Category: Sport

Welcome to the 21st century

I remember when then head of S.A. cricket Dr Ali Bacher (whom I watched play back in the ’69 series against OZ) convinced Panasonic to install cameras at our grounds way back in the ’70’s. There were 2 cameras at each end to help the umpires with run-out decisions, we called them “Pan-eyes” How things have changed since then!

Rugby, athletics and tennis have been using technology for years as have almost every other major sport with the exception of football, ’till now that is.

So then, are we finally going to get those crucial offside decisions which often affect the outcome of many games sorted? Sadly not! Continue reading “Welcome to the 21st century”

Hemispherical variations

Mid-August is somehow on the cusp – either of Autumn in Europe and some parts of the Americas or of Spring in the Antipodes. The equatorial tendency of course never quite differentiates.

So cherished versifiers, kindly be inspired to celebrate either the promise of summertime or its passing; both thoroughly deserving of your attention in the next two weeks after which you’ll be judged on the quality of your efforts.

https://charioteers.org/2013/07/25/summertime-the-august-poetry-challenge/

Pic by PS Krøyer, one of Denmark’s Golden Age painters who lived and worked in Skagen

We won, we won!

The Beeb has obligingly promised rain and more rain for Manchester today, which means that England will draw the match with the Aussies and retain the Ashes, even if the last two tests go the wrong way.

Monday's weather forecast at Old Trafford

Forecast Summary

  • Today

    Cloudy with rain persisting for much of the day, very heavy at times with a risk of thundery bursts and localised flooding. Towards evening the rain will ease and slowly clear eastwards, perhaps allowing some late brightness in the west.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/7281603

Huge smiley thing.

Kings v Lions

My programme

It would appear that my days of watching live Super Rugby are over 😦

Let me explain.

There are 6 major playing regions here in South Africa but only 5 places available in the Super Rugby competition (in it’s current format.) I’ve explained previously that for as long as there has been Super Rugby my little part of the world has been completely ignored, that was until this year.

Be it politics, compassion or just plain old common sense our rugby hierarchy decided to to give us a chance and entered Eastern Province (under The Southern Kings franchise) in this years competition, at the expense of last year’s lowest ranked S.A. team ( The Lions) with the proviso that the Kings  play the Lions in a home and away relegation / promotion series of matches come the end of the season.

Well, the first of these relegation / promotion matches was played last night, right here at our magnificent new FIFA world cup stadium, and yes, you’ve guessed it, the Kings lost.

Had the Kings won, we had plans for the 2,000km round trip up to Johannesburg to watch the 2nd leg, but we agreed at the end of last night’s game not waste our time, effort and money! Continue reading “Kings v Lions”

Summertime – the August poetry challenge

To introduce the next competition, I can’t resist quoting a lyrical George (this week’s name, innit?):

Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high

Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry

Continue reading “Summertime – the August poetry challenge”