Weatherbeaten

The British climate, unpredictable for weather forecasters, unhelpful to athletes and unkind to spectators, can have a considerable impact on the enjoyment and outcome of sports. How many contests have turned on a change in the prevailing conditions or the effect of a rain break at a crucial moment How often has your long-anticipated day at Wimbledon or Lords been washed out, your local race meeting abandoned at short notice due to overnight frost or your team's cup tie been rendered...
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The British climate, unpredictable for weather forecasters, unhelpful to athletes and unkind to spectators, can have a considerable impact on the enjoyment and outcome of sports. How many contests have turned on a change in the prevailing conditions or the effect of a rain break at a crucial moment How often has your long-anticipated day at Wimbledon or Lords been washed out, your local race meeting abandoned at short notice due to overnight frost or your team's cup tie been rendered farcical by the condition of the pitch? Not content with ruining the chances of competitors or spoiling a day out for fans, weather at its worst constitutes a serious health hazard. Athletes have suffered heatstroke, golfers have been struck by lightning and yachtsmen drowned in storms on days of extreme weather, while countless injuries have resulted from slippery, frozen pitches. In an age when authorities and promoters attempt to control every aspect of sport, the weather remains one of the key areas of chance. The response to weather problems has been varied: rules have been changed, clothing and equipment altered and science applied to playing surfaces.