London 2 Paris - March update #2

Slight neglect to this page since the first post, to which apologies are due. Moving on...

Since I started fundraising back in mid-March or so, the JustGiving page has received a nice bit of attention. Donations have come (family-orientated only so far) from four extremely generous people, to which I must say thanks to!

I recently went on local Christian radio station Hope FM with this bloke --->
down in Bournemouth to promote the cycle, and although donations didn't quite come, at least awareness of the cycle has been raised a bit!

I'm also in talks with the manager of my university gym regarding a fundraising event there - either a cardiovascular activity such as a 3-mile cycle, or a nice and simple sit-up challenge that anyone can enter for a quid. If this goes to plan, it should be underway in the next few days...

Also reached out to a few newspapers back home in London, and hopefully I'll be able to reach out to a few more people regarding the cycle.

As far as training is concerned, I'm getting a good few rides under my belt. I went pretty quickly from an 8-mile cycle to Boscombe, to a 12-mile cycle to Sandbanks, to a 19-mile cycle to first Sandbanks and then Mudeford in the South coast. I'm also doing a few cycles with Rubes, a mate who's doing the cycle with me, so we shouldn't be too far apart as far as fitness levels matter come the time of the cycle. Everywhere I go I'll cycle now, so I'm getting enough hours on the saddle - though the investment in padded shorts will be coming in the very near future.

Until the next update, don't forget to have a glance at my JustGiving Page! Cheers :)


(P.S. How ironic is this?

Post-exam limbo

For the past few weeks, the daunting fact that I had an exam coming up was making my nights long and my days more stressful than was needed. Whilst still being taught most of what the exam was meant to be about (with about 95% of it not even coming up), we were expected to revise for the exam... on topics we didn't know about. To say the run-up to the exam wasn't stressful is an understatement, with coursemates in their dozens constantly barking questions to one another with little sufficient answers.

That said, since most of the topics I revised for didn't even come up, I'm hopeful that the grade I got is good enough. When the exam finished - which, unusually, was held in a lecture theatre meaning it suddenly felt far too secondary-school-esque to be an actual university exam - I left the room feeling simply content. I didn't feel relieved as much as I thought I would that the exam was over, I didn't feel like I wanted to celebrate that much since the exam felt like a bit of a con. A quarter of it was analysis of a news story, which didn't exactly need revision but more general journalistic skill, and half of the exam was multiple choice. With one hour of the exam set aside for multiple choice answering, most of the class finished this section within 20 minutes - the people around me in less than 10. With so much free time during the exam, it didn't feel as pressured as a usual exam, and with friends left and right of me within breathing distance (including one behind me constantly sniffling as constantly as a woodpecker) it didn't at all feel as demanding as I thought.

As I said, when I left the room I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what to do for that matter. I have two more exams tomorrow - one of which we can't revise for and the other, shorthand, which no-one expects to pass since we've got another 8 or so chances until the end of the year where we can devote our whole summer practising for.

As for now, time seems to be very much available. A catch-up session with the gym yesterday, one today, and one tomorrow will help burn some hours, as will another two 10-20 mile cycles down by the coast, but other than that time just seems to... stand still.

I'm not sure whether to savour the free time, or wonder where my ~£3,500 of university fees is going... but for now, all that's left to do is twiddle thumbs and wait until work recommences...

Is competition in PE lessons really healthy?

As a young schoolboy, there’s nothing more I used to look forward to than PE lessons. Come rain or shine, for 90 minutes every week I’d be allowed to kick, throw, or hit a ball around to my heart’s content until we were bundled back onto a smelly, muddy school bus to take a down-trodden trip back to school grounds to begin another week of classroom torture.

Looking back though, there are certainly visible elements of divided opinion amongst children about PE lessons; there are those that love sport, strive on sport, and savour every minute of their PE lessons, then those that cannot wait until the teachers calls you back to the changing rooms to end a muddy, lonely, physically unappealing day of hell. Even forgetting your PE kit isn’t an option any more, with those trying desperately to avoid getting involved begrudgingly making their way to lost property to find the least smelly, sweaty, and unflattering clothes possible as defeat sets in.

The reason? Competition. Due to having an almost unhealthy competitive streak, which nowadays results in getting in a huff for a day if my football team loses, I’m a firm believer of there only being two types of people – winners and losers. Yet for those against the idea, and ultimately forced to endure 90 minutes of hell or get served an hour’s detention, competition makes life living hell. Those that are skilful - albeit if this is only felt by themselves - will effectively ‘ball-hog’, restricting those that are forced to make up the numbers having to stand alone on a pitch until a whistle is blown; only then can they resume their lives and end the pain. 

For individual sport, this ordeal only lengthens. As writer Nigel Molesworth said, “tenis is worse than criket becos at criket you can at least get bowled out, but at tenis you have to go on missing agane and agane”. At least playing ‘team’ sports, the buck can be passed. I have to ask – is competition really as healthy as we are all led to believe? Or does it serve as yet another tool in creating social divides and the deterioration of freedom of choice? 

Cheltenham rises to the Festivities

Two days into the biggest horse racing festival to hit British shores and Cheltenham has got punters and professionals chomping on the bit as the event reaches its midway point.

Yesterday saw favourites cook up a storm in a tantalising start to the day's racing, with amateur jockey Derek O'Connor giving punters a perfect start to the day as he rode Chicago Grey comfortably home, before second-favourite First Lieutenant took the Neptune Novices' Hurdle, beating outsider Rock On Ruby by a nose in the hottest closing stages the festival has seen yet.

Favourites seemed to fade in the backgrounds thereafter, with a fleet of outsiders - including 16/1 shots Bostons Angel and Carlito Brigante claiming victories over tough fields. Meanwhile, the highly-anticipated Queen Mother Chase saw 10/1 shot Sizing Europe pass the post first, beating favourite Big Zeb as a lacklustre Master Minded finished mid-way through the pack.

The first day's racing again produced a mixed bag, with a fleet of favourites dominating the placings in every race. The impressive Quevega took yet another win - though with odds of less than evens going into the race, was always expected to claim the victory - whilst in the day's biggest race Hurricane Fly beat fellow favourite Peddler's Cross in the Champion Hurdle.

If the first two days of the festival are anything to go by, the next two will surely cook up quite the storm - and with today being St. Patrick's Day, the continuous flowing of Guinness will, without fail, liven up spectator spirits to dizzy heights regardless of where their hopeful horses place.

Today see's hopes rest upon the shoulders of Grade I dynamos Big Bucks, Poquelin and Wishfull Thinking, with the day's six races packing a punch with every name booked to race.

Regardless of the results, I for one will be glued to the TV screen as the day rolls on, and with the increasing media speculation over the festival, I'm sure I'm not the only one eagerly awaiting another day's racing, and just like any other punter at the festival, I won't be far off sipping the Guinness and readying myself for another electrifying day at the country's biggest show.

Dalla Valle to stay at Dean Court until end of season

*Written on BUzz*

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Loanee striker Lauri Dalla Valle has committed his short-term future to AFC Bournemouth after agreeing to extend his loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old striker was midway through a one-month loan deal from Fulham, and has already scored twice since joining the Cherries.

The deal means that Dalla Valle will remain in a Cherries' shirt for the final ten games of the season, including any prospective play-off matches.

Player-assistant manager Steven Fletcher said: "He has done well and we were keen to keep him for the rest of the season. He had never played at this level before he came here. You need to get used to the pace of League One and he has scored a couple of outstanding goals."

Fletcher will hope the talented youngster will continue his rich vein of form as the team travel to Carlisle this Saturday, having already bagged a goal last week against south-coast rivals Southampton.

Poole Town's Tatnam stadium undergoes facelift after new stadium plans delayed

*Written on BUzz*

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Poole Town FC's proposed move to Bearwood has been put on hold, forcing the club to begin work on their current Tatnam ground to meet FA regulations - allowing them to play in higher league football next year.

Instead, Wessex Premier League outfit Poole Town FC have begun work to revamp their current home ground - allowing access to the Southern League next year for their very first time.

Meanwhile, work will be put on hold to host their FA Vase semi-final tie against holders Whitley Bay in a week's time.

Their current Tatnam ground does not currently meet FA requirements for Southern League football, meaning promotion would be unsuccessful regardless of their finishing position.

Though the Dolphins have topped the Wessex Premier League for the last two years, their inability to meet stadium guidelines meant they could not get promoted - with their current position, seven points behind league leaders Winchester City with six games in hand, being irrelevant.

The club hope the refurbished current ground will meet FA ground grading with the March 31st deadline looming, with council talks delayed regarding a planned move to Bearwood.

A dismayed Mark Bumford, Commercial Director at Poole Town FC, said: "We do talk to the council a lot and they have been very supportive on the ability to upgrade Tatnam, but our fans are a little bit perplexed as to why this has happened.

"It is still not certain our plans will satisfy the FA, but we have full backing and we will give it our best shot."

The Dolphins' proposed move to Bearwood has been put on hold leaving their league presence next year largely unknown, sparking the initial decision to carry out work at their current Tatnam base. If granted clearance, the club will be given Southern League status for the very first time in their history - though not at the stadium originally planned for.

Bumford said: "Our hearing has already been put back two months, and who knows if it will be put back again - I certainly hope not."

With their FA Vase semi-final clash closing in, work will be halted to ensure player and crowd safety will not be disrupted.

Red Bull Racing looking towards Bournemouth University students for help

It’s not every student’s typical sight when walking into university to find a Formula One car perched in the car park, but for students at Bournemouth University today this was the case.

Red Bull Racing’s 2008 RB3 model glistened in the sun, attracting a fleet of photographs and questions from curious students all day, but the real reason of their visit was to find an intern for their Red Bull Reporter 2011 scheme – and whether interested in the scheme or not, word soon spread of the newest addition on campus.

Red Bull’s annual search for an intern stopped off at the UK’s No.1 New University to spread word to students interested in the scheme, with curious F1 fans flocking to the car for a glimpse of the machine in the frenzy – with RBR hoping the publicity stunt will provoke applicants to get involved.

Behind the magnificent team interns can partake on a 2-month internship , working within the team from Monaco and the British Grand Prix, with unrestricted access to the team’s factory, management facilities and garages whilst also given the chance to get their work published on a national level.


Those interested in the scheme should visit www.redbullreporter.com for more details.

To Paris and Beyond - The Journey Begins Here

So after getting an email a few weeks ago by a group of events management students at university, I was quite tempted to get involved in a triathalon. Only thing is, my gym doesn't have a swimming pool, and I didn't fancy going to find a pool for a few weeks training before the big day. They had an option of group triathalons instead, and I immediately warmed to this with a friend. He was due to take on the running section of the challenge, whilst I definitely wasn't slow in taking up the biking section. However, our downfall was a swimmer, who we ultimately couldn't find, and didn't attend the competition.

Skip forward to now, and after receiving another email - this time from my Student's Union RAG (Raising and Giving) Society - promoting a bike ride from London to Paris. I'd heard of this already from a close friend and member of RAG, who said the idea was in the works. Obviously, the works got into motion and the plan has been devised. The cycle ride would see me first travel to London (admittedly on a train) before setting off en-route to Paris in a 3-day spree that would see me accumulate over 200 miles.

The whole thing's for charity, which makes it twice as good knowing I can do it for a good cause as well as fulfilling a growing sense of adventure with this escapade, and already me and a friend are planning fundraising events to raise £1,500 between us (£750 each) for the epic adventure in July - and with her knowledge already of fundraising and my lousy history of trying to, hopefully we'll just about get there too!

Given I've always jumped at the opportunity to go anywhere on two-wheels when legs or engines are perfectly acceptable substitutes, this challenge is one I'm well up for, and after buying a set of fresh, top-of-the-range road tyres for my bike, I'm already taking every opportunity I can to get back in the saddle.

Since I heard about the event, I've gone on three bike rides in the past four days and from rough memory, these were of 19 miles, 9 miles and 7 miles. Fair enough, I haven't quite amassed the sub-200 miles I'll achieve in four and a bit months time, but it's a start. From here on in, training has began.

I will also be making a blog on my journey. I tried doing one every day before my half-marathon in 2009, but this got a bit boring after continously posting daily.... so even though updates may not come daily, albeit extensive (to save readers time and eye-power), they'll still serve as a platform to provide news of the whole escapade. Web address will be up as soon as the blog goes live, so until then keep checking back.

Let the good times roll...