Pipe Stumped By Parsons!

David participated in another charity cricket match last night, this time down at Culmstock Cricket Club.  Former Somerset cricketer Keith Parsons was the secret weapon for the Friends of Chilrens Hospice South West XI, while Tom Scudamore put together the opposing team.  Sadly Tom could not participate due to his healing shoulder, although he was there to support his men.  I am pleased to say that with the incentive of a cash reward from his father, David fared a little better with the bat than last time - Martin offered him a shilling a run (the same as his father used to give him during his cricketing days) and will be on the phone to his bank manager this morning to sort out the princely sum of twelve shillings!

Actually I am told that the improved performance was down the use of Keith's new "Sabre" bat - everyone was so impressed that nearly the entire team used it!  Anyway, it was a close run thing with Scu's team needing 8 from the last two balls to win it.  Not renowned for his batting prowess, Ken Rixon went for the big one on the penultimate ball and not only did he not connect, the bat actually travelled further than the ball, reaching the umpire at the other end!  Persistent rain couldn't dampen the spirits and a good evening was had by all with plenty of funds raised for the Children's Hospice South West.

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I see that it is the Northumberland Plate this afternoon at Newcastle and it is a race that Martin won in the past.  It always reminds me of the time that Martin was going to run Triumph Hurdle winner Baron Blakeney in the race.  Martin had travelled all the way up to the course the night before (this was before helicopters became the preferred mode of transport) with the horse's owner Bob Wheatley knowing that they needed plenty of rain for The Baron to have a chance.  Anyway, the pair of them did their raindance, and it was so effective that the meeting was called off due to waterlogging!  That tickles my sense of humour...let's just hope the meeting goes ahead today, it's a great race and the Geordies always come out in force for it.

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It was a shame that young British ladies tennis hope Laura Robson couldn't overcome Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon yesterday - she put up a good fight against the former champion, but it was not to be.  At least on the bright side we get to see more of Miss Sharapova over the coming few days!

How much money must the Lawn Tennis Association have wasted down the years trying to find the next British Wimbledon Champion?  They can't even claim to have had that much to do with Andy Murray...isn't it about time for a restructure at the top of the LTA?  If they were football managers they would have been out on their ears a long time ago for their spectacular lack of success.

Did you know that former Wimbledon Champion Fred Perry was also a World Table Tennis Champion?  He learned to play tennis on municipal courts near an Ealing housing estate - he was never pampered like the modern day primadonnas...I sound like Mr Angry today - what would I be like if I wasn't backing winners?!

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Back to the business in hand and I have a couple more pictures from the gallops to share with you, this time of Beyond and Frosted Grape during exercise.

  
Above left: Beyond and right: Frosted Grape