{"id":11535,"date":"2020-03-31T10:50:35","date_gmt":"2020-03-31T10:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northdownhc.com\/?p=11535"},"modified":"2020-03-31T10:50:35","modified_gmt":"2020-03-31T10:50:35","slug":"ross-blair-the-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northdownhc.com\/index.php\/2020\/03\/31\/ross-blair-the-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"ROSS BLAIR – the interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Next in line for our exciting new series of members’ profiles is Ross Blair. \u00a0Thanks to Ross for taking part. \u00a0Also, thanks to all those who have contributed so far – your profiles are in the can – you may be next!<\/p>\n

When and where did you first play hockey?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was about 7, my friend\u2019s dad was an Olympic hockey player so he got us both into the sport!<\/p>\n

Have you played for any other hockey clubs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Played for Annadale when I was a junior, then QUB when I was at university, and then I was at everyone\u2019s favourite Instonians before moving here!<\/p>\n

How long have you been at North Down?<\/strong><\/p>\n

140 whole days.<\/p>\n

Do you have any personal ambitions in hockey?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would be nice to actually score a goal for the first eleven\u00a0seeing as I\u2019m a forward.<\/p>\n

What has been your best moment at North Down?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watching Jonny Linter hurl a bowling ball across two lanes, knock down the pins, and proceed to ruin a family\u2019s idea of evening entertainment.<\/p>\n

Who has been your favourite player to play with at North Down and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phil Wilson is not the worst player to have on your team. He\u2019s unselfish, skillful and can finish, but he is also a Wilson which makes this hard to write.<\/p>\n

What is your least favourite team to play against?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I generally dislike most teams in Ulster hockey but I\u2019ll give the title to ***** and hope none of their players visit this page. \u00a0(Guesses on a plain postcard to JP!)<\/p>\n

Who in your North Down team would you want, and who not, on your quiz team?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Based entirely on the last NDHC quiz.\u00a0 On my team: Mark Shannon<\/strong> for an all-round solid performance (minus the pint spillage).\u00a0 Not on my team: Rachel Mornin<\/strong> for holding a medical degree from a reputable university but believing that the heart is part of the respiratory system.<\/p>\n

Do you follow a particular football team?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not at the minute, thanks COVID-19, but Chelsea when they are playing.<\/p>\n

What other sports are you interested in and do you play any other sports?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Used to play tennis competitively and I’m a fair weather (> 15 \u00b0C) golfer.<\/p>\n

What is your favourite personal sporting moment and a favourite all time sporting one?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Personal: Playing for Ulster in hockey for the first time when I was 16.<\/p>\n

All-time: Watching Usain Bolt dominate the Beijing Olympics on a diet of 100 nuggets at day. #inspirational<\/p>\n

What is the best holiday you have ever had?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rome. There\u2019s so much to see, the Colosseum is unreal and there\u2019s pizza for days.<\/p>\n

Where is your ideal holiday location?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Would like to see all 7 Wonders of the World. Was going to see the Great Wall of China this year, although a few bats seem to have had other ideas.<\/p>\n

What type of music do you like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Mayer, Tom Misch, The 1975 and Queen Ari according to Spotify!<\/p>\n

What is your favourite TV programme?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dennis Reynolds has given me a lot of good life advice over the years.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>What is your favourite movie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dark Knight, for making me believe that with enough money, a masked vigilante is a viable career choice.<\/p>\n

What is your favourite food and drink?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In true North Down fashion, you can\u2019t beat a good filet mignon steak from M&S, none of this Sainsbury\u2019s peasantry, and a bottle of Chateau Margaux 1787!<\/p>\n

If you could invite four people, living or dead, to a dinner party who would they be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

LeBron James, Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods. GOATs or should that be GsOAT.<\/p>\n

What have you been doing to stay fit during the coronavirus break?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some cycling, but mainly watching Graham Larmour\u2019s Instagram stories and hoping some of his home workout gains rub off on me.<\/p>\n