For another four years. What might and perhaps could and should have been…
The wait goes on. 60 years…
Dust settles and opinions evolve and change, but a “Bronze” medal should not, to my mind, paper over the tactical blunders of that semi-final. A meaningless 10 goal “thriller” against the French was good viewing (apparently…), but utterly irrelevant in the bigger scheme…
I said I would not mention that war again. Sorry. We move on. QPR’s season is just around the corner. That is something to look forward to…
Elsewhere, Ryan Fox showed the steely All Black resolve of his fly half father to knock in the winning birdie putt at Royal Birkdale. Champion Golfer of The Year, and by all accounts a thoroughly likeable and popular fellow…
Cricket. Plenty of it for me…
Saturday. Late arrival at Warnford for me having worked several here at Epsom under Neil and Henry Callan and Benoit de la Sayette. On the field for 10 minutes before the umpires removed the bails for lunch. Perfect timing…!!
Then it went like this…
The opposition and home side, The Hampshire Hogs, piled on over 300 runs on a hard baked outfield that was like glass. Balls racing to all boundaries. Fielders in vain pursuit. Lost balls in thick hedges and harvested fields. Tweaked groins and hamstrings. Tea and cakes and sandwiches. Valiant pursuit of the 300 plus. Local ale. 40 odd needed off 5. Became 5 needed off two balls. A chance of glory. But I could muster no more than a badly timed “thunk” to mid off. Number eleven survived the last ball. Draw. And then more ale as the sun set…
England, Their England…
Lords yesterday. Well over 700 runs. Beer. England batting superbly. And winning…
Now what….??
That midsummer frenzy of sport is over. Thankfully, Glorious looms large…
The dull bit. Still no white smoke from BHA Towers. Not much bated breath, more trepidation as we await news of the “two day a week” appointment as Chair. Lord Allen was brought in in large part because of his Labour affiliations and lobbying prowess. Fat lot of good that did, and the Government seems intent on holing our sport midships with the mad and bad Gambling Commission decisions…
A couple of candidates who would have committed full time were not even interviewed because of their politics. Bonkers, naive and clearly misguided. Some of those who are charged with this appointment appear to have very limited racing experience, and this is another job on the side of their real job…
Trepidation. But maybe there is a positive surprise in the offing, and a fabulous selection will be announced. And we will have somebody we can all row in with as he / she drives us forward and away from nasty rocks and scary precipices…
Goodwood memories. Gold Cup…
“Punch got it….”
