Sport Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Scots bowled ’em over in Barbados

30th April 202430th April 2024 funtime65

As the countdown begins for a cricket clash of the Auld Enemies a cry of freedom from when us Scots bowled ’em over in Barbados.

My old Aberdeen buddy Jevan is a proud Trini-Scot.

So he doubly delights in any victories over the Engerlush.

West-Indian born with a birthright to love cricket he is something of a fixture in around the Oval.

With his dapper dandy schtick while he is also wont to take on a fancy dress mask.

On the occasion he took me along to the Oval it was India who were in opposition on the first day of a Test match.

Howzat for a day out?

When if memory serves me well only three wickets fell all day.

The rum though tumbled all day from the moment we got into our box.

And the host looked quizzically at me when I said I would start slowly with a coffee.

And they turned to Jevan and asked ‘who’s this joker, get him a Mount Gay’.

Watching cricket with West Indians is an education,

Winning a maiden over

Everybody on Barbados has an opinion and an expertise.

And the charming, beautiful woman in our company opined.

On the selectors, the tactics and Bajan, American and British politics without missing a beat.

All the time remaining sharp of mind and style.

While my senses dulled through good rum and my body swelled from the fishes of the Caribbean and the staple Mac’n’cheese.

Holding out for a hero

By the time they called stumps I had had a lesson in life and cricket which to West Indians is much the same.

My charming West Indies cricket fan colleague had relayed to me the joy of a particular roasting an England legend had endured on this ground.

When Michael Holding had Geoffrey Boycott jumping around in his crease before getting done all ends up.

For yesterday’s Boycott, read today’s Joe Root, and a fast-bowling Scot.

And a fast-living, sharp-dressing Trini-Scot cheering on his mother’sland.

Remember too that this is an island with Scotland at its heart, the region named after the Scots who went out there.

And maybe thinking on when me and him, two proud Scots bowled ’em over in Barbados.

Twenty Twenty vision

The World T20 Cup runs through June in the West Indies and the US.

With my own Scotland playing England at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on June 20.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both fly nine hours to Bridgetown.

And, of course, you can go high-end at Sandals or Turtle Beach.

Or even take your significant other to a couples hotel at Club Barbados.

Asia, Countries, Sport

Real football star of the Maldives

19th April 202419th April 2024 funtime65

Now if the Galacticos of the Bernebeu want a few tips this real football star of the Maldives will point them in the right direction… me!

Because famously while my party snorkelled or sunbathed in the Maldives, Murtinho was off burning it up with the staff on the works pitches.

All of which came flooding back withthe news that Patina Maldives, Fari Islands are inviting budding Bellinghams to join them for a Real Madrid Foundation Clinic from July 4-August 12.

Guests on the atoll can experience daily training sessions guided by a Real Madrid Foundation Coach.

All white on the night

The clinics will focus on individual and group development, mirroring the Real Madrid Academy’s methodology.

Budding footballers are invited to “Play The Real Way” – where excellence meets passion on the field.

Of course it’ll help if you’re one of those Northern European types to keep plenty of water by the pitch.

Because, in truth, you’ll likely be panting keeping up with them.

Now the football is just a part of what’s on offer out on the Maldives… and I took the Sri Lankans on too at cricket on my trip.

Sail away

And Patina Maldives, Fari Islands general manager Antonio Saponara has more up his sleeve.

“We’re thrilled to unveil this season’s meticulously crafted summer lineup.

“Spanning arts, sports, culinary delights, and wellness, our tailored programmes cater to guests of every age and diverse interests. It’s a privilege to host collaborators who are at the top of various fields, guiding our guests toward realising their passions and aspirations.”

Now, I’m all at sea when it comes to maritime activities but if you start young you’ve a better chance.

And there’s a youth sailing academy pencilled in from July 14-August 15.

Expert instructors will guide younger guests in mastering the art of sailing.

From the basics of rigging a small boat and essential safety protocols to advanced manoeuvres like tacking, gybing, and docking.

Ocean front

And, of course, living and working among the precious atolls the Maldivians are ahead of the curve on sustainability.

So they are all over World Oceans Day & Global Wellness Day on June 8.

Guests can join Patina Maldives in honouring the connection with coral restoration workshops.

Beach meditation, ocean aerobics, and a conscious cuisine celebration, embracing the harmony between personal wellness and ocean stewardship.

For a full copy of Patina’s summer programming, visit this link.

And, of course, Patina, you will have my details if you’re wanting to sign up a real football star of the Maldives.

Europe, Sport

From Olympia to Paris as we let the flames begin

16th April 202416th April 2024 funtime65

Now it’s been flickering since the first Classical Olympics so for the day that’s in we’re going on an odyssey from Olympia to Paris as we let the flames begin.

All to mark 1,000 days until the start of the XXXIII Games gets underway in the City of Light.

The flame burned brightly all through the original games in old Hellas in reference to Prometheus stealing fire from the gods.

Now you might think that the Athenians would have revived the flame.

When the Games were revived in 1896 but maybe the gods had been appeased.

Burning ambitions

Olympic adventure: Olympic Airlines in Greece

It took the Dutch to bring the flame back for the Games in Amsterdam in 1928 for a more prosaic reason… to show people where the Olympics were being held.

The grandiloquent Germans of the Thirties took it up a step though not for the best of motives for the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

There was no precedent for the torch relay but then The Third Reich were reinventing everything they came across then.

was introduced by Carl Diem at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

And seeing they were burning their way across Europe at the time they thought nothing of beating a path.

From Olympia to Berlin over 1,980 miles with 3,331 runners in twelve days and eleven nights.

Where minor protests in Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia were put down by the local security forces.

The Greatest

King of the ring: Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali

The torch relay became a fixture for the next 72 years becoming ever more unwieldy.

Before being discontinued after all manner of disruptions and protests on its way to Beijing in 2008.

Nowadays the torch relay only takes place in Greece and the host country.

And that’s what we saw yesterday in Hellas with the Vestal Virgins stealing the show as they always do.

Now while that’s a staple in the Home of the Games each host country has it in its gift.

To choose the figure who will light the torch when it reaches its venues.

And there was to be no more emotional moment than in 1996.

When a warrior who wouldn’t have looked out of place in Ancient Greece.

Former Olympic champ Muhammad Ali lit the flame, hands shaking because of his Parkinson’s.

So there you are and we hope you’re not too whacked after our odyssey from Olympia to Paris as we let the flames begin.

Countries, Europe, Sport

From Paris to Berlin my heart is pumping for sport

26th March 202426th March 2024 funtime65

With apologies to ravers Infernal but from Paris to Berlin my heart is pumping for sport this year.

Sports fanatics are on the move this year for the Euros and the Olympics.

With two of the world’s great cities showcased and putting on colossal parties.

Line up the Schotts

Berlin is first up with a host of matches and most importantly the final, featuring Schottland, on July 14 at the Olympiastadion.

This Schott will be going out on a recce next month ahead of the finals.

And, of course, what you’ll be wanting to know is where the party is going to be.

Now as more of a Dancing Dad I’ll leave Infernal, who claim to know every disco there and Paris, to give you the nightclubs.

And while yes sir I can boogie like every Scotland footie fan I’m more about the bars.

Whether it’s the Hofbrau or Lowenbrau halls at the Munich Oktoberfest or 11 Freunde die Bar in Essen I’ve drunk in German football fun.

Now our freundes in Berlin tell us that Belushi’s Berlin (Mitte) on Ziegelstrasse is where Jocks gather to watch Scottish football.

If you’ve been too pessimistic to have already bought your ticket for the final.

Book a table

Win or loos: 11 Freunde Die Bar in Essen

Now a staple of the German sports bar is the Kicker-Tisch (table football).

And it’s as lively as the action on the screens down at FC Magnet just between Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte in the karaoke downstairs.

While it’s big balls and little balls, of the ping-pong variety at Schmittz, Gormanstrasse.

Where as an adjunct to the football they play Umlauf, a 20+ elimination game well suited for the main knockout football.

Now, should you prefer multi-games to just the Beautiful Game.

Then they’ll be striving Faster, Stronger, Higher – Together around Paris.

Here for the bier

Us Jocks gather when we’re in Paris to watch any Scot from Chariots of Fire Eric Liddell through David Wilkie and Allan Wells to Andy Murray.

At the Auld Alliance, Scotland’s oldest pub in the city on Rue Francois Miron.

Now because we’re all amis at the Olympics then us of the Scottish variety are allowed in English pubs too.

And the best one around is the Bombardier Pub on Rue Gaston Rebuffat which boasts serving up Football, rugby and everything in between.

And both bottled and traditional draught beers, brought straight from its brewery in Bedford.

Of course, the best bars anywhere as we all know are the Irish ones.

And while they won’t have a team to support at the Euros (apart from anyone who plays England) they’ll have Irish athletes to cheer in Paris.

And an Irish party

Now, Le Little Temple Bar on La Rue de la Soif isn’t as big as the tourist trap in Dublin but it matches it for noise on match day.

So from Paris to Berlin my heart is pumping for sport this summer… see you there and mine’s a Guinness.

Countries, Ireland, Sport

Roysh, here’s where ledges toast Irish rugby

16th March 202416th March 2024 funtime65

And we sent Daddy’s Little Girl and her beau off to Dublin with this local knowledge… roysh, here’s where ledges toast Irish rugby.

Straight from Ross O’Carroll-Kelly’s mouth, the greatest player Ireland never picked (but still has his boots laced).

The cult hero of the Paul Howard books, Ross, of course, takes a passport with him.

When he leaves D4, the home of Leinster and the national team.

It’s Ross, ye Ken

And he helpfully wrote a manual to help visitors to D4, South Dublin How to get by on, like €10,000 a day.

Which was close to the mark in the Celtic Tiger days at the start of my 13-year stint working in Ballsbridge.

Along the road from the Aviva Stadium, or Lansdowne Road in old money.

Now Ireland’s standing in the game has changed since I were a lad and they were easy-beats.

Now you’d have to go back to 2010 for the Jocks’ last victory in Dublin.

When Ross and his Castlerock alumni started the proceedings early in Kiely’s.

And where a plaque was erected in the loo to Ross.

Which read: ‘This plaque has been erected in honour of Ross O’Carroll Kelly who hit and missed here for many years.’

A Mecca for the Boys in Green, it has alas given way to regress, housing, two years ago.

Ballsbridge bar crawl

Back when Ross was splashing €10k a day in the Celtic Tiger Days he and his dodgy sheepskin-coated dad would hold fort in the Ice Bar.

In the institution that is the InterCon where all the rock stars (and me) go when they are playing the RDS.

Now Ross drinks his Ken (short for Heineken) in the Bridge (or Bridge 1859), formerly Bellamy’s.

Down the steps from Embassy House where I worked and the Herbert Park Hotel.

The Bridge is owned by D4 rugby royalty, Jamie Heaslip, Rob and Dave Kearney, Sean O’Brien and businessman Noel Anderson.

And if you’re fortunate you’ll bump into them although hopefully not literally as you’ll bounce right back.

Now, if you find yourself forced out onto the street, or you want the crawl then Paddy Cullen’s/Mary Mac’s may be your next stop.

Local artworks, caricatures, sporting memorabilia and hunting pictures line the wood-panelled walls and onto the ceiling.

All of which make you feel like you’re one of those ledges.

Horses of courses

The Horse Show House Bar, further along Merrion Road, is the biggest in the area and boasts a beer garden and the best barbies.

With most importantly a killer big screen for the game.

Its name is a nod to the Royal Dublin Showground, the RDS, where Leinster play their home games.

Searsons, on Upper Baggot Street is reputed to pour the best Guinness in Dublin (whisper that around Ross).

And this being Dublin, Roaring Bay Mussels, alive, alive-o.

In white wine cream with toasted sourdough.

Plain and simple

Of course, it would be remiss not to mention my cousins’ bar.

Workshop Bistro (formerly Kennedy’s Bar) on the Liffey, next to Tara Street Station.

Which though not South Dublin does sell the best Guinness, or plain, in Dublin.

So roysh, here’s where ledges toast Irish rugby.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Sport

Tennis is a smash in the Algarve

9th March 202414th March 2024 funtime65

Ya dancer… Portugal is courting us again and proving once more that tennis is a smash in the Algarve.

We first crossed racquets with the tennis set in Quinta do Lago when Judy Murray put me through my paces.

Of course despite her peerless coaching qualities it was clear that my tennis was as good as my dancing.

Which as many have found out around the world gives Dancing Dads a bad name.

Thing is though that tennis players, as Judy showed, are naturals on the dancefloor… all that moving from foot to foot.

Croft original

Another hotfooting it out to the Algarve is the charming Annabel Croft who also wowed us on Strictly Come Dancing.

Annabel, of course, has her own Tennis Academy at the Pine Cliffs Resort, a luxury collection resort in the Algarve.

And it hosted the 13th edition of their annual tennis competition the Winners’ Cup with Annabel dropping in to see the action.

Annabel, who came fourth on Strictly and will be dancing again with her former Strictly partner Johannes Radebe during his live tour played a few rallies.

The first day of the cup was full of free activities for competition participants and their guests, where Annabel led the Tennis Clinic.

Go for a padel

Meanwhile, Diogo Schaefer, Portuguese national padel player and professional coach, headed the Padel Clinic…

Padel was explained to me as the child that squash and tennis would bear.

The Winners’ Cup 2024 golf grand final took place on the second day with an 18-hole tournament, while the tennis semi-final and grand final took place shortly after.

Posting on her Instagram, Annabel wrote: “A wonderful weekend at my Tennis Academy at @pinecliffs Resort 🎾. It felt so amazing to be back wearing my tennis shoes and in Portugal, one of my favourite places in the world 😎.

Congratulations to all the players who competed in the Winners’ Cup – I so loved watching you all 👏🏼🥳 xxx”.

Every day is an education

The Annabel Croft Tennis Academy at Pine Cliffs has been running since 2013, and offers a huge variety of coaching activities as well as tennis camps over five days with 10 hours of coaching focusing.

There are camps for all ages, including a Junior Tennis Camp (4-13 years) and Teenage Tennis Camp (13-17 years), which start from €280/£254 per person. Meanwhile, an Adult Tennis Holiday starts from €340/£314 per person.

Private lessons can also be booked from €70/£64 per hour or shared lessons from €33/£38 per hour per person.

The resort won ‘The Best Family Resort’ in Europe by the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

And it boasts the Porto Pirata children’s club with life size pirate ships, MIMO Algarve – a cooking school with family classes.

For adults there is also a 9-hole golf course and Serenity Spa – The Art of Wellbeing with a myriad of treatments and its indoor Thermal Oasis with a herbal sauna, hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, steam room and a salt sauna.

The resort offers hotel accommodation as well as luxury suites, apartments, and private villas, for self-catering.

There are eight swimming pools at the resort, as well as 11 restaurants and bars, which offer a wide variety of cuisines and dishes to cater to every taste.

And all major airlines fly out to Faro.

America, Countries, Deals, Sport

Taylor, Travis and Sports Vegas

11th February 202411th February 2024 funtime65

They used to come for the boxing now Neon City is box office for all sports as we all tune in to watch Taylor, Travis and Sports Vegas.

For Swifties everywhere tonight’s match-up is all about their favourite girl and her beau Mr Kelce.

Who they’ll tell you has a very tight end.

Vegas, in many ways is the natural location for the Super Bowl.

Even if it is hosting the world’s biggest annual showpiece for the first time.

Because Vegas brings showbiz and sport together like nowhere else.

Push Cassidy

And how we love to take in both on our travels.

Which our friends at Cassidy Travel know only too well.

CT run a range of American sports offers with gridiron fans already over enjoying the 49ers and Chiefs in Vegas.

Now knowing too that each of us have our own gridiron team and favourite destinations they have us covered there.

With packages to New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vegas, Chicago and Tennessee.

Patriots Games

All with their own merits while our own favourites New England are there too.

With the likes of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, Dallas and Seattle.

And old new friends in Pittsburgh who honoured us with our very own Steelers ‘terrible towel’.

In Irish green rather than Steelers yellow… for their visit to the recent Meet the Media travel get-together in Dublin.

Big shots

But for the day that’s in it and because we left our own sporting mark on Neon City.

At Topgolf range shooting towards the skyline…

And then firing at Chucky targets at Machine Guns Vegas.

The big shots, of course, this weekend are on the gridiron.

With Taylor, Travis and Sports Vegas.

Countries, Europe, Sport

England here for der beer in Gelsenkirchen

3rd December 20233rd December 2023 funtime65

Three Lions fans will be in their element, with England here for der beer in Gelsenkirchen at Euro 24.

Engerlund will kick off their procession to becoming European champions at the Veltins-Arena against Serbia on June 16.

Oh, didn’t you know? They’ve already decided that ‘Football is coming home.’

Despite their old enmities, Ruhrland, the football heartland of Germany should be Nirvana for England supporters.

With Schalke 04’s ground a drinking arena masquerading as a football operation.

The Royal Blue Army may have surrendered their Bundesliga tenure at the end of last season.

But they remain the toast of German football for its Veltins beer which is piped five miles into the ground.

Toast of Ruhrland

Schalke have 15 bars/restaurants and 35 food and drink kiosks.

With the beer, and you’ll be drinking the Veltins of course coming in at €3.60 for half a litre.

With a surcharge for your cup which you then return.

Although from the looks of it on the day we visit a lot of the beer ends up on the floor.

With the soles of our shoes sticking to the stone.

With all that beer swirling around you might feel like you’re seeing things.

Like the very pitch being slid into the ground.

Munich boxfest

But that’s exactly what happens.

With Schalke maximising the space by using the ground for multi-entertainment outside match day.

Now we had hoped that our own wee Scotland would be placed here.

But instead we’re going to Munich, Cologne and Stuttgart.

Although there might be a barring order still in place from me from the Eighties.

You’re barred

When I returned lubricated from a Bayern game and tried to split up a fight between the football supporting girlfriends of two German lads.

Never a good idea, the next thing I knew I was in an ambulance to get my nose repositioned.

Before hailing a taxi and relying on the driver to work out the campsite I was staying in.

America, Countries, Sport

The home Rangers are on top of the baseball world

3rd November 2023 funtime65

They’ll be breaking out the Shiner Bock beer down Arlington, Texas way… the home Rangers are on top of the baseball world.

And for the first time too as the Texas Rangers, who play their games in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth conurbation, at last emerged.

From the two-time winning Houston Astros‘ shadow.

To win their first world series with a romp against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

And most importantly keep the World Series in Texas.

The South Rises

Now, those of who see Texas as a football state would be right.

With the storied Dallas Cowboys having lifted the SuperBowl five times… never mind the religion that is college football.

But there has been a geographical switch in American sport in recent years.

With Southern states challenging and bursting down the door of northern dominance in baseball and ice hockey.

The Lone State back-to-back World Series victories come after Atlanta Braves beat the Astros in another all-southern showdown.

Ice one

And heck when the South rises again in ice hockey when there’s never any ice in the sunny states then you know that the world is turning on its axis.

Texas’s own Dallas Stars have been recent Stanley Cup finalists while Tampa Bay Lightning have made three of the last four finals.

And Florida Panthers got to this year’s final only to be beaten by the Vegas Golden Knights, a snub to the north with Sin City being deep in the West.

Which only leaves basketball as the outlier with the San Antonio Spurs who went through their tricks for us this summer in Alamo City..

The Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks carrying the hoop dreams of the state.

The Homer Star State

All of which tour around the world of Texan sport drives home how games are central to the Texan experience.

So that when you get out there take in a game, any game.

Get down to Arlington where the home Rangers are on top of the baseball world.

Watch the rodeo or have a go yourself.

America, Countries, Sport

120 years of the Boston team party

14th October 202314th October 2023 funtime65

Our Beantown pals never knowingly underplay themselves and why should they as this week we celebrate 120 years of the Boston team party.

In the beginning they were known as the Boston Americans which was what they called themselves in 1903 when they won the first World Series .

Against the National League winners Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-3 in a nine-game series.

The pride of the American League (ours, at least) Boston run through the history of the diamond game.

Taking on the Red Sox mantle in 1908 during the stewardship of John I. Taylor on account of their red stockings it has marked them out in the years since.

As has their Fenway Park ground which they moved into in 1912 and which is the oldest in baseball.

While its 37ft Green Wall is storied in baseball since the days when George ‘Babe’ Ruth kept clearing it from 310ft away in home plate in the 19teens.

The Curse of the Bambino

Ruth, of course, looms large in the Boston story with even non-sports fans aware of the ‘Curse of the Bambino’.

When Boston failed to add to their roll of five World Series wins after they had traded the Babe to the New York Yankees in 1920.

The curse was broken in Massachusetts not by magic but by good play.

Now because we love these sporting curses and check out ‘the Curse of Billy Penn’s peak’ we bring you a Bostonian contribution.

When a “reverse curve” road sign over the Storrow Drive was graffitied to read “Reverse The Curse.

Officials left it in place until the Sox won in 2004 World Series.

And it was edited to read ‘Reversed Curse’ in celebration.

Fenway for fans

The best way to immerse yourself in Boston Red Sox culture (other baseball teams are available) is a tour of Fenway Park.

Where, of course, you can see them show off their nine World Series triumphs.

Their most recent in 2018.

This year, alas, the Red Sox will not be making it ten.

As the winners will come from..

The holders, Houston Astros, the Texas Rangers, the Arizona Diamondbacks or the Philadelphia Phillies.

We don’t know of the Sox having brought down any curses on themselves through trading a hero.

Although Roger Clemens who we cheered on at Fenway in our summer in Boston in the Eighties only won his two World Series at those damned Yankees.

He had been at the Toronto Blue Jays but just saying.

Now even though our Red Sox won’t be there this year we’ll expect it to be referenced over this year’s games.

120 years of the Boston Team Party.

And, of course, our friends at Ireland’s national airline carrier Aer Lingus fly to Irish Boston with pre-clearance from €199.69.