Olympics Day 11

First topic message reminder :

Yesterday our showjumpers were golden. Also, King Kenny ruled the track. Now it's over to Sir Chris, Princess Laura and can Queen Victoria have a victorious curtain call on her cycling career?

Also, brothers Brownlee go for Triathlon glory and our Dressage team are in action, going for Gold!

If all goes right, today's the day we beat Beijing and do the 20.

Aahh Thom, you have to read it. It will give you a good laugh

Eire / Thom

Regarding the other thread and AWOP's rantings, can you confirm that I have my facts straight:

1 - All residents of Northern Ireland can have automatic citizenship of the Republic (is this only for those born there, or does it apply for all permanent residents?)

2 - As such, all NI sportsmen are at least theoretically eligible to represent GB or RoI

3 - In some cases (boxing I believe being one), the adminstration of the sport is All Ireland, so by default NI boxers wourld represent RoI unless they specifically moved to the mainland (I assume this is because historically boxing in NI has been predominantly a Catholic sport).

Am I somewhere near correct?

dummy_half wrote:We've got realistic chances of a few more medals in the athletics - Farah is obviously the big hope for a further gold, but we could pick up some silver and bronzes from the likes of the women's middle distance runners (especially if the finals are tactical races), Okoye in the discus and Grabarz in the high jump, plus the women's 4 x 400 relay.

Men's 4 x 100 we probably haven't the pure speed, but there's always the chance of someone else (USA particularly) dropping the batten and opening up one of the medal slots (can't see anyone competing with them and Jamaica as the fastest two teams).

Would love to see Okoye pick up a medal (in with a shot at Bronze I think), seems a really nice lad and good role-model/example for sport (Nigerian immigrant parents, went on to be a v good rugby player before switching to athletics, Oxbride educated [I think]).

djlovesyou wrote:

super_realist wrote:Windsurfing? How is that a sport?

Explain the problem with it.

Well what exactly do they do? Race, tricks, slalom?

Dummy_half, forgive me but i really am not getting involved in it. Too busy laughing

Not at you but the whole thread

Yep more or less spot on Dummy, NI citizens can have GB/ROI or dual citizenship. NI sportspeople can represent GB or Ireland as a result (bar soccer, nearly every Irish sporting organsiation covers the island)

We compete as Ireland at the games, not ROI, the main reason Irish boxers compete for Ireland be they from North or South is as it's an All-Ireland organisation, little else to do with it besides that, there's some religion involved but not a lot.

super_realist wrote:

djlovesyou wrote:

super_realist wrote:Windsurfing? How is that a sport?

Explain the problem with it.

Well what exactly do they do? Race, tricks, slalom?

Apparently, Windsurfing will not be in the next Olympics so relax. It's being replaced by Kitesurfing!

Cheers Thom - makes sense. I know that there's quite a mixed up history, with people like Mary Peters having represented GB and other NI athletes / sportsmen (racing drivers John Watson and Eddie Irvine being two I can recall off the top of my head) competing under the Irish flag.

Of course it can get even more confused in the modern world - Ireland's two best road cyclists are cousins, yet one (Dan Martin) was born in Birmingham and competed as a junior for GB while the other (Nic Roche) has switched allegience (two or three times iirc) between France (country of birth and mother's nationality) and Ireland (obviously the nationality of his father Stephen Roche).

Sorry for the digression.

Roche is dual nationality, but I think most seem him as Irish You will find a few Irish people will cheer on NI athletes regardless of who they compete for and that's great, shows how far we've come and everything. We seem to also be more inclined to cheer on our neighbours now, we might have finally gotten over the history! No one can hold a grudge like the Irish. If you'll excuse me I have to look for a Tom Nolan in the phonebook, basterd stole my lunchbox when I was ten, will sort him out now.....

Nic Roche is one of those rare breeds of Irish bloke who speaks English as a second language.

He's certainly more French than he is Irish, but Ireland gave him a better opportunity for development in cycling.

Not saying he's not Irish, there are far worse 'plastics' than he is. To be fair he can't really be described as a 'plastic'.

When does the velodrome start?

He was schooled in a French School in Dublin so that might have something to do with it. Both have a legitimate claim to him but he is really Irish at heart.

Think he's one who can legitimately claim to be both.

Olly wrote:When does the velodrome start?

.
4'O'Clock, with the Women's sprint Semi-Finals. Last day of the track cycling today.

djlovesyou wrote:Nic Roche is one of those rare breeds of Irish bloke who speaks English as a second language.

He's certainly more French than he is Irish, but Ireland gave him a better opportunity for development in cycling.

Not saying he's not Irish, there are far worse 'plastics' than he is. To be fair he can't really be described as a 'plastic'.

DJ
With regard to Irish cyclists and English as a second language, how would you describe Sean Kelly?

Thom
Hope you find the feicin barsteward

Duty281 wrote:

Olly wrote:When does the velodrome start?

.
4'O'Clock, with the Women's sprint Semi-Finals. Last day of the track cycling today.

COME ON TEAM GB SEND IT OUT WITH A BANG

What on earth at the dressage.

Why do people pay to watch that

Dressage is something really difficult to do and actually really good fun. Its not a spectator sport though is it

My reaction was basically what?

1 person of that bored me to tears can't imagine 3 rounds.

Personally i like but thats because i did it as a nipper but i can really understand 99% people thinking the same GSC

His non attendance may be odd, but we cannot forget he is a former World Champion for Britain (Idowu), before we start throwing fire at him. I reckon after he's had surgery he'll be medalling again at the Worlds, just as lucrative as the Olympics.

GSC wrote:What on earth at the dressage.

Why do people pay to watch that

We could say the same about archery, atleast in dreassage it gets physical.

djlovesyou wrote:Nic Roche is one of those rare breeds of Irish bloke who speaks English as a second language.

Like that pric Alain Rollande??

Is Mens Discus final today?

Lawrence Okoye has a real chance I feel.

GSC wrote:My reaction was basically what?

1 person of that bored me to tears can't imagine 3 rounds.

I think when you are watching a Sport you should be able to ascertain whether someone is doing well or not......with Dressage, i haven't a clue. A bit like the Gymnastics and Diving.............not a clue really how someone is doing except when they make a complets hames of it..........

BBC Sport
Sports minister Hugh Robertson set to win medal table bet with Oz counterpart Kate Lundy. She will row Eton Dorney in GB kit (@BBCTimFranks)

hahahahaha Australia

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

GSC wrote:What on earth at the dressage.

Why do people pay to watch that

We could say the same about archery, atleast in dreassage it gets physical.

might have missed something here, do they do something to the horse at the end?

TopHat24/7 wrote:

djlovesyou wrote:Nic Roche is one of those rare breeds of Irish bloke who speaks English as a second language.

Like that pric Alain Rollande??

Rolland is the finest rugby referee out there IMO............

whocares wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

GSC wrote:What on earth at the dressage.

Why do people pay to watch that

We could say the same about archery, atleast in dreassage it gets physical.

might have missed something here, do they do something to the horse at the end?

Yeah, we heard the sheep into the stalls and then

dummy_half wrote:

DJ
With regard to Irish cyclists and English as a second language, how would you describe Sean Kelly?

Thom
Hope you find the feicin barsteward

Haha, you won't catch me saying a bad word about King Kelly.

GSC wrote:BBC Sport
Sports minister Hugh Robertson set to win medal table bet with Oz counterpart Kate Lundy. She will row Eton Dorney in GB kit (@BBCTimFranks)

hahahahaha Australia

Reckon that little battle was settled days ago when it became apparent that GB was going to dominate both cycling and rowing.

Australians have had a rough run so far , though it is going to get a bit better with two gold now guaranteed at the sailing and two more very probable over the next few days. Plus Sally Pearson later today. Really hope all goes well for her.

John Cregan wrote:

TopHat24/7 wrote:

djlovesyou wrote:Nic Roche is one of those rare breeds of Irish bloke who speaks English as a second language.

Like that pric Alain Rollande??

Rolland is the finest rugby referee out there IMO............

He's fine as long as he isn't reffing England, particularly as he keeps getting our matches against Ireland or France which is a disgrace.

We could be on for Gold in the dressage horse stuff. I don't have a clue how it works!

BUT WE HAVE GOLD!!!

Gold x 20

It'd be nice if it came in something better than Dressage, but I'll take it!

20 GOLDS!

I know nothing about dressage , but after that round from Dujardin I understand team gold is now nailed on ...and she may very well make it a double when she goes in the individual final in a day or so.

We've hit the magic 20! Well done to the GB Dressage Team! Now for the cycling, 3 more Golds?

We're now only 9 behind the Yanks!

I have a feeling it will only be 2 golds and a silver in the cycling. I don't fancy Trott in the scratch race in the Omnium and can see her getting silver tbh. Hope I am wrong of course

20 golds!! AMAZING!!

Agree with Olly re the cycling, 2 golds 1 Silver.

Laura goes into the final race 2 back......can she pull it off?

Trott comes third in the scratch race. She's still in Gold medal contention with 1 event to go.

It's all out of her hands now. Personally I think Hammer looks to be in incredible form, so she will take it. But you never know

Second going into the time trial, 1 point split. What happens if the TT is a Trott-Hammer 1-2?

They'll be joint on points right? How's the gold medal decided?

EDIT: site hadn't updated quick enough. 2 points behind, can't see her taking Gold as surely a Trott-Hammer 1-2 is the best she can hope for, which hands gold to the Yank?

Pendleton is through to the sprint final, she won her semi-final 2-0.

Well very tight in the Omnium ...Trott two points behind Hammer with the TT to come .
Trott will probably win the TT , so if Hammer were to be third or worse it would be Gold for Laura.
Of course you can't be sure in advance , but at the World champs the TT went to Trott , with Hammer fourth...

TopHat24/7 wrote:Second going into the time trial, 1 point split. What happens if the TT is a Trott-Hammer 1-2?

They'll be joint on points right? How's the gold medal decided?

Count back on events won ...in which case Laura would win.

Thanks Alfie.

What time is the TT?

TopHat24/7 wrote:

John Cregan wrote:

TopHat24/7 wrote:

djlovesyou wrote:Nic Roche is one of those rare breeds of Irish bloke who speaks English as a second language.

Like that pric Alain Rollande??

Rolland is the finest rugby referee out there IMO............

He's fine as long as he isn't reffing England, particularly as he keeps getting our matches against Ireland or France which is a disgrace.

He CANT referee an Ireland match, he's Irish.........he referees France alright, not sure what his French connection is apart from the name and the fact that he can speak French...........he's a better referee than Roman Poite!!