Herbert bleeping ecstatic at win

OPINION: It is our estimate that more Manawatu people by a long way attended the All Whites' triumph in Wellington than are supporters of our YoungHeart Manawatu national league team.

They were everywhere in Wellington on Saturday, even the compulsory group of Manawatu bucketheads who seem to turn up everywhere in the world.

People who had never been to a soccer match drove south.

Coach Ricki Herbert was so over-wrought afterwards he let out a couple of f-bombs which later had to be bleeped out.

Maybe he will look kindly on Manawatu's Steven Old and bring him back for the World Cup when he adds to his squad.

* Stade Velodrome is a massive sports stadium in Marseille, France, but it could soon be matched by one in Palmerston North. We hear plans are afoot to bid for an indoor cycling velodrome in our city and if so, it would be the only indoor venue outside far-flung Invercargill.

Everything is under wraps but our guess is that it would beat Massey University, if it gets the go-ahead.

A potential site lies between the Sport and Rugby Institute and the great carpark.

Such an indoor track would be a great asset for the sport and for the city.

Palmerston North has been trackless since the Memorial Park track was given over to speed skating in March 2007.

* The hectic sports awards season – a chance for many of us to pull out the suits and fancy frocks and mingle away from the playing arenas – is over.

This year they tended to drag on too long.

Anything finishing after 11pm following a 6pm start, with a few vin blancs on board, is infringing on beauty sleep time.

For the best food and service at any of the sports awards, the New Zealand Army at the Linton Sports Awards last Thursday night again takes a bow.

* Russell Harris might be a sprightly 71, but there's no stopping him when it comes to motorsport.

He commentated on 57 races at the weekend, 39 at the MG Classic Car meeting at Manfeild over the two days and another 18 at the speedway on Saturday night. That's not his record; it was more than 60 races a few years ago when he took in three meetings on one weekend.

* Spotted sitting among the seething white hordes at Wellington on Saturday night was New Zealand Rugby Union official Neil Sorensen, decked out in white.

He was lapping up the atmosphere, no doubt hoping rugby could match it. Well it almost can, in Manawatu but if "Sos" and his confrere Steve Tew have their way, they will soon snuff it out when they dump the Turbos.

- © Fairfax NZ News