Rugby league, cricket, & a bit of show jumping at school.

After school I bought a nice sports car, [Morgan +4], which was too quick for me. Did a bit of club motorsport, hill climbs & such to learn to drive it.

This led to motor racing. I still hold a Bathurst lap record I set in 1967, & drove for Ford & Holden in Bathurst races.

Once I knew I was no world champion I lost interest, & went sailing. Did 7 Hobarts shipping mostly as navigator, but in 45 footers with 6 or 7 crew, you still do a lot of the sailing.

In my mid 50s, when a daughter discovered horses, I went back to show jumping, & had a lot of fun. I learnt just how little I knew, sitting in on some of her lessons. Gave that up when the body lost its bounce, & coming off meant injuries.

These days I have a couple of nice older cars again, & go for mid week runs through the border ranges, when the traffic is light. I wouldn't be too quick around Bathurst these days, but a top down cruise through the ranges, on a sunny day is still great fun.

Oh, & Hi o sung wu, welcome back. Great to see you.

1. Spearfishing
2. Diving
3. Sailing

Want to do more. It is a big world.

Hi there Everyone...Now we're in possession of the Ashes once more !

Thanks - SUSEONLINE...Tennis, a very tough demanding game for sure. I've played a few (social) sets over the years, until I was thoroughly thrashed by this slender young lady I know, who made it immeasurably worse by apologising. And that was it for me, forever !

There's no doubt, big money is to be had if you're any good, as well as travel, endorsements, fame and acclaim etc. I do enjoy watching the OZ open, and genuinely feel very sorry for the players when the temperature exceeds 35c on centre court. Yet that manage to continue, which illustrates their phenomenal athleticism I reckon.

BELLY ol' friend...You sure we're NOT brothers by chance ? In my initial post I placed cricket at the top, but who knows if I was any good, League may, I stress MAY, just nudge cricket aside ? Still, you can enjoy a more prolonged playing life with cricket than League, with all the interminable injuries associated with the game, don't you think ?

Hello there TONY LAVIS...'Luge' from my basic understanding is a very dangerous 'sport' where substantial (serious) injury may be occasioned to one's anatomy or skeletal structure ? And Tony, what on earth is the sport of 'Skeleton' ? I must admit, I've not heard of it, unless it's a derivative or subsidiary of Luge perhaps ? And Tony, apart from the NSW and Victorian alps, where could one participate in Luge, or would it be necessary to go abroad ?

To...ONE UNDER GOD & HASBEEN, speak with you both later if I may ? Thank you all for your brilliant contributions.

Hi there ONE UNDER GOD...Gee, it's been awhile old friend ? How have you been, well I hope ? I understand that you don't like the commercialism that seems to have enveloped sport these days, and I'm absolutely with you.

Another issue that concerns me is the importance on 'winning' that some parents place on their children, rather than to encourage them to merely participate for the love of the game. Yet we're forever being pilloried by the Health Authorities because our children are deemed too fat and lazy. Moreover the only wish to sit in front of a computer rather than bowl or kick a ball ? It's little wonder that some kids are resenting being 'pushed' into sport, purely to satisfy their parents wishes with all the pressures and coercion that comes with it all ?

So yes, ONE UNDER GOOD I do support many of the principles that you've enunciated herein, that much of sport has been high-jacked by the enlightened academic fraternity, as well as big business, sadly.

Though I'm not entirely sure exactly what the specifics of some of your arguments are, I do support much of what you say in broad terms at least. I must say it's really good to be able to speak with you again now. Take care, OK !

HASBEEN...I'll speak with you and others soon.

>>'Luge' from my basic understanding is a very dangerous 'sport' where substantial (serious) injury may be occasioned to one's anatomy or skeletal structure ?<<

I doubt it's much more dangerous than skateboarding. You start slowly and work your way up. A lot of sports are dangerous: skateboarding, surfing, bodyboarding, boxing... even cricket used to be a deadly game. Didn't one of the Australian players have his skull fractured during the Bodyline series? That injury could have been a lot worse than it was.

>>And Tony, what on earth is the sport of 'Skeleton' ? I must admit, I've not heard of it, unless it's a derivative or subsidiary of Luge perhaps ?<<

It's almost the same as luge: they're both single man toboggan sports. In luge down feet first on your back; in skeleton you down head first on your front.

>>And Tony, apart from the NSW and Victorian alps, where could one participate in Luge, or would it be necessary to go abroad ?<<

I think you'd have to travel. Canada or Scandinavia probably have good facilities for the sport.

Cheers,

Tony