HILLS INDEPENDENT HILLS 128 February 2026 | Seite 28

SPORT

HARPO’ s MARKS

The things you think of when you’ re lying in bed around midnight, trying to get back to knocking out zeds.

“ I wonder what great sportsmen and women were born 100 years ago, in 1926,” methinks.

“ Well, why don’ t you let your fingers do the hard work and get yourself onto Wikipedia?” I told myself.

“ Not now, you idiot- in the morning,” quipped the little fella in my head.

Heeding his advice, I did just that, without disturbing Mrs Harpo.

The list includes a couple of Australians and a West Indian cricket legend.

The Aussies were all giants of their sport soccer’ s Joe Marston, Formula One world champion Jack Brabham, and

cricket wicketkeeper Len Maddocks.

The West Indian great was Sir Clyde Walcott a member of the legendary“ Three Ws” alongside Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell.

Most of the great athletes mentioned here lived long lives, with one even“ raising the bat” at 100 years of age- Irish Rugby Union’ s Mick Lane.

So, let’ s have a gander at those

Roaring’ 20s sporting greats. Born in 1926 Jan 6- Kid Gavilan, Cuban boxer, undisputed world welterweight and middleweight champion, born in Berrocal, Cuba( d. 2003)

Jan 7- Joe Marston, Australian soccer defender( 13 caps; Preston North End, 185 games; FA Cup Final 1954), born in

Colourful characters! Peter“ Goldie” Bylos and his sons, Aaron( l) and Joel( r), at what would certainly have to been a“ close your eyes and wear whatever clothes you grab” function.

Barrier with RiseTONY BRASSEL

Sydney, Australia( d. 2015)

Jan 17- Sir Clyde Walcott, West Indian cricket batsman( 44 Tests at 56.68; 15 centuries) and administrator( ICC chairman 1997 – 2000), born in St Michael, Barbados( d. 2006)

Feb 10- Danny Blanchflower, Irish soccer midfielder( 56 caps for Northern Ireland; Tottenham Hotspur 337 games; Aston Villa) and manager( Northern Ireland, Chelsea), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland( d. 1993)

Feb 20- Bob Richards, American athlete( Olympic gold pole vault 1952, 1956; bronze 1948), born in Champaign, Illinois( d. 2023)

Mar 24- Guillermo Timoner, Spanish cyclist( UCI motor-paced world champion 1955, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965), born in Felanitx, Spain( d. 2023)

Mar 28- Polly Umrigar, Indian cricket allrounder and captain( 59 Tests, 12 centuries, highest score 223, 35 wickets), born in Solapur, India( d. 2006)

Apr 2- Jack Brabham, Australian motor racing legend and team owner( World Formula One Champion 1959, 1960, 1966- the only driver to win the title in a car of his own design), born in Sydney, Australia( d. 2014)

Apr 21- Arthur Rowley, English soccer forward( English league record 434 goals from 619 games; Leicester City, Shrewsbury Town), born in Wolverhampton, England( d. 2002)

May 24- Len Maddocks, Australian cricket wicketkeeper( 7 Tests, 19 dismissals; Victoria, Tasmania), born in Melbourne, Australia( d. 2016)

Jun 19- Rod Coleman, New Zealand Grand Prix motorcyclist and the first New Zealander to win the Isle of Man TT( 1954), born in Whanganui, New Zealand

Jul 24- Hans Günter Winkler, German equestrian( Olympic gold: individual jumping 1956; team gold 1956, 1960, 1964, 1972), born in Barmen, Germany( d. 2018) Aug 17- Håkon Barfod, Norwegian sailor( Olympic gold 1948, 1952), born in Oslo, Norway( d. 2013)

Sep 29- Chuck Cooper, American shooting guard and the first African American drafted into the NBA( Boston Celtics), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania( d. 1984)

Oct 3- Mick Lane, Irish rugby union winger( 17 Tests for Ireland; two British & Irish Lions tours; University College Cork, Munster), born in Cork, Ireland( d. 2025)

Dec 12- Laurie Davidson, New Zealand yacht designer( Black Magic 1995; Team New Zealand 2000; America’ s Cup Hall of Fame 2007), born in Auckland, New Zealand( d. 2021)

Just back from Lismore after delivering a eulogy for Peter Bylos, a lifelong friend beloved by all.

It was truly a celebration of a full and fulfilling life.

There were plenty of laughs from the huge crowd in attendance- I reckon half of Lismore was there to bid him farewell.

I recounted a yarn I’ d told Pete many years ago after returning from Sydney, where I’ d attended a memorial service for an old footy mate- a Kiwi.

One particular moment from that service stuck with me.

“ The recently departed had been living in a room at a Paddington hotel and, the silly bugger- well inebriated had been smoking in bed, fallen asleep and set the bed, and half the pub, on fire.

“ I was sitting beside another mate and former teammate at the service when he whispered,‘ What are they doing with the body?’

“ I told him the family was taking him back to New Zealand, and he asked whether he was being buried or cremated.“‘ Why do you ask?’ I replied.“‘ Well,’ he said,‘ if he gets cremated, they should get it half price.’” Had the joint in stitches. Just one of the many laughs we shared while celebrating a life well lived.

SAD MARKS: The passing of Peter always well-tanned, carrying a bit of condition, and proudly of Greek heritage hence my nickname for him: The Golden Bearded Rotund Greek, which later morphed into simply Goldie.

MIDNIGHT MOOSE is an unraced 4YO Knight Templar horse trained at Canberra by Rob Potter. There was much to like about his second ever trial at Cowra on Jan 18. He’ s obviously had his problems because it was his only other trial since August,’ 25. Speedy and strong at the finish.

XTREME was formerly trained by the McEvoys but is now with Paul Snowden. Was never off the bit in running second in 1000m trial on heavy track at Tuncurry on Jan 17. Keep an eye out for this bloke. NICADENTE is a 5YO mare getting ready to make her racetrack debut! She’ s trained at Wangaratta by Libby Haworth and there was a lot to like about her powerful finish to win Albury 900m trial on Jan 19. Keep an eye out for her in Victoria and in the Albury area.

AUTUMN BREAK is 3YO gelding, unbeaten in three outings as well as two trials, the latest after a spell over 900m, also at Albury on Jan 19. Showed great early toe without being pushed along and then just cruised away from rivals over final 200m. Another Albury trained galloper.

COMPELLING TRUTH is a galloper with a bit of class out of the Mack Griffith yard at Mudgee. Showed usual blistering speed and never under any pressure in winning 900m trial at Gunnedah on Jan 19. Ready to rock‘ n’ roll!

FEARED is also out of the Griffith yard and showed good speed and strength at the finish when second to his stablemate at Gunnehah. Won’ t be a maiden much longer going on that performance.

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26 ISSUE 128 // FEBRUARY 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT