Kasparov vs. Karpov - 25 Years On

In Valencia one of the greatest rivalries in Chess has been resumed when Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov sat down to play a twelve game match under strict time limits. The first time they met in 1984 Karpov was 5 - 3 ahead after an epic 43 games and the match was stopped for the health of both players. The match can be followed live on the Valencia Regional Government website. Kasparov won the first game; game 2 is underway as I write this.

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Who won his fifth Olympic Gold medal today in 2000 in Sydney?
   
   
2. In which country was reigning US Open Tennis champion Juan Martín del Potro (right) born today in 1988?

   
   
3. Which Japanese corporation, best known today for video games, was founded today in 1889?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Andrea Bocelli; 2. Floyd Patterson; 3. Michael Faraday

Braunston

By now we should have reached Braunston, which over the years has become something of a hub on the canal network. It stands at the junction of the Grand Union and Oxford canals and it is always busy! There are six locks which we will be descending after travelling through Braunston Tunnel and then struggling to find somewhere to moor up for the night!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

1. Who was born today in 1890 and founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken chain of restaurants? (Need his first name!)
   
   
2. Actor Hugh Grant (right) was born today in 1960 and won BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards for which 1994 film?

   
   
3. Who became the youngest winner of the US Open Women's singles title today in 1979?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Galveston; 2. Florence; 3. Pink

Images of Moon Landings - 40 Years On

Images from the Apollo 14 landing sites have been sent back to Earth by Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) showing the lunar module and trail of footprints. Forty years after the original moon landings these are the first images to show the original sites. NASA are using this mission to scout out new landing sites for future exploration and possible colonisation.

Your Sunday questions are: -

1. The first line of which city's underground railway system opened today in 1900?
   
   
2. Brunel's SS Great Britain (right) was launched from which city today in 1843?
   
   
   
3. Which former US Open and French Open men's singles tennis champion was born today in 1946 in Bucharest?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. William Makepeace Thackeray; 2. Bobby Brown ; 3. Germany (Messerschmitt Me-262)

Golf at Cold Ashby

It's Sunday and it's time for another round in my golf challenge against my friend Dave. This week we're off to Cold Ashby in Northamptonshire for match 13 in our current series. At the moment I'm 8 - 3 down (one match halved) and not looking like winning any! This is the seventh year we've played and I've not lost a series, yet! this year could be different if I don't start to win soon! This is quite a hilly course, so if I don't report in tomorrow you'll know it was too much for me!

Sunday's questions: -

1. Which British golfer won the US Open today in 1970?
   
   
2. Brandon Flowers (right), who was born today in 1981, is the frontman and lyricist for which American rock band?
   
   
3. Which actress was born today in 1921 and played Dorothy Shaw in the 1953 film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"?
   

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Lionel Richie; 2. United Kingdom (Blackpool); 3. Annie Oakley