Another gem courtesy of BBC Sport (see links)

GB cyclists earn World Cup glory

Britain claimed the World Cup team pursuit crown and Chris Hoy won the overall men's Kierin title in the final event of the season in Copenhagen.
Ed Clancy, Paul Manning, Geraint Thomas and Steven Burke beat Denmark to win gold and wrap up the title, while Hoy also ended the season with a gold.
Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade also triumphed in the women's sprint.
Chris Newton won the World Cup points title, while Rebecca Romero won the women's 3,000m pursuit in Denmark.
Newton's third place in the men's points race behind Pim Ligthart and Rafal Ratajczyk was enough to earn him overall World Cup victory.
Pendleton claimed silver in the women's 200m sprint, but Great Britain's men missed out on a team sprint medal, finishing fourth.
Hoy also picked a silver in the men's sprint event when the Scot finished second behind France's Kevin Sireau.

I'd love to see sports that receive less press coverage secure more support, so if
anyone out there knows of any British sportsperson winning an international title, leave a comment and I'll try to find more info.

Then the thaw came ....

...and so we move onto Water Sports!

Canoeist Brabants wins World Gold.
British canoeist Tim Brabants just missed out on an historic double at the World Championships in Duisburg. The 30-year-old was hoping to become the first Briton to complete the K1 500m-1000m double since 1987. But after winning the 1000m on Saturday, the Surrey paddler was pipped by Canada's Adam Koeverden in the 500m.
Brabants, who will compete in both events at next year's Beijing Olympics, said Saturday's win marked "the best race of my life so far". In the Hungary round of the Flatwater World Cup, Tim paddled to K1 1000m bronze. It was his second third-place finish in this year's World Cup series. Tim won GB's first ever Olympic canoeing medal at the 2000 Sydney Games and was European champion in 2006.
The European Flatwater Championships take place from 28 June-1 July in Spain.

Triple success for GB canoeists

Britain's Jon Schofield won K1 kayak 500m sprint gold at the European Wild Water Championships in Bosnia.
The Lancashire 22-year-old, who posted the two fastest times of the event, said: "I have been working towards this moment since I started paddling."
First-year senior Jessica Oughton from Leicester won women's K1 sprint bronze, missing out on silver by 0.01 seconds.

'Tis the Winter Sport season to be jolly ...

...another major success, following on from Kristan B's ...


Zoe Gillings claims Britain's first World Cup snowboard event podium finish for nearly four years with second place in Japan.

Congratulations Zoe, let's hope it's the first of many.

I’M SO EXCITED …

… and I just can’t hide it. I’m about to lose control and I think I like it, Oh Yeah!

You know the Charity Ball that myself and other GG’s are attending, the one with Gethin hosting - turns out he’ll now be DANCING. YAY! Who needs the live tour? Front row seats for us! Oh, happy, happy days!

(Did I forget to say: Geth also mentioned us in a Sunday paper interview yesterday. Apparently, we're hilarious. We're taking this as a compliment.)

Sports Personality of the Year 2008?

I took this off the BBC Sport website - wouldn’t it be great, if, just for once, the sporting headlines of the British press could celebrate a true sporting achievement, instead of which current or has-been footballer has screwed up this week? Let’s hope he makes the shortlist in December.

Bromley Achieves Landmark Triple

Britain's Kristan Bromley has become the first bob skeleton slider to win the European, World Cup and World Championship crowns in the same season.
The Sheffield athlete wrapped up the achievement by winning the world championship in Germany on Friday.
"This has been a remarkable season," said Bromley, 35. "To become the first person in history to win the triple crown of titles is as good as it gets."
Bromley is now one of the favourites to win gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

A Druidic Poem (heavily influenced by Terry Pratchett at time of writing)

Idaris and Panatya

‘I am the Lord!’ came the scream from Idaris
‘I am the Master!’ screeched Panatya’s reply
The leathery wings beat a rhythm of war
On broiling air currents, fiery orange
Flashes flew at Idaris, soaring higher.

Flaming death cascaded over Panatya
The iridescent magenta scales blackened, scorched
Raging Panatya thought of Slayers banished
‘I am the Elder; I am the Wonder
The Breath of Fire in the Mines of Shanayisa.’

Sword sharp tail swished and whipped Idaris the Young
Slicing jade hide a new searing sensation.
Desire to burn the Elder rose unbidden
‘I am the Chosen; I am the Marvel
The Soul of Blaze on the Crown of Shanayisa.’

They circled, wounded; black dragon blood glistening
Falling to blister the portals of Shanayisa
A golden-tinged silhouette rose amid the swirl
Of red-singed clouds cresting the summit.

‘I am the Mother; I am the Lady;
The Mistress of Power in the Realm of Shanayisa;
And if you don’t get in right now you’re both grounded!’

Half term terrors? Take the little angels out.

We had a great day out yesterday at the Natural History Museum. It could have been relatively cheap too, seeing as it’s free to get in. £30 rail fares and £30 worth of snacks later and we figured we really ought to have brought a picnic - there’s a designated picnic area on the ground floor, empty at 11.30, jam-packed an hour later. But at least it was there - credit to the responsible party and it thinned out after 2pm. There’s a nice restaurant in the green zone too, no more expensive than you'd pay anywhere else.
Our seven year old was probably just a touch young to really appreciate it - all he wanted to see were the dinosaurs. Note: Hit the dinosaur section a)early, if you’re there at or just after opening time or b) later - 4pm-ish - as in between 12-4 they had a queuing system in operation. It didn’t take long but did involve much shuffling. And there’s nothing guaranteed to give you achy feet more than shuffling.
The gem section in the red zone was amazing if you like pretty, sparkly things and the mammals section in the blue zone houses a life size blue whale which is gob-smackingly huge - I’d no idea they were that big, it’s difficult to gauge in the middle of the ocean. Could do with a dust though! Not that I’m volunteering, not just because I’m scared of heights and it’s suspended from the ceiling; I’m also allergic to dusting.
Would I go back? Yes, definitely, when the lad is a couple of years older. My other criteria for a return visit anywhere is: Do they have soft toilet paper or shiny tissue? I’m pleased to report it’s the soft stuff and plenty of it. Although, like everywhere, a couple more ladies cubicles wouldn’t go amiss! You know it makes sense, ladies.

Why Gethin? by Scattyjan

My report for www.strictlygethinjones.co.uk is now on the afore-mentioned website - feel free to pop across and have a read of why Gethin rules the GG's world. (see links below and check 'Fun' then 'GG Reports')

Ashes to Ashes, building dust and then some ...

I used to live on the Isle of Dogs - it cracked me up, all the opposition to development. The place was a dump! It was closed! Nothing there - to socialise you had to get the bus - that's right, THE bus, off the Island to Mile End or Bethnal Green. Then the Medina opened up, and Drummonds Cafe Bar. And by the time the City Arms became the City Pride, I'd moved away. Now, of course, my friend needs a bloomin' permit to park outside her mum's!

Tina Turner, Queen of Soul?

I think not! Whoever wrote that intro for Beyonce - what were you thinking? I mean, anyone who's anyone in the music industry knows who that is! Although, boycotting the Grammy's does seem a bit of an over-reaction on Aretha's part - unless you heard Beyonce introducing Peter Andre as the Godfather of Funk ...