Category: Horse racing

 

Day 11 and they are playing on the blue hockey pitch. It is the last day of the group stages in the men’s competition and Korea are playing Holland. Korea has to win to stand any chance of progressing further. Team GB play Spain tonight by which time we will know what we need to do to reach the semi finals.

The highlights today include the 1500 men’s final, the Triathlon, the men’s football semis and the team dressage.

The Dutch score from a penalty corner 1.0.Holland could win both hockey golds.

Verga makes it 2.0 with a fine individual goal. Really entertaining game now with the Koreans coming back from 0.3 to 3.2 only for the Dutch extend their lead to 4.2 which is the final score.

Australia are well on their way to the semi finals as they lead Pakistan 5.0 at the beginning of the second half. Final score 7.0 and some awesome finishing from Australia.

In the women’s handball champions Norway have come back from a half time deficit and beaten Brazil 21.19. The gold medallists from Beijing have found their form at last. In the women’s table tennis team bronze medal match Korea and playing Singapore.

Evening session now and there has been plenty of excitement today. Team GB continued to dominate the track cycling and Chris Hoy won the Keirin to claim his 5^th gold medal while Laura Trott won gold in the Omnium. Victoria Pendleton was denied gold in the individual sprint and had to settle for silver behind Australian Anna Meares.

There was gold this morning for Alistair Brownlee who triumphed in the Triathlon with brother Jonny getting bronze despite having to overcome a 15 second penalty for mounting his bike too early. Spaniard Javier Gomez did well to split the Yorkshiremen and win silver. There was also gold for team GB in the team dressage to continue the good results for our equestrian team.

China’s dominance of the table tennis continued as they won gold in the women’s team event beating Japan. The Japanese got their revenge in the women’s volleyball winning a marathon 5 setter against China beating their arch rivals for the first time in 11 years. The final score was 28-26, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 18-16 in a tussle lasted two hours and 15 minutes. In the beach version of the game Americans Walsh and May-Treanor beat the Chinese pair in a titanic battle 22.20, 22.20.

With just 3 minutes left in the first half GB have gone 1.0 up against Spain thanks to Jackson from a penalty corner. A point will put us into the semi finals.

There have been some surprises in the women’s handball quarter finals. Norway beat the in form Brazil and Korea surprised Russia. Spain edged out Croatia 25.22. France play Montenegro later tonight.

This afternoon there was a high quality competition in the women’s floor exercise final. The gold went to Alexander Raisman, of the USA, Romania’s Catalina Ponor in silver and Russian Aliya Mustafina took bronze.

In the women’s water polo Spain lead Hungary 1.0 in the semi final with the USA to meet the winners in the final. Another goal for Spain, 2.0.

Mexico are through to the men’s football final beating Japan 3.1. The second semi is tonight with Brazil facing Korea.

The highlight on the track is the men’s 1500m final. Back to the hockey and Spain have equalised from a penalty corner – it is going to be a tense last 13 minutes.

In the football Brazil and Korea are 0.0 after 30 minutes. Spain lead Hungary 7.5 in the water polo. In the women’s basketball quarter final Russia are looking good against Turkey. It ends 1.1 in the hockey – the Spanish players are not happy. More good news for GB as Robbie Grabarz gets bronze in the high jump. Russia win gold with Ivan Ukhov.

Early days in the handball but France lead Montenegro 3.2. The big guys have been on stage in the weightlifting. Big guys with long names. Gold for Behdad Salimikordasiabi and silver for Sajjad Anoushiravani Hamlabad. They are both Iranians. More success for Iran with Hadadi getting silver in the discus – the first ever track and field medal for Iran. Harting won the gold for Germany.

Spain have edged out Hungary in the water polo and face the USA in the final. Brazil 1.0 up in the football with the keeper beaten as his near post.

Women’s 100m hurdles final coming up. Sally Pearson for Australia – new Olympic record.

Brazil are 2.0 up in the football and it’s Italy v Korea in the women’s volleyball. Michael Conlon is fighting Oubaali of France in the flyweight quarter final. All square after round 1. 1500m final coming up.

Basketball and Turkey have come back against Russia and lead 52.51. Boxing again and it’s 12.12 – come on Ireland. Conlon’s gets the decision.

Algerian Makhloufi absolutely blows them away in the 1500m – controversial as he had a doctor’s note yesterday!

There are some close games going on. The handball is 17.14 to France who are edging towards the semis. Turkey and Russia are 62 all with 28 seconds left. My money’s on Russia. Tense stuff. Russia it is 66.63.after a flurry of time outs in the last 13 seconds. In the volleyball Italy have won the first set against Korea.

Another nail biter. IN the handball France and Montenegro are 21 all. Three minutes left. Amazing stuff with Montenegro winning 23.22 with a penalty in the last second.

 

Day 10 of the Olympics and as usual it is early morning hockey. Germany take on New Zealand in an important game for both teams. Midway through the first half and there is no score. A win for New Zealand will ensure them a semi final place but the Germans must win by 3 clear goals to have a chance of staying in the tournament. The all blacks are playing in all white! The game ended goalless which was enough to put New Zealand into the last four.

Plenty to come later including the medal race of the Laser class in the sailing where Tom Slingsby of Australia is on course for gold.

Evening now and plenty to report on today. Gold for GB in the Show Jumping team event and for Jason Kenny in the cycling sprint. There was also a bronze for Beth Tweddle in the Gymnastics. Saudi Arabia took bronze in the team Show Jumping which was their first medal of the games while in the Gymnastics Brazil’s Arthur Nabarrete Zanetti won the rings, claiming the first ever gymnastics gold for his country.

It is the women’s football semi finals today and Japan beat France 2.1 with France missing a penalty (put it wide) and squandering numerous chances to equalise in the last 20 minutes.

In Group A of the women’s hockey Japan did GB a huge favour earlier today beating China 1.0 which means we qualify for the semi finals. We are into the second half in the women’s hockey and it is 1.1 between GB and Holland. Both teams have already qualified but GB need to win to top the group.

There is plenty going on at the various venues. In the football semi final there is no score after 12 minutes between USA and Canada.

In the women’s boxing Nicola Adams earned at least a bronze medal with a stylish points win against Petrova of Bulgaria in the flyweight division. She meets an Indian boxer in the semi final.

Our flyweight boxer Andrew Selby is in action tomorrow and meets a boxer from Cuba in the quarters. The Cubans are always tough opponents. In the welterweight quarter finals GBs Freddie Evans meets Custio Clayton.

Some sloppy defending and it’s Holland 2 GB 1 meanwhile up at Old Trafford Christine Sinclair has put Canada 1 up with the very cool finish. Game on!

Ostapchuk has won the women’s shot for Belarus beating the defending champ Valerie Adams of New Zealand.

Our pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale has had a bad day and is in tears. You have to feel for her.

We are getting to the quarter final stages in the team sports.

Women’s Basketball – Australia v China; USA v Canada; Turkeyv Russia; France v Czech Republic.

Women’s handball – Brazil v Norway; Russia v Korea; Spain v Croatia; France v Montenegro.

Women’s Volleyball – Russia v Brazil; Japan v China; Italy v Korea; USA v Dominixcan Republic.

In the Water Polo the women are down to the semi finals tomorrow with USA playing Australia and Hungary playing Spain.

Holland win the hockey 2.1 but GB are in the semi finals.

Men’s 400m hurdles final coming up. Dai Green looks up against it after scraping into the final. Fingers crossed though. Green is 5^th. Sanchez of the Dominican Republic takes gold and he seems rather pleased!

USA v Canada is now 1.1.

Alternating between the Women’s steeplechase and the women’s pole vault. Zaripova makes all to win gold for Russia in the steeplechase in the 3^rd fastest time ver.

3 all at Old Trafford in what is becoming an epic and Womack misses a sitter for the USA. Sinclair has a hat trick for the Canadians.

It’s all happening now. Kirani James of Granada wins the men’s 400m in style to beat fellow teenager Santos of the Dominican Republic. No runner from the USA in the final for the first time in donkey’s years and we had twin brothers from Belgium. Off to the boxing Anthony Ogogo fights Stefan Hartel from Germany. It’s extra time at Old Trafford. There is a vital hockey match in the women’s competition where Australia play Argentina with the winners going through to the semi finals.

Ogogo 5.2 up at the end of round 1. I wonder how the pole vault is going on. Ogogo leads 10.6 at the end of round 2. Ogogo in the semi finals winning 15.10 but the German was no pushover.

Jennifer Suhr has won the pole vault for the USA and the hockey is 0.0 at half time.

Fantastic header by Morgan wins it for USA in the third minute of stoppage time in extra time. They were only ahead in the game for 30 seconds. The hockey ends 0.0 and Argentina go though.It is still 0.0 in the hockey and a draw will do for Argentina.

 

Day 9 of the games started with the women’s marathon. The lead group consisted of 3 Ethiopians and 3 Kenyans at half way but Russian Petrova Arkhipova came through to join the leaders and managed to prevent an African clean sweep by taking bronze. Ethiopian Tiki Gelana proved too strong for her rivals and took gold with Kenya’s Jeptoo taking silver.

The sailing medal races were tense affairs where a maths degree would have been handy to keep up with the scoring. The remarkable Ben Ainslie bagged gold for the 4th consecutive games after battling his Danish rival Hogh-Christenson all week but in the Star class the Swedes just got the better of GBs Percy and Simpson.

China have bagged all 5 gold medals in the Badminton and generally had a pretty good day with Zhou Lulu winning the +75kg class in the weightlifting and China taking gold and silver in the women’s 3m Springboard diving. There was heartbreak for the Italian diver Tania Cagnotto who lost the bronze by 0.2 of a point to the Mexican Laura Sanchez.

The women’s beach volleyball has come down to the semi finals with the 4 qualifiers from Brazil, USA, Germany and the Czech Republic.

History was made with the first ever bout in women’s boxing. The Russian Savelyeva outpointed Kim of DPR Korea.

On the cycle track GB won silver in the men’s Omnium, a sort of cycling decathlon only with 6 events. Denmark’s Lasse Hansen won gold.

Italy are doing well in the fencing and today they won gold in the Men’s team foil.

There have been some very close finishes in this Olympics and GB missed out on another gold by a very narrow margin in the gymnastics where Hungary’s world champion Berti pipped GB’s Louis Smith in the pommel horse. GB also took bronze with Max Whitlock.

What a performance from Andy Muray who just blew away Federer in the singles final. Murray also grabbed a silver with his partner Laura Robson in the mixed doubles who lost in the tie break to Azarenka and Mirnyi. The Williams sisters won gold in the doubles yet again against the Czech pair in a repeat of the Wimbledon final. There was a minor upset in the men’s singles bronze medal match with Del Potro beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

The wrestling got under way today. There were no Greeks in the final of the Greco-roman 74kg class but a roman did win gold, Russian Roman Vlasov. The other gold medal, in the 55kg category went to Iran.

Performance of the day in the men’s hockey saw an amazing fight back by team GB. 3.0 down to Australia they came back to share the points 3.3. Wonderful comeback with the equaliser coming in the last 5 minutes.

Luke Campbell takes on a Bulgarian in the boxing quarter finals. If he wins this he is guaranteed a medal. I am watching this bout while waiting for the women’s 400m final where defending champion Christine Ohuruogu ha a bit of a chance of a medal. Great run from Christine to grab silver behind worthy champion Richards-Ross. Back to the boxing and Campbell is 1 point in arrears going into the last round. That’s it, it’s going to be close I don’t think he’s done enough. He’s done it 16.15 – phew!

Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan has just won the women’s triple jump. Next up is the 3,000m steeplechase– 1-2-3 for Kenya I suppose. Kemboi keeps up the Kenyan record with fellow countryman Mutoi gets bronze but Frenchman Mekhissi-Benabbad splits the Kenyan’s and takes silver.

There have been big games in the team sports. In the men’s hockey Holland beat Germany 3.1 in the clash between the top 2 in Group B. In the women’s handball Norway were beaten 25.20 by Spain.

The big moment of the evening coming up – the men’ 100m final. Is Usain going to bolt up. Bolt looked very good in the semis – I think he will win. Bolt – no problem!

More boxing tomorrow. Vasyl Lomachenko is number 1 seed in the lightweight division and meets a boxer from Puerto Rico. GB middleweight Anthony Ogogo will face a German opponent while Magomedrasul Medzhidov of Azerbaijan is looking good in the super heavies.

It is goal less at half time in the men’s hockey between Spain and Argentina. Time for bed.

 

Once again there has been some wonderful sport today starting with the women’s triathlon this morning. Heather Jenkins was the great GB hope and coming into the third phase, the run, she was in the leading group. That group was whittled down to just 5 athletes as they neared the finish but Jenkins just could stay with the pace. The finish though was quite something with the Swiss Spirig beating Norden of Sweden by a whisker – in fact it needed a photo to split them. Switzerland becomes the first nation to win the triathlon event twice at the Games following the victory of Brigitte McMahon in the women’s triathlon at Sydney 2000, where the sport made its Olympic debut.

The tennis tournament has produced some classic matches and today was no exception. Andy Murray and Laura Robson brilliantly won a Mixed Doubles semi-final for Great Britain against Germans Christopher Kas and Sabine Lisicki. They will meet Mirniy and Azarenka from Belrus in the final. Elsewhere at Wimbledon Serena Williams demolished Sharapova 6.0, 6.1 and the Bryan brothers took the men’s doubles for USA.

In the rowing Team GB celebrated double gold medal glory on an historic Olympic Saturday with the men’s Four and the women’s Lightweight Double Sculls winning titles in exciting style. It was very nearly three gold in the men’s lightweight double sculls but we were just pipped by the Danes.

There was a gutsy win for Denmark in the badminton men’s doubles when Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen recorded a thrilling  semi-final victory over Republic of Korea’s Chung Jae-sung and Lee Yong 17-21 21-18 22-20. In an all Chinese final Xuerui Li beat Yihan Wang in the women’s singles. China also won the women’s doubles with Japan getting the silver.

GB can do no wrong in the track cycling. Great Britain’s women claimed Team Pursuit gold in a blistering world record time at the Olympic Velodrome.

We just can’t stop winning gold medals with the latest coming in the men’s long jump thanks to Greg Rutherford, Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon and a magnificent performance from Mo Farah in the 10,000m. Phew! What a night of athletics.

What a shame that the evening ended with GBs defeat in the football. It just had to be another penalty shoot out.

Loads more to look forward to tomorrow with Ben Ainslie going for gold in the sailing. The gold medal in the Finn class is between Ainslie, Hogh-Christensen the Dane and Postma of the Netherlands. In the Star class Percy and Simpson, winners in Beijing have the Brazilians and the Swedes as the main danger. We also have the men’s 100m and the tennis finals.

 

Friday and the athletic starts today. Plenty more to look forward to though, cycling, rowing and the men’s singles tennis semis. There are some crucial basketball games. Russia v Australia in the men’s and Angola v Croatia in the womens.

We have the women’s football quarter finals later on. The women’s badminton singles has reached the semi final stage and I will be supporting the Indian player Saina Nehwal.

Midday and I’m trying to keep tabs on the badminton, volleyball and rowing simultaneously! The Dane’s Fisher and Pederson are in charge in the mixed doubles bronze medal match with the Indonesian pair out of sorts. One set up and 18.11 in the second. Back to the volleyball and China have saved a match point against Brazil. The Danes have got the bronze 21.12, 21.12 great performance. 26 all in the volleyball – tense stuff. 30.28 to the Chinese and it’s 2 sets all.

A mini shock in the men’s hockey with Argentina coming back from 0.2 down to draw with the Aussies in a feisty game. A brave effort from the GB women’s handball team but Angola just too strong for them and they go down 25.31.

Time to catch up on the various events.

Women’s football – France rather surprisingly beat Sweden 2.1 and go through to the semis.

Rowing – Gold for Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins of Great Britain in the Women’s Double Sculls and a bronze for Alan Campbell in the single sculls with New Zealand taking gold.

Evening and we need a quick catch up.

Cycling – Fantastic evening for team GB with gold in the team Pursuit beating the Aussies in the final and gold for Victoria Pendleton in the Keirin.

Volleyball – GB have lost to the Dominican Republic in straight sets.

Tennis Federer through against Del Potro 19.17 in an epic semi and Andy Murray has won the first set against Djokovic. In one of the greatest doubles matches I have ever seen Tsonga and Llodra have edged past Lopez and Ferrer 18.16 in the third set and will meet the Bryan brothers in the final. Serena Williams will play Sharapova in the women’s singles final.

Boxing – In the welterweight division Freddie Evans has beaten a Lithuanian to reach the last 8 while at the same weight Taras Shelestyuk looked good in beating a boxer from Moldova.

Women’s football – France, Japan and USA are through to the semi but GB are 1.0 down to Canada. 0.2 now and the GB dream could be over.

Swimming – No gold this time for Becky Adlington who has to settle for her second bronze behind runaway winner Katie Ledecky from the USA.

Hockey – GB beat Pakistan 4.1 and our next game is against Australia where both teams put 100% records on the line.

Weightlifting – Svetlana Podobedova of Kazakhstan won the gold in the women’s 75kg Weightlifting final.

Murray has 3 match points! Great service return to the Serbian’s feet and Murray will get at least a silver.

Looking forward to the women’s 10,000m where the Ethiopians will be hard to beat.

An hour gone at Coventry and GB still trail 0.2. Not looking good. Final score 0.2.

Women’s basketball and we are 53.50 down against France with 5 minutes t go. We end up losing in extra time.

The evening ends with an awesome performance from Dibaba in the women’s 10,000.

Looking forward to the triathlon tomorrow morning.

 

Away we go again. 8.40 on Thursday and Japan are playing Korea in the women’s hockey on the blue pitch. No score early doors. Plenty of good stuff to come though with track cycling and rowing hopefully providing team GB with more success. In the tennis Djokovic meets Tsonga on centre court.

We have the men’s singles semis in the table tennis where an all Chinese final is on the cards. In the badminton we have the men’s doubles this morning. There are 7 countries represented but only Denmark from Europe.

Half time in the hockey and there is no score. In the badminton quarters the Malaysian pair are leading the Thais 19.13 in the first set – entertaining stuff. There is a spectacular game in the men’s basketball between France and Lithuanian – 25.21 to the French so far.

Latvia have taken the first set in the men’s beach volleyball but Holland are staging a comeback in the second as it is all square at 16 all. France lead Lithuania 37.35 and back at the hockey Korea have gone 1.0 up. GB lead Egypt in the women’s team foil and it’s time I went off to work! More later – rowing, tennis, etc.

Lunchtime now and we have reached the quarter finals of the women’s archery. South Korea take on Russia. The first set is shared score 1-1. Russia takes the 3^rd set and we are 3 all. 4^th set goes to Korea and Korea just need a point to go through. After 2 arrows it’s 18 each – tension mounts. Russia shoots 9. Buillseye to win. 10 it is Korea go though.

Medals all over the place for Team GB. According to the press before the games there was little cause for optimism from our judo team after the entire coaching staff was replaced. Gemma Gibbons a 25 year old from South London proved the critics wrong though with a silver just beaten by an American in the final. It was the gold in the shooting though after a tense finish the world record holder in double trap, 6 foot 6 Peter Wilson won his event.

At Eton Dorney Great Britain’s lightweight men’s four won a gutsy silver just edged out by South Africa. We went even better in the canoeing slalom winning gold and silver. Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott were surprise winners pushing the more fancied Britons David Florence and Richard Hounslow into second.

The Women’s archery final went to the favourite Bo Bae Ki from South Korea despite a spirited display from the Mexican Aida Roman. Earlier in the day at Eton Dorney USA won the women’s 8s.

Back live and Roger Federer is playing John Isner. The game is going with serve at the moment. The track cycling has started with the men’s and women’s team sprint finals coming up later. It’s Spain v USA in the women’s beach volleyball with the winners to top Group B.

Badminton the men’s doubles has reached the semi finals stage with the 4 teams from Malaysia, China, Denmark and South Korea. The mixed doubles will feature 2 Chinese pairs with Denmark and Indonesia to fight for the bronze. In the women’s singles there are 2 Chinese, a Thai and a lady from India. The women’s doubles semis feature Russia, Japan, Canada and of course China.

Men’s Basketball. In Group A USA are unbeaten with France going best of the rest. In Group B Brazil v Russia is an important game tonight. In the womens competition USA and China top Group A France and Russia are 100%.

In the men’s handball France and Spain head their groups. In the women’s competition there are some important games tomorrow. Croatia v Montenegro and Korea v France.

In the men’s hockey we have a crucial game tomorrow morning against Pakistan who we beat in the London 1948 games in the semi finals. Our women’s team are going well and should beat Belgium tonight.

Back to the beach volleyball and it’s 17.16 to USA. Tennis again and Federer has the first set. Cycling now and Pendleton and Varnish looking for a polished performance in their heat against the Ukraine. GB win easily but it looks as though we will be disqualified.

Tea time now and it’s Sharapova v Clijsters with the Russian taking thr first set. In the mixed doubles Andy Murray and Laura Robson are a set up.

Great win in the team spring for GB beating the French. Chris Hoy showing just what Bran Flakes can do!

The Belgium v GB hockey is under way and it’s 6 all in the tie break in the mixed doubles. Great shot from Robson and it’s match point. Now it’s 7.8 and set point to the Czechs. One set all and the match will be settled by a match tine break.

In the badminton Lin Dan has beaten Sasaki of Japan and goes into the semi finals. GB 7.5 up in the tennis after 5 straight winning points. Murray ace – 8.5. That’s it well done Robson and Murray. Sam Stosur and Leighton Hewitt in the next round. We are 1.0 up in the hockey.

Women’s all round gold in the Gymnastics has gone to Gabrielle Douglas.

Boxing now and Josh Taylor takes on the world number 1 Valentino of Italy in the lightweight competition. A spirited effort from the Scot but the experience of the Italian prevailed and he goes through 15.10. Another win for Italy in the womem’s team foil

It’s the medal ceremony for the 200m individual medley with Michael Phelps getting his gold medal – his 20^th Olympic medal! The hockey ends 3.0 to GB.

Phew – bedtime.