Olympics, Rugby, Christianity & Eric Liddell

This is an extract from the worlds best selling rugby magazine Rugby World (Sept 2008 page 88).

"Immortalised in the Oscar winning film Chariots of Fire, Liddell is best known as a devout Christian who won the 400m gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics in a world record time of 47.6 seconds. Ironically, the 100m had been considered Liddell's strongest event but, with the final scheduled for a Sunday, he withdrew at the start of the Games because he considered the sabbath as a day of rest.

One aspect of the Scot's life omitted in the film was his rugby career, which was brief but brilliant. First capped against France in 1922, Liddell scored 4 tries in 7 Tests, including 3 in the 1923 five nations when, but for an 8-6 defeat to England would have won their 1st Grand Slam. Two years later the Scots achieved that distinction, but Liddell was no longer part of the team having settled in China as a missionary. He was still there in the early 1940s when the Japanese invaded the country during World War 2; Liddell was interned in the Shantung Compound and died of a brain tumor in 1945 aged 43.

A fellow internee wrote later that throughout his incarceration Liddell was 'overflowing with good humour and love for life...it is rare indeed a person has the good fortune to meet a saint, but he came as close to it as anyone I have ever known'."

Eric Liddell is also the subject of a new book by Gordon Keddie called "Running The Race" (published by Evangelical Press). I am currently half way through and thoroughly enjoying it. I hope to finish it before New Year.

This will be our last holiday blog

This is our last holiday blog from Hawes in beautiful Wensleydale. On Sunday we went to the evangelical church in Leyburn as we did last week and had a good time. It is a very warm and friendly fellowship. Today (mon) we went to the castle at Middleham where king Richard III lived. We have had 4 very hot days with lots of sunshine. Some in the family have got sunburned! Tomorrow is market day in Hawes.

Hannah & Esther posing with the locals.

Hannah & Esther posing with the locals. This was the best day so far (monday). Tuesday we walked to Ingjeborough cave & had a tour of the cave which was so fascinating. We went on a bat walk late last night (wed) with a bat expert - complete with bat detectors.

Hello, welcome to my holiday blog 08....

This is a view from the caravan site looking towards Hawes. We've had mixed weather so far, but it's very relaxing. More to follow soon.

Le Tour de France

This weekend sees the start of Le Tour de France 2008. This is one of the greatest sporting events on the planet. I will be recording and watching all the highlights shown on itv4 at 7.00pm to 8.00pm each day.

Last years race was really controversial with many riders and some teams being expelled for taking drugs & missing drug tests. Let's hope this years race free from such incidents so we can concentrate on the cycling.

If you've never watched le Tour before then tune into the highlights show on ITV, particularly when the race is in the Alps or Pyrenees.

The fitness of these guys is unbelieveable. They cycle around 150-180 kilometres a day, everyday for 3 weeks. By the end of the tour they actually begin to loose weight, all the fat is burned up and the muscles begin to reduce.


Last year Le Tour was won by Alberto Contrador, my prediction for this year is Cadel Evans from the Silence-Lotto team. One thing is for sure - Le Tour will be won or lost in the mountain stages.