Daily Archives: July 31, 2010

Ennis wins Gold but Mo Farah steals the show

Posted on July 31, 2010
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Jessica Ennis has just put the cream on a wonderful large cake by claiming Gold in the Heptathalon beating her closest rival Dobrynska in the 800 Metres but for me Mo Farah stole the show today by becoming double European champion at 5,000 and 1000 metres. It left me with a lump in my throat and pride in what he has given up to become the champion he is. Simply sensational.

How exciting have this year’s European Athletics in Barcelona been for UK Athletics and its followers?

It all began on day one with the 10,000 metres success with Mo “knows how to run” Farrah (28:24.99) and Chris Thompson (28:27.33) claimed Gold and Silver. It seemed to buoy the Great Britain squad pushing them to perform to their best, and often beyond, to bring home a huge collection of medals.

The only negative outcome from today was the performance from the Men and Women in the 4 by 100 metre relays, the guys putting in an absolutely shocking performance. Sitting comfortably in first place rounding the final bend, a mix up of monumental proportions between Mark Lewis-Francis, (who won silver in the 100m) and Marlon Devonish. Team GB could only finish fifth in their heat and failed to qualify for the final. An emotional Lewis-Franics told the BBC

“This is my fault, I’ve let the guys down,”. “Wow, it’s such a big blow. I apologise sincerely to all the guys, I just cannot believe that happened.”

Ennis ran 2 minutes, 10 seconds and 18 seconds, 2.12sec ahead of second-placed Ukrainian Dobrynska, to rack up a championship record 6,823 points total falling just eight points short of Denise Lewis’s British record.

“It’s been nerve-wracking having all the athletes on my heels,” admitted a jubilant Ennis.

“It feels so good …

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Australian Gold see yellow, then red, then the All Blacks

Posted on July 31, 2010
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Australia 28-49 New Zealand

Australia 28 (14)

Tries: Mitchell, Ashley-Cooper, Elsom Cons: Giteau (2) Pens: Giteau (3)

New Zealand 49 (32)

Tries: Carter, Muliaina (2), McCaw, Jane, Rokocoko, Flynn Cons: Carter (4) Pens: Carter (2)

New Zealand crushed Australia earlier today in Melbourne, despite a spirited fight back, thanks to ill-discipline by a number of players but most notably Drew Mitchell. The Australian was sent off for slapping the ball away while the Conrad Smith (New Zealand) was attempting a quick lineout.

The referee has warned both captains about slowing down quick play from a restart but it appeared that Australia failed to heed his warning. Yellow cards and sin bins seem to be the flavour of the tri-nations tournament so far with South Africa the main contributors to the tally. I’m not sure why the officials are hell bent on reporting every little tackle (or so it appears) but maybe they get paid per sin bin given with extra bucks for placing a player on report!

Don’t get me wrong Bakkies Botha totally deserved his 9 week ban; he was plain stupid head butting Cowan in the first game of the tri-nations. It seems to have set a president and the games are now full of players taking 10 minute breaks during the games.

Are the referees too sensitive? The tri-nations isn’t a series for the weak hearted. Seconds before sending Mitchell off Joubert  was heard to tell Wallabies’ skipper Rocky Elsom “I’m not responsible for how this affects the game because I warned you…”

Despite taking an early lead, New Zealand hit back with four tries before half time securing a bonus point. The win is New Zealand’s record eighth in a row against Australia (12 consecutive Tests) and means they are certain to retain the Bledisloe …

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First Weight Loss target achieved

Posted on July 31, 2010
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A little over 18 months ago while watching “The Biggest Loser” – yes I did say “The Biggest Loser”!, I decided I had to do something about my weight. Despite the heavy slob that was me, I have always been fairly fit if not completely healthy!

When I say fit, not compared to what I was when playing a lot of sport but as and when the mood took me I could always go to the gym for a workout. Therein lies the problem, I didn’t feel like training and over the last five or more years weight ballooned.  For those of you who have read my blog before you may have noticed that 18 months ago I weighed 22 ½ stone or 315 lbs.

That’s not good at all! My first target was to get down to 16 stone or 224 lbs and despite years of kidding myself that I was a supreme athlete, capable of anything, I knew I would be facing an uphill struggle.

The first 6 months were ok, nothing amazing and progress was slow. I didn’t have a personal trainer; I had membership to a gym that gave me little enthusiasm to train. It’s all about re-educating yourself and that doesn’t happen overnight. When you put weight on, it means you are eating more calories than you are burning on a daily basis. My diet was shocking! Chips five days a week doesn’t make for a healthy mind or body. I can attest to that!

Slowly but surely I begin to cut down my food intake, exercise doesn’t really increase a great deal but at least I know I’ve made a positive start. That was a little over a year ago and the weight started falling. I needed new kit …

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