Guest Post on Movie News First

pic credit speckham on Flickr

I was chatting the other day with some boys-who-like-sport and sports movies came up. There are so many great films about sportsmen. But women in sports movies? That was a little harder to list. But when Olive over at Movie News First asked me to write a guest-post, I did find some inspiring work for her.

My Top 5 women in sport movies are on her blog here Movie News First

Pop over and have a look, and please share if you have other faves not here! And as always, please leave a comment for her too.

Steph Gilmore Surfing World Champion x 4

Gilmore, pic credit Rip Curl Australia

You know the saying "better late than never"? Well, that's this post. Exciting news ....from two weeks ago, ahem.

Steph Gilmore, who is interviewed on this blog here, won her fourth ASP World Tour this month. Yep, that's fourth. And she's only 22. Feeling inadequate anyone? Level now with record-holder American Lisa Anderson, who knows what the future holds for this young Aussie? Some great footage of Gilmore surfing on her own blog Steph Gilmore.

Do you know anyone else who is successful at a young age in her sport?

Gilmore pic credit Rip Curl Australia

Guest-Post on Shantiwallah

New Zealand Black Ferns Carla Hohepa

Today's post is in New Zealand.

I've been reading Shantiwallah and swapping thoughts on travelling, sport and food since last year. I finally got around to writing a guest-post. for you. Thanks Marie for the invite!

And on the night Munster (my local male provincial rugby team) beat Australia (male national team) 15-9, it's great timing to have a post up linking sport and travelling.

You can read the guest-post here on Shantiwallah  Do please leave some comments on Marie's blog - and have a poke around her travels in New Zealand.

Iranian Women's Rugby Team

Every now and then you see a sports documentary that really opens your eyes to something new. A Kiwi director made a documentary called "Salam Rugby" about the Iranian women's rugby team. I read about this a few months ago on Ricochet but hadn't watched the clips. But with the men's teams taking to the fields this week in Ireland and the UK, it seems like a good time to bring it all up.

The women play wearing a maghneah which covers them and protects them from charges of immodesty at home. The fuss made over their clothing reminded me of the drama in Thailand when women started fighting MuayThai there. Imagine women wearing vest T-shirts in public, imagine taking off your clothes at the weigh-in, imagine kicking a head-kick and displaying your thighs in public. All very shocking at the time.

Irish Surf Kayak Team Photos

You'll remember I posted a while back about surf-kayaking? It's a crazy sport mixing surfing and kayaking with lots of fun. I got some great photos yesterday from the Home Internationals, Portrush at the end of October.
Aisling Griffin and Muireann Lynch are on the women's team.
(ps - yes Ais is my sister)

Photos by Aileen Foy - more here on Picasa

Team Sponsors Munster Dive and Canoe

Zenyatta We Still Love You

It's not often you see horse-racing journalists coming over all feminist but Zenyatta changed all that.

Unbeaten for 19 races, she sadly lost out in a thrilling finish to the Breeder's Cup Classic yesterday. The only mare on the track and probably the only mare to have been profiled in W magazine or on Oprah, she's been taking on the big boys and winning for years.

So close, so so close - nail-bitingly, on the edge of the seat, screaming in the stands and all those other great sports cliches.

But we love her anyway. You can read jockey Mick Smith's description on his blog Mike Smith Blog and watch the race. I defy you not to scream and will her on even when you know the result!

Iron Jawed Maidens

Elections are taking place in the States as I type. It's strange how large they loom over here in Ireland. I'm excited about how many women are running. But scared at the kind of woman so many of them are. End of political broadcast.

And I've been dossing off work watching clips from this film "Iron Jawed Maidens". It tells the story of the first American suffragettes and what they went through to get the vote for women. All women, even Sarah Palin. I read about it over on From Byline to Finishline  - thanks!
Best Movie quote: In women courage is often mistaken for insanity