There are plenty of simple ab exercises that you can do on your own, in your house, with no special equipment required.
Most of the best exercises for strengthening the ab muscles are crunches. Crunches are exercises where you bring your body right forward, curling upwards to bend yourself into a tight ‘V’ shape. There are very many variations on crunches.
One of the most popular is the exercise ball crunch, which is where you lie back onto an exercise ball, and then do a crunch slowly, without the ball moving. This allows you to keep a good crunch speed, as well as supporting your back while you crunch.
Another good method is the full crunch, where you extend out your legs and then put your hands behind your head. As you pull yourself up with your hands, push outwards with your legs. If it is done right, this will exercise both your upper and lower body.
You might also try the reverse crunch (sometimes known as a V-up), where you lie on the floor, put your legs in the air, and then instead of bending up towards your legs, you bend your legs back towards you. This has the same effect, but is less strenuous, as you are lifting less weight.
A word of warning: as ab exercise becomes more popular, some companies are trying to cash in by hawking ab exercise machines and tools – those little frames that you put around yourself while you exercise, and that rock you back and forward. However, research has shown that there is no difference between the benefits of using these machines and just doing a normal ab crunch. There is, however, certainly a very large difference in price (the difference between free and very expensive), so it’s best to just avoid them altogether.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
A Well Paid Tribute to the Seven Time Champion
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to honor his father’s birthday at the Talladega Superspeedway by driving a replica of his black No. 3 Chevrolet with white lettering and silver and red stripes. Hoping he will achieve to evoke the feeling that used to go around the track when any driver saw the car on their rearview mirror. Only this time the car will be showing No.8 since his father’s No.3 has not been displayed on the tracks since his death in 2001.
The act is a tribute part of a larger act of greeting at Dale Earnhardt Inc., which is celebrating 3 events Earnhardt's thursday night induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame, his overall accomplishments at Talladega and his 55th birthday, which would have been Sunday.
Birthdays bring happier memories, which is why, it is correct to assume, the change of attitude in Earnhart Jr. He was not comfortable last February in the celebration of the anniversary of hthe champion’s death.
What brings drama to the event is that after all, it is Talladega and Daytona where he is more like his father, the two fastest and more dangerous tracks. Dale Earnhardt was the leading man at restrictor-plate racing, especially at Talladega. Junior inherited the skill required to work the draft, he has five victories at Talladega and two at Daytona.
The act is a tribute part of a larger act of greeting at Dale Earnhardt Inc., which is celebrating 3 events Earnhardt's thursday night induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame, his overall accomplishments at Talladega and his 55th birthday, which would have been Sunday.
Birthdays bring happier memories, which is why, it is correct to assume, the change of attitude in Earnhart Jr. He was not comfortable last February in the celebration of the anniversary of hthe champion’s death.
What brings drama to the event is that after all, it is Talladega and Daytona where he is more like his father, the two fastest and more dangerous tracks. Dale Earnhardt was the leading man at restrictor-plate racing, especially at Talladega. Junior inherited the skill required to work the draft, he has five victories at Talladega and two at Daytona.
A Training Guide to Baseball
Handling the beater or putting wood at the ball, is the key with the success or the failure of the club of ball and the individual.
There is no great mystery about what makes to a boy a good bruiser. He must have:
1. A certain quantity of normal capacities
2. A control of the fundamental principles
3. Confidence in its capacity to strike
Normal covers of capacities of expression much. They mean the arms, the wrists and the hands forts; fast reflexes, good coordination, perfect sight and speed under development.
Independently how much of normal capacities a boy has, however, of him will not strike like him if if it does not control the fundamental principles and does not believe in its capacity to strike the ball while it comes by the zone from strike. The confidence of art of the self-portrait, naturally, comes from success. Moreover, success in the wadding in sheet comes from the practice. The following text describes the mechanisms to strike while they apply to the bowlers in general. While following the implied principles, the well coordinated boy could easily become the wadding in sheet hold the first role of his team; the average boy could certainly become a bruiser better than average.
While getting information about handling the beater there are some key points which you will have to know. Those include sectors of
The Position The Step Positions of arm and hand The Oscillation
The position required depends on the side which they support. If a boy is a droitier, it should turn its left side in the jug; the good so left-handed side.
The body should rather right and be slackened with the weight distributed even on the two feet. The hips and the shoulders should be level. The feet should be width of shoulder with share with the toe of the foot before even with the instep of the back foot. When the ball is delivered, beats heels should be to the top slightly, its slightly bent knees. Covers of step how the call should be struck. While the ball is delivered to the dish, the smooth paste should raise its foot before Juste above the ground and slip it ahead (towards the jug) approximately six inches. This stage, a part criticizes to strike, starts what generally names synchronization. All other movements which are a part of flow handling the beater of it.
Practical with this formula:
Loan?
Stage and torsion. Again with the starting position. Still, stage and torsion. Back. Stage and torsion. Back
Co-ordinate of positions of arm and hand with the position and the step. Droitier beats: place your left palm against before your right shoulder, little finger to the bottom, inch upwards. Advance the left hand approximately six inches and made a fist.
Left-handed person beats: place your right palm against before your left shoulder, little finger to the bottom, inch upwards. Advance the right hand approximately six inches and made a fist.
The elbow of the arm which is now prolonged through the body should not have almost any curve in him and there should not be any constraint on the arm. In fact the arm and the hand guide the beater by the oscillation. The opposite arm and the hand provide the power.
Make a fist with the power give it and place on the hand of guidance.
Thus raise the elbow of the arm of power it is of level with the top of the shoulder. There will be a certain constraint there. Drop this elbow slowly until there is no constraint. The elbow of the arm of power should come to a stop approximately two inches below the top the shoulder.
Maintain the elbows and the hands left the body!
There is no great mystery about what makes to a boy a good bruiser. He must have:
1. A certain quantity of normal capacities
2. A control of the fundamental principles
3. Confidence in its capacity to strike
Normal covers of capacities of expression much. They mean the arms, the wrists and the hands forts; fast reflexes, good coordination, perfect sight and speed under development.
Independently how much of normal capacities a boy has, however, of him will not strike like him if if it does not control the fundamental principles and does not believe in its capacity to strike the ball while it comes by the zone from strike. The confidence of art of the self-portrait, naturally, comes from success. Moreover, success in the wadding in sheet comes from the practice. The following text describes the mechanisms to strike while they apply to the bowlers in general. While following the implied principles, the well coordinated boy could easily become the wadding in sheet hold the first role of his team; the average boy could certainly become a bruiser better than average.
While getting information about handling the beater there are some key points which you will have to know. Those include sectors of
The Position The Step Positions of arm and hand The Oscillation
The position required depends on the side which they support. If a boy is a droitier, it should turn its left side in the jug; the good so left-handed side.
The body should rather right and be slackened with the weight distributed even on the two feet. The hips and the shoulders should be level. The feet should be width of shoulder with share with the toe of the foot before even with the instep of the back foot. When the ball is delivered, beats heels should be to the top slightly, its slightly bent knees. Covers of step how the call should be struck. While the ball is delivered to the dish, the smooth paste should raise its foot before Juste above the ground and slip it ahead (towards the jug) approximately six inches. This stage, a part criticizes to strike, starts what generally names synchronization. All other movements which are a part of flow handling the beater of it.
Practical with this formula:
Loan?
Stage and torsion. Again with the starting position. Still, stage and torsion. Back. Stage and torsion. Back
Co-ordinate of positions of arm and hand with the position and the step. Droitier beats: place your left palm against before your right shoulder, little finger to the bottom, inch upwards. Advance the left hand approximately six inches and made a fist.
Left-handed person beats: place your right palm against before your left shoulder, little finger to the bottom, inch upwards. Advance the right hand approximately six inches and made a fist.
The elbow of the arm which is now prolonged through the body should not have almost any curve in him and there should not be any constraint on the arm. In fact the arm and the hand guide the beater by the oscillation. The opposite arm and the hand provide the power.
Make a fist with the power give it and place on the hand of guidance.
Thus raise the elbow of the arm of power it is of level with the top of the shoulder. There will be a certain constraint there. Drop this elbow slowly until there is no constraint. The elbow of the arm of power should come to a stop approximately two inches below the top the shoulder.
Maintain the elbows and the hands left the body!
A Torrid Summer For British Sport
This summer promised so much for lovers of British Sport but as usual all of the hype led to some very below par performances and results. The football team in the World Cup were very boring to watch, played in a very negative way and never looked liked winning the tournament. In this article, I will be writing about this sporting event as well as looking at the Wimbledon tennis championships and the recent international cricket one-day series with Sri Lanka.
I was very excited about this summers sporting activities involving our British sporting stars. I really believed that England could have won the World Cup and still think that they should have. Our team has so much more talent in it than the eventual winners Italy, but had an inept coach who must have been laughing all the way to the bank, earning the crazy amounts that he did. Yes Wayne Rooney was stupid but how frustrated must he have been after being left to play up front on his own, this is a position which is not natural to him and is a huge waste of his talents.
Other players in the team such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard looked shadows of their former selves and must have been completely bemused at the tactics employed. I am not really that enthused at the future prospects under Sven's understudy Steve McLaren. I think we need someone who is going to make some big decisions such as playing the youth when required and dropping players like Ferdinand when they are not performing.
At the Wimbledon tennis championships the British challenge died out before it seemed to have got started. I have to admit that I did not really hold out any hope for any of our players but it was the way in which they lost that upset me the most. Where has the British bull dog spirit gone? These players may as well have held up a white a flag in the first set for the effort they seemed to put in after this point.
In the latest one-day cricket international series against Sri Lanka, England lost all five matches. Perhaps they are saving themselves for the ashes tour of Australia, if they win over there I will let them off I suppose. The team has also had quite a few of their big time players out injured but again just like at Wimbledon it was the way in which the team lost that was the most annoying thing.
It really has been a summer which promised so much but one which I will now happily forget. Lets think positive, things can only get better!
I was very excited about this summers sporting activities involving our British sporting stars. I really believed that England could have won the World Cup and still think that they should have. Our team has so much more talent in it than the eventual winners Italy, but had an inept coach who must have been laughing all the way to the bank, earning the crazy amounts that he did. Yes Wayne Rooney was stupid but how frustrated must he have been after being left to play up front on his own, this is a position which is not natural to him and is a huge waste of his talents.
Other players in the team such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard looked shadows of their former selves and must have been completely bemused at the tactics employed. I am not really that enthused at the future prospects under Sven's understudy Steve McLaren. I think we need someone who is going to make some big decisions such as playing the youth when required and dropping players like Ferdinand when they are not performing.
At the Wimbledon tennis championships the British challenge died out before it seemed to have got started. I have to admit that I did not really hold out any hope for any of our players but it was the way in which they lost that upset me the most. Where has the British bull dog spirit gone? These players may as well have held up a white a flag in the first set for the effort they seemed to put in after this point.
In the latest one-day cricket international series against Sri Lanka, England lost all five matches. Perhaps they are saving themselves for the ashes tour of Australia, if they win over there I will let them off I suppose. The team has also had quite a few of their big time players out injured but again just like at Wimbledon it was the way in which the team lost that was the most annoying thing.
It really has been a summer which promised so much but one which I will now happily forget. Lets think positive, things can only get better!
A Swing Set Is A Kid's Best Friend
The needs and desires of children are often overlooked as a family transitions into a new home. There is no shortage of important things to consider when moving. Parents think about location, prices, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and perhaps the jobs or schools that are near the new home. The attention to these kinds of details cannot and should not be avoided, but there are a couple of simple ways to keep your children happy when you move. Can you think of anything simple that would be relatively inexpensive, easy to assemble, and provide your children with hours of fun to help ease the ache of moving? Ever thought about buying a swing set?
A swing set is a great thing to add to your yard when you arrive at a new home. While you and your spouse are busy unpacking and settling in, your children can be out of the way and enjoying time on the swing set without making trouble.
Buying a swing set for your children will also help them cope with one of the hardest parts about moving: lonliness. No child likes to leave friends behind for a new city or even just a new neighborhood. Having a swing set can be one way for your children to play with each other and maybe even to meet new friends. There is nothing more inviting to a neighborhood kid than to see kids outside playing on a swing set. It is a safe and easy way to help your kids attract other kids to play and build friendship. If for no other reason, you should consider the addition of a swing set to your new home to help your kids settle in and make new friends.
In the past few years studies continue to show that kids are becoming less and less active. Parents are allowing kids to spend hours on end watching television, playing video games or surfing the internet. Fewer children are getting outside, burning off energy and getting healthy exercise anymore. A swing set is a great way to encourage your children to be outside and active. They can swing, push each other, and have fun making up games playing with the swing set. When kids have fun ways to spend time outside they will be much more likely to choose play time over television time. What parent doesn't want healthy, active kids?
Whether you are preparing for a move, have recently moved, or have been in the same house for years, look outside your kitchen window and find a place to set up a swing set for your kids today.
A swing set is a great thing to add to your yard when you arrive at a new home. While you and your spouse are busy unpacking and settling in, your children can be out of the way and enjoying time on the swing set without making trouble.
Buying a swing set for your children will also help them cope with one of the hardest parts about moving: lonliness. No child likes to leave friends behind for a new city or even just a new neighborhood. Having a swing set can be one way for your children to play with each other and maybe even to meet new friends. There is nothing more inviting to a neighborhood kid than to see kids outside playing on a swing set. It is a safe and easy way to help your kids attract other kids to play and build friendship. If for no other reason, you should consider the addition of a swing set to your new home to help your kids settle in and make new friends.
In the past few years studies continue to show that kids are becoming less and less active. Parents are allowing kids to spend hours on end watching television, playing video games or surfing the internet. Fewer children are getting outside, burning off energy and getting healthy exercise anymore. A swing set is a great way to encourage your children to be outside and active. They can swing, push each other, and have fun making up games playing with the swing set. When kids have fun ways to spend time outside they will be much more likely to choose play time over television time. What parent doesn't want healthy, active kids?
Whether you are preparing for a move, have recently moved, or have been in the same house for years, look outside your kitchen window and find a place to set up a swing set for your kids today.
A Summer Of Great British Sport
Are you a Brit who loves their sport? Are you looking forward to the Fifa World Cup? Are you a tennis fan? Do you love the cricket? If you are fan of sport then this could be a summer to saviour and remember. I personally have been looking forward to this summer for many months and am very excited at all of the sporting events that are forthcoming. I am from England and really believe that my national team have a real chance of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
As well as the World Cup there are many more sporting events taking place that should make this summer one of the best in years.
The World Cup itself is only a week away and I can not wait for the tournament to commence. I am a massive football fan and even if England are knocked out in the group stages, I will still continue to watch and enjoy the matches.
I can not really see this happening as for the first time in many years England have a realistic chance of winning the trophy. There are some real winners in the team, John Terry, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard are three that spring to mind with little thought. I know for a fact that the players believe and that countries such as Brazil do not scare them. They of course have respect for these teams but have an inner confidence that this could be England's year.
If England can lift this trophy, can you imagine the response that will take place in the UK? The ashes heroes and the successful English World Cup rugby team have been treated like gods. Football is one thousand times more important and popular in England than these sports and these players lives will be changed forever. The country will party for months!
As well as football, there is the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, the cricket, the Derby in flat racing and many other sports such as athletics to wet the appetite of the British sports fan.
I am quite interested to see how the English tennis supporters treat Andrew Murray at Wimbledon. Murray has stated that he will be supporting every team at the World Cup who play England. He is Scottish of course. I hope he has a lack of support as this is a very childish attitude from a chap who has one very little thus far. I like the way he plays tennis but think he should keep his mouth closed as I now have very little time for him. When the Scottish team play in the World Cup I hope that they win, I surely would rather a team from the UK do well than a team from South America. He is of course very young and no doubt upset that his national team have not reached this years World Cup Finals.
This summer is a time to relax, drink a few beers and to enjoy what will be a great summer of British sport.
As well as the World Cup there are many more sporting events taking place that should make this summer one of the best in years.
The World Cup itself is only a week away and I can not wait for the tournament to commence. I am a massive football fan and even if England are knocked out in the group stages, I will still continue to watch and enjoy the matches.
I can not really see this happening as for the first time in many years England have a realistic chance of winning the trophy. There are some real winners in the team, John Terry, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard are three that spring to mind with little thought. I know for a fact that the players believe and that countries such as Brazil do not scare them. They of course have respect for these teams but have an inner confidence that this could be England's year.
If England can lift this trophy, can you imagine the response that will take place in the UK? The ashes heroes and the successful English World Cup rugby team have been treated like gods. Football is one thousand times more important and popular in England than these sports and these players lives will be changed forever. The country will party for months!
As well as football, there is the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, the cricket, the Derby in flat racing and many other sports such as athletics to wet the appetite of the British sports fan.
I am quite interested to see how the English tennis supporters treat Andrew Murray at Wimbledon. Murray has stated that he will be supporting every team at the World Cup who play England. He is Scottish of course. I hope he has a lack of support as this is a very childish attitude from a chap who has one very little thus far. I like the way he plays tennis but think he should keep his mouth closed as I now have very little time for him. When the Scottish team play in the World Cup I hope that they win, I surely would rather a team from the UK do well than a team from South America. He is of course very young and no doubt upset that his national team have not reached this years World Cup Finals.
This summer is a time to relax, drink a few beers and to enjoy what will be a great summer of British sport.
A Short and Snappy History of Bowling
As the most popular sport during the reign of King Henry VIII of England, bowling is still one of the most popular sports in the world. Over 100 million bowlers from nearly 90 countries participate in the sport. The popularity of bowling has been traced back many years and the game has contributed benefits to many people world wide.
Keywords:
bowling techniques, bowling tips, bowling technique, bowling rules, bowling score, history of bowling, bowling terms, bowling hook, spare bowling, bowling lane conditions, how to hook bowling ball, making spares, bowling spare systems, 369 spare system, 246 spare system, bowling adjustments, bowling equipment, mental game of bowling, bowling glossary, choosing a bowling ball, bowling 4 step approach
Article Body:
As the most popular sport during the reign of King Henry VIII of England, bowling is still one of the most popular sports in the world. Over 100 million bowlers from nearly 90 countries participate in the sport. The popularity of bowling has been traced back many years and the game has contributed benefits to many people world wide.
The memoirs of bowling start in 5200 B.C. when some archeologists unearthed ancient forms of bowling pins and balls in the crypt of a child with Egyptian lineage. This discovery proves that Egyptians were the earliest bowlers in the world.
From that time on, bowling has taken many forms, using different pins and balls and played for different purposes. For instance, during 200 A.D., it has been recorded that Germans were fond of festivities and "village dances" and that among their ancient rituals was a game that resembles bowling today.
In this particular German game, Germans rolled or threw rocks or stones at nine clubs that were made of wood. These clubs are known as "kegles", and that is why Germans who played this type of bowling were known as "keglers" and not bowlers.
After so many years of struggle for recognition, bowling was finally recognized in England as a form of sport during the 1100s.
From that time on, the popularity of bowling created an epidemic-like influence, infecting millions of people. King Edward III even prohibited the game so that his knights would focus their attention on the "archery practices" instead of rolling the balls.
By the 17th century, when the United States was still a colony, bowling was introduced in the area. The "Dutch" colonists brought this remarkable game to the Americans. They introduced a game of nine pins that are placed in a triangular formation, hence, the name "Dutch pins".
As the nine pins or the "Dutch" pins strived to claim fame, the state of Connecticut banned the playing of "nine-pin" bowling because some unscrupulous people used the game as a means for their gambling activities.
Connecticut then added an additional pin to the game, creating 10-pin bowling. This was the start of a new form of recreation as bowling continued to proliferate in the society. With this additional pin, this new form of bowling had definitely hit "the mark" and now many people all over the world continue to patronize the game.
With almost 50 million Americans playing the game, bowling is considered one of the most popular and pleasurable sports in the U.S.
Keywords:
bowling techniques, bowling tips, bowling technique, bowling rules, bowling score, history of bowling, bowling terms, bowling hook, spare bowling, bowling lane conditions, how to hook bowling ball, making spares, bowling spare systems, 369 spare system, 246 spare system, bowling adjustments, bowling equipment, mental game of bowling, bowling glossary, choosing a bowling ball, bowling 4 step approach
Article Body:
As the most popular sport during the reign of King Henry VIII of England, bowling is still one of the most popular sports in the world. Over 100 million bowlers from nearly 90 countries participate in the sport. The popularity of bowling has been traced back many years and the game has contributed benefits to many people world wide.
The memoirs of bowling start in 5200 B.C. when some archeologists unearthed ancient forms of bowling pins and balls in the crypt of a child with Egyptian lineage. This discovery proves that Egyptians were the earliest bowlers in the world.
From that time on, bowling has taken many forms, using different pins and balls and played for different purposes. For instance, during 200 A.D., it has been recorded that Germans were fond of festivities and "village dances" and that among their ancient rituals was a game that resembles bowling today.
In this particular German game, Germans rolled or threw rocks or stones at nine clubs that were made of wood. These clubs are known as "kegles", and that is why Germans who played this type of bowling were known as "keglers" and not bowlers.
After so many years of struggle for recognition, bowling was finally recognized in England as a form of sport during the 1100s.
From that time on, the popularity of bowling created an epidemic-like influence, infecting millions of people. King Edward III even prohibited the game so that his knights would focus their attention on the "archery practices" instead of rolling the balls.
By the 17th century, when the United States was still a colony, bowling was introduced in the area. The "Dutch" colonists brought this remarkable game to the Americans. They introduced a game of nine pins that are placed in a triangular formation, hence, the name "Dutch pins".
As the nine pins or the "Dutch" pins strived to claim fame, the state of Connecticut banned the playing of "nine-pin" bowling because some unscrupulous people used the game as a means for their gambling activities.
Connecticut then added an additional pin to the game, creating 10-pin bowling. This was the start of a new form of recreation as bowling continued to proliferate in the society. With this additional pin, this new form of bowling had definitely hit "the mark" and now many people all over the world continue to patronize the game.
With almost 50 million Americans playing the game, bowling is considered one of the most popular and pleasurable sports in the U.S.
A Primer For The Best Snowboarding Boots
The snowboarding boots are the most important equipment in the sport. The boots serve as your connection to the snowboard itself; without a secured and comfortable link to your board, you can be exposed to all sorts of accidents and the chance of enjoying snowboarding is jeopardized. Therefore, choosing the right snowboarding boots for you is of utmost importance if you ever want that peak performance in this extreme sport.
In buying your snowboarding boots, you might deal with making a choice between a step-in and a strap-on snowboarding boot. Step-in boots have convenient mechanisms that lock your footing onto the snowboard. Strap-on boots, on the other hand, bind your footing onto the snowboard by using straps and are the classic and standard ones.
But no matter which type of snowboarding boots you plan to buy and irrespective of the amount of money you are willing to spend for your boots, the most important factor in choosing your snowboarding boots is the manner in which your feet fits inside them. Your snowboarding boots, unlike ordinary shoes, should last for a long time and therefore you have to choose what you think is the best and most comfortable pair for you.
Choosing the best pair of boots for you can be a challenge in itself. But the improved performance and the unparalleled experience of a perfect slide down snowy slopes is well worth your efforts to find the most comfortable snowboard boots that will meet your snowboarding needs. Read on for the inside story of finding the perfect pair of snowboarding boots.
Listen To Yourself And Yourself Alone
So what if your friend has an expensive pair of professional grade snowboarding boots? When you are buying boots avoid being influenced by other snowboarders' choices. Most snowboarding boots look great on the outside but can be heavy and downright painful to wear; so never sacrifice comfort by going with what your friends like and tell you to buy. Your feet are unique and you alone can decide the kind of snowboarding boots that will work for you best.
Do Not Rush
Looking for the perfect snowboarding boots for you can take a chunk of your precious time. Avoid committing the folly of rushing thru your shopping for boots. Unlike ordinary footwear that can embody the form of your feet over time, snowboarding boots do not easily and conveniently mold into the unique shape of your feet. So you need to set aside ample time in choosing your boots before making the purchase.
Try out every pair for sizes. It is also a good practice to try the boots wearing the socks that you will use in snowboarding. If you found a pair that you think fits, try walking around in it. If they still feel comfortable after leaving the boots on for a few minutes, then you may have found your snowboarding boots.
Resist The Urge To Buy Bigger Boots
The problem with snowboarding boots is that they are harder and they seem inflexible unlike ordinary leather shoes. So some people tend to buy snowboarding boots that are a little oversized to give more room for the feet. Oversized boots can cause injuries like sprains and even bone fractures. If your snowboarding boots are oversized, try wearing thick socks to compensate for too much space inside your boots.
In buying snowboarding boots, always put in mind that comfort, while foremost on your list, should not eliminate your control and stability on the snowboard. These factors should be balanced in order for you to have safe and unforgettable snowboarding.
In buying your snowboarding boots, you might deal with making a choice between a step-in and a strap-on snowboarding boot. Step-in boots have convenient mechanisms that lock your footing onto the snowboard. Strap-on boots, on the other hand, bind your footing onto the snowboard by using straps and are the classic and standard ones.
But no matter which type of snowboarding boots you plan to buy and irrespective of the amount of money you are willing to spend for your boots, the most important factor in choosing your snowboarding boots is the manner in which your feet fits inside them. Your snowboarding boots, unlike ordinary shoes, should last for a long time and therefore you have to choose what you think is the best and most comfortable pair for you.
Choosing the best pair of boots for you can be a challenge in itself. But the improved performance and the unparalleled experience of a perfect slide down snowy slopes is well worth your efforts to find the most comfortable snowboard boots that will meet your snowboarding needs. Read on for the inside story of finding the perfect pair of snowboarding boots.
Listen To Yourself And Yourself Alone
So what if your friend has an expensive pair of professional grade snowboarding boots? When you are buying boots avoid being influenced by other snowboarders' choices. Most snowboarding boots look great on the outside but can be heavy and downright painful to wear; so never sacrifice comfort by going with what your friends like and tell you to buy. Your feet are unique and you alone can decide the kind of snowboarding boots that will work for you best.
Do Not Rush
Looking for the perfect snowboarding boots for you can take a chunk of your precious time. Avoid committing the folly of rushing thru your shopping for boots. Unlike ordinary footwear that can embody the form of your feet over time, snowboarding boots do not easily and conveniently mold into the unique shape of your feet. So you need to set aside ample time in choosing your boots before making the purchase.
Try out every pair for sizes. It is also a good practice to try the boots wearing the socks that you will use in snowboarding. If you found a pair that you think fits, try walking around in it. If they still feel comfortable after leaving the boots on for a few minutes, then you may have found your snowboarding boots.
Resist The Urge To Buy Bigger Boots
The problem with snowboarding boots is that they are harder and they seem inflexible unlike ordinary leather shoes. So some people tend to buy snowboarding boots that are a little oversized to give more room for the feet. Oversized boots can cause injuries like sprains and even bone fractures. If your snowboarding boots are oversized, try wearing thick socks to compensate for too much space inside your boots.
In buying snowboarding boots, always put in mind that comfort, while foremost on your list, should not eliminate your control and stability on the snowboard. These factors should be balanced in order for you to have safe and unforgettable snowboarding.
A preview of July's UK Horse Racing
The quirks of the racing calendar have nudged Newcastle’s Northumberland Plate into the first day of July and there cannot be a better way to begin the month’s racing. Few staying handicaps are as fiercely contested as the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ and this year’s race is no exception to that familiar rule.
Anyone thinking of having a bet in this grueling two-mile contest needs to pay strict attention to the draw. Year after year horses drawn high race wide at Gosforth Park struggling to secure a prominent early pitch with the result that they are forced to sit and wait at the back of the field while the race unfolds up front. More often than not, the die has been cast by the time a high drawn horse is able to make its belated challenge.
Older horses too tend to rule the roost these days and the times when progressive three-year-olds were able to annex this valuable prize have long gone. The doughty Archduke Ferdinand was the last of the younger generation to win the Plate in 2001 and remarkably, there are no representatives from this age-group in this year’s renewal.
Good recent form is an obvious plus in a race of this nature and Richard Fahey’s Greenwich Meantime and Amanda Perrett’s Bulwark are two talented sorts that rise swiftly to the surface when studying the entries for this year’s race. The former is on quite a hot roll at present for his canny trainer and might well be the one they all to beat in 2006.
Over at The Curragh on July 2 there’s the weighty matter of the Irish Derby to consider though this year’s renewal is already suffering from a bad case of the absentee blues with Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy and unlucky-in-running third Hala Bek both forced to miss the race through injury and the 2006 renewal already looks a below-par affair.
Both Dylan Thomas and Dragon Dancer, the fourth and second respectively at Epsom, are set to fly the flag for the Derby form and this useful pair should come toe-to-toe with Darsi, a surprise winner of a typically open French Derby at Chantilly last month.
The performances of the French three-year-olds’ at pattern level in Britain has left a lot to be desired this season, and it would be no surprise to see them failing once again. Classic form is essential on any potential winner’s c.v and perhaps this year’s Irish Derby winner can be found within the ranks of the Epsom Classic.
The Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 8 is famous for its traditional clash between the older and younger generations. The latter age group receives a chunky 10lb weight-for-age allowance and in sixteen runnings of this Group 1 race since1990, the three-year-olds have managed six victories while five four-year-olds have triumphed alongside five five-year-olds. Honours, then, are even across the age groups.
The loss of Sir Percy through injury has probably sunk the three-year-old challenge below the water and it would raise few eyebrows to see an older horse come out on top. The Godolphin stable continues to stutter at the top level and for David Junior, a bitter Royal Ascot disappointment behind Ouija Board, this is a chance to atone for his recent defeat though if the latter lines-up again after her Ascot heroics he may have to settle for a supporting role once more.
On the same day as the Coral Eclipse, Haydock hosts the Lancashire Oaks which is often won by a late developing filly, a category into which Luca Cumani’s talented Princess Nada fits very snugly. She is one to watch out for when the entries are published. Punters should pay close attention to the running of the Old Newton Cup at Haydock, another race in which Cumani holds a terrific record having landed the last two renewals courtesy of Alkaased and Zeitgeist. Scan the entries for his hat-trick seeking runner who may well be the rejuvenated Soulacroix.
Newmarket’s three-day July meeting dominates the middle of the month and the opening day should see a back-to-form Soviet Song land her third Falmouth Stakes on July 12. She is sure to be a cut above the opposition while on the same card the juvenile fillies do battle in the Cherry Hinton Stakes and the Queen Mary Stakes winner Gilded may be hard to beat.
On the second day of the July meeting Hoh Mike, who was poorly ridden by Jamie Spencer when runner-up at Royal Ascot, bids to go one better in the July Stakes while the Willie Muir-trained Enforcer seeks to improve upon his Hardwicke Stakes third in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes. Watch out here for any runner from Sir Michael Stoute’s stable.
On July 14 the final day of the eponymously-titled meeting, there’s the small matter of the Bunbury Cup, a highly competitive seven furlongs handicap. James Fanshawe is poised to bid for compensation with Polar Magic, a runner-up last year to the evergreen and mercurial Mine while Ian Semple is seeking to improve upon his Royal Ascot second in similarly competitive handicap with the plucky and consistent Appalachian Trail.
Ed Dunlop’s Britannia runner-up Easy Air would be an intriguing contender too hailing from stable that has suffered a hatful of near-misses in the race in recent seasons.
The six-furlong Group 1 July Cup is the meeting’s highlight on July 14 and recent results have shown just how volatile a medium the top sprinters can be for backers with winners at 25-1, 12-1, 14-1 and 50-1. A 33-1 winner of the Golden Jubilee rubbed further salt into punters’ wounds at Royal Ascot and in my view betting on so-called top drawer sprinters is something of a mug’s game.
Inevitably a good run in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot as well as a bold showing in the King’s Stand Stakes from that same meeting is often a pointer to July Cup success but fathoming just which horses are likely to run well from those races is a difficult business. Perhaps Moss Vale can shine providing he’s a sharper starter than his slow-coach self at Royal Ascot.
York’s John Smith’s Cup On July 15 is one of the best ten-furlong handicaps of the whole season and remains ultra-competitive. Once again the three-year-old generation has found it difficult to scrape a place in the line-up and older horses are preferred. Trainer John Gosden’s three placed efforts from as many runners in recent seasons bodes well for the chances of his stable’s Wild Savannah, a good second at Royal Ascot on his latest start.
Newbury stages the Weatherbys Super Sprint on July 22 and the unmistakable message for punters is to pay close attention to any horse saddled by Richard Hannon, who has won this two-year-old contest on no less than six occasions with three of his winners coming in the last four seasons.
July’s racing comes to a close with the fabulous King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Britain’s premier all-aged middle-distance event. This year’s renewal had looked like a shoo-in for Hurricane Run but his defeat in France last time opens the race up and Japanese challenger, the late-developing, Heart’s Cry, Sir Michael Stoute’s progressive Mountain High and Godolphin hotpot Electrocutionist, seem sure to have a big say in the race’s outcome. As for the three-year-olds, well, they are a dying breed in this race with only four horses from that age group bothering to contest the prize in the past four seasons.
Anyone thinking of having a bet in this grueling two-mile contest needs to pay strict attention to the draw. Year after year horses drawn high race wide at Gosforth Park struggling to secure a prominent early pitch with the result that they are forced to sit and wait at the back of the field while the race unfolds up front. More often than not, the die has been cast by the time a high drawn horse is able to make its belated challenge.
Older horses too tend to rule the roost these days and the times when progressive three-year-olds were able to annex this valuable prize have long gone. The doughty Archduke Ferdinand was the last of the younger generation to win the Plate in 2001 and remarkably, there are no representatives from this age-group in this year’s renewal.
Good recent form is an obvious plus in a race of this nature and Richard Fahey’s Greenwich Meantime and Amanda Perrett’s Bulwark are two talented sorts that rise swiftly to the surface when studying the entries for this year’s race. The former is on quite a hot roll at present for his canny trainer and might well be the one they all to beat in 2006.
Over at The Curragh on July 2 there’s the weighty matter of the Irish Derby to consider though this year’s renewal is already suffering from a bad case of the absentee blues with Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy and unlucky-in-running third Hala Bek both forced to miss the race through injury and the 2006 renewal already looks a below-par affair.
Both Dylan Thomas and Dragon Dancer, the fourth and second respectively at Epsom, are set to fly the flag for the Derby form and this useful pair should come toe-to-toe with Darsi, a surprise winner of a typically open French Derby at Chantilly last month.
The performances of the French three-year-olds’ at pattern level in Britain has left a lot to be desired this season, and it would be no surprise to see them failing once again. Classic form is essential on any potential winner’s c.v and perhaps this year’s Irish Derby winner can be found within the ranks of the Epsom Classic.
The Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 8 is famous for its traditional clash between the older and younger generations. The latter age group receives a chunky 10lb weight-for-age allowance and in sixteen runnings of this Group 1 race since1990, the three-year-olds have managed six victories while five four-year-olds have triumphed alongside five five-year-olds. Honours, then, are even across the age groups.
The loss of Sir Percy through injury has probably sunk the three-year-old challenge below the water and it would raise few eyebrows to see an older horse come out on top. The Godolphin stable continues to stutter at the top level and for David Junior, a bitter Royal Ascot disappointment behind Ouija Board, this is a chance to atone for his recent defeat though if the latter lines-up again after her Ascot heroics he may have to settle for a supporting role once more.
On the same day as the Coral Eclipse, Haydock hosts the Lancashire Oaks which is often won by a late developing filly, a category into which Luca Cumani’s talented Princess Nada fits very snugly. She is one to watch out for when the entries are published. Punters should pay close attention to the running of the Old Newton Cup at Haydock, another race in which Cumani holds a terrific record having landed the last two renewals courtesy of Alkaased and Zeitgeist. Scan the entries for his hat-trick seeking runner who may well be the rejuvenated Soulacroix.
Newmarket’s three-day July meeting dominates the middle of the month and the opening day should see a back-to-form Soviet Song land her third Falmouth Stakes on July 12. She is sure to be a cut above the opposition while on the same card the juvenile fillies do battle in the Cherry Hinton Stakes and the Queen Mary Stakes winner Gilded may be hard to beat.
On the second day of the July meeting Hoh Mike, who was poorly ridden by Jamie Spencer when runner-up at Royal Ascot, bids to go one better in the July Stakes while the Willie Muir-trained Enforcer seeks to improve upon his Hardwicke Stakes third in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes. Watch out here for any runner from Sir Michael Stoute’s stable.
On July 14 the final day of the eponymously-titled meeting, there’s the small matter of the Bunbury Cup, a highly competitive seven furlongs handicap. James Fanshawe is poised to bid for compensation with Polar Magic, a runner-up last year to the evergreen and mercurial Mine while Ian Semple is seeking to improve upon his Royal Ascot second in similarly competitive handicap with the plucky and consistent Appalachian Trail.
Ed Dunlop’s Britannia runner-up Easy Air would be an intriguing contender too hailing from stable that has suffered a hatful of near-misses in the race in recent seasons.
The six-furlong Group 1 July Cup is the meeting’s highlight on July 14 and recent results have shown just how volatile a medium the top sprinters can be for backers with winners at 25-1, 12-1, 14-1 and 50-1. A 33-1 winner of the Golden Jubilee rubbed further salt into punters’ wounds at Royal Ascot and in my view betting on so-called top drawer sprinters is something of a mug’s game.
Inevitably a good run in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot as well as a bold showing in the King’s Stand Stakes from that same meeting is often a pointer to July Cup success but fathoming just which horses are likely to run well from those races is a difficult business. Perhaps Moss Vale can shine providing he’s a sharper starter than his slow-coach self at Royal Ascot.
York’s John Smith’s Cup On July 15 is one of the best ten-furlong handicaps of the whole season and remains ultra-competitive. Once again the three-year-old generation has found it difficult to scrape a place in the line-up and older horses are preferred. Trainer John Gosden’s three placed efforts from as many runners in recent seasons bodes well for the chances of his stable’s Wild Savannah, a good second at Royal Ascot on his latest start.
Newbury stages the Weatherbys Super Sprint on July 22 and the unmistakable message for punters is to pay close attention to any horse saddled by Richard Hannon, who has won this two-year-old contest on no less than six occasions with three of his winners coming in the last four seasons.
July’s racing comes to a close with the fabulous King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Britain’s premier all-aged middle-distance event. This year’s renewal had looked like a shoo-in for Hurricane Run but his defeat in France last time opens the race up and Japanese challenger, the late-developing, Heart’s Cry, Sir Michael Stoute’s progressive Mountain High and Godolphin hotpot Electrocutionist, seem sure to have a big say in the race’s outcome. As for the three-year-olds, well, they are a dying breed in this race with only four horses from that age group bothering to contest the prize in the past four seasons.
A preview of May's UK Horse Racing
May ushers in the first Classics of the current turf Flat season, beginning with the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6. All eyes will be upon the short-priced favourite George Washington as he bids to bring trainer Aidan O’Brien back-to-back victories in the colts’ Classic following Footstepsinthesands smart success twelve months ago.
In recent years the 2,000 Guineas has been the personal preserve of the Flat’s big battalions with Sir Michael Stoute, Saeed Bin Suroor and Aidan O’Brien dominating the race year after year with a succession of expensive blue-bloods.
This time around it’s the tight-lipped O’Brien who seems to hold all the aces courtesy of the aforementioned George Washington, a brilliant, if at times temperamental, colt who swept all before him as a juvenile and sets out this season to prove he’s not just a two-year-old wonder but can mix it with the best and come out on top as a three-year-old.
Only Barry Hills and Dermot Weld have broken the big boys’ monopoly of the 2,000 and this year it’s Marcus Tregoning who has been cast in the role of party-pooper as he bids interrupt the top guns by training Sir Percy to land the opening Classic. Regarded as the best horse that he’s ever trained by his astute handler, last season’s Dewhurst winner is sure to go close in a race that will be run to suit his talents.
On the same day Newmarket stages the Palace House Stakes, a Group 3 for up-and-coming sprinters and the fast-improving Reverence well be an interesting runner while over at Haydock, the jumps stages a last hurrah with the valuable William Hill Swinton Handicap Hurdle, and Philip Hobbs could hold a strong hand here courtesy of Wellbeing and Motorway, two progressive and late-blossoming timber-toppers.
On Sunday May 7, it’s the fillies’ turn to strut their stuff in the 1,000 Guineas where Gololphin’s Silca’s Sister, Ballydoyle’s Rumplestiltskin and Race For the Stars will do battle with John Gosden’s Nanina for the fillies’ Blue Riband. On the same day Breeders’ Cup hero Shirocco is likely to come up against Sir Michael Stoute’s late-developer Hard Top and the evergreen John Porter winner, Mubtaker, in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket. Spring gallop s reports have singled out the Stoute horse for top honours.
Chester’s prestigious three-day meeting follows hot on the heels of Newmarket and the Derby hopefuls will be on show in the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase (May 11), with the fillies taking centre stage in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks on May 10. Barry Hills has a superb record on this turning track and any horse he runs in the previous two races will be worth close inspection.
On Wednesday May 10 the totesport Chester Cup is the meeting’s big betting race and recent Newmarket winner Mikao set down an early marker for this big staying prize. Four-year-olds often run well here and trainer Barry Hills boasts an excellent record. Friday, May 12, closes the Chester meeting and the feature race for the older horses is the Blue Square Ormonde Stakes landed last year by Day Flight.
The run of Classic trials continues at Lingfield on May 13 with the Letheby and Christopher Derby Trial and the totesport.com Oaks Trials respectively for the real things at Epsom the following month. It isn’t just the Classic colts and fillies that are in the firing-line at Lingfield because the Surrey course also stages the totesport Victoria Cup, a closely fought and always influential 7f handicap that frequently throws up a Royal Ascot winner or two.
Over in France the following day, May 14, the European Flat season raises the volume with the Poule de’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) and the Poulai d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) on the same card at Longchamp.
Ballydoyle and Godolphin have begun to target these two important races in recent seasons and their runners should be respected, but Criquette Head-Maarek’s Quiet Royale will be fancied for the ‘Pouliches’ after a satisfactory spin in second at Longchmap the other day.
Flat racing’s domestic caravan rolls on to York for their three-day Dante meeting and the potential Oaks fillies will run in the Musidora Stakes on May 17, the meeting’s opening salvo which is now a Wednesday on account of the fixture moving forward by a single day.
On May 18 the Derby hopefuls will run in the Dante Stakes and it’s worth recalling that in recent times, North Light and Motivator, the last two winners of this race, have gone on to glory at Epsom in just over three weeks’ time, while looking a little further back in the race’s illustrious history, it’s worth noting that Shahrastani, Reference point, Erhaab and Benny The Dip all went on from the Dante to Derby success.
This mile and a quarter Group 2 contest has clearly become a key Classic trial in recent seasons and mustn’t be missed. There’s sure to be a host of top-class performers in contention on the Knavesmire and Sir Michael Stoute has the best contemporary Dante record with two winners and three placed horses.
On the same day as the Dante keep a close eye upon the outcome of the Hambleton Stakes, a valuable mile handicap that has a habit of throwing up the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot the following month especially if the Hambleton winner is trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
The final day of the Dante meeting sees the stayers take centre stage in the Yorkshire Cup, a useful pointer to the rest of the campaign’s leading staying races. Alan Swinbank’s stable star Collier Hill, a winner of the Irish St Leger last season, is a likely runner and may well be capable of surprising more fancied horses.
On May 20 it’s the turn of the season’s crack milers to unleash their firepower in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and this has been a good race for Saeed Bin Suroor and the boys in blue in recent seasons, and it would be no surprise to see them land this Group1 event with Proclamation, who is surely heading for the top after joining Godolphin on the back of a brilliant three-year-old season.
In France the following day Longchamp’s Prix d’Ispahan always draws the top mile and mile and a quarter horses and this a race that mustn’t be missed as a key pointer to some of the season’s top races over this classic ten furlongs.
The month of May rounds off with the Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 27 followed by the Irish 1,000 Guineas on the following day. Both these valuable races tend to go to horses that have raced in the equivalent events at Newmarket and inevitably British trainers hold an excellent record in both races.
Finally, Sandown’s two-day fixture at the very end of the month is always informative with the Henry 11 Stakes for top-notch staying horses on May 29 followed on May 30 by the Temple Stakes for sprinters over the minimum trip and the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes in which trainer Sir Michael Stoute boats a useful record. Any runner from his yard should be noted carefully.
In recent years the 2,000 Guineas has been the personal preserve of the Flat’s big battalions with Sir Michael Stoute, Saeed Bin Suroor and Aidan O’Brien dominating the race year after year with a succession of expensive blue-bloods.
This time around it’s the tight-lipped O’Brien who seems to hold all the aces courtesy of the aforementioned George Washington, a brilliant, if at times temperamental, colt who swept all before him as a juvenile and sets out this season to prove he’s not just a two-year-old wonder but can mix it with the best and come out on top as a three-year-old.
Only Barry Hills and Dermot Weld have broken the big boys’ monopoly of the 2,000 and this year it’s Marcus Tregoning who has been cast in the role of party-pooper as he bids interrupt the top guns by training Sir Percy to land the opening Classic. Regarded as the best horse that he’s ever trained by his astute handler, last season’s Dewhurst winner is sure to go close in a race that will be run to suit his talents.
On the same day Newmarket stages the Palace House Stakes, a Group 3 for up-and-coming sprinters and the fast-improving Reverence well be an interesting runner while over at Haydock, the jumps stages a last hurrah with the valuable William Hill Swinton Handicap Hurdle, and Philip Hobbs could hold a strong hand here courtesy of Wellbeing and Motorway, two progressive and late-blossoming timber-toppers.
On Sunday May 7, it’s the fillies’ turn to strut their stuff in the 1,000 Guineas where Gololphin’s Silca’s Sister, Ballydoyle’s Rumplestiltskin and Race For the Stars will do battle with John Gosden’s Nanina for the fillies’ Blue Riband. On the same day Breeders’ Cup hero Shirocco is likely to come up against Sir Michael Stoute’s late-developer Hard Top and the evergreen John Porter winner, Mubtaker, in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket. Spring gallop s reports have singled out the Stoute horse for top honours.
Chester’s prestigious three-day meeting follows hot on the heels of Newmarket and the Derby hopefuls will be on show in the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase (May 11), with the fillies taking centre stage in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks on May 10. Barry Hills has a superb record on this turning track and any horse he runs in the previous two races will be worth close inspection.
On Wednesday May 10 the totesport Chester Cup is the meeting’s big betting race and recent Newmarket winner Mikao set down an early marker for this big staying prize. Four-year-olds often run well here and trainer Barry Hills boasts an excellent record. Friday, May 12, closes the Chester meeting and the feature race for the older horses is the Blue Square Ormonde Stakes landed last year by Day Flight.
The run of Classic trials continues at Lingfield on May 13 with the Letheby and Christopher Derby Trial and the totesport.com Oaks Trials respectively for the real things at Epsom the following month. It isn’t just the Classic colts and fillies that are in the firing-line at Lingfield because the Surrey course also stages the totesport Victoria Cup, a closely fought and always influential 7f handicap that frequently throws up a Royal Ascot winner or two.
Over in France the following day, May 14, the European Flat season raises the volume with the Poule de’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) and the Poulai d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) on the same card at Longchamp.
Ballydoyle and Godolphin have begun to target these two important races in recent seasons and their runners should be respected, but Criquette Head-Maarek’s Quiet Royale will be fancied for the ‘Pouliches’ after a satisfactory spin in second at Longchmap the other day.
Flat racing’s domestic caravan rolls on to York for their three-day Dante meeting and the potential Oaks fillies will run in the Musidora Stakes on May 17, the meeting’s opening salvo which is now a Wednesday on account of the fixture moving forward by a single day.
On May 18 the Derby hopefuls will run in the Dante Stakes and it’s worth recalling that in recent times, North Light and Motivator, the last two winners of this race, have gone on to glory at Epsom in just over three weeks’ time, while looking a little further back in the race’s illustrious history, it’s worth noting that Shahrastani, Reference point, Erhaab and Benny The Dip all went on from the Dante to Derby success.
This mile and a quarter Group 2 contest has clearly become a key Classic trial in recent seasons and mustn’t be missed. There’s sure to be a host of top-class performers in contention on the Knavesmire and Sir Michael Stoute has the best contemporary Dante record with two winners and three placed horses.
On the same day as the Dante keep a close eye upon the outcome of the Hambleton Stakes, a valuable mile handicap that has a habit of throwing up the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot the following month especially if the Hambleton winner is trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
The final day of the Dante meeting sees the stayers take centre stage in the Yorkshire Cup, a useful pointer to the rest of the campaign’s leading staying races. Alan Swinbank’s stable star Collier Hill, a winner of the Irish St Leger last season, is a likely runner and may well be capable of surprising more fancied horses.
On May 20 it’s the turn of the season’s crack milers to unleash their firepower in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and this has been a good race for Saeed Bin Suroor and the boys in blue in recent seasons, and it would be no surprise to see them land this Group1 event with Proclamation, who is surely heading for the top after joining Godolphin on the back of a brilliant three-year-old season.
In France the following day Longchamp’s Prix d’Ispahan always draws the top mile and mile and a quarter horses and this a race that mustn’t be missed as a key pointer to some of the season’s top races over this classic ten furlongs.
The month of May rounds off with the Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 27 followed by the Irish 1,000 Guineas on the following day. Both these valuable races tend to go to horses that have raced in the equivalent events at Newmarket and inevitably British trainers hold an excellent record in both races.
Finally, Sandown’s two-day fixture at the very end of the month is always informative with the Henry 11 Stakes for top-notch staying horses on May 29 followed on May 30 by the Temple Stakes for sprinters over the minimum trip and the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes in which trainer Sir Michael Stoute boats a useful record. Any runner from his yard should be noted carefully.
A preview of Februarys UK Horse Racing
Sandown opens the month on February 4 with an excellent card and another set of possible Cheltenham clues. In recent seasons the Agfa Diamond Chase has suffered through small and uncompetitive fields but that worrying trend has started to change of late and this year’s renewal is sure to be a competitive one.
Alan King’s tough stayer Fork Lightning may well be among the entries for the ‘Agfa’, and given his preference for racing right-handed and his fine run behind Joaaci in a strong heat last time, he is likely to be among the more fancied runners.
Some of the season’s smarter novice chasers will be in action in Sandown’s Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase, a contest that was won last year by Henrietta Knight’s El Vaquero and it’ll be interesting to see whether Ms Knight decides to let her rising chase star Racing Demon take his place in the select field.
Over at Wetherby on the same day the staying novices strut their stuff in the Grade 2 Totty Construction Towton Novices’ Chase where the accent is firmly upon stamina in what is always a gruelling contest. Northern trainer Sue Smith won this race a couple of years ago with smart stayer Royal Emperor and may have another similar candidate in Rebel Rhythm, who has already won a novices’ event around the West Yorkshire track.
A week later sees Newbury stage the totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle, Europe’s richest handicap over timber, on February 11. On a day of cracking action the pulsating two-mile contest takes pride of place and is always won by a good horse.
Finding the winner is never easy but the bookmakers seems to think that Martin Pipe’s talented novice Acambo is the one to beat and he heads the ante-post market with most firms. Pipe has won the race a couple of times in recent years courtesy of Copeland (2002) and Make A Stand (1997) and Acambo is sure to figure highly in Pipe’s plans for Newbury.
Local handler, Nicky Henderson, has also been a trainer to watch out for in this valuable event, saddling no less than four of the last ten winners and the stable’s main hope in 2006 looks to be Grand Jete, a one-time Champion Hurdle hope who looked like winning at Aintree last April until he went lame approaching the last.
Twelve months ago Ireland’s Essex justified favouritism to give the Emerald Isle its second winner in three seasons. One year later there’s a strong Irish challenge once again with the Jessica Harrington-trained Studmaster bidding to follow Essex’s footsteps by winning at Newbury after landing Ireland’s prestigious Pierse Hurdle one month earlier. Significantly, Mrs Harrington landed this valuable pot with Spirit Leader in 2003.
Top weights boast a good record too and Irish trainer John Queally believes his stable star Al Eile will go close to winning the totesport Trophy off 11st 12lb. Queally’s gelding didn’t hurt his Newbury chances by winning at Haydock the other day because he incurs no penalty for that success and has to be on any one’s short-list.
The same is true of the Venetia Williams-trained Chief Yeoman, who looks terrific value at 14-1 with most bookmakers. Connections have been pleased with his two runs so far and he has been aimed at this race since returning to action behind Acambo at Windsor before Christmas. Expect hi to step up on what he’s done so far this season.
The main attraction on Newbury’s supporting card is the Game Spirit Chase, a two mile and a furlong conditions chase that is often used as a final preparatory race by trainers for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
This year’s race is likely to be won by the current Queen Mother favourite Kauto Star, who will be using the Newbury event as a stepping-stone to Festival glory. Over at Warwick course specialist Voy Por Ustedes will be treading a similar path as he bids to earn a place in the Arkle Trophy line-up at the Festival by running well in the coralpoker.com Kingmaker Chase at Warwick on the same day.
On the following weekend – February 18 – all eyes will be on Champion Hurdle aspirants in the Axminster Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. Trainer Alan King may well let Penzance, his Triumph Hurdle hero of 2005, take his place in the line-up at the West Country venue after a series of disappointing efforts so far this season.
Who knows, maybe even the elusive Lingo will return to action for Jonjo O’Neill. He won easier than most horses do at Cheltenham in November and following good support for the Champion Hurdle in March would be a fascinating runner.
Up at Haydock on the same day Grand National hopefuls will go on trial in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, a punishing test of stamina over Haydock’s big drop fences in a contest that has sometimes exerted a strong influence upon the outcome of the world’s most famous race at Aintree in April.
Trainer Ginger McCain, a four-time winner of the Grand National courtesy of Red Rum and Amberleigh House, looks to have another leading Grand National candidate in the guise of Ebony Light, a surprise winner of January’s Peter Marsh Chase from the joint Gold Cup favourite, Kingscliff. McCain plans to run Ebony Light in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup before going to Aintree for a crack at the Grand National.
The best of February’s action closes on the weekend of February 25 with Racing Post Handicap Chase day at Sandown Park. The betting is often a strong guide to the outcome of this classiest of chases and well-fancied runners boast a good record.
Take note too of the winner and placed horses because this influential contest has frequently yielded a winner or two at next month’s Cheltenham Festival. Among the more potent contenders this season are likely to be the well treated Ladalko, who has been talked about as a possible for this prize by his trainer, Paul Nicholls, and Lacdoudal from the Philip Hobbs stable that has sent out three winners of this race in recent years.
On the same day at Newcastle there’s the four mile and a furlong Tote Northern National, a marathon chase in which shock winners are a rarity. Stamina is of the essence here and the locally-trained Ossmoses, who relishes racing over long-distances and has long looked a natural for this race and will be a name to note among the entries later in the month.
Alan King’s tough stayer Fork Lightning may well be among the entries for the ‘Agfa’, and given his preference for racing right-handed and his fine run behind Joaaci in a strong heat last time, he is likely to be among the more fancied runners.
Some of the season’s smarter novice chasers will be in action in Sandown’s Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase, a contest that was won last year by Henrietta Knight’s El Vaquero and it’ll be interesting to see whether Ms Knight decides to let her rising chase star Racing Demon take his place in the select field.
Over at Wetherby on the same day the staying novices strut their stuff in the Grade 2 Totty Construction Towton Novices’ Chase where the accent is firmly upon stamina in what is always a gruelling contest. Northern trainer Sue Smith won this race a couple of years ago with smart stayer Royal Emperor and may have another similar candidate in Rebel Rhythm, who has already won a novices’ event around the West Yorkshire track.
A week later sees Newbury stage the totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle, Europe’s richest handicap over timber, on February 11. On a day of cracking action the pulsating two-mile contest takes pride of place and is always won by a good horse.
Finding the winner is never easy but the bookmakers seems to think that Martin Pipe’s talented novice Acambo is the one to beat and he heads the ante-post market with most firms. Pipe has won the race a couple of times in recent years courtesy of Copeland (2002) and Make A Stand (1997) and Acambo is sure to figure highly in Pipe’s plans for Newbury.
Local handler, Nicky Henderson, has also been a trainer to watch out for in this valuable event, saddling no less than four of the last ten winners and the stable’s main hope in 2006 looks to be Grand Jete, a one-time Champion Hurdle hope who looked like winning at Aintree last April until he went lame approaching the last.
Twelve months ago Ireland’s Essex justified favouritism to give the Emerald Isle its second winner in three seasons. One year later there’s a strong Irish challenge once again with the Jessica Harrington-trained Studmaster bidding to follow Essex’s footsteps by winning at Newbury after landing Ireland’s prestigious Pierse Hurdle one month earlier. Significantly, Mrs Harrington landed this valuable pot with Spirit Leader in 2003.
Top weights boast a good record too and Irish trainer John Queally believes his stable star Al Eile will go close to winning the totesport Trophy off 11st 12lb. Queally’s gelding didn’t hurt his Newbury chances by winning at Haydock the other day because he incurs no penalty for that success and has to be on any one’s short-list.
The same is true of the Venetia Williams-trained Chief Yeoman, who looks terrific value at 14-1 with most bookmakers. Connections have been pleased with his two runs so far and he has been aimed at this race since returning to action behind Acambo at Windsor before Christmas. Expect hi to step up on what he’s done so far this season.
The main attraction on Newbury’s supporting card is the Game Spirit Chase, a two mile and a furlong conditions chase that is often used as a final preparatory race by trainers for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
This year’s race is likely to be won by the current Queen Mother favourite Kauto Star, who will be using the Newbury event as a stepping-stone to Festival glory. Over at Warwick course specialist Voy Por Ustedes will be treading a similar path as he bids to earn a place in the Arkle Trophy line-up at the Festival by running well in the coralpoker.com Kingmaker Chase at Warwick on the same day.
On the following weekend – February 18 – all eyes will be on Champion Hurdle aspirants in the Axminster Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. Trainer Alan King may well let Penzance, his Triumph Hurdle hero of 2005, take his place in the line-up at the West Country venue after a series of disappointing efforts so far this season.
Who knows, maybe even the elusive Lingo will return to action for Jonjo O’Neill. He won easier than most horses do at Cheltenham in November and following good support for the Champion Hurdle in March would be a fascinating runner.
Up at Haydock on the same day Grand National hopefuls will go on trial in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, a punishing test of stamina over Haydock’s big drop fences in a contest that has sometimes exerted a strong influence upon the outcome of the world’s most famous race at Aintree in April.
Trainer Ginger McCain, a four-time winner of the Grand National courtesy of Red Rum and Amberleigh House, looks to have another leading Grand National candidate in the guise of Ebony Light, a surprise winner of January’s Peter Marsh Chase from the joint Gold Cup favourite, Kingscliff. McCain plans to run Ebony Light in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup before going to Aintree for a crack at the Grand National.
The best of February’s action closes on the weekend of February 25 with Racing Post Handicap Chase day at Sandown Park. The betting is often a strong guide to the outcome of this classiest of chases and well-fancied runners boast a good record.
Take note too of the winner and placed horses because this influential contest has frequently yielded a winner or two at next month’s Cheltenham Festival. Among the more potent contenders this season are likely to be the well treated Ladalko, who has been talked about as a possible for this prize by his trainer, Paul Nicholls, and Lacdoudal from the Philip Hobbs stable that has sent out three winners of this race in recent years.
On the same day at Newcastle there’s the four mile and a furlong Tote Northern National, a marathon chase in which shock winners are a rarity. Stamina is of the essence here and the locally-trained Ossmoses, who relishes racing over long-distances and has long looked a natural for this race and will be a name to note among the entries later in the month.
A Practical Beginners Guide To Choosing A Bowling Ball
When you first start bowling, more often than not, you are never given any instructions on how to choose a bowling ball. It's not like playing a board game where all of the rules are nicely spelled out for you. When you first start bowling, knowing how to choose the right bowling ball can mean the difference between having a great experience and having a relatively frustrating experience.
If you have chosen a good bowling ball, you will concentrate less on how the ball feels in your hand and more on proper bowling technique. Technique, for a beginner, is more important, to a certain extent, than the ball you are using.
If you are new to bowling then you most likely do not have your own bowling ball. so, when you do bowl you will be stuck choosing your ball from those that are available at the bowling alley. Bowling balls provided by bowling alleys, known as house balls, do not have a reputation of being of the best quality.
Looking for a house ball that perfectly suits you is similar to looking for the perfect pool que at the local pub. The perfect house ball simply does not exist. You are more likely to get close to perfection if you know what to look for in a good house ball. There are three things you should concentrate on when choosing a house ball; the balls weight, the balls grip, and the balls coverstock.
Bowling balls range in weight from six pounds to sixteen pounds. The weight of the bowling ball that you choose for yourself should depend heavily on two factors; your strength and how well you can control the ball. Many beginners when choosing a bowling ball just pick it up and decide whether or not it is too heavy for them.
To help determine the proper weight ball you should take a few practice shots with the ball. During the practice shots if you are straining to pull the ball back in your arm swing then the ball is too heavy. If you strain to pull the ball back in a controlled manner you will lower your shoulder, your elbow will pop out to the side, and your back will arch to the side of your bowling arm. This is natural body mechanics. But, straining in this way will throw off your bowling technique and ruin your game.
By the same token, during your practice shots, if the ball feels if it has no weight to it then it is obviously too light. You would think that using a ball that is too light would not be a bad thing. But, using a ball that is too light becomes a control issue. Unless you are skilled and have a lot of physical control you will power through a bowling ball that is too light and overshoot the shot.
A balls weight is important. But, it is not the most important aspect to choosing a good house ball. In my opinion, the grip of a house bowling ball is the most important aspect of choosing a bowling ball. If the holes of the bowling ball are too loose or too tight they will affect how you release the ball. How you release the ball is single most important factor in how well you can throw a bowling ball. Releasing a bowling ball is the last facet of control you have over the ball itself. After the ball is released, when it meets the lane, you no longer have any control over it.
You will never find a perfectly drilled bowling ball. That is unless it was drilled specifically for you. Here are a few rules of thumb for determining a good grip. You should not have to grip the ball tightly through your bowling swing. When you start your swing the ball should rest easily on your thumb. As you work through the swing inertia should distribute the weight of the ball easily between your fingers and thumb. If on the down swing you have to grip the ball to hold on to it, then the holes are too big. If the holes pull at all on release then they are too small. The weight of the ball should stay evenly distributed, between the finger and thumb, through the entire swing.
A final aspect you should keep in mind when choosing a bowling ball. Avoid balls with divots and nicks. Even if the are very small they will still affect the roll of the ball. Just like the bend of the pool que at the local pub. It can still be used but the outcome of the shot is unpredictable.
I hope this little practical guide has shed some light on the different things you should consider when choosing a bowling ball the next time you are at the bowling alley.
If you have chosen a good bowling ball, you will concentrate less on how the ball feels in your hand and more on proper bowling technique. Technique, for a beginner, is more important, to a certain extent, than the ball you are using.
If you are new to bowling then you most likely do not have your own bowling ball. so, when you do bowl you will be stuck choosing your ball from those that are available at the bowling alley. Bowling balls provided by bowling alleys, known as house balls, do not have a reputation of being of the best quality.
Looking for a house ball that perfectly suits you is similar to looking for the perfect pool que at the local pub. The perfect house ball simply does not exist. You are more likely to get close to perfection if you know what to look for in a good house ball. There are three things you should concentrate on when choosing a house ball; the balls weight, the balls grip, and the balls coverstock.
Bowling balls range in weight from six pounds to sixteen pounds. The weight of the bowling ball that you choose for yourself should depend heavily on two factors; your strength and how well you can control the ball. Many beginners when choosing a bowling ball just pick it up and decide whether or not it is too heavy for them.
To help determine the proper weight ball you should take a few practice shots with the ball. During the practice shots if you are straining to pull the ball back in your arm swing then the ball is too heavy. If you strain to pull the ball back in a controlled manner you will lower your shoulder, your elbow will pop out to the side, and your back will arch to the side of your bowling arm. This is natural body mechanics. But, straining in this way will throw off your bowling technique and ruin your game.
By the same token, during your practice shots, if the ball feels if it has no weight to it then it is obviously too light. You would think that using a ball that is too light would not be a bad thing. But, using a ball that is too light becomes a control issue. Unless you are skilled and have a lot of physical control you will power through a bowling ball that is too light and overshoot the shot.
A balls weight is important. But, it is not the most important aspect to choosing a good house ball. In my opinion, the grip of a house bowling ball is the most important aspect of choosing a bowling ball. If the holes of the bowling ball are too loose or too tight they will affect how you release the ball. How you release the ball is single most important factor in how well you can throw a bowling ball. Releasing a bowling ball is the last facet of control you have over the ball itself. After the ball is released, when it meets the lane, you no longer have any control over it.
You will never find a perfectly drilled bowling ball. That is unless it was drilled specifically for you. Here are a few rules of thumb for determining a good grip. You should not have to grip the ball tightly through your bowling swing. When you start your swing the ball should rest easily on your thumb. As you work through the swing inertia should distribute the weight of the ball easily between your fingers and thumb. If on the down swing you have to grip the ball to hold on to it, then the holes are too big. If the holes pull at all on release then they are too small. The weight of the ball should stay evenly distributed, between the finger and thumb, through the entire swing.
A final aspect you should keep in mind when choosing a bowling ball. Avoid balls with divots and nicks. Even if the are very small they will still affect the roll of the ball. Just like the bend of the pool que at the local pub. It can still be used but the outcome of the shot is unpredictable.
I hope this little practical guide has shed some light on the different things you should consider when choosing a bowling ball the next time you are at the bowling alley.
A Nice Billiard Light can really dress up your pool room
Are you looking for a billiard light?
A nice light can put a nice touch of class in your pool - billiards room. The light in my pool room is custom made. My buddy made this light about 20 years back.
The light is made out of wood and on one side it is carved out to say “2 Bad 4 U” and the other side reads “2 Hot 4 U”. I did not think of this. My friend put these phrases on my light and delivered it to me just like that.
If you have a partying kind of pool room, you may want to go with one of those plastic fixtures like Budweiser or Coors makes. You can also find some cool plastic fixtures with billiards graphics on them.
If your table is i a large and spacious room with nice furniture all through the house, you might consider brass or some kind of fancy fixture.
Which ever way you go, remember to get the right size of light for your table and hang it low enough to make the table bright. I have a 4 foot florescent fixture in my custom made shade. These 2 4 foot bulbs light up my 7 foot Valley table nicely.
I have seen some lights that even have the sliders on them for scoring your match. I would suggest doing some shopping on line before buying the first light that you see.
There are many lights to choose from and chances are you will have your new light for a very long time. Taking a little extra time in picking out your billiard light can certainly be worth while.
When looking for your new light, take note on how the light is turned off and on. I like the ones that turn on with one switch. I have seen lights with 3 or 4 individual bulbs and they all need to be turned on separately. (Kind of a pain in the neck)
I hope this article helps you out a little while selecting A new light for your pool room or billiards parlor.
Post your comments, questions and stories below. Get involved.
To your run out success,
Ted
A nice light can put a nice touch of class in your pool - billiards room. The light in my pool room is custom made. My buddy made this light about 20 years back.
The light is made out of wood and on one side it is carved out to say “2 Bad 4 U” and the other side reads “2 Hot 4 U”. I did not think of this. My friend put these phrases on my light and delivered it to me just like that.
If you have a partying kind of pool room, you may want to go with one of those plastic fixtures like Budweiser or Coors makes. You can also find some cool plastic fixtures with billiards graphics on them.
If your table is i a large and spacious room with nice furniture all through the house, you might consider brass or some kind of fancy fixture.
Which ever way you go, remember to get the right size of light for your table and hang it low enough to make the table bright. I have a 4 foot florescent fixture in my custom made shade. These 2 4 foot bulbs light up my 7 foot Valley table nicely.
I have seen some lights that even have the sliders on them for scoring your match. I would suggest doing some shopping on line before buying the first light that you see.
There are many lights to choose from and chances are you will have your new light for a very long time. Taking a little extra time in picking out your billiard light can certainly be worth while.
When looking for your new light, take note on how the light is turned off and on. I like the ones that turn on with one switch. I have seen lights with 3 or 4 individual bulbs and they all need to be turned on separately. (Kind of a pain in the neck)
I hope this article helps you out a little while selecting A new light for your pool room or billiards parlor.
Post your comments, questions and stories below. Get involved.
To your run out success,
Ted
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