Team Chasing Again

A number of this autumn's team chases were cancelled or postponed because of the foot and mouth but last Sunday we finally went to one near Banbury.

Only this time, Pip was on holiday so there was no-one to lead. So instead of taking Zorya, Smem decided to take Ruby as lead horse. Given that she isn't particularly fit, she did quite well. Unfortunately Ruby hasn't had a great deal of experience across country. She's not bothered and will jump most things but she's very inexperienced. But she does love jumping hedges. Anyway, a palisade at the second put her off and she had a stop, but cleared it on the second attempt,. Then Charlie got the idea and took over the lead. It takes him a while to get into it but once he has, he's fine! Unfortunately Cait, bringing up the rear, had a fall and it put her pony off a bit, but they all managed to finish in one piece. Not as good as last time but not a bad effort.

Zorya was very fed up when we got back and bashed Smem on the nose when she went to make a fuss of her! Stroppy mare!

Today I have mostly been plaiting Ruby's mane. She doesn't like it much and hates having it pulled but she did look VERY smart now she's all clipped and beautiful. And she's very very shiny. Unfortunately Smem forgot her gag today so had to take her out in a snaffle. No brakes then! They're thinking of re-naming their team "Have you got a spare...?".

Apologies for the photo - it was taken on my phone and as you can probably tell, Ruby was ready for the off at this point!

Worthy Champions

Despite much swearing and hand-wringing during the game I will be the first to admit that the best team won. As in 1995, I think the whole country of South Africa needed the win more.

And who could possibly imagine when the Rugby World Cup was being inaugurated in the 1980's that less than 20 years later, the Springboks would hand their President, Thabo Mbeki, the Rugby World Cup?

And so the day dawns...

World Cup Final Day.

To say that an England v South Africa final was unlikely would be the understatement of understatements.

How did we ever get here?

Four years ago (22 November 2003 to be exact) I was sitting in my jimjams on the floor of Ra's living room in Huddersfield, watching the England rugby team make history. They had been preparing for this for four years. The juggernaut was unstoppable. Nothing could stand in the way of Johnno getting his big mits on the trophy. And after the final whistle went I'm not ashamed to admit I cried like a gurl. In reality, I never expected them to lose. They couldn't, whatever Australia managed to throw at them.

After that, England never really seemed to get back on track. Some (Johnno, Backy, Jason Leonard etc) retired from the international stage to give way to new talent. But the wheels had fallen off the Sweet Chariot, and never really got back on until that dreadful drubbing by South Africa only a few short weeks ago. Whatever was said, it worked.

The buildup this week has been agony. The English press seem to think that, as long as Saint Johnny is playing, all will be well. Get real. This is a 22 man game. He only gets the chances because those around make them for him. And the painful truth is plain for anyone who understands the game. Johnny Wilkinson's not really hit form yet. Let's hope he finally finds it tonight. It would be easy to dislike the guy because of the way he's lauded by the media. But I can't. It would be easy for him to believe what's written about him. But he seems totally unaffected by it and I applaud him for that.

Now I don't really expect England to win tonight(sorry guys). And will I be disappointed if they don't? Despirately, not for country but for each and every player. Especially the likes of Jason Robinson, in this, his last ever game and of course Martin Corry, who always puts 110% into his game.

Don't worry Cozza, win or lose, there'll always be a welcome for you at Welford Road. And try not to bleed too much. So good luck to you, BenK, Lewis, George and Dan. No cards, no fighting. All I really want is that you come back safe and well.

Tigers need you!

And on a more sober note, members of ComeOnYouSaints are taking part today in their annual Saints with Heart walk. This year's walk is all the more poignant because it is in memory of Mark Coleman (aka WestMidsSaint), who recent suffered a fatal heart attack. We met Mark on the walk last year and at subsequent visits to Franklin's Gardens. Sadly we won't be joining in this year. But keep up the good work and it shouldn't be long before Saints are back in the premiership and we get to meet in anger once again.

What a difference a day makes.

This time yesterday, like many Rugby fans, I was totally convinced that we would be heading for a southern hemisphere semi-final next weekend in Paris in the Rugby World Cup. Perhaps there were only two groups of people who really thought it wasn't a fete accomplis.

The England team finally stepped it up a gear. I suspect the Aussies had been lulled into a false sense of security. Finally they saw an easy opportunity to take revenge on that last-minute defeat four years ago. And it clearly still hurt. Well now it hurts even more.

They had a plan A. Unfortunately they kept on using it even when it clearly wasn't working. Oh dear! So the Wallabies are back on the plane this morning.

The host nation must have thought they'd shot themselves in the foot by organising this quarter final to be played in Cardiff. I guess that when the pools were announced France fancied their chances of topping their pool with a win over Argentina in the first match of the tournament. Remember Wales in 1999? The Welsh made the same mistake in playing their opening match against Samoa. Even Bernard Laporte seemed amazed at the win. Only the men on the field truly believed they could do it. And they did! Nip and Tuck was an understatement. France did what only France can do. They turned the game around from seemingly nothing just by spreading the ball around and daring to attack from anywhere.

And what of the All Blacks? I wouldn't much fancy the reception they're going to get back in NZ. Apparently the knives are already out.

And I suspect one Mr Wayne Barnes is probably the most hated man in the Land of the Long White Cloud. How he had the audacity to sin-bin an innocent All Black player, fooled into making a bad decision by a naughty, cheating, play acting Frenchman! (according to that Oracle known as Murray Mextead) Oh please! Read the laws guys. Sure, you don't have to get out of an attacking player's way, but bustling into him shoulder first (it's called taking the player out without the ball you know) within 10 metres of the try line and even Wayne's going to take exception.

So what of today's games? Well, really anything could happen. I wouldn't be at all suprised if we ended up with a France v Argentina final!

It's not as difficult as it looks!

Riding side saddle that is. And more difficult to fall off than riding astride. The only trouble is, if you do fall, or more importantly, if your horse falls, it can be pretty nasty as you don't tend to be thrown clear.

Happily I only managed to have one dramatic fall (and I did ride side saddle a most of the time for about 4 years) and that was because I'd seen someone at a show riding a lovely black horse and happened to say "Oh I wish I had a black horse" because getting grey hairs off your habit is a real pain!

Unfortunately, Sail stored this up for future reference and, during the equitation class did one gigantic buck and I went flying! Not that it hindered my chances. The judge was SO impressed with my fall that I still came second!