First Test win as Durham have mixed fortunes

The middle weekend of July 2013 did not become as magical as it promised although the sun was hot and prolonged and Durham had an impressive win, the second against Yorkshire in the 20 20 competition on the Friday evening, The ground at the Emirates was as full as I have seen it at a 20 20 or any other form of cricket except the Internationals with over 7000 said to have attended. This was only in part because of the free admission available to the membership as part of the annual charge. There was a small section of play things for young children to be entertained as well as more food and drink concession sellers than usual. There also appeared to be a packed balcony in the sponsors areas.

The members lounge again was restricted until 5.30 because of a conference letting but there was free coffee or tea available at the immediate entrance but it was not the sort of day for a hot drink and at the interval I enjoyed an orange fruit juice from the machine in the local sports club for £1.50. I commenced to watch the game from the upper balcony overlooking the wicket, the same as for the previous home game in this competition but removed to the lower and sheltered tier to avoid the sun.

There was more razzamatazz than usual beforehand with around 100 primary school children in a cricket competition bowling at a single stump and a second group also from a range of schools with red and blue pom poms as cheerleaders. I assumed their parents/families and been invited to watch. I cannot remember if they or others formed the regular guard of honour dressed in whites and with impressive prolonged ground fire works from the mobile safety containers which filled the air was full of sulphuric smoke.

As if to match the size of the crowd Durham had a spectacular win after the Colonel made 91 out of a total of 145 for the second wicket with Durham going on to make 215 with Yorkshire never at the races despite an excellent 68 from Gary Ballance. Sidebottom showed his class with only giving away 28 runs from his four overs. Rushworth was the best of the Durham bowlers with 2 for 13 from his four as the visitors could only make 134 for 8 from their 20 overs. It was a great win and gave hope that if Durham won all their remaining matches they might make the quarterfinals as a runner up in their division. A visit to Old Trafford on Sunday and then to Trent Bridge and Derbyshire’s ground at Chesterfield the following weekend would continue ambitions leaving the last two games at home against Derbyshire and Leicestershire exciting or no events.

At the match on the Friday evening I used the radio to keep abreast of the first Test Match before closure of play and which had commenced on the Wednesday on the Wednesday and was now into its third eventful day. I could not find the radio later and considered going back to the ground in the morning. Although I been to the supermarket I had left my jacket with the radio in the car. The following morning before departing I checked one long shot possibility from all the searching of car and my jacket. For once I was right. Phew although this is not the end of the story regarding the digital pocket radio. Parking had cost only £1.50 which led to misleading one visitor saying it would be £2.50, that charged for the afternoon games. 

 

On Saturday evening I prepared for my trip to Old Trafford Manchester with the Durham supporters club. There was an earlier start the following morning than the trip to Scarborough although we were provided with a small coach because the numbers were down, but I suspect because the full size coaches were being used for other trips with the good weather. Fortunately I was again able to have a double seat for myself. I had drank coffee in the car on arrival and enjoyed a baguette with pate and olives and some water before departing the coach so I did not need to take the haversack with me into the ground. There was a second baguette with cheese and pickle for the homeward trip plus some large cherries.

I have come to know and enjoy the route down to the M62 and over the Pennines which commenced forty years ago when I first came to the North East from Cheshire. Subsequently I taken the route on visits to Manchester, Chester and Liverpool, sometimes to watch Football at Old Trafford and the City ground , old and new, occasionally to watch Durham at Old Trafford and more recently when the game was played in Liverpool. I also made one visit to recapture my two visits in the 1960’s working with the Family Service Unit Salford and the with the City of Manchester Children’s department. I also spent a few days in the Wirral visiting where I lived temporarily in the City and then at Bromborough as well my former workplace and county Hall as well as Dee Riverside and around the City Walls.

Today as the sun burnt through the cloud there was opportunity to enjoy the views listening to the Test before arrival outside the ground just around 1 pm with an early start at 1.45, The sun had come out and was burning hot so my first thought was to find somewhere out of the sun. I have not visited the county cricket ground for several years and have little memory of what it was like before the wicket was turned around and the various developments to the spectator accommodation had taken place.

I have very mixed reaction to what has happened. The main consequence of the change is that the Pavilion now overlooks the wicket although the upper areas have been converted to viewing boxes and balconies for the Committee and hospitality, There is only member viewing over the sight screens from the two lounges at either side of the pavilion which do include two large TV screens. The veranda outside the first floor level is for the disabled and their helpers and this is a positive feature giving them premium viewing. The bar and foods purchasing areas, together with the toilets are luxury level. The main reception is hotel standard with good lifts. The main seating for membership and visitors is to the side of the pavilion and these are luxury seats strong, comfortable, smart looking and with a good space between each seat and good leg room and those at the back offering a good level above fielders but not high enough to be over the wickets, There is a premium level of seating above as well as hospitality areas.

At the end of the ground in a central position over the wicket is the media centre and the players balcony and dressing rooms. They are still creating a vast bank of seating to one side over looking the field of play and I doubted if this would ready for the third Test at the commencement of August unless they were also using the kind of Mechano assembly seating used at Durham. Because of the heat and the limited between arrival and the start of play I did not make a full circuit of the ground as is my custom but made my way to a good seat at the back of the Members seating area close to the edge of the sight screen. While the space around the stands is substantial and one is able to enter this space on foot before having a ticket check it lacks the enclosed atmosphere of grounds such as Lords, the Oval, Headingley and I suspect Edgbaston although I have not visited since the recent changes,

My ticket had been printed out at home and this appears to be the position at major grounds where there is the use of the hand held bar code machines which can also be used for the pass out. At Scarborough I had taken a seat to find a Durham supporter behind me and in this instance I was joined by someone who had travelled on the coach and then discovered that his view of the one working scoreboard was impeded and moved seating.

Lancashire won the toss and decided to bat with an impressive use of the opening overs to create what quickly became evident when the Durham innings commenced was an unassailable lead. As at the Riverside it was one opener, in this instance Brown, who dominated making 62 out of 85 before he was out but then Katich, who once played for Durham acted as anchor with 40 at the close while four other wickets fell. With a total of 170 when 200 had seemed likely early on, I did not give up hope of a repeat at what happened at Scarborough when Durham after a slow start built up momentum to take the match in the last over, In this instance it was Borthwick who appeared to have command of the bowlers but his 62 from 51 was not enough and at the close Durham were 25 runs short. It would take four wins from their last four games with the first two away from home for Durham to have any hope of quarter final qualification and even then only an outside chance of making the quarterfinals, The journey home was muted.

The Lancashire club is also sponsored by the Emirates airlines who look as if they will at least have some return on their investment after two years which has seen Durham without reaching a final, or high league position and Lancashire relegated, although like Durham they did win the County Championship. Immediately after Durham’s double success.

The disappointment was lessened by the excellent news from Trent Bridge as England were successful in removing the last Australian wickets to take the first of ten Tests. Five here and five in Aussiland. England had commenced the Test all out for 215 in 59 overs having won the toss and electing to bat, The last four wickets had produced only 2 runs and no player had got more than 48 runs with Petersen a disappointing 14. Australia had initially fared no better losing nine wickets for 177 and a significant lead was anticipated, Australia had caused controversy by selecting as their primary slow bowler a nineteen year old who had only a played a few games at senior level. This young lad called Agar had bowled reasonable well yielding only 24 runs for his seven overs but without claiming a wicket. His destiny was to be his batting as number 11 he was last when 98 from 101 balls and with Hughes not out 81 they had added a record 163 making a total of 280.

With Root and then Trott out with the total only 11 those who had taunted 10 0 were being quickly silenced. Cook 50 followed by Petersen 64 and then heroically Bell 109 supported by Prior 31 and Broad 68 achieved a total of 375 leaving Australia to get 310 and all the time in the world to do so.

After a good start with the first wicket coming at 84 the wickets came in groups with three between 161 and 165 and the 7^th to 9^th between 211 and 231, some 80 runs short so a victory appeared only a matter of time but in this instance it was Pattison not out with 25 from 67 minutes and Haddin 71 from 231 minutes who came close losing by only 14 runs. James Anderson was the English hero with 5 for 73 to add to his 5 for 85 10 for 158 overall. Broad has a badly bruised shoulder after being hit by the ball while Finn to had taken the place of Bressnan failed to impress nor had Joe Root with only 5 to add to his first Ashes Test score of 30. In one respect the game was lost by the Australian Captain deciding to call for a review when a batsman was out and then not being able to review when the umpire gave Broad not out after he failed to walk when caught off his bat. Although the match was an exciting one England looked poor at the top and Australia just looked poor, the heroic effort of young Ager notwithstanding.

It was a great weekend in tropical heat but it could have been magical.

The Andy Murray story so far

I was pleasantly tired after an emotionally exhausting day watching through television Andy Murray become the first male champion of the All England Wimbledon tennis club for the first time in 77 years on the 7^th day of the 7^th month, Then yesterday evening after a day basking in warmth and then the heat in what may have become for the UK High summer I watched an equally emotional documentary about the young man who in the space of twelve months has self fulfilled and justified all the effort required to become Olympic and US Champion to add to the ultimate achievement of the Home of Tennis championship.

According to the documentary his maternal grandfather played professional football and his mother also a former professional tennis player, is now leading member of the Scottish coaching and tennis development team but from an early age it was his determination to win and hatred of losing which became the driving force with led him at fifteen to press his parents to be allowed to join an established and recognised international training and development centre in Spain where he could practice against the best of age group, and which has similarly led him to spend time in Miami each year where is again able to practice against players of quality as well as train and improve his fitness in a warm clime.

However it also can be argued that the event which has had the greatest impact on his life and that of his family, particularly his mother is that both her boys attended the Dunblane Primary school when a local man entered the school gym and shot sixteen children and one teacher. She had the experience of going to the school to find out if both her boys were safe and then sharing in the grief of those parents whose children had not. She had given lifts to the murderer, a man who had run a youth club attended by Andy. Understandably both find it difficult to impossible to talk to about what happened although it was evident that both are contributing to their community and to ensure that the town is known for something more than the shootings.

Reading through the statistics of his progress as a tennis player fails to communicate the work that has been involved and which could be termed self torture from 10 minute ice baths to using a device which is a kind of restraint which he has to push against in order to strike at a ball away from him and which is designed to increase his mobility.

He has also been one of those leading the approach of employing a full team of specialists from a training partner who he met in Spain and remains associated for the past 11 years, to a masseur, a fitness coach, a dietician and a tennis coach which he has changed over the past five years several times and it with the recruitment of Ivan Lendl a major championship winner but also someone with the experience of losing several times in major finals. He convinced Murray that he is good enough to be at the top and win championships and to move on from points badly played, lost, unfair decision to concentrating on the next point to be played.

Murray commenced to play completive tennis from an early age wining a significant competition at the age of 12 and then winning prestigious competitions in Scotland and in July 2004 age 17 he played and lost to the French rising young man Jo Wilfried Tsonga in the second round. He went on to win the US Junior open in the same year and became the BBC Young Sports personality of the year reaching number two in the world as a junior.

In 2005 he was ranked 407 in professional list of male rankings. And eight years later he is number 2 with every possibility of moving to number 1, should be become successful in defending his US tile in a month and then win the Australian in the New Year. Ranked only 312 he became the first Scots born individual to reach the third round at Wimbledon and by the end of 2005 was ranked in the top hundred at 64. It was not until five years ago that he reached the quarter finals at Wimbledon

He lost to Djokovic in the final of the Australian grand slam on three straight steps. After beating his rival in the final of an event in Brisbane in 2012 he lost to him in a semi final in the Australian Open. He had reached number four in the world behind Federer, Nadal and Djokovic but it is over the past year that he approached greatness first with defeat in the men’s single’s final against Federer at Wimbledon where he won the first set but then could not counter the skill and determination of his opponent and was emotionally shattered after his defeat before the tennis world and the British public generally. In that final the crowd were reluctant to roar him to success because of their respect and admiration for Federer.

It was a different story at the Olympic Games where he won the final defeating Djokovic in the semi final and Federer in the final and then getting a silver medal in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson. He then went to New York and won the open Championship the first British man to win any of the four major championships in the world for over 70 years.

An injury prevented participation in the French open a month before Wimbledon and proved a blessing in disguise enabling him to combine rehabilitation of the injury with preparation for what was to prove the great event of his life and likely to remain so in terms of his tennis life. He won the domestic warm up competition in grass at Queen’s club. His opening games in the Wimbledon 2013 men’s single events appeared comparatively trouble free and the early departures of Nadal and Federer removed potential major obstacles although the committee had seeded him second to Djokovic representing their world tennis rankings. He then had a major wobble in the quarter final losing the first two sets but fighting back in an exhausting contest to win 3.2 and seasoned watchers had the feeling that time he was not to be denied. It was his opponent to be who then had an extraordinary five hour contest in the semi final with other seasoned followers commented that Djokovic would recover and be in the form which had made his reach and remain in the number one position for the past two years.

If one simply reads the broad stats of the final Murray could appear to have won easily in his three set to love victory. However he was down 4.1 in the second set before breaking back and similarly lost a break in service in the third only to regain the initiative and serve for the title 5. 4 ahead in the third. He then won his first three service points and the nation gathered itself to let out a roar of relief but the Djokovic demonstrated why he is number with, not only getting the next three points but gaining the advantage to come with a point of squaring the match not one or twice but three and may indeed have been four times with Murray looking dazed and Djokovic having a wicked smile on his face knowing that Murray looked spent and that if he prevented defeat in the game he might well accomplish what seemed impossible to take the set and the next two with Murray deflated and going to tennis pieces at having coming so close but proving yet again unable to take that next step,

However it was not to be, Murray saved the break back point and went on to take the match with national joy unparalleled, I think since the World Cup was won with only regaining the Ashes and magic Saturday evening at the Olympic games coming close. Murray looked dazed almost shocked by the outcome and I suspect he still is yet to come to terms with becoming an immortal in his lifetime, with a title and a national role for the asking. However he is unlikely to stop the treadmill he has created for himself with winning Slams, defending his title in New York and winning sometime the Australian and the French, defending Wimbledon for the next three to five seasons and becoming the World’s rated number one player all realistic targets, he wants and with all the indications that he does. On Monday afternoon he was welcomed by the Prime Minister at number 10 taken into the garden for champagne with the Deputy PM, Leader of the Opposition and Leader for the Scottish Nationalists at Westminster.

As when an Englishman won the Toru De France and the successes at the Olympics there is immediate tennis talk of Legacy and what his victory could mean for the future of the sport. For my own part it was a privilege to be alive to witness the event and I hope he takers time to enjoy the experiences with his friends and his family. I suspect he will not let up on the drive to continue winning but he will enjoy the playing that much more, knowing what he is now capable of doing and fearing no one, Nadal perhaps on clay and the next young man or so setting their sight on getting to where he is, although I would be surprised if that is a Britishman. Laura Robson for the women’s title, maybe.

Durham at Scarborough, Laura and Andy at Wimbledon, Mo Farah and Jessica Judd move on to Birmingham

On Friday I was apprehensive about play given the quantity of water that had fallen but there was no delay and with the sun shinning as the game progressed. Durham won the toss and decided on a run chase but Lancs played well on what appeared to be a good paced and comfortable wicket with the ball holding up along the ground from the water so Lancs went for high shots over the required infield avoiding the fielders allowed at the boundary.

The main damage was done by opener Moore who made 75 before being run out by Stokes with opener Prince 32 and adding 777 for the first wicket and then with Katich who once played for Durham, adding 68 for the third wicket with the innings ending at 165 , kept lower than first expected by some tight bowling at the end. Durham commenced in a great way scoring 10 an over but then Stoneman ran himself out for 33 and Mustard was out with adding to the total 53 so when Borthwick went at 60 the run rate dipped and then dropped below that achieved by Lancs and they never recovered with no batsman able to take command and they ended nine runs short with two wickets in hand. I left with two overs to go and had I not been on a coach trip I may well have taken a similar decision at Scarborough.

On Sunday I arrived at the Emirates in good time for the 10.30 coach and had opportunity to examine the complete new Mechano style stand judging that where the pathway had been relaid marked the part that would kept, I assume with the additional seating packed under the remainder for use in other special matches. The seats are an attractive deep blue but there appeared to have been no progress of the previous week. This is because a new two tier prefabricated has been created between the media centre and the main stand extension. This might well prove a permanent structure..

The coach had about ten passengers located at the rear and then made three stops in and around Durham before collecting two more at Darlington and this part of the journey took three quarters of an hour as we did not depart from the Riverside until 10.45 arriving in the main road outside the ground just after one.

I have previously enjoyed the route across the North Yorkshire Moors to Whitby, Robin Hood bay and Scarborough, especially remembered is the journey taken early one morning when I had attended a dinner with over night accommodation as guests of the Social Services Inspectorate and decided to get back to my office desk at the usual time missing the provided cooked breakfast, leaving the staff to recover from their night out clubbing. The coach took the road which runs at the outskirts of Whitby giving a dramatic view of the town straddling both sides of the river Esk with the Abbey Church of St Mary on the southern bank.

I was impressed with the Scarborough ground in two respects, he quality of the wicket and out field was as good as seen anywhere tribute to the weather earlier in the year and that it was possible to get a seat higher than the sight screen just to its right and therefore directly over the wicket which leads me to exclaim shame on Durham in this respect. There is a good range of seating provided, including a large area of benches without backs below the entrance area giving a side on view and with the tea room and ice creams, burgers etc and adopted by the local barmy army as well as families. I was impressed by the number of paying customers and this leads to another tale as having purchased my ticket on line it was left at home and+ I had to purchased entry at the gate and then lost the little ticket given when means that I am unlikely to get reimbursement although I will be asking when this writing is done to see i I can get a credit for my ticket for the Championship game at the end fo August.

I assumed that the Pavilion is restricted to Members of the Scarborough club and on the walk around note the tradition under stand bar which did a great trade throughout the match which what looked like a good fifteen plus with queue which meant those in the line missed key moments of the short match.

Durham won the toss and asked Yorkshire to bat with Gayle and Lythe scoring well in the restricted field overs 34 and 21 respectively but then Durham tightened up and the local crowd became quiet with some around me frustrated as like Durham,, Yorkshire had lost their first game and were anxious for a win. Only spirited innings but former Durham player Liam Plunkett (30) run out in a daft way enabled Yorks to reach 146 and therefore leaving Durham with a gettable 147.

However pessimism spread among the large contingent of Durham supporters who had made their way to the ground especially as Durham were restricted to 10 batsmen as Collingwood had damaged his hand and was away being treated, I have yet to find out how he is and if he will be able play in the two 20 20 games this weekend. Durham had a bad start with Stonman going for 4 Borthwick at 25 and Smith and Stokes and 64 and 65. The start was worryingly slow with only 23 runs on the board from the first five overs. Only the Colonel making steady progress brought hope until he went from a catch off the bowling of Plunkett for 49. The hero was Gordon Muchall and 44 who with Richardson hitting a four off his first ball in the last over with only 9 runs originally required got the 1 run need for victory with the penultimate ball and Durham won an unexpected but important victory, having already booked my ticket, accommodation and car parking for finals day on August 17^th.

On Monday night Nottingham beat Lancashire in their second match which pleased me however I wanted Lancs to win on Tuesday at Derby because the home side had achieved two out of two win and a lost would mean both sides having four points from three games enabling Durham to get in touch with another win at 3.75 points to their four and then press head when they next play them with Derby at the Emirates before I visit them at Chesterfield later in the month and going to Lancs in two week’s time. Unfortunately Shiv Chanderpaul who seems to stay only at a club a season, last season Warwickshire and Durham in their Championship winning rout was his impressive form hitting sixes and fours watching every ball as her does with great concentration. Now with two loses Lancs will be on fire when we go while Derby floundering in the championship and destined to return to the second division as things stand have three from three and begin to look a good bet for the quarter finals.

I listened to Mo Farah winning the 5000 meters at the Birmingham Athletics stadium and later watched the I player recording which included another great win for Jessica Judd in the 800 meters and whose time qualifies for the world championships in Moscow. I listened to the Formula I race from Silverstone until Lewis Hamilton had to drop out with tyre failure and managed to get his way back from last to fourth. We were robbed.

It was the British Swimming championships at Sheffield this weekend and I listened to some of the racing on the homeward journey. This is the era without Rebecca Adlington but she has a new role with commentating, coaching and personal appearances to keep her busy and involved in the sport suggesting her had a long term future in media and the sport ahead of her, as well as marriage having recently become engaged to another swimming athlete. There were some excellent times which suggests recovery from the poor showing at he Olympics London which has led to changes in team management and coaching.

I have been writing to this keeping one eye on the TV screen where England are 154 1, Cook 73 and Trott 47 with the only wicket that of Root 26 on top of his 41 first innings which makes is move to opener replacing Compton not as great as success as was hoped for by selectors. England struggles in their first innings rescued after they were only 212 for 8 by Bresnan 105 and Swann 94 making a more respectable 413 for 9 declared. Essex also made a respectable 278 with Mickleborough 90 and where the best bowler was none other than Joe Root with 4 for 72 off 23. Graham Onions was unable seize his return to an England first squad with 1 for 54 off 18 main squad and will have to do better to replace the present top five pacemen. I will report what happens in the rest of the game next weekend.

The story of Wimbledon 2013 will not be completed until next Sunday and if all goes well tomorrow and Friday I will be face with the choice of a Durham’s next 20 20 game and Andy Murray at Wimbledon. I have checked at Durham’s game against Notts in on Saturday and on TV so all is well if Andy Murray makes it again he has been impressive so far with only near to losing a set yesterday to make the quarterfinal tomorrow. With Roger Federer going out and been more of a surprise Nadal in the first round a Murray seeded 2 and Djorkovic (1) final remains a great possibility. There is no indications whether the BBC will broadcast in 3D as last year and with TV Cinema transmissions which suggests it is not doing so.

There could well have been a conflict with Durham games had young teenage Laura Robson who had got off to a flying get everyone talking start by beating the number ten seed in two sets and on paper a good chance of reaching the quarter finals. Because of rain she had a harder game second round game on Thursday where she hesitated in the first set but winning 64 and then taking the second 61 to get herself on the front as well as back pages especially as. Everyone else in the singles doubles for both sexes and mixed doubles from team GB were going down apart from Andy. This meant she had to play a young woman from New Zealand on the Saturday losing the first set 6 games to 1 and then with a lost break of serve appearing to go down in the second so I switched off only to get a text message saying how about that then and to find that she had come back to take the second and then win the third and given the manner of her victory she immediately became the latest national heroine. Sadly yesterday she and two chances to take first set but failed to close out and then lost on the tie break and failed to recover. With a number of leading contenders going out the door was open all the way to the final. Oh dear me.

Gateshead Stadium, the Europa Cup and Mo Farah and Jesssica Judd

On Saturday morning June 2^nd 2013 thinking it was warmer than it proved to be I set off with my Olympic Games London 2012 shoulder bag in only a shirt and light jacket for the Metro Train journey to Gateshead stadium to watch the Europa Team Athletics Championship super League event where the combined British team of Male and female athletics came fourth on last holding to Russia, Germany and the Ukraine. Britain commenced the meeting with the news that the recently appointed Athletics coach after the man who steered the London Olympics Team has resigned because the of the failure to reach the targets he had set for himself and the government sponsors, had also resigned to return home to Canada, stating family reasons. He hoped that based on recent performance standings the British team could finish in the top three.

It is several year since attending Gateshead Stadium to watch European Athletics although I was present on the occasion when after the stadium was developed and officially opened in 1974 to mark the emergence of Brendan Foster as an International middle distance runner, followed soon after by that of Steve Cram of (Monkton) Jarrow where South Tyneside also provide an all weather competitive track in the town and where I also attended its opening.

There had been a running track and athletics club on the Gateshead site since the 1950’s but with the new stand and facilities and additional spectator seating, the stadium commenced its forty year rise as Tyne and Wearside’s premier athletics home, also featuring professional football, with Gateshead FC and they intend to move to a purpose built new stadium in the town centre scheduled for 2015, American football until 2011 until they moved to the Monkton stadium Jarrow and rugby League Gateshead Thunder. The stadium has hosted a number of Rock concerts with the most success Tina Turner who I have seen twice 1990 and 1996, the Police with U2 and Rod Stewart, Members of the family when to see Bryan Adams.

But it is as an Athletics venue that its main claim to fame remains although spectators numbers have not always proved great as with the European Team Championships this weekend although there was a major Rock concert at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on the same day, featuring Little Mix the X Factor winners with two members of the group from South Tyneside and James Arthur another winner, from Teeside. The stadium is also the home of Gateshead Harriers one of the foremost ongoing athletics clubs un the UK.

The story goes that at a Civic reception held for Brendan Foster, born Hebburn, then County Durham, now South Tyneside, he was promised an all weather track stadium and with the creation of a Department of Sport and Leisure he was appointed its Director and helped create the stadium where he organised the Gateshead Games. Brendan is now better known as a sport commentator and the founder and organiser of the Great North Run, the half marathon from Newcastle to the coast in South Shields (Gypsy Green Stadium area) which has tens of thousands entries raising money for charities, two international class serious races and wheelchair disability race. The event is televised nationally by the BBC. Steve Cram. Steve who won a Silver medal in the Olympic Games at 1500 metres and a Gold medal at the World Championships, is now a regular BBC Athletics commentator being its lead Athletics person for London 2012.

　

In 1983 Steve Cram beat Sebastian now Lord Coe at Gateshead in his final race before Cram won the gold medal at Helsinki in the World Championships in a packed stadium and I was there too.

In 1989, I attended the running of the Europa Cup. The men's competition was won for the first time by a Great Britain team captained by Linford Christie and which included Kriss Akabusi and Jack Buckner.

Four years later, on 30 July 1993, I also watched Lynford, by this time the reigning 100m Olympic champion, in action again – this time against his old rival Carl Lewis in a race where both men were reportedly paid £100000 irrespective of the result. Christie won in a time of 10.07 seconds, ahead of Jon Drummond in second and Lewis, who finished third".The 100m race was the highlight of the "high profile" Vauxhall Invitational meet, which was televised in the UK by ITV and watched by around 10 million viewers. Michael Johnson, John Regis and Steve Cram also competed.

In August 1998, Gateshead was selected to host the 2000 Europa Cup after the European Athletic Association switched the event from original host venue Martinique to avoid athletes travelling long distances in an Olympic year. This made Gateshead the first venue to host the event twice. In July 2000, spectators at Gateshead once again saw Great Britain's men's team take the title, this time by half a point from Germany in second place; the British victory came despite missing ten first-choice team members.

Paula Radcliffe ran the 10,000m at Gateshead in 2004 when Foster's "Gateshead Games" had become the British Grand Prix, and on 13 July 21-year-old Yelena Isinbayeva set a new world record of 4.82m in the women's pole vault event. Isinbayeva's achievement in the last event of the meet was so unexpected that only 1,000 of the 10,000 spectators witnessed it, the rest having left early. For her achievement, she was given a bonus cheque for $50,000. On 27 June 2004, Isinbayeva returned to Gateshead. This time the event organisers decided to schedule the pole vault event earlier and were rewarded when Isinbayeva defied extremely windy conditions to post a new record mark of 4.87m. Isinbayeva was the second woman to set a world record in the pole vault at Gateshead; Daniela Bartova did so in 1995. In 2006, a crowd of 8,500 saw Asafa Powell equal the world record of 9.77 seconds in the men's 100m. The official, un-rounded time of 9.762 seconds was then the fastest time ever recorded. The meet was also notable for the return to competition of Dwain Chambers after his ban for using performance enhancing drugs, and for Eliud Kipchoge breaking Foster's stadium record over 3000m that had stood for more than three decades.

In 2010, the British Grand Prix at Gateshead was chosen as one of the inaugural fourteen Diamond League events but although competitors included Tyson Gay, Powell, Jessica Ennis and Vincent Chepkok, the attendance was unusually poor, causing the local press to wonder whether Gateshead's contract for the marquee event would be renewed. Those fears were to prove well-founded when UK Athletics agreed to a three-year contract to stage the event at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham The move prompted one reporter to lament that "the switch is a major blow to both Gateshead International Stadium and North-East sport in general, but can hardly be regarded as a major surprise given the dwindling support for major athletics events in the region. It is evident that the loss has continued and I was appalled at the level fo empty seats given the appearance of double Olympic winner Mo Farah in 10000 meter event. especially as this was only instance where a stadium has held the event three times.

It used to be possible to park the car free on land behind the stadium but this has since been converted into playing fields and so although eh weather looked changed able I decided to use the Metro train although I remember that there is quite along walk from the nearest station to the stadium. Since last using the station to the area has been cleared and a new estates of housing created with a direct wide walkway with a most attractive aspect including Iots trees and interspersed at pedestrian junctions into the estate with attractive metal work and other features. I was most impressed. I did see a large car park on this side of the of the main road from Sunderland to Newcastle, the A1M and South Shields. There was also an army fo Gateshead staff helpers channelling people in the right direction from the station and across the busy main road.

Since my last visit the seating opposite the main stand has been covered over and there are kiosks serving hot drinks, alcohol and snacks. There are also well looked after male and female toilets. My seat was at the aisle to one side opposite the finishing line across the stadium although close to the open air. The covering which would have been essential on the Sunday with the torrential rain took the sun away and therefore although I enjoyed the visit I was uncomfortable and needed frequent trips to the gents as walking about at the rear of the stand to try and shelter from the wind. At £10.50 via Ticketmaster the seat was exceptional good value for money, I purchased a good programme for £5 which enable to enter the result in great detail if I wish although even with the large scoreboard with visual replay at one end of the stadium it was difficult to read the results or have time to enter them. However I was confident that I would be able to obtain rhe details on line front the British Athletics Association European Athletics Federation..

The first event of the meeting and afternoon at 1.30 was the women’s Pole Vault which I once tried at a school boy barely getting off the ground. The British team was expected to gain 12 points from Holly Bleasdale who is the current European Champion at a height of 4.87. She was eighth in the final of the London Olympics but hopes to do better in Rio in 2016. She elected to come into the competition at 4.35 but failed in three attempts and registered no points. What a disaster! The second event was he Men’s hammer which I also tried at school and was hopeless. The British athlete came 11 with 2 points although he was not expected to do well. The Brit competitor Jamile Adalma in the women’s triple jump did well in 4^th and was close to the third placed. For the short distance events (100, 200 metres and the 400, competitors ran in two races, with the fastest six in the second and the winner declared on times from both races. Dai Green who had failed at he Olympics was expected to bring 12 points but he was beaten into second by the German who had an exceptional performance.

In the women’s !00m Asha Philip came third in her race and fourth overall and in the 400m men Nigel Levine came second. Women’s discuss Jade Lally 6^th. So it was not until the 8^th event that the UK had its first success, an unexpected result with Jessica Judd 18 years of age in her first senior outing having completed her A levels last week. While she has shown considerable promise improving her times in this race and the 1500m and was selected to the team on merit in terms of times she was expected to reach 4^th or 5^th and it was the manner of her winning going out fast and holding off opposition which excited the spectators and the UK Athletics establishment and which makes her a prospect for the 2015 Olympic Games. A potential heroine has been discovered and my impression is that she will be well nurtured and not exploited for immediate advantage, A name to look out for.

Back to reality in the men’s Shot Put where Zane Duquemin, now that is a name, came 9^th. In the 100m dash Richard Kilty came fourth in the second heat but sixth overall. It was a second woman Laura Weighman coached by Steve Cram who came second in the 3000m on her home track and she was quickly followed by Elldith Child winning the 400mm hurdles and with Charlie Grice coming second in the 1500m the position was getting much better with the tem looking good for at least third position and the possibility of second.

Greg Rutherford was to some extent an unexpected Gold Medal winner in the long jump as on paper there were other with better distances competing and therefore I have not expected him to beat everyone he now faces, especially if having gained the medal he had lost some of the original drive and competitiveness. Just how many Gold Medal UK Olympic Athletic winners has there been since the end of the Second World War? I will try and answer the question before publication, He came third, expected to have done better by some. Lennie Waite did well in the 3000 women’s Steeple chase although by this time the cold wind and inadequate clothing made me so uncomfortable that two coffee and walking about at the back of the stand failed to keep me enthusiastic and only the running of Mo Farah kept me from leaving early.

Izzy Jeffs came 9^th in the women’s and then the team excelled itself. Peri Shakes Drayton the outstanding hurdler and team captain opted for the 400m and came first with a personal best to make three individual female winners on the day. There were two big disappointments in the Pole Vault already mentioned and on Sunday with Hannah England who could only finish 5^th in the 1500m

Then it was time for Mo Farah and the excitement his appearance track side created was extraordinary and in terms of sports personalities I have only experience once before when the other Mo came to South Shields where he was married at the local Mosque and was given a civic reception a the Town Hall to which I was invited and witnessed first hand the impact he had on everyone present and on the public outside he waited for a glimpse. The Queen had also visited in relation to her 25 years as monarch and while there was a grand gathering at Gypsy Green stadium for her to watch and the public response was excellent, the fervour of the people was reserved for Ali.

The race looked as if it might prove a non event with Mo starting at the back and them moving close tot he front as it warmed up with a modest pace, and where he took the lead at one point to prevent the pace becoming too slow for him. With just over a lap to get he streaked like a rocket away from the rest and soon from their perspective he was no where in sight to the great delight of the ecstatic supporters. As someone said that performance was worth the entrance money and in my case the cold. I made my way home before the relays.

I decided not to attend for the second day of the meet although I had purchased a ticket because England had reached the final of Cricket one day cup and I wanted to watch the game against India. I recorded the athletics and later went through the event with the fast button, missing out the build up and the after race chat unless there was a UK performance worth noting when I sometimes ran the ran or winning field action several times. The decision was the right one as there was torrential rain sweeping the track on several occasions so that some field events were then held in the adjacent warm up hall.

So here are the rest of the results commencing with the Men’s Events

4 by 100 UK Team first

4 X 400 UK Team first

Andrew Osagie 3^rd 800m

Tom Parsons 3^rd High Jump

Nathan Douglas 3^rd Triple Jump

Daniel Talbot came 4^th in the 200m

William Sharman 5^th 110 hurdles

Brett Morse 5^th Discuss

David Bishop 7^th 3000 m

Lee Doran 8^th Javelin

Andrew Sutcliffe 9^th Pole Vault

Rob Mullet 11^th 3000m steeplechase

　

The outcome is therefore there were only three winners of the events for Males from the UK with Mo Farah the only individual winner.

　

While Sophie Hitchon is noteworthy in coming third and breaking the National record in the hammer which as the other events reported the UK does not do well in the field events, the women were outstanding in terms of the placements compared to those of the men and were responsible for gaining a good third position in the competition overall.

The results were

400 M relay 1st

Tiffany Porter 2^nd 100m Hurdles

Emilia Gorecka 2^nd 5000m

Anikya Onuora 3^rd 200m

Sharah Proctor 3^rd Long Jump

100m Relay 5th

Sophie McKinna 7^th Shot put

Isobel Pooley 9^th High Jump

Russia won the event 354,5 points with Germany 347.5 and the UK 338. Had Holly Bleasdale got the points she was expected we would have come second with 350 points and Hannah England also won we would have been half point behind the Russians and Dai green winning would have clinched victory. On the other hand there was Jessica Judd‘s extra points and several others did better than expected by several places.

Since the Games commenced the UK has won 53 gold medals and 194 medals in total for athletics with Russian 64 gold but 193 medals in total behind the USA with an incredible 320 gold and 767 medals won in total

It is going to be a great year for Durham CC but not sure about England (2013)

I enjoyed the cricket for the main part attending on two of the three days of the County Championship game between Durham and Warwickshire. The weather was atrocious and there was doubt from outset that we could get a result.

The wicket was placed to the east of the ground where the development of the additional permanent seating for the Test match against Australia meant that passage from the Members gate at Lumley was not possible until late on Friday afternoon. The work has progressed with the foundations for the new stand extended up to the first bank of the green seats although later that day we learned that this bank is also being replaced. The seats are from those used on Horseguards parade for beach football, 7000 in total with 500 permanent with bat and other facilities to bed completed death after the Test match as the additional seating with be at the back and removed. The capacity for the match will be 15000 with the take anticipated to be over £1m for the first three days.

I attended my first Members evening in the lounge after the first day’s play was completed and pressed about the new developing confirming that the latest development that the new entrance and proposed conference stand behind the Lumley end wickets was no longer an immediate option or the hotel. The club had gained a loan European grants of £1.7 million but this was for the full ground development projects of some £20 million which they had been unable to raise although the grant money remained available. The floodlights projects was also in abeyance in part because of the lack of demand for the floodlit game and it was not yet a requirement for hosting International matches.

There was some questioning about the use of the Castle View Lumley lounges in the new extension with the possibility of use for member when not required but not as an alternative to the existing facility. Interestingly he debacle about the changes to the Members room was not raised. There was a moan about the £80 for the Test match which is to be a one off because of the Ashes and other financial considerations. Apparently some of the original Durham County members before the move to first class cricket were given a £10 life membership offer and I seriously considered the original County Life Membership rate for elders when I became eligible but I was not wedded to remaining in the North East at that point.

Most of those attending the meeting were familiar faces to me and there were those concerned at the new season prices although the Gold Membership deal remains a great offer costing for the all inclusive home games around 46 days of cricket for £88 compared to £80 for a day at the Ashes Test.

Because of the conditions and location of the wicket I made my way to the middle tier of the Durham stand to watch Durham bat first having won the toss. Later the Cricket Director said that the players never knew how a wicket would perform at the ground from match to match and wicket to wicket unlike many other ground where a side could be selected for the conditions.

Stoneman after some remarkable performances was out without scoring. Jennings made a careful 33, Borthwick a more adventurous 36, Smith 46 and Stokes 61, all can be said to have got themselves in before getting out with the explanation that the ball had started to swing. When Collingwood went for 1 and the Colonel for 0 the side was still short of their first batting point with seven wickets down. Spirited defence by Richardson 26, Wood 22 and Onions also 22 saw the total reach a respectable 267 and 2 bonus points.

Warwickshire fared no better with 19 for 0 at the close and 116 fro 7 but again the tail rallied doubling the total to 209 giving Durham a lead of 58 and with 40 on the board at the close this mean 100 for 0 when I went off to the cinema for a showing of the Audience at the Cineworld Bolden having elected to listen to match on the radio while watching the England’s innings in their second 50 over world championship tournament. When I return from what proved an aborted performance, full of disappointment and frustration I was horrified to find that Durham had collapsed to 147 for 8 with the Colonel getting a pair Jennings 11, Borthwick 2 Smith 4, Stokes 5, Collingwood 7 Onion 8, Wood 3. It was only Stoneman 83 and Richardson 55 who along with 11^th man Rushworth not out 11 who brought Durham to a respectable 198 with 42 run last wicket stand which I watched on Friday morning. However as I saw well wrapped and expecting a rain interrupted day, the odds had dramatically changed in favoured of Warwickshire. The Durham innings had ended don a bad note when Richardson was caught by Jarvid, according to the crowd while standing on the boundary rope which brought memories of Nottinghamshire’s Hales cheating several years ago which I witnessed at close hand. In this instance there was no one immediately overlooking the spot but there were a sizeable number of people in the Durham Stand close by who had an overview. Whether he was standing over the line and then moved just inside to take the catch is the only reason I assume he did not admit the 6 runs. Only he and his closes colleague appeared to celebrate with the rest of the Warwickshire fielders and Durham batsmen remaining in position.

Early in rhe Warwickshire second innings the skies darkened and the promised rain looked as if it would fall, but the sky coming from the west was much brighter and it looked that if it did rain in would prove a brief shower. Nevertheless the Warwickshire players sized the umpires decision and walk off but the Durham players remained with the Captain hoping to persuade the umpires that the conditions would quickly change. The umpires continued their walk to the pavilion, the pitch was covered but the delay was around half an hour and the match then continued uninterrupted for the rest of the game until one side became the victors.

Durham had the first success when Chopra and Porterfield were out at 26 and when Troughten at 56 and Westwood at 74 the game was swinging in Durham’s favour. This was view was reinforced when Ambrose went at 127, Clarke at 131 and Barker as 146 ( for 7) There was hen a very uncomfortable period when the dreadful Jarvid ( I trust the Durham crowd’s sight) with Patel slowly built up h core to a potential winning position until Jarvid went caught Borthwick off ions for 55 having stayed at the wicket for two and a half hours. Patel went three runs later for 50 but then Wright and Rankin appeared to steady and slowly moved towards what would have been a legendry last wicket victory when Stokes had Rankin leg before wicket and Warwickshire were all out for 245, giving Durham a potential Championship winning victory by 11 runs. And moved Durham to head the championship before Yorkshire completed their win to lead with 8 matches played 4 wins and 117 points while Durham are second with the same position and 108.5 points.

With the closest sides all drawing Durham kept their position with Sussex who they are to play twice 100 and Middlesex who they play Lords 97. Notts have a game in hand are on 80 which with maximum points still leave Durham ahead and hen Warwickshire, Surrey, Somerset and Derbyshire at the bottom. We play Derbyshire twice so Durham’s game at Scarborough could prove in effect a championship decider. The glory days could be here again.

Today Monday 17^th June 2013 the news has reached tat Surrey have sacked their Director of Cricket and first team coach with Alec Stewart taking over this confirming my impression that the home supporters want Championship success above all else despite the financial and commercial success of the club through hospitality, sponsorship and the holding of International events.

I had written Durham off from getting to the semi finals fo the 40 over competition because of the loss at home, and at Hampshire, but they now head the table with 8.75 points after humiliating Scotland bowling them all out 91 with Collinwood ending the innings getting 3 wickets for 5 runs off 1.3 overs. Onions 3 fro 26 and Wood 3 for 23 also did well. Durham appeared to have no problem in gaining the required runs in 12.5 overs going for a good run rate which could influence the outcome at the end of the league matches.

A lose look at table reveals that every club bar Scotland who have zero points have a chance of being top team after all their matches have been played. Hampshire’s game at hone against Derbyshire on Tuesday evening is important and if Derby win and then win against Scotland they will head the table with 10 points from the same number of games as Durham, and if Hants win they will also go ahead and have a game still in hand. Durham play Hants at home on Saturday in a must win game whatever happens. I shall be at the European Games at Gateshead. However with 12 games in total to play, they league is about half way. Notts with 6 wins from 6 games and walking away in League one as they have a game in over next placed Northants with 9 points. Somerset and Gloucestershire are doing well in the third division with Gloucestershire 11 points from 7 and Somerset 11 from 8 and at present one of these two look a good bet for the best placed fourth semi finalist making a Division win by Durham imperative.

England were disappointing against Sri Lanka in their second of three games in the Champions Trophy after creating a reasonable total of 293 with Trott 76, Root 68 and Cook 59 but where Morgan 13 Butler 0 Brennan 4 and Broad 7 failed to capitalise on the great start push the total to over 325. It was Bopara with a magnificent three sixes two fours, two fours and a two who added 28 runs in the final over who set the challenge. Unfortunately England’s bowlers on a good wicket could find no extra life or twist Sangakkara 134 who sealed are fate reaching the total required in the 47^th over and with seven wickets in hand. It all depended on the last match at Cardiff where rain threatened a no play which would have seen England out of the competition, Fortunately the rain stopped and then held off to enable a 24 over match against New Zealand. England made a good 169 although early on with Cook hitting sixes (64) a total of 190 or more seemed possible/. Again some fo the lower order batsman failed to connect in the way hoped. With the visitors 14 for 2, 48 for 4 and 62 for 5 they looked home cut and dried. However a good fight saw a much closer encounter with England winning after New Zealand could only reach 159 form 8.

Australia had to reach 254 runs in 29 overs to have a faster rate and get the fourth semi final spot. If they get the runs then New Zealand go through and not Sri Lanka who are they are playing. Going for the runs Australia lost wicket and when the 9^th went at 196 it seemed all over. Just when it looked as if Australia would win and send New Zealand into the Semi final they were all out so that as heading group India will play Sri Lanka in the second semi final with England leading their group playing South Africa on Wednesday at the Oval.

Andy Murray won at Queen Club again after missing out on the French open because of injury although he never has done well at the clay courts there. He lost the first set came back to win the next two in am march which was unable to start on time because of rain.

The interesting but as yet unconfirmed news is that Joe Kinnear Newcastle manager who had to give up the job because of a heart attack is coming back as Director of Football responsible for brining in new players. However the club are yet to make any statement.

I have a comparatively quiet start to the week, with writing, some exercise and watching the cricket today. Tomorrow I need to go for some shoes but on Wednesday there is the Opera relay from Red Square. I should have seen the Audience with Helen Mirren last Thursday but they failed to get the sound working again so I walked out and rebooked for a second showing. Unfortunately only when i got home I found that it clashes with the Euro Athletics on the Sunday. I will judge what to fo depending how week the Opera from Red Square goes on Weds and the Athletics on Saturday. There is the important semi final game involving England which will also take place on Wednesday with a 10.30 start