Tag: sport

Hatches and Despatches

I am…

See question 10. Poster for the film Spartacus (1960)
Wikipedia

Ten questions about people who were either born or sadly died on the 7 March—each answer will follow these two words: “I am…”

Question 1. The second man to walk on the Moon.
Wikipedia
  1. Born today in 1956 in Los Angeles, California, I played the second man to walk on the moon in From the Earth to the Moon (1998). I did voice work on the animated series Family Guy, Robot Chicken and SuperMansion. I am…
    • Bryan Cranston
    • Patrick Warburton
    • Hulk Hogan
      Question 2. Monarch of the Glen.
      Wikipedia
  2. Born 7 March 1802, I am British painter and sculptor best known for my paintings of animals such as the Monarch of the Glen (above). I am…
    • Frank Knight
    • Edwin Landseer
    • Langford Monroe
  3. Died today in 1809. I am a French balloonist who, with the American physician John Jeffries, made the first aerial crossing of the English Channel. I am…
    • Jean Pierre Alfred Nadal
    • Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier
    • Jean-Pierre Blanchard
  4. Born today in 1970, I am an actor and appeared as as Evelyn Carnahan in the Hollywood action films The Mummy (1999) and its sequel. I was Tessa Abbott-Quayle in the 2005 film adaptation of John le Carré’s The Constant Gardener. I am…
    • Abigail Cruttenden
    • Olivia d’Abo
    • Rachel Weisz
  5. Born this day in 1952, I am a West Indian cricketer described by Encyclopædia Britannica as “arguably the finest batsman of his generation”. I am…
  6. Born today in 1944, I am a British adventurer and explorer who, as part of the Transglobe Expedition circumnavigated the world via the North and South Pole. I also ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days. I am…
    • Benedict Allen
    • Ranulph Fiennes
    • Gino Watkins
      Question 7. Jayne Torville and Christopher Dean, Dancing on Ice, 2011
      Wikipedia
  7. Born 7 March 1875, I am a composer probably best known for
    Boléro (1928) which gained new popular following after featuring in the film 10 (1979) and the 1984 Olympics when used by ice-dancers Torvill and Dean. I am…
    • Antonín Dvořák
    • Maurice Ravel
    • John Philip Sousa
  8. Born this in 1998, I am a poet and activist who gained international fame when I read my poem The Hill We Climb at Joe Biden’s 2021 presidential inauguration. I am…
    • Amanda Gorman
    • Amanda Grayson
    • Amanda Hunsaker
  9. Born today in 1960, I’m a former American tennis player of Czech descent who was very successful in the 1980s and early 1990s. As a right-hander, I was known for my powerful forehand. I won eight Grand Slam titles, including three consecutive US Open championships from 1985 to 1987. I am…
    • Goran Ivanišević
    • Ivan Lendl
    • Ilie Năstase
  10. Died this day in 1999 in England. In 1960, I took over direction of Spartacus, the slave revolt epic set in Ancient Rome; I am also known for my Odyssey. I am…
    • David Lean
    • Stanley Kubrick
    • Otto Preminger

The births and deaths used in my Hatches and Despatches post were all listed in Encyclopædia Britannica’s Biographies on This Day in History: March 7.

Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.

Malcolm Campbell—Answer

C. 174.883 mph

On February 4, 1927, Malcolm Campbell achieved the land speed record at Pendine Sands in Wales. In an average of two runs, the Napier-Campbell Blue Bird covered the flying kilometre at 174.883 miles per hour (281.447 kilometres per hour) and the flying mile at 174.224 miles per hour (280.386 kilometres per hour).

1927, Malcolm Campbell in the Napier-Campbell Blue Bird broke the world’s Land Speed Record at Pendine Sands. [Image via Wikipedia]

In total, Campbell set nine land speed records between 1924 and 1935, with three at Pendine Sands and five at Daytona Beach. His initial two records were achieved while driving a racing car built by Sunbeam. Additionally, he set the world water speed record four times, with his fastest recorded speed reaching an astonishing 141.740 mph (228.108 km/h) in the Blue Bird K4. This remarkable feat was accomplished on August 19, 1939, at Coniston Water.