Clare Balding - Live webchat on Monday 9 July, 1.30 - 2.30

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted that Clare Balding is joining us for a live webchat next Monday 9 July at 1.30pm. Clare has been a presenter, writer and broadcaster for more than 15 years. Since becoming the face of the BBC's racing coverage in 1998 she's become known as one of Britain's leading sports presenters, and has gone on to work on four Olympic Games, three Paralympics and three Winter Olympics. From horse racing to rugby league, swimming to golf or to tennis, she is renowned for being able to turn her hand to any sport.

Since 2010 Clare has hosted Crufts for the BBC, and on More4, and has become established as one of the UK's leading presenters of live major events, such as the Lord Mayor's Show and Trooping the Colour. Clare will be presenting on the London 2012 Olympics for the BBC and hosting the Paralympics for Channel 4.

This September, Clare will release My Animals and Other Family, a funny and tender memoir of her early years, the pets and animals around her and the life lessons they taught her.

Put the date in your diary to join Clare next Monday, 9 July at 1.30 pm or post your question in advance on this thread.

[recall]

Yes I have listened to it, > and I am taken there, you are able to describe a view, I liked the one when you walked with the girls from inner city, you managed to get them really chatting, felt like I was there (wish i was !!)

[ClareBalding]

@MrsKwazii

Hello Clare, just want to add my voice to the chorus of what an impressive broadcaster you are. I think that you and Sue Barker are simply excellent, talk sense and are fantastic female role-models in a very male-dominated profession.

How do you think that we as parents can encourage girls to take up sport? I am not particularly sporty myself but would like to encourage my daughter to give things a go and find something she enjoys. The emphasis on male teams is so pervasive in society - the disregard for women's football and cricket when we have excellent teams is very disheartening for instance. Do you think that broadcasters have a role to play in this?

Yes, I do. And I hope to play a very major role in promoting women's sport in the years to come. More to come on this subject after the Olympics & Paralympics

[sanguinechompa]

Forgot to add:

maybe good idea to reduce Grand National field too


Also:

would be great if there were more places/opportunities for older (more wobbly) ladies to participate or take up a sport and not feel out of place ...

[ClareBalding]

@all4u

Clare you should have been given a main presenter role for the Jubilee River Pageant not stuck on one boat! When the viral pandemic hits us (as all experts agree it will sooner or later and probably sooner) I think you should be the intelligent trustworthy anchorperson for the vital PR information/advice role (hopeless task though it will be given the lack of public preparedness the civil service has decided on!) :(

You're very kind.... I'll take the 'voice of the viral pandemic' as a compliment!

[recall]

i am frightened about the viral pandemic

[ClareBalding]

@threeolivemartini

I love Clare (and I'm not really a sports fan). Sadly I will be at work when she is on MN.

Clare, I love Ramblings (particularly ones with dogs, even though I no longer have mine ) I like feeling like I'm having a bracing walk even when I'm lying in bed early in the morning or doing something mundane around the house.
What has been your favourite walk on that programme?

I love, love, love doing Ramblings and I'm so pleased that it now has an extensive library of programmes via iPlayer so that people who don't hear it live can 'go for a walk' any time they like. I have discovered walking in Northumberland because of it and I'd say a coastal walk up there is very high on my list of favourites.

[fieldyfield]

Hi Clare,

Love your Twitter feed, regularly makes me chuckle!

What do you think the legacy from London Olympics will be, and who are your personal heroes, sporting or otherwise?

[stealthsquiggle]

LOL at googling the biscuits



Do you think women's sport would be better served by children playing mixed sport for longer at school, rather than often playing the same sports, but separately? My DC's school is probably stronger in girls' cricket than in boys', but to my mind it would be better for all if they competed with each other to be in the first XI (which would of course require schools leagues to be set up for mixed teams...).

[rachel5073]

Hi Clare

I completely agree with everone who's said how wonderful you are and with all the reasons.

I'm afraid I have two questions both related to education:

1. Somewhere in the mists of my pre-baby memory is a story about you being allowed to stay at Newnham despite getting up every morning to go to Newmarket and it having something to do with the racing pages...what actually happened.
   

1. I'm a secondary school teacher and feel adolescent girls often don't think they're good enough. How do you think links be made with amazing female role models (like yourself) be made to change this?

[ClareBalding]

@iceandsliceplease

I bloody love Claire! She's so professional, but at the same time so warm and human that she's my imaginary best friend... that is, I imagine that if we ever met, we would so be best friends, not that I lay an extra place for her at dinner, or ask an empty space next to me 'What do you think, Claire?', whilst everyone near me edges away nervously.

Ermmmm, tries to think of a question...

Right!

Did you make any progress on getting Kim Clijsters to be your new best friend as you said you would during Wimbledon last year/maybe the year before? If not, I may have a vacancy...

I know you're great on the tellybox, but I really love you more on Radio 5, especially when you giggle - which do you prefer to do, and why?

You are so enthusiastic about the sports you cover, which are so wide-ranging. Are you enthusiastic about a sport first and then learn to cover it, or do you get enthusiastic once you have been following it/working on it?

AA Gill... Gosh he's a ** *** * (would like to expand on that, but don't want this deleted, and would like you to reply!). I was so impressed with how you handled that situation. Were you satisfied with the end result of that nastiness, or would you like to see that more is done to combat lazy homophobia in the media (without necessarily spearheading a campaign yourself!). For what it's worth, I think a lot of people gained new respect for you and new disdain for him.

I didn't make much progress on forcing Kim to be my best friend, mainly because she got beaten and went home.
I would have liked to have had an apology from the Sunday Times but hey ho...

[ClareBalding]

@rachel5073

Hi Clare

I completely agree with everone who's said how wonderful you are and with all the reasons.

I'm afraid I have two questions both related to education:

1. Somewhere in the mists of my pre-baby memory is a story about you being allowed to stay at Newnham despite getting up every morning to go to Newmarket and it having something to do with the racing pages...what actually happened.
   

1. I'm a secondary school teacher and feel adolescent girls often don't think they're good enough. How do you think links be made with amazing female role models (like yourself) be made to change this?
   

Thank you. Great questions as well.

1. Yes, I did get up every morning of my first two terms at Newnham to ride out in Newmarket and consequently struggled to stay awake in lectures. I won't say more but you will read more in My Animals and Other Family....
   
2. yes, I think girls and women are judged and judge themselves too strongly on their body shape and size. That's why I think the Olympics and Paralympics are so important for women to see that it's not what their body looks like but what it can do that is important.

[ClareBalding]

@stealthsquiggle

LOL at googling the biscuits



Do you think women's sport would be better served by children playing mixed sport for longer at school, rather than often playing the same sports, but separately? My DC's school is probably stronger in girls' cricket than in boys', but to my mind it would be better for all if they competed with each other to be in the first XI (which would of course require schools leagues to be set up for mixed teams...).

looks around furtively I don't think anyone is rushing out to get a box of Ciggarrillos..... Disappointed...
Yes, I think mixed sport to a later age is a very good idea. Football is the sport that could benefit most, in my opinion, as it has the biggest participation level and it would seem to me that girls and boys would both enjoy it

[rachel5073]

Thank you, Clare. I'm going to be making heavy hints to all loved ones that I need to receive My Animals and Other Family... as a gift as soon as it's out.

[JustineMumsnet]

@ClareBalding

[quote stealthsquiggle]
LOL at googling the biscuits



Do you think women's sport would be better served by children playing mixed sport for longer at school, rather than often playing the same sports, but separately? My DC's school is probably stronger in girls' cricket than in boys', but to my mind it would be better for all if they competed with each other to be in the first XI (which would of course require schools leagues to be set up for mixed teams...).

looks around furtively I don't think anyone is rushing out to get a box of Ciggarrillos..... Disappointed...
Yes, I think mixed sport to a later age is a very good idea. Football is the sport that could benefit most, in my opinion, as it has the biggest participation level and it would seem to me that girls and boys would both enjoy it
[/quote]

Despatches minions to Brindisa in Borough Market in search of Cigarillos pronto.

[ClareBalding]

@fieldyfield

Hi Clare,

Love your Twitter feed, regularly makes me chuckle!

What do you think the legacy from London Olympics will be, and who are your personal heroes, sporting or otherwise?

Thank you...
Of course the Olympic Park and the sports facilities therein will be a lasting legacy BUT I think there will be a huge legacy of attitude, which will reach right around the country. I hope this will lead to pressure from parents and from teachers to increase the sporting opportunities for kids in schools, knowing that it will improve their capacity to learn as well as helping them live a healthier lifestyle. I also think the Paralympics will have a huge impact and I know from working on three previous Paralympic Games that they will touch the public in a very profound way.

[ClareBalding]

@rachel5073

@DuelingFanjo

Hi there

I would just like to apologise for once writing a snotty letter complaining about you covering the darts championships. On reflection I was a bit mean and have often worried that I may have upset you. Hope not and sorry.

How very sweet of you to apologise. Thank you. I am always a little stung by criticism, especially if I think I don't deserve it (sometimes I do) but I've learned to get over it and move on to the next challenge...

[ClareBalding]

@rachel5073

Thank you, Clare. I'm going to be making heavy hints to all loved ones that I need to receive My Animals and Other Family... as a gift as soon as it's out.

GOOD FOR YOU! I'm hoping it'll be on a few Christmas lists....

[ClareBalding]

@countingto10

Hi Clare

do you have any unfulfilled ambitions or "bucket list" things to do?

Ps massive Clare fans in this house too! going to really missed your insights/behind the scenes stuff on racing!

Top of the bucket list is to present at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games so barring accidents, that should happen very soon.
I would love to have a major impact on the coverage and popularity of women's sport so that's the next big mission.
I'd also like to work on more factual programmes and write another book...
That should all keep me pretty busy for a while!

[Birnamwood]

Claire, I luffs you

It's been mentioned before, but you have extensive knowledge of a lot of sports, are you just a massive sports fan or do you have to do a bit of cramming before events?

[ClareBalding]

Thank you so much for all the brilliant questions. I don't know why I was nervous. You are all lovely. I really hope you enjoy My Animals and Other Family. It's out in September but available to pre-order now.

Meanwhile, I'll get on with doing what I do and hope you tune in for the rugby league, the Open Golf, the King George, the Olympics and the Paralympics. If I get through all of that lot without making a big gaffe, I'll be doing alright!

Many thanks to Mumsnet for having me.

Clare
x

[JustineMumsnet]

Thanks so much Clare for coming in and being so entertaining and so quick (Fastest typer we've had, bar none, I'd say. Even quicker than Boris.)

[Birnamwood]

Nooooo, I was too late :(

[MmeLindor.]

Great webchat, MNHQ. Thanks, Clare. I look forward to reading more about your work promoting sport for girls.

[GetOrfMoiiLand]

What a great webchat, isn't she fantastic.

[FellatioNelson]

What a lovely woman.