LDN 2012: Review of Day 1 for GB Paralympics

Thank you to our friends at Parlympic GB for the following information.

Britain lie third in the medal table at the end of day one of the London 2012 Paralympic Games after winning seven medals from four sports, two fewer than Australia who are second behind table-toppers China.

Headlines

Super Storey wins first for Britain: Sarah Storey (pictured above) clinched Britain’s first gold of the Games, just hours after she had smashed the world record in qualifying for the C5 Individual Pursuit final and minutes after Mark Colbourne had claimed Britain’s first medal – a silver - in the Velodrome.

Fox flies to gold and world record: Three ParalympicsGB swimmers washed up with medals on the first evening’s action at the Aquatics Centre where the plaudits belonged to gold medallist and world record breaker Jonathan Fox.

Quilter bags battling bronze: Judoka Ben Quilter bounced back from quarter-final defeat to take bronze on the mat at the ExCeL.

Newson takes bronze with PB lift: Zoe Newson lifted a personal best 88kg to capture Powerlifting bronze in the Under 40kg class.

ParalympicsGB medals Day 1: Gold: 2. Silver: 3. Bronze: 2.

ParalympicsGB medals total: Gold: 2. Silver: 3. Bronze: 2.

Sport by sport round-up

Archery: Kenny Allen crowned his first appearance at a Paralympics with a Games record to top the men’s Recurve Standing rankings and make him one of the medal favourites. Danielle Brown placed first in the women’s Compound competition, matching her Paralympic record from Beijing.

Cycling: Sarah Storey stormed to victory in the Velodrome, riding a wave of noise to overtake her opponent well before she’d pedalled the full 3km of her Pursuit final. Mark Colbourne had raised the roof himself when he struck silver in the men’s C1-2-3 1km Time Tria,l leaving team-mate Darren Kenny in fourth.

Equestrian: Lee Pearson and Natasha Baker won their events on the opening day of the Team test at Greenwich Park. Despite making an error, Pearson overcame the rain to score 74.682% while Baker scored 76.095%, her highest in international events.

Goalball: Niall Graham scored Britain’s first ever Paralympic goal but it was a tough opening match for GB’s men who lost 11-1 to world champions Lithuania. It was a similar story for the GB women who lost 7-1 to defending champions China in their first group game.

Judo: Ben Quilter won bronze in the Under-60kg class, overcoming a left knee injury and quarter-final defeat to beat Japan’s Takaaki Hirai in just over a minute in the bronze medal match.

Powerlifting: Zoe Newson, the youngest member of GB’s squad, celebrated her Paralympic Games debut by equaling her personal best to take bronze in the Under 40kg class.

Shooting: Di Coates’ hopes of a sixth Paralympic medal slipped by in her last series of qualifying shots and she missed the Air Rifle final by two points. Adrian Bunclark missed out on a place in his Air Pistol final on his first taste of Paralympic Games action.

Sitting Volleyball: Britain’s men fought hard against Beijing bronze medallists Russia but went down in three sets.

Swimming:  Jonathan Fox broke the S7 Backstroke world record in his morning heat and led the final from start to finish to take Britain’s second gold of the Games. Nyree Kindred struck silver in the S6 100m Backstroke, her 10th Paralympic medal, and 16 year old Hannah Russell smashed her British S12 400m Freestyle record to place second in that event.

Table Tennis: Medal-favourite Will Bayley was one of four Britons to win Singles matches but Aaron McKibbin will not go through after losing two games on day one.

Wheelchair Basketball: A stirring fightback from Britain’s men was eventually thwarted by Germany, who led by 17 points in the first half but needed extra-time to win 77-72. It was a more difficult day for the women, who lost 60-35 to a strong Netherlands side.

For more news and pictures from London 2012, go to the ParalympicsGB website: www.paralympics.org.uk/gb

LDN 12: Paralympic GB officially welcomed into the Athletes’ Village

Thank you to our friends at Paralympic GB for the following post.

Britain’s Paralympic team have been officially welcomed into the Athletes’ Village in a colourful ceremony witnessed by Games volunteers, officials and politicians, on the day before the Games are declared open.

A cast of 140 performers assembled by the National Youth Theatre put on a display of song and dance as many of the 300-strong GB team, plus support staff, were led by chef de mission Craig Hunter in a parade on the Village plaza.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, acting Paralympic Village Mayor and 11 times a Paralympic gold medallist, told the athletes: “After years of early morning practice, after hours and hours of dedicated training, after all of the struggle and sacrifice, your time has come.

“We are so excited that you are finally here and can’t wait to experience the extraordinary talent, excitement and pride you will bring to our city and everyone in our country.

“Through these Games we want to inspire lasting change across the world. You as athletes can help us to achieve this."

Referring to the founder of the Paralympic movement, Ludwig Guttmann, she said; “He would be immensely proud of you all. You are his legacy.”

The ceremony was witnessed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson MP, and by Dame Tessa Jowell MP, the Shadow Minister for the Olympics and Shadow Minister for London.

Craig Hunter said: “That was the most amazing welcome ceremony. We had virtually all of our team present and that was a special and quite unique moment.

“I was the proudest person in the whole world when I walked up to be greeted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

“It was a really defining moment for the team. Bring on the Games! Everyone is ready for the competition to start.”

The 30-minute welcome ceremony celebrated Britain’s two Elizabethan ages and featured dancers dressed in Elizabethan ruffs and urban street-wear. The cast have performed the ceremony 42 times for teams arriving at the Olympic Park.

Very diverse, very different, exciting and upbeat. . .It's going to be amazing Peter Norfolk

Among the British athletes present was Di Coates, the shooter who will be taking part in a record-equalling eighth Games. Coates, 54, from Hampshire, will begin competition at 09:00 on Thursday morning, so will miss the Opening Ceremony, scheduled to end late on Wednesday night.

“There’s no Opening Ceremony for me so this was my Opening Ceremony,” she said. “It was very different to what I’ve ever seen before.”

Coates, who has seven medals and has won three Paralympic titles, added: “There’s only one thing to go for and that’s the gold. My expectations are still the same. You always want to same thing, although every [Games] is different.”

Tennis player Peter Norfolk described the ceremony as “very diverse, very different, exciting and upbeat”.
The double Paralympic champion, 51, who will be Great Britain’s flagbearer at Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony, said: “It is going to be just amazing. I can’t wait.

“Coming into the stadium with 80,000 people is going to be fantastic and leading our greatest ever team out, I’m dumbfounded that I was chosen to do it.

“Everyone has been coming up to me with congratulations [since the announcement]; it’s been wonderful.”
Fellow tennis player Jamie Burdekin, a Liverpudlian who will be appearing at his second Games, said: “I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like that. Now I know the Paralympics are actually starting.

“We’ve just arrived from a tennis camp at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton and this has blown everything out of the water.

“I can see the stands of the tennis arena from here [in the Village]. I am imagining them full of British fans, and it makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.”

Archer Mel Clarke from Worcester thoroughly enjoyed the display, saying: “It was absolutely awesome, especially coming down and seeing everyone along the bank cheering. The noise was phenomenal. It was definitely an experience I will never forget.”

Goalball player Joe Dodson, from Leicester, added: “That was really captivating, interesting and probably a good advert for what the Games will be, which is very loud.”

LDN 12: Zoe Newson is aiming to lift a personal best

Today the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics, tomorrow the competition begins.  Excitement grows ahead of the predicted best attended paralympic games in history. Paralympic GB are aiming to improve on the last haul of medals.

Thanks to our friends at Paralympic GB for the following post and for providing information throughout the games.

GO TEAM GB!

British powerlifter Zoe Newson is aiming to lift a personal best in front of home fans when she competes at her first Paralympic Games at the ExCeL on the first day of competition tomorrow (Thursday).

The 20-year-old from Colchester, who lifts in the women’s Under 40kg event on the first evening session of the Games, won the world junior title in Kuala Lumpur in 2010 and broke the European record by lifting more than twice her bodyweight to win the British title last year.

But that record fell to Nazmiye Muslu in February this year and Newson is tipping the Turkish lifter for gold at London 2012.

”I’m ranked third or fourth in the world, but my aim is just to get a personal best and enjoy it, doing the best I can,” she said after training in the Paralympic venue on Tuesday. “I’m not concentrating on medals, I think Nazmiye Muslu and China’s Cui Zhe will get gold and silver.”

Newson, who admits to a fondness for beans, sausages and tomato ketchup, is pleased to be competing on day one  so she can enjoy the rest of the Games, including the food in the Paralympic Village.

“I’m glad I’m on the first day of the tournament because you have to watch what you eat,” said Newson. “If I was on right at the end of the competition, I wouldn’t be able to eat certain foods or enjoy it.

“This is my first Paralympics. I just missed out on qualifying for Beijing but I think I would have finished last if I had made it. But I’m excited because this is my first one and it’s my home country, so you can’t get better than that.”

Kult & Punk: St Pauli run out of energy.

The boys, with feet back on terra firma, are with us in the flesh once more. Not, I grant you, a pleasant sight. They dispatched young Grunter to watch St Pauli continue their poor start to the campaign. Kult & Punk had zoes Bar official business to attend too. The full list of gigs is almost complete and the most important part of all, is the Dart League is due to start.

So here is young Grunters first match report -

Energie Cottbus 2-0 FC St. Pauli

Cottbus showed exactly how they had made an unbeaten start to the season with a series of swift attacks, culminating in the first big opportunity of the game in the 13th minute when Daniel Adlung's shot hit the crossbar and fell out to Nicolas Farina, who lifted the ball over the bar as he fell backwards. It remained one-way traffic and, within a minute, Adler was through on goal again, but he placed his shot wide of the post. With only St. Pauli goalkeeper Philipp Tschauner to beat, Farina missed the home side's next big chance in the 17th minute before they finally made the breakthrough they deserved in the 21st minute when Stieperman's shot deflected into the far corner. Boubacar Sanogo wasted the chance to double Cottbus' lead when he did the hard work in stealing the ball off Tscharner, but shot into the side-netting on the half-hour mark.

It was a similar story in the second half, with Cottbus continuing to demonstrate their superiority. They went close to a second in the 48th minute, but Farina took too long getting the ball under control at the far post and the chance went begging. Ivica Banovic took matters into his own hands to give Cottbus a two-goal cushion in the 66th minute. He picked up possession outside the St. Pauli penalty area and shifted the ball onto his left foot before shooting low and in off the base of the right-hand upright. Konstantin Engel made a fine goalline clearance to deny Mahir Saglik with Pauli's first chance of the match in the 68th minute, but the Cottbus goal never came under threat again as Rudi Bommer's men moved on to seven points from their first three games of the season, leaving Pauli with just two.

March to the Arch 4: The Bloaters Cup exploits ended by Witham

March to the Arch continued, as we followed Great Yarmouth Town FC into the preliminary Round match against Witham Town. The bloaters campaign ended there and then, in no uncertain style as Witham hammered them 8-1. Great Yarmouth did become the 1st club in MTTA history to win a bonus point after defeating Barkingside in the previous round.

Full update as to the progress of the feature later this week. Thanks Great Yarmouth and come on Witham Town in the next round.

Thank you Reecca Abbott for the following match report, taking in full from the Great Yarmouth Town F.C website. Make the time, go down and watch the Bloaters this season a great day out.

Graet Yarmouth Town 1 Witham Town 8

The Bloaters have been knocked out of the FA Cup at the Preliminary Round after falling to a heavy defeat to Ryman Division One North side Witham Town

Debutant Neil McMorran equalised early in the second half after Witham took the lead in the ninth minute, but two quick goals in retaliation killed the game as a contest.

McMorran started in place of Sim Lee in the heart of defence while left-back Adam Clarke made his first start of the season.

Wingers Charlie McAra and Fernando Vide returned to starting lineup along with striker Danny Scriven.Ben Cudden was the first keeper called into action on three minutes, turning a well placed free kick round the post from 20 yards.

Witham took the lead six minutes later with a goal that was scrappy to concede. A long throw into the box eventually dropped for Billy Hunt in the area whose low shot was deflected past the wrong-footed Cudden.

The two division gap seemed not to bother Yarmouth as a long range free kick from Joe Bryanton midway through the half warmed the hands of the visiting keeper.

Minutes later Danny Lopez fired a long range effort wide and James Stevens's effort was parried into the path of Hunt who poked the rebound wide.

Robert Whitnell, Bradley Stopher and Tom de Vaux all flicked headers off target before Yarmouth had their best spell of possession just before half time.

Good work from Charlie McAra allowed Callum Jones to burst into area, but his square ball from the byline towards Danny Scriven was cut out and cleared away.

Yarmouth started the brightest after the break with their reward coming four minutes into the half after Danny Scriven was unfairly blocked just outside the visitor's penalty area.

Scriven picked himself up and curled the resulting free kick onto the corner of post and crossbar - the keeper would have been beaten - with the rebound falling kindly for Neil McMorran who reacted quickest to head the ball into an empty net.

The goal looked to have changed the momentum of the game only for two quick fire goals to but the visitor back in control. Billy Hunt's turn and shot on the edge of the box squeezed past the dive of Cudden before Whitnell powered a corner home with a free header.

Another free header from a set piece - this time from Tom de Vaux following a free kick - got Witham's fourth on 57 minutes.

While on 70 minutes another corner fell to de Vaux whose looping header squeezed in between the crossbar and the defender on the line.

The Bloaters' best spell of possession came with the introduction of David Grandao on 74 minutes. Seconds after coming on the winger provided the cross for Callum Jones to acrobatically volley wide.

Three minutes later Grandao latched onto a Johnny Jarvis clearance and after beating his man the substitute pulled the ball back to Danny Scriven, but the striker missed his shot.

Three goals in the final ten minutes ended the scoring for the visitors. Danny Lopez found Joe Illett who placed a low shot across the face of goal for the sixth in the 81st minute.

Though the seventh goal should not have been awarded. Jerome Walker fell to ground too easily on the corner of the box under minimal pressure from substitute Olly McCarthy, Robert Whitnell despatched the resulting penalty.

While the eighth came in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Joe Illett's cross found Ryan Imbert who beat Cudden at the near post with a low shot from six yards.

Yarmouth XI: Ben Cudden, Danny Burkle, Adam Clarke (Olly McCarthy 64), Sam Giacomelli, Neil McMorran, Johnny Jarvis, Charlie McAra (Josh Thomas 88), Callum Jones, Danny Scriven, Joe Bryanton, Fernando Vide (David Grandao 74).

Kult & Punk: St Pauli kick off Bundesliga 2 2012/2013

That James is a good lad. No sooner had we posted last weeks game, he has found the match report for Match Day 1. As mentioned in the previous post, Kult and Punk (pictured - not really) are back next week. Wednesday, if not sooner. This will be the 4th season that we have followed St Pauli, here is looking at a successful season.

Erzgebirge Aue 0-0 FC St. Pauli

Ergebirge Aue and FC St. Pauli started their Bundesliga 2 campaigns with a point after a tight encounter ended goalless.

St. Pauli were forced onto the back foot early on, although chances were few and far between. The home side were unable to build up any momentum and their two best chances both came from set-piece situations. Vlad Munteanu first curled a free-kick onto the roof of the net in the 33rd minute before bending another effort over from 25 yards. St. Pauli's first attempt on goal arrived a minute before the interval when Florian Bruns' powerful effort from 20 yards was parried by a cautious Aue goalkeeper Martin Männel

Männel magic

Marius Ebbers, who has scored 98 goals in Bundesliga 2, went close to his 99th when he reached Bruns' cross at the far post, but his header was pushed over instinctively by Männel, who repeated his heroics to deny Fabian Boll from the resulting corner. Aue went the closest to breaking the deadlock in the 79th minute when Jakub Sylvestr cut in from the left and poked his shot against the inside of the far post, but a late flurry from the home side went unrewarded as the spoils were shared as the sun set over the Sparkasse-Erzgebirgsstadion.

Kult & Punk: The season returns, we catch up with St Pauli

First and foremost, we must issue an apology. The boys return from holiday today and only just remembered to notify us the Budesliga 2 has started. St Pauli are currently 2 games into the season. We will bring you tomorrow's match report on Wednesday. Meantime, here is the report from last weekend. Thanks to our friend James Thorogood for the folowing post and for searching for Match Day 1. Kult and Punk are back on Wednesday.


FC St. Pauli 1-1 FC Ingolstadt

Andre Schubert and Tomas Oral both named unchanged sides in Saturday's afternoon encounter. Both players and fans paid tribute to St. Pauli legend Günter Peine before kick-off, inspiring a lively start to proceedings. The Kiezkicker squandered the first clear-cut chance when Marius Ebbers blazed over from close range after Ramazan Özcan had spilled Fin Bartels' initial shot.

Quickfire double fails to inspire

At the other end Philipp Tschauner had just as much trouble dealing with Pascal Groß's long-range effort but was able to smoother the ball at the second attempt. Ingolstadt were happy to sit deep and keep things tight in order to frustrate the hosts, but just when the chances looked to have dried up, Caiuby squeezed out a thumping drive that rattled the woodwork.

Pauli set their stall early in the second half by retaining possession but found themselves behind ten minutes after the restart. Caiuby burst past Florian Kringe to drill the ball across the box where Christian Eigler got the all-important touch to put Ingolstadt ahead. However, the visitor's joy was short-lived as Florian Mohr equalised less than a minute later when he headed home from Dennis Daube's curling free-kick. Both sides threw caution to the wind in the closing stages of the encounter and, though there was a flurry of chances at either end, neither outfit could clinch all three points.

March to the Arch 4: Bloaters beat the ' Side in the opening salvo

The Premier League and Football League programmes all began today, in fact all football is back. We thought it would be a good time to catch up with the Extra Preliminary Round of the F.A.Cup. The tournament started last weekend, as always, our March to the Arch feature took its first steps for the 2012/2013 season.

We opened, by tradition, at Oakside the home of the mighty Barkingside FC. Also, unfortunately by tradition, the 'Side bowed out at the 1st attempt.

To be fair, it did take a replay. Last Saturdays match, versus Great Yarmouth Town, ended as a 1-1 draw and the bloaters brought the 'side back to their plaice (I know, it's spelt wrong, think about it).

Great Yarmouth Mercury will take the story from here,

A late switch of venue proved to be no problem for Great Yarmouth Town as they booked their place in the preliminary round of the FA Cup with an impressive 3-0 victory over Barkingside last night.

The Bloaters had to play the replay at Kirkley & Pakefield’s Walmer Road ground because The Wellesley was being used for an athletics meeting.

But they shone in the unusual surroundings, with Mitch Forbes scoring a hat-trick (20, 73 76) to set up a genuine home match against Witham Town in the preliminary round on August 25.

I thank you Great Yarmouth Mercury. So the Bloaters will represent Sports Pulse in the Preliminary round of the F.A.Cup next week in our March to the Arch feature.

Tapes Up: Diamonds Take Sweet Revenge Over Redcar

Thank you to our friends at Newcastle Diamonds media team, for the following post and photo.

Newcastle Diamonds 54
Redcar Bears 39
Premier League

Top Scorers

Newcastle Diamonds: Robin Aspegren 15 1, Mark Lemon 12 1
Redcar Bears: Ulrich Ostergaard 12, Kevin Doolan 11


It was once again a match filled with the smell of revenge as the Redcar Bears, fresh from a win over the Newcastle Diamonds arrived on Tyneside last night, but with the home side also smarting from a hammering at Edinburgh the night before it was a case of utter urgency.

Stuart Robson won Heat One after a fine battle with Ulrich Ostergaard with the Newcastle man managing to shoot back under the Bear in a stunning inside move on the second bend to share the race.

Guest Diamond from Berwick, Robin Aspegren jetted away from the Heat Two gate to in by a mile and with the second guest for Newcastle Paul Starke help out Jade Mudgway to the end in a home 4-2 putting Newcastle into the lead 7-5.

Aspegren was again involved in a heat advantage for Newcastle when finished third ahead of Mudgway with Ludvig Lindgren taking a good solid win in front for another 4-2 but better was to come as Mark Lemon and Christian Henry made a brilliant gate over Ostergaard and Carl Wilkinson to take a good maximum 5-1.

Aspegren and Robson did likewise to Matej Kus and Simon Neilsen in the sixth race to take an easy 5-1 to take the score to 24-12 which led to the Bears nominating Kevin Doolan as a tactical ride in Heat Seven for double points, and he made a superb gate to easily take a six point haul, and with Aaron Summers in second ahead of Lindgren the heat score was 1-8 tightening the match up to 25-20.

Henry and Aspegren made another lightning start from the gate in Heat Eight but Henry had to cling on to his two points as his machine was visibly slowing towards the flag in an all-important 5-1 putting Newcastle nine-up at 30-21.

Lemon and a repaired Henry battered another huge 5-1 past Kus and Neilsen in the ninth to ram home their domination but that meant another tactical ride for the Bears in Heat 10 for Summers only for Aspegren to jet ahead and Robson to battle through from the back to pass both Doolan and Summers to negate the tactical ride completely and record yet another home maximum.

Lindgren had a lucky escape on bend three on the opening lap of Heat 11 when he lifted violently and flew a few feet off the ground into the fence, but got to his feet almost immediately to tend to his bent machine as he walked back to the pits.

In the re-run The Bears took no time in seeing off Starke in a 1-5, but Lemon blasted hard round the outside of both Doolan and Neilsen to take a sensational win in a shared race 3-3, taking the score to 44-31 with three races left on the card.

A maximum in the 14th sealed beyond doubt he match with guest Aspegren taking a paid win to top score with 15 1.

Heat 15 had the added glory of the winner becoming the 45th holder of the Julian Barnett Memorial Trophy remembering the Newcastle Diamonds' supporter who lost his life in a road accident returning from a match at King's Lynn and it was Ostergaard who rode a brilliant gate to flag race to comfortably take the win, but with Robson and Lemon behind there was no change to the 15-point gap between the sides.

Team Manager George English said: "This was more like it and we really got back onto top form again, but I have to thank our guest at reserve, Robin Aspegren who excelled to take a paid 16 points tonight from his seven rides, it was a superb effort."

LDN 2012: Secret Diary of a Games Maker - Final part.

Everybody is packing up, just leaves us with the final instalment from the Secret Games Maker. Thank you Mr Pete Lewis for your posts, much appreciated from all at Sports Pulse Towers. Here is to the Paralympics in a couple of weeks, let the games continue and the legacy begin.

Day 9 - Last day

It had to happen sooner or later and sadly the day came yesterday with the final shift of the Olympic Games for me.

Sun was beating down and shining brightly and it was a wonderful afternoon in Stratford. Got there in plenty of time to chat and mingle with the friends I've made amongst the photographers and media guys and of course begging for more pin badges! Turns out I only got 1 and that was from European Photopress Agency, but another one nonetheless. Had a quick volunteer team photo before starting my shift and it was quite funny seeing about 400 people being marshalled into position in the stands.

First match up was the small matter of GB V New Zealand for the women's bronze medal and I got first dibs on where I wanted to be. I chose the opposite corner to the main media entry to the field of play so I could at least be pitchside, in the sun and soaking up the atmosphere. If I'd been a bit quicker, just as I left to walk to my position, Kate Windsor nee Middleton, walked right past where I had been standing and I could have got a pic of her. Was looking the other way at the time and missed out

Cracking game it was with GB fully deserving their 3-1 win and taking the bronze medal. The roar in the Riverbank was unbelievable and even though we're not meant to outwardly show our support, it was hard not to join in when you look round and see all the other Games Makers clapping, smiling and jumping around!

I even got involved in the celebrations as a couple of flags from the crowd had been thrown towards the pitch to give to the girls so someone had to go and pick them up and pass them on to our victorious girls... :whistling: We'd see them again later on though for the medal ceremony after the final.

Dinner next and it was sausage lyonnaise with boiled new potatoes and veg or some other weird and wonderful concoction that I didn't understand but it was a veggie dish so I left it. They also gave us huge slices of sponge cake for dessert, but even at my fattest and greediest, I'd never have polished off a piece of cake that size. Plenty of unnecessary wasted food around the break area due to cake not being eaten.

Time for a bit of sunbathing before a briefing on who was going where for the final and how we'd be operating for the victory ceremony.

I was quite disappointed that my position was at the back of the stands pretty much as far away from the medals as you could get and with a crap camera phone, I was never going to get any decent pics. I did have the advantage of being about 10 rows behind the Dutch brass band who are infinitely better than the British guys.

The Riverbank was a sea of orange for the final and the Dutch took the game to Argentina and beat them convincingly in the end. However the Dutch showed true Olympic spirit by giving the Argentinians an almost equally as loud a cheer when they went on their lap of honour as they give their own team. The third loudest cheer was reserved for the British girls as they came out for the medal ceremony and plenty of Union Flags appeared around the Arena. As my photo position had nigh on emptied I went down to pitchside for the anthems and got a video of the flags being raised from about 10ft away, if that! Also filmed the British girls coming off the pitch with their medals and flowers and managed to get some discarded flowers to take home for my fiancee.

Back into the office for the final time and the good-byes, and also receiving our certificates and a little pin badge from LOCOG and the IOC thanking us for our efforts during London 2012.

Walked around and said my good-byes to the media guys and swapped email addresses and got some pictures coming my way from them

It was hard not to have tears in my eyes as I walked out of the Park for the final time last night. I lived my 24yr old dream out in my 'home' city. I saw the Olympics come to my country and was a part of it. I was involved. I did my bit at the Games, however insignificant it may be in the grand scheme of things. I saw Team GB deservedly win a medal and get it awarded. Am I sad I won't be doing it again? Definitely! Am I happy I did it? No. Really? I'm over the moon I did it!!! I met some wonderful people from across the World and made some amazing friends. I would urge anyone to apply for these sorts of things if/when they come up again. Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games is the next big thing over here, so it's likely they'll want volunteers. For those 'oop North' I would highly recommend it. It's a feeling that is hard to be topped.

LDN 2012: Secret Diary of a Games Maker Part 8

Part 8 of the diary. Did you finnish Part 7 before this was posted. We reveal the Games Maker on Monday - I know you're excited.

I should have known it was going to be a bad day when I missed my train at lunchtime. I mistimed how long it would take me and I was only a few minutes out, but as we know trains are always on time, except if you're there waiting for it!

Anyways got in to Stratford and through security pretty quickly, although I did take my time as a pretty little blonde RAF girl was searching bags at security and I was tempted to get frisked, but thought better of it!

As it was, I was still early, but then got put on the most pointless position there is - outside the door to the media centre on the way up to the Olympic Family entrance point. Basically it's to stop the photographers taking pics of any celebs coming in to the stadium...No-one told me that after 10-15mins of the first half I could go inside the VMC or to the stadium somewhere, so I sat there like a mug til half time before going upstairs to another new spot for me - the tribunes. No photographers were up there for Germany V Australia, so I spent most of the time watching the game. The Germans were ruthless in the second half and I'd suggest putting a couple of quid on them to win on Saturday.

Dinner time next and plenty of time to chill out before semi-final 2 at 8 between Holland and GB. As noted in the last entry, the menu is being recycled as tonight's options were vegetable chilli or roast turkey in mustard gravy and roast veg. I went with the chilli which was rather tasty to be honest. Passed on the ginger cake for pudding as I don't like ginger at all.

Sat out in the sunshine doing the crossword and then was told I had been seconded to the tribunes for the GB game as they were expecting it to be rammed with journalists and media bods. As it was there was sod all there. Perhaps they knew what was coming....

What a shambles the GB game was. It promised so much before hand, but the 4th best team in the World were taken apart and given a real hiding by the 3rd best team in the World. At 2-1 down we had a chance, but then they just ran riot and demolished. Wave after wave of attack had orange shirts open for passes whereas when we went forwards we just tried to take them on ourselves and made too many errors. Plus point of being up in the tribunes I got to meet the legendary Barry Davies and Sean Kerly at half time. Second half was all Holland though and every attempt by us to go forwards left us horribly exposed at the back and one of their goals they had 3 forwards attacking with just 1 Brit defending. Appalling. 9-2 was a good score for GB, but if the Germans were playing it could have been more! I said above the Germans were worth backing. They were, until I watched the hockey masterclass from the Dutch and I'd put your house on them on taking home the gold.

After the game I went down pitchside to applaud both teams off and got a few nods of appreciation from the British guys, but you could tell they were dejected and disappointed.

Everyone else had left, but there were still plenty of photographers about and I was helping them out in the workroom by getting internet cables, tea and coffee and getting some news on injured players for them. 2 of them have promised me pin badges tomorrow, so hopefully they are decent ones!

On my way back to the bus pick-up point, I had to stop as John McEnroe was coming across from the media centre onto the Park, so I said "Hi" to him briefly, but no time for an autograph or a picture.

Looking forward to tomorrow as it's the medal games in the women's event and I really hope our girls get the bronze they deserve. Wouldn't like to call the final at all, but it could well be "Double Dutch", but I wouldn't rule the Argentinians out at all.

Worst bit is tomorrow is my last day, but I wouldn't have changed anything I've done or experienced for anything!

LDN 2012: Secret Diary of a Games Maker Part 7

Part 7 of the secret diary, part 8 will be here before you can read ..... Part 7

Got in in plenty of time, so had a chat with the boss about a few things that were coming up and also she asked how the handball was and whether I went to water polo in the end last night.

As it was India V Belgium up first we had ...

an influx of 'new faces' or at least not regulars as hockey is popular in India and Belgium and as it was the last group game there was a fair bit of interest. I can't remember the score as it was a pretty dull game to be honest. I think Belgium won convincingly though, but could easily be wrong.

Dinner was next as the supposed 'podium rehearsal' for Friday and Saturday night's awarding of medals was cancelled as the pitch needed watering and the podium hadn't turned up... I think chef has been photocopying last weeks menu and editing it slightly as tonight's choice was lemon and herb crusted pollock or Thai green vegetable curry with noodles. I went with the pollock and had a tomato and onion salad with it and some broccoli. Dessert was a small sliver of blackberries with coconut crumble. A big roar went up as we were all watching Sir Chris Hoy win his 6th Olympic gold and most Brits in there sang the national anthem when he stood proudly blubbering during it.

Outside again and into 'The gate' area for the small matter of GB V Spain. GB needed a point at minimum to get out their group and into the semi-finals. Spain needed to win to leapfrog us and get through. Super Ashley Jackson scored another trademark penalty corner. Then controversy and almost heartache at the end of the game for GB as Spain had so many chances but they failed to convert them. Having said that, the officials changed their minds after making a decision and it left us baffled, but ultimately happy. Spain's coaching staff and players were not impressed at the final buzzer, but thems the breaks.

Got to meet the lovely Helen Skelton before and after the game. She's so tiny though!!!

The heaven's had opened and the next game was what looked like being a dull and boring affair of New Zealand V Germany with both sides playing for pride as Germany were already assured of a semi-final place and NZ a classification game. However no-one had banked on a 10 goal thriller! NZ went 5-2 up at one stage, but Germany rallied back and showed why they are current gold medallists and tied the game late on with 1:13 left on the clock. On my way out later I met a couple of the NZ players and told them that I believed they were the better side and deserved to win. They thanked me, but were clearly still disappointed and upset they had thrown away a 3 goal lead.

Easy journey home though and looking forward to Thursday night where I hope to be pitchside for GB V Netherlands in the semi-final. Going to be really tough for GB in this game, but the passion and pride will lift them that bit more I expect.

LDN2012: Day 12 Medal Hopes

Thank you to Team GB and the Press Association for the following post and photo.

Team GB surpassed their Beijing haul yesterday by taking their gold medal tally to 22, with 48 accrued overall, and here we take a look at the top Brits in action on Wednesday.

ATHLETICS: Mo Farah

Farah starts his bid for a second Olympic gold when he lines up in the heats of the 5,000 metres. The 29-year-old is the reigning world champion and on a high after winning the 10,000m title in stunning fashion at the weekend.

BOXING: Thomas Stalker

Liverpool's Stalker will become the latest Team GB boxer to guarantee at least a bronze medal if the world number one comes through a tough light-welterweight bout against Mongolia's experienced Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg.

CANOEING: Tim Brabants

Brabants competes in the final of the men's K1 1000 metres after qualifying by just four hundredths of a second. After struggling with injury, the 35-year-old faces a tough task to retain the title he won in Beijing. Jessica Walker, Rachel Cawthorn, Angela Hannah and Louisa Sawers compete in the final of the women's K4 500 metres.

CYCLING: Shanaze Reade

The 23-year-old Crewe rider crashed out when attempting a gold-medal-or-bust manoeuvre in Beijing on BMX's Olympic debut and is seeking to bounce back in London. The three-time world champion has had a challenging four years, but is ready to complete her collection with Olympic gold.

DIVING: Monique Gladding

Veteran platform diver Gladding will make her Olympic debut 18 months after she almost lost her life following a freak diving accident. The 30-year-old hit her head on the 10-metre tower at a meet in Russia and after plummeting unconscious into the water, had to be rescued from the bottom of the pool.

EQUESTRIAN: Nick Skelton

Skelton will lead the British charge for another showjumping gold after the spectacular team triumph at Greenwich Park yesterday. Skelton, 54, Ben Maher and Scott Brash have all qualified for the individual final, while bookies' favourite Skelton would become the first Briton to win an an individual showjumping gold in Olympic history if he triumphs.

HOCKEY: Beth Storry

Goalkeeper Storry is one of the best in the world and has played a key role for Great Britain and England over the last few years. Keeping a clean sheet will be important against Argentina in GB's first Olympic semi-final since 1996.

SAILING: Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes

The British duo head into the medal race with a fight on their hands to secure a podium finish. With gold and silver mathematically certain to go to Australia and New Zealand, bronze is the best they can hope for and they go in fifth, six points behind Denmark.

Copyright © Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.

 

LDN 2012: Secret Diary of a Games Maker Part 6

Part 6 of our Games Maker and the secret diary. Is it William, Harry, Kate or Gary, Sue, Ian or Pippa, what about Colin, whom is it you cry? Thank you to that very very secret person for the following post.

Who would have thought that on a Monday morning on Olympic duty the first thing discussed would be David Simms and British ice hockey? It was nice to chat to Hayley Roach about it all and how she was about setting up the Steelers and that. Top chick she is.

I was in before the girls manning the media centre desk were so I was aiding the first media and photographers arriving as best I could. Then the girls turned up and took over and left me to get on with one of my usual jobs - distributing ponchos! Not that we needed them in the end as it didn't rain but it was forecast to,

Decent enough first game of the day New Zealand V Germany from what I saw of it from the media centre. Next up was a trip upstairs to the best views of the park spot and unsurprisingly it was full of spectators so had to clear them out as the photographers wanted their reserved spots.

Great to see South Africa avenge a 7-1 defeat from last weekend to come back and beat the USA 7-0 in a one-sided thrashing.

Lunch next and again a simple choice today - cottage pie topped with tomato or panko crusted vegetable cakes. When I asked what panko was and all they could do was show me some of the cakes but couldn't tell me what they were, I immediately chose cottage pie. Stick with what you know....Turns out, panko is a light type of breadcrumb usually used in Japanese cooking. Could have been very nice. A few green beans and a bit of a 'meat salad on a stick' is what the salad would be described as. Salami, ham and chorizo on a stick with a cherry tomato, gherkin and a pickled onion.

Back outside for game 3 of the day and it was Japan V China. Both anthems sound very much like film soundtracks, although Japan's is definitely a much more 'dark' anthem and quite scary to start off with. I hadn't realised the significance of the game until the announcer said "If China fail to get a point, then GB are confirmed to go through". Well all of a sudden Japan had 13000 fans! You could see it lifted them though as the girls played out of their skin and got a 1-0 win and send China home and Britain through to the semi-finals on Wednesday evening.

A friend managed to sort us out some 'upgrade cards' after pulling some strings and that allowed us access to watch some handball in the Copper Box (aka "The Box that Rocks!"). He was excellent explaining the basics of the game and it really helped us understand the game. GB were awful though, but the guys were giving it their all and giving the crowd plenty of "Come on!". Handball could well be the next big thing as we all thoroughly enjoyed it and I would recommend going to watch it if you get the chance to.

We were meant to go and see GB in the water polo this evening, but after almost 11hours of being in the OP and for the 4th day of leaving home well before 6am, I was just too tired to go, so I declined the ticket. I may well end up going to see some basketball tomorrow afternoon before work though, but will see how I feel in the morning.

Great day, but it's really sad when I think there is only 3 more shifts to go. However, the guys I've been working with have become friends and we're all keeping in touch after the Games and to me this is another aspect of the Games - Bringing people together. Pretty much all the people I've worked with I'd never have met or had any chance to meet without the Games, but I've made friends for life now I hope.

As an aside - I'd like to send a HUGE "Thank you" to my friend and his team in the Copper Box. It was a great experience and wish we'd come down more often. Thanks buddy and if you want to see some hockey, just let me know and I'll get you some upgrade cards for our venue.

Firkin & Stumps: Bamford Fieldhouse into Kingfisher Beer Semi Final

The boys didn't want to brave the inclement weather. So they whipped out their laptop, ordered a steak and kidney pie (home made) and quaffed a Bishops Finger (other real ales are available). With many thanks to our friends at www.cricketworld.com for the post and photo.

The former Lancashire and England wicketkeeper Warren Hegg and fellow Lancashire and England team mate  Chris Schofield are the driving force behind Bamford Fieldhouse reaching the semi final of this year’s inaugural Kingfisher Beer Cup.

The Rochdale, Saddleworth and District side secured their semi final place by beating Worcestershire based Kidderminster Victoria with Hegg contributing a well paced 40 runs in his side’s total of 212 for 6  . They will now travel to York Cricket Club who defeated Cuckney in an enthralling seven run victory.

York having won the Yorkshire League 9 times and appeared in the Final of the National Knockout last in 1975 will offer stern competition in what promises to be a tough Roses encounter. The York team are also coached by the former Yorkshire and England middle order batsman Jim Love who was responsible for transforming Scottish cricket eventually taking the team to the Commonwealth Games and the ICC World Cup.

In the South section of the Kingfisher Beer Cup Havant from the Southern Electric Hampshire League secured a 65 run win defeating Birmingham League champions Barnt Green.

Havant will entertain the winners of the final quarter final match due to be played this Sunday August 5th.West of England based Somerset based Bridgewater will be playing Essex League team Wansted and Snaresbrook, the spiritual club cricket home of Essex wicketkeeper batsman James Foster.   

6 teams are a now a game away from securing a winner’s cheque of £5,000. Kingfisher Beer Cup Runners Up will receive £2, 000 with this year’s final due to take place  Derbyshire CC’s county ground on September 16th.

The semi finalists of this year’s tournament will be attended by Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) Ambassadors who will adjudicate over Man of the Match awards for both games.

Remaining matches are as follows:
Sunday 5th August Quarter Final 
Bridgewater v Wansted and Snaresbrook

Sunday 26th August Semi Finals
Havant v  Bridgewater or Wansted and Snaresbrook
York v Bamford Fieldhouse

2012 Kingfisher Beer Cup Final

Sunday September 16th at Derbyshire County Cricket Club

LDN 2012: Secret Diary of a Games Maker Part 5

Part 5 of the diary of the secret Games Maker. They are getting tired, so a bit shorter tonight. The entry into the diary, not the Games Maker. Schhhhhh, you know who's posting.

Got in about on time and the place was buzzing with talk of Jessica Ennis and co from last night, and why not?!

Sent to the back of the stand to watch the first 2 games and it was great, apart from the thunder storms! The people were great and really passionate hockey fans.

South Africa V Pakistan was really enjoyable to watch and a good result for South Africa. Belgium V New Zealand wa...

s as exciting as it sounds to be honest...

Down for lunch next and it was an easy choice today - sausage and mash or baked aubergine! Sausage and mash it was and an apple for dessert. Back to work next and it was into the workroom and helping the photographers out in there. Mainly providing ponchos and getting tea and coffee as they came back in. They are so grateful for the help we're giving them. We had a Greek visitor today who kindly sent us an email an hour or so after he left telling us that our venue is the best he's seen across the whole park in terms of organisation and support from the Games Makers and he says it's the best organised game he's attended so far and this was his 7th including winter games.

We then had a guest in 'our' media lounge in the form of Matt Dawson and he was not happy with my comment when Murray dropped a point against Federer (that we were all watching) and had a bit of banter with him. All good fun though and shook hands on the way out.

Sorry it's a bit short this evening, but been watching the athletics on the TV and that tonight. Tomorrow I MAY be watching some water polo in the evening, so won't be in til late, so don't wait up

LDN 2012: Team GB medal hopes - day 10

Thank you to our friends at Team GB and the Press Association for the following post and photo.

Team GB remain third in the Olympic Games medal table with 37 in total after winning both gold and silver in sailing and tennis, silver in athletics and gymnastics and bronze in cycling and gymnastics on Sunday, and here we take a look at the top Brits in action on Monday.

ATHLETICS: Dai Greene

Britain's team captain reached the 400 metres hurdles final as a fastest loser after finishing fourth in his semi-final, but the world champion will be determined to be right in the mix for medals and potentially a British record.

BASKETBALL: Drew Sullivan

British Basketball spent six years battling for a place in these Games, a long journey that ends when the men's team bow out today. No one will want to mark the final match with victory more than Sullivan, who proudly captained the team through their fight for recognition.

BOXING: Savannah Marshall

Britain's only reigning world boxing champion, 21-year-old Marshall, begins her bid to add Olympic gold to her collection in her first fight in the middleweight division. Victory, against Kazakhstan's Marina Volnova, would guarantee at least bronze.

CANOE SPRINT: Tim Brabants

Defending Olympic champion Tim Brabants competes in the men's K1 1000 metres, with heats and semi-finals to negotiate for the 35-year-old qualified doctor ahead of Wednesday's final. Olympic debutant Richard Jefferies goes in the men's C1 1000m heats, while Jessica Walker, Rachel Cawthorn, Angela Hannah and Louisa Sawers compete in the women's K4 500m.

CYCLING: Jason Kenny

Bolton's Kenny, 24, qualified fastest in the men's sprint to achieve a favourable draw and made serene progress to the semi-finals. Kenny finished second to Sir Chris Hoy in Beijing but was selected ahead of the 2008 champion and was on course to emulate his team-mate.

DIVING: Jack Laugher

Seventeen-year-old Laugher has been tipped as a future world champion by United States great Greg Louganis. Laugher, from Ripon, will make his Olympic debut in the three-metre springboard where a top-10 finish would confirm his rising status.

EQUESTRIAN: Scott Brash

The young Scottish showjumper has a pivotal part to play when Great Britain target a first Olympic team medal since 1984. Brash is making his Olympic debut, and a clear round will be his mission on Hello Sanctos as he competes alongside team-mates Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and Peter Charles.

GYMNASTICS: Beth Tweddle

The three-time world and six-time European champion will make her final bid for an Olympic medal in the uneven bars final. Tweddle topped qualification ahead of rivals He Kexin of China and Russian Viktoria Komova and is favourite to win gold.

HANDBALL: Seb Edgar

The men have had a tough time of it in their opening four games of the competition. Their final outing is against reigning silver medallists Iceland and Seb Edgar will hope to lead from the front as GB aim to go out with a bang.

HOCKEY: Kate Walsh

Captain Walsh has resumed her key role in defence after an operation to repair a fractured jaw and her experience will be key in keeping the Dutch at bay as GB go for semi-final qualification.

SAILING: Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes

The 49er duo head into the penultimate day of fleet racing fourth in the standings. They lie eighth points of third-place Finland after 11 races and will be looking to close the gap.

SHOOTING: Jonathan Hammond

The 31-year-old Scot, who lives in West Virginia where he coaches at the university, came a creditable 17th in the 50-metre rifle prone on Friday and gets another shot at Olympic glory in the rifle three positions event.

SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING: Jenna Randall and Olivia Federici

Randall and Federici go into the duet free routine in a good position as they look to book a place in Tuesday's final. The pair were ninth after Sunday's technical routine and just need to finish in the top 12 to advance.

VOLLEYBALL: Andy Pink

The experienced Kansas City-born Pink has been given a greater role as the tournament has gone on and is one of coach Harry Brokking's most reliable men. Despite his relatively slender size, he packs a real punch at the net and that will be required against Argentina.

WATER POLO: Joe O'Regan

Centre-back O'Regan has battled hard at the heart of Team GB's defence in the water polo tournament. After racking up nine major fouls and giving away two penalties, his friends are calling him a "bad boy".

Copyright © Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.

LDN 12: Secret Diary of a Games Maker Part 4

Thank you to our, schhh, Secret Games Maker for the following post. Have you guessed their identity yet? Is it Kim Collins or a member of the Korean Badminton team - we can't say, sorry.

Day 4

Got there pretty easily today, but did have to wait to allow a certain Chris Evans to cross the pathway in a transport buggy that apparently kept breaking down! Nice bloke and had a short chat with him before he went off to do whatever it was he was doing this morning in the OP.

Got up to the venue media centre and checked in and got 2 Games Maker pin badges as a 'Thank you' for the work w...

e're doing. Went off to find the TL for the day and see what my duties were. Easy enough start as I'd be on the 'tunnel' and that's basically welcoming the photographers to the Riverbank and helping the guys and girls that haven't been before with where they can and can't go. Nice game to start with with Australia V South Africa. Some very nice ladies to watch out there on the 'Smurf turf', especially the Aussies

After tea-break it was time to get settled for Netherlands V Korea and if you thought the Aussies were hot, then the Dutch go to the whole next level! Also helps they are such lovely people too and very polite.

Lunch was next after this game and simple selection today - lamb rogan josh or macaroni cheese with mushroom and spring onion. I went for the mac and cheese with peas and swede mix (swimming in pepper) with a salad. The macaroni was very tasty, but got put off the rest of the veg and salad as the salad was a rocket salad and as I say, the veg was swimming in pepper. Quite a few people had complained to chef about it, but he did say he was happy to take on board comments and would try and rectify things tomorrow...Watch this space! Best bit was as we sat down the British pair in the lightweight mens sculls were racing the Danes in a tense finish and we were all cheering them on. Some of us were then singing the national anthem as the girls got their gold medal. Also heard the roar from the main stadium when Bolt, Gemeli, Chambers and Ennis were in action. I dread to think what tomorrow night will be like if any Brits get anywhere in the 100m finals! Mind you, I'll probably hear the roar at home when Jess gets her gold tonight - GO ON JESSICA!!!

Back to my usual spot in the far corner behind the left hand goal as you look at the 'standard' pictures on TV and got soaked with a downpour, while it was also bright sunshine. Very strange weather, but it is London in August, so what did we expect? Went to dry a bench for a German photographer from one of the big agencies, but he had a poncho he was sitting on so politely declined. As the game ended I was walking back to our office and he called me over and said "You guys have done an outstanding job so far for us. You've made this the best games I've worked at and this is my 7th one. Nothing is too much trouble and the service you are providing is brilliant." He then shook my hand and I was thanking him and a Korean photographer came over and asked what we were talking about so the German gentlemen told him and the Korean was nodding his head in agreement and then gave me a limited edition Sports Illustrated pin badge and said "Thanks for making this the best games. You guys are working so hard to make this as easy for us as possible, we don't need anything as you get and give us all we need".

It's comments like that that have made the Games for me. It's a great feeling being thanked for your efforts and given a small gift as a token of appreciation for what you do. I've seen some of the shots these guys are taking and they are outstanding and quite obviously the reason why they are the best at what they do. I'm there purely to enjoy the experience and what the Games has brought to London and the country and the little things like that just take it to the next level really.

There has been a marked change in people's attitudes on the trains and that I've noticed in recent days. People are all talking to random people with things like "Did you see so and so last night? What a race?!" or "What are you seeing at the Park today?" etc etc. It's also been great seeing so many families out and about together in the OP having a great time and really enjoying the experience. I know there are haters out there, but I really think this is the best thing to have happened to the UK in a number of years. It's bringing people together and it seems much more of a 'community spirit' and much less "Oh I won't talk to them" type of feeling about like there has been in recent years.

LDN 12: Secret Diary of a Games Maker Part 3

Thank you to our games maker for the following post. Nice to share your day with us, hope you survived the Central Line.

Day 3

Crap start to the day with the Central line being shut when I was 2 stops from Stratford so had to queue for a bus with about 400 other people and of course the buses are full anyway, so when the 5th one turned up I was able to get to Stratford.

Having been the first early shift, things were a lot different to the afternoon/evenings in so much as access through Stratford station and Westf...

ield to the OP. Eventually I got to the Riverbank at about 9am when I was supposed to be there at 7:30...still a cup of tea eased the pain!

Off upstairs to one of the best views of the OP (after meeting a couple of new faces on the Photo Ops team) and was then watching Argentine V Australia which ended in some controversy and a fair bit of 'extra curriculars' when the final buzzer ended included 2-3 players squaring up to each other on the pitch! Needless to say I was desperate to shout "DROP THE GLOVES!" but thought better of it

I then sat up there for match 2 which was Netherlands V New Zealand which was a reasonable game, but the Dutch fans were unreal! Rivalled the GB fans at one point for noise and passionate support, but without the brass band!

Then it was lunchtime and an amazing scene in the break room as we walked in. The girls were just getting their medals and all the staff near enough were on their feet cheering and we all joined in singing the national anthem. Almost had tears in my eyes and it was a wonderful sight, wish I'd had my phone out to film it. Still, the way we're going, maybe tomorrow eh?

Lunch today was herb crusted hake with boiled cabbage and palenta with a small salad and a bottle of water. Dessert was the usual fruit and cereal bar.

Back outside again for the final match of the day which was India V Germany which Germany dominated and destroyed India 5-2. It was good as I was near the photographers entrance and we had some new guys down so had to welcome them and point out where they could and couldn't go around the pitch and in the stadium and that. Had one gent from the Mail on Sunday only interested in photographing the Olympic Family seats for whatever celebs or VIP's were in there!

That was the end of the day, or so I thought but some of us managed to find some seats for the next game - GB V Pakistan. Cracking atmosphere as usual and the boys, in particular Super Ashley Jackson, destroyed the Pakistan team. Left a few mins before the end so i could try and beat the rush to the tube, but then a few cock ups on signage at Stratford meant loads of us went to the wrong place to try and get the Eastbound train back to Epping. Got home just after 7. It's now gone 9 and I'm back up at about 5, so time for sleep now! Day 4 coming tomorrow!

LDN 12: Pursuit women smash WR in gold rush

Thank you to our friends at Team GB and the Press Associaiton for the folllowing post and photo.

Great Britain's women claimed a stunning team pursuit gold in a blistering world record at the London 2012 Olympic Velodrome.

Britain have now won four of the five gold medals on offer after three days of track cycling, with five events to come, after Joanna Rowsell, Dani King and Laura Trott clocked three minutes 14.051 seconds to triumph with a sixth consecutive world record in the three-woman, three-kilometre event.

Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch and Jennie Reed of the United States, who finished in 3mins 19.727secs, were in Britain's sights in the final kilometre in a scintillating display from the hosts.

Canada's Tara Whitten, Gillian Carleton and Jasmin Glaesser took bronze in 3:17.915 ahead of Annette Edmondson, Melissa Hoskins and Josephine Tomic of Australia (3:18.096).

Trott told BBC1: "It's mad, I actually can't believe it. I feel dead emotional right now. It was my dream - it's been my dream since I was eight and we've just gone and done it."

King paid tribute to her team-mates, saying: "We're like sisters and I couldn't have done it without them. They were absolutely incredible. I can't believe we've done it. It's absolutely amazing."

Rowsell felt the roars of the fans provided extra motivation. "I could tell we were winning by the noise of the crowd," she said. "They were just shouting so loud, that just really spurred us on in that last kilometre."

In the men's sprint, Britain's Jason Kenny advanced to Sunday's quarter-finals in straightforward fashion.
Kenny, who won silver in China aged 20, received a first-round bye after setting an Olympic record of 9.713 seconds in qualifying fastest, giving him a favourable draw for the one-versus-one match sprints.

He beat South Africa's Bernard Esterhuizen in the second round to advance and was set to meet Awang Azizulhasni of Malaysia in the best-of-three last eight.

Copyright © Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.

LDN 12: Secret Diary of a Games Maker Part 2

Thank you to the Games Maker, schhhh if you know who they are, for the following post.

Part 2

I was running late for the tube from Epping so knew I would be late in for my shift, but my 'boss' didn't mind. I found the workforce bus to take us from one side of the Olympic Park to the other. Got some pics of other venues on the way round as well, which was good. Signed in and no goodies today, which was disappointing but hey ho, can't expect too much too often really.

I was statione...

d in my usual corner for the first game which was South Africa V Great Britain. It was good to hear the 'football band' out in full force and the usual renditions of "Rule Britannia", "God Save the Queen", "Jerusalem" and "Is this the way to Amarillo?" coming out regularly during the game. Former Chelmsford (And Invicta :rolleyes: ) junior Ashley Jackson scored a screamer of a penalty corner early in the game and it's always good to have them score at the end you're 'working' as you really feel the emotion of the goal and what it means to the players. The rest of the half was a mixed bag really but GB were the better side.

Got soaked at half time as they water the pitch with huge sprinklers and with the wind, it blows everywhere. Was all right though as it cooled me down somewhat.

In the second half it was a definite case of 'turning tides' as SA really came at GB and struck with 2 goals in quick succession with about 10mins left. The crowd really came to life then and got behind the men in red. Something then happened which I never knew you could do in field hockey and GB pulled their goalie with about 2:35 or so to play for an extra forward. It paid off as almost instantly through Jackson again as he tipped in/diverted a shot past the SA goalie and if there was a roof on the Riverbank, it would now be in Hyde Park. Even the other Games Makers were cheering and punching the air (Impartial and 'keep your emotions to yourselves wherever possible' went right out the window!) as the ball struck the back of the goal.

The crowd tried to be the 12th man for the GB team, but it wasn't to be and it played out as a 2-2 draw.

I then helped out with the Olympic Broadcast team during the 'mixed zone' part of the post-match proceedings. Basically this means every player has to go through the mixed zone and if requested by the media, they MUST speak to them and do a post-match interview.

Tea-time next and time to see what was on the menu today. It was either vegetable chilli or roast turkey. I went with the turkey and had that with roast potatoes (Horrible they were!), cauliflower cheese (Passable) and some other unknown vegetables. Also had a salad with it, but as was pointed out from one of the other volunteers "Why give you a roast dinner with the trimmings and then dump a load of salad on it? They should at least give you a second plate/bowl". Dessert was custard or cupcake. I went with custard as I'd not heard many good reviews from others about the cupcakes...

Then it was time for a trek up to the back of the block and arguably the best view of the OP. It's great up there as you're right in front of the coaching video box so you have a number of coaches up there as well as technical guys recording every game. There are 5 seats reserved for photographers and apparently so far only about 4 GM's have had photographers up there in 4 days of action. I don't get why more don't go up there, the views are outstanding across the OP. The video is below on my timeline.

Next up was Pakistan V Argentina and to be frank, I nearly fell asleep if it wasn't for the strong winds that high up. Second half I was in the Venue Media Centre helping the photogaphers out in there with whatever they needed. This involved showing the newer guys how to get to pitchside, up to the stands, where to smoke etc.

I then heard the sad news of the cyclist who died, but in the media driven world we live, one of the guys I was helping had got some distance pics and was quickly emailing them to his agency so they could be put out along with the wires about the death.

Onto the final game and I started out in the VMC and second half I was pitchside again to direct photographers and such like. Also at the end of the game I was again helping with the mixed zone and applauded both Germany and Korea off the pitch as they both had done well during an exciting 1-0 win for the Germans. A couple of the German players even shook my hand as they came off. Nice gesture from them and makes the Games that bit more special.

Got home fairly hassle-free, apart from the horrible walk through Westfield, but hey ho, it's worth it!

Really looking forward to Thursday and Friday next week as I'll get to see the medals being handed out in the women's competition and the men's semi-finals and placing games

Preview of the Super Rugby Final - Chiefs v Sharks

Thanks to our friends at Planet Rugby for the post and photo. www.planetrugby.com

The Sharks will be out to accomplish the near impossible when they take on the Chiefs as both teams attempt to win their first Super Rugby title in Hamilton on Saturday.

After almost six months of separating the hopefuls from the disappointed, the longest season in Super Rugby history comes to an exciting conclusion this weekend, with the Final guaranteed to provide a new champion.

Whilst it's fair to say that two of the best teams in this year's tournament will battle it out for the crown, the odds are stacked heavily against the globe-trotting Sharks to pull off what will be a monumental victory.


After mixed fortunes through the first half of the season, the Sharks won six of their final seven regular season games to make the top six. But to reach the final in Hamilton, the men from Durban have had to clock up a travelling record as they criss-crossed the Indian Ocean three times after beating the Reds in Brisbane and then the Stormers in Cape Town.


Now the big question on everyone's lips is whether John Plumtree's troops can defy the odds for a third straight week and return home with the title after covering 55,000 kilometres in the air.


On the other end of the scale, the Chiefs haven't had to leave Hamilton for three weeks (the last time they played outside of New Zealand was on May 13) and once again enjoy the luxury of playing at Waikato Stadium where they will host their first home Super Rugby Final.


Despite losing their last two regular season fixtures, the Chiefs dug deep in their semi-final and ended up eliminating the most successful team in the history of Super Rugby. While the Chiefs won the New Zealand conference and finished second behind the Stormers in the overall standings they were still underdogs against the powerful Crusaders, who were playing their 14th semi-final in 17 years and who had never previously lost a play-off against a New Zealand opponent.


While the Chiefs entered last Friday's semi-final as underdogs, this week they are clear favourites when they run on for only their second final (their last final three years ago ended in an embarrassing 61-17 massacre at the hands of the Bulls).


The Sharks, meanwhile, are no strangers to finals rugby but are no better off than the Chiefs in that they've never managed to scale the last hurdle having gone down to the Blues in 1996, the Brumbies in 2001 and the Bulls in 2007.


When the Chiefs and Sharks met earlier this year in Durban, the Kiwi outfit got the better of their South African counterparts. But as the season reaches an exciting climax, there isn't a lot between the two teams.

Just eight points separate the Chiefs from the Sharks for points scored (444 to 436), the Sharks have conceded fewer points (348 to 358), both have scored 47 tries while the Chiefs have conceded 30 and the Sharks 31!


But even though the two finalists are pretty evenly matched, the Sharks will have to do what has only been achieved once in the history of Super Rugby - win a final in another country (in 2000, the Crusaders travelled to Canberra, where they beat the Brumbies 20-19).


In fact only two teams have won finals away from home - the Crusaders also did it in 1998 (against the Blues in Auckland) and in 1999 (against the Highlanders in Dunedin), while the Bulls beat the Sharks in Durban in 2007.


The Sharks' victories in Brisbane and Cape Town in the past fortnight have certainly highlighted the belief within the side. And while belief alone won't be enough to win a Super Rugby Final, it will certainly give the men from Durban a fighting chance against a Chiefs side feeling the pressure to win.


Ones to watch:


For Chiefs: It's hard to look beyond Aaron Cruden, who outplayed legendary Crusaders pivot Dan Carter in last week's semi-final thanks to his far superior game management, pinpoint goalkicking and line-breaking bursts. And we have a funny feeling there's plenty more to come from the talented 23-year-old...


For Sharks: JP Pietersen has been a key cog in the Sharks' team during recent weeks, and without a doubt their form attacking weapon. The Springbok winger was twice named Man of the Match in the last three games, and will once again be relied upon to produce the goods in the number 13 jersey.


Head to head:

Recent results:
2012: Chiefs won 18-12 in Durban
2011: Chiefs won 15-9 in Hamilton
2010: Chiefs won 19-18 in Durban
2009: Sharks won 22-15 in Hamilton
2008: Sharks won 47-25 in Durban
2007: Chiefs won 35-27 in Hamilton


Prediction: Whilst the Sharks have already proven their doubters wrong two weekends in succession, we think it's going to be one heck of a tough ask for the Sharks to go back and forth, and back and forth again in order to achieve three consecutive away victories. Chiefs by six!


The teams:


Chiefs: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Lelia Masaga.


Sharks: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.


Date: Saturday, 4 August

Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Kick-off: 19:35 (09:35 SA time; 07:35 GMT)

Referee: Steve Walsh

Assistant referees: Craig Joubert, Keith Brown

TMO: Garratt Williamson