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A reminder to those of us who've followed RTB's daughters' progress on here in their rowing exploits over the years: Pam is on the final of the mixed coxed fours at Eton Dorney today at 11:50.
Hopefully, Ch4 will cover it. If not, let's hope Radio5 do.
Go Pam!
Hopefully, Ch4 will cover it. If not, let's hope Radio5 do.
Go Pam!
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Just read this thread in it's entirity.
So first up, a huge huge thanks for anyone who ever showed up and had a spark of positive interest inwhat Pam and her crew were doing. It's amazing the way sport at it's purest, can touch the lives in small ways, of thousands of otherwise disconnected people.
Thanks again to everyone and to the leading lights in here who appear to have done such a fantastic job keeping everyone informed as to whats been going on.
As far as I can tell, you've all got a pretty firm handle on how the Final went. The crew went down just as Tom Aggar - a giant of a man in every respect - came fourth in his final. The Germans were utterly immense and raced hard. You don't get given Medals at this level, especially Golds and I was proud more than anything else, of the way our crew responded to the challenge of Germany. Total respect to the SSilver medallists who gave it everything.
I think the winning margin was somewhat exaggerated as the Germans caught a crab in the last few strokes. Certainly where we were standing about 50 m from the finish, we were about 3 feet up when they passed us.
Dear reader, yours truly did not carry this victory off with studied nonchalance and Britsh sang froid. Tears, snot and gibberish in equal measures, were very much orders of the day.
Met up with Pam in what the Paralympic GB organizers (who deserve every praise for their attention to logistical details) called the 'Hugs and Tears' area. Had about 20 minutes with her there before she went off for drugs testing and immediate media commitments. So many tears I'm amazed she was hydrated enough for the former (there you go - the machinations of my daughter's urine sample! We indeed live in strange times) and 'together enough' for the latter.
But she gives good interview!
We all disappeared into Maidenhead afterwards for food and strong coffee (we'd been awake since 4.30) and to commandeer a TV from the Man Utd and Southampton fans, in order to catch the crew doing their C4 interview at around 6pm, which I guess some of you saw.
GB Rowing (and sponsors Siemens) had put on a party for the team, support staff et al down near Ascot, so we went down there and met some people who have become good friends during this last year. Athletes families, coaches, physios etc assigned to the team, as well as the athletes from the other crews, Tom Aggar, Nick Beighton and Sam Scowen.
Pam and her crew got back from Stratford at about 9.30, after all their media commitments there. We had a couple of hours with her, Norm (Naomi), Dave, Jimmy and Lily and Ascot rocked on a par with Frankel in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Left about 11.30 and home very tired at about 12.30.
Got a rush photo on the i-pod of the stamp the crew are having made up for them and with news they had to be up at stupid ovclock this morning to go on 'Daybreak'. AS you can tell from the time of this post, I can't sleep - still buzzing after one of the best days of my life.
Open the Thesauras at 'proud' and start reading.....
So first up, a huge huge thanks for anyone who ever showed up and had a spark of positive interest inwhat Pam and her crew were doing. It's amazing the way sport at it's purest, can touch the lives in small ways, of thousands of otherwise disconnected people.
Thanks again to everyone and to the leading lights in here who appear to have done such a fantastic job keeping everyone informed as to whats been going on.
As far as I can tell, you've all got a pretty firm handle on how the Final went. The crew went down just as Tom Aggar - a giant of a man in every respect - came fourth in his final. The Germans were utterly immense and raced hard. You don't get given Medals at this level, especially Golds and I was proud more than anything else, of the way our crew responded to the challenge of Germany. Total respect to the SSilver medallists who gave it everything.
I think the winning margin was somewhat exaggerated as the Germans caught a crab in the last few strokes. Certainly where we were standing about 50 m from the finish, we were about 3 feet up when they passed us.
Dear reader, yours truly did not carry this victory off with studied nonchalance and Britsh sang froid. Tears, snot and gibberish in equal measures, were very much orders of the day.
Met up with Pam in what the Paralympic GB organizers (who deserve every praise for their attention to logistical details) called the 'Hugs and Tears' area. Had about 20 minutes with her there before she went off for drugs testing and immediate media commitments. So many tears I'm amazed she was hydrated enough for the former (there you go - the machinations of my daughter's urine sample! We indeed live in strange times) and 'together enough' for the latter.
But she gives good interview!
We all disappeared into Maidenhead afterwards for food and strong coffee (we'd been awake since 4.30) and to commandeer a TV from the Man Utd and Southampton fans, in order to catch the crew doing their C4 interview at around 6pm, which I guess some of you saw.
GB Rowing (and sponsors Siemens) had put on a party for the team, support staff et al down near Ascot, so we went down there and met some people who have become good friends during this last year. Athletes families, coaches, physios etc assigned to the team, as well as the athletes from the other crews, Tom Aggar, Nick Beighton and Sam Scowen.
Pam and her crew got back from Stratford at about 9.30, after all their media commitments there. We had a couple of hours with her, Norm (Naomi), Dave, Jimmy and Lily and Ascot rocked on a par with Frankel in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Left about 11.30 and home very tired at about 12.30.
Got a rush photo on the i-pod of the stamp the crew are having made up for them and with news they had to be up at stupid ovclock this morning to go on 'Daybreak'. AS you can tell from the time of this post, I can't sleep - still buzzing after one of the best days of my life.
Open the Thesauras at 'proud' and start reading.....
That 'SSilver' was a terrible slip and should be taken as the clumsiness of an overexcited father and nothing else more stupid or sinister.
im glad you added that, "Germany. Total respect to the SS" sounded quite funny on its own.
was on the road most of yesterday and now stuck with dodgy connection and substandard equipment so missed all of this unfortunately.
Looks like an amazing achievement for RTB and everyone involved.
Many congratulations, you must be bursting with pride.
Looks like an amazing achievement for RTB and everyone involved.
Many congratulations, you must be bursting with pride.
Terrific write-up of yesterday's events, RTB.
What a fantastic day for all of your family to treasure forever.
What a fantastic day for all of your family to treasure forever.
So, the memsahib and I are having a little light supper (quail served on a bed of unicorn horn, since you ask) and one of the staff mentions that an interview is being shown on the C4 news that might interest the master.
Naturally, my wife's instinct was to disembowel the presumptuous guttersnipe with one of our silver Regency dodo carvers, but he managed to remind me that I was interested to see Pamela Relph compete, just before the memsahib reached him.
What a fine young woman, RTB. You must be immensely proud of her, and she seems to combine being a supreme athlete with no little charm and intelligence. Please pass on the heartiest congratulations of all of us at the Towers.
Naturally, my wife's instinct was to disembowel the presumptuous guttersnipe with one of our silver Regency dodo carvers, but he managed to remind me that I was interested to see Pamela Relph compete, just before the memsahib reached him.
What a fine young woman, RTB. You must be immensely proud of her, and she seems to combine being a supreme athlete with no little charm and intelligence. Please pass on the heartiest congratulations of all of us at the Towers.
A Seabrook crisp sarnie more like.
Great race, very pleased for Roger and family.
Great race, very pleased for Roger and family.
....
http://shop.royalmail.com/paralympicsgb-gold-medal-winner-miniature-sheets/paralympicsgb-gold-medal-winner-miniature-sheet-rowing-mixed-coxed-four-ltamix4+/invt/sku00008028/
http://shop.royalmail.com/paralympicsgb-gold-medal-winner-miniature-sheets/paralympicsgb-gold-medal-winner-miniature-sheet-rowing-mixed-coxed-four-ltamix4+/invt/sku00008028/
heard the replay of the commentary this morning on Radio5. quality
I must say that we should compliment the rest of the crew too!
Particularly the big guy in the middle, who looks quite outstanding!
Particularly the big guy in the middle, who looks quite outstanding!
Brilliant stuff, worth all the hours and hours of practice, worry, travel, work and enjoyment.
It will, and should, be party time in the 'thebutler' household for ages.
Here's to all the wins to come!!
It will, and should, be party time in the 'thebutler' household for ages.
Here's to all the wins to come!!
Just attempted to watch Channel Four's coverage of the Rowing yesterday, which we recorded whilst watching it live at Dorney.
Does the phrase 'blink and you missed it' mean anything to anyone?
Hours of endless coverage given to events at Stratford, maybe Greenwich too but send a camera crew and competent commentator all the way to Berkshire and devote the 3 mins and 19 seconds it took for Pam's race to be run yesterday? Impossible it seems, never mind covering their medals ceremony.
Two bob coverage from a two bob broadcaster.
Does the phrase 'blink and you missed it' mean anything to anyone?
Hours of endless coverage given to events at Stratford, maybe Greenwich too but send a camera crew and competent commentator all the way to Berkshire and devote the 3 mins and 19 seconds it took for Pam's race to be run yesterday? Impossible it seems, never mind covering their medals ceremony.
Two bob coverage from a two bob broadcaster.
roger, I share your frustration!
It is beyond diabolical imo!
I think most of their cameras etc, were dug in for the day at the equestrian events!
It is beyond diabolical imo!
I think most of their cameras etc, were dug in for the day at the equestrian events!
woeful beyond belief hardly does it justice
excuse my ignorance but is it different from the olympics in that there's no central pool of broadcasters and channel 4 can decide what to show or are they having to provide their own camera crew if they want to show anything ?
excuse my ignorance but is it different from the olympics in that there's no central pool of broadcasters and channel 4 can decide what to show or are they having to provide their own camera crew if they want to show anything ?
Nice bit of coverage on BBC South Today just now, interview with Pam & team.
Agreed Roger,could have easily showed it live but decided to show a swimming heat with 4/5 swimmers in it!.
Their coverage is carrying on from the appaling Daegu efforts last year.........oh here she is now
Their coverage is carrying on from the appaling Daegu efforts last year.........oh here she is now
With my ultra pragmatic (some might say 'cynical') head on, I'm trying to see this from Channel Fours point and still come up with a frustrating vacuum.
They need to sell advertising space. No problem with that and that's what you expect when you watch anything on a commercial channel.
So what better way of pulling in punters than with an event that, beforehand at least, might have been expected to deliver British medals. Throw in the 'feelgood' factor of actually covering the national anthem live and a bit of Royalty stardust (Prince Edward, Kate Middleton and Sophie Wessex were all at Dorney on Sunday) and you have a nice little viewer-friendly package that would have delivered (IMO) viewers in spades.
If they'd done their homework properly they would have realised that after the heats, Tom Aggar was far from the shoe-in they blithely promoted him as. Tom is a thoroughly pleasant man as well as a warrior of an athlete and would have been embarrassed abouth them virtually hanging a medal round his neck before he raced. C4 could have made this a real competitive battle if they had approached their coverage professionally. Instead they attempted to re-write their pre-determined script, failing even to do that properly with a lousy camera angle only showing Tombeing pipped for third in the final few seconds of his race when the Russian appeared as if from nowhere.
Ditto Sam and Nick in the Pair. Nick Beighton's story chokes me up every time I read about it. He is a fine man and whilst that in itself does not confer sainthood and blanket coverage, their efforts did not deserve to be ignored.
I won't comment further on the coverage the Four received, one, because I don't want this to come off as a father's whinge and two, because Pam and her crew deserve their day in the sunshine rather than be potentially broadsided by an issue like the coverage their event received by Channel Four.
They need to sell advertising space. No problem with that and that's what you expect when you watch anything on a commercial channel.
So what better way of pulling in punters than with an event that, beforehand at least, might have been expected to deliver British medals. Throw in the 'feelgood' factor of actually covering the national anthem live and a bit of Royalty stardust (Prince Edward, Kate Middleton and Sophie Wessex were all at Dorney on Sunday) and you have a nice little viewer-friendly package that would have delivered (IMO) viewers in spades.
If they'd done their homework properly they would have realised that after the heats, Tom Aggar was far from the shoe-in they blithely promoted him as. Tom is a thoroughly pleasant man as well as a warrior of an athlete and would have been embarrassed abouth them virtually hanging a medal round his neck before he raced. C4 could have made this a real competitive battle if they had approached their coverage professionally. Instead they attempted to re-write their pre-determined script, failing even to do that properly with a lousy camera angle only showing Tombeing pipped for third in the final few seconds of his race when the Russian appeared as if from nowhere.
Ditto Sam and Nick in the Pair. Nick Beighton's story chokes me up every time I read about it. He is a fine man and whilst that in itself does not confer sainthood and blanket coverage, their efforts did not deserve to be ignored.
I won't comment further on the coverage the Four received, one, because I don't want this to come off as a father's whinge and two, because Pam and her crew deserve their day in the sunshine rather than be potentially broadsided by an issue like the coverage their event received by Channel Four.
This is the first thread I have read on here in months while smiling 
roger she wins a gold in the looks department too
I wasn't in,so missed the race,but there are three other channels showing the Paralympics. They are 450-452 on Sky. Also on Virgin and Freesat. Did anyone check if the race was shown live on one of those channels? It would certainly be unforgiveable if none of them showed it.
Anyway,well done to the five of them.
Anyway,well done to the five of them.
I checked and kept on checking the Channel4 site on my computer all of yesterday morning, which shows all the live viewing available.
None of the channels showed the race live.
Channel 4 didn't even mention the race was taking place until it was over, and then showed the brief clip as seen on the link at the bottom of page 3 by Jayco.
Channel 4 then showed a ten second clip, long after the medal ceremony was over, of the mixed coxed four raising their arms on the podium - but didn't show their medals being presented nor any of the ceremony.
As of this afternoon, the Ch4 Paralympics site still only had the brief clip of the race available to view, not the full race.
The interview in the studio with Pam's crew (which I missed) wasn't available to watch, although many other interviews with other athletes were/are.
If I hadn't also been tuned into Radio5 at the time of Pam's race, I'd have missed it - as I'm sure many others did.
It was a terrible decision by Ch4 to show swimming heats when there were Brits going for medals in 3 races at Eton Dorney yesterday morning - and the scant attention they paid to the gold medal winning performance by Pam's crew (when they deigned to show a minute of the race) was deplorable.
None of the channels showed the race live.
Channel 4 didn't even mention the race was taking place until it was over, and then showed the brief clip as seen on the link at the bottom of page 3 by Jayco.
Channel 4 then showed a ten second clip, long after the medal ceremony was over, of the mixed coxed four raising their arms on the podium - but didn't show their medals being presented nor any of the ceremony.
As of this afternoon, the Ch4 Paralympics site still only had the brief clip of the race available to view, not the full race.
The interview in the studio with Pam's crew (which I missed) wasn't available to watch, although many other interviews with other athletes were/are.
If I hadn't also been tuned into Radio5 at the time of Pam's race, I'd have missed it - as I'm sure many others did.
It was a terrible decision by Ch4 to show swimming heats when there were Brits going for medals in 3 races at Eton Dorney yesterday morning - and the scant attention they paid to the gold medal winning performance by Pam's crew (when they deigned to show a minute of the race) was deplorable.
Cheers for this information Tommy - very helpful in getting an understanding of exactly what the TV viewer was (or in this case, wasn't) seeing.
Got several irate texts re garding the non-coverage of Friday's heats too.
Got several irate texts re garding the non-coverage of Friday's heats too.
Just found an interview on YouTube which was nice to see.
Pam is a very pretty, intelligent and articulate girl for sure.
Unlike her very SSilly dad!
Pam is a very pretty, intelligent and articulate girl for sure.
Unlike her very SSilly dad!
There's a 60 second video clip of a post-race interview on The Guardian's web-site.You can find it on the Sport homepage.
You're welcome, RTB.
The coverage by Ch4 was terrible in the extreme and continues to be so. There's still no sign of the full race or the studio interview of the mixed coxed four on their website.
However, I've managed to find a short video released by the Press Association of Pam and crew on their thoughts after the medal ceremony:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH5PoR8Bsqg
The coverage by Ch4 was terrible in the extreme and continues to be so. There's still no sign of the full race or the studio interview of the mixed coxed four on their website.
However, I've managed to find a short video released by the Press Association of Pam and crew on their thoughts after the medal ceremony:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH5PoR8Bsqg
It's frustrating and disappointing.
Thanks to Paralympics GB and Proctor and Gamble, who sponsored the 'Nearest and Dearest' programme supporting Olypic and PAralympic athletes, we were able to get tickets for pretty much all the family who wanted to watch live. These were in the stand over where the Medals Ceremnies were held and were, basically, the best views in the house.
However, I'd set the Sky+ to record the heats and final on Channel Four, so we could relive these with neighbours, friends and well-wishers when we returned home.
I'd got an inkling that the TV coverage wasn't great from a seies of irate texts from well-wishers who wanted to watch Pam's heat on Friday. This then went stellar on Sunday for the final.
We finally got to watch the recording of C4's coverage yesterday morning and, well, the above posts take up the story from there.
We've expressed our disappointment to C4 as parents but also as viewers and as I posted above, with my commercial hat on, I think C4 missed out on an event which, from their perspective, would have delivered them more viewers.
Thanks to Paralympics GB and Proctor and Gamble, who sponsored the 'Nearest and Dearest' programme supporting Olypic and PAralympic athletes, we were able to get tickets for pretty much all the family who wanted to watch live. These were in the stand over where the Medals Ceremnies were held and were, basically, the best views in the house.
However, I'd set the Sky+ to record the heats and final on Channel Four, so we could relive these with neighbours, friends and well-wishers when we returned home.
I'd got an inkling that the TV coverage wasn't great from a seies of irate texts from well-wishers who wanted to watch Pam's heat on Friday. This then went stellar on Sunday for the final.
We finally got to watch the recording of C4's coverage yesterday morning and, well, the above posts take up the story from there.
We've expressed our disappointment to C4 as parents but also as viewers and as I posted above, with my commercial hat on, I think C4 missed out on an event which, from their perspective, would have delivered them more viewers.
Yes, Ch4 definitely missed out on what would have been a great commercial opportunity for them if they'd have concentrated on the rowing on Sunday instead of (seemingly) being immersed in the pool (pardon the pun).
I felt sure they'd make more of Pam's crew's success when the news reached the studio that they'd won - but far from it.
It was almost like an afterthought.
For them then not to even show the medal celebration was mind-boggling in its ineptitude.
I felt sure they'd make more of Pam's crew's success when the news reached the studio that they'd won - but far from it.
It was almost like an afterthought.
For them then not to even show the medal celebration was mind-boggling in its ineptitude.
I saw what the stamp will look like last night roger, they covered it on our regional news as one of the guys is from the midlands.
Excellent performance from young Butler bit of a stunner too
Burton
Yeah - that's James Roe, the Stroke. Really nice guy - proper boy scout!
Yeah - that's James Roe, the Stroke. Really nice guy - proper boy scout!
Do we know yet whether there will be a golden postbox in her honour?
Yep
Already done, just outside our gaff!
They don't mess around, the Post Office.
Already done, just outside our gaff!
They don't mess around, the Post Office.
Alun - Gold postbox story from the local paper...
http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/local-news/rower-s-golden-display-results-in-dazzling-new-post-box-in-weston-turville-1-4220928
Well done all involved - a great performance. As mentioned it is a shame the TV coverage were showing a swimming heat (which did not even involve GB).
http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/local-news/rower-s-golden-display-results-in-dazzling-new-post-box-in-weston-turville-1-4220928
Well done all involved - a great performance. As mentioned it is a shame the TV coverage were showing a swimming heat (which did not even involve GB).
My gosh roger! How many of these daughter people have you got?
Roger, Is it worth you getting in contact with channel 4 to see if they have full coverage of the race and medal ceremony that they can forward on to you?
They obviously have full coverage!
No way did they just manage to set up for the last minute of the race, and end of the presentation ceremony!
They just, for whatever reason, chose to broadcast a small clip!
No way did they just manage to set up for the last minute of the race, and end of the presentation ceremony!
They just, for whatever reason, chose to broadcast a small clip!
Incidentally I mentioned crews being dug in, for elite equestrian, events before.
Just switched on and what do we have?
Just switched on and what do we have?
Could an overseas broadcaster maybe have coverage of the entire race on their website? A German company maybe? I'd be surprised if the Paralympics weren't being given some half-decent coverage somewhere on Planet Earth apart from the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Summer_Paralympics#Broadcasting
Thanks everyone for your ideas on this one.
I've sent a complaint to C4 and I'm leaving it there, as I'm emotionally done in, massively behind on all kinds of domestic and work admin and like I said, don't want this sideshow to take the gloss of Pam and her crew's achievements.
I know several contacts have done the same so maybe some explanation will be forthcoming from C4, but I'm not holding my breath.
I've sent a complaint to C4 and I'm leaving it there, as I'm emotionally done in, massively behind on all kinds of domestic and work admin and like I said, don't want this sideshow to take the gloss of Pam and her crew's achievements.
I know several contacts have done the same so maybe some explanation will be forthcoming from C4, but I'm not holding my breath.
Ballydoyle have allocated roger the stall next to Sadlers Wells, having bred a World Champion and an Olympic Gold Medal winner his fee will have risen next year.Get in now Ladies while the going is cheap.
ruddy marvellous victory, well done
the coverage on 4 has been abysmal and another example was the final of the 100kg blind judo which featured a British fighter and that I expected to see live. Not only was it not shown live but whilst the fight was on Ch4 were showing a heat of a relay race from the swimming which did not feature GB - frankly the coverage has been amateurish
but that does detract!
congrats to RTB and family
the coverage on 4 has been abysmal and another example was the final of the 100kg blind judo which featured a British fighter and that I expected to see live. Not only was it not shown live but whilst the fight was on Ch4 were showing a heat of a relay race from the swimming which did not feature GB - frankly the coverage has been amateurish
but that does detract!
congrats to RTB and family
It seems that pretty much every time I turn on it is either swimming or Claire Balding and Jonathon Edwards bleating on
in the studio tou fuel their already massive egos!
What is seriously galling is that they were obviously set up for the whole of Pam's event, and presumably had the entire race and presentation
available for broadcast, so why having teased us with a 30 second glimpse, haven't they found the time to broadcast the entire event later?
It would be a decent gesture, at the very least, to burn a dvd for the likes of rtb, even if they charged a nominal amount for it.
in the studio tou fuel their already massive egos!
What is seriously galling is that they were obviously set up for the whole of Pam's event, and presumably had the entire race and presentation
available for broadcast, so why having teased us with a 30 second glimpse, haven't they found the time to broadcast the entire event later?
It would be a decent gesture, at the very least, to burn a dvd for the likes of rtb, even if they charged a nominal amount for it.
For those who missed it last night; scroll this link across to 1:07:00 to watch RTB's 'proud dad of the night moment':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mm5cf/BBC_Proms_2012_Season_Last_Night_of_the_Proms_Part_2/
Well done again Pam (and Super Sire RTB!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mm5cf/BBC_Proms_2012_Season_Last_Night_of_the_Proms_Part_2/
Well done again Pam (and Super Sire RTB!)
My gosh.....I'am seriously choked with emotion!
Have watched that three times on the trot and am blinded with tears!
Stuff Channel 4!
Have watched that three times on the trot and am blinded with tears!
Stuff Channel 4!
and me, what a moment.
Pam also made it to the ipad metro issue this week.
Time to get back something worthwhile back to the top of this forum:
For those who missed it last night; scroll this link across to 1:07:00 to watch RTB's 'proud dad of the night moment':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mm5cf/BBC_Proms_2012_Season_Last_Night_of_the_Proms_Part_2/
Well done again Pam (and Super Sire RTB!)
For those who missed it last night; scroll this link across to 1:07:00 to watch RTB's 'proud dad of the night moment':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mm5cf/BBC_Proms_2012_Season_Last_Night_of_the_Proms_Part_2/
Well done again Pam (and Super Sire RTB!)
Time to get back something worthwhile back to the top of this forum:
Seen it loads of times. Fantastic achievement as I said earlier on in this thread.
Time to move on Tommy, unless Roger's your boss by any chance!
Time to move on Tommy, unless Roger's your boss by any chance!
You've seen Pam's appearance last night at about 10pm (or some time like that) at The Proms loads of times, kenny?
I very much doubt many others have.
I very much doubt many others have.
Saw it twice plus the full programme last night, Tommy. Your constant eulogising is bordering on the obsessive, like me and cats.
Give over kenny.
This is something worth commemorating - and well you know it.
If you don't, you must be drunk.
This is something worth commemorating - and well you know it.
If you don't, you must be drunk.
ok, I'll give you till Christmas Tommy, then I'm putting my foot down. 
Very droll, kenny!
How many other forumites have a daughter who has won a World Championships, a Gold Medal at the Paralympics and appeared on the stage of Last Night At The Proms?
I'd have guess at 0.
Only RTB has done this - and it's worth celebrating.
How many other forumites have a daughter who has won a World Championships, a Gold Medal at the Paralympics and appeared on the stage of Last Night At The Proms?
I'd have guess at 0.
Only RTB has done this - and it's worth celebrating.
Me too.
"Forumites who have a daughter who has won a World Championships, a Gold Medal at the Paralympics and appeared on stage of Last Night At The Proms":
Rogerthebutler: 1 Others: 0
"Forumites who have a daughter who has won a World Championships, a Gold Medal at the Paralympics and appeared on stage of Last Night At The Proms":
Rogerthebutler: 1 Others: 0
"Forumites who have a daughter who has won a World Championships, a Gold Medal at the Paralympics and appeared on stage of Last Night At The Proms":
And is gorgeous too!
And is gorgeous too!
Thanks again to everyone who has expressed an interest or has got behind Pam and her crew over these last few weeks. I cannot get used to 'the comfort of strangers' but I am very grateful for everyone's good wishes and 'speedy boat' thoughts and Pam is just about coming to terms with the enormity of the impact the crew and Paralympics GB in general have made on the psyche of people they will never meet, but who have got such a positive buzz out of what they have done.
Her sister Monica is going for European Rowing Championship glory in Varese, Italy this coming weekend - keep an eye out for that one if you're so minded.
Thanks again to everyone on this thread
Her sister Monica is going for European Rowing Championship glory in Varese, Italy this coming weekend - keep an eye out for that one if you're so minded.
Thanks again to everyone on this thread
On a less enjoyable note, my wife and I are trying to get answers from Channel Four as to the reasons behind their (in our opinion) pathetic coverage of the Paralympic Rowing.
It's edifying to read some of the comments from forumites on this matter in this thread. Trust me, this really is not something we want to do. We don't want to be seen as members of the parental awkward squad by the great and the good in the GB Rowing set up and more importantly, don't want Pam and her crew's day in the sunshine to be (potentially) hijacked by the media who could spin us as 'stroppy parents and their precious daughter'.
However, there are certain issues we cannot ignore, especially given what we feel was a terrible piece of broadcasting during last night's closing ceremony programme.
To which end I have contacted Channel Four viz:
I contacted you back in July regarding the coverage Channel 4 were planning on giving the rowing at the Paralympic Games. You said:
I am afraid that we do not currently have finalised scheduling information for the Paralympics so I wouldn't be able to guarantee anything at the moment. However, if Team GB are appearing in the finals for any events then we will do our utmost to show them.
With the Games now over, we now know the reality. About two minutes of pre-recorded highlights.
True, your statement above didn’t promise anything, so well done Channel Four on delivering nothing.
No rowers / rowing coverage were featured in the intro’s / outro’s / BT ambassador sponsored moments bookending your programmes. My family are sitting watching your coverage of the closing ceremony and saw about 5 seconds of a photograph of the mixed coxed four celebrating their win on the first Sunday. That was a Gold medal that our nation won and you saw fit to give it that paltry level of coverage.
Before that, when reviewing the events of Friday 31st August, your programme highlighted the efforts of ex-Service people who were competing on that day, including, from memory a discus thrower and a cyclist. You may care to know that a fine man and athlete Captain Nick Beighton – who had his legs blown off in Afghanistan – was also making his Paralympic debut that day in the heats of the Pairs in the Rowing at Eton Dorney. I’d be interested in seeing what you had to say about this lack of recognition to his mother?
My daughter and her crewmates have received plenty of media coverage since winning their Gold medal last Sunday. My wife and I would trade every last second of this for a FULL view of her race, with competent commentary and being able to see her crew being awarded their medals and hearing the national anthem ring out in their honour.
It would appear we are asking the Earth, since apparently ‘Channel Four’s coverage of the LONDON Paralympic Games 2012’ are, like your statement above, a masterpiece of precise and exact communication; Eton Dorney lies just outside the M25 in Berkshire, therefore it is not in (East) London, therefore, technically what you claim is correct.
Thank you for absolutely nothing.
It's pushing the envelope of assumed Internet forum friendship a great deal I know, but if anyone else on chit-chat feels the same then please contact Channel Four
http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us
Thanks in advance.
It's edifying to read some of the comments from forumites on this matter in this thread. Trust me, this really is not something we want to do. We don't want to be seen as members of the parental awkward squad by the great and the good in the GB Rowing set up and more importantly, don't want Pam and her crew's day in the sunshine to be (potentially) hijacked by the media who could spin us as 'stroppy parents and their precious daughter'.
However, there are certain issues we cannot ignore, especially given what we feel was a terrible piece of broadcasting during last night's closing ceremony programme.
To which end I have contacted Channel Four viz:
I contacted you back in July regarding the coverage Channel 4 were planning on giving the rowing at the Paralympic Games. You said:
I am afraid that we do not currently have finalised scheduling information for the Paralympics so I wouldn't be able to guarantee anything at the moment. However, if Team GB are appearing in the finals for any events then we will do our utmost to show them.
With the Games now over, we now know the reality. About two minutes of pre-recorded highlights.
True, your statement above didn’t promise anything, so well done Channel Four on delivering nothing.
No rowers / rowing coverage were featured in the intro’s / outro’s / BT ambassador sponsored moments bookending your programmes. My family are sitting watching your coverage of the closing ceremony and saw about 5 seconds of a photograph of the mixed coxed four celebrating their win on the first Sunday. That was a Gold medal that our nation won and you saw fit to give it that paltry level of coverage.
Before that, when reviewing the events of Friday 31st August, your programme highlighted the efforts of ex-Service people who were competing on that day, including, from memory a discus thrower and a cyclist. You may care to know that a fine man and athlete Captain Nick Beighton – who had his legs blown off in Afghanistan – was also making his Paralympic debut that day in the heats of the Pairs in the Rowing at Eton Dorney. I’d be interested in seeing what you had to say about this lack of recognition to his mother?
My daughter and her crewmates have received plenty of media coverage since winning their Gold medal last Sunday. My wife and I would trade every last second of this for a FULL view of her race, with competent commentary and being able to see her crew being awarded their medals and hearing the national anthem ring out in their honour.
It would appear we are asking the Earth, since apparently ‘Channel Four’s coverage of the LONDON Paralympic Games 2012’ are, like your statement above, a masterpiece of precise and exact communication; Eton Dorney lies just outside the M25 in Berkshire, therefore it is not in (East) London, therefore, technically what you claim is correct.
Thank you for absolutely nothing.
It's pushing the envelope of assumed Internet forum friendship a great deal I know, but if anyone else on chit-chat feels the same then please contact Channel Four
http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us
Thanks in advance.
Good luck to Monica this coming weekend, RTB.
I'll fire off an e-mail to Ch4 about the rowing (or, more to the point, the lack of it) later.
With a bit of luck, someone, somewhere will be able to give you a recording of the whole of Pam's crew's race and medal ceremony.
I'll fire off an e-mail to Ch4 about the rowing (or, more to the point, the lack of it) later.
With a bit of luck, someone, somewhere will be able to give you a recording of the whole of Pam's crew's race and medal ceremony.
Hopefully, Ch4 will include a sighting of Pam's crew winning gold in the highlights of the Paralympics they're showing at the moment before their parade coverage.
What was that, 3 seconds of Pam's crew waving to the crowd on the podium? You couldn't make it up really.
Nah - looking after the shop I'm afraid.
Her Mum and little sister are outside Buck House and lapping it up by all acounts.
Her Mum and little sister are outside Buck House and lapping it up by all acounts.
Hi Roger!!
Just to ley you know I listened to Pam\s race on the radio while driving through town and was shouting for her!!
it made my day, God knows what it did for you.
Congratulations again!!
Just to ley you know I listened to Pam\s race on the radio while driving through town and was shouting for her!!
it made my day, God knows what it did for you.
Congratulations again!!
have submitted several comments to channel 4 about their coverage including the scandalous omission of the rowing final but have had no reply
have you had a response roger?
have you had a response roger?
No
Sent a complaint in last Monday. Promised something back in 7 days so p1ss poor performance extends to customer services it seems
Me and the wife thought long and hard about this all last night after the scandalous closing ceremony round up that Channel Four put on, and decided to go full on with every organisation and media outlet we could.
Written to LOCOG and postd on here. Written to the local paper, the wife met Matt Pisent at the Athlete's Parade today and he has already written and tweeted about the poor coverage C4 gave the rowing and I think the wife was going to try to mention it when she was interviewed by local radio today.
Over the top?
Well as it stands Pam will never have a recording to show her kids and grandkids of the day she won a Paralympic Gold and had 20,000 people sing the national anthem in her honour.
...and that flat out stinks.
Sent a complaint in last Monday. Promised something back in 7 days so p1ss poor performance extends to customer services it seems
Me and the wife thought long and hard about this all last night after the scandalous closing ceremony round up that Channel Four put on, and decided to go full on with every organisation and media outlet we could.
Written to LOCOG and postd on here. Written to the local paper, the wife met Matt Pisent at the Athlete's Parade today and he has already written and tweeted about the poor coverage C4 gave the rowing and I think the wife was going to try to mention it when she was interviewed by local radio today.
Over the top?
Well as it stands Pam will never have a recording to show her kids and grandkids of the day she won a Paralympic Gold and had 20,000 people sing the national anthem in her honour.
...and that flat out stinks.
keep pushing and I will too
the whole production was amateur standard
the whole production was amateur standard
I never actually saw anything of the race live & the nearest I could get any sort of highlights is this
.
http://paralympics.channel4.com/video/gb-medal-winners/videoid=1235387/index.html#it-all-paid-off-with-gold-for-gb-in-the-mixed-coxed-four-final
I can certainly appreciate your utter frustration Roger
.
http://paralympics.channel4.com/video/gb-medal-winners/videoid=1235387/index.html#it-all-paid-off-with-gold-for-gb-in-the-mixed-coxed-four-final
I can certainly appreciate your utter frustration Roger
Hi Roger - seems you are not alone in being unhappy at Ch4.
I could have understood it if GB were actually swimming at the time of the race - but the relay heat that clashed with the rowing final did not involve GB.
OLYMPIC rowing giant Sir Matthew Pinsent launched a furious tirade against TV coverage of the Paralympics after live rowing was ditched.
The four-time gold medal winner is angry because the outside broadcast unit at Eton Dorney has been dismantled, which means viewers will not see competitors going for gold today.
The heroic efforts of Britain’s mixed coxed four, Naomi Riches, Pamela Relph, James Roe and David Smith, will not get anything like the coverage of Team GB’s Olympics rowing stars.
In a Twitter attack, Sir Matthew said he was “not invited, not even considered” to be a member of the Channel 4 commentary team.
He urged commentator Clare Balding to tell bosses to get cameras on the water and asked viewers to complain to Lord Coe’s Locog organising committee about ad breaks.
His remarks on Twitter on Friday night came after a fan told him not even today’s finals would be on live.
“Tell me that’s not true…please,” Sir Matthew replied, adding that it was “sad for Dorney” that only 11,000 seats had been released for sale. Last month, when he was a frontline BBC commentator, crowds of 30,000 roared Team GB to four rowing golds.
A Ch4 spokesman
While the global TV rights for the Olympics raised about £1.2billion, the Paralympics attracted only £19million worldwide, so budgets are lower.
However, Sir Matthew implored Channel 4, which paid £9million for its TV rights to “throw reporter resource at Dorney” for today’s regatta.
Clare Balding replied on Twitter, saying it was the fault of the Olympic Broadcasting Service, an arm of the International Olympic Committee.
Fellow BBC rowing commentator Gary Herbert said it was “shameful” Channel 4 had not included any rowing results on its Twitter feed.
Their comments came amid heavy criticism of Channel 4’s coverage by viewers. Audiences have fallen from the 11million for Wednesday’s opening ceremony to fewer than 3million.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/343513/Matthew-Pinsent-rants-at-Ch4-s-coverage
I could have understood it if GB were actually swimming at the time of the race - but the relay heat that clashed with the rowing final did not involve GB.
OLYMPIC rowing giant Sir Matthew Pinsent launched a furious tirade against TV coverage of the Paralympics after live rowing was ditched.
The four-time gold medal winner is angry because the outside broadcast unit at Eton Dorney has been dismantled, which means viewers will not see competitors going for gold today.
The heroic efforts of Britain’s mixed coxed four, Naomi Riches, Pamela Relph, James Roe and David Smith, will not get anything like the coverage of Team GB’s Olympics rowing stars.
In a Twitter attack, Sir Matthew said he was “not invited, not even considered” to be a member of the Channel 4 commentary team.
He urged commentator Clare Balding to tell bosses to get cameras on the water and asked viewers to complain to Lord Coe’s Locog organising committee about ad breaks.
His remarks on Twitter on Friday night came after a fan told him not even today’s finals would be on live.
“Tell me that’s not true…please,” Sir Matthew replied, adding that it was “sad for Dorney” that only 11,000 seats had been released for sale. Last month, when he was a frontline BBC commentator, crowds of 30,000 roared Team GB to four rowing golds.
A Ch4 spokesman
While the global TV rights for the Olympics raised about £1.2billion, the Paralympics attracted only £19million worldwide, so budgets are lower.
However, Sir Matthew implored Channel 4, which paid £9million for its TV rights to “throw reporter resource at Dorney” for today’s regatta.
Clare Balding replied on Twitter, saying it was the fault of the Olympic Broadcasting Service, an arm of the International Olympic Committee.
Fellow BBC rowing commentator Gary Herbert said it was “shameful” Channel 4 had not included any rowing results on its Twitter feed.
Their comments came amid heavy criticism of Channel 4’s coverage by viewers. Audiences have fallen from the 11million for Wednesday’s opening ceremony to fewer than 3million.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/343513/Matthew-Pinsent-rants-at-Ch4-s-coverage
Yeah, Pinsent is on side.
The wife had a chat with him (as you do) at the athletes parade today and he's still spitting feathers regarding C4's two-bit coverage of anything outside their East London bubble (Paralympic sailing from Weymouth anyone?)
The wife had a chat with him (as you do) at the athletes parade today and he's still spitting feathers regarding C4's two-bit coverage of anything outside their East London bubble (Paralympic sailing from Weymouth anyone?)
Well done Pinsent for making his views known what a shambles the 'non-rowing' was by Ch4.
"In a Twitter attack, Sir Matthew said he was “not invited, not even considered” to be a member of the Channel 4 commentary team."
"He urged commentator Clare Balding to tell bosses to get cameras on the water and asked viewers to complain to Lord Coe’s Locog organising committee about ad breaks."
"However, Sir Matthew implored Channel 4, which paid £9million for its TV rights to “throw reporter resource at Dorney” for today’s regatta."
"Clare Balding replied on Twitter, saying it was the fault of the Olympic Broadcasting Service, an arm of the International Olympic Committee."
Very telling paragraphs indeed.
To think, Balding will be on Ch4 racing in the New Year too.
"In a Twitter attack, Sir Matthew said he was “not invited, not even considered” to be a member of the Channel 4 commentary team."
"He urged commentator Clare Balding to tell bosses to get cameras on the water and asked viewers to complain to Lord Coe’s Locog organising committee about ad breaks."
"However, Sir Matthew implored Channel 4, which paid £9million for its TV rights to “throw reporter resource at Dorney” for today’s regatta."
"Clare Balding replied on Twitter, saying it was the fault of the Olympic Broadcasting Service, an arm of the International Olympic Committee."
Very telling paragraphs indeed.
To think, Balding will be on Ch4 racing in the New Year too.
Thanks tommy and congratulations to pam and her crew mates and roger and family. I,ve been off the forum for about a month and so this is my first post on the thread. In many ways this was, for me, one of the big things of London 2012... I wanted to see the big velodrome finals, I wanted to see jess Enniss win gold, wanted to see usain bolt in the sprint finals and I wanted to see that daughter of that bloke off the forum have a shot at gold in the Paralympics. I was at work, but managed to get the radio coverage of the Internet and it all sounded proper exciting, the commentators did a good job. Even though I was the only one in the office there was a fair bit of fist pumping (ooermissus) and shouts of " go on girl" as they neared the line. By sheer coincidence my work was finished and I could zoom out at 11.59 and be in the pub for 12.00 where I was expecting there to be blanket coverage of the event and interviews etc. it was barely mentioned and I still don't know why. Rtb is In no way playing the meddlesome overproud father in being disgusted with their coverage. To play a swimming heat, or any heat, in favour of a genuine gold medal winning chance in a rowing final is ridiculous. It Doesn't even make commercial sense as rtb says, just smacks of incompetence and stupidity. Well done again to pam and co, you must be all as proud as well just very proud.
Sod the Paralympics!
She's a guest of honour at Spurs QPR on Sunday and is being interviewed on the pitch at half-time.
Now THAT'S the real deal!!
She's a guest of honour at Spurs QPR on Sunday and is being interviewed on the pitch at half-time.
Now THAT'S the real deal!!
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