The Paddock and The Pavilion - The Horse Racing and Cricket Podcast

Our third Birdsville Races podcast of 2023 focuses on jockey John Keating and his pursuit of Birdsville Cup glory.

In the first half, recorded in October 2022, the 51-year-old Bendigo, based jockey chats about his racing experiences at last years' two-day meeting where he finished 2nd again in the Birdsville Cup. The historic race remains on the bucket list for the jockey who began his career in 1988 and has ridden nearly 800 winners.

On a lighter the jockey adds the story of his son Henry’s four-wheel drive vehicle which blew a gearbox close to John’s arrival in Birdsville.

In the second half John I spoke to John ahead of his departure to Betoota for the opening leg of this year's Simpson Desert Racing carnival. 

John compares the three legs of the series, Betoota, Birdsville and Bedourie. In 2022 John came 2nd in all three of the major cup races. John gives his thought about this year’s meeting at Birdsville, especially the cup which he dreams of adding to his mantelpiece at home in Bendigo.

Transport wise this year John is driving his younger son Daniel’s vehicle. The good news is that John has made it to Birdsville without any issues.

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As Birdsville Races Vice President Gary Brook said in Episode 218 “it’s probably the biggest car rally in the world”.

One of those on his way to Birdsville 2023 is 93-year-old Bob Potts, known as Pottsy, who is travelling 900 miles to see the Birdsville Cup with his son Reggie and daughter Lyn. Last year Pottsy reached Betoota races but became unwell on race day and had to be airlifted out by the Royal Flying Doctors. After a few days in hospital Pottsy was back home feeling much better, plus he was soon making plans to go to Birdsville races in 2023.

In this podcast, part 2 of our Birdsville Races 2023 series Reggie and Pottsy talk about their plans for the epic journey to the Queensland outback, Pottsy in his turbo charged mobility scooter.

The Potts team, who are part of the Birdsville Roadies have now made it to Birdsville ahead of Friday’s races, where Pottsy hopes to back the winner.

In many people eyes he is already a winner.

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In the first of four podcasts celebrating Birdsville Races 2023 I was joined by Birdsville Races Vice President Gary Brook, who previously featured in Ep 148 – The Birdsville Cup – The Melbourne Cup of the outback.

The podcast in two halves begins with an interview in late October 2022 after last year’s meeting, which was severely affected by torrential rain. Gary explains how he and his team managed the monumental task of keeping the two-day meeting on. Although the original opening day was postponed and moved forward to the next day all the races were complete before the sun set on Sunday at the iconic venue.

2nd Half

A few grey hairs later Gary recently joined me ahead of Birdsville 2023 to update us on this year’s two-day meeting which is due to start on Friday 1 September with the Birdsville Cup set for Saturday 2 September.

With many road closures in 2022 due to the weather Gary is hoping for a larger crowd this year and bigger field sizes.  Plus, Gary explained to me what the Birdsville Races Roadies means.

In part 2 coming up in our next podcast you will be hearing from some of those Roadies, 93-year-old Bob Potts, known as Pottsy, and his son and daughter Reggie and Lyn, who are currently on their 900-mile journey to the races.

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Former Test player and regular guest on The Paddock and The Pavilion Roland Butcher joins the show to review the best Men’s Ashes series since 2005. A series he successfully predicted in Episode 201, can the Aussies match the Bazball Test would be 2-2.

A series in two halves Roland gives his forthright opinions on the red ball action. He considers the mistakes and in his view the arrogance that Egland displayed in the matches at Edgbaston and Lord’s before the recall of Mark Wood, a defining factor in the five-match series, saw the home side fight back strongly at Headingley, Old Trafford and the Oval.

A current West Indian selector Roland discusses the Caribbean side’s multi format series against India along with the forthcoming ICC World Cup which begins on 5 October. Find out who he thinks will win the 50 over World Cup? Remember he is in form.

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In the 2nd part of our Silver Ashes series, I spoke to a delighted England over 70s Captain John Evans following the team’s victory by 91 runs in the 2nd ODI on Sunday at Wellington cricket club. The victory meant that England retained the Ashes.

John, who was in the runs again, talked through the action in Shropshire which did have it ups and downs before England secured a comfortable win. Joining us on the podcast is the Australian wicket keeper Murray Harrison who added a match perspective from the visiting camp. A former Australian over 60s international Murray also gave us an insight into touring England and Wales.

England 236/8 (50) Australia 149 all out (42.3).

The 3rd part of the series will follow next week after the final ODI on Sunday 20 August at Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club.

Interviews for this episode were recorded on 17 August.

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Our latest Ashes podcast will take you all around the world with this summers’ Women’s Ashes. From Argentina, Brazil, England, Scotland, Japan, and the USA you will hear from four International cricketers, a Fairbreak manager and a young sporting vlogger.

Mariana Martinez (Argentina), Roberta Moretti Avery (Brazil), Rosa Simkin (England), Shizuka Miyaji (Japan), Sue Strachan (Scotland) & Sins Sriharsha (USA) give their thoughts on the multi format series, the players who inspired them, their player of the series and much more….

Via laptops, mobile phones, the living room on television or live at the ground our guests followed the best series in the history of women’s’ cricket.

Catch their passion and love of the game.

Enjoy Ashes all around the world.

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We have had the Men’s and Women’s Ashes and the Men’s over 60s Ashes but now it’s the time for the Men’s over 70s Ashes, known as the Silver Ashes. 

England holders of the Ashes after winning down under during the winter began a three match ODI series at Castle Park, Colchester last Sunday. Joining me at short notice for the first of three podcasts covering the three internationals is the England captain and Sunday’s match winner John Evans. You will also hear from Nick Andrews (Cambs & Hunts CCC) our guest in Ep 188 when we covered the tour down under, who made a useful contribution with the bat.

John set the scene for the series and discussed the match action which saw England win by 54 runs.

England 256/7 (50) Australia 202/5 (50).

The next match is due on Sunday 13 August at Wellington Cricket Club in Shropshire.

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England captain Heather Knight described the Women’s Ashes as the best women’s series in the history of women’s cricket. And in the first of our three podcasts on the Ashes 2023 I was joined by former England Test centurion Kathryn Leng and German international all-rounder Tina Gough to review all the action during this exciting multi format women’s’ Ashes.

Kathryn and Tina, well known to listeners of ‘The Paddock and The Pavilion’ look back at the action which began with a 5-day Test match at Trent Bridge, where England opening batsman Tammy Beaumont broke an 89-year record with a brilliant 208 and ended with the World’s best woman batter Nat Sciver Brunt scoring 129 to secure England victory at Taunton.

Final points score of 8-8 led to the Aussies retaining the Ashes. Was that fair? Did our two pundits agree with the points system? Should there be more Test matches? What were the reasons for the England fightback after being 6-0 down? Who was their player of the series?

Find out their views on these topics and much more along with questions from some of our listeners.

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In our latest interview with the famous Australian jockey Ron Hutchinson, the 95-year-old takes questions from several members of the racing industry.

From Singapore, Melbourne, Ally Pally, Ascot, and Newmarket Ron went around the World chatting about his life and times in the sport of Kings. Stories of the Derby, Royal Ascot and the Melbourne Cup are all included in my chat with this racing legend.

This interview took place on 27 June 2023.

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All-rounder Naomi Dattani is all set for the 3rd edition of ‘The Hundred’ which begins on 1 August with the Trent Rockets playing against the Southern Brave at Trent Bridge.

Naomi moved to the Tent Bridge franchise in the hundred draft from the London Spirit a few months ago. In this podcast Naomi talks about her move to the midlands side and how much she is looking forward to the tournament which has helped transform the women’s game in Great Britain.

Naomi now 29 is used to moving during her career, both domestically, this year she moved from the Sunrisers to the Thunder, and internationally, where she has played two winters of club cricket in Australia. Naomi discusses how the moves have helped develop her cricket career both on and off the field. Her career began when she joined a boy’s side at ten years of age. By 14 she was playing for the Middlesex women 1st XI.  In 2020 Naomi was awarded a professional contract

Naomi reveals the challenges she has encountered as a British South Asian during her cricketing career which she believes is now opening to more South Asians.

In the short-term Naomi can’t to wait to change colours from blue to yellow and join the Rockets in this year’s Hundred.

Special guest Rosa Simkin of Rosa Talks Ball drops in to give her winner's prediction.

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