Bloke

Oh well Honest John you are going to be a bitter boy for a long time to come as Te Reo is an official NZ language and it is not going away.

Hey Honest John are you sure that you are being honest? From you previous comments I would say that you were anti Maori. No problem just be up front and admit it. Te Reo after all is an official NZ language. When I was at secondary school in the late 1960s I was forced to learn French. I would have loved to have learned Maori. The land of the primary school I attended was donated by Ngati Toa. The secondary school I attended, Mana College, the land was also gifted by Ngati Toa. The Football Club I belong to, Stop Out Sports Club, the land at Hutt Park was gifted by the Maori. The park we used to play at when we were in the National League in the 70s, Te Whiti Park was taken by The Government under the Public Works Act during the second World War and has never been given back. I have no problem saying that I love the Maori race but many fellow Baby Boomers do. I watched a couple of years ago on TV a concert by Six Sixty and the young audience of 50k plus at Western Springs were singing along with the band in Maori. It's great to see that attitudes are changing.

They didn't want to race there because of the heavy track. They nominated with the intention of racing there even though the track was slow with very heavy rain predicted and which came on Wednesday. I live on Lower Hutt and the weather was appalling and given that the Wairarapa probably cops a southerly as bad if not worse than over the hill, then it is no surprise that were many scratchings. Look at other meetings that have had bad weather leading up and the multiple scratchings with some clubs only having three horse races. If you have the evidence to the contrary Curious stump and tell us.

I am a member at Tauherenikau. I received a newsletter saying that they had carried out extensive work on the track over several months and early this week they galloped horses in the presence of Stipes who have reported that the track is in good condition to race. The reasons for the transfer of meetings was given as TAB logistical nothing to do with the track. The main reason for horses not starting at this time of year is slow to heavy tracks when there are summer horses coming back in who do not handle the ground.

I followed the Court case last year where he unsuccessfully tried to sue a young lady who called him a racist. He thought he could win easily as she would not have the financial resources to defend herself. However, he did not count on "give a little' which enabled her lawyers to take Jones to the cleaners. The Defence lawyers set Jones up brilliantly when he was testifying. The Defence brought up the 1981 Springbok tour knowing full well that Jones would rave on about when he went to a rugby dinner where there were protestors and Jones claimed to have chased them away. They let him go on about this in great depth and then told him that they had a video recording which they played to the court which only showed Bob Jones giving the protestors the fingers and not chasing anyone away. On the day after the Defence had commenced calling witnesses, Jones withdrew on advice of his lawyers as they knew that he was not going to be able to prove his case. Defence witnesses yet to be called were likely expose Jones further. This is from Bob Jones the so called Champion Boxer who would never take a backward step, never quit. In fact several years ago I checked and Bob Jones has never won a National Title.

Oh yes the 1973 Cup Final. At the time I was flatting on The Terrace in Wellington. We held a party prior to kick off which from memory was about 3am. As Sunderland were the under dogs everybody apart from my good Lady at the time and myself were Sunderland. Sad result but still good memories. Of course we won it in 1972.

Hey Craigos I am a fellow Leeds fan. I have been to Elland Road three times in recent years. The last time 2019 to a midweek game 8pm kick off against Brentford when it was packed full. The previous visit to Elland Road was in 2017 about 6 weeks after the All Blacks v Lions game at Wellington Stadium. It was like going from a wake to a giant party the atmosphere was so electric. My wife accompanied me and she summed it up well after the game when she said to me that it was so loud that if I spoke to her in the first 20 minutes of the game then she would not have heard me. I have been supporter since I was 7 when my brother chose Chelsea because of Chelsea sugar so I chose Leeds because of Leed Lemonade. Back then Don Revie was still playing for Leeds We have been to hell and back a few times but when there is success, it is so sweet.