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Sports presenter Sue Thearle regularly rubs shoulders with an array of sporting stars that we could only wish to meet. In her Sports Starter blog, Sue gives us an insight into the world of sport and explains how you can get involved in a big way.

With years of experience as a sports journalist and presenter for a number of broadcasters - including the BBC, where she was the sports presenter on BBC Breakfast for 13 years, and also the first female voice on Match of the Day - Sue is perfectly positioned to give you the ins and outs on whatever sport we throw her into.

Currently presenting the News and Sport on the BBC News channel and on BBC World News, this keen fitness follower and one-time London Marathoner, promises to get you off the sofa and into your gym gear, even if you aren't quite going to make the line-up for 2012.

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Ladies are doing it for themselves

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Ladies are doing it for themselves

10:57 p.m. on 28th September 2009
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Hello campers and how was your sporting weekend? A couple of things really leapt out at me. Now I know I'm banging on about tennis right now, but did you know that Britain now has three, yes that’s right, three women in the top 100? Elena Baltacha and Katie O’Brien have joined Anne Keothavong in the top 100 this week after contesting a tour final in Shrewsbury.

Now apologies to anyone living in that lovely part of Shropshire, but that arguably is not one of the more glamorous stops on the women’s tour. But it is exactly those types of events, where British players have to graft out results to improve their ranking. The girls have been doing that fabulously over the course of the last 12 months and that is why they are getting their rewards right now.

It does once again beg the question what are the men doing? My colleague Simon Doyle outlined the decline of our Davis Cup team last week as GB slipped timidly into the third tier of world tennis. And it is an excellent question he poses. Where does all the LTA investment go and why are the women outperforming the men? Any answers or solutions gratefully received.

Port Vale manager Micky Adams

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I might playfully suggest that the LTA could use the help of Micky Adams at the moment. In a refreshing burst of honesty the Port Vale manager has put his entire squad on the transfer list after their 3-1 defeat against Notts County at the weekend. Now that is the kind of no-nonsense approach that sport needs sometimes. No lawyers. No agents. No spin. No argument. No problem. What do you think?

Oh and you’ll be thrilled to hear that against my better judgement, I am to make a return to the world of spinning. I’m going to inflict it on my husband in the hope that he too has to grapple with his vomit. I will of course bring you an update on that one and the success or not of my padded cycle shorts. Heaven help me. And yoga is definitely looming on the sporting agenda as well. I shall tell you what happens to my ying and yang in due course. Any tips gratefully received.....

 

Tags: Elena Baltacha, Katie O'Brien, Anne Keothavong, LTA, Micky Adams, Port Vale, Notts County, Spinning

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Comments

It also appears at the junior level the girls are doing better. Micky Adams is probably safe putting them all on the transfer market, who will want to buy them!

posted by Johnf premium member on 29 Sept. 2009 8:40a.m.
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Ok - this may sound grumpy but....

The LTA should be run as a business. Set the players ranking/results targets and if they don't achieve it, put them on notice and then sack them.

These players should be grateful they get to try to make a living hitting a ball around rather than proper work like the rest of us. Yes I know the arguments about the hardships of travel/training etc etc but how many of us would swap our 'normal' jobs for the chance of greatness/remuneration through playing a sport we love?

Well done the girls. As for the boys - send them off to the job centres for six months and see how they find living in the real world for a change.

Grrr!

posted by HenriettaBird on 29 Sept. 2009 10:22a.m.
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Oi Oi, Henriettabird....! Leave it!.....Can I just make a passing observation Sue about that fine collection of British names we have there????.. (NOT). Anyway, as I have said previously, (and I do partially agree with you here H), we simply do not put enough resources into the right places to get BRITISH tennis to the standards it should be at!.....The money is wasted (in my opinion) on a bunch of washed up has beens trying to keep the LTA as exclusive and unnattainable to the rank and file as possible!...It's archaic and needs to be completely overhauled if we are ever to match the likes of America Russia Germany etc etc etc etc etc. At least their system (MOSTLY) is based on your talent and not your heritage!.....GRRRRR....

posted by flanker2 on 29 Sept. 2009 10:54a.m.
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I love it. A real row!!!!! Excellent. I must say I quite like Henrietta Bird's rather extreme take on things. And Flanker2 makes some very good points about the systems in the States and Europe. I mean why are there so many good Russian players? Because they are hungrier - literally and metaphorically. They want it more I reckon. And John F is right. Get Micky Adams involved! Right I'm off to figure out how I can stir up another hornets' nest. Brilliant!

posted by Sue_Thearle premium member on 29 Sept. 2009 2:27p.m.
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I don't disagree with you Flanker2 - the people running the LTA are as much to blame as the ones taking advantage of it. Make them all hit their targets or go!

posted by HenriettaBird on 30 Sept. 2009 11:39a.m.
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