Profile: Ace

Ace

Still yet to find a sport I'm any good at - tried football - cricket - golf frisbee and tennis. Might have a good feel for boules or petanque with a beret on my head and a glass of beer in the other hand.

I support Sheffield Wednesday but having therapy - idolise Roger Federer - but not in that way and have a life time's ambition to have a knock up with Maria Sharapova - yeah right!

I have a small film production company specialising in sport. So make programmes about kids in sport/education and have produced programmes on such diverse issues as Cuban boxers.

Am qualified Tennis/Cricket and Tag Rugby Coach

What's your greatest sporting achievement?

Its a toss up between running a Marathon and cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End. I can't really say beating a certain player at tennisor scoring a hundred was particularly outstanding as I was Ok at those sports - so it has to be the cycle ride. Spending two weeks in the saddle and climbing the Scottish Hills was just fantastic

What's your greatest sporting ambition (real and imaginary)?

I suppose a triathlon as I am crap at swimming or maybe some long distance rowing as I am genuinely afraid of deep water.

For example when I read about these people who row across the Atlantic - just being out there in all that vastness - respect.

Favourite sporting film moment(s)?

Its a film. When we were Kings. Its a documentary about the background and fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. It was nicknamed the Rumble in the Jungle. Its just an extraordinaly story illuminated by Ali of course and featuring interviews with individuals like Norman Mailer. But its got great music too. Picked up loads of Academy Awards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N44vdCqI7LI
Raging Bull is an all time favourite although I have to confess that the fight scenes outside the riung are more realistic than the pugilism inside the ring. Artistically I know that the camera has to see the face being hit but every boxer keeps his guard up - to see Di Nero being pummeled - its just not real.
But for a sporting moment - the football match in Kes where a bullying school master played by Brian Glover organises a football match where he has to be the star. Brilliant stuff. Gritty realism and all that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UycWO0w852g

Best Book about Sport?

I've read a few recently - Feet in the Clouds - about Fell Running is terrific. A long walk spoiled by John Feinstein is a very thorough overview of Golf and what its like to miss a 3 foot putt and lose your livelihood. Joe Simpson - Touching the Void - although not sure its a sport book and a bit overshadowed by the film.
There's a book called War Baby by Kevin Mitchell about the fight between Nigel Benn and Gerald Mclelland that left the American a virtual vegtable. Not too keen on the Nick Hornby book about Arsenal - always came across as a non sporting fan.

What music/band do you listen to when you are training/doing mind numbing workout stuff?

I like World Music - African music with a good beat and rhythm - although Pulp's I want to live like Common People makes me row like a nutter. I now have downloaded the Killers and Amy Winehouse onto the Ipod - brill.

Which sports career would you most like to have?

Sports Journalist possibly having access to interview people like Muhammad Ali - failing which a tennis pro easing round the circuit looking for mixed doubles partners

Which moment in your sporting life was better than sex?

Most of my sporting activities last longer. I know what was not compatible - long distance cycling and sex. After two weeks on a bike it took me a couple of days before I could get back onto the other saddle - so to speak

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Latest Blog Posts

100M Butterfly - Paralympic Games
By Ace

Posted at 05:03pm on 24th July 2008

ParalympicsGBParalympicsGB has today confirmed the final list of athletes selected to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games. These athletes complete the ParalympicsGB squad f

Posted at 04:58pm on 24th July 2008

BRITISH PARALYMPIC ASSOCIATION Help Send off Britain’s Paralympic Stars in Birmingham Birmingham will be the launch-pad for Britain’s Paralympic Games campaign as the city will play h

Posted at 04:51pm on 24th July 2008

EVP World Championships 2007
By Ace

The sound track is a bit hard core but some great action. Just a pity there was not a bigger crowd to recognise these athletes

Posted at 06:49am on 22nd July 2008

Slightly dodgy quality but good sound track as we see the USA Golden Girls win the Beach Volleyball Gold Medal in Athens

Posted at 06:38am on 22nd July 2008