The Paddock and The Pavilion - The Horse Racing and Cricket Podcast

Jenny Thompson currently on her world cricket tour returns to The Paddock and The Pavilion to update us on her adventure playing cricket all over the world which began on 1 April. At the time of writing Jenny has now visited 44 countries on her quest to discover where women's cricket is played across the globe.  From Asia, to Europe, and now South America Jenny recalls the exciting, and inspiring...

In the Pavilion What was it like to…. play in the first Men's cricket World Cup? In Episode 12 of a series where I pose the question ‘What was it like to…. I spoke to Rick McCosker, who opened the batting for Australia in the 1975 World Cup, known as the Prudential Cup.   Rick looked back at the Aussies build up to the tournament which included warm up games in Canada and a trip to Buckingham Pala...

We love inspiring stories on The Paddock and The Pavilion. Episode 225 - the road from turmoil to hope, tells the story of a brave young woman who left her Afghanistan home in the most difficult of circumstances. Back in mid-July I spoke to Shazia the 21-year-old Afghanistan women’s cricket captain, who fled the turmoil in her country, in the autumn of 2021, on route to safety in Australia to resu...

Today I have the perfect guest for you. Kim Bailey is a leading National Hunt trainer who loves the game of cricket. He even got out of the river this summer to watch the Ashes on TV. Check out his day out fishing with Nicky Henderson during the podcast. In this episode you will hear about his enduring passion for bat and ball and the turf, his thoughts on the Ashes, which he covered regularly in...

On the eve of National Racehorse Week, I was joined by the man who came up with the idea, trainer Richard Phillips. Richard discusses the plans for this key week for the racing industry while trainers Kim Bailey and Ilka Gansera Leveque, and stud owner Eileen Harte of Harte bloodstock, who are all opening their doors to the public, make guest appearances on the show. “For one week of the year we n...

If you wonder what's like to open the batting in The Hundred catch our latest podcast with South African Lizelle Lee, who has just finished her stint playing for the Trent Rockets. Lizelle chats about the 2023 tournament where the Rockets finished 4th just outside the finals, The Hundred concept and her future as franchise cricketer. Power plays, batting against the swinging ball and the variety o...

The final podcast of our four-part Birdsville races sees the return of racegoer Andrew Redston who previously featured in Ep 149 - On the road to Birdsville races. Andrew is now back at Birdsville for this year's race meeting. The podcast is split into two halves. In the first half Andrew looked back on his 2022 Birdsville races experience, the rain, and how the journey to the outback, 10,000 km i...

Our third Birdsville Races podcast of 2023 focuses on jockey John Keating and his pursuit of Birdsville Cup glory. In the first half, recorded in October 2022, the 51-year-old Bendigo, based jockey chats about his racing experiences at last years' two-day meeting where he finished 2nd again in the Birdsville Cup. The historic race remains on the bucket list for the jockey who began his career in 1...

As Birdsville Races Vice President Gary Brook said in Episode 218 “it’s probably the biggest car rally in the world”. One of those on his way to Birdsville 2023 is 93-year-old Bob Potts, known as Pottsy, who is travelling 900 miles to see the Birdsville Cup with his son Reggie and daughter Lyn. Last year Pottsy reached Betoota races but became unwell on race day and had to be airlifted out by the...

In the first of four podcasts celebrating Birdsville Races 2023 I was joined by Birdsville Races Vice President Gary Brook, who previously featured in Ep 148 – The Birdsville Cup – The Melbourne Cup of the outback. The podcast in two halves begins with an interview in late October 2022 after last year’s meeting, which was severely affected by torrential rain. Gary explains how he and his team mana...

Former Test player and regular guest on The Paddock and The Pavilion Roland Butcher joins the show to review the best Men’s Ashes series since 2005. A series he successfully predicted in Episode 201, can the Aussies match the Bazball Test would be 2-2. A series in two halves Roland gives his forthright opinions on the red ball action. He considers the mistakes and in his view the arrogance that Eg...

In the 2nd part of our Silver Ashes series, I spoke to a delighted England over 70s Captain John Evans following the team’s victory by 91 runs in the 2nd ODI on Sunday at Wellington cricket club. The victory meant that England retained the Ashes. John, who was in the runs again, talked through the action in Shropshire which did have it ups and downs before England secured a comfortable win. Joinin...

Our latest Ashes podcast will take you all around the world with this summers’ Women’s Ashes. From Argentina, Brazil, England, Scotland, Japan, and the USA you will hear from four International cricketers, a Fairbreak manager and a young sporting vlogger. Mariana Martinez (Argentina), Roberta Moretti Avery (Brazil), Rosa Simkin (England), Shizuka Miyaji (Japan), Sue Strachan (Scotland) & Sins Srih...

We have had the Men’s and Women’s Ashes and the Men’s over 60s Ashes but now it’s the time for the Men’s over 70s Ashes, known as the Silver Ashes.  England holders of the Ashes after winning down under during the winter began a three match ODI series at Castle Park, Colchester last Sunday. Joining me at short notice for the first of three podcasts covering the three internationals is the England...

England captain Heather Knight described the Women’s Ashes as the best women’s series in the history of women’s cricket. And in the first of our three podcasts on the Ashes 2023 I was joined by former England Test centurion Kathryn Leng and German international all-rounder Tina Gough to review all the action during this exciting multi format women’s’ Ashes. Kathryn and Tina, well known to listener...

In our latest interview with the famous Australian jockey Ron Hutchinson, the 95-year-old takes questions from several members of the racing industry. From Singapore, Melbourne, Ally Pally, Ascot, and Newmarket Ron went around the World chatting about his life and times in the sport of Kings. Stories of the Derby, Royal Ascot and the Melbourne Cup are all included in my chat with this racing legen...

All-rounder Naomi Dattani is all set for the 3rd edition of ‘The Hundred’ which begins on 1 August with the Trent Rockets playing against the Southern Brave at Trent Bridge. Naomi moved to the Tent Bridge franchise in the hundred draft from the London Spirit a few months ago. In this podcast Naomi talks about her move to the midlands side and how much she is looking forward to the tournament which...

On today’s show I can promise you an inspiring guest. He is not a jockey or a cricketer but extreme adventurer Jordan Wylie MBE who has a passion for horse racing.  Jordan well known for being one of the stars of Channel 4’s BAFTA nominated shows Hunted and Celebrity Hunted has raised over £1million for charitable causes through some quite incredible challenges. As Jordan says on his website home...

After a thrilling 2023 Women’s Ashes series on today’s show, I want to take you back to the first glory days of Test cricket, the 1930s where it all started, through the words of Australian journalist, academic, author and podcaster Nick Richardson. Nick reviews the opening test matches between England and Australia in 1934/35 and 1937 through the characters who shaped those early matches, the cla...

In our second podcast about Major League Cricket, I was joined by New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne for a brief chat ahead of his opening game for the Washington Freedom against the Seattle Orcas. Adam, who has played franchise cricket all around the world revealed why he chose to play Major League and his team’s hopes for the tournament. The Washington Freedom will certainly not lack for pace in...

The first International cricket match between the USA and Canada was played in 1844. On Thursday 14 July 2023 Major League Cricket, a new exciting T20 Franchise tournament is due to blast off at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. 6 teams, 19 games over 18 days will begin with the Texas Super Kings v Los Angeles Knight Riders. In this podcast I spoke to Tom Dunmore, Vice President of Marketing an...

In this episode I was joined by  American  syndicate manager, Harlan Malter who discussed his plans to return to Royal Ascot with a runner sired by his 2018 Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes contender-turned-stallion, BUCCHERO, plus Will Aitkenhead, Senior Corporate & Industry Affairs Manager for Ascot Racecourse spoke about attracting international runners to the Royal meeting.  This episode is brought...

Today we have a real treat for Horse Racing fans.  Classic winning jockey Ron Hutchinson, now 95, is back for two shows on the Paddock and The Paddock after his previous appearances in Episode 142 and 143. In the first episode the famous Australian jockey gives his views on the recent Royal Ascot meeting, a festival where he enjoyed success during the 1960s and 70s. Ron discusses his famous win in...

In the final part of our ‘Memories of The Ashes series I was joined by former England Test centurion Kathryn Leng, who played four Ashes Test matches against Australia between 1998 and 2003. Young Rosa Simkin of ‘Rosa Talks Ball’ joins the show as my co-host. Kathryn a regular on The Paddock and The Pavilion talks passionately about Test cricket against the arch enemy which for her began at Guildf...

The Ellen Chaloner Stakes listed fillies’ race was a historic day for Newmarket on Saturday 6 May. The Paddock and the Pavilion has been closely associated with the Chaloner family’s campaign to get Ellen Chaloner, the first woman trainer, recognised in the racing world and this show looks back at the race named after ‘the Trailblazing Trainer’. Great granddaughter Susie Wilks gives a personal acc...