Two Eltons in the Tent are Worth One in the Bush

Thursday 16th June saw Elton John visit the Isle of Man for the first time with a tremendous gig up in Nobles Park in the tent originally earmarked for the Bay Festival

Sometimes when older superstars play, there are so many backing artists and gizmos that you actually wonder whether the original performer is still in there but this was just Elton and his piano. No place to hide but he certainly didn't need anywhere because in 2 hours and 45 minutes he took us through his 41 years in the spotlight with breaks only to take applause and the occasional sip of water.



Although I am no expert on art of piano, it seemed to me to be a consumate performance, using his full repertoire and the vocals remain strong if deeper than in years gone by.

As with most of the crowd, I couldn't quite believe who had come to sing for us and we certainly let Elton know that we appreciated his presence.

I had it on good authority from a police source that there was to be no encore but having taken his bow and spent time signing many autographs, he returned to the grand for one last tune.

The other 7,999 fans will join me I'm sure in apologising for the delay to the Airport staff who had kept open Ronaldsway especially so that he could leave that night and also the dude who will have to rebuild the park wall which my chum Murray Lambden assures me was knocked down to allow Sir Elton swift egress rather than to allow access for pitching the marquee.



It was a truly magical evening but certainly, one is left wondering whether we will see the like again after the spectacular implosion of the Bay Festival.

Can it be worth importing such facilities as the tent, the bars and all the event staff for one night only and were they able to make it still pay or were the promoters, Marshall Arts, just limiting the damages to their pockets and reputations?

Personally, Irene and I were among many who having failed to procure tickets on the morning they went on sale, went for the hospitality option. As the day of the concert loomed and we still weren't in possession of our tickets, we began to doubt that we would be going at all, especially when we learned that they had been sold to Jonathon Irving's outfit.

It was somewhat disappointing that the package that we had bought for a staggering £234 each including having paid V.A.T. twice on the £100 seats had been slashed to just being two glasses of bubbly and a cheap buffet.

That having been said, there was a really good harpist and vocalist playing beforehand in the sunshine, some entertainment afterwards and not such a long queue for the loo.

All considered, if we had travelled anywhere in the UK to watch such a brilliant performance, we'd have had flights, hotels and meals to buy as well as the tickets and we had superb vantage point, so Reg Dwight really did save the day.

I really can't imagine where my friends get the idea that I'm a bit of a hog of the limelight but of course, as soon as we left the arena, we were accosted by a lady from 3FM interviewing concertgoers and the aforementioned Mr Lambden was on hand to record the occasion and has since published it on his blog at www.manxathletics.com

Top Rider Performs at The Welbeck but No Parade Lap

2011 has I think been a generally very enjoyable festival, though liberally sprinkled with tragedy, challenging weather, occasional controversy but let's face it, it wouldn't TT without all the above.

As usual, staying at the Hotel, we had a vast array of differing characters and the very diversity of the race fan is one of the most interesting features.

This year, brought over on a wave of their strong currency and because of increased coverage due to the excellent North One television programmes and the sheer magnetism of stars such as Guy Martin, there has been a plethora of Aussies on the Island, including four times TT winner, Barry Smith.

Barry won the ultra lightweight 50cc race in 1968 and was world champion in the Formula 3 TT Class in 1979 anmd 1981. He also won three Grand Prix races and was 3rd in the 50cc world championships in 1968 & 1969.



Luckily for us, this year he has brought his wife and friends along with him this time round and although he was disappointed not to be given a ride in the parade lap, he still appears to have enjoyed himself.

A Winning Debut for Jerome

Ref Earlier blog, Jerome Caprice from Mauritius duly won the Isle of Man 10,000m Track Walk Championship on Wednesday.

He led from the gun and was well clear of the field, winning by over 3 minutes in 46:42, quick enough to qualify for the Indian Ocean Games in Seychelles.

Jerome's next race will be the Dublin Grand Prix 26th June and it would be great to see him back on the Island at some stage in the future.




Readers with a delicate disposition are not recommended look at the picture below. Thanks to Kerry Mackey for the pictures above and no thanks for the one that follows as your bloggers TT lifestyle catches up with him:-(

Magnificent Imelda More Appropriate for May, September or Anytime but TT

Tuesday 7th at Villa Marina saw Imelda May visit the Island for the first time, supported by the excellent Stone Chase.

I don't know much about the technical aspect of playing double bass but the I would have paid the entrance fee just to see the performance by Stone Chase's Johnny G and their set was most enjoyable.
They play a great mix of music and my thoughts that I recognised the singer were correct, as when I googled the band, it turned out that Matt James, is a regular on the Gaiety stage.

Imelda May's high energy style, illuminated by her booming vocals was superb, though despite her enthusiasm also showed a deft touch with her slower numbers and her professionalism.

She began by relating how she owed her existence to the Isle of Man and indeed the Royal Hall in which we were standing. Apparently, during a holiday to the Island, her father went to ask a girl to dance but was rejected. Rather than risk running the gauntlet of his friends taking the mickey out of him, instead walking back across the dance floor, he asked the next young lady and fifty three years later, they are still together.

Personally, I was surprised how many hits I recognised and also that most songs were either composed by herself or guitarist Darryl and in contrast to her mostly upbeat numbers the song, Kentish Town was hauntingly beautiful.

She displayed great generosity, especially as they'd gone down so well even taking an encore, by also asking us to applaud Stone Chase and to make sure we supported our local bands.

Imelda dedicated the concert to Derek Brien, the rider tragically killed on Monday, whose family she had met on her journey to the Island and the far from packed crowd certainly received their money's worth.

That said, one must wonder who on earth books the bands for the TT Festival? It may be that the motorcycling fraternity are notoriously difficult to please because the are linked not by music but by two wheels, however surely the person in charge should at least do a little research to what will work and what probably won't.

As I stated earlier, I have a little sympathy but my own conversations with visitors and locals alike revealed that despite being able to fill stadia in Ireland, her appearances on Jules Holland and quite good radio airplay, not that many people had actually even heard of her. So when that is combined with the fact that during the races there are hundreds of alternatives, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude that this was never going to be a great financial success.

It can't really be that hard if local band, DC/AC can fill the place doing a tribute act.

Likewise, Pigeon Detectives. I really hope I'm wrong but I have no idea what this band play and I haven't talked to too many that even know any of their tunes, so I don't really expect tonight to be fully subscribed either.

I just hope it hasn't put Imelda May or her prospective promoters off because she was really sensational and I'd watch her again tomorrow!

Antigua in the Morning, Bushy's Tent in the Afternoon

Irene booked us on to a tall ship on Sunday morning and despite having to rush to escape breakfast at work, it was an enjoyable, leisurely drive along the Old Castletown Road to Port St. Mary and you'd hardly have known that the TT was here.


There was a decent breeze and I had visions of us flying across the water like a modern day Cutty Sark but they only actually used the fore sail and the top sail, so it was more of a relaxing cruise instead of what I'd envisaged yet none the worse for it.


The crew was a mixture of dutch and germans, the ship itself, The Antigua, being a converted whaler from the Netherlands and they encouraged the passengers to assist with ropes. Of course, I had a go but being a 10 stone racewalker wasn't exactly ideal and while the burly biker with the belly from Whitby was able to pull the sails aloft, I nearly ended up there with them.



The Manx weather was at its best and the sail along the coast down past The Chasms, Spanish Head, the Stack, through the passage between Chicken Rock Lighthouse and the Calf and then the return steam through the Sound showed the Island at its finest.


On our return, we collected the new grandson from Bushy's Tent, resisting the 'Take one, get another free' offer and went for a walk around the Quay and along the Promenade.

A brilliant day, though sadly followed by Monday which was beset by computer and plumbing problems, not to mention the sad death of another competitor and a visiting biker that really undid the 'feelgood' factor created by our 'Less than Mad Sunday.' But that's another 'blog' for another day;-)

Isle of Deals - Leaping into the Unknown with Zoe Gillings

What reward do imagine was bestowed by UK sports on Zoe Gillings, the Manx girl who is now the most successful snow sports athlete of all time from the British Isles?

You would probably think that making the Olympic final in Vancouver, 2010 in the snowboard cross but having to retire through injury would have granted her the right to compete at the highest level (pun not intended but there all the same) until at least the 2014 event.

Well, looking at some of the 'also rans' who might not even progress the heats in London 2012, you would think that but incredibly, they withdrew her lottery funding.


Did Zoe throw the toys out of the pram and tell them where to stick their money? Well possibly, I don't know her well enough to have asked but she has responded by setting up her own company with a view to supporting herself.

In this economic climate, there's no such thing as easy money and it's a brave decision to go into business but the concept is that companies give really good offers for their goods or services and 'Isle of Deals' markets them, through their database. This reaches a sector which hopefully hasn't used them before or for a while and of course it's a loyalty 'sweetener' for any regular clientele that pick up on the price cut.

As athletes, albeit far lesser ones, my wife and I were keen to assist, though I was slightly sceptical as to how successful it would be. However, with no initial outlay, what could we lose? The 60 two course weekday lunches that we offered at 49% of their normal price sold out within a day!

So help Zoe to Russia in 2014 by clicking www.IsleofDeals.com or contact her manager, d.brier@isleofdeals.com become one of the businesses that Zoe's hoping to promote. Alternatively, if you have any spare cash that you would like to invest in such a fine role model who through this adversity seems to have shown not a scrap of self pity, you can buy into various different sponsorship packages, contact dan@zoegillings.com

Welbeck Hotel & Restaurant TT 10,000m

Sorry I've left it so long since my last blog but we've had an extremely busy May, both professionally and personally. At least now, we can relax and enjoy the TT;-)

Welcome to all our TT visitors, both regular and new. Lets hope for great weather and close, safe racing.

Manx Harriers will be offering both walkers and runners the rare opportunity of recording a track 10,000m time.
The events will be held on Wednesday June 8th at the N.S.C. track and are sponsored by the Welbeck Hotel & Restaurant.
The walk will start at 6.15pm - signing on trackside at 6.pm and there will also be supplementary walks at shorter distances for other competitors held in conjunction with the 10,000m.
Jerome Caprice (pictured) from Mauritius will be toeing the line on his first visit to the Island. National Champion at 30k, 35k and 50k, he needs to replicate his performance in Holland earlier this year of 46:02 on the track to qualify for the Indian Ocean Games in Seychelles in August. Studying in Ireland, he is coached by regular Island visitor, Michael Lane and his ultimate goal is to compete in the 2012 London Olympics at 50k for which he will need to build on his excellent current form to achieve 4 hours 15 minutes.