Inspiring Aim For Gold

Meeting people who are at the very top of their sport, career etc is very inspiring.
I can understand the pressure they put on themselves to be the very best and the struggles they encounter to simply get others to understand their goals.

The Olympics is the pinnacle for most athletes, the one they are working towards and aiming for that worldly recognised gold medal.
With four years in between each event the build up, training and preparation is immense and can sometimes be too much for some. The financial worries that come with an Olympic campaign can sometimes take up the majority of the planning and everything has to work in and around it. It is then amazing and thoroughly inspiring to learn that above all of the hard-times there is always the main aim, the one driving goal to represent the country and to push for that medal.
We need to appreciate how hard it is for our athletes to get where they are aiming. It is not just a case of getting to run round a track all day, or go sailing everyday in warm water as their day job, surely you must all know that being a British athlete of any description is not all about spending their days in warm, hot, sunny weather.
Therefore it is more inspiring that our athletes will go through it all, conditions good or bad to aim for that gold!

2010 JJ Giltinan World Championships

It has been the most exciting 10 days of 18 foot skiff sailing on Sydney Harbour.

This year's JJ Giltinan World Championships trophy came right down to the wire with only 1 or 2 points separating the leaders going into the final race.

Unfortunately, I could not be with my team this year and so had to cheer for them from the comfort of my lounge here in the UK.

The time difference has been interesting and I have set my alarm to wake every morning so I can check their results and see how each race went.

The story behind Andy getting the new boat ready and finding suitable crew to train and race in the regatta is one of pure determination and is really inspiring. Literally, blood, sweat and I am sure a few tears have gone into this campaign and it has all paid off for them.
Tragically, they were in the lead and looked like they were going to take the win and bring the trophy home for the UK but during the race the trapeze wires broke and so meant they had to capsize to fix it, and lost a lot of places.

I am so proud of the guys as they came through so much to get to this point and have deservedly achieved third in the world.

There is photos and a full race report on the team site, check it out- http://www.projectracing.co.uk/

February 18th 2010

Thanks for coming to my brand new blog.
There is going to be plenty of fun and interesting stories to fill these pages, but firstly I wanted to introduce myself and to plug my website, that has more news, photos and exciting goings on! www.emmyork.me.uk

Whats She Wont Know Wont Hurt Her.

Every Friday we are graced with the appearance of my niece Megan (right), as my sister goes to work. For me, it is pretty much a write-off for getting anything done as I end up playing Lego or watching Shrek for the 50th time.

Last week we were off out into the garden to feeds the birds. A past time Megan has come to love. She enjoys watching them eat the seeds she puts out and enthusiastically tells the fat, over-fed pigeons to go away!

The only downside to this event is that on that day it was a particularly cold day and so hats and gloves were needed. tyring to explain to a two year old that she has to keep her hat on, is non eventful and so according to her mother, we have to say that her ears will fall off if she doesn't keep the hat on.

Now, I know this is cruel and I am sure she will get her own back on us when she is older, but it seems to work. However, after the seeds have been eaten, she spends the next several minutes walking around in circles, checking the ground to see if her ears might have fallen off. It's hilarious!

Who knew there was so much fun to be had with a two year old!