Where roughly is the Olympic Torch now mate?

[big mervyn]

3 now.

If NI was a country we'd be 9th in the medal table!

[Bobbievee]

3 now.

If NI was a country we'd be 9th in the medal table!

Absolutely bloody brilliant! Well done Hannah Scott!

[Bobbievee]

3 now.

If NI was a country we'd be 9th in the medal table!

GB had won 296 gold medals in the modern summer olympics since the beginning. A NI share pro rata would be expected to be about 7. So yesterday we were nowhere with 3.
Today with 6 we are nearly there!!

[solidarity]

Who am I missing?

Major Thomas "Robin" Valerian Dixon, 3rd Baron Glentoran, CBE, 2 man bob, Innsbruck 1964

Of course! Ta.
Even BTel forgotten him.

Nash and Dixon. Boy, that takes me back. I remember it now although I've no recollection of knowing that he was a 'local'.

[big mervyn]

Who am I missing?

Major Thomas "Robin" Valerian Dixon, 3rd Baron Glentoran, CBE, 2 man bob, Innsbruck 1964

Of course! Ta.
Even BTel forgotten him.

Nash and Dixon. Boy, that takes me back. I remember it now although I've no recollection of knowing that he was a 'local'.

The family seat is in Ballyclare.

[Bobbievee]

And a bronze for Philip Doyle in men’s skulls doubles!
Superb

[Bobbievee]

And……….
Silver for Rebecca Shorten…….inches away from Gold.

[big mervyn]

Blimey. NI is seriously kicking ass in these Olympics.

Definitely more to come too.

[solidarity]

Time for a little philosophical reflection.

There seems to have been a change in a standard cliche. It use to be, 'We left nothing out there', that is 'we gave it our all.' Now it's 'We left everything out there.' which I assume means 'we brought no 'unused' energy back with us.' Love a good cliche. Anybody else got a favourite?

Also seems that every athlete in Rome has a tragic back story of some sort. In pretty much every case there is a bereavement, a potentially career ending injury or a serious mental health issue. I'm in two minds about this. Sometimes I see it as encouraging for viewers who may be going through difficulties that they can come through to a better place. On the other hand, it does seem just a little ghoulish. As I write this, the GB (&NI!) eight has just won their rowing race and immediately we've had a bereavement and two serious injuries noted, along with a 'horrible experience' of failing in the last olympics.

Hmmm just not sure.

[Bobbievee]

The age of competitors , mostly late teens to late 30s invariably means that their parents and grandparents are in a risky period of lives for illness or death. Thus understandably a fair amount of emotion about. Aside from that aspect, good to hear the acknowledgment paid to parents in particular who will have invested years in early morning transport and nights away to support development and training.
Overall I don’t mind it.
Can’t stand it though in the tv talent contests, where it is all played out before the competition!!

Mcclenaghan v Whitlock and others this afternoon…………
Cmon Rhys!!

[Bobbievee]

The age of competitors , mostly late teens to late 30s invariably means that their parents and grandparents are in a risky period of lives for illness or death. Thus understandably a fair amount of emotion about. Aside from that aspect, good to hear the acknowledgment paid to parents in particular who will have invested years in early morning transport and nights away to support development and training.
Overall I don’t mind it.
Can’t stand it though in the tv talent contests, where it is all played out before the competition!!

Mcclenaghan v Whitlock and others this afternoon…………
Cmon Rhys!!

[solidarity]

Fair point Bobbie, twice.
Parents have put in such a lot and this should be acknowledged, quite right.
It's what comes close to emotional manipulation that concerns me. Maybe I'm just too cynical.

[big mervyn]

McClenaghan was probably NI and Ireland's biggest prospect for Gold prior to the games albeit in an event where one mistake can completely rule you out of medal contention. Fingers crossed.

Big Dan has coasted into the 1500m final the marra. Looking good for the double.

[big mervyn]

Fantastic.

First ever individual Olympic gold medallist born and bred in NI.

4 golds now. More than we'd achieved in the previous 128 years.

All the Engerlish media want to talk about is Max feckin Whitlock

[Bobbievee]

Unbelievable how xcitement!
Brilliant performance.
Better watch on RTE2 for the coverage and the post competition celebrations!!