Olympics

[david_carnell]

Thanks for the info on NI Jimbob...good to know

@PGC - I think I'd rather fall off a horse than out of a boat into Shanghai harbour thanks very much. And you're not telling me that the horse doesn't do most of the work?

@Moos - my problem with the boxing is that it's so subjective. I watch it and think "ooh, that looked good" and the fella doesn't even get a point for it. It requires three (!) judges at riungside to figure out whether a punch had even landed. All seems a bit silly. And when it was in Olympia they all competed naked so historical precedents aren't the basis for modern decisisons, are they! ;-)

[Brendan]

Well if they make the choice to represent GB rather than Ireland them I?m sure they don?t mind to nomenclature or the flag.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Mary King who just won a team bronze, broke her neck in 2001 after a fall. I think she may have preferred the softer landing of the water.

[david_carnell]

Mmm, the Dutch professional sailor Hans Horrevoets drowned after being swept off his boat. I'm sure he would have preferred something like land to, err, land on.

Something tells me you ride PGC. I do like the outfits though. At least they mkae an effort. Jodphurs and all that. Very fetching.

[Moos]

d_c - and I mean this in the nicest way - you are spouting bollocks. Horse riding is very difficult and skillful for both horse and rider. Directing a bike is one thing, directing an animal with a mind is another. And re: boxing, I see your point on the judging - perhaps it should just be a knockout elimination - but I still think the historical precedent stands. I have no issue with them competing naked if necessary! That said, some of the ancients thought boxing was against the Olympic ideal of the all-round gentleman making the very best of his body - boxers were thought to be crude specialists with ugly physiques.

Edited - we crossed posts. Before you ask, I don't ride, and I don't particularly like horses, although they are very nice to look at. I did go through a liking-horses phase when I was about 9 but it wore off when my mother explained to me that we couldn't keep a horse in our shed.

[Jimbob]

Brendan Wrote:

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> Well if they make the choice to represent GB

> rather than Ireland them I?m sure they don?t mind

> to nomenclature or the flag.

being norn iron its usually a political thing depending on what your persuasion is, although sometimes the athletes chose depending on who will give them the best chance, examples being wayne mc cullough an ni protestant who fought for the ireland team, whereas as barry mc guigan a catholic from the rep fought for ni also for ireland.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

HH died in an ocean race, not quite the same thing as Shanghai Harbour.

[david_carnell]

Moos Wrote:

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> d_c - and I mean this in the nicest way - you are

> spouting bollocks. Horse riding is very difficult

> and skillful for both horse and rider. Directing

> a bike is one thing, directing an animal with a

> mind is another.

>

> Edited - we crossed posts. Before you ask, I

> don't ride, and I don't particularly like horses,

> although they are very nice to look at. I did go

> through a liking-horses phase when I was about 9

> but it wore off when my mother explained to me

> that we couldn't keep a horse in our shed.

Exactly, for both horse and rider.

You've got dressage which no-one but an expert can figure out which bit of prancing about is better than another (see earlier post about laymen etc) and then you get cross-country and showing jumping which is like steeplechase but with significant equine help. The horse doesn't get a bloody medal does it?!

And although I'm being slightly obtuse just to wind up PGC (and now you) - and only because I know you know etc - I am being serious when suggesting that it should be dumped from the schedule. Or, do it like they do in the pentathlon where you only meet your horse the morning of the event to make it random and based solely on rider skill rather than whose pet can jump the biggest gate in return for a sugar cube and a carrot.

[david_carnell]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> HH died in an ocean race, not quite the same thing

> as Shanghai Harbour.

It's all water isn't it? ;-)

Curse you - and your equally proficient use of google!

[Moos]

I thought the horse did get a medal.

So if that's your only argument, here's me with my medal-decorated argument bazooka, blowing your ass away.

Oh, sorry, there is another argument. So, do you also think the hockey teams should line up and pick one another at random, with the fat kids at the back getting picked last? Isn't it about training as a team?

[Moos]

PGC, do you think we are being fair, picking on poor young David at the same time? I am happy to retire gracefully from the lists if you feel we are not upholding the Olympic ideal.

[david_carnell]

Does the horse get medal? Really? Cool. Are we sure about this people. Someone should find out. Is there a Steve Redgrave of horses?

Now don't be silly Moos. The hockey argument isn't the same thing at all. If you and PGC think horse riding is so hard and it's all about rider skill and not who has the best pony then they should be able to do it on any horse, right?

And the fat kid does get picked last. He's called the goalie.

[Moos]

Dessie could arguably have been the Steve Redgrave of horses, although I don't think he was an Olympian so perhaps not.

Now this is an ever so slightly complex argument involving more than one element, so listen carefully. The rider is in charge - directing the horse with skill - but the horse is also involved (hence the (alleged - I really must find out) medal), and there is teamwork between the two.

Besides, your argument is thoroughly inconsistent, as I suspect you know, both in the Olympics and sport more generally. Cyclists get to use their own bikes, Formula One drivers don't get to fight over who gets the Ferrari, and David Beckham gets to wear his own (or his wife's) lucky pants to play football, he doesn't have to grab them from a pile in the locker room.

Must go off and find out about that medal.

[david_carnell]

Well if, and it's still an IF, the horse also gets a medal we'll call that a draw. I'm alright with that. Just rewards.

The rest of sport doesn't concern me. If Beckham wants to play in ?300 boots, let him. Ditto Ferrari. But this is the Olympics. I'm liking the train of thought about the cycling though - perhaps they should all have the same bike. Good stuff. Hoy would still kick bum with those thighs.

But my argument over dressage stands. Rubbish to watch and know-one but a handful of experts have a bloody clue what's going on.

Oh, and don't worry about both of you ladies picking on me. I'm man enough for both of you.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Back again. I would have no problem with what you suggest David, and in fact it does happen in some showjumping events. The horse is a vital part (obviously) - one poor chap got sent home when his horse went lame last week.

But enough already. I shall be posing in my breeches and top boots for a limited period by the sick palm tree.

[david_carnell]

Someone get me some photos!

[Moos]

If after struggling through the swamp that is the Internet and finding a damn medal for a horse I only get a draw, then I'm not going to bother - an unresolved argument is already a draw.

I may be reduced to mocking you for writing know-one instead. Poor, I know.

[david_carnell]

Oh dear.

*Hangs in speeling erorr shame*

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Brilliant idea - an Olympic spelling bee!

[Moos]

As our resident verynearlyabridegroom His Honour Mockney Piers once said, spleling is difikult.

[citizenED]

But enough of that, what should be in/what should be out malarky, did anyone see that amazing 10K open water swim where the two brits got silver and bronze. So close after that distance. Incredible.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Yes. A very good race. Especially like a race where you are allowed to scupper the opponents.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Oh by all that is sacred - SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING??????????

[citizenED]

Hmmm. Yes, Sychronised Swimming - they should only have events that I can spell.

[Michael Palaeologus]

Synchronised drowning.