Doggett’s Coat And Badge

Doggett’s Coat And Badge, Doggett’s Coat and Badge is the prize and name for the oldest rowing race in the world. Up to six apprentice Watermen of the River Thames in England compete for this prestigious honour, which has been held every year since 1715. The 4 miles 5 furlongs (7,400 m) race is held on the Thames between London Bridge and Cadogan Pier, Chelsea, passing under a total of 11 bridges en route.

Originally, it was raced every 1 August against the outgoing (falling or ebb) tide, in the boats used by watermen to ferry passengers across the Thames. Today it is raced at a date and time in late July that coincides with the incoming (rising or flood) tide, in contemporary single sculling boats.

The winner’s prize is a traditional Watermen’s red coat with a silver badge added, displaying the horse of the House of Hanover and the word “Liberty”, in honour of the accession of George I to the throne. In addition, each competitor to complete the course receives a miniature of a Doggett’s Badge for their lapel in a ceremony at Watermen’s Hall, in silver for the winner and in bronze for the others. Monetary prizes are also made by the Fishmongers’ Company to the rowing clubs of those taking part, with £250 to the winner’s club, £150 for second, £100 for third and £50 for fourth.

Olympic Women’s Rowing

Olympic Women’s Rowing, China was the top qualifier in Heat 2 of the Olympic women’s rowing double sculls repechage
round at the 2012 London Games on Tuesday with a time of 7:09.65
at Eton Dorney in London.

Results Table
1. China
Wang Min/Zhu Weiwei 7 minutes 9.65 seconds Q
2. U.S.
Margot Shumway/Sarah Trowbridge 7:10.37 Q

3. Czech Republic
Lenka Antosova/Jitka Antosova 7:11.68
4. Germany
Tina Manker/Stephanie Schiller 7:18.37
5. Netherlands
Inge Janssen/Elisabeth Hogerwerf 7:19.80
6. Ukraine
Olena Buryak/Anna Kravtchenko 7:23.02

Tony Martin Dies

Tony Martin Dies, Tony Martin, the romantic singer who appeared in movie musicals from the 1930s to the 1950s and sustained a career in records, television and nightclubs from the Depression era into the 21st century, has died. He was 98. Martin died of natural causes Friday evening at his West Los Angeles home, his friend and accountant Beverly Scott said Monday.

A peer of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Martin sang full voice in a warm baritone that carried special appeal for his female audience. Among his hit recordings were “I Get Ideas,” `’To Each His Own,” `’Begin the Beguine” and “There’s No Tomorrow.”

“He’s the ultimate crooner who outlasted all is contemporaries,” musician and longtime friend Gabriel Guerrero said from his Oregon home. Martin recently sang to Guerrero over the telephone.

“He has truly remained the butterscotch baritone until he was 98,” Guerrero added.

Although he never became a full-fledged movie star, he was featured in 25 films, most of them made during the heyday of the Hollywood musicals. A husky 6 feet tall and dashingly handsome, he was often cast as the romantic lead.

Canada China Oil Deal

Canada China Oil Deal, China’s state-controlled oil producers are targeting struggling energy companies and projects world-wide, opening up production that might not otherwise happen.

In the latest deal, Cnooc Ltd. last week said it would buy one of Canada’s largest oil producers for $15.1 billion. If the acquisition of Nexen Inc. passes regulatory hurdles in Washington and Ottawa, it would join more than $50 billion in overseas oil-and-gas deals completed by Chinese companies since 2009, according to data provided by securities firm Jefferies Hong Kong Ltd. That is in addition to tens of billions of dollars in loan-for-oil programs in Venezuela, Brazil, Kazakhstan and elsewhere.

Including Nexen’s output, a conservative tally of publicly available data on foreign production for major Chinese oil companies would be in the neighborhood of the total output of Norway, the world’s No. 15 crude-oil producer.

The Nexen deal would join more than $50 billion in overseas oil-and-gas deals by Chinese companies since 2009. Above, a Nexen facility in Alberta.

In many cases, China’s oil producers have targeted struggling and underfunded oil-and-gas operations abroad, helping to support supplies amid tight credit markets and a natural-gas glut in North America. Nexen Chief Executive Marvin Romanow resigned in January amid production-related setbacks around the world, including at the company’s Long Lake oil-sands project in Canada.

Analysts said Chinese capital investment has helped put downward pressure on energy prices even as demand from China and other parts of the developing world skyrockets.

“Projects are being developed that wouldn’t be if China wasn’t in the game,” said Laban Yu, head of oil-and-gas research at Jefferies.

Misty May Treanor

Misty May Treanor, In the world of beach volleyball, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are the dynamic duo, the ultimate team. And in a sport known for its eye-catching uniforms, May-Treanor and Walsh are known first and foremost for their impeccable skills. They are undefeated in Olympic play, and have won 31 straight sets in consecutive Olympic games, including Monday night’s rout of the Czech Republic during a preliminary round. They ended the last set in a 6-1 run.

May-Treanor had her 35th birthday Monday, and her latest win was a perfect present. Walsh, 33, and May-Treanor won gold medals at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008, and they’re hoping for a repeat this year in London.

Christine Brennan, ABC News’ sports consultant, said Walsh and May-Treanor’s veteran status in their sport works in their favor. “They’re that good and they want it that bad,” Brennan said.

May-Treanor has said she wants to prove to the world that she and her partner “are the best in 2012,” but a lot has happened between the two since their last Olympic win.

Walsh had two children, and May-Treanor tore her Achilles tendon rehearsing for ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” The injury forced her out of the competition.

They even parted ways for a while, and Walsh partnered with someone else.

Next Page »