tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12534273645909868032011-07-08T00:46:30.946+01:00Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.comBlogger131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-69179938185268362732010-03-27T13:50:00.008Z2010-03-27T14:26:43.796Z

Whatever happened to traditional black football boots? In a photograph of a park team in the local newspaper last week, I counted that six out of the eleven players were wearing coloured boots. And I don't mean red laces or a white tongue, I mean full on, visible from space fluorescent yellows and brilliant blues. The bright green number that Wayne Rooney wears at the monment looked a popular

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-54396640545874635652010-03-01T11:37:00.003Z2010-03-01T12:54:04.871Z

What exactly is it that makes a sport a sport? I had this debate with a friend over a game of snooker the other day, and after much animated discussion we still could not agree. "It's not a game, it's a sport!" "No, it's a bloody game!" So as I wandered home, I pondered this deeply philosophical question, and came up with a list of possible criteria.Skill - Does sport have to involve skill? Most

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-30210988697862472292010-01-09T16:03:00.010Z2010-01-09T16:31:06.351Z

TECHNOLOGY is not normally associated with an active lifestyle. Whether it is kids slumped in front of the telly or frantically tapping at the games console controller, the image conjured up tends to be one of slovenliness rather than healthy activity.In this age of rising obesity, sedentary activities are viewed as part of the problem. So it comes as something of a surprise to learn that one

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-87080978849414362492009-08-27T12:32:00.003+01:002009-08-27T13:11:06.991+01:00

The World Championship Athletics in Berlin was one of the best I can remember.Tainted by drug scandals and performed in front of increasingly sparse crowds, athletics has needed a shot in the arm for some time and hopefully this excellent championships can go some way to providing it.Usain Bolt is nothing short of a phenomenon, and his sensational double world record cements his status as the

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-86013177282391822472009-08-12T11:20:00.004+01:002009-08-13T14:50:15.348+01:00

PCs, mobile phones, MP3s. In recent years these products have transformed from relative luxuries to lifestyle essentials. Whether it is for making videos, taking pictures, listening to music or simply chatting, they are a ubiquitous part of modern life. For the current generation of young people, their presence is a given and using them is second nature - they are unafflicted by technophobia!At

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-84479892074367588442009-08-05T19:40:00.002+01:002009-08-05T20:57:42.151+01:00

A poll commissioned by the government's Schools Department has revealed the extent of inactivity amongst five to 19 year olds. The results, published last week, show that 23 per cent of children and young people participate in no organised sport whatsoever, with that figure rising to 58 per cent among 16 to 19 year olds.The results are something of an embarrassment for the government, coming two

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-15107618836188882792009-07-27T11:39:00.002+01:002009-07-27T11:47:37.487+01:00

Further to the previous post, it was also very encouraging that there were no failed drugs tests during this year's Tour. Cycling is a sport that, at best, has been severely tainted by drugs, and at worst completely undermined. You know a sport is in trouble when your first thought on seeing the victor cross the line is 'is he on drugs'?A clean Tour this year represents the first step on the road

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-31616288097939211232009-07-27T10:27:00.005+01:002009-07-29T16:07:18.452+01:00

The tremendous performances of Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish in this year's Tour de France underlined the burgeoning strength of British cycling. Wiggins' fourth place is the joint best Tour placing by a British rider, matching Robert Millar's 1984 effort, whilst Cavendish won an incredible six stages - including a quite stunning display of power on the prestigeous Champs Elysees sprint.

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-38390536899461169022009-07-21T11:04:00.004+01:002009-07-21T16:46:12.947+01:00

Panesar, eyes as wide as a frightened deer and encircled by a pack of salivating Australian close fielders, takes guard in the gathering dusk. The crowd watch silently as he prods nervously forward, deflecting the ball away - they are witnesing the last rites of a condemned man, a condemned team.Lords, a little over a week later. Flintoff steams in, releasing missile after missile, each as fast

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-76161457250163219552009-07-12T15:26:00.004+01:002009-07-16T10:27:31.208+01:00

The Xoolon team was at Downend School in Bristol this week, and the day went down a storm with pupils and staff. Hundreds of Year 7 students enjoyed a series of athletic events, and even a midday downpour couldn’t dampen the spirits!The high turnout was particularly impressive, with around 95% taking part – up to 40% more than what might be expected for a regular sports day, according to teachers

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-83168184695234630922009-07-06T15:07:00.006+01:002009-07-07T09:39:54.603+01:00

According to the results of a survey carried out for the government on sport in schools, Physical Education in the UK is on the up and up. The TNS survey found that participation in PE, inter-school competition and school-club links had all increased, with targets aplenty being smashed. These findings may not tell the whole story though.PE is still a second-class citizen in the national

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-52762012474163036512009-06-30T14:37:00.008+01:002009-06-30T21:47:59.792+01:00

Martin Spence, Xoolon CEO, visited the Sheffield Children's Hospital the other day. He was informed by a paediatrician there that 28% of children in Sheffield are overweight, 18% clinically obese. This scenario, repeated across the country, represents an impending health crisis which will put an enourmous strain on the health service for years to come.When I mentioned this to a friend, he came up

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1253427364590986803.post-83711967700595860612009-06-28T12:04:00.001+01:002009-06-29T20:45:21.401+01:00

I heard a discussion on the radio yesterday in which it was concluded that Britain is not a 'tennis nation'. True, at least not insofar as we are a football nation, or even a cricket or rugby nation. We cannot therefore expect, the discussion continued, to have much representation at the top level. Why? Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic and Switzerland have all had multiple Wimbledon champions in

Owlzathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16493799948347529792noreply@blogger.com0