Readers' Blog: Rarities of sport reports when a ball is not in play
What a pleasant surprise it was to see coverage on the RTÉ evening news (June 6) of Phil Healy’s new national record in the 100m women’s sprint at Santry Stadium.
Perhaps it is indicative of my low level of expectation of seeing any sport reporting that isn’t either GAA, soccer or rugby that made this rare report so memorable.
There are very few sports with measurable records but I wonder just how many are recorded or archived by the national broadcaster? It would make a change from the endless diet of ball-game punditry and radio news ‘lads’ banter’ that passes for daily sports coverage.
On the same day as Ms Healy’s record another significant achievement by an Irish sportsman went totally unannounced (actually even the whole sports event went without mention). Derek McGee from Mullingar claimed a second place finish in the Isle of Man TT lightweight motorcycle race,eclipsing the old lap record on the way.
He became the first southern rider to stand on the podium since 2005, and but for the dominant Michael Dunlop almost the first southern winner since the late ’80s.
