Tag Archives: Clare Balding

Frankie Dettori – My Cocaine Shame

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frankie and clare_A2In an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News, Britain’s most famous jockey Frankie Dettori admits for the first time that he took cocaine.

In his first TV interview (to be broadcast tomorrow 16 May 2013 at 7pm) since he tested positive for drugs, Dettori talks to presenter Clare Balding about why he took cocaine, the impact on his personal life and his future career in racing.

During the wide-ranging interview, Dettori also addresses the steroid scandal that has engulfed his former stables Godolphin.

He tells Channel 4 News:

“I’m very ashamed and embarrassed, and paid a very big price for it, you know. I spent six months not doing the thing that I love, racing.

“Things were going bad, I was depressed and I guess a moment of weakness and I fell for it and I’ve only got myself to blame. I can’t blame anybody else.

“The embarrassment of when it come out, I had to hide in my house for a week. The paparazzi outside. The embarrassment of telling the children, you know. You know they still go to school, they might get bullied and so it was a very, very difficult time.”

Clare Balding talks exclusively to Frankie Dettori on Channel 4 News on Thursday at 7pm

RED MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF RED’S HOT WOMEN AWARDS 2012

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RED MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF

RED’S HOT WOMEN AWARDS 2012

in association with euphoria Calvin Klein

 

LIVIA FIRTH CHAMPIONS ETHICAL FASHION & LIVING

 

STARS OF LONDON 2012 NICOLA ADAMS, ZOE SMITH AND CLARE BALDING AWARDED FOR THEIR OLYMPIC CONTRIBUTIONS

 

DIGITAL ENTREPRENEUR KATHRYN PARSONS LEADS THE WAY FOR WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY WITH TWO AWARDS

 

 

Red magazine is delighted to announce the winners of its annual Red’s Hot Women Awards 2012, in association with euphoria Calvin Klein. The awards, now in their fourth year, celebrate British women in the workplace.

 

This year’s awards see an impressive range of inspiring working women being recognised. Livia Firth, Creative Director of eco-age.com and co-founder of The Green Carpet Challenge, is presented the ‘Eco’ award for using her profile to give ethical fashion a celebrity platform.

 

The prestigious ‘Fashion’ award goes to Caren Downie, ASOS Buying Director, for her remarkable vision for the ASOS brand. Fashionistas Erin O’Connor, Debra Bourne and Caryn Franklin are recognised in the ‘Pioneer’ category for their campaigning work with All Walks Beyond the Catwalk.

 

Flying the flag for London 2012 are Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams, Boxer, who is awarded ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ and Zoe Smith, Weightlifter, who is acknowledged in the ‘Woman to Watch’ category for sport. Clare Balding wins the ‘Media’ category for captivating the nation with her BBC Olympics coverage.

 

Kathryn Parsons, co-founder of Decoded, is the first winner to receive two awards in the ‘Digital’ and ‘Start-Up’ categories for her visionary digital business aimed at demystifying the world of computer coding.

 

In addition, Martha Payne, a 10-year-old blogger, is awarded ‘Woman to Watch: Blogger’ for Never Seconds, the blog she set up to report on her school dinners, and which has so far raised over £120,000 to provide school meals in Africa.

 

The awards ceremony also recognises impressive female talent in the restaurant scene, with Monica Galetti, Chef at La Gavroche, winning the Rose Gray Food Pioneer Award and Florence Knight, Head Chef at Polpetto, being awarded ‘Woman to Watch: Food’

 

The ‘Community / Charity’ award this year goes to Doreen Lawrence for the inspiring legacy she has created in memory of her son Stephen Lawrence. Christie Watson comes top in the ‘Creative’ category for her award-winning second novel Tiny Sunbirds Far Away and Helen McGinn, author of the Knackered Mothers’ Wine Club blog, is awarded best ‘Blogger’. Further accolades for truly impressive women include geneticist Dr Pia Ostergaard, the ‘Power Part-Timer’ who has made ground breaking discoveries to identify life saving gene mutations – and done it while working flexible hours. Shabana Mahmood, Higher Education Shadow Minister, is also recognised in the ‘Woman to Watch: Politics’ category for being one of the first Muslim Asian women in Parliament.

 

The categories were judged by some of the most inspirational professional women in Britain including; Red magazine Editor-in-Chief Sam Baker, Public Relations Director for Coty Prestige UK Kirsty Dale, Vice-Chair for West Ham Utd FC Karren Brady, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, CEO / Chairman of Shine Group Elisabeth Murdoch, Sky News Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, bestselling author India Knight, founder of Timewise Jobs Karen Mattison MBE and Chief Merchant for Harrods Marigay McKee.

 

The winners were announced at a champagne reception hosted by Lauren Laverne at One Marylebone.

 

Sam Baker, Red Magazine Editor-in-Chief, said:‘‘We are thrilled to be celebrating the achievements of some this country’s most inspiring working women. This year’s Red’s Hot Women Awards, in association with euphoria Calvin Klein, have recognised some truly amazing women and I congratulate everyone on their success.’

 

 

Why have they won?

 

Blogger

Helen McGinn, 39, Knackered Mothers’ Wine Club – What started on a whim has now become a popular blog and a book deal – proof that a love of a glass or two of wine is never a bad thing.

 

Community / Charity

Doreen Lawrence, 60, Founder, Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust – For challenging the British legal system and inspiring a nation with her vision of a community-based legacy for her son.

 

Creative

Christie Watson, 35, Author & Resuscitation Nurse – For winning one of the most coveted and respected awards for new writers, whilst also holding down a day job in nursing.

 

Digital / Start-Up

Kathryn Parsons, 31, Co-Founder, Decoded – For championing the agenda of women in technology, specifically encouraging women to be code-literate, in a way that is manageable and practical.

 

Eco

Livia Firth, 42, Creative Director of eco-age.com – For using her profile to give ethical fashion a platform and proving it’s a good business to go green.

 

Fashion

Caren Downie, 51, Buying Director ASOS – At a time when the retail sector is struggling, Caren’s vision has resulted in triple-figure sales growth.

 

Media

Clare Balding, 41, TV presenter and Olympic anchor – For her widely praised TV anchoring of the BBC’s London 2012 coverage and making her mark as a female sports broadcaster in a field that remains stubbornly male-dominated.

 

Media (Posthumous)

Marie Colvin, 56, award-winning journalist – Killed in Syria whilst reporting from the frontline, the judges created a special award this year to honour Marie’s groundbreaking journalism.

 

Pioneers

Debra Bourne, Erin O’Connor & Caryn Franklin, 48, 34 and 53, Founders of All Walks Beyond the Catwalk – For using their collective experience in the fashion world to campaign for a more diverse representation of women.

 

Power Part-Timer

Dr Pia Ostergaard, 42, Geneticist – After taking a career change, Pia has made groundbreaking discoveries to identify gene mutations, which will help save lives. And she’s done it whilst working part-time hours.

 

Rose Gray Food Pioneer

Monica Galetti, 36, Senior Sous Chef at Le Gavoche – For her unflinching resolve to make it to the top and to be treated as an equal in a male-dominated industry.

 

Sportswomen of the Year

Nicola Adam, 29, Boxer – For winning her way into the history books as the first ever female gold-winning Olympic boxer. Next stop Rio.

 

Woman to Watch: Food

Florence Knight, 26, Head Chef of Polpetto – For climbing the ranks in a male-dominated industry to run the kitchen of one of London’s leading restaurants, at only 26.

 

Women to Watch: Sport

Zoe Smith, 18, Weightlifter – For setting a new British record in the women’s 58kg at London 2012 and overcoming Twitter critics with her brave blog posts.

 

Woman to Watch: Politics

Shabana Mahmood, 31, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood – As one of the first Muslim Asian women in Parliament, Shabana is an inspiring force for more diversity amongst our MPs.

 

Woman to Watch: Blogger

Martha Payne, 10, Blogger – For inspiring hundreds of children in Britain to create their own blogs, scrutinising everything from fashion to their school sports days, and for raising over £120,000 for charity

FRANKEL’S FAMOUS FANS OUT IN FORCE

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An array of stars from the world of television, sport and media have come out in force to heap praise on wonderhorse Frankel, in advance of his final appearance at Ascot for QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday 20th October.

Amongst them is Michael Owen, a racehorse owner himself who said, “Like all athletic greats, Frankel has a knack of making exceptional opposition look inferior,” whilst fellow Premiership footballer Tom Cleverley said, “In football terms, Frankel reminds me of Ronaldo – big, strong, tall, imposing and most of all very fast. He’s an incredible horse.”

And the comparisons don’t stop there with TV presenter Clare Balding comparing him to Usain Bolt and the football pundit Robbie Savage likening Frankel’s domination of the sport to the record-breaking exploits of Arsenal’s Invicibles team of 2003-04.

And, according to super-middle weight boxing champion, Carl Froch, Frankel’s had to take more hits that his rivals in order to stay at the top of his game: “When you are the best, it’s harder to stay on top as rivals go at you that extra bit harder so they can be the one to say they beat you. So when you measure Frankel’s success and consider that, like a boxer, he’s had to take the hardest shots any of his rivals could muster, he’s a true sporting great.”

“Every sport needs a jaw-dropper. The kind of athlete who makes you stop and stare. Frankel is racing’s Usain Bolt. He makes it look so easy, it’s almost ridiculous. I feel privileged to have seen him race and I have certainly never seen a better horse in my lifetime.” Clare Balding, Presenter

“Like all athletic greats, Frankel has a knack of making exceptional opposition look inferior, or in his case, proper Group 1 horses shape like mere handicappers. His talent transcends our sport, like no other horse I can remember during my lifetime.” Michael Owen, Footballer

“It’s not often you get a sporting legend that’s not human, and even less often for something or someone to be unbeaten throughout a career. In football terms, Frankel reminds me of Ronaldo – big, strong, tall, imposing and most of all very fast. An incredible horse.” Tom Cleverley, Footballer

“It’s amazing to have such an incredible horse as Frankel. He’s better than anything else out there, so we’ve all been really lucky to have the chance to see him. It’s also been absolutely brilliant for Sir Henry Cecil – he’s not been in the best of health lately, so I’m really pleased he’s had Frankel to keep his spirits up.” Harry Redknapp, Football Manager

“Frankel’s achievements are the equivalent of Arsenal’s 2003-04 Invincibles side when they won every single one of their matches. Even people with no interest in the sport know all about Frankel as he is a total one off – and a great tribute to his trainer Sir Henry Cecil.” Robbie Savage, BBC football pundit

“The world’s best racehorse trained by the greatest trainer I’ve seen, Frankel and Sir Henry Cecil really are the perfect combination, and in what has been the most remarkable sporting year, their achievements will live long in the memory of all race fans.

“I was fortunate enough to be at Royal Ascot this summer to witness his extraordinary Queen Anne Stakes win, and incredibly he looked even better when stepping up in trip in the Juddmonte International at York. It is entirely fitting that Frankel is the headline act at the second QIPCO Champions Day, as he is without doubt the ultimate equine champion.” Jeremy Kyle, Presenter

“When you are the best, it’s harder to stay on top as rivals go at you that extra bit harder so they can be the one to say they beat you. So when you measure Frankel’s success and consider that, like a boxer, he’s had to take the hardest shots any of his rivals could muster, he’s a true sporting great.” Carl Froch, Champion Boxer

“I think Frankel is a freak; he has to be the best flat horse of all time.” Nick Skelton, Olympic Gold Medallist

“Frankel is a phenomenon, a once in a lifetime horse who has made the difficult leap from a star of our sport to a superstar that has transcended racing.” Alex Hammond, Sky Sports

“Henry and his team have handled Frankel impeccably. When he accelerates, he destroys the opposition in about 100yds. He is a magnificent racing machine.” Sir Michael Stoute, Racehorse Trainer

“Quite simply the best horse I’ve ever seen in the flesh. Truly magnificent and I’m delighted for Sir Henry Cecil. We pray he wins.” Alan Brazil, Radio Presenter

 


QIPCO British Champions Series – the world’s finest Flat racing

www.britishchampionsseries.com

Thanks For The Warm Up: The Paralympics on C4

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Wednesday August 29th – Sunday 9th September

After years of working and waiting, countless months of heady anticipation, weeks of building excitement, and a not-too-shabby test event, the Paralympics have finally arrived. For 12 days, viewers of Channel 4 will witness unfettered sporting brilliance, courage, talent, triumph and tragedy, as dreams are made and broken in the cauldron of top class competitive sport.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be the biggest event in Channel 4’s history. Close to 500 hours of live coverage will be broadcast during the twelve days of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, marking the most extensive Paralympic Games coverage ever broadcast in the UK.

Multiple channels and platforms will broadcast live sport on Channel 4, More4 and online at Channel4.com. Three further live streams will feature uninterrupted live coverage of events from across the Paralympic Games, on-air from early morning through to late evening.

The Channel 4 presenting team for the Paralympic Games will be a ground-breaking line-up featuring top sports broadcasters, former Paralympians and new disabled talent. Half of the presenters and reporters covering the Games for Channel 4 will be disabled. Eight of the on-air team have come through our nationwide talent search carried out in 2010 to find the best new disabled presenters.

Viewers will also find their enjoyment of the sports on offer enhanced by Lexi, a graphic system that will explain the classification system involved in Paralympic sport. Lexi is made up of graphics which broadly illustrate disability types within sporting classes.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be the biggest, and hopefully the best, in history. Thousands of remarkable athletes will perform in some amazing venues in front of passionate and knowledgeable crowds. Watch it all on Channel 4, and enjoy an extraordinary swansong to this once-in-a-lifetime summer of sport.

Paralympic Games Breakfast Show

A surprising, inspiring and eclectic mix of the best of Paralympic sport served up daily from 7 until 9.15am.

Hosted by Kelly Cates and Rick Edwards the show covers the very best of all the great moments of the Games. There are live injects from the main venues, analysis of the triumphs and heartbreak and close-up features of the lives of the superhumans we’re all watching. The Breakfast Roadshow is trekking across the country every morning shining a light on the home-town unsung heroes who’ve helped the athletes achieve their dreams.

In the studio we’re investigating cybernetics, prosthetics and all manner of Paralympic paraphernalia. The audience is invited to join in via tweets, texts and all forms of social media and there’s a wide range of studio guests.

Morning
Jonathan Edwards and Daraine Mulvihill introduce an action-packed morning of sport from the Olympic Park. Among the sports regularly featured are Athletics, Swimming, Equestrian and Table Tennis. From the pressure of the heats, to the drama and excitement of the finals, we’ll be on hand to bring you closer to the competitors as they bid for Paralympic glory.

Afternoon
Comprehensive coverage of the afternoon action from the London Paralympics where Cycling and Equestrian take centre stage, alongside team sports like Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football.

Arthur Williams and Georgie Bingham are your hosts for this inspiring sporting extravaganza, bringing you the personalities behind the athletes and getting under the skin of the Games.

Teatime
At 5.30pm every evening of the Paralympics make a date with the big finals at the Aquatics Centre. The world’s finest swimmers hold centre stage in this hour with as many as seven gold medals up for grabs before 6.30. Athletics kicks in soon afterwards as do the team sports such as Wheelchair Basketball and Sitting Volleyball. Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan present the best of the action.

7.30 Peak
The day’s action at the Paralympics reaches its climax through the evening with more gold medals on offer between now and 10.30 than at any other time of the day. The swimming finals continue in the Aquatics Centre; the track finals come thick and fast in the Olympic Stadium; and the team sports – Wheelchair Basketball and Rugby among them – are guaranteed to provide bone-crunching moments. The presenters are Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan.

THE LAST LEG with Adam Hills
Adam Hills presents an alternative review of each day at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, showing all the best gems of action and taking a sideways look at the intricacies of disability sport. Adam will be joined each night by his eagle-eyed sidekick Josh Widdicombe, as well as guests from the worlds of sport and entertainment, to pore over the golden moments, confront some of the widely held views associated with Paralympic sport, and answer the questions you were always afraid to ask.

Reporters, Commentators and Analysts
The presenting team will be joined by reporters discovered during Channel 4’s search for disabled talent in 2010; including former Paralympic swimmer Rachael Latham, sports reporter and wheelchair basketball player Jordan Jarret-Bryan, former carpenter Martin Dougan, researcher Liam Holt, sports journalist Alex Brooker, and para-equestrian rider Diana Man. The reporting team will also include renowned broadcasters such as Sonja McLaughlan, Ned Boulting and Adam Darke.

A hugely experienced commentary and analysis line-up will include John Rawling and Rob Walker as well as former Paralympic sprinter Danny Crates, former Paralympic wheelchair racer Jeff Adams and former British sprinter Katherine Merry on athletics; Bob Ballard and Paul Noble alongside former swimmers Giles Long and Karen Pickering at the aquatics centre; Phil Liggett and Jon Norfolk in cycling; Ronald McIntosh and Dan Johnson on basketball; Andrew Cotter and Justin Frishberg for wheelchair rugby; Don Parker on table tennis; Tony Jones for football; Simon Golding on volleyball, powerlifting and fencing; Neil Adams and Simon Jackson on judo; and Chris Dennis covering Tennis.

Live Streams:
Three further live streams, C4 Paralympics Extra 1, 2 and 3, will feature uninterrupted live coverage of events from across the Paralympic Games, on-air from early morning through to late evening. The three streams will be broadcast on Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media (numbers to follow)

Jon Snow’s Paralympic Show
In the run up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Jon Snow will present a nightly show, starting on Monday 20th August at 7:30pm.

Well-known celebrities and faces from the world of sport and entertainment join Jon Snow’s live nightly weekday countdown to the eagerly anticipated London 2012 Paralympic Games; the biggest event in Channel 4’s history. Jon invites viewers to join in the wave of enthusiasm and excitement, as over 4000 elite disabled athletes descend on London. During the week presenter Clare Balding, leaves the comfort of the TV studio to try her hand at equestrian dressage with the man who dominates the medals in this sport – Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson. Comedian Jimmy Carr visits Headley Court, the MOD’s rehabilitation centre, where rower Captain Nick Beighton and some of his Paralympics GB teammates spent time after returning with horrific injuries from Afghanistan. Martine Wiltshire, 7/7 London bombing victim, explains why the number seven has become a good omen as she gets ready to compete in the women’s sitting volleyball competition. Sue Kent, the only massage therapist in the UK qualified to ply her trade using only her feet, practises on Olympic champion and Channel 4 Paralympic sports presenter Jonathan Edwards, before heading into the Paralympic village to look after the athletes. And Ade Adepitan, checks out The Village, where over 4000 athletes are staying for the Paralympic Games. As a Paralympian himself, will he find the accommodation and surrounding areas accessible and up to scratch? Exec Prods: Michelle Fobler and Gareth Rees; Prod Co: Boomerang

Jon Snow’s Paralympic Show, week nights from Monday 20th – Tuesday 28th August at 7:30pm.