This included a group of four blind young women who have been trained as ballet dancers and who were interviewed on the TV the night before.

The evening then drew to a close with the Final Flame as Sir Philip Craven the President of the International: Paralympics Committee and Lord Sebastian Coe Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee made speeches before the Cauldron was extinguished with one of those involved Ellie Simmonds. Throughout the evening there had been much use of fire as there was during this part which ended with Cold Play, Rihanna and Jay Z involved with Run this Town

Coldplay continued to play during the Firework Finale and at one point there appeared to be a roof over stadium of fire works. Given that I was located furthers from the Javelin Train, I therefore start to make my way before the end but by the time I get down and start to make my way round the inner circle everyone else commences to make their way. I walked fast rather than run and decide against going to the toilet which fortunately I had done before the start and making my way up.

I continued a fast walking pace through to the queue for the station where I was held up just before the entrance was insight and alas there was to be a long wait of half an hour before the next train. The enthusiasm of the Games Makers at this hour was extraordinary and I wondered what time they would be getting home.

Having moved to the front end of the platform on reaching St Pancras I was able to catch the next train to East Croydon with a number of others which came in within moments of reaching the platform. This was about a quarter to Midnight. It will remain a matter of conjecture if I had taken the advised route to West Ham Station or a line from Stratford to central London and Victoria if I would have arrived in East Croydon sooner. Certainly those waiting on the Platform at London Bridge were in panic as there appeared to be no room on the train with cries of concern at the doorways from within the train as it set off. There were also lots of tired people waiting for train connections at East Croydon as his majority of those leaving the train headed for the trams and buses. Despite the delay at Stratford International I was at the Travel Lodge around 12.30 which was amazing all things considered and earlier than I had anticipated as a started off at the end of the event.

While finding myself with a space, a chair at a desk was interesting and provided an excellent viewpoint. One felt separate from the majority of those in there stadium and the younger ones who wanted to dance appeared self conscious in their comparative isolation.

The following day I packed leisurely and made my way without a rush back to St Pancras over to Kings Cross when I found a seat and listened to preparations for the Victory Parade when a huge fleet of vehicles would take all the British Olympians in convoy according to participating sport with Paralympians and Olympians. Although I had some difficult starting off and one point later I was able to listen to Five Live throughout most of the Journey and at Newcastle station I was able to see something of the end with the fly past in the bar alongside the main entrance. I needed to get home to shop and for Newcastle on the telly later. I will write further on the legacy issued sand on the individual athletes and their success as I have still to do for many of the Olympians.

Warrington to Man U ?Newcastle win but, England Cricket Collapse and Boring F1 Singapore

Earlier to day as 14.50 I reported that I had brought in the two good tomatoes plants and enjoyed a cuppa soup with crackers. Switching channels after watching the start of the Singapore Grand Prix which while not boring because of some incidents is nevertheless a procession as forecast with Hamilton keeping out of trouble from the start and Button managing to gain their position behind Vettel who he is chasing hard in order to free Hamilton at the front. Schimacher goes into the back of another car raising questions about reactions due to age and their have been other shunts with varying consequences. However I missed the moment when Hamilton was forced to retire because of gearbox failure. This let in World Champion Vettel who moves to second position in the Driver’s Championship table with 165 points to close the gap on World Champion Alonso with 194 points. Hamilton drops to fourth staying on 142 whereas he would have consolidated his position in second place had he won. Jenson Button therefore came second in the race and is now 6^th in the championship.

I was interested by the performance of Spanish sounding Paul Di Resta who drives for the Force India Mercedes team and who claimed fourth spot in the race and is now 11^th in the table in his first season. Although he lives in Monaco he was born in Scotland with his step father a former profession footballer. He is a cousin of the Franchitti racing driver families. He managed to finish 6^th in the Singapore race last season his first full season then aged 25 years and 13^th in the driver championship with 27 points. His 10 points fourth place gives him 44 points this and 11^th position. With six races to go and 150 points max there is everything to play for in the individual championship race as there is in the constructors with Mclaren 37 points behind Red Bull, a gap which would have closed considerable if Hamilton’s car had not failed.

There was a good orchestrated show of solidarity between Man U and Liverpool clubs at the first home game at Anfield since the publication of the Truth report on the unlawful killing of 96 spectators at Hillsborough and where Man U supporters have taunted Liverpool fans and their City in the past. Sir Bobby Charlton presented former Liverpool player with a bouquet of 96 red flowers while the two captains released 96 red balloons and two stands marked out the word Truth and Justice along the their whole length. As for the game I did not see the first two goals just after the second half started with Gerrard on 46 minutes and Rafael 61. There was great fuss when first Shelvey was red carded for a foul on Johnny Evans who played for Sunderland on loan when I last attended matches on a regular basis and then Glen Johnson fouled Da Silva to give Man U a penalty in the 80^th minute but there was a long delay because of injury to Kagawa and then Van Persie won the game for the visitors. This places the new Liverpool Manager under great pressure with 3 defeats and two draws from their five games and in the relegation zone at the bottom of the table. However Liverpool did play well which in my view underlines their problems

Listened to Newcastle’s home game against Norwich on headphones while watching closing stages of the motor racing and the football and the starts of England’s 20 20 game against India. Newcastle did not start well as they have throughout the season so far but a reported brilliant pass for Ben Arta found Demba Ba who scored a great goal. There were countless chances after that include an undisputed penalty which Cisse hit over the bar raising questions of why the player who scored 14 goals some of them wonder games has lost confidence. Whereas from the highlights of the Sunderland at West Ham game Sunderland a draw was a fair result given the chances falling to both sides, Newcastle dominated until the latter stages when Norwich senses they had the chance to get a draw I also watch the last minutes of the fist half of the Man City game against Arsenal just in time to see a great header from Lescott to a corner kick beat the man standing by the post to give City a 1.0 in the 38 minute. I was also delighted to learn that QPR opened the scoring at White Heart Lane with a goal from Bobby Zomora when deep inside the penalty box however they lost in the end as Spurs scored twice to take the points. Pity.

England won the toss put India in to bat before the best crowd to-date in the competition. India made 170 for 4 an average of 8.5 in their innings. Then woe is me England seemed to lose all inhibition and were dismissed for 80, having been 60 for 9 at one point, The less said about this game the better.

3 D cricket and second Newcastle game on TV within four days september 2012

 I missed England's 

last 20 20 game with South Africa which because of bad weather in the afternoon was reduced to 11 overs under the flood lighting at Old Trafford. The commentary team suggested that 10 runs an over was the benchmark target but which looked unlikely until Somerset’s pint sized wicket keeper batsman Josh Taylor started the 10^th over and his 30 runs with three sixes, two fours, and two twos in an over which had two no balls and where his 31 was made while facing 10 balls. South Africa had no one to match this and finished 28 runs short at 90 for 6. Kieswetter scored 50 from 32 opening the innings.

The Newcastle game was frustrating because despite the heat of 29 degrees and a rock hard uneven pitch which created problems with the ball bounce and a poor start over the first 15 minutes Newcastle had many chances with two ball strokes hitting goal posts and half a dozen if not more good opportunities during the rest of the first half and the greater part of the second half. However it was the home side that came close to scoring in 81^st minute. Alan Pardew has little European experience and given that the team played on Monday night have an away game against Norwich and then a mind week League Cup game away to Manchester United

Liverpool also with their junior side had had exciting game against the Young boys, taking the lead three times but for Liverpool also with their junior side had had exciting game against the Young boys, taking the lead three times but for the home side to equalise. However they scored their fourth and fifth goals late on to return home with all three points justifying the decisions of the manager.

22.05 Watched the Sky Atlantic film on the Sky Team winning the Tour De France. It was great to relive the experience plus several previously unbroadcast interviewed and comments on issues which arose including the position of Froome and Cavendish. Given what happened with the Olympics and Paralympic one forgets the enormity of this team success. Measuring this against the winning of the USA and an Olympic Gold medal by Andy Murray and the winning of the 5000 and 10000 metre my Mo Farah make the choice of Sports person of the year impossible and what of Denise Lewis, Ellie Simmonds and Nicola Adams together with David Weir should make the top ten short listed.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Durham survives in the Championship and England prosper in one day competiton as Hants win the 20 20

It is Saturday September 1^st and I have had a good and varied life experience since returning from the Olympic Games in the first week of August. While my attention is already devoted to the Paralympics where the Opening Ceremony was on Wednesday and the building up events to the 50 Gold medal competitions being held or culminating today there has been non stop other sport over the past three weeks.

I begin with cricket. I booked to visit Nottingham to watch Durham play the County side and to visit family before the season commenced because of the opportunity to book some inexpensive Travel Lodge Accommodation. A month before departure I wondered if I would bother to attend the match as Durham had not won a game and appeared anchored at the bottom of the Championship Table. I heard members speculate that we could go though the season without winning a game. Just before setting off for the Olympics I had attended part of the home tie with Middlesex having gone to Lords for the match of season only for the weather to prevent a win and where Graham Onions demonstrated that he would become a bowling force over the season. At the home match I became irritated by one man who had I had not seen before who spent over half an hour slagging off the Durham team so I was delighted when he departed and expressed the wish that he did not hurry back to the applause of other members around me. I understood the pessimism after they had failed to win a game.

It was a close game against Middlesex which Durham won by 15 runs as the overs were coming to their end. Durham had made 102 in the first innings and Middlesex 185 a lead of some 60 runs. While Durham made 200 in their second innings this only left Middlesex to get less than 120 to win. That Durham bowled them out the same score as their first innings of 102 is testament of the progress made once Paul Collingwood was appointed Captain.

I missed the amazing win at Nottingham because I decided to return home at lunchtime when the game looked drawn and I wanted to watch the opening game of Newcastle’s season which was being shown on Sky. I thought I had made the right decision as travelling through Nottingham the rain poured forth but either it missed the ground or the delay was a brief one.

The highlight of the game was the bowling of Graham Onions on the second day and third day days. I went to the ground on the first day in the knowledge that the local forecast was persistent rain to commence at 1pm and at one pm persistent rain commenced and there was no further play. Notts had taken what appeared to be two curious decisions when first they played on an old wicket which looked as if it had been glued, the first time I or the Notts Members had seen this at a First Class County game. The second was to decide to bowl at Durham when common sense suggested that they ought to bat and let the Durham bowlers minus Onions do their worst.

Onions was at the Test Match wanting to know if he would be in the side. It was agreed in advance that if not, he would join his colleagues after lunch on the second day. Durham made 194 runs. Onions then had an amazing bowling spell spread over the afternoon and following morning in which he had his best ever figures taking 9 wickets for 67 runs of 16.3 overs. He also was the fielder who ran out the batsman for the remaining wicket. The lead of 40 runs was to prove important as it became evident that with sunshine the “old” wicket was becoming slower and even paced. Durham made 325 for 8 in their second innings with Stoneman an excellent following on his lead score of 46 in the first innings. Collingwood supported with 59. It was Collingwood who wise did not declare overnight as the locals and some neutrals anticipated and the decision appeared a good one when Notts set about getting the required 366 to win with great confidence. Wessels 98 and Hales 101 followed by Mullaney with 60 looked as if they would make fast work of the required runs. With 168 before the first wicket fell long after I departed. There was another very close finish with Durham winning by some 16 runs compared to 15 at the previous one.

I was therefore more confident of the game at the Riverside with Worcestershire, fighting themselves to avoid relegation. This proved an excellent game which I enjoyed over three days. Worcestershire was asked to bat on the first morning when a cold wind led me to move from a position high above the wicket to the lowest tier. The visitors lost 5 wickets for 26 runs and were 86 for 8 but then rallied a little to end their first innings on 120, and although Onions took 3 for 27 in 10.1 overs it was Rushworth 5 for 44 in his 10 overs who took the honours. Durham did not have it all their own way losing their first two wickets for 8 runs as Smith failed yet again and it is difficult to see how he is going to hold his place in the team after yet another miserable season. It was Stokes with some fine hitting who reached 78 who formed the backbone of an innings which totalled 234 and a lead of 100 runs, However an innings of 104 by Hughes enabled the visitors to reach 264 leaving Durham only 154 to win. There was an air of panic when Durham lost their first four wickets with the total only 35 but Benkenstein and Collingwood kept their cool to achieve a four match straight win, equalling the club record.

I had contemplated going to Liverpool again where Lancs had moved the schedule match with Durham from Old Trafford but had missed the cheap rooms at the Lodge located across the road from the ground. Bad weather spoiled this game so a draw was inevitable but Durham managed to get five batting bonus points after Collingwood made a century to 114 supported by Borthwick with 60. Lancs made 264 and therefore Durham increased their league position over Lancs by three points.

Durham has only one more to play. When I return from my trip to the London Paralympics next weekend. They therefore have to sit out the coming week when the three teams below them in the Table all play. Worcestershire now with 93 points play the likely Champions this year, Warwickshire, but at home and knowing their attitude and commitment from previous seasons they are unlikely to surrender. Worcestershire is then away to Somerset which will be difficult for them to more than draw. Much will again depend on the weather,

Lancashire the current Champions are having a very unhappy season, losing in yesterday’s semi final of the one Day competition, They are away to Middlesex at Lords who having also played 15 games like Durham, and will want to end their first season back in the top division with a win. I have mixed feelings about the position of Surrey of in third position from the bottom. Obviously I do not want them to threaten the position of Durham but as my former boyhood club I would be pleased if it is Worcestershire with Lancs who go down. Surrey is also at home to Notts who are safe. As this is the last game of season at the Oval they will want to end on a high note especially as they are then away to Lancs at Old Trafford and which is then likely to be a make or break game. Durham will need to lose their last game and two of the others win both of theirs for Durham’s position to be threatened. I suspect there will be major changes at the club in the period before the start of the next season when Australia will play England in a full five day ashes.

Before moving to another sport I want to comment further on my trip to Nottingham this year where I stayed at Riverside Travel Lodge in the City. This is located 15 minutes from the ground and has a lift. A short distance away there is a large Boots which has excellent sandwich and snacks outlet. The restaurant Inn next to the Travel Lodge is expensive. Unfortunately the Travel Lodge has introduced a new TV system to coincide with the move to Digital and for some reason they are restricting the number of TV station available to five. In this instance they had not used the 1-5 former Terrestrial channels but a mixed bag leaving four of the Terrestrial channels very difficult to see. Although I complained no action was taken during to the visit and I have since complained directly to their central office.

I had an excellent lunch on the day before arrival at an Inn frequent before which does Two meals for the price of One or two two course meals with reduced portions for £9. I enjoyed a large bowl of chicken and bacon salad on my lunchtime visit and then a chicken breast with Barbecue sauce plus apple crumble with ice cream on the second and early evening visit. I also hosted a family party at a comparatively new top notch restaurant open in what used to be a traditional village pub. We went early evening and by the time on leaving it was packed out with quality food in a great atmosphere, and where the prices are justified for once. Otherwise I had taken some mini salami sausages for cutting up and placing in rolls for my other meals. I had purchased four olive ciabatta’s for £1 so it seemed appropriate take a carton of olives with pimento’s which I combined with the Salami to make three excellent lunchtime meal at the cricket. There is a local Coop just across the ground which provide more rolls when required and drinks as well as the 20p daily newspaper. I also treated myself to large bacon Bap and coffee in the Member’s Pavilion on the final morning with just a coffee on the other three. I resisted the excellent cream tea served in the afternoons.

At Nottingham by arriving early I park free in a residential side street five minutes away from the box office where the price of admission has risen from £5 to £8 for concession over the past four years although at Durham non member adults of all ages are charged the full price of £15 a day. This year at Durham there was only one working meter of the five on the three sites around the ground. I moved from the double site where the queue was of fifty on the first morning to the one by the River and the Rowing Club only to find the ticket machine was also out of order. Fortunately a member of the public had telephoned the advertised number to report the position and relayed the news that there would be no enforcement at this site on the day. The machine was repaired for the second visit. The other moan is that for some unexplained reason the police no entry notices on the hard standing coach park remained in operation after the One day International. Coaches do not use this site as the Team coach parks within the stadium area. By the second morning when there were no spaces for families coming to park to go under the road bridge into the large riverside park where in addition to the usual excellent play facilities for young children there was a commercial fairground for the holiday.

I had returned to my vehicle to lunch as usually when the food is taken into the ground I consume shortly after arrival. When I finished the meal I moved the police bollards to one side and waited to see what happened. By the time I left to attend the afternoon session three of the four rows of vehicles which can fill the area were completed. I had told a steward who made the point that his duties were restricted to the inside of the ground area.

　

In the Member’s lounge Coffee has got up again this season from £1.10 to £1.20 but is still reasonable. If you order a take out version you get more coffee than with a cup! It is still good value compared to what one has to pay usually. Coffee at Nottingham is £1.30. However I did note that for Internationals and 20 20 matches beer was advertised at £3.40 a pint compared to £4 at Durham and a glass of wine £4 compared to eye watering £6 at Durham.

I cannot move on from cricket to other sports without first mentioning the position with the English (and Welsh) national team. I attended and enjoyed the One Day series with Australia which confirmed their position as the number 1 team in the world although South Africa were hard on their heels as they were pressing hard on England’s number one spot in the Test arena. In middle July England were humiliated by South Africa in the first of three Test matches losing by an innings and 12 runs being bowled out for 385 and 240 after facing the South African score of 637 for 2 wickets. I will repeat that 2 wickets with Captain Smith 131 and Amla not out with a massive 311 and Jack Kallis 182 not out.

The second Test match at Headingly went much better and was drawn. The South African Petersen made 182 in their opening innings of 419. Our also South African born Piertersen made 149 with Prior 65 to edge the game at this point with a total of 425. South Africa made 259 for 9 and with time running out England made 130 for 4 in 33 overs. England then lost the third Test and their number one position in the World ranking system.

South Africa opened at Lords with 309 and England with four wickets down for 54 things looked bad, however Johnny Bairstow hit an excellent 95 missing out on his first 100 to enable a little lead of 6 runs. It was Amla again who did the damage in the South African second Innings with 121 with a team total of 351 and while Trott 63 Prior 73 and Bairstow 54 with Swann 41 all could be said to have done well they were all out for 294 giving the visitors a win by 51 and a series win by 2 wins and a draw. Young Bairstow of Yorkshire demonstrated that he will be a Test player for several years to come. The disappointment was the performance of Taylor from Notts with 10 and then run out for 4.

However the main interest was off field. Kevin Pietersen was dropped and may never play for England again. The situation has been simmering for years since his short unsuccessful spell as captain and the emergence of Andrew Strauss of Middlesex who has won back to back Ashes series here in England and then in Australia and took the team to the number one spot as a consequence. The first sign of trouble was when Pietersen indicated that he did not want to play in the 1 day series to concentrate on 20 20 games and a potential lucrative involvement in the Indian 20 20 Premier League competition. He was told that he would not play in 20 20 Internationals as a consequence

He was then said to have sent a number of Twitter message to South African players which were not only disloyal to team members but which criticised Strauss. He was therefore dropped from the third Test.

In the first of the one day games the first match was abandoned because of persistent rain after England had reached 37 for no wicket. In the second England were humiliated once more losing by 80 runs after Amla scored 150 and side made 287 for 5r in their 50 overs. England all out for 202 with ten overs still to play. They lost their top ranking in one day games as a consequence.

However they regained their position after winning the third game England were able to dismiss Australia for 211 at the Oval with 3 overs to play and Anderson 4 for 44 the outstanding bowler. Then Trott 71 and Morgan 73 were the backbone of the win with two overs to go and four wickets in hand after a shaky start with three down for 64.

regained their top spot and hope to confirm their position in the fourth tie at Lords today. England won the toss and elected to bowl. South Africa managed to score some good runs in the final five overs after losing three quick wickets when the total had reached 100 for 1 100 for 2 106 for 3 and 116 for 4/ However the commentators felt this was still 20 to 30 run short on the wicket, Cook who has lost his batting touch with the captaincy of the one day side was out for 2 but then Trott and Bell added 141 runs for the second wicket at a faster run rate than required. After they were both out Morgan and Kieswetter settled in before 8 fours brought the game prematurely to an end with Kieswetter scoring the winning runs with a six. The win takes England two points ahead of South Africa in the rankings and even if they lose the last match in the series they will remain nummero uno.

Andrew Strauss has now resigned as captain and from playing all cricket. This has come as a surprise. Cook has replaced him so now takes charge of the Test and the one day side. It has also been announced that the English Team Manager is to meet Pietersen to discuss his future as an International Player. It has been suggested that he is willing to apologise for his recent behaviour and committee himself to playing at all levels. In the meantime he has been playing well for Surrey although he was bowled out first ball in the one day game at Hampshire.

Hampshire won the 20 20 competition against Yorkshire down at Cardiff. The game should have been played at Durham but was switched to Cardiff with Durham getting the 20 20 game because of the opposition by locals to the placing of permanent floodlights similar to those at Nottingham. It is understood they will have to retractable ones similar to those at Lords which add considerably to their cost. Just as with the main stand extension which was to go as far as the Media Pavilion, the announcement that there would be fixed seating instead of the temporary for the Internationals and that the Hotel building would commence, all has come to naught suggesting deep financial problems.

Yorkshire commenced the day with an impressive win against Sussex, This was Yorkshire’s first appearance at finals unlike former winner Sussex, and who I supported in the one day competition final at Lords three years ago and where they lost. It was Johnny Bairstow fresh from his triumphs for England who made the decisive score with 68 not out helping his side to an impressive 176 for six wicket. Miller contributed 47. Despite an innings carrying knock of 80 by Nash of Sussex only Goodwin with 15 reached double figures and they ended their 20 overs at 136 for 6. The wickets were spread evenly among the Yorks bowlers and fell at regular intervals after the early success at 15 for 2. I paid less attention to the Hampshire game against Somerset hoping Somerset would win given my antipathy to the Rosebowl stadium after my visit there for 20 20 final at which Durham featured. This was a tight game with Hants getting the 126 runs required with the last ball of the 19^th over. The wickets were spread between bowlers.

After winning the toss Hants elected to bat and achieved 150 runs. Under the floodlighting Yorks could never keep to the run required as they lost early wickets at 23, 34, 38 and 47. After a rally of 40 runs for the next wicket and then another 50 it was the amazing Miller with 4 sixes close together who appeared to urn the match but a difficulty getting the stroke and some exceptional bowling by Hampshire meant that although he ended the day 72 not out, the team failed reaching only 240. However as with previous years there was great excitement as it looked they might make it. By reaching the final both team are invited to participate in the World Club 20 20 Championship. I will do another cricket report at the end of the season.

It has been a super Sunday in several respects with Jensen Button winning the Belgium Grand Prix clear of a might shunt behind him which tool out several high ranking drivers including team mate Lewis Hamilton. Newcastle managed a home draw against Aston Villa while Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield and a Van Persie hat trick saw Man U beat Southampton at the new Dell. However it has been a truly amazing day in the Paralympics where I have lost count of the successes with two Golds in Athletics one field and one track, an individual and team Gold in Equestrian, and unexpected coming from behind to win in the Pool and a UK one and two in cycling plus a host of other silvers and a bronze. There have been disappointments and at the last time of checking Laura Robson looked as if she was going out in the last 16 match at the USA Grand Slam. More on these and other sporting events soon.

2012 Olympics Medal winner Boxing, Rowing and Sailing

I have only a few hours to remember the outstanding performances and moments of magic which combined to make the 2012 London Olympics one of greatest sporting periods in the history of Team GB before the opening ceremony of London Paralympics 2012. I failed to even complete this first consideration of the Medal winners and their backgrounds because of the way the Paralympics has caught everyone’s imagination as much as the Olympics, and because the need to also devote time to other matters.

I am going to begin with the most surprisingly enjoyable gold medal performance of Nicola Adams, the down to earth 29 year old female boxer who knocked down the World Number one Ren Cancan from China in the Fly weight contest, the first of the three Gold medals to be awarded women for the first time at the 2012 Games. That she is the first female Olympic Boxing champion will remain a historical fact as well as the manner of her victory and her great smile of enjoyment and triumph at the success. I have expressed my reservation about professional boxing because of the involvement of criminal and the fixing of fights as well as the existence of at least four organisations claiming to arrange World Title fights. I have also had reservations about the boxing as a suitable sport for women although I accepted this was not based on knowledge or experience.

There have been only a few British male boxers who achieved Gold the Olympic Games and some then as professional Gold Silver and Professional World Champion, James Degale 2008 Audley Harrison 2000 Gold medal. Chris Finnegan 1968 Gold, Terry Spinks and Ralph McTaggart 1956 Gold. The present day well known Amir Khan only won Silver as the youngest British winner in 2004, immediately turned professional gained a world title but has now suffered two defeats and expressed the view that he turned professional too early.

Nicola Adams born in Leeds was the first woman to represent England in 2001 and became an Amateur Champion in 2003 and in 2007 the first English woman to win a medal in major tournament silver in European championships to then take silver at the World in 2008 and again in 2010. She struggled to find funding to continue her amateur career working as an extra on Coronation Street and Eastenders and as a builder before the International Olympics Committee backed funding for women’s boxing and decided to award three medals in 2012. My understanding is that she plans to continue as an Amateur to the next World Championships and next Olympic games.

It is also my understanding that it was the first time Team GB gained three Gold medals at one Olympic Games in Boxing. Luke Campbell from Hull whose grandfather was an Irish champion, beat Ireland’s much fancied Joe Nevin to take the Gold, having qualified to represent GB after winning Silver at the 2011 World Championship.

Anthony Joshua had an extraordinary close fight in the super heavy class defeating the reigning Olympic and World Champion, to win Gold, having previously defeated the present Silver Medal World Champion in the semi finals. Joshua from North London turned down an offer of £50000 to turn professional in 2010 after winning the ABA championship title. Fred Evans from Wales won a silver medal and Anthony Ogogo from East Anglia a Bronze. I watched Anthony win his second round of 16 bouts at the Excel Arena when he defeated the current World Champion. The ten strong GB Boxing team of seven men and three women therefore won 6 medals, the most successful for 100 years and therefore can be assured of increased funding. Remarkably all the boxers gained the required standard to compete and therefore did not take up the places available for the Host nation.

It was also a first for ladies in the Rowing competition where 13 of the 14^h crews qualified during the 2011 World Championships. Rowing was also a very successful sport with the combined team winning nearly twice as many medals as the second and one more gold 4 to 3. However this was because of the extraordinary the three female pairings.

Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins gained Gold in the Double Sculls and Helen Glover and Heather Standing Gold in the Coxless pair with Katherine Copeland and Sophie Hoskins Gold in the Lightweight double skulls, thus winning 3 of the 6 Golds available for the ladies, an amazing outcome given that GB had never won a Gold Medal before. Katherine Grainger MBE had gained Silver in the previous three Olympic Games and was previously World Champion seven times. Her partner Anna Watkins won a bronze medal in 2008 and is a four times World Champion. She is presently studying for a PhD in Mathematics. It was a moving achievement for Katherine who has been such an inspiration for women rowers for two decades.

It was Heather Stanning, who perhaps typified the extraordinary achievement of women at the Games, a Captain in the Royal Artillery she has announced she will return to duty later this year after being given leave of absence in 2010 to train for the games. She will prepare for a tour in Helmond Province Afghanistan. With her partner Helen Glover they enter the record books as the first ladies to win Gold for team GB. The story of her partner is already legendry as she only commenced to row in 2008 after being invited to be assessed following a social meeting in a pub. Helen was in fact a successful athlete having played various sports at the famous Millfield School in Somerset running Internationally as a Junior and was part of the Satellite squad for Hockey, She gave up a post as a PE teacher after qualification at Plymouth University College, having come second at the World Rowing event in 2010 and a Gold medal winner in the 2011 World Cup event.

There has been less publicity about the two other ladies who achieved the historic Gold medal success which will prove difficult to equal in Rio in 2016. The two women have connections with the North East. Sophie Hoskins is the daughter of a competitor in the 2009 Atlantic race David Hoskin MBE formerly an officer in the Royal Navy and who won a Gold medal in the 1980 World Championships. Sophie attended Durham University graduating in in Chemistry and Physics in 2007 after school in Kingston in Surrey. She has previously played football for Wimbledon AFC. The pride of the North East rests with Katherine Copeland who was the partner of Sophie as women’s light weight double sculls Olympic Champions born in Ashington and a member of the Stockton on Tees Rowing Club. As a teacher she runs a school of art for autistic children in association with the Three Wings Trust.

Such was the success of the men’s rowing team in the Olympics 2008 that there was disappointment within the team when Silver or Gold was the outcome in some events at Eton Dorney where the events were held.

The coxed Eight gained a Bronze after almost giving up when they failed in their attempt to gain the Gold from the winners. Part of their disappointment was because of the involvement of 40 year old former Olympic Champion Greg Searle in the boat who had returned to competitive rowing in 2010. He holds a Gold medal with his brother in 1992 and in the World Championships in 1993, with a Bronze in Atlanta in 1996 and a Bronze in the World in 1997. In 2000 he was fourth Sydney Olympics and joined the British Team in the America’s Cup contest in 2002. His motivation was to inspire his children Josie and Adam, born after his previous successes.

There was also disappointment for Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter in the Lightweight double skull when they finished second and gained Silver Medals. Zac won Gold in Beijing and has Four Gold, a Silver and Bronze at World Championships and six Golds at World Cups with three Silvers and one Bronze. His sister was an Olympic Athlete and his long term partner where they recently become engaged was also a former pupil and rower at the Kings School in Worcester which I noted on my visit to watch Cricket in the City two years ago and where the playing fields are adjacent to the ground, noting the large number of pupils participating in sports throughout the day and early evening. ZAc’s rowing partner Mark Hunter from London shared the Beijing Gold Medal and has a number of World and World Cup Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals.

Alan Campbell won Bronze in the Single Sculls. Campbell from Northern Ireland left University before completing a degree to concentrate on rowing after winning the Diamond Sculls at Henley in 2003. He did not fulfil his potential until London 2012, nine years later after being ill with a virus before the 2008 games. He has one World Cup Gold and a Silver and two Bronze in World Championships

George Nash who won bronze in Coxless pair was educated at Winchester and is studying for an Engineering degree at Cambridge. His partner William Satch was educated at Shiplake College Henley on Thames.

The only success in terms of a Gold medal for the men in the Coxless Four with Andrew Trigg Hogg, winning his second Gold Medal to that in Beijing, two Gold, three Silver and one Bronze World Championship as well as thirteen World Cup Golds three Silver and two Bronze. He took part in the Boat Race for Oxford with a degree in Environmental Science at Staffordshire University followed by a Masters at Oxford in Water Science and Management.

One of the other boat members Tom James had greater Boat Race experience this time for Cambridge four times 2003 to 2007 and where his degree was in Engineering. He also won his first Gold in Beijing, with a Gold in World Championship, four World Cups and two Silver. The third member Alex Gregory was a reserve in Beijing after which he won several Golds in World Championships, grew up in Cheltenham and graduated from Reading University. Peter Reed, the fourth member was born in Seattle until his family moved to England, taking up rowing at university in the West of England before taking a masters in science at Oxford University where he became a member of a successful Boat Race crew. He also won his first with Gold and Silver Medals in World Champions and World Cups Gold in Beijing. He joined the Royal Navy in 2001 and is now a Lieutenant.

Associated with the rowing are athletes who race in Canoes and Kayaks with Eton Dorney used for the Sprint events and a special new location the Lee Valley White Water centre for Slalom events. There were 3 men’s and one women’s White Water events with two two man British crews in the C2 event coming first and second.

The winning team of Timothy Baillie and Etienne Scott had less of a record than the winners of the Silver and were surprised by their success which understandably disappointed the runners up. Timothy Baillie comes from Scotland but obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Nottingham University where is located the National Water Sports Centre. His Partner Etienne also studied mechanical science at Nottingham, born in Manchester David Florence was also at Nottingham University studying Mathematical Physics and also comes from Scotland. He had won Silver in 2008 in the C1 category and then applied to become an Astronaut with the European Space Agency. Only four of the 8400 applicants were selected of which he was not one.

At Eton Dorney Ed McKeever won Gold in thee Men’ K1 200 metre event having previously become World Champion in 2011 and a World Cup winner earlier this year. From Somerset he is studying to become an accountant after a degree in accountancy at Kingston University. John Schofield achieved Bronze with Liam Heath

The other Water based Sport at the Games was Sailing with events held at Weymouth in Dorset. This is the least spectator friendly event although this year every effort was made to encourage public participation with a designated viewing area and a large screen with commentary. It was not expected that the team would be able to match their success at Beijing with F4 Golds a Silver and a Bronze and the big question was could Ben Ainsley become the first competitor to win four Gold medals in successive Sailing Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008 and now 2012 plus a Silver in 1996. Ben captained a boat in the Round the World race in 1973 and has become an MBE, OBE and CBE following his achievements. At London he started slowly as his tendency but was behind a competitor series of races from Denmark for most of the series with result in doubt until the last race to determine the medals. He as the first of the 8000 Torch bearers at Land’s End and was selected by other British Competitors to carry the Flag at the Closing ceremony.

Ben was the only British competitor to win Gold. The most interesting story is that of Wind Surfer Nick Dempsey who wife Sarah (nee Ayton was a Gold Medal Winner in 2008 and 2004. They married two months after the Beijing and now have son to which Nick has dedicated his Silver Medal. The couple announced that Sarah will return to sailing with Nick looking after their son. Sarah recovered from Meningitis at the age of 14 years.

Saskia Clark won Silver with Hannah Miles in the 470 Class having started sailing when she was Eight Years of age something which was also situation for Hannah.

Andrew Simpson won a Silver whereas in 2008 he won a Gold having been educated at Pangbourne College. His partner, Ian Percy won Gold in Sydney 2000 as well as at Beijing as well as World Championships in 2002 and 2010. Both are OBE’s. Stuart Bithell won Silver in 470 class with Luke Patience. I have been unable to find more info on the Sailors.