Clare Balding webchat - Wednesday 8 January, 12 midday - 1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Our first webchat guest for 2014 is Clare Balding. Clare last joined us back in July 2012 on publication of her autobiography My Animals and other Family. Shortly after that, she lead us through the incredible journey that was the London Olympic and Paralympic Games - and emerged from the experience with the words 'national' and 'treasure' surgically attached to her name.

This year, Clare will be talking about the BT Action Woman of the Year Awards: a public vote to find the finest sportswoman of 2013. There's a fabulous line-up of 10 contenders - including Ellie Simmonds, Christine Ohuruogu, downhill biker Rachel Atherton and freestyle skier Katie Summerhayes - and the winner will be announced on the Clare Balding Show on Saturday 25th January. Please do cast your vote before 19th January.

Clare is passionate about boosting the profile of women's sports which currently only get 5% of the coverage and 0.5% of the sponsorship money received by men's sports. Her show every week commits to showing at least one female guest, and her view is that the more the public get to know our sportswomen, the more they will care about them.

Come and chat to Clare on Wednesday between midday and 1pm, or post a question to her in advance on this thread.

Hi Clare, I took my little girl & her friend, who loves football, to a craft afternoon recently. The stickers were in gender segregated pots and when my daughter's friend reached for the ones that said 'I love football' the worker told her, 'oh no, you don't want those!' 'Yes she does,' I said, but I see these messages for little girls everywhere.

I'm a big supporter of the Let Toys Be Toys campaign - Do you think that the toy industry, with it's pinkification and prettification of toys aimed at girls, can be held responsible for some of the attitudes girls grow up with - that it's more important to look good than to get sweaty, muscly and sporty?

hi clare no questions would just like to say been a balding fan for a few yrs now and look forward to your crufts coverage, oh actually one question when will we see you oop nof?

Hello Clare, My question is whether you're happy at the way you are portrayed in the media by others, and whether you think that portrayal has changed? Social media has allowed you to put your views across and your take on life without anyone else being involved in the edit, as has writing newspaper columns, magazine articles and presenting. I just wondered whether you felt that other people presented you in a way that you were happy with.

I think you're fab, by the way. I like listening to you and I am a great admirer of your relaxed but very confident style, which is based on your obvious knowledge of what you are talking about!

@legoplayingmumsunite

Read your interview in Good Housekeeping and thought your idea of having school an hour longer each day so that kids could do sport every day was fab. Can you expand a bit on that please?

I know there are many people out there who can add their own views on how much a longer school day would change their lives so feel free to engage on the subject but it seems to me that our school days are too short for pupils and for the child-caring parent to hold down even a part-time job. An extra hour, or even two, could change the whole picture. I would love that extra time to be spent on active exercise, art, music or drama - according to the child's interests and talent. I would love them to look forward to the end of the day as being full of the things that make their hearts sing. I had a conversation recently with the Minister for Children and Families and talked about this very thing. I also suggested a closer link between schools and the many, many gyms around the countries and using the sports that are Lottery Funded to engage more with school pupils as part of a pay-back (or pay it forward) relationship

Claire,

Which female team sport in 2014 is likely to get the most media attention?

Do you think that the blue chip companies are paying enough attention to reaching girls in sports? I imagine it comes down to ROI - but do you think they are missing a trick?

@chimchar

Hi Clare.

Wanted to say how great it is for those us with girls to have you as a role model....

I follow you on twitter and have enjoyed hearing about your trip to Iceland. It looked amazing!

My question...where is the most magical place you have been? I'm looking for inspiration for my 40th birthday this year.

We had the most amazing time in Iceland and I would say it was magical in every sense. I would highly recommend it. We also loved Costa Rica, where you can combine an active adventure type holiday with a few days chilling out on the beach.

@Effjay

Hi there! Literally finished the last page of your book yesterday and did not want it to end! My question is simple - which sport do you enjoy commentating on the most?

I love equestrian sports, obviously, particularly eventing as that's what I wanted to do when I was young. Away from horses, tennis and golf are my favourites but I do like winter sports as well because they are so different and intriguing.

Is it difficult to get female sports persons to come on your show, I know you try and have at least one a week, or are they more reluctant? Male sports people still seem to take up the majority of your sofa.

Its the same with Question of Sport, they have become much better at showcasing at least one woman, but again they are always in the minority.

There are plenty of talented female athletes out there as you well know, just wondering if they are more reluctant to be in the limelight.

Your show on BT sport is brilliant by the way.

@Blondieminx

Hi Claire, thanks for coming to MN! I haven't got anything to ask but I just wanted to say you're a fabulous broadcaster and I really enjoy listening/watching what you do. I am not sporty but you make sports stuff seem more interesting (to me) than other presenters

Thank you. I am genuinely enthusiastic about sport and I'm thrilled that comes across!

@LottieJenkins

Hi Clare. I read your book and enjoyed it very much. I loved the stories of the racing stables and the horses. I was lucky enough to grow up living on the farm next door to Geoff Hubbard and Ferdie Murphy's racing yard and was invited to all their Open Days. I was going Point to Point Racing with my family while I was still in my pushchair! My question is other than your father's horses who is/was your favourite racehorse?

Frankel on the flat because of his absolute brilliance and I still have a real soft spot for Desert Orchid over jumps. He was so extravagant and being grey, he stood out from the rest.

Claire, Sponsorship question.

Which female team sport in 2014 is likely to get the most media attention?

Do you think that the blue chip companies are paying enough attention to reaching girls in sports? I imagine it comes down to ROI - but do you think they are missing a trick not sponsoring?

@livelablove

Loved your book too Clare. We've just been having a chat about dogs, how lovely most are especially with families and kids, but how they are getting a bad reputation because some ignorant owners do not care for and train them properly. What does Clare think should be done about this?

I know we could have a whole new thread on this subject! Mumsnet have told me they are planning on inviting a dog trainer to come and have a chat so I will leave it to the experts!

Do you think National Hunt lady jockeys can ever be considered equal to men? Whilst a lot of horses go better for a lady and ladies can be equal in skill, balance and race awareness, how important is physical strength and fitness where men, physiologically, will always be superior?

Hi Clare. My question is about horse racing...are you allowed to bet on the horses? And if so, what's the best bet you've ever made :-)

My dad is a big horse racing fan - my childhood was spent at race courses across the country (I still enjoy going now, despite this!) He'd always be looking for tips, giveaways etc from the people on the Morning Line etc, whereas I'd place my bets on the basis of a mixture of form, jockey, odds and the name of the horse. And it'd be me who'd end up with more winners!

@nobutreally

First off, another one wanting to say a huge thank you to you - dh & I both adore the way you talk about sport - your coverage of Olympics/Paralympics was an absolute highlight of the events for us (along with The Last Leg!). We happened to see you (marching between events) on the Olympic park when we were there for the wheelchair basketball and I had to be physically restrained from falling at your feet. My husband reckoned you wouldn't like it

I listened to you on desert island disks recently, and was struck by your comment that the enthusiasm around the Olympics/paralympics really chimed with your presenting style. Thinking about women's sport, what do you think would help engage that sense of dynamism and hopefulness, now the Olympic spirit seems to be dying away?

That's a very good point about enthusiasm and positivity and yes, I do think women's sport has that in bucket loads. I should say that as well as BT Sport, the BBC has continued to cover women's sport extensively - particularly with the new Saturday programme Inspire. Well worth catching up on iPlayer if you've missed it. Also, 5 Live has made much more effort to cover women's sport in its regular bulletins and I'm sure the newspapers will catch up.... eventually. Luckily, the internet is now the way most people access their news and both the BBC website and the BT Sport website are working hard to give full and in depth coverage to women's sport.... It will get better!

Sorry I missed you Clare . Admired your style on "force feeding" monstrosity (TV)

Thanks Clare - I like the phrase "whatever makes your heart sing". Many thanks and keep up the good work.

Hi Clare! I'm a huge fan too and cheered you on as you've made great stands on behalf of women's rights (my favourite being commenting on male golf clubs!)

I was surprised you went to Paris to interview Mike Tyson though. I know he's served his time but he still maintains the allegations of rape were false. I feel uncomfortable about him being a sporting role model and being given PR as a result. How was meeting him?

@choccyp1g

I loved your autobiography, and enjoyed your desert island disks recently.

My question is what sports do you take part in now? and what life long sport/exercise would you recommend as a good one to start as a teenager? Would it be the same for boys or girls?

I play golf and I walk (I know that's not a sport but it's my favourite daily activity). I ride occasionally and on Monday I was riding an Icelandic horse through the ice. It was pretty chilly but lovely. I would recommend finding a club near you that has good instructors and that may lead a teenager to a sport you wouldn't have necessarily considered, like Taekwondo or Table Tennis.

Hi claire. Did you ever consider going in to racehorse training? Are there any flat female trainers ?
(Another big fan of yours btw)

@RatherBeOnThePiste

This is not a my question, but from my DC, I nearly forgot to ask...

Were you on a BA flight out of New York JFK due to leave last Thursday that was delayed by snow?

Only we were and my son was sure you were too, but I didn't see to know.

My Mum was in New York - it might have been her!

@tinygorilla

Hi Clare - thanks so much for coming in!

In a slight Desert Island Discs rip off - if you could only take one animal to a desert island, what would you take? (for companionship - not eating)

Definitely a dog

"Whatever makes their heart sing" properly choked me up. That's exactly what I want for my children. Thanks for the inspiration.

Also love "Whatever makes their heart sing" - such positive enthusiasm for life is all I want for my DC :)

Thanks for coming to chat and as no-one else has asked it - favourite biscuit?

Thanks for your reply Claire, great news about the dog trainer MNHQ