To want to slap Claire Balding around the face with wet lettuce??

[JumpingThroughMoreHoops]

C4 is using commentators and spokes-people with disabilities that reflect some of the disabilities incurred by the participants.

In some cases, they are considerably better than the mainstream sports presenters.

Ade Adepitan for example has been a brilliant commentator this evening. Informed, knows his subject inside out, has a good grasp of human biology but he's witty, funny, personable, watchable etc

Unlike Claire Balding who should be taken out and shot for getting overly excited by Sophie Christiansen (equestrian gold), who has a fairly obvious form of cerebral palsy and announcing "she's not just just {obvious gap of words} she's got a masters in mathematics, she's intelligent too".

Ooh we just got another gold. I couldn't watch-it looked terrifying.

Why? Just cos you said so?

Oh you just had to get that little Gem in.....

'... but he's got a proper bug up.'

Clearly he didn't wash his lettuce?

There ain't nothing funny about vegetable . :(

Now, now. Don't get your curly endives in a twist, Worra!

No need to argula Worra and Golden.

That sounds too painful to contemplate, Golden!

Or, erm, arugula.

Maryz see with Bono, a rocket would be just the tip of the Iceberg.

Jumping, the lovely Oscar was complaining that the Brazilian's blades were too long - 4 inches too high at the knee, he said. THe IPC and the Brazilian disagree. It's different from the comtroversy about Oscar at the Olympics, though, as both have blades. He was suggesting that long blades give you a long stride (like Bolt) so make the second half of your race exceptionally fast.

My DSis's claim to fame is that she once carried Oscar's legs when he switched them for his blades.

If she ever has to do an 'interesting fact about herself' that's the one she chooses

We are not aruguling, we are leafing through the ... ummm ... potted history of lettucedom.

Ok I'm all out of lettuce jokes you'll be pleased to know

Oh, and about Claire Balding...I don't mind her, but I was a tad surprised when she turned up at the Paralympics. I don't know why, but I thought she was very firmly contracted to the BBC.

The IPC will have to tell Oscar, mate you lost, it's not the endive the world.

Gets coat.

Clare has always been freelance. She's worked for Channel 4 on Crufts for the last few years.

She's just been appointed lead presenter for Channel 4 racing after the BBC gave up their racing coverage.

Ah right. I've just never noticed her on another channel before.

Lucky her, getting to do both.

I have an allotment full of lettuces. Ok slight exaggeration, but more than the street could eat. DS2 planted the seeds and we have soooooo many. So feel free to come and get them anyone.

You've set yourself up as some sort of arms dealer there

Will nobody think of the poor lettuces? :(

I think Clare's point was partly that sportspeople aren't known for being the sharpest tools in the box, Sophie Christiansen being a clear exception. It was an interesting fact used to pad out spare time between events, like Tom Daley and his exam results, or Victoria Pendleton and her impending retirement, or Philips Idowu's hairdos.

Apparently, Oscar has complained before about Oliveira and someone else adjusting their height. It will be interesting to see how that pans out.
His outburst was most un-Oscar-like, although I noticed that he didn't use any foul language or make any threats, like someone else might have done.
I bet his publicity people are banging their heads against things though.

They're going free. Totally organic and only a few holes in them

Oh I love her. I heard a radio programme she was on with her dog, too. I bloody love her.

And channel four are making such a pigs ear of the paralympic coverage that I was grateful to see she was on it.

Some of their reporting has been abysmal.

I thought this was going to be a sex thing, am disappointed that it's a bunfight about actual lettuce.