Olympics

my 94 year old mother has absolutely loved it all and even though she can't see a lot jumps up and down in her chair shouting. We discuss it every day in our morning phone call.

Seems hard luck that the riders get the medals and the horses don't.

Can't pretend to understand why Valegro is the best in the world but glad that he is. Also don't understand why most horses in racing have to be gelded whereas in dressage and showjumping a lot of them are entire. Wish they'd said why that one horses had been off for 15 months. I know someone told me that dressage puts a lot of strain on a horses legs and they are as prone to tendon damage as racehorses; the sport that puts the least strain on a horses legs being trotting races. My day off tomorrow so looking forward to the show jumping.

Great Scot, Sir Chris Hoy triumphs again! But I thought Vicky Pendleton was hard done by, being relegated in her first heat when it was the Australian that elbowed her.

What I've noticed a lot about the cyclists is how muscle bound the competitors from other countries tend to be whereas the UK cyclists are much leaner. A pity that Vicky lost but I felt the Australian girl was more hungry for it.

I was shouting at the TV, Annobel. It didn't seem fair when the evidence was so plain to see.

Another brilliant day of tele, I would never have thought I would still be so interested. As I have said before I am engaged because it is coming from home turf and we are doing so well, not a sporty type. Venues just look great.

Victoria lost because of lack of confidence. She had been disqualified before and I think this happening again today totally knocked her off course. She was probably so full of emotion knowing this was her last competition too.

I did smile this morning. The cycling team manager was being interviewed and the subject of France calling us into question came up. He said he had been asked the same question by a french paper and he told them that it was because we had discovered that tyres were not perfectly round and we discovered that to win we only use perfectly rounded tyres. They actually printed in their newspaper, not seeing the joke!.

Apparently they use something called 'The Secret Squirrel'. Basically they look at everything from keeping the same pillow wherever you go to washing hands. They have gone to industry and armed services looking for any little thing known to enhance their performance and equipment. So dedicated.

The dressage was a beautiful thing to watch.

I actually feel sorry for the girl who lost a chance of a medal after the first disqualification; I think Victoria did admit that it was her fault. Interesting that the suits we use [the ones that help your muscles] were, I thought developed by the Australians? But I could be wrong.

pogs I only saw an excerpt. Beautiful and elegan and restrained are the words that come to mind? Very English. But owing something to the Viennese riding academy?

Did anyone hear what Chris Hoy has jusr said about these bike wheels that the French are complaining about; they're actually made for the British team....in France!

Jeni

It's nice to have an event that the 'olduns' can still compete in also.

That is the funniest thing! (*crimson*)

Yorkshire now 10th in the medal table. Better than over 300 countries. Way to go!

When the French asked what their success secret was, the cycling coach told them the British had been perfecting the roundness of ther wheels!

Lilygran; I've been meaning to point out all week that, although this is a Games based in London [and I must admit now that it was the right thing to do; I didn't think so at first] it seemed to be gritty northeners that were fighting their way to getting medals.

Who are the olduns, POGS? Do you mean the dressage team?

merlotgran.

Yes I was extending the chat with jeni.

I think equestrian is the only one isn't it? I think the Canadian is the oldest at 60 something.

Maybe shooting and archery?

Did anyone see the poor Saudi Arabian girl who had to run completely covered up, that`s the only way she could get permission from the king to take part, came in last, of course, poor lass.

You could be on to something there, POGS. Dressage does wonders for pelvic floor muscles. Instructors call it 'A seat as deep as the ocean'. If enough olduns are encouraged to take it up it could save the NHS a fortune in inco-pads in years to come

merlotgran.

Very true, it could possibly do me the world of good but couldn't cock my leg over these days. Before you say it, horses too!.

Lilygran we always new it was God's own county, didn't we?

If any of you folk want to catch a look at some magnificent specimens of male physique wearing tiny swimming cozzies and suntans, catch up with water polo.
Just looking at what is to come.... mountain biking and modern pentathlon have not even started yet! This weekend. Isn't it long one forgets - it is not so kind of there when it is in another time zone.
4x400 metres heats this morning. Will we get into the final????

Yesterday's Matt cartooni
(man thumping his TV set) "The TV isn't working properly. I 've been watching for 10 minutes and we haven't won a single gold medal!"

crimson - hope you're getting the Dressage - wow!!

Yes, definitely wow!its making me cry!