Horsetan Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Air vests for equestrians? I thought I misheard the commentary, but riders now have special vests that immediately inflate should they get thrown out of the saddle. Must be a great help in avoiding injury. Something else I've learned... The AirVest has been around for a couple of years. Expensive. So is a broken back. I've used a SATRA Level 1 jockey's body protector for years. Weighs about 1lb. If it's good enough for professional jockeys, it's good enough for me. Any more beach volleyball today? Oh behave..... Excellent coverage of the sailing, with the graphics you can at last see what's going on. Those 49ers look a lot of fun! John, I'm now envying you going to see this live! Weymouth.... *sighs at memory of recent madcap activities* Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted July 30, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2012 Enjoying the equestrian coverage. Like the look of the course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted July 30, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2012 Disgraceful journalism After seeing some of it in the weekend papers, it has sunk to the lowest despicable level yet. With words like 'failure', 'letting the country down' etc., etc., regarding Cav. ..And there was I thinking that Politicians were the ones who had sunk to the depths recently.. The pressure of expectation to win medals piled on athletes by these 'expert journalists' is both unacceptable and counter-productive. The comments in the papers regarding the men's road race were made by people who obviously have no knowledge of how competitive cycling works. I certainly don't, but those who write about it should at least have a working knowledge of what they write about and why things can go wrong. This 'style' of reporting even permeates the BBC. In a news bulletin on the radio last night when Becky Adlington's realistically unexpected medal was described as 'could only get a bronze' and Lizzie Armitstad's amazing silver was another described as an 'only' This even extends to some of the Beeb's radio and TV presenters and the sports editor in his reporting style, detailing expectations and dwelling on the negative aspects of things. It's enough to make one despair. The only people on the radio and the box who's opinion I will now listen to will be those who have done their sport to the very highest level, like the Redgraves, Fosters, Thorpes, and Johnsons etc of this world. ....more negativity.... http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/londonspy/why-gold-not-gold-bronze-worth-less-petrol-111832435.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I attended a seminar once with Redgrave back in the Eighties. Believe me it was difficult to fit into the same room as him - completely one track mind, presumably that is what you need to be successful in Sport. As to British journalists "building people up and then knocking them down", I'm afraid that there is nothing new there... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Air vests for equestrians? I thought I misheard the commentary, but riders now have special vests that immediately inflate should they get thrown out of the saddle. Must be a great help in avoiding injury. They work even better for motorcyclists. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Disgraceful journalism After seeing some of it in the weekend papers, it has sunk to the lowest despicable level yet. With words like 'failure', 'letting the country down' etc., etc., regarding Cav. No doubt there will be more rubbish tomorrow about Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield 'bottling it' in the synchro diving - 'after all our support' etc etc. After China, the order of the next four or five could easily have been in any permutation, it's just unfortunate that Tom and Peter each made a small mistake on their 4th dive. But still a great competition. GB men's gymnastics team going well, and rowing preformances look very promising so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted July 30, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2012 A brilliant unexpected bronze effort from our men team gymnasts after a c*ck-up from the judges. 100 years since the last. So nearly the silver! Well done with particularly brilliant floor exercises under extreme pressure. It was fun to have such a partisan, knowledgeable and so excitable a commentary team! Matt Baker knows his onions since he was a junior gymnast Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 A selection of redtop headline options for tomorrow: "Brit gymnasts blow silver medal" "Tom Daley fails after being in an impregnable position" And for the Mail: "We love Plymouth Ruta from Lithuania - the Mail leads campaign to give her British nationality" (er, a few years ago it was "go home Eastern European economic migrants" - shurely shome mishtake - Ed) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted July 31, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 31, 2012 And for the Mail: "We love Plymouth Ruta from Lithuania - the Mail leads campaign to give her British nationality" (er, a few years ago it was "go home Eastern European economic migrants" - shurely shome mishtake - Ed) The mail will probably now run a story about how one GB team member failed to medal due to stress and worry cused by surveys for HS2/ Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted July 31, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 31, 2012 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ Well fancy seeing this today. What a surprise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Had a great day up at Stratford yesterday watching the women's water polo with daughter. GB are only in the comp because we're the home nation and definitely the underdogs but they gave the Russians a very good run for their money going down 6 - 7 in a tight game. They stand virtually no chance of medalling in this sport but it didn't stop them putting on a very spirited performance and that's what stuck with me after. Participating in an Olympics seems to be reward enough for some. No trouble getting to Stratford, there was even a dedicated Olympics team at Ashford. Organisation at Stratford very good and hordes of volunteer helpers onsite - they deserve a mention. Rail line runs through middle of park - daughter disowned me photing Freightliners....... Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 ...... Participating in an Olympics seems to be reward enough for some..... ....which was the original ethos which lay behind the Games. The principle that competitors had to be amateurs reinforced this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted July 31, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 31, 2012 Brilliant silver in the jumping. I couldn't watch Mary King and Tina Cook! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 31, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 31, 2012 Brilliant silver in the jumping. I couldn't watch Mary King and Tina Cook! I daren't watch - it puts on a jinx if I do!! (and show-jumping etc are sports I enjoy watching). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggy1953 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Watched GB ladies beat Brazil Ladies 1-0 at football. Great result. Well Done Girls. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Normally, cheating in the Games is subtle (performance-enhancing drugs being the usual method), so was quite amused to see the badminton women's doubles teams from South Korea and China deliberately trying to lose their group match in order to try to secure an easier knockout draw..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted August 1, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 1, 2012 Normally, cheating in the Games is subtle (performance-enhancing drugs being the usual method), so was quite amused to see the badminton women's doubles teams from South Korea and China deliberately trying to lose their group match in order to try to secure an easier knockout draw..... Good to see that they're being charged. One would hope that they will be thrown out of the games and even the sport not just get a 'slap on the wrist'. I'm glad that I hadn't paid good money to see that farce. The women's football was very enjoyable. I still wonder at the abilities of the women gymnasts, particularly the floor exercises and vaults. The height and speed is mind-boggling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Good to see that they're being charged. One would hope that they will be thrown out of the games and even the sport not just get a 'slap on the wrist'. I'm glad that I hadn't paid good money to see that farce. Old-fashioned overt cheating is very rare these days, so it's almost a paradoxical privilege to see it happen on the telly in front of your very eyes. The commentator from the Beeb Olumpic channel was so disgusted he knocked off early last night. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted August 1, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 1, 2012 I saw some of the 3-day Event showjumping yesterday over lunch. Always a pleasure to watch Mary King - she seems to have been at the top forever - and always comes across as an absolute charmer. Ian Stark's commentary added value too, for those of us not entirely conversant with horsey matters, which he famously is. I was quite sorry to have missed the Cross-Country day - anyone who has watched Burleigh or Badminton etc will know how entertaining it can be! It makes for a great day out, too, if you like country walks. Being in Belgium at the weekend, I missed the cycling on Box Hill. I understand that the Beeb's failure to secure data was simply because they didn't bother to consult the network provider, simply imagining that their feeds would miraculously "work". Anyone who has tried txting at New Year etc will know there is a limit to capacity - how come the Beeb didn't guess at the interest traffic from spectators in the area? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I saw some of the 3-day Event showjumping yesterday over lunch. Always a pleasure to watch Mary King - she seems to have been at the top forever - and always comes across as an absolute charmer. Ian Stark's commentary added value too, for those of us not entirely conversant with horsey matters, which he famously is. I was quite sorry to have missed the Cross-Country day - anyone who has watched Burghley or Badminton etc will know how entertaining it can be! Mary King famously lets nothing get in the way of her career, not even pregnancy or a broken neck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Went to the Fencing yesterday at the Excel - brilliant atmosphere, great fun, no empty seats anywhere to be seen. Sat with Egyptians, Italians, Germans, French and Ukrainian visitors along with my Maltese girlfriend and a good load of Brits. Real party atmosphere and was great fun. Thrilled to see Sheng Lei - one of the up and coming stars in the Fencing world (who uses the same brand as I used to, Jiang!) and Alaaeldin Abouelkassem from Egypt get Gold and Silver. History made as Abouelkassem became the first African to win a medal in this sport apparently. EDIT: watch highlights of their match here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 ..... the same brand as I used to, Jiang....... OT, but I have been closely examining a product of Leon Paul..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A.C Martin Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 OT, but I have been closely examining a product of Leon Paul..... There's nothing wrong with Leon Paul products, if you are a beginner or in for the fun of it (and I myself have used their products on occasion). There's no right or wrong brand in Fencing in my view as different blades and metal quality will allow different fencing styles. I personally found Jiang some relief with their two-pin sockets for fencing on electrics after years of buying Leon Paul, but treated myself one year to a specialist blade from a retired fencer and never looked back. (I'm an Epeeist by trade, when my knee isn't playing up!). When doing Sabre I found the Jiang blades to be brilliantly springy which allowed for some very cheeky wrist hits. Great fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Disgraceful journalism After seeing some of it in the weekend papers, it has sunk to the lowest despicable level yet. With words like 'failure', 'letting the country down' etc., etc., regarding Cav... This is not only unfair but totally absurd when applied to the first Briton to ever win the green jersey at the Tour de France last year whose Olympic team (and the road race really is a team event) included the first two Britons to even reach the podium for overall classification and they came first and second. That was a historic achievement in an event that started only seven years after the modern Olympics and is run every year. I'm afraid that although it is the Olympics I tended to see the road race as equivalent to one stage of the Tour. The irony was that the breakaway situation that made it impossible for the British men's team to get a medal on Saturday was precisely that which gave Lizzie Armitstad her well and hard earned silver the next day. I'm afraid the tabloids' Olympic motto is "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, it's the taking part that counts.....so long as you win" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 WOW! Helen and Heather just destroyed that coxless pairs field - brilliant start to the day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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