This Sporting Life

Janet, Hugh, Daryl, Cath and I, all sat down to a fine dinner last evening with most of the effort put in by the men, which included

Daryl's delicious 'starter' of Smoked Haddock Timbale followed by

Hugh's fine Grey Mullet with spicy saute potatoes and French beans all accompanied by a 1998 Chassagne-Montrachet. Janet had produced a delicious White Chocolate and Cherry Mousse and a Cheeseboard complimented by a Brown Brothers Orange Muscat.

As stated in yesterday's post, Parley Court Farm (PCF) is a Wonderland of businesses within businesses several of them connected with sport. The family also participate in a number of disciplines, Hugh being a mean tennis player, while Janet is an accomplished horse rider. However, the 'cream of the crop' is surely Hugh & Janet's niece Zara Dampney who is a Beach Volleyball Olympian.

As some readers will know, stadia, pitches, venues etc for the 2012 Games are already being 'proved' seeing Zara in action at Horse Guards Parade, London this weekend with playing partner Shauna Mullin.

Shauna & Zara on Horse Guards Parade.

The sporting theme carries over into the business dealing here at (PCF), which after checking on the local bird population feeding outside of the kitchen window, I headed off to investigate.

Great Tit

Goldfinch

House Sparrow

The Golf Course complete with well appointed Club House is the biggest money spinner of the many 'satellite interests'

and attracts players from all over the County as well as further afield.

Complete with an excellent Driving Range and Golf Pros, Cath is also instrumental in the smooth running of the business.

Adjoining the Club is an Archery Range, while not too far away are a series of Carp Fishing Lakes which are affiliated to the Ringwood & District Angling Club.

Sticking with 'piscatorial pursuits', this course fishing 'beat' on the River Stour, which cuts through the property, may also be considered as one of the best on this watercourse!

Hugh has his own private Tennis Court while there are also

Pheasant shoots on odd occasions.

Looming large and quickly catching up with the golfing venture, the

is rapidly approaching National standards and is rarely without clientele.

Janet keeps a keen eye on the business, but nowhere near as close as

Equestrian Manager Jane Wyatt.

There is a Lunge Pen where untrained, often young horses are trained and

a large Menagé (main areana) for schooling horses and riders in Dressage, Showjumping and

These 2 images show Sarah Perry putting Janet's own horse, Felicity through her paces, while

this young lady rider forms a bond with her own mount.

In a near-by paddock this ex-Police Horse enjoys the freedom of retirement.

Just a few of Janet's Gymkana 'Rosettes'.

Mid-afternoon, the roar of 'jets' drew me to the window to see the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team scribbing an arc through a grey sky. A call from Janet saying "they're landing" had me heading for my camera.

Arriving as part of the week-end Bournemouth Air Show, I managed to capture 7 of the 9 Red aircraft and what I assume to be the 'Wing Commander' or some such a a Blue version. The shrubs in the foreground of these shots are in the Dampney's front garden. Even later on we were treated to a 'practice exhibition' in preperation for the weekend.

and finally, with a surge in reader numbers yesterday (329) the UK has at last reaches the magical 'ten thousand' readers mark, with all other countries in the Top 10 showing increased readership and Italy just 2 away from Treble Figures!

	Num	Perc.	Country Name
	10032	69.21%	United Kingdom
	1158	7.99%	United States
	523	3.61%	Taiwan
	459	3.17%	Canada
	225	1.55%	Australia
	205	1.41%	Estonia
	154	1.06%	Germany
	132	0.91%	France
	118	0.81%	New Zealand
	107	0.74%	Netherlands
	98	0.68%	Italy