THE terrific thing about the Internet is that anyone can share their thoughts with the rest of the world.

So when the website administrator of the York & District Riding Club was having a bad day, he let rip for all to read on the Net.

Exactly what had prompted the outburst is unclear, but there appears to have been what psychologists call a communication problem.

To enjoy the full impact of the unnamed administrator's fury, you must imagine the following extracts as they appeared online - written in red capital letters on a black background. The punctuation and spelling are the author's own.

"Well it appears that being undermined seems to be acceptable within York & District Riding Club," the message began.

"...Two thirds of the current committee have about as much clue of running a club as I have at brain surgery on sheep...

"As a committee member my continuous hard work through last year and the effort I have put into the club for them to even have a website in the 1st place with the added disadvantage of no funding to do it are as valued as something that somebody has stepped in laying on a pavement from a dogs bottom.

"If you seem to think I'm just a wee tad p*ssed off then you are more perceptive than I gave you credit for. If you're browsing and looking to join this club personally I'd save your money and buy a new hat or something."

Anyone who disagreed was invited to email a reply.

"It's almost as if I can hear the knives being sharpened as I doubt anyone will have the testicular fortitude enough to say anything to my face."

The author gives a nod to popular culture by claiming the committee "is so short sighted I almost feel like shouting 'You should have gone to Specsavers'."

Then, the sign off. "We have turned into the Dads Army of clubs with Captain Mannering at the helm."

WE are pleased to report that since this was posted on the Internet, the author has poured out their concerns and frustrations to a York & District Riding Club committee member, who promised to pass them on. So the page has been deleted.

But we thought you'd like to read it anyway.

AFTER Ronnie O'Sullivan's emphatic victory in the World Snooker Championship final on Monday, his mentor Ray Reardon was full of praise.

"He shouldn't be called the Rocket, he should be called the Magician," said Reardon.

Catch up, Ray. In a preview of the 2002 UK championships in York, Hugh MacDougall wrote in the Evening Press that Ronnie's "snooker skills are so well honed that his cue sometimes seems to have the powers of a magician's wand".

AT least York City's status as the lowliest club in the Football League will please librarians. Alphabetically speaking football is in order, with Arsenal at the top and York at the bottom.

Are clubs at the far end of the alphabet cursed? The Diary only asks after noticing that the basement clubs in Divisions One and Two are also the ones at the end of any alphabetical roll-call: Wimbledon and Wycombe.

And Wolves are having a good go at finishing last in the Premier League.

As they face Accrington Stanley in the Conference next season, should York City consider a name change to the Able Acomb All Stars?

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 11:31 Wednesday, May 05, 2004