ROLL UP THE SPORTING CALENDAR
Pitt said on hearing the scoreline from FC Austerlitz(Recap Napoleon 10 Two Emperors 0)
” Roll up the map of Europe. It will not be needed these ten years.”
Pitt was being overly pessimistic. Wellington’s Red Army Red Army was rampaging through Spain within three years. Let us all hope that Quiz HQ is being equally pessimistic when fearing that 2020 Spring/Summer sporting calendar can be rolled up and put into storage.
Many of the 2020 quiz events will surely be cancelled. Some like the Six Nations and the London Marathon are provisionally scheduled to be completed during the Autumn. Are you an optimist still hoping for a Tokyo Olympics in July?
We managed to complete two quiz events during the last week and in a shortened race, each successful prediction will become more significant. Delighted as we should be by the unseasonal downpours in Australia which finally quenched January’s horrific bush fires, the March rain had some unfortunate effects on the Women’s World T20 Cup. Cub reporter Neil Southwood writes
“The tournament saw the continued and unprecedented growth of women’s cricket, another sad example of cricket’s remarkable ability to shoot itself in the foot and AUSTRALIA eventually confirming their tag as bookies favourites with a stroll to victory in the final. Over 80% of quizzers backed the host nation, but it was far from untroubled progress during a fine competitive tournament played out in front of record crowds.
The hosts have the most professional domestic structure for women’s cricket in the world, several experienced world-class players and a superb record in this event over the past decade. Still Australia became the victims of a shock in the very first round of group games when India comfortably defended a total of 132. Galvanised by the emergence of 16-year-old Shafali Verma, the Indians dominated their group. Australia had to draw on all their experience to edge to narrow victories over Sri Lanka and New Zealand to make the semi-finals. In the other group, South Africa also sprang a surprise by beating England in their opening game. Whilst fine performances from captain Heather Knight, Nat Sciver and Sophie Ecclestone ensured that England still made it through comfortably in second place, the group positions would prove crucial as a rain-hit semi-final day dawned.
England would play India in the first semi. The wisdom of cricket’s governing bodies dictated that no reserve day was scheduled if the rain did not relent; the team with the better record in the group stage would progress to the final. Sure enough, England’s hopes were thwarted by weather more akin to our sodden early-spring – a disappointing way to exit the tournament for the current 50 over champions. Even more frustrating, the rain then cleared in time for a shortened second semi-final. Here the Australians found their form, cruising past the previously-unbeaten South Africans to ensure that Melbourne would get its capacity crowd for the final. If the rain hadn’t abated, Australia would have gone the same way as England -out of the tournament.
The hosts were now in full flow and never looked like losing the re-match with India. Batting first, the Aussies took advantage of nervy bowling and dropped catches to reach a formidable 184-4, with their batters Healy, Mooney and Lanning leading from the front. India sadly never got close, bowled out for just 99 and the 86,000 strong crowd saluted their home-grown heroes to the soundtrack of Katy Perry on International Women’s Day. Another undoubted triumph for the women’s game though the rest of the world still have some work to do before they can match the Aussie grip on this format. “
The Cheltenham Festival continued for its full four days like some bizarre Mardi Gras celebration before a sport free Lent of uncertain duration. Our racing correspondent Nigel Anderton was lucky enough to watch the first three days from an Andalusian sunbed before returning to have a successful punt on the Gold Cup and write this report.
“And so, while they were still able, the crowds came in their thousands for the four days of the Cheltenham Festival. To be reminded once again of sport’s important power to confound and delight. Providing at Prestbury Park memories of utter despair as well as joyous celebration. Jamie Moore kneeling on the grass wishing to be swallowed up after being thrown from the favourite Goshan when ten lengths clear at the last in the Triumph Hurdle. Paul Townend facing criticism for allowing Rachel Blackmore to nip up the inside rail on Honeysuckle and steal the Mares Hurdle from Benie Des Dieux on Day 1 yet ending the meeting as top jockey and winning a successive Gold Cup after a brilliant ride on Al Boum Photo. The last day also produced one of those ‘you couldn’t make it up’ moments when Maxine O’Connell, riding for her father Eugene, landed the Foxhunters on the wonderfully named 66-1 outsider It Came To Pass. This some 29 years after Eugene had trained his only other previous Cheltenham Festival winner, Lovely Citizen, ridden by his brother William. A remarkable tale that will be told for many years in Kilshannig, North Cork where it can be imagined quite a few bets had been riding on It Came To Pass. Maxine was followed home at a respectful distance by Gina Andrews in 8th place, so TWO of the only four ladies riding in the field of 21 finished in the top ten.”
Nine quizzers still dream of the perfect season.16 quizzers stare gloomily at the foot of the table without even the usual consoling mantra,” It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”Here on March 15th, we have no idea how long the race might be. Stay safe, live as normal a life as is sensible in extraordinary times.
