This has been a beautiful Spring day with sunshine and clouds from midmorning to lunchtime and then clear blue sky until eight in the evening. It was warm enough to sit in the sun in a jacket but without a top coat.
I awoke early and time to go back to sleep and wake up feeling right for going downstairs for the start of the third Formula 1 Grand Prix race this time in Shanghai China. It was also the third race where the weather played a major part and the race stewards’ vehicle was in evidence and for the second time this season there was a different team dominating- the Red Bull has wings etc.
There was two days of sunshine for the practice runs and the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finishing 1st and 3rd for the starting grid with Alonso of Renault 2nd and the two Brawn Mercedes 4th and 5th. Ferrari could only make 8th and 13th as their terrible start to the new season continues and McClaren Mercedes 9th and 12th. Have the days really gone when the championship was divided between McClaren and Ferrari?
When I switched on the race had just started in driving rain and horrendous spray behind the safety car and this continued for the first 20 minutes and eight laps until the rain stopped sufficiently for the divers to indicate that although they were aquaplaning around the circuit this was due to the slow speed and inability to warm up the tyres and the breaks. The Safety car then left.
The spectators who were not undercover were soaked and the invisibility of the race because spray, and then further rain, would have made the expensive outing a disaster. For those watching on TV there were plenty of spills as cars shunted into each other or of the track as they hit surface water. People overtook and were overtaken by the same drivers. Drivers made mistakes as they took risks to gain the lead or a place as did some teams with their decisions on refuelling. Jensen Button made a mistake which potentially cost him the second place as overall the car of Vettel was better and paid put to the belief that Brawn had stolen a march on everyone with their initial designed which the others would not be able to catch up as their vehicles were developed to the latest regulations and new design features. Jenson still finished 3rd and a podium place which means that he held on his top spot in the driver’s championship with team mate Barichello second and Vettel moving into the third place Lewis Hamilton is 10th after his punishment for misleading after the first race. After the sacking of the man held to be responsible for the misleading statements Ron Dennis who has held the reins of control has also departed in a move seen as helping to prevent, discourage a more appropriate word perhaps, the International Federation imposing further penalties on the team and Lewis Hamilton. We shall see.
I enjoyed a kipper for breakfast and then prepared a packed lunch of three brown rolls filled with salami and olives, and two cracker sandwiches with smoked salmon and a carton of prepared fruit salad. I took a mini detour to the council run waste disposal centre to rid of the boxes in which black and grey lever arch files had arrived and then sped off in the raised spirits sunshine to the Riverside where a spectacular sight was to greet me as I entered. It was evident that the fine weather had brought out a crowd by the number of cars already parked even though I was there a good 45 minutes before the game was due to commence. People were also used to the 10 45 start of previous games and cricket spectators are lovers of tradition and routine.
The surprise is that the new upper tiers to the east stand south of the scoreboard are almost completed if not completed and closed off for safety reasons until those games when they are needed. The shell of the new playback and scoreboard between the Members stand and the health centre is also up and will be ready for the Test Match with the West Indies. Planning permission has also been granted for the further stands, a second replay scoreboard and a conference and accommodation centre and permanent floodlights. It will be a top class venue when completed for the 2010 season.
I sat for the first hour of play overlooking the wicket at the southern end after having a cup of coffee in the Member’s lounge at the new price of £1 with a plate of chips still £1.50 although I resisted. I had the rolls and fruit salad watching the play before moving to the Member’s lounge to watch Newcastle at the Spurs and returned for 4 hours in the sunshine behind the wicket and at the sun shining all day northern end. I had a second cup of coffee during half time in the football and enjoyed the smoked salmon around six and would have liked a cup of tea but was too lazy by then to go back to the Members lounge. I decided not to buy the programme which on reflection was a mistake as I had also forgotten a note book and a hat. I have lost my cap and the green hat as well as Astrakhan fake Russian style hat leaving only the all weather Australian type of bush hat left. The shop was sold out of Durham caps with only England and all white ones left and the large ones with brims. I have the fake panama hat somewhere to be resurrected. I acquired my copy of the 2008 Member’s Handbooks which is the best produced for a long while if not ever and with the Wisden I had all the records and background information one could wish for.
This bring me to the game itself which proved not a good day for Durham. Neither Harmison or Plunket were at the best and no bowler but fear into the Yorkshire batsmen who massed 268 for 7 in their fifty overs, having been put in by Durham. While Vaughan got only a moderate 43 Rudolph 73 and Brophy not out 66 caused the main trouble putting on 78 runs for the second wicket and then a further 32 for the third which fell at 152 Steve gave away 63 runs for his 8 overs.
Durham never recovered from losing Mustard at 2, Muchall at 31 and Di Venuto at 48. Smith and Blenkenstein out on 68 for the fourth wicket but after Smith went, Blackwell went five runs later and while Breeze staying with Blenkenstein brought hope with a Breasy 29, when he went the innings came quickly to an end although I was in my car listening to the second Cup semi final when the last two wickets fell to give Yorkshire an away win by 80 runs and with 9 overs to spare.
I have mixed feelings about Newcastle, wanting Alan Shearer to do well, but concerned less they should replace Sunderland in the relegation position and wanting rid of Mike Ashley. They were outplayed by Spurs and only during the last half hour when Alan gambled and played Viduka, Martins, Owen and Smith up front did they look as if there was a chance scoring a goal but they missed two good opportunities so Spurs held on to their goal to take the points. At present it is likely that three of the bottom six clubs will be relegated with Sunderland learning the group with 35 points and Hull and Blackburn with 34, the Boro with 31, Newcastle 30 and WBA 25 all six having five games and a maximum of 15 points to play for.
I have entered my forecasts for all the remaining matches this season and my prediction is that Hull, the Boro and West Brom will be relegated with Sunderland climbing to mid table and Newcastle finishing 5th bottom.
Manchester United put out a second eleven for the semi final and although they should have been awarded a penalty according to the match reports neither side scored by full time play or during extra time. With two poor penalty kicks to begin with, Everton went through 4.2 with Man U having one kick left. I am pleased by this for the Everton’s manager who is proving the most successful of the English manager with little resource.
On return I enjoyed a cuppa soup fishcakes and beans followed by cold rice pudding and coffee. Later in the early hours I had a cup of tea. After a day relaxing in the sun I needed to do some concentrated thinking and but I was too relaxed.
I awoke early and time to go back to sleep and wake up feeling right for going downstairs for the start of the third Formula 1 Grand Prix race this time in Shanghai China. It was also the third race where the weather played a major part and the race stewards’ vehicle was in evidence and for the second time this season there was a different team dominating- the Red Bull has wings etc.
There was two days of sunshine for the practice runs and the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finishing 1st and 3rd for the starting grid with Alonso of Renault 2nd and the two Brawn Mercedes 4th and 5th. Ferrari could only make 8th and 13th as their terrible start to the new season continues and McClaren Mercedes 9th and 12th. Have the days really gone when the championship was divided between McClaren and Ferrari?
When I switched on the race had just started in driving rain and horrendous spray behind the safety car and this continued for the first 20 minutes and eight laps until the rain stopped sufficiently for the divers to indicate that although they were aquaplaning around the circuit this was due to the slow speed and inability to warm up the tyres and the breaks. The Safety car then left.
The spectators who were not undercover were soaked and the invisibility of the race because spray, and then further rain, would have made the expensive outing a disaster. For those watching on TV there were plenty of spills as cars shunted into each other or of the track as they hit surface water. People overtook and were overtaken by the same drivers. Drivers made mistakes as they took risks to gain the lead or a place as did some teams with their decisions on refuelling. Jensen Button made a mistake which potentially cost him the second place as overall the car of Vettel was better and paid put to the belief that Brawn had stolen a march on everyone with their initial designed which the others would not be able to catch up as their vehicles were developed to the latest regulations and new design features. Jenson still finished 3rd and a podium place which means that he held on his top spot in the driver’s championship with team mate Barichello second and Vettel moving into the third place Lewis Hamilton is 10th after his punishment for misleading after the first race. After the sacking of the man held to be responsible for the misleading statements Ron Dennis who has held the reins of control has also departed in a move seen as helping to prevent, discourage a more appropriate word perhaps, the International Federation imposing further penalties on the team and Lewis Hamilton. We shall see.
I enjoyed a kipper for breakfast and then prepared a packed lunch of three brown rolls filled with salami and olives, and two cracker sandwiches with smoked salmon and a carton of prepared fruit salad. I took a mini detour to the council run waste disposal centre to rid of the boxes in which black and grey lever arch files had arrived and then sped off in the raised spirits sunshine to the Riverside where a spectacular sight was to greet me as I entered. It was evident that the fine weather had brought out a crowd by the number of cars already parked even though I was there a good 45 minutes before the game was due to commence. People were also used to the 10 45 start of previous games and cricket spectators are lovers of tradition and routine.
The surprise is that the new upper tiers to the east stand south of the scoreboard are almost completed if not completed and closed off for safety reasons until those games when they are needed. The shell of the new playback and scoreboard between the Members stand and the health centre is also up and will be ready for the Test Match with the West Indies. Planning permission has also been granted for the further stands, a second replay scoreboard and a conference and accommodation centre and permanent floodlights. It will be a top class venue when completed for the 2010 season.
I sat for the first hour of play overlooking the wicket at the southern end after having a cup of coffee in the Member’s lounge at the new price of £1 with a plate of chips still £1.50 although I resisted. I had the rolls and fruit salad watching the play before moving to the Member’s lounge to watch Newcastle at the Spurs and returned for 4 hours in the sunshine behind the wicket and at the sun shining all day northern end. I had a second cup of coffee during half time in the football and enjoyed the smoked salmon around six and would have liked a cup of tea but was too lazy by then to go back to the Members lounge. I decided not to buy the programme which on reflection was a mistake as I had also forgotten a note book and a hat. I have lost my cap and the green hat as well as Astrakhan fake Russian style hat leaving only the all weather Australian type of bush hat left. The shop was sold out of Durham caps with only England and all white ones left and the large ones with brims. I have the fake panama hat somewhere to be resurrected. I acquired my copy of the 2008 Member’s Handbooks which is the best produced for a long while if not ever and with the Wisden I had all the records and background information one could wish for.
This bring me to the game itself which proved not a good day for Durham. Neither Harmison or Plunket were at the best and no bowler but fear into the Yorkshire batsmen who massed 268 for 7 in their fifty overs, having been put in by Durham. While Vaughan got only a moderate 43 Rudolph 73 and Brophy not out 66 caused the main trouble putting on 78 runs for the second wicket and then a further 32 for the third which fell at 152 Steve gave away 63 runs for his 8 overs.
Durham never recovered from losing Mustard at 2, Muchall at 31 and Di Venuto at 48. Smith and Blenkenstein out on 68 for the fourth wicket but after Smith went, Blackwell went five runs later and while Breeze staying with Blenkenstein brought hope with a Breasy 29, when he went the innings came quickly to an end although I was in my car listening to the second Cup semi final when the last two wickets fell to give Yorkshire an away win by 80 runs and with 9 overs to spare.
I have mixed feelings about Newcastle, wanting Alan Shearer to do well, but concerned less they should replace Sunderland in the relegation position and wanting rid of Mike Ashley. They were outplayed by Spurs and only during the last half hour when Alan gambled and played Viduka, Martins, Owen and Smith up front did they look as if there was a chance scoring a goal but they missed two good opportunities so Spurs held on to their goal to take the points. At present it is likely that three of the bottom six clubs will be relegated with Sunderland learning the group with 35 points and Hull and Blackburn with 34, the Boro with 31, Newcastle 30 and WBA 25 all six having five games and a maximum of 15 points to play for.
I have entered my forecasts for all the remaining matches this season and my prediction is that Hull, the Boro and West Brom will be relegated with Sunderland climbing to mid table and Newcastle finishing 5th bottom.
Manchester United put out a second eleven for the semi final and although they should have been awarded a penalty according to the match reports neither side scored by full time play or during extra time. With two poor penalty kicks to begin with, Everton went through 4.2 with Man U having one kick left. I am pleased by this for the Everton’s manager who is proving the most successful of the English manager with little resource.
On return I enjoyed a cuppa soup fishcakes and beans followed by cold rice pudding and coffee. Later in the early hours I had a cup of tea. After a day relaxing in the sun I needed to do some concentrated thinking and but I was too relaxed.
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