The Magners Rugby league were running a competition before Christmas searching for someone to be a "Professional Fan" and be a reporter/correspondent for all matches in the league. I knew nothing about it until I got a call from my hockey captain asking me had I heard the ad for this competition and she insisted that they were describing me!! I checked out the details and really, it did sound like my dream job!
I filled in the 2 page application form (isn't it so hard to write about yourself when you're really trying to 'sell yourself' - not in THAT way - you know what I mean!?) which took me about 2 days to finish, reading over it again and again, trying to answer the questions in a manner I would if my friends were asking me and avoid sounding like a complete a$$ !! I sent in the application not really knowing what to expect:- the rugby world is very much a man's world so I wasn't really sure how lil' oul' me would fit into it and I would never claim to know everything about rugby, I don't............BUT I love watching rugby, not just for the men (honestly!) it really is such an exciting game to watch. So it really would've been my ideal job!
When I got a call to say I was through to the second round with 17 others, I couldn't believe it!!! I was called in for an 'informal' interview which was with a table of 4 judges sitting in front of me, firing questions at me!! Ah no, I have to say they were lovely and once we started the interview it was more like a chat! Normally leaving auditions/interviews like that, you can't really tell how you came across or what they thought of you but it was weird, I had a really good feeling when I left:)
A week later, I got another call to say that I was down to the last 3 of the competition!!! I couldn't believe it! We all had 1.5hrs with a Setanta sports cameraman to record 15mins of footage on 'anything' we wanted and then we had to edit it all down to 1min! It was major panic stations because I got the call on a Friday and the shooting was on the Monday!! I had to get my thinking cap on pronto!! Luckily, the amazing, legendary Shane Byrne is a good friend of mine and he agreed to help me out with the agreement that I owe him, basically, forever! Really, he is so, so good and I do owe him big time - THANKS A MIL Shane:) Check it out on my videos! It was great craic to film with Heather and Laura and all the lads!!
Then it was down to a public, email vote so we all had to push it, pu-push it REAL good!! It seemed like weeks before we got the final result and unfortunately, I didn't win. Before the result came out, I was telling people that if I didn't win, I wouldn't mind because I had great fun making the video and everything happens for a reason. I know that "winning is just a bonus" and "it's the taking part that counts" ...................Call me competitive but I'm afraid I don't buy that rubbish............I'd be more of the mindset "I'm in it to win it". I am always 100% honest so to be honest, when I got that call I was devastated. I really did think I was going to win. So after cursing Conor Galvin, who won, for a little bit and some much needed sympathy from my lovely friends and family, I got over it!
The other day I got a lovely email from Conor wishing me luck which was so nice of him and then I checked out some of the stuff he's been doing as the Profan and hand on my heart, I think the best man won! So well done Conor and best of luck with the rest of the season.
Now I really do mean it when I say I had so much fun making that video and even though I didn't win the competition I felt very honoured to be in the last 3 AND the only female....doing it for the ladies :)
